Interview with Constance Sharper, author of Burning in a Memory with a giveaway

Book Description:

Curiosity killed the cat, and nineteen-year-old Adelaide was next. She could barely remember the moments during her childhood when she knew magic existed, but she never stopped searching for it since. On the flipside, monsters from the magical world never stopped searching for her either.

Their paths finally cross in time for Adelaide to realize she should have stayed on the human side of the east coast. Unlike college, she can’t get out of trouble with a cute smile and a cuter wardrobe.

These monsters are out for blood, her blood, but she’s in luck. They will spare her life in exchange for one favor, and that favor is named Leon Colton.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Florida, Constance Sharper juggles following her writing passion with completing her doctorate degree. She's been a lover of urban fantasy and young adult books, and published The Airborne Saga as her first series. She continues to write multiple books in the same and similar genres. She currently lives with her beagle and wishes a Starbucks would open up nearby.

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I had the chance to ask Constance some questions. :-)

Here is what she shared:

Out of all the books you've written, if you could live in one of them which would it be and why?

This is always a tough call! The Burning in a Memory universe is probably the coolest, but sometimes I wouldn’t want to be one of my characters in the story. Burning takes place in modern day Colorado and is filled with mages and magic. The world in Burning is also filled with monsters lurking beneath the radar of the human population. Those monsters are called shades and are the reason the Burning universe can be a dangerous place to be.

The protagonist of the book, Adelaide, knows this very well. But perhaps the cast of people she meets in the book (including Adam and Leon Colton) makes it worth the danger. Plus, without hardship there would never be greatness!

Another book series I wrote is called the Airborne Saga. This is the more appealing universe. Like all of the urban fantasy I write, it takes place in modern day with the one aspect of supernatural thrown in. Airborne is a much safer, more inviting universe.

In what scenario do you do your best work?

I know answering with Starbucks is probably a huge stereotype but it’s true. I can’t stay home or I’ll find a million things to distract myself with. I can’t type in the library without people giving me dirty looks for being so loud. I can’t sit still, I have the attention span of a rodent, and I listen to Spotify too loudly on my headphones. Luckily, Starbucks is good for all of those things!

What are you working on and when can we expect it to be out?

Burning in a Memory is my next book up to be published on July 1st, 2014! After that is Burning’s sequel, named Relics of Ash, which I’m expecting no later than February of next year.

Which books have been on your tbr shelf the longest?

I hope this isn’t a reflection on the books quality, but perhaps it’s the books that I want to give the most attention to that I haven’t read yet. Beautiful Creatures is still sitting on my shelf. But I saw the movie so that counts for something, right?

Paper or plastic? Paper.

What food can't you live without?

Sour Patch Watermelon. Does that count as food?

Inside or outside? Inside.

Ice cream in a cone or dish?

Dish. In Miami, ice cream melts too fast to be in the cone!

What is your favorite sport?

Volleyball. It’s one of the few sports during which I can’t terribly hurt myself when I face plant in sand.

What is your favorite or least favorite veggie and fruit?

Asparagus. Just no.

What is your favorite animal?

A dog. Beagle specifically! He’s the awkward looking guy on my twitter photo. That is a bad picture of him, but we couldn’t both ever look decent in the same photo.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

So many pet peeves to choose from! I’m going to say it involves having no coffee in my house. Without coffee, I can’t even get up the motivation to go out and buy more coffee. It’s an awful cycle. Plus, caffeine withdraw makes everything else seem that much worse.

Burning in a Memory

Adelaide’s Series

Book 1

Constance Sharper

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: July 1st, 2014

ISBN-13: 978-1499258738

ISBN-10: 1499258739

ASIN:

Number of pages: Approx. 315

Word Count: 87,000

Formats available: Paperback, Kindle, Nook, Kobo

Cover Artist: Judyta (Feainne) K.

Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N * Kobo

Excerpt:

Adelaide screamed as she fell. Her hands flailed but she never caught the banister in time. She plummeted down the short flight of stairs and nailed the bottom step. Her vision flashed black and pain reverberated up her spine. She found her feet after a moment, but by the time she looked up, the basement door was shut. A halo of light outlined the door frame and provided the only illumination in the dark basement.

A cold fear suddenly seized her in the next second. The shade was in here. Disorientation from the fall lingered but she still felt its presence. She heard the wheezing breath and smelt the bitter smoke that clung to its being. She could only see the hint of its figure in the dark, but refused to stay long enough to see more.

“Adelaide,” it cooed. The sound of its catlike voice made her misstep and stumble. She winced but forced herself to stay calm and find the stairs. The monstrous shade was tied and bound, she told herself. It could not get free.

Wood creaked. The wheezing grew louder. The smell of smoke thickened in the air.

She carefully hurried to the top of the staircase and reached the door. She raced her hand along the wood until she found the knob and twisted, but the lock wouldn’t give. Twisting with all of her might, her muscles burned before she let go. The door was still pressurized in its exact position and that barred her only escape route. Leon’s aura filled the hall outside and the pressure wouldn’t let up until he did.

“Adam! Adam!” she called. Adelaide beat on the door with her fists, ready to splinter the wood if necessary.

“Come down here, Adelaide. I’ve been waiting so long to talk to you,” it hissed.

She stopped her futile assault and her fists hovered in the air. The sound of its voice unnerved her and it refused to shut up.

“Why won’t you look at me? What are you afraid of seeing?” it asked.

Adelaide would have scoffed at the question if fear didn’t keep her so quiet. After a second of collecting her nerves, she turned to face it. Its figure was barely visible, but she saw it tug against its bindings. The wooden chair it was bound to creaked again.

“I am not afraid of you. You can’t hurt me,” she blurted upon finding her voice.

“That boy is not going to protect you…”

“You don’t know anything. Leave me alone,” she spit. It was just taunting her now, but it also affected her more than she’d like to admit. She turned and pressed her ear against the door. If Adam was on the other side, he stayed silent. Her skin crawled when she couldn’t hear anything at all from the hallway.

“You cannot even protect yourself,” the shade said.

“Then you’ve never met me.”

The door suddenly groaned. It shifted in its frame and she grabbed the knob again. She yanked the door open and the sweet fresh air of freedom beckoned her out of the dank basement. But then the shade called out to her again and this time it stopped her dead in her tracks.

“Regardless, you will come see me soon if you want to survive,” it said. “Because I know your secret. I know what you’re doing here.”

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Giveaway & Review ~ IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, A Cupcake Lovers Series Romance by Beth Ciotta

Blurb

THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN A SURPRISE FLING…

Sugar Creek, Vermont, is a world away from Los Angeles for high-powered, media-obsessed Harper Day. When she took the job doing publicity for the Cupcake Lovers, she never expected to be won over by the town’s old-fashioned charms. But that was before she moved into the Victorian vacation home of her dreams and fell in with a man whose good looks and irresistible ways are anything but small-town…

IS FINDING TRUE AND LASTING LOVE.

Sam McCloud is a widowed father of two. He and bossy, big-city Harper appear to have nothing in common… though the attraction they feel toward one another cannot be denied. But will their romance last longer than the day’s headlines? There’s more to Harper than meets the eye, and as it turns out, she needs to get married—fast. Little does Harper know that family-man Sam will do whatever it takes to keep her in Sugar Creek—even if that means taking matters into his own hands. And never letting her go…in the fourth novel in the Cupcake Lovers series, In the Mood For Love.

In the Mood for Love

By: Beth Ciotta

St. Martin’s Press

Releasing July 1st, 2014

Purchase Links:

Amazon

B&N * iTunes

Author Bio

Storytelling comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Dubbed "fun and sexy" by Publisher's Weekly, Beth specializes in contemporary, historical, steampunk, and paranormal romantic fiction.

