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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Carressed by a Crimson Moon Cover Reveal!!!

So, I am very excited to have been contacted by Amanda Green author of the first book Carressed by Moonlight, and followers you know I enjoyed the first book. I was actually looking forward to searching for the second and third book so I could read it and continue to follow the lives introduced to the books.
So imagine my surprise when the author contacts me to reveal the third installment and grants me the great privalege of reading and reviewing the second book, which I am extremely excited to crack open.
So without further ado, I  reveal the cover and blurb of Caressed by a Crimson Moon by Amanda J. Greene!!! Squeee!!!


Back Cover Blurb:

Tales of Lust Hate and Despair by Ian Truman



Synopsis:
Samuel Lee has known three days of freedom in the last eighteen years. Three days to come out of prison, see his daughter, settle a score with the mother of his child and her dangerous new boyfriend. Finding shelter in the unlikely company of a group of prostitutes, Sam will have to challenge his friends, his family, and ultimately, himself.

Told in the tradition of the best literary noir, Tales of Lust, Hate and Despair is a modern, lowdown and gritty take on the genre. Inspired by the cinema of Akira Kurosawa and Samuel Fuller as well as the music of Tom Waits, Sage Francis, Neurosis and Marilyn Manson, it is a novel that is sure to please anyone who has ever found themselves trapped and cast aside from the world


Review:
I am not a fan usually of this genre, I enjoy giving every book I come across a chance. And so I did with this because there are those rare occasions that a genre will surprise me.
This book kind of fell into the middle.
You are placed in the middle of a tale where a man is released from prison after a long stint.
Anyone who is anyone knows that when you are let out of jail it is hard to adjust with the freedom, and that is perhaps why I didn't enjoy the book as much as I could have.
The transition was just to easy.
The book was a thrilling read and fans of the genre deffinetly should give it a try.

Rating:
3.5 Ravens.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Medusa A Love Story by Sasha Summers (Interview + Review)


Summary:
It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster...

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his
Review:
I love the tale of Medusa, a woman able to turn a man to stone with but a look, a tool of the gods.
I had always wondered how it came to be that she was cursed, to many different variations of a myth can often leave a person guessing so when I heard about this variation to the myth I knew I had to read it.
In this tale my heart felt as if it was breaking for Medusa, a girl who is innocent and naive to the world. It felt like the tale would have been more aptly named Medusa A Tragedy, so many things just went wrong for the couple. I couldn't imagine if I had to face what the author created for them.
It does bring the fact that true love cannot be stopped, true love with over come all obstacles in the end.
I was never happier for certain people to die then I was in this book. Their death's and what came for them at the end was truly deserved.
In most myth's Medusa is often portrayed as a horrid villain, so it was refreshing to see her as a victim and understand why she had to do the thing's set before her.
Rating:
5 Raven's

Author Bio:

Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, romance, and travel. She writes both lyrical romantic fantasy AND steamy contemporary romance. Her first play was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Interview:
1. How hard is it to write while having a large family?
 Sometimes it’s hard. But the kids are all old enough to be in school so I try to be as productive as possible while they’re there. Weekends and summer time is a challenge but my family s seriously supportive – and AWESOME!


2. Why did you choose the Medusa myth to shape your love story around?
I didn’t really choose. Honestly, the story just kind of happened/appeared in my head and I couldn’t let it go until I’d written it all down.
3. What is your favorite myth and why?
That’s not an easy question. There are SO many good myths, characters, monsters and more. I hope I’ll be able to continue to write about them for some time yet.

4.If you could choose to be any "god/goddess," who would you choose to be and why?
Hmm. Aphrodite… She’s the Goddess of Love!

5. Which charachter gave you the most trouble when creating your story, who was the easiest?
All of the characters were pretty driven – they knew where ‘they’ wanted to go and led the way. It was a wild and enjoyable, if emotional, write.

6. Why choose such a genre to write for?
It wasn’t intentional. I know how hard fantasy is to ‘break into’ and I was very happily writing contemporary romance. But then, one vivid dream shook everything up and Medusa was ‘born’ – the stories for the series followed quickly.

