[Review] Cold Burn Of Magic by Jennifer Estep

~ Cold Burn Of Magic by Jennifer Estep ~

(Black Blade #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Date of Publication: April 28th 2015 by Kensington
Source: NetGalley

                       

 

Synopsis:

There Be Monsters Here. . .

It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call–get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her. . .

Interview with Zoë Sumra, author of Sailor to a Siren

1. Tell us something about your latest book. Is it your debut? What genre does it belong to?

Sailor to a Siren is my debut. It’s a space opera thriller, or if you look at it the other way round, it’s a gangland thriller set in space with fantasy elements. Sailor is the story of two brothers, Connor and Logan Cardwain, who accidentally steal a superweapon and thereby end up in a lot more danger than racketeering had previously offered them. Every nearby crime king and would-be smuggler wants the superweapon, ruining Connor’s ambitions to start his own business. Logan’s girlfriend Éloise – an intergalactic rent-a-cop armed with powerful magic – stands in the way, but in a world where magic itself cannot be trusted, maybe Éloise herself is the biggest danger of all.

2. Is your book part of a series or can it be read as a stand-alone?

It can be read as a stand-alone. All being well there will be sequels, but I left it at what I hope is a satisfying conclusion.

3. When does your book release?

It was released in ebook format in mid-July: the paperback release is in mid-November.

4. Which character of your book was the hardest to write?

I have three viewpoint characters: Connor Cardwain, Logan Cardwain, and Éloise’s brother, Calad Falavière. The hardest to write was Logan: he is quite emotionally unstable, and while he’s an accurate narrator in what he sees, smells, does etc., he isn’t accurate about reporting his emotional reactions to events, or other characters’, as he doesn’t understand them properly. I had to concentrate quite hard in most of his chapters.

5. If you’re not writing, what do you love to do?

I’m a foil and sabre fencer: I have fenced sabre for my county. Absent any injury concerns I spend at least five hours a week at training or in the gym. Competing’s more fun than training, but it only goes well if I’ve trained! I love to read – I think every writer does, or we wouldn’t write – and I love board games, especially the Firefly board game.

6. Did anyone inspire you to start writing or did you always knew you just had to write?

My mother encouraged me to create stories when I was very small, no more than two years old. I started writing original fiction about ten years later, but I’d had that ten-year basis of story-spinning, even if I was the only one who benefitted by it in the interim.

7. Any advice/tips for newbies?

Learn to self-edit as best as you can (structural and copy-editing). No writer can edit his or her own work perfectly, but the more work writers do, the more useful the subsequent discussions with their editors will be. This can’t be done without learning to apply grammar and punctuation correctly – nobody can break the rules to best effect without knowing what the rules are – or studying scene construction as well as plot construction. Reading play scripts and frequently going to the theatre can teach a novelist quite a lot about dialogue techniques, blocking (character entrances/exits/movements around the scene’s furniture) and prop use – if a writer needs her character to finish his drink in dramatic fashion at the end of a scene, she has to make him pour or pick up a drink earlier on in the scene, for instance.

8. Are you already writing a new book? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I am working on two first drafts at the moment. One is a direct sequel to Sailor to a Siren: it opens with the protagonist discovering that his cleaner has been murdered, and then gets very murky from there. The other is set in the same world about fifteen years later, and, all being well, will be part of a short series with a more epic space opera feel – it’s the volume where everything goes horribly wrong for the main cast.

9. A word that you use way too often? (Mine are “quite” and “probably”)

There are many, including “and”, “the X of the Y” and “very”: I get a lot of red pen onto paper finding them all. My absolute worst trick in that respect isn’t overusing any particular words but having the characters discuss, at the end of each chapter, what they’re about to do in the next chapter. Part of each of my edit passes is making sure I’ve got rid of all of those discussions. I don’t try to avoid writing them in the first draft, as I suspect they are my subconscious technique for being sure I know what I’m going to put in the next chapter.

