Angel Creek Series by Ada Adams Tour-Character Interview

Hey everyone, today Lana and I are so very excited to have the chance to have a little chat with Dawn, Sebastian and Razor from the Angel Creek Series by the amazing Ada Adams! Thanks so much for being here, guys! 

*Just in case someone’s been living under a rock and they don’t know about you all, could you each tell us a little about yourselves? 

D: I'm Dawn and I used to live in the Scarlet House as the First Daughter. I recently went on my first mission to Angel Creek to train a group of vampire guardian wannabes who turned my life upside down. In a good way. Mostly.

Sebastian: My family founded Angel Creek. I lived here all my life. That is, until...*trails off*

Razor: *places a hand on Sebastian's shoulder and tries to lighten the mood* I'm a big believer in living life to the fullest. In every way imaginable. *winks at Mel**Sebastian, what is your favorite part of living in Angel Creek?

*looks over at Dawn*

*then Razor*

S: That I'm finally surrounded by people I care about the most.*To Sebastian & Razor-what 1 word do you think describes Dawn best?

S: Loyal, intelligent, kind--

R: Way to cheat, bro! Why do you always have to come off sounding like Prince Charming and leave me hanging? Fine then, Dawn is...sexy. Yes...so incredibly sexy that I'd--

S: That's enough!*Dawn-do you have a favorite York brother?

*blushes as she glances at Sebastian*

*Razor clears his throat and wiggles his eyebrows, pointing at himself*

D: Uhh...pass? I'd like to keep the peace now that we're finally back to normal. Well, as normal as we could be.*Razor, in all of your travels, what has been your favorite place to visit? 

South America.*Can each of you share something people would be surprised to learn about you?

D: I feel like lately my life has been an open book. Somehow, though, the secrets keep coming.

S: I'm a really good snowboarder.

R: I cried watching "The Notebook". That's what the ladies like to hear, right?*Dawn-can you tell us a little about what comes next for you?

D: Considering the way "ReAwakened" ended--

ADA: You'll have to read "ReBorn". :) All hell breaks loose!*Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with us!! We are eagerly awaiting ReBorn!!



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Virtual Blog Tour: The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke

Sacrifice

The Gryphon Series #3

By Stacey Rourke

Expected Publication: March, 2013, by Anchor Group Publishing

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there's any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it's that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she's ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she'd like to have a pity party for one, there's no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if they Dark Army wasn't scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jell-O shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding...Conduit-style.

EF. EM. EL.

Rourke, I am glaring daggers at you right now. Why must you torture me like this? Why? What have I ever done to you? NOTHING. Exactly. Nothing but fangirl. And you make me cry. All night. All NIGHT. I will not sleep for a week because I WILL BE DROWNING IN TEARS!

Okay.. Okay, I'm better now. Mini rant over. Back to the blog tour.

Sacrifice is the third book in The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke (and I believe it could be considered EVIL from a CLIFFHANGER and many, many tears it causes..), a series I have grown very fond of over this past year. When I heard about this blog tour, I jumped at the chance to read Sacrifice an entire month early and calm myself from the cliffhanger at the end of Embrace.

Now, here's the bad part- I can't tell you ANYTHING about this AMAZING novel. Because I have been told I tend to let things slip, and there are a lot of LITTLE things I could say that could ruin the whole series, and since this is an ARC, I especially can't let that happen.. *sigh* What can I say?

Well, I can tell you that when you pick this series up and get to this book, have pints of ice cream on hand, and boxes upon boxes of tissues, and a few days off work for the aftershocks of this.. I am still crying, and I'm not kidding you.

HOWEVER, even with all my freaking out and screaming seen above, I still love Stacey Rourke. Because anybody that can make me this screwed up in 222 pages of fiction is amazing.

A final note: Sacrifice is a fast paced, roller coaster ride of emotion and suspense that will leave you breathless. Fantastic read!

My Rating:

And now, an interview with Caleb, Celeste and Rowan (oh, boy...)

*Hello all. First I’d like to say thank you for coming together to do this interview with us. For the readers who have been living under a rock and have not gotten to The Conduit and its sequel, Embrace yet, would you all tell us a bit about yourselves?

(Caleb and Celeste open their mouths to talk, but Rowan pipes up first.)

Rowan-Well these two goodie-goodies are out to save the world. As for me? (wiggles eyebrows suggestively) I’m here to make things interesting … and vastly more attractive.

Celeste (peering at him through narrowed eyes.) -No one will ever love you as much as you do.

*Rowan and Caleb, what one word would you use to describe Celeste?

(in unison)

Rowan-Infuriating

Caleb-Amazin’

Rowan-(raises one finger) Actually, I’d like to borrow his adjective. She’s amazingly infuriating.

*Celeste, how has your life changed since these boys joined the picture?

Celeste-Well, I never really got much attention from guys before. Now I find as long as they have a little demon in them I’m like cat-nip to them. This has both a “woohoo” and “aw, crap” for my self-esteem.

*In the books, Celeste mentions Puck from the show ‘Glee’ is hot—Has she made either of you watch it? What did you think?

Caleb-Aye, she’s made me watch. I’m still mystified how all those kids know the choreography for those random song an’ dance outbreaks. As fer that mowhawked lad, he’s not the only one that can play a guitar and sing. (He takes Celeste’s hand and gives her a wink.) I’ve got no problem givin’ the lady a serenade when she desires one.

Rowan (rolls his eyes)- I’ve suddenly found myself in the midst of a Taylor Swift song and fear the second coming of my breakfast. 

*Mel and I both have a weakness for really good cheesecake. For all of you, what is your favorite dessert?

Rowan (leans in with a seductive leer)-I’ve found most desserts are better eaten off someone. You ladies have plans later?

Celeste-And are you stocked up on Penicillin?

*Where do you all see yourselves a year from now?

Caleb- For centuries I was trapped in a world of hell. I found my bliss with the lil lass beside me and I’ll follow her lead tah the end of the world and back.

Rowan- (his ocean blue eyes suddenly darken with dangerous intent) I will get my father’s pirate ship back. A year’s time should find me reunited with the freedom of my first lady, the sea.

Celeste- (fidgets uncomfortably) Hopefully I’ll still be alive. With an army of demons constantly hunting me, that dream can get a little shaky from time to time. If I could paint my perfect picture I would have a normal life again, where I could head back to college and not end everyday with blood on my clothes. I know, I’m a dreamer.

Thank you again for joining Girls *Heart* Books for an interview, guys. I hope you’ll join us again one day. :)

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of The Gryphon Series as well as other literary projects.

*We receive NO payment of any kind for our reviews-we review books we've bought, or books that are provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

"Hidden Gates' by D.T. Dyllin Release Day Event-Character Interview & Giveaway

Hidden Gates

The P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy Book #1 

By D.T. Dyllin

Publication Date: January 24, 2013 

Published By: Dragonfairy Press

For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.   (Goodreads)

Buy Hidden Gates: 

Barnes & Noble

I LOVED this book guys, and I KNOW you will too so be sure to check it out!! 

And here, for your reading enjoyment is our interview with P.J., Bryn & Khol from Hidden Gates! 

*Hi there guys, first of all Lana and I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Can you start off by telling our readers a little about yourselves? 

“Oh, yeah, sure. Hi, everyone! My name is P.J. Stone and—“

“Well technically your name is Paige Joplin Stone.” Bryn chuckles and his eyes glitter with amusement.

“Seriously, Bryn? You just had to tell everyone that?” P.J. grinds her teeth together and then pastes on a fake smile. “And everyone this is Bryn Aries O’Bannon. Say hello to everyone, Bryn Aries O’Bannon.”

