CHOSEN BY SIN Virtual Book Tour: Virna DePaul

 

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.

Welcome to stop #6 in my blog tour For Chosen By Sin (Para-Ops #3).

Thank you to Under The Covers Book Blog for having me here today!  This tour focuses on my writing and my paranormal series, but also my Twelve Resolutions for 2012, as well as the resolutions of my hero in Chosen By Sin, werebeast Dex Hunt. Those of you who know Dex know he's a bit...difficult, so I'm curious to see what he comes up with. (Psst: Dex doesn't actually know it, but his “resolutions” are more like a Twelve-Step Program designed by me to get him to his HEA).

I'll be giving away a prize to one commenter from this blog stop, but I'm also giving away one grand prize to one blog tour follower.  See the giveaway details below! :)

The Para-Ops Series: Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and Otherborn—humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.  (Chosen By Blood (Book 1), Chosen By Fate (Book 2))

So what's Resolution #6 for me? 
Look Presentable In The Morning

Seriously.  First thing in the morning, I get my kids ready for school.  After (maybe) showering and brushing my teeth and throwing on something comfortable (i.e., sweats are usually involved), I drive them to school then head back home.  Usually, I'll start writing or catching up with other business.  Next thing I know, it's time to pick up the kids or someone comes to the door and I still look like I rolled out of bed, and not in a good way!  I've pretty much mastered stealth maneuvering so I won't run into anyone I know at these times.    

And what's Resolution #6 for Dex Hunt?

Here's a hint from Chosen By Sin. 

Until recently, the term f*** buddy had never meant anything to Dex. He’d always f***** for sheer pleasure—to receive it and to give it—but lately other needs drove him. With Lucy, his drive was friendship disguised with practicality. With Jes, his desire was driven by something alarmingly primal. Not just seeking pleasure for pleasure’s sake, but more like seeking to appease an intense, gnawing need.

With each hour that passed, he had to fight the urge to go to her. To take what he’d actually been prepared to take when he’d pushed her into that damn elevator. To give part of himself he’d never been tempted to give anyone else.

Physically and emotionally.

Hell, he hadn’t known what he wanted to do most—mark Jes with his scent and his seed, or beg her to hold him while telling him everything about her.

How was that for bat-s*** crazy?

Since he couldn’t afford even a temporary case of insanity, he’d managed to refrain from doing any of that.

Which meant for now, a f*** buddy was all he was going to be.

No one can accuse Dex of disloyalty, but the dude needs to get a clue.  Other relationships change once love enters the picture.  And I'd say this type of friendship is certainly a great example.  Sorry, Lucy, but Dex's 6^th resolution is to commit himself, including sexually, to the woman he loves.

Want to see a trailer I made depicting the Para-Ops characters as I see them?  Dex is particularly yummy!  Here's the link: http://on.fb.me/z6Z8nI

Bio: Virna DePaul is a former prosecutor and now national bestselling author of the Para-Ops Novels. She also writes contemporary romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (It Started That Night, May 2012) and HQN (Shades Of Desire, June 2012).

Blurb for Chosen By Sin:

The longest life isn’t always the happiest one…

For now, werebeast Dex Hunt serves on the Para-Ops team, but his true purpose is to kill the werewolf leader he blames for his mother’s death. Biding his time, Dex keeps his emotional distance from his team members and anyone else he might care for, including a mysterious vampire he met in L.A.

As a doctor, vampire Jesmina Martin has dedicated her immortal life to healing others. As a scientific researcher, she’s trying to prolong life spans, in particular those of her adoptive dragon-shifter family and the werewolf who saved her as a child. Her greatest hope lies with Dex, a werebeast she believes can gift immortality to others.

Only Dex knows nothing about his gift or the fact Jesmina wants to harness it. After a passionate night together neither expects to see the other again. Weeks later, they are reunited in France and forced to acknowledge a fragile miracle—a new life struggling to survive. At the same time, they must stop a group of rebel shape-shifters hoping to unleash every demon in hell. But before Dex and Jesmina can save their child or the world, they must relinquish their secrets, face their fears, and open themselves to love.