10. Last but not least: What’s your favourite type of candy, if you don’t mind me asking?

Ooh, good question! Any of Hotel Chocolat’s fruit centres, I think.

Author Bio

Zoë was born in London, but spent her later childhood living in Lancashire, where she started writing novels at the age of twelve due to extreme boredom. After completing the obligatory epic fantasy trilogy in her teens, she spent four years at the University of St Andrews, where she learnt to fence both foil and sabre and cemented her passion for space opera. She now lives in London with her husband and a collection of swords. When she’s not writing or fencing, Zoë works as a print controller for an advertising company.

Interview with S. Usher Evans, author of Empath

1. Tell us something about your latest book. Is it your debut? What genre does it belong to?

My latest book is called Empath and it’s about a modern day woman with some not-so modern problems. Stuck in post break-up hell, she hears a mysterious voice promising an easy escape to her problems. Suddenly, she finds herself in a fantasy world and now has the power to feel what others are feeling with the touch of her hand. Just one problem: there’s a dragon in the mountains above the village that might want to eat her. And it might also be the source of that mysterious voice tempting her deeper into her own darkness.

Empath is my third book, but my first foray into the fantasy genre (so far). My other novels are space operas

2. Is your book part of a series or can it be read as a stand-alone?

God help me if Empath gets a sequel. Writing it was one of the most emotionally draining, anxiety-triggering events of my life.

3. When does your book release?

Empath came out in May, but I’m just about ready to release the hard cover edition in the next few weeks.

4. Which character of your book was the hardest to write?

Lauren is basically all of the worst parts of me. My avoidance, my hateful internal monologue, my anxiety, my loneliness, all of that got rolled into one character. To boot, I gave her all of the reminders of my past, so much so that when the dragon forces her to relive her worst memory, it’s actually my own. Writing all of that was tough, but I couldn’t be prouder of how this book came out.

5. If you’re not writing, what do you love to do?

I love netflixing on the couch with my two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit! I also do a fair bit of home renovation and decoration, but since completing my new house a few weeks ago, I’m burnt out.

6. Did anyone inspire you to start writing or did you always knew you just had to write?

I’ve been writing since I was a baby, since I come from a long line of storytellers. My biggest influence is Our Lady of Scotland, Jo Rowling. I read Harry Potter about once a month between ages thirteen through seventeen while I was waiting for the next book to come out.

7. Any advice/tips for newbies?

Own the title of writer—not aspiring. If you’ve put something on paper, then by definition, you are a writer. And make sure that when you start down the publication path, you know exactly what you want to get out of it.

8. Are you already writing a new book? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Oh Lord. Which one?

Besides Razia book #4 (which comes out mid-Feb of next year) and also writing sequel to The Island (that’s my romance), I’ve started work on a YA contemporary fantasy novel about a girl who discovers she has magic—and that’s just the beginning of stuff she unravels. It’s a book that I’ve been tweaking since I was fourteen, and I finally think I’m at a point where I can do it justice. If all goes according to plan, expect it in October of next year.

9. A word that you use way too often? (Mine are “quite” and “probably”)

Betas get on me for repetition (“you aren’t strong,” she said strongly.) and for using too many adverbs.

10. Last but not least: What’s your favourite type of candy, if you don’t mind me asking?

Salted. Caramel. Makes a girl go weak in the knees.

Author Bio 

S. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a “real job” as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit.

Evans is the author of the Razia series and Empath, both published by Sun’s Golden Ray Publishing.

Follow her on: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

Purchase Empath on: Amazon | B&N | iBooks

[Book Tour] Nowhere To Hide by Lindsay McKenna

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NOWHERE TO HIDE

DELOS #1

Lindsay McKenna

Releasing Oct 13th, 2015

Blue Turtle Publishing

 

Lia Cassidy left the Army scarred physically and emotionally after a vicious attack by two fellow soldiers. She turns to helping others, working at a Delos Home School Charity in Costa Rica that provides schooling for children. But when the deadly drug lord, La Arana, attacks the school, Lia finds herself on the run for her life. The only person she can trust is the ex-SEAL sent to protect her.

Cav Jordan is strong, honorable and gorgeous…and intrigued by Lia. He knows she has suffered pain in her past, and he is determined to break through her barriers and earn her trust. But as Cav slowly chips away at the walls Lia has built, ghosts from her past threaten to destroy their fragile relationship.

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Lindsay McKenna lives her life as a risk taker, and it shines through the books she loves to write:
romance, adventure and suspense. She started writing at age thirteen and continues to hone her writing skills to this day. She sold her first romance novel in 1981. The rest is history.

Because she went into the military, this experience became the backbone of her writing—she is credited with writing
the first military romance novel (Captive of Fate, 1983, Silhouette Special Edition) and has created a thriving sub-genre within the romance field! As a New York Times Best Selling author, she has sold 23 million books and in 32 foreign languages in her career thus far. Her many experiences in the U.S. Navy are backdrop for her understanding of the military in general, and also her very successful Morgan’s Mercenaries, which is an ongoing series in Silhouette to this day! Forty-five books strong!

Lindsay has gone Indie in 2015 and has created a new family saga on par with Morgan’s Mercenaries It is known as the DELOS SERIES. There will be paperback and eBooks created under Blue Turtle Publishing, her company for her fans. Readers who love Morgan and his family are bound to fall in love with the Culver family. Delos is romantic suspense,
which Lindsay is well known for. It took her five years to create and bring DELOS to her readers. It was worth the wait, but we’ll let you decide that.

Lindsay loves to hear from her readers and loves to know what they’d like to see her write next. Stay up with the latest on the Delos Series here. Please visit her Website at http://www.lindsaymckenna.com. And be sure to sign up for her free quarterly newsletter. It contains exclusive content found nowhere else on the Net. Plus, giveaways and other surprises, to her loyal and faithful subscribers!

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Exclusive Excerpt

Smiling warmly, Dilara said, “I love the whole plan, Lia! I see no reason not to implement it as is. We’ll do it the moment you get back to La Fortuna with us. I’ll have our accounting department wire transfer adequate funds to do what you envision. I’ve brought down an entire new office supply system, including a new laptop and satellite phone for your use. My assistant, Sandy, will come with us to the village and help you get it all set up. You’ll have 24/7 contact with me directly, as well as others on my staff. You aren’t going to be left out here to fend for yourself with the threat of Medina hanging over you. That, I promise!”

Lia sat back, stunned. She hadn’t thought her plan was actually going to be accepted, but she knew Dilara moved mountains when she wanted to. After all, her family had the clout, the power and the money to do whatever she wished.

She happened to look across the table for a moment and saw a faint smile on Cav’s face. She’d tried to pretend he wasn’t there, because every time she caught his gaze, she felt something warm and clean move through her, it was probably nothing more than a pipe dream.

“Let’s get through the rest of this,” Robert told them. He looked over at Cav and then at his watch. “We’re going to be wrapping up here in thirty minutes. Cav, and from now on, I want you to be Lia’s driver. You will take her in the company van back to La Fortuna.”

Lia began to protest, giving Cav an apologetic look. “There’s no need for that. I can drive myself.”

“No,” Cav told her quietly, “If this drug lord wants to attack you while you’re in the van, do you know what evasion tactics to take?”

Nonplussed, she muttered, “Of course not” Just because she’d been in the Army, she was a mechanic, not a black ops person who would have such skills.

Shrugging, Cav said, “I’m happy to drive the van, Ms. Cassidy. Maybe you can get a little sleep on the way home.”

Lia had a lot of retorts on her lips, but she swallowed all of them. And honestly, she had no quarrel with him. His eyes told her she had nothing to worry about. In fact, he actually seemed concerned about her, though he’d said nothing to betray it. She just felt it.

