Lauren Dawes's Blog, page 16

A Bookish Escape: Book Review: Dark Desire (Dark #2) by Lauren Dawes...

 *Taken from 'A Bookish Escape' book blog*
The time of Odin is over. The Aesir gods now live among the humans in their bustling modern cities. Their brutal dominion over the other gods and their eradication of the entire dark elf race may have ended, but their actions have not been forgotten.

With the death of Adrian still haunting Taer’s every waking breath, she dreams of getting revenge on the dark elf responsible for her brother’s murder. But when the one person she’s depending on to train her in the art of weaponry refuses to help, she has no other choice but to get instruction from the most unlikely of people. Driven by an undeniable desire, Taer finds herself learning more than just how to fight.

Eir, the goddess of healing, has had her spirit destroyed with the death of her twin at the hands of a deranged god. Still struggling with her loss, she is merely surviving each day. That is until a chance encounter with a human shows her that her broken heart can be mended in the simplest of ways.





Dreams Are Full of Dark and Terrible Things
Another hit! When I first read the synopsis to Dark Desire I wasn’t sure how I would like it because I fell in love with Korvain and Bryn. The good news is they were very much a part of this second installment. The bad news? Well, there isn’t any I was completely immersed in this installment from beginning to end. The focus was on Taer and Eir. These two suffered greatly in the first. Currently we follow Taer through her rage and determination to avenge her brother. Eir lost her sister in a horrific way and thus we follow her through the darkness of her grief. As much as I love Korvain and Bryn because these two really captured my heart, it was refreshing to focus on other characters. After everything that happened in the first book the second book was full of these wonderful characters moving on, adjusting and avenging. Each respective guy was absolutely delectable and perfect for the girls. I can’t wait for this series to continue I will for sure be following along with the events as they unfold.


D-arrion, sadistic and pure evil his days are numbered. Off into hiding for a time will not be enough to keep him safe forever. F-ing with the wrong Mare can bring dire consequences.
A-idan, his death is something that weighs heavily on Taer. Driven by a lust for revenge there isn’t anything she won’t do to make sure she reaches it.
R-emorse, Eir wishes things could be different but it seems her sister was destined to die and there was nothing anyone could do to change the outcome.
K-ind, Eir has always had a gentle heart love has always been her pulling force. Eir will surpass these dark times with an open heart.


D-esire, Taer will move heaven and earth to avenge her brother making sure the Mare responsible pays the ultimate price. The life of this being is inconsequential. Desire and revenge are the only things coursing through Taer’s body.
E-scape, Eir has been a nurse since the fall. Helping people has always been her calling now she needs to figure out how to help herself.
S-ingle, Loki has one wish one pull and he will do what it takes to see the all father dead by his hand.
I-rritating, Korvain wants to control each situation in his life but Taer and Eir have their own wishes and desires. Being controlled is not something they are used to therefore they will push against the grain all the while seeking what their hearts desire.
R-estrictions, Taer is unabashed in her pursuit of revenge allying herself with possible enemies is her only hope. Not wanting to ruin her chance at revenge she will take the necessary risks of trust to achieve her wishes.
E-vening, Eir has been through too much to let a simple misunderstanding interfere with what lays in her heart. Going after Mason feels right and Eir will no longer deny her feelings.


Gosh that ending was heart stopping in a very good way. So many things are left unanswered but it’s because we are set up nicely for the next book. All of the characters that I fell in love with in the first installment are there in the second. Seeing them develop was a bonus treat that was unexpected. Bravo! I cannot wait to continue with this series to see what happens. I will say Taer has skyrocketed to my favorites and I can’t wait to see more of her and Aubrey. Yikes those two are smoking! Dawes will captivate you with these books so get ready for an adventure full of anticipation and excitement with secrets and deceptions to boot.

My Rating 4.5 Shadows, Nightmares, Healing, Training, Dog, Shift, War Hammer, Dreams, Doors, Cancer, Hospital, Sushi, Fight, Sword, Doors, Ocean, Family, Passionate Redeemed filled Stars!

Author Spotlight: Elle Clouse

 
Elle has been writing fantasy and science fiction romance for years and an avid participant in the NaNoWriMo. Elle is happily married to a martial arts instructor, a mother of two small boys, and constantly talking her husband out of adopting a new pet. She knits and stamps in her spare time as well as feeds a latte addiction.


   This or That?
  Vampire or Werewolf?
Vampire
Romance or Erotica?
Romance
eBook or Paperback?
Paperback
Wine or Chocolate?
CHOCOLATE Writing or Reading?
Writing

Where to find Elle...
Website | Facebook | Fan Group | Newsletter | Twitter | YouTube

What harm could come from impersonating royalty?
 
 After years on the road conning wealthy nobles out of their gold, Kiera is ready to give up her life of crime and return to her childhood home of Cearbhall. She’s got one last job in mind, one that will see her set for life. What harm could come from impersonating a country princess to marry a prince and live wealthily ever after? Except her childhood home is nothing like she remembered.

 The king has gone senile, his younger sons rule with terror, and the crown prince is missing. The prince she’s to wed is only interested in siring an heir, and her future brother-in-law wants to get into her skirts. Deciding the grifter’s life wasn’t so bad after all, Kiera plots her escape. Before she can steal away, she’s discovered and thrown into the dungeon with a crazed wolfborn to die.

Lachlan never thought that he’d see his childhood sweetheart once his wolfborn affliction set in.  Nor did he expect to ever see daylight. Imprisoned in the dungeon since adolescence, his brothers have usurped the throne and trail evil in their wake. When Kiera lands in the dungeon with him, he recovers his will to put things right. Kiera may not remember him, but he remembers her, and Lachlan vows to save her from his brothers and their schemes. 

Except Kiera wields a power unlike any other, and she doesn’t need saving. But the people of Cearbhall do. As Kiera and Lachlan fight the evil princes, they uncover a greater magic in the world around them, and a powerful magic between them that can’t be denied…

Where to find "Stealing the Wolf Prince"
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
B&N |  Utopia Press | All Romance eBooks | iBooks | Scribd

Book Spotlight: "Ruby Rising" by Leah Cook

 A coming of age debut novel where nobody is who they seem and everyone has an ulterior motive.

When Ruby De Grey moves to small town Primfield with her parents she had no idea what lay in store for her.

At first things seem good, she's made friends with a group who seem to be the popular kids, she has a new boyfriend and her relationship with her parents is back on track. But when weird things start to happen, like her window randomly exploding when she gets upset, Ruby needs to focus on who her friends are and who her enemies are. 

For sometimes, they are one and the same. 

Mikayla befriends her before the school year even starts and, despite her seemingly popular status, Ruby can't help but notice that she is on the odd side of weird. With her pure raven hair and emerald eyes Ruby at first ignores her instincts to run the other way and allows herself to be pulled under Mikayla's wing. 

When Ruby discovers her mother's elemental ability she suddenly doesn't feel like she's that different. Maybe she has the same powers but just has realised yet. 

Ruby quickly learns to pick her battles, for as fast as she's gaining her abilities, she gaining enemies twice as quick.
In the age old battle of good versus evil, will Ruby live long enough to become what destiny has in store? 

Genre: ParanormalLength: 215 pages
Where can I get my copy?
Smashwords | Amazon
 
 About the author
I've been writing on and off for most of my life. As a child, like reading, writing allowed me to escape the realities of life, and as I've grown this is also been helpful!
I have a lot of unpublished stories and even more ideas in my 'writing journal' that I probably wont ever have time to get around to actually writing. 

I living with my husband, my three amazing boys (Charlie (7), Alex (4) and Jaxon (3)) on 20 acres just outside of Kyneton, Victoria, Australia. We share with our two dogs, Bailee and Sarge, our cat, Azriel, Billy the goat, and a handful of chickens.

I work as an office administration assistant at an abattoirs, where my husband works as a supervisor. I don't touch the meat, just the paperwork. 

