Please Welcome Kiki Howell and Aubrey Griffen!

Today, Veronica's Tales is delighted to welcome Aubrey Griffen, star of Kiki Howell's historic-paranormal romance to the roster of interesting and intriguing romantic suspense characters who will continue to visit us during the All Romantic Suspense Blog Tour. 

Take it away, Aubrey.

What is Torn Asunder about? I dare say, much. Fraught with explicit intimacy, romantic spells and mystical shapeshifting, Torn Asunder is a unique blending of the age of manners with sexual magic.

What did you think the first time you saw Edmund Bryant? The idea of love at first sight came to mind, and with that, I fear, my ability for rational thinking gave way.

What was your second thought? I wanted to flee the room when I looked into his dark eyes. It was more like a premonition, I think. His eyes were so haunted and hungry that I feared I would become his prey.

What do you like most about Edmund? I don’t know if I could say, there was just a connection made. My heart beat at a frantic, uneven pace like a horse racing over shoddy roads.

How would you describe him? He had fine manners and a tempestuous form. He was an odd mix of refined and rugged.

How would he describe you? I remember it like it was yesterday. He said he was caught by my beauty from across the room and could not wait his turn in meeting me.

What made you choose to come to London? I came to live with my cousins under the guise of being immersed into proper society. Yet, the real reason was to study magic with Lord and Lady Sanderly. We are descendants of the notorious Pendle witches.

What is your biggest fear? Being caught as a witch. The witch hunts in England didn’t end all that long ago. I would not want to give rise to them again.

How do you relax? I am truly a bluestocking lady. Though I use it as a guise for my studies of magic, I do love to read a good book. I read anything from Hester Chapone’s “Letters on the Improvement of the Mind” to Mary Shelley’s “Love of Poets.”

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? To believe in myself and my skills. I would never use my gifts for harm as some who practice black magic do.

A question for Kiki while she's here with us: What books or movies have had an impact on your writing?

I write paranormal romances, so I guess I would have to say that some of my favorites had an impact, or were inspiration to write my own. The novel in particular, with the mix of a Regency-set historical and a para-normal romance, although it was vampires rather than witches, Teresa Medeiros Cabot sisters series, “After Midnight” and “The Vampire Who Loved Me” had me engrossed. I just had to try my hand at combining the genres.

Torn Asunder

Kiki Howell spins a wonderful tale of passion, magic, betrayal, and a love that conquers all. Enjoy."  ~NY Times Bestselling Author, Hannah Howell

Blurb: Aubrey Griffen is a witch whose true reasons for coming to London soon fall to the wayside when she catches the eye of Edmund Bryant, the Marquess of Dalysbury.  He seduces her into a whirlwind romance until the lies and threats of his mother force her to flee to Triaill Brimuir, a secret island of her ancestors off the coast of Ireland. Edmund goes after her only to be hit by Aubrey’s confusion and anger when she magically transforms him into an elemental beast of her own creation.   

However, it is when Edmund’s lust mysteriously turns him back into a man that the couple are forced to deal with a family secret and untold of powers.  Now, Edmund must learn to shift himself into the beast in order to save her in a battle of black verses white magic. 

Fraught with scenes of explicit intimacy, romantic spells and mystical shapeshifting, Torn Asunder is a unique blending of the age of manners with sexual magic.

Genres: Historical (Regency), Paranormal (Witches & Shifters), Erotic, Romantic Suspense

Adult Content Warnings: Explicit Graphic Language, Violence

Novel Coming January 14th, 2011 in eBook and Trade Paperback online at all major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks, etc. or purchase at Excessica Publishing.

Author Website http://www.kikihowell.com

More Advanced Praise for Torn Asunder:

Kiki Howell I feel has a major hit on her hands with Torn Asunder. I was so glued to this book that I was up til 4AM reading it, and mind you, I had to be up at 7AM to see my kiddies off to school....lol. I was just so captivated by the story of Aubrey and her love Edmund. They are drawn together by an unseen force that unites this couple body and soul. You would think that would be a good book to read but lets add witches, shapeshifting, white and black magic, a despicable mother, and a malevolent father to the mix. That is the story I had the very great pleasure of reading. It seemed at every turn our fated couple had more than there fair share of obstacles to over come…In between all the chaos our couple must endure is the most breath taking love story. Think Romeo and Juliet without them both dying at the end....lol. Their hearts and minds are linked for all time by an unforeseen connection that real couples only dream of. After reading this story you truly believe in soul mates and that love conquers all. On a scale of 1-10 I give this book a 10 and encourage everyone 18 and over to get a copy of this book and fall under Aubrey and Emund's spell. It is so worth the ride. 

~5 out of 5 Stars,  Review by Raquel Vega-Grieder for Sinfully Tasty Reads

 “Torn Asunder is what a Regency novel should be.  Prior to this book, I have never had a historical romance keep my interest for more than a chapter or two.  Kiki Howell has written a historical novel that sings.  
   In Torn Asunder, Ms. Howell carefully spices her text with appropriate language, but does not go overboard.  She lets the language flavor the story, instead of overpowering it.  Her love for the time period is reflected in every part of the story, from the vivid characters to the clear imagery of her settings.  
  I give Torn Asunder five of five hearts.”  ~D. Alexx Miller, Book Reviewer for Romance in the Backseat