Book Review, Interview, and Giveaway. Midnight Blood by Nicole PenceYanski

 

Book Review of Midnight Blood 

by Nicole PenceYanski 

I absolutely loved this YA paranormal romance. Nicole wasable to bring a fresh twist on the sometimes mundane world of vampires. Whenreading this book the characters are what come to life and the supernaturalelements just add an exciting twist.  

Shayna and Melina are fraternal twins. Melina doesn’t knowjust how different they really are. Shayna knows that when she turns eighteenthings are going to change, but she has no idea how much. When a new boy Caincomes to town an introverted and studious Shayna suddenly starts spending allof her time with him, Melina and Shaynas best friend Noah start to getsuspicious. 

Shayna longs for answers she was left with when her fatherdied, or didn’t he? She searches for clues in a new book store filled with oldparanormal books and finds more than she hoped for. The store keeper is Cain’s“Aunt,” who seems to have a few secrets up her sleeve as well. 

The romance in this book is full of the nervous and anxious lust of a new love.  Thecontinued build up waiting for the explosive electricity of a first kiss isdelivered with a punch. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat withsuspense and action. The pages of this book turn effortlessly. I read it oneday.

This is an author to keep an eye on I am looking forward toseeing her career flourish. In addition to the wonderful entertainment you getfrom purchasing this book, a portion of all salesfrom the e-book Midnight Blood will be donated to Angel Ambassadors of PetoskeyMichigan.  www.angel-ambassadors.org

Purchase Midnight Blood on Amazon here

 

Interview of Nicole Pence Yanski 

How long did it take you towrite Midnight Blood?

It took me from October of 2011-March of 2012to write Midnight Blood 

Was there a particular author orbook that inspired you to write your first novel?

No particular books, just gotreaders block…. 

Who was the first person to readyour book in its entirety?

Cassandra Lockhart (my righthand girl). She read Midnight Blood along with me, as I wrote it, and was thefirst to read the, first ever, totally revised (story location moving fromOregon to Michigan) printed manuscript 

When you started to writeMidnight Blood did you have the intention to publish?

 

I am not really sure,when, I actually started thinking about publishing, but I definitely wantedpeople to read it. 

Can you tell us a little bitabout what influenced you to write Midnight Blood?

I had gotten readers block, andwanted something to read really bad, but didn’t know what to read. I had read13 books in a 2 month time period, and nothing sounded good to me. So I wrotemy own.

 

Do you have any special quirkythings you do or need when you sit down to write?

I like to write LATE at night onthe weekends, when my family is sleeping, while listening to some good ole’Rock-n-Roll

Do you write in a linear fashion?

HUH??? lol 

When and where do you do most ofyour writing?

Whenever I can, and where evermy notebook happens to be lying around. 

What do you enjoy doing when youare not writing?

Spending time at home with my family,beading, and learning how to play the guitar.

 

I read this on your Facebook page. “I have finally typed 200, of my written pages, ofBorn Immortal, on my computer. 115 more pages to go, uughh!!” Did you handwrite this whole book? Can you tell us a bit about that experience?

Uughh!! Lol. Theeasy part was writing the book. I could take it with my almost anywhere, orleave it lying around to open up and write (quickly) when walking by. Thepainstaking part was wanting to sit down and type it. Uugghh!  

What is the last book you read?

Now it is; Shiver (Wolves ofMercy Falls) by Maggie Stiefvater ( I started it in July and finished it inSeptember, I have only read 2 books since starting Midnight Blood…I feeldeprived… 

When will the next book befinished? Or released?

Hopefully (and that’s a BIGhopefully) this winter.

 

Can you tell us about yourcharity and why you chose it?

Angel Ambassadors is a localMichigan organization that strives to meet the needs of our American troops andtheir families. I didn’t choose Angel Ambassadors they chose me. My book isdedicated to a great friend Timothy Hoffman, who was a Iraq Veteran. I lost myfriend in January, and him being a veteran had A LOT to do with his passing. Iwanted to do something great with Midnight Blood, and every sign that was shownto me was Angel Ambassadors. 

Where can fans find you on the internet?

 

Find Nicole on Facebook Here

Find Nicole on Goodreads Here
www.BornImmortalTheBeginningOfForever

 

 

 

 

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ Purgatory Reign by LM Preston

 

Peter Saint’s life stinks. But things are about to get much worst.

First, his parents are murdered in front of him. Then another victim

dies in his arms. Visions plague Peter with warnings that something

wants him for a sinister cause. It desires the one thing that Peter

refuses to give—his blood. Peter carries within him the one gift or

curse that could unlock a secret to destroy the human race. On the run

with Angel, a scruffy kid, Peter starts to unravel the mystery. It’s the

one treasure the heavens sought to hide from the world. Unfortunately,

when Peter finds the answer that he hopes will save the girl he loves,

he opens the door to a great evil that happens to be salivating to meet

him.

 

 

 

Click Here For A Read Sample

 

Release Dates:

eBook (March 2013)

Print (May 2013)

Pre-Order:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Purgatory-Reign-Series/dp/0985025131/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344012202&sr=8-1&keywords=purgatory+reign+by+lm+preston

 

 

 

 

 Connect with the Author LM Preston

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Amazon

 

 

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Book Review and Giveaway ~ Birth of the Nyxian by Amanda R. Browning

This is a story about a young woman that is well studied, fairly alone, and strong minded. One night while walking home from work she comes face to face with death and he was hot as hell. Harlow’s fascination with vampire stories and the looks of the man before her, seemed to cancel out any fear she should have had. Harlow finds love and adventure while flying around the globe running from Hades himself. The book ends with just enough of a cliff hanger to leave you wanting more.  

I felt like the relationship moved way to fast between Harlow and Aiden in the beginning of the book. I would have liked to have had some more time to yearn for them to be together. The dialog was a little bit unrealistic at times, in my opinion. With that being said Amanda does a great job in the romance department. Her love scenes were written with taste and just the right amount of heat. The bond that Harlow and Aiden develop is uncrushable. It is hard not root for them.  

The beginning of the book moved a little slow, but once you get past the back story the book is full of action and suspense. Amanda had my jaw drop on occasion.

This is an author who does her research! It is evident that Amanda spent countless hours researching everything for this book. She is able to really set a scene and take the reader to places they might not otherwise visit.  I love the way Amanda integrates long standing mythologies into her vampire world. Amanda showed a lot of thought and creativity when writing in her mythological creatures we are all familiar with. 

While reading this book, I felt like I could see this writer growing as an author. I am looking forward to reading her next book and believe that it will be even better than this one. If you love vampire books, this is one to add to your shelf for sure.

Thank you so much Amanda for sharing this awesome giveaway!

 

Amanda R. Browning on Facebook

Brith of the Nyxian on Amazon

The Immortal Choice Web Site

 

 

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Cynthia Lucas ~ Guest Blogger and Giveaway

DRIVE....The Path To Passion, or is Passion the Path?

So many new and aspiring authors and writers in the literary field and songwriting circles have questions about how to write and what drives the writing process. What is that exact thing that brings an idea to fruition for a writer and makes it come to life?

Being a musician, and award winning lyricist/ songwriter for most of my life, and an author in recent years, I've had a lot of experience in bringing ideas to life whether in print or in song. Earlier in my career, I took a lot of advice from 'experts' telling me what to do in music. Some advice was helpful but most was more damaging than constructive, and I found that whenever I listened to the 'experts', they always led me astray! Why? Because they have a set idea based on what they've 'seen or heard' or 'what will sell'...or 'what's already been done too many times.'

Well, I have news for the 'experts'...one could easily say that LIFE has been 'done too many times' if one wanted to. But it certainly hasn't and each and every life (and lifetime) is a new and wondrous adventure and story. If we forget this, we become jaded and lose our ability to get excited about those stories and to pour our passion into them. (This by the way, is the difference between a CRITIC and an ARTIST. A critic knows everything with little experience save personal opinion based often on their own insecurities and a jaded view of life. The writer..the musician..the artist knows nothing except the wild abandon and joy of creation based on their own drive, purpose and a desire to share what's in their imagination with the world.)

Bottom line: for every new generation that comes, a story that is 'old' is now new, because they have not experienced it yet, and there's ALWAYS a new way to tell a story. Each one is a unique, individual and special experience that will communicate to someone out there. I can't speak for everyone, but for me personally, I don't push or force the process. And I don't waste time on ideas or stories that I don't feel passionate about.

