FREE today 5/1 The Blood: Secrets and Lies by Brandylan James

The Blood: Secrets and Lies

What would you do for love?

Would you lie for it?

Would you die for it?

Would you kill for it?

Would you endure centuries of darkness for just one last chance to change everything, even if you knew it was probably hopeless?

Love is never easy.But in the end, it is all that is worth fighting for ... 

When the first day of senior year finally rolled around in sleepy Croft's Landing, NC, Jules Walker was definitely psyched. Not only was she going to hook up with her best bud and fellow Blud band member, Dylan Croft after the long summer vacation, but more importantly, according to the grapevine, Dylan and Landing High’s resident queen bitch, Amanda Zane were officially over. For some reason, that made Jules’ heart beat just a tad faster. However, before she even had a chance to process, much less address her newly emerging feelings for Dylan, he was already head-over-heels . . . for someone else, and not just anyone else ... for Jules' best friend, and that would be his undoing; in fact, it could prove deadly.

Enter tall, svelte new girl, Madison Janey who barreled into English Lit class in the middle of a discussion on Pride and Prejudice, balancing a schedule in one hand and an attitude in the other. That's when Jules intuitively knew three things for sure: Madison was destined to be her best friend, Dylan was going to fall in love with her, and that, in turn, was going to put them all on a catastrophic collision course.

It didn't take long. From the moment the iconoclastic "Maddie" moved into the Landing’s Inn, aka home-sweet-home to Jules and her single mom, Starr, there were far more questions than answers. Despite Madison’s somewhat fanciful accounts about her family, despite her mysterious disappearances in the late night hours, Jules was content to cut her friend some slack because that’s what best friends did. Amanda Zane, on the other hand, felt no such compunction. To her, Madison Janey said one thing: "competition," and she was bound and determined to expose her as a fake and a liar. That, too, didn't take long, but even when confronted with Amanda’s “proof,” Jules refused to admit what should have been painfully obvious: Madison was hiding something. The pills she found in her friend’s room should have been enough to raise a red flag; not to mention the dried blood stains on her clothes and the way her eyes changed and looked, well . . . not human. Then the mysterious texts started, suggesting that Dylan was in danger. The thing was, Jules really loved Madison . . . as much as she loved Dylan. Even though it hurt like hell to have to watch the two people she cared for the most falling in love, Jules couldn't allow herself to believe anything bad about Madison. It wasn't until she found her friend packing to leave town the night before Blud's big Halloween concert that Jules confronted her, mostly because she knew it would break Dylan’s heart if Madison checked out without so much as a good-bye. Though Madison begged Jules to trust her one last time and tearfully promised to tell her everything – and Dylan as well -- Jules knew in her heart that it was one more lie.

But Croft’s Landing was a town founded on lies and secrets, something both Jules and Dylan would inadvertently discover that same Halloween night: Jules, when she happened upon an old diary in Madison's backpack; Dylan, when his father revealed a horrifying truth about the Crofts.

As the moon turned blood red for the first time in over four hundred years, an ancient curse was about to be unleashed – one that set Madison and Dylan on opposite sides of two powerful families bent on each other’s destruction; one that freed an enigmatic prisoner to exact his revenge on the witch who condemned him for loving her; and one that would ultimately demand one thing: their blood . . . .

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

It’s started again. We’re betrayed. They’ve denounced us as witches and now everyone is calling for our blood. They’ve all gone mad. I don’t know if I’ll survive this night or if I’ll ever see Daniel again … 

*** 

As Cassondra glared into her intruder’s cold, steel blue eyes, a tremor rocked her resolve. 

“Where is he, Jaydon? Where is Daniel …? What have you done?!” 

Jaydon Croft raised the gun, his red lips curling into a deadly smirk. 

“Are you ready to die, witch?” 

*** 

According to the village grapevine, Dylan and Amanda Zane were over. That mattered because: first, Amanda was never good enough for him; and secondly because Dylan was Jules’ best friend, and thirdly because … Jules pressed her eyes shut and made a demi-pirouette in the direction of the doorway. She couldn’t allow herself to finish the thought or even acknowledge that there was any more to it. There wasn’t. It was enough to say that Dylan Croft was special, and the real reason Jules could have for looking forward to senior year was that she would have the opportunity to hang out with him more if he was disengaged from Landing High’s resident queen bitch.

