Review: The Christmas He Loved Her - Juliana Stone

All he wants this Christmas is her.

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it’s also time to come home and face his past. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother's widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can't imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother’s sudden death. Now he’s back and she doesn't know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

Bad Boys of Crystal Lake Series:
The Summer He Came Home
The Christmas He Loved Me
The Day He Kissed Her (2014)

Visit Juliana Stone's website for more information.

Review:
I knew that Jake and Raine's story would be an emotional one considering their history but I don't think I'd anticipated exactly how gut wrenching it would be to read. I think that's one of the things I loved most about The Christmas He Loved Her though, Juliana Stone doesn't shy away from the pain that her characters are suffering and she pulls you into the story so you feel their emotions right alongside them. Although each book in this series features a different main couple I would recommend reading these books in order, we met both of these characters in The Summer He Came Home so already had an insight into their background that meant I was immediately invested in the outcome of their story.

Raine didn't just lose her husband Jesse when he was killed in Afghanistan, she also lost one of her best friends when Jake walked away and left her alone to deal with the consequences. She was going through the most difficult time in her life and she didn't really have anyone to lean on to help her through so as much as she's pleased Jake has come back she also has to work through her anger at him for leaving in the first place. In a lot of ways Raine's grief has broken her, she is a shell of the woman she used to be and has been living in limbo for the last year and a half, struggling just to make it through the days. It was hard to see how much pain she was in but I was glad to see her start to slowly pull herself back together. There is no doubt that Jake coming back gives her the kick she needs to start moving forward but she doesn't just do it for him, she realises that she has to make a change for herself more than anything and I think that was an important distinction to make.

It just about broke my heart reading from Jake's point of view, he had to deal with seeing his twin brother die in front of him and I don't think that is something you'd ever get over. He feels so guilty that he couldn't save his brother and bring him home to Raine but he's also angry that Jesse let himself get hurt in the first place. Jake is obviously suffering from PTSD and I thought that this was very realistically portrayed, the lack of sleep and nightmares are wearing him down but there isn't really anyone he feels comfortable talking to about it all. Another thing I liked was how the story shows the effect of Jesse's death on the whole family, his parents are just about coping but they're worried sick about Jake and scared that they're going to end up losing both of their sons. As if Jake wasn't messed up enough he also has guilt about his feelings for Raine, he has loved her since they were teenagers but it feels like a betrayal of Jesse to act on that, even if it does seem like she cares for him too.

This couple really does have so much going against them but it was fabulous to see them working through their issues both individually and together as a couple. I don't want to say too much more because I think it's a story you should savour for yourselves but it's definitely a book I'd highly recommend. We still have one remaining Bad Boy's story to go and I must say that The Day He Kissed Her is at the top of my 2014 wish list. I already love Mac's character and am looking forward to seeing him confront his past in what I suspect will be another emotional roller coaster of a book. I have to confess that I'm not too sure how I feel about Lily yet, I wasn't the biggest fan of her in this story but I think that there is a lot more depth to her than we've seen so far so I'm prepared to hold off on judging her for now. I'm sure if anyone can make me warm up to her character Juliana Stone can!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: The Summer He Came Home - Juliana Stone

Sometimes the best place to find love is right back where you started...

Falling asleep in a different bed every night has made it easy for Cain Black to forget his past. It's been ten years since he packed his guitar and left Crystal Lake, Michigan, to chase his dreams. Now tragedy has forced him home again. And though Cain relishes the freedom of the road, one stolen moment with Maggie O'Rourke makes him wonder if he's missing out on something bigger than fame.

For Maggie—single mother and newly settled in Crystal Lake—love is a luxury she just can't afford. Sure, she appreciates the tall, dark and handsome looks of prodigal son Cain Black. But how long can she expect the notorious hellion to stay?

The last thing either of them wants is something complicated. But sometimes love has its own plans.

Bad Boys of Crystal Lake Series:
The Summer He Came Home
The Christmas He Loved Me
The Day He Kissed Her (2014)

Visit Juliana Stone's website for more information.

Review:
Cain left Crystal Lake ten years ago to pursue his dreams of becoming a rock star and he hasn't been home since, in fact it takes the funeral of one of his best friends to get him back at all. Now he's here though he's starting to wonder why he left in the first place, especially when meeting Maggie and her son Michael makes him think about all the things missing from his life. Maggie moved to Crystal Lake to escape from her past so the last thing she wants or has time for is falling in love. She is focused on rebuilding her life for herself and her son but Cain is a distraction she can't ignore. Maggie knows his interest is only fleeting though, after all what does she have to offer a famous rock star?

I was already a fan of Juliana Stone for her Jaguar Warriors paranormal romance series but The Summer He Came Home has proved she writes contemporary romance just as well. If you love small town romances and the quirky town characters that come with them then you're sure to enjoy the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series!

Cain was an easy guy to fall for, he may be a successful rock star but he's still quite a grounded character and he doesn't use his fame to get what he wants. He is drawn to Maggie from the moment he sets eyes on her but she pushes him away which only makes him want her more. Cain isn't used to having women turn him down so the challenge of winning Maggie around is something he can't resist. I loved the way he woos her, he is so romantic and goes out of his way to make things special for her but he also takes the time to bond with Michael and to make sure he has fun too. I do have a soft spot for men who are good with children and after everything Michael had been through it was so nice that Cain made him a priority alongside Maggie.

Maggie could be quite closed off emotionally at times but after everything she had been through it was easy to understand why she kept people at arms length. It was good to see her finally start to open up to her new friends and realise that she had support from other people in the town and not just Cain. She is a strong woman who has suffered a lot and become fiercely independent because of that. She works hard to make sure her son has everything he needs and she was a wonderful mother who always put Michael first. It was nice to see Cain help take some of the pressure off her though and I was pleased that they seemed to slot so well together as a family.

Their romance has some incredibly sweet moments and less angst than I was expecting considering her past. They have fantastic chemistry too so there are plenty of hot moments but it was the scenes where they were talking and having fun together that I enjoyed the most. I also loved both of the other Bad Boys and can't wait to read their stories. I think Jake's story will be particularly heartbreaking as he comes to terms with the death of his twin brother Jesse but I have a feeling Mac's book will be an emotional one too. I loved The Summer He Came Home so much that I'm going to start The Christmas He Came Home immediately because I can't wait to see how things play out for Jake and Raine.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: His Darkest Embrace - Juliana Stone

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge.  A woman who calls him enemy will give him reason to live . . .

Jagger is a creature of the night - Skye Knightly soars in the sun.  Natural adversaries, they are now joined in a mission entrusted to Skye's family centuries ago: nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever . . . until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten pulls him from his dark path.  A courageous warrior, Skye's passion is equal to Jagger's - but can she trust a man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other's sole hope for survival.  But a dark and twisted truth is leading them towards the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.

Jaguar Warriors Series:
His Darkest Hunger
His Darkest Embrace
His Darkest Salvation (July 2011)

For more information visit Juliana Stone's website

Review:
Jagger has spent the last 2 months living in the jungle in his jaguar form trying to forget the things he witnessed in the army.  He has no intention of returning to the real world and wouldn't even have taken his human form if he hadn't witnessed an attack on Sky by 2 other jaguars.  After stepping in to rescue Sky he finds himself attracted to her and feeling strangely protective of her.  Sky has other ideas though, as an Eagle shifter the jaguars have always been her sworn enemy so the last thing she wants is one following her through the jungle as she tries to complete her mission.  She is the last protector of an ancient artifact and she has to destroy it before her enemies can get their hands on it and cause the end of the world.

I really enjoyed His Darkest Hunger so was looking forward to reading the second installment in the series but unfortunately I have mixed feelings about His Darkest Embrace.  From what I saw of Jagger in the first book I was really expecting to love him but the way he treated Sky was a complete turn off, especially at the beginning of the story.  I did find myself liking him more towards the end but I found it hard to understand how Sky could be attracted to him after the things he'd said and done to her.  It just made it difficult to believe the relationship that developed between them.

Sky was full of contradictions, on the one hand she was tough and independent and quite a kick ass heroine but then she would do something incredibly stupid (like take off in her eagle form leaving behind all of her clothes and other belongings) which I found irritating.  On a more positive note I did enjoy the physical chemistry between the two them and the scene at the waterfall particularly sticks out in my memory.

