Anny Cook
Interview
with Anny Cook
Current
Release: Love Never-Ending
See the
romance book review on Love Never-Ending
Publishing
companies: Ellora's Cave, Cerridwen Press
Genre:
Fantasy, Paranormal
Check out
her website at: www.annycook.com
Here's
the scoop on Anny:
RBS: Tell us a little about yourself.
Anny: I'm a retired wife, mother, and
grandmother. The house hunk and I just celebrated forty-one years of marriage.
I've worked a varied assortment of jobs from manufacturing to warehousing to
secretary and teacher. Three years ago, finding myself at loose ends, I decided
to write a book. That book was Dancer's Delight.
RBS: How old were you when you first
decided to sit down and write your first book?
Anny: Fifty-six.
RBS: What was your first novel ever
published, be it e-book or print?
Anny: Dancer's Delight
RBS: It can be difficult to get a book
published. Who or what was the greatest encouragement you had during the
non-published times?
Anny: Geez, dare I confess? I didn't have
a non-published time. I'm one of those strange authors who sent off my first
book, had it accepted the first place I submitted it, and haven't looked back.
RBS: What is your favorite genre to
write? Why?
Anny: Actually, I don't write a
particular genre. I just write the story that's clamoring to get out and then
figure out what category it fits in. Most of my books seem to have paranormal
elements, but that's not particularly on purpose.
RBS: Tell us about your current release?
Anny: My current release is book five of
my Mystic Valley series, Love Never-Ending. It's the story of Bishop who
accidentally enters Mystic Valley only to find there is no way out. In Mystic
Valley, the people are blue with pointed ears and fangs. Needless to say, he's
not happy... until he meets Samara. She brings a new outlook on life in the
valley!
RBS: Who or what were your influences
when you begin to write your newest release?
Anny: Hmmm. I think that Bishop reflects
the way life often changes on us when we reach middle-age. We may think we have
everything planned out, that's not necessarily so. Bishop's life completely
changed. His adjustments to those changes were not always pretty.
RBS: What is a typical writing day look
like for you?
Anny: Most days I write from 9:30 AM to 1
PM, break for lunch and then write from 2 PM to around 5 PM. If I have the
opportunity I might write for two or three hours in the evening.
RBS: Do you have a favorite hero from
one of your books? What is it about him that makes him stand out?
Anny: I believe that my favorite hero is
Traveller from Traveller's Refuge. He probably endured the most to reach his
HEA. He's a loving, graceful man who genuinely treasures his woman.
RBS: Do you have a favorite heroine from
one of your books? What is it about her that makes her stand out?
Anny: Unity from Winter Hearts is a
strong woman who just keeps on going through thick and thin. She has a terrible
childhood, a tough time as a young adult, and yet there's still something deep
down that allows her to accept the gift of Quill's love.
RBS: Who is your favorite author? Did
they give you any kind of inspiration in your own writing?
Anny: Louis L'Amour. He wrote westerns
that were authentic and well researched, but they also have romantic elements.
His men were alpha heroes before alphas were popular and his women were strong.
I love his books.
RBS: What's coming up on your book
schedule in the next year?
Anny: I currently have two books
contracted with Ellora's Cave. Rescuing Clarice is a stand alone book. Otis and
Clarice are dragon elemental shifters. His element is fire--her's is water.
There's breathtaking adventure, hot sex, and a race to save the world. What
more could you want?
The second
book is Surpassing Pleasures, the sequel to Winter Hearts. It's Zipporah and
Sebastian's story. I can be read alone, but I suspect that readers would enjoy
it more if they read Winter Hearts first. Zipporah has a secret... she's an
angel shifter. And she's afraid that Sebastian won't love her anymore is he finds
out. There are ample opportunities for her to spend time with him in her
various animal incarnations, but perhaps my favorite is when she shift to a
tiger. Seb is suitably impressed!
Book
Reviews:
A
Prisoner of the Heart
Author:
Anny Cook
Series
Connection: A Carnal Reunions tale
ISBN:
978-1-60735-087-3
Genre:
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Resplendence Publishing
5
Hearts
Becky goes
back to her college town to attend her 10 year reunion only to find the boy
next door all grown up and looking for love.
