Michele Hauf Interview + Review + Giveaway

Hey readers of the world, welcome the hell back to my blog. I'm sorry that I haven't been posting recently, it's because I've been super busy and I'm trying very hard to reach out to new authors (some haven't been responding) however no worries... They will!
Today I'll be reviewing Michele Hauf, the author of 81 books but to me, she's the author of the fifth Venice Vampyr novella Wicked Seduction. I've included a bio of her below then the interview, review and the giveaway!

USA Today bestselling author Michele has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for over twenty years. Her first published novel was DARK RAPTURE.

France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen. 

INTERVIEW

For the record, out of all of the authors I've interviewed, Michele was the fastest one to respond and send the answers back (within 24 hours!)

1. What prompted you to start writing?

I've been writing since the early 1990s. I've always had stories in my head, and after I had my son, and was on maternity leave, I decided to give writing those weird stories haunting my thoughts a try. And I haven't stopped since!

2. How do you manage to become traditionally published?

The first story I sold in 1993 was to Kensington, and I've been traditionally published since. I epublished with a small press in 1998, and haven't stopped epublishing since, as well! I'm also indie, in that I publish my own stuff. I love the entire process of creating a book, from writing, editing, designing the cover and interior pages, to the finished product!

3. How do you meet with Tina Folsom and decide on writing Wicked Seduction?

A mutual friend introduced us. She'd mentioned to Tina that I might have an interest in writing in her world. Since my first book published in 1997, DARK RAPTURE was a vampire romance. It was fun to play in another author's world! I've done it before, writing as Alex Archer for the Rogue Angel series. It's interesting to go into a world that already has established characters and to make it your own.

4. Were you worried that readers wouldn't enjoy it?

Nope! I think most readers who love hot, sexy vampires should enjoy this story. ;-)

5. How did it feel when you became a USA Today bestseller?

It was sort of a quiet reassurance that I am doing well. I like having the accolade and designation on my books, but really, what is most important is that readers like what I write. No award can ever match a reader's satisfaction.

6. What are you working on now?

So much! I have book #3 in my Elite Crimes series, THE CHAMELEON, due April 1st. For paranormal romance readers, I'm working on AN AMERICAN WITCH IN PARIS, due April 15th. I have a LOT of books out this year. It's really weird how it worked out that I have virtually a book in every month! Most are set in my paranormal romance world of Beautiful Creatures. I'll list them for you:

Jan - THE VENETIAN VAMPIRE

Feb - THE UNFORGIVEN: ATHOS

Mar - WICKED SEDUCTION, and also a box set titled REBELS, ROGUES AND ROMANTICS in which my hist/rom TAME ME NOT will be featured

April - THE THIEF #1 in Elite Crimes Unit series  (rom/sus)

May - TAMING THE HUNTER

July - FROM THE DARK

Aug - THE FORGER #2 Elite Crimes Unit

Oct - THE WITCH'S QUEST

Nov - A KISS OF FROST

Dec - THE CHAMELEON #3 Elite Crimes Unit

7. Which is your favorite novel that you've written?

Hmm, well, it's more which are my favorite characters. I love Blu and Creed from HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND, and also Rook and Verity from BEYOND THE MOON. And and I can't forget Domingos and Lark in BEAUTIFUL DANGER! I could go on, but that's probably my top three couples.

REVIEW

Vampire Marcello Sebastiani has enough on his plate with the city of Venice demanding his birth records to prove ownership of his centuries-old palazzo. The last thing he needs is a headstrong yet delicate Englishwoman bulldozing her way into his life and manipulating his every action. No matter how delectable she may be.

Jane Emery has fled an abusive situation in hopes of pursuing her musical studies, but when she arrives in Italy, she finds that her patron has passed, leaving her desperate and lost. Thankfully, she is able to coerce a handsome yet mysterious stranger into helping her. Only her machinations don’t take into consideration his tantalizing touches that make her forget her plans and dream of a future she shouldn’t.

When Jane’s past catches up with her, Marcello is determined to protect the one thing that has come to mean more to him than his own life. But will he be successful, or will the dark force that seeks Jane have better aim?

Every e-reader in the world has probably heard of Tina Folsom and her vampires. Venice Vampyr is one of the those vampires. I was so thrilled to hear that a new novella would be released but I was saddened when I found out that another writer was going to write it.

I thought for a moment if that would be fanfiction or something, but I decided to give it a chance because I was soooo desperate. I'm very thankful that I was desperate because I wouldn't have picked this novella up.

Marcello Sebastiani, a vampire, is on his way to his palazzo with his friend Carlo Bianchi. He's having some troubles as he might lose his home as he cannot find his birth certicicate and thinks that The Guardians Of The Holy Water might have something to do with hit.

When Marcello goes home he finds two women crying to death, Jane Emery and her ladies’ maid, Prudence. Jane tells him that she has no where else to go and in a twist both of them have secrets. Jane is married and Marcello is a vampire, causing me to think that Jane is a slut. But then again, I'd do the same thing that she did for a hot man. Their attraction is mutual but they don't say anything and Marcello agrees to keep the woman in his home, for a short time...

I seriously need to meet Hauf. Her fingers managed to type in pictures! The descriptions felt as if, I were in Venice in the late 1800's. Wonderful! The writing style is wonderful! And as an added bonus there is a bit of dark humor.

I enjoyed both of the main characters. Jane is melodramaic and she a tough woman but at the same time weak inside. That's how plenty of women are and it comes to show how well Hauf thinks. She also has an adventurous side to her, making her the one for Marcello.

The sex scenes you may ask? Well I want to make them quick, Michele Hauf writes them as well as Folsom and sometimes, better!

All of these things make Wicked Seduction a perfect fit in Tina Folsom's Venice Vampyr series and is better than books 3-4 (At least that's what I think. No ofense Tina! :) ).

I highly reccomend it and I can't wait for her new novel THE THEIF. I wish I could get my hands on an early ARC copy.

If you'd like to purchase it or get the info, click here.

(It's avalible on all of your favorite retailers online)

Giveaway

Michele kindly agreed to doing an eBook giveaway for Wicked Seduction. What you need to do to enter is the following:

1. Follow this blog
2. Like Michele FB's Page/Sign Up For Her Newsletter
3. Then message me via Contact Fourm and tell me what you did.

Winner will be announced in one week. Good luck!

P.S. I finally managed to get an interview done with Bethany Shay Porteous and Grace Callaway and working on getting one with Apryl Baker. However Grace is super busy and you won't see that interview/giveaway until April 15th.

P.P.S. Woo Hoo! Thank you to all of my readers out there who checked this blog out. The stats or killing me!