OUR REVIEW

Purchase:

E-version ($4.99)

Amazon: http://t.co/SE2EAgR

Barnes and Noble: http://t.co/UW5P73o

Paperback ($7.99)

Amazon: http://fb.me/19XPRKYX3

Daily Blog Tour Giveaway: Today, Virna is gifting one book from her backlist (prize winner's choice, see backlist here) to one randomly selected commenter who either leaves a comment on the blog, or a question for Virna to answer. Please also include your email addy.

GRAND PRIZE TOUR GIVEAWAY: What was Dex's "resolution" that Virna talked about today? Do you know the answer? Fantastic!!  Because...

Virna is also gifting a $100 Amazon gift card to one randomly selected reader who leaves the answer to this question during the blog tour.  Go to: http://chosenbysin.com/virtual-tour-grand-prize  You can be entered to win the grand prize once each day by simply following the tour from January 9 - 20, and leaving your answer with each day's different resolution!!

Virna is also offering autographed copies of CHOSEN BY SIN for purchase during this blog tour.  To purchase an autographed copy, please visit http://chosenbysin.com.

Follow The Tour:


1/09/12 - The Qwillery
1/10/12 - Paranormal Haven
1/11/12 - The Book Reading Gals
1/12/12 - The Jeep Diva
1/13/12 - Book Lovers Inc.
1/14/12 - Under The Covers Book Blog
1/15/12 - Books and Kisses
1/16/12 - Nocturne Reads
1/17/12 - Happily Ever After Reads 
1/18/12 - Lush Book Reviews
1/19/12 - Hanging with Bells
1/20/12 - Ramblings From This Chick

ARC Review: Chosen by Sin by Virna DePaul

3.5 Feathers

Chosen by Sin

by Virna DePaul

(Para-Ops # 3)

After not enjoying the second book Chosen by Fate as much as I expected to, I have been pleasently surprised by this one! Focusing on Dex Hunter the werebeast of the Para Ops team he starts to look into the mysterious shapeshifters, the most persecuted species of Other, they are being connected to strange killings and the raising of dark spirits. With the help of Jesmina Martin, the mysterious vampire from Chosen by Fate, will they be able to stop what the shapeshifters are planning, the unleashing of hell on Earth...

So far this has been my favourite book in the series and Dex and Jes are my favourite couple. They both have dark pasts and a lot of emotional baggage to work through before they are able to move forward. If you like your H/h to.be full of tortured heroes and their equally angsty heroines you will love this book. This also seemed to give you a glimpse into the next book, hopefully about Lucy. When I first started this series Wraith was my favourite but as the series has gone along, surprisingly it is the quiet, loyal and compassionate feline mage, Lucy, that has now become my favourite, I really can't wait to read her well deserved HEA.

The case with the shapeshifters was also interesting to read about, although this was more romance driven then the other two book, the plot seemed to take a backseat to the love story, it still held my interest. But it was the development of the overarching plot of this series that I really enjoyed, I really can't wait to see what will happen with the Quorum and with Zeph.

Although I don't think this will become a favourite series it is an enjoyable read filled with enough sex and violence to hold my interest! 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Chosen by Fate by Virna DePaul

 

 

Chosen by Fate

by Virna DePaul

(Para-Ops # 2)

Wraith was woke up 10 years ago, dead. With no memories of her life before she woke up and every touch causing her pain she joins the Para Ops team in exchange for help searching for her past. But her time is running out, all wraiths die in their 11th year and she still has no idea who she is. She doesn't want Caleb O'Flare to get too close, he reaches past the ever present pain and offers her pleasure making her long for something other then the peace of finally being able to die.

I was looking forward to this book, Wraith was one of my favourite characters in Chosen By Blood, she has an attitude and kicks ass, what's not to love? So I was a little disappointed in this book. I wanted to like it but I just didn't feel the connection between Caleb and Wraith, and as the book went on the push and pull of their relationship did start to annoy me, they would get close, Wraith would say something nasty to push Caleb away, he would back off, rinse and repeat.

However, I did like seeing the development of the main story and I can't wait to see what will happen, especially with Zeph, a double agent and Knox's (the hero of the first book) brother. The story arc for this book was about a sudden rash of date rapes perpetrated on feline weres, I thought the investigation was quite interesting but was completely spoiled by the conclusion, it was just so...strange and illogical and the story got a little vague from there.

The next book is about Dex Hunt, the werewolf of the Para Ops team, and I am looking forward to it, he showed such a sweet and caring side in this book, especially toward Lucy and I would really like to see his HEA. 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Chosen by Blood by Virna DePaul

Chosen by Blood

by Virna DePaul

(Para-Ops # 1)

I have such mixed feelings on this book. Some parts I thought were really good, others seemed a little confused and under developed and some bits just annoyed the bloody hell out of me.

Knox is one of the few healthy vampires around. During the civil war between humans and vampires the humans released a vaccine that renders human blood void inedible to vampires. But with Knox being a dhampire, half human half vampire, starvation doesn't effect him as quickly as his pure blood kin. Now the civil war is over and he is clan leader of his group of vampires and he will do anything to get an antidote for the anti-vamp vaccine which is slowly killing off his family, his race, even agree to head a new Para Ops team, a mixture of hand picked Others and humans. There first mission, find the antidote.

Agent Felicia Locke has been in love with Knox since she first saw him and he has felt the same way, however, he was married to her best friend. However, her friend has died and they are now working together on the Para Ops team, but Knox, as clan leader, still has the duty to marry a vampire bride so help repopulate his race, a duty he can not put aside even for Felicia

This was a brand new experience for me, I liked the general story, the world being created and even most the characters, but what I didn't like? The romance. Knox and Felicia's romance just managed to annoy me, I complete understood why Felicia wouldn't be with Knox, he was going to marry someone else for the express purpose of knocking her up, all in a very honorable and selfless way of course, and then she would be his bit on the side. Clearly in the hundreds of years the Knox has been alive he hasn't gotten to know human women very well. Unfortunately this didn't endear me to him, and despite him obviously being crazy in love with Felicia and her with him, I just didn't feel any enthusiasm for their HEA.

However, I did like the other guys in the team, especially Wraith the wraith, I really can't wait to read more about her, she kick ass and invulnerable to death, yet the most vulnerable person on the team, I loved watching the sparks fly with her and O'Flare. This was another great aspect of the book, I loved seeing all the team together and fuse into a unit, I don't think they all entirely trust each other yet and I can't wait to see what happens next with all of them.

The world building was also interesting and one of the things I liked about this book. Others are basically all paranormal creatures, so weres, vampires, wraiths and mages, and they have recently "come out" in America, and this has caused a few civil wars. The civil wars mentioned was one of the things I thought weren't explained very well, was the civil war between humans and vamps or humans and all Others, or was it every race against every race? This wasn't fully explained, or if it was I didn't catch it.

But, one part that was explained very well, and in juicy detail? The sex. It was hot! Ms DePaul writes some great erotic scenes, Knox may have annoyed me, but I reckon he could screw that right outta me, the dhampire has skills! What did bug me was when they got all hot and bothered at such silly times! Picture it. You are sat in the freezing cold, on hostile territory, you hear an enemy vehicle approaching, what do you do? Do you make out like teenagers, or do you keep your eyes on the road looking out for the people with big guns? Well if you are Knox and Felicia, clearly it is option one and you have a quick tonsil tennis session. *rolls eyes*

Despite my seemingly endless complaints about this book, I did enjoy the story and the characters, even if the romance wasn't as good as I hoped it will be. I will definitely be reading the next book to see what happens with my favourite Para Ops team! 

Puirchase Links: Amazon

Review: Wraith's Awakening by Virna De Paul

3.5 Feathers

Wraith's Awakening

by Virna DePaul

(Para-Ops #0.5)

Urban Fantasy

Quick read, this prequel is a perfect introduction to the world of the Para-Ops series. The main character of this story, Wraith, is a blue-skin ... well... wraith. She's just awakened, doesn't know what's happened to her, doesn't even remember her name.

Even in such a crazy situation (she awakens naked in a dumpster) she still manages to have a pretty good attitude. I love her sense of humor, personality and pop culture references.

She ends up trusting a vampire, Colt, who is also a bit down on his luck and a few pints short on blood.

We learn just a bit of their world and how things work. But her life is starting off from here.

You can download this free prequel here.