I remember when book one released. I feel in love with this dark urban fantasy! So happy JA Saare is back to writing about Rhiannon!
Here is a quote from my review of book 3:
"Rhiannon is my kind of UF heroine. She is emotionally damaged, but her ass can cash the checks her mouth writes."- SharonS 5 "Foulmouthed" Sheep Review
May 14, 2021 Urban Fantasy Ride the road until death sets you free.
Rhiannon Murphy fled New York following the horrific events that ended the lives of those she loved. In the months that have passed, she and her vampire lover, Gabriel Trevellian, have pooled their talents to kill half-demons that have ruled the vampire world for centuries. On the brink of regaining control, they learn things are not so simple.
Marigold Vesta is no longer content in Hell. Due to the terms of an agreed-upon bargain, the fallen angel is preparing Rhiannon's body for early possession. If that's not bad enough, Lucifer is aware of the trade and wants Rhiannon's soul.
The only option is to turn to Bane, an arms dealer who offered Gabriel an alliance to recapture the city. The man isn't human and has a personal connection to Rhiannon. When she learns why the deadly being entered her life, she must decide to ride the edge of darkness or bask in the glory of the light.
J.A. Saare is a multi-published author who has written stories featured in horror magazines, zombie romance anthologies, and flash fiction contests. Her work has a dark undertone, which she credits to her love of old eighties horror films, tastes in music, and choices in reading, and have been described as "full of sensual promise," "gritty and sexy" and "a breath of fresh air."
Currently, she is penning projects within the urban fantasy, erotic and contemporary, and paranormal romance categories. You can visit her online at www.jasaare.com.
I sound like a broken record, but I love dark urban fantasy (emphasis on the dark). I want emotions of love and hate all mixed up and grief and joy bitch-slapping me. I want to cry, scream and squee while reading. Author Jamie Saare writes a series that does all this and more! The Ripple Effect, book #3 in the Rhiannon's Law Series, is one of my favorites. Rhi is a kick ass character that pulls no punches and doesn't make excuses. She is foul mouthed and would cut off her nose to spite her face sometimes, but she wants to do the right thing if everyone would just leave her the $#*% alone!
Sharon: Welcome to the Flock Jamie! *starts fangirling* Katie: *pulls out duct tape and feather* Jaime: *stares at duct tape and feather*
*awkward silence*
Sharon: Sorry… you write the Rhiannon's Law Series, one of my favorite urban fantasy series and…”OMG! WHAT HAPPENS WITH DISCO, PAINE AND RHIANNON?!” Katie: *Yanks out strip of duct tape* Sharon: I’m okay! *composes self…sort of…* Jaime: *still staring at duct tape and feather*
*more awkward silence*
Sharon: For our readers who don’t know why Rhiannon, Disco and Paine are so important to me, would you tell them a little about the series? Jamie: No need to use the duct tape or feather. I’m not going anywhere. Cross my heart and hope to die. *makes motion over chest* If I do I’ll return to being “Mom” which sucks during the summer. Thanks for giving me a break from the madness. The Rhiannon’s Law series focuses on Rhiannon -- a rough around the edges sort of person. She wants to live her life with as little disruption as possible. That’s why her foul mouth and bad attitude comes in handy. She figures if she can offend people, they won’t get close to her.
Let’s face it, her life isn’t simple.
She’s torn between the man she loves (Disco) and the friend she deeply cares for (Paine). She has to settle a debt with a fallen angel. To complicate matters, obstacles keep getting thrown in her way. Thankfully Rhiannon is resourceful and depends on herself to get things done. That’s one thing I like most about her.
Sharon: You write a DARK urban fantasy (which is how I like them) what is the difference between an urban fantasy and a dark one to you? Jamie: I’ve noticed a trend in which paranormal romance is labeled urban fantasy. I think romance in urban fantasy is perfectly fine, so long as it doesn’t overshadow everything else.
