INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAYS with CAROLINE HANSON AUTHOR OF VALERIE DEARBORN TRILOGY - SELF PUBLISHED - AWESOME URBAN FANTASY TRILOGY

I would like to welcome Caroline Hanson author of the Valerie Dearborn Trilogy to Novels On The Run. Caroline has also kindly donated 3 x TRILOGY's to GIVEAWAY . Yes, that would be the set of her Valerie Dearborn ( 3 digital books x 3 winners each receiving the whole trilogy)

Woooot!!! Thankyou Caroline.

Her Trilogy is also currently $2.99 on Amazon .Now you could be a duffah and buy them individually, but that would cost a lot more than the current set for $2.99!!! Does not include the novella # 2.5.

The lovely Jenn Green put me onto this series and WOW!! I just love it! I have my reviews for Love is Darkness #1, Love is Fear # 2, Love is the Beginning # 2.5 ( wee novella ) HERE 

The books get better and better. The plot WOW!! I have my review for Love Is Mortal # 3 coming shortly.

Caroline is an author that should be published , she really brings it to the table. 

Grab your popcorn and sit back and have a read of the Q & A and then enter the giveaway . It is INTERNATIONAL!!!

INTERVIEW

Hi Caroline, thankyou for taking the time to answer my Q & A’s , much appreciated J 

Michelle:   I am a huge Urban Fantasy fan and PNR fan and I love Patricia Briggs, J.R Ward, Karen Marie Moning and I now put you into my fave author lists. What author would you like to meet and shoot the breeze with and what topic would you choose?

Caroline:  Thank you!! That’s the big girl list! I would love to swear up a storm with J.R. Ward but the ultimate author meet for me would be Laurell K. Hamilton. Her Anita Blake series changed my reading life. I have read them over and over again. I am a huge Jean-Claude fan. (Richard blows-- unless he decides to go for a threesome with JC, then he’s alright)

IMO, she laid the groundwork for where the UF genre is now. Very deep POV’s, tortured men, kinky sex and insanely long conversations where everyone’s baggage is chucked out on the table and talked about. She’s amazing.

Michelle:  Which of your characters did you find the hardest to write and why? 

Caroline:  Now there is a question! The easiest characters to write are Rachel, Jack and Valerie. I also adore writing Marion because that bitch cracks me up! The hardest to write would be Lucas and Cerdwellyn.

I think the sex scene in Love is Fear took me four months to write. 

I spent all of this time building up Lucas to be this hot-shot in bed, to have centuries of experience, and then he was going to sleep with Valerie in a calculated way. Which meant he was going to blow her mind, and I kind of felt like I wrote myself into a corner, because how the hell would he have sex? Like, what does this guy do in bed that is so amazing?

That was also a big emotional turning point for both Lucas and Valerie, so not only was Lucas supposed to be in control, uber-hot and Casanova-like, we also had to see cracks in his façade as he became more and more emotional as the sex went on. And on. I think the sex scene went on to be about 30 pages Lol.

I must interrupt here and go oh whahhhh!! Yes that was a most hot, lengthy scene,  I can most certainly see why it took a while to get it right. It felt like a lot of work had gone into it. It was rather amazing.

Michelle:  Juicy Lucas, don’t tell him I called him that, really grew on me the more I read your series. I was at times torn between Jack and Lucas. I think of Lucas as a Jericho Barrons type character from Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. 

They both are after something, they appear to use the girl to get to what they need, but does the impossible happen and they form feelings, they are both uber smexi in the bedroom department and they both know how to play the mental game with the girl.

Caroline:  Oh yeah and who doesn’t love a man like that! At least in a book. I loved the fever series, but I did not believe that Barron’s settled down at the end. Him working a barbecue? I didn’t buy it. I think the reason people loved Edward so much was because they could imagine waking up next to him two years down the road, when the sex had lost some of its shiny newness. This is a spoiler for the third book-- but I wanted my fans to believe that Lucas was the guy who would go the distance. To a certain extent, that bastard really hijacked my book.

Valerie was supposed to wind up with Jack. But for some reason, as soon as I started the second book the love triangle fell apart.

Michelle:  Do you have any other works, new series in the pipeline that you can tell us about?

Caroline:  Oh yes! I’m hoping to finish up the first book in a time travel series soon. It’s called A Lady Out of Time. Our heroine is a tough girl, born to be a soldier and she gets sent back to Victorian England and has to blackmail a handsome yet stuffy Duke who has no idea what to make of her and her modern sensibilities.

Like the Dearborn series, I think it’s a rebellion against the same tropes I had read over and over again. I love Regency romance, but am so sick of the sheltered virgin who has an orgasm the first time out. I want my heroine to be relatable and I think that is something that genre is missing.

Michelle:  Where were you and what were you doing when Valerie Dearborn idea came to you?

Caroline:  I’m a huge urban fantasy and paranormal fan, and I felt like I had read just about everything and seen the same darn things over and over again and they were really pissing me off.

I did not want to write another ‘tough girl’ book, where the heroine wakes up and shadow boxes. I was a huge Sookie fan because I wanted to lay out with her in her backyard and get a tan, maybe even go on a trip to Walmart with her.

So I tried to recreate that but from what I know—California and England. Valerie is an ‘every’ girl. She’s not the hottest or smartest chick around. She’s not making the best decisions or running 10 miles on the weekend, she’s just trying to escape her family and have a normal life.

Michelle:  I loved that Australia got a mention in this series. You are an American who lived in London, met the hubby to be and landed back on American soil. Valerie herself lands in London looking for some freedom from what her family wants her to do. Did you draw on any of your own experiences of living in London in your books?

Caroline:  Ummm, maybe. Lol. Yes, I went to college in London and Valerie’s dorm in Hampstead was my dorm. Café Rouge and the cemetery that Val passes were all places that I walked by every day. I went back to England in May and spent the day walking around Hampstead and it was very surreal to have my memories replaced with these characters.

Michelle:  What songs describes best, Lucas , Jack and Val each.

Caroline:  Oh, there are so many to choose from. I am a huge Florence and the Machine fan. I went through a phase where I could not listen to her unless I was sitting at my computer because I would instantly be back in Val’s world. In terms of Love is Darkness, Val and Lucas’ song was Rabbit Heart.

For Love is Mortal, the moment I heard Seven Devils I thought it summed up Valerie’s current situation. She had seven devils all around her and she’d be dead before the day was done.

I love this song!!

Powerful.

Whenever I hear the song Four to the Floor by Starsailor I think of Jack. There is a sort of desperate determination to it that Jack’s character embodies.

Michelle:  If Valerie Dearborn was made into a movie, could you cast your ideal, Val, Lucas , Jack and the manic Marion for us?

Caroline:  Oh I can! But I don’t know if it’s a good idea since my actors may not match everyone else’s.

The hardest person to cast, for me, is Valerie. Yeah, that’s all I got.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

The easiest one for me to cast is Lucas. In my mind, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who play’s Jamie Lannister on Game of Thrones has been Lucas since book 2. I play a lot of tennis, and at first when I was writing Love is Darkness I had a crush on Robin Soderling. And he encapsulated some of the nordicness that I like.

Cerdwellyn is Roger Federer. Which most people seem confused by. For me, Roger is graceful. And he is totally self-contained. He can be winning or losing and you will never know how he is feeling. He just doesn’t let it show on his face. And I love that. You count him out, think he’s gonna lose, and then he comes back.

As for Marion, I would kind of like Florence Welch to play her.

Jack is hard. Every now and again I see a picture of Ryan Kwanten and I think—that’s him! But he’s tough.


Michelle: 10 words that describe Caroline Hanson the author. 

Caroline:  Happy, miserable, indecisive, decisive, stressed out, relaxed. That’s all I got, but I think you get the picture. Every writing day is a series of highs and lows. It’s a peculiar profession because it’s so isolated and yet the people in my head won’t shut up.

Michelle:  Have you ever people watched, sitting somewhere and that person became one of your characters?

Caroline:  No, I can’t say that I have. I guess Roger Federer as Cer is as close as it gets. But having him as the inspiration for the character actually bit me in the ass. Cerdwellyn is still an enigma to me (much like Roger Federer) and I wish he wasn’t. Usually, I see an actor later and think ‘oh that’s totally them!’ but I don’t people watch.

Michelle:  Is there a quote that describes your philosophy on life? 

Caroline: 

 Fate is a future one didn’t try hard enough to change. 

I love that. That we don’t have to be hostage to our past, we just have to keep fighting the good fight. Like right now, I’m fighting to put down a candy bar.

Michelle:  Would Caroline rather be a vampire or an empath, and why? 

Caroline:  Tricky. Probably a vampire since they seem to have more fun. The appeal of the empath, at least for my mythology, is that they can make a vampire emotional. The idea of someone very in control and losing it is sexy. That’s what 50 shades is all about, and what makes being an empath interesting. It’s fair to say that Lucas is afraid of empaths and the feelings she would evoke if he drank her blood and I think that’s a nice contradiction, that she is physically weak but could take him down.

Michelle:  Have you a media tip for the up and coming author?

Caroline:  I’m a terrible person to ask! I do very little marketing, because it makes me crazy. I suppose the best thing I could say is spend a lot of money on your cover. It’s worth it. The reader will only take you as seriously as you take yourself.

Your covers are designed by Phatpuppy and they are gorgeous.


Thankyou Caroline for answering my Q’s , I look forward to more of your works in the future J

Michelle


GIVEAWAY TIME

INTERNATIONAL

If you are an UF fan
I highly recommend this trilogy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR # 59 - INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY with DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION AUTHOR - TES HILAIRE - SOURCE BOOKS CASABLANCA

Today on Novels On The Run I have a Q & A with Deliver Me From Temptation author , Tes Hilaire AND a GIVEAWAY for US/CANADA only. 

Michelle:  Hi Tes, I am Michelle from Australian book blog Novels On The Run, nice to meet you in cyber space. 

Tes: Thank you for having me, Michelle! It’s so great to visit you down under. (No, really, can I visit? I always wanted to go to Australia!)

Sure, come on over..err...under...:)

Michelle: What 10 words describe Tes Hilaire the author?

Tes: A humble recluse? Not going to let me get away with that? Hmmm… A dreamer with determination. A storyteller with a license to write. And last but not least a horrible speller with spell check.

Michelle:  I really loved Deliver Me from Temptation, thank you to Sourcebooks for the review copy! I have a thing for Valin. There is something about him. He is like this ‘teaser’ character. I want to know more about him. We get glimpses of something other than snark showing through and I am not talking his nuddy ways. I can assume we will get a book for Valin as he is showing us that he cares for ‘Red.’ Will he get a book and what book number do you think that will be?

Tes: YES! Valin is the protagonist in the next book. I positively loved writing his story, even if I did lose a bunch of hair (pulling on it, you know. These Paladin can be real stubborn at times.)

*Claps hands*

Michelle: I want to ask Valin: What 10 words he would use to describe Logan?

Tes: Oh, he doesn’t need ten words, just three: conceited, stuffy daddy’s-boy.

Michelle:  I would love to ask Logan: What 10 words he would use to describe Valin?

Tes: And this takes even less: A$. No, not really. Logan is much more tactful than that. Probably he’d say something along the lines of: “Though unconventional, Valin’s an invaluable member of the Paladin Order.”

Hehe.

Michelle:  Alexander, love him too! Will Alex get a book? 

Tes: You probably aren’t going to be satisfied with this, but I haven’t decided yet if Alex will get his own book or if his story will be worked into other novels with maybe a shorter novella of his own. Either way, I have a few other characters that are in more immediate need of torture (rubs hands together).

I'm all ears....

Michelle: What song do you think best describes Valin as the reader currently sees his character?

Tes: Another hard question… I tend to listen to playlists over a particular song, but one song that kept on playing when I was writing his story was Wrong by Depeche Mode. It just kind of sums up his feelings of never quite fitting in with his brethren.

Michelle:  Do you have a working title for book 3 and are you able to give us a sneak peek or information about it?

Tes: Book three is titled Prince of Shadows and will be available November 2013 :-) Keeping in mind that this has not gone through the editing process yet… Here is a little tiny, itsy-bitsy sneak peak. It’s the first scene where Valin and Gabby have been reunited and he’s realizing that she’s gone through some interesting (and not all good) changes since he first met her:

“What they hell has happened to you?” Valin demanded, noticing how limp and flat her normally lustrous red hair looked in the light.

“And hello to you too. I’d say you look well but it might further inflate your ego and spin you off into the atmosphere.”

And tired. Pale and tired. And were those dark circles under her eyes? God, what had she been doing? Or maybe the better question was what hadn’t she been doing?

“Are you feeding enough?” he demanded.

She flashed her fangs, letting her eyes drift to his throat. “Every chance I get.”

“Really?” He grabbed his shirt, stretching the neckline and exposing his throat. “Then go ahead, cookie.”

Michelle:  I really liked how you chose Jessica’s character for Logan. They fit like a glove. I felt very connected and invested in the two of them, wanting that HEA. I haven’t read any Paladin Warrior type characters in Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance before your series. What were you doing and where were you when the idea for Paladin Warriors came to you?

Tes: In truth, when I wrote the first chapter or two of book one, Deliver Me from Darkness, I had no idea it was going to be a novel about Paladin warriors. I knew Logan was a warrior and that his best friend Roland had been one until he was turned into a vampire, but I didn’t know what type. And that’s when I went looking for inspiration :-) To make a long story short, I started concentrating on the crusades and ended up stumbling upon a piece of French literature called The Song of Roland. It was one of the first works that mention the Paladin. From there the creative gears began churning, more research ensued, and viola! I had my Paladin.

Michelle:  Have you ever found a character or character description by people watching?

Tes: I like watching people to gage their reactions to things more than anything else. I’m always looking for new ways to display a person’s emotions without coming right out and saying: He’s sad. One time, though, I watched a group of really hot men walk off a plane in an airport. They were all dressed like sexed up cowboys and all heads turned as they swaggered down the hall. I came up will all kinds of character/story ideas for that…but I don’t write to that heat level! LOL!

OOoooo truly! That could have looked awesome in slow mo.

Michelle:  I can’t help thinking you have a lot of fun with Alexander and Valin in your writing, I may be wrong. Which character in Paladin Warriors series do you find the easiest and which character so far have you found the hardest to write and why?

Tes: Oh I do love Alexander. Talk about strength and heart. That said, the easiest and hardest character is one and the same: Valin. He has so much personality it’s hard not to be true to him. Unfortunately, he’s also darn stubborn and refuses to do anything other than his own way.

Michelle: I am looking forward to this being a badass long series. The book covers are beautiful artwork. I have looked for book trailers. How important is a book trailer to you? When it comes to Urban fantasy and PNR for some reason, I love watching book trailers as your characters are all gorgeous and different.

Tes: First, let me give credit where credit is due. The lovely Pickyme is the amazing graphical artist for both covers and Deliver Me from Temptation‘s cover photographer was the wonderful Jenn LeBlanc. As far as book trailers… I admit that I like them, but I don’t personally go searching them out, so for me they aren’t as important as those awesome covers Sourcebooks puts out. There is also the problem with the fact that I’m a bit of a perfectionist and am drawn to the book trailers produced by top notch (and expensive) companies, which means that I either need to learn to do them myself or rethink my promotional budget!

Michelle: You are currently waving your hands over your crystal ball, (I just magically gave you one through cyber space) how many books do you see in the future for this series? I love these guys, and Mike, I think will be a fave lad for me too. Wooot!!!

Tes: As many books as my readers will let me write! Mike is definitely in my sights for torture..er..a book, hopefully sooner rather than later too ;-) I also have tentative plots for another half dozen characters and have just introduced a bunch more in book three that I think you guys will be rooting for. I guess all I can say is that I hope you all will come on this journey with me!

I am here, waiting for you to torture...errr....write more characters = books.

Michelle:  Which 4 people/characters alive or dead, would you invite to dinner and why? Go for it, they can be real people, from movies, books, politicians, whoever you want.

Tes: Marco Pierre White from Hell’s Kitchen–to cook for us; Galileo–for some interesting philosophical conversation; Amelia Earhart–because I admired her drive and determination and want to know what actually happened that fateful day; And Hugh Jackman—just to look at. :-D

Ahhhh...yes. Hugh is lovely to look at:) 

Michelle: Thank you again Tes for your time and best wishes for your writing career . 

Tes: Thank you, Michelle! I really appreciate you having me here! And if you’re ever in North Carolina, be sure to look me up;-)

Michelle: No worries. I shall bring the beef for the BBQ and a refreshment:)

MY REVIEWS

DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION BY TES HILIARE –

IN STORES DECEMBER 2012 

Logan Screwed Up...Big Time

When things go bump in the night, Logan bumps back. Vampires, demons, succubi—you name it, he's fought it. His job as Paladin angel warrior is to protect humans. Not fall for one.

She Never Believed in Divine Intervention...Until Now 

Detective Jessica Waters protects humans too-with her Glock and a good set of handcuffs. She doesn't believe in fate. But if anyone looks like a gift from the gods, it's Logan. And he clearly knows more about her case than he's letting on...

“Dark, sexy, and intense! Hilaire blazes a new path in paranormal romance.”
—Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author on Deliver Me From Darkness

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Daphne Award-winning author Tes Hilaire started creating whole new worlds to escape upstate New York’s harsh winters before finally fleeing to sultry North Carolina. Her stories are edgy, exciting, and bring a hint of dark fantasy to paranormal romance. And no one ever has to shovel snow. For more, visit www.teshilaire.com, like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TesHilaireAuthor, and follow her on Twitter, @TesHilaire. Look for the other books in the Paladin Warriors Series: Deliver Me from Darkness (in stores now) and Prince of Shadows (November 2013).

BLOG TOUR STOPS

GIVEAWAY TIME

US & CANADA ENTRIES ONLY

Tes kindly donating a prize to 1 lucky Aussie
To enter - Aussie leave a comment below and state you are an AUSSIE :) 

1 x copy Deliver Me From Temptation

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR # 57 - REVIEW/GIVEAWAY/BLURB - HALE MAREE by MISTY PROVENCHER - 5 SWOON WORTHY STARS - 6 STARS FOR OSCAR!!

Today on Novels On The Run, I have my review of the awesome New Adult/Adult read from Misty Provencher, HALE MAREE and her cover reveal and blurb for Mercy her New Adult release PLUS an awesome HUGE Giveaway with lots of authors participating. 

By: Misty Provencher
Published By: Misty Provencher
Released: Available Now
Details: Digital, Amazon, 183 Pages

RATING: 5 SWOON WORTHY STARS
6 OSCAR STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

GENRE: ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Please be advised that this book is NOT suitable for Young Adult readers due to language and explicit sexual situations.

Hale Simmons dreams of climbing out of her impoverished life, going to college, and getting herself a titanium crash helmet, so she can eventually bust through the Plexiglas ceiling of her crappy life. But for now, she’s just a 18-year-old girl with a flimsy hope, barely getting by with her alcoholic father, Jerry.

But for Hale, ‘crappy’ suddenly takes a nosedive, when Jerry becomes the sole witness to a horrible accident. It is an event which means to effect everyone, especially Hale, who wasn’t even involved.

While the depth of the accident has just begun to unfold, Otto Maree, a prominent business man and old family friend, stands to lose everything because of it. Otto is desperate for Hale’s father to stay quiet about what occurred the night the two men met for a drink. Out of mutual moments of desperation, the two fathers forge a deal. Jerry is desperate to gain financial stability for both himself and Hale, and Otto Maree is more than willing to pay to keep his secret just that.

But deals like this need to be made of the strongest vows and bound with the most faithful of loyalties. Otto proposes a marriage between Hale and his playboy-son, Oscar, in order to assure that the secret remains ‘in the family’. The mystery surrounding the accident continues to grow and Hale struggles against her own mysterious feelings that begin to develop for Oscar, who turns out to less of a playboy, but just as fiercely loyal and dedicated as his father. 

As the pressure around her continues to escalate, Hale realizes that she’s got to decide if this arranged marriage is really just a big mistake or an amazing twist of fate that has been waiting around for this particular accident to happen.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I have read Cornerstone and Keystone , Misty's YA genre books in the Cornerstone series. Had a blast with her humor and characters. 

Now I have Hale Maree and truly if I had the money I would publish this woman. I am poor so it is irrelevant...just sayin'..hehe.

Hale Maree was an absolute pleasure to read. I absolutely adore Oscar aka Ocker aka OC. He is a most patient, beautiful, attentive, funny character who got hit with cupids arrow...hard.

I had the good fortune of reading about the first 40 odd pages of this book a few weeks back and I just knew this was going to be awesome. This story just grabbed me from the start and held on.

Then I got to read the rest....* swoon *. I tell you, I have had the pleasure of reading Easy by Tammara Webber this week and Lucas...beautiful Lucas.....now I have Oscar. How lucky am I?

