I had the privilege to read an advanced copy of Australian author Gracie MacGregor's debut novel last month, Hearts on Hold, and wanted to interview Gracie as my first author.
You can find more information on Gracie by visiting:
What was the first book that you ever remember reading?
I know it wasn't the first (my wonderful parents read to me from my earliest days, so important for children) but the first I remember reading myself was Anna Sewell's Black Beauty. I was 6 or 7, absolutely horse-mad, and that book broke my heart. I so much hated what happened to Beauty's friend Ginger that I rewrote the story, in an old school exercise book. My parents were so proud, they took it to show my school teacher, Mr Ashburn. Unfortunately, I had an enormous crush on Mr Ashburn, and in the contrary way of shy little girls, was so embarrassed by the attention that I destroyed my very first manuscript. But I still have that original, careworn copy of Anna Sewell's beautiful book.
You're having a fabulous dinner party, which five authors (living or deceased) would you invite?
Five is really tough. I have some wonderful author friends, so I'm going to assume they know I love having dinner with them any time!
Dorothy Dunnett, the most amazing historical fiction author who ever wrote (a big call, I know, but if you haven't discovered her Lymond Chronicles, you are missing out on the greatest treat of your life).
Jane Austen, because I think even today she could still teach me a thing or two about gender politics.
Pablo Neruda (do poets count? Please let them count!) because he'd persuade every woman at the party she was desperately desirable, regardless of bad-hair days or the effects of a second helping of dessert.
Nora Ephron. I'm desperately sad she's gone, because her writing always filled me with joy and inspired me to try to be smarter, always smarter, more observant and more truthful.
Ian McEwan. I'm not sure he needs any further explanation!
(And if poets DON'T count, JK Rowling, because I admire a mind that can create that sort of magic, and would hope proximity might help a little of the magic rub off on me!)
What was the inspiration behind your debut novel, Hearts on Hold?
I was very lucky to spend a couple of weeks one summer holidaying in Xlendi on Gozo where the novel is set (do other readers do this? I was actually retracing a few of the footsteps of Dorothy Dunnett's Francis Lymond! Please don't call me obsessed, at least not to my face). The whole Maltese archipelago is such a wonderful combination of old and new, of Christian and Moorish, and this is particularly true of Gozo. I started to think about how traditions and cultures remain and adapt over time, and how quickly and brutally our modern world can sometimes force change. I thought Xlendi would be an ideal bolt-hole, if a bolt-hole was needed. And I imagined Cate one morning up on the headland after a run, and the story just took off after her.
Other than professor Blackshaw, which male protagonist from any other novel, could sweep you off your feet any day?
I'm afraid I'm very easily swept! But my current favourite is Jamie Fraser, from Diana Gabaldon's brilliant Outlander series.
I love to support independent and debut novelists, do you have any words of wisdom for potential authors wanting to make the leap into writing?
Thanks very much for the support, it really makes a huge difference! The key for me (and I'm by no means the first to say it, we all stand on the shoulders of the giants who wrote before us) is to finish. Finish something. Pick the best of the half-written manuscripts under your bed or the half-formed ideas in your head, and write until it's finished. Finishing Hearts on Hold gave me an enormous sense of achievement, even knowing it needed a massive amount of work, and that spurred me on to DO the work of rewriting, to make it the best I could make it. Before, I'd been a terrible tweaker - I had (still have) four or five bits of manuscripts whose first and second and third chapters I would endlessly "edit", but the secret is in finishing the first draft. It's fine to tell yourself it's just a vomit draft, if that takes the pressure off as you write, but just finish it.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia, romantics can win an eCopy of Gracie's novel, Hearts on Hold.
I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.
Elizabeth
Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . She sees them. Longing, Shame, and
Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear
in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she
doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s
intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed
Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.
Elizabeth and Fear both sense
that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in
the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as
she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long
enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will
she be able to rely on Fear to save her?
