Top Ten Tuesday – Some Of My Favourites!

Morning, everyone! 🙂 We all made it through Monday! Woohoo! Now at least we can get on with Tuesday – Top Ten Tuesday, that is! Each Tuesday, I will feature ten of my favourite indie books for your perusal. They won’t all be the same genre, so hopefully there’s something for everyone. And today, I’ve even got a few freebies for you! Woot! 🙂

Lookit that gorgeous cover! And it's FREE!

Lookit that gorgeous cover! And it’s FREE!

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense

Price: PERMA-FREE!

Blurb: Kendra Larkin had everything going in the right direction. Her life was seemingly perfect, and she wouldn’t have changed a thing about it. Unfortunately, the course of her life was about to be forever altered. A tragic rappelling accident lands her on Dr. Adam Chamberlain’s operating table.

She agrees to a deal proposed by a guardian angel to help save the soul of the man who is both her doctor and soulmate. If she is successful, she gets to keep her life. However, she later learns that it isn’t just her life that’s in jeopardy, but her soul as well.

Even with the help of her handsome guardian angel, Rhyan, it seems there is no happy ending in sight. Torn between her newly discovered love of Rhyan, and the undeniable attraction she has for Adam, Kendra finds herself at a crossroad. With Adam’s steadfast rejection of God, and his guardian demon conspiring against her, she fears her soul may already be lost.

Will she find a way to overcome the evil her life is suddenly burdened with? Or will Adam’s guardian demon win both their souls and make Kendra his own personal puppet in Hell?

This is a fantastic YA read, and really hits home with some big issues.

This is a fantastic YA read, and really hits home with some big issues.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Price: PERMA-FREE!

Blurb: Piper Willow dies the summer after her high school graduation but she doesn’t make it to Heaven or Hell…instead she finds herself in a spiritual terminal called the Station. She’s given only two choices: Return to Earth as the subconscious for a person in need of some outside assistance, or move on and spend an eternity lost in her own sorrow and pain.

Does Piper have what it takes to save a life – to be the nagging voice inside someone else’s head – or will she fail and end up lost and tormented in limbo…forever?

“Excuse me, Niles…I mean, Mr. Abbott. But, where are we?”
“I’ll explain everything to you dear, just as soon as we reach the Station.”
“What station? We aren’t in the hospital? Where’s my Dad?”
“No Piper, this isn’t the hospital, and your father is at home…he’s fine. Please, follow me.”
He turns away and continues on through the light. I hang my head, staring at my bare feet as we walk. Even though my cuts are gone, I keep rubbing my arm. It’s soothing. I almost bump into Niles when he stops abruptly.
“We’re here,” he says softly.

AND this was nominated for a 2012 RONE award! What more do you need?

AND this was nominated for a 2012 RONE award! What more do you need?

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Thriller/Vampires

Price: $2.95

Blurb: *Nominated for a 2012 RONE Award from InD’tale Magazine*

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he’s determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn’t expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper’s world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay.

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price?

More vampire-y goodness...you know you can't resist!

More vampire-y goodness…you know you can’t resist!

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense/Vampires

Price: $3.94

Blurb: “Do you believe in things that go bump in the night?”

At only a few hours old, Angela is left on the steps of St Paul’s church. Alone in the world, the only link she has to her past is a pink blanket bearing an emblem with two crossed swords and a snake.

A troubled childhood spent in orphanages leads to Angela attempting to rebuild her shattered life as an adult. Meeting the priest who found her eighteen years previously, she gets a job and a boyfriend, and settles into her new life.

Until she meets Jack.

Drawn to her new boss, she throws herself into work, feeling an unusual bond with people she hasn’t known very long.

Angela becomes embroiled in this new life, feeling a change within herself. A change which isn’t altogether human. Within this change she finds a terrifying secret…a secret which involves her past, her present, and definitely her future…

This is one of the funniest books you will read this year - what writer hasn't wondered this?

This is one of the funniest books you will read this year – what writer hasn’t wondered this?

