COVER REVEAL: Seven Day Fiance by Rachel Harris

I have been SOOOOO excited about this book and I'm so glad I get to participate in the cover reveal. It is simply gorgeous. Thank you YA Bound Tours. 

Seven Day Fiancé (Love and Games #2)

by Rachel Harris 

Release Date: 10/14/13

Entangled Bliss

Summary from Goodreads:

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

Pre-Order Buy Links:

    

Excerpt:

Angelle stopped beside a folding table boasting boxes of fresh, crispy cracklins and selected a thick piece. Cane watched, mesmerized, as she puckered those gorgeous lips and blew on the sliver. With a flirtatious glint in her eyes, she held it up to his mouth, and he opened.

Holy crap.

He’d had cracklins before. Fried pork fat was a standard gas station treat, usually shrink-wrapped and stale as shit. But this, fresh from the pot and piping hot, was unbelievable. Cane widened his eyes, and it was possible he even moaned. It was thatgood. And as he swallowed, Angel rewarded him with a rich, throaty laugh.

“Ca c’est bon?” she asked, grinning when he grabbed another handful.

He touched her nose and popped a piece in his mouth. “Good would be an understatement.”

Grinning, she took a fried morsel for herself and sent the balding, overweight gentleman tending the table a wink. “Now that’s what we like to hear.” Then she closed her eyes as she savored the treat.

The sounds of Angel moaning, and watching her face soften in the throes of a foodgasm, had to be the sexiest damn thing Cane had ever seen. His pants tightened, embarrassingly so considering he knew the audience was still watching, but what pushed him over the edge was when her eyes opened. The pleasure in them was his undoing.

Feeling the weight of the crowd’s disapproving stares and not giving a damn, figuring now was as good a time as any to give the people the show they clearly wanted, he grasped her hip and tugged her forward, pausing only to inhale her gasp of surprise before brushing her mouth with his.

It was like setting off a damn forest fire.

Angelle, his shocking little hellcat, pounced. Forgetting all about their audience, or maybe not giving a damn either, she wound her arms around his neck, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him back with everything she had. Cane had intended to steal a quick taste, take the edge off his craving for her, and prove their point with the town’s people. But hell if he was gonna be the one to back down now. Tightening his grasp on her slim hips, he brushed his thumbs across the smooth, exposed skin near her waistband. He deepened the kiss, thrilling over her telltale shiver. Whimpering, she yanked on the hair at his nape and sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. Hot damn.

Okay, now he had to start backing down. With all her male relatives watching, not to mention the knives and axes still lying around from the butchering earlier, if Cane valued his life, he needed to wrangle control of the situation. He’d heard patience was a virtue. That was a line of bull—he’d always sucked at waiting for anything he wanted. But for Angel, he was willing to try.

Loosening his grip on her belt loops, Cane slowed the intensity of the kiss. He smoothed the hem of her shirt down, grazed her lips one last time, and, placing his forehead against hers, inhaled through his nose. Sunflowers mixed with cayenne may be his new favorite scent. Angelle released a heavy breath, a flush blooming on her cheeks. She darted a glance at the crowd, then looking into his eyes, grinned lazily. “My goodness. If anyone doubted we were a couple before, I guess that showed them.”

About the Author:

I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. 

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my amazing husband.

I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I'm also the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!

Author Links:

   

Cover Reveal Organized:

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

***I received an ARC copy of this book from Fresh Fiction via Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review 

The Clockwork Scarab (Stoker and Holmes #1)

Goodreads Description:

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there’s no one more qualified to investigate.

Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don’t unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they’ll become the next victims.

My Thoughts:

I completely adored this book. It had such a Sherlock Holmes feel it was unreal. Gleason did an excellent job in this mystery mixed with Egyptian mythology, steampunk, and time travel. I can't wait for installment #2 releasing next Fall. I really urge everyone to give this fun, quick read a try. It will not disappoint. ;) 

See my full review:

http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=39694

My Rating:

❤❤❤❤❤

Double Crossed: A Spy and Thieves Story by Ally Carter MINI REVIEW

**I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story

Goodreads Description:

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

My Thoughts:

I got this Netgalley through the Read Me Now portion of the site because I haven't had the chance to read any of Ally Carter's work before. I knew this was a crossover between the Gallagher Girls and the Heist Society and was told that it would be a good book to get the feel of her work and if I would enjoy the others.

I'm sure I probably would of loved this book a lot more if I had read her prior work, because I sure felt left out on some things but it still was a really fun read for me. I adore mystery so and then mix these fun characters and their worlds and I had a blast read this short novella. 

It took me back to my Harriett the Spy days and made me want to go do some sleuthing of my own. ;) I will definitely be giving the other series a try now just so I can learn more about these worlds. 

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Wednesday Watch (6) with Amy Good

Every Wednesday I will be featuring an author that I think you should be watching. I hope to be able to snag an interview with them as well. :)

This week my guest author is Amy Good. I'm talking to her about her book Rooted. Her book is available for FREE on her site www.amicgood.com. Thanks for taking the time you do the interview with me Amy. ♥

Here is a little info about Amy that you kind find on her site:

"I am a writer from the U.S. currently living in Dublin. I write part-time, but only when my tyrannical toddler allows it! I also co-created the Story Bandit, a phone/web app that steals writer's block. When I'm not writing, I tweet about the joys and troubles of being a writer, a geek, a toddler mom and a non-native Dubliner. I don't tend to post on a regular schedule so please don't hold it against me. In exchange, I will try not to spam you every time I dopost anything new. I really hope you like what you read and will consider stopping by occasionally!"

Rooted

Chloe Chastain is not just an average teenage girl living in the Pacific Northwest. She's also a tree spirit doing her best to avoid the local werewolf pack and not fail her sophomore year of high school. Or get stuck in detention. Again. 

So when her friend is turned into a werewolf and she attracts a dangerous stalker, Chloe realizes there is more at stake than her permanent record.

READ MY REVIEW FOR ROOTED HERE :)

Interview:

Q: What made you want to be a writer?

A: I've actually always wanted to write.  I learned to read at a really young age and so I decided (since I loved them so much) I would write books, too.  I mean, there was a brief period of misunderstanding when I was five and I thought you grew up to take on your parent’s job, but thankfully someone set me straight on that!

Q: What was the inspiration behind Rooted?

A: A marathon of MTV’s show Teen Wolf!!  Oh sorry, you probably wanted a more serious answer than that, didn't you?  Okay, well it did come about after a marathon of Teen Wolf, that’s not an exaggeration.  I just knew I wanted to write about werewolves!  And after having my daughter, I found myself wanting to explore how much harder it is to be a teen than when I was that age.  (It’ll probably be even harder for her, too!)  But I also knew I didn't want to write a young-adult version of the Kitty Norville series (by Carrie Vaughn) so I thought of what other kinds of supernatural creatures might live in a shapeshifter’s world.  Around the same time, I had read a news story about an orphaned girl who had been bullied so badly she’d committed suicide, and somehow her story became part of Rooted.  And there are probably a lot of other things that inspired the book that I’m not remembering right now!  Sorry!!

Q: Where did the idea of Chloe's special gifts come from? 

A: At the time, I’d just moved from Seattle, Washington to Dublin, Ireland.  I was desperately missing the Pacific Northwest, and that homesickness transformed into Chloe herself.  She’s basically the embodiment of all of my love and longing for my former home.

Q: What made you decide to make Lillian into such a "mean girl?" 

A: I don’t know if this happened to you in high school, but it certainly happened to me (more times than I’d like to admit, actually!)…  All too often, I would think of someone as a friend, only to find out later that they were spreading rumors behind my back.

One particular incident from high school really informed the character of Lillian.  Do you want me to share?  Because I’m going to anyway…  Okay, so I was working on a project with a few other people, and I think we were at someone’s house, when – as you do – I started chatting with a boy.  Things took a personal turn, and I casually mentioned how hard it must have been for him.  Of course, he had no idea what I was talking about, so I blurted out something rather personal that his best friend had told me.  He was absolutely crushed, especially when he found out who’d been talking about him behind his back.  That moment perfectly crystallized my high school experience, and I wanted to pay homage to it in Rooted.

Q: What kept you from having more romance in this book? 