“Peej, come on.” Bryn frowns at P.J. who grins back at him.

“What? What’s fair is fair.” P.J. laughs.

Khol sighs and crosses his arms. “I think we should get on with this interview, don’t you, my little Seer?”

Bryn scowls at Khol and pulls P.J. closer to him. “She’s not your anything.”

P.J. bites her lower lip and glances nervously between Khol and Bryn. “Yeah, I think we should get on with this interview. So how about the next question?”


*Oookay then, what do each of you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?

“Not killing Khol.” Bryn grumbles under his breath.

“I could say the same about you.” Khol snaps.

“Guys, seriously. Can’t you two keep it under wraps for like five minutes? We all agreed to do this interview for Girls *Heart * Books, so lets do it already.”

“Fine.” Bryn mumbles.

Khol nods his head but continues to glare at Bryn.

“Alright then. Sorry Mel and Lana. These two can be a bit much together in the same room. I really should have thought about that before I talked them both into this.” P.J. sighs. “I can say my greatest accomplishment to date is not being driven crazy by the two of them.” P.J. sighs again but then snuggles into Bryn’s side.

*To PJ & Bryn: What is the first word that pops into your heads when you think about Khol? 

“Hot.” P.J.’s face flushes then she looks up at Bryn.

Khol grins.

“I mean, you know, temperature wise, not hot as in hot—just hot.” P.J. looks to Mel for help. “Ummm…you know what I’m saying, right?”

Bryn interrupts. “I’ve got a word for Khol—insane. I mean he has to be to think he has any chance with Peej.”

“He doesn’t think any such thing, Bryn. In fact he didn’t say anything, I did. And it just came out wrong. So please let it go so we can move on with this interview. I’m starting to get annoyed.”

Bryn clamps his mouth shut, but glowers.

“Sorry again.” P.J. says.

*PJ-What five words would you use to describe yourself? 

“Hmmm…five words to describe myself. This is a tough one. How about I describe Bryn? Lets see, Bryn is handsome, smart, funny, sexy…did I mention sexy?” P.J. giggles as Bryn dips his head to kiss her neck. “Bryn, stop I wasn’t done.” Bryn whispers something in P.J.’s ear and she blushes. “Yeah, okay we need to finish this up soon because Bryn and I need to—talk.”

Khol snorts but doesn’t say anything. 

*Khol-What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday night? 

Khol stares blankly for a moment. “I do not wish to divulge such personal information to strangers.”

“Khol, please, you promised you do this interview.” P.J. says with exasperation.

“I came to this interview for you, my little Seer. And I have stayed because of you as well. But I do not wish to answer the question.”

P.J. throws her hands up in the air. “Fine, one last question please. Clearly this just isn’t working with them.” 

*Can you guys tell us what comes next for you? 

“I will answer that question.” Khol says as his lips tip up slightly at the corners. “You’re just going to have to read the next book to find out.”

“For once, I agree with Khol.” Bryn chimes in.

“Well that’s at least something.” P.J. smiles. “Thanks for having us here today. I’m sorry that these two were so difficult. But I wouldn’t take it personally. They’re always like this.”

Khol disappears.

Bryn scoops P.J. up in his arms and carries her from the room. P.J. protests but doesn’t look like she means it at all.

*Ok. Looks like that's it.  Once again, Lana & I would like to thank P.J and her guys for chatting with us. Maybe you all can come back and chat with us again sometime.

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Cynical-Optimist. Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Self-Imposed Insomniac. Sci-Fi Geek. Animal Lover. Writer…are just a few words to describe D.T. Dyllin. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two very spoiled GSDs. 

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Character Interview with Razor of 'ReAwakened' by Ada Adams w/ Flash Giveaway

Lana and I were lucky enough to snag an interview with Razor from The Angel Creek Series as part of our month long celebration of author, Ada Adams! We hope you enjoy this as much as we did :) 

*Hi there Razor, first of all Lana and I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Can you start off by telling our readers a little about yourself?
Thanks for having me, ladies. I guess I'll just give you the short and sweet PG version that I gave Dawn when we first met: “I’m a 24-year-old Taurus who enjoys long walks on the beach.” Just replace "walking" with a more physically strenuous activity.

