Author Names: Bellora Quinn and Angel MartinezBook Name: Kellen’s Awakening
Series: AURA Book: Three
Series should be read in order
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Pages or Words: 69,000 words
Categories: Alternate Universe, Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis
Blurb:
The staff at AURA has had a busy summer. Between chronic understaffing, dealing with warring goblin factions and an unusual number of hazardous Events, everyone is overworked. Sinistrus the incubus, newly hired as an AURA medic, actually enjoys his busy new life of responsible employee and faithful lover to his gorgeous police sergeant, Ness the centaur. Life would be perfect, except for a niggling suspicion about a colleague. Everyone else seems to disagree, but Sin’s certain something’s not right with that pixie.
Kellen, a pixie crossover, loves his job working in AURA medical, even if he is something of an outsider. His job and the friends he manages to make are happy spots in an otherwise dark and secretive life. As the rest of AURA tries to discover the root of the inexplicable rise in violence and large scale Events, Kellen fights to preserve his own life and what dignity he has left.
These two unlikely heroes must put their differences aside and navigate tragedy and ever-escalating disaster together in order to stop the sinister forces that hold Kellen in thrall.
Excerpt:
“Before Kai gets lost in regaling you with wedding details…” Tenzin settled, then grunted as several flower fairies immediately popped into view around his head to land on his shoulders. “Our lovely Sin, now that we’re among friends and not at work, can you tell me why you insist on tormenting Kellen so terribly?”
“Oh, I dunno.” Sin picked up a spicy fried mushroom with his claws and popped it in his mouth. “I think I’m pretty good at tormenting him.”
Ness nudged him. “Be serious, love. Why do you pick on him? Even I’ve seen it.”
“Look, I just don’t like everyone, okay?” Sin spread his hands when everyone gave him side eyes. “Took me a bit to warm up to Val, right?”
“You had good reason to be angry with Val,” Ness said as he reached for an oat muffin. “I don’t think Kellen ever actually caused you harm.”
Sin heaved a dramatic sigh. “Fine. He’s absolutely useless as a paramedic.”
“Not everyone is suited for emergency field medicine,” Tenzin said gently.
Ness leaned over to kiss the top of Sin’s head. “You are because you’re brave and don’t stop to think.”
“Hey!” Sin swatted at an equine flank.
Oh, dear. I didn’t mean it that way.” Ness flushed darkly while the others laughed. “You don’t overthink. When someone needs help, you just do instead of overanalyzing. Not everyone can be that sort of heroic.”
“Good recovery.” Sin grinned up at his flustered lover. “Yeah, I get it. He’s not the first responder kind. But the little guy’s just sneaky. He doesn’t look people in the eye. He flinches at the weirdest times. I don’t trust him.”
Tenzin frowned as he ladled vegetable panang onto a plate and set it in front of Kai. “Eat, beloved, before you waste away. About Kellen. I believe it’s deep-seated trauma, something so terrible that he doesn’t want to have to talk about it, since that would mean acknowledging it.”
“Tenzi’s so often right about these sorts of things.” Kai took up his fork, toying with his food rather than eating yet. “But this time, I have to disagree. There is something uneasy about him. Something beyond old fears.”
“You hardly see him thirty seconds out of any week,” Tenzin protested. “What could you possibly base this on?”
“Ah, love. A drow knows deception. There’s something not quite right about that pixie.”
Buy the book: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/kellens-awakening
Review:
The book is third in a series, all set in the same world, which is basically modern day New York City, but at a time when certain 'events' have snatched fairytale creatures out of their own world and dropped then into ours. The 'creatures' have banded together and have created their own little world-within-a-world where they live together in - sometimes uneasy - harmony.
I, as usual, jumped into the series with this book and haven't read either of the previous books. It was obvious from reading it that there were previous books, as some things were assumed rather than explained. This in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the book and it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
I never rehash the story, because the blurb does that and I don't think I need to rehash. Besides, the story is complex and it would take too long.
There are an incredibly rich cast of characters from pixies to drows to centaurs and even a yeti. If you ever wondered how centaurs would fare in having sexual relations with a human this book goes a long way to answer that - although Sin is not exactly human.
The story starts gently but speeds up very quickly and there is one crescendo after another. Sometimes brutal and always honest the book has light parts, funny parts and sweet parts that serve to contrast the dark parts nicely.
I fell in love with many of these characters, which in certain cases was a mistake - but we won't go into that. I also fell in love with their world, and I am definitely going back to read the earlier books.
I can't think of any negatives, although there are bound to be some because no book is ever perfect. I'm still in the afterglow of reading so everything is surrounded by a rosy glow, and seems perfect.
I loved this book. I loved everything about it - the characters, the story and the world it's set it. If you like contemporary fantasy, this is an absolute must read!
Interview:
Let’s start by telling us, in twenty words, or less, what your book’s about.
Two unlikely heroes put their differences aside and face disaster to stop the sinister forces that hold Kellen in thrall.
What was it that led you to write in the genre(s) you write?
I think anyone who writes in a specific genre starts out loving reading that genre. That's certainly the case with me and my love for urban fantasy. I love the limitless possibilities, the 'what ifs', the idea that there may be a whole other world around us that only a few can see.
Are your books character led or plot led, or both?
I think they lean more toward character led. I love books where you really get to know and love the characters and so I spend a lot of time giving insight into their thoughts and feelings while they are navigating the plot.
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
I like the very early stages best, where anything can happen and I'm just getting to know the characters. I think because I write with co-authors that this is even more intense, the bouncing around of ideas and developing them. It's so much fun.
What is your least favourite part of the writing process?
Has anyone ever answered this question with editing? I bet no one answers that, right? Seriously though, editing just about kills me every time.
Where do you get your inspiration for your characters?
A song. A person walking by. Thinking about what kind of person would do a certain job. Seeing/hearing an unusual name. Maybe a dozen other things. They just sort of come to me.
Tell us a little about the characters in your book and their story. You can use more than twenty words this time.
Kellen is a pixie crossover, and I think what makes him unique in the AURA world is that he's happier in our world than he was in his home world. There's a bit of mystery surrounding Kellen and most of the book is about finding out what he's hiding. Sinistrus the incubus makes a return in this book and plays a lead role in finding out what Kellen's not saying.
If you could have one wish what would it be?
That all humans acted with kindness.
What's your deepest fear?
I think I have too many as it is, thinking about them just makes me more anxious.
If I came to dinner what would you feed me?
Take out. Seriously, you don't want me to cook for you.
Which of your characters would you like to be sharing the dinner table with us?
Out of this book, I think Tenzin. He's such a sweet fluffy guy.
Tell us in the character’s own words, what he/she would have to say about you.
Kellen would say, “Bellora is not nearly as diabolical as Angel says.”
What would they say (again in their own words) about themselves, and their story that will make us want to read about it?
“My best friend is a maintenance troll that lives in the basement of my apartment building and my boss is a yeti. Working in AURA's medical facility presents challenges every day but I wouldn't trade it for anything. After all, how many people do you know that can say they treated a faun for a cracked hoof, a siren for laryngitis, and a human magic user for magic burn all in the same day?”
Which other fictional character(s) would you like to be present at the dinner party?
Well I think if we're inviting Tenzin then it's only fair to invite Kai.
What other authors would you say have either influenced your writing or you would like to emulate?
Billy Martin (FKA Poppy Z. Brite), Lynn Flewelling, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Jordan Castillo Price, Jordan Hawk, Rhys Ford.
Which character from literature, would you most like to have invented?
Sherlock Holmes.
What do you prefer writing. A one off novel, a series or short stories?
I most often start with the idea I'm going to just write a one off novel but it sometimes grows into a series.
What kind of books do you read (if you have time to read)?
Mostly urban fantasy, horror, and suspense/mystery.
Where do you see yourself personally and professionally in 5 years time?
Still writing.
Do you have any other projects in the offing we should look out for?
Right now Angel and I are working on ideas for book 4 in the AURA series and I also have a book coming out written with another Co-Author, Sadie Rose Bermingham. It's a detective series based in London and the main characters have certain psychic abilities. The first book in the Elemental Evidence series is called Breathing Betrayal and comes out June 7th 2016.
Meet the authors:
Angel Martinez The unlikely black sheep of an ivory tower intellectual family, Angel Martinez has managed to make her way through life reasonably unscathed. Despite a wildly misspent youth, she snagged a degree in English Lit, married once and did it right the first time, (same husband for almost twenty-four years) gave birth to one amazing son, (now in college) and realized at some point that she could get paid for writing. Published since 2006, Angel's cynical heart cloaks a desperate romantic. You'll find drama and humor given equal weight in her writing and don't expect sad endings. Life is sad enough. She currently lives in Delaware in a drinking town with a college problem and writes Science Fiction and Fantasy centered around gay heroes.
Bellora Quinn Originally hailing from Detroit Michigan, Bellora now resides on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida where a herd of Dachshunds keeps her entertained. She got her start in writing at the dawn of the internet when she discovered PbEMs (Play by email) and found a passion for collaborative writing and steamy hot erotica. Soap Opera like blogs soon followed and eventually full novels. The majority of her stories are in the M/M genre with urban fantasy or paranormal settings and many with a strong BDSM flavour.
Where to find the authors:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amartinez2 https://www.facebook.com/groups/angelmartinez/ https://www.facebook.com/bellora.quinn
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Angel.Martinez.author
Twitter: @BelloraQ @AngelMartinezrr
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/angelwritesmm
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29245467-kellen-s-awakening
Tour Dates & Stops: 3-May: Oh My Shelves, The Novel Approach 4-May: Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, My Fiction Nook 5-May: Love Bytes, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, A.M. Leibowitz 6-May: Havan Fellows. MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog 9-May: Prism Book Alliance, Bayou Book Junkie, Nephy Hart a Rafflecopter giveaway
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