Strange Beginnings (the Killing Chronicles Book1) Candi Fox

Strange Beginnings 

(the Killing Chronicles Book 1)

By Candi Fox

Can you imagine investigating what you thought might have been a spill…or maybe it’s something else, to find that it’s a pool of blood. And then to look up from said pool of blood, and to see dead bodies….this is just not something you even want to imagine or think about. Now imagine these are bodies of someone close to you….

In order to best hide from ones past, the wisest choice to is to disappear. Although this seems like running and hiding, like maybe you have something to hide, it is the best thing you can do when you are trying to stay alive. Start over, and make a new beginning.

With Emmaline Blackwell , she is trying to get rid of a violent stalker who has been unsuccessful with trying to kill her in the past. Her option is to change her name, and move to smaller more isolate town, and make a new beginning.

The only problem is when you get a stalker, they don’t give up, and will she be safe? Will her problems keep following her?

Fortunately once she moves to Stillwater, OK Emma meets their Sheriff a handsome man named Cord Masterson, who believe it or not, has a secret of his own. And what’s even better, once Cord and Emma meet it's like they are meant to be! But this just might be the strange new beginning she needs, or will it?

This book was fast paced, and as well as fascinating, all wrapped up into one. I truly enjoyed this book, and the fear, and wonder around every turn. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. This was a true mystery, thriller that kept you on your toes. I give this book a true five shiny stars, and I certainly would love to read more! I can’t wait to read book 2! You need to check this out for yourself; it’s truly an edge of your seat book!

My Questions for Candi:

.  

1.What made you write this?

I started researching ghost stories in Oklahoma and stumbled upon a town not far from Stillwater, OK called Ingalls. Ingalls had the biggest shoot out in the Old West. Even bigger than the one in Tombstone. It was just not publicized as much. The battle took place on Sept. 1, 1893 between United States Marshall’s and the Doolin-Dalton Gang.

In the process of researching this newly found evidence the idea for the character Emma was formed. Along with Emma one of the main hero’s in the book Cord Masterson, who is descended from one of the original U.S. Marshall’s also formed. As with all my main characters, they just wouldn’t shut up until I wrote them down.


2. How long did it take to write this?

    I participated in the 2014 NaNoWrimo for the first time. I was sick for several days. After getting over the illness I wrote around 10,000 words and chucked them all. I wrote Strange Beginnings in about 12 days working 16 hours a day.


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

    Cord was inspired by model Gary Taylor 

   Chandler was inspired by Brock O’Hurn

   Emma is on the cover


4. Any suggestions to anyone wanting to become a writer?

  Write every day. Never give up. Read, read, read.


5. Who are your favorite Author(s)?
    Laurell K. Hamilton, Suza Kates, Johanna Lindsey


6. How long have you been writing?
   I have been writing for about a decade. I have poetry that has been published. I also have more than a thousand articles published online in magazines. This is my first published novel.


7. What are your hobbies?
    Horseback riding. I grew up around horses. They are so amazing. I also enjoy being with friends and spend time going to Renaissance Faires with my husband.


8. What are you working on now?

  I just finished Harlequin’s Deception. The first book in the Naked Truth series. I am currently working on Sweet Obsession, which is book two in The Killing Chronicles.

9. Please provide for us any ways to follow you and your work:

    You can find me on Face Book: CandiFox1, CandiFoxAuthor. I’m also CandiFox on Instagram and Twitter. My blog is All Things Candi.


10. Anything extra you would care to add:

       I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to review Strange Beginnings. Thanks to everyone who is reading this. A huge thanks to every person who has read/will read my book. 

Can you imagine investigating what you thought might have been a spill…or maybe it’s something else, to find that it’s a pool of blood. And then to look up from said pool of blood, and to see dead bodies….this is just not something you even want to imagine or think about. Now imagine these are bodies of someone close to you…. In order to best hide from ones past, the wisest choice to is to disappear. Although this seems like running and hiding, like maybe you have something to hide, it is the best thing you can do when you are trying to stay alive. Start over, and make a new beginning. With Emmaline Blackwell , she is trying to get rid of a violent stalker who has been unsuccessful with trying to kill her in the past. Her option is to change her name, and move to smaller more isolate town, and make a new beginning. The only problem is when you get a stalker, they don’t give up, and will she be safe? Will her problems keep following her? Fortunately once she moves to Stillwater, OK Emma meets their Sheriff a handsome man named Cord Masterson, who believe it or not, has a secret of his own. And what’s even better, once Cord and Emma meet it's like they are meant to be! But this just might be the strange new beginning she needs, or will it? This book was fast paced, and as well as fascinating, all wrapped up into one. I truly enjoyed this book, and the fear, and wonder around every turn. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. This was a true mystery, thriller that kept you on your toes. I give this book a true five shiny stars, and I certainly would love to read more! I can’t wait to read book 2! You need to check this out for yourself; it’s truly an edge of your seat book!

