K.N. Lee's Blog, page 32

A Gifted Curse: The Lost Tales **NEW RELEASE** Exclusive Excerpt! #mustread #asmsg

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Two tales of fantasy, darkness, and magic by award-winning paranormal fantasy author, K.N. Lee 

The Last of the Jinn Pregnant and enslaved by her own husband, Malah must find a way to steal her powers back and escape. 
The Ticking Ring Ella is an American woman that has found true love in Ireland. She never knew that the man of her dreams had a secret, or that his secret could remove her from the mortal world... 
Bonus Material Chapter One of Netherworld: The Chronicles of Koa Book One.


Malah rummaged through the dead guard’s clothing. Sweat dripped from her forehead onto the man’s chest as the heat of the room gained intensity. Malah grew dizzy and despite the heat felt a debilitating coldness crawl under her skin as her hand searched the last pocket.Nothing.She pulled her dagger from the guard’s head and wiped it clean on the bottom of her nightgown. Her eyes scanned the corridor. Four dead Parthan soldiers lie on the stone floor. None of them had an antidote for whatever poison the clerics had given her. Her full belly churned. She pressed her hand to her belly and closed her eyes with a sigh. Life stirred beneath her palm. Two innocent lives.
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Book Two of the Best-Selling Novel, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld 

Not all vampires are created equal... 
Koa is a half-blood vampire with not only the ability to fly, but survive in the sun's light. She will do anything to protect her mother, and break her curse. The demon, Bund, wants more than her mother's life. He wants something from Koa, a power that she doesn't even know she has, and will rip through as many humans as he can to get her to surrender. 
Agent Koa Ryeo-won, and her boss, Halston, formed a crew of supernatural agents to stop Bund. But is a prophet, a temptress, a War-Breeder, a half-blood with an enchanted sword, and a few angels enough to stop what Bund has planned? 
In the midst of a war between the humans of the mortal world, and the creatures of the Netherworld, Koa discovers the truth of her past. She finds herself torn between two men, and in the center of everything. Faced with all of her returned memories, Koa also finds herself more powerful than ever. Being a half-blood is hard enough, but what exactly is Koa's other half? 
The truth can save...or destroy everything. 
Will the Netherworld Division stand behind Koa once they learn her secret? 
**Bonus Material** Chapter 1 of K.N. Lee's young adult fantasy, Academia of the Beast!




Part One:

