Review of new release Immortal Surrender & Interview w/author Claire Ashgrove

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Here's the blurb from the book:(Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won’t turn him into a fool again—he’d rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty—but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he’s determined that he’ll never pledge himself to her.As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice – his heart.)



 Interview with Claire Ashgrove
Immortal Surrender
It’s my pleasure to bring to the forum another favorite Claire Ashgrove, I first became aware ofClaire’s work when I reviewed for Long & Short Reviews and only read hercontemporary romance and believe me they were excellent novels.
Now she’s entered into a vastly popular genre of paranormal romance with hernew The Curse of the Templars series and the novel coming out today is thesecond in this series.
Debbie - Clairewelcome to the B&N forum, tell us a bit about the new series and the novelImmortal Surrender too.Claire - Thanks forinviting me over, Debbie!  I’mreally excited to be here.Okay… where tostart.  The Curse of the Templars is a dark paranormal romance series,based on the premise that the Templar Knights discovered a document written byAzazel.  For their forbiddendigging they were cursed to spend eternity battling Azazel’s demons.  But with each death they claim, theirsouls absorb a portion of evil. Eventually, they’ll turn into the nightmares that they fight.Now, as the Templarstruggle to survive, Azazel’s might grows, and if he obtains eight holy relics,he will have the power to overthrow the Almighty.  An ancient Templar prophecy declares the seraphs willreturn, female descendents of the Nephilim who will turn the tides of war.  But the power they possess to heal theknights’ dying souls makes them more than tools to victory, they are salvation.Immortal Surrendercontinues the struggle over the relics and tells the story of Farran and hisintended seraph, a devout atheist, Dr. Noelle Keane.  It’s really an emotional struggle, with both of them needingto grow and move beyond obstacles from their past.  Of course, the longer they delay, there’s the ever-presentthreat of Azazel looming over their heads. If they can’t find a common ground,the Templar will lose yet another relic, and Azazel’s power intensifies.

On your blog info page it says in your spare time you likestudying ancient civilizations does that have anything to do with this seriesand where did this interest come from.Oh, absolutely!  I am a huge Medieval fanatic.  And the Templar are simplyfascinating.  I can’t really beginto pinpoint where my interest started, other than to point to a Western Civclass in college.  But long beforeI discovered European history, I was an American history buff.  Now that love has been replaced witholder, more imposing civilizations.
Are there a certain number of novels planned in this series?I have a target I’mstriving for.  But I’m notcommitting to a precise number – you never know how things go!  I can say this concretely, whatevernumber we end up with, there will be an end to the series.  It is not designed to continueperpetually.
You write in several genres Claire do you have a favorite?Gosh… no… notreally.  The more I can plot andsubplot, the happier I am as a general rule.  I really have to hold myself back sometimes or I’ll get waytoo epic.  So in that vein, rightnow the Templars and my other pen name, Tori St. Claire fulfill that passion.
Do you have a favorite work?A Broken Christmas isprobably one of my most favorite stories. And Immortal Surrender runs a very close second – I’m not just sayingthat cause it came out today, either! The heroes in both have a lot to overcome and both of them really get mein the gut.
Tell us how you felt when you sold your very first book, andhow does the excitement of that release day compare to this one.Laugh!  Truth?  I had mixed feelings about selling my first book.  It was still back before small presswas readily embraced, and I did some serious ruminating on whether I wanted togo that route or not.  I wasn’tcaught up in that release day – I don’t think my family and I even reallycelebrated.  Conversely, about amonth ago, when I started planning the blog tour and all the giveaways I’mdoing on my blog for Immortal Surrender, I really, really, got excited.  I’m thrilledto be here, to be talking about the book, and to be celebrating with everyonefor the next few weeks.  It’sreally almost like the first book should have been!
Now writing isn’t your only passion, you also trainThoroughbred and Arabian Horses.
Tell us a little how that came to be.Well, first – that’s presently on hold.  I still have the herd, but two childrenpre-empted a lot of that.  However,when I was a junior in high school I started taking riding lessons in exchangefor chores at a local stable.  Acouple months later, I had a horse of my own – who still lives in my frontyard! – and from there I went nuts with jumping over everything that wassolid.  Eventually, I discovered itwas young horses I enjoyed the most, not finishing out a seasonedcompetitor.  And while I simplydon’t teach people how to ride, I love teaching an uneducated horse.  It’s challenging and rewarding and…just exhilarating. 
Are you a reader, who are some of your favoriteauthors/genres? I read.  Lately not as much as I’d like to.   I used to be able to finish abook in a day.  Now?  I’ve been working on finishing a book Iadore for the last two weeks.  I’m a fantasy reader foremost, though Iactually prefer non-fiction to fiction. R.A. Salvatore has been a long-time favorite, and more recently, KevinJ. Anderson.  Romance wise, I’llalways be a Johanna Lindsey fan; I drool over anything Meredith Duran.  Karin Tabke and Shayla Black are hugelyinspiration to me – and I cried when Karin cover blurbed for me J  And onthat note, Maggie Shayne also really inspires me.
If you could vacation anywhere in the world or out of itwhat would your dream vacation be?Ireland.  Take me there and I’ll never comeback.  Laugh!  Seriously… I don’t think aboutvacationing to Ireland.  I thinkabout going to live there for extended periods of time.
I’m sure that your fans here would love to meet you inperson, do you have any B&N events or signings plannedI’ve been trying towork that out.  It seems to hiccupevery time.  But, I do announce mysignings on my blog, and on my website. And coming up relatively immediately, on the 29^th and 30^thof September, I’ll be at the Kansas City Ren Fest.  I’d love to see people there!
Claire thank you so much for taking the time from yourschedule to chat with us and good luck with Immortal Surrender.Thank you, again,Debbie!  This was fun!  And readers—do keep in touch! I love tohear from all of you.

