I was one of the blog sites that brought you the cover reveal for this amazing book and now I'm fortunate to share with you the book's release! Genesis Queen is book three in the Road to Hell series and definitely worth checking out! Today I'm putting Gracen in the hot seat to talk about her writing style and favorite characters.
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Hello and welcome to my blog. I’m so excited to have you here today. I know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you.
GRACEN: Thanks for having me! It’s an honor to be here.
Now onto some fun questions!
If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be and why?
GRACEN: I’d change so much. But I’d probably start with eliminating hate, because it’d probably correct so much that is wrong with our world.
If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow?
GRACEN: Eat whatever I wanted without worrying about getting fatter. LOL If it were to be soon, I’d probably never clean the house or wash clothes again either. Why waste time doing the things I hate? And definitely spend more time with family.
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!
GRACEN: When my two children were born. Nothing can make you feel more alive than when you’re bringing life into this world.
When was the last time you helped someone that was desperately in need? What did you do? Was this person grateful?
GRACEN: The last person I helped in need, I gave them an anomoyous gift card to the grocery store. I don’t help people for the recognition, so I rarely do it in any capacity where they know who it’s coming from.
What television sitcom is most like your family? Why?
GRACEN: I’d say the Addams Family if it was still on, because we’re all a bit odd and zany. For example, my youngest who is eleven, he convinced us to let him keep the box that our new stove came in so he could put it in his room and sleep in it! We all that was a bit odd. But we let him keep the box. LOL I can’t think of any current sitcom that makes me think of my family.
Who is hotter- Vampire, Shifter, Demon or Angel? Why?
GRACEN: My first thought was vampire because they were my first love. But then my fallen angel in my Road to Hell series gave me a mental elbow to the ribs and told me that was the wrong answer. So, I guess I’ll go with fallen angel—even though fallen wasn’t one of your options. The why is because there is so much I can do with them when I write.
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
GRACEN: *laughs* Even when I should be relaxing I rarely am. But I guess the time I relax the most is when I’m watching Supernatural, the Vampire Diaries or The Walking Dead with my boys.
Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author.
Did you always want to be an author?
GRACEN: Yes and no. I always dreamed of being an author, but the reality was that I had to pick a “real” career to pay the bills. So, I became a paralegal, which didn’t leave a whole lot of time to write. Plus, it’d wipe me out mentally and I would be too exhausted to write. Not until we made the decision to alter our lives so I could quit work and take care of our children, did I pick the dream back up.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
GRACEN: The biggest impact was Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and simply because her book, The Flame and Flower, was the first romance book I ever read. From that moment on, I was in love with love. As an adult, I wish I could write more like Nalini Singh, but otherwise, I wouldn’t attribute one author to having an impact on me. To me, they’re just the average person like any other person out there.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
GRACEN: A computer, my muse, Dom, a cup of coffee and that’s it.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
GRACEN: You gotta have thick skin. People are mean! LOL They don’t mind trashing your work to the point you feel you shouldn’t even call yourself a writer, but they also have no problems tearing you down, as well.
Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover)
GRACEN: Genesis Queen is book three in the Road to Hell series. The series must be read in order or the reader will be confused. Throughout the series, Madison is resistant to becoming the Queen of Hell, running from her husband, who has ties to Hell, and saving her son from the evil that could mark his life. Supernatural and human friends aid her escape from her husband. She’s gone to Hell and back—literally—to save one of those friends, but she didn’t escape the fiery locale unscathed. In Genesis Queen, the final lines are drawn and there is a resolution to the entire series.
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Hello and welcome to my blog. I’m so excited to have you here today. I know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you.
GRACEN: Thanks for having me! It’s an honor to be here.
Now onto some fun questions!
If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be and why?
GRACEN: I’d change so much. But I’d probably start with eliminating hate, because it’d probably correct so much that is wrong with our world.
If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow?
GRACEN: Eat whatever I wanted without worrying about getting fatter. LOL If it were to be soon, I’d probably never clean the house or wash clothes again either. Why waste time doing the things I hate? And definitely spend more time with family.
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!
GRACEN: When my two children were born. Nothing can make you feel more alive than when you’re bringing life into this world.
When was the last time you helped someone that was desperately in need? What did you do? Was this person grateful?
GRACEN: The last person I helped in need, I gave them an anomoyous gift card to the grocery store. I don’t help people for the recognition, so I rarely do it in any capacity where they know who it’s coming from.
What television sitcom is most like your family? Why?
GRACEN: I’d say the Addams Family if it was still on, because we’re all a bit odd and zany. For example, my youngest who is eleven, he convinced us to let him keep the box that our new stove came in so he could put it in his room and sleep in it! We all that was a bit odd. But we let him keep the box. LOL I can’t think of any current sitcom that makes me think of my family.
Who is hotter- Vampire, Shifter, Demon or Angel? Why?
GRACEN: My first thought was vampire because they were my first love. But then my fallen angel in my Road to Hell series gave me a mental elbow to the ribs and told me that was the wrong answer. So, I guess I’ll go with fallen angel—even though fallen wasn’t one of your options. The why is because there is so much I can do with them when I write.
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
GRACEN: *laughs* Even when I should be relaxing I rarely am. But I guess the time I relax the most is when I’m watching Supernatural, the Vampire Diaries or The Walking Dead with my boys.
Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author.
Did you always want to be an author?