Beth lives in NJ with her husband, two zany dogs, and a crazy cat. A retired professional performer, Beth now pours her artistic passion into her writing. To learn more about her colorful life, visit her website at www.bethciotta.com

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My Thoughts:

This was a sweet romance with some spice added in! It was a great stand alone book. I haven't read the previous books and had no problem reading this one. :D

The characters were very likable. I especially liked Daisy. Oh My Gosh she was such a hoot!

The setting was a small town and the book centered around a group who made Cupcakes for Soldiers, especially Sam a widowed former military man who could make cupcakes like you wouldn't believe and the publicist, Harper.

Harper had recently been involved in a brutal act of violence in a public place and was now terrified of public places. In addition, she had a vindictive man gunning for her. She lost her mojo and turned to Sam for comfort.

Sam was looking for a replacement for his wife but all of the women that he dated just didn't feel right. He and Harper had had a hot and heavy fling and he just couldn't get her out of his mind even though what they shared was sex only. Too bad she wasn't mother material.

They start spending more time together and he sees her in a different light.

At the end there are some delicious sounding cupcake recipes too! 

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought it was a sweet read in more ways then one. The characters were sassy and very family oriented which I love. The plot had plenty of twists, some mystery, romance, and some smexy texts. ;-)

Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

Review ~ IF I SAY YES by Brandy Jellum with a giveaway

Blurb

Elizabeth Lewis was the child of Hollywood’s darling couple, until her father murdered her mother.

Six years later, she has traded her flashy, luxurious lifestyle for one of safe anonymity as a literary agent. With a different name and appearance, Liza Winter is living the life of her dreams—one where she’s known for who she is instead of what her father did. Except her apartment should be condemned, her car only starts when it wants, she hates the romance genre she has been assigned, and the CEO’s deliciously attractive nephew is out to ruin her carefully laid plans.

Reid Harder has never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome. When his new position in the romance department comes with a benefit his uncle didn’t mention, he decides to wage a war against the intelligent, beautiful Liza to destroy every argument she has for turning him down. Still, the closer he gets to winning the prize, the more he realizes that the woman is keeping secrets that may endanger not just her life but his.

Will Liza overcome her mistrust of Reid to reveal her secrets before he learns the truth and walks away? Or will a grudge-wielding apparition from her past make her the next deadly Hollywood headline?

If I Say Yes

Say Something #1

By: Brandy Jellum

Released May 20th, 2014

Purchase Links:

Amazon * B&N

Brandy’s passion for writing began long before she actually sat down to write. As a child, she has had an obsession with reading, everything from the classic stories by Jane Austen to YA Fiction by Richelle Mead. Finally, in 2012, she decided to create her own stories for people to fall in love with. Brandy bounces back and forth writing both Romance and Young Adult Fiction (which is mainly just for fun).

At the beginning of 2014, Brandy signed a contract with publishing company Booktrope. She is very excited about the next chapter of her life and cannot wait to share her books and passion with readers.

When she isn’t writing, she can be found chasing after her husband, her four children and her black lab, Diesel. Or curled up on her favorite corner of the couch with her newest book.

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My Thoughts:

If I Say Yes was an intriguing, suspenseful romance with lots of drama, murder, danger, secrets, and hidden agendas.

Liza has a huge secret that weighs heavily on her. Her real name is Elizabeth Lewis and her father killed her pregnant mother and then had plans to kill her as well. Her parents were both high profile people, her mother an actress and her father was a powerful attorney.

Now she hides her true identity and she works at a literary house. Her boss put her in the romance department but she is too jaded to believe in happily ever afters.

She has many rules to govern her new life and keep her identity safe. One of them is no men and no dating. She manages to abide by her rules for six years until she meets Reid.

Reid is unlike any other man she has ever met before. He gets under her skin from the moment they meet in her boss's office. He is her boss's nephew and her new boss.

The two of them are funny. They both send mixed signals yet can't seem to stay away from each other.

This book was in Liza's point of view. I'd love to know what is going on in Reid's head so I hope that maybe the next book will be in his.

The end of the book set up a suspenseful beginning for the next one even though there was a resolution to this book.

I am anxious to find out the secrets that Reid is harboring. I like him but I am afraid to trust his character. 

I liked Eli more but Liza wasn't attracted to him, :-(

I was hooked pretty much from the beginning and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It was so suspenseful! I did figure out who the mystery person was before they were revealed. :-)

I recommend this to those of you who like romantic suspense. You won't want to miss this one!

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It was edgy, surprising, and full of chemistry between the characters! I thought it was fantastic!

I don't want to wait until July to read the next book, If I Say No.

Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

Spotlight on RESOLUTIONS by Teri Riggs, with a mini interview and giveaway

BLURB:

DEA agent Eve Taylor has had her fill of alpha males. When Resolutions’ operative and former lover, Dillon “Mac” McKenna, threatened her hard-earned independence, she ran. On a mission to gather evidence against a Colombian drug-lord, Eve discovers the drug-lord is helping terrorists plan an attack on American soil. Before she can escape with the vital information, she’s captured and comes face to face with her mortality…

As a teen, Mac watched his family fall apart after his mother died doing dangerous U.N. work. The possibility of losing Eve to a mission ignited an overwhelming need to protect her. When he forced her to choose him or her job, she walked away. Two years later, it seems all his nightmares have come true and he’s tasked with rescuing her from a Colombian prison. Mac has never stopped loving Eve, but does he dare risk his heart when he’s so terrified of losing…

On the run, Mac and Eve must learn to trust each other again in order to stay alive.

Resolutions

By Teri Riggs

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Kobo * B&N

The Book Depository


 

 Excerpt:   

“Dammit, Eve, I didn’t mean I needed to take care of you, I just meant—”

“I know exactly what you meant.” She added a sheathed K-bar knife to her belt, grabbed one of the assault rifles Cade had brought along, and tossed the strap over her good shoulder. “Let’s finish this. The quicker this mission is completed, the sooner our partnership is finished. It’s too hard to be around you.”

“Wait, Eve. Listen, I’m sorry if I offended you. I know you can keep up.”

“You want to smother me. I can’t handle the alpha shit anymore. I can’t change what happened to your mother, and I damned well can’t live my life trying to make up for her death. Let’s be honest, we just aren’t meant to be together.”

Mac grabbed her good arm. “Eve, don’t write me off yet. We can work through this. We’ll talk later.”

“Not gonna happen.” She pulled away.

Eve hopped from the AH-6J and stood with both feet apart in front of Cade and Corelli. “You two don’t have to worry about me not pulling my weight. I’m good to go.”

She spun around and stomped off toward Mendoza’s compound.

“Shit, Mac, I think you’ve gone and pissed your lady off big-time. Gonna make this job all kinds of fun.” Cade smiled sheepishly.

Teri Riggs was destined to be a writer. As a small girl she didn’t read bedtime stories, she made up her own. Who needed Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs when there were so many great tales bouncing around in her head? When she grew up and became a mother to three little girls, she continued the tradition of making up bedtime stories. On the occasions she chose to tell conventional fairytales, Teri usually gave them a bit of tweaking here and there or added a new ending. Her girls loved it.

After her daughters had the nerve to actually grow up and leave home, Teri discovered she had a passion for writing and jumped right in. It came as no surprise she chose to write mysteries and happily-ever-after’s since that’s the genres she loves to read.

Teri lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, one of her daughters and two dogs that seem to think they rule the world. And some days Teri thinks maybe they do.

Teri still frequently tells herself stories as she falls asleep. The only difference now is she wakes up the next morning and turns her bedtime stories into books.

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She shared the following with us:

1. Any weird things you do when you’re alone? When hubby travels I like to have potato chip sandwiches for dinner. How many people even know what a PCS is?

2. What is your favorite quote and why? Keep swinging the bat. You’ll never get a homerun if you don’t.

3. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Birthday cake.

