Guest Blog and Giveaway with Kimberly Frost

Hi everyone,

It’s wonderful to be back at Fang-tastic Books for the release of my third Southern Witch novel, Halfway Hexed. Visiting this site has become a fun tradition for me with the release of each book.

For those not familiar with my Southern Witch series, it’s a blend of mystery, paranormal romance, and action/adventure. The main character, Tammy Jo Trask, is a young woman who’s descended from a long line of witches, but whom the family magic seems to have skipped. In Would-Be Witch (Book 1), Tammy comes into her powers. Unfortunately they don’t work properly, and all her spells go hilariously wrong. In Barely Bewitched (Book 2), she learns why her magic malfunctions and taps into a different source of supernatural mojo.

Now in Halfway Hexed, Tammy Jo has two weeks of mystery-solving, butt-kicking adventure behind her, and she hits the ground running when dangerous foreign wizards come to town, a new mystery arises, and her in-town nemesis, Jenna Reitgarten, orchestrates a plot to force her out of her hometown.

One of the things that’s terrific and fun about writing a series is the way a thread can be allowed to unravel slowly. In the case of Tammy and Jenna, their animosity began before the stories start, and they clash frequently in the first two books, but in the third book their conflict finally comes to a head.




Here’s an excerpt from early in the book:

* * *

“Get her!” Jenna ordered. Then they knocked me down and piled on top of me, and we were a mass of scratching fingernails, kicking legs, and tangled hair. I didn’t want to hurt any of them, so I didn’t actually hit anyone with a closed fist. In retrospect, that was a mistake. I should’ve treated them like any killer werewolf or vicious faery that I’d fought the past two weeks. But hindsight is twenty-twenty and foresight is more like twenty-two-hundred. With my wrists, ankles, and lips duct-taped, all I could do was glare at them when they picked me up and carried me to the back door.

I shouted against the tape. It came out sounding something like, “Mm-errrr-mum-hu-mmurma.”

Predictably they ignored my garbled protests. I squirmed and struggled until they dropped me, making me bang my butt and left elbow on the tile floor. Scowling and snarling, they picked me back up.

“Stop moving! You’re only hurting yourself,” Lucy snapped.

“That chocolate sculpture is really great, by the way. It’s going to make a wonderful focal point for the fund-raiser,” Sue said.

What the fudge? They were still expecting to use my work? Not if I had anything to say about it. Unfortunately, at the moment I really didn’t, but I shouted against the tape anyway.

“If you cooperate, maybe you’ll be free in time for the fundraiser. Wouldn’t that be nice?” Mindy said, sweet as a Stepford wife.

I flailed until they dropped me again. My left butt cheek was going to be one big bruise tomorrow.

Jenna leaned over and grabbed my arm, squeezing hard. “That’s enough,” she hissed.

I glared at her.

“You brought this on yourself, you know,” she said as they lifted me again. “We’re taking you into custody on behalf of DeeDAW.”

Who? “Uutt?”

“Defending Duvall Against Witchcraft. DeeDAW,” Jenna said triumphantly as they dropped me into a car trunk. “Now be quiet in there.” With that, the lid whumped shut and plunged me into darkness.

My very first chocolatier’s commission, and the clients turned into witch-hunting kidnappers! Apparently, my plan to keep my regular life as a pastry chef separate from my new life as a witch wasn’t going to work out as well as I’d hoped.

* * *
As you can see, Tammy loses the initial battle with Jenna and DeeDAW, but as you might expect there’s a lot more to the war. I won’t give you the details about what finally happens to Jenna, but every dog has his day, and where Jenna’s concerned, Tammy’s day is in Chapter 27 of Halfway Hexed. :-)

For a chance to win an autographed copy of the Southern Witch novel of your choice, pop down to the comments and tell me what fictional character from a book or movie you most enjoyed seeing get his/her due at the hands of the hero/heroine.

Best wishes & happy reading,
Kimberly Frost
http://frostfiction.com/

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A Review of Halfway Hexed by Kimberly Frost

Five Fangs for Halfway Hexed by Kimberly Frost

I've said it before and I'll say it again- Kimberly Frost's writing rocks.

The third book in The Southern Witch series is filled with as much drama, intrigue, and adventure as the first two- all twisted together with a little southern sizzle.

Book Description:

New witch Tammy Jo Trask has a whole town full of trouble, in the latest from the national bestselling author of Barely Bewitched.

First, there are the local residents who form a scripture-spouting posse and kidnap Tammy to "defend" Duvall, Texas, against witchcraft. Next, someone saddles her with a secret package chock full of dangerous visions, just as the president of WAM-the World Association of Magic- arrives with his entourage to investigate her.

And who worse to examine Tammy's entanglement with off-limits and drop-dead gorgeous wizard Bryn Lyons than his ex-girlfriend?

Not to mention that the clash between the locals and the magical visitors leads to a series of unnatural disasters that may doom them all. While the fate of the town hangs in the balance, one thing's certain: this would-be witch is ready to rumble, Texas style.

I haven't read any other character that can get into as much trouble as Tammy Jo Trask. Within the first couple of chapters she can go through more turmoil than most characters do in an entire book.

Who else could get kidnapped by two totally unrelated groups- in the same day? Yes 2 kidnappings in 1 day and she manages to get away from both of them and report it to the police who of course think she's insane.

Poor Tammy, not only is the World Association of Magic got her in their sights but now some of the locals have got it in their small minded heads that Tammy is a witch (which she is) and that she's evil ( of course she's not) and it's up to them to rid the town of her evilness. And they go to some pretty extreme (and very un-Christian like) measures to get rid of her.

Good thing WAM is more on her side than what she thought because they help her out of a jam more than once. But they probably have their own crazy agenda and selfish reasons for doing so.

Crazy much? Oh I forgot to mention that the leader of the fanatic Bible thumpers is none other than Tammy's arch nemesis Jenna Reitgarten. Of course it is. Who wants to get rid of Tammy more than Jenna?

With the whole town and WAM against her Tammy Jo is lucky to have Bryn Lyons. Sexy Bryn who she has worked so hard to stay away from because of some premonition her great aunt had about them and why her family should avoid any Lyons at all costs.

I personally think Bryn and Tammy are made for each other- crazy premonitions of visions be damned. They fit. Their magic fits. Above all else he believes in her and gets her.

Which is more than I can say about her good ol boy, southern ex husband Zack who nice as he is- he's not magic and he didn't believe anything about Tammy until the magic stuff smacked him right in the face so hard he couldn't deny it any more. I give him points for trying after that- he even went off to get trained in working with supernatural elements.

Which is why he was delightfully absent in this book.

I say good because the story got to focus on Tammy and Bryn and the their relationship. Byrn is everything Tammy Jo needs in a man- sure of himself, no need to belittle her or feel threatened by her, he loves her unconditionally, and he can teach her everything she needs to know- everything her family cut her off from. Plus it helps that he's gorgeous and rich. (Hey, if Tammy Jo doesn't want him I'll take him.)

I really hope this is not the last Southern Witch novel. If it is I will be pleased with the ending but there are still so many questions to be answered and a lot of what if's that I would really love to see more. I think Tammy Jo, Bryn and the rest of the crazy cast of characters could definitely see more adventures in future books. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I really want more Southern Witch novels.

The fast paced action combined with southern humor all mixed up with magical elements quickly made this one of my favorite series. Tammy Jo is a fantastic heroine who is quirky, kooky and down to earth. You can't help but love her.

I was hooked from the first page of the first book and have not been disappointed yet. Each book is a quick read I refuse to put down before I finish the entire book.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Kimberly Frost

Great Lakes
By Kimberly Frost

I grew up in a suburb of Detroit. In Texas, where I live now, that would already be considered “up north,” but, during my childhood, we didn’t consider Detroit to be up north. Though we did consider Tennessee (where my paternal grandparents were from) down south. Go figure.

In any event, “Up North” was a very specific place in my mind. It was not where Santa Claus and the elves lived or home to the Canadian Mounties and Wayne Gretzky. It was in my own state, three hundred miles from the center of the universe, a.k.a. my house.

Michigan happens to be one of the luckiest places in the world in that it is shaped like a mitten, making the relative geography of the state a snap to illustrate. I was from the thumb area. Up North was near the fingertips.

Each summer we traveled to my great aunt and uncle’s cottage, which had lake access—always a very big deal in Michigan. My great uncle had swum across the five-mile lake, apparently to prove that he could, since there was nothing in the story about anyone, man or giant fish, pursuing him. There was also no one tagging along with him. No one in a boat. No buddy swimmer. So not the safest way to prove he was a great swimmer, but people didn’t think overly much about safety back then, did they? And I have to say that I admire how rugged people were and how self-reliant. When one is three miles into a solo five-mile swim, there is no turning back. You’ve got to have faith in yourself to pull that off. It probably also helps to enjoy your own company. Since I’m someone who likes to live in her own head, I admire that, too.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about that lake, which was a focal point of my childhood and which I associate with lazy summer days spent swimming, sunbathing and reading, running through the woods, riding in the fishing boat, and hurrying to eat ice cream cones before they melted over my hands. It was the best of times. For a glimpse of the fabled lake, see the picture I took a few years ago.

I suppose it’s no surprise then that water figures prominently in my writing and my writing life. I like writing retreats that have a view of water. Lakes, oceans, ponds…just about any body of water will do.

