Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 204

Cover Reveal Neliem by Clare Di Liscia

NeliemClare Di Liscia
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Month9Books
Date of Publication: May 21, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-948671-37-8ASIN:
Number of pages: 287
Cover Artist: AM Design Studios
Book Description:
Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy.                  Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.
Why would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.


Amazon
About the Author:

Born in Queens, New York, Clare Di Liscia moved to California as a small child and grew up in the hills by Dodger Stadium. Constantly roaming the woods, she took to embellishing on the stories of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck to fill her imagination. To her horror she soon realized there was no way to fit a miniature tuxedo on a frog. Fortunately in sixth grade, Clare won a short story contest with the grand prize of fifteen happy meals. She would like to point out that two of those meal tickets were missing by the time her mother handed over her prize. After traveling extensively throughout South America and the Caribbean, Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium for University where she studied Dutch and French. Clare graduated from Cal State Northridge Film School, earning Dean’s List recognition with a BA in TV/Film. In 2006 she placed in the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting beating out 4700 other applicants. After joining SCBWI, Clare won 1st place HM in the Sue Alexander for her YA novel, now titled NELIEM.
www.clarediliscia.org
https://www.facebook.com/clare.d.baird
https://twitter.com/diliclare
https://www.instagram.com/diliclare/
http://diliclare.tumblr.com/   

A Bewitching Wednesday

Author Anecdote: Rebecca Henry shares a ghostly encounter #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/XZB130o7hIX

Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter: Case One -The Deceit by Lori Zaremba #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ACnF30o7hLc

Interview Rebecca Henry Author of The Lady Raven #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/XJzz30o7hHR

IMMERSE: Mer Chronicles Book 3 by Tobie Easton ***Excerpt -- Guest Post: Playlist -- Giveaway*** #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ttbs30o7hzE

Character Interview - The Descendants - Rise of the Reaper Army #UF #PNR #urbanfantasy #paranormalromance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/jaZt30o7hEu

YELLOW LOCUST: Book One by Justin Joschko --Excerpt -- Guest Post: Find out what life is like for those in Justin Joschko's world -- Giveaway***
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Wa5S30o7hN9

Mabon by Kellie M. Davies: Book Tour Spotlight #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/fYJh30o7hCc

Immerse by Tobie Easton #Fantasy #Mermaids #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/DX3K30o7hxj

Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko: Book Tour Spotlight #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Wgy630o7hNG

Demon’s Grotto, where monsters sate their lust. Will you spend the night?
Demon's Grotto by Kate Hill
https://bit.ly/2u6JeVp
#DarkFantasy # NewReleases # Paranormal #Romance
#DarkDesire #Shapeshifters #Vampires #Werewolves

Playlist for The Descendants - Rise of the Reaper Army by Nikki Lee Taylor https://spoti.fi/2UJZGqj
#bookplaylist #playlist #nikkileetaylor #spotify #TheDescendants

W.I.P. it Real Good from Justin Joschko's WIP The Moon Willow + giveaway
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2019/03/wi...

5 Star Review: Agents of A.S.S.E.T. Series by Katie Salidas - Author
https://the-avidreader.blogspot.com/2...

In the spellbinding and breathless final installment of the Mer Chronicles descendants of the Little Mermaid must face deadly magic, shifting alliances, and the dangers of forbidden love
Immerse: Mer Chronicles Book 3 by Tobie Easton
https://amzn.to/2SIQNMR
#mermaid #merchronicles #littlemermaid #YAFantasy

New Release

In the spellbinding and breathless final installment of the Mer Chronicles descendants of the Little Mermaid must face deadly magic, shifting alliances, and the dangers of forbidden love

Immerse
Mer Chronicles
Book 3
Tobie Easton

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Month9Books

Date of Publication: March 19th

ISBN: 978-1-948671-23-1
ASIN: 1948671239

Number of pages: 396

Cover Artist: Beetiful Book Covers

Book Description:

Lia can’t wait for her parents’ coronation. Now living in the sparkling palace beneath the waves, she sneaks off to Malibu whenever possible to see Clay. Tucked away in an abandoned seaside mansion, Lia and Clay devise a plan to ensure they can stay together forever.

But when an old enemy resurfaces and Lia is restricted to the palace for the safety of all Merkind, she and Clay are ripped apart once more.

She fears not only for Clay, but for her best friend Caspian, who seems to be swimming down a dangerous path. He has invited the conniving Melusine to the coronation ball, convinced she’s capable of change. And no matter how hard Lia fights it, showing up on Caspian’s arm is just the start of Melusine’s insidious return to her life.

With threats Below growing more ominous by the day and a powerful ancient ritual looming, soon the two girls can’t escape each other. As their fates grow increasingly intertwined, Melusine might be the only one who can help Lia find the answers she desperately needs to save everyone she loves and to achieve her happily ever after. But can Lia trust her?

https://amzn.to/2SIQNMR


#mermaid #merchronicles #littlemermaid #YAFantasy

Demon’s Grotto, where monsters sate their lust. Will you spend the night?

Demon's Grotto
Kate Hill

Book Description:

Ben wants Laura to reconsider staying overnight at Demon’s Grotto, and he has information about the club’s history that should convince her. He tells her three creepy love stories, hoping she will change her mind.

Rise of the Creature: When a mad doctor brings a dead man back to life, only his beautiful assistant can make that life worth living.

The Demon Within: A man on the run stops to rest at a rooming house, not knowing that it’s the hunting ground of a gorgeous succubus bent on devouring handsome guests.

Don’t Cry, Wolf: An ad for a maintenance man at a bed and breakfast is answered by a former soldier who’s harboring a hairy secret. The business’s lovely co-owner becomes involved with this sullen hunk who’s more than she imagined possible.

