Romance Novel Giveaways - Freebies and Giveaways of All Things Romance Romance Novel Giveaways: Hidden by Amy McKinley ♥ Book Tour & GIVEAWAY ♥ (Paranormal Romance)

Friday, November 13, 2015

Hidden by Amy McKinley ♥ Book Tour & GIVEAWAY ♥ (Paranormal Romance)



Cursed since birth, hunted by gods, and desperate for love—Jade never stood a chance.

Half-demon, half-goddess, Jade’s fate makes her a pawn in an epic battle among the gods. Hidden on Earth with her sisters, she successfully avoids the Oneiroi—the dream gods—bent on her destruction until the prophecy, long dormant, awakens a dark shadow within her.

Roen, a reclusive Worr demon known for his battles against the Oneiroi, is called to protect Jade. Together they must unlock their mysterious connection and find a way to beat back destiny. Can she outsmart the prophecy, change her fate, and find love—even when she learns who is connected to her destruction?



What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Right now it’s Breyers® Blasts Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cups.
Growing up we had a TCBY close to our house. I still remember going there with friends and ordering the same thing every time. A few months ago I took my kids to one that opened up by our house and they’re hooked now too. It’s just as delicious as I remember growing up. This is sooo bad!

Which mythological creature are you most like?

You’d think this would be an easy answer as I write paranormal romance. Nope. I’m struggling. Water is something I love and am drawn to constantly. Beach house? Yep, I want one. Valkyrie is pretty cool, but am I really like that? Hmm, not sure. I did go through a list of strictly mythological creatures and laughed at the thought of a siren. You haven’t heard me sing. Not pretty. People would run from me, not to me. It doesn’t fit in any way. I was stumped by this question. I guess I’d have to say a mermaid. Yep, not the most exciting of the mystical creature and I’m almost cringing because Little Mermaid is now coming to mind. Really, I’d pick something way more exciting but am at a bit of a loss.

First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.

First book…that’s a really hard one to answer. I’ve been a reader for so long. I remember even as a kid having trouble putting down some books and going to school when I knew all I wanted to do was find out what happened next. Those are the books that I love. The ones that keep you hooked, wanting to turn the page to find out what happened next, no matter how tired you are, or what needs to get done. It’s a bit of a character flaw of mine and I’m super careful of when I allow myself to pick up a book. If I have a deadline, I resist. But as soon as I finish and have some time to myself I can sink into that other world rich with emotion, engaging storyline, and adventure.
So, for the first book that’s made a huge impression on me in the past several years, I’d have to say Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor. I was captivated by the strength of the MMC and the bravery of the FMC. It’s so hard to name just one and I want to name many others!

How do you develop your plot and characters?

I write a very basic plot point outline, or beat sheet. Then I expand it into a detailed outline. Some characters I will do a full sketch while others come easily and I feel I innately know them. For those, I’ll just take notes here and there.

Describe your writing space.

My office lacks a door. Huge problem. Otherwise, I have the same desk I’ve had from high school and I love it. It’s rather large and fits an iPod dock, a stack of books on one end, and files on another. Post it notes are all over the wall in front of my desk as I begin a project and beat sheets and outlines are tacked up to a corkboard strip. There’s usually a sleeping cat “working” by the side of my computer and two more in the room with me. Tons of light streams in and the walls are painted a beautiful blue.
Aside from the missing door, it works pretty well!

Jade’s temples throbbed. She headed toward the east turret where she knew her mom favored her morning meals. As she burst into the room, Jade startled Aiesa. A fork clattered right before her brother, accompanied by shrieks of joy, jumped up from his chair and ran to her.

Jade pasted a wide grin on her face as she bent to pick up her half-brother. His arms wrapped around her neck was the sweetest thing ever. She sunk into his embrace and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. He had the best little demon smell. She clutched him to her until he squirmed. Releasing him, she realized that for the first time in a while, her shoulders were relaxed. Opening her eyes, she met her mom’s gaze over her brother’s shoulders.

Her mother’s dark hair hung down in a fall of midnight. A storm of worry shone in her eyes. Aiesa half rose, her mouth forming a circle. Damn. Tension rocketed back up again. Nahl pushed at her, forcing her gaze back to him.

“Hey, little demon, you’re looking very handsome this morning.” Jade tweaked his nose.