Hale is 18 years old and through circumstance her father who is very down on his luck meets up with an old wealthy friend and a deal is struck.

Oscar is nearly 24 and this boy is a total book boyfriend. O.M.G and all the other letters of the alphabet. Almost...and I mean almost....the whole time that Hale and Oscar were at his father’s beach bungalow, it was like a massive fave quote. The words that came out of Oscar’s mouth, his mannerisms around Hale, his patience with her... it really needs to be bottled.

Eau de Oscar.

I can't help thinking what a tragedy if these two never met.

Sher , Hale’s bff is an absolute scream. She is just one of those friends that is never jealous of another’s good fortune, she is a great listener and she knows how to be there for her friend. I did chuckle at the rather personal things Hale told Sher, but hey, that is what friends are for.

* whispers* I kind of want Sher to hook up with Landon.......... hint.....hint.

I had to reread a couple times Misty’s words as I loved so much her voodoo dancing ghost women. What a beautiful description. I could quote it, but I want to encourage you all to pick up this book.

There is a mystery woven in, which did catch me out. I like being caught out.

I’m not sure how poor dad is going to get on in life, but I think he is trying and that is a start.

Oh....slap me upside of silly,  does Misty write boys beautifully. There is a scene in a chapter.... oOOooOOooOOooooooooooo!! When you come across it, you will know what I am OOoOOOOoooOOoooo..ing about. There were the swoon scenes and then there was the OooOOoooo scene.

I loved Hale wasn’t easy, she got frightened, she knew her limits. Her body is important to her. I swear women all over the world are falling down with Oscars beautiful words he says to Hale.

This is a book that you start, throw up the ‘Do Not Disturb ‘ sign and don’t surface again until you have finished. The pace is energetic, the scenes where Hale is learning to trust Oscar and what her body is telling her are just breathtaking.

Trust is earned, love is the reward.

FAVE QUOTES:

“I’m as faithful as they come,” he says, spreading his arms with another chuckle, “but I’m not dead.”


....“By the way, I forgive you.”
 I scowl. “For what?”
 “For that moment when you thought I was just like everyone else.” 

“Have you ever been with a man before?” When I don’t answer him, he clears his throat. “My favorite author is Steinbeck,” he begins softly.



“No,” he corrects me softly. “What I’ll tell her is that you are the girl I couldn’t resist. You are the girl that I met by chance, because our fathers were doing business together, and I fell in love with you at first sight. I was the one that pursued you, even though I had a girlfriend at the time. I couldn’t help myself. I’ll tell her you were never the other woman, Hale, because you are the one.”

*swooooonnnnn*

Thankyou for the mention at the end of your book * shucks* 

Michelle

MERCY COVER REVEAL & BLURB

Due for Release : 8th December 2012

My will to survive is the first thing to drown. 

I know, because I hold it under myself.

After facing severe tragedy in life, Madeline assumes her death will be easy. 

But the angels do not come to take her to Heaven. 

Instead, what retrieves her is something she never expected: a gargoyle.

Delivered to Truce, the King of the Gargoyles, Madeline now has choices she never wanted. She has the ability to take over the entire Gargoyle Kingdom, if she is willing to kill the king. However, looking to prevent takeover, Truce transforms Madeline, thereby granting her the ability to achieve the thing she wants most—death—if she can just find the human recipient for the Gargoyle Gift that she now has to give. It should be easy.

But lives, whether they are lived or not, are seldom simple, and Madeline’s past still stands in her way. Now, only a voyeur in the life of The Boy with the Golden Rod Voice, Madeline’s must reconcile her own life and death, if she ever hopes to have free reign of her soul.

BLOG TOUR STOPS

GIVEAWAY TIME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books by Misty Provencher 

The CORNERSTONE Series (Young Adult) 

HALE MAREE (Adult) 

MERCY, A GARGOYLE STORY (New Adult) 

CECY ROBSON'S BLURB BLITZ ONE DAY BLOG TOUR & SWAG GIVEAWAY- WEIRD GIRLS SERIES - PENGUIN USA

Welcome to the one day only Blurb Blitz Blog Tour for Cecy Robson's Weird Girls series. Novels On The Run has an excerpt from book # 1 - Sealed With A Curse to wet your appetite, as an added extra AND a lovely swag giveaway. 

Enjoy!

Michelle

THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella #.5  

Dec. 4th, 2012 

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird…

The Wird sisters are different from every race on earth—human and supernatural. When human society is no longer an option for them, they move in among the resident vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region. Could this be the true home they’ve longed for? Um, not quite. After the sisters accidentally strip a witch of her powers in a bar brawl, they soon realize the mistake will cost them. Because to take on a witch means to take on her coven. And losing the battle isn’t an option.

Includes a preview of the first full-length novel in the Weird Girls series, Sealed with a Curse—as well as introductions to the Weird World, and a letter from the author.

SEALED WITH A CURSE # 1

 Dec. 31st, 2012 

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough. 

EXCERPT - WEIRD GIRLS # 1 - SEALED WITH A CURSE

Chapter One 

Sacramento, California

The courthouse doors crashed open as I led my three sisters into the large foyer. I didn’t mean to push so hard, but hell, I was mad and worried about being eaten. The cool spring breeze slapped at my back as I stepped inside, yet it did little to cool my temper or my nerves.

