Family: The Ties That Kill - #BeNotorious Blog Tour Day One

Family: The Ties That Kill - #BeNotorious Blog Tour Day One

Welcome to Day One of the #BeNotorious Blog Tour! We are revving up to the release of the highly anticipated sequel of Katie Jennings’ family drama When Empires Fall, aptly named Rise of the Notorious!

Follow along on this notorious blog tour from April 2^nd till release day on April 23^rd, and be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win some AMAZING prizes!

Today’s stop is an introduction to the Vasser Hotel family and the killer tale detailing both their fall from grace and their daring rise to infamy. Enjoy!

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“Family may be the ties that bind, but When Empires Fall, they are the ties that kill…”

Truer words have never been spoken…especially if you’re a member of the prestigious Vasser Hotel family. For them, murder runs in the blood; ambitious and cold, and oh so cruel.

Step inside a world where champagne flows freely, luxury comes standard, and glorious Manhattan pulsates all around you with the rich, the famous, and the damned. Amidst it all, the illustrious Vasser Hotel stands as a beacon of extravagance, a century old and a staple to the Upper East Side.

In When Empires Fall, meet the Vasser family. On the outside, they appear untouchable. Nothing and no one can tarnish the prestige they have spent over a hundred years cementing into the very fabric of their infamous name.

That is, until a horrific event from their past, a suspected suicide of one of their own, is revealed to have been cold-blooded murder. What’s a family to do but get justice?

Alas, rarely is such a thing so easy.

They will have to fight tooth and nail against accusations that the killer is one of their own, not some outsider intent on hurting the family. And when they find out that this isn’t the killer’s first murder, things really get interesting.

But who are the Vassers, and what makes their story, one of fiery passion, scandal, and deception, so unique?

The three main characters are siblings, Grant, Linc, and Madison, who run the New York Vasser Hotel. Meet them, and the rest of the family, below:

 “Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, and we are for the dark.”

The Vasser family’s story continues on in the sequel, Rise of the Notorious. Theirs was a story much too elaborate to confine to just one novel…and the killer drama only heats up ten-fold in the sequel.

After dealing with attacks on their good name, business, and personal reputations, Grant, Linc, and Madison now find themselves in a war against not only the hungry and insatiable press, but several key enemies hell bent on ruining the family.

Only, the enemies they know about are nothing compared to the enemies waiting in the shadows. What will become of the Vasser family as they struggle to rise from the ashes of their own destruction? They may just learn some valuable lessons on who to trust, and who to destroy.

Madison takes the forefront, placing herself in the public eye in an attempt to showcase the Vasser family’s graciousness and strength. It’ll take every last innovative and courageous bone in her body to make sure her family’s legacy survives.

That is, if she and her family members can survive themselves, first.

Praise for The Vasser Legacy:

“A modern day epic in the tradition of Gone With The Wind…” -J.L. Firestone, author

“Exhilarating and fresh… Jennings masterfully weaves an intricate web of deception and lies…When Empires Fall is not as much a story about the rich as it is a story about human character.” -Cristian Mihai, author/blogger

“Deliciously distracting! A complex tale of family betrayal and false appearances.” -Elizabeth Wright, reviewer with BestChickLit.com

“The story is well developed and moves at a great pace but Katie Jennings' real talent lies in her ability to develop fascinating and compelling characters.” -Martha Bryce, book blogger

Rise of the Notorious

By International Bestselling Author

Katie Jennings

Coming April 23, 2013

Click HERE to Enter the Giveaway!

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Meet Katie Jennings…

International bestselling Author Katie Jennings is the author of six full length novels, including the popular fantasy series The Dryad Quartet as well as the bestselling family drama series The Vasser Legacy.

She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband and cat, who both think she’s the biggest nerd ever. She’s a firm believer in happy endings and loves nothing more than a great romance novel.

You can find out more about Katie on her official website, www.katieajennings.com. 