However, she knew enough about professional operators to know that Cav had his game face on. He was on the job, and when they were in that mode, no one could know what they were thinking or feeling.

But his eyes…his eyes spoke directly to her. Why did her silly heart start galloping when their glances met? Why did hope slowly wind its way through her? Just that faint smile playing on his mouth made her yearn, once again, for a relationship…a real one…with the right man.

Grab a FREE Ebook copy of 

LAST CHANCE

The Prequel Novella to NOWHERE TO HIDE

 

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[Review] Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

~ Lover At Last by J.R. Ward~

(Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Date of Publication: March 26th 2013 by NAL Hardcover
Source: Library

 

                             

 

Synopsis:

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.

Interview with Shari J. Ryan, author of Red Nights

1. Tell us something about your latest book. Is it your debut? What genre does it belong to? 

My latest book, Red Nights, came out on June 18, 2015. It is my fifth book and definitely one of my favorites. It’s a romantic suspense. I had so much fun writing it and I’m so glad my readers have enjoyed it so far.

2. Is your book part of a series or can it be read as a stand-alone?

Red Nights is a standalone, but that’s not to say there may not be a follow-up story in the future ;).

3. When does your book release?

Since Red Nights is now a few months old, it’s time to bring in a new book, You’re It. You’re It is a novella and a follow-up to my bestseller, TAG. You’re It can be read as a standalone as well as with TAG. This book is fun and will hopefully keep my readers laughing as well as in suspense :).

4. If you’re not writing, what do you love to do?

When I’m not writing, I’m actually designing covers. I’ve been a graphic designer since the beginning of my adult life. While I love writing, I couldn’t decide between the two, so I do both!

5. Did anyone inspire you to start writing, if yes, who, or did you always knew you just had to write?

My grandmother and great-grandmother were both authors, and I figured if they could do it, so can’t I. I’ve always had a passion for writing, but I didn’t know if I was capable of writing an entire book. Turns out, I am capable!

6. Any advice/tips for newbies?

Don’t give up. When things get rough, write so more.

7. Are you already writing a new book? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I am :). I’m currently finishing up a new military romance. This story has been pouring out of me for months and it’s near and dear to my heart. I hope my readers enjoy it when it comes out!

8. A word that you use way too often? (Mine are “quite” and “probably”)

“I mean,…”

9. Last but not least: What’s your favourite type of candy, if you don’t mind me asking?

Reeses 🙂

Author Bio 

Shari J. Ryan is an Amazon Top 100 Bestselling author, a Barnes & Noble Top 10 Bestselling author, and an iBookstore #1 Bestselling author. She hails from Central Massachusetts where she lives with her husband and two lively little boys. Shari has always had an active imagination and enjoys losing herself in the fictional worlds she creates.

When Shari isn’t writing, she can usually be found cleaning toys up off the floor.

To learn more, visit her at, www.sharijryan.com.

Spotlight: The Dark Elements-series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series Status: Completed

#0,5: Bitter Sweet Love

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

>> Goodreads

#1: White Hot Kiss

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

>> Goodreads

#2: Stone Cold Touch

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

>> Goodreads

#3: Every Last Breath

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

>> Goodreads

 

I’m BAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKKK!!!!

WHHHHAAAAAAATTTT?

What do you mean you didn’t even noticed I was gone?! Do you hate me so much? 😦 And I thought we are friends.

Ok, in all seriousness. I’m back!! 🙂 After 6 weeks of my stupid internship I finally have some time to blog again. GOODBYE INTERNSHIP. I’m going to miss you… NOT!!

I totally missed you all, guys! And I totally neglected to visit and comment (even liking) on your blogs. I’m so sorry. My life was just really busy and I was dead to the world after work. It was really exhausting. And I’m glad to be back in school for tomorrow on.

The only thing I did for the last six weeks here on my blog were the authors interviews (which I like and there will be a lot more in the future), because they are pretty quick to schedule up ahead. And of course, some scheduled review.

