WRITERS' TIP THURSDAY - Kryssie Fortune

Kryssie Fortune's  best advice:

Get the first draft on paper then polish it until it shines. You can always improve your writing, but you need something to work with. 

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - One Knight Stand

First off, I'm in love with the cover. Though the hero and the cover model have some differences, who wouldn't want that man defending them? Yes, please! Add in one feisty heroine in need of rescuing in more ways than one and you have the perfect elements for a book you won't be able to close til the end - or in my case, til the kindle hits you in the nose. hehe

When archivist Harriet Mortlake lands the job of a lifetime at the historic de Ferrers castle, she gets more than she bargained for. After all, who expects to find a drop-dead hunk of a vampire in the twenty-first century? In a nano second she goes from being the 'ice queen' her ex claimed her to be to molten lava in the hands of Blaxton de Ferrers. 

Blaxton de Ferres had his share of women in his eight hundred years. Over the course he's amassed an obscene amount of money, allowing him the philanthropic opportunities and continue to grow his fortune. One thing that has eluded him is love.. until he goes toe to toe with Harriet. the woman is a spitfire he can't resist.. nor seem to feed on. 

Like all good romance novels, there's always a twist - that one moment of  'will she or won't she?' In this case we get it from both the hero and the heroine's point of view, adding that extra element that makes this a 'must read' for anyone who loves strong characters, hot sex and a happy ever after.

While the writing could have been a bit tighter in spots, I enjoyed this book. I'm giving ONE KNIGHT STAND - 

 . 8 

You may purchase your copy at any of the following links:

Amazon USA       Amazon UK     Amazon Canada     Amazon Australia   

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Kryssie Fortune

This week we shine the light on author, Kryssie Fortune.

BIO

Kryssie Fortune writes the sort of hot sexy books she loves to read. If she can sneak a dragon into her paranormal books she will. Her paranormal heroes are muscular werewolves, arrogant Fae or BDSM loving dragons. 
Kryssie likes her contemporary heroes ex-military and dominant. Her heroines are kick ass females who can hold their own against whatever life - or Kryssie - throws at them.

Kryssie's pet hates are unhappy endings, and a series that end on a cliff hanger.
Her books are all stand alone even when part of series. Plot always comes before sex, but when her heroines and heroes get together, the sex is explosive and explicit. One review called it downright sensual.

Thank you for joining us today, Kryssie. Let's find out a bit more about you.

I ask our guest 5 questions. Then I give them a list of more questions for them to select 3 of their own. 

Here's My Five:

I’m always asked ‘where do you get your ideas’. So, where do you get yours?

 I start with one scene and work from there.

Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?

It varies. Mostly I see the place and set a story there. I’ve done that twice, but both times, I cut my starting scene from the edits. Sometimes I start with the hero or heroine and work out what happened to them.

Which of your heroines most represent you, or the ‘you’ you’d like to be? Why?

This is a hard one. Each one has a little bit of me in. Ellie, in To Mate a Werewolf, loves to bake. My cakes have won prizes. That was the same day my jam entry had set so hard it broke the judge’s spoon. Meena, in To Break A Warrior King’s Curse, is a witch. I’m fascinated by all things Wicca. Viola, in To Seduce an Omega has a bad knee. Mine’s nothing like as bad as hers, but somedays it’s not good.   

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

All of it. I love getting a story down on paper. I spend ages honing it and making it into something I’d like to read. The hard bit is when someone else edits it. I can see it get better, but sometimes it hurts. 

What’s the most romantic thing a guy can do (or has done) for you?

I married the most unromantic man in the universe. After over 40 years, I still love him as much as when I married him. The most romantic thing he’s ever done is buy me a bunch of my favorite flowers – daffodils. For him, that’s huge. Hang on. He took me to Paris for my birthday once. How wonderful is that? 

Kryssie's Three:

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with

       and why?

All my books are stand alone, even when they’re linked to each other. My Scattered Siblings series is paranormal. My Heroes of Westhorpe Ridge series revolves around former military men building new lives in Westhorpe Ridge  

 City Girl or Country Girl

I’m in the middle. I lived in Leeds, England for most of my life. That’s city life. Two years ago, we packed up and retired to Bridlington on the Yorkshire Coast. I get everything here. I can walk on the beach with my husband, or we can travel 300 yards down the road away from the coast, and we are in the country. 

Favorite TV show

Any quiz show. I love to quiz. Recently we formed a team with two friends, and we’re doing well. If we don’t come in the top three, none of us are happy. Touch wood, that hasn’t happened yet. 

Now, let's talk about this fabulous book!

Blurb

Crusader knight, Blaxton de Ferrers rises as a vampire after the Knights Defender steal his soul. Murdered by his cousin, he preys on the people he once swore to protect. His emotions leach out of him. Gradually, he forgets how to feel. 

Eight hundred years later, he meets Harriet.

Harriet Mortlake’s a strong, sassy woman who battles her weight and her temper. She’s the modern-day archivist in the castle which was Blaxton’s childhood home. She’s supposed to ferret out the castle’s secrets. Instead, she finds the love of her life.
When danger threatens Harriet, Blaxton steps in. Harriet and Blaxton are a match made in heaven. Except… he’s a vampire and he’s destined for hell. 

Note: Previously sold as Knight’s vampire

Excerpt

“How dare you embarrass me like that?” Harriet Mortlake planted her hands on her hips and glowered at the man she’d cornered outside the cafe. Her normal iceberg cool deserted her, and she wanted to slap the condescending smile off his face. Around this stranger, she felt as though lightning bolts flashed from her eyes.

“It’s a temple, not a chapel,” he insisted.

Stubborn. Damn. Male. She’d been showing the big guns from the Castles’ Management Trust around the building. They’d already made it clear they thought her too young for the archivist’s role. This know-it-all had infuriated her when he sounded off in the chapel. Now he antagonized her all over again.

 “As if!” Harriet snorted. “No way would medieval Christians build a pagan temple on their grounds. Superstitious locals would have accused them of devil worship. They burned heretics at the stake, remember?”

Despite Mr. Condescending’s interference, she’d impressed the big bosses—she thought. Now the sexiest male, ever, clung to his ridiculous belief the chapel had been a pagan temple.

He flashed her a smile which would have lit up the underground chapel where he’d embarrassed her earlier. He should keep his mouth shut and let her admire his looks. Everything about him radiated sex appeal. Looking at him almost made her anger evaporate, but he gave her the know-it-all look that made her bristle.

“You need to get your facts right,” he told her, determined to have the last word.

Stupid, arrogant male. She couldn’t decide whether to show him her diplomas and degrees or kick his shins. She’d reined in her temper while the higher-ups carried out their inspection. Now they’d left, she felt free to vent her rage. Hands still on her hips, she tapped her foot at him.

“Lost for words without an audience? Or don’t you have any facts to back up your cock-and-bull story? Put up or shut up, Mister. Tell me why you think it’s a temple.”

Mr. Condescending sat outside the castle’s tearoom as if he hadn’t a care in the world. His interference when she’d shown the bigwigs into the chapel could have cost her the job she loved. Whitborough Castle’s extensive records needed cataloging, and Harriet couldn’t wait to get her hands on them.

Sounds like a great read. 

You may purchase your copy at any of the following links:

Amazon USA       Amazon UK     Amazon Canada     Amazon Australia    

To connect with Kryssie, you'll find her on these Social Media locations:

Website     Blog     Twitter       Facebook   Pinterest     Goodreads    

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