7. What if you suddenly lost the ability to write, to weave a world at will. What would yo replace the skill with?
EEK! I don’t really like this question… Hmm… I’d hope my painting could fill the void. I don’t think it could, but…

8. How did you meet your husband and what made you fall in love with him?
I met my husband when we were kids, 14. And he loved me so completely that I had no choice but to fall in love with him. Twenty plus years later – he’s wonderful inspiration for my books heroes.
9. What is your biggest fear.
As far as writing? That I’ll run out of stories. Or that I won’t write a story with the skill and/or talent that it deserves. I’m a reader too, I hate being disappointed in a book. I don’t want to disappoint readers!


10. Thank you for taking the time out of what I am sure is a busy schedule and talking with us here at Wonderland Reviews, is there any last words you would like to leave with the reader's? If you choose to read Medusa, A Love Story – Thank You. I sincerely hope you get lost in the pages and enjoy the book.

Against All Odds by Aliaa El Nashar (INTERVIEW+ GIVEAWAY+ REVIEW)


Synopsis:
The Story revolves around:

-A boy called Damien who seems to have it all. He's rich, good-looking and athletic. He's also arrogant, obnoxious and a major player. Damien is one of 5 children who seem to not get along, until one day Damien meets Alexis and his life is turned inside out.

-A girl called Alexis who has trust issues due to her parents. Her best friends mean the world to her, and she refuses to date anyone that doesn't fit completely in her 'Perfect Guy' list.

They're thrown together a lot and start to face inner demons they've hidden away for so long


Review:
I wasn't to sure about this book when I started it, the main issue right off the bat was that there seemed to be some sort of format error and grammatical error's that kept me from really sinking into the tale.
So, as I floated along through the story, I found myself slowly starting to enjoy watching a love story unfold through the eyes of a guy. It is so often we are going through the motions of some great love unfold through the pages in the eyes of a woman, but this was a refreshing change as a self proclaimed player suddenly finds himself at a loss.
When a love came out of no where and soccer punched him, he finds himself reeling and unable to find a steady ground to stand up on. Alexis rocks his world from the beginning.
I like that she stuck to what she believed in, that she didn't just give it away, she made the guy work for it.

I wasn't a fan of how relationships started popping out of nowhere, to the point it seemed like everyone was evenly matched.
But still I enjoyed the book.
Rating:
4 Raven's
About the Author:




My name is Aliaa El- Nashar. I am a 20 year old Egyptian girl living in Cairo. I am currently majoring in Italian at university after having fallen in love with languages at such a young age. My life revolves around reading, writing and drawing. I occasionally collect postcards and teach Arabic to whoever would like to learn it. I own an adorable cat and share an apartment with my sister in the city. I am prone to rash and spontaneous decisions. I've just gotten published last year and hope to publish more work in the future.

Oh, and I am in love with the Sphinx.


Interview:

1. What is your checklist for your perfect mate?
That would probably be something like Alexis' I guess. Though he also has to be able to speak more than one language. I am obsessed with them and can barely converse in just one without switching around, so I'd want him to get me without me having to explain what I mean.

2. If someone you loved and were close to died in the family, how would you take it?
I don't know to be honest. I am known in my family as awkward with my emotions, which makes me end up saying the wrong things. When we heard my cousin was really sick my sister told me word for word what to say to him, it sounded rehearsed. When a friend told me she failed the year I accidentally congratulated her. When another friend heard someone had stolen her paper, I was grinning at the absurdity of someone doing such a thing, but it might have given the wrong impression. And 10 years ago when my grandmother died, I couldn't cry, I guess because I didn't know her well enough since we lived in different countries and only met on holidays. But for some reason I cry when I watch ridiculously sappy movies or read an emotional book. So I really have no idea.

3. How does it feel to have a finished work at such a young age?
It feels surreal. I mean, I am always writing or coming up with new ideas, the stories are complete in my head. But, in real life, I never really see any of them through. To have actually finished one feels like a great accomplishment. I can't believe I'd actually managed it!