But I miss, miss, miss my typical tuesday posts, like the TT & TTT. Those will be back next week or the one after. I promise.

Also I probably will be back with some Book Tours and Release Blasts (not that any of you read them, but I still like being a part of them 😉 )

And that’s it for this post… I guess. I just wanted to let you know that I’m still live and am going to be more (probably…maybe…naah) active again.

Also here’s what I’m going to do today: nothing! (haha, I wish, I have so many things too catch up to, like laundry … )

Till next time. Enjoy your sunday 😀

Dark Secrets Anthology ~ Interviews + Review

Let me start this post with a little overall info about Dark Secrets.

Beware this will be a long post 😉

Here we go.

Synopsis:

Six award-winning authors bring you this spellbinding collection of stories about dark desires, mysterious worlds, and danger that lurks in the shadows of the night. Where nothing is black and white; where things might not be as they seem; where magic and mayhem rule.

MARION, MISSING by Rachel Caine

Valentine is a detective with two major problems: he’s been offered a kidnapping case that will probably get him killed, and his partner won’t let him turn it down. He owes her that much … since his partner’s a ghost, and he blames himself for her death. A dark, haunting noir mystery of love, hate and loss.

FEMME FATALE by Cynthia Eden

PI Mick Swayne has seen it all—his clients have included liars, thieves, and even killers. He thinks he can handle anything and anyone. Then she walks into his office. Savannah Moreau is beautiful, seductive, and…a vampire? The gorgeous vamp hires Mick to help her track down a killer who is hunting in Chicago, but as Mick slips deeper into Savannah’s paranormal world, he wonders if he can really trust his new client…

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Megan Hart

When the devil starts the music, you’d better get ready to dance.
Kathleen Murphy has sold her soul to the devil. Fame, fortune, success…everything she’s ever dreamed of is hers, and all she has to do is the devil’s bidding. When love comes knocking, the last thing in the world she wants to do is involve Jake in her twisted world, but the devil’s started up the jukebox and Kathleen has no choice but to learn the steps

THE CONSORT by Suzanne Johnson

Faulkner Hearne, the captain of the ruthless Fae Hunters, finds his duty at odds with his heart when he’s ordered to capture the consort of Faerie’s cruel Prince of Summer when she flees across the veil into modern New Orleans. Can Faulk turn Liandra over to a certain death at the hands of the prince, or will he risk a war with Faerie in order to save her?
An all-new novella set in the Sentinels of New Orleans multiverse.

HEART’S BLOOD by Jeffe Kennedy, a Twelve Kingdoms novella

A dark fairytale retelling of a princess robbed of rank, husband and even her name.
Nix is nothing. The Princess Natilde—her former waiting woman—attacked her on the journey to wed Prince Cavan, stripping her of everything and taking her place. With no serving skills, Nix becomes a goose girl. Perhaps if Nix keeps her promise never to reveal who she really is, Natilde won’t carry out her vile threats. Prince Cavan entered his arranged marriage determined to have a congenial, if not loving relationship with his future queen—for the sake of both their kingdoms. But, his wife repels him more each day and he finds himself absurdly drawn to the lovely Nix.

THE DJINN IN THE MIRROR by Mina Khan, a Djinn World novella

A paranormal Cinderella story with a young witch as the heroine and a wicked, sexy djinn instead of a fairy godmother.
Dahlia, the step-daughter of a power hungry wizard, promises to free a djinn trapped in a mirror if he rescues her from impending death. But Ashmael the djinn has his own agenda: to trick & seduce his way to freedom. The only problem is he ends up falling for Dahlia. Can he win his freedom and save the girl?

~ INTERVIEWs ~

I was lucky enough to ask every in this anthology participating author three questions. I asked the same three questions, because I love to see how the answers vary.

Thank you all for your effort. I really appreciate it.