"Rising Tide: Dark Innocense" by Claudette Melanson

"Rising Tide: Dark Innocense" 

by Claudette Melanson

This vampire book, was a completely different read, and I must admit, it made it worth reading, as well as intriguing. 

The young girl, Maura is living at home with her Mother, always wondering about her Father, and going through changes with her body. Not just the typical teen changes either. 

Now as a Mother myself, I was at first wondering why her Mother hadn't just up and explained it to her, rather then keep it hidden from her, but once you get to the end of the book, it all comes full circle and you're like: "Ooooh."  But as I read it, I'm like getting irritated with the Mother and wanting to slap her for not telling Maura, who is thinking something is wrong with her, and possibly even creating an ulcer for herself with worry. On the same token, I was wondering, after watching so many Vampire Movies, why Maura hadn't herself put two and two together, "Hmmm.... I wonder..." but then again...maybe Vampires aren't real....OR are they?

I enjoyed the romance, the life events, the ups and downs, the involvements, and being a part of everything. I felt like I was right there. Like I was watching first hand. 

This book is truly enjoyable, worth reading over and over again, until I was at the end, I screamed, "Wait a  minute, I wanna know if she tells Ron...I wanna know how she took the news, you just can't leave me hangin' like this......please! I want more!" and then I read "About the Author" and then I clicked my Kindle again and guess what? It says submit that you read this, and I did, and it said it was a trilogy and I screamed really loud "YES!" 

I have found a new Author and books that I truly want to read and keep reading, and I feel that anyone who reads them, will feel the same way. This book pulls you in, and is very inspiring, and uplifting. It makes your imagination work, and you'll see and feel like you're right there!

I give this book five stars out of five, because it is worth it. Read it, you'll agree and see. Claudette knows what she's doing. 

My Interview Questions for Claudette:

1. What inspired you to write this book? 
Dreams!  I dreamed about Maura for years!  
She appeared in dreams over and over revealing a bit of her story
little by little.  She kept showing up until there was no way I couldn't
write her.  As I started writing her story more and more of it kept coming
together in my mind.  She's just a part of my life that lives inside me now.


2. Curious, where did the choice in names of your characters come from?   
 I actually wanted a name that meant "Bitter."  So when I Googled that, Maura
came up as "Sea of Bitterness."  It was perfect.  Caelyn's came from
Googling Italian names for girls. It was so uncommon, I just fell in love
with it.  Ron was my college love and my husband's name. I had to use that
name for the love interest, as it has a thousand wonderful memories attached
to it.  Shane is my brother's name, Merina is really his wife's name and
Susie is my sister in real life and actual best friend!

3. Are any of the characters based as you?  
Maura has a little of me in her, maybe when I was younger, but she is far more different.  
The Ron is based on kind of a combination of my college love and current husband, 
both named Ron.  They have very similar personalities.  My siblings do show up.  Shane
is my real, nineteen-years-younger brother and Susie is based on my real
sister.  She is in reality my actual best friend


4. How long have you been writing?  
Since I could pick up a pen.  Before that I was narrating scenery around me in my head, 
and all the things people would do, too.  I wrote stories for all kinds of contests 
as a child and for my favorite people, like my dance teacher.  I continued to write lots of
novel starts and shorter stories in college, but never seemed to be able to
finish a novel.  I always had too many new ideas popping into my head.  When
I got close to forty I said to myself it was time to buckle down and finish.
Maura had been with me so long, I had more than enough fodder to finally
complete a novel, though her story isn't done yet!


