I have an awesome guest blogger with me today–acclaimed Urban Fantasy romance writer, Jessa Slade. Jessa writes the Marked Souls Series, which has received many wonderful accolades from heavy-weight reviewers like Publisher’s Weekly and RT Book Reviews. I’m turning the blog right over to Jessa, so she can tell us about her latest book in the series.
First off, thank you, Vanessa, for giving me a chance to share my new story. My usual haunts have had enough of me 😉
Even though I write urban fantasy romance, which might seem like a far cry from Vanessa’s sizzling historical romances, EVERY character has a history. Moody broody bad boy wounded alpha male heroes often have more of a history than most. And since my heroes are immortal warriors whose long-ago sins left them vulnerable to possession by repentant demons… Yeah, they have a LOT of history.
In my first Marked Souls novel, SEDUCED BY SHADOWS, the hero, Archer, was possessed during the Civil War. In FORGED OF SHADOWS, Liam (no relation to Liam Neeson, except for the accent) fell to his dark burden shortly after the Irish Potato Famine. And in VOWED IN SHADOWS, ex-missionary Jonah walked out of early 20th century Africa minus his faith and plus one demon. In every time period, these men fought their darkness…and lost. Now they are battling for their chance at redemption.
In my latest Marked Souls novel, DARKNESS UNDONE, Sidney Westerbrook is a modern-day man, but as a demon researcher, he knows all about the history of evil, maybe even more than the men who lived it. The half-feral demon-possessed waif he finds wandering Chicago, however, has forgotten everything about her past. It’s a match made in… well, heaven or hell, pick one 🙂
As I research all the different time periods, looking for good times for men to fall prey to bad things, I bet you’re not surprised that every epoch has its darkness. What I find interesting, though, is that different times tend to have different flavors of darkness, and yet somehow the overall patina is very similar. It’s sort of like adding soy sauce to a stir fry; at first the tofu was white, the peapods were crispy, and the broccoli was stinky. After you add the soy sauce, then the disparate elements become one dish: demonic stir fry.
Maybe it’s because, really, despite the passing of centuries, men don’t change. And by “men,” of course, I mean “men.” 🙂 Pesky testosterone hasn’t altered its biochemical signature in a very long time. A moody broody bad boy is the same whether he is a duke or demon-ridden!
On the positive side, the struggle against darkness also continues unabated, and I’ll make sure my heroes never, ever give up the fight.
If you had to pick a time period to live in, which would it be? Medieval might eliminate hot showers (definitely an evil) but you do get real knights in shining armor. If you jumped forward, you’d have to battle death stars, but you’d do it with a hot spaceship captain at your side!
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Leave a comment for your chance to win a signed copy of DARKNESS UNDONE, a set of Marked Souls Romance Trading Cards, a music download card with the album containing the Marked Souls theme song, and a pair of earrings inspired by the storyworld. And everyone who stops by today can download a free copy of my science fiction romance novella, “Enslaved By Starlight,” in the HOTTER ON THE EDGE anthology. Just go to Smashwords and use coupon code UW37U, or download at Amazon, BN.com and other ebook retailers for 99¢. Thank you for reading!
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The war between good and evil has raged for millennia,
and as a powerful new enemy ascends,
the Marked Souls are pushed to the ragged edge…
Sidney Westerbrook has always studied darkness and damnation from a sensible distance. Now, to earn his place as a league Bookkeeper, he must discover why Chicago is such a battleground of soul-linked warriors. But the research becomes personal when he finds himself over his head and under attack — and at the mercy of a waif with demon-lit eyes and a deep yearning in her heart.
Alyce Carver has been alone longer than she can remember, battered by the living nightmares that haunt her city. Cornered by yet another gang of demons, she unwittingly joins forces with a handsome scholar who can salvage her past, and she in turn may be the key to his investigations. But she won’t let him go until he shows her everything she’s been missing.
What begins as an experiment in possession becomes a trial by desire so powerful it threatens both their lives, even as it binds their souls.
“Slade’s plot packs plenty of action…in a group of forceful personalities.”– Publishers Weekly
“[A] fish-out-of-water story that keeps a rapid pace, delivering a strong plot, enjoyable characters and a stunning world.” –RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Read Chapter 1 of DARKNESS UNDONE and find links to favorite bookstores.
Read the first chapters of all the Marked Souls novels at http://jessaslade.com
You can find Jessa online at:
http://twitter.com/JessaSlade
http://www.facebook.com/JessaSlade
http://www.goodreads.com/JessaSlade
http://www.pinterest.com/Jessaslade
Vanessa, here. Wonderful post, Jessa! And readers, talk about generous–great prizes Jessa is handing out today! So be sure to answer her question, and also check out the free download for her novella or find it at other e-tailers for only 99 cents!
Such HAWT covers in this series!
