Black and Blue Trick or Treat Halloween Hop with Gena Showalter

Black and Blue Trick or Treat Halloween Hop with Gena Showalter

BLACK AND BLUE Tour Sidebar Button

HALLOWEEN HOP
INSTRUCTIONS & RULES:

Thank you for joining in Gena Showalter’s BLACK AND BLUE Trick or Treat Halloween Hop! The instructions and rules are easy!

1) Every day there will be 3 – 6 participating blogs. In order to enter the giveaway you must “Trick or Treat” at the participating blogs, see which candy the blog has posted and then enter the name of that candy into the Rafflecopter widget.

2) There is ONE MANDATORY blog PER DAY. In order to enter the giveaway, you must visit the mandatory blog of the day. You will receive 10 points for each mandatory blog entry.

3) Once you visit the mandatory blog of the day, you then have the choice of gaining extra points by visiting the “Optional” blogs for that day. You will get an extra 5 points for each optional blog you visit. Once you visit each blog, write down the candy you found at each blog and be sure to enter it Rafflecopter widget to get your points.

__________________________

TRICK OR TREAT

October 23 Candy Clue

Showalter Halloween Hop_Witch's Fingers Entry Pic

Black and Blue
Otherworld Assassin #2
by Gena Showalter
Release Date: October 22, 2013

Black and Blue

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Click HERE to read our review of BLACK AND BLUE by Gena Showalter

He is every woman’s fantasy…

Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent…and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help—a woman with even more secrets than Blue.

She becomes his only obsession…

Evangaline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her own past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he’d rather die than live without her…

About The Author Black and Blue

GenaShowalter2Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the White Rabbit Chronicles, Otherworld Assassins, Angels of the Dark, Lords of the Underworld, and several of other series.  She has written over thirty novels and novellas.  Her books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.

Connect with Gena:

Every day there will be 3 – 6 participating blogs. In order to enter the giveaway you must “Trick or Treat” at the participating blogs, see which candy the blog has posted and then enter the name of that candy into the Rafflecopter widget.

Click HERE for complete tour schedule.

Rafflecoptergiveaway

At the end of the tour Gena will pick THREE (3) winners to receive:

GRAND PRIZE: $100.00 gift card to Amazon

RUNNERS-UP: TWO (2) winners will each get an autographed copy of BLACK AND BLUE and some SWAG from Gena.

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share

Black and Blue by Gena Showalter – a Review

Black and Blue by Gena Showalter – a Review

Black and BlueLinks to order Black and Blue: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

 

Description:
He is every woman’s fantasy…

Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent…and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help—a woman with even more secrets than Blue.

She becomes his only obsession…

Evangaline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her own past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he’d rather die than live without her…

 

Review:

Black and Blue is the 2nd book in Gena Showalter’s Otherworld Assassin series.  I enjoyed the 1st book in this series, but Black and Blue is so so much better.  I loved this book, which is one of my favorite books of 2013.

Gena Showalter outdoes herself with this book, which has everything….paranormal, supernatural, sexy heroes, romance, a fantastic couple, action, violence, suspense, hot hot sexual scenes, and a lot of humor in between the heavy action.  I was so engrossed in this story, that I read this almost 400 page book in less then a day.

As for this fabulous couple, they were so good together. Totally opposites, strong dislikes for each other, and both very good at their jobs.  Corbin Blue is an Otherworlder, a supernatural assassin, with awesome powers, and has worked for & trained by Michael Black since he was 13 years old.  Blue leads a double life as a spy/assassin, and a football player, as well as being known as a “love em & leave em” ladies man.  Blue works as a Black Ops agent with Solo (book 1 hero), John and others, with Michael as their boss.  

Evie Black (Evangeline) is Michael’s daughter, and she too has worked for her father’s agency, until a tragedy happened causing her to leave, and become a doctor instead.  During one of her first cases for her father, she met Blue, and the two of them started off on the wrong foot immediately. She having known he was a ladies man (He-Slut), who thought nothing of cheating on his girlfriends; caused Evie to dislike him very much.  Blue was the type of man all woman (except Evie) would want to jump him immediately.  What a hot sexy hunk…gorgeous in everyway.   He was attracted to Evie immediately, though he knew she was off limits because her father (his mentor) would never forgive him.  Evie was very sarcastic with him, turning him off on her.  But as they say opposites attract, and forbidden fruits always make it more tempting.   However, 4 years pass, with neither having much to do with one another.   Then an explosion,  that threatens to kill everyone with Michael’s agency, changes everything. 