GRACEN: Yes and no. I always dreamed of being an author, but the reality was that I had to pick a “real” career to pay the bills. So, I became a paralegal, which didn’t leave a whole lot of time to write. Plus, it’d wipe me out mentally and I would be too exhausted to write. Not until we made the decision to alter our lives so I could quit work and take care of our children, did I pick the dream back up.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
GRACEN: The biggest impact was Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and simply because her book, The Flame and Flower, was the first romance book I ever read. From that moment on, I was in love with love. As an adult, I wish I could write more like Nalini Singh, but otherwise, I wouldn’t attribute one author to having an impact on me. To me, they’re just the average person like any other person out there.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
GRACEN: A computer, my muse, Dom, a cup of coffee and that’s it.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
GRACEN: You gotta have thick skin. People are mean! LOL They don’t mind trashing your work to the point you feel you shouldn’t even call yourself a writer, but they also have no problems tearing you down, as well.
Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover)
GRACEN: Genesis Queen is book three in the Road to Hell series. The series must be read in order or the reader will be confused. Throughout the series, Madison is resistant to becoming the Queen of Hell, running from her husband, who has ties to Hell, and saving her son from the evil that could mark his life. Supernatural and human friends aid her escape from her husband. She’s gone to Hell and back—literally—to save one of those friends, but she didn’t escape the fiery locale unscathed. In Genesis Queen, the final lines are drawn and there is a resolution to the entire series.
Genesis Queen Blurb:
Victory is hollow when fate maneuvers one as a pawn.
Madison’s mission is complete. Nix is rescued from Hell and her son safe from his dark destiny. But as she rests in the safe harbor of Nix’s love, her demonic husband warns of a murderous plot. Can she trust that it’s the truth and not another scheme to claim her for Hell’s throne?
Sometimes internal conflict can house our biggest demons.
With allies divided and prophecy heralding defeat, Madison gambles on Micah’s tenuous honor to keep their son protected. Torn between her heart’s desires and her dark requirements, Madison worries her hellish fate cannot be avoided. When betrayal comes from an unlikely direction, all their futures may be damned. In the darkest hour of Madison’s life, an undeniable providence will transpire. Who can she trust? And how far will she fall to defeat her foes?
Amid the rubble of defeat, will Hell’s Genesis Queen dawn?
Genesis Queen Excerpt:
“I like the way you move, kitten.”
She took a deep breath, like she needed the extra oxygen to deal with him. “Did you square away the angels in Hell?”
“Yes.” Details weren’t necessary when they both knew he’d instituted a brutal torture regimen for all of them. “Dance with me?”
“To this music?”
“You didn’t appear to be having any problem.” He held his hand out toward her.
She stared at his palm. Her expression was reminiscent of an individual confident selling their soul was a reckless choice but entering the deal anyway.
“I don’t bite.”
Her gaze felt like an impact against his. “You did in Hell.”
He wrangled the grin under control. “Then I won’t bite.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Micah.”
“Why?”
A casual shrug when nothing about her body language suggested she felt relaxed. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Nix says my idea of dancing is sex with clothes on. He couldn’t tolerate it and if he couldn’t….” She trailed off and gaped at him as if she’d just realized she’d been about to insult him.
Micah grinned. “I haven’t lived as long as I have without executing restraint.” He stepped closer to her. “I’ve controlled myself with you more than any other.” Because she is my woman and deserves my respect.
Madison allowed him to pull her arms free of their defensive fold. Holding her gaze, Micah coaxed her into his embrace…left hip to left hip, his leg thrusting between her knees, gliding upward and parting her thighs.
She bit her bottom lip. Her breathing grew shallow. The heavy beat of the music thumped around them. His pulse throbbed faster.
Hell’s delights, she felt fantastic against him.
“Relax,” he said when she remained inflexible. A soft wind would break one of her bones. “I only want to dance with you.” Like when they’d been married, just a different manner of movement. This one more intimate than what they normally partook.
Her focus locked on his jaw, and she sharply inhaled when he slid his palm down her back and settled on her hips. He executed the first moves and she followed. As if magnetized, they gyrated in perfect synchronicity.
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How did you decide on your story plot?
GRACEN: I don’t know that I actually ever “decide” on a plot. Nine times out of ten what I envision for the story at the start is much different than the way it ends. For example, when I started writing book one, Pandora’s Box, I somewhat knew how the three books would work out through the series. By the middle of book two, Hell’s Phoenix, lots of that initial plan altered. By the end of book 3, Genesis Queen, nothing was as I’d originally planned. For difficult parts in the storyline, I chat with my girlfriends and they help me work out issues.
How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
GRACEN: The location is Alabama, which is where I’m from, and since I wanted a heroine I could connect with, that’s where I set the story. As for names, it varies. Phoenix—nicknamed Nix—just came to me and I liked it, so it stuck. Micah was picked for the meaning of his name—“who is like God”. Madison was named for a girl I knew who died of breast cancer at the age of 18. I’d nicknamed her “Madz”, so I also had Nix give Madison the nickname “Mads”. But it was my way honoring our friendship and—in a sense—immortalizing her.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
GRACEN: In Genesis Queen my favorite scene is when Micah and Madison are dancing and the conversation that follows.
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
GRACEN: Yes. I identify with Madison because she’s a mother and Southern, just like me on both accounts.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
GRACEN: Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.miller
Road to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=ts
Website: www.gracen-miller.com
Blog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/
Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!
GRACEN: Come join me in my messed up world. Open Pandora’s Box for a sexy and terrifying ride on the Road to Hell. Thanks for allowing me to join you, Melissa!
