Giveaway: Win Light Series by Jennifer DeLucy

Our sweet author, Jennifer DeLucy, is generous enough to provide digital copies of Seers of Light and Whisper of Light to one of my lucky readers. As I am sure a lot of you would like to have a hand of this series as well, I am going to giveaway another one digital copy of Seers of Light to the second winner! Let's recap back on what my thoughts are on these books:

Title: Seers of Light
Series: Light #1

DeLucy has indeed created a novel that rich with terrifying mystery and astounding storyline, weaves with delicious, intricate romance. The ending of this book gives closure to readers while at the same time, opens the door to possible sequel, which I hope will be released in near future. Enchanting and utterly refreshing, Seers of Light is indeed a must read especially to those who love paranormal romance. I don't think I've come across book such as this one before. Definitely an original read that I highly recommended!

Title: Whispers of Light

Series: Light #2

I have to admit that when I knew Whisper of Light is not really a continuation of Lillian’s journey from Seers of Light, I was left sceptical and a little disappointed. But soon as I started reading, I realised that the sequel might be different, but it is unique and interesting nonetheless. The author, Jennifer DeLucy, has masterfully creates a spin-off that lets readers view the personality of the characters from a totally distinct light. Whisper of Light is surely a book that is full with rollercoaster ride that tangles readers and pulls them into its intricate, emotional journey in finding one-self, in gaining acceptance and in acquiring forgiveness along the way. Such a remarkable read and will certainly be one of the books that I'd always remember.

Giveaway Details:

(1) This giveaway is open internationally

(2) There are several ways to gain extra entries which include commenting on my review of Seers of Light and Whispers of Light and also Interview with Jennifer DeLucy
(3) This giveaway open to those above 17 years of age due to some of the adult content

(4) Giveaway ends: 24th December 2010

[THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED]

Interview: Jennifer DeLucy, Author of Light Series

Today, I am very pleased to welcome Jennifer DeLucy, author of the astounding Light Series, here on my blog. I have read both of her books, Seers of Light and Whisper of Light, and tell you what, she writes beautifully and there are some degrees of originality in her works (Read my reviews here). There will be a giveaway for your chance to win these books later this week, so stay tuned!

Hello there, Jennifer! Thank you for stopping by today. First of all, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspire you to be a writer?
Hello! Well, I’ve always wanted to be a writer—ever since I was a little girl. Writing and music were and still are my two loves. I also do some freelance editing work, but my aspiration is to solely write.

I believe that having a career in writing requires a lot of discipline. Do you mind sharing with us your routine when it comes to writing?
It does require a lot of discipline, especially for me. I tend to be quite easily distracted, so, I have to make myself focus on the task. Once I’m in it, though, I might as well be hypnotized because hours can go by and I won’t know it. I definitely don’t like to force writing if I’m feeling uninspired, but sometimes you have to give yourself a little pep talk.

Is there any particular reason why you choose to write under paranormal romance? Do you think you might switch to other genre someday?
The paranormal genre came naturally to me. I don’t think I could have imagined myself writing without some supernatural elements, because I believe in a lot of that stuff and consider spirituality to be so important in life, so one way or another, my writing is influenced by it.

The Light Series is indeed unique in so many ways. Whilst reading your books, it feels like you create your own myth and I've the feeling that I'm not the first to feel that way! So I wonder, where does all this idea come from?
You’re right! A lot of reviewers and readers make the comment about The Light Series being unique, and it’s funny because I never purposely set out to create something out of the norm. I just wanted to write a book, and Seers of Light was the end result. Then Whisper of Light flowed naturally from that, and the same goes for book three (which I’m currently writing.) As cheesy as it sounds, the premise of Seers was just an extension of the things in my heart. I’ve read a lot of near death experiences and was moved by them, plus, I enjoy and believe in all kinds of spooky, ghostly things, so it felt right. I know a lot of paranormal/fantasy novels create worlds and characters that are high fantasy, with foreign terminology and cultures and places, and I like those novels a lot. But, I think it was really important to me to make The Light Series characters regular people, like you and me, living in our world and trying their best to fit in, despite extraordinary circumstances and abilities. I wanted the readers to be able to relate to these novels both emotionally and philosophically.

If you're a sentient, what sort of endowment you would like to have?
Hm. I think I would say an Empath. Though it makes life more painful at times, I think that the ability to feel the true emotion of others would also make it easier to understand and show compassion toward those who would hurt us or otherwise make us angry. Empathy is an extremely healing, peace-promoting gift.

Which character/s in this series did you found hardest to write about?
You know, I’ve been trying to come up with an answer to this one, but I can’t seem to! All the characters have kind of introduced themselves to me quite easily. I feel very lucky about that!

If I force you (I know I have to force you to make a choice on this one :P) to choose between William and Christian, which one you would choose and why?
Aaaaw. Sneaky! I’ve gotten this question once before and I couldn’t bring myself to choose. But, since you really want me to, I’d have to say William, and here’s why. The decision between the two men is really user specific, so to speak. Some people are attracted to a Christian—an outgoing, devoted, protective provider type with old fashioned charm that publically radiates adoration, while others are more attracted to a William. I think Williams are kind of rare to find, because they tend to sit out of the spotlight. I’ve mentioned this in one of my blog posts, actually, but more than anything, I value a partner who challenges my character without making me feel any less because of it, someone who will push me when I’m being a chicken. William is a good one for that. Also, I kind of like the idea of a guy who trusts you with the depth of his emotion and affection, while maintaining an aura of humble mystery in public. (Me: Oh my! Now I'll have to fight for William with you. He is *really* a sweetheart!)

Tell us five things that readers might not know about you.
Five things, you say. Well. Let me make a list:
(1) I would love to write screenplays
(2) It’s my ardent desire to start a band and travel around performing while doing book events
(3) I wrote the songs playing in the background of my book trailers specifically for each novel.
(4) I adore Asian food! (Indian and Thai are two of my favourites.)
(5) I am a bit obsessed with Youtube. Currently, l am addicted to the Shaytards. You should check them out!

Book Trailers

(1) Seers of Light

(2) Whispers of Light

Whisper of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Title: Whisper of Light
Author: Jennifer DeLucy
Series: Light Series #2 
Source: From Omnific Publishing
Format: E-book
Genre: Speculative - Paranormal Romance

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Jennifer DeLucy again plunges us into the world of lingering spirits, dark apparitions, and malicious vampires. But this time she takes us to the California coast where we get to know a new ensemble of gifted souls that are just as vibrant and endearing as the Sentients we came to love in Seers of Light. In Whisper of Light, DeLucy delivers exciting supernatural encounters as well as very human interactions that will both break your heart and make it soar.

There is nothing worse than living in a house full of sentient but knowing that you are not really part of them. You are just an ordinary girl – without any endowment, any extraordinary talent – and this means that you require protection from other sentient, being an unneeded burden to them when you and your group are in danger. This is how Nicole feels and this is the world that she lives in. What makes it worse is that, without the supernatural ability, her father sees her as a failure, as a nothing, as an embarrassment and pretty much determine to make her life a living hell. She has nowhere else to go. Her guilt over certain thing that happened in the past trapped her here, in this house, with an awful father and group of extraordinary people. Being here makes her realise how small, how worthless she really is.

Nevertheless, the arrival of a new Combatant, Christian Wright, to Wendell’s group lightens thing up a bit for Nicole. He treats her well and for the first time in her life, there is someone out there who sees and accepts her just the way she is. Christian, who initial purpose to join the group is to run away from the past that haunted him in Seers of Light (click the title for full review), begins to feel that there is something connects himself to Nicole. He starts letting himself to think that there is still possibility for him to find love, something he has stop believing in after what had happened in his old group. However, the self-consciousness and insecurity that get in the way proves that building this relationship is harder than it may seem. Whisper of Light is a book about a journey towards self-discovery and self-endurance. To move on is to let the past goes. The question is: Are they strong enough to make that happen?

I have to admit that when I knew Whisper of Light is not really a continuation of Lillian’s journey from Seers of Light, I was left sceptical and a little disappointed. The fact that Christian was not entirely my favourite in the previous book makes this feeling even worst. But soon as I started reading, I realised that the sequel might be different, but it is unique and interesting nonetheless. The author, Jennifer DeLucy, has masterfully creates a spin-off that lets readers view the personality of the characters from a totally distinct light. One of the things that I like most in this book is the change of scenery and atmosphere from the first instalment. This gives a new breath to Whisper of Light and it was so well-written that you feel as if you are really there with this group of Northwest sentient. What this book lack of, I think, is the amount of action. There are some small adventures here and there but none is as intense as found in Seers of Light. Still, what this book shorts of is made-up in its in-depth emotional tone, where there are number of parts so intense, so moving you cannot help but really feel for the characters.

The aspect that serves as the backbone of the book is indeed its row of well-developed casts. There are numbers of them in this book (in the whole series, in fact!) but it feels like the author managed to create each and every one of them with different personality and most important of all, purposes of their own. I truly admire the female lead in this book, Nicole, as she is such a strong-willed, sweet person yet have a very fragile heart at the same time. Her personality and situation are being described in a detail way till it is so easy to relate to her and understand her predicament. The change in Christian’s attitude is also remarkable, surprising and I found that my thought on him begins to change. So I think it would be interesting to see the further development in this character in the next instalment. The other thing that I really appreciate is the fact that DeLucy does not create the love interest between these two based on lust, but instead begins it with something far deeper and sweeter. The pace of this book is a little slow but I honestly feel that it suits the tone, the atmosphere and the theme just perfect.

As the conclusion, I feel that the number of distinctions between Whisper of Light and its predecessor make these books even more memorable in minds of the readers. If Seers of Light is filled with heart-pounding action and Whisper of Light is saturated with heart-warming love story, I really cannot wait to see what else Delucy has for us in store for the final book in the series. Such an astounding book that I thoroughly glad I got the chance to read. I believe you should too!

Favourite Quote: Will it always be your fault because you weren't obsessive enough, weren't fast enough, wise enough, strong enough? Just stop. Stop thinking that you need to be any more than what you already are - Nicole

Whisper of Light is surely a book that is full with rollercoaster ride that tangles readers and pulls them into its intricate, emotional journey in finding one-self, in gaining acceptance and in acquiring forgiveness along the way. Such a remarkable read and will certainly be one of the books that I'd always remember.

*This review is taking part in Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday

Seers of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Title: Seers of Light
Author: Jennifer DeLucy
Series: Light Series #1
Source: from Omnific Publishing
Format: Paperback
Genre: Speculative - Paranormal Romance

Synopsis (from book cover):

Lilian Hunt has never truly lived. Always sensing more to the world than is easily perceived, she fears that her instincts are stubborn flights of fancy, or worse, mental instability. But some things—disappearing strangers, tangible dreams, and visits from malevolent creatures—cannot be ignored. Before it's too late, Lillian is ripped from the only existence she’s ever known and thrust into a reality that she always suspected, but could scarcely believe. She must learn the truth about who she is, the powerful beings that wish to destroy her, and the two men who would die to protect her.

Being different is something that Lillian Hunt has gotten used to for her entire life. Growing up in the hands of her grandparents after her mother left and her father passed away, Lily often finds herself having trouble fitting in and socializing with those of her own age. However, when her dreams start becoming too real and she sees and hears things that are not really there, she begins to worry that she has indeed growing insane.

Everything changes when she suddenly encounters a danger during a walk in the wood and is saved by a young man, Christian, who later tells her that she is more than she leads herself to believe. She is then trusted into a world she never knows exist, world that previously belongs to her mother, the world where Sentients – gifted humans with special talents – exist to control the supernatural beings and help keeping the balance in the world. As Lily is apart of this Sentient’s world, she also has her own power that she must learn to control and use at certain circumstances. What sort of endowment that Lily possessed and how does the new community of Sentients that takes her in helps her to learn the power that she only now finds out she has all along?

Debut author, Jennifer DeLucy, has successfully created a very interesting, intense and well thought-out world that is similar to our own though filled with supernatural beings and humans with supernatural abilities. Seers of Light is indeed an intensifying read that takes me by surprise and completely blows my mind away. It starts off rather slow at first but the story builds up quickly after the background has been established. Another aspect of Seers of Light that startles me is the fact that it is dialogue-driven, which is something I’m not completely used to before. It is distracting at first but nonetheless; it tremendously helps in picturing the development and chemistry between characters a lot better.

Another interesting part of Seers of Light is its characters. There are quite a lot of them in this book and it is surprising to see that each and every one of them is multidimensional and has their own important, distinct and unique roles. Among them all, I feel that the most important characters are: (1) Lily – a likeable and practical character that knows what she wants and is able to handle any hardship that happens in her life, (2) Christian – the “Combatant” that rescued Lily in the wood is a very emotional character but there are reasons as to why he behaves that way and (3) William – a mysterious, attractive and interesting character that feels like he has no where in the world that he could fit in. It is very interesting to see the development of these three characters and the connection between them as the story goes on.

DeLucy has indeed created a novel that rich with terrifying mystery and astounding storyline, weaves with delicious, intricate romance. The ending of this book gives closure to readers while at the same time, opens the door to possible sequel, which I hope will be released in near future. All I can say about this novel is: I.Need.More!

Favourite Quote: Taking a step forward, I stood in the light, tilted my head back and closed my eyes. It held my face and wrapped its arms around my shoulders, and for the very first time, I let hope in – Lily Hunt

Enchanting and utterly refreshing, Seers of Light is indeed a must read especially to those who love paranormal romance. I don't think I've come across book such as this one before. Definitely an original read that I highly recommended!