>> Rachel Caine <<

1. How did you get the idea for your short story? I started with the title for this one, and an image of someone scraping painted names off of a private investigator’s office door. As I started thinking about it, I realized it blended with a puzzling (unsolved) pattern of real crimes that took place in my city (though in the 1970s, not the 1950s). Setting something in the 1950s in a Texas town gave me the chance to talk about the very strong, stark racial issues of the time, too.

2. With which one of your characters from your short story can you identify yourself the most? I think it’s probably Grandma Carlyle. She’s a strong, no-nonsense woman who didn’t give up when others did. In many ways, she’s the prime mover of this story.

3. What do you enjoy more – writing short stories or full-length books? They both have strong attractions for me. I love being able to alternate them … short stories are low commitment in terms of time, which means I can just release myself to have fun with them. I generally write them by the seat of the pants, not storyboarded out. Novels take much more planning, and which the process and rewards are great, the commitment can be daunting. Being able to do a run of short stories helps me refresh!

>> Cynthia Eden <<

1. How did you get the idea for your short story? I’ve always loved the idea of the sexy Femme Fatale heroines in the old school noir flicks—so I decided to take that Femme Fatale persona to the extreme…and my heroine, Savanna Moreau (a real vamp!) was born.

2. With which one of your characters from your short story can you identify yourself the most? LOL, actually, I think it would be the hero—Mick! He’s just a normal guy, living his life—and then all of a sudden he finds himself surrounded by monsters.

3. What do you enjoy more – writing short stories or full-length books? I love writing both—I think varying things up and writing stories of different lengths gives my mind a chance to focus in a new way (I’m not sure if that makes sense!). But stories of different lengths require me to try new pacing and plot methods—and I enjoy the challenge that these stories can present.

>> Megan Hart <<

1. How did you get the idea for your short story? Dance with the Devil is a follow-up to a short story I’d written called Ride with the Devil. Though you don’t have to Ride in order to Dance, I wanted to explore what happened to the characters after “the end.”

2. With which one of your characters from your short story can you identify yourself the most? The heroine, Kathleen, for sure.

3. What do you enjoy more – writing short stories or full-length books? I really like short stories, but I also love novels and novellas, so…everything!

>> Suzanne Johnson <<

1. How did you get the idea for your short story? I had recently done a lot of behind-the-scenes worldbuilding to bring Fairie and the Fae into my Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, so I wanted to do something else in that world, particularly with my Fae Hunters–the ancestors of mythical Hearne the Hunter who guard the veil between Faerie and the human world. The story itself is not tied to the series, really, but is just part of the shared world.

2. With which one of your characters from your short story can you identify yourself the most? I most identify with the hero, Faulkner Hearne. He is a man (well, faery) who becomes torn between his duty, his responsibilities, and his heart–that type of struggle is meaningful to me personally, so I understand the tug between doing what’s expected and doing what your heart wants.

3. What do you enjoy more – writing short stories or full-length books? I’ll always be a novelist, although I have grown to enjoy writing shorter works, especially novellas. They are harder than full-length novels to write, though!

>> Jeffe Kennedy <<

1. How did you get the idea for your short story? I always love the fairytale The Goose Girl and it hit me that this collection would be the perfect venue for a retelling.

2. With which one of your characters from your short story can you identify yourself the most? I always identify with all of my characters on some level or another, or I don’t think I’d be able to write them well. But, Nix and Cavan, as my heroine and hero, are both people I admire and understand.

3. What do you enjoy more – writing short stories or full-length books? Hmm. Probably longer novels at this point. I started out writing short – stories and essays – and I really had to learn over the course of years how to write long. Now my novels keep coming out longer and longer! I like having the room to slowly develop a more complex story. That said, I don’t think HEART’S BLOOD would have worked as a longer piece. The tension of the deceit couldn’t be realistically maintained for long.

>> Mina Khan <<

1. How did you get the idea for your short story? I always like to play with established conventions and in the djinn mythology you always hear about djinn being imprisoned in lamps and rings, so I wondered what if a djinn were trapped in a mirror? Then my mind went in all kinds of naughty directions and I ended up writing The Djinn in the Mirror. It was a lot of fun!

2. With which one of your characters from your short story can you identify yourself the most? Um, Rasputin…the cat.

3. What do you enjoy more – writing short stories or full-length books? I really like novellas because they’re not too long, and not too short. But I write what I’m inspired to write at the moment, so I have written short stories, poems, food columns, essays and novels…and I enjoyed every single experience.

~ Review ~

This anthology took me by surprise. Why you ask? Because I liked every single one of them, even the fae story by Suzanne Johnson and I’m not that much into fae.

Every one of them were quick to read. And a little dark, exactly like the title promised.

If you are in the mood of a short story collection of different authors or if you want to find some new authors of the paranormal romance genre, I recommend that you give Dark Secrets a try.

I know I will look up the other books written by all these authors.

Rating: 4,5 stars.

Interview with Cindy Thomas, author of Beckon Me + Giveaway!

1. Tell us something about your book. Is it your debut? 

BECKON ME is my new adult debut. It’s about a college sophomore and her best friend who were both shot a few months before. Karina (the main character) survived, but her best friend, Rainey, did not. Over the next months, Karina is haunted by Rainey and then learns that she now has a chance to help Rainey cross over. But the choice comes with the danger of Karina losing her own soul in the process. There also happens to be a super hot neighbor involved, who may or may not be good for Karina, but you’ll have to read it to find out.

2. Is your book part of a series or can it be read as a stand-alone?

It can be read as a standalone, but there will be one more book to complete the duology.

3. If you’re not writing, what do you love to do?

Read! And play with my kids. I also love binge watching tv shows with my husband.

4. Did anyone inspire you to start writing, if yes, who, or did you always knew you just had to write?

I’ve always loved to write. I don’t think I’ve ever not written, but reading Caroline B. Cooney’s THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON was the teen novel that *really* hooked me on books for young readers. It’s been 20 years since I first read that book and it’s still one of my absolute favorites.

5. Any advice/tips for newbies?

Never give up. Take breaks if you need to, but if writing is something you truly enjoy and want to do, then keep at it. And surround yourself with others who feel the same way. Writing is a lonely thing at times, so I’ve found it incredibly helpful to have friends who also write, people who understand the ups and downs.

6. Are you already writing a new book? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes! I’m currently working on the BECKON ME sequel, as well as a young novel for my agent. The young adult novel is very much about self forgiveness and man, I’m so in love with this story. I can’t wait to share more when it’s finished. 🙂

7. A word that you use way too often? (Mine are “quite” and “probably”)

“Just.” I overuse it so incredibly much. I also say pretty much everything is “awesome.”

8. When does your book release?

BECKON ME released in April of this year. I’m hoping to release the sequel (titled RELEASE ME as of right now) in February 2016.

9. Last but not least: What’s your favourite type of candy, if you don’t mind me asking?

Reese’s Pieces. I could eat an entire bag all at once.

_____

Have you ever read my review for Beckon Me? Check it out here.

Giveaway: Cindy is so kind to offer one ebook copy of Beckon Me to one lucky winner, just use the rafflecopter to enter 🙂

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Author Bio

Cindy has dreamed of being an author since third grade when she won a writing contest for a story she wrote about her deceased great aunt. She hasn’t been able to ignore that dream since and chooses to spend most of her free time listening to the voices in her head and writing their stories.

Outside of her writing, Cindy is happily married and has three young boys. She lives in PA, but was born and raised in NC. Even though she’s lived in the northern half of the US for ten years, she still very much misses grits for breakfast and every now and then goes on a country music binge.

Her debut novel, BECKON ME, released on April 13, 2015. It’s a dark but sweet NA paranormal romance for both NA and upper YA readers.

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