Jean Murray's Blog, page 17
May 1, 2012
NEW RELEASE: Awaited by Lynn Rush
The voice is a powerful thing. . .
Russell Leonard is a centuries-old Guardian who’s lost faith in his purpose. So when he’s charged with procuring the first female Guardian in over two centuries, he can only hope it’s the red-headed beauty who’s been haunting his dreams for months. And if it is, he intends to claim her as his. But when he finds his dream woman, Annabelle is mute and bears no Guardian’s Mark. He soon realizes she’s been tainted by an ancient evil. Russell must somehow release the secrets trapped within this delicate soul to help her tap into the only weapon powerful enough to silence a millennia-old demon—her voice.
Awaited is now available in online stores: Amazon, B&N, ARe
ISBN: 9781937254216
Amazon: http://amzn.to/HTGzgR
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/JewjTX
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/AAxAz4
All Romance E-Book: http://bit.ly/HHTx2U
Kobo: http://bit.ly/JrPIDi
About the Author…
Driven to write, Lynn Rush often sees her characters by closing her eyes watching their story unfold in her mind. Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two sources – Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush – since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of Rush’s books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake.
Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master’s degree from the University of Iowa. Originally from Minneapolis, Rush currently enjoys living in the Arizona sunshine by road biking nearly 100 miles per week with her husband of 15 years and jogging with her two loveable Shetland Sheep dogs.
Connected with Lynn online
Catch the Rush: www.LynnRush.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LynnRush
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lynnrushwrites/
~~~See you in the paranormal~~~
Reviews…
GraveTells 
Filed under: Book Review, Cover Reveal Tagged: angels and demons, Awaited, guardians, lynn rush, paranormal, paranormal romance, wasteland, wasteland series, YA, YA romance, young adult romance
April 30, 2012
April’s Favorite Author at GraveTells
I’m so excited I can barely type. Thank you so much to those that voted and help spread the word. I can’t thank you enough.
http://gravetells.com/2012/04/30/april-2012-gravetells-book-awards-see-our-and-your-top-picks/
Filed under: Events, Key to the Cursed Tagged: aprils favorite author 2012, favorite author, gravetells, Jean Murray, key to the cursed, readers choice, readers choice award, soul reborn
April 27, 2012
Please vote for me ~ Readers’ Favorite Author for April
Hi everyone!
I’m excited to announce that I am up for Readers’ Favorite Author at GraveTells for April. I could really use your help!
I’ve never won one of these, but one can hope. Either way it is a huge honor for me. The poll is only open until Sunday night (April 30th), so get your vote in soon and spread the word.
http://gravetells.com/2012/04/27/april-2012-readers-choice-awards-vote-here
I really appreciate your support.
Jean
Filed under: Events, Key to the Cursed, PROMO, Soul Reborn Tagged: contest, favorite author, gravetells, Jean Murray, key to the cursed, soul reborn, vote
April 26, 2012
Author Open MIC ~ Welcomes Ciara Knight
I love getting to meet new authors, both new, old and in between their writing careers. Everyone’s writing journey is different. I’m always fascinated to hear the various stories. Some authors were born to write, starting at a very young age. Others went to school to learn the craft. Some, like myself, evolved or were awakened in some way.
So, let me introduce Ciara Knight. Let’s find out about her journey:
Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.
When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.
Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.
Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.
Ciara, thank you for taking the time to be with Wicked Romance today and taking over the MIC.
Ciara: Thank you so much for having me here today, Jean. I’m so excited to chat with you and your followers. I’m curious to see what wickedness goes on here. 
Host: When did writing become part of your life? Can you describe that journey from the beginning to your debut novel?
Ciara: I wrote my first children’s novel in grammar school. Nothing that anyone could even read, but it kept me busy during summer break. I wrote some poetry in high school and short stories in college. It wasn’t until I was grown and married with kids that I focused on writing a real novel. I wrote my first one while sitting in car pool line, TKD practice, football field, and baseball field. It took a while, but once I typed THE END I was completely hooked. I wrote two more novels in half the time it took me to write the first. I started off writing Christian fiction and now I write fantasy and paranormal. I know what a jump, right?
Host: Did your journey or focus change after that first book? How did that debut release influence your next novel and the several after?
