Category: ebook giveaway

Interview with Tiffany Allee & Giveaway

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Author Interviews> Author Q&A> blog tours> ebook giveaway> Giveaways

I’m so glad to finally be able to welcome Tiffany Allee, the author/extractor of the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, to Reading Reality. Let’s jump right into the interview, shall we?

I’m sure that readers would like to know a little more about the person behind the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, so Tiffany, please tell us a little bit about what you do when you’re not thinking up monsters for the OWEA to fight. Or monsters for the OWEA to run away from…

First of all, thank you so much for having me! What I do when I’m not writing or thinking about writing hrm…good question. Honestly, rarely does my brain go for too long without tossing (or shoving) ideas at me. But other than writing, I enjoy hiking, reading, and watching silly television shows with my husband. I also love to spend time with my family and bother my cats. I also love video games, although I don’t get a chance to play them very often.

Not long ago, I spent the majority of my days in a finance job in Corporate America. But for now I’m taking a break from my cubical to focus on writing.

For readers who are not yet familiar with the series, would you like to give a quick intro to the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency?

The From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency series follows investigators from the OWEA (similar to the FBI, but for paranormal-related investigations) and the officers of the Chicago Police Department’s paranormal unit—or as they’re sometimes called: the freak squad.

The main investigators change with each book, and in each the main characters have something to lose—or have already lost something. And they are all otherworlders. Mac, the main female character in Banshee Charmer is a banshee—albeit an underpowered one. The main character of the second book, Marisol, is a succubus. But beneath both of their otherworlder powers, they are just people who are trying to do the right thing.

Banshees are not usually on the side of the righteous. What inspired you to make your heroine a banshee, even a half-banshee, for the first book in the Files series?

A banshee wasn’t something I’d seen done a lot before, and it sounded like such fun—especially since banshees aren’t usually seen as heroic. And I wanted Mac to be misunderstood, and a little out of place—even among her fellow cops and otherworlders. Making her a banshee seemed to fit the bill.

What inspired you to pick paranormal romance for your writing over another type? Or over another genre altogether?

While I love other genres, I’ve always been drawn to fantasy settings and characters. I also love a happy ending. Paranormal romance allows me to pull in the fantastical elements I enjoy and mix them in with real-world(ish) settings. And the dual stories of mystery and romance give paranormal romance an edge that you can really sink your teeth into. Plus, it gives me a lot of fun elements to juggle.

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

Letting the story just flow? Without a plan? *gulps* The idea of pantsing a story gives me a tiny panic attack. I plan everything down to the scene. However, I do change my outline as I go and discover new things about the characters and the plot. I don’t stick to my outlines hard and fast, but if I change them, I do my best to make sure it’s for the better. I have yet to finish a story without a few changes to my original outline.

What book do you recommend everyone should read, and why?

Tough question! Everyone has different tastes, so it’s a difficult thing for me to answer. But the most universal and important book I can think of is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Not always a comfortable book to read, but an important one.

More specifically, besides Banshee Charmer and Succubus Lost, of course, what other paranormal romance/urban fantasy books or series would you recommend to readers who enjoyed Files and needed something to tide them over until the next File opens?

For readers who enjoy darker urban fantasy, I highly recommend Stacia Kane’s Downside series. They’re harsh and real and wonderfully written. And they’ve drawn me in emotionally better than any other books I’ve read. There is also a strong romantic element that grows throughout the series.

If you’re looking for something lighter, I love Nicole Peeler’s Jane True series. Funny and romantic.

Speaking of which, can you tell us a little bit about your plans for the series, or just about your future projects?

The next book in the series is slated for September, and it will follow the sensitive, Astrid, as she struggles to clear her name. Her love interest may be familiar to people who read Banshee Charmer. In that story Mason Sanderson was an Internal Affairs officer in the Chicago Police Department. Between that book and the third in the series, he has moved on to the OWEA.

