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Monday, January 20, 2014

Blog Tour for Rain by Nicole Hurley-Moore‏ Our Author Interview and Review !


Rain - Tour Banner

Title – Rain

Author – Nicole Hurley-Moore

Genre – Fantasy (medieval fairytale)

Publication Date – 20th November 2013

Length (Pages/# Words) - 169 pages

Publisher – Jupiter Gardens Press

Cover Artist – Tibbs Design


Rain - Book Cover


BOOK SYNOPSIS 

1216 AD

On the mountain, high above the village of Farran – Nuri is caught between heaven and hell. Two men fight for her love and her soul. The first is Maras, an elemental being who follows the storms. Nuri knows that he is not human, he’s something more. She believes he is her beautiful fallen angel. Yet he is transient and is bound to the elements and their love may be as fleeting as the storm itself. The second is Brother Erebus, a pious monk whose tortured soul is twisted by his desire for her.

But Nuri may sacrifice more than her heart when the Church brands her angel a demon. As Brother Erebus will do anything to protect her soul from the silver haired devil, even if he has to crush her body to do it.


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AUTHOR INTERVIEW – Angels with an Attitude 

What would you have done differently if you were the main character of your book?


I would have avoided the mad monk. 


What was your inspiration behind this book? 


I was listening to the rain after a ten year drought had finally broken. I started thinking about rain, storms and what if there were rain spirits. 


Why did you become a writer?


Something I always wanted to do. I toyed with it when I was younger but it has only been in the last three years that I’ve been able to apply myself. 


Do you have a favorite author or authors?


I have a long varied list of favourite authors. Some of my favourite romances authors include – Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Eloisa James, Anne Gracie and Anna Campbell.


Do you like to write your books in a continuing series? 


Most of my stories are stand alone, although, I do have a two that are linked by a theme – Victorian theatres. Dancing on Air was set in the world of ballet and I have just started writing the next story which is about a girl trying to save her theatre and put on a play. The characters are different but the link is the Victorian era and old theatres. 


If you could date any character from any book, who would it be and why?


I have had a deep and abiding crush on Mr. Darcy since I was fifteen. 


What kinds of books do you like to read in your spare time?


Historical romance, mysteries, paranormal romances, history books (especially medieval & Victorian eras) and cook books. 


As a reader and writer I think it is important to get to know your fans and make a connection with them as an author who takes the extra step to hear what their fans think and want in their continued writing is continued success and key to selling more books .Do you agree with that?


I think being able to make a connection with the readers is wonderful. 


Do you cry when writing sad scenes?


I try not to. Someone has to keep a clear head, if it’s not the characters than I suppose it has to be me. 


Did you have a Cover Designer?


Yes, Rain was designed by Tibbs Designs. I’ve been very lucky, Valerie Tibbs has designed several of my covers and I love them all. 

http://www.tibbsdesign.com/

Who is your fictional boyfriend or girlfriend crush? 


Mr. Darcy followed closely by the Scarlet Pimpernel. 


If you were able to dine and have a one on one with your favorite writer/author who would it be?


Nora Roberts because she’s Nora Roberts ;)


Do just re-read your favorite books? 


I love re-reading my favourite books. They are like old friends. I have several bookcases full of ‘keepers’ but I do enjoy finding new stories and new authors.


Do you ever get in a reading slump like your readers do? 


I think everyone does at some time or another. Even when you absolutely adore your favourite genre, I still think you need to mix it up with something different. 


What is the funniest book you ever read?



Hard to say but I did really love ‘Fabulous Nobodies’ by Lee Tulloch. It’s about a girl (Reality Nirvana Tuttle), her frocks, hot clubs, fashion and the pursuit of fame in New York during the 1980’s. 


EXCERPT


Nuri couldn’t sleep; the straw mattress was hard and lumpy. She had kept a candle burning, an extravagance, but she needed the dim light to stop the stark stone walls of the cell from crowding in on her. She turned and she tossed, but it was her mind that would not allow her to sleep. 
Thoughts of Maras kept turning in her brain. She had seen his pale eyes warm when he looked at her, and her skin burned at his touch. He would leave her when the season changed and the storms blew over the mountain, but until then he was hers. With a sigh, she threw back the blankets and got off the narrow bed. She shivered as her feet touched the chilly stone floor of the cell. These small rooms were the guest accommodation for Farran Chapel, but they felt more like prison cells. There was one high window that was closed with a wooden shutter, the gray walls, and the floor – everything stark and hard, especially the bed.
Mayhap Erebus was right. Perhaps he could see her more clearly than she could see herself. For at that moment, she would have given nearly anything to have the courage to walk into Maras’s room. The more she thought about it, the more she came to believe she and Maras were destined to be together – not forever, but until the rain came.  
She wanted him. She wanted him to hold, kiss, and touch her. She wanted him in every way, even if it put her on the path that Erebus feared so much. Maras made her feel alive. Galfridus wanted her to marry, but she knew she would not, as no other man could measure up to her angel. 
She stood next to the wall that adjoined their rooms, and placed her flattened hand against it. Her courage had failed her. What if she went to him and he turned her away? 
~* * *~
Maras stood by the gray stone wall and placed his hand on it. He could hear Nuri moving about the room, restless. It took all his determination to stop himself from going to her. He knew that he was leaving, and that he had no right to complicate her life, as he would never be able to share his own with her. But with each passing day, he was drawn more and more to her beauty and her quiet, gentle spirit. He treasured the moments when she would lift her head and smile at him, the way her hands would glide over his skin and make it tingle. From the moment he had seen her, he had tried to fight the overwhelming desire to feel her arms about him, to taste her lips, to take her. 
Nuri made him feel wanted and needed. It was a feeling that he had long forgotten. She made him feel...human.
He stood in his dark cell and wondered what she would do if he went to her, even though he didn’t have the right. Would she welcome him to her embrace, to her bed, or would she turn him away?
If she did, wouldn’t that destroy him?
~* * *~
Erebus had waited until the lonely hours after midnight before he silently crept into the guesthouse. Without a sound, he let himself into the cell next to Nuri. He leaned his body flat against the adjoining wall, and listened to the girl toss and turn in her bed. Pressing his smooth cheek against the rough stone, he wished he had the ability to melt through the wall so he could watch her every movement. He told himself that he would endure this vigil to make sure that Maras would not take advantage...not take her purity. It was his duty to keep her safe from the devil with the silver hair and pale eyes. He knew in his soul that there was something different, something wrong about Maras – something not human. He was a demon among his fold, preying on the innocent, preying on Nuri.
He heard her get out of bed and cross the floor. He pictured in his head her slim form, dressed in a long white shift.  Did the shift cover her shapely ankles? Did it slide innocently off her soft shoulder, exposing her creamy skin? The images tormented and fascinated him. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers across her shoulder, to kiss her perfect mouth. 
He took a deep breath and shook the images from his head. The pictures in his mind were sent to torment him. The demon was at work. 
He would be strong; he would not fail. It was his duty to protect Nuri from temptation. He would protect her soul, even if he had to crush her body to do it.