After hearing these stories of love and murder, will Laura decide to spend the night at Demon’s Grotto?

https://bit.ly/2u6JeVp

#DarkFantasy # NewReleases # Paranormal #Romance
#DarkDesire #Shapeshifters #Vampires #Werewolves

Risking Forever Vol 1 by Tara Gallina #newadult #collegeromance #newadultromance

Hi. I'm Tara Gallina and the author of Risking Forever: Vol 1 of The Forever Series, a new adult serial romance. It follows college sophomore, Ainsley Belle, and the infamous senior surrounded by mafia rumors, Sebastian Gianni.
Today, I'd like to discuss my leap from young adult novels to new adult, which led to this story, and answer a few questions about the book. 
I started writing young adult romance novels because I love all the "firsts" that come with falling in love as a teenager. It wasn't long after I realized new adult or college-aged peeps have milestones and "firsts" too. Ex:
~ Legal aged-drinking and getting into bars and clubs. ~ Living away from home. ~Paying bills. Phone? Car insurance? Credit card?~ Parties, getting drunk, and having sex. If you were a good girl or had strict parents before college, you might not have experienced any of these. ~ Love. If you didn't find it in high school, you might just find your first and forever love in college. Ainsley does!
Some fun questions:
What movie or movies would you compare the story to?
Mean Girls go to college with the dangerous and forbidden romance of Twilight—minus the paranormal aspects.
Is the story more of a romcom or a drama?
Both. It has dramatic issues paired with light suspense, but the characters have humor to them, relating to their personalities. People who have read it, say they have laughed out loud in places.
Can you compare the love interest (Sebastian Gianni) to a TV character?  
Sebastian was inspired by all the Damon Salvatores in the world—minus the vampire element. Dark, brooding, dangerous, complicated, confusing, struggling with his own insecurities, hot, hot, hot, and underneath it all, a guy willing to do whatever he must for the people—girl—he loves.  

Risking Forever Vol 1
The Forever Series
Tara Gallina

Genre: New Adult College Romance

Date of Publication: March 11, 2020

ISBN: ISBN: 9781794313163ASIN: B07NQ99MGF
Number of pages: PDF 150, Paperback 200Word Count: 40,000
Cover Artist: TLC Design
Tagline: Wanting him would be wrong, tempting him even worse. But falling for him could cost her everything she's ever wanted and everyone she's ever known.
Book Description:
Risking Forever: Vol 1
My best friend has been obsessed with Sebastian since our freshman year in college. She wants him to herself, which is fine by me. He's a paycheck, a means to an end goal. He's temporary. But he's also tempting—the way he looks at me, the things he says, the way he touches me… If I'm not careful, I might do something I'll regret. ~ Ainsley Belle
The Forever Series
At twenty, Ainsley knows it's time to follow her own dreams and not the future her mother planned for her—a future she never wanted. Losing her job couldn't have come at a worse time.
Sebastian Gianni isn’t the ideal boss, but he has a position to fill and Ainsley is desperate. The sexy twenty-two year comes from money, owns a successful business, and graduates from college in three months. He has his life together in a way Ainsley could only dream.
No wonder her best friend is obsessed with dating him. Even his ex-girlfriend is determined to get him back, although threatening him seems like the wrong approach. Ainsley would be a fool to fall for the guy, too.
By no means, should she trust him. He has more secrets than anyone she knows, which makes her wonder if the mafia rumors about him are true. It doesn't matter that he's a good listener, and sweet and protective at times. That playful flirty side he shares with her alone means nothing. Right?
When a kiss turns into a secret romance neither can give up, Ainsley learns the truth about Sebastian's corrupt family and why his ex-girlfriend won't go away. A future together is near impossible and comes with a risk that could get them both killed—or give them everything they've ever wanted.
Amazon
Excerpt:
I straighten and rub my now clammy palms on my jeans. "I should go find Harper before she finds me and gets pissed again." I stand.Sebastian does too. "Pissed again?""She might have thought I was hitting on you in the pantry. She thought you were hitting on me too and then got mad because she likes you. But now we know you're engaged, so she's dealing and moving on."He scratches his chin. "Is Harper the girl in the silver dress?""Yes! You noticed her?" Of course he did.He takes his empty beer bottle into the kitchenette and tosses it into the trash. "It was hard not to. She was yelling at you when I was holding you in the kitchen."Holding me? He doesn't mean it in the way I wish he did. No. I don’t wish that. He's engaged and if he weren't, Harper would be after him. Besides, I'm trying to get a job with him. I can't crush on my boss. I stroll to the railing but stop at the top of the stairs. "Are we going to settle this job thing tonight, or do you want to do a formal interview at your office in the bad part of town?""You remembered." His face lights up. He strolls toward me, his gaze pinning me in place.I feel frozen, excited, and lightheaded. It could be the wild drumming of my heart. I'm surprised my shirt isn't thumping. I've heard about stares like this, read about them in Harper's romance novels, but I've never been on the receiving end.He stops close and peers down at me—at my lips. His citrus scent invades my senses and my body reacts with desire. From his cologne? He's so tall, cocooning me in a way I like but shouldn't. "Do I have the job?" I ask, my voice a breathy mess.  "Do you want the job?" The way he says it makes me think he's asking if I want him. It could be my mind playing tricks on me or the way he keeps staring at my lips. "Yes," I whisper, wondering what I just admitted to—or what he thinks I admitted to. I'm deranged, delusional. He touches a strand of my hair. "This is the first thing I noticed about you when you tried to hit me with the door.""Tried? It was an accident.""Are you sure you didn't do it on purpose?""I didn't know you were there. How could I?""Girls do interesting things to try to meet me.""Not this girl." I lean away, pissed but mostly shocked. "Guys do interesting things too, like putting their arms around a girl who's only in her bra and not letting her go. What's your excuse?"His Adam's apple bobs deep in his throat. He twirls the golden strand around his pointer finger. "Do you want the truth?""Yes.""I didn't want anyone else to see you. I wanted you all to myself, and I wanted to know what you'd feel like in my arms. I didn't plan it any more than you planned to strip but you did, and I reacted."
Whoa. My throat dries with a breath or is it a sigh? I force my mouth closed and try not to wobble on my suddenly weak legs. Did I hear him correctly or did my brain derail into fantasy mode? It takes me a moment to gather my thoughts. I blurt the first idiotic one that pops into my head. "Aren't you engaged?"
ABOUT SERIAL NOVELS
RISKING FOREVER is a serial novel and one of three installments in the Forever Series. The story is continuous and meant to be read in sequential order. The average length of each book is around 200 pages in paperback and can be read in a few hours or less. For this reason, I've heard them referred to as lunchtime reads.

About the Author:
Tara Gallina grew up breathing the salty air in a small town near Clearwater Beach, Florida. The sun and sand were her playground, bathing suits and jean shorts her go-to wear.
After moving to Orlando, FL with her hubs, she left the workforce to enjoy motherhood and rekindled her love of writing. While romance is one of her favorite genres, she writes young and new adult and has a soft spot for retellings.
She has two furry writing companions who often steal her seat when she's working: a mini shih-poo named Bella, and an exotic cat named Tigerlily but who answers to Kitty because the menfolk in the house like it better. Speaking of kitties, she is obsessed with Hello Kitty, has a pink office, thinks everything is better with sparkles, freezes in temperatures below seventy, and is happiest when visiting local hotspots like Disney World or Harry Potter with her family.
https://www.taragallina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authortaragallina/
https://www.pinterest.com/taragallina/
https://amzn.to/2V0xnnq

Join Tara’s mailing list at https://www.taragallina.com/ and receive the FREE serial novel Sebastian-Risking Forever: Vol 1 (Sebastian's POV) The Forever Series.

**WARNING – Sebastian's POV has spoilers that aren't revealed in RISKING FOREVER Ainsley's POV until mid-novel of DARING FOREVER. If you don't want to ruin the anticipation built in the series, wait to read Sebastian's novel until after you've finished RISKING FOREVER and DARING FOREVER.   
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New Release - Immerse by Tobie Easton #mermaid #merchronicles #littlemermaid #YA Fantasy

In the spellbinding and breathless final installment of the Mer Chronicles descendants of the Little Mermaid must face deadly magic, shifting alliances, and the dangers of forbidden love
ImmerseMer ChroniclesBook 3Tobie Easton
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Month9Books
Date of Publication: March 19th
ISBN: 978-1-948671-23-1ASIN: 1948671239
Number of pages: 396
Cover Artist: Beetiful Book Covers
Book Description:
Lia can’t wait for her parents’ coronation. Now living in the sparkling palace beneath the waves, she sneaks off to Malibu whenever possible to see Clay. Tucked away in an abandoned seaside mansion, Lia and Clay devise a plan to ensure they can stay together forever.
But when an old enemy resurfaces and Lia is restricted to the palace for the safety of all Merkind, she and Clay are ripped apart once more.
She fears not only for Clay, but for her best friend Caspian, who seems to be swimming down a dangerous path. He has invited the conniving Melusine to the coronation ball, convinced she’s capable of change. And no matter how hard Lia fights it, showing up on Caspian’s arm is just the start of Melusine’s insidious return to her life.
With threats Below growing more ominous by the day and a powerful ancient ritual looming, soon the two girls can’t escape each other. As their fates grow increasingly intertwined, Melusine might be the only one who can help Lia find the answers she desperately needs to save everyone she loves and to achieve her happily ever after. But can Lia trust her?
https://amzn.to/2SIQNMR  #mermaid #merchronicles #littlemermaid

Top Ten Fun Facts About Heart of the Storm by Debbie Peterson #PNR #Fantasy

1. Mathij Jansen Van Keulen, an ancestor of mine, was affiliated with the Dutch West Indies Charter during his lifetime. He is the man who served as inspiration for the character of Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness, the hero of Heart of the Storm.
2. Speaking of family history, all of Wolf’s crewmen were given names, in various combinations, from my family tree.
3. Yes, I have a lot of Dutch blood flowing through these veins.
4. The phenomenal Dawson McBride will provide the narration in the audio version of the book.
5. Though you’ll find it scattered throughout the pages of Heart of the Storm, I don’t speak a word of Spanish.
6. However, my beloved nephew is fluent and provided the language which beta readers and editors agree added to the feel of the story.
7. A painting of a raging lightning storm over the ocean is what inspired the story.
8. Information concerning Drug Cartels, U.S. Marshalls, the DEA and ICE as well as their methods of operation was provided by my wonderful husband who has over 32 years of law enforcement experience.
9. There was more than enough back story as well as interest to create a prequel featuring the famed Witte Wieven or Wise Women of legend, whom Wolf honors in the naming of his ship.
10. When it came to writing his character, Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness was pretty bossy as to what he said and did…

