Blog Tour Giveaway & Spotlight on The Blood Destiny Series by Helen Harper

 

Welcome to today's feature post on author Helen Post and her urban fantasy series Blood Destiny. There will also be a short excerpt and a gift card giveaway.

The Books ~

Bloodfire (Blood Destiny #1) Blurb ~

Mackenzie Smith has always known that she was different. Growing up as the only human in a pack of rural shapeshifters will do that to you, but then couple it with some mean fighting skills and a fiery temper and you end up with a woman that few will dare to cross. However, when the only father figure in her life is brutally murdered, and the dangerous Brethren with their predatory Lord Alpha come to investigate, Mack has to not only ensure the physical safety of her adopted family by hiding her apparent humanity, she also has to seek the blood-soaked vengeance that she craves.

   

BloodMagic (Blood Destiny #2) Blurb ~

After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.

Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.

 

 Bloodrage (Blood Destiny #3) Blurb ~

Mack begins her training at the mages' academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.

Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages' library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning...

 

And now, a brief excerpt from "Bloodfire" ~

My hand finally found what I was looking for when it curved round a cold metal canister.  It never to hurt to come fully prepared.  I pulled out the hydrogen peroxide, twisting it so the nozzle faced the stone, and sprayed a tiny portion onto the black surface.  As soon as the chemical hit the shiny surface it began to foam.  It was definitely blood.  The curling heat inside me rose higher and my insides felt as if they were starting to burn.  The feeling of panic matched the bloodfire but I did my best to push them both back down.  Neither would help me right now.  I put the stone carefully into a side pouch where it wouldn’t get lost.

The moon continued to shine steadily down, casting shadows amongst the heavy trees.  I could hear the distant hooting of a night owl out searching for prey and the skitter of a small animal somewhere nearby.  I ignored them all and concentrated on the signs I could see at my feet.  There was something else there.  Reaching into my pack again, I found my torch, and clicked it on to look closer.

He had been this way.  John was light on his feet and left little trace of his presence but I knew him well and knew this area.  He’d disturbed the bush to my right, brushing past it as he ran.  And judging by the distance between his steps, he’d been running fast, as if something had been after him.  I frowned and arced the torch over the area, first close by then further along the path.  There was something up ahead.  Stepping forward, I tried separately to sense what it might be, but I was no shifter and came up short. 

 

About the author ~ 

Helen Harper is an English teacher currently living abroad in Malaysia. As a long time reader of urban fantasy, she finally bit the bullet and began to develop her own series of novels.

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland. "I always loved the escapism provided by those genres," states Helen. "No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book."

 
The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her - the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own.

Find Helen online: 

Facebook Author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Helen-Harper/101590660022586

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarperFire

 

Helen will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/super-book-blast-destinys-blood-series.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cat Thursday - Soup is Served

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict.

 

Now that's my kind of soup. :D

Interview with mystery author Victoria Hamilton

Hello! Pull up a seat, grab a drink and some cookies or fruit from the table, and get ready for a chat with Victoria Hamilton. She has a new book out and is out touring the blogosphere. "Bowled Over" is the second book in her Vintage Kitchen series and was released March 5th.

Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym for author Donna Lea Simpson. As Victoria she writes the bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mystery series (Book 1 – A Deadly Grind – May 2012) and the upcoming Merry Muffin Mysteries, also from Berkley (Book 1 – Bran New Death – September 3^rd, 2013)  Victoria loves cooking and collecting vintage kitchen utensils, as well as reading and writing mysteries. 


Find her online: 

website
blog
facebook
twitter

Bea: Victoria, thank you taking the time to answer my questions and good luck with your tour. What’s a typical day of writing for you? Are you a planner or do you wing it? 

Victoria: By necessity I have become a planner, even though the planning part bores me to tears. I have to know where I’m going or it takes longer to get there… kind a metaphor for life. I write every day except Sunday, starting first thing in the morning (7 am-ish) and going until after lunch, when I will do a little promo, etc. 

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

Victoria: I started writing as a kid, and I wrote for a long, long time without ever being published. But would I continue now if I was no longer published? Well, yes, because I would be determined to find a way back into publishing. I’ve been in that spot before, between contracts/no publishing contract, and I just kept writing, kept finding some new angle, some new story, some new genre. I don’t think there is any going back once you’ve tasted the wonder that is publication. And it is my living. 

Bea: What is your favorite part of writing? What is your least favorite part? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 

Victoria: Favorite part of writing… starting a new story, when the tale is full of potential and possibilities, before you’ve hemmed it in with the limitations of your own ability. It’s just a dewy portrait in your mind, at that point, a fresh canvas. Least favorite part… starting a new story, when you don’t know what direction to go in and are tortured by the possibility that any avenue you start down is a dead end. My most interesting writing quirk? That I can see far too many ways for something to go, and yet at the same time I’m hopelessly single-minded. I don’t know how to describe it otherwise. I know there are a million ways to write a scene, but once I start, I am like an out of control car barreling down the road, hell bent for leather, with all the mixed metaphors that implies. I’m one directional, in that sense. 

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

Victoria: Influences? Whomever I respect as a writer: Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Stephanie Barron, Anne Perry, Joan Hess, Diane Mott Davidson, Donna Andrews (Davidson and Andrews are two of my favorite mystery writers. ~ Bea) and my new favorite, Louise Penny. Favorite writers? All of the preceding. 

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)? 

Victoria: She won’t want me to say this, but my sister. She believed in me before I believed in myself. That’s rare. Read my dedication in Bowled Over. 

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

Victoria: I read widely. I read mystery, but I also like literary fiction, (Water for Elephants, The Lovely Bones, etc.) historical non-fiction (The Maul and the Pear Tree) , historical fiction, etc. I read every Sue Grafton as soon as it comes out. I read Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth and World Without End obsessively. I read the YA series by Scott Westerfeld, starting with Uglies. 

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

Victoria: They do, some of them. My friends like mystery novels, too, so they read them and seem to like them. I hate discussing my books, though, because I get horribly embarrassed and tend to brush past it. I’d much rather talk about almost anything else. 

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

Victoria: Paper, because I can pick it up and read it easily. I have a Sony ereader, but it’s out of date and keeps losing its charge, which means I have to remember to plug it in to my computer to read it. I am doing that right now, about to read Tessa Harris’s The Anatomist’s Apprentice, a historical mystery. I do love my ereader, though, because it allows me to size my font… my eyesight is getting bad, and in poor light it’s so hard to read small print. (I like that feature too. ~ Bea) Also, I can download books from my local library in two seconds, which is how I found the Tessa Harris book. 

Bea: Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it. 

Victoria: I just finished Louise Penny’s ‘Dead Cold’ and I am slack-jawed with amazement. She is so good, it leaves me weak, just thinking of her perfection of characterization and the depth of her world. When she has a scene at a pancake breakfast, you can smell the maple syrup, and hear the chatter of café guests. She is magnificent. It’s book 2 of her Inspector Gamache series, and I have ordered Book 1, Still Life, and will read them all, now, for sheer pleasure. 

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) 

Victoria: I’d be Jane Austen in Stephanie Barron’s mystery series. Love those books! And I’ve always wanted to be Jane Austen. Or… wait! V. I. Warshawski in Sara Paretsky’s books, for her fearlessness.

Bea: Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book? 

Victoria: The journey? I guess it would be comparable to a road trip where you know the destination and carefully plot out your route. A second book in a series has to build from the first one, and yet go over some of the same ground, for those who have not read the first book. It’s an interesting lesson in saying the same thing in a fresh way! 

Bea: What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different? 

Victoria: I don’t know how to answer that, really. I don’t think that’s for me to say, in some senses. I fit into the Berkley Prime Crime ‘Traditional or Cozy Mystery’ group quite nicely, I suppose. so I could be compared to some of them. 

Bea: Do you develop the recipes that you use in your books? If not, where do you fund them? 

Victoria: I find recipes in old cookbooks and alter them to suit modern cooks, just like Jaymie Leighton (my lead character) does! That’s how it came to me actually, the whole concept for the vintage Kitchen Mystery series. I love old recipes, but they require some fiddling to a make them suitable for today’s products, methods and appliances. 

Bea: What draws you to the mystery genre? Do you think you might ever try a different genre? 

Victoria: I love mystery novels, but I didn’t start out as a published mystery author. I wrote romances for a long time because that paid the bills, and I’ll tell you, it was a useful apprenticeship for mystery writing because romance is all about characters, and I write character driven mystery novels. I don’t want to write anything but mysteries, though I do hope to write another historical mystery series at some point. (I wrote the Lady Anne mysteries as Donna Lea Simpson) Mysteries hold, for me, the hope and salvation for humankind; justice prevails, in most cases. Mankind is flawed but working toward a gentler incarnation, if we can just learn to be kinder to each other, less selfish, more forgiving of the little faults. Maybe that is what attracts me to Louise Penny’s books now; like Anne Perry and others of her ilk she looks the horrible truth of humankind in the face and yet sees the beauty behind our miserable state. For all our flaws, there are still more good people than bad, and the good keep striving to make the world a better place. That is the essence of a mystery novel, for me. 

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

Victoria: Thank you. Thank you for reading my books, and taking the time to review them and talk about them. Thank you for your kind letters. Thank you for helping me achieve and keep the dream of my lifetime, becoming a mystery novelist. 

Thank you, too, to Bea’s Book Nook for some of the most thought-provoking questions I’ve ever been asked. It helps, oddly enough, because it makes me look inward and think about why I love what I do, and how I want to get better at it. 

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

GIVEAWAY

There is a tour wide giveaway for Kindle books, a Kindle Touch and gift cards. There are four prize packages for authors Victoria Hamilton, Lucy Burdette, Billie Thomas, and Marie Moore.

The prizes are -

Prize 1 (US/Canada only)
* a Kindle Touch
* a $15 Amazon.com giftcard
Prize 2 (International)
* a Kindle copy of Topped Chef and Bowled Over
* a $15 Book Depository giftcard
Prize 3 (International)
* a Kindle copy of Murder on the First Day of Christmas & Game Drive
* a $15 Amazon.com giftcard
Prize 4 (US/Canada)
* your choice of a cozy mystery paperbacks (up to $25 in value)

To enter:
1. Fill in the form here.
2. There is no requirement to follow any of the blogs participating, but we hope you will support these amazing blogs by following them. They do a great job, many of whom host for us every month.
3. Giveaway ends on May 15, 2013 at midnight and the winners will be contacted via email.

Sign-Up Post for the Clean Sweep ARC Challenge for May 2013

I can always use help staying caught up on my books so I jumped at the chance to be part of this challenge. I will take one week off during Childrens Book Week, May 13th through 19th, when I'll be reviewing only children's books, some that I own and some that I received for review.

I have an ambitious list of books to read, some are already released, some are not. For the purposes of this challenge, an ARC is not necessarily an advance copy but any book that I've received for review. Kimba and other bloggers will be hosting weekly mini-challenges to help keep us motivated. If you're interested you can sign up through May 15th. If you want more info on the challenge, go here.

Wish me luck!

Release Day Review of The Sisterhood by Helen Bryan

Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Format Read: Print ARC & print trade paperback
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Buying Links:  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads ~ 

Menina Walker was a child of fortune. Rescued after a hurricane in South America, doomed to a life of poverty with a swallow medal as her only legacy, the orphaned toddler was adopted by an American family and taken to a new life. As a beautiful, intelligent woman of nineteen, she is in love, engaged, and excited about the future — until another traumatic event shatters her dreams. Menina flees to Spain to bury her misery in research for her college thesis about a sixteenth-century artist who signed his works with the image of a swallow — the same image as the one on Menina’s medal. But a mugging strands Menina in a musty, isolated Spanish convent. Exploring her surroundings, she discovers the epic sagas of five orphan girls who were hidden from the Spanish Inquisition and received help escaping to the New World. Is Menina’s medal a link to them, or to her own past? Did coincidence lead her to the convent, or fate? Both love story and historical thriller, The Sisterhood is an emotionally charged ride across continents and centuries.

Bea's Thoughts:

I love this cover, it's so pretty. It reflects the Islamic and Spanish traditions that are such a huge part of the story. I initially received an ARC of the book which didn't have this cover and then I received a final copy and was excited to see the cover. I had started the ARC but since I had a finished copy I put it down and when I started reading it again, I read the finished copy.

 This book was amazing. The story was utterly enthralling and kept my attention. I was completely absorbed and only took time out to eat and sleep. The story starts in the 16th century in Spain, jumps to the late 20th century in South America and then jumps to the beginning of the 21st century in the US. After that, it moves back and forth between 16th century Spain and South America and early 21st century US and then Spain. Most of the story takes place in the past. To be honest, Menina's story, set in the 20th and 21st centuries, was the least interesting to me. She never felt real to me but more of a cardboard character. Late in the book, she started to come alive and seem real but her storyline is really just a framework for the stories of Las Golondrinas convents, both the Spanish and Andean ones. It was those stories that held me and fascinated me.

We get up close looks at life in Spain and later South America in the 16th century. The stories of the convents, the nuns and other women who lived in them, their work and lives was fascinating and engrossing. In the time of the Inquisition, no one was safe, regardless of religion or class. I'm not familiar with that time period other than a brief look in history class and Bryan brings it to life in all it's terror, glory, richness and hatred. But I never felt like I was back in class or reading a text book. Instead, I was there, living it.There is a lot head jumping as the flashbacks are told from the perspective from different characters over time. Bryan handles the transitions smoothly and I was never confused about who was talking and where we were.

The story is a wonderful tale of religion, politics, conspiracies, women, love (all kinds of love, not just romantic), strength, perseverance, hope, hate, and peace. It is aptly named The Sisterhood as it celebrates women, their kinship, and their ongoing struggle to be recognized and treated equally. It all works together beautifully. For the most part. There are some flaws. In addition to Menina's cardboard nature, there are some unlikely and convenient coincidences, some dropped threads, and the modern-day ending was entirely too neat and tidy for my liking. But this epic story swept me away and I was sorry to see it end.

Lori Foster #BookTrib Chat Tuesday April 30th

Are you a Lori Foster fan? Love her hot men? Want to talk to her but can't make it to her annual authors and readers gathering? She'll be on Booktrib on Tuesday April 30th for a live chat about her new release, "Bare It All".

Already receiving rave reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, RT Book Reviews, and more— "Bare It All", Lori Foster’s latest in her Love Undercover series, does not disappoint!

A cop’s craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal.

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking. Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire—and into the line of fire….

So, join BookTrib to chat live with Lori and find out everything you ever wanted to know about her red hot reads.

Bonus! — For the first time ever, BookTrib will give away a goodie bag filled with ALL of Lori Foster’s favorite things, including chocolate, lip balm, and more! AND FREE copies of the book!

Click on the image to go the BookTrib event page and if you want, you can sign up to receive an email reminder about the event.

Sunday Book Share #34

I'm participating in Feed My Reader Friday hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer,  The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. These  memes allow book bloggers the chance to share print and digital books they've received, and different posts and events at their blogs. 

Welcome! If you haven't visited for a few days, you'll see I've redecorated. The designer and decorator was Rachel at PJ Designs and she was wonderful. She listened to everything I said, asked questions, and patiently answered my questions. I can happily recommend her to anyone thinking about redesigning their blog.

It was another busy week, both in real life and on the blog. I took Friday night off from all obligations and read a book for fun. Today I have to finish reading some submissions to my pub and give thumbs up or thumbs down to purchasing and publishing them. My allergies have been mild so I've been enjoying having my windows down on the warmer days. I like spring, summer not so much, so I am enjoying this weather. I do wish my apartment had a balcony or patio or some sort of outside access. Goof is still enjoying sitting in the window, face pressed against the screen. :)

The Week In Review

Reviews:  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by Heather Long (contemporary romance)

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins (historical mystery)

Excerpt:  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by Heather Long (contemporary romance)

Cover Reveals:  Making It Last by Ruthie Knox (contemporary romance)

Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert (new adult romance)

Memes:  Cat Thursday - Cats and the internet  Sunday Book Share #33

News & info:  New Look!  

Goodreads Chat with Terry Brooks April 29th 

 Anachron Press is looking for reviewers 

Penguin Books presents "Read Humane" Books in Support of Pets

Giveaways:

2 Hardcover copies of A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins and a $40 Amazon.com gift card for a total of 3 winners.

$50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash, ends April 28th 

2 Ebook copies of a backlist book in the Always a Marine series by Heather Long (winners choice of book), ends April 29th.

$5 eGift Card to the eBook retailer of the winner's choice, ends April 29th

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash, Ends May 5th

A 7 inch Kindle Fire OR $100 Amazon Gift Card OR $100 Paypal Cash, ends May 5th

Over $1000 in Amazon Gift Cards from author Stephanie Lisa Tara, ends May 10th.

Kindle Fire from author Stephanie Lisa Tara, ends May 31st, 2013

The Week Coming Up

Blog Tour - Interview with mystery author Victoria Hamilton 
Excerpt from the Blood Destiny series by Helen Harper 
Blitz & Giveaway for The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto

BOOKS 

Review - Kindle

I hope to get this read in May but it might be summer before I get to it. One of my fave authors, Julie Campbell, has a story in it, and it has DRAGONS in it. How could I resist?

These are all summer reviews, July and August.

Review - Print

I won the first book but it went missing before I could read it so it'll be a while before I get to this one.

Won

I won this from the author, Kaylea Cross, and Book Chick City. 

I also won a $10 Starbucks Gift Card from romance author Angela Adams, not to be confused with romance author Angela Addams, who has been a guest here and several of whose books I've reviewed. I took a pic but Blogger refused to upload it. 

How was your week? Leave a link and I'll come visit.