Catching Love When It Falls by Deryn Pittar - Blog Tour Guest Post

Today I am part of the blog tour for Catching Love When It Falls by Deryn Pittar, a romance with a difference. I have a guest post to share in which Deryn Pittar talks more about the creation of Belinda and the world the story is set in. 

Catching Love When It Falls

William and Belinda, both genetically altered, meet years after leaving the government-rearing nursery. Their late development allowed them to escape a life devoted to the government's defence departments. If their skills are now discovered they will be conscripted and never be free again. 

William’s talent is to move through space between locations in the blink of an eye. Belinda can lift objects of great weight with her mind. Their relationship creates a raft of problems both struggle to overcome. 

‘Catching Love When it Falls’ explores an alternative reality and discovers the one thing neither Belinda nor William can control - love. 

More About Main Character Belinda by Deryn Pittar

The character of Belinda grew very rapidly in my mind, far quicker than William had. I could see her: petite, blond curls, stubborn and fiercely loyal and protective of her adopted mother.

Again the prologue shows Belinda at the Nursery, off in a corner of the playground, quietly mastering her talent of being able to lift and catch things with her mind. She’s nearly seven and is determined to be released for adoption. In the novel she has a career as a landscape gardener, a love of plants and her talent means she is able to lift heavy materials with ease, but she does this very discreetly. She also has a protective barrier she erects which rebuffs anyone approaching her with serious intent. Uninterested ‘normals’ can walk right through it, but Defense Department agents or other g-alters cannot get close. William comes across this on their first meeting and is determined to overcome it.

She is a reluctant participant in this romance. She has no wish to be wooed. She likes her life and wants to continue to live with and protect her mother since her father’s death.

I set this story in Melbourne, in the suburbs I am familiar with. Belinda’s home is mirrored from my memories of my aunt’s garden and the suburb she lived in. Her travels with William are set in places I have visited.

A couple of quirky characters enter Belinda’s life once she meets William.  Her mother likes him a lot, which helps William’s cause when he upsets Belinda by jumping with her. Never mind he had a very good reason for doing so.  ‘Not amused’ would be an understatement. Their romance could bring them to the attention of the Defense Department and Belinda is determined this won’t happen.

About The Author

I write futuristic and fantasy fiction, spiced with romance and adventure. This allows my imagination to run free, to create interesting characters caught in unusual circumstances and events. Sometimes I have the pleasure of watching science and technology catch up with my imagination.

I also write Young Adult, short stories and flash fiction; articles on writing and I am published in these genre. I self-published a children’s rhyming book and once won a prize for a short screen script.

I’m a published poet and I endeavour to put my poetry skills into my fiction writing to enhance the word pictures I create.

I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand which lives up to its name. I belong to the Romance Writers of N.Z., Tauranga Writers, and Spec.Fic.NZ (speculative fictionNZ).

Don't Forget To Check Out The Rest Of The Tour

The Movers Series Release Dates

Love's Bright Star - 19th June

Love's Red Heart - 26th June

A Stellar Affair - 3rd July

Romancing the Memory Collector - 10th July

5 book box set - 7th August

Hereafter by LeeAnne Hansen - Book Review

I am really excited to be revealing my review for Hereafter (A Southern Haunting Book 2) by LeeAnne Hansen today as I read it a few weeks ago and I have been busting to talk about it, but I couldn't share until after it had been released.

Hereafter

Forced to live and run a business with a woman who shattered his heart years ago, and without his father's help, Charles' life is far from ideal. Renown as a ladies' man, Charles now finds himself coming up short on women, charm and even dead bodies for his mortuary. He knows who is to blame for all this, even if he hasn't the slightest idea why she is causing him so much torment ... 

Samantha has been given a second chance even though she knows that she does not deserve one. Now haunted by her past, she fled from a life she was desperate to escape, only to collide with the man who once held her heart but now wishes nothing but to crush it. Has she just run from a smouldering fire to an even deadlier one? 

As the night grows darker and storms brew on the horizon, both Charles and Samantha realise that the past is not an easy ghost to shake and the future is rarely predictable.

My Review

When ever I review one of LeeAnne's novels, I always end up gushing because I just love them so much (See my reviews of Yonder and Ghost Light). I don't know how to put into words just how much I enjoy her books and that means that I end up waffling so apologies in advance for this one! 

Hereafter follows the same time line as Yonder and starts by going through each of Isabelle's birthdays, except they are from the point of view of Samantha and Charles instead. Having read Yonder and already knowing each scene, it was incredibly interesting to see the exact same thing from a different perspective and it shows just how much things can be missed or misunderstood when you only know one side of a story. 

When the story kicks into the present day (1940's) it then follows Charles and Samantha as they struggle with the situation they have been forced into. As I learnt more about both of them I came to love them the same way I did with Isabel and Benjamin in Yonder. I honestly never thought I would change my opinion of Charles, I thought he was pompous and a bit of an ass, but I did change my mind after getting to know him better. Another lesson learnt there, that you shouldn't judge someone until you get to know them. 

They are some really beautiful moments throughout the book, some quieter moments which are so important but that can be over looked. The talks that Charles and Samantha have over the years about the stars and Peter Pan are just so sweet. Samantha also has some moments with a girl called Wendy and they were so touching and poignant, that they have stayed with me log after I finished the book. 

The haunting in Hereafter is a lot more subtle than in Yonder, and I liked how it was incorporated into the story. I enjoyed the subtlety and I thought it worked very well with being a "lighter" haunting as there is a bit more darkness in the main story line. 

Overall an absolutely excellent story and another love for me, I can already tell you a spoiler for my twelve days of Christmas, that this book will be on my list of the twelve top books of the year. I am also incredibly excited for the next instalment of A Southern Haunting and finding out what happened between Eve and Doug. 

I gave Hereafter ALL THE STARS! 

About The Author

If you'd like to know more about LeeAnne, I interviewed her last year as part of my review for the audio book release of Yonder, you check that out here.

LeeAnne Hansen was born in Paris, grew up in Oklahoma and now lives in sunny southern California with her husband and cats. She enjoys writing, acting and playing bass guitar. She can be seen gracing the stage in various theatres or even directing. She is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and has studied art and astronomy. She also thoroughly enjoys long walks on the beach.

Connect With The Author

Twitter - @LeeAnne_Hansen_

Facebook - LeeAnne Hansen

Website - https://www.leeannehansenbooks.com/

An Auchenvale Christmas by Emily Anne Brandon - Review

I don't normally read Christmas themed books, but last year I made my first attempt as fitting in a Christmas novel to join in with the holiday reading festivities. It was an unmitigated disaster and my choice did not work out for me at all. I was unsure as to whether I was going to venture back into the Christmas literature world again this year, but I got the chance to read An Auchenvale Christmas by Emily Anne Brandon and the synopsis sounded great so I jumped right back in and I'm glad that I did. 

An Auchenvale Christmas

What would you do if you had to spend an entire weekend with your picture perfect family in a tiny Scottish village at Christmastime? What if your parents were so disappointed in your life choices that they thought you should go to therapy? What if your three successful sisters were all married to rich, handsome men? How do you admit that your thirty-something life looks more like a twenty-something life? How do you explain the humiliating chaos of crappy jobs, never-ending singledom and a permanent lack of cash flow? 

You don’t. You lie. 

The Fitzgeralds come together every year for the weekend before Christmas. It’s tradition. But Robyn can’t face a whole weekend of disappointing everyone yet again, so when a timely opportunity presents itself, she runs with it. She runs all the way to her childhood home with it. 

A perfect Winter novella to curl up in front of the fire with. 

My Review

Robyn is the main character in An Auchenvale Christmas and she is a perfectly average person, working perfectly average jobs and enjoying her girly nights out with her best friend. All of this isn't good enough for her family though who are all high fliers and so she is dreading the weekend before Christmas and the annual trip home. I found Robyn really relatable and I enjoyed listening to (reading) her Scottish brogue and the Scottish words that she uses.  

Robyn meets Jack her local bar tender who offers to help her out and pretend to be her boyfriend to make her trip home a little more bearable. Jack is an absolutely wonderful leading man and is really the perfect guy. He helps a girl out in need and loves her for what and who she is, not needing anything more than that. He's also hot and intelligent so he really is the whole package! 