Praise for Madison’s Life Lessons
“I loved it! Gracen has a natural talent for bringing her characters to life. I literally felt like I was right there watching and experiencing everything.”
~ Tich, Loves AllThingsBooks Book Reviews
Praise for Pandora’s Box
“Gracen Miller has definitely added spice and intrigue in to a genre that can somewhat be monotonous with the same story lines about demons, angels, succubi, and other paranormal creatures.”
~ Kathryn Grimes, Tsk Tsk What to Read
Praise for Hell’s Phoenix
“It blows J.R. Ward out of the water!”
~ Dawn Hagan, I Love Books
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"Madison's Life Lessons"
Prequel Novella - ROAD TO HELL series
(NOT required reading before beginning the series)
BUY LINKS
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Print
Fate can mark one early for a particular future.
Madison Wescott’s life is Hell on earth. Her father, a Baptist Preacher, convinces her she’s morally corrupt when men notice her blooming beauty. She strives to be unnoticeable, but nothing satisfies her condemning parents.
And sometimes fate has nothing to do with one’s potential.
Temptation rears its head when Micah Dominus visits her father’s church on Christmas morning, but she is unprepared for her physical reaction to him. Frightened by her own emotions, she is grateful she’ll never see him again. But when he shows up again at a friend’s funeral, and at other times in her life, she’s swayed by his charisma. Micah becomes her white knight through the good and bad, but can they create the perfect life together? Or has she just located the beginning of the Road to Hell?
Supernatural forces more powerful than fate can claim one’s destiny…
Madison’s Life Lessons Excerpt:
“You’re morally damned, Madison Grace Wescott!” Bruce Wescott screamed the outraged whisper into his daughter’s face. “It shames me to recognize you as my daughter.”
Madison shrunk further into the corner of the church bench, wishing she could shrink out of sight. Maybe if she were out of Daddy’s sight, she’d be out of his mind too, she thought as she blinked back the stinging tears. A hurried peek around the church sanctuary confirmed no one else witnessed her setback.
Unsure what she’d done to receive his censure this time, she offered a weak, “Yes, sir, I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Not that an apology ever appeased him.
“It’s not me you should be apologizing too, young lady, but the Lord,” he snapped drawing to his five-foot six stature. “If you don’t repent and alter your ways, God’ll see you burn in Hell.”
“Yes, sir, I understand.” She hoped she sounded meek enough to suit his temper or she’d find herself on her knees after church service praying for her soul. Depending upon his mood, she could pray for hours without a restroom break or a knee break. And boy, oh, boy, could her knees suffer brutal agony in that position.
It would be great if she knew what to repent so she could avoid the burn of Hell. She didn’t want to burn any more than he wanted her to burn. A typical complaint centered on her appearance. Her hair was too blonde, her eyes too blue, her boobs too big and her figure too lush for her too-tall frame. At fifteen she was already three and a half inches taller than him. All these complaints apparently forced men to sin against God by lusting after her. Not that she encouraged men to lust after her, mind you, but on the off chance that they did, it was still her fault in Daddy’s eyes.
“Brother Wescott,” Becca Slayter said with her hand extended to her father, cheap red lipstick smeared outside the lip-line of her saggy mouth. The over-abundance of lipstick did not give her the appearance of fuller lips. Reminded of another one of her father’s complaints—her lips were too full and sensual—Madison pinched her lips together. “I wanted to extol how much your sermon last Sunday enriched my life this week. Why I was telling Cynthia Jones…”
Madison stopped listening to Becca Slayter’s conversation with her dad because she didn’t much like ‘Sister’ Becca or her high-pitched annoying voice. And she was old, like thirty or thirty-five, and all Sister Becca ever did was brag about some new object she’d received.
She peeked around the sanctuary and took special care not to openly snag the gaze of any man. Opening her worn leather-bound Holy Bible to the Gospel of Luke, she began to read and mentally pray God would forgive her for whatever sin she’d committed. If she were lucky, by the time Daddy finished his morning sermon he would forget all about her morally damned soul. She sure didn’t want to spend the afternoon praying on her knees.
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"Pandora's Box"
Book 1 in ROAD TO HELL series
(MUST BE READ BEFORE READING HELL’S PHOENIX)
BUY LINKS
Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Print - Amazon / Print - Barnes & Noble
Where does the road to Hell begin?
What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn’t believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn’t know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.
With good intentions? Or by demonic design?
Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison’s life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix’s aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?
In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind’s liberty has begun...
Pandora’s Box Excerpt:
“May I?” He held up the medical supplies.
She nodded and watched as he doused gauze with antiseptic. “Dr. Nix at your service,” he said with a grin, two adorable dimples charming her where words failed.
Madison rolled her eyes, and tipped her head to the side to give him better access. He brushed her hair off her neck, back behind her shoulder. Such a simple gesture, yet it felt terribly personal. The air grew thick and sticky with her awareness of him. She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs.
Madison stared into his eyes. Green, she thought, his eyes were green, gorgeous and intense, with ridiculously long eyelashes women would fantasize about. If they didn’t, they should. A flicker of compassion, concern, and something else she couldn’t identify flashed in his eyes.
“Ready?” he asked.
The husky tenor of his voice forced her gaze to shift to his mouth. Nice, sexy lips, designed for kissing. She gave a mental shake but couldn’t resist wondering how his mouth would feel on hers.
