Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 346

Inclusiveness Is the Gateway To Equality with Christian A. Brown

I’ve wanted to write this piece for a while. In the past few months we’ve weathered a number of deplorable, violent, commendable and inspirational social media-storms. As an outspoken fellah, I’ve been asking myself lately, where and how I fit into these debates.
I am a biracial, visible minority. I’ve been quite poor in my lifetime, miserably poor. I watched my parents struggle with each other, and more so with a world that—at the time—did not approve of their love. I’m married to a Métis amputee. I’ve been discriminated against because of my skin color, my social status, my sexuality. I’ve been forced to question my masculinity, my body, my behavior and my emotions. Despite being a mature, physically fit and able male, I’ve once been trapped in a sexually violent situation. (No, I do not need to talk about it with the public. Nor do I consider myself a victim—I hate that mentality and all that it encompasses.) Between myself and those that I love, I’d say that I’ve been blessed to have experienced a full spectrum of marginalization and trauma. That’s my résumé. Those are the experiences that make me “qualified” to speak as on these topics that I often do.  Not that qualifications and a history with marginalization should be a requirement for speaking of and engaging oneself in social issues . Everyone needs to talk about the “isms”. That’s how the power of hate is dispelled. And yet, in this world where various groups scream to be heard above the noise of each other, people still find time to judge, to enforce further isms—the negative ones—and rules about who and how we are to address the social constructs of our world.
Now some camps, and believe me all of the isms have camps, would preclude me from speaking out against inequality because I do not neatly fit into the mould of their ideal advocate. A sweetly confused person once implied that I was a misogynist. That comes with the territory of being a man who involves himself, openly, in social issues. And it’s the sort of finger-wagging, exclusionary and excessive “trigger warning” reflex that tends to do more harm than good. Believe it or not, issues are not resolved by not talking about them. The darkest acts of human kind lack real impact and meaning when we dress them up and water them down for consumption. We need to fear things and to feel horror. Sometimes that seems to be the only way to get people to come out of their bubbles and actually engage in an issue. Newsflash: marginalization is not changed without involving in the dialog the group who are responsible for the marginalizing. Rocket science, eh? In a first world county, where we have a basis for ethics, law and science, some of the arguments and sensitivities being shown from groups both marginalizing and standing against marginalization are frighteningly similar.
How many types of feminism do we have, for example? Wikipedia says twenty. Yes, that’s correct. TWENTY. Holy shit. No wonder the movement has all the impetus of a 100 year old man wiping his arse when there seems to be no unified opinion on how the movement should proceed. Oh, wait, there is one. We have an ethical thread that weaves its way through any social construct made to battle marginalization. We have rights, laws and legal freedoms for which we are fighting. I may not be making any new friends by saying this, but the rest is mostly I-don’t-like-what-you-like and ego-feeding narcissism.
A test. Which image do you find offensive? A, B, neither or both?




Liberal feminists might like ladies in image A, since the women are reclaiming and embracing their curvaceous bodies. Socialist/ Marxist feminists would probably lambast image A since the models are evocative of traditional, over-glamorized, over-sexualized women. Image B, the “Mancandy”, I’m sure both groups would like, even if they did not say so out loud. Oh, and guess what? That’s a hyper-sexualized and gender conforming stereotypical male image, by the way. Correct answer to the quiz: there isn’t one, and we’re amazingly blind to how hypocritical we can be.Stop fighting about the small stuff, the cosmetic and harder-to-change behavioral stuff before you figure out the goddam basics. I’m talking about the big problems: wages, equality, rights, freedom to choose.
These building blocks toward equality are being laid in some of the most religiously entrenched, developing countries, in regions of the world where the treatment of women and minorities is every shade of appalling. Yet we seem to have moved past the important stuff and onto other debates. Exemplifying these blinders, we can look toward Patricia Arquette’s well meaning, but unrefined, roast of women’s wages, which possessed a tone-deaf insinuation that gay rights and racial equality have in some way been achieved. I don’t know where Patty lives, though I’d like a ticket to that Utopia. Obviously I agree with Patricia’s base sentiment—equal pay for women. However, I do not agree in dropping the focus on the other marginalized groups that she mentioned in pursuit of this cause (Patricia later went on a Twitter binge and softened her point).
Debating whether Mary Sue is a true feminist or woman because she decides to stay at home with the kids is a circular and ridiculous argument. Does Mary Sue have access to the same medical care as her husband? (Or wife, if we want to be really progressive.) Are we sure that Mary Sue chose to become a housewife and wasn’t shackled to the stove in an act of Black Snake Moan weirdness? (Actually, that movie attempted to promote a strong, moralist message, although the imagery certainly did it no favors.) Does Mary Sue have higher insurance premiums because she is a woman living without an income? Can she vote? These are the more important questions to ask, and they are questions that we can measure with the yardstick of science and law. These are problems that we can resolve with our judicial systems. That’s assuming that people are rational, and we all know the answer to that. We’re not. We’re built with insecurities. We find comfort in packs, and we bring those insecurities with us. Not so secret tip: if we’re insecure, we usually bond with people that share the same faults as us—misery loves company. Wherein one of the biggest problems facing the anti-isms lies: creating silos, protecting what we know, evangelizing our cause, can come at the expense of fearing and reprimanding what is not within our chosen circle.
And we’re not just talking about feminism, either. Any of the “isms” have innumerable splinter factions. I’m a righteous feminist myself. I only chose that ism, since I’m familiar with it through my work, life and role models. At the start of this piece, I mentioned my background because I wanted to point out that I am not speaking from a position of traditional, white male power and influence. I’m not adopting a holier than thou humanist standpoint, which comes with certain perils. I think that diversity is important. Heck, I’m a product of diversity. Still, we can’t let our fight for inclusiveness force us to withdraw into unassailable fortresses of thought. At that point, we’ve put ourselves on the outside of an already outside margin. At that point, we’ve become no different, no less intractable than the hate we fight against.
Enough of it. Everyone pause and try and remember what you’re fighting for. Equality. Inclusiveness. An era when we’re not all such assholes. Don’t get me started on the incalculable mental energy human beings have wasted on #TheDress.
All my love,
—C
P.S. Since we chatted about feminism, here’s a cool site to check out relating to women, their perception and their bodies and beauty. (18+. It’s not porn, but it is a celebration of women accepting their—beautiful, skinny, overweight, cancer-surviving—bodies. Expect nudity.)http://herself.com/
P.S.S. A thank you to all of the brilliant minds behind the supporting links for this piece; each of those resources is worth a good read/ view.


Feast of DreamsFour Feasts Till DarknessBook TwoChristian A. Brown
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Book Description:
As King Brutus licks his wounds and gathers new strength, two rival queens vow to destroy each other’s nations.
Lila of Eod, sliding into madness, risks everything in the search for a powerful relic, while Queen Gloriatrix threatens Eod with military might—including three monstrous technomagikal warships.
Far from this clash of queens, Morigan and the Wolf scour Alabion, hunting for the mad king’s hidden weakness. Their quest brings them face to face with their own pasts, their dark futures…and the Sisters Three themselves.
Unbeknownst to all, a third thread in Geadhain’s tapestry begins to move in the wastes of Mor’Khul. There, a father and son scavenge to survive as they travel south toward a new chapter in Geadhain history.

Available at Amazon Kindle and Paperback

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/rURqUni_lco

Excerpt 2“Fine playing,” said Maggie.            The Silk Purse’s proprietor sat down at the table where the night’s entertainment fiddled with his lute’s strings. The bard glanced up and smiled at her with his eyes, although he kept on tinkering and tuning to the pitch of his voice. Maggie watched him for a spell. The man was mystifying. He was as distant as a dream one forgot and so far into himself, his music, or some secret obsession that she might as well have been elsewhere. He was certainly handsome, though, and in their short conversations today, he’d proven a capable and witty talker. She wanted a bit more of his talk.            “Will you be staying on another night?” she asked. “Before heading back to…”She realized that in all their discussions, the man had never told her where he had come from—or where he was headed. Or much about himself at all. Even stranger, she couldn’t pin down how she’d made his acquaintance. Had he come knocking at the tavern door yesterday? Had he smiled a dashing hello with a lute over his back and a promise to play for coin? That seemed right.            “Would you like me to stay?” he asked suddenly.            He grinned from ear to ear and displayed his offer of companionship as confidently as the fox he reminded her of strutting around the henhouse and picking its prey. She could see him evaluating her body—her full breasts, strong hips, thick, wind-tossed hair, and comely face. She was as chipped and beautiful as a sculptor’s favorite piece. She wore her hardship plainly, but it had not dulled her beauty, and he seemed to appreciate her weathered self. As for the fox’s proposal, Maggie was a sensible self-made woman without need for a man. Once or maybe twice a year, she took one to her bed, but she never asked him to stay or even to break a morning fast with her. Whatever her hesitations, when the fox smiled—fiery and daring—she lit up and felt as warm as a woman sinking into a bath. A decision was made. A little outside of herself, she slid his hand over hers. She reinforced her agreement by standing up from the table and leading him past her tired staff as they cleaned up the night’s mess and rolled the drunks outside. The trip up the stairs and into her chambers was fuzzy. Suddenly, they were alone and kissing in the dark. He whispered of her beauty. “Like a cameo of Diasora,” he declared.She wondered who Diasora was while he plucked his fingers upon and within her as though she were his lute. They tumbled into chairs, onto the carpet, and onto the bed. She wasn’t sure where they were half the time. She swallowed his hardness just as he ate and kissed the mouth between her thighs. Together they rolled and tumbled about in the dark and moaned in ecstasy. She rode him against the wall and swallowed his gasps as he spilled himself inside her. It was careless, and she should have known better. Apologetically and with a perverted grin, he cleaned out with his tongue what he had done, and passion carried her mind away again. Through the haze of their sex, she would remember his handsome smell—vanilla, subtle incense, and sweeter herbs such as marjoram. Sometimes he sang to her ears while playing the instrument of her body. She would most remember this—his passion and musicality.When they finished, dawn had come. It cast its hard rays though the curtains and into their humid nest of sin. Maggie should have felt embarrassed or shamed even, but instead she snuggled into her lover’s taut flesh while he continued caressing her breasts. Milk drops, the bard called them, for their pendulous whiteness and succulence. She chuckled as he said it. She would have slapped any other man who made nicknames for portions of her anatomy.“Where will you go?” she asked.She knew this was a fleeting encounter. Men as artistic at loving as he were called to greater passions than women.Alastair kissed her breast. “Well, I shall stay in Taroch’s Arm a while longer. I have another task to which I must attend. One more meeting after this.” He sighed and looked off with his multicolored stare to count the ceiling’s lines.Maggie snuggled into him further until she realized what he’d admitted. “Wait! Meeting?Is that what this is? What is your aim?”She leaped from the bed. Alastair went after her and backed her into a corner. He appeared stricken and white from regret. Rather brazenly, he kissed her so deeply she lost her breath. Although Maggie allowed it, she slapped him as soon as their lips parted. He grinned and rubbed his cheek. “What fire you have!” he said, adding sadly, “How much you remind me of a woman I once knew. Do understand. This is not how I had planned our parley. I am not ungrateful, though, for this turn of events. I would stay for a thousand kisses more if I could. However, my master is most demanding of my time.”“Master?” she exclaimed.“You are fortunate, Maggie. Most serve masters and destinies from which we cannot break. You have made so much of yourself without the hands of others. Despairingly, I must ask this of you. It’s a task you cannot refuse.”I can, and I shall, she thought. No man, not even a roguish wanderer, could boss her around. Then the fox whispered a secret and those familiar names to her: Thackery, Caenith, Rowena, and Galivad. By the time he was done, she had no resolve to argue. She had only an unwanted urgency to pack, make quick arrangements for the Silk Purse’s managerial duties, and leave. She had no choice—not with so many lives at stake. While she busied herself about her apartment, the bard came to kiss her a final time, and they fell onto the bed. For all their grinding, they did not make love. Soon he stopped, studied her, and soaked in her beauty. Maggie closed her eyes. She would not watch him leave. When she was certain he had gone, she pulled her sturdiest boots from under her bed and put them on.

Feast of FatesFour Feasts Till DarknessBook OneChristian A. Brown
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Date of Publication: September 9, 2014
ISBN: 978-1495907586Number of pages: 540
Word Count: 212K
Book Description:
"Love is what binds us in brotherhood, blinds us from hate, and makes us soar with desire.”
Morigan lives a quiet life as the handmaiden to a fatherly old sorcerer named Thackery. But when she crosses paths with Caenith, a not wholly mortal man, her world changes forever. Their meeting sparks long buried magical powers deep within Morigan. As she attempts to understand her newfound abilities, unbidden visions begin to plague her--visions that show a devastating madness descending on one of the Immortal Kings who rules the land.
With Morigan growing more powerful each day, the leaders of the realm soon realize that this young woman could hold the key to their destruction. Suddenly, Morigan finds herself beset by enemies, and she must master her mysterious gifts if she is to survive.

Available at Amazon and CreatespaceFeast of Fates, Excerpt #2 (533 Words)
Morigan took the bracelet.            “I accept your offering.” The Wolf’s face lit and she thought that he would leap at her. “Yet first, I have a request.”            “Anything, my Fawn.”            “I would like to see…what you are. The second body that shares your soul. Show me your fangs and claws,” she commanded.            Perhaps it was the steadiness of her voice, how she ordered him to bare himself as if he belonged to her, that made the Wolf’s heart roar to comply. He did not shed his skin but for the whitest moons of the year, and even then, so far from the city and never in front of another. In a sense, he was as much a virgin as she. With an unaccustomed shyness, he found himself undressing before the Fawn, confused for a speck as to who was the hunter. The flare of her nostrils, the intensity of her stare that ate at him for once.            I have chosen well for a mate. She is as much a Wolf as I, he thought, kicking off his boots and then shimmying his pants down to join the rest of his clothing. No bashful maiden was Morigan, and she did not look away from his nakedness, but appreciated what she saw: every rough, hairy, huge bit of him.            He howled and fell to all fours. Bones shifted and snapped, rearranging under his skin like skeletal gears. From his head, chest and loins, the soft black hair thickened and spread over his twisting flesh. His heaving became guttural and sloppy, and when he tossed his head up in a throe of agony or pleasure, his beard had coated his face, and she noticed nothing but white daggers of teeth. Wondrously Morigan witnessed the transformation, watched him swell with twice the muscle he had possessed as a man, saw his hands and feet shag over with fur and split the soil with black claws. Another howl and a final gristle-crunching shudder (his hindquarters snapping into place, she thought) signified the end of the change.            Her dreams did not do Caenith justice. Here was a beast twice the size of a mare with jaws that could swallow her to the waist. Here was a monster that had stalked and ruled the Untamed. A lord of fang and claw. The birds and weaker animals vanished, knowing a deadly might was near. Around her, the Wolf paced; making the ground tremble with power; ravishing her with his cold gray gaze; huffing and blasting her with his forceful breaths. While the scent of his musk was choking, it was undeniably Caenith’s, if rawer and unwashed.            Morigan was not afraid, and was flushed with heat and shaking as she slipped the bracelet on and knelt. She did not flinch as the Wolf lay behind and about her like a great snuffling rug and placed his boulder of a head in her lap. No, she stroked his long ears and his wrinkled snout. A maiden and her Wolf. Soon the birds returned, sensing this peace and chirping in praise of it. And neither Morigan nor the Wolf could recall a time—if ever there was one—where they had felt so complete.