Robyn and Jack make the trip to Auchenvale which I could picture vividly thanks to the authors fantastic descriptions. I really could feel the cold of the snow and see the beautiful countryside, and they brace themselves for a weekend with Robyn's family. Nothing is as it seems though and everyone has their own problems, some people are just better at hiding it than others. 

I really enjoyed this book and I loved that there was a happy ending. There were also some laugh out loud funny moments which really added to my love of the book. I read an Auchenvale Christmas in one sitting as it was so much fun and so easy to read. It definitely made me feel Christmassy and I'm extremely happy that I read it. This book has renewed my interest in trying out Christmas books. 

I gave this book 5 Stars.  

Jungle Rock by Caroline James - Review

All the way back in March, I reviewed Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean and Me by Caroline James and I absolutely loved it (If you want to see me review, it is HERE), so when I got the opportunity to try Caroline's latest work, Jungle Rock, I jumped at the chance. 

Jungle Rock Synopsis

Handsome young chef Zach Docherty is feeling the heat. Following an exposé in a national newspaper, his fiancée Poppy Dunlop has broken their engagement. Heartbroken at the thought of life without Poppy, Zach drowns his sorrows and, when his agent suggests that Zach becomes a contestant in a reality TV show, Jungle Survival, he reluctantly agrees. Plunged deep in the jungle, into a bizarre mix of talent and trials, Zach meets glamour model Cleo Petra, and the cameras go crazy. 
Will Zach survive and be crowned Jungle King? Or will his latest exploits push Poppy further away... 

My Review

Caroline James has blown me away again! I'll hold my hands up and say I'm not a fan of reality TV and have never watched I'm A Celeb,.. which Jungle Survival is based on, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Zach's adventures in the Jungle and the way it affected both him and the other celeb contestants that he met while in there. 

Jungle Rock can be read as a stand alone but it features characters from Caroline James' other books and I was definitely glad that I was getting more of Zach and Poppy as I loved their story in Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean and Me. They are both great characters and you get to know them both even better in Jungle Rock. 

The writing is smooth and beautiful as usual, I find Caroline James' writing really easy and enjoyable to read. The world building is done really well and you can picture each setting vividly. The characters, both old and new are all really well developed and I liked seeing more of Bob, Zach's manager. It was good to catch up with Jo and Hattie too, Hattie is still as wonderful as ever! But now I need to know what happened to the man Jo ended up with (not naming names so no spoilers) at the end of Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean and Me as he wasn't mentioned, so hopefully that will come out in a future book. 

Jungle Rock is such a happy story, though it does take you through the works to get to that stage. It was really nice to read something so fun and happy. 

I do have to mention the cover of Jungle Rock, all the covers of Caroline's books are perfectly suited to the story and this one didn't disappoint. The colours are bright and engaging and you really get drawn to the book. 

Overall a really fun and quick read and I look forward to reading more books by Caroline James in the future. 

I gave this book 5 stars. 

Getting To Know... Joanna Lambert

Today on Getting To Know... I am delighted to bring you an interview with author Joanna Lambert. She has been great to answer all my questions, even in the run up to the release of her newest book Watercolours In The Rain. 

You write drama driven romance, what is it about this genre that draws you to it?

I’ve always been hooked on romance. So when I began to write, it had to be romantic fiction. Although I’m not a big fan of soaps, I love the structure of a community or place of work; the interaction between individuals – the camaraderie and the tensions which occur. It spikes my imagination. My first five books had big casts – four families - but my last book and the one about to be published concentrates on three individuals. One thing that hasn’t changed though is the drama.

What was the inspiration behind your last novel, Summer Moved On?

Summer Moved On, set in Devon, was very, very loosely based on Wuthering Heights.  I wanted to explore a relationship between a middle class girl and the son of a traveller.  My central characters were Jess and Talún (a Gaelic name). However, I didn’t want him to be the same tortured, vindictive soul Heathcliff had been. Instead, I made him a bit arrogant…a sort of loveable rogue whose life has gone wrong because of various factors beyond of his control. However, deep down he’s really a decent guy. Meeting Jess proves a pivotal moment in his life.  At first they clash. Talún sees her attitude as middle class prejudice. However there are deeper motives for Jess’s dislike, one of them being his current relationship with an older woman. It reminds her of how her own mother abandoned the family to go off with a younger man. Gradually, Talún begins to understand how his behaviour colours peoples’ view of him and as he begins to make changes he falls in love with Jess. Just like Heathcliff, he eventually leaves Jess and the sequel – Watercolours in the Rain - deals with his return six years later.

Your Little Court Series, which consists of Behind Blue Eyes Trilogy and two novels that can be read as stand alones, has the main character of Ella, is she based on anyone in real life or is there any of your personality in her?

I think Ella was a mix of characters I’d known and yes, I guess there was a little of me in her. I think it’s very difficult to simply pull a character out of the air. They have to have some traits you’ve come across in other people. That is what makes them real. The series began when Ella was sixteen and ended in her mid-forties (although the next generation took over in book 5 and she became a minor character). She was someone not only clever and confident, but mature beyond her years. That inspiration came from a nineteen year old I’d worked with way back. Like Ella she was calm and nothing fazed her but if pushed too far you would get quite a reaction from her.  Ella has those feisty moments too.  

When you are not writing what would we find you doing?

I am a very active blogger.  I have three blogs – one for my books, one for reviewing for Brook Cottage Books and one general blog where I post pieces and also regularly interview people –writers, editors, anyone with a connection to writing. I also love photography and my camera goes with me everywhere.  And now I’m no longer in full time work, I love to get away occasionally whether it’s a UK destination or somewhere overseas.

Do you have a favourite character that you have written so far?

In my fourth book Between Today and Yesterday, one of the main characters, Orlando Flynn, who lives on the Costa Del Sol, has a small Spanish sidekick called Elvira. He was a mixture of streetwise and comical. A little man with a big heart who brought both comedy and emotional moments to the book.

Have you always wanted to write your own novels?

Oh yes. I‘d loved writing from an early age. I used to dream up potential plots but I don’t think I ever thought I could successfully write a novel until I was in my

late twenties. However, my first two efforts, although technically proving I had the ability to write something with a beginning, middle and end, made me realise I had an awful long way to go before I could say I’d produced something commercial enough to be published. Enrolling in Creative Writing classes helped tremendously and I read a huge amount too. Even now, in my spare moments in between writing, I read. It’s great to see how other writers structure their story and handle scenes and dialogue. It’s an on-going process - you never stop learning.

What is your favourite thing about being an author?

I’ve met and made so many friends both virtual and real since I’ve been a writer. There’s a great supportive network out there. And since finishing work I can now concentrate on something I’ve spent a lifetime wanting to do – being a writer. It’s great to escape into that parallel world on a regular basis.  If I have one regret it’s that I didn’t give up work earlier.

Do you have a favourite author?

It has to be George R R Martin.  I do like fantasy and once I’d read A Song of Ice and Fire I couldn’t stop. I found the whole series so addictive. I’m just very disappointed that we’re still waiting for the next book The Winds of Winter. Even though Game of Thrones has carried the story forward on TV, I still want to read it on Kindle.

When you're writing, can you write just anywhere or do you have a certain place that you have to be?

I do have an office where I can tuck myself away and for me that’s the best place.  When I’m in writing mode I need complete concentration on my work, with absolutely no distractions.

What can we look forward to next from you?

Watercolours in the Rain, the sequel to Summer Moved On, published on October 5th. I had hoped to tell Jess and Talun’s story in one hit but it wasn’t to be.  Watercolours moves all the characters on six years and brings the story to a conclusion.  And I’m now putting together characters and sorting out a plot for book 7 whose working title will be The Boys of Summer.

Thank you so much to Joanna for some absolutely awesome answers!

Watercolours In The Rain blurb 

What happens to the future when past and present collide?

JESS:  Six years ago Jess’s relationship with Talún Hansen was torn apart by one night of deception. He disappeared from Lynbrook village and she headed for university vowing never to let anyone break her heart again. Currently teaching in Oxford, Jess returns from holiday to an unexpected phone call and life changing news which eventually sees her returning home.

TALÚN: Six years on Talún Hawkeswood, as he is now known, is heir to his grandfather’s Norfolk farming empire. When he hears of trouble in the village due to Lynbrook Hall being put up for sale, going back is the last thing on his mind. But staying away is not an option either, not when someone he owes so much to is about to lose their home and their livelihood.

LILY: Splitting with her husband after her son Josh’s birth, Lily now works as part of an estate agency sales team.  She has always held onto her dream of finding a wealthy husband and a life of self-indulgence. When the sale of an important property brings her face to face with Talún, she realises despite the risks involved, the night they spent together six years ago could be the key to making those dreams come true.

As Jess, Talún and Lily return to Lynbrook and the truth about what happened that summer is gradually revealed, Talún finds himself in an impossible situation. Still in love with Jess he is tied into a trade off with Lily: his name and the lifestyle she craves in exchange for his son. And when a child is involved there is only one choice he can make…

To Connect With Joanna Lambert

Blog - https://jolambertwriter.wordpress.com/

Website - https://jolambertbooks.com/

Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+JoLambert

Twitter - @jolambertwriter

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jolambert185

Blood Bound by Lindsay J. Pryor - Book Release Blitz

Today I am handing over Life Of A Nerdish Mum to Lindsay J. Pryor to give a shout out about her book series and her newest book, Blood Bound, which is out today! 

Welcome to Blackthorn by Lindsay J. Pryor

Set against a dystopian urban backdrop, BLACKTHORN is a dark, complex and multi-layered Gothic paranormal romance series about eight individuals fighting to overthrow the oppressive human-led regime that has blighted their lives.

Primarily based around a polluted, over-populated, rotten core of a locale, Blackthorn is the district where the ‘third species’, such as vampires and lycans, are forced to live. They’re given the dregs in terms of location, provision, opportunities and rights whilst being ruled by the iron fist of the more privileged humankind.

Dark, dangerous, unpredictable, but with hidden depths, the Blackthorn district is a physical representation of many of the anti-heroes that inhabit it. It’s also the idealbackdrop for the intense forbidden romances that become the catalyst for the revolution this oppressive world needs.

BLACKTHORN isn’t a series for the faint-hearted. It’s gritty, sexy and, at times, violent, so sits firmly within the adult PNR genre. But if you like your heroes edgy, your heroines willing to fight back, a complex overarching story and a new twist on an established subgenre, Blackthorn might be the series for you. Best read in order, each book builds on the previous one as the couples elicit change in the world around them.

Thank you so much for hosting me today, Nerdish Mum, and for giving me the opportunity to give my series a shout-out. :-) 

About The Author

Lindsay J. Pryor is the author of seven novels in her Amazon bestselling BLACKTHORN series. Her complex, dark and gritty urban PNR has achieved numerous Gothic and PNR Amazon number ones both in the UK and the US, thousands of 5 star reviews, and more than thirty blog nominations and awards. Blood Shadows – Lindsay’s debut novel – was optioned by US film giants Relativity Media.

Lindsay has been creating stories since she was nine years old, having quickly decided that fantasy was more interesting than reality. More than thirty years later, writing remains her passion.

Lindsay is a qualified Psychology lecturer and English teacher. Before becoming a full-time author, she taught for eighteen years, primarily to improve literacy for children with special needs. She was born and grew up in Wales but now lives in England with her husband, their rescue bunny and a plethora of wild woodland creatures.

To find out more about Lindsay or her books, please visit www.lindsayjpryor.com or visit her Facebook page where she regularly chats to her readers.

What reviewers are saying about Lindsay J. Pryor…

‘I don’t think I have read such a finely executed dark PNR world before…This series truly surprised me. I didn’t think I would love it that much or be intrigued by it. I couldn’t stop thinking about these books once I was done with them… The world-building is spectacular. The characters are enthralling and addicting… Plain fabulousness.’Gaga Over Books

‘I am completely enthralled with this paranormal series. You get so wrapped up in the story and characters that you lose track of time… This is one of my favorite series so far this year!’ Paranormal Book Club

‘This is a paranormal universe like none you have encountered before… There are stories that are so powerful, so intense that I do not believe anyone should warn you about what is to come… I truly do feel that if you love the Paranormal genre and have not yet discovered Lindsay J. Pryor or these novels then you need to read them, experience them firsthand.’ Keeper Bookshelf

‘I am officially addicted to this series. Why, you ask? Because Lindsay Pryor is my kind of fearless author. She isn’t afraid to “go there”, to create characters and situations that challenge me as a reader.’ The Demon Librarian 

‘Not only are Pryor’s characters and fathomlessly dark love stories fabulous, but her continual world building of Blackthorn blows me away.’ Gravetells.com

‘If you’re looking for a new PNR series that has a dark world and complicated characters, then you’ll want to grab a copy of this. I can’t wait to read the next book.’FictionVixen.com 

Getting To Know...Jo Hollywood

Today I am excited to bring my Getting To Know... with Jo Hollywood, author of An Unextraordinary Life a paranormal romance.

You've recently released your first novel, An Unextraordinary Life, what was the inspiration behind the story?

That's a difficult question to answer as I feel that many books, movies and life experiences have all inspired me in some way. It has been a story that has been bubbling away for many years, and one that I just had to write.

An Unextraordinary Life is a paranormal romance story, have you ever had your own paranormal experience?

Great question! My maternal grandfather died when I was a little girl. Several weeks after his death, I was in the house where he had lived, and where my grandmother still lived. I walked into the the kitchen and I could smell fresh tobacco smoke, he used to smoke roll ups. It was as if he was in the room. Later on that night, when I was in bed. I saw him sat at the end of my bed. He didn't say anything, but just seeing him gave me great comfort.

Have you always known that you wanted to be an author?

Not really, I love writing and have always scribbled stories. I studied English Literature at University, and was offered an M.A. In Creative Writing but I turned it down as I needed to do something completely different. I ended up training as a nurse.

Do you have a favourite place to sit and write or a certain routine that you follow?

I literally sit and write anywhere, but usually my laptop sits on the dining room table surrounded by Lego and Minecraft figures. I sometimes write in the local coffee shops in town. As for routine, I usually write once the children are in bed.

When you're not writing, what would we find you doing?

I spend my days working from home as a freelance copywriter. It fits in with looking after my two boys. My youngest son is autistic, so I need to be at home. So when I am not writing I am usually cleaning the house or shopping. Or drinking coffee and reading books.

As a writer of romance, what would be your ideal romantic date?

My ideal romantic date? That would have to be a dinner date with my husband, anywhere outside of the house. We very rarely escape together.

Do you have a favourite character that you have written so far?

I love Jack, the ghost who is in An Unextraordinary Life, he is very special to me.

Do you have a favourite author?

Oh I have so many, but if I had to narrow it down, it would have to be Audrey Niffenegger, Dani Atkins, Amanda Prowse and Jo Nesbo. New authors I have recently found include S E Lynes and Carys Bray. Little Women also holds a special place in my heart. I always wanted to be Jo.

What is your favourite thing about being an author?

Putting pen to paper, that release of ideas and the satisfaction that you have managed to tell a story. I love that the characters magically come to life; that I breathe life into then. That's what is really exciting. I also love the fact that writing for me is very cathartic.

I know you're currently writing your second novel, can you tell us anything about it?

I am currently writing a contemporary romance novel that revolves around a young mum of a child with autism. The story shares how she finds love again, but ultimately how she learns to trust again after a troubled past.

To connect with Jo Hollywood

Jo's Website 

To buy a copy of An Unextraordinary Life click here

An Unextraordinary Life synopsis

When Tess unexpectedly bumps into Jack one cold day in March, her world is quite literally turned upside down. Can she make a new life for herself with Jack, based on how happy they were in the past? Or does she need to make a new start and find love in the arms of her new work colleague, Rob? The path of true love never does run smoothly. 

Meet Tess, a woman who is still in love with her husband, who died five years ago. 

Meet Jack, the ghost, who wants to make Tess happy again. 

Finally there's Rob who wants to win Tess's heart. 

Who will she choose?

Yonder by LeeAnne Hansen - Audiobook Review and Author Q&A

Back in November 2015 I was lucky enough to read Yonder: A Southern Haunting, Book One by LeeAnne Hansen and I absolutely fell in love with LeeAnne's writing and the story of Isabel (if you want to check out my review, it's over here). I've been patiently *ahem* waiting for book two since, so when LeeAnne contacted me to see if I would like to try out the audio version of Yonder, I jumped at the chance. 

This was my first experience with an audio book so I wasn't sure what to expect. I've been putting off using audio books for a long time now as I wasn't sure if I'd pay enough attention if I was only listening rather than reading as it's very easy to tune out of things if you're busy doing something else. 

With having read Yonder before and knowing how much I loved it, I knew that I would be paying attention, though once I started listening I don't know what I was ever worried about as I couldn't do anything else as I was enjoying listening to the story so much. LeeAnne narrates Yonder herself and in my opinion she does an amazing job. He voice fits the story perfectly and she doesn't quite put on different voices for each character but there is enough difference to know exactly who is speaking every time. 

I felt like I was "reading" Yonder again for the first time, it was like discovering it all over again and I loved it. Having someone else read it to me meant being able to just get totally lost in the story and concentrate on the conversations between characters. 

I cannot recommend this book and audio book enough to you! 

As LeeAnne is such a lovely person, she agreed to take some time out to answer some questions for me and I'm extremely grateful. Here's my q&a with her:

Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

Kind-a. I was always writing but I was drawn in a lot of directions from acting to directing to singing to playing in a band (bass guitar). But no matter what I was doing, I was always writing.

Your books combine romance and hauntings, what drew you to this combination? Have you always been a fan of the two? 

I love romance (complete sucker for love stories) and I am a super fan of things like the Twilight Zone and history. I like stories where people are just trying to lead their lives and something they didn't expect pops up. I wanted a kind-of- Hitchcock feel – He loves to throw a normal Joe into a life he had no idea was possible or even existed.

Yonder, the audio book is narrated by yourself (beautifully I may add), can you tell me anything about the process? 

First off, Thank you! That was quite a undertaking. I had never done anything like that before in my life! Luckily, I married my own Hollywood sound profession who bought me a mic for my birthday and helped set me up. I went to school for musical theatre and acting but I never thought of doing something like this, but the idea that someone besides myself would read Isabel had me ready to kill, so I knew I had to do it. It was a huge discovery into myself- I recently had half my thyroid removed due a growth (nothing serious) and it had taken awhile for my voice to make a come back- if anything, this project taught me that I really hadn't lost anything: It gave me the confidence I had been lacking. I really owe it a lot.

Now that Yonder is an audio book, will Ghost Light and your future books come out in audio book form too? 

You had to ask. LOL- I need to learn a Scottish accent first. I am working on it. It's tough! But I hope to do all of what I write.

Do you have a writing routine or a favourite place to write?

Not so much a place but an atmosphere. I love to write when it is raining so I moved to the wrong place since living in Southern California, rainy days are rare.

Do you have a favourite character that you have written so far?

I would have to say Sean Berenger in Ghost Light. He is such a wonderful ass! In reality, I based him on a drunken Scottish version of Han Solo. Who doesn't love Han Solo?

What is your favourite thing about being an author? 

The feedback! Having people love my characters as much as I do is just the best part!

When you're not writing, what do you like to get up to?

I like to read and go to plays. Love live music concerts. I'm a huge fan of YouTube and watching Gifs with Sound, they make me smile.

Do you have a favourite author? 

I adore Christopher Moore, Ray Bradbury and Eve Silver - Moore is hilarious and strikes that human chord, Bradbury paints complex worlds with very few words and Silver makes me think I will never write Romance as good as her.

I know you're currently writing A Southern Haunting #2, do you have a rough idea of when we can expect it to be released? 

In a few months. Currently, I have been hired out to write a couple of spooky screenplays for a production company and record some audio books for Warren Adler (author of War of the Roses. First audio book is already out called American Sextet- I did it under the name Lillian Yves.) As soon as these projects are completed (soon!) I'll return to spending all my focus on the sequel.

Thank you again to LeeAnne so much, both for giving me the opportunity to try out the audio book of Yonder, but also for answering all my questions, it's been an absolute pleasure.