Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 53
June 26, 2023
The Blood of a King by Wells and Bruzzi #EpicFantasy
The Blood of a King The Rahmirion ChroniclesBook OneWells and Bruzzi
Genre: Epic FantasyPublisher: New Upper BooksDate of Publication: 4/25/2023ISBN: Hardcover- 9798986771212 ISBN: Paperback- 9798986771205 Number of pages: 474Word Count: 179,000Cover Artist: Mert Genccinar
Book Description:
Victory was only the beginning.
Prince Mayson Karrok of Astymere grew up hearing countless stories from the night of his birth. Whispers of murder and betrayal; of war and destruction, all at the hands of an emperor who wanted him dead before he could take his first breath. A night meant to being a peaceful conclusion to the Endless War would become known across the world as the Night of Knives. The scar he bears on his chest is a reminder of just how lucky he is to be alive.
But over a decade after his father, King Henry, killed that emperor and destroyed his empire, Mayson finds himself fighting to find his own way, fueled by the desire to both follow in his father’s footsteps, and to break free from his shadow to forge his own path.
Unbeknownst to Mayson, his father set in motion a chain of events that would come to rule his destiny. When he is forced to choose between love and duty, will Mayson have the will to do what is right? For he’ll need all the strength and support he can muster as enemies begin to surround him, both from outside Astymere, and from within.
Excerpt
Henryreached out to touch the doors, and the more he fought it, the more the voiceof the Raelian emperor mocked him. Tell me, Henry. Does the boy look like you?Does the proud blood of the Avaari flow within him, or has your whore given himtoo much of her mark?
“Silence,”Henry said, turning from the doors to break the illusion. He nearly stumbledupon a line of burnt skeletons strewn across the floor. “One more word and yourdeath will be slow, I swear it. You will curse the day you first drew breath.”
Theillusion had been broken, but the voice remained. I wish to know the face of myenemy, Karrok. When we come together at last, I wish to know it well.
“You willnever touch him! Do you hear? You will never lay your hands on him!” Henryswung about, striking at the source of the voice, but it came from within, asslippery and foul as pond scum. The Beast will have his day, Karrok. You knowit. One by one, those you hold dear will fall under his might. Your wife, yourmongrel—even your precious Rahm shall be consumed by the Second Flame. Butfirst, they shall all weep for you. You shall mark the beginning of the end.
The voicedragged Henry back into his false vision, forcing him to once again see thedevastation he could not prevent. The windows blew apart around him as firerained from the sky, drenching the White City in blazing destruction thatconsumed flesh, stone, and steel. It seemed like minutes before Henry finallytook control of himself and stood before the emperor on his balcony, overlookingthe growing inferno, listening to the sounds of screams. Tiberian’s hands wereoutstretched, his arms spread wide. His smile was filled with what Henry couldonly describe as pure, unhinged madness as he gazed upon the burning city andlaughed. Even after Rahmirion took Tiberian’s head from his shoulders, thatsmile remained—and the emperor’s laugh could not be silenced.
“Nooooo!” Henry bellowed into the emptycorridor. The vision was gone, and so was the voice. Those words stayed withhim for nearly twenty years, but he had never heard them so clearly. He hadtried to forget the look of glee on Tiberian’s face as fire bled from anotherwise clear sky.
About the Authors:
JONATHAN WELLS, lifelong fantasy and sci-fi lover, has been making up stories for as long as he can remember. Some have been scribbled on scraps of printer paper, others were left to just rattle around in his head. And that is exactly how this novel came to be.
The seeds for this epic fantasy were first planted in his 12-year-old brain, a day-dream world where he could wander off when school became too boring. After ten years, the daydream had taken on such a clear shape, with a linear plot and fully fleshed out characters, that he decided it was time to give it a proper “birth.”
After showing rough sketch of one of his characters to college roommate, DENNIS BRUZZI, his friend “wanted in,” and the rest is history. Dennis, a proven storyteller through his work in journalism and video production, is taking pen to paper for the first time in the fantasy realm. An avid reader and a fantasy enthusiast, he is ecstatic to have worked with his longtime friend to bring this unique and expansive story to life.
“And The Blood of a King is only the tip of the iceberg,” promise Jonathan and Dennis. There are eight more books planned in this epic fantasy series.
https://www.wellsandbruzzi.com
https://facebook.com/wellsbruzzi/
https://instagram.com/wellsandbruzzi/
June 23, 2023
A Bewitching Friday
In the Kitchen with Wells & Bruzzi #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3NqBO7T
INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE DAYE (Healing Cassiopeia) #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3JrKdXn
Death’s Reckoning by Quinn Thomas #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3NJ5Ncf
The Hauntings of Belle Isle
https://www.patreon.com/posts/belle-i...
Kiss of the Fallen by Kharma Kelley Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3NnYZzF
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3CLhWam
INTERVIEW - EPIC FANTASY - DEATH'S RECKONING (Mortal Aspects, #1) by Quinn Thomas #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3pq2P33
Witching on a Star
Episodes 1, 2, & 3 are live, read them FREE on Kindle Vella
Please follow the story- New episodes release every Monday
🌶 #spicy🌶 #paranormalromance #witchromance #vampireromance
#KindleVella #Vella https://www.amazon.com/Witching-on-a-...
INTERVIEW WITH WELLS AND BRUZZI (The Blood of a King)
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/445TqfV
Character Confession- Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3PrARP9
Death’s Reckoning by Quinn Thomas
Death’s ReckoningMortal Aspects Book OneQuinn Thomas
Genre: Epic FantasyPublisher: Ebbing Neptune Publishing Date of Publication: July 18, 2023ISBN: 979-8390605110ASIN: B0BRWW31XHNumber of pages: 419Word Count: ~125k
Tagline: The power of the dead gods is held by mere mortals. When the Aspect of Death, thought to be the last neutral force in the world, joins the struggle, he promises to bring an end to their wars by any means necessary.
Book Description:
The battle for power is fierce in a world where mortals wield the strength of dead gods in this first book of a high-stakes epic fantasy series from Quinn Thomas.
A thousand years ago, the immortals were slain, their power passed down to a chosen few known as aspects. The competition between noble families for control of these aspects has plunged the land into a never-ending cycle of war and bloodshed.
The Tevulun family has been driven to the brink of extinction by the most recent war. When Tarana Tevulun, who possesses the abilities of Calamity, learns of her family's intention to murder her, she flees with the assistance of a band of mercenaries. The Tevulun’s enemy, the Ma’isans, take advantage of her absence to advance and besiege the capital city of Vicrum. Tarana returns to fight for the city, but faces a difficult challenge due to the involvement of the mortal aspect of Death – thought to be the sole remaining neutral aspect.
Meanwhile, a young soldier named Micol deserts the army after his first taste of battle. When he ends up in the besieged city of Vicrum, he finds himself embroiled with a group of outlaws. Thrust into a world of thieves and rebels, he must confront his deepest fears and make a decision that will change his life forever.
Death's Reckoning is a page-turning epic fantasy for fans of ensemble casts and character-driven plot twists, with echoes of Steven Erikson's Malazan series. Join these mortals as they wield god-like power in a world where even the noblest intentions can lead to destruction.
Available on Amazon
Excerpt
Micol’sblood ran cold. He closed his eyes, concentrating on taking deep breaths. Pleasedon’t let them see us, he prayed to Loss. Please, let them pass by. It’snot supposed to end like this. Please.
Another man stepped into view.Then a third. Their conversation continued, but Micol couldn’t focus on thewords. He was too busy listening to the growing sounds of movement around them.The pounding boots and squelching mud hinted at a larger force than the threemen who had already passed, although he could only guess at how much larger.
At least a half dozen more cameinto view, most of them near Asoka’s hiding place. The three who’d led the waywere nearly out of sight; Micol could barely see their torches through thethick trees. To his left, a glint of light caught his eyes. When he followed itto its source, he nearly collapsed.
Silvery-blue armor covered thewoman from head to toe, flowing around her like water. Every inch of skin wascovered, leaving only a pair of thin slits for her eyes. She was close enoughto Micol to touch. His entire body began to shake, demanding action.
He couldn’t be still anymore. Hisevery fiber screamed one word: escape. He had to get out, but there wasnowhere to go. The beating of his heart raged thunderous in his ears until itfelt like the sound alone would betray him. Cold sweat beaded on his feveredskin. The aspect’s head swung in his direction.
Micol tried to bolt from the tree– away from the aspect – but she reacted faster than he would have thoughtpossible. Her hand snapped out, stopping his momentum and taking the pair ofthem to the ground. He managed to twist in time to see her liberating a rusteddagger from its sheath.
From out of sight, he heard thegroan of a bowstring. The aspect’s dagger plunged toward his chest, but beforeit could strike the tip of an arrow spiked through one of the slits in herhelm. Its force pushed her off him, and Micol took his chance. He was on hisfeet in an instant, running away from the group of soldiers.
He met Asoka’s wide-eyed stare;the other boy still held his bow in a ready position. Time stood still for asolitary moment before Micol broke the contact.
Bodies thudded; wood cracked fromout of Micol’s view. “Got him!” he heard someone say. “He doesn’t look like anassassin to me.”
Micol kept running. He heard thefootsteps of several men behind him, but he didn’t dare stop to check theirprogress.
“Get the other one!” someone elseshouted.
“Over there! He’s headed towardthe undergrowth!”
Micol fell into a row of densebushes, forcing himself through. Branches and thorns tore at his skin andclothes, but he paid them little mind. The men chasing him reached the bushes amoment after he broke through the other side.
His days on the streets of Vicrumcame back to him, lessons born from a thousand beatings doled out by thoseolder and larger.There was always someone faster, someone stronger. But Micolhad had one advantage: he was willing to go further. A path ahead promised easyescape, but instead of heading for it he plunged deeper into the undergrowth.
A thick root tripped Micol,sending him toppling head-over-heels down a stream bed. He hissed as a flare ofpain shot up from his ankle; he inched toward the running water, but a soundcame a moment later that stopped him cold.
“Micol!” a distant voice cried.Asoka’s voice. “Help! Please help me!” The pitiful cry was like an icy knifeplunged into his lungs.
He didn’t makeit out, Micolthought. I didn’t even stop to think about helping him escape. He roseto his knees, taking stock of the situation. He’d lost his bow when the aspecthad taken him, which left the small hunting knife on his belt as his onlyweapon.
“Help! Oh, aspects, please!”
Micol knew what he was supposedto do. The stories soldiers shared were full of such scenarios; if he had beenthe hero in one of those stories, he would have drawn his knife and carved apath of blood back to his friend to save him. The men searching for him weregetting close, and he knew he had to make his decision soon.
A sound like an axe hitting atree echoed through the forest, sending a morbid shiver down Micol’s spine. Hesummoned all of his courage, but it wasn’t enough. He turned back to the streamand jumped in, letting the water carry him away.
About the Author:Quinn Thomas is an Epic Fantasy author and occasional pool shark from Denver, Colorado. When she’s not writing stories about people thrust into situations that turn them into heroes (or more frequently, villains), she’s wrestling her 100-lb labrador retriever. Her favorite fantasy series is Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
Things Quinn has tried exactly once and wants to mention because she thinks they make her seem cool: skydiving, surfing, paddle-boarding, yoga.
Things Quinn has tried several times and wants to mention because they make her seem less cool: eating Cheetos on the couch while wearing yoga pants, tripping on her own feet, singing karaoke songs completely sober.
Website: https://quinn-thomas.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29763228.Quinn_Thomas
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Quinn-Thomas/author/B0BS493VHK
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June 22, 2023
A Bewitching Thursday
Character Confession- Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3PrARP9
The Blood of a King by Wells and Bruzzi #EpicFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3XneOLB
INTERVIEW - EPIC FANTASY - DEATH'S RECKONING (Mortal Aspects, #1) by Quinn Thomas #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3pq2P33
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3CIECIA
Kiss of the Fallen by Kharma Kelley #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3NHMMqR
Witching on a Star
Episodes 1, 2, & 3 are live, read them FREE on Kindle Vella
Please follow the story- New episodes release every Monday
#spicy #paranormalromance #witchromance #vampireromance
#KindleVella #Vella https://www.amazon.com/Witching-on-a-...
INTERVIEW WITH WELLS AND BRUZZI (The Blood of a King)
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/445TqfV
WIP It Real Good: Urban Fantasy Author Kharma Kelley + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3p2358w
In the Kitchen with Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Li2uJ
Halloween Flash Fiction by Kharma Kelley #HalloweenFlashFiction #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3pcWlo8
June 21, 2023
A Bewitching Wednesday
What Drives My Protagonist A Guest Post by Jude Hopkins
Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins - Women’s Fiction - Timber! She’s Falling in Love https://jbbookworms.blogspot.com/2023...
Halloween Flash Fiction by Kharma Kelley #HalloweenFlashFiction #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3pcWlo8
The Blood of a King by Wells and Bruzzi #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3qT3x9u
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye - Fantasy Romance - What if you lost everything you ever loved? #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3CDc9Ub
Death’s Reckoning by Quinn Thomas Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/42X1sXf
Witching on a Star
Episodes 1, 2, & 3 are live, read them FREE on Kindle Vella
Please follow the story- New episodes release every Monday
#spicy #paranormalromance #witchromance #vampireromance
#KindleVella #Vella https://www.amazon.com/Witching-on-a-...
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/447YTmr
INTERVIEW WITH WELLS AND BRUZZI (The Blood of a King)
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/445TqfV
WIP It Real Good: Urban Fantasy Author Kharma Kelley + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3p2358w
In the Kitchen with Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Li2uJ
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance
Healing Cassiopeia Charlie Daye Genre: Fantasy Romance Date of Publication: 6/20/2023Number of pages: 539Word Count: 96,522Cover Artist: Charlie Daye
Book Description:
What if you lost everything you ever loved?
Cassie lost everything in a single night… Her husband, her unborn child and any hope for a happy future.
Welcome to Elvy – Land of the Fae and endless magic.
In an attempt to pull Cassie from her downward spiral, her parents take her home, to Elvy… A world of unparalleled beauty, magic and endless possibilities. But Elvy is not all it appears to be… there is trickery, deceit, a social hierarchy Cassie doesn’t understand and rules she refuses to play by.
To Love again…
When love comes calling, will Cassie fall to the pressure of Elven society or follow her heart to the happiness she thought she lost forever?
Amazon
Excerpt:
Cassie sat inher room staring out the window. It had been three months since her husbanddied and yet the melancholy that enveloped her would not let go. But it wasn’tjust her husband’s death that haunted her. She was, unfortunately, hit with adouble whammy that night.
She was threemonths into her pregnancy and she and her husband, Greg, had decided to go outand celebrate. It was the first successful pregnancy she’d had since theystarted trying to conceive. It had taken them nearly three years and after twomiscarriages and more hormone injections than Cassie would ever want to thinkabout, the pregnancy finally took.
“If it’s a boy,we’ll have to name him Greg Jr.,” Greg said, taking her hand.
“Oh, you thinkso, do you? And what if I want to name him something else?” she teased.
Bringing herhand to his lips, he kissed it, “I may be willing to negotiate… for the rightprice.” He winked at her.
She laughed,“Only you would use sex as a bargaining chip.”
“Hey! I never even mentioned the word sex, butif it’s on the table…” he shrugged, then grinned.
About the Author:
Charlie Daye began writing at the tender age of thirteen. With an obsession for romance, happy endings and the supernatural she delves into your greatest fantasies and worst nightmares. She will have you laughing, crying, falling in love and getting angry. She will always give you a HEA but getting there is the journey worth taking.
Charlie Daye was born in Lynwood, California. Her greatest passions are music and writing. Her first short story was written at the age of thirteen. At the time her entire class was asked to write a short story for Halloween as part of a homework assignment. Most of the kids in the class wrote one to two page stories... Charlie wrote eight. The short story titled The Haunted House went on to win her district wide awards and was published locally. From their she began writing poetry as means of expression.
Since her writing career began she's has published several titles... The House, The Colonial, The Reservation, The Portrait, The Gypsy's Dance, Mistaken for a Call Girl, Her Last Request and Breeders. Four of which have been nominated for the 2012 RONE Award.
For updates on her books or just to spend some time in her fun and crazy world check out her webpage at charliedaye.com or find her on Facebook!
http://www.charliedaye.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCharlieDaye
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006138167277
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June 20, 2023
A Bewitching Tuesday
INTERVIEW WITH WELLS AND BRUZZI (The Blood of a King)
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/445TqfV
INTERVIEW - FANTASY ROMANCE - HEALING CASSIOPEIA by Charlie Daye
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3JoNYNg
The Blood of a King The Rahmirion Chronicles Book One Wells and Bruzzi #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3Nqu1I4
Death’s Reckoning Mortal Aspects
https://midnightmusingswithbertena.bl...
Kiss of the Fallen Kharma Kelley
https://midnightmusingswithbertena.bl...
HEALING CASSIOPEIA TOUR #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3CF0unS
WIP It Real Good: Urban Fantasy Author Kharma Kelley + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3p2358w
In the Kitchen with Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Li2uJ
Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins ~ @HeyJudeNotJudy ~ Women’s Fiction #BewitchingBookTours
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2023/...
Witching on a Star
Episodes 1, 2, & 3 are live, read them FREE on Kindle Vella
Please follow the story- New episodes release every Monday
#spicy #paranormalromance #witchromance #vampireromance
#KindleVella #Vella https://www.amazon.com/Witching-on-a-...
Character Confessions from Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins #WomensFiction #RomCom #RockStarRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Qsoca
June 19, 2023
A Bewitching Monday
WIP It Real Good: Urban Fantasy Author Kharma Kelley + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3p2358w
In the Kitchen with Charlie Daye #FantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Li2uJ
Victory was only the beginning.
Forced to choose between love and duty, will Mayson have the will to do what is right? The Blood of a King #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3Xu091f
THE FALLEN TOUR #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3paZq8h
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3NCYBP9
Death’s Reckoning Mortal Aspects Book One Quinn Thomas #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3qREJyN
Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins ~ @HeyJudeNotJudy ~ Women’s Fiction #BewitchingBookTours https://buff.ly/43RyxoX
Healing Cassiopeia by Charlie Daye ~ Fantasy Romance #Fae #Excerpt #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43MLjFk
INTERVIEW - EPIC FANTASY - THE BLOOD OF A KING by Wells & Bruzzi #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3Na0RMk
Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins ~ @HeyJudeNotJudy ~ Women’s Fiction #BewitchingBookTours
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2023/...
Witching on a Star
Episodes 1, 2, & 3 are live, read them FREE on Kindle Vella
Please follow the story- New episodes release every Monday
#spicy #paranormalromance #witchromance #vampireromance
#KindleVella #Vella https://www.amazon.com/Witching-on-a-...
Character Confessions from Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins #WomensFiction #RomCom #RockStarRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Qsoca
June 16, 2023
A Bewitching Friday
INTERVIEW - EPIC FANTASY - THE BLOOD OF A KING by Wells & Bruzzi #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3Na0RMk
Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins #WomensFiction #RomCom #RockStarRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3Xe07dK
Forced to choose between love and duty, will Mayson have the will to do what is right?
The Blood of a King #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3XcSC6z
Witching on a Star
Episodes 1 & 2 are live, read them FREE on #KindleVella
Please follow the story- New episodes release every Monday
🌶 #spicy🌶 #paranormalromance #witchromance #vampireromance
https://www.amazon.com/Witching-on-a-...
It’s 1961 in the city of sin, and everyone’s feeling lucky.
Succubus Gemma Aldenfrey is banking on this luck.
https://amzn.to/3WUYHEQ
#paranormalromance #urbanfantasy #romance #indieauthor #writingcommunity
Character Confessions from Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins #WomensFiction #RomCom #RockStarRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/43Qsoca
Babe in the Woods by Jude Hopkins #WomensFiction #RomCom #RockStarRomance
Babe in the WoodsJude Hopkins
Genre: Women’s FictionPublisher: The Wild Rose Press Inc.Date of Publication: June 7, 2023ISBN 978-1-5092-4843-8 ISBN 978-1-5092-4844-5 Number of pages: 294Word Count: 72,321 Cover Artist: Tina Lynn Stout
Tagline: Timber! She’s Falling in Love
Book Description:
It’s September 1995, the first year of the rest of Hadley Todd's life. After living in Los Angeles, Hadley returns to her hometown in rural New York to write and be near her father.
In addition to looking after him and teaching high school malcontents, Hadley hopes to channel her recent L.A. heartbreak into a play about the last moment of a woman’s innocence. But she seeks inspiration.
Enter Trey Harding, a young, handsome reporter who covers sports at the high school. Trey reminds Hadley of her L.A. ex and is the perfect spark to fire up her imagination. The fact that Trey is an aspiring rock star and she has L.A. record biz connections makes the alliance perfect. She dangles promises of music biz glory while watching his moves.
But the surprising twist that transpires when the two of them go to Hollywood is not something Hadley prepared for.
Excerpt:
There was a knock on the door asHadley sat down with a bowl of chocolate-chip ice cream. She glanced at theclock: 8 p.m. Sunday night. She’d shot the whole weekend, mostly grading papersand sleeping the day before.
“My God,” she said aloud,remembering Trey’s promise to make good on a date. How could he possibly showup after she’d been so deliberately elusive? She had forgotten the resiliencyof some guys.
“Who is it?” she trilled, bouncing amound of the frozen dessert on her tongue. She cleared her throat and repeatedthe question, all the while picking up the detritus from the weekend—the pizzabox, the ice cream container, the National Enquirer.
“ ‘Tis I, Old Dog Trey,” he yelledthrough the door. “Ever faithful. We have a meeting, remember?”
She used her fingers to comb herhair and moaned when the mirror reflected a wan, puffy face staring back ather.
“I never confirmed any meeting,” shesaid through the door. She hurried to straighten the cushions on the couch.“I’ll take a rain check.” Her heart was doing double time.
“C’mon. Please open the door. It’sgetting chilly out here.” His voice was deeper than usual.She brushed the lint off her sweatshirt and zipped up her jeans before openingthe door.
Trey was twirling the end of a whitestick in his mouth. With a loud slurping sound, he pulled from his mouth abright red lollipop before sticking out his tongue, which now matched the colorof his shirt.
“Fire your secretary,” he said, tappinghis watch. “May I come in?”
She let him in, the shame of herunkempt apartment equaled only by the shame of her own disheveled appearance.
He stood close to her. “I have tosay, you are much more attractive without all that make-up.” He talked with thelollipop stuck in his cheek. “Definitely younger.”
It was an approach she rememberedfrom her time with Derek. First you surprise them, then compliment them whenthey’re at their most vulnerable. She made a mental note.
He walked toward the nearest chair,sat down, but quickly jumped up again, fishing in his pockets. “Where are mymanners? Here.” He extended a lollipop, grape flavor, her favorite.
“No thanks.” It wasn’t even on thelevel of the apple Neil had given her on the first day of school. Besides, whatwas with men and their semiotics anyway? Perhaps it beat communicating withwords. And how in the world would he have known grape was her favorite flavor?Was she that transparent? Was there a grape “type” as opposed to an orange orcherry type? The grape type would be moody and dark. The orange type would beyoung, perky, sassy. The cherry type? Passionate, desirable. Like him.
Lollipops aside, he was lusciousness itself, theblood-red shirt adding to his angel-faced carnality. His skin glowed, no doubtfrom a day spent in the autumn sun with a frisky faun.
About the Author:Jude Hopkins has published essays in The Los Angeles Times, Medium, the belladonna—and poetry in various journals including Gyroscope Review, Timber Creek Review and California Quarterly. Her first novel, Babe in the Woods, will be published June 7, 2023. She has also taught English and news writing at various universities, including the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Arizona State University and St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. She also worked at Capitol Records in Hollywood for a few halcyon and unforgettable years.
Website: https://www.judehopkinswriting.net/
Blog: https://www.judehopkinswriting.net/my-blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeyJudeNotJudy
