Desire from Below By: Leanne Krieger

Desire from Below

By: Leanne Krieger

I love the cover of this book, the fire on it is very illuminating. But to many of us, fire can mean many things, and all the while, when we stare at it long enough, it pulls you in, and causes you to think..

This book is about none other than the Son of the Prince of Darkness. This is a ‘hell’ of a title to have to uphold, pardon my pun, if you will. 

Damien keeps having a longing desire and dreams for the love of his life, and the thing is, his dreams have plans for him, even long before he does, like it or not. The thing is though, is that Damien feels that he isn’t worthy of love, because of who he is.

However, this doesn’t stop him from trying to find someone who just might find him worthy, and accept him for who he is, in case there actually is a chance there is someone, or something out there for him.

Then there is Zoe, a very independent woman who isn’t looking for love, and thinks it will never find her anyway, so why bother. Meaning, she has pretty much given up on it.

One day, out of the clear blue, Damien and Zoe have a chance meeting, and neither one can deny their feelings, it is like something has awakened in the both of them. For Zoe, it was unplanned and unexpected, for Damien, it was everything he wanted and more, the only thing he has to be concerned with, is will she accept him, once she learns the truth.

This is as far as I go, because you have to read on your own, to learn the end results, I do not tell all.

I will tell you, that this book was quite entertaining, because I enjoyed it immensely, and found Damien’s character to be a pretty unique kind of guy, very classy, but not too stuck on himself. He seems like the kind of guy that would open doors for a woman, and show her a good time. I like his style. 

The book is truly a five-star read, and I honestly enjoyed it. I also think the cover is very pretty, and the fonts are very nice as well. I think it would also make for a nice little love story movie!

Here are my questions for Leanne:

1.What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

This book was actually on a whim, Desire from Below. I was having writers block on another and started writing this one. It basically wrote itself. I do love this book because it is an easy read, it is a ‘feel good’ book. I love to write where my readers can escape for an hour, where the house can be a mess but when they read my book and it doesn't matter. 

1.  Who designed this beautiful cover?

I designed it with two different photos I bought and put them together. 

3.  Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters that you can share with us?

The characters I wanted them to be strong and confident but having a small sense of uncertainness. The lead male Damien was someone we would all love to have in a man, the sexiness and confidence with a small dose of shy. I wanted them all to not only find love but find their equal.  

4.  What are you working on now?

Right now I am working on a Sci-fy novel I have wanted to write for a long time but never had the time. It doesn't have a title yet but as soon as I do, you will be the first to know. 

5.  What motivates you to write?

What motivates me? I have something to say, I am shy so I write it down. I can say my son does, he loves to hear I am working on something new, I sometimes bounce it off of him, he's old enough now. I love the look on his face when I tell him I got a new idea, that look is what motivates me. He is my reason for everything. 

 6.  If you were to get writers block, or have ever had it, what do you do for it?
When i get writers block I do a few things, I close my computer, I don't force it to come to me, I have faith it will come. I go for a walk or put my headphones on and relax with music. 

7.  What suggestions can you offer for the aspiring writers out there?

A suggestion would be a cliche’,  never give up. But also believe in yourself and know you have a lot to say and I know many people are waiting for you to say it or rather write it.   

8. How long have you been writing?

I have been writing a very long time, I published my first a few years ago. I didn't have the guts to send my books out, I was afraid of rejection. But speaking to other writers, that feeling is normal, not everyone will love all of your books or any at all.  

9. Who is your favorite author and why?

I always say the same author and it is Stephen King not only because he is a great writer and his books are epic, but also he makes mistakes and admits he did and does still. He fought to be where he is and I am now fighting too. Maybe someday I will get to meet him, that would be a dream come true.  

10.  What is your favorite childhood book and why?

My favorite book, lets see, mine when I was little was Curious George, I had a stuffed monkey I don't think it was a Curious George doll but I thought it was. I loved all the trouble he got into and all the discoveries he made too. I was a curious creative child so I related to him. 

