From paranormal romance author Caris Roane comes the fifth book in the "Guardians of Ascension" series, Obsidian Flame. Thorne's book starts out with a bang and keeps the party going to the very last page!
For a hundred years, Marguerite has been imprisoned and used for her powerful psychic abilities. Her only relief comes from her regular visits with Thorne, her vampire lover. His every touch leaves her hungry for more..and aching for their next encounter. When Marguerite is finally set free, she returns to Mortal Earth to begin a new life for herself. She dyes her hair white-blonde, paints her nails blood-red, and seduces a sexy-hot stranger. Why can’t she stop thinking about Thorne?
Now that Marguerite is gone, Thorne craves her more than ever..and follows her to Mortal Earth. Unfortunately, he is not the only vampire who wants her. As one of three powerful women with obsidian flame abilities, Marguerite is a valuable treasure—and a dangerous weapon. For Thorne, she is a soulmate he must protect at any cost…even his own life.
Thorne is the leader of the mighty Warrior brothers tasked with defending Second Earth from the evil forces that want to conquer it for their own nefarious purposes. When Thorne takes a sudden hiatus to chase after the woman he loves, the boys back home are left scrambling to take up the slack. Thorne's character is the complete package: powerful and strong but at the same time patient and protective, and yes he does cut out for a bit to chase after his woman but after 2000 years of service I think the man was due for a little vacation! Thorne also happens to be smokin' hot and able to kick some serious butt when the kickin needs to get done. This warrior is everything a leader should be on the front lines and behind doors he knows how to crank up the heat!
Marguerite’s been locked away in a convent for the last century by her religious parents who want to beat submission into this free spirit. Down but not out for the count this powerful seer finally gets free from her chains and heads out on the open road. But chasing hot on her heels is Thorne, the man who wants to bind her to him for all eternity. I felt for this spunky gal and totally understood her need for freedom but at the same time you fall for Throne and want the big guy to be happily in love with his soul mate.
The drama of the building enemy armies side-plotline take some twists and turns that keep the overall story moving along at a steady pace. A few twists I didn't see coming should complicate just how we all have come to understand the draw to your chosen one. Endelle, the ruler of Second Earth, tops it off with yet more outrageous outfits and an in-your-face take-no-prisoners attitude. But no matter which way this story world goes, every detail is written and delivered with gusto. Caris leaves no man behind in her writing!
My only downside was a few missing words in the paperback copy I had. I'm not sure if the editing department missed some things or there was a printing error. But that aside Obsidian Flame is another hit from Caris, the writer everyone should be checking out.
Today it brings the Sheep great pleasure to once again welcome back PNR Goddess Caris Roane. If you've yet to check out her fantastic World of Ascension series NOW is the time to dive right in. Caris is also offering up a HUGE giveaway pack to one lucky commenter so make sure to read the full interview and get yourself in the running!
Katie: Hey Caris and welcome back! I feel like we should give you a frequent members card or something!
Sharon: Or at least a moon pie…
Caris: I’ll take the moon pie…
Katie: Your latest book OBSIDIAN FLAME is coming out soon, can you tell us a little about it?
Caris: OBSIDIAN FLAME is all about Warrior Thorne and I know many of my fans have been waiting for this book. He’s the leader of the Warriors of the Blood, but as you know, by the end of BORN OF ASHES, Thorne takes off, leaving Second Earth behind to track down his woman, Marguerite. Which means he’s turned leadership over first to Kerrick then later to Luken. Thorne’s journey is different from all the other books because not only does his woman gain new powers, but he does as well, and this is a big surprise. It also means that he will have a new role on Second Earth as will Marguerite.
Katie: With how things ended between Throne and Marguerite I'm almost afraid to read what this poor guy is about to go through! Any hints? Just baby, baby hints.. *makes puppy face*
Caris: Oh, this is so difficult! I’m always afraid to give away too much, but here’s my hint: At the very beginning of OBSIDIAN FLAME, Thorne finds his woman flirting with another man. Yes, Thorne goes ape-&^%$! But when she goes home with this good-looking, well-muscled gorgeous Latino, how does Thorne keep from killing him? He transforms…now that’s all I’m going to say. But just think about it…
Sharon: Gasp! Into a 18-wheeler?
Katie: *head desk* Sharon: If every time you walked into a room you could have theme music play what would it be?
Caris: Well right now, I’d have the soundtrack to “Inception” playing. There’s a drive to that music that reflects my life right now more than anything I can think of. But that’s right now. Ask me next year and I might just say Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”, lol!
Katie: Our main man, Thorne, has been a leader for two thousand years, and is basically wrecked from carrying the load. How does this change for him in OBSIDIAN FLAME?
Caris: I loved writing Thorne’s story more than I can say. And yes, he was totally wrecked, drinking way too much Ketel One and keeping the secret of his Convent liaison for a hundred years. So how does all that change? As I said before, because he’s discovered his breh (vampire bond-mate), he goes after her but in so doing he gives up his main job as leader of the WOTBs. But what was so interesting, as each word moved along the page, was discovering that Thorne was not only ready for change, but he needed things to change especially his relationship with Endelle. They have one major fight at her palace that took me totally by surprise: fireworks, smoke, hand-blasts, you name it.
Katie: I can't frelin wait! He's needed to put his foot down with the boss lady a long time ago! Woot! Still love you Endelle but I'm pulling for my boy!
Caris: I’m so glad you said that, Katie, because it means you’re going to love this confrontation. Thorne and Endelle have both carried the load, they’re both frustrated deep into their souls, and Thorne has had enough. But yeah, smoke and fireworks, not the good kind, neither! Sharon: What is under your bed?
Caris: Lots and lots of cat-based dust bunnies!
Katie: With all the building drama in the world of ascension what kinds of new twists and turns can we look forward to?
Caris: Well, for starters, you won’t believe what happens to Leto by the end of OBSIDIAN FLAME. As readers know, he served as a spy for a Sixth Ascender and because of that, for a hundred years, he had to work alongside Greaves and fake his allegiance to the Coming Order. Also, Casimir has a big role in OBSIDIAN FLAME. He’s our resident hedonist who is actually a good father to his two young boys, but who also doesn’t mind kidnapping girls out of Paris Clubs.
Katie: Sounds like father of the year material Caris. Is it harder or easier writing the bad guys?
Caris: Oh, bad guys are just plain FUN!!!
Sharon: Is it time for the shifters to show up?
Caris: Actually, I’m building this one slowly over the course of the series, so my answer would have to be ‘no’, shifters won’t appear in OBSIDIAN FLAME.
Katie: I just heard Sharon's heart break from here...
Sharon: just a little, cause she just said ‘no’ in *this book
Caris: I’m soooo sorry Sharon to cause you even a little pain. But hang tough; things start to ‘shift’ soon. Oh, stop groaning…it wasn’t the worst pun ever!
Katie: To date it's been all about the ladies being thrust into this new strange world of vampires and wings. Will we see the flip side at some point and a male brought into Second Earth?
Caris: I LOVE that idea. And I’ll have to do it at some point, some really hunky powerful man who could maybe take the place of one of the Warriors of the Blood…oooooh, that would be fabulous. But since I have 9 men I’m already handling, okay that didn’t sound right…
Katie: OR it sounded exactly right! *evil laugh*
Caris: Anyway, because I’m telling the stories of 9 men already, it would be hard to work in a tenth. And as you know, Endelle’s story is #10. But it would be kind of cool, if we can carry the series beyond book #10 and well onto Third Earth, if such a man could be brought across TWO dimensions all the way from Mortal Earth to Third. OMG, what would that man look like. ***drool***
Katie: Tom Hardy, Colin Farrell, Karl Urban and Vin Disel all wrapped in one. That was in fact a statement. lol
Sharon: Don’t forget Thor and Optimus Prime. Don’t look at me like that Katie!
Caris: What? What? Oh, sorry. I just fainted.
[Please stand by while we take a random Optimus Prime break for Sharon.]
[We now return you to our interview already in progress.]
Sharon: Do you dream about your characters?
Caris: I only dream that they’ll show up in my room someday, but unfortunately, I never actually meet them in my dreams.
Katie: Have you ever counted how many F*bombs Endelle's dropped in one book? haha Cause that lady knows and loves her profanity!
Caris: I love everything about Endelle including her F*bombs! But no, I’ve never counted. However, what I have noticed—and this is true for all the warriors—is that as soon as love arrives and then babies and child-raising, the overall warrior-speak starts falling away. By the time Endelle has her book, she might even be toned down a little, or at least yelled at a lot by concerned warrior-parents, ha, ha!
Katie: I think it's part of growing from one form of adulthood to another, I've never questioned it in your work and think it's well done in your writing style.
Sharon: Would be funny to have warriors having to “spell” things out around the young ones
Caris: That’s awesome, Sharon! I’ll use that in one of the forthcoming books. After all, we don’t want baby Helena’s first word to be &^%$!!!
Sharon: What would be the perfect vacation for you?
Caris: What’s a vacation?
Sharon: had to google it myself, but if you pick would you go for beach house or mountain cabin?
Caris: Beach house. B-E-A-C-H H-O-U-S-E! Okay, if I can actually manage a vacation anytime soon, I’m headed back to California from whence I came. I grew up with a beach close at hand, always!
Katie: Where can folks find you in the coming months Caris? I know you're a busy lady but the fans must know!
Caris: I will be at Desert Dreams signing books in Scottsdale, Arizona at the end of April!
Katie: Ready for some rapid fire? I know you are. Here we go!
Katie: Whips or Chains?
Caris: C-h-a-i-n-s!!!
Sharon: Ants in Pants or Break the Ice?
Caris: Huh? Remember I have my nose to my computer all day long…
Katie: It's kids games.
Caris: I was deprived as a child…
Katie: Lace or Silk?
Caris: Silk
Sharon: Hot chocolate or chocolate milk?
Caris: Hot Chocolate
Katie: Strong Hands or Strong Legs?
Caris: Depends. Whose strong hands and strong legs are we talking about??? .
Katie: Do you understand why I LOVE this lady right here?
Sharon: Ferrari or Lamborgini?
Caris: Would you believe I looked them both up just to have a peek? Ferrari, definitely.
Katie: Hand Wash or Car Wash?
Caris: Uh, car wash, hello…
Sharon: monster in the closet or monster under the bed?
Caris: Monster in the closet.
Katie: I'm walkin here! or Move get out the way!
Caris: Move! Get out of the way!
Sharon: Thing 1 or Thing 2?
Caris: Again, huh?
Sharon: lol, did you have a childhood? From The Cat in the Hat…
Caris: See, you guessed it already. I was born pondering the mysteries of life and wishing my childhood would get the hell over so I could start to live. Now I have the opposite problem. I want the years to s-l-o-w down…
Katie: Crazy night or Busy day?
Caris: Well, I think my soul would prefer a crazy night, but all I get are busy busy days.
Sharon: New York or Paris?
Caris: Paris. Get it? Caris/Paris My grandfather was French.
Katie: And THAT'S why you wrote so much French in Born of Ashes! I get it now, a little slow here folks.
Caris: I love Jean-Pierre, so tender. I still smile when I think of BORN OF ASHES…especially the tree in the middle of J.P.’s house…yum…
Katie: Mm...the "tree"...
Katie: Back or Front?
Caris: Of what? Yes, spell it out…
Katie: Oh, you know me. Totally innocent question. *evil laugh*
Sharon: B-A-C-K or…oh, she didn’t mean like that did she?
Caris: I refer once again to the tree in the middle of Jean-Pierre’s house…
Sharon: psst…Katie…I think she is talking about s-e-x!
Katie: No, really?
Sharon: roller skates or ice skates?
Caris: roller skates
Katie: Tupperware party or Avon?
Caris: Neither
Katie: Johnny Depp or George Clooney?
Caris: Both for different reasons with a little Clive Owen thrown in, for another reason…
Katie: She wins me over with every breath folks. Every. Breath.
Katie: As always, it's fabulous having you over Caris. We love your work and can't wait to continue on this journey with you. Would you like to add anything before we wrap? Caris: OBSIDIAN FLAME held so many surprises for me as the author, which means that I’m hoping it will really surprise my readers as well! Happy reading, everyone!
Links: Website: www.carisroane.com
Email: carisroane@gmail.com
***GIVEAWAY***
Today, Caris will be giving away the winner’s choice of one of five Guardians of Ascension novels (print version), a collection of romance trading cards and bookmarks, and a pair of silver wing earrings. This giveaway is international.
To be entered to win you must list all of the following in the comments below: 1. Your Email Address
2. From Caris herself: "Feel free to comment on anything and everything. But if you’d like a suggestion, I always like to know which lead character in a book you fell in love with recently, and what you think the author did that made you feel that way! You may also ask me anything you like about my Guardians of Ascension series."
