Today we are very excited to welcome back to Book Lovers Inc author Claire Ashgrove in celebration of her newest release in her Curse of the Templars series, Immortal Trust. Claire stops by today to tell us all about her newest release and let me tell you that I’m very happy to share with you my excitement about this book. I was fortunate enough to read Immortal Trust in advance and let me tell you that it is the best book in this series so far! So, let’s welcome Claire and don’t forget to check at the end of the post for the details of our giveaway 🙂

Anna: Hello Claire and welcome back to Book Lovers Inc! We are very happy to have you today in celebration of your newest release! Could you please tell our readers a few things about your newest book in the Curse of the Templars series, Immortal Trust?

Claire: Hi, everyone! It’s great to be back here — thanks for having me. So about Immortal Trust. Well, it continues where we left off with Farran in Immortal Surrender; the Templar Knights are still trying to overcome a losing battle and secure the holy relics that Azazel is intent on capturing. This is Lucan’s story, a knight who’s haunted by the inability to trust, given a horrific deception from his past. We’ve drifted across the ocean, to Ornes, France, and an archaeological dig that’s yielding some surprising results to our heroine, Chloe. Demons abound, trials of faith in love, and the danger of uncertain fates is still prevalent. It’s really one of my favorite books in the series, and Lucan turned out to be a fascinating character for me.

Anna: One of the things I really enjoy about this series is the fact that it is about Templar Knights, so I’m dying to ask that question since the first book: why Knights? It’s not a concept many authors have used and it’s fresh and I love it!

Claire: Well… I have a fascination with history, and the Templar fall into that. Not so much the legend of their treasure, but what happened to those men. The total Templar populous at the time they were condemned was large enough to form a country. Yet, in what amounted to a handful of days, they vanished. An entire fleet of Templar ships went missing virtually overnight. That led my imagination down a very twisty path! Using the secretive nature of the Order also allowed me to keep them “old”, not just men who once were knights and could be living next door. Which meant I could bring the concept of chivalry forth and use some every medieval bases to build from. I’ve had a wonderful time with the series so far, and have discovered a few surprises myself. I’m really glad to hear you’re enjoying it so much!

Anna: Did you research a lot in order to sketch the world in The Curse of the Templars series?

Claire: I worked, on and off, on the research for this for almost a year before writing the first book, Immortal Hope. I studied architectural ruins, the Templar culture, Templar history. I also dug into some of the finer parts, such as the history of the places the books are set — like the feudal castle in Ornes, France that is buried under Hitler’s rubble. And, to incorporate the twists and plays I’ve done on Christian mythos with the relics and the archangels, I had to study that as well, to know how to best fictionalize and make it entertaining, not preachy.

Anna: How many books do you plan on writing in this series?

Claire: Oh gosh. I can’t say without giving away a key spoiler. I will say it’s less than ten and has a finite end, not a series that will carry-on forever and ever.

Anna: Apart from the Curse of Templars, what are your plans for future books?

Claire: Well, I also write as Tori St. Claire and have some new things coming out this year and next there. I can’t delve into details — inks not dry on contracts. But Black Opals 3 is coming!!

As for Claire, I’m spending a little more time, hopefully, in the historical world this year. Continuing my self-published pirate series is on the top of my list, and a super-secret project I hope to launch as well.

Last, this year I had the honor of being accepted to take a television action-drama into novel form, and I’m working on the novelization of Kill ‘Em All, with the producer, Jesse Pringle, under the name M.J. Marshall. It’s just in the initial stages, but do keep an eye on my Facebook page or my website for details. I’m thrilled to be a part of this exciting venture!

Anna: Can you summarize Immortal Trust for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less?)

Claire: I am terrible at this — this is as good as it gets! Chuckle.

Immortal Templar Knight Lucan must overcome his tainted soul and trust in his fated seraph before he loses her to the dark designs of Azazel and damns the noble Order to eternal condemnation.

Anna: Thank you Claire for being here with us today!

Claire: Thanks again, for having me!

About the Author

Claire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction’s Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed contemporaries, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars, will debut with Tor in January 2012. For those who prefer the more erotic side of romance, she also writes for Berkley Heat under the pen name Tori St. Claire.

Claire lives on a small farm in Missouri with her two toddler sons, fifteen horses, four cats, and five dogs. In her “free” time, she enjoys cooking, winning at rummy, studying ancient civilizations, and spending quiet moments with her family, including the critters. She credits her success to her family’s constant support and endless patience.

Visit Claire
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About the Book

When archaeoloist Chloe Broussard acccepts the contract to lead a dig in Ornes, France, she has no idea she will uncover the Veil of Veronica. When she does, she discovers a danger far greater than the demons she’s confronted since childhood. Azazel wants her, as well as the Veronica, and his chosen minion is her brother. Her hope lies with immortal Templar Knight Lucan. Her life depends on oaths she knows nothing about.

For countless centuries, Lucan of Seacourt has lived with the knowledge that his brother killed their family. Now, as Azazel’s darkness eats away at his soul, old betrayal stirs suspicion. He trusts no one. Not even the seraph who can heal his dying spirit.

With the fate of the Almighty hanging in the balance, Lucan must find faith in something more terrifying than the dark lord’s creations. He must learn to believe his heart.

Buy at: Amazon | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository UK 

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~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Tor Books is generously offering 3 copies of Immortal Trust to 3 lucky US/Can residents while we are offering one copy of Immortal Trust to one lucky international winner!

All you have to do is tell us: Between an immortal Templar Knight and a sexy pirate, who would you choose?

(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).

Giveaway ends on April 6th 2013 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good Luck!

About Anna

Anna is a psychologist from Greece.You can almost always find her with a book stuck under her nose,so it's no wonder that all her friends make a joke of her.Apart from reading she dreams of the day she'll be able to travel around the world!Anna also blogs at Books to Brighten your Mood.

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