Chelsea O'Neal's Blog, page 22

Trust Me by Lacey Black Review

Rivers Edge Series – Book 1Synopsis After all of the devastating betrayals by the one she loved, Twenty-two year old Avery Stevens has spent three years raising her daughter alone, with her family and best friend as a support system, never leaving her small hometown of Rivers Edge, Missouri. Though Rivers Edge holds the pain of her past, it also holds the one person she wants but can’t have – her brother’s best friend, Maddox Jackson. When she learns the attraction might not be one-sided, will Avery be able to trust Maddox with the one thing she’s held onto tightly for the past few years?Police officer Maddox Jackson is a ladies’ man with one foot out the door. Never planning to settle down, Maddox fights the attraction he feels for his best friend’s little sister, Avery. But can he continue to fight it when his body and his heart are leading him to the one woman he shouldn’t want?When secrets are finally exposed, can Avery and Maddox trust each other enough to overcome the past, handle the present, and preserve their future? Can Avery trust Maddox with her heart? Will Maddox be able to convince Avery to take the chance?**This book is intended for an audience of 18 or older due to graphic sex scenes and language.Links to Buy:Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ExcerptMaddoxI drive home in comfortable silence. I don’t think I’ve ever been content with comfortable silence with a woman before which is just another reminder of how Avery is different from everyone else. She doesn’t feel the need to talk all the time for the sake of talking.As we start to approach the city limits of Rivers Edge, I start to wonder what I should do next. If this was any other girl, I’d drive back to her house with no hesitation whatsoever and take her inside. But this is Avery, and like I said, she’s different.“So, I thought maybe we’d stop by my house for a bit if that’s okay with you. This way, someone like Jake doesn’t see my truck parked in your drive and make trouble.” Even to my own ears, I sounded a little nervous as I said it. What the hell? It’s not like it’s my first time taking a girl home. Then it hits me. It is the first time I’m taking a girl home; to my house. I always go to their place. But the thought of Avery in my house, my bed, just feels right.“That sounds good,” she says with another shy smile. I love that smile; it’s filled with happiness and innocence. I turn off Main Street and head down Lincoln towards my house. When I reach my house, I pull into the drive and kill the engine. I hop out and walk around to her door. When I open it, she seems slightly hesitant, maybe even nervous.“I can take you home if you want.”“No,” she quickly throws out there. “I want to be here…with you.” There’s that damn smile again. I extend my hand to her and help her down from the truck and head inside.When we step inside the dark recesses of my living room, I start to walk towards the lamp but she catches me by the arm, stopping me. I turn to look at her. The only light in the room is what moonlight is filtering through the window. Standing there in my darkened living room, light glowing off her blond hair, she looks stunning. She extends her hand up to cradle my cheek, her other hand runs up my abdomen from my stomach to rest on my chest. I step closer to her, looking deep into her eyes. She must have realized she was holding her breath because she lets out a big breath which comes out a little shaky. I look deep into her crystal blue eyes, and that’s when I see it. Lust. Desire. Trust.My resolve shatters like a glass vase with that one look as I push her back against my front door. Our lips are urging each other on as our desire for each other completely takes over. She runs her tongue down my neck, and I almost come completely undone in my pants like a teenage boy by that one simple move. I cradle her ass in my hands and lift her up. She threads her legs around my waist, her hands diving into my hair. I lean against her, pushing her back into the door, and she moans. It’s the sexiest fucking sound I’ve ever heard and all I can think about is being deep inside her, making her moan over and over and over again.I press hot kisses along her chin, down her delectable neck and lick the spot where her pulse is rapidly beating. “Tell me to stop, Avery. Tell me to stop right now and I will. But if you say nothing, I’m taking you back to my room and burying myself deep inside you. I’m going to make you come and scream my name. All. Night. Long. Tell me you want this as much as I do.”“I want this,” she whispers without hesitation and that’s all I need to hear.*~*My Review*~*
This book started out in such a perfect world I caught myself thinking multiple times, man I wish I were there.  I think her brothers are so cute, and I am really hoping they each get a book!  I also think Maddox sounds really hot!  He also has a huge heart and when you throw in Bean(Brooklyn) you just melt reading about the big tough cops loving on her.
Honestly the family dinner and everything was just so perfect.  The descriptions in the entire books completely put you in it, and it was wonderful!
 I don't know if it was me but it felt kinda young in parts, there is one line in particular that I was completely surprised it was in there, (He whipped out some cash to pay for...) it just seemed less mature than the story called for, but otherwise it was good.  
I totally cried at the end with how it turned out, seriously Maddox is amazing! I can't wait for Jake's story, there is just something about a bad boy player coming to his knees...  
I give this book 4 stars!


