Hello & Welcome To My Blog!

My name is Keren. I am 28 years old and I love to read. I live and breathe books.

I generally like to read YA but can also be found to read Adult Fiction and the occasional erotica. So please beware that not all the reviews on my blog will be suitable for younger eyes!

Whether you are a new visitor or someone I know, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!

I don't blog everyday as I am usually busy with my nose buried in a book. Instead I tend to come on when I have a review to post. Though sometimes I may post something book related but seemingly a bit random :)

Stay tuned for REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, GIVEAWAYS, GUEST POSTS & BOOK COVER REVEALS in the near future.

Thank you for coming by and taking a look. Feel free to leave a comment, contact me, follow my blog and follow me on
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To Review or Not To Review.... Fifty Shades of Grey

*WARNING* : As most of you will know already, this is about a book that should not be read by a younger audience. I am only marking this with a warning for the benefit of my younger followers and fans.

*I hereby award this book 5 wings!*

This isn't really a 'review' as such - more an outpouring of my feelings on the subject that is Fifty Shades of Grey....

When I first heard about this book, I will be honest, I was not impressed. I have never been the type of person to buy into book hype. In fact, it usually does exactly the opposite for me that it does for most people, it sends me running for the hills. Why? I'm not altogether sure. I'm like it with songs in the charts too, you overplay something and I am going to get sick to death of it and avoid it like the plague.

It's only when the hype surrounding such things eventually quiets that I decide if I am willing to give something a try.

I have always been the kind of girl who buys a book based on 2 key factors (i) An aesthetically pleasing cover (yes, I know I'm shallow - so sue me) (ii) A decent sounding storyline. 

I don't generally buy books or avoid books based on other people's reviews. Yes, I'll read reviews, I'm nosy and like to know what others thought. But at the end of the day, I buy a book because it looks good to ME not to everyone else. I am a believer in forming my own opinion. 

So what was different this time round? Why was I not impressed by what I had heard, to the point of not ever wanting to read this book? And what made me cave in, in the end? Stick with me here and I will tell you...

I had heard of this book due to everyone causing such a stink. I have heard so many differing things that it has lead me to believe that this book is like Marmite. You either love it or you hate it.

I read people's negative reviews and was seriously put off by what I read. As I said before, I usually ignore other people's opinions and form my own - usually differing from their opinion at the end too. 

But it was a few key things that captured my attention and had me turning away in disgust. To name a few of these things: He [Christian Grey] beats her [Ana Steele]. He rapes her. He flogs her stomach whilst she is pregnant. He brutalises her. He does a wide variety of very sick, perverse things to her (that I am not comfortable rehashing here on my blog - but feel free to roam places like Goodreads if you must).

As you might imagine, I was sickened to hear this and resolved that the Fifty Shades trilogy would NEVER enter my house. It wasn't poor reviews, it was the sick and disgusting things I had no reason to want to go near. 

So why did I change my mind? 

2 reasons. Their names are Ann and Laura. My friend Ann had read the trilogy and said she totally loved it. I found myself texting her and saying "Oh please do not tell me you read these books?" To which her response was "Yes I did and I loved them" - I was shocked. How could she love something where the guy we are as a reader meant to 'fall in love with' tortures the girl? So she told me that the things I had heard were all lies. She said she had no idea why people would say such things and that if only I would give it a chance, I would see for myself.

My other friend Laura said that she was in the middle of reading the first book and was loving it. I asked her if she had come across any of the things I had heard about. She too, said no. It wasn't that I didn't trust Ann was telling me the truth, it was just that I needed a second opinion.

My friend in Canada, Ada, sent me a message saying that her aunt had just bought the trilogy and that we should read them together. Until I had confirmation from Ann and Laura, I couldn't agree. I had the books sitting waiting for a giveaway I was planning - I had bought them with it in mind to hold a competition on my blog for them. However, after what I heard from the girls, I decided that I didn't have a right to judge unless I had read them for myself. Who am I to put myself on a pedestal? I can live high up in my ivory tower if I so wish, but am I just being a martyr for no apparent reason? It would seem so, as I was about to find out!

