Ember by Madison Daniel. Book Review, Author Interview. Teaser.

Love never dies...but it can kill.

Ember is the story of Max Valentine, a teenager with secret abilities and many inner demons. His life revolves around music and his love for it. When his father dies he seeks answers with his last living relative, his fathers brother Frank. Frank lives on the island of Maui and eagerly takes Max in as his own. Max soon learns that healing his past will be more difficult than he could have ever believed. Two major complications will tempt and torment him as he tries to make sense of his abilities.

The first temptation comes in the form of a mysterious island girl. Asia Lyn Michaels is rich, spoiled, angry and beautiful. Her path crosses with Max on the beach one afternoon, forever changing both of their lives. Max saves her life and she discovers his secret. From that moment on they are connected, no matter how much they fight it.

The second temptation will test Max’s very soul. Samantha Ann Summers is sweet, artistic, smart and confident. She will help Max find his smile again and maybe even heal his past mistakes. She is possibly his soul mate and Max will fight that with every fiber of his being.Max’s temper and indecision with the girls will send in motion events that will cost him dearly. He will test the limits of his powers and the new relationship with his protective uncle. He will gain a powerful love and lose another.
My Review:

I'm feeling the heat.....and I LOVE it!!

Max Valentine is not your ordinary, everyday Romeo. He has a history that haunts him day and night and he has abilities that can be both a blessing and a curse. Add a bit of a temper to that and things tend to heat up pretty quickly in this book ;) After the death of his father, Max needs a fresh start. He moves to Hawaii to live with his Uncle.

Asia is a mysterious local girl who Max feels instantly drawn to as soon as he sets eyes on her. She is beautiful and she seems to have a calming effect on Max and is able to sooth the fire within him. She also has a dark gift of her own.

Sam is your typical 'girl next door.' She's smart, and attractive and can 'fit in' anywhere in life. Max has feelings for Sam that he can't deny. He tried to keep her shut out but he found out that it was impossible. But Sam has a jealous ex boyfriend who makes life very difficult for Max.

Max is being pulled in two different directions and throughout the book, you can feel his confusion and angst. I must admit, I found myself changing my own mind several times about who I thought Max should end up with. Both girls are good for him in different ways. Ember is a compelling love triangle that is told from Max's perspective which I think is brilliant! It's very refreshing and appealing to read a story from the guys point of view for a change.

Another thing makes Ember so unique and adds it's own charm is that it has a excellent playlist of songs that help you to lock in the emotion for each chapter. I had a lot of fun looking up and downloading several songs and making my own Ember playlist ;)

The ending of this book is bursting with hot action that is sure to get your heart racing! I was taken on a roller coaster of emotions and my heart sank when I realized that I had come to the end of my journey when there was still so much story left to be told! I'm excited for the next installment of this series to make its way to my Kindle!! Please, HURRY!! ;) *I TRY to be patient....I really do!* ;) And just a side thought.....wouldn't this make a fantastic movie?!?!

Author Interview: With Madison Daniel.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

MD: My name’s Madison and I am a rockstar of words! My imagination was born of cartoons, comic books, 80’s movies and all the music of the universe! I want to bring something new and exciting to the literary world. :)

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

MD: I’ve always been a storyteller in some way. Cartoons, movies and music videos have tempted me my whole life. When I was a kid, I used to plot and draw my own comic books. When I was a little older, a friend and I used to write scripts and screenplays. As a teen and young adult I shifted my writing focus to music...lyrics and songs. I’ve only embraced the novel writing for the last 4 years or so. I wish I had started 10 years earlier! Ha.

What sparked your idea for such a unique story?

MD: A song. While daydreaming away at work 4 years ago, a song came over my earbuds. (THANK YOU iPhone!) Oasis’ ~ “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” filled my head. It instantly brought with it an image. I wrote that image down in words and that became the opening prologue to Ember. Within a week I had the first book outlined. Two weeks later I had the first draft written. It happened that quick! Thank you Oasis!

Was there anything particularly challenging about writing Ember?

MD: Yes and no. The story and twists played out naturally to me. I wanted to write an emotional music video/movie in novel form. Creating the characters and plot was easy for me...all the technical stuff was not. Edit. Edit. Edit. Not a fan of that stuff...no matter how much you fix something, there just seems to be another mistake hiding somewhere. And the new ebook formatting can be buggy at times. You can upload your work to Amazon or Barnes and Noble or Smashwords and something that was perfect, shows up wrong. It can be completely aggravating.

Could you tell us what your favorite scene is from the book?

MD: That’s a hard one...there are 3 or 4 scenes that will always be extremely special to me. Max and Asia’s first kiss...Sam and Max gently talking and dancing at the party on the beach...the fight scene at the lookout...the karaoke scene...ugh! Hard to pick just one. BUT I will say the final mini-chapter, the very end, the very last paragraph was probably my favorite moment to write. It really spins the series into a whole new depth and direction. It leaves you gasping and sets up a very different and emotional book 2!

In Twitter fashion, use 140 characters or less, sum up Ember for us.

