Guest: Renee Vincent + Book Giveaway!

Today our special guest is Renee Vincent. Welcome, Renee! Please tell us about yourself.

I am an author with a passionate interest in Irish and Norse history. I live in the rolling hills of Kentucky with my husband and two children on a beautiful secluded farm of horses and hay fields.

When I am not writing, I love to spend my time on the back of a horse, whether with my family or with my friends. There is nothing like feeling the sunlight on your face, the wind in your hair, and the power of the animal beneath you as you enjoy the beautiful scenery. Seeing the world from a saddle is, by far, the best view and the best therapy for a heavy heart or a troubled mind. My therapist's name, or my horse's, rather, is  "Statues Suddenly Lucky", a full-blooded Tennessee Walker, and of course, he goes by the name of Lucky for short.

I am a sucker for a good cup of coffee (lots of cream and sugar...and whipped cream if I can get my hands on it), great conversation, and a lilting Irish accent. I love to read and I can't resist watching great epic historical movies.

Q: Your cover is beautiful! Please tell us about The Fall of Rain. Do you have a review you could share with us?

A:  Here’s the blurb for The Fall of Rain:

Leif Dæganssen, an archeologist from Norway, is determined to trace back his Scandinavian roots as far as the Dark Ages and find proof of their existence on the Emerald Isle. After several years of living off the west coast of Ireland, he finally uncovers an ancient artifact—an intricately decorated chest with pagan carvings—buried beneath the very porch of his coastal cottage. Knowing it only confirms the presence of a glorified Norse-influenced settlement on Inis Mór, he’s determined to establish a link between himself and those who once inhabited the rugged isle.

For as long as she can remember, Lorraine O’Connor has had dreams of a Norse warrior kissing her. And even though she’s never fully understood the reason for her vivid subconscious imagination, she welcomes the meaningless and wanton pleasure of being in a Viking’s protective embrace—until the day she meets that brazen Northman on an impulsive vacation trip to Ireland.

Though blindsided by the relevance of her dreams and the strange familiarity of the man within them, Lorraine can’t help but feel a deep-seated intimacy toward Leif. And the more she gets to know him, the more she’s convinced they’ve shared a life together in a time long forgotten.

Are the clues to their ancestral past hidden within the contents of the chest or buried deep within their hearts?

Reviews:

"I know for myself I enjoyed the first two books very much. So much so, that I was excited for the third book to come out. Little did I know what book three really had in store for me. OMG doesn’t even cover it. This is my absolute most favorite book of this series. Where the first two take place deep in the past, book three finds us in the present time. How does that work, you may be asking . . . well, I would have never thought it possible until I read it for myself. Taking present time activities and adding in flashbacks from centuries past, this book offers the reader everything; drama, romance, comedy and even mystery. People and things aren’t always what they seem. In fact, you may walk away from this book never looking at that moment of déjà vu the same again. Maybe, just maybe when something feels right . . .we should remember, just who are we to question it? If you enjoy historical romances and love a story with men you would love to sink your teeth into, this is your series to get lost in. Not an ounce of disappointment to found in the pages of these books."
~ Rose That Rules All - MAGNIFICENT! ~ Romancing The Book ~ Read more >>>

Q: What inspired this story?

A:  The credit would have to be given to my little sister, Lindsey, who passed away in 2005. She was the only one who read the first chapter of Raeliksen (Book 1 of The Emerald Isle Trilogy.) Her inspirational words of “finish it” months before she died led me to complete the whole story and then some. Her encouragement had helped me more than she ever probably thought possible.

Q: Why do you write romance?

A:  It’s a genre I dearly love. I read only romance and they always say to write what you know. Consequently, writing heartwarming love stories comes very easy to me. If I didn’t write, I don’t know what I’d do with all these great stories in my head.

Q: Why did you choose your setting and why was it perfect for your book?

A:  I chose my setting of Ireland because it’s a place I feel most at home with.  Most of my research into the Viking era led me to this magical land, when the courageous men of the North stepped foot on the beautiful isle and intermarried with many of the Irish king’s daughters. I had always been intrigued by this time period in history and the brave men who ventured out on their longships with only a dream and the stars to guide them.

Q: Which of your characters is most like you? And why?

A:  Lorraine O’Connor from The Fall of Rain is me to a T. The things she likes (i.e. the specific way she enjoys her coffee, the car she drives, the farm she lives on etc.) and the personality she bears, are all pieces of myself. Those who know me, should recognize the subtle character traits in the story and, honestly, it was so much fun to inadvertently put myself into the thick of the plot.

Q: Did you choose the title of your book and if so how did you do it?

A:  Yes. This title (along with the heroine’s name) came to me on the day of my grandmother’s funeral.  She had told the family once that her nickname growing up was Rain (short for Lorraine) and since my story takes place in Ireland, the play on words for the title was ideal. My search for the perfect title, which helped to put closure to my Emerald Isle Trilogy, had ended on that fateful morning.

Q: Where is your favorite place in the world?

A: Ireland first. Norway second. I’ve not been to either, but have hopes to go to the Emerald Isle in the very near future. I’ll keep you all posted. haha

Q: Please tell us about your other books.

A: The first in the trilogy is Raeliksen. It begins with the love story of a Norse warrior who’s in love with an Irish princess. The second book, Mac Liam, introduces the reader to an Irish hunter, also in love with the same heroine. Both books show how much the heroes love this VERY lucky woman, but The Fall of Rain, lets the reader know just how far a man in love is willing to go for that woman, even if it means sacrificing everything for her. The Fall of Rain will bring the reader full circle, and leave them with an utter feeling of content. It’s a love triangle, I swear, no romance fan should miss out on.

Q: What’s next for you?

A:  I am currently writing the first book in another series called the Warrior Saga series. The hero is the older brother of Daegan Raeliksen, by the name of Gustaf, and the heroine, Aesa, is a fiery redhead he’s fallen in love with as he’s avenged his father’s murder. Gustaf was a character I introduced in Mac Liam and he’s gotten a lot of fan mail on the subject of his story. The book is called The Temperate Warrior and since I aim to please my readers, I felt compelled to give them a story they’ve begged for.

I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of any one of my backlist (Raeliksen, Mac Liam, Silent Partner – winner’s choice.) Please remember to leave your email address with your comment so we can contact you if you win. Thanks!

To buy The Fall of Rain please click below.
Amazon print
Kindle
Nook
Turquoise Morning Press
All Romance eBooks
Smashwords
Bookstrand

Places to find Renee Vincent

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Deep In The Heart Romance

Thank you, Renee, for being our guest!