 Five Sailing Stars for Beneath Black Sails This book was amazing. Action, adventure, pirates, romance, twists, and conspiracy. Lady Vice was strong and admirable with an endearing weakness that she hides well. Knigh was equal parts conservative, collected naval officer meets a passionate man discovering his true nature. Both characters were well developed, the writing style was perfectly balanced, and the storyline progressed nicely. If you enjoy pirates, strong heroines, and life on the high seas, pick this one up!!! I'm ready for book 2! Shanna Swenson, Author of the Abundance and Gods of the Gridiron seriesLover of swashbuckling pirates and adventures on the high seas...
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 What an adventure!! Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance and Gods of the Gridiron seriesLover of cowboys, football players, and swoony alphas  5 EPIC stars for a stunning conclusion to the series! In the words of K.J. Backer, "Be EPIC." And this third book in the trilogy absolutely was! I can't say enough how much I LOVED this finale. Darion grew so much from the beginning. I loved seeing him come into his own, gain confidence, and strengthen in his resolve, taking his place among the Royals. Every character had their part to play in the destruction of evil, and I loved seeing the forces come together and love conquer all! Many events were unexpected, and I was held on the edge of my seat waiting for what was next to come. If you love fantasy, epic battles, and are rooting for good to triumph, grab up this book series! You will NOT be disappointed by any means! Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance and Gods of the Gridiron series'And lover of EPIC fantasies, like this one!  The Petticoat Pirate was a heart-pounding, swashbuckling good time. Set pre-Revolutionary War, this YA historic fiction takes place in Charlestown, where you’ll meet a sassy, headstrong pirate named Josephine. Jo is the daughter of the late Joseph Teversin, an immortal pirate. As the last of her kind, she’s been in hiding but is soon discovered by the pirate hunter, Garreck Skulthorpe, and his young apprentice, Nathaniel Runik. Jo finds herself in quite the predicament as she’s forced into espionage–and ball gowns as it were–to gathel intel for the man who killed her father. Adventure, romance, and action await as Jo gets thrown into the politics of war, all while uncovering more buried secrets and trying to win the trust of her fellow spy, Nathaniel, the man who’s starting to despise her less and less as time goes on. This book was so much fun. I highly recommend it to all historic fiction and pirate-lovers. I’m eager for the next book in the series. Shanna Swenson, Author of the Abundance and Gods of the Gridiron seriesLover of pirates and adventure  Five spooky stars for Haunted Attraction What’s more perfect than a haunted house romance this time of year? And this book delivers. Set in two time periods, I loved the multiple POVs and flashbacks. This was a slow-burn with a jaded female MC, Jess, who is the recent victim of a breakup. Jess has never had the chance to really find herself until she’s free from the bonds of a suffocating relationship. Matthew is an easy-going, closet writer with an uncomplicated life. He’s a lovable contractor who has just the right amount of patience and passion. Tensions mount as Jess and Matthew begin renovating a house to turn it into a B&B and realize they aren’t “alone” when haunting footsteps are heard one night. They must solve the mystery of “Randy” while fighting their undeniable attraction to one another. Ghosts, drama, love, endurance, and mystery abound in this page-turner with just the right amount of spooks and spunk. This book was a great read. I highly recommend it! Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance and Gods of the Gridiron series'Shanna loves a good book that thrills, chills, and warms her heart... and has spooky ghosts like this one did ;-)  I recently discovered Amanda’s Tide series as I was browsing Instagram. It was actually the third book in the series, King of The Tides, that caught my eye and had me going, “hmmm, that looks interesting!” After reading the blurb and realizing it was about Atlantis, I was sold. (Something about that mystic underwater city has always fascinated me.) When I reached out to Amanda, I knew I wanted the whole series in paperback, so I was grateful to get them beforehand and get to take them on vacation with me. Who doesn’t love an action-packed and romantic beach read? Moontide was just that: the perfect beach read. So I wanted to ask Amanda what inspired it! Here’s what she had to say: Me: Hi Amanda, tell me a little about yourself? When did you know you were going to be a writer? Amanda: Hi, Shanna! Well, I’m a Colorado native. My husband and I both are, and we live in a rural area of the state with our five kids, a Dauchsy / Bassett hound and a mini pot-belly pig. When I’m not running around with the kiddos, I write paranormal and fantasy romance. I started writing at a very young age and even proclaimed that I was going to be an author when I grew up when I was around six. I would sit at my mom’s old typewriter and plunk out stories on it and use this really cool stuff called “whiteout”... it was great. Lol. Around age ten or so, I started to get seriously obsessed with ballet and so I left my writing interests by the wayside to hard core train as a classical dancer which I acquired some now-long-since-forgotten accolades at and even went on to teach the discipline and choreograph up until I had a family of my own. Around baby number four, I said enough was enough and stopped dancing only to realize that one of the things I missed about that artform was the storytelling it involved and so I took up writing as a hobby. Around 2017, I finally made good on my six-year-old self’s declaration and self published my first book. Me: That’s awesome. I always wanted to be a ballerina myself. Now, what inspired you to write The Tides series? Amanda: I’ve always loved fantasy and fantasy romance, in particular, as well as having a huge, nerdy interest in mythology and folklore. I’m super intrigued by the different writings and theories surrounding Atlantis and thought it would be a fun idea to build a story world around. Me: Yes! I’m a big fan of mythology and folklore myself. So, how many books will be in the series? Amanda: Oh, boy, well, there are ten original sons of Poseidon that ruled the kingdom of Atlantis back in the day and my Lost Kings of Atlantis from the Tides series are descendants of theirs so there could potentially be ten books. It’s a wacky, ever changing story world though so you never know what will happen. The exact number of books is up to the gods. *wink, wink. Me: Haha! Love it!!! Which character in your collection is your favorite? Why? Amanda: This feels like picking a favorite child! I don’t know. I get very invested in the characters as I’m writing them, but if I had to pick a favorite main character, it would probably be Marley. Her book is such a roller coaster ride and she deals with a lot emotionally. I really liked writing her journey. Whole series-wise, overall, I have to say, I also really love Krav. He’s shown up in every Tides book so far and it’s always fun to write his scenes. Me: Yes, he’s awesome and I’m excited to read Marley’s book too. Now, did anyone in real life inspire your characters? Amanda: Absolutely. There are little bits and pieces of personalities I’ve come across throughout my life in all of my characters. Cindy’s character (from Moontide) has a lot in common with my sister, who’s one of my best buds in the whole world. Me: LOL! Awww. That’s great. I do the same. Put pieces of myself and my family into my characters. It’s what us writers do I guess LOL! What are you working on now? Amanda: Right now, I am hard at work on the fourth book in the Tides of Atlantis series, titled Storm Tide. It’s set in Iceland and I think it will be a lot of fun. I’m also getting the rough outline started for a fifth book in the series and am editing a little novella for my mailing list that will fit into the Tides world as well. Beyond that, I’m hoping to find the time to write another fairy tale for my Enchanted Lands collection, which will all be medieval, fantasy romances. Me: So cool! Exciting stuff coming our way… Now, tell us a little about your writing process? Amanda: I spend a lot of time, initially, just thinking about my story world when I have a new idea and am getting a feel for the characters. Sometimes, I’ll write down short scenes as they come to me.Then I go through and map out a rough outline which I go through later and add more detail to. I basically always have a notebook with me so that I can jot down any little thought as it comes to me. This is how I get myself started anyway. There’s always a whole lot of research involved as well, but these are the steps I take leading up to the actual writing. Me: Oh yes, research, research, research... and notebooks are MUST-HAVES, LOL!. What drew you to the fantasy romance genre? Ever since I was little, I’ve been drawn to fantasy. I just have always been carried away by stories with magic and impossible happenings in them. Me: Agreed!! Fantasy is my go-to! So, who are your favorite authors/books? Amanda: Probably my first fantasy favorite was the story of King Arthur and his Knights. I have a bunch of favorite authors though: L.M. Montgomery, The Brontes, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Tolkien from among the classics. I also used to love reading Morgan Llewellyn and Orson Scott Card. My favorite fantasy romance authors from today include people like Karen Moning, Sherrilynn Kenyon, Grace Draven and C.L. Wilson. If we’re talking the romance genre in general though, oh my gosh, there are too many to count! Me: Sounds like I got more books going into my TBR pile... LOL. Now, what do you personally love about writing? Amanda: I love the idea of creating a world that readers can escape into and be invested in. There’s something delicious about being sucked into a story and feeling like I’m a part of everything going on and like I actually know the characters personally. I hope to someday be able to create a story world that does the same kind of thing for my readers. Me: Ummm, you have, lady. I’m totally engrossed in these swoony, muscled kings!!! Last question: What are you looking forward to in 2020? Amanda: Honestly, we’re taking it one day at a time this year, as I’m sure so many people are. Having a young family right now, as I do, I think the idea that we need to not take any one moment for granted has really hit home. I feel truly blessed each day for all the small things. As for my writing, I’m really looking forward to bringing more of the Tides series journey together and am excited for whatever new adventure that leads me into. Me: Aww, yes, agreed. 2020 has been a whirlwind of a year. Well, wishing you safety and time to write, my friend. Thanks for joining me on my blog today. Amanda V. Shane is a Colorado native and fully admits to being a library dork growing up. To this day, she loves the smell of book paper on an almost fetish level (okay, maybe not, but that gives you a peek into the dark and twisted mind of this author). One of her first book romances came at the age of nine when, in a far back aisle, she found the story of King Arthur and was entranced by the blood purple canvas cover with gold leafing (she likes shiny things.) Since then, she's been hooked on stories with magic, mythical beings, daring heroes and, of course, desperate romance. She started writing at a very young age, but somewhere along the line, she left the creation of tales on the page for those on the stage and enjoyed a short career as a professional ballet dancer and an even longer one as a dance instructor and youth company director / choreographer. Nowadays, she is happy to be bringing fantasy and romance together in written form again and has had a wonderful time writing about some of the more obscure characters from the world's most renowned story ballets such as, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. You can read these timeless romances in her Enchanted Lands novels. She writes paranormal and fantasy romance from her home where she lives with her family and a Bassett hound that she routinely has to fight for the "soft" end of the couch to set up with her laptop. She likes chocolate, wine, coffee and kids, in no particular order ;) Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance series and Gods of the Gridiron seriesWhere swoony hunks are awaiting to take your breath away.  Five fiery stars for The Night She Fell Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned…or that of a woman when you mess with her family. Coralena del Prado is an easy-going, light-hearted young woman with a growing skill, not only to cook but to wield spells in her cooking, as her mother does. These “gifted” women own a bustling restaurant in Greenwich using their magic to keep customers coming back for more with their decadently delicious treats. Cori’s gift is slow to come though making her doubt her abilities and she longs for a life that doesn’t revolve around keeping NYC’s elite happy. (I mean, we can all relate, right?) Enter Hayden Colburn, who is simply irresistible. He’s the handsome and rich son of said elite and the brother to Bronte, one of Cori’s fellow classmates who comes in all the time to beguile—and bedevil—Cori with her lavish lifestyle. Cori’s mother and father used to work for the Colburns, so they are no strangers to her. Incidentally, Cori gets invited to Bronte’s birthday party and when Bronte fails to deliver, it’s Hayden who saves the day. Not only does he get Cori and her friend Monica into one of the hottest clubs in NYC, Inferno (such a great name for a club) he’s apt to take Cori under his wing, show her around, and have her all wrapped up in his charms by night’s end. But Cori is unknowingly about to get herself involved in a deep, dark family secret that will literally open Pandora’s box and change her life, and heart, forever. This book has it all: romance, intrigue, drama, mystery, horror, paranormal, action, and suspense. Think Romeo and Juliet meets Carrie meets The Dark Phoenix that’s what you’ll find on these pages. An intricately woven tale of incredible power and the price that comes with it. Jennifer Soucy isn't one to disappoint. Her writing is descriptive, fulfilling, and engaging. Be sure you follow her because this lady is up and coming in the world of horror!! Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance and Gods of the Gridiron series'Shanna enjoys a good book that thrills, chills, and warms her heart... and wows her like this one did!  5 "beaching" stars for Moontide What’s not to love about a gorgeous sea captain, enchanting Atlantis, and an unsuspecting female who’s searching for her friend when she gets caught up in mystical forces? I loved that this book started off with a flashback to Atlantis. I was immediately hooked! From there it bounced to many POVs, which as a fantasy reader I absolutely LOVE. (Give me ALL the POVs!!) There was so much going on and I kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next. It was funny, exciting, and had me swooning! Sweet Cindy Pierce, who’s always been plagued with vivid dreams, meets dashing Captain Ronan Garring in Miami while searching for her missing friend, Kay, at a hot Miami nightclub. The look of this handsome stranger is enticing, otherworldly even, despite that he doesn’t act or talk like a modern-day man; something strange is going on here. Little does Cindy know that Ronan has until sunrise to get back to the Tides portal and his island, or he’ll die. But she soon sees there’s something unbelievable happening that she can neither explain nor understand. She will be literally swept away by romance, action… and a prophecy as old as time itself. This was such a great beach read with tropical locales, conspiracy, romance, fantasy, and action. It had a Pirates of the Caribbean meets Men In Black meets Ghost Busters meets Clash of the Titans vibe. It literally had it all: sex, laughs, adventure, and enchantment. I loved this book and would highly recommend to any and all lovers of fantasy romance! (I'm so glad I got the entire series in paperback :-D I'll be digging into book 2 very soon!) Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance and God of the Gridiron series'Shanna loves a good book that thrills, chills, and warms her heart...and ones with hunky sea captains to swoon over while she's at the beach ;-)  Five Scandalous Stars for Saddler's Scandal OMG! Just when I think I’ve read my favorite Nicole Rodrigues novel, I realize I haven’t… This one was my favorite of the series because well, one word-- Andre. He’s a professional by day in his glasses, but once he pulls those babies off, he turns into a bad boy. A bad boy who knows how to talk dirty. And sweet, whatever the occasion calls for. This is a forbidden romance/enemies to lovers and everyone knows those are my fave. Add in sweet little Dakota Saddler and you’ve got one heck of a chemistry here. Who knew that opposite would attract so perfectly? Two teachers, thrust together by fate, time after time…cohabitation, teaching and soccer… There’s bound to be sparks flying, right? This book was hilarious, sexy, steamy, fun, sweet and endearing. I loved the dynamics of both these characters, how they responded to one another, how they learned from each other and adapted to one another. The connection was off the charts--seamless--so much so that this is one of my favorite couples of both Nicole’s series. If you love a book that leaves you laughing and swoony then don’t miss the finale to the Saddler series. It’s a bittersweet goodbye but sooo worth the wild ride! Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance series and PERSONAL FOULShanna enjoys a good book that thrills, chills, and warms her heart...and makes her swoon like Nicole Rodrigues' book boyfriends do ;-)  Five Fun Stars for Building a Home J.D. Park brings you home once again… Kira Lang is your typical girl next door, kind, giving, hard-working... and totally has her life together. That is, until Ben Rawlings is hired to work at her company. Ah, Ben. Every girl wants a hunky man who simply wants to prove himself to her and her child. Ben is everything Kira didn’t plan and then some. Sweet, swoony, and an absolute stud. But Kira has more than her own heart to consider, she also has her child Cline’s too. Can she move past her hesitations and embrace the love Ben offers or will she be too late when Ben’s past comes to claim what she hasn’t yet? You’ll just have to read it and find out. This book was funny, sweet and romantic. Ben was the perfect book boyfriend and made me swoon hard for how he treated Cline. If you love a clean romance with an HEA that makes you laugh, then check this one out. Shanna Swenson, author of the Abundance series and PERSONAL FOULShanna loves a good book that chills, thrills, and warms her heart...and makes her feel at home like this one did :-D |
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