Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 342

Download Your Free March Issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

The March issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine features the Superhero Romance- Electromancer by Daco, the Southern Gothic Horror novel Silk by LM Pruitt, an Interview with Wende Dikec, How to Be Happy with Christian A. Brown, Ten Reasons Authors Should Go On A Virtual Book Tour with Roxanne Rhoads, Whereafter by Terri Bruce, Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine, Finding Flick with Tanith Davenport, Creating Teasers that Make Your Readers Want More with Abigail Drake and Bound by Carmen Fox.
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Release Day Blitz Deliverance by Kristy Centeno

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
My name is Kristy Centeno, I'm a mommy to five little ones, and I love to read and write. However, given the lack of time I don't always have time to do either.The paranormal genre is my favorite and always has been. I've been fascinated with things that go bump in the night for as long as I can remember. It came natural to me that when I decided to finally make my longtime dream come true and write, paranormal was the direction I took.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
When it comes to werewolves and vampires I've always had a weak spot for them. I think they are intriguing.
What inspired you to write this book?
As odd as this may sound to some, I was inspired to write Deliverance after a dream I had three years ago. As soon as I woke up I took a notebook and wrote down everything I observed in the dream and left it there for months.
At the time I was pregnant with my daughter and not feeling well so I forgot I had all the info in my notebook. It wasn't until I was in my third trimester, and going through that nesting phase when I found the notes and developed a plot. I wrote down the first five chapters, saved it to my drive, and moved on to other matters.
When my daughter was several months old I revisited what I'd written and took over. It took me close to a year to write the entire book because I was also working on other work I had a deadline for so I basically worked on Deliverance when I had free time.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Deliverance is a new adult/young adult contemporary with paranormal elements. It follows a very unlikely pair as they seek the help of individuals that may turn out to be a bigger danger to them than the evil maniac pursuing them.
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
I do a little of both. Sometimes I try to match the name to the character based on his or hers personality. Other times I go for a name that was either popular at the time or most uncommon.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Yes. The male lead was very challenging for me to write because as an individual who has spent long periods of time jailed and forced to live through traumatizing events, he needed to come off with a personality that gave away much but at the same time nothing at all.He's big and scary but very insecure and he has a hard time trying to hide this from the protagonist and everyone else around them. In order to gain her trust he has to pretend to be something he is not and this is very hard for him to do.
Because of all these components I had to revisit his POV's often and make sure he transmitted an innocence someone his age and size would not exhibit, but came off as fierce and protective as well.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
That would have to be Grandma Rose. A granny with a bold personality who is not afraid to stand up for herself and protect her loved ones.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
On occasions I do write attributes to help guide me on what I want a specific character. Otherwise, I go with the flow.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Well, imagine you're trying to teach someone who has spent his entire life locked up and forced to live through traumatic events, to kiss? This describes my favorite scene. Almost every experience for the male lead outside his prison is a new one, and when the heroine decides to give him a kiss for the first time let's just say that sparks fly.
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
The world in Deliverance doesn't differ that much from ours, except that werewolves and vampires play a part in the male lead's life.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Deliverance was not originally supposed to be the beginning of a series, but while I was wrapping up the book I realized there were a lot of questions that went unanswered and the readers would need to be clarified eventually. After speaking with my publisher we decided it would be best to include a sequel so that I could finish tying up the lose knots.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Stubbornness. A lot of my characters are stubborn and unfortunately I'm often accused of being the same.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
At times I do. I deal with writer's block by walking away from the project I'm working on for a few days and then try again. Reading also gets my mind going again.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
I'm not sure what you'd qualify as weird exactly, but I do tend to have like 3 or 4 notebooks around me. I used to have only 1, but now I have extra just in case I need them. I also place pencils, pens, my IPad (to serve as music purposes only), a bottle of cold water, and an another laptop in case I have to look something up really quickly. Without these I can't start writing.
Do you write in different genres?
New adult, young adult, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
Not at all. I like the challenge.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
When I wrote my first book, and then again when it was published.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Chocolate and coffee.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I love to read, write, go shopping or to the movies. I enjoy movie night with family, going out to do some fun outdoor activity(weather permit), and listening to music.
 Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
My reading nook in my bedroom. It's cozy and quiet.
What can readers expect next from you?
Book 2 of the Forgotten Divinity series is due to be released in December, and I'm currently working on book 3. Also developing the plot for book 6 of the Secrets of the Moon saga.
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
I’m startled awake by a hand being forcefully slapped over my mouth. My first instinct is to fight. I flail my arms and kick out, determined to break free. I land a right hook on the figure’s face, but end up cracking my pinky instead. My assailant is unperturbed and continues to hold me down to the bed.“Kristina, it’s me.”I lie still, staring at the wet hair plastered against his forehead, trying to process the whole ordeal.“Don’t make any noise.” Tiger points to the window to my left, on the other side of the room. “There are men outside.Another pair is downstairs in the lobby,”he whispers as he releases me.Reality sets in. We have been trailed to the B and B. But how?“Are they Gerard’s men?” I sit up and glance toward the door, already picturing them barging in at gunpoint, threatening to kill us if we make a sound.“Yes.”I almost swallow my tongue in fear. “How did they find us so quickly?”“His resources go far and wide.” Tiger picks up both duffle bags and points to mine. “Take it. Move slowly and quietly,”he instructs.This is why Rose told me to wait it out in the farmhouse until nightfall. Gerard would be looking for us nonstop and now he knows where we are.“How are we going to get past them?” I scramble off the bed and pick up my bag, shoving the strap over my head and shoulder.Tiger tiptoes to the door and opens it to look out. “When we first came in, I noticed an exit on the opposite side. If we can sneak in that direction, we might make it outside.”“Didn’t you say there are men outside?”The door closes with a light push as he turns to face me. “By the sound of their heartbeats, I have pinpointed their locations to the front of the building, but we must make haste. Soon they will cover all the exists and box us in.”“Say we make it out, what then?” “We have to go now. They are heading this way.”Without another word, he opens the door, grabs my hand, and pulls me out into the hallway. I shut the door softly and follow along as he rounds a corner to our right.
DeliveranceKristy Centeno
Genre: NA/Paranormal
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Date of Publication:  March 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-939590-78-7ISBN: 978-1-939590-79-4ASIN: B01BUIBA7C
Number of pages: 327Word Count: 119,000
Cover Artist: Nagla Qamber
Book Description:
He’s been locked away his entire life.
He dreams of freedom.
The only way he can accomplish his goals is by breaking free of the chains tying him to a dark past and gloomy existence. But there’s one catch. He’s not human.
And he’s never set foot outside his jail.
Devoted to saving his peers as well as his own life, he sets out to find the one person that can help him achieve his objectives. He knows where she will be and what she will look like, but what he doesn’t anticipate is the fact he finds himself caring for the girl whose life he’s put at risk, more and more each day.
He has no name.
He has only known hatred and violence before her.
However, she will teach him to have faith in humanity, even if she can’t trust him.
Together they will embark on a journey to bring down a corrupt system responsible for the loss of many innocent lives. But when he finds his feelings compromised, can he still move on knowing that doing so will put an end to the life she once knew? How far is he willing to go to be free?

Amazon     Kobo    Itunes


About the Author:
Kristy Centeno is the author of the Secrets of the Moon saga and Keeper Witches series.
She has always had a passion for books and after years of being an avid reader, she decided to transform her desire to write into a reality and thus, her first novel was born. When she’s not busy taking care of her five children or holding down the fort, she finds time to sit and do what she loves the most: writing.
  





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Ten Reasons Authors Should Go On A Virtual Book Tour

Ten Reasons Authors Should Go On A Virtual Book Tour

1. Going on a virtual tour can help you network with bloggers, readers, reviewers, other authors and publishing professionals. You can build a professional network of contacts through a tour.

2. A virtual book tour can help build your author brand and platform.

3. An online tour can vastly expand your online presence and visibility as an author. The more you and your book are mentioned online, the more hits readers will find when they Google you.

4. You can target niche reader markets. Does your book feature food, crafts, or secondary topic that can be built upon for marketing purposes? Make sure that in addition to the normal book blogs and genre blogs that several of your tour stops are on targeted blogs for food, recipes, crafts or a side market that fits your niche. For instance, Juliette Blackwell’s Witchcraft Mysteries could be featured on sites that cater to vintage clothing or San Francisco because both of those feature heavily in her cozy mystery series. Melissa Bourbon’s Dressmaking Mystery Series could be featured on a sewing blog. Find your niche and target it.

5. A tour can build your mailing list and increase your social media following. Include links to your newsletter sign up page and all of your social media profiles so readers can easily follow you.

6. A virtual tour can direct traffic to your website. Make sure your website is up to date and full of content for readers to explore.

7. Expose your book to readers around the world. Many tour companies have book bloggers in numerous countries. Your book can be showcased around the world 24/7.

8. You will have the chance to interact directly with readers via live chats, Facebook events, and comments on blogs and websites.

9. Most blogs archive their content; this means it does not get deleted. Your tour stop will remain online indefinitely for readers to find.

10. A virtual book tour can increase book sales.



Secrets of Successful Virtual Book ToursQuick Tips for Authors GuideRoxanne Rhoads
Book Description:
Are you considering a virtual book tour?
Not sure where to start or exactly what an online tour will entail?
Roxanne Rhoads, book publicist and owner of Bewitching Book Tours, shares her virtual tour expertise in this Quick Tips for Authors Guide.
Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours will guide you in utilizing the best marketing tool available- a virtual book tour, which can create online exposure for your book, jumpstart your book sales, help build your author brand, and expand your network.
In this guide you’ll learn:·       what you should do before a tour·       the components of  a great author website·       the best social media outlets for authors to utilize·       tips for building your author brand·       how to write great guest blogs·       what to expect from an online book tour·       the secrets of successful book tours·       how to schedule your own virtual book tour
And you’ll receive in-depth details about what to do during a virtual book tour to guarantee success.
Amazon    BN    Kobo    Scribd    iBooks
Smashwords    Inktera     Createspace


Excerpt 
The world of publishing is continuously evolving thanks to technology and the Internet. It is now easier than ever to publish a book. But with the growing number of new books being released every day it is also harder than ever to get your book noticed in the crowd.
If your line of thinking includes- “If I publish it, people will buy it,” think again.
Indie publishing requires a dedication to self-promotion. Gone are the days an author hermits them self away to write, then hands the book to the publisher who does all the leg work for promotion. Even NYT Bestselling authors and those with contracts through the big publishers still have to do a certain amount of self-promotion.
There are many ways to promote:  social media, advertising on popular websites and blogs, print advertising in trade magazines, attending reader oriented conventions and events…but one of the best ways to get your book out there and build name recognition as an author is through a virtual book tour.
In this Quick Tips for Authors Guide, you will learn why a virtual book tour can be an author’s most effective marketing tool.


About the Author:
Roxanne Rhoads has been working in the world of online book promotion since 2005. She has worked as a freelance writer, author, book reviewer, book blogger, editor, self-publisher and book publicist. She has a unique advantage of knowing how multiple sides of book publishing and promotion operate.
Roxanne understands how book bloggers work and what they want to make their jobs easier while also understanding that authors need promotion to be streamlined, easy, and less time consuming.
Roxanne shares some of her knowledge in her latest release, Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours.
Author Website  http://www.roxannerhoads.com

Bewitching Book Tours www.bewitchingbooktours.com
Bewitching Blog http://www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/

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Twitter @RoxanneRhoads
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Goodreads Book Giveaway Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours by Roxanne Rhoads Giveaway ends March 28, 2016.
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Spotlight and Giveaway Connor by Dormaine G

ConnorDormaine G
Genre: Young adult, paranormal fantasy
Publisher:  Creativia
Date of Publication:  12/5/2015
ISBN:  978-1519762412ASIN:  B0190DGR36
Number of pages:  260
Cover Artist: Creativia
Book Description: 
Strong. Sassy. Superhuman.
Connor's mundane teenager life takes a U-turn when she discovers her incredible abilities, and a whole new world opens up around her. Thrilled by her newfound powers, she soon realizes that being special often means being singled out - and not always by those with good intentions.
With a group of friends who share similar abilities, Connor is set on a path of discovery and adventure as they try to find out more about their true self and origin. They soon find themselves pursued by Ronin; young, smart and out for revenge against them for reasons unknown.
The first novel in Dormaine G's young adult fantasy series, Connor is a witty, intense read and an exciting debut.
Amazon
Excerpt 3“My, what a brave little soul are we. Don’t let this smile fool you, little girl. The only reason you’re still here is because I have my orders, mundane as they are,” Tanner said. “I do recall saying that I don’t need a vial on you, right, but never said that I didn’t have one, did I? Insurance is always a necessity.”He held his hand out toward the others, and Ronin walked over to me and introduced himself. “You, I have been waiting a long time to meet.”My skin crawled at what he said, yet at the same time, he mesmerized me, his voice captivated me. He was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. His face was so close to mine, I had to tell myself to breathe.I had to make myself breathe.Tanzia was right. He couldn’t have been more than seventeen. His complexion was just a hint darker than sun kissed. He stood at least six feet tall with a slim muscular built. He had loose, curly jet-black hair that fell just about to his shoulders. His eyes were different colors, one brown, and the other green. They were the most striking images, even though behind them brewed hatred for me.I wanted to, no, I needed to, reach out and touch him. What is wrong with me?“You don’t know just how special you are to me, just how important this night is for you. If you don’t fight it and come back with me willingly, I will show you a far better time than that little boy did tonight. If you fight me, well, then I will only forcibly take you. Your choice.”“Back off, Ronin, this isn’t even your fight. You don’t know the truth,” Bynder said standing next to me. His words sounded more like a plea. It was the most humane I’d ever heard him speak to anyone.“Who are you to talk to me? Stay in your place, Keeper,” Ronin spat, stepping into Bynder’s face. His hands were balled into fists, ready to attack any minute.I don’t know why, but I stepped in between them. Ronin turned his attention back to me. His face and body softened for a minute as he stared at me, but for that brief minute, he allowed me to catch a hint of something else behind those eyes. That strong sense of familiarity washed over me, consuming me all at once.
My Destiny.
About the Author:
Dormaine was born in Long Island, New York where she lived most of her life. As an adult she liked to travel out of the country though her favorite places to explore were her fantasy worlds as an author. She may be a nurse by profession but her heart has always belonged to writing. As a young child she spent many Saturdays in the library nurturing her love for books. There she discovered her fascination for the science fiction genre, through books, movies and graphic novels.
Now she resides in Colorado with her husband and two feisty dogs. After many years of working in hospitals and travel nursing she took time off to pursue a career in writing. Her first novel "Connor" is in one of her favorite genres, young adult urban fantasy. Her second love is for horror of which she created the "Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess" series. This is just the start of her exploration as she stays locked up her office in Colorado spinning more tales.
Web: www.dormaineg.com
Blog: http://dormainegblog.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004470074838
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7329928.Dormaine_G_
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Dormaine-G/e/B00HNE9GOC/
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A New Beginning with LM Pruitt

A New BeginningI’ve always wanted to start a book with a murder. A nice, gruesome murder.Perhaps I should start at the beginning.I come from a long line of individuals involved in crime—both sides, the good and the not so good. I’ve traced my lineage back to people who both betrayed and killed a king and those who, in turn, killed those betrayers. In the more present day, I have family members who have been in prison and family members who have supervised those who are in prison. My degree, although I have little use for it in my day job, is in criminology and criminal justice. So it’s easy to see where my fascination with the gruesome and macabre was born.When I first became a writer, I wrote in the genre I was most familiar with—romance, specifically paranormal romance. As I became more comfortable with my craft, I began branching out, adding darker elements. Anyone who has read my Winged series is familiar with what I mean. Still, there was a part of me which had an itch for a good, old-fashioned horror story. Something along the lines of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, two of my literary heroes, or Gillian Flynn, who writes some of the most fascinating and frightening characters ever.And so when the opening line for Silk began running through my head—“they called it the murder tree”—I ran with it. And the story I’ve managed to create is even more dark and twisted than I could have hoped for.
So, yes—for me, murder is a new beginning. One I’m very, very eager to pursue. 

SilkL.M. Pruitt
Release Date: April 19, 2016
Genre: Horror
Book Description:
They called it the murder tree.
In 1995, twenty kids went in to the woods. Only three came back.
There are monsters in the woods.
Twenty years later, what happened is still a mystery.
The monsters are back.
Now, the town of Silk faces its greatest threat in over two hundred years. No one is safe.
Not even the monsters.


Available for Pre-Order at Amazon

Excerpt
November 1995
They called it the murder tree.The kids did, anyway. To the adults, those people who no longer believed in ghost stories and things that went bump in the night, it was known as the old Litz tree. The last living monument to the family who founded the town before Georgia was even a state, giving their money and lives in the process.The adults liked to gloss over that particular part of the story when discussing the history of Mulberry.The kids preferred to linger on it.Most of them knew the story of the night the Litz family lost their lives before they were even able to read the decades old textbooks grudgingly provided by the Department of Education. By the time they graduated to junior high, all the kids—the cool ones, at least, the ones you wanted at your party or it wasn’t really a party—had camped out next to the murder tree. More than one high school girl had allowed her boyfriend to “comfort” her in the shadow of the ancient mulberry after listening to the story of the Litz family yet again.You weren’t a part of Mulberry until you had spent your time at the murder tree.It was the only reason Elias Crenshaw could think of for why he was freezing his balls off on what was shaping up to be the coldest night of the year.That and the fact Mandy Jones had promised him she’d be there. The way she’d told him, with just the tiniest smile of her bubblegum pink lips and a flutter of lashes, was enough to keep him warm.But only for another hour. After that, he was going home. The guys could rag him all they wanted on Monday morning. They’d be the one with bug bites and frozen fingers and all the other stupid things that happened when you spent the night in the frickin’ woods. He’d be warm and rested and all studied up for the big biology exam in sixth period.Man, if he didn’t get at least a C his parents were going to flip. They’d already been on the fence about letting him camp out the Friday before a test. If he failed, they wouldn’t let him out of the house again until the end of the school year. He’d be the only kid not allowed to go the eighth grade prom.Mandy Jones would never go out with him if he was the loser kid who didn’t go to the prom.“Your face is going to freeze like that.”Elias snorted. “No, it won’t.”“Yeah, it will.” Shephard Jackson widened her already big brown eyes—bug eyes, Mandy called them—and nodded solemnly. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”“Probably the wrong thing to say when we’re next to the murder tree.” Elias tilted toward her, leaning in with his whole body before hunching his shoulders and shivering. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t allowed in the woods after dark.”“I’m not.” She huffed out a breath, the puff of frosty air doing nothing to dislodge the white blonde hair seemingly glued to her forehead. She’d bleached it the week before on a dare, just like she’d pierced her nose last month and broken in to the library the month before that. “But that’s Kelly’s stupid rule. She keeps trying to act like she’s my mom or something.”“Well, she married your dad.” Elias winced when she reached over and smacked him on the back of his head. “Jesus, Shep.”“You’re not supposed to take her side. You’re supposed to take mine.” She sniffled and swiped her hand under her nose. “That’s what best friends do.”“Fine, whatever.” When Shep sighed, Elias rolled his eyes. “It’s a stupid rule and she’s a bitch and she should stop trying to act like she’s your mom.”“Thank you.” The pseudo sniffling immediately stopped and she leaned in to him, her slight frame weighing next to nothing. After a moment, she said, “What are you doing here?”“Rite of passage.” He nodded at the small group clustered around the carefully constructed fire. Albert had insisted they follow all the safety rules for lighting a fire in the woods, reminding everyone of Smokey the Bear’s immortal saying. “Supposed to be more people coming. Real party.”“Oh, please.” She scoffed, the harsh exhalation shaking her entire body. “You’re here because Mandy Jones said she was going to be here. Her and her little group. They’re so… ugh.” She shook her head before turning to scowl at him. “You couldn’t fall in love with some girl who can actually have a conversation for longer than five minutes without mentioning cheerleading or makeup?”“First, I’m not in love with her.” Elias returned her scowl, narrowing his eyes to slits. “We barely know each other.” Truth, even though he’d spent countless hours imagining what it would be like to kiss her. “Second, just because she’s not fighting the power or whatever you do when you’re not pissing off your stepmom doesn’t make her stupid. She’s really smart.”“Eli, she said it was ridiculous to have the term ‘african-american’ because if you were born in America you obviously couldn’t be from Africa.”“Well.” He paused, racking his brain for an explanation even as he winced. “You know, there are a lot of adults who feel the same way. Like we should all just embrace our current culture and let of our heritage.”“Right.” Shep snorted and rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She jerked her chin at the fire. “Let’s go. Story time.”“Oh, come on.” He groaned, digging in his heels half-heartedly when she tried to drag him toward the group. They both knew it would be impossible for her to move him unless he helped. She was a hundred pounds soaking wet, barely topping five feet while he’d gained twenty pounds since school started. The only reason he wasn’t as fat as a turkey was the corresponding growth spurt, the new six inches putting him dangerously close to six feet. “Not again. We’ve heard this thing a million times.”“So this will be a million and one. Come on.” She yanked his arm harder, grumbling something under her breath about ogres. “It’s tradition to tell the story at every campout. Besides….” She trailed off, smiling up at him and batting her lashes. “I’m pretty sure Mandy finally arrived.”“Well, in that case.” He laughed when she gasped, using her moment of feigned shock to scoop her up and toss her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. “You know what’s really great about having you as a best friend? You’re easy to pick up when we’re fighting.”“You’re such a troglodyte.” Shep pounded on his back with her fists, biting back a scream when he took a step forward. “If anybody sees me, I swear—on my mom’s grave—I will make your life miserable for the rest of the year.”He paused, not at the threat, but the oath. After a minute, he dropped her back to her feet, brushing a speck of something off the shoulder of her jacket. They stared at each other, the awkwardness of the silence nearly tangible. Finally, he said, “Sorry, Shep.”“Whatever.” Spinning on her heels, she stomped toward the far side of the group, the laces of her combat boots slithering over the dead leaves like a snake. She slid between Albert and Jacob, sneering at something one of them said. Elias watched for another minute before shoving his hands in his pockets and trudging over to join the growing group.“Hey, Elias.” Mandy half walked, half skipped up to him as he neared the fire, linking her arm with his. “I thought you were going to spend all night talking to that weirdo.”“She’s not a weirdo.” The defense was as automatic as breathing. “Her mom died, remember? Like, right in front of her. She’s just, you know, grieving.”“Right.” Mandy sighed, the sort of huge, exaggerated sigh Elias knew meant annoyance at his supposed ignorance. His older sister made the same noise every time he asked her a question. “Whatever. I didn’t come out to these stupid woods to talk about her.” She smiled at him, the fire casting shadows over her normally light and bright face. “I came to hang out with you.”“Dude, we’re waiting.” Isiah Graves, Elias’s second best friend—but number one guy best friend, as Isiah was quick to point out—raised his voice to an almost shout. Since he’d been the one to propose the campout, he’d insisted he get to tell the story of the murder tree. Elias didn’t bother reminding him it was a hollow honor. “Story and then party. Rules are rules, man.”“Nobody cares except for you.” Jacob Wesson had the honor of being the oldest person in the group by a month and the first to have a voice which didn’t crack at random moments. “Just get this boring ass shit over with before I die of fucking boredom.”“Okay, okay.” Isiah hunched his shoulders and shuffled his feet, shooting a glare around the group at large before straightening to his full height. “The year was 1748. The town of Mulberry was struggling, just as it had been since the Litz family arrived from Germany with a dream of producing silk and other luxury goods.”“He sounds like a really dorky version of Mr. Young.” Mandy’s breathy whisper smelled like cinnamon and Elias closed his eyes for a split second, inhaling deeply. When he opened them again, she was watching him with a knowing look.“Everybody else in the town wanted to use the land for rice, something they could use and sell. But the Litz’s refused to give up their dream.” Isiah paused, drawing out the attempt at suspense. “Finally, the people of Mulberry decided enough was enough.”Even though everybody knew how the story went, how it ended, every last one of them inched closer. The next part of the tale was always told in a voice barely above a whisper, as if the long dead participants would hear and interrupt to correct the teller on some minute point. Tonight was no exception.“The entire town, everybody except the children, marched out to the Litz homestead. Josiah Litz tried to talk them down, make them see reason, but he failed.” Isiah stepped back and pointed up at a thick limb jutting out from the trunk in a crooked line. “They strung him up here but the fall didn’t break his neck. So he watched while the town slaughtered his entire family.”He paused again, the group holding its collective breath. The leaves, long dead but stubbornly clinging to their branches, shivered as a faint wind blew through the forest. Mandy moved closer to Elias and he put his arm around her, ignoring Shep’s eye roll.Isiah waited a beat longer. “Or rather—almost his entire family.“They forgot the oldest son was returning from New York. Franz Litz had been gone so long, it was possible the town had forgotten he even existed.” Isiah rapped his knuckles on the tree trunk, nodding solemnly. “But Josiah hadn’t. And while he slowly suffocated to death under the weight of his own body, he swore his family would have their revenge. And they did.“While the town burned the house and the trees and buried the bodies of the Litz family, Franz, who’d witnessed everything from the safety of the woods, rode in to Mulberry.” Isiah stepped back in to the circle, his low voice forcing everybody to move closer in order to hear. “And hung every last child.”The wind gusted through the woods again, stronger this time, the trees rattling their limbs in protest. Somewhere in the distance, some animal let out a single short cry, quickly cut off by the crunching of something larger and more dangerous. Elias glanced around the circle, surprised at the number of pale faces and large eyes, even as he reminded himself it was only a story.“The townspeople caught him right after he hung his last victim, a baby barely a month old. They hauled him, kicking and screaming, back to the murder tree.” As one, they turned to look at the ancient mulberry. “Even as they put the rope around his neck, he fought. His last words before the noose broke his neck were ‘A cursed ground bears only poisonous fruit’.”“Or so they say.” Jacob snorted and shook his head. “Whatever, dude. Stupid story about a whole bunch of dead people.” He nudged Shep with his shoulder and laughed. “Fuck’em. Let’s party.”The circle broke up in to smaller groups, twos and threes and fours, each cluster wandering away from the murder tree. Mandy gripped Elias’s arm tighter and shivered. “That was so scary, right?”“Right.” He wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or not and the smell of her floral perfume was too distracting for him to try and figure it out one way or the other. “So, uh, did you want to go for a walk or something?”“A walk?” She laughed and shook her head. “Uh, no.” Still laughing, she slipped away from him, reaching up and pushing her shiny lemon-yellow hair behind her shoulders. “I actually need to go talk to Shanna about the routine for the game tomorrow.”“Right.” Elias nodded dumbly. “Uh, right. Good luck with that. I’ll just… go… talk to Isiah.”Elias hunched his shoulders, stalking over to the base of the murder tree. Isiah studied his face, rocking on his heels before sucking air through his teeth. “Man, that was an epic crash and burn. Epic.”“Shut up.” Elias punched him, pulling back at the last second. Isiah was nearly as skinny as Shep but more fragile looking, as if a good solid blow would break him in two. “She had to go do cheerleading stuff.”“Cheerleading stuff.” Isiah snorted. “She’s such a fucking tease.”“Dude, stop.” Elias looked up as another gust of wind shook the branches, a handful of leaves falling down around them like confetti. “Did you have to pick the coldest night ever to do this thing?”“Nah, that was just luck.” The other boy grinned and attempted to wiggle his eyebrows. “Pretty spooky, right?”“Whatever.” Elias nudged him with his elbow. “You bring any good snacks or what?”


About the Author:
L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice.  She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.
http://www.lmpruitt.org
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http://www.amazon.com/L.M.-Pruitt/e/B00427WOW4/
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Release Day Blitz Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine

Witch of the CardsCatherine Stine
Genre: paranormal historical suspense
Publisher: Konjur Road Press
Date of Publication: March 16, 2016
ISBN 13: 978-0-9848282-6-5   ISBN-10: 0-9848282-6-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-9848282-7-2 ISBN 10: 0-9848282-7-3
Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 76K
Cover Artist: Mae I Designs
Book Description:
Fiera was born a sea witch with no inkling of her power. And now it might be too late.
Witch of the Cards is historical, supernatural romantic suspense set in 1932 on the Jersey shore. Twenty-two year-old Fiera has recently left the Brooklyn orphanage where she was raised, and works in Manhattan as a nanny. She gets a lucky break when her boss pays for her short vacation in Asbury Park. One evening, Fiera and her new friend Dulcie wander down the boardwalk and into Peter Dune’s Tarot & Séance, where they attend a card reading.
Fiera has always had an unsettling ability to know things before they happen and sense people’s hidden agendas. She longs to either find out the origin of her powers or else banish them because as is, they make her feel crazy. When, during the reading, her energies somehow bond with Peter Dune’s and form an undeniable ethereal force, a chain of revelations and dangerous events begin to unspool. For one, Fiera finds out she is a witch from a powerful sea clan, but that someone is out to stop her blossoming power forever. And though she is falling in love with Peter, he also has a secret side. He’s no card reader, but a private detective working to expose mediums. Despite this terrible betrayal, Fiera must make the choice to save Peter from a tragic Morro Cruise boat fire, or let him perish with his fellow investigators. Told in alternating viewpoints, we hear Fiera and Peter each struggle against their deep attraction. Secrets, lies, even murder, lace this dark fantasy.



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Excerpt:
The absinthe put me in a dreamy state. Added to the mix was the sensual comfort of sitting next to Peter, who served as a buffer between Alyse and me. Somewhere in the room, a chorus of faint voices floated around, high and sweet. Or was the sound merely in my head? How could it be? Peter asked me a question, but it took three repetitions for me to understand him over the low-slung jazz notes infused with the chorus of invisible soprano cherubs singing at me. “Have you always had a talent for the unseen?” I heard him ask.“Whatever do you mean? It was you who saw things that weren’t there.” I had to right myself because I found myself swooning so much I nearly fell into Peter’s lap. “But it was you who eked it out of me.”“Little old me?” I giggled.“Yes, you,” Alyse agreed. “I was there, too. You have some strange talent. Can you describe how it works? You must be aware of it.”Everything was turning light and frothy like a magical cake icing. The barkeep was chatting up the fellows at his counter, the card players exhaled in cheery gusts of laughter, and the waitresses flounced around like so many sunny meadow flowers. I didn’t see the harm. “I do sense things. Always have.”“What kind of things?” Peter and Alyse asked in tandem. Their unexpected accord matched the soprano voices singing harmoniously in and around my head.I giggled again. “Do you hear them?”“Hear what?” Peter looked around, spooked.“Children, little voices.”Alyse’s brows creased. “What are they saying?”“They’re singing.” But the entire mood of the room had changed in an instant. Their radiant energy soured. The children of the ether weren’t singing any more. They were starting to weep, over something very sad. Over me. How did I know this? No idea. A hard frost shot through my bones. I took a big gulp of the absinthe. Perhaps it would block out the voices, the wailing of innocents.“What is it?” Peter took my hand. His concerned touch cut through the horrible, chilling ache and melted me. “What’s the matter, Fiera?” His face paled, and right then, I knew he heard them too. “They’re crying, aren’t they?” he whispered in my ear, tickling my soft lobe. “Crying over you.”“Yes.” I leaned on him, letting the voices cry for me. We hugged and I swear I felt his sudden, hot tears melt through the shoulder fabric of my dress. It was infinitely sad, infinitely tender. The invisible cherubs whirring inside my head took translucent form and slipped out of me. They soared around the room like hardscrabble angels, flitting past Dulcie as she danced; sliding, their soft baby feet gliding over the long bar counter, and right through the man with the hookah. He glanced up for a moment as if he, too, felt the supernatural breeze. Then he bowed his head back down and took a pensive draw on his smoking device. Eyes closed, I saw green paisleys and floating leaves, the rushing of a cold stream bubbling under me, which filled me with terror. I came to with a gasp.“What is it?” Alyse asked. How could I tell her of this suffering, shot through with spectacular floating objects, and my strange, sudden affinity with Mr. Dune? “I see children weeping,” I admitted. “They’ve been hurt.”“How?” Her voice grew anxious.I silently asked them. “They’re babies. They can’t say.”When I looked over at Peter, it was obvious he was in the same deep trance he’d been in when we first met. His eyes were glazed as if whatever he was experiencing was far from this basement speakeasy. “What is it? What do you see?” I whispered.“They’re fading. They’re dying. They’re being—”“Snap out of it, Mr. Dune.” Alyse gave him a stern shaking. “You’ve had too much absinthe.” “It’s not that!” I insisted. “Then tell me what it is, Fiera,” she said.“It’s a vision. Of something real from long ago.”“How long ago?”“As long ago as there is a long ago.” I sounded ridiculous. Alyse Bone was right. The absinthe was crazy making. Or was it the taffy? I leaned into Peter’s limp shoulder, reached over and shook him, too, but with more patience than Alyse had.His eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at me with that same calm as when he awoke after the séance. As before, his expression was clear of emotion, blissfully unaware of what he’d whispered to me minutes ago.“Well, there you are,” he slurred. “You look positively ravishing. Dance?”“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.” I bumbled to my feet. “You two really drank the coffin varnish.” Alyse gave an unbecoming snort as she rose and drifted away.Perhaps I was too far-gone, but I didn’t care. Peter and I danced and danced. The speakeasy filled with the overflow from the convention hall dance—young lovers, bootleggers with wide ties and cigars, older women with twinkling earrings and heavy bosoms, even a prostitute or two. They wore too much rouge and sat brazenly up at the bar with the gin rummies.This time, I couldn’t say whether I stepped on Mr. Dune’s polished wingtips. He probably couldn’t be sure if he knocked his bony legs into mine. We had more nips of absinthe, and I wolfed down another green-swirl taffy. Before I knew it, I was leaning provocatively against Peter and laughing like a wild banshee. I remember gaping up at him to see his black hair all disheveled and him indistinctly mumbling. And thinking that he was the most gorgeous human being I’d ever seen. I remember Peter and I howling at the crescent moon over the ocean, and the shocked sideways glance of the hotel proprietor as we stumbled in. I recall pulling out the Tarot, and laying them out on my rug. I recall babbling at him—about a witch and a swindler and a boat. I can still picture his expression of shocked surprise.
And I remember Peter’s lips branding my forehead—how could I ever forget that—while shocks of his lush black hair dangled deliciously on my burning cheeks. The last thing I recall before things went dark was kicking off my shoes.
About the Author:
Catherine Stine’s novels span the range from futuristic to supernatural to contemporary. Her YA sci-fi thrillers Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are Amazon bestsellers and indie award winners. Her YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. Heart in a Box, her contemporary YA was an Amazon Hot New Release in Teen and Alternative Family for over eight weeks. She also writes romance as Kitsy Clare. Her Art of Love series includes Model Position and Private Internship. Book three, Girl and the Gamer, launches this summer. She suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her as a child, and her love of contemporary fiction comes from being a jubilant realist. To unwind she loves to watch “bad” reality TV and travel to offbeat places.
Catherine’s website: http://catherinestine.com/wp/
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Blog: http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kitsy84557/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1018139.Catherine_Stine
Catherine on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcatherinestine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossoverwriter


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Superhero Stories Aren’t Romances, Are They?

By D.S. AUFFENORDEExclusive to the Kensington City Examiner

Of course they are. Aren’t all stories really just love stories? Whether the tale involves falling in love with the hero or fighting for those we love, love is unquestionably integral to the storytelling process. Some might argue otherwise, but there can be no stronger motivation in the universe, no greater superpower!Most superheroes have love interests and are motivated, and often conflicted, by love. The recent motion picture Dead Pool is a classic example of a superhero romance. But the traditional superhero often keeps his love connection in check. This is surprising: what’s the point in keeping the love strings tight when love motivates so much of a story? Today, we’re just beginning to see the crossover of superheroes into the romance genre. For romance, paranormal has been the order of the day—shapeshifters, vampires, wizards, fairies, and other magical creatures. But comes now Electromancer, a combination romance, paranormal, and fantasy, with a strong dose of classic comic-book superhero. Why is Electromancer unique? Because unlike other superheroes, she’s not afraid to bare her heart and soul and yes, even her body, in pursuit of love. In some ways, Electromancer is not unlike the superheroes from the beloved comics of yesteryear, when Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman ruled. These and other classic superheroes thwart evil, save us from disaster, and then leave us hanging, anxious to experience the next episode in their continuing battle for truth and justice. But how does Electromancer and other romance superheroes differ from these earlier characters? In the traditional superhero story, we’re not guaranteed the happy-ever-after ending. In the traditional paranormal story, we are led to believe that—eeeek!—there may really be some mysterious force or monstrous not-of-this-world being that might still take us to the dark side. But in a romance superhero story, we get a bigger bang for our buck—the larger-than-life fantasy and the heart-rending love story. Romance superheroes may just be the biggest earthshattering phenomena to hit the universe … or multiverse. Call it superlove!So what’s the novel Electromancer all about? The story is set in the very near future on an earthlike planet with earth-like cities. It features Alexa Manchester, the heiress to her brilliant father’s energy corporation, and his magical element, Electromite, which could solve the world’s energy problems. Until everything goes wrong, and Electromancer must save the day. And that’s where all the Kabam! Pow! and Zap! come in.But here also comes the romance: Electromancer can’t do it alone. So who’s Electromancer’s love interest? The handsome mayor of her town, Kensington City, who might someday lead the country of Britannia? Or the mysterious Blue Arrow, half-cloud, half-man, who appears and disappears in a flash? And who in heavens name is trying to shut down the world’s energy supply and take over the planet? That’s what I, reporter D.S. Auffenorde of the Kensington City Examiner, intend to find out.
So join me as I set off on an investigatory assignment to discover the truth. I intend to get to the bottom of Electromancer’s mysterious existence and discover what her intentions are. There’s no assignment too tough. I’ll do what it takes to ferret out and interview all of these characters. Because with every assignment I take on, it’s not the end result that makes the story worthy of reporting, but the journey as it is told through the lives of others. So whether you’re starting with this column or must return to previous post to catch up, follow along as the story is picked up over the wire.




ElectromancerDaco
Genre: Romance, Fantasy,Superhero, Paranormal, Thriller/Suspense
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Date of Publication: 2-1-16
ISBN 10: 1-4405-9687-5ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9687-2eISBN 10: 1-4405-9688-3eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-9688-9ASIN: B01AOH7BFA
Number of pages: 234Word Count: 70,000
Cover design by Fred Machuca,Illustration by Ricky Ostendi
Book Description:
With a heart as pure as platinum and electricity at her fingertips!
She soars like a falcon and travels at the speed of light!
She’s … ELECTROMANCER!
When arch villain Momo threatens to destroy the world with The Big Zapper—a weapon of mass destruction the likes of which has never been seen before—it’s up to Alexa Manchester and her new electricity-harnessing superpowers to stop him.
With a little help from her sexy chauffeur, Sigfred Sawyer, and some exciting encounters with the mysterious and handsome Blue Arrow, soon Alexa’s love life is charged up, too. And to defeat the seemingly invincible Momo, it might just take the naturally super power of love to save the day.
Offering all the Kabam! Pow! Zap! of beloved comic book sagas with the beating heart of a love story, this over-the-top, genre-blending send-up is sure to delight superhero fans and romance readers alike.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/5GE2uOWM_3M
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About the Author:
Daco is an award-winning author of the espionage-thriller series featuring CIA operative Jordan Jakes. Her debut novel, The Libra Affair, was a 2013 #1 best seller. Of The Libra Affair, Publishers Weekly said, “The keenly sharp intelligent female characters soar in this edge-of-your-seat adventure...”
Her short story The Pisces Affair was a 2015 Global Ebook Awards double gold medalist (Best Thriller Fiction and Best Science Fiction), a 2015 Shelf Unbound Notable 100, a 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award winner, and a Publishers Weekly “PW Pick”.” In its review of The Pisces Affair, Publishers Weekly wrote, “Jakes is a lively and witty narrator with the wits and skills of James Bond, and readers will savor her fresh perspective on being a woman in the male-dominated spy world.”
Her story The Virgo Affair is part of Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded (Diversion Press, October 2015), an anthology, including numerous best-selling authors.
Electromancer (F+W Media, Inc./Crimson Romance, February 2016), is her first superhero novel, featuring Electromancer and Blue Arrow.
Upcoming works include The Scorpio Affair, a Jordan Jakes novel, and The Ophiuchus Affair, another Jordan Jakes short story.
Daco holds a B.A. and M.A.S. from The University of Alabama in Huntsville and a J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law. She is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Authors Guild, Alabama Writers Forum, Florida Writers, and Alabama State Bar.
Website: http://www.authordaco.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorDaco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daco.Author/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6959775.Daco
Google+: https://plus.google.com/111619918307592399080
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daco-s-auffenorde-64619039 


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 follow along as the investigatory column continues to unfold the peculiarities of the citizens of Kensington Cit y. 



March 16 Guest BlogBooks and Tales:http://booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
March 17 SpotlightZenny's Awesome Book Reviewshttps://zennysawesomebookreviews.wordpress.com/
March 18 Spotlight
Queen of All She Reads  http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com
March 21 ReviewMusings and Ramblings http://www.musingsandramblings.net
March 22 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/
March 23 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
March 24 Guest blogThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com 
March 25 InterviewDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
March 28 Guest blogI Smell Sheephttp://www.ismellsheep.com/
March 29 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
March 30 Guest BlogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com

March 30 Live Radio Interview
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March 31 ReviewRose Shababyhttp://roseshababy.com/category/roses-brain/
April 1 Guest BlogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
April 4 Guest blogParaYourNormalhttps://parayournormal.wordpress.com/
April 4 ReviewFantatical Paranormal Romanticalhttp://fanaticalparanormalromantical.com/

Release Day Crimson Shadow: The Longest Night by Nathan Squiers

Crimson Shadow - The Longest Nightby  Nathan Squiers

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1WjDe1MSmashwords: http://bit.ly/1XoLPQO


They say that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it…
Xander and Estella Stryker have faced a great deal in their pasts, but as the newlywed clan leaders look out at the cheering faces of their fellow vampires and other mythos allies, their histories are the furthest things from their minds. After all, they’ve got a future to plan for and a honeymoon to enjoy.
But the darkest histories have a way of repeating themselves, and one of the Stryker family’s darkest, most well-hidden ones is ready to be heard once again…
Now, with their honeymoon delayed, a would-be business trip turns into a hellish fight for survival. Separated and hunted by a ruthless, unstoppable creature, the lovers’ horrifying past is relived as they find themselves dragged into a mission that began before they were even born. Their future’s going to have to wait, because if they can’t learn from the past their longest night could quite possibly become their last.


