New Release: BETWEEN SHADOWS by Chanel Cleeton

Chanel Cleeton is one of my favorite authors! She is an incredible writer and her stories are wonderful to read! Between Shadows, her New Adult Thriller, is book that is different from what she has written before,  a book I loved so much. You will not want to miss it. Check out more about the book and make sure to grab your copy today!

Between Shadows
An Assassins Novel
Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: January 19, 2016
Genre: New Adult Thriller

A sexy new thriller about love and revenge from the author of the Capital Confessions and International School series…

X lives by three rules: Show no weakness. Trust no one. Don’t get caught. She lives by the rules they gave her.

The Academy—set in London, shrouded in secrecy—it trains spies, computer experts, and assassins. Their mission? Dispensing justice and altering the course of world politics. Or so they think. In a world where secrets are weapons and some kills are impossible to forget, everything X thought she knew about her life is about to change.

They taught her to fight. To blend into the shadows like a ghost, to operate on the fringes of society, to change her identity with ease. They taught her to kill.

She’ll need every skill they taught her, to stay alive.

You can purchase your copy of Between Shadows today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

Praise for the novels of Chanel Cleeton…

“Sexy, funny, and heart-wrenching–this book has it all!” – Laura Kaye, New York Times bestselling author

“A sexy hero, strong heroine, delicious romance, sizzling tension and plenty of breathtaking scandal. I loved this book!”–Monica Murphy, New York Times bestselling author

“A sexy fighter pilot hero? Yes, please. For anyone who’s ever had a Top Gun fantasy, Fly With Me is for you.”–Roni Loren, New York Times bestselling author of Call On Me

“A sassy, steamy, and sometimes sweet read that had me racing to the next page.”–Chelsea M. Cameron, New York Times bestselling author

“Scorching hot and wicked smart, Flirting with Scandal had me hooked from page one! Sizzling with sexual tension and political intrigue, Cleeton weaves a story that is as complex as it is sexy. Thank God this is a series because I need more!”–New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris

“Sexy, intelligent, and intriguing. Chanel Cleeton makes politics scandal-icious.”–USA Today bestselling author Tiffany King

“Fun, sexy, and kept me completely absorbed.”–Katie McGarry, author of Nowhere But Here

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her husband.

Chanel writes contemporary romances, women’s fiction, and thrillers. She is published by Harlequin HQN, Penguin/InterMix, and Penguin/Berkley and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, and Wild Aces series.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: KILLER PURSUIT by Jeff Gunhus

Looking for a book that reads like an episode of your favorite crime show? The look no further! Killer Pursuit by Jeff Gunhus is a wild ride you will not want to miss. Check out more about this thrilling book, read Tina’s Thoughts about the story, and enter an awesome giveaway!

Killer Pursuit
Jeff Gunhus
Publication Date: January 10, 2016
Genres: Adult, Thriller

When a high-society call girl is murdered in her Georgetown home, investigators find two cameras hidden in the walls of her bedroom. One has its memory erased, presumably by the murderer. The second is connected to the Internet through an encrypted connection…and no-one knows who’s on the other end.

Special Agent Allison McNeil is asked by beleaguered FBI Director Clarence Mason to run an off-the-record investigation of the murder. The most direct path to apprehending the killer is to find the videos, but with rumors that the victim’s client list may have included Mason’s political enemies, Allison worries about the director’s motives. As she starts her investigation, she quickly discovers that she’s not the only one pursuing the videos. In fact, the most aggressive person racing against her might be the murderer himself.

You can purchase your copy of Killer Pursuit today on Amazon!

Killer Pursuit is a high paced story that takes you deep into an FBI case of murder, lies, and manipulation. This story takes the reader into a fast paced world where you attempt to find justice and race against the unknown. The thriller reads like a crime TV show, easing the reader in something that will make you think and analyze everything.

One of my favorite parts about this story is Allison McNeill, the main character. She is a woman fighting for respect and leverage in a male dominated environment. Jeff Gunhus does a great job of creating a strong female lead who is analytical, brilliant, and resourceful. Watching Allison muddle through the atrocities in this book allows the reader to build a solid respect and connection with her. She feels deeply. She fights for justice. She attempts to stay un-jaded in an occupation where she studies the worst of humanity. For me, Allison made this story great.

