April 21, 2013 by Tina Williams

Wanderlust, by Skye Warren

A Dark, Compelling Read

Wanderlust, by Skye Warren was released last week and after downloading it to add to my ‘to read later’ pile, I thought I would just take a peek to get a flavour of what to expect. Once I did I was hooked, drawn into another of her darkly erotic tales, and I was compelled to read it to the end, in one sitting.

In Wanderlust, Evie, a young woman who has been sheltered by an overprotective mother, leaves her home and drives across the US to take up a job many miles away. En route she spends the night at a motel where she is singled out by Hunter, a trucker. Hunter will not take no for an answer, so much so that he kidnaps her and holds her captive. The tale delves into the realms of dubious-consent, captivity and power play, which left me feeling very conflicted. That said, I found it to be a dark but beautiful love story, in which I found myself feeling sympathetic towards both main characters, including Hunter the kidnapper. I loved it!

As its content is not intended for those uncomfortable with the subject matter it explores or for those under 18 years of age, I have posted my review on our Sizzle and Burn site. Click here if you want to read the review.

Tina 🙂

April 20, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Update from Caroline

Hi guys, this week we will begin hosting our Werewolf theme!!! As from Wednesday 24th April we will be focusing on Werewolves for the forthcoming weeks which will include book reviews, some basic mythology as well as trivia on literature and movies! If you have any information or literature you would like to have a mention please let us know by commenting below!

One of the books we will be reviewing is the currently unreleased ‘The Wolfstone Curse’ by Justin Richards, the Creative Consultant for BBC Books on the Dr Who titles. With it’s release due in July, Tina and myself are hoping to do a double review! ‘The Wolfstone Curse’ is an action-packed adventure where teenager Peter, during time working with his archaeologist father in a remote village named Wolfstone, reveals the truth behind the werewolf myth! For adults and teenagers alike this novel is going to be a very, very exciting thriller!!!

I am currently reading ‘Cursed‘ (also known as ‘Frostbite’) by David Wellington, ready for Wednesday’s theme. I have had this paperback for quite some time and have been waiting for this week to read it. In ‘Cursed’ a woman alone in the Arctic is attacked by a wolf and becomes a beast herself. However, as she was once the hunted, she now becomes a hunter too and with her original attacker wanting her dead, can she carry out a similar attack on her enemy?

Amongst the werewolves, I am also planning to read Mere Enchantment and Rings of Enchantment novels by Alicia Rivoli over the coming weeks. These are fantasy fiction for the younger and adult reader alike where a group of friends end up fighting for survival. After entering a cave to shelter from a storm, more and more strange happenings keep occurring the further they go inside the cave. With magic, wizards and other strange people surrounding them, the group become separated and try to find each other in this new magical world. The new kingdom is also under attack from a traitor. Will the group become one again? Will they survive? I am looking forward to reading this novel as the synopsis itself sounds very exciting!

Tina and myself are also hoping to add a double review on ‘Addicted‘ by JoAnn DeLazzari over the next few days. This is an amazing romance, suspense and thriller that definitely keeps the reader on their toes throughout. A high profile reporter, Nikki Bradley, in the Colombian jungle is trying to find sufficient evidence to bring down a high and mighty drug trafficking operation after her brother died of a possible cocaine overdose. However, when she is found and captured she finds her captor wants to have her for himself! King, her captor, happens to be a ruggedly handsome man that makes Nikki fear for him but also strangely desire him. Nikki finds herself torn between surrendering and losing hope on her mission or taking a risk and fighting for her brother! The heartbeat definitely increases pace during this great sexy, intense thriller/adventure!