Author Bio: Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.Lacey welcomes the opportunity to chat with her fans.
Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblackTwitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlackPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/laceyblackwrite/
Giveaway$5 Amazon Gift Card2 e-copies of Trust Me by Lacey Black a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dante's Fire by Jennifer Probst Review

  Released August 26, 2014
BOOK BLURB:  It’s Time To Meet A New Kind Of Hero...

Dante Stark has a dark secret--a legacy left to him by his father which is both a blessing and a curse. A traumatic experience as a small boy gave him special powers of healing, but it comes with a price. Destined to wander the world alone to heal others, he's accepted his fate. Until Selina Rogers forces him to confront his deepest fears, erotic desires, and question his capacity to love.
Selina Rogers has made a name for herself at Inferno Enterprises. She's tough, confident and prepared to succeed. She's also built a world she believes is safe, until she's attacked and then saved by a masked stranger. As he helps her heal physically and emotionally, she becomes fascinated by his overwhelming power and gentle touch. Determined to show Dante the love he's been denying himself, Selina surrenders her heart, and dreams of a future with the mysterious man who completes her.
But will his dark legacy destroy them...or save them both...


*~*My Review*~*I absolutely loved this book, and I am so stoked that Jennifer will be writing more in this particular world!  I can't wait to read about Chase! Dante/Daniel was amazing, he is the ultimate male, and honestly I want to meet him!  Not the way a woman normally meets him *shudder* but still.  I loved how Selina was such a strong woman, even with what happens to her, and wow the heat between these two is beyond explosive!  Dante's Fire is smoking hot, and reading it will melt your heart while burning you up! An absolute five fiery star rating!
Order Links: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1n4Bv2jiTunes:  http://bit.ly/1qcKNvl

AUTHOR LINKS: Website:  http://www.jenniferprobst.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

Twisted Dark Volume 1 by Neil Gibson Nerd Blast +Giveaway

Synopsis 

Twisted Dark is Neil Gibson's interconnected psychological thriller anthology. This, the first volume, is formed of 12 individual and unique stories comprising of nearly 200 hundred pages. The stories vary from 10 year old girls to Colombian drug lords and everything in between but the stories are all somehow connected some obviously so and some not. It is left to the reader to find the connections, with some impossible to see until you have read multiple volumes. The books contains horror, dark, at times demented, stories incorporating every human emotion, illegal activity, and brutal reality. Using various illustrators allows each story and character to develop their own form the reader is left desperate to turn the pages. The book has been embraced by the comic book world receiving critical acclaim and a cult underground following.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neil is the founder and lead writer at TPub. He is currently writing all of the titles at TPub, but is looking forward to the day when other writers are hired he can take credit for their work. He used to be a management consultant, before realising in his 30s that he loved good comics and wanted to make a career out of them. He believes that the comic book medium is one of the most efficient mediums for communicating stories. If you want to annoy him, just mention how you think comics are for kids. His reaction is a common source of amusement. He has given talks in universities and clubs about comics and will gladly talk anywhere he is invited to about comics and how underutilised they really are. To book Neil to give a talk, please email info@neilgibsoncomics.com
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

--Giveaway is open to International.--| Must be 17+ to Enter
2 Winners will receive an E-Copy of Twisted Dark by Neil Gibson. 1 Winner will receive a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.

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The Druid Series 9: Baird by Marata Eros Blitz

The Druid Series 9: Baird by Marata Eros
(The Druid Series #9)
Publication date: August 22nd 2014
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Paranormal

Synopsis:Siana has disappeared. As an Exotic and Druid warrior queen, she is not fully beholden to the magick call of sex slavery as  her sister Druid witches. She does not realize as she runs, Baird and Kael follow with opposing agendas.