I don’t know what era I would want to live in except that I refuse to live in a time without running hot and cold water. Perhaps the near future, like 30 years from now? That way technology would be advanced but things will still seem familiar.
For me, it would be antibiotics and anesthesia!
I wouldn’t want to live without my contact lenses. I know that seems a little weird, but after I read a post-WWIII story when I was a kid where one of the characters broke his glasses and realized he’d never see clearly again, I was freaked out.
I’m going to be a total wuss & say NOW. I know what I’m in for, no nasty surprises. Well, apart from terrorists & anthrax scares etc etc.
Yep. I so hear you, Mary.
Every day is a surprise! Probably because I pay too much attention to politics 🙂
Maybe early 1900s? It’s a bit more ‘civilized’ then? 🙂 But still have some type of romantic elements to it?
Good choice! Maybe at Downton Abbey?
Downton Abbey needed more Colin Firth running around in a damp lawn shirt. JMO of course 😉
I would say now. I like all the technology and modern conveniences.
We love our mod cons!
I’m still using a computer running Windows 98! My mod cons are a little behind the times.
I think I would like to live in the 1950’s era. Everything seemed so layed back and friendly then.I would like to be a mother like June Cleaver(Leave it ti Beaver) or Marion Cunningham(Happy Days).
I think the 50’s were a very peaceful era in many ways, Gail. But I have a feeling that I would have gotten in a lot of trouble!
I agree, the world did seem more mellow. Plus, they had cute skirts.
I would like the chance to live in them all just to see the different ways of living
Sara, that is a very sensible approach!
Quantum Leap style! Great idea 🙂
There’s three time periods that are equally intriguing to me – 12th century when Robin Hood lived, medieval Firenze/Siena (around the 14th century), and the Victorian London period!! Actually, it depends on some conditions that I’ll be willing ot live in those days. For the first time period, I want to be part of Robin’s inner circle, to fight with him. That would be ideal, but if I were on of the commonfolk, then no can do. I will never live in that period. As for the second two, I want to be some lady or female-knight/assassin or something, just not some farmer’s daughter or beggar. :/ Lol, that would be kinda awful.
CYP, I hear on NOT wanting to be the beggar or farmer’s daughter!
My grandmother always complains about people with past life stories because she says nobody was ever a commoner. I know I’d rather be a princess!
Wow, sounds amazing. would love to win and the covers and steamy!
wow..if I had to pick a time period I would stay where I was now or not go back more than 10 years. I love technology, hot water
and plumbing too much to ever give them up. 🙂
What if you had a handsome man servant to carry your hot water? 😉
Cover is great and this sounds really awesome! thanks for the opportunity to win!
fingershankins@yahoo.com
Thanks for stopping by!
I think in the future would be my pick. Only because I would love to see what my great, great, great, great grandchildren would be like.lol
Since you are a romance reader, I’m sure your great great great grandchildren will be brave and beautiful, clever and kind. Romance is good for genetics 🙂
I’m leaning to the future too, Mary.
I would like to live in Renaissance England. The art and clothing are just so pretty!
Very rich and sumptuous, Karin!
I wonder if they properly appreciated their art in their own day.
I would choose the Victorian time period. I love the clothes!
Me too, Teresa! Although some styles more than others. The really big skirts didn’t do it for me.
You know how the fashion industry always says styles come back around? Maybe it’s good they don’t come back THAT far around 🙂
I would like to live in the 1920s (jazz, cool clothes and hair and makeup, rebellion!) or the 1950s (malt shops, happy suburban life, ladylike hair and clothes).
Great choices, Kelli!
I ADORE flapper dresses! Sequins and fringe are the best.
I’d most likely love living in the late 1800’s the most because i just love everything about it from the clothes to the way people acted.
Okay, I admit, I had to go look up some 1890s history to see what I missed 🙂 Some great books came out around that time: Dracula, The Jungle Book, The War of the Worlds, Sherlock Holmes, Heart of Darkness. Great stuff that stills stands the tests of time.
Gorgeous clothes, and a very interesting period of history, Amy.
Sounds like a great book. Love it when I find a new author. Thanks
And we love to find new readers! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I would say the current time period because there are so many good books to read and modern conveniences.
Man, I could live FOREVER and still not read all the good books I want!
I’d definitely want to jump forward if I could pick a time period to live in. I’d love to have a hot spaceship captain at my side! I’m so curious as to what life will be like in the future, it would be so great to be able to go forward in time.
Woo! Hot spaceship captains FTW!
I would jump forward. I would love to see what the future holds for us. The ability to move from point A to point B in nanoseconds, replace body parts, traveling to distant galaxies.
My BA is all about history and ancient civilizations so I would choose to go back in time. I think I would enjoy going back to the Old West. I grew up on a farm so I would know how to do many things from that period.
I am not sure that I would live in any other era than the current one. I like aspects of other time periods, but there are so many sacrifices that I would have to make. I am not sure I could make them.