I also have a novelette coming out in June called Once Prey, Twice Forsaken that is a short, hot read about a newly-made vampire named Blair and the witch, David, who hunts her. And I hope to have news soon about a secret novel-length project too. 😉

Coffee or Tea?

Both, please! Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. I am powered by caffeine, in case you couldn’t tell, haha.

Tiffany, thank you so much for answering all my questions, and for this peek into the Files. I’ll be looking forward to Astrid’s story. (I was hoping she was next!)

And there’s a more days left to enter the tour-wide giveaway for a copy of Succubus Lost and the beautiful salamander pin. Rafflecopter coming right up!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post: Tiffany Allee on Flying Pigs plus Giveaway

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blog tours> ebook giveaway> Giveaways> Guest Posts

I’d like to welcome Tiffany Allee to Reading Reality today. Tiffany is the creator, or perhaps I should say perpetrator, of the new urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, The Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency. She’s here as part of the tour to promote the second story extracted from those Files, Succubus Lost. She’s going to tell us a bit about the process that all writers dread, that process of revising the scintillating and marvelous words that tripping out of our heads and onto our keyboards.

About those flying pigs…read her guest post, and you’ll understand.

Revisathon 2012

When I dreamed of being a writer—long before I ever took the steps to actually write with the goal of publication in mind—I envisioned many things. Words pouring from me that were perfection as soon as they hit the page. Sparkling characters. Movie deals. Stories that would make readers weep. A tweed jacket and a pipe. My name splashed on the headlines—in a good, non-scandalous way, of course.

I didn’t have a clue.

And the biggest thing I was wrong about was the first one. That I would write perfect first drafts. Of course, I don’t have any movie deals or tweed jackets yet, and I haven’t made anyone cry, but these are at least possibilities. Someday. The brilliant first draft on the other hand is as likely as pigs flying.

That’s not to say that some writers aren’t able to do this. But for most of us, it’s unrealistic. How many drafts do I go through to get from my first to the one that is actually published? This isn’t a question I really thought about with books before Succubus Lost. It’s the first story I had contracted before I wrote it, so I had a chance to really look at how much effort it took to get from idea to publishable draft.

I write fairly clean first drafts. Fairly. But they’re short. I tend to skip over details and descriptions. I mark spots with two Xs anytime I need to research something. I go back to those areas and do the research during the second draft, so that my speed isn’t slowed during the first. So I fill out all of these little things during the second draft. Then I read and polish and tinker for a third.

Then I send it to my critique partners, who send it back to me with wonderful advice and far too many jokes. Seriously, I can’t drink liquids while reading their comments. Another draft and round of polishes and it’s usually ready to send on to my editor.

I love my editor. She’s wonderful at what she does. And she works very hard to make sure my readers get the best I am capable of. She isn’t afraid to push me. So we go round and round. More drafts. More polishes. More fixes. And finally rounds of edits with other editors to make sure we’ve made the story sparkle. Then copy edits. Galleys. It’s exhausting.

And fantastic.

I can never again fool myself into thinking that I will ever be able to simply toss a draft out there without revising. But it’s worth every bit of effort to feel like I’ve told the story I set out to tell.

Do you write great first drafts (like some sort of rare unicorn), or do you only find your story a few drafts in?

Tiffany, thanks so much for giving us an insight into your writing process.

And I think I’m with the flying pigs on this one. My first draft is pretty good, but it still needs some work. And an editor. I’m great at editing somebody else’s work, and terrible at editing my own. What about  everyone else? Can you edit your own work, or do you need a different eye to see the flaws?

Now, about that giveaway! There’s still plenty of time to enter the tour-wide giveaway for a copy of Succubus Lost, and  the Salamander pin pictured just before the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Succubus Lost by Tiffany Allee plus Giveaway

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blog tours> Cover Reveal> ebook giveaway> Giveaways

Uncovering a new file from the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, today I am very, very pleased to be participating in the Cover Reveal for Succubus Lost by Tiffany Allee.

And yes, it is File #2 from that very mysterious Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, following the absolutely excellent first File, Banshee Charmer. Way back in January, when I reviewed Banshee Charmer, I hoped there would be more, and here we are in May, and there’s a second File on the way.

I love having my book wishes answered!

And just to whet all of our appetites, here’s the blurb from Succubus Lost, #2 From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency.

Someone is kidnapping and incinerating otherworlders beyond recognition, and Detective Marisol Whitman, a succubus, races to find the murderer before he claims another victim. But her pursuit is derailed when her responsible younger sister vanishes. Marisol suspects foul play and enlists support from an unlikely source: an agent from the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, Valerio Costa.

When the trail pointing to everyone from vampires to witches dries up, Agent Costa admits to knowing more than he’s shared. Marisol’s sister’s kidnapper harnesses more magic than she can imagine—and they’re running out of time. To find her sister before her powers are drained and twisted beyond recognition, Marisol must connect the dots between cases and put her trust in Costa, a salamander who may burn her before she can solve either case.

About the Author, Tiffany Allee:

Tiffany currently lives in Phoenix, AZ, by way of Chicago and Denver, and is happily married to a secret romantic. She spends her days working in Corporate America while daydreaming about sexy heroes, ass-kicking heroines, and interesting ways to kill people (for her books, of course). Her nights are reserved for writing and bothering her husband and cats (according to them). Her passions include reading, chocolate, travel, wine, and family. You can find Tiffany at http://tiffanyallee.com/

Tiffany will be back at Reading Reality on May 31 for an interview, courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours. And I’ll be reviewing Succubus Lost on June 6.

I’m not sure which I’m looking forward to more–the chance to ask her questions about her writing and the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, or getting my hands on the book!

And you have a chance to get your hands on a copy of Succubus Lost, too. One lucky winner, there’s the rafflecopter, waiting for your entry. One winner tour-wide for a ebook copy of the book and the Salamander pin pictured to the right.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post: Character Interview with Jackson Cope from Bad Girl Lessons plus Giveaway

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Character Interview> ebook giveaway> Giveaways> Guest Posts

For Reading Reality’s first ever character interview, let’s all welcome Seraphina Donavan and the hero of her delicious (if you don’t believe me, read the review here) story Bad Girl Lessons, Jackson Cope, to the “pages” of Reading Reality.

Seraphina: Jackson, thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with us today. 

Jackson: (With a cheeky grin) Well, Evie does tend to keep me occupied, not that I’m complaining.

Seraphina: You and Evie Harper might be perceived as an odd couple.  What do you say to people who think that you’re corrupting the innocent? 

Jackson: (Shrugging) They’re not wrong.  But as this particular innocent is well over the age of consent and doesn’t seem to mind one bit, I tell them to mind their own damned business.

Seraphina: You’ve got quite a history around town as a ladies man.  Any qualms about settling down with just one woman?

Jackson: Not one woman.  The woman.  The only one that matters.

Seraphina: Oh, you’re good. 

Jackson: (He laughs in response) Or good at it.  Depends on who you’re talking to, I guess.  Seriously, Evie is it for me.  Always has been and always will be.  So, doesn’t matter what people think or what people say.  The only thing that matters to me at the end of the day is that she’s happy and we’re together.

Seraphina: (At this point I had to stop and fan myself a little.  He’s just so hot and he says the SWEETEST things).  You and Evie had something of an unusual courtship.  I believe there were lessons on being bad?  How did that come about?


Jackson: Evie wanted to know what it felt like to walk on the wild side.  And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let anyone else teach her.  Turns out my sweet, little Evie was a vixen all along.

Seraphina: So tell me about a perfect day in the life of Jackson Cope…

Jackson: (With a wide grin) Well, I’d wake up with my girl, and being a gentleman, I’m not going to tell you what would happen next.  Suffice to say, it might be a while before I actually roll out of bed.  Me and my buddy Reed would go fishing, which is really just an excuse to tell lies and drink beer.  Then we’d pack up and head home.  I’d get cleaned up, since Evie doesn’t care too much for the smell of the creek bed these days, then we’d go out to dinner and I’d end my day just like I started it… in bed with my girl.  Life doesn’t get much better than that.  Unless, of course, it’s football season.

Seraphina: Thanks for talking with me today, Jackson.  And before you go, can I just say that Evie Harper is one lucky woman because you are gorgeous from head to toe. 

Jackson doesn’t say goodbye as he leaves.  He just tosses me a wink and another cheeky grin as he heads out the door.  What is it about those Southern boys?  My, oh my!

All I can say is that Seraphina was very lucky to conduct that interview! But if you want to see what all the fuss and fanning was about, your opportunity is right here. As part of the BTS Virtual Book Tour, Seraphina will be giving away a copy of Bad Girl Lessons to one lucky winner. So one lucky reader will be able to find out for themselves. (If you’re not the lucky winner, just buy the book. This was a terrifically fun read!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Q&A with Kelly Gendron, Author of Satisfying the Curse plus Giveaway

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Author Q&A> blog tours> ebook giveaway

Today’s treat for the followers of Reading Reality is an interview with Kelly Gendron, the author of the sinfully delicious treat Satisfying the Curse (review). I had the opportunity to grill Ms. Gendron about her predilection for stories about bad boy heroes, among other topics, and here’s what she had to say:

So tell us a little about Kelly Gendron…

I’ve been a mom for seventeen years. My day job? I’m a nurse. I represent a group of nursing facilities in the WNY area. I perform medical evaluations on the patients prior to their admission. I’m goal oriented and I’ve been told I’m a control-freak. I think I’m a fair and considerate person. Very rarely, am I ever called a B 🙁 tch, at least to my :). Here’s something else, I can tell you about Kelly Gendron, she’s no longer shy.

All of your books are about bad boys. Where does that inspiration come from?

If you’ve been to my website then you’ve seen my motto— “Bad boys…Give ’em a little time and experience and they will evolve into misbehaving men…”

When I was younger, my whimsical heart chased after those bad boys until I realized they were just that, boys. In my stories, I take those little heartbreakers and write them as all grown up men. Really, who doesn’t want a Bad Boy? Me? I just prefer to let them bake for a while. Those Casanovas in the making will rise to irresistible, capable, and dominant men. When cooked at the right temperature they’ll still taste disobedient but with the right amount of heat, they’ll become succulent and tantalizing!

At the beginning of Satisfying the Curse your heroine is certain she’s cursed and your hero believes he’s tainted. That’s a heck of a lot of baggage for one couple to overcome. Why so dark?

It’s an addiction of mine… Make it dark, devastating, and heartbreaking! Make it hot, sexy, and breathtaking! I want to reach inside my readers and touch as much of them as I can—good and bad. If my stories consisted of just roses and kisses, I’d only be getting half the job done, right?

So, what’s your favorite scene from the Satisfying the Curse? and why?

My stories are literally created from the beginning. I don’t write a synopsis or an outline. I figure out how I want the story to start, I sit down and I write. With that being said, it is the very beginning when Juliana kidnaps the one man, she believes, who can take care of her curse. The scene reveals Juliana’s innocence but it also shows her valor and determination.

After reading the story, I’m really curious, do you believe in nurture over nature, or the other way around?

I believe in nurture but whether we choose to accept it or not I think our nature has a great deal of influence on our psyche. A child of an alcoholic may never take a drink. In Satisfying The Curse, Agent T. Ryker’s father is a rapist. Does that make Ryker one? No. But Ryker still fears the nature of the beast.

Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

I’d like to say it was my 5th grade teacher but the only thing I did in school was daydream. My mother is an avid reader. Her books were always lying around. One afternoon, home alone and bored, I picked one up— Johanna Lindsey. It was all over from there. I read for pleasure, to escape reality, and I only read romances.

