Review! The Marrying Type By Laura Chapman

April 30, 2015

The Marrying Type
By Laura Chapman


My Review 4.5 Stars!! 

This book was so much fun to read! Elliot is the perfect wedding planner, what any bride wanting the very best day looks for and the one that is known for executing flawless events. But when she discovers the family business is sinking, she reluctantly agrees to take part in a reality tv series to save the family business; spending the wedding season with a camera crew watching her every step. Little does she know her biggest wedding of that season will change her whole life. 

I don't often enjoy books surrounding wedding, they usually just aren't unique enough, but this one was one I simply loved! Elliot's story was heartbreaking, but fun to read! Not only does she get to help make the perfect day for so many brides, but all the bumps along the way kept the story moving and I truly could not put it down! 

Excerpt:

Hello! Below please find your excerpt for Laura’s THE MARRYING TYPE tour. Thanks!

Her cell phone rang. Distracted by the reasonably priced moo shu pork and the rumbling in her stomach, she answered the phone. “Engagements, Elliot speaking.”
“I’m in trouble, and you’re my only hope.” Perching the phone between her ear and shoulder to keep her hands free so she could continue sifting through the papers, Elliot waited for her cousin, Marissa, to continue. “My TV show concept was green-lit, and we’ve been asked to shoot a full first season.”
“Congratulations,” Elliot answered without dropping a beat. “Which one?”
“It’s the one about wedding planners.”
“Which one?” Elliot repeated. When Marissa had brainstormed possibilities for her small production company’s next reality program, she’d come up with at least half a dozen ideas surrounding wedding planners. Elliot hoped the network hadn’t gone with the one that pit a bunch of wedding planners against each other to land a date with a handsome millionaire. It seemed too desperate and degrading.
“It’s the one that follows four wedding planners from across the country to document the ups and downs of the business for a summer,” Marissa said.
Elliot released a breath of relief on behalf of planners everywhere. “I remember that concept.” She’d given her cousin a little background on the wedding industry to develop the pitch.
“Do you need more information on the latest trends?”
“Actually, yes, but that’s not all.” Marissa paused, and Elliot stopped sorting while she waited for her cousin to ask for another favor. It didn’t take long. “There’s something else.”
Elliot shook her head in amusement, nearly dropping her phone in the process. “What do you need?”
“We have three planners lined up. One in Manhattan—he’s sassy and fabulous, and I love him. We found someone in L.A. She’s a mean little wench. People are going to love hating her. We have a cute old couple in Chicago. Their story is freaking adorable.” Marissa cleared her throat. “We need a planner from the south, and I figured . . .”
“No.” Elliot turned her focus back to sorting. “You cannot follow the Engagements team for the summer.”
“Come on. Our Dallas planner dropped out, and we need someone from the south.”
“Charleston and Dallas aren’t interchangeable,” Elliot said.
“It’s still a southern city.”
“A small southern city. They’re hardly the same.” Elliot dumped a stack of old wedding announcements and programs in a box to archive. “Besides, I’m not sure our gentlemanly forefathers would like to be put in the same category as cowboys. Find someone in Atlanta or New Orleans.”
“The network adores the idea of setting one of our planners outside of a major metropolitan area. When I told them about your family . . .”
“I appreciate you considering Engagements, but now isn’t the right time.” Elliot doubted her father or sister would ever agree there was a right time to air their dirty laundry on a reality TV show. Still, family was family, and she didn’t want to disappoint Marissa. Angering her cousin would undoubtedly make next Thanksgiving more than a little uncomfortable. “I can put you in touch with a few of my contacts.”
And that was as much as she would do. With Walter’s retirement, Elliot would be far too busy figuring out the transition with her sister. Negotiating the company’s future would pose plenty of its own challenges. While Libby had been quick to support their father’s announcement at dinner, she hadn’t been as fast to offer any business management ideas. After a nasty divorce,
Libby had devoted most of the last year to spending her paychecks rather than earning them.
Marissa pressed on. “I don’t have time to win over a complete stranger. We have to start filming in one week—two at the most. The execs want you.”
“Again, thank you, but I’m sure you can find someone a million times more interesting than us to film. We’re simple people. Boring, simple people.”
“We’ll provide a hefty lump sum for everyone who participates,” Marissa continued on, ignoring Elliot’s protests. “We have serious advertisers on board. They’re willing to pay big bucks for wedding-related entertainment.”
Elliot had no doubt. Weddings were a lucrative business.
While Marissa continued to spout out details about her TV show, Elliot found yet another shoebox filled with envelopes and receipts. Barely avoiding a grimace, she removed the lid. Her brow creased. Second notices. Third notices. Still balancing the phone, she reached for a calculator and tallied up the figures. The past due amounts grew higher and higher.
Why weren’t these bills being paid? The most recent carried yesterday’s date. Something was not right. Surely their accountant settled these bills promptly, or at least he’d better have a good explanation.

Amazon Link:

Review! Kathleen's Undressed by Celia Kennedy

April 27, 2015

Kathleen's Undressed
By Celia Kennedy

My Review 4.0 Stars
Kathleen's Undressed is book two of the Accidental Series and continues the story of the Kathleen, Hillary, Miriam and Tiziana, taking you on adventures with each of them into the bright lights and mixing with celebrities and fashion stars! The story delves into each of their lives and the twists and turns that make them so complex and so interesting. 
The scenes written in the book and much like what ones pictures on the best vacations in some of the most desirable places, from the quaint restaurants and pubs in Paris, to the beautiful beaches, to lounging on a yacht on crystal blue waters. Each scene leaves you drooling and wishing you could hop a plane to see it all in person. 
The story hopes from character to character bringing you unique and different views and allowing you to see the larger picture of the four women giving you a glimpse of each of their lives and their story and at the same time allowing the reader depth and contemplation of ones own live. It also is a great story of friendship and the bonds that are shared between girlfriends, as that is never something to take lightly. 



Author Bio:
Celia Kennedy was born in Wurzburg, Germany on a military base. Her parent's penchant for traveling has stuck with her, she's lived in and traveled through several countries.

The imagined world has always fascinated Celia. She has studied Art History, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture. Her thirteen year career at UW in Seattle ended in 1996. Not wanting to be homeless, she left the academic world and worked as a Landscape Architect, married the love of her life, became a mom, has been PTA President, and both Boy and Girl Scout Leader.

The unimaginable wealth in her life is the most fascinating thing to her.

Her love of travel, the designed and natural world, friendship, self-discovery, wine, chocolate, AND love are the foundation of her life and books.

Celia is the author of:

Charlotte's Restrained, The Accidental Stalker http://amzn.to/1BcpYUN
Kathleen's Undressed, The Accidental Enigma http://amzn.to/1CFmubd
Venus Rising http://amzn.to/1FoKQeQ
Cupid on the Loose Anthology (Sugar, It's Cold Outside) http://amzn.to/1wEGNaJ
Fools Rush In Anthology (April's Fool) http://amzn.to/1FWEVxd
May The Fourth Anthology (Tears In The Rain) - Not yet released

To Be Named Summer ChickLit Anthology (Meriwether Over The Barrel) - Not yet released

She is currently writing book three in The Accidental Series - Marian's Misdirected, The Accidental Roadie
Currently she lives in Washington State with the loves of her life.

Links:


In Book Two of the Accidental Series, the vivacious women from Charlotte’s Restrained join Kathleen in Paris, France for Fall Fashion Week! Pairing Prada with Armani, and Proenza Schuler with Betsy Johnson, playing dress-up with the most prestigious credit card in your purse is a whole lot of fun. Kathleen, Hillary, Marian, and Tiziana mingle with celebrities, royalty, and the fashion elite as they critique the next season’s collections. 
But wait, where is Charlotte? Will Des Bannerman, The King of Romantic Comedies make an appearance? What happened to Ted and Liam? You’ll find out as Kathleen entertains her friends in her beloved City of Lights. 
What should be a frivolous week of ooh’ing and ah’ing everything from lingerie to lipstick, is about to take a turn. Kathleen has secrets. Dark secrets her friends would be devastated to learn! 
Against the backdrop of runway shows, the Champs Elysees, the Roman Coliseum, and the Space Needle, twists and turns take place, attempting to draw Kathleen out of the shadows and into the light. This remarkably complex woman, full of hidden surprises, meets her match in Sébastien Langevin, who urges her to reveal all. 
Will Kathleen continue deceiving her friends at the risk of their friendship -- or reveal the truth at the risk of herself? The true meaning of friendship and love, along with a healthy dose of fashion and laughter, can be found in Kathleen’s Undressed, The Accidental Enigma! 


Review!! Almost Alive By Daryl Banner

April 24, 2015

ALMOST ALIVE BANNER
Title: Almost Alive (The Beautiful Dead, #3)
Author: Daryl Banner
Release Date: April 24, 2015
Genre: Post Apocalyptic Zombie
goodreads  
Blurb
Twelve years have passed since the devastation. The world is changed. What once was a planet struggling to survive is now a planet bursting to life. The humans are thriving. Gardens are growing. Trees are reaching up to the sky and the Undeadly clutch on the planet is slowly letting go. But what does that mean for Winter and her friends? In the wake of spring, the last of the desperate Undead gather, fighting to maintain their place in a world that no longer wants them. Mother Nature slowly but certainly works to purge the planet of the Dead, just when Winter thought she had finally embraced this Second Life. Her new friends are back and old nemeses return for the final chapter in Winter's Undead journey.  
***

Review 5.0 Stars!! 

It appears that no time has passed at all, yet in the blink of an eye, a dead eye-12 years are gone and unbeknownst to Winter everything has changed. It's that truly the way of things, so many things change when we are lost in grief and hiding from the world. This is what Winter is facing in Almost Dead, book 3 of the Beautiful Dead series. But more then change in the people and undead around her are the changes to the world. It is once again coming to life. The great question is what does that mean for Winter and the other undead.

This story picks up right where book two left you hanging and boy does it carry on! This book was as fantastic as the previous two and aside from the nasty spiders I could not put it down! I have absolutely loved this series and I was utterly heart broke to have it end. Winter's story is by far my favorite series of the year so far and I just can't help but wish it did not have to end. But that is the way of things. I especially loved the very end and the "extra" that the author added to the story. It gave me a bit of comfort. 

But seriously can I just add if you read one series this year and you love fantasy/paranormal stories, move this to the top of your list and read it!! 

*********

“It’s just how I remember it,” he remarks. “Except I’m … considerably less hungry.”
“Side effect,” I jest.
“Being alive is so inconvenient.”
“So very.”
***
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Pre Order Almost Alive today!


  The Beautiful Dead



TheBeautifulDead1_TheBeautifulDead_HQ-Cover

(The Beautiful Dead, #1) On Sale Now for 99¢! Amazon US | Amazon UK She’s dead. In fact, the whole world’s dead. Every single person, apparently. Unburied and reimagined into a beautiful living-dead woman called Winter, she is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in a quaint, peaceful city with no hunger, no sickness and no bills to pay. Her Second Life is perfect in every way possible. So why is she so bent on destroying it all? After angering the mayor, befriending rebel headless teenagers and igniting romance with a dark and brooding neighbor, she finds herself wrestling madly with a First Life she cannot remember and this Second Life she cannot accept. Not to mention the maniacal army of rotting corpses who want her dead. Again. But none of that matters in comparison to an even worse problem. There’s a guest in her house. A rude, good-looking man on the run ... a man with a heartbeat.



  Dead of Winter (Beautiful Dead, #2) 



TheBeautifulDead2_DeadOfWinter_HQ-Cover
  On Sale Now for 99¢! Amazon US | Amazon UK No one said being an Undead is easy. Winter’s Second Life became a lot more complicated when the Living moved into her hometown of Trenton. Undead neighbors fight with their Breathing ones. Food is sparse. And, worst of all, the season is taking a change for the colder. A desperate plea for help to a neighboring city turns deadly and soon Winter finds herself facing an old friend from her past whose plot to annihilate all life on the planet may have everything to do with her. And what about the man-with-the-heartbeat in her house? Is there even room for love in such a ruined, unforgiving world? New friends are made. Others are lost forever. In the dead of winter, no one is safe.    
About the Author
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Daryl Banner is a writer and composer who graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. After writing several plays and a musical in college, he started composing for short films and websites, one of which is the Vamplets "Baby Vampyre Dolls" website: (www.vamplets.com) Interesting tidbits: Daryl is also an obsessive piano player, video game enthusiast, and occasional actor. He's been remixing video game music for over fifteen years, and is a passionate Final Fantasy fan. You can feed your ears with many of his remixes (as well as his original music) on his YouTube page "www.youtube.com/DarylBanner". Also, he personally answers all emails he receives, so if you have some strange desire to write him, he may enjoy it. He currently resides in Texas.  
Connect with Daryl
 
Giveaway!
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Review! Secrets in the Sky By Pauline Wiles

April 22, 2015

Secrets in the Sky 

by Pauline Wiles



My Review 4 Stars! 





The book starts with Sophie being shocked with news of an inheritance from her Great Aunt while she is still struggling to cope with losing her. Sophie turned to her Aunt during a time of struggle and was able to keep many secrets from her mother; that is until her Aunt passed and everything seems to blow up in her face. But that's the thing about secrets, there is really no peace to be had as long you are always trying to cover your tracks. 

This is a truth Sophie finds out the hard way. Secrets in the Sky is Sophie's story of grief, growth and love. All great lessons to be learned. Sophie's story has a depth to it that many don't link with Chick Lit, I marvel at that because my favorite books in this genre generally come with a bit of depth, as well as the fun humor that can be found in most Chick Lit's. 

This was a great read, with a wonderful lesson behind it and a fantastic love story to round it all out. I look forward to discovering more from this author! 






Excerpt:

No-one ever accused Sophie Campbell of being a coward. From caving trips to rooftop pranks, it appeared nothing could hold her back, especially once she landed a dream job promising travel all over the world.

But Sophie’s jet-setting lifestyle is not what it seems and she’s been spending more time in the quiet English village of Saffron Sweeting than she cares to admit. When her beloved Great Aunt Wol dies suddenly, Sophie loses one of the few people who truly know her. As friends, family and an old flame gather for the funeral, questions soon follow. Worse, Sophie finds herself increasingly attracted to the man most likely to expose her secrets. Can she manage to guard her past, yet finally follow her long-held dream?

Featuring both new and familiar characters, this stand-alone romantic comedy is set two years before Kindle best-seller Saving Saffron Sweeting. With side helpings of British tea, cake and wit, Secrets in the Sky explores how finding the courage to be yourself can be the toughest challenge of all.

      

Author Bio:

British by birth, Pauline Wiles is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to an occasional yearning for afternoon tea and historic homes. Her work has been published by House of Fifty, Open Exchange and Alfie Dog Fiction. Her first novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, was a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and a number one Kindle bestseller. When not writing, she can be found getting the steps wrong in a Zumba class or calculating how many miles she has to run to justify an extra piece of cake. Her ambition is to sell enough books to cover the cost of flying herself and a reader to London for tea.


Amazon Link:

Review and Except! That's a Lie by Victoria Klahr

April 20, 2015

That's a Lie
by Victoria Klahr 

Excerpt:


I was instantly distracted as I walked into the space. Seth. Shirtless. I don't think I need to explain my lack of focus. Or the drool. 
"You lied to me," he said gruffly, sitting on the barstool at my counter. His blond hair flopped in front of his eyes, and my hands itched to push it back. Touching him again the way I wanted to would satisfy only a millimeter of the need I have, but it would relieve some of the pain. I turned around to hide my thoughts.
"Ugh . . . I need coffee," I said vacantly, reaching for my coffee maker. I didn't even hear Seth move, but his hand grabbed mine and he turned me around, placing his hands beside me on the countertop to trap me. My breath caught, and I was positive he could hear my heart pounding in my chest.
His blue-green eyes screamed hurt and anger, but I didn't even care about him being mad. All that mattered was the charge that thumped between us. I was very aware of him.
"You lied, Josie. You're not supposed to lie to me."
"Seth . . . Come on," I said, turning my face away, unable to look at the raw emotion in his expression. His hand dashed out and grabbed my chin.
"How long, Josie?" he asked. I closed my eyes, not wanting to admit anything. "Open your damn eyes, Jos. Stop fucking hiding." His voice was hard, but it was also full of desperation. I opened my eyes and narrowed them at him.
He didn’t understand that I needed to keep him away from me. My life is tainted by darkness, and he doesn't need that. Yes, I lied to the one person who I said I wouldn't deceive again, but it was for his own good!
"It doesn't matter, Seth. I'm fine."
"Like fucking hell it doesn't matter. I haven't heard you scream like that since your nightmares after you were raped!"
The haunting reminder brought back vivid memories of that time. He or one of my dads would come lay with me to help me fall asleep. Every day that Seth wasn't in school, he was there with me, trying to make the nightmares go away.
"Since the engagement party," I whispered, looking down. I don't know why I admitted it, but I think part of me realized I couldn't hold on to all this pain anymore.
That's when my resolve started to break. How long could I go on fighting the feelings that I have for Seth? How long could I act like nothing hurts me?
"Fuck, Jos . . . ," he whispered back, placing his forehead against mine. His signature smell of hay and apple pie drifted around me, and I almost lost my footing from wanting him so bad. "You should have told me."
"I didn't want you to worry."
"I worry about you every second you're not with me, Pussycat. Every second that you hide behind that wall you've built, I wonder when you're going to crack." His hand reached up to caress my face, and I leaned into his touch. It was only an infinitesimal movement, but I still heard Seth's breath hitch. My lapse in self-control made him bold. He brought his mouth to the side of mine, and kissed me. I couldn't stop the whimper before it escaped my mouth.
"There you are," he whispered hoarsely against my lips, always seeing me, even when I didn’t want him to. I wanted to bask in the moment, but I had already opened up to him too much. I pushed through his barricade and ran back to my room.
"I've got to help Dad at the garage today," I threw out as an explanation, and then I went to hide in my shower.


You can find more info on her blog tour page here:


My Review 4.0 Stars

This is the second book in this series and it picks up right where the last one left off. It's truly amazing how much ones past can haunt them. One often finds that confronting and finally settling with the past may just allow for a better future. You can only run for so long from the things that haunt you. 

Seth and Josie's story is one you simply do not want to miss! It seems like Seth is just the person to help heal the damage that Blake has caused. This is a story that will take you high and low with your emotions and with a cliff hanger to keep you anticipating book three! 

If you are looking for a great love story series that will keep you hanging on this is the series for you! 

Book Review! Low Country Boneyard by Susan M Boyer

April 19, 2015

Low Country Boneyard
By Susan Boyer


My Review! 4.5 Stars

Oh I am a sucker for a good mystery and this one did not disappoint! Low Country Boneyard is apparently the third book in a series, which makes sense after reading it as the story had the familiarity of a series while it read while as a stand-alone as well. I personally did not feel lost or confused while reading it.
Liz is a P.I. who ends up with a case of a missing girl from a prominent family. The story revolves around this case. Allowing the book to read well as a mystery, allowing you to thoroughly enjoy how it all rolls out and the pieces fit.
I love Liz’s character she is fun, but also dedicated. With a honed in ability to break a case down into pieces like a puzzle and put them all back together. I also enjoyed the slight paranormal bit added in with you long dead best friend occasionally helping her and watching out for her. This is where previous stories would be fun to read, as I am sure there is so much more to that part of the story then this book gives.

I also loved the romance side of this book. It didn't overtake the story, but simply added to what I considered was already an good story, to make it an excellent read! 

http://www.amazon.com/Lowcountry-Boneyard-

Book Review! Guardian's of Terath: Seeking Sorrow By Zen Dipietro

April 18, 2015

Guardians of Terath
By Zen Dipietro

My Review! 4.5 stars!
Finding Sorrow is a fantasy/sci-fi book with mystery added in. It takes places on a planet similar to Earth, but with people who have special abilities and quite a lot of futuristic technology. The book is centered mostly around five people. All assigned by the High Council to investigate and settle a serious threat to the people of Terath. Each of the five were brought on for their abilities and expertise in their field and slowly become a sort of “dream team”.
It was fun to read their story and how they started out as strangers but their journey helped them to become friends and eventually to trust and rely on each other.
The book tells of this journey as well as a secondary journey for the same mission, taking them to places that are mostly uninhabited on their planet due to the poor conditions.
The story was fun to read, the characters development was fascinating to experience and the changes they went through were exciting and welcomed. The book read well rarely lagging even when other would. The ending leaves me with hope of another to follow, but not with a cliff hanger that would leave you frustrated with. I look forward to reading more of what this author comes up with and hope to meet my new friends of Terath for another journey for the good of their people. 

Review!! The Liar By Nora Roberts

April 17, 2015

The Liar
Nora Roberts



  My Review 5 stars

As a longtime fan of Nora Roberts, I was thrilled when I was asked to read this one and review it. I can say without a doubt it does not disappoint! The Liar is a fantastic standalone that crosses several genres. It has a great romance to it with several steamy scenes; it’s got the mystery/thriller feel to it that keeps you turning pages until the end. Added to that is the amazing depiction of a quaint small town Rendezvous Ridge in the hills of Tennessee with amazing secondary characters that just round the story to perfection. 
There is such a feel of home and the love that you get from being wrapped up and supported by family in this story that it leaves you craving a visit with those you love. Without a doubt that sense of home and family is my favorite part of the book!
Along with the feel good feeling and the unique sense of how wonderful a small town can be, you also get a fantastic mystery with a story that keeps the pages turning and leaves you wondering how it will all tie up at the end.

There is no doubt that this story is different from other works by Nora Roberts, but it is not to be dismissed as a great story and I truly enjoyed reading it and find myself wanting more. 

Blog Tour Stop! Confetti Confidential, They Do, I Don't By Susan Murphy

April 16, 2015

My Review! 4.0 stars!

What would you do if you were confronted with discovering the one you gave you heart too, the one you have spent nearly 20 years making a life with; betrays you in the worst way? Not only does he turn to another woman, he confided in her while making you feel like a failure as a wife. The anger, the disappointed, the hurt; it’s hard to imagine overcoming that without wanting to make him suffer. All this while having to officiate the happy delusional couples that have no idea how much can go wrong with a marriage.
This is that story, Vivian story, which actually ends up being so much more! Vivian truly has some live changing events happen throughout the story, and while her marriage is on the rocks, she seems to use the turmoil work on making changes in her life.
Not only a story, of change, but of how much love a family shares, relationships, finding love and ultimately finding oneself.
Vivian’s story is sure to make you laugh, cry and feel like you have made a few unforgettable friends along the way! 



confetti confidental


Susan Murphy will be on tour April 13-20 with her novel Confetti Confidential: They Do, I Don't How can you be a part of a couple's big day when your own love life is crumbling? Her once happy life in tatters thanks to a cheating husband, lacklustre career and a wrinkling face, Viv no longer believes in love and happiness. In fact, she hates them both. The problem is that as a marriage celebrant, gleeful love is what she has to deal with every day. With 10 hilarious and tragic weddings (and a funeral) to get through before she can give up being a celebrant, can she prove that love and happiness are the pathetic hopes of the naive, or will fate intervene and show her that what she secretly craves could be right in front of her? Please visit CLP Blog Tours for all the tour stops!

CLP Blog Tours

  Giveaway! Anyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win an eBook copy. Download codes will be provided to the winners. Good luck!

susan murphy

Bio: Susan Murphy 
is a Civil Marriage Celebrant based in South Australia. With over 8 years experience, she’s had the pleasure and blessing of conducting ceremonies all over the country including weddings, baby naming’s, commitment ceremonies, funerals and anything else that has been requested by a client. The stranger the better!   With a passion for words and a determination to one day (even if it was from the nursing home) become a writer, she made a fateful decision to attend a Masterclass with the amazing Fiona McIntosh, and from there 'Confetti Confidential' was born. Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/susanmurphyauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/SMurphyAuthor LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=379531214&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile Website: http://www.susanmurphyauthor.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13495153.Susan_Murphy Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/susanmurphyauthor Harper Collins Listing: http://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460704998/confetti-confidential-they-do-i-don't 

Author Interview and Review!!! Tangle of Thornes By Lorel Clayton

April 13, 2015


Tangle of Thornes
By Lorel Clayton

My Review 5 Stars!!! (Author interview is posted below my review!)

I was sent a copy of this fantastic book (hard copy), my favorite! This book was seriously a treat to read! It is one that I picked up and just could not put down until I finished! Literally! 

Eva Thorne the main character is not only a likable character, but so very easy to relate too! She finds herself in so many unusual and precarious positions that you can't help but wonder if the girl was born for trouble. Not to mention she seems to have a knack for attracting not only unusual men in her life (some droll worthy I will admit!) but also unusual characters. I felt by the end of the story that she could have a gang of loyal followers with the way she attracted them to her. 

I am such a fan of stories with in the fantasy genre, and like the author I would not link this book with just one genre as it certainly crosses several. However the fantasy side of it is by far my favorite. I love that Eva fights her abilities, her powers. She seems intent on being a unique individual regardless of them and her family relations. 

I do not like to give spoilers in my reviews and won't in this one. However I will say if you have not read Tangle of Thornes yet you are missing out! Seriously! If you like Mystery, Romance, and Fantasy this book has it all! I am looking forward to reading more in this series! 


Welcome all! 
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lorel Clayton author of Tangle of Thornes.
Hi Lorel, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
My husband and I write together, so we decided to combine our names into one author name. I'm Lorel and he's Clayton. I grew up in rural Idaho, and he was raised in Kansas. We met and married in Idaho as teen sweethearts. We've lived in five different western states, and for the last 17 years we've been in Sydney Australia. I'm a scientist by training, and we came out here for my career, which I recently changed to communications in order to have more time to enjoy being a mom. We loved Australia so much we stayed and are now raising a family. Our son is almost four. He's the center of our universe, so we try to fit writing and everything else in around him. Clayton did landscaping and security work, before getting a degree in visual art. He's now a full time dad but also studying digital art so he can do the cover of our next book.
Which writers inspire you?
Most anyone who has read Stephen King's "On Writing" has been inspired by it. Other inspirations include Robert Heinlein, because he was never afraid to be a philosopher as well as a writer. His work almost always had a stance, something important he wanted to say or muse about, behind the fiction. I'm saddened by Terry Pratchett's recent passing. He was an inspiration in terms of combining humor and imagination with emotion, and I loved his worlds. "Nation" made my husband and I laugh and cry. I was reading the end of that book on my e-reader at a café and just bawling my eyes out. It should have a warning label! Our Eva Thorne series of books is very much inspired by Terry Pratchett's Discworld, as well as by Glen Cook and by Walter Jon Williams' humorous "Ten Points for Style".
So, what have you written?
We've written several unpublished short stories, screenplays, and three other novels, which are in various stages of revision. We maintain a blog on our websitewww.lorelclayton.com, which first began many years ago at Blogger with a focus on writing.
Where can we buy or see them? 
Tangle of Thornes is available from Amazon in both print and Kindle formats (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SS8P6PA) or Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SS8P6PA). All e-book formats are available at Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514196), and you can get it from Barnes and NobleiTunes, or Kobo.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
Eva Thorne is stubborn beyond belief. She gets into a lot of trouble because of it, but for all the right reasons. She's trying hard to help people she cares about and avoid the legacy of evil her family wants to hand down to her. She has a good heart and a prickly disposition.

What are you working on at the minute?
We're currently on chapter four of the next Eva novel, as well as brainstorming for a science fiction novel about artificial intelligence.
What genre are your books?
I'm the worst marketer ever, as I hate confining my books to one genre. The Eva Thorne series is a mixture of classic fantasy, mystery, humor, steampunk, paranormal and romance. But it's a blend that I'm loving! It makes me excited to write it. Our unpublished work is in other genres, like science fiction, epic fantasy, young adult, and paranormal thriller.
How much research do you do?
As much as needed, and always some. With fantasy you can make up anything you want, but it has to be believable. It's easy to set a story in today's world, because everyone understands the rules, how things work. In fantasy you have to make up new rules, for magic example, and keep it consistent. You're creating a universe, and any inconsistencies can make a reader lose their suspension of disbelief. That's why the elements that are similar to our world, like how snow falls and lays in the cracks of cobblestones, or the color of potash and how it's used in dying textiles, are crucial for making the novel's world real to the reader. Those elements, which I research, are what connect people to the fantastical elements they've never experienced before.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
I've been writing since I was seven years old. I've won school awards for it, but then went on to deeper science study and could only make time to write during holidays. I've kept a journal whenever I haven't had time to write fiction, but about seven years ago I made a decision to really hone my craft and follow through on getting something published. Clayton was always coming up with great ideas and encouraging me to take writing seriously, but it wasn't until I was unhappy with my job and trying to understand what I needed to make me happy that I realized I needed to write to feel complete. It's my calling. Publishing is just carrying the writing through to its full potential, which is to share it with others.
Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?
I started longhand, moved to a typewriter, and have been using a computer since about 1997.
Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors.
Clayton and I read voraciously. He's dyslexic and relies on audiobooks, and I read what I can on the go with Kindle on my iPhone. For many years, from the time we were teens to when our son was born, I read aloud to Clayton. That way we experienced every story together, discussed it as we went along, and laughed together. I think that's why the authors from that time are my favorites: Robert Heinlein, Orson Scott Card, Harry Harrison, Glen Cook, Terry Pratchett, Walter Jon Williams… There are some great new authors, like Paul Hoffman, and I enjoy Kim Harrison, but we haven't read them together so some of the magic is diminished.
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I prefer paper books, and I have shelves full of them, but lately ebooks are my preferred format for ease of access. Clayton prefers audiobook because of his disability.
What book/s are you reading at present?
I'm reading Kim Harrison's "A Perfect Blood" and Clayton is reading "Hell's Faire" by John Ringo.
Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.
We wanted a book cover that focused on our main character and revealed a bit about the setting so readers could know what to expect. We hunted around for stock images the designers could use, as well as the right magic effect brushes for Photoshop, whatever we could to help our vision come to life. We didn't achieve it, of course, but we did the best we could.
Who designed your book cover?
The Amazon edition was designed by Consuelo Parra and the cover available everywhere else was designed by Gwendolyn1.deviantart.
Which social network worked best for you?
Facebook got us the most notice, and I'd like to try Facebook advertising in the near future.
In what formats is your book available?
Print and all ebook formats.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
I just want to say thank you, Terry, for having me on your blog, and thanks to your readers! Please check out "Tangle of Thornes" and tell your friends. Reading the reviews on Goodreads and knowing people have shared and enjoyed my fictional world is the greatest joy for an author. Really. Thank you!
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
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