The Seer's Lover
Kat De Falla
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Book Description:
For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from people, making her believe she is different. Pulled into an ancient war raging for centuries between demon hunters and seers, she's about to find out she's right.
Her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer of angels and demons who walk the earth shrouded from normal human eyes. He's hidden his gift for years and refuses to endanger Calise by sharing it with her.
In the sultry Costa Rican Jungles, their worlds collide. As their passion and desire ignite, so does the ancient war between demons and seers. Will their combined efforts be enough to save themselves and the entire human world, or will their new found love be their downfall?
Excerpt:
She traced a circle in the sand with her finger.
Why would she disclose her whole existence to someone she'd just met? Someone who talked so little about himself that she found herself talking to fill the void. Saying things she could barely admit in her own head.
His hand covered hers. "I'm lonely, too. Getting to know you this week has been the brightest point in my life and I don't want you to leave, but I know the only place you'll be safe is far away from me."
She swallowed. He had read her mind.
He lay down on his back and closed his eyes. "Cali, you know when you hear a song for the first time and you kind of ingest it? You can't possibly know right away that it will be one of your favorite songs for the rest of your life. A classic."
"Yeah." She hoped he was going somewhere good with this.
"That first listen," he continued, "you pick up a little of the melody and some lyrics that catch you. But when the song ends, you have to hear it again because you want to memorize all the words and sing along. After you hear it a few times and learn the words inside and out, then you begin to let the melody seep inside you. Next thing you know, you've completely digested the song and find yourself humming it while you are doing nothing, like shaving or driving your car. Finally, the song becomes so ingrained it becomes a part of you. Forever. You can recall it and it's with you whenever you need it. Am I making any sense?"
She nodded, blinking back the tears fighting to fall.
"Cali, I don't want you to go back because you're my favorite song."
My Review:
Calise Rowe has been working in her family's business since she was sixteen years old as a cashier but she swept the floors in grade school before she was cashier. When her father had a heart attack during her senior year in high school and gave up his position as co-owner with her uncle of Rowe's Pharmacy. Calise knew then that everyone expected her to go to college and get her degree in pharmacology. So she did what everyone expected she got her doctorate in pharmacology and became a part of the family owned business.
Calise has this secret ability where she can feel these powerful waves of energy flowing around certain people. Calise wanted to know the truth about what she could feel. She wanted answers as to what and who she is. Her mother always told her to ignore it; it is nothing, to keep it hid from the outside world.
After an incident at the pharmacy one night while she was filling a prescription for a new customer she was determined to find those answers. So she took off on a little vacation to Mal Pais. She is going to stay at a friend of her brothers from high school who owns a resort on the island. Her brother's friend, Ron has been in Mal Pais since their vacation right after they graduated. Ron met a woman on the island, fell in love and decide to stay and make a life for him and his new wife on the island.
If Calise thought she had ran into a little trouble back home she was sadly mistaken. She was going to find out real quick like how wrong she was after meeting with a few people on the island. Oh she has met up with some very good people as well though. Luca is one of those people being the most gorgeous, sexiest man alive. Whom she wants to protect at all cost. But this new guy Lucas has sworn off women. You see Lucas is a seer and he has had some bad experiences with women in the past and Lucas never intentionally wants to hurt anyone. So therefore he has put women out of his life for good. Lucas will not let anyone get close to him anymore.
I loved how gifted the author is in making the characters come to life. She gave a very descriptive explanation of each and every character in the book. She made the words jump right off the page at you. It's like you could actually picture it in your head. You're like dang I would love to see that on the big screen!
She also has a way of making you feel what the characters feel as if you are there with them like you are a part of the story. You don't feel like you are reading. You get so lost in the story as if you are that character.
Author Interview:
What inspired you to write The Seer's Lover?
I was working in the pharmacy late one night and an older gentleman came in speaking broken English. He grabbed my hands and told me, "They are all around us! Be careful! I was meant to come in here and tell you this and you will never see me again!"
That really happened! And I never did see him again, but this became part of the opening scene of The Seer's Lover.
When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Since grade school when my seventh grade teacher read my autobiography and laughed so hard she cried. I wanted people to have escapism, happiness and adventure through my words.
What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
I wrote a lot of poems over the years, but The Seer's Lover is the first novel I ever completed. Now I can't stop writing!
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
Everything from non-fiction, to Shakespeare to Stephen King!
What is your favorite book?
The Tao Te Ching. If you've never read this simple book of words to live by, you don't know what you're missing.
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
William Shakespeare. I understand him. Some people read him or see Shakespeare performed live and it sounds like another language. I've always read and heard Shakespeare and loved the musical magic he created with words.
If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
One day in Madison, WI when I was jogging with my dogs and passed my now-husband on his bike. We both remember. I wish I could go back and stop and talk to him.
When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
Sometimes easy, sometime difficult!
Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
Wow - we have a HUGE variety of pets! We have a Bullador named Beef, a mini-dauschund named Lily, two geckos named Leroy and Dude, a rat named Poe, a hermit crab named Swirl, a red-eared slider turtle name Gamera, and a famous cat named Maximillion Gigan. Whew…
What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Pizza. But my sweet tooth is really bad too. My sister introduced me to Zero bars as a kid - I love those!
Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
Grow thick skin. As long as YOU love what you are writing and you are open to constructive criticism, don't be afraid to let those who do it better, help you out with even the harshest of advice. It will only make you a stronger writer in the end! Be a lifelong learner :
About The Author:
Author Kat de Falla was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she learned to roller skate, ride a banana seat bike, and love Shakespeare thanks to her high school English teacher.
Four years at the UW-Madison wasn't enough, so she returned to her beloved college town for her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is happily employed as a retail pharmacist where she fills prescriptions and chats with her patients.
She is married to her soul mate, classical guitarist, Lee de Falla and raising four kids together ala the Brady Bunch.
Lee's Info:
Composer Lee de Falla, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was raised in a family of professional musicians. He picked up his father's guitar at age eight and hasn't put one down since. Although well versed at playing all genres of music, his love is composition for modern classical guitar and instrumental orchestrations. He is finishing work on two CD's which will be available later this year.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leedefalla and www.facebook.com/bfpmusic
Composer Website: www.bayafaya.com where FREE music requests are available that accompany THE SEER'S LOVER:
1. Anna's Dance is a jazzy bossa nova meant to accompany chapter two.
2. Shane's Torment is a churning soundscape of despair meant to accompany chapter six.
3. Cali and Lucas First Dance is a Latin fusion instrumental love song meant to accompany chapter twelve.
As I touch on Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in this book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to www.iorphan.org
Acclaim for THE SEER'S LOVER:
"Distinctly haunting and deliciously dark, The Seer's Lover is the debut novel from author Kat De Falla and it's one to be read with the light on! A paranormal romance, it may not howl originality as the age old forces of Angels and Demons muster for yet another face off, but De Falla certainly distinguishes herself with the quality of her writing and the ability to weave a riveting and intriguing plot. With a meticulous eye for detail her characters are skillfully drawn, shunning the genre tendency towards stoic stereotypes to deliver flawed real world personas that quickly feel familiar and are ultimately endearing. The action is generous and well described, the twists served with perfect timing, it has all the elements readers expect from the best in genre and they are sure to keep the pages turning at a frantic pace."
--Book Viral (http://bookviral.com/the-seers-lover/4584242750)
The Seer's Lover is truly an unusual creation in the e-world: it comes with musical interludes (which can be downloaded for free) and it tells of Calise, who has long known she has different abilities than most. What she hasn't realized is that her powers will draw her into an ancient conflict between good and evil, pitting her against some of the strongest adversaries in the universe.
If all this sounds familiar, it's because the classic 'good-versus-evil' plot has been done time and again: but as with any good book, it's not just the plot that makes for an exceptional read, but how it's done.
Kat de Falla places her main protagonist on a journey of discovery that leads to the Costa Rican forest, there to encounter a man who (much like herself) has hidden his abilities. Lucas can actually see the demons and angels who walk the earth; but not only has he concealed his abilities; he doesn't want to endanger her by sharing his gift.
What evolves is paranormal romance fiction at its best: a story steeped in passion with the overlay of deadly dangers and powerful talents woven into an ever-changing plot.
Now, the genre of paranormal romance has rapidly expanded. Over the last ten years romance writers have added a variety of elements to spice their creations, and entry into paranormal realms is just one of these newer devices. Another device used here is that of music which runs through the story line as a theme so that musical passages accompany the story.
The Seer's Lover is all about building atmosphere, from its eye-catching cover of a man and a woman on an island facing down blazing red eyes in the sky to these musical interludes that reinforce action.
And this atmosphere is created right from the start, where Calise is already involved with Lucas: "Why would she disclose her whole existence to someone she'd just met? Someone who talked so little about himself that she found herself talking to fill the void. Saying things she could barely admit in her own head."
There are no pat answers here; no formula approaches that would lend too much predictability to events. Calise is alternately brave and terrified, as her abilities are yet untested but her adversaries are seasoned and powerful: "This is not going so well. I'm turning out to be a pretty shitty Buffy the Demon Slayer." And there are surprises peppered throughout: in the form of a mother whom Calise comes to realize as the wellspring of her powers, and in the guise of a romances past and present which rise up to haunt her. There are unexpected religious experiences, there's a search to find self, and there are elements of suspense tying all of these events together. In the end Calise faces the greatest challenge of her life - and with prior events having helped her grow, she's in the strongest position ever to find peace in her life. The open-ended conclusion leaves room for a possible sequel but in the true style of a superior read, it's not essential that more be written: The Seer's Lover is a self-contained novel that properly wraps up its story, and will satisfy any reader of paranormal or romance fiction. Highly entertaining by anyone's reckoning, The Seer's Lover from author Kat De Falla is an exciting debut novel and certainly one that deserves a place on your reading shelf. It is strongly recommended. Giveaway:
--D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, MBR
1 comments:
Thanks for the great review and having me stop by!
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