“Madison?” Humor deepened his voice, a touch of a smile tilted the edges of the lips she’d been fantasizing about, and she realized she still stared at them. “You ready?” he asked again, and her eyes widened in embarrassment over her foolish stupor.
She swallowed hard. “Yeah.” She whispered past the lump in her throat and forced her vision to lock on the wall over his shoulder. Good God, what was wrong with her? Her pulse throbbed like crazy, and she felt woozy. Loss of blood! Must be why she reacted that way. No other explanation made sense.
Even though the antiseptic stung like hell, the gentle touch coming from such a gruff man surprised her. “It’s not bad,” he said, dabbing the blood away. “Just a nick.”
Well, she could nix the blood loss theory. Exhaustion and stress were the only other excuses she could come up with. “I’ve suffered worse.” Her voice sounded off, kind of hoarse. She tried to clear her throat delicately, but he must have noticed her unease, because his perceptive eyes met hers. Again, she thought she caught the edge of concern reflected in their green depths.
“This isn’t the first time he’s attacked you?”
“No. It’s the first time he’s tried to seriously kill me, though.” She sighed as she closed her eyes, ready to give up fighting, the sudden tears threatening to fall. Okay, woozy and acting strange because of strain…not because of him. Seriously, as far as first impressions went, she wasn’t impressed.
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"Hell's Phoenix"
Book 2 in ROAD TO HELL series
BUY LINKS
Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Print – Coming Soon
Hell’s become more than just a playground for the wicked…
Going to Hell was supposed to save Madison, but knowing she’s dead because of his failure leaves Nix with only one thing to live for. Revenge. With Micah’s help he learns to use his Messianic power. Anything for Mads has become his mantra, even if it means killing innocents to gather the power he needs to succeed. A tsunami he unleashes on a Gulf Coast city is stopped with magical interference, and Nix is more than surprised to feel Madison in the opposing magic. Can he and Micah set a trap to lure her out?
Pandora’s Box…once you open it, there’s no turning back!
Madison has done the unthinkable, opened Pandora’s Box to save Nix from Hell. And failed. She’s willing to risk her own life to rescue Nix, but she worries about the welfare of her accomplice in the mission and leaving her son behind. Following up on a lead, she’s ambushed by Nix and Micah. Shocked and hurt to discover Nix has become a willing participant of Hell, she’s more certain than ever she won’t escape the demonic fate her husband outlined for her. While in Hell, she discovers denying the emergence of her succubus is futile, which means getting Nix out of Hell after embracing her inner demon just became a very real dilemma…
Hell’s Phoenix Excerpt:
“You’ll heal her promptly,” Micah growled, shifting back into his human persona, as he offered his legs as a pillow for her head. She’d have pushed him away if she could’ve managed to contort her body to that angle.
Madison gaped at the blood darkening her jeans and spreading down her thigh. “That hurts way worse than I thought being shot would.”
“I need to get your pants off, Mads, to heal you.” Nix’s fingers went to the snap of her jeans.
She knocked his hands away. “You’ll heal the others first.”
“He shot the main artery in your thigh, Madison. You’ll bleed out before he finishes with them.” Micah compressed his lips together and spoke as if he ground his teeth together. “I’ve lost you twice. I will not lose you again.”
“Death would at least grant me freedom from you!”
Micah’s mouth flattened in displeasure. “Phoenix, I would ask you to do as she requests.”
“Goddamnit, Mads, I swear I’ll heal them immediately after I take care of you.”
Madison glared at Nix. “E kawoja ciok tauqelv.” I refuse your healing. Nix spewed curses in Xapil. “Impressive, you’ve learned how to curse in demon.”
Nix scowled. “Stubborn.”
Madison clenched her teeth in silent mutiny. Nix cupped the back of her head, tugged slightly and kissed her hard on the lips. Excitement zinged through her system. Her attraction to him always presented itself at the most inappropriate moments.
“I find that stubborn trait sexy, baby.”
“Flattery gets you nowhere, Nix.” She winced at the tug against her wounded flesh as he rested her against Micah’s thighs.
“What does?” Nix jerked the hem of one pant leg up and tugged the blade strapped to her ankle out of its harness.
“Good deeds.”
He brandished the knife he’d given her for her thirtieth birthday and grinned. “Does healing them count?”
“No.”
Nix rolled to his feet and leveled her with his stare. “You’re a hard woman to please.”
“Cease the flirtations with my wife.” Micah’s grip on her shoulders intensified. “Heal those bottom-feeders, and then heal her.”
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Genesis Queen"
Book 3 in ROAD TO HELL series
Buy Links: Amazon / Decadent / Smashwords
Victory is hollow when fate maneuvers one as a pawn.
Madison’s mission is complete. Nix is rescued from Hell and her son safe from his dark destiny. But as she rests in the safe harbor of Nix’s love, her demonic husband warns of a murderous plot. Can she trust that it’s the truth and not another scheme to claim her for Hell’s throne?
Sometimes internal conflict can house our biggest demons.
With allies divided and prophecy heralding defeat, Madison gambles on Micah’s tenuous honor to keep their son protected. Torn between her heart’s desires and her dark requirements, Madison worries her hellish fate cannot be avoided. When betrayal comes from an unlikely direction, all their futures may be damned. In the darkest hour of Madison’s life, an undeniable providence will transpire. Who can she trust? And how far will she fall to defeat her foes?
Amid the rubble of defeat, will Hell’s Genesis Queen dawn?