Ciara:
I shelved the first book I wrote after many changes. After that, I took some writing workshops, and the second book that I completed was Rise From Darkness, which was released last month. It is a young adult paranormal, but the second book I wrote was released first, The Curse of Gremdon. Confused yet? I know I’ve been a few times on this journey.
Host: You have several books out. Can you tell us a little about each of them?
Ciara: Sure. They are all SO different.
Young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, has three full length novels and one prequel novella. Book I, Rise From Darkness is about a fallen angel with the hormones of a teenager, strength of an angel, and the self –control of a three year old. Gaby is a troubled young girl that lost her mother, has an alcoholic father, and soon discovers the world is full of dangerous creatures in which she may be one of them.
The Curse of Gremdon is a ‘spicy’ adult romance full of magic, love, lust, and sacrifice. In a world where marriage is forbidden, sex is only granted to male warriors, and the outer realm is full of murderous creatures. Tardon and Arianna risk the curse when they traverse the vast outer realm to retrieve serum form the Tree of Life. If successful, the Elders have promised Tardon the right to marry and Arianna the cure for her brother’s death fever.
I’ve also got a new young adult series that will release soon, The Neumarian Chronicles. The prequel Novella, Weighted, will be out in August.
The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.
Host: Okay, I’m going to ask an unfair question. Out of all your books, what hero/heroine really spoke to you?
Ciara: I have a deep love for all my characters, but Tardon kicked my butt. He ordered me to write his story. That man does not take no for an answer. Of course, I’m not sure anyone had told him no before he met Arianna. 
Host: Pick one book. Select 5 words that best describe your hero and then 5 words for the heroine. Why do they make a great match?
Ciara:
Rise From Darkness
Alexander: Self-brooding, caring, loyal, guilt ridden, and determined
Gaby: Strong, independent, loving, lonely, and hopeful
They are both emotionally wounded. Only together do they become whole.
Host: Where do you think the paranormal genre is headed? What can we expect in the future?
Ciara: I think we’ll see more genre blending. My upcoming series, The Neumarian Chronicles is a mix of biopunk, paranormal, and steampunk.
Host: What are you working on right now? What can readers expect to see from you in the next year?
Ciara: I’m working on Book I of the Neumarian Chronicles, Escapement. Also, I’m working on the remaining books in The Gremdon Chronicles.
Host: Will you be attending any conferences this year? Or have any book signings/giveaways?
Ciara: I attended Romantic Times which broke the budget, but I hope to attend Dragoncon since it is local.
Host: Where can readers find out more about you and your books? (Social/Web links)
Ciara: Website – www.ciaraknight.com, Twitter: @ciaratknight, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ciaraknightwrites, Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5127753.Ciara_Knight, and Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ciaraknight/
Host: Do you have a cover or covers you would like to share today?
Ciara: Here are the two first books of The Gremdon Chronicles and Battle for Souls series. Oh, I CAN’T wait to show the cover for Weighted, but I can’t yet. I hope to soon.
********************
Ciara, I want to thank you for sharing your time with us today. Your list of novels is impressive.
Keep up the great work! Can’t wait for your new release
Readers, if you have a question for Ciara, please post below.
HAPPY READING!!
Filed under: Author Open Mic, Guest Author Tagged: Battle for Souls, best seller, book release, Ciara Knight, cover art, crescent moon press, Curse of the Gremdon, ebook, fantasy romance, fiction, interview, paranormal, paranormal fiction, paranormal romance, promotion, Rise from the Darkness, romance, series, The Neumarian Chronicles, Weighted
April 25, 2012
Favorite 5 – what are your favs?
Find out my favorites over at Hildie McQueen‘s blog.
Http://www.hildiemcqueen.com/?p=3543
Filed under: Events, Soul Reborn Tagged: 5, crescent moon press, favorite five, hildie mcqueen, Jean Murray, key to the cursed, soul reborn
April 22, 2012
Cover Reveal ~ CRIMSON SUNRISE by Renee Rearden
Crimson Sunrise…
Saari Mitchell attends a Tueri conference in Las Vegas, Nevada to strengthen her bonds with Dhelis Guidry and Brogan Vincent—and see if they can make their three-sided relationship work. But when Saari and her vampire brother Mag’s lives are threatened, her trip to paradise soon becomes a surreal fight for survival.
Dhelis and Brogan’s psychic abilities are no help in finding Saari. Desperate to save their mate, they call in favors from the psychic and preternatural community, but the information leads only to more questions. Is the threat against Saari personal or part of a larger plan that threatens every human and Tueri’s existence?