As you may have already guessed we will still be reviewing other genres, as well as the werewolf-based novels, in between for those of you that like more variety. Tina will be posting a review of Skye Warren’s new book, Wanderlust, on our Sizzle and Burn site in the next day or two and will be reading the first two novels in Regan Walker’s Regency Agents of the Crown Trilogy, Racing with the Wind and Against the Wind. She has asked me to tell you that her first contribution to our werewolf reviews will be Karin Tabke’s Blood Law (A Blood Moon Rising Novel # 1), which she read a few months ago but would like to share, and that a review of Christina Phillips’ Betrayed, which she is currently swooning over will follow soon!

You may be aware of our new A-Z author page which displays a list of all the authors and their novels that we have reviewed so far. This page will be updated at least on a weekly basis, enabling you to find authors/novel reviews more easily.

We will also be adding a new page over the coming weeks, focusing on True Crime. Although it is great to escape with fantasy fiction novels, I also like to try and wrap my head around real events. I find myself trying to analyse criminals and their behaviour to try and understand what makes these people carry out such horrendous actions. I am aware that not all of our followers would wish to read such literature, which is the reason that these reviews will be on their own page. This way these reviews will not pop up on our main page.

Unfortunately, the Tortured Hero blog hop has been cancelled and therefore will not take place this week as planned. Although we are hoping to take part in blog hops over the coming weeks and months. We will keep you updated on this!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our followers on the blog, Twitter and Facebook. We would be more than happy for you to spread the word of our site to help build our fanbase up and create more interaction with you guys! We are open to book recommendations and other comments you may have. Thank you 🙂 Happy reading x

Caroline 🙂

Post image: Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com

April 18, 2013 by Tina Williams

Jayn Wilde’s The Key to Helmbrooke: For the Love of Isabelle

Jayn Wilde’s sweet fantasy romance, The Key To Helmbrooke: For the Love of Isabelle is FREE on Amazon on 18 and 19th April and Jayn has stated that she welcomes readers’ thoughts – click on the link to Jayn’s website and/or the Amazon links to find out more. For my review of this book click here.
Amazon UK Amazon US

http://authorjaynwilde.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/free-book-key-to-helmbrooke.html

Tina 🙂

April 17, 2013 by Tina Williams

Author Post and Bio: Beverly Ovalle, Author of Dragons’ Mate

I didn’t really plan on writing eroticism, but it just seems to flow off of my fingertips. Nor had I originally planned on Dragons’ Mate being a short story. I was planning on a longer version, at least a novella. I was in no hurry. I was up late one night watching a movie on SyFy channel, probably involving giant reptiles. I just felt the urge to write. The first incarnation of Dragons’ Mate was born. As much as dragons fascinate me, I’m sure the movie had some influence!

It has undergone massive changes since I first wrote it. My editor, Chris Keeslar at Boroughs Publishing Group sent me changes he’d like to see and a 6,000 word story ended at over 11,000 words! Bet he didn’t expect that! Then he smoothed it out!

I’d love to have a huge following (what writer wouldn’t?), but I write because the stories don’t like to stay inside. Don’t be jealous ‘cause the voices talk to me! 😀

I never planned on even submitting any of my stories. It was a bucket wish kind of thing I never thought would come true. My brother asked me why I did reviews instead of writing my own book. That got me to thinking. I loved to write. Then my best friend Tammie told me she was entering a writing contest and urged me to enter also. Urged, pestered, all the same among friends, right?

Having been beaten down, I finally admitted I had a story that might fit the guidelines of the contest. I cleaned it up, tweaking it here and there, gave it an ending and submitted it. I didn’t win. 😥 A few weeks after the contest ended, I got an email and a contract to publish it. I was over the moon! It took another seven long months to see it published. It felt like forever. That may have been those darn voices again, but well, we all have our quirks!

Bitten by the writing bug, I currently have another shifter romance, a contemporary military romance, a Christmas romance, and a joint WIP with my best friend going on. I have more, many more bits and pieces going on, but not all of them will ever see the light of day. I keep going back to the four above so I will do my best to share them in the future.

Again, I hope you feel the need to see how Annie found love with her two dragon shifters. She will be reappearing in Drake’s Destiny so I can get the rest of her story out. Providing of course, that someone wants to publish it!

Author Bio

Beverly Ovalle lives in Wisconsin with her husband Edmond of 23 years and two Chinese Water Dragons. Having her own Dragons is expected as she is dragon crazy and anyone that walks in her house can tell. Her son Nicholas visits when he is on leave from the Marines. Her daughter Susannah visits to grocery shop in the pantry and to see what might be cooking for dinner.

Beverly has traveled around the world thanks to five years in the US Navy and has worked for the government in one capacity or another for the past 30 years. Beverly and her brothers have travelled most of the continental United States as children due to the station wagon from Hell. Still active with veterans, she is adjutant for her local AMVETS.

Beverly has been reading romances since her Aunt introduced her to the gothic romance in the fourth grade and is still reading every chance she gets.

Thank you Beverly for providing this author post and bio for us today. Please scroll down or click here to read my review of Dragons’ Mate. Tina 🙂

Contact Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyOvalleAuthor?ref=hl

Tumblr: http://ovalleba.tumblr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ovalleba

Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/ovalleba/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_tab_home_top

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSLYblog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SslySmileSomebodyLovesYou?ref=hl

Website: http://SSLYblog.wordpress.com

April 17, 2013 by Tina Williams

Dragons’ Mate, by Beverly Ovalle

Scorching Dragon Shifter Seduction

18+ Erotic Romance/Menage

Circa 41 pages

Beverly Orvalle has got me all fired up with her tale of two dragon shifters, who decide that it is the right time to reveal their true nature and show the woman who is their unsuspecting mate, exactly what they are made of!

In Dragons’ Mate, Annie lives alone on a farm. She is reclusive, having been attacked whilst at college and wary of men and relationships. However, her constant companions are her two fully grown dragons, Brand and Tine, whom she met when she worked at an animal shelter. Annie does not realise that Brand and Tine are shifters, as they have never shown any sign of changing into their human form (in Annie’s world some dragons have this ability). However, Brand and Tine have been patiently watching over Annie, keeping her safe, waiting until they think she is ready for them to fulfill her every desire as their mate……..

Annie believes that she is dreaming when she first receives their attentions, as she has never experienced such pleasure. However, she soon realises the truth about her houseguests and welcomes their advances with open arms. I liked the fact that she was ‘game on’ for this, trust having been developed between her and Brand and Tine, by virtue of her knowing them in their dragon form.

Annie is one lucky woman! The lovemaking scenes in this menage are scorching hot, frequent and laced with occasional humour, as Brand and Tine compete for Annie’s attention. What else can any woman want, especially when pleasure is delivered by not one but two hunky insatiable males destined to adore you? The erotic scenes, of which most are MFM, with some MMF, are nicely balanced with the romantic elements of the tale. Brand and Tine clearly adore Annie, yearning for her to love them and accept them as her mates, with all of the implications this entails. Annie cares for her dragons deeply as she feels safe and secure with them. When they do unexpectedly shift the relationship very quickly but naturally progresses into one hot tale, which I loved.

Beverly Ovalle packs such a lot of excitement and passion into this book and I will definitely check out her future works. Beverly is working on another dragon shifter tale and I hope that this is published soon.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

This book was given to me by the author for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

To find out more about this book visit Boroughs Publishing Group

Digital edition created by Maureen Cutajar

How to find Beverly:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyOvalleAuthor?ref=hl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SslySmileSomebodyLovesYou?ref=hl

Website: http://SSLYblog.wordpress.com

Also check out Beverly’s Author Post and Bio by scrolling above this post.

April 15, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Author Post and Bio of Jordan Aubry Robison: Author of ‘Living on Empty’

AUTHOR POST: JORDAN AUBRY ROBISON

“I began writing this novel in 2009. I had just finished my enlistment in the army and was ready to try something new. I spent most of 2008 sending out resume after resume after resume after graduating college in 2007. I had hoped I would find a job a year later. Then the stock market crashed in September of 2008. I remember one of my fellow soldiers lamenting his loss of $50,000 worth of stocks. He was an older man with a bushy moustache and had only two years left in his enlistment before his retirement.