Rave reviews!

• A compelling drama weaving fantasy with history. This is a worthy follow-up to Bram Stoker and the vampire legend. The pace is fast and lively. Well done! - Amazon Customer
• The character development is authentically relatable. There is an empathy for the psychological introspections that question one's life decisions. The descriptions of time and place are pleasantly bucolic. - Barbara DiVenuto
• Be forewarned: you will not be able to put this book down. From the start you are inexplicably drawn into the lives of these star crossed (or rather blood crossed) characters. A gripping story with plenty of drama, suspense, intrigue, and romance. A mesmerizing must read! The next "Twilight"! - Michele Landers

About Brandylan James

Brandylan James (aka Joanna Coons Kosloff) is a multi-published writer /creator of television continuing dramas. She created the Harlequin series: Tyler. The Blood is a Young/New Adult romantic fantasy series dealing with the Clare Curse. She writes under the pen names: Joanna Kosloff, Joanna Coons, Dylan Malloy, Brandylan James, Jamie Dylan, Brandon James. She has also authored several dog books and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America. You can visit her on Facebook and Linked In. Find her on Goodreads.

I was compensated for sharing this post via Fiverr.

The Blood: Secrets and Lies by Brandylan James

The Blood: Secrets and Lies

What would you do for love?

Would you lie for it?

Would you die for it?

Would you kill for it?

Would you endure centuries of darkness for just one last chance to change everything, even if you knew it was probably hopeless?

Love is never easy.But in the end, it is all that is worth fighting for ...

When the first day of senior year finally rolled around in sleepy Croft's Landing, NC, Jules Walker was definitely psyched. Not only was she going to hook up with her best bud and fellow Blud band member, Dylan Croft after the long summer vacation, but more importantly, according to the grapevine, Dylan and Landing High’s resident queen bitch, Amanda Zane were officially over. For some reason, that made Jules’ heart beat just a tad faster. However, before she even had a chance to process, much less address her newly emerging feelings for Dylan, he was already head-over-heels . . . for someone else, and not just anyone else ... for Jules' best friend, and that would be his undoing; in fact, it could prove deadly.

Enter tall, svelte new girl, Madison Janey who barreled into English Lit class in the middle of a discussion on Pride and Prejudice, balancing a schedule in one hand and an attitude in the other. That's when Jules intuitively knew three things for sure: Madison was destined to be her best friend, Dylan was going to fall in love with her, and that, in turn, was going to put them all on a catastrophic collision course.

It didn't take long. From the moment the iconoclastic "Maddie" moved into the Landing’s Inn, aka home-sweet-home to Jules and her single mom, Starr, there were far more questions than answers. Despite Madison’s somewhat fanciful accounts about her family, despite her mysterious disappearances in the late night hours, Jules was content to cut her friend some slack because that’s what best friends did. Amanda Zane, on the other hand, felt no such compunction. To her, Madison Janey said one thing: "competition," and she was bound and determined to expose her as a fake and a liar. That, too, didn't take long, but even when confronted with Amanda’s “proof,” Jules refused to admit what should have been painfully obvious: Madison was hiding something. The pills she found in her friend’s room should have been enough to raise a red flag; not to mention the dried blood stains on her clothes and the way her eyes changed and looked, well . . . not human. Then the mysterious texts started, suggesting that Dylan was in danger. The thing was, Jules really loved Madison . . . as much as she loved Dylan. Even though it hurt like hell to have to watch the two people she cared for the most falling in love, Jules couldn't allow herself to believe anything bad about Madison. It wasn't until she found her friend packing to leave town the night before Blud's big Halloween concert that Jules confronted her, mostly because she knew it would break Dylan’s heart if Madison checked out without so much as a good-bye. Though Madison begged Jules to trust her one last time and tearfully promised to tell her everything – and Dylan as well -- Jules knew in her heart that it was one more lie.

But Croft’s Landing was a town founded on lies and secrets, something both Jules and Dylan would inadvertently discover that same Halloween night: Jules, when she happened upon an old diary in Madison's backpack; Dylan, when his father revealed a horrifying truth about the Crofts.

As the moon turned blood red for the first time in over four hundred years, an ancient curse was about to be unleashed – one that set Madison and Dylan on opposite sides of two powerful families bent on each other’s destruction; one that freed an enigmatic prisoner to exact his revenge on the witch who condemned him for loving her; and one that would ultimately demand one thing: their blood . . . .

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

It’s started again. We’re betrayed. They’ve denounced us as witches and now everyone is calling for our blood. They’ve all gone mad. I don’t know if I’ll survive this night or if I’ll ever see Daniel again … 

*** 

As Cassondra glared into her intruder’s cold, steel blue eyes, a tremor rocked her resolve. 

“Where is he, Jaydon? Where is Daniel …? What have you done?!” 

Jaydon Croft raised the gun, his red lips curling into a deadly smirk. 

“Are you ready to die, witch?” 

*** 

According to the village grapevine, Dylan and Amanda Zane were over. That mattered because: first, Amanda was never good enough for him; and secondly because Dylan was Jules’ best friend, and thirdly because … Jules pressed her eyes shut and made a demi-pirouette in the direction of the doorway. She couldn’t allow herself to finish the thought or even acknowledge that there was any more to it. There wasn’t. It was enough to say that Dylan Croft was special, and the real reason Jules could have for looking forward to senior year was that she would have the opportunity to hang out with him more if he was disengaged from Landing High’s resident queen bitch.

About Brandylan James

Brandylan James (aka Joanna Coons Kosloff) is a multi-published writer /creator of television continuing dramas. She created the Harlequin series: Tyler. The Blood is a Young/New Adult romantic fantasy series dealing with the Clare Curse. She writes under the pen names: Joanna Kosloff, Joanna Coons, Dylan Malloy, Brandylan James, Jamie Dylan, Brandon James. She has also authored several dog books and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America. You can visit her on Facebook and Linked In. See more on Goodreads.

Whiskey Witches Season 1 by S.M. Blooding Free Dates

Detective Paige Whiskey comes from a long line of witches. They may not all be the most powerful, but they are outspoken and supportive of their community. She alone has no gifts. She can’t summon fire, can’t read minds. She knows the arcane. She’s studied it. That, along with her connection to the Whiskey Witches, lands her some pretty strange cases.

Like the sacrificial murders of St. Francisville, Louisiana. There’s a killer on the loose, choosing people in a vain attempt to raise a demon. Not just any demon, though. A man born long ago, made a demon in order to protect the Gate to Hell.

Together with demon hunter, Dexx Colt, her kitchen-witch grandmother, and her paranormal investigator brother-in-law, they unravel a conspiracy far bigger than a few simple murders, and re-discover Paige’s gift.

She’s a demon summoner and she’s key to the killer’s plan.

Episodes of Whiskey Witches

Demon Show Free May 30-31

Possession Free June 1 & 2

Love Bodies Free June 3 & 4

Gates of Hell Free June 6 & 7

Or read episodes 1-4 in novel form for FREE on Kindle Unlimited Whiskey Witches

Blood Moon Magick releases June 8! Stay up to date by signing up for her newsletter

Available Now! Olivia Hardin's new boxed set 'A Bundle of Trouble'

Get the first THREE Lynlee Lincoln Series books, PLUS a bonus holiday prequel all in ONE Bundle. Inside you’ll find:

The Trouble with Holidays (A Lynlee Lincoln Series Prequel) Falling for a human who doesn't believe in magic was the last thing Lynlee Lincoln needed. Beck Hale was a young architect and she was a Neutralizer-in-training--they were drawn together, but worlds apart. When Beck's apartment gets flooded, she invites him to her home for Christmas. Lynlee tries to ignore the pull of the mistletoe, but after all, 'tis the season.

Trolling for Trouble (The Lynlee Lincoln Series Book 1) The Lynlee Lincoln Series One: Magical and undead creatures can get into plenty of sticky situations. Lynlee Lincoln loves her job as a neutralizer, but she needs a break from the supernatural chaos after an ultra-busy Halloween night. Coming home, she's ready to collapse into her bed and forget the day... until she discovers two children scavenging through her refrigerator. One look at the pair and she feels a tug on her heartstrings, then she learns their father is the man she spent years trying to forget. When Beck pleads with her to help save his daughter, Lynlee gets thrust into a heap of trouble.

