Caris Roane's Warm-Up-Your-Winter Blog Tour!

Hello everyone! Book Monster Reviews is happy to welcome Caris Roane back to our site today for the Warm Up Your Winter Blog Tour!

Caris has had a love affair with vampires for several years now, especially warrior vampires, the kind found in the books of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian, and JR Ward. Though she’s been published in Regency Romance under pseudonym Valerie King—and yes one of her Regency Novellas features a vampire—one day she woke up kno0wing she had to create her own contemporary world of the warrior vampire.


For some mystical, magickal reason, early in the process, her vampires appeared with enormous beautiful wings. She says that it has been amazing to include flight in her novels, in both battle scenes and scenes involving spectacle.
Her special vampire world, THE WORLD OF ASCENSION, published by St. Martin’s Press, is introduced in the first book of the series, “Ascension”. The second book, “Burning Skies” opens up the world a little bit more. Since then, there have been 3 more releases - “Wings of Fire”, “Born of Ashes”, and “Obsidian Flame”. Book #6, “Gates of Rapture”, is coming 12/24/12!

For those of you not yet familiar with THE WORLD OF ASCENSION we thought we’d give you the synopses of the series to get you caught up…

“Ascension”

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with supernatural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist—even as he tells her: “I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me.”

Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman’s love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from thedeath vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own—a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood…satisfy his thirst…and seal their fates forever.

“Burning Skies”

A vampire warrior in exile, Marcus Amargi resists the call to return to the ranks of the Guardians who fight the death vamp armies. Here on Mortal Earth, Marcus has another battle on his hands—the seductive lure of Havily Morgan. The woman meant for him. Whose blood he craves. The one who comes to him in dreams—and demands his surrender…

A beautiful immortal with extraordinary powers, Havily lives in the realm of Second Earth but, in her fantasies, yearns for her winged lover Marcus. Soon, their bond will be put to the ultimate test. When their bloodthirsty enemies set the night on fire with sky-blazing weapons, Marcus and Havily must unite body and soul, to unleash the full power of their passion—and fight fire with fire…

“Wings of Fire”

By night, the winged warrior Antony Medichi fights the death vampires who threaten his world. By day, he hunts the rogue vampires who invade Mortal Earth. But deep in his heart rages the fiercest battle of all—his soul-searing passion for the one mortal he is sworn to protect…the one woman he is doomed to love.

Parisa Lovejoy is so beautiful, and so powerful, that Antony cannot fight the feelings she arouses. But his unexpected love only intensifies his strength as her Guardian—a strength that is put to the ultimate test when Parisa is abducted. Her captor, Commander Greaves, enslaves mortal women for their blood. If Parisa hopes to survive—and ascend—she must forge an even deeper bond with Antony…in the flames of eternity.

“Born of Ashes”

Enter a hidden world of winged vampire warriors—and the women they are sworn protect…

For years, she was kept as a human slave—one of seven unwilling “blood donors” for the death vampires who thirst for absolute power. Now, Fiona is a free woman, haunted by her memories of being strapped to a gurney, drained of blood, then revived at the last moment. She lives to avenge her captors—but only one warrior can help her…

Jean-Pierre has lived and fought for over two-hundred years. He knows the triumph of slaying a death vampire, but has never known anything like the feelings that arise when he becomes Fiona’s guardian. Her beauty, her pain, her passion—and her growing power—consume his senses. Now the warrior must draw his sword once more…and fight the gates of hell itself—for love.

“Obsidian Flame”

For a hundred years, Marguerite has been imprisoned and used for her powerful psychic abilities. Her only relief comes from her regular visits with Thorne, her vampire lover. His every touch leaves her hungry for more..and aching for their next encounter. When Marguerite is finally set free, she returns to Mortal Earth to begin a new life for herself. She dyes her hair white-blonde, paints her nails blood-red, and seduces a sexy-hot stranger. Why can’t she stop thinking about Thorne?