4. What are four things you can’t live without? My family. My friends. My books. My memories.

5. What is your favorite television show? Strike Back. Black List. Modern Family. Banshee.


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I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a copy of this book. :-)

What do you think?

Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

Giveaway & Review ~ CHOOSING YOU, Jade Series Book One by Allie Everhart

Blurb

When Jade is given a scholarship to an elite private college in Connecticut, she sees it as a chance to finally escape her painful past and get a fresh start. She’s determined to succeed and that means keeping her focus on school and not guys. But her plan falls apart her first day on campus when Garret, a rich prep school boy with swimmer abs and a perfect smile, offers to help her move in.

Jade tries to push him away, but she can’t deny her attraction to him and Garret won’t let her. Things quickly heat up between them, but then come to a sudden halt when reality hits and Jade realizes that a relationship with Garret may never be possible. He comes from a world of wealth where there are rules, including rules about who he can date. And not following those rules has consequences.

As the two of them try to overcome the obstacles working to keep them apart, Jade is confronted with another challenge. On her 19th birthday, she receives a letter that her now deceased mother wrote years ago. In it are revelations that explain her traumatic childhood but also make her question the past she’s been running from.

Note: This is a New Adult novel and contains mature language and situations.

Choosing You

Jade Series #1

By: Allie Everhart

Purchase Links:

Amazon * B&N

Kobo * iTunes




Excerpt:

After dinner, we go back to his room. It’s the first time I’ve been to the second floor. The hallway stinks like beer and sweat. Luckily Garret’s room doesn’t have that odor and it’s much cleaner than I imagined it would be. He has a ton of electronics, including the big TV he mentioned along with a surround sound system. And there are at least 100 movies sitting in a big cardboard box on the floor.

“Pick whatever you want,” he says as I flip through the movies.

“You have quite a setup here. It’s like your own movie theater. I don’t even have a TV.”

“You don’t? You need a TV, Jade.”

“No, I don’t. If I want to watch something I’ll just use the one down the hall.”

“That one barely works. If you want to watch TV, come up here.”

“I’m not going to do that. I hardly ever watch TV anyway. Here. Let’s watch this one.” I hold up a cartoon, trying to keep a straight face. “It says it’s about some dogs that solve crimes.”

“How did that get in there? That’s my little sister’s movie.”

“It’s okay, Garret. I don’t care if you like cartoons.”

“That is not my movie. She must’ve stuck it in the box when I wasn’t looking.”

I laugh. “Yeah, sure she did.”

“Give it here.” He reaches for it, but I won’t let him have it. I quickly stand up, holding it behind my back with one hand while putting my other hand out in front of me trying to keep him away.

He quickly backs me up against the wall, forcing my outstretched hand against his hard chest. I lower it to my side as he leans his hand on the wall near my head. Then he slowly reaches behind me with his other hand to get the movie. Our bodies are now touching and our faces are just inches apart. My heart is beating erratically and I struggle to keep my breathing steady as I feel his body against mine.

“Jade.” He gazes down at me with this incredibly sexy smile. “Give me the movie, please.” I try not to stare at his lips but they’re so close and so inviting.

The movie is still in my hand wedged between my lower back and the wall. I push my hips forward slightly to release it, which positions me even closer to him. As he goes to take the movie, I accidentally drop it and he catches it, right behind my butt. I feel his hand there and I freeze as my face heats up. He slowly takes his hand out from behind me and rests it on the wall by my head. I realize I’ve been holding my breath and I force myself to breathe again.

I look up and our eyes meet. “For the last time, the movie is my sister’s. But if you really want to watch the crime-fighting dog cartoon, we’ll watch it. Or,” he pauses and that sexy smile reappears, “if you want to do something else, we’ll do something else.”