That being said…
For me dark urban fantasy has to contain elements of horror and copious amounts of violence. It’s rough, gritty, and raw. No one should ever be safe. Characters (even those you love) can and will die. There doesn’t “have” to be a happily ever after. Sharon: unless your mother-in-law says otherwise? <G> Jaime: Pretty much. *laughs*
Katie: How much "darker" are vampires in your series compared to straight PNR? Jaime: I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll say this: You don’t learn a lot about the vampire world (just the demon one) in The Ripple Effect. The fourth book gives readers a deeper insight into the vampire world. You learn about half-demons in The Ripple Effect, who are nasty, vile and utterly repulsive. Vampires can (and sometimes do) follow the same path. It’s not pretty. Katie: I do love some dark and twisty vamps! Actually, I love all vamps so don't mind me. Sharon: You have mentioned that this series has been hard for you to write, why? Jaime: In part it’s due to Rhiannon. The girl has issues. Going to dark, emotional places is extremely difficult, especially when I get sucked into her head and can’t walk away. My husband knows when I’m writing Rhiannon. I’m tired, grumpy, and unpleasant. Generally it takes a couple of weeks (after a book is complete) to return to my happy-go-lucky self. Sharon: as much as a mother of, what? 4 kids? Can be… Jaime: *sighs* Yep. I’ve fulfilled leases for four little people in my womb. I don’t know what I was smoking when I decided flooding the earth with my spawn would be a good idea.
Sharon: You also write under the name Aline Hunter. What kind of stories are these? Jaime: Pure smut. *laughs* (shhh, there is smut to the left) I’ve always enjoyed reading romance (erotic and sweet), and I wanted to give the genre a go. After I wrote steamy stuff under J.A. Saare and received a few complaints (some readers were offended, thinking they’d get spicy and not explicit sex scenes), I thought it would be best to create an alternate pen. Thus Aline Hunter was born. Katie: Do they hunt down sexy aliens and have their wicked way with them? *chants* Please say yes, please say yes... Sharon: *bops Katie on the head* her pen name is Aline Hunter, she doesn’t write books about hunting aliens… Jaime: *holding back giggles* No aliens yet, but you never know. I might write an alien book. Aline is actually my middle name. I didn’t realize it would be confused with extraterrestrials (which it is, rather often) when I chose it.
Katie: Is there something uber nerdy that you've always loved to do? Maybe something people don't know about? Jaime: Yeah. I can’t believe I’m sharing this…
I love to dance.
You might think, “That’s not nerdy,” but you haven’t seen my moves. Let’s put it this way: The African Anteater Ritual (as seen in one of my favorite 80s flicks, Can’t Buy Me Love) looks amazing in comparison. Sharon: prove it! *turns on music* Jaime: Oh no. I’d rather not scar you for life if I can help it.
here is a clip demonstrating how to do the African Anteater Ritual
Sharon: Disco and Paine are the two smexy vampires in this series and they are both attracted to Rhiannon (lucky damn girl). Tell us a little about each one, what makes them smexy and which one you prefer <G>
Jaime: I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again. Disco refuses to speak to me. Each time I try to write something from his point of view, nothing happens. My husband believes it’s due to the fact I killed Disco in the first book (and changed the ending when my mother-in-law demanded I give him a new lease on life). I can tell you I didn’t like him in the beginning. There’s something about the guy I don’t trust.
Paine, on the other hand, is my favorite. I got some flack over what happens between him and Rhiannon in The Renfield Syndrome, but people have to realize how long he’s waited for something as simple as a touch. The poor guy is a cesspool of pain. He’s alone but doesn’t want to be. Every day is exactly the same, and it’s been wearing on him. Despite it all, he’s devoted to those he cares for.
Sharon: Paine…le sigh…do you have plans for him to ever find happiness or peace?
Jaime: There is more to come. That’s all I can say.
* Sharon looks at duct tape and feather* hmmm...
Sharon: I absolutely love Rhiannon’s character. How has her character changed since the first book and do you know where you want to go with her character, do you know how the last book will end? Jaime: The first book was tough. Rhiannon thinks in short, strange bursts. That means what she says in my head doesn't always make sense. As time has passed, I've eased into her voice. Rhiannon continues evolving and learning. Every story is a new lesson -- most of them experienced the hard way. I do have an idea about the end of the series. I’ve been considering a spin-off. Something happens in The Ripple Effect that changes the game. It’ll come into play later in the series.
Sharon: O_o game changing you say? No clues? *waves secret video of Jaime dancing*
Jaime: Oh no. Not the dancing tape! I’d share if I didn’t think I’d ruin things. Don’t show the world my epic video of fail please. *hides*
Katie: This is a very important question. How many sexy single vamps do you know AND can you hook me up?
Jaime: Alas, the only sexy single vamps I know exist in my head. But I could hook you up with a figment of my imagination! No problemo!
Sharon: *looks at Katie* she is so going to take you up on that…
Katie: Mmhmm. We will chat later when judgey pants isn't around. *winks*
Jaime: Sounds good.
Sharon: During a zombie apocalypse, which fictional character would you like at your back?
Jaime: That’s easy. Peter Petrelli (from the television show Heroes). Of course, it has to be the Peter who has the ability to absorb powers and kick major ass. He’d not only see zombies coming, he could nuke the bitches into oblivion. Oh, and he’s easy on the eyes. So when he’s not kicking ass, I’ll have a fantastic view. Can’t get better than that!
Sharon: If every time you entered a room a theme song/music would play, what would yours be?
How about Walk The Dinosaur by Was (Not Was)? Folks would be too distracted by the song to notice me. Unless I started dancing. Then they’d notice and laugh. That would be bad.
Maybe I should choose another tune. Sharon: oh, no…this is perfect…Muawhaha!
Sharon: What are your guilty pleasures? Jaime: Watching cheap and horrible B movies. Drinking as many Red Bulls as possible each day. Taking pictures of weird people at The Death Star (AKA Wal-Mart). Sharon: OMG, I have wanted to do that, but I just don’t have the nerve <G>. You also like to visit and review haunted houses around Halloween don’t you? Jaime: Yes, I do! I also do movie reviews for an awesome place called The House of Horror. The people there are amazing. I’m on the Tuesday slot.
Rapid Fire
Sharon: 9 ball or 8 ball? Jaime: 8 Ball, for sure! Katie: You talkin to me? or I love the smell of napalm in the morning?
Jaime:To Sleep With a Vampire (with Scott Valentine, who I love) or Waxwork (which, technically is from the 80s). I loved the transition from eighties to nineties. There is still enough cheese to enjoy before horror took itself too seriously. Although I want to state I did love Scream and the movies that revived interest in the genre (The Faculty and I Know What You Did Last Summer are a couple of examples).
Katie: Coke or Pepsi? Jaime: Coke. Sharon: *falls to the ground sobbing* Katie: YES!!!! That's my girl!!! Uh huh, Uh huh! Jaime: Sorry, I can’t do Pepsi. In the south, every carbonated beverage is called “Coke” but when I say coke, I mean hand me a Coca-Cola!
Sharon: Pochohantas or Beauty and the Beast? Jaime: Beauty and the Beast
Katie: Tom Hardy as Bane or Collin Farrell in Fright Night? Jaime: Gotta say Tom Hardy, even if I haven’t seen him as Bane. I won’t watch the Fright Night remake. Chris Sarandon will always be “my” Jerry Dandrige. Sharon: I “heart” Sarandon too! Katie: Tom Hardy is YUMMY!!! Jaime: Yay, Sharon! I’ll check into Tom, Katie.
Sharon: fire or ice? Jaime: Fire Sharon: like your hair! Jaime: Exactly like my hair. Touch it and burn! Mwhahaha.
Katie: Undead or Walking Dead? Jaime: Walking Dead Katie: Also, a fantastic show. Jaime: Agreed. I love it.
Sharon: knife or gun? Jaime: Gimme the gun. Sharon: *hands Jaime nerf gun* Jaime: I should warn you, with two boys I’m handy with a Nerf gun, now! Sharon: OMG Katie…our guest shot me…
Sharon: Scooby-Doo or Hong Kong Phooey? Jaime: Scooby-Doo! Sharon: favorite Scooby quote? Jaime: LOL. Rut-ro for sure.
Thanks to Jamie for stopping by and talking with us... no authors were harmed during this interview..just saying...
Jamie Saare FB-Twitter-website-blog J.A. Saare is a multi-published author in varying genres and has written stories featured in horror magazines, zombie romance anthologies, and flash fiction contests. Her work has a notable dark undertone, which she credits to her love of old eighties horror films, tastes in music, and choices in reading, and have been described as “full of sensual promise,” “gritty and sexy,” and “a breath of fresh air.”
Currently she is penning numerous projects within the urban fantasy, erotic and contemporary, and of course, paranormal romance categories.
Those interested in her "naughtier" side can visit her alias, Aline Hunter, at www.alinehunter.com
GIVE AWAY
Jamie is offering a singed print copy of the first book
Dead, Undead or Something in Between
1. leave a way to contact you
2. If you could star in a horror movie which one would you choose?
*followers get double entry
contest ends: Aug 4 at midnight
And the winning doesn't stop there! Head over to Jamie's website and enter her Release Day Gift Basket contest. Ends July 31st
Rhiannon Murphy visited the future, witnessed hell on earth and made choices to change things for the greater good. Unfortunately there are consequences for her actions, the penalties for her interference possibly more than she can bear. Determined to sever her debt with a fallen angel, she pushes everything aside, focusing on locating Marigold Vesta’s resting place. Until death comes knocking at her door. When Disco’s maker arrives in New York, he resents Rhiannon on a level she can’t begin to comprehend. Yet Marius isn’t her most dangerous adversary, not by a long shot. Marius’s sire -- a half-demon -- is determined to see the necromancer who stunned the vampire world on her knees. If she won’t bend, he’ll do everything in his power to make her break. No price is too high, meaning no one is safe -- including Disco and Paine.
Dealt a blow from which she can never recover, Rhiannon turns to the only person who can help her: the fallen angel who is relying on Rhiannon to save her soul. Bartering with a creature from Heaven is probably just as dangerous as starting a war with a demon from Hell, but with nothing to lose it’s no longer about life or death.
No Spoilers
If you have read the first two books in this series then you are in for a whole lot of OMG. This story is a page turner and I ate it up like a PMSing woman in a chocolate factory. As fans know, Rhiannon is one hardened soul who doesn’t trust anyone and refuses to be controlled, but she has finally gone too far and those close to her pay the price. Rhiannon’s mouth has finally written a check her a$$ can’t cash. We have all been waiting to see the fallout between Disco, Paine and Rhiannon after the events of book two and all your questions will be answered. I have gained more respect for Disco (Gabriel); I appreciate the fact that the author doesn’t water down who Disco is because of his relationship with Rhiannon. The watering down of male characters is a persistent double standard when it comes to romance dynamics. The man has to change who he is but the woman gets to keep being herself, both the good and bad. Disco accepts all that Rhi is and it is time she accepts him.
This is dark urban fantasy, which means there is a horror element and Rhiannon is thrown into the darkest place we have seen so far. I was angry and frustrated at her behavior and then she made me cry. What more can you ask for from a book? We also get up close and personal with the demon and half-demon world Saare has created. They are truly evil creatures and the dynamics between them and the vampires has been forever changed by the end of this book.
One of my new favorite characters in this series is the fallen angel Marigold. She is trapped in Hell and has made a deal with Rhiannon to get out. She is an unknown factor and bent on vengeance. I can’t wait to see how her relationship with Rhiannon is going to develop. Another character I think I am going to love is Bane. We aren’t given much information about him, but he appears out of nowhere to help Rhiannon and he definitely has an agenda of his own. At this point we don’t know if he is human or not. Rhiannon asks him:
“Are you a shifter?” I’d met plenty of lycanthropes during my trip to the future. Bane was large and mean enough to qualify as one, and I’d learned vampires and shifters weren’t exactly friendly with each other when I made a trip into the future. Maybe that’s what he was—a shifter of some kind—and recognized my mark because of it. He answered without blinking. “I’m something worse.”
Ahhh! I am dying to know what he is! Maybe in the next book… If you haven’t read this series you need to start with book one, Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between, to appreciate the growth of the characters. If you love dark urban fantasy this is a must read.
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