Samantha MacLeod's Blog, page 16
December 15, 2017
Author Interview: Avery Duran
I’m delighted to host author Avery Duran, who is joining us today for a special Chanukah blog tour with her romance Ahava is Love!
I always enjoy hearing how other authors work their magic, so read on to discover what inspired Avery, how she became a “converted plotter,” and how you can enter to win an Amazon gift card.
Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
[image error]Add a little whipped cream while you’re at it!
December 13, 2017
“Might be a new favourite.”
Once again, the lovely Danielle at Caldwell Publishing has made my entire year!
“They say the only absolutes in life are death and taxes,” she writes in her review of my erotic short story Claiming Thor’s Hammer. “I’d like to propose another—death, taxes, and Samantha MacLeod producing entertaining literature.”
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“She could write a shoe catalogue and I’d be into it,” she continues, making me weep with happiness.
You can find the full review, in all its glory, right here. And don’t mind me, I’ll just be over here in the corner, sniffling with happy tears.
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(Oh yeah, Claiming Thor’s Hammer is available too!)
Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to my newsletter for updates, teasers, and free stories!
December 11, 2017
Kiss Me Under the Poisonous God-Killing Parasite
The snow! The cards! The intense pressure to do everything perfectly! (Yes, I’m still not a holiday person.)
And welcoming the holidays mean it’s time for all those odd holiday traditions.
Chopping down a tree and covering it with shiny things. Telling your children a stranger is watching them while they sleep, judging their behavior. Forcing kisses on people because they happen to be standing under the mistletoe.
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(We have mistletoe hanging over our entryway. It can get awkward.)
Mistletoe is an odd plant, yo.
[image error]Yes, you!
It’s a parasite, taking water and nutrients from the tree or shrub it infests and, occasionally, killing its host. There are hundreds of different species of mistletoe, and this type of parasite evolved separately at least five times.
Mistletoe was also an important part of the Druidic religion, according to the super unreliable source Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian and naturalist who also claimed a race of humans living in India had one leg. Still, he’s one of the only sources we have on the Druidic religion, because the Druids themselves didn’t write anything down.
But it’s not surprising a plant which refuses to die during the winter would have religious significance. We still find deathless evergreens pretty interesting – we do bring them into our houses and decorate them once a year, after all.
I’ve also heard mistletoe is poisonous. This claim appears to be overstated, but still, nothing good is going to come from eating it.
[image error]Check your sources, Catwoman!
And of course, mistletoe is the plant Loki used to kill Odin’s son Baldr in the Gylfaginning, a section of the Prose Edda. Everyone and everything in the Nine Realms pledged not to harm Baldr the Beautiful, with the one exception of tiny, innocent-looking, parasitic and possibly toxic mistletoe.
(If you think this sounds like a great premise for a novel, check out Death and Beauty, my romance inspired by the myth of Baldr.)
[image error]Lookin’ good, Baldr!
So why the heck do we look at a parasitic, possibly poisonous plant which killed a god and say… KISS ME!
I did a little research, and the obvious answer seems to be: NO ONE KNOWS!
Some sites claim mistletoe became a symbol of peace and love after the death of Baldr. Other sites go so far as to say Baldr’s mother Frigg was able to resurrect Baldr and then blessed mistletoe with a kiss, which just goes to show you can’t trust everything you read on the internet.
I’d like to think the origin of the kissing-and-mistletoe tradition is a bit naughtier.
According to The Smithsonian‘s excellent article on the evolution of mistletoe, the seeds of a mistletoe plant are “sticky like semen.”
That’s right. Mistletoe seeds look like someone was just very happy to see them.
And it’s not that much of a leap to go from “semen plant” to “kissing plant…”
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So get out there and give someone a nice, big kiss under the poisonous, god-killing, sticky like semen, parasitic plant.
And happy holidays to all!
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December 7, 2017
“Surpassed even my wildest expectations!”
Claiming Thor’s Hammer has gotten two absolutely lovely reviews in the past week!
Last week Tina Williams at A Reader’s Review Blog posted her take on my erotic M/M/M twist on the Thrymskvitha myth.
And what did she think?
“With a title such as Claiming Thor’s Hammer,” Tina writes, “I knew it was going to be an absolute blast. Well let me tell you the read surpassed even my wildest expectations!”
Why thank you!
You can read Tina’s entire review here.
A British Bookworm’s Blog also weighed in on Claiming Thor’s Hammer:
“This is very firmly a novella at just 31 pages,” she writes. “But what she manages to fit into those pages is shot through with humour and heat and characters that are surprisingly human in their desires. Even if they are endowed with a rather large … hammer.”
You can read her entire review here.
Thank you both for your lovely reviews!!!
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Claiming Thor’s Hammer is live on Amazon for only .99, and it’s free if you’re enrolled in KU!
Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to my newsletter for updates, teasers, and free stories!
December 5, 2017
Sneak Peek at The Prison of the Angels
I thought I was a good girl. I thought that no matter what others did for my sake, I could stay innocent. I thought that as long as I acted out of love, I’d be blameless.
I was wrong, wasn’t I?
Milja Petak’s world has fallen apart.
Her lover, the fallen angel Azazel, has cast her aside in rage and disgust. The other contender for her heart, the Catholic priest Egan Kansky, was surrendered back into the hands of the shadowy Vatican organization, Vidimus, after sustaining life-threatening injuries.
She has killed and she has betrayed. She is alone, homeless, and at the end of her tether – torn apart by guilt and the love she has lost. But neither Heaven nor its terrifying representatives on Earth have finished with Milja. Both of her lovers need her in order to further their very different plans, and both passionately need her, though they may try to deny it.
Milja is once again forced into a series of choices as she uncovers the secrets Heaven has been guarding for centuries. But this time it is not just her heart at stake, or even the fate of a fallen angel.
This time, the choices she make will change everything.
This time it’s the End of the World.
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I’m thrilled to host a sneak peek at Janine Ashbless’s amazing new novel, The Prison of the Angels (check out my review here).
In addition to interviewing her protagonist, Milja, right here, Ashbless shared a fabulous scene that starts in the best way possible (bootless and naked).
And now, my friends, I’m sharing it with you.
December 2, 2017
Guest Post: Janine Ashbless and Milja Return!
In case this is your first time setting a virtual foot in my blog, allow me to introduce you to one of the most talented paranormal erotica authors in the world: Janine Ashbless.
The Prison of the Angels, Ashbless’s very satisfying conclusion to her Book of the Watchers trilogy, is now available (check out my review here).
And I’m lucky enough to host Janine Ashbless interviewing her main character, Milja, right here!
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JA: I’m interviewing Milja Petak, heroine of my novel The Prison of the Angels. Hello Milja! It’s good to see you in one piece; last time readers had a chance to catch up with you, things were looking really dicey. You’d freed the Angel of the Written Word from her prison, but you and Egan were stuck in the middle of the Minnesotan wilderness, and you’d just called in a Vatican hit-squad to come and get you both…
MILJA: Come on. I didn’t have any choice about that! Egan was dying – I had to get him to hospital and there was no one else who’d come save him.
JA: Yeah, because your fallen angel boyfriend, Azazel, had just dumped your cheating ass, right?
MILJA: Cheating, murdering ass. I’d just killed his only daughter too, remember? If you’re going to judge me, throw the whole book, Ashbless.
JA: How do you feel about that? You never did like her, did you?
MILJA: What are you implying? Again, I had to do it. It was self-defense. And she was killing Azazel. It’s not like I wanted to!
JA: Hmm. That whole episode must have been a pretty low point for you, I’m guessing.
MILJA: It couldn’t have been much worse. My whole world had imploded. I hated myself. I was alone. Completely alone. And yeah, I’ve got no one to blame but myself, I know that. I didn’t think Azazel would ever forgive me… he’s not the merciful type.
JA: But he’s still talking to you now?
MILJA: Not so much of the ‘talking’ – but he’s still around, yeah. He still likes to… Look, it’s complicated. Shit, all my relationships are ‘complicated’. But our plans converge, you might say. Azazel still wants to free the rest of the fallen angels, and I want to save him from the wrath of the Heavenly Host. That’s all I can try to do. I owe him that much.
JA: And Egan?
MILJA [looks down at hands]: He’s still around too. He’s here with me in Norway. We’re looking for the Serpent of the Garden of Eden, believe it or not. He was, like, a god around here, for a while.
JA: I meant, what’s Egan’s big plan?
MILJA: He wants to stop the Apocalypse. No pressure there, huh?
JA: And live happily ever after with you.
MILJA [laughs bitterly]: No, he’s made it quite clear that’s not going to happen. But he loves me. But he can’t leave the Church. But he would do anything for me. Oh … I don’t know what he wants, except maybe martyrdom. He does my head in, more than Azazel. I get Azazel; I don’t know what the hell’s going on with Egan.
JA: You sure know how to pick your problematic men, Milja.
MILJA: Egan’s a good guy, don’t get me wrong. He’s trying to do the right thing. We tried to negotiate with his Vatican bosses, to stop this second War in Heaven … but I screwed that up too. I do that a lot, it seems. I discovered their big secret; what happened to the Archangel Gabriel – and boy are they pissed.
JA: No you didn’t.
MILJA: What do you mean?
JA: That’s not their Big Secret. That one’s pretty bad, but not the worst thing they have to hide. Not by a long way. And that’s why they’re so worried about you and Azazel. Egan knows, by the way. He’s just not telling you.
MILJA [head in hands]: Oh God. Why has everyone got to have secrets? How am I supposed to know who to trust?
JA: Well, don’t worry about that. You’re going to find out all the secrets this time round. The answers to everything hidden. Egan… Vidimus… The Archangel Uriel… and Gabriel… I’m not going to promise you’ll like it, but I can promise that you will understand, before the end.
MILJA: The end?
JA: The End of the World. It’s, uh … coming up real soon.
MILJA: … Can we prevent it?
JA: I can’t tell you that. But if you’re going to try, you need to get Egan and Azazel to stop being at each other’s throats and work together.
MILJA: Like that’s going to happen!
JA: Loving you is the one thing they have in common. And you’d be surprised what they’ll do to keep you.
MILJA: …
JA: Now go out there and kick ass, Milja. Save the world. Show them what it means to truly love. Uncover all the secrets – including your own.
MILJA: Mine?
JA: Why do you never mention your mother, Milja?
MILJA: Go to Hell, Ashbless. [Walks out]
JA: Yeah, you might have to swing by there too, come to think of it…
Buy Links
Who is this Janine Ashbless?
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Janine Ashbless is a writer of fantasy erotica and steamy romantic adventure – and that’s “fantasy” in the sense of swords ‘n’ sandals, contemporary paranormal, fairytale, and stories based on mythology and folklore. She likes to write about magic and mystery, dangerous power dynamics, borderline terror, and the not-quite-human.
Janine has been seeing her books in print ever since 2000, and her novels and single-author collections now run into double figures. She’s also had numerous short stories published by Black Lace, Nexus, Cleis Press, Ravenous Romance, Harlequin Spice, Storm Moon, Xcite, Mischief Books, and Ellora’s Cave among others. She is co-editor of the nerd erotica anthology Geek Love.
Her work has been described as: “hardcore and literate” (Madeline Moore) and “vivid and tempestuous and dangerous, and bursting with sacrifice, death and love.” (Portia Da Costa)
Links
www.janineashbless.blogspot.com
November 29, 2017
The Night Watch
During his five long years at The Academy, the one person from his home kingdom he could not forget was Cerdec, the handsome knight-in-training.
But does Cerdec remember him?
And, even if Cerdec shares Liam’s affection, how could those feelings possibly survive the arrival of the bride the king has selected for Liam?
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The Night Watch, my fantasy romance with Less Than Three Press, comes out today!