Who or what most influenced your decision to become a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing but never took it seriously, until I was in my early thirties and back in college. I had to take an English course. One of the assignments was to write a short story and read it to the class. Mine was about a man proposing to his lover. It really was a simple story but I was instantly attracted to it— the writing. Once more, it was all over from there…

And are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot everything out in advance, or do you just let the story flow?

When it comes to this question, I’m kind of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. My life and all that happens in it derives from the plotter in me. When I write, I’m a Pantser.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Oh, yes. I depend on it!

What book do you recommend everyone should read, and why?

Well, you know it’s going to be a romance because that’s all I read. Hmm… that’s a tough one! I’d have to say anything from J.R. Ward including Jessica Bird. She’s a writer that can reach inside and stir the good and bad in me.

So, what kind of bad boy story do you have coming up next?

It’s another dark one— my addiction at its best— featuring the all grown up bad boy, Tex McCoy. It is called Fatal Promise— here’s a one-liner— Rainey Ann McKenna always keeps her promises… one of those promises has a murderer moving into her home.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee with all the fixins!

Marlene, thank you for having me here today, you really got me thinking with these questions!

Thank you, Kelly for being such a terrific guest! And you are so right. Bad boys make do great stories!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Excerpt and Giveaway: Wanted Handsome Alien Abductor

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blog tours> ebook giveaway> Giveaways

Have you ever wished that you could be abducted by your very own handsome alien abductor? Someone who would not just sweep you off your feet, but take you away from this everyday, humdrum, “earthbound” existence?

Here’s an excerpt from Myra Nour’s science fiction romance Wanted: Handsome Alien Abductor, where Amber finds her dreams of alien abduction pretty darn…just read the excerpt, and decide for yourself how dreamy Amber’s alien abductor, Ryja is.

Ryja’s deep voice came from behind her. Amber turned and held her breath. He
was magnificent. A brown tunic fit rather loosely, but was more flattering with the help
of a wide leather belt. The garment fell to mid-thigh, and although leggings would have
been a natural part of the costume, Ryja’s legs were bare. She was sure he had
decided to forgo the leggings, and was glad. His massive thighs were calling for her
hands to stroke the chiseled muscles and light brown hairs that covered them.
The tunic was sleeveless, leaving his ripped biceps free. She couldn’t wait to run
her fingers over their bulges. A sword was stuck through the belt, and a pair of brown
leather boots covered his lower legs. She took in his whole physique. With his silky
wheat blonde hair, he did look like a Viking warrior.
“You must like the outfit, because I’ve been standing for about a minute waiting
for you to say something.”
Amber laughed. “You’re so beautiful and authentic looking, you silenced me.”
Ryja arched one eyebrow. “Beautiful?”
“You know what I mean.” She curtsied. “What about my costume?”
“It’s pretty,” he drawled out as he walked to her side. “But you are stunning no
matter what you wear, or don’t wear for that matter.”
Her cheeks reddened. Their first encounter had been wild and she had no
qualms about total nudity with a stranger. Amber’s heart raced as she wondered if this
time would be as exciting.
“You belong to me.” Ryja circled her waist, pulling her into his arms.
His eyes were a darker shade of blue, filled with lust. His hard erection pushed
against the layers of clothes between them. He looked like a conqueror and she
realized he’d stepped full in to their fantasy.
She cast down her eyes and whispered. “You raided my village. I am your
captive.”
If that had really happened to her, Amber doubted she’d act so meek. But she
would play the part they’d set in motion.
His hand slid to her chin, raising it. “Since you are my captive, I can do anything
I want with you.”
Instead of being scared, as she would be if she were a real captive, her body
was on fire.
Without warning, he swooped down, attacking her lips with a savage kiss. She
wanted to run her hands through his soft hair and pull him closer, but instead she
pushed against his chest. He released her and she stumbled back.
“So, you will fight me.” His eyes raked her body. Those cool orbs were hot,
setting her nerves to tingling with their intensity.
“You are a barbarian and my enemy.” Amber turned her nose up slightly.
“So I am.” Ryja bent and picked her up in his arms, carrying her to the bed. He
sat on the edge, with her across his lap like a child. When she struggled, he trapped
her arms with one iron arm and pulled her head up with his free hand.
She turned her head, but his hand slid behind her back, gripping her head above
her neck. Forcing her forward, he captured her mouth in a kiss. Amber only played at
refusing his kiss for a second, then her body relaxed against his. She was his.
His tongue teased hers, drawing a small moan from her. Then it swept across
her tongue like they were doing battle. It was thrilling. Ryja’s hand pushed her closer,
his kiss demanding more surrender as his steely arm pulled her tight against his chest.
She was breathless but it wasn’t the embrace that caused it, but his deepening kiss.
Suddenly, he withdrew, staring at her with a wicked look. She didn’t know what
he had on his mind, but she shuddered with feverish excitement. Standing up, Ryja
turned and gently laid her in the center of the bed. Then he ran his hand up her right
arm and stretched it over her head.
He leaned down, kissing her until she was restless and wanting more. While
they kissed he had been stroking her hand and wrist, or that’s what she thought. It was
hard to concentrate on her hand when he set her mouth on fire. She felt something
clamp around her wrist and craned her neck. Glancing under his arm, she was shocked
to see a fur lined handcuff on her wrist. It was attached by a cord to the bedpost at the
headboard.
“Oh,” she gasped. Amber tried to pull her hand down, not even remembering the
fantasy at this moment. Being trussed up was not her idea of fun.