4. Which of your charachter's do you relate to the most?
I can relate the most to Alexis. She's very friendly and would go through hoops for her friends, but when it comes to romance she's so guarded, I feel the same. I love to draw, and at the time was a huge fan of volleyball, but I haven't played it in years now. I've also always wanted an older brother figure. I grew up with two sisters and years later my brother was born, so it's not like he's the protective 'Edmund' kind of brother

5. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why?
 I am not sure there's anything I'd change. My life isn't perfect, neither is my family. I guess I'd love to have gone to a different university, but it all adds up somehow. Yet, everything happens for a reason, and one day it will make sense why, even if it's not clear now. So all I can do is hope for the best.

6. Do you have a favorite sport?
Well, I am not the athletic kind but I have a huge thing for ice-skating. I am not any good at it, I just wonder around, skating on ice. The icy winds and the rush of it all is fascinating. The going to the rink was some sort of hang out with some friends, and also became a family tradition in Eid times. Maybe it's the fact that I've lived in desert countries all my life? It's the closest I got to ice-cold weathers and I loved it.
7. What do you do for writer's block?
Oh, I just had a guest post regarding this! I try to be imaginative and creative. I mean, I am never out of ideas, but sometimes I am just out of the incentive to just write in general. So I form a challenge, like, asking people to give me a random word for me to write a short story on. The harder the word, the better. A friend had given me 'Solipsism' and it was an interesting challenge to write a short story on it!

8. Which language is your favorite?
Language huh? Well that's a tough one. Each language has a specific charm. French sounds so elegant, Italian sounds so romantic, Japanese is fascinating, Arabic is so mysterious, and English is… well easy. I use it the most, when I write, read, think and talk. Sometimes my head feels like it's about to explode with those four languages, but more often than not it's great being able to understand people in their native tongues.
9. What do you do in your free time?
What a lot of people claim they like about me is that I always have something to do in my free time, which is great since I'm never bored - just lazy. I love to read, write and draw mainly. But sometimes I come up with crazy things like teaching Arabic to foreigners, or postcrossing and penpalling, or knitting, or going touring around Cairo. Sometimes I even like to cook and strike random conversations with people online, as well as learn more languages.

10. Any last words you would like to leave with our readers?My last words would be: normal is subjective. Many people claim I'm not normal, but what makes them decide the exact definition of the word? So what if I don't fit in that category? I hate being a grey spot in a society where everything is grey and goes in a specific pattern. I'd like to be the odd bright blue spot there making a difference, maybe add a little color to the whole mix, so you should too! See what makes you unique and go through with it. None of my characters are conventionally normal, and I like it that way. Plus, I am convinced it's much more fun to be considered weird anyway!
I really hope you enjoy the book, and I look forward to writing more stories for each Martinez family member.




THIS IS A GIVEAWAY AS WELL! FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN E-BOOK OF AGAINST ALL ODDS LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOUR CHECK LIST IS FOR YOUR PERFECT MATE, FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY FOLLOW US GFC AND LEAVE YOU GFC NAME.
IF YOU WANT TO BE CONTACTED LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL IN YOUR COMMENT.
THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!!! ENJOY!! ENDS JULY 11th of 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012

Donna Grant Interview

Hello and welcome to this stop on the tour. I would like to thank  Innovative Online Tours for making this tour possible.
I would also like to thank Donna Grant for taking time out of her busy schedule to sit down and talk with us today at Wonderland Reviews.
I have had the pleasure of being able to interview Donna before but for a book specifically,Interview Can be found here, and I can say it is always a pleasure. She is one of those author's that takes the time to think about her answers instead of just spouting out some one line nonsense that doesn't give you a feel for the author.
So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, Donna Grant!


Donna Grant is the bestselling, award winning author of more than twenty-five novels spanning multiple genres of romance.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was completed, there was no turning back.

Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as Druids Glen, The Shields, Royal Chronicles, Sisters of Magic, Dark Sword, Dark Warriors, and her new series, Dark Kings.

Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, four cats, three fish, and one long haired Chihuahua. She’s blessed with a proud, supportive husband who loves to read and travel as much as she does.



1.       Out of all the books you have read, written or even thought about writing, who has been your favorite villain? 
Hmm…I think that would have to be Deirdre.  She wasn’t just a pawn of evil, but had her own issues that contributed to making her the evil person she was.  And her relentless pursuit of having it all only made her worse. 

