Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 56

November 29, 2021

New release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

"Hargrove?" Megan shook her head. "I don't remember him."

"He has a medical condition." He leaned across the table and lowered his voice. "He can't permanently turn off an invisibility spell he triggered when he was a kid."

"And that helps me how?" Bethany said slowly, while her mind raced through dozens of implausible scenarios. "Can he, like, infect me with it? But how do I turn it off so I can work? And how would that help me go home for Christmas? That's what I really want."

"He can wrap the invisibility field around you, enough to just blur you so you can still talk to people but nobody recognizes you. Or he can turn you... Well, the field is so strong, if he let it go full force, people could walk through you."

"That's more like phased out into another dimension," she murmured.

"Almost. Harry has a lot of control, except for turning the whole thing off. If he wants to be seen, he can be. And he can do the same for you."

"Sounds like a good idea."

Questions immediately sprang to mind:

Would he mind spending the holidays with strangers?

Would he mind going to Neighborlee?

She had always believed magic protected Neighborlee, but would that magic work against someone who had real magic? 

Most important: Did Harry know who she was, and would he turn out to be an irritating fan?

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Published on November 29, 2021 23:00

November 27, 2021

Off the Bookshelf: FLEDGLING, by Molly Harper

Audiobook, Audible exclusive

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Sequel to CHANGELING


 Our heroine, Cassandra, formerly known as Sara, is close to the end of her first year of magical finishing school when things start going wrong. Starting with a murderous unicorn-like creature attacking her dance class. While the boy she likes returns her affection, his mother is getting in the way, and the usual schoolgirl feuds are only enhanced with nasty magic, and the magical Mother Book isn't talking to Cassandra. That's a problem because a committee of demanding, sour old men isn't above locking her up somewhere to make her focus on the book instead of things like school and boys and summer holidays.

Cassandra has a quest: to find other Changeling children and ensure they are free to learn to use their magic, without being locked up or destroyed by the leaders of the Guardian society. Easier said than done, of course. Even with the help and scheming of her good friends, Alicia and Ivy, Cassandra's quest could destroy them all, not just Guardian society. Who would have thought magic would just make life even more complicated?

Another engrossing adventure in the world of Sorcery and Society! (Excuse me, but why do we have to wait so long for the next book to come out? Not fair!)

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Published on November 27, 2021 23:00

November 25, 2021

New release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

"Then why are you out here?"

"It's not really that great in there." Alexi linked hands with Megan, intertwining their fingers. "We like it out here. We have jobs out here, things to do. And believe it or not, sometimes it's more fun to do things the non-magical way."

"What Alexi is so delicately avoiding saying is that I'm a Halfling. That means my father is Fae, but my mother was Human. My Fae relatives like me a whole lot more once we married --"

"My family has a lot of clout," he muttered.

"But they weren't so welcoming for the last two centuries. Old habits die hard."

"Two centuries." Bethany took a few seconds to get her breath back, but she was relatively talented at thinking on her feet. That gift had gotten her through some really wretched scripts.

"Okay, so you make like the Cheshire Cat and vanish when things get heavy. I envy you." She chewed on that idea for a few moments. "So, how can I get some of that without making you hang with me? Do I have to get a bodyguard? I just want my freedom of movement, some privacy for the holidays." She sighed. "Am I whining too much?"

"Not at all," Megan said, and reached across the booth to catch hold of Bethany's hand. "You're sensitive enough to be miserable."

"A bodyguard might be a good idea," Alexi said slowly. He leaned back in the booth and slouched, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes going cloudy and distant.

"You can't just give me a bracelet or necklace or anything to wear, when I want to vanish?" Bethany felt a little queasy all of a sudden. She honestly hadn't expected to get answers so quickly. She had been mostly joking when she asked about magic.

Note to self: Don't joke about things you don't understand, in case they turn out to be real.

Bodyguard, Alexi had said. Something made Bethany think there were other kinds of bodyguards than the ones in dark suits with radio plugs in their ears, shoulder harnesses, and James Bond gizmos. She didn't want one. The studio had hired a bodyguard for her when she went to Greece for some location shooting. The jerk decided he needed to guard her body full-time, day and night, with as much physical contact as possible.

Bethany wondered if he was still singing soprano.

"My cousin, Hargrove." Alexi snapped his fingers.


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Published on November 25, 2021 23:00

November 22, 2021

Upcoming release sample: CADETS, Young Defenders Book 1

Jorgan wanted to apologize, but he wasn’t quite sure for what. He thought about that question he had asked his brother earlier. What was the girl’s name? “You really like that Belissa, don’t you?“

“Didn’t really get far enough in getting to know her.“ Shayn sat up and shook his head. “Do I sound stupid or what?“

“No. Dad says hormones really mess up the brain. It happens to everybody.“

“Oh, and you speak from experience?“ His grin looked more normal now. “Come on, better get back to bed before Mom and Dad wake up and wonder what’s wrong. They’ve got way too much on their minds to waste energy on us and our stupid problems.“