I know from his tone what ‘something else’ is and I really, really want to do ‘something else’ but I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with a guy at college. Unfortunately, I’ve never been very good with promises.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Description of The Jade Series

The Jade Series is a New Adult Romance that follows the relationship of Jade and Garret in their first year of college. In Choosing You, (Jade 1), Jade and Garret meet on Jade’s first night at Moorhurst College and despite their strong attraction to each other, they’re not allowed to date because of the strict rules that control Garret’s life. In Knowing You, (Jade 2), Garret breaks the family rules and begins dating Jade. Their relationship grows deeper but issues from Jade’s past complicate matters. Loving You (Jade 3) shows Jade and Garret growing closer as a couple but also hints at the trouble that lies ahead in Promising You (Jade 4), in which a new challenge emerges for Garret that could interfere with the future he wants with Jade. Originally, book 4 was the end of the series, but fans wanted more of Jade and Garret, so Allie recently published Forever You, an all-new, full-length follow-up book to The Jade Series.

Purchase Links for Knowing You (bk 2) ~ Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iTunes

Links for Loving You (bk 3) ~ Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iTunes

Purchase Links for Promising You (Bk 4) ~ Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iTunes

Author Info

Allie Everhart writes about dating, love, and romance. She’s also a freelance writer for magazines and websites. Before freelancing, she was a book editor for a publishing company where she worked on several NYT bestselling nonfiction books. She loves to read as much as she loves to write. And when she’s not reading or writing, she’s outside running, which is when she gets her best book ideas.

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My Thoughts:

Choosing You was a typical college romance, yet not so typical. 

Jade has issues that stem from being raised by a seemingly hateful and unloving alcoholic mother. Since her mother's death she has worked her butt off to prove to everyone that she is nothing like her mother.

Her grades were such that she graduated high school and was the valedictorian. She was given a scholarship to an extremely private school. Jade is determined to make something of herself. She is driven, strong,and full of attitude.

She meets Garret on her first day as she is moving in. He helps her and then takes her under his wing so to speak.Garret was caring and sweet but he was born into an awful family that places more effort on status and money than their son's happiness.

Unfortunately he doesn't give her his last name and all kinds of things happen when she finds out what it is.

There was some sweet romance, a potato chip addiction, some freak outs, snark, lots of snobs, rules, secrets, cover ups, danger, drama, notebooks, running, swimming, and an overbearing and conniving father.

There was some of everything between the pages of this book. It had action, drama, surprise, some suspense, and romance.

It had me on the edge of my seat a few times. I cried a little and I smiled some too. This book left off on the down side and I am very eager to read the rest of this series and get to the HEA that they deserve.

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought it was a super start to a series about these two great characters. I really liked it and I'd like to read the rest of the books as soon as possible!

      

Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

Interview with Anise Rae, Author of Syphon’s Song and a giveaway

About the Author:

Anise Rae grew up among the cornfields and soybeans of Ohio, dreaming of being a ballerina, an astronaut, and a romance writer. Thanks to her soul deep love of chocolate and a lack of natural grace, her ballerina dreams floated away as high as the moon, equidistant with the astronaut aspiration. She stuck with writing.

Now transplanted to the south, Anise lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her kids and a dog gifted with the power of finding dirty socks.

Syphon’s Song, a 2012 Maggie Award of Excellence finalist, is the first book in the Mayflower Mages series.

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Author photo by www.surianiphoto.com

Anise Rae was kind enough to let me interrogate her. ;-)  Here is what she shared:

Out of all the books you've written, if you could live in one of them which would it be and why?

Right now, I’m totally in love with the hero in Enchanter’s Echo, Syphon’s Song sequel. He’s head over heels for his girl, and it’s swooped me off my feet. I’d happily step into his book. Of course, when I was writing Syphon’s Song, I was totally in love with that hero. I’m not sure what that says about me. I’m feeling a bit flighty.

In what scenario do you do your best work?

In silence. This is highly inconvenient since silence is a rare commodity. Also, I do my best work under pressure. Likewise, this is also inconvenient as it involves great quantities of stress!

What are you working on and when can we expect it to be out?

I’m editing Enchanter’s Echo, book two in the Mayflower Mages series. It stars Edmund, my swoon-worthy hero. He’s the brother of the hero in Syphon’s Song. I don’t have a definite release date yet, but I’m hoping it will be winter or spring of 2015.

Which books have been on your tbr shelf the longest?

This is very embarrassing to admit, but although I am a huge fan of Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series, I haven’t read the last book! It’s been sitting on my shelf since the moment it came out. Years! I can’t bring myself to read it. Once I read it, it’s over! (I do know she has a spin off series, but still!) I felt the same way about Harry Potter. I bought the last book the moment it came out but put off reading it. Eventually I had to read it or risk learning the ending through the all the chatter about the book.

Paper or plastic?

Neither. I bring my own bags. I’m not the greenest girl on the planet, but I love my green bags!

What food can't you live without?

Does coffee count? Is it a food? In case that doesn’t count, chocolate.

Inside or outside?

Outside! But lest you think I’m some sort of adventurous outdoorswoman, let me assure you that while I’m outside, I’m sitting in a chair. With a book. In the shade. Or with my laptop in the shade. In fact, my favorite place to write is on my screened-in porch. I live in an urban forest (Yes, that’s a real, official designation. I didn’t make it up. Though I make things up for a living, I’m trying hard to stick to the truth here.) I’m surrounded by trees, songbirds, squirrels, hawks, and deer. I was so thankful when winter finally left and I could get back out there.

Ice cream in a cone or dish?

Nothing beats the pale, crispy nothingness of a cake cone stuffed with chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

What is your favorite sport?

Frisbee. I also like badminton. Go ahead. Laugh. I’m just not a sporty girl. I was a dancer and cheerleader growing up and not very talented at either. I did play one torturous season of softball the summer after fifth grade. The people tortured were as follows: me, my parents, the coaches, my teammates, the crowd.

I did learn to catch and hit a ball though. And that is why God, fate, the universe…whatever you believe in…plopped me down in a raggedy ball field that summer. I’m now the mother of a baseball-loving boy. For many years when he was little, I could play catch with him. Now he throws wicked fast and his old, uncoordinated mother is once again out of her league on the ball field. But it was so good and worth all the torture while it lasted.

What is your favorite or least favorite veggie and fruit?

I have a love/hate relationship with bananas. They always seem like such a good idea while I’m in the grocery store and yet when I get them home, they’re never quite ripe enough or they’re ripe enough, but I’m not in the mood, and then suddenly they’re mush.

What is your favorite animal?

My own dog. She’s the fluffiest golden retriever you’ve ever seen. She craves attention and dirty socks like a crack addict, although I’m mad at her cute face right now because she keeps trying to get the bird’s nest (complete with mother bird and eggs) that’s in our kitchen window.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

My dog’s obsession with that not-smart-why-would-you-build-your-nest-in-a-window-two-feet-off-the-ground bird.

Thank you for answering my questions! :-)

Syphon’s Song

Mayflower Mages, Bk One

Anise Rae

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press/Kensington

Date of Publication: March 3, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61650-211-9

ASIN: B00IPQWVYE

Number of pages: 359

Word Count: 98,000

Cover Artist: Renee Rocco

Purchase Links: Amazon * iTunes * Kobo * B&N    


 


Book Description:

Legends say a syphon can drain a mage dry. He’ll brave the danger. Will she?

Someone’s playing pranks. The body of the late Casteel patriarch has been stolen and gifted to the family’s enemy, the powerful Rallises. As far as Bronte Casteel is concerned, they can keep it. She hasn’t spoken to her family in thirteen years, not since they exiled her from society for her lack of mage power. But she’s a syphon mage, able to drain another mage’s power. Syphons’ destinies are always the same: death by fiery stake. She hides her secret by living among the Nons--powerless humans and the lowest class in the Republic. When her family orders her to go plead for the body’s return, she comes face to face with the one man who knows her secret.

Colonel Vincent Rallis isn’t letting his syphon get away this time. Not when she’s under suspicion of body-napping and aiding anti-mage terrorists. He’ll prove her innocence whether she wants him to or not, and then convince her they belong together...forever.

