Friday, August 31, 2018

#Review: LORD OF VICE by Erica Ridley



  4 of 5 stars

Miss Bryony Grenville just wants someone to "see" her for what she really is--a mathematical genius with a flair for finding the right investment to make money, not a young woman searching for a husband. If Bryony had her way, she'd become an independent spinster who had control of her own life. Her mother, however, is determined to see her wed. When Bryony decides to learn more about her #1 investment, the Cloven Hoof, she sneaks into the gentlemen's club when no one was around. Unfortunately, the wickedly handsome Max Gideon decides to check the books that night and catches Bryony in his office.

I really enjoyed this book and especially the banter between Bryony and Max. Their attraction grew not only from the physical aspect, but from their conversations about increasing profits at the club. Max was the first man to respect Bryony's intellect and that led her to falling in love with him. With the class divide being a big obstacle for them to overcome, things looked bleak for the couple for most of the book. This was a quick read and fans of regency romances will definitely enjoy this story.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and was not obligated to write a review.

Interview with Rayanne Haines, MAGIC BORN


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Magic Born is book two in my Guardian Series. In this book both my hero and heroine are faced with coming to terms with their past’s while fighting for their futures. Maria and Neeren meet in book one when Maria is hired by the leader of the guardians to help him find his lover’s family. In this book, she ends up being asked to join the Guardians. Neeren is the king of a race of panther shifters and the brother of Maria’s best friend. He has his own demons to deal with but fights alongside Maria as she battles her family and a new entity set on taking her soul.

Do you have a favorite character?
Maria is without a doubt my favorite character. I fell in love with her in book one and I’m certain she’ll remain my favourite through the series.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Yes, I had a character in this book change from being a good guy, buddy character to being the major bad guy. It shocked me but I followed what the muse wanted and I love how it altered things. I had to work with that and pull at slivers of the story to bring it back to where I needed it to go. I ended up creating an entirely new character that is a major player in book three. 

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
I received my offer after about a month of back and forth with my publisher. I had queried a dozen others, including agents, before I was offered this deal.

What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
I went with this publisher because I liked that they were mid-sized and have a mission statement to support newer authors. I knew my chance of getting on with a major publisher was slim to none. I thought I can grow with my publisher and use that to help me find a strong agent. I’m playing the long game J

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
In 2017 I was signed for a four-book deal by a small traditional publisher. So far two have been published. I’m currently working on book three with a release date hopefully of spring 2019. 

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I always listen to music when I write. In fact, I create playlists for each of my books to help set the mood and tone that I think best matches the tone of the book and the characters.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I start with a general outline and then usually re-work it as my characters change their minds and/or the muse decides the original plan must change. Though because I have a four-part series arc already mapped out, the overall story does have to stay true enough to get me to the next book.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
I have my critique partner help me edit the first drafts, then one I hand it over to my publisher I work with my editor to fine tune. She often picks up plot holes both I and my critique partner miss.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
Oh, man yes. Between marketing, writing and editing there are days I wonder how I’ll ever do it all. Giving myself permission to take breaks to be there for my family alone, is important to my health.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Join writing groups, author support organizations, etc. For romance in particular there is the RWA (Romance Writers of America) that is an exceptional support system. If funds don’t allow check to see if any groups offer discounted rates, or consider your local library to see if they offer services/supports for new writers. Finding your Tribe is what will keep you going.

What’s next for you?
I’m continuing to work on this series with a goal to put out one book every nine months. I also write poetry and am working on a new collection that I hope to send to my poetry publisher in 2019. On the back burner is a Dystopian YA book I’d love to get to the light of day.  For now, keep your eyes open for Air Born, book three in my Guardian Series coming this spring.




Magic Born
Rayanne Haines
(The Guardian Series, #2)
Publication date: June 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Maria Del Voscova is a powerful witch with a past. When she’s asked to become a member of the elite Guardians she knows she can’t risk sharing the truth about her messed-up family. But we don’t always get what we want.
Sometimes, we don’t always know what we want.
Though Mar absolutely knows she doesn’t want Neeren, King of the Parthen. She alone sees the darkness in him and it reminds her too much of the past. She knows better than to fall for his stoic, tortured soul façade.
She’s training to be a Guardian, a shadow; tasked with keeping the balance between good and evil in the world. It’s what she wants—to be better than her family was.
But the past has a way of catching up to Mar and the future has a morbid sense of humor. On her first mission, she’s kidnapped by the enemy she’s been running from her entire life. Thankfully the guardians look after their own. As it turns out, so does Neeren.
As Mar finds herself caught between the past and the future; between blood and bond; between the light and the dark, she realizes her only chance at surviving may be in trusting a man who is the most dangerous of them all.