 

Want to read more of Amber and Ryja’s adventure for yourself? All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter and leave a comment for Myra answering the following question. Since Ryja is visiting Earth to study its history, what historical period would you most want to go back and visit? 

One lucky winner will receive an ebook copy of Wanted: Handsome Alien Abductor. This contest will be open until 12:01 am on Sunday, April 15, and the winner will be announced on Monday, April 16.

Continue reading “Excerpt and Giveaway: Wanted Handsome Alien Abductor” →

Review + Giveaway of Isadora Daystar

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | B Reviews> blog tours> book reviews> ebook giveaway> ebooks

As a human being, Isadora Daystar barely managed to a half-assed job at every single thing she tried in her life. But being the title character of this science fiction novel by P.I. Barrington, this one time, Isadora Daystar finally manages to come up aces.

The reader’s introduction to Isadora has a familiar feel to it. Isabella is a soldier, and she’s in the brig for screwing up. Her commanding officer is paying her a visit, disappointed that she’s messed up, again.

At first, Isabella reminded me of Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck also screwed up a lot, but had incredible potential. The difference was that Starbuck fulfilled hers, however strangely that turned out.

In the very opening of Isadora Daystar, Isadora’s life takes a different path. In her memory (and it is obvious that she is remembering something in her past) Isadora’s commanding officer Renan, chews her out, expresses his disappointment, turns off the cameras in her cell, and kisses her senseless.

And that’s the last good memory Isabella seems to have.

Isabella’s present is a mess. She’s not in the military any longer. She not fit to serve. Isadora Daystar has fallen from being a Sergeant-Major to being a drug addict. One who will do anything to get her next fix. And since the military taught her how to kill, Isadora Daystar has become an assassin.

But she’s not terribly good at it. She admits that to herself in her coherent moments. She tells herself that she wasn’t all that great of a soldier, and she’s not all that great of an assassin, either. But she needs the money. For the drugs.

Beggars can’t be choosers. Assassins who don’t complete their assignments don’t get to pick their targets. They don’t get to negotiate terms, either.

Isadora takes what she knows is a bad job on the planet Nova Cheiros. It’s a place where too many people in too many low places remember her none too fondly. But she has to take what she can get.

The contractor is a liar and a cheat, and she knows it. But she needs the money. The target, well, she thinks she got him. But nobody told her he was a cop. So she has to get off planet, and fast.

Then her ride off-planet gets shot out from under her, and her fellow crash victim is a teenage girl with a whole lot of attitude; the daughter of that cop Isadora killed.

Are they going to save each other, or kill each other? And who shot the ship?

Escape Rating B: Isadora’s story is not for the faint of heart. She starts out at the bottom, and she knows she’s hit bottom. The worst part is, she doesn’t think there’s anything left for her except complete degradation and death. We see her memories and know that Isadora believes she deserves her fate.

When the Isadora’s escape ship crashes, fate intervenes. Of course saving the girl she’s stranded with keeps her alive. That’s a story we expect. But quite a bit of how that story resolved was a surprise. Guilt is easy and forgiveness is hard.

In spite of the scene in Isadora’s memories with her commanding officer kissing her senseless, this is not a romance in any way, shape or form. It’s science fiction, but that’s probably more of a setting than an actual necessity. This is a redemption story that happens to be set in a science fiction world. The space travel is a nice bonus.

Speaking of bonuses, this review is part of the Isadora Daystar blog tour from BTS Virtual Tours. I have 2, yes 2 e-copies of Isadora to give away. The giveaway will be open until 12:01 am EDT the morning of April 10, 2012 and I will announce the winners on April 11, 2012. All you have to do fill out the Rafflecopter form below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthday Giveaway of Queenie’s Brigade

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> ebook giveaway

Today is my birthday. Not Reading Reality’s blogoversary, but my actual birthday.

I’ve been referring to this celebration as a hobbit’s birthday. For anyone who has not read J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, hobbits give presents to other people on their birthdays.

Reading, and re-reading The Hobbit and LOTR gave me my love of fantasy, and led to my lifelong adventures in genre fiction. From that introduction, I followed the primrose and circuit-strewn path to science fiction, and thus became a geek girl forever.

The biggest argument I had with Tolkien, then and now, is that there were almost no strong female characters. My current favorites generally don’t have that problem.

One of my favorite books from 2011 is Queenie’s Brigade, by Heather Massey. Queenie is a very strong woman, the leader of a prison colony at the edge of known space. This ebook science fiction romance was on my Best Ebook Romances of 2011 column at Library Journal. I could only pick 5 books, but Queenie’s Brigade had to be one of those five. Read my review and you’ll understand why it made my top 5.

Heather Massey, in addition to being an SFR author, also follows science fiction romance as the pilot of The Galaxy Express blog. Interested readers and fellow travelers should climb aboard The Galaxy Express. It’s a fantastic ride.

But about Queenie. Queenie is an alpha heroine leading a fight against overwhelming odds. Queenie’s Brigade has been called The Dirty Dozen in space. Why? Because Queenie joins the freed inmates of her prison colony to the crew of the last spaceship escaping from a doomed Earth Federation. Queenie and the captain of the spaceship team up to turn the prisoners into soldiers.

I called it great science fiction with hot romance. And thanks to Heather Massey, I get to giveaway a copy of Queenie’s Brigade to one reader of Reading Reality for my birthday.

(If Queenie’s Brigade sounds good, take a look at the review of Heather’s latest erotic clockpunk romance, The Watchmaker’s Lady. There’s still plenty of time to get in on that giveaway.)

To have an ebook copy of Queenie’s Brigade for your very own (PDF, EPUB or .mobi) , here’s all you have to do. Leave a comment that answers the following question: if you were in command of a ragtag fleet of barely repaired ships, which evil science fiction empire would you rather be up against? And also let me know which format you want you ebook in if you are the lucky winner.

The deadline to enter the giveaway is 12:01 a.m. EDT on the morning of April 8, 2012. I will announce the winner on April 9th.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Future is Fertile Ground: Unacceptable Risk Blog Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blog tours> ebook giveaway

Today I’m pleased to host Jeanette Grey, who is touring the blogosphere to discuss her latest book, Unacceptable Risk, which I’ve also reviewed.  Jeanette is giving away one ebook copy of Unacceptable Risk.  To see how to get a chance to win, please read to the end of this post.

The Future is Fertile Ground

When someone says, “Science fiction,” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Let
me guess: Aliens. Lasers. Star Trek. Am I right?

So many of our preconceptions about science fiction run along these lines, and it’s entirely too easy to dismiss the whole genre as being dress-up for boys. Brainiac heroes run around wielding phasers, shooting at little green men while flying starships. The potential for cheese is as infinite as the galaxy.

But so is the potential for real, human drama, intense emotion, and stirring, sexy love stories. It’s just far too often left untapped.

I’m here today to talk about futuristic romance. It’s not necessarily a genre I intended to write in, but considering my mother is a “Trekker” (Trekkies are so tacky – or so she tells me) and my husband knows the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by heart, maybe it was just a matter of time. I grew up surrounded with science fiction stories, and over the years, they became the norm for me. And I found that, in the right hands, they can be so much more than we typically expect them to be.

Futuristic romance can take a lot of different forms. Sure, there are the space operas that immediately spring to mind, but that’s really only the tip of the iceberg. All that’s required is a little bit of imagination and a lot of curiosity about what the future will hold.

For example, my most recent release, Unacceptable Risk, began with wondering how two things would evolve over the next half-century or so: A) the integration of technology into our lives, and B) the increasing consolidation of power among corporations. As far as technology goes, I imagined that, considering how people (myself included!) are constantly connected to the internet, it was only a matter of time before we began building connectivity into our brains. The main character of the story, Plix, has a number of cybernetic enhancements, including devices that improve her vision and her dexterity, as well as a dataport in the base of her spinal column and a satellite hookup that feeds directly into her mind. When looking at corporate greed, I imagined that businesses would become more and more intertwined and corrupt, until they would do anything – including poisoning an entire city – to cement their power and improve their profits.

For there, I had a world. A dark, gritty, high-tech backdrop against which to paint characters and relationships.

I think futuristic settings are incredibly fertile ones for romance. There are inherent questions about what will become of our humanity, and what is more human than love? In worlds where machines threaten to erode our control, or where extraterrestrials mingle with humans, what is more affirming of all that is good about humanity than our need for connection? To what lengths will we go to find that spark? What will we sacrifice to be with the ones we adore? How will we put technology to use to enhance our experience as lovers, care-takers and partners?

So the next time a futuristic romance finds its way into your hands, consider abandoning your preconceived notions and opening your mind. The worlds that will be opened to you just might surprise – and delight – you.

About Unacceptable Risk

Plix spends her lonely, gritty life trying to solve the mysteries her father left behind. Armed with a variety of cybernetic enhancements and a talent for getting into places she shouldn’t be, she searches for clues to his murder—and who’s responsible for poisoning her city.

Waking up on a street corner with her brain wiring fried to a crisp, she figures she must have gotten close this time. There’s only one man she trusts to pull her back from the brink: a tuner who can retrieve the evidence hidden deep in the recesses of her mind. A man she dares not let too close to her heart.

When Edison downloads a secret SynDate schematic from Plix’s burnt-out circuitry, he knows with dreadful finality that nothing—not even the fiery kiss he’s been holding back for years—will stop her from pursuing her quest past the point of insanity.

All he can do, as he helps her plan her final mission, is ease her pain, watch her back…and hope one of them doesn’t pay with their lives.

About Jeanette Grey

After brief, unsatisfying careers in advertising, teaching, computers, and homemaking, Jeanette Grey has returned to her two first loves: romance and writing.

When she isn’t writing, Jeanette enjoys making pottery, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and her pet frog. She lives, loves, and writes in North Carolina.

She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Carolina Romance Writers.

Giveaway

One lucky reader will get a copy of Unacceptable Risk in electronic format.  To enter, please make a comment on this post.  To make it fun, answer Jeanette’s rhetorical question: When someone says, “Science fiction,” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?  The giveaway will be open until midnight EST on Thursday, December 22nd.  The winner will be randomly chosen from the commenters; only your first comment will count.