Tuesday, 30 December 2014

BLOG TOUR: Mind (Trinity Trilogy, Book 2) by Audrey Carlan

Welcome to Audrey Carlan's blog tour!

RATING:




*Complimentary copy provided by author via host*




Title: Mind, Trinity Trilogy, Book 2
Author: Audrey Carlan
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Tour Host: DRC Promotions
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Synopsis

I’m a magnet for evil and controlling men. Chase, my big business tycoon and love of my life, thinks he can protect me…he can’t.
No one can.
It became clear far too late how serious my stalker was, that his threats weren’t idle. He proved more than once that he would do what it takes, that there were no stakes too high to his sick and twisted games and delusions of worship.
We should have been better prepared. The roses, images, lingerie soaked in his seed, even his calling card written in blood didn’t penetrate. I had faith that my love could make it go away, that eventually he’d be caught.
I was wrong.
***
In the second highly anticipated erotic suspense novel in the Trinity Trilogy, MIND digs deep into the heart and psyche of Gillian and her stalker through dueling POVs.
While Chase and Gillian plan their wedding, follow them and the entire gang as the stalker acts out his revenge and plots his attack on Gillian, Chase, and their friends.
This book can be considered dark, erotic, and thrilling. As in Body (Trinity Trilogy Book 1) the issue of domestic violence plays heavily in the storyline, and Gillian experiences many disturbing flashbacks of the past, alongside tragedy the stalker brings to the present. There is also a lot of love, devotion, and friendship.

Warning: This book is designed for audiences 18+ due to language, graphic sexual content, and themes that some may find disturbing. MIND is book 2 of a three-part trilogy. Body (Trinity Trilogy - Book 1) must be read prior to reading MIND.


Excerpt


“Baby, Gillian, I’m here,” Chase’s voice enters my thoughts. I can feel his hand running up and down my back. The lights of the room start to penetrate my senses. I can see the French doors that lead off to the balcony, the mahogany desk in the corner, a wall of bookcases with medical texts and trinkets from around the world. I know this place. I love this place. This place makes me feel safe. Currently, I’m huddled into the corner in a fetal position.

“Come here, Gillian. I’ve got you, I’ve always got you. Remember, I promised to always bring you back,” Chase’s words reach my subconscious, and I fling myself into his arms. He holds me close, lifts me up and brings me to the chair I was sitting in previously. I hug him tight as he cradles me like an infant. Once my breathing comes back to a neutral pattern I uncurl my legs and look around. Dr. Madison is sitting in his chair, yellow pad held tight by his clenched hand, the paper scrunched up and creased, kind of like my heart after that flashback.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Madison,” I whisper and his head springs up.

“Gillian, you have nothing to be sorry about. I hadn’t realized that you were having the flashbacks again. This stalker business is bringing up some very old wounds, ones you obviously haven’t dealt with. How often are they coming to you?” He asks.

Shame hits me like a physical blow. “Um, I’ve been having them off and on for the past few months. When I moved in with Chase they were all but gone. Then this thing with Phil happened, now they’re back full force.”

“And the nightmares…tell him about everything,” Chase warns forcing me to be honest with the doctor and myself.

I close my eyes and let Chase’s scent fill my nostrils and calm me, his warmth replacing the chill deep in my bones, and his love washing away the shame.

“I’ve had one a night since the note appeared a few days ago at the hospital. I feel like I’m losing my mind, that I’m living in the past. The only thing that can bring me out of it is…” I suck in a breath as the tears spill down my cheeks.

“Is what?” Dr. Madison asks.

“Me,” Chase answers for me and I nod silently, not able to form words. “And I’ll do it every time. Gladly, baby. You’re mine. Not some sick fuck from your past that put his hands on you with hate. I swear to God if I ever see him…”

I turn in his lap and cup his cheeks. “No. He’s ruined enough of me. I can’t let him hurt you. Not you.” I lean my forehead against his.

“Is that what you think, Gillian? That Justin ruined you?” Dr. Madison asks softly.

I nod and look out the window. “I don’t even know why Chase would want someone so messed up. It doesn’t make sense,” I admit. Chase’s arms grip me tight. I scramble out of his lap and into the other chair needing the space to wallow in my own self-pity.

“Gillian, you are the best thing that ever happened to me. Not only are you the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, your heart is bigger than those of a hundred people. You’re smart, silly, devastatingly intelligent, and your soul is pure. I want that in my life. I need that in my life, every day, forever.” Chase comes over to me and kneels at my feet. “No woman has every loved me, the man I am with you.” Chase swallows and kisses my hands. “You are not ruined. Baby, you’re perfect. Perfect for me.”

