Winner: Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award for full-length romantic manuscript
REVIEWS
“Just picked up the 1st book in the Crystal Warrior series via a free thang on All Romance. Tried to stay up and finish it last night and gave up at 3am. Finally finished it this afternoon after deciding that the washing and cleaning could wait.
Wow... I really loved the characters in this. When I read the blurb I was not that interested in the sound of Chalcey—as in that I didn’t think I would be able to identify with a dance instructor. Okay, my mistake! I am so impressed with how you wrote a strong and independent woman who stood on her own two feet, took no crap from anyone and ran her own business. That I could identify with 100%. I read a lot of romance and I often feel that the women are not as strong as they could be and that they are simply part of a story that involves snaring some hot guy and getting a HEA—almost like their actual character is unimportant.
So 5 stars and have some extra bonus cookies for writing a believable woman who I was rooting for. I wanted her business to be a success just as much as I wanted her to get the guy. And kudos for the plot twist. Usually they’re so obvious, but I didn’t see that one coming at all.
I liked Chalcey’s friends and the family dynamics that helped shape her character. Wulf was a nice character too. (What’s not to like about a guy in leather?) He was a complex guy, but what I loved about him most was that you didn’t strip away his masculinity in order for him to ?settle down’ and get his HEA. Too often books turn a bad boy into this domesticated mushy guy and strip away half of what made the character in the first place.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I really enjoyed the book. I’m off to buy #2. Keep up the great work.”
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“This book has it all, and leaves you wanting the next book in the series NOW! Chalcey is an independent woman who knows exactly what she wants, and how she plans to get it. She’s worked hard to achieve her dream, and isn’t about to let it go for the sexy stranger who rescues her from the Date from Hell. Even if he does make her pulse race, and her body ache for forbidden pleasures.
Wulf is a Crystal Warrior, brought here by a magic neither he nor Chalcey truly understand. This is their story, and the author has crafted it with enough emotion, suspense and twists that I found it hard to put down. It’s easy to see why it won the Clendon Award! I sure hope Ms. Anderson doesn’t make us wait too long for the sequel!”
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“I thoroughly enjoyed The Crystal Warrior. No surprises that it won the RWNZ Clendon Award—everything about it was beautifully crafted. Characters felt real—even ancient warrior Wulf—and I loved the interaction between modern day independent heroine, Chalcey, and her hero. There was humour, angst, passion, the works! I am looking forward to the next book in Maree Anderson’s crystal warrior series.”
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“The Crystal Warrior is an intelligent, fast, action packed read with a feisty, sassy heroine Chalcedony and a really hunky hero, Wulfenite. This book has it all including laugh out loud humor, danger, twists and turns, and both protagonists have gut wrenching choices to be made that leave you wondering right to the very end as to whether Chalcey and Wulf will make it. I absolutely love the concept of the Crystal Warriors, and Wulf’s and Chalcey’s story is well plotted and a fantastic read that has you wanting more. Ms Anderson is an excellent writer. It’s very clear why this book won the prestigious The Clendon Award and I can’t wait to read more.”
Other Books
RUBY’S DREAM
Book Two of The Crystal Warriors Series
www.rubysdream.com
She’s a plus-sized woman with sub-zero self esteem. He’s a Crystal Warrior, and the gods’ gift to women. But for a chance at the Happy Ever After they both deserve, they must learn that appearances can be deceiving... and pass the Crystal Guardian’s test before time runs out for them both.
Finalist: Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award for full-length romantic manuscript
REVIEWS
“Training for a triathlon would be a whole lot better if there was a gorgeous warrior getting you out of bed in the morning! Ruby is insecure and for good reason. She’s fat, single and now thirty and her mother won’t let her forget any of them. She’s got a frenemy that is a man-eating stick insect (giggled at that description every time!). Kyan is the crystal warrior that is Ruby’s life mate. The only problem is that he is stunningly gorgeous (and a sweetheart!) so she doesn’t believe a thing about it. The first scenes of their meeting are a riot!
The set up for this story is not new but Maree adds some twists that make it feel fresh and her characters are believable and lovable. There are moments of heartbreak that make you want to cry but this is a Romance so there is a Happily Ever After, they just need to fight for it! Can’t wait to go get the next one now.”
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“[The author’s] characters are believable and lovable. There are moments of heartbreak that make you want to cry but this is a Romance so there is a Happily Ever After, they just need to fight for it! Can’t wait to go get the next one now.”
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PRAISE FOR RUBY’S DREAM
“Humorous, bouncy, and teasingly fantasy-filled. Thoroughly enjoyed it.”
“Plus-sized heroine’s angst was realistically done (I should know!). Great story.”
“The first scenes of [the hero and heroine’s] meeting are a riot!”
“Fabulous book—very vivid imagery, loved the witty dialogue, and the characters were fresh and funny.”
“There’s a little bit of Ruby in every woman. The plot was fun and different, love scenes well done.”
“[The author has] a fresh voice and a talent for humor. I loved it.”
