Spartan Heart Part 1/2 by Kristine Cheney Giveaway

Hey, guys! Today, we are going to have a really awesome giveaway! This giveaway runs from March 26-March 31. The prize(s) are eBook copies of Spartan Heart Part 1 and Spartan Heart Part 2 by Kristine Cheney. Just to let you know what's up for grabs, here is a synopsis of both books via Goodreads:

Sent away to college in America, Evangeline swore she would never return to England. Anger loses its value when tragedy forces her home to assume ownership of the family's beloved Greco-Roman museum. Placing a foolish, drunken kiss on a Greek statue in the museum's basement, Evangeline unknowingly frees a Spartan prince from an evil oracle's curse. Suddenly, her lonely life is invaded by the rakish man with knowing emerald green eyes who never eats or sleeps, and seems to know her every thought and feeling. Falling in love is dangerous, especially when it's with a man who has already been claimed by the bitter oracle, Demona. From the moment of her kiss, Evangeline is swept into Dorien's world of mystery, danger, and passion. The oracle's fury only mounts as they unravel Demona's darkest secrets, but not before Demona finds out about their unborn half-breed immortal twins. Demona uses her knowledge of the future to manipulate and destroy, but sometimes love has a will, and a heart, of its own.

This giveaway would not have been possible without the help and wonderful donations from the author, so give a round of applause to Kristine Cheney!

Kristine Cheney is an award winning author of paranormal and contemporary romance and an Arizona native, now living in Surprise. She has been married twenty-two years to her high school
sweetheart, Brett, and is the mother of Taryn, Brett Tyler, and Zackary, and is Grammy to Parker, Ivy, and Evely'nn. A huge labrador lover, she is mom to yellow lab Magnus and to the very naughty (and huge) white Labra-doodle puppy Brody. Hobbies include writing passionate love stories that involve chivalrous characters, dashing adventure, forked humor, and the ever-true good vs. evil dilemma. Her favorite place to relax is anywhere within close proximity to a beach or wooded lake. A huge history buff, she plans to one day make a trek across the US to get her fill of American wonder (with hubby, labs, and lap top in tow). She loves a good hot cup of coffee with Creme Brule liquid creamer and sugar. A maestro with a bag of frosting, Wilton cake decorating lessons only fueled her artistic fire. She's pretty darn awesome at creating a deluxe wedding, baby shower, or themed birthday cake that will make your toes curl.

Kristine Cheney Interview-3/26/12

1. Tell me about your book Spartan Heart. How did you come up with that story angle or idea?Answer: My whole life, I enjoyed writing poems and was always the girl in school who won all the book report awards. I decided to write a book suddenly, out of the blue, in 2008. The story of Spartan Heart just popped into my head, as if on its own accord, and it just kept harassing me until I got started. It was quite fluidic in process and remember it being almost impossible to maintain pace with my thoughts long enough to write it. My muse is rather wicked and cruel. She hits me upside the head with my stories and does well to keep me riding the edge of my sanity just to keep up with her. I wouldn’t change a thing.

2. How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?A

Answer: I love history. For paranormal stories, writing about characters who have extraordinary abilities. There are no limits or boundaries to hinder your writing ideas, which is fabulous. I also enjoy writing in the contemporary romance category. I tread wherever my muse tells me to, so I wouldn’t be surprised to add a few more categories to my credits within the next few years.

3. What kind of research did you do for this series?

Answer: For Spartan Heart, I based my characters on the real lives of historical people and their documented events. I was able to mix their true life stories with fiction in order to make their experiences more colorful and in order to bring them back to life. I must admit it was quite fun. Dorien (Prince Dorieus) was the older brother of Spartan King Leonidas. Dorien’s men were in fact the Croton Philip (who was his best friend), and fellow Spartan warriors Thessalus, Celeas, and Paraebates. It is true that they all perished in battle in 510 B.C. in Heraclea Minoa (now Sicily) with Dorien. I decided to change their history and thought to myself: What would have happened if they didn’t truly die on that battlefield?

4. What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

Answer: I am a degreed paralegal (AAS), and work full time for an estate plan attorney. Working full-time takes a lot of my time away from writing, which makes me want to scream like a mad woman. Needless to say, it can be a battle sometimes for finding energy to write. This existence is a goal my husband and I are currently working on. Hopefully, within the next year or so, I can quit work outside the home and focus making writing from home my occupational venture. Being a full-time novelist would be a dream come true.