Joe Harris
was just 16 years old when the college girls lived in the Old Victorian across
the street. He had a crush on Becky and knew he wanted her to be his, but she
was in love with Tom and ended up marrying him. That didn't turn out to well
for Becky. Now she's divorced and back for her 10 year reunion and there is
nothing that will keep Joe from finally getting to make his move on her.
Anny Cook's
Prisoner of the Heart is just one in a series of seven stories, by different
authors, that are centered around the college reunion. This novella tells the
story of only one of the girls that lived in the old Victorian house. It can be
read on it's own or as part of the series. Prisoner of the Heart is a
delightful short story that shows that anyone can have a second chance. See
more reviews on books by Anny Cook and Romance Book Scene's interview with the
author at www.romancebookscene.com under author's Anny Cook.
Description:
When
Rebecca Iversen graduated from college, she headed home with nothing on her
mind but wedding plans. Less than a month later her plans were in ruins when
she discovered she was pregnant the same week her fiance was arrested for
selling drugs. Anxious to provide legitimacy for her child, she married Tom
while he was still in jail. Years later, Becky finally divorced him, resolved
to make a peaceful life for her children and herself.
When the
reunion invitation from Karen arrived in her e-mail, her Aunt Mary urged her to
take the time to enjoy a little adult time at the reunion.
Young Joe
Harris lived across the street from the old Victorian where Becky lived during
college. He spent those years secretly yearning for the "older
woman". Now that Becky is back and single, Joe plans to do everything in
his power to convince her that he's exactly the man she needs.
Magnolia
Author:
Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Flowers of Camelot
ISBN:
9781419918612
Genre:
Menage a trois or More / Fantasy / Christmas
5
Hearts
In
continuation of the Flowers of Camelot series young prince bond mates Undain
and Dennac finally find the one woman for them. Dennac rescues Magnolia just as
she is about to die in a shipwreck. Little does he know that she is already to
be mated with an evil prince. Once the princes find out they only decided to
speed their wedding date up.
Magnolia
doesn't know what to think when she wakes to find two men who say that she is
to be their wife. Certainly they are a much better choice to the evil prince
that her father has chosen for her. What will happen though if the evil one
won't let her go?
The Flowers
of Camelot series is a lot of fun to read. The best part is the quirky
characters and the references to the characters of the original tale of Camelot
fairy tale. The sex scenes that Anny writes are hot, hot, hot so remember to
keep a fan handy.
Description:
This is the
fourth of the Flowers of Camelot series, but may be read as a standalone story.
The Yule
season has come to Castle Came-a-lot. With the annual influx of family, Prince
Undain, the last unmarried son of King Arthur, decides to retreat to the tower
he shares with his partner, Prince Dennac.
It is there
that Dennac brings Magnolia, the woman he rescues from a shipwreck. Fleeing
from a dangerous arranged marriage, she quickly accepts the offer of marriage
from Undain and Dennac.
Almost
immediately, their honeymonth takes an unexpected turn. With the loss of her
virginity, Magnolia sprouts wings, leading them to the inescapable conclusion
that she is half-faery. And once faeries sprout their wings, they require
frequent hot sex. Dennac and Undain eagerly meet Magnolia's new demands even as
they deal with the Yule celebrations and threats from the evil Prince Rugat.
Love
Never-Ending
Author:
Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Mystic Valley
ISBN:
9-781-4-1991-909-1
4
Hearts
Description:
When naked
Bishop Llewellyn is kidnapped from his bed in the middle of the night by his
angry best friend Trav, he has no idea of the enormous ways his life is about
to change. After they are trapped in a cave, Bishop's search for help for his
seriously injured friend leads him to a mysterious valley where he discovers
his long-lost brother among the blue-skinned inhabitants.
His
stubborn search for an escape from the valley is sidetracked when he meets
Samara, a woman who is more interested in finding out what's hidden under his
sharda than seeking out a mate. Soon he's blithely showing Samara all the
sensual possibilities without understanding the consequences of his actions.
Their no-strings-attached affair derails when Bishop unintentionally
embarrasses Samara. Then an assassin's attack on Bishop nearly succeedsÉ
From the
back of the book:
Anny Cook
learned to read at five years old. Learning to write was a natural extension.
Through her adult years while a wife, mother, grandmother, fast food cook,
warehouse book packer, Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader, perpetual college
student, executive secretary, and adult education teacher, writing served as
the anchor that kept her sane.
Well, maybe
not exactly sane, but close to it. Today, after thirty-five years with kids,
cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and hamsters, she and her husband are empty nesters.
Sigh. Finally, there's time—and quiet—to write in peace.
My View:
Love
Never-Ending is book five from the Mystic Valley series, but can definitely be
read as a stand alone book. The novel actually begins two books back when
readers first meet Traveller. In Traveller's Refuge, Trav kidnaps his friend in
a moment of insanity. Trapped in a cave with his injured Trav, Bishop has to
find help as fast as possible. He stumbles upon the entrance to Mystic Valley.
Realizing it is Trav's only chance he drags his friends body out of the cave
and runs into his long lost brother and sister-in-law who went missing
twenty-five years earlier.
Finding it
hard to comprehend the new surroundings he has stumbled into, Bishop has a lot
to work through before he can accept his new life in Mystic Valley. Maybe it
wouldn't be so hard for him if he could come to terms with the strange looking
blue people with pointed ears and fangs and their customs, but as it is he
longs for nothing more except to find his way back into the cave and into his
old life.
While he
works to come to terms with his new life, Bishop meets Samara. Samara is a
fallen woman in the eyes of the people in Mystic Valley. When she was sixteen
years old she was raped. According to the rules of the Valley she can not bond
mate or have children. Coming to terms with her situation, Samara carves out a
new life for herself. She falls in love with Bishop, but he isn't ready to hear
that he has no choice but to stay in Mystic Valley, much less that he can have
a life with Samara. While they work their way toward each other there is an
outside force that doesn't want Samara to be happy in life and wants her miserable.
Love
Never-Ending is delightful tale that readers won't be able to put down. I was
really happy to see that Anny told so much of the previous stories because
there was a lot going in and as it intertwined with previous stories it was
important to put it all in perspective. I'm also happy to see that Bishop had
so much trouble getting used to the idea that he was stuck in Mystic Valley.
Think how you would feel if suddenly you were told your old life is gone, just
be happy and get over it. How realistic would that be? Readers who enjoy
fantasy romance will like Anny's great imagination.
Traveller's Refuge
By: Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Mystic Valley
ISBN:
9781419910593
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5
Hearts
Sequel to
Dancer's Delight published by Cerridwen Press
Framed and
running for his life, Traveller Devereaux decides to follow his missing brother
Dancer, using the clues he left behind when he disappeared. They lead Traveller
to the mysterious Mystic Valley where the people are blue, the flora and fauna
are decidedly odd, and the mating customs are definitely
different.
On his
journey, he is injured in a serious accident that traps him in a cave with his
best friend, Bishop. Bish finds the hidden tunnel leading to the valley and
takes Traveller to safety. Trav's slow recovery allows him much-needed time to
adjust to the valley and fall in love with Wrenna, the woman chosen as his bond
mate. When he finds out that she is related to the man who murdered his parents
and siblings, he must choose between the woman he loves and her murderous
grandfather.
Everything Lovers Can Know
By: Anny Cook
Series Connection:
Mystic Valley
ISBN:
9781419911538
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5
Hearts
Decription:
Prequel to
the Mystic Valley series.
From the time they were children, Baron
and Jade were heart-bonded and mind-linked. But children don't stay young
forever and when they reach adulthood, they yearn for more than a mind-link.
They yearn for the bond of physical love.
When Jade's secret plan
to seduce Baron backfires, their families separate them using coercion and
blackmail. Jade goes on to a successful career as a musician while Baron
completes medical school and begins his internship.
Now, three
years later, Jade has a new plan to end their separation. Baron arrives at the
isolated cabin where Jade is waiting to find out once and forever if the fierce
longings and desire they had for each other before are enough to make them
truly two-as-one.
Cherished
Destinies
Author: Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Mystic Valley
ISBN:
9781419911880
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5
Hearts
Book
four in the Mystic Valley series.
Arano
Llewellyn, Master Seer in Mystic Valley, has dreamed that his destiny lies with
Silence Brown, a woman fourteen years older than him. Silence is trapped in an
abusive relationship with Homer, her bond mate. Unexpectedly, she is freed when
Homer dies in a lightning storm. But there are obstacles to overcome before
they can meet the destiny Arano has foreseen. Silence must move on from her
terrible past and learn to trust Arano at the deepest levels while he allows
her the time and freedom to become the woman she was meant to be.
Arano's
Justice Warrior twin Arturo, desolate and damaged from a brutal attack and
rape, struggles to recover as he sets out on a journey of discovery to seek the
mate Arano has promised him. Before he is ready to accept the love his future
mate offers he must face his greatest fears and haunting truths about his past.
The Master Archivist, Banisher Ewell, is waiting with a loving heart when
Arturo is finally ready to face his destiny.
Reader
Advisory: This story contains depictions of rape and domestic violence that may
be emotionally triggering for some readers.
Chrysanthemum
Author: Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Flowers of Camelot
ISBN:
9781419911101
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5
Hearts
Description:
"On
that dark day Arthur, mortally wounded, was taken to the Isle of Avalon by
Vivian, Lady of the Lake, and Merlin, where he died and was laid to rest in the
crystal caveÉ" Well, actually, that's not quite the way it happened.
In
truth, Queen Vivian and Merlin abducted the king and returned him to his home
planet, Avalon. Now he's anxious to marry off his youngest son, Gareth. When
Florian LeFleur, his wardrobe guardian, asks permission to bring his three unmarried
daughters to court, Arthur decides it's the perfect opportunity and assigns
Gareth to oversee their time at Came-a-lot Castle.
Despite her
determination to remain heart-free, Chrysanthemum immediately falls for Gareth.
Life should have been rosy but there were roadblocks along the path to happily
ever after. The Blue Knight captured Arthur, Percival the dragon demanded a
virgin, Queen Vivian decided it would be the perfect time to stage a coup and
the Abbott at Solomon's Choice Abbey chose Chrysanthemum for their ritual
deflowering.
Will Gareth get Chrysanthemum to the priest in time
to save the king and Avalon?
Daffodil
Author:
Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Flowers of Camelot
ISBN:
9781419915468
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5 Hearts
Description:
When
Florian LeFleur announces his intentions to take his three unmarried daughters
to Came-a-lot to find husbands, his youngest daughter Daffodil is not pleased.
She's quite happy with the arrangement she already has with Raulf the butler at
LeFleur Manor. Undeterred, Florian insists that she accompany him to
Came-a-lot. Besides, he's sure she can do better than a butler.
Then
Raulf discovers his antique cock rings and favorite floggers are missing. He
follows in hot pursuit, using the theft to claim Daffodil as his own. Instead
of mastering Daffodil at his leisure, Raulf finds that he must fit in her hot,
sexy lessons while tracking down the thief who stole the king's pet rock,
training Timid Timmy in rope bondage and capturing the sorceress Morgana.
Reader
Advisory: Includes explicit M/M interaction and an M/F/M menage scene.
Winter
Hearts
Author:
Anny Cook
ISBN:
9781419913723
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5
Hearts
Description:
Unity
Brooks can't believe her eyes when she discovers evidence of illegal
transactions in the company books. She presents the evidence to her supervisor,
who listens attentively and even provides her with a comforting cup of coffee.
Imagine her embarrassment when she wakes half-naked and bound in the arms of
Aquila Johnson, the accountant auditing the books.
After spending
a stunning night with Unity, Quill is puzzled when she drops out of sight. His
employer sends him home to investigate a case nearby until the media finds
other scandals to focus on. When the two cases collide and Unity's life is
threatened, they learn that sharing secrets is the safest way to stay alive.
Honeysuckle
Author:
Anny Cook
Series
Connection: Flowers of Camelot
ISBN:
9781419914096
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
5 Hearts
Description:
When
Florian LeFleur's wife runs away with an acrobatic troupe, leaving him with
three marriageable daughters, he resolves to take them to Came-a-lot in search
of husbands. Honeysuckle, his middle daughter, resigns herself to settling for
just one man, though in her heart she longs to find two special men who will
make mad passionate love to her for the rest of their days.
The first
night at the inn, Honey encounters the hunkalicious Hieney twins, Peter and
Dick, who claim her immediately and announce their intention to marry her at
the first opportunity. Their plans are delayed as they deal with a coup attempt
against King Arthur, are abducted by a wicked sorceress, experience wild
poison-induced passion in a cave and meet a sexy well-endowed unicorn.