Have you ever had a dream that came to life? How about losing the one you love and not being able to save them? What about a gift that you were cursed with? Well image having all three like Sicily "Sissy" Monroe.
"Some might say what I have is a gift. I say, I want to return it." Sissy declares.
Sicily "Sissy" Monroe has all the qualities of a perfect young lady. She is almost where she wants to be in life. But lying deep in the pupil of her eyes hold something that she cannot get rid of which interferes with her plans. She fights everyday with no one but herself. After having her first vision at age six of her sister's (Misty) disappearance and the dreams of failing to save her, Sissy wants no part in another person's fate. For years Sissy tried hard to avoid contact with people because she feared foreseeing their death. In keeping with this, she tries to stay away from her family. Little did Sissy know she could not run from her past, or her gift. She hopes someone will put her out of her misery, but she will soon discover that her visions and dreams were just a mere image of herself.
Guest Post With C. S. Dorsey
My Take on The Unsacred Gift
When I wrote The Unsacred Gift I had to do a little research. My research was mainly on the different types of visions one can have. Google has been there for me when I needed to find research for my writing. There is a part in the novel where Sissy went on her mother’s computer while on her visit home to do some research about her visions. Google was the main search engine she used. I must say that I have never connected with someone in my life the way I connected with the main character Sissy. Every pain, dream, sorrow, and happiness she felt, I felt. It was almost like I was going through the same things she was going through. My friend told me to add some type of happiness in the book, so I added the Chris character to it. But I didn’t want him to stay long, so I was torn between killing him off, or just letting Sissy run him off. Your will have to read the book to see which one I picked :).
While I was writing certain scenes in the books, I had tears in my eyes. It was one part of the book where Sissy talked about how love would never fine her because she was hiding from it, made me cry. It was that passage that I knew that this book would be something special. I though, how many times do people think or feel the same way Sissy does about love? Tons of people. That is why I think so many people can relate to her. Even I can.
Little things that Sissy did in the book I saw myself in her. Her quick come backs and sarcastic comments remind me so much of myself. The relationship she has with her mother reminds me of me and my mom at times. But when I wrote about her I didn’t think about me, I thought about this girl with a gift who was afraid of its power.
If you enjoy a ghost story with lots of plot twists and turns, then this book is for you. Otherworldly with a surprise twist ending, this book will keep you turning the pages.
What I Liked:
I liked that the book kept me on my toes and I never guessed which way the plot was going to land. The ending in particular will surprise you. Sissy's gift or curse, depending how you look at it, was also intriguing. How would it feel to cut yourself off from everyone you love? What if you had visions that they were going to die? Harsh.
What I Didn't:
Normally first person POV books don't bother me. I like them. That said, something about the voice of this book didn't flow as well as I had hoped it would.
Overall:
This book had an interesting plot, but the voice of the piece needs a little tweaking. The end was a bit sudden, but with all the mind blowing aspects, I thought it was well done. Great plot, interesting characters and a good read for anyone who enjoys YA and paranormal suspense.
About the Author:
C. S. Dorsey currently lives in Northern California. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with an Associate’s Degree in Financial Services, and is currently working for a financial institution. She never thought about writing until one day this girl started talking to her in her head and never stop.
Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition—the witches’ mortal enemy—and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside.
And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae—the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not . . .
Goodreads
I wanted very much to have this book take me away like another Harry Potter. The premise and description were intriguing and witch books being my thing, I dove right in. Let me start out by saying this book was a challenge. It was a very slow read and I found myself getting extremely bored and anxious. I wanted more of a hook and was a bit disappointed. This book requires patience and time to get through and is not a light and fluffy summer read.
What I liked:
The witch story line was interesting, as was the modern day Inquisition.
What I didn't:
The story fell flat. There was no hook to grab the reader and at over 400 pages, I felt myself growing irritated and had to put the book down. The description did not match the feel of the book.
Deemed “trailer trash” by humans and the daughter of the most disgraceful family of witches and warlocks since the Puritan age, Samantha is used to fighting her own battles. When her younger sister is taken to the Underworld, Sam doesn't hesitate to rescue her. To survive the harsh land, she makes a deal with a demon — the most dangerous of creatures in the realm. Even with those lustrous horns, Geo is as hot as the hell she's stuck in. Fighting nasty beasts in a supernatural version of the gladiator games is easy compared to falling in love with a man who has no future to offer.
Goodreads
What I Liked:
This book was sent by Bewitching Blog Tours and was a wild roller coaster ride of Underworld fun. The main character is a witch who is trying to save her sister. With the help of a "demon", she makes it across treacherous terrain and in the process, sparks fly.
What I Didn't:
Not a thing.
Overall:
4/5
Destiny Bewitched grabbed me at the onset. The characters were realistic and the dialogue snappy. The adventure was good and you didn't see many of the plot twists coming. I liked the book and am likely to go back and check out the others in the series. It is refreshing when you find a author whose voice resonates.
Join me for a short interview with the author:
1.In Destiny Bewitched you have the main character as a witch. What inspired your story?
I wanted to explore the witch culture more thoroughly. Samantha is a spin-off of one of the characters we meet briefly in the first book, Destiny Divided. She makes a bit of a bitchy impression and I wanted to redeem her as a person. Honestly, she had a story to tell and I was forced to write it. Lol. And after my last book, Destiny Unchained, which was darker, sadder, I really wanted to let loose and have fun with something high fantasy and adventurous. So Destiny Bewitched takes place almost entirely in the Underworld.
2.Your dialogue and action are snappy and incredibly believable. What advice would you give someone wanting to write paranormal fantasy?
Read, read, read! Pay attention while you’re reading, to what you like, don’t like, and also read reviews so you see what fans like and don’t like. Find a critique group to help you hone your writing skills. Even the best of us need them. And finally, let your imagination run wild!
3.What are some of your favorite witchy books and movies?
This is gonna sound really silly but I love the movie Hocus Pocus. Lol. It’s so very 90’s but I still love it. I watch it with my kids around Halloween.
4.The sexual tension between Samantha and Geo is pretty hot. How did you feel the first time you had to write chemistry between two characters? How about your first really sexy scene?
Chemistry has always come naturally to me. What was more difficult to learn was how to write a good sex scene. Think about it. Can you come up with original and interesting ways of describing an orgasm? Lol. It’s harder than it sounds. I think I blushed my way through my first scene. It’s gotten a little easier since – definitely less embarrassing.
5.What are some erotic novels that just make you melt?
Hmm… I’m in a kinky sex phase with my reading. It’s so much fun to read about the power dynamic in a Dominance/submission relationship. I love Cari Silverwood’s books in her Steamwork Chronicles series. Talk about melting – she writes some hunky men.
6.Do you listen to music while you write?
No way. I need silence. If I listen to music, I’ll start singing. Lol. Nobody wants that. Plus it’s a distraction.
7.What is your weirdest writing habit?
Hm. Not sure. Sometimes I chew on pen caps. When I’m thinking hard. Is that weird?
8.Now that I have read Destiny Bewitched, I must know if it will be a series. What is your next project?
Oh yes. It’s already a series. Book 4 in my Shadows of Destiny series. All of my books are stand-alones or can be read out of order. But the characters repeat and it’s fun to catch up with past ones. My next project is book 5 of my series, Destiny Forgiven. In the first book, Destiny Divided, we met Maddox, a fun-loving, goofy sorcerer. Well he disappeared for two years and when we found him again, he’s very different. His is a sad story. A bit dark and definitely emotional. But it will still be packed with what you can expect from all my books: humor, action, steamy sex, and an HEA.
Author bio:
I began my writing journey while I was stranded at the airport waiting for my delayed flight. I browsed the Border’s kiosk and grew frustrated that I couldn’t find the “it factor” — the perfect combination of alpha male-ness, ass-kickery, strong females, magic, and sex.
So I spent the next four hours on an airplane writing my first book on scraps of paper and an airsick bag (which thankfully I didn't need to use).
Now I spend too much time in my head, plotting evil villains and the hot men (and women) who ruthlessly kill them. I think far too much about fae politics, dragon power games, and how fast werewolves can change forms. But writing my paranormal romance series has given me a productive place to express those dark places in my mind.
I live in New England with my husband and two kids. Though I will go to my grave denying it, my husband insists I would be thrilled if he suddenly sprouted fangs.
Medusa A Love Story By Sasha Summers It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster...
Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.
Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.
Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.
"This tragic and beautiful retelling of one of the world's oldest stories tackles the eternal battle between duty and happiness. Medusa, A Love Story broke my heart then filled in the cracks with joy. Sasha Summers is simply a mesmerizing new talent."
~Stephanie Dray, Author of the critically acclaimed Song of the Nile
When I received this book from the wonderful folks at Bewitching Blog Tours, I dove right in and didn't come up for air. Sasha Summers has crafted a unique story that will forever change the way I relate to mythology. Medusa has always been the proverbial monster hiding in the corner, waiting to reach out and turn any unsuspecting victim into stone (Percy Jackson series, Clash of the Titans) and this time you get a little more to the story.
I had heard about Medusa being pursued by Poseidon and being ravished in Athena's temple. This story gives Medusa a personality and life all her own. Not just a monster with hair issues. Nope. She was beloved of Athena, but as we all know, hanging out with Gods and Goddesses in ancient Greece has its ups and downs. Medusa could not win. No matter what she did, she was going to anger someone.
What I loved about this book:
The voice of the novel grabbed me and did not let me put it down. Medusa became someone I cared about and had to see what happened to her. Graceful and lovely, she was the epitome of a priestess and beloved of the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus. Ariston was the perfect hero, risking death and beyond for his dearest love, Medusa and the life they were meant to share. This had me weeping more than once.
What I didn't:
It ended. By gosh, I want more Greek myths from this author!
Overall:
If you enjoy stories about Greek myths, you must grab this one! It does have some adult content (language, rape) but all done in a tasteful way that makes the story live and breathe. This is one story that will be up there with my favorites. The voice was good, the plot a page turner-even when you sort of know what the outcome will be, you are still left guessing because of the artful way Sasha Summers handles the story line. Excellent job!!! The sensual parts of the story are well done and dialogue believable.
4.5/5
Excerpt: “You asked for an audience, you have it. Now tell me, where do you belong?” Hades’ voice was deep, emotionless. Ariston swallowed. “Athens.” He met Hades’ gaze, but the God revealed nothing to him. “Why? You died with honor and glory. Is that not what every soldier wants?” “My wife…” His voice wavered. Hades brow lifted slightly. “Lives. You do not.” “She is in danger.” “Earthly danger. She is no longer your concern, Ariston.” “The danger she faces is not earthly, but far from it…” Ariston’s voice was hoarse, his desperation mounting. He took a wavering breath before he began again. “She is everything to me. I am proud of my death, but it means nothing if she is in peril. I must know.” Ariston kneeled. “I beg you. I beg you to return me to Athens.” Ariston waited, willing himself to be strong. “Who is this wife?” Hades asked. “Medusa of Athens.” He paused. “Now of Rhodes.” Hades was silent, his dark blue eyes regarding him steadily. “When I die—” Ariston began. “You are dead,” Hades assured him. “When I return…die again, I would serve as guardian to Tartarus. I am a skilled warrior, a skill I might offer you.” He spoke with confidence. “You vex me,” Hades muttered, the slightest crease appearing between his eyes. “You offer this to me for a woman?” Ariston nodded. “She is worthy.” Hades was silent again, his eyes shifting to the blue-white flames in the massive fireplace. “My words do not…adequately express the love I have for this woman. But I cannot leave her. She is at risk. I must return.” The words came without thought. How could he justify such emotion to a God who reviled affection or companionship? “As Olympus has my arm and sword, she has my heart – a mortal, and perhaps weak, heart.” The room was silent for too long. He would have to fight his way out… “It is a weakness not reserved for mortals alone, Ariston of Rhodes.” Hades’ words were so soft Ariston feared they’d not been spoken. But Hades continued, strong and clear. “I will return you to your ship so that you may lead your men to victory. Too many have fallen from this war and I would see it end. When that is done, you may go to your wife.” He paused then added, “When you return to my realm, I will have your fealty.” The God of the Underworld, Lord of Death, gave him mercy? Mayhap there was one God he might serve with honor. Ariston vowed, “You have it.”
