Laura Drewry is the author of the paranormal western, The Devil’s Daughter. ShannonC reviewed it and you can also check out an excerpt here.
Now, Ms Drewry joins us to discuss The Devil’s Daughter (and to give a copy away, winner will be announced Thurs 4/24/08 CST…)
As the Devil’s daughter, Lucy Firr will do whatever it takes to win her freedom, even if it means claiming the soul of sexy Jed Caine.There’s no question he wants her, but he wants more than just her body; he wants her heart, too, and he’ll settle for nothing less. His stubborn ways and gentle touches are too much— even for the devil’s own daughter. She was sent to steal his soul, yet there he was. . . capturing her heart.
How was she ever going to explain this to her father?
When Sybil told me I could post over here about my book, my immediate reaction was ‘hell ya!’ despite the fact I am horribly stunted when it comes to sounding sane on boards and blogs. Nevertheless, here I am, eager to chat about my new book, The Devil’s Daughter, and tell you how to win a free copy!
The Devil’s Daughter is one of those books that simply had to be written. It started with nothing more than the title and slowly grew and developed into a story I love. As the devil’s daughter, Lucy has never known what it is to love or to be loved and she’s never even considered showing compassion to another soul. Why would she? She’s the devil’s daughter for crying out loud!
Her goal was simple; seduce Jed’s soul right out from under him and drop it at her father’s feet. How hard could it be, really? Jed’s a male, and all males are horn dogs, so surely to Satan she can get this done and over with in no time.
Right.
Jed’s no saint. What man wouldn’t want a woman as sexy as Lucy, especially when she’s so keen to drop her riggin’ and get down to business? But Jed’s no horn dog, either. If he’s going to be married to this woman for the rest of his life, he wants to have more than just a physical relationship, and though Lucy’s determined to wear him down, Jed’s just as determined to keep the upper hand.
Right.
Things start going sideways right from the start until they’re both forced to admit the truths they’ve been trying so hard to avoid. . . and then things go from pretty bad to holy-oh-hell-awful.
The Devil’s Daughter hit the shelves on April 1st and its sequel, Dancing with the Devil, is scheduled for release in December. For a chance to win an autographed copy of The Devil’s Daughter, tell me what you think about books in a series? Love ’em? Hate ’em? Some of your favourites?
All the best,
Laura Drewry
Hi, Laura!
Love ’em! Some of my favorites are: Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons, Kathryn Smith’s Brotherhood of Blood and Ryland brothers, Elizabeth Hoyt’s Princes trilogy, Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflowers and Travis family, Jo Goodman’s Dennehy sisters and Compass Club, Jacquie D’Alessandro’s Mayhem in Mayfair, Suzanne Enoch’s Lessons in Love, Johanna Lindsey’s Malory family, Julianne MacLean’s American Heiresses, Laura Lee Guhrke’s Girl Bachelors . . . just to name a few. 😉
Hi, Laura,
I do love a good series, although there are sooo many out and I’m anal-retentive about needing to start at the beginning. And I thought that your post was extremely coherent. *G*
I’m really looking forward to Dancing with the Devil.
I’m with Shannon. I have to start at the beginning, part of the reason I’ve yet to read Kenyon or JD Robb–there’s so many it’s daunting. I love the premise of this book and can’t wait to read (don’t enter me I’ve ordered it already and get to read after I finish this book *ggg*)
So the next book, I’m guessing, is the devil’s son. Whatcha got on tap after that, Laura, the devil himself? (hey, that might be a good title…)
Anyway, I just had to post that this book ROCKS. I read it last weekend and it is like a Western with afterburners. Loved it!
(obviously you should not enter me in the drawing)
Oh I love the sound of this book! And too so love western romances!