A: I’m not one to shoehorn romance into a story if it’s not earned.  And yes, I know teens move at a much faster pace than the rest of the world! ;)  But in my mind, Rooted is really about friendship in the end, and it didn’t feel right to clutter it up with a romance too.  Also, if you think about it, Chloe is understandably pretty wary of boys so I didn’t think she’d be rushing into a relationship before getting to know the boy first!  But if anybody out there really needs more romance, they should go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1lWDC72QHU

Q: Will we see things possibly develop more for Grayson and Chloe in the next book? 

A: I certainly hope so!!  But of course it depends on the story and I won’t push a romance if it doesn’t work.  We’ll have to see! :D

Q: Margot came into the book being haughty and rude, will we get more back story on why she is this way in general? 

A: Yes!  But I can’t tell you any more than that!! :(  And I really want to tell you…. Must. Keep. Secrets!!

Q: Can you give us some general information on book 2 and when you plan to have it ready for readers? 

A: Unfortunately, it may be awhile before I can have the sequel ready…  It’s just so hard to write a book and take care of a toddler at the same time!  I know… excuses, excuses!!  But one thing I’m doing for my readers is writing some stories that take place in the same world.  They’re totally free and I’ve already posted the first one to my website (http://www.amicgood.com/shortstories.php?id=4&type=1).  Be warned, though: they do contain mild spoilers, so you’ll want to read Rooted first!!

This or That:

Morning or Night?

I wish I were a morning person!  My Kiddo wakes up at 6am every morning, and although I drag myself out of bed for her, I don’t feel truly awake until about 10am or so!  Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.  It’s closer to 11am or noon!! ;)

Pizza or Burgers? 

I just recently found a great-tasting gluten-free pizza that I now crave at all hours of the day so yeah… PIZZA!!

Favorite TV show? 

I never can figure out how people decide on a favorite anything!  I think I have close to a million favorite things!!  Okay, but if I had to choose, I think I’d probably say Farscape because I can watch it over and over and over and over again without hating it!

(Fictional boyfriends only) Do you prefer the bad boy or sweet guy? 

I’m so boring, I pretty much always choose the sweet guy over the bad boy!  I’m a sucker for men that remind me of my Hubs!!

You can find Amy on:

Facebook here

Tumblr here

Her site here

Or Twitter @amicgood

Thanks so much Amy for being part of Wednesday Watch with me. Best of luck with the second installment. 

Rooted by Amy Good

Rooted by Amy God

Description from Amy's site:

Chloe Chastain is not just an average teenage girl living in the Pacific Northwest. She's also a tree spirit doing her best to avgoes oid the local werewolf pack and not fail her sophomore year of high school. Or get stuck in detention. Again. 

So when her friend is turned into a werewolf and she attracts a dangerous stalker, Chloe realizes there is more at stake than her permanent record.

My Thoughts:

First I want to start by saying thank you to Amy for offering this book for free to everyone. Then secondly major kudos to the cover artist Danielle Tunstall. She did an amazing job. It is gorgeous and fits in with the book SO well. 

Now on to my feels about this book. Amy is an excellent writer. The way the story is written no detail is spared. The first chapter captivated me and I just HAD to know what Chloe was and how she fit into this world of werewolves. Chloe is a bit quiet and shy but with good reason. She grew up in foster homes and has had a rather tough life. She has had to deal with her special gift on her own with no help for a very long time and things are about to get even more confusing for her. She does have one person that she THINKS is her best friend, Lillian. 

At first Lillian aggravated me a little. When I say a little, I mean I tolerated her because she seemed to care about Chloe, boy how that opinion quickly changed. When the new girl Margot comes into town, and pretty much takes over the school, things in Chloe's life gets worse. I loathe Margot. I don't know if anything would EVER make me like her. EVER. Lillian and her became the perfect definition of high school mean girls and bullies that there is. But I will end my rant there because I could probably go on forever. 

Chloe does find friendship after an awkward incident with Rebecca. I adored Rebecca. She had a spunky personality and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. I really hope to see more of her in the next book. She also finds herself having a connection with a werewolf, Grayson. Now before you say OF COURSE she does, there is no instalove, not even really any kind of relationship beyond friendship. This book definitely steers clear of going that route.

Beyond the characters there are many things going on in Chloe's town that she ends up being dragged into, along with some people that she never expected to be aware of the werewolf world. Along with werewolves she will find that there are more dangerous things out there and some of them are coming right after her. 

Overall I found this book to be very enjoyable, the only problem that I did have was the middle. It did get a little slower reading wise for me there. There were just some things that I think could of been left out, but at the same time I saw there point because it showed more of how Chloe and her power worked. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a paranormal read. 

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

You can find Rooted for FREE here :)

The Raven Cycle #1 and #2 by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Cycle #1 and #2 Reviews 


Goodreads Description:

An all-new series from the masterful, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

"There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve," Neeve said. "Either you're his true love . . . or you killed him."

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them-not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He has it all-family money, good looks, devoted friends-but he's looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys


My Thoughts: 

No one can deny that Maggie Stiefvater has a unique writing style. This is my first book I have read by her. I know I saw plenty of reviews that did not care for it, personally I enjoyed it. She has a way of telling a story with out it needing to be fast paced, with action in every scene but could still keep my attention. The way that all the descriptions and personalities of the characters were written was beautiful. I found myself rather attached to the misfit group of Raven Boys and Blue's eccentric family. 

When I first started reading this book from the synopsis I assumed that it would be mainly focused on the fact that Blue could not kiss her true love without him dying. While that seemed a very intriguing story line to me, I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the book focuses more on the boys relationships and how Blue becomes a part of their group. I got to know all about their lives and about Blue and her psychic family. There were very few scenes that focused on Blue and any boy, but when it did it definitely was not forced or any type of insta-love. I also enjoyed how the setting was in this time but it also felt that it was in an older era at the same time. I think that is just part of the reason why I love Maggie's writing style. 

Blue for her young age is a highly sensible girl. She had a great head on her shoulders and always seemed to think her actions through. It's possible that when you come from a household of psychics that happens. LOL Gansey I found even with his young age, he seemed to have an old soul, which I thoroughly enjoyed. He is definitely different that any of your normal YA male leads. Adam was an amazing "I take care of myself" kind of guy that I at times had my heart broken over his home life and all his trials and tribulations. Ronan was actually my favorite out of the Raven Boys, he comes off as really harsh but I could tell he had a secret that would eventually come to light. The scene where he is with Adam at his home (I will not go into more detail as not to spoil anything) made me so proud of Ronan and proved my thoughts of him through the entire book. Noah, the most quiet of them all, definitely has his own story to tell and it definitely was a shock. 

The only issue that I ever really had with this book was was the ending. I did not like it at all, apart from a secret that Ronan confesses. It felt to rushed to me and like it left a lot of loose ends. It was still a completely amazing book. I definitely recommend it. Be warned though....this is not a book that you can sit down and read quickly. I think there is a lot of information to absorb, but it is worth it. 

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

****DO NOT READ NEXT REVIEW IF YOU HAVE NOT READ #1 IN CASE OF SPOILERS ****

** I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Goodreads Description:

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after..




My Thoughts: 

After I read The Raven Boys, I immediately started reading this book. I was so ready to see what happened with Adam since he sacrificed himself to wake the ley line and curious to see where his "relationship" with Blue would go. (Especially since I'm rooting for Gansey.) 

The book started off pretty well for me. It definitely focused more on Ronan and the fact that he can withdraw things from his dreams. I loved finding out more about Ronan and his back story, since he is my favorite. It was really interesting to find out why he is the way he is, and why Gansey feels the need to protect him so much. This book however did NOT make my feelings for Declan change. I still can't stand that guy. 

I was excited to see Noah was still a good part of the book since we found out in the last one that he was actually dead the entire time. He ends up being a pretty good "voice of reason" for Blue and Ronan. I love how protective Ronan has been over Noah in the first book and in this one. Noah is there for Ronan when he needs people the most. His dreams start to cause some really strange and scary events in his life that he has to figure out. 

There were plenty of new shady characters that come into this book. One that turned out to win me over was Mr. Gray. He is a hit man who comes to town in search of something that he doesn't even know for sure what it is and finds himself a part of Maura's life, and caught in the middle of the group of Raven Boys and some of the predicaments they have found themselves in. 

Adam has his own troubles in this book that stem from his home life in The Raven Boys and the fact that he sacrificed himself the way that he did. I enjoyed seeing the way things went with him and how he came to figure out what he should do for himself throughout the story. 

While Adam is figuring his stuff out, I do see Gansey and Blue getting a little closer. This book is still not overshadowed with romance but I did like some of the scenes with Gansey and Blue and seeing that spark that you just couldn't miss in The Raven Boys come more into play.

My one issue with this book was the fact that I felt like finding Glendower (which was one of the main story line in book 1) was pretty much put on the back burner. I don't feel like this book got anywhere new with it really. I'm pretty sure that it was set up this way because Ronan's gift is an intricate part of how to get to Glendower, but I feel like that part of the story was brought up several times but it just never went anywhere. I did find myself getting a little bored in the middle part of the book. It did pick back up though and it sure wasn't enough to make me put it down. I will be patiently waiting for book 3 in hopes of seeing where Blue and Gansey go with their relationship, or lack there of. I'm also ready to see if they ever find Glendower.

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

BLOG TOUR: Review and Interview for Shadows by Paula Weston

I'm so excited to be apart of this blog tour for Shadows by Paula Weston. I adored the book and also got the opportunity to chat a little with Paula and do an interview to share with you guys!


Review: 



Book: Shadows by Paul Weston 
Series: The Rephaim #1
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Acquired: Netgalley & Tundra Books, in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Goodreads Description:

It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series, is a standout paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Cassandra Clare.


My Thoughts:

This book is AMAZING and I can NOT stand having to wait for Haze to come out. I finished this book in a day, practically one sitting. It was just so good. I was immediately sucked in. Shadows took me into an entirely different world that I never wanted to leave. 

Gabby is a young girl that recently lost her twin brother, Jude. All she can recall is that there was a horrible accident and that she is not on good terms with her family. She moved Pandanus Beach to start over and hopefully bring some happiness into her life. The only problem is the terrible nightmares she keeps having about fighting monster and demons with a handsome guy. When out one night with her roommate, she runs into Rafa, who looks exactly like the guy in her dreams. She is then told that everything she thinks she knows and understands is not what it seems. Now she has to figure out who to trust and who she is before the past catches up with her.

This book took me through a world filled with Rephaim, mortals, demons, and monsters. No one is who I thought they were or what I expected them to be. Paula Weston did an amazing job of building this world. She had a way of giving me every little detail but not where I felt like it was nothing but detail. The characters are amazing. Gabby is battling with who she is now and who she was told that she was before the accident. She does a really good job of coping and coming into her own throughout the book. She has some help along the way, mainly from Rafa. But not so much help that you see her as a damsel in distress. She is very independent and is determined to take care of herself and keep the ones she cares about safe at all costs. 

Rafa…oh how I love Rafa. He is so snarky and sarcastic (some of my favorite qualities in the male lead). He comes in and shows Gabby what’s real and what’s not. The relationship between him and Gabby is portrayed in a way where you know there is something there, and that it’s deep, but it doesn’t take over the entire story. It also isn’t your typical “they are automatically in love” relationship. The story actually has great build to any feelings that Rafa and Gabby begin to have for one another. Rafa strengthens Gabby in all the best ways and Gabby makes Rafa more caring.  Everything about them made me root for them throughout the book.

I’m so thankful that the ending wasn’t a huge cliffhanger that will have me DYING until next year. I’m so ready to see what all Gabby and Rafa uncover with what really happened with her and Jude. I seriously urge everyone to go read this book, you will NOT be disappointed. :)


Here is some info about Paula from Goodreads:

I'm the author of the Rephaim series.

I'm also an avid reader and blogger, a huge fan of Australian literature and fantasy/paranormal stories, a closet comic reader and TV addict...and I'm borderline obsessed with the Foo Fighters.












Interview:

Q: What inspired you to be a writer?

A: I’ve been addicted to reading from as far back as I can remember. I started writing my own stories when I was in primary school (elementary school), but it took until my mid-twenties for me to write my first full-length manuscript. I loved the process and knew then I wanted to be a novelist. But it took five more manuscripts, two plays, a short-listed short story and a pile of rejections before I was finally a published author 16 years later. There’s nothing like that feeling of being lost in a story as a reader and it’s an even deeper experience as a writer. I love creating my own worlds and characters, and telling their stories – and hopefully entertaining readers along the way.

Q: Do you remember what book made you fall in love with reading/writing?

A: The first time I can remember being completely caught up in a story as a child was when I read an Australian book called Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park (in which a young girl is transported back in time). Not long after, I read The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and then devoured the Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew novels (both mystery series involving teenagers). Those books made me look for magic and mystery in the world around me, and started my life-long habit of daydreaming at inappropriate moments.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Shadows? 

A: Shadows started as a scene in my head that I couldn’t stop thinking about. It involved a girl and guy who were attracted to each other, but who had a complicated history that only he remembered. I knew there were paranormal elements in how she’d lost her memory and that they were part of a wider conflict. When I started researching world-building options to work out their story, I came across the Book of Enoch. It’s a two-thousand-year-old text that talks about angels being kicked out of heaven for getting a little too friendly with human women (a book not considered doctrine by mainstream churches). I got to thinking about what would happen if those angels got free again and fathered children. And then what the consequences would be for those half-angels, and how that could relate to my two characters. From there, the world of the Rephaim was born and Gaby and Rafa’s story came together.

Q: Rafa was personally my favorite character in your book, but who was your favorite character to write? 

A: I enjoy writing all of them, but I’d have to say Rafa is my favourite too – particularly as the series unfolds. He tends to react on instinct without thinking about the consequences, whether it’s in conversation or in battle. But he’s completely thrown by the way Gaby acts towards him and he’s not sure how to react to her any more – and that’s fun to write.

Q: I love Gaby's tough personality and how protective she is of her friends, what made you go with such a strong female character instead of a "damsel in distress" type? 

A: I’ve always been drawn to strong female characters – providing they have moments of vulnerability as well. I think a character is strongest when they face challenges at a time they’re least equipped to do so. For me, it’s how they react in these situations that makes them tough: not because they’re fearless or a badass fighter, but because they have to dig deep to deal with whatever’s thrown their way. Gaby has had a rough time – and gets thrown in the deep end a lot in this series – but I never wanted her to be a victim. And I certainly never wanted her to have to rely on a guy to save her. Her relationship with Rafa is complicated and messy, but they at least treat each other as equals.

Q: How many books can we expect in this series? 

A: There will be four books in the Rephaim series. Some of the big questions are answered on the way through, and others won’t be fully resolved until the last book.

Q: Would you want these books turned into movies if given the chance? 

A: How cool would that be? I have no idea what the likelihood of that is, given the vast number of books out there that would make great movies, but yes, I would be okay with it if it happened. Particularly if Joss Whedon or Sera Gamble were somehow involved…

Q: Are you currently working on anything else?

A: The Rephaim series is my entire writing world at the moment. I’m about to start work on revisions for Shimmer (book 3) and have made a very early start on the first draft of Book 4. I do have an idea I plan on exploring beyond the Rephaim series (YA, paranormal, but not angels), but I’ll definitely finish the fourth Rephaim book first.

This or That:

Q: Indoors or Outdoors? 

A: Outdoors. I’m certainly not your classic outdoorsy person, but I love the feel of the sun on my face and the grass between my toes, particularly if I’m near Australian bushland. That said, I do spend most of my life indoors at a keyboard.

Q: Physical book or ebook? 

A: Physical book (but I have a kindle for travelling).

Q: Heels or Flip flops? 

A: Flip flops.

Q: Writing with pen or typing? 

A: Pen for notes and brainstorming, keyboard for writing.

Q: Sweet guy or Bad boy? (Fictional characters only of course)

A: I’ve come to appreciate the sweet guy more as I get older, but a bad boy – with layers and depth – is still hugely appealing.

Thanks SO much Paula for the interview, and thank you Slyvia from Tundra Books for allowing me to be apart of this blog tour. :)

Find Paula on her site here.
Twitter: @PaulaWeston

Make sure to leave Paula some love in the comments section.