Jekyll, an Urban Fantasy (Hyde #2) By: Lauren Stewart *Author Interview, Review & E-Book Giveaway*

*Hey everyone. You will see a wonderful Interview with Author Lauren Stewart, thanks Lauren! She is the author of 2 wonderful Adult Urban Fantasy novels: Hyde & Jekyll! Along with the Interview, there is an International E-Book Giveaway (18+ Only) where you will have the choice, if you win, to either receive book 1 or 2, so check this all out below! :) *

Book 1 Goodreads 

Description

To survive, they must embrace what they most despise . . . in themselves and each other.

Mitch Turner is everything women want most in a man—charismatic, successful, drop-dead gorgeous. Except he’s not a man—he’s a monster.

The only way Mitch can protect others from his monstrous side is to stop them from getting too close…that and a 7x7 foot cage. Isolated by his genetic curse, he spends his life hurting people emotionally, driving them away before Hyde can harm them physically. But, after a night of the best sex Mitch has ever had, he realizes that might be impossible. Except the woman he was with claims she doesn’t remember any of it.

Eden Colfax is everything men want most, men other than Mitch, that is. She’s kind, honest to a fault and sickeningly sweet. To rid herself of the monsters that haunted her broken childhood, Eden doesn’t lie, doesn’t curse, and definitely never wakes up naked in strangers’ beds…until the day she does.

Then the flashbacks start—places she’s never been, people she’s never met, blood she’s never spilled. She discovers she’s split into two parts—the woman she thought she knew and another who is capable of anything. And the only person with any answers is the one man she never wants to see again.

What neither of them know is that someone is watching them both, manipulating them, determined to see just how evil the two of them really are. And when the truth begins to seep through the cracks, leaving them nowhere to turn but each other, they will be forced into a partnership neither had expected.

Because in life, who you trust is as important as who you are. And when you can’t even trust yourself, sometimes the only person you can rely on is the last person on Earth you should be falling for.
*** An Urban Fantasy novel intended for adults only, as it includes lots of cursing, descriptive sex, biting sarcasm, and themes similar to those in Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, from which this story was inspired.

*Click Here To Read My Review!*

Book 2 Goodreads

Description

“When the devil tells you to stop struggling, do you?”

From the moment Eden wakes up, she knows she’s not in Kansas anymore. She isn’t even on Mitch’s doorstep, her dark-side’s favorite place to dump her. No, she’s somewhere far worse. And far more sterile. Sometimes a girl needs to adapt, be flexible, change. And that’s exactly what Eden will do, all the way back to Mitch. No matter what she has to do to get there. Because his life depends on it.

Mitch has lost something he’d never thought he’d find to begin with. And “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” is a lie. A lie people tell themselves to make the pain go away. But the pain doesn’t go away, not in someone like Mitch. It festers. It grows. Until it can’t be held back anymore, even by the bars of a cage.

*** Jekyll is a continuation of Mitch and Eden’s story and may prove confusing to those who haven’t read Book I. So why not go check it out? Heck, the first book is cheaper.

*** This novel is also intended for adults, as it includes lots of cursing, biting sarcasm, and some truly evil people

My Review

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read the continuation of Mitch's and Eden's story. If you've read Hyde, you know what I'm talking about! In this story, you will read so much more information about the 'Clinic' and there was a definite surprise on what's been there for many years, someone that Eden has no clue is there, or ok this is a little spoiler, whose alive.... Yeah that surprise even got me, and it's something, someone dark, that Mitch can be...forever...if he doesn't have to be so darn stubborn, and listen to Eden, on what he needs to be and stay Mitch...not Hyde. Anyway, as these two lovers meet again, it's definitely explosive, but the Jekyll inside of Eden gets the best of her, and after that, Hyde insists that it's not his Eden that's inside her, so their reunion is not so great, but it does eventually take a while to create some sort of connection again. 

In the beginning of the story, at times, I felt there was just a slow start up, but once you read it, because you just have to find out if Eden and Mitch are ever going to meet again, there is quite a flow, and there is the rude and oh so dark sense of humor of Mitch, that made me fall for him once again. The writing was once again quite wonderful, and the ending was wowza! It definitely kept me wanting me to read more, so again, I look forward to reading the next story, book 3, of which I hope will come out really really soon! :)

My Rating: 4.2/5

Rated R! (Mature Language, Violent Content & Sexual Content) (18+)

Check Out My Interview With

The Author

What inspired you to write this series?

I’m a nice person (shocking, I know), and I value things like honesty, integrity, and responsibility. One day, during another failed attempt at being perfect *sigh*, I realized something: I wasn’t good enough. Then I asked myself: Who the hell decided what ‘good enough’ was? The definition I was basing my life on wasn’t even mine, not to mention it wasn’t even possible. I was killing myself trying to be a perfect mother, friend, human being, without having ever really asked myself what that meant. So when I sat down to write, I wanted to explore our definitions of good and evil, as well as how we judge ourselves and others. And urban fantasy seemed like the perfect way—the ultimate bad boy and the proverbial good girl shoved into each other until they learn how well they actually fit together.

How long did it take you to write?

I write first drafts really quickly because the characters never leave my mind. While I’m doing dishes or falling to sleep, conversations start playing in my head and I have to scurry to find a pen and paper. But the thing that takes time is editing. I have no idea how many times I go through it. If I gave you a number, I’d probably be way off.

What actors do you see playing your main characters?

I’ve never found exactly the right actress for Eden. She has to be convincing as both a good-girl and as a bad-ass. That’s tough.

As for who would play Mitch, well…that depends on the day. Ian Somerhalder is just beautiful and is an amazing bad boy. Can you believe he was actually the naive All-American boy in “Lost”? What a difference a year and a totally different role can change. I love the smolder of Stephen Amell (from Arrow). He’s just stunning and moody and mysterious. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible for him to look bad. And I am permanently enamored with Bradley Cooper. Though he has no idea I exist, we’re soul mates. He is hysterically funny, sarcastic, and intense, all with a tortured and misunderstood look in his eyes. And did you see his body in The A-Team? And he speaks French. And he reads for pleasure. And if anyone knows how I can send him my book, I will love you forever.

Are there any messages that you want your readers to see?

Themes are really important to me. They help us bring the story and characters into our own lives, to identify with them. My goal in writing this series was to make people think long after they finished reading the book. Hyde’s major theme was what defines good and evil. Jekyll’s theme is free will. And book three’s theme is acceptance.

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I think most writers start from a dark place, a rough time in their lives, when the need to express what they’re feeling becomes overwhelming.

I started seriously writing only a few years ago. Before that, it never occurred to me that I would be any good at it, but once I started, oh boy. I completed my first novel in less than a month and then realized that I was doing everything wrong. So I took some time to study craft before tackling my second novel, Hyde. I haven’t stopped since. It’s now an obsession, something I need to do.

Is there a place you especially like to write?

I can’t write at home—too many distractions, too many other things I should be doing. Plus, it’s just too weird to write something twisted or sexual or romantic with my children in the house.  So my favorite place to write is my neighborhood coffee shop. They make a mean vanilla soy latte. Their only flaw is that they don’t serve wine. Ha

What are you currently working on?

After the release of two novels in December, I’m taking a bit of a breather. But it won’t last long because I’m just not as happy when I’m not writing. I have lots to do this year. Finish the third book of the Hyde series, the second book of my Summer Rains mystery series, and hopefully start a new UF series that has been plotted but not written.

In addition to all of that, this year I would also like to continue working towards a project I call Good Reads & Good Deeds (or just GR&GD). Since I published my first book, I’ve given 5% of the proceeds of all of my work to a juvenile diabetes charity. My son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on his second birthday, so it’s a cause that’s close to my heart. Later this year, I will be publishing a short story called “Friends with Benefits,” and 100% of its proceeds will go to charity. Since I started this journey, I’ve been amazingly fortunate. And, for me, some of those blessings need to be put to use outside of myself.  Ultimately, I want to build GR&GD into something other authors become involved in. Readers will know part of their purchase is going to a great cause, and writers will know they are giving back.

Who are your favorite Authors?

I grew up reading mostly fantasy and sci-fi, so many of my faves fall into that category. But in the romance genre, I bow down to JR Ward and Karen Marie Moning. They are both brilliant and really helped me develop my own unique style of writing. They are constantly breaking rules and pushing boundaries which is something I aspire to. Plus, I’m really not good at following rules.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Learn craft. You may have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t know craft, your talent will never be used to its full potential. It sucks and it’s hard, but you gotta do it. The other thing is to trust yourself. Knowing when to listen to critique partners’ opinions and when to ignore them is tough and takes a while to learn. But ultimately, it is your work and you need to love it.

What are you reading now?

I’m currently beta-reading an urban fantasy called “Loose Changeling” by Andrea Stewart (no relation). Andrea is a very talented friend and critique partner. After that, I get to pull out my enormous TBR list, close my eyes, and click on something. There are just so many amazing books out there, it’s too hard to choose.

Film you can see again and again?

Besides the Channing Tatum dance scenes in Magic Mike (‘cause who could ever get tired of watching that man move?), I’d have to go with The Princess Bride. That movie has everything and is timeless.

Film you’re looking forward to seeing?

I still haven’t seen Les Miserables, but I really want to. My kids are terribly uninterested though, and I rarely see anything in the theaters that isn’t animated. I’ll have to sneak out sometime soon. :)

Favorite guilty pleasure tv show?

Anything cooking related, especially Top Chef. I also love Project Runway, Grimm, Face Off, Arrow, Castle, and a bunch of others I can’t think of right now.

Thanks so much for having me, Marissa. You are amazing!

A Little Bit More About The Author

After earning degrees in Fine Arts and English, Lauren Stewart wanted to see the world. A lack of funds meant that she didn’t get far. She spent two years traveling around Mexico, the Caribbean, and Canada—first as a choreographer and then as an English teacher—meeting folks from all the places she couldn’t afford to go to. But that time was highly useful—she learned about herself, other people, and how insane life actually is.

Lauren reads in almost every genre. So naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you'll find elements of other genres--fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women's literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn’t kill us, should make us laugh. 

Links

www.ReadLaurenS.com

@ReadLaurenS

www.facebook.com/readlaurens

Goodreads.com/LaurenStewart

Blog: http://readlaurens.blogspot.com

Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/laurenstewart

Giveaway Details & Rules

- This is an International Giveaway!

- Ends March 17th!

- Be At Least 18 please, as there is Mature Language/Content.

- There Will Be 1 E-Book Copy Given Away, Winner picked by Rafflecopter!

- Winner Will Choose Book 1 or 2!

- I will be Checking the Entries Regularly, so if there is Cheating, those Entries Will be Disqualified! 

- As you submit Entries, be sure to use an Email that you use Daily, as that is how I will contact you, if you Win.

- You will have 48 hours to Respond, or I will have to Choose a New Winner! Check Your Spam Folders, just in case it goes in there.

- And Good Luck! :)

*Come back to this post, when the Giveaway is over, to see who won. I usually do Tweet as well*

a Rafflecopter giveaway