Reader’s Edyn

I always felt like I could do something more than just read. Finally, I have found both a creative outlet and a chance to do something meaningful with my reading. This blog was created in appreciation of and tribute to all of the authors who have brought me joy through their books. These reviews are my way of giving back to authors and providing recognition for the hard work that each one completes every day!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Guest Post with author Cate Masters



Guest Post with author Cate Masters



What’s up everyone? I have yet another exciting book to tell you all about today. Cate Masters has been on my list of authors I need to check out for a while now. If I had more time in the day I would have been able to read some of her work before. But alas, 24 hours I just not enough. I often wish that time would stand till only while I read book. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Could you imagine how much I could read? Sha! Awesomesauce! But I digress. Just because I am short on time doesn’t mean I can’t tell you about an author who has interested me for some time. PLUS ~ this is Decadent Publishing y’all. I have had really good luck with this publisher. So how about we find out about this new series from the ever-talented :


**CATE  MASTERS**


**BIO**

Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. 

Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web. 

Cate loves to hear from readers. Email her at: cate.masters@gmail.com
You can find out more about Ms. Masters in the following places:
Cate Masters  - Magic, mayhem and a little romance

BLOG 



**CURSED**
**The Vitruvian Man, Book 1**

Paranormal romance novella


**BLURB**

Ten days of freedom. That’s all Fate had allotted me each year. In the streets of Venice, I could walk among them. Mingle. Belong.
During Carnevale, they had no idea who I was. What I was.
For ten days, it didn’t matter.
Until I met her.

Bruno diCesare lives alone by necessity, not choice. An experiment performed by Leonardo da Vinci, who believed having a dual DNA would grant a person immortality, used magic to render Bruno a chimera – the head of a lion, body of a dragon. The only time he can mingle with people is during Carnevale, ten glorious days of masked anonymity, frivolity and intimacy.

Melina Weaver learned fire dancing to enliven her dull existence. A scientist, her long hours at the lab leave no time for a social life. For ten days at Carnevale, she can pretend to be someone else. Someone sexy and daring, who lives on the edge.

Once she meets Bruno, her wish comes true, but everything goes terribly wrong. Beneath Bruno’s costume lurks an alpha male, but is he dangerous? Worse, can she return to an employer who sells her research to the military to make an army of efficient killers? Her only hope may lie with the man she’s just met and never seen.


BUY LINKS
Amazon 


**BOOK TRAILER**


**GUEST POST**
**Music To Write Stories To**

Did a song ever stop you in your tracks? Or maybe just work its way into your subconscious and keep replaying in your head?

Lots of songs do that to me, lol. I'm not someone who can write with music playing in the background. Oh, I absolutely love music, and have since I was about five and fell in love with Paul McCartney when the Beatles played on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time. Talk about an angel face! I think I was the youngest Beatlemaniac. My love of music grew from there. My record collection became a CD collection, and I could spend countless hours trolling YouTube for favorite bands, lol.

But while I'm writing, I find music too distracting, and I'd end up either singing along or blocking it out completely.

But music often inspires me. And I love to incorporate it into books when it fits the story's theme. Readers will find plenty of musical references, bands and songs alike, in my stories.

But sometimes all I need is a snippet of lyric, and a story evolves from there. That's how Cursed began several years ago. Radio stations played The Goo Goo Dolls almost ad nauseum when they first rose to fame, and later the oldies station my hubby listens to took a particular liking, it seems, to their song Iris.

One day, the station played the song, and one line of lyrics jumped out at me: "I'd give up forever to touch you."

What a powerful notion. Such an incredible sacrifice.

I began jotting notes revolving around that line. But I'd already written several stories about angels who'd given up their heavenly status after falling in love, so I wanted something a little different. An alpha male, for sure, but a little bit unusual.

So Bruno diCesare began to form in my head. Bruno's a music lover, too, and sometimes people strolling through Venice might hear the lovely strains of a Stradivarius violin echoing along the narrow alleyways. They'd never see him because he hides himself away until Carnevale, the ten-day masquerade. And even then, he stays in his disguise.

Until the day he meets Melina. :)

So what about you -- have you ever fallen in love with a song? Or its lyrics?

