Winners of The Highlander's Prize and Untouched

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS

Giveaways Ended May 4
 

ARC Copy of The Highlander's Prize

andieleah

Copy of Untouched

danni

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the book or let the Publisher/author know.  Please reply within 72 hours! 
Thank you to all who entered. 

Book Review: Untouched by Sara Humphreys

I absolutely love the warmth and charm of the Amoveo shifters...at least the good guys.  The bad guy  “Purists” are suitably twisted and evil!
  

Untouched 

by Sara Humphreys

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (April 3, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1402258461

ISBN-13: 978-1402258466

Also available in Kindle and other ebook formats.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2012 | Series: The Amoveo Legend

SHE SHOULD BE SEEN, BUT NEVER TOUCHED...

Kerry Smithson's modeling career ensures that she will be admired from afar, which is essential since mere human touch sparks blinding pain and terrifying visions.

EVERY GOOD MODEL NEEDS A HEAVENLLY BODYGUARD...

Dante Coltari is hired to protect Kerry from those who know who she is—or more importantly what she is—and want her dead because of it. Nothing could have prepared him for the challenge of keeping her safe. But, strangely, his lightest touch brings her exquisite pleasure rather than pain, and Dante and Kerry have an otherwordly connection that might just pull them through.

Praise for the Amoveo Legend series:

"Sizzling sexual chemistry that is sure to please."—Yankee Romance Reviews

"A moving tale that captures both the sweetness and passion of romance."—Romance Junkies, 5 Blue Ribbons

"Fascinating...the characters haunted my dreams...I'm dying for the sequel."—Long and Short Reviews Best Book

Review:

Kerry has been an outcast all her life because touching others brings her pain and overload of negative sensation.  Even her adopted parents learned not to share affection with her. The only person she could safely touch is Samantha and whenever they touch Kerry sees a large gray wolf. Now, surprisingly, Kerry discovers that when her persistent and sexy bodyguard, Dante, touches her she feels all sorts of wonderful tingles!

Dante knew from the first time he saw Kerry (see Book 1 - Samantha and Malcolm’s story) that she was his mate, even if she is a hybrid, like Sam, half human and half Amoveo.  Dante isn’t really trying to crowd her but he is anxious to convince her that he wants only her happiness and he needs to protect her from the Amoveo natural human enemies, the Cadeo.  He knows she is also in danger from attack by the “Purists” who object to any human mingling in the clan lines.

Dante (a red fox) knows he can trust Malcolm (an eagle) and Sam (a wolf) but they are trying to celebrate a little honeymoon time.  He is pretty sure he can trust his friends, easy going Steven (a coyote) and stoic William (a gyrfalcon). Beyond that group they are not sure who can be trusted, even those in the Amoveo Council, since Dante’s own father, a Council member was one of the Purists who attacked Sam and Kerry before.

The rolling banter between lonely but confident model Kerry and eager Dante is great fun. He calls her “Princess” and she calls him neanderthal or “Tarzan.”  The setting of her lingerie fashion shoot is a run down plantation in the Bayous of Louisiana. The place is creepy and nearby in New Orleans are Voodoo shops and the purveyors of spells and witchcraft.

The story moves along well with the fun sensual banter, the repeated threats against “the traitors” and finally with the action of the attack and rescue.  There are twists revealing characters as friends and foes.  There are a few bad words but I’m willing to read over those for the sheer joy of the strong love reflected in this series. If you like shifters who are not only hot but romantic, and a romance spiced with danger, this is a perfect series for you! I’m definitely looking forward to William's story and more excitement in the next installment.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel the warm glow:

She'd never been the focus of such love, devotion and fierce protection. As a model she'd had total strangers fantasize about her ... but no one--no man -- had every really loved her. Page 226.

Samantha kept saying he was the missing piece to Kerry's puzzle, but the truth was that Kerry was his. They fit. He wouldn't lose her. Not now. Not ever. Page 257.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing this book to read and review. Sourcebooks is also sponsoring a Giveaway of TWO Copies which I have included with the author interview. And don't miss the interview answers from Dante too!

A good part of this story is set in or near New Orleans, LA for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also include this book on my ARC challenge.
 

Giveaway + Interview with Sara Humphreys, Author of Untouched

Hello Sara! Thank you for sharing at Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf. I have really enjoyed your characters and exciting action in the Amoveo Series!

Questions for Sara:

Q1  Congratulations on your successful Amoveo Series! I believe there are to be five books - is that right?  I love to ask this question about series:  did you have each book plotted out before you started the first one or did the subsequent books flow from the first book?

SH: Hi! Thanks for the congratulations J Yes. There are going to be five books in the series but I did not have them all plotted out. When I was writing UNLEASHED, I figured out the story for UNTOUCHED. It pretty much worked out that way for the whole series. I get the idea for the next book as I’m writing the one prior and sometimes it changes. For example, in the original version of UNTOUCHED the villain was different but I realized that I liked that character far too much to make him evil and kill him off.

Q2   Have you found that any of your skills as an actress add extra help to your career as an author?

SH: Definitely. I use sense memory recall when I’m writing, just as I did when I was performing. As a writer, you have to be able to get inside the head of the characters and understand where everyone is coming from and what their motivations are. It’s actually quite similar to acting.

Q3  Please share with us one surprising thing about your experience writing Untouched, or about something else related to your career as a writer.

SH: When I was writing Untouched, it was the first time that music played a significant role in the creative process. I heard the song Honey on the Skin and it sparked a wealth of ideas for the story. Now I use music all the time, but it’s especially helpful when I need to spark a lazy muse.

Q4  Which word would you use to describe yourself and your personality?

SH: Tenacious. I’m like a dog with a bone and won’t let go until I get where I want to go. My mother calls it tunnel vision and it can be both a blessing and a curse. I try to use it for good and not for evil.

Q5  How did you come up with the idea for Sara’s Angels?

SH: I heard the term “street team” and just kind of ran with it. I put the idea out on Facebook and asked if any of my readers would want to help do some promo in their hometowns. I was shocked by the response! We’re up to 50 angels in 29 states and 3 countries. I’m always looking for more. J  The girls on the team came up with the name. I really like it and I’m so lucky to have this vibrant group of women on my side.

Questions for Dante:

Q1  Which word would you use to describe yourself and your personality?

D:  Protector.

Q2  Briefly, can you share with the readers if you have any special plans on how to win over Kerry?

D: I’m going to show her that she has nothing to fear from me and that my only desire is to make her happy. If that doesn’t work, I’ll be tempted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her off like the Neanderthal that she thinks I am. But since I doubt that would get me anywhere, I’d probably ask her best friend, Samantha what the hell I’m doing wrong.

Q3  Do you have any special vulnerabilities?

D: Yes. Kerry. I’ve never met a woman who can set me on edge with one look but she sure has managed that. It’s both unsettling and sexy as hell.

Q4  What is something you would never be caught dead doing/saying?

D: Where can I get a good mani-pedi?

Q5  What is the one thing your readers would be surprised to know about you?

D: I’m an excellent cook and my specialty is breakfast…in bed.

Final Question:  If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

SH: If Dante were to bring you breakfast in bed….he would bring….?

UNTOUCHED BY SARA HUMPHREYS – IN STORES APRIL 2012

She should be seen, but never touched…

Kerry Smithson's modeling career ensures that she will be admired from afar, which is essential since mere human touch sparks blinding pain and terrifying visions.

Every good model needs a heavenly bodyguard…

Dante Coltari is hired to protect Kerry from those who know who she is—or more importantly what she is—and want her dead because of it. Nothing could have prepared him for the challenge of keeping her safe. But, strangely, his lightest touch brings her exquisite pleasure rather than pain, and Dante and Kerry have an otherwordly connection that might just pull them through.

 

“Red-hot love scenes punctuate a well-plotted suspense story that will keep readers turning pages as fast as they can.”

—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives with her husband--who is very considerate of her double life--and four amazing boys, in Bronxville, New York. For more information, please visit http://sarahumphreys.com, Like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Amoveo and follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/authorsara.

 Sourcebooks has graciously offered TWO Copies of Untouched for Giveaway!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: 
1.  Answer the Author's Question above (the last of the interview questions.)
2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.
3.  For an extra entry, make a meaningful comment on the interview.
4.  One more entry for commenting on the Review.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS.

* This contest is open US and Canada only.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on May 4, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on May 5 with 72 hours to complete the winners' form.