Lashell Collins's Blog, page 4
October 9, 2015
That’s My Jam!
So when I saw SMKC two weeks ago, their opening act was a band called The Last Internationale. I had never heard of them up until a few days before the show, but O.M.G., what a band! Fronted by the very soulful Delila Paz, who has one of the most amazing voices ever, this three-piece rock powerhouse is such a pleasure to watch live. The album is called We Will Reign, the song is “Wanted Man,” and that’s my jam!
October 6, 2015
Tuesday’s Random Chatter
What up homies? Hope you had a great weekend and that Monday was kind to you. My weekend was spent finishing up the final draft of my current work in progress. It’s a novel called Soul Stealer, and it is book one in a new series I’m calling the Rock Shifter Fairytales – and just as the name suggests, it’s a series of books about a fictional rock band who also just happen to be sexy shifters! Each book’s storyline is sort of loosely based on a fairytale, and up first is Soul Stealer, which may or may not bear a tiny resemblance to my favorite fairytale of all time, Beauty & the Beast.
I don’t have a cover for this one yet (still working on that), but I do have a tentative release date of December 6, 2015, and I plan on getting the pre-order set up within the next few days. The book is in the editing stage, but I’ll keep you posted on its progress. In the meantime, here’s a tiny excerpt to get you going. Meet Aleigha and Morpheus…
“Ms. Daniels has arrived.” Butler announced her as though she were a guest at a royal dinner, and Aleigha felt on display.
The man at the mixing board turned in his seat and stood up, rising to an imposing height. He was almost as tall as Butler, but nearly triple the valet’s size in sheer muscle mass. Warm brown skin stretched taut over ripples of pecs and abs peeking out beneath the mesh t-shirt he wore, and the long thin braids flowed over his shoulders and down his back. His eyes, sharp and endless, pierced her with the skill of a predator and looked her over from head to toe before meeting her gaze.
“Ms. Daniels, I’m Morpheus Wolfe.”
Aleigha’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes drifted up from the powerful leather covered thighs, over his torso and up to the wickedly handsome face. None of the videos or concert footage had done him one bit of justice. This man wasn’t merely gorgeous, he oozed sex appeal from every pore of his body without even trying.
“They don’t call him sex on legs for nothing, that’s for sure.”
Her friend’s statement made so much sense to her now. Rock star Morpheus Wolfe was the sexiest beast alive.
He extended his hand to her, but Aleigha was lost for a moment, struck dumb by his very presence. He arched an eyebrow at her.
“Uh, yes. Hello. I’m Aleigha Daniels.” She fumbled over her greeting and finally placed her hand in his. The very instant their hands touched the electricity in the studio surged — lights and power flickered, causing the camera crew some distress. Aleigha felt unable to look away, and the slight smile that crossed his lips intrigued her.
“Looks like the storm is getting worse. We should get started.” He let go of her hand but never took his eyes off her.
“Yes, we should,” she echoed, her voice sounding breathy and far away.
Get a hold of yourself, Aleigha!
She heard the words inside her head, but it was difficult to listen when he was looking at her that way.
“So, uh … normally I would be attempting to put my interview subject at ease right now by explaining how things will go, but since we’re on your turf with your camera crew I’m a little out of my element, I’m afraid.”
He gave another ghost of a smile as he watched her.
“Would you like me to attempt to put you at ease, Ms. Daniels?”
Aleigha blushed, turning away to hide the faint redness of her cheeks, and looked around at the crew. Was it the deep, honey-coated voice or the intense way he stared at her that made her belly quiver?
~ ~ ~**~ ~ ~
In other news, if for some reason you haven’t read my Lunar Falls Trilogy yet, now is your chance, because I’ve gone and placed the entire trilogy ON SALE for the entire month of October! Why? Well, basically it’s a celebration of the fact that book one in that series released exactly one year ago, on Halloween. And on Oct. 18, 2015, I’m releasing Exiled: A Lunar Falls Novella.
Exiled was a short story based on two minor characters from the trilogy that originally released in the Alphas on the Prowl boxed set earlier this year, and now it will be available on its own beginning on Oct. 18th. And while you wait, you can get the entire Lunar Falls Trilogy for just .99 cents each (ebooks only) from now through Oct. 31. Happy Halloween!