Genre: Contemporary/Humour

Price: $3.76

Blurb: Polly writes chick lit and her debut novel is a worldwide bestseller. However, something strange starts to happen when she gets back from an international book tour. Polly finds that instead of art imitating life, her life starts to imitate art – or rather, her novel.

She arrives home to find her husband in the arms of the maid. Wasn’t that in Chapter Three of her book, Happily Ever After?

Her best friend is having an affair with her husband, too, and is pregnant! Isn’t that in Chapter Four?

Then she meets a bronzed Greek and embarks on a passionate love affair. Wasn’t that in Chapter Seven?

Will anyone believe her life is mirroring her novel? Can she prevent the ultimate tragedy or must the book play out, precisely as she wrote it, to the bitter end?

Her agent recommends that Polly go and live Happily Ever After on the proceeds of her book, and keep away from drama!

The beginning to an awesome YA series - that cover alone should entice you! :)

The beginning to an awesome YA series – that cover alone should entice you! 🙂

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Drama

Price: $3.98

Blurb: The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

The first book in another awesome series - plus be sure to check out the rest of this fab author's books!

The first book in another awesome series – plus be sure to check out the rest of this fab author’s books!

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal/Werewolves & Shifters

Price: $4.08

Blurb: **Not for readers under the age of 18+. Contains language and adult situations.**

Gabriel Slade runs Hollywood with his gorgeous blue eyes and egregious temper. No one knows that underneath it all is a man with a frozen heart, cursed to become a beast at every full moon. For seven days he has no choice but to roam the earth as a vicious animal, until he meets a woman who can change it all.

Luna Grace has a hatred for everything Gabriel Slade stands for, but she doesn’t even know what he looks like. When a chance encounter reveals feelings Luna never knew she harboured, it stands to reason that she would run.

Can Luna overcome her hatred and break the curse? Or will Gabriel’s temper keep her from realizing her true feelings, dooming him to remain the beast forever?

Another brilliant book in a series - doesn't that title just make you wonder what's inside?

Another brilliant book in a series – doesn’t that title just make you wonder what’s inside?

Genre: Romance/Contemporary

Price: $4.11

Blurb: “You can’t leave me because I’ll only ever love you.”

What was supposed to be a final goodbye turned into one last piece of unfinished business for Brody Walsh.

As long as Aggie Walker’s heart still belongs to him, he’s destined to remain in limbo, watching over her.
But when her family decides to send her to Scotland for the summer and she meets Camden MacTavish, it seems despite their constant head-butting that there may be something more between them.

That is, if she is willing to let Camden in.

As Aggie finds herself torn between her lover lost and her lover anew, it becomes clear that she cannot hold on to both. If she decides to let Camden into her heart, she will have to let Brody go. And if she can’t let Brody go, she risks losing Camden-and a second chance at love.
Forever.

That cover is the first thing that drew me in - gorgeous and so Lovecraftian!

That cover is the first thing that drew me in – gorgeous and so Lovecraftian!

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Price: $2.05

Blurb: Bookstore owner and novice antiquarian, Sebastian Kaine is proud of his new profession and even prouder still of the collection of antique books on the occult that he keeps locked away in the basement of his bookstore. But his little utopia is shattered one night when he wakes up in that same basement, bound and bloodied, and his prized collection all but destroyed. Making matters worse are the two strange men responsible for the carnage. They want The Seals of Abgal and insist Sebastian is in possession of it. Though he denies having any knowledge of the book, Sebastian soon finds himself at the receiving end of a brutal interrogation–one, he fears, he may not survive.

As he fights to stay alive, Sebastian will learn that The Seals of Abgal is no ordinary grimoire for it holds powerful secrets. Secrets that are older than time itself. And those that hunt it are driven by a hate even older than the secrets themselves.

**The Seals of Abgal is a dark fantasy novella of 20,892 words, or about 128 paperback pages.**
Awesome crime drama stories written with true grit. Great to see old-school crime drama is still out there!

Awesome crime drama stories written with true grit. Great to see old-school crime drama is still out there!

Genre: Crime Thriller/Drama/Historical

Price: $2.96

Blurb: Edinburgh 1745.

