Renee Vincent Interview & Giveaway

Today I am pleased to have Renee Vincent with us again. Renee was with us before after Raeliksen came out, if you would like to read more of that interview and more about Renee please stop by here for the previous interview. Recently book two of the Emerald Isle Trilogy, Mac Liam cam out. Renee is here to tell us a little about it and hopefully to share some details on what we can expect from her in the future.

To start would you mind telling the readers a little about yourself?

I’d love to, Marissa. I am a Kentucky girl who loves medieval history and anything that includes a sword-wielding hero!

I have written a trilogy set in 10th Century Ireland about a love triangle between a Norse warrior, an Irish princess, and a common Irish hunter. The first in the series is Ræliksen, and now the second book has just been released this week entitled Mac Liam.

Here’s the blurb:

A tortured soul…

Breandán Mac Liam, the strapping young hunter from Ireland’s lush forests, is in love with Mara, an ineligible beautiful princess. For seven long years, he has been vividly haunted by her memory, taunted by the throes of his heartache. And not even the thought of her marriage to a Northman can extinguish the fierce, burning desire running rampant through his heart and soul.

An innocent heart…

Mara, the spirited Connacht princess, has no idea she is the object of the Irishman’s longing. She is living out her days on Inis Mór, raising a troubled son and trying to endure the cruel loneliness that afflicts her.

A deadly secret…

Ordered by the king on his deathbed, Breandán must return to Mara and bring her through the perilous lands of Connacht to fulfill her father’s last dying wish. But as their worlds collide, Breandán not only finds himself wrapped in the arms of Mara’s embrace, but thrown into a struggle to defend his honor.

With Mara caught between the family she loves and the father she knows, can Breandán uncover the mystery of her past and still protect her from a secret that threatens them all?

So far I’ve written only historical romances, but the next book will be a contemporary novella called Silent Partner, which will hit the market in April 2011. I’m very excited to write something different, something lighter in both plot and conflict. So far, writing it has been a refreshing change.

Your newest release is Mac Liam, what can you tell us about it that we haven't heard before?

Mac Liam is a continuation of the love triangle between Mara, Dægan Ræliksen, and Breandán Mac Liam. And while this story is chiefly about Breandán’s love for Mara, there are other love interests that come into play, particularly one from a character barely mentioned in Ræliksen. His appearance adds to the twist at the end and adds some spice to those who love the sons of Rælik.

Can Mac Liam be read without reading Ræliksen or do you suggest reading them in order?

Indeed, Mac Liam is not a stand alone novel. It begins where Ræliksen left off, only seven years later. And there are things in Ræliksen that are brought up, but not resolved until Mac Liam. Without that knowledge, the reader may be lost, or at the least, may not understand the full impact of the climactic ending.

What can you tell us about Breandán Mac Liam?

Truthfully, this man has stolen my heart. Breandán is not the Alpha hero we are used to with Dægan Ræliksen, but he’s got this amazing sensitive side that will hook you into craving his innocent appeal. And since Mac Liam takes place seven later from when we first met him in Ræliksen, Breandán has also grown up a bit. He’s become more of a man with a hard-muscled body to match.

To let you in on a little secret, there’s a scene in particular where Mara walks in on Breandán changing his clothes and gets to see first hand just how much he’s grown into his body.

How is Mara different in Mac Liam than she was in Ræliksen?

She’s different because she is a mother now, raising Dægan’s son. Her priorities are no longer with herself, but with the needs of her child, and I think, with some of the readers being mothers, this is a natural change they can surely relate to.

However, she is still a woman who can take care of herself. We saw that in Ræliksen, and she’ll not stray from that in Mac Liam. In fact, there’s a very cute scene where Breandán is teaching her how to shoot a bow, and though Breandán’s intentions are completely innocent, Mara’s mind runs wild when he is pressed up against her from behind as they shoot the first arrow together. I really liked this part of the book.

Which scene from Mac Liam book did you enjoy writing the most?

The water scene where Breandán is bathing and Mara happens upon him. Throughout Mac Liam, Breandán is always the gentleman, the friend. In this scene, he shows Mara he can be so much more—if she’d just let her heart open up to him.

What is next in the Emerald Isle Trilogy? Is there a release date set for the final book?

The final book is called The Fall of Rain and it will release in December 2011. Surely, everyone has heard the saying, “coming full circle” and, with the last book in the trilogy, I aim to do just that. To me, true love has no limitations, nor will it hinder how far a man would be willing to go to prove his love. I really can’t help but feel this trilogy will surprise everyone and reaffirm what true romance is all about.

Now a question to really put you on the spot. Do you have a favorite between Daegan Raeliksen and Breandán Mac Liam?

No. I love them both. I love Dægan for being the charming yet domineering Alpha male warrior, and I adore Breandán for being the handsome skillful hunter who is not afraid to step up and be an Alpha male when the need arises. Both men are endearing and selfless, brave and valiant, but their differences make it hard to choose one over the other.

I have to say, I am very curious as to whom the readers’ would pick after reading the two books in the series. And for that, I have set up a forum where readers can discuss this topic with me. http://reneevincent.proboards.com/index.cgi

Giveaway: Renee is giving away an ebook copy of both Raeliksen and Mac Liam to one lucky winner. Leave Renee a question below to be entered. Contest ends Sunday, December 5th at Midnight. One lucky winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, December 6th. Good luck and thank you in advance to everyone for being here.