My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel
Description:
Alexandrine Marit is a witch in mortal danger. An evil mage craves the powerful, mysterious talisman that supplies her magic, and the only person who can keep her safe is a dark and dangerous fiend called Xia. With his fierce animosity toward witches, he’s hardly the ideal bodyguard. Yet as days turn into nights, she can’t deny the white-hot passion between them.
Xia hates witches. They enslave and mercilessly kill his kind. But he’s been ordered to protect Alexandrine, who, to his surprise, has a spirit he admires and a body he longs to possess. With the mage and his henchmen closing in, Alexandrine and her protector must trust the passion that can unite them…or risk losing everything to the enemies who can destroy them both.
My thoughts:
I love a good paranormal romance and this one kept me hooked the whole time. Dinner was late at least once because I couldn’t put it down. It’s steamy, but nothing too outrageous. Xia is flat out sexy, the bad boy with a good heart. Alexandrine has had to fight for what she has in life. She may be a witch, but she can’t actually pull much magic. She needs Xia, and as much as he doesn’t want to admit it, he needs her, too. Of course, sparks fly between the two, they have their arguments, and the sexual tension runs through a good portion of the book, but the ending is definitely satisfying as far as their relationship goes. Of course, the battle between mages and fiends is far from over.
Q & A with Carolyn Jewel:
Thanks so much for answering a few questions for me, Carolyn. First of all, I loved My Forbidden Desire. I couldn’t put it down. What drew you to writing paranormal romance?
Thank you very much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book.
I started out writing historical romance, which I love, but in the back of my mind I always thought it would be great fun to write something with supernatural creatures. And, typical of me, I kept thinking it would be really cool. (Cue the theme from Jeopardy.)
Then one day, Liz Maverick asked if I’d be interested in writing a book in her continuity series Crimson City. To which I said, Hot diggity! You bet! If it weren’t for Liz, I might still be thinking it would be cool. (Picture me rolling my eyes at myself.)
I was right, it was great fun to write about vampires and demons. There are so many wonderful tropes to explore when I’m dealing with characters that aren’t *ahem* exactly normal.
Tell us a little about the world you’ve created.
Since I got to make up everything myself for these books, it’s a world where things aren’t precisely black and white and the good guys maybe aren’t exactly all good. And the bad guys? Maybe that depends on your point of view.
The books are set in a mostly everyday world except there are people (the magekind) who can do magic and fiends (a kind of demon — with a strong hint that there are others out there, too) who are, well, demonic and a bit fiendish. The basic conflict between the magekind and the demons lies in the dark dark past.
At one time they existed cooperatively. Then, fiends started taking advantage of people and doing harm to innocent people. The magekind fought back and, understandably, took to killing and enslaving the demons who were causing harm.
Again, still in the past, demons started shaping up and internally policing themselves. Being a slave isn’t much fun. But some of the magekind had by then learned they could prolong their lives by killing fiends and worse… By the time we reach the present day, fiends are about ready to declare all out war.
But, there are mages who aren’t killing and enslaving just as there are fiends who are still destroying innocent lives.
I read on your website that Durian’s story will be next. Any previews?
Yes, indeed, Durian is up next. I’m not quite ready to post the current chapter one yet, but I do tend to put chapters up fairly early and simply update them as they change while I’m writing. And, with my process, that happens a lot. I except something will go up on my website in the next one or two months. For anyone who follows me on my blog or on twitter, you’ll hear the news there first.
With a son, a day job, and a menagerie of animals, how do you find time to write? What does your schedule look like?
Most mornings, I use the exercise bike at the gym so my hands are free for the notebook I use to brainstorm the coming day’s work. At lunchtime, I often sit in the car and get some work done then, especially if I’m behind.
I get up at 4:15 a.m. which, hideous as the hour is, gets me home from work about the time my son gets home from school. After dealing with family and pet things and the like, I sit down about 6:30 or so and write until 10:00 or 10:30. And no. I don’t get enough sleep. If my son has sports practice, then I sit in the back of the car and write then. My goal is a 1,000 words a day and, with luck, more on weekends.
What do you think is the most critical piece of advice for aspiring writers?
Always be learning. I don’t mean a constant stream of classes and writing workshops because at some point you have to sit down and just write. Be constantly on the look out for insights into what happens to words when you put them on the page.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
In Romance, Mary Balogh, Megan Hart, J.R. Ward, Meljean Brook, Karen Rose. In other genres, Chinua Achebe, Patrick Rothfuss, George R.R. Martin, Sherman Alexie, Harper Lee. Among authors no longer living, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Horace Walpole, Alexander Dumas.
What are you reading right now?
Now that I’m working on Durian’s story, my reading is a bit more limited than otherwise, but before that, I was on a massive reading jag.
Just a couple weeks ago I finished reading all of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse books and before that the sublime The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I’ve been slogging my way though a book on the Huns, but that’s been slow going and may be a lifetime project.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you so much for having me here! If anyone has any questions or just wants to tell me a great joke, do email me; carolyn AT carolynjewel.com
If you could ask your readers a question, what would it be?
What makes you decide to buy a book when you pick it up or see it online?
The giveaway:
I’m so glad I get to share this one with you. I’ve got 5 copies to give away, thanks to Hachette Book Group. To enter, just leave me a comment below by July 13. For an extra entry, include your answer to Carolyn’s question. Sharing this giveaway somehow, somewhere will get you up to two additional entries, just make sure to let me know. I will announce the winners on July 14. (Open to individuals 18 and older, US and Canada only, no PO boxes.)
Check out today’s other tour participants.
Thank you for the entry.
In answer to Carolyns question; If it isn’t something that a friend reccommended to me, than I read the back. Generally I will read just about any thing you put in front of me though. I do love to read!
I tweeted the giveaway; http://twitter.com/fredalicious
freda.mans@sympatico.ca
please enter me in the giveaway
what makes me decide to buy a book? Sometimes its recommendations from friends or reviews on blogs,usually its the blurb on the back.
No need to enter me (sigh). I’d actually like to read this, but am still playing catch up over here (this will take me years to do, btw).
I’ve posted this at Win a Book; thanks, as always, for the mail. Let us know what other goodies you’ve got!
A lot of factors cause me to pick up a book. Probably the strongest these days is fellow blogger reviews. If everyone/certain special bloggers like it, I probably will too. I also tend to buy to support authors/publishers that I particularly like. And sometimes, like everyone else, I’m swayed by a pretty cover or an enticing blurb!
Thank you for the giveaway!
If I can get it in large print or the slightly larger easier to read format. If there’s time travel. Suspense.
chey127 at hotmail dot com
As I am frequently looking for new authors I tend to go by online reviews. Whats popular, being talked about, making the rounds. Also I often go by the cover of a book if it catches my eye I’ll pick it up.
jessica(at)fan(dot)com
This one sounds pretty interesting, and what a beautiful cover! To answer Carol’s question, covers play a large part for me in buying books- a well done cover can catch my eye and make me want to find out more. I also go by word of mouth and reviews I read online.
cheryl.mcinnis@yahoo(dot)com
Count me in!
The first thing that gets my attention is the cover…if it looks interesting I investigate further to see if it sounds good. I also check the reviews when I buy online.
I blogged about the contest:
http://throuthehaze.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-forbidden-desire-giveaways.html
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
pretty
Please count me in – Thanks!
The cover is the first thing that attracts me to a book. Then, I read the cover blurbs & if they appeal to me I buy the book.
Would love to be entered for this book! :0)
What makes me pick up a book? A familiar or favorite author name will get me first. Or a series name. Otherwise, the cover or title can make me at least pick it up and see what it’s about.
What makes me buy/read a book? Again, I go for a familiar or favorite author first. Otherwise, a good summary that peaks my interest. A lot of good reviews by people who read the same kind of books I like or recommendations from friends with similar tastes in books. If nothing else, I’ll open the book and read the first few pages to see if it pulls me in.
Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com
Thanks for the chance to win!
oheeyore at hotmail dot com
The cover art attracts me, and reviews online make me read a book.
I want to win this book!
Love it!
The final decision to buy is based on reviews – what other people have said about the book – and whether I think it will change my life in some way. Otherwise I just check it out at the library…
I would like to win this book, always wanted to read Carolyn Jewel!
Great customer reviews and feedback makes me pick up a book at a bookstore!
The thing that draws me in is the cover and back excerpr of the book, but also online reviews and how other readers liked the book.
I’ve been reading some wonderful reviews of Carolyn Jewel’s work. I would love to win this book.
As for the question of what makes me buy a book… if the author is a favorite of mine and on my auto-buy list. If the author is new to me then I’ll buy their book based on online reviews and friends recommending the book. Sometimes I will buy a book because the cover caught my eye and the burb grabbed my interest.
This sounds like a great book. Please enter me.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I always look at the cover of the book, then read what the book is about. If it looks good, I buy it!
I buy books strictly based on the back cover. If I’m not sure I’ll read the first page or two.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for all the entries. I’ll be posting the winners soon.