Visit the Lunar Falls website to read about the town, the pack, and more!
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Well, that’s all I got today peeps. Hope you have a fabulous week. Peace out!
October 2, 2015
That’s My Jam!
I’m kicking it old school today. It happens, I’m not gonna lie. The 80s was my decade, and musically speaking, I loved pretty much everything about it – from Rick Springfield’s “Jesse’s Girl” all the way to Michael Jackson’s … well, anything really. But rock also reigned supreme in the 80s, and the bigger the hair the better! So today, here’s a song that’s been hopping around my rock playlists for a long time, mostly because it’s just so much fun to sing along to. The band is Poison, the album was Look What the Cat Dragged In. The song in question is “Talk Dirty to Me,” and that’s my jam!
September 29, 2015
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At First Sight (Book One of Kitsune’s Raven) by Phoenix Johnson
She’s a Fox. He’s a Raven. From opposing sides of a shifter clan war,
their relationship is against the rules…but nothing is sweeter than
forbidden fruit.
When Kitsune returns home for a fireworks
festival, she doesn’t expect to run into Karasu, a handsome young man
with a smile that melts her heart and dampens her panties. Their
attraction is instant, their love bright and hot.When she discovers he’s
from an enemy clan, and a Raven shifter, she fights her instincts and
the clan laws to be with the one she loves.
Will their love be the balm to heal the rift between the two clans? Or will it spark an all-out war?
The Claiming by Lashell Collins
Xander Salvador knows he’s destined to be Alpha of the Woods Canyon Pack. He’s
felt it in his soul his entire life, even through the taunting and
ridicule he’s suffered over the disgrace of how his parents died. But
the Claiming is drawing near. The ancient, and some say barbaric
practice, where the strong and worthy males battle for the right to be
Big Dog often ends in death. And in order to join the battle and step
into his destiny, Xander must first claim the heart of his chosen mate,
Antonia Montgomery.
Toni doesn’t have time for love. She’s driven
to take the reins of her ailing father’s company and prove that she can
keep it on top. Her eccentric aunt’s tales of werewolves and bizarre
mating rituals have no bearing on her life. Until she’s bitten by a wolf
one night and her safe, structured world begins to spiral out of
control. Now, strange things are happening to her body. And the
mysterious, sexy man who always seems to be watching has her wondering
if her aunt’s wild tales could be true.
Savage by Kim Faulks
The transition from woman to wolf is a right of passage, one hidden
in secrecy and terrified whispers of those females left behind. Not all
who transition live to warn the others, and so the female population in
the packs dwindle. Trapped by the call of the moon and her own body’s
yearning to mate,Mia does the only thing she knows—run. Can she survive
when her scent sends the males in her pack into a frenzy? Or will two
unlikely Alphas show her that both pain and pleasure are two sides of the
same coin?
My feet slipped on the sodden leaves, so I ended up crawling more than I walked. Rough branches slapped my face as I grabbed branch after branch, using fallen trees to pull myself up the steep incline. Fallen trees gave me something to hold onto. My heaving breaths were white in the cold air, burning my chest and stealing the moisture from my mouth. The sirens faded behind me. I dared not turn around. That place was no longer my home. Those I left behind weren’t my people.
My steps speared through sunken holes, jarring my ankles and knees. I slid backward more distance than I gained as I raced for the peak. A howl ripped through the air. The faint sound brought tears to my eyes.
Not a dog.
A wolf.
Love Like Wings by Amy Lee Burgess
Dragon shifter Sebastian knows the value of things but no one can put a price
on Alexa, the woman he knows is his mate. He has three days to
convince her they belong together or he will lose her forever. Can he
overcome Alexa’s pride in time?
Claiming His Mate by Bethany Shaw
Erik hasn’t stopped thinking about Lexi since he was forced to leave
town three years ago. When he returns, he is devastated to learn that
Lexi has moved on. It’s for the best. Wolves don’t mate with humans. But
there is something about Lexi that keeps drawing him in. Will he be able
to claim her for his own?Or has he lost his chance for good?