Blue is horribly injured in the explosion, and his friends are no where to be found.  He finds himself going to Evie for help. At first she isn’t interested, though she does help treat him; but she needs to be involved in what is happening, as her father is missing. 

What follows is a fast paced, exciting action packed adventure, with danger, & violence, as they try to uncover who is the perpetrator that is trying to kill them.  But the best parts of this book was the relationship between Blue and Evie.  Despite her dislike of what and who she thought Blue was; she had this extreme attraction to him, that she tried desperately to block.  It was so much fun to watch both of them slowly begin to fall hard, with such explosive intensity, and the hot..hot…did I say hot sexual chemistry between them. Showalter steamed this book with their sexual scenes…Whew!!  The fun though was their constant flinging of funny comments between them, as their camdarie was awesome.  Blue would constantly give her nicknames…butter buns, sugar dumpling, honey badger, buttercup,,  just to name a few.  Of course, our Evie was always quick to counter..calling him a nifty toy, or Mr. Brothario.  In between all the action, these humorous moments brought out the much needed enjoyable laughter.

Black and Blue is an awesome addition to this series, with an exciting, fun and action filled romance thriller.  I loved Blue & Evie so much that if Gena made a series based on just the two of them, I would be thrilled. I also would like to say that this is an awesome cover.  Black and Blue is one of the best books I have read this year, and as I have said before, I have read some great ones.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

Share

Crash Into Me (Shaken Dirty #1) by Tracy Wolff-a review

CRASH INTO ME (Shaken Dirty #1) by Tracy Wolff-a review

Crash Into Me

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 14, 2013

Jamison Matthews has lusted after Ryder Montgomery since she was a preteen. But now that Ryder and her brother’s band, Shaken Dirty, has made it huge, she’s just one of many pining for the brooding lead singer. Too bad Ryder still sees her as a little sister. Not that it matters. Her brother would never allow it, and the last thing Jamison wants is to be another notch on a rock star’s bed post-even if it’s Ryder’s.

Ryder doesn’t deserve happiness. After his fame destroyed his last girlfriend, he swore he’d never fall in love again. So when Jamison, the girl he’s been in danger of loving for years, joins the band on the road, he’ll do anything to deny the sparks between them–even after one hot night together. But Jamison is determined to show Ryder that he’s worthy of love–her love–and that she’s all grown up and ready to play.

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: CRASH INTO ME is the first storyline in Tracy Wolff’s new contemporary, rock star romance series SHAKEN DIRTY. This is Jamison and Ryder’s story-Jamison is the sister of Ryder’s best friend and fellow bandmate Jared and Ryder is the tattooed, pierced and lead singer for Shaken Dirty. Everyone in the band knows that Jamison is Jared’s little sister and there is a hands-off policy enforced. But when Ryder learns that Jamison is the band’s new chef for the tour, he doesn’t know if a hands-off policy is possible because he has wanted Jamison for a very long time.

The reader is taken on a back-stage tour of the down and dirty life of a rock band: we watch as groupies throw themselves at the band; drinking is an art form; and for one, drugs, will be the ultimate high. And all the while, each member feels the need to protect Jamison from the others as well as herself. But Jamison is twenty three years old and has had a crush on Ryder since she was thirteen and no one was going to prevent her from letting Ryder know exactly how she feels.

The storyline also focuses on the ongoing problems with each of the band members. For one, there is a history of substance abuse and for another the past is filled with a history of guilt and loss. Still one more must face the truth about the reality of his personal life when everything begins to crash down around him. And still another buries years of abuse, behind the music.

The relationship between Ryder and Jamison begins as friends to lovers but in the end, Ryder will push Jamison away believing he is not worthy of love. Their love making is sensual and erotic but there is still the proverbial elephant in the room-something in Ryder’s past will not allow him to forgive and move forward. And Ryder’s guilt knows no boundaries when a scene from present day replays over and over in his head-what if he wasn’t there to save Jamison?

