Tag: Vampire

New Release

Bitten by Trouble: a Paranormal Romance by Lizzy Gayle – New Release

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Bitten by Trouble: a Paranormal Romance by Lizzy Gayle is now available!

~Synopsis~

Dr. Charlotte Devaux’s just been through hell but taking a break from the mayhem isn’t an option.

When she’s tossed into a murder investigation more confusing than her budding relationship with her boss, the sexy, stubborn vampire, Lieutenant Julian Carver, her psychic powers provide more questions than answers. There’s a frustrating lack of evidence to explore in her lab. And since the murder was committed on the Supernatural Handling Agency’s Division of Equity’s (SHADE’s) base, Julian’s convinced there’s a mole in the organization.

As the investigation intensifies, unexpected blackmail from one of the suspects threatens the safety of Charlotte’s family. But trusting anyone else with the information could be a grave mistake—even Julian. The vamp might be amazing in bed, but that doesn’t mean she should share everything with him, considering the secrets she knows he’s keeping from her. And the fact he may very well make things worse by tearing out the blackmailer’s throat. Complicating matters are her new friends, but are they reliable or do they have agendas of their own?

If she doesn’t figure out who to trust, it could cost the lives of everyone she loves and let a murderer go free.

Author Spotlight · Blog Tour · Book Tour · New Release · Release Blitz

Special Feature – Ariel Dawn: Join The Hunt!

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Join The Hunt!

What do you get when you take Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and mix it with a dash of Grimm and Shadow Hunters?

Why, you get The Hunter Games by Ariel Dawn, of course!

Some of you may be familiar with Malcolm Crowley and his band of misfit hunters (including his pain in the ass sister) from the Ava Crowley, Vampire Slayer Series, and some of you may be asking who the fuck is Ava?

Well, I’m glad you asked! Ava Crowley is the perfect blend of Dean Winchester & Buffy Summers, trained by her brother Mal and his partner Jake Dallas to be a badass slayer. While she has her own series that follows her and Cassius, the vampire who saved her life, Malcolm, Jake, Tito, Hunter, and Vinny are badass slayers in their own right. When they aren’t taking down vamps and other creatures of the night, they can be found performing metal and rock covers in dive bars as the band Blood Of My Enemy. 

While the Ava Crowley, Vampire Slayer Series and The Hunter Games Series can be read together as one interconnected series, they can also be read independently of one another. Buf if you love to BINGE series in order like me, I have you covered!

You’ll want to start with Blood & Bones, Ava Crowley #1
https://books2read.com/Slayer1

Then you’ll definitely want to follow Ava & Mal to TerrorCon and  binge Blood & Lust, Ava Crowley #2
https://books2read.com/Slayer2

After that, you’ll need to follow Mal, Dallas, and the boys on a hunt in the mountains of North Carolina on a hunt in Blood Of My Enemy, The Hunter Games #1 https://books2read.com/THG1

Then the fire really starts to catch in Blood & Ash, which you should read before diving into Blood Of The Lost.
https://books2read.com/Slayer3

Then enter a world unseen- where we flip the script and follow a hunter turned monster on a journey unlike no other in Blood Of The Lost.

https://books2read.com/THG2 

Now that you know the reading order, and the gist of this addicting series, let’s get to the fun stuff!

How did you come up with the series? 

I grew up fascinated with watching shows like Supernatural, Buffy, Angel, and even Grimm. When I started writing in 2020, my second book was a vampire romance that paid homage to all of the above. It was called In The Blood, and it is still available currently as part of the Forevermore Series, which is actually the parent series to both Ava and Mal’s series. When I was writing Ava, I knew she needed a snarky, pain in the ass brother. Mal and Ava aren’t close in age, they are about eleven years apart. I am an only child, so I’ve never had siblings. The relationship between Mal and Ava is one formed out of love and trauma, as they both lost their parents and have had to endure a lot in their lives. In In The Blood, Mal isn’t the nicest brother. He’s actually a bit of an ass. But as I continued writing Ava’s books, I started to dig deeper, Mal started to really reveal himself to me, and I knew I needed to share the man beneath the mask of blood.

You mentioned fan favorite Dallas as a part of the Hunter Games Series. Does he get his own book?