* I know you like to project a very laid back persona, but am I right in assuming you have a more serious side that peeks through every once in a while?
I have a more serious side, but what’s the fun in being serious all the time? I've spent a lot of my early life being reckless, but after losing the most important person to me, I learned a lesson and put all of my energy into being responsible. Of course, after suffering yet another blow that came with my family's slaying and being turned, all that went out of the window. Now, I'm once again trying to balance the two sides.

*What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?
I suppose that succeeding in my field as a doctor is seen as a great accomplishment by our society, but the only reason I was motivated to achieve that was because of a personal tragedy. Therefore, I don’t really view it as an accomplishment. At that point in my life, it was something that I needed to do to get away from my pain. In a way, it was a selfish accomplishment, but I've tried to put it to good use by helping others.

*What five words would you use to describe yourself?
How about Sex God x 5? Nah, I’m just kidding. Humble x 5? *grins*

*What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday night?
If you asked me this a while ago, I'd probably tell you that my perfect Saturday night involved going to some club, picking up the hottest chick there, then doing something reckless for the mere thrill of it...like breaking into some ritzy house with a pool and going skinny-dipping. Lately, I don't really have any desire to do stuff like that. Instead, I think it would be fun to take someone special to a secluded beach for some alone time. Really get away from the real-world and talk one-on-one. Get to know her. Heck, maybe even stargaze. But don't think that I've gone all sweet on you. There would still definitely be some skinny-dipping involved.

*Can you tell us if you plan on sticking around in Angel Creek for a while? If not, where will you head next?
I've always wanted to travel more and see the world. However, for the time being, I'm planning on sticking around Angel Creek. The town may be small, but its current inhabitants are the only people in the world that I care about. I need to spend more time with Sebastian, and I definitely want to spend more time getting to know Dawn.

*Again, thank you very much for chatting with us, Razor! Maybe you can come back and chat with us again sometime.Or you guys could come visit me in Angel Creek. I'm going to try and convince Dawn to let loose and throw a party at the cottage. We'll see if I actually succeed, but you two are definitely invited!

**You can purchase ReVamped & ReAwakened for your kindle! And if you purchase one of them today, leave your order number in the comments & tomorrow morning we will draw 3 random winners to win some Angel Creek Series swag! **

'Eternal Hope' by Frankie Rose Blog Tour: Character Interview with Kayden

Eternal Hope 

The Hope Series Book #2 

By Frankie Rose

He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me

When your friends go missing and you don’t know if they’re dead or alive; when you tie your soul to the one you love; when you kill to protect and your family suffers, there’s only one thing you can do:

Move to Montana.

Farley Hope is special. She was prophesied to kill the forebears of her bloodline- a race of cold-blooded Reavers, men who steal the souls of the living to gain power. The Quorum had counted on Farley ending her own life in the process, but when Kayden came to her aid and helped save both her and Daniel, he undid their plans. Now the Quorum are displeased, not only with Kayden, but with Farley and Daniel too. Though her father is now dead, Farley’s troubles with the Reavers are far from over. An ancient Immortal, trapped for a thousand years, wants Farley for himself, and he will stop at nothing to claim her.

With secrets that lead to anger and pain, that turn friendship to dust, the group must overcome the problems within their own circle before they have a hope of fighting off the powers that threaten their lives.

We were lucky enough to snag an interview with Kayden from the Hope series, we hope you enjoy our little chat with him as much as we did! 

Thanks so much for agreeing to answer some questions for us, Kayden! 
No problem. I’m happy to have you pick my brain!
*What 5 words would you use to describe yourself? 
I’m going to say Blonde Hero With God Complex. That’s five, right? Ha ha!