Deep beneath the rain soaked and wind scoured streets of the city a foul crime committed in the dark of night leaves two men lying dead in a dank cellar. A bankrupt young nobleman with an addiction to the twin vices of gambling and loose women stands accused of the horrific double murder and all the evidence seems to point towards his guilt. In desperation his lawyer turns to the one man in Edinburgh who can save him from the hangman’s noose.

Robert Young of Newbiggin.

He is a young man who has earned a reputation amongst the city’s legal fraternity for being the one person who can root out the truth by venturing into the capital’s criminal underbelly. His investigation leads from the elegant drawing rooms of Edinburgh’s high society to the city’s most infamous brothel and into the grim hovels of the lowest alehouses on the Cowgate.

But as more bodies are discovered Robert Young is forced to confront the possibility that his client may actually be guilty!

So that’s your lot! Still, I think ten books is an awful lot to be getting on with, right? 🙂 I hope you do decide to pick some of these great books up, and hopefully enjoy them! Remember, an indie author puts a lot of work into a book that will cost less than that coffee and chocolate bar you were going to pick up – yes, I know! – and it’s going to leave you with that happy feeling for an awful lot longer. Plus you get to go back to it if you really loved it, and you’re never going to make that chocolate bar come back. So go on, grab one of them before your sugar craving kicks in. 😉

Character Interview With Lucius; The Fallen

Hello everyone! Have we got a treat for you today…none other than Lucius himself is with us, main character of Lucius; The Fallen by Tara S. Wood and Lorecia Goings. So without further ado, let’s introduce him. Ladies, hold onto your pants. That’s all I’m saying.

Welcome to Notes on a Page, Lucius.  Grab a drink, settle in.  Now, on to the questions. How does it feel to have a book written about you?

Oddly disconcerting. *laughs with an easy grin* Especially the more…intimate moments. That was an eye-opener.

I can imagine. Sounds a bit like Facebook, but on paper. *ahem* How do you think the authors tackled you? Have they penned your personality as you are?

Tara and Lori have been great. I think they captured who and what we are without sugar-coating it. That was hard at times because some serious sh-stuff happens. For all of us. *furrows brow* They could’ve made me sound taller, though.

Six-foot-0dd not tall enough for you? This is Lucius, not Jack and the Giant. That’s why they’re the writers, and you’re the angel. *sniggers* So did you expect to fall in love?

Never. For a long time, I thought my life would never change. That I couldn’t get back anything I lost. But I found something I never imagined. *smiles* Persephone.

Awww. *all the women in the room sigh and sniffle, a few grab tissues* You make a lovely couple. And what about your new wings? You been clogging up airplanes with them lately?

*chuckles*  No, I haven’t, humans have a tendency to see what they want when looking at me.  Though I have broken a couple of vases in Coriander’s spread. *clears throat nervously* I will admit, getting them back was a dream come true. Between my wings and my woman, I’m whole again.

Hopefully, Coriander will have her hands full with too many other things to notice. That, or I’d stock up on Superglue. On that note, do you have any quirks or unusual abilities?

*sly grin* Abilities? I think that’s more a question for Persephone.  *chuckles at the shocked glare, and struggles to maintain a serious expression* I guess I always keep pushing, never being able to be satiated is difficult.  I used to keep pushing for something, I didn’t know what…But now I’ve got my woman and my father…and my brothers.

*makes notes* Must…ring…Persephone later. That’s another interview for another day, I feel. Secretly, what do you think of your brothers-in-wings?

*deadpans* Flock of fat, gossipy pigeons. No, seriously. I love them. They’re my brothers. They’re as much a part of me as Seph is. I would lay down my life for all of them. Even Dom, the difficult bastard. *grins*

*giggles* ‘Gossipy pigeons’. That one is going in a Christmas joke somewhere. But you must have some flaws, everyone does. What do you truly fear?

Losing everything I’ve regained.  And falling again.  I much prefer the graces of the sky than the hardness of the earth.

Must be amazing to be able to fly like that. And I think you’re good with not falling again, you’ve learned your lesson. Are you going to settle down with Persephone and be a home pigeon now?

