Showing posts with label Chronicles From The Applecross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chronicles From The Applecross. Show all posts

Friday, December 6, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - CHAOS BOUND by REBEKAH TURNER - THE CHRONICLES OF THE APPLECROSS # 2 - ESCAPE PUBLSHING - URBAN FANTASY - STEAMPUNK

By: Rebekah Turner
Published By: Escape Publishing
Released : Available Now
Details : Digital for honest review , 179 Pages

RATING: 5 ROMAN, CASPER & SETH STARS!

Blurb : Goodreads

The long-awaited sequel to Chaos Born takes us back into the Applecross, where Lora faces increasing threats to her survival and her chance at love.

Lora Blackgoat — mercenary and smuggler — has only just recovered from the last threat on her life and hasn’t even begun to sort out the mess of having both a nephilim warrior and a reborn hellspawn as potential lovers. Work should be a refuge, but a job finding missing persons puts her in the crosshairs of a violent gang and a merchant with a taste for blood sport.

Reluctantly, Lora turns to the two men in her life for help. Roman — the nephilim — professes to be her soul mate and turns to her when he feels the darkness of nephilim madness descending. But though Lora is drawn to Roman, it is Seth, ex-lover and reborn hellspawn, who Lora must ultimately ask to protect those she loves. Can she trust Seth to save Roman and her adoptive family, or will this be a fatal mistake?

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

Another awesome escapism had by myself inside Rebekah’s colorful and richly detailed world of The Weald. I do love this series. Rebekah really does paint a wonderful picture in your mind as you are reading. The detail of The Weald with its Victorian Steampunk appeal and it’s old school life combined with her menagerie of colorful characters is a world I love revisiting.

Lora Blackgoat is one of my favorite female leads. I only really have a handful of female leads that grab me. Lora is always thinking about others and she is such a tough, kickass chick. 

I smiled crooked, throwing out a single dimple. 'This would be the point where I offer you a last chance before I beat you bloody. But not today.' I pulled the knife from my boot. 'Today you're just in my way.'

She also finds herself with a new nickname. 

Crowhurst grinned at me. 'Heard you picked up a new nickname.'

My back teeth automatically clenched. 'I don't want to know.'

'You sure?'

I glared at Gideon. 'Do I  really have to work with this moron?'

She dresses the part and she acts the part. But under the tough exterior is still the heart of a woman that is trying to work it all out with Roman, the Nephilim. 

Roman gave me an amused smile. 'I can assure you, your honor is safe with me.'

I smiled back. 'Oh honey, that ship sailed a long time ago.'

Seth has his eyes on Lora but he has damaged the bond they once shared. It is in his nature to think about himself first and he doesn’t really care who he has to go through to get what he wants. Being a hellspawn will do that to you.

A hard habit to kick. 

"Hello, Dimples." Seth leant against a tree trunk, smoking a thin cigarillo. He wore a starchy City Watch uniform under a battered leather greatcoat, a wheellock pistol strapped against one thigh. He smiled at me, teeth white against his dark goatee. A straight razor sat in one hand, the blade angled to the sun.  A saddled horse stood a little way off. tethered to a low hanging branch.

"Having fun watching the show?" I asked dryly. Seth and I had a long past together; a patchwork of fights, long absences and moments of heated, sexual bliss. Then things had soured between us after I'd discovered he'd been keeping secrets about his past. Wasn't the kind of thing a girl could easily forgive, not when you understood the kind of past he'd been hiding. 

Things aren’t going well for the beautiful Roman in this installment.  

Roman was what you'd call broodingly handsome, with black nephilim eyes, pin-pricked with white pupils. His dark hair was cropped short and black rune tattoos marked one side of his face. Once, I'd asked him what the tattoos meant and he'd told me they were a prayer to the One True God, written in the language of angels.

Casper , The Collector, is a new addition to this cast of smexi lads and I really like him. He has a cheeky side to him, yet at the same time he is on his own personal mission. 

There are two unlikely allies in Seth and Casper, a joining of two sides for a mutual benefit. 

Lora is on her own mission to find The Key of Aldebaran, all the books and destroy them so nobody can know her secret and use it against her. 

The fun didn't stop there, either. I'd discovered I was the only female of my kind to ever exist. Not something I wanted anyone else to know. Nothing like being a freak to bring out the fanatics.

That rotten little book of spells was what had started this whole mess.

Casper can help her out. 

'So.' His sunglasses turned my way. 'You're the Lora Blackgoat.'

I served up a frown. 'Yeah? So?'

'So, nothing , sweet cheeks,' Casper said. 'Just heard some interesting things about you.'

'Interesting?' I returned the grin, flashing my dimples. 'Seems you have me at a disadvantage, since I don't know shit about you. Well, other than the fact you have the same nickname as a cartoon ghost.'

'You think you're pretty funny, yeah?'

'I have my moments.'

Casper looked at Seth. 'She's a smarty-pants, isn't she.'

He crooked a finger at me. 'Come here.' I drank more beer, suddenly feeling unsure. Casper saw my hesitation. 'Rest assured, my lovely, you can trust old Casper. I've got plenty of women to keep me happy and, quite frankly, you're not my type.'

No matter what, trouble always follows Lora around The Weald. 

There is also a green monkey. 

'Not everyone is a villain, Lora.'

In between all her man problems she has to do some babysitting that gives Chaos Bound its direction. Ivor Grogan is intent on keeping his actress daughter safe and away from male attentions, unless he is the one choosing the male attention for his own nefarious dealings. 

It was men like Grogan that denied women the vote, and while I was no suffragette, the injustice made my blood boil enough that I wanted to slap on a protest button and break a few noses.

Nicola has her head in the clouds about her daddy. She is not seeing him for the man that Lora sees. That is going to be one rude awakening. 

I rolled my eyes, 'Nicola Grogan thinks her father walks on water. She lives in a world where unicorns piss rainbows and puppies never die. She thinks her father is over-protective and I'm too cute for words.'

Crowhurst and Lora have an interesting working relationship. LOL!

'Anon's balls, Lora. look in the mirror before you answer the door, why don't you. You look like the living dead.'

They're filthy things. Maybe someone's got a crush on you, but can't afford flowers.'

'Somehow I doubt it.' I wondered how seriously to take the threat.

'Of course, if it had been spiders... Now that's a threat.' Crowhurst rubbed his chin. 'Then again, bit hard to slit a spider's throat.'

We learn more about Rueben aka Crowhurst the Griorwolf, and Gideon Blackgoat is in danger of all his runners jumping ship and heading over to Velkov’s team, The Sisters of No Mercy.

...the honking of oncoming-fucking-disaster. From what I'd heard about Velkov, she was a dirty fighter. If she was speaking any truth, Gideon was in for a nasty bitch-fight.

Cloete is having moral issues and Lora is trying to find Roman among all the mayhem. Before it is too late.

Can Roman be saved? 

'You're the bravest guy I know, Roman, but your pride will kill you.'

Is Seth trustworthy? 

'You know what.' I stared out the window, memories playing through my head, It had been my twenty-sixth birthday, and Seth had surprised me with a trip to Paris. We'd stayed in a tiny boutique hotel the entire time, only leaving to forage for food and coffee. It was probably the fondest memory I had with Seth.

Will Lora’s secret get out?

'Does it not frighten you to know that there are many males here who would see you as an interesting prize?' His gaze slid over my hips. 'Even if you're a little on the plump side.'

'Who are you calling plump?' I raised my voice. 'I'll let you in on a secret: this little kitty has some big fucking claws.' 

I highly recommend this series. I am rather addicted to Rebekah's world she has created for me to escape into.

Rebekah will have you laughing and intrigued all on the same page. A highly imaginative series with a tough kickass chick, colorful characters and two worlds , The Outlands and The Weald that keep me coming back for more. 

Rebekah is up there with the big names in Urban Fantasy as far as I am concerned. I have just had another satisfied reader I recommended this series to. She gave 5 star reviews for both books. 

Trust me on this one, you want to pick this series up and give it a go. 

Michelle

Friday, November 22, 2013

GIVEAWAY & INTERVIEW - CHAOS BOUND by REBEKAH TURNER - CHRONICLES FROM THE APPLECROSS # 2 - AUSSIE AUTHOR ROAD TRIP - DAY 22




Day 22 continues with a Q & A session with Rebekah Turner, author of Chronicles From The Applecross series. I LOVE this series. It is rich in imagination and Lora Blackgoat is an AWESOME character. Seth and Roman aren't bad either * waggles eyebrows * . 