Other Books
JADE’S CHOICE
Book Three of The Crystal Warriors Series
www.jadeschoice.com
A young woman, desperate to provide her chronically ill sister the care she needs, decides to sell herself. But who could have foreseen her first client would be the alien Crystal Warrior destined to be her life-mate? Or that this complex, compelling man who’s captured her heart, plans to kill himself rather than risk being imprisoned in his cursed crystal a third time. She’ll fight to save him, but it could be a losing battle… because he’s still in love with the woman who refused to bond with him decades ago.
Finalist: Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award for full-length romantic manuscript
REVIEWS
“Have just finished the final book in series and sigh cannot wait to see if another book follows. I have read many series and this one has earned a place in my “favorite” category. Wolf, Kyan, Malach [are] crystal warriors imprisoned “for the crimes of following orders”. [They] Get a second chance at life and love by the hands of the one who is responsible for their imprisonment. The stories capture your attention from the moment you begin and the twist and turns that occur catches you off guard and leaves you on the verge of teary eyes. Until LOVE shows you that without it we are lost. And I love a book that I can transport myself into and become part of the characters’ emotions. Well done. I hope that there are more crystal warriors freed because I would hate to think they are still in halja. Lol hint hint. Write next story….”
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“Each situation [is] different, characters’ history so involved you are pulled in and transfixed on what’s to happen next. I like that every book has its own unique style of conflict. It would become boring if every situation ended the same. Malach has endured the most torment of all the crystal warriors and needed this and I wanted it more for him than the others […]. Soooo loved the series, sad that there isn’t another book for me to jump into but hopeful that one is in the works. I will be searching with anticipation….”
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PRAISE FOR JADE’S CHOICE
“I just LOVED [the Crystal Warrior books]. Thank you for linking the books--that makes them even better.”
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nbsp; “Malachite is likeable, sexy, and sufficiently alpha without being insufferable.”
“I’m addicted to your Crystal Warriors series!”
Other Books
LIGHTNING RIDER
www.lightningriderbook.com
Andie Brennan dies in a lightning strike and is miraculously healed and brought back to life. But now she’s sharing her body with an alien—the same alien who rode the lightning bolt that killed her.
Third place: Utah Romance Writers “Heart of the West” award, paranormal category
Highly Commended: Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award for full-length romantic manuscript
Andie Brennan signs up for a Slickrock Bike Trail tour in an attempt to rekindle her love of the outdoors and meets Jake Knight. Jake’s generous, down-to-earth, and gorgeous to boot. He could just be her soul mate… except she’s already got a boyfriend, and Andie doesn’t do cheating. But before she can fully explore why the sound of Jake’s voice and his crooked smile make her feel happier than she’s been in years, death strikes in a searing instant, sizzling a few million neurons and arresting her heart.
Andie wakes up in hospital. Her injuries are completely healed and her recovery is being touted as a miracle. Only trouble is she can’t remember a damn thing about her past?not even her name. Nor is she exactly whooping with joy at her second chance at life because there’s a voice inside her head claiming to be a Lightning Rider Elemental named Karylon. And boy, does it take one heckuva lot of fast talking for Karylon to convince Andie that she’s real?that Andie is not insane, and she really is hosting an alien.
Can a damaged young woman find the courage to escape her manipulative boyfriend and grasp the happiness she deserves? With the help of Jake, and the alien Lightning Rider trapped inside her, you betcha!
But the future of the Lightning Rider elemental race is at stake, and the omniscient Keeper of Portents has no qualms about using elementals or humans to further its hidden agenda. How much will Karylon’s ex-lover Novik risk to be with her again? And who else is The Keeper willing to sacrifice?
PRAISE FOR LIGHTNING RIDER
“It was the perfect ending. I urge you to write a sequel—pretty please with a cherry on top?”
“My son loves Karylon, he said if she were real she’d be the type of person he’d want to meet.”
“I couldn’t put the book down, and ended up reading all 23 chapters in 2 days! I love it! ^.^”
“This is the most captivating hook I’ve EVER read! I LOVE LOVE this :D Great great super awesome job.”
“Holy crap. AMAZING ENDING.”
“Karylon is the most epic character since I read Freaks [of Greenfield High]!”
“What an amazing book.. So interesting and different to anything I have ever read!!”
“Holy sh*t… that was incredible!!! I felt every type of emotion, I felt connected to the characters… I actually cried when I thought [spoiler deleted]! VERY well done.”
Other Books
FREAKS OF GREENFIELD HIGH
Book One of the Freaks Series
www.freaksofgreenfieldhigh.com
When a teenage cyborg is forced to hide out at a small-town high school, the unthinkable happens: she falls in love. But with a covert organization intent on using her as a weapon hot on her trail, now’s sooo not the time for a cyborg to get all emotional!
**Optioned for TV by Cream Drama, Inc.**
Winner: Maryland Romance Writers “Reveal Your Inner Vixen” Contest Young Adult category
Winner: Gulf Coast RWA’s Silken Sands “Self-Published Star” Contest Young Adult Category
REVIEWS
“This book was AMAZING! However, the book should be re-named to attract more YA Romance readers. Name it after Tyler’s song “Lost Without You” I actually don’t even know why I downloaded a sample in the first place. Seriously, the title was very misleading and I was expecting to “delete the sample” after a page or two. However, all it took was a page to get completely hooked on this book. Not the geeky, nerds unite book I was expecting. Instead the main character Jay was so great—a funny, smart, humble, super strong female cyborg. The relationship between Jay and Tyler was fabulous. I do hope there are more books in this series. What a great find!”
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“This book has one of the best heroines ever. Jay, the cyborg heroine, was so much fun, and the author wrote her really well. When I started the book, I was just going to read a little before going to bed. I ended up finally shutting off my Kindle at 2 a.m. I finished the book the next night. A really enjoyable story. The teen hero had more growing up to do, which made him realistic. The YA language, doubts and attitudes were perfect, as were the cliques and the popular kids vs. the picked-on. It moved fast, and I think adults will like this as well as teens.”
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“I was searching for some interesting material to read last night and accidentally stumbled upon this. What an amazing read. I really enjoy a good fantasy/sci-fi romance and this hit the spot. There was enough action, humor, and romance to keep the pages turning. You really find yourself falling in love with this cyborg who tried hard to run away and ended up discovering the greatest thing of all, raw human emotion. I just fell in love with Tyler and his sister who are the perfect brother sister example. They fight, argue, but at the end of the day, love each other unconditionally. As for the cyborg, Jay, she’s just awesome. Make sure to have some long sleeves because you’ll secretly be wiping tears during the last few chapters. I’ll be buying this author’s other novels.”
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“There are three things I’d like to see more of in fiction: ninja, bionics, and cyborgs. Maree Anderson has provided us with the latter, enclosing it in a YA tale of… well, coming to terms with feelings, but the author takes that sap and executes it superbly so it’s no way near as cheesy as it sounds. Needless to say, the cyborg is my favourite character. (Not so much her love interest, who writes love songs. I’ve never been one for balladry.) Read this, and you’ll understand why Jay Smith is so awesome—she’s my new favourite heroine. Now, to convince the author to create a ninja character… ”
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“A thoroughly enjoyable read! How is a teenaged girl cyborg to fit in at a new school? By attaching herself to the guy that is on the outs with everyone else. This story grabbed me right away and I enjoyed Maree Anderson’s easy style and her spot on teen-speak. The characters were believable and I was impressed with Anderson’s ability to create such a loveable and meaningful character such as Jay, a cyborg on the run from a secret agency bent on capturing her and using her for their own means. Anderson gave this cyborg some interesting dilemmas and a kick butt approach that made her endearing and real. She also nailed the teen boy experience and voice, and I totally forgot I was reading something a woman wrote. Tyler is an unlikely hero, being that he is an outcast in his school and faints at the sight of blood. But from the first moment you meet him (when he’s examining a huge zit on his chin), to when he is lovingly tormenting his kid sister Caro (who gives it back in spades), Tyler is real and sweet, and I enjoyed watching his growth throughout the story.”
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“[...] a great YA cross between the Terminator movies and the Sarah Connor TV show. I devoured this book in two nights. It totally played out like a movie in my head. Anderson’s descriptions of cyborg Jay were amazing. I especially loved that Jay was a girl, trying to learn how to cope with new situations while learning more about humanity. I loved how Anderson added human angst to Jay who was trying to cope with blending in while playing being human. And Tyler and his twin sister had their own problems but friendships are the underlying theme in this book. It was fast paced, riveting, real teen language that I loved and I didn’t want it to end. I seriously hope Anderson will write a sequel featuring more cyborgs.”
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“So, I kept seeing this pop up whenever I was looking for a read and I’d skip over it because I really wasn’t interested in a story with a cy
borg in it, but finally, because it kept nagging at me, I gave it a shot and wow, probably one of my favorites! I absolutely loved the characters and the storyline, it was amazing! I spent half my break from college laying on my couch and reading it. Good grief. Thank you for the great story.”
Other Books
FREAKS IN THE CITY
Book Two of the Freaks Series
www.freaksinthecity.com
True love isn’t a cake-walk when your girlfriend’s a cyborg.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Jay to take her relationship with Tyler to the next level?especially when her idea of “the next level” proves to be vastly different to Tyler’s. Building a life together and adapting to each other’s quirks is challenging enough without the secrets they’re keeping blowing up in their faces. Their relationship is tearing Tyler’s family apart. Worse, Tyler’s ex-girlfriend from hell shows up on their doorstep, destitute and desperate for a place to stay until she sorts out the latest hot mess she’s embroiled in.
Jay’s not exactly thrilled about Tyler’s ex turning up out of the blue, but it’s better to keep your enemies close, right? Sure enough, the ex has an agenda. But discovering who is manipulating her behind the scenes isn’t easy, even for a super-smart computer-savvy cyborg. Then a vulnerable member of Tyler’s family is threatened, forcing Jay to confront a ghost from her past who’ll stop at nothing to destroy her. And this time, the weapon he’s chosen to take Jay out really could be the death of her.
REVIEWS
“I loved these characters in the first book and they are just as good in the sequel. I don’t want to give away the plot, but I guarantee you will enjoy it. Ms. Anderson excels at giving us fast paced action and emotional scenes that keep you turning the pages. I highly recommend this book.”
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