Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

Catherine Converse!

Today, we talk about author Catherine Converse and her YA paranormal suspense novels! Read on to discover more about her books and about Catherine!

 

Fade To Silver (December 2012):

Adie is forced into new territory when her dream overlaps with a complete stranger in a different part of the country, while Dannika escapes from Research, not accepting the new assets in her brain that will change the way she works forever. Despite their separation, their lives merge once again to solve a major corporate conspiracy case, where one man has already lost his life, and Adie has set interference in motion on the next victim in line. But the corporation holds something that is so special, they aren’t the only ones that are willing to kill for it.

With two young men battling for her affection, Adie struggles to keep focus on the case. Once again, Adie and Dannika become the targets, as they become identified as obstacles for those who are after the corporation’s unique discovery. Until it becomes clear that only one person has the power to stop the chain reaction that has begun. And only one question will reveal that person. Who holds the key?

The In Between:

 Two girls with opposing backgrounds join a secret intelligence agency located deep in the earth, where their psychic dreams are used to prevent murder. As the girls form a unique friendship, they begin to dream about the same serial case, triggering a chaos that spirals through the agency tunnels, and proves the lives they need to save are their own.

The Secret Street Saga (A series of novellas written as episodes, released each month beginning December 2012):

Jemily wakes up to ambulance lights in the middle of the night to discover her old next door neighbor had passed away. In her attempt to discover the truth behind her neighbor’s death, she uncovers secrets of the neighborhood’s past. The old lady’s death was like an invitation to bring them all back, only this time, they’re here to stay.

About Catherine Converse:

Catherine Converse lives with her husband and four amazing children in beautiful Montana. She studied Business at Carroll College and graduate work in Marketing Communications at West Virginia University. Her love of writing took off in her years working as a marketing consultant using creative writing to sell. Now she uses it to take readers on an adventure, or to share her passions.

If not writing, seeking out readers, or musing on motherhood chaos, Catherine loves most to be playing with her family – indoors and out, and focusing upward to show God her gratitude for such a blessed life.

Connect with Catherine at:

I love writing stuff that entertains, but first and foremost, I’m a mother. I usually have a few things to say about that at The Greener Grass Mama, http://www.greenergrassmama.blogspot.com

Website: http://www.catherineconversebooks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/catherineconversebooks and Follow the The In Between Series on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/theinbetweenseries

Twitter: @CatConverse

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Converse/e/B0091ZQB44/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The In Between Product Page: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092QF3UA

In addition to her books that are listed here, Catherine has the following soon to be released!!

Fade To Silver (The In Between #2), Coded in Stone (The In Between #3), Secret Street (Secret Street #1), Distant Silence (Secret Street #2)

Take a look at Catherine’s books, follow her novella episodes on FB, and like and buy her books on Amazon!! During your visit, consider leaving a review, too.

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads and let’s connect!

If you remember back a few days, I promoted The Angel’s Assassin  by Samantha Holt. Well, Samantha Holt actually has a couple of other historical romances that I would like to tell you about. Read on to discover all of her books and more about the author!!

Books by Samantha Holt

The Angel’s Assassin

As a rebellion sweeps England, Lady Annabel finds her home overrun by rebels. Much to her relief, a dark knight comes to her rescue, claiming to have been sent to protect her by her uncle.

But Nicholas holds a secret about the job he was sent to do and it is a far cry from what Annabel believes it to be. As the attraction between them grows, Nicholas begins to question the dark life he has lived. But is it enough to change him and will Annabel ever trust again after learning the true nature of his sinful duty?

The Crimson Castle

With her father dead and her brother missing in the crusades, Lady Evelyn finds herself in the clutches of the notorious Lord Tibald. But while she should be concentrating on spurning the advances of the lord, Evelyn finds herself fighting an attraction to the enigmatic and brooding Gabriel, Tibald’s darkly unnerving right hand man.

As she becomes aware of Gabriel’s merciless nature, she struggles to reconcile herself with the consuming nature of their bond, while trying to understand the two sides of the conflicting man. All the while, Lord Tibald plots to get his hands on Evelyn’s lands…and her.

A Summer Siege

1216 England

The country is torn apart by a rebellion as the French invade. Reunited after five years, Madeline and Tristan find themselves caught up in the war and in a fight to save their love.