I also have a charity, Woman Against Child Abuse Inc., which you can find on Facebook, please visit and see what we are all about.


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Book Spotlight: "Of Love and Secrets" by Margaret Lynette Sharp

This is the story of an eighteen-year old woman as she battles for autonomy and a life of her own. Still living at home, under the ever-watchful eye of her domineering mother, Jenny struggles to build a life and find love. What is her destiny?
Genre: Coming of ageLength:  142 pages









What people are saying about "Of Love and Secrets"
"You'll be captivated by the story, strongly involved with the characters (and Jenny is particularly endearing), and swept to the conclusion, which also offers a revelation and a twist." ~ Amazon review
 "Of Love and Secrets is a delightful, sweet little romance; a quick, easy read by Aussie author Margaret Lynette Sharp which I enjoyed and in my opinion it is her best yet."~ Amazon review
Where can I get my copy?
 Amazon
About the author
It’s 2014. I’ve been writing now for almost three and a half years, and have ten titles published and available on Amazon. All except one, ’60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences’, are romantic. The most recent three in the series are novellas, a medium I find I’m enjoying.
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Book Review: "The Ultimate Killer" by Kimberley Clark

Brought back to life, Kira awoke to a world where she no longer belonged. She was one of them now…a mythlend, the scourge that she’d lived her entire life hunting. What was worse, she had become the species that she and a number of other mythlends had tried desperately to stop from being awoken…the Hunrati.

But they had failed.

By the time Kira had opened her eyes, the Hunrati were already living up to their reputation, torturing, massacring, burning cities to the ground like all indestructible killing machines do when they see themselves as gods; any resistance to their actions were therefore deemed futile within days of their first appearance.

Kira wanted to stop them, but she had become their prisoner when she attacked their Queen out of rage for what they had done, and as such, she was rendered incapable of using any of her abilities.

Trapped, alone, and not knowing what had happened to those she cared about, her only way out was to earn their trust. That meant getting close to the volatile and extremely attractive Pheres, and doing everything he instructed, regardless of how depraved it was.

But how close was she willing to allow such a dangerous creature when he wasn’t the man she loved?
Better yet…how far was she willing to go before she lost her humanity completely?  
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 472 pages

I finished reading Clark’s second installment in the Battles in the Dark series a few weeks ago, but needed a few more weeks to digest and reflect on it. I’ll just start by saying that you must, must, mustread her first book The Species Within because The Ultimate Killer starts up just where the first book finishes. To read my review of book one, click here. 
The Ultimate Killer follows the continued story of Kira after her widely-believed death. <Spoiler Alert> She sacrificed herself at the end of The Species Within, only to find that she’s awakened as one of the monsters she and the other vampire clans had been trying to stop. This book follows the direct aftermath of the Hunrati’s release into the human and mythlend world.
Kira is one of the protagonists in The Ultimate Killer. In the first book, I was really invested in the relationship she had with Emmerich—a vampire—and Kuron—an essence-eating creature called a Mooran; however, with this book, I found myself rooting for the “bad guy”. I really liked Pheres, the Hunrati who has been charged with looking after Kira and guiding her in all the ways of the Hunrati. I found myself wanting to get back to him and Kira whenever the plot deviated from their storyline. 
Clark has a very natural ability to write fight scenes, which (as many authors would know) is a really difficult task. It takes choreography and skill, and the ability to ‘see’ the fight play out in your head then transfer the images to the paper is a real art form. My favourite battle scenes of the book occurred near the end where many of the mythlends (mythical creatures) were forced to battle one another. 
In my opinion, The Ultimate Killer walks a fine line between urban fantasy and high fantasy. Primarily an urban fantasy novel (set in a modern city, all the characters are supernatural in nature) there are a lot of the finer details Clark that has written in where you can see how she has been influence by works of high fantasy. If I had to guess, I’d say Tolkien and George R. R. Martin were and still are sources of inspiration for her. 
There was only one thing that didn’t really work for me with this book—and was true with book one too–and that had to do with the amount of terminology Clark uses. Thankfully she has listened to the fans and provided a glossary at the front of the book, but I’d still recommend you have a notepad handy while you’re reading (especially on a Kindle).
All in all, The Ultimate Killer is a great read. It leads into the third book well, although I believe we have to wait a little longer until that will be available to purchase. If you love loads of different mythical creatures—some well-known and other which are more obscure—and getting immersed in different worlds, then you don’t want to miss this series. It’s gritty. It’s sexy. It’s a good read and a great series to get in to. 


  ҉
Book 1: The Species Within   Kira, a huntress plagued by dreams of fire and pain has worked tirelessly to rid her city of the scourge that has nearly destroyed it…nostvores, mythlend creatures with dark and vast appetites for blood and sex. She does this not only because they had killed so many people in her life, but also because she has an edge that no other human had…she has their abilities. The problem was, these abilities were killing her and she feared time was no longer on her side.
So the moment she found out that Darius, a nostvore leader was threatening to awaken an indestructible species to help him enslave all humans and mythlends, and that she may be the key to his plan, she knew her only choice was to risk her life with the little time that she had left and join her enemy to find out why, and to make sure his plan failed.
If that wasn’t dangerous enough, the more time she spends with the Vanatre nostvore Emmerich, and the mooran Kuron, who she brings with her for protection, the less she wants to kill them. Instead, she feels an unexplainable attraction towards them both, and she fears surrendering to such desire with either is a deadly game to play, for she would not only be risking her life, but quite possibly her heart.




Kimberley lives by the idea that everyone should have a bucket list of things they want to accomplish in life, but not only to have a list, but attempt to mark off as many items as possible. 

One goal that was high on hers was writing a novel and having it published. This idea of writing a novel wasn't new to her, but an inevitability, as her love of reading books and watching movies inspired her to create her own stories. 

When the day came that she finally did start to write, she realized that this was going to be something that she wanted to do more than once, emphasized by the fact that her first novel was to be book 1 of a trilogy, and that there are many more stories waiting inside her head ready to be created. 

Her hope is that not only for people to enjoy hers books, but that people are inspired by them as others have inspired her.
Kimberley was born in Sydney, Australia, and currently resides in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Website  |   Facebook   |  Twitter   |  Goodreads

Guest Post: A. Finlay talking about "Blinding Darkness"

Someone once told me that the characters in your dreams are all a projection of you. The same is true in writing. For anyone who has read my books, I’ll understand if you’re a little concerned. One of my favourite characters to write is  my bad guy. Lucifer. I hear ya, he’s been written to death, snort, eye roll, groan all of that, but as my last post states, I’m basing characters and storylines on research that I’ve done, so making up all my characters wouldn’t really work.
In saying that, I’m not one for the typical evil guy. Luci isn’t going to fly at you, arms outstretched and murder you in some brutal manner. He’s going to wait until you’re not home, sneak into your house and eat all of your cheese. Because you love cheese and it will confuse you.
The worst type of baddies are those who aren’t openly evil. They butter you up, wear you down and then make you think you’re losing your marbles. But they’ve commandeered your marbles. They’re stroking them softly and then flicking them off the overpass. This is why Lucifer is fun to write.
So if my meanies have sass, what about my mainies?
This is where it became a little more difficult. I think when one writes material that contains religious content, there’s an expectation for the protagonists to be one dimensional good guys. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure those types of people exist, but they’re sitting in an immaculate room, sipping herbal tea and watching Little House on the Prairie. Not fighting demons.
This might be the reason my first book was rejected from a few (not all) Christian bookstores. I’ll never forget the time one of my review copies was returned to me by a little old lady who ran small Christian bookstore. She was sweet as sugar and said she read the whole thing but it just wasn’t something she was willing to stock. When I sat in my car and inspected the book, I saw that it was tattered and covered in candle wax. Candle wax! What on earth could have gone on while she ploughed through the pages? Bless her wooly moccasons, I think I may have traumatised the poor woman.
My point was to highlight that my characters aren’t perfect, but now all I can think about is little old ladies throwing cups of tea at baddies. It could work. I really shouldn’t rule it out.
Binding Darkness, the second book in the Shadows of Light series, follows on from the first. Aaliya has mastered many of her angel abilities, her life is a straight path of friendship and fun, but she’s complacent.
It’s the story after the happy ending where the true depths of the characters are revealed. Just because she was born into a life, does not make her worthy of it. Like seeping darkness that closes in on the day, Aaliya’s world changes before her. She is under attack, but it’s not her life that he wants. The most dangerous battle she will fight is that of her mind.
Did you like how I told you about the book without actually telling you anything about the book? I can’t spoil the first in the series by blurting out everything about the second.
So it’s back to writing for me, I’ve only a few chapters until I’ve finished “Afterglow”.  I’m so excited I’m about to lose the plot entirely (I really need my plot) and I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to your cheese. You might want to check it’s still in your fridge. (gasp).

