Winner: Kate Pearce giveaway

Last sunday I interviewed Kate Pearce, and she was kind enough to let me host a giveaway for her newest book, Kiss of the Rose.


And now the winner have been chosen, using random.org.
And the winner is: Panther 10

Congratulations! Hope you will enjoy this book! Thank you to everyone that participated!

Review: Dark Touch: Shadows by Amy Meredith

Publisher: Red Fox
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
Source: Book received for review.













" Fifteen-year-old Eve Evergold is cute, sassy and enjoying a busy social life. What she doesn't know yet is that someone close to her is an evil demon that only she has the supernatural power to defeat. She needs to work out who it is - and fast! Because although there's something very attractive about the dark side...dating a demon? Pure hell!"
(Description from Amazon.co.uk)

Background:
This is the first book in a new series aimed at the pre-Twilight age group. The author, Amy Meredith, lives in California, but she has also lived and worked in New York and the Hamptons where the main characters in the Dark Touch - series are from. She has always been fascinated by the supernatural.

Story:
The summer is over, and it is time to get back to school for Eve Evergold and her best friend Jess, in the town of Deepdene. And this autumn, two new boys are also attending school with them. Luke Thompson is the son of the new minister in town, and he is cute and very flirtatious. And there is Mal, smouldering and mysterious Mal, who have just moved into "The Razor place" - a mansion which used to belong to a rockstar and which is said to be haunted. And school has just started, when mysterious things starts to happen in town. Many girls freak out and are sent to psyciatric institutions. There are talk of demons appearing in people's nightmares, and soon Eve must figure out who she can or cannot trust and look into the town's dark history.

Main Character:
Eve Evergold is fifteen years old, and like most teenagers she has a very busy social life. She loves to shop and look at boys and enjoys a comfortable life. But even though her parents has a lot of money, she does not come across as a spoiled brat. She is quite likeable, and I became more and more fascinated by her as the story progressed. The author has managed to make her evolve throughout the story, and from being a carefree and happy girl you can actually see how the events in this book affect her. I love it, when authors manage to do just that. I am looking forward to get to know her better in future books in this series. Eve is a person I would have loved to have as a friend in real life; I am sure she would have made me laugh a lot.

The Book:
Dark Touch, The Shadows is a witty and spooky read. From the opening scene you are thrust into a story full of gothic atmosphere combined with glamorous surroundings. There is romance, riddles, suspense and dramatic events. I got more and more engaged in the book as the story progressed.

The friendship between Jess and Eve are so well described, you have no problem understanding why these two are best friends. They seem to be having so much fun together. "The shoe scale", their weapon for describing how hot a boy is, is hilarious. And there is also a great deal of trust here. Eve would do anything for Jess and Jess would do anything for Eve. They confide in each other and support each other. That's true friendship.

I also like how the author has portrayed Luke and Mal. They are both a bit mysterious and I kept on reading to get to know them better. I am sure they would appeal to the target group of this series.

The book does not require a lot of energy to get into. It is an easy and atmospheric read and I had no problem figuring out some of the riddles in the book. But despite all that, I enjoyed it. Sometimes it is refreshing to read something that does not require a lot of thinking.

Dark Touch, the Shadows is for readers who love the supernatural combined with lighthearted chick lit. A perfect book if you want to relax, get spooked and get in a good mood all at once.

The publisher has also created a beautiful and eye-catching cover that really captures the atmosphere in this book: gothic glamour.

Here are some other reviews you can check out:
So Many Books, So Little Time
Book Chick City
I Was a Teenage Book Geek

Read - a Thon: My Challenge

Welcome to The Dusk Till Dawn Read-A-Thon challenge!

This Read - A - Thon is hosted by Book Crazy and Ya Addict. You can sign up to enter here.
This event is all about reading, and by entering some of the challenges you can also use your creativity and win great prizes. And of course, you can discover some great blogs out there.

I am so happy to introduce you to my challenge:

I have a love for books set in the Victorian era, so my challenge is:
Read a book where the story is set in the Victorian era, and afterwards I want you to write a blog review about it. I will not accept reviews for just a few sentences, the point is to present the book for me and other readers, and outline why ( or why not) we should read it.

Enter by leaving a link to your review in the comment section of this post.

You have until the end of the Read A Thon 29th of August to enter. The winner will be chosen 31th of August by Random.org. One lucky winner will get "By Midnight" by Mia James.

Happy reading everyone.

Review: Kiss of the Rose by Kate Pearce

Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Source: Bought from BookDepository












"First in a sexy new series that takes a bite out of the court of King Henry VIII

Desperate to defeat King Richard III and gain the crown, Henry Tudor made a pact with the Druids binding him and his heirs to the Druids' struggle against vampires. Ever since, the Llewellyns, a vampire- slaying family, have been in the king's employ. Now Henry VIII reigns, and his father's bargain has been almost forgotten-until bloodless corpses turn up in the king's bedchamber. To save the king, Vampire hunter Rosalind Llewellyn must form an uneasy alliance with Druid slayer Sir Christopher Ellis. But soon, Rosalind must face an unthinkable truth: that her sworn enemy may be her soulmate..."
(Description from Amazon)

Background:
"Kiss of the Rose" is the first in a new series called the Tudor Vampire Chronicles. This is a historical paranormal romance series. The basic premise of the series, according to the author, is to focus on one of King Henry VIII's wives in each book. The first book is about Katherine of Aragon.

Story:
To secure the crown of England, king Henry Duke of Richmond, turn to the Druids for help. The Druids agree to help him as long as he agrees to help aid them in their fight against the vampires. And Henry agrees. 44 years later, bodies drained of blood starts showing up and it becomes apparent that King Henry VIII, who now reigns, and his wife. Queen Katherine, may be in danger. Vampire hunter, Rosaling Llewellyn, must form an alliance with Sir Christopher Ellis - a man who comes from a family that has protected the vampires for centuries and Rhys Williams to help protect the king.


Main Character:
Rosalind Llewellyn is a great character. She is the first woman to be born with the mark of Awen, which means that she is entitled to be a vampire slayer. She is strong, has a will of her own and do not need to be dependent on a male. But she is also a lady who knows how to behave. She is fun, energetic and a great protagonist. I liked her very much.

The Book:
I have been looking forward to reading this book. I love vampires and I love Tudor - England, so a book that combines these two sounded like a great read. And I love the cover. It is so hot and sexy.

I loved the beginning of this book, when King Henry forms the bargain with the druids. I was instantly propelled into the story, and I had a hard time putting the book away. I could easily have read the whole thing in one sitting, if I hadn't been so busy lately. I think Kate Pearce has come up with some great and interesting characters and I loved the triangle between Rhys, Christopher and Rosalind. And the love story is of course the main focus in this book, a book that is steaming with passion and sensuality.

Kate Pearce has come up with a original and interesting plot, and with just a little more history and vampire action, this could be really, really great. She is good at greating an atmosphere that draws you in, and you just want to stay in the book untill it is finished. Vampires in the tudortime really worked for me.


Remember to enter my giveaway to win your copy of Kiss of the Rose here.
Read an excerpt here.

Other reviews:
CK2S Kwips and Critiques
Book Soulmates
Single Titles
Fiction Vixen

Kate Pearce: Interview and giveaway

I am so happy to welcome Kate Pearce to my blog. Give her a warm welcome.

Kate is the author of several novels in the romance genre. She was born in England, and has an honors degree in history from the University College of Wales.

After her graduation, she started working in finance but dreamed of being a writer. She fullfilled her dream when she moved to the United States in 2000, and has written under several pseudonyms.



Recently Kate released "Kiss of the Rose". A seductive and thrilling tale about a female vampire slayer set in the Tudortime:

"Desperate to defeat King Richard III and gain the crown, Henry Tudor made a pact with the Druids binding him and his heirs to the Druids' struggle against vampires. Ever since, the Llewellyns, a vampire- slaying family, have been in the king's employ. Now Henry VIII reigns, and his father's bargain has been almost forgotten-until bloodless corpses turn up in the king's bedchamber. To save the king, Vampire hunter Rosalind Llewellyn must form an uneasy alliance with Druid slayer Sir Christopher Ellis. But soon, Rosalind must face an unthinkable truth: that her sworn enemy may be her soulmate..."

Here is Kate's own thoughts about the novel, her writing and her inspirations:


Welcome to my blog, Kate. “Kiss of the Rose” is the first book in a new series that takes places in the court of King Henry VIII. Can you tell us a little about this book?

This book deals with the time period around the breakdown of the marriage between Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. There is a rogue Vampire afoot who is threatening to kill the king. Rosalind Llewellyn is from a Druid family sworn to protect the Tudors against Vampires, so she arrives at court ready to do her duty and finds the Vampires have brought in a known-Druid killer, Christopher Ellis. To their horror, Rosalind and Christopher have to work together to kill a deadly assassin and find a deep compatibility that leads to all sorts of trouble.

Where did you get the idea to write “Kiss of the Rose”?

