Traces of ....

So it's been a while since I did a review or an interview. And the review isn't per my usual as I'm talking about two novellas. A book one and book two of a series. I apologize for my lack of reviewyness but hey I'm bringing something sweet and emotional. Lets get to the books shall we. 

Title:  A Trace of Love (Book 1)

Author:  Danielle Ravencraft

Genre:  Contemporary Romance Erotica

Blurb:  Ophelia Martinez has a chance encounter with internationally famous rock-star, Trace Curtis. To Ophelia, Trace will always be the charming boy she met in high school. They share one night together in which Trace falls in love with Ophelia. But Ophelia knows she can’t continue to live in the past, at least not with the secret that haunts her present.

Buy Links:

·         Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HSCV9I

·         Barnes&Noble.com:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-trace-of-love-danielle-ravencraft/1105098324

·         SmashWords.com:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/82286

·         GoodReads.com:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12515190-a-trace-of-love

·         MuseItHOTPublishing.com:  http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=192&category_id=60&keyword=a+trace+of+love&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Title:  A Trace of Passion (Book 2) 

Author:  Danielle Ravencraft

Genre:  Contemporary Romance Erotica

Blurb:  Ophelia’s in for a birthday surprise that turns out to be a birthday nightmare as she’s reunited with hunky rock star, Trace Curtis. The pain of her defiance runs deep and he won’t leave Ophelia alone without an explanation. The more time they spend together, the more their passion grows. Ophelia knows in her heart she should tell Trace the truth, but will her secret drive him away?

Buy Link

Bri~Trace of Passion is the second in a trilogy of novellas. What made you decide to go this route?

DR~What made me go with a trilogy? In all honesty, it's just how things turned out lol. My publisher wasn't happy with the ending of "A Trace of Love". They wanted me to flesh it out and give it a happier ending, but first of all, Ophelia wouldn't have it, and second I wanted to keep the story short. At the time I had been mulling around the idea to continue to story in my head, so I talked to my editor about it and she loved the idea of bringing the characters back, so it evolved into two books. But as soon as I finished writing Book 2, I knew there would have to be one more because there are some surprises at the end of Book 2 that Trace and Ophelia need to address before they can truly have their happy ending. 

Bri~Boy I can relate to that. Characters that demand things their own way are impossible to ignore. The heros name is actually Trace in your trilogy, as in each of your titles the same word is used. Was that planned? How did it come about?  

DR~Heehee. Yes I did that on purpose. I like to have titles that mean something or are a play on words. It's just something I like to do...Like a signature mark or something. I spend weeks with a dictionary and thesaurus open until I find the right combination of words. Sweet, simple, catchy, and will make the reader giggle once they figure it out. :) 
Bri~ I'm the same way. Little techniques or patterns that are distinctly me. Even if I'm the only one to now it's still important. Tell us about the third installment? Is this the end? There were two surprises at the end of Passion will those two be resolved?


DR~ Yes the third book, A Trace of Hope, will be the final installment. This might end up being a little longer than the fist two books, but the story will finally end. Makes me sad just thinking about it, but I also feel like I owe Trace and Ophelia their happy ending after everything I put them through.....


Bri~ Darn straight you do. They have been through a lot you spiteful woman. LOL 


Review


So I'm not one to summarize an already great blurb so I tend to leave those out of my reviews. In short I almost ripped Danielle a new laptop hole after I read Trace of Love because I wanted the sequel immediately. Trace and Ophelia are amazing characters. The way that Danielle can create characters of that kind of depth and a plot with such intensity in so few words is a testament to her craft and talent. 


Buy it Now!

Pxyis: YA With Color

So I haven't been posting as normally as I'd like in the review categories. But I have some new gals coming on and I can't wait until they get started. Until then there are those special people that I just have to make time for. One of them is K.C. Neal and her debut YA novel Pyxis.

This is a story that breaks ideas that people have about YA by leaps and bounds. But wait...it's not time for the review. First I'll let you know that the benevolent KC has offered up a Kindle to win and all you have to do is follow The Belle of Boise. Like KC's Facebook page. All the links and stuff are at the bottom through rafflecopter. Now for more about KC, her book and my review.

Feature Friday: Fallen Idols...Paranormal Novella to read

Product Description

Falling: A paranormal contemporary romance novella with a feisty heroine, an immortal hero, and their wee trip to hell and back The trouble with falling in love is the long drop down… Alexis isn’t afraid of much. She’s never met a cliff she didn’t want to climb or a waterfall she wouldn’t plunge over. Yet when her fiancé leaves and takes her daring edge with him, she swears off love…. Until one wild night out at San Francisco’s latest hard-to-find, impossible-to-get-into new club where she discovers more than just a stiff drink awaits her inside, because the owner of this club is the sexiest man she’s ever met—and the most dangerous. A few hundred years ago, Jason made a very bad bargain with a very vengeful goddess. Now it’s time for him to pay up, either with his soul… or his heart. And when one long look at Alexis makes him understand just how hellish a life of unrequited love could be, suddenly the alternative doesn’t sound so bad. Only it turns out, the alternative isn’t just hellish—it is hell… and Alexis is the only one who can spring him loose. If, that is, she’s brave enough to try…

BLB: Blood Fest You had me at British Hero

Product Description

She didn’t know what she was—or that what she was could get her killed...

A struggling private detective in Los Angeles, Chase Alcott has no idea about her unique genetic makeup. So when she takes on a new client—an old man with ulterior motives—she’s unaware of the danger she’ll soon face. Traveling to England to solve a mysterious murder at the request of her new client, Chase encounters terrifying creatures she thought only existed in her nightmares—only to find out she’s one of them. Caught in a web of evil and deception after learning some terrifying truths about her long dead parents, Chase doesn’t know who to believe. Does she dare trust the enigmatic Roman, a man with dark secrets of his own?

Feature Friday: A Questionable Hero

Disclaimer: This novella is for 18 and older.

Product Description

Born of a mortal woman but raised in Hell by the demon that sired him, Abdamas is a halfling-proof incarnate of the war between good and evil that exists in each of us. Shaebiel is an angel warrior earning her ultimate salvation in Heaven by fighting demons like Abdamas who are in search of human souls on Earth.

In the heat of a raging battle, Abdamas sees Shaebiel and wants her. When the blade of another demon aims for her, Abdamas is injured while trying to save her. Shaebiel can't believe a demon has rescued her from certain death and takes her questionable hero home with her to heal him.

As they both fight and surrender to their desires, the conflict around them continues, and there is Heaven and Hell to pay for their actions. Through divine intervention they are offered a gift. But Hell is nowhere near finished with either of them, and the stakes are getting higher and higher.

Can a questionable hero sacrifice enough to redeem himself in the eyes of Heaven so that he may claim the love of an angel?

Feature Friday: Triple Threat

You know what I post like three reviews on Monday. This was a byproduct of the great calendar crash debacle of 2011. So as far as features go check out those three and then come back tomorrow for the review of Hunter's Prey. Bri Clark is out Peace

A New Prospect: New York law meet southern society

Immortalis Series Tour....These vampire drink human blood and their victims die.

My Life In Review: The Other Side of the Novel...The Reviewers Side

I once did a post on how an author today has many responsibilities...or wears many hats. (You can read it here.) One of those jobs I have is as a book reviewer. I know with that line several of you author's eye brows shot up to your hair line. If you want to know about review guidelines they are here. Anyways, there are two sides for me when reviewing. I'm sure it's that way for authors who review as well. I was thinking about this conflict and decided to address it. Here are a few scenarios I've had to deal with.

Writer Wednesday: Book Trailers: I made it myself

So today we are talking about book trailers. I'm going to show you my first one.( It's a little sad.) You will also see my two newest ones. I will also provide you with a helpful post that pointed me in the write direction. Lets get started.

The Goddess Test: Become Immortal or Die Trying

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. 





This is one of those books that when the ending comes you jump back and look around then turn through the pages again because you totally did not see all that coming. Truly a YA book that will be successful. As a reviewer there are some books that I read and feel like I need to post a warning or don't feel comfortable sharing with the youth I know...Not this one. I'll shout it from the rooftop. Not only is this book literarily amazing (like my new word) it's not full of filth as some others have. While there are some issues that are in today's society it's what I would totally rate as PG.

Kate is a character every woman or girl will relate to and while she has to choose between two equally amazing men. Perhaps she can have them both? I rooted for Henry from the beginning aka Hades. Love this character. As you get to know him with Kate you will as well. I'm so glad that this is a series cause I fell for all these characters.

Pump it Up Blog Tour: One Pelican at a Time: A Children's Book

Boy are we doing some different stuff here at the blog. And there will be more to come but today I am showcasing a children's book called One Pelican at a Time written around the Gulf oil spill. Check it out....

Blurb
Bella and Britt love living by the beach. When they find oil washing to shore from a gulf spill, they want to help but are told there is nothing for kids to do. But when their old friend, the pelican, becomes covered with oil, they help save his life by their quick thinking and action. Suggested age for readers: 7 to 12 

Review for Stilettoes and Scoundrels: A must read this summer

I know that usually we do a Writer Wednesday today but I was supposed to review this on Monday and my calendar got screwed up. Anyways on with the review...

Review

Stilettos and Scoundrels pulled me in with it's fun title and equally enticing cover. After reading the blurb (which you will find below) I knew I had to check it out. Laina weaves a splendid tale of a small town girl returning home to find that the statuses of long ago high school chums have changed dramatically as adults. There is the former hunk who is not so hunk, and the bad boy turned cop. In fact technically there are two of those I suppose. 

She created and excellent balance between two genres, chick lit and mystery. The almost obsessive like mention of name brands especially in shoes will appeal to the chick lit readers and the murder mystery provides just the right balance to keep the story moving at a great pace. The characters for me were realistic, flawed and completely engaging each with their own secret agenda that only added to the plot line. This is a great summer read by the pool, at the beach or hiding in doors.