Here’s a peek at Cursed:


**EXCERPT**

Light danced in his dark eyes. “I must admit, your fire dancing fascinated me. What made you choose such a dangerous skill to master?”
“The thrill of the challenge, I suppose.” It balanced the rest of her mundane life, to a degree. Mastering each new level gave her a sense of achievement, where work couldn’t.
Something flashed through his dark eyes. “Mistakes must be very painful.”
“I practiced a long time before I worked up the nerve to actually light the wands. I found the fire great incentive to focus, however.” God, her grin must be goofy, the way he stared. Such gorgeous eyes, such a deep brown they almost appeared black. He probably had rugged features, if his large hands provided any indication. Too bad he wore gloves, another barrier between them.
“Yes,” he said, “I imagine so.”
“What about you? What other magic do you know?” Oh please, can you get any more ridiculous? It sounded like a line from a bad chick flick.
The crinkle around his eyes was the only evidence of his smile, but enough to charm her.
“Lifetimes of studying the dark arts have provided me with many tricks.”
“Lifetimes?” she blurted.
He stiffened in her arms. “Pardon?”
She watched him carefully. “You said ‘lifetimes’. Plural.” And what the hell did he mean by ‘dark arts’?
Rigidity masked the grace of his movements. “I’m sure you’re mistaken.” He stared over her head as they whirled to the song’s rhythm.
Mistaken my ass. How very strange. More strange that the question upset him. He’d clammed up, and his muscles were so tense, she expected him to bolt. Better to drop it. For now. “Must have been a slip of the tongue.”
“Yes.” Relief sounded in his tone, though guarded.
This man had something to hide. How intriguing.


Well? Enough to whet the appetite? I thought so. But just in case, here in another excerpt provided by Ms. Masters. I’m sure the hook and line is firmly in place, but a sinker wouldn’t hurt. *wink*


**BONUS EXCERPT**

Melina should have stayed in her room. Finding him had seemed like such incredible luck. Now she wondered whether luck had turned against her.
That sound—almost an animal sound—had that come from him? Had she imagined it? Strange things went on during Carnevale, her online friends had said, some so inexplicable no science could explain them. She’d laughed when they warned her she might get in over her head.
The sheer strength of his muscles, the raw power beneath his clothes, thrilled her. His pace conveyed the same urgency.
Pressed to his side, nerves jangling, her foot slipped on the stone step.
In one fluid motion, he scooped her into his arms and continued hurrying along. “Are you all right?”
“Unless embarrassment leaves a mortal wound. I’m normally not so clumsy.” She settled against his broad chest. Such incredible stamina. An image pierced her mind: his muscular, naked torso above her, his hips rocking against hers. His presence overwhelmed her, and she was acutely aware of every motion, every breath.
At the bottom of the stone stairs, he set her on her feet but maintained his firm hold. “Dampness has a habit of lingering here. You’d best allow me to assist you.”
“Please.” She fitted herself against him, acutely aware of the way his body moved against hers.
“In these calle of San Samuele,” he said, “Giacomo Casanova spent his youth.”
“Calle?” She should have brushed up on her Italian.
He dipped his head closer. “Narrow alleyways.”
“Narrow and dark. I wonder how many trysts Casanova had in these alleys?” And Casanova had nothing on Bruno. Women probably flocked around him constantly. Acid flashed through her at the thought.
“Too many to recount.” He paused, then added, “If one believes the writings in his diary. His mentor, the poet Giorgio Baffe, lived just down there.”
“Mentor?” She didn’t recall Casanova writing poetry. Did Bruno as well? Or was he not romantic that way?
“Of a sort. The man who introduced Casanova to worldly pleasures.”
The way the last two words rolled off his tongue, so enticing. She glanced at the dark steps that led to deeper shadows beside the canal.
She surprised herself by steering him down there, tugging him to an abrupt halt. “Do such mentors still exist?”
He whirled her against a wall. “Why? Would you be interested?”
She let her hands wander across the contours of his chest. “You did offer to introduce me to the delights of Venice.”
The same growl as earlier rumbled in his throat, unmistakable this time. “You do like to play with fire, don’t you?”
And he knew how to ignite one.


Yep. That about did it. Totally hooked now. Looks like this would be a good starting place for me to getting going with Ms. Masters work. *nods* What an enticing story to break into. A wonderful setting with all sorts of possibilities. An identity disguised. The potential for just about anything. And the ever-present touch of magical whimsy. Love it!

