Because Angel Warriors Do It Better - The Grigori Legacy Blog Hop + Giveaway

This is one of my favorite urban fantasy series because it is a dark story of good vs evil and Poitevin's writing is poetic and beautiful. Bloggers are sharing their thoughts about the series.

1) Who is your favorite character in the Grigori Legacy series, and why? (Can be from any of the three books)
Sharon: The bad guy Lucifer, of course <G> It is really hard to pick a favorite because they are all so different. Michael has grown on me lately.

2) If you had to describe the Grigori Legacy series in three words, what would those words be?
Sharon: Intense, raw, emotional

3) Readers and reviewers have called this a “different kind of angel story.” Do you agree or disagree? Why? 
Sharon: Very much agree. This isn’t a paranormal romance. The angels are warriors and their world has been thrown into chaos. They aren’t looking to fix their broken souls with the love of a good woman.

4) Who do you think the ideal reader is for this series?
Sharon: Urban fantasy fans, and those who love dark fiction. Bad things happen to good people and it is how our protagonist react to these events that makes the story so good.

5) The series has a lot of big "whoa/OMG!"-type moments. Which scene or character - or which book overall - has surprised you the most so far? (No spoilers, please!) 
Sharon: Seth has a ton of OMG moments. I can’t go into any details without spoiling. Watching him rise so high only to fall so far and not knowing yet where he will end up has been crazy!

6) While the Grigori series is more UF than PNR, there is still a strong romantic element running through the books. Do you think Alex will get her HEA? If you could wave a magic romantic wand, who would you like to see her fly off into the sunset with? (Again, no spoilers!) 
Sharon: This is a hard one. The one I thought Alex would end up isn’t an option anymore…depends on what Linda has planned. At the end of book three I don’t think Alex can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am afraid there might not be one either, but I am hoping for her.

7) What is one thing you would like to see happen in the last book?
Sharon: Good to win.

About the Author:

Website-Goodreads-Facebook-Twitter
Linda Poitevin is the author of the dark urban fantasy series, The Grigori Legacy, from Ace/Roc Books. Linda lives near Ottawa, Canada’s capital, and in her other life is wife, mother, friend, gardener, coffee snob, freelance writer, and zookeeper of too many pets. When she isn’t writing, Linda can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods.

Book 1: SINS OF THE ANGELS

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel...

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case-a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell. Aramael is a Power--a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

 Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Book 2: SINS OF THE SON
When homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis sees a photo of Seth Benjamin on a police bulletin, she knows that Heaven's plan to halt Armageddon has gone terribly wrong. As the only mortal who knows of Seth's true nature, only she can save him. Aramael was a hunter of Fallen Angels until a traitor forced him into earthly exile. Now, with no powers and only a faint memory of Alex, his mortal soulmate, he will stop at nothing to redeem himself-even if it means destroying Seth in the name of the Creator...

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Book 3: SINS OF THE LOST
Heaven and Hell are on the brink of war as Lucifer builds his Nephilim army and waits for his new agenda to become a reality — that of having a Nephilim child of his own bloodline to lead his forces to cataclysmic victory.

With rumors of the pending war rampant on Earth, Alex fights to save humanity from its own panic –­ leaving little time for her fledgling relationship with Seth, the man with heavenly origins who has captured her heart. But when Nephilim children begin to disappear, along with Alex’s own vulnerable niece, the inevitable war between Heaven and Hell becomes as personal as sin.

Heaven has its own plans to fight the coming apocalypse, but first it needs Seth back. Asked to betray the man she loves, Alex must turn for help to the soulmate she thought she’d given up — the Archangel Aramael, who may be her last chance to save her family and humanity from the ashes of Lucifer’s Armageddon.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Blog Hop Participants

May 5th

I Smell Sheep (http://www.ismellsheep.com)

Romancing the Dark Side (http://romancingthedarkside.com)

May 6th

Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf (http://kelseysclutteredbookshelf.wordpress.com/)

The Demon Librarian (http://www.thedemonlibrarian.com)

May 7th

The Bookaholic Cat (http://thebookaholiccat.com)