Tangled Up in Trouble (The Lynlee Lincoln Series Book 2) Lynlee Lincoln isn't just a witch, she's also a Neutralizer. Her job is a juggling act to keep magical and undead clients out of trouble. But getting back together with her old flame throws one more ball into the mix and romance with a guy who has two kids can get complicated. When her old mentor asks her to investigate the goings-on of a dark witch, things turn messy. The witch is stalking supernatural creatures to collect ingredients for a potion that Lynlee can't seem to figure out.

To keep those closest to her from becoming the next victims, she may have to confront the demons within herself.

This Spells Trouble ((The Lynlee Lincoln Series Book 3) It took some work, but Lynlee Lincoln has finally found balance between her life as a witch and her relationship with Beck Hale. A human boyfriend with two kids wasn’t something she ever planned, but their new arrangement lets her have her cake and eat it, too. Just when she’s getting comfortable, puzzling visions of impending danger at home begin to haunt her dreams.

And if personal issues aren’t troubling enough, Lynlee and the entire organization of Neutralizers go on alert when a phantom creature begins staging magical episodes on live television. If they can’t put a stop to the sensational events, all hell will break loose in the human world. Can Lynlee keep both her new family and the world safe without getting swallowed up in the process?

Buy on Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

About the author:

When Olivia Hardin started having movie-like dreams in her teens, she had no choice but to begin putting them to paper. Before long, the writing bug had bitten her, and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several rejections plus a little bit of life later, she was temporarily "cured" of the urge to write. That is, until she met a group of talented and fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she needed to get lost in the words again.

Olivia has attended three different universities over the years and toyed with majors in Computer Technology, English, History and Geology. Then one day she heard the term "road scholar,"' and she knew that was what she wanted to be. Now she "studies" anything and everything just for the joy of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she's sometimes accused of being artistic.

A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny and their puppy, Bonnie.

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Instagram | Literary Addicts | Goodreads

'Gertie's Paranormal Plantation (A Literal Leigh Spinoff)' by Melanie James

Blurb:

When you run a shelter for paranormal creatures, you can’t afford to let your guard down. Gertie O’Leary, a carefree and quite naïve, witch welcomes an enchanting new guest to the plantation and finds herself caught up in an ancient struggle. Can Marie Laveau and the gang pull together to save Gertie and her love life? 

Love, lust, and laughs await at Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation.

Available on Amazon

Bestselling author, Melanie James spent 14 years as an IT systems administrator before tiring of the hustle and bustle of the technology world. She's doing what she loves, by writing steamy paranormal, contemporary, and romantic comedy books. Melanie has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Leadership and Development, with a minor in Women's Studies. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Adult Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Happy Release Day! 'Tiddly Jinx (Easy Bake Coven #4) by Liz Schulte

Tiddly Jinx 

Selene Warren’s life is plagued by disaster. To fix the trouble her good intentions caused, she needs to rescue the necromancer who tried to help her, find and return the Pole of Charon, and win over the Elfish people. However, nothing ever goes as planned.

The necromancer reappears in the Abyss, but is determined to be an enemy rather than a friend. The Pole of Charon can’t be tracked, yet small tears between worlds pop up and let in monsters that threaten to expose what Selene brought back. Tensions between elves and the other fae could erupt into violence at any moment, tearing apart the race once and for all.

To mend the rips in the veil, Selene’s coven will have to use black magic, but that comes at a cost. Every time a spell is cast their souls are at stake. Forced to make a deal with an enemy or let the world be destroyed, all of her the lies and double crosses start to add up. The line between good and evil blurs until Selene doesn’t know which side she is fighting for.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords

 

Start the Series for FREE - Easy Bake Coven For Selene Warren being a witch is no big deal. She dabbles in harmless magic with her friends and never thinks much about it. However, when a stranger who seems to know her shows up at her studio and her grandmother is brutally attacked, her simple life becomes complicated.

A world of elves, half-elves, fae—and one peculiar Sekhmet named Femi open up to her. She will discover that fairy tales are real, politics are ugly in any world, and there is a lot more to her life than she ever dreamed possible.

This new reality threatens swallow Selene whole, but with a forgotten past beating down her door, she will have to dive in to save her future.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble  

 

About Author Liz Schulte

Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn’t always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.

When Liz isn’t writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

Follow Liz Schulte: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

'Van Locken's Witch' by Debbie Peterson Blurb Blitz Tour

Van Locken’s Witch

by Debbie Peterson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Kapitein Rand Van Locken has no idea what awaits him as he boards the Spanish galleon on behalf of the Dutch West India Company, or that the beautiful woman imprisoned within will change his life in ways he never imagined or even desired. Until now...

Lissa Capoen, didn't plan for the Spaniards to capture her while attempting to rescue her sister. She didn't foresee the handsome sea captain coming swiftly to her aid and offering his assistance. Nor did she expect him to steal her heart and claim it as his own.

Yet, as destiny brings them ever closer together, Armando Manera is determined to recapture the witch and present her to the Spanish King. No matter what it takes...

Read an excerpt:

She put her hands to her face, lowered her head, and released a sigh. “Oh, Rand, don’t ask me to do this. I can’t let you go in there without me, not when—”

“Shh, it’s going to be all right, Lissa. I promise you we’ll get inside that building, retrieve your sister, and leave the place without undue hardship or mishap.” At once he drew her rigid body into his arms and in an effort to soothe, cuddled her close to his heart.

“What if you’re wrong? What if something terrible happens to you or a member of your crew, and I could have prevented it? I can’t live with that. I can’t,” she whispered.

“Nor could I live with the memory, if something dreadful should befall you. Don’t you see? If I allow you to go inside the fortress with me, all my concentration and efforts from that point forward will be on keeping you safe and protected."

"You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself—"

"No, despite all of your abilities, I would still worry over the unexpected. This will divide my attention and make the rescue of your sister far more dangerous than it needs to be—for me, my crew, and your sister. Please, don’t argue with me. We have a great deal of experience, and we know what we’re doing. I need you to have a little bit of faith in me. I need that more than anything else right now. Please. I am begging you. Trust me and do as I say.”

The tension that had filled her body slowly ebbed as Lissa considered his arguments and request. She stepped away from his embrace and locked her gaze to his. Her eyes blazed with acquiescent indignation, and a touch of resentment stained her cheeks. She didn’t like it, but she would do as he asked. 

“My trust you already have, Kapitein Rand Van Locken,” she hissed. “But just so you know? There will come a reckoning more terrible than what you could possibly imagine, should you break it.” The bewitching fire in her eyes anchored her fate. He couldn't stop it. Not any longer.

Buy links

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Debbie has always had a soft spot for fairy tales, the joy of falling in love, and happily ever after endings. Stories of love and make believe filled her head for as long as she can remember. However, it was her beloved husband who encouraged, cajoled and inspired her to take up a pen and write some of them down. Her journey to published author could fill quite a few pages. However, in June of 2010, she submitted her debut novel “Spirit of the Rebellion” to her wonderful, patient, editor at The Wild Rose Press and the rest is history. She now has four published novels to her credit, with a fifth due out in 2014.

When she is not busy conjuring her latest novel, Debbie spends time with the members of her very large family, within the lovely, arid deserts of southern Nevada. She also pursues her interests in family history, mythology, and all things ancient and historic.

Connect with Debbie:

Website: http://dk-peterson.com/
Blog: http://debbie-peterson.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbiePeterson1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Peterson-Author/214882805206529?ref=tn_tnmn
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/debpeterson1/

Debbie will be awarding an exclusively made representation of Lissa's necklace created by Shandra Kay to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY). Follow the tour for more chances to win!

Cover Reveal! 'The Serpent's Fate (Vigilati Series #3)' by J.K. Hogan

The Serpent’s Fate 

Vigilati Series 

Book 3

J.K. Hogan

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Word Count: 100,000 words

Cover Artist: KHD Graphics

Book Description:

Can a traumatized veteran-turned-mercenary who is tormented by voices in his head be saved by the love of a wayward single mother with demons of her own? Afflicted by PTSD from serving in Afghanistan, and tormented by a childhood trauma, transient veteran Matthieu Rousseau struggles with the choices he's made in his life. Estranged from his family, Matthieu drifts from one mercenary job to the next, until one thing stops him. Fate.

In hiding from her abusive ex-husband, musician Fate Callahan lives in New Orleans with her seven-year-old daughter. She remains in constant fear of being found, and her worst nightmare comes alive when a dark, dangerous stranger tells her he’s been hired to locate and kill her—but wants to save her instead.

Fate and Matthieu find themselves on the run together, fleeing from the hitmen and an unseen evil worse than anything else they’ll face. While just trying to stay alive, they become entangled in the battle between the Vigilati and the Lochrim; an archaic sect of witches and the evil creatures they are bred to fight. Unbeknownst to Fate and Matthieu, they are more deeply connected to the Vigilati than either of them could ever imagine.

They must join family and allies of the Vigilati to help save the human world, possibly saving each other along the way. Matthieu teaches Fate how to trust in love again, while she gives him back the one thing he never thought he deserved—family.

Read an excerpt:

Fate shot upright in her bed, on instant alert as she looked around the dark room. Something had woken her, she was sure of it. But there was nothing there. Her room, seemingly the whole house, was dead silent, yet she knew she had to have heard something.

While her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she climbed out of bed and put on a thin robe over her tank top and shorts. She crept towards the door to her bedroom, treading lightly while still listening for anything out of the ordinary. Her hand froze on the doorknob as she remembered Matthieu’s whispered plea to keep the door locked.

She’d planned on obeying—but what if their pursuers had made their way into the house? What if they’d taken out Matthieu? Fate wasn’t about to wait in her bedroom for them to come and get her, the perfect gift-wrapped sitting duck.

She had to make a quick decision. Turning the lock, she stepped out into the hall and listened. Finally, she heard it…a pained moan coming from somewhere in the living room. It was barely audible, yet excruciating—as if someone were gasping out their last breath. Matthieu.

Fate hurried into the open living room which was washed in pale moonlight from the large picture windows. She didn’t see anything at first so she started to turn toward Matthieu’s bedroom, when she heard the sound again, much more faint.

It came from the couch. Panicked, she rounded the end of the overstuffed sofa and looked down; sure she was going to find Matthieu bleeding out on the supple leather. He was there, but with no physical injuries that she could see.

His body was completely tense, back bowed off the couch but arms and legs straight, as if they were bound. But his face...his face was screwed into a twisted mask of indescribable pain—jaws clenched, teeth bared, eyes squeezed tightly shut.

She watched as he seemed to struggle against the invisible bonds, and he let out another one of those death-moans. The sound tore at her and she was drawn to it, helpless to do anything but try and stop his pain. Yes, he’d made her promise never to wake him—but maybe she didn’t have to. Maybe she could soothe him, ease his pain, while he still slept. It was worth a shot.

Climbing onto the couch over him, she straddled his hips and stared down at his pain stricken face. “Here goes nothing,” she whispered, and grabbed his thick wrists, one in each of her hands.

She felt her body convulse as she was violently ripped from her own consciousness and thrown, head-first, into Matthieu’s.

I’m in the dream, Fate thought. She was in Matthieu’s nightmare and, more than that, she was Matthieu. For that moment in time, she had his thoughts, his memories. She was inside him.

She found herself strapped down by the arms and legs to a metal table, surrounded by men chattering in a language she’d never heard, but somehow understood—because Matthieu did. Looking down at her body—Matthieu’s body—she saw that it was covered in blood that oozed from dozens of open wounds. They were too shallow to be fatal, but enough to cause immeasurable pain. No wonder he’d cried out.

Finally, the men stopped yelling, and one who seemed to be the ringleader—Patang—approached her. He gestured to one of the other men, who opened the door of the dank, dungeon-esque room. A third man came through tugging a bound soldier, an American, and pushed him to stand in front of them.

Fate felt Matthieu’s stomach constrict and his heart begin to pound. A name flickered through her mind, just a whisper – Striker, one of Matthieu’s team members—a brother in arms. Striker’s captor kicked at the back of his knees, forcing him to kneel in front of the leader, before taking out a wicked looking knife.

“Last chance, Sergeant,” he said in that guttural language. “Who sent you? Who’s pulling your strings?”

Matthieu hesitated, and the man holding Striker pressed the knife closer to his jugular. Fate could hear Matthieu’s thoughts racing as he stared at his friend in what could possibly be his last moments alive. Striker knew that Matthieu wouldn’t give up his unit—in fact, as Matthieu’s eyes connected with the other man’s, Striker stared him down and gave him an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

You were trained for this, Rousseau, he told himself. They couldn’t sacrifice the entire unit, the entire mission, for two men, and they both knew it. Slowly, with his heart clenching in his chest, Matthieu turned his face to the leader and glared, then looked back at Striker.

The leader obviously took it as confirmation that neither soldier was talking. With a stiff nod to his subordinate, Patang stood there, detached, as the man pulled the sharp knife across Striker’s throat and let him drop.

Fate felt Matt’s pain, but also his conviction. He wouldn’t grieve much for Striker, knowing the man had died the way he lived, protecting his country. But he would grieve the rest of his life for Riksa.

She’d had enough. She wanted to be back to herself. I need to be me, she repeated, and concentrated on pulling her thoughts from Matthieu’s. Finally, she felt herself separate, but much to her disappointment, they were still in the dream.

The insurgents had gone and left them alone with Striker’s cooling body. Fate cringed and tried not to look. Instead, she concentrated on Matthieu. She could see him now as she stood beside the torture table. He was strapped down by his arms and legs, covered in blood from the agglomeration of wounds that marred his body.

His face was turned towards her, but his eyes were on Striker. She wasn’t sure if he’d be able to see her anyway—then again, she didn’t really know the rules of invading someone’s dream. It had never happened before.

Matthieu’s body was racked with violent tremors and tears were running down his face, mingling with the blood to create ghastly red streaks from the corners of his eyes. After a few moments of silence, he threw his head back and let out an anguished roar.

Fate had had enough. No one deserved to suffer this much. Heedless of the blood, she stroked his face with a gentle hand. “Matthieu, it’s time to wake up. Let it go, for now.” She was startled when he stopped screaming and grief-stricken eyes locked onto hers.

Fate was slammed back into her own body with the force of a freight train. But it didn’t dislodge her from her perch on Matthieu. Her hands remained wrapped around his wrists. Good thing, too, because he came up swinging. Well, he would have, but Fate concentrated all of her energy on holding him down. His body raged and bucked beneath her as he tried to dislodge whatever was weighing him down. She just held on as tight as she could.

“Matthieu,” she said in a calm voice that belied her trepidation. She repeated his name over and over until his violent motions stilled and his eyes began to focus. A deep, dark chocolate, his eyes finally rested on her face and widened. While still cautious, Fate let go of his hands but kept her position on top of him.

Matthieu looked disoriented as his eyes bounced around the room, likely trying to get a handle on exactly where—and when—he was.

“Hey. It’s me. You had a bad dream, but you’re here in New Orleans. La Maison de Rousseau, remember?” she asked with a quirk of her lips.

Finally he nodded and threw a heavy arm over his face. She couldn’t see his eyes, but the tears that seeped down his cheeks were clear as a bell. His muscles took up that full body shudder he’d had in the dream, and his big chest began to convulse.

Swallowing down her fear, Fate lifted his arm away from his face and held his head still so that he was forced to meet her eyes. She stroked his scarred cheek—realizing that the injury had to have happened before the torture—and spoke softly to him.

“Matthieu, you have to let it go.”

“How can I?” he said. His voice cracked as his body was shaken with another brutal shudder.

“Tell me,” she answered. Without a thought, she ran her fingers through his hair and found it softer than she would have imagined. He tensed and she was sure he wouldn’t speak, but then he did.

The whole story poured out of him in stuttering gasps and sobs—he told her about the mission, the bomb, the civilians who’d been killed. So that was who Riksa was. He told her about his injuries, to his eyes, ears, and throat—and, yeah, that explained the voice.

He told her about getting captured, and being tortured by Patang and his crew. She was horrified by what they had done to him, but she forced herself to keep calm. Finally, he told her about Striker—SFC Vincent “Striker” Perelli—and how he’d essentially signed the man’s death warrant.

When it was all done, he looked so destroyed, so miserable, that her heart went out to him. She leaned forward and took his face in her hands. “You were doing a job and still, you did everything you could to try and save Riksa. And you did exactly what Striker had wanted—expected—you to do. You have to let this go, and forgive yourself.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“Try,” she said, and leaned over to touch her lips to his.

About the Author:

J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them. J.K. is hoping to one day have a little something for everyone, so she’s branched out from m/f paranormal romance and added m/m contemporary romance. Who knows what’s next?

J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she in the country with her husband and young son, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn’t on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert. In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! For more information, please visit www.jkhogan.com.

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Cover Reveal! 'The Witch Who Cried Wolf' by Sarah Makela

Coming Soon...

The Witch Who Cried Wolf

Sarah Mäkelä

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Kissa Press LLC

Date of Publication: December 2, 2013

Book Description: 

Be careful what you wish for…

A potion gone wrong: Mia Brooks is a reluctant witch, with powers that she tries to hold in check. But when her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves—that she didn’t even realize existed…

Hidden emotions: Ethan Parker, Mia’s brother’s best friend, is home from deployment for the holidays. Mia’s not only hiding from werewolves, she’s trying to keep her feelings for Ethan secret; it would be a disaster if he knew she’s been nursing a long-time crush…

The power of love: things take a terrifying turn when Mia and Ethan are attacked by a werewolf. Ethan is amazed when Mia reveals her paranormal prowess as she tries to shield them from danger. But can she really protect them from the darkness that lurks? And how can he tell her that, for ages, he’s been denying what he really wants…Mia?


About the Author:

Sarah Mäkelä loves her fiction dark, magical, and passionate. She is a paranormal romance author, but she’s written all over the romance spectrum with cyberpunk, sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy...even a sweet contemporary romance!

A life-long paranormal fan, she still sleeps with a night-light. In her spare time, she reads sexy books, watches scary movies (and Ghost Adventures), and plays computer games with her husband. When she gets the chance, she loves traveling the world too.


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Review of 'Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective' by Christine Amsden

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective
Cassie Scot Book One
Christine Amsden

Genre: Urban Fantasy (paranormal, mystery, romance, new adult)
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Date of Publication: May 15, 2013
ISBN: 9781606197
ASIN:B00C7VR69I
Number of pages: 260
Word Count: 85,000

Cover Artist: Ural Akyutz



Book Description:

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family's reputation isn't easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

**My thoughts**

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book when it first became available for review. In fact, the first time I came across it, I settled for an interview, instead of a review. The cover is interesting, but didn't quite draw me in as much as it could have, because it doesn't seem real. (And I don't mean it needs photographs of models.) I hate to always judge a book by its cover, but I do. As this book kept popping up in my circles, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised.

Cassie Scot has a different problem than most of our paranormal heroines. Instead of being a powerful creature born into a family of "normal" people, she is a "normal" person who has been born into a family of powerful sorcerers. Her last name means a lot in their circles. They claim that they love her, but really fear that she will throw off their magical protection of three times three, with her six siblings. She is a complete outcast who is determined to make it on her own.

She is a detective, who specializes in the "normal" human world, though occasionally takes on other cases. She had previously worked for the police department, but found that she preferred being on her own. It is hard for me to remember that she is only 21 when she talks about her previous work, because she seems way too young to have had that kind of experience, even if it was short-lived. I am trying to remember that she lives in a semi-magical world, so perhaps the timing of such things is different.

She has had some successes in her field, though the work isn't pouring in as heavily as she would like. She does finally get a big break when a simple case of serving someone a subpoena turns into a murder mystery, involving the paranormal world. Now she is forced to acknowledge her roots, and to make her family acknowledge her. She learns some strong lessons about the magical world, as well as how strong she can really be on on her own, as she tries to solve this murder.

Cassie is lucky to have a good friend in Kaitlyn, who is a likeable "normal" girl working at the local diner. Kaitlyn is aware of a lot of the magical happenings and is understanding, though the magical people tend to prefer to keep all of that quiet. Alice is another friend, who just doesn't seem to get it and causes problems. Braden is her boyfriend, also a "normal" human, who leaves a lot to be desired. Evan is her old friend from school who is also extremely powerful and seems to be interested in her. At the same time, he sends off warning signals with his reputation. You want to think the best of him, but stay on guard. Nicholas is the one sibling of Cassie's that we get to know, as he is the closest in age to her. He is also powerful and very passionate, but needs to learn to control himself. He is also fiercely dedicated to his big sister. Jason is her long-lost cousin, who is also conveniently a vampire hunter, and supposedly very hot.

All of these people play a significant role in Cassie's first investigation, and her foray into being on her own. I have a feeling their significance will increase as the series continues, and that Cassie is going to discover some more hidden talents and powers of her own. You get the sense of something bigger brewing and will have to keep on reading to find out what it is.

Cassie is a likeable character, who still needs to grow a lot. The story is interesting enough to keep the pages turning. I did manage to read it in one evening, and will soon be reading the second book in the series. I gave it 3 1/2 stars, because it is a fun debut and has a lot of potential as the story continues to develop.



Book links

Christine Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. 

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.

Website: http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/

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