NetherworldMemories


Chapter 1


Koa frowned down at her body. A red dress. Koa hated red, but she did not have a choice. Like the blood that Koa had spilled the night before when she had been cut with a glowing dagger, the dress was dark and rich. Ceremonies such as this were normal in the Netherworld. The wound on her white wrist healed before her eyes. Within minutes, the ceremony was complete, the tests were run, and it was confirmed that she was indeed the daughter of Alsand Vangelis, the vampire king of Elyan.Only hours ago, Koa was awakened by a team of violet-eyed women tugging at her limbs. They washed her in scalding hot water, scrubbed her raw with oils, and slathered creams onto her snow-white skin. They straightened her thick black hair and painted her face with colors that Koa only thought older women were allowed to wear. Then, she had been dressed.In a gaudy red wedding gown… at the age of twelve.Koa wanted to run from the black temple that she and her father had slept in. On the side of a mountain, the temple faced the back of the dark kingdom that was meant to be her prison for an eternity. She wanted to break free from the parade of attendants sent to accompany her and fly home. The human world seemed so far away.No one understood just how much she did not want to do this. This wasn’t to be a human wedding, but a Netherworld wedding… a vampire wedding.Koa scrunched up her nose as she looked down at the billowing gown, littered with sparkling crystals and black taffeta. She looked like a gothic spin on a Disney princess. Vampire Barbie, she thought to herself.Even at such a young age, Koa knew she did not fit the role of such a character. She was not a doll or a character from the books she read. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her nerves.Like boiling acid, anxious feelings churned within her stomach, making her feel like she might faint, or worse… vomit at any moment. How embarrassing that would be, Koa thought as she chewed her lip. She grimaced. Her lips tasted horrible, like tar. She’d almost forgotten that she was covered in makeup like a clown. Her small hands shook and she wanted to cry. It took all of her strength to keep the tears from escaping and causing an even bigger scene. With hot cheeks she held her breath, and prayed for an escape.Koa was afraid of this dark place, where neither the sun nor moon existed. The entire population was composed of millions of creatures that would have given normal girls nightmares. “Nephilim” is what her father called them. The spawn of fallen angels. King Alsand was a nephilim. Koa was as well.She was glad that her father was by her side. He never let go of her hand. With her free hand, Koa tugged at the high collar of her gown. She groaned. The black lace made the skin on her throat itch.Koa looked up at her father. She was small, and her father always looked like such a giant to her. King Alsand walked regally by her side. He commanded such attention. With his head held high, his face depicted an air of authority. Together, they walked at the head of the procession through the wide streets of Lyrinia, while the citizens watched in uneasy silence.Netherworld vamps, War-Breeders, Jems, Syths, and even ghouls came out of their hiding spots to catch a glimpse of the mysterious half-blood princess.Koa tried not to stare back at the horrific creatures all around. The sound of metal and robotic buzzing noises caught her attention as a quad of Scayors entered the crowd. Everyone stepped aside to let them through to the front. Like metallic giants, slim, and sleek, the Scayors patrolled the event like silent police. Their eyes cast a dim green glow over what they scanned.She shuddered when their gaze lingered on her. She feared that they were reading her thoughts and knew that she was afraid of them. That was one thing that Koa hated, the admission of fear. Even the monk-like Syths scared her. They were big, pale, creatures with bald heads and faces covered in tattoos.Lightning broke out and everyone looked up to the sky. Koa clutched her father’s arm and paused. He smiled down at her. “Don’t worry, Koa. It’s not a real sky, my love. That is simply the ground of another Netherworld level. I believe they are having a battle up there.”Koa’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the dismal black sky. Lightning struck again, but it wasn’t the kind of lighting that she was used to. It was green and took the shape of various symbols as it faded into the dark. To think that they were only on one of the many levels of the Netherworld, and that entire civilizations and kingdoms were going about their business with little to no care about what an important day this was for Lyrinia was too much for young Koa to grasp. When she looked back down, she saw that everyone had returned their attention to her. Vampire women and men stared at her. They were the only creatures that she wasn’t fearful of. Father had various vampires over at the manor from time to time, but none of them looked as picturesque as these Netherworld vamps.Painted faces stared at her. The vampire women were the most beautiful women that Koa had ever seen, and yet none compared to her mother’s simple and natural beauty. These women were like painted dolls who she imagined tipping over and watching crack into pieces of porcelain.Koa noticed how they seemed to be separated into groups. The red lipsticks on the left and the black lipsticks on the right. Koa didn’t know if it was simply a fashion trend or something more, but all of the women wore the most elaborate gowns and jeweled arrangements on their perfectly sculptured hairdos.They watched her, unblinking, unsmiling. She could see the judgment in their eyes.“Father,” Koa breathed. She looked away from their violet eyes and clutched her father’s arm.King Alsand looked down at her. His green eyes were serious today. “What is it, darling?”Koa looked ahead at the sparkling golden palace before them. The golden plates along the palaces walls shimmered and reflected all of the light from the Disc Moon, the artificial moon of the Netherworld. Her voice was caught in her throat. Something felt odd and yet she felt drawn to the palace. It stood out like a candle in the dark and pulled her in, as if by magic, like a moth to a porch light.Koa’s face paled. This was the place that would be her new home. King Greggan’s teenage son, Prince Jax, would be her new husband.Koa stopped. The guards that were leading them looked back and seemed ready to seize her and force her forward.King Alsand leaned down to her ear. “What’s wrong?”“I want to go home.”Her father patted her hand and when one of the Syth guards stepped forward, he whipped out the Lyrinian sword with lightning speed. Everyone drew in a breath and stepped back as they beheld its power. The ring of steel rang throughout the air. It pulsed, audibly, and visibly as the red glow made the air heat and crackle. Even Koa held her breath as her eyes shot to the Lyrinian blade.King Alsand’s raptor-like glare burned into the guards, warning them to keep their distance. He didn’t have to say a word. The red glow of the black blade was enough to make the large brutish creatures rethink their actions.King Alsand waited a moment longer, making sure that they knew how serious he was. Koa had only trained with that sword once. The power was too great for her now, but one day it would be hers.She flinched when her father’s glare landed on her. “Koa, this is your home.”Koa shook her head, but avoided his eyes. She looked around. The air was stale, not like the fresh, fragrant air of France. The sky was dark, lit only by the Disc Moon that cast different colors across the land whenever the hour changed.She missed the moon of Earth. She missed the sun, the trees, and the flowers. The Netherworld felt like a nightmare from which she would never awaken. No matter what color the day was in the Netherworld, it was always too dark for her. Koa’s father didn’t understand her love for daylight, for he had never seen real daylight.The sun’s rays would kill him just as surely as it would kill any vampire, Netherworld or New World. Koa was the only exception and she wished that he would at least try to understand.“You are half Netherworld vamp, Koa,” her father gave her hand a squeeze. “This is where you belong, amongst your people.”“I am also half human.”King Alsand looked down at her and pursed his lips. His eyes hid something from her. Koa tried to soften her voice and sound as sweet as possible. “Bring mother here, and maybe I won’t feel so homesick,” Koa reasoned, her green eyes hopeful.King Alsand shook his head, but his features softened for her. “My darling girl. You will see that this is the place for you. You belong here with your people. The treaty has already been signed.” He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. “Your mother cannot come here Koa. She is safe in the mortal world. If we do not fulfill our side of the treaty, she will be in danger. Now, is that what you want?”Her lips trembled. She shook her head quickly. Just the thought of someone harming her mother made her feel sick. She didn’t know what she would do if she lost that sweet, loving, woman.She looked into her father’s eyes. “Do you understand what I am telling you?”Koa nodded. She understood, but she still didn’t agree with what was happening.Alsand smiled and stroked her pale white cheek. “But I don’t want to do this,” Koa whispered.Alsand’s smile faded, but his eyes didn’t turn cold on her as she expected. He knelt down to her level and cupped her cheek.“I know, my dear girl, but sometimes we have to do things that we don’t want to… to protect those that we love.”“May I?” Faun asked of Alsand.Alsand nodded and Faun gathered her white skirts in one hand and scampered over to fix Koa’s long black hair. Koa didn’t take her eyes from her father’s. She hoped that he would see how miserable she was. Koa ignored Faun as she examined her face with violet eyes. She was adamant about making sure that Koa’s part was perfectly straight and that her hair fell in long ringlets. “Smile,” she said.Koa twisted her mouth. “I don’t want to.”Faun put her hands on her bony hips. She scrunched up the space between her thin brows as she narrowed her eyes at Koa. “Just do it. It’s only for a second.”Koa rolled her eyes and faked a quick smile.“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” Snickering, she gathered her skirts in her hand. “You have red lipstick on your teeth,” she said and returned to her place in the procession behind Koa and her father.Frustrated, Koa rubbed her teeth with her finger. She knew just how ridiculous she looked. Black liner, red lips, and rosy cheeks. Alsand locked arms with Koa. He leaned close and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He lowered his voice into a whisper. “Remember, never mention that you can walk in the sun. Never.”Koa swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. “I know, father. You don’t have to keep reminding me.”“Good,” he stood back to his full height. His eyes widened and he leaned down again. “Or that you can fly.”Koa nodded, her head down. “Yes, I know.”He pinched her cheek. “Good. Shall we continue, darling?”“I don’t know, father.” Koa couldn’t bring herself to look at her father again. “Is there anything else that you want to remind me not to say or do?” Her eyes were burning from the tears that threatened to gush forth. Alsand noticed and simply shook his head. He patted her hand.She hung her head. Once again, they were walking down the black stone walkway that led to the gate and stone doors of the Lyrinian palace.Koa’s heart pattered against her ribcage. She felt like she might have an anxiety attack. So many eyes staring. So much anticipation in the air.Those golden gates that she’d been staring at for the past hour, as they walked through the entire kingdom, were held open for them and heavily guarded.When Koa stepped through the gates and entered a massive courtyard of stone. Their path was lit for them. On either side of the carpet were artificial trees of stone and black clay. They weren’t real, but they were beautiful. Art.Even Koa could appreciate the mastery. She examined the sculptures as she followed her escort through the courtyard and to the stone doors that led into the palace. Once inside, light seemed to fill every dark space. Chandeliers, torches, candles, mirrors reflecting the light, and light discs were positioned all over the wide corridor.It was then that Koa contemplated flying away. She’d thought of it often. It would be her last chance. She took a peek over her shoulder. She could still see the door. She’d just promised her father that she would keep her abilities a secret. She wasn’t sure why such things were so important. She could simply lift herself into the air, and head for the Gate, but visions of her mother being harmed kept her firmly planted to the purple carpeted floor.Koa felt numb, like she was walking to her prison cell.Each corridor led to another corridor of a different theme. From one of light and mirrors they stepped through grand archers to a corridor of dim candles and artificial flowers in vases painted with paint that seemed to have a light of its own. There was a corridor with walls filled with paintings and soft music played by a small creature that resembled the one at the Gate. Tunes was what her father called him, but all Koa remembered was how creepy he was. She shuddered as she recalled Tunes’ bulbous eyes.Koa watched it buzz around with short black wings as it blew eerie melodies out of its flute. She tapped her chin and furrowed her brows as she tried to remember what kind of creature it was.With bat-like wings and rubbery, yellowish skin, she was sure she’d seen that creature in a book from her father’s study. Koa spent hours in there, reading anything that she could get her hand on. The Netherworld tomes always intrigued her. Now she was faced with the creatures she’d studied.“An imp!” Koa shouted triumphantly. She covered her mouth with her hand and looked around in horror. She hadn’t meant to say that aloud. Everyone glanced at her with disapproval, but the imp continued playing its flute until they went into the next corridor.Koa was relieved to find that the maze of corridors had finally ended, and that they were finally in the main ballroom where the prince and the royal family awaited them.She stepped into the room, from carpet to shiny granite floors and a flood of light and decorations overwhelmed her senses. She didn’t want to admit how beautiful it was, but her eyes widened at the spectacle. Hundreds of chairs draped with gold silk lined either side of the alleyway that led to the dais where the thrones stood. Her heart thumped. She felt something she hadn’t expected. Koa’s face flooded with blood as her eyes met those of the prince.No one else mattered. Nothing else existed as Koa’s eyes cut through the crowd and down to the set of five thrones as Koa and her father stopped before the platform.“Princess Evina, 1st Queen Katya, 2nd Queen Lera, your highness, King Greggan, and Prince Jax, behold King Alsand of Elyan and Princess Koa.”Koa heard the introductions but something odd was happening. She stared at Prince Jax with her mouth agape.He was the most attractive person she had ever seen in her life: piercing dark blue eyes, dark blood-red hair, and a perfectly sculpted chin and nose. Koa felt her face flush as he looked her up and down. Then, he did something that made her grin, despite her previous fears and doubts.Prince Jax winked at her.


Chapter 2

Koa’s grin widened. A weight was lifted from her shoulders and she felt light as air.Excitement flooded her small body. She held her head a little higher and practically beamed. Everyone in attendance could read her expression. Whispers swept through the room as the guests watched the exchange of looks between Koa and Prince Jax. Jax sat at the edge of his seat, his youthful face bright with surprise. Koa wondered if he’d been imagining her as an ugly troll. She never even considered the prince actually being attractive.Maybe this isn’t so bad, she thought as she admired Prince Jax’s perfect face. She’d never seen anyone that looked like him, and from the citizens of Lyrinia that she’d encountered so far, Jax probably never saw anyone like her. Growing up in Korea, Koa was kept from others, but everyone had the same dark eyes and black hair.Koa saw something familiar in Jax’s dark blue eyes. She saw mischief, even as he sat beside his father who looked like an evil statue. Koa liked that look. She shared the same craving for mischief. Mischief meant fun was in store. She took her hand from her father’s and found herself drawn to the prince. She wanted to speak with him, to share stories, and play games. He’s cute, she thought as she smoothed her dress. Koa never thought she’d be married at the age of twelve, but she suddenly wasn’t so opposed to it. I’m a princess, she thought. He is a prince. Isn’t it every girl’s dream to have a fairy tale wedding?Koa didn’t try to hide her admiration and her father smiled down at her. “I told you that everything would be all right,” he whispered.King Greggan stood. The entire room quieted. Koa’s smile faded. She looked at the man’s face and felt instant warnings flood her mind.He was pale like his son, and shared the same shade of blood-red hair, yet his was long and in a single braid while Jax’s was short and messy. King Greggan had a long red beard as well, that he stroked as he looked down at them, as if in thought. Koa couldn’t help thinking that he looked like one of those Vikings that her tutor had taught her about. All he needed was a helmet with horns.There was something different in the king’s eyes and Koa identified it immediately. She swallowed. Evil. There wasn’t another word to describe what she saw.Koa saw it, and she hoped that her father did as well. She did not trust that Netherworld vamp.While everyone bowed, Koa and King Alsand were allowed to simply nod their head to the king.King Greggan clasped his hands before him and looked at the Lyrinian sword.“Come to bind our kingdoms and return the sword your ancestors stole?”King Alsand looked up at King Greggan and tilted his head. Koa noticed that this was a heated topic, but her father, being the diplomat that he was, would play this like a game.“Stole?” King Alsand repeated, feigning ignorance.King Greggan did not reply, but his dark gaze held a deep hatred for her father that didn’t need words. That look made Koa uncomfortable. She’d never seen such hatred before.King Alsand grabbed the hilt of the Lyrinian sword and withdrew it. King Greggan flinched, but it was such a tiny action that most wouldn’t have caught it. Koa did.Her father ran his finger along the black blade. “I do believe it is my family name engraved into the sword’s metal dear friend. The angels passed it on to my line. You may forget your history,” he tilted his head. “I don’t blame you… history can be terribly boring at times. But,” he raised a finger, “the House of Vangelis once sat on the throne of Lyrinia.”King Alsand looked at Greggan with innocent eyes, but Koa could see the fury silently building behind them. Her eyes went to the Lyrinian blade. It started to glow.“That is, before the House of Tulach started that little squabble that led to the great divide and forced my family into the Eastern Dominance.”King Greggan’s mouth twitched. “Little squabble,” he said and nodded his head. He stroked his beard as he regarded her father with silent hate.“That’s right,” King Alsand replied. “As I am King Alsand Vangelis, and you are King Greggan Tulach, we should remember our history, lest we repeat it.” He slid the sword back into its scabbard. “And my family will keep what is rightfully ours.”“Rightfully ours? You sound like such a human.”King Alsand shrugged. “So be it.”King Greggan’s gaze went from the sword to young Koa. His eyes lingered on her pale face and she felt herself grow self-conscious. She struggled to keep a straight face and not look away.She would not show fear. She would not let the vamp king see that she wanted nothing more than to hide behind her father like a little girl. Instead, she held her head high, just how she’d been taught.Never show fear, her father would say. Never.King Greggan nodded then. Koa wasn’t sure why. Maybe he was agreeing with what her father had just said. Perhaps he was admiring her. She feared that both options were false.“Yes. I believe you’re right.” His eyes lifted to her father’s and he mocked an innocent look of his own. His bushy red brows rose. “So, you wouldn’t mind if I marry your daughter, rather than give her to my son, would you?”Koa’s jaw dropped. Her stomach sank. Even Prince Jax was visibly surprised by his father’s words. The only person who wasn’t surprised was King Alsand.To Koa’s horror, he nodded. She yelped. “No!” She covered her mouth with her hand as her plea seemed to loudly echo throughout the ballroom.Her father put out a hand to silence her. He looked up at King Greggan.“If that is your wish, my daughter, Princess Koa of Elyan in the Eastern Dominance will be glad to be your bride. As it states in the treaty—that the angels comprised, mind you—the first born female of the House of Vangelis will be offered to the House of Tulach for peacekeeping. So, the male counterpart is of little concern.”Koa felt her face go red with fury. She shook her head. She bit her lip as she looked into his eyes. Her eyes stung from tears and she risked whispering to him, “Please, father.”King Greggan showed his first smirk then. “Are you sure, dear friend? I’d hate to have to break the treaty ‘that the angels comprised’ due to a misunderstanding and start the war up again.”Koa was nudged forward. She resisted her father’s nudge. She didn’t want to go. Such an unjustice did not sit well with her. She could have screamed but she knew what would happen if she didn’t go willingly. Many people would die. She whimpered and stood before the vamp king.“Let the wedding begin.” King Alsand said and Koa knew that her entire world would end. It was official.Childhood was over.“Just one second, friend,” Greggan sneered. His eyes were twinkling with malice. “Don’t you want to check with the angels first? We have our very own referee here. Let’s ask him, if this is agreeable to the treaty.”
Koa dared to hope. She’d never seen a real angel, and her interest was thoroughly sparked. Perhaps the angels could save her from this horrible fate. Everyone went silent, and the entire room turned to look towards the back of the room. Koa followed their gazes. There, in the back, stood two men. One was as tall as a giant and muscular. He didn’t wear a shirt, only an iron breastplate that covered his right shoulder and chest, dark pants under armor, and iron gauntlets on each wrist. Scars covered nearly every inch of his bronze colored body. Koa had never seen anyone with so many weapons. An axe, a dagger, shiny weapons she couldn’t identify, and a spear. He looked like a warrior god, but it was the man beside him that held her attention. The man with the bright blonde hair was tall, but not as tall as the other. He wasn’t as flashy either. Only a silver gun peeked from a holster at his side. He was quiet and reserved, but Koa sensed that he was calculating, and perhaps the most powerful being there.And she was right.King Greggan’s voice boomed. “What do you say, Master Halston?” Master Halston gave a single nod. Everyone waited in silent anticipation. “I’ll allow it.”Koa almost didn’t hear the words that came from his mouth, for their eyes locked and she suddenly doubted everything she thought she knew. It was as if he spoke to her with that one look. He urged her to be brave, to trust, to be patient. Koa had never seen that man before in her life, but somehow she felt inclined to obey. But at twelve, she couldn’t help but resist. And she did. She turned to run, and before she could get even two feet, her body was held immobile by silver bands. Tears stung her eyes as she looked at her father. His face was paler than she’d ever seen it. His eyes were glossy with tears of his own. But what hurt her more than anything was that he did nothing to stop it. He raised a hand, but withdrew it, and stood by in silence.Koa’s face heated. “You liar,” she growled at her father. “I hate you.”


