The Vampire Hunter's Daughter by Jennifer Malone Wright (Review, Giveaway, Interview)

Title: The Vampire Hunter's Daughter: The Complete Collection
Author: Jennifer Malone Wright
Publisher: Jennichad Books

About the book: This special edition of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter contains parts I-VI, the complete collection. Fourteen-year-old Chloe witnesses her mother’s murder at the hands of a vampire. Before the vampire can kidnap her, there is an unexpected rescue by a group of vampire hunters.

Overwhelmed by the feeling of safety, Chloe passes out and they whisk her away to their small community. When Chloe wakes, she comes face to face with the only other living relative, besides her mother, whom she has ever met: her grandfather. Chloe’s mother kept her hidden from the family; now, Chloe tries to unveil the family secrets.

Through her grandfather, she learns her mother was a vampire hunter. In fact, her entire family is descended from the powerful bloodlines of vampire hunters. Chloe agrees to join the family she has never known for one reason only: Chloe vows to kill the vampire responsible for her mother’s murder. With vengeance in her soul, Chloe is even more determined to follow through on her vow when she discovers the true identity of her enemy and how he is connected to her.

Experience the world of vampires hunter’s, vampires and mythology with Chloe in this exciting series.

My thoughts: I liked this book.  I am not quite sure who it is marketed towards, but I am guessing YA. The six novellas combined make a total of 217 pages, so it is a pretty quick read.  The book moves along very quickly, starting when Chloe is 14 and knows nothing of her heritage.  It ends about a year and a half later.  Chloe seems very mature for her age and handles the death of her mother very well.  As she begins to learn more about her vampire hunter bloodline that she got from her mother, she also discovers that she descends from others that are powerful in other ways as well.

As she matures, she starts to get some of her powers in - they are pretty cool powers too, and her mixed bloodlines does have some benefits.  Since her mother was murdered, she is living with her grandfather, Luke, who seems like a tough old guy - (for some reason I kept picturing the old guy from the original Karate Kid) and Drew, an 18 yo who helps her grandpa out as he is getting older.  Drew is responsible for helping to train Chloe and teach her about being a vampire hunter. 

This was a pretty typical vampire story, with them not being able to go out in the sunlight and silver being able to hold vampires, but it did have some interesting additions to the weapons and the myths. There were also some cool people who decided from some cool gods and goddesses, so that gave the characters some nice history.

If you are into vampire stories, you would probably like this one.  It is going to continue in The Arcadia Falls Chronicles series.  The volume contained all 6 novellas.  You can get the first part free right now at Amazon and BN. 

~I received a complimentary ePub from Bewitching Book Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author: Jennifer Malone Wright resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children. Between the craziness of taking care of her children, whose ages range from fourteen all the way down to six months, and being a homemaker, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on freelance work or her beloved fiction.

When she grew up, Jennifer always had her nose in a book. She has been writing stories and poems since grade school. This love of the written word and her strong interest in the paranormal is what has led to her first novel “The Birth of Jaiden.”

In addition to being a mother and homemaker, Jennifer is also a very proud military wife. Moving around the country for the last ten years has made her a bit of a nomad and she finds it difficult to be in one place for too long.

Jennifer is also the author of The Birth of Jaiden, a paranormal novel filled with action, suspense, and even a love story.  

I had the opportunity to ask Jennifer a few questions - please continue reading to learn more about her and have an opportunity to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

1.      How do you typically write?  Do you plot it all out beforehand or do you just let the story pour out?

Normally, I just let it all pour out. But lately, I’ve really had to start planning and organizing before I write. Although, most of the time it ends up being quite different than how the plan intended it was going to be.

2.      Do you have a favorite place to write or “must haves” while writing?

I don’t have a special place because I have five kids, so I have to write wherever I can. Lol, but I do have some must haves. Must have a clean area (or the appearance of clean) Must have coffee and must have hair up in a pony tail or bun so that it’s out of my face.

3.      Do you have much say in the title or covers of you books?

I always try to make sure that my titles and my covers speak volumes about what the book is actually about.

4.      Is there anything that has surprised you about writing, publishing or touring with your books?

Not really, I’m a pretty go with the flow kind of person. I guess, if there was one thing has maybe surprised me, it’s the amount of people out there trying to do the same thing now that self publishing is so easy. I knew there were a lot of people who wanted to be authors, but there is an ocean of other authors out there trying to make it big. I just had no idea.

5.      Do you have a favorite author/book or one that you always recommend?

I truly cannot pick a favorite book or author, not any that you don’t know of already. But here are a few authors you should always check out, Willow Cross, KB. Miller, JH Glaze, and LA Freed.

6.      Was there anything (or anyone) while growing up which helped you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Mostly books are the only thing that helped me decide that I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to give people the same thing that these books I was reading were giving me. 

7.      Do you have a job outside of being an author? 

 Well, yes and no. Normally I say no I don’t have a “real” job, but I have five kids and being a mom comes first so, I do have a full time job aside from writing.

8.      What were your favorite books growing up?

 I had so many! My favorites were the Christopher Pike books, VC Andrews, Anne Rice, and Stephen King. I know these aren’t books, they are authors, but I loved all of their books!

Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to answer my questions!  I hear you about the "real" job.  I never appreciated stay-at-home moms until I become one 8 years ago after being a working mom for 12 years.  You hit three of my favorite authors too - Stephen King, Anne Rice and VC Andrews!  

You can contact Jennifer at any of the following places:


Website: www.jenniferwrightauthor.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevampirehuntersdaughter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennichad217

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4824985.Jennifer_Malone_Wright

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Malone-Wright/e/B00508KU4I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

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The Vampire Hunter's Daughter
Publisher/Publication Date: Jennichad Books, June 2012
ISBN: 978-0615650081
ASIN: B008ASVXR8
217 pages

PURCHASE: Amazon  and BN

The Last Rising -- RELEASE DAY!

The Last Rising

by Rachel Firasek

Book Description: After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

Rachel is also giving away 3 copies of The Last Rising and a beautiful pendant.  Please enter your information on this form.  Be sure to tell them you are entering through Books and Needlepoint!  There is also a live twitter party tonight - 6pm CST - #lastrising

About the author: 

Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.

Today you’ll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80’s dance moves.

She’s intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachefirasek.com .

Excerpt

The Last Rising by Rachel Firasek
She reached for his hand, her nails scraping along the sensitive flesh before settling into his grip.
Lesson Number One in controlling a man: find his weakness. Every man had one.


His nostrils flared, and his quick intake of breath confirmed he was at least mildly interested in her. She tipped her head to the side and grinned, hoping he’d read the “let’s slink down the aisle to the lavatory” in her eyes. “Ice.” Her smile widened. She bit her lower lip and dropped her lashes.


He leaned forward, his face inches from hers. “Now, that’s different. Why Ice?”


“Why not?” She moved closer, until their lips almost touched. His aftershave wrapped around her. The sandalwood and vanilla scent cramped her stomach with a need threatening her sanity.


The pesky flight attendant chose that moment to interrupt her ploy. “Excuse me, would you like a pillow and blanket?”


Imaginary daggers pierced the helpful attendant. “Yes, please,” Ice gritted through clenched teeth, fighting to maintain the false smile plastered across her face. The blanket might come in handy. Ice paid the woman and
gracefully snatched the parcel.


The unwanted distraction ruined the brief interlude. Turner settled in his seat, another hint of pink shadowing his face. “Do you fly often?”


She twisted in the small seat and rested her back against the glass. “Too
often. And you?”


“Yeah.” He shrugged. “Work demands it. I have a son, Brodie. I would cart him and his nanny with me, but his asthma usually acts up on the plane.”


When he said his son’s name, his eyes lit up, reflecting bits of gold amongst the green. Love. Such a sad sentiment these humans had. Love wouldn’t keep his son from dying one day. Love was a soft emotion that tore your heart in two. No thanks. She’d loved like that once and it had destroyed her. The monster inside
her would never know that kind of vulnerability again. Forget the child. A pinched smile escaped her, but he seemed determined to carry on a conversation regardless of her lack of enthusiasm. She’d like to be doing
something other than talking right now.


He stretched his legs forward and slumped deeper into the seat. “Do you have kids?”


He must have a damn sorcerer working for him. Was it Pick on Ice Day? Damn, nosy humans. She schooled her face into a practiced calm. “Not anymore.”