ARC Review: Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

 

Mr. Real

by Carolyn Crane

Code of Shadows #1

 



Everyone knows that Alix is a good time gal who just wants to have fun and doesn't take anything seriously, so when loads an occult computer programme on to laptop that materialises anything you click on in 24 hours time, she decides to do a little shopping....a nice new necklace, a new outfit and a new man! Sir Kendall, a super spy from a liquer advert is just what she needs, someone to take charge and bonk her brains out and who just happens to look like the man she has a huge crush on. Paul Reinhardt has the sudden urge to go on a road trip to Minnesota, however, when he gets there he sees the woman he loves with the character he despises: Sir Kendall, his childhood tormentor. But what has Alix unleashed? Eachday Sir Kendall seems to get stronger and more dangerous and has plans for Paul and Alix....

WARNING!! This book gives you FALSE expectations! I have been clicking and clicking on pictures of Captain Mal Reynolds aka the sexy Nathan Fillion, and what do I have NOTHING but a slighty achy index finger, a bucket load of horny and a bumper pack of condoms (safe sex people!)....


*clicks picture of Cap'n Reynolds...you never know*

But despite my ruthlessly smashed hopes of sexual bliss I loved this book! it was funny, touching, full of complex characters and an interesting storyline. It was also such a medley of genres, suspense, paranormal, romance, spy, thriller that it felt fresh and completely unique.

What Ms Crane seems to do best is create characters that you wouldn't normally expect; Alix at the beginning of the book, although likable and fun, was also a bit ditsy and used sex to reinforce her self esteem but throughout Mr Real she grew into something so much more and Sir Kendall, who was a two dimensional, cheesy super spy from an advert became interesting and dangerous, and it is sad but fascinating to watch him questioning his own existence as he realises something isn't quite right.

*clicks again and peeks out window*

As well as great characters this book also drew you in with its humour and the sweet 'n sexy romance going on between Alix and Paul. Paul was so adorable and I loved that everything that Sir Kendall thought was horrid about Alix Paul seemed to love, the way she dressed, the way she joked it really came through that everything about Alix made Paul love her more and more and brought him happiness, even if he didn't want it to.

*clicks frantically on PDF of Mal accidently knocking the condoms on the floor*

This was a great book with a winning combination of romance, fun and great storytelling, Carolyn Crane has once again come up with a quirky and strangely moving series and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

*ARGH! Damn you Carolyn Crane *shakes first*....wait what was that noise....*

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Author Override: Carolyn Crane

Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.

Hidden in the backgrounds of book covers…

When I was first discussing the cover for Mr. Real with my cover artist, Earthly Charms I had found this really cool wall paper pattern I wanted to use for the background. Colorful and grungy and just cool looking. I showed it to her, and she was almost horrified. I couldn’t have that be the background! It had nothing to do with the book.

Those words really stuck with me We had this whole back and forth about how backgrounds needed to be meaningful, and say something about the story. I kind of got into it, and we eventually found the house, pictured below, to use. Because it’s the key place in the story, and full of mystery, and almost another character.

What’s funny is that, back when the artist was doing Mind Games, I was asked by Spectra for ideas on the background. I suggested a turnpike that looks like a rollercoaster (the Tangle!). I even sent them some twisty rollercoaster pictures and they did a really nice job with it. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I thought maybe they just didn’t have any good backgrounds laying around the office or something.

Since then, I’ve been really getting into backgrounds of book covers, especially paranormal and urban fantasy ones. The different things the artist and/or writer choose to portray.

Sometimes I look at the backgrounds more than the people in the foreground.

I love the backgrounds on this series! This is a beautiful Victorian London look, and there’s all that fire, because, of course, Miranda has power over fire. It’s also moody in feel, for a fabulously moody book. These backgrounds are significant and powerful.