My nose scented the vampires before my eyes caught them emerging from the shadows. There were six of them, wearing dark suits, Ray-Bans, and obnoxious little grins. Two bolted the doors tight behind us, while the others frisked us for weapons.

I can’t believe we we’re in vampire court. So much for avoiding the perilous world of the supernatural.

Emme trembled beside me. She had every right to be scared. We were strong, but our combined abilities couldn’t trump a roomful of bloodsucking beasts. “Celia,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Maybe we shouldn’t have come.”

Like we had a choice. “Just stay close to me, Emme.” My muscles tensed as the vampire’s hands swept the length of my body and through my long curls. I didn’t like him touching me, and neither did my inner tigress. My fingers itched with the need to protrude my claws.

When he finally released me, I stepped closer to Emme while I scanned the foyer for a possible escape route. Next to me, the vampire searching Taran got a little daring with his pat-down. But he was messing with the wrong sister.

“If you touch my ass one more time, fang boy, I swear to God I’ll light you on fire.” The vampire quickly removed his hands when a spark of blue flame ignited from Taran’s fingertips.

Shayna, conversely, flashed a lively smile when the vampire searching her found her toothpicks. Her grin widened when he returned her seemingly harmless little sticks, unaware of how deadly they were in her hands. “Thanks, dude.” She shoved the box back into the pocket of her slacks.

“They’re clear.” The guard grinned at Emme and licked his lips. “This way.” He motioned her to follow. Emme cowered. Taran showed no fear and plowed ahead. She tossed her dark, wavy hair and strutted into the courtroom like the diva she was, wearing a tiny white minidress that contrasted with her deep olive skin. I didn’t fail to notice the guards’ gazes glued to Taran’s shapely figure. Nor did I miss when their incisors lengthened, ready to bite.

I urged Emme and Shayna forward. “Go. I’ll watch your backs.” I whipped around to snarl at the guards. The vampires’ smiles faltered when they saw my fangs protrude. Like most beings, they probably didn’t know what I was, but they seemed to recognize I was potentially lethal, despite my petite frame.

I followed my sisters into the large courtroom. The place reminded me of a picture I’d seen of the Salem witch trials. Rows of dark wood pews lined the center aisle, and wide rustic planks comprised the floor. Unlike the photo I recalled, every window was boarded shut, and paintings of vampires hung on every inch of available wall space. One particular image epitomized the vampire stereotype perfectly. It showed a male vampire entwined with two naked women on a bed of roses and jewels. The women appeared completely enamored of the vampire, even while blood dripped from their necks.

The vampire spectators scrutinized us as we approached along the center aisle. Many had accessorized their expensive attire with diamond jewelry and watches that probably cost more than my car. Their glares told me they didn’t appreciate my cotton T-shirt, peasant skirt, and flip-flops. I was twenty-five years old; it’s not like I didn’t know how to dress. But, hell, other fabrics and shoes were way more expensive to replace when I changed into my other form.

I spotted our accuser as we stalked our way to the front of the assembly. Even in a courtroom crammed with young and sexy vampires, Misha Aleksandr stood out. His tall, muscular frame filled his fitted suit, and his long blond hair brushed against his shoulders. Death, it seemed, looked damn good. Yet it wasn’t his height or his wealth or even his striking features that captivated me. He possessed a fierce presence that commanded the room. Misha Aleksandr was a force to be reckoned with, but, strangely enough, so was I.

Misha had “requested” our presence in Sacramento after charging us with the murder of one of his family members. We had two choices: appear in court or be hunted for the rest of our lives. The whole situation sucked. We’d stayed hidden from the supernatural world for so long. Now not only had we been forced into the limelight, but we also faced the possibility of dying some twisted, Rob Zombie–inspired death.

Of course, God forbid that would make Taran shut her trap. She leaned in close to me. “Celia, how about I gather some magic-borne sunlight and fry these assholes?” she whispered in Spanish.

A few of the vampires behind us muttered and hissed, causing uproar among the rest. If they didn’t like us before, they sure as hell hated us then.

Shayna laughed nervously, but maintained her perky demeanor. “I think some of them understand the lingo, dude.”

I recognized Taran’s desire to burn the vamps to blood and ash, but I didn’t agree with it. Conjuring such power would leave her drained and vulnerable, easy prey for the master vampires, who would be immune to her sunlight. Besides, we were already in trouble with one master for killing his keep. We didn’t need to be hunted by the entire leeching species.

The procession halted in a strangely wide-open area before a raised dais. There were no chairs or tables, nothing we could use as weapons against the judges or the angry mob amassed behind us.

My eyes focused on one of the boarded windows. The light honey-colored wood frame didn’t match the darker boards. I guessed the last defendant had tried to escape. Judging from the claw marks running from beneath the frame to where I stood, he, she, or it hadn’t made it.

I looked up from the deeply scratched floor to find Misha’s intense gaze on me. We locked eyes, predator to predator, neither of us the type to back down. You’re trying to intimidate the wrong gal, pretty boy. I don’t scare easily.

Shayna slapped her hand over her face and shook her head, her long black ponytail waving behind her. “For Pete’s sake, Celia, can’t you be a little friendlier?” She flashed Misha a grin that made her blue eyes sparkle. “How’s it going, dude?”

Shayna said “dude” a lot, ever since dating some idiot claiming to be a professional surfer. The term fit her sunny personality and eventually grew on us.

