Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author A.M. Griffin in the interview chair. We’re discussing her latest release The Game Warden’s Mate, book one in The Hunt series, a sci-fi romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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1. First, what’s your favourite scene in the book? Not in regards to writing, but reading, and why?

A.M.: My favorite scene (without giving away any spoilers) is when Esme takes control of destiny and finds a purpose in it. She not only wants to live, but she wants to survive and win The Hunt at all costs. She’s briefly taken from active play and realizing it’s cheating and her friends will all be left behind, Esme decides to go back into the game to finish it out. There’s not a question about what she will do for us or for her at the time she makes her decision, but we know that the Esme in that scene is far from the Esme on page 1 and we love her for it.

2. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?

A.M.: I love it just the way it is.

3. What do you love most about your two main characters?

A.M.: I love the growth they both go through. In the beginning, Xrez is only interested in protecting his father’s legacy and memory and he’s willing to do anything for it, even break some of the rules of The Hunt that have been put into place when his ancestors started the game. He’s always looked as the prey, as well…the prey, nothing worth saving. When we first meet Esme, she is timid and scared and has led a very sheltered life. She clings to the one person she thinks can save her and help her survive (Ben, the Marine). Throughout the story, we see their values and views change and we grow with them and root them on. This is what I love about Xrez and Esme.

4. What makes you want to shake your two main characters?

A.M.: These two? They’re good peeps, so I didn’t want to shake them, however, there are a few characters in the series who I wanted to throttle and scream, “Get it together!” Payton and Themba (Hunted by the Alien Prince) needed to be shook a few times and most definitely, Fanian, from Hunted by the Alien Vampire. That alien had a one-track mind. lol

5. If you could spend time with one character from your book, who would it be? And what would you do on that day?

A.M.: Xrez lives on a winter planet, and I hate being cold. I wouldn’t want to hang out with him. Lol. BUT, Themba’s kingdom is in a warm climate on his planet and I would love to visit his castle and be pampered with all the luxuries his species has to offer. I also wouldn’t mind meeting all the eligible aliens with tales and two…er…um…appendages (wink). I would also love to spend the day with the Sket’s from Hunted by the Alien General. Their technology is so advanced that they had to close off their planet to outsiders. It’s a matriarchal society and those women don’t play when it comes to their species.

6. If your two main characters dined together, what would they cook up? It can be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a snack.

A.M.: In The Game Warden’s Mate, they do get the opportunity to dine together, and fish was on the menu. I think the two of them would love being introduced to food dishes from each other’s world. I can see Esme cooking one of her favorite homemade Mexican dishes and I can see Xrez wanting her to try some of his favorites. I even see big and hairy Xrez in an apron whipping something up for the love of his life.

7. How did you come up with the title of your book?

A.M.: I’m pretty simple with titles. I always want to have a snazzy title but, in the end, opt for something simple. Hence, this story about the Game Warden and his Mate. I’m super easy.

8. If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the leads?

A.M.: Ohhhhhhh, I would want new up and coming actors, fresh faced.

9. If your book was a candle, what scent would it be and why?

A.M.: It would be a deep woodsy scent, outdoorsy.

10. If your book had a theme song, what would it be and why?

A.M.: Eye of the Tiger. Most, definitely. lol

11. If your book was a colour, what would it be and why?

A.M.: Something bold like the cover. Deep purple with flecks of pink.

12. If a reader asked you why they should read your book, what would you tell them?

A.M.: I would tell them they should read it if they love aliens, abductions, strong heroines, and the show Survivor.

13. What can we expect from you in the future?

A.M.: More Hunt books for sure! I’m also kicking around some other story ideas. Since I write from passion and not necessity, I go with the flow and write what strikes my fancy. I’ve been kicking around a dark paranormal romance idea. Hopefully, I’ll be able to see my thoughts hit the page sooner rather than later.

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Title: The Game Warden’s Mate
Series: The Hunt, book one
Author: A.M. Griffin
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Length: 370 pages
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Publisher: Three Twenty-One, LLC

The Hunter. As the new Game Warden, Xrez Ym’ihla brings patrons from across the galaxy to track prey in a game built to enslave the weak and mate the strong. The business is a long running family legacy and Xrez is determined to succeed as his father had before him. He hadn’t meant to let one human occupy his thoughts, mind, and body.

His lies may come back to haunt him, but if he reveals the truth, he’ll ruin his chance to capture the heart of the one he wants.

The Prey. Esme Valdez had her entire life planned from an early age. As a chemist, her life was average and mundane, just the way she liked it. Until the impossible happened. Never did she imagine being abducted by aliens and forced to participate in a survival of the fittest game called The Hunt. If she survives and makes it to the end, she’ll be freed. If not, she’ll be forced to mate the one who captures her.