The world building brings together the cast and crew of a number one selling rock band and the fans who will stop at nothing for a piece of the band. The characters are colorful as are their histories and current lifestyle and love lives. And in the end, the band will say goodbye to one of their own and welcome a new addition.

Crash Into Me is a fast paced storyline that doesn’t pull any punches; it looks at the uglier side of life on the road and the inability of some people to stay on the straight and narrow.

If you are a fan of the rock genre storyline CRASH INTO ME is another welcome addition. But the epilogue fast forwards the storyline about one year, so I am hoping that Tracy goes back and writes a story for each of the members or at the very least offers a reflection, memory and flashbacks in her upcoming stories.

Copy supplied by the publisher-Brazen Entangled.

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Trust Me by Anna Wells-Book Tour and Giveaway

Trust Me by Anna Wells-Book Tour and Giveaway

TRUST ME Tour banner

Trust Me
by Anna Wells
Release Date: May 24, 2013
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Erotica

Trust Me

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

 

ABOUT THE BOOK; Release Date May 2013

Lawyer Alaina Simmons never imagined that she would be defending her deceased father against accusations of terrorism when she agreed to protect his legacy, a group of documents he’d placed in an archival repository. FBI Lawyer Donovan Prentice insists that her father and the organization he worked for were terrorists and that crucial evidence is in the documents Alaina has sworn to protect. Now she is forced to combat the FBI and her compelling attraction to Donovan Prentice while unaware that she is also Donovan’s suspect.

Special Agent Donovan Prentice is working undercover posing as a lawyer in an attempt to gain access to the evidence he needs to convict a group of terrorists as well as determine if Alaina Simmons is working with them. Things become complicated as Donovan becomes more intent on getting his suspect in bed than putting her in jail.
When the bullets start to fly and the lies begin to unravel Alaina and Donovan begin to explore their intensely sexual relationship, but the couple will have to learn to trust each other both in and out of bed before the terrorists’ game of intrigue can end.

About The Author

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Website Facebook Twitter

Anna Wells ProfileI’m happily married with two children. I love to cook, hike, bike, and hang with my girlfriends.

I’m an avid romance reader and enjoy all types of romance novels including historical, contemporary, paranormal, and erotica.
Oh and did I mention I have my own consulting business?

I obviously had a couple of hours left in the day so I began writing romance. I wanted to bring readers hot, sexy romances that are brought to life with compelling characters. Who knew writing romance could be as fun as reading it!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Anna is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE: $20.00 Amazon Gift Card

RUNNERS-UP: Three (3) runners-up will receive an eBook of TRUST ME

NOTE:  The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway.  If you have any questions please contact the tour promoter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule

Click HERE for a complete TRUST ME tour schedule

Share

Trust Me? by K.E. Osborn – a Review & Giveaway

Trust Me? by K.E. Osborn – a Review & Giveaway

Links to order Trust Me?: Amazon / Smashwords

Description:
When Jenifer Taylor, a young woman from the big City of Mornington Vale California starts her day, it turns from bad to worse, when on her way to work she’s involved in a chain collision.

Jeni is content with her life, dull and boring as it is, because being absent from the dating scene, means she doesn’t have to deal with the major trust issues she has with men. Her trust issues stem from a controlling and aggressive ex boyfriend, and an absentee father. She’s happy being alone, sharing her life with her friends and family.

Her world changes forever when she meets Aiden O’Connell, the billionaire son of Alistair O’Connell, who owns Mornington Vale’s largest financial incorporation. Aiden is an up and coming young businessman, who’s ready to take on the Vice Presidency in his father’s incorporation. He’s focused on the business, and life for Aiden involves working hard and not much else. Aiden is the good son, and Alistair wants nothing more than for Aiden to succeed and follow in his footsteps, it’s imperative to him.

After the accident Aiden finds Jeni irresistible, and pursues her instantly, and with some coaxing she eventually agrees to a date. It becomes apparent that they are very attracted to one another.

Jeni finds love quickly with Aiden, but trusting him is another issue. Trust is a major factor, and the question of when to give it can be asked of us in many different ways. Jeni is asked this question, when she finds out that Aiden is being investigated for a serious crime. Jeni’s trust issues spark, as she goes through a journey of self-discovery.

