Friday, August 8, 2014

Interview & Giveaway: Down the Rabbit Hole by Monica Corwin

UFI welcomes Monica Corwin Author of Down the Rabbit Hole . Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?
 
Possibly that I am a raging caffeine addict. It all started during my military service and I haven't been able to shake it no matter how hard I try. I can drink coffee before bed and sleep just fine…that's how bad it is.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?
 
Reading usually, walking around town, and cross-stitching. Sometimes I need to get out of books and do things that set me in reality while still allowing me to feel artistic.

What is your Favorite part of writing? 
 
I love bringing to life my imagination. It's a dark and dangerous place and I love others to see what makes me…well me.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?
 
Not really. I have to use certain pens if I am writing by hand. But that is about it. I need to develop some…maybe I'll write better.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?
 
Once upon a time it was The Mists of Avalon but I heard something terrible about the author and I can't look at the books the same anymore. Now I would have to sat Written in Red (and the series) by Anne Bishop are my favorite in PNR/UF world. I am also a big fan of Kresley Cole's super-long PNR series as well as J.R. Ward's BDB.

How would you pitch Down the Rabbit Hole to someone who has not heard of it before?
 
It's a sexy Alice in Wonderland flavored romp through the lives of a barista and a cop in the midst of a hunt for a serial killer.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that Down the Rabbit Hole is set in? 
 
It's just set in everyday contemporary America. Nothing fantastical.

Do you have a favorite scene in Down the Rabbit Hole?
 
I like the candy part in the love scene. If you read it you know what I mean.

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?
 
I like Officer March in this story. I can't tell you more or I'll give the twist away but…he is my favorite as I like writing characters like him

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?
 
In the Wonderland Tales I also have a second story called Paint the Roses Red and toward the end of March I have a novella coming out called You May Kiss the Bride.

This or That

Answered as Elsa from Down the Rabbit Hole:
 
Angels or Demons : Demons
Vampires or Shifters : Shifters
Left or Right: Right
Up or Down: Up
Pizza or Pasta: Pizza
Coffee or Tea : Coffee…I'm a barista…and I've never liked tea. It's so finicky. *steps off soapbox*
Coke or Pepsi : Coke
YA or Adult: Adult
Knives or Guns: Neither. I'm not a fan of violence.
Reading or Writing: Reading
Facebook or Twitter: Um…neither? I don't know much about either one.
__________________________________

Monica Corwin is an outspoken writer who believes romance is for everyone no matter their preferences. Displaced in Central Pennsylvania, Monica Corwin attempts to spend her days writing away in her home by the river. In reality, she chases around a toddler and writes when she can. In her free time she drinks entirely too much coffee and collects tomes on King Arthur. Monica Corwin has over thirteen published works from publishers such as Crimson Romance and Cleis Press.

Find Monica and her books
__________________________________

Down the Rabbit Hole
Buy Link
 Elsa Waters works long hours running The Rabbit Hole, a coffee shop in the center of town. Her only dreams consist of keeping the business afloat and the sexy police officer who doesn't even notice her on his daily coffee run.

Officer Harris March tried everything in the book to get Elsa to show some sort of interest in him. Finally a dangerous idea takes root in his mind and he decides to risk it all for the chance to have the woman of his dreams.

On a cold and rainy night two people begin to believe the impossible as their long held fantasies are finally realized.
__________________________________

Excerpt:

She smiled and rearranged herself on the couch in an attempt to at least look more attractive. As alluring as one could possibly be while covered in coffee bean dust. But as she moved so did he. When her elbow hit the wall her funny bone pinged, and she dropped her cup of warm coffee right in his lap.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry!" She jumped up to help him.

"It's ok. It's not hot, but I should probably dry these."

"Here let me," she said dropping to her knees in front of him. Before she could even think about the situation she had his belt open and then stood to help him out of his pants.

"This really is a full service place," he said with a chuckle.

She jerked away from him as realization dawned.