My review of Immortal Surrender
Immortal Surrender
Claire Ashgrove
Tor Publishing
ISBN13:9780765367594
448 pagesThe curse came when Farran de Clare and his brother knightsof the Templar went against orders and discovered a forbidden scroll. For theiract of disobedience they were given immortality to fight the evil demon Azazeland his minions. And with every kill of evil they made they would absorb someof that evil. But all is not lost; there is a prophecy that tells of the returnof the seraphs that will redeem them.
Farran is not looking for redemption; he doesn’t believe he deserves it so whenit knocks on his door in the form of an unbeliever he does everything in hispower to deny it and her. But she’s in grave danger from the demon Azazel whowants the artifact she’s responsible for and it’s he who must protect her. Butat what cost, his life, his immortality or his heart.
Dr. Noelle Keane is a firm unbeliever in a higher power; she’s relied on thescience of fact for all of her life. When she and her bodyguard Farran areattacked she suddenly finds the black and white of her beliefs in question.When Farran tells of prophecies, demons and immortal knights she’s convincedhe’s crazy until fiction becomes fact and she has a choice to make and thechoice becomes more difficult the more she learns about this knight, his pastand their future.
Farran and Noelle are one of the fated pairs of seraph and immortal knight andare stronger together but they each have their own reason to fight againstdivine promise and must make their own path and live with their choices. Willthose choices save them or lead to their demise.
Claire Ashgrove has given me many hours of happy readingstarting with her contemporary romance novels and now with her newest andfantastic series about the Templar Knights and the women who save them. It’sinventive, imaginative, epic and a fantastic mix of medieval fact and fictionencompassed by a beautiful romance complete with all the obstacles I’d expectfrom this doubting Thomas fated pair. Her hero and heroine fill the pages withtheir personalities and keep the pages turning with their antics and theirdeeds. The dialogue flows with a hint of the old amongst the common language oftoday and the narrative is fast paced, action filled and at times nail-bitingterror along with the very tempestuous and sensual love scenes.
If you’ve never read Claire it’s time you did, if you’re looking for a new lookin urban fantasy/paranormal or the Templar legend give this series a try. Eventhough this is novel two of a series it stands well on it’s own.
Claire thank you for this journey into myth and lore, I can’t wait to see whereyou take me on our next trip.



Buy the book here visit the author's website here













here are some of Claire's other novels