MD: Music and words collide! Love never dies but it can kill! #TeamEmber

I think that the playlist you have to go along with Ember was brilliant! It gave me, as a reader, a chance to be a part of the book in a more interactive way. I had a blast looking up songs and downloading several to make my own Ember playlist. Which song or songs inspired you the most while writing this book?

MD: I live for music! It only made sense to incorporate it with my words. I see the chapters as music videos, so I try to capture that as I write and having the song playing along in the background just made sense. Movies and TV series use music to heighten the emotions of the story...why not books too! In my dream world, I’ll have the rights and permissions from all the artists and their songs would play along as you read from your favorite e-reader. As you click the chapter, the accompanying song would play.

As for most inspiring songs...

Oasis: “Stop Crying Your Heart Out.”

Kerli’s: “Love Is Dead” is another that resonated with me.

The karaoke scene with Terence Trent D’Arby’s: “Sign Your Name” is perfect. I actually dreamt that whole scene and chapter. I could go on and on...

When my Ember journey came to its final page, my heart sank a little. Can you tell us when Downpour will be released and what to expect?

MD: Downpour is scheduled for holiday 2012. (I know, I know...seems so far away.) I cannot wait to share book 2 with everyone though. It is so much MORE than book 1! Don’t get me wrong...I adore Ember but Downpour is much more focused and dark. The emotions are on another level. The action is much bigger. The twists are everywhere and more epic. AND I have been told the soundtrack is even better than Ember’s!

Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

MD: Just that I love them with all my burning heart. The readers and Ember Heads have been amazing to me and my work. I love their passion for my little story. I write for them! I BURN for them! Team Asia...Team Sam...Team Oz! (hahaha!)

Just for fun ;)

Favorite color:

MD: Red or black. Depends on the day...

Favorite band:

MD: Not possible to pick just one! Ha! Aerosmith, Garbage, Muse, Motley Crue, A Perfect Circle, anything Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) sings...

Favorite song:

MD: Even harder to pick! Ugh! Hahaha. Let me put it this way...give me a microphone, guitar and Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” and someone’s going home ROCKED!!! You’ve been warned!

What was the last movie you went out to see?

MD: The Hunger Games. ( I am so ready for my movie deal! )

When your not writing, what do you do to pass the time?

MD: Draw, paint, write and play music. Also...I’m a dancing machine!

MD: Thanks for having me on your page! It was a blast! Live. Love. Burn.

Thanks so much for being a part of WereVampsRomance! It's been a lot of fun getting to know you and learning about your work!

Teaser
Prologue: Nightmares
~Stop Crying Your Heart Out: Oasis~
“Hold on.”
“Hold on. Don’t be scared.”
Please don’t let go. The pain is dizzying. Just do not let go of her. This is my
fault, I’m sure of that now. Look her in the eyes and don’t let go of her. Whatever
happens, don’t let her be scared. Be stronger, for her.
Nothing else matters now. Not the pain. Not my mistake. Not the taste of
blood in my throat. Not the smell of ash all around us. All that matters is her…just
her. Hold on.
“Hold on a little longer!” I scream. I’m starting to panic. Stop it! You know
what happens when you panic. I have to calm down. Just breathe. Stay calm. Do it
now, for her!
“Max I’m slipping!” she screams.
“No! I won’t let it happen!” I say focused. But she was right. I was losing her.
I’m heating up again. Try harder and focus.
“Help me Max! My hands hurt…it burns! Help me! Please!” she cries louder.
I’m so dizzy now. It’s too hot. I’m too hot now. I can’t hold her. She slips away
and my heart breaks.
“Noooooooo!!!” she wails but her voice sounds so far away now.
Slow motion again. The dark pulls at the sides of my eyes and they burn
something awful. Fight it. Fight the darkness. I reach out in front of me as far as I
can. My eyes burn and I cannot see through my tears. But I can still see the look of
terror on her face. I can still see her tears and her burnt and broken hands.
“Please no!” I beg. The world grows heavy.
“Don’t go…don’t go away…” Now I was screaming. She falls away.
I fade away…blackness.

About the Author:

Music is LIFE and the written word is our

SOUL. Music and writing have been my true

ambition since I was a child. I have used

music in every form possible; writing it,

performing it, healing with it, etc. I call it my

"life's soundtrack." I have always written in

some form, from comic books to screenplays

to short stories and now the new series

"Ember." I have spent my writing life inspired

by all the music of the universe, 80's movies

and eye candy. When not writing I enjoy

dreaming out loud, challenging the real world

and inspiring the ones I love. I have found a

true passion for my stories and characters and

am eager to share them with the world. See

you on the next book tour...M.D.

Where to find Madison Daniel:


Blog:http://madisondaniel13.blogspot.com/
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Ember-ebook/dp/B007ETB85G/ref=cm_cr-mr-title
Amazon.Authors page:http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005DMSAIO
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5098993.Madison_Daniel
facebook. authors page:https://www.facebook.com/Madison.Daniel.Author
facebook.Ember series:https://www.facebook.com/EmberSeries
Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/MadisonDaniel13
Smashwords:http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MadisonDaniel
Google+:https://plus.google.com/110885858301340493829/posts
Tumblr:http://maddanauthor.tumblr.com/