Now that Marguerite is gone, Thorne craves her more than ever..and follows her to Mortal Earth. Unfortunately, he is not the only vampire who wants her. As one of three powerful women with obsidian flame abilities, Marguerite is a valuable treasure—and a dangerous weapon. For Thorne, she is a soulmate he must protect at any cost…even his own life.

“Gates of Rapture”

As a vampire and a warrior, Leto Distra is deadly. But after years of being forced to drink dying blood, he is now part beast—a wild savage thing lurking beneath the surface. With war on the horizon, Leto is determined to help the Guardians of Ascension destroy the enemy who turned him into a monster. And there’s only one woman who can help him.

Grace Albion is certain that she’s meant to be with Leto, but their future may be cut short by the impending battle. Now Grace must embrace her obsidian flame powers—and bind her powers with Leto’s—if they’re ever going to survive. With the fate of the world at stake, they must tap into powers they never knew they had…and unlock their deepest passions.

Sexy and thrilling, Gates of Rapture is the breathtaking final book in Caris Roane’s Guardians of Ascension series.

They sound incredible right! Let's go check out Caris' guest post to see what she had to say when we let her take over the site for the day…


Hi, everyone!  I want to thank BOOK MONSTER REVIEWS for having me today as part of my WARM-UP-YOUR-WINTER BLOG TOUR.  On most of the blogs on this tour, I’ll be revealing excerpts from the sixth book in my vampire series called, GATES OF RAPTURE (12/24).  I created the tour with the hope that you might get to know my Guardians of Ascension, who are my most beloved winged vampire warriors.  I know the covers have wings on them, but the books aren’t about angels AT ALL…just vampires…with wings.  I also have goodies for you to win, details to follow!

GATES OF RAPTURE is the sixth installment of Guardians of Ascension and features Warrior Leto, a famous, ancient Warrior of the Blood, six-six, long straight black hair, piercing blue eyes, and built to battle death vampires for centuries and drive the ladies crazy!  Major yummy!  Romantic Times Magazine gave GATES OF RAPTURE a 4 ½ Star, TOP PICK review!  I couldn’t be happier!
Today, I’m sharing an excerpt that involves Grace, the heroine of GATES OF RAPTURE, and Alison, the heroine of the first book of the series, ASCENSION.  In this scene, not only does Grace learn more about her emerging powers, but she has an opportunity to read Alison’s soul and in the process a surprising development occurs.

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 9:

Grace shook her head.  “I can’t even begin to imagine what I could possibly do with this soul-reading gift.”

 “Well, why don’t you begin with me?  Why don’t you read my soul, as an experiment, and we’ll see where it leads us.”

“You’re okay with that?”

Alison smiled.  “Of course.  I trust you implicitly.”

Grace’s brows rose.  She had never been more surprised.  “But you hardly know me.”

“You forget that I’m empathic and that I’ve been trained to know people just by conversing with them.  Also, in your case, I know you by your reputation.  Marguerite always praises you to the skies and Thorne has you on a pedestal.  In that sense, I’ve come here today greatly prejudiced in your favor.” 

Grace couldn’t help but smile and yet she felt she didn’t deserve such praise.

 “That look you have right now is the one I want to understand the most.  I can sense how unworthy of life you feel.  Maybe through this process, I can help you with that.”

“Maybe,” Grace said.  But she realized there was a good chance that Alison was about to learn the hardest truth of Grace’s life. 

But there was nothing for it.  “All right, then,” Grace said.  “Give me your hand and let me read your soul.”

When Alison extended her hand, Grace took it.  She closed her eyes and after at least one deep breath, she fell into Alison’s mind.  She felt Alison’s hand jerk beneath her own.  She pressed on through her mind, to the deepest layers and let herself fall until she was swimming in the absolute beauty of Alison’s self, her soul. 

