Girls*Heart* Books: The Succubus Gift by B.R. Kingsolver: Review & Author Interview & Giveaway

Brenna’s life isn’t the same after she discovers her unusual and mysterious heritage. In addition to being a telepath and having many paranormal abilities, Brenna learns she has the Succubus Gift. She has always been a good girl and isn’t comfortable seducing men, except one she really loves.

That’s just the beginning of her problems. Someone is stalking her. Will she be able to protect her newly acquired family and friends? Then there’s the tall, dangerous woman who shadows her and hints a Goddess has linked them. And what is she going to do with a handsome, charismatic, womanizing man she knows she should avoid?

Some days a girl just wants to pull the covers over her head and stay in bed -- with a willing young man of course. (from Goodreads)

*This book is for those 18 years or older!*

The Succubus Gift is the first book in The Telepathic Clans series by B.R. Kingsolver. When approached by the author I was very excited to read this book; it sounded like something I'd really enjoy. It sounded like a really different spin on the paranormal. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would and that's saying something.

The story follows members of the Clan as they find a family member they thought to be dead and learn about her abilities. I really enjoyed the emphasis on family and loyalty. This is a family you DO NOT want to cross. They're lovely people, of course, but hurt them or one of theirs and you'll wish you were never born. I loved every one of them! I think she could tell the story from any one of their points of view and it would be fantastic. They're all so interesting and well developed; definitely not cookie cutter characters.

Brenna is such a kick ass character, I really loved her! She is strong, determined, funny, sexy and honest, a dangerous combination, for sure! I think every woman secretly wishes she could be more like Brenna is. She doesn't shy away from putting herself in danger to protect others. I really loved the dynamics of the friendship between her and Rebecca, her protector. It was very interesting & I hope we learn more about it in the next book.

This book had it all; lots of action, romance, suspense and humor. Loaded with intrigue and drama, it was a very fast read! I was on pins and needles for the whole book, almost, waiting to see what would happen next. I really love Kingsolver's writing style and I cannot wait for book #2!

My Rating:

And now here is my interview with B.R. Kingsolver

If you were to describe yourself in 5 words, what words would you use?
Impatient, restless, curious, unconventional, shy/introverted.

Where did you get the idea for The Telepathic Clans series?
That's a long answer. The short answer is from Richelle Mead and Andre Norton. I've always bee fascinated by the idea of telepathy, and I loved the Georgina Kincaid books. But the concept that a woman who is wantonly sexual has to be in league with the devil bothered me. Why can't a woman be a sexual predator and still be one of the good guys? Men in literature (and in life) do it all the time. Think of the difference in image you get when you say 'bad boy' as opposed to 'bad girl'.

Can you tell us a little about what comes next for Brenna and the rest of the Clan?
The Succubus Gift has been well received and the reviews have been far better than I dared to hope. My beta readers tell me Succubus Unleashed is even better, which is nice to hear. The third book in the series, tentatively titled In Succubus we Trust, is finished and needs editing and revision. I'm hoping to have it out in August/September.

One of the things that's been gratifying is how many people love Rebecca. She will find happiness ... some day.

After that, I need to get away from Brenna for a while. There will be a fourth book, but probably not until 2013. I plan on two paranormal mysteries set in the same world but with mostly different characters. I’ve written the first six chapters of the first of those and hope to have it finished before Christmas.

If you could only recommend one book to us, which would you choose and why?
That is difficult. There are so many great books. I don't even know if I could limit it to one per genre. Probably 'Dune' by Frank Herbert or 'White Lotus' by John Hershey. In fantasy, 'Kushiel's Dart' by Jacqueline Carey or 'Daughter of the Blood' by Anne Bishop or 'The Belgariad' by David Eddings, all of those are series. Although I read a lot of urban fantasy and paranormal romance books, I haven't seen any that I would consider great literature.

What do you consider to be 'perfect' writing conditions?
I write on a tiny netbook that weighs about a pound. I can carry it anywhere, and do. I don't write at a desk usually, but I have written on the subway. A big easy chair, something to drink and maybe something to snack on.

What was the best advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?
I've been lucky to know some very wise people who blessed me with their advice. Whether I was smart enough to take it is another story. Probably the best is something I first heard when I was very young. "Treat others as you wish them to treat you." The Golden Rule is found in every religion I've studied, and I don't think it's an accident.

What is your very favorite part of being an author?
I won't lie. It's having someone tell me they enjoyed reading my story. I do enjoy writing and telling a story, but if I can't tell it well enough that someone else enjoys it, I might as well keep it in my head.

What's the hardest part of being an author?
Trying to sell your work. Editing is a pain, but I do get some pleasure out of that. I'm an introvert. Getting out on Twitter or someone's blog and promoting my work is hard. As a new author, catching people's eyes is so difficult. There are a lot of books and everyone only has so much time for reading.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to talk with us!!
And thank you. I can't tell you how much it means to me that you liked the book and are willing to help me tell people about it. :)

About the Author:

My grandmother retired when I was two years old. She came to live with us and taught me to read by the time I was three. I read everything I could put my hands on, including the Bible and Encyclopedia Britannica. When I first enrolled in college, I was a history major. It sounded like a great career, reading for a living.

Alas, as they say, I got sidetracked. I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

I’ve always been shy and I have spent a lot of my life alone with a book. I first tried to write a novel when I was 15, a science fiction book set in an alternate reality. I wrote about a dozen pages with a pencil. I kept it for years, occasionally coming across it and reading it. It was awful, and it kept me from trying again for a long time.

So I made up stories in my head to entertain myself. If I don’t have a book and I’m on a plane or someplace else that’s boring, such as driving across the country, I make up stories.

I received a Nook for my birthday a couple of years ago and loved it, and started reading about the revolution in e-publishing, and the success some indie authors had with self-published works. This past Thanksgiving, I was discussing this with a friend, and mentioned that I had conceived a story I thought might be appealing to some people. She encouraged me to write it down.

As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.

I have a very significant other, two cats and two Basset Hounds. I’m currently living in Baltimore, nine blocks from the harbor, but still own a home in New Mexico that I see too infrequently.

You can find B.R. Kingsolver:

Twitter

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Website

Goodreads

And now for the giveaway!