This book is, as we know, an erotic novel. I have utterly no problem with erotica, in fact I rather enjoy it and am reading more and more just recently. I was sitting here aghast at the fact that it was BDSM and sounded like it was going to be very heavy, full-on - all sex and no real storyline. How wrong was I?!

The reasons I thought I would hate this book have come to be the reasons I love it. To each their own. We all have personal preferences in what we like to find in a book and what we would discard after reading merely a few pages. But for me, I ended up loving this book big time. I can't wait to read Fifty Shades Darker, starting tomorrow.

The fact is, there is plenty of sex in this book, not all of it 'vanilla' either. There are some seriously hot scenes that had me sated, yet desiring more almost straight away.

But it isn't just sex. There's a real storyline here. It's something unique and in it's way, quite beautiful.. 

Christian is a guy who has a tailor-fitted mask over the parts of his life that he would rather the outside world didn't see. On the outside he is Christian Grey, CEO of Grey Enterprises holdings, Inc. He's good looking, suave, sophisticated. Every girls dream. Though few could ever truly obtain said dream. But behind closed doors, he has unique lifestyle. He is a Dominant. He wants a woman to be his submissive.

This is where my first issue arose. Not the Dom/Sub thing but the fact that he wanted her to sign a contract and when I read the things it contained, I wanted to find Christian Grey and laugh in his face. To tell him no woman in her right mind would sign such a thing. 

But within a few pages, I could see why Ana would be second-guessing and why her resolve about it would be lessening. 

Christian is a very enigmatic, charming man. He gets under your skin even when you don't want him to. It really was disarming to find that I, myself, was falling for him hook, line and sinker. 

It was at this point that I realised that whatever other people had put in their reviews, I was going to love this entire trilogy. In spite of the alarming things I had heard, I had picked it up, given it a chance and it had won my heart.

Is it a great piece of modern literature? Probably not. But is it worth the read? More than!

I was a little annoyed in the beginning because I felt that the authors vocabulary didn't stretch very far. However, as I got further in, I knew I was committed to seeing this story through whether her vocabulary was extensive or not. As it happens, I felt like it either (a) did get more extensive or (b) I just didn't notice nor care any longer. It's possibly a combination of both.

I decided I couldn't in the end give it any less than a 5 wing rating because I had fallen for the characters, the story and instantly wanted more. 

So all in all, I vow to keep reading books I like the look of and forming my own opinions, not just deciding not to touch them based solely on people's scathing reviews. I should have known better than to do it this time, but I am sure it was a momentary lapse in my judgement. 

Should you read Fifty Shades of Grey? In my opinion, most definitely. Don't be put off by people spouting nonsense. For those of you who still don't want to read it, that's fair enough. I personally think that you'll be missing out - but not everyone likes the same things, else the world wouldn't be as diverse as it is.

Thank you for coming by to read my thoughts.

Laters, baby ;)

(a reference you will only get if you've read the book)

Side note: If you are taken by the need to leave a comment, feel free to do so. However, I implore you not to leave vicious comments because you are on the 'I Hate This Trilogy' bandwagon. I don't mind that your opinion may differ from mine, but no matter how much you argue, I will never concede the point. I loved this book - that's for me to decide - none of what might be said will sway me.

Thank you! x

PRESERVATION ON TOUR....

WARNING: This book is not suitable for a younger audience! 

Title: PRESERVATION

Author: Rachael Wade

Publish Date: April 8th 2012

Preservation On Tour!


A sexy, arrogant, playboy professor. A stubborn, independent, aspiring writer. Both masters at the art of sabotage. Let the games begin. Available 4/8 from AMAZON UK, AMAZON US,  Barnes and Noble.

• Song: Little Lion Man

• Artist: Mumford and Sons

• Tour Date: 5/22

• Venue: Simon and Warden Publishing House

• Scene Snapshot: Ryan examines the error of his ways.

• Anthem:  

Weep for yourself, my man,

You'll never be what is in your heart

Weep, little lion man,

You're not as brave as you were at the start

Rate yourself and rake yourself

Take all the courage you have left

Wasted on fixing all the problems that you made in your own head

But it was not your fault but mine

And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time

Didn't I, my dear?

Didn't I, my dear?

Tremble for yourself, my man,

You know that you have seen this all before

Tremble, little lion man,

You'll never settle any of your scores

Your grace is wasted in your face,

Your boldness stands alone among the wreck

Now learn from your mother or else spend your days biting your own neck

But it was not your fault but mine

And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time

Didn't I, my dear?

"Fear is sabotage’s sweetest weapon." 

"Kate has no time for meaningless romantic charades, and definitely no time for hot college professors who are full of themselves and smitten with her. Constantly battling eviction notices, tuition she can’t afford, and a sick, dependent mother, the last thing she needs is to be distracted with someone else’s complicated baggage. 

When she stumbles into Ryan Campbell’s creative writing class, he is only “Mr. Campbell” to her, until Ryan finds himself captivated by her writing and she is forced to face their mutual attraction. His cocky know-it-all syndrome is enough to send her running in the other direction, and his posse of female admirers and playboy reputation are enough to squander any odds in her favor. 

But underneath Ryan’s abrasive facade is something to behold, and she can’t stay away for long. Ryan and Kate must decide who they’re willing to become and fight against their former selves if they want to make things work. That’s if academia, vicious vixens, old skeletons, and their own mastery at self-destruction don’t pummel their efforts first."

********************

We've all heard the phrase Love Conquers All. But do we really know what it means to have that kind of love? Some of us are lucky enough to have that kind of love in our lifetime. Some of us will die without ever truly experiencing something so extraordinary. Because it's easy to say "Oh yes, we love each other unconditionally" But do you? Do you really?

Have you ever picked up a book last thing at night, torn between wanting to read for an hour or to go straight to sleep? A word to the wise DO NOT ATTEMPT THAT WITH THIS BOOK. Seriously, I picked this up at 10pm hoping for an hour of reading before bed. Come 2:30am I'm just finished. That's it. Done. Read cover to cover. This book was delicious, I could not put it down. I'm off to bed with tear tracks down my face.

- This was my Goodreads status at 2:30 this morning - 

It's true, I picked this book up last night, fully intending to spend an hour reading it and then go to bed. Little did I know just how much I would get sucked in and not spat back out until 2:30am. 

I read a lot of books. In fact most days, my head is buried in a book. But most of them have a Paranormal element to them. PRESERVATION was a touch outside of my norm, being that it's Adult Contemporary Romance / Realistic Fiction. 

I have to be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Yes, I've been known to read Erotica. Yes, I read Adult Fiction too. But no two books are the same and thank goodness that's so. We wouldn't want to read the same old, same old. 

Well let me tell you, PRESERVATION blew me out of the water. It was not your typical romance. Girl meets boy, they fall in love. They have hardships, they overcome them, they live happily ever after. No, this was deeper than that. This explored what happens when a man and woman meet, neither of whom want a relationship yet are inexplicably drawn to each other.

Kate Parker is 25 years old. She's a student. Living in a tiny apartment, working all the hours she can, going to school to improve her craft. She wants to write. But the obstacles in her life mean that nothings ever easy for her. Her mother is ill. Her landlord is threatening to evict her if she can't make the rent. 

Kate doesn't want a relationship. She's had it with guys. Plus, juggling all that she is, is there really time for a relationship?

Ryan Campbell is a professor. He had his heart broken by Jamie, his ex fiancée who he caught cheating. So he's going from one casual fling to the next. Getting what he wants from each of them before casting them aside.

Little do they know what is about to happen. What will change their lives and the shape of that to come.