As much as I can. We still have our work to do, the guys and me. But, it’s nice to have her to come home to. And anywhere Persephone is…that’s home for me now. She was mentioning Indonesia the other day in fact.  Sounds like fun to me.

Indonesia, huh? That does lead me to my next question…we know the next book focusses on Jude. What can you tell us about that?

It’s gonna be one hell of a ride. Find something to hang onto and brace yourself.  *leans forward and furrows brow in thought* Jude is sort of like a cookie in wax.  Once you crack through, you get the sweet stuff, but you’ll have to deal with the taste of candle.  That’s about it.  I hope Coriander f***s the hell out of him.

Waxy cookies? Seems legit. We’ll brace ourselves like a monkey hanging onto a tree. A sexy, angel-style tree. And finally…has Domniel said anything about me? Not that I’m desperate or anything, but you know, just curious. *flushes, tries to look interested in questions*

*waves a casual hand *He may have mentioned the sexy English chick with a fondness for G&T’s. *leans in* A word of advice, love. If he offers to buy you a drink – say no. I can’t vouch for where your underwear will end up.

Probably the dishwasher. I’ve read the book. I’m fine with that. Well thank you for being here today, Lucius, it’s been a genuine pleasure to have you. Don’t mind the fainting ladies when you leave. And mind the–! *winces as a crash resounds* Never mind. I never liked that vase anyway.

If you  want to find out more about this sexy and enigmatic fallen angel, just read down and take a look at the blurb and trailer! You’ll also find buy links, an excerpt, and the awesome contest! Whew!

Blurb

“Relish this moment in My favor. It is your last.”

Six angels once sat at the right hand of The Almighty, but an ill-fated decision cast them out of Heaven. Now they serve Him on Earth, slaying demons for their redemption. They are…The Fallen.

Lucius, once revered at the side of God, fell to Earth with his brothers to pay penance and atone for his lapse in leadership. Wingless and forsaken, they have all paid a price for their complicity. Lucius’ hubris is now a curse, and he cannot rest until they carry out the last of The Almighty’s orders…and stop a war that has been millennia in the making.

Persephone Roberts is always in the right place at the right time, the serendipity allowing her to help people on her travels. When it leads her to cross paths with the band of hard-living fallen angels, she sets her sights on their leader, and is determined to restore Lucius’ faith in their quest. And in himself.

But the ancient evil the angels strive to fight has put Persephone in its crosshairs. It will be up to Lucius and his brothers to save her and destroy the minions of the dark. Can the amber-eyed beauty with her accepting heart heal wounds that cut soul deep, and force him to reclaim a glory he once tossed aside? Is he strong enough to realize the path back to Heaven begins with her, or will he be forever…fallen?

Trailer

Lucius

Excerpt (18+)

The subtle whoosh of air from the doorway ahead made all five angels turn as one.

“Is there another one?” Lucius muttered. Turning to Domniel, he said, “Can you smell another one?”

Domniel lifted his head and walked toward the doorway. “Hard to tell. That smell’s everywhere. I’ll follow it and see what I find.”

“Good. Elijah, go with him,” Lucius said as he bent toward the pool of goo to begin purifying the remains. From the corner of his eye, Lucius watched Elijah nod and jog off to catch up with Domniel.

Task finished, he placed the vial of holy water in his pocket, and called after the blind angel. “Dom?”

“Yeah, man, out here.”

He motioned to Jude and Mordecai, and they ran across the street to another parking lot. He paused as he realized Domniel and Elijah weren’t alone.

A woman stared at them from across the lot. She looked calm. A dark halo of thick curls was pulled back tight, emphasizing an oval face and high cheekbones. The assassin-chic ensemble she sported could not detract from the feminine perfection she represented.

She laid smoldering eyes on them and growled, her voice smoky and rich, “Figures I would find pigeons here. It is the gutter, after all.”

Domniel’s head tilted and Lucius knew he was trying to locate her. He caught a whiff of sand and something exotic and ancient. He knew the blind angel had found her when he turned, putting his shades on her.

“Where the fuck did you come from?” Domniel snarled.