Everyone told me my best option was to stay in the military and ride out this wave of economic misfortune until it all blew over. But if I had stayed I knew I was going to be sent to Iraq. They tried to persuade me to stay by offering me to drive the Brigade Commander around to hell and back. But that was the last thing I wanted to do. Trying not to look back I stepped out of the sandbox and into what was left of America.

With all my schooling and all my years of military service the only job I was able to land was in an office supply retail store being paid ten dollars an hour. Mark Twain once said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” I did not like the polo uniform I was made to wear in my retail job. But I did not want to put back on my military uniform because I was tired of that life. I felt naked.

I had little to no money to my name which reduced my opportunities to go out and socialize. I had always fancied myself a screenwriter and playwright. I was even collaborating on a screenplay with a friend at the time. Then one day I looked at my bank account and didn’t like what I saw.

Frustrated I sat at my desk and looked at my computer feeling helpless. I started to think about everyone else my age that was probably going through the same thing. While staring into space I daydreamed about a movie trailer about a guy out on his luck, his father had just passed away leaving him his car and the voice of Clint Eastwood ringing in his head. And then I had an epiphany. I had a story to tell.

I opened Microsoft Word and starting typing. An hour passed. My shirt was covered in sweat. I leaned back and realized I had written the first twenty pages to what would eventually become my first novel: Living on Empty. It would take me about four years altogether to write and finish it.

Some of my main influences are Jack Kerouac, Charles Bukowski, and Cormac McCarthy. Jack Kerouac instilled in me the wonder to write something different. Bukowski gave me confidence that I could write from the gut and just type the bloody words onto the paper. And McCarthy taught me how to use words to envelope the feeling I wanted to get across to my readers. I hope my book captures what my generation, the Millennials, have experienced the past several years.”

JORDAN AUBRY ROBISON

BIO: Jordan Aubry Robison was born in Indiana. He is a veteran of the United States military having served nine years of distinguished service. He graduated from The Ohio State University and is known for his passion for Buckeye football and basketball. He started out wanting to be an actor and film director, and even studied acting at first in college, before changing his major several times. Before venturing into novel writing he co-wrote a horror screenplay which was optioned by several Hollywood studios before disappearing into development oblivion.

He is very thankful for all the support and mentorship he has received through his writing process. He currently resides in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK HERE FOR CAROLINE’S REVIEW ON ‘LIVING ON EMPTY’.

A Reader’s Review Blog would like to thank Jordan Aubry Robison for taking the time and effort to write a great post for us and for the copy of his debut novel! Thank you! 🙂

April 15, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Living on Empty by Jordan Aubry Robison

Looking for something new, different and from a brand new author? Well, why not try ‘Living on Empty’ by Jordan Aubry Robison! This novel is an alternative fiction than most of us are used to reading. We all want to live the dream but with current economies not doing too good, businesses not recruiting, or folding completely, living the dream seems to be only as it reads: a dream!

It is very easy to connect to the main character, Jimmy, due to the realistic nature of his problems and the reader follows Jimmy through his average life in the beginning right through to the adventure and action that he goes through as he tries to make his life a little more exciting. To begin with Jimmy’s only release from his dead end job, debt and boredom is visiting The Fish Bowl bar with his best friend, Norm, and taking part in the karaoke and mixing with others in similar situations. As the story continues Jimmy begins to hit rock bottom and begins talking to the likes of Clint Eastwood, gets involved with a busty bartender and as his imagination begins to run wild, in reality he finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble!

There is a great sense of realism in some aspects of the beginning of the book and it came as no surprise that Jimmy is based on Jordan Aubry Robison’s real experience in regard to his career. Jimmy is trapped in a dead end job that he is over-qualified for. However, jobs are very few and far between and every active job seeker is applying for these vacancies, making it almost impossible to be in with a chance of being offered the position. ‘Living on Empty’ is written from Jimmy’s point of view and the reader feels a true sense of the desperation Jimmy feels to be someone, to gain acknowledgement and to belong to someone. He is very lost and he doesn’t receive much help from his older pal, Norm, who has pretty much missed his chance of a decent life.

Written with wit, cynicism, quirkiness and sarcasm, this dry humour made me laugh throughout the novel. Regardless of how desperate the situation there are some surreal moments and surreal characters that make ‘Living on Empty’ a fun and adventurous book to read. One of my favourite supporting characters is Joe, a colleague of Jimmy’s, who tends to just sleep. A lot. He’s late for work, he sleeps through shifts, etc. I just found his character hilarious.

I felt that the pace of the book to begin with was slow on and off in the first few chapters, however this emphasizes the boredom and desperation in Jimmy’s life and pushes him to want to do something with his life. The comedic moments are aplenty though and enlighten the mood. As the story opens up it becomes more eventful but also more serious and dramatic, making for a great story.

No matter how real a scene seemed to be, there were always elements throughout the novel that were quite surreal and complete fantasy. I enjoyed the contrast of this and I particularly liked the idea of having legendary people, i.e. Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen and Elvis Presley, speaking and offering their advice in Jimmy’s imagination whenever he was bored. I particularly like Clint Eastwood and could visualise him with the Jimmy character of this novel. I did find some of the fantasy scenes a little confusing at times and was trying to work out what was happening for real and what was in Jimmy’s mind.

One of my favourite characters, aside from Jimmy, is Emilio as he is full of surprises. Even though in many ways he is a shady character I would like to find out more about him. We see two different sides to Emilio – there is the more friendly, pally side and a more menacing streak.

Jimmy’s lustful desire centres on the busty bartender, Jasmine and if he admits it to himself he could easily fall for her charms any day. However, Jasmine is very good at playing the boys against each other and does not suffer fools gladly. She is very sexy, strong and smart and the biggest question is ‘can she be trusted?’ Every time Jimmy falls for her he seems to get into more trouble. Is she a victim in all of this too, or is she part of the cause?

Jimmy’s life certainly isn’t dull by the end of the novel, even if some events were bad. I feel that Jimmy almost had the life he was seeking, however, Jordan Aubry Robison has left it open for a sequel. What is to become of Jimmy? Will it end as a happy every after or will there be plenty more trouble to come. Or is this the end for the reader to make up their own mind? I really hope for there to be a sequel as there really are some great characters in this novel.

‘Living on Empty’ was received gratefully from Jordan Aubry Robison in return for an honest and fair review.

Below are the Facebook page links for Jordan Aubry Robison and the novel, ‘Living on Empty’ :
https://www.facebook.com/therealjordanaubryrobison

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-on-Empty/241393369338195

Cover art by Jordan Aubry Robison

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

April 14, 2013 by Tina Williams

Update from Tina

I truly had a ball this week reading books by Samantha Holt and Eve Rabi and also welcoming Samantha to our blog to share her thoughts on being an author. We were also very happy to receive an author post from M. C. Lavocat, author of Control (The Soul of Voodoo #1), which Caroline reviewed. Also thank you to everyone who commented this last week.

My Reads this Week

Whether it is due to the rise in the temperature (it reached the heady heights of 11 degrees celsius today), but the heat level in the books I have chosen to read this week seems to have increased!

Betrayed, by Christina Phillips, an erotic historical romance, set in Roman Britain. In 51 A.D., Druid priestess Nimue is enslaved by the hated Roman Legions. Although drawn to her captor, she’s determined to escape and complete her mission for the Briton king and her duty to Arianrhod, the goddess she is bound to. I was lucky enough to win this book last month and have already read the first two books in this series, Forbidden and Captive, which were both great reads. Click for Christina Phillips’ website.