Elizabeth doesn't feel fear... Or surprise, hate, even disappointment, she sees them. Elizabeth can see emotions in human form, they each have a face, a smugness and questioning stare. She can also see the elements, far beyond the weather, but the bodies that control them. Elizabeth feels nothing, not grief, happiness or lust, and strangely, she can't feel curious as to why not either.
Fear is determined to crack Elizabeth, not being able to accept that she is living her life without feeling. He has watched her since the day of her accident, and knows it's just a matter of time before her walls come tumbling down. He's the one that wants to drive her to feel, what he didn't count on was quiet farm boy Joshua, who has always seen past her facade, now breaking through the cursed barrier. In a series of tragic events, nightmares and revelations, Elizabeth realises that she isn't just the freak that classmates label her, that her past and future have collided, and that evil lurks, waiting to snatch her.
Who is she?
Some Quiet Place was a unique story of the elements and emotions being controlled by conscious beings. Sadness, Joy, even Fear, placing a hand on your shoulder, leaving you suddenly overwhelmed. Elizabeth first poses as a inhumanly cold girl, but even with her emotions stripped, she'll soon grow on you. Her life is full of sadness, anger and abuse, and you can't help but pity her.
Well written and unique, it's essentially a girl trying to find who she is.
Some Quiet Place
Written By Kelsey Sutton
Published 01 / 06 / 2013
336 Pages
Published 01 / 06 / 2013
336 Pages
Thank you to Netgalley and Flux Books
Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?
Reyna isn't crazy. Diagnosed and medicated, the sixteen year old has spent three years of her life inside a mental asylum. Since her mother's death, Ray has seen angels. They're not real of course, just a figment of her imagination, a coping mechanism to compensate for her loss, or so said her current psychologist. She's been angel free for months, no sign of the feathered celestial beings... Until she meets the new boy at school, Cam.
Cam is a higher being, he embodies serenity, peace and protection, but is in a state of panic that Ray can see his wings. Shortly after Cam's arrival, students at the small high school are committing suicide. Eerily, all the teens have a common theme before they died, seeing a black winged angel that seemingly, pushed them over the edge.
Kade, handsome, sinful and a fallen angel. His coffee addiction drives him into the cozy dinner on a regular basis, the diner where Ray works. He's as sexy as he is dangerous, but it's all a front. He can be considerate as well as conscientious, or perhaps Ray brings out the best in him.
But it seems something far darker and more sinister is luring teens to their death, targeting those around Ray. It isn't a coincidence, evil I'd coming for her and will let nothing stand in the way. Her family have disowned her, she's a social outcast amongst her peers, it'll be up to the two angels that landed her I'm this mess, to help save her life and the lives of those around her. But with emotions running high, will she fall for the fallen angel, or the angel that is hellbent on not falling.
A Shimmer Of Angels was fluffy and cute. Although dealing with issues such as perceived mental illness and teen suicide, it was still a light read. It had all the aspects that young adult readers have come to rely upon, the dreaded love triangle, the angst, the token nerd, stereotypical teens and bullying, but it was brilliantly entertaining, I couldn't put it down.
I have a strained relationship with Angel themed young adult novels, but A Shimmer Of Angels has certainly changed that, and I'll definitely be continuing on to the second book of the Angel Sight series. Becca Fitzpatrick, take note, this is how you produce a well written young adult angel series.
A Shimmer Of Angels
(Angel Sight: Book One)
Written By Lisa M. Basso
(Angel Sight: Book One)
Written By Lisa M. Basso
Published 29 / 01 / 2013
263 Pages
263 Pages
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher
Fall For Me The Tate Chronicles Book One
Written By K. A Last
Angels, Paranormal
Published January 17th 2013
237 Pages
Add to Goodreads
★★★☆
Grace Tate is a Protection Angel and Vampire Hunter, and she has always followed the rules. But some rules are made to be broken…Until now the fight against evil has been simple, and falling in love was never part of the plan. So what happens when it’s beyond Grace’s control, and when she least expects it she falls for the wrong person?All hell breaks loose, that’s what.At Hopetown Valley High, not everything is as it seems, and the one person Grace thought was her enemy becomes her most important ally.Blood will be shed, lives will be lost and friendships will be tested. It all comes down to one decision, and when Grace tries to save all those dear to her, she realises not everyone can be, or wants to be, saved.