She laughed, the sultry sound designed to stir men’s loins. “A higher plane of existence, you useless bird.”

His dark sunglasses looked her up and down. “No shit, you a Jersey girl? That explains a lot.”

She glared at him before bringing her arm forward to reveal a flaming scimitar. “You pigeons always have to crap on somebody else’s sidewalk, don’t you?”

Lucius stepped forward and laid a hand on Domniel’s shoulder, urging him to stand down. Apprehension collided with recognition like a shot to his gut, and he gave the deposed goddess a slow, tight smile, hoping that this encounter would leave them with all their limbs.

“Hello, Khemrhy.”

“Do you have any idea what you just screwed up?” Khemrhy laid the scimitar across her back, the fire dying and sword disappearing before she leaned against an old Chevy pickup, one foot planted squarely on the front bumper.

Before anyone could slap a hand over his mouth, Domniel spouted, “Could it be your hot date for this century?”

Khemrhy smiled and stood back up. “No, you fool. You messed with my hunt. He was leading me back to something important. Not that you could ever understand that.”

Always cautious in his dealings with Khemrhy, Lucius put a hand over Domniel’s mouth and said, “We think there’s a second one. Did you see anything?”

“Of course. The other one went that way,” she said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder to indicate the alley behind her. Something about it seemed too simple, but a gust of wind brought the stench of brimstone strong enough that they could all smell it.

As Lucius, Jude, and Mordecai began to head past Khemrhy, they instinctively gave her a wide berth. From behind them, Domniel said, “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on her. I still don’t trust the bitch.”

“Little hard to keep an eye on someone when you’re blind, pigeon,” she quipped. “Maybe you should get a dog.”

Lucius heard Domniel mouthing off in the distance and rolled his eyes, hoping she didn’t remove any limbs. This time.

“A dog, huh? You’ll do. Let me see if I can find a leash and a muzzle,” Domniel snapped back. “Though you might be a little front end heavy to be running around on hands and knees, fetching shit for me.”

As the wind picked up, Lucius could see Domniel’s head swivel as he struggled to locate Khemrhy’s dissipating scent. Elijah signed to him in a panic, the fluttering of his fingers reaching through to the blind angel.

“Shit! Shit! Shit! I lost her! Where is she? I don’t speak finger-fuck!”

Lucius whirled in a circle, hoping that even he could get a quick scent to target the goddess.

Ten feet in front of his sightless brother, Khemrhy growled, “I’ve got a front end for you.” And then the truck came crashing down on Domniel.

From his viewpoint behind Domniel, Lucius watched as Khemrhy planted her boot on the truck’s bumper and pushed down hard to lever it upward. When she started pushing down with her foot, Elijah began frantically signing the word, “Chevy” to no avail. As the truck stood on end, she reached down, grabbed the bumper, and swung the entire vehicle over her head.

The pickup came down in a barrage of creaking steel, slamming Domniel hard into the pavement. He gave a loud, anguished grunt as Elijah ran to his side. Twisted metal groaned as Elijah tried to maneuver chunks of the vehicle up off him.

“Get…off me… fucking bitch!” he gurgled. Khemrhy laughed as she made her way to a Triumph motorbike parked beneath one of the street lights.

Lucius and Jude ran to assist. “What the fuck happened? Dom?”

“Chevy half-ton pickup,” Elijah signed to Lucius.

Lucius winced, reaching for parts of the vehicle. “Ouch.”

The sound of the Triumph’s throttle rumbling got their attention and they turned. Khemrhy smiled back, flipping them her middle finger before roaring off down the street.

Domniel lay on his back, his chest caved in, laboring for enough breath to groan.

Lucius shook his head. “You know better than to piss her off. She could’ve killed you, dumbass.”

Domniel wheezed, turned his head and spat out two bloody teeth. “Get ‘Magic Fingers’ over here – good to go.”

Elijah tapped Lucius on the shoulder and gestured to Domniel.

“Yeah,” Lucius nodded. “Do your thing. And get him to walk. I’m not fucking carrying his wiseass back.”