Heart of the Storm
Debbie Peterson

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: February 27, 2019
Print ISBN: 978-1-5092-2473-9 Digital ISBN: 978-1-5092-2474-6ASIN: B07MBVKQ3K
Number of pages: 277Word Count: 96478
Cover Artist:  Debbie Taylor
Tagline: Love is the perfect storm…
Book Description:
DEA agent Aliyana Montijo must stop a drug lord's killing orders and find a government mole. With a contract on her head, she trusts no one. While heading back to Florida with evidence, lightning strikes her plane. As it careens into the ocean, she thinks she sees a pirate ship. What she finds is a dashing and most unlikely ally.
Four centuries ago, Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness captained a vessel for the Dutch West Indies Company. Then an unearthly storm in the Bermuda Triangle blew him into a parallel dimension. After rescuing Aliyana from a similar tempest, he finds himself drawn to the courageous beauty and wants to aid her mission.
In the midst of danger, the two find themselves falling in love. Then a misunderstanding tears them apart, perhaps forever…
Amazon     Barnes and Noble     The Wild Rose Press
Excerpt:
About a half an hour before sunset, the unease she had carried for the past several hours turned into a sudden feeling of dread. Panic overtook all rational thought and settled into her soul. Something terrible had happened. She raced toward her supplies and grabbed her backpack. Her fingers shook as she unzipped the bag and yanked out her phone. She called Greg’s number several times over before it dawned on her that he had already boarded a plane headed for Colombia. She wouldn’t be able to contact him until the morning.Despite all attempts to banish it, the dread grew stronger with each passing hour. A growing notion that Wolf and his crew never left the sub took firm hold. The conscientious men of the Wieven could very well have remained behind to ensure that all went according to plan. The thought of such an occurrence made her sick to her stomach. What if they could die as she had always feared? What if they died in that sub along with Mercado’s men? She couldn’t sleep, and she couldn’t eat. All throughout the long hours of the night, she restlessly paced along the shore, waiting, hoping, and praying.
By the time the gloomy morning arrived, what little hope she’d carried throughout the long night dissipated. Somewhere in her heart, she finally accepted that her beloved captain wouldn’t be coming for her. Not now. Not ever again. 


About the Author:
Debbie is an author of paranormal and fantasy romance. She has-and always has had-a soft spot for fairy tales, the joy of falling in love, making an impossible love possible, and happily ever after endings. She loves music, art, beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and thunder storms.
When she's not busy conjuring her latest novel, She spends time with the members of her very large and nutty family in the lovely, arid deserts of southern Nevada. She also pursues her interests in family history (which she also teaches), mythology, and history.
Website: http://www.debbie-peterson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Debbie-Peterson-Author-of-Paranormal-Romance-214882805206529/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbiePeterson1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5447772.Debbie_Peterson

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The Darkness of Fairy Tales with Rebecca Henry

 

Hello, I’m Rebecca Henry author of The Lady Raven, A Dark Cinderella Tale. 

I’d like to share the inspiration behind my book. I’ve always been intrigued by the veritable darkness of fairy tales. I was inspired to write The Lady Raven after researching the origin of the story The Glass Slipper (which was written in the 1600s) and, unlike the Disney version, is a dreadfully dark folk lore. 

I wanted to write my own take on the fairy tale emphasizing on the true horror The Glass Slipper depicted. Cinderella wasn’t just a victim of verbal abuse, but physical as well which Lady Tremaine took to horrific proportions on her own daughters. 

What fairy tales do you think have a much sinister side?




The Lady Raven
A Dark Cinderella Tale
Rebecca Henry

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retold

Publisher: Austin Macauley

Date of Publication: November 30th 2017


ISBN: 1786935783

ASIN: 978-1786935786
Number of pages:175Word Count: 48,863
Cover Artist: Austin Macauley
Tagline: For those who have an affinity for magic, witches, dark fairy tales, and the macabre...
Book Description:
In The Lady Raven, Rebecca Henry tells the tale of Zezolla, a little princess abandoned by her father into the hands of her evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters. A familiar fairy tale you may think but all is not as it appears. The reader is soon drawn into a web of witchcraft, lies and deceit, and gradually realizes that this is no typical fairy tale, but a dark and macabre take on one.
Zezolla is treated with the utmost cruelty, neglected and vilified, and left to live in the damp cellars of the castle. The only friends Zezolla has are her beloved raven and her pet wolf. Her only comfort lies in the loyalty of the creatures of the forest, and her mother's hazel tree.
Will Zezolla have the power to escape her torment and ultimately save herself from the unscrupulous clutches of the king? The Lady Raven is a compelling tale, and one that is not for the faint-hearted.
Amazon     BN     Smashwords


Austin Macauley      Amazon UK     Book Depository
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/CL4-_305824

Excerpt:
 Zezolla entered the forest, twig in one hand, shattered glass in the other. She moved effortlessly through the night as if she herself had wings which carried her. She came to a clearing, a streak of moonlight shining on the frozen ground. “This is the spot, my love.” The raven flew into the sky circling Zezolla as she dug into the ground. “Remember the order, my princess. Plant the twig and then the glass.” “I call upon the spirit of my mother. I command you to leave the grave in which my mother’s body rests. Awaken now and bring forth the tree of life!” Zezolla held her hands up to the moon invoking its powers. “I am the daughter of the witch Avelina. I invoke the powers of the night. Come to me, my mother’s spirit. I welcome you!” A silver mist traveled above. The raven flew down to his princess. “She is coming, princess.” Zezolla watched as a tiny branch came forth from the dirt. Slowly it grew, taller and taller. More branches came. Zezolla thought she saw the figure of a woman in the tree. Shards of glass formed together creating glass leaves, dangerous to anyone who touched it - anyone but Zezolla. The princess stood up amazed by the beautiful sight before her. “It is complete, my love. My mother is here and her spirit resides inside the tree.” A remarkable hazel tree stood before her, 15 feet tall with a small opening at the base big enough for Zezolla to fit through. She examined the leaves running her long fingers over the glass. “It cannot cut me my love.” She held out her arm for the raven to perch. “But it will be dangerous to anyone else who tries to touch it.” The two men made it to the barrier, gasping in horror. “What entrance is this!?” cried out Jack. “This was never here. There has never been an entrance to the forest.” Jack backed away, terrified that Zezolla awakened a spirit inside the forest. “It’s just a narrow passage. It must have been caused by the cold ice.” concluded Edward logically. Jack shook his head. “No, Hexe did this. She has opened the forest. Who knows what evil lurks inside? These grounds are now cursed.” “If that is true then I will not venture in.” Edward turned to leave but Jack stopped him. “This might be valuable to me Edward. If Hexe possesses some magical entity inside the forest then I want it.” Jack grabbed Edward by the collar and moved him through the opening. Edward clung to his knife, jumping at the sounds around them. “There is a light coming from beyond the trees. Could be lightening. Let’s go see what Hexe is up to.” Edward tried to turn back, but Jack had a strong hold on him. “Courage man! You’re no better than a scared boy.” snarled Jack. Zezolla, unaware of the servants approaching, entered the hazel tree. Edward ducked down behind a bush as he saw Zezolla disappear. “We must leave now! I told you this would be our death! She is a witch! Did you just see how she entered that glass tree?!” Jack was too fascinated to leave. He had never witnessed true magic before. “I want to take a closer look.” “What? Are you mad! If you go near that tree that will be the end of you!” Jack did not listen to Edward and walked over to the magical tree which was shimmering in the moonlight. “I just want to see it. Stay where you are if you are afraid,” Jack snorted. “To hell with curiosity. I don’t want to end up without my head like Princess Guinevere. Go on then, you fool! Go see your magical tree.” The tree seemed to call to Jack, beckoning him forward. “It’s so beautiful. Look at the sparkling leaves.” He reached out to touch one. The branch moved slicing his finger off his hand. Jack screamed in pain, clenching his finger to his chest. He tried to run away, but the tree caught him in her branches. Edward stayed hidden, watching in horror as Jack cried out for help. “Edward, help me!” “Stupid fool. I told him not to get closer.” muttered Edward The tree tightened its grip around Jack, cutting him as it squeezed. “Please! I am sorry! Please let me go!” The tree would not accept Jack’s pleas and brought down another branch lined with razor sharp leaves. “No! No! Please, I will do anything! I will protect the princess from her stepmother. I swear to protect her as long as I live! Please, spare me!” The branch came down, slicing Jack’s throat with a row of deadly leaves. “She needs no protection. I am with her now.” said the tree.
About the Author:

Rebecca Henry is the author of two novels, The Lady Raven and Louisiana Latte. In addition to writing, she is also an avid vegan, gardener, crafter and practices yoga.
https://www.rebeccahenryauthor.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahenryauthor/


https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1112105.Rebecca_Henry

Immerse by Tobie Easton #Fantasy #Mermaids

ImmerseMer ChroniclesBook 3Tobie Easton
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Month9Books
Date of Publication: March 19th
ISBN: 978-1-948671-23-1ASIN: 1948671239
Number of pages: 396
Cover Artist: Beetiful Book Covers
Book Description:
Immerse is the spellbinding and breathless final installment of the Mer Chronicles series where descendants of the Little Mermaid must face deadly magic, shifting alliances, and the dangers of forbidden love.
Lia can’t wait for her parents’ coronation. Now living in the sparkling palace beneath the waves, she sneaks off to Malibu whenever possible to see Clay. Tucked away in an abandoned seaside mansion, Lia and Clay devise a plan to ensure they can stay together forever.
But when an old enemy resurfaces and Lia is restricted to the palace for the safety of all Merkind, she and Clay are ripped apart once more.
She fears not only for Clay, but for her best friend Caspian, who seems to be swimming down a dangerous path. He has invited the conniving Melusine to the coronation ball, convinced she’s capable of change. And no matter how hard Lia fights it, showing up on Caspian’s arm is just the start of Melusine’s insidious return to her life.
With threats Below growing more ominous by the day and a powerful ancient ritual looming, soon the two girls can’t escape each other. As their fates grow increasingly intertwined, Melusine might be the only one who can help Lia find the answers she desperately needs to save everyone she loves and to achieve her happily ever after. But can Lia trust her?
Amazon

Excerpt:I wish Clay were here to see this. The thought flits through my mind again and again. When my family and I swim through the sparkling entrance of the palace, I wish I could grab his hand. As we’re greeted by hundreds of nobles swishing their tails in applause, I imagine the excited words he’d whisper in my ear. And as we start down the center aisle toward the thrones at the other end of the cavernous chamber, I yearn to show him how beautifully this room has been restored since he and I were last here.
Approaching the thrones, we process over an exquisite mosaic made up of abalone, mother of pearl, and troca shell pieces. It takes everything in me to keep my face neutral, to keep my head lifted and my sunbeam crown upright. This is the spot where, not so long ago, Clay risked his life to save mine. I glance around me at the splendor and the celebration. Clay’s sacrifice made today possible, and he’s not even here to see it.
About the Author:
Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens (so she’s lucky enough to spend her days gabbing about books). She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies.

www.TobieEaston.com  
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14097819.Tobie_Easton  


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Guest Blog- The Descendants - Rise of the Reaper Army by Nikki Lee Taylor #UF #PNR #urbanfantasy #paranormalromance

As a reader, I love urban fantasy. Vampires, werewolves, demons all living among us – it’s my favourite. So, when I set out to write my first novel, I knew it had to have paranormal elements to it. 
I think the paranormal gives our imagination the opportunity to expand and open up, to see in our minds-eye the things we dream of but don’t necessarily believe in. I also knew I wanted my book to convey an important message, something I do believe in - which is ensuring the future of our planet and all the species of life it harbours.
So that’s how the theme and overall plot of The Descendants – Rise of the Reaper Army was created. Its genesis, so to speak.
By linking the Reaper Army to the rising rate of carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere, and as a result making it a liveable environment for the demon army, my goal was to convey the inevitable global crisis we all face if we do not take drastic measures to protect our world.Likewise, I wanted to include factual aspects like The Giaour, the first poem ever printed in the English language about a vampire and written by Lord Byron in 1813, and the battle between the Serbian and the Turkish armies as part of my main character Aurora’s back story.
I felt it was important to include factual elements so that you, as a reader, would really engage with the message that despite the story being fiction, how we got to this point is very, very real.
One of the other important elements of The Descendants – Rise of the Reaper Army, is Aurora’s connection to the Earth. By connecting her own energy to the elements of earth, wind, fire and water she can feel the energy of all living things and communicate with them.While we as humans do not have the ability to communicate with our world the way Aurora does, we do have the chance to appreciate, empathise with, and value all life - regardless of species.
Overall, this is a love story but not in the way you might think. Yes, our main characters Aurora and Gabriel are put through their paces of coming together and being pulled apart over and over again, but it’s about so much more than that. It’s also about loving yourself, your world and every life in it. It’s about the power that comes with having purpose in your heart and fighting for something greater than yourself.
It’s about the power of love in all its forms, and how it can save from us ourselves – if only we realise in time.
I truly hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.
~Nikki Lee Taylor

The Descendants - Rise of the Reaper Army
The Descendants  Book One
Nikki Lee Taylor

Genre: Urban Fantasy | Paranormal Romance



Publisher: Magnolia Media Group
Date of Publication: 1, January 2019
ISBN: 1793207593ASIN: B07MRFKG1Z
Number of pages: 280Word Count: 82,019
Cover Artist: Nikki Lee Taylor
Tagline: Can they save our world from becoming Hell on Earth?
Book Description:
When the apex predators of the forest begin acting strange, former Army Captain Gabriel Stone knows something is wrong. Change is all around. He can sense it in the earth and feel it in on the wind. Something is coming…
After being attacked by a vampire, Gabriel thinks his 'life' is over. Alone, confused and with no choice other than to hide out, alone in an old forest cabin, Gabriel has sworn to find and kill the creature that changed him. But when the hunt leads him to an old farmhouse and he encounters the fiery, beautiful and headstrong Aurora, Gabriel's world is turned upside down as he quickly realises not everything is as it seems.
Aurora is a Descendant, the daughter of a vampire father and Amazon warrior mother. She is strong, beautiful and has a special connection to the earth and its creatures. After spending a lifetime hunting the monsters that killed her parents, Aurora has all but given up - until she meets Gabriel, who is tortured, angry and out for revenge. But despite his flaws, Aurora knows he is the key to everything she has been searching for - if they don't kill each other first.
With a story that highlights the beauty and importance of preserving of our natural world, The Descendants - Rise of the Reaper Army tells the age-old story of good versus evil, while highlighting the frightening impacts our modern society is having on the planet, as Gabriel and Aurora fight to save our world from becoming Hell on Earth.
Amazon
Excerpt One
Gabriel stormed toward the forest determined to get as far away from Aurora and the Council as possible, but his head was spinning. It was too much information, too much deceit and too much betrayal. His body ached and his brain hurt. Unable to continue, he found an old log and threw himself down with his head in his hands. How could she have done this? How could she have been the thread that caused his entire life to unravel?Since the night Aurora came to his cabin, mad as hell and wanting to kill him, Gabriel had given himself to her. He had followed her and believed in her. How could she have betrayed him this way? Everything had changed. Everything was different. He wished he had never met her. He wished it could take it all back. He wished he could just go home, but it was a long trip and storming off into the forest half-cocked was a recipe for disaster. He had learned that lesson a long time ago. No, he needed to calm his mind. He needed to find a way to look at things differently. He needed a way to breathe.He let out a long sigh and asked himself again, had she really known or was she just a victim of the Council’s plan like he was? After all, she wasn’t the one who approached him. He was the one who had gone to the farmhouse and killed her brother. But he never would have been there if he hadn’t been attacked in the first place.Gabriel cracked his knuckles and tried to think. According to Lucius this was their destiny, but what if she hadn’t been so obsessed with those things? He wondered, could their destiny have been different? He dared to imagine how it might have played out. What if he had never been changed and instead, they met out walking in the forest? What if he could have been himself with her? What if…?He threw his hands up into the air and shouted out at the top of his voice. He hated her. Worse than that he loved her. He was completely screwed. Eventually he found the strength to get to his feet, but every step pressed into the earth like a question mark. How would she make it all the way home without him? But how could he wait for her knowing this was her fault? Damn it. He was in his own personal hell. He wandered at a snail’s pace and it wasn’t long before he heard her calling his name.“Gabriel… Please, just wait. There are things I need to tell you,” she was calling out. “I know about the Reapers.”He stopped momentarily but then shook his head and kept walking. Deep down he knew she would catch up and he hated himself for wanting her to. “Gabriel, stop!”She was getting closer.“Stay away from me Aurora, I mean it,” he shouted over his shoulder. “Do not follow me!”“Would you stop? Just for a minute? I had no idea about any of this. Gabriel…”Thoughts coursed through his mind. Had it not been for her he would still be a part of his family’s lives. He would still be an Army Captain. Hell, he would still be alive. Had it not been for her, he would never have fallen in love. “Gabriel there are things I need to tell you,” she shouted. “You have to listen.”“No Aurora, I don’t. I don’t have to do anything. I don’t owe you a damn thing.” But even as the words left his lips, he knew they were lies. He had killed her brother and the guilt in turn was killing him. When she finally caught up she stepped in front, leaving him no choice but to stop. “Just listen,” she begged. “I promise you, I didn’t know. Gabriel we can’t let these things destroy our world. You can’t just walk away!”“I. Don’t. Care.” He told her. “I don’t want to be a part of this world anyway Aurora, not like this. I’ve had enough.”But she grabbed his shoulders and fiercely pulled him in. “Don’t you talk like that, do you hear me? Not ever Gabriel, you’re too important!”The worst part was that he wanted to help her. It was the right thing to do but anger was crippling him. It twisted inside, wrapping around his ribs and squeezing accusations up into his throat. He wanted his life back. He also wanted her.“Gabriel, when we were in the forest and I shared the Earth’s connection with you I thought you understood?”“That was one moment Aurora!” He shouted. “I have lost an entire life and it was a life that I loved. It was a life that I made, that I worked for. Damn it, don’t you see? I had a family. I followed in my father’s footsteps and my grandfather’s before him. Did I love fighting? No, but I was proud to serve my country. I had respect and I had honour. Now I have nothing.”“And that’s exactly why you are the chosen one,” she said, daring to step closer. “Nothing you could have done as an Army Captain would ever come close to what we need to do now. Gabriel, everyone will die. Not a town, not a city, not a country… Everyone, including your family.”“Don’t you talk about my family.”“They’ll die Gabriel, just like my mother and father. Just like thousands of mothers and fathers. Every animal and plant will be decimated. Rivers and oceans will dry up. Forests will disappear. If the Reapers are allowed to rise and stay here, nothing will be left but a barren wasteland. I’ve seen it. You want to know what happened here in the forest on the way to the Council? That’s what I was shown. I saw the end. Is that really the legacy you want to leave behind?”He stared out into the forest. There were no words left to say. All he knew of the Reapers were some paintings on a wall and a vision shown to him by a vampire, probably the same one that ended his life. How could he trust that? How could he just believe? His heart ached and sorrow descended like nightfall. He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly so cold that he wondered if he was coming down with something. But strigoi couldn’t get sick, could they?“What’s happening to me?” He managed through chattering teeth. “Are you doing this?”“No Gabriel, I’m not.”“Then what?”“You were thinking about them, weren’t you? The Reapers?”
He nodded and looked away, hating that she could read him so well.“Their time is drawing closer. It’s the darkness that you feel Gabriel, the darkness that lives inside them. Try to imagine a world without sunshine, without love, without hope. If they rise nothing will survive.”“But how can that be? I don’t understand any of this.”“A demon is made of dark matter. They have no light inside them, no soul.” She stepped away and opened her arms. “For everything that exists there needs to be balance. That is the essence of the universe. Think about it. Black and white, light and dark, hot and cold, male and female, even Heaven and Hell. God created humans and Satan created demons. That is the balance, but their darkness is beginning to seep into our world. That is what you’re feeling.”Gabriel rubbed at his forehead and tried to find his bearings. A cold wind blew in off the mountains and moisture hung heavy in the air. Despite his dizziness he could smell the scent of rain coming in, fresh and clean. “What did Lucius say to you?” He asked. “Did he tell you how to kill them?”
“No, but he told me that you are the only one capable of destroying the army.”“The army?” Despite how ill he was feeling, Gabriel threw back his head and laughed out loud. “Well that will do me Aurora. You have got to be joking! No one can defeat an army alone, demonic or any other kind. It just can’t be done.”
“Not alone Gabriel, with me.”“Oh well then…Why didn’t you say so? That changes everything.”“I can fight Gabriel,” Aurora snapped. “I can - ”“You couldn’t even win a fight against me,” he bellowed. “Stop fooling yourself Aurora. I don’t know who your mother was, but you are no match for an army of demons. Like I said, you couldn’t even take me down.”“That’s only because you’re not like any other strigoi Gabriel. You carry the strongest bloodline of the entire strigoi race. You are the closest thing on Earth to a demon. And besides, I wasn’t really trying to kill you, obviously.”Gabriel took two steps back. “What did you just say to me? I’m a demon? Did Lucius tell you that?”Instantly regretting her outburst, Aurora let her head drop. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, it had just come out somehow. “I’m sorry Gabriel. I didn’t mean to - ”But he cut her off. “Is that what he told you? That I’m a demon?”
When she didn’t reply, he stormed over and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Answer me damn it! Am I a demon? Is that what he said?”“Gabriel…”“Tell me!”“In a way, but - ”“Stop talking,” he warned. “Do not say another word.”“Gabriel it’s not like that. You just carry the strongest bloodline.”Thunder crashed overhead and sheets of rain swept in across the forest.“I’m sorry,” she shouted over the storm. “I didn’t mean it to come out like that. Gabriel…”But he wasn’t listening. Instead he turned and ran deep into the forest, determined to get as far away from her and everyone else as he could. As he ran, he told himself that Aurora would be fine, that the forest would keep her safe. That she didn’t need him. Undeterred by the storm, he pushed forward not caring as wet tree branches slapped against his face and wind whipped through his hair. If what Aurora said was true, then he had no reason to be careful. If he was a demon, then he didn’t want to exist anyway.Knowing he could never outrun the one thing he wanted to get away from most, frustration itched and bit at his skin. He loved her but he hated himself. She wanted everything and he had nothing. How could he save anything when he couldn’t even stand to be inside his own skin?A sound in the distance caught his attention and he imagined it was Aurora crying out for him. His heart leapt. He ached to turn back, but quickly shook it off. He couldn’t go back, she was better off without him.Up ahead a finger of lightening lit up the forest and thunder rolled across the sky. Beneath his feet the ground shook and just for a moment he hesitated. The lightning cast an eerie glow across the wet cliff face and he peered through the darkness. Was he imagining it, or was somebody there? He drew in closer and saw camping gear littered across the rock face. A backpack and a sleeping bag, a broken tent, its framework poking out through the canvas like pieces of broken bone. “Help us please…”The voices cut through the dark and Gabriel immediately ran to the edge and looked over.Crouched on a rock ledge below were a man and woman, both soaked and both terrified.“Are you hurt?” Gabriel called out against the roaring wind.The woman looked like a drowned cat. Her blonde hair was plastered across her face and tears had made her eyes as red as Aurora’s. The man was trying to hold it together but one look at his face told Gabriel just how scared he really was.“We’re not hurt,” he shouted back. “But we’re stranded.”Gabriel knew there would be no explanation for what he was about to do, so he closed his eyes and said a prayer that he could disappear before they asked any questions. “Just hold tight. I’ll help you.”“Please hurry! I don’t know how much longer we can last down here.”Gabriel nodded and quickly began searching for something he could use to pull them up. All around him the wind howled, an ominous sound that chilled him to the bone. After covering every inch around the edge of the cliff, Gabriel threw up his arms in frustration. There was nothing he could use that would bear the weight of an adult man and out of options, he threw his head back and cursed at the sky. He was damned. No matter what he tried nothing worked. Everything was falling apart. And then she appeared, wet and weather beaten and yet somehow still beautiful.“Aurora there’s people down there that need our help,” he shouted, no longer caring about their fight. “We need something to pull them up.”If they worked as a team maybe they could save the lives of the stranded campers, he thought. His life might be over but perhaps theirs didn’t have to be.“What do you need me to do?” “That thing with the vines. I need something to pull them up.”She quickly scanned the forest for trees with vines strong enough to haul the people up from the ledge. Finding one, she walked over and closed her eyes. She whispered to the tree and it responded, quickly offering up metres of vine.“Okay that’s enough, now go and find shelter. There’s no need for us both to be out here Aurora.”But stubborn as usual, she shook her head. “No, I’m staying. You might need me again.” Gabriel knew there was no point arguing and right now the people on the ledge needed him more than she did. Turning away from her, he ducked his head over the ledge and peered down at them. “When I pass this vine down, I want you to take hold of it. But only one of you at a time, okay?”