Tristan is thrilled when the girl that he has loved, and missed, for five years returns to him, but the time apart has changed Madeline and she feels herself incapable of depending upon another. Can Tristan convince her otherwise?

As the French close in upon them, Madeline has to summon the courage to fight for her home, her country and for a love lost. Will she succeed or will their love and lives become another casualty of the rebellion?

Author Bio:

Samantha Holt resides in Warwickshire, England, with her twin girls, having followed her soldier husband around the UK for nearly 10 years. Growing up in Hampshire, she was inspired by the authors Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of whom lived and wrote only miles from her home town.

Samantha Holt loves the romance genre and has been devouring romantic literature for as long as she can remember. History is another passion of hers and she loves to combine her love for history and romance into exciting and passionate tales.

• Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction
• Facebook Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/sammy.sidwell
• Blog: http://www.samanthaholtauthor.blogspot.co.uk

Author Interview:

The Angel’s Assassin Interview

What is your book about?

The Angel’s Assassin is a medieval romance but it explores the ideas of trust and redemption. The hero, Nicholas, is the ultimate anti-hero – a man with a bad past and a sinful deed to carry out. My heroine, Annabel, is the complete opposite of him and challenges him in many ways.  She makes him want to change but whether Annabel believes him capable of change is another thing!

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I wanted to write an anti-hero and I knew I wanted to set it in early Norman England, a time when the country was still very much in turmoil It started with a baronial revolt and the story went from there really. The revolt only really plays as the backdrop for the story as the events act as the trigger but the rest of the story really revolves purely around Nicholas and Annabel.

What makes your book different than others in your genre?

My use of language is different. I know my native English tongue differs slightly but I hope that brings a sense of realism, particularly when it comes to dialogue. I love writing dialogue and I think that comes across. I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to visit places featured in my books (castles etc) and I hope to bring a sense of realism into my stories by blending my experiences into my tales.

How long did it take you to write your book?

Generally I take about three months. I write full time so I put in anything between 4-6 hours of writing a day.

What are some writing goals for the future?

I’d like to perhaps expand into a different historical era or even write some contemporary romances. For the moment, I still have some untapped medieval stories but I imagine there’s only so many you can write. Having said that, I’m always sure the one I’m working on will be my last one and then another miraculously comes along.

If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?

How to Survive on a Desert Island – I’m making the gross assumption this book exists! Failing that, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

What makes a good romance book?

The characterisation is essential. I love it when a book makes your stomach churn with fear, apprehension, excitement… If you don’t care for the characters then that won’t happen. In romance, you need to want them to get together and I love that little stomach flip you get when it finally happens.

GUEST POST

The pros and cons of being a Medieval Romantic writer

Pros

1. You walk around in a rosy haze making the world seem wonderful.

2. You’re creative! This means you can write wherever you want. The bath is my favourite.

3. You fall in love with a new man each time you write a new book.

4. You get to think naughty thoughts and not feel ashamed about it.

5. Watching romantic films is considered research.

6. You get to explore castles as research.

7. After hours of writing medieval dialogue, husband responds very well to being called ‘My Lord.’

8. You expand your cooking knowledge when researching medieval recipes.

9. You learn new things about chosen period and therefore sound amazingly well-educated.

10. You get to write about men in loose linen shirts

Cons

1. You walk around in a rosy haze. Family don’t like this apparently.

2. You brain prefers that you write in bed. At 2am in the morning.

3. You fall in love with a FICTIONAL  man. Husband doesn’t like this much either.

4. You spend so much time thinking naughty thoughts that you forget how to actually do the real thing.

5. All your royalties get spent on tissues when watching said romantic films.

6. You have to explore castles as research – do you know how many steps those things have?

7. You forget how to talk normally after writing dialogue and the postman is never impressed. I thank thee for thy missive, good Sir.

8. You learn useless things that will never impress anyone.  Cobwebs were considered to cure warts in medieval times – try using that as a conversation starter.

9. Family refuses to eat medieval culinary delights  thus rendering knowledge useless. Why will they not eat a recipe delightfully named ‘Garbage’?

10. You have to write about men wearing hose. Hose are not sexy.