Now that Jessamine is within the subjugation of the undead, the Druid females will be ruled by the fair hand of Imogen and her Reaper mates, Carrig and Quinn.

Altho, and the gifted Druid female Seraphina, cannot reconcile the inception of their relationship, and her promise to be his as payment. Altho seeks shelter from the Reaper leader, Maghnus… only to discover what is important was not as he thought.

Can Siana obtain the freedom she wishes and the love she denies? Will the new kingdom of Reapers succeed in the protection of their Druid females? Do Altho and Maghnus hold the key to revolutionizing the power structure of both Druid and Reaper?


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19539110-the-druid-series-9?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Druid-Baird-Novel-ebook/dp/B00II7P2MS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408453842&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Druid+Series+9%3A+Baird
*~*Excerpt*~*
Altho slides them up the bark of the tree, their clothing catching on the rough bark, his eyes latching onto each Were as they approach.
It has been many a season since he was unlucky enough to stand face to face with a werewolf.
Something calls them from their reclusive natures.
Altho shifts Seraphina's weight and his hand comes away with blood.
Of course—Druid blood is a scent that would bring every supernatural who desires it.
“Oh dear goddess,” Seraphina says. “I cannot subdue them.”
Altho knows this. She is the natural complement to a Reaper or pure-blood Druid male such as himself. Seraphina can be used by the Were, but it would be sacrilege and the only gain would be an early genetic tie to the Were. Most Druid breeders have only vampiric lineage.
However, a small percentage have an ancient tie to the cousin of the vampire, both Reaper, Exotic and rogue.
Blood never lies. The Were are renown, like their relative the wolf, to having the most sensitive noses of all species on earth. It is no small matter that Seraphina spills blood and they come.
Altho counts six and his hands slick, his heartbeat thudding in his ears like a river.
His hands come away empty of runes.
There are spells, but without the help of runes, they might be ineffective.
“Do not let them take me, Altho,” Seraphina says, still weak from the feed of the Faction.
Altho knows only the slimmest of escape is possible. He utters the response she most wants anyway.
His arms tighten around her.
“Never.”


AUTHOR BIO Marata Eros (a pen name for Tamara Rose Blodgett), is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author of A Terrible Love. Marata has more than thirty-five titles in multiple genres including Dark Fantasy, Dark Romance as well as her highly successful Dark Erotica series.

Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband, children and fur kids. She is an ardent reader of many genres. Tamara enjoys interacting with her readers via Twitter, blog and newsletter as often as possible. Please stop by and say hi :)

Website: http://marataeroseroticaauthor.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @MarataEros
FaceBook: http://tinyurl.com/MarataErosFB


*~*GIVEAWAY*~*

Blitz-wide giveaway






--25$ Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of The Druid Series 9: Baird







Open to US/CA/AU/GB/UK; ends September 2nda Rafflecopter giveaway

Highland Burn by Victoria Zak Review

BOOK INFORMATIONTITLE – Highland Burn SERIES – Book one Guardians of Scotland AUTHOR – Victoria Zak GENRE – Scottish medieval paranormal romance (shifters) PUBLICATION DATE – July 22 2014 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 186 PUBLISHER – Victoria Zak COVER ARTIST – Z creations  BOOK SYNOPSISWill Love’s Flame Quench the Dragon’s Fire? …The past never stays in the past, it rears its ugly head eventually. James the Black Douglas knows this all too well. With a past that has left him vengeful and his dragon blood thirsty, his reputation as a ruthless warrior haunts his enemies in their sleep. As his allegiance stands with Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland, he must now repay a debt to the king and agrees to marry his daughter, Abigale Bruce. The problem is he doesn’t want a wife. When flames start to burn out of control between him and the auburn-haired lass, he must decide to either kindle the flames of passion or shelter her from the truth and set her free.It’s What Shines in the Dark That Brings Forth Your True Light…Determined to keep his daughter safe and out of the hands of the English, Robert hides Abigale behind the safe walls of a nunnery. After eight long years of living her life in seclusion, Abigale is finally set free. But her new found freedom comes to an abrupt halt when she learns of her betrothal to the infamous Bogeyman – James the Black Douglas. She soon finds herself falling in love with the uncontainable and haunted man. Is her love enough to soften his hardened heart?BUY & TBR LINKSAMAZON KINDLE US – BARNES & NOBLES NOOK – GOODREADS
EXCERPTChapter one