What Readers are Saying
“A story about acceptance, forgiveness, and exploration. I will recommend it to people.” -Jami Merrick, Goodreads
“One of the most sweetly romantic stories I’ve ever read!” -Jayne Shover, Amazon reviewer
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
November 24, 2017
Win a Kindle for Black Friday!
I am not much of a shopper.
Most of my clothes are hand-me-downs from my mom (thanks, Mom!), and just about everything else in my house either came from family members who got sick of it or was purchased online.
Today, on the infamous Black Friday, I’m continuing my proud tradition of staying the hell away from any and all shopping.
With One Exception
I’ve joined a group of fabulous romance writers to offer you, our virtual friends, a huge sale, giveaway, and the chance to win a Kindle!
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Check it out here to find great deals on 45 fabulous books, and enter to win yourself a new Kindle!
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
November 21, 2017
Book Review: The Prison of the Angels
Is there a Man Booker prize for paranormal erotica?
Because if so, Janine Ashbless just nailed it.
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If you’re ever set virtual foot on my blog, you’ll know I’m a HUGE fan of Ashbless, whose passionate, imaginative, and sensual writing defies superlatives.
I’m also a huge fan of her Watchers series, which blends erotica, romance, philosophy, high adventure, and early Christian mythology.
Plus sex. Lots of sex.
[image error]Me, reading the Watchers books
To be honest, I was a bit nervous as I opened The Prison of the Angels, the final book of the Watchers series. Trilogies can be tricky, and nothing ruins a great idea like an ultra-crappy final installment. (I’m looking at you, Matrix series.) I went into this book with a few theories, a lot of hope, and a fair amount of trepidation.
If you have the same fears, allow me to put them to rest. This book delivers in every way.
And if you haven’t yet read Cover Him with Darkness, the first book in the Watchers series, then you need to seriously re-evaluate your priorities in life.
As The Prison of the Angels opens, protagonist Milja Petak is in rough shape. Her demonic lover, the fallen angel Azazel, has abandoned her, and her human lover, the Catholic priest Egan Kansky, has been swallowed up by the Vatican. Oh, and he may never walk again.
Sounds bad, right?
It gets worse.
Along the way, Ashbless serves up a healthy dose of the apocalypse and manages to solve a slew of thorny philosophical and theological dilemmas.
Is it possible to truly love two people at the same time?
Why does the God of the New Testament appear so loving while the Old Testament’s Yahweh is so wrathful?
And what the heck will happen to the rest of the imprisoned angels, including certain infamous figures from Norse mythology, now that Azazel is free?
In addition to wrapping up these loose ends (yes, even the loose ends that have dogged Christianity for two millennia), Ashbless reveals secrets about her main characters and her world that seem both revelatory and perfectly natural. Even Ashbless’s secondary characters developed a surprising level of depth and sympathy as the story took Milja around the world in a desperate attempt to prevent the End Times.
Yes, this means even the literal devil, who may have been the biggest asshole in Cover Him with Darkness, became sympathetic.
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And the final resolution was both surprising and ridiculously satisfying, in a heart-breaking, crying-over-my-Kindle sort of way.
I wanted a lot of things out of this series. And I won’t say The Prison of the Angels met my ridiculously high expectations. Because, somewhere between sneaking through the Vatican’s secret chambers and skiing the mountains of Norway, The Prison of the Angels took those expectations and blew them out of the freaking water.
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The Prison of the Angels comes out on December 1st, which gives you plenty of time to catch up on Book One (Cover Him with Darkness) and Book Two (In Bonds of the Earth).
You can thank me later. 
November 20, 2017
The Night Watch Teaser Continues…
If you’ve read the teaser for my forthcoming M/M fantasy romance The Night Watch (this teaser here), perhaps you’d like to know what happens next?
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Well, romance and erotica author Janine Ashbless has come to your rescue!
The fabulous Ashbless has kindly agreed to host a Night’s Watch excerpt – a very steamy excerpt – on her blog.
You can find it all right here.
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And if you’d like even more, The Night’s Watch is available for pre-order from Less Than Three Press for $2.59 (that’s 15% regular price, my friends).
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