No, in all seriousness I would probably go with, antagonistic, occasionally charming, conflicted, and caring. I have plenty of faults, but I have redeeming features, too!

*What one word, in your opinion, best describes your friendship with Daniel Montisauri? Rocky! We’ve been known to fall out on occasion. 

*Where would you like to be one year from now? Somewhere new, for sure. I think it’s time for me to start out fresh. It’s no fun sticking around home base when your best friend is all loved up. Having Farley around is great, but…it’s hard sometimes. Seeing them together is kind of bitter sweet. 

*Describe your ideal female companion. I used to have a really firm idea of what I was looking for in a girl, but I don’t know anymore. A lot of things have changed for me recently, and I think my tastes have evolved, too. I definitely wanna be with someone who’s strong-willed and has a lot of personality. A girl who’s independent and feisty. I’ve always had a thing for brunettes. 

*What is your favorite way to pass the time? I paint or play b-ball, mostly. I used to flit off to another country every once in a while, when the Quorum didn’t need me, but these days I’m trying to keep my head down. I’m not exactly their golden child right now, so it’s easier for me to keep close to home. Saves on explaining sun burn in the middle of winter, anyway. 

*If you could pick one time period in history to go back and live in, which would you choose and why? 
I’m a here and now kinda guy. I’ve lived through quite a few different eras and some of them were pretty awesome. I know Danny loved the ‘20’s, but I’ve been there and done that. Why go back when we don’t know what’s lying in store for us just around the corner, y’know? The future interests me far more than what has already been. 
Thanks again for answering our questions, Kayden. Best of luck with everything. 
Thanks, guys! Awesome to hang out and meet you. 

For those of you who haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?? 

You can purchase Sovereign Hope on Amazon for your kindle or in paperback! Eternal Hope is available for your kindle.

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia.

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

'Embrace' by Stacey Rourke Blog Tour: Review & Character Interview

Embrace 

Gryphon Series Book #2 

By: Stacey Rourke

Published By: Anchor Group

Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her. 

Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

Being on a "spoiler free" blog is equal parts wonderful and frustrating. And the reason for that is because on one hand, it's great knowing that my review might make someone decide to pick up a book, while on the other, I can't gush or fangirl, and that's annoying. Do not fret, readers, I'm not gonna spoil anything- Really, I- No... Okay... Review time.

"Embrace" is the second book in The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke. I was lucky enough to get this blog tour on my To-Do list, and when I read the summary, I was...well, my hopes weren't high. Most every book where someone is "The Chosen One" bores me to death because all they do is sit and whine to the point where I am rooting for the bad guys to kick their butt. Thankfully, as I was reading this, I was pleasantly surprised. This book is awesome!

Celeste isn't whiny at all, and I love it. In fact, she's a lot like me--awkward and loud and sarcastic and awesome. I could relate to almost everything she said, and I didn't find myself stopping and thinking, "And now she'll do this and he'll do that and duh-duh-duh ope, I know the ending." All the characters, in fact, are likable. I love Keni, and Gabe, and Alaina (oh, close to my name! :D), and Caleb (*drools all over the Kindle*), and Rowan (again- *drools all over the Kindle*), the "Glee Club" and- And- Well, okay, I really shouldn't give you the character list...

The story is full of twists and the dialog and the monolog is all hilarious. I found myself highlighting way more than I have in a while and making notes to add the quotes to Goodreads. If I added every funny note, it would be the whole book though. Ha.

I love this book. I will definitely be ordering it (and "The Conduit") in paperbacks for my shelf-- And that, readers, is the highest honor I can bestow a book. :) I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a funny, fast-paced and dramatic book. Excellent!

My Rating: 

And now we are happy to share an interview Stacey Rourke did with Celeste: 

Stacey-Celeste, thanks so much for being with us today!