He favored both their mother and step-demon with hair black as night and ebony eyes. And lucky for him, he inherited Xavior’s olive-toned skin, but not their mother’s deep-red lips. On Mom, they looked stunning. On a boy, well…not so much.

“I’m fierce, not handsome.” Nahl frowned at Jade, grasping her long tresses for emphasis.

“Fierce and handsome.” She chuckled. “What mayhem have you got planned today?”

He beamed as she sat him down, then scampered back to his food. “I get to go to Kristo’s to work on magic. We’re going to turn beetles into snakes.”

“That sounds like fun.” She snuck a peek at her mother, who watched her closely.

Nahl’s laugh turned wicked as he gazed his sister with glee. “Then the snakes into spiders.”

Jade shuddered. “Wonderful.” She couldn’t stand spiders as her mischievous little brother knew very well.

“Why don’t you head over early, Nahl? Cade can escort you there. He’s in the war room with your father. Go find him.” Aiesa instructed her young son.

“Okay, Mom.” Nahl hopped off his chair. A quick hug and kiss were given to their mom and Jade before he raced from the room.

“I can’t believe how much he’s grown since the last time I saw him.”

“Hmm, why don’t you have a seat, Jade?” Aiesa’s gaze never left her daughter.

“Sure.” After sitting down, Jade glanced nervously around the bright room. The sunlight streamed in, illuminating the blue and green mosaic tiles. The room emanated the feeling of being at the seaside. All it lacked was a bit of sand.

With a little illusion, Aiesa used to take her daughters to breakfast on the beach in this very room. It had been heaven. Perhaps that’s why I’m drawn to California in the human realm.

Unable to avoid it any longer, Jade met her mother’s gaze.

Grasping her hand, Aiesa asked, “The fiery orange circle around your eyes is new. How long has the Fates’ curse been active?”

Icy fingers crawled up Jade’s spine, and her stomach churned with worry with her fears confirmed by her mother’s words.

      



Amy McKinley is a freelance writer and author. She lives in Illinois with her husband, their four talented teenagers, and three mischievous cats. Her debut novel, Hidden is the first in the Five Fates Series.




    



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57 comments :

  1. Thank you so much for hosting me! I'm happy to answer any questions and good luck in the drawing :)

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  2. I absolutely love book series! My question is what inspired you to write Hidden? Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.

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    1. I love them too, Samantha ;) What inspired me was a radio host talking about a celebrity having nightmares of all things. Totally weird but it sparked an idea that went in an entirely different direction. Which I'm sure you can tell because there aren't any celebrities in the story. And I really love mythology...it just kind of fell into place. (well, there were days I think I pulled my hair out or drove my cats crazy....) The second in the series will be released by Champagne Books in the spring--Layla's story.

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  3. The author lives in Illinois, likes cats, and likes Reese's peanut butter cup ice cream! This my kind of writer lol

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    1. LOL ;) Thanks, Laurie, sounds like we may have a few things in common! Good luck on the drawing.

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful series. Very unique.

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    1. Thank you, MomJane! I really hope you enjoy it. I'm having a great time writing it and I'm also excited for Layla's book to release in the spring. Good luck in the drawing!

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  5. Great excerpt and interview - thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thank you, Victoria! I hope you like Jade's story and good luck in the drawing :)

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  6. Enjoyed the interview and excerpt, sounds like a great book, thanks for sharing!

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    1. :) Thanks, Eva! Thank you so much and good luck in the giveaway :)

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    1. Thank you Havebook :) (LOVE the eye, very cool) Good luck in the drawing.

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  8. Thank you MomJane, Victoria, and Eva! I hope you all enjoy Jade's story and good luck on the drawing :)

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    1. Hi DJ :) Hmm, I'm not sure if its spooky. I have a hard time judging that aspect since I wrote it, lol. Good luck in the drawing and thanks you for stopping by, I do hope you enjoy Jade's story.

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  10. I enjoyed the interview. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Hi Ree, thank you! I hope you like the book and good luck in the drawing :)

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  11. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

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  12. Hi Mai. There are so many places that I'd love to travel! Right now I'd say Ireland. I'd love to see the castles there and in Scotland. Of course there are many places I'd like to go, but I'll start with there first, or else the list will be an entire paragraph!

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  13. Another new-to-me author. I enjoyed reading your interview and the excerpt today.

