Bea Reviews The Witches of White Willow by Angela Addams

Series: A Witch Hospital Romance #1
Publisher: Weird Sister Press
Source: the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 20th, 2018
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks* |
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Even destiny can't get in the way of what is meant to be.


Hazel Knight is a Promised One—a witch born with unique magic abilities. As a result, her future is laid out for her. She is to join the Circle and spend the rest of her life meditating, chanting and devoting her healing magic to bolster her fellow witches. It’s a commitment Hazel is proud to make, and she’s just one internship away from fulfilling her destiny.

But just because Hazel’s committed to her destiny doesn’t mean she can't have some fun before she takes the final step. For the past year, she’s enjoyed many clandestine nights with a man who has given her a lifetime of memories to take with her. A mysterious lover whose name she’s never asked, whose face she’s never fully seen.

Yet when her internship begins, she has no trouble recognizing Healer Duke Hart, the exquisitely sexy witch whom her mother has handpicked to serve as her mentor.

Hazel only meant to have a little fun before she devoted herself to a life of servitude, but Duke is bound and determined to prove that nothing, not even destiny, is written in stone

Author Angela Addams Talks About Crafting Her "Order of the Wolf Series"

 I'm delighted to have author Angela Addams here on the blog again. Her PNR series, "The Order of the Wolf", is coming to an end with her current release, "Beast Rising". Angie has been a guest here several times; we first met at the now-defunct Kelley Armstrong board, and became acquainted. I've read most of her books, "Beast Rising' is in my TBR pile.

Every day is Halloween for author Angela Addams. Enthralled by the paranormal at an early age, Angela spends most of her time thinking up new story ideas that involve supernatural creatures in everyday situations. She believes that the written word is an amazing tool for crafting the most erotic of scenarios.

She lives in Ontario, Canada with her loving husband and children.

ARC Review of Valiant Heart by Angela Addams

Series: The Order of the Wolf #6
Publisher: Samhain Publishing 
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Challenges:  Finishing the Series |  NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge | What An Animal |
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*  | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

When the choice is love or loyalty, no matter what she chooses the heart will bleed. Slay the beasts. Save the day. Such is Ariana’s role in her first mission for the Queen. She has no reason to think the rest will be any different…until, in the heat of battle, she uses her powers to heal an injured Order Huntress.Her gift doesn’t go unnoticed. Lance, her very own Hunter, zeroes in, and a differentbattle is on. Lance is hot and very attentive, but this Amazon is determined to stayindependent.

Lance has prepared his whole life to battle alongside his mate. Now that he’s found her, nothing and no one else matters. He’s not letting her go.For the Queen’s second mission—bring the Oracle into the tribe—Ariana risks takingLance’s bond to get more power. She never expected her body to crave more pleasure, her heart to lower its defenses.As the battle rages on between Huntresses and beasts, there’s a foul plan in play that will force Ariana to decide where her loyalty lies. The cost of her choice could be a life.

Warning: Contains a squirm-worthy love triangle, plus some scenes of debatable consent between a take-no-crap Huntress and a super-hot playboy with a come-hither smile and a come-multiple-times tongue. 

Bea Reviews Mayhem by Angela Addams

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Series: The Order of the Wolf #5
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 11, 2015
Challenges: Finishing the Series |  NetGalley and Edelweiss ARCs | What An Animal
Buying Links: Amazon* | ARe* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

He will rock her world… once he shows her how he really howls.

By night, Mayhem howls out monster rock hits to roaring crowds, and lives the rock ’n’ roll dream. But lately he wants more than empty sex marathons with lusting fangirls. When he spies a beautiful redhead at his latest album launch party, his wolf howls only for her.

He can taste her sweetness and innocence hovering just beyond his grasp, but it’ll be a delicate task showing her the side of his life no one ever sees. When the sun rises, and his wolf form takes over.

Fledgling rock magazine editor Hannah knows the minute she lays eyes on Mayhem that she won’t fit into his world. But that doesn’t mean she can’t fantasize that she’s the only woman wrapped around his smoking-hot body.