Complication by Elle Thorne
Bootilicious Laken Araya has to serve as a judge in the equivalent of a shifter
Supreme Court. No problem right? Until the one presenting the case is
a one-night stand she never should have had.
Polar bear shifter Malachi—Ky—Romanoff is in a hell of a position. He’s
representing the petitioner in front of a woman who was butt-naked in a
reverse cow-girl the last time he saw her. He couldn’t even find the
memorable woman because they’d never exchanged names. And now he can’t
talk to her outside the confines of the case.
When the Snow Flies by Kiki Howell
On a spiritual journey to heal after a tragic accident, Anna thought
the worst that could happen while walking in a labyrinth was to be taken
by a stranger. A human stranger. Little did she know her meditation would
capture the attention of dragons.
Unbroken by Fiona Steele
A woman who belongs to another. . .
All her life Emma Pearce only wanted one thing—to live amongst the
magnificent winged steeds known as the Pegasi — even if it means
accepting a ring from a man she’ll never love. When a storm sinks their
ship and tosses her ashore on a remote island, she finds herself torn
between two men, both dark strangers who’ve been battling for centuries.
A wounded king. . .
Davian Belmarric, once king of the
free Pegasi, allowed himself to be imprisoned on a remote island with
his mortal enemy, the leader of the serpent shifters, the Belleros.
Despite torment by his foe, he takes refuge in the knowledge that his
sacrifice saved the Pegasi from extinction. But when a shipwrecked young
woman brings news of the greater world, he discovers his sacrifice
might have been in vain . . .
A battle for her heart
Davian never cared about escaping the island or even surviving—until Emma’s
arrival awakens in him a savage need. When his enemy suggests a contest
to end their conflict and decide who will leave and who will stay,
Davian fears his need to win will cost Emma her life.
Not Your Bitch by Angelica Dawson
Zoe doesn’t like being Elliot’s bitch, but doesn’t think she can do better. Linc is bound to prove her wrong, by making her his bitch, his mate.
“You are beautiful.” To make his point, Linc traced her upturned nose.
Zoe’s eyes drooped sleepily. “You’re just saying that.”
His glow went out like a snuffed candle. “You are,” he insisted.
“Yeah, really sexy,” she said with unveiled sarcasm, patting at the ring of flesh around her middle.
Linc ran his fingers down her side, over her belly, under her breasts, and over her breasts. He imagined drawing on her skin, shading all the curves to give them depth.
“I am just saying it,” he said at last and her eyes went wide in his peripheral vision. He continued to follow his finger, dark, on her pale marble skin. “I’m saying it without promises, without strings, without my own reasons. Just saying it.”
Ngyong’s Tiger by Melissa Bell
Ngyong is a secret part of Japanese Folk Law – He is the last of his line,and
his family’s tales of the ‘Legend of the Fox’ will die along with him.
He is resolved in his decision to never take a mate.
Savannah is Ngyong’s new neighbor, she’s beautiful, curvy in all the right places and
she likes what she sees on the other side of the fence. She has her own
secrets, ones that could get them both killed.
It’s impossible to outrun your fate, especially when it’s all claws and Legend.
(Five Brothers Series Spin-Off)
Changeling’s Revenge by DJ Shaw
Peyton Milne had grown up feeling like she was different from everyone else.
She’d always been able to do things, sense things, others couldn’t. When
she turned twenty, her mother told her something every person fears; she
wasn’t a Milne and never had been. She wasn’t even human. She was Fae; a
Changeling – the only good news, a unique type since she’d survived to
adulthood.Now Peyton is on a mission to find her Fae family and
find out why she was left out in the human world to die. And for that she
was going to need some help. Enter Basil, a shifter with a chip on his
shoulder and banishment under his belt.With this kind of fire-power
backing her, she hoped her family had a really good answer to her question.
Peyton stood and positioned herself between the two men when she saw Basil tense like he was getting ready to pounce on their visitor, “Excuse me, gentlemen. Remember me?”
The men looked at her, making her feel overexposed, “Yeah, hi. While I’m sure you boys would like nothing better than to beat the shit out of each other, Basil here and I were just leaving so that we could discuss some important, and rather delicate, business in private. Besides that, I happen to like this establishment and would prefer not to frighten the owners and patrons. How about we take this outside?”
September 28, 2015
Best Night Ever!
I don’t know about you, but I had a fabulous weekend, so I’m just going to gush about it for a little bit! Admittedly, it’s taken me a couple of days to sort of process it all and let the details settle. And if you follow me on Facebook at all, you probably already know this stuff, but here it is again in case you missed it. So this happened on Saturday when I went to the SMKC concert in Northfield, OH.
I LOVE this guy so freaking much! We had a great conversation about music and writing, and I actually behaved like a normal, thinking person and not a star-struck, blubbering idiot. I was so proud of myself! Of course, Todd made it easy for me, he was very welcoming and engaging, and he shocked me several times during the meet and greet just by knowing who I was. I mean, just imagine how caught off guard you would be when someone you follow and admire a great deal actually knows who you are before you introduce yourself. Todd started off our conversation by saying, “So I didn’t realize before that you are actually a writer. I’m gonna have to read some of your stuff!” And I just kind of stared at him, completely dumbstruck for a few seconds before I finally remembered how to talk! And the only thing going through my head in that moment was how do you even know this information about me? It was a surreal experience, let me tell you. And one I won’t soon forget!
It was an absolutely AMAZING night – the concert was incredible, of course. Slash kicked some serious ass, as always! Myles never sounded better! The whole band was on point and rocking. Got to hear “30 Years To Life” live, finally. Oh, and that shirt I’m wearing in the pic … I got Todd to sign that with my silver Sharpie. Now I just need to find a t-shirt frame!
As I said to my friend Janette later (and to anyone else who was willing to listen to me ramble on) BEST NIGHT EVER! Spoke briefly to Frank, got a hug and a picture with Fitz.
But DAMMIT made the night special, in so many ways! Thanks for being so awesome Mr. Kerns! 
Well, that’s all I got for you today. Hope you have a great one. It’s back to the writing cave for me now as I try frantically to finish up the first draft of my current work in progress, Soul Stealer. Peace out!
Best Night Ever!
I LOVE this guy so freaking much! We had a great conversation about music and writing, and I actually behaved like a normal, thinking person and not a star-struck, blubbering idiot. I was so proud of myself! Of course, Todd made it easy for me, he was very welcoming and engaging, and he shocked me several times during the meet and greet just by knowing who I was. I mean, just imagine how caught off guard you would be when someone you follow and admire a great deal actually knows who you are before you introduce yourself. Todd started off our conversation by saying, “So I didn’t realize before that you are actually a writer. I’m gonna have to read some of your stuff!” And I just kind of stared at him, completely dumbstruck for a few seconds before I finally remembered how to talk! And the only thing going through my head in that moment was how do you even know this information about me? It was a surreal experience, let me tell you. One I won’t soon forget!
It was an absolutely AMAZING night – the concert was incredible, of course. Slash kicked some serious ass, as always! Myles never sounded better! The whole band was on point and rocking. Got to hear “30 Years To Life” live, finally. Oh, and that shirt I’m wearing in the pic … I got Todd to sign that with my silver Sharpie. Now I just need to find a t-shirt frame!As I said to my friend Janette later (and to anyone else who was willing to listen to me ramble on) BEST NIGHT EVER! Spoke briefly to Frank, got a hug and a picture with Fitz.
But DAMMIT made the night special, in so many ways! Thanks for being so awesome Mr. Kerns!Well, that’s all I got for you today. Hope you have a great one. It’s back to the writing cave for me now as I try frantically to finish up the first draft of my current work in progress,Soul Stealer. Peace out!
September 27, 2015
#8Sunday – The Smoking Gun
Greetings fellow Earthlings! I hope you had a fabulous week. Welcome to my contribution of the Weekend Writing Warriors blog hop. For those non-writers out there, and those of you reading this who just aren’t aware, Weekend Writing Warriors is the truly cool blog hop where writers of every genre share an 8-10 sentence snippet of their work. It’s a great way to sample new writers and find some new favorites, so be sure to click over and check out the other amazing writers participating today.
So, in today’s 8 I’m continuing on from last week’s opening of my latest release, The Smoking Gun. It is book #6 in my Romantic Suspense family saga, The Kelly Family. In this scene, Detective Storm Kelly is still having a look around the crime scene and thinking about how it offends his personal lifestyle.
Rape made him sick. Women were such exquisite creatures – they were meant to be cherished and protected. The voice of his former mentor echoed in his head as he thought about the differences between inflicting pain within the confines of discipline and safe consensual play, and inflicting pain for the sheer sake of brutality and cruelty. The contrasts were staggering, and those who refused to see that — those who condemned the lifestyle as domestic violence and demeaning toward women — they simply didn’t understand. But that was neither here nor there, and right now he had a case to concentrate on. He watched until the ambulance pulled away from the curb, lights and sirens blaring as they sped off toward the hospital. Then he turned his attention back to the scene inside the house. It looked eerily similar to all the others.
Well, that’s it for today. Still kind of heavy and brooding, but that’s Storm Kelly for you. The Smoking Gun, and all of the Kelly Family books, can be found on Amazon, B&N, iBooks, and Kobo. Now don’t forget to go check out the other writers at Weekend Writing Warriors!
September 25, 2015
That’s My Jam!
It’s been almost an entire month since I’ve mentioned Todd Kerns on this blog, and I know you’ll all agree with me when I say that it’s long overdue, am I right? But seriously, folks … you all know what’s coming. It’s time for another musical interlude here, and today, in honor of my impending front row seat (thank you Toni Traini and Janette Martin!) at tomorrow’s SMKC show in Northfield, OH, I think it’s time to set this blog (and the world), on fire! So, here’s a little clip of my favorite guys doing just that. The video is from Live At the Roxy, the song is called World on Fire, and that’s my jam!
Oh, and did I mention that it features Todd Kerns on bass and vocals?
September 22, 2015
Random Tuesday Chatter
You can learn more about The Smoking Gun by clickingHERE. And if you want to keep up with all my upcoming releases in my 3 different genres, you can sign up for my Newsletter,HERE.~~**~~Don’t miss our next episode of Book Chat this Friday. Tracie and I will be talking to authorAnne L. Parksabout her latest release, Of Demons and Stones. Anne is the author of the lovely Return to Me Series, and I’m totally looking forward to this conversation as she is always so much fun to hang out with. We’ll also be giving away a copy of Anne’s new book, so tune in and the winner could be you! You can check out our broadcast schedule, and even drop Tracie and I a line, rightHERE!~~**~~You got any cool weekend plans? Me, you ask? Well, I am so freaking stoked about this weekend, I don’t know what to do with myself, because on Saturday night, I’ll be heading up to Northfield, OH to see five of my favorite guys tearing up the stage. That’s right, going to see Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators as they resume their trek around the planet on the World On Fire Tour. So excited! Can’t wait! Bouncing up and down with glee and anticipation! *sigh*
Random Tuesday Chatter
So, as the title suggests, it’s Tuesday and I’m rambling about various and random things. First up, I have a new release out this week! The Smoking Gun is book 6 in my Romantic Suspense family saga, The Kelly Family. Here’s the cover, isn’t it pretty?
You can learn more about The Smoking Gun by clicking HERE. And if you want to keep up with all my upcoming releases in my 3 different genres, you can sign up for my Newsletter, HERE.
~~**~~
Don’t miss our next episode of Book Chat this Friday. Tracie and I will be talking to author Anne L. Parks about her latest release, Of Demons and Stones. Anne is the author of the lovely Return to Me Series, and I’m totally looking forward to this conversation as she is always so much fun to hang out with. We’ll also be giving away a copy of Anne’s new book, so tune in and the winner could be you! You can check out our broadcast schedule, and even drop Tracie and I a line, right HERE!
~~**~~
You got any cool weekend plans? Me, you ask? Well, I am so freaking stoked about this weekend, I don’t know what to do with myself, because on Saturday night, I’ll be heading up to Northfield, OH to see five of my favorite guys tearing up the stage. That’s right, going to see Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators as they resume their trek around the planet on the World On Fire Tour. So excited! Can’t wait! Bouncing up and down with glee and anticipation! *sigh*
Well, that’s all I got for this Tuesday. Have a great week. Peace out, homies!