"I'm such an idiot tonight," Elsa said as she turned away so he wouldn't see the tears pooling at the corners of her eyes.

She heard the rustle of cloth and turned back around to find him standing in a white T-shirt, black boxer briefs, and his socks. A naked pistol was clutched in his hand. He laid the gun on the coffee table. Elsa gathered his clothes and took them to the dryer in the other room. Luckily she had washed all the towels in the shop earlier, or he'd have been stuck in wet clothes all night.

When she came back into the room, she found him lounging just as he had been completely comfortable in his partial nudity.
__________________________________




Happy 5th Birthday Breathless Press!!
In August, Breathless Press is turning 5!  To celebrate we are releasing a limited edition Hardcover collection of our special birthday Wonderland Tales and to make sure that you're able to indulge in a little birthday fun, we are also having a month long 50% off sale across our site (www.breathlesspress.com).
Wonderland Tales HC Buy Link




1st Prize: 1 x Limited Edition Hardcover copy of our birthda Wonderland Tales, a $20 Amazon GC and a $5 Breathless Press GC.


2nd Prize: Paperback print edition of our birthday Wonderland Tales, a $10 Amazon GC and a $5 Breathless Press GC


3rd Prize: A paperback print edition of our birthday Wonderland Tales, a $5 Amazon GC and a $3 Breathless Press GC


Review: Guarded by Mary Behre

Guarded
Author:Mary Behre
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
Tidewater Book #2
ISBN:   0425268624
ISBN13: 9780425268629
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher
She’s given up on finding love…

Veterinarian Shelley Morgan has always preferred animals to humans, and not simply because she can communicate with them psychically. Unlike most people she’s known, animals have never broken her heart. But after six months in her new town, some of her favorite four-legged companions begin disappearing from the local zoo. Determined to track down the animals and their thief, the telepathic vet decides to investigate, unknowingly delving into a deadly mystery…

He’s ready to make her heart go wild…

Although his bear-like physique has been an advantage in the Tidewater Police Department, Dev Jones’s size often intimidates people. Only Shelley has seen past his massive build to the intelligent man inside, but that was years ago. So when she contacts him requesting his help to solve a series of animal kidnappings, he’s eager to reconnect with her. But the thefts escalate to murder and all the evidence points to Shelley as the killer, and Dev faces a devastating choice: forsake his career or risk losing the woman he’s grown to love…
Shelley and Dev share a past friendship but went their separate ways. Now Shelley needs help and she calls him in hopes he will be able to help her crack a case that's close to her heart.  When Dev receives an email from Shelley he doesn't have to think twice about riding to the rescue. Not only does he want to reconnect with the woman he had feelings for the past, he wants to help his friend Jules reconnect with her lost sister.

I thought the characters in SPIRITED were stubborn but they have nothing on Shelley.  A lot of her stubbornness comes from fear of having someone she loves walk away from her like they have in the past. She's scared that the sister she has been longing for or the man she is falling in love will break her heart when they eventually leave. She walls her self off so she doesn't have to deal with the pain. On the other hand she's pretty fierce. She can communicate with animals and the ones at the zoo keep disappearing. No one believes her when she says it's foul play but she refuses to give up on them and fights for what she believes.

Shelley and Dev pulled off the romance. There's instant chemistry on both sides even though there's tension along the way. Watching them grow on each other to the point that they refused to let go was a journey in its own, but they really fit well together and it showed. Shelley's ferret gave us plenty of comic relief when the three of them were together. I really loved the reunion between Shelley and her Sister Jules. You expect there to be a lot of crying and hugging but circumstances make it so much smoother than that. There are a lot of feelings on both sides but I was happy with the way things happened.

The plot flowed smoothly from situation to situation. The author did a great job of linking the book to the series but also making it feel like a whole new story. I really love all the investigative work both books have had and I'm really excited to see how the 3rd sister and book fits into the dynamics that SPIRITED and GUARDED has set up.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.