Saturday, February 28, 2015

Author Interview feat Exclusive Excerpt: How the Wolf Lost her Heart by Sarah Brownlee

 


Synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of a dystopian London where thugs and criminals run rife, Skye Archer possesses a rare gift, the ability to transform into her spirit animal at will. Widely regarding her morphing ability as a curse, Skye's aim is to keep it a secret at all costs. But one day she meets the intriguing and affluent, Raphael Renzo, who soon proves to have a secret of his own, one that could heal the downtrodden city and affect Skye in ways she never thought possible...

This debut novel from author, Sarah Brownlee, is a compelling and gripping read, taking the reader into a world where both the heart of a city and the heart of a girl are simultaneously pierced by one man.

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Today we have a very special guest on the blog. Below we'll get to know her and her book! You'll also get to read an exclusive excerpt. She's very sweet and I look forward to reading books by her. Without further ado...

1. We are so happy to have you on the blog today. What got you started writing?

Thank you, it is a pleasure to be here! As to writing, I can't remember exactly when, why or how I started writing, other than that I was extremely young and it was something I felt I had to "do". Trying to fathom it in later years, I can only conclude that I came to Earth with a mission - to tell stories!

2. Tell us about your book?

It's a Young Adult Paranormal Romance called 'How the Wolf Lost Her Heart'. It is set two hundred years down the line in a dystopian London where thugs and criminals run the city. Skye Archer is our main character; she happens to be a Morpher (someone who can transform into their spirit animal at will). One day, when she is almost attacked by a gang of thugs, a man called Raphael Renzo comes to her aid. It all kicks off from there. There's romance, action, humour, tragedy and heartbreak, pretty much all rolled into one.

3. What is your current WIP?

I'm working on a couple at the moment, both the sequel and prequel to 'How the Wolf Lost Her Heart'. The sequel is somewhat darker and delves more into the historical side as opposed to the romantic side; by contrast, the prequel is much more light-hearted and also suitable for children. This one throws us right back to modern-day London and tells how Morphers came to exist in the first place.

4. We want to know what your favorite book of all time is!

'The Eagle has Landed' by Jack Higgins, a war novel set during World War II. It tells of a plot to kidnap Winston Churchill and highlights that sometimes there are good men fighting for a rotten cause. It's insightful, clever and powerful. I highly recommend.

5. Who is your current book boyfriend?

Peeta Mellark *giggles*

6. What do you like to do outside of writing?

Eat. I'm a particular fan of fish and meat, particularly sashimi and steak. Also, despite being a rather tuneless crooner, I enjoy some karaoke every now and then. I am half-Filipino and karaoke is an extremely popular past-time among Filipinos; I can't recall a time when we didn't have a karaoke machine in our house!

7. Favorite movie?

Wow, that's difficult. Probably Constantine.

8. Are you a fan of Fifty Shades?

I am an admirer of the success E.L. James has achieved with her books. What writer doesn't dream of their work exploding as a worldwide phenomenon? Incidentally, we come from the same town whereby on a number of occasions I would bump into Mr. E.L James and we would walk our dogs in the local park. When he told me some years ago that his wife was writing a book online, I had no idea it would become the bestselling Fifty Shades of Grey series! I applaud their success and wish them the very best.


9. When writing, is there anything you must have? Such a diet coke, coffee, Charlie Hunnam, etc ;)

Tea is often a desirable requirement, particularly white tea. Please don't ever hesitate to talk to me about tea - I find it makes for highly pleasant conversation!
Write. Keep writing. Let the words spill out. The more you write, the better you get.

Focus. I'm one writer who has struggled with distraction for years; sometimes I still do. But like anything worth doing, it takes dedication, hard work and discipline.

Don't be disheartened. You'll get knocked down numerous times, both from people who reject your work to critics who verbally thrash it. You have to keep going anyway - like Teddy Roosevelt said, "It's not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena." Not everyone will love your work - what matters is that you love to write. So don't ever give up.


Excerpt:
‘Children were screaming. Buildings burned with unstoppable flames; in the distance, the tall, erect shopping centre that had once been Westfields looked like nothing more than a vast ball of fire. A woman cried out in terrror as she was snatched by a gang of men in balaclavas and dragged into the middle of the road where they proceeded to strip her and brutally defile her. Three men were being repeatedly stabbed by another group of masked men, blood pouring from their wounds and mouths, until they were kicked carelessly to the ground. Thugs yelled wildly with laughter as they doused petrol over the row of shops and buildings, striking matches and flicking them so that the buildings rose up in blazes. A group of thugs, men and women, seized two children who were wailing in the street, slapping them harshly, and throwing them into the back of a van, which drove off amidst the horror. Several men and women could be seen fighting the thugs, but they were outnumbered five to one.

“My Lord, it’s no good! There’s too many of them!”

“Fall back!” commanded Lord Renzo.  “Fall back!”

“Sir – what of the women and children trapped in the cinema?”
“There is nothing we can do … Fall back!”

At that moment, Skye felt Lord Renzo’s pain and she howled in despair.

Lord Renzo and the man who had spoken to him dashed away from the burning buildings and from the terrified screams. To their left, a man screamed at them, pleading with them to save him as he was battered with bargepoles by a gang of masked men. But they kept on going. They could not help him. They would be slaughtered if they remained and then this nightmare would never end. Everywhere they turned, buildings burned, people were being killed, thugs laughed uproariously at the evil they had created; policemen lay dead on the ground in pools of blood while children screamed for their parents; one child was snatched away into the darkness by a masked man; two hysterical girls had been pinned to a wall and several thugs were shooting at them with guns from a distance as though they were playing a sick game of darts; Lord Renzo and his companion kept running, but there was no escaping the terror …’

About the Author:
Sarah Brownlee is a Young Adult and Children's author based in London, England. Her debut YA novel 'How the Wolf Lost Her Heart' is available on Amazon and all good online Ebook retailers and can be viewed here: How the Wolf Lost Her Heart.

Sarah is a prolific freelance writer who has worked for a number of establishments internationally and at home. She has been featured on Konami UK, the Good Web Guide and in the 'Phenomena' magazine which is distributed in the UK, Canada and Russia among others. Her personal blog Outside the Box reaches an international audience, with hundreds of daily readers.

When Sarah is not writing, she can usually be found walking dogs or eating copious amounts of sashimi.
 

Buy Links:
 

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Release Blitz feat Review:
Fire Down Below by Debra Anastasia!!





Buy Here

Amazon / Amazon UK / / iBooks





Dove Glitch is embarrassed about everything above her knees and below her belly button. When she has to fill a delicate, embarrassing prescription the last thing she needs is a sexy-as-hell (and brand spanking new) pharmacist behind the counter.

Johnson Fitzwell’s first day of his dream career also happens to coincide with the exact moment Dove needs her feminine meds filled. His glorious voice is way too loud–as in, he should be counting down the hits with Ryan Seacrest kind of loud. Thanks to Johnson’s handsome face and gorgeous jaw line, Dove dives headlong into her waking nightmare and asks for a vagina-scented cream.

How could she not fall for him? Dove's only active goal now is to get Johnson to kiss her right on the lips. Either set. However, his horrible girlfriend is one of many obstacles preventing her from making that fantasy a reality. When Dove defends Johnson in the most unhygienic, unconventionally gross way in the middle of a crowded restaurant, their tender, slightly tantric relationship is off to a galloping, farting start.

Each print copy of this book will be dipped in holy water by my mom, and glared at by my father as he purses his lips. Neither will help. So, drop your pants and turn to the left and cough. I hope you're not allergic to latex, because it’s time to fill your prescription. Anally.

Tiffany's Review:

WOW! That is neither a good wow, nor a bad wow. More like scratching my head in a “huh, what the hell did I just read wow?” I started Fire Down Below with little knowledge about the book other than having read the blurb and thinking it was a practical joke. I figured ah, what the hell? It sounds hilarious, I will give it a shot. It did not disappoint. It was so hilarious in some parts that I was quite literally rolling on the floor in laughter.

Fire Down Below is a story of unending, torturous embarrassment for our poor Heroine Dove Glitch. Her body and its functions have more issues than Playboy magazine. Everything from a yeast infection to a crotch set on fire by hair remover cream. The poor girl’s cooter couldn’t catch the much needed break nor could her fragile ego. The one thing I loved about her though was that she took all of her sh** in stride. She was witty around those she was comfortable with, especially Duke - her nosy, filled with gas neighbor/friend. Dove’s friendship with Duke was surprising and probably the highlight of the book for me.

This little snippet was definitely one of my favorites:

“You’re rocking the full monty? A fur bikini? A wheezing wildebeest? Well, I’ll be your fu**ing Hairy Plotter. Hold up.” Duke waddled around in his homemade craziness and returned quickly with a tube of what looked like lotion. “This here? I used it on my face. Seven minutes and I was slippery like a nipple in oil.”

I was quite possibly dead after that. I had tears streaming down cheeks from laughing so hard.

She was definitely a different person entirely in front of Johnson. She was so shy and stammered around her words so much with him that it was painful at times. She would have moments of clarity and blurt out things no one should ever hear and you just wanted to clamp her mouth shut with a stapler. I think that would have even been less painful.

Johnson Fitzwell loved his job as a pharmacist. He was gorgeous, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and spoke far too loudly about Doves enflamed nether regions. Despite all of Doves stammering and unfortunate bodily function mishaps, he found her endearing. Real. He said plenty of times how much he loved that Dove had her flaws.

I wanted to wring his girlfriend Beth’s neck in more than one chapter. The chick was just gosh awful. It irked me a bit how he settled with her and let Beth drag him around by his balls.

When it came to Dove and Johnson, I unfortunately didn’t feel a lot of a connection. Other than him finding her charming and Dove thinking that Johnson hung the moon with his passion for his job and his gorgeous looks. I felt like Johnson was wishy-washy with his feelings and came off as a little bit of a pansy.

I greatly enjoyed the side characters. They were there, but didn’t take over the story, nor did they get lost in the pages. I kind of want to live in Doves apartment complex. I would never be at a loss of entertainment that’s for sure.

All in all this was a 4-star read for me. I liked it I found it hilarious. Lots of great dialogue and it kept a steady pace. Never a real lull in the story. A completely easy read that surprised the heck out of me. Debra Anastasia did a wonderful job of keeping me engaged with the story and characters. Every time Dove would experience something mortifying, I could actually feel myself cringe, blush and want to hide under a rock from embarrassment. She made the reader feel like they too were part of the story. I gave it 4 stars though, because it’s not a book I would normally be inclined to read. There were parts that although were funny started to feel a little repetitious. Duke could only fart so many times, before I screamed at my screen and shouted “oh for heaven’s sake we know he freakin’ farts like a whoopi cushion… nonstop, but enough is enough. Make him pick his boogers or scratch his nuts a little more instead.” Dove’s obsession with how gorgeous she thought Johnson was started to grate a little on my nerves as well. Still the writing was good and the characters were original and hilarious. There is a slight cliff hanger at the end, but it didn’t make me crazy. I will probably read the next book in the series, because my curiosity has got the best of me and I want to know how the story continues.


Oh God. We’re talking about me being naked,in the shower with cooter cream. Please world, end. Kill me.

“I know it’s not soap. I just … if it’s scented … I can’t do scented. Flowers and stuff like that. Fruit-flavored soaps make… things… burnish.” She could tell from the peeks at his face Mr. Fitzwell had never stepped foot in bath and lotion store, wanting to try the array of fun fragrances. Nor had he purchased Peppermint Candy shower gel, foamed up his nether regions, and felt like he had dipped them in lava. Dove crossed and uncrossed her legs at the memory.

Mr.Fitzwell seemed concerned. “Okay, just a heads-up. It’s definitely not good to put any fruits or plant life near your genitals.” He made a V with his hands and formed his own pretend vagina in front of his pants.

Dove covered her eyes and tried to defend herself because now she could hear the sickly older woman beating her supporters with a purse.

Dove’s mumbling got louder with her embarrassment. “I don’t put weird things down… there. Just make sure that the cream’s vagina-scented. Just plain. For vaginas.” She kept her eyes on the counter.


 
-->
There are a lot of eyes in Debra Anastasia’s house in Maryland. First, her own creepy peepers are there, staring at her computer screen. She’s made two more sets of eyes with her body, and the kids they belong to are amazing. The poor husband is still looking at her after 17 years of marriage. At least he likes to laugh. Then the freaking dogs are looking at her—six eyeballs altogether, though the old dog is blind. And the cat watches her too, mostly while knocking stuff off the counter and doing that internal kitty laugh when Deb can’t catch the items fast enough.
           Debra has a smattering of books in a few genres. There are two in the Seraphim Series and three in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series with a prequel, Poughkeepsie Begins in the near future. Fire Down Below is the first in the comedic Gynzaule Series. The second, Fire in the Hole, will be published in late 2015. The Revenger, a dark paranormal romance will debut this summer. And last, a novella called Late Night with Andres is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared...


 
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Friday, February 27, 2015

Pre-Release Blitz:
Hell's Kitchen by Hart Saint Germain




Title: Hell’s Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen #1)
Author: Hart Saint Germain
Release Date: March 3, 2015

Pre-Order:

iBooks





The *NEW* Blurb:

Hell’s Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen #1)

*From International Bestselling authors Callie Hart and Lili St. Germain comes a tale of two families co-existing in a melting pot of violence, murder and drugs in the seedy underbelly of New York City*

Hell’s Kitchen

Theo and Sal Barbieri are brothers, tasked by their Mafioso father Roberto with a very clear purpose: kidnap Kaitlin McLaughlin. The beautiful daughter of Roberto’s Irish enemy. It’s high time Kaitlin was punished for her father’s sins—not to mention, her own.

And Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin is a roaring success… until it isn’t. When Kaitlin escapes into the busy streets of New York City, it’s a race against the clock to find her before Sal and Theo become the hunted.

Zeth Mayfair has traded his life as a hitman for a quieter existence, but it isn’t long before the past catches up with him in the form of Roberto Barbieri. Will he succumb to the lure of power that Roberto is offering? Or will he retaliate by killing every last Barbieri in New York to get them off his back?

Jason Ross is running. Woken in the night by a tip that the Gypsy Brothers are coming for him, he packs a bag and gets his girlfriend the hell out of dodge. Arriving in New York City in the midst of a heatwave is one thing, but being tailed by an entire drug cartel is another.

Worlds collide in Hell’s Kitchen as secrets come to light and sins are punished. Because we might be different in the light of day, but in the darkness, we’re all connected somehow.

Hell’s Kitchen is a serial comprising three volumes: Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca and Bleecker Street. Volume One releases on March 3rd with a limited-time sale price of 99 cents.

Meet Some of the Players:






About The Authors:


Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and molding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.

Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.

Follow Her Here: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads



Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.

She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.

Follow Her Here: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Signed Giveaway- Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard




I bring to you a very special giveaway! Professor Emerson (signed!) and a $25.00 Sephora Giftcard. If you haven't yet read the trilogy, you've been missing out. Seriously! Get on that real quick. Anyways, as I stated, this is a signed edition for you to add to your at home library. One winner will go home with all that's pictured below. Oh, and it's opened internationally! When the giveaway ends, the winner will have up to 48 hours to claim the prize otherwise it goes to a new owner. Thank you for being so great! Break a leg everyone ;)




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Synopsis-
Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption.

When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide.

An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.
 
Review:
"Sometimes goodness doesn't tell everything it knows. Sometimes goodness waits fir the appropriate time and does the best it can with what it has." 

Gabriel's Inferno was my favorite type of romance. It doesn't go the traditional route and for that I was grateful. Its all about learning how to love and accept love. Gabriel and Julia are the definition of flawed but oh if it didn't make me love them even more.

"If I have a soul, it' s yours."

Gabriel Emerson is a respectable scholar who teaches the fine works of Dante. There's more to him than meets the eye though. See, Mr. Emerson is a possessive, alpha-type man, and I know most can't help but swoon at that. But we also know that behind the facade, there lies real pain. He can also be quite talker and he knows how to cater to a woman. We start to see that Gabriel has a troubled past and it and as a reader you want to read more and know more just so that the mystery behind Gabriel isn't a mystery anymore.

Sweet Julia, whom I can identify with very much, is caught daydreaming in class when the enigmatic Gabriel call son her. Right away, you're left feeling that Emerson is a huge douche bag and Julia is left feeling rather embarrassed. From the moment the two meet there are sparks. But it's completely and fully forbidden! A teacher and student being together is strictly prohibited. Will Gabriel and Julia find a way around that?

"If I am the darkness then you are the stars."

One of the things I loved most about Gabriel's Inferno was the writing. It was quite simply breathtaking and poetic. The way the words ran together made the book so beautiful. I'm not too familiar with what the book is based on, and that's Dante's Inferno. From what I understand the two main characters are loosely based on Dante and Beatrice. I think weaving in your own spin to a story is always so cool. It's definitely opened up my eyes to be more cultural with all sorts of books I wouldn't normally read.

This is a sexy read that you won't want to let pass up anytime soon. Full of so much beauty, I highly recommend reading this super hot forbidden romance.

Buy Links:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
B&N

About the Author-

My newest book is "The Raven," which released February 3rd. Its prequel, "The Prince," was released January 20th.

I am honoured to have had my novels appear on the New York Times and USAToday Bestseller lists.

I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. "Gabriel's Inferno" was a Semifinalist for Best Romance in 2011 and "Gabriel's Rapture" was a Finalist for Best Romance in 2012, in the Goodreads Choice Awards, as well. The final novel in The Gabriel Series, "Gabriel's Redemption," debuted at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was a Finalist for a 2014 Goodreads Choice Award as Best Romance.

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, food, drink, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House.

For more information, see my Twitter account or my website.

I also do not check my Goodreads email.

To email me, please use the below addy.
info@sylvainreynard.com
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