Kate walks into school late. She's ringing wet from the rain and loaded down with bags, having to carry so much to school with her really isn't any fun. But it's all she can do. She does her lessons on a Monday and then goes for a swim. It's her way of de-stressing. So many things are difficult for Kate that this is one of the simple pleasures she enjoys while she can.

Ryan's not at all happy that Kate is always late to his class. Also she's making puddles all over the floor and banging about with that god forsaken bag of hers. A distraction, that's what she is.

So we have Kate, the beautiful, distracting student. Then there's Ryan, the hot professor who's known for his commitment-phobia.

It's the start of the emotional roller coaster of a journey that has you hurtling towards the ground at breakneck speed - not knowing for sure what the outcome will be. 

I can't tell you all the trials and tribulations that Kate and Ryan are about to face. There'd be no point you picking it up for yourself if I sat her and gave you plot points. 

What I can tell you, is this:

There is some inexplicable reason why Kate and Ryan are drawn to each other. It's not a straight forward relationship by any means. There's the good, the bad and the downright ugly. There are tender moments that have you feeling good but there are also moments that are more like a punch to your gut. Things that take the wind right out of your sails. 

They say nothing easy is worth having and nothing worth having is ever easy. Ad Astra Per Aspera - A Rough Road Leads to The Stars. 

In this instance, nothing could be more true. 

There were moments during this story that I laughed out loud. Then there were the times that I cried. Plus a few occasions where I wanted to reach into the book and cause physical harm to both Kate and Ryan. Sometimes I wanted to slap Kate and shake some sense into the girl. But the one truly bad moment, I wanted to reach in and punch Ryan in the face. Not just the face, but you get my point.

I truly didn't expect this book to affect me in the way it did. There are very few books that evoke such an emotional reaction from me.

I know in Kate's position, a lot of women would probably just give up and walk away from Ryan. At first, I thought I would be one of those. But I found myself drawn to him. I knew from the prologue that he'd had his heart broken in one of the worst ways. So I knew that under the façade he presents to the outside world, there was a vulnerable guy. But that doesn't give him a free ticket to do whatever he damn well pleases. Which at times, he thinks it does. 

Whilst this is all true, I do actually like him despite his foibles. Plus the fact is, there's times when it's not just him that's in the wrong.

I finished this book with tears racing each other down my cheeks and laughing out loud at the same time. This is most certainly one of my favourite books. Of that you can be sure.

I love the way Rachael Wade writes. Having read her other books, The Resistance Trilogy, I knew that I liked her writing. One of the things I like most about her is her ability to make you feel like you could be the main character. You're not just an outsider looking in. You're drawn into the story and not spat back out until she says so. 

For me, the best feeling is that of realism. This story isn't a fantasy. An idea of what life could be, if only... No this is a story about love, pain, loss and betrayal. Yes, it's just a story. But you are in no doubt that these things really can happen. 

I know that the song Rachael chose for this stop on the blog tour is Little Lion Man, but I wanted to share my own song choice. A song I couldn't get out of my head. In fact, I lie. There's 2. 

Song: Hate That I Love You

Artist: Rihanna

Song: Gravity

Artist: Sara Bareilles 

I chose this video for those who aren't familiar with the lyrics of this beautiful song.

If you read PRESERVATION for yourself, you may understand the reasons behind my choices.

Seriously, you should go and buy this book. You don't want to miss out.

Thank you Rachael for the advance copy of this beautiful book. I enjoyed it immensely in case you cannot tell. 

What Is Age Appropriate Reading Material For Your Child(ren)?

Okay Guys & Gals, I have a question for you, as the title would suggest. But I won't ask right now. Read my post then, feel free to share your opinion.


So, what did I come across to ask this question? Well....


There's this woman - for the sake of this post, let's call her Emma - and she has an 11 year old daughter - let's call her Nicola. 
Anyway, Emma has no qualms whatsoever with allowing Nicola to read inappropriate materials for her age. Or at least in my honest opinion, they are inappropriate. But who am I to judge? you might ask. Well, we're all entitled to our own opinions, this just happens to be mine.


