BOOK LAUNCH FOR - THE TRUTH ABOUT HOPE - BY KATE JAMES

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

We're launching the BOOK TOUR for

The Truth About Hope

By Kate James

Can Hope help her hometown that holds long grudges and possibly find love with her old high school sweetheart along the way? Come along on the tour to get to know a little more about

Tour Schedule:
April 24th - Launch
April 26th - Word Wranglers & Write & Rewrite
April 27th - Underneath the Covers
April 28th - Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
April 29th - Zerina Blossom's Books
April 30th - I Am A Reader
May 1st - Katie's Clean Book Collection & Copyright1985
May 3rd - My Love for Reading Keeps Growing
May 4th - i blog 4 books & Rockin' Book Reviews
May 5th - The Written Adventure & Write from the Heart
May 6th - Deal Sharing Aunt & Bookworm Lisa
May 7th - Getting Your Read On
May 8th - Grand Finale

More About The Truth About Hope and Author Kate James

What is your motivation behind this book? Why did you want to write it?

My motivation behind all my books is to entertain readers with stories that they hopefully find engaging, unpredictable, and morally and emotionally satisfying.

The idea for this book arose partially from my respect for Hope’s real-life counterparts—people who care for, rehabilitate and locate forever homes for the animals that find their way into shelters.

What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book? 

I would like readers to feel good about the story’s conclusion, and believe that no matter what hardships we may face, we can overcome them with faith, perseverance and—of course—love!

Do you have a favorite scene? 

One of my favorite scenes is when Hope and Luke meet unexpectedly outside a pet food store after her return to her hometown of Canyon Creek.

Share something about you that is unique. 

I wanted to write from a relatively young age, but a family tragedy, school and career intervened. A few years ago, my ever-intuitive husband realized that writing was—or could be—something important to me, and he gifted me a personal laptop for my birthday. While outwardly appreciative, in my mind I was wondering why I needed another laptop, when I had a perfectly good one from work that was constantly with me. Clearly my husband knew better than me, because having a separate computer that I didn’t associate with my essentially 24/7 day job was pivotal. That gift ultimately resulted in my first publishing contract and, two years later, my decision to step down from a full-time CEO role (that I enjoyed and found rewarding) to pursue writing as a career. I owe a debt of gratitude to all my readers for enabling me to fulfil my dream of writing!

The Truth About Hope

by Kate James

Adult Contemporary Romance

May 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Who is Hope Wilson?

Is she the girl her former hometown thinks she is? Or the girl Luke Carter once loved—and maybe still does?

When Hope returns to Canyon Creek, Texas, to honor her
father’s last wishes, there’s only one person on her mind: her high school sweetheart, Luke. The boy she lied to when she had to leave Canyon Creek as a teen, finding it easier to hide what she really felt than deal with the grief of loss. Her father’s fortune could make a big difference to Canyon Creek—but Hope finds that the townspeople have a long memory about his misdeeds. With a plan to make amends on his behalf, Hope learns the truth about herself. And the truth about love.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

Kate James spent eight years of her childhood living in foreign countries as her professional parents travelled on business. She lived in four countries and spoke five languages before settling down in Canada again to attend university. After graduating with a degree in civil engineering, she held a variety of positions in the field of real estate development and operations, and ran three substantial organizations. While her writing during this period was mostly business related, including presentations and speeches she delivered both nationally and internationally, her passion is and always has been fiction.

Kate's business and personal experiences enable her to write fiction with a deep, often first-hand knowledge of what she is writing about. This approach makes Kate's stories richer and more vivid.

Kate’s goal is to entertain you with well-written, engaging stories, set in intriguing places and with strong, likeable characters. “I hope my stories bring you pleasure and entertain you. Nothing pleases me more than receiving feedback from people who have chosen to spend their valuable leisure time with one of my books,” notes Kate.