The fluidity of this book really brings the story to life. You read this story as an all seeing observer, filing in the details as you progress. You get glimpses into every cog and wheel of what takes place. This style allows the reader to immerse into what is happening and allows for a broader exciting yet terrifying read. You see the violence and the aftermath. You watch the pieces of the puzzle be sewn together. Lines are crossed and paths are set. Jeff does a good job of sharing the reality of the world you read and showing both the deplorable side of humanity alongside the hope and need for justice.

If you love thrillers, check this one out. This is a branch out story from my normal genres and I really enjoyed it. This story focuses on one woman’s mission to bring justice to a scenario filed with danger and politics that is so contentedly set in a world of harsh gray realities. The corruption wars with what is right and as a result we have a fast paced intriguing story! I hoping there are more Allison McNeill stories to come. She is a character I would love to read more about!

 

To celebrate the release and blog tour of Killer Pursuit, Jeff is hosting an awesome giveaway! Enter this RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY for your chance to win a $50 Amazon Giftcard! To enter, simply follow the instructions listed and you will be entered for your chance to win. Don’t miss out. Good luck!

Jeff Gunhus is the author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 100 on Amazon and have been Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists.

After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active lifestyle in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel.

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Waiting on Wednesday: DANGEROUS LIES by Becca Fitzpatrick

“Waiting on” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. This week I am excited about Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick!

I love a good suspense novel and this one sounds like it will fit the bill. Becca Fitzpartrick is a fantastic author and I am excited to see her take that brilliant mind and channel it into a story that sounds like a winner. This book will be release November 10 and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon’s life is a lie.

She does not belong in Thunder Basin, Nebraska. As the star witness in a murder trial against a drug dealer, Stella is now in the Witness Protection Program. The small town locals can never know who she really is. Not even Chet Falconer, the one boy who makes her want to reveal her true self. She knows that telling the truth will only bring violence to this safe haven.

Despite how hard Stella tries to stay under the radar, danger is fast-approaching. Criminals have a way of getting rid of witnesses, and Stella may have made the one mistake that could lead the cold-blooded men hunting for her right to her doorstep.

REVIEW: The Missing Volume II- Lies by A.M. Irvin (aka A. Meredith Walters)

The Missing Volume II- Lies
A.M. Irvin (aka A. Meredith Walters)
Genre: Psychological Serial
Release Date: August 7, 2015

Days. Hours. Minutes.
I don’t know how long I’ve been here.

Time becomes meaningless when you’re lost.

I thought I was alone, but I was wrong.

She’s here with me.
My companion or my captor?

Everything I thought I knew is a lie. Memories turn to delusions. Promises become poison laced with dishonesty.

And still we sing. Our song. Our past.

Our dark, dangerous present.

And in this room of blood and agony, we have found our home . . .

****Follow the clues and find out more –www.findingnora.blogspot.co.uk****

You can purchase your copy today on Amazon!

You know when you read a psychological thriller type book a few things will always happen. You will go into somewhere a bit dark and twisted, trying to find what is truth and what is the fabrication of lies. You will wonder what is the reality of the situation, all the while attempting to keep your emotions in check and your brain from freaking out. That is this series for me. I am just now branching out into the psychological genre (I have only read a few of them) and it is totally messing with my head… in the best way possible. The second installment in The Missing serial by Irvin/Walters is getting twisted and reveals some shocking things. As much as I would love to gleefully nitpick and talk about all the details, I won’t. That isn’t fair to spoil this story for you. However, the story really escalates and takes a good deal of twists and turns. So often you wonder what is really happening in the past and present. Something I suspected halfway through this installment was revealed as true at the end and it threw the entire story into a new perspective. It made me want to go back and re-read the second serial to see what I could gleam from what I had learned in the end. I am so curious (and slightly terrified) as to what is going to happen. The past is catching up with the present and that pivotal moment is only  pages away from revelation. I have some theories but at this point, absolutely anything could happen and that is what makes this so good and slightly scary. I am anxious to read the third installment and finally put all the pieces together, understanding Nora, her world, and her mind… something that is a task in and of itself. If you love books that mess with your mind, check out this serial series! It is only three parts so it isn’t too long but you will definitely be thinking about it when you finish reading. The last installment is set sometime in October and I am ready to know the truth. Where is Nora Gilbert? And what the hell is happening?