Vincent’s help comes with a steep price: Bronte must reveal her power. The inevitable ensuing witch-hunt and trial would be bad enough, but even a tough girl might buckle if her prosecutors are her own parents.

CONTENT WARNING: Hot, steamy nights with the colonel’s magic touch

A Lyrical Press Paranormal Romance

  Excerpt:

Bronte faced the senator. “I’m here to ask for your help.”

“Help with what, Bronte?” The gruff, hoarse words came from behind her, accompanied by a flood of vibes.

She wouldn’t have recognized his voice except for that energy pouring into her. She wrenched around in her seat to see the lion prowl out of the shadows.

His gaze targeted her like she was prey that might escape. “Tell us how we can help you. And then you can explain why you ran away from me.”

Her mind recorded him like a pencil scratching away at paper to save his image—his dark hair clipped short, eyebrows that formed stark lines with a skeptical bent near their ends. A crease pulled between his brows that hadn’t been there before. His rugged face had weathered storms his brother had avoided. Those storms had chiseled away any softness.

She closed her eyes, stopping the mental sketching—a necessity to save her sanity. She turned her whole body back toward the senator and only opened her eyes when she knew Vincent wasn’t in her line of sight.

“Vin!” Happy surprise colored every note of the senator’s voice. “How long have you been standing back there? Your energy is so subdued I didn’t even sense you until now.”

“I didn’t either.” Edmund’s voice was equally surprised. “Miss Casteel, your beauty has distracted us.”

Bronte fought to keep her calm mask intact. Her heart boomed like the senator’s voice and threatened to shake that mask right off her face. She couldn’t let that happen. Diplomatic words and composure were her only weapons in this battle, a quick escape her only viable strategy. She stood, one move closer to getting to the door. At her cue, all the men stood as well.

The closer Vincent came, the more his energy reached out to her. It touched her, filled her in places she’d forgotten were empty. Dangerous memories spilled back. If she knew how, she’d dump his vibrations out of her hidden vessel, turn it over, and sit on it like a metal bucket until it sank into the dirt with the force of her weight. She’d seal her hollow spaces shut and keep him out forever. To do otherwise would only invite death to creep close.

Vincent strode toward her.

She held her ground and looked him in the eye. “I do not need your help. I am simply the messenger. Here on behalf of the Casteels.” She cleared her throat to try again and turned to the senator. “Senator Rallis, my family requests your assistance.”

The senator’s wise gaze locked on Vincent, his expression thoughtful and full of silent words Bronte lacked the power to hear. Curiosity lit the dark depths of his gaze as they landed back on her.

Vincent leaned toward her. “And they sent you as their messenger?” His voice was soft, a caress against her skin. “The most vulnerable and weakest of them all, to fight their battles.”

“I am not weak.” She risked a quick glance at him. “I have plenty of strength to fight whatever battles I need to.” She bit her tongue to stop her aggressive tone. Arguing would not help her cause.

“Vincent, you are making our guest uncomfortable.” The senator’s tone went quiet. Deadly. The boom was much safer, she realized.

“No, I’m not. At least not with my vibes, Granddad.” Vincent’s reply was matter-of-fact. He held all the power between them, and he was going to use it. Running for the door would not help her now.

“My mage vibes do not make her uncomfortable.”

Her hold on her tongue wasn’t tight enough to stop her gasp. She’d messed up. Goddess, but she’d messed up. She closed her eyes for a moment at the realization. Instead of drinking Vincent in, she should have faked a reaction to his power, imitated the jittery anxiousness Nons felt around a mage who wasn’t suppressing his energy. Maybe that would have saved her.

“Vincent. She’s a Non. Of course you’re making her uncomfortable.” The senator’s reprimand was deceptively soft.

Bronte stared at Vincent as desperation swirled inside her. “Please. Don’t.”

“She’s not a Non.” Vincent’s words shattered her hope of escape.

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This sounds good and steamy. I like the cover too. :-)    

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