11.  What are your hobbies?

Writing, reading, cooking and music 

12.  Do you put yourself into your characters?
Yes I do put myself into my characters, they do what I always dreamed of or things I wish I had the courage to do. My characters are outgoing and fearless never worrying what anyone thought, I am obviously the opposite. I know I can learn from my characters and in my later years have taken a lesson from their playbook.

13.  Where is your favorite place to write?

 My favorite place to write is my bedroom on my bed with my headphones on with music blaring, it helps me concentrate. 

14.  Please share with us your social media and book links: I will have my website up soon. 

Twitter: @leannesbooks201

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Leanne-Krieger/e/B00JE62WH0/ ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1507659610&sr=8-2

15.  Anything to add::

Yes, I would like to add Deneale thank you for giving me the courage to send my books to review. I know I may never be a best seller, it would be nice, but, I just love when I see or hear someone read my book, they loved it and they get it. 

That's all I want just to get it.   

Desire from Below by Leanne Krieger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the cover of this book, the fire on it is very illuminating. But to many of us, fire can mean many things, and all the while, when we stare at it long enough, it pulls you in, and causes you to think..

This book is about none other than the Son of the Prince of Darkness. This is a ‘hell’ of a title to have to uphold, pardon my pun, if you will.

Damien keeps having a longing desire and dreams for the love of his life, and the thing is, his dreams have plans for him, even long before he does, like it or not. The thing is though, is that Damien feels that he isn’t worthy of love, because of who he is.

However, this doesn’t stop him from trying to find someone who just might find him worthy, and accept him for who he is, in case there actually is a chance there is someone, or something out there for him.

Then there is Zoe, a very independent woman who isn’t looking for love, and thinks it will never find her anyway, so why bother. Meaning, she has pretty much given up on it.

One day, out of the clear blue, Damien and Zoe have a chance meeting, and neither one can deny their feelings, it is like something has awakened in the both of them. For Zoe, it was unplanned and unexpected, for Damien, it was everything he wanted and more, the only thing he has to be concerned with, is will she accept him, once she learns the truth.

This is as far as I go, because you have to read on your own, to learn the end results, I do not tell all.

I will tell you, that this book was quite entertaining, because I enjoyed it immensely, and found Damien’s character to be a pretty unique kind of guy, very classy, but not too stuck on himself. He seems like the kind of guy that would open doors for a woman, and show her a good time. I like his style.

The book is truly a five-star read, and I honestly enjoyed it. I also think the cover is very pretty, and the fonts are very nice as well. I think it would also make for a nice little love story movie!

View all my reviews

 

P.S.~

Has anyone noticed the theme used on this post?

 

If You Were My Vampire (a Shades Below Novel) By: L.J.K. Oliva

If You Were My Vampire

        A Shades Below Novel

              By: L.J.K. Oliva

     Ok, before I begin I do wish to inform because as you will notice in the title, this says that it is ‘A Shades Below Novel’ that this book can also be read as a stand-alone novel, so you don’t have to feel obligated to purchase a prior book, unless of course, you want to. The decision is yours, and you will have no problems following along, if you haven’t read any of Ms. Oliva books. Although I can assure you, once you experience her writing, you will want to. Just a heads up from me. ::grin::

     Grace Alan is very beautiful woman, and as a member of a very intuitive family, she is one of those people who is always aware of her surrounding, in more ways than one. There’s just one thing, she has spent most of her life isolated away from people, because she has a hard time trying to be a normal person. 

     Finally, Grace has found a beau that she can relate to and has captured her heart, and is everything she has ever dreamt of, and he is even quite handsome too. His name is Asher Evans, and he is someone who is and has been haunted by history, because wouldn’t you know it, he had been turned into a vampire in a concentration camp that claimed his entire family. 

     Asher has never been the same since the loss of his humanity. He has forced himself to face his eternity alone, and never planned on meeting someone he could actually love and care for, that is until he met Grace.

     Then the unthinkable happens, and Grace is murdered. 

      Asher accidentally stumbles upon the dying Grace, and find his heart is now in his throat. He knows he should leave well enough alone, but she understood him. She never once seen him as a monster, or a creature of the night. He admires her beauty in her lifeless and still body, and remembers that she reminds him what it is like to be human.

