August 25, 2017

#bookreview from Fanatical Paranormal Romantical

Fanatical Paranormal Romantical read and provided an honest review of A Vampire's Tale as part of my Goddess Fish Promotions virtual book tour.


"I enjoyed the book... it is a fun story to read..."



The best laid plans…

Marisa Clements was never satisfied writing the ‘gossip column’ in the local paper and she quit her job to follow her dream of writing fiction. Floundering in an unforgiving industry, she wrote about vampires, a popular subject she considered fascinating but as real as unicorns, to pay the rent.

Corgan was tired of human misconceptions about vampires and ‘living’ as a vampire. He planned to tell Marisa his story and end his existence. It was no coincidence Corgan selected Marisa to write his story. With the ability to see the future, he knew she would be a major part of it. He knew if they met, she would help him die, but in doing so, she’d be doomed to the same fate. Once they met, their futures would be irrevocably intertwined.

Corgan began to care for Marisa and finally revealed the truth to her. He admitted his quest to atone for his past sins had put her in grave danger from a nest of revenge seeking vampires. Corgan must claim her for her own protection. But claiming her is not enough, he must ask for help from his wizard friends and his maker in order to destroy his enemy or Marisa will never be safe.


For the full review see Fanatical Paranormal Romantical.

August 23, 2017

#CoverReveal The Last Man She'd Love by @SummeritaRhayne

Blurb:

When best laid plans fall apart...

Lyna is all set to marry a movie mogul, when she finds his pregnant ex at her office, begging her to break the engagement and keep her name out of it. Forced to take her flirtatious boss Guy's help, she sets about to break the engagement. But now she's pulled into deeper involvement with Guy. 

One trouble leads to another!

She agrees to visit his palatial country house, posing as his fiancée and is drawn into the family and their antics. Sorting out who's who takes time. A stringent grandfather, an ambitious mother, a frustrated half brother are only the beginning!
Attraction makes things complicated...

Propinquity with someone as charming and attractive as Guy doesn't help. But Guy himself is as much of a puzzle as ever. Is he the playboy she thinks him or is there someone else beneath the sardonic pose? Will she ever find out?

Will she break her heart in the process?

Buy link (preorder at low promotional price):

About the author:
Summerita Rhayne writes contemporary and historical romance with lots of emotional conflict. She first got published in 2013 and has won contests with prestigious publishers such as Harlequin and Harper Collins India. Her pet belief is, if the inspiration is strong enough, the story characters will find a way to make the writer pen them down, even when writing time is in short supply. When cerebrally confronted with the sizzling interaction of two Alpha characters, the only way to get peace is write their book!

At heart, she's a family person and even though she loves her medical teaching profession, she happily becomes a homemaker when not at work. She loves winding down with music, romcoms and cricket (strictly watching only).

Author links:
Facebook page: http://facebook.com/Summeritarhayneauthor 
Twitter handle:  @SummeritaRhayne 
Website: http://www.summeritarhayne.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8505238.Summerita_Rhayne


Excerpt:

The music grew warm and romantic. There was something in the power of echoing notes. He felt a soft sigh leave Lyna. Against his will, the hand which held her waist tightened a little. He heard her slight intake of breath and an age old excitement slowly grew and began to rush in his veins. She felt soft, almost tremulous in his arms. Her gaze met his, her chin tilting up as she looked into his eyes. A challenge sparkling in her eyes kindled an answering determination which surged through him like a hunter’s adrenaline kick. He knew she was meeting him halfway. The dangerous flicker that was beneath the surface looked like breaking through the barrier of official formality between them. For some reason, sanity held him back and he desisted and broke the eyelock. It wasn’t the same with her as with all the rest. Couldn’t be. He knew the rules and the set up with the kind of women he dated. With her, he wasn’t quite sure. He didn’t like the feeling.
It wasn’t a good idea to dance with her.
His body didn’t think so. His arm wanted to pull her closer, his lower body to lean into her. his other hand to hold her head when she arched her neck as his mouth fulfilled its need to kiss her.
To kiss her. His gaze had dropped down to the wet sheen of her lips. He became conscious his heart was thudding unnaturally.
‘Is he looking?’ she asked in a husky whisper against his shoulder.
Pulled back to reality, his mind trudged to the present. ‘No.’
‘Is he reacting at all?’
With her face towards him, she couldn’t see Brijesh. Guy dragged his gaze from her softly flushed face to find the rotund figure. ‘He’s moving. To get a beetroot cigar they are serving in a mint dip.’
‘For God’s sake, is that all he can think about all the time? Food? We’ll just have to try harder.’
A vision of propping her against the wall in a secluded corner of the house stole into his mind.
‘Are you listening, Guy?’
‘Sure. We’ll have to try harder,’ he repeated obligingly. ‘You mean here?’
She shot him blue daggers. ‘Do you want to dance on the grass?’
Her body might be all tremulous, but her tongue was the same as ever.
He chuckled.
The next moment, his breath was knocked out as she flung her arms around his neck. His hands automatically came to rest at her waist. It felt slender yet taut. Her perfume was all over him, filling his head with essence of wild flowers. The tips of her breasts brushed against his chest. He gave in to the inevitable and let his arms gather her close. Was that a tremor that ran through her? He dragged air into his lungs.
‘Is he coming over yet?’ Her voice was low.
‘No. Told you he doesn’t have an ounce of red blood.’
‘Let’s try more.’

‘Ok,’ he said gamely. Looked like it was out of his hands. He tilted her chin up and kissed her.

August 18, 2017

#bookreview and #characterinterview on Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books! read and provided an honest review of A Vampire's Tale as part of my Goddess Fish Promotions virtual book tour.


"A Vampire's Tale initially reminded me of An Interview with a Vampire as the premise was similar... as the story starts it is plain to see that this is a completely different story. This book was well written... It is a different take on the vampire / virgin story, so I would recommend it for anyone wanting something that differs from the norm."


The best laid plans…

Marisa Clements was never satisfied writing the ‘gossip column’ in the local paper and she quit her job to follow her dream of writing fiction. Floundering in an unforgiving industry, she wrote about vampires, a popular subject she considered fascinating but as real as unicorns, to pay the rent.

Corgan was tired of human misconceptions about vampires and ‘living’ as a vampire. He planned to tell Marisa his story and end his existence. It was no coincidence Corgan selected Marisa to write his story. With the ability to see the future, he knew she would be a major part of it. He knew if they met, she would help him die, but in doing so, she’d be doomed to the same fate. Once they met, their futures would be irrevocably intertwined.

Corgan began to care for Marisa and finally revealed the truth to her. He admitted his quest to atone for his past sins had put her in grave danger from a nest of revenge seeking vampires. Corgan must claim her for her own protection. But claiming her is not enough, he must ask for help from his wizard friends and his maker in order to destroy his enemy or Marisa will never be safe.


For the full review see  Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


I also provided a character interview with Kurtis - a dutiful grandson and apprentice wizard in his grandfather’s circle.


What are you keeping a secret?

Following in my grandfather’s footsteps to become a wizard is my destiny, but I don’t want to live this life. It’s not my choice, yet I don’t want to disappoint my grandfather like my father did. So, I continue my work as an apprentice and say nothing.

What are you lying to yourself about? To others?

<<snort>> Lies? I’m living a complete lie. I love Waldor - my grandfather – I do. He raised me. My father took off – I don’t exactly remember when – I might have been three. One morning I woke up – I heard a noise – it was my father standing by the front door, but I only remember a hazy shadow holding a large duffel bag. I stood at the top of the stairs. He waved at me. I waved back. He left and I never saw him again. Waldor tells me my father loves me. I find that hard to believe. If he actually loved me, he wouldn’t have abandoned me. Like my mother. She died, though, shortly after I was born so she didn’t voluntarily leave me. Like everyone I have ever cared about. Except Waldor. And even he keeps the truth from me. Why my father left. If he knows where he went. Anything but “your father loves you” or “your father would be so proud of you.” The truth is I’m an orphan and I’m old enough to handle the truth.

Is there anyone in your life that you are attracted to?

Yup. It doesn’t matter though. Wizards lead a solitary life. And, as an apprentice, I’m forbidden from even speaking to, or in the presence of, women.

What scares you about this person?

Everything. She’s everything I’m not. Vibrant. Dynamic. Witty. Lethal. Undead. And she treats me with nothing but distain. She goes out of her way to taunt me. Like a cat would toy with a mouse. And I can’t say anything to her. I stand there stoically while she circles around me, predatorily, examining me closely to see if she can make me talk. And smirks when I don’t. I am so tense, I remain that way, muscles fused and catatonic, until I no longer smell her bittersweet perfume lingering in the air. She scares me, if she knew how I felt, she would have the ultimate power to hurt me. Even not being together hurts me.

When you walk into a room what do you notice first? Second?

I scan the room, check for hostiles, and take note of all exits. I never walk into a room without an exit strategy. The Circle has many enemies. Our alliance with Corgan, and other vampires, makes us unpopular. Most circles distrust vampires.

What are your goals in life?

Goals? I’ve never had any goals beyond following in Waldor’s footsteps, becoming a wizard and joining The Circle. My life path was pre-determined the moment my father’s departure broke Waldor’s heart. I want to make my grandfather, and The Circle, proud and compensate for my father’s betrayal. So, my goals in life are not really for me, but to please others, namely Waldor.

What are you most afraid of?

I’m afraid to hope. There is futility in dreaming of what cannot be. I must accept facts. Love is not in the cards for me. I am to become a wizard. I must release dreams of a life other than The Circle. Yet I’m afraid to live that life, filled with unknowns. The Circle is all I’ve known. Sometimes the familiar is a better, less risky, alternative.

What do you like best about yourself?

I’m a good guy. I contribute to The Circle, I’ve been a quick learner. My apprenticeship will soon be over and I’ll be given a choice of accepting my place or leaving The Circle. There is no choice, I will do the right thing and assume my role.

What do you like least about yourself?

The very things I admire about myself, I also dislike. How can I so easily sentence myself to a solitary life as a wizard? The Circle, best described as a group of old men, is no substitute for love. How can I deny myself the opportunity to tell Dee how I feel about her? Why can’t I tell Waldor that I want to leave? I accept my fate as if avoiding disappointment is more important than finding happiness. I am essentially alone, an orphan in this world, and I long for connection, companionship, and I’m a coward, too frightened to try.

If you could change anything about your life what would it be?

I would arm myself with courage.

Have a candid conversation with Waldor. In an ideal world, he’d understand my desire to leave The Circle. During his transitional period, his “coming of age,” he went out into the world and sowed his oats, you might say, before he made his choice. My father, too, experienced life outside The Circle, but, when it came time to make his choice, he did not chose to become a wizard.

My wish to leave is independent of my feelings for Dee. I don’t feel like this is where I belong. I can concoct a potion or cast incantations, but mechanical ability is not a strong enough reason to select a vocation. I want to heed my calling – whatever it is – and become who I am meant to be.

If I could change anything in my life, I would become courageous, fearless, sure.