Review: Trails of Love I Crawl, Part 2 by Ciaran Dwynvil

I recently read Trails of Love I Crawl, part 2 by Ciaran Dwynvil. Here is my review.

I have mixed feelings after reading this book. In the beginning I really enjoyed the prose, the use of language, and the classic romanticism of the whole story. I knew it was a gay erotic novel, and truthfully it is the first of its kind that I have read. Perhaps that is where my mixed feelings came from. I enjoyed the romance and the love story, although I feel that there could have been more emphasis on the passion between Victor and his lover. I certainly felt Amadee’s pain and torment, and I was intrigued with Belial. I recommend this novel if you like something that pushes the boundaries of convention, but be warned, there are some explicitly unpleasant physical scenes that made for very uncomfortable reading.

Aside from the book review, I would just like to recommend Ciaran Dwynvil’s blog website. Ciaran has a wonderful aptitude for prose, and every blog post is a delight for those who appreciate reading in the ‘old fashioned’ sense. Take a look, and you will see what I mean… 

Hump Day Hook #HDH – The Vampire of Blackpool

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Today I share another excerpt from my NaNoWriMo 2012 novel, The Vampire of Blackpool. I have yet to return to the project for edits, but I certainly plan to have this one published in the future. This excerpt is a conversation between our protagonist, Meredith Hanson, and a young witch called Samantha Morris.

            “Hi,” she said nervously, “Um, I thought maybe we could talk?”

            I frowned.  This was highly irregular.

            “About what?” I replied coldly, and I saw her shiver at my icy tone.

            She swallowed, and when she spoke again her voice trembled.

            “Um,” she said, “I don’t know.  Stuff.”

            She waved her free hand vaguely in the air, as though I should understand what she was indicating.  I simply stared at her, unmoving once again.

            “We have nothing to discuss,” I said in the same cold tone.

            The girl chewed her lip.  I tried to enter her mind to discover why she had taken an interest in me.  At first her thoughts were a jumble of everyday nuances, but she quickly felt my presence, and she threw up a rather impressive shield against me.  I inclined my head, unable to hide my surprise.  She smiled, realising my reaction.

            “Yes,” she said more confidently, “I might be new to this, but I know how to protect my thoughts from vampires.”
            I smiled faintly, showing my amusement.

            “Very well,” I said.

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping! 

*Gothic image courtesy of Pinterest

Join me for Vampires and Lattes with Coffee Time Romance!

You are cordially invited to join the Vampire Book Realm at Coffee Time Romance, for our author event on Saturday 20th April from 12:00 am MDT (7:00am GMT). The event runs all day, and we will be discussing vampires and lattes, among other things. Our authors are offering a tantalising selection of vampire fiction for you to sink your teeth into, and there will be prizes, giveaways and competitions galore.

See our Facebook event page for more details and to get a head start on meeting your favourite authors…

I will share more about my adult paranormal romance series the Redcliffe novels, including Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) and Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel). I might even give away a few eBooks, if I’m feeling generous!


See you there!

I’m a Camper! #CampNaNoWriMo 2013

I have been struggling with a manuscript for about the last six months, and so I decided it was time to get help. I turned once again to the good people at National Novel Writing Month. Since I managed to write 2 very pleasing novels during my NaNoWriMo events in 2011 and 2012, I thought I should try it with this one. Lucky for me, Camp NaNoWriMo is active throughout April.

The manuscript in question hasn’t even got a title. My working title is The Vampire Hunter, but that doesn’t do it justice, so it will have to change. I began the novel with gusto, having received a flash of beautiful inspiration from my Muse while out walking by the canal one day. Then, without warning, my Muse went on holiday! How dare she! In fact, I think she might have emigrated. I have been receiving ideas for stories on the odd occasions when she shows herself, but with this novel, she seems to have left me to it.

The story is about a vampire hunter who lives on a canal boat. She travels the UK waterways, slaying vampires wherever she goes. Dr Jennifer Worthington works alone, having lost her previous partner during a hunt that went wrong. Her sole aim is to locate the vampire who broke her heart when she was at university, and to destroy him. During her quest, she discovers an ancient and powerful vampire who has a strange attraction both to and for Jennifer.

At this point in the story, I am about to head off into a whole new adventure on uncharted territory. Jennifer discovers that she has a history with the vampires she hunts, and it goes back centuries. We have elements of past lives, reincarnation, and even angels and demons lurking in the shadows. I just need to figure out how to bring them forward and integrate them in an exciting and enjoyable story. Camp NaNoWriMo, I need your help!

*Vampire Hunter image courtesy of Pinterest

Hump Day Hook #HDH – The Vampire of Blackpool

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Today I will share another excerpt from my manuscript for NaNoWriMo 2012. The novel is called The Vampire of Blackpool, and I was quite pleased with the result. I have yet to return to the project for edits, but I certainly plan to have this one published in the future. Enjoy!

 

Before either of them could make sense of what I was, I struck at the girl, biting her throat and drinking deeply of her blood. She screamed loudly, but it soon faded as she fell unconscious in my grasp. The boy stared in horror, as I raised my eyes to look at him while I fed. He soon gathered his senses however, and I realized just in time that he was about to hit me with the torch. He was strong, but no match for me. Rearing up from his girlfriend’s body, I hissed at him and smacked his arm hard. The torch flew across the garden and landed with a thud in a flowerbed. The boy stared at me, struck dumb by his terror. He stuttered and managed to find his voice.

            “You’re a…a…” he gave up talking as I reached across to grab his jacket.

            “Yes,” I replied smoothly, my eyes glowing silver and my skin translucent in the moonlight, “I am a vampire.  We do exist.”

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping! 

*Vampire image courtesy of Pinterest

The Liebster Award – I’ve Been Nominated!

I had a wonderful email yesterday from James A. West, who informed me that he had nominated my author blog for the Liebster Award. I admit I have seen this award on a couple of other blogs and I felt slightly envious that nobody nominated me, so now I am a very happy bunny!

For those who are not familiar with the Liebster Award, it is available for bloggers with fewer than 300 followers. The nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It is fun, informative, and an excellent way to network and grow your audience.

Here are 11 random facts about me:

1. I am pregnant with my second child, due in July 2013
2. I have auburn hair (definitely not ginger!)
3. My husband is a slightly obsessed waste manager by trade, so our house often resembles a recycling facility in progress!
4. Aside from a 2-year-old daughter, I am Mummy to Baxter the Staffydoodle, Duck the Cumberland Slider turtle and Ashton the Yellow Bellied Slider turtle.
5. My professional writing career only began at around the time I first got pregnant, and now I have 3 published novels!
6. One day I will own a camper van. I just have to.
7. I love chocolate, especially Dairy Milk.
8. I am a ghost hunter, and have done overnight investigations in Scotland, England and Wales during the last 7 years.
9.  I read Tarot and Oracle cards.
10. Someday soon I would love to go on a solo writer’s retreat for a whole week, bliss!
11. When I make my millions, I will buy a lovely old house in the Cheshire countryside and a seaside home in Cornwall.

My answers to the 11 questions:

1. What is something you have always wanted to do but haven't done yet?                                        Obtain a camper van and go on a road trip round the UK.

2. If you were a Star Trek character, who would you be and why? (If you don't know Star Trek, don't admit it! Just make something up!)

I would have to be Spock. He is a legend!

3. What is one of your favorite movie scenes, and why?

In Ghostbusters 2, when the goo goes crazy, and the Titanic arrives down at the docks. Cracks me up every time!

4. Why did you choose writing? What drew you to it?

I was never going to escape it. English, especially creative writing, was my best subject at school and I lived in a dream world of imagination and fantasy (in fact, I still do).

5. What is your favorite book?

Ooh, tough question! Hmm, I will choose a fiction one, and say Matilda by Roald Dahl. It has always been a favourite.

6. Besides writing, do you do any other art? 

I enjoy creative card making and crafting bead jewellery.

7. What is one of your craziest travel stories?

Well, a few years ago I went on a road trip to France with my Mum and younger sister. Our car was stopped at Dover for an inspection, but Mum opened the boot, the guy took one look at our crammed in suitcases, and he just waved us on to the ferry! Then we got lost a couple of times, Mum forgot she should drive on the other side of the road and go the opposite direction on roundabouts, and finally we reached our destination in a remote rural village. It was a great holiday though!

8. Skiing or lounging on a beach?

Lounging on a beach, but with a book and magazine for company.

9. Coke or Pepsi?

Coke

10. Do you play a musical instrument? If so, which one? If not, do you want to?

No. I used to play the clarinet but gave it up when I left school. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t, but I have a lot of activities now so I’m not too upset.

11. Do you have any new writing projects that you can share with us right now?

Yes. I am currently finishing the first draft of a story about a vampire hunter who lives on a canal boat and travels the UK completing her jobs. Her life is turned upside down when she meets an ancient vampire who means more to her than she understands. It turns out they have a history that goes back centuries, and she has a lot to rediscover about her true self…

My 11 questions to pass on:

1. Do you have a motto and what is it?
2. Why did you start your blog?
3. Why should we read your blog?
4. Do you have an unfulfilled ambition and what is it?
5. Do you prefer dogs or cats?
6. Were you a geek, a jock, a weird kid or something else in school?
7. What is your favourite music and band?
8. What is your favourite movie?
9. Sweet snacks or savoury?
10. What is your passion?
11. Who do you admire?

My nominees:

Cycling Phoenix

L. VanHorn 

Crafts by Karen Louise

Dana Delamar

Jan Edwards

Jane Wakely

Janna Shay

Kathleen Grieve 

Sabrina Devonshire

Phoenix Johnson

The Wildwood Tarot

Congratulations nominees, and I look forward to seeing your responses!

Book Review: Wytchfae Runes by Flossie Benton Rogers

I have recently read the debut paranormal romance novel from Flossie Benton Rogers. Here is my review of Wytchfae Runes:

I have been following this author on her blog for a while now, and so I began reading the novel with excited anticipation, after reading several tantalising snippets online. I wasn’t disappointed! The story moved quickly in a practical manner. The heroine, Kelly, is totally down-to-earth while still displaying her magical abilities. And as for the Viking ghost, Ingvar… Wow! Let’s just say, he will stir some excitement from an appreciative reader!

It isn’t all about sex and magic, however. The novel very smartly introduces some ancient folklore and characters based on traditional myths, which I really liked. I can see the author developing a very successful series after reading this book, and I recommend Wytchfae Runes to all fans of popular Urban Fantasy and contemporary dark romance.