Author Bio:
Rayanne Haines grew up on a small horse ranch in Alberta. She spent most of her youth re-enacting scenes from Anne of Green Gables to attentive audiences that included pygmy goats and roan stallions. The horses were thrilled. Her father could never figure out why it took her three hours to clean the barn.
Her mother is an avid reader and instilled a love of literature in her at a young age. She has always been fascinated with learning people’s stories.
She has a fondness for mountains and rivers and all the creatures that live within them.
She believes in magic and the search for great love. She loves to write about strong women who will accept nothing less.


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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

#Review: THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Kerrigan Byrne





Lorelei Weatherstoke is a young girl who's empathy and caring spirit for all things injured is commendable. Crippled as a child, she feels compelled to help care for those injured and helpless.  I loved the beginning of this book when they find Ash and she nurses him back to health. Their tentative and sweet interactions set the stage for a love that endures all, but I have to say that I was not much of a fan for the rest of the book. What happens to Ash in the intervening years before he's reunited with Lorelei is a tragic story and changes Ash forever.

I guess it's the title that threw me. I thought I would be reading a totally different story, not one full of violence and obsession to the extreme. While lots of fan of Ms. Byrne's series will love this book, this one is not one of my favorites. I will be interested to see who the next hero will be.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and was not obligated to leave a review.


THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Victorian Rebels (Volume 6)
Kerrigan Byrne
St. Martin's Paperbacks
$7.99
Pub Date: 08/28/2018
ISBN: 9781250122568
384 Pages

Summary:
The bravest of heroes. The brashest of rebels. The boldest of lovers. These are the men who risk their hearts and their souls—for the passionate women who dare to love them…

He is known only as The Rook. A man with no name, no past, no memories. He awakens in a mass grave, a magnificent dragon tattoo on his muscled forearm the sole clue to his mysterious origins. His only hope for survival—and salvation—lies in the deep, fiery eyes of the beautiful stranger who finds him. Who nurses him back to health. And who calms the restless demons in his soul…

A LEGENDARY LOVE

Lorelei will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. But can she trust a man who’s been branded a rebel, a thief, and a killer? And can she trust herself to resist him when he takes her in his arms?

Buy Links:



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Whether she’s writing about Celtic Druids, Victorian bad boys, or brash Irish FBI Agents, Kerrigan Byrne uses her borderline-obsessive passion for history, her extensive Celtic ancestry, and her love of Shakespeare in every book. She lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her handsome husband and three lovely teenage girls, but dreams of settling on the Pacific Coast. Her Victorian Rebels novels include The Highwayman and The Highlander.



Social Links:
Twitter: @Kerrigan_Byrne
Instagram: @KerriganByrne

#Excerpt: ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES by Destiny Booze


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Destiny Booze will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Loving him is easy.

Fearing him is necessary.

Trusting him could be a deadly mistake.

Born deaf and living with an anxiety disorder, Brooke Hartley manages life in five-minute intervals. It’s all she can do to get out of bed each morning. She’s hidden inside her sister’s apartment for over a year.

Everything changes when Brooke’s sister goes missing. Her fragile world crashes. She is desperate to find her, and she’ll need help.

Haunted by a past he needs to forget, Scott Derrico keeps to himself until his gallery manager, Autumn Hartley, suddenly disappears. He is forced out of his isolation to help a woman that needs him with a terrifying intensity.

Scott tries to deny his attraction to Brooke. He doesn’t want to get emotionally involved but he craves her like nothing else. And, for her, he is a dark and sexy diversion to overcome her fear.

With a genuinely flawed and relatable heroine and a mysterious and protective hero, you won’t want this love story to end. You’ll beg…for another five minutes…

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Booze/e/B002BMHNNW 

https://www.amazon.com/ Another-Five-Minutes-Destiny- Booze-ebook/dp/B07FLJ949F/

Excerpt:

Brooke turned back to Scott, making a clawing motion and scrunching up her face in the most adorable look ever. He wasn’t sure what she was saying to him, but he thought he understood the gist of it. “Everyone says my paintings are too dark.”

She shook her head and reached for his hand. She wrote, A.N.G.R.Y.

“True,” he offered.

She turned the tables on him, staring hard. It was only fair since he’d been staring at her all day. She gestured out of the room with a shrug.

“No, the one in the living room isn’t angry,” he said, but he wasn’t going to talk about that. Trying to distract her, he moved forward, closer than what was comfortable between acquaintances. He wanted to get her mind on something other than asking about that painting.

“I guess I paint what I feel at the time. Do you want to know what I would paint right now?”

Looking nervous, she didn’t answer. He could see her chest rise and fall as her breathing came quicker, and he liked it.

He should have left her alone. He’d brought her here to protect her, to make her feel comfortable. But, he couldn’t make himself do the right thing. Instead, he moved in even closer, reached for her hair, and pulled out the band holding it back in a ponytail. It fell to her waist, and he fanned it out, loving the feel of the silky texture sliding through his fingers.

Her eyes went wide open, and he heard her next breath come out in a rush.

“I would paint you.”

About the Author:

Destiny Booze is an interesting name, true? Destiny’s mom found her first name in a romance book. Her last name was a gift from the man she loves.

She writes novels with intense conflicts, ongoing suspense, romance, and happy endings. She grew up at a campground where she spent her summers working long hours mowing, cleaning bathrooms, lifeguarding, and leading activities.

Destiny resides in Botetourt County, Virginia where she strives to be the best wife, mother, and writer that she can be. Her family is always priority number one. Other things of great importance to her are friends and her readers!

Follow Destiny on Amazon, Facebook, Twitter @destinybooze, or her website www.destinybooze.com. Go to her website and sign up for her mailing list for updates on book releases and book giveaways.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Destiny-Booze/152893818389

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Monday, August 27, 2018

#Excerpt: SINGLE AND LOOKING: DAISY by Belinda Austin


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Belinda Austin will be awarding a $10 or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


AT FIRST, DAISY IGNORES HER CAT'S DATING ADVICE.

Daisy will turn 40 in eleven months and has never married. Her family figures Daisy is a loser because she is still in college trying to avoid paying off her student loans which have amassed over 22 years of a miseducation. And all Daisy has is a cat to keep her company.
To make the crises worse, her cat begins talking to Daisy, when she is sober! The mess of Daisy's life is even kookier because the cat is cursing and smoking now and drinking more alcoholic beverages. Mm, there must be a connection to all this flowing alcohol, which may explain the bubbly in Daisy's brain. Her sisters and mother insist on setting Daisy up on six blind dates and all the men are named after liquor.

A heartwarming, LOL book that will make you smile.

Excerpt:

Alrighty then, Daisy would dive into the swamp of blind dating, feet first. She would trust her sisters to hunt down the right man for her, men vetted by referrals, five blind dates. From the lucky candidates, she would choose which man was right for her.

Daisy leaned back against the sofa with her eyes closed. The experience would be like The Bachelorette television show, starring her.

Daisy could see herself arriving in a white stretch limo wearing movie-star sunglasses.

She waves her hand at the crowds lined with encouraging posters.

WE LOVE YOU DAISY!

GO, GIRL!

DAISY NUMBER ONE!

She climbs out of the limo, wearing a white fur coat and walking as if she owns the world.

Two yummy tuxedo-dressed men swing open the doors for her.

She smiles with sparkling-diamond teeth as each doorman kisses a hand.

There stand five hunky handsome men, each with a rose twirling in his hand.

She spins to the camera, showing a flash of panty and making the men swoon.

“Hi, I’m Daisy, and I’m your newest Bachelorette.”

Daisy winks at the camera. “You’re in for some steamy hot tub moments this season so don’t change the channel. I may seem like a lunatic talking to my cat, but I’m not crazy. Trust me.”

She drops the fur coat exposing the strait jacket she’s wearing until Shakespeare stuck his rear in her face, tail up. “Scratch my butt, won’t you Daisy? There’s a good girl; I can’t reach that spot.”

About the Author:

Belinda Austin writes Women's Fiction, Romanic Comedy, Humor, Psychological Thrillers and Suspense. She has a degree in Applied Mathematics and once worked as a Software Engineer. She was born in the Los Angeles Area and is an award-winning author. She is a Zumbaholic.

Belinda, also, writes Science Fiction and Fantasy under the name of B. Austin. She writes Historical Fiction under the name of Belinda Vasquez Garcia, along with Middle Grade Fiction.

She has occasionally dreamt or her cat, Shakespeare, talking to her in English. She once had a cat named Whiskey who used to sit like a human in a chair for half an hour or more with an empty beer can on his head, which proves that life often emulates fiction.

Buy Link:  

https://www.amazon.com/Single-Looking-Daisy-Secret-Sisters-ebook/dp/B07DBB89FM
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40217389-single-and-looking-daisy
Website: http://www.authorBelinda.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBelindaAustin
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MagicProse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baustinbooks/

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Friday, August 24, 2018

#NEW Release: LOVE CUTTER by Michelle Jester


Love, Cutter
Michelle Jester
Publication date: August 28th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

After an attempted suicide Carter finds himself in a coma. He is able to hear the world around him, yet he can’t move. What he hears propels Carter to begin to see life in a new way, especially when one of his nurses, Kinley, shares parts of her tragic past with him. Soon, Carter realizes he is falling in love with her.
Months after being transferred from the hospital, to a rehabilitation facility, he suddenly wakes up with a passion to live that he never had before and a determination to find the one person he feels may be able to help him put the pieces of his life together again. However, when he returns to the hospital, Kinley is gone and Carter must try to find her based solely on the things she shared with him while he was in a coma.
Only, nothing is as it seems and Carter learns the biggest lesson of them all… the differences between expectation, perception, and reality.
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Join the blog tour here!

Author Bio:
Michelle Jester lives in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana with her husband, high school sweetheart and retired Master Sergeant. Together they have a son and daughter. She is a hopeless romantic and has been writing poems and stories for as long as she can remember.
One of her prize possessions is a bracelet with only a yellow, Rubber Duckie charm on it; which she wears every day to remind her to enjoy the fun and happy things of life!


GIVEAWAY!
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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

#Excerpt: A MATCH FOR THE MARQUESS by Lilian Marek


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lillian Marek will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Decisions, decisions…

Should Lady Anne Milhaven marry the wealthy and handsome young marquess, or should she resign herself to living out her life in poverty and disgrace, exiled from the world she was born to?

Should Philip Tremaine, the new Marquess of Penworth, redeem his honor and marry the proud and beautiful earl’s daughter whom he has unintentionally compromised, or should he prove himself as dissolute as his contemptible family?

They are not fools, but marriage is only the beginning. Now can they learn to work together and thwart the vile plots of their scheming relatives?

A Match for the Marquess is the prequel to the Victorian Adventures series.

Excerpt:

Lady Hadlow arrived first. The feline smile she turned on Anne was clearly not intended in friendship.

“My dear child,” she said, “you must be quite overwhelmed with all that is happening. It hardly seems right for such a little innocent to be married off to a man of such wide experience as Penworth. Do feel free to ask if you have any questions about how to please a man.”

Anne started to freeze up so she could allow the comments to slide past without touching her, the technique she had perfected while coping with the Craddocks. Then she realized that she did not have to retreat. Thanks to Penworth, she now had a place of her own, a standing quite as secure as that of Lady Hadlow.

She offered a smile as sincere as Lady Hadlow’s. “Oh thank you so much, Lady Hadlow. Not every older woman is generous enough to offer the fruits of her experience to the next generation. I am sure we could all profit”—here she gestured at her new friends, who were listening avidly to the exchange—“from the lessons of your many years in…society.” She lifted her hand to her breast so that her betrothal ring glittered in the candlelight.

Lady Hadlow had not been expecting any riposte, and since she was staring, mesmerized, at the ring, it took a few moments for the import of Anne’s words to sink in. Her eyes widened, and her fingers curled. “Next generation! Why you little chit…”


 
About the Author: When she retired after too many years in journalism, Lillian Marek felt a longing for happy endings and stories where the good guys win and the bad guys get their just deserts. Having exhausted her libraryís supply of non-gory mystery stories, she started reading romance novels, especially historical romance. This was so much fun that she thought sheíd like to try her hand at writing one. So she took her computer keyboard in hand, slipped back into the 19th century, and began.

She was right - writing romance novels is as much fun as reading them.

