Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 373

Character Interview – Dylan from the Anath Series by Shyla Wolff

Character Interview – Dylan
Thank you to the readers who’ve let me know they enjoyed Shadowed Passage. In response to a request from Shannon in South Carolina, I’ve posed several questions to Dylan, our hot as hell hero.

Shannon: Dylan, why are you so driven?

Dylan: I’ve been that way since I was a kid, when my uncle forced me to make a choice, kill my father or baby sister. Kill one and the other would survive.

Shannon: Dear God, how did you survive that?

Dylan: I’ve kept two goals in mind since that day. First, to kill Roth. Anyone that insane shouldn’t live. Second, put my family back together. I’ve trained every day, learned everything I could, developed my talents in whatever way possible.

Shannon: How will you acconmplish either?

Dylan: As soon as I’ve completed this off the books mission, (I’ve just been discharged from the military), the major will give me the information to track two of my sisters.

Shannon: What is your mission?

Dylan: Stop the terrorist threat and protect the major’s woman, Tori, who by the way is about half his age. How can any woman want a man who’s so old? What does she see in him?

Shannon: Sounds to me like Tori is someone you think about a lot?

Dylan: Christ, I can’t stop…She’s smart, beautiful, can take what I dish out…which few can. I can’t figure out what he’s holding over her head.

Shannon: Maybe you need to change her mind?

Dylan: I’ve tried, but she keeps secrets, won’t share. Not that I can blame her, I do, too. If she knew what I could do and told the major…my family’s lives would be in danger. They’d be hunted to the ends of the earth.

Shannon: So—just stay away from her. Think annoying thoughts when she’s near.

Dylan: Yeah, I’ve tried. Yet I can’t forget how her body writhed under my caresses, or how she screams my name at particular moments…

Follow the continuation of Kiera and Kyley’s story as Dylan locates and protects his family while dealing with spies, terrorists and a psychopathic uncle.

Shadowed Passage is third in the Anath series but also a standalone read. Available on Amazon and your normal ebook distributors.

Shadowed PassageAnath SeriesBook 3Shyla Wolff
Genre: erotic paranormal romance      
Publisher: Extasy Books
Date of Publication: 5-15-15
ISBN:ASIN:
Number of pages:  275Word Count: 79,000
Formats available: MOBI, PDF
Cover Artist: Latrisha Walters
Book Description:
Tariffs paid on an ill-fated decision can last a lifetime.
A young boy—tossed an impossible situation by his psychopathic uncle, father or sister, he must kill one for the other to survive.
Two decades later, Dylan has developed his psychic talents, trained by the military, learned the skills necessary to locate the family he’d abandoned as a child and kill the devil himself, Roth. On the day he’s discharged, his ex-boss offers assistance in locating his sisters, demanding help with one more mission in exchange.
Tori, a young woman weeks away from graduating with her Psych doctorate, is torn from her stable life and thrust into a world of espionage, warriors, and unexplainable phenomenon. The man she loves, Major Clannahan, attaches her to the unit charged with locating a terrorist cell. Dylan, leading the unit, draws her like no other. Yet the darkness buried in his soul will test her skills and patience beyond anything she’s ever known.
Kiera and Kyley, identical twins challenged by the extremes of evil yet remain pure of heart, both bound to their man with a love withstanding the tests of time and tragedy.  One a warrior, the other with a warrior’s heart, each wield formidable psychic talents, sought after by a psychopath and terrorist bent on destroying the country.
A group of psychic warriors, dedicated to fighting evil in the shadows, locating and helping others develop their paranormal talents without splintering society’s tenacious perception of reality.
These are the extraordinary people living among us, protecting and preserving our way of life. Courage and honor, duty and strength of will can sustain us for only so long. Eventually, we must find our own path forward, learning to open our hearts to love even as we risk the ultimate pain.Add it on Goodreads
Available for Purchase on Amazon BN  




Excerpt: “The choice is yours boy, but understand—not deciding is making a decision. Do it before I make the decision for you. Only difference is, I won’t kill one, I’ll kill them both. Father or sister. You have all the power.”Roth’s kept his tone calm and gentle. The evil coiled tightly within him warmed his soul. He fancied the boy killing his father, silently rooting for the infant to survive. He could have lots of fun with her over the coming years.The boy’s father would die either way. Roth had bound and beaten him just for fun.
     “Daddy? What do I do?” Tears streamed down Dylan’s face, sobs racked his entire nine-year-old battered frame. His gaze slid from his father to his baby sister, now held by Roth. When he looked back at his dad’s bruised and bloody face, he cried harder. His dad’s eyes were swollen—nearly shut.
     The gun shook uncontrollably in the boy’s small hand. “Daddy?”
     Boredom shadowed Roth’s eyes, the excitement of the climax dimmed with the child’s indecisiveness. His gaze wandered out the window over the kitchen sink. In the back yard, a massive play structure stood, complete with swings, tunnels, overhead ladder, and a slide. How extravagant for just two children, one still an infant. His sister always belabored the little things. Shame she’s not present to witness this. He would’ve found this even more amusing.
     The blond haired infant cradled roughly in his left arm actually cooed at him. Disgusting. If he kept this thing, he'd have to hire a nanny. Still, the thought of it growing up with half the powers he'd felt in his sister years ago made the brat worth the trouble…If she survived today. He sighed.                                                                             ****       “Dylan, son, It's okay. You’re going to be all right. Look at me. Remember how we played catch this morning? When you think of me, you’ll remember how we played ball today. Okay, son?” He didn’t know what else to say in this horrific situation. His own psychotic brother in law was forcing his son to commit the most heinous act imaginable, choose between patricide and sororicide. Roth had always been the canary in the crazy mind but even Devon hadn’t seen this coming.
     “Awww, isn’t this touching?” Roth snorted, no doubt weary of his twisted game. “What a little wimp. I’m growing tired of your indecision, boy. I think I’ll just slice this little bitch’s throat. 

About the Author:
Of the many lessons life seems intent on throwing her way; the most important one Shyla’s learned is to take the time to enjoy family and friends. The flux and flow of changes aren’t something to fight, but adapt to with the best of your ability. One day’s heartbreak is often followed by another day’s triumph. The only barricades remaining are the ones we refuse to navigate. She hopes you’ve enjoyed this story. Shyla’s website, ShylaWolff.com, will be updated as Dylan’s journey continues.
Blog: http://shylawolff.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.shylawolff.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shyla.wolff
Amazon page: www.amazon.com/author/shylawolff    
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/39264448-shyla-wolff
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/wolff_shyla


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The Worlds of the Portals Series with PL Blair

A world exists, similar to our human Earth, almost – but not quite – our twin, separated from us by dimensions of space. This is the premise of my Portals urban fantasy/detective series. The other world, our almost-twin, differs from ours in one significant way – This world is the Realms of Magic, home to all of the beings of our myths, our legends – our worst nightmares. And that world is also the source of Magic.
The worlds are separated by gateways – the Portals. But in ancient times, the Portals stood open, and elves and wizards, trolls, ogres, dragons and all the other creatures of our legends passed freely between the two worlds. That – in my world – is why we have the legends.But at some point maybe a thousand or more years ago, Wizards forced the Portals closed. So for centuries, our human world hasn't had contact with the Realms of Magic. The legends, over time, have become distorted, and we've forgotten the reality behind our stories of such things as evil hags and magical weapons.
Now … at some time in the not too-distant future, the Portals have opened again. Creatures from the Realms are returning to our human world – and bringing their Magic with them. And some of those beings use their Magic to commit crimes. A wizard, Arvandus, has organized a team that steps in to help humans who no longer know how to deal with Magic that's being used against them. My protagonists – Corpus Christi, Texas, police detective Kat Morales and her elf partner Tevis – two of the key members of that team.
So that, in sum, is the foundation of my Portals books. I know there are other explanations for why people all across the world have nearly identical stories of evil wizards, elf-like beings, dragons and ogres and trolls (oh my!). But I have more fun with my version!

What do you think?



Sister HoodsPortalsBook FourP.L. Blair
Genre: Urban fantasy/detective/light romance
Publisher: Studio See LLCDate of Publication: October 2013
ASIN: B00GC5BRI6
Number of pages: 292
Cover Artist: Pam SeeMike Roberts photographer
Book Description:
A bank robbery in Rockport, Texas, sends Corpus Christi police detective Kat Morales and her elf partner, Tevis, in pursuit of a band of nymphs and satyrs. The answer to their initial question - why nymphs and satyrs would rob a bank - only leads them into a deeper mystery in an enchanted woodland on the South Texas coast.
And while he and Kat try to save the woods from an evil wizard and a deadly wyvern, Tevis finds himself engaged in a personal struggle with potentially disastrous consequences: He is deeply, irrevocably in love with his partner ...
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/gCn0H3IlNGs
Available at    Amazon    BN
Excerpt:


Malthius sat at the island counter in his kitchen and slowly consumed the dinner he'd prepared for himself, scarcely tasting. The television reporter – or whatever Humans called people in her position – had promised the “latest information on the bodies found near the old courthouse at the top of the hour,” which, Malthius inferred, meant the start of the news program at six o'clock.            The Wizard had sunk into what Theronius aptly called one of his “foul moods.” Malthius had reason for it: first, Edwin calling to say the Elf and Human woman would be at Summerfield Investments offices in the morning, then this clamor over the bodies. Who would have thought that thirteen people who meant so little while they lived would become the focus of so much attention because of their deaths?            Still, Malthius took a certain grim pleasure in these moments. Adversity, threats to his plans, sharpened his senses. He felt more focused, more alive at such times. He watched the drivel that Humans called “commercials” – though in truth, he found some of them more entertaining than the programs they financed – then, finally, the music that meant the newscast was beginning. People were introduced, males and females simpering at the cameras, then a camera focused on a dark-haired young woman whose name Malthius ignored.            “And at the top of our news,” she said, “Corpus Christi's Mayor Janelle Hardesty announced the Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken an interest in the deaths of thirteen homeless people, seven   late last night in an underpass near the old Nueces County Courthouse, and six others found dead several days ago in Lovenskiold Park.” Behind the young woman, an image appeared on the screen of a woman perhaps middle-aged as Humans measured years, light brown hair graying at the temples, standing at a podium, a microphone in front of her. “The announcement came in a news conference on the steps of City Hall at two o'clock today.”            The view shifted from the dark-haired newscaster, tightening on the older woman, presumably Mayor Hardesty. She spoke: “We are confirmin' that the deaths of the seven people last night are connected to the deaths of six people several days ago in Lovenskiold Park. All of the deaths are related to a case bein' investigated by the FBI. A special team sanctioned by the FBI and headed by their agent Arvandus is in Corpus Christi ...”            Arvandus? Malthius managed to swallow the bite of meat in his mouth without choking, scarcely tasting it. Had the woman actually said the name Arvandus?
            That was … impossible.
About the Author:        
A native of Texas, now living in Sheridan, Wyo., P.L. Blair divides her time between two careers. As P.L., she writes a series (Portals) of urban fantasy/detective books that, recently, including elements of light romance. Published books include Shadow Path, Stormcaller, Deathtalker and Sister Hoods. Her fifth book is now with her publisher, and she is working on Book 6. As Pat Blair, she's a reporter for Sheridan Media, an organization that includes nine radio stations and an online news publication at sheridanmedia.com.
She's also “mom” to three dogs and a cat, all rescues, and is an avid reader, an occasional painter, and loves doing research. A lover of horses, she researches American Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred pedigrees as a hobby. Another hobby is history, and she's been the lead writer last year and again this year for Sheridan Media's “Sheridan Chronicles” history publication.
Web site www.plblairauthor.com
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/plblair
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/PL-Blair/170370356378877
Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/plblair/
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Cover Reveal for The Bleeding Dark by Janice Pia

The Bleeding DarkBlood and BurnBook OneJanice Pia
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Date of Publication: September 29, 2015
Cover Artist: Hang Le
Book Description:
Wherever Brenna de Wintros goes, violence follows. Other shifters fear her. Her brother, the Alpha, would just as soon see her dead. She’s the bad wolf of the Pack, but there might be something even darker than she is on the horizon.
Madness has infected her people, with more and more falling into its clutches every day. If they don't find a cure soon, the shifters’ secret existence will be revealed to the human world.
Roped against her will into helping hunt down the source of the mysterious malady, Brenna must team up with Seth Grayson, a stranger shrouded in secrets whom she is inexplicably drawn to.
Together, Brenna and Seth must confront the evil threatening their race before time runs out for them all.

About the Author:

An avid fan of stories that feature both the romantic and the fantastical, Janice can't remember a time in her life when she wasn't either reading a book, or dreaming of writing one. She has a weakness for strong, flawed characters who are in need of a little redemption, and she believes that the best happy endings are the ones that must be fought for.
THE BLEEDING DARK is Janice's debut novel and is the first book in an all-new urban fantasy series.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7834209.Janice_Pia
https://twitter.com/jpia_writes
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Janice-Pia/1451065855205266
http://www.janicepia.com/
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Interview with P.A. Ross Author of the Vampire Formula Series

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

I have always been a day dreamer, so decided to put it to so good use. I have always been drawn to these types of stories since a kid. My day dream always evolved around fantasy powers like vampires or werewolves.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
Vampires are the kings of the paranormal world. The idea of feeding on the blood of a victim carries an underlying desire of dominance and submission.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wrote a short story on vampires that I expanded out to be the original for the vampire formula series. My latest book ‘The Truth of Vengeance’ is the second in the series. I wanted to revisit the original and tie up some loose ends and answer some of the questions asked by my readers.
Please tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is the sequel to “The Birth of Vengeance: Vampire Formula#1” and is called “The Truth of Vengeance: Vampire Formula #2”
The book delves deeper into the vampire world introduced in the first book. The vampire world grows and the characters pasts are revealed. The truth final comes out. Hence the title.
The story is chain of events quickly spiraling out of control for the main character Jon. He ends up questioning everything he learnt and understood in the first book, when he decided to follow Thorn a female vampire.
The series has been described as Twilight in reverse. This is what happens when a teenage boy meets the ultimate bad girl.
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 have tried to match names with a theme. The female vampire is called Thorn, as Thorns draw blood.
The male character is called Jon after Jon Harker in Dracula.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Thorn is the most difficult character to write for and the most enjoyable. I can’t give too much away with her character, but need to slowly reveal over time. I have to try and keep her in character at all times, which is tricky as I find myself want to make her nicer and more loveable, but that isn’t the story. I once softened her but got a telling off from my editor. Is it possible to fall for one of your own characters?
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I enjoyed writing Thorn more than the other characters. Maybe because I know her real intentions. Plus she is exciting and unpredictable to everyone else except me.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
I have a few favorite scenes in the book, which makes it easier to write.

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?
In the second book I have tried to recap along the way so it would make some sense if read stand alone. Obviously it would be better to read in order.
Do you write in different genres?
I have written some superhero shorts.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
I think they just reflect different parts of your fantasies and personality.

What was the last amazing book you read?
Been reading the divergent trilogy which is great.

What can readers expect next from you?
I am working on a new book called ‘Fury’.
I also plan to give way a free book via my website called ‘Vampires Vs Aliens’
I think you can guess what it is about.
Where can readers find you on the web?
http://www.thornsneedles.com/

The Truth of Vengeance 
Vampire Formula 
Book 2
P.A. Ross

On the run from the Hunters after taking his deadly revenge on Barry, V must adapt to the truth. He is no longer the innocent little boy, Jon Harper, but a hybrid human-vampire, a killer.

He craves answers about vampires and why he was betrayed by the ones he loved. Another vampire, Cassius, holds the truth about vampires and they arrange to meet. 

The truth that he discovers is far more unreal than he expected, and he sets off on a journey to uncover the whole story. He must unravel what really happened in England in order to make sense of the dark path he chose. Everyone and everything isn't as it seems. 

Thorn and the vampires are even stranger than he thought. 


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Birth of Vengeance 
Vampire Formula
Book 1
P.A. Ross 


You've been beaten, bullied and betrayed but vengeance is at hand. One swift stab of a needle and the vampire formula will coarse through your blood giving you the immortal powers of the vampire for the night. Your fangs will bite and claws will rip at their flesh. No human will stand in your way. You will taste blood and feel the thrill of the hunt, but tomorrow you will be human again and able to enjoy the sunlight. 

Can Jonathan Harper resist such temptation? 

This isn’t a paranormal romance of girl meets boy vampire, but the relationship of boy meets ultimate bad girl vampire, Thorn. What happens when the roles are reversed? 

This dark urban fantasy series embarks on an action packed adventure, as Jonathan must face the consequences of his decisions. Is Thorn his dark heroine, or his eventual death? 

“The Birth of Vengeance (Vampire Formula #1)” is the first novel in a series of new vampire books. 


This book is a dark fantasy of young adult boy to man. A coming of age story with a blend of fantasy, horror and science fiction. Jon is submerged into a dark world of vampires and a shadowy organisation called the 'Hunters.' He must face his own inner demons if he is to succeed and take revenge on those that forced him down a dark path. 


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I Want Vengeance 
Vampire Formula
Prequel
P.A. Ross 

Jon Harper is a teenager who suffers from bullying. He feels trapped without support from the school or his father. He wants a way out. He wants vengeance.

Thorn is a lonely beautiful vampire who fills her nights feeding and battling her enemies; the vampire hunters and the Turned. One night the rules change and her life will never be the same. She wants vengeance.

Free on Amazon

What People Don’t Know About Twins: Guest Blog and Giveaway with Mary Sage Nguyen

My name is Mary Sage Nguyen. The current series I am writing is about a parasitic twin. Here are some intriguing facts about twins that I picked out from various sources.

1.     Twins can have two different fathers! This process is called heteropaternal superfecundation occurs when a woman has sex with more than one man during ovulation. Sperm from each man fertilizes an egg, resulting in twins. Though this phenomenon is common in dogs and cats, it's extremely rare in humans. (Shea, Taylor)
2.     China has the lowest rate for multiple births averaging 1 in 300. (Bregman, Lori)
3.     Nigeria has the highest rate of multiple births and more identical twins. (Bregman, Lori)
4.     Some conjoined twins can feel and taste what the other one does. (Jacques, Renee. 2014)
5.     Women who eat a lot of dairy are more prone to conceiving twins. (Jacques, Renee. 2014)
6.     Tall women are more likely to have twins. (Jacques, Renee. 2014)
7.     Some estimates suggest 1 in 8 people started life as a twin while 1 in 70 actually are a twin. (Bregman, Lori)
8.     Twins bond in the womb. Fetuses start deliberately interacting at 14 weeks. (Bregman, Lori)
9.     40% of twins invent their own language. (Bregman, Lori)
10.  About 1 in 250 pregnancies results in identical twins. (Bregman, Lori)

            Number two startled me. I always thought there would be more twins in China. The population there is enormous, so you would think they would have a lot of twins. I am shocked Nigeria has the highest number of twins. On the issue of twins having different fathers. I liked how the author pointed out the issue is more common in cats and dogs. Now as far as the conjoined twins tasting and feeling what the other does. That is totally freaky, and I should have added to The Malevolent Twin. I don’t know how much research was conducted on the women eating dairy and tall women producing more twins. It sounds suspicious to me.
            Now you know about twins. This leads me to the alternate ending of The Malevolent Twin. Both Avery and Venice walk out alive, and live their own lives. Avery goes on to graduate college and become a nurse. Venice goes on to become a distinguished actress. But, how much fun would that really be? After all Robert A. Heinlein ended up killing all of his notable characters in I will fear no evil. My antagonist Venice is a murderous twin, who has been inside her twin since birth. In the end she becomes free, and has a body of her own. It makes sense she goes after Avery for all those years of oppression, and disrespect. Are you worried about Avery’s safety? You should be…

 Works Cited:
Jacques, Renne, 2014. 11 Facts About Twins That Make Them Even Cooler Than You Already Thought, The Huffington PostShea, Taylor, 8 Fascinating Facts about Twins. Reader’s DigestBregman, Lori, 20 Fun Facts About Twins. Modern Mom


The Malevolent TwinBook OneMary Sage Nguyen
Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller,Mystery, and a little bit of science fiction.
Date of Publication: April 2015
ISBN: 978-0996256100Kindle ISBN: 978-0996256117Smashwords ISBN: 978-0996256124
Ebook: 123 pagesWord Count: 37,560
Cover Artist: www.ebooklaunch.com
Book Description:

A murderous wicked twin.

An innocent, law abiding, and oblivious girl.

The ultimate brawl between contrasting sisters!

Murder, mystery, suspense and more

In The Malevolent Twin

Avery is a normal teenager, except for Venice. Venice is Avery’s imaginary friend or so she thinks. When the two begin to fight. Avery starts her investigation, to figure out what Venice really is. She encounters a wise old exorcist, and an albino psychic who assist her, with attempting to remove Venice. Which comes too late as Venice goes on a murdering rampage using Avery’s body. Does Avery survive the Wrath of Venice?

Find out in…

The Malevolent Twin
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/KdscPo2LMbM

Narrated Excerpt: https://youtu.be/e42TH4QBuhw
Available at BN   Amazon




Chapter TenThe Cerebrum
            “Ah, the renowned Avery Tran. Pleased to meet you.”  Dr. Faulk extended his hand and Avery graciously accepted. “So, shall we get on with it?”            The group followed Dr. Faulk into the back of the clinic. The walls were grey in here as well and there was a long row of patient rooms. Barton Faulk led them to a room at the end of the hall. It was unlike what Avery thought it would be. She had envisioned something more horrifying. The room was very bright and painted a pale yellow, however. The walls had been painted with a jungle theme: monkeys, elephants, gorillas, and tigers filled the room with life, making it look quite whimsical. The CT scanner stood alone in the middle of the room. The outside of the machine was square but it had a round opening and a mechanical bed placed inside it. On the mechanical bed was thin paper. A piece of folded up cloth lay on the bed. Doc- tor Faulk picked it up.            “Avery would you mind putting this on?” he asked. “Sure, that’s fine. Where is the bathroom?” she replied.            “This way, Avery.” Doctor Faulk showed her where the bathroom was.            “Please take off your bra. You can leave your underwear on. Thank you, Avery.” One of the police officers, a female one, went into the bathroom with her.            “Is this really necessary, Lorenzo?” Avery asked. “Yes.” Avery sighed.            She closed the door and examined the clinic’s gown. It was white with blue diamond shapes printed on it. It was not very comfortable and exposed her back. To make matters worse, the female police officer stared at her intently.            “Enjoying yourself?” Avery asked.            “You think I enjoy being locked in a room with a serial killer? The answer is no, but this is part of the job. I signed up to serve and protect.”            “I didn’t do it. My twin Venice did all of it.” The officer laughed, and didn’t respond. She flipped her blond ponytail in displeasure.            Finally, Avery faced her fate. She was placed on the exam- ination table of the CT machine. The officers couldn’t cuff her to the table, since Dr. Faulk complained it would distort the images.            As the CAT scanner took pictures of her body, Avery thought of her mother Muoi. She wondered who would bury her mother. Peter was too unstable to plan funeral arrange- ments. Anna and her husband would probably step up to the plate and do the heavy lifting. She dreaded the thought of spending life in prison, or even facing the death penalty. What she dreaded even more was the thought of going to the nail salon without her mother. All the gossiping and  memories there with Muoi: it would never be the same.            After the CT scan Avery sat in one of the small patient rooms, waiting for Dr. Lisa Sen to come into the room. She was running late. There were only two police officers in the room. The rest stood outside. Lorenzo paced back and forth. He was nervous. What if Avery didn’t have a parasitic twin in her? What would his argument be to the jury? He was going up against Clark Singleton. This Dallas district attorney has a ruth- less reputation.            “Oh, my, I am so sorry, I am late,” Lisa Sen said, opening the door. She glanced around the cramped room. She had an olive complexion and dark eyes to match her hair color.            “You guys can wait outside,” Lorenzo mentioned to the officers. “She isn’t going anywhere. Don’t be buffoons, there are no windows. How can she escape?” he answered as one of the officers opened his mouth to protest.            “So, let’s see what we have here.” Lisa Sen put one of the images up on the board. She switched on the light.            “Oh, this is a horrible image. Let’s use another one.” “Doctor, is  it  possible  the  parasitic  twin  can control Avery?” She had never heard the term parasitic twin, but now it made sense to Avery. It clicked perfectly with Venice’s story about them being sisters.            “Anything is possible, I just need to get a better image.” Dr. Sen adjusted her black-rimmed glasses.            “Ah, I see it now. Yes, there it is connected to her spinal cord.” She pointed to a massive cerebrum. “I didn’t expect this at all. Oh, wow. It looks like it is even functioning. Just like a regular cerebrum would.”            “What is a cerebrum?” Avery asked.             “A brain, dear.”            “What, so Venice is a brain?”            “I believe so… the medical definition of a parasitic twin is an undeveloped twin who is completely dependent on the complete fetus called an autosite.” Dr. Sen started shuffling through more images. “I can’t believe it, amazing! Just fascinating, I have never seen anything like this.”            “Dr. Sen, can you prove that this twin can take control of her body in court?”            “Why, certainly. I just can’t believe it. This is a scientific discovery. It must be studied and recorded.”            “What do you think I am? Some lab rat to be used at your disposal?” Avery was enraged by the doctor’s reaction.            “Now, now, Avery. Calm yourself. Remember she is here to aid you.”            “Can’t you get rid of it?” Avery asked Lisa Sen.            “This is a breakthrough to science! How can I destroy it? It is beautiful! I have never encountered an unequally conjoined twin that was alive!”            “That’s it! I am going to destroy her once and for all. I know where she’s located now.” Avery grabbed a needle off the counter. Lorenzo lunged at her and tried to restrain her.
            “Guards, guards, guards!” he screamed. The police officers came busting through the door and restrained the deranged Avery. Dr. Sen injected Avery with a tranquilizer.

About the Author
Mary Sage Nguyen is the youngest daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants. Vietnamese was the language spoken at home, so the only way she was able to learn English was through the public school system. Even though English was not spoken at home, Mary became an avid reader as a young child and always dreamed of being a writer someday.
www.marysagenguyen.com
http://www.marysagenguyen.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/lovelymarypearls
https://twitter.com/marysagenguyen1
https://www.facebook.com/themalevolenttwinnovel

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Top Ten Scary Tunes | No Rest for the Wicked Blog Tour

Hi, folks! My name’s Dane Cobain, and I’m the author of a new supernatural thriller called No Rest for the Wicked, which follows the story of the elderly Father Montgomery as he struggles to protect his parishioners from mysterious, evil Angels. Today, I’m here to talk about my pick of the top ten scary tunes to listen to whilst reading it, or indeed in general. We played a lot of these songs at the launch party for the book here in the UK, and you can check out my full list over on YouTube. Let’s get started!
10 – Cradle of Filth: Dinner at Deviant’s PalaceI usually can’t stand Cradle of Filth, but this song is brilliantly haunting, complete with some crazy backwards vocals, sinister string sections and all sorts of other cool stuff.
9 – Black Sabbath: Black SabbathThis was one of the earliest songs that really captured horror as part of a song, and it works insanely well. It’s one of the only tracks to make it onto this list that also includes lyrics.
8 – The Exorcist ThemeThe interesting thing about The Exorcist Theme is that it sounds sinister enough as a standalone piece. When you factor in its relationship to the film, it gets even more intense. It can also work pretty well if you leave this song on a loop!
7 – American Horror Story: Title ThemeThis one was suggested by Carla, who works at the venue that hosted the party – I’m kind of annoyed that I didn’t think of it myself! This is probably the pick that I find the scariest out of the whole lot, but it’s not necessarily the best. There’s more to come!
6 – Slipknot: XIXI used to love Slipknot when I was younger, but I only discovered this track fairly recently and so I suspect it’s from one of their newer albums. Still, it’s suitably sinister, and I like that half of it is an instrumental and half of it has vocals. You should check it out!
5 – Nobuo Uematsu: Liberi FataliThis is the first of two entries for Nobuo Uematsu, the composer who worked on the Final Fantasy series. This particular track is from Final Fantasy VIII, and it used to scare the hell out of me when I was playing the game and it started up. As soon as I started pulling together this list, I knew I had to include it!
4 – WWF: The Undertaker Theme SongI’ve been getting back into wrestling of late, for some reason, and so I had to include either Kane’s theme or The Undertaker’s theme. Kane’s theme is pretty cool, but most of the fear factor comes from Kane himself, rather than the music – here, though, we’ve got church gongs and an overall sinister sound that works perfectly.
3 – Nobuo Uematsu: One-Winged AngelThis is another Final Fantasy tune – you might recognise this one as Sephiroth’s theme from Final Fantasy VII. It’s just another great piece of sinister, tension-building classical music.
2 – John Debney: End of DaysI can’t really tell you too much about this one, as this was another suggestion from a friend of mine – all I know is, it sounds awesome, particularly when you pump it through a PA system inside a converted church!
1 – Burzum: AnsuzgardaraiwôBurzum is the name for the musical project by a guy called Varg Vikernes, who’s mental. He used to burn down churches and be part of the Norwegian black metal scene, and he served a prison sentence for killing a man. This track was written and recorded whilst he was in prison – he wasn’t allowed a guitar, so he had to record with synths. Spooky!

So there we have it – those are my top ten scary tunes! What did you think of the list? Be sure to let me know with a comment, or to hit me up on Facebookor Twitter. You can also visit me at DaneCobain.com and check out No Rest for the Wicked on Amazon right here. I’ll see you soon.



No Rest for the WickedDane Cobain
Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Publisher: Booktrope/Forsaken
Cover Artist: Ashley Ruggirello
Book Description:
When the Angels attack, there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.Father Montgomery, an elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.
The Angels are naked and androgynous. They speak in a dreadful harmony with no clear leader. These aren’t biblical cherubs tasked with the protection of the righteous – these are deadly creatures of light that have the power to completely eradicate.
When Jones himself is attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.


Available at Amazon Chapter One: A Fair Trial
Wednesday November 11th, 2009

They grew out of the darkness, mysterious shapes hiding in plain sight in abstract mockery of the senses. In the living room of a dingy flat in Hammersmith, tall and proud and shimmering in the air like a mirage, they stood; the only other light was a flickering television set that broadcast white noise to the sleeping occupant of the sofa. “Wake.”Their shared voice echoed around the room like an organ in a cathedral, as powerful as independent thought. None of them moved – they just quaked with anticipation. The heap of dirty clothes on the sofa began to move and an ashen face emerged. He looked around the room in a sleepy daze. A matted beard framed his sunken eyes – grey on grey. He smelled like a pub before the smoking ban – an unpleasant cologne of nicotine and whiskey. When he saw that he wasn’t alone, he climbed unsteadily to his feet.“Who are you?” he asked, shading his eyes to look at them. “What are you doing in my house?” With every passing second, his eyes adjusted and grew wider. “Our identity is unimportant.” Their voices echoed around the room in perfect harmony, the eerie unison astounding, incredible, and terrifying. “We are defined by our purpose. You should already know what we are.”“Angels,” he replied, avoiding their ferocious stare. “I’ve heard of you. But you’re not real.”“Are you?” they asked, and he frowned.“I’m more real than you are. You’re just rumours and hearsay, a hallucination.”“Does that matter?”“If I rub my eyes, you’ll disappear. You were never here in the first place.” He closed his eyes and pinched the thin skin on the inside of his elbow, but he felt the pain and didn’t wake up. When he opened his eyes, the Angels were still there.“Eric Solomon,” they boomed, in a voice that demanded attention. He looked at them imperiously. “You’re real,” he whispered.“We know that you are a sinner. You have wasted your life by drinking away the nights, bloated with lust for actresses and models. You have worshipped false idols, from musicians to cartoon characters. You have lied, cheated, stolen, and swindled your way through life.”Solomon raised his hand to interrupt them, but they continued to talk as if he weren’t even there. The Angels didn’t raise their voices – they just refused to be unheard. It was as though they were talking silently and he was listening with his soul.“You have committed each of the seven sins and an endless number of others. Your apocalypse is now. Do you have anything to say in your defence? Will you repent? Will you kneel and beg for forgiveness before the sheepdogs of the Lord? Justify yourself.”“Why should I?” he cried.“If you do not, you will be purged.”“What happened to a fair trial?”“We are a fair trial. Speak.” It wasn’t a command, but Solomon felt compelled to answer.“‘I’ve enjoyed myself, isn’t that the point? I’ve led a happy life and been nice enough to the people I’ve known. I’ve never been violent and I’ve always worked hard, I’m just down on my luck at the moment. There’s a recession.”“We know everything and more.”“Then you already know what’s going to happen?”“Correct. But knowledge of the future is not meant for you. Do you have anything else to add to your defence?”“I’m not afraid to die.” Solomon sighed and stood tall, a fraction of his former self. Without seeming to move, the Angels grew nearer, and Solomon was surrounded. He could feel the heat from their bodies and see the wall-mounted clock through their translucent flesh. He stared at the second hand; it ticked, and the Angels stepped through him.Solomon shrieked as white-hot pain passed through him, and he whimpered as he smelled his own burning flesh. He thought that the pain was unbearable; then, it intensified. The Angels were strengthened by his imminent death, and their bodies started to solidify. Solomon slipped into an unconsciousness from which he’d never wake, and the Angels caught his falling body with ease.As they held him, draped across their arms like a battered rug, he ignited. None of the Angels flinched; they stood, staring at the fire, with an inscrutable expression on their androgynous faces. In the distance, a car horn honked impatiently. Seconds later, it sounded again; the flames began to die down, Solomon’s body reduced to dust and ash.“You lied, Mr. Solomon,” they said, scattering the powdered remains across the floor. “You were afraid to die.”The Angels walked towards the wall, passing through it as the widescreen television behind them continued to broadcast static, and the eerie sound kept the ashes company.

About the Author:
Dane Cobain is a writer and poet from a place you've probably never heard of, somewhere in England. His debut novella, a supernatural thriller called 'No Rest for the Wicked', will be released by Forsaken in the summer of 2015. When he's not writing books, he's reading and reviewing them on his book blog, SocialBookshelves.com - Charles Bukowski, Graham Greene and Phillip Pullman are favourites.
Find him at www.facebook.com/danecobainmusic or follow @DaneCobain on Twitter.
http://www.danecobain.com
http://www.facebook.com/danecobainmusic
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Spotlight and Giveaway The Sephra’s Tear by Robyn Bachar

The Sephra’s TearJust One SpellBook OneRobyn Bachar
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Robyn Bachar
Date of Publication: 06/01/15
ISBN: Ebook 978-0-9963490-1-7ISBN: Print 978-0-9963490-0-0ASIN: B00YPRRYGM
Number of pages: 318Word Count: 63,770
Cover Artist: Amygdala Design
Book Description:
Just one spell will change their fates…
Cordelia is a pawn of House Dorchada—a notorious noble family comprised of thieves, assassins and dark wizards. Desperate to avoid their poisonous politics, Cordelia plotted her escape for years, but her carefully laid plans are jeopardized when her father commands her to marry an aged lord of Frostever.
With only a few short months left before her wedding, Cordelia’s salvation hinges on creating a Sephra’s Tear—a forbidden amulet that causes overwhelming lust in its victim. A black market buyer promises a life-changing amount of coin as payment for the Tear, but being caught creating it carries a death sentence.
Two wizards are needed to produce the passion to fuel the erotic spell, so Cordelia recruits the aid of peasant wizard Nathaniel Ravenwood. Nathaniel has long denied his desire for the beautiful Cordelia. As a noblewoman and a Dorchada she is as dangerous to Nathaniel as a viper, but the fortune she offers is a temptation he can't refuse.
Dealing in dark magic comes with a price, and Cordelia and Nathaniel risk losing their freedom—and their hearts. Their fates depend on the one spell that will free them, or destroy them. Amazon    Barnes and Noble    Kobo
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Excerpt:Nathaniel’s study was located in the lower levels of the stronghold, carved out of the stone the city was built upon, where the wizards of limited financial means lived and trained. The décor changed with each floor she descended, the layers of artistry and comfort stripped away until the walls and floor were bare gray stone. Like everything in White Harbor, the lines dividing the wealthy and the poor were clear. Cordelia enjoyed the tangible privileges of noble birth, but she knew she wouldn’t have them for much longer. She’d gladly give up silk and perfume for the freedom that wool and sweat would bring her.When she arrived at Nathaniel’s door she paused and inhaled a deep breath. Cordelia had committed many small larcenies, and a Sephra’s Tear would be the boldest sin she had ever attempted. Cordelia’s hand trembled as she raised it, and she knocked and opened the door when she heard him bid her enter.Seated at the aged desk dominating the room, Nathaniel glanced up from the book he had been reading. Surprise flickered across his face for a moment before he rose.“Lady Dorchada. I won’t have your money until the first of next month.”“Yes, I know.”“Then to what do I owe this honor?” Though the question was phrased respectfully, his tone was suspicious. She couldn’t blame him—a Dorchada at one’s door was never a harbinger of good news.Cordelia stepped into the tiny room and let the door shut behind her. He had a desk, a small alchemy table and a stove for heat. There was one other chair, but it was occupied by a tall stack of books. She glanced at it and gave Nathaniel a pointed look. Rounding his desk, he cleared the books away and waved his guest to take a seat.“Thank you.” The stiff chair was uncomfortable, but Cordelia sat in it primly. “I apologize for the interruption. I will try not to keep you long. I have a new business proposition.”“You have my attention.” Nathaniel returned to his seat and watched her with a neutral expression. She hesitated as the well-rehearsed speech vanished from her thoughts. Cordelia cleared her throat and tried to phrase her request as politely as possible.“I need assistance with casting a somewhat difficult spell, and I hope that you may be able to aid me.”“What sort of spell?” Nathaniel tended to be brusque, and his straightforwardness added to the anxiety tying her stomach into knots.“One that would require discretion, should you choose to be involved.”Nathaniel sat back and folded his hands in his lap. “All of our dealings require discretion, my lady. Thus far I’ve been impressed by your caution.”Cordelia nodded. “Thank you. It is a Sephra’s Tear. A potent Tear.”
The wizard’s dark eyebrows rose to nearly his hairline. He raised his folded hands, covering his mouth to hide his expression. She admired his composure in response to such an unusual request—he probably didn’t often have women arriving unannounced at his door to ask that he make love to them until they both collapsed. Then again, he just might, considering how attractive he was. Nathaniel was older than Cordelia, but not by much. Unbound, his long black hair fell past his shoulders. As with most wizards Nathaniel’s hands were slender, hinting at dexterity instead of strength, and he had high, sharp cheekbones that most of the noble ladies in White Harbor would kill to be graced with. His plain, charcoal robes were well made, but were durable instead of fashionable. Cordelia found his eyes to be his most interesting feature; pale, crystalline blue, Nathaniel’s eyes were mesmerizing, though they were usually filled with suspicion when looking at her.
About the Author
Robyn Bachar enjoys writing stories with soul mates, swords, spaceships, vampires and gratuitous violence against the kitchen sink. Her books have finaled twice in the PRISM Contest for Published Authors, twice in the Passionate Plume Contest, and twice in the EPIC eBook Awards. As a gamer, Robyn has spent many hours rolling dice, playing rock-paper-scissors, and slaying creatures in mmorpgs.
You can find Robyn online at www.robynbachar.com and on Twitter at @RobynBachar.

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Release Day Blitz Madison's Song by Christine Amsden

Madison's SongCassie ScotSpin Off StandaloneChristine Amsden
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Date of Publication: July 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-60619-283-2ASIN:
Number of pages: 272Word Count: 90,000
Cover Artist: Tamian Wood
Book Description:
Her voice is enchanting; his soul is black…
Madison Carter has been terrified of Scott Lee since the night he saved her from an evil sorcerer – then melted into a man-eating monster before her eyes. The werewolf is a slave to the moon, but Madison’s nightmares are not.
Despite her fears, when Madison’s brother, Clinton, is bitten by a werewolf, she knows there is only one man who can help. A man who frightens her all the more because even in her nightmares, he also thrills her.
Together for the first time since that terrible night, Scott and Madison drive to Clinton’s home only to discover that he’s vanished. Frantic now, Madison must overcome her fears and uncover hidden strengths if she hopes to save him. And she’s not the only one fighting inner demons. Scott’s are literal, and they have him convinced that he will never deserve the woman he loves.
*Stand-alone companion to the Cassie Scot series
Available at 
Amazon    BN
Excerpt-Prologue
Madison couldn't move. The only muscle in her body capable of stirring at all was her heart, and it felt like it was trying to make up for the rest. No ropes bound her. Nothing visible pressed her back and legs into the coarse beige carpet of her new rental home. Yet even as she writhed and twisted against unseen restraints, she knew she was trapped. Tied to the ground in a way that made her feel like a virgin sacrifice atop an altar.           The man looming over her, chanting spells and arranging crystals, didn't look like a powerful sorcerer. David McClellan had too weak a chin and beady little eyes. Those eyes, brown as mud and just as compassionate, told her without words that they would be the last thing she saw.           She didn't even understand why! Not that it would make a difference if she did. But she wasn't anyone special. She wasn't important. She was just an elementary school music teacher – or would be after she finished a semester of student teaching. This kind of thing didn't happen to her. To her friend, Cassie, scion of a powerful family of sorcerers, maybe. But Madison had no family connections and almost no magic aside from her beautiful, subtly enchanting voice. Why would anyone hurt her for a song?           A tear fell sideways into her sweat-dampened hair, joining countless others and doing exactly as much good. How long had she lain here, helpless? Minutes? Hours? It might only have been seconds. The box of “Card and Board Games” she had been carrying into the house lay on its side a foot or two away, some of its contents now strewn across the bare living room floor. There hadn't been any warning. One second she was on the way to her new bedroom to unpack her tenth or eleventh box, the next instant she was on the floor. Immobile. Helpless. Confused. Terrified.          Oh Lord! Why hast thou forsaken me?           There was magic in the air, growing stronger with each new crystal David arranged into a pattern only he could see. Cold, deadly magic that reinforced her every childhood fear. Her father had told her that magic was from the devil. Was this what he'd meant? Was this her punishment for brushing up against the world of sorcery, no matter how lightly?           David placed one last crystal before ceasing his chant. The silence felt ominous, like a lull before the storm, and when he moved away, out of her sight, a fresh wave of panic seized her. She strained anew at her bindings until the scent of incense filled the air. She had a sudden, vivid memory of Palm Sunday Mass, and of Father Owen making the sign of the cross as he wafted the same scent over his congregation. Father Owen didn't believe magic was evil; he had told her more than once not to listen to her father's “superstitious nonsense.”           The time had come to pull herself together. To think. She wasn't helpless. She had a little magic of her own, even if the thought of using it made her feel sick inside. God had not forsaken her. He had given her a tool if only she could rein in her stampeding heart rate long enough to search her memory for what little knowledge she possessed.           First, she had to find her quiet place. Madison drew in a deep, shuddering breath and started to close her eyes, when a glint of something metallic caught her attention. She stared at the long, lethal dagger in David's hands, an ornate golden hilt largely hidden within his iron fist. His eyes drifted up and down the length of her bound body before settling on her midriff. He lowered the blade.          He was going to cut her. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself against the expected pain. Or worse.           Think, Madison. Focus!          She took one last steadying breath. Then she counted. Breathe in one ... two ... three ... four ... breathe out ... five ... six ... seven ...          Her concentration snapped when cold metal bit into warm flesh. Her eyes popped open, her muscles strained once more against invisible bonds, and she screamed.           Wait, she could scream? She had a voice?           “Silence,” David commanded.          Her throat continued to work, but no sound emerged. She felt like a fish being gutted, choking and spluttering as David returned to the work of cutting into the soft, sensitive flesh of her belly. Yet even as tears refilled her eyes and fear devoured her heart some part of her recognized that her guts remained intact. Whatever David was doing to her with the dagger involved tracing shallow patterns across the surface of her skin.          Fight the pain. Take deep breaths. Ground and center. She was not in the empty living room of a house she had not quite moved into yet, she was at church, singing in the choir. Above her, Jesus hung from a cross, a crown of thorns atop his head, a soft glow surrounding him. She usually found the magic within that glow. She reached for it...          “Stop that!” David slapped her hard across the face.          Once again her eyes flew open. She saw the dagger dripping with blood – her blood. Had her feeble grab for magic actually made a difference? David seemed to have noticed something, but what?           “You're just making this harder on yourself,” David said.          “What do you want?” Madison tried to ask. Her mouth moved, her lips forming the question, but no sound emerged.           She didn't think he would answer; he couldn't even have heard the question, but to her surprise he only hesitated a moment before saying, “Your soul.”

About the Author:
Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that affects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.
In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.
Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.
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Release Day Blitz Space Cowboys and Indians by Lisa Medley

Space Cowboys and IndiansCosmic Cowboys SeriesEpisode 1Lisa Medley
Genre: Sci-fi Adventure Romance
Publisher: Big CedarDate of Publication: July 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9908856-8-9ASIN:
Number of pages: 135Word Count: 38K
Cover Artist: Sweet and Spicy Designs
Book Description:
How can the chance of a lifetime go so horribly wrong?
Mining Engineer Cole Hudson signed up for NASA astronaut training, but after washing out short of getting his gold wings, he retreats to Alaska where he stakes out a gold claim. When billionaire entrepreneur Duncan Janson offers him an opportunity to join a mining team on an asteroid, Cole jumps at the chance.
But nothing is as it seems. Former NASA reject and rival classmate, Tessa Hernandez, is also a member of the team, and from the beginning of the mission test flight, things go wrong. They soon discover they’re not the only ones on the asteroid.
As they try to escape, they are pulled through a wormhole and back to the early 1800s New Mexico desert where aliens and Apaches may be the least of their problems.

Available at Amazon

Chapter One


Alaskan gold mine, the Hudson Claim - the near future.
“Goddamn it, Hudson. The washplant is down again.”Cole ground his molars together before he could unleash the torrent of swears coursing through his brain in reply. Of course the washplant was down. Again.This claim would be the end of him.“Show me,” Cole said.His foreman, Todd Cargill, held up four shredded washplant screens with holes the size of bowling balls, useless now for the first step in screening for gold.Cole squeezed his eyes shut and wondered for the eleven-millionth time this summer why the hell he’d come to Alaska.Redemption, he reminded himself.Wasn’t worth it.“That was my last replacement screen. Be a week before the supply plane can bring us more,” Todd said. “No use running dirt until it’s fixed. This way, we’re only making mud.”Most expensive mud he’d ever not made. A week in the bush with no work? He’d have to pay the crew, regardless, or he’d lose the whole lot of them. Hell, he still owed them from last month. They were running out of summer to mine, and they’d barely collected any gold so far.“Shut it down. I’ll call in the order.”“What do you want me to tell the guys?” Todd asked.“Tell them—”The chop, chop, chop of helicopter blades slowly pounded across the sky until the beast came into sight on the horizon. What the hell was a chopper doing out this far?The copter landed on the flat several hundred feet from their dredge, stirring the dust up from the broken ground and tailings. Covering his face with his arm, Cole coughed into his elbow and waited for the cloud to settle. The copter blades whirled to a stop, and his small crew left their work detail to gather around him and see what was going on.A white-haired man, maybe fifty, maybe older, emerged from the helicopter cabin, quickly followed by two men wearing sleek black suits, wrinkled from the tactical firearm harnesses strapped snugly across their chests. They were loaded for bear.That wasn’t what concerned Cole. He knew he was in for trouble the second the guy’s thousand dollar cowboy boots hit the turf. The man swatted at the swirling dust on his white shirt and designer jeans then brushed his hands through his shoulder-length hair three or four times, shaking it out like the mane of a horse. He cranked up a smile as he made a beeline for Cole.“Mr. Hudson?” the man asked.“I’m Hudson.”“You look exactly like your NASA application photo, Mr. Hudson. Haven’t changed a bit in the past five months. It was five months you were detained. Yes?”Todd coughed loudly beside him. “Okay, I think we have things to do. Let’s go, boys.” Todd urged the crew back toward their office trailer.Cole was going to have to give his foreman a raise. Right after he beat the dandy in front of him into a bloody pulp.“Who exactly are you, and what the hell are you doing here? Surely you didn’t fly that deathtrap all the way out here just to insult me in front of my crew. Or did you? You with Montoya?”The man appeared bewildered for a moment. “Oh my. Let me start over. I…this wasn’t the impression I intended to make. I’m afraid I started off badly. I’m simply so excited to find you. Out here.” He motioned toward the distant tundra. “It’s a very, very long way out here.” He flashed another smile at Cole and offered his hand. “Duncan Janson. You might know me from the airline ads?”Cole stared at the man’s smooth, tanned hand. The guy had never worked a day of hard labor in his life if those hands told the right story—that much was obvious. He knew exactly who he was, now. Billionaire airline owner and profiteer. What he didn’t know was what he was doing on his little piece of Alaska.“You answered the first question. Now answer the second,” Cole said, purposely not taking the offered hand.Janson pulled his hand back then clapped them together, clearly proud of himself. “I’m here to offer you a job.”“I have a job.”“This would be quite a different job. Well, maybe not all that different. You’d still be mining, but you would also have a chance to partake in some of your other passions.”Clouds slid past the sun, and a gust of wind stirred up a dirt devil near the copter, cooling the air noticeably.“What is it you think you know about my passions, exactly?” Cole asked.Janson twisted his expensive Rolex around his wrist nervously. “Was it not your passion for space that led to your gambling problem? Trying to raise enough money to continue in the program? Which led to your legal issues, which led to your detainment and now self-exile here in this godforsaken place? Isn’t your work here an effort to earn enough money to finance your first two passions? It’s a bit of a vicious circle, it seems.”Cole could feel his blood pressure rising. This asshole was on his last nerve five minutes after meeting him and about one more sentence away from a shallow Alaskan grave.“What if all of your skills could be utilized to fulfill each of those…passions? You’d be paid well. Very well.”“Is this prospect legal?”“Yes, but it’s not without risks. I want to hire you to do some mining for me.”“Where? You have a claim in Alaska?”“I’m afraid my claim is quite a bit farther away from here. Your gambling problem and detention might have gotten you booted out of NASA’s space program, but your personal problems are not a deterrent to me. Your other skills and expertise are exactly what are needed for my project.”Skepticism scratched at the back of his mind, but Cole couldn’t deny he was intrigued. He hated Janson’s manner, but he could take his money. No problem. Hell, this job might be the financial boost he needed to finally make this claim profitable.“How long is the job, and where is it?” Cole asked.Janson smiled again, clearly certain he’d already sealed the deal. “I expect the job to take around six months. All expenses paid, of course. With an option to renew for a second mission after that, if you are so inclined. Your season here is winding down? Am I correct?”Considering the ruined washplant screens? Yeah, winding down would be a kindness.“You didn’t tell me where the job is,” Cole pressed.“Ah, that’s the best part, Mr. Hudson. The job is on Amun. It’s an asteroid. I want you to mine it for me.”

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.
FB https://www.facebook.com/lisamedleyauthor
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Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7824406.Lisa_Medley
Website http://lisa-medley.com

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Guest Blog and Giveaway The Harder They Fall by JoAnna Grace

Hey! I’m JoAnna Grace, author of the Blake Pride Series and The Divine Chronicles. One of the things that set me up for a great writing session is the right playlist. Before and during the book-writing process, I’m constantly looking for songs that move me or remind me of my characters and their situations. Some of the songs I might not even like, but if a character says, “That’s SO me!” I can’t ignore it.
This playlist was compiled during the writing of The Harder They Fall, book 3 in the Blake Pride Series. Immediately listeners will know the songs that belong to Madelyn and the songs that belong to Conall. Their personalities are vastly different and so is their choice of music. Then there are songs that describe their love together. I think you will know those pretty quick, too!
Key songs that inspired scenes:
*When Conall is driving out of town he is listening to Animals by Nickelback. Picture him blaring this with the windows down.
*The song Madelyn is singing when Conall find her is To Love You More by Celine Dion (her favorite singer). Madelyn can reach those high notes with no problem!
*I pictured Conall pacing in the woods with Trying Not To Love You by Nickelback running through his head. Would this song make you turn around?
*The (cough) specialscene had Heart By Heart by Demi Lovato in the background. It’s a pretty passionate song, in my opinion.
There’s a lot more songs on the list and I hope you listen to it while you’re reading The Harder They Fall, book 3 in the Blake Pride Series by JoAnna Grace.
You can listen to the entire Spotify playlist here:http://bit.ly/THTFPlaylist
What are some of your favorite songs to read or work to?


The Harder They FallBlake Pride SeriesBook ThreeJoAnna Grace
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: JoAnna Grace- Winged J Press
Date of Publication: July 21st 2015
ISBN: 978-1-940-460-24-6ASIN: B00ZY8B24Q
Number of pages: aprox 189Word Count: 55,650
Cover Artist: Jleeann.com
Book Description:
With two newly mated couples in the alpha house, Conall needs a serious breather. He’s used to being the fifth wheel but now the distinction is amplified. When the opportunity for a couple days of freedom arises, he volunteers to take winter supplies to a mountain-dwelling widow and then spend some time hiking alone. Plans change when he meets a woman who evokes his lion’s protective streak and stirs his human desires. She meets none of his expectations for a mate, but that might be exactly what he needs.
Madelyn has been alone for nearly a decade. Ashamed of what she has become, she banished herself from the Blackburn Pack and resigned herself to a solitary life in the mountains. With no plans of change, it’s alarming when a young, alluring lion shifter arrives awakening her senses and challenging her situation. Her inner bear is still haunted by the last man who tried to claim her and she doesn’t want to make the same mistake again.  Madelyn must discern if Conall is worth the risk or of he’s another heartbreak just waiting to happen.
While Conall is tucked away in the woods with Madelyn, the rest of his Pride faces an attack. In haste to go rescue his friends, he might throw the most vulnerable person of all to the wolves. But are they friend or foe?
Available at Amazon
Excerpt:
Leaving the truck, he unhitched the cart. It was colder up here, but his lion didn’t mind. Conall sniffed the area, made sure no unsuspecting humans were going to get the scare of a lifetime, and shifted into a massive African lion. The harness he and Sampson rigged up last night worked perfectly. He slipped it over his head, resting it on his shoulders. The lion started his trek up the mountains, having memorized the map. It was all too easy to let his mind wander, to think about absolutely nothing except for where his paws would land with the next step. The walking path to the cabin was clear if you knew to look for the notches in the trees. He could travel like this all day and not get bored, never tire. Being in the wilderness liberated his lion; the burden he carried behind him only added a minor challenge to his muscular frame. This was exactly what he needed. The next four hours passed slowly and quietly, a vast change from the chaos of the last few weeks. For the first time in a long time, he turned off his brain and let his lion dominate his actions. His wide paws navigated the terrain with no problems. His ears alerted him to the movement of the forest creatures and his nose picked up the various scents of nature. Conall lost himself into his lion and his human counterpart took a well-needed mental nap. Then he heard an angel.The voice echoed around the woods and he froze with one paw off the ground. His feline ears perked up. After living with Vivian Blake, diva extraordinaire, for five years, he knew musical talent when he heard it. Vivian had the most beautiful voice he’d ever heard…until right then. Closing his eyes, he crouched down, still as death, to listen. The notes rose and fell flawlessly on pitch and with incredible ease. Her range was awe-inspiring. His breath caught in his throat as he listened to her build up to a note so high and delicate, it caused his heart to soar in anticipation. The emotion of the words, the love conveyed in every measure resonated in his chest. Tendrils of melody wrapped around him, gripping him tighter with every beat. Had he been in human form, he might have fallen to his knees. As it was, the four legs of his lion shook with the driving need to get closer to the source of such mesmerizing singing. He took cautious steps over the crest of the hill to look upon the cottage set snugly among the evergreens. Green tin roof and logs made from local timber provided camouflage. Smoke rose from the chimney; the smell traveling the air currents was divine. Three chairs rocked on the porch, pushed by the invisible hands of the wind. Although the coming winter cold had scared them away, it was clear the cottage was usually framed with flowers. A brown picket fence protected a garden. He envisioned Snow White singing to the forest creatures as they scuttled around her feet. Ha, he thought. Any moment now, some old woman would come outside with a radio in her hand. He didn’t want the fantasy to end. The lion closed his eyes and let the gentle voice wash over him. Peace settled in his chest, a heavy weight dissolved from his shoulders. The notes infiltrated his veins and he felt absolutely drunk with contentment. Her love song pierced him and eased each breath he took. Incredible…The notes cut off as soon as the wind shifted.
“Who’s there?” chimed an angelic voice. His singer.
About the Author:
JoAnna Grace lives in a world of alpha males and strong females where true love conquers all—at least in her mind! Author of The Divine Chronicles, the Blake Pride Series, and more, this writer loves paranormal and urban fantasy romance novels.
From the time she started holding a crayon she began to create magical worlds. Her first book was a series of pictures about a puppy princess. The story changed each time she told it, but there was always a happy ending! Her first written story was about girls who changed into tigers. Now those stories have become a bit more complex.
JoAnna’s tales are spun at her home in East Texas where she lives with her husband, three kids, and a couple dogs. When not hiding behind the computer screen you can find her camping, boating, and shopping.
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You can find her at the following places:www.Authorjoannagrace.com
Twitter: @JoAnnaGrace4ya
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