Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 78
October 4, 2022
A Bewitching Tuesday
HOW TO HAVE A HAUNTED HALLOWEEN PARTY and RAYE T. WATSON'S BLOODLINK #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/8TaH50L0ESA
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven
Mirror, mirror on the lake. Reveal the path the queen will take. #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/pui050L0F4j
Alpha Receptor
Can a “curmudgeonly” Alpha who has closed his heart to love open up when he finds his true mate? #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/XL8Q50L0EQy
INTERVIEW - FANTASY - THE WILD ROSE AND THE SEA RAVEN by Jennifer Ivy Walker #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/BkLy50L0F3x
SPOOKTACULAR POETRY-A Moment at the Louvre (J. ELIZAGA "Unusual Light") #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/y68j50L0F1I
SPOTLIGHT: WILD ROSE AND THE SEA RAVEN by JENNIFER IVY WALKER #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ewqu50L0F2m
Messengers of the Macabre: Halloween Poems by LindaAnn LoSchiavo and David Davies
#bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/Mc3G50L0EX8
Ritual: La Cérémonie du Gui with Jennifer Ivy Walker #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ya9450KZE1e
Witch's Brew Cocktail with Maria DeBlassie - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/3A1G50KZEeb
A woman obsessed with a missing person case. She travels by choice until there is no choice anymore. And each step of the way raises the stakes even higher.
Eye of the Gargoyle by Wendy Webb
https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Gargoyle-W...
#suspense #thriller #metaphysical #internationalmystery
The Ghost Circus By Diandra Archer #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/P4yt50KZCFe
The Bruja's Guide to Everyday Magic with Maria DeBlassie - Halloween Spooktacular #bewitchingbooktours @huntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/Rwx350KZCtV
Bewitching Book Tours Presents: Vampire Musings
https://buffykennedy.com/2022/10/bewi...
October 3, 2022
A Bewitching Monday
Ritual: La Cérémonie du Gui with Jennifer Ivy Walker #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ya9450KZE1e
Witch's Brew Cocktail with Maria DeBlassie - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/3A1G50KZEeb
INTERVIEW - URBAN FANTASY - DARKNESS ABOVE (Jordan Korento, #1) by J.D. Brown #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/bvSb50KZCge
Giveaway – Vampire Musings @RoxanneRhoads #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Cw5B50KZE8E
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven Jennifer Ivy Walker Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/fl9T50KZCZr
HAUNTED HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR - YA FANTASY - UNUSUAL LIGHT by J. Elizaga #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/fqlR50KZE3V
[Blitz & Giveaway] The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/lr6k50KZCWu
Darkness Above
Her parents are legends but they’re losing the war. Now it’s her turn.
https://lshadowlynauthor.com/2022/10/...
the GRYPHON and his THIEF Halloween Spooktacular #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/LTPs50KZCTf
The Ghost Circus By Diandra Archer #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/P4yt50KZCFe
The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton #giveaway #spotlight #YAFantasy #Halloween #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/1zcs50KZCBe
Messengers of the Macabre: Halloween by LindaAnn LoSchiavo and David Davies #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/cLLX50KZCy5
The Bruja's Guide to Everyday Magic with Maria DeBlassie - Halloween Spooktacular #bewitchingbooktours @huntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/Rwx350KZCtV
Darkness Above by J.D. Brown Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/6vyz50KZCq0
A woman obsessed with a missing person case. She travels by choice until there is no choice anymore. And each step of the way raises the stakes even higher.
Eye of the Gargoyle by Wendy Webb
https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Gargoyle-W...
#suspense #thriller #metaphysical #internationalmystery
HAUNTED HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR - YA PARANROMAL MYSTERY - BLOODLINK by Raye T. Watson #bewitchingbooktours #hauntedhalloweenspooktacular http://ow.ly/oMOh50KZCaZ
Alpha Receptor by Karenna Colcroft - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/zXtx50KZC79
September 30, 2022
A Bewitching Friday
Build A Vampire Boyfriend with J.D. Brown #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/z42i50KXZyH
Lights! Camera! Murder!
Beluga is called to investigate paranormal activities and other strange events on the set of a low budget horror movie. https://amazon.com/dp/B09PJR88NN
#TheBelugaSteinMysteries #cozycat #paranormal #humorous #mystery #psychic #detective #supernatural #comedy
Seekers: The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/hnAb50KXZIP
If JD Brown's Characters were Flowers #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ug2G50KVvSP
The secrets of the dead are buried in history. We like to dig into the archives and coax the stories back to life, if only for a fleeting moment with words on the page. We dive into history and uncover the dark truths that have led to such haunting tales.
https://amzn.to/3kjorrN
#GhostsandLegends #GeneseeCounty #LapeerCounty #HauntedFlint #HauntedMichigan #GhostsofMichigan #GhostsofGeneseeCounty
Darkness Above by J.D. Brown [Tour with Excerpt] #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/j5nT50KXZxN
September 28, 2022
Author Sign Ups Are Open for the 2022 Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
Do you have a book that you’d like to put in front of readers this holiday season?
Put your book in the gift buying spotlight with Bewitching Book Tours Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza.
From December 1-21 you will be featured with daily (Mon-Fri) Bewitching Tour Stops, Social Media Promotion, and with a multi-author Facebook party in mid-December
Each participating author will receive:
* 3 week Holiday Theme Virtual Book Tour (retail value $125)
* Custom tour banner
* Professional media kit
* Option to offer review copies
* Group Rafflecopter for cross promo
* Time slot in multi-author Holiday Facebook Party
To participate you’ll need to provide details for one book you wish to promote including a high-resolution jpeg of your cover and a short excerpt.
You’ll also need to provide 2-3 Winter Holiday-themed guest blogs, short holiday flash fiction stories, or poems.
Your holiday materials may feature Christmas, Yule, the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or whatever winter holiday you choose to celebrate with your writing.
Guest blogs may be recipes, DIY Tutorials, Holiday Music Playlists, Top Ten Gift Lists, holiday party planning guides, or anything related to the holidays.
For the Facebook Party, you’ll need quizzes, games, and a few small prizes for your author party block.
The fee for this promotion is $75 per author per book
Sign up here
https://forms.gle/TLfJmqosjxxXJCj68
A Bewitching Wednesday
If JD Brown's Characters were Flowers #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ug2G50KVvSP
Seekers: The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton [Tour with Excerpt]
https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
This is where history, true crime, and the paranormal intersect.
These sinister tales of murder have led to locations full of paranormal activity.
https://amzn.to/3kjorrN
#TrueCrime #HauntedHistory #GhostsandLegends #GeneseeCounty #LapeerCounty #Ha… https://instagr.am/p/CjBkPSUtYyK/
Lights! Camera! Murder!
Beluga is called to investigate paranormal activities and other strange events on the set of a low budget horror movie. https://amazon.com/dp/B09PJR88NN
#TheBelugaSteinMysteries #cozycat #paranormal #humorous #mystery #psychic #detective #supernatural #comedy
Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Darkness Above (A Jordan Korento Novel, Book One) by J.D. Brown ~ #UrbanFantasy #UF #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4C6S50KVvR9
September 27, 2022
A Bewitching Tuesday
In the Kitchen with Vicki-Ann Bush Sharing Her Gram's Manicotti Recipe #InTheKitchen #ManicottiRecipe #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/RkLG50KSN0r
Seekers: The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/6i9q50KUcll
J.D. Brown Shares TikToks About Her Characters #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/9eS750KSNsc
This is where history, true crime, and the paranormal intersect.
These sinister tales of murder have led to locations full of paranormal activity. https://amzn.to/3kjorrN
#TrueCrime #HauntedHistory #GhostsandLegends #GeneseeCounty #LapeerCounty #HauntedFlint #HauntedMichigan #GhostsofMichigan #GhostsofGeneseeCounty #HauntedGeneseeCounty #HauntedLapeerCounty #GhostsofLapeerCounty #LapeerCountyMichigan #GeneseeCountyMichigan #GhostsStories #UrbanLegends #MichiganUrbanLegends #MichiganGhostStories
[Spotlight & Giveaway] Darkness Above by J.D. Brown #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/zwoo50KUc0i
Lights! Camera! Murder!
Beluga is called to investigate paranormal activities and other strange events on the set of a low budget horror movie. https://amazon.com/dp/B09PJR88NN
#TheBelugaSteinMysteries #cozycat #paranormal #humorous #mystery #psychic #detective #supernatural #comedy
DARKNESS ABOVE by J.D. BROWN #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/LKTB50KUbJ7
September 26, 2022
A Bewitching Monday
J.D. Brown Shares TikToks About Her Characters #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/9eS750KSNsc
In the Kitchen with Vicki-Ann Bush Sharing Her Gram's Manicotti Recipe #InTheKitchen #ManicottiRecipe #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/RkLG50KSN0r
Cover Reveal Midnight on the Manatee by D. H. Willison #CoverReveal #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ijAr50KSNLY
Seekers: The Winds of Change Seekers Saga Book One by Troy Knowlton - YA Fantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/UWPI50KSN4i
Arch
Some men are just to mean to die!
https://lshadowlynauthor.com/2022/09/...
Alex McKenna and Death Is Not The Beginning by Vicki-Ann Bush #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/9wuC50KSN2z
Cover Reveal Midnight on the Manatee by D. H. Willison #CoverReveal #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/rM0E50KSNSK
The Talking Cure -A Novel of Magic and Psychiatry by Barbara Lien-Cooper and Park Cooper #PNR #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/bMLr50KSNv3
Cover Reveal ~ Midnight on the Manatee by D. H. Willison ~
@dhwillison
~ Fantasy Adventure, Fantasy Romance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/O5Zn50KSNHA
Alex McKenna and Death Is Not The Beginning by Vicki-Ann Bush Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Cnjm50KSN1Q
COVER REVEAL - FANTASY - MIDNIGHT ON THE MANATEE by D. H . Wilson #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ssVQ50KSMVY
Arch by Michael N. Riley - Historical Fiction - Some men are just to mean to die! #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/tLEt50KSN5H
Darkness Above by J.D. Brown #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/8qGN50KSNqF
Cover Reveal Midnight on the Manatee by D. H. Willison #CoverReveal
Midnight on the ManateeD. H. Willison
Genre: Fantasy adventure/fantasy romanceDate of Publication: October 28, 2022ISBN: 9798823112536Number of pages: 182Word Count: 33KCover Artist: Papaya-style
Tagline: Life-and-death adventures on a creepy fantasy world blend with wit, whimsy, and a generous dash of romance.
Book Description:
How does the steamship Manatee navigate sea-monster infested waters? What sacrifices do her grand profits demand? The only certainty, is that the Manatee casts a dark shadow everywhere she makes port.
Brianna, a tough, no-nonsense human, yearns to escape stifling big city rules and a troubled past. A quaint seaside town seems perfect to start a new life—until she wakes up aboard the Manatee. As cargo.
Shard, nekojin feline of the forest, dreams of sailing to distant lands—to the horror of his friends. When his intriguing new neighbor, Brianna, disappears and all signs point to the mysterious Manatee, he’s certain this is his moment for high seas adventure. Yet with skills tailored to the forest canopy, his rescue goes disastrously awry.
Their only chance of freedom is to work together, but can their budding relationship overcome ruthless smugglers, corrupt officials, and a slew of ravenous monsters? Or are they destined to take the secret of the Manatee to a watery grave?
Midnight on the Manatee blends life-and-death adventures on a creepy fantasy world with wit, whimsy, and a generous dash of romance.
Amazon BN
Excerpt- Brianna
I’ve always struggled picking out clothes. It doesn’t matter if it’s for travel, work, or a special event, I seem to hit a point where I regret my choices.
Like today.
Late afternoon sun glared in my eyes, the wide brim of my slouch hat unable to shield me. Mostly because it was on the ground a dozen paces distant. It was hot, and this close to the marsh, humid too. My linen blouse was drenched in sweat, though a breeze provided a modicum of relief from the heat—that part, I’d gotten right. The leather traveling vest was well-vented, my padded breeches also a good compromise between comfort and protection. But my boots were clearly wrong. Light beige leather with flexible soles prioritizing comfort over armor seemed a good idea for the long trek between Halamar and Barricayde.
But the bog toad with its jaws locked around my right ankle seemed intent on demonstrating the error of my ways.
It was half the size of a coach, with an underbite and stubby tusks thick as my legs. I kicked it with my free foot as it shambled backwards, dragging me toward the marsh. Vision blurry from sweat streaming into my eyes, I squinted, trying to sight along the barrel of my single shot pistol.
One shot. At this range I can’t miss.
I fired, the pistol belching gray smoke and a dull wumm.
The toad lurched back, blood oozing from an apparently non-critical wound. It blinked a pair of fist-sized ruby eyes, lunged at me again, this time snapping both legs up to my knees in a maw as broad as my arm span.
How did I let a minor predator ambush me? Along a marked path! Big city’s making me soft.
No! I will not die to an oversized frog. I shoved the pistol in its holster, unfolded my collapsible spear with a metallic klink, jabbed it at the creature’s head. A head which seemed to comprise half its mass. The third strike to its thick hide found a sensitive spot: it spat out my legs, sneezed a blob of mucus and blood on me, and shambled back into the marsh.
“Oww. Filthy beast. That hurt.”
I stood, yelped in pain, collapsing to my knees again.
Those critters might not have sharp teeth, but they bite hard.
First things first: I reloaded my pistol. It may have been as effective as poking a troll with a toothpick, but it was my toothpick, and it was gonna be loaded.
I pulled off boots caked with blood and saliva to reveal a souvenir of the encounter: bruises from ankle to mid thigh.
Should have worn armored boots. Blood or mucus colored armored boots would have been ideal. But on the bright side, none of the blood was mine.
“It’s a well-traveled path. You can wear comfortable traveling clothes, no need for armor.
Owww. You’re an idiot, Brianna,” I muttered, managing to stay up on the next attempt.
“Hope they have a decent healer in Barricayde. Not to mention a laundry.”
Shard
Murky water burned my eyes as my feet sank into the mud. The caprid in my arms flailed and kicked, I could feel its chest heave in panicked breaths. “Juro, a little help?” I called.
“I am helping. I’m watching out for predators.” Juro crouched atop a low branch of a live oak tree, gaze darting between trees and clumps of reeds. He grinned. “None here. You’re welcome.”
“I meant, could you grab the other two trapped caprids.”
“Theoretically, I could.”
I waded ashore, set the waist-high, hoofed creature next to its flockmates, hoping the presence of the herd would calm it.
“At least keep the flock from panicking while I get the other two.”
Juro bounded from branch to branch, finally settling on the ground beside me. He had auburn fur, stood a tad shorter than me, his tail shorter as well, and lacking the white puffy tip he made fun of when we were growing up.
“If we leave them out here,” he said, “our neighbors might learn a valuable lesson about the merits of proper animal husbandry.”
“The creatures horns are blunted, they cannot defend themselves against predators and would most likely be devoured by bog toads before the humans were able to recover them all.”
“Which would certainly be a valuable lesson, Shard. Hurt what they value most.”
Juro didn’t need to complete the thought. We all knew what that was. “It would indeed hurt their coin purse, but caprids shouldn’t pay the price to do so. The creatures are innocent.”
“Didn’t you want to visit the bookseller this afternoon? New volume of that pirate series you’re always talking about.”
I dove back into the stagnant green-brown murk at the edge of the marsh, swam around the last two stragglers, managing to shoo them toward the herd without having to carry them.
I spat, trying to clear the taste of marsh water from my mouth. Mud, slimy strands of algae, and decaying vegetation plugged my nose, clung to my ears, obscured my normally keen senses. But I wasn’t worried, Juro was a rascal, but he’d have my back at the first hint of danger.
“Yes. It’s supposed to be out today. But after all that effort, we can’t leave the task unfinished.”
Juro shrugged, but helped guide the flock toward the shepherd’s day shed.
We encountered the herder’s daughter a few minutes later, sprinting toward us, a wooden crook in her hands, single shot rifle slung across her back.
“You’ve found them, thank you!” She huffed heavily, her armor and gear sized more for an adult human than an early teen.
“That’s the third time this month,” said Juro.
She mumbled, pointed at the creatures with an index finger as she counted. “All here. My stupid little brother needed help with…” She shook her head. “It’s not important. I’d like to thank you, but I don’t have my coin purse with me. Come with me to the day shed, maybe there’s something there.”
“It’s OK,” I said. “I’m still hoping to make it to the bookseller today.”
Juro snorked. “Looking like that? The humans won’t even let you through the city gate! You’ll be lucky if they don’t mistake you for a swamp monster and hunt you.”“Good point.” I turned to the girl. “How about a few buckets of fresh water, some rags, and a brush?”
She smiled. “Deal.” She moved to clap me on the shoulder, hesitated, backed off half a step. “Maybe after a bath.”
About the Author:D.H. Willison is a reader, writer, game enthusiast and developer, engineer, and history buff. He’s lived or worked in over a dozen countries, learning different cultures, viewpoints, and attitudes, which have influenced his writing, contributing to one of his major themes: alternate and creative conflict resolution. The same situations can be viewed by different cultures quite differently. Sometimes it leads to conflict, sometimes to hilarity. Both make for a great story.
He’s also never missed a chance to visit historic sites, from castle dungeons, to catacombs, to the holds of tall ships, to the tunnels of the Maginot Line. It might be considered research, except for the minor fact that his tales are all set on the whimsical and terrifying world of Arvia. Where giant mythic monsters are often more easily overcome with empathy than explosions.
Subscribe to his newsletter for art, stories, and humorous articles (some of which are actually intended to be humorous).
Blog: https://dhwillisoncreates.com/blog/
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19933553.D_H_Willison
Darkness Above by J.D. Brown #UrbanFantasy
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Darkness AboveA Jordan Korento Novel Book One J.D. Brown
Genre: Urban FantasyDate of Publication: September 12, 2022ISBN: 9798844461750ASIN: B0B7FS53VQNumber of pages: 500Word Count: 115kCover Artist: BZN Studios
Tagline: Her parents are legends but they’re losing the war. Now it’s her turn.
Book Description:
Her parents are legends, but they’re losing the war.
Now, it’s her turn.
Jordan Korento spent her life training for the vampire war, but no one will give her a chance to prove she’s more than just a princess.
When Jordan learns of a twin brother who was sent to live in hostile territory, she takes destiny into her own hands, determined to save the sibling she never met and make her family whole.
Joined by her vampire ex-girlfriend who she still has feelings for—and the mysterious Sergeant who steals her breath with a single glance—Jordan embarks on a rescue mission to Bavaria, where nothing is what it seems. Will she find a kindred spirit in her twin or an enemy lying in wait?
Darkness Above (A Jordan Korento Novel 1) is an adrenaline-fueled urban fantasy full of dark magic and deadly creatures that are as sensual as they are bloodthirsty.
Amazon AmazonUK AmazonCA AmazonAU
Kobo BN Apple
Excerpt 1- Chapter Two
Torrance’s tone—half cheerful, half serious—cut through the bliss of a deep sleep as she shook me awake. “Rise and shine, birthday girl.”
My temples throbbed as I squeezed my eyelids tight and groaned into the pillow. “Ten more minutes.”
“Sorry, no can do.” Torrance yanked the covers away, and I curled into the fetal position against the sudden chill. “I already let you sleep in. Up and at ’em, soldier.”
“Ugh.” My eyelids peeled open, and I blinked to bring the room into focus. The angles confused me for a moment.
“Not my fault you insisted on working. I told you to take the night off.” Torrance offered me a paper cup of water and two generic brand pain reliever tablets. She wore her usual black tank top, cargo pants, and steel toe boots. Her dark shoulder length hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail at the nap of her neck. Torrance was unfairly beautiful with pouty lips, angular cheekbones, and a jawline that gave her features a touch of androgyny.
I sat upright and accepted the pills, swallowing them both in one go before gulping the water. The tip of my tongue ran across my chapped lips as I patted a hand against my auburn curls. My hair was doing that gross thing where half of it stuck flat against my cheek, glued to my drool, while the other half puffed into the air like a poodle’s ass.
“Why am I in your bed?” I asked while handing her the empty cup.
Like all the rooms in the Sword of Somnus Brotherhood dormitories, ours was tiny with two twin-sized beds, two narrow dresser drawers, and a single writing desk between them. I’d fought tooth and nail for this room, though, so I wasn’t about to complain. I just didn’t understand how Torrance’s navy-blue sheets had wound themselves around my legs. My bed stood directly across from hers, with its Buffy the Vampire Slayercomforter neatly tucked into the cheap faux wood frame.
Torrance tossed the paper cup into the wastebasket under the desk and then opened a drawer in my dresser. “You mean you don’t remember climbing in and saying we should be friends with benefits before passing out like a corpse?”
She pulled a pair of clean olive-green cargo pants and a matching t-shirt from the drawer and threw them at me. Since my reflexes were still steeped in alcohol, I didn’t catch the standard issued uniform in time and the clothes hit my face before falling to my lap.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“No you’re not. Now go take a shower, you smell like vomit.”
I touched a hand to my cheek, where my hair was plastered to my face by something that might have been a little too thick to be drool. “I didn’t actually vomit though, did I?”
Torrance crossed her arms and arched her brow. “What do you think I’ve been doing all day? Mopping the floor because it was dusty?”
My gaze went to the mop and bucket in the corner. Neither of us owned cleaning supplies, so she obviously took it from the janitor’s closet at the end of the hall.
Even though vampires didn’t sleep, and Torrance had to occupy herself while I snoozed, she wasn’t my maid. It wasn’t her job to pick up after me. Especially not bodily fluids.
I winced and apologized again. “Sorry.”
Torrance pointed to our shared bathroom. “You can make it up to me by not being late.”
I nodded and then trudged into the facilities where I tiptoed over the cold tile and stepped into the single-person shower stall. I stripped and washed quickly but took a moment to examine the bruises over my ribs and thighs. I doubted Torrance would have let me fall on my ass during last morning’s party, so they must’ve been from training. None of them hurt. Much.
I dried and dressed, adding underwear, socks, and combat boots to the uniform. After applying ample leave-in conditioner, I used my fingers to separate the soft curls and then pulled them back into a ponytail, securing the locks with my favorite rainbow sequin scrunchie.
Torrance knocked on the door. “Done yet?”
“Just a sec,” I called out.
“We literally have three minutes to get to the Hall. I mean, I’m fast but ….”
I looked at my reflection in the mirror above the sink and sighed. I hadn’t meant to be hungover tonight. The party was supposed to be a small gathering, but every senior cadet and half the faculty had shown up. These days, people were encouraged to find happiness wherever they could, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be consequences. I could only hope that talk of last morning’s festivities didn’t reach Head Huntsman Chayton.
Or worse, my father.
“Jordan Korento, I will leave without you!”
I chuckled at the empty threat. Torrance was my bodyguard. She couldn’t go anywhere without me. But for some reason she always acted as though keeping me punctual was part of her job description.
Looking at my reflection again, I drew a deep breath and released it slowly. To be honest, being late to my shift was the least of my worries.
“This is it,” I murmured to myself. “Tonight, I meet my mother.”
I haven’t seen Mom since I was baby, which meant I had no real memories of her. I should be more excited. Other girls would be. Normal girls. But my family wasn’t normal. My father was a vampire king. My mother was a legend; a vampyre queen who’d done some badass shit in her lifetime. And now she was an elite assassin on her way home after twenty years of training.
No pressure, right?
About the Author:J.D. Brown knows that vampires exist because she dated one, and no he didn't sparkle. A magnet for subcultures and weirdness, J.D. was that socially awkward girl with more fictional friends than real ones. As a child battling a hearing loss and a medical condition called Muckle-Wells Syndrome, J.D. found comfort in books where strong women always saved the day and got the guy. An obsession with Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer lead J.D. to believe that her mutated genes made her something more, not something less. Thus her stubborn flare to persevere was born. A lover of fine cuisine, coffee, and shoes, J.D. never understood why shoe stores don’t serve Starbucks and soufflé. She resides in Illinois where she writes urban fantasy - aka vampires for adults - and has political debates with her dogs. She loves to hear from fans and is active on Facebook.com/AuthorJDBrown
http://authorjdbrown.com
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https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Brown/e/B007S7MNHQ
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 23, 2022
A Bewitching Friday
SPOTLIGHT: ALEX McKENNA and DEATH IS NOT THE BEGINNING #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/x1Tj50KRatg
Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Arch by Michael N. Riley ~ #HistoricalFiction #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/5BVI50KRaBv
The Talking Cure (A Novel of Magic and Psychiatry) is the story of psychiatrist Dr. Cynthia Mann and her new client, Zach Cutter, a supernatural investigator who’s leading her into a world where magic really exists—and it’s a world of danger and romance, too https://amzn.to/3LBVjJ4
Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Seekers: The Winds of Change Seekers Saga, Book One by Troy Knowlton
@troy_knowlton
~ #YA #Fantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/QZGS50KRazw
Alex McKenna and Death Is Not The Beginning Alex McKenna Series Book Four by Vicki-Ann Bush - YA Paranormal, LGBTQ #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/5aPX50KRash
[Spotlight & Giveaway] Arch by Michael N. Riley #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/7v9V50KRay2
Vicki-Ann Bush Shares Her Spells for Help and Protection
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/2...
The Talking Cure
A Novel of Magic and Psychiatry #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ONFr50KQ7Lv
Poetry Corner & Seekers: The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton #YAFantasy
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Brk550KOSpa
Alex McKenna and Death Is Not The Beginning by Vicki-Ann Bush #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/5Yiy50KRawJ