I’m hooked on series. I love to see that all the characters have their story. Hardest is waiting in between. Sometimes, like with Christina Dodd’s Governess series, they were all out when I found out about them, and even though I rarely do this, I read each one after another. I could do this because they were very unique each. Alot of series, I love to read the book as soon as it comes out and will occasionally read the book before it right before the new one comes out to sort of get refreshed, like with the JR Ward vampire series. I’m not good with always remembering the title of the series, so I think that one is Black Brotherhood? Some others I recall off hand with authors series is Ashley Gardner (Jennifer Ashley), (they are historical mystery series set in London), Julia Quinn and her Bridgerton books, Christine Feehan “DARK” series, Melanie Jackson’s WILDSIDE series, Maureen McCade SIN series. Gosh so many I love to read. I too enjoy single titles. I guess you can say I just love reading and go all over with what I read and I look forward to series because I don’t have to let go so fast of the characters, story, setting, etc.
I have a real love and hate with ’em. Usually books in a series are great, but the anticipation of the next books release – its a KILLER! Right now my fav series has got to be JR Ward’s BDB. Next would have to be the dark hunters by S.K., then Lara Adrian.
xoxo
Hi Laura,
Your book sounds great! As to series… I have mixed feelings. I love catching up with “old friends” in new books, and certain secondary characters just cry out for their own story – in their own book. At the same time – the waiting is killer, as Becky said.
But more importantly, sometimes… I find myself wondering when it will end. If the love has stretched a little thin, and I’m starting to feel the author is stringing me along more for loyalty than anything else… (and pulling out a character like the baby mama’s uncle’s cousin’s hairdresser’s nephew -or the equivalent- who is LONG LOST and must have a story… it’s too much.)
Being generous, I’d say 9 in a series is enough. Really, I’d cut it down to 7 or less. And it’s also important for each to be able to stand alone. I don’t mind if they’re really closely tied – but I need my HEA.
:X Yes, I’m picky.
Hi everyone!
You’ve all listed fabulous choices for series, some of which I haven’t even started yet. Good thing books are a tax write off because I see a HUGE deduction for next year coming. LOL
Andrea – Julianne MacLean is one of my favourite authors. I’ve never read a JM book I haven’t loved.
Shannon – nice to hear I didn’t sound like a complete lunatic. LOL I completely agree with you about starting at the beginning of a series. Even though the books can usually stand alone, it’s not the same to me if I start on the 3rd or 4th book. It’s just wrong. 🙂
Amie – thanks for ordering the book! I hope you love it. 🙂
Caroline – I immediately added “the devil himself” to my growing list. LOL And no, I’m not going to tell you what the next book is going to be about because (A) I have no idea, and (B) even if I did know, I’d jinx myself by talking about it so soon. Yup, I’m neurotic.
Laura
Caffey, Becky & limecello – I agree with what you said. I hate waiting. As my little darlings will tell you, patience is NOT one of my virtues, so if I’m going to read a series, I want all the books RIGHT NOW so I can blow through them one after the other. But I’m always worried that by the time I’ve read the 2nd or 3rd one, that maybe I won’t be in love with the whole thing anymore.
Case in point – I discovered Mary Balogh’s “Simply” series last year. I bought all 6 at one time and started reading. By the time I’d finished #3, I was sure I’d hate the next one, but I didn’t. So then I was sure I’d hate the next one. I didn’t! But then I could NOT bring myself to read the last one because for the last 5 books, I’d been anticipating Wulfric’s story and building it up in mind. There was no way Ms Balogh could meet my expectations, right?
WRONG!! The last book was even better than the first. If my TBR pile wasn’t already toppling over, I’d start with book 1 all over again. 🙂
Laura
Oh I love a good series. Sylvia Day’s Georgian series is great! They can be read stand alone or together. I also enjoyed the DeWarren and Bragg series by Brenda Joyce and The Bow Street Runners and Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas. It just seems to give the characters more depth when they pop in and out of other books.
I enjoy books in series, it gives me a chance to revisit the characters, get to better know others, and revisit the world the author created.
That said, I do prefer series that aren’t terribly long.
Laura,
Haha – I tend to read series out of order. I’ll grab a book and read it, not knowing it came in a series [well, I mean I’ll figure it out quickly enough, but I don’t have the others and I’ve got the one in hand…] So I actually read Wulfric’s story first. And only, really. I tried skimming through the others while studying @ BN but that didn’t work so well.
For me, the key to a great series is dying to know more about the characters. Some of my faves include C.L. Wilson, Charlaine Harris, and Jacqueline Carey. But five books tends to be about my limit, unless there’s some really exceptional twist. Just wait til you see what Laura does to Deacon in DANCING WITH THE DEVIL… 😉
sharmi – I haven’t read Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower series, but someone else I was talking to last week mentioned how great it was. (note to self: add it to the list)
Little Lamb – I don’t usually read a series that’s more than 3 or 4 books, but those Balogh books just wouldn’t leave me alone. LOL
limecello – you STARTED with the last book??!! Oh, no, that’s so wrong! LOL The whole series builds up to Wulfric’s story so that by the time I got to his, I couldn’t believe there was any hope for him and his high-brow ways. Which reminds me, my sister still has that book. . . . .
Leah. . . . LOL 🙂
I love a good series. You can tell by looking at my bookshelves–there’s the Christine Feehan section, Angela Knight’s, MaryJanice Davidson’s, JR Ward’s, Lori Handeland’s…and the list goes on. I love writing them just as much, and am currently on the fifteenth book in my Wolf Tales series (sorry, guys, those of you who don’t like a lot of books in a series!) For me, it’s the fact I can’t let go of characters I’ve gotten to know, whether I’m writing them or another author has written them. Characters that come to life for me are like old friends and I miss them when they don’t come back in another story. Laura, your book sounds fantastic–wishing you much success!
Let me start by saying–I loved The Devil’s Daughter. Just the right balance of humor and poignancy.
Series I love– Jo Beverley’s Rogues and S.E. Phillips Chicago Stars.
Hi Laura,
I’m a huge fan of books in series – Nora Roberts’ Chesapeake series, Eloisa James’ sisters, Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons, Susan Mallery’s Buchanans. And yes, add Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers to your list – and her two contemporaries, too. I look forward to picking your book up at the Write On Vancouver conference 🙂
I don’t mind series, although sometimes I wish a standalone had a sequel because I loved the world too much! I do hate a series when the author continues after the story wears thin, or if the author commits character assassination to further the plot.
To illustrate my point, I’ll use LKH’s Anita Blake series. I started the series with it highly rec’d, and with the knowledge that most of my friends felt the series hit its stride in book three/four – so I forgave the first its flaws. Its advantages were a heroine I could identify with: struggling to follow Christian ideals, uninterested in promiscuous sex, and able to suvive without a man. Now, Anita is somehow still Christian (maybe she should read the Bible again), sleeping with any man with a pulse, and she’s completely forgotten she used to once help the police catch murderers. LKH also character assassinated Richard, although he often sounds like the most sensible character in the story (despite the narrative efforts to make him sound like a jerk). My investment in the early versions of the characters makes me want to see how they’re doing, but in my heart I know they’re dead and not in that shiny new novel on the shelf.
Hey Kate – the queen of the series! LOL Your Wolf Tales books have set themselves in a whole new realm for goodness sakes! 🙂
Hey Teresa – Jo Beverly is wonderful, isn’t she? And thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated!!
Merilee – great to see you here! My favourite Nora series is the Irish trilogy that started with Jewels of the Sun. Couldn’t wait to read Darcy’s story. LOL
Liviania – I’ve not read that series, but I understand the frustration. It’s a difficult thing sometimes, isn’t it?
I’m having a great time with this. And I guess I should ‘fess up now that I’ve been hooked on the whole “series” thing since I was 7. I was at the next-door neighbour’s birthday party and won a door prize. To start with, back in the day, people just didn’t “do” door prizes or goody bags at a kid’s bday party in our neighbourhood, so this was a huge deal. And to make it better was that it was my very first Little House book. That did it – I was hooked. Had to have every one of them in the series and hated the fact that I had to wait for Christmas and my birthday to roll around before I’d get a new one. To this day it makes me twitch when someone borrows one of those. I’m all over them like a tick on a hound ’til they finally give it back. LOL
Thank you, Laura. My biggest problem now is dealing with 27 characters (not counting the babies) and an ongoing tangle of plot threads and trying to keep it all straight–and at the same time, keep it sexy. Some days it makes my head spin, but I’m going to hate it when the series finally ends. I’ll probably go into withdrawal and need SERIOUS therapy!
I read both single title and series, but I don’t mind reading series books because I think it is more fun and it is sometimes entertaining to look forward to see what happens next.
Let’s see, one series that I read Meg Cabot’s Heather Well series.
I absolutely love books in a series. I like to revisit with old characters. Some of favorites include Lisa Kleypas’ Bow Street and Wallflowers series, Stephanie Laurens’ Bastion Club, Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles, Monica McCarty’s MacLeods of Skye Trilogy and Allison Brennan’s Evil series.
Laura, so looking forward to reading this book. I do like series, and like to read them in order for glimpses of the upcoming H/h, or even an interesting secondary character who appears in several. You’re getting great recs here. Some of my favorites, Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower series, Kresley Cole’s Immortals, C.L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul/fey series, Jo Beverley’s Mallorens and Rogues, Sylvia Day’s Georgians, Elizabeth Hoyt, Loretta Chase’s Carsingtons, Quinn’s Bridgertons. Eve Kenin’s Driven has me impatient to read Hidden, next in her series
So many more new-to-me authors in my TBR I can’t wait to start from the beginning now that I have them all that I’m sure to love (Devoti, Briggs, Brook-finally getting to start in later this week-to name a few more.
Hi Laura, Great topic, and the book and your new series sounds great.
I love series. I guess there are two kinds of series, ones with connected characters and ones with the same Heroine and/or Hero, like Diana Gabaldon, unless those are called something else.
For the first kind, I think others are right that there is a potential for a series going on too long, if it isn’t kept fresh. I also worry when books don’t stand alone or that there are so many characters from past books needing to make an appearance, the story gets lost as they do their walk on and catch up. I also like them when they have a common theme, rather than just connected characters.
I love fantasies or the historicals, which are trilogies or more, and have the same main characters through each book until the whole story is done. After all, it would be a sin to waste all the world building.
I have read lots of those listed here and added some new ones to my pile.
Congrats on your release and looking forward to the next one.
Michele Ann Young
Hi, Laura! I love series, too – and I’d better, because I’m writing the fourth in my own.
Series are great because at ‘the end’ you know you’ve got another fix to look forward to, and you don’t have to leave the world the author’s created just yet.
I’ve seen some of your reviews, Laura, and congratulations. I’m really looking forward to reading the book.
‘Morning everyone
Kate – the mere idea of trying to keep track of 27 characters boggles my mind. You must have hundreds of notebooks with tidbits and details.
acdaisy – isn’t it fun when you read a book, and a secondary character grabs you so much that you MUST read his/her story? I love that!
Jane – another vote for the Kleypas books. I’m definitely getting free shipping with my next book order. LOL
Pam – you’ve listed an amazing bunch of authors there. I have to credit Eve Kenin and Lori Devoti for pulling me out of my comfort zone and getting me hooked on genres I never would have given a second look. Yes, I tend to be slightly narrow-minded sometimes. LOL “Driven” and “Unbound” left me completely gobsmacked and itching for more, so I’m very glad to see they both have more books out this year. A girl needs her fix, after all. 🙂
Michele Ann – you hit on an important point. When I read books in a series, I want to see the connection, I want to see similar characters, but at the same time, I want each book to be able to stand on its own. I don’t necessarily *want* to have to read the first ones before I read the 3rd one, but of course my anal retentive side insists I do it that way. LOL Each book needs to be unique so that if I have no idea it’s part of a series, it still makes complete sense to me. Clear as mud? 🙂
Tracy – I love your Veiled series!! I’m so happy you have one coming out in the fall and hope the 4th one will be released quickly afterward.
Cheers!!
Hi Laura! The book sounds fabulous and very unique!
I love series-especially the Mary Balogh and Jo Beverley ones-and the JR Ward and the Dorothy Dunnett’s…I could go on 🙂
Kate,
I have to ammend my comment. I don’t tend to like series that have too many books…there are notable exceptions. *winks*
Hi Kate P – I have a couple of JR Ward’s in my pile, but haven’t read them yet. Yet. 🙂
Thank you, LLL! I do appreciate the clarification! And Laura, I have a huge file of details, of everything from my characters to the various homes they live in and the settings I return to, all of which are mostly fictional. One thing that helps me keep them straight, however, is the fact they are so real to me–it’s like remembering details about friends. At this point, I know them better than I know my own adult kids! (Because my characters tell me EVERYTHING, but the kids tend to keep their lives private–afraid Mom might write about them!)
Reading more comments:
I can remember the Little House book! I got the box set when I was in third grade. My sister and I both loved them, but they were mine. ^_^ However, my set didn’t have Farmer Boy in it (perhaps because of the POV), so she bought that and it was hers. . . . for two people who lived in the same room, we were very terratorial when it came to books.
Laura, I so understand wanting to do re-reads of series, even trilogies but we’ll fall further behind in our reads already! For me I don’t want to miss a good read so I want to get to them!
Yep I loved those Little House books (and Nancy Drew!)! I don’t know whatever happened to them but when I was young. And now with my son’s Manga and Harry Potter and other series, we should have a library here! Thats the only problem is keeping so many series and books, not wanting to let them go knowing we want to read again, like Kate’s Wolf Tales!! (Hi Kate!)
Liviania – Farmer Boy was my least favourite of the series. LOL I think because, at the time, I was so NOT interested in boys that I couldn’t understand why on earth they’d devote an entire book to Almonzo! And it’s the longest one in the series! LOL
Caffey – When the Harry books first came out, I refused to believe they could possibly be “that good”. So imagine my surprise. . .LOL We of course have the entire series and my oldest son seems to think they’re his. Silly, silly boy. I’ve tried to explain to him over and over again that any book that comes into this house with Ron Weasley and Professor Snape in it is automatically mine. I’m bigger, I win. That’s the law. 🙂
LOL…Laura, NOBODY borrows my Harry Potter books. I love the series and have really enjoyed the movies. A few months ago, my husband was an extra in a movie with Alan Rickman. When he came home and told me who’d been on the set, I yelled, “YOU spent the day with Professor SNAPE?” Not being quite as immersed in the series as his wife, he didn’t have a clue he’d been in the presence of greatness all day!!!
Laura – True, true. Still, even as a child I understood the importance of owning the ENTIRE set in matching covers. (Actually, that’s one thing I have about owning the first editions of series – often the publisher will change the design one or two times, so the people who catch on to a good thing quickly end up with books that don’t match.)
We have a winner, folks!! 🙂 In a random draw, Pam P’s name was chosen as the winner of an autographed copy of The Devil’s Daughter. If you’ll email me your mailing address, I’ll get it in the mail right away. (lauradrewry @ gmail.com – minus the spaces of course)
Thanks everyone for chatting with me this week and for making my TBR & TBB piles even bigger!!
Cheers!
Congrats Pam P!!
And too it was wonderful to chat with you Laura and everyone!
Thank you, Laura, I’m looking forward to reading it!