M.A. Church's Blog, page 64

Tuesday Teaser

 

This is a teaser from Kiss Me Deadly. Release date is Oct 1st

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HHG5CTM

“Mmm, listening to them begging to be fucked—and then later begging to live—is delightful.” ~Jude

 

JUDE, AS he was now known, surveyed the dance crowd. It was Friday night, and the place was packed with eager humans. He sniffed discreetly. Ah, and not just humans. There were more than a few others here too: shifters of various kinds, a demon, and what he called gifted humans—those who could control things with their minds or start fires with just a thought. He took another deep breath. And a few witches. Interesting.

He ran a hand down his chest, drawing attention. Many interested glances returned his perusal. Several more gave him a wide berth. He smirked, well aware of the picture he presented. His perfectly styled dark hair tempted fingers to mess it up, and his chocolate brown eyes promised dark delights. The two traits certainly helped lure his prey.

Jude shivered at the lust and fear directed toward him. The frightened pleading as he drained humans of their life had always excited him, but his methods had changed over the many centuries.

Pucker Up Monday

 Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

October Spook-tacular Fest!

 

Did you know....

The holiday goes back more than 2,000 years.

Halloween all started as a pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain (which means "summer's end") held around the first of November. It celebrated the final day of the harvest and the crossing of spirits over into the other world. People in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Northern France would ward off ghosts by lighting sacrificial bonfires, and, you guessed it, wearing costumes, according to History.com.

Trick-or-treating has existed since medieval times.

Back then, it was known as "guising" in Scotland and Ireland. Young people dressed up in costumes and asked for food or money in exchange for songs, poems, or other "tricks." Today, the tradition has morphed into children to getting dressed up and asking for candy.

 Some Halloween rituals used to involve finding a husband.

During the 18th century, ladies would follow Halloween traditions that would "help" them find a romantic match. According to History.com, women would: Throw apple peels over their shoulder hoping to see their future husband’s initials, competitively bob for apples at parties because the winner would be the first to get married, and stand in a dark room with a candle in front of a mirror to look for their future husband’s face. Thankfully, those traditions have died out.

Immigrants helped popularize the holiday in the U.S.

When the Irish fled their country in the 1840s due to the potato famine, they brought their Halloween traditions with them. By the 1920s, the holiday the mischief reached an all-time high. Some believe community-based trick-or-treating became popular in the 1930s as a way to control the excessive pranksters.

Sugar rationing during World War II halted trick-or-treating.

After the rationing ended, the tradition grew into what we're familiar with today. Candy companies started launching advertising campaigns to capitalize on the ritual.

Now Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the country.

It comes after only Christmas. Consumers spent approximately $9 billion (!) on Halloween last year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). That's A LOT of candy and costumes.

Tuesday Teaser

 

This is a teaser from Day's Light, book #2 in the Mystic Bay series. The book is now done and off to the editor!

“Mark!”

They’d given those fuckers what they wanted, and they still killed them in cold blood. And now he couldn’t say his final goodbyes? Help Michael? Mourn with his own damn brother?

There was a scramble of feet and cussing, but he didn’t care. His head spun with the need to destroy, to rip and tear. It was the only thing that matter. Blood. A need rose in him. Yes, he wanted blood.

The burning anger whispered to him, insisting he destroy the ones who did this, that the ones who killed his mom and dad must pay. He’d rip their guts out, tie them around their throats, and use it to choke the life out of those assholes. He would… he would….

The reflection of something tall and furry caught his attention. Snarling, he whipped around and peered across the hall into a bedroom where a full-length mirror stood. A wolf-like monstrosity, humanoid in shape, stood upright on two powerful legs. Unable to help himself, he moved toward the mirror.

The creature easily stood eight foot tall but slouched slightly. A fluffy tail whipped behind it. He studied the absolute lack of human-like features in the facial structure: the defined muzzle with razor sharp teeth, the wolf-like ears that stood upright on the skull, the bright yellow eyes that dominated the face.

Me. That’s me.

Lifting his arm, he studied his paw-hands that had long, deadly nails and an opposable thumb. His heart raced as his human side retreated in horror while the predator woke fully.

One breath in.  

Kill.

One breath out.

Kill them.

One breath in.

KILL THEM!

Blackness threatened to descend.

“I can hear your thoughts clearly, and you’ll have your revenge, I promise you that.” Nonchalantly Hunter leaned against the doorframe. “But for now, I need you to not let the predator take over. Find your human side—the side that’s capable of love. Of happiness. The side that isn’t bloodthirsty and feral. It’s there. Look into your heart, Mark, and find your humanity.”

Mark searched for that part of him, the part he knew so well. This side of him still wanted blood to flow, and he kinda did too, but… but his mate had asked him to not lose himself to the predator. This side of him might thirst for blood, but Mark wanted justice—in whatever form that was for werewolves. Not bloodshed.

Mark shuddered as he turned away from his reflection. Monster.

Hunter tilted his head. “Beautiful.”

Hideous.

Hunter pushed off the doorframe and strolled to Mark. Calmly he grasped Mark’s massive muzzle, and he definitely had to reach since Mark towered over him. Hunter’s eyes blazed yellow too as he stared at Mark. “Breathtakingly beautiful.”

Pucker Up Monday

Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Finicky Friday - Potato Salad with Bacon and Eggs

 

INGREDIENTS

6 medium russet potatoes (about 2 lb.), peeled, cut into 1" pieces

2 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. kosher salt

3 large eggs

4 slices bacon

1 cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

2 Tbsp. dill relish

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

1 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

½ cup halved pitted black olives from a can

RECIPE PREPARATION

Place potatoes in a large pot and pour in cold water to cover by 2". Add 2 Tbsp. salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, then let cool slightly (the potatoes should be warm when you dress them, which will help them soak up the dressing).

Meanwhile, cook eggs in a large saucepan of boiling water 8 minutes (whites and yolks will be set). Drain; transfer to a bowl of ice water and let cool. Drain, peel, and quarter eggs.

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning halfway through, until brown and crisp, 8–10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain and let cool slightly. Tear into 1" pieces. Reserve 2 Tbsp. bacon fat in pan.

Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, relish, mustard, garlic powder, pepper, and remaining ½ tsp. salt in a large bowl. Add potatoes, eggs, tomatoes, olives, half of bacon, and reserved bacon fat and fold gently until combined and completely coated. Transfer salad to a platter and top with remaining bacon.

Link:https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/potato-and-egg-salad-with-cherry-tomatoes-and-olives

Thursday book recommendation

 

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.

 

This week is: How to Shield an Assassin (Unholy Trifecta Book 1) by AJ Sherwood 

 

Blurb:

It’s not stealing if you’re stealing it back….

Ari had a game plan for life. Shoot people. Get money. Hang out with fellow criminal friends. He saw absolutely no reason to change that plan until one dark night in Memphis, when a little girl reached out to him with pocket change and a desperate plea for him to help her.

Adopting an abused little girl off the streets was, needless to say, not part of the plan. Ari had no idea what he was doing with an eight year old. He especially didn’t know how to juggle taking contracts and raising a little girl.

Things get more complicated when the mercenary, Carter Harrison, approaches him with a job. He needs Ari’s expertise to get into the very high-security museum, Knowles, and steal back Monet’s Water Lily Pond. The job isn’t an easy one. He’d need more than the two of them to make it happen. It’s further complicated because Ari’s not sure what to do with his new daughter while working this job.

And for that matter, how’s he supposed to handle the sexy mercenary?

 

Tags:

Not child safe but child approved, children know best, Remi approves this book, idiots in love, but Remi loves them anyway, criminals make the best uncles, family of choice, Ari acknowledges Remi as the smarter one, Carter admits his own insanity, nothing blows up, Ivan is very disappointed by this, Kyou has PLANS for Remi, licking solves all problems, bedsheets, lifeskills, children should come with warning labels, it’s not stealing if you’re stealing it BACK, right?, the author once again regrets nothing

 

 

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z4263WC

Tuesday Teaser

 

This is a teaser from Day's Light, book #2 in the Mystic Bay series. 

THE NUMEROUS odors were overwhelming, but that damn woodsy scent with a hint of pine stood out. He inhaled deeply. He’d noticed it before but hadn’t known then what it was.

Comfort.

Home.

Pack.

Mate!

The words streamed through his mind, and there was a rightness to them. They made absolute sense. It all made sense, especially that last one. He now knew what the enticing scent was—it was the wolf who was his, who belonged to only him. Silly human worries about how that came to be faded from his mind. He wanted to properly greet his mate, and then go exploring.

Struggling up, he lurched around the room. He hit the dresser and snarled. Getting used to four paws instead of two legs was a trip. Out of the corner of his eye, something furry caught his attention, and he twisted around to see what it was. It wagged at him. He yipped at it. It wagged again, almost as if taunting him. Huh. Couldn’t have that. Maybe he should try and catch it!

Round and round he went, chasing that thing that was apparently attached to the back end of him. Dizzy, he staggered against the ruined bed, caught the sheet with his claws, and down he went. Hind leg kicking, he snarled at the offending object.

Pucker Up Monday

 Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.

  

This week is: Ancient Bond (Masters and Servants Book 1) by Dora Esquivel (**This is a cliffhanger, but book#2 is out (I haven’t read it yet). It’s also dark and twisted**)

 

Blurb:

There are moments where life beats you to your knees to show you there are nowhere else to go but up.

For five hundred years, a demon enslaved Lucien, and now not only his family but his pack were butchered down to the last. It took a millennium for Lucien to grow as alpha and become an incubus. But his powers have yet to develop to their full extent.

To claim his place as a leader, a Supreme Alpha, Lucien must first find a mate and free himself from the grip of the Vampire Master, Sargon. Through his entire journey, Lucien feeds a desire to avenge his family and mother to bring his wrath upon his uncle's house.

In a world where his blood is unpure, where hybrids are vermin, Lucien must rise and protect what he has left. Secret agenda or political purposes have nothing against Lucien's will to avenge what is rightfully his.

Lucien has nowhere else to go, and no more excuses, the wildness he tamed unleashes, and his desire for vengeance has him stop at nothing.

Welcome to Lucien's life.

 

 

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DSPYCHY