REVIEW: The Missing Volume I- Illusions by A.M. Irvin

The Missing Volume I- Illusions
A.M. Irvin (A. Meredith Walters)
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Release Date: July 8, 2015

Concrete floor…
Dirty windows…
Impenetrable shadows….

Where am I?

Days bleed into one another and I know that I’m trapped. A prisoner.

But why?

I have no answers and no one to give them to me. Only the silence and the dark.

Except for the song.
The words tell a story that I wish I could forget.

About a girl who didn’t run fast enough.

A forgotten girl…
A lost girl…
A girl no one would miss…

You can purchase your copy today at the retailer listed below!

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AUS | B&N

 

Holy Canoli! Have you ever read a book and thought what in the world is happening and where are you taking me?! This book did just that. This short story, the first of three, introduces the reader to a thrilling ride that will leave you guessing what is next. Irvin (aka Walters) introduces us into the chaos first hand, seeing Nora, a young woman, and where she is in her present. It is slightly unnerving and terrifying, walking the road with her, knowing nothing and attempting to put the puzzle pieces together. The story takes us back and forth, allowing the reader to see the journey Nora took to get to where she is. It is a disturbing life she has been forced to live. A family without love or compassion. A mother who considers her only daughter to be a monster and a punishment. There is only one friend to Nora at school and he is a bit unhinged.

I have absolutely no idea where we are going with this tale. I started to read this book late at night and quickly stopped to read it in the daylight of tomorrow. My roommates door slammed at an unnerving part, scaring the bejezus out of me, and I decided to take a breather. ha! Irvin develops two realities, on in the present and one in the past, both so real and enveloping. It will leave you a bit terrified and a whole lot confused but in such a way that you know answers are coming. It almost feels too early to form a hypothesis about what is happening and who is behind it, but that definitely did not stop my brain from trying to figure it out. This story is a jumble of past and present, but a jumble that is well written and enticing. Every time I would attempt to put the puzzle pieces together there were holes, missing pieces and nothing seemed to fit. You feel the desperation and emotion along with Nora wondering what is going to happen to her.

This book could be the lure I needed to get into a new genre. It is exciting to read something, having no idea what could possibly come next and muddling through the confusion. It was refreshing to be surprised and that is something I look forward to in the next two installments.

New Release + Excerpt + Giveaway: VERUM (The Nocte Trilogy #2) by Courtney Cole

I am ecstatic about this Release Day launch for Courtney Cole’s VERUM!  VERUM is a New Adult dark romantic psychological suspense novel and the second book in Courtney’s The Nocte Trilogy! To celebrate the release NOCTE is on sale for only $.99 through tomorrow!  Grab both now! Thank us later. Check out more about the book and an excerpt to get you hooked! Make sure to enter the giveaway below!

VERUM
The Nocte Trilogy #2
Coutrney Cole
Genre: Dark Romance, Psychological Thriller

The truth shall set you free.

My name is Calla Price and I’m drowning.

My new world is a dark, dark ocean and I’m being pulled under by secrets.

Can I trust anyone? I don’t know anymore.

The lies are spirals. They twist and turn, binding me with their thorns and serpentine tongues. And just when I think I have it figured out, everything is pulled out from under me.

I’m entangled in the darkness.

But the truth will set me free.

It’s just ahead of me, so close I can touch it. But even though it shines and glimmers, it has glistening fangs and I know it will shred me.

Are you scared?

I am.

You can purchase your copy today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon // Barnes & Noble // iTunes // Kobo

Together, we float to the surface, still intertwined.  We break through the top and I suck in a breath and Dare is staring into my eyes.

There’s tension here, but not the bad kind.  It’s the kind that ignites you, the kind that intoxicates you, the kind that once you taste it, you’ll crave for the rest of your life.

I’ve forgotten that I was going to be careful, that I was going to reject him on every level.

All I can remember, all I can focus on, is how veryalive Dare DuBray is making me feel in this moment, how alive he always makes me feel.

For a girl who has been surrounded by death her entire life, this is a very big deal.

“I’m a little afraid of you,” I blurt honestly, and Dare still has his arms around me.  Our treading water motions keep our legs rubbing together, the friction still there.

Hot,

Hot,

Hotter.

Dare smiles, but there is no humor in it.

“Good.”

“Why?”

My honesty makes me seem innocent, but I don’t know how to play games.  I have no experience with the opposite sex at all.

“Because that makes you feel something.”

But he’s hesitant now and he looks away. There’s something he wants to say, it’s balanced on the tip of his tongue, but he swallows it.

“What is it?” I ask softly.  “Just tell me.”

He wants to, I can tell. His secrets are killing him. He just wants to be normal, he’s just acting out a role.

I don’t know why I feel like I know this.  It’s just there, suddenly resting on my heart.

“You don’t have to be someone you’re not,” I murmur quietly.  His dark eyes snap up to mine and he pulls his hands away. There’s something in his eyes now, something guarded, and our easy afternoon has come to an end.

“What makes you think I am?” he snaps. “Pretending to be something I’m not, I mean.”

I’ve somehow annoyed him, and I don’t answer because I don’t know what to say.

“I’m not being someone I’m not, Calla,” he says coolly as he strides from the water.  “I’m being who you need me to be.”

I’m utterly confused, and I’m dripping wet.

“We don’t have towels,” is all he says when I follow him. My clothing soaks up the water and it is a very cold ride back home.

Dare doesn’t say another word and I leave him in the garage.

I don’t see him at dinner, and I don’t see him the rest of the night.

But as I lay in bed around midnight, I see his car leave the garage.

I don’t see him come home, and I’m awake for half the night waiting.

I have no idea where he goes when he slips away.

Somehow, I think he wants it that way.

There’s a fork in the road and even though I see it, I can’t avoid it.

One road goes left, one goes right, and neither of them end well. 

I feel it in my bones,

In my bones,

In my bones.

I sing a song of nonsense, and it sings back.  The notes echo and twist in the air, and I swallow them whole.

“Come out,” I call behind me, because I know they’re there.  

I can’t see them, but they’re always watching. 

Eyes appear, blood red, and they blink once, twice, three times.

“I can see you,” I announce and there’s a growl and then I’m crushed beneath the dark, beneath the weight, beneath the oppression.

“You don’t scare me,” I lie.

There’s savagery here, there’s grace. 

But above all, there’s oblivion and no matter what I do, I will be sucked into it. 

I know it.

I feel it.

I’m crazy.

And it doesn’t matter.

I’m the rabbitrabbitrabbit and I’ll never be free.

I am excited about VERUM and to celebrate, Courtney and Inkslinger PR are giving away something awesome to celebrate. Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a Nocte Trilogy prize pack containing a t-shirt, a signed paperback, and a St. Michael’s medallion! Don’t miss out on this awesome giveaway! Enter today.

Don’t miss the first book in the Nocte Trilogy… this is one you will note want to miss! You can purchase your copy of the first book at the retailers listed below! It is on sale for a limited time only so one click today!

Barnes & Noble // Kobo // Amazon // iBooks

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Pieces of Revenge (Titanium #1) by Valia Lind

Looking for a thrilling Young Adult novel and the beginning to what looks to be a fabulous series? Then look no further. I am excited to share with you the Blog Tour for Pieces of Revenge, the first installment to the Titanium Series. This book had me hooked from page one! Check out more about the book, Tina’s Thoughts, and a giveaway!

Pieces of Revenge

Titanium Series #1
Valia Lind
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Release Date: November 20, 2014
A weapon. A broken life. A humanity lost.That is all Anastasia knows, that is all that she is. As an eleven-year-old, she witnessed her family’s brutal murder and she’s been on the run ever since. She’s spent her life training and planning for the day when she can take her revenge.Kallos Enterprises is a well respected corporation, set on improving the genetic structure of an individual. Or so they say. Anastasia knows, first hand, what kind of monsters lurk behind the pretty walls of those skyscrapers. Armed with combat skills and a beyond perfect memory, she heads to Chicago to uncover the answers to questions that plagued her for years.After arriving in the city, she meets Logan, a boy from her past who changes all the rules. She doesn’t remember him, but he remembers her. His position at Kallos Enterprises is useful, his presence is unnerving, and he makes her question everything she knows about herself to be true. If her perfect memory can’t remember Logan, what else about her past is wrong?

Time is running out. Anastasia has nowhere to turn, but to trust the one person who’s a memory she should have, but doesn’t. With a madman threatening their every step, Anastasia and Logan must uncover the truths behind Kallos experiments and hope that the answers they find won’t destroy the world forever.

You can purchase your copy today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Pieces of Revenge had me hooked from the first shocking sentence till the very end, and I am dying to get my hands on the second book in the Titanium Series. If you are looking for a fast paced, clean and exciting adventure then look no further. This Young Adult book is the beginning of what looks to be an incredible series. I am excited to see where this story leads and what Valia has planned for the Tasia and the series.

The story is fast paced and doesn’t stop. From the opening sentence, we see Anastasia fighting off a stranger and running for her life. This scene sets the tone for this story. She is working to accomplish her one life goal, to bring revenge upon the people who brutally murdered her entire family. As she progresses in her plan, we meet the few people she trusts and are plunged into a world of drama and intrigue. Not everyone is who you think they are and the plot twists and turns until you are wondering who to trust and where she will go from here. The end is shocking and leaves you excited for what will happen next, ready for the second book immediately.

Anastasia, also known as Tasia, is a strong, independent, and focused young woman. She has been living her life in fast forward focused solely on revenge.  Writing a young character into such a deep and conflicted role dealing with major adult issues could come across as unrealistic and forced, but not with Tasia and this story. We see a wonderful blending of the real with the fantastic. Tasia is brilliant and precise, a real warrior for her cause. While reading her story I kept imagining an old SciFi show called Dark Angel. The lead character in both stories has a strength, intelligence, and efficiency that you would never normally find in someone so young. She was a believable character that swings from sad and terrified girl to focused and strong task master. It was a genius blend and I appreciated the way she was portrayed!

The supporting cast of actors was strong yet not overpowering of this story. Pieces of Revenge focuses on Tasia’s quest and weaves others throughout her mission. The action was intense but never overwhelming. Her personality is strong but not overbearing. Each theme was  perfectly intertwined with the bigger picture, allowing the reader exactly what they need when they need it. It fit well within the Young Adult genre and it a fantastic thriller to read. I am excited to see what happens in the next book in the Titanium Series. That ending was not something I was expecting and I am ready for more! Valia, I applaud your technique and I cannot wait to see what happens! Make sure to check this book out today!

Looking for a chance to win big? Then look no further. Check out this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win some incredible prizes in celebration of this blog tour and fabulous book! You could be the lucky winner of a $10 Amazon giftcard, or a paperback copy of PIECES OF REVENGE with swag, or a paperback copy of either Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass, Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott, or The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by Jana Oliver. Talk about a great group of prizes! Make sure to enter today for your chance to win before it is too late!

Author. Photographer. Artist. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Valia Lind always had a love for the written word. She wrote her first full book on the bathroom floor of her dormitory, while procrastinating to study for her college classes. Upon graduation, she has moved her writing to more respectable places, and have found her voice in Young Adult fiction. Falling by Design is her debut young adult novel. You can visit her online at http://www.valialind.blogspot.com or follow her on twitter, where she spends way too much time, @ValiaLind.

You can see more of the Valia is up to by check out her social media sites!

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Blog Tour, Review, and Author Interview: The Monarch by Jack Soren

The Monarch: A Thriller
Jack Soren
Genre: Thriller 18+
Publication Date: December 2, 2014
Publisher: WitnessImpulse, an imprint of HarperCollins

When Jonathan Hall walked away from his career as an international art thief to be a father, he thought he’d made a clean break—from crime, from life as The Monarch, from an early grave. But when The Monarch’s signature symbol resurfaces carved into the mutilated bodies of New York’s elite, Jonathan realizes his retirement might’ve been short-lived. Someone is framing The Monarch for horrific slayings. But Jonathan and his former partner Lew know this isn’t just murder—it’s a message. Now caught in a deadly game against a fanatic madman whose reach penetrates the darkest corners of the globe, Jonathan and Lew have no choice but to play along. But when Jonathan’s daughter becomes a pawn, all bets are off. To win this game, Jonathan and Lew will have to accept one final task as The Monarch—a job that could change the course of history forever.

You can purchase your copy today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | HarperCollins

 

The Monarch is an incredible story of intrigue, espionage, heist, and suspense. I loved this story! The Monarch plays out like a thrilling movie in your head while you read. The writing is well paced and the characters are intriguing. When the story begins, there are many moving parts and places involved with the plot line. At the beginning of this book, I had to focus on the who and where with each new chapter as we bounced around the globe, but once each individual story line was introduced and the players were developed, the intrigue takes off and I was hooked. This story takes places all over the world, in the present day with flashbacks to where this all began so many years ago. We meet Jonathan and Lew, two partners who became best friends after a chance meeting years ago off the beaten path. They worked together as the Robin Hood of art thieves and were so well known. Yet things changed when Jonathan’s daughter came into his life and both men have left the high adrenaline heist world behind. Yet someone, somewhere is creating havoc in their name and they must take charge to stop the murders and find out who is behind it all.

The plot line to this book was one of the things that hooked me. It was different from the slew books I have been reading lately, which was a refreshing experience that I am so happy for. The plot was very well written and brilliantly developed. This book is filled with intrigue, drama, and thrilling adventures. I had no idea what was around the next corner and loved the surprise of the story as I read. The writing style was lovely and I cannot wait to see what Jack Soren has in store for the future.

One of my favorite parts to see in any book I read is the character development. The characters introduced within this storyline have the potential to be shallow, considering there are so many moving parts and different people introduced all throughout the book. But Jack Soren is able to take a character and provide them with the perfect amount of back story and create people within each plot line that add authenticity and excitement to this tale. Jonathan was a single dad trying to make ends meet and leave his past behind. Lew was a man who has made mistakes but was fighting for what was right. Emily was the starry eyed writer who learned the truth behind her words. The list goes on and on. Each character is foundational to the story and I was beyond pleased with what each person brought to the table.

The Monarch is a must read for anyone who enjoys well written thrillers. It was such an awesome story full of adrenaline and excitement. Do not miss this one!

It is always fun to find new authors and see a bit of the world through their eyes! Check out this interview with Jack Soren, the author of The Monarch, and see a bit more of the man behind the book!

Can you tell us about yourself?

I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Before becoming a thriller novelist, I wrote software manuals, waited tables, drove a cab, and spent six months as a really terrible private investigator. I live in the Toronto area.

What do you do when you are not writing?

When is that?  I enjoy anything that involves story: reading, movies, television, video games, and explaining why I’m three hours late and smell like nachos and tequila. 

Where do you get your ideas?

A box I found buried beneath the underpass behind my house.  Shhhh.

To be honest, I have no idea. I’ve tried the notebook approach, but I just end up filling up the notebook and then throwing it in a box and never looking at it again.  But really, ideas are easy. Dime a dozen. Execution is the trick.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I don’t really get writer’s block, if that exists (my Dad would say “Carpenters don’t get carpenter’s block”. Sometimes you just have to do the work.) There are times when it’s more difficult than others, but I think that’s more about figuring out the right path into and through a story. If I’m trying to write and it’s not coming, then there’s something wrong with what I’m doing. I may not know it consciously, but on some level I know something’s broken.

The “block” part would be stopping to figure out what it is. But I don’t believe writing is just putting words on the page. Sometimes it’s drinking a beer and staring at your navel.

How does your writing process look? Consistent with regular amounts of word counts daily/weekly… or more sporadic with a gush of words all at once and then a dry bed for a while?

On the days that I manage to sit down to write, I try to get 2,000 words done. I don’t really have a “process”. There are definitely more productive times.  I’m not really driven by deadlines, more by how long it takes me to find the “in” for a project. Ideally I’d like to write every day, but with the business side of writing and life in general, that’s sometimes just not possible.

Oh, and I’m really lazy.

What books did you read when you were kids? Any books you found inspiring?

I think I started out with the typical books most kids did — The Hardy Boys, comics, etc.  After that I got into Star Trek novels because I liked the show. After that I pretty much read whatever I could get my hands on, but I do remember a few standouts like The Runaway Robot and You’re Stepping On My Cloak and Dagger.  

It wasn’t until high school that I found a book that really spoke to me: The Catcher In The Rye.

At what point in your life did you realize that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a career you were going to turn into reality?

Has that happened yet?  Man, nobody tells me nothin’. 

Some authors listen to music while writing, others prefer a quiet space. Which is your preference?  If you do listen to music, do you have a playlist? Care to share?

Depends on the scene I’m writing and the mood I’m in. I listen to everything from soundtracks to straight up rock and roll. But sometimes I want silence.  Lately, I’ll put on my noise-cancelling headphones, open the laptop and just type the mood of the scene into Spotify. They have playlists for just about everything.

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JACK SOREN was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Before becoming a thriller novelist, Soren wrote software manuals, waited tables, drove a cab and spent six months as a really terrible private investigator. He lives in the Toronto area. For more about Jack, you can check out his social media sites listed below.

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