Unread Interview: Graham Park

Please welcome Graham Park for this week's Unread Interview! Graham is promoting his latest book No Hope for Gomez and he was already featured on a guest post here on the Brazilian Bookworm.
You can read an excerpt of No Hope For Gomez here (right click, download pdf).

Unread Interview is a series where I feature authors whose books I couldn't accept for review because of time or logistics issues.

From Amazon: 

We've seen it all before, many times, but this time it's different. If only slightly. When Gomez Porter becomes a test subject in an experimental drug trial, he is asked to keep track of any strange experiences through a blog. What Gomez isn't ready for, is so many of his experiences suddenly seeming strange; the antiques dealer trying to buy his old tax papers, his neighbor boiling salamanders on his balcony at midnight, the super sexy lab assistant who falls for him but is unable to express herself in terms outside the realm of science. But when one of the trial participants turns up dead and another goes missing, Gomez begins to fear for his life. No longer sure who he can trust and which of his experiences are real and which merely drug induced illusions, he decides it's time to go underground and work out a devious plan.

Tell us a bit about your book.

It's the age-old tale: Boy meets girl. Boy stalks girl. Girl already has a stalker. Boy becomes her stalker-stalker.

When Gomez Porter becomes a test subject in an experimental drug trial, he is asked to keep track of any strange experiences through a blog. What Gomez isn't ready for, is so many of his experiences suddenly seeming strange; the antiques dealer trying to buy his old tax papers, the phone-sex salesman who hounds him day and night, the super sexy research assistant who falls for him but is unable to express herself in terms outside the realm of science. But when one of the trial participants turns up dead and another goes missing, Gomez begins to fear for his life.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"?

I think I started to pen down little stories from the moment I learned to write. Most children develop a healthy immunity to needing to put their ideas to paper, I suppose, understanding inherently that nothing good is likely to come of it and more productive pursuits can be found. But I never did. I never quite figured out how _not_ to write.

Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read?

I read just about every night. I’m not a very fast reader, though, so it takes me a while to finish a book. Usually longer than it takes me to find another one. So right now I’m reading about 8 books, ranging from fiction to non-fiction.

What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write?

I usually don’t start on a scene until I have some good ideas for it, things I want to try out or bits of information I want to develop. This also means that I’m looking forward to seeing how a scene will turn out. Scenes that I never develop much enthusiasm for might end up being cut from the story. Which is reasonable, I think; if there is nothing exciting I feel like doing with the scene, then there’s a good chance the story doesn’t actually need it.

Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why?

All of the characters are pretty dear to me. Some because they think just like me, most because they are so different. They force me to go places I haven’t been before, think in ways that are not my own. You can find some real mental ‘gems’ that way.

What inspires you? And how's your writing environment - music, place, etc.?

I prefer to have things nice and quiet when I write. As far as inspiration goes, I try to have that before I start writing. When I sit down, I don’t want to have to go looking for ideas. Instead, I start working out an idea that occurred to me earlier. This way writing stays fun and there’s not much pressure.

What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read it?

“No Hope for Gomez!” is a very special book. For one thing, it has an excellent width-to-height ratio, which is very important. It also has an odd number of pages and its weight is just perfect. Apart from this, the story is nice too, so that’s bonus right there.

What are your plans for the future, writing-wise? New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc.

There are some short stories floating around based in the Gomez universe, and there are some spin-offs on the way.


Thank you Graham for your time, you are welcome to come back anytime!

Review: The Round Bed of Maria Beatriz - Chantal Dalmass (Maria Beatriz)

WARNING: This is a book of EROTIC SHORT STORIES. If you aren’t allowed to read those things legally, please DO NOT read my review, I will not be held responsible for people who are too delicate or not legal to read those subjects.

Chantal Dalmass saved her books from the fire. Literally. The Publisher decided they weren’t selling well enough and instead of trying to promote them or even give them to those who might appreciate it, they decided to burn them, aparently it was cheaper.