Our Review

What and enjoyable read from cover to cover.This is a first time read for me by this author and I really enjoyed it.

What a sweet romance between Maras and Nuri.I new right from the beginning that I would just love Nuri you could tell she was a sweet and innocent girl that cared about others. Nuri also had a backbone and spoke her mind but in  ways that she tried not to hurt anyones feelings.

Enjoyable characters to read about .You could not help but love most of them as they cared so much for Nuri and her welfare.

Nuri has recently lost her father and is living alone on a mountain which has the town Monks at loose ends worrying about her welfare.She doesn't want them worrying or interfering in her life as she is capable of taking care of herself but, there is one Monk that has taken his worrying a little to far and has Nuri on edge and a little afraid. She believes this Monk is more interested in her that her welfare.Not only that she worries they will plot to marry her off to someone not of her liking.

Nuri and Maras meet when she returns to her mountain and is out and about looking for kindling in the forest when she comes upon a hurt male buried in the rocks.She is bent on saving this man anyway she can.She knows  as time passes  that Maras is more that a mortal man and even so proceeds to do everything in her power to save this hurt man.

Maras and Nuri romance starts when she starts nursing him back to heath.It starts out as friends then gradually grows once they get to know one another,the problem is does Nuri risk her heart knowing that he must leave once he is well?

Maras is one hot and sexy Angel or and elemental as he calls himself who is carrying around past hurts and betrayal within his lonely heart.I just loved Maras he was so kind and caring and gentle and also protective of Nuri but also at the same time he tried to put up a wall between them to protect his heart from being hurt once again.But, Nuri is just a sweet and loving creature he can't seem to do what he thinks he must  as she has wormed her way into his heart without doing anything other than just being just who she is.What and interesting character Maras turned out to be he was part of  natures elements they call him Rain.Rain and natures storms gives him power and strength. Maras  needs the water to survive  to heal himself and to be healthy.Maras impressed me the way he was able to manipulated those elements to do his biding.Never once does he give off the aura that you have anything to fear from him.Instead you  can't do anything other that fall in love with him as he was just a lovable character all around.

Nuri was such a sweet girl with a big heart .She is so sweet that you are really impressed with her  character as she has a little bit of fire to her.No simpering miss here.Never once meeting Maras was she afraid of him.Even knowing his secrets about him she never shied away or lived in fear of him her main focus was always getting him better.Nuri knows or senses his past hurts and loneliness within him and sets out to not only heal his body but, his heart as well.You feel her heart break as she knows that loving this man will lead to breaking her own heart but never once falters to help heal him even knowing that she will lose her heart to a man who in the end will leave her.What a brave soul , she would rather have a bit of happiness than none at all.

Love is never easy there are always those who are jealous and vengeful.Danger lurks around this couple .Will this couple survive the superstitions of others along with betrayal and madness of the towns people and the unstable monk?Will the love they bore each other be enough to save one another ? Well I am rooting for them they make the perfect couple.I really enjoying reading about there journey together.The author did a find job mixing the plot up with danger and romance .The love scenes between them were not overly done they were just right for this couple sweet and loving.

I was intrigued with this story to beginning to end and could not put the book down.A sweet romance to pass the time on a lovely Sunday afternoon.I enjoyed this story so much by this author as I will be definitely looking into her other published titles and also looking forward to her new releases.It was one of those stories that you hate that it will end.

A recommended read to those who love paranormal romance but also a sweet love story not overly done.




Rain - Author Photo


AUTHOR BIO

Nicole has always been a lover of fairy tales, history and romance. She grew up in
Melbourne and has travelled extensively, whilst living her life through the romance of
books. Her first passion in life has always been her family, but after studying and achieving
a History degree and  Honours in Medieval Literature, she devoted her time to writing historical romance.
She is a full time writer who lives in the Central Highlands of Victoria with her family, where
they live in the peaceful surrounds of a semi‐rural town.


STALKER THE AUTHOR HERE: 



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1 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for such a great post the review is great and loved the interview - TONYA