She grew very still, until she realized she was being drawn toward the source of Alison’s ability to heal the mind.  The source felt like a door with a lock and for which she somehow had the key

Using her intuition, she extended her power into the lock, like a blue flame key, and the door flew open.  Grace then drew Alison’s healing ability into her body in long sweeping waves, a complete sharing.  Once the process was complete,  she drew out of Alison’s soul and her mind.  Leaving her was a very strange rubbery sensation.  She blinked and Alison smiled but she shook her head.

“What exactly happened?” Alison asked.  “I mean I could feel you but what were you doing?”

Grace sat staring at Alison.  She was filled with a sense of wonder at what she had just done.  “I believe I acquired your ability to heal the mind.”  She related all that she had experienced to the last detail.

Alison grinned.  “What an amazing gift this is.  I mean, if I understand it, you could acquire any power.  Any power.  Just think about that.  The implications are astonishing.  But we should test it.”

At that, Grace smiled.  “But how could I test your ability to heal the mind.”  Then it was as though Grace knew and she put her hand on Alison’s forehead and she let the healing waves flow.

The experience was like having something warm at the center of her palm. 

Alison closed her eyes and sighed.  Her shoulders even dropped a little.  “Oh, that’s wonderful.  So that’s what everyone else feels.”

“Yes, it is,” Grace said.  “I’ve felt it from you many times, like soothing warm waves just easing over the mind.  That’s what happened when you came to help me at the Seattle warrior games.”

Alison opened her eyes.  “Wow.  And thank you.  I actually feel more relaxed.”

“So you think this is it, then?” Grace asked.  “That I can acquire abilities?”

* * *   * * *   * * *

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt!  I’ve had an extraordinary time creating and writing this series!  Let Guardians of Ascension be a new journey for you.  GATES OF RAPTURE releases on December 24^th.

To Learn More about Gates of Rapture and to read the opening chapter:  CLICK HERE!!!

To Order GATES OF RAPTURE   Amazon   Barnes & Noble   iTunes    

Here are the giveaway details (all international with appropriate compensatory prizes as needed):  On each stop of the tour, I’ll be giving away the same awesome collection of prizes as listed on the Rafflecopter form, so be sure to stop by each blog on the tour for a chance to win at each blog.  Be careful to follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form at each site.  And be very careful of the dates!  The contest at each site will last 3 days only, and those dates will be listed on the Rafflecopter form as well!!! 

For links to all the other blogs on the tour:  CLICK HERE!!!

The Grand Prize Drawing - VERY IMPORTANT:  to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing of the Nook with Glowlight, you must leave a comment at the bottom of this blog!  (And for more chances to win the Nook, you can go to every site on the tour and enter that many times—totally up to you!  But comments must be left!)  The grand prize drawing will be selected by random.org in the following manner.  On January 18^th, three days after the tour ends, I will enter the number of blogsites into the random number generator, which will deliver up the winning site.  I will then go to the winning site, count up the comments one by one, and enter that number into random.org.  Random.org will then provide the Grand Prize winning number matched to the comments on the winning blogsite.  This means, that if you travel to all the blogs on this tour, you can enter the GRAND PRIZE contest on every single blog you visit by leaving a comment at each blogsite!  Good luck to all!

The Goodies as listed on the Rafflecopter form are :  a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble (or similar for International),  a replica, antique typewriter key bracelet that spells ‘dream’,  a signed copy of ASCENSION (the first novel in the Guardians of Ascension series), Romance Trading Cards and bookmarks.  

The Grand Prize drawing for a Nook with Glowlight, will take place on January 18^th, three days after the tour officially ends!  Good luck!

* * *   * * *   * * *

TO FIND CARIS ROANE ON THE WEB…

Website Home Page:  www.carisroane.com
Twitter handle:  @carisroane
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/caris.roane
Email:  carisroane@gmail.com

Again,  to be eligible for the Nook with Glowlight, leave a comment below like this:  carisroane at gmail dot com!  Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway