The Curse Breakers (The Curse Keepers #2)
    by: Denise Grover Swank

Publication Date:
Publisher: 47 North
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 406 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

For more than four hundred years, the Curse Keepers guarded the barrier between the human and spirit realms. All that changed the day Ellie Lancaster met Collin Dailey. Prophecy demanded they defend the world from evil-even as it ignited a passion that threatened to consume them both.

Now Ellie faces a frightening new life, abandoned by the man she loves and tormented by malevolent spirits unleashing their vengeance upon the earth. Her only shot at protecting humanity-and herself-from the demon scourge is to claim the mark of the god Ahone as her own. Finding it means trusting Dr. David Preston, a handsome professor of Native American studies whose skepticism is surpassed only by his attraction to Ellie. Together they must finish what the Curse Keepers began, defying the forces of darkness to face hell on earth-and unlock the truth of Ellie's destiny.

 

 

After having read and loved the first book in the Curse Keepers series, I was so happy to get a copy of this second book for review. It's been awhile since I've read the first, so I was afraid that I would be fuzzy on the details of the first book, but Denise has done a wonderful job of filling you in as to the events that happened at the end of the first book and she has done so where it didn't feel repetitive or like information overload.

 

Pacing: It was so easy jumping back into Ellie's world, so I am really glad I didn't spend the first part of the book trying to recall what happened previously. I feel Denise did a great job with this second novel. She wastes no time in picking back up where we left off and I was so heartbroken for Ellie and everything she's gone through.

 

Storyline: When we first meet Ellie again, she is a mess. Betrayed, heartbroken, angry, and hurt- she is struggling to deal with the aftermath of what happened at the end of the previous novel. She has gained the attention of Tom Helmsworth, police officer and old high school classmate, and he is not only concerned about her, but is far too curious about the events that are transpiring in Manteo. He isn't stupid and knows Ellie has a connection to everything that's going on, but doesn't have proof. Tom, while not a bad guy, just doesn't understand that there are supernatural forces at work and Ellie cannot divulge that kind of information to him. Not only is Tom nosing around, but she also has angry spirits that are after her now that the Curse has been broken and the gates of hell opened. Seeking out Collin Dailey for help is the last thing Ellie wants and will hold out as long as she is able to. I just felt so much for Ellie in this book. After having lost someone very dear to her, she is trying to get by the best she can, but she also is in great danger. She has one god who wants her for his own selfish purposes and won't give up until he has her. While the other has also claimed her, he is not going out of his way to help her- instead she must make the journey on her own. Time is running out for Ellie and she has to make her decision quickly... before it's too late. She seeks the help of Dr. David Preston, a professor of Native American studies. After casting her off as a crazy person, their paths meet again in Manteo and he can't deny the overwhelming urge to find out more. However, David ends up being a true ally to Ellie and ultimately someone she can trust and depend on. This second novel has a bit of everything: mystery, romance, suspense, and action. And of course- more Native American lore, which I really loved reading about!

 

Characters: As I said earlier, Ellie is a mess right now. Yet, she is still as determined as ever. Not once did she just say the hell with it and want to give up. She is in danger on multiple fronts and has to protect herself. One of the things I loved about Ellie before was her compassion for others. She will risk her own life to protect others and that is what makes her such a likeable heroine. She is sassy and snarky, and after being betrayed by the one person she needed most, she is determined to stay strong. She has moments of weakness where Collin is concerned, as she can't deny the connection they share, but she still manages to call him out on everything that's happened. You go girl!

 

Collin. Insert really angry face here. I want to know what his deal is. As much as I want to hate him for everything, I just can't. And my heart is torn. What he and Ellie have is electric and they share a connection that no one will ever be able to touch. Yet, Collin's selfishness and his refusal to confide in Ellie are what separate the two even further. Ellie doesn't trust him and without trust, there's just no way the two can be together. Collin will confuse you and then surprise you with his actions and I was left feeling really undecided about how I felt about his character.

 

I am not a fan of love triangles, but I have to say I really liked David's character. I'm unsure of the direction Denise will take their relationship in the third book, but he is exactly what Ellie needed NOW. She needs someone to care for her and treat her as an equal in all things and that is David. He's also really sexy and British, which is always a plus too!

 

Final Thoughts: The Curse Breakers was an excellent second novel and I cannot recommend this series enough, especially if you are an urban fantasy New Adult lover! The odds are against Ellie and the fight is on to ensure Okeus does not succeed in his maniacal plans for her. I have a feeling the next book will be an edge of your seat type of read, as Ellie continues her battle against the ancient spirits that have been unleashed and want to steal her life force.

Business as Usual (Off the Subject #3)
   by: Denise Grover Swank

Publication Date: April 10, 2014
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 354 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago.

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft.

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

 

I am a huge fan of Denise's Off the Subject series, so when I saw she was writing Lexi's story, I was over the moon! I loved her in Redesigned, and I know she had a heartbreaking story to tell. As much as I wanted to love this book, I found I just couldn't.

Pacing: This is a slower paced book. I found myself struggling to stay engaged at multiple points in the novel because the plot was a bit meh for me.

Storyline: This book went in a completely different direction than I thought. I was really looking forward to Lexi's story and seeing how she overcame what happened to her previously. I also was looking forward to seeing how she would find the strength to become intimate with another person again after that event. While we got both of those, I just felt this story wasn't quite balanced in the way I would have liked it. I felt like Lexi's relationship with her brother, Reed, really dominated the book. I love Reed Pendergraft something fierce, but he REALLY irritated me in this book and was way too overprotective of Lexi. I understand his reasons for being so, but I just felt she spent a lot of the time trying to prove that she wasn't this breakable little girl.
I also felt like the Lexi and Ben had some serious insta-love going on. Being the two main characters, they really didn't have hardly any interaction until 40-50% into the book and that made their relationship more difficult to buy into. I needed more from them in terms of development, because it all happened rather fast and things were resolved a little too quickly for my taste.

Characters: Lexi wasn't a bad main character, but there were times I felt she was acting a bit immature for her age. She makes decisions that are not in her best interest, considering what she's been through and that was really hard to swallow. I felt like the whole thing with Tina was overdramatized and really didn't sit well with me at all.
My heart ached for her, as I can't imagine everything she's gone through, and I was saddened to see her flee from a really great relationship because emotionally she couldn't handle what had happened. She is terrified of feeling that loss of control again, and so she really struggles sexually because of that. Lexi is also incredibly grateful to her older brother for everything he's sacrificed and done for her. However, she feels suffocated by his need to protect her, and is angry that he would sacrifice his own well-being to ensure that she is kept safe.

I absolutely loved Reed in Redesigned. He was an overall GOOD guy and I loved that he was equal parts sexy and equal parts Math geek. Here, Reed really takes the overprotective big brother to the extreme and as I said, sacrifices his own relationship and well-being to ensure Lexi's safety. The majority of the book focused on what he was hiding and why he was pushing his fiancée Caroline away. I hated seeing Caroline hurt, as did Lexi, Tucker, and Scarlet. Again, I understand why he felt the need to do what he did, and I respect the hell out of him for doing it, but I just feel it was made into this huge deal and felt like it added unnecessary drama.

I liked Ben's character, but I didn't feel he was consistent. We first meet him and it's clear he has been seriously burned by a girl in the past, so he is not looking to date any girls from Southern University. Upon meeting and talking to Lexi, however, he finds himself looking for her and hoping to run into her again. He is a good guy at heart and a hard worker, which definitely earned him bonus points with me. For not really knowing Lexi, he is incredibly protective of her and after seeing her in a potentially dangerous situation, steps in and plays the hero. He never should have hidden his past from Lexi, especially after she confided in him with her secret. He knew that it would affect her and still he remained silent. Argh.

Final Thoughts: I am really bummed I didn't love this like I did the other two in the series. The above issues really did detract from my reading experience and so I found it difficult to truly enjoy the story for what it was. I would have preferred to see more of Lexi and Ben falling for one another and developing their relationship. I felt there was unnecessary drama and I just didn't like how everyone was more centered on finding out what was going on with Reed and why he was acting the way he was. I would have preferred for the focus to be on Lexi and her development as a character. I do love Denise's writing and I feel she did a great job with the moments Lexi and Ben do have with one another and how patient he was willing to be with her and how he refused to be pushed away. Go Ben! While this wasn't the one for me, I would still encourage fans of the series to give it a try and make their own decisions.

 

Happy release day to Denise Grover Swank and Business as Usual!

Today I am sharing an excerpt from the book, as well as a giveaway with you all!

Business as Usual (Off the Subject #3)
    by: Denise Grover Swank

Publication Date: Apr. 10, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 273 pages
Order Links: Amazon

Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago.

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft.

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

 

The song ends and I look across the room, hatred filling every pore of my body for the person who’s putting Alexa through this charade. Tina’s watching us with amusement. I look down into Alexa’s face and she steps away from me. Our song is done. Our commitment is up. Only I’m not ready to let her go yet. Maybe I can save her at least part of her embarrassment. I cradle her cheeks and stare into her eyes, looking for any sign that she finds my touch revolting. But her breath comes in short bursts and her pupils are dilated. My thumb strokes her right cheek bone, and it amazes me how smooth her skin is. I should stop prolonging my torture, but I don’t want to hurry this moment. I want to sear it into my brain.

I lower my face to hers and her mouth parts in anticipation. Our lips touch lightly and I run my tongue along her upper lip. Her hands return to my shoulders as she takes a step closer, pressing her chest to mine, her mouth parting as she sighs. My tongue accepts the invitation, twining with hers. Her arms tighten around my neck and I slide a hand behind her head. Blood rushes to my groin and the way she’s pressed against me, she has to know I’m getting a hard-on, yet she doesn’t step away. She presses closer instead.

Still, I take my time with the kiss, making it last. I want more, so much more, but we’re on a dance floor, surrounded by at least thirty people, being watched intently by a group of perverts in the corner. I want to keep this pure. I want to take the thing Tina meant as a punishment for Alexa and turn it into something meaningful. At least for me. But the way Alexa clings to me tells me the experience has power for her too, even if it’s just because she’s sacrificing herself for some other guy. I finally lift my head and stare into her lust-filled eyes and I want to curse the gods who put her in my path only to take her away. “Thank you,” she breathes out with a sigh.

“Do think that was enough to appease her?”

Her eyes cloud with momentary confusion. “Oh…yeah.”

“If it’s not, I want you to promise me that you’ll ask me for help.” I sound like a pervert myself, but the thought of someone like Tattoo Guy pawing her nauseates me. She seems to understand my intention because she gives me a grateful look. Tears fill her eyes. “Thank you.”

I want to kiss her again, to take her out the back door and away from Tina and her vile crew, but that’s not what Alexa wants. I step back and interweave my fingers with hers. It takes every ounce of fortitude in my body to take her back to that table. When we get there, I pull out her chair to show this table full of disgusting low-lifes how to treat a woman.

Tina claps her hands. “I think there might be hope for you two yet.”

She waggles her eyebrows at Alexa, then looks up at me. “I told you Reed’s—”

Alexa leans forward, her eyes wild. “I think I need another drink.”

I stare at her in disbelief. She’s trying to interrupt Tina because she thinks I don’t know who she really is—Alexa Pendergraft, baby sister to that asshole Reed Pendergraft. And with a sigh, I realize it’s better this way, all around, because I would throw everything away to get one shot with this girl.

 

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

 

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Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago.

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft.

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

 

Ben’s POV, Chapter Two, BUSINESS AS USUAL
My eyes sink closed and my cheek falls out of my open palm, jerking me awake. I look around to see if anyone notices, but I’m in the back row and the professor is looking at her notes.  I sit up straighter, trying to shake off my drowsiness, but it hangs on like a whore to a rich john. 
 I glance down at my notes and up at the graph projected on the wall, wondering how much of the lecture I’ve missed. This might just be an intro course, but I hate history, which is part of the reason I put it off until the final semester of my senior year. The combination of the class’s nine a.m. start time, my shift ending at two a.m. at the bar, and my strong dislike of the subject matter means I tend to nap in here a lot. But whether or not I like Intro to American History, at fourteen hundred dollars per fucking credit hour, I hate to miss a single minute. I estimate I just pissed away fifty bucks with that nap and I didn’t even get a wet dream out of it.
Funny how I never gave much thought to how much classes cost when I was on a full-ride scholarship. Funny how I never thought about a lot of things.
But there was nothing funny about losing my scholarship right before the second semester of my senior year. Especially since I go to Southern University, “an Ivy-League-inspired school nestled in a Tennessee small town.” Who falls for that bullshit? But every year, one thousand or so new students find their way to our “picturesque campus, to embark on their exciting new lives.”
Embark on their exciting new lives, my ass.
The majority of students who attend Southern University are dripping in money. Their daddies have their future all figured out for them. I’m part of the one percent, the unlucky few who didn’t come to school with trust funds and beamers and daddy’s gold card. Those of us who were raised on PB&J and got old clunkers when we turned sixteen. We’re here on a combination of scholarships and student loans. Although, at this moment, I can’t figure out why we bother.
But that’s a lie. I came here because I was given a full-ride scholarship based on academic merit and financial need. I was a local boy, so it made sense to live at home and let my scholarship money do the heavy lifting for my college education. The reputation of the mechanical engineering department helped. It was a no brainer that ended up biting me in the ass.
No, Sabrina Richmond bit me in the ass.
The prof starts to change the graph and I’ve only written down half the information on the screen. Son of a bitch. I don’t know a single person in this class other than a passing acquaintance with a cute red-headed freshman who has let me borrow her notes before, but she’s not here today. I’m fucked. Again.

 

 

Pre-Order Links:

 

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

 

Blog  Website  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads

 

 

 

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We are extremely excited to share the Cover and Prologue Reveal for BUSINESS AS USUAL by Denise Grover Swank! BUSINESS AS USUAL is the third book in her Off The Subject Series. BUSINESS AS USUAL releases April 10th! Add it to your TBR pile ASAP!    

Business as Usual (Off the Subject #3)

by: Denise Grover Swank

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago. 

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft. 

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

Pre-Order Links: Amazon Kobo

PROLOGUE: Business as Usual Prologue by Denise Grover Swank  

  
 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe. You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

Website  Blog  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads 

Welcome to my stop on The Curse Keepers blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my 5 star review, an interview with Denise herself, and a giveaway with you all!

The Curse Keepers (The Curse Keeper #1)
   by: Denise Grover Swank

Publication Date: Nov. 19, 2013
Publisher: 47North
Genre: Paranormal/ Urban Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher and InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 312 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

The wall between our world and that of vengeful spirits has protected humanity for more than 400 years. It’s about to come crashing down.
Ellie Lancaster has lived her whole life by the site of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Virginia settlement that vanished without a trace around 1590. Only the descendants of the two men who banished the spirits of an enemy tribe from the material realm know what really happened to the colony. Ellie is one of those descendants—a Curse Keeper. Her father took pains to teach her what he knew of the curse and the responsibilities of its guardians. He taught her that if the two Curse Keepers ever meet, the curse will be lifted, the gate will open, and the raging Native American spirits will be unleashed to seek their revenge.

Despite her father’s seriousness, Ellie has always taken the legend for a harmless fairy tale. Until she meets the darkly handsome, but downright infuriating, Collin Dailey and realizes everything she was told is true. For when they meet, it’s like the air is sucked from the room. Collin’s presence is electrifying… and it’s not just attraction Ellie feels, but the inexorable pull toward her destiny. The prophecy is real, and now Ellie and Collin must battle supernatural forces and their loathing—and passion—for each other to set things right.

The Curse Keepers are all that stand between the world and its destruction.

 

My Review:

 

Really, DGS? REALLY? That ending?! I mean, I totally saw it coming, but hello knife in my chest!!!!! Gahhh! This book! You guys. Amazing. Holy crap. AMAZING. I loved every minute of it! I already knew Denise was one heckuva writer, as I've read and loved her contemporary romances, After Math and Redesigned. But WOW. She has completely blown me away with this one! Urban Fantasy can be a tricky genre to write, but Denise has nailed it!

 

I love how she combined the history of the Lost Colony of Roanoke with Native American lore and her own imagination. I was so intrigued- I had never read a book like this before and I loved the idea behind it- two people, known as the Curse Keepers, who are destined to prevent the gates of hell from opening and releasing the evil spirits into this world. You can really tell DGS has done her research and I was completely fascinated when I read the Author's Note at the end and saw how much she made her own. No aspect of this story seemed forced or that Denise was reaching/grasping at straws to make her story work.

 

DGS mentions in my interview below with her that Ellie might very well be one of her favorite characters ever. I totally see that because I really enjoyed Ellie's character myself. She is tough as nails even though she has known great loss in her life. She isn't the type of girl to put up with any crap and I love how quick/often she calls Collin on his. She is funny, witty, and above all- she's real. She has her insecurities and vulnerabilities, and even though she tries to remain tough on the outside at all times, there are times where we see her fall apart and while she sees it as weakness, I saw a scared girl who is having the fate of the world (literally) thrust upon her shoulders and basically told to have faith in something she has fought so long not to believe.

 

Ellie has not had much luck in the relationship department. She keeps choosing men who are stable and dependable- she isn't for living on the edge and bad boys are not her thing. However, when Collin Dailey walks through the doors to the restaurant she works at- all bets are off. Ellie didn't have a chance in hell in resisting that man.

 

Oh, Collin. Where do I start? I had a love/hate relationship with Collin. He is cocky, arrogant, and a bit unfeeling in the beginning. He and Ellie do NOT get along, and it's clear that after discovering they are the other Curse Keeper, that they are only spending time together for the purpose of doing their destined jobs. I loved their back and forth banter. Even though Collin makes it quite clear he isn't the least bit interested in Ellie, those two have so much sexual chemistry, I thought they would literally melt each others' faces off with the intensity in which they looked at one another. Collin continuously warns Ellie that he is not to be trusted, and while she doesn't at first, spending time together makes her rethink that choice. Watching Collin and Ellie's relationship change and evolve into so much more was such a lovely addition to the novel. Being a romance girl, I loved that the romance played a secondary role in the book. Collin is a bit of an enigma. There is so much more to him than meets the eye- while he may come across as nothing but a cocky flirt, he really does have depth to him. As the book progresses, we see his resolve towards Ellie start to crack and he can no longer hold back how he feels for her, even though he knows he should.

 

" I want you to remember this. What you feel with me." He kissed my mouth again, then met my gaze, his eyes bright with lust and need. "Remember that I am yours for now and forever. And no man will ever give you what I can."

 

One of Ellie's greatest character traits is her devotion and dedication to her friends and family. She makes tremendous sacrifices to help keep her father and stepmothers' inn running and in business, and goes to see her father every day, no matter how painful the visit may be. When she finds out she is the one being targeted by the ancient gods, she worries constantly about their safety and her best friend Claire's. Ellie is far from selfish and I liked that she thought about the consequences to her destiny.

 

I feel like I'm going to die waiting for the next book in the series to come out. It's not that this one left off on a cliffhanger per say, but it definitely leaves you ready to discover what in the world is going to happen next. Ellie is going to be back with a vengeance and I would NOT want to cross her. She has experienced so much in this book- from falling in love to making sacrifices for her loved ones, to heartbreak and betrayal- I admire her resilience and I am so ready to see where she takes us in The Curse Breakers!

 

 

~Author Interview with Denise Grover Swank~

 

Hi Denise! I'm so excited to have you on the blog today! I can't wait for everyone to read The Curse Keepers!

 

For starters, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

 

I'm mom to six kids and I have a very active imagination. My kids and I love to laugh. For the first time in my life, I totally love what I do. I've published twelve books in four different genres.

 

How did you come up with the idea behind The Curse Keepers?

 

I was wrapping up my urban fantasy series- Chosen- and I was looking for a new UF series to write. I don't write vampires and werewolves, so a friend suggested I base it off the Lost Colony of Roanoke. My imagination took over from there.

 

Who would you say was your favorite character to write from the book?

 

Ellie Lancaster is one of my favorite characters ever. She's a free spirit who has spent most of her life trying to figure out where she fit into the world. She never expected to figure it out when Collin Dailey walked into her restaurant. Ellie's sarcastic and doesn't take people's crap, but she has a good heart. She's also very dedicated to her father and step-mother and has made sacrifices to help keep their bed and breakfast afloat.

 

Aside from fantasy, you've also written one of my favorite contemporary series- The Off the Subject series! Which genre do you find yourself enjoying writing more?

 

Oh, wow! I have to choose? I think that's why I write several genres- each offers me things the others don't. I like writing NA contemporary romance because I can focus on the couple and their romance. While my urban fantasies have romance, the rest of the plot needs to be addressed. But I also like that my mysteries and my urban fantasies have more complicated plots.

 

How would you describe The Curse Keepers in 10 words or less?

 

Ancient curse breaks forcing opposites to cooperate to save humanity. (That was hard, LOL.)

 

When you're not writing, what types of books are you reading? Any favorites as of late?

 

Lately I've been reading a lot of contemporary romances and mysteries.

 

What's up next for you?

 

I'm currently working on Thirty-One and a Half Regrets, the fourth book to my romance mystery Rose Gardner series. I just finished The Curse Breakers, the second Curse Keepers book, which will be out in May 2014.     (MAY?! I can't wait that long!!!!!!)

 

Can I just take a moment to say: I was so excited to hear that The Curse Keepers would be a NA Urban Fantasy. I love the NA genre and I do love my contemporaries, but I've definitely been wanting to read more fantasy/paranormal, etc. So, thank you! :)

 

Thank you!

 

You also have a playlist for the book up on your site! How does music inspire you to write? Do you listen to music while writing and then hear a song and have it change/shape the scene you may be writing?

 

Music is a huge part of writing for me. The melody often sets the tone of a scene for me. I've been known to listen to one song on repeat until I finish a scene or section. I once listened to Nickelback's song Animal for two hours straight when I wrote a car chase scene for my book Chosen. The tempo set the perfect tempo/tension I needed to get the scene right.

 

If you could cast Ellie and Collin- do you have anyone in mind that might work for them?

 

I can see Isla Fisher as Ellie and I can see Jensen Ackles as Collin.

 

(Ooh, those are great choices! I do like the cover models too for the book!)

 

Thanks Denise for stopping by and answering a few questions! I can't wait for everyone to read this and check out more of your books!

 

 

 

About Denise Grover Swank:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

 

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

 

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Giveaway:

 

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Thirty and a Half Excuses (Rose Gardner Mystery #3)

by Denise Grover Swank

Adult Mystery

Release Date: Fall 2013

 

Life in Henryetta, Arkansas is turned upside down with the arrival of a televangelist, but it’s the death of a little old lady on Rose’s street that catches her attention. The Henryetta police deem her death natural causes, but Rose suspects foul play and so does an unlikely supporter– the president of the Busy Body Club, her eighty-two year old neighbor Mildred.

But Rose is in the middle of opening her nursery with her sister Violet, who’s separated from her husband Mike, as well as stalling her boyfriend Joe’s family, rich socialites who are determined to meet her. Along with her multiple encounters with Fenton County’s new assistant DA, Mason Deveraux III, it’s just another day in the life of Rose Gardner– chaos.

 

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1)

by Denise Grover Swank

Adult Mystery

Released: July 2011

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She's had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone's toilet's overflowed, but she's never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn't enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she's wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She's well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won't help with number fifteen-- do more with a man. Joe's new to town, but it doesn't take a vision for Rose to realize he's got plenty secrets of his own.

Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they'll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn't her biggest worry after all.

Winner of The Beacon 2010 Unpublished Division, Mainstream Category

 

 

 Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons (Rose Gardner Mystery #2)

by Denise Grover Swank

Adult Mystery

Released: June 2012

 

When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she's lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux, she's picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men's restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there's not a cotton picking thing she can do about it. Or is there? As if things weren't bad enough, Rose's older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons, and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can't commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn't about to let the best thing in her life slip away.