҉

As Aaliya and her friends are thrown into the public eye, her world falls apart; 
Arael is called to duty, Daniel leaves with no explanation and Sophia is strangely calm about it.
 

A new friend named Sariah enters her life, but is violently taken from her. 
As Aaliya searches for Sariah, the world grows darker; bats swarm the skies, crows appear in odd places and shadow-like spirits lurk in broad daylight.
 

Aaliya is vulnerable, alone and doesn't trust the most important people in her life. To overcome the darkness, Aaliya must first fight her most dangerous battle. 
 
The battle of her mind.

Where can I get my copy?  

Amazon

Book Spotlight: "Binding Darkness" by A. Finlay

As Aaliya and her friends are thrown into the public eye, her world falls apart; 
Arael is called to duty, Daniel leaves with no explanation and Sophia is strangely calm about it.


A new friend named Sariah enters her life, but is violently taken from her. 
As Aaliya searches for Sariah, the world grows darker; bats swarm the skies, crows appear in odd places and shadow-like spirits lurk in broad daylight.


Aaliya is vulnerable, alone and doesn't trust the most important people in her life. To overcome the darkness, Aaliya must first fight her most dangerous battle. 


The battle of her mind.
Genre: Urban Fantasy Length: 332 pages
What people are saying about "Shadows of Light"
Amazon Review
"I love a book where you have no idea where it is heading but the journey is so brilliant I couldn't put it down. Another highly recommended book and can't wait to read the final! " Amazon Review
"A spine tingling journey through lives of some cleverly built characters, coupled with hard-hitting moments of action and romance. A. Finlay shows us a clear example of how characters can unite to fight back against their enemies. There were stages throughout the book where I thought I would be able to guess the very next moment but the author somehow finds away to evade expectation to create a story filled with surprise."
Where can I get my copy?  

Amazon


About the author    

A. Finlay (Alison Finlay) is an Australian Fiction Author, residing in Melbourne. She began writing the Shadows of Light trilogy in January 2009, when she was 25 years old and by June of the same year she had finished the first manuscript and planned the next two books in the series.Website | Facebook | Twitter

New Release: "Clash" by Sawyer Bennett

Clash: A Legal Affairs Story (Book #1 of Cal and Macy’s Story)
Sawyer Bennett

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Clash, a novella, is the first book in this Legal Affairs trilogy (Cal and Macy’s Story) and is releasing on 4/7/15. Grind will be released on 4/21/15 and Yield `will be released on 5/5/15. Grind and Yield are full length novels.

Clash Synopsis:

Clash (verb): to conflict, disagree.

It might be fair to say that I despise Macy Carrington. She slings insults with precision, not caring about the destruction she leaves in her wake. We clash in a battle of wills every time we’re around each other, and yet… I still fantasize about being lodged deep within her body.

Clash (verb): to come together or collide.

I have never encountered someone that grates me the way Cal Carson does. His pompous, arrogant demeanor. A holier-than-thou attitude. Any interaction with “Saint Cal” ends in a verbal clash of epic proportions, and yet… there’s no one I’d rather have in my bed than him.