Chapter 3

Now, at twenty-one, Koa remembered the day her life had changed with stunning clarity. Childhood was no longer a blur. The pain returned with full force. When Koa had broken him out of the prison in the Ivory Tower, Prince Jax had returned her memories to her, and now she would have to deal with what she’d always wanted.The truth.Her vision of the dark world before her was blurred by hot tears. The truth truly did hurt. Halston had warned her for years. He’d told her that she was better off not knowing what had happened to her during her time in the Netherworld. Koa shuddered at the memories of what Greggan had done to her back then.Koa wanted to rip herself free and fly after Halston. The look on his face when they’d parted made her ill. She needed to be certain that he would survive. Even though she had her Jax back, she knew that she would not be able to handle the death of the angel that doomed her, and yet became her best friend.Jax’s grip on her waist tightened as they approached the first cavern that led out of Lyrinia. The deafening howls of the Wraith made Koa squeeze her eyes shut and cover her ears with her hands.“I want to go back!” Koa shouted and tugged her body from Jax’s grasp. Jax wouldn’t let her go. He held on and wrapped his other arm around her. “Koa, listen. You cannot go back. This is our only chance to make it out.”“He’s right,” Evina, his sister, shouted over the howls. “Let Halston do his job. He can handle it.”Koa wiped her cheeks of tears and turned to face the first set of caverns. “Shadows,” she breathed. Memories of the Shadows reaching out to her with their cold hands pulsed in her mind. Halston was not there to protect her from them with the power of his angelic glow this time.Jax gave her a tender squeeze and whispered into her ear. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Koa.”His warm breath made her shiver, and she glanced up at him. His face was so close that they could kiss. If she wasn’t fearful for her life, she might have kissed him, just out of the passion she felt from having his body pressed to her. His eyes met hers, twinkling in the dim light of the Netherworld’s Disc Moon.With a wry smile, he looked ahead. He gave a nod to the entrance of the first cavern. “Don’t worry. We will make it.”The howls of the Wraith were cut off the second they flew into the cavern. The cold seeped through her skin and into her bones. Koa shivered. She wrapped her arms around Jax’s neck and buried her face into his shoulder. Black, with a dimly lit path below, the cavern reminded her of an eerie forest at night. The smooth black stone that covered the floor was littered with perfectly spaced discs of yellow light.A flying beetle the size of her fist buzzed before her face. It examined her. Koa smacked it away and cringed when it let out a loud bellow of pain that sounded like an old man. She watched it dart away and wiped its blood onto her jeans.Jax kissed her forehead. He spoke softly. “We’ll make it. I promise.”Koa nodded but bit her lip to keep from sobbing. Halston. The look in his blue eyes as they parted wouldn’t leave the forefront of her mind. The Ivory Tower could not be the end of him. She needed him.Koa looked over at Evina. She rode her disc with mastery, as if surfing along the air. Her red hair flew behind her, and she stood with perfect balance with her arms crossed under her large bosom.“Watch out!” Koa screeched when she saw a glowing arrow cut through the dark.Evina veered out of the way just in time. Koa’s eyes widened when she looked ahead and saw that there was a squad of guards from the city. Battle-worn soldiers hovered in the air in battle formation. No Scayors or Syths, just vampires that had vowed allegiance to King Greggan.Jax held her close. “You have any more of those vials from the Alchemist?”Koa swallowed. Her throat was dry. She shook her head. “No,” she whispered. She tensed as she watched the soldiers.A woman used her disc to fly ahead of the formation. Koa paled. “Second wife,” she breathed. Queen Lera, Greggan’s second wife, held her daggers in her hands. “What do you two think you’re doing?” She spoke to Evina and Jax. “Traitors to your own kingdom!” She was not their mother. With her black hair and gray eyes, she was covered in the tattoos of Netherworld dialect with the only ink that could permanently stain a vampire’s flesh.No, this vampire woman was not the motherly sort. With her hair pulled into a bun at the top of her head, and wrapped in chains of vampire fangs that she had pulled out from her victims, she was a warrior who lived for battle.“Just get out of the way, Lera.” Jax was calm. He took his arm from around Koa and she stepped off the disc to fly by his side. He took out his daggers, clinked them together, and ignited a red glow that caused the air to sizzle. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I have to.”Evina snorted a laugh. She pulled her large curved sword from its place along her back and pointed it at Lera. “Oh no, no. Unlike my brother, I would love to make you bleed,” she hissed. She waved Lera on. “Just come a little closer.”Lera grinned, but her eyes were not filled with joy, but hate. She clinked her dagger’s hilts together and they glowed red as well. She held them ready at her sides. Her eyes went from Evina and back to Jax. “The king doesn’t want you dead, but I have been given clearance to stop you at all costs. Do not expect me to show mercy, because I won’t.”Koa glanced at Jax and Evina. Neither seemed surprised that their father would have them killed, just to rule in the human world. Koa didn’t like how this was going. Her jaw clenched. Fury started to rise within her belly. She did not know if she would be able to control herself. Her hate for Lera was stronger that her patience.Koa drew her Lyrinian sword and waited. She counted a dozen soldiers, took stock of what weapons they carried, and prepared for an inevitable battle. Her stomach bubbled with anticipation. The heat and power of the sword coursed up her arm and filled her veins. She felt strong. The sword gave her courage. She wanted their blood to cover the blade. The sword begged her, like an impatient child. Gimme! Gimme! Koa imagined it saying to her. It did have a mind of its own, and when drawn, it had an unquenchable thirst for blood.Lera’s dark gaze landed on Koa. Her grin faded and her lips curled into a snarl.“You,” she growled. Lera’s face seemed to grow dark as she glared at Koa.Koa flinched at the look of evil in that woman’s eyes. Her mouth couldn’t form the words that she wanted to say. She wanted to say something snarky like Evina, but her history with the vampire queen was a traumatic one. Instead she looked down at the blade and to Jax.Jax sensed the tension and moved to put an arm out. Koa looked confused as he pushed her behind him.Koa raised a brow as Lera licked her daggers. The sharp blade slit her tongue and she let the blood increase their power. “Out of my way, Jax. The half-blood and I have unfinished business.”Koa’s heart quickened as Lera flew forward. Lera was so quick that Koa barely saw her form cut through the dark. Koa simply reacted. And Koa… was quicker.Koa didn’t mean to do it. It was purely instinctual, but she gripped her sword’s hilt with both hands and ducked beneath Jax’s outstretched arm. She sliced across the air and through both of Lera’s legs with all of the strength within her body. Bone was sawed through and blood sprayed into the air and onto Koa’s white face.The smell of burning flesh wafted into Koa’s nostrils, and the sound of Lera’s scream thundered in her ears. The Lyrinian sword’s blade glowed brighter, redder. Hungrier. Koa looked up. There were still at least a dozen more bodies to let it feast upon.Gimme! Gimme!Koa ground her teeth as she flew past and looked back at the screaming vampire queen as she reached for her bloodied knees in horror.The soldiers, Jax, and Evina, watched Lera fall down to the black ground below.Jax’s eyes slowly rose to meet hers. His jaw still hung in surprise.Koa cleared her throat and nodded to the soldiers. “Well, are we killing them and escaping or not?” Drunk off of adrenaline and the intoxicating power of the Lyrinian sword, Koa dove into the frenzy of battle. She never looked back, but she heard Evina’s battle cry and the clashing of steel against steel behind her. Koa was never a tidy fighter. She was more of a wild animal, uncaring about how she killed a foe, only that they died as quickly and effectively as possible. And so, her sword was used as merely an extension of her arm. With wide movements, she flung her arm in a circle and sliced through one soldier’s belly. She grabbed the next closest soldier by the back of his head with her free hand and kneed him in the face, shattering his jaw. He fell from his disc and went crashing to the ground. Koa grinned almost evilly. How dare they try to fight her in her element? No other vampire could fly, and their discs were not as reliable as her body.She grunted as a dagger stabbed her in the side. Eyes wide with rage, she caught a female vamp’s arm and twisted it out of its socket. The soldier cried out. Then, Koa grabbed her by her long hair and flew with great speed higher into the black sky. The soldier’s flying disc hovered in the same spot below. She grabbed Koa by the jaw and shouted at her in a language that she only understood vaguely. Netherworld dialect was burned somewhere in the dark recesses of her mind that she’d tried to forget, but she understood one word.“Mercy.”Like a cruel executioner, Koa sliced through her neck with her sword. She held the vamp’s head by her hair and watched her body fall lifeless below. Then, in Netherworld dialect she spoke to her severed head, bringing its empty eyes close to her face.“No mercy.”Then, alone above the carnage of what Jax and Evina did to the remaining soldiers, she tossed the head far off like a ball. Hot tears burned her eyes again. Images of what she’d suffered threatened to drive her mad. She tried to push them back into the box of unwanted memories, but they refused to go back. Koa growled and covered her eyes. How many times had she cried for mercy and King Greggan ignored her?She shivered, cold and exhausted. She wrapped her arms around herself and spoke to the quiet that followed as Jax and Evina looked up at her, done with the battle.“Halston,” she whispered between sobs. Her dagger wound throbbed, but not as much as her head. It threatened to make her black out, but for some reason Koa knew that she could not let herself go. She feared what would happen if she let herself go into that dark place. Sleep was not an option. Not until she and the others were free from the horror of the Netherworld. Not until she knew her loved ones were safe. “Oh, Halston. Please hurry.”


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Intimate Moments & The J Spot **Book Blast**

Intimate Moments:
What do you do when you have not one, but three handsome men vying for your affection and attention?  The answer is not so simple for Tonju.  She has to make a decision between two men from her past and one man that has currently wandered into her life and wants to be her future.  The question is, “Which man will she choose?”
The J Spot:
The J Spot is not what you think it is.  It’s not the type of nightclub that is coming to your mind either.  Once inside the club, you will see the maturity.Kevin is the type of man that every woman he comes in contact with wants to take home, keep him and possess him.  Does he let that happen?

Excerpt #1 for Intimate MomentsThrough the entire conversation Tony searched through his memory trying to remember where he had seen Tonju before she caught his eyes at The Lobster House. He was sure he had seen her somewhere before.It finally hit him and he remembered, he saw her at Reed, Randall, and Wade. He was at their office earlier in the week for a meeting before he came to San Diego. She was the Senior Paralegal giving a presentation in the conference room when he walked by. When he saw her, he thought to himself that she was very professional, very attractive along with sexy. Her cream colored skirt suit with the coffee brown blouse and the matching cream and brown shoes were a compliment to her small shapely frame, and not to mention she had a pair of shapely legs.Her hair was pulled back into a bun and her makeup was natural and flawless. He also remembered passing her office with the unique name on the door. He wasn’t sure as how to pronounce it, until now. When he saw her at The Lobster House, he had a feeling he had seen her somewhere before but couldn’t remember then either.A smile formed from corner to corner on his face. “This could be destiny,” he said to himself. “Did you say something?”“No, just thinking out loud. Would you care to dance?”The sounds of the music had slowed down and this might have been his opportunity to get the chance to hold Tonju in his arms. The song “Cherish This Moment” by Kem was being played.“Sure, that’ll be nice and I can quit swaying in this chair.”He took Tonju by the hand and led her to the dance floor. He was able to get a good up close look at her, especially in that dress. He was in full admiration. Taking her in his arms, he held her close to him.The aroma from her hair and skin made him close his eyes to take her all in.He had to ask, “what’s that perfume you’re wearing?” he smelled the scents of Casaba Melon, Plum, and Freesia.“Pure Seduction by Secrets of Victoria.”“I love the scent. It smells great on you.”“Thank you.”Tony wondered to himself…“Will this be a well-kept secret tonight?” Holding her close and inhaling her aroma is taking his mind to other places.“I can’t believe I’m this close to this man. He smells so charming I think he’s wearing a Lauren collection by Ralph. Sniff, sniff, he is, it’s ‘Romance Silver.’ It smells delightful on him. Goodness, I could stay like this forever.” She said in her mind. His arms hugged her waist with her left arm around his neck; he was holding her right hand their bodies swayed to the music as if they were the only couple on the dance floor.Tony’s hand went down her spine and felt the small of her back. He felt the curvature of her back and noticed how perfect she was to him. With him being as tall over her as he was, he could see over her shoulder and noticed her ample bottom. His hand touched where her lower back and ass came together. That must have been a soft spot for her. She squirmed a little and giggled.“Gotcha” he said to himself and lowers his mouth to her ear kissing the top of her right earlobe sending chills down her spine once again.Tonju then moved her right hand from his hand and placed it on his chest. She could feel his tight chest through his shirt. “Nice” she said to herself. She moved her hand up and down the left side of his chest. They were still swaying to the music both had their eyes closed entranced in the moment. Their legs were between each other’s and their bodies began to grind more and more to the music, it felt as though their bodies had become one right on the dance floor. Tonju could feel Tony’s erection through his pants and he didn’t seem a bit embarrassed. She moved her body more and more on his erection which caused him to moan a bit. “Hmm” she said to herself with a smile. They didn’t notice that the music had stopped until Tony was tapped on the shoulder by Robert.
Excerpt #1 for The J SpotA quaint New Orleans Jazz Bar right off Bourbon Street. On Friday and Saturday nights the nightlife brought in all the thirty and older crowd from the working middle class. The club used to be a place where you would see older men walk in, have a few drinks, get drunk, and not walk out alone. That’s right. They were picked up by a little honey and were taken to the nearest motel. Some received pleasure in the form of sex and some received pain in the form of a missing wallet. All that changed six months ago when the place was bought by a new owner, now it’s more upscale. A place where people would want to come, relax, unwind and have a good time before heading to their next destination. The place is more of a New Orleans Tapas Style Bar, and Nightclub.Modest seating and contemporary tables with warm colors painted on the walls. The lighting was dim with hues of purple. The weekends consisted of live music. Friday nights it was Jazz and Saturday nights it was Contempo Indie. The rest of the nights, the music was streamed by a computerized DJ, except Thursday nights which was Spoken Word night. Most of the Indie Poets come out on that night.The bartender, Kevin Stokes, thirty-four, six foot four, two hundred forty-five pounds, muscular, polished attached goateé and moustaché with caramel hazel eyes that fit perfect with his milk chocolate skin and bald head. He did indeed look like a Snickers candy bar…minus the nuts. He was the epitome of a bartender and a bouncer. He ran the place, he was the Manager. He too was not sure of who the owner of this place was, he just kept it running to the letter of his job description, which was…mix drinks, tend the bar, don’t put your hands in the till and make sure the customers are happy. “A happy customer is a spending customer”, the company’s motto.He looked after the customer very well, especially the female customers. Kevin did have a way with the ladies. One look into those caramel eyes and they melted. He couldn’t tell you how many pairs of panties he had in his office. Not that he has had sex with a lot of women, it was that the women found him so irresistibly handsome…single and married ones alike…that they leave him their panties with their business cards attached to them. Subtly is not some of these women’s strong suits. Get enough drinks in some of them and they were liable to do and say anything.Especially his latest encounter, Melanie Gray, thirty-two, single, caramel skin, hazel brown eyes, long wavy hair and from the Bayou’s of Louisiana. She was the Branch Manager of one of the local banks. Living alone has its perks but it also has its disadvantages. Like tonight, she had one of the worst days that anyone can have and going home to an empty house would have been added torture for her as she had no one at home to talk to. This night she decided to stop in at her new favorite bar on this cool summer Friday evening proved to be rewarding for her and helped to get the stress of the day off her back.

Have you noticed that everything you do and everything that you go through in life is a story waiting to be told?  Whether it’s fiction, fantasy, romance, humor, mystery, or non-fiction; your story can be told.  Get the words out of your head…just write. Jeané has been writing since she was in high school.  Although she kept diaries, just as any teenage in high school, she didn’t realize her writing potential until she entered and won the Mayor’s Essay Award.  She critiques and edits the writings of fellow authors.  She herself is the author of two novels, “Intimate Moments” and “The J Spot”. Jeané is also a Certified Motivational Life Coach & Speaker ; Certified Book Editor & Freelance Writer; and has a Chocolate Sweet Tooth Social media links WebsiteBlogFacebook FacebookTwitter PinterestLinked In Goodreads Purchase links AmazonBarnes and NobleBooks-a-Million Google Books Intimate MomentsGoogle Books The J SpotYoutube Book Trailer

Meet Author, Andrea Barbosa! **Author Feature**

Bio:
Andrea Barbosa was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism and took creative writing courses at Texas Tech University. Besides loving to travel, read and write, she maintains an Indie review blog and is a contributor on Yahoo Contributor Network and Yahoo! Voices websites. Her work has been influenced by the writings of Joyce Carol Oates, Erica Jong, and contemporary Brazilian authors Paulo Coelho and Fernando Sabino, among others.
For More on Andrea Barbosa:
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The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer **Book Blast**