My review will be coming shortly for Chaos Bound # 2. 

Here is my review for Chaos Born # 1 

The lovely people at Escape Publishing are giving me 2 digital copies to giveaway. One of Chaos Born and one of Chaos Bound. If you love your Urban Fantasy with a side order of Steampunk , then this is one to throw on your TBR piles. I Highly recommend this series.

Welcome Rebekah.



The long-awaited sequel to Chaos Born takes us back into the Applecross, where Lora faces increasing threats to her survival and her chance at love.

Lora Blackgoat — mercenary and smuggler — has only just recovered from the last threat on her life and hasn’t even begun to sort out the mess of having both a nephilim warrior and a reborn hellspawn as potential lovers. Work should be a refuge, but a job finding missing persons puts her in the crosshairs of a violent gang and a merchant with a taste for blood sport.

Reluctantly, Lora turns to the two men in her life for help. Roman — the nephilim — professes to be her soul mate and turns to her when he feels the darkness of nephilim madness descending. But though Lora is drawn to Roman, it is Seth, ex-lover and reborn hellspawn, who Lora must ultimately ask to protect those she loves. Can she trust Seth to save Roman and her adoptive family, or will this be a fatal mistake?




Q & A SESH with REBEKAH


Michelle:  What five words describe Rebekah Turner the AUTHOR?

Rebekah: Crazed, but am oddly unfazed

Michelle:  What ten words describe the person behind the author?

Rebekah: Tired. I have young kids who believe in 5am breakfast.

Michelle: I LOVED Chaos Born. It has a very rich and colourful story line. You were a finalist in the Australian Romance Readers Awards, in the Fantasy/Sci Fi category 2012. Tell us a bit about that event.

Rebekah: ARRC 2013 was awesome. I handed out bookmarks at the signing event and I sat next to Rachel Vincent, who fed me fudge. I also got a ton of books to read and new authors to check out.

Michelle:  If you were given the task of walking up to somebody random in the street and you were to explain Chaos Born to them in a short speech what would you tell them? Not your book blurb, but something more...deeper.

Rebekah: Chaos Born is about the misadventures of Lora Blackgoat, a mercenary who goes down swinging with alarmingly regularity. What she doesn't do though, is stay down.

Michelle:  What ten words would Lora Blackgoat use to describe Capt Seth Hallow?

Rebekah: Just like fudge, Seth is orgasmically bad for your thighs.

Michelle:  What ten words would Roman use to describe Lora?

Rebekah: Smells nice, talks too much, destined to be his mate.

Michelle:  What ten words would Seth use to describe Roman?

Rebekah: In his way, which will make Roman an endangered species.

Michelle:  What quote do you think is the most powerful from Chaos Born?

Rebekah: 

Killing Roper wasn't the worst thing I'd done and I didn't feel too sorry about it. I'd grown up fast and mean on the streets of Applecross. My white hair and lame leg had made me a target for every bully on the block, so I learnt early on to fight dirty and that regret was for pansies.

Michelle: Is there a song you listened to the most while writing Chaos Born and why?

Rebekah: Battery - Metallica for attitude, and everything Hans Zimmerman has ever done, for focus.



The lyrics do eventually come. Long intro.


Michelle: What song best describes each of these characters, Lora, Seth and Roman and why?

Rebekah:  



Lora: Baby Got Back – Sir Mix a Lot





Seth: Welcome to the Jungle – Guns’N’Roses



Roman :  The Beast in Me – Johnny Cash


Michelle:  Casting call. Who do you see in your mind when writing Lora, Seth and Roman, and do you have any images?


  
 Lora: Kat Dennings





Roman: Tom Hardy

Michelle licks lips







Michelle: What message do you want readers to take from your debut book?

Rebekah: Perseverance is an important key to getting published.

Michelle: Where were you and what were you doing when you came up with the initial idea for Chaos Born or for the series?

Rebekah:  An image of Lora Blackgoat came to when I was out walking and listening to music.

Michelle: Do you have a non spoiler quote you can share with everyone from Chaos Bound # 2?

Rebekah:  Sure.

Seth walked back to his horse and untied the reins. ‘You want a lift?’
I ignored the question and limped towards the city to the soundtrack of Seth’s laughter. He knew I hated horses; a horse riding accident as a child had left me half-lame. Since then, I preferred my transport with wheels, a driver and some privacy. My thoughts tumbled over each other. Whatever Seth's intentions were towards me, one thing was certain: the bastard couldn't be trusted.

Michelle:  Chaos Bound book # 2 releases in digital format via Escape Publishing and imprint of Harlequin. What ten words describes the sequel?

Rebekah: Lora works a case and things get hot with Roman

Michelle: What has been the one thing that stands out to you in your journey as a writer?

Rebekah: Joining a supportive writers group.

Michelle:  What has been the most memorable book signing or book event you have been to and why?

Rebekah: See Q3. Rachel Vincent and I talked about our mutual love of horror movies, which was pretty cool.

Michelle:  If your life at this point in time could be described in a chocolate flavour or an icecream flavour, what flavour would it be and why?

Rebekah: Salty caramel ice cream: crazy delicious and wildly confusing all at the same time.

Michelle: Thank you Rebekah for taking the time to answer my Q’s and all the best with your writing.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebekah lives in sunny Queensland and has worked in the past as a graphic designer. She now does freelance work when her kids are looking the other way. An avid writer since she could scrawl in her dad’s expensive encyclopaedias, she has progressed from horsey stories to tales of dark fantasy with lashings of romance and a sprinkling of horror.

Her vices include eating overpriced ice cream, watching trashy 80s action movies and buying stationery she doesn’t need.






Type of belt that Lora might use to put her salt and other goodies in. Totally dig this.




GIVEAWAY TIME

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, December 10, 2012

BOOK REVIEW - CHAOS BORN by REBEKAH TURNER - CHRONICLES FROM THE APPLECROSS # 1 - ESCAPE PUBLISHING - 4.5 SETH & ROMAN STARS !!

By: Rebekah Turner
Published By : Escape Publishing ( click title )
Released : Available Now
Details: Digital, 333 Pages

RATING: 4.5 SMEXI SETH & ROMAN STARS with a dash of snarky REUBEN

Blurb: Goodreads

A fresh and exciting debut novel introducing the Chronicles of the Applecross.

Lora Blackgoat, smuggler and mercenary, has been lying low after a job gone bad made her a laughing stock in the industry. When a childhood friend turns to her for help, Lora leaps to restore her reputation and starts hunting a killer who is stalking the gas-lit streets.

She never expects that her path will lead her to the Order of Guides, a sadistic militant religious organisation - or to Roman, a deadly and dangerously attractive half-angel warrior who also hunts the killer.

When Lora discovers that the killer has broken fundamental laws of magic to enter the city, she also uncovers a conspiracy that leads back into her own dark past.



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I love me some Urban Fantasy and Rebekah Turner, Australian author, has wowed me with her first instalment in this new series. 

Now, this is either Chronicles From The Applecross series # 1 or, The Chronicles Of The Applecross. The digital book says both, Goodreads chooses Chronicles From The Applecross, either way, this was a smashing start to this series, with a nice dash of Steampunk.

This is one of Escape Publishing’s ( Imprint of Harlequin Australia) first lot of digital books released.

Love the detail in the world building. The Outlands, is in the human world, Bangkok, the modern world, modern technology. If you are in the know and can pay the hefty toll price you can cross into The Weald. Gas light, horse drawn hansom cabs, corsets, and a whole array of fantasy/paranormal creature’s co-exisiting, the best they can together. The Outlands is a common hiding place for criminals from The Weald. Modern technology won’t work in The Weald. 

For some reason it does for Lora.

It was a lot of fun being in this world Rebekah built for the reader, full of danger, magic, mystery, violence, gore, untrustworthy characters, smexi lads, twists and a Lady who plays by her own rules.

Love all the characters. The Butcher of Applecross is the particularly nasty villain.

