Shadows
of Him
By
Debbie Zello
As many of you
know, (at least I hope you do…) I am a book reviewer and I love to read. And
sometimes I just truly get into some books, and some are just… you know, a good
read, and worth enlightening others to. And then there is always a book that
just jumps out at you, and you truly just can’t get enough of it, and sometimes
there just aren’t even the proper words to explain the fascination behind the book.
Hopefully you can comprehend what it is I am trying to say….
I have just read
the most amazing book I think of in my time. It was like being told a story, if
you will, by another person as I read it. I don’t know what it is about Debbie,
and her story telling ability, but when she reads to me, I feel like someone is
literally reading ‘to’ me. Call me crazy, I don’t care, I know what I feel.
I can read her
books in just one setting, and I relax, even though someone is being taken from
me as I fell in love with them as I read them. Missing from me, and I need
them, I go to my facebook messenger and contact Debbie, “He’s gone!” She tells
me “Yes, but keep reading.” I inform her I am upset. I was in love with the
character and their relationship, you will be as well….
Dr. Alexzander
Blackburn, who prefers to be called Zan, has a proposal for Aisling Coutier, a
beautiful med student with, you know…needs. And Zan, he truly thinks he is
something special, and honestly, he is. And his proposal leaves a lot to be
desired.
And then Lia
text’s Aisling with: “Holy hotness Batgirl.” Because she seen Zan and was like
wow, now that is something to take home to enjoy.
So Aisling
decides to share the proposal that Zan said to her with Lia: “The “I want to
have sex with you and absolutely no strings attached,” kind.” Lia couldn’t even
believe he was ballsy enough to say that. So Aisling even added, “He did.
According to him, he’s great in bed too…” Yeah confidence too! Zan was truly
one of a kind.
But Aisling
couldn’t help but be attracted to him still. And she kept remembering her own
Mothers words in her head to, replaying them, trying to protect herself. But
yet still, it didn’t work.
Eventually it
was too late. She couldn’t fight him or their attraction any longer, it was
like, they were meant to be. She couldn’t explain it. It was like she just belonged
with him, every essence of her.
Together, he was
right. They made beautiful music and enjoyed one another. They were the perfect
couple, they even looked at houses together. They were building the perfect
relationship, the kind everyone dreams of.
And then one
day, she just couldn’t find him. He was gone. Where had he gone? They hadn’t
argued, they had even had plans. But to no avail, no where, he was simply gone.
No explanation, no “Dear John” letter, no answers of any kind.
And then Aisling
learns the inside story. Or the story finds her. The president of the Witches,
Euthia Simmons, knew Aisling needed answers, that’s just how good of a witch
she is. “You’re here about Dr. Alexander Blackburn.”
Aisling thought
someone else informed Euthia, but no, no one did. And Euthia had all the
answers that Aisling needed, all of them, in detail. Because the witch had her
own spiritual guides, without genders and heritage who told her things, before
they happened, to prepare her. “Now do you want my help or not?”
Alexander
Blackburn had slept with a woman, who he had no intentions of marrying. There
was a founding member of the coven, her name was Alice. She shared the stories
with everyone in the coven, passing the stories along through time. Alice put a
curse on Alexzander, to keep him alive. Alice and Alexzander can never be
killed, least wise not permanently. Together this spell was in cahoots with the
Devil. This is where Aisling learned that the love of her life was almost four
hundred years old.
In order to
remove the spell that was already failing as time went on, four things were
needed. However, the hardest part will be convincing Alice to let go of
Alexzander, and move on, because she herself, was very much still infatuated
with him. We also learn that Alice may have even caused the actions of Zan in
the first place, to be the non-marrying type of guy who just sleeps around.
Luckily Euthia
convinced Alice to see things the way of Aisling wanted. She explained they
would both end up stuck anyway, the vortex was closing, that this was the best
option.
Alexzander and
Alice must return back to 1692 and start everything all over again, and make
the right choices from there. Alexzander is told, the only way back to the real
world, is to his real love. And this time, they both need to make the right
choices.
Aisling wished
she had known about the fact that Alice and Alexzander would have to start
over, and return back to 1692. You could tell she still had doubts, even some
about Alice, and even the love of her true love. She wasn’t sure if Alexzander
would ever return to her.
Five days go by,
(in the book itself) and I am 98% on my kindle, growing frustrated. The only
thing that kept me not going insane, was Aisling and Carter meeting a dog named
“Damn it.” As I was still sitting there, wondering, and waiting, impatiently, I
get to this part and nearly die busting out laughing. I say out loud, “Damn it
get out of the bed!” My dogs (three of them) jump out of bed and give me evil
looks. I had been sitting there quietly reading for hours. And then I bust out
with that. I am laughing. I can’t stop laughing. And then I get annoyed with
myself because I left Aisling waiting around on me. Because of me, she was left
waiting even longer. Damn it again!
Here I am at 98%
on my kindle and here is where I will stop. Leaving you wondering about Zan,
the 348 year old hunk and whether or not he makes it back to Aisling, and whether
or not they live happily ever after or he stayed with Alice.
I probably have
already told you too much. But, I just don’t want you to not read this “Shadows
of Him,” I need you to read it. The back cover does it no justice in gripping
you enough to want to read it. I feel a
better description could have went into writing the back of the book than that,
no offense to whom ever wrote it.
Needless to say,
this book, is a perfect five star book. An excellent comical, intense,
historical read. Something worth reading, and enjoying over and over again. I
truly enjoyed this book immensely. I felt like I was being told a story,
directly by the writer, and it was just so totally enjoyable I couldn’t put it
down. If you want something worthy of your time, get yourself a copy of this
book!
Here
are my questions for Debbie:
1. OMG I have NEVER
written three pages of notes for a book. This was intense! So what made you
write this book and how long did it take you?
You made me laugh
aloud. Zan started talking one night. He was confusing, because his story
was of a paranormal nature, with witches and spells. I liked him because he was
so different from the other characters that invaded my dreams. I was writing
another story at the same time as his, so it took longer about three months to finish.
2. How do you pronounce the name Aisling Courtier? Is it pronounced fancy?
2. How do you pronounce the name Aisling Courtier? Is it pronounced fancy?
I loved her name.
It's Asling with the I being silent and the A is long. She is a simple lady
with a fancy name.
3. Did you do any
research for this book?
Yes, lots of
research. First, I went for a ride around New Haven, Connecticut. I found a
house that I thought could be Zan's house. New Haven has a large amount of
Victorian homes. I ate at the restaurants in the book.
Then I went to Salem.
I found Rebecca Nurse's house. It's still there in Danvers. Walking the grounds
of the house, the graveyard in the back where they believe Rebecca is buried,
was amazing. I stayed in a B&B, I walked through the old graveyard in town,
I left flowers on Rebecca's stone in the Memorial area. Salem is rich in
history.
4. Do you have photos or descriptions of ANY of these characters?
I found a picture of
a portrait of a Victorian era man. I use it as a teaser for Shadows. It
resembles Zan in my minds eye.
5. I love the dog named "Damn It" I shared this entire book with my husband. He truly enjoyed that comical part too! Whatever made you come up with that?!
I thought Damn it was
a perfect name for a dog. "Damn it get down, Damn it come here." I
have a funny bone. It was just a thought and it went into the book.
6. Are you familiar with witch craft? Or even Salem?
I'm not familiar with
witchcraft per say, but I'm fascinated with the concept. Throughout history,
woman have been accused of being witches. Be a little odd, or have a physical
difficulty and bam, you're a witch. In the case of the Salem witches, it
was a concerted effort to take property. If you were a witch, you lost your
property. If you look at a map of Salem Village and Salem Town, the accusers are
on ins side of the map, the accused on the other side. Knowing the history, you
can see exactly why the whole thing was done.
7. The recipe for the
cure. Did you create the four things needed? Or did you research them?
I came up with that
when I was in Salem. Zan didn't finish the whole story. I wanted there to be a
way out. I didn't want it to be a forever thing. I needed an end.
8. I loved his
proposal in the beginning. I mean, after-all, he 'knows' he's good in bed. And
then Lia's text: "Holy hotness Batgirl" I so love how you write! Is
this how your characters tell you to, or is this 'you?'
Yes, that was the
characters. That's exactly what Zan said. He liked the fact that he's
attractive and the ladies love him. At the beginning he was a real Neanderthal.
As he went on, I could see it was a crust that he needed to protect his heart.
Knowing he wasn't hanging around to have a future with any woman, meant, he had
to be aloof in order to survive.
9. Did you also study
and learn about Covens?
In Salem, there are
active covens. I did speak to two women that said they were in one. Unlike the
accepted concept, witches don't stir big caldrons of, eye of newt. They are
active in woman's issues and PTA meetings.
10. Do you keep a notepad or recorder by your bed? (For your dreams?)
10. Do you keep a notepad or recorder by your bed? (For your dreams?)
I have a pad and pen
on my nightstand. It's funny, sometimes I hear one word. An unusual word that I
have to look up. If I get a whole story, I have to get up and write. I've gone
to bed at 9:00 and been up by 2:00 writing.
11. Please provide
your links to social and books:
Debbie Zello Book
list and links
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Zello/e/B00JA71W0G
Facebook @
Twitter:
@ZelloDzello1
Online: debbiezello.com
Romancing Broadway by
#DebbieZello
Amazon US:
Amazon UK:
Barnes & Noble
Middle of My
Bridge
Amazon US
Amazon UK
B&N
Shadow of Him
Amazon US
Amazon UK
B&N
Elizabet Under the
back staircase
Barnes & Noble
Amazon US
Amazon UK
The Viscount's Vices:
The Love Story of Brook and William
Barnes and noble:
US Amazon:
Amazon UK:
Raising Ren and
Cowboys: Sequel to The Viscount's Vices William and Brooks Love Story
Barnes and noble:
Amazon US:
Amazon UK:
Love's Labyrinthine:
Five Stories about Love's Twists and Turns
Barnes and Noble:
Amazon US:
Amazon UK:
The Kiss Me
Chronicles: Four Short Stories about Love
Barnes and Noble:
Amazon US:
Amazon UK:
Amazon link
Blog link
Facebook Page
13. Anything to add:
I find history so
interesting. I had a teacher in high school that made it more than dates, wars
and stupidity. She came to school dressed as a Pilgrim, witch, Colonial, and
WW2 USO volunteer. Everyone in her classes left with a renewed
appreciation of those that came before us. She came to school wearing
pantalets, chemise, and corset to show us the seven layers a proper Victorian
woman would wear. After watching her get dressed, I was very happy to wear my
jeans and tee shirt.
About the Author:
Debbie has always
been an avid reader, but writing was not her interest. That was until an
illness gave her the time and inspiration needed to begin her journey in words.
After writing down a few chapters of a story that had whispered into her head,
she gave it to a few friends to read. The rest became her first book, The Kiss
Me Chronicles.
Debbie freely credits
her stories to her muses, the characters themselves. They occupy her thoughts
and dreams, presenting her with their narratives on their lives and loves. On
occasion, she has tried to put her own take on their story, only to be quickly
corrected by the true authors.
Debbie has traveled
extensively and has a deep love of American history. Her novels are often based
on historical events as well as places she has visited. She is also an amateur
genealogist, having traced her own family roots.
Debbie currently has
eight published books with many more in various stages of production, including
a tetralogy of 'what or where is your safe place.' She is also branching out of
the romance/historical romance genre to include a teenage appropriate story
based on Dorothy's(The Wizard of Oz) great-granddaughter, Dee, and her adventurous
shoes.