“Fergus, the water is verra refreshing. Why don’t ye join me?” The white stallion inhaled deeply then snorted, as he ate from a patch of lush green grass. “Well, ye dinnae have to be rude about it.” Long white hair with streaks of gray fell over his muscled neck as the fine steed shook his head and stomped his hoof. He pulled on a blade of grass, indicating that he was perfectly content grazing near the loch’s edge. A slight giggle escaped her mouth as she splashed at her horse. Abigale Bruce had ridden hard and fast through the glen most of the morn. Since her father’s recent successful victory over the English at the battle of Bannockburn, Abigale had been freed from the nunnery. Her excitement of finally being able to explore her new-found freedom was too much to hold back as she charged through the forest. Now she rewarded Fergus with a patch of grass while she cooled off in the loch. Oh how she cherished these moments; they were few and far between. Eight long years at Dunfermline Abbey wasn’t the ideal place to grow up, but she had no choice in the matter. Her father, Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, had placed her there in order to keep her safe from his enemy, the English. Throughout her time at the Abbey, King Edward, the King of England, had gotten close to capturing her a few times, but the small secretive community of nuns had held true to their oath and kept her hidden well. Unhappy about the newly crowned King of Scotland, the English had captured Abigale’s step-mother, half-sister, and her two aunts, and had also beheaded three of her uncles. Humiliated, held prisoner behind iron bars of a bird cage, and hung from the Tower of London had been the women’s fate. Even though her freedom was taken away, Abigale knew it was nothing compared to what they had endured. Abigale’s trouble had started as soon as she walked through the gates of the abbey. Robert Bruce had given Dunfermline Abbey a generous contribution to repair part of the church that had been attacked by King Edward. In return he requested that Abbot Benard take his daughter in and protect her. With such a gracious amount of coin given, the Abbot could not refuse. Therefore Abigale, at the wee age of ten, had been left at the abbey and placed in the cruel hands of Abbess Margaret. Since Abbess Margaret was in charge of twelve nuns, she declared she had not the time to look after the wee brat, so she left Sister Kate in charge of Abigale. Abbess Margaret was a beautiful middle-aged woman with short, raven hair, and possessed the ability to inflict the cruelest of punishments. She watched and waited for Abigale to slip up so she could take pleasure in punishing her. Abigale knew why the woman hated her; she was jealous and thought it unfair that she had special treatment just because she was the king’s daughter. Abigale was afforded a few exceptions to the rules. Because of her lack of interest in taking the vow to become a nun, she didn’t have to cut her hair like the other sisters. Furthermore, she could marry, and own property. Although there was one rule that had to be followed; she had to be obedient. And Abbess Margaret took great pride in punishing a disobedient Abigale. Sending Abigale on a daily pee pot cleaning always seemed to make the corners of her thin lips twitch. “Ye’re no princess, a bastart child who her own father has abandoned." After a few missed visits from her father and daily tongue lashings from Abbess Margaret, Abigale started to feel pushed aside and abandoned, yet her spirit held firm. Sister Kate had kept a watchful eye on Abigale, keeping her work-load full so she would stay out of trouble, but trouble seemed to follow her wherever she went as if she was born into it. Abbey life wasn’t the life for her. She grew to hate the prayer bells, for they rang eight times during the day starting at the wee hours of night. The blasted bell would ring either when she was sound asleep or assisting a monk in surgery. More times than not she was late to prayer and being tardy was frowned upon. The consequences were harsh, in fact they were harsher than falling asleep during worship. Abigale knew this all too well; she had fallen asleep in a choir stall one night. Sister Kate had been the circator that night, pacing up and down the aisle as she shined her bright cresset lamp into the stalls checking if anyone had fallen asleep. A sharp point with a stick to her ribcage had woken Abigale up quickly. Of course she got a rap on the legs for that one. Thank God it was Sister Kate, for she showed her mercy. Now that she was home, her father was more than ever adamant about keeping his family safe. He vowed to never allow another Bruce woman to be captured by the filthy Sassenach. Just as Abigale thought she’d regained her freedom, here she was once again with it ripped away from her by an arranged marriage to her father’s first in command. Who better to protect her than the Bogeyman himself? Trepidation crept over her, sending a shiver through her body as she thought about the man her father had arranged for her betrothal. “The Black Douglas,” she thought. A man with a reputation that would make the Devil himself shudder with fear. A ruthless warrior who had fought in many battles with her father. The