Friday, May 31, 2019

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Warlock from Wales by Shereen Vedam (@ShereenVedam, @RoxanneRhoads )

UFI welcomes Author Shereen Vedam. Thanks for Joining us!!

A Druid’s perception of Urban Fantasy Investigations

Thank you for having me over. My name is Shereen Vedam and as soon as I saw the title of this blog site, Urban Fantasy Investigations, I loved the concept.

Humans have been wondering and writing about inexplicable, mysterious events, bizarre coincidences and strange occurrences since we first began walking on this earth. I suspect that’s why the Grimm Brothers have been scouring for fairy tales, why Shakespeare was fascinated by fairies and Toland wrote about druids.

In Warlock from Wales, there is a druid named Mandru who has retreated from the world because of heartbreak and disillusionment about humans. One day he picks up a book written by a human named Toland. Of all things, this human had the audacity to write about druids. What could he possibly know or guess about the subject? Mandru suspects everything in the book is likely to be far-fetched imaginative dribble. Then he begins to read the book.

Sometimes, a few of us muggles become curious enough to take a peek behind the curtain, to check outside the circle of our normal everyday experiences, and perhaps even write about it. I hope you enjoy the two excerpts below from Warlock from Wales, as Mandru starts to read Toland’s book.

Excerpt from Warlock from Wales
Copyright 2019 Shereen Vedam

“We have company.” Llyr, the protector of Mandru’s Marsh, broadcast the news to Mandru.
Ensconced in his favorite chair in his underground home, Mandru groaned at the unwelcome report. He’d barely opened the front cover of Toland’s History of the Druids. Since news first arrived of the volume’s publication, he had anticipated delving into and ruthlessly dissecting this presumptuous author’s work. Now, he had a copy in his hands and visitors interrupted?
“Who dares enter my marsh?” His thunderous voice echoed around the empty hall. Even to his ears that sounded autocratic. He didn’t care. He valued his privacy – hence he lived underground. Why the sign above ground clearly stated, “ENTER AT YOUR PERIL.” Illiterates. 
“A rude Welsh warlock, master,” Llyr replied in his sedate tone, apparently unperturbed by his master’s temper.
Llyr, a gift from a water god, was notoriously difficult to ruffle. The living barrier’s temper was as serene as a lake at sunset, his emotions rarely disturbing his surface calm.
“Will make a perfect guardian for your territory,” the water god had assured Mandru six hundred years ago.
Perfectly annoying. Llyr never let anything get under his skin. Mandru scratched his right shoulder, as the thought made him itch.
“The warlock is joined by a pretty English lady, five other humans, horses, a dog and a cat,” Llyr continued.
“Cat?” Mandru’s interest overrode his irritation. “What type of cat?”
“The warlock’s familiar. A black cat.”
His interest died as quickly as it surfaced. “The defense mechanisms will take care of them. Save the cat if you like.”
Llyr may be a water god’s offspring, but while under his father’s compulsion, he could be counted on to be loyal, capable and efficient. Best servant Mandru had ever had.
He couldn’t imagine what placid Llyr could have possibly done to so enrage his father that he had imprisoned his son in the services of a druid to teach him obedience. Whatever the deed, Mandru had another three hundred years in which to enjoy Llyr’s services. Thank heavens for rebellious teenagers.
* * *
Mandru skipped over the boring abstract of Toland’s life and delved into his first letter to Lord Viscount Molesworth. Toland spoke more truth about druid modes of communication than Mandau had expected him to have uncovered.
Llyr’s next report was both unwelcome and untimely. “I like her, master.”
“What?” Mandru pulled himself out of Toland decrying how druid theology and philosophy was mainly passed along by traditional poems from master to disciple instead of in written accounts. How else could druids ensure their secrets remained hidden? By sharing it with every fool who could read? Not that rampant literacy was a great problem in this region.
“Master,” Llyr repeated, “I like her. I do not wish to kill her. She is intelligent and imaginative. Traits normally absent among humans.”
“They’re still alive?” he asked, surprised.
“The chilling fog has arrived and the demolition water comes. I want to save her.”
“What you want is irrelevant. You will follow orders.”
The barrier remained silent. Good. He hated servants who argued. Especially a servant who was also a powerful immortal. Arguments were a sign of disobedience. He couldn’t afford to encourage that or he risked breaking the magical compulsion that held Llyr captive.
He ran his finger along the page looking for where he’d left off.
“She befriended the cat,” Llyr said. “She reminds me of Rowena.”
His finger stilled as the blood drained from his heart and constricted his chest. “Unfair!”
“I like her. Permit me to save her. As you could not save your daughter.”
Slowly, Mandru unclenched his aching jaw. Memories buried deep in his soul flooded back. Just as Llyr had planned, the fight left him.
“Rowena liked cats, too.” With those words Mandru gave his tacit agreement to save the intruders to his disloyal, unrepentant and inefficient servant.
How could he have forgotten what the Romans did to his child? How could he have almost done the same? “Thank you for the reminder.”
“I live to serve, master.”
Mandru absently tapped the book lying ignored on his lap. Perhaps it was time he wrote his account of ancient events. Some secrets should be revealed to remind people not to repeat atrocities.


