Escape by Fiction: Blog Tour - Prodigal Son by Debra Mullins

Prodigal Son by Debra Mullins

My rating: 4/5

DRC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Published: 10.3.13

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary –

Prodigal Son—the new paranormal romance from acclaimed historical romance author Debra Mullins

Bounty hunter Rafe Montana is a Seer, descended from the fabled Atlanteans. He uses his inherited power to “see” criminals across the globe and track them down, and he’s just started on a new case. Danny Cangialosi is accused of disappearing with a stolen car…but for the first time in his life, when Rafe goes looking, he is unable to “see” him. Instead, his search leads him to Danny’s stubborn, meddling, and very cute stepsister, Cara McGaffigan.

Cara is looking for Danny, too, but not to turn him in. He is her brother, after all, and she’s convinced he has a good heart. If she can just find him before the cops do, she’ll figure out a way to get him out of this. But Cara didn’t count on a scorching-hot bounty hunter getting in her way.

Despite instant chemistry, Rafe and Cara know they’re never going to see eye-to-eye when it comes to Danny. What they don’t know is that Danny didn’t just steal a car—he stole a precious stone, a stone right out of the legends of Atlantis. It holds powers they can only dream of…and its owner wants it back. (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

I liked this unique spin on Atlantis and the paranormal world. It's hot, action packed and an all around great read.

Rafe is a formidable character. He's loyal, fierce and wicked hot. His abilities are interesting and I think it's cool how he learns about himself and heritage in throughout the story. Cara is also interesting in her own way. She loves her brother and will do anything to save Danny's ass from his next big scam. She's the most realistic character when it comes to the big “I'm a lot different” reveal. I only wish she would really see her brother for who he is. I think the two of them make a great pair. Their chemistry is tense and so are their lovin' scenes.

I 'd like to read more of this series. I'm extremely curious about Adrian Gray – so mysterious and badass. I wonder also if we'll get to see any of Atlantis. Magnificent start to a series – excellent job Ms. Mullins!!

Thank you Debra for taking time to answer my questions:) I wish you much success with your new series and with future writing!!

Debra Mullins is the author of thirteen historical romances for Avon Books and one paranormal romance for Tor/Forge. Her books have been translated into several languages and nominated for awards from both the magazine RT Book Reviews and Romance Writers of America and its chapters, including the Golden Heart, the RITA, the Holt Medallion (twice), the Book Buyer’s Best Award, and the National Readers Choice Award. She also won the Golden Leaf Award for Best Historical for her book, A NECESSARY BRIDE.

Debra has spoken at various RWA chapter meetings, as well as the national RWA conference, the Liberty States Fiction Writers conference and the Emerald City Writers’ Conference in Seattle. In August 2009, she gave a full day special event for the Orange County chapter of Romance Writers of America with author Charlotte Carter, where she spoke on the topics of character and conflict.

Born and raised in the New York/New Jersey area, Debra now lives in California and has been actively writing for over twenty years. A language nerd, she could speak four languages by the time she graduated high school. At age 16, she went to France on a student exchange program for a summer. By the time she came home to the U.S., she was dreaming in French.

She is currently finishing a paranormal trilogy for Tor/Forge. The first book, PRODIGAL SON, is due out in October 2013. Debra is a member of Novelists Inc., Liberty States Fiction Writers, and several chapters of RWA. You can find her on Twitter using @debramullins and on the web at www.debramullins.com.

1. Are any of the situations/characters based on someone you know/events in your own life?

Writers are sponges, and we absorb everything around us. I may be inspired to write a character based on something that happened in real life as a way to express my feelings about it. Example: my heroine is from New Jersey, and she comes to Vegas looking for her missing stepbrother. Her reactions to the very different west coast landscape and lifestyle reflect on what I felt when I moved to California from New Jersey several years ago.

2. Do you ever experience writer's block?

Writer's block just means that your story is either 1.) not ready or 2.) going in the wrong direction. It usually indicates you need to do some more thinking.

3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

This is my first paranormal romance, and I discovered it takes me twice as long to write it than my historical romances did, mostly because I am essentially writing two books: a paranormal story and a romance.

4. What book are you reading now?

TAKEN IN DEATH by J.D. Robb. It's in the Mirror, Mirror anthology.

5. What types of books do you normally like to read?
Mostly romance, especially paranormal, historical or romantic suspense. I also read some fantasy.

6. What kind of environment do you prefer to write in (quite, coffee shop, music playing, daytime, vampire hours, etc.)?

I have an office at home with a door. When writing at home, I need my headphones with music to drown out the sounds of the house. This way I am able to forget that someone might come looking for me (husband, kids, etc.). If I go to a coffee shop to get work done, I don't need music. I can get lost in my story because I know no one is going to bother me. I do my best writing early in the morning before anyone gets up (or before Starbucks gets too crowded!).

7. What’s next? Will it be a continuation of Rafe and Cara’s story or will it be about someone else?

I am finishing book two of the trilogy. This one is about Rafe's brother Darius. We do see Rafe and Cara again. The third book is going to be about Tessa and, you guessed it, Adrian Gray.

8. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I’d make it easier to write! Seriously, I'm pretty happy with how it came out, considering it's the first contemporary I've ever written. I have 13 historical romances on my resume.

9. Did you learn anything from writing your book? If so, what was it?

I always learn something when I write a book, whether it's about my own process or some cool fact from the research. This was a process learning experience for me, most notably that it takes me twice as long to finish a paranormal than a historical.

10. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I've been percolating this book in the back of my mind ever since I was in high school, but this was my first chance to write it. I hope you enjoy my take on Atlantis.

Here's a little taste of Prodigal Son:

She started to slide the key in the lock, then paused. The door wasn’t quite closed. It stood open a crack.

Had Danny come home? She nearly bolted through the door, then paused. What if it was someone else? Someone who was after Danny? As quietly as she could, she reached into her purse and pulled out the pepper spray that she had shoved in the bag before heading over. Fingers trembling, she eased open the door and silently stepped into the living room.

A man stood by the answering machine listening to Danny’s messages. Half of them were from her, and it was weird hearing her own voice pleading with Danny to pick up the phone, to call. Luckily the intruder was busy listening, fast forwarding, listening again, so the hushed whisper of her approach appeared to escape him. He had his back to her, a tall guy with powerful shoulders in a khaki- colored shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing tanned, solid forearms. His hair was dark brown, and he wore jeans and black boots. From the trim rear end and the flex of his back muscles beneath the shirt, he looked to be in really great shape. Which meant he might be fast, might be strong. She made a note to stay out of arm’s reach as she lifted the little can and pointed it at him.

“That’s not necessary,” he said without turning his head.

She blinked in surprise, then steadied. “Turn around.”

He obeyed slowly, hands spread at mid- chest. “Cara, right?”

She didn’t know what surprised her more, that he knew her name or the jolt of stark attraction that nearly knocked her off her feet when she caught sight of his face.

Piercing cobalt eyes, sharp with intelligence, seemed to look right through her. Strong nose, bladelike cheekbones— Native American in there somewhere, she decided— and a mouth that swept into a wicked grin à la Dennis Quaid. He had a great tan, so he either lived in a tanning salon or was a Vegas native.

“Who are you?” she demanded. “What are you doing here?”

“My name is Rafe Montana. I’m looking for Danny. I’m a bail enforcement agent.” At her blank look, he qualified. “A bounty hunter.”