“Take my wife first,” the man shouted. “I need to make sure my wife is safe.”The request made Gabriel’s heart ache. What must it be like to love someone so much that you would immediately put their life ahead of your own? It was an emotion he would probably never feel and yet he ached to love another with such devotion. He thought he had fallen in love with Aurora, but at the first sign of trouble he had abandoned her. He wondered if that meant he wasn’t capable of loving another, if perhaps the world really would be better off without him.When the vine was lowered far enough, the man kissed his wife on the forehead and wrapped her hands around it tightly. “Don’t you let go Laura. Promise me you won’t let go no matter what.”The woman nodded and took hold of the vine. She was light and for Gabriel towing her to safety was easy, but when she reached the top, he noticed the palms of her hands were bleeding. Before he could move away, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “You saved my life. How can I ever thank you?”The smell was sweet and agonising and Gabriel’s head began to swim. “I need you to stay over there,” he ordered the woman. “As far back as you can get so I have room to pull up your husband. In fact, see that tree over there? I need you to go and stand by it and do not come over here again. Not under any circumstances. Do you understand me?”Gabriel knew that if the woman stood by the tree-line she would be down wind and the scent of her blood would be carried away by the storm. When she moved away, he sighed with relief. Aurora had taught him well. “Okay it’s your turn,” he shouted down to the man. “I need you to take hold of the vine and do not let go. That ledge will not bare the weight of your body falling onto it from a height. Do you understand me?”The man nodded as Gabriel passed the vine down to him. When he felt his weight on the end, Gabriel began to pull. He was a lot heavier than his wife but within minutes Gabriel managed to lever him up and over the edge. When it was safe to let go the man immediately ran into the arms of his waiting wife.“Gabriel you saved their lives,” Aurora breathed. “You see. We’re a good team.”He nodded and let go of the vine. “Aurora, this doesn’t change anything. I don’t want you in my life. Nothing is going to change that.”Rain was running down her face and yet he could still tell which of the drops were tears.“Gabriel, I didn’t know. I swear I had no idea.”“Don’t you get it Aurora?” He shouted. “It doesn’t matter if you knew. I was changed because of your fixation with these Reapers or whatever the hell they are. I’m not - ”But before he could finish a finger of lightening lit up the sky and struck a tree just metres away.“We have to get out of here,” the couple shouted over the wind. “We’re going to try and find higher ground. Come with us, please.”“They’re right,” Aurora told him. “We can’t stay here.”He had been about to reluctantly agree, when a second lightning strike cut through the dark. It struck the earth between their feet sending sparks flying high enough to sting their legs. Before they had time to react, the ground moaned like a waking giant. “Gabriel you have to move! Hurry!”As Aurora said the words, the ground cracked open and Gabriel’s feet slipped in the loose rubble.“You have to jump away from the cliff face,” she screamed. “Gabriel leap toward me, you can still make it!”He crouched and sprang up, leaping as far as he could toward the other side. He made it across the growing divide but landed hard, his fingers clawing in the loose rock on the other side. His eyes met Aurora’s and for a moment they simply stared at each other. Her lips whispered his name and then he fell.Gabriel’s body bashed against the side of the cliff, over and over until he landed with a heavy thud on the rock ledge below. Unable to take the weight of his fall, it quickly gave way and he fell further and further until the sound of Aurora’s screams were swallowed up by the wind. His body smashed against rock and earth. Protruding branches cut his face and then his body hit the ground and everything went black. Up on the cliff Aurora screamed. Behind her the couple shouted out, but their words were muffled by the storm. She stared down into the darkness calling Gabriel’s name over and over until eventually the man edged closer and took her arm.“You need to come away from the edge sweetheart. You don’t want to look down there. The fall was too great.”But Aurora was not ready to give up. “No, he’s strong. He’ll be okay.”“This storm is too dangerous. You can’t get to him. You’ll be killed trying.”But she spun around and stared wildly into the man’s eyes. “You don’t understand. We have to try.”“I’ll go for help,” he shrugged. “That’s all I can do.”Aurora glared at him, her hair blowing out around her face. “He just saved your life. Are you really going to turn your back on him?”“No, I’m going to make the most of what he gave me. A long life spent with the woman I love. He’s gone. Now please, come with us.”Aurora stared into the darkness. Gabriel was down there, and he was hurt. “I can’t. He needs me.”“Well good luck then, I hope you make it out. My wife and I will go for help.” The man turned and ran up the hill to where his wife was waiting. “We’ll send help,” he shouted back. “You have my word.”Left alone in the raging storm, Aurora fell to her knees and shouted up at the sky. “Gabriel will fulfil his legacy. He will sacrifice himself to give the people a second chance. It has already begun.”

About the Author:
Nikki Lee Taylor is the author of The Descendants, a five-book paranormal romance series. She wrote her first book in crayon at the age of four and later became a news journalist. Rise of the Reaper Army is her debut novel.She lives in NSW, Australia and you can visit her online at
Website: https://www.nikkileetaylor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDescendantsBooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NThedescendants
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/live_like_a_descendant
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18751186.Nikki_Lee_Taylor