Hi Sasha! Thanks for stopping by to visit at On the Broomstick! Here are some interview questions to help my readers get to know you better.
1.Medusa has been portrayed in many different ways both in movies and in literature. What about her first captured your interest?
I had a hard time believing a woman could do such horrible things because she was ticked off. There had to be more to it… And, since I’m partial to tragedy, I sort of tossed around ideas until a dream cemented what I’ve always suspected. Medusa isn’t a bad girl, she’s a true heroine.
2.What are some of your favorite Gods and Goddesses in mythology?
With each new Loves of Olympus book I write, I find a new favorite. Right now I’m working on Apollo’s story – so I’m in complete love with him.
3.Do you listen to music while you write? Did you make a playlist for Medusa?
They’re all a little moody – but they worked for me.
4.What are some favorite mythology books and movies?
I’ll watch any sword and sandal film – even if it’s not good. Clash of the Titans, the original, is still a fave of mine – in all it’s cheesiness! I also enjoyed the HBO series ROME and the first season of Spartacus, too.
5. If there was a book that made you want to be a writer, what was it?
Not so much one book, just the desire to create and share powerful stories. I’m a fan of stories – film, plays, books…
6.Are you more of an outliner or seat of your pants kind of girl?
Pantser. But I did have to do some research to tie in the history and make it ‘just right’.
7. Will you write more mythological books? If so, what are you currently working on?
Yes. I’ve completed Book 2 – For the Love of Hades. It will be out the beginning on 2013. And am working on Apollo’s story, then Ares, and so on.
8. Do you have any quirks as a writer? (habits or things you must have before you can write productively.)
Not really. I have four kids, so I write whenever I have time. Ideally, I have my music blasting and am ‘in the zone’ but I try to be adaptable.
9. What are some of your favorite hobbies when you are not writing?
Painting, reading and movies.
10. If you could tell perspective writers one thing, what would it be?
Write what you love not what’s in style. You have to ‘feel’ your stories for readers to really connect.
Thanks Sasha for taking the time to answer these questions! I can't wait to read your new books!
Here are some upcoming and new releases from Sasha:
Medusa, A Love Story (Book 1, Loves of Olympus a fantasy romance series), Available Now ~ ~ For the Love of Hades (Book 2) - January 2013
Hollywood Ever After (Book 1, Red Carpet Series contemporary romance) coming July 14, 2012 ~ ~ Hollywood Holiday - winter 2012
Galileo's Holiday part of the 2012 Carina Press SciFi Holiday Anthology - December 2012
Author Bio:
Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and travel. It's no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, 'Greek Gods and Goddesses' (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe.
She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so.
Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
Sasha is an active member of RWA and several Texas Chapters. A self-proclaimed movie-addict, she is full of all sorts of useless movie tidbits and trivia.
Journalist Memphis Zhang isn’t ashamed of her Wiccan upbringing—in fact, she’s proud to be one of a few Chinese American witches in San Francisco, and maybe the world. Unlike the well-meaning but basically powerless Wiccans in her disbanded coven, Memphis can see fairies, read auras, and cast spells that actually work—even though she concocts them with ingredients like Nutella and antiperspirant. Yet after a friend she tries to protect is brutally killed, Memphis, full of guilt, abandons magick to lead a “normal” life. The appearance, however, of her dead friend’s sexy rock star brother—as well as a fairy in a subway tunnel—suggest that magick is not done with her. Reluctantly, Memphis finds herself dragged back into the world of urban magick, trying to stop a power-hungry witch from using the dangerous Flower Bowl Spell and killing the people Memphis loves—and maybe even Memphis herself.
An Excerpt:
I’ve always known that rats live in the Muni Metro tunnels, but this morning, after I almost fall onto the tracks, I find out that fairies hang out there too.