Celeste-Uh, I only exist in your head. You know that, right? So it’s kind of a “where you go, I go” situation.

Stacey-(talking behind her hand) I get that, okay. But would you just please play along?

Celeste-Whatever, Boss Lady. Thanks for having me and congrats on your public display of schizophrenia.

Stacey-You’re mouthy. You know that?

Celeste-I am what you made me.

(Stacey scowls, Celeste gives her a big grin.)

Stacey-Let’s move on, shall we?

Celeste-Sure, this is fun!

Stacey-So, in book one of The Gryphon Series, The Conduit, you found out that because of a pact your ancestors made you’re the fabled Chosen One. How has your life changed since then?

Celeste-Well…I was going to go to college and be an art teacher. Now I have an army of demons chasing me and trying to kill me on a pretty much daily basis. So…uh…things have been better. Wait a sec, that was all YOUR doing! YOU made me the Chosen One! Why you…

Stacey-Next question?

(Celeste huffs.)

Stacey-Are you going to pout for the rest of the interview? I’ve done nice things for you, too! What about Caleb, we meet him in book 2, Embrace. He’s all kinds of fun eye candy! I made him just for you!

Celeste-He is pretty amazing. You cooked him up in your head?

Stacey-Yep! The face and hair of Ian Somerhalder, abs of Joe Manganiello, body of Alex Pettyfer and Irish accent of Gerard Butler. Nice, huh?

Celeste-Very! And I thank you for letting me play with your Frankenstien-esque creation, however I think you may be watching too much TV.

Stacey-Well this isn’t about me, is it?

Celeste-Easy, don’t get huffy. I have a question for you. (leaning in) So in book three do Caleb and I…(wiggles eyebrows suggestively)

Stacey-Celeste! First of all, if you aren’t mature enough to say what the act is you’re not ready to do it! Secondly, your Grams could be reading this!

Celeste- I know she is. Who do you think told me to do the eyebrow thing?

Stacey-Oh for crying out loud. Moving on.

Celeste-That wasn’t a yes or no.

Stacey-I guess you’ll just have to wait and see like everyone else. So, we also met Rowan in book 2, the golden haired bad boy pirate. Let’s talk a little bit about him.

Celeste-Oh, you mean the hot demon that can control my mind with a simple touch and makes me lose complete control of my inhibitions? Yeah, he’s a hoot. Thanks a bunch for that. That’ll make fidelity with Caleb super easy.

Stacey-Oh don’t worry, you won’t have to juggle both of them for very long.

Celeste-What?! Why? Is someone going somewhere?!

Stacey-Well that’s about all the time we have for today…

Celeste-No it’s not! I live in your head and will not let you sleep until you answer me!

Stacey-To our readers, please pick up The Conduit and Embrace by me, Stacey Rourke, and look for Sacrifice coming this fall wherever fine books are sold.

Celeste-Writers block will look like nothing compared to the sit in I’m staging until you answer me! Not one creative thought will leak out! Don’t act like you can’t hear me!

Stacey-Also catch a special Gryphon Series short in the Paranormal Days Gone Awry Anthology releasing this Halloween by Anchor Group Publishing.

Celeste-Ever gotten your butt kicked by a figment of your imagination? ‘Cause your itching for it, Rourke.

Stacey-Thank you to our guest, Celeste, for her time and thank you all for joining us. Happy reading!

Celeste-You. Me. Parking lot. Now.

You can purchase Embrace: 

Amazon

Smashwords

Writing is something I have always done. I can remember in elementary school creating stories that I would stand up and read aloud to my classmates…whether they liked it or not. As I grew older I didn’t flaunt my writing as freely. It became something I did just for me to vent my teenage angst, or chronicle my journey to adulthood. I never thought about becoming a writer because that title prompted the visual of a grey-haired man in a tweed smoking jacket with suede elbow patches, slaving over an old fashion typewriter while puffing away on a pipe. No way was that stuffy kind of life for me. (Plus tweed is itchy.) Instead I wanted to be in the spotlight! I wanted to be–pause for dramatic effect–an actress! I gave it my best shot, too. Got about as far as any aspiring actress can get in Flint, Michigan. Which is exactly no where. But I did get two great things out of my time delving into the theatrical world; I gained the ability to act out the scenes I write to make sure they’re believable (yes, I really do that and no, you can’t watch) and I met my amazing husband. 

My theater ambitions behind me, I decided to do the “mature,” “grown up” thing and went back to college. As I worked toward my Bachelor’s degree in marketing I did a lot of writing. Essays, research papers, PowerPoint presentations. All of it mandatory, none of it what I would ever call fun. Even then, becoming a writer never entered my mind. No, then I was going to be a business tycoon…or somethin’. Truth be told, I never picked writing. It picked me. During my time as a stay at home mom I needed an outlet to give me a mental break from diapers, formula and midnight feedings. That’s when my hands found their way back to the keyboard. Story ideas began coming at such an incessant rate that my rapidly clicking fingers couldn’t keep up. Post-It notes and scrapes of paper with story ideas decorated every inch of our house. In mid-conversation with my husband I would dart off to jot down things that would come to me. Sweet guy my hubby is, he would just shake his head at my obvious rudeness and hold my place in the conversation. 

My first book was completed for an entire year before I told anyone about it. I outed myself as an author and then sent out my first round of query letters to literary agents. Surely, it would be picked up immediately and become an overnight success! Yeah, not so much. For two years I got rejection, after rejection, after rejection, after rejection…you get the idea. Thankfully with the ever increasing pile of rejections came feedback. I digested all the suggestions and applied the usable ones to my manuscript. Little by little, the rough edges were chipped away and the diamond shone through. The work paid off when I received an email from a publisher offering me a contract on The Conduit.

It’s been a long road, and it ain’t over yet. But now, at thirty-mumble, mumble years old I finally know what I wanna be when I grow up–-a writer.

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Anchor Publishing

Soveriegn Hope by Frankie Rose Blog Tour: Review, Character Interview & Giveaway

Everyone has a soul

Some are just worth more than others

Farley Hope was seventeen when her mother disappeared. In the last six months not much has changed, except that her eighteenth birthday came and went and still no sign of Moira. Her life is just as complicated as it always was. Since her father died in a car crash before she was even born, she’s officially parentless, and to top it all off she’s still suffering from the hallucinations. Mind-splitting, vivid hallucinations- the kind prone to induce night terrors and leave you whimpering under your covers like a baby.

The last thing on her mind is boys. Farley is on break from St. Judes’ when she meets Daniel. It’s not some casual run in at a party, or even a blind date with friends, though. Daniel is the guy following her in his 1970′s Dodge Charger; the guy standing at her window in the LA lunch hour traffic, trying to persuade her to leave everything behind and follow him. And he's hot as all hell. 

The moment Farley lays eyes on Daniel, everything changes. He is cold and withdrawn, but there are cracks in his harsh veneer- cracks that betray the secrets he is trying so hard to hide. Farley is drawn into a world that will shake apart everything she thought she ever knew. There are truths out there that she must learn: that a person’s soul is their only real currency, and there are people who would do anything to take hers; that loving someone can hurt so much more than hating them; but, most importantly, when your future is predestined, there is little you can do to change it.

Farley Hope is prophesied.

Her coming has been awaited for hundreds of years.

She is destined to end the tyranny of the Soul Reavers.

To do so she must die.

Sovereign Hope is the first book in The Hope Series by Frankie Rose.  When approached about being part of this blog tour, I was excited to be part of it. Just from reading the synopsis, I knew I would like this book. I wasn't wrong. It was one of the best books I've read  so far this year. I'm going to try hard not to gush, but I'm not making any promises, guys. 

