Cloaked by Taylor Hobbs

CLOAKED by TAYLOR HOBBS

Hello Taylor and welcome to my blog! Can you tell me a little about yourself, and how you became an author?

Hello and thank you for having me! A little about me: I live aboard a 38-foot sailboat named Story Time with my husband, baby girl, and dog. We are a military family currently stationed in North Carolina, but love to travel and have plans to cruise the Caribbean in the next few years. I’ve always been a huge reader, but didn’t start writing until 2013. Cloaked is my third novel, but the first one to be published. It’s a dream come true to have made it here!

What is your book about?

Cloaked is a fantasy romance novel. (Read all about it below!)

Who is your heroine? Is she based on someone in real life?

Charlotte is the heroine, but she isn’t based on anyone in real life. There might be a little bit of me in there, or maybe wishful thinking that I could somehow be as cool as she is!

What are your favorite times for writing? Morning? Evening?

I’m at my most creative in the morning with a giant cup of coffee. I try to hit my 1,000 words per day goal before noon. Editing, however, is easiest at night! Maybe because I’m grumpier by the end of the day and have a more critical eye. My favorite spot to edit is up in our cockpit, watching the sun go down with a red pen in my hand.

Who are your favorite authors? Did they influence your writing, and if so, how?

Where to start? I feel like it is an ever-growing list! Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, and Erika Johansen, author of the Queen of the Tearling series come to mind right now when I think of books that influenced Cloaked. Both authors write strong female characters in memorable settings with a dash of fantasy.

Did you have a favorite book as a child? Did it influence your choice to become an author?

I would have to say Watership Down, given to me by my dad in fourth grade. It was my first ‘grown up’ book, and it showed me how immersive literature could be. I remember being so completely absorbed by the story, and since then I’ve re-read it about five times. It really is a classic. I think it sparked my love of fantasy, so you could say it influenced my choice to write a fantasy romance novel! Unfortunately, there are no talking bunnies in Cloaked.

Thank you for joining me - and now, without further ado - 

Cloaked

by Taylor Hobbs

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GENRE: Historical Fantasy Romance

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BLURB:   As the Cloaked Shadow, Fawkes has made his career breaking into prisons for any contract with a large enough purse. He takes advantage of the kingdom's impending revolution by playing both sides of the conflict. Each rescue contract he fulfills turns a tidy profit until he angers the wrong duke.

Charlotte is a criminal-in-training who yearns to crack her mentor’s guarded façade, but is unprepared to confront the depths of his dark past. As her sense of right and wrong blurs, Charlotte discovers just how far she will go for the Cloaked Shadow and the sacrifices he requires.

Now hunted throughout the land, Fawkes must face long-buried secrets in order to survive, but they could destroy him. Charlotte risks everything, including her heart, to set Fawkes on the path to redemption.

Will Charlotte have the strength to pull Fawkes into the light, or will she follow him into the shadows?

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Excerpt:  Fawkes’ attack pressed Charlotte backward, and soon they were outside. As Charlotte’s feet slipped in the mud, she realized she had lost her size advantage. Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating her surroundings long enough to blind her, and she failed to anticipate the next punch. It landed hard on her right shoulder and spun her around.

Before she could steady herself to counter, her arm was wrenched behind her back. Fawkes had a grip on it with one hand, the other around her throat. She stood flush against him, feeling his harsh breath and pounding heart as it beat against her back. They stood like statues, neither one of them wanting to the first to break the spell.

The roar of thunder made her jump and brought them back to reality. “I’ve gotten better, haven’t I?” Charlotte couldn’t help asking. She’d meant it as a quip, but it came out too hopeful.

She felt Fawkes sigh, tensing his hold on her before dropping his grip. With her back still to him, she waited for his answer. Instead, his hand brushed wet hair back from her face before a finger traveled down and traced her jawline. Charlotte leaned into the touch, but then it was gone. She turned to see only darkness, and then a flash of lightning showed his tall frame heading back to the cave.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:  Taylor Hobbs lives aboard a 38 ft sailboat named Story Time with her husband, baby girl, and dog. They are a military family and who love to travel, whether it is by sea or air. When she's not writing, Taylor enjoys doing yoga and planning her next adventure. You can keep up with their crazy life at cannonstocruising.com or follow on Twitter at @tayhobbit.

Cloaked is her debut novel and can be found at https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6046-cloaked.html

Buy links:

Barnesandnoble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cloaked-taylor-hobbs/1129153048

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cloaked-Taylor-Hobbs-ebook/dp/B07FKXJ7Z6/

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

Taylor Hobbs will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway