Author Interview: Cora Buhlert

This week, I have the prolific author Cora Buhlert here on the blog. She has quite a few short stories and novelettes for you to check out:

Countdown to Death, pulp thriller novelette

El Carnicero, historical romance novelette

Flying Bombs, pulp thriller novelette

Hostage to Passion, historical romance novelette

Letters from the Dark Side, dark fantasy short fiction collection

Outlaw Love, western short story

Rites of Passage, fantasy short story

Shape No. 8, spy fiction short story

The Kiss of the Executioner's Blade, historical romance short story

The Other Side of the Curtain, spy fiction novelette

The Spiked Death, pulp action novelette

Whaler, science fiction short story

Visit her Amazon author page, her author website or her publishing website. 

On to the interview!

A magician has cursed your next reader so they can read only one of your books. Which book do you choose for them and why?
Countdown to Death, the first of my novelettes about the Silencer, a masked avenger in the style of the 1930s pulps.

As for why, I'm very fond of this story. Besides, it's a real page turner.

What's the first sentence of this book?
“SILENCER TO FACE HANGMAN” the headline screamed.

What's the last?
“But this mask,” she said, “really ruins the complexion.”

Fill in the blanks: [My book above] is like [book/movie/TV show] meets [a different book/movie/TV show].
Countdown to Death is like the Spider pulp series of the 1930s and 1940s meets 24. And I don't even like 24.

The world's scientists have just released the first time machine, and you've been chosen to get a free ride (with assurance that you'll be able to come back, of course ;). To when do you go and why?
I have a whole list of places I'd like to visit in that case. I'd like to go to Hamburg St. Pauli in 1960 and see the Beatles playing in the Star Club on the Reeperbahn before they were famous. I'd like to go on the second to last voyage of the Hindenburg, because Zeppelins are awesome and that was the last chance to enjoy a Zeppelin trip. I'd like to go to the Globe Theatre and see Shakespeare performing live on stage. I'd like to go to the assembly rooms in Bath in the early 19th century to enjoy some Regency atmosphere and have a chat with Jane Austen. I'd like to go to Blackpool in the early 1960s and see Freddie Frinton and May Warden performing their classic skit Dinner for One live in one of the many clubs there. I'd like to spend a night dancing at Studio 54 at the height of the disco era. And sometimes I'd just love to walk into a shop or department store in the past and buy some now priceless antique trinket (china, figurines, jewelery, dolls) when it was new.

You get to travel to the country of your choice for one week with any fictional character of your choice (not your own). Who do you choose, where do you go, and why?
I'd go traveling the Canadian Rockies with Wolverine from the X-Men. I used to be a huge X-Men fan and Wolverine was always my favourite character. As for the Canadian Rockies, the scenery must be amazing and besides, it's Wolverine's homeland, so he should know his way around.

Do you remember the first story you ever finished? If so, tell us about it.
I have a couple of very early unfinished stories, including one with a flying red sportscar from outer space kidnapping two teenagers. But the first story I actually finished was something about a girl walking into a mad scientist's lair and getting turned into a monster plant, which is then subsequently chopped up into a salad. She wakes up and everything turns out to be just a nightmare. But the really icky salad she's served for breakfast sure looks familiar...

Which book of yours was the hardest to write? Why?
Probably The Other Side of the Curtain, my spy fiction novelette set in 1960s East Germany. I had to ask the print magazine, where the story first appeared, for a deadline extension, because I just couldn't get it finished.

Interestingly enough, The Other Side of the Curtain is also the most personal of my published stories, because a lot of what Shoushan and Zane experience during their trip to East Germany is based on my own experiences visiting my great aunt in East Germany in the 1980s. Minus the run-in with Stasi agents, of course. I suspect the blurring between memory and fiction made the story difficult to write.

Which book of yours did you have the most fun writing? Why?
Either my humorous spy short story Shape No. 8 or Cartoony Justice, a funny fantasy short story coming soon. Shape No. 8 is the sort of story that just writes itself. Ditto for Cartoony Justice, plus it gave me the chance to turn the fictional stand-in for a certain kind of person I really don't like into a singing, dancing banana. Who wouldn't enjoy that?

Did you ever write fanfiction? If so, for what fandoms?
In pre-internet times, before I knew that there was such a thing as fanfiction and that I wasn't the only weirdo to make up stories about my favourite characters, I wrote a bit of fanfiction. I wrote about Star Wars, the X-Men and long forgotten animated cartoons such as MASK or Defenders of the Earth. I also wrote some crossovers between different fandoms, but no slash.

