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Vampire Assassin
The Awakening features a wolf-vampire hybrid on a journey to save his mate and who is accompanied in his quest by both allies and enemies. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The idea for Nathan comes from my Longing Mates series, which relates the love of a werewolf and a vampire and their efforts to bring peace between their two races. At the end of this series, the characters have a child, and thus Nathan was born. I immediately knew that he needed his own series. Obviously, the world has changed over the past centuries from when his parents lived. In addition to saving his mate, Nathan has so much more to do. One of his goals is also to claim back his throne and remove the current Queen, who chased him out of his kingdom. The Awakening is the second book of the Blood and Kisses series, which will have five books.
What draws you to the supernatural genre?
When I read a book or write, I want to get away from everyday life and stress. I need a book that will sweep me away to a world where people are more busy preventing a dark prophecy from happening and finding love at the same time than worrying about what to cook for supper and the chores that need to be done.
Do you have a favorite among your unique cast of characters? One that was especially fun to craft?
Nathan is my favorite character just because he cares about the woman he loves and is strong despite all his challenges. But Caleb, the vampire assassin, was especially fun to write. He is such a dark and morally grey character. He pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not.
What can readers expect in Book 3 of the Blood and Kisses series? Where will it take readers?
Book 3 of the Blood and Kisses series is called Dragons’ Rebirth. So obviously, you can expect dragons. It will take readers on a wild ride where the dragons, which were extinct, return. Nathan is on a quest to retrieve his mate, who was abducted. And Caleb is fleeing the furies of a Goddess.
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The woman Nathan loves has been taken from him, and now his wolf is restless. The half-vampire hybrid will tear the world apart to find her. But what he discovers is more than what he bargained for. Hurt and betrayed, he will face his legacy.
Caleb awakens as the goddess’s son and the instrument of her vengeance. How will he react when he meets a woman he can’t kill? The vampire assassin is soon faced with a choice for which nothing could have prepared him.
After discovering the truth about the birth of the elven race, Elaine must find a way to save their magic, even if it means bringing dragons back to life. But her path is strewn with pitfalls, and the king has been tainted by darkness.
In this tale of passion, lust, betrayal, and death, enemies ally as they share a common goal: to restore the draconic race.
The Awakening
Danielle Paquette-Harvey’s The Awakening is an epic blend of dark fantasy and supernatural romance, weaving a tale of fate, power struggles, and forbidden love. It follows multiple characters, werewolves, vampires, elves, and other mythical beings each navigating their destinies in a world teetering between chaos and order. At its heart, the story is about Nathan, a hybrid caught in an identity crisis, struggling with his dual nature as he embarks on a dangerous quest to save his fated mate, Emerald. Alongside him are allies and enemies, each with their own agendas, creating a rich and layered narrative filled with intrigue, action, and heartache.
The book hooked me right away with its intensity. The prologue, where Samantha watches the destruction of her city by a dragon, is breathtaking. The scene is painted with fire and blood, capturing a sense of loss and helplessness that sets the tone for the entire novel. The way Samantha feels disgusted by the looters but still finds herself entangled in the beast’s fate was one of my favorite moments. This is not a story where characters neatly fit into hero or villain roles; they are deeply flawed, sometimes selfish, sometimes noble, but always compelling. I appreciated how the author allowed them to make mistakes and struggle with their decisions rather than handing them easy victories.
Nathan, the brooding and tormented protagonist, is both frustrating and fascinating. His internal battle between his vampire and werewolf halves adds depth to his character, making him more than just another supernatural hero. His relentless search for Emerald is emotional, and his despair when he thinks he’s lost her is palpable. But what really got me was the contrast between his ferocity in battle and his vulnerability in his quiet moments, especially when he dreams of Emerald and wakes up aching for her. The romance doesn’t feel forced or overly sentimental, it’s raw, messy, and full of longing.
One of the standout aspects of The Awakening is its world-building. The different supernatural factions, the history behind their conflicts, and the magic system are all well thought out. I particularly liked the Shadow Weavers and their eerie presence throughout the book. The idea of secret cults and forbidden knowledge always pulls me in, and Paquette-Harvey handles it masterfully. There were moments when the exposition felt a little heavy-handed. I do feel that some sections, particularly those explaining spells and rituals, somewhat slowed the pacing. That said, the action scenes more than made up for it, fast, brutal, and cinematic, they kept me flipping pages late into the night.
The Awakening is perfect for readers who love dark fantasies with a strong romantic undercurrent, deep character conflicts, and an immersive world. This book thrives in the morally gray, and that’s what makes it so engaging. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next installment.
Pages: 442 | ASIN : B0D2WG6MX2
The Epiphany Moment
The Awakening is the first volume in a narrative history about the descendants of two families that share a common ancestor. What inspired you to write and publish this book?
The epiphany moment for me to write an account about the family was upon the passing of my cousin, Otis Corbitt, on September 6, 2009. Otis was known to everyone in the family, as well as to other African American families in the Wagener-Salley area of South Carolina, for being astute in family history. Before his passing, he instructed me to begin writing a family history book. He said he did not have much time to live and the future of our efforts rested on my shoulders. I agreed. Secondly, I wanted to contextualize the stories of relatives that have been fragmented and forgotten in the past. Many of the relatives featured in the book were well respected in their professions publicly.
I appreciated the amount of history included in this book. What type of research did you undertake to ensure you got as complete a picture as possible?
I conducted several oral interviews with relatives and associates of our family. I also researched primary sources such as newspaper articles and genealogical records. Secondary sources (i.e., history books) were consulted as well.
What was one surprising thing you learned about the family during your research?
I learned that my mother family, The Seawrights, were the first families of both Orangeburg & Aiken County, South Carolina. They lived in the Tabernacle Township in the Orangeburg District during the time Orangeburg County was founded in 1870. Then on March 10th, 1871, the Tabernacle Township in Orangeburg County became a part of the newly formed Aiken County, which was founded by a racially diverse group of men. Out of the group, three African American men who were Civil War veterans and legislators signed the legal document that officially established Aiken County.
What can readers expect in volume two of this family saga?
Volume 2, will be a pictorial history which will have pictures, source images, and captions. It will be an extension of the work in Volume 1, but will include new stories.
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The book includes the famed stories of Floster L. Ellison, Jr., during the Civil Rights Movement, who became the co-founder of the Palmetto State Barbers Association and the first African American Barber Inspector In the State of South Carolina; and Tommy Ellison, whose experiences as a youth singing on the children choir, inspired him to pursue a legendary career in gospel music, affectionately known by many of his fans as “Mr. Superstar of Gospel”.
The book includes an appendix section which consists of individual pictures, documented history of places and events, and primary sources relative to the family saga.
The Awakening
The first volume in a compelling family saga, the narrative of The Awakening takes us back to the days of the Reconstruction Era and tells us about the two families that descended from Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison. Set in South Carolina, the author offers a vivid description of the bygone days; enslavement, freedom from slavery, and the subsequent socioeconomic conditions that led the family of Martha to become sharecroppers.
In this enlightening memoir the author shares the fascinating history of both the Seawright family and the Ellison family and presents the stories of the descendants who managed to achieve excellence in various fields. The backstory of Martha’s marriage to Dave Seawright, Sr., and then her courtship and marriage with Joseph Ellison, Sr. is not known in detail, but it stands true that she is the common ancestor of both these families. The author has done a fantastic job of bringing this history together in a coherent and thoughtful way.
The book is essentially a historical account, and it is quite evident that a great amount of research went into finding out each and every fact or incident mentioned throughout the work. The language is simple and easy to follow, which I much appreciated because I was easily able to immerse myself in the family history. The first part of the book tells readers about the Seawright-Ellison families, and in the second half, readers are presented with a host of pictures, newspaper cuttings, and notes, all related to the family in some way or another way. I enjoyed the inclusion of these bits of history as it gave the story much more depth and made it all seem so much more substantive.
This book and history is simply fascinating to go through and learn about these two remarkable families that are connected by a mutual foremother. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of knowledge and history shared. Author Walter B. Curry, Jr. arranges the available data, genealogical research, and historical events in a way that they fit together like pieces of a puzzle. And when those pieces come together, the revelation is enlightening and rewarding. If you are interested in learning more about black history, the Harlem Renaissance, or wish to know about the history of South Carolina, this book is a must-read.
Pages: 269 | ASIN: 1638372829
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