Kate married her husband, Ken, in an elegant, ocean-front wedding on a tropical island. When they are not traveling, they split their time between their properties in southern and central Ontario in Canada.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Tour Giveaway

$30 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
5 Print Copies of The Truth About Hope (US/CAN Only)
1 ebook of The Truth About Hope (INT)

Ends May 15th

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REVIEW - RUIN AND RISING - BY LEIGH BARDUGO

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for. 

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

*** may be spoilers because this is book 3 of the series ***

I have been holding off finishing this book for a while now.  This might sound silly but when I am reading a series, it is hard for me to finish.  I am the type of person that if the series doesn't end well, it makes me dislike the whole series.  It ruins it for me.  So, I have loved this series so far and knew this was the end, and I was nervous.  I started reading and was like "WHAT".....  I already didn't like what was happening so I took my time picking it up again.  Thankfully this book did NOT disappoint!  I am soooo glad!

This series got better and better with each book.  I love that.  I love, love, love the world that Bardugo built.  I love that she has a map at the beginning of the each book so that you can see where they are going.  I was lost in this world for three wonderful books.

The characters in this book are so fantastic.  From the MC to the side characters.  Each one had a place in the book, and each one was brought to life for me.  I cannot tell you how much I love that.  When I can connect to the MC it's awesome, but when the author connects me to ALL their characters the reading experience is heightened and it brings it more to life for me.  

The struggle that Alina went though to take down the Darkling was fantastic.  I loved that the two characters could connect step into each others minds.  This book really brought to light just how "DARK" the Darkling was.  He was just a sad, power hungry man.  He was a fantastically, tortured character that Bardugo brought to life.  There has to be someone in a book you love to hate!  

This is the part that had me thinking I might not like the ending....Nikolai.  I loved his character.  He was so funny, and wanted to do the right thing.....and he loved Alina.  No...No...No...  She had to be with one man!  Mal.  Although I loved Nikolai in this book, and loved how he wanted to protect Alina, he was not the man for her...in my opinion :).  I did love their mutual respect for each other, and the banter they had between them, and I loved him as a character.  I just didn't love him as Alina's love interest.  Which brings me to Mal.

Mal.  Yum.  Okay, so I picture a dirty man who likes to get down and dirty to find what he is looking for...but Yum.  I loved him from the minute he was introduced in the book.  He is such a great character.  He is kind, loyal, funny, and just plain yummy.  He was so tortured throughout this book with his love for Alina.  Ugh, why do authors have to make the journey between two people so dang miserable sometimes...hehe.  Kidding.   It was wonderful.  I hated that they were not together and always felt like "they couldn't" be together, but I held out hope that the would come to their senses, suck it up and realize they have to be together.  Thank you Bardugo.  I don't think I could have handled it if they did not end up together.   

I was terribly worried at the end, but it all worked out for the best.   I could go on and on, because I am sad that this is done.  I loved this series.  It was so much fun to read.  The battles were awesome.  Their powers were fantastic.  The writing was A MAY ZING!

Source:  I bought this book for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising). 

She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. Her new book, Six of Crows, arrives fall 2015.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her web site, and downright giddy if you liked Shadow & Bone on Facebook. 

REVIEW - ROUGH EDGES - BY KIMBERLY KREY

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Divorced mother, Allie Emerson, never imagined she’d be raising two teenage girls on her own. Between parenting and paying the bills, she hasn’t even thought about meeting a man. That changes once she hears local carpenter, Braden Fox, is in need of a secretary. Back in high school, Allie had done all she could to deny the sparks burning between her and Braden; but would the chemistry still be there after all this time?

Braden has heard all about what Terrance did to Allie and the girls, has been planning to stop by and see how she’s getting along, but Allie beats him to it by showing up at his shop in search of a job. Her unexpected visit reignites the old flame Braden used to torch for her; trouble is, old feelings of resentment return as well. Allie did choose Terrance over him, after all. And as much as Braden wants Allie in his life, he’s not sure he can open his heart to her again.