 

 

About Denise Grover Swank:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

 

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Welcome to my stop on the Redesigned tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

I am so excited to share a guest post and a giveaway with you today!

Redesigned (Off the Subject #2)
   by: Denise Grover Swank

Publication Date: June 10, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received thanks to KP @InkSlingerPR and Denise in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 294 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

While fashion design major Caroline Hunter may have been born economically unlucky, in college, she’s been lucky in love. Until her senior year at Southern University. She’s gone from a serious long term boyfriend to a string of crappy dates.

Then she meets mathematics grad student Reed Pendergraft.

Reed is everything she’s not looking for. Serious. Headed for a low paying university job. Boring. Caroline spent the first eighteen years of her life wondering where her next meal was coming from. She sure wasn’t getting trapped in that life again with a man living on a professor’s salary.

An encounter with Reed in a club proves she might have pegged him wrong. He brings out a lusty side she never knew she had. But just when she’s about to give in to her hormones, Reed makes a fool out of her.

When she shows up for the first committee meeting for Southern University’s Fall fashion show, a fundraiser for underprivileged kids, Caroline’s horrified to discover the insufferable Reed is the committee chairman. While she refuses to tolerate his totalitarian rule of the committee, she’s not sure she’ll survive the month with her heart—and her pride—intact. Just when she thinks she has everything figured out, she finds that her entire life has been redesigned, thanks to Reed Pendergraft.

Click here to see my 5 star review of Redesigned!

 

So, how lucky am I that I got to play 20 questions with Reed?! (Swooooon!)
 

~20 Questions with Reed Pendergraft~
 

1)      If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? I’d go to Stanford and meet Dr. Donald Knuth,  the professor who pioneered the analysis of algorithms.

2)      What is your biggest pet peeve? People who break their promises

3)      Favorite thing in the world? Caroline

4)      Who is your favorite Superhero- and why?  Superman because everyone thinks he’s this boring nerd, and he’s (usually) confident enough to hide his super powers and maintain that persona.

5)      What is the most interesting thing you have in your wallet?  A copy of a speech my grandfather gave years ago about the importance of philanthropy.

6)      If you were stranded on a tropical island, what two things would you want with you? I’d love to say I’d bring Caroline because I can’t imagine living without her, but I’d never put her in that danger. So I’ll go with a hunting knife and a blanket.

7)      What TV sitcom family would you be a member of? I don’t watch a lot of sitcoms, but Caroline tells me that when she met me, I reminded her of Darcy in The Lizzie Bennett Diaries. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

8)      What celebrity annoys you the most? Can I say Benedict Cumberbatch because Caroline loves him so much? Not that I’m threatened, it’s just that Star Trek Into Darkness was about more than Benedict Cumberbatch.

9)      What is your favorite movie quote? “It knows only that it needs, Commander. But, like so many of us... it does not know what.”  From Star Trek: The Motion Picture. I’ve found it to be true of most people.

10)   What is your favorite thing about Lexi? She has a good heart and does anything she can to make sure the people she cares about happy.

11)   What is your favorite thing about Caroline?  Everything? I’ve never loved anyone like I love her so it’s hard to separate something out. But if I have to pick one, it’s that when she commits to something she throws her heart and soul into it.

12)   Star Wars or Star Trek? Is this a real question? Star Trek.

(Reed- I love you, but this? I don't know if I can handle this answer. Han Solo could kick Kirk and Spock's butts ANYDAY.)

13)   Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

14)   Pancakes or waffles? Waffles

15)   Eat in or out?  I love to cook, so eat in.

16)   Microsoft or Apple? Apple

17)   Nerds or Jocks? Nerds. No offense, Tucker.

18)   Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter? Lord of the Rings

(Ok, you redeemed yourself from your earlier answer.)

19)   Car or Motorcycle? Car. I’m definitely a fan of cars, especially if Caroline is with me. *grins*

20)   Zombies or Vampires? Zombies

About Denise Grover Swank:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

Author Links:

Blog  Website  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads 

 

Giveaway:

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