Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Virtual Tour - Beyond Your Touch (The Dark Heart, #2) by Pat Esden

Beyond Your Touch
The Dark Heart, #2
by Pat Esden
Published by: Kensington
Publication date: August 30th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance


One promise could separate them forever.

From The Book Junkie Reads . . . Beyond Your Touch (The Dark Heart, #2) . . .
Mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance, deception, misdirection, illusions, and a bit of confusion.  I did not read book one and must admit to having a few questions on things here and there. 

I found the scenery vividly described and the characters scope wide. The relationship between Chase and Annie had deep connection. With the introduction of a new female more dynamic undertones the paranormal aspects picks up and intensify.  Annie for me shows her strength, courage, and establishes her resolve. She did allow for doubts to linger for a long period of time. She took charge and did what she had to do. Her focus needed to be on the task at hand. Complications of a relationship and the added jealousy and twist was not needed. 

I found much to enjoy about this read but felt that I did need to have book one under my belt before tackling this one.  I felt like I missed a a chapter or two. Walking in on the act was not endearing but did allow for me to find a series to follow more after attaining book one. I look forward to book three but I do recommend reading book one before jumping in to  book two. You just don't know what doors were open before and need to be closed or opened again.

**I did later get book one for this series and it did supply me with answers to questions and gave me a background for Chase and Annie that just was not there in book two (Beyond Your Touch). Book one A Hold on Me was dark, rich, deep, and surprise filled (If I hadn't read book two first). In book one I could feel the Gothic tones mentioned by the author in our interview. In book two not as deep a feel but they tone was still there. The dark makes for a more intense reading for these two books. 
**This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

The Dark Heart series:
A Hold on Me - The Dark Heart, #1

Beyond Your Touch - The Dark Heart, #2

Reach for You - The Dark Heart, #3 


BLURB
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.
Buy Links:
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Sequel to:
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INTERVIEW WITH PAT ESDEN
How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
My writing has a gothic tone, slightly dark but not overwhelmingly so. It also tends to be more on the descriptive side rather than stark.

What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?
I usually get up in the morning around seven, have a coffee and breakfast, then get dressed and start writing around nine. Sometimes I’ll even get up at dawn and do a bit of writing, then go back to bed for an hour or so. I also write in the evening until around eleven. These are the times when my creativity is at its peak.  I rarely write or even revise in the afternoon. 

If I’m having a hard time getting into the zone, I’ll light scented candles or listen to music and look at my Pinterest boards to get inspired. Or I might decide to work outside in the summer, that never fails to inspire me.

Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
I keep a notebook with sections for each character and I have secret Pinterest boards for some characters as well. Before I write, I know a lot about them and I learn more as the story goes along. Hmmm. I wouldn’t say I people watch to help with development and I don’t directly use people I know. But I do use pieces of people I know and have met. I was a florist for years and still am an antique dealer. Between the hundreds of weddings and funerals I’ve worked on, and picking antiques and going to auctions, I’ve met a lot of amazingly wonderful people and some strange characters too.

Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character? If so which one(s)?
In June, I turned in REACH FOR YOU, the third and last book in the Dark Heart series. Since then I’ve been missing pretty much all my characters. After spending so much time with them, they do feel real to a certain degree. That said, there are several characters I think about more often because I’d like to share more of their personal stories. Plus, the series has backstory that reaches back into ancient history, so there are tons of characters that are only mentioned in passing.

If I were to pick one character it would be Selena, the main character’s cousin. In fact, in the near future I hope to pitch a spinoff featuring her as the main character. Fingers and toes crossed.

Do you have a character that you have been working on that you can't wait to put to paper?
This would be Selena again. By the end of the Dark Heart series, she’s really starting to change and become more self-confident. But she has a long way to go and her wild streak is sure to land her in big trouble—not to mention her experimental witchcraft. 

Thank you, Pat Esden
I appreciate your answering a few question for me and my readers. I look forward to the next installment in the series. I will be reading them again and this time in order to keep things flowing freshly . 

Thanks again, 
The Book Junkie Reads . . .
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Author Info
PAT ESDEN would love to say she spent her childhood in intellectual pursuits. The truth is she was fonder of exploring abandoned houses and old cemeteries. When not out on her own adventures, she can be found in her northern Vermont home writing stories about brave, smart women and the men who capture their hearts. An antique-dealing florist by trade, she’s also a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the League of Vermont Writers. Her short stories have appeared in a number of publications, including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, the Mythopoeic Society’s Mythic Circle literary magazine, and George H. Scither’s anthology Cat Tales.
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