About the Author:
Bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Feast of Fates, Christian A. Brown received a Kirkus star in 2014 for the first novel in his genre-changing Four Feasts Till Darkness series. He has appeared on Newstalk 1010, AM640, Daytime Rogers, and Get Bold Today with LeGrande Green. He actively writes a blog about his mother’s journey with cancer and on gender issues in the media. A lover of the weird and wonderful, Brown considers himself an eccentric with a talent for cat-whispering.

http://christianadrianbrown.com
https://twitter.com/AuthorChrisAB
https://www.facebook.com/ChristianAdrianBrown
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8422242.Christian_A_Brown
https://plus.google.com/u/0/105782095673393074893/about

Release Day Blitz The Astronaut’s Princess by Lisa Medley

The Astronaut’s PrincessCosmic Cowboys SeriesEpisode 2Lisa Medley
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Publisher: Big Cedar
Date of Publication:  02/16/16
ASIN: B01AKHG5KG
Number of pages: 111Word Count: 33K
Cover Artist: Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
Book Description:
Astronauts, Aliens, and Apaches? What could possibly go wrong?Working for a billionaire space entrepreneur has its perks:  a nice paycheck, free room and board, and all the space flight hours a guy could want. But everything has a price.  Astronaut Noah Wright has survived an alien attack, time travel and a wormhole, but the Apache princess he brought back through time may be the death of him.
Ela, only daughter of Chief Itza-Chu of the Mescalero Apaches, finds herself out of place and out of time. Everything she knows of her early 1800’s life has vanished. Her savior and protector, Noah, is kind, but he’s not her family and certainly not Apache. Her only wish is to get home, but returning through the wormhole that brought her to the future threatens more than her past, causing her to have to rediscover what home really is.
Amazon
Excerpt 2Noah sensed the tension the moment he walked through the sliding doors of the sick bay. The doors closed behind him with a whoosh, seemingly sucking the oxygen from the room as they sealed. The bay was in chaos. Broken glass and medical instruments lay scattered across the floor. The entire glass window of the ER room lay in shards before him. He raised his eyebrows, asking the question he already knew the answer to.“Ela,” Dr. Alice Franklin said.“Where is she? Is she injured?”Dr. Franklin shook her head and motioned to the only closed door. “No, she’s fine. Pissed, but fine.”“What happened here?” Noah asked.“We cut a strand of her hair for further DNA testing. She took exception to it. Grabbed the scissors and nearly jabbed Curtis’ eye out with them.” Dr. Franklin swept a hand in front of her indicating the room. “Then she did this. She’s barricaded herself in her room. We can see from the video feed that she’s okay, but she’s been screaming for you for the past twenty minutes.”Noah nodded. “Leave us.”“I don’t think that’s a great idea. We would have sedated her, but we’d need a tranquilizer gun. She’s like a wild animal. She still has the scissors by the way.”“I’ll be fine. Go. I’ll take her out for a while so you can set your lab to rights. I’m sorry.”“It’s not your fault. I just don’t know what we’re going to do with her while you’re gone.” Dr. Franklin turned to her remaining team. “Everyone, out. Let the lion tamer work his magic.”Noah watched Ela on the computer monitor through the video feed.Dr. Franklin put a hand on his shoulder. “Good luck.”“Thanks.”The staff’s footsteps faded down the hallway as the doors closed slowly behind him. With everyone gone except him, the room was silent. Ela pressed her ear to the wall, trying to listen. Her face scrunched up, and her lips thinned into a grim line. He knew that look. She was curious and trying to determine what was happening outside her room. Her instincts were to be wary, but her curiosity won every time.He pressed the intercom button then held down the translate button. “Ela, its Noah. Please let me in.”She looked up at the speaker on the wall then sent a torrent of angry words toward it. Noah pressed the intercom/translate buttons again. “Use the transcom, please.”She didn’t. Instead, she began flinging the furniture and equipment away from the door, dismantling her barricade so he could enter. Several long minutes later, she backed away from the door and sat on the quilt-covered bed, arms crossed, and waited.The transcom was helpful, but only when she used it. The transcom’s universal software learned the user’s voice. Once a user had utilized the device long enough, it recognized dialects and characteristics. It worked with any Wi-Fi or satellite connected device, static or personal mobile units. High tech algorithms then translated from the speaker’s language into any language in one’s natural voice milliseconds after they started to speak. It was a bit off-putting at first, like the un-synced sound and picture of a television, but it was a million times better than pointing and grunting.If only she’d use it more.Noah took a deep breath, steeling himself against the confrontation to come. He crossed to her door and turned the handle, pushing against it with his shoulder, and swung the door open slowly. He hadn’t seen the scissors in her hands. That didn’t mean she didn’t have them at the ready.He scanned the room quickly, left to right, but found her where he’d left her on the monitor, sitting on the bed, back straight, her expression fuming. For a quick second, he imagined cartoon steam rolling out of her ears and stifled a chuckle. It wouldn’t do to laugh at her, and he’d never be able to explain the reference to her anyway.“Ela,” he said.She ran to him, burying her face against his chest. His arms wrapped around her in automatic response. A tumble of words flew out of her, undecipherable even if she had used the transcom. When she quieted, he pushed back from her, lifting her chin to look into her eyes.“What have you done?” he asked, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice.She shrank a little under his hard gaze, casting her eyes to the floor briefly, the tone of his words clear even if the message wasn’t. When she looked up at him again, though, her resolve was evident. She’d had enough.He couldn’t blame her, really. She didn’t know he was going away for a couple of weeks. In fact, he hadn’t planned to tell her at all. Cowardly, he knew, but she was stubborn. A characteristic he doubted had anything to do with her being a misplaced Apache and everything to do with her being a woman. He could feel the eye roll Tessa would give him at that thought.Janson would stroke if Noah took her off the base, but she wasn’t his property. Since her arrival, she’d been treated more like a science experiment than the refugee and survivor she was. It was time to do something about that. Janson couldn’t throw too big a fit. As far as the government knew, Ela didn’t exist. No birth certificate. No social security number. Nothing.She’d quite literally fallen from space. No way would Janson bring attention to her in the media or with the government because doing so would expose his top-secret side project: time travel. The wormhole was unpredictable, but Janson had a team anchored to Amun, studying it right now. Noah prayed they never figured out how to open and close the damn thing. The ramifications were unimaginable. He, Cole, and Tessa would have kept their entire experience in the early 1800s New Mexico desert with Ela’s tribe and the alien that followed them through the wormhole a secret. But Ela’s very existence on their ship when they arrived home negated that opportunity.Still, he could set this right. Or, at least more right than it was now. For his sake as much as for Ela’s.Stepping closer to Ela, he extended his hand to her. He’d never been to the Mescalero Reservation west of the base.
It was time to remedy that.

About the Author:

Lisa has always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now she writes about them, because monsters need love too.
She adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and has a farm full of them in her Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig.
She may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.
Website http://lisa-medley.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisamedleyauthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/lisamedley
Newsletter http://eepurl.com/9Zhcz
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7824406.Lisa_Medley
Google + https://plus.google.com/u/1/+LisaMedley/posts

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Giveaway The Spirit Chaser by Kat Mayor

The Spirit ChaserBook OneKat Mayor
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance,Horror, Ghosts
Publisher: Kat Mayor
Date of Publication: November 13, 2015
ISBN:1517161479ASIN: B01845NL8K
Number of pages: 424Number of words: 134,300
Book Description
Some places are too evil. Some places should be left alone.
Austin Cole has it made. Star of the hit television show Spirit Chaser Investigations, he has become the world’s most famous paranormal investigator. Although hard work, a talented investigation team, and favorable genetics have something to do with it, it’s his lack of fear and willingness to take risks no one else will that make Spirit Chaser Investigations cable’s number-one show.
When a ghost-hunt-gone-wrong seriously injures his best friend and lead psychic, Austin is forced to find a replacement for a team member he considers irreplaceable.
Casey Lawson can’t catch a break. She’s been on her own since she turned eighteen and is scraping by as a part-time psychic and cashier at a New Age store. When a desperate Austin Cole calls her up and offers her a position on his team, has her fortune finally changed?
He’s a control freak; she’s stubborn and opinionated. It takes time, but when they finally realize they’re working on the same side, everything clicks, both on and off screen.
Just when things are looking up, a new threat emerges. Over the years, Austin has angered plenty of demons, and one of them has set her sights on him. Now he’s the one in danger, and it’s up to the team to rescue him from the riskiest investigation of their lives.
Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback   Kobo   BN   Smashwords
Excerpt Three“Casey, what do you sense?” Austin asked as he stared at the mirror. “Casey?” He turned around, but she was not behind him. “Where’s our psychic?” he asked Luis.“She was standing right here when I went to get you.”“Damn it. Can’t she follow the simplest instructions?” Austin turned around and exited the bathroom. Thai and the others followed.“What the hell,” Gary said. He could hear a low, guttural growl. He was looking for its source when he saw Casey standing at the other end of the hall, in front of Brad’s room. He cocked his head to the side as he studied her strange, frenetic behavior. She would go to one corner of the space and push and pull on the air, then move to another side and do the same thing. To Gary, she looked like a psychotic mime trying to break out of an invisible jail cell.Casey shouted at the air around her. “Be gone. You may not enter me.” She swatted at the mist with her hand. Luis wrapped his purple stole around his neck and began to pray.Thai’s eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. “What’s happening? What’s going on?” Austin asked him.“There are dark auras surrounding Casey.”“Auras? Is she in danger?” Austin demanded. He paced back and forth. It sucked being the only one who couldn’t sense a damn thing.“I don’t know.” Thai shook his head slowly. “I can’t detect her energy anymore. The dark entities are overshadowing it.”Austin’s eyes met Thai’s as he registered the significance of what he’d just said. “Fuck!” Austin ran full speed toward Casey.“Wait!” Thai cried out. Austin didn’t stop until he was standing two feet in front of his psychic. Her eyes were trained on something he couldn’t see and she held the cross around her neck out in front of her. Now he understood what Thai was talking about. Although he couldn’t see the mist, he could tell when he passed through it. The air was dense and cold all around him. Casey shouted into the air. “Leave me alone!” A dark sense of dread and despair came over Austin. He shook his head to clear his mind. “Focus. Get control,” he told himself. His number one priority was getting his psychic to safety. Casey was still yelling as Austin grabbed her hand to pull her out of there. The heavy air pressed around him like he was walking underwater. It felt like fifty-pound weights were strapped to his legs. Entering the mist had been easy enough, but now that he was here, the evil didn’t want to let him go.Time seemed to slow down as he trudged along. Austin heard a low-pitched growl and felt cool breath on his neck. It made his skin crawl. Up ahead, he could see Luis making the sign of the cross and flicking holy water in his direction. Gary and Thai were shouting at him and waving, but their voices sounded muffled and far off. This is nuts, thought Austin. The hallway wasn’t that long; he should be back to the landing by now. It felt like he was moving in slow motion. It took all his concentration to put one foot in front of the other. It all seemed so pointless. Why was he bothering to get them out at all? It would be so much easier just to lie down on the floor and let the mist engulf them both.Horrific images passed through his mind in a dark, twisted cinematic presentation. He saw himself lying in bed in his loft in LA. He sat up and poured a glass of whiskey. There was a prescription drug container on his bedside table next to the bottle of booze. He emptied it out, pouring the small white pills on the table. Then he scooped them up and swallowed them all. That image faded, and a new one appeared. He was standing on a chair in the middle of his room. A rope with a loop was hanging from the ceiling. Austin grabbed it and put his head through it. Then he kicked the chair out from under him. His legs were jerking as his face went from red to gray. Then, his body stilled. The third and final image was of him picking a pistol up off a table. Even though he had never handled a firearm before, he knew it was a Beretta. He studied the gun. It was beautiful. His mouth watered as he thought about placing the cool, metallic barrel against his tongue. He shoved it down his throat and pulled the trigger. The loud concussion was the last thing he heard before he came back to himself. “No!” he shouted. It was the dark entity messing with his mind, but damn if it didn’t feel real.While he had been out of it, he’d lost his grip on Casey. Panicking, he stretched his hands out in the dark mist until he found her arm. This time, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder to keep from losing her again.Just as he wondered if they’d ever get out, the oppressive energy let go, like a rubber band pulled taut and then released. He fell forward as he was shoved back into real time. To keep from falling, he threw out one hand to brace himself, and held onto Casey with the other. As soon as he had his feet back under him, he took off, flying past his team and heading down the staircase. Only when they were safely out of the house did he put Casey down. Austin bent over at the waist with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. He looked back at the door he had just run out of. It all seemed surreal. Just a few moments ago they had been trapped inside.


About the Author:
Kat Mayor is a native Texan, wife, and mom. In addition to The Spirit Chaser, she has written a young adult series, The Circle. She’s a full-time reader, part-time writer, and when she’s not kicking a story around in her head, she loves to read and review books on Goodreads.
https://twitter.com/montemayorkat
https://www.facebook.com/montemayorkathleen1/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7222680.K_M_Montemayor

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Sarah’s Billionaire Doms by Angelique Voisen

Sarah’s Billionaire DomsAngelique Voisen
Genre: Multiple Partner, Contemporary
Date of Publication: February 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-943576-62-3
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron­Hill
Book Description:
If they can solve the puzzle that is Sarah, she may double her pleasure.
Damon and Jared Bentley seem to have it all—wealth, standing, and ownership of an elite BDSM club. But since they lost the woman they loved, none of life’s pleasures have been as sweet. Until they meet Sarah.
Underneath her polite veneer, ink, and scars, Sarah Evans hides her pain and damaged soul. She strives to remain an enigma to the Bentleys for fear her secrets could destroy them. But the brothers know they’ve finally found the sub they’ve been longing for…and they won’t give up until they claim Sarah for their own.

Short Excerpt:
Damon Bentley checked his watch after he set a tall glass of beer in front of a customer. His brother and co-club owner, Jared, caught his eye from across the room. Jared shook his head in warning, but Damon had never really been the careful Bentley brother. He didn’t plan his next moves, or bother with a game plan. Although he didn’t possess his brother’s polished looks or manners, Damon saw what he wanted. Took what he wanted. Period.Right on cue, Sarah Evans walked into the club’s private lounge. Her tense leather-clad shoulders relaxed at the club’s familiar atmosphere. Her eyes looked less guarded compared to the rare moments Damon spotted her outside the club from the security feed in the parking lot. A tempting smile settled on her generous lips—an open invitation to any top she wanted to play. Young and jaded, damaged and mysterious, Sarah cast a pretty picture. Entry into the Lance, the exclusive BDSM club owned and run by a group of self-made entrepreneurs and billionaires—including the Bentley brothers and two other friends and shareholders—was by invitation only. Legally, Sarah checked out. She had references from Bobby and James, a couple and long-time patrons of Lance, but something felt off about Sarah the moment Damon and Jared first saw her. Those eyes looked far too haunted for her young body—jaded, wary, and watchful. Sarah reminded Damon of an animal that had been injured before and was reluctant to trust again. Was Sarah Evans even her real name, or a pseudonym she used? If she had secrets, Damon had every intention of unearthing them over time.Most of the tops who had done public scenes with her over the past weeks confirmed Damon’s suspicions. Her age made her practically a kid by community standards, but she was no virgin, not a wide-eyed sub new to the scene. Mere observation made it hard to narrow down what kind of play she favored. The first time she came to the club, she let Bobby and James top her in a public, but for a low-key rigging scene. For her second visit, Sarah went with Mistress Jane, a Domme in Bobby and James’ circle, and took a number of hard implements in an intense scene most new subs wouldn’t do—her stamina impressive. An enigma with a hundred complicated layers Damon and Jared couldn’t wait to peel away. “What will it be?” Damon asked, feigning indifference as she found a seat on the bar. On the way to him, Damon noted she had already politely refused two offers. “The usual, please.”“You got to give me more than that, sweetheart.”This time, one dark eyebrow rose. Damon, in fact, knew her usual. She ordered the same thing over the past few weeks, or had tops pay for her drink. Damon had to admit Sarah knew how to play her cards. How to look at tops underneath lowered lashes, to appear vulnerable and desirable, and to speak softly, while occasionally biting down on her lower lip. A woman who knew the power of the illusion she cast. Whoever trained her, trained her well, but Damon saw right through the second skin she wore.“Guinness, please.” Please. Damon found himself intrigued by her manners. How at odds it was with her outside appearance—tight skinny jeans, boots, worn leather jacket, piercings, and ink.
Her attention moved elsewhere again, eyeing the other people in the lounge while she drummed her fingers on the counter. Bobby and James usually hovered protectively by Sarah, acting as backup, but tonight, Damon noticed Sarah came alone. Perfect.
About the Author:
Angelique Voisen is a bisexual, twenty-something, type-2 diabetic and multi-pubbed writer who favors LGBT and menage pairings. She likes experimenting with different sub-genres and her stories may include cogs, fangs, space battles, kinky magic systems and happily-ever-afters. When Angel’s not writing, she’s gaming, watching B-rate action movies, or enjoying teatime with friends while enviously eyeing their cake.
For more information on other books by Angelique, visit her website: www.angelvoisen.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/angelvoisen
http://twitter.com/frances_ac
http://www.pinterest.com/angelvoisen/
http://angelvoisen.blogspot.com/

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Giveaway- Fighting for my Billionaire Boss by Cynthia Sax

Fighting for my Billionaire BossCynthia Sax
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Date of Publication: February 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-943576-59-3
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron­Hill
Book Description:
Love is worth the fight.
My boss, Brick Armitage, is one of the most eligible bachelors in the city. He’s handsome, young, and the billionaire CEO of an online company. Brick dates stunning supermodels and famous actresses, the most beautiful women on the planet.
I’m determined to be the next woman he kisses, touches, pleases. To land the man I love, I’ll become the delicate lady he seems to prefer. No cussing. No sprawling over the furniture. No punching the pretty out of Brick’s trash-talking ex.
But when I fail at this and the footage of my brawling goes viral, will I lose my sophisticated billionaire forever, or will he realize a scrapper is exactly who he needs?
Excerpt:
I’m graceful, I tell myself as I weave between the cubicles. A cardboard tray containing breakfast for my boss and myself is balanced on my right palm. Not a drop of the liquid in the ugly brown disposable cups has spilled.
Because I’m a fuckin’ gazelle, the most elegant of the antelopes.
“Morning, Lu,” Chanelle calls out. The women gathered around her repeat the greeting.
I smile and wave. They wave back.
They don’t invite me to join them.
This oversight could be due to my position in the organization. I’m the assistant to Brick Armitage, CEO and founder of the online insurance company we work for. He’s intimidating. I’m his second in command, privy to all of his thoughts and actions.
But the lack of invitation is more likely due to the fact that I’m not a real girl.
Oh, I was born a female and have all of the necessary parts—breasts, small yet still noticeable, an ass, also small, shoulder-length curly brown hair, a dainty, some would say, elfin face. Most men, including my boss, tower over me.
I simply lack the training most girls get.
My mother left when I was three years old, unable to handle my three brothers and me. It was easier for my father to treat me like another boy, dressing me in jeans, taking me to ballgames, teaching me how to fight.
I didn’t give a shit about this when I was younger. I was proud of my rowdy nature, that I could hold my own with my brothers and their friends.
It was when I became interested in boys and they didn’t return my interest, continuing to treat me like one of the guys, that I started to care. Not a lot. But enough to read fashion magazines and watch tutorials on applying makeup.
Then I met Brick, my sexy manwhore of a boss, and that caring was compounded by a zillion times. He captured my heart, although he doesn’t know this. Accustomed to dating ultra-feminine supermodels and famous actresses, he doesn’t see me as a woman.
I’m determined to change his view.
I make a beeline to his office, my pastel blue skirt swirling around my thighs, my heels thumping against the industrial gray carpet.
My boss has his door partially open. I scrunch my forehead. He’s normally not here this early in the morning.
I knock, don’t wait for an answer, and push inside, a smile on my face.
The space smells of his woodsy cologne and him. I breathe deeply, taking that part of him inside of me, and desire unfurls within me, a steady, throbbing need I experience whenever I’m in my billionaire’s presence.
The man himself sits behind his big wooden desk, his head bowed, the overhead lights picking up the ink-blue highlights in his black hair. Brick is clad in his usual dark suit, white shirt, dark tie. He’s frowning down at his tablet screen, his lips as grimly set as always.
My boss is SERIOUS, in all caps, rarely cracking a smile, and the stormy pent-up passion constantly brewing inside him turns me on. I set the tray on his desk. “You beat me into the office this morning.” Usually, I’m first in. “Why are you here so early?”
He lifts his chin, giving me a clear view of his face.
I gasp.
“Fuck.” I gape at him, forgetting my goal of having a cuss-free day. “What the hell happened to you?” I rush around the desk, needing to survey the damage.
Brick swivels his chair to face me. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing.” I trace the scratches on his left cheek, the red gouges in his perfectly tanned skin. “Who hurt you?” I demand. “Tell me who is responsible for this and I’ll smack that person into the next century.” No one hurts my boss, the man I secretly love, and gets away with it.
“You aren’t smacking anyone, Miss Henderson.” He covers my hand with his, pressing my palm against him. “As you constantly remind me, you’re a lady.”
“Don’t joke about this.” I glare at him.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t joke about it.”
He is seated in his black leather captain’s chair. I stand before him, my hand on his face. His hand is on mine, holding me to him. He’s my boss yet this feels right. I’m meant to be here, to be touching him.
Brick’s gaze lifts and locks with mine. His brown eyes darken with emotion. “There’s something I should tell you.”
“Yes?” I lean toward him. He’ll tell me now that he wants me, that he can’t live without me. Brick will kiss me and touch me and make me his. My thighs graze his parted knees and I tremble, feeling that contact in my soul.
Brick leans forward also. Our lips are a whisper apart. That connection I always feel between us intensifies, pulling us together, linking us in a way that is more than physical, more than intellectual.
His breath wafts against my cheeks. My heart pounds.
Should I kiss him? Should I?
Yes, I’m going to risk—
“Fuck. I can’t do this.” He sighs and releases me.
Damn it. I waited too long and the moment is gone.

About the Author:
Cynthia Sax, USA Today bestselling author, writes contemporary, sci-fi, and paranormal erotic romances. Her stories have been featured in Star Magazine, Real Time With Bill Maher, and numerous best of erotic romance top ten lists. 
For more information on other books by Cynthia, visit her website: www.CynthiaSax.com
https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaSaxPage
https://twitter.com/CynthiaSax
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Spotlight and Giveaway The Lesson by Bella D’Amato

The LessonBella D’Amato
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Super heroes LLC
Date of Publication: February 7th, 2016
ISBN: 9781310163906ASIN: B01A7SA3GU
Number of pages: 126Word Count: 42,867
Book Description:
Sweet as pie and sexy as hell, Bianca Russo cares more about finishing her degree and taking care of her grandfather than anything else.
Then she meets Mason Freeman. A smoking hot bad boy with caramel eyes and a devil-may-care attitude, he seduces Bianca with one look. Before long, they’re head over heels for each other.
But loving Mason means a lot of complications: his casual disregard for money, his rich and powerful family, his inability to take charge of his life. And when tragedy strikes, everything comes crashing down around them.
Six years later, Bianca’s career is taking off and a new man is making her question her single status when an unexpected Facebook message sets her world spinning.Mason is back in town and he’s determined to prove to Bianca he’s learned his lesson and win her back.
But is she ready for him? Bianca fear overwhelms her, and she soon realizes she has her own love lessons to learn.
Can Bianca forgive Mason? Or is their great love a thing of the past?
Amazon
Excerpt: Freeman? She thought wildly. As in Freeman Industries?Oh, yeah, the voice inside her mocked. You are definitely in over your head. He frowned as he took in her expression. “You finally put two and two together, didn’t you?” he asked, then continued without waiting for a reply. “Yes, those Freeman’s. Freeman Lumber, Freeman Technology, Freeman Financial, Freeman Library, blah, blah, blah. My father has a finger in practically every pie in the city.” He screeched around a corner, pulling into the parking garage of The Matisse, a luxury apartment complex Bianca had never set foot in. Bianca stared at Mason, his face grim as he drove through the garage, finally pulling into a reserved spot. Why does he seem so upset? She wondered. He was so playful just a few minutes ago. Because he thinks you want him for his money, the voice told her. I bet every girl he’s ever met has thrown themselves at him. And even you have to admit, the money makes him a helluva lot more attractive than he was thirty seconds ago.No, she insisted. I thought he was handsome before. If anything, the money makes me uncomfortable. Hmph, the voice replied doubtfully. Maybe so, but he doesn’t know that.Well, I guess I’ll have to prove it to him, she answered stubbornly.Mason hopped out of the car and came around to open her door, and as she stared up at him, she found she wanted to comfort him. “It must feel like an impossible standard to live up to. Your father, that is” she explained as she took his hand and climbed out of the car. “And very difficult to live in his shadow. So hard to be yourself, especially if what you want from life differs from what he expects. I think I would want to run away, get out into the world by myself. Get away from this town where everyone knew my name and find my own way. Sink or swim, you know? Leave all that other stuff behind.” She looked up to find him standing too close, his eyes widening as he studied her face. “That’s exactly how I feel.”“You probably feel like changing your name sometimes,” she continued as she stared up at him. “Yes,” he agreed, his face softening as he studied her. “It’s like I can’t break free from this idea of who and what I’m supposed to be.” He reached up and moved her hair away from her face and her eyes dropped to his lips. He’s going to kiss me … “Yes I am,” he said. “What?” she managed. Barely.“You were wondering if I was going to kiss you. And the answer is yes, I am,” he answered in a whisper, just before his lips swooped down to capture hers.


About the Author:
Bella D’Amato lives in a picturesque little cottage on the shores of Coeur d’Alene Lake in idyllic Coeur d’Alene Idaho. She grew up mere blocks away from the lake, and never could bear the thought of leaving. She shares her home with two loyal tabby cats, Peaches and Cream.
When Bella isn’t writing, she’s usually indulging in her second favorite hobby, photography, although she mostly takes pictures of her cats. She also likes to tend her garden, create culinary vegetarian masterpieces, and read. Of course, her favorite genre is romance! In the summer she spends as much time at the beach as possible, but since the Pacific Northwest is known for its winters, she also skis as much as possible during the snowy months.
Being a natural born lover, Bella dreams of the day she meets her Mr. Right. In the meantime, she enjoys the single life as much as possible.
https://www.facebook.com/BellDAmato/

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February 8 The Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
February 8 Lisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
February 9 Roxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
February 9 Reviewwww.goodreads.com/naturalbri 
February 10 Ramblings of a Book Nerdhttp://booknerdramblings2015.blogspot.com/
February 10 Fang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com 
February 11Erzabet’s Enchantments (review)http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/
February 11 Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock (review)www.pratr.wordpress.com
February 12 Share My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
February 15 Live Laugh and Love Bookswww.livelaughandlovebooks.wordpress.com
February 15 Romantic Fanatic (review)http://romanticfanaticblog.com/

Free Read: February Issue Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

In the February issue discover Pat Esden’s Top Ten Gothic Novels and Movies, Top Ten Myths About Authors with Sabrina Benulis, Amber Malloy’s Top Ten Spy Movies , Explore Dragons – Fable or Fact? With Linda K. Hopkins, Check out the character chat Sabine Priestly has with Balastar and Kit from Liberation, and read reviews and excerpts from new releases.
Download Your Free Copy Today
http://issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours/docs/february_2016_bewitching_book_tours

Table of Contents
Page 6 Top Ten Myths About Authors By Sabrina Benulis
Page 11 The Asset by Anna del Mar
Page 16 Poetic Womb by Wenona Napolitano
Page 18 Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours by Roxanne Rhoads
Page 29 Dragons – Fable or Fact? By Linda K. Hopkins
Page 36 The Crow Box by Nikki Rae
Page 40 The Astronaut’s Princess by Lisa Medley
Page 45 Divide and Conquer by Carmen Fox
Page 48 Happy Tails and Tales Reviews Divide and Conquer by Carmen Fox
Page 50 The Desire Series by Roxanne Rhoads
Page 52 A Review of Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Page 53 A Review of Grave Visions by Kalayna Price
Page 54 A Review of The Witches of Echo Park Series by Amber Benson
Page 55 When in Gnome by Emily Night
Page 58 Amber Malloy’s Top Ten Spy Movies
Page 60 Near The Wild by Maureen Willett
Page 66 Hot Dish By Jamie K. Schmidt
Page 71 Sabine Priestly has a chat with Balastar and Kit from Liberation
Page 80 Instruction Trilogy by L.M. Pruitt
Page 84 Heartless by Kelly Martin
Page 89 Pat Esden’s Top Ten Gothic Novels and Movies!

Spotlight and Giveaway The Dragon Archives by Linda K. Hopkins

Bound by a DragonThe Dragon ArchivesBook ILinda K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. Hopkins
Date of Publication: May 18, 2014ASIN: B00KF3TVLG
Number of pages: 260Word Count: 73,000
Book Description:
At twenty-two, Keira Carver needs to find a husband, but the prospects in her small medieval village are not pretty slim. So when Aaron Drake, a handsome stranger, takes up residence at Storbrook Castle, set deep in the surrounding mountains, Keira takes notice.
Just as interesting is the fact that a fire-breathing dragon has also moved into the neighborhood, and is rumored to live in caves beneath the mountain fortress.
What exactly is the connection between Aaron Drake and the dragon? And when the dragon rescues her from the unwanted attentions of some village boys, who will set out to rescue her from the huge, scaly, fire-breathing monster?
Available for FreeAmazon    Kobo    iTunes    BNExcerpt Bound by a Dragon:
PrologueKeira watched as the great beast circled slowly through the sky, blocking the sunlight for a few seconds on each turn. Fire spewed occasionally from its mouth, dissipating in the cool air before it could set anything alight. All around her people were shouting, grabbing their children and running for their homes, slamming the doors shut behind them before barring them from the inside. Keira shook her head in amusement. A mere door wouldn’t stop a dragon – it could just burn the house down! Anna was tugging on her arm, shouting at her to come, but Keira shrugged her off. The dragon had taken up residence in the mountains some six months back, and although it was regularly seen soaring above the village, it had yet to kidnap and devour a single innocent maiden. And there were no reports of girls snatched from the other villages, either. Keira knew the stories about the last dragon that had lived in the area. For many years it had peacefully inhabited its mountain lair, until one day it had suddenly turned on the village, burning down half the homes before being killed by some brave soul. But the only questionable thing this dragon had done was to take a few head of cattle and a couple of sheep. And since the dragon always left some form of payment for the animal taken – a small bag of gold, a few precious stones – the villagers didn’t complain too loudly. These payments always far exceeded the worth of the animal. But still, stories about dragons abounded, and the villagers were convinced that it was just a matter of time before the dragon set the village alight and snatched the village girls. “Come on, Keira.” Anna’s words broke through Keira’s thoughts, reminding her that her parents shared the same fears as the other villagers. “Mother will be furious if we don’t get back to the house now.”“Stop pulling me. I’m coming!” was Keira’s annoyed response. She glanced back at the sky one more time, admiring the way the scales of the dragon caught the light, throwing back a thousand rainbows against the sky. The dragon was heading away from the village, but before Keira looked away, it turned its head and seemed to look straight at her. Pulling her arm out of Anna’s, she drew herself upright and stared straight back, meeting the golden eye of the dragon before it turned its enormous body in a slow, fluid motion and lazily flew towards the mountains. 