I love the way the Tiki theme comes alive here in this background, because of course, the main character owns a Tiki bar. And in general, there’s much magic in the air here. I couldn’t remember why the stairs were there, so I tweeted Jenn and asked her. She said: “the stairs heading down to Tambuku Tiki Lounge, like, symbolically? Underground/demon-friendly haven/underworld. Hidden.” I love that. Backgrounds are where it’s at!

This is a fabulous background, set in a future New York gone wrong. I love the way the street is torn up. You know when that street is torn up, there’s trouble!

Laura Bickle’s fabulously frightening YA about an Amish girl who fights vampires. This background captures the forebodingness as it becomes clear all is not well with the world. I’m a sucker for animals in backgrounds, too, and here are the crows. They were kind of the first to sound the alarm. Also, I personally feel the brightest part of the cover being by Katie’s heart is no coincidence. Since it went so well asking Jenn about the underground thing, I asked Laura about the cap she holds. Laura’s own take: “I think that it's kind of symbolic of her faith. Hanging on and it slipping away.” Hmmm!! Laura also supplied this link to the full art. Even cooler!

http://blot.com/post/20865515379/the-hallowed-ones

I so love this background. This is a high adventure romance, book #2 in the Iron Seas series. It’s a unique background, because you have the hero, Archimedes Fox, looking out through the whole metal/rivet & gears thing. The airship in the background is key, though, because they ride around on lots of airships and drop into dangerous places. The balcony behind him is presumably an airship balcony, suggesting something unseen below. I think the storm clouds are also purposeful.

This background captures the plot of this book so neatly – the heroine, Jennifer, accidentally opens a kind of gate and finds herself sucked into an ultra-enchanted fae realm where she herself has dangerous powers. I also love how sparkly the area around her is. The sparkles center on the heroine. In my mind, that’s no accident. I asked Jeffe if she saw anything else special. “I also love how his hand from the back is kind of translucently moving through her,” Jeffe says.

Okay, now I wish I’d asked all these authors for extra commentary. This is so interesting. Do all authors think about backgrounds so much? Anyway, I’m so focused on paranormal backgrounds these days. It’s kind of fun!!
 

 

The woman of his dreams…with the secret agent of his nightmares

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the hot martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class a few years ago.

Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall – in the flesh – with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness – somehow.

But is super spy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?

 

About the Author:

Carolyn Crane is the author of the Disillusionists trilogy and assorted novellas. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two cats, and works a day job as a freelance writer. During rare moments when she’s not at her computer, she can be found reading in bed, running, or helping animals. 

website: http://authorcarolyncrane.com/
twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolynCrane
blog - http://thethrillionthpage.blogspot.com/
fb: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.crane2

So, what book background do you love?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Mr. Real!
 



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Interview and Giveaway with Carolyn Crane

Maidens, we are extremely happy to have here today a favorite UTC author, Carolyn Crane.  Her Disillusionist series is a must read for UF lovers.  The heroine, Justine, was Suzanne's favorite heroine of 2011!  Now lets meet the fabulous author behind the amazing books!

Tell us 5 things about you that will shock, scare, surprise or amuse us!

I have a boiler engineer’s license
It’s actually expired now, but I carry it around anyway because it’s hilarious, because I am the most non-mechanical person you would ever meet. My husband and I used to own a condo in this ancient building, and the city law said one resident had to have a license to operate this giant old steam boiler we’d all have to pay all this money to a company. So my oboist neighbor girl and I studied really hard and took the test. Neither of us were mechanically inclined, but we got an enormous amount of humor mileage out of terms like “draining the tri-cock.” And we both passed the test. I don’t know how I ever got this license - I can barely understand how a boiler works. It’s good that there were never any emergencies that required a boiler engineer there.

In the disillusionists, the character who is my stand-in is Cubby
I think most writers, in their work, have a character who is kind of them. I think lots of people might imagine it’s Justine for me, but really, I’m Cubby. I have a charmed life, I am optimistic, I see the sunny side of everything. Badness shocks me. I’m a bit oblivious and careful.

The first drafts of the Disillusionists were entirely handwritten - all three books
I used to write really slowly, and I was fussy about my pens, and would have specific music. And then I would type the stuff in and print out the pages and revise by hand. I can’t believe I got the books done as fast as I did. I’ll still write by hand if something requires deep thought, but today I write onto the computer. Once unthinkable to me!!

I write super smutty stuff under a pen name that was secret until last week
I love writing hot, so I got the idea to do a fun side project where I make up a secret pen name (Annika Martin) and write the most dirty stuff I could think of. But keep it mostly secret because I worried about putting off Carolyn Crane readers, and what my family and freelance clients would say, etc. I’m not this thrillingly bold person. Anyway it got too weird and stupidly wink-wink to keep it a secret, so now I’m just being out with it, which is a big thing for me. It will be a problem with some people in my life, but I’m glad it went this way. I think it’s a good exercise for a worrywart like me to let the chips fall where they may. Like my reckless character Simon always says!

Cats rule my life
Seriously, every bit of my life is ruled by cats. My husband and I make them really elaborate foods, like tonight they ate a mixture of raw bison, raw chicken, sweet potato and pureed veggies. And after dinner every night, my husband and I a lot of times sit for a few minutes and talk about how cute the cats are. We are TOTAL dorks. Also, can you tell we don’t have kids?

Now that the Disillusionist series has ended what are your plans? Do we have another series to look forward to?

Yes! Actually two.

Spy Paranormal Romance book #1: MR. REAL: This is the series of my heart - I prolly shouldn’t go around saying that in case people hate it, but it is. The first book is entitled Mr. Real. I’m self publishing it. It’s weird and hot and wild.

Dark Forest: My UF adventure series, more of a traditional UF. It’s on the humorous and sexier side, and takes place in northern Wisconsin. Kind of a rural gothic book where even the deer heads on the walls of the rustic supper club look vaguely vampiric. Contains one of my favorite heroes I ever wrote. It’ll be bit more until that’s out.

Describe the Disillusionist series in 3 words!

Plotty, psychological, quirky.

What drew you do writing Urban Fantasy, has any author in particular inspired you?

Laurell K. Hamilton inspired me. I just remember reading her Anita Blake series and feeling so breathlessly excited about it. I loved the magic, and the mystery, and the men. It just seemed to contain everything I wanted in a book.

Urban fantasy seems full of possibilities to me.

What I loved about your Disillusionist trilogy was that everyone was painted in shades of grey, no one seemed to entirely be a "good" or "bad" guy, especially Otto and Packard, how hard was this to write, especially with how the trilogy ended?

Oh thanks!! That is something that is so important to me and it means a lot that you’d point it out. One of my idols, F. Scott Fitzgerald, once said that [huge paraphrase here] an author should be able to argue both sides of an issue or dilemma in a book, or else it’s boring. That’s an idea I take to heart. And really, I get a little bored when I read a book where the hero is only bad and the heroine is only good. And as a writer, that bores me, too. So, to answer your question, letting things be a bit gray makes my job more fun and interesting.

But really, the whole bit with [my bad guy], and the way the trilogy ended, I felt deeply mournful about him. [my bad guy] is such a tragic figure to me. It was important to me to allow him at least a bit of redemption there at the end.

What inspired Midcity and the Disillusionist series, was it something you had on your mind, or something that you carefully planned?

A lot of ideas start with “what if” scenarios, and mine sure did. I had just read a super depressing book, and it made me feel bad. Disillusioned with life. I thought, if I had an enemy, I would give them this book as a gift, so that they could feel as disillusioned as I did. And then I thought, what if there were people who actually did that? Psychologically attacked people? What it if was a hit squad? When I got that hook, I was reading Laurell K. Hamilton at the time, and I thought, this could be urban fantasy plot.

Justine had a bad case of hypochondria, and her friends all have their own issues. Did you have to do any research in to those neurosis to help write your characters?

No! LOL. It’s all just imagining. I went through a time of being freaked out about my health - not like Justine, but enough to be able to imagine how debilitating it would be to have the extreme version of that. Or, to be extremely angry, extremely paranoid. I think we all contain enough of those things - and know enough people - to fill in the blanks.

If you had to chose a couple from a different series for Packard and Justine to go on a double date, which couple would you chose and what would they do?

Hah! Great question. Well, I love Clay and Elena from Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. It might be nice for them to go to a country house for a weekend. I think Packard and Clay would get along well, as would Justine and Elena. Clay and Elena could run around while Packard and Justine lounged. Then they could make sumptuous dinners together.

If you were a member of the Disillusionist gang, what neurosis would you use to zing people?

Snort. I have this thing where, as soon as I leave the house, I think I might have left the stove on, or that I might have forgotten to lock the door and I have to go back and look. Sometimes twice! I suppose that’s a touch of OCD. But, that would really mess up a criminal, don’t you think? To zing them with it?

Do you have your own personal Gumby? If you do, what position would he be in right now?

I have no Gumby! I mean to get one. Though, actually my cat would destroy it. But, he’d be…middling. I have to go exercising soon and totally don’t want to.

Thank you so much for stopping by Carolyn!!

Author Bio:
I’m a writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and two daring cats.  I work a day job as a freelance advertising writer, and have for years. I’ve also waited tables at a surprising number of Minneapolis restaurants and bars (though not as many, incidentally, as my writer husband has). I’ve also been a shop clerk and a plastics factory worker, which I was dismal at (think I Love Lucy).
Also, I can relate almost any life experience to one or another Star Trek episodes, and if you invite me to your party, your cheese plate will be in grave danger.  During rare moments when I’m not at my computer, I can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food.

Stalk Her:
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Ms. Crane is giving away a choice of her backlist.  You can choose print or ebook copy of 

Mind Games or Double Cross or ebook of Devil's Luck or Head Rush. 

Open internationally.

 Read Our Reviews:

Mind Games | Double Cross | Head Rush | Devil's Luck

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Review: Devil's Luck by Carolyn Crane

Devil's Luck

by Carolyn Crane

(The Disillusionists # 3.5)

Simon's crazy recklessness is what made him a Disillusionist, no gamble is too small for him, no risk to big to take, all in his effort to defy fate, a fate that would have had him die 13 years earlier. Fawna is caged with her knowledge of the future and Simon's devil-may-care fuck you attitude to fate both fascinates and repels her, she longs to be free of her cage as Simon seems to be free of his. But Fawna has seen the death that awaits in Simon's future is desparate to stop it.

The Disillusionist Trilogy was one of my favourite series last year, they were original and fun with an array of quirky characters. None quirkier then Simon, he isn't your typical hero, his reckless headlong stumbling from high to low, to having lots and losing everything, his irresponsibility isn't normally a trait attributed to our heroes. But his charisma pours off the pages and I am so glad he got a novella of his own! Fawna was also another quirky one, she is weird and wacky but wonderful and although a lot of heroines with a nasty past such as hers would be down with the brooding, she has decided to embrace her new life.

As with the Disillusionist Ttrilogy the writing is fantastic, it draws you in, it is very emotive making you feel like you are right their experiencing everything with the characters. Although this is a fairly short novella, a lot is packed in without it feeling rushed and it leaves me desperately waiting to see what Carolyn Crane will write next!

Favourite Quotes:

No doubt he chose those jeans specifically for their butt-hugging abilities. He probably practiced that hug-promoting movement in the mirror.

***

"Maybe it's my magic wong. Does wonders for the ladies."

***

"Sometimes," Packard said, "having nothing to lose is something to lose"

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Head Rush by Carolyn Crane

Head Rush

by Carolyn Crane

(The Disillusionists Trilogy # 3)

What a terrific end to the series! This has been one the quirkiest Urban Fantasy books I have read, Carolyn Crane has created such an original world, full of bizarre and lovable characters, from the bad guy I just can't seem to hate to the villainous good guy. If you haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend that you rush out now and get Mind Games the first in the Disillusionist Trilogy.

Every time Justine remember Avery, her best friend Shelby's boyfriend being shot she get a pounding headache and a feeling everything is quite right. But how could things be wrong? Her fiancee the heroic Mayor or Midcity, Otto Sanchez loves her, would do anything for her, so why can't she stop thinking of Packard, the man she saw murdering Avery in cold blood?

They way Double Cross ended left me desperate to read this book, I love that it managed to surprise me and yet still keep all the actions completely within character. And despite all the evil things that were done by Otto, I still couldn't bring myself to dislike him, ever hear the saying "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"? That is what he brings to mind, he wanted to save Midcity but seeting loose sleepwalking cannibals is just not the way to do it. This is another aspect I love about this trilogy, the character aren't just "good" and "bad" they all have a little bit of both and all extremely wacky.

As the last book in the series I have to comment on how it finished, and I did like it, it was nice and neat, maybe a little too neat, but as a gal that loves a happy ending I was satisfied. However, I did find that this book moved slowly but then suddenly at the end all the action explodes around you; I prefer it to be more evenly paced. But this book was good at piling up the tension and paranoia as we read, not knowing who knows what and what can happen next, so although the action was at the end, I still loved every word until that point.

I have really enjoyed this series and watching Justine going from barely-functioning-hypochondriac to a take-charge woman not afraid to stand up for who and what she believes in has been a fantastic roller coaster through the weird journey. These are books that are staying in my keeper shelf and I will be looking for more of Carlyn Crane's work in the future.

Favourite Quotes

I think it's probably not the healthiest thing in the world for a couple to pretty much only have role-playing sex, but there's nothing like the dirty fun of role-playing sex to take a girl's mind off of that.

****

I have the awful thought that most deaths in real life probably are just like this. Nonheroic. Just people up against a wall.

****

It feels so good to see him, just plain old good. Like a simple daisy atop a mountain of angst.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

Double Cross

by Carolyn Crane

(The Disillusionist Trilogy #2)

What. A. Book. I really loved it. I thought the first book was great, but Double Cross builds on the foundations laid by Mind Games. Justine is still stuck as a minion to Packard, but is determined to find a way out, meanwhile a trio of murderers called the Dorks are targeting highcaps and shooting them in the street. Then there is the matter of all the highcap criminals locked up by Justine's boyfriend the Mayor and hero of MidCity Otto Sanchaz, but are they really all guilty? Justine begins to question this as she finds herself on a mission to disillusion an unlikely cannibal.

This was such an exciting book, especially the second half when everything is brought together, I found I couldn't put the book down! The plot was interesting and I kept turning the pages as I couldn't wait to see what would happen next; what new twist would be revealed. I now can't wait to get my hands on the third and final book in the trilogy Head Rush, especially after how it ended, that was a complete shocker! I am glad I am not one the readers who had to wait for so long for the next book to come out.

Justine Jones, the main characters, is one of the reasons I like this book so much, she is funny, insightful and her constant questioning of things around her keeps the book interesting and progressing at a fast pace. Although I did find that the first half of the book was a little slow, especially compared with the latter half, I still enjoyed every page.

Now, what I really, really liked about this book was the Justion-Packard-Otto situation, I am not a love triangle fan, but this triangle is keeping me on my toes. So many unexpected things happen between them and some dark secrets are revealed. What makes this book doubly intriguing for me is that the villains and the heroes swap places, the role of who is good and who is bad is distorted in this book, something that not only adds to the depth of the characters but also keeps the book fairly unpredictable, no one quite does what you expect them to do.

I highly recommend this series to everyone, if you love mystery, contemporary, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, this book has a little something for everyone.