(Blogoversary Celebration) Author Interview: Joann I. Martin Sowles

Hi everyone. Today, Joann I. Martin Sowles, author of The Brookehaven Vampires series, has stopped by the blog with an interview. Welcome to Treasured Tales Joann; and thank you for the interview.

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Hi Joann, Thank you for visiting Treasured Tales for Young Adults, to help celebrate its one year blogoversary.

Would you tell us a little about yourself?

I am married and a stay at home, homeschooling mom of two and I am also the author of the Brookehaven Vampires series. Some of my favorite things include vampires, Mickey Mouse, the color purple, and Dragons.

Do you have a favourite place where you like to write?

Well, we recently moved and I now have my own office. I love it in there! It is so nice to finally have a private space to write and call my own. Before that I would hide out in the corner of my bedroom in a recliner and try to get some writing done. Now I can actually sit at my desk to write and I can leave notes all over the room. I am way more productive.

If you were given the ability to step inside the world of any novel for an entire day, which novel would you choose and why?

I think I’d choose Harry Potter. I’d love to see and be a part of Hogwarts, wander Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and see all the wonderful people and creatures of the Harry Potter world.

Which supernatural creature and/or myth do you find the most intriguing?

Oh, there are just so many that fascinate me! I’d have to say my number one is Dragons, followed closely by vampires.

How would you finish this sentence: Writing a novel…is a lot of work but one of the most rewarding things I have ever accomplished.

Joann, I have some Brookehaven Vampires related questions for you:

How would you describe Laney in one sentence?

Laney, as a character: Laney is strong and independent, looking for her place in the world.

Laney, the book: A glimpse of the beginning of what is to be an amazing love story.

What would you say are Laney and Oliver’s strengths and weaknesses?

I think that they are each other’s strength and weakness.

When you think of Julz, what is the first word that comes to mind?

Broken.

How many books will there be in The Brookehaven Vampires series?

I do not have a set number of books for the series or to tell Laney’s story. I have found that the more I write the longer Laney & Oliver’s story gets. I also plan to write Oliver’s version of the story along with several of the other Characters’ stories as well.

One final question:

What are you working on at the moment, and is there anything about it you can share with us?

At the moment I am working on book 3. Unfortunately, there is not much I can share at this time. I can tell you that we will get to see the Brookehaven world from the eyes of another character and that book 3 will be released sometime this year (2012).

Thank you for the interview Joann.

Thank you & Happy Blogoversary!

I’d also like to thank all who have stopped by and taken the time read this interview. I invite all of you to visit my website where you can read the first 3 chapters of both Laney & Darkness.

Much Love,
Joann I. Martin Sowles www.brookehavenvampires.com

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I can’t wait for book 3 in The Brookehaven Vampires series. I wonder which other character we are going to see the Brookehaven world through? Any ideas? Really excited about seeing the story from Oliver’s pov too.

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More information about The Brookehaven Vampires and Joann I. Martin Sowles:

goodreads ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ website

 

Review: Walking With Shadows

Walking With Shadows (A Shadow World Novel #2) by Julieanne Lynch

Book description (from Goodreads) -

“Walking with Shadows” is the second of The Shadows trilogy, an urban fantasy of vampires and the supernatural, and much, much more.

Giselle regains consciousness and is horrified to discover she has been asleep for nine weeks. She was already aware that she was carrying a very special baby who was to be the first of a new race of vampires, but she is shocked to find how her pregnancy is progressing. Around her, the underworld is in turmoil. Vampires battle with creatures of darkness and with other vampires, and few are entirely what they seem. More confusing still, those who appeared to be totally evil may have a streak of goodness in them, and those who appeared to be Giselle’s friends may have a darker purpose of their own. Almost anyone, it seems, can be changed and turned, except possibly Ysoriel the Archangel and the goddess Lilith, and Giselle cannot be sure that even they are interested only in her welfare.

The only certainty is that it will all become very much worse before it begins to get better – if anything ever gets better for Giselle.

Review

After being asleep for nine weeks, Giselle awakes to discover that her pregnancy is progressing at an accelerated rate. Not only that, she is somewhere she never expected to be – an Archangels home. For the past nine weeks Antoine has kept Giselle safe while she sleeps – but can he continue to keep her safe?

A war has started, one between the shadow world and the vampires; a war Giselle is caught in the middle of. Who can Giselle turn to for guidance, and who can she truly trust? With hidden agendas, secret alliances, and the possibility of betrayal at every turn, Giselle will have to trust herself and listen to her instincts if she is to survive.

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I am such a big fan of In the Shadows – the first novel in The Shadows Trilogy – so I was very excited to read the sequel, Walking With Shadows. I loved, loved, loved it.

Giselle is one of my all time favourite female characters. She has been through so much and, somehow, she finds the strength to keep going. I really admire that about her. Giselle is such an honest character; her emotions are raw and heartfelt, which allows the reader to be deeply pulled into her story and her world.

In Walking With Shadows, it is not only Giselle’s voice that the reader is exposed to, but also that of Alex and Marc. Being able to get inside Alex’s head to see what motivated him was so interesting. For a few brief moments (and I do mean brief) he would display kindness, and then he would revert back to being emotionally cold, harsh, and cruel. I got the feeling that Alex believes that he can’t be vulnerable – that he views it as a weakness. I’m very interested to see how much of Alex’s personality is his own and how much is the product of brainwashing by Atarah. Will Alex step up and be a man – one that doesn’t partake in violence to get what he wants – and a loving father, or has Atarah’s influence gone so deep that there is no hope?

One character that does bring hope is Antoine. I loved him in In the Shadows, and I loved him even more in Walking With Shadows. He brings light to Giselle’s often very dark world. The conversations between Antoine and Giselle are something that I just love. Their conversations may often be filled with sarcasm, but it is evident that there is a deep respect between them. I would love to see Giselle and Antoine as a couple.

I don’t want to talk too much about what happens in this novel, because it is such an amazing story and it takes the reader on an incredible journey. I will just say that Walking With Shadows is full of suspense, intrigue, action, and unexpected twists. Wow, the twists; there was one twist that made by jaw drop to the floor.

I experienced so many emotions while reading this novel. There were times when my heart broke for Giselle, and I found myself reaching for the tissues.

Julieanne Lynch has given readers such a beautiful character in Giselle and has written a fascinating and intriguing series. I can’t wait to read the final installment.

5/5

*Recommended for mature readers, 16+, due to some adult content.

* Thank you to Julieanne Lynch for providing me with a copy of Walking With Shadows to review.

Note:  Walking With Shadows is now titled Escaping Shadows and has a new cover.
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Soon to be released spotlight – April 2012

Below are five novels, due to be released in April, that sounds really good.  Will you be adding any of them to your ‘to be read’ list?

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Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Book description -

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

To be released: 24th April 2012

Add it to:  goodreads ~ amazon ~ book depository

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Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (Elementals #1)

Book description -

When Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from being beaten up in the school parking lot, she has no idea how dramatically this one action will change her life. Because Chris Merrick is no ordinary guy and neither are his three older brothers. The Merrick boys are Elementals. Hot. Powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death. And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.
With her life at stake, she doesn’t know who to trust or whose secrets she should keep. Hunter, the mysterious new kid with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, might be the one boy Becca can put her faith in.     

But with two boys vying for her affections, and pressure rising all around her, will she find out in time who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all?
Earth, Fire, Air, Water – the storm is coming…

To be released: 24th April 2012 (Australia/USA)

*Australian cover pictured.

Add it to:  goodreads ~ amazon ~ book depository

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Preloved by Shirley Marr

Book description -

A sassy ghost story with a Chinese twist. Amy is always the support act to the beautiful and glamorous Rebecca. The two friends find a locket during an 80s theme school dress up day. Rebecca does not want anything to do with itas she thinks it is ugly.

Using wisdom borrowedfrom Tolkien, Amy is able to open the locket andwhen she does she releases the ghost inside. Logan, the handsome teenager – obviously meant
to haunt Rebecca, but stuck with Amy.

Through helping Logan, Amy realises that she is a bit of a hungry ghost herself – she has a lot of unresolved sadness about her parents’ separation and what she sees as her father’s abandonment of her.

To be released: 1st April 2012 (Australia)

Add it to:  goodreads ~ book depository

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The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden #1)

Book description -

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their “pets.” In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero…and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She’s passing for human…for now. But the hunger is growing and will not
be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

To be released: 24th April 2012 (USA)/May 2012 (Australia)

Add it to:  goodreads ~ amazon ~ book depository

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Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Book description -

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has always been a loner, even more so since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, a few years ago. Cara mostly spends her time avoiding the popular girls who call her ‘choker’ after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria, and watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her.

Then one day Cara comes home and finds Zoe waiting for her. Zoe’s on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With Zoe back, Cara’s life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and before she can blink, Cara is flirting with Ethan and getting invited to parties. And best of all, she has her best friend to confide in again.

But just as quickly as Cara’s life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect ~ including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving very strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she’s at school. You’re supposed to be able to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

To be released: April 2012 (Australia)

Add it to:  goodreads ~ amazon ~ book depository

Review: Darkness by Joann I. Martin Sowles

Darkness by Joann I. Martin Sowles (The Brookehaven Vampires #2)

Book description (from Goodreads) -

Not long ago, Laney Alexander was living a carefree life, that is, until she was thrown into a world full of creatures only the imagination thought possible. Now, after surviving a terrifying night, Laney and Oliver are lying low at Julz’s place, relieved to be in each other’s arms once again. But fate seems to have other plans…

Julz is not happy to have visitors in her home and emotions run high. Laney is pushed to her limits as she watches Carter fight for his life and her relationship with Oliver becomes strained as she discovers secrets about Julz that could tear them apart.

As she reaches her boiling point, disaster strikes and her life is shattered. Laney must come to terms with what has unfolded. Will she lose her way and let the darkness consume her or will she find her light in Oliver?

Secrets will be revealed.

Hearts will be broken.

Lives will be lost.

Darkness will fall.

Review

After the emotional and frightening events of the past few days, Laney and Oliver head to Julz’s house to recuperate.  Julz is unhappy about her new house guests, and is especially unwelcoming towards Laney.  Matters become even worse when Oliver informs Julz that he wants her to tell Laney her story.  Laney is finally going to get answers about the mysterious Julz, but will she be able to accept what Julz tells her?

With everyone on edge, Laney finds comfort in Oliver – that is until a tragedy occurs, and Laney’s life is changed forever.  Pulling away from Oliver, Laney begins to feel empty, confused and alone.  Will she turn to Oliver for the comfort that she used to feel, or is the distance that is growing between them about to become to great to repair?

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I loved this novel.  I didn’t want it to end.  Darkness, starts right where the first novel, Laney, ended.  The transition from Laney to Darkness, was so smoothly done, that it felt like I was reading another chapter in Laney.

When I think of the events that took place in Darkness, the first word that comes to mind is emotional.  This novel is quite emotional, as the main character, Laney, experiences a whirlwind of emotions: fear, love, anger, heart-break and grief.

She learns what it would be like to be part of a vampire family; she learns more about her friends; and she learns more about Oliver.  Laney has so much information to process, that at times it becomes overwhelming for her.

Julz causes Laney a great deal of stress.  When a secret of Julz’s is revealed, I was in complete shock; it was something I never saw coming.  I love the twists and turns that author, Joann I. Martin Sowles creates.  I have said this before: one of the things that I love about Joann’s writing is how she scatters little clues throughout her novels.  A character will start to say something then stop, or get interrupted, and I will be left thinking: does that mean what I think it means; could it be; is that possible?  I enjoy how Joann writes in a way that lets the reader use their imagination to create theories and possibilities.

I felt that it was very easy to understand Laney.  She is going through so much, and is at times overwhelmed, confused and sad.  I could understand why she was feeling the way she was, and why she made the choices that she did.  She pulls away from Oliver in this novel and I can understand why she did.

Oliver – Oliver was a bit of a mystery in Darkness, and I really liked that.  A different side to him is revealed, and while I was definitely angry with him at times, I enjoyed the mystery that surrounded him.  I didn’t know what he was thinking sometimes.

Early on in the story something happens to one of the characters, and I was shocked by Oliver’s response.  I was so caught up in the story that I wanted to jump into the novel and slap some sense into him.

I loved the presence of Carter in this novel.  I don’t want to say too much about him, as I don’t want to give anything away.  I’ll just say that more is revealed about Carter and his family. I did miss the friendship between Kiera and Laney a little, but I understood why Kiera was not as present in Darkness, as she was in this first novel, Laney.  Laney spends the majority of her time at Julz’s home – a place that Kiera cannot be.  Laney is discovering more about life with vampires, and deciding if that is the life she truly wants, and at the moment these are topics that she can’t discuss with Kiera.

I’m also a little suspicious of Hayden.  I don’t know if I completely trust her.  A few times I thought to myself: why did she do that?  I also have a feeling that Oliver may be hiding something from Laney.  I just don’t know what it could possibly be.  I can’t wait to read the next installment in The Brookehaven Vampires series.

Friendship, love, heart-break, mystery and romance collide in Darkness, creating a memorable and captivating story.  With so many unexpected moments, I was eagerly turning the pages, wanting to  know what would happen next. A fantastic novel.

4.5/5

*Thank you to Joann I. Martin Sowles for providing me with a copy of Darkness to review.

Review: Laney by Joann I. Martin Sowles

Laney by Joann I. Martin Sowles (The Brookehaven Vampires #1)

Book description (from Goodreads) -

In a small college town in Northern California, Laney Alexander leads a regular, uneventful life–that is, until the charming and alluring Oliver Knight enters her world. Who is this gorgeous and mysterious stranger? Or, rather, what is he?

As Laney’s sophomore year of college begins, so does an unbelievable adventure–including a love she didn’t know she longed for. She soon learns that Oliver is not ordinary, nor is the rest of his family, including a sister who openly hates her and a brother who will stop at nothing for revenge. As she fights for her life, and Oliver’s love, Laney discovers that the fictional world of vampires isn’t so fictional after all. Nobody is safe, especially Laney, Oliver’s most important priority, and he will stop at nothing to protect her. With her mortality at risk, and a commitment revealed that she, without a doubt, knows she wants, Laney’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn…

Review

When Laney meets the new student at college, Oliver, her life is forever changed. Falling more in love with Oliver everyday, she knows that it is he, who she wants to spend her life with. When Oliver reveals a secret about himself and his family, Laney knows that it doesn’t matter. She loves him, and that is all she cares about. But is love enough to keep Laney safe? Oliver’s family has enemies – very dangerous enemies, who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

When Laney’s life is put at risk, Oliver knows he will have to face the enemies of his family to protect her. But why does Oliver’s family have such a powerful enemy and why does Oliver’s sister dislike Laney so much?

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I first read Laney last year and loved it. It is one of those books where you find yourself turning the pages eagerly, wanting to know what happens next. One of my favourite things about this novel is how the relationship between Oliver and Laney develops. As soon as they meet each other there is a connection between them but the relationship doesn’t develop too quickly. Laney and Oliver are friends first before they become a couple, and it is really enjoyable to see their relationship grow and strengthen.

As well as there being many paranormal elements to the story, there are also many realistic moments woven through out, such as family, friendship and school. Author Joann Martin Sowles, balances the supernatural with realism very well, making it very easy for the reader to connect with the characters. It was really easy to understand them, how they were thinking, and why they made the decisions they did.

Laney is a very likeable character, and there were times when I found myself laughing, because some of the things that Laney says to herself are just so funny. Oliver and Laney care very deeply for each other and there are so many romantic moments between them making this a fantastic novel for anyone that loves romance.

Another aspect of the novel that I loved was that the secondary characters add to the story. They are not hidden away in the background. They have their own stories to tell. I was intrigued by Oliver’s sister and why she had taken such a dislike to Laney and there were quite a few times during the novel where I found myself coming up with theories: I was wondering – does that mean something? Is that just a coincidence? I can’t wait to read the sequel to see if any of my theories are correct.

Laney is an amazing paranormal/supernatural romance novel that I highly recommend for all lovers of paranormal romance.

4.5/5