Review

So we get the continuation of Gillian and Chase’s story. This is the 2nd book in the Trinity trilogy so you do need to read the first one to appreciate this.

Gillian and Chase are now engaged and they are also dealing with the issue of Gillian’s stalker. This is a little darker than the first one as we also now get a glimpse into the stalker’s mind. And the intent doesn’t just involve Gillian alone.

As a read in its entirety, I admit I struggled a bit with it. After finished reading it, I thought about the reason why, and I realized my issue was Gillian herself. Throughout the book, I may have lost sight a little of why I should care what happens to her. I had to keep reminding myself why Chase is with her. I really felt I was empathetic to her whole plight because of her past, but some of her actions and thoughts drove me nuts so I sorta’ stopped getting why all those things are happening to her. Then those feelings kinda’ snowballed and spilled into how I felt about her friends, except Kat. I like her for some reason. Not that I didn’t care about what happened, but more like not having as much patience with some of their interactions.

Having said all that, I did feel for Gillian when she goes thru her episodes. They're difficult scenes and made my heart crack. No woman, and I mean NO woman, should ever, ever, experience that, but sadly, it happens.

And here’s what else I do like, in addition to Kat. I liked Austin too. And of course, there is Chase. OH, CHASE… He was definitely Gillian’s anchor during all this mess. He will and can do anything for Gillian and her friends, what more can a gal ask for, sigh…

I also did appreciate getting the stalker’s POV, which certainly amped up the suspense of it all. It had me on tenterhooks just knowing things are about to happen. I kinda’ figured it out who it was but it was still worth finding out in the end.

And the way it ended, I know I just have to read the finale. I have to!!!






Buy the Books

Buy Mind, (Trinity Trilogy, Book 2)

Buy Body (Trinity Trilogy, Book 1) - ON SALE NOW!

Giveaway

About the Author

Audrey Carlan is a professional fundraiser for an international healthcare related charity by day, and a sensual and erotic contemporary romance writer by night. She lives in the sunny California Valley two hours away from the city, the beach, the mountains and the precious…the vineyards. She has been married to the love of her life for 10 years and has two young children that live up to their title of “Monster Madness” on daily basis. When she’s not raising money, sipping wine with her “soul sisters”, three incredibly different and unique voices in her life, she can be found with her nose stuck in book or her Kindle. A hot, smutty, romantic book to be exact!

In life she believes that all things have their purpose even if we are unable to determine the purpose immediately.

Connect with Audrey

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B00JAVVG8U
Email address: carlan.audrey@gmail.com
Website: www.audreycarlan.com
Twitter: @AudreyCarlan




~Leftie

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

BLOG TOUR: Body (Trinity Series, Book 1) by Audrey Carlan

RATING: 3.5 napkins

Hi, Leftie here! May I just say this is quite exciting for me as this is a first for me, signing up for a blog tour? How fun!


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Title:   Body (Trinity Trilogy, Book 1) 
Author:   Audrey Carlan 
Genre:   Erotic Romance 
Release Date:   November 17, 2014 
Hosted By:   DRC Promotions

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SYNOPSIS

Men ruin women.
Especially men like Chase Davis. Good looking, intelligent, rich and powerful. I never stood a chance.

I didn’t want to want him.
I didn’t want to need him.
I didn’t want to fall for him.

He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I let him consume me. Arrogant, confident, controlling, demanding … intense.

When he entered my life, I was finally healing after having barely survived the men of my past. My soul sisters told me to take a chance. To let someone in. I let him in, and he surrounded me with a light so bright I was blinded by the truth...

Men don’t ruin women.  
They devour them in every way that counts.

Warning: This book is designed for audiences 18+ due to language, graphic sexual content, and themes that some may find disturbing. BODY is book 1 of a three-part trilogy. Book 1 has a “Happy for Now” type ending.


BUY THE BOOK


Amazon ~ B&N ~ Smashwords ~ Kobo (Canada)


REVIEW

Before anything else, I WANT BOOK 2 NOW, PLEASE!!!!

Now that’s out of the way…

I just want to say what I've come to realize as I was reading this. Sylvia Day’s Gideon has New York, CD Reiss’ Jonathan has Southern CA, EL James’ Christian has Pacific Northwest, CC Gibbs’ Dominic has Europe, Jodi Ellen Malpas’ Jesse has England, but now we also have Audrey Carlan’s Chase who has Northern CA. Just saying… These bajillionaires, I tell ya…

This book, in some ways, reminds me of FSoG. Some people may see that as good and some may not. Regardless, I say pls read it. Because if you like FSoG, I think you’ll like this just as much. And if you didn’t like FSoG, I think you’ll like this at least. For me, it’s like FSoG without the BDSM-lite but with more depth and substance, writing- and story-wise.

We have Gillian recovering from an ugly past and Chase with just as ugly a past. They meet, have this fiery attraction, and you see this play of control between the 2 with each of them motivated by opposing factors.

I thought Ms. Carlan did a good job portraying the mind of someone with Gillian’s past. For all of Gillian’s actions that typically would make her sound TSTL, whether I agree or not, I understood, at least, or saw where she’s coming from, and as frustrated it made me, I couldn’t really blame her for acting or feeling a certain way. Whether we acknowledge it or not, that can be the mind of such person, sadly. As the saying goes, walk a mile… 

And Chase… Chase deserves the hero role, every bit of him... *sigh*… Thanks to Ms. Carlan, I got Chase who's imperfectly perfect. In Ms. Carlan's words, Gillian's own "Superman" and "Knight in Shining Armani". Need I say more?

I have to add as well that the friends' angle was a nice touch. Their dynamics highlight what it truly means when one is fortunate enough to be surrounded by real friends, which I hope all women are.

Towards the end, an ugly thing/person started rearing in from Gillian’s past and that’s where we’re left at the end of this book. I think I’m meant to think of this one antagonist as the most logical choice but I’m hoping to be surprised still.

I say this was more than an enjoyable read. Some parts were way too sugary for me but that’s a personal taste.

Like I said, I WANT BOOK 2 NOW, PLEASE!!!!!



Ten Fun Facts About Body(Trinity Trilogy - Book 1)
 by Audrey Carlan


1. Gillian (Gigi) is the name that my husband and I would have named a child had we ever had a little girl. Alas, I am surrounded by men but loving it!

2. The three soul sisters are loosely based on my very own three best friends. They enjoy seeing what I put their character through. For example, Maria’s character is very different from my best friend Dyani, but they do have core similarities. My girl is fiercely protective, was an incredible contemporary dancer, is Italian and does speak Spanish, even though it’s not her heritage. She however, does not have a potty mouth and was not a victim of domestic violence like her character.

3. The three men aside from main character Chase Davis are loosely based on my soul sisters husbands.

4. My mother was a victim of domestic violence and writing this novel was something very cathartic for me, and I hope it gave the issue a bit more light. Young women, just out of high school can easily fall victim to domestic violence and being so young and impressionable are, in my opinion, often easier to manipulate into believing it’s there fault or they deserved the treatment they received.

5. San Francisco is very near and dear to me as it is less than a two hour drive from my home. Plus, I’ve personally not read a trilogy set in San Francisco.

6. The trinity symbol is extremely prevalent in my life and always has been. My soul sisters and I plan to get a tattoo with it, however, one sister is dragging her feet. The compromise is, if this trilogy makes it onto the New York Times bestselling list one day, she’ll get the tattoo. <crossing fingers> Not sure what I want more, the tattoo or the list! Both would be incredible.

7. Fun fact about this novel is it’s actually the first book I ever wrote but the fourth being published. This novel in particular holds more of my life and heart than anything I’ve written to date. During the developmental edit process I just had a really hard time separating myself from the book and couldn’t be objective. I took the advice of my mentor author Jess Dee and set it aside…for a YEAR! Then after I wrote the Falling Series (3 full length novels) I then was capable of going back to it. I think it’s a better book because of it.

8. I’m a pantser. The extent of my plotting is a one liner for each chapter but not usually until I’m halfway through writing it. Body was entirely written with very little plotting. I just let the muse go crazy and this is what happened!

9. The main character Chase has family members that names all start with a “C.” Chase, Carson, Cooper, Craig, Colleen, Chloe, Charles.

10. Heat level in this book runs at about an 8 out of 10. I like to write erotic sex scenes that make you feel something. I think you’ll find them so hot you’ll need your mate at the ready. <wink>


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


clip_image008Audrey Carlan is a professional fundraiser for an international healthcare related charity by day, and a sensual and erotic contemporary romance writer by night. She lives in the sunny California Valley two hours away from the city, the beach, the mountains and the precious…the vineyards. She has been married to the love of her life for 10 years and has two young children that live up to their title of “Monster Madness” on daily basis. When she’s not raising money, sipping wine with her “soul sisters”, three incredibly different and unique voices in her life, she can be found with her nose stuck in book or her Kindle. A hot, smutty, romantic book to be exact!

In life she believes that all things have their purpose even if we are unable to determine the purpose immediately.




CONNECT WITH AUDREY


Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B00JAVVG8U
Email address: carlan.audrey@gmail.com


GIVEAWAY

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