This should come as no surprise to a person like me, even though I banished magick from my life two years ago. In that time, I haven’t come across anything like fairies or talking sparrows. Not one rag doll has tried to jump into my shopping cart in ages. Yet, all at once, magick has come back to me.
In the Castro Street station, waiting for an M, L, or K car to take me to work downtown, I stand on the edge of the platform with a trickling crowd of morning commuters. Teenagers heading to Union Square for midsummer shopping sprees mingle with hipsters and Asian elders. There are a couple of indigents, one slumped against the wall, the other pacing and muttering. They wear shabby clothes with dirty, threadbare cuffs. Their BO could be bottled for biological warfare.
A high whining sound and blasting horn signals an inbound train. I move with the crowd, the wind from the tunnel gritty yet refreshing on my face. A shove at my back throws me off balance. It’s split-second fast, and I can’t tell if I’m being pushed to the tracks or pulled away, as my head is thrown back and the dim yellow ceiling lights lurch into view. At the same moment, a woman’s voice cries,
“Watch out!”
A disheveled man in a San Francisco Giants jersey has hold of my arm. I glance at him as the train pulls up in front of us and the doors open—his eyes obscured by sunglasses and the bill of his baseball cap, and his face covered in graying stubble. He’s the homeless guy who’s been sitting on the floor.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
“You okay?” A young woman dressed like an H&M salesclerk puts her hand on my shoulder, and the man’s tight grip on me loosens and slips away.
“Yeah,” I say as the woman and I step through the doors together, carried forward by the impatient crowd that could give a hoot about my almost-accident. You’re alive, aren’t you? No biggie, their indifference says. The doors close. The man has not followed us. In fact, he seems to be distracted by something just behind the train. I let my shoulders relax, unaware until then that they’ve been tightly hunched. I look out the window. Our train hiccups once before starting its slow glide out of the station. He stands on the platform and, unexpectedly, I read the gray cloud of his disappointed aura—but in response to what, I can’t tell.
With a smile of thanks to the young woman, I move away from the door farther into the car. I find standing space near a back window. As the train enters the subway tunnel, something on the tracks catches my eye. It’s a rat, looking a little dazed and sniffing a bit of discarded muffin. Isn’t it terrified by the rumbling train? I wonder why it doesn’t scurry away. Then I see the reason. A tiny fairy is riding it bucking-bronco style. A fairy who’s waving a shiny sword at me.
In the few seconds before the train rounds the corner of the tunnel, I note that the fairy is only pretending to ride the rat. Its wings beat rapidly, much like a hummingbird’s. I’m not familiar with this variety of pix. The ones I’ve seen are slow flitterers mostly, butterfly-winged. I can’t determine the fairy’s gender, but guess it’s a dude. No self-respecting female fairy would take part in such tomfoolery. He waves the sword around his head as if holding an imaginary lasso.
I allow myself to toy with the idea that perhaps I’m merely hallucinating. Perhaps there’s a speck of dust on my retina or this is just a childhood memory resurrected. But I know that’s wishful thinking.
And I have to say I’m more than a tad concerned.
When I first heard about The Flower Bowl Spell I was excited. A witch with Chinese heritage who can see fairies, has a cool job reviewing musicians, lives with a hot guy and can cast some serious spells with stuff you keep around the house. Memphis rocks.
What I liked about this book:
From the first page, Memphis becomes someone you want to know in real life. Fairies in the subway and a childhood filled with magic both seen and unseen and a personality that feels completely real. In other words, not all sunshine and moonbeams. The girl has some attitude. (In a good way!)
What I Didn't Like:
Not A thing.
Overall:
This is a great summer read that I enjoyed very much. The voice of the book grabbed me on the first page and it was a page turner from then on. The fairies, magic and spells with regular household items was right up my alley! I will be looking for more books in this series and was very excited with Olivia was able to answer a few questions for the blog tour!
1. In The Flower Bowl Spell, the character grows up in a Wiccan household. Is that your background— I loved that element of the story as it gave a background that really captured my interest.
I grew up with a very loose mixture of agnosticism from my father, and Episcopalianism and Buddhism from my mother, which made for a lot of questioning, skepticism, and speculation about religion and spirituality from an early age. I think Celtic lore probably made it’s way into my life very early on through the musical Camelot. I didn’t learn about Wicca until I was in my twenties, so that would be the mid-1990s. As a feminist, it appealed to me and I did a ton of reading about it—Starhawk and Silver RavenWolf among that. While I didn’t become a wiccan myself, I used what I had learned in my fiction writing.
2. I love how you incorporated fairies into The Flower Bowl Spell. What was the inspiration for the story?
I used to ride the Muni (San Francisco’s subway system) a lot when I was in high school and later when I worked downtown in an office building. And yes, occasionally, you see a rat or mouse on the tracks along with the garbage that gets blown around there. Pigeons are forever wandering down to the platforms looking for crumbs.
I’ve always been fascinated by fairies—the first one in my life was probably the Disney version of Tinker Bell, and she scared me—she tried to get Wendy killed, and I so related to Wendy!—but I also had that classic book of Flower Fairies, and I loved them. Growing up in a city, as a kid, I came to the conclusion that I’d never see a fairy, but one day, years later as I waited for the Muni train to go to work, some movement on the tracks caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It was probably just a paper napkin floating by, but I thought, Wouldn’t that be cool if it wasn’t? After all, the Tooth Fairy makes house calls all over the world—maybe she was using the subway tunnels to get to some child’s home! LOL
3. What are some of your favorite hobbies when you are not writing?
Reading, of course! Although I occasionally write book reviews, so then it becomes work, which is fantastic. I wish I had more time for making greeting cards and a little bit of scrapbooking and stamping. I’m a fan of Tim Holtz. But I have a long way to go before I get to the point of producing any of the amazing stuff I see online by really dedicated scrappers. I also enjoy going for urban hikes around San Francisco (there are so many hills, so I always get a good workout) and nature hikes in the beautiful areas nearby, like Marin County.
4. What is your next project?
I’ve been working on a sequel to The Flower Bowl Spell, and also a prequel, which will be YA and takes place when Memphis is 15 years old. I also drafted an upmarket fiction novel about two sisters who own a tea shop in San Francisco. And then there’s my collection of short stories. I might do a poll soon on my website, oliviaboler.com, to find out which of those projects readers would like me to publish next.
5. What are some of your favorite witchy books and movies?
Oh wow, that’s a good question. I love the Harry Potter series, of course, both books and movies. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman was a fun book and movie. Not exactly about witches, but Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer has to go on my list of favorite witches of all time. The Wizard of Oz is a must, and every kid should read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. As an adult, I enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, and while it’s not witches, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is about magic and fairies.
If you would like to check out more about Olivia Boler, pop over to her website: http://www.oliviaboler.com/
You can also visit Olivia on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for stopping in at On the Broomstick!
Leave a comment below with your email address and you could win an e-book copy of The Flower Bowl Spell!
Dr. Nathan Hunter has forty-eight hours to save his job and find the missing Salt Coast Clan, a lost civilization locals believe is a myth. When ancient human remains turn up at the site of a new state water project, he’s sure the lost tribe is real. Before he can examine the bones, however, a pretty female lawyer gets an injunction to stop him.
Nila Willopah sees ghosts. Although her soul is in danger from the spirits unearthed at the site, Nila is the one person who can stop the project and protect her ancestors’ last resting place from Dr. Hunter. She’s also the only one who can help the angry spirits cross over.
Nila suspects the sexy anthropologist is hiding a dark secret behind his clear blue eyes and skilled hands. A secret she wants nothing to do with. But when a ghost latches onto his soul, Nila must set aside her fears and suspicions and enter the world of spirit communication to protect him.
When I first heard about the blog tour, I was excited. When I got the two books in this series, I burned through the pages like they were on fire. Yes. Fire. This author has a great grasp of page turning style that left me wanting more.
