Today's Book Quote Wednesday from the very beginning of 

A HOLD ON ME 

The #Bookqw word is: Cold. 

Buy or read first chapter here.   

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My Top Ten Gothic Novels and Movies!

I’ve always loved reading and watching haunting stories with a rich gothic feel, a bit of darkness, and a touch of romance and adventure. Here is a list of my top ten favorites, a mixture of books and movies.

10. The Near Witch: By Victoria Schwab. I loved this young adult novel. It reminded me a lot of a classic nineteenth century gothic novels in tone and setting, but the language was a bit more accessible.

9. The Revenant: by Sonia Gensler. Another modern young adult novel that’s reminiscent of older gothic novels. It’s set in a Cherokee Female Seminary and that adds a fresh dimension to the story.

8. The Raven: by Edgar Allan Poe I actually love listening to audio versions of all of Poe’s poems and short stories even more than reading them.

7. Haunting of Hill House: by Shirley Jackson I enjoyed the story. But the 1963 movie version is the reason it’s on this list. Just perfect, unnerving and vivid.

6. Unspoken: by Sarah Rees Brennan. This is the first book in the Lynburn series. Lots of creepy, traditional gothic elements updated to make this story come across as fresh and modern.

5. Mistress of Mellyn: by Victoria Holt. Actually, I’d like to include all of Victoria Holt’s novels. They are classic mid-twentieth century romantic suspense novels. Honestly, I’m not sure which is my favorite.

4. Dark Shadows: TV show and mid-century novels in general. They are gothic junk food—fun and additive.

3. Beetlejuice: Tim Burton. This movie is just plain fun. It may not be traditional. It’s a celebration of all things gothic.

2. Interview with the Vampire: by Anne Rice. Dark, moody, and scary, this is my favorite Anne Rice novel. But The Witching Hour is a close second.

1. 13^th Tale: by Diane Setterfield. This novel is in a class of its own. The writing is stupendous. It is the ultimate gothic novel.  

It’s your turn now. What is your all time favorite gothic novel and/or movie?

BEYOND YOUR TOUCH: a deeper reason for jelly donuts

I asked my followers on Facebook if there was any part of the Dark Heart series that they’d like to know more about. One of the questions really enticed me because it was different and has a deep reason for being in the series—namely they wanted to know more about the sexy fun Annie and Chase have with jelly donuts. (Warning this does contain small spoilers)

The jelly donut scene is in chapter 1 of  BEYOND YOUR TOUCH (Dark Heart book #2). You can read the scene HERE. However, throughout the series, it’s clear that sharing coffee and donuts has a special meaning for Annie. It reminds her (in a non-sexual way) of good times she spent on the road with her father when she was younger. To Annie, coffee and donuts in bed with her lover might be sexy fun, but it is also a sign that her feelings towards him have grown, that she trusts and cares about him deeply. For Chase, the donuts represent something quite different. In REACH FOR YOU more details about the conditions Chase was raised under in the djinn realm come to light. There is a tiny scene in that book where Annie sees a snack bar that Chase loved to go to. This scene reveals that Chase is a bit of a glutton when it comes to food and that he doesn’t have the best table manners—for one reason: he was starved as a child. So when Chase meets Annie and gets to the point where he can let his guard down and not only be sexually playful but waste food while doing it, it’s a major change for him. It’s also a sign of how his trust and feelings for Annie are helping him recover from his past and move toward a new future that includes her.

BEYOND YOUR TOUCH (Dark Heart series book 2)

She wants more than he can promise.

His desires could lead to betrayal.

But without each other, neither can survive the dangers ahead.

Annie Freemont knows this isn’t the right time to get involved with a man like Chase. After years of distrust, she’s finally drawing close to her estranged family, and he’s an employee on their estate in Maine. Though she never intended to stay on the estate for long, her father’s illness and the mysteries surrounding her family made leaving impossible. And now with the newfound hope of rescuing her long-missing mother, Annie’s determined to be involved with the family’s plans one way or another.

If only she could keep her mind off Chase and focus on the impending rescue. But there’s something about the enigmatic Chase that she can’t resist. And she’s not the only woman. Annie fears a seductive stranger who is key to safely freeing her mother is also obsessed with him. As plans transform into action and time for a treacherous journey into a strange world draws near, every move Annie makes will test the one bond she’s trusted with her secrets, her desires—and her heart.

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