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Once upon a time, USA Today bestselling author Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure.

Shereen's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.

Find Shereen and her books
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Warlock from Wales
The Cauldron Effect #2
Amazon
You say witch like it's a bad thing....

A historian in search of truth. A warlock charged to stop her.

When Hugh is yanked from his apprenticeship and summarily assigned to guard a human female, he is justly incensed.

But when a water demon snatches her from under his nose, he sets off on a desperate race to save her, and prove he is a warlock to be reckoned with.


Excerpt:

The Honorable Mary Bryght, eighteen-year-old daughter of the late Viscount Holywell, faltered and came to a startled halt. She’d been traveling through the woods to her friend's home to deliver some astonishingly grand news about her brother. A sound drew her gaze toward a strand of willows that drank from a small pond. There, a stranger in a dark cape watched her, tapping a riding crop against his Hessians. At the malevolence emanating from him, the hairs on Mary’s arms stood to attention.
In the space of one glance, her mood shifted from cheerful to fearful. She swallowed, tasting dread, and swiftly gauged how fast she must run to reach Rose’s cottage before this stranger’s long strides reached her. She took one deep breath in readiness to sprint, when the man appeared at her side, his large hand grasping her upper arm so hard it pinched.
She cried out. He dropped his riding crop and covered her mouth with his hand, swamping her senses with a pungent aroma of horse sweat and leather.
Fifteen feet! That’s how far away he’d been. Yet, he had closed the distance between them as if it had only been two feet. Heart pounding in terror, she kicked his shin, bit hard onto a gloved finger and with her free hand, punched his throat as her father had taught her.
He grunted and loosened his grip.
Mary tore away and ran. Within a half dozen steps her body froze. There was no other way to describe the bizarre experience. She could not shift one foot, one hand, one finger. She was a statue in mid-motion.



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Thursday, May 30, 2019

Review: A Pack of Vows and Tears by Olivia Wildenstein (@OWildWrites)

A Pack of Vows and Tears
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Publisher: Twig Publishing
ISBN13: 9781948463171
Genre: YA Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author

In the seductive follow-up to A PACK OF BLOOD AND LIES, Ness Clark’s heart and legitimacy are again put to the test.

She thought the fight was over but it was only just beginning.

Ness Clark's place amongst the Boulders and at Liam’s side is compromised. First, when her cousin claims Ness helped him elude his death sentence. And then, when August Watt, Ness’s childhood friend, comes home to Boulder.

Although August’s plan was to pledge himself and return to active duty, he finds himself incapable of leaving. This becomes problematic for Liam and Ness, because a mating link has clicked into place between Ness and the ex-marine. If not consumed, the link will fade, but that’ll take months. How long and hard can two people fight a physical attraction that renders their bodies unreceptive to anyone’s but their mates?

Ness is tired of fighting, tired of having to prove herself worthy of her pack’s trust and of her Alpha’s affection. But when an enemy pack arrives and threatens the Boulders, she has two choices: step aside and let the wolves who have pushed her away fend for themselves, or step up and help them fight the newcomers.

Ness has never stepped aside…not for anyone.

Why would she start now?

I have been looking forward to finding out what would happen next for Ness since the ending of A PACK OF BLOOD AND LIES.

I really enjoy the characters of this series. Ness is now a full and true member of her pack. Her growth as a character is developing at a nice pace. Ness' uncle really grew on me in book two. With his wife out of the picture he is like a whole new man—although a sad one at most times.

There is a bit of a love triangle happening in A PACK OF VOWS AND TEARS. Liam has his issues, I like him one moment and despise him the next.I have always liked August. He fits into Ness' life well and I liked the fact that Ness didn't just jump into her feelings for him.

I hated the ending, it felt dirty and I can't believe Ness put herself in that position. Two steps forward and five steps back.  I honestly have no clue what the repercussions of her decision will be, nor do I know how things will play out. Thankfully I still like the story enough to want to find out.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

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

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Review: Dead City by Debbie Cassidy (@amoscassidy)

Dead City
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Publisher: Self-Published
ASIN:  B07PN6T7D8
Genre: RH Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author

How many times can you cheat death? I’m not sure but I have a feeling I’m about to be tested.

First there were thirteen and now there’s only one. But the responsibilities don’t lessen. Bring the Harvest in, they say, take the soul orb to Haven, they order.

One of me, and too many places to be. Like hell am I putting my ass on the line without back up.  Because Genesis is out there, and it’s not done playing, and if I die, the Hive dies.

But a team can’t shield me forever.

Some paths must be walked alone, and when I’m forced to play soul courier it will have to be a journey that’s taken solo.

The Dead Zone awaits, and Death is calling.

A Post-Apocalyptic Urban fantasy world with a slow burn Whychoose Romance.

DEAD CITY moves at a fast pace with lots of danger involved at every turn. Debbie continues to do a good job of cramming a lot of things and events into a small number of pages without making you feel like things are being hurried along.

DEAD City was just as character driven as DEADWORLD and it was neat getting some more time with characters from other series in the same world. Some I like more than others, but it's still neat getting to know their future selves. One of the issues I had with DEADWORLD was that there wasn't a lot of focus on Echo's siblings. DEAD CITY definitely does a better job at addressing what is happening with them.

The harem has definitely been started in DEAD CITY. There is a bit more romance involved in DEAD CITY as well as a little more time involved with building the relationships between the harem members. Still a long way to go, but it's moving along.

I look forward to seeing what Debbie has planned for Echo, her men and the world.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Monday, May 27, 2019

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Extinction Of All Children by L.J. Epps (@ljeppsauthor ,@RoxanneRhoads)

UFI welcomes Author L.J. Epps. Thanks for Joining us!!

IF MY BOOK WAS A MOVIE WHO WOULD PLAY THE MAIN CHARACTERS

Hello my name is L.J. Epps and I am the author of Extinction Of All Children.  Urban Fantasy Investigations thanks so much for having me on the blog today!  I thought it would be fun to talk about who would play Emma and some of the other characters if my novel became a movie.  My dream movie cast would be as follows:

Emma Whisperer:         Yara Shahidi

Jim Whisperer:              Tony Goldwyn 

Joan Whisperer:             Kerry Washington

Theodore Whisperer:     John-Alan Slachta

Taylor Whisperer:         Chloë Grace Moretz

Eric:                               Cody Christian

President Esther:           Naomi Watts

Henry:                           Don Cheadle

Samuel:                         Elijah Kelley

Rich:                             Jamie Dornan

Baby Abigail:              ?

As you can probably tell I loved the show Scandal.  I would tune in every Thursday night with my choice of luscious dessert.  Chocolate cake, strawberry cheesecake, vanilla or chocolate ice cream.  I could also have chips or popcorn with butter of course. Lol As you can probably tell I have a problem with sweets. But that’s a different topic for a different time.

Now back to the characters I mentioned above. Some of the characters playing roles are from the television program Scandal. Maybe it’s because I watched the show so much that when I had a dream about the novel these are the actors and actresses that came to mind to play certain characters.  These are also the actors and actresses that were in my thoughts while writing each scene. I’m not sure who would play baby Abigail so I left that one blank and up to your own imagination.

I do realize that some of the actors and actresses I have selected may not fit the particular age or hair color of the character I have written.  But these are just some fun ideas I like to play around with. These ideas helped me write the novel because I pictured each section as a scene in a movie. Who would you like to see play the characters in my novel?  I’d love to hear some of your ideas! 
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L.J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.

Over the last few years, L.J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.

Find L.J. Epps and her books
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Extinction of All Children
 Extinction of All Children #1
Amazon BN
The futuristic world of Craigluy has been divided into three territories and three economic classes. A large wall separates the territories, so the poor cannot mingle with the rich.

Since President Esther, the ruler over all of Craigluy, believes the poor do not have adequate means to take care of children, they are no longer allowed to procreate. Pregnant mothers are imprisoned until their babies are born, then the infants are taken away.

Emma Whisperer is the last child to survive. She is the last child born in lower-class Territory L before the law was instituted in the year 2080. She is the last eighteen-year-old.

Emma struggles to understand why she was spared while others weren’t. She doesn’t like the laws and believes they should be repealed. Her family doesn’t agree with her; they discourage her rebellious streak. Yet, she helps them to cover up their own family rebellion. She helps them to hide a big secret, a secret that could be both disastrous and deadly for members of their family.

As she meets new people along the way, Emma learns who she can and cannot trust. And, in the end, she makes a gut-wrenching decision that may be disastrous for everyone.

She finds herself in danger for doing what she feels is right.

Excerpt #2:

My brain checks back in on the conversation. My mother is still going on about her day.
“I was able to pick up some fruit from the market. The apples and pears were fresh. We can have them for dessert on Sunday, along with the whipped cream Emma picked up.” She puts on a fake smile. “They don’t always have it, since it is only for special occasions. Thanks for going back to the store to get it. I forgot it when I was there earlier. I hope you didn’t have a hard time finding it.”
“It is fine, Mother,” I say, softly.
Sundays are special in Territory L. It is the day families are supposed to stay in and enjoy each other’s company. The day we get to eat chicken or fish, instead of beans and soup. It is the day we play old board games and read old books. Pears and apples are what my mother considers dessert. Maybe this Sunday will be even more special because we’re going to have whipped cream on our fruit. We never had it before. I guess whipped cream will make it look more desirable. So, while Territory U has pie and cake, we’ll have fruit with whipped cream topping.
“Is there any more milk?” Theodore asks.
“I had your sister pick some up on her way back.”
“Yes, T,” I say, chiming in. I always call him T, for short. “There is a fresh carton in the fridge. Try not to drink it all. It has to last for at least the next week.”
I watch as he narrows his eyes in my direction, then he stands with his glass in hand and goes to the kitchen. He is such a child, sometimes I can’t even tell he is nineteen.
“So, how was your day, Emma?” My father turns to me. He just put a spoonful of beans in his mouth. He clears his throat and continues. “I mean, before you ran that errand.”
Every time someone talks about the errand, I cringe. It is as if a knife has been put through my stomach because we have such a hard time even saying what the errand is. And the whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I try to forget about the errand, for now, and dwell on his question—how my day was.
“If you’re asking me if I found a job yet, I haven’t.” I take a sip of water. “There is not much to do around here.”
“There is, if you want to be cashier at the market or a salesperson at the clothing store.”
“Those aren’t real jobs. Sorry,” I add, glancing over at him.
He has always said it didn’t matter what the job is because any job, even if it isn’t glamorous, should be respected. Judging by the slant in his eyebrows that makes the lines in his forehead crease, he didn’t take kindly to what I just said.
“What I meant to say,” I continue, “is I want to go to college and be a doctor like you, Dad, or a teacher like Mom was. It is not fair—”
“We can’t keep having this discussion every night,” Mother cuts in, her voice curt. “I know it is disappointing that there are no colleges and no continued education for you. And I also know you don’t want any of the jobs the territory has to offer—”
“But that is the way it is, and you have to deal with it,” says Father, cutting her off.
“I’m not hungry anymore.” I push my plate aside.
I know it is foolish because around here you don’t always know where your next meal is coming from, but I can’t stomach the same conversation along with the same dry food every night.
“May I be excused?” I lower my head.
“Yes, Emma. You may.” My mother’s tone is soft. “And Em, things will get better,” she says with sad eyes.
She always says that. I think, more for herself than for me. But things never get better. They always stay the same, or get worse.