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
Write every day, unless you're dead or in a coma. But set your minimum daily wordcount so low (my target is writing at least 100 words of new fiction per day) that you can make it even when you're ill or tired or terribly busy with life.

Unfortunately, I forgot where I found that bit of advice. But my productivity skyrocketed ever since I implemented that policy.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?
I want them to come away with a smile on their faces and their pulse pounding and perhaps having a few thoughts provoked.

Thanks, Cora! I enjoyed your answers to my cooky questions :)

Character Interview: Sierra and Sashe from Promising Light

Today, I’m going to have two of my characters interview each other. Sierra and Sashe are sisters who grew up with shape changers. They are main characters in the prequel novellas (Shifting Light, Fire and Light, and The End of Light), and reappear in Promising Light.

***CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ALL THREE PREQUEL NOVELLAS, ESPECIALLY THE END OF LIGHT***

The Protectors: M for Miracle

M for Miracle
Dar tries to convince the elders to let him take Grace back home. 

“There are not enough of us to defeat the Protectors in another battle,” Dar said. “We lost nine people last time, and you were foolish enough to kidnap her at the height of the prince’s affection for her.” 

Nilee cast a glare at Lisbeth. “We didn’t know about her courtship to the prince.”

“It was not publicly declared, and his carriages are magically fortified to keep us out,” Dar said. “But you should have been more careful.” 

“But why did you tell him you’d bring her to him?” Jeshro stood. “Don’t you realize she could save this whole family?”

~Promising Light, book one of the series

The Protectors: L for Lullaby

L for Lullaby
This one was hard. This is kind of related to a lullaby, but not really. I'm not telling you who it is ;)

Ivan came in every once in a while to work on her. She tried to fight him, but he’d work his magic so she was paralyzed, unable to move as his fingers moved over her stomach, her insides twisting painfully. His children watched as he guided them in whatever changes he was making to her body. If he worked for longer than an hour, he would put her into a deep sleep. She wished he’d let her sleep forever. She caught his hand once, after he’d worked on her. 

“Ivan,” she whispered, “you can take my life within seconds. I want to die.” 

He shook his head. “I’m not going to do that.”

“Please,” she urged. 

He said nothing and left. 

~The End of Light, the third prequel novella

Author Interview: Jack Blaine

This week, we have Jack Blaine!

His books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:

Helper12, science fiction, dystopian, adventure

Twitch (soon to be released--perhaps already out!) related story to Helper12, science fiction, dystopian, adventure

You can visit his blog, Goodreads, or Twitter.

Fill in the Blanks: [Your Book] is like [book/movie/TV show] meets [other book/movie/TV show].

Helper12 is like The Handmaid's Tale meets Pride and Prejudice.

Which book of yours did you have the most fun writing? Why?

I have fun with every book I write.  There are, of course, those moments when you get stuck or when the words aren't ringing true, but the experience of fleshing out a whole world and the people in it is a blast!

Which book of yours was the hardest to write? Why?

Twitch, which is a companion novel to Helper12, is almost done (it may be out by the time this interview is posted, in fact), and while I wouldn't describe writing it as hard, it has been very interesting.  Twitch follows a minor character from Helper12, and seeing this character become whole and learning her story has been a wonderful ride!

The world's scientists have just released the first time machine, and you've been chosen to get a free ride (with assurance that you'll be able to come back, of course ;). To when do you go and why?

I go 100 years into the future.  Just to see if we somehow manage to figure out how to reverse course in a way that allows us to achieve our highest possibilities as humans.  Do we finally get a clue?  Or is the world a charred wreck?  

You're stranded on a deserted island, and you can only bring one person with you. It can be someone dead or alive, but it has to be a real person (no fictional characters!). Who is it and why?

Kazuo Ishiguro.  I would love to know him--he writes with such subtlety and beauty about complex human issues.  That sort of perspective is something I find grounding and hopeful.

Okay, now you get to travel to the country of your choice for one week with any fictional character of your choice (not your own). Who do you choose, where do you go, and why?

I choose Rachel from A Gift Upon the Shore and we go to Bora Bora to a fabulous on the water retreat because we both need a break.

How has your writing changed since you first started writing?

I've learned a lot about pacing, and also a lot about having fun while I write.

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?

Don't wallow in your words.  Move it along.  The reader isn't as in love with that sentence as you are--they want a story!

What's your favorite part about the writing process?

I love the first draft.  Just being there as things unfold and watching the story evolve is so much fun.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?

I want readers to have a fun time reading but I also want them to think about how dangerously close our world is to being like the world in Helper12 and in Twitch, and how we might prevent this from happening.

Thanks, Jack! Guys, check out his books! They are definitely on my "To Read" list!

The Protectors: K for Kindness

K for Kindness
Dar sends a letter to Grace.

Lady Grace, 

Let me tell you, I haven’t written a letter to a lady before. So if I’m doing this completely wrong, please forgive me. I’ll probably be too informal or not use the right parchment. But you don’t seem like a typical lady to me. Yes, you’re beautiful, poised, and cultured. Yet at the same time, you truly seem to care about people. I know you weren’t listening during part of the charity dinner because you were staring at me, but I saw you when you spoke to the man from Kleisade. I saw how concerned you were. 

~A Reason to Stay, a short story in Love, Me

The Protectors: J for Jeopardize

J for Jeopardize
Evan seeks Alastor's blessing as he plans to propose to Sierra. 

Alastor stood. “I know you’re going to do whatever you want, so I don’t know why you even asked.” 

Evan got to his feet. “I want your blessing. I want you to want this for us.” 

“I will never want it, Evan. I wish Sierra and Sashe had left as soon as Seth moved to Rahuda.” His voice was low and threatening. “I would do anything to keep them safe—”

“Even sacrificing their happiness?”

Alastor shook his head and walked to the door. “They can’t be happy if they’re dead.”

~Fire and Light, the second prequel novella

Promising Light Blog Tour: The End!

Well, my first blog tour is complete! I think it went really well! The tour went to fifteen different blogs and garnered nearly fifty comments. Speaking of comments. . .

The winner for the $20 Gift Card is:

Cayce!

The winners for the two paperback copies are:

Elizabeth H!

Jennifer W!

The winners have been e-mailed. If your name is on this list, but you haven't received an e-mail yet, please contact me at emilyannward at yahoo dot com.

There are still a few chances to win an ebook copy at these blogs:
The Southern Scrawl
Danica's Page
Laurie's Paranormal Features

Here's complete list of the tour stops if you want to check them out. Author and character interviews, reviews, extras about Promising Light, excerpts and more!

Author interview with Ritesh.
Author interview with Coral at Chaos and Insanity.
Grace’s Google history and an excerpt from the first chapter with Kate at The Southern Scrawl.
The evolution of Promising Light with Coral at Alchemy of Scrawl.
“What I’d Do if I were a Shape Changer” with Kate at Who Needs Neverland?
If Promising Light Became A Movie with Delphina.
Author interview with Anjana at Kindle And Me.
“What Would Your Character Do If?” with TK Richardson.
Review from Evie at Bookish.
Guest post about the prequel novellas and Review from Karen.
The locations of Promising Light and Review with Vidya at Books Are Magic.
Book Soundtrack for Promising Light with Ron.
Character Interview with Grace and Review from Danica.
Character Interview with Dar and excerpt with Laurie.

Now that the blog tour is done, I'll continue the A to Z posts with excerpts from the series!

Author Interview: C.R. Daems

This week, I've interview CR Daems, a fantasy and scifi author. He has quite a few books for you to choose from. Check them out:

With ePublishers:
- The Riss Gamble, Science Fiction/Fantasy
- The Laughing Hounds, Urban Fantasy

With ePublishers: coming in 2012
- The Riss Proposal, Science Fiction/Fantasy
- The Kazak Guardians: Lynn's Rules, Urban Fantasy
- The Kazak Guardians: The Unthinkable, Urban Fantasy

Co-Authored with J. R. Tomlin
- The Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, Fantasy (an EPIC finalist)
- Scales of Justice, Fantasy
- Wings, Fantasy YA
- Blood Debt, Fantasy
- Laying the Odds, Fantasy

You can find him around the web at:
Amazon
His Website
Fictionwise

Do you remember the first story you ever finished? If so, tell us about it.
The first Riss novel, but it wasn't published. It was my first attempt at writing, proving I wasn't ready to be a writer. I think it was a good story and somewhat unique given the hundreds of thousands of books published. A young girl goes out with her father and brother trapping. Her brother shoots a Gorilla-like creature not knowing the creature is a race of intelligent parasites that use the Gorilla-like creatures as hosts. The dying creature captures the girl and decides to transfer itself into the girl. The story is the girl's journey with the intelligent parasite.