She must decide once and for all whether she trusts the man she loves, when she’s asked the ultimate question:

“Do you trust me?”

Review:

Trust Me? is book one of The Trust Me Trilogy by KE Osborn.  Jenifer Taylor thinks of herself as a plain Jane. She starts her day with the expectation of it being the same as every other. Waking up, coffee, driving to her job, where she is a receptionist at an auto repair shop.  But chance had other plans.  Morning coffee completely ruined and a chain reaction car accident brings her face to face with Aiden O’Connell.  But their not so nice encounter leaves Aiden wanting more.  

Aiden is a handsome, young man working in finance at his fathers firm. Strong willed and amazingly sweet, he wants nothing more than to get to know Jenifer better. But Jenifer has trust issues.  Can she let go of those issues and learn to trust again?

This is an incredible love story. One that leaves you anxiously reading and turning pages.  What starts out as a chance of fate – turns into one of the most epic of love stories. The sub-characters in this book are some of my favorites to ever have read!  Jenifer’s best friend Sarah and her boyfriend Chris are both amazingly written. I love how the relationship between Chris and Jenifer build into one of like siblings and looking out for Jenifer’s best interest!  And the twist that is Chris is absolutely outstanding!  I enjoyed the writing style and I am head over hills in love with Aiden.

The ending was one of the most startling cliffhangers… ever! I tried to turn more pages and literally turned my kindle over looking for more – then yelled in protest – “Nooooo…. It can not be over!”  I don’t know how long I have to wait for the next book – but whatever it is – it’s entirely too long!

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Author


About the AuthorK.E. OsbornI was born in September 1984, and raised in Adelaide South Australia. I had a love of writing throughout High School, but went down a different path deciding on graphic design instead. It wasn’t until I had a vivid dream about a three car pile up, that the characters of her debut book Trust Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy came to life. Aiden and Jeni, are the amazing couple from the Trust me? Trilogy, and they were born into the world through my imagination in 2012.

In high school I had a love of writing, I enjoyed writing about all sorts of things but mostly I had a love of writing about romance. However as time passed I decided to follow a career in graphic design. Whilst I love graphic design and all that comes with it, writing was always in the background bubbling away, just waiting to come to the surface.   

It wasn’t until I had a vivid dream about a couple meeting through a three car pile up, that I felt like I needed to start my writing career. I sat myself down and started writing solidly until the Trilogy was on paper. About half way through writing the first book in the Trilogy my mother stumbled upon my work, and started reading it. It was then, after she told me honestly what she thought, that I realized I wanted to publish it. The first book took about three months to completely get down on paper, and the other two books in the Trilogy (still to be released) took approximately one month each. Of course that was the first draft; it has taken many more hours of rewriting and editing to make each book perfect for publishing.

Since writing the Trust Me? Trilogy I have written, or are in the process of writing two more books. I would love to just to sit every day and write down my stories, but unfortunately editing, rewriting and promoting do take up a considerable amount of time.  The best part about editing and rewriting is watching your first draft come to life, and then turning into the best manuscript your can produce.

I have had some amazing feedback and reviews, regarding my debut book Trust Me? One of the most amazing things that can happen, is when you log into facebook and see a comment from a fan that goes along the lines of “I must have the second book, when is it due out?” A comment like this makes me feel like I have really accomplished something great. Interaction with my fans is very important to me and I make myself available on as many social media websites as possible, so readers can always contact me.  I love interacting with my readers, and will always answer all written posts or messages.  

Contemporary romance writing is very close to my heart and authors like EL James, Sylvia Day and Stephanie Meyer have been a big influence in my love of writing.

I really hope you all enjoy my debut book Trust Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy.

To discover more about K.E. Osborn, you can find her at the following links:

http://www.keosbornauthor.com/

https://twitter.com/froggy585

https://www.facebook.com/KEOsborn

https://www.facebook.com/trustmetrilogy

http://www.goodreads.com/KEOsbornAuthor

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/KEOsbornauthor

 

Trust Me?
by K.E. Osborn
Release Date: September 7,2013

EXCERPT

I turn to face him; he puts his other arm around me. We are in the same position as before when the last kiss attempt failed. My arms are tight around his neck, his arms around my waist. I look down. He lifts up my chin so I’m lost in his gaze. His hand goes back to my waist. He swallows; I think he’s as nervous as I am. He tilts his head and leans in … I back away quickly. 