With this second chance at romance, will the
bumps in their relationship be too much to get over,
or will this carpenter learn to smooth out the past?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Can I just say YUMMY.  This book was such a good, sweet, clean romance.  I love Krey's writing.  She makes such awesome swoon worthy men.  There is something about a cowboy, and a carpenter to boot that is just, well, yummy :).

Allie is divorced and looking for a new job.  When Allie finds out that long time friend Braden is in search of a secretary.  Braden wasn't aware he was looking for a secretary though.  Braden's sister told Allie's mom that he needed a secretary.  It's the beginning of an awesome love story.

Braden and Allie had sparks back in high school, but one of Allie's friends had called "dibs" on Braden.  First off, I think this is the dumbest thing ever.  I thought it when I was in High School and now that I have and had a High Schooler I still think it is the dumbest thing ever.  You cannot call "dibs" on a persons feelings.  You just can't.  Okay, enough of the personal pet peeve :).

The chemistry between Braden and Allie was automatic.  I loved that they had been friends for years, but that he kept his distance from her while she was married.  Not because he wanted to, but because it tortured him to see her with his "best" friend, or any other man for that matter.  He loved her in High School, and now that she was back in his life, he has realized he never quit.

I am not an insta love fan, but this was not insta love.  They had known each other for years.  They took their relationship slowly, even though feelings from old were still there.  

Allie's ex-husband is a jerk.  Thankfully he was only in the book for a very short period of time, other than memories.  I don't think I could have handled more of him.  

I love how the Allie's girls were part of the story.  Sometimes in romance novels when people have kids they get forgotten when the love story develops.  I am so glad this one did not do that.  In fact Braden's interest in the girls made him even more swoon worthy to me :).

If you are looking for a sweet, clean, romance this is just the right book for you.  When I was almost done my daughter came out and wanted to watch a movie.  I told her I already was.  She just looked at me funny.  This story came alive for me, because Krey's descriptions of Allie and Braden's encounters were just that good!  Mmm...mmm...good :).

Source:  I bought this book for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

I'm a writer of contemporary clean romance, a lover of home, family, & friends, & the ultimate hater of laundry.

A few of my favorite things: Diet Coke, Cafe Rio, and novels by Marcia Lynn McClure.

I do not go anywhere without: SoftLips Chapstick and Altoids Smalls. 

REVIEW - NONE OF THE ABOVE BY I.W. GREGORIO

pic and description taken from Goodreads

 

DESCRIPTION:

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex . . . and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned--something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

WOW....I mean WOW.  This story was so heart wrenching.  I don't even really know how to explain the feeling that I have right now regarding this book.  I was so enraged, and sad, and disgusted with human indecency during this book.   I was also totally and fully overwhelmed by the compassion I felt for the MC.  She was so "real" to me in this book.

Being a teenager is hard enough.  I cannot even grasp how hard it would be to find out that you were intersex and that the whole school found out about it.  Why is it when people are so threatened by what they don't know.  Why can't teenagers grasp that when someone finds out something so devastating to them it would be easier to just accept and support them, rather than to discard and ridicule them.  This is where the human indecency was just too much for me to handle sometimes.  

Kristen's whole world was turned upside down.  As if her life hadn't been hard enough loosing her mother to cancer, but then she finds out that she is intersex.  She has some male chromosomes.  Her boyfriends first reaction is to throw her to the curb....Because he thinks it makes HIM looks bad.  Seriously.  That is the first time I cried in this book.  I knew that this girls life was going to be put under a microscope, and torn apart by here peers.  

Thankfully there are a few who stand by her and try to help her though it.  This book made me realize that I hope I am teaching my kids that no matter what people matter.  Their sex, their sexual preference, their color, race, religion anything, doesn't matter.  They are human beings.  A child of  God.  Nothing else should ever matter.  Love is accepting all people no matter their circumstance.  