5. How many books have you written, or plan to?  
As many as I can.  I haveabout twenty starts and even more ideas.  
Unfortunately, I am not a full-time writer at the moment and that severely 
hampers my writing.  I have to do all my own marketing too, so it doesn't 
leave lots of writing time.  I will work as hard as I can, because the more books 
I get out there, the more likely I am to earn enough of a living to do so as my main job.  
I want that more than anything!


6. What all education have you had?  
 I originally wanted to be a high-school
English teacher, but loving literature and teaching it to teenagers are two
very different things.  I just wasn't cut out for it.  So I stayed on at
college to complete twelve more English credits so I could graduate with a
double major:  BA in English and BS in English Education.  I needed to
figure out what to do with myself, so I went back and got my Master of Arts
in Literature.  I thought I might get my PhD and be a college professor, but
I was just too burnt out on school.  For practical reasons I did earn my
certificate in Dental Assisting in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
Because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis, I'm not really able to do that anymore,
though.


7. What writers inspire you?  I LOVE Stephenie Meyer.  I know Twilight has
its haters, but they are my most favorite books.  I think her writing is
brilliant and she does such an excellent way of revealing what's in her
character's head.  She's great with dialogue, too.  Before I read those,
Anne Rice was a huge influence for me.  I have read nearly every book she's
written and love her style and characterization.  Stephen King, Charlaine
Harris and Melissa Marr.  Lili Abernathy is one of my favorite Indie
authors.


8. Do you yourself "like" Vampire movies, books and stories, etc?  I have
been a vampire fanatic, since I was a teeny-tiny girl.  I read every vampire
book I can get my hands on and watch every movie--not all of them so great,
lol.  I like the True Blood kind of vampires.  Vampires with fangs, but also
heart.  It's always bothered me that in most vampire movies the vampires end
up dead.  I can remember scaring my mother because I was always talking
about wanting to turn into a vampire myself!


9. What is the spookiest/scariest Movie you have ever seen?  I think I'd
have to say, Sinister.  Not to give the ending away, but the thought of who
the killers actually turn out to be is super scary.  They aren't supposed to
be murderers.  It's bizarre to think it possible.  Think about The
Shining...it was a spooky part of that movie too.  All the monster boxes in
Cabin in the Woods was pretty darn creepy, as well!



10. What is the scariest book you have ever read?  It's been a long time
since I read it, but I can remember that Stephen King's The Dark Half scared
me half to death.  I was pretty young then, though.  If I read it again now,
I might be a little more seasoned.


11. Do you believe in Vampires?  Ok, I can't say for certain they do not
exist.  I found this one quote that was so strong, and I spent all night
looking for it again, but this person says there has been so much history
and testimony of them that it's almost impossible for them to not be real.
They could have been humans that were a mutation and because they were
different they were killed off.  Or some could have survived and feared the
discrimination, so live in hiding.  I've lived in a house with a poltergeist
and know people who see spirits.  I don't discount anything, because I don't
believe we know all of what's in this world.  If you think about it,
paranormal beings would be very good at hiding themselves from mere mortals.



12. Have you or do you hope to or plan to do a book tour?  I am finishing up
a tour with Orangeberry right now.  I'm a little nervous because they
promise 20-25 reviews with the tour and not one has been posted yet *bites
nails.*  I would like to do another tour that is geared toward more YA or
paranormal sites, as well.



13. Who does the character Maura remind you of, if anyone in particular?
She really doesn't.  She reminds me of me with the video gaming and love of
anime, but she's always been her own person in my head.  She started as a
dream and her story grew and grew, and she's really her own person,
completely.

14. Please provide all links to you, and your work:
http://claudettemelanson.wix.com/author
https://www.facebook.com/Cmelansonauthor
https://twitter.com/Bella623
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7881896.Claudette_Melanson
http://www.pinterest.com/claudemelanson/
http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Tide-Innocence-Trilogy-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00IHN4S00/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1402259216&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=rising+tide+dark+innocence
http://www.amazon.com/Shimmer-Faeries-Tragic-Claudette-Melanson-ebook/dp/B00KJPFGQO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409873250&sr=1-1&keywords=shimmer+melanson

16. Any addition info you'd like to provide for your fans:  Thank you,
thank you!! I appreciate every single book sale, every review, every kind
word.  My book would be nothing without you.  I realize this and do a
giveaway on my author site every month.  This month you can enter to win a
$100 Amazon card here:
http://claudettemelanson.wix.com/author#!giveaways---places-to-win-a-print-copy/ckb0  In a couple of months, book two of the Maura DeLuca trilogy and
sequel to Rising Tide will be released.  It will be titled Undertow:
Death's Twilight.  It should be available for preorder this coming weekend,
September 6th.  One more thing, adopt a houserabbit today! We have four
little bundles of love.
Rising Tide: Dark Innocence by Claudette Melanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This vampire book, was a completely different read, and I must admit, it made it worth reading, as well as intriguing.

The young girl, Maura is living at home with her Mother, always wondering about her Father, and going through changes with her body. Not just the typical teen changes either.

Now as a Mother myself, I was at first wondering why her Mother hadn't just up and explained it to her, rather then keep it hidden from her, but once you get to the end of the book, it all comes full circle and you're like: "Ooooh." But as I read it, I'm like getting irritated with the Mother and wanting to slap her for not telling Maura, who is thinking something is wrong with her, and possibly even creating an ulcer for herself with worry. On the same token, I was wondering, after watching so many Vampire Movies, why Maura hadn't herself put two and two together, "Hmmm.... I wonder..." but then again...maybe Vampires aren't real....OR are they?

I enjoyed the romance, the life events, the ups and downs, the involvements, and being a part of everything. I felt like I was right there. Like I was watching first hand.

This book is truly enjoyable, worth reading over and over again, until I was at the end, I screamed, "Wait a minute, I wanna know if she tells Ron...I wanna know how she took the news, you just can't leave me hangin' like this......please! I want more!" and then I read "About the Author" and then I clicked my Kindle again and guess what? It says submit that you read this, and I did, and it said it was a trilogy and I screamed really loud "YES!"

I have found a new Author and books that I truly want to read and keep reading, and I feel that anyone who reads them, will feel the same way. This book pulls you in, and is very inspiring, and uplifting. It makes your imagination work, and you'll see and feel like you're right there!

I give this book five stars out of five, because it is worth it. Read it, you'll agree and see. Claudette knows what she's doing!




View all my reviews

Endangered by Sascha Illyvich

Endangered by Sascha Illyvich

As you may well have noticed, this is my second review and interview with Sascha. Therefore, I expected, much of the same material. Boy was I wrong!

I knew from the intro, I was going to be experiencing a bit of a different realm. Here we are dealing with Vampires and the world of darkness, so to speak. So my outlook is thinking a bit on the side of blood thirsty, and hoping Sascha will throw in his curve balls of sexuality and the spin of a tale of lovers uniting. This is what I'm kind of picturing, even before I start. 

Never try to figure a writer out, it just doesn't work that way.

This book was deeper, more intense. Darker if you will. As I was reading it, I just wanted to curl up into a ball, it made me feel like I myself was in a deep, dark place, and sometimes cold. The literature as you read, the surroundings, you can physically see your dwellings, and they are all dark and cold. Maybe I let my imagination get too over whelmed as I read, but I just felt as if I was there. As if I was longing to become a Vampire myself. 

The main character, Josef seems to be a real "hottie" if you will. At least in "my" imagination he is! But living the life of the undead, just doesn't seem very fulfilling, and I think that too, was part of the things that Josef was bantering with himself. I think, and this is just my personal assumption here, that maybe his character was wondering what it would be like to be human, or even different, as in something else. To me, he always seemed to be pondering, like his mind was off in a distance. A dark place, thinking, and wondering. But again, this was just my take, of the essence of the character. 

Josef is someone; women will dream about after reading this book. He deals with a lot, and his character is very real. As I read, I felt that the Author was very into this character, very related, and even a part of him, if you will. 

This book was a interesting read. A different role in writing was portrayed here, through Sascha, and I could feel the depths of darkness and what even seemed to be depression. I could be wrong, but as we all know~ were all entitled to our opinions. 

I enjoyed the book, "Endangered" as I personally felt that I could even be on the list of "Endangered" people myself. One thing you will learn, as have I~Sascha Illyvich pulls his readers into his work. He's just "that" good! His writing; becomes visual within you, providing you have an imagination! A work if art, something to dream about, and live through his very words!

I give this book five stars of five stars! You should honestly check it out, it's worth reading! Especially, if you like Vampires, and of course: using your imagination! Sascha Illyvich does it again! He is top notch!

~Deneale K. McElhaney~Williams

Here are my interview Questions for Sascha!

1.  What made you write this book?

ENDANGERED was a book I wrote for the growing vampire/werewolf market several years back.  As it turns out, the hero needed something more than what I as an author could give him over the years until I finally figured out what that was.  You'll have to read the series to learn what though!

2. Do you now frequently write about 'Vampires, Werewolves' as well as 'Shape Shifters' or do you like to mix it up a bit?

I've written vampires and wolves, one of my agents has a story involving Pumas and witches, and I've written about faeries too. 

3. Have you ever written erotica without 'Mythical Creatures' in it?

Erotica and erotic romance, yes.  I have a lot of contemporary romance titles. 

4. Out of ALL of your own work, do you have a favorite Character, if so~ who would it be?

I've been saying Joséf from Endangered because his story rings true to how I've felt.  Need to do good in the world, but alas, love isn't for me.  Considering events of late, I'd be hard pressed to say if I still held that belief or not but he's a rough character who uses any means necessary to get the job done. 

5. Who is your favorite Author of ALL the Authors in the World?

Probably JR Ward right now.  Even though the head hopping shit irritates me, her stories pull you in and make you invest yourself in the characters and the world.

6. Do you read 'Erotic Novels' yourself, and I don't mean, just your own work? (If so~ whom do read and prefer?)

Yup.  The usual suspects. JR Ward, Lora Leigh, Christine Feehan, Laurel K. Hamilton, Christina Dodd, every now and then you'll find me with a historical romance in my hands by Julie Templeton. 

7. What made you write a Novel with 'Vampires' in it? We're you trying to 'Follow the crowd' per se?

First off, the crowd follows me.  *ahem*  Second, it was something I wanted to do for years actually, write about the Goth, the undead, the sensuality, the darkness. 

8. When writing, sometimes I note your work to be deep, dark, and heart felt. Is this some of your one 'persona?'

Always.  It's most of it actually.  What you're missing is my legendary "artistic" temper tantrums I'm trying hard not to let out anymore, or my rage. 

9. When writing 'sexual scenes' have you ever done, or experienced what you have written?

Quite a bit yeah.  Especially with recent experiences mimicked by a story I wrote involving a pretty writer fan and Fiji.

10. Do you oft get turned on, as you are writing your sexual scenes?

Yeah it happens.

11. Other than your writing, what do you use as an 'out?' Meaning: a way to vent?

Sadly I really don't have any means of venting other than cigars and alcohol.  I tend to not overdo it anymore on either front because of health reasons and the fact that I prefer relaxation rather than getting all stressed out. 

12. Does your writing often reflect your mood?

It can and does. I'm found often in my work even when I mean not to insert myself. 

13. Were you in a dark place when you wrote this manuscript? If not, how did you manage to make 'this' book seem & 'sound' so much differently, compared to the last book I read of yours? What IS your secret?

I've said before my books are that good and I'm that talented an author and that's what it boils down to.  People think you can simply write a story and then bam, it's good but if the story doesn't make you feel something, or if it doesn't move you, then it's not complete.  I was in a period of change when I wrote ENDANGERED, whereas the book you first reviewed, Burning for Derrick was a much lighter story because my world was better then, and the agent of awesome told me to lighten the hell up.  There is no secret, you simply cut your heart open and pour it over the pages.

14. Do you have more books in the works?

I do.  I'm in the middle of starting a romantic suspense, Endangered has a sequel (it's actually a series.  The tag line is: A small group of unlikely heroes faces an entire Criminal Organization for the fate of the world while discovering true love.)  Plus I have my Covenant of Wolves series we're in the middle of reworking slightly.  I have tons of material for years, practically.  All in romance, of course. 

15. Please provide for me all area's to contact you, and see your work:

Website:  Http://saschaillyvichauthor.com

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/saschaillyvich

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/saschaillyvich

Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RomanceAuthorSaschaIllyvich

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SaschaIllyvich

GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2928546.Sascha_Illyvich

YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SaschaIllyvich?feature=mhee

16. Anything you would like to add:

I'm looking forward to sharing Endangered and the Nights of Lust series (out Sept '14 from Red Sage) with all of your fans and mine. 

Thank you Sascha for allowing me to review and interview you once again, I hope to do this again in the near future, as I do so very much, enjoy you, and your work!
~