So not knowing much about Ms. Masters or her books, but being very intrigued by her, I would very much like to hear what the rest of you think. If you are unfamiliar with this author and her books, no worries. Just tell me what you thought about the post. 

I want to thank Ms. Masters for taking the time to both write a fun post for us as well as spending some time with us today. I hope everyone enjoyed getting to know a bit about this wonderful author and her book. And remember to show her some support if you liked what you read by buying a copy of the book for yourself. I hope everyone has a terrific day! Until next time …

HAPPY READING!!!




17 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the wonderful intro! I'm so glad Cursed intrigued you. :) This world totally hooked me too, so I had to write two more!

    I can relate to the TBR list too - about 300 books on my Kindle waiting for my "spare time" - ha! :)

    Thanks again for having me here today.

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    1. Ugh! That dang TBR list grows faster than it lessens. Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled to always be looking forward to something to read, but I really wish I had more time to do so.

      Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to come back anytime. It was my pleasure to put this post together and learn more about CURSED.

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    1. I hope you'll let me know how you like it Taryn. :)

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    2. Hey, Taryn. Thanks so much for spending some time with us today. I am thrilled that you are looking forward to reading the book. Here's to your ability to read it soon. *wink*

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  3. Hi Cate!

    I really enjoyed your post. Music is truly a tool for a writer. I loved hearing about the song that inspired the creation of Bruno diCesare from Cursed.

    I watched The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, too. Paul grabbed my heart the moment he stepped on stage.

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    1. Thanks for checking it out Kathleen!
      I was so ticked when Paul married a Jersey girl - and it wasn't me! lol

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    2. Hi Kathleen ~ Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. I have heard all sorts of opinions on music for writers, but more often than not, they commonly seem to have specific playlists now.

      My Mom loved Paul as well. She didn't get her McCartney, but she did marry my dad. His name is Paul. LOL

      I hope you get the chance to read the book soon if you haven't already. :)

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  4. I've read quite a few of Cate's stories and have to say I enjoyed them all.
    My love of music started at an early age, too. How could we live without it no matter your taste.
    *sigh* I also have so many books stacked in my E-reader. I just wish I had time to immerse myself in them all. And Cate, you keep putting out more that are in there waiting for me to read, this one among them.
    Oh, time, time, time. I want more too.

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    Replies
    1. Aw thanks Lorrie. :) And I have a crazy number of ebooks in my Kindle waiting for me to read, literally hundreds. I wish I could take off a few months and do nothing but catch up on great authors.

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    2. Hi Lorrie! I am thrilled to know that you enjoyed Ms. Masters books. I always take into consideration the feedback I get from readers. Needless to say, I have high hopes for Ms. Masters and I hope to break into her world soon. Thanks so much for hopping in and spending some time with us today. :)

      As far as the eReader, I am to the point where I say an apology to the book when I download it because I know it will be "on the shelf" for a spell before I get to it. But I will get to them ... someday. I think a few months off to do nothing but read is a fabulous idea! Where can I sign up for that?

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  5. Thanks for hosting Cate today!

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    1. Thanks for checking in, Brynna!

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    2. You are more than welcome, Brynna. Thanks very much for the opportunity! :)

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  6. I read Death Is A Bitch, and loved it so much I bought Cursed in hopes it was as dazzling with the characters and world building. I'm hoping to read Cursed this weekend, as I'll be posting a review of Bitch next month. Cate tells a well balanced story using expert pacing, intriguing but human characters, and a writing style that is near poetic. I hope everyone who reads Cursed agrees.

    This was a great post Cate. Yes, I get music stuck in my head too sometimes. And like you, I either get lost in the words, or block out the music totally when I'm writing. That why I usually write to classical or movie scores, just music, no words.

    ......dhole

    ......dhole

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    1. Wow, Donna! What a great amount of information you provided. I really appreciate you taking the time to give your feedback. Based on your words, I am looking forward to Ms. Masters books even more. I might just have to squeeze one in between my review book schedule. Thanks very much!

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  7. Thanks so much for your kind words, Donna! I'm so glad you loved Death. That's another world I need to revisit at some point. I'm looking forward to being your guest next month!
    I hadn't thought of classical music. I'll have to try that, though I suspect it will fade to black in my head.

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I lurve comments! Say whatever is on your mind; just keep it respectful. I am always game for a conversation. :)