I know you are sitting there thinking well okay, but what are these things she allows her young daughter to read? So I will tell you.


I couldn't tell you any specific titles of  books because I don't know myself. All I know is that she has no problem with letting Nicola read things containing explicit sex scenes, amongst other things. It was really the fact of the sex scenes that I had the problem with. And now I guess you might be asking why....


Yes, I believe that we all need to learn about sex, but at the right age. Is 11 the right age? I don't honestly profess to know the answer to that. I don't have an 11 year old myself so haven't had to make that decision.  I think it's appropriate to learn about it in school, in Sex Education, when teachers have parents consent to teach that kind of thing. 
Okay so admittedly Sex Ed wasn't the first time I knew what sex was and everything has moved forward since my days in school - But we're not talking about Sex Ed classes here, we're talking about letting your daughter read books that you know are highly explicit.


At that age, I was not allowed to read that kind of thing (and nor would I have wanted to, to be honest) I read things like What Katy Did, The Hobbit,  Black Beauty, they were my summer reads. 


If I had an 11 year old daughter, I'd let her read YA fiction, sure. I know that a lot of YA books allude to the idea of sex, but they do not describe it in any particularly explicit detail. Those kinds of things are what you would expect from Adult Fiction or Erotica. These being the kinds of things I would NOT let my young daughter anywhere near. If she was 18, sure. But come on, the girl's 11 for heavens sake. 


I say, stop letting the girl read whatever the hell she likes, take control of what you allow her to read. 
Okay so she may Google the subject, either alone or with friends and they are curious. Whatever. If that happens, then sit her down and talk to her. But do not hand your 11 year old child a book you know to be Adult Fiction. That just does not sit right with me. And I'll tell you for why. What I learned in Sex Ed was nothing like as explicit as some of those scenes can get. They taught me the basics, fine. I'm all for children being taught the basics when they reach an appropriate age. But leave the rest for her to learn as she grows up. When she's older, let her be the judge of what to read. But for now, be the parent and don't let her read stuff she just isn't ready to know. 


So, I guess what I am asking you guys is this... Would you be comfortable handing your 11 year old daughter or son something that you knew to be of a highly explicit nature? 


**If you are going to answer my question, please be aware that I will leave the comments section open to all who are willing to wade in - whether you agree with my opinion or not, I would love for you to comment. I really want to see what you all have to say.
Having said that, if I find your comments to be abusive toward me for my opinion, then please be aware that your comments will not be responded to and will be deleted. I won't delete comments that are just disagreeing with me - just any that are taken to be offensive**


Thank you for taking the time to read this post whether you comment or not. 

EVE EDEN vs THE DEVILISH DEMON - Cover Reveal!

I am lucky enough to have been asked by author Suz Korb if I would be part of the cover reveal for this book!
For those of you unfamiliar with the series, here's links to the previous two books on Goodreads. We have EVE EDEN vs THE ZOMBIE HORDE & EVE EDEN vs THE BLOOD SUCKING VAMPIRE


For those of you who already know Suz's work, I'll just get on with it shall I?


Well, without further ado, I bring you.....

Doesn't this just scream girly? 

As we all well know, I love anything with wings and anything girly so this just jumps off the screen at me!

I love how Suz's covers are just like her books; unique, whimsical and full of fun!

COMING SOON TO AN E-READER NEAR YOU!!

So if you haven't already read the first two books, may I suggest you do so now? 

And for those of you that have already, just a little while longer and we'll have book 3 in our hands! :)

BLACK DAWN by Rachel Caine - GIVEAWAY - Now Closed!

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**

*Winner announced below*

The prize: A signed paperback copy of Black Dawn, a bookmark & a pass case!

And The Winner Is... *drumroll please*

JOSIE NOONAN

for entering and I hope you enjoy the book, I thought it was fantastic - the best MV book so far! :)

(I hope you've read & enjoyed the previous 11 books)

Also, a huge thank you to all who entered this giveaway. Sorry there wasn't enough copies for everyone. 

DEAD & BEYOND by Jayde Scott - My Stop On The Blog Tour

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my stop on the tour. I am pleased to bring to you my review, along with a Q&A with Jayde Scott.


Firstly, let's see the beautiful cover: *drools*

Title – Dead and Beyond

Genre – Young Adult Paranormal

Format – Ebook

Release Date – February 22, 2012

"Everyone keeps a dark secret. That's what Amber Reed realizes when her boyfriend Aidan turns her into a vampire against her will. When something goes terribly wrong and her friend disappears, the clock is ticking, the walls are closing in on Amber, and the stakes are getting higher as she finds herself the pawn in an ancient war between three powerful races fighting for supremacy.

Amber is about to find out who Aidan really is...and the secret is nothing she ever imagined"

My Review:


Where to start? There's so many things I could tell you about this book - many of those would be too spoilery so... What can I tell you to get your juices flowing? Hmm...


DEAD & BEYOND is actually book number 4 in the Ancient Legends Series. However, it can be read on it's own. Though now I've read this one, I wish I'd read the previous 3 and I am definitely going to get the next book, FOREVER & BEYOND when it comes out in July.


Eighteen year old Amber Reed has just been turned by her hot vampire boyfriend Aidan. Not only is she a vampire, but she has been given the powers of Necromancy - One might be tempted to ask whether this was a blessing or a curse. For Amber, it's possibly the latter. She has trouble getting to grips with the whisperings of ghosts. But it's not just ghosts that Amber is going to have to get used to dealing with. Cass, her fallen angel best friend is the daughter of Lucifer, the devil himself. Then there's the Shadows. One of whom is the mysterious, handsome Devon. But are they friend or foe? The only way to know for sure is to sit back and prepare to be entertained - but be warned, DEAD & BEYOND is an all-consuming story that once started, will not let you put back down.


When I first picked this book up, I was not sure what to expect. I knew it could be read without having to read the first three, but I still thought I would have a bit of trouble getting into it. Alas my worries were undue. From the first chapter, I was sucked in and was so enthralled by it, I could barely stand to put it down. The only time I stopped reading was to catch a few hours sleep. But then I picked it back up this morning to finish it off.


Amber's journey is one that is full of twists and turns. She's got a hot vampire boyfriend who thanks to a ritual, doesn't crave blood. But unfortunately for Amber, she does. Something either didn't work in the ritual, or it was diluted by the time it got to her, or maybe even someone has done something to her without her knowledge. All she knows is she has the bloodlust that Aidan and Kieran don't have. The only thing is, she refuses to turn to Aidan and ask for his help. How will she overcome these awful feelings, this longing for warm, delicious blood?


Of course, that's not Amber's only problem. But I'm not about to divulge them all because then you'd have no need to read the book yourself. What I can tell you is that this book is full of intrigue. Almost from the first word, you know that nothing is as straight forward as it seems.


I love how Jayde Scott has created her characters. Amber is such a sassy, no-nonsense kind of girl. She's nobody's fool. She's just the kind of character I like to see take the lead role. Then there's Aidan. Wow. Talk about hot vampire! *swoons* He is so mysterious and charismatic. He has the tendency to make your heart beat double time. Yes, he can be frustrating, but he's all too alluring to let a little frustration get in the way.


I love how I never knew which way the story was leading. Sometimes things can be a little transparent and obvious, but not in this case. I liked the fact that just when you thought you had it sussed - BANG you were wrong!


I am truly glad I agreed to be part of this blog tour, otherwise I may never have known about this superb book and then I'd be missing out!


I'm now sitting, waiting rather impatiently for July for book 5.

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising**

********************

Author Bio
Jayde Scott is a psychology graduate and writer most notable for creating the Ancient Legends series.
She lives in London with her family and is a huge fan of baking chocolate cake and listening to indie music.