“You think they’re really excited about this?“

“Did you hear them? They asked to get transferred to the Defender. There have been all sorts of changes in Fleet, new ship designations. The Defenderis in space dock right now, having all sorts of refits and additions. Room for fifty more crew and their families. Expanded equipment. Upgrades. It’ll be like being on a brand new ship.“

“So you don’t mind not being on the Inquest?“

Shayn laughed and gestured for Jorgan to go into the house ahead of him. “Dad is right. I’d rather be on a ship with an incredible reputation for all good reasons. Captain Shryne does great things for the Alliance, but honestly … one of these days she’s going to blow up her ship, and her crew with her, and maybe even trigger a war with Gatesh, Ankuar, Nisandros and a couple worlds that haven’t been discovered yet.“ 

Jorgan nodded. That made sense. Chief Engineer Kort was a legend because he performed miracles to get the Inquest out of danger. He would much rather learn from Chief Engineer Jasper Lore, who experimented and invented. Jorgan had read through five mission reports before he went to sleep, and he had laughed when he read comments about the “insane geniuses“ on Lore’s team. Maybe someday, he could become an insane genius too. That sounded like a lot more fun. 

 

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Published on November 22, 2021 23:00

November 20, 2021

Off The Bookshelf: CHANGELING, by Molly Harper

Audiobook, Audible Exclusive

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

A book of Sorcery and Society, according to the cover art.

Mix Jane Austen with Harry Potter, sorta ... Lovely, fun, slightly scary book, with a snarky heroine who is very unsure of herself and walking a tightrope.

Sara is a Snipe -- a non-magical person. In her world, the magical folk are fed up with the Industrial Revolution, and slap the Snipes down to make sure they don't destroy the whole world, and establish themselves as Guardians. Meaning the magical folk rule, the non-magical are in perpetual indentured servitude ... and if a Snipe child is born with magic, there's bound to be trouble.

Which is what happens when Sara discovers the vitamins her parents make her take aren't vitamins, but to suppress her magical abilities, so they don't get in trouble and ruin the Winters, the Guardian family their family has been serving for generations. Sara hates the awful pills, doesn't take them for a while and ... you guessed it, one day she does magic.

Fortunately, Mrs. Winter is a fast thinker, clever, and determined to maneuver the new situation to benefit her family instead of threatening them. Sara's death is faked and she scrambles to become someone new: Cassandra Reed, distant relative of the Winters, newly orphaned, and possessed of what might be an extraordinary magical talent. IF she can survive her first year at a magical girls' finishing school full of infighting and political games and traps everywhere she turns.

Fun book. Highly recommended. 

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Published on November 20, 2021 23:00

November 18, 2021

New release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE


 "Real magic?" Alexi gave her a convincing frown of confusion.

"Just as real as your pointed ears." Bethany smirked when he reached up to yank his tangled mane of silky blond hair down around his ears. "I've seen you two working real magic. Of course, I've been looking for it." She played all her cards. "So, are you like witches or wizards? Is there a real Hogwarts?"

"Actually--" Alexi jerked at a hard nudge from Megan now. He grinned at his wife. "Whether there is or isn't, that doesn't matter. What makes you want an invisibility spell, in particular?"

"You two seem to have some kind of force field or invisibility spell, so nobody ever mobs you." Bethany sat back in the booth and crossed her arms. "I've seen the groupies come after you, when you finish a show. It's like a switch is flipped or something. One minute they're circling you like vultures. The next, they just don't see you, and they go wandering off. And when we're out like this?" She gestured around the room. "When I'm with you, nobody sees me, either."

"She's good," Megan murmured.

"We're magicians. Illusion is what we do," Alexi said with another grin.

"You're more than magicians. So, what are you?" Bethany sat forward, elbows planted on the table, projecting belligerence and determination as hard as she could.

"Faeries." He jumped from the force of the elbow in his side, but laughed, totally destroying the scowl he directed at Megan. "All right. Fae. Just wanted to see if I could shock you."

"She's beyond shocking," Megan said. "She needs our help. Bethy … think Faire Folk. Lords and ladies. Tam Lin."

"Are we talking Lord of the Rings stuff?" Bethany said. 

"Well … that's a good analogy. But instead of going into the West, our ancestors created the Enclaves, where time passes differently and you can cram a whole lot into what seems like a crack in the sidewalk." She shrugged. "The simplified explanation."

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Published on November 18, 2021 23:00

November 15, 2021

Upcoming release sample: CADETS, Young Defenders Book 1

 

“We’re going to be living on a ship,“ he whispered, testing the idea aloud. Jorgan took a couple deep breaths of the damp, cool air.

And immediately sneezed.

He wouldn’t miss the spongeweed or slimeleaf or other plants that could make him sneeze from half a kilometer away. His brother and parents had incredibly sensitive noses and eyes, and that sensitivity to detail helped them as healers. His nose only picked up allergies.

On a ship, he would be away from allergies.

On a ship, he would be just a few decks away from the engineers. Chances to learn. Chances to meet up with people who might look at his gizmos and the things he experimented with and understand what he had tried to do. And know why it didn’t work. They wouldn’t look at it and tell him he made a good try, but they couldn’t help him figure out what he did wrong.

“We’ll be on a ship,“ he said a little louder. Jorgan knew better than to say the name of his hero. That could jinx everything. He refused to do that, because he felt like he had been a jinx to his parents since they landed on this planet.

“Yeah, on a ship,“ Shayn said from behind him. He offered Jorgan a crooked grin when the younger boy turned around so fast, startled, he nearly knocked himself off his feet. “Sorry. Excited?“

Jorgan just nodded. Despite everything being in silver-streaked shadows from the starlight, he thought his brother’s expression was clear enough. Shayn looked like he had the day they arrived at Kaylan Station, in orbit around Vayaneer. He had been excited to learn they had a zero-gravity tank on the station, and even more excited to learn there was a zero-ball tournament scheduled. Then, disappointed to learn the tournament had ended the day before. Shayn loved zero-ball, and would have given anything to see a game played live in front of him.

“Don’t you want to go? You could get training hours in, helping in Medical on the ship. You could put a lot of classes behind you before you even go to Basic, Mom and Dad both said.“ 

“Yeah. There’s that.“ Shayn brushed a last few raindrops off the edge of the bench to his right, and sat down. “But … I guess I never really thought we’d be leaving. I know this posting was temporary. Mom and Dad came here to help fight the flux, not become Fleet medics for the embassy. But …“ He sighed and his head drooped forward.

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Published on November 15, 2021 23:00

November 13, 2021

Off the Bookshelf: FORGOTTEN IN DEATH, by JD Robb

 

The In Death series.

Eve Dallas is back, standing up for the dead, making sure they receive justice and nobody forgets them. She has a busy day, when the murder of a woman living on the streets puts her on-scene for the discovery of the bodies of a mother and unborn child, murdered nearly forty years before.

The killers of the first woman were sloppy, so the body was discovered within hours, and the investigation that follows leads to several different kinds of justice -- and heartbreak for several families, when one killer tries to cover his tracks. Not a smart move, when it comes to Dallas and her team.

Uncovering the identity of the murdered mother and child leads to more heartbreak as more secrets are uncovered, and justice long overdue catches up with the cold-hearted, manipulative killers.

Another triumph for Dallas and her team, and more development of relationships, which are always a large, enjoyable part of the series. I love how people continue to grow together and learn from each other and new characters and situations are introduced. The nearly silent commentary and exploration of the value of a human life, of the individual, comes through clear and poignantly as Dallas fights for justice and truth, for child and mother and a woman who seemed to have been thrown away, but all of whom were loved and mourned.

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Published on November 13, 2021 23:00

November 11, 2021

New release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

"I don't suppose you two could help me go invisible for a few weeks?" she said, half-joking, to Alexi and Megan Ambrosius.

Her Las Vegas magician friends were real friends, met and made in her days of living from commercial to commercial. They had taken a nervous, first-time-away-from-home adolescent under their wings and had remained friends ever since.

Bethany could only go home to Neighborlee for Christmas if she could lose the press and scandalmongers who chased her. Athena's Artificial Intelligence friend, London Holiday, arranged for airplane tickets for her father and a condo in the middle of the desert. No one would know when Ben Miller was leaving to spend Christmas with Bethany this year. Not like the disaster of last year, when every time they turned around someone was flashing a camera at them or banging on their door. If they spent the entire holiday indoors, they would be safe. Bethany knew better than to trust to luck. Sometimes it felt like the whole planet was focused on finding her. And honestly, she didn't want to sit in the condo for three solid weeks.

She wanted to go home to Neighborlee, sleep in her own bed, eat at the family diner, hang with Athena, and make sure Wallace was good enough for her. Bethany was happy for her best friend, and jealous. Because honestly, the more successful she got, the more miserable she felt. Which made no sense.

Okay, just be happy with a peaceful Christmas with Dad. Leave it at that. Don't ruin things by wishing for more.

"And invisibility for my dad, too," Bethany added on a sigh.

"Sweetheart, you know our magic is little more than illusions," Megan began. She squeaked and turned red when Alexi nudged her hard enough she nearly fell out of the booth in the dark corner of the casino where they were currently working. 

"I don't know any such thing." Bethany pulled out her ace card. She had held it to herself, a secret treasure, for the past five years. "I know you can do real magic. I saw you."

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Published on November 11, 2021 23:00

November 9, 2021

Reminder: Now you can VELLA!

 


STOCKS.

JANE STOCKS.

The (slightly) redacted files.


I have a story in Vella, introducing a new character.

Jane is an agent-in-training who thinks she messes up big-time during her graduation assignment.

Then she KNOWS she messed up, when she gets an assignment that is just on the edge of humiliating. She's waiting for the day the Agency wipes her memories and sets her down in a new, boring life.

Until Dr. Noway, a minion of the evil mastermind B.L. Zebob, shows up at the school where she's pretending to be a librarian.

I plan to write a large handful of the slightly redacted, slightly embarrassing, majorly snarky adventures of Jane Stocks -- license to spill.

(And yes, if you notice a resemblance to a certain well-known British intelligence officer ... it's on purpose. With the titles, anyway.)


Check out my page on Amazon/Kindle Vella, read the first three episodes for free, and plan on getting hooked!


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Published on November 09, 2021 23:00