Has your writing changed since you first started writing?
Oh Yes!! My education and interest has been math and computer science. Writing proved challenging for me. I love making up stories and writing the draft. But cleaning it up is very difficult for me. Fortunately, I was luck to find my co-author (J.R. Tomlin) who helped me learn the craft. I still like writing the draft better than editing it.

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
The first draft should be a mind dump--a shitty draft--just let it flow without regard to where it's going and how it sounds. It works well for me.

Which book of yours did you have the most fun writing? Why?
Of those currently available, the "Talon of Unnamed Goddess." The heroine has a good sense of humor, loves playing parts to out smart her opponents, an ability to out think her adversaries, and a kick ass bodyguard.

You get to go to Disneyworld with one of your characters. Who do you choose and why?
Liada, in the Wings of Evil. She loves playing parts, bargaining at markets, enjoys studying people and uses the knowledge to blend in a variety of environments, and not afraid to takes chances.

What's the last book you read? What did you think of it?

Imager's intrigue: the third book of the imager portfolio. It was an interesting series, unique environment, and a bit of a mystery. Although I like Modesitt, his books can be a bit slow at times. I'd give it a 4 star rating.

You're stranded on a deserted island, and you can only bring one person with you. It can be someone dead or alive, but it has to be a real person (no fictional characters!). Who is it and why?
Master Wang Daoke from the Wudang Mountain. I would never be bored, spending my time learning Wudang Taoism and Kungfu--a life time endeavor. What better place than a deserted island.

Through very strange circumstances, a mad scientist is exiling you to the world of one of your books. Which world do you choose and why?
The far future setting in the Riss Gamble. I'd rather live in the future with space travel than the past, although I rather do it without the tattoo and intelligent parasite that makes her an alien.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?
That they enjoyed the characters, found their environment and world unique, and their adventures exciting. And a book they wouldn't mind reading again in the future.

Thanks, CR, for participating!

Author Interview: Marie Symeou

This week, we have fantasy and YA author Marie Symeou!

Her books:
FROZEN IN TIME (historical fantasy/vampire romance)
AGE OF DREAMS (coming of age/YA)

You can find her on her:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Fill in the blanks: [My book above] is like [book/movie/TV show] meets [a different book/movie/TV show].
Frozen In Time by Marie Symeou is like Interview With The Vampire meets The Odyssey.

What's the first sentence of this book?
Philip could not believe his eyes.

How has your writing changed since you first started writing?
I'm sure it has improved a lot. I also think I write faster now as I'm gaining more confidence.

Which book of yours did you have the most fun writing? Why?
Age of Dreams because I let myself dream of what it's like to be really famous and it was a nostalgic trip back to the 80s for me. It was also the first novel I actually completed.

What's the last book you read? What did you think of it?
Casper the Commuting Cat: The True Story of the Cat Who Rode the Bus and Stole Our Hearts by Susan Finden

It's a memoir about an amazing cat from England who liked to travel on the bus every day and brightened up people's lives as he did so. He became famous all over the world.

Through very strange circumstances, a mad scientist is exiling you to the world of one of your books. Which world do you choose and why?
Frozen In Time. It would be fun to go back to ancient Greece and see what it was really like. Plus there are so many interesting characters I'd love to meet.

The world's scientists have just released the first time machine, and you've been chosen to get a free ride (with assurance that you'll be able to come back, of course ;). To when do you go and why?
Either Italy during the Renaissance to meet some great artists or England during the Regency period where I hope to meet some of the my favourite Romantic poets like Byron and Shelley.

Okay, now you get to travel to the country of your choice for one week with any fictional character of your choice (not your own). Who do you choose, where do you go, and why?
Eric from True Blood. Sweden (because it's my favorite country)

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing with your time instead?
Well I like to sing so I would probably concentrate more on that and write more songs. I also love animals (especially cats) and would love to be a cat behaviourist or animal communicator.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?
I hope they enjoyed escaping into the worlds I have created and have fallen in love with my main characters, or at least related to them in some way. I also hope to have left them longing to read the sequel!

Thank you, Marie, for participating!