The Lantern of DernBlackhammerThere was a war. In a desperate moment, a handful of warriors came together to forge the single most powerful magic weapon that had ever existed. It wasthe one thing that could defeat a pair of gods, and setthe very plane of existence back upon its balance.Then, it was lost. 
It is a gilded age. A time when city states come togetherin the name of commerce, and wealth. The finer things can be had by the common being, and magic relics aresought after for their beauty and power. Such ancientthings can lead to trouble, so the city state of Mooreconducts a cold war of espionage to further its interests,and truth be told, so does everyone else. While theaverage citizen enjoys a walk in the park, or a carriage ride to the theater, evil strides the land in searchof ancient magic to undo the  very fabric of the world.
Ford must lay hands on an ancient magic relic thatcould spell doom for his city and possibly the world.The  problem? An ambitious mage named Raven Hillhas set  his eyes on the item, and all the power it willimbue him with.  Ford races against time, the elements, andeven fate, to keep the single most powerful magicweapon that exists from falling into the hands of a madman. If he fails, Ford’s beloved city, and all other cities,will bow down to a self-made god.

He could almost hear the words of Pil’tuk the goblin glass maker, “The lens will not scratch, and can take the impact of a god’s battle hammer!”      “But, do you think the lantern will work?” he had said to Pil’tuk.      “If the mad magician Valen of Del can produce us a Dark Star gem. But, only chaos magic is strong enough to do the trick, and we both know what that means; if he fails to condense the energy just right, we might all be blasted into ash.”      Looking over his shoulder to the corner of the forge-room Dern could see the large black gem locked between wooden pincers. A shiver ran up his spine; the unnatural gem was the final touch, the power, the light, the quantillian dark gem with the power of a star. The magician had done his job all right, making something terrifying that did not belong on this world or any other, and for his trouble he was torn into atoms by the power of chaos. Poor bastard, Dern thought.      He approached the gem. From the black surface the reflection of his own eye looked back at him. For a moment the blackness was all consuming, as if it was absorbing not only the light, but his thoughts as well. The eye in the reflection blinked, and he shook his head in surprise. Did he blink? He didn’t know. Looking at the surface again he seemed to be looking back at himself, looking into the gem, looking back at himself…his skin crawled and his hair stood on end. He looked away concentrating on the lantern to clear his mind, then he looked back at the wooden clamps.      Carefully taking the gem, he carried it over to the lantern, opened the small door in the side and placed it within the rectangular chamber, angling the gem so the flat surface faced the lens. Closing the door he locked it tight. “Now to ignite the flame!” said Dern, a slight headache forming in his skull.      He closed his eyes and envisioned the complex relationship between the geometry and the elements within, linking fields of force with the matter’s energy channels. As he opened his eyes a near blinding light dazzled him as a beam shot from the lantern onto the wall. The atoms of the wall vanished and a hole of pure blackness appeared. He secured the lens cap, careful not to expose himself to the light. Looking at the contraption he was startled by a sudden knock at the door.      “Blackhammer, is it finished?” said a soft feminine voice.      “Are you trying to cause my death!” he said. “I am as finished as this lantern. Let’s hope it works.”      She opened the door and came into the room, the light of pure energy taking shape into womanly form. “The war is nearly won, and for all your sacrifices, you will be given rest and worship in the Netherworld,” she said.      “You spiritual beings are all alike, bend us mortals to your will then we are forgotten.”      “Not so,” she said. “We prize you mortals for the role you play in this universe. Besides, do you want to exist forever in this form?” She laughed and her laughter lifted his spirit with joy. Bending down she put her hands on either side of his coarsely bearded face making his skin crackle with static as she kissed him on the lips.
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Apple i-Books   BoarerPitchford.com Thadius the Novel
Sacramento, California
Author Lawrence BoarerPitchford presents The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer

The readers out there are flooded with prose. The written word is so prolific today that most people take it for granted that works of fiction are within easy reach. Kindle, Nook, i-Pad, and a host of other electronic reading devices make access to literature the easiest that has ever existed on the earth in the history of man. And, so the reader is lost in a sea of authors competing for visibility in the commercial space.Lawrence BoarerPitchford, author of such works as Thadius, Sawbones, In the World of Hyboria, and the cheeky novel Tales of Mad Cows and Brothels, presents a work of fiction that will appeal to those who love high-fantasy adventure. In a world where orcs, goblins, elves, humans, giants, and dwarves all live and work together, there’s trouble brewing. “I’ve taken the concept of high-fantasy and painted it with a new brush. In a land that resembles nineteenth century Europe, the characters in The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer must find and steal a relic that could spell doom for their civilization. Imagine if you will, Tolkien’s world, but after a thousand years or more. Magic is a profound technology, along with steam, and water-power, but those ancients knew something; they had a secret. Now that secret can undo reality,” the author stated. Now Lawrence BoarerPitchford, the man with the huge name, is offering his novel The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer as a paperback as well as the various e-book formats. If you have an e-reader, it is a snap to purchase a BoarerPitchford novel, and if you like the feel of paper in your hands, they’re in paperback form too.
Having four novels on Amazon, all for sale and download onto Kindle, Lawrence knows the struggle new authors face. “I write fiction to entertain. While it is true I have a degree in business, a degree in public policy, and a degree in information technology, I choose to write fiction because I have a strong desire to see people enjoy escaping their mundane lives and exploring a land of adventure and excitement in a world of my making. Perhaps it is the acme of hubris that I think I can entertain, but I am hardly qualified to be the judge of that. It really is you the readers who should be the measure of my success or failure to entertain; having said that, I offer up to you my works for your accolades or ire.” 
“If you like rugged adventure and action stories, stop by, purchase a book, and enjoy, then make your voice heard by posting a review on GoodReads, Amazon, or any place you feel you can be heard.”  The author also encourages readers to drop by his web site and contact him. 
Lawrence BoarerPitchford works and lives in the Sacramento region. His work can be located on Amazon books, Smashwords, Barnes and Nobel, and many other places where fine quality fiction can be found. One can also read samples of his novels on his web site http://www.boarerpitchford.com. Take a moment to exploreBoarerPitchford.com and visit the author on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Goodreads.

Social Media Utilization For A Strong Fan Base

Social Media Utilization For A Strong Fan BaseBuilding a strong fan base can seem daunting at first, especially to a new writer. But it is something that is essential to your success. What most agents and publishers want to see, even before you are published, is that you can gather a real following and self promote.

Where do you start?

Two words. Social media.

One of the things that many people don't understand about social media is that it less about the numbers of followers and likes that you have on Twitter and Facebook, but more about the relationships you create with these followers.

Think about it. Who is more likely to buy your book once it's published? The 100 followers that you've never said a word to, or the 10 Twitter followers you greeted and started a genuine conversation with? I think we all know which one that will be. Once you start using Twitter, you will quickly see that there should be an even exchange. Another important part of utilizing Twitter properly is following back.

Do it!

Why? Because if you don't, they will unfollow you, and you will have lost a potential reader.

So make it a point to not only follow back your Twitter followers, but start a friendly conversation with them. A simple "Thank you for following," goes a long way.

They will remember your name, and your kindness.


Follow K.N. Lee and sign-up for free writing, marketing, and publishing tips on the right sidebar sign-up form.Tweets by @KNycole_Lee

REALITY CHECK by Lillian Csernica **Summer Blog Writing Challenge**

The Challenge: In 3,000 words or less write a story about a girl that has never been allowed to leave her house. Why do her parents keep her hidden? Does she find a way to escape?
The Result:
REALITY CHECKbyLillian Csernica
     Sherrie sat there at the metal table, on the hard metal folding chair.  Her jeans were still damp, and her long brown hair needed combing.  The air conditioning gave her a chill.  She had to go to the bathroom.  She wondered how Momma was doing.     It had just been Sherrie and Momma for as long as Sherrie could remember, with Sherrie stuck inside the house every single day of her life.  She must have had a father once.  Momma probably drove him away just like she ran off everybody else with her holier-than-thou attitude about how the world was full of evil.  Momma said it at least once every single day.     "You just remember, Sheryl Ann.  The world is full of bad things and bad people."     Sherrie lived in a nice enough house in a pretty neighborhood with big maple trees that turned red in autumn.  Momma had been a teacher once.  Sherrie hated being homeschooled.  She wanted to go to high school with her best friend Cindy and have a locker and watch football games and maybe even go to a dance.  Sherrie watched cable shows about high school life.  She and Cindy talked about them online.  Sherrie could watch TV because Momma said all that was just make-believe anyway.  As long as nobody took it seriously the shows couldn't do any harm.     If Momma hadn't given her a really good laptop and a DSL connection when her schoolwork started to get complicated, Sherrie would have gone insane.  Even when Momma set the filters to maximum, Sherrie could still learn so much and talk to so many people.  She met Cindy on the fansite for her favorite TV show.  Thinking about that made Sherrie shut her eyes tight.     One night when she was twelve years old, Sherrie decided there had to be something wrong with Momma, or at least with Momma's view of the world.  She lay there wide awake, watching the clock, listening for the familiar sounds that told her Momma finally went to bed.  Sherrie pulled on her jeans and a sweatshirt, then tiptoed through the house to the kitchen door and unfastened all the locks.  She eased the screen door open, slipped out, then shut it without a sound.  Sherrie took four steps out onto the patio.  Lights blazed everywhere.  Blinded, Sherrie tripped over one of Momma's plants.  The pot broke.  Sherrie landed on the shards.  They ripped her jeans and cut into her leg.     Momma came running out through the kitchen door, still tying her bathrobe.     "Sheryl Ann!  What are you doing outside?"     "I just wanted to look at the stars, Momma.  That's all."     "I hope you got a good look, young lady.  You won't be seeing them again."     The next day, Momma had a new security system installed with cameras and keypads and everything.#     Sherrie was so excited.  Cindy wanted to visit her in person.  Cindy's boyfriend was a computer genius.  He could unlock the doors from the outside.  When the hands on the clock hit midnight, Sherrie turned off the outside motion sensors.  Cindy popped up by the kitchen window.  She gave Sherrie a big grin and waved.  Five minutes went by.  The green light on the security keypad next to the doorknob flickered, then lit up again.  The knob turned and the door opened.  Sherrie slid out through the screen door, closed both doors, then turned and threw her arms around Cindy.  She had on a really short skirt with fancy leggings and a purple blouse with spaghetti straps and streaks of color in her short blonde hair.     "You're here!" Sherrie whispered.  "You're really here!"     "I'm here!"  Cindy took her hand and pulled her toward the street.  "Sherrie, this is Dave.  He's got a car."     "Hi, Dave.  It's nice to meet you."       The tall shadow behind her spoke.  "Hey."     Dave had a black Chevy Camaro.  Sherrie climbed into the back seat.  Cindy sat up front with Dave.  She twisted around so she could spend the whole drive laughing and talking.  Sherrie watched the stores and gas stations and all the neon signs flash by.  At the beach she took off her shoes and socks and ran barefoot through the surf.  The stars were so bright.  As pretty as they were, they made Sherrie think of Momma.     "Maybe I should go back now."     "No way!"  Cindy laughed.  "Let's go get something to eat."     "What, at this hour?"     They drove to an all-night diner where Gina and Dave seemed to know everybody.  Now Sherrie could see Dave.  He made her nervous.  Black jeans, black T shirt, black leather jacket.  He had a long black ponytail.  When he took off his jacket Sherrie saw his tattoos.   Up and down both arms, even on his neck!  Cindy didn't look like her picture online.  Her clothes were too tight and she had on a lot more makeup.     Sherrie at her last French fry and finished her Coke.  "That was great.  Thank you.  I really think I should go home now."     Cindy looked at Dave, who just stared back at her.  Cindy turned that big grin on Sherrie.     "We can't go back yet!"     "Why not?"     "Well, I mean, it's Saturday night!  The clubs are still open."     "Cindy, we talked about this.  I don't have a fake ID.  I want to go home.  Now, please."     When Dave turned onto Sherrie's street, she saw three police cars pulled up in front of her house.  An ambulance parked in the driveway.  All the red and blue lights streaked across the other houses.  Dave jerked the wheel and the car slewed over to the curb.     "Get out."     Cindy sprang out and yanked the seat forward.  She grabbed Sherrie's arm and dragged her out of the back seat, then jumped back in the car.  Dave made a U turn and sped away.  Paramedics wheeled a gurney out through the front door.  Momma lay there with an oxygen mask on her face.  Sherrie didn't even know she was running until a policeman caught her and held her back.     "Please!  My mother--  Is she all right?"     "You're Sheryl Ann Carson?"     "Yes.  What happened?  Momma!"     A man in a suit walked up to Sherrie.  "I'm Detective Ross, Miss Carson.  Where have you been?"     "At the beach.  I went out with my friends.  Then we stopped to eat."     "What are the names of these friends?"     "Cindy and Dave."     "Last names?"     "I--I don't know.  They never said."  Sherrie pulled free of the policeman.  "Would you please tell me what happened?"     "Your house has been robbed.  Your neighbors called 911 when they heard your mother screaming, trying to find you."     How could this happen?  And on the one night she'd finally gotten out....  Then the awful truth hit her, and she started to cry.#     Now Sherrie sat at the metal table on the metal folding chair, waiting for the detectives to come back and ask her all those questions all over again.     Momma was right.  The world really was full of bad things and bad people.

END

Meet Author, Mary Mills-Maclaren **Author Feature**

            MARY MILLS-MACLAREN (nee Mills) was born in London and was just under 6yrs old at the outbreak of WWII. With her sister Pat, she was evacuated to South Wales and in a few years was able to speak the language as well as her classmates.  Taken back to live in London when the war ended, she soon lost her Welsh lilt, and excelled in the English language.            In 1963, she immigrated to Australia and began a correspondence course about creative writing in 1985.  Her first published item that paid, was an article about a newly-built Senior Citizens Centre in Toukley, NSW From then on, her work was accepted by several Australian magazines: Woman’s Day, Women's Weekly, New Idea, Take Five, Weightwatcher’s Magazine, Prime Time etc.            She also was a member of several writing groups and is still a strong advocate for the support and encouragement that can be gained from these meetings. One of the topics, Writing Competitions, saw her enter and gain awards frequently.            “Writing Competitions are a discipline that teach the importance of handling deadlines, taking notice of the rules and requirements laid out and improving your work,” Mary says.  “I never cease to be amazed at the number of writers who think it will be 'ok' to ignore the stipulated word count. I have judged many competitions over the years, and seen quality short stories and poems set aside for exceeding the word count.”            Since those days, Creative Writing has become part of normal education, and it is most encouraging to see the number of writers that are coming to the fore. Naturally, this has given rise to stronger competitiveness and editors around the world are always on the lookout for an author with that J K Rowling’s 'special edge'.            Nevertheless, an increasing number of people of all ages and backgrounds, have grown from the- 'how do you become a writer?' question to- 'hey! 'm a writer and loving it!”               Mary took on the role of writing teacher in the early 1990's, then founded one of Queensland's largest writing Centres, on the Gold Coast.  Still going strongly, with hundreds of members over the last twenty-four years, well-known authors, and experienced tutors are just some of the top-quality lecturers and speakers that attend the Gold Coast Writers Assoc monthly meetings.            In 2009, she returned to live Hampshire, England to be close to her family and spends her time writing or teaching the skill. She also has an online teaching course and delights in guiding new writers along the path to success.
            Indie publishing has broadened her experience and she is happy to discuss the topic with new writers.

Enter The Dark Prophet Giveaway!

Dark Prophet by, K.N. Lee is on sale for 99 cents from 8/7/2014 to 8/15/2014! As a celebration, she is throwing a huge party and giveaway. 

