Shatterproof Bond series by Isobel Starling #LGBT #Interview #Audiobook #RGRGiveaway

An Interview with Isobel Starling, author of the Shatterproof Bond series. Plus, an awesome giveaway for one lucky winner. Be sure to read through the post and comment for your chance to win.

What was the inspiration behind Shatterproof Bond?

I have always been intrigued by the thriller genre and historically, gay men have always been embroiled in the spy game.  I’ve read many M/M romance novels that deal with espionage, duplicity, dirty deals, secrets, and lies.  And although I found them highly entertaining, none of them really hit the spot.  So I decided to write the series I wanted to read and add lots of things that I enjoy in a good book- intrigue, romance, mystery, great sex, and humor.  I really enjoy writing them and am delighted with the response from readers/listeners.

What is your writing process?

I am both pantser, and plotter.  I generally have an idea and run with it until it comes to an end, then I plot around it.  The deeper into the Shatterproof Bond series I’ve got, the more tangled the web so I have to plot very carefully with the next book in the series “Powder Burns” book #5

What do you think makes a good story?

For me a good story has to have a balance of lightness and darkness.  I like a well thought out plot, good back story, attention to detail, lush descriptions, and observations.  I like to be surprised and kept guessing.  If I work out whodunit within the first half of the book I’m disappointed.  But most importantly, whether I’m reading mystery, thriller, romance, fantasy, or sci-fi, I need at least one character I either fancy the arse off, or am at least rooting for.  If I don’t connect with any of the characters in the book then I generally don’t continue reading.

Do you have any strange writing habits or rituals?

Yes, I’m very sensitive to sound so have to have complete silence when I write.  I wear foam earplugs to reduce background noise and I cannot abide hearing a snippet of a song on the radio because I know it will be going round in my head when I am supposed to be focusing on my plot.  I also like to write either in bed, or at my slanted Ikea designer’s desk, therefore I spend a lot of time in my bedroom/office.

What are you working on now and what’s coming out next?

I am currently writing the next Shatterproof Bond novel “Powder Burns”.

I will be releasing another audiobook, last year’s Christmas story – kinky seasonal romance comedy heist called “Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper”, is being produced in audio, narrated by Gary Furlong, and out by the end of November.

This years Christmas story “Back Where He Belongs” is a second chances M/M pup play romance set in Scotland and that will be published on 3rd November.

Where can we find out more about you and follow you?

https://isobelstarling.wix.com/books

https://www.goodreads.com/isobel_starling

https://www.amazon.com/Isobel-Starling/e/B00U1MKE5I

Audiobook links for the Shatterproof Bond series

As You Wish Book #1

Illuminate the Shadows Book#2

Return to Zero Book #3

Counterblow Book #4

Blurb: 

One wedding, two best men, one hell of a love story!

Declan Ramsay’s brother Oliver was marrying Annabelle Aiken at a fairytale castle on the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland. The bride and groom decided that Annabelle’s gay younger brother would share the best man duties with Declan. Declan had never met the kid who was to be his joint best man. Sam Aiken was abroad, working as an interpreter and finishing his studies. He wouldn’t meet Declan until a few days before the wedding, so the best men communicated and planned their speech by email for more than a year.

But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to realize the kid isn’t a kid at all, but a tall, blond, and athletic young man. Declan is sure he’s straight, so he’s alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.

But, is Samuel Aiken all that he appears to be?

Buy links: Audible | Amazon  ||  Add to Goodreads

To read our review of As You Wish click here.

Blurb: 

The thrilling, funny sequel to As You Wish.

“A Scotsman and an Englishman fall in love…after the most amazing week of his life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan Ramsay’s life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his boss’s son Sam.

However, falling for his boss’s son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken.

Sir James is repulsed by his son’s homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay – the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire – is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.

The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam’s love.”

Buy links: Audible | Amazon  ||  Add to Goodreads

Blurb: 

The thrilling sequel to As You Wish and Illuminate the Shadows.

Pulled into a world of secrets and lies for the man he loves, Declan Ramsay’s life has changed immeasurably in the eight months since meeting, and falling for his boss’s son, Sam Aiken. Declan journey of personal discovery is about to take a darker turn, and for Sam, the world becomes more treacherous than he could ever have imagined.

Two agents are missing – presumed dead, while on a reconnaissance mission at an outdoor adventure centre in the Scottish Highlands. Sir James Aiken sends his son and Declan to follow the trail, and discover the fate of the agents.

As the mission offers his first chance to use the skills he learned on the MI6 training course in Morocco, Declan is keen to get started. However, Sir James sees to it that the seeds of doubt and discord have been sewn between the couple as they begin their mission.

The journey to their Highland location, and the discoveries they make when they reach the G’wan Adventures center, prove that Sir James Aiken has been less than honest with his son. Events in the Highlands force Sam and Declan to face their greatest fears, and understand what they both really want from life – and from each other.

Buy links: Audible | Amazon  ||  Add to Goodreads

Blurb: 

After the devastating events in the Scottish Highlands, Sam and Declan have moved on to a new, deeper level in their romance. Their commitment to each other is unquestionable; however, there are plenty of questions that need answering about other aspects of their lives, and those who sought to end them.

Sam is trying his best to deal with the day to day frustrations of his injuries. He’s completely dependent on Declan for everything and hates the way the scales have tipped in their relationship. Although he’s officially on leave, Sam’s mind cannot stop replaying all that happened to him and questioning why, and who is behind it all.

Declan’s relief at having Sam home throws him into house-husband mode. He’s happy to take the reins and care for his partner, however, beneath the surface, Declan cannot help but be drawn back to how he felt in the Highlands, and how they were betrayed by a man who was supposed to have their back. Declan had promised Sir James Aiken that he would pay if he hurt Sam, and now Declan has to decide how he can deliver his payback and put his and Sam’s world back on an even keel.

Buy links: Audible | Amazon  ||  Add to Goodreads

One lucky winner will receive 4 audiobook codes for the Shatterproof Proof Bond Series. Comment on this post for your chance to win. 

You need to be 18 years or older to participate. Void where prohibited. Etc.

This giveaway will end on October 29th, 2017 at 11:59 PM CDT.

Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art in Ireland.  She relocated to the UK and, faced with the dreaded artist’s creative block, Isobel started to write and found she loved writing more than making art.

Isobel is currently working on her fifteenth book.  The Shatterproof Bond series is an Amazon Gay Romance bestseller and is being translated into French with Juno Publications, German with Deadsoft Verlag, and Italian with Quixote Edizioni.  The series is also available as audiobooks, narrated by Gary Furlong.  “Fall Together” and “Sweet Thing” will be translated into French by Rienes- Beaux Publishing.