Pursued by a DragonThe Dragon ArchivesBook IILinda K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. HopkinsDate of Publication: Dec 15, 2014
ASIN:  B00QPWFXBS
Number of pages: 195Word Count: 51,700
Book Description:
Cathryn Forrester is a medieval business woman, the daughter of a successful wool merchant. She has been groomed from a young age to take over the family business, and has been quite content to let her personal life be directed by what is best for the business – including whom she will marry. And as a calmly pragmatic, infuriatingly stubborn and altogether practical young woman, this suits her just fine. She does not believe in love, after all.
So when Cathryn meets Favian Drake, a man who knows that love is worth pursuing, her ideas about love and marriage are put to the test. But Cathryn faces her greatest challenge when she discovers that Favian is not exactly who – or what – he appears to be. Can she learn to trust her heart and allow herself to love a dragon?
Amazon    Kobo    iTunes    BN
ExcerptPursued by a Dragon:
“You have to come meet this most interesting man,” Peggy said softly, pulling Cathryn into the circle. “He has just returned from travels abroad, and has been entertaining us with some stories.” The bustle of Cathryn’s arrival in the group attracted the attention of the man seated in the center, and he paused to glance up at the newcomer. As Cathryn turned to look at the stranger, dark blue eyes met hers, sparkling with amusement; she felt her eyes widen in surprise. “Cathryn, this is Favian Drake,” announced Peggy. “Master Drake,” she said, turning to Favian, “this is Mistress Cathryn Forrester.” Cathryn stared at the man sitting before her, the color rushing to her cheeks as Favian’s mouth stretched into a slow smile. Pushing himself to his feet, he made a small bow in Cathryn’s direction before turning to the people around him.“Mistress Cathryn and I are already acquainted,” he announced to the circle. “In fact,” he added mischievously, casting a quick glance in Cathryn’s direction, “we became quite well acquainted when I rescued her, uh, derriere, from becoming too familiar with the mud!” There was a ripple of laughter through the group as Cathryn fought the blush that rose to her cheeks.“Really?” Peggy said, laughing. “You didn’t tell me, Cathryn!”“There wasn’t really anything to tell,” Cathryn said with an airy wave of her hand. “The incident was barely worth remembering. My packages were quite ruined, so everything else was forgotten.” Turning to Favian, she gave him a sly look. “So it was you who was my rescuer, Master, er, Drake? My apologies, I had quite forgotten.” She grinned as Favian gave a mocking salute of defeat. “Now if you will excuse me, I am in desperate need of some libation.” Turning on her heel, Cathryn walked away, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to calm her chaotic thoughts. Behind her she could hear her friends laughing, while someone chaffed Favian at his put-down.A long passage ran down the length of the hall, leading to the kitchens at the back of the house. There were numerous doorways between the passage and hall, and it was to one of these that Cathryn made her way now, cup of wine in hand, as she sought a moment’s privacy to regain her composure. She had just stepped into the passage when she felt warm fingers curl around her arm. Startled, she glanced around, relaxing only slightly when she saw who it was tugging her towards a small nook in the passage.“Oh, it’s you,” she said.“Yes, you do remember me, don’t you?” Favian asked. The passage was dingy, with the light from the hall providing the only illumination, but even so, she could see the flash of his eyes as he spoke. They seemed to be glowing with a faint yellow light, and she stared up at him, fascinated. His hand was still on her arm, and he gently stroked her skin, his warmth spreading through her at his touch. Glancing down, he circled his other hand around her wrist below the bangle, before meeting her gaze once more.“You were very rude,” she whispered.“Yes,” he said, “I was. I was curious to see whether you would deny knowing me yet again. I was sure you would, and as it turned out, I was correct.” He trailed his finger around her wrist, and she shivered. “I have a theory as to why you keep denying me,” he said. His eyes seemed to glow even more as he leaned closer to her, the heat from his body touching hers. Her back was against the wall, and she pushed herself against the cool surface, trying to create some distance between them, but he followed her, bending his mouth towards her ear. “I think it is a futile attempt to put me out of your mind,” he said softly. “I think the memory of me pursues you at every turn, just as yours does me. Am I right?” No, Cathryn wanted to scream, but she could not make the falsehood form on her lips. Instead she stared at him mutely as he watched her.
“I thought so,” he said, with a note of satisfaction. He pulled back to gaze into her eyes for another brief moment before turning away and walking back to the hall. Leaning back against the wall, she closed her eyes, drawing in deep breaths in an effort to still her racing heart. The man is relentless, she thought. If he would just leave her alone, she could push him from her mind and forget about him. She took a deep gulp of wine before turning back towards the room. 
Loved by a DragonThe Dragon ArchivesBook IIILinda K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. HopkinsDate of Publication: April 28, 2015
ASIN:  B00UK96U64
Number of pages: 257Word Count: 91,600
Book Description:
Love is the only thing Aaron, Dragon Master, truly fears. And when a scaly, fire-breathing monster loves a frail human being, matters become even more complicated. As Aaron faces a rogue dragon who is terrorizing the city, he and Keira must face their deepest fears about each other and themselves.
But danger is always just around the corner, and Anna, Keira’s sister, is not immune. Insecure, immature, and only seventeen, Anna has her own issues to deal with – especially when she meets Max, Aaron’s clansman. Her response to him in immediate, intense and irrational.
Will her insecurities lead her to a life of misery, or can she grow up enough to face what she really feels.
Amazon    Kobo    iTunes    BNExcerpt Loved by a Dragon:
As Anna neared the room, she could hear Aaron and Keira’s voices through the door, but a third voice made her pause. It was a man’s voice, but not Thomas. A visitor, maybe? The door was slightly ajar, and pushing it open with her hand, she entered the room, pausing once more when she saw the stranger sitting in a chair directly across from the doorway. She barely heard Aaron speaking as she stared at the man slowly rising to his feet, his gaze locked on hers. A slight smile played around his mouth, while his eyes held a challenge that Anna could not decipher. Perhaps it was the bold stare, or the challenging smile, or the graceful way he pulled himself up to his full height, but whatever it was, Anna felt a wave of dislike for this stranger sweep over her. She stared back at him, her eyes narrowing as his smile grew wider, taunting her, as though he were fully aware of the immediate, intense and irrational reaction towards him. The smile was meant just for her, she knew that straight away, a silent communication between them, and she disliked him even more for it. And she knew, with unerring instinct, that despite his appearance of youth, this was no inexperienced boy who could easily be dismissed. This person standing before her was the fulfillment of her deepest fears. A man who could easily gain mastery and control over any woman he chose. This knowledge was based on intuition, rather than rational thought – all she knew in that moment was that she hated him.As though speaking from far away, Aaron’s voice addressed her. “Anna, this is Max.”“Max?” With an effort Anna pulled her gaze away from the man standing before her, but not before she saw his lips twist with arrogant humor. “Yes. Max Brant. He will be staying at Storbrook as our guest.”“I see.” Anna nodded as she turned back to the guest. “Max.”“Anna.” He was still staring at her, and she dragged her eyes away, biting her lip. Her name rolled off his tongue with an air of familiarity which she immediately resented, but before she could think of an adequate retort, he was speaking again. “I saw you playing in the snow earlier today,” he said. His words made her glance back at him. Was he laughing at her? “Yes,” she said. She sat down on one of the chairs near Keira, who was watching their exchange in silence. “You looked like you were having fun.” This time she met his gaze with narrowed eyes. He was definitely taunting her. “Tell me,” she said, “how long will you be visiting Storbrook?” Once again Max grinned at her, but it was Aaron who answered. “As long as he wishes.” “I see.” Anna turned to Keira. “When do you wish to start decorating?” she asked. Keira opened her mouth to respond, but before she said anything, Max was speaking again.“Why do I get the feeling you wish me gone, Anna?” he asked. Out the corner of her eye, Anna could see both Keira and Aaron look at Max in surprise. “I have no idea,” she said. “Just stay well away from me, and I’m sure we will get along famously!” Beside her Keira gasped softly.Max’s smile widened as he considered Anna. “Well, that shouldn’t be a problem. I have no desire to keep company with a shrew!” Anna’s eyes narrowed again as she rose to her feet. “And I don’t fancy being burned by a dragon!”Max took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them until he stood right before her. “Perhaps, darling, a little burning is exactly what you need! You might even enjoy it!” Anna’s pulled her hand back, and it flew through the air to land on Max’s cheek with a resounding slap. He didn’t move, but his expression turned mocking.“Is that all you’ve got?” Anna gasped, and spinning on her heel, walked away from him and towards the doorway. She had only gone a few steps when she paused, then turning, stalked back to Max, stopping a few inches away as she poked her finger into his chest.
“Don’t ever calling me ‘darling’ again,” she ground out, then turning once more, marched out of the room. Her legs were trembling as she walked, while her hands shook with rage. The arrogance! The insolence! 
Dance with a DragonThe Dragon ArchivesBook IVLinda K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. HopkinsDate of Publication: October 29, 2015
ASIN: B013HA3JJS
Number of pages: 343Word Count: 110,000
Book Description:
When Max flew away from Anna in a blazing stream of flame, she was determined to forget the shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon. But five years have passed, and still his memory leaves an ache in her heart. A memory that Garrick Flynn, her childhood friend, would love to erase. When given the chance to travel to the city, the center of medieval life, Anna jumps at the opportunity. But danger and intrigue are never far away as she joins the royal court and serves as companion to the queen.
Is it possible to have a second chance at the deep and passionate love she once scorned?
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Excerpt Dance with a Dragon:
 Anna was nearing the stairs when a voice made her glance around. Max was in the midst of a small group of women, Jane among them, laughing at some joke. Changing direction, she headed his way.“Master Brant, I would have a word with you,” she said, stopping behind Max’s back. She saw one of the women raise her eyebrows, while another whispered something to Jane. Max stared at Jane for a long moment, before turning slowly from the group and looking Anna up and down. He turned back to the women.“Ladies,” he said, “will you please excuse me. It would appear that I am wanted.” He grinned at Anna, who scowled back. He followed her as she walked away from the group, stopping when she turned to face him.“Did you speak to the king?” she demanded.Max’s smile vanished as he glanced at the group of women watching them curiously, then taking her by the arm, led her to the far wall. “I did,” he said.“Why?”“Why? Because the prince wants you in his bed, and will coerce you into accepting. How did you think he would react when you didn’t show up in his apartments this evening? Do you really think Rupert is the kind of man to take ‘no’ for an answer? He would have forced you to do his will one way or another.”“I would not have allowed him to! I would have made sure I was never alone with him.”“Anna,” Max said, a note of impatience creeping into his voice, “You live under the same roof as him. Would you have avoided the hall? And the passages? You enjoy roaming the gardens and the wilderness. Would you have been content to remain indoors? And even if you did manage to avoid seeing him, there are plenty of people at the palace prepared to do his bidding. Your lack of willingness to do as he wished would only have added to the thrill of the chase.”“Well, now he intends to make me pay. The king threatened him with exile, and he is not happy.”“Exile, hmm? The king must have a lot of respect – or fear – for Aaron if he is willing to go that far.” Anna lifted her eyebrows in unspoken question. “I reminded him that you are under Aaron’s protection, and it might be in his best interests to keep his brother’s behavior in check.” “You should have left it alone,” she said. “Your interference has made things worse.” Max leaned closer, and she could smell the fire emanating from him.“My interference,” he said through clenched teeth, “has saved you the anguish of being forced against your will.” “You are so arrogant,” she hissed. “I never asked for your protection. You should have left well alone.” 
“I’m being arrogant? You haven’t changed at all, Anna! Still the same foolish little girl you always were. I have saved you more times than I can remember, and you continue to look at me with disdain.” He glared down at her, and she could see the flames growing at the back of his eyes. With a low growl, he pushed himself away from the wall, and turning his back to her, strode away, flinging the door that led to the courtyard open with a hand clenched into a fist.
About the Author:
Linda K. Hopkins lives in Calgary, Canada, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, with her husband and two daughters, but originally hails from South Africa, and also spent a few years living in England. Linda loves reading, dark chocolate, coffee and travel. Sometimes she even tinkers on the piano, but sadly, her teenage daughter is the better musician!
www.lindakhopkins.com
https://www.facebook.com/Author-Linda-K-Hopkins-1425478964376327/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189322.Linda_K_Hopkins
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Cover Reveal Moondancers by E Van Lowe