Esme is determined to win at all costs, even if it means putting her trust in a sexy alien who taunts her in the most delectable way.

Their love was built on betrayal. Can she trust him with her heart and life?

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“You’re in The Hunt. There are three ways to leave the arena. You can get yourself killed, captured by a hunter or win.” He briefly glanced their way. “From what I’ve observed so far you’ll be captured and processed before the day is over.”

“Hunt?” the male asked. His eyes were opened wide. Panic and fear splashed across his face.

The female gasped and clutched the male tighter, pressing her body against his back.. “Arena?”

Xrez stared at them, pitying them for the circumstances that they’d found themselves in. It wasn’t their fault that they were useless. They were a product of their species. And it wasn’t their fault they were on Turolois. His father was to blame for that.

“My advice? Summon an escape pod. Two hunters followed me and should be closing in on our position. If you leave now, you’ll have a chance to put distance between you and them. They are pack hunters and skilled at what they do. Leaving here on foot is no longer an option as they’ll pick up your scent and corral you into a trap.”

The male scrunched his face, and his lips thinned. “You sound bonkers, man. If you aren’t going to help, get out of here.” Spittle dropped from his lips. “What’s with the bad costume anyway? Are you some messed up cosplayer?”

Xrez didn’t have the energy to indulge these two any longer. No matter what he said, it wouldn’t register in their tiny brains. He’d given them sound advice, and they hadn’t made a move to save themselves.

He took one last glance at the pair of weaklings. If a hunter didn’t capture them soon, their stupidity would get them killed. Yes, it was best that they were taken right away so he could focus on helping the other humans to Level Two.

“I’m so scared of that thing, Spencer,” the woman cried. “It’s so ugly. It looks like a monster.”

“Don’t worry, Mary Ann. This is just a crazy scheme to frighten us. I hate weirdos like him,” the male said in hushed tones. “Ignore him. Maybe if we do, he’ll go away and leave us alone.”

Monster? Ugly?

Is that how humans viewed him? The females of his species found him attractive, virile and strong.

Xrez shrugged. The female didn’t know what a good mate was considering what she’d been used to on Earth. Xrez left the opposite way he’d come, following the scent of one female in particular. He hadn’t gotten two clicks away before he’d heard the screams. It seemed the Cyrox’s efforts had paid off. They’d just acquired a male and female without having to do very much work at all.

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Having reviewed Phate’s Mate earlier, I was all for what the author had in store for her readers next, and she didn’t disappoint.

First off, the world-building is incredible, along with the hunt.  The author put a lot of effort into creating a believable place with believable aliens, and a believable game.  However, humans are a protected species because we don’t have the intelligence that the aliens have to travel to distant worlds, etc., since the novel takes place in present day.

Because the game is illegal, and since a captured human has made it to level three in the game, the hero’s father orders more humans to be in the hunt to bring in more profit to the game that has been in the hero, Xrez’s, family for many generations.

In a way, how they woke up, the way the humans had to digest and accept their surroundings, reminded me of the movie Predators, when the best killers are dropped off on a planet to take part in a hunt against the mighty predators.  But the author put her own spin on this since she uses ordinary human beings, even a woman with two children.

I enjoyed the heroine, Esme Valdez.  She wakes.  Her heart of gold is instant when she takes a shine to protect the mother and her children.  The same for Danny, a soldier taken from Afghanistan.  The fivesome are tight.  As for the other captured humans, it’s every man for him or herself.

This is where the first theme of the novel appears:  what’s more important, your life or the life of others who are at a clear disadvantage.  Esme and Danny won me over since they chose to help the mother and her two children in this strange world where they are being hunted.

Then there is Xrez, who as the game warden, never interferes, but he does this time to ensure the humans have assistance to increase his profits.  He has a great character arc since he starts out seeing humans as below him.  Which is natural.  Don’t we see ants below us?  Mosquitoes?  Etc.  That is another theme in this novel that all life is important and has something to offer.  The author did a great job with this, along with projecting the pattern of following nature.

As for the romance, I enjoyed the two together.  Xrez falls for Esme.  He’s intrigued by her compassion and her adaptability to survive.  I also liked some of the secondary characters, such as the mother and her two children, the assistant Xrez has inherited, and Xrez’s sister.

It’s hard to summarize this story since there is so much contained within the novel.  There is the romance and then there is the hunt.  The author did a great job combining the two since neither overshadowed the other.  The hunt is needed to get the pairing together, and the romance is needed for Xrez to understand the importance of all life.

It’s the first book in the series and one that I recommend.  I see that the mother has her own novel, and that is one I’d love to sink my teeth into since I adored her.

Do yourself a favour and get a copy.  You won’t be disappointed.

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A. M. Griffin is a mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance.

She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.

Follow A.M.: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | Newsletter Sign-Up

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