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    1. Hi Karen! So glad you enjoyed the interview and excerpt, I appreciate you stopping by. :) I hope you like Jade's story as well and good luck on the drawing!

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  14. Fun interview!

    --Trix

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  15. Hi Trix! Thanks for stopping by and reading the interview and excerpt. Good luck on the drawing :)

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  16. I enjoyed the excerpt and interview, thank you!

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  17. Thank you, Betty! I hope you enjoy the book as well and good luck on the drawing :)

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  18. Wow! What an interesting book! I love the whole thing with gods and demons! My question is: was it challenging in connecting and creating everything with all demons, gods, and prophecy? Did it take a lot of research? Also, loved the excerpt!

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    1. Hi Sabrina Joy! Great question. At times there were challenges. In the very beginning I just wrote until I realized I needed to do some research. I spent a fair amount of time looking things up online in multiple places and also reading through a few sections in books. I found connecting them fun and once it began to click together in my head and on paper it wasn't difficult. But there are always moments where little things will pop up and I'll spend hours playing around or researching. For example, I needed a new character that will come into play later and I spent an hour searching through various mythological beings trying to figure out who I wanted to fill the position and how I wanted to mold him. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing!

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    2. Wow! That's really awesome of you! That dedication and commitment will definitely show in your work and it'll definitely impress!

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    3. Thanks :) I hope so! It's fun and I really do enjoy it.

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  19. If you could travel anywhere for a month would you have a hard time choosing where to go ?

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    1. Hi Donna! Absolutely! I love the Caribbean. We've been to a few places and the beaches are amazing. Aruba was a lot of fun, Grand Cayman Island, and one or two others. There are some others I'd really like to go to as well. But Ireland and Scotland are also very high on my list. Visiting the castles and gorgeous countryside would be amazing. So yes, I'd have an extremely hard time choosing :) How about you?

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  20. The author's house with teenagers and 3 mischievious cats must be daunting at times. Cats are their own entertainment tho and fun to watch

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    1. Hi Katieoscarlet! It can be very hectic here with a house full of teens and I'm sure many have similar households. Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way. The other challenge is my office does not have a door. So it's a bit of a free for all when anyone needs/wants anything. Our cats are really funny with big personalities. Our smallest one, who rules the house, will climb on me when I'm trying to write in the mornings. :) Thanks so much for stopping by and good luck in the drawing!

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  21. What do you enjoy to do for hobbies?

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    1. Reading! I love to read. I used to love working out too and I know I'll enjoy it again if I can get back into the habit. :) I'd say writing too, but it's a little more than a hobby. (or at least I hope so!) Someday, I'm hoping to add traveling in there too. Thank you for stopping by and good luck in the drawing.

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  22. Looks like an interesting book ;)

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    1. Thanks, Simon! I appreciate you stopping by and good luck in the giveaway. :)

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  23. Well, you know, half a goddess is better than none.

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    1. Ha! So very true. I wouldn't mind that myself ;) Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing!

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  24. Wow, prize amazon gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. :) Pick me, pick me! Dear Santa: I’ve been nice. My X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest. Starving artist here desperately needs the gc to shop and eat. A life changing exp.

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  25. Do you get time for any hobbies or does writing take up a lot of your time?

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    1. Hi Judy! If I had my way writing would take up more of my time than it already does. But my family life is important too and that's where a majority of it is spent as well. My main hobby is reading and I make time when I'm able or when I really want to read a book. That's often! While I'm in the process of writing a book I try very hard to limit any reading to when the first draft of a book I'm working on is completed and then reward myself after with time to read. Thanks so much for stopping by and good luck in the drawing. :)

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    1. Thanks, Jessica! I hope you enjoy Jade's story and good luck in the drawing. :)

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  27. I enjoyed both the interview (I love Reese's Peanut Butter cups). and the excerpt. I've added the book to my book wishlist.

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    1. Hi Juana! Dangerous ice cream :) but so very good! Thanks so much and I hope you like Jade's story. Good luck in the giveaway!

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  28. I loved reading your excerpt! What made you decide to become an author?

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    1. Hi K Knudsen! I've always loved to write I just never thought I could turn it into a career. When I started working part time about five (maybe six?) years ago for a creative firm as a writer, I realized just how much I missed writing fiction. That's when I decided I wanted to become a writer and haven't looked back since! Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy Jade's story and good luck in the drawing. :)

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