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Sunday, May 26, 2019

Week in Review: 5/19-5/25



Books Received for Review

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

Books I've Read

A Heart of Shame by Kristen Banet
How to Wake and Undead City by Hailey Edwards
Dead City by Debbie Cassidy

Reviews Posted

None this week...

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Monday- Promo + Giveaway: SEAL Wolf Surrender by Terry Spear (@TerrySpear , @SourcebooksCasa)

* Wednesday- Interview + Giveaway: Stolen Dreams by H.G. Lynch (@HGLynch, @RoxanneRhoads )

* Thursday- Promo + Giveaway: Fire Wolf by H. Danielle Crabtree (@hedanicree, @XpressoTours)

* Friday- Guest Blog + Giveaway: Neliem by Clare DiLiscia (@diliclare, @RoxanneRhoads )

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?


You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.
 

 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Neliem by Clare DiLiscia (@diliclare, @RoxanneRhoads )

UFI welcomes Author Clare DiLiscia. Thanks for Joining us!!

Thank you for hosting NELIEM on your blog. 

NELIEM is a story from my heart based on events that happened to my father. I believe Oriana was percolating in my subconscious for years before finding her way onto the written page. It took five years from when I first started writing, to holding NELIEM in my hands. Along the way, there were my fierce supporters that fell in love with Oriana’s story and insisted I never give up.

I’d actually put it aside for months when I ran into the Scholastic Editor at a writing conference who asked me who was publishing NELIEM. I didn’t have an answer, seeing as I’d all but forgotten about it. The editor went on to tell me that NELIEM needed to get published, she’d tried for months to acquire it, but ultimately hadn’t been able to.  Her positive encouragement was what I needed to try ‘just one more time.’

Needless to say, NELIEM won.

Here is some of the music that inspired me to write NELIEM and never give up.

Music Playlist for NELIEM:

1. A Thousand Years - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-thousand-years/467980710?i=467980724

2.  Fight Song -https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fight-song/1061182666?i=1061182684

3.  I Won’t Give Up -https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-wont-give-up/509536557?i=509536631

4. This Love - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-love/907242701?i=907242712

5. We Found Love - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-found-love-feat-calvin-harris/1168112213?i=1168112860

6. Wild Ones - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wild-ones-feat-sia/613867183?i=613867347 
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Born in Queens, New York, Clare Di Liscia moved to California as a small child and grew up in the hills by Dodger Stadium. Constantly roaming the woods, she took to embellishing on the stories of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck to fill her imagination. To her horror she soon realized there was no way to fit a miniature tuxedo on a frog. Fortunately in sixth grade, Clare won a short story contest with the grand prize of fifteen happy meals. She would like to point out that two of those meal tickets were missing by the time her mother handed over her prize. After traveling extensively throughout South America and the Caribbean, Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium for University where she studied Dutch and French. Clare graduated from Cal State Northridge Film School, earning Dean’s List recognition with a BA in TV/Film. In 2006 she placed in the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting beating out 4700 other applicants. After joining SCBWI, Clare won 1st place HM in the Sue Alexander for her YA novel, now titled NELIEM.

Find Clare and her books
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Neliem
Amazon
Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy.

Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.

Why would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.
 Excerpt:

Before I clear the field, I realize too late that it’s a trap. I have been herded like a sheep, far from the few scattered homes, toward the deserted cliffside where no one will hear my screams for help. Another boy with flaming red hair stands behind a tree waiting for me; I recognize him from the market. I can smell him, sweaty with a tangy sweetness that can only mean one thing. He’s been eating apples and waiting for some starving girl foolish enough to think she could steal some fruit.
I reach for my dagger, strength pulsating so deeply that I nearly drop it from my sweaty palm. Then, the voice of the boy of my dreams, whispers, “Hold it steady, Oriana. You can do this.”
I tuck all fear down deep within me. Later, I tell myself; later I will worry.





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Thursday, May 23, 2019

Promo + Giveaway: Fire Wolf by H. Danielle Crabtree (@hedanicree, @XpressoTours)



Fire Wolf
Fire & Reign #1
Goodreads / Amazon
Since the fall of the royal house, the four kingdoms have been divided and at war, leaving many without necessities to survive.
Lady Myah Leicht would do anything for her people, even risk herself—the future high lady of Nordlin—to join her friends to raid supply convoys and storehouses belonging to the enemy army against her uncle and his council’s wishes.
Garrett wants nothing more than to be done with the Osten Elite Guard, but his position as master keeps him close to the queen and close the secrets the resistance needs. But only one secret he keeps matters to the future of the four kingdoms.
A secret that could burn Myah’s world to the ground.

Sneak Peeks:

The wind picked up, howling through the unsheltered channel. It prickled every inch of Myah’s skin, blasting through her damp clothes. A chill raced up her spine when the gust died.

It was not the wind marking her end, but the cries of the wolves.

Myah would die to their song.



“I find you baffling.”

He laughed quietly. “I get that a lot.”

“If you don’t want to blackmail me, then what do you want?” she pushed.

He leaned forward as if to get a better look at her in the moonlight. “To test a theory.”

“And what is your conclusion?” She was curious now, much less afraid, although still untrusting.

“Undetermined …”



Garrett’s breaths were becoming ragged. His blood, warm and hot and sticky, dripped down his chest. He could feel the moisture on his skin. He blocked a swing aiming for his head, and then took a knife to his left side. It was shallow, but his muscles knotted. He stumbled backward, lost his footing as he slipped in the snow, and went down hard on his side.

When he looked up, the man’s arms were raised over his head, the blade angled to drive it through Garrett’s chest. His breath caught.


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H. Danielle Crabtree graduated from the University of Oregon in 2004 with a professional journalism degree and worked in journalism as a writer and editor in Oregon and Arizona. She started freelancing as an editor in 2011.

Her poetry has been published in several literary magazines and anthologies, and she wrote with the G10 Writers group. Her first book with the group was published in 2011.

She lives in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley with her two dogs. Outside her career in health care and her passion for writing, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and dog training, and she is pursuing a master's degree in public health at Oregon State University.

Find Danielle and her books
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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Interview + Giveaway: Stolen Dreams by H.G. Lynch (@HGLynch, @RoxanneRhoads )

UFI welcomes Author HG Lynch. 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?

I’m very anxious. I suffer from Social Anxiety, which makes it very hard to do normal things like go to the shops sometimes. That’s why I always loved books, especially in school – I would be reading while walking between classes. I found comfort in books.


What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Reading, and playing with my bunnies. I have five beautiful rabbits that make me smile every day.


What is your Favorite part of writing? 

My favourite part of writing is when I figure out exactly where the story is going, where the characters want to be, and how to get them there. It pushes me to keep writing long after I should’ve gone to bed.


Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

I don’t have routines, but I do have to be left alone. I get very grumpy if I’m interrupted while writing. It’s easy to lose the flow.


What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

My favourite authors are Cassandra Clare, Maggie Steifvater and Brigid Kemmerer. Everything they write, I read and love.


How would you pitch the Unfortunate Blood series to someone who has not heard of it before?

It’s a little like Supernatural meets Vampire Diaries, but with more sass. It has vampires that rule not only the school but the town, werewolves prowling the bar, evil witches, fiery romance, betrayal, fear, friendship…it’s a rollercoaster journey of epic proportions, and you will fall in love with the characters just like I did.


Can you tell us a little bit about the world that the Unfortunate Blood Series is set in? 

It’s set mostly in Acorn Hills, a fictional town somewhere in England. The main focus of the books is the school, Acorn Hills Academy, which is a posh boarding school of sorts…only the school, and the town, were built by vampires looking to escape persecution. What they didn’t expect was how the town drew all sorts of other mythical creatures, especially to the forest surrounding the town, where every kind of monster you can imagine now lives…and hunts.

Now, put humans in the boarding school and you have a recipe for disaster – which is where the vampire boys like Reid come in, protecting the school and students from the dark creatures that hide nearby.


Do you have a favorite scene in Stolen Dreams ?

Yes, the bridge scene, which I sobbed through while writing. You’ll know when you read it.


Which one character out of all your books was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about? 

Out of all my books? Oh, I’m not sure. Reid has always been a strong favourite, but Spencer (Caged Trilogy) comes a close second. The hardest was probably Sherry, since she’s based strongly on my best friend. I had to try to transfer some of who my best friend is to paper, and that was a little tricky.


What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

Right now, I’m working on Dead Boys Don’t Cry, a prequel novella to Dead Girls Don’t Dance. That should be published around Halloween. I’m also working on the third Reaper Born novel, Silver Sword. It’s going to be pretty epic.
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HG Lynch is a Scottish paranormal romance author who lives with her boyfriend, five adorable bunnies and Tonto the cat. Her books are dark romances with feisty heroines and smoulderingly sexy men.



Find HG Lynch and her books
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Stolen Dreams
Unfortunate Blood #6
Amazon
Having left her life at Acorn Hills behind, Ember tries to pick up the pieces of her heart at home in Scotland. Reuniting with old friends, working a normal job, hiding her fangs...

But while fake smiles fill her days, nightmares plague her nights, re-opening the wounds she's tried so hard to heal.

Left behind in Acorn Hills, Reid spirals into a deep depression, becoming more and more self-destructive. Until Hiro takes pity on him and comes up with a solution to the hollowness left by Ember's absence: get her back.

With the way Ember left, Reid knows it won't be easy to win back his Firefly, but he will do it. He has to.

Otherwise, an eternity without her isn't something he could live with.

Books 1-5 Unfortunate Blood Series

Excerpt:

Reid was in jail. Not the first time, probably not the last. He was there mostly by choice anyway; if he’d wanted, he could have compelled the police officer who’d pulled him over for drunk driving to let him go.
He’d been driving recklessly on his motorbike, almost hoping for a crash; A few broken bones, a splintered tree, pain that could be quantified and fixed with simple medication, unlike the gaping wound where his heart used to be.
He’d thought that being in a cell would distract him, give him something else to think about other than the burning pain inside him, seeing as the drink hadn’t numbed it, but he’d been wrong. Of course he’d been wrong. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been right, felt right.
Reid sighed, staring at the dull, grey ceiling of his cell. But staring at the dirty stone ceiling of his cell was no different than staring at the white ceiling of his dorm room, except that here there was no chance of Ricky showing up to stare mournfully at him through those pitying green-blue eyes of his.
And that was another reason Reid had chosen to spend the night behind bars; He was avoiding Ricky. Avoiding everyone actually, but Ricky especially. He’d been avoiding Ricky all day, in fact. It was why he’d gone out to the bar, and spent hours in the pool before that. Why? Because Ricky knew what day it was, and he’d likely have something to say about his moping, maybe even have planned something for it, and Reid just wasn’t in the mood.
It was the 9th of May. This day last year had been awesome, the year before that even better but this year…Reid just wanted to sink into a drunken oblivion and he couldn’t even do that.
The fact that it was his birthday didn’t excite him, it just depressed him further. His eighteenth birthday. It was a big event for humans, almost even bigger for a born vampire like himself. Born vampires stopped aging at eighteen.
After today, Reid wouldn’t age another day, ever. He was stuck like this forever. He would always have the face of an angel, carefully toned muscles, and hair like golden silk that would never go grey. It wasn’t a bad way to look for the rest of eternity…it just didn’t mean anything to him anymore.
His own appearance didn’t matter when he still had images of her burned into his brain.





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