New Release: Haunting Desire by Roxanne Rhoads

LizBeth and Christien from Eternal Desire are back in Haunting Desire, Book Two in the Desire Series.
http://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Desire-Roxanne-Rhoads-ebook/dp/B019VU4AJG/



Haunting DesireDesire SeriesBook TwoRoxanne Rhoads
Genre: Paranormal Erotica
Publisher: Bewitching Books
Release Date: February 5, 2016

Book Description:

Welcome to the Inn of Amorous Apparitions where your every libidinous longing can be fulfilled by sensual spirits. 

LizBeth has been hired to use her ghost whispering skills on the specters at the Castle Inn, but instead of banishing the seductive spooks Barbara, the Inn Keeper, wants them to "come out and play" with her special guests. 

The Castle Inn is set to become the destination for the ghost sex fetish crowd. But first Lizbeth has to convince the voluptuous visions that it is alright to participate in spectrophilia fun with the guests. 

LizBeth has a special talent for seeing and communicating with ghosts but these enchanting ethereals are not cooperating with her, or her vampire boyfriend, Christien. Something odd is fueling the raunchy wraiths and they have to discover the power source or risk leaving a customer unsatisfied. 

But there's more to this haunting than the average ghost. Will Lizbeth and Christien be able uncover the mystery of this sexy haunted mansion?

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Halloween in New Orleans, where anything can happen including love and magick.
Eternal DesireDesire SeriesBook OneRoxanne Rhoads

Publisher: Bewitching Books  


Release Date: April 14, 2015 (2 edition)

ASIN: B00VWIQGFM

Paranormal researcher Liz Beth's dreams are haunted by a sensual vampire.

She arrives in New Orleans the week of Halloween in search of her elusive dream lover, but instead finds a handsome stranger.
They begin a passionate affair. Soon she is torn between dreams and reality, lost somewhere in the middle trying to regain reason.
She aches to find the vampire of her dreams but can't seem to break free of the spell her sexy stranger has her tangled in.
Eternal Desire is available at the following ebook retailers


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