Lora Blackgoat aka Chopper, is a runner. Due to her Snow White hair, she is assumed to be a Witch Hunter...... but is she? This 31 yr old with the bung knee, due to a horse accident, is a kickass chick. She relies on her cane with the carved goat head, more than not. She takes a whooping in this book and she gives as good as she gets. Her mouth I fear will be the death of her. She is a gambler, likes her drink of the ‘let’s get smashed’ kind, illegally smuggles weapons over the border, smokes cigarillos and is a handful for Gideon and her adoptive mum Orella Warbreeder, an Elf Witch.

Lora works for Gideon, a Satyr, ( half goat ) for the Blackgoat Watch and she is also the ward of Gideon Blackgoat . Gideon loves his fez’s and a nice smoking jacket. He wanted to be able to blend with humans so he gave himself a makeover of the not so goat looking style.

I did laugh out loud at some of the things Lora says.

“I get accosted all the time,” I said defensively. “So, you can shut the f*^k up.”

“And then there’s the matter of your filthy sailor mouth. You’ve the morals of an alley-cat, Lady Blackgoat, and one of these days, you’re going to find yourself in the kind of trouble you can’t insult, drink or fist fight your way out of.” Taunton gave another sniff. “It’s no wonder you’ve grown to be a bitter spinster.”

“Who’s bitter? I’m a free woman wearing expensive boots,” I snapped. “Now, can you take this quick-draw rig or not?”




“Yee-es?” I drawled, not needing a map to know where this was going to go.

The man gave me a wide, shit-eating grin. “How much for a roll?’

“F*#k you.” I arched an eyebrow like he bored me, and turned back to the bar.

“What’d you say, bitch?” he growled.

“Alright.” I kept my back to him. “I take it back. Un-f*#k you.”

Next thing I new, my arse was being grabbed and rubbed like he was wishing for a genie. I spun and knocked his hand away.

“Like it rough, do you,” he growled. “Ugly white-haired bitch like you would have to take it doggie style.”

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?” Cloete was all coiled energy, eye zeroed in on the warlock and one hand hovering near the knives at her belt.

“Too early in the night for this, innit?” the barkeep behind us asked. “This is why women aren’t welcome here. Nothing but trouble.”

“They started it,” I protested, not taking my eyes off the warlock.

The sailors were watching with interest, stupid grins on their dirty faces as they waited for the night’s entertainment. Cloete gave me a wild look that promised violence and I said some bad words in my head.



The characters are colourful and as dangerous as some of them are smexi.

Rebekah has a wonderful witty imagination and can handle juggling a lot of characters successfully, bouncing them off each other to weave a well thought out plot.

Captain Seth Hallow likes to call Lora ‘dimples’, he also doesn’t mind a bit of off duty time with Lora. He is a rather smexi character. He has known Lora for fifteen years. They have history. He is of the slap and tickle variety. Someone she finds hard to resist.

And doesn’t he know it.

Watchman Captain Caleb Haskett, a childhood friend of Lora’s, has separated himself, wanting more from his life, leaving Lora and their childhood friendship behind......until......

Enter Regulator Roman, half Nephilim. These dudes should be feared, but Lora really fears nobody. Roman is a smexi guy, although different to Seth, their characters are strong, and protective of Lora.

But why?

Joseph ‘The Hacksaw’ Daleman, is the loan shark Lora owes money to. Note the middle name. Yes, he would be the one you don’t want to borrow off or else........it ain’t pretty.

I was drawn to the book purely based on the cover. I am so happy the story was just as good.

This first instalment is rich in imagination, throw in some hellspawn, an exorcism or two, add the dark and dangerous world of The Weald and its colourful characters, and you have the beginnings of a kickass urban fantasy series that I can tell is going to rock my face off. 

Oh, and not to mention the contract she has on her own head, she kind of pis&ed Benjamin the Bloody off by killing his brother.

I think she wants to give Benjamin the 'forked sign of evil' , I think equates to giving 'the bird'.

I look forward to reading more in this very promising series.

FAVE QUOTES:

Kill zombie dog. Blow chunks later.



I tried to get myself under control, tried to distract myself by thinking about something gross and unsexy.

Overcooked broccoli. Farts in a small room. Gideon naked.

I nearly vomited in my mouth, found I was under control again.




Michelle