They came forward and closed ranks, making a circle around him. Elijah knelt down next to the blind angel, stretched out his hands and cracked his knuckles.

“Just fucking get to it, mute. My balls are wedged up in my ribcage.” Domniel’s eyes fluttered closed in between gasps.

Jude snorted. “Why can’t you be the mute?”

Lucius held a hand up, silencing them.

Elijah rubbed his hands together and closed his eyes. The silent angel’s hands trembled for a moment and then glowed with a soft, white light. He placed both of them, palms down, on what was left of Domniel’s chest and took a deep breath.

Domniel lit up, his chest echoing the glow from Elijah’s hands, and he let out a deep, relaxing sigh. “Fuck, yeah. I bet the chicks love that shit.”

“Shut up,” Lucius warned.

Domniel sighed again and gave into the healing.

Author Bios

Tara Wood divides her time between creating domestic bliss and creating hot paranormal romance with the occasional side of kink. When not playing June Cleaver for her hubby and daughter, she can be found at the local Starbucks slamming back Frappuccinos and plotting out her next idea. Or she’s watching the BBC. Tara resides with her wonderful and tolerant family in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She is currently at work on several projects, one of them being the next book in her In Blood series.

Tara S. Wood

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Moon Rose Publishing

Lorecia is a native Houstonian who did not escape in her adulthood. So she camps out in NW Houston concocting her own special variety of chaos but rarely finishes it without the continual prodding of best friend Tara. She loves to laugh, bead, write, eat and hug kitties. She also loves to have fun and can usually be found on any given Friday night off chatting her head off at Denny’s with her bestie.

Lorecia Goings

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Interview with Tara Stogner Wood

Morning people! I’m very excited about today’s interview, because it is my very awesome friend, Tara Stogner Wood! A few days ago, I did a review for her new novel, Redemption in Blood, and we get a chance to talk to her!

Tara Wood divides her time between creating domestic bliss and creating hot paranormal romance with the occasional side of kink. When not playing June Cleaver for her hubby and daughter, she can be found at the local Starbucks slamming back Frappuccinos and plotting out her next idea. Or she’s watching the BBC. Tara resides with her wonderful and tolerant family in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She is currently at work on several projects, one of them being the next book in her In Blood series. Redemption in Blood is her first novel.

Hello Tara, it’s a great pleasure to have you here, welcome to my blog!

As everyone knows in my interviews-random question first! I know from Facebook ‘music-offs’ with you, you enjoy music as much as me! If you could listen to just one band for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?

Only one? How to choose? Well, if you’re going to make me, I would have to say…..Franz Ferdinand. I absolutely love all of their songs. They range from pop to rock to ballad. There’s a song for every mood, every feeling. They appear frequently in my playlist of writing music. Probably more than any other artist.

I’ve some of your different moods, I know some of the songs on that playlist! 😀 Your first novel, Redemption in Blood, sounds (and is!) really interesting. Can you tell us more about it?

This is a story about two people trying to mend broken parts of their lives. Vesper and Decker are completely different people coming from different worlds, but their circumstances are forcing them together in order to make things right. Not just for themselves, but for the worlds they come from. They’ve had failures, big ones, and what they don’t realize is how much each needs the other in order find their redemption. There’s an awful lot of understanding and acceptance that needs to happen if their relationship is going to work. It’s an interesting ride, and I was pleased to write their story.

So what inspired this novel?

This book actually started out as a completely different idea. The plot was utterly atrocious and I only had a chapter or two written when what was happening on the pages morphed into a completely new idea. It had been more of a contemporary romance with a supernatural element, and then all of a sudden, BOOM! Vesper and her knives appeared, I started over and never looked back. I’m glad I didn’t.

So am I! The literary world is a better place for Vesper and….her, um…knives. Where can we find your novels?

Redemption in Blood is currently available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.

What books do you read? Do you read books in your genre, or books very different from it?

Actually, I am an avid reader across many genres. I do like paranormal romances, but I love a good historical or Regency romance. Lately, I am more into thrillers and suspense novels. Some of my favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, J. T. Ellison, and Karin Slaughter. Oh, yeah, and I’m also quite fond of an up and coming indie author by the name of Miranda Stork. *grin* I’m reading Conner now and I’m absolutely LOVING it.