The rules are simple, do not reveal yourself to humans, perform your duties as a protector and lastly, do not fall in love. Grace has always followed the rules... Until now. Grace is a divine angel, together with her twin brother Archer, they slay vampires, fallen angels of the world. Every generation in the Tate family produces a hunter and protector, so for the orphaned Tate twins, all they have is each other... And their secret.
Grace has loved him from afar, the newly single Josh. He's never noticed her, until now. Grace knows what will happen if she allows herself to get too close, she'll fall, in more ways than one.
A strange new vampire arrives in town, seeking protection from her own kind that wish to destroy her. She's kind, beautiful and has a soul almost as pure as Grace. So when the higher council insists she be destroyed, how can Grace end the immortal life of a friend that poses no threat. Former angel, now fallen, Seth is leading the charge to drain vampire Charlotte of her blood and essence.
Seth and Grace have a past, but neither acknowledge the other, apart from the snide remarks and what is now clearly a loathing acquaintance. Seth has his reasons... But can he keep up the tough guy act?
When their world comes crashing down, can love really survive the test of time?
Kelly's Thoughts
Fall For Me was difficult to review without giving away any of the plot twists, so it was best not to stray too far from a safe review. K. A Last has written a unique take on fallen angels, vampire hunters and 'friendly' vampires, that you won't know where your legions lie. Seth was by far the most complex character, and outshone Josh on personality alone. In typical young adult fashion, Fall For Me contains all the popular cliches, the love triangle, instant love, the bad boy and villain, but a young teen audience will eat it up.
It's unique, fresh and a fluffy fun take on angels, vampires and the paranormal.
What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?
Weighted
down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her
head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews
College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she
doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named
Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As
their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s
been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal,
and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to
pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she
realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic
history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the
only person who can keep him from drowning.
This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content
Blythe remembers the days where she was carefree, but her life was all but destroyed the night her family was ripped apart. Trauma has stunted her memories, but the still images that play in her mind will haunt her forever. Four years on, and Blythe lives within her cocoon. She is now a friendless, social misfit who's only reprieve is through alcohol. She has never had a boyfriend, the thought of being touched intimately by anyone terrifies her. After yet another drunk phone call to her distant brother, she decides it's time to change her life... Just in time to run into Sabin.
The flamboyant, over dramatic womanising, community theater actor is dramatic, direct and bounces into her life, making her feel alive again. Giving Blythe the confidence to venture out and seek new experiences... Like the handsome, stone skipper Chris. Finding an instant, inexplicable connection with the complete stranger, who turns out to be Sabin's brother.
Along with Estelle and Chris, Blythe finds an easy friendship with the Shepherd siblings, especially Chris. For the first time since her world shattered, Blythe finally feels that perhaps the future isn't so bleak after all. While she falls into the comfortable routine of being inducted into the Shepherd clan, she starts to release that she isn't the only lost and broken soul. The Sheppard family are holding into a past that even Blythe can't comprehend. As her friendship with Chris blooms, Blythe begins to heal...
But is Chris beyond repair?
Left Drowning is by far one of the top contemporary novels of the year, comparable to Colleen Hoover's Hopeless. It's steamy, laugh out loud funny and emotional. It will tear you apart, and leave you an emotional mess. Jessica Park creates brilliant and poignant characters that will embed themselves under your skin, and you'll feel every low and high along with their story. The sexual content is sizzling!
Sabin is phenomenal, he is the new Celeste (from Jessica's previous release, Flat Out Love). I absolutely fell in love with his character and Sabin's struggle with what the Shepherd siblings had to endure. It was simply brilliant.
Left Drowning
Written By Jessica Park
Expected Publication 16 / 07 / 2013
Thank you to the phenomenal Jessica Park,
for sharing the Shepherd story with me before
sharing it with the world. I adored it.
Rush promised her forever... but promises can be broken.
Torn between his love for his family and his love for Blaire, Rush has to find a way to save one without losing the other. In the end one has to be more important. Letting go isn’t easy.
Blaire believed in her fairytale... but no one can live in a fantasy.
Her love for Rush and desire to have a family keep her believing that they can find a way for this to work. Until she has to make the right decision for her and the baby. Even if it breaks her heart.
Can they find the forever that they both want or has it all just gone... too far?
Blaire is living perfection, a handsome fiance and baby on the way, but her perfect world is about to come screaming down, courtesy of one spoilt brat with father issues... Nan, Rush Finley's sister.
Nan feels abandoned, just another excuse for demanding attention. That her father doesn't care, her mother has always neglected her, and now her brother, the only one that has ever loved her, has chosen Blaire. Usually her tantrums and threats would have Rush coddling her like a child, his life on hold to ensure Nan's wellbeing, and Nan knows it. Now with Blaire pregnant and emotional, Rush couldn't possibly run to Nan's side, right? Wrong.
Nan is self centered, aggressive and feels she's a victim. She's toxic. So when Rush begins neglecting Blaire, he releases that ultimately he'll need to choose between the two women in his life, but will Blaire wait?
Forever Too Far was ultimately Nan's story, and pathetic doesn't even begin to describe her. This series begun beautifully, but have deteriorated rapidly and the spin off series was woeful.
Nan's constant declaration that no one cares and no one loves her left me wishing someone would end her with a kitchen knife. Supposedly Rush and Blaire's ending, but points of view from Grant and his new mystery woman, clearly testing the premise of yet another spin off series. It was disappointing to say the least.
Forever Too Far
(Too Far: Book Three)
Written By Abbi Glines
Written By Abbi Glines
Published 10 / 06 / 2013
304 Pages
Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed?
He’ll tell you he has the flu.
But we all know that’s not really true.
Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything - or anyone - derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.
Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life?
Can Drew Evans win at love?
Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without
Drew has money, power, a career in a booming industry, women flinging themselves at his feet. He's never been in love, he's never had a girlfriend, and that suits Drew just fine... Until he meets Kate.
After a chance meeting at one of New York's hotspots, little did Drew know that the one girl that seemed immune to his charm, is the new consultant at his father's banking firm. She's beautiful, intelligent, at the top of her game... And taken. She can't deny the attraction she feels towards Drew, but she wont risk her ten year relationship on a womanising advocate of one night stands.
Slowly but surely the impossible happens, Drew finds himself wanting more from Kate than just to satisfy his own hunger, he is falling for her, hard. A few stolen kisses in the workplace, Kate's relationship ending, all resulting in a sensual and enlightened weekend... But good things never last.
The ladies man ruins his relationship with Kate, even before it begins, now he'll spend waking moment showing Kate just how different she is to his past conquests. Will Kate ever forgive him, or will Drew have his heart broken by the only girl he's ever loved?
Tangled is the book on everyone's shelf at the moment, so naturally I had to see what all the buzz was about. Described as a funny insight of the male point of view about women, relationships, sex and a blooming career, Drew's character is nothing short an egotistical wanker, until he meets a woman who is all that, and more.
It was entertaining, but sadly, I couldn't buy into another new adult novel about the bad boy womaniser who finds love and changes his way. It wasn't all that funny, and neither character was engaging. The only bright spark was Drew's niece McKenzie, she was adorable. I wish I could have found it as enjoyable as others have, but unfortunately not. It just wasn't for me.
Tangled
(Tangled: Book One)
Written By Emma Chase
Written By Emma Chase
Published 20 / 05 / 2013
240 Pages
Eversea is a FINALIST in the Winter Rose Unpublished Contest for 2013
An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.
A Hollywood A - list mega - star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose.
A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever.
When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her married and much older director, A - list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler.
Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him.
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