Kristen's struggle through this book felt so raw, and so real.  My heart ached during this book.  Until a few people...not very many, but a few people finally made Kristen realize she is still loved no matter what.  It helped redeem some of the human indecency in this book.  She wanted to be accepted and loved.  Just like ever other teenager in the world.  I am not saying all teenagers are easy to love...hehe.  Kristen was though.  She had a great heart, was a loyal friend, and just so happened to be dealt a different card than her peers.

Her struggle to accept who she was made my tears flow freely.  I think there are so many great lessons to be learned from this book.  Awareness, being the most important.  When people understand things they fear them a lot less.  Even so,  it is never okay to make another human feel as though they don't belong.  Ever.

I think that every child and parent should read this book.  It does have some language in it, and I never condone teenage sex, so it totally would have been a 6 star book for me if there wasn't, but even with that I think it is an important book to read.  It's a work of fiction, but it doesn't matter.  There is such a gripping message to this story, in my opinion.  Even the authors notes, and suggestions at the end of the book were so fantastic.  Touched me more than I can even explain in words.

Source:  I bought this book for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL feelings about the book.

Content:  There is a little descriptive sex scenes, but not too graphic, and there is language.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

I. W. Gregorio is a practicing surgeon by day, masked avenging YA writer by night. A graduate of the Yale School of Medicine, she studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University. While a surgical resident, she published in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Washington Post. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. NONE OF THE ABOVE (Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins, Fall of 2015) is her first novel. She is represented by Jessica Regel of Foundry + Media.

BOOK BLITZ FOR THE VIOLET HOUR BY BRYNN CHAPMAN

Through Prism Book Tours.

We're celebrating the RELEASE of 

The Violet Hour

By Brynn Chapman

Check out the book and author info, exclusive excerpt, and enter the giveaway below...

The Violet Hour

Brynn Chapman

YA Romantic Historical Fantasy
ebook, 209 Pages

Secrets.

Allegra Teagarden, a musical prodigy, flees her father’s dominance and abuse while touring in pre-civil war Charleston, South Carolina. Plagued by depression over her mother’s suicide during their previous visit, she escapes in an effort to piece together the details behind her mother’s mysterious demise.

Secrets.

Down to her final coin, Allegra happens on Charleston’s Fancy, the first southern amusement park, which is searching for musicians for its orchestra. At first, the park seems her salvation; but she quickly realizes she has traded the dominance of her father, for the even more terrifying madness of the owner, Silas.

And more secrets.

Allegra meets the dashing Brighton LeFroy, Fancy’s engineer and pyrotechnics master. His shabby clothing cannot conceal the brilliant mind beneath. The musician’s whisper he is a witch, is obsessed with storms, and is rumored...to fly. And despite the danger, despite her own misgivings, Allegra is inexplicable drawn to him.

She ventures to his reclusive home on Fire Isle during a thunderstorm and together they seek to unravel an ancient mystery.

Exclusive Excerpt

     LeFroy stares out the window, his brow creased in thought. He remains statue-still, as he has for the past quarter hour, oblivious to the late afternoon sun that bathes his face in a beautiful golden-amber.
     I stare intently, reveling in the rare opportunity to drink in his features.
     His dark curly hair is in need of a cutting and his thin lips turn down as he absently bites the side of his nail, lost to himself. He is not a classic beauty—but the singularity of his face demand’s attention.
     Not all women would swoon for him. But something about him draws me…makes him utterly irresistible.
     The warmth on my chest again. Almost hot this time. I struggle not to look down my dress to examine what I imagined to be an inevitable rash, but all I see is the Magnolia pattern—the patch on my dress, lovingly sewn by my mother’s hand.
     I banish the thought. I shall not think on her now.
     Brighton clears his throat, driving away my mother’s ghost and I struggle for words. When he regards me, my tongue seems to shrivel in my mouth.
     It is his eyes. They…speak. Sometimes whisper, sometimes shout.
     They now squint, as whatever vexing scenario playing on his mind continues to dominate his demeanor. He doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak.

