Today I am so excited to be a stop on the tour of my BAFF Brenda Pandos. We are celebrating the release of The Onyx Talisman, the final installment of The Talisman Trilogy, with a review and a personal note to a character or to Brenda herself. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom – the prizes are awesome, including a Kindle!

About The Onyx Talisman:

“Alora looked back and the corner of her lip turned up. “It’s always darkest before the dawn, Julia. Good luck.”
Her words sent chills up my spine as she vanished.”

Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, hurt and unsure of his place as a sober vampire, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. Scarlett bides her time, plotting for the perfect moment to prove herself and earn redemption. But somewhere in L.A., Alora conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear.

Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. As more and more vampires show up from nowhere, addicted to her scent, Julia must pick her allies carefully before it’s too late. Can Julia bargain with fate? When the time comes, will she even have a choice? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy.

My review:

This final installment of The Talisman Trilogy offers everything you could ask for – laugh-out-loud moments, tears of both sadness and joy, mystery and suspense – and then blows it up in your face. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Brenda throws in an unexpected twist. The grand finale – the end of the end – is just like the description says: explosive. And also beautiful. Bravo, Brenda! I can’t wait to see what you have for us next! 

My personal note (I chose Brenda because although I love her characters, the author herself is my favorite character of all):

Dear Brenda,
I have met some awesome writerly people over the years, but I never expected to forge such a close friendship, especially with someone I’ve never met in person (yet – 2 weeks, baby!). You have been such an inspiration, an encouragement and a kick in the butt when I needed it.

You are so talented – a fabulous writer and storyteller. I love escaping into the worlds you create, and I feel like a queen when I get to do so before the rest of the world does. The input you provide for my own writing is priceless, even when it stings or feels like a mountain of work to do when I’m already a week past deadline.

You’re a great idea-bouncer-offer, too, when it comes to brainstorming and figuring out pricing, promotions and marketing. I’m so glad to have someone in the trenches with me. I won’t even go into your talent with designing the best covers ever (yeah, mine…oh, yours are fab, too, hehe).

But you’re so much more than all that. Just from what I’ve seen from my side of the computer screen, you’re an incredible mom, wife, sister and friend. For me, though, and the purposes of this letter, I’ll just say:

I am so honored that we met. You’re my Bestest Author Friend Forever.

Two weeks from today, the world will hear a huge SQUEE! (listen for it, readers, I promise you’ll hear it around the world) as we accost each other with hugs IN REAL LIFE. We are going to rock Chicago and RT Booklovers Convention and I’m so excited for it all. But mostly I just can’t wait to see you in person and hang with you for 5 days. 5 days! Eek! And when it comes time to leave, I know I’ll be a bawling mess of tears and snot.

Thanks for being you! I luff you, dammit.

*dabs at moist eyes* *OMG, I just used Brenda’s most hated word ever – bwahaha!*

So, peeps, if you haven’t read The Talisman Trilogy yet, check it out.

Enter the giveaway to win ebooks and signed copies of The Onyx Talisman and a Kindle!

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