Clash (noun): a battle, fight or skirmish.

Her breathy moans mingle with the sound of our flesh coming together, clashing with the silence that surrounds us, dispelling any notions I once had about Macy Carrington.

Maybe I can break down her walls if we can call a truce to this battle. 

He whispers filthy words in my ear, provoking feelings I never knew were possible. The burning desire in his touch clashes with everything I once believed about Cal Carson.

Maybe he can be the balm I need to soothe my broken soul, if only temporarily.

Check it out on Goodreads .






Purchase Clash: A Legal Affairs Story:
Amazon | iBooks | Google Play


About the Author

 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a
snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. 

Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series and the Last Call Series.

Connect with Sawyer...
Facebook | Twitter | Tsu | Instagram | Goodreads | Website | Newsletter

Guest Post: A. Finlay talking about "Shadows of Light"

My story didn’t begin the way most author’s do. Not that most authors start in the same manner, but you get my drift.
It all started with a cult. I call it a cult because that’s the easiest way for you to understand what I’m talking about, without me having to list every rule I was bound by. Also, I’m dramatic and it sounds punchier.

Sitting at church every Sunday, Wednesday night and Saturday, bible on lap I found myself reading further on than was being spoken about. The bible has so many spiritual wars and awesome storylines that never get referred to, it’s sort of bizarre that they keep remaking Noah movies over and over again. Demons, devils, angels, sniveling beasts and ethereal warriors are scattered throughout the bible. I’d say “Lord of the Rings eat your heart out,” but this is not an Indiana Jones movie and consumption of hearts is not encouraged. Unless they are chocolate hearts, then carry on. I digress.

So therein lies the interest that seeped into the pages of my trilogy, the ultimate good versus evil, except with some characters who are not quite good and others who are only mostly evil.

I didn’t write creatively when I was younger. In fact, I barely did homework. I quit school after year ten, moved out of home and got a job in a skateboard shop. So no one expected me to become an author.

But maybe that’s exactly what they should have expected. I was that kid who got left alone a lot. At school I was the weirdo who went to church, at church I was the younger sister who was nowhere near as cool as her older sibling. I remember being on church camps, which went for an insane amount of time, and I’d end up down at the river by myself, trying not to cry and just hanging out with the nature around me. Looking back, those are some of the fondest childhood memories I have. In a really good way.

I was also a dreamer. When I was only about five years old, I found it really hard to get to sleep. One night my mum told me to think of a story, so I did just that. Every night. But I’d get so into the stories that I would have even more trouble sleeping. There was always a boy, a dangerous situation, and me being the hero.

In real life though, I was shy. Being an insecure extravert is a torturous personality trait to have (especially when your are boy crazy but painfully awkward).

I married young and divorced, well, pretty young too. I’m unsure if there’s a record for the youngest divorcee, but I’m a keen contender. Thus ended my religious upbringing, as divorce is a sin (but being encouraged to marry at eighteen to ‘avoid fornication’ is not). I’m not bitter, just theatrical. I’d moved states for the guy, so most of my family were miles away, my friends weren’t allowed to talk to me (in case they caught my sin I think), and I found myself in one bad relationship after the next (No offence to any of my ex’s, I’m sure they mutually think I’m barking mad).

So there I was, twenty something, living with the worst guy I’d ever dated, confused about life, on my way back to my dead-end job after four weeks off, and I decided to write a book. Shadows of Light, my first novel, my soul piece is about a girl trying to figure out who she is and what she wants. It starts at a similar place in her life to where I was; isolated from friends and family, miserable in my job, no direction. I tell people that the story changed as I added demons, angels, fantasy, but if I’m honest it didn’t really. In a lot of ways they are metaphors for things I was dealing with… minus the boyfriend. The fact that I wrote him out of my book should have hinted me to get out of the relationship, but he made an appearance in other ways. Did I mention there are demons in the story?