What I liked:
I loved Nila's character and how she struggled to tame the power within herself. She was sensual and fought for what she believed in. Dr. Hunter was not to bad himself. His demons and hers collide in a fast paced story that explores the rich Native American spirituality I have come to enjoy from this series. It also drew in characters from the first book and it felt like old friends dropping in for a visit.
What I didn't:
More!!!!
Overall:
5/5 For great plot movement, characters that breathe and sensuality that pops right off the page. This book has some sizzling parts, so it is for mature readers, but is very enjoyable. I loved the Native American spirituality and the ghost whisperer type of story line. Great dialog and action scenes.
The first book in the series is:
Haunted by tragedy, FBI profiler Rife St. Cloud is driven to find the person who brutally attacked six women. Unfortunately the only survivor, Keva Moon Water, has no memory of what happened, and the evidence makes her the prime suspect.
Keva cannot die. She has waited a thousand years to be reunited with the man she loves, whose soul sleeps within Rife. Though he refuses to believe her claims of immortality, there's no denying the passion that burns between them. Keva desperately hopes their sexual connection will be enough to awaken Rife's memories of the love affair that started a war and bound their souls together for all eternity.
But when Keva's own memories come trickling back, she realizes that a future with Rife depends upon confronting the mistakes of the distant past...
This one gets a 5/5 also for all the same reasons. Great characters, smokin' hot scenes, dialog that will keep you engaged and a plot that had me turning the pages. You have to read these books!
In preparation for this blog tour, I took a few minutes and thought up some questions for amazing author, Misty Evans. Here are her responses...
1. What first interested you in Native American mythology?
ME: I’ve always been fascinated with Native American culture and gobble up both fiction and nonfiction on the subject. While reading books by Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, I started dreaming about Keva (my heroine in Soul Survivor) and her tribe. I would wake up in the morning and write scenes that had appeared in my dreams. Several of them never made it into Soul Survivor but they helped me understand Keva and her Pathwalks better. I hope to add those deleted scenes to the story as bonus material in a future edition.
2. You have excellent pacing and your action scenes flow perfectly. Any advice to would be writers out there (waves hand in air) about how you pace your stories (outlines, seat of your pants) and how you get your action scenes so spot on?
ME: Thank you! My advice…conflict, conflict, conflict. I give my characters angst-y internal conflict, throw in external action that heightens their internal conflict and run with it. I don’t outline every chapter, but I always know the black moment and climax, so I have a road map sort to speak of where the story’s going. I personally enjoy lots of external action and making my characters suffer to get what they need/want so there’s plenty of suspense and tension. Publishers have actually dinged me for too much action and not enough romance, but that’s the way I write…fast-paced and lots of conflict.
Since I write four different series, I have a set of tools I use to help with plotting and pacing. I even teach online workshops on how to plot a romance series. In class, we look at individual books as well as the overall series arc and how to ramp up conflict and tie it into character motivation. I used to hate plotting, now it’s one of my favorite things to do.
3. You have a witchy series also. Tell us a little about it.
ME: The Witches Anonymous series is about a bad witch trying to go good in thirteen steps. Her biggest obstacle? Lucifer. Yep, that Lucifer.
Amy’s been the devil’s right-hand witch for seven years, so going magic-free is rough. Especially when he wants her back. I have a blast writing these stories because Luc’s always tempting Amy and she falls off the wagon a lot. Who can blame her? Lucifer, like dark chocolate, is hard to resist. <wink>
4. I see you are working on a new project where all the proceeds will go to breast cancer research. Can you tell us a little about that and what inspired you?
ME: One of my aunts died from breast cancer when I was a teenager. I adored her and was devastated when she passed away. I also have a childhood friend who recently underwent a double mastectomy. I hate this disease and am a strong advocate of breast cancer research (I used to manage a public health program for uninsured women), so when Edie Ramer asked me if I wanted to do an anthology to raise funds for the cause, I jumped at the chance.
Entangled, A Paranormal Anthology, includes ten suspense-filled paranormal short stories from Cynthia Eden, Jennifer Estep, Edie Ramer, Lori Brighton, Michelle Diener, me, Nancy Haddock, Liz Kreger, Dale Mayer, and Michelle Miles, plus a Seven Deadly Sins novella by Allison Brennan. Stacia Kane contributed the foreword and all proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This is a dream come true for me to work with so many fantastic authors (many are role models to me) and since the anthology came out last September, we’ve earned over $7000 for the BCRF.
5. What are some of your favorite witchy movies and books?
ME: I’m a Charmed addict. I loved that show and wish it was still going. While I write light, humorous witches, I prefer to read dark witches like Stacia Kane’s Chess Putnam and Anya Bast’s Elemental Witches. I also love a good urban fantasy or paranormal romance with witches thrown in.
6. Do you write with music? If so, what? ME: Oh, yes. Music plays a key role in all my stories. Currently, I’m writing the second book in my Kali Sweet urban fantasy series, Sweet Chaos, so I’m listening to Breaking Benjamin and other rock music…Stone Sour, Alter Bridge, Shinedown, etc. When I wrote Soul Survivor and Soul Protector, I listened to nature music, Celtic Woman and Native instrumental songs.
7. What is one of your weirdest quirks as a writer?
8. What inspired you to write Soul Protector? Was it based on a true story or completely fiction?
ME: After finishing Soul Survivor, the first book in the series, I knew I had to write Soul Protector so I could dig even deeper into the Salt Coast Clan and Red Fire Tribe. Both stories are complete fiction, although I read and researched as much as I could find on tribes of the Pacific Northwest and tried to be as accurate as I could with my fictional tribes.
With Soul Protector, I wanted to stay in the present (Soul Survivor involves flashbacks to a thousand years ago and some time travel) and compare and contrast the metaphysical world with the flesh and bone world. That’s how Nate (a physical anthropologist) and Nila (a shaman in denial of her gift) came to be.
9. As you write about Native American mythology and belief systems, it is obvious that you hold them in high esteem. Do you have Native American heritage?
ME: I do! My maternal grandparents several times removed were Cherokee, and I’ve always been drawn to stories about Native people. My grandparents were indentured servants to a land owner in Oklahoma, but according to family folklore, they respected him so much that when he freed them, they took his name as their last name to start their new life. It’s the only story I have about them, but I like to think they’re watching over me and guiding my hands as I write stories about Native people.
10. What was one book that really inspired you as a writer and why?
ME: There was a time before I became published when I lost all hope in my dream and felt like I couldn’t write my way out of a box. Rejections piled up and I struggled with doubt demons every time I sat down at my computer. At a local book sale, I found an old copy of Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones for fifty cents. I started reading her simple, straightforward advice and keeping a journal of writings based on her ideas. Then I picked up Julia Cameron’s The Vein of Gold. Those two books got me writing again and restored my faith in my voice and my vision. A few months later, I had an agent and sold my first super agent book, Operation Sheba. That fifty cent investment was the best I ever made and the book sits proudly on my keeper shelf.
Thank you Misty for this great interview! It is always inspiring to hear what inspires fellow writers and the things that keep us sane. If you haven't checked out her books, here are some links:
When young women start dying, Boston cop Samantha Ryan is the perfect person to investigate, for only she knows what the archais symbol carved into their flesh means. The last in a long line of ruthless witches, she grew up in a coven seduced by power and greed. And now she's sure that bad witches have returned to Salem. Reluctantly, Samantha goes undercover-into a town obsessed with black magic, into her terrifying past, and into the dark, newly awakened heart of evil.
Goodreads
This book caught my eye and I downloaded it onto my Nook. The beginning was a tad slow, but before too long I could barely keep up with my fingers as they turned the pages. This book gets top marks for action adventure of the witchy kind.
What I liked:
The heroine of the story is a witch fighting against the darkness of her past. She knows she has to embrace what dwells inside of her to bring murderers to justice, even if it costs her everything. The characters are believable, the action is non stop and there are going to be more! Series here I come!!
What I Didn't:
Witches, like everyone else chose the path they want to go down. Intent is everything. Also, it ended. Dang. 400 more pages would have been just lovely!!
Overall:
5/5
A witchy action adventure story that will keep you up at night turning the pages.
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