Useful Links To Connect with Jayde:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

You Tube


Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble

********************

Now it's time for the Q&A With Jayde:


Where are you from?


I’m British, but I’ve lived all over the world. So I consider myself a bit of a nomad. My home’s wherever my heart is.


Tell us your latest news?


I’m currently in the process of migrating and learning a new language, which is tough but also a very interesting experience.


When and why did you begin writing?


As soon as I could spell. I used to read a lot of romance novels (think Barbara Cartland and Sandra Brown) and rewrite the ending.


When did you first consider yourself a writer?


Because I used to spend most of my spare time writing, I’ve always considered myself a writer at heart. When I became published, I just changed my status from querying/unpublished to published.


What inspired you to write your first book?


It was a novel called The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice. I loved that book so much, I couldn’t wait to start working on my own vampire novel. That one’s still gathering dust in some drawer.


Do you have a specific writing style?


Like most writers, I do. I prefer first person past tense and have a tendency toward description and sarcasm. My first draft tends to be rather verbose, but I have an editor who’s not afraid to cut.


Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?


Ghosts exist and they’re not always good…or so I believe.


How much of the book is realistic?


The haunting poltergeist parts are based on research, so I’d say that’s pretty realistic.


Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?


My romantic chick-lit novel, The Divorce Club, is pretty much based on my own experiences with dating and cheating. But I tend to stay away from heavy topics in my paranormal romance series, Ancient Legends. So, Dead And Beyond is pretty much fantasy, but I wouldn’t mind meeting a handsome, blue-eyed vampire like Aidan though.


What books have most influenced your life most?


Definitely The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien has taught me so much about description and character development, he’s basically shaped my writing. Also Anne Rice. Without her inspiring books, it might have taken me a while to realize that writing about vampires, fallen angels and demons is what I want to do in life.


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?


Tough one, but I’d have to go with Tolkien.


What book are you reading now?


I’m currently reading and editing my new scifi novel, which is the first book in a new series, which shall be out by September. Editing takes so much time that I don’t have the time or energy to read anything else.


What are your current projects?


The fifth book in the Ancient Legends series, Forever And Beyond, which follows Amber and introduces a few new paranormal elements and lots of dark magic and betrayal.


Do you see writing as a career?


Definitely. I see it as a job and try to treat it as such. However, most of the time it doesn’t really work because life and other commitments come in between.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


I think it’s always been there. I loved books as a child, particularly their smell, and begged my mother to teach me to read before I started school. Whenever I loved a book, I would reread it countless times to remember the passages that fascinated me. And then I would try to write something similar.


Can you share a little of your current work with us?


My most recent book is Dead And Beyond, which is a paranormal romance slash mystery. Having just been turned by her vampire boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Amber Reed is bestowed with the ability to see ghosts. Between trying to figure out how to control her bloodlust and solving the mysterious disappearance of a friend, Amber realizes someone wants to step into her shoes so badly, they'll do anything to take her place.


When one secret after another pops up, the only person who believes her is her enemy, Devon. Amber can't figure out if he's here to help or save his own immortal race from losing the ancient war against the vampires. What she does know, however, is that she can't resist his good looks just as much as she can't help becoming someone else...


In a world of dark magic and ancient enemies, three powerful courts fight for supremacy, and Amber might just be the pawn in winning this war forever. But how's a girl to survive when everyone wants her dead?


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Not editing while I write. It takes me forever to finish a chapter because I’m a compulsive perfectionist who keeps rewriting and tweaking until I feel everything’s the way I want it to be. I know you shouldn’t edit while you write but I just can’t help myself.


Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?


I’d say Tolkien and his talent for world building and fantastic characters. He can fill page after page with the most beautiful description and prose.


What was the hardest part of writing your book?


Writing the last chapter. I always get emotional and have a hard time finishing the last chapter.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?


Don’t wait for inspiration to find you. Write even when you don’t feel like it.


Do you have any advice for other writers?


See above. Also, continue to work on improving your style and prose.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?


Thank you so much for reading my books :)