I then took it one step further and wrote a gorgeous man into the book who was absolutely nothing like the man I was dating. He changed my life. Every girl knows what she deserves, she just doesn’t believe it exists. Or she’s bored or something. But writing about my ideal man helped me realise what I wanted. So I left my horrible boyfriend.

Only months after writing Shadows of Light, it happened to me. I met the man that not even my dreams could fathom.
I’m now married with an eight-month-old daughter, and life is great. I’m also only chapters away from closing out the Shadows of Light trilogy.

So you see, becoming an author was not that much of a stretch. Had I have known at school that I’d have a passion for writing, I might have passed English. But what is the point of success if it’s all you’ve ever known?

  ҉

Some people run away from the past, but Aaliya’s past is running away from her. The friends she could always count on are breaking ties and she can’t fathom why. 
As her summer holiday from work draws to a depressing close, she wakes to find a creature watching her in the night. She attempts to pass it off as a hallucination, only to come face to face with an ethereal being telling her to run.
Aaliya is left questioning the spiritual realm.
Her path crosses with a mysterious guy from work, and she can’t get him out of her mind. But something isn’t right. He’s always around when the dark creatures are watching.
Aaliya soon discovers she is more than human. 
She has abilities. 
As Aaliya uncovers her dark ancestry, she comes face to face with her own demons. She learns that the line between good and evil is sometimes a matter of perspective, and war can be declared from a simple lack of understanding. 
Shadows of Light dares to play in the Christian genre without advocating religion. The story and its characters, honour the origins of angel and demon legends with biblical quotes that may just have you wondering if the creatures are real.


Where can I get my copy?  
Amazon | GoogleBooks

New Release: "Holocaust" by Rachel M. Raithby

She's been named Lexia, 'man's defender', by the one who raised her and died for her, the man she called her father.
She's been named Maura, 'for darkness', by the woman who created her, a mother who sees her as a weapon, and tool for power.
She has battled for her freedom, for the revenge of her father’s death, and then given it all up to save the man she loves.
She's given up her soul, her humanity, and now, there is only one question left. Can she create her own destiny or is she bound to follow the fate set for her before she was born?
Maura?
Lexia?
Only one thing is certain; war is coming. Amazon US | UK | AU | CA

Her breath gasped out of her in a sudden hiss, dying off to a gargled cry as the cage inside of her burst open. Every kill, every emotion she’d locked away, burst out.Her foot hit the break before he’d even jumped in her path – because she knew he was here. There was only one person in the world who could strip away every shield she’d wrapped around herself. Only one person who could reach her soul, her heart through the mountain of pain and torment inside of her.“Linc,” she cried breathlessly, her eyes searching the dark night.Finding the glow of his eyes first, Lexia stared as the black panther loped out of the trees, flashing his eyes at her.He’d found her. After all this time, he’d found her. Stepping out of the vehicle in a daze, the torrential rain soaked her clothes instantly. Her feet struggled to find footing in the sodden earth.  She walked toward the majestic cat. Standing in the beam of the headlights, overcome with emotions, she was stripped of words, lost in the chaos of her mind.“Linc,” Lexia whispered, afraid her dream may shatter into a million pieces, but Lincoln wasn’t a dream. He’d found her – just like she always knew he would. Her past had been galloping toward her and had finally collided.“Lexia?” Derrick murmured softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. The caring gesture snapped her out the daze.“Take your hand from my mate, hunter,” Lincoln growled as he suddenly shifted.“Lincoln, leave him,” she said, taking a tentative step toward him. “What are you doing here?” She sighed longingly.“I promised you I’d never let the darkness take you. You are mine, Lex. The hunters can’t have you.”Sucked back to a memory, Lexia dropped to her knees screaming, the skull-cracking pain in her head too much to bear. She could hear Lincoln and Derrick shouting at her, but she’d lost all control of her body. Falling forward, her hands gripped the ground as they were swallowed by thick mud.She sat in Lincoln’s arms. His warmth seeped into her bones, warming her down to her very soul.“Killing is never easy, Lex, but sometimes it’s necessary. Sometimes we have no choice. You have to find balance, find a way to deal with it before it destroys you.”“No, Linc, you’re wrong. The killing, that’s easy. To me it’s as natural as breathing. Admitting deep down inside to enjoying it, to relish in the power I have over people, that’s the hard part. That part will destroy me, because one day, I might stop being disgusted with myself. One day, I might truly be lost and every kill – every life I take – will give me pleasure, make me smile. I hope that day never comes.”“Lexia,” he whispered. “Just give me space, Linc, please?” She rose from his lap, feeling like she didn’t deserve his love.“Lexia, that will never happen. Are you listening? I will never let that happen.”The memory broke free the feelings she’d hidden inside of her. Gripping her head, she rocked as she remembered faces of the dead, their screams, their pleas, and her joy.“I’m sorry,” she whispered to them. “I’m so sorry.” Dragging in a deep breath in hopes of calming herself, she concentrated to the frantic beating of her heart. Each pump whooshed in her ears, drowning out the memories.Her eyes found Lincoln. Remembering how he’d smiled, how his eyes would burn with desire…she remembered every sweet smile, every caress. Oh, how she missed his touch, missed feeling like the most treasured person in the world.It didn’t matter how much it hurt to feel as she did around him. It didn’t matter how many people Maura had killed with her hands. Lincoln had the power to reach through every layer of darkness. There was no power equal to his love.The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them. “My pretty panther,” she said on a broken sob. Sitting back on her heels, she looked up at him as he took a step toward her. Rain mixed with the tears running down her face as she remained powerless to move.Lincoln dropped to his knees with a pained cry, his eyes looking vulnerably human. Unable to speak, she smiled through her sobs, tilting her head ever so slightly before giving in and falling into his arms. Pulling back, she stared into his eyes, her fingers touching his face, as he touched hers, lips crashing together in desperation. They kissed, rain dripping from their hair, mingling with their tears.The rain blinded them and froze their tortured souls. It was tragic and divine, and as they pulled apart, Lexia felt herself fracture. Every broken, patched back together piece of her fell apart. Her power left her in a broken cry as her eyes turned blue. She fell onto her hands, resting her head against his chest.“Linc, you should have never come. Why did you come? You’ve put yourself in danger,” she said against his chest, taking every effort to keep the tremble from her words, yet failing.“How could I just leave you? Come with me, Lex,” he begged.“I can’t. It’s not that simple.” She wished there was some other way. Wished she had somehow ended up in a universe where her ledger was clean.

© Rachel M Raithby 2015

Book 1




Drawn into a world she thought impossible, Lexia’s innocent night of partying leaves her dazed, confused and asking questions she’s not sure she wishes to know the answers to.
Attacked by vampires, Lexia’s ability to defend herself triggers events she can't escape. Before long, she struggles to keep up a façade around her friends and family.
Then, there is Lincoln. Finding herself irresistibly drawn to him, Lexia senses he desires something more dangerous than a simple romance. Lincoln has secrets and what she learns changes her life forever.
A story of love, loss, and, betrayal, Lexia and Lincoln’s lives will never be the same again.




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Book 2




All Lexia ever wanted was to graduate from high school and leave Deadwood.  Now she would give anything to have her quiet life back.  With her Father murdered and her best friend, Alice kidnapped. Life is anything but simple.
Despite the odds, Lexia and Lincoln, the panther shifter she has fallen in Love with, rescue Alice.  On their journey, Lexia meets the one person she least expected to see again, her mother.
Seemingly abandoned as a baby, secrets unravel and lexia learns who she really is.  Her Mother created her and she was created for one purpose only...
Darkness.
Only one thing is certain, sacrifices will be made and lives will be lost.



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Born and raised in N.E.England before moving to New Zealand in 2008. She now lives in Queensland, Austraila with her Husband, three Children and a Golden Lab. Paranormal Romance Author of The Deadwood Hunter Series and YA Paranormal Author of Winter Wolf. A New Dawn Novel She hopes you love her characters as much as she does :) Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Blog  Hosted By