Crimson Sunrise is the second novel in the Tueri Fated Souls Series.
Said of the first novel in this series, Moonlight Bleu:
“Moonlight Bleu by Renee Rearden is one of those ‘blow your socks off’, totally awesome, amazingly entertaining and, completely wonderful stories that make you want to yell about it, at the top of your lungs, from every roof top you can get to! Rearden’s talent is fresh and brings a new face to the world of the paranormal genre.” ~YzhaBella’s BookShelf
“Renee Rearden has exploded onto the paranormal fiction scene with this debut novel—Moonlight Bleu! The concepts in this novel are fresh and creative, and I look forward to seeing future developments…from an exciting new author to watch!” ~Digigirl’s Library
www.reneereardenblog.blogspot.com
www.goodreads.com/ReneeRearden
Filed under: Cover Reveal, Events, Uncategorized Tagged: book release, cover art, cover reveal, ebook, fantasy romance, fiction, kindle, paranormal, paranormal fiction, paranormal romance, promotion, romance
April 16, 2012
TASTE ~ Cover, Book Trailer & Excerpt
My favorite cover for 2012. I’m so excited to bring you a little more taste of TASTE.At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.
When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.
Song Credits: “Hunger” © Noelle Pico.
Full Download available at http://sheisnoelle.bandcamp.com
About the Author…
When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world that she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master’s courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized that to be a writer, none of those things mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of your computer, writing. For more information on Kate and her writing, you can visit her website: www.kateevangelista.com
EXCERPT…
I sat up and followed Calixta’s gaze upward. I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first. A statue? My brain refused to snap together coherent thoughts. I didn’t realize I’d fallen so close to one of the garden benches until I stared up at the boy that sat on one. He was strikingly beautiful. His tumble of blonde hair curled just above his sculpted cheekbones. He wore a silk shirt and a loosened cravat, like he’d become bored while dressing and decided to leave himself in disarray. His ivory skin and frozen position was what had me mistaking him for something carved from marble by Michelangelo. Then he sighed—a lonely, breathy proof of life. If I had to imagine what Lucifer looked like before he fell from heaven, the boy on the bench would certainly fulfill that image. My brain told me I had to look away, but I couldn’t.
“Luka,” Calixta said again, her voice unsure, almost nervous. It no longer contained the steel and bite she had threatened me with, which made me wonder who the boy was.
He leaned on his hands and crossed his legs, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the night sky. His movements spoke of elegance and control. I’d encountered many people with breeding before, but his took on the air of arrogance and self-assuredness of someone used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.
I only realized I’d been holding my breath when my lungs protested. I exhaled. My heart sputtered and restarted with a vengeance. Luka tore his gaze away from the stars and settled it on me. I’d expected pitch-black irises, like the other Night Students, but blue ice stared back at me.
“Human,” he whispered.
He reached out, and with a finger, followed an invisible trail down my cheek. I stiffened. His touch, cooler than Demitri’s, caused warm sparks to blossom on my face. He lifted his finger to his lips and licked its tip. He might as well have licked me from the way my body shivered.
Luka’s curious gaze held mine. “Leave us,” he said, but not to me.
“But—” Calixta protested like a spoiled child.
He spoke in a language I hadn’t heard before, remaining calm yet firm. The words had a rolling cadence I couldn’t quite follow, like rumbling thunder in the distance. They contained a harsh sensuality. The consonants were hard and the vowels were long and lilting.
Footsteps retreated behind me.
Luka reached out again.
It took me a minute to realize he wanted to help me up. I hesitated. He smiled. I smiled back timidly and took his hand, completely dazzled. Even with my uniform soaked from melted snow, I didn’t feel cold—all my attention was on him and the way his callused hand felt on mine. Without moving much from his seated position, he helped me stand.
“What’s your name?” he asked. He had a voice like a familiar lullaby. It filled my heart to the brim with comfort.
I swallowed and tried to stop gawking. “Phoenix.”
“The bird that rose from the ashes.” Luka bent his head and kissed the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
My cheeks warmed. My head reeled, not knowing what to think. I couldn’t understand why I felt drawn to him. And the strange connection frightened me.
From behind, someone gripped my arms and yanked me away before I could sort out the feelings Luka inspired in me. I found myself behind a towering figure yet again. Recognizing the blue-black silk for hair tied at the nape, relief washed over me. Calixta hadn’t come back to finish me off.
Demitri’s large hand wrapped around my wrist. Unlike the night before, no calm existed in his demeanor. He trembled like a junky in need of a fix. The coiled power in his tense muscles vibrated into me.
“What are you doing here?” Demitri asked.
I didn’t know he’d spoken to me until I saw his expressionless profile. I sighed.
“Phoenix.”
I flinched. The ruthless way he said my name punched all the air out of me. “You owe me answers,” I said with as much bravado as I could muster.
“I owe you nothing.” He glared. “In fact, you owe me your life.”
“I don’t think so.”
Ignoring my indignation, he faced Luka, who’d remained seated on the bench during my exchange with Demitri. “Why is she with you, Luka?”
“I wasn’t going to taste her, if that’s what you’re implying,” Luka said. “Although, she is simply delicious. I wouldn’t mind if you left us alone.”
There it was again. Taste. The word that kept coming up between these Night Students and I was connected to it in an increasingly uncomfortable way. To taste meant to sample, but what? My flesh? They had to be joking because the alternative wasn’t funny.
“The sins of the father …” Demitri left his sentence unfinished.
Luka’s smile shifted into a snarl. “Obey my command.” His chin lifted. “Kneel.”
Demitri’s stance went rigid. His grip tightened around my wrist.
Okay, weird just got weirder. Why would Luka want Demitri to kneel before him? I thought back to Eli and the others bowing to Demitri when he questioned them, but they didn’t kneel. Seriously? Were they all living on a different planet or something?
“Kneel.” Luka’s detestable smirk made his features sinister rather than angelic. The real Lucifer: a fallen angel.
Without letting go of my wrist, Demitri knelt down on one knee and bowed his head, his free hand flat at the center of his chest. “Your command has been obeyed,” he said formally.
Luka nodded once.
Demitri stood up and pulled me toward the school without telling me where we were going. Not having the time to thank Luka for saving me from Calixta, I risked a glance back. Luka smiled at me. His smile spoke of whispers, secrets, and promises to be shared on a later date.
Links…
Author Website: www.kateevangelista.com
Twitter: @KateEvangelista
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Evangelista/165693410143202
Find Taste on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13484226-taste
Crescent Moon Press page for Taste: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Taste.html
Happy Reading!!
Filed under: Cover Reveal, Events, Uncategorized Tagged: book release, cover art, cover reveal, ebook, kate evangelista, paranormal fiction, paranormal romance, romance, taste, YA
April 6, 2012
No Bones About It… Horror Romance chat & Giveaway at Gravetells
Today, I'm chatting about horror romance at GraveTells. Is this where things are heading? This author thinks so! Weigh-in HERE.
Two winners will be chosen. 1. Free e-copy of Soul Reborn and 2. Wicked Romance Tote, signed cover flat + more goodies.
Also, Soul Reborn is up for review this month (April) at GraveTells. Watch out for the results this month!
Jean
Filed under: Book Review, Events, Giveaway, Guest Author, Key to the Cursed, Soul Reborn Tagged: gravetells, gravetells giveaway, guest post, horror, horror romance, Jean Murray, key to the cursed, paranormal, paranormal romance, review, soul reborn, The River, The walking dead, True Blood, urban fantasy
April 4, 2012
Book Lovers Realm ~ 4.5 stars for Soul Reborn
Google alerts had a great big surprise for me today. The Book Lovers Realm gave Soul Reborn 4.5 star review. Keri, the owner of the blog, had great things to say about the story and even shared it with her neighbor. It's the little things in life that just rock your socks off
See what she had to say… The Book Lovers Realm
Filed under: Uncategorized
April 2, 2012
Cover Reveal ~ Unspun Trilogy
The Fates are said to control our destinies. From our first breath to our dying gasp, these creatures of legend weave the courses of our lives. Even the gods are subject to their decrees. Spinners of dark secrets, the Fates have been feared for the tragedies they weave. No man dared confront the Relentless Ones . . . until now.
Title: Creating Fate 
(An Unspun Novella, #1)
Author: Rachel Firasek Genre: Paranormal Romance Length: Novella Release Date: July 10, 2012 Book 2 coming July 24, 2012!
She gave away her heart…
Giving her heart to a mortal wasn't something the First Fate planned. Losing him nearly shattered her soul. Upon his death, Clothos swore never to love—or weave life—again.
Hoping she'll change her mind before it's too late, Zeus commands the spinner of life to take a much needed vacation from her immortal responsibilities.
He had to hide his…
Dane is close to cracking the drug ring he's spent the last two years infiltrating, but needs to perform one last heist to meet the head man and prevent an impending war. An undercover agent, he's now on the run from drug lords, thieves and with the very woman whose tears make him forget his purpose.
Together they'll find a way back from the dark.
Chloe will have to put her trust in the man she believes may have killed her fiance, or face an eternity on Earth. Without the desire for life, hope could slip through the cracks of time if he doesn't love away her sorrow.
About the Author:
Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.
Today you'll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80's dance moves.
She's intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachelfirasek.com .
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Stealing Fate 
(An Unspun Novella, #2)
Author: Berinn Rae Genre: Paranormal Romance Length: Novella Release Date: July 24, 2012
Book 3 coming August 7, 2012!
She stole his fate…
Lachesis—now known simply as Lacey—is a Fate, an ancient goddess in whose hands our destinies are unraveled. When she's not weaving fortune, she does what she wants when she wants. Until she runs into a man she craves but hoped—and prayed—never to see again. It had been a dangerous gamble to betray the god of terror, but in war, hard choices–and enemies–are made. And she'll soon discover the most frightening of immortals can really hold a grudge.
Now it's his turn…
The most cruel of gods, Phobos is a predator who takes pleasure in terrorizing the world. After millennia of relentless searching, he finds the Fate who caused him to be cast from Olympus. Now he plans to use every bit of his talents on the goddess to regain his lost heritage without losing his heart in the process.
As the outcast god ignites her passions, Lacey must come to grips with the destiny she has long denied herself. And Phobos must find a way to escape the destiny that would force him to betray the woman he has grown to love.
About the Author:
Berinn Rae writes romantic science fiction/fantasy about extraordinary women who always get their guy. Her Guardians of the Seven Seals series follows mythical creatures we believed in as children, only to be forgotten as we aged. When not writing, she can be found flying old airplanes, watching SciFi movies, playing RPGs, and pampering an incredibly spoiled sixty-pound lap dog. Berinn lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with her husband and dog. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Born: Manchester, Iowa, USA Schools: BA in Management Information Systems, University of Northern Iowa MPA in Organizational Leadership, Drake University Find out more at www.BerinnRae.com
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Chasing Fate 
(An Unspun Novella, #3)
Author: Elle J Rossi Genre: Paranormal Romance Length: Novella Release Date: August 7, 2012 She is forced to kill . . .
When a much-needed vacation turns into work for the third Fate, Atropos vows to sever the mortal's lifeline quickly and get back to the sea and sand. Having her mysterious quarry offer a deal in exchange for more time is an unexpected complication. Always surrounded by darkness and death, Attie takes a chance to get a taste of life and help right a wrong that never should have happened.
He refuses to die . . .
Dru spent months praying for death to take him. Anger over the brutal killing of his family festered until those prayers turned to plans for revenge. Making a deal with the Death Fate was the only way to extend his lease on life. He only needed a handful of days to avenge those he lost, but within minutes of meeting Atropos he knew he'd want forever.
About the Author:
Elle J Rossi grew up in rural Indiana surrounded by great people, a huge family, and more animals than she could count. But the sites and sounds of the world beckoned, so she left her small town to escape into a creative world full of music. As a full time singer she was able to lose herself in a thousand different songs in a hundred different places.
After meeting the love of her life and settling down, she yearned to find a new and fulfilling creative outlet. Overly fond of the happily ever after, she wondered what it would be like to have her own characters lead her down dark and twisted paths. The very first word on the very first page sealed her fate. She'd found a new love. She'd found her escape.
Now along with weaving haunting tales about the journey to love, she's creating cover art for authors around the world and loving every second of it. For fun, she cranks country music to take her back to her roots, and sings karaoke anytime she gets a chance. Her husband, two children, and a cat that rules the roost keep her company along the way and guarantees she doesn't get lost in the enchanted forest. She wouldn't have it any other way.
Find Elle at www.ellejrossi.com
Filed under: Cover Reveal, Uncategorized Tagged: berinn Rae, cover reveal, Elle J Rossi, paranormal romance, Rachel Firasek, series, Unspun Trilogy