5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Answer: Finding the time to write. With my full-time work schedule outside of the home, I have to harness what’s left of my energy for writing. Right now, I have at least five stories that harass my mind day and night, but with limited time, I must ignore them for the time being. Right now everything is prioritization.

6. What’s the best thing about being an author?

Answer: The freedom of expression with my art. To just sit at my computer and write until I’m spent is my internal happy place. I could do this all day and it is not uncommon for one of my writing episodes to carry me into ten hours.

7. What are you working on now?

Answer: Finishing up edits for the next book in the Spartan Heart Saga, Spartan Surrender, which should be released by March 15th.

8. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Answer: Don’t attempt self-publishing until you’ve earned experience with a small, independent pub or press. No matter how ready you believe you are, the experience and lessons you learn there are priceless; you earn your wings. And even then, always use a reliable editor before releasing your book.

9. Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

Answer: I am madly in love with “old school” authors. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and Johanna Lindsey are among my top, most coveted favorites.

10. What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Answer: This is a very hard question. I’ll have to think on it.

11. If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

Answer: How to survive the trauma of your crazed, biological family.

Flash Questions:

1) If you could trade places with a person for a single day, who would it be and why?

Answer: Stephenie Meyer, but only so I could pick her brain to learn the tricks and best methods of book marketing.

2) What was the last movie you saw?

Answer: Thor. *swoons* Enough said.

3) What is your biggest TV addiction?

Answer: Ghost Whisperer. I all but cried when I learned it was cancelled.

4) Guilty pleasure?

Answer: Desserts! I love them! Especially anything with frosting. *sigh*

5) Fruits or veggies?

Answer: Fruits

6) Favorite childhood toy?

Answer: My roller skates and Barbies.

7) What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Answer: Coffee with Crème Brulee creamer. I am quite naughty and do skip breakfast regularly.

Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1) by Josephine Angelini, Book Review

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is--no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together--and trying to tear them apart.

Title: Starcrossed

Author: Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 487

Release Date: May 31, 2011

Source: Bought

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 5/5

I love Greek mythology, which was one of the main reasons why I picked up Starcrossed. I heard rave reviews about it and have to say I've hopped onto the Starcrossed bandwagon. I loved the content, and loved how Angelini incorporated ancient Greek myths into the twenty-first century in a creative and nostalgic modern day retelling. I loved the romance, which reminded me fondly of the tragic and epic relationship between Romeo and Juliet...you know, if Romeo and Juliet were from fueding demigod families. The only thing I wasn't too fond of was the main protagonist, Helen. The other characters, however, I was really pleased with and can't wait to read more about them in the upcoming sequel, Dreamless. I highly recommend!

-Casey

Die For Me (Revenants, #1) by Amy Plum, Book Review

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Title: Die For Me

Author: Amy Plum

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 341

Release Date: May 10, 2011

Source: Bought

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 5/5

Die For Me was amazing--the plot, characters, setting, etc. were beautifully written and crafted by an insanely talented debut author. I felt as if I were breathing in a breath of fresh air when reading Die For Me and enjoyed the supernatural elements involved. I loved the characters, especially Kate and Vincent, the two star-crossed lovers of the story. Die For Me is set in the beautiful, magical city of Paris, France, and I felt as if I were walking down the cobblestone streets and eating the croissants and being embraced romantically and passionately under the illuminated beauty of the Eiffel Tower instead of Kate, and was felt really transported into the story. I highly recommend!

-Casey

MaryJanice Davidson Interview-3/4/12

1. Tell me about The Undead series. How did you come up with that story angle or idea?
Answer: I got sooo tired of running into the same vampire in the romance section: impossibly gorgeous and brooding while skulking in alleys bemoaning his bad luck to be eternally rich/hung/gorgeous. And they were usually English lords. I just couldn't relate to someone like that. Where were the plumber vamps, the secretary vamps? Why were they all rich gorgeous aristocrats? Betsy was born of that: I wanted a vampire who wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer...and knew it. Someone who was more annoyed (and annoying) than tortured.