*blushes* Well, I, um…I sure she’s very pleased! 😉 *points to side of blog very determinedly* If you could be a character from one of your books for a day, who would you be and why?

You’re probably thinking I would choose Vesper, right? I mean, what writer doesn’t want to be her heroine? Honestly, I would choose Cain. He’s not a major player in this book, but he definitely makes an impression. He’s brash, funny, has no brain-to-mouth filter, and can charm his way out of just about anything with a wink and smile. Who wouldn’t love to be like that for a day? Carefree and cocky with the world at your fingertips. Yep, Cain. I love that mouthy kid. And don’t worry….I have big plans for him. *evil cackle*

LOVE Cain, I can completely understand that. I’d enjoy being able to get away with half the stuff he says. What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Well, I am hard at work writing the follow up to Redemption in Blood, and I am in the process of editing a manuscript that I co-authored with a friend. That book is the start of an urban fantasy series about a group of fallen angels.

Ooh, I’m up for the first copy! You heard me people, get to the back of the queue! Last question of randomness! If you could be any kind of supernatural creature for the day, what would you be and why?

That’s a good question. Let’s see, I think I would have to choose a ghost. As a writer, the idea of being able to people watch and observe all sorts of things unobtrusively appeals to me greatly. Plus, I’m incredibly nosy.

I daren’t say what I think you might do as a ghost. O_o You can find out more about Tara Wood on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog. Thank you for being here, Tara, any parting words?

Yes, thank you so much for having me. This was great fun. Also, to all the readers out there who pick up my book: I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for your support of indie authors. Your support means so much to us all. Happy reading! Cheers!

Fantastic having you here, hun. 🙂

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he’s determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn’t expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper’s world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay. 

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price?

You can pick up this amazing book here at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, and read my review of it here-I loved it! 😀

Review of Redemption in Blood by Tara Wood

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he’s determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn’t expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper’s world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay.

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price?

You can grab your copy by clicking here, or on that appealing cover there.

Good Points

Okay, whoa, let me just take a deep breath. Because there are a lot. I’m so impressed that in just two days I have had the pleasure of reading two great novels that I loved! In all seriousness, I have met the lovely Tara Woods via Facebook, and am always aware of still reviewing friend’s novels despite being friends with them. However, I truly loved this book. The thing that stands out in Ms Wood’s novel the most are the characters. Vesper is truly ass-kicking, more Buffy than Bella, and says exactly what she thinks, but has her flaws. And Decker is a strong kind of guy, but holds his own, and the electrically charged arguing between them really builds towards their inevitable relationship.

On top of this, I think Tara Wood totally gets my need to have characters who are sexy and hot, and yet psychotic and bloody-minded, in the form of Victor and Howard, who you will love to hate. The writing has just the right pace, and pulled me in from the first page, where we first see the complicated character that is Vesper.

Not to mention that the sex scenes are HOT! They don’t glaze over things, nor are they too drawn out with a plethora of unnecessary flowery language, and I had to fan myself quite a few times to stop my blush spreading over my face!   On top of all this, the storyline is original and unique, with a twist on vampires I haven’t seen done before. I also loved how the worlds of humans and vampires were intertwined, rather than the two being separate worlds that met occasionally.  Ms Wood also left quite a few tempting morsels of the stories yet to come, with Marcus and Lorelei!

Bad Points

That the next one isn’t out yet? Hurry up and write it Tara!

Overall

This was a novel that I literally didn’t put down until I had finished it-literally. If you are looking for a paranormal novel that is neither romance or fantasy, and yet somehow both, with a crime thriller laced in, and just a dash of horror, then this is your book. The storyline is compelling, the characters are vivid, and will play out the story in front of you as clearly as if they were in your room, and there are plenty of moments that will make you gasp, make you smile (probably slyly to yourself after a furtive look around), and will make you scream, ‘No, don’t go there!’. Just download it now here, and wait impatiently for the next one, just like I now will!

I give this…..5/5 STARS!