    “What’s wrong?” he asks, looking hurt. 

    “Oh, no, it’s not you. I think … I might have garlic breath.” 

He laughs and pulls me back to him. “So do I.” He pulls me in tighter, and before I know what’s happening, his lips are on mine. I give in and surrender to him completely. 

This feels like one of my fantasies, only way, way better. He holds me tight as one hand moves from my waist to caress my cheek, kissing me softly but sensually. My hands move to the back of his head, and I grab a lock of hair in each hand. He moves our bodies so that I’m against the railing at the edge of the deck. He moves his hand from my waist to hold the rail as I still grasp his hair. The kissing becomes feverishly passionate; his tongue against mine as they intertwine with each other. Our breathing becomes faster and erratic. Our kissing becomes more intimate. We are in perfect sync with each other. I pull him closer to me, our whole bodies touching. My heart is pounding fast and hard. His hand moves from my face to the back of my head, pulling me tight. He moves my hair from the side of my neck, breaks our kiss and kisses my neck slowly and seductively. I sigh and breathe in a stuttering motion. I open my eyes to see the waitress standing there, gawking at us. I stiffen as I see her. He pulls back and looks at me. With my eyes, I gesture toward the waitress. He turns, looks, and lets out a little huff. He leans in towards me. 

    “Now that’s a first kiss,” he whispers as he grabs my hand and leads me over to the table. I can’t help but smile.

Giveaway 2K.E. Osborn has graciously offered to give two lucky members of The Reading Café an e-copy of her recent release, Trust Me?, as well as signed and personalized bookmarks.

1.  Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open Internationally.

4.  Contests runs from august October 21, to October 25, 2013

Share

(Never) Again by Theresa Paolo – a Review

(Never) Again by Theresa Paolo – a Review

never againLinks to order (Never) Again: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo


Description:

Just when she had finally moved on…
…He moved back.

When college freshman Liz Wagner hears her ex’s voice for the first time since he moved clear across the freaking country, she does what any respectable girl would do: Dive into the girls’ bathroom.

Zach Roberts—the Zach Roberts—is back. And he’s everywhere Liz looks—infiltrating her friend group, buddy-buddy with her brother. It’s enough to ruin college altogether. But what choice does she have but to put on a happy face and pretend he didn’t leave her vulnerable and alone in a pile of emotional wreckage?

Pretending works, until tragedy strikes and the only person available for comfort is the one person she wants to stay away from. When Zach turns out not to be the jerk she convinced herself he was, but the boy she used to love, Liz needs to decide whether to open her heart again to the boy who tore it out.

 

Review:

(Never) Again by Theresa Paolo is a sweet story of a college romance that is a New Adult novel.  Our heroine is Liz Wagner, whom we meet early attending her first day of college.  She and her roomie, Sadie, join up with Liz’s boyfriend, Joe and their friends on the campus.  Much to Liz’s shock, she sees Zach, the boy who broke her heart a year ago.

Zach had moved away and never had any contact with Liz. It took her awhile to move on, and now she has found happiness with Joe.  But when she sees Zach, after all this time, Liz knows she still has feelings for him, but she is determined to hide it, since she wants nothing to do with him now.  But as the story continues, Liz finds out that it isn’t as easy as that.  Zach is determined more than ever to win back Liz, even if she is distant with him. 

As I said above, this is a simple sweet romance. Zach, is a sweetheart, even though what he did was wrong, and we truly never understood why he left for a year and never contacted Liz.  But he was great with Liz, never pushing her to accept him back, and yet made it difficult for her to ignore him.  Liz’s current boyfriend, Joe, seemed nice at first, but in time he wanted to spend more time with his band, and Liz, did not see the obvious staring at her.  Perhaps this was because Joe was really just a protective shield on her heart, and getting hurt again.  But a tragedy would force Liz to see the truth.  Would Liz forgive Zach and be with the one person she truly loved.  Could she trust Zach to never leave her again?

Besides Liz and Zach, I though Paolo created some nice characters, such as Sadie and Liz’s brother Josh, who was awesome.  Paolo has a very nice writing style.  I thought (Never) Again was nice sweet simple read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

Shattered Ink (Wicked Ink Chronicles #2) by Laura Wright-a review

SHATTERED INK (Wicked Ink Chronicles #2) by Laura Wright

Shattered ink

.99cents at these e-retailers: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 15, 2013

Addison
She is totally and utterly in love. She can’t focus, can’t sleep. She doesn’t want to hang out with friends, doesn’t even care if she graduates from college in a week. All she wants is Rush, and her obsession for him is scaring her. Unable to handle the fear that brings up ugly memories of being abandoned as a child, Addison withdraws to protect herself. But that may backfire when an old flame of Rush’s reappears in his life.

Rush
Addison is the only woman he wants in his bed. Hell, he’s inked her name into his skin, and he plans on asking her to move in with him. Problem is, she’s acting like she doesn’t feel the same way about him. It’s like something’s changed between them. And when an old girlfriend comes back into the picture – stirring up memories and fears about his past – Rush knows that if he and Addison are ever going to have a chance at happiness, it’s time to shatter the walls between them once and for all.

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: SHATTERED INK is the second instalment in Laura Wright’s contemporary, erotic romance, new adult novella series-Wicked Ink Chronicles. Shattered Ink continues Addison and Rush’s story, from First Ink, furthering the rekindling of their relationship and a second chance at love.

Following five years of separation without contact, Addison and Rush find themselves in a long distance relationship-he in Nevada and she in California. Working in Vegas at his Wicked Ink Tattoo Shop, Rush is having a difficult time finding a free moment for the woman who has re-captured his heart and soul. With her upcoming visit, Rush hopes to make their arrangement permanent and plans to ask Addison to move in-following her graduation. But like all second chances at romance, there is always an ex with a story to tell-and this ex goes for the kill-

“But Erica has just tasted blood and she’s clearly ready to go all vampire on us.”

Laura Wright once again pulls the reader into a story that proves that when you find the one that completes you, there is no stopping the power of love. You will be lost-body, heart and soul-until the woman you almost lost-is the one that finds you first.

Shattered Ink is a storyline that also sets up the next instalment in the Wicked Ink Chronicles-Vincent and Lisa- Rush and Addison’s BFFs.

Reading Order
1. First Ink   (September 2013)
2. Shattered Ink (Oct 2013)
3. Rebel Ink

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

An Interview with Christopher Rice

An Interview with Christopher Rice

christopher rice
The Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome Christopher Rice as our guest today. Christopher is here today to discuss his new release, The Heavens Rise, as well as to tell us a little about himself.

Before we begin the interview, lets learn a bit more about Christopher.

 

 

 

 

About The Author

By the age of 30, Christopher Rice had published four New York Times bestselling thrillers, received a Lambda Literary Award and been declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. His latest novel is THE HEAVENS RISE, a supernatural thriller about a young woman who is exposed to a mysterious parasite in the Louisiana swamp that gives her the power to control minds and unleash living nightmares. Together with his best friend, bestselling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn, Christopher recently launched his own Internet radio show. An outrageous and irreverent comedy variety program, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN streams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at TheDinnerPartyShow.com, with new live episodes premiering Sunday evenings at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.

Christopher’s first novel, A DENSITY OF SOULS, was published when he was just 22. The controversial bestseller was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it due the fact that Rice’s mother is a legendary vampire chronicler who shares his last name. He served as a contributing columnist to The Advocate for many years and his additional criticisms and witticisms have been featured in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon.com and his own Facebook page, which currently hails over 100,000 subscribers. The members of the InsightOut Book Club selected his novel BLIND FALL as one of the best novels of 2008, and his noir thriller LIGHT BEFORE DAY was hailed as a “book of the year” by mega-best selling thriller novelist (and Jack Reacher creator), Lee Child. His short fiction has been featured in the anthologies Thriller and Los Angeles Noir. He recently served on the board of directorsof the West Hollywood Library Fund, which was instrumental in securing private funds to build a brand new state-of-the-art library in the heart of the city he now calls home.

Let’s meet Christopher!

Interview

Hi Christopher.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us at The Reading Cafe, to discuss your new release “The Heavens Rise”, as well as to give us an update as to what else you may be working on.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Christopher: Well, I’m averaging only a few hours of sleep a night. I’ve spent most of the last week on trains and planes. And I couldn’t be more excited about all of it because it means I’m on a book tour. I’m also tall, and I drink too much caffeine, but I quit smoking years ago so I consider it a trade off.

The Heavens Rise
TRC:
The Heavens Rise” was just released a few days ago.  Can you please give us a brief description of the premise of this book?

Christopher: The Heavens Rise” is a supernatural thriller about a young woman who is exposed to a mysterious parasite in the Louisiana swamp that gives her the power to control minds. Unfortunately, someone else is exposed to this parasite as well – a young man she snuck out to her parent’s property with in hopes of having a clandestine romantic evening, only to discover that he was a cold-blooded psychopath.

Links to order The Heavens Rise: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Goodreads

TRC: Is “The Heavens Rise” a standalone novel, or will this be a series?

Christopher: As of now, it’s a standalone novel, but I have hope that it could become a series.

TRC: What have been some of the challenges or difficulties with research etc, as it pertains to “The Heavens Rise”?

Christopher: The main challenge was working with a supernatural framework for the first time. I can’t stand stories in which it feels like the writer is just pulling the mythology out of their hat as they go along. It was important for me to craft a set of supernatural rules that hung together by its own internal logic. The science is made up, of course – a parasite that infects the brain and allows you to metabolize the invisible light waves of someone else’s soul, thereby controlling their body and actions for a period of time – but it’s made up in such a way as to feel like part of an alternative reality, not just a series of shocks administered to the reality in which we all already live.

TRC: With famous parents…Poet/Painter Stan Rice, and super star Author Anne Rice; can you tell us how this influenced you in your writing career?

Christopher: They encouraged me at every turn, and of course, they saw writing as a valid, natural and perfectly noble pursuit. They were shocked when I decided not to be an actor and took up writing instead, but when I told them I was working on a novel, they began leaving copies of some of their favorite works of literature in my bedroom.

TRC: The Heavens Rise” is a different genre then you usually write, Supernatural.  Do you have a preference as to genres, or have you thought about other genres that interest you?

Christopher: I’ve been wanting to write a supernatural novel for a long time. I grew up on this big juicy supernatural thrillers and horror novels that filled the racks at the bookstore in the 80’s and 90’s. Robert MacCammon, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and yes, my mother. For years, I’d struggled with a concept for something supernatural and I usually ended up running into a brick wall. Ultimately, it was a set of characters that guided me into my first supernatural story. In outlining the character of Nikki Delongpre, my instincts kept telling me she was mysterious, that she’d gone missing and her disappearance had leveled her boyfriend and her best friend emotionally, but I wasn’t quite sure why. Then one day, it clicked: she had a supernatural ability – mind control – and she’d gone into hiding out of fear that she’d abuse her gift on the people she loved the most.

TRC: Can you please tell us what are you currently working on?

Christopher: I’m 1/3 of the way through another supernatural thriller set in the deep South. I can’t share much about the plot, except to say I wouldn’t read it in a greenhouse.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Christopher: I try to write first thing. I try to hit a word count of around 1,500 words a day. I don’t write every day. I’m often working on a mix of projects, rather than just one novel.  Thanks to my beautiful MacBook Air, I’ve divorced myself from my desk and I make an effort to get comfortable when I write.

TRC: You are a co-host on a live weekly broadcast called “The Dinner Party Show”.  Can you tell us about this show, how can people find it, and how did you come up with the idea of this type of show?

Christopher: My best friend, best-selling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn and I teamed up a few years ago to launch this show and we’re having the time of our lives. We debut a live show Sunday evenings at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT at TheDinnerPartyShow.com. Folks can listen free through the player on our site or download our free mobile app. (Also, all of our old shows are available as free podcasts in our Show Archive.) It’s a blend of satire, humor, politics and celebrity interviews, and we like to make guests feel like they’ve attended a lovely dinner party with two outrageous loudmouths. We’re always repeating the most recent episodes on our player so you can’t miss us. We’re also available on Stitcher and TuneIn.  And it’s all free!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Christopher: I think we covered everything. Thank you!

Thank you, Christopher for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you
the best of luck with “The Heavens Rise”.

To learn more about Christopher, you can find him at the following links:
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:
The Dinner Party Show:

 

 

Share