Thursday, August 27, 2015

Review: Forever Marked by Lady J



Title:  Forever Marked
Author: Lady J


Synopsis:  

If you were a marked woman, how far would you run?

At only 23 years old, Ellora's life is turned upside down. She captures the unwanted attention of a dangerously ruthless man, who'll stop at nothing until he possesses her. Haunted by nightmares of the brutal attack she survived, Ellora flees the country desperate to hide. But, the longer she runs the deeper his obsession grows.

Behr is a hard working bachelor who's life is stuck on repeat. Every single day is filled with the same people, and the same routine. That is, until a beautiful stranger stumbles into the local pub and into his heart. Even though he's immediately drawn to her raven black hair and deep green eyes... he knows she's hiding a secret. One he's determined to uncover.


Can Ellora stay safe in this small harbor town?
Or
Has the twisted game of cat and mouse, just begun?






Excerpt:
Ellora raced down the hallway as fast as her legs could carry her. Dread gripped her when she
heard his heavy footsteps pounding on the hardwood floors behind her. His powerful presence echoed around the eerily empty house. It didn't matter how fast she ran, he was always right on her heels. Ellora quaked violently when she made it to the stairs. If she couldn't make it out of there, she'd never survive. Reaching out, Ellora gripped the railing with both hands and used the leverage to fly down the steps. She skipped so many at a time, it felt like flying. He thundered down the steps, after her. The smell of his rancid panting, snaked its way over her shoulder. The stench stung her nose. Ellora risked looking back. His large black eyes, vicious with a murderous rage she didn’t understand, were only a few feet behind her. He was close enough to grab her. Oh. My God, this is it. He reached out... and she lunged, taking a giant leap before she got to the last three steps. She successfully made it over the carpeted runner at the bottom. Her ankles stung as she landed hard, on her bare feet. Easily ignoring the pain, Ellora sprinted to the front door. She heard him land on the runner and crashed to the floor, as it slipped out from under him. Shaking, she fumbled with clumsy fingers, trying to unlock the deadbolt and door knob lock.


After several slips from her bloodied hands, she finally heaved open the door. She skidded on her own blood, which was trickling down her legs and pooling onto the floor. The cool air rushed in, sobering her. Chills raised goosebumps on her skin as she dashed out the door. Ellora looked back to make sure he wasn’t behind her. This action caused her to lose her balance, tripping down the driveway and crashing right into the car. She remembered leaving her it unlocked, so she wrenched it open and jumped inside. She immediately locked the doors in record speed. It took only a moment for her to get a grip on her debilitating panic. She frantically searched her pockets for the car keys. First the front, then the back. Ellora froze. A devastating hopelessness made her stomach drop when she realized that she left the keys in the house. She hung her head in defeat… BANG! BANG! BANG! The sudden violent pounding sent Ellora shooting out of her seat, frightened to death as he pulverized the glass window with his fists. He stopped his onslaught abruptly and pressed his face against the window. His disturbing eyes and malicious sneer held her captive. He lifted his hand presenting a set of keys and shook them. ‘NO!’


Review:

***I was provided an ARC copy for review***

I always judge a book by if I need to force myself to put it down or if I do so willingly. This was a book where I couldn’t even force myself to put it down. I stayed up all night just to read this book even though I had to be to work bright and early. Lady J you did an amazing job with this book and I’m sure rest of the series will be just as great! You are high up on my list for Authors I love!!!

I was immediately intrigued and ignored everything around me while reading this book.  You would now know that this was Lady J’s debt novel!

The story itself started off with a bang and you are sucked in within the prologue. Ellora, the main character is running from her past life and from the monster who took away everything from her. She chose a place across the country to get away … Scotland, which just so happens to be where her parents grew up and fell in love with one another. Ellora remembered all the stories her parents told her throughout her life.  

Ellora hasn’t had an easy life with her parents being killed in a car accident and then having a man attack her because she didn’t want to play games and go along with his sleazy ways. Now, she has a hard time getting close to someone and wants to keep people at a distance… until she meets Behr.

Dalton Ramsey is a very powerful and rich man, but he is also the reason why Ellora is running. He thought she was stunning and when he wanted more, she turned him down. No one ever turns him down and gets away with it… which is why he is going to make her pay. Daltons last words to her were, “I will always find you”.

In the little town Skye, Scotland, Ellora meets Behr who is instantly attracted to her. He can see through her when no one else can and questions her about her past life because he wants to know more about her, but he also wants to protect her. 

The secondary characters are also amazing and the make you instantly fall in love with each of them in a different way. Grady ends up becoming a father figure to Ellora in many ways as he takes her under his wing and she also helps to get the pub looking pristine again. I also love _____! She is Ellora’s best friend in Scotland and like a sister to her. I just love how the two of them are when they are with one another!

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book! I would recommend it to anyone. I didn’t want this book to end and now I am waiting on the next book in the series to come out! When will that be Lady J?

Rating: 5/5



Author Interview

Me: What is your favorite writing style?
LJ: I love writing suspense, anything that gets my heart pumping is a plus. I wrote this book in third POV, but don't mind reading or writing in first...(I like to get inside the characters head)
Me: What do you feel is the best thing about writing?
LJ: Letting my imagination take me away, no rules or limitations! That's so much fun and exciting. Also, watching my characters develop, I literally talk about them like they are real life people.
Me: What do you do when you are not writing?
LJ: Reading! Wrangle my three beautiful girls and two fur babies. I also love being outdoors, and go shooting with the hubby. (I love big guns)
Me: Do you like reading?
LJ: I don't like reading. I LOVE reading. As a kid my household was a reading household.
Me: Who is your favorite author?
LJ: My favorite author/book is Swan Song by Robert McCammon. LOVES.
Me: What inspired you to start writing?
LJ: Forever Marked came to me as a very intense dream. The very first paragraph in the book was actually in my dream. My whole family has very bizarre and detailed dreams that we love to compare to one another. But this dream was reoccurring. I wrote chunks of the details down when I woke. My twin sister, quite literally, kicked my butt in gear. I had some written chapters and ideas but she inspired me to finish it. To keep it up.
Me: What are your ambitions?
LJ: To just love what I do, always give any and everything I do, my best.
Me: Where do your ideas come from?
LJ: For the first book the idea came to me in a dream. (See above). After that the characters took off on their own. Each one screaming at me to write their story. I'm writing the second book in the series even as we speak. 
Me: Do you work from an outline, plot, or do you prefer to just see where an idea takes you?
LJ: I try to list at least basic plot points but, the story always strays from that path. I'm a die hard pantser.
Me: What is the hardest thing about writing this book?
LJ: Writing the blurb. Ugh death to blurbs. Lol this was hard for me because it was always too long. Plus I didn't want to give anything away.
Me: What was the easiest part of writing this book?
LJ: Giving my characters a personality. They pretty much do that themselves. 
Me: Did you ever get writers block and if so what did you do to over come it?
LJ: I haven't had writers block yet. But, it does take me a moment to get into the zone. I have several go to songs I listen to, to get me in the right mind frame for the specific scene I'm writing. Music is my key ingredient.
Me: What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
LJ: If I'm in love with the characters, I have a hard time letting go. That's why I love a series.
Me: Do you self proofread, edit, and/ or publish this book yourself?
LJ: I have critique partners, BETA readers and I have an editor. I want this book to be the best it can be. But I am going to self publish.
Me: Tell us about the cover and who made the cover?
LJ: My MC is a tomboy plus she is on the run from a dangerous man so, I wanted something to show case that. When I saw this cover done by the lovely Airicka Phoenix Mystical Creations, I was in love! It's exactly how I imagined her. 
Me: What do you have planned for future books?
LJ: I'm writing the second book in the series and have a third planned. I've also finished the first draft of a Halloween anthology that's in the works with a dozen other amazing authors. I'm really excited about it.
Me: How can readers discover more about your work?
Amazon: coming soon!


~About the Author~

 I grew up in Upstate NY, but my heart belongs in Arizona. If given the chance, I'd gladly trade in frost burn, for sun burn!  I speak in movie quotes ALL the time. Seriously, it might be considered a sickness by now ;) I absolutely love the sound of others laughing. So I'll try to get you to do just that!

I love coffee, peanut butter cups, and OF COURSE reading.  I grew up causing all kinds of trouble with my twin sister/partner in crime.  My wild over-exaggerated story telling grew, along with my love for reading. With the support of my hubby and the encouragement of my womb mate, I put pen to paper, and let my imagination take over.

I am an author currently working on the release of my debut novel. Forever Marked is a romantic suspense, and the first book in a series. I enjoy reading all genres. Paranormal, thriller, romantic suspense, dystopian.... You name it!

Lady J on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authorLadyJ?fref=ts
Forever Marked on Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25863185-forever-marked?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr








2 comments:

  1. Fabulous book!! Can't wait for more from LadyJ!!!

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    Replies
    1. I cannot wait either! Im happy others feel the same :)

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