Sometimes an idea will come to me, whether it's a general plot for a story, or for a specific scene or chapter in a book I'm already writing...but it's something I allow to simmer and boil to the surface when it's ready. Some would say, "Well what if that takes too long?" And that's a valid question, and one that can mean the difference in getting a book written or not! If I have an idea that I am uncertain about but it's just sort of sitting there, sometimes I will do things to help it along.

If it's an idea for a book, sit down and think about how the story would go if it were real life....would it be exciting to you? Would you want it to happen to YOU?

And from a fantasy/diversion stand point: this something that YOU personally would watch or be interested in if you saw it on television or in a movie? Or if another author wrote this, would you read it and enjoy it? If not, then it's probably not something you're REALLY passionate enough about to create a story.

Sometimes I will have an idea that starts one way...and then morphs into something else, because of that very process of letting the story boil to the surface. My book BLOOD FROM A STONE started as something entirely different than the way it ended up. The original idea had a more tragic ending to it...but somewhere along the way, I realized that I wasn't feeling passionate about the idea anymore and I had to rethink it. Is it the idea of this or is it the story I am writing around it? Once I got that right, the fire turned back on and I knew EXACTLY where to take my characters and how to evolve their personalities and how their story was going to turn out. It flowed effortlessly and I actually cried when I re-read a couple of scenes I'd written. And I KNEW that I nailed it. It was completely from the heart. I'd poured my passion into every word.

I think that for all writers our happy ending always comes from never following a strict pattern, or trying to write something you think would be 'popular' or trying to make a story into something it's not meant to be. Instead LISTEN to that little voice inside your heart and let your soul take you where you know it's supposed to go. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks...because in all things art and creative, YOU are the one in the driver's seat, the blank screen is your open road....the keyboard is your vehicle. Throw away the map...look out there to the horizon in your soul and find YOUR adventure.

Most importantly remember: there is no road that leads to your passion....your passion IS the road that leads you wherever you want to go! So.....grab the keys, drop the top....and cruise!

Copyright 2012.
Cynthia Lucas, Author: When Lightning Strikes (2010)
Blood From a Stone (2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards Second Round Pick)
Musican/singer/songwriter. Nominee NORTH 2 SOUTH: "All Messed Up": Country Song of the Year 2004/2005 JPF Music Awards. 4th Place Winner Best Lyrics; "Ka'Blam" 2005/2006.)

Connect with Cynthia Lucas on Facebook

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Book Review ~ When Lightning Strikes by Cynthia Lucas

Why have you not read this book yet? That is a question you will ask yourself after you read When Lightning Strikes. Cynthia approached me and asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing one of her books. I was not sure exactly what the genre was and the cover was not that intriguing to me. But, I LOVED this book. Where the cover image lacked for me at first look the story makes up for tenfold. (After reading the book the cover made more sense.) 

Sara Douglas travels through time to find a love she didn’t even know was missing from her life. Sarah has the boxes checked on how perfect her life will be. On the eve of her union to her father’s business partner’s son she receives a special gift from her mother. Apprehensively Sarah keeps the good-luck coin, galbi, with her all night as directed by her mother.  

Could her mother have known that a strike of lightning would shoot her back in time to the rugged landscape of Medieval France in the fourteenth century? Burned and alone under the night sky a mysterious dark, handsome, and pompous Dominic du Barbaronne comes to her aid.  

I am already missing being a part of Dominic’s band of Romani gypsies. This book is full of action, adventure, betrayal, jealousy, brotherhood, love and lust.  Cynthia is able to find a great balance between romance and adventure to satisfy both male and female readers. Although Sarah is the main character it is Dominic that I really got to know. His character development through out the story is delicately woven amongst both love and action scenes alike.  

There is so much I want to say about this book, but do not want to spoil the adventure for you. If you like a little romance combined with action and adventure you will love this book! I sure did. I love when I finish a book and keep wanting more.

 

When Lightning Strikes on Amazon

 

Cynthia Lucas on Facebook

Cover Reveal ~ Tirade

This is the third book in the Heven and Hell series. The book will be released November 30,2012

Betrayal burns. Death hurts and the clock ticks…

Minutes and hours stretch into days. How long can Sam survive being confined in Hell? I have a plan… a plan with a lot of holes. I need someone who can make up for my weaknesses, someone who possesses the power that I lack. Riley is supposed to be off limits. He’s dangerous, he’s mean and he’s not to be trusted. But I do.

Beelzebub is on a tirade, bent on revenge. I took what he wants and sent him into the flames. I will wear the scars of his punishments forever. But scars don’t scare me anymore.

On my way to free Sam I find my true path, a secret place and new allies. But in Hell nothing is easy… and everything is cruel. The only thing left to do is survive.

 

Cover Reveal ~ Bewitched



Working out was for jocks. Homework was for nerds and I wasn’t a jock or a nerd. Yet, here I was, sweating through my favorite Victoria Secret yoga pants and tank with a headache the size of Macy’s. Learning about my powers was hard work. I thought it would come naturally. My brain was hurting from concentrating and my muscles were actually sore from effort. I thought longingly of the potion in the green bottle that Hecate had given me—a little sip would make it that much easier to use my powers, but she took it away. Apparently, I had all the power she wanted me to have. It kind of pissed me off.

   In fact, I was feeling pretty disgruntled all around.

   I was hot, I was sweaty, my head hurt and my hair was frizzy. Not to mention I had been wearing sneakers far too long. Thank goodness Hecate was gone. I actually had been glad not to be alone after the “bone incident,” but now I was ready for some alone time. I felt stronger.

   Feeling strong plus feeling disgruntled equaled somebody was gonna get hurt.

   I was standing in my yard near the lake and I glanced up at the moon before heading inside. It was low and swollen tonight—a haunting moon. It sent a shiver up my spine. I thought briefly about going to Heven’s and treating her to a little of what she deserved. I even looked toward the driveway as I walked, but I wasn’t going anywhere looking like this.

   I went into the house and began climbing the stairs. Halfway up, I heard a noise in the kitchen and I paused. My parents were still out of town. It wasn’t the maid’s day to be here… unless she came early. Another thud in the kitchen had me spinning on the stairs to see what it was.

   “Mary?” I called out. “Is that you?” Maybe she switched her schedule around and I didn’t know about it. Maybe I could get her to make me a latté.

  No one answered, and the noises in the kitchen fell silent. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and listened, wondering if I had heard anything at all. “Hello?” I called again, this time more unsure. This time a fine chill raced up my back.

   Suddenly being alone in this big house was scary.

   Clink, clink, clink.

   Okay, I wasn’t hearing things. Someone was there.

   I stepped off the stairs and walked through the foyer in the direction of the kitchen. I heard the cat hiss and I paused again. Clover was too lazy to hiss at a mouse. Something in my stomach turned cold and hard.

   I looked over my shoulder at the massive front doors to the alarm keypad and the distress button.

    But it was too late for pressing buttons.

    Clover burst around the corner with a hideous screech and barreled into me, hitting me in the knees and causing me to stumble. The cat didn’t even stop. I could hear his claws scraping frantically across the tiles. “What the…” I began as I straightened, but then something lurched around the corner after the cat.

     It was hideous.

     It stood about a foot taller than me with wide shoulders that were uneven looking—one was lower than the other—and a wild mane of bushy orange hair that seemed to create a cloud around its pasty, white face. Its lips were black and it had a nasty row of teeth that had seen a lot of decay. It had large purple circles around its eyes, which seemed to have no color at all.

    It looked like a psychotic clown.

    I screamed and took a step backward, and the thing grinned. I went running but it lunged and caught me around the wrist, pulling me back. I struggled, kicking out, but it was no use, his grip was too strong.

     Without any warning it reached up and snatched my silver pendant right off my neck. “Hey!” I screamed as it shoved me away. I fell onto my butt and stared up at the glittering silver heart as it dangled from the nasty clown’s hands.

    Cole had given that to me. It was the last gift he had given me before we broke up.

    Anger surged into my chest, making me hot. “Give that back.”

    Freaky Clown gave me another frightening grin and ran back into the kitchen, disappearing from sight. I ran after it, running into a solid wall of… offensiveness.