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

She also writes under the pseudonym R.R. Smythe .

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Release Blitz Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card, ebook of The Violet Hour, and Bracelet with: "Well behaved women seldom make history." - Eleanor Roosevelt 
Open internationally (bracelet to US entrants only)
Ends April 21st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW - NORMAL BY GRAEME CAMERON

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

"The truth is I hurt people. It's what I do. It's all I do. It's all I've ever done." 

He lives in your community, in a nice house with a well-tended garden. He shops in your grocery store, bumping shoulders with you and apologizing with a smile. He drives beside you on the highway, politely waving you into the lane ahead of him. 

What you don't know is that he has an elaborate cage built into a secret basement under his garage. And the food that he's carefully shopping for is to feed a young woman he's holding there against her will—one in a string of many, unaware of the fate that awaits her. 

This is how it's been for a long time. It's normal... and it works. Perfectly. 

Then he meets the checkout girl from the 24-hour grocery. And now the plan, the hunts, the room... the others. He doesn't need any of them anymore. He needs only her. But just as he decides to go straight, the police start to close in. He might be able to cover his tracks, except for one small problem—he still has someone trapped in his garage. 

Discovering his humanity couldn't have come at a worse time.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

This book was a total mind trip.  This book kind of reminded me of the show Dexter.  Seemingly a normal guy, and then in his spare time a serial killer.  Unlike Dexter though I didn't find myself rooting for the killer...I know sounds weird, but this guy....Wow...CREEPY.

I think the creepiest thing about this book is that the MC was just the "nice" guy next door.  Yet leading a double life, and secretly torturing women.  

When he finally meets someone that makes him feel different than he ever has, he starts thinking that he may not have to hurt people to survive anymore...

He's a horrible human being.  He does horrible things to women.  It's scary, and my head is still spinning from the book.  I don't even know if I can explain it well enough to do it justice.  

It grabbed me from the very start and kept me interested, and creeped out the whole time.  Although the ending drove me a little crazy.  It doesn't tie up into a nice little bow for me.  When a book doesn't end in a way I think is "perfect", I dream about it.  I have to dream up what the author might have wanted me to get from the ending.  

I am sure I got something totally different than any one else, but still.  I needed a little bit more at the end.  

All in all it was a fantastically, creeptastic book.  Mind twisting....but creeptastic.  The only complaint I have about this book is the language.  The story is fantastic.  The writing is done well.  I could feel how scared his victims were, and sometimes found myself feeling anxious for them.  The author definitely brought a lot of feeling out of me while reading.  This totally would have been a 5 star for me if it weren't for all the language.  

Source:  I bought this book for my self.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from www.graeme-cameron.com

Graeme Cameron is the author of almost three short stories, two country songs and literally dozens of angry emails, including such classics as This Doesn't Taste Like Chicken, The Car You Sold Me Is On Fire, and the hilarious and moving Re: Restraining Order (I'm in your house LOL). 


Graeme lives in Norfolk and has never worked as a police detective, ER doctor, crime reporter or forensic anthropologist.

Spotlight by Madilyn Paige from NBC's The Voice Season 6 Official Music

MADILYN PAIGE 

SPOTLIGHT

I really loved her song IRREPLACEABLE.  It was so so beautiful and has such a great message.  I am so excited for this song as well!  

Please enjoy this video of Madilyn Paige.

Thanks To:

GENTRI 'Dare' Official Music Video -- Featuring Alissa Sizemore 8 year o...

New Group Hits Top 10 on Two Billboard Charts with the Release of First Album

GENTRI’s self-titled, debut album hit No. 5 on Billboard’s Classical Chart and No. 3 on its Classical Crossover Chart.

SALT LAKE CITY (Apr. 8, 2015) – GENTRI, aka The Gentlemen Trio, earned their first spot on the Billboard Charts as their debut, self-titled album hit No. 5 on the Classical Chart and No. 3 on the Classical Crossover Chart. GENTRI also debuted at No. 45 on the Current Contemporary Christian Chart.