May 8th

Book Mood Reviews (http://www.bookmoodreviews.com)

GIVEAWAY

(one winner - open internationally)

1 signed copy of Sins of the Angels

1 signed copy of Sins of the Son

1 ebook copy of Sins of the Lost

Mystery swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review (ARC): Sins of the Lost (Grigori Legacy #3) by Linda Poitevin (no spoilers)

Sins of the Lost (Grigori Legacy #3)

By: Linda Poitevin

Releases: Oct 15, 2013

From the author of Sins of the Angels and Sins of the Son comes the newest novel in the “electric, thrilling and extremely intelligent” (Ex Libris) Grigori Legacy series.

Heaven and Hell are on the brink of war as Lucifer builds his Nephilim army and waits for his new agenda to become a reality — that of having a Nephilim child of his own bloodline to lead his forces to cataclysmic victory.

With rumors of the pending war rampant on Earth, Alex fights to save humanity from its own panic –­ leaving little time for her fledgling

relationship with Seth, the man with heavenly origins who has captured her heart. But when Nephilim children begin to disappear, along with Alex’s own vulnerable niece, the inevitable war between Heaven and Hell becomes as personal as sin.

Heaven has its own plans to fight the coming apocalypse, but first it needs Seth back. Asked to betray the man she loves, Alex must turn for help to the soulmate she thought she’d given up — the Archangel Aramael, who may be her last chance to save her family and humanity from the ashes of Lucifer’s Armageddon.

There are all sorts of urban fantasy to choose from. I love the snarky heroine who is kicks the bad guy’s butt, gets the hot hero (eventually) all within a unique and multi-faceted world. But I also love the drama of dark urban fantasy. Poitevin’s Grigori Legacy series is that kind of story. In a fight between heaven and hell there can be no real winners, only degrees of losing. Sometimes you can’t have what you desire and must make hard sacrifices for little reward, and sometimes love doesn't heal, it destroys. Poitevin’s series is a passionate and emotionally powerful written story combined with a gritty urban fantasy detective mystery.

Sins of the Lost is the third book in the series and my favorite so far. Of course I gave the first two books 5 sheep too. To fully appreciate the emotional impact of the characters I suggest you start with book one, Sins of the Angels. There is also a spoiler issue if read out of order.

Another reason this series works so well for me is the subject matter and style of writing are in perfect harmony. You have brutal and beautiful parts pulled together with poetic prose. I really don’t want to go into any details about the plot because of spoilers for the first two books. If you are looking for a series with high emotional drama, intelligent and exceptional world building based on the classic heaven vs hell theme, and strong story arcs then give this one a try. 

You make me cry, you get the five… sheep that is.

Sharon Stogner

About the author:

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Linda Poitevin was born and raised in B.C., Canada’s westernmost province. Growing up in an era when writing was “a nice hobby, dear, but what are you going to do for a living?”, Linda worked at a variety of secretarial jobs before applying to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Due to an error in measurement, however, she was turned down when she didn’t meet the height requirement of that time. Undeterred, Linda became a civilian member in the force and was a dispatcher for two and a half years, during which time she met her husband, a police officer.

Following their transfer to Ottawa, Linda went on to become a real estate agent and then a human resources consultant before starting a family. She remained a stay-at-home mom, homeschooled her youngest daughter for nine years and, now that she has realized writing can be more than a nice hobby, she continues to live her dream of being a cop vicariously through her characters.

Linda currently lives near Ottawa with her husband, youngest of three daughters, one very large husky/shepherd/Great Dane-cross dog, a cat, two rabbits, and a bearded dragon lizard. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods.

In addition to her books, Linda also does freelance writing and editing. Information about her services can be found at www.lindapoitevin.ca.

Sheep Interview with Linda Poitevin + Give Away

Apocalyptica feat The Rasmus & Him - Bittersweet

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Be sure to listen to one of Linda's favorite songs - Bittersweet by Apocalyptica


The Sheep have Canadian author Linda Poitevin in the house! And no, we didn’t have to use the Duct Tape like some of the others, er…moving on… Her debut Urban Fantasy/ Thriller novel Sins of the Angels released in September. You can check out my review here. Grab a Moon Pie and some Kool-Aid and sit a spell. At the end two copies of Sins of Angels will be bestowed on two of you. Winning!

Mortal Realm. Canada. 2 Sheep and 1 Homicide Detective meet…

Katie: Welcome Linda, thanks for taking the time to sit down and chat with us. We hope you like the Grape flavored Kool-Aid we had Ben whip up. So for folks that don’t know about your series can you share a little about it?

Linda: Thanks so much for having me, Katie & Sharon – I’m thrilled to be here! And grape Kool-Aid is fine, thanks! As for the series, I like to call it a supernatural thriller, but because that genre doesn’t exist, readers can find it listed as a dark urban fantasy. ;) I draw heavily on Christian angel mythology for the world I’ve created…with a few twists to suit my own nefarious purposes, lol. God is a woman, the angelic world has a very defined hierarchy, and Heaven is not all fluffy and light. In Sins of the Angels, we meet Alexandra Jarvis, a homicide detective tracking a serial killer that is actually a Fallen Angel. Heaven, however, has sent its own hunter to find the Fallen One—an angel who is supposed to protect Alex but instead ends up precipitating a series of unthinkable events that could plunge the world into the Apolcalypse.

Sharon: One of the things I liked most about this story was the world of angels you created with their hierarchy and politics. I am especially interested in the character Seth and his role in what is coming in the next book Sins of the Son. The title alone has me all aquiver with anticipation! (pssst…Katie, aquiver is a real word, right?)

Katie: Uhh…well it is now!

Linda: Thank you, Sharon – I had a lot of fun building the angel world. And you’ll be pleased to know that Seth figures prominently in the next book. Oh, and aquiver is definitely a word…I looked it up!

Sharon: How did Sins of the Angels evolve? Is it the same story it was when you first came up with the idea?

Linda: When I first came up with the idea, it was supposed to be a single title paranormal romance, actually. The further I got into the story, however, the more obvious it became that there was way, way more going on than I’d anticipated (I’m more of a pantser than a plotter, can you tell?). While the basic storyline for Sins of the Angels is still there as I originally planned it, it’s now a part of something much bigger.

Sharon: you mean we were this close *holds index finger and thumb reeeeeally close* to seeing some…let’s call it “hot angel smex!” like most PNR? *sigh*

Linda: Well….not really. The characters were uncooperative about that angle from the start, I’m afraid. It just took me a while to clue in!

Sharon: How many books do you see for the series and can you give us any hint about the direction you will be taking the series?

Released March 27, 2012

Linda: I currently have four books planned for the series. The story arc I have in mind ends at that point. I’ve learned not to limit myself with definites, however, and so I’m open to the possibility that another book might evolve as I write the third and fourth ones. As for direction, I’ll be exploring the Heaven and Hell aspects more deeply, especially with regard to their impact on the mortal world, and Alex will face challenges and decisions no one should ever have to make (I’m evil that way).

Sharon: (doing that aquiver thing again) I get the feeling the lines between what Alex thinks of as good and evil will be challenged. Those torturous decisions are one of the reasons I love Dark UF.

Linda: Alex will definitely have her personal values challenged…as will most of the other characters.

Katie: As the big vamp lover that I am I always want to know what you, an author, think of vamps; love them or hate them? And what would you do if one day you actually meet one?

Linda: Kind of neutral on them at this point, I’m afraid. I still like a well-written vamp, but I think I’ve reached a bit of a saturation point.

Sharon: Do you have a favorite genre or sub-genre right now?

Linda: I read in a variety of genres—for me, it’s more about the appeal of an individual story than it is about what shelf I find it on.

Sharon: What kind of atmosphere or writing environment do you prefer?

Linda: I’ll take anything that doesn’t come with multiple interruptions from people looking for bus passes, dinner, laundry, or a multitude of other things, lol! Ideally, I’d like to have an office at home where I can close the door (and lock it) against the real world. In reality, I usually park myself in a corner of the local coffee shop and plug in my headphones to block out the noise.