Yes! When I introduced Dallas to the Ava series, I really hadn’t expected readers to fall head over heels for him. But they did! Much in the way Spike was introduced the Buffy, the writers kept him because fans loved him, I knew  as I continued to write Ava’s books and uncovered Dallas’s past traumas that he needed to have his own book. That’s really how the Hunter Games was born. Mal, Dallas, and the boys needed to tell their stories of loss, love, and hope, and Dallas’s story is full of those things. Like Mal, there is a scarred man underneath all the weapons and tattoos.

Should readers read Ava’s series first?

I recommend readers check out Ava’s series first, that way they are familiar with the characters and the world they take place in, and some of the storylines do carry over into The Hunter Games series. However, with that being said, you can read the Hunter Games by itself, as the series mostly centers around the hunters and their adventures away from Ava, Cas, and the town of Chester.

How many books do you have planned for this series?

There will be 3 more books in The Hunter Games Series, and at least 1 more book in the Ava Crowley, Vampire Slayer Series. The parent series, Forevermore will have 2 more books.

You mentioned Forevermore as a “parent” series. Can you elaborate on that?

When I started writing my first book, In The Cards (which is free on all platforms), I had no idea it was going to be a series. I wrote In The Blood shortly after that, and knew then it was going to be a series. Initially, the Forevermore Series was supposed to be a 7 book series, but somewhere along the way as I wrote these characters, readers started to really respond to Ava & Cas, and I ended up giving them their own series, and through that I ended up giving Mal and the hunters their own series and it sort of became this universe all on its own. I look at these tiered series sort of like Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Marvel put out their massive storyline in “phases”, and to me, the Forevermore World is 3 Acts.

You can check out the “Acts” in their chronological order below.

What else are you working on currently? What can readers hope to see from you in the future?

I write like it’s going out of style, so currently on my schedule I have 7 or 8 more books to write and publish before the year is over! I’m currently working on some shared world projects, both paranormal. I am also working on some series continuations, such as Hell Everlasting, the second book in my Lost Souls Series, In The Night, the 6th Forevermore book, and Earth Shaker, the sequel to the first book in my Elementalist Saga, Storm Bringer. Next year I have a bit of a shorter schedule as I work on wrapping up some series and starting some new ones, so stay tuned for that! I also have more books coming in the Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld Series!

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight – Addison Moore

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Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

~Synopsis~

Humor with a side of homicide.
A baker who sees the dead. One too many suitors. And a killer. Living in Honey Hollow can be murder.

My name is Lottie Lemon and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety. And for some reason those sweet, fluffy albeit paranormal cuties always seem to act as a not-so-great harbinger of deadly things to come for their previous owner. So when I saw that sweet orange tabby twirling around my landlord’s ankles, I figured Merilee was in for trouble. Personally, I was hoping for a skinned knee—what I got was a top spot in an open homicide investigation. Throw in a hot judge and an ornery detective that oozes testosterone and that pretty much sums up my life right about now. Have I mentioned how cute that detective is?

Lottie Lemon has a bakery to tend to, a budding romance with perhaps one too many suitors and she has the supernatural ability to see the dead—which are always harbingers for ominous things to come. Throw in a string of murders and her insatiable thirst for justice and you’ll have more chaos than you know what to do with.

Living in the small town of Honey Hollow can be murder.

Humor with a side of homicide. Addison’s mysteries are criminally cozy.
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes mystery, psychological thrillers and romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children and two cats where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she’s not writing, she’s reading.

Website: https://www.addisonmoore.com

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author

Interview with an Author featuring Tony Reyes

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The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Tony Reyes! Author of the Waiting for Darkness series.

How long have you been writing?

I was into writing stories as a kid, junior high and high school, but it was just something I did in my room when an idea popped into my head. They were horrible stories, but it was a beginning.  I started writing more seriously in my 20s, mainly short films and screenplays. I wrote and shot several short films, but found myself bound by budget, so I decided to concentrate on one of my screenplays and turn it into a novel. That is what finally became Waiting for Darkness.

Describe a typical writing day.

I haven’t been writing lately (neck deep in research) but when I do, I usually start writing when everyone in the house has gone to sleep, I kill all the lights, turn off the TV, airplane mode and the only music I will listen to is classical, no lyrics allowed. I found I will sing along if I play pop music, so I found I basically listen to what the soundtrack would be if the story was a movie. With my particular style of writing, the music of choice is usually Holsts The Planets,  or maybe Barber: Adagio for Strings.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

The classics. I just always wanted to be able to paint pictures with words the way my favorite writers did. Twain, Poe, Lovecraft, Orwell, etc…

What are some challenges that have come up during your writing and publishing journey?

The amount of rejections you get, both with screenplays and novels can be devastating.  You have to just keep plugging away, that is what they say. You can’t take it personal, but after a while it does feel that way. Since I was never able to find an open door to walk through, I decided to just self publish so at least I would have a copy on my bookshelf.

When you’re writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?

By the time I get to writing I have probably talked the scene out in my head over and over again. I work it out like a movie scene. Have to be alone for this or people will look at your strangely J So by the time I get to writing I just go back to that place I was when I was feeling the scene and I run with it.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Stubborn, creative, and MacGyverish (I can pretty much fix anything)

What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

My biggest hope is that when the close the book, just for a second, they thing “Could Darklings really exist?”

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

I am researching book 3, which will end this cycle of the story. But I have plans in the world, one offs, spin offs, prequels, etc.

What advice would you give to other aspiring authors?

Make time to write, the best thing for me is NaNoWriMo, where you committed to writing at least 1000 words a day. That is really a great discipline to have. I wish I could say I was able to continue that pace. Life seems to get in the way.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

That I am a fan of story, especially with a dark twist to it. I love the craft of piecing together scenes that take the reader on a journey. I love the idea that I write the story and every time someone reads it, they have a different movie in their mind’s eye that someone else may have had. No matter when someone cracks the book open they travel in time to the point I was writing the story, probably in the middle of the night in my underwear, it is like I am the screenwriter and the reader is the director with carte blanche. No two readers ever have the same vision, they all have their own spin on it. From characters to locale, I can give them the bones and they flesh the visual out. I love that idea.

Thank you Tony Reyes for chatting with me! I will include his information down below. Check out his Waiting for Darkness series today!

~Synopsis~

Cruz Espinoza, a brilliant young surgeon, has his life ripped from him as he is pulled into the supernatural world of the Darkling. Cruz looks for answers to millennia old questions. Where did the Vampire myth come from? Who gave them these powers? And why? He finds the answers, answers that shake his faith.

~Synopsis~

Cruz Espinoza – A Darkling seeking redemption for the sins of his past, vows to rid the world of the Firstborns. The Brotherhood – A secret organization formed centuries ago to eliminate these creatures of darkness. Firstborns – The most powerful of the Darkling bloodline and the most dangerous. From the underground closes of Edinburgh, Scotland to the Gothic churches of Cologne, Germany, Cruz searches for the cryptic lost relic of the Fallen. But he isn’t alone in his quest, a mysterious Firstborn, known only as Lilith, lurks in the shadows seeking the same artifact that, in her hands, would certainly put the future of humanity in jeopardy. From the knights of the Middle Ages to modern day soldiers, warriors have secretly battled against the Darkling, protecting mankind. Now the war comes to its inevitable climax. Will Cruz stop Lilith’s reign of Darkness?

With over 30 years of television/film experience, Tony Reyes has had the opportunity of working almost every job the industry offers. All of these positions have pointed in one direction, Storytelling. Several completed screenplays later, he decided to turn one into a novel. “Waiting for Darkness” became that first novel.

When Tony isn’t writing scripts or working on a novel, free time is spent dedicated to his kids, reading anything in sight and, playing and building guitars.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tony_reyes_author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.tony.reyes

https://linktr.ee/kylo_reyes

Review

Waiting for Darkness Book 1 by Tony Reyes – My Review

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Title: Waiting for Darkness Book 1

Author: Tony Reyes

Release Date: July 30th 2013

Genre: Vampire Thriller, Horror

Cruz Espinoza, a brilliant young surgeon, has his life ripped from him as he is pulled into the supernatural world of the Darkling. Cruz looks for answers to millennia old questions. Where did the Vampire myth come from? Who gave them these powers? And why? He finds the answers, answers that shake his faith.

Vampires? Horror? Yes, please!

Cruz’s life was changed forever in one night.

The story as a whole was interesting and entertaining at times. The beginning was a little shaky for me and sometimes I couldn’t separate past events or scenes from what was happening in the present. All that aside, I did enjoy the story. I enjoyed how different it was from other vampire stories I’ve read. The ending was a total surprise!

If you like horror and vampires, check out Waiting for Darkness! I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

New Release · Release Blitz

Bad Girls Drink Blood (Blood Fae Druid Book 1) by S.L. Choi – New Release

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Bad Girls Drink Blood (Blood Fae Druid Book 1) by S.L. Choi is now available!

~Synopsis~

Part sun fae, part blood fae, all abomination.

After a life spent dodging slurs, threats, and assassination attempts, Lane Callaghan gave her past the one finger salute and ditched her former fae home for good.

The detective agency she and her sisters run on the edge of Las Vegas continues to limp along, with Lane doing more debt collecting and intimidating than investigating, but anything to pay the bills. Between working for low-lifes to bring down even lower-lifes, eating cheesy poofs by the bucket, and flirting with the criminally attractive bartender where she conducts business, life is good.

That ends when a routine job goes sideways leaving Lane with a sack full of stolen sun shards—the source of sun fae power. Without the shards, the sun fae face giving up their magic completely, or risk death if they use their power.

As far as Lane’s concerned, good riddance, considering they would rather see her dead—except her father and adopted sister are sun fae. Lane must choose to return home to save the fae bastards that almost killed her…or let them burn.

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author featuring Wren Michaels

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The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Wren Michaels! Her newest release, Thunderstruck (Thunderbird Brotherhood Book 1) released on March 10th 2022.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always been a daydreamer and loved to just listen to music and envision scenes in my head. I also loved books and often times didn’t want the stories to end, so I took to writing my own, so I didn’t have to leave those worlds if I didn’t want to.

What time of the day do you usually write?

Whenever possible! LOL It varies, really. While I was working full-time, I would try and squeeze in time at night. Now that I am only working part-time, I can devote more daytime to writing.

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

I storyboard with Pinterest, so that can lead me down a whole rabbit hole which can last for days.

Which of your books were the most enjoyable to write?

All of them were enjoyable to write, or I wouldn’t have written them! LOL But, I had the most fun with one of my first books, VEXED and my Christmas RomCom, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIE. Vexed has a sassy, take no crap heroine, which I love to write. She was my first. And It’s a Wonderful Lie was my first RomCom and I just love to write banter.

Who is the author you most admire in your genre?

That’s tough, I admire a lot. I love Darynda Jones though. She’s a phenomenal writer, nails witty banter and sassy heroines and is a genuinely awesome person. I got to meet her at a con many years ago and walked up to her with a friend of mine and just asked if we could interview her and she’s like, yeah, sure. And she was so down to earth.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?

I’d love to hear from them more! Whether in reviews or just on social media.The one that really sticks with me the most is someone who read my Christmas Rom Com and said it inspired her to go out and do something nice for someone else. I never thought I’d write a book that inspired someone else, let alone for them to want to go out and do something as a result. I bawled like a baby to my husband. It was magical.

Favorite book when you were a kid.

Bridge to Terabithia, I will never ever forget that book and how it made me feel.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Humorous, Loyal, Daydreamer.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Perseverance is the key. 98% of the time, things won’t happen overnight. It’s a long-haul business. LOTS of ups and downs but hang in there. Don’t compare yourself to other authors, everyone’s road to success is different because everyone’s definition of success is different.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

I will always have sparks of humor and a happy ending in them, along with an adventure and of course romance. In the end, it’s the characters that drive me and I’m just telling their stories.

Thank you Wren Michaels for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Thunderstruck today!

~Synopsis~

Reseda Juarez is dead.

Though she functions as a human, inside she’s an emotionless weapon, trapped between the living and the undead. Cold and unrelenting, she’s used as a super-soldier by the government in a special task force to hunt preternatural beings to the brink of extinction.

One night, five years ago, Kane killed an innocent and his brother lost the love of his life. The aftermath forces Kane to become the alpha of the legendary Thunderbirds. He now must protect what’s left of his family from the tribe of wolf shifters who ripped them apart.

When Reseda’s mother is bitten by a wolf, she and Kane are forced to work together to find the Mayan Pul Yah stone to heal her—the same stone that gifted Reseda to the life she now lives. But the journey is riddled with more than the wolves, also searching for the stone.

Something strange happens to their powers when they’re together, and they struggle to fight the intense attraction between them. The deeper they go, the more secrets unravel, until love is the only thing that can defeat an enemy no one saw coming.

Wren hails from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin where beer and cheese are their own food groups. But a cowboy swept her off her feet and carried her to Texas, where she promptly lost all tolerance for cold and snow. Fueled by coffee, dreams, and men in kilts, Wren promises to bring you laughter, heart-fluttering romance, and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Join my Facebook Reader Group – Wren’s Renegades! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1910555742502037
Follow me on Social Media for more updates!
Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author Featuring Erin Fulmer

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The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Erin Fulmer! Her newest release, Cambion’s Law released on November 9th 2021.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing ever since I can remember! My mom is a novelist too so I started emulating her early, and she would write down stories I dictated. I even used to beta read for her! As an adult, I spent a lot of time in fandom spaces and honed my writing skills there. I started to get serious about writing my original work in my thirties. CAMBION’S LAW was the first full-length novel I finished and revised for publication. I started it during NaNoWriMo 2015 so it took six years to get it from first draft to publication.

Describe a typical writing day.

I still have a day job so I do most of my writing after dinner, from about 7pm to 10pm. I start by reading over what I worked on during my last session and doing some light editing. Then I open Twitter…Kidding! (Well, half-kidding.) A typical writing day yields 500-2000 words. I’m not a particularly fast writer. I’m a perfectionist and want to get it right, so I have to battle back my inner editor to get the words out. At 10pm I stop and then my spouse and I watch TV together to unwind.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I get inspiration from a lot of places—media I love, my own life experiences, things I want to see more of as a reader, what if questions, and personal obsessions or interests. Every book I’ve written so far blends all of those aspects together, and then as I work on it, it becomes something of its own. I like to play with tropes but I also like to introduce aspects I don’t get to see a lot. For instance, CAMBION’S LAW uses a lot of urban fantasy and romance tropes, but it really focuses on consent and explicit negotiation in its romance plot because that was something I wanted to see more often. I also flipped the usual paranormal romance trope of having the human heroine falling for a powerful supernatural creature. In CAMBION’S LAW the protagonist is the powerful supernatural creature in the relationship. That was also inspired by something that always bothered me about some classic media in the genre—I’m thinking BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, for instance, where the powerful heroine doesn’t get to have a healthy relationship because her power intimidates human men. I don’t love the implications of that so I created a romance where the love interest appreciates the heroine’s power and isn’t intimidated by it.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

My favorite character in CAMBION’S LAW is actually Lily’s best friend, Daniela (Danny) Rios. Lily can take herself too seriously and drown herself in self-loathing, but Danny keeps her grounded with tough love and provides a lot of humor. I love writing them together because of the way they play off each other—I never get blocked when it’s a Danny scene! Danny’s character owes a lot to the close friends and queer support systems in my own life, the people who accept me for exactly who I am. That’s the kind of relationship that is incredibly healing when you weren’t taught how to love yourself properly.

When you’re writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?

Sometimes I close my eyes and try to envision the scene as if it were playing out on film. I try to hone in on the sensory details and feel the emotions in my body because those help me drop into the experience of it. I listen to music and make playlists for every book, too, and that helps, but I can’t listen to music while I’m actually writing. So I’ll listen when I’m out and about in the car or doing other things to get myself in the right emotional headspace for a later writing session. A lot of times that will spark inspiration.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Curious, perfectionist, introverted.

How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I do tend to write books that touch on trauma and recovery so at times I have to take breaks from writing pivotal scenes if something is emotionally tough—sometimes that bleeds over into avoidance, at which point I just have to throw myself into it. I have an excellent therapist and she’s taught me a lot of grounding techniques that really help. My spouse is an amazing support and often notices that something is “off” before I do, so I usually talk it over with him and share what part of my work has me feeling that way. I also do a lot of journaling—writing is usually the way I process things, one way or another.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

I just finished the manuscript for Cambion Book 2 and sent it out to beta readers and my editor, so I probably should be taking a break. Instead, I started drafting a contemporary fantasy that’s about toxic family legacies, small towns, and coming home to a place you never belonged in the first place. Also it’s gay, fae, and involves the Wood Wide Web, parallel worlds, and climate change. Basically, what I said above about writing my obsessions and mixing elements applies here, too.