The seven-song EP  features five original songs, including their first single, “DARE,” and two covers. Each song features GENTRI’s powerful three-part harmony and is accompanied by a rich, cinematic backing score arranged and produced under the direction of producer Stephen Nelson. The songs range from epic dramatic pieces to tender ballads and focus on inspirational and uplifting messaging.

Bart Olson, Director of Artists and Repertoire at Shadow Mountain Records, expressed his excitement about the young project’s success.

“This EP is a reflection of the quality of their work which is truly world-class songwriting, production and vocal ability,” he said. “These gents have brought all their talent to this project and the public is responding.”

The group is composed of Casey Elliott, Brad Robins and Bradley Quinn Lever – three highly trained and experienced male tenors.

The trio performed together in a sell out run of  Les Miserables prior to founding GENTRI in June 2014. After building a following from their many live performances, they officially united to create a new sound that combines inspirational anthems with a classical underpinning.

“GENTRI” is available for purchase at Deseret Book, Amazon, and Itunes.

Debut music video of “DARE” which has received wide praise and reviews can be seen on GENTRI’s YouTube channel.

###

GENTRI is a talented group of three highly trained male vocalists with a symphonically epic sound. The group consists of members Casey Elliott, Brad Robins, and Bradley Quinn Lever. 

Shadow Mountain Records is the music label for Deseret Book.

BOOK BLITZ FOR CAUGHT IN CRIMSON BY HEATHER HAMILTON-SENTER

Caught In Crimson: 
Book Two of the Sword of Elements

by Heather Hamilton-Senter

Release Date: 04/13/15

Summary from Goodreads:

CAUGHT IN CRIMSON, the long awaited sequel to the Amazon Bestseller BOUND IN BLUE:

Rhi’s ability to see magic as color, and her hunger to consume it, have brought her to Las Vegas to seek out the bard Taliesin’s help in understanding the true nature of what she is—a Leannan Sidhe, a kind of vampire. Armed with Excalibur, she’s torn between the factions looking to control the destiny of the earth. When an ancient artifact of the earth magic calls to her, filling her with fire, Rhi must decide whether to follow her heart or the path to power before her father Merlin decides she’s outlived her usefulness and destroys her mind.

The choices caught up in color and magic are never black and white.

EXCERPT:

In the darkness, out of sight of mankind and godkind, I let emotion fill me—rage at the mother who’d abandoned me, the foster mother who’d denied me the truth of my existence, the father who only wanted me as his puppet—it erupted from every pore. Back arched and gasping, I was a column of fire reaching for the sky.

I was a question framed in flame.

And I was answered. Red magic surged into me from unknown beings, some as close as the neighborhood behind, others as far as the edges of the state. I wanted to keep it all, but it passed through me leaving tantalizing glimpses of the wondrous, terrible things it could make me capable of. Then the magic was gone and only my hot anger remained. Sick with hunger for that ecstasy of power, I didn’t care if it meant stealing it from other beings somewhere out there in the dark. In that moment, I would have killed to have it back.

Agony sliced through my temples. Falling to my knees, I called on Viviane’s binding spell to block the pain. For one terrifying moment I didn’t think it would work, but then cool, blue relief replaced the red of rage. I huddled in the sand, naked and cold, guessing that I’d probably done new damage to myself. I didn’t care.

Weeping at the loss of magic both darker and brighter than anyone should ever possess, I knew I was a monster.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

An interview with Heather Hamilton-Senter, author of the Amazon bestseller Bound In Blue: Book One of the Sword of Elements and it sequel Caught In Crimson.

1.       Tell us a bit more about your books. Who designed the covers?

Actually, I design all my own covers and also covers for other authors through my business Book Cover Artistry (www.bookcoverartistry.com). I come from a long line of artists, but while I started out drawing and painting, I’m firmly digital now and loving it.

