Give Me Hope :: Book Review

Caution!! Proceed with care.
Spoilers!

Give Me Hope is book two of The Reason Series by Zoey Derrick. Give Me Reason was the first book.
In Give Me Reason, we meet Vivienne Callahan and Mikah Blake and those of you who read it, like me almost died where the book left off. Vivienne is beaten and left for dead by none other than her ex-boyfriend Riley.

GMH is Mikah’s story. It starts the night Viv is beaten; the police show up at Mikah’s house and question him. They’ve seen his car outside of her apartment and want to know why. Mikah goes to her apartment the next day, hoping to take her to her doctor appointment, but she never comes out. He goes inside and finds her unconscious in a pool of blood. He rushes her to the hospital.

Yeah, so… she’s in real bad shape and the doctor puts her into a coma to give her a chance to heal. The whole book takes place in the hospital, the waiting room, a private room, and the chapel. He finds out that Riley’s father is one of his business partners and begins cutting all ties with him; the father comes to the hospital and actually argues with Mikah.

Mikah begins to understand that he really loves her. He also learns exactly what he is and what those strange pains in his shoulders are and why. Oh yeah…
He’s an angel!
He has an angel teacher, and OMG, the prologue in the beginning of Book 1 starts making major sense.

Vivienne is connected to all sorts of machines while she’s in a coma, some to keep her alive others to monitor the baby. The heart monitor reacts every time Mikah comes near her and he’s happy to know she knows he’s there. Something is going on with Vivienne though; Mikah and Dr. Alston notice can’t believe how fast she’s healing. When she finally wakes up, she is happy he’s there. She accepts his offers of help, which pleases him.

If I don’t stop now, I’m going to give away the whole book.

I loved Give Me Hope. Loved it! I’m not big on angels but I was happy with Ms. Derrick’s Mikah. I can barely wait until December 31, when Book 3 should be released. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. I allowed my 15 yro read Give Me Reason, and she’s anxiously awaiting Give Me Hope, along with my mother and a few other women I know.

I tell you this because women of various ages love the first book in the series and I’m sure the second book will be the same.

BLURB/SYNOPSIS

An Angel is he…

From the first moment he saw her, MIKAH BLAKE was seized by an inexplicable need to protect Vivienne Callahan, a fragile but fiery young woman who’s awakened a slumbering power within him. With his encouragement, Vivienne has begun to turn her life around, and things seem to be heading in the direction of a slow but certain happily-ever-after. But that happy ending is side tracked by a rising evil that is determined to destroy her.

When her dark past comes back to claim her, Mikah is caught in a whirlwind of events that lead him down a path he was born into but never understood. Until now.

Can Mikah save Vivienne?  Will his love be enough? Will he be able to control his angelic powers and use them to protect his newfound love?

Zoey Derrick Author Information:

Amazon Best Selling Angels, Demons & Devils and Paranormal Author of Give Me Reason – The Reason Series Book One comes from Glendale, Arizona. Zoey, was a mortgage underwriter by day and is now a paranormal, romance and erotica novelist full-time. She writes stories as hot as the desert sun itself. It is this passion that drips off of her work, bringing excitement to anyone who enjoys a good and sensual love story.

Not only does she aim to take her readers on an erotic dance that lasts the night, it allows her to empty her mind of stories we all wish were true.
 Her stories are hopeful yet true to life, skillfully avoiding melodrama and the unrealistic, bringing her gripping Erotica only closer to the heart of those that dare dipping into it.

The intimacy of her fantasies that she shares with her readers is thrilling and encouraging, climactic yet full of suspense. She is a loving mistress, up for anything, of which any reader is doomed to return to again and again.

Links To Find Zoey

WWW.ZOEYDERRICK.COM

http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Derrick/e/B00CNZYGZU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ZOEY.DERRICK

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ZOEY.DERRICK.1

WWW.TWITTER.COM/ZOEYDERRICK

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060851.Zoey_Derrick

Interview with Author Zoey Derrick

I’m so very happy to have Ms. Zoey Derrick, author of Finding Love’s Wings and Give Me Reason here today. Thank you so much Zoey for coming by today. I’m ecstatic to have you hear and for your jump into the Paranormal genre. So why don’t we get this interview started. Everyone’s here to learn more about you not to hear me gush about your work.

 

When did you start writing stories?
I started writing stories when I was in high school. Preferring to tell stories in my papers rather then honing in on the facts. I stopped writing stories all together until a college course last year when I was tasked with a creative writing project. That project was to be 4 pages long and before I knew it, it was 28 pages long and Finding Love’s Wings was born.

Why Erotica?
Why not? Just kidding – I love writing erotica because it gives me a chance to fulfill my own fantasies and even the fantasies that I never knew I had. Plus, writing about sex is just so much fun! Also, after reading Twilight (yeah I know, I’m a sekret Twihard at heart) I realized that to me Love and Sex are synonymous, you cannot have one without the other -in my mind.

Why did you decide to not go the erotica route for Give Me Reason?
Give Me Reason has no erotica in it (yet-as a series- is still to be determined) because Vivienne is such a strong character with a very devastating background that I needed her to be in a good headspace in order to allow for that passion to flow and grow.

Why did you choose to self-publish?
This is a tough question to answer. I decided that self=publishing would be best for me (for now) because it allows me the freedom and flexibility to write what I want, when I want it, and how I want it. It also gives me the ability to be able to work a full-time day job (again, for now) to make ends meet without being tied to publisher demands. There is also the freedom of writing. I cannot write if I am not in the mood, and stories come to me when they are ready to be written down and I cannot force them.
Lastly – I absolutely hate rejection! LOL!

* I understand the Muse demands attention when she demands it. She’ll leave if I can’t engage in her Muse.iness *

What’s next? What can we expect from you?
Wow, there is a big long list of what’s next. Give Me Reason is book 1 in a 4-part novella series that I’m working on as we speak. Give Me Hope – Book 2 has been written and is in the process of editing and development. The books will be released about 8 weeks apart from each other, concluding on Valentines Day 2014.
After GMR(Give Me Reason) I will be deep in the throws of Finding Love’s Wings 2 (I know – Finally right?)
I also have plans completing Devilish Desire as a counterpart to the Reason Series. If you haven’t read Devilish Desire – You can find it on www.deadlyeverafter.com

*Yay! I’m so excited for more of GMR and Devilish Desire is **faints** Finding Love’s Wings, well that was amazing too. I can’t wait for all the progress*

What’s your long-term writing goal?
To keep writing, and writing and writing some more. I have no plans in the near future to stop writing.

What’s your writing goal for this year?
See above about what to expect from me – but by December 31^st 2013 I plan to have the entire Reason Series completed and begin writing Finding Love’s Wings 2 (Title to be determined)

What kind of author do you want to be remembered as?
A creative one. I want my stories to be unique in their characters. Plot lines are sometimes hard to be unique, but as in FLW, you see that though the story line may be similar to a lot of other stories out there, you have two amazing characters to bring you along for the ride.

Would you ever write a novel targeted just to men?
No, I can’t say that I will, though I have a mountain of short erotic stories that some day may make it onto the interwebs and those particular stories may have a larger male audience.
 

What’s your favorite genre to write?
At first, before-during-after Finding Love’s Wings I would have said Romance/Erotica. But the Reason Series is giving me new love for the Paranormal, Angels and Demons more specifically.

* Once you go Paranormal You never go back. ROTFLOL! Seriously 😀 *

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Oh Boy! This is hard to answer because I can’t say that I have a favorite genre – I love Romance, Mystery- Suspense, Erotica, Paranormal (Vampires more specifically)

* Oh, that last one hit my soft spot! Paranormal and VAMPIRES!! *

What’s your favorite novel?
Uhm, there isn’t just one, there are a mountain of them.. But the ones that I go back to again and again make this list.
J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. (Vampire)
Marata Eros’s Druid Breeders Series. (Vampire)
E.L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey, Darker, Freed (Romance/Erotica/BDSM)
Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster (New Adult/Romance)
Sylvain Reynard’s Gabriel’s Inferno/Gabriel’s Rapture (Romance)
Anything by Nelson DeMille (Mystery-Suspense)
Sylvia Day’s Crossfire Series (Erotic Romance)

What’s your favorite Story?
Stems from my childhood – The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and every book after that! 🙂

What’s your favorite Poem?
Tell Tale Heart – By Edgar Allen Poe

What’s your favorite type of music?
Country – Love me some cowboys!

What’s your favorite band or group?
All time favorites include Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, and Creed/Scott Stapp are the ones I always return to.

What’s your favorite song?
This changes DAILY! But right now my favorites are “Just Give Me A Reason” by P!nk, “Stay” By Rhianna and Mikky Ekko and these are mainly because they are the two songs that have been driving The Reason Series.

Do you listen to music while you write?
All the time. Usually whatever playlist I’ve created for the book I’m writing.

Who is you hero?
My Mom. Her strength gives me strength and I hope to one day be more like her.

Who was your childhood hero?
Other than my Mom, I can’t say for sure that I had one.

What are you proudest moments?
I have a Son who is 8 – Do I need to say much more than that? 🙂

What one thing would you like to learn to do?
Drive a motorcycle.

List five things on you bucket list. If you have one.
Go to Europe – Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy.
Drive the entire historic Route 66.
Go to Australia
Write a New York Times BestSeller
See one of my books on the big screen. 

What message do you want your readers to get from your work?
This question is going to have a very specific answer in terms of Give Me Reason – I want everyone to know that there is help available to those who suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and more importantly that the women who are victims of Domestic Violence know there is help out there.

What are your favorite things to do when you not writing?
Reading, reading, oh did I mention reading -though lately my TBR pile has grown to the size of a small mountain.

What do you like best about your hometown?
I don’t think I can pin point one thing specifically about my hometown that I like best – Where I live now is so far removed from what I grew up in that I think I love both equally. 🙂!

If you could trade places with a famous person for one day, who would it be?
I cannot think of anyone that wouldn’t get me into trouble – You know all those wives jealous over another woman spending time with the super sexy husband! :-P!

If you could spend the day with anyone, living or dead who would it be?
Oh my goodness – this is a tough question to answer because there are SO many on my list.
William Shakespeare is top of that list though.

What do you think is your best trait?
That I’m crazy enough to go out on a limb and do things, like write books.

What’s one of the most important things you learned from you characters?
To be honest, to stand up and fight for what you believe in and most of all that you can find love in the most unexpected places.

Do have any words to live by?
Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!

What song is the anthem of your life?
This requires and entire album and then some. I don’t have one particular song that fits me completely because of the close relationship I have with my mom is a song by Jamie O’Neal called Somebody’s Hero.

What would you take with you to a deserted island?
Books, lots and lots of books unless of course I could take the actual characters from those books, then that would be one hell of a party.

Do you consider yourself romantic?
I can be, when the moments are right or if they’re with the right person.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
See bucket list above. Any of those European Counties or Australia.

Whom, if any, would you like to work with?
I would LOVE to work with a list of Authors on a book or collaboration but the first one that comes to mind is Debra Anastasia (Author of Poughkeepsie, Bittersweet Seraphim and Crushed Seraphim). Her humor and overall attitude on life is inspiring.

 

Thank you so much Zoey, for stopping by and talking with us. I can’t wait for the sequels to these great works.

Here are Zoey’s links so you can follow her. I think we should all keep our eyes on this very talented woman. 

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Personal Page

Goodreads

Twitter

Website

Give Me Reason :: Book Review

OMG!!

I really mean OMG, one of my most fav indie authors has taken a break form her Romance/Erotica genre and jumped into Paranormal.

Now you all know I’d be all over that right!

So without me going on and on about how much I love Zoey Derrick’s “Give Me Reason” I’ll just tell you about it… in a book review.

 

Vivienne Callahan is no stranger to a hard life. Her mother was a drug addition while Viv was young. She had to learn how to take care of herself from a very early age, she also learned how strong she was physically (to survive the physical beatings her mothers boyfriends or lovers would inflict on her) and emotionally (to watch her mother slip away from sainity from the drug use, and everything else I just said). She has survived her boyfriend beating her almost to death. This is a strong determined woman! One I fell in love with right away.

A few moths after being released from the hospital (boyfriend tried to kill her) is when we meet her.
She’s at work at a diner. Of course it would be in a bad part of town and at night, the graveyard shift. The pay is crap, her apartment is crap, she barely can afford to eat.

Mikah Blake is rich powerful and handsome, and he’s physically drawn to the diner Viv works at my a strange pain in his back. He takes to Viv but she’s stubborn and won’t accept his help. As time goes by she begins to accept his help a little but not much. She can’t understand what he’d want with her. He’s perfect in every way, or so she believes until she does some research on him and. Finds he’s lost all of his family to death or illness. Now enter a fight, and Viv throws him out of her hospital room, yeah she’s in the hospital agian, for dehydration this time. He leaves! Surprising Viv, no one has ever listened to her commands before.

As time goes by she keeps thinking about Mikah, how he listens to most of what she requests, and begins to wish he’d come back so she could apologize. This is what she’s thinking about One night after coming home from work Viv’s ex is back, to finish the faulty job he left undone, he beats her and leaves her in her apartment for dead. Mikah finds her and rushes her to the hospital where we are left on a cliffhanger.

A cliffhanger, really. I about blew my lid…
I’ve been stalking Zoey on Facebook, and found some wonderful news though, Give Me Hope (part 2 of the Give Me series) is scheduled to be released in November.
I can wait until November, so can you…

Go read this book!!

Seriously, you all know paranormal is up my alley, and I love it. But Give Me Reason is so wonderful, I’m sending Viv and Mikah an invitation for Coffee we’ll gossip, and if you guys are lucky you might get to know some of the inside scoop.

What do you think Mikah, Viv? Can we have some coffee, some gossip, get some inside scoop? I’ll bring the coffee, homemade pumpkin chocolate chip bread… Whatever you like
PLLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEE

And if that wasn’t enough to get you all as excited as I am. I have an author interview with
Ms. Zoey Derrick herself! Come back tomorrow to read all about her.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Vivienne Callahan has known only hardship. As if growing up with an alcoholic, drug addicted mother wasn’t traumatic enough, she’s escaped from her physically and verbally abusive boyfriend only to struggle every day to make ends meet as a waitress in a Minneapolis diner.

Along comes Mikah Blake, a handsome stranger who quickly takes an unexpected and persistent interest in her. On the surface, “Mr. Suit” seems to be Vivienne’s opposite: rich, well-fed, successful. As Vivienne will learn, Mikah is more than he seems, and for reasons unknown, he’s determined to be her knight in shining armor. But after having finally found her own two feet after years of abuse,  it’s difficult for her to accept Mikah’s help.

Will her body’s unexpected response to Mikah’s touch be reason enough to overcome her pride and traumatic past and learn to love and trust? Or will her past, refusing to be left behind, come back to claim her?

 

Author Info

It is from Glendale, Arizona that Zoey Derrick, a mortgage underwriter by day and romance and erotica novelist by night, writes stories as hot as the desert sun itself. It is this passion that drips off of her work, bringing excitement to anyone who enjoys a good and sensual love story.

Not only does she aim to take her readers on an erotic dance that lasts the night, it allows her to empty her mind of stories we all wish were true.

Her stories are hopeful yet true to life, skillfully avoiding melodrama and the unrealistic, bringing her gripping Erotica only closer to the heart of those that dare dipping into it.

The intimacy of her fantasies that she shares with her readers is thrilling and encouraging, climactic yet full of suspense. She is a loving mistress, up for anything, of which any reader is doomed to return to again and again.

Want an excerpt??? You do You know you do…

 

Excerpt

He’s looking down at me, making me feel small at five feet two inches. He has to be at least six feet tall. Broad shoulders. His suit today is gunmetal grey with blue or black pin striping—I can’t tell which. His shirt is a beautiful lavender color with a darker purple tie.

“How do you know I’m not an addict?” I ask, softly.

He smiles at me, warm, genuine. “Because, you’ve come to return the money I left you last night as a tip.” My jaw falls open.

“How”—I swallow hard—”did you know?”

His smile fades a little. “Because, why else would you come down here?”

I close my mouth and look down at the floor. His ability to read me is really scary.

“Since you haven’t eaten since last night, I’m going to take you to lunch.”

I feel my face flush bright red, both in anger and complete irritation. “That is not why I’m here. I’ve survived for my entire life fending for myself, I don’t need some rich hot shot business mogul buying me food.” I reach into the pocket of my bag and pull the folded up paper from it. I thrust it towards him. He refuses to take it. Tears of frustration trickle down my cheeks. “Damn it Mikah, take it.” I push it at him again and again he refuses. “I’m not a damn charity case. I don’t need your money or your food.”

The bell chimes. We’ve finally reached the skyway. As soon as the doors open, I drop the folded up paper with his money in it and bolt from the elevator, turning left, hoping and praying I can get away.

“Vivienne, stop.” I hear him say behind me. I keep going, walking quickly but not running. Yet. I’m trying hard to not make a scene.

But he doesn’t seem to care about that. He catches me quickly, spins me around. I grab hold of his arm to catch my balance so I don’t go sprawling onto the floor.

 

Find Ms. Derrick Here

Amazon Author Page

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Personal Page

Goodreads

Twitter

Website

 

Finding Love’s Wings :: Book Review

Ms. Derrick released “Finding Love’s Wings” on Amazon a few weeks ago. I read the novel and wanted to share it with you.

Finding Love’s Wings is the perfect combination of touching romance and HOT erotica. The back-stories make you feel for Cami and Tristan. You really want and hope they fall in love because they fill each other’s weaknesses and encourage the other. It’s really a beautiful love story.

Cameron Enders is a beautiful, rich, and smart woman who doesn’t think she can ever feel love. Her parents were never around while she was growing up, they sent her to boarding schools abroad, and now at twenty-four they’ve both passed away. She’s had a string of bad relationships. The most recent ending after Cami finds him in bed with another woman. To make matters worse, her father has left her the CEO position of a very important company she’s not sure she wants to be a part of. She runs away to a secluded island in an attempt to think through her life.

Tristan Michaels is Hollywood’s hottest actor. His on and off screen love interest Layla Brooks wrings him through the gutter. Not only does she cheat on him with the whole crew of her last movie she begs him to fix all of her problems too, but Tristan’s had enough. After a Hollywood premier and a public fight with Layla, he disappears.

On the beautiful secluded island of Tarah, two broken hearts meet. Tristan has seen a woman various times in the past 24 hours. He knows it’s the same woman because of the unique tattoos on her back and shoulders. At the bar, he notices the beautiful woman refuse man after man a few stick around a few minutes longer but leave. He buys her a $450 drink. When she tries to thank him, she realizes he’s her crush Tristan Michaels.

They both can’t get the other out of their mind. Could they fall in love even with their pasts? Cami doesn’t think she can ever love. She doesn’t know what it feels like to love or be loved. Tristan doesn’t want to rush things and make Cami a rebound girl.

My favorite part is when Tristan finally explains his tattoo to Cami. My heart broke and my eyes filled with tears. Cami’s reasons behind her tattoos are heart wrenching too. I absolutely loved the ending. I’m not going to spoil it for you all though.

Personally, I was happy with the amount of Erotica in it, I’m not big on the erotica genre, and this was just right for me. The love story is amazing. . I loved this tangled romance; the characters pulled me into their story without any doubt that they were perfect for each other. When their pasts would get in the way, I would cheer them on. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I cheered the characters on.
I give Ms. Derrick 6 out of five stars. You can get your copy at Amazon
You can buy “Finding Love’s Winges” for $3.99 on Amazon.

@ZoeyDerrick / Facebook / ZoeyDerrick.com