Dragons’ Mate, by Beverly Ovalle – An erotic romance, containing two dragon shifters and one very lucky woman who they have decided to claim as their mate! Click for Beverly Ovalle’s blog.

Tortured Hero Blog Hop

A Readers’ Review will be participating in its very first blog hop – some of you may have noticed the button below on our sidebar.

It takes place on 25-28th April. Caroline and I will be posting on what we like about tortured heroes and we will be inviting comments from readers. At the end of the hop one commenter will be drawn at random, to win a £5 book voucher (or equivalent currency). Each commenter will also be put into the draw to win a grand prize offered by the blog hop. You can also hop across to others blogs to have a look at their thoughts on tortured heroes and participate in any giveaways they may be running and leave further comments to increase your chances of winning the grand prize draw. More details on the 25th April.

Purchases this week

Shield, New World #1, by S.L. Scholey – An erotic sci-fi romance featuring a human Grace, whose shuttle crashes on the planet Ulsy and who meets a massive fanged and ebony warrior Rask, who is very intrigued by her……… Whiskey Creek Press has 25% off all of S.L Scholey’s books this month in celebration of the fact that she is their author of the year. I have not read any of her books yet, but I could not resist this!

Wolfkeeper’s Woman, by Lisa Day – After Cassie’s husband is murdered, Native American Wolfkeeper takes Cassie’s child for his brother and sister-in-law to raise, as they have no children of their own. He brings Cassie along to ensure that her child lives during the journey. Thrown into an unfamiliar lifestyle and unable to communicate she must learn how to stay alive for her son and how to adjust to life which is so different to her own. I had to buy this as I love romances where the hero and heroine come from different worlds, cultures or social classes, as it increases the conflict and the tension in the plot. Lisa Day’s website

Coming Soon

Looking ahead we have a werewolf theme coming up and I will also be posting reviews on the first two books in Regan Walker’s Regency romance trilogy, Agents of the Crown. More on these very soon. Regan Walker’s website

Enjoy your week and your reading!

Tina 🙂

April 12, 2013 by Tina Williams

Gringa: In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug Lord, books1-4 by Eve Rabi

Hold onto your sombreros for a wild ride!

I was completely bowled over by Gringa. It put me through the emotional wringer, but oh what a truly amazing love story! I understand why it was an Amazon best seller last year. Although it contains violence, some of it sexual, murder, drug references and profanities, it also has laugh out loud humour, tender scenes and characters I grew to love, despite their faults. It is a compelling and unforgettable read.

In Gringa, Payton, a young American, is vacationing in Mexico when she is mistaken for a spy and shot by Diablo, the local drug lord and then, to ensure that she does not survive, he throws her over a cliff into the sea. However, Payton survives, nursed back to health by two locals. She returns to the village to ensure that her family is safe, intending to return to the US. Unfortunately Diablo reappears, threatening the villagers with death if she does not agree to become ‘his woman.’ Payton agrees to his blackmail to save innocent lives and returns with him to his home.

Many have likened Gringa to Beauty and the Beast, but it also has elements of Alice falling down the rabbit hole and entering an alternative reality of larger than life characters: Diablo, the terrifying, tattooed and pierced drug lord; Christa, his sadistic mother; his sister Santana, with whom he appears to have improper relations, and a posse of violent outlaws. There is also Payton’s own dysfunctional family, comprising her bitchy and selfish stepmother Elaine and step-sister Paris, her weak father, Austin her brother-in-law, whom Paris stole from Payton, and baby Liam, her nephew.

Diablo subjects Payton to physical abuse, including rape and she also witnesses violence, drunken behaviour, drug taking and profanities. Christa and Santana resent and despise her, although fortunately Payton benefits from Diablo’s protection. Servants Rosa and Maria become her confidants as she struggles to accept her situation. Even at this stage in the tale,however, there is still humour in the madness, much of it dark, such as Payton’s thoughts when Diablo makes his nocturnal visits, but some of it light, such as the chattering and antics of the Maria and Rosa.

Their ‘relationship’ gets to a point where Payton very publically tells Diablo some home truths about his qualities as a lover. It is then that Diablo begins his metamorphosis and courts Payton in regular boy-girl romance style. This makes for some deeply romantic and hilarious scenes and we begin to see a different side to Diablo. Payton learns of his horrific past experiences and begins to understand him. She also makes him question his behaviour and he decides to reform. However, their relationship is under threat, not only from Diablo’s family, but from those who want Payton to betray him. Payton’s deranged family also play a major role in the evolution of the tale, as they too go a little loco under the Mexican sun.

I was so emotionally invested in Payton and Diablo’s romance. Payton is a great heroine. She has balls, standing up to Diablo, his family and eventually her own, as she grows in strength. I really felt for her when she was recovering from her injuries and when Diablo did his worst, but especially with her conflicted emotions over Diablo when faced with those determined to take him down.

Diablo I loved him! He is attracted to Payton because she has the guts to stand up to him and her effervescent personality soon breaks through his bad-ass exterior. When we find out his childhood experiences, I, like Payton came to empathise with him. It is clear that he wants to change, but is it too late, will he be condemned for his past actions and will the couple find their HEA? You will have to read the series to find this out, and the story has so many twists and turns that I could not predict the outcome.

I adored the sheer inventiveness of the author and the way her words led me to experience a whole range of emotions, from disgust, fear, incredulity through to excitement, laughter and tears. It would make a super movie, but I cannot think of an actor or actress who could measure up to Diablo or Payton! I recommend this book to romance readers who can embrace a challenging plot and sometimes flawed characters within it and who want to experience a wild, unforgettable and above all romantic ride.

Eve Rabi’s website

Gringa on Goodreads, Amazon UK, Amazon US and Smashwords

April 10, 2013 by Tina Williams

Author Interview: Samantha Holt, Medieval Romance Author

Today we welcome Romance author Samantha Holt to A Reader’s Review. I first read one of Samantha’s novels, The Crimson Castle, not long before we began this blog and have recently read The Angel’s Assassin, which I reviewed last month. If you like your historical romances full of tortured alpha males and strong heroines deserving of their love, I strongly recommend them to you!

Samantha’s latest novel, Borderland Bride has recently been published and she has kindly agreed to tell us about it and also share with us her experiences of being the writer of such romantic tales. For my review of Borderland Bride please scroll down after reading the interview. Tina 🙂

*****************************

Hi Samantha. Can you tell us about yourself? Thanks for having me and for taking the time to read my books! It’s really appreciated. I am a full-time writer and author of medieval romances. I have gorgeous twin girls who turned seven recently and occasionally a husband, who works abroad nine months out of the year. His long absences definitely inspire me to write romance!

Please tell us about Borderland Bride, your new release. Borderland Bride takes place in Northumbria in the 14th Century, not long after the plague. The hero, Jake, comes across Isabel on his brother’s lands and takes her back to Thornewall Keep. It turns out Isabel has lost the use of her voice and hearing in a vicious attack. A romance builds between the pair but Isabel has a secret and Jake is wary of women after being hurt in the past. His flirtatious brother doesn’t help much either so all is not plain sailing!

What inspired you to write it?I wanted to create a love story with a language barrier. I don’t know enough of other languages to create a story around two different cultures so I decided my poor heroine should lose her voice and hearing! I was also fascinated with the history of the borderlands so I wanted Jake and Isabel’s story to be set there.

How much research did you have to carry out for this book? My knowledge of the medieval era is fairly extensive, although there’s always more to learn, but I’d never written anything set in the 14th Century before and because the era spans hundreds of years, naturally things change so I can’t rely just on my basic knowledge. Clothing, castles, weaponry etc. all changes and takes researching. I also had to dig up as much information as I could on border reivers, the criminals that ransacked the borderlands on both sides for hundreds of years.

How does your writing process work? Do you plan the plot in advance for example, or does it evolve? I’m not much of a planner – which is surprising to those how know me because my daily life is very organised – most of the plot goes on in my head. Usually it stems from one idea and then evolves. Sometimes I’ll have a beginning and an end and will start writing before I’ve figured out what happens in between!

What about the personalities of your characters – are they always fixed in your head before you start writing or do they develop a will of their own? Again, I have a vague idea and usually have certain traits figured out but often certain things come out that I never expected. Jake from Borderland Bride was always going to be brooding but he ended up with more of a chip on his shoulder than I’d anticipated as his back story developed. Occasionally traits crop out of nowhere. I remember writing a love scene in one of my first stories – it was the first scene I wrote for that book – and the hero was going to be calmly confident, but he turned out to be very passionate and quite commanding when he and my heroine came together, which I never expected! So, yes, very often they do their own thing!

I noticed that you are working on a fantasy novella. Can you tell us anything about this? I am close to finished (I hope!) so I can tell you a fair bit. It takes place in a medievally world, with castles and dramatic landscapes, but it is very much fantasy. In my fictional world, the God’s frequently visit humans in answer to their prayers. My heroine, Eden, receives a visit from the Fire God, Tyondric, who is curious about the beautiful woman. Eden turns out to be essential to the salvation of the world and Tyondric takes it upon himself to protect her and help her fulfil her role. It’s been nice not to have to worry about research and just make stuff up!

I have a thing about book covers – the ones on your books I find particularly attractive and it’s fairly obvious why, with all of those stunning examples of the male physique! How involved are you when it comes to commissioning the design of your covers? For Borderland Bride, I didn’t connect directly with the cover designer, Valerie Tibbs, but filled out a cover art form which is usually pretty specific, asking for themes and examples as well as what you DON’T want on a cover. I just said ‘nothing pink and too girly!’ And it was perfect! My other ones, I liaised directly with the cover artist although I gave very vague instructions and she just interpreted it for me, usually coming back with something I loved.

What do you love the most about being a writer? Is there anything that you do not enjoy? I love being able to escape into a fantasy world. And knowing I can drag someone else into it for a while brings me a lot of pleasure. I don’t expect to set the world on fire with my writing but romance is such a rewarding genre to read and I love it when I’m smiling after a happy ending. I like the thought of doing that for someone else.

I don’t consider myself a particularly emotional person – I tend to be quite happy – but since writing for a living, I’ve noticed I get slumps more often, because my happiness tends to be directly linked to how I’m doing writing-wise. So if I’m struggling to write, I’m very frustrated. The emotional highs and lows can be exhausting.

What type of books do you like to read? Have you any favourite authors? Romance, romance and more romance. I love medieval romance (obviously) and I also enjoy modern romantic suspense. I used to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy but I’m quite busy so I find it much easier to sit down with a romance novel. Having said that, Sue Grafton, who writes the Kinsey Millhone mysteries, is one of my favourites and I will always take time out to read her books.

Have you any advice to give to aspiring authors? Heed advice but don’t let it bog you down. Don’t take yourself too seriously either. Write what you love, not what others think you should write. Don’t get disheartened by criticism either as it usually only helps you hone your writing. But mostly keep writing! The more you do it, the better you’ll get.

And finally, have you a message for readers? I have so many things that I’d love to say but really just thank you for taking the time to read! I have some amazingly supportive fans and it still blows me away that people buy and read my books.

Thank you for giving your time to answer these questions for us. We wish you best of luck with Borderland Bride and your future work. Please scroll down or click here for Tina’s review of Borderland Bride.

*****************************

More information on Samantha and her books can be found on her website http://www.samanthaholt.org.uk/

Alternatively you can connect with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction

You can purchase Borderland Bride at http://jupitergardenspress.com/shop/borderlands-bride-the-borderland-legacy-book-1/