Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 495

Double Helix Series Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Weapon, Perfect Betrayal Jade Kerrion

About The Double Helix series: 
His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his humanity.
Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.
An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude—both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template.
Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.
The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed , Perfect Betrayal , and Perfect Weapon , will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution. 
Double Helix SeriesPerfection Unleashed, Perfect Weapon, Perfect Betrayal
Jade Kerrion
Perfection UnleashedBook 1
Genre: Science fiction (Dystopian)
ISBN: Perfection Unleashed 1469980355ASIN: Perfection Unleashed B008E98YFM
Number of pages: 212Word Count: 87,000 words
Cover Artist: Jason Alexander
Two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, the other to escape it.
Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted--a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.
When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives--the in vitros, clones, and mutants--collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab's search for perfection, descend upon Washington, D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.
Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.
Kindle  Print
Perfect WeaponBook 2
You can defeat your enemies, but can you defeat your friends?
Danyael Sabre, an object of desire, would much rather not be. An alpha empath by birth, a doctor by training, and an empathic healer by calling, he is stalked by the military that covets his ability to kill, not heal. He finds himself on the run under the protection of an assassin, Zara Itani.
Bereft of two days of memories, the more he uncovers of his lost hours, the more he doubts everything that once anchored him. He knows only that he endangers those around him and that he is falling in love with Zara, who hates him for reasons he no longer remembers.
As forces—both powerful and ruthless—threaten those he cares for, Danyael has only two options. He can betray his values and abandon the path of the healer, or he can wait to be betrayed, not by enemies, but by his friends.
PERFECT BETRAYAL is the second novel in the award-winning Double Helix series.

Perfect BetrayalBook 3
Don’t fear the army of genetically engineered perfect killers. Fear the cripple who leads them.
An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre is powerful, rare, and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. Betrayed by his friends and abandoned to a life sentence in a maximum-security prison, Danyael receives freedom and sanctuary from an unlikely quarter—the Mutant Assault Group, an elite mutant task force within the US military. Physically crippled and emotionally vulnerable, Danyael succumbs to the warmth of friendships and the promise of love he finds within their ranks.
Friendship and love, however, demand his loyalty, and Danyael rises to the challenge of training and leading the assault group’s genetically modified super soldier army. The super soldiers are faster and stronger than the military's human soldiers; their animal instincts spur ferocity and fearlessness in battle. But who is the perfect weapon—the super soldiers or Danyael, the alpha empath, who can, with a touch, heal or kill?
Adversaries swarm, like vultures around carrion; the pawn is once again in play. The threads of betrayal that sent Danyael to prison spin into a web, ensnaring him. When a terrorist group strikes Washington, D.C., how far will Danyael go to defend a government that sent him to prison to die?
PERFECT WEAPON is the third novel in the award-winning Double Helix series.

About the Author:
Jade Kerrion, author of the award-winning science-fiction/dystopian series, DOUBLE HELIX, first developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars. And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)
Website: http://www.jadekerrion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JadeKerrion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JadeKerrion
Google+: gplus.to/JadeKerrion

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Does A Great Book Always Need a Happy Ending? Guest blog with Marie Harbon

December 28 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
December 29 SpotlightMonique Morganhttp://www.moniquemorgan.com
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January 25 FeatureVictoria Danann http://victoriadanann.me

Does A Great Book Always Need a Happy Ending?
We all know the proverbial scenario; girl falls in love with boy, cowboy rides off into the sunset and the bad guy is defeated, followed by much rejoicing in the land. But, is a happy ending an essential ingredient for a great book or movie?
Lindsay Doran, film producer and missionary for mood-elevating movies got to the heart of that question in a recently published article. Many of her conclusions relate to the world of books too. While she didn’t want to create a rigid formula for a great movie, she wanted to challenge the Hollywood notion that a movie is only art if it ends badly and that you’ll only win an award if you write about misery.
One of her chief findings was that what audiences care about most are relationships and the positive resolution of them, so not so much the character winning, but sharing that accomplishment with a significant other. An example of this would be ‘The King’s Speech’, in which he conquers his stammer then shares the victory with his wife, daughters and the cheering crowds.
There is value in a story with a feel good factor; it’s a quick fix, literary or visual form of Prozac. Indeed, laughter trumps any drug but personally, I think the temporary lift in mood is soon forgotten. For a story with a lasting impression, there are other elements involved. Remember, in ‘Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince’, Dumbledore dies. In ‘Titanic’, 1500 passengers go down with the ship and then Jack doesn’t make it either. As author Nike Marshall astutely puts it, ‘happy endings can be cliché and diminish the impact of the story. Less than happy is more believable’. Appropriate is a key word, concluding a story with a satisfactory, even less than ideal event or series of events. As author Emerald Barnes surmises, ‘Some stories don’t have the option of having a happy ending’.
As readers, we can engage with the lives of the characters and the conflicts, challenges and successes they encounter. We relate to other people to learn how they deal with these difficulties, as if it’s a kind of virtual reality simulation. This is one of the reasons soaps are so popular. The way a book ends is also a reflection on how we’d either like a situation to conclude, or a healthy scepticism in knowing ‘that’s life, what will be will be’.
‘Life is made up of pleasurable and horrific experiences and there’s nothing wrong with a book or movie telling a story that shines a light on our failures’.Denise DeSio, author of ‘Roses’s Will’
As human beings, we like closure, to be able to shut the door on something, to file it away as a success or failure. This may be one of the reasons why cliff hanger endings in serials can be risky in the book world, because we don’t like situations in our own life to be unresolved.  Therefore, it’s important to strike a balance between wrapping up one phase while creating a lead to where the story will take the reader next. Season finales in TV series craft this well.
In the writing world, it’s always stated ‘show, don’t tell’ and this can tailor a beautiful conclusion where the reader is given the satisfaction of finality, yet their imagination is given the licence to create what happens next. As science fiction author, Glenn Scrimshaw puts it, ‘the legend of King Arthur works so well at that; a bitter sweet ending but the promise of Arthur’s return when needed.’
What everything is leading to is, in fact, the emotional involvement of the reader in the final moments of a story. Look back at the sadness of the death of Dumbledore, a character that readers were very attached to, or the tragedy of the huge loss of life in ‘Titanic’. As author Carlyle Labuschagne states, ‘I like drama and feeling like my heart is about to explode with sorrow’.
What we really want as readers, therefore, is a powerful climax after the build-up as opposed to a puft! The engagement of powerful emotions can leave a far greater impact on a reader than a chocolate box ending. There is something so compelling about tales of misery, because we all experience loss, even abuse in our lives or those close to us. Through a story, we can release that sadness in a positive way and observe how characters deal with their challenges. I believe there’s another factor at work too, it’s a quality called resilience’. A character who survives loss, abuse or tragedy may be far more inspiring than the traditional, commercial hero because it sends a powerful signal that infuses us to endure - ‘Whatever life throws at me, I’m still here. Bring it on!’



Seven Point Eight: The Second Chronicle 
Marie Harbon
Genre: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Adventure
Release date: December 2012

'The Truth Will Set You Free'

In the second instalment of the Seven Point Eight series, the legacy of the OOBE project weighs heavily on the conscience of Dr Paul Eldridge. Tahra Mamoun needs to muster all her courage and venture back into the alternate dimensions of reality. Through a series of challenging, surreal and frightening experiences, she comes to comprehend the destructive power she can yield and must face her own demons in the process.

Paul continues his quest to understand the ancient knowledge of the cosmos, while dark forces seek to hijack his research to further a secret agenda. With their lives in jeopardy, Paul and Tahra confront their enemies against an international backdrop featuring the pyramids of Giza and the peaks of Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Sam and Ava endeavour to uncover their past, even though it may irrevocably change their lives.

In a tale of courage and tragedy, love and betrayal, their lives are interwoven around the demons of one man, Max Richardson, who'll stop at nothing to achieve his objectives.

Written in the style of a TV series, Seven Point Eight draws together quantum physics, psychic powers, alternate dimensions, time travel, past lives, ancient wisdom and conspiracy in a soap opera for the soul.

Seven Point Eight: The Second Chronicle
Excerpt 6


She focused on the door, and felt a tingling sensation as the atoms of her consciousness oozed through the cherry oak. The illumination of a board room followed the momentary darkness. A large table dominated the room, around which fifteen seats were equally spaced, and a Japanese tea set took pride of place in the centre. The room’s décor suggested simplicity, the key feature being a large set of samurai swords, split between three walls. Tahra gazed at them, admiring their antiquity and military splendour.

The men took their seats, opened their briefcases and laid out some paperwork in neat piles, while the middle aged man positioned himself at the head of the table. Tahra assumed he was the bank manager. He spoke, although none of it made any sense to her. She watched from the shadows, observing how paperwork changed hands along with some fervent discussion. 

I wish I knew what they’re saying, she thought. Although it looks like they’re hammering out a deal. 

One of the men picked up a large briefcase from the floor, placed it on the table as if it were heavy and flicked open the clips.

I need a closer look, Tahra told herself.

Eager for an enhanced view of the proceedings, she homed her consciousness in on the briefcase and confirmed her expectations. Wads of Yen filled the briefcase, stacked neatly, extravagant value only established by the expression on the face of the bank manager. The bringer slid it across the table, and Tahra moved even closer.

At that point, the men stopped talking. 

Is the deal off? she wondered.

In unison, their heads turned towards one point in the room. This couldn’t be…

They can see me?


Their indignity at being disturbed quickly turned to terror. They babbled incoherently, eyes wide, mouth agape, brows furrowing. What scared them so much? Didn’t they like women? Looking down to see how she’d manifested, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

Oh…!

Her energy body had materialised in the physical world, in this very room. It glowed red, with an arterial network in magenta pulsing and glowing, alive with a raw vigour that she’d only seen in the other dimensions.

I look demonic. No wonder they’re afraid.

The men grabbed the papers from the table, stuffed them in their briefcases and scurried to the door, as if a monster had just broken into the room, intent on eating them. However, the bank manager didn’t frighten so easily. His lips set in a straight line, eyes zeroing in on Tahra, he reached up and slid one of the samurai swords from its sheath on the wall.

Normally, such a weapon would inflict critical damage on a mortal body, but as he swung it at her, the blade passed right through her. Not even a glitch in her energy body. As the blade failed to injure her, the bank manager’s face fell, babbling something in Japanese with a raised voice.

Tahra looked down again at her energy body, finding no damage. A malevolent smile spread across her face.

I’m invincible. I’m a God here too.

  About the Author: 
Marie Harbon has worked in both the retail and fitness industry. She has a degree in sport and fitness, and taught group exercise for several years, delivering aerobics and Pilates. For two years, she delivered BTEC sport courses and has also instructed dance and sport with children.

Marie is a member of Nottingham Writers Studio, Her future plans include not only completing the 'Seven Point Eight' series, but involve writing YA, children's and adult books, short stories, novellas and scripts.

Aside from writing, Marie is a self-confessed fabric geek and purveyor of beautiful, often ostentatious bags, bustiers and clothing. She lives in the town of Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, which is in England.

Website:  http://www.marieharbon.com 



Seven Point Eight: The Second ChronicleEpic Winter Giveaway
Eternal Island (Book 1 in the Eternal Series)
K. S. Haigwood & Ella Medler

A place where vampires rule, witches play, danger lurks and dreams really do come true.

Human girl Ariana Lochalan finds herself transported from the relative calm of her ‘Nowhere, Arkansas’ life into a diametrically opposite existence when she discovers she is a powerful witch and meant to wed High Vampire of Eternal Island, Abe Cambridge. Despite first-sight magnetism, the two protagonists are being pushed apart, obstacles tripping them at every step, outside forces interfering and threatening their peace, and ultimately their lives. 

Would courage, resilience and love be enough to bring together two soul mates?

How much would you sacrifice to save the one who owns your heart?



Blood is Heavier
Ella Medler

Nick Hunter used to be a contract killer. Now he’s cut all links to his former lifestyle and can at last relax and live a normal life. He settles down to married life. He has a son. He adores his little family. Unbeknown to him, shadows from his past step forward to shatter his short-lived peace. His wife is dead, his four-year old son kidnapped and it looks like someone is trying to frame him for murder. Under pressure, broken, is there anything Nick wouldn’t do to rescue his son? Would he kill the villains, despite the promise to himself to stop his life of crime? Would he kill innocents? Would he hurt the people he loves most in his need to protect his son? A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read that will keep you turning the pages to the very end.



The Transient
M.W. Russell

She never believed. Not in ghosts, not in friendship, and especially not in love.

When Melodie Gibson moves half way around the world to upstate New York, her entire world turns upside down. Living in a quirky castle turned bed and breakfast, she finds herself confronted with someone watching her every move. That someone is Joseph, who captivates Melodie's heart, fulfilling her dreams and drawing her into his world—a world that is beautiful, magical… and treacherous. It will take all the courage Melodie has to face those who will stop at nothing to rip them apart.

From the pages of a Victorian gothic novel transplanted into modern times, The Transient is the first in The Castle Trilogy, a powerful fantasy romance series for teens.


Betwixt
Melissa Pearl

Beautiful, wild-child Nicole Tepper is hit by a car and left for dead. But when she wakes the next morning, Nicole finds herself in bed without a scratch. Perhaps she was more intoxicated than usual, as her mother is giving her the silent treatment and her friends are ignoring her as well. 

Things take a turn for the weird when Nicole soon discovers she is actually hovering between life and death. Her body is lying in the forest while her spirit is searching for anyone who can hear her. Unfortunately the only person who can is Dale Finnigan, the guy she publicly humiliated with a sharp-tongued insult that has left him branded.

Desperate, Nicole has no choice but to haunt Dale and convince the freaked-out senior to help her. Will he find her body before it's too late? Or will the guy who tried to kill her with his car, beat him there and finish her off before anyone finds out?



Foundling Wizard
James Eggebeen

For over a hundred years the priests of Ran have been killing young wizards to take their power. When Lorit learns that he has the Wizard’s Power he becomes targeted for special attention by the Temple.

Lorit must learn magic in time to save the sister he infused with his own power to save her life. He must find a way to overcome their stolen magic without resorting to their tactics.

Together he and the Sorceress Chihon battle to make the land safe for magicians everywhere. Can they defeat the Temple or will they succumb to the plot that would turn them into the most powerful of their enemies?


Paradox: The Angels Are Here
Patti Roberts

Paradox Series: A story within a story — a world within a world.

A little girl trapped between the Ancient world and the new is forced to deal with tragedy and death.
When your destiny has been written in blood, and you are left with one burning question… Do Guardian Angels come from Heaven or Hell?


Paradox: Progeny of Innocence
Patti Roberts

Two Worlds. One Ancient...  A World where powerful Beings from Ancient Civilizations still rule. A Realm Where Gods, Angels, Myths and Magic still exists.

And One New... Grace is not a little girl anymore! And as a teenager, Grace’s visions become more frequent, urgent, torturing her life further still. The answers she hopes to find in her visions only leave her asking more questions... Who is Juliette?

When the charismatic Damon Draco begins to take an interest in Grace, it doesn’t take long before Grace falls for his alluring charm. A charm she doesn't quite understand.

However, when Riley Rivers turns up in Grace's class one day, she starts to question the feelings she has for Damon.

When death comes knocking...and three of Grace’s school friends are found burned to death, and their parents die in a fatal car accident that same weekend, some start to wonder if it really was just a coincidence, or a contrived plan to wipe out an entire family?

And if so, why, and by whom? And more importantly, will evil strike again?

You can bet your soul on it!


Accountable to None
Ashley Fontainne

What if the unspeakable happened to you? Would you fantasize about seeking personal vengeance? How far would you go...and how much would you sacrifice to hold those responsible that believe they are accountable to none?

Welcome to the prestigious accounting firm of Winscott & Associates. Welcome to Audra Tanner's personal hell. She had heard the rumors about her employer. The whispered secrets. But she had thrown herself into work to escape the pain of her miscarriage and demise of her marriage. Idealistic, she thought if she worked hard she would be rewarded. She thought wrong.

Savagely initiated into the brutal underbelly of the firm, Audra learns too late that the rumors are true. Now after five years of careful plotting, Audra is ready to push the wheels of justice in motion. Her goal of retribution has turned into an obsession and she will stop at nothing until everyone responsible pays. Will revenge set her free or is Audra's quest for personal justice only beginning?


Card Tricks
Jon Messenger

Joey isn't a Super, at least not in same league as Superheroes like Inferno or Strong Man, or even Supervillians like Razor or The Puppet Master. His power "activates" cards, bringing the printed word to life. It's a great power for a card shark, which fits perfectly into his unmotivated lifestyle. When his girlfriend gets kidnapped by The Puppet Master, however, Joey has to face a life-changing decision: run away from his responsibility, or become the unlikeliest of heroes.


Struglend Tales
Jan Jacob Mekes

Follow Edward, the ugliest and probably most haphazard king Struglend has ever had, and his herald Fred, as they go on a quest to restore order to the universe. Well, maybe not the universe, but at least the little piece of land they call home – Struglend. In their journey to remove the evil knight who has invaded the kingdom, they meet several hilarious characters.


Book of Curses
L.D. Hutchinson

When teenage twins, Raine and Thomas Renning are pulled into the world within a book their whole lives are turned upside down. A prophecy, a war and a hell of a ride lie wait in the pages of Book of Curses.


Soul Sisters
Janiera Eldridge

Soul Sisters is an urban fantasy novel about African-American twin sisters Ani and Dana who have a rather unique secret: one sister is human while the other is a vampire.


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Now on Tour the Double Helix Series by Jade Kerrion

Deleted Scene from “Perfection Unleashed”
I love the extra features that accompany movie DVDs, like the director’s commentary, movie bloopers, and deleted scenes. My debut novel, Perfection Unleashed , which won multiple awards, is frequently compared to an action movie, anime, or graphic novel, and today, I thought I’d give you a peek into one of its deleted scenes.
But first, what was the scene in question, and why did I delete it?
The deleted scene was the prologue, and it set the context for the entire Double Helix series. The scene helped transport readers from “today” into the “not-so-distant future,” and described key players in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, including mutants with psychic powers. It also introduced Galahad, the perfect human being, and foreshadowed the existence of the abominations, inhuman by-products of the path to perfection.
Clearly it was an important scene, but why did I delete it?
The prologue didn’t do much more than the first chapter did. By the first chapter, readers are introduced to Galahad, and hear the banshee-like wails of the abominations. By the first chapter, we know that mutants with psychic powers populate our world, even though we have to wait until chapter three to meet Danyael, the alpha empath, Galahad’s physical template, and the protagonist of Perfection Unleashed.
It was a hard decision. The prologue was the scene that launched the movie in my mind, which eventually became the Double Helix series. I was, perhaps not irrationally, deeply attached to the scene. Still, in the final count, the prologue slowed down my attempt to plunge my readers straight into the action. I took a deep breath and hit delete.
Figuratively speaking, of course. The prologue never made it into Perfection Unleashed, but I did save it as a deleted scene, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share it with you today. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
PERFECTION UNLEASHED—PROLOGUE
The large octagon-shaped building that housed Pioneer Laboratories seemed especially desolate on that Christmas Eve when the child was born. It brooded as it kept watch over the manicured lawns all around, unimpressed by the gently falling snow. The lights that usually spilled from its many windows had been extinguished, save for one glowing softly from the highest floor.
Shepherds did not keep watch over the child that night, but scientists did. Two gray haired men whose seeming age was belied by the youthful vigor in their lithe frames waited in the dimly lit birthing chamber, speaking in lowered tones about nothing in particular. It would have been bad luck to speak about the only thing on their minds—the child—even though they knew, logically, that that no amount of conversation could change the outcome of that night. Still, they could not bring themselves to anticipate success or even discuss outcomes, not after having failed so many times before.
No angels heralded the birth of this child. It was the soft beep of the incubator as the timer ticked down to zero. Conversation stilled as the scientists moved quickly to the machine. They exchanged glances but said nothing as one scientist held his hand over the incubator’s controls. The moment of truth was at hand; the successful birth of this child would redefine the boundaries of genetic manipulation.
The scientist inhaled deeply before pressing down on the switch that would open the incubator and release the infant from the now-perfected artificial birthing process. Both scientists held their breaths as the translucent cover of the incubator swung silently to the side to reveal its precious contents.
The rules of life were broken. The science of life was rewritten in that single magical moment when the child was delivered into the world.
The perfectly formed, healthy male infant was the most beautiful thing the scientists had ever seen. With trembling hands and near reverence, they lifted the child from the chamber and wiped the birthing fluids from its soft skin before wrapping it in warm clothes. Warm and content, the child transitioned from incubator to world without the slightest fuss, making a soft gurgling sound—a happy sound—as it snuggled into the scientist’s arms.
The other scientist gingerly touched the child’s tiny, perfect hands and then smiled as the delicate, little fingers closed tightly around his. He looked up at the other man, almost afraid to hope even though he longed to believe. “Do you think…?”
“We would need to run tests over the course of the child’s life, but I think it’s safe to say that it’s done.”
Yes, it was finally done. Genetic manipulation had always been part art, part science, and completely magical. What began with the unraveling of the double helix and the cracking of the code of life in the Human Genome Project had finally led to mastery over life itself. The human genome had been mapped, scrutinized, and analyzed. Gene therapy, genetically modified food products, and cloned pets were parts of everyday life. Cloned human beings, once deemed impossible and outrageous, were steadily becoming the norm.
The journey was also littered with failures. Mutants tarnished the purity of the human race, typically created inadvertently as a result of genetic selection taken to an extreme. And in the past few years, increasingly dangerous psychic-level mutations threatened to tip the balance of power entirely.
But there was still that last step—the creation of a human being from a swirling mixture of nucleotides, building the double helix of life a base pair at a time, one gene at a time, to create the perfect human being. For the two scientists, it had been a lonely and difficult road, littered with failures, but the child born on a cold and quiet night made it worthwhile. They forgot the nagging despair they had felt during those long nights of painstakingly careful genetic coding, forgot the helpless anger they’d felt at the mocking derision of their colleagues. They held success now—sweet success—in their hands.
“What shall we name the Gene Child?” one scientist asked as they left the birthing chamber together. Their footsteps echoed hollowly down the empty corridors as they walked towards the nursery, carefully carrying the product of thousands of hours of work. “Gene Child” was an interesting and potentially acceptable scientific classification for this unique creature that had neither father nor mother, but it would need another name. “How about Galahad, after the last, the peerless knight of the mythical Round Table?”
The name seemed appropriate for the perfect little being. The scientist carrying the child set it down in the crib that had been prepared, a smile curving his lips as he gazed upon the sleepy infant. “Welcome, Galahad,” he said. The birth of the Gene Child was their ultimate gift to the world on this quiet Christmas Eve.
But another voice was heard that night. Deep within the bowels of the building, a low, inhuman moan, aching with pain and anger, shuddered its way from behind the thick walls of its prison to break the calm silence of that perfect starless night as something far too grotesque to be human welcomed Galahad—its brother—into the world.
December 26 PromoFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
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Double Helix SeriesPerfection Unleashed, Perfect Weapon, Perfect Betrayal
Jade Kerrion
Perfection UnleashedBook 1
Genre: Science fiction (Dystopian)
ISBN: Perfection Unleashed 1469980355ASIN: Perfection Unleashed B008E98YFM
Number of pages: 212Word Count: 87,000 words
Cover Artist: Jason Alexander
Two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, the other to escape it.
Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted--a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.
When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives--the in vitros, clones, and mutants--collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab's search for perfection, descend upon Washington, D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.
Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.
Kindle  Print
Perfect WeaponBook 2
You can defeat your enemies, but can you defeat your friends?
Danyael Sabre, an object of desire, would much rather not be. An alpha empath by birth, a doctor by training, and an empathic healer by calling, he is stalked by the military that covets his ability to kill, not heal. He finds himself on the run under the protection of an assassin, Zara Itani.
Bereft of two days of memories, the more he uncovers of his lost hours, the more he doubts everything that once anchored him. He knows only that he endangers those around him and that he is falling in love with Zara, who hates him for reasons he no longer remembers.
As forces—both powerful and ruthless—threaten those he cares for, Danyael has only two options. He can betray his values and abandon the path of the healer, or he can wait to be betrayed, not by enemies, but by his friends.
PERFECT BETRAYAL is the second novel in the award-winning Double Helix series.

Perfect BetrayalBook 3
Don’t fear the army of genetically engineered perfect killers. Fear the cripple who leads them.
An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre is powerful, rare, and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. Betrayed by his friends and abandoned to a life sentence in a maximum-security prison, Danyael receives freedom and sanctuary from an unlikely quarter—the Mutant Assault Group, an elite mutant task force within the US military. Physically crippled and emotionally vulnerable, Danyael succumbs to the warmth of friendships and the promise of love he finds within their ranks.
Friendship and love, however, demand his loyalty, and Danyael rises to the challenge of training and leading the assault group’s genetically modified super soldier army. The super soldiers are faster and stronger than the military's human soldiers; their animal instincts spur ferocity and fearlessness in battle. But who is the perfect weapon—the super soldiers or Danyael, the alpha empath, who can, with a touch, heal or kill?
Adversaries swarm, like vultures around carrion; the pawn is once again in play. The threads of betrayal that sent Danyael to prison spin into a web, ensnaring him. When a terrorist group strikes Washington, D.C., how far will Danyael go to defend a government that sent him to prison to die?
PERFECT WEAPON is the third novel in the award-winning Double Helix series.

About the Author:
Jade Kerrion, author of the award-winning science-fiction/dystopian series, DOUBLE HELIX, first developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars. And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)
Website: http://www.jadekerrion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JadeKerrion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JadeKerrion
Google+: gplus.to/JadeKerrion

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Celebrating the Holidays with Jude Magdalyn

(This is kind of weird to write—because even though it’s just now Christmas for us, the Jude Magdalyn series had Christmas sometime in July. Or I suppose it might be closer to June. So I’m writing from an angle of both knowing and not knowing which is a little confusing to say the least.)Ah, the holidays. That time of year when family and friends come together to reminisce and remember the year(s) gone by, where strangers are just a little bit nicer, and being on the streets in a major city is pretty darn close to participating in a demolition derby.What? You thought this post was going to be all snowflakes and wassailing? That’s not Jude Magdalyn.Okay, there would probably be a Christmas tree, for a few reasons. One, there’s a five year old in the house and Celia is the type to pretty much demand a big, elaborate tree. Two, this is the first Christmas together for Jude and Theo and the pair of them—okay, more Theo than Jude—are all about making memories, one of which would have to involve a tree. The ornaments would probably be a cross between hand-crafted heirlooms pulled out of the Covenant’s attics and new, kitschy ones that Jude and Elizabeth found in specialty stores throughout the city.There might be mistletoe. Maybe. But then again, considering the tumultuous relationship between Elizabeth and Rian, mistletoe might not be the best bet. Actually, considering the overly-handsy attitude of Jude and Theo, it probably really wouldn’t be a good idea. Which sucks, since this is also a first Christmas for the newlyweds Lies and Samuel and they’d probably be really cute kissing under all the mistletoe. But you have to make sacrifices sometimes.Of course there’d be a big dinner. If there’s one thing the people at the Crossroads are down for it’s a good dinner. Ham, turkey, fish, the ubiquitous green bean casserole, a slew of other side dishes. And that’s not mentioning the desserts. If there’s one thing that everyone should experience it’s a dessert—any dessert—created in New Orleans. Creole Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce, Bananas Foster, and of course Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pie—honestly, I’d be happy with just the Pumpkin Pie but it’s hard to pass us any of them.I don’t know if they’d all gather together around the tree on Christmas Eve, singing carols and sharing goodwill and stories of yuletides past. I really don’t know if the gang of the Crossroads would stay up all night and wait for Santa—something tells me not even Celia is going to do that. But I do know that they’ll all be together. And that’s what really matters.


Shades of GrayBook OneBy L.M. Pruitt
Jude Magdalyn Henries lives what many would call an unconventional life. 

Orphaned at birth, raised by nuns, a teenage runaway living on the streets... she now earns a living at odd jobs, including one as a fake tarot card reader. Very little about Jude's life appears normal, by any scale. 
When she accepts a gig to do a private reading, unconventional takes on an entirely new meaning. Life as she knows it ends when she's thrust into a world she never knew existed-one filled with magic, vampires, and her beloved New Orleans on the verge of an underground war. 
To make matters worse, she's got two men in her life vying for attention, Williams and Theo. Both call to a different part of her, but one scares her just a little bit. 
Can she step up to the challenges set before her and make the right choices for the greatergreater good?


Shades of DesireBy L.M. Pruitt
Blurb
All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.
Instead, I've got dead Covenant members and a steady stream of letters from the new guy in town. His beverage of choice? A 2002 Merlot, with a shot or two of powerful virgin blood.
On top of that, I'm breaking in a new police liaison, failing at playing matchmaker, and fighting nausea like it's a full time job. All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.
Instead, I've got dead Covenant members and a steady stream of letters from the new guy in town. His beverage of choice? A 2002 Merlot, with a shot or two of powerful virgin blood.
On top of that, I'm breaking in a new police liaison, failing at playing matchmaker, and fighting nausea like it's a full time job.
Did I forget to mention that I've also got enough girls living at the Crossroads to start my own boarding school?
Peace and quiet? Out the window.
--Jude Magdalyn Henries
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Hole in the Wall a Jude Magdalyn free Kindle short


Shades of Blood

Felipe, one of New Orleans's most infamous—and crazy--vampires is back in town. And to say he's unhappy is an understatement.

Duprees and Williams have to track down Felipe, fast, before he claims any more victims. If that means making a deal with the Devil--otherwise known as St. Germaine--and using an untrained dhampir, so be it.
If that wasn't enough, I've also got rebellious teenagers, feuding couples, and a suddenly full social calendar.
The more things change....

Release Day Blitz A Marquess for Christmas by Vivienne Westlake

A Marquess for Christmas
Vivienne Westlake
Genre: Regency, erotic romance, historical romance
Word Count: approx. 25K-30KCover Artist: Vivienne Westlake
ASIN: B00APCL7SWBN ID: 2940016071008ISBN 9781301409822
Book Description:
A proper widow. A rakish marquess. He rescued her from thieves, but will she be able to save him from himself?
 When Violet Laurens is rescued from highwaymen, the furthest thing from her mind is that her heart might tumble next. She loves her independent life, no matter her lonely bed. The handsome stranger reawakens the passion she thought buried along with her husband, pushing her to new heights of desire. But she knows it’s only a matter of time before he remembers his name and leaves her.
 The dissolute Marquess of Kittrick has vowed never to marry, causing a rift in his family that sets him on the road just in time to do battle with ruffians intent on stealing a lady’s coins—and more. Discovering the fiery wanton beneath the widow’s oh-so-proper demeanor makes him want nothing more than to forget who he is for just a bit longer. Maybe forever.
When Kit is forced to acknowledge who he is, will the truth trump their shared passion, and the love they can’t quite admit to? Or will Violet overcome her fear—and Kit his dissolute ways--and be able to lay claim to A Marquess for Christmas?

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Excerpt
“He still sleeps fitfully, my lady.” Avery put his hand to the man’s head. “A little warm. We should get some ice and keep his temperature down.”“And you have checked his bandages?” The bleeding had stopped, but the chance of infection was high. She stood by the four poster bed, looking down at her savior, who lay still and quiet, despite the people in the room.“Yes, the wound is not healed, but neither is it as gruesome as it was yesterday.”“And he has not awoken?”“He tosses and murmurs and has managed the chamber pot a couple of times, but he does not speak and his eyes are glazed and unfocused.”It had been two days since the incident. She prayed it was the laudanum keeping him so dazed and not his injury. But they could not be sure yet. “If he does not awaken in the next day or two, we shall have to fetch Doctor Littleton. For now, let us keep him cool and make sure that someone checks on him every hour.”Violet went to the window and opened it.  The sky was cloudy and the ground covered with a thin layer of snow. “The fresh, cool air should do him good.” She rang the bell then went back to the bed and sat down. The man’s hands felt hot under hers, but she raised them to her cheek to be sure. Definitely too warm. “My lady?” Miriam entered the room. “Go and fetch some ice please. If there’s no ice, send a footman outside and gather snow. We need to keep him cool until his fever breaks.”She leaned over to the small bedside table,  dipped a cloth into a small ceramic basin, and wrung it out. “I will see to him for a while, Avery.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”Gently, she took the cloth and wiped the man’s face, always conscious of the bandage. She hummed as she worked. It was a very old song that she’d learned as a girl. Sometimes her mother would sing it as she stitched. “Come live with me and be my love and we will all the pleasures prove. The hill and valley, dale and field, and all the craggy mountains yield.”She washed his arms, noting each twist and turn of muscle. She even tested it with her finger to see if it was as firm as it appeared. Nothing about him was soft-- except for his lips and the silky threads of his hair. She brushed the towel over his neck and down to the exposed skin at the opening of his tunic. The hair there was thin and fine. She couldn’t help but stare as she swept over his chest. His nipples were wide, but tightened into little nubs when she touched them. What would it feel like to run her palms over them? Would they react to her as they did to the damp cloth? What about her mouth?Violet turned away and blushed. She closed her eyes and willed herself to remember him fighting off the thief and the moment when he’d taken the fateful blow. She needed to focus on her task and not on the yearnings she felt for a man she barely knew. She might be fantasizing about a man of base morals or a man with a wife and four children. Or, what if he was a clergyman? That she doubted considering his skill with weapons and his readiness to fight, but what gentleman would watch an innocent woman get attacked by thieves and not come to her rescue?A man does what needs must. Even a man of the cloth will take up a pistol if his life or his country demanded it. She had seen boys barely old enough to carry a gun with gaping holes in their chest and villages ravaged and burned in the war. And this man would die like the rest, if she did not do her duty to him. He’d saved her and now she must do the same for him. With such thoughts distracting her, she didn’t realize she’d paused her singing until she heard a low, gravelly voice.“Sing.”She looked down to see dark eyes watching her. “You are awake!”“Sing,” he repeated, but he’d barely finished the word when a ragged cough took over his body. “A belt of straw and ivy buds, with coral clasps and amber studs, and if these pictures may thee move, come live with me and—”“Be my love.” His voice was hoarse, even more than she expected for someone who’d slept for two days. She lifted from the bed to pour water from the pitcher into a cup.When she lifted the cup to his lips, he coughed and it dribbled down his chin. “Easy.” They tried again, but still, most of the water ended up down his chest. His tunic absorbed the excess liquid and clung tightly to his body, so she could see every line and curve. His nipples hardened again.“Let me try this another way,” she said. This time, she dipped her fingers into the cup and let the water drip into his mouth.He opened wide for more. She leaned closer, her bosom near his face, and poured more water from her fingers. After the third time, he put her two fingers to his lips and sucked them. A flash of heat shot through her limbs. If she’d been standing, she would have faltered and lost her balance. His mouth was hot and she suspected it had little to do with his fever. “More,” he whispered. He stared at her and she could not move, could not speak.There was a knock behind them and that jolted her out of her frozen state. Miriam stood in the doorway with ice and more water. The man groaned.She motioned for the maid to come in. As soon as the girl was close, Violet took a tiny chip of ice and put it in the man’s mouth. The ice would help his thirst, but she also was afraid for him to speak. The need in his eyes was too real, too close to the desire that she felt. But he was a stranger. A beautiful, dark, bewitching stranger who had risked his life for her, yet she knew almost nothing about him. A fact that she could remedy. No. What was she thinking? He was wounded, disoriented, and who knows if he mistook her for his wife or some mistress. A sharp pang twisted in her gut. Did he have a mistress? She’d already considered that he could be married, but she hadn’t thought about the possibility of a mistress.He was a virile, handsome man with a body any sculptor would worship and carve into stone. She’d seen it all, every wicked inch of him. The thought of that body being pleasured by some other woman made her ill. “Do you or the gentleman need anything else, my lady?”“Perhaps the cook has some broth. But please make sure it is tepid, not hot.”Miriam set down the tray of ice and curtsied before exiting the room. He rubbed his temples, then when Miriam was gone, he turned back to her. Though he whispered the word, “Water,” his eyes said something else.She plopped another ice sliver into his mouth. He sucked on it, watching her still. She felt a flush run down from her ears to her belly. If she didn’t know better, she’d have thought his fever was catching.A foolish part of her longed to demand if he had a mistress, but she bit her lip. That was not the first question she should ask him. And, he was so weak, it was better if he didn’t speak at all. She put her hand to his mouth. “Do not try to speak, sir. You are weary and hoarse.”He opened his mouth and before he could argue, she fed him another ice chip.“You have a fever and you need to rest.”His forehead was still warm. It could be a long night if his fever didn’t break. But he was at least alert for now, which was a good sign.She stood up, intending to move aside the blankets and leave him with the sheet, but he reached for her arm. “Don’t.” Under his stare, she froze again. “Do not. Leave.” Though the words were gravelly and low, it was a command, not a plea.“Very well.”She pulled aside the blankets, careful not to touch his thighs, and moved a chair close to the bed. The mere foot of space between her seat and the bed seemed much farther. Every little movement made her aware of the hard chair beneath her and the cool air brushing over her skin. She missed the heat of his body next to hers.
About the Author:
Vivienne Westlake has been reading and writing romance since the age of fifteen. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and when she’s not plotting stories about sexy heroes and sassy heroines, she’s buying a book on British history, watching the latest teen vampire show, doing an art project or singing karaoke with friends. Vivienne is an active member of Romance Writers of America, Romance Divas, and Indie Romance Ink.
http://www.viviennewestlake.com
http://www.viviennewestlake.com/blog
http://www.twitter.com/vivwestlake 

Hex and the Single Witch is free for your Kindle Dec 20-22 at Amazon

Hex and the Single Witch is free for your Kindle Dec 20-22 at Amazon

Please spread the word so everyone can get their free copy



Hex and the Single Witch Vehicle City Vampires Book OneBy Roxanne Rhoads
Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team (aka the P.I.T. Crew)

It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town. 

The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.

Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. 
Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.

Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.

Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy love triangle that will leave you wanting more.

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Caris Roane Guardians of Ascension Tour Stop and Giveaway

Hi, everyone!  I want to thank Fangtastic Books for having me today as part of my WARM UP YOUR WINTER BLOG TOUR.  On most of the blogs on this tour, I’ll be revealing excerpts from the sixth book in my vampire series called, GATES OF RAPTURE (12/24).  I created the tour with the hope that you might get to know my Guardians of Ascension, who are my most beloved winged vampire warriors.  I know the covers have wings on them, but the books aren’t about angels AT ALL…just vampires…with wings.  I also have goodies for you to win, details to follow!


GATES OF RAPTURE is the sixth installment of Guardians of Ascension and features Warrior Leto, a famous, ancient Warrior of the Blood, six-six, long straight black hair, piercing blue eyes, and built to battle death vampires for centuries and drive the ladies crazy!  Major yummy!  Romantic Times Magazine gave GATES OF RAPTURE a 4 ½ Star, TOP PICK review!  I couldn’t be happier!

If you’re following the tour, you’ll know from the previous excerpt that Leto went into battle.  Grace did her part as well, by getting a fix on the location and making sure that all the warriors got there in time to save the colonists.  Now she’s in Leto’s Mortal Earth home, leading him to his bedroom and planning on many good things to follow.  But first, she has some hard truths to face…

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 6:

Grace led the way upstairs to Leto’s bedroom.  She had been thinking about this moment from the time she’d left the contest grounds and returned to his cabin to wait for him.  She’d drawn some hard conclusions.
Mostly, she wanted her blue flame power fully expressed so that she wasn’t hindered by these terrible headaches.  After that, well, she didn’t know what exactly would happen, but she did know that events tonight had brought her right next to the war and given the number of colonists that had been saved, she was glad she’d come back when she did.
Once in the bedroom, she looked up at the unusual bed.  “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“It was handcrafted by a local artisan.”  Dried branches, scraped clean and oiled, formed a canopy over the massive king-size-plus bed, which seemed like a fitting choice for a cabin deep in the Cascade mountains.
 “I couldn’t say no to the bed,” he explained.  “The woman who made it lost her Militia Warrior husband last year.  She needed the money to support her family.”
“I think it’s lovely.”  She ran her hand over some of the smooth branches, letting her fingers glide over nubs and arches.  “And the sentiment is equally beautiful.”
Opposite the bed was a large fireplace, enough for a roaring fire in winter.  But in September, not so much.
He slid his arms around her.  “How’s your head?”
“Much better, thanks to Alison.  And did you know that her wings have emerged?  She spent the day flying over White Lake with Kerrick.”
“Wait, that has significance, doesn’t it?  When I tried to rejoin the Warriors of the Blood, Luken brought me up to speed about everything, especially about Alison and that she would one day open the portal to Third.  Holy shit, do you think we’re headed there?”
Shivers suddenly chased down Grace’s shoulders and arms.  “I hadn’t thought about that when I heard her wings had emerged.  It would cast a new light on your possible ascension to Third as well.”
He leaned down and kissed her then drew back.  “I think you might be the missing piece of the puzzle, Grace.  It can’t be a coincidence that your return here, to be involved in the war, has coincided with Alison’s wings.”
Grace felt overwhelmed suddenly and the part of her that was deeply intuitive knew Leto was right.  Her return was connected to Alison, even as much as her presence here would affect the war against Greaves.
“You did good tonight, Grace.  I don’t want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t embraced your obsidian power, despite your headache, and gotten the Nazca location for us.  It was some quick thinking, too.”
She looked up at the branches and once more let her fingers glide over a bend and a smooth knot.  She shook her head.  “I’ve avoided the war my entire life.  Now here I am right in the middle of it.  But then I ask myself, why should I be spared these fears and sufferings?  War has afflicted human and vampire-kind for most of history.  I hid out in the Convent, sent there by my sister’s disappearance.  I can see that now.  I’m not exactly sure that I’m worthy of you, Leto.  I think I’ve been a coward.”
He drew close and put a hand on her shoulder.   “No one likes war, Grace.  Those of us who are built for it serve because it’s the right thing to do.  But when lives are destroyed, as they were tonight, there is no real solace.  So why would you choose that, especially when it’s clear you’re built for other things?”
“I want to help, that much I know.  I didn’t understand how much being of use would actually mean to me especially in this situation.  But because Greaves won’t hesitate to slaughter millions of people if it suits his purposes, and if I can stop him, then I have a responsibility to do what I can.”
As she stared up into Leto’s clear blue eyes, at least one thing crystallized for her.  He had been in her life a long, long time and she loved him.  She knew his soul, his infinite worth, even if he didn’t.  If having her obsidian flame power opened and utilized fully would help her to keep him safe, then whatever sacrifices she must endure would be worth it.* * *   * * *   * * *I hope you enjoyed the excerpt!  I’ve had an extraordinary time creating and writing this series!  Let Guardians of Ascension be a new journey for you.  GATES OF RAPTURE releases on December 24th.
To Learn More about Gates of Rapture and to read the opening chapter:  CLICK HERE!!!

To Order GATES OF RAPTURE   Amazon  Barnes & Noble   iTunes    
Here are the giveaway details (all international with appropriate compensatory prizes as needed):  On each stop of the tour, I’ll be giving away the same awesome collection of prizes as listed on the Rafflecopter form, so be sure to stop by each blog on the tour for a chance to win at each blog.  Be careful to follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form at each site.  And be very careful of the dates!  The contest at each site will last 3 days only, and those dates will be listed on the Rafflecopter form as well!!! 

For links to all the other blogs on the tour:  CLICK HERE!!!

The Grand Prize Drawing - VERY IMPORTANT:  to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing of the Nook with Glowlight, you must leave a comment at the bottom of this blog!  (And for more chances to win the Nook, you can go to every site on the tour and enter that many times—totally up to you!  But comments must be left!)  

The grand prize drawing will be selected by random.org in the following manner.  On January 18th, three days after the tour ends, I will enter the number of blogsites into the random number generator, which will deliver up the winning site.  I will then go to the winning site, count up the comments one by one, and enter that number into random.org.  Random.org will then provide the Grand Prize winning number matched to the comments on the winning blogsite.  This means, that if you travel to all the blogs on this tour, you can enter the GRAND PRIZE contest on every single blog you visit by leaving a comment at each blogsite!  Good luck to all!

The Goodies as listed on the Rafflecopter form are :  a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble (or similar for International),  a replica, antique typewriter key bracelet that spells ‘dream’,  a signed copy of ASCENSION (the first novel in the Guardians of Ascension series), Romance Trading Cards and bookmarks.  

The Grand Prize drawing for a Nook with Glowlight, will take place on January 18th, three days after the tour officially ends!  Good luck!

For links to all the other blogs on the tour:  CLICK HERE!!!

* * *   * * *   * * *

Caris Roane has published over fifty Regency romance novels and novellas under the pen name, Valerie King.  In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance.  Having had a long-time love affair with vampires, Caris tackled the paranormal genre and built a unique vampire world based on ascending dimensional earths.  Her series is called Guardians of Ascension . 
Her most recent self-published project, The Blood Rose Novella Series, launched in May of 2012 with the first title:  Embrace the Dark. 
Currently, Caris is working on a new vampire series set to launch in the Fall of 2013:   WARRIORS IN CHAINS with the first novel, BORN IN CHAINS.
Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Sebastien and Gizzy.

TO FIND CARIS ROANE ON THE WEB…
Website Home Page:  www.carisroane.com
Twitter handle:  @carisroane
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/caris.roane
Email:  carisroane@gmail.com
Again,  to be eligible for the Nook with Glowlight, leave a comment below like this:  carisroane at gmail dot com!  Good luck to all!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Perfect Gift For Your Vampire

The Perfect Gift For Your Vampire

Exploring the darker side of Christmas….
Yes, it is Christmas time, a time of joy and family. It is also a very stressful time, trying to shop and find gift items for the special people in your life. It is much more difficult when that special loved one is a Vampire.
So what do you give the Dark Light in your life? Well below I have listed some ideas for those impish immortal tykes and ideas for the more sophisticated Vamp.
So if you are scratching your head, wondering where to get that perfect gift that will not appear cheesy, and looked at in disdain by your very particular Vamp loved ones. Try these below;O)
1) Horrifically fascinating Living Dead Dolls from Mezco and are the brain child of Ed Long and Damien Glonek. The two gruesome gurus launched their creations at conventions before joining forces with the innovative company.
Living Dead Dolls http://www.livingdeaddolls.com/lddsite.html and Mezco Toyz company Mezco Toyz http://www.mezcotoyz.com/help/
Living Dead Dolls are handmade dolls with a slightly macabre appearance. Today Living Dead Dolls are one of the coolest toys a vampire can collect. The dolls not only look dead but they even come with a death certificate along with a story about how the character came to an untimely end, as well as a coffin shaped box. Prices range from $30.00- over a $100.00.Whether your vampire is in the teen years or a full grown adult they are sure to love these un-dead dollies.
2) Goodies from Sanguinarius.com the premiere spot for the savvy Vamp! 
There is advice on everything there is to know about being a vamp! Also there is the great Dreamland store where anything from Books such as 3) Goodies from Obscuria Gothic Shop http://www.obscuria.com/shop-by-theme/vampire-gift-shop-decor.html where the in the know vamps would not be caught dead in anything else!
Such as Gothic Vampire Bat compact mirror for $27.00 or Wallachia Vampire Coffin Handbag purse costing a mere $250.00
4) Hell's Belle's http://www.prettyevil.com/bloodbath/blood_bath.htmThere is every gift for the more prickly Vamps, from Blood Bath Relaxing oil to Blood Bath Fizzy Bomb's that may have a spider or two inside!
5) A citrus-fruity aroma that is light and elegant chardonnay perfect for these discriminating Vampire, Merlot Rose, a delicious Vampire Wine.http://www.vampirevineyards.com/files/vampire_merlot_rose.php
6) Vamp Reads…Now for the more introverted of the Vampires, those that enjoy a good read instead of being the life of the party...
I suggest checking out Ada Adam's Re-Vamped and Re-ReAwakening, Night Sighs by Emma Meade, Night Secrets by BK Walker and of course I will throw my Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy for that Teen Vamp.
7) Now for that Vamp music lover I suggest if Rock is their love... Cecile Monique's incredible EP self-titled Cecile Monique and the haunting tones of Jill Tracy!
So of course this list is not all inclusive, just a start to aide you in locating that perfect gift for your Favorite Vamp!
Happy Holidays:O)


December 17 InterviewBooks in the Hall http://www.booksinthehall.blogspot.com/
December 18 InterviewThe Seraphine Muse: kasonndraleigh.blogspot.com
December 19 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
December 20 Guest blogThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
December 21 Guest BlogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
December 22 Guest blogLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
December 24 Promo and reviewPure Textualityhttp://puretextuality.com




KindredNight School Vampire Hunter Trilogy Novella#2
Michelle Cornwell-Jordan
Genre: YA Paranormal
ASIN: B00AA04YW0
Number of pages: 82Word Count: 28514
Cover Artist: Next Artist Media Services
Amazon BarnesandNoble.com Smashwords
Book Description:
Angel and her friends at Ame Academy, a boarding school for preternatural and humans are back, and they are preparing for battle against the dark forces that kidnapped Angel’s younger brother Jordan. Angel had recently discovered that she was a Hunter and that she alone has a special weapon against her enemies; her blood, which is discovered to be toxic to her enemies. Angel is prepared to use her training and all that is at her disposal in order to save Jordan, even if that means joining forces with the strange and mysterious Rafael, who at their first meeting, she recognized him as the boy she had  dreamed about for weeks prior to his arrival at the school. Angel cannot shake the feeling that she knew Rafael before, and is hopelessly drawn to her extremely handsome fellow hunter.
Rafael frightens her, he hints of a secret; another time and another life lived.
Can love survive two lifetimes?
Events unfold that provides the answers to who Rafael really is and what they mean to one another; and along with these strange and blossoming emotions for Rafael, along with guilt and fear for her brothers safety; Angel discovers that she is more than just a Vampire Hunter, and that she plays a major role in a ancient prophecy, which she must fulfill by facing an a force so evil that survival is not promised.
But she will face the Dark One, Angel will sacrifice all, if it means saving all whom she loves.
Many questions are answered, but the drama is just beginning….
Immortal Beloved by Cecil Monique speaks regarding Night School and her music Video of Immortal Belovedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSj9nqK7-6Y&feature=youtube_gdata
Song Trailer  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slxdfVTs4tY
About the Author
Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is a YA Paranormal Author.
Her titles:
Reahket (Co-written with Author Danny Jones)
YA novella series Night School Vampire Hunter trilogy
Series includes:
Night School Vampire Hunter novella #1    Released date March 2012
Kindred (A Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy novella) #2    Released date November 2012
Redemption (A Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy novella) #3 Released date spring 2013
Works –In-Progress
Chrysalis (Full Length) Released date spring 2013
Hunters Series novellas Released date summer 2013
Ame Academy’s Paranormal novella series summer 2013
Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is also the producer of the online radio segment IndieReview Behind The Scenes, where she and her co-host Jamie B Musings interviews Indie Authors and Musicians.
http://michellecjordan.wix.com/author#!
Contact regarding the Hunters Series Fan ClubEmail: hunterseriesfanclub@gmail.com
Twitter @mcjordan37
http://www.facebook.com/#!/michelle.cornwelljordan

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Steampunk Gift List for 2012 and a Giveaway

Steampunk Gift List for 2012 

Here we are, holiday season, and you may be wondering: Where do I find amazing steampunk gifts, anyway? How about mediocre steampunk gifts? Something better than a lump of coal with the explanation “well, you use it to heat the water and make steam”? Roxanne has asked me to scour the Internet for the answer these questions. Though, really, you might want to hold on to that “lump of coal” gag.

Home Décor
1.      DIY gears. Hang these from trees, use them to craft handmade ornaments, or hot glue them to the gifts you already bought to add that steampunk flair. Under $6. Gears of Time Wall Clock from Design Toascano

2.      Here’s a glorious clock, guaranteed to make you less confused when next you travel the chromosphere.  Under $50.
3.      Add a Victorian feel to any rom with these throw pillows. They make a great gift for hostesses, friends, children, and parents. Doesn’t everyone have space for one more throw pillow? Under $75.
4.      Let there be light! This floor lamp is inspired by 19th century physicist Foucault’s gyroscopes.(Note, there’s also a chandelier version of these, if you’ve a spare few thousand dollars to spend.) Under $700.
Accessories for All
1.      Top Hats!At the top of the list because everyone needs one. Under $75.
2.      Chrononauts rejoice! Always know the time with this filigreed men’s pocketwatch. Under $30.
3.      For the crafty: Make your own aviator goggles. Bundle the necessary materials in an old-fashioned looking wooden box (usually approx. $12 at Ross Stores) with an instruction sheet from the website above. Hours of fun, easy crafting with a costume payoff!
·        Small buckle·        1.5 inch plumbing coupler·        Plexiglass·        2-hole pipe strap Goggles from Dreamed: Designed on Etsy
4.      Gogglevision – Or buy them some goggles readymade. Under $60.
Remington Cane Gun from Clockwork Couture and (actor Doug Jones!)

5.      For the danger-seekers in your life, how about this Remington cane gun? Cane guns were popular in the 1850s, though I’ve never seen one look quite so punked out! Under $300.
Ladies’ Accessories
1.      This necklace has it all: clockworks, items trapped in resin, and a nearly Art Deco wing. Under $30.
2.      For the lady of refinement, how about this beautifully painted ladies’ parasol? If you’ve been reading The Parasol Protectorate, you undoubtedly feel the need to add to your collection. Under $30.
Steam Pumps from the Pyramid Collection
3.      Dripping with steampunk character, these shoes even have the perfect product name:  Steam Pumps. Under $60.
4.      When I was hunting for shoe-inspiration while writing My Lady Gambler, I stumbled upon these amazing boots. Lace-ups, with a sensible heel and leaf-like buckles, they were perfect for Cara St. Cross. Are they perfect for you?  Under $175.
5.      If you’re looking to purchase a corset or skirt as a gift, you’ll probably want to visit Clockwork Couture or Corset Story. But corsetry is a pretty personal thing. Starts at $500.
Men’s Accessories
1.      These clockwork cufflinks proclaim “steampunk” and “classy” all at once, and the necessary French cuffs help. Under $200.
2.      Men’s frock coat – The Steampunk Emporium offers these for all chronomic regulators. Under $200.

Other Steampunked Nerf gun from the Old Junk Yard Boutique on Etsy
1.      For the playful – I once worked in a place where employees shot each other with Nerf guns over the tops of our cubicles a few times a day. Whether you’re looking to attack coworkers or to stock up for a private Nerf war amongst your nearest and dearest, here’s a tricked out gun perfect for skirmishing. Under $75.
2.      For the tech geek – If you’ve more sensibility than sense, this amazing laptop cover will steampunkify a Sony VAIO! Look at those keys, that knotted wood. Somehow, I don’t think this is the lightest weight laptop on the airship anymore. $1250, not including laptop.
Books
1.      For the junior aviator: Airborn by Kenneth Oppell and its sequels Skybreaker and Starclimber
2.      For the cozy romantic: Soulless by Gail Carringer and its sequels Changeless, Blameless, Heartless, and Timeless
3.      On the darker side: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest and its sequels Clementine, Dreadnought, Ganymede, and The Inexplicables
4.      Something classic: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
5.      Adults only: My Lady Gambler by Victoria Pond (of course) or The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

My Lady GamblerStories of Erotic Romance, Corsets, and an England That Never Was
Victoria Pond
Genre: erotica, erotic romance, steampunk romance, steampunk erotica, steampunk Regency
978-9886468-0-3 (ePub)978-9886468-1-0 (MOBI)
Number of pages: 200Word Count: 50,000
Cover Artist: Anne Cain
Amazon Kindle    BN Nook  Goodreads
Book Description:
A collection of erotic romance in the Age of Steam, featuring a Regency novella...
Cara St. Cross is determined to play at the highest-stakes poker club in all of Great Britain... even if getting in requires her to dress like a man. Stanley, Lord Greenhope, doesn’t truly believe that “Mister” St. Cross has had relations with his wife, but that doesn’t stop him from challenging the (wo)man to a duel.
In the early Age of Steam, duels are still legal, young ladies get kidnapped to Gretna Green, and only the villains seem to care whether Cara wins at the tables.
As well as the Regency novella, My Lady Gambler, this collection includes three short stories of Victorian-style steampunk erotica:
Miss Carlotta Stembridge crafts her own troupe of dancing automatons in “The Clockwork Dancers”. When she meets a flesh-and-blood dancer who steals her heart, she must fight society and her own creations if she wants to keep him in her life.
In “On the Curious Condition of the Anachronism in Modern Aviation Structures,” First Mate Jess Priory of the merchant airship Aer Nova offers passage to a handsome doctor. Lucky thing she did, since his skills come in handy when the ship is attacked!
The possibility of a time machine causes more problems than it solves in “Dorothea Franklin’s Marvelous Machine,” Thankfully, the inventor can console herself with the darkly sexy, powerful Sir George, Grand Master of the London Masons.
 About the Author :
Victoria Pond is a professional writer on projects ranging from video games to novels. She lives in Seattle with a husband and a cat, where she sings with a Celtic band and is working on the next novella in her steampunk erotica universe.
http://www.pondssecret.com
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/VictoriaPond
Amazon Author Central – www.amazon.com/author/victoriapond

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HOW VAMPIRES CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS by Tara Fox Hall

HOW VAMPIRES CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS + SPECIAL SNEAK PEAK OF TAKEN IN THE NIGHT!
How do vampires celebrate Christmas? Why, they make Christmas Spiders for the Christmas tree with loved ones, of course.
As this was something not slated to be shared with readers of the Promise Me series until next year, I’m sure it comes as a surprise to some. For your reading pleasure, here is a Christmas snippet of Taken in the Night, which will publish late January 2012.
A year before, I’d put up the tree with the werefoxes by day. This year, I, Elle and Danial put it up at night. As we three decorated the tree, I told Elle and Danial the story behind each ornament. The one I’d made in first grade from some poster paint, and sparkles for my mother. The glass birds with hair for tails my mother had ordered for me when I’d been small. The ceramic ones I’d painted through the years: unicorns, birds, dragons, Pegasus, and cats. And, as my tradition, we made Christmas spiders.
     They both thought I’d gone crazy when I’d brought out glue, pompoms, pipe cleaners and sparkly string.
     “Spiders, mom?” Elle said skeptically. The look in Danial’s eyes mirrored hers.
     “There’s a story behind it,” I said, pulling Elle into my lap, as Danial sat down beside me. “A long time ago, in a little village, there was a poor family who couldn’t afford to celebrate Christmas. They cut down a tree from the forest, but they had no money for presents, and certainly no money for decorations. They brought home the tree, and put it in their home, but it made them sad, as the branches were bare. They went to bed that night sad.”
     “But there were spiders in the house who heard, and who felt sorry for the people whose home they lived in. And they decided to do what they could to help.” I had Elle’s attention now, and Danial’s. “The spiders crept to the tree when the family was asleep, and spun webs over it. They sparkled as only spider silk can sparkle. It was all the spiders had to give.”
     “Then God looked down, and saw what the spiders had tried to do, and he was moved, that such small creatures had spent the whole night working, just to ease the sadness of one poor family. God turned the spider webs to gold. In the morning, the family came down to see the most beautiful tree anyone had ever seen before.”
     I had been working with my hands as I talked, and had fashioned a black spider from pipe cleaners and a black pompom, and a golden spider web from gold pipe cleaners and golden wire. Bending the spider’s legs to attach him to the web, I handed him to Elle. She took it, enthralled.
     I wiped away a tear with the back of my hand discreetly. I was a sucker for happy endings.
     Danial hugged me. “I enjoyed that,” he said, clearly moved. “Show us how you made it.”
     Together, we each made a spider, and hung it on the tree.

This is a Christmas tradition in my family, and my Christmas tree I’ll set up will have my spiders on their webs to grace the top branches. The story is retelling of The Legend of the Christmas Spider that I learned in gradeshool from my mother, who taught it to her class and made spiders with them. For a couple more “official” variations on this classic tale, see this website: http://spiderwisdom.com/?p=41
For instructions on how to make your own spider, visit the following site, and substitute additional pipecleaners for the chopsticks they specify: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2011/10/how-to-make-a-halloween-spider-on-his-web/
Need help or want pointers? Shoot me an email (under links below)!

            Blurb from Shadow Man:
A renegade vampire begins amassing a flock of true believers, threatening America’s vampire hierarchy. Weresnake Lash partners with old enemy Danial and new allies Burl and Spiderboy to track down and annihilate them. Betrayed and left for dead, Lash reemerges the victor, edging ever upward in the Assassin’s Ranking, and catching the eye of the sultry nightclub singer Cassandra Nile. Drawn into drugs by Cassie, Lash begins to doubt himself, yearning to leave his life of violence, even as enemies close in from every side.
Excerpt from Shadow Man:
            “What’s that smoke?” Spiderboy asked, changing back as he pulled on his clothes as fast as he could. “Something’s burning, and it’s huge!”            My gut clenched like a fist, and I hit the accelerator, swearing to myself.              ***            I drove up to the small town outside Lafayette at dusk. It was smoking, and the grocery store and the diner were partly burned. There was no one in their homes, and no pets to be seen. The old man I’d spoken to years ago was gone, his house empty, the lights on. But something made me curious. By the breakfast plates set out in the kitchen, it was clear that he’d been fixing breakfast this very morning. So how had the vampires come for him in daylight?            We checked the other houses, our guns out and ready. Everyone was gone, though some, by the blood and mess left in the houses, had not gone willingly. By the time we were done, it was full dark.            When we went to the church, we found that it was burned too, to the ground. Standing in the still-smoldering ashes was a three-foot-tall pole, the top covered with a black bag. Spiderboy’s eyes were very wide as he stood, staring, but I just walked up to the pole, and gently took the bag off. As soon as I did, Spiderboy threw up behind me, making mewling sounds.            Stuck on the end of the pole was Jeanna’s head, her mouth lolling open to reveal a tongue that had been split by a knife so it was forked. Her fangs had been pulled out, and her eyes burnt to cinders. The word ‘traitor’ had been deeply burned into the flesh of her forehead.            I stood for a moment, considering the message. The forked tongue meant Eli knew I was spying on him, or that I’d been working with her. The brand of ‘traitor’ and the pulled fangs meant he knew it was Jacob behind this, that Jeanna hadn’t been working just with me. She’d been covered to ensure that the sun wouldn’t be able to erase what she’d suffered before I got a chance to see it.            I didn’t know who’d killed her or tortured her, but someone had come for the humans here in the day, to take them. And there was only one group I knew of that worked for Eli who could walk in daylight: the members of the werecreature church.
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Man-Lash-ebook/dp/B009UHDZHY
Tara’s Other Links:
www.tarafoxhall.comtarafoxhallATgmailDOTcom
Tara's Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5286654.Tara_Fox_Hall/blog
Tara's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Fox-Hall/151813374904903
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TerrorFoxHall
For info on my recently published books Lash and Promise Me, click here: http://www.amazon.com/Lash-ebook/dp/B007UJ6KGC and here http://www.amazon.com/Promise-Me-ebook/dp/B0086G4GDC




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