Well, the idea of Tudor Vampires was suggested to me, and I kind of took it from there, using my accumulated college knowledge of Tudor politics, archaeology and myths. It was fascinating to try and blend the supernatural elements in with real events.

How long have you been working on this series prior to the release of “Kiss of the Rose” and how many books can we expect in this series?

This all happened very quickly, about a year from concept, to the publication of the first book, (which is fast by NY publishing standards). I’m already committed to writing three books in the series. The second, “Blood of the Rose” comes out in February 2011 and centers around Anne Boleyn. Rosalind and Christopher will be the main characters in the first two books. The third will be about Jane Seymour and I’m currently writing it.

You have written many books before, how many has it been, in total? And do you have any favorites among them?

I think Kiss of the Rose is my fourteenth published book-but I’m not sure. I love all my books because I learned something from writing every single one. But the first books in a series are usually very special because they are so new and exciting to write. I’m still very proud of Simply Sexual for Kensington Aphrodisia and of course, Kiss of the Rose. I’m lucky to get the opportunity to write different heat levels and time periods which helps keep my writing fresh.

How is a normal writing day for you, and when and where do you write?

I have 4 kids still at home and even though two of them are fairly independent, I’m still constantly monitoring activity, driving the other two to school, and generally trying to be a good mother. I write when the house is quiet during school hours which usually means between about 10 and 2. I also have to fit in the editing, proof reading and promo stuff as well.

What do you do if you need any inspiration during the writing process?

I like to read other types of fiction. I find that very inspiring and I like to get out of the house and walk and breathe.

Is there any real myths concerning the Tudor Dynasty and vampires, or is the lore you use in this series all made up?

Great question. One of the most surprising things about the Tudors is that they came to power in the first place. That was a great starting place to add a bit of magic to the surprise defeat of King Richard III by Henry VII. And another interesting fact was that even during her life, Anne Boleyn was accused of being a witch. I tried to research as much as I could about the Druids, the Tudors, and the Mithras Cult, which are obviously all documented and then I added a little paranormal twist to what we really knew.

Vampires are everywhere these days, it seems. What makes the Tudor Vampire Chronicles different from other series about vampires?

Well, my Vampires spring from an ancient and deadly division amongst the Druids, so I was able to create a conflict from that rather than focusing on what everyone else had done. I thought it was important to make them my own.

What do you associate with Norway? Ever been here?

Hmm... Norway, Fishing, Winter Olympics, Eurovision song contest, long winter nights, Vikings. From that list you' ll probably guess that I've never been there, but that I am originally from the UK.

Do you have any favorite authors?

I have many, including Linda Howard, Diana Gabaldon, Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Catherine Asaro, Rosemary Sutcliff, Dorothy Dunnett. I could go on for days,

Which books are you looking forward to read this autumn?

Larissa Illone, Christine Feehan and anything else that appeals to me. I love to read.

And last: Is there anything you would like to say to all the readers out there?

Just keep on reading and enjoying books. We need you. We really do.
Thanks so much for having me!

Thank you so much for taking the time, Kate Pearce.

Be sure to visit Kate on her website and blog.
You can also follow her on twitter.

Kiss of the Rose is a steaming romance novel with a great twist. I will be back with a review shortly. And you could get the opportunity to read the book as well. Kate Pearce will send one copy of her book to one happy reader. All you have to do is follow these instructions:

1. Fill out the form below. You do not have to give me your real name and address now, but we will need it to send you the book should you win. You do not have to be a follower to enter.

2. Answer Kate's question by leaving your comment: What was the first romance novel you read?

3. The contest is international. One winner will be chosen by Random.org. The contest will close at August 27th. The winner will be announced at August 30th.

4. You must be 16 years or older to enter.

WOW: The Replacement

Waiting on Wednesday (WOW) is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we showcase the books we are dying to get our hands on.

My pick this week is "The Replacement" by Brenna Yovanoff

" Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world. Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.Edward Scissorhands meets The Catcher in the Rye in this wildly imaginative and frighteningly beautiful horror novel about an unusual boy and his search for a place to belong."
(Description from Amazon.com)

I have read some great reviews for this book, and it seems like the kind of book I would really enjoy. I am so looking forward to it.

Here is the booktrailer:



And another:

I am featured in "Better Know a Blogger"

Today I am featured in "Better Know a Blogger" at Karen's blog "For What It's Worth". She is co - hosting The Ultimate Reviewers Challenge this month.

I am so happy to be a part of that. You bloggers are so creative. There are so many great events out there, and this is one of them. So make sure you check it out. There are great prizes to be won and a lot of surprises. So start reviewing today and join the challenge :)