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Today I'm turning my blog over to Krystal Shannan, who is talking about how it feels to write series novels and how she went about writing her Vegas Mates Series!ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from April 15 - June 24, 2013]
Series Writing :
Writing a series feels natural to me. I have a very difficult time keeping a story limited to one couple. When characters come along they usually bring their friends and my brain never stops with just one story. I have to write them all and figure out how they are all connected. What brought them together? Are they friends? Are they family?
Vegas Mates started with the idea of a mate hunt. I wanted a heroine who wanted something else from life. She was someone who wasn’t desperately seeking her mate and was in fact avoiding it. And, I wanted a twist in this world where some of the shifters were not given the option of a true mate and some were. As you can imagine, this creates a whole slew of potential problems.
When Sam’s character appeared in my head, she practically screamed her frustrations at me. She has a very dysfunctional family, thanks mostly to her mom’s buried issues. Sam also doesn’t want to have anything to do with the politics of the royal council world. However, because she’s the first born, she is not given a choice.
Do you prefer to read series? Or stand-alone books?
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 237 KB | Release Date: February 5, 2013 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions"Chasing Sam" [Vegas Mates Series, Book 1] by Krystal Shannan
My Book Summary : Samantha (Sam) is the oldest daughter from a noble and influential werewolf family just about to turn twenty-five-years-old. Meaning it's time for her family to follow tradition and find Sam a mate. The problem is Sam doesn't like the "stuffy" life her family leads. She would love to be on her own, finish her schooling to become a doctor and travel off to a distant land so she could help others. Yet that isn't in the cards for her, especially when she goes home during her Christmas break only to find her parents have took the opportunity to find mates for her and are planning to hold the "mate hunt" while she's home, whether she likes it or not.
Sam's only salvation is Chase. A werewolf she meets at the airport after arriving home and who she finds an instant attraction/calling too. But can she convince him that she is his one true mate and see if he's willing to fight for her only after knowing him for such a short period of time? Or will she try to escape her responsibilities to her family like she's been trying to do for years?
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars!! Can Sam find a way to escape tradition or will she find a loophole that could work in her favor while she looses her heart...
I loved this rushed, exciting tale of new love, werewolf politics/traditions, dysfunctional noble families, and sibling loyalty. Sam and Chase were a great match! I am so happy with how everything turned out between them; I can't wait to see where their lives will end up.
Nevertheless, my only issue with the novel was that I wanted the ending to wrap up a bit better. Like, what happened after Sam & Chase got out of the woods? Especially since I really want to know how her mother reacted, there is so many unknown issues that this novel touches on but never completes that it makes me curious as to know what the reasons are and I hope that within the next books in this series those reasons will be told.
Overall, I recommend this novel and series to anyone who likes paranormal werewolf romances!
Author's Novel Extras : Chasing Sam - Overview & Excerpt | Krystal Shannan - Heartbreaker Blog Event #HeartHop | Krystal Shannan Interviews Cover Model Jason Aaron Baca | Krystal Shannan's - Chasing Sam | Vegas Mates **New Release** #pnr #werewolf #shifter #romance #newrelease
Author's Series Extras : Vegas Mates Series - Overview | Welcome!
Book Teaser(s) :
He took her hand again and led her inside the 24-hour diner. They sat down at an empty table and a waitress plopped a menu down in front of Chase.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Krystal, then please check out her website.
He glanced up at the server. “Where’s hers?”
The old lady laughed in his face. Even Sam giggled. He had a feeling he was missing the joke.
“Honey, she always gets the blueberry pancakes, a double side of bacon, and coffee with cream.”
Realization dawned, and he smiled. “How often do you come here?”
“Once a day when I’m in town.”
“We’ve missed you, sugar. All that premed wearing you out?”
“Something like that, Bonnie. I’ve missed you too. Say hi to Joe for me.”
“Will do, sugar. Does your handsome friend here want to eat, or is he going to just stare in amazement all night?”
“Ummm...I...I’ll have the same as her,” he finally stammered. The waitress Sam had called Bonnie smiled and took the menu. ~ within Chapter 4
About the Author :
Krystal Shannan is a born, raised, and current TEXAN. She is married to a wonderful man who supports her dream of writing and allows her to spend many evening and weekend hours glued to her laptop. During the day she moonlights as an elementary music teacher. In addition to a doting husband, a young daughter is also part of the picture and keeps her hopping! An ornery little Welsh Corgi completes the household. Krystal has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She has always dreamed of writing romance and sharing the "movies in her head" with the world. If she's not writing, she's reading -historical, paranormal, action, adventure -anything she can get her hands on that ends with a Happily Ever After!
If you are interested in receiving emails when new books are released, please sign up for her distribution list by visiting www.krystalshannan.com and clicking the "contact" tab.
Book Excerpt :
“Sam? Sam, have you heard anything I’ve said?”
Sam finally tore her gaze away from Chase. When she’d seen him walk into the lounge, every part of her being began to ache. Her wolf was going nuts, urging her to go over and talk to him immediately.
“He is here to see us!”
Sam glanced up at Nicole and then again at Chase. God, he was smiling. A huge lolling sexy grin. Her heart melted into a puddle and all she wanted to do was oblige her wolf, climb into his lap, and snuggle against his broad chest.
Nicole laughed and Sam turned back with a glare. “Out of the entire Vegas strip, soldier-boy hottie ends up one table across from you in your favorite haunt.”
“Shhh... Nicole, don’t talk so loud. He can hear you.” Her cheeks warmed and she took another quick sip of her Jack and coke.
“Ooooh, this is the hottie from the airport?” Hallie giggled.
Sam put her empty glass down and looked up. All three of her sisters were smiling and waving at Chase and his friend. If only she could disappear into the leather of the seat cushion.
“Nicole, wave them over here to our booth. I want to meet the guy that finally made Sam turn her head twice.” Tess snickered. “It’s not every day you get to see Samantha Demakis blush like a high school freshman.”
“Shut up, Tess,” Sam hissed and scowled at her little sister. She wanted nothing more than to talk to Chase again, but not surrounded by her sisters or in front of whoever his friend was.
Before she could object, Nicole had hopped up from their booth and walked over to the pair. Sam stole another glance and shivered with excitement when both men stood and followed Nicole back to the table.
Giveaways!! :
- Some autographed swag to 5 randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US ONLY)
- A digital copy of "Open House" by Krystal Shannan to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour
- Grand Prize : A $25 Gift Card to Starbucks to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour
To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.
Sign up for her newsletter and tell her in your comment that you did. She'll put your name in the Grand Prize drawing twice!
Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)
ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!
Find Krystal Shannan :
- Krystal Shannan - Website with a blog
- Krystal Shannan - Blog
- Facebook Page
- Goodreads
- Chasing Sam [Vegas Mates Series, Book 1] : Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords
- Open House [Pool of Souls Series, Book 1] : Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords
- A Very Russian Christmas : Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
- Finding Hope [Pool of Souls Series, Book 2] : Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
Sounds like an awesome book! I can't wait to read it. I signed up for your newsletter as well. Thanks for sharing the great excerpts and for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteRhonda D
slinkydennis@yahoo.com
Yay! Thanks Rhonda :-) I do hope you enjoy Chase and Sam's story.
DeleteI like series and standalones. I subscribe to the newsletter.
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Hugs!
DeleteLook forward to reading this book! Thank you for the giveaway. I follow through GFC kimlrkim and email: kimlrkim@aol.com.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks so much!
DeleteThank you so much for hosting and for the great review! Everyone always wants to know what happens with the mom, but you will have to wait until book 2 to find out :-) All will be revealed....in time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting ... sorry I'm late!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think i like series best. I just like to get that follow up with characters that I love! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteandralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
I like both series and stand-alones, just depends on what they're about.
ReplyDeletetiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Subscribed to newsletter
Great post , this book is a must read for me .I loved the excerpt and cover .
ReplyDeleteflanagan@mebtel.net