Website: http://www.lillianmarek.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLillianMarek
https://twitter.com/lillianmarek

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/Match-Marquess-Manners-Victorian-Adventures-ebook/dp/B07D4QHVFJ


https://books2read.com/u/4AYwBe

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Tuesday, August 21, 2018

#Review: DUKE OF SEDUCTION by Darcy Burke


  4 of 5 stars

 Lady Lavinia Gillingham prefers digging around in the dirt and talking about all things geology which is certainly not appropriate things for a young lady on the Marriage Mart to engage in. Lavinia is not in a hurry to marry and prefers to wait until she falls in love, but her parents have different ideas about that. When Lavinia becomes the next young lady to be written about by the Duke of Seduction, her parents are thrilled with her new popularity, but Lavinia is determined to uncover the Duke's identity and give him a piece of her mind. Little does she know that the Duke of Seduction is none other than William Beckett, Marquess of Northam.

I'm a fan of Ms. Burke and this latest book was one of my favorites. I especially enjoyed the snippets of poems to the young ladies at the beginning of each chapter. It was a refreshing change from the angst and drama that most regency romances have. Lavinia and Beck were an enjoyable couple to watch--each with their own insecurities and demons to wrestle before they realize they belonged with each other. Beck wasn't much of a "rake" and I thought Lavinia's parents were over the top in their rush to marry off their daughter. I would have liked to know the reason for this, but it was never explained. Fans of regency romances will enjoy this light and entertaining book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and I was not obligated to leave a review.

#Excerpt: BROKEN ARROW by Azaria MJ Durant


Broken Arrow
Azaria M.J. Durant
(Darkened Destiny Saga #1)
Publication date: July 29th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

An ancient power long kept dormant stirs in the shadows once more as one boy embarks on a quest to earn his freedom and the freedom of his world!
Magic has turned to myth, the Vaelhyreans of old to legend, and the power wielded by the ancients has long been forgotten. However, with Ealdred, a mere half-breed slave boy, myth becomes real, the forgotten remembered, and the power of legend is reborn within him.
Ealdred is merged into a world of mystery, brimming with deceit, where the remaining Vaelhyreans are in a desperate fight for their very survival. When Ealdred is kidnapped by the power-mongering dark lord Zeldek himself, he must make a choice; to commit his newfound magic to Zeldek’s service or die. But when he meets Bellator, clever yet treacherous servant of Zeldek, an alternative is presented to him: to escape from Zeldek’s stronghold and embark on a quest to find a cursed arrow and free the Vaelhyreans from the spell that keeps their powers at bay.
Yet how can he survive in a world where magic is illegal, half-breeds are hated, and the four countries are on the brink of war?
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Sign up for the blog tour here!

EXCERPT:
“That time is already upon us,” the Master stated, rising to his feet. “Many nights now, my gaze has been turned to the stars. The constellations Heroi and Retsu are aligning for the first time in two and a half millennia. Prophecies connote these coming years as the last of mankind. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for. I must not fail!”
His eyes glowed with the passion his words expressed, and murmurs of agreement echoed through the room.
“Our toils have been rewarding and our preparation has been long,” the Master went on. “Yet we must not deceive ourselves into thinking that our position is secure.”
The murmurs fell to silence. The Master had never spoken so freely of such things before. The most this council had ever discussed were the brief updates concerning the progress of each respective country and its assets. There was the occasional new order from The Master, but such a thing was rare, and was always followed by a long, tedious discussion concerning the politics of the task, and thus was never interesting.
“It has been predicted that there is one who has the potential to stand in my way; one who may have the power to end my supreme rule before it has begun.”
“My lord, who could possess the power to rival you?” Valamette asked, bewildered.
The Master lifted his gaze to glare at Valamette from beneath the shadow of his hood. “You of all people should know.”
Understanding dawned on Valamette. He nodded slowly. Bellator glimpsed the other figures, looking to find a shred of understanding among them. But they too turned to look at Valamette, hoping to glean what they could from his bearing.
“The boy, my lord?” he asked.
“Yes,” the Master replied. “The boy.”
Bellator was intrigued. When had a boy ever entered their conversation?
“But my lord, how could he be a problem? Didn’t we do away with him as an infant? How is it possible that he still draws breath?”
“Does it matter how?” the Master snapped. “What matters is that he lives and that he will pose a threat if we aren’t careful to hone his abilities to our favour.”
“I can do it.” Valamette took a breath. “I can kill him, if you wish it. I will not fail you.”
“No!” The Master’s fist slammed on the altar. “If I wanted him dead, I would have let him die! I wouldn’t have kept him safe all this time.”


Author Bio:
Azaria M. J. Durant is a young, passionate writer of fantasy with plans to branch out into sci-fi and dystopian. She enjoys writing stories with action, adventure, unexpected plot twists, and fleshed out characters that challenge gender roles and expectations.
Azaria lives in Atlantic Canada with her family, cats, and dogs, and her big dreams to travel the world. In the moments when she isn’t writing, she is sketching concept art for her stories, participating in community theatre, or curled up with a good book and a bag of mint chocolates.


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Monday, August 20, 2018

Interview with V.S. McGrath, THE DEVIL'S STANDOFF

Who in your life has influenced you the most? How did they do it?

My husband’s ability to think critically and articulate his thought process really helped me learn to communicate and work out story issues on my own. He’s thoughtful, kind, caring, and is a human Wikipedia. He’s really the reason I’m any good as a writer, aside from being a patient and understanding man who gives me time and space to write.


 What’s your favorite joke?

A priest and a rabbi walk into a bar. “Ow!” they yelled.


If you were a type of animal, what would you be and why?

Either a cat or a trash panda (raccoon). Both are fastidious creatures who dwell among humans but mostly keep to themselves.

What kind of vacations do you like?

I love visiting big cities, walking and taking in the local food and culture.

What are some of your smaller goals in life?

Finish my crochet blanket.

If you could try out any job for a day, what would you like to try?

I’ve always wanted to operate heavy construction machinery, like a backhoe or a dump truck.

If you could learn one random skill, what would you learn?

Flying scissor kick takedown.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck?

100 horses. But I wouldn’t fight them—I’d round them up and sell them as real-life My Little Ponies.

What’s the biggest personal change you’ve ever made?

Lately, it’s been wearing makeup. I used to think it was too time consuming, a waste of money, and, to my shame, something only shallow women did. I’ve come to realize that it’s artistry and self-care, an opportunity to express myself through my outward appearance. Also, I didn’t want to look like a lizard person in my photos anymore. Wearing makeup has given me new confidence.

What’s the biggest turnoff in a man/woman?

Willful ignorance.

What makes you cry the easiest?

Videos of soldiers reuniting with their children and the pets; thinking about my cat; and Pixar films.

Would you ever sky dive or bungee jump?

Nope.

Have you ever been in a fist fight?

Nope.
What do you think is one of the most undervalued professions right now?

Teaching.

How would you explain your basic life philosophy?

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Would you rather be hated or forgotten?

Forgotten.

If you knew you would die tomorrow, would you feel cheated today?

Nah. I had a good run.

How long does it take you to write a book?

For 100,000 words, at least 6 months to draft, 3 months to edit, if I’m lucky.



The Devil’s Standoff
V. S. McGrath
(The Devil’s Revolver #2)
Publication date: April 2nd 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Welcome to the birthplace of the Devil’s Revolver, where untold danger lurks for Hettie Alabama and her companions…
The second book in the epic, magic-clad Devil’s Revolver series follows Hettie and her sister south of the Wall into Mexico, where they must unmake Hettie’s infernal mage gun while confronting a magic- and land-hungry army and a monster from hell drawn to the powers of the weapon.
Hettie wants nothing more than to break her bond to the cursed Devil’s Revolver and find a way to keep her sister safe — but Abby’s indigo powers are growing stronger, and in the gated, walled village where they take refuge, nothing is exactly as it seems. Pursued by the Pinkertons, left without allies or guardians, Hettie has to rely on her own grit and determination to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
This second installment of V. S. McGrath’s sweeping and high-stakes saga draws its truly unforgettable gunslinger heroine to her limits and ends with a satisfying bang.


Author Bio:
Vicki So, writing as V. S. McGrath, is a published romance author (as Vicki Essex) and has six books with Harlequin Superromance: Her Son’s Hero (July 2011); Back to the Good Fortune Diner (January 2013), which was picked for the Smart Bitches Trashy Books Sizzling Book Club; In Her Corner (March 2014); A Recipe for Reunion (March 2015); Red Carpet Arrangement (January 2016); and Matinees with Miriam (November 2016). She lives in Toronto, Canada.


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