Name of book: Determinant (The Guardians of Vesturon: Book 3)
Author: A. M. Hargrove
Publication Date: June 30th, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the author...
January St. Davis, on her own since the age of sixteen and struggling to stay in college, thinks she’s scored in a major way when she lands a paid summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. One evening, after working an especially long shift, a chance encounter with a group of mysterious men alters the course of her life.
Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon with unearthly powers and impossibly gorgeous looks, finds himself at odds over the human female he recently saved from certain death. When it seems he is on the verge of winning her over, she is ripped from his hands by a strange and powerful being, threatening to destroy her if his demands are not met.
Do Rykerian and the Guardians have the ability to meet this fierce barbarian’s ultimatums, or will January suffer a horrid demise?
Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon with unearthly powers and impossibly gorgeous looks, finds himself at odds over the human female he recently saved from certain death. When it seems he is on the verge of winning her over, she is ripped from his hands by a strange and powerful being, threatening to destroy her if his demands are not met.
Do Rykerian and the Guardians have the ability to meet this fierce barbarian’s ultimatums, or will January suffer a horrid demise?
-- My Rating --
-- My Thoughts --
Well, this is the third book in the series, Guardians of Versturon, but as the author stated, it can be read as a standalone. Although it wasn't required, I decided to read the first two books (Check out my reviews here and here). I liked this book very much, and I wonder whether I would have liked it that much if I didn't read the first two books. So you might want to give them a try then read this! Fortunately, the first book, Survival is free on Smashwords (Download it here), and the second book, Resurrections is only a few bucks (Buy it here).
So, the first two books were from Maddie and Rayn's point of views. But although this book picks up where Resurrection left off, it is from Rykerian and January's point of views. Which is very enjoyable and humerous.
January is having a difficult life; her mother threw her out of the house, she doesn't know who her father is, and she doesn't have any money. Because of how much she has been through, she doesn't believe in relationships, or love or happiness. But all that changes when she meets six strangely-dressed men in the facility where she works.
Rykerian is Rayn's brother. He has everything he needs and his life is good, but if only he can forget the beautiful young girl he saw near his house. When Rykerian saves January's life,a blazing spark forms between the two. Rykerian finally has the chance to win her over, but she is suddenly taken away from him by an unknown being who threatens to kill her if his demands are not met.
Will January let go of her past, and give Rykerian a chance? Will Rykerian be able to resue January from her abductor? Find out this and much more when you read Determinant. Which is an incredibly romantic, exhilarating read.
Although I didn't like the first two books very much, this book was the total opposite... To say I loved it, is a huge understatement. The plot is much more quicker, you will just swim with the flow. Although the setting is the same, it is throughoutly explained and detailed. And the characters will take your breath away!
I don't know why, but I wish that the first two books were also about Janurary and Rykerian. I loved both of them. January has been through so much, but she is willing to change everything she has believed to get a chance at real love. Rykerian is just the perfect dream boy, protective, caring, strong-willed and overly sensitive. I am head over heels in love with Rykerian, you better not ask me what I will do to him if he is real!
This book is a lovely roller coaster, full of unexpected twists and turns. If you are willing to refresh your views on true love, then you better not miss reading Determinant!
-- Interview with A. M. Hargrove --
Me: Hello, and welcome to my blog. We are very happy to have you here. First of all, where and when did you get the idea for this book?
Ms. Hargrove: Determinant is the 3rd book in my series, The Guardians of Vesturon. When I’m writing, it seems that the inspiration for my next book sort of pops into my head. That’s what happened for Determinant. While I was writing Resurrection, I was writing a scene involving Rykerian and Maddie and the whole idea for Determinant just started forming in my head. I actually had it playing out so much I wanted to hurry up and finish Resurrection so I could start on Determinant. Ironically, the same thing happened while I was writing Determinant. The idea for my next project began forming based on a new character that I introduced.
Me: Did anyone encourage you to write the book?
Ms. Hargrove: My husband encouraged me to start writing the first book. I was sort of trying to figure out what to do. I’d lost my job--the company I had been with for over 20 years was bought out by another and nearly everyone in my division was released--and I was searching for a new direction. I had always loved to write; I minored in journalism in college and had always dreamed of writing a novel some day.
Me: Which character do you relate the most to , i.e. which character has more "you" in it?
Ms. Hargrove: Definitely Rayn! I’m strong-willed, demanding and bossy at times. Just ask my husband *winks* I would be the one that would take control in an emergency situation and start telling everyone what to do.
Me: What is your favorite scene in the book?
Ms. Hargrove: In Determinant, my favorite scene (spoiler alert) was when January goes into labor and Rykerian, who is normally so calm and put together, totally loses it and is running through the house in his boxers. I’ve had so many readers write to me telling me how much they laughed at that scene because it was so out of character for Rykerian. It catches the readers off guard.
Me: Great choice, I was laughing so hard at that part... Do you have any new works on the way? Maybe you will give us some hints?
Ms. Hargrove: Of course! I am in the process of working on getting all my books in print. Up to now, they’ve only been available in ebook. And I’m also getting ready to start writing my first book in my next series. It’s a series based on Jurek, whom I introduced in Determinant. It will be called The Praestani series and will be in the adult genre because when you read Determinant you will find that Jurek is such an irreverant sort, he would never be able to be written as the main male character in the YA genre. Right now, I think it will be a trilogy, but it may pan out to be more that than.
Me : Oh great, I loved Jurek. Now for some quick Q & A
Hot drinks or cold drinks?
Ms. Hargrove: Cold in summer and hot in winter.
Me: Paperbacks or e-books?
Ms. Hargrove: Ebooks...totally addicted to my iPad. I can’t seem to help myself. I’m a troubled woman.
Me: Reading inside or in the garden (outside)?
Ms. Hargrove: Since it was 90 degrees at 8 am I would say inside.
Me: Your favourite book?
Ms. Hargrove: This is the worst question I ever get asked because I change with the direction of the wind. If you ask me this next week, my answer will be different. But, at the risk of sounding cliche, I still love Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austin was like a sorcerer weaving her spells when she wrote that book and I can’t help be affected by her words every time I read it. But for todays books, there are simply too many to name.
Me: Favorite kind of music?
Ms. Hargrove: Another difficult question. If you’d see my playlist, you’d know why. I have everything from opera to classical to alternative to metal to rap. I can’t narrow it down because I like so many different genres. I drive my husband absolutely crazy. He won’t even listen to my iPod anymore because you never know what’ll start playing!
Me: Birds, Cats, or Dogs? Just curious...
Ms. Hargrove: Dogs and dogs and more dogs. Love ‘em and can’t live without ‘em.
Me: Thank you very much for being here with us today, do you have any last words?
Ms. Hargrove: Thanks so much for inviting me here today. It’s been so much fun. I did want to remind all the readers out there that Survival, the first book in my series is free everywhere, as is Beginnings, which is the prequel novella (but doesn’t have to be read before the series). I would also like to say that Determinant is a stand alone novel, even though it is the 3rd book in the series, it can be read without reading books one and two.
-- About The Author --
One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life.
So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.
Boss: Hello
A.M.: Boss, is that you?
Boss: Why yes, A. M., who else would be answering my phone?
A.M.: Er... right. Well, I'm calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.
Boss: Why ever would I want to do that?
A.M.: Because I quit!
A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.
A.M.: Hi hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?
Hubs: Sure... Having some car trouble?
A.M.: Not at all. I don't have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.
Hubs: WHAT?!
A.M.: It's time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.
So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a young adult paranormal romance author of self-published ebooks. Her series, The Guardians of Vesturon, centers around a family of six siblings and is a mix of humor, mystery, suspense and of course, love. Survival and Resurrection are her first and second full length novels in the series and Beginnings is the prequel novella. Her third installment, Determinant, was released on June 30, 2012. (It didn’t happen exactly like that, but you get the idea!)
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Soma, thank you so much for such an awesome post! Thanks for allowing me to be a guest on your wonderful blog but thanks for the incredible review of Determinant. If I had to choose, I would say it is my favorite in the series as well. I had so much fun writing it, especially introducing Jurek into the mix of characters. Thanks again, Soma, and I hope to see you around in the world of books!
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Thanks for stopping by Ms. Hargrove, honored by your comment!
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