I enjoyed the action but would have liked to have seen more of the other characters we already met in the previous book.  I was disappointed that this seemed like more of a filler between the other books rather than a complete story in it's own right.  While I think you could probably read this book without reading the one before it you're definitely left needing to read the next book to find out what happens.  I would have read the next book anyway because I'm curious to find out more about the final brother Julian but I like to have more of a complete story even when a book is part of a series.  I'm hoping that I'll love the next book as much as I loved the first one because I do really like the world that Juliana has created and the jaguars are definitely some hot shifters!

Source: Received for review from publisher via NetGalley and I also won a paperback copy from Ramblings of a Book Bitch (thanks Claire!)

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If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Book Trailer: His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone

How fab does this look?  I'm sure I've already mentioned how much I loved the first book in this series His Darkest Hunger & how much I'm looking forward to book 2 His Darkest Embrace but I had to share this trailer with you.

You can find out more about this series at Juliana Stone's website or check out the synopsys for His Darkest Embrace below:

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. It will take the woman who calls him enemy to give him a reason to live.

Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they have been joined by destiny in a mission entrusted to Skye’s family centuries ago: Nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever… until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten, pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye’s passion is equal to Jagger’s own—but can she trust a man on the edge? A man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other’s sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.

Win an ARC of His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. It will take the woman who calls him enemy to give him a reason to live.

Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they have been joined by destiny in a mission entrusted to Skye’s family centuries ago: Nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever… until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten, pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye’s passion is equal to Jagger’s own—but can she trust a man on the edge? A man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other’s sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.

I read book 1 in the Jaguar Warriors series by Juliana Stone His Darkest Hunger earlier this year and have been excitedly waiting for the sequel His Darkest Embrace ever since!  His Darkest Hunger was a great start to this new paranormal romance series - you can read my review here.
 
Juliana is giving 2 digital ARCs of book 2 His Darkest Embrace on her blog here.  I can't wait to read Jagger's story!!  This book releases in the UK on October 26th & I've already pre-ordered my copy from Amazon.  For more information about this series check out Juliana's website.  You can also read an excerpt from His Darkest Embrace and find out more about this book here.
 
Juliana is also including a Digital copy of her newest time travel novella Black Destiny in her giveaway.  Black Destiny is book 2 in her Black Opals series and is another book that I've got on my wishlist.  I read & really enjoyed the first story in the series Black Legacy earlier this year - you can read my review here.  You can find out more and read an excerpt from Black Destiny here on Juliana's website or find the blurb below.  I just have to say - don't you think Juliana has the most fabulous covers?!
 

She will protect him at all costs, even if it means her life.
 
Undercover, deep in the heart of enemy territory, Lily Black has been charged with a mission: guard the life of Kerr Strome.

Like her warrior sisters, the Black Opals, Lily is a time traveller who shifts wherever she’s needed. She’ll do whatever it takes to foil an assassination attempt on Kerr by The New Order. There’s only one way to fly under his radar: pose as a man.

Kerr Strome is a warrior with his back to the wall. His planet is in chaos, his life threatened at every turn. The safe evacuation of his people from their war-ravaged planet depends entirely on his team of elite soldiers—and their ability to lie low for the next few days. The holding pattern might make him crazy, except for the intriguing new team member. A small soldier with big-time fighting skills, and something extra Kerr can’t quite figure out.

When Lily intercepts a New Order assassin—and a bullet meant for Kerr—her cover isn’t all that’s blown. Their pent-up desire reveals a bitter truth. The reason Kerr is marked for death? He is Lily’s destined mate. And the only way to save his life is to give her own.

Warning: Contains one hard-bodied soldier, illicit loving, a kick-ass lady and a little bit of time travel.

Review: His Darkest Hunger - Juliana Stone

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin.  He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal.  After three long years he's finally found her.  The hunt is over...

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected.  She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name.  A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them.  Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone can imagine...

Jaguar Warriors Series:
His Darkest Hunger
His Darkest Embrace
His Darkest Salvation (July 2011)

For more information visit Juliana Stone's website

Review:
Jaxon and Libby used to work together in a paranormal anti-terrorist unit until they were betrayed leading to the death of one of their team members.  Libby has been missing ever since and Jaxon and the unit are convinced she was the one who betrayed them.  When he receives information about Libby's whereabouts he goes looking for her ready to make her pay for the damage she caused.  Things aren't as simple as they first appeared though and when he finds Libby he realises she has no memory of either him or their unit.

Jaxon is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and Libby is the key but he needs to help her regain her memory before she can be any help to him.  The more time he spends with her the harder he finds it to resist the attraction between them.  Libby is very aware of her physical responce to Jaxon but she doesn't remember their history or understand why he keeps blowing hot and cold.  As her memory starts to return she realises that she has good reasons to keep her distance from him.  They are both going to discover that nothing is what it originally seemed but they are going to have to rely on each other and the rest of their unit if they are going to make the people responsible pay for what they did.

I've been looking forward to reading this ever since I first saw the cover and I have to say that Juliana Stone's debut novel is not a disappointment.  The story takes you on a complete emotional rollercoaster alongside both Libby and Jax.  At first I thought that Libby was going to be quite a weak character but as she gets her memory back she grows into a kick ass heroine who gives as good as she gets.  Jax is a real alpha male who I absolutely loved and the 2 main characters really complimented each other.

His Darkest Hunger is action packed with plenty of twists that make it impossible to put down.  We are also introduced to some great secondary characters, in particular Jax's brothers Jagger and Julian, but I also loved unit members Ana and Declan who I hope we will see more of in future stories.  I can't wait to read Jagger's story in His Darkest Embrace.  His Darkest Hunger has a well earned place on my keep shelf and I'd definitely recommend it to any fans of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
Ramblings of a Book Bitch
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

New Releases for my Birthday

Yay it's my birthday today - yes I know that makes me an April Fool but I actually think that's quite appropriate for me LOL!!!  So today I'm turning 31 (sshhhhh that's a secret!) & I'm going to be marking the day by getting a new tattoo - pics will come when we're back from our holiday :o)

I'm planning on having a giveaway to celebrate my birthday & the fact that I'm nearly at 100 followers (I was at 91 when I left on Saturday morning).  Unfortunately I just didn't have time to sort out the details before I left but I will get it posted as soon as I can when we get home so keep an eye out next week :o)

There are some fab new releases coming out in the UK today that I wanted to spotlight:

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Brittany Ellis seems to have it all; wealthy parents, the perfect boyfriend and the "right" group of friends.  But when Brittany is forced to become lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the wrong side of town, her perfect life starts to unravel.  Alex is a bad boy, and he knows it, so when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it.

But as Alex and Brittany grow closer, sparks begin to fly and they both realise that sometimes appearances can be deceptive.  Will their emerging feelings be enough to keep them together when the world is determined to keep them apart?

I absolutely loved Perfect Chemisty - you can check out my review here.  If you haven't already got this one then you should go and buy it today!!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

When sixteen-year-old Sophie Mercer discovers she's a witch, she imagines life will be full of magic, fun and ... well ... broomsticks!  But her first attempt at a love spell goes disastrously wrong and, as punishment, Sophie is shipped off to Hectacte "Hex" Hall, a reform school for witches, shapeshifters and faeries.

By the end of her first day among her fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person on campus and the only vampire.

Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students and her only friend is the number-one suspect...

A fantastic debut from Rachel Hawkins - I can't wait to read more from this series!  Check out my review here

His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he’s finally found her. The hunt is over…

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair; of her treachery; of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine…

I've not read His Darkest Hunger yet but this is a book I've been looking forward to for ages!  I have requested it as a birthday present but if I don't get it then it will be the first thing I'm buying with any birthday money I get :o)

Hope you all have a fantastic April Fool's day!

Winner: Juliana Stone's Black Legacy

Thanks to random.org I can confirm that the winner of the Juliana Stone's eBook Black Legacy is....

MAR

Congratulations Mar!  I'm about to send you a message on Twitter & if you can let me know your email address I'll pass it over to Juliana so she can send you your eBook.  I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you again to Juliana for stopping by to visit us & offering to giveaway a copy of Black Legacy

Review: Black Legacy - Juliana Stone

Frankie Black is a woman in need of a mission. For a Black Opal—a warrior woman who shifts backward or forward through time in order to, well, save the world—the last six months of downtime have left her bored. Restless. And with a feeling that something is about to hit the fan.

Finally, an assignment: save the life of Dekkar James, an infamous rock god living three hundred years in the past. Tattooed, ruggedly handsome and perfectly imperfect, one look at him and it’s as if her sleeping body springs to life.

One minute Dekkar is having the most mind-blowing sex of his life. The next, goons are breaking down his door, and he’s on the run with a woman who turns from lover to warrior in the blink of an eye.

Dealing with the New Order, operatives who manipulate time without regard for the consequences, is nothing new for Frankie. But this time their tactics have a more personal edge—they’ve found a way to seek out the Opals’ predestined mates.

Unless she can save Dekkar’s life, her future will be the first casualty in a battle for the fate of humankind.

Warning: Contains one hot dude with tattoos, a woman who won’t take no for an answer, steamy sex, an ancient Harley and a little bit of time travel.

Black Opals Series:
Black Legacy
Book 2 is due to be released in June 2010

For more information visit Juliana Stone's website

Review:
Frankie is a member of the Black Opals - a team of female warriors who protect the world by travelling through time.  The team consists of Frankie and her sisters and is run by their mother - the ability to time travel is passed down through the female line.  For the last 300 years there have been artificial jumpers who travel through time & across different planets to try and change the future and the Black Opals are the only ones who can stop them.

The New Order have discovered a way to find the predestined mates of the Black Opals and they are travelling back in time to try and eliminate them.  Dekkar is the first on their hit list and it is Frankie's job to find and protect him.

I really enjoyed this short story - Juliana has given us a good insight to the world she has created and has given us some interesting characters.  I really liked Frankie - she is strong and smart and very good at her job but is looking for something more from life.  What can I say about Dekkar?  Well, he is Hot with a capital H! A modern day rock star who lives a life of excess but is searching for someone to spend his life with.   His character was inspired by Nikki Sixx who I'd never heard of before but you can find a great picture of him on Juliana's blog.

If there was anything I didn't like about the story it would have been that the fight with the New Order was over a little too quickly but considering it is a short story Juliana managed to get an awful lot of information in there & I'm really looking forward to reading the next installment.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Author Interview & Giveaway - Juliana Stone - GIVEAWAY CLOSED

*UPDATE - THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED - Winners

announced here*

In order to celebrate the release of her first book Black Legacy I'm thrilled to be able to welcome Juliana Stone here to chat to us. Black Legacy is the first book in Juliana's new Black Opals series and is available now for purchase as an eBook here.  Juliana has very kindly offered to send a free copy of Black Legacy to one of my readers - find details of the giveaway after the interview.

Frankie Black is a woman in need of a mission. For a Black Opal—a warrior woman who shifts backward or forward through time in order to, well, save the world—the last six months of downtime have left her bored. Restless. And with a feeling that something is about to hit the fan.

Finally, an assignment: save the life of Dekkar James, an infamous rock god living three hundred years in the past. Tattooed, ruggedly handsome and perfectly imperfect, one look at him and it’s as if her sleeping body springs to life.

One minute Dekkar is having the most mind-blowing sex of his life. The next, goons are breaking down his door, and he’s on the run with a woman who turns from lover to warrior in the blink of an eye.

Dealing with the New Order, operatives who manipulate time without regard for the consequences, is nothing new for Frankie. But this time their tactics have a more personal edge—they’ve found a way to seek out the Opals’ predestined mates.

Unless she can save Dekkar’s life, her future will be the first casualty in a battle for the fate of humankind.

Warning: Contains one hot dude with tattoos, a woman who won’t take no for an answer, steamy sex, an ancient Harley and a little bit of time travel.

----------------------------------

Interview with Juliana Stone
 
S: Thank you so much for coming to chat with us today Juliana, it's great to have you here!
 
S: Can you tell us about yourself?
JS: Hello Sarah! There’s not much to tell! I am a wife and mother of two kids who keep me hopping. I live in Canada, love to play baseball and golf and live for my family and friends!

S: It mentions on your website that you used you be a lead singer in a rock band.  That must have been a lot of fun - do you have any stories you can tell us from your touring days?
JS: LOL, yes being on the road with an all girl rock band back in the late 80’s was interesting to say the least. There are way too many stories to choose from, a lot I probably shouldn’t share! I was very young and grew up in a hurry let me tell you! I did meet my husband while singing though….He was a guitarist in another band and their truck broke down in the town I was playing in. We had the same booking agent so they came to our hotel and we met and have been together ever since!
 
S: Do you still have time to do any singing?
JS: We do! We play for fun but my husband and I, along with two friends have a band that gigs around. We do all retro 80’s stuff and it’s a total blast! Our son is an amazing guitarist and has joined us on stage as well.
 
S: I love to find out what sort of music my favorite authors like.  Do you have a sound track you listen to when you're writing?  What kind of music do you listen to?
JS: I’m the type of writer who needs absolute silence when I’m writing. I tend to talk a lot as I write and just need to listen to myself as the words roll off my tongue. I do like to listen to music before I write sometimes, to get me into a certain frame of mind. Like if I’m going to write an emotional scene I’ll listen to something that pulls that emotion. But as for my everyday listening, I like all kinds! From Sixx Am, to the Dixie chicks, Foo Fighters to Def Leppard……I love all kinds of music.
 
S: What is your writing routine - where & when do you write?
JS: I write in the morning and at night. I have a lap top and either write in the family room or the office. I like being able to go anywhere. Again I need the silence thing so sometimes it’s a question of escaping the noisy family!
 
S: Do you have any advice for would-be authors?
JS: My advice would be to hook up with other writers, people that will support you as you further your career. This business is not for light weights. There is a lot of rejection and it can wear you down. You need to be around people who are going to pick yourself up. Do research, learn everything you can about this business, because at the end of the day it is that….a business.
 
S: Can you tell us a little more about Black Legacy and your Black Opals series?
JS: Black Legacy is the first in a time travel series that involve a family of women who protect the delicate fabric of time, from rogue jumpers who would manipulate it for their own evil purposes. In the first book, the Opals learn that The New Order has discovered a way of finding their predestined mates. They’ve marked them for assassination. The ladies need to save them or their line will not continue. The ability to time shift is passed down from mother to daughter.
 
S: Your first print book His Darkest Hunger is being released on April 1st 2010 and is the first book in your Jaguar Warriors series.  Can you give us some more information?
JS: I think the blurb sets it up perfectly:

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he's finally found her. The hunt is over . . .

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, he game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine . . .
 
S: Do you have any new projects on the go?
JS: I am currently working on the third book in my jaguar warrior series. I’m also working on a YA and will continue The Black Opal series.
 
S: I'd like to say a massive thank you to Juliana Stone for taking the time to visit us today.  It's been great fun chatting to you & I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.
 
You can find Juliana online at her Website, Blog, Facebook or on Twitter
Don't forget you can also purchase Black Legacy by clicking here

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Giveaway Details:
Juliana has kindly offered to send one lucky commenter a PDF copy of Black Legacy.  This giveaway is open to all and entries will be accepted until Sunday 14th Feb.  The winner will be chosen using a random number generator and announced here on Monday 15th Feb.  I will try to contact the winner (if you leave a blog / email address) but if no contact details are given it will be your responsibility to check back here to see if you've won.  The winner will have 48 hours to contact me, after which time another winner will be chosen if I've not been contacted.  I will need to give Juliana the winner's email address but it will not be used for any other purposes other than to send you your eBook.

How to Enter:
Leave a comment on this post

Extra Entries:
Follow this blog & let me know in a seperate comment

Tweet or blog about this giveaway and let me know in a seperate comment (please include link to your blog / tweet).  If you do both leave a separate comment for each post for extra entries into the contest.

Win an ARC of His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he’s finally found her. The hunt is over…

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair; of her treachery; of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine…

I think this book sounds great & I love the cover, I've already added it to my wish list! It's the first book in a new series called Jaguar Warriors & is available in the UK from 1st April. For your chance to win this ARC head over to Juliana's blog.