Gracen is giving away three wonderful prize packages to winners. Please use the rafflecopter link to enter to win!
Victory is hollow when fate maneuvers one as a pawn.
Madison’s mission is complete. Nix is rescued from Hell and her son safe from his dark destiny. But as she rests in the safe harbor of Nix’s love, her demonic husband warns of a murderous plot. Can she trust that it’s the truth and not another scheme to claim her for Hell’s throne?
Sometimes internal conflict can house our biggest demons.
With allies divided and prophecy heralding defeat, Madison gambles on Micah’s tenuous honor to keep their son protected. Torn between her heart’s desires and her dark requirements, Madison worries her hellish fate cannot be avoided. When betrayal comes from an unlikely direction, all their futures may be damned. In the darkest hour of Madison’s life, an undeniable providence will transpire. Who can she trust? And how far will she fall to defeat her foes?
Amid the rubble of defeat, will Hell’s Genesis Queen dawn?
Genesis Queen Excerpt:
“I like the way you move, kitten.”
She took a deep breath, like she needed the extra oxygen to deal with him. “Did you square away the angels in Hell?”
“Yes.” Details weren’t necessary when they both knew he’d instituted a brutal torture regimen for all of them. “Dance with me?”
“To this music?”
“You didn’t appear to be having any problem.” He held his hand out toward her.
She stared at his palm. Her expression was reminiscent of an individual confident selling their soul was a reckless choice but entering the deal anyway.
“I don’t bite.”
Her gaze felt like an impact against his. “You did in Hell.”
He wrangled the grin under control. “Then I won’t bite.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Micah.”
“Why?”
A casual shrug when nothing about her body language suggested she felt relaxed. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Nix says my idea of dancing is sex with clothes on. He couldn’t tolerate it and if he couldn’t….” She trailed off and gaped at him as if she’d just realized she’d been about to insult him.
Micah grinned. “I haven’t lived as long as I have without executing restraint.” He stepped closer to her. “I’ve controlled myself with you more than any other.” Because she is my woman and deserves my respect.
Madison allowed him to pull her arms free of their defensive fold. Holding her gaze, Micah coaxed her into his embrace…left hip to left hip, his leg thrusting between her knees, gliding upward and parting her thighs.
She bit her bottom lip. Her breathing grew shallow. The heavy beat of the music thumped around them. His pulse throbbed faster.
Hell’s delights, she felt fantastic against him.
“Relax,” he said when she remained inflexible. A soft wind would break one of her bones. “I only want to dance with you.” Like when they’d been married, just a different manner of movement. This one more intimate than what they normally partook.
Her focus locked on his jaw, and she sharply inhaled when he slid his palm down her back and settled on her hips. He executed the first moves and she followed. As if magnetized, they gyrated in perfect synchronicity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How did you decide on your story plot?
GRACEN: I don’t know that I actually ever “decide” on a plot. Nine times out of ten what I envision for the story at the start is much different than the way it ends. For example, when I started writing book one, Pandora’s Box, I somewhat knew how the three books would work out through the series. By the middle of book two, Hell’s Phoenix, lots of that initial plan altered. By the end of book 3, Genesis Queen, nothing was as I’d originally planned. For difficult parts in the storyline, I chat with my girlfriends and they help me work out issues.
How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
GRACEN: The location is Alabama, which is where I’m from, and since I wanted a heroine I could connect with, that’s where I set the story. As for names, it varies. Phoenix—nicknamed Nix—just came to me and I liked it, so it stuck. Micah was picked for the meaning of his name—“who is like God”. Madison was named for a girl I knew who died of breast cancer at the age of 18. I’d nicknamed her “Madz”, so I also had Nix give Madison the nickname “Mads”. But it was my way honoring our friendship and—in a sense—immortalizing her.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
GRACEN: In Genesis Queen my favorite scene is when Micah and Madison are dancing and the conversation that follows.
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
GRACEN: Yes. I identify with Madison because she’s a mother and Southern, just like me on both accounts.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
GRACEN: Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.miller
Road to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=ts
Website: www.gracen-miller.com
Blog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/
Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!
GRACEN: Come join me in my messed up world. Open Pandora’s Box for a sexy and terrifying ride on the Road to Hell. Thanks for allowing me to join you, Melissa!
Praise for Madison’s Life Lessons
“I loved it! Gracen has a natural talent for bringing her characters to life. I literally felt like I was right there watching and experiencing everything.”
~ Tich, Loves AllThingsBooks Book Reviews
Praise for Pandora’s Box
“Gracen Miller has definitely added spice and intrigue in to a genre that can somewhat be monotonous with the same story lines about demons, angels, succubi, and other paranormal creatures.”
~ Kathryn Grimes, Tsk Tsk What to Read
Praise for Hell’s Phoenix
“It blows J.R. Ward out of the water!”
~ Dawn Hagan, I Love Books
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Madison's Life Lessons"
Prequel Novella - ROAD TO HELL series
(NOT required reading before beginning the series)
BUY LINKS
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Print
Fate can mark one early for a particular future.
Madison Wescott’s life is Hell on earth. Her father, a Baptist Preacher, convinces her she’s morally corrupt when men notice her blooming beauty. She strives to be unnoticeable, but nothing satisfies her condemning parents.
And sometimes fate has nothing to do with one’s potential.
Temptation rears its head when Micah Dominus visits her father’s church on Christmas morning, but she is unprepared for her physical reaction to him. Frightened by her own emotions, she is grateful she’ll never see him again. But when he shows up again at a friend’s funeral, and at other times in her life, she’s swayed by his charisma. Micah becomes her white knight through the good and bad, but can they create the perfect life together? Or has she just located the beginning of the Road to Hell?
Supernatural forces more powerful than fate can claim one’s destiny…
Madison’s Life Lessons Excerpt:
“You’re morally damned, Madison Grace Wescott!” Bruce Wescott screamed the outraged whisper into his daughter’s face. “It shames me to recognize you as my daughter.”
Madison shrunk further into the corner of the church bench, wishing she could shrink out of sight. Maybe if she were out of Daddy’s sight, she’d be out of his mind too, she thought as she blinked back the stinging tears. A hurried peek around the church sanctuary confirmed no one else witnessed her setback.
Unsure what she’d done to receive his censure this time, she offered a weak, “Yes, sir, I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Not that an apology ever appeased him.
“It’s not me you should be apologizing too, young lady, but the Lord,” he snapped drawing to his five-foot six stature. “If you don’t repent and alter your ways, God’ll see you burn in Hell.”
“Yes, sir, I understand.” She hoped she sounded meek enough to suit his temper or she’d find herself on her knees after church service praying for her soul. Depending upon his mood, she could pray for hours without a restroom break or a knee break. And boy, oh, boy, could her knees suffer brutal agony in that position.
It would be great if she knew what to repent so she could avoid the burn of Hell. She didn’t want to burn any more than he wanted her to burn. A typical complaint centered on her appearance. Her hair was too blonde, her eyes too blue, her boobs too big and her figure too lush for her too-tall frame. At fifteen she was already three and a half inches taller than him. All these complaints apparently forced men to sin against God by lusting after her. Not that she encouraged men to lust after her, mind you, but on the off chance that they did, it was still her fault in Daddy’s eyes.
“Brother Wescott,” Becca Slayter said with her hand extended to her father, cheap red lipstick smeared outside the lip-line of her saggy mouth. The over-abundance of lipstick did not give her the appearance of fuller lips. Reminded of another one of her father’s complaints—her lips were too full and sensual—Madison pinched her lips together. “I wanted to extol how much your sermon last Sunday enriched my life this week. Why I was telling Cynthia Jones…”
Madison stopped listening to Becca Slayter’s conversation with her dad because she didn’t much like ‘Sister’ Becca or her high-pitched annoying voice. And she was old, like thirty or thirty-five, and all Sister Becca ever did was brag about some new object she’d received.
She peeked around the sanctuary and took special care not to openly snag the gaze of any man. Opening her worn leather-bound Holy Bible to the Gospel of Luke, she began to read and mentally pray God would forgive her for whatever sin she’d committed. If she were lucky, by the time Daddy finished his morning sermon he would forget all about her morally damned soul. She sure didn’t want to spend the afternoon praying on her knees.
******************************************************
"Pandora's Box"
Book 1 in ROAD TO HELL series
(MUST BE READ BEFORE READING HELL’S PHOENIX)
BUY LINKS
Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Print - Amazon / Print - Barnes & Noble
Where does the road to Hell begin?
What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn’t believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn’t know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.
With good intentions? Or by demonic design?
Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison’s life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix’s aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?
In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind’s liberty has begun...
Pandora’s Box Excerpt:
“May I?” He held up the medical supplies.
She nodded and watched as he doused gauze with antiseptic. “Dr. Nix at your service,” he said with a grin, two adorable dimples charming her where words failed.
Madison rolled her eyes, and tipped her head to the side to give him better access. He brushed her hair off her neck, back behind her shoulder. Such a simple gesture, yet it felt terribly personal. The air grew thick and sticky with her awareness of him. She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs.
Madison stared into his eyes. Green, she thought, his eyes were green, gorgeous and intense, with ridiculously long eyelashes women would fantasize about. If they didn’t, they should. A flicker of compassion, concern, and something else she couldn’t identify flashed in his eyes.
“Ready?” he asked.
The husky tenor of his voice forced her gaze to shift to his mouth. Nice, sexy lips, designed for kissing. She gave a mental shake but couldn’t resist wondering how his mouth would feel on hers.
“Madison?” Humor deepened his voice, a touch of a smile tilted the edges of the lips she’d been fantasizing about, and she realized she still stared at them. “You ready?” he asked again, and her eyes widened in embarrassment over her foolish stupor.
She swallowed hard. “Yeah.” She whispered past the lump in her throat and forced her vision to lock on the wall over his shoulder. Good God, what was wrong with her? Her pulse throbbed like crazy, and she felt woozy. Loss of blood! Must be why she reacted that way. No other explanation made sense.
Even though the antiseptic stung like hell, the gentle touch coming from such a gruff man surprised her. “It’s not bad,” he said, dabbing the blood away. “Just a nick.”
Well, she could nix the blood loss theory. Exhaustion and stress were the only other excuses she could come up with. “I’ve suffered worse.” Her voice sounded off, kind of hoarse. She tried to clear her throat delicately, but he must have noticed her unease, because his perceptive eyes met hers. Again, she thought she caught the edge of concern reflected in their green depths.
“This isn’t the first time he’s attacked you?”