Sharon: You’ve done a large book blog tour and worked with many different sites. As an author what do you look for in a review site? (we are always looking to improve what we offer readers and authors)

Linda: Excellent question! First of all, I’m looking for sites that review books in my genre, because they’re going to have the readers who would be most interested in my book. Second, I check to see how many followers the site has—the more followers, the more potential readers. Finally, I look at how responsive those followers have been to past reviews and/or guest posts/interviews. The more active the blog audience, the more likely they’ll engage in conversation with me during my visit there. Does that help?

Sharon: Yes, it does. I didn’t think about checking on the number of responses to posts. *looks to Katie, must increase follower participation…you know what that means*

Katie: Date with a vampire night to boost responses! Yes!! Wait what were you thinking?

Linda: Hm…now I’m all aquiver!

Sharon: Feels good, doesn't it?!

Sharon: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Or if you want to be accurate, on the point of a needle?

Katie: Say wha? (laughs)

Linda: Depends on the needle? Lol. Actually, because angels are beings of pure energy (they have to slow their vibrations down to become corporeal), I would think that thousand and thousand of them could dance there. But now you have me wondering if angels dance…*wanders off to ponder the possibility*

Sharon: Yes! I loved the vibrational energy angle you used. I think people who read my review were wondering if I was being naughty when I gave it 4 vibrating sheep <G> Now everyone knows what I was talking about! *wanders off to ponder dancing with an angel ;)*

Linda: So THAT’S what the vibrating sheep were all about! I’ll be sure to tell my husband…you really had him wondering!

Sharon: I was shooting for being clever, guess I missed the mark <G>

Sharon: If you could have a theme song play whenever you entered a room, what would it be?

Katie: And to follow up Sharon’s question what song do you rock out to while on a road trip?

Linda: I love the song Seize the Day by Carolyn Arends—when I was still in the struggling writer phase, a friend of mine told me about it and said it made her think of me. I’ve had a soft spot for it ever since. As for road trips, I love just about anything by Apocalyptica (who also head up my writing playlist). Bittersweet is my all-time favorite of theirs.

Apocalyptica

Sharon: I checked out Apocalyptica. Wow, good looking Finnish guys playing rock music on Cellos? Love it!

Linda: I know, right?

Sharon: You have a household full of critters (your three children would be included <G>)! How do you keep sane?

Linda: I’m a sucker for anything cute and furry…and for big brown/blue eyes pleading, “Please, Mom?” So really, I have no one to blame but myself for the three rabbits, two cats, and very large dog *sigh*. (The lizard doesn’t count because he doesn’t shed!) As for staying sane, as long as I can ignore the hair between vacuumings, I’m good. ;)

Sharon: You wanted to be in police enforcement. Why and what area were you interested in?

Linda: I’d wanted to be a cop for as long as I can remember. At the time I applied, the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) still had a height restriction and because the recruiting officer mismeasured, I came in a half-inch too short. If I’d been accepted, I would have loved to apply for the dog section—see? I really am a sucker for furry things! As it was, I applied as a civilian member instead and worked as a dispatcher for the force for two and a half years before moving away with my fiancé.

Sharon: This must have been handy for writing the police work portions of your book.

Linda: Even handier is the fact that the fiance—now my husband of 24 years—is a cop himself. He’s my built-in research system, lol.

*note to readers, I refrained from asking if he has ever read Linda her rights ;) cause that would be rude, at least that is what Ben keeps telling me...

Katie: If you had 24 hours left on this earth what would you do and why?

Linda: I’d want to spend the time with my family, talking and reminiscing and laughing. Why? Because they’re the most important part of my entire life and I’d want to make sure they were focused on all the good times we’ve had.

Katie: That's really sweet! My final 24 might be a bit more devious *evil laugh* but I'll leave it at that.

Linda: And I won’t ask…

Sharon: Finish this sentence: People think I am weird because I….

Linda: …often don’t know what’s going to happen in my stories until it appears on my computer screen! I can plan all I want, but if I’m honest, my characters are more in control than I am most days!

Katie: The voices in my head take the wheel most days too! They have such good ideas so I just roll with it.

It is time for the Sheep Rapid Fire Round! Take a deep breath and GO!

Sharon: Twiddle Dee or Twiddle Dum

Linda: Dee. It just sounds better than Dum.

Katie: Coke or Pepsi

Linda: Neither. I don’t touch the stuff.

Sharon: Next thing you will be telling us you don’t eat Moon Pies either!

Linda: And I’m thinking that means you won’t want to hear that I never eat anything where I can’t pronounce the ingredients…

Sharon: Picnic or restaurant

Linda: Depends on the occasion…and the weather.

Katie: Toast or Muffin

Linda: Toast. Homemade bread, toasted, with real butter and homemade strawberry jam. And now you’ve made me hungry. *heads for kitchen*

Sharon: right behind you!

Linda: Tea to go with that, or would you prefer coffee?

***we interrupt this interview so Katie and I can partake of Linda's hospitality***

***we now return you to the previously scheduled interview***

Sharon: Fall or Spring

Linda: Fall…except for the fact that winter follows.

Katie: Nessie or Big Foot

Linda: Big Foot.

Sharon: Pecans or almonds

Linda: Pecans.

Sharon: Okay, do you pronounce it “pe-can” or “pe-con”?

Linda: Pe-can.

Katie: Hot tub or Sauna

Linda: Ooh…hot tub!

Katie: With some sexy men!!

Linda: *looks at Sharon* She really is incorrigible, isn’t she?

Katie: You know it!

Sharon: *headdesk*

Sharon: Lake or ocean

Linda: Ocean.

Sharon: Merry-go-round or rollercoaster

Linda: Merry-go-round—roller coasters terrify me (including the kiddie ones!).

Katie: Thanks again for stopping by Linda, would you like to add anything be we wrap up?

Linda: Thank you, Katie—and Sharon! I had a great time…very cool questions. If readers have anything they’d like to ask as well, I’ll be happy to answer.

Linda stalking information: website, Facebook, Dark Central Station

***GIVE AWAY***

Penguin has offered two copies of the book to US/Canada winners. International readers have to be willing to accept an e-book from NetGalley…or, if they would prefer a physical copy, they can have their names entered into a separate draw for three International copies at the end of the tour.

The Sheep will also be adding some cool Sheep swag with a moon pie and Kool-Aid. I know, right?

In the comments below please leave both things:

1. make sure there is a way to contact you

2. tell us "Who's your favorite cop/detective is and why".
*double entry for followers

Sheep Book Review: 'Sins of the Angels' by Linda Poitevin

Grigori Legacy Series Book #1

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days

With a clever mixing of angel mythology and the murder suspense genre, Poitevin has created a unique and satisfying Dark Urban Fantasy. I really enjoyed the world of Angels she created. Most angel books out there are PNR and focus more on the romance between the angel and their mate. Instead, this story focused on the workings of angel society; it's a sad and fascinating story that has left the angels with out soul mates and the free will that they once enjoyed. Sacrifices are going to have to be made and loyalties tested as a conspiracy 4000 years in the making tries to turn the human realm into a battleground between Heaven and Hell.

Our heroine, Alex, is a tough homicide detective working on a violent serial killer case. Her world gets turned upside down when Aramael, a hunter angel with an attitude and a whole lot of power, is sent to recapture a fallen angel who is killing humans. There is a lot of hostility between the two when they first meet and an attraction that shouldn’t be possible. Like most straight-up UFs this story doesn’t spend a lot of time on the romantic aspect of their relationship; the sexual tension is thick enough to cut with a knife, but so is the animosity between them. I am a big fan of love/hate relationships. Their story is bitter sweet and I look forward to seeing where Poitevin will go with it.

There is a good amount of action and suspense as Alex and Armael try to track down the Fallen Angel Caim. He makes a great villain because he is insane and holds a grudge against Armael and realizes hurting Alex is the best way to make him pay.

If you are looking for a different kind of angel story then this is it. There is a stronger UF element than romantic, but the ending leaves open so many possibilities.

4 Vibrating Sheep

Check out Linda Poitevin's website for information

You can also find her blogging over at Dark Central Station