     Asher knows rescuing Grace will have consequences. The World has deemed female Vampires illegal for centuries now, and the choice Asher has made may have caused complications now for both of them.

     Now together Grace and Asher will try and survive the mortal world without trying to get noticed, and creating enemies along the way. Together they hope that their love can protect them, and help them evade other mortal enemies.

     This book is a beautifully written five-star romantic book, that will make you fall in love with romance all over again. Some may think Vampires are always bloody and evil, but not this time. This book is truly a romantic read that shows you, love can come in all different shapes and sizes, and that it doesn’t matter, love will always prevail over all else. I truly enjoyed this book, and am glad I had the opportunity to read it! 

My question for Laura:

1. What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

Hi Deneale! Thanks so much for having me over again. It's always a pleasure!

Basically, I wrote this book for Asher. I introduced him in my last Shades Below novel, The Devil's Disease, and I really enjoyed the glimpse into his character- in particular, the way he interacted with Grace. There was a lot simmering under the surface of their interactions, so it was a real pleasure to dive in and unpack all that in If You Were My Vampire.

2. Do you have any photos or descriptions of your characters?

Absolutely! I'm a bit obsessed with creating companion graphics for my books. Here are a couple that capture how I imagine Asher and Grace would look:

3. Who designed this beautiful cover?

I did, and I'm so glad you like it! I started designing and creating all my own book covers right around the beginning of this year. I had been honing my skill on those graphics I mentioned, and am finally at a point where I feel able to create covers that meet my own standards of professionalism.

4. Do you ever put yourself into your characters?

All. The. Time.

You always hear the classic writing advice to Write What You Know, and different writers have different opinions about just what that means. For me, it means digging down and finding the part of my characters that is true for me, that I know personally. I don't know what it's like to be a vampire, but I know what it's like to be an outsider, to want things that aren't good for me, to have hungers I don't know how to fill. I start with those core kernels of truth, then weave my characters around them.

5. Do you wish-- or are you a Vampire? 🤣😜 or is it a secret?

I admit to nothing ;-) *looks around for Watchmen*

6. What do you hope to be when you grow up?

Living the dream, mama. Living the dream. :-)

7. What led you into writing and how long have you been at it?

Personally, I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I've always loved stories, and before I could write, I acted them out with my dolls. Professionally, I've been writing for about five years now. When my son was born, I wanted a job with flexible hours that I could do from home. I threw all my chips in the writing basket, and have never looked back!

8. What is your upmost favorite book and why?

That's such a hard question, haha! There are so many books that have had a profound influence on me, both as a writer and a person. That said, my favorite book remains Redwall, by Brian Jacques. It's the first book I can remember my mom reading to me when I was a kid, and the book that made me fall in love with words. I even named my son after the main character.

9. What are you working on now?

I have a few projects simmering at the moment. First up is a short story that features my vampire constable Seneca Lynch and Grace's friend, Tonio Ramirez. The interplay and innuendo between them in If You Were My Vampire was a lot of fun to write, so I'm going to go behind the scenes and let them have some fun ;-)

Next up, I'll be writing the second novella in my Shades Below Shorts series: Thicker Than Water. I had initially planned to write it before If You Were My Vampire, but Emil and Puzzle weren't ready to talk to me yet. Now they are, and I'm really excited for their new adventure!

After that, I'm writing Shades Below, #3: Ghost In The Machine. In it, Lena is still reeling from Grace's death when a freak accident at The Wayfare Hotel sets her adrift in space and time.  MacMillian has to race the clock and the cosmos, and must decide just how far he's willing to go to bring her home.

10. Have you ever regretted ending a book or character?

Not yet, however, there are a few characters in the Shades Below series who might not make it to the end. If and when their time comes, I'll definitely be sad to say goodbye.

11. What do you do for writers block? If you have never had it what do you suggest?

I definitely struggle with slumps, as I think everyone does. I generally don't label it "writers block" though. Being a bit of a hippie, I believe naming something gives it power over me, which only makes things worse.

When I'm in a slump, I've found the only way through it is, well, through it. I sit down and set my timer, and write like a madwoman for solid twenty-five minute increments, with five minute brain breaks in between. I give myself permission to suck. I accept that the words I'm putting down probably won't be my best, and allow myself to be okay with that. After all, this is why God made editing.

Usually, my slumps only last for a scene, maybe a chapter. Once I've written myself out of whatever rut I was in, I keep going through the story. Later, once I have some distance, I go back and go over what I came up with. If it needs tweaking or finessing, I do that.

Above all, I just keep writing.

12. Please share with us your social media and book links::

Sure! You can find me all over the place. Here are my current haunts:

Website: http://ljkolivabooks.com

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/author/lauraoliva

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ljk.oliva (friend me!)

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/LauraOlivaBooks

Pinterest- http://www.pinterest.com/authorljkoliva/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lauraolivabooks/

If you're interested in a no-risk, all-reward introduction to my books, I offer a free Shades Below Starter Library when you sign up for my mailing list. You can claim yours by signing up here: http://eepurl.com/cF3H_5

And finally, here is where my books currently live:

A WORLD APART (Shades Below, #1)

https://ljkolivabooks.com/shades-below-series-2/shades-below-novels/book-1-a-world-apart/

PTOLEMY'S TABLET (Shades Below Shorts, #1)

https://ljkolivabooks.com/shades-below-series-2/the-shades-below-shorts/shades-below-short-1-ptolemys-tablet/

SEASON OF THE WITCH (Shades Below, #1.5)

https://ljkolivabooks.com/shades-below-series-2/shades-below-novels/book-1-5-season-of-the-witch/

THE DEVIL'S DISEASE (Shades Below, #2)

https://ljkolivabooks.com/shades-below-series-2/shades-below-novels/book-2-the-devils-disease/

IF YOU WERE MY VAMPIRE (Shades Below, #2.5)

https://ljkolivabooks.com/shades-below-series-2/shades-below-novels/book-2-5-if-you-were-my-vampire/

13. Anything to add...

Nothing besides thank you again for the interview! It's been a blast :-)

    

If You Were My Vampire by L.J.K. Oliva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok, before I begin I do wish to inform because as you will notice in the title, this says that it is ‘A Shades Below Novel’ that this book can also be read as a stand-alone novel, so you don’t have to feel obligated to purchase a prior book, unless of course, you want to. The decision is yours, and you will have no problems following along, if you haven’t read any of Ms. Oliva books. Although I can assure you, once you experience her writing, you will want to. Just a heads up from me. ::grin::

Grace Alan is very beautiful woman, and as a member of a very intuitive family, she is one of those people who is always aware of her surrounding, in more ways than one. There’s just one thing, she has spent most of her life isolated away from people, because she has a hard time trying to be a normal person.

Finally, Grace has found a beau that she can relate to and has captured her heart, and is everything she has ever dreamt of, and he is even quite handsome too. His name is Asher Evans, and he is someone who is and has been haunted by history, because wouldn’t you know it, he had been turned into a vampire in a concentration camp that claimed his entire family.

Asher has never been the same since the loss of his humanity. He has forced himself to face his eternity alone, and never planned on meeting someone he could actually love and care for, that is until he met Grace.

Then the unthinkable happens, and Grace is murdered.

Asher accidentally stumbles upon the dying Grace, and find his heart is now in his throat. He knows he should leave well enough alone, but she understood him. She never once seen him as a monster, or a creature of the night. He admires her beauty in her lifeless and still body, and remembers that she reminds him what it is like to be human.

Asher knows rescuing Grace will have consequences. The World has deemed female Vampires illegal for centuries now, and the choice Asher has made may have caused complications now for both of them.

Now together Grace and Asher will try and survive the mortal world without trying to get noticed, and creating enemies along the way. Together they hope that their love can protect them, and help them evade other mortal enemies.

This book is a beautifully written five-star romantic book, that will make you fall in love with romance all over again. Some may think Vampires are always bloody and evil, but not this time. This book is truly a romantic read that shows you, love can come in all different shapes and sizes, and that it doesn’t matter, love will always prevail over all else. I truly enjoyed this book, and am glad I had the opportunity to read it!

View all my reviews