Consumed

Consumed, Book Four of Origins of the Supernaturals

Kindle
Nook

For three hundred years I lived with Stephan; learning about the culture forced upon me, growing as a pyrokinetic vampire and healing from Mneseus' century of abuse. Before Stephan's guidance and direction, I was an empty shell. His kindness, compassion and just beliefs showed me that there could be a life without pain. Over time, I learned to love again. Foolishly I believed Stephan and I would be partners, comfortable and content with out half-life for eternity.

Then She came and ruined it.

I left them to find a place I could spend the rest of my lonely years. Mneseus' last words reverberated through the centuries, reminding me, I wasn't worthy of love. It would be now, when I finally resigned myself to an eternity of solitude, that I would find it.

Logan was everything I'd ever needed in a man, with one fatal flaw. Could I look past that, risking my heart, my future and his very life to be with him? Was love truly enough?

Created

Created, Book Three of Origins of the Supernaturals

Kindle
Nook

Four hundred years ago, my life was destroyed. Everything I knew and loved was obliterated as my powers surged for the first time. My family, my home and my life were taken from me, in flames.

I was transformed against my will into an abomination, a dizzien of hell to forever walk the night, a vampire. For four hundred years I've walked this earth, the painful screams of my family a constant reminder of the monster I am.

I've never known love, or the gentle touch of a man. The only respite from the agony of my existence was the three hundred years spent with Stephan. Although, once She came, I was again tossed aside, shunned and ignored.

Never again!

I'm done with being condemned, suffering for the consequences of something I didn't know I was capable of. It's time I lived.

My name is Victoria, and this is my story. 

Changed

Changed, Book Two of Origins of the Supernaturals

Kindle
Nook

Vampires, Shape shifters, Necromancers, Supernatural Hunters - I sat in awe listening as Stephan, leader of the Vampire clans, told me about their culture. I'm glad he waited until now to tell me. I didn't believe the unbelievable was possible until I was mated to a powerful Shape shifter three months ago. After that, all sorts of crazy things started happening to me.

I've got to say, I'm a believer now.

Choice

Choice, Book One of Origins of the Supernaturals

Kindle
Nook

It was chance, guided by the hands of a god that brought them together. Would their choice bind them, or be the cause of their destruction?

Natasha never believed that the fairy tales she read to her niece about supernatural beings were real. She read them to give her niece hope. She, herself, had all but given up on love, until the fateful day when she went scuba diving in the Bermuda Triangle and was thrust into a culture of people that’d change her life forever.

On a legendary island, she meets Raif, the shape shifting Warrior Chief of Atlantis, and her soul mate. Their attraction is instant, powerful and foretold by an oracle, centuries before Natasha was born. She struggles with the attraction, unwilling to believe in soul mates, and fraught with the desire to return to the surface where she can continue her monotonous life, free from the intense and confusing emotions she feels around Raif.

All his life, Raif’s searched for her. To have finally found her after so long, is a dream come true. Trouble is; this dream’s more of a nightmare that he can’t seem to find a way out of than the haven it’s supposed to be. His people have become complacent, and her arrival is the beginning of fulfilling an ancient prophesy; a prophesy that not too many are willing to see fulfilled, least of all, his king.

Together they’re faced with the most difficult choice of their lives: doom a hidden, mythical culture to eternal segregation, or sacrifice their love to reunite Atlantis with the rest of the world?

snow

To those of you who follow me should already know my views on snow. I love to look at it, but HATE driving in it.
That being said, I do understand the importance of the cold, wet stuff to our climate. We need it in order to have things grow and to keep the plants moist during the hot, dry summer. We haven't had nearly enough snow this winter. Heck, it's barely made it into being cold this winter! I've actually had the AC on a few days in January!!! That's crazy!
I keep hearing my friends whine and complain about the buckets and buckets of snow falling onto their yards, canceling school and work because of the hazardous weather, and all I can think of is, "send it to me!!!" I don't want to have to deal with the horrific fires this summer. I'll take ALL of the snow that has you so bothered and while I may gripe a bit, I'll appreciate every drop that falls from the sky.

The Writing World: #Interview with Jean Booth

The Writing World: #Interview with Jean Booth

Changes in life

I never thought following your dreams and doing what it is you love to do would be so scary. I guess I always envisioned the moment when one found what they're passionate about to open a door to instant success. Not necessarily extreme wealth, but satisfaction, ease, and success with whatever it is one is passionate about. For example: Let's say you love to sew. You love making things for people, creating new designs and are good at it. In my mind I always thought that doors would open for you, you'd get contracts and have your clothing sold in stores, online and even worn on the red carpet. It'd be easy, flawless, comfortable.
No one ever mentioned fear.
I've been working at being a professional writer now for 2.5 years. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a long time. Some days it feels like forever though. I've discovered a TON about myself during this process and have realized my passion. I love writing. I love absolutely everything about it. I've found others who share my passion, either through writing or reading what I've written. I've also discovered how insecure I am. I thought I was a strong person who didn't give a rats behind about what anyone thought of her, but I'm not. I care. Deeply.
I'm getting to the point that I've been working on for two years now and it scares the absolute crap out of me. I've gotten an excellent opportunity in a writing avenue. An opportunity that will open me up to have more flexibility with my writing as well as to work from home, away from the structure of bureaucracy that I hate. I'm beyond excited for this opportunity, but scared to death to leave the security of the job I've had for years. The job I hate. The job that stresses me out so much I've had hives for two years; where I know, if I stay, I'll end up having a coronary before I reach 40. I want to leave. I'm thrilled to be able to leave. It scares the absolute crap out of me.
I always tell people who are in my position to have faith. Trust in God or whatever higher power you believe in to have your back, that everything will be okay. Why is it so hard to follow my own advice? Why is following your dreams so terrifying? Shouldn't doing what you love and loving what you do be the thing you're working to achieve? Shouldn't that be a dream come true, instead of inspiring terror?
Sigh.
Good things are happening, I'm beyond excited about what the future holds, I just have to learn to let go of the fear. Thank you for your love and support over the years. I look forward to many years ahead with you. :)

A grumpy patient

As you may or may not be aware of, I work in a locked psych institute. I hate it. I want nothing more in my life than to just be able to write for a living.
That being said, I had an interesting patient last night. This person is supposedly ex military with a pain med issue. (I say supposedly because it's sometimes difficult to judge reality with people, this person could just be REALLY obsessed with Call of Duty. The pain med issue is that this person doesn't get enough to drool all over them self.)
This person woke up from a nightmare and cussed out the nurses and myself for not giving out pain meds like candy. The med nurse got really upset and yelled right back at this patient. The patient then said, "Fuck you! You don't understand my pain! You've never been in combat!"
Here's where I get annoyed. First of all, how do you know the nurse hasn't been in combat? You don't even know his name, let alone any information about him. Secondly, do I have to have been in combat to know how traumatic that is? Really? I can't imagine or sympathize with your pain based on my personal history, which you know nothing about, and empathize with you based on your words, actions and my understanding? That's not possible? I'd have to have been next to you, to understand?
My how this patient's attitude changed when the nurse explained that he'd been 18 during the Vietnam War.
Don't presume to judge others because you have no idea what they've lived through. I've watched people die. I've created life and watched as it was literally flushed away. I know pain. It may not be your exact pain, but I understand what it's like to have life shatter in your very hands.
That mentality drives me batty. Then I remember I work in a locked psych institute. Most of the people there barely have the ability to cope with day to day life, let alone are able to grasp the social understanding that life doesn't revolve around you and that you're not that unique.
Sorry, I'm venting today. I hope you're day is filled with positivity, love and the ability to show someone they're important, for even just a moment. <3