2.       Who is your favorite character from your books and why?

Hands down my favorite character is Thomas Redcap. In Bound In Blue, the first book in the series, I started out intending to write a monster who would threaten the heroine Rhi—and if you know anything of the fairy lore concerning redcaps, you’ll know just how incredibly scary they are—but instead, he became this charming, dangerous, sexy guy. It was who he wanted to be and I seemed to have no control over it!

3.       Who is your least favorite character?

Taliesin is one of the good guys and always was intended to be, but I discovered that just like Rhi, I admired but didn’t like him very much. I think her reaction to someone who is essentially a great hero has added complexity to the story.

4.       What was your inspiration for the Sword of Elements Series?

My mom is from Belfast and I visited Ireland and Europe a lot growing up. I remember once one of her cousins dragging me around the Irish countryside looking for a fairy well whose water was supposed to cure blindness. The line between myth and reality always seemed narrower there. As a child, my very first books were beautifully illustrated fairy tale and Arthurian mythology books – there was no Dr. Seuss in my house!

5.       What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

I love being able to work from home and be there when my children get back from school.

6.       What do you enjoy least about being a writer?

Being disciplined. There’s no boss standing over me making sure I’m writing and not surfing the net!

7.       Fantasy is obvious from your background, but why Young Adult?

I think my books ride the line between YA and regular fantasy, but part of why I love YA is that it tends to move fairly quickly. I started reading YA as a mother with young children because the quicker pace made them easier to get back into after any interruptions.

8.       What inspires you in general?

I’m an information magpie. I’m constantly gathering strange bits of history or mythology, even archaeology, looking for a way to weave them into a book. I’m also strangely attracted to forgotten things – odd buildings on the side of a country road that no one remembers the purpose of, historical plaques in out of the way places, the remnants of old bridges and roads . . .

9.       Other talents or hobbies?

I’m a classically trained singer and a member of Canadian Actors’ Equity. I was a wedding photography for a few years and still sell photography online.

10.   Favorite TV shows?

Everything genre! Buffy, Supernatural, The X-files, Star Trek, Walking Dead . . . I’m a geek!

11.   Favorite books?

Lord of the Rings, The Dark Is Rising Series by Susan Cooper, A Wrinkle In Time, Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle Trilogy, The Hunger Games, The Riddle-Master trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip, the Dragonriders of Pern books by Anne McCaffrey, the Witchworld novels by Andre Norton. I’m kind of old-school.

12.   Any advice for other writers wanting to be published?

Don’t be afraid to walk your own path, but make sure you know what path you’re walking on! Whether you’re thinking of traditional or indie, learn your craft and do your homework. I’ve had an amazing ride this last year, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the years before it learning and studying, attending conferences and taking classes. Once you’ve made your choice, you then have to accept that you can’t control what agents, publishers, or buyers will do, but you can be happy and satisfied with the work you’ve produced.

13.   The first in your series, Bound In Blue, has consistently been #1 in several categories of Fantasy on Amazon since it was published June 2014. What would you say has been the biggest contributor to that success?

Other than luck—which is perhaps the biggest factor for any author or artist—I’d say it’s a combination of branding and studying the industry. I recommend the Writer’s Café on www.kboards.com as the best place to get up to the second information on writing, promotion, and the state of publishing in general, and indie publishing in particular.

14.   Where can readers find Caught In Crimson and your other books?

I’m currently exclusive to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Heather-Hamilton-Senter/e/B00L00K234

Pre-Order Links:

Book One:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Buy Links:

About the Author

Heather grew up in a family where books of myth and legend were used to teach the ABCs and Irish uncles still believed in fairies. Raised with tall tales, she has always told stories too- first as an actor and singer, then as a photographer, and now as a writer. 

Heather lives in rural Ontario, Canada happily raising three children ranging in age from 6 to 18 with her biggest fan, her husband Steve.

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