The town in my Southern Witch series sits between two rivers, and water always has a part to play in a Southern Witch story. In Would-Be Witch, Mercutio the ocelot arrives on a raft that’s floating down the river. In Barely Bewitched, Tammy has to escape into the water more than once and Bryn’s magical connection to water is revealed. In Halfway Hexed, well, let’s just say water is a member of the supporting cast again.

Anyway, I haven’t been swimming in a lake or an ocean for several years, but that seems to make little difference. The lake of my childhood lives on in my mind, always quick and ready inspiration when I write. Apparently, you can take the girl out of the lake, but you can’t take the lake out of the girl. And for that, I am grateful.

For a chance to win autographed copies of Would-Be Witch and Barely Bewitched from the Southern Witch series, tell me about your favorite childhood vacations/vacation spots.

3 winners will be chosen

1 winner will receive both Would-Be Witch and Barely Bewitched

2 Winners will receive a copy of Would-Be Witch

US Shipping Only Please

Thanks for inviting me to chat & I hope to see you in the comments…

Warm watery wishes,
Kimberly Frost
http://FrostFiction.com/

P.S. There will be free fiction posted exclusively on my website later this year. Anybody who’s interested in being notified when it’s available should visit my website & sign up for my newsletter. :-)

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Then be Sure to Leave a Comment on This Post About Your Favorite Childhood Vacation Spot

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3 winners will be randomly chosen and announced next Wednesday

2 New Authors of 2009 That Blew Me Away

I read a lot of books this year. Probably more than I have read in the several years before this combined.

Somehow I got away from reading- probably due to the fact I always had a kid attached to me or needing me or a business to run before this past year. This past year business was next to nothing, kids are growing up even thought he little guy is still a handful he is no longer actually attached to me all the time and I wanted to escape- if only in words so I went back to reading- a lot.

This past year I really delved back into my first love- books and really put that into this site, Fang-tastic Books.

I discovered so many amazing authors I had not yet read and I have a huge list of authors and books still on my to-read list.

I also had the chance to read the books of several brand new authors that debuted in 2009- two really stood out.

Kimberly Frost and Chloe Neill.

These two ladies hit the ground running with their debut books and the series's have really taken off.

Kimberly Frost's Southern Witch series is full of so much wit, Texas charm, uncanny humor, and enough sub plots and strong characters to keep you reading and wanting more. The series is pure magick on the page.

Then there's Chloe Neill.

This writer packs a punch in her new Chicagoland Vampires series. If you want a vampire series with serious bite, snarky humor and plenty of twists and turns...these books are for you.

The first two books have me so hooked I can't wait to read the third which comes out in July.

Chloe also has a YA series. The first book is Firespell hits stores January 5th. After reading her Chicagoland series I am eager to try her YA series as well.

If you haven't read these authors you must add them to your to-read list.

Any suggestions in who else I should add to mine?

Any debut authors blow you away this year? Any books really just grab you? Tell me about them, I'd love to hear.

A Review of Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost

5 Fangs for Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost

Kimbery Frost can tell a tale like no other. Barely Bewitched is another installment of her Southern Witch series that I devoured in no time. A totally fang-tastic read.

In Barely Bewitched Tammy Jo is still jobless and suffering the consequences of her misfiring magic when the World Association of Magic (WAM) sends a "wand-wielding wizard and a menacing fire warlock" to Duvall to train her for a mandatory challenge that she is supposed to face without the help of Bryn Lyons, who she is again forbidden to be in contact with.

First her family and now WAM, why is everyone so hell bent on keeping Bryn and Tammy Jo apart? Probably because they are a magical match to be reckoned with when they are together. Of course Tammy Jo needs his help now more than ever. She has never followed the rules before why should she start now, after all "rebellion is an old Texas tradition."

Tammy Jo faces struggle after struggle when once again it seems like the whole town is out to get her.

First the wizard and warlock that are supposed to help her seem more like they are not really on her side, even Aunt Edie the ghost seems to abandon Tammy Jo when she needs her help the most, then Tammy Jo gets cursed and accidentally spills pixie dust on the whole town causing normal sane people to go nuts, to counteract the spell Tammy Jo casts one of her own making things even worse, and to add insult to injury Tammy Jo gets shot and poisoned by an evil little fairy changeling and Bryn has to save her which may lead to his own demise.

The only one who is always on her side is Mercutio, her faithful sidekick Ocelot.

And throughout the whole story Tammy Jo is as always, torn between her ex-husband Zach the man she has loved her whole life and the man she seems to be destined to be with, the oh so sexy Bryn Lyons. What a tough choice, especially with the character growth that seems to be coming from Zach though Bryn and Tammy Jo have a connection that seems to be written in the stars.

I can't wait to see where this goes because right now I can't even choose which man is the best. Gosh if I was Tammy Jo I'd beg to keep them both. Zach the strong, loyal and ever loving Texas cowboy is such an All American guy, though he has his All American faults as well. Then there's Bryn, rich, sexy, wizard, powerful with a connection to Tammy that neither can explain but he's not running from it. Both men willing to give their lives for Tammy Jo.

The characters are totally engrossing, Tammy Jo is a gem, the guys are just breathtaking, and even the side characters are fun and enjoyable like Rollie the vampire, and Edie the ghost. You never know who is going to play a major roll and which way the plots and subplots are going to go. Full of twists and turns which always spell trouble for poor Tammy Jo.

But at least Tammy Jo learns a little more about herself and her magic in this book as does Bryn which also clues us in to why perhaps they are so well connected.

Wow what a wild joyride of a read! Totally engrossing from the first page to the last this is a book you will not put down until it's done and even then you are left craving more Tammy Jo.

Kimberly Frost has wielded magic by writing this series. I can't even compare it to anything else because it is so new and fresh. I am completely compelled to read this series.

The Southern Witch series became an instant hit from the moment I read the first couple pages of the first book, Would Be Witch. Now it is a can't miss read. I can not wait for the next book. I hope Kimberly types fast or casts a few spells of her own to get the next book out as soon as possible.

Make sure to drop by Fang-tastic Books on September 1st. Kimberly Frost will be here for guest blog and you'll have the chance to win a free copy of Barely Bewitched.

A Review of Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost

Five Fangs for Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost

What is it about authors with the last name Frost totally heating up the page with their out of this world paranormal fiction?

First Jeaniene Frost did it and now Kimberly Frost has completely blown me away with her words.

Would-Be Witch is a fabulous debut novel that hooked me on the very first page. After that I couldn't put the book down. I read it in one night. I just had to know what happened and see what was next. Now I am so bummed cause I want more of The Southern Witch Series but I'll have to wait until September for the second book, Barely Bewitched.

In Would-Be Witch, Tammy Jo Trask comes from a long line of witches. Too bad the magic seems to have fizzled out by the time it got to her. The only spells Tammy Jo seems to be able to whip up are those created with sugar and frosting. As a witch she sucks but as a confectioner she totally rocks...until she gets fired from her job for refusing to cave under the pressure of the town bitch. So now she finds herself totally broke and jobless and hopping from one magical mishap to another. She sure finds herself in a lot of magic related trouble for a woman with no magic powers.

And then men in her life...hell yeah. Sexy but alpha in a kinda-bad-normal-man-bad way- ex-husband Zach (who she is still sleeping with, he didn't get the memo they were divorced or something) is wonderful and terrible at the same time. Overbearing and boorish, completely clueless about some things, yet loyal, sweet and loving at the same. So he's pretty much your every day southern guy. Then there's Bryn...oh give me some of him. Sexy wizard with loads of money, he's smart, sexy, completely debonair and seems to be completely taken with Tammy Jo. Not to mention yummy as hell.

Then you add in the other colorful characters in this book: funny Southern belle best friend Georgia, out of the picture and who-knows-where mother and twin sister aunt, Edie the ghost of Tammy's great great grandmother's twin sister, and then there's the local gay/asian/psychic hairdresser Johnny Nguyen Ho whose boyfriend is a cross dressing vampire. Wow. And let's not forget Bryn's gift to Tammy Jo, a strange kitty named Mercutio who turns out to be an ocelot. But more than that he's Tammy's best friend and protector who seems to completely understand everything she says and protects her better than anyone else.

Good thing too cause with a pack of crazy werewolves after her Tammy needs all the help she can get while trying to find her family's locket containing the spirit of Edie before October 24th. But she needs to do it without getting killed or causing too much magical mayhem. Yeah, so much for that.

I love Kimberly Frost's world. She has completely captured the Southern Texas charm and wrapped it into a magical world of wizards, witches, ghosts, werewolves, zombies, and cross dressing vampires. And Tammy is so wonderful. Beautiful, clueless, snappy, sassy and obviously bursting at the seems with power she doesn't even realize she has- all wrapped up in a small town southern charm package complete with a sexy drawl bow.

I can't wait to see what kind of trouble this wickedly funny witch gets herself into next.

I've never read anything like Would-Be Witch before. I can't even explain the complete and utter charm this book holds. Frost has captured something truly magical between the pages of this book. Amazing debut novel, a must read for fans of the paranormal. Witty and wickedly sexy you'll be hooked in an instant. Frsot has cast a spell you won't be able to resist. A fabulous new series that's being added to my list of must have reads. .

Well done, Kimberly! (Who by the way is a former Michigander turned Texan!) I love your way with words.