2. How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?
Answer: I've always written paranormal...when I was a kid I never wrote Boy Meets Girl stories; they were always Boy Meets Vampire And Doesn't Stake Her stories.

3. What kind of research did you do for this series?
Answer: Not much! That's the beauty of paranormal...the author's world, the author's rules. (For example, vampire queen Betsy Taylor can be out in sunlight, touch crosses, swish with holy water, etc.) If I'm researching it's to find out where a place is...the tangible stuff that helps readers connect with characters who often have everyday problems in addition to the paranormal weirdness. In my other series, the ME MYSELF AND WHY FBI series (my heroine has Multiple Personality Disorder and works for a secret FBI fringe group, BOFFO: the Bureau of False Flag Ops), I have to do tons of research, which is fascinating. And scary!

4. What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?
Answer: Well, I've got a wonderful assistant, her name is Tracy, and she's nice enough to work from my house several days a week. So in addition to the stress that goes with any assistant's job, she's gotta endure me making Malt O'Meal for breakfast while we're trying to figure out what needs to get done that week. She and I work on my travel schedule (I love getting invited to speaking engagements! I love to travel!), answer reader/fan mail, edit galleys...day-to-day business stuff. In the afternoon is when I get most of my actual writing done, and if I'm not happy with my page count by suppertime, I'll get back to it after supper. My favorite places to work are in the living room in front of the TV, or in my bedroom. I'm just one bad work habit after another... ;-)

5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Answer: Hanging in! I love starting a book almost as much as I love typing The End, but sometimes I find I'm bogged in the middle. The excitement of beginning a new story is gone, and the thrill of finishing is quite a ways off. I tend to write short; many times my editor has said, 'great work, now make it 100 pages longer'. D'oh!

6. What’s the best thing about being an author?
Answer: What, I've got to pick ONE? No chance. As awesome as people think being an author is, never mind a best-selling author, it's actually ten times awesomer! You can work anywhere, you set your own hours. You get to do the thing you love best. (It's possible I'm projecting a little here...) You get sneak peeks at books that won't even be in stores for a year. And if you're lucky enough to get a book tour, you get to travel all over the country and stay in nice hotels, for free, and meet readers! This job: it's insanely, awesomely wonderful.

7. What are you working on now?
Answer: UNDEAD AND UNDERWATER...my Betsy/Fred-the-mermaid team up!

8. What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Answer: Do not quit. Ever. I got rejection slips for ten years! I didn't get a book contract until I was 33. If I'd hung it up in my twenties, I'd still be stuck in SDJs (Stupid Day Jobs).

9. Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?
Answer: Oh, sure! My books-to-take-to-a-deserted-island list is Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, IT by Stephen King, and Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule. I read across several genres; I'm pretty eclectic. Anything by Carl Hiaason or Andrew Vachss is absolutely worth reading. John Sandford is another favorite of mine.

10. What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Answer: "Just what is your deal, anyway?" "I don't know. I've never known."11. If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?Answer: Confessions of a Vain Jerk.

Flash Questions:
1) If you could trade places with a person for a single day, who would it be and why?
Answer: Queen Elizabeth I. Hopefully I wouldn't stub my toe and die from an infection while I was there...

2) What was the last movie you saw?
Answer: Underworld: Awakening. I've seen all the Underworld movies. Hilariously, in the first one, the woman sitting in front of me turned to her date and snorted, "Werewolves wouldn't be able to run up walls in real life." I thought I was going to wet my pants. I was laughing so hard I almost aspirated my popcorn!

3) What is your biggest TV addiction?
Answer: Again, I can't pick just one. 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny (go, team Charlie!), Sons of Anarchy, Family Guy, South Park...the first problem is admitting you need help, right? Well, I don't need help. ;-)

4) Guilty pleasure?
Answer: Chocolate Malt O'Meal

5) Fruits or veggies?
Answer: Both! I actually love fruit (pit fruits like peaches, just about any kind of berry or melon...yay, fruit! Boo, scurvy!) and veggies (broccoli, any kind of onion, squash, peas...anything but green beans. I loathe and despise green beans. I have no explanation for this).

6) Favorite childhood toy?
Answer: my fishing pole!

7) What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Answer: Chocolate Malt O'Meal