Download Dark Prophet for 99 cents here.

Book Two of the Best-Selling Novel, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld 

Not all vampires are created equal... 

Koa is a half-blood vampire with not only the ability to fly, but survive in the sun's light. She will do anything to protect her mother, and break her curse. The demon, Bund, wants more than her mother's life. He wants something from Koa, a power that she doesn't even know she has, and will rip through as many humans as he can to get her to surrender. 

Agent Koa Ryeo-won, and her boss, Halston, formed a crew of supernatural agents to stop Bund. But is a prophet, a temptress, a War-Breeder, a half-blood with an enchanted sword, and a few angels enough to stop what Bund has planned? 

In the midst of a war between the humans of the mortal world, and the creatures of the Netherworld, Koa discovers the truth of her past. She finds herself torn between two men, and in the center of everything. Faced with all of her returned memories, Koa also finds herself more powerful than ever. Being a half-blood is hard enough, but what exactly is Koa's other half? 

The truth can save...or destroy everything. 

Will the Netherworld Division stand behind Koa once they learn her secret? 


5.0 out of 5 stars  The Best Sequel Novel I've Ever Read--Period  May 25, 2014By Michael Wayne HolmanVerified PurchaseWhen I finished reading K.N. Lee's "The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld," I remember the anticipation which began to build from that moment for the story I knew was coming.

Well, "Dark Prophet: Book Two of the Chronicles of Koa" certainly did not disappoint. Koa and Halston are back, better than ever. It sets a precedent for me to finish reading fictional works the very same day I start them, but that's EXACTLY what happened this afternoon. An original, detailed plot--unique characters a reader finds themselves investing in readily--true hang-on-for-dear-life action--this book has it ALL. Lee writes in such a way she engages her audience from the opening sentence. I'm thrilled to say I've seen it happen twice now.

At this point, allow me to make something crystal clear: I'm not the type of reader who simply decides to review written material with the coveted 5-Star Rating just because others have before me. That's just not "how I roll". But, as I mentioned above, I'd already seen Lee's talent with her first Koa publication; Dark Prophet validates my anticipation. Five stars? By all rights, there SHOULD be a 5-Star PLUS designation specifically for K.N. Lee.

There's already a legion of fans out there who share my opinion.

Join us, and get this book, folks.

It's that simple.



5.0 out of 5 stars  AMAZING!!  April 26, 2014By Sorcha O'Dowd
I can't even begin to express how much I loved this book! I started it this morning and did not put it down until I'd devoured every single page. It was just so brilliantly written and paced perfectly that I was just so enthralled in the story that I just had to know what happened.

Halston was a favourite of mine in the first book, and yet again K.N. Lee just had me swooning at his every word, action and look. *sigh* I am so in love with him. I felt my heart leaping in my chest when Koa's past was revealed, a past that includes a long lost love that has been returned to her, and I really hoped that Koa wouldn't forget the new life she had made for herself and the connection that she shared with Halston, now that memories of her past had been returned to her.

The action and drama in this book was paced perfectly, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout, biting my lip and glaring at anyone who dared interrupt me when I was reading. I loved seeing how the allegiances changed throughout this story, and those who we thought we could trust turned to other sides, and what we thought was the truth is far from it. This really brought the suspense to a whole new level and I felt giddy with nerves and excitement as everything that Koa was fighting for began to change.

A brilliant continuation of the Chronicles of Koa series, and I CAN'T WAIT to see what happens next. I am addicted!!
Share the giveaway, and enter for a chance to win amazing prizes!

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Taming the Country Star, By Author Margo Bond Collins **Book Blast**

Taming the Country Star by Margo Bond Collins
Blurb:

He'll do anything to win her heart. She'll do anything to keep him away.
Country star Cole Grayson is in town, and Kylie Andrews is less than thrilled. As if months of changing the radio station and tearing down his posters weren’t bad enough, now she has to deal with a town of fans swarming toward the man who deceived her the year before. But when Kylie’s eyes meet Cole’s again, she can’t deny the electric chemistry that drew her to him the first time around.
Cole Grayson is on a mission. Ever since Kylie left him, he hasn’t been able to forget her sweet country smile. After writing a song just for her, he sets off for her hometown to prove he’s not the player she thinks he is. But as much as Cole can’t forget her, Kylie wonders if she can forgive him…
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            Kylie Andrews’s Texas-themed gift shop, Cowbelles, sat on the very outer edge of Fort Worth’s Stockyards District, not far from Jimmy’s Honky Tonk. And much to her dismay, no matter how often she cleared it, the wall adjacent to her store remained covered with announcements for local events.
Like, for example, concerts.
She stared at the latest layer of advertisements.
From the topmost poster, Cole Grayson stared out at her, leaning against the edge of an old barn door, guitar at his feet. One booted foot was kicked up against the wooden wall behind him. His dark-blond hair curled around behind one ear and fell down across his eye on the other side. A cowboy hat rested on the ground next to the guitar.
Her hand drifted up toward the image, hovering several inches from the picture of his face. She glanced around. None of the other shopkeepers were outside. No one was watching.
“Bastard,” she whispered to herself, and ripped the poster off the wall.
At least, she tried to. It was thicker than she had expected, attached more firmly, and it resisted her pull.
Chewing on her lip, she took another look around, dropped her bag to the ground, and reached up to grasp the edge with both fists, jerking at it in opposite directions. A tiny tear opened up along the side, and she yanked harder. Finally, the poster ripped—right across Cole Grayson’s lying eyes.
She tugged at the image some more, glancing around surreptitiously every few moments and dropping ragged pieces of paper on the ground at her feet, until there was nothing left on the wall but a few fluttering strips.
Gathering the mutilated shreds together, she opened her bag and shoved them inside until they overflowed, bright ribbons of color in the morning light.
_____________________________________________Book Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGro1xb2sPk_____________________________________________
Buy Links
Kindle US: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Country-Star-Hometown-Entangled-ebook/dp/B00KK4DORC/
Nook US: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-the-country-star-margo-bond-collins/1119610297?ean=9781622661664
Kindle Worldwide: http://bookShow.me/B00KK4DORC
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About the Author
Margo Bond Collins is the author of contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them. She currently writes for Entangled’s Red-Hot Bliss line.
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Connect with Margo


Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.MargoBondCollins.net Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollinGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchyFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollinsPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

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5-star reviews:
What a super story! Just as their romance was getting started, events tore them apart. She wants a quiet hometown life, he's a country singing star. Incredibly written with characters that come to life. Very well done! I highly recommend this one. ~Bette Lutz, Amazon reader




If I had one complaint about Taming the Country Star: A Hometown Heroes Novella by Margo Bond Collins, it would be that it is just too short. After I read Legally Undead by Ms. Collins, I pretty much knew that I would love anything she writes. And she proved me right with this little book. I just loved it. Even though it is short, I was drawn in and completely fell in love with the two main characters.

You could say that Kylie Andrews has trust issues. Her Daddy was a rodeo star and lived the high life. Which included being photographed in the tabloids numerous times with various other women. Eventually he abandoned Kylie and her Mom and Kylie knew that if she ever married, it would be someone safe and stable, the complete opposite of her father. That didn’t work out so well either, though. She was supposed to marry her childhood sweetheart but was left at the altar. She decided to take her honeymoon by herself and it is there she met the handsome Cole, no last name, and had a sexy, romantic, time with him. It wasn’t until she was at the airport on the way home that she spied her own photo, kissing Cole, in a tabloid magazine. She then realized the true identity of the man she just spent the last few days with. It was Cole Grayson, the huge country music star!

A year has passed since Cole Grayson met Kylie on that beach in Mexico. And a day hasn’t gone by that he didn’t think of her. He is doing a concert in Fort Worth, where Kylie lives and has a little shop, and he is determined to find her. But will she give him a second chance now that she knows who he really is?

~ Carol [Goodreads addict], a top 100 Goodreads reviewer