2.       What is one thing you have always wanted to do but never had the guts to?
Zip lineing.  It looks like so much fun, and my husband is dying for me to do it with him.  But all I can think about is something coming undone on my harness and I fall.  So, my feet will stay firmly planted on the ground. :D
  

3.       If you could own any exotic animal in the world, what would it be and why?
I love animals, especially any type of exotic cat, but I would never have the heart to take them out of their habitat and cage them or keep them in a place they don’t belong. 

4.       Which fairy tale is your favorite and why?
Beauty & the Beast.  I always loved that she was able to see past the “beast” and fall in love with who he was underneath it all.  A great story!


5.       If you could have a super power what would it be and why?
Teleportation, hands down.  I’d love to be able to visit someplace without having to get on a plane and endure such long flights – or pay for the flights!


6.       How do you come up with your character’s name’s
 I have a Character Naming Source Book, I use online naming generators for the gods’ names, a Celtic site for translating names/meanings, and another naming site online. 


I make a list of names I like, then go through and see which names are matched up to which character.



7.       What are you afraid of the most?
Spiders, spiders, spiders.  Did I mention spiders? 



Yeah, so can’t stand the things.  ::shudder::



8.       What is the most romantic thing you could imagine?
Oh, I can imagine a lot. :D  For each person its different, but I think someone taking the time to know what would please their significant other the most, and then doing it.  Whether its cooking a candlelit dinner, taking them to a place that holds some special meaning, or giving them something that holds a special meaning.  That’s romantic. J


9.       What is the most rewarding thing about being an author?
Hearing how my stories and characters have touched a reader’s life.  I’ll never get tired of those emails or meeting readers.  That’s the best thing!

Pack of Lies by Staci Weber and Sara Daily Review Blitz!



Synopsis:
The last thing Allison Wright ever expected when she moved to Red Ridge, New Mexico was to come muzzle to muzzle with the wolf of her dreams.

Seventeen-year-old Allison Wright is convinced she’s losing her mind. Uncontrollable mood swings, hot flashes, and the urge to punch anyone who gets in her way are suddenly becoming everyday occurrences. Before her erratic behavior gets out of hand, Allison’s mother finally comes clean about her dark secret. Mom is a werewolf, and soon Allison and her brother Aiden will suffer the same fate. When Allison reaches her breaking point, the family leaves their life in Texas to move to Red Ridge, New Mexico where they rejoin the pack that Allison’s mother left behind almost 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, not everyone in Red Ridge is thrilled about Allison’s arrival, especially when she attracts the attention of the very handsome, very taken, soon-to-be alpha, Cade Walker. Little does Allison know, her mere presence is causing a rift in a once unified pack. Not only has Cade been forbidden from being with Allison by his father, the pack’s alpha, Cade’s girlfriend, Kendall Stuart, will stop at nothing to get Allison out of the picture. Well on her way to becoming the next alpha’s mate, Kendall expects to rule the pack by Cade’s side even if it means teaming up with a rogue werewolf with an agenda of his own. Determined to get rid of Allison permanently, when Kendall and the rogue join forces, all hell breaks loose and no one in the pack is safe, especially not Cade and his true mate.
Review:
I absolutely adore this book. Sure it took me a little bit to get into it, there was just something rough about it that at first I had a little bit of trouble being able to look past. Once I did however, I became immersed in the story.

Right off the back you are thrown into the thick of a conflict, Allison has been in a school fight, and you get to ride along with her as she is reprimanded.

I loved how the mother came out with her big secret of being a werewolf. I almost wish I had been a fly on the wall so I would have been able to see the looks on their faces when a wolf comes bounding into the room.

I think one of the more enjoyable aspects of the book was that becoming a werewolf was a lot like puberty, the hot flashes, the mood swings, it all just seems like normal going through the change girl behavior, add to the that a set of claws and teeth and you can become one dangerous puppy. Haha.

I know not my best  work, but to get over such a lame joke you should definitely check out Pack of Lies and find out how one thing after another seems to go wrong for Allison, especially after they move back to their mother's pack.

Rating:
4 Raven's.

Brought to you by:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Tatted Thursday (11) Fairy Tale Tattoos




Tatted Thursday is a weekly meme hosted here at Word Spelunking that features literary inspired tattoos .You can easily  participate by grabbing the picture above (or making your own) and posting your tattoo finds.