“No. It’s the first time he’s tried to seriously kill me, though.” She sighed as she closed her eyes, ready to give up fighting, the sudden tears threatening to fall. Okay, woozy and acting strange because of strain…not because of him. Seriously, as far as first impressions went, she wasn’t impressed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Hell's Phoenix"
Book 2 in ROAD TO HELL series
BUY LINKS
Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Print – Coming Soon
Hell’s become more than just a playground for the wicked…
Going to Hell was supposed to save Madison, but knowing she’s dead because of his failure leaves Nix with only one thing to live for. Revenge. With Micah’s help he learns to use his Messianic power. Anything for Mads has become his mantra, even if it means killing innocents to gather the power he needs to succeed. A tsunami he unleashes on a Gulf Coast city is stopped with magical interference, and Nix is more than surprised to feel Madison in the opposing magic. Can he and Micah set a trap to lure her out?
Pandora’s Box…once you open it, there’s no turning back!
Madison has done the unthinkable, opened Pandora’s Box to save Nix from Hell. And failed. She’s willing to risk her own life to rescue Nix, but she worries about the welfare of her accomplice in the mission and leaving her son behind. Following up on a lead, she’s ambushed by Nix and Micah. Shocked and hurt to discover Nix has become a willing participant of Hell, she’s more certain than ever she won’t escape the demonic fate her husband outlined for her. While in Hell, she discovers denying the emergence of her succubus is futile, which means getting Nix out of Hell after embracing her inner demon just became a very real dilemma…
Hell’s Phoenix Excerpt:
“You’ll heal her promptly,” Micah growled, shifting back into his human persona, as he offered his legs as a pillow for her head. She’d have pushed him away if she could’ve managed to contort her body to that angle.
Madison gaped at the blood darkening her jeans and spreading down her thigh. “That hurts way worse than I thought being shot would.”
“I need to get your pants off, Mads, to heal you.” Nix’s fingers went to the snap of her jeans.
She knocked his hands away. “You’ll heal the others first.”
“He shot the main artery in your thigh, Madison. You’ll bleed out before he finishes with them.” Micah compressed his lips together and spoke as if he ground his teeth together. “I’ve lost you twice. I will not lose you again.”
“Death would at least grant me freedom from you!”
Micah’s mouth flattened in displeasure. “Phoenix, I would ask you to do as she requests.”
“Goddamnit, Mads, I swear I’ll heal them immediately after I take care of you.”
Madison glared at Nix. “E kawoja ciok tauqelv.” I refuse your healing. Nix spewed curses in Xapil. “Impressive, you’ve learned how to curse in demon.”
Nix scowled. “Stubborn.”
Madison clenched her teeth in silent mutiny. Nix cupped the back of her head, tugged slightly and kissed her hard on the lips. Excitement zinged through her system. Her attraction to him always presented itself at the most inappropriate moments.
“I find that stubborn trait sexy, baby.”
“Flattery gets you nowhere, Nix.” She winced at the tug against her wounded flesh as he rested her against Micah’s thighs.
“What does?” Nix jerked the hem of one pant leg up and tugged the blade strapped to her ankle out of its harness.
“Good deeds.”
He brandished the knife he’d given her for her thirtieth birthday and grinned. “Does healing them count?”
“No.”
Nix rolled to his feet and leveled her with his stare. “You’re a hard woman to please.”
“Cease the flirtations with my wife.” Micah’s grip on her shoulders intensified. “Heal those bottom-feeders, and then heal her.”
***************************************************************
Genesis Queen"
Book 3 in ROAD TO HELL series
Buy Links: Amazon / Decadent / Smashwords
Victory is hollow when fate maneuvers one as a pawn.
Madison’s mission is complete. Nix is rescued from Hell and her son safe from his dark destiny. But as she rests in the safe harbor of Nix’s love, her demonic husband warns of a murderous plot. Can she trust that it’s the truth and not another scheme to claim her for Hell’s throne?
Sometimes internal conflict can house our biggest demons.
With allies divided and prophecy heralding defeat, Madison gambles on Micah’s tenuous honor to keep their son protected. Torn between her heart’s desires and her dark requirements, Madison worries her hellish fate cannot be avoided. When betrayal comes from an unlikely direction, all their futures may be damned. In the darkest hour of Madison’s life, an undeniable providence will transpire. Who can she trust? And how far will she fall to defeat her foes?
Amid the rubble of defeat, will Hell’s Genesis Queen dawn?
Gracen is giving away three wonderful prize packages to winners. Please use the rafflecopter link to enter to win!
 | GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Signed copy of Pandora's Box Signed copy of Hell's Phoenix Road to Hell Bumper Magnet Hellhound Magnet Madison's Life Lesson's Magnet Pandora's Box Magnet Hell's Phoenix Magnet Pandora's Box/Hell's Phoenix Postcard sized Magnet Road to Hell book thong Hellhound Rubber Bracelet Hellhound Luggage Tag ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 | 2nd PLACE WINNER: Signed copy of Madison's Life Lessons Road to Hell Bumper Magnet Hellhound Magnet Madison's Life Lesson's Magnet Pandora's Box Magnet Hell's Phoenix Magnet Pandora's Box/Hell's Phoenix Postcard sized Magnet Hellhound Rubber Bracelet Bracelet (donated by Kathryn Grimes at Tsk Tsk What to Read) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 | 3rd PLACE WINNER: Road to Hell Bumper Magnet Hellhound Magnet Madison's Life Lesson's Magnet Pandora's Box Magnet Hell's Phoenix Magnet Pandora's Box/Hell's Phoenix Postcard sized Magnet Hellhound Rubber Bracelet Bookmark (donated by Kathryn Grimes at Tsk Tsk What to Read) |
Don't forget to check out all the stops on Gracen's tour for more chances to win!