NathanSquiers – The Literary Dark Emperor
Born in Massachusetts in 1986, Nathan Squiers (The Literary Dark Emperor) grew up in Andover, where his affinity for story-telling flourished due to a love of books and movies as well as an overactive imagination. At the age of 13, Nathan and his mother moved to Upstate New York to be closer to their family.
After surviving public school, where he spent most of his days locked away in the AV room watching old 80s movies on Laserdisc and planning out his next video project, Nathan began a shaky college career. A love of weaving tales and telling stories was motivation enough to pursue an education in English, and, as luck would have it, a series of phenomenal professors were available to get him pointed in the right direction. It was in his first years of college that Nathan began to actively pursue a writing career, starting his first literary journey with a piece that would later become "Noir", the first book of the Crimson Shadow series.
Like any good story, a chaotic turn of events brought Nathan from the very brink of insanity and loneliness to the warm, comforting embrace of Megan, his best friend, lover, kindred spirit, and--more often than not--personal handler. It was with Megan at his side that Nathan was able to continue his writing (sometimes solely motivated by the young lady's threats of dismemberment if he tried to stop). With Megan's help, Nathan was able to see Death Metal, his fourth manuscript, through the publication process.
Nearly ten years later, The Literary Dark Emperor (now a multi-award winning author and co-owner/manager of Tiger Dynasty Publishing) continues to invent stories and put them into a literary sequence that he hopes will be somehow decipherable by other readers. As a lover of all things creative, he works in both novels, novellas, short stories, as well as comic book scripts (just don't ask him to draw something if you don't like stick figures and poorly-executed shapes).
If he's not submerged in the realm of fiction or burning out his retinas with horror movie marathons, Nathan is planning/getting a new piercing/tattoo or enjoying life with his lovely wife and fellow author, Megan J. Parker.
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Dark Secrets by Mikki Smith

Dark SecretsBook OneMikki Smith
Genre: Fiction/thriller/occult
Publisher: Full Moon Press
Date of Publication: Dec.24, 2015
ISBN-10: 0692586636ISBN-13: 978-0692586631
Number of pages: 220Word Count: 86,000
Book Description:
Misty’s family, hid a dark secret from her. Until the coven came to claim what they believe belongs to them. Their chosen ones, to lead the coven to become the most powerful.
It’s written the twins who they separated at birth are to reign together as one to keep the bloodline pure.
When Misty refuses to stand with them, hell will break loose.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/S8Wj_scpfG8
Amazon


ExcerptOctober 31, 1975Halloween.
The storm was ravenous, ready to devour anything in its path. Lightning flashed wildly across the darkened sky. Misty Quinlin heard branches snap and fall to the ground from the high winds and pouring rain. She wanted to cry out from the pain as the freezing rain pelted into her wounds.She knew to stop was not an option, it meant eternal death to her soul, she forced herself to continue. Misty needed to find her way out of this dark and dangerous forest that surrounded her if she was to survive.             She knew the members of the evil coven still lurked somewhere deep in the woods. The only light she had was from the full moon- appearing unlike any she had ever seen. Bright orange, Laura, Misty’s best friend, referred to it as the blood moon that rarely appears. Laura warned that more evil occurs during a blood moon than any other. Lightning continued to flash across the midnight sky, but it was of little help. The trees were tall enough that their branches extended out as far as the eye could see, giving the illusion that the ends of the branches disappeared in the midnight sky.
   Dan stopped at the end of the trail and pointed toward a cavern. Sitting in front of the cavern was a makeshift table of wood and stone. It looked to be well over a hundred years old, but that wasn’t what grabbed his attention. On the table, there was a body, completely naked, and lying spread eagle. Whoever did this cut off his genitals during the gutting and skinning. “I hope you don’t lose your lunch like I did,” Dan said, finally able to speak.  
            “Yes the moon…it was a blood moon…a rare moon. It only happens every so often…powerful…very powerful,” the priest muttered to himself, completely lost in thought. A few seconds later, he returned to reality, and began speaking to the detective again. “Satanic worshippers come in all shapes and sizes; they could be your parents, brother, sister, your captain, or even your priest. On the outside, they appear as normal as you or I, but on the inside they are completely evil and full of darkness. Some are witches, others are born and raised in a cult lifestyle, but you may never know because they are very secretive.”            “So I wouldn’t have any idea at all if I ran into them outside of their devil worshipping?” Norris asked, genuinely concerned that everyone in the world was being fooled by someone who worships the devil.
They argued back and forth until they reached a point where Misty knew that no matter what she did there was no getting away, he was going to do what he wanted.  He became like a wild animal, biting her breasts so hard she screamed out in pain as he placed his hand over her face and squeezed her ribs harder so that she couldn’t move.       He entered her with such force and began thrusting himself so hard inside her she almost passed out. She could hear him chanting and repeating that she was his and his alone. She was praying for God to help her, while hoping in the back of her mind that this wasn’t happening, praying that it was all a bad dream and she would soon wake up. She was taken back by how angry he had become because of what she and Robbie had done.
About the Author:
Mikki Ensey Smith was born in Franklin, Indiana she attended Wayne township schools where she made a lot of special friends, her book (Dark Secrets) is based on places in the area.
Mikki went on and married having four children and grandchildren.
Mikki wants to take Dark Secrets to a whole other level by turning Dark Secrets into a series wanting to take her readers on another thrill ride into the world of magic, evil, murder, friendship love, lust, and complete terror.
She loves writing fiction where she can make anything possible including the impossible with no condemnation or remorse, so if you dare follow her into the dark lives in the Dark Secret Series.
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http://www.amazon.com/Mikki-Smith/e/B01C1118L0/

A Review of The Visitor by Amanda Stevens

The Visitor by Amanda Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have waited patiently for a new book in this series for a couple years now, (OK it's been impatiently because I really love this series). I was so thrilled to learn a new book was coming...and then I received a review copy.

The Visitor does not disappoint. All the creepy, eerie, spooky intensity of the first three books is back in The Visitor: Graveyard Queen Book Four.

Amelia's mysterious heritage is as layered as an onion and each book peels away a couple layers. There is so much more to Amelia's ability to see ghosts than she knows.

Odd clues and strange feelings plague Amelia along with a doppelganger ghost that haunts her dreams. Strange things keep popping up in her life, clues that seem to lead her to something specific. Kroll Cemetery. But why, how is she connected to this sad place?

A break in at her home lands her in the hospital with a head injury...which seems to open a whole new set of doors to the world of the dead. Amelia sees and hears more than she ever has...and she seems to have developed a few new abilities, at least when it comes to her boyfriend John Devlin.

Devlin is a man of mystery. As close as they've been, they're still miles apart and the rift seems to keep getting wider every day. What is he hiding? Why won't he open up to Amelia? She catches glimpses of his life, but they only create new questions instead of giving her any answers.

Amelia's life continues to become more confusing as she tries to unravel decades old mysteries, her family heritage, and what she really is while trying to hold onto a man who seems hell bent on pulling away.

I could not put this book down. Thrills, chills and spooky shivers kept me reading this page turner.

I devoured it and now I want more.

I was thrilled to learn that book 5, The Sinner, is due out this September.

View all my reviews