What advice would you give to other authors?

You’ll never please every reader and publishing trends change all the time, so write what keeps the fires lit in your own heart. Practice the skill of receiving feedback and critique—authors are sensitive creatures, but as solitary as writing can seem, it takes many people and many eyes to get a book publication-ready. Find community with other writers, because they will support and sustain you when you’re losing faith in your abilities. Learn to promote yourself and your work—it can feel unnatural and awkward at first but it makes a huge difference and is a necessity in today’s industry. You will always be your work’s best champion and advocate and marketing is just another skill to nurture.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

I love genre fiction as a reader and that’s what I write. I don’t shy away from tough topics but ultimately I write from a place of hope, so you won’t get grimdark from me even when I tread in darker waters. My books will always feature bi/queer rep and I do not bury my gays. My foremost goal is to tell a good story and keep you turning pages—hopefully leaving you with a smile on your face.

 

 

Thank you Erin Fulmer for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Cambion’s Law today!

~Synopsis~

Lawyer. Demon. Lily Knight is both—half-human, half-succubus, and utterly dangerous.

Lily protects her secret and the safety of those around her by abstaining from the skin-to-skin contact that would grant her superhuman powers. An ambitious criminal prosecutor, she’s all work and no play, determined to prove herself in the courtroom to atone for the ex-lovers she’s left for dead in her past.

But after a fellow succubus turns up murdered and the police arrest an innocent man, Lily discovers evidence of a supernatural killer stalking the foggy San Francisco streets. And when human justice falls short, she launches an unsanctioned investigation to find the real culprit.

To stop the killer, she must embrace the full power of her heritage and risk the soul of the handsome suspect she can’t help but fall for. Can Lily face her true nature without losing her humanity—or will she become the monster she fears most of all?

If you love Richelle Mead, Lisa Edmonds, or Seanan McGuire, discover a paranormal mystery series complete with a fierce heroine that will have you begging for the next book!

Erin Fulmer is a public benefits attorney by day, author of urban fantasy and science fiction by night. She lives in sunny Northern California with her husband and two spoiled cat daughters. Through her life’s many unexpected twists and turns, words have always been her element and her escape. When she’s not writing or working, she enjoys hatha yoga, taking pictures of the sky, playing board games with friends, and napping like it’s an Olympic sport.

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author

Interview with an Author Featuring Rebecca Rivard

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The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Rebecca Rivard! Her latest release, Pursued: A Vampire Syndicate Paranormal Romance (The Vampire Syndicate Book 1) is set to release on October 1st 2020.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

As a teenager, I read way too many romances, little realizing I was actually preparing for a career. After a detour through various genres, I returned to my first love. In 2017, I became a USA Today bestselling author, proving dreams really can come true.

My Fada Shapeshifter Series was voted Best Shifter Series of 2018 in the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Awards, and Saving Jace was chosen Best Shifter Book of 2018. Charming Marjani received the 2020 PRISM Award for Best Urban Fantasy Romance.

My vampire novella Ensnared: Star (Vampire Blood Courtesans) was a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick. I’ve also won awards in poetry and literary fiction, most of which featured—of course!—a romance in some way. 

How long have you been writing?

A looong time! I started out writing plays for my dolls in second grade, which I presented in class. I believe they were all of two (handwritten) pages long, lol. From there I could only go up…

Describe a typical writing day.

I write at least five days a week. Typically I walk or do yoga (I’ve been a yoga teacher for 20 years), then check my social media, maybe read the newspaper. I usually get going around nine-thirty or ten. Unless I’m on a deadline, in which case I often work before breakfast.

I write three or four hours a day. The rest of the time is spent on marketing, interacting with readers, or just enjoying a good book. I read several books a week as well as a couple of newspapers. Mainly I read romances—contemporaries, historical, and of course, paranormal romance. I also love a good mystery.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Ooh, good question! For my Fada Shapeshifter Series, I was writing (unpublished) contemporary romances when I started kicking around an idea about a human man who captures a fae queen. Then one day, my husband and I were at our favorite swimming hole in a park on the Susquehanna River. I was gazing at a crevice next to the stream when the idea for a water shapeshifter clan came to me.

The human became a shapeshifter alpha who, to save his clan, takes the sun fae queen prisoner…and the Fada Shapeshifter Series was born. Ten books later, the series is still going strong!

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special?

This is so hard! I fall a little in love with all my characters. They become real people to me, and I feel I have to get their story down—and make sure they get their HEA.

But if I had to choose, right now I’m loving Gabriel, the dark, sexy billionaire vampire in my upcoming Vampire Syndicate release, Pursued (out Oct. 1!). He’s smart, protective, a little dominating…the kind of man who hits all my buttons.

When you’re writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?

That depends. For emotionally draining scenes, music can help. “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls and “The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed always get me in the mood. For a fight, I might act it out in my office.

Right now I’m loving music from the 365 Days film (another mafia romance), especially the Everybody Loves an Outlaw band. The songs are so perfect for my current vampire mafia romances.

For sexy scenes, I just try to picture myself in the scene. If it turns me on, hopefully it will turn my readers on, lol. If I’m stuck, I might read a few other scenes—my own or another authors. Sometimes my husband gets roped in for “inspiration.” He doesn’t seem to mind…

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

It just kind of happens. I introduce new characters, plot twists… I’m always trying to think outside the box. For example, my Fada Shapeshifters are a species I created—part-fae, part-human, part-animal.

I’ve had readers tell me they googled the Fada, thinking they were a “thing.” I’m like, nope, I made them up! But I love that they seem that real to people.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

As a matter of fact, on October 1 I’m kicking off the Vampire Syndicate Series, a new vampire mafia romance trilogy. The Vampire Syndicate Trilogy features three rich—and smokin’ hot—brothers who are heirs to one of the world’s most powerful vampire syndicates.

In the first book, Pursued, all hell has broken loose in the Kral Vampire Syndicate. The middle brother has gone missing and their father leaves town to hunt for him. The youngest brother is sent to investigate another lead, leaving Gabriel, the oldest, to hold down the fort in New York City.

Then, the woman Gabriel loved and lost three years ago chooses that moment to return. Is he suspicious? Hell, yeah.

Here’s the series blurb:

The Vampire Syndicate

They call us the Dark Angels: Gabriel, Zaquiel and Rafael.
We’re brothers. Princes. Billionaires.
The richer-than-sin heirs to one of the world’s most powerful vampires.
But we’re not vampires, we’re dhampirs. Half-human, half-vampire, with panty-melting good looks.
The media love us.
Vampires hate us.
And Slayers, Inc. will do anything to take us down.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Write a little every day! I had years when I was raising my kids and working full-time that I wrote as little as 100-200 words a day. But write 100 words a day, 5 days a week for 50 weeks and you’ll end up with a 50,000-word novel. 

As a paranormal romance author, I’d also encourage letting your imagination run wild. PNR authors don’t have to write what we know, and I find that incredibly freeing.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

If you crave dark, dominating vampires, try my new Vampire Syndicate Series or check out the two books I have in the Vampire Blood Courtesans Series.

If steamy paranormal romance about shifters and fae is your jam, check out my Fada Shapeshifters. I’m thrilled that the series has won so many awards, including the PRISM Award for Best Urban Fantasy Romance and two Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Awards (Best Shifter Series & Best Shifter Book).

 

Thank you Rebecca Rivard for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out and pre-order her newest release, Pursued today!

~Synopsis~

THE VAMPIRE SYNDICATE ROMANCES
When darkness falls, the monsters come out to play…

Twilight meets 365 Days in this hot new paranormal romance series from USA Todaybestselling author Rebecca Rivard!

They call us the Dark Angels: Gabriel, Zaquiel and Rafael.
We’re brothers. Princes. Billionaires.
The richer-than-sin heirs to one of the world’s most powerful vampires.
But we’re not vampires, we’re dhampirs. Half-human, half-vampire, with panty-melting good looks.
The media love us.
Vampires hate us.
And Slayers, Inc. will do anything to take us down.

PURSUED
Mila
I knew Gabriel was dangerous, the eldest son and heir to a Syndicate Primus. You think a Mafia don is scary? You should meet Gabriel’s father.
But I thought I could play with fire without being burned.
Now I’m on the run from the Syndicate. Hungry, alone. Not knowing who to trust.
Until the night the vampires hunt me down…

Gabriel
I let Mila run from me once. Now she’s back—right when all hell breaks loose in the Syndicate.
Yeah, I’m suspicious. I know she’s keeping secrets from me.
But this time, I have the upper hand.
Mila’s mine now.
Bound to me by a blood oath that only I can break.
I’ll never let her leave.

A steamy second-chance, forbidden lovers paranormal romance.

THE VAMPIRE SYNDICATE ROMANCES
Three powerful brothers and the women they’ll do anything to have—and hold.

A fast-paced new vampire romance series from PRISM award-winning author Rebecca Rivard.

USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Rivard read way too many romances as a teenager, little realizing she was actually preparing for a career. She now spends her days with dark shifters, sexy fae, and other magical creatures.

InD’Tale Magazine calls her work, “Steamy, spellbinding romance with phenomenal pacing,” and the Paranormal Romance Guild says, “There is sex and suspense and everything you could hope for in a shifter book. I can’t wait for more!”

Five of her books have been awarded the prestigious Crowned Heart Review from InD’Tale Magazine, and the FADA SHAPESHIFTER SERIES was voted Best Shifter Series in the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Her books have also won first place in contests such as the prestigious PRISM Awards (CHARMING MARJANI) and the PRG Reviewer’s Choice Awards (SAVING JACE).

She also has books in the VAMPIRE BLOOD COURTESANS SERIES, and her novella “Ensnared: Star” was a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

Sign up for Rebecca Rivard’s newsletter at her website (rebeccarivard.com) and be the first to hear about new releases and read exclusive teasers from the books. As a thank you, Rebecca will gift you with a steamy short story (‘Lir’s Lady’).

For more about my vampire romances, including Pursued: A Vampire Syndicate Romance, go here.

https://rebeccarivard.com/vampires/

You can see all of my Fada Shapeshifter books here, including series order.

https://rebeccarivard.com/shapeshifters/

Come out hang out with me and my Wild Hearts on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/655091701366112/

I’m also on Instagram where I love posting pics about my various worlds.

https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.rivard/

 

Review

Heart of Fire (Alice Worth Book 2) by Lisa Edmonds – My Review

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Title: Heart of Fire (Alice Worth Book 2)

Author: Lisa Edmonds

Release Date: May 29th 2018

Genre: Vampire, Shifter, Thrillers

Join Alice. Private Investigator of the Supernatural.

It has been a rough month for mage private investigator Alice Worth.

Alice hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks, her relationship with werewolf Sean Maclin is on the rocks, a federal agent hounds her every step, and a powerful vampire whose ulterior motives have ulterior motives watches her every move. It’s enough to drive any woman to drink.

Just when Alice’s ghost sidekick Malcolm is about to stage an intervention, her former employer, Mark Dunlap, enlists her help to find out who’s been kidnapping women off the streets. As the list of the missing grows, the city’s anger turns against the vampires, and the Vampire Court hires Mark and Alice to find those responsible. After the case reunites her with Sean, Alice is forced to confront painful demons from her past, as well as the very real demon who wants her dead and the vampire determined to control her power.

When tragedy strikes close to home and a friend’s life hangs in the balance, Alice goes up against the most powerful adversary she’s ever faced in an explosive showdown that will leave Alice and her city forever changed.

Alice Worth is fast becoming my fave! We find my girl dealing with everything that has happened. A LOT has happened but a new case with an old friend might be what she needs to get her groove back. Wherever Alice is, danger is sure to follow!

I love the world the author has created! Did I mention Alice is my fave? There’s always a twist and something new with every book. Love it! The action and suspense always has me hooked and I am rapidly page turning because I need to know how it will end. Then once it’s over, I sit there knowing book hangover is coming. There are also moments in the book that give you such feels and then the tears come. Thank you Miss Edmonds.

The story was highly enjoyable! I am a huge fan of the author’s writing style. I can’t wait to read the next book! If you like fantasy and strong female leads, this series is for YOU! I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*