Stephanie Nelson's Blog, page 3

Books, books, books...

I've been horrible about blogging. Up until three years ago, I didn't even know what  a blog was. No joke. So to be better, I'm going to post every Monday. Today's post is about BOOKS! I admit that unlike most of you, I was not an avid reader as a child. I use to get excited when the school passed out the Scholastic catalogs though. Even if I didn't read, I loved the idea of it. I know, strange. When I bought books from the catalog, I'd pick out the ones with the spookiest covers because those were the coolest looking ones.  When they came in I would get all excited, only for the book to get lost in my room and collect dust. There was no method to the madness.  Looking back now I see that although I didn't read, I've always been drawn toward this world. As a teen, I read a few Goosebumps books by R.L. Stein, but eventually lost interest and even (GASP) thought books were boring. 


As you all know now, that is not the case anymore. I not only write books; I'm obsessed with them. While the entire world seems to be going digital, I still appreciate seeing and feeling an actual book in my hands. There's something about seeing my walls full of books that gives me a sense of peace. While ebooks are convenient  they will always come second to paperbacks in my head. I don't get a lot of time to read, so when I do, I submerge myself in the story. Reading for me is like stepping out of my own head and going on a little vacation. 


So......without further ado, this is just a small portion of the books I've read this year. In no way am I trying to pimp these authors. I have read every single one of these and enjoyed them. As a book lover, I feel the need to spread the word to others who love and appreciate books too. Since I'm in the process of moving, all of my paperbacks are packed up, so I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but this is a start.  These are in no particular order and the blurbs come from Amazon.   = ) I would love to hear about the books you've read and loved.  Have you read any on my list? Tell me your thoughts. ( = 




1. Darkness before Dawn by J.A. London (YA)
Only sunlight can save us.
We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.
After the death of my parents, it's up to me—as the newest delegate for humanity—to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in. Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.


2.  Endless Knight by Kresley Cole - Book 2 in the Arcane Chronicles (YA)


Evie has fully come into her powers as the tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. As one of twenty-two teens given powers following the apocalypse, she now knows a war is brewing, and it’s kill or be killed. When Evie meets Death, the gorgeous and dangerous Endless Knight, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she’s drawn to Death as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a romantic history, one that Evie can’t remember—but Death can’t forget…


3. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick  (YA)


A sacred oath, a fallen angel, a forbidden love...
This darkly romantic story features our heroine, Nora Grey, a seemingly normal teenage girl with her own shadowy connection to the Nephilim, and super-alluring bad boy, Patch, now her deskmate in biology class. Together they find themselves at the centre of a centuries-old feud between a fallen angel and a Nephilim…
Forced to sit next to Patch in science class, Nora attempts to resist his flirting, though gradually falls for him against her better judgment. Meanwhile creepy things are going on with a mysterious stalker following her car, breaking into her house and attacking her best friend, Vi. Nora suspects Patch, but there are other suspects too - not least a new boy who has transferred from a different college after being wrongly accused of murdering his girlfriend. And he seems to have taken a shine to Nora... Love certainly is dangerous... and someone is going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice for it.


4. Wallbanger by  Alice Clayton (contemporary/adult)


Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a Kitchen Aid mixer to die for, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O. Adding insult to O-less, she also has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Every moan, spank, and—was that a meow?—punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has—yep, you guessed it—no O. Enter Simon Parker. When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has…well…mixed results. Because with walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick. A delicious mix of silly and steamy, this is an irresistible tale of exasperation at first sight.


5. Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens (contemporary/adult)


For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes . . . and none of them will ever be the same.


6. Effortless by S.C. Stephens (contemporary/adult)

After being caught in the middle of a love triangle which led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she’d made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain on anyone, especially the soulful, talented man who held her heart. But life offers new challenges for every relationship, and when Kiera’s love is put to the ultimate test, will it survive? Love is easy . . . trust is hard.

7. Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins - Book 2 in the Sweet series (YA)


Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she'd never do the work of her father--polluting souls. She'd been naive to make such a claim. She'd been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school's party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there's Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

8. You Slay Me by Katie MacCalister (Paranormal Romance)


Aisling Grey is a courier enjoying a free, work-related trip to Paris when she learns she's a Guardian. That's a keeper of the Gates of Hell, for those who don't know. She finds this out from Drake Vireo, who's scrumptiously sexy-at least in his human form. Now Drake has stolen the package Aisling was sent to deliver, and she must track him down, get the package, and try to resist the passion boiling inside her.