Sample Sunday: A Reason to Stay from Love, Me

If you can't tell, I REALLY think you'd enjoy this anthology of YA Romance stories. I teased you with just a little bit of my short story, A Reason to Stay. Here's some more. . .

***

Jocelyn, Grace’s oldest and closest friend, pulled her out to the gardens to gossip about Sir Rider and Lady Phoresa’s engagement. They walked through the lantern-lit paths, gold light illuminating the bushes and flowers around them. “Didn’t you have a crush on Sir Rider?” Jocelyn asked, bumping her shoulder into Grace’s.

Grace giggled. “I used to dream of him rescuing me from dragons and other evil creatures from fairy tales.”

“Well, he is quite strong,” Jocelyn said. “Remember when he participated in that tournament?”

“Oh, I remember.” Grace grinned. “How could I forget that sweaty, gleaming chest in the sun—”

Jocelyn grabbed her arm and motioned further down the path. Grace’s brother Kyler was walking towards them, furrowing his brows. The two girls burst into giggles, holding onto each other.

“What are you talking about?” Kyler asked, stopping in front of them.

“Nothing,” Grace said as she caught her breath.

“They’ve opened the dance floor inside.” Kyler’s cheeks went pink. “Jocelyn, would you like to dance?”

Jocelyn smiled slyly. “Of course.”

Kyler motioned to Grace. “You don’t mind, Grace?”

“No, take her,” Grace said, giving Jocelyn a small nudge. Jocelyn took Kyler’s arm, and they walked inside. Grace trailed behind them, giving them enough space to be alone. She shook her head as she smiled. They would probably get married someday, once they got past their embarrassment of liking one another.

Back into the palace, the corridor was empty. She ambled toward the ballroom, looking at the tapestries along the walls.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor, and she glanced over her shoulder. Dar had just stepped out of the corridor. He smiled politely at her and inclined her head. “Lady Grace.”

“Sir Dar,” she said with a slight curtsy.

He came to stand next to her, gazing at the tapestry in front of them. His arm brushed against her sleeve, and her breath caught in her throat. Goodness, she was being ridiculous. He was just another handsome noble. Another handsome noble who was already courting another lady.

He leaned his back against the tapestry, crossing his arms. “Tell me, Lady Grace, what about me is so interesting?”

Her mouth fell open. “What?”

“You always seem to be looking at me, and I just wondered what made me so interesting.” He fiddled with his sleeve, then glanced at her.

Her face grew warm. Her skin had to be pink—probably as pink as Lady Sarah’s dress. He was going to be trouble. If they kept talking, if he kept flirting with her, she knew she was going to fall in love. She shrugged a shoulder. “I’ll answer that as soon as you tell me why you stare at me just as often.”

He laughed, the sound echoing in the corridor. He studied her face.

She raised her eyebrows at him. “Well?”

“You’re always one of the most beautiful women in the room.”

She tightened her hands in front of her, smiling but not letting it grow too wide. “Really. You probably tell that to all the girls you stare at.”

He chuckled, then motioned to Grace. “I thought you were going to answer my question.”

She took a step closer to the tapestry and touched the fine threads that made up the face of King Thomas’ grandfather. The threads were so intricate, but she hardly saw them. “You’ve always intrigued me. Those visits to Shyra, staying at your manor with your family. . .” She looked at him. “I don’t know how to explain it, really.”

He straightened up and stepped towards her. Her sharp intake of breath made her blush again, but he didn’t seem to notice. His eyes bore into hers. “Try.”

Her mouth fell dry as she opened it. “Well. . .you’ve just always caught my eye. If I go to an event, I look around to see if you’re there. If you are, I can’t stop staring at you.” She swallowed, wondering how much she wanted to say. “I can’t help but wonder why you left Shyra six months ago. When I visited, you loved it so much. And sometimes. . .sometimes it seems like you’re not here. You drop out of the conversation and you don’t notice any of us. And I wonder if you’re back in Shyra, back home.”

He stared at her. His gaze flickered down to her lips, and she wondered what it’d be like to kiss him. She’d kissed her first suitor, Sir Joshua, two years ago when she was seventeen, only twice.

She wouldn’t say it, for fear of reminding him of his own words, but she thought of when she visited his family’s manor three years ago. They’d flirted, but then he’d pulled away. He told her her father didn’t like men like him. And she’d thought, she still did, Men like what? What are you like?

Voices broke through their trance, and they both stepped away from each other. A few other nobles had entered the corridor, laughing, drunk.

Grace laughed breathlessly. “We might have to finish this another time.”

“Do you promise?” Dar asked.

She backed away, smiling at him. “If you do.”

He nodded and put his hand on his heart. “Of course.”

She turned away, but at the door, she couldn’t help but look back. He met her gaze and smiled. Laughing, she walked into the ballroom.

***

To finish this short story and read others by great YA authors, please consider buying Love, Me. All proceeds go to CASA for their work with foster children. The book is live on Amazon for $2.99, and coming very soon to other ebook retailers.

Love, Me Release!

A first kiss, a high school prom, the county fair, a tender embrace, finding true love, and coming of age are themes weaved into the stories found in Love, Me. From established YA authors comes this sweet and telling anthology of young love. 


***

I'm so excited for the release of Love, Me! This is a great YA romance anthology with stories from six different authors. All proceeds of the book will go to CASA.

If you've enjoyed reading about Grace and Dar in Promising Light, you'll want to check out my story in Love, Me. The story takes place about six months before the beginning of Promising Light and shows the start of their relationship.

Here are the first couple paragraphs of my short story, A Reason to Stay.


***

Dar was looking at her again. Grace casually turned her gaze towards him, and he met her eyes. He smiled for a moment before glancing back at the man from Kleisade. The bearded man had been talking for what felt like hours about the damage the blizzard had done to his town. Perhaps Dar was just letting his gaze wander.

But, no, it felt like more than that. He was always looking at her, ever since he’d moved to Renaul six months ago. Then again, she was always looking at him. She couldn’t help it. He was handsome, of course, with his dark hair, his olive-colored skin. More than that, though, she was mesmerized by him. Even though he was usually the quietest in the room, something about his mannerisms, his crooked smile, his soft gestures. . .they drew her eye. 

The bearded man from Kleisade finally sat down, and the nobles around the tables exchanged whispers. 

Mother sighed and put her hand on her chest. “It’s just horrible, isn’t it?” 

Grace nodded, biting the inside of her lip. She’d been staring at Dar while everyone else was absorbed in the tragic story of Aron. “It is.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve no idea what I’d do if I lost so much.” 

Mother patted her hand. “Well, dear, our contribution will help the people of Aron.”

The attendees of the dinner had paid a hefty fee, and all the money was going to rebuild Aron. Nobles wanted a chance to prove they had the money to attend such an event—and that they cared greatly about those less fortunate than themselves, of course. 

***

Buy Love, Me today for only $2.99 on these ebook retailers:

Amazon

Coming soon to Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and more!

Be sure to visit the websites of the participating authors:

Shana Norris

Sarah Tegan

TK Richardson

Ela Lond

Amy Kinzer

Intangible by J. Meyers

Intangible by J. Meyers


Kindle edition, copy from the author. 

I think it’s kind of odd that people are biased against self-published works. Recently, I’ve been more an more inclined toward self-published works. Well, I’ll be honest that 99% of the self-published works I’ve read have been in the Young Adult genre. Solstice by PJ Hoover and The Talent Chronicles by Susan Bischoff were awesome reads with enjoyable characters and interesting plots, and Intangible has joined the ranks of my favorite YA reads.

I was lucky enough to receive this book pre-release from the author. I found a companion short story called Intuition that takes place before Intangible, maybe by a couple weeks or months. You can read it here for free.

This book starts off with Luke as he has a vision of his twin sister Sera’s death. He’s had visions all his life and he’s never been able to change the outcome of these visions. His sister, Sera, has the ability to heal people, but there’s no way to heal herself.

This book starts off with mystery and fantasy and quickly incorporates drama and romance. The author weaves in various narratives from interesting characters. The twins, Luke and Sera; Marc who’s gotten himself into some trouble; a powerful vampire named Jonas. I found myself rooting for and enjoying each character, even those who were more ambivalent than others. Towards the middle, I may have gotten a little impatient, eager to see how Luke’s vision would play out, but the pacing was pretty spot on. 

I enjoyed the romance in the story. Marc and Sera had a good thing going on, even with their ups and downs. But I would really like some more Luke and Fey! I’d just like some more Luke in general. 

The ending was awesome -- the climax wasn’t resolved too quick. Just when you think it’s solved, something happens again. The author plans for a sequel, and I’m really excited! I want to see these characters again and I’m eager to see who else she pulls along for the ride. This was a great read, so check it out!