One kiss—one perfect kiss—and Mayhem is ready to seal the deal of and for a lifetime. But before he can properly introduce Hannah to both halves of himself, she is gone without a trace. And the rapidly cooling trail smells distinctly of Hunter…

Warning: Contains a pack alpha/rock star with an attitude. He’s HOT. As in whole-lot-of-trouble hot. Set-your-panties-on-fiyah hot. Make-you-want-to-climb-into-this-book hot. Sensitive readers be warned, once he zeroes in on his mate, he’s not above breaking a few rules to get what he wants.

DUAL REVIEW, INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Spell Weaver by Angela Addams

 

Publisher: Samhain
Series: Order of the Wolf #4
Format Read: eGalley
Source: from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 7, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon* | ARe* | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Samhain
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Coloring outside the lines can sting like hell…

Shot by a Huntress, his wolf trapped within him, Dyami Storm is battling a poison that is eating him alive. His only hope is finding his mate, but without his wolf to guide him, he doesn’t know where to look.

The second the sexy bad boy stumbles into her tattoo shop, smelling of booze and oozing attitude, Summer Sinclair knows he’s trouble. She should turn him away, but a strange magnetic pull compels her to help him out with a little ink.

When Summer’s boyfriend walks through the door, Dyami senses he’s in the presence of a Hunter, and the Hunter recognizes him as a wolf. With hackles raised, a weapon coming at him, Dyami’s only choice snaps into place. Bite Summer, marking her as his—and unleashing her powers as a Spell Weaver.

On the run from Hunters and losing his fight against the poison, Dyami is in a race against time to convince Summer her power could change the course of the war…and that his fate is in her hands.

Warning: Sexually explicit. Tattooed, rock star drummer with a tender heart seeking his one true mate. Tough little tattoo artist with a special talent for spells. Lots of hot and heavy, wet and sweaty.

Bea Reviews Wolves' Bane by Angela Addams

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Series: Order of the Wolf #3
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon* | Kobo | ARe* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository* | 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Her destiny is etched in his skin…and carved in her heart.

Order of the Wolf, Book 3

Morgan Stills is a woman without a future. At least, that’s what the carnival psychic tells her. Love is foretold as well, but too bad. She’s already been marked for death.

She no sooner flees the psychic’s tent when she’s confronted by the biggest wolf she’s ever seen. A wolf that talks to her—right before she’s enveloped in a black cloak and dragged away.

Caleb was born for one purpose: follow the burning of his tattoo to find and protect his destined mate, the Huntress. When he rescues her from Lazarus, the king of beasts, what thanks does he get? A swift kick in his tender parts that leaves him writhing in a ball of pain.

Morgan quickly realizes her destiny lies with the Order of the Wolf. The only catch—she must choose between two sworn enemies who vie for her body, heart, and soul. Marked as a Huntress, thrust into an ancient feud between werewolf and Hunter, she must pick up a sword or die. And somehow learn to live without the man she is destined to kill.

Warning: Be prepared for fiery hot, melt-your-panties men, all muscle and sinew, searching for their one true mate. Committed, hot, and horny. What could be better?

The Friday 56 - Wolves' Bane by Angela Addams

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm about to start reading a paranormal romance, "Wolves' Bane", by Angela Addams. The quote is from 56%  in the eGalley. My review will be up at Romance at Random later this month or early next month.

Cal pounded on the door, suddenly too angry to think straight. She would not lock him out. 

SIGN UPS! Blog Tour for Wolves' Bane by Angela Addams

Ummm, see that hot cover? Wanna read the book that goes with it? Or maybe interview the author who wrote it? You're in luck! I'm setting up a blog tour for it. The tour will be January 6th through January 20th, 2015.

We're looking for 9-12 tour stops over the two week period. You can do a review, interview Angie, or share an excerpt. Guest posts are also available, but there's a maximum of two for the tour. We are working with the publisher, Samhain, to see about getting review copies via NetGalley. There will be a tour wide giveaway with a rafflecopter widget that I'll set up.

Bea Reviews Wolf Slayer by Angela Addams

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Series: The Order of the Wolf
Format Read: eGalley
Source: from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | ARe* | Barnes & Noble | 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

She would have made his next breath his last, if he hadn’t stolen hers.

Order of the Wolf, Book 2

Aubrey Devlin thought she had a destiny—to become a Huntress, be mated to a Hunter, and spend her life in everlasting, werewolf ass-kicking bliss. But after years of honing her wolf-slaying skills, it’s her twin sister who’s chosen for the coveted honor.

Swallowing her disappointment, she takes a job as head of security for the band Riot. Staying professional is tough when it comes to the band’s sex-god bassist, an alpha bad-boy to the extreme. She will keep her mind on her work—as soon as she figures out how to stop drooling over the man.

Jaylon isn’t good with women—especially those with the ability to kill him—yet he knows without a doubt Aubrey is his mate. Now if only he can get the stubborn woman to fall for him.

One argument too many, and instead of clawing each other’s eyes out, they wind up clawing each other’s clothes off. It’s then that Jaylon realizes the truth: Aubrey is a true Huntress. He’d better find a way to claim his mate before a Hunter claims her first…

Warning: Sexually explicit (like ripping-clothes-off, sex-in-public-places explicit) language. Rock-star bad-ass with long hair and a wicked bite. A take-no-crap huntress who bites back. You are encouraged to lick, suck, and devour your way through this tasty treat in one sitting—just be aware you might be hungry for more.

The Friday 56 #58 Wolf Slayer by Angela Addams

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading a paranormal romance, "Wolf Slayer", by Angela Addams. The quote is from 56%  in the eGalley.

She snapped her gaze up to find Chris-blond, built, and hotter than hot. She'd known him most of her life, his family being Order supporters just as hers was. Young, early twenties, he was part of her and her sister's cohort of Hunter/Huntress hopefuls, training together at times, socializing together often. He was a trusted family friend-someone she could count on to watch her back.

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Review, Excerpt & Giveaway of Cursed by Angela Addams

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Series: The Order of the Wolf #1
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: ebook from the author for an honest review & I own the Kindle book
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* |  ARe* | Barnes & Noble | 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Her biggest mistake comes with fangs…and a nose for tracking her down.

The Order of the Wolf, Book 1

Wherever there’s a lying, cheating scumbag who’s broken a woman’s heart, Vengeance Dealer Darcy Wells is there. So what if she isn’t the most skilled witch around? She’s only using one spell, which leaves the hapless male suffering tormenting lust for one woman. Her.

The beautiful part? This curse comes equipped with a blinding agent, allowing her a clean getaway. Unrequited lust, coming right up! As far as Darcy is concerned, it’s justice served. Her next target: Raven Glock, rock band bassist and drop-dead-gorgeous sex god.

When Raven lays eyes on the luscious Darcy, he gives her what he promises all the starry-eyed groupies who toss their panties at him—one unforgettable night in his bed. Sex with Darcy is so epic that he forgets his cardinal rule: to get her out before morning.

At the crack of sunrise, Darcy serves Raven a face full of cursed ash. But something goes horribly wrong…and she finds herself magically tethered to one pissed-off werewolf.

Worse, breaking the spell could cost her everything…maybe even her life.

Warning: Sexually explicit language, tattoos, piercings, and giant…um…feet. Wet panties are a given. Author assumes no responsibility for spontaneous ravishment of significant others, pool boys, or local pizza delivery personnel.

The Dirty Words War - A Guest Post by Angela Addams

I've known, virtually-speaking, Angie for years, We met on Kelley Armstrong's now defunct message board and I've reviewed some of her earlier works. Recently, she signed with Samhain for a paranormal erotic romance series and the first book, "Cursed", released in July. I have a review, excerpt, and giveaway post here and in this post, Angie talks about the many different words and expressions we use when talking about our sex organs. Naughty language ahead!

Review of Going the Distance by Angela Addams

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Release Date: December 26, 2011

Series: Cupid's Conquests #2
Buying Links: Amazon    Evernight Publishing

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

Ronan’s been in love with Steph Randell since they were teenagers. Pierced by Cupid’s arrow as a teen, the country boy fell hard for her. 

As an award-winning actress, Steph has a mind of her own and is blinded by her ambition. Yet, for all her money and fame, the only time she truly finds peace is in Ronan’s arms. But she thinks that all she needs is a friend with benefits. 


Cupid messed up and needs to fix things—an incredible boon if he can succeed. All he has to do is show Steph what she is missing and prove to Ronan that Steph is worth fighting for. What will Steph risk for love? And what is Ronan willing to give up to get his girl?

Reviewed by: Bea 

Teaser:

She needed this. She needed him. He was the only real thing in her life. The only one she could trust and count on. He was always there when she needed him to be and gone when she didn't. Her Ronan.

My Thoughts:

I like a friends to lovers story, and while this doesn't fit that niche exactly, it's close enough for me. Steph and Ronan were a couple in high school but they had different dreams and she left immediately after graduation. But neither forgot the other and over the years, as Steph has become a Hollywood star and Ronan has struggled to make his ranch thrive, they have always reconnected. Steph periodically sneaks away from Hollywood and hooks up with Ronan at his ranch in their hometown. Steph blows in whenever she feels like it and just expects Ronan to be available. He desperately loves her and makes himself available.

I wanted to kick Ronan for being Steph's doormat; seriously bub, grow a pair! I wanted to smack Steph for being so spoiled, selfish, and manipulative. I had a hard time warming up to Steph, she seemed very selfish, arrogant, and shallow. Both she and Ronan have some growing up to do, and with a little help from Cupid, they manage it. I enjoyed watching their relationship change and develop a more equal footing. The sex scenes were hot, the story flowed, and it had a happy ending. Go read!

Some quotes:

And just like that, he was lost. She was his drug of choice.

The days when Steph came were always bittersweet for Ronan. He loved to have her there, in his home, acting like a domesticated little housewife, his little housewife, and yet, he knew it was all a fantasy. She was no housewife, and she was not his, no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise.

 He slid his mouth down her neck, trailing kisses over her collarbone to her breast, latching onto her nipple without pause. She jolted up when he nipped her, exquisite pain there and gone as he smoothed her aching nub with his tongue, rolling it, flicking it, sucking it deep into his warm mouth.

I received a Kindle copy from the author for review. 

Witches and Vampires and Ghosts…or Maybe Not…A Guest Post by Author Angela Addams

PNR author Angela Addams is visiting again today. She was first here in spring of 2011, when I reviewed her book, "Ghost Bride" and also interviewed her. While her first few books were paranormal romance, her new one, "Going the Distance", is a contemporary romance, with just a hint of fantasy.

Every day is Halloween for author Angela Addams. Enthralled by the paranormal at an early age, Angela spends most of her time thinking up new story ideas that involve supernatural creatures in everyday situations.

She lives in Ontario, Canada in an old, and she believes haunted, house with her loving husband and children. 

Book Blurb (from publisher):


Ronan’s been in love with Steph Randell since they were teenagers. Pierced by Cupid’s arrow as a teen, the country boy fell hard for her.


As an award-winning actress, Steph has a mind of her own and is blinded by her ambition. Yet, for all her money and fame, the only time she truly finds peace is in Ronan’s arms. But she thinks that all she needs is a friend with benefits.


Cupid messed up and needs to fix things—an incredible boon if he can succeed. All he has to do is show Steph what she is missing and prove to Ronan that Steph is worth fighting for. What will Steph risk for love? And what is Ronan willing to give up to get his girl?

GOING THE DISTANCE

By ANGELA ADDAMS 

ASIN: B006QLUMX2

Published by: EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING

Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE

Format: ebook

Length:134 KB

Release Date: DECEMBER 26, 2011 

Author Website: http://www.angelaaddams.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AngelaAddams

Angie, thanks for stopping by today and sharing with us the challenges you faced writing this story.

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

So, here’s the thing, I’ve kind of made a brand for myself that is centered around all things paranormal. That was always just a natural fit for me. So color me surprised when I started writing my latest novella, Going the Distance, and discovered that there wasn’t a werewolf, vampire or witch in sight! I mean, come on! There’s got to be a way to fit in some kind of paranormal creature, right? RIGHT?

 

Ahem, well, no, no there wasn’t. This particular story wasn’t feral enough for a werewolf tale . There was no room for a vampire lover. There wasn’t even a place for a measly little apparition to float around. No paranormal. Period. Well, not exactly NO paranormal. This particular story was written to fit into a series called Cupid’s Conquests in which Cupid, aka Eros, has been banished to Earth until he can fix the sad romantic state of the world. He must intervene in the lives of romantically deprived individuals and hook them up. In the case of Going the Distance, he’s got to fix a mistake he made years before.

 

So I found myself in an interesting situation, a little scared, I will admit, but not so put off that the story wasn’t flowing. I have to say I’m quite pleased with the result. This novella is HOT, right from the get go. It was interesting delving into a realistic world with common problems and having my heroine and her hero overcome obstacles that any one of us could face. 

It was my first experience with a story taking over and even though I tried for a little while to force it into my paranormal mold, I knew it wouldn’t fit. I had to accept the reality that my brand was going to take a little detour into uncharted territory. And to be perfectly honest it was a great little jaunt…one I will most likely repeat at some point.

 

So now I can say that I’ve written a somewhat, mostly, contemporary erotic romance which is my favorite so far (I can say that because it’s my only so far ;-)

 

I truly hope it becomes your favorite too.

To celebrate my new release, I’m giving away an e-copy of Going the Distance! All you have to do is leave a comment (make sure to put an email address) and I will randomly draw a winner a week from today!

Guest Review of a Banned Book: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Genre: YA

Publisher (this edition): Pocket Books
Release date (this edition): February 2, 2009
Reasons given for banning: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group
Buy Links:  Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age and gender; a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles many face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with the devastating fact of his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings: 

"I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why."

With the help of a teacher who recognises his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like ivy. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realisation about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie checks out for awhile. But he makes it back to reality in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite" is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X. 

Our Guest Reviewer:

Every day is Halloween for paranormal romance author Angela Addams. Enthralled by the paranormal at an early age, Angela spends most of her time thinking up new story ideas that involve supernatural creatures in everyday situations. She believes that the written word is an amazing tool for crafting the most erotic of scenarios.  

 
She lives in Ontario, Canada with her loving husband and children.

When I approached Angela about participating this week, she immediately jumped on the idea of reviewing a banned book and chose this one. I have not read this one but I've read others that dealt with the same content and like Angie, I believe that books like these allow teens a safe avenue for dealing with these matters and can be a lead in to many conversations between the reader and others in their life. 



Angie's Thoughts: 

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, is one of those books that appeals to readers of all ages. It’s the kind of book that speaks to the very real trials and tribulations that teenagers are faced with in today’s society.  

The main character, Charlie, tells his story through a series of cathartic letters to an anonymous person. Although it seems like Charlie runs into an unbelievable heap of trouble: drugs, sex, a friend’s suicide and a horrible family secret, it is not an unrealistic coming of age tale. In fact, the reason why I think this novel is so wonderful is that it confronts these issues with full disclosure and doesn’t sugar coat the influences, pressures and realities that a teen in today’s world can face.

I’ve been asked to write this review because The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been flagged as inappropriate. It has been banned for containing content that is considered anti-family, is said to exploit the use of drugs and touch on issues of homosexuality and suicide. It is also criticized for the use of offensive language, expressing a religious viewpoint and containing sexually explicit content. It has been deemed to be unsuited to the age group for which it was written.  

All of the above mentioned “issues” related to this novel are in fact accurate; The Perks of Being A Wallflower does indeed contain a lot of sensitive content. In fact, the entire book is brimming with the musings of a conflicted, troubled teen. But does that mean it is unsuitable for its intended audience and should be censored or worse, banned? I say, emphatically, no and here’s why: 

Banning books like this one eliminates the possibility of opening up discussion with our youth on the very real issues that they are plagued with. The reason why this novel speaks to teenagers and is so widely read is because there is always an element of connection to the content. If the reader hasn’t experienced these things themselves then they have known someone who has. What better way to prepare our youth through open discussion and exploration of sensitive topics? And it’s not like these very real, issues are going to go away.

All censorship does is clean up a perceived mess by brushing it under the proverbial carpet. Unfortunately, just because you can’t see the dust and dirt, doesn’t mean the problems go away.  

Buy the book, give it a read, and then pass it along to your teen – it’s time we opened the communication valve with our youth instead of assuming that everything will always be sunshine and roses. 

5/5 Stars

The reviewer owns this book.

Interview with Paranormal Romance author Angela Addams

Today I'm pleased to welcome Angela Addams to the blog. Although she's a busy lady, with not only a new release, "Ghost Bride", but also a new baby, she took some time to sit down and answer some questions for me.

Angela, if you aren't familiar with her books, writes paranormal romance/erotica. Her other stories, "Assassin" and "The Temptress", are about vampires while her new is a ghostly love story. On her website you can find her blog, her book list and links to her recommended sites; she's also on twitter as @AngelaAddams. She lives in Ontario Canada with her husband and children, has been fascinated with the[paranormal since she was little, and believes that the written word is an amazing tool for crafting the most erotic of scenarios. She is also another wonderful author to come out of the Online Writers Group at the Kelley Armstrong Board.

Bea: First, thanks for taking the time to do this. Not only are you busy writing but you just had a baby about a month ago. Congratulations on your son.                             

Angela: Thanks for hosting me on your blog Bea!

Bea: Can you please tell me a bit about yourself?

Angela: I write under the pen name Angela Addams and currently have three short pieces published at Cobblestone Press and am agented by Sarah Heller of the Helen Heller Agency. I’m the mother of two, a girl and boy, as well as the proud owner of four very naughty cats.  I love chocolate and steak, but not chocolate covered steak and can’t live without my iPhone. I have an unhealthy obsession with paranormal romance and love watching the Dog Whisperer. 

Bea: What’s a typical day of writing for you? Are you a planner or do you wing it?

Angela: A typical day of writing? Well, that’s a tough one to answer these days because the baby takes up a lot of my time and isn’t really on a set schedule. I try to get some writing done in the morning when he’s sleeping but I also manage to steal an hour or two at various points in the day when I can convince my daughter to keep him occupied. I tend to do a little bit of both planning and winging it. I always start with a general outline and fill in the holes, or finer details, as I go along.

Bea: Is “Ghost Bride” part of a series or a stand alone? What is next on your schedule?

Angela: I do have plans to build a series out of Ghost Bride but right now I’m totally fixated on working on rewrites for my agent which I find all consuming at the moment.

Bea: Did you draw on any particular mythology for “Ghost Bride” or is it all original?   

Angela: I actually got the idea for Ghost Bride on my way to work one morning when the radio station personality I was listening to started talking about the mythology behind ghost brides. I found the story intriguing, did a little research and discovered that there was a belief in Chinese culture that centered around being wedded after death in order to avoid generations of bad luck. I took the idea and put my own spin on it, created a ceremony and story, and Ghost Bride was born. 

Bea: What prompted you to start writing? Would you continue to write if you were no longer published?

Angela: I’ve been writing since I was a little kid (I still have my first “novel” that I wrote when I was six called The Fuzzy Wuzzels – it has pictures and everything!) So being published or not would not stop me from writing – it’s been a compulsion from childhood. However, it is nice to be encouraged by both my publisher and my agent – writing is such a solitary pursuit and it’s hard to know if what you’re producing is any good without some kind of external validation.

Bea: What is your favorite part of writing? What is your least favorite part?

Angela: My favorite part is when I first get an idea and start brainstorming plot points – it’s always a rush and so exciting. When I’m in that zone I even get ideas while I’m sleeping and have to jot down notes when I wake up so that I don’t forget them.

My least favorite part is editing – it gets very tedious and I lose patience quickly so sometimes I rush through it when it’s really a stage in writing that needs the most time.

Bea: According to your site, you’ve been fascinated by the paranormal from a young age. What is the attraction for you?

Angela: I just love all things black and orange – you know, Halloween stuff. I get so excited when I see anything to do with paranormal anything – my kitchen is permanently decorated with jack-o-lanterns and I have Wicked Witch of the West collector dolls adorning my china cabinet in my dining room! I just love everything from the blood suckers to the spell casters and all the creatures in between.


Bea: Do you think that the paranormal is waning in publishing, changing, or holding strong?

Angela: I think that the genre is probably glutted right now with so many paranormal writers out there. At the moment, according to my agent, the focus is on cross-genre stories but I don’t think that paranormal will ever be totally out. I’m not the only one out there who loves supernatural creatures – we just need an infusion of different worlds, characters and mythologies to keep it fresh and interesting.

Bea: Currently your stories are paranormal romance, do you see yourself writing straight up paranormal stories? Do you think you might try a different genre sometime? 
 
Angela: The manuscript I’m working on with my agent is actually more straight up paranormal with a very limited romance thread. I like writing about paranormal stuff but I have also written historical fiction.


Bea: Who are some of your influences? Some of your favorite writers?

Angela: Oh gosh, there are many, many writers who inspire me. Some of my favorites are Kelley Armstrong, D.B. Reynolds, Kresley Cole, Veronica Wolff, Rhyannon Byrd and Jennifer Armintrout.

Bea: Was there someone who was, or is, particularly helpful to you? Was there someone who inspired you in your writing? In what way(s)?

Angela: This is going to sound strange I’m sure but one of the most inspirational people in my life was a high school English teacher I had who really believed in my writing ability and encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a published author. (Bea here - as the daughter of an English teacher, I think this is AWESOME!) His unwavering cheerleading came at a time when I needed support and an ego boost the most so I count his influence as being particularly important in driving me toward my writing goals.  Another person who I consider a mentor of sorts is Kelley Armstrong. She has given me some great advice and I will forever be grateful for her support.



Bea: What genres do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favorite authors?

Angela: I am addicted to paranormal romance. The authors I listed above are ones that I am devoted to reading. I am also an avid Victorian literature fan – one of my favorite authors in that genre is Wilkie Collins.

Bea: You have an account Twitter and a blog. Do you think that social media is important for an author to be involved in? Do you see yourself getting more involved?

Angela: I enjoy using my blog and Twitter to connect with other writers and readers. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t use it. I think that your heart and interest has to be in it for it to work for you. At the moment I’m using it to get my thoughts out there and to promote my books but it does stretch me to the limit where time is concerned. If I do find myself in the position of leaving my day job and becoming a full time writer I will probably expand my social networking to include other mediums.

Bea: Does your family read your books? What do they think?

Angela: I don’t allow my family (as in my mom and dad) to read my work– it’s too graphic for them but I do have a close cousin and quite a few friends who read my stuff both pre and post published. My parents know about my work of course and are very supportive, I just don’t want them to read the sex scenes – I think it would be very awkward! My husband has read some of my work – he’s not a big reader but is always very encouraging and supports the time I need to get work done.

Bea: Currently, your books are only available as e-books ( or that’s all I could find). Will they be available in print? Do you want a book in print someday or do you prefer digital?

Angela: The three shorts I have published through Cobblestone Press are all e-books only – no plans for print versions. I do aspire to be “in print” someday and am working on that aspect of my writing career with my agent.


Bea: Do you prefer to read paper books or ebooks? Why

Angela: I like both actually.  I have an e-reader and love the convenience and portability of e-books but I also collect leather bound books and hard covers for some of my favorite authors.  


Bea: If you could be a character in a book, which one would it be, and what part would you play? (Romantic lead, sidekick, etc)

Angela: Great question but also a tough one! I think I would be the kick-a## heroine who knows how to get the job done and save the world!



Bea: Anything that you want to add or say to your readers?

Angela: Come and visit me at my website www.angelaaddams.com and comment on my blog or follow me on Twitter @angelaaddams 

Angela, thanks so much for stopping by today. :) 

Review of Ghost Bride by Angela Addams

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

Release date: April 2011

More info: Publisher


Book Blurb:

Not only is she dead, trapped in her house as a bored and useless ghost, but she’s dead and now supposedly married to a mysterious stranger name Cole. Dasha is faced with a dilemma: give into her pulsing desires for her new husband who is hotter than any man she’s ever seen before or play it safe like she always did when she was alive and reject the only passion she has ever felt.

How much faith is she willing to put into a bond that she didn’t ask for, in a marriage that she didn’t even agree too?  


My Thoughts:

Dasha reminded me a bit of myself - bookish, not very adventurous, dislikes being ordered around, a home body. Ironically, now that she's dead and her ghostly self is unable to leave the home she occupied while alive, she wants desperately to leave, to go somewhere, anywhere: "She was dead and damn angry to feel so helpless and trapped, but there was nothing she could do about it." She regrets that she didn't do more living while she was alive. The only thing that she wants more is to see her sister Emma one last time. Unfortunately, Dasha has not seen anyone since her death so she is stunned when a strange man shows up unannounced in her house.

The stranger, named Cole (sorry but that name always makes me think of the demon Cole from the tv show "Charmed") is Dasha's husband, unbeknownst to her. Cole is several hundred years dead and unused to how modern American women behave. He finds himself both annoyed by and attracted to Dasha's behavior. 

Cole is on a deadline to consummate his and Dasha's wedding and he wastes no time in informing Her that they are married. Dasha has no memory of marrying anyone, during her life or agfterlife, and thinks that he's crazy.

Cole is arrogant, old-fashioned, has a sense of humor, and has secrets; he hesitates to trust Dasha, despite their marriage. He has a lot riding on their marriage. Dasha is reluctant to trust Cole while she's also attracted to him, and thinks that maybe here is her chance for a hot torrid romance, if only she coudl trust him. Addams takes the Chinese tradition of ghost brides, updates and tweaks it, and adds some other, more generic mythological elements and mixes them up with some romance and erotica.

I wish that more time has been spent on world building. There's a lot going on and parts were confusing. The afterlife itself and how it works, what it is, could have been further developed, and so could the other mythological elements. In an interview, Addams mentioned that there may possibly be more stories in this world, maybe even a series, though nothing is definite. I hope so as I'd like to see more. The story's length, only 66 pages including the cover, was a factor in the amount of development that could be done.  It's a neat little romance, with some sexy scenes and a nice helping of mythology.

This ebook was received from the author review.

Author Interviews - Kelley Armstrong board authors

     When I decided to try my hand at interviewing authors, I thought about what authors I wanted to inerview. Well, that list is long and includes some big names who will probably turn me down when I do get around to asking. But, it immediately occurred to me that I knew a group of authors, some personally, some not, who I wanted to spotlight and who might even agree to being interviewed by me. :P

     I belong to various author boards, including that of the awesome Kelley Armstrong. Her board has an online writers group that is very active and apparently very effective, as more and more are now published authors or have been signed by a publisher. So, I approached them and most graciously agreed. So, I will run a series of interviews over the course of the year with published members of the KA board OWG. I plan to run a review of their most current work along with the interview and some giveaways are also planned.

     The list of participants is subject to change as other OWG members get signed or published, and there's always the possibility of someone cancelling. The current line up is as follows, dates to be determined:

Morgan Ashbury - romance and erotica: interview, part 1; interview, part 2 2/14/11

Seleste deLaney AKA Julie Particka - paranormal romance as deLaney; YA as Particka: interview

Kelly Metz - urban fantasy - TBD

Ian O'Neill - mystery and urban fantasy - TBD

Angela Addams - paranormal romance: interview 4/30/11

Julie Campbell - YA urban fantasy: guest post 3/9/11; interview - October/November 2011

D.B. Reynolds - paranormal romance: Interview 5/16/11