The author rescued them and decided to give them away. I’m glad she did, since I managed to meet some of the most interesting erotic stories I ever read. They weren’t cheap, even though they were explicit. And I also found the most beautiful quote about love, there. Below is a free translation of it:

Some people get scared by my resistance to the sacred bonds of matrimony.
Well, love is where it always was: on the caress, the respect, the concern with the other, missing someone.
Love is on the sandwiche at the late hours – bread with cheese and ham and tomato and kisses, plus some spices – to kill the sudden hunger of the girlfriend. Love after love.
It’s on the unespected phone call, the note, the flower picked on the bush by the sidewalk.
On the street it is, too, on the arm that offers help, on the care to avoid the cars stopped on the pedestrian crossing.
Love is on the free and spontaneous will.
And passion.
Passion that eats and burns, destroy withtout asking for permission and doesn't care about the Priest's advice.
On sex.
On the most animal of instincts love is. Urgent, primitive, on the wild shag. On the cum, on the gush, on the nails buried on the other's flesh.
Love can be there, among tulles and gold rings.
Love, passion, sex.
Yes they can be there.
Or not.
Many times, they never were.

The round bed of Maria Beatriz is supposed to be about one woman, her fetishes, her desires, her lovers - all of her favorites! She's dirty and kinky and I can't possibly tell any of it without revealing some of my own - something I will definitly NOT do here. Really, not going to happen.
Maria Beatriz is what many women only desire to be, on their most intimate and secret wishes - free, liberal, sexy, sensual. She has sex when, where and with whom she wants, as often as she wants and no one stops her, actually, that would only turn her on.
I don't think I ever read a short stories book and this one really got me, it is exciting and short, beautiful and sexy, romantic and cruel.

Don't forget my international giveaway!

Unread Interview: Shay Fabbro

Please welcome Shay Fabbro for this week's Unread Interview! Shay is promoting her book The Chosen

Unread Interview is a series where I feature authors whose books I couldn't accept for review because of time or logistics issues.

From Amazon: The Mekan hoard threatens all life in the galaxy and only the Chosen, a select group chosen by fate, can fight these metal monstrosities and save those that call this galaxy home. But when one of the Chosen is murdered, the untimely death could spell doom for all.
The Mekans were created to mine for precious resources. However, something goes terribly awry when they dig uncontrollably, destroying all life on the planet. The Masters of Gentra, keepers of the prophecy, send Guardians to guide and protect the Chosen, who hail from four very different worlds. When the Guardians reveal to the Chosen their role in saving the galaxy, their lives are cast into turmoil. The death of one of the Chosen renders the Gentran prophets blind to the future. The Gentran Masters are not certain the Chosen can fight the Mekans without the help of prophecy.
The Chosen are not certain they can simply sit by while the Mekans destroy their worlds.
This series will bring the reader face-to-face with an age-old question: How much of our lives are preordained and how much of our future do we determine for ourselves? Do you believe in fate and destiny or do you believe that your life is what you choose it to be?

The Chosen can be purchased through Smashwords , Amazon, CreateSpace, andBarnes and Noble. Autographed copies are available through Signed By the Author!

Tell us a bit about your book (s). 
The Chosen: Book One of the Portals of Destiny is a scifi/fantasy novel about a group destined to save the galaxy from the Mekans. This novel involves five planets and lots of "main" characters, which I think makes it interesting. There is a little something for everyone :) The diverse  nature of the aliens having to come together and work together makes for some very complex interactions and conflicts. By the time the reader reaches the end of the 3rd book in the series, they will come face-to-face with the question of fate vs free will.  I hope to shake their foundations just a little ;)

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"? 
I used to write a lot when I was younger. One of my favorite things to do was to write a sequel to the latest Piers Anthony book I was reading. His books were so amazing and I would be so into the characters that I wouldn't want to put them aside. I wished I would have saved some of those. While in high school, I took a creative writing class and was told that I had some talent. But I also had this logical side that argued against going to college to be a writer. I knew that most didn't make it big, and that there was no guarantee of making a career out of being a novelist. So I turned to my other love: science! I pursued a career that was a little more safe and a little more secure. I got the idea for The Portals of Destiny series in a dream while I was getting my PhD in Human Medical Genetics. I started writing things down, and before I knew it, a novel was being born right before my eyes.

Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read? 
I have always been an avid reader and I have always read things that most people probably wouldn't consider appropriate for my age group. I was reading Tolkein and Piers Anthony in late elementary/middle school. I tried reading Judy Bloom and such but the books weren't deep enough for me. Once I got my hands on fantasy for the first time, I was HOOKED! These novels enabled me to delve into worlds that were real to me. I enjoyed losing myself and going on adventures with the heroes and their sidekicks. Now that I am writing more, I find I don't have as much time to read, but I still try to read a little every day.

What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write? 
For me, dialog is hard. It isn't easy giving each character their own personality, and to make that personality come out in the way they speak. Sometimes, I spend the most time editing the dialog because after the first rough draft, the spoken parts sound too formal and stiff. One thing that helps is that my characters come to life in my mind, so I can often let them speak and it begins to sound more natural, and flows better.

Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why? 
For this book, I took pieces of myself and divided them up between all of the characters, and then added other personality traits that don't necessarily have anything to do with my personality (or not that I will admit anyway). My new YA/fantasy novel, Dangerous Reflections (published soon), involves a heroine that is very much taken from my personality. It's weird to say this, but I love Alexis Davenport much like a younger sister. Even though I am the one writing about her being bullied at school, I find myself growing angry with the bully and wanting to step in protect Alexis.

Which genre do you feel it would be a challenge to write? 
Romance or erotica. I have a tiny bit of romance but no erotic scenes at all. I have the maturity of a 12 year old boy, so I am not sure I could even write a love scene that lasts pages and page with a straight face. It's hard enough for me to teach reproduction to my college biology class ;)

What inspires you? And how's your writing environment - music, place, etc.? 
My dreams inspire me! I have some crazy, weird, violent dreams. Instead of letting them frighten the wits out of me, I write them down, hoping I can use them for a short story or novel in the future. I have some awesome ideas for thriller/mysteries that I got from dreams!

What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read your book?
The Chosen is a book that will take you on a galactic adventure that involves multiple planets, intriguing plot twists, battles, personal conflict, murder, redemption for man, prophecy, interesting alien species, and an shocking ending that will leave you begging for the second book.

What are your plans for the future, writing-wise? 
New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc. I am working on two manuscripts at the moment. The first is Dangerous Reflections, a YA/fantasy novel about a fifteen year old girl who is dealing with some tough issues. To make matters worse, she is seeing strange girls in mirrors. But things get really wild when Alexis is transported back in time through the mirrors, to protect the timeline from a man hell-bent on changing the future. I am also working on the second book in the Portals of Destiny series, Shattered Destiny. The Chosen are ordered to travel to each other's worlds, there to learn more about one another. It is imperitive that they learn to trust and respect each other. But things go terribly wrong when some of the Chosen are killed, bringing the galaxy closer to its doom. The reader will be left wondering if they can fight the Mekans, and fulfill their destiny. I will continue to self-publish rather than try to find an agent (failed miserable with The Chosen). I like maintaining control of my work.


Thank you for your time, Shay! Good luck with your book.

{Postponed to May 5th} International Giveaway - Skulls by Tim Marquitz

 GIVEAWAY

Life held little interest for Jacob - until he found death.

Abused and neglected, Jacob's only solace comes when he is alone in the woods or in the arms of his new girlfriend. But when he stumbles across a hidden bunker filled with human skulls, he learns what true suffering is. Drawn to examine the skulls, he finds there is more than just empty blackness behind their lifeless stares. Through their eyes he watches them die.

With every glance, he witnesses another murder, the memories of the dead playing out inside his mind until reality becomes a blur. A primal cruelty awakening, Jacob returns to the morbid comfort of the skulls, over and over again. But when he happens upon a fresh skull, a victim tortured and slain for his amusement alone, he knows his time has come. Face to face with death, Jacob must choose whether to resist the darkness that dwells inside or condemn himself forever, murdering his innocence on the edge of an axe.

Sounds interesting? Well, it sure is dark and I think it sounds good. 

Want to win one?

Tim Marquitz, a really cool author, is willing to give away 3 copies of Skulls to you, my lovely readers!

- One signed copy for U.S. Residents

- 2 digital copies for international readers!

I will NOT ask you to be a follower, but that WILL give you an extra point. So let's spill the guidelines:

* 1 entry for filling up the form

* 1 entry for commenting the post

* 1 entry for tweeting (only valid once, please, I can't really count tweets)

* 1 entry for being a follower. 

Giveaway goes from April 15th until May 4th.


Sample Tweet (you may write your own, no worries): I'm participating in an International Giveaway of Skulls by Tim Marquitz at the Brazilian Bookworm: http://ow.ly/4B5hz

Just fill in the form below!

Unread Interview: Marc Johnson

Please welcome Marc Johnson for this week's Unread Interview! Marc recently released his ebook Catalyst: The Passage of Hellsfire and he's been looking to promote it, so I offered him a spot on my "everyone is welcome" Unread Interview!

Unread Interview is a series where I feature authors whose books I couldn't accept for review because of time or logistics issues.

From Amazon: 

For centuries, the kingdom of Alexandria has protected Northern Shala from the monstrous creatures lurking in the Wastelands. Now, a dark force threatens that fragile peace.

Far from home, Alexandria’s princess is abducted. When a young villager named Hellsfire stumbles upon her and her captors, he rushes in to rescue her, alone and unarmed. His fear and fury unleash an uncontrollable magical force that grants him the power to save the princess—and change the world.

Hellsfire has never craved nor dreamed of power. But such magic as he now possesses has not been seen in Northern Shala for a thousand years, since the devastation of the War of the Wizards and the creation of the Wastelands.

Now Hellsfire must leave all he’s ever known, and make a dangerous journey to learn to master this wild, ferocious power—power he knows he is not ready to wield. More difficult still, he needs to master his emotions. If he can’t, the power will consume him, Alexandria will fall, and darkness will eclipse the land, destroying everyone he loves.

In the dead of cold, the spark shall burn...

You can also purchase Catalyst: The Passage of Hellfire at Smashwords.

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, since I was a little kid. While I’ve always taken my writing seriously, I would say when I started sending my work out to agents and publishers, that’s when I decided to go for it. I must have been about 15 or 16 then.

Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read?

I read a ton. I usually read between 3-5 books at a time, averaging about a book and a half a week. The books I read vary. I try to read at least one non-fiction, but the rest depend on my mood. Sometimes I’ll be reading a sci-fi book and a horror one. Other times, I’ll be reading chick lit and historical fiction. I try to mix things up. Strangely enough, even though I write fantasy, I don’t read that much of it.

What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write?

I love to write the scenes involving Hellsfire and Krystal. They’re the heart of The Passage of Hellsfire and if I do it correctly, I get a bit worked up over those two. It might be because I draw from my own experiences with women, while writing about that pair.

My least favorite scenes I hate to write are probably the ones dealing with the opening and exploration of a new city. I have to remember that while I can picture the city in my mind, others can’t.

Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why?

I probably relate to Hellsfire the best. I was younger and confused once, and felt frustrated at myself and world. I also wanted to make a difference and change things.

I also relate to Cynder because I’m a bit more cynical and sarcastic than I was when I was younger.

Which genre do you feel it would be a challenge to write?

They’re all pretty tough to write, but I would say historical fiction might be the most challenging. You have to base your book on events that happened and people that exist, yet records are sketchy and you don’t have a time machine to visit them. While you can take certain liberties, you should also be truthful. Also, people know the endings so there’s little to no tension. People have to care about your characters than the plot. It’s a very tough and delicate balancing act.

What inspires you? And how's your writing environment - music, place, etc.?

I would say my dreams inspire me since my ideas come from them.

My writing’s environment pretty sterile and boring. I sit in front of a computer in my cramped apartment. The only interesting thing is I put my feet up and recline my chair. I’ve left marks over the years because of that and have fallen from time to time. Sometimes I’ll have music or the TV on, and other times I won’t. I’m very fickle.

What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read your book?

I would tell them that if they liked Star Wars: A New Hope, The Matrix, or Lord of the Rings, that they would like my book. I think people could relate to my book because everyone can relate to a coming-of-age story, no matter its form. There’s also romance in it and someone once said that every story is a love story. It’s also an adventure filled with magic, wizards, and dragons for the people that like that sort of thing.

What are your plans for the future, writing-wise? New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc.

I plan on releasing one book a year for The Passage of Hellsfire. It’s only a six-book series and I gave myself a bit of a head start by having a few of them already written. They’re going to need a lot of editing and revising though. I also know where the story’s headed so none of that pesky writer’s block.

Thank you Marc for your time Good luck with your book and I look forward to reading it, as soon as I buy my Kindle (hopefully sooner, not later).

Interview: L.L. Reaper

L.L. Reaper is, actually, two people. I was amazed to hear it, they write as one, so I decided I had to read it and I had to interview them and find out HOW they manage to do it! Their book, Black Widow and the Sandman is already out on paperback.

From Amazon: Children in Cuba are suffering an agonizing death. The cause-a toxin released by a terrorist organization hell-bent on genocide. The scientific community is at a loss, and the Cuban government can no longer hide the truth from its citizens. Cuba's only chance lies in the capable hands of a reclusive scientist from the country that is believed to be behind this terrorist attack-the United States of America. Roman "The Sandman" Tate is the most sought-after mercenary in the world. When he is ordered to protect scientist Jeanette "Black Widow" Mason, he finds she is much more than scientific equations. The two join forces to create an antidote and stop those responsible for the mysterious illness before more children die and Cuba follows through on its promise to retaliate.

Buy from Amazon or The Book Depository.

Tell us a bit about your book.

Children in Cuba are suffering an agonizing death. The cause-a toxin released by a terrorist organization hell-bent on genocide. The scientific community is at a loss, and the Cuban government can no longer hide the truth from its citizens. Cuba's only chance lies in the capable hands of a reclusive scientist from the country that is believed to be behind this terrorist attack-the United States of America.

Roman "The Sandman" Tate is the most sought-after mercenary in the world. When he is ordered to protect scientist Jeanette "Black Widow" Mason, he finds she is much more than scientific equations. The two join forces to create an antidote and stop those responsible for the mysterious illness before more children die and Cuba follows through on its promise to retaliate.

This is one sexy suspense the likes you’ve never read.

How is it writing with 4 hands? How do you divide it, each one writes one chapter or do you sit and write it at the same time?

First we discussed the plot, then wrote an outline—always keeping the lines of communication open. Then we start to writing. We divide the scenes according to who the perspective character is (whose point of view the scene is written from). Once one of us finishes a scene, we send it to the other to review and rewrite as needed.

Our outline is living, so the plot does change as we write, but it all works out great.

How do you manage your time? Do you get together x hours a day to write, do you follow a writing schedule or you just write whenever you feel inspired?

We each have our own writing schedule. We have an end date for the first draft or edits and just work together to make our dates.

Black Widow and the Sandman talks about Cuba and the USA, have either of you visited Cuba? 

Not yet, but we both plan to.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"?

Though we’ve both written since we were young, we didn’t start seriously writing or consider being published authors until we were adults.

Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read?

We both read a lot. We are both big fans of Sci-Fi, thrillers, suspense and romance (from erotic to sweet). Mainstream, fantasy and historicals round out our list. Okay, let’s be honest, we read just about anything.

What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write?

Favorite—Scenes where characters discover something about themselves or someone else. Action scenes are also fun to write.

Least Favorite—Informative scenes. Of course you have to come up with an exciting way to give information, but sometimes one plus one equals two and there’s little excitement you can put into there.

Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why?

My writing partner and I poured a lot of our own personalities into Jeanette (Black Widow) and Roman (the Sandman). The few people we allowed to read the novel who know us have commented how these characters are much more like us than any other characters we’ve written.

Which genre do you feel it would be a challenge to write?

Christian Fiction.

What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read your book?

In this sexually seductive suspense, your reading experience will be taken to a whole new level. Don’t be scared, give it a try.

What are your plans for the future, writing-wise? New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc.

The Spanish release of Black Widow and the Sandman is upcoming. We are also writing the second installment of the series, Hell Hath No Fury. The story picks up a year later. My writing partner also has a Simon and Schuster novel coming out in August and is writing his second book in that series. Busy, busy, busy.

Thank you so much for having us. It has been fun.

BookTrailer - The Chosen by Shay Fabbro

 Hi guys!

I bring to you today the book trailer of a sci fi book called The Chosen, by Shay Fabbro.

From Amazon: The Mekan hoard threatens all life in the galaxy and only the Chosen, a select group chosen by fate, can fight these metal monstrosities and save those that call this galaxy home. But when one of the Chosen is murdered, the untimely death could spell doom for all.
The Mekans were created to mine for precious resources. However, something goes terribly awry when they dig uncontrollably, destroying all life on the planet. The Masters of Gentra, keepers of the prophecy, send Guardians to guide and protect the Chosen, who hail from four very different worlds. When the Guardians reveal to the Chosen their role in saving the galaxy, their lives are cast into turmoil. The death of one of the Chosen renders the Gentran prophets blind to the future. The Gentran Masters are not certain the Chosen can fight the Mekans without the help of prophecy.
The Chosen are not certain they can simply sit by while the Mekans destroy their worlds.
This series will bring the reader face-to-face with an age-old question: How much of our lives are preordained and how much of our future do we determine for ourselves? Do you believe in fate and destiny or do you believe that your life is what you choose it to be?

The Chosen can be purchased through Smashwords , Amazon, CreateSpace, andBarnes and Noble. Autographed copies are available through Signed By the Author!

Review: Gulfoss Legends - Billy Bob Buttons

Hi there!

Today I'm reviewing a genre I don't usually read, it's a middle grade book, based on an Icelandic story.

It tells the story of Sigridür Tómasdóttir, a 12 year old girl who flees her father's farm to talk to the king and try to save her beloved waterfall, Gulfoss.

The author had the help of Professor of History Helgi Skúli Kjartansson to recriate the legend, even if it isn't followed exactly, since Sigri was around 30, not 12, years old when she went into her adventure to save Gulfoss.

Sigri, as she is called all during the story, is an emotional 12 year old girl who loves her waterfalls, Gulfoss. When she finds out her dad is going to sell it to the energy company, who will put a damp on it, because he needs more money to support his two daughters, she complains and goes against it - how can he sell her beloved waterfall?

She then gets the idea, from the waterfall, actually, that she should go see the king and ask him to help her save Gulfoss, but she doesn't know exactly where the city is, and just walks there. All 120 kms.

She meets, along the way, a man who travelled around the world, a boy with a kind heart, a wolf-man, geisers, a volcano, thiefs, murderers and, of course, the king.

See the picture here? Beautiful isn't it?

The Gulfoss Falls are amazing and I totally agree with Sigri, they are worth saving. The story is full of magic and Icelandic - words, foods, landscape, traditions. It's a tale about a land and a people we don't hear much about and it's real, at least as real as it gets. It's a tale of love and friendship, with some funny bits and beautiful illustrations.

Billy Bob Buttons is a great author who manages to write well for children and amazes and enchants grown ups as much as the little ones. Don't hesitate in buying this for your little ones or for yourself.

You can buy it here: Smashwords, Amazon (Hardcover or Kindle) or Book Depository with free shipping worldwide.

Review: Intimate Beings - Jessica Inclán

Well, Jessica Inclán, a very dear author that has several books already published internationally (both mass market and indie), sent me a copy of her book Intimate Beings, that is the sequel of Being With Him (review here). Except that she sent me both a copy of her original book and the one that was published in Brazil.

As I mentioned on my Being With Him review, the brazilian version is 100 pages shorter and I was really afraid they ruined the book. But it wasn't as bad as I thought. 

I'll start with the diferences between the two of them to get it over with and be able to talk about the book as a whole. On "De Corpo e Alma" (that's the brazilian version and it means "with body and soul"), everything seems a bit rushes - it seems like things happen without a second thought, not considering, without noticing things like "hey we're on a different planet", "hey, they're not trying to kill us anymore" and things like that, because several paragraphs were left out - specially those where the characters were thinking about their lives, about how much they changed, etc. Some little things weren't really clear on De Corpo e Alma, I believe small sentences were cut off that didn't seem to make much difference but they did and you ended up not really knowing who's part of a group, who came, who's leaving. These things don't ruin the book as a whole, the portuguese version is actually quite satisfactory - if you read the first one, something the publisher completelly ignored by not publishing Being With Him here.

Now, about the story and the book itself. Intimate Beings starts a little after the time where Being With Him leaves us. The "Abandoned Ones" were rescued from Upsilia and Mila and Edan are on the Safehouse.

We start by meeting Claire, who is, as we soon find out but it's a bit obvious, Sophie, Mila and Edan's sister and Darl's twin/double. Actually that was something they lost on the translation: Darl is short for Darling, so the guy is named Darling, which is cute, but in Portuguese they just cut off the reference to that, since they couldn't traslate it, aparently, or thought it wasn't important.

Claire can go anywhere in the world she wants, just by wanting it, Darl can go back home just by wanting it, anytime, and, of coure, they're both Cygirians.

Right at the beggining, Darl meets Claire and they get together, after all, the attraction between doubles is irresistible... The story is very similar to the first book (and almost any book, if you think about it) "they meet, something sets them apart, they struggle to be together, they get together again, fight against something and win", but, of course, all books, some a bit more, some a bit less, follow this script, so you can't hold that against it.

I really liked seeing again some of the characters from Being With Him, with more lines and scenes than on the first one, I really enjoyed some more explanations about The Source and some descriptions of how the doubles "magic" works, specially Claire's thing, near the ending.

Something I really missed was more explanations about the Cygirians themselves, after all, if they were on the Source, they could've looked for their families there, ask about what happened, how was their civilization, among other things. I'm looking forward to reading the third book, The Beautiful Being and find out more about Edan, because he seems so sacred, so perfect that I think it will be REALLY interesting to see him meeting his twin and melting all over her and with her.

We FINALLY see Cygirians acting as a group and we understand the huge amout of lost cygirians around - thousands! - what, now, really gives an idea of size and that they really need a place to stay and can't just be around there, they are many and need to get together.

Well, I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll stop at this, but I really recommend this book! I know I'm eager to read The Beautiful Being and I plan on ordering it soon, as soon as I have my Book Depository "annual buy" planned.

You can read an Excerpt of Intimate Beings HERE

You can buy them on the Book Depository with free shipping worldwide! Being With Him (Book #1), Intimate Beings, (Book #2) and The Beautiful Being (Book #3)