English feared him terribly, making up nursery rhymes warning their wee bairns to “hush before the Black Douglas will get ye”. She’d never met the man before, but the deal was done. Her father had arranged the marriage and Abigale was to abide by his orders. Abigale turned to Fergus who was chewing on a blade of grass. “At least ye don’t have to marry the Bogeyman.” She shuddered. Saying it out loud made it all too real. For a moment she wondered just what the Black Douglas would look like. Could her father be so cruel as to wed her to an evil, battle-worn old man? Nay, who could possibly be scared of an old man? Then again, a warrior’s reputation lived on even after death. Or mayhap he really was a monster of some sort, a mythical creature of the night that lurked under your bed waiting to nip at your heels. Abigale was letting her imagination get the best of her. Shaking those thoughts from her head she dipped down into the coolness of the loch, washing away every bit of worry. Today was her day and she was going to enjoy the peace that the loch gave her before it was taken away from her. Coming back up she lay her body out flat to float on top of the water’s surface. Her light linen shift clung to her petite body, long dark auburn hair spread out and floated with the ripples of the water. Closing her eyes, she opened her arms out wide allowing her fears to fall from her body and sink to the bottom of the loch. A snapping of twigs alerted Abigale that she wasn’t alone. Quickly she dipped her body down into the water to hide from what was lurking in the woods. Panic pricked up her spine as she searched the glen’s wooded edge for some kind of movement. Nothing… no movement at all. It must be a small animal frolicking through the thicket. Another snap. This time it sounded too close and too loud to be a small animal. Abigale turned and faced Fergus. Ears pointing in the direction of the snapping sound, Fergus let out a gut deep neigh. “Ye heard that too?” she whispered, trying not to draw attention to herself. Abigale slowly moved toward the water’s edge, not making a sound. The last thing she needed was to be attacked by a wild animal or worst yet… a rogue Highlander. Dripping wet and cold, Abigale stepped out of the water and headed straight for the huge boulder covered in green moss where her dress and her dirk lay. If instincts had taught her anything, it was to never let your guard down and never leave home without your dirk. A third snap sounded like it came from behind her and way too close. Taking a steady breath, she grabbed her dirk and spun around to meet her attacker face to face. Lunging the blade forward she pointed it at his throat, the tip inches away from piercing it. “Och lass, I will no hurt ye.” A massive six-foot-four man with vibrant amber eyes stood before her with his hands up in surrender. Abigale arched a dark brow over deep blue eyes. “How do I know I can trust ye?” “I have no weapons on me… frisk me if ye dinnae believe me.” With a sly grin he turned around with his arms in the air inviting her eyes to gaze upon every inch of his muscular body. Abigale took him up on his offer, for she could not will her eyes off him if she tried. Following his every move, her body became alive. Her hands began to itch as she thought about running them down the corded muscles that lined his abdomen. Hulking arms shimmered in the sunrays as if they had been kissed by the sun and she wondered how his arms would feel wrapped around her body. As he turned around, long black hair hung over his big broad shoulders and stopped at his shoulder blades. His lower back tapered in to a firm backside which was covered in a black and gray plaid. Funny… she had a sudden urge to squeeze his buttocks. God could not have forged a more perfect man, she thought. Being ten-and-eight, innocent, and sheltered behind the walls of the nunnery, she hadn’t had much of a chance to explore the ways of men. In fact if she wasn’t praying, she was in the infirmary mending men severely wounded from battle, or ill. Sister Kate’s nagging voice reminded her that “Ye only have room for one man in yer heart and He would never steer ye wrong.” Only if Sister Kate could see this man standing before her now, even she would blush. “Ye should no be sneaking up on me like that.” Abigale lowered the dirk, but still kept her grip tight. The alluring man crossed his massive arms in front of his bare chest. “I was taking a rest while out riding when I saw ye over here. Ye know a bonny young lass like yerself should no be oot alone without an escort.” “I can take care of myself just fine.” “Aye, I can see that.” He rubbed his throat. She stood shivering from the cold or mayhap from the intensity of his gaze; she needed to retrieve her clothes before she caught her death. Then she remembered that she was wearing a thin shift. Surely he could see right through to her naked body? Quickly with her free hand she tried to cover her breasts and still have some dignity. “Would ye kindly turn around now so I can dress?" She motioned with the dirk for him to turn around. He turned, giving her privacy to dress. “That’s a fine horse ye have there,” he said over his shoulder. Abigale finished dressing and began to smooth the wrinkles out from her dress with her hands. “That’s Fergus, he’s a gift from my da. A true warhorse." Of the few times her father had come to visit her at the abbey, and there were only a few, she remembered the day when he had brought Fergus to her as a gift. A gift perhaps but more like a peace offering for being absent for over a year. Abigale forgave her father, and the white charger quickly became more than a horse, he was a friend. “Ye may turn around now.” As Abigale glanced up, her heart skipped a beat as amber eyes pierced her, sending a rush of heat through her body. She licked her lips and struggled to swallow past a dry throat. How could this man, who she had never met before, make her hunger for something that she had not yet had? Feeling uneasy, she broke their stare and quickly searched for her shoes. “Are ye a Highlander?” What kind of a question was that? Of course he was a Highlander… that was a plaid he wore. Way to go, Abigale Bruce, he must think I’m a real dunderhead. “Why do ye ask?” “That is a plaid ye wear? “Abigale leaned against the boulder and bent down to slip her shoes on.” “Aye.” “Then ye must be a Highlander.” Indeed the ways of Highlanders were much different from the English-influenced ways of lowland men like her father. Still both parties had fought for Scotland until the crown and riches were in their grasp. Some would say that greed was the root of all evil. Abigale thought differently. The crown was the root of all evil. Men fought for it, killed for it, and sold their souls for a taste of the crown and the power it held. The crown grew evil in men and she knew that all too well because it was her father's own greed for the crown that left her abandoned at the abbey. The unsettled nature of Scotland had left Abigale hardened. She’d seen firsthand the aftermath of battles fought; mended wounds, prayed over dead bodies, and even buried the dead. The nunnery where she grew up would set up tents to aid those wounded in battle. Abigale would assist in surgery and her passion grew for healing the sick and mending wounds. Life was to be valued, not destroyed. In a way she blamed Lady Scotland for her misfortunes. Her father’s growing need to fight for Scotland had caused her to stay hidden, conceal her true identity, and grow up without a family. Her whole family had been affected by the battles fought for Scotland and the greed of claiming the crown. Though it was true she had long forgiven the Lady; she could not forget. The Highlander seemed far away in thought, because he took a while to answer. “Some would say I’m a Highlander.” He approached Abigale. "May I?” The beautiful stranger reached for a piece of hair that was stuck to her face and tucked it behind her ear. He brushed a callused finger down her cheek to her slender neck leaving a fiery path trailing behind. He held her stare and captivated her to the point that she could not form a coherent thought. Her body was no longer hers to control, her heart dropped, and desire pooled in her core setting her body on fire. This Highlander was so close to her she could feel his breath on her skin, she could smell his masculine scent and soon she wanted to taste his lips. The mysterious man lowered his head, cupped his hand behind her neck, and pulled her close to him to claim her lips. Abigale drew in a deep breath in anticipation when suddenly a nudge from behind broke her trance. She turned to find Fergus. “Fergus!” she scolded. “What’s gotten into ye?" Another nudge by a wet gray muzzle almost sent Abigale to the ground until strong arms caught her around the waist. “I got ye lass,” he whispered in her ear. For some odd reason the deep rich tone of his voice soothed her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and leaned back against the warmth of his body. Wait… what was she doing? Abigale Bruce, you are to be married. Quickly she slipped away from his hold and began to gather up the leather reins. “I should be getting back.” Observing the stallion’s actions, it was clear to Abigale that Fergus did not approve of the stranger. Jumping up on the back of Fergus, she turned to face the Highlander. The man rubbed the back of his neck as if he was thanking the white horse for saving his arse from making a huge mistake. She dared one last look at him before she rode off into the glen back to her father’s castle where she would prepare for travel to Castle Douglas and marry the Bogeyman. Her eyes roamed his massive body sketching everything about him to memory; his striking amber eyes, strong masculine jaw line, and the way his eyes strayed over her body. She did not want to forget this man. If only she did not have to go. Mayhap she could run away with this beautiful man and avoid being married to a monster. Deep down, she was drawn to this mysteriously intriguing, charming and pure male Highlander. He made her think that for once she could be in control of her life and make her own decisions. In a way she envied his freedom. It did not seem fair that she had to marry a man who her father wanted her to marry. Shouldnae one marry for love? But then again, he was a stranger… a mystery. Before she ran away with fantasies she knew better than to think of, she squeezed her legs, sending Fergus into a run. She had to marry the Bogeyman.

AUTHOR BIOVictoria Zak lives in the sunshine state with her husband, two beautiful children, and three furry friends. Before having kids, Victoria spent fifteen years in the veterinary business and volunteered in pet rescue. “One of my most rewarding jobs was finding unwanted animals their forever homes.” A writing career was the last item listed on her bucket list, until she discovered that she wanted to put her stories on paper and breathe life into her characters. Her love for Scotland, curiosity of history, and passion for romance has inspired her to write her first book, Highland Burn.“Fourteenth century Scotland was a fascinating time in history. Not only was Scotland fighting for their freedom from the English king, their own people fought each other; clan vs clan. Though being a woman of the twenty-first century, I wouldn’t want to live in those unsettled times. But writing historical fiction paranormal romance allows me to escape into their world and breathe a fresh air of romance and magic into that era, which I love to do.”Victoria loves to hear from her readers. You can connect with her through FB, Twitter, G+, and her websiteAUTHOR FOLLOW LINKSAMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGEFACEBOOK PROFILE - TWITTER – GOOGLE+ - GOODREADS 
Tour giveawayOne e-book copy of Highland Burn a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Organized By:


*~*My Review*~*
WOW!  This book was hot!  I loved how the main characters came to love each other and the emotion was so intense I caught myself living it multiple times in the book! I was a bit jolted around, like things were a bit rushed then a bit slow at different times in the book, but not enough to quit reading!  I thought a few things were repeated unnecessarily, but still not enough to quit reading.  The Black Douglas was the perfect hero, magical, a Dragon, sweet, harsh, loving and oh so sexy!  I enjoyed reading about Abigale's past and how it affected her and her new life, though a bit more would have been good to explain somethings.  I really want to know more about Conall and the others!  I loved this book overall and will definitely read more by this author! I couldn't put it down, I read till 2am and then wanted more...  I give it 4.5 stars!

Double Negative by C. Lee McKenzie

Double Negative by C. Lee McKenziePublished by: Evernight TeenPublication date: July 25th 2014Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Synopsis:“My life was going, going, gone, and I hadn’t been laid yet. I couldn’t go into the slammer before that happened.” Hutch McQueen.
Sixteen-year-old Hutchinson McQueen is trapped between an abusive mother and an absentee father. Shackled by poor vision and poor reading skills, he squeaks through classes with his talent for eavesdropping and memorizing what he hears. After another suspension from school and suffering through one of his mother’s violent attacks, he escapes to a friend’s house that turns out to be a meth lab. The lab is raided and Hutch lands in juvenile detention. When the court sentences him to six months in a new juvenile program, he meets a teacher with Alzheimer’s who will change his life and hers.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733797-double-negative
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Double-Negative-C-Lee-McKenzie-ebook/dp/B00M3JSV02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408374653&sr=8-1&keywords=Double+Negