VBT: Interview with Arial Burnz author of the Bonded By Blood series, a giveaway and reviews too

I was able to interview Arial Burnz. The following is what she shared with me:

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Arial. :-)


Thank YOU for having me on your blog!! It’s a great pleasure to be here! :D

What part of writing do you find the most challenging? Most enjoyable?

I would say the most challenging thing for me as a writer is finding the time to write. Most of my work is networking and marketing, and though it is necessary, it’s extremely time consuming. All of us writers would LOVE to just sit down and write. Oh, that the books could sell themselves. A lot of hard work, selling books.

The most enjoyable part is the writing! Creating stories and characters and new worlds! *sigh* Even better than that is all the brainstorming I do with my husband. I’m a total Plotter. I’m not a Pantster at all. I have to outline all my stories so I can have the freedom of creating layers and depth, and this is especially important when writing a series. There are things I’ve planted in Book 1 of my series that won’t even manifest until Book 6. My husband helps me iron out the details and some of the kinks, helping me plant all those little Easter eggs readers can pick up along the way. So much fun!!

Which of your characters is your favorite to write? the easiest? the hardest? the most fun?

Broderick MacDougal is my favorite. What’s not to like about a six-foot-three, Scottish rogue of a vampire? YUMMY!!! He is, by far the easiest character for me to write, too. I just know him through and through because I created him over twenty years ago. The hardest character for me to write was Cailin, Davina’s toddler daughter in Book 1 (Midnight Conquest), and she gets her own story at age seventeen in Book 2 (Midnight Captive). I had a real hard time finding her motivation. However, Alan Watt’s book The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within helped me find that. Highly recommend that book for any author. And the most fun character to write is Angus Campbell, my villain. Many readers have told me how much they hate Angus and what an evil guy he is. I squee with delight when I think about where he starts in the series and where he’s going to end up. Allow me a cruel chuckle. Mwuahahahaha!!! :-)

What book would you like to see made into a movie?

I’m assuming you mean my books…all of them!!! And Chris Hemsworth needs to be Broderick MacDougal. I think Gemma Arterton would be perfect for Davina. At least for Midnight Conquest and Midnight Captive. I haven’t really cast the actors beyond that. However, you can visit my Pinterest boards to see the models I’ve chosen for their appearances for the first three books.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Nutty Coconut from Baskin Robbins

Elevator or stairs?

Depends on my mood, energy level and how many floors, but usually stairs because I have lots of energy.

Hardback, paperback, ebook or audio book?

eBook! I read several books at once, so having the eReader lets me take all of them with me wherever I go, or on my phone. I usually have about seven books – fiction and non-fiction – in various stages of being read.

What is your favorite part of the day?

The writing part of the day. lol! :-)

Who is the first person you call with good or bad news?

My husband, if he’s not already by my side. If he is, it’s usually my best friend, author AJ Nuest. She’s the second person I call after my hubby.

What type of music do you listen to?

I have music playing when I write, so most of my music is instrumental. Usually, it’s soundtrack music to computer games (either Everquest 2 or Journey by composer Austin Wintory). If not those, then meditation/spa, Celtic music or what I like to call Faery Music, which sounds like what you’d imagine hearing while walking through an enchanted forest.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Selfish, self-absorbed people. So many people these days are so focused on texting or playing with their cell phones, they aren’t in the moment, enjoying the world and/or realizing they’re infringing on other people’s space. They’re just too much into their own worlds. It’s sad and really annoying. I agree completely.

Homebody or social butterfly?

I used to be a social butterfly, and still can be, but age has soooo tempered that. I’m definitely a homebody.

Thank you so much for having me here today! It’s been fun! I’m available if anyone has any questions about the books, writing, editing, covers…whatever. Also, if anyone leaves questions for Broderick or Angus, they’ve been known to make appearances. Be forewarned: They’re real rogues!! Awesome! Thank you for the warning. ;-) 

About the author:

Arial Burnz has been an avid reader of both paranormal and fantasy fiction for over thirty years. With bedtime stories filled with unicorns, hobbits, dragons and elves, she had no choice but to craft her own tales, penning to life the many magical creatures roaming her mind and dreams. And with a romantic husband who's taught her the meaning of true love, she's helpless to weave romance into her tales. Now she shares them with the world. Arial Burnz lives in Rancho Cucamonga, California, with her husband (a.k.a. her romance novel hero)—who is also a descendent of Clan MacDougal—along with their dog and two cats.


Links: Website * Facebook Page * Twitter * Amazon


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Midnight Conquest Blurb:

Masked in a Gypsy guise, Broderick MacDougal hides his vampiric identity while seeking to destroy the man who slaughtered his family. When an old Clan rival ensnares Broderick in a trap using an enticing widow, he is compelled to discover if she is bait or an accomplice, and the cinnamon-haired beauty is his next conquest.

Widow of an abusive husband, Davina Stewart-Russell clings to the only image that gave her strength during those dark times—the Gypsy rogue who stole her heart as a youth. After nine years, she is finally face-to-face with him again, but reality clashes with fantasy as she is confronted with Broderick’s passionate pursuit.

When Davina’s past returns to haunt her, Broderick is forced to reveal a dark secret worse than anything Davina thought possible. The challenge before them has fatal risks and neither of them is prepared for the sacrifices expected for the sake of eternal love.

 

Purchase links:

Amazon / TBD            



Here's an excerpt:

Seeing the erotic images she entertained in her mind, mimicking his dream, was his undoing.

With a groan, he dashed around the table, and before she could gather her wits, he pulled her to her feet, wrapping her in his embrace and crushing her arms between them. Davina’s hands upon his chest spread warmth over his body. The wild thumping of his heart beneath her palms matched her own heart’s cadence, pounding in his ears. Davina stared up at him with parted lips, full and tempting, begging to be tasted, and his mouth descended upon hers. With a dexterity that surprised him, she dodged him.

“Stop!”

Amusement played havoc with his features and he eased the tension of his embrace just enough to allow Davina some breathing room. His voice purred, “Stop? You are ripe and ready, lass. What say we indulge in each other in a more private atmosphere?”

Davina stepped out of his embrace and cracked her hand against his cheek.

“What in—” Broderick’s brow scrunched in confusion, and then smoothed as he tipped his head back and hearty laughter poured out of his mouth, his fists planted on his hips. Oh, I like her!


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Purchase it from Amazon












Midnight Captive Blurb:

Cailin MacDougal has lived a dangerous life being the adopted daughter of vampire Broderick "Rick" MacDougal, so she had no choice but to learn to fight in order to protect herself. However, such behavior is hardly desirable in a dutiful wife who's supposed to embroider and run a household. This aggressive side of her behavior should be easy enough to hide from her betrothed...shouldn't it?

After being away at fencing school for seven years, James Knightly has returned as a master swordsman, ready to captain his own ship and finally wed his childhood sweetheart, Cailin MacDougal. What he finds waiting for him is a dagger-toting hellion for a bride, an immortal father-in-law, and an enemy bent on extracting revenge by threatening the family James holds most dear--the MacDougals.

Broderick MacDougal is lured away from his family with the promise of-at last-learning a way to protect those he loves from his clan enemy, Angus Campbell. Broderick knows he's headed for a trap, but the bait is too tempting to resist...and he unravels the beginning of a prophecy that will lead to redemption for all vampires. The cost of such redemption, though, may be the very soul of the woman he would die for...his wife, Davina.

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Arial will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her Virtual Book Tour. Also, at every stop a randomly drawn commenter will be awarded a 5-Star Short Story eBook, Romance Trading Card set & signed Bonded By Blood series post card.

If you follow the tour and comment on more posts, your chances get better and better of winning. The tour dates can be found here:


My Thoughts:

As you all know, I feel that vampires come second only to shifters. It is no wonder than that I wanted to read these books as they have vampires in them. :-)

What you may find surprising is that these books are not modern day stories. They are historical and I enjoyed them. Yes you heard me right. I actually read and enjoyed not only one but two historical PNRs.

I had a feeling that I would. The book covers were enticing and the blurbs intrigued me even though I usually stay far away from historicals.

In the first book, Midnight Conquest, Broderick is betrayed by his wife and then another woman as well as a long time nemesis. In his quest for revenge against Angus, he poses as a gypsy fortune teller while he searches for him. 

Davina had her fortune told when she was young and she's never forgotten the fortune teller. Years later she married and was abused by her husband. Her husband Ian, is a piece of trash let me just tell you. I could not wait to see him get offed.

Needless to say, at some point Broderick and Davina come together. ;-) There is plenty of steam in this book. ;-)  You'll also find action, mystery and of course romance. 

I really enjoyed it and I found myself totally immersed in the story. :-) I found it very hard to believe that this was Arial's debut.

In Midnight Captive, the main romantic focus is Cailin and James. However, Broderick being sent to find out about a prophecy is also an important part. I was on the edge of my seat.

This second book was full of suspense but still had the romance, sizzle and action.

I don't think I can bear to read book three because I read the blurb and I am not happy about a new possible love interest for Broderick. I will read it though because I need to know how the prophecy is fulfilled. I hope that all is not how it appears to be. I really don't care to watch Broderick with someone else. I can't help but latch on to characters and be loyal to them for me it has to be Davina with him.

I would recommend both books to all of you who like vampires.

I received an ecopy of each book in exchange for my honest opinion. These books were engaging, steamy, and intriguing. In other words, they were both good reads. :-)





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