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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Interview and Giveaway Rain Trilogy by Karen-Anne Stewart

Description: 18+

Raina has tried to forget her past, forget the pain, but when she finds herself staring straight into the fury blazing in her ex-boyfriend's eyes, her dark past comes rushing back. Furious with herself for actually having chosen someone like her father, she uses that anger to her advantage and fights for her life...and for her future that she prays will involve the man she can't seem to get out of her head. Kas is a natural leader, a fierce fighter, the type of man you send in when you need to get the job done. He is a courageous hero who is used to risking his own life to save others, but can he save the one who has captured his heart from her horrific past and the men who are hell-bent on destroying her? As Kas and Raina try to navigate through the twists and turns of a deviously intelligent human trafficking group, they find solace in each other's arms. Can they infiltrate the trafficker's tight ring, saving the innocent lives from imminent danger before it's too late?

Written primarily in 3rd person POV.

Shattered when Raina runs after his marriage proposal, Kas is hell-bent to find her and bring her home, where she belongs. He will bend every law necessary to do so, willing to do anything to protect Raina from her demons and the men who haunt her, going as far as placing his career and life on the line to save hers. Raina will give up everything she has worked so hard to achieve, even flee the country to keep Kas from the wrath and powerful reach of her abusive father.
In the midst of the FBI team closing in on the Ghost, another ghost from Raina's past taunts her, promising that she will be his. Meanwhile, a different trafficking ring is gaining strength in New Jersey. Michael solicits Raina's help, needing her smooth, sultry voice to win the audition for the new singer in the ring leader's swanky night club. Raina knows her life is in jeopardy with the dangers of being undercover, but she is blindsided when she discovers that it's her heart that is threatened with a mortal blow. 
Raina tries to heal from the nightmares of her dark past as the grisly bodies of innocent victims surface when the team gets closer to discovering the identity of the man responsible for the infuriatingly clever and powerful slavery ring. When Raina finally comes face to face with the Ghost, he quickly engulfs her in a twisted game of cat and mouse, delivering a veiled threat as he slips through her fingers. As the ghosts of her past and present ensnare her in their deadly web, Raina realizes the danger has just begun.

Finally able to put her harrowing past to rest, Raina looks forward to her future with Kas, but the Ghost has other plans. As the FBI team gets closer to taking down the largest human trafficking ring in the modern world, the Ghost begins a wicked game, making Raina the pawn and the target. Never before encountering a worthy adversary, he's fascinated by Raina and is enjoying the refreshing challenge of her intellect. 

The danger ignites to a blazing new level, and Kas struggles between the need to finally exorcise the Ghost and his need to protect his wife. Tension mounts as an internal battle wages, tormenting Kas as he watches Raina put her all into taking down the man responsible for horrific sex slavery and gruesome deaths. When a new player takes control, Jefferson orders the end of the Ghost's game with Raina, which results in one final, devastating act, leaving Kas desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to save her...by whatever means necessary.

MB's INTERVIEW
Thank you, Mrs.Karen-Anne Stewart
What does it take to transform some horrific issues into a great story?
Thank you for having me today!  The Rain Trilogy is a powerful story of abuse, human trafficking, and beautiful redeeming love with some very dark issues.  I tried to be sensitive with the trafficking scenes while still giving an idea of the depravity of what the survivors went through.  When I began writing my debut novel, Saving Rain, I knew I wanted to write a romance but I wanted it to mean more.  Raina had a horrific childhood but she chose to throw herself into positive avenues and is such a strong character despite her fears and emotional scars.  Kas’ love for Raina is my favorite part of the series.  He’s hell-bent on helping her heal and giving her the love she deserves, his love. 

Is there an ideal type of heroine in romantic suspense as the book is classified? What that could be in general and how is Raina?
Raina lived through hell growing up and ended up with an abusive boyfriend, but she is a fighter and does her best to overcome all she’s been through.  She is full of compassion and forgiveness but stands her ground when she believes in something, no matter what it takes from herself.  Raina throws herself into tracking the handlers forcing women and children into sex-slavery, taking on the elusive Ghost throughout the trilogy, which leads her into a deadly game with an explosive end. 

It’s obvious that Rain comes from Raina. But there is another significance of the name / title?
Rain is both healing and destructive, a powerful force of nature.  The character, Raina, has these qualities as well, even though she doesn’t see them at first.  She will risk her own life to save others and through her courage and determination, she ends up kicking some butt at the end. 

How the endings of books part of a series as Rain should be? (How and why do you choose them?)
Saving Rain and Healing Rain do end in cliff hangers, so I’m forewarning all the readers out there ahead of time ;).  With that said, I swear that I wrap up the final novel nicely and all three are available now, so no having to wait to find out what happens!

FBI, organized crime groups… how important is for the story to keep the realism of the events?
All of the events in The Rain Trilogy are fiction, however, the issues are, sadly, very real.  Human trafficking is growing at an alarming rate and is increasingly becoming a very lucrative business for organized crime.  There are many amazing sites out there that I strongly encourage readers to check out about human trafficking.  Throughout my research, the Polaris Project became close to my heart.  The link to Polaris is on my website, www.karen-annestewart.com.  The Human Trafficking Hotline is in the back of all three novels in The Rain Trilogy. 

Thanks again for having me!  A huge thanks to all the readers; I hope you fall in love with Kas and Raina!

About the author:
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen in love with writing. Her written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards and is a nominee for the 2013 RONE Awards.

When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.

Author's Giveaway
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4 comments:

Giselle said...

Great interview, ladies! And thanks for being on the tour! :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the interview and for allowing me on your great site today!!!

Karen-Anne

Unknown said...

I love the covers :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Teodora! I found them all on Thinkstock and really loved them as well :)

Karen-Anne