Sovereign Hope is a fast-paced, suspenseful thrill ride from beginning to end. It had all the ingredients a great book has; lots of action, some romance, captivating characters, unique plot, lots of humor and heart.  It was so well written, you feel like you are in the midst of all the action. It really is the ideal book for me. 

The  characters are complex and likable; very well developed.  Daniel is my new favorite book boy. He is just a phenomenal character. His sarcasm and somewhat cranky demeanor mask a really sweet guy and you can't help but adore him. (Or at least I couldn't.)  Where to start with Farley-she is such an amazing character; strong, determined, brave, funny & loyal to those she loves.  Her entire world has been flipped upside down but she doesn't lay around and cry about it. She goes after answers! She is determined to find out what happened to her mother and she doesn't dwell on what harm could come to her in the process. That selflessness coupled with her tenacity make her a wonderful character to read about.  

The story is told from the points of view of both Farley and Daniel and I loved being able to see the story come to life from both their perspectives.   This book is jam-packed full of action and I never saw the twists coming at all. The romance was SO well done, too. Not overly hearts and flowers but realistic to the situation the characters are in. I just loved it!!  This is probably the very best book I've read so far this year, I cannot wait for the second book! 

If you love paranormal young adult books then this one is definitely for you! A must read in my book! 

My Rating: 

Check out the awesome book trailer guys! 

And now our interview with Daniel, my new favorite character! 

Hi there, Daniel! First of all I’d like to say thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, we know how busy you must be right now.

 Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hey. What d’you wanna know? I guess you’re not after my shoe size? *arches eyebrow.* My name’s Daniel Montisauri. I suppose you could say I’m a little different to other guys. I may look like I’m eighteen, but trust me- I’m not. I’d hardly say my life was easy before Farley came along, but things have certainly grown more complicated since then.

Can you tell us what has been your favorite decade so far? What did you love about it?
Probably the 1920’s. So much changed during that time. I mostly loved that time because the first cars were available for public purchase, and I spent a long time taking them apart and learning how to put them back together again, figuring out how to make them go faster. The world changed so massively during the twenties. You only need to take a look at the fashion to work that out. Life was less…restrictive, I guess. Exciting.

What kind of music do you enjoy?
I like to play classical guitar, but I listen to a bit of everything. I’m big on classical. I definitely don’t listen to much ‘pop’ music today. I don’t find there’s much talent involved in the songs that plague the radio. I love rock from the seventies, mainly because of Aldan. I love lots of indie music. The Heart and The Head are probably one of the only bands I listen to that are contemporary, along with The Avett Brothers. 

Describe your idea of a perfect Saturday night. 
One where I didn’t have to kill anyone would be nice. I wouldn’t care where we were or what we were doing so long as Farley and I were together, and we didn’t have any worries. It’d be a relief to not have to look over our shoulders or panic about who might be waiting around the next corner. Being that carefree would put everything into perspective, I think. We could be sitting in my car, watching traffic for all I cared, so long as I had her and she was happy.

What’s your favorite food? 
Farley introduced me to Thai food the other day. Right now, it’s Pad See Ew. 

How are things going with you and Farley? 
*narrows eyes* Fine. We’re still getting to know each other. That’s all I’m willing to say. She’s not here to speak for herself, but…I’m happy. *Smiles awkwardly and stares down at his Converse*

Can you tell us anything about what’s next for you two?
Next? We’re headed to Montana. I have friends there who might be able to help us find Agatha and the others. That’s where I also part own some property. I usually live there when I’m not in LA. I hate the city, and the mountains there are really beautiful. I know Farley’s not really looking forward to meeting my friends. She’s scared for some reason, but I know they’ll love her. Tess and Oliver will be with us anyway, so she’s got nothing to worry about.

Thank you so much for answering our questions. Good luck with everything to come! 
Uh, thanks, Mel. We might need it….

And the second book trailer for Sovereign Hope!

About the Author: 

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia.

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

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