This week I'm looking at fairy tale inspired tats. Now, I know that many fairy tales  have been changed over the years, especially those that have been Disney-ized, but they all started as written stories...
 
Snow White:


Alice in Wonderland

Cinderella:


Beauty and Beast:

Sleeping Beauty


Peter Pan:


The Little Mermaid:


Red Riding Hood:







Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston



Synopsis:
Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow always thought faeries were just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery. He's a changeling—a mortal taken as an infant and raised among Faerie—and within short order he's turned Kelley's heart inside out and her life upside down.

For Kelley's beloved Central Park isn't just a park—it's a gateway between her ordinary city and the Faerie's dangerous, bewitching Otherworld. Now Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her, but to the heritage that awaits her . . . a destiny both wondrous and strange


Review:
Always the fan of Fey culture I eagerly grabbed this book when I came across it gathering dust on a Half Priced book store shelf and placed it on my own shelf to gather dust. I won't lie, I am prone to act like a kid in a candy store at that place, and I eagerly gobble up books only to forget about them on my shelves.
It is an unexpected treat as I go through my books to see what  I want to read next.

So, lets get on with the book.  Kelley is an actress who just so happens to have been cast as the understudy for Titania in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Nights Dream." Go figure? And when an accident comes along the bumps the actress out and Kelley up, it seems like the odds are in her favor, except she can't seem to remember the lines.

So when she goes to the park to clear her head and practice her lines, a feat that ends up with her in tears. She is come across by a strange young man who gives her a flower and from there her life changes.

I don't know about you, but I am not prone to accepting flowers from strange men, and I definitely wouldn't do it in Central Park. While a sweet gesture it would scream Rapist or Stalker in my book.

I loved the tale, it seriously had me riveted, I was glad that work was slow because in the back room my nose was firmly glued to the pages as I became immersed in the tale.

The one thing that really bothered me was that Auberon was King of the Winter court, and correct me if I am mistaken but I thought he was a Summer Fey. *Shrug* Perhaps my fable knowledge is off and if so then I apologize for even bringing it up. But it was something I could easily over look in the exuberance of a good read.

Favorite Character:
Bob, because even though a name such as that does not fit the true character, his character is always my favorite.

Rating:
4 Raven's

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Vala: Heritage by J.F. Jenkins


Synopsis:
Jewl Dite has always struggled with her heritage. Being the daughter of the goddess of love, she questions everything about the emotion. Which is a bummer because she's head over heels for Anj Willam, and thinks the feelings are mutual. It's hard to be sure though when she has magic that has been known to bewitch men into devoting themselves to her. Somehow they're able to strike a balance in their dysfunctional on-again, off-again relationship however.

This balance is disrupted however when a strange boy named Teague enters her life and brings along with him a group of demons. Demons who want to make a deal with her in exchange for the safety of everyone she loves.

Now to protect those she holds most dear, Jewl must rely on the magic she's been trying so desperately to avoid. But at what cost? Will the boy she loves accept this dark secret, or will she lose him forever

Review:
Like J.F. Jenkin's first book of the series, the ending just kind of snuck up on me. Mind you it was not a dramatic cliff hanger that left me tearing my hair out in frustration but it was because I became so involved with the story and it became so addicting that when I came to the last page I had to blink a couple of times when I was forced back into reality.

I won't lie, I was a little disappointed that it didn't pick up with Zes and Chey and instead went into the direction of Jewel's story, but it was still a highly anticipated read that didn't disappoint. It took me a moment of thinking back to actually recall Jewell, she wasn't my favorite character in the series but it was refreshing to see what made the ice queen and heir to Aphrodite's legacy tick.

I felt a little bad for the girl, seeing all the thing's she had to go through and why she acts like she doesn't have any feeling's.

And there is a twist on the end which you will all love but alas I cannot reveal it for what fun would that be?

Rating:
5 Raven's!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Hope is Love by Sylvia Hubbard


Synopsis:
Meet Hope, but most people call her Jona. She was a person living in the world, but not living on the inside.

Bad things happen to good people and Hope was the person we lose in the system and she grows up just going from day-to-day trying to make a dollar out of the pennies she find.

But she’s smart on the street. She keeps to herself, but she’s just there. A body without a soul and she’s going nowhere.

Then meet James from LOVE LIKE THIS .

He’s one of the bad characters that once the story is over you really don’t give a fig about. Now he’s lost again and you’ll find him here in HOPE IS LOVE.

Can they find what they are looking for?

Other books available by this author:
www.sylviahubbard.com(less)

Review:
Hope is Love was really hard for me to read and finish, I loved the idea of the story, truly. I read the synopsis and immediately signed up for this tour. Maybe it was the fact that Jona is homeless that bothered me, having been through the issue myself about three years ago, the memory is still fresh in my mind and the circumstances still an open wound in my  heart. Perhaps it clouded my judgement and infected my enjoyment when reading the book.
Either way I had to push myself to finish the book and not leave it in the pile of books half read. That is why I love books so much though, while I might not have enjoyed the book I know of many other's who will. Book's are magic, just like True Love.
I think one thing I did enjoy about the book was that it gave the reader a look at what life is like on the street's, it is definitely something a lot of people talk about but never get to experience. I for one would do it again for the simple fact that it humbled me and made me appreciate everything a lot more.

I wasn't a fan of all the character plot's that went on, it started to fill busy and hard to keep up with.

But for those who love a good romance/ mystery/ action packed down to earth book. This is definitely the one for you, even if it is the first in the series you read.

Rating:
2 Raven's

For more information:





As always I would like to thank everyone for stopping by and taking the time to read a review done at Wonderland. This was made possible thanks to:

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Interview with Debbie Peterson

Alright, here is the interview I promised. I found I could acess the file through my phone, but the post wouldn't have been as great as other's and it didn't seem fair to me to short the author. So it may be a day late but it will still run just as long.
Thanks for hanging in there guys.


About the Debbie Peterson: Debbie's Website
Debbie has always had a soft spot for fairy tales, the joy of falling in love, and happily ever after endings. She incorporates these aspects into all of the paranormal stories she writes. When she is not busy conjuring her latest novel, she spends time with the beloved members of her very large family. She also pursues her interests in family history and all things ancient and historic.



I would like to thank Debbie Peterson for taking time out of her busy life to stop by and share a few words with us, even if it is a little late. >.> Sorry! But hopefully you enjoy the book as much as I did, and you enjoy learning more about the author and getting inside her thoughts. So strap in and take a trip down the Rabbit Hole as we talk with Debbie Peterson today.

1. Thank you for taking the chance to answer a few questions for the reader's and follower's of WonderlandReviews.
Why did you choose to write a ghost story?


Ghosts are just my favorite paranormal entity. You can go anywhere in history you choose to go if one of your main character’s is a ghost. So far, I have visited the Southern states during the Civil War with“Spirit of the Rebellion.” My next release from The Wild Rose Press, (now in edits), “Spirit of the Revolution” concerns the ghost of a Revolutionary War Ranger from the state of Pennsylvania. After that, we’ll see the ghost of a Scottish knight in the Highlands of Scotland. And, in my novel “Shadow of the Witte Wieven” we have a “ghostlike” seventeenth century sea captain, now from a parallel dimension.

2. Did you have any trouble completing the book, any writer's block? If so, what did you do to get past them.

Walking away from the WIP for a while helps tremendously whenever I hit “dead space.” Spending a little time out in the yard or with the horses will usually clear my mind enough to get the juices flowing again.

3. How did you come up with the name of the character's and their descriptions?

My hero and villain are both Norwegian ghosts who died during the Civil War. I looked through war records pertaining to the Wisconsin 15th regiment to find names common to the time and place. My heroine? She has a combination of family names. As far as their descriptions goes, I just wrote what I saw in my head.
For more information on the Wisoncsin 15th regiment you can start here: Names and here: Information


4. What would you do if you found yourself face to face with a ghost?
Turn around and walk away. (Been there…done that…) See question 7.

5. What is your biggest fear?

Being locked up in a room full of bugs, with no way out…

6. If you could go back in time and live in any era, what would it be and why?

Wow… sit down, it’s a long list! I LOVE history and there are just too many places and era’s I would love to experience to narrow it down to only one. But let’s see…I would love to visit the medieval period of Wales, Ireland, England, and Scotland. The Scandinavian countries during the Viking era. And I think it would be fun to visit ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt…just to name a few.

7. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

Yes, I believe in ghosts. Why? Because I saw one in the house my grandparent’s had just purchased. I was about fifteen or sixteen years old at the time and was carrying boxes from the moving truck into the house. One particular box needed to go up stairs, so up I went. When I reached the top, there was a man up there, dressed in overalls, with a red plaid shirt underneath. He wore silver, wire-framed glasses and a straw hat. I thought he was one of the workers my grandparents had hired and so I asked him where I should put the box. He just stared at me for a good fifteen…twenty seconds without saying a single word and then…he disappeared…right in front of my face. Now please keep in mind this was in the middle of a bright sunny day. We were all hard at work and the LAST thing on my mind was ghosts. Anyway, I sat the box down in the hallway, kicked it to the side with my foot, turned around, descended the stairs, and from there on out, only retrieved boxes meant for the kitchen.

8. Out of all of your character's who do you relate to the most?

As far as “Spirit of the Rebellion” goes, I probably relate most to Shae. She has a burning need to unravel and understand the mystery regarding Tristan’s death. In like manner, I too have a need to keep whittling a way at things that need solving.

9. Out of everything you have read or written, who has been your favorite hero and who has been your favorite villain?

Hmm…I probably shouldn’t play favorites among my own hero’s, so let’s go with Rhett Butler from “Gone with the Wind” as one of my favorite hero’s. And villain? Blue Duck from “Lonesome Dove.”

10. Thanks again for stopping by, any last words you would like to leave with the readers?

Thank you for having me! I found it a pleasure to be here. And for those who feel so inclined, I hope you enjoy tagging along with Tristan and Shae on their quest to solve the mystery surrounding his death!



Saturday, June 2, 2012

Spirit of the Rebellion by Debbie Peterson






Synopsis:
Souls touch and emotions flare when a historian and an embittered spirit form an unlikely alliance to investigate the centuries-old riddle surrounding his death…
Ready for a fresh chapter in her life, Shae Lynn Montgomery accepts a job translating a cache of Civil War documents from Wisconsin’s famous Norwegian regiment. The assignment takes her to Chickamauga’s haunted Starling Plantation and face-to-face with a handsome captain—its angry ghost in residence.

Tristan Jordahl, falsely accused of treason, has no use for the living—not even the lovely translator invading his home. Despite Tristan’s best efforts to frighten her, Shae Lynn refuses to leave, and reluctantly, Tristan enlists her help to clear his name. But as they grow closer to the truth—and to each other—an evil spirit makes it clear he will do anything to stop them.

Can a love that transcends time overcome all obstacles?

Review:
Hello again everyone, thanks for stopping by. I know this is suppose to be an Interview and Review buuut my Word document won't open up so I can't get to the interview and I have not gotten a response about it yet. Because I didn't want to miss the stop entirely I am at least going to post a review because ladies and gent's it is fabulous. When I am able to get the Interview up I will do so immediately, but unfortunately I have a 14 hr shift right after I post this so it might not be today.
Anyway,
Spirit of The Rebellion is a ghost story, mystery and love story wrapped up in one convenient package that in the beginning I was wondering how the author would be able to pull it off. Don't get me wrong, it was a great book, but I have read a ghost story that is a love story and I just couldn't wrap my head around the idea so it took away from the book.

Thankfully it was not the case this time. It starts off with Shae coming to a new house, fully aware that the tenants, may have left their bodies' but they are still among the living, just as ghost's, 6 of them in fact occupy the Starling house plantation and they don't like new room mates with a pulse.

During her stay Shae is translating documents from Norwegian to English and vice versa for her work and comes across a Civil War mystery involving treason.

As she charms the life back into the place and each of the ghost's fall in love with her personality, some more then other's, join her in a trip back in time to clear an innocent man's name.

The ending was absolutely amazing, I had hoped for one way and got an even better one.

Charrie:
Amy, for staying and taking care of everyone even though she was dead.

Rating:
4.5 Raven's.

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Disclaimer


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of numerous Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by the Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*