Changeling Dawn Review and Giveaway!!! Come join the fun!!

CHANGELING MOON (Book One)

 

He roams the moonlit wilderness, his every sense and instinct on high alert. Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and his Pack have never feared anything — until the night human Zoey Tyler barely escapes

a rogue werewolf’s vicious attack.

As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside. With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw … and ultimate evil.

CHANGELING DREAM (Book Two)

In times of stress Jillian Descharme has always found calm in her dream of a great white wolf with haunting blue eyes. But she is startled when the visions return and this time seem so real. Late at night he comes to her, speaks to her, touches her.

Thirty years ago James Macleod lost his wife and unborn child to a killer bent on destroying the Changelings. Though he longed for death, his animal instinct fought for survival and James has been a

wolf ever since. Yet now a woman has reawakened the man in him, taming wild instincts but arousing still wilder needs. With his ancient enemy hunting the legendary white wolf, James must fight for new life, new hope, new love.

CHANGELING DAWN (Book Three)

Werewolf, monster -- those are the names given her kind by the humans who hate them. Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she’s not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen.

But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska. An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a secretive research center -- as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at

dark secrets of his own.

I also had a chance to sit and talk with Dani, thank you Dani for visiting with us here at the Purple Jelly Bean Chair, welcome and you get the Purple Jelly Bean Chair today :)

How do you come up with your characters’ personalities?

Frankly, they come with them! My characters tend to show up out of the blue and start talking to me, and usually, they’re pretty fully formed. It’s more a case of me observing them and getting to know them as I write down what they’re doing. Sometimes I feel more like an anthropologist than a writer who creates characters!

No matter how many books you write, I’m sure each one has its own challenges. How was this book more challenging to write than others?  How was it easier?

You’re right, every book is different. Changeling Dawn is one of the few stories where I actually had some idea of what was going to happen in advance. For some of the book I even got to pretend that I was a plotter instead of a pantster. BTW, I have to plead that it’s not my fault I’m a pantster – I do try to plot first, but my characters always seem to have other ideas. Then we argue, then they run off and do whatever they darn well please and I run after them, typing frantically.  

Who’s your favorite character in the book & why?  Who was the most fun to write?

Josh Talarkoteen is the hero and 100% human. To my delight, he measured up impressively against the several shapeshifters in the book – including the heroine, Kenzie Macleod. But then he’s an Afghan veteran and accustomed to holding his own.

As for who was the most fun, I think it’s a tie between the Changeling cub and the old werewolf, Stanton.

If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be?

I’d have a blast listening to all Stanton’s conspiracy theories. And it would be great to have Birkie Peterson along (readers will remember her from Changeling Dream). She is like your BFF, wise woman and beloved aunt all wrapped into one.

How did you come up with your characters’ names?

Most of the time, they come with them. Honest, my characters don’t let me create much about them. Josh was always Josh, Kenzie was always Kenzie and so forth. I know their names, I know what they look like, I even know what their voices sound like. Sometimes I have to look up a surname to make sure it matches the nationality or ethnic background (and especially how to spell it), but that’s about it.

How did it make you feel when you were published for the very first time?

Omigosh, that was surreal! Ever since I was old enough to hold a book, I wanted to be the person who made up the story that was in it. When I was trying to break into the market, I foolishly thought it wouldn’t be an emotional thing to have a published novel because I’d been in the newspaper business for years, and written for magazines. Instead, I was completely BLOWN AWAY when my book was accepted. My husband threw his arms around me and we danced around the kitchen. It was even more exciting when I received a box of my own paperback books! That was when it was really, really REAL!

But the absolute best part? When readers told me how much they loved and connected with my story. That remains the biggest thrill of all, that special relationship with my readers. They really are my co-creators. I put the words down, but they supply their own imagination too.  Synergy!

Desert Island time, you can bring one person & one thing, what & who would you bring?

I’m bringing the love of my life, my husband Ron. Not only is he my BFF and we do everything together, he’s a true Alaskan outdoorsman – he’d know how to survive on the island using nothing but a clam shell and a stick!

If I can only bring one item... Well, I guess the laptop is out, unless there’s an electrical outlet in the nearest palm tree. Although I’d love to read (and I wish my entire TBR pile could come with me), I’d be lost if I couldn’t write. I’d have to go low tech and bring a case of yellow legal pads and a ton of pencils!

   

This would make a great film, any talk of turning your book into a movie?

Only amongst the members of my family! They think it would be totally cool to see my stories on the big screen. Who knows? It could happen. I think it would be fascinating to see how the characters would be cast, and the actors’ interpretation of them. I would probably worry more that the wolves and Changelings were done right!

My Thoughts:

Dani Harper is a new author for me, and I am so very glad I found her.

The covers for her books really drew me to them and once I read the blurbs I was drawn in even farther.  So I tried winning one of her books and when that didn't pan out I decided to email Dani, I wanted to read and review her books so bad.  Talking to Dani is such a pleasure and right away she agreed to let me review for her.  I received in the mail an autographed copy of Changeling Dawn, along with all the covers for the three books and postcards for her books as well.  Oh what a happy day that was, they are even more beautiful up close.  I started reading and just could not put this book down, it only took me 2 days to read it.  

I am so happy I found Dani Harper, not only are her books amazing, but so is she.  Dani is such a lovely lady to speak with, so nice, so kind and I just really enjoyed talking with her and once I found out that her love of Paranormal Romance started with one of my favorite Authors Christine Feehan I was just amazed, I don't often hear people talking about her so that was just awesome to share that common favorite author.  

This is a series but it doesn't matter which book you start with they can be read as stand alone's, I started with Changeling Dawn. As the MacLeod family is introduced, Kenzie is the youngest, an Archaeologist and Anthropologist and Kenzie is used to working alone, she likes to work alone, but her family starts giving her a hard time about her love life and being alone so much.  While on her way to her new dig site, Kenzie stops to help a guy with a blown tire on the side of the road.  Josh, oh I like Josh, doesn't take no for an answer, strong, handsome...nope just pure sexy, now Josh is not a Changeling but he can tell who is one, Josh gets that talent from his own Native people, his spark with Kenzie is one he just can't seem to resist. Neither Josh nor Kenzie were looking for love and it was such a wonderful love story to watch bloom, to watch them both fight it.

Kenzie comes to find a Changeling cub and calls in Josh to help her find and keep the little cub safe. Something terrible happened to the little cub and she refused to trust either one of them. This was such an amazing story to read, it was a different perspective of the werewolf I normally read, this story is pack full of action, a love story, family sticking together and against all odds putting themselves in the worst danger possible to say the family and others who needed rescuing.  I love Dani's writing style, the story flows seamlessly, the characters built into this family you just don't want to stop reading about, their friends that are so true to the MacLeod. I had so many favorite characters in this book it's hard for me to pick just one, Anya the little cub is just a little darling you just want to cuddle her, Birkie, she is so funny but I am interested to see what exactally Birkie is, she is not a werewolf but has special gifts and talents but does not reveal what she is just yet.  Josh and Kenzie, her sister and brothers, its just a cast that fits so perfect together. You just fall in love with these characters, well except the bad guys, but even the one bad girl you will like her, read the book you will see what I mean, I can't tell you or I'll ruin it. 

If you want a great book to read with action, a beautiful love story, a fantastic set of characters you will fall in love with, then this is the book for you to pick up.  I can't thank Dani enough for allowing me to read and review for her, I can't wait until I get the other two books so I can continue my journey with this wonderful family. Thank you again Dani for doing this with me I have had so much fun and I look forward to working with you again!!  I hope you all will grab your copy and enjoy it as much as I did!!!!   Enjoy everyone!!!

Now on to the giveaway, Yay!!! I love giveaways. Dani has graciously allowed me to give you all the chance to win, here's the prize:

A signed copy of Changeling Dawn and a tote bag to put it in, how awesome is that. Thank you Dani so much. So here are the rules, you must be a follower of me, and also of Dani and leave a comment with your email address so I can forward it to Dani so she can mail out your prize, closing date is Feb 7th and I will announce Feb 8th. That's it, easy peasy right!!!  Good Luck to you all and have fun!

About Dani Harper:

Dani Harper is a newspaper editor turned paranormal author.  There isn't anything she likes better than exploring the supernatural – unless it's writing sizzling and suspenseful romance.  Of course, all of her stories have at least one foot in the netherworld.

A Canadian who spent many years in northern Alberta, Dani now lives on an island in southeast Alaska!  She and her husband operate a commercial fishing boat and her stories are written on land or at sea, with the help of her executive secretary, Fiona the Pug.

 Website - http://www.daniharper.com

Facebook  - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dani-Harper-Fan-Page/174878995877026

Twitter - @Dani_Harper or go to https://twitter.com/#!/Dani_Harper

Blog – “Way Past Normal”   http://waypastnormal.blogspot.com/