Misha didn’t appear taken by her charm. He eyed her as if she’d asked him to make her a garlic pizza in the shape of a cross. I laughed; I couldn’t help it. Leave it to Shayna to try to befriend the guy who’ll probably suck us dry by sundown.

At the sound of my chuckle, Misha regarded me slowly. His head tilted slightly as his full lips curved into a sensual smile. I would have preferred a vicious stare—I knew how to deal with those. For a moment, I thought he’d somehow made my clothes disappear and I was standing there like the bleeding hoochies in that awful painting.

The judges’ sudden arrival gave me an excuse to glance away. There were four, each wearing a formal robe of red velvet with an elaborate powdered wig. They were probably several centuries old, but like all vampires, they didn’t appear a day over thirty. Their splendor easily surpassed the beauty of any mere mortal. I guessed the whole “sucky, sucky, me love you all night” lifestyle paid off for them.

The judges regally assumed their places on the raised dais. Behind them hung a giant plasma screen, which appeared out of place in this century-old building. Did they plan to watch a movie while they decided how best to disembowel us?

A female judge motioned Misha forward with a Queen Elizabeth hand wave. A long, thick scar angled from the corner of her left jaw across her throat. Someone had tried to behead her. To scar a vampire like that, the culprit had likely used a gold blade reinforced with lethal magic. Apparently, even that blade hadn’t been enough. I gathered she commanded the fang-fest Parliament, since her marble nameplate read, Chief Justice Antoinette Malika. Judge Malika didn’t strike me as the warm and cuddly sort. Her lips pursed into a tight line and her elongating fangs locked over her lower lip. I only hoped she’d snacked before her arrival.

At a nod from Judge Malika, Misha began. “Members of the High Court, I thank you for your audience.” A Russian accent underscored his deep voice. “I hereby charge Celia, Taran, Shayna, and Emme Wird with the murder of my family member, David Geller.”

“Wird? More like Weird,” a vamp in the audience mumbled. The smaller vamp next to him adjusted his bow tie nervously when I snarled.

Oh, yeah, like we’ve never heard that before, jerk.

The sole male judge slapped a heavy leather-bound book on the long table and whipped out a feather quill. “Celia Wird. State your position.”

Position?

I exchanged glances with my sisters; they didn’t seem to know what Captain Pointy Teeth meant either. Taran shrugged. “Who gives a shit? Just say something.”

I waved a hand. “Um. Registered nurse?”

Judging by his “please don’t make me eat you before the proceedings” scowl, and the snickering behind us, I hadn’t provided him with the appropriate response.

He enunciated every word carefully and slowly so as to not further confuse my obviously feeble and inferior mind. “Position in the supernatural world.”

“We’ve tried to avoid your world.” I gave Taran the evil eye. “For the most part. But if you must know, I’m a tigress.”

“Weretigress,” he said as he wrote.

“I’m not a were,” I interjected defensively.

He huffed. “Can you change into a tigress or not?”

“Well, yes. But that doesn’t make me a were.”

The vamps behind us buzzed with feverish whispers while the judges’ eyes narrowed suspiciously. Not knowing what we were made them nervous. A nervous vamp was a dangerous vamp. And the room burst with them.

“What I mean is, unlike a were, I can change parts of my body without turning into my beast completely.” And unlike anything else on earth, I could also shift―disappear under and across solid ground and resurface unscathed. But they didn’t need to know that little tidbit. Nor did they need to know I couldn’t heal my injuries. If it weren’t for Emme’s unique ability to heal herself and others, my sisters and I would have died long ago.

“Fascinating,” he said in a way that clearly meant I wasn’t. The feather quill didn’t come with an eraser. And the judge obviously didn’t appreciate my making him mess up his book. He dipped his pen into his little inkwell and scribbled out what he’d just written before addressing Taran. “Taran Wird, position?”

“I can release magic into the forms of fire and lightning—”

“Very well, witch.” The vamp scrawled.

“I’m not a witch, asshole.”

The judge threw his plume on the table, agitated. Judge Malika fixed her frown on Taran. “What did you say?”

Nobody flashed a vixen grin better than Taran. “I said, ‘I’m not a witch. Ass. Hole.’”

Emme whimpered, ready to hurl from the stress. Shayna giggled and threw an arm around Taran. “She’s just kidding, dude!”

No. Taran didn’t kid. Hell, she didn’t even know any knock-knock jokes. She shrugged off Shayna, unwilling to back down. She wouldn’t listen to Shayna. But she would listen to me.

“Just answer the question, Taran.”

The muscles on Taran’s jaw tightened, but she did as I asked. “I make fire, light—”

“Fire-breather.” Captain Personality wrote quickly.

“I’m not a—”

He cut her off. “Shayna Wird?”

“Well, dude, I throw knives—”

“Knife thrower,” he said, ready to get this little meet-and-greet over and done with.

Shayna did throw knives. That was true. She could also transform pieces of wood into razor-sharp weapons and manipulate alloys. All she needed was metal somewhere on her body and a little focus. For her safety, though, “knife thrower” seemed less threatening.

“And you, Emme Wird?”

“Um. Ah. I can move things with my mind—”

“Gypsy,” the half-wit interpreted.

I supposed “telekinetic” was too big a word for this idiot. Then again, unlike typical telekinetics, Emme could do more than bend a few forks. I sighed. Tigress, fire-breather, knife thrower, and Gypsy. We sounded like the headliners for a freak show. All we needed was a bearded lady. I sighed. That’s what happens when you’re the bizarre products of a back-fired curse.

Misha glanced at us quickly before stepping forward once more. “I will present Mr. Hank Miller and Mr. Timothy Brown as witnesses—” Taran exhaled dramatically and twirled her hair like she was bored. Misha glared at her before finishing. “I do not doubt justice will be served.”

Judge Zhahara Nadim, who resembled more of an Egyptian queen than someone who should be stuffed into a powdered wig, surprised me by leering at Misha like she wanted his head for a lawn ornament. I didn’tknow what he’d done to piss her off; yet knowing we weren’t the only ones hated brought me a strange sense of comfort. She narrowed her eyes at Misha, like all predators do before they strike, and called forward someone named “Destiny.” I didn’t know Destiny, but I knew she was no vampire the moment she strutted onto the dais.

I tried to remain impassive. However, I really wanted to run away screaming. Short of sporting a few tails and some extra digits, Destiny was the freakiest thing I’d ever seen. Not only did she lack the allure all vampires possessed, but her fashion sense bordered on disastrous. She wore black patterned tights, white strappy sandals, and a hideous black-and-white polka-dot turtleneck. I guessed she sought to draw attention from her lime green zebra-print miniskirt. And, my God, her makeup was abominable. Black kohl outlined her bright fuchsia lips, and mint green shadow ringed her eyes.

“This is a perfect example of why I don’t wear makeup,” I told Taran.

Taran stepped forward with her hands on her hips. “How the hell is she a witness? I didn’t see her at the club that night! And Lord knows she would’ve stuck out.”

Emme trembled beside me. “Taran, please don’t get us killed!”

I gave my youngest sister’s hand a squeeze. “Steady, Emme.”

Judge Malika called Misha’s two witnesses forward. “Mr. Miller and Mr. Brown, which of you gentlemen would like to go first?”

Both “gentlemen” took one gander at Destiny and scrambled away from her. It was never a good sign when something scared a vampire. Hank, the bigger of the two vamps, shoved Tim forward.

“You may begin,” Judge Malika commanded. “Just concentrate on what you saw that night. Destiny?”

The four judges swiftly donned protective ear wear, like construction workers used, just as a guard flipped a switch next to the flat-screen. At first I thought the judges toyed with us. Even with heightened senses, how could they hear the testimony through those ridiculous ear guards? Before I could protest, Destiny enthusiastically approached Tim and grabbed his head. Tim’s immediate bloodcurdling screams caused the rest of us to cover our ears. Every hair on my body stood at attention. What freaked me out was he wasn’t the one on trial.

Emme’s fair freckled skin blanched so severely, I feared she’d pass out. Shayna stood frozen with her jaw open while Taran and I exchanged “oh, shit” glances. I was about to start the “let’s get the hell out of here” ball rolling when images from Tim’s mind appeared on the screen. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Complete with sound effects, we relived the night of David’s murder. Misha straightened when he saw David soar out of Taran’s window in flames, but otherwise he did not react. Nor did Misha blink when what remained of David burst into ashes on our lawn. Still, I sensed his fury. The image moved to a close-up of Hank’s shocked face and finished with the four of us scowling down at the blood and ash.

Destiny abruptly released the sobbing Tim, who collapsed on the floor. Mucus oozed from his nose and mouth. I didn’t even know vamps were capable of such body fluids.

At last, Taran finally seemed to understand the deep shittiness of our situation. “Son of a bitch,” she whispered.

Hank gawked at Tim before addressing the judges. “If it pleases the court, I swear on my honor I witnessed exactly what Tim Brown did about David Geller’s murder. My version would be of no further benefit.”

Malika shrugged indifferently. “Very well, you’re excused.” She turned toward us while Hank hurried back to his seat. “As you just saw, we have ways to expose the truth. Destiny is able to extract memories, but she cannot alter them. Likewise, during Destiny’s time with you, you will be unable to change what you saw. You’ll only review what has already come to pass.”

I frowned. “How do we know you’re telling us the truth?”

Malika peered down her nose at me. “What choice do you have? Now, which of you is first?”

AUTHOR BIO: 

Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is an author with Penguin's SIGNET ECLIPSE. She attributes her passion for story-telling back to the rough New Jersey neighborhood she was raised in. As a child, she was rarely allowed to leave the safety of her house and passed her time fantasizing about flying, fairies, and things that go bump in the night. Her dad unwittingly encouraged Cecy's creativity by kissing her goodnight wearing vampire fangs. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, she began writing her Urban Fantasy Romance Series, Weird Girls, in May 2009. 

THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella, debuts December 4, 2012 

SEALED WITH A CURSE, December 31, 2012

A CURSE EMBRACED, July 2, 2013

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Website: www.cecyrobson.com

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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomCecyRobsonAuthor

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I enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E.L. James and Bared To You # 1 and Reflected In You # 2 in Crossfire series by Sylvia Day. Both series rate very well on Goodreads . Fifty Shades certainly made for a discussion point whether it be good or bad. Crossfire series is a softer , yet just as addictive tale of the billionaire and the girl. The characters are dramatically flawed in their own way. 

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Release Me

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes an erotic, emotionally charged romance between a powerful man who’s never heard “no” and a fiery woman who says “yes” on her own terms.

He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist.

Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.

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