12/14/12 Gracen Miller (Day in the Life of Madison)
12/15/12 The Secret Sanctuary of Books http://thesecretsanctuarybooks.blogspot.com/
12/16/12 Kristina’s Books and More http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/
12/17/12 Tich Brewster http://lovesallthingsbooks.blogspot.com/
12/18/12 Delphina Reads Too Much http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/
12/19/12 Tina Carriero http://tinacarreiro.blogspot.com/
12/20/12 Candace Pages http://www.lifebetweenthepages.com/
12/21/12 Steph C Brentson http://starrynightbookreviews.blogspot.com/
12/22/12 Tsk Tsk What to Read http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/
12/23/12 Ren Reidy http://www.alittlebitofrnrreviews.com/
12/26/12 Tammy Middleton http://tamssbookblog.blogspot.com
12/27/12 Forbidden Reviews http://www.forbiddenreviews.com/
12/28/12 Chastity Bush http://chastitybush.blogspot.com
12/29/12 A Page Away http://apageawaybookreviews.blogspot.com
12/30/12 Melissa Keir http://www.melissakeir.com/blog.html
12/31/12 Terri Dion http://terrisbookaddiction.blogspot.com/
1/1/13 Dawn Jackson http://backwardmomentum.blogspot.com/
1/2/13 Sabrina Ford http://sabrinasparanormalpalace.blogspot.com/
1/3/13 United by Books http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/
1/4/13 Mary of Book Nerds Across America http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/
1/5/13 Jinni James http://authorjinnijames.blogspot.com/
1/6/13 Intoxicated By Books http://intoxicatedbybooks.blogspot.com/
1/7/13 JoAnne Kenrick http://coffeewithauthors.blogspot.com/2012/11/cover-reveal-genesis-queen-contest.html
1/8/13 Katie Shelby http://katieshelby19.blogspot.com/
1/9/13 Earth’s Book Nook http://www.earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/
1/10/13 Jennilinh Dinh Bitten By Love http://www.bittenbylovereviews.com
1/11/13 Simply Sexy Stories http://www.simplysexystories.blogspot.com
1/12/13 Rose Hairston http://belovedbooks-rose.blogspot.com/
12/14/12 Gracen Miller (Day in the Life of Madison)
12/15/12 The Secret Sanctuary of Books http://thesecretsanctuarybooks.blogspot.com/
12/16/12 Kristina’s Books and More http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/
12/17/12 Tich Brewster http://lovesallthingsbooks.blogspot.com/
12/18/12 Delphina Reads Too Much http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/
12/19/12 Tina Carriero http://tinacarreiro.blogspot.com/
12/20/12 Candace Pages http://www.lifebetweenthepages.com/
12/21/12 Steph C Brentson http://starrynightbookreviews.blogspot.com/
12/22/12 Tsk Tsk What to Read http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/
12/23/12 Ren Reidy http://www.alittlebitofrnrreviews.com/
12/26/12 Tammy Middleton http://tamssbookblog.blogspot.com
12/27/12 Forbidden Reviews http://www.forbiddenreviews.com/
12/28/12 Chastity Bush http://chastitybush.blogspot.com
12/29/12 A Page Away http://apageawaybookreviews.blogspot.com
12/30/12 Melissa Keir http://www.melissakeir.com/blog.html
12/31/12 Terri Dion http://terrisbookaddiction.blogspot.com/
1/1/13 Dawn Jackson http://backwardmomentum.blogspot.com/
1/2/13 Sabrina Ford http://sabrinasparanormalpalace.blogspot.com/
1/3/13 United by Books http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/
1/4/13 Mary of Book Nerds Across America http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/
1/5/13 Jinni James http://authorjinnijames.blogspot.com/
1/6/13 Intoxicated By Books http://intoxicatedbybooks.blogspot.com/
1/7/13 JoAnne Kenrick http://coffeewithauthors.blogspot.com/2012/11/cover-reveal-genesis-queen-contest.html
1/8/13 Katie Shelby http://katieshelby19.blogspot.com/
1/9/13 Earth’s Book Nook http://www.earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/
1/10/13 Jennilinh Dinh Bitten By Love http://www.bittenbylovereviews.com
1/11/13 Simply Sexy Stories http://www.simplysexystories.blogspot.com
1/12/13 Rose Hairston http://belovedbooks-rose.blogspot.com/
About the Author
Gracen is a small town girl who was transplanted to the big city almost ten years ago. She describes herself as a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in Southern society. When not writing, she’s a full-time basketball/football/guitar mom for her two sons and a devoted wife to her real-life hero-husband. She’s addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama football and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. She is convinced coffee is nectar from the gods and blending coffee and writing generates the perfect creative merger. Many of her stories are spawned from these coffee highs. To learn more about Gracen and her writing or to leave her a comment, visit her website at www.gracen-miller.com.
Gracen is a small town girl who was transplanted to the big city almost ten years ago. She describes herself as a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in Southern society. When not writing, she’s a full-time basketball/football/guitar mom for her two sons and a devoted wife to her real-life hero-husband. She’s addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama football and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. She is convinced coffee is nectar from the gods and blending coffee and writing generates the perfect creative merger. Many of her stories are spawned from these coffee highs. To learn more about Gracen and her writing or to leave her a comment, visit her website at www.gracen-miller.com.
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