9. Playing Patience by Tabatha Vargo (New Adult)


Sometimes all you need is Patience.

Life’s been hard for Zeke. Being a punching bag for his alcoholic father has turned him into stone. Not even the dodgy trailer park he lives in can scare him. Fighting is his release and sex, drugs, and his guitar bring him peace, but deep down Zeke isn’t quite as hard as he makes himself out to be. When he meets Patience, she finds all his broken pieces and puts him back together, but she’s a ray of light in his shadowed life and the last thing he wants to do is bring her into his dark world. Playing careless is easy, playing the bad guy can be fun, but playing Patience is impossible, especially when she can see right through him. 

Zeke isn’t the only one who’s broken, and for the first time, in a long time, Patience feels alive. Her black and white world gets a shot of color when she meets Zeke. He’s unlike anyone she’s ever met with his tattoos, piercings, and blunt honesty. She wants nothing more than to let go and ride the wild side with him, but some wounds never heal and the broken pieces of Patience aren’t so easy to find.

***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, rape, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.***


10. My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland (Urban Fantasy)
 
Teenage delinquent Angel Crawford lives with her redneck father in the swamps of southern Louisiana. She's a high school dropout, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and has a police record a mile long. But when she's made into a zombie after a car crash, her addictions disappear, except for her all-consuming need to stay "alive"...

Hexed - The first chapter

For those who haven't heard, I've had a setback with the release of Hexed. Somehow, I lost what I had written and have had to start all over. (sigh) Luckily, I know these characters very well and it hasn't been too difficult making up the words I lost. Aside from that, I'm in the process of moving. Life has been a little hectic but I'm still pushing through and plan to have Hexed done by the end of October and published early November. Hexed is going to be a little different than the previous three books. It will be written from Gwen and Dorian's POV (point of view), so you guys will hear from both characters. Here is the first chapter. I hope you enjoy. Note: This is the unedited version.


CRAVED (book one) is currently FREE on Amazon until September 29th!  Chapter One ~ Gwen ~ “Oomph.” I slammed into a hard body, bouncing back and stumbling. Just as I was about to topple over and crash onto the cold asphalt, a hand wrapped around my arm and saved me from falling. I brushed my long ebony hair out of my eyes and came face to face with Dorian—the man who claimed to be my boyfriend.  After seeing the elf woman bring dead rose vines to life and entrap Dorian from hurting me, I was more than a little shaken up. Did I forget to mention that someone zapped my brain? Yeah, it was blank up there. I knew the basic stuff like how to count, the alphabet and everyday things like that, but faces, towns and my history was a huge blank spot. Every time I tried to recall who I was, where I came from or who the big ruggedly handsome man before me was, my head filled with static noise.

Dorian released me, holding his hands up in surrender as though the action would convince me he wasn’t going to hurt me. His appearance contradicted the friendly gesture though. At six-foot-three, the man towered over me. He had shoulder-length brown hair that brushed against the leather of his motorcycle jacket. His legs, swathed in black jeans, were muscular and strong as were his broad shoulders. I couldn’t tell with the darkness of the night, but if I had to guess, I’d say his trim waist was just as muscular and full or washboard ripples. Despite how menacing he appeared, I couldn’t deny that he was attractive, very attractive.

“Gwen,” he said and I could tell he was using a soothing tone to assure me everything would be all right. I wasn’t buying it, not after he chased me down the street and I witness things that shouldn’t be possible.

“Gwen,” I repeated, testing the name for familiarity. It didn’t trigger any of my lost memories. “Is that my name?”

He nodded slowly, the light from the streetlamp reflecting off his aviator sunglasses. Why the hell was he wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night?

“Someone cursed you,” he continued in that same soothing tone, “that is why you cannot remember anything. Don’t worry though, when I find the bitch that did this, her soul is as good as mine.”

I arched an eyebrow, taking a step back. “You’re like her aren’t you, the elf woman?”

Dorian shook his head, a slow smile slipping across his mouth. “I’m much worse.”

Yep, I’d been smart to be afraid of him. His good looks were only a mask he used to hide the monster within.

My gaze skirted around the town. “You said someone cursed me?” I asked. “As in, witches, potions and spells?”

He shrugged as though I hadn’t just asked him the most ridiculous question. “It could have been a witch, but they’re not the only ones capable of casting.”

I ran my hands over my face and through my hair. This was all too much, elfin women, witches, magic and curses. What sort of town was I in and why on earth would someone want to curse me?

“I’m imagining all of this, right?” I asked, a nervous laugh bubbling up my throat. “I bumped my head and now I’m hallucinating.” I stared at Dorian expectantly, though why was beyond me. It wasn’t like a delusion would confirm that yes, I was crazy.

“You don’t know what you are, do you?”

“Other than confused?” I asked. “No, what am I?”

“A spirit walker.”

I stared at him dumbfounded. “I don’t know what that is,” I said, “but it doesn’t sound good.”

“Come on.” Dorian motioned with his head and started walking down the street. I stood in the same spot deciding if I should follow him or take off running again. I had two options. I could either run around a town I didn’t know for who knows how long, or I could follow Dorian and maybe learn what happened to me. I didn’t trust him, but he was my best choice at this point.

I started forward, making sure to keep my distance from the attractive stranger. We walked wordlessly for a few seconds. Every once in a while I snuck glances at Dorian, wondering how we knew each other. The possibility that he might be my boyfriend just didn’t seem realistic, not that I knew what was or wasn’t realistic at the moment. I just got a sense that he wasn’t my usual type of guy.

“What is a spirit walker?”

“Hmm?” Dorian asked, almost as though his mind had been somewhere else and I caught him off guard.

“You said that I’m a spirit walker,” I said, “what is that?”

“Promise not to freak out?”

“Is it something that provokes a freak out?”

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “I guess we’ll find out. A spirit walker is special type of witch.” My mouth dropped open at the information. “They specialize in death, ghosts specifically. You can sense, see, touch and control them.”

I tried very hard not to freak out, but only because Dorian expected me to. I wanted to prove him wrong and show that I wouldn’t go running down the streets screaming. Well, not again anyway.

“And this is why someone…cursed me?”

His broad shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Perhaps, though with you it could be a number of reasons.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

He stopped walking and faced me, a slow smile slipping onto his lips. “It means, you have a tendency to attract trouble. If something is going down, you can bet your ass will be at the root of it or affected by it. You’re just lucky you have me to watch over you.”

I frowned. “So, your what, my bodyguard? Where were you when my brain got zapped?”

Dorian’s smile faded, his face going steely. “Come on.”

Instead of asking more questions, I followed alongside Dorian and focused on the crunching of our shoes. We’d just made it to the end of the street when we turned right and the heart of the city opened up. Cute little shops lined either side of the street, their lights reflecting through their windows and illuminating the sidewalks. A few people walked, shopping bags in hand, but none seemed unordinary. As I eyed each person, I wondered what they were and what they could do. Were they witches like I supposedly was, or elves like the woman who bewitched the rose bushes? My eyes flicked over to Dorian again. He’d said that he was worse than the elf. Even with my shoddy brain, I knew whatever he was had to be bad. Why was I associated with him if that was true?

“So…” I began after the silence grew too heavy for all the questions lingering on my tongue. “All this is real, huh? Monsters exist and I’m one of them. I’m not being pranked am I?”

“Yes, it’s all real and no, you’re not being pranked.” Dorian’s steps quickened and I had to speed walk to keep up. Whatever he was looking for must be important. Maybe it was the key to getting my memories back.

We stopped outside of a bakery named Twisted Treats. The storefront window displayed rows upon rows of cupcakes, decorating in various shades of pinks, purples, reds and greens. Each had sprinkles that had a faint glow emitting from them. I bent down, pressing my face against the glass and stared in awe. They were beautiful in a weird sort of way, very magical, though I wasn’t sure they were edible. Is something that glows safe to eat?

Twack.

I jumped at the sound of Dorian slamming his fist against the front door. He tried the handle, curling his large hand around it and jigging until I thought it would break off.

“Son of a bitch,” he snarled.

I stared at him with wide eyes. “I’m sure we can find cupcakes somewhere else if you really want one.”

“Come on,” he said in that same snarly tone. Pushing forward, he headed down the sidewalk and disappeared between two buildings.

My eyes fell on the sparkly cupcakes again. I’d never seen anything like them. Little rays of light bounced off and casted an undulating rainbow against the glass.

“Gwen,” Dorian called, his voice echoing down the alley.

Pulling my eyes away from the colorful display, I looked down the sidewalk to find Dorian waiting for me at the mouth of the alley. I’d heard of women craving chocolate, but men going bat shit crazy for cupcakes was new to me.

“I don’t think you’ll find any pastries down there.” I headed down the sidewalk. “Besides, I think we have more pressing issues than your craving. We need to figure out how to get my memories back.” I paused, realizing that I had included him in my mission to fix my broken head. For all I knew, he was responsible for my dementia. I had to remind myself that I didn’t actually know Dorian, which meant I couldn’t fully trust him.

“That’s what we’re doing,” Dorian said, slipping his fingers through mine. My body stiffened as our skin made contact. A flash of memory flickered though my head: Dorian’s body curled over mine, his hot mouth searing a path along my neck...then blankness again. The memory faded and I was back to not remembering how I knew Dorian, though the flashback suggested I knew him in the intimate sense.

“What’s wrong?”

I blinked and looked up at him. “Uh…you and me were…I mean…you’re my boyfriend, right? That’s what you said.”

Another shrug. I noticed he did that a lot. “In a sense, yes.”

“What does that mean?” I asked. “You either are or aren’t.”

“Why the sudden interest?”

I bit my bottom lip, the memory of us still fresh in my head. “I remembered something I think.”

Dorian’s eyebrows arched over his sunglasses. “What was it?”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should tell him. What if we hadn’t been intimate and it was some long lost fantasy that decided to pop into my head? There would be no words for how embarrassing that would be.

“You and me,” I said, staring down the alley instead of at him. His fingers tightened around mine, drawing my attention back to him. Slowly, he started toward me, his face unreadable. Worried, I moved back until the brick wall of the bakery stopped me. Releasing my hand, he caressed the side of my face with more gentleness than I thought a man of his size possible.

“I thought I lost you completely,” he whispered, and then leaned forward and brought his mouth to mine. The shock of his boldness brought me up short. I fisted his leather coat in my hands and shoved against him, only to have him press harder against me. When his tongue slipped between my lips, all ideas of pushing him away fled from my mind. I opened my mouth, welcoming him inside and kissed him back. My already fuzzy head got a whole helluva lot fuzzier with his dizzying kiss. I should have known that a man that looks like him would know how to handle a woman.

He broke away from my mouth, resting his forehead against mine. “I’ll fix this, Gwen. I want you to remember all of me.” Standing up, he watched me for a long time. At least I think he was watching. Again, it was difficult to tell with those damn sunglasses.

“What’s with the sunglasses?”

A half smile bent one side of his mouth up. “They conceal what I am.”

“And what are you?” I took a step toward him. Reaching up, I gripped either side of his glasses and withdrew them from his face. His eyelids were closed, hiding his eyes from me. Slowly, he opened them and all I could do was stare in awe. Wispy gray clouds churned within his sockets as if a thunderstorm brewed within him. He didn’t have an iris or pupil, just a blanket of foggy clouds.

“They’re amazing,” I breathed.

“You’re afraid,” he responded, taking his sunglasses from my hand and replacing them onto his face. “That’s why I didn’t want you to see them.”

“I’m not. They’re just…I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

He snorted. “Actually, you have. You just don’t remember.”

“What are you?” I asked again.

“We should check out the rest of the store.”

Want more teasers? Check out my page on Facebook

The Bend-Bite-Shift Boxset for $0.99!!

It's finally here! The Bend-Bite-Shift Box Set! So if you haven't started the series, or even if you have, now is the time to jump on it at the special release price of just $0.99. You get the complete trilogy, plus two short stories, including the all new By Blood & Benevolence. Amazon Barnes & Noble iTunes Kobo Smashwords And that's not all! I also have some great prizes for folks who spread the word about the release. Check out this rafflecopter for your chance to will a $25.00 Gift Card or some awesome Bend-Bite-Shift Swag! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Melissa Lummis' new covers!

I am excited to announce a whole new look for the Love and Light Series.  The talented Stephanie Nelson has redesigned all the covers.  I hope you like them as much as I do!

Check out the new covers ...
Available on Amazon

Available on Amazon
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2 Year Anniversary Giveaway!

It has been two years since I  published Craved, my first book! I remember that day vividly because I was so frickin' nervous. Writing a book is a journey, one I wasn't sure I wanted to share with the world. I am so happy that I did. I have met amazing people and am continuously awed by the response my books have gotten. Authors cannot survive without the support of loyal readers. To know that I have so many is a blessing and inspiring. I can never thank each and every one of you enough for allowing me to live my dream. I have sold over 100,000 books and still cannot believe it! I want to thank my readers for their support and giving me purpose to finish my next book. I write each and every one for you guys! This giveaway is just a small way of showing my thanks! I will pick two winners! The giveaway is open internationally too! Can't forget about my overseas readers now can I? = ) a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eternal Summer is now available!

Eternal Summer is a collection of eight paranormal short stories. Authors include: Olivia Hardin, C.G. Powell, Mandie Stevens, Liz Schulte, Lola James, Tawdra Kandle, Stephanie Nelson and Melissa Lummis.


List of stories

One Bite Paradise by Olivia Hardin - author of the Bend-Bite-Shift trilogy
Jill’s wish gave Doc a new chance at life – literally. Almost a decade of years have passed since Jill watched her lover get killed and now that time is like a chasm between them. Can they learn how to make One Bite of Paradise become an eternity? 

Cat Napped by C.G. Powell - author of the Terra Stellar series
Tempers fly, when Sarik makes last minute changes to Jael’s and his vacation plans. How far will he go to get back in her good graces?

Eternally Yours by Mandie Stevens
Eva and Thomas are bound by magic and are getting on each others' nerves. Eva is ready for a vacation, but when someone from Thomas' past is in trouble, her holiday comes second to saving a soul from Hell.

Dark Remnants by Liz Schulte - author of the Guardian trilogy, the Easy Bake Coven series and the Ella Reynolds series.
Ella Reynolds and vacations do not mix—but she is willing to give it a try for Gabriel. However, when she stumbles across the ghost of a young woman who needs her help, all thoughts of fun and relaxation vanish from her mind. Can Ella solve this mystery before her vacation ends or will the spirit be trapped in an infinite loop forever?

Bound by Fate by Lola James - Author of the Spellbound series
Ben thought his trip to New York would be just like any other -- find two random people, nurture their love, and leave before his presence is detected. But when he runs into someone from his past, business as usual becomes complicated.The worlds of the Spellbound Series and the Fate Trilogy blend in Bound By Fate.

Stardust on the Sea by Tawdra Kandle - Author of the King series
Cathryn Whitmore does not want a vacation, not even in beautiful Cape May. But when she encounters a hot college professor at a bed and breakfast with a ghostly mystery, she just may change her mind. 

Cursed Cove by Stephanie Nelson - Author of the Gwen Sparks and Anna Avery series
Gwen and Dorian head to Hawaii, but not for fruity drinks or sunbathing. A string of murders taint what the locals are calling Cursed Cove. Haunted by the infamous Captain Clarke, Gwen and Dorian must figure out how to rid the beach of the demonic ghost before more locals lose their lives.

Daylight Come by Melissa Lummis - Author of the Love and Light series
Some fun in the sun was just what Loti needed, but from the moment she and Wolf arrive at the not- so-quaint hotel, they know something's off about the place. Cockroaches, dirty linens and an unkempt room turn out to be the least of their worries. An evil spirit haunts the beach front resort and it has no intentions of letting them check out until it gets what it wants. Can they solve the mystery before daylight comes?

                   Buying Links - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Samskaras - Book 2 in the Love & Light series is here!

On Amazon
Now available at:

Amazon 
Barnes and Noble
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iTunes

When the universe conspired to bring Loti and Wolf together, it was just getting warmed up.  After surviving Modore's assassination attempt on Wolf, the lovers want nothing more than some peace and quiet, but the universe has other plans for them.

And Loti and Wolf are done waiting to find out what they are.

Convinced there will be no happily-ever-after for them until Modore is dealt with, they form a dubious alliance with untrustworthy forces from Wolf's past. While searching for clues to the homicidal vampire's whereabouts, they uncover secrets that begin to unravel reality as they know it.  Tangled up in black ops conspiracies and fae treachery, they make a fatal mistake--overlooking the enemy in their midst.
Can love and light survive a downward spiral into darkness?



On Amazon
and Enlightened (Book 1 in the Love and Light Series) is available, too!

Amazon
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Loti Dupree's meager healing abilities have been more a curse than a blessing. What's the point if she can't save her husband from cancer? Harboring a painful secret, Loti flees the life they had in a small Appalachian town for the ashram, the spiritual retreat where she trained to be a yogini. But she finds herself running from more than grief when an ominous nightmare sets her on a dangerous path of self-discovery that challenges everything she believes--and threatens her life.

While dodging psychic attacks from an unknown assailant, Loti races to understand who and what she is before her enemy can catch up with her. To make matters worse, events throw her into the arms of a handsome but frustrating vampire. Love and light are waiting for her--if she can only figure out how to stay alive.


About the Author

Melissa Lummis considers herself a truth seeker, a peaceful warrior, a paranormal and fantasy writer, an avid reader, a thru-hiker GA->ME '98, a wife, a mother, and a free thinker. She believes the universe conspires to help an adventurer, and that if we live our lives as if it is a daring adventure (and it is!), then everything we need will find its way to us.

The author lives in rural Virginia with her husband, two children, an Alaskan Malamute and a myriad of forest creatures. The nature of her mind dictates that she write to stay sane. Otherwise, her fertile imagination takes off on tangents of its own accord, creating scenarios and worlds that confuse the space-time continuum.


Namaste, dear friends.

Turning Home - excerpt

I know you guys are used to paranormal stories from me, but the story of Turning Home came to me out of the blue and I could not stop thinking about it. Within a week I had half of the book already written. I'm loving the characters, and I can't wait to hear what you guys think of them too.

Turning Home will be told from both the girl - Brooke Kingsley- and the guy - Dylan Crawford- point of view, and is scheduled to release in late July/early August!  This snippet is an unedited version. 


“Gun it,” he called, taking a step away from the tires. His hands and the knees of his jeans were covered in mud. He swiped his forehead with the back of his arm and met my eyes in the side mirror. Realizing that I was staring, I brought my attention back to the windshield and pressed on the gas. The truck rocked forward, the engine revving against the suction of the mud.

“Stop,” Dylan yelled.

I pressed on the brake and looked in the side mirror again. Bubbles of loud laughter fell from my lips when I saw what had happened. The tires had splattered Dylan from head to toe in mud. My hand went to my mouth as I tried to silence my amusement. I shrieked when the driver’s side door whipped open and Dylan looked at me with a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

“You think that’s funny?”

He was reaching for me before I could respond, pulling me out of the truck. He slung me over his shoulder and spun around a few times. I gripped his shoulder so tightly, I was afraid I would draw blood.

“Put me down,” I said through another fit of laughter.

“You want down?” Dylan’s hands skimmed my legs, his fingers raking over my skin in a hot caress. I stopped laughing, catching my breath as I paid attention to his every move. He slipped one of my shoes off and then the other, walking back over to the truck and throwing them inside the cab.

“What are you doing?”

“You wanted down,” he said, “I didn’t think you’d want to get mud on those fancy shoes.”

He wasn’t really going to set me down in the mud, was he?

He sure as hell was.

He lowered me off his shoulder, my body sliding down his until my bare feet landed in slimy mud. I gasped, kicking up one of my heels and cringing at how gross it felt against my skin.

“I cannot believe you just did that.” I held onto his arms to steady myself. When I was sure I had my balance, I turned and worked my way back to the truck. As I took a step forward, one of my feet snagged in the muck and down I went. I landed on my butt and cringed when I felt the squishiness of the dirt beneath my body.

Dylan’s laughter filled my ears, enraging me. Didn’t he know how expensive my clothes were? I twisted around and eyed him with disdain. Before I knew it, I had a handful of mud and I was throwing it at him. It landed on his left leg, splattering against his already dirty jeans.

“Oh, someone wants to play, huh?” he bent down and dipped his hand in the mud.

“What?” I gasped. “No, you better not.”

I braced my hands on the ground and worked to get my legs beneath me, slathering them in more dirt. I had never been this filthy in my life. My Chloe shorts and Calvin Klein silk top were ruined. When I was finally on my feet again, Dylan walked over to me and ran his dirty finger down the bridge of my nose. He smiled and my anger disappeared at the playfulness in his eyes. All I could think about was getting him back. Bending down, I grabbed two handfuls of mud and flung it at him. Some landed on his face while the other hit his shoulder. I took off running when he starting getting more sludge. We chased each other around the truck, launching handfuls of mud at one another. Dylan dipped down, disappearing from my view.  I lifted myself up on my tiptoes, craning my neck to see the other side of the truck when he came running around the back end. I squealed and took off toward the front, laughing.

Dylan’s arms enclosed around my waist and I let out another excited shriek, falling into fits of laughter. I felt his chuckles against the side of my throat as his arms held me tighter against his chest. I have traveled to many places: Italy, Europe, Mexico, but my favorite place in the world was right where I was—in Dylan Crawford’s arms.  Or maybe that was the butterflies in my stomach and the sputtering of my heart clouding my judgment.“You are something else, Brooke Kingsley.”

I turned in his arms so that I could see him and giggled at how dirty his face was. He had a smear of mud across his bottom lip and I found myself reaching up to brush it away. His lips parted beneath my fingertips, and suddenly neither of us were laughing anymore. My eyes snapped up to his and then I was on my tiptoes kissing him.

Embracing the Wolf is now available!

The wait is over....

Blurb:
For the first time, Anna Avery was looking forward to the future. She’s mated to her soul mate. The pack has become her new family, and she has friends she can confide in. She had every reason to look ahead, until a vision put her future happiness in jeopardy.

Someone is set on destroying her mate, Adam, and only Anna can prevent this possible future. While trying to unravel the hazy web of her premonition, she finds out the annual pack conference will take place on her mountain. And Adam’s parents will be attending. As only a “made” wolf, Anna will have to face their prejudice and possibly make the hardest decision she has ever had to make. Because saving Adam’s life might just mean walking away from him for forever.

Buying Links
Amazon US - Amazon UK - Barnes & Noble

A Warrior's Blood release day

It's Release Day! It's Release Day!

(place cover here)

A Warrior's Blood—Blood Burden Series Bonus Story

Blurb:

Before the war, before the powers, and before the world crashed in on him Luke met a mortal woman.  Go back to the beginning of it all and take a look at Nicole through the eyes of Luke's hardened heart.

Luke steps out of the shadows and plants himself into the police department to watch over Nicole who is new to the force. Loyal to his mission he keeps his distance but a missing girl brings them onto the same case.  Together Luke and Nicole unravel the dark underbelly of a small town putting their lives on the line.   Luke can handle criminals, crooked officials, and crazy town people but will he risk his mission for a chance at love or will Sage make sure the warrior walks a line?

About the Series:

The Blood Burden Series is a fantasy/paranormal romance that is different from anything you've read before.  You will not find any vampires, werewolves, or a soft spoken woman waiting for a man to save her in this adventure.  But you will find a head strong woman who will protect those she loves with her last breath and a new paranormal element that is unique to the book world.

Reviewers are raving about the series:

"The thrills start from page one and continue to the very end. I absolutely loved it and am looking forward to (the next book)." 5 STARS! -Kim Norris-The Kindle Book Review

"How can you resist a story set in the South that treads on Irish folklore? You can't!!"
5 STARS! -John Ross, Author of "Another Lousy Day In Paradise"

"A Surefire winner by an author to watch!!"  5 STARS!-Hotmaja54

 

Reading Order:

1. Blood Awakening (Prelude) ** FREE almost everywhere e-books are sold.**

2. Burden of Blood (Novel  1) (Available in paperback and e-book)

3. Blood of Fire (Novel 2) (Available in paperback and e-book)

4. A Warrior's Blood (Bonus Story Novelette e-book)

Find them on Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Kobo, IBooks, and Smashwords.

Buy Links:

Blood Awakening: http://www.wenonahulsey.com/2013/04/blood-awakening-is-free-right-now.html

Burden of Blood: http://www.wenonahulsey.com/p/burden-of-blood.html

Blood of Fire:  http://www.wenonahulsey.com/p/blood-of-fire.html

A Warrior's Blood: http://www.wenonahulsey.com/p/blog-page.html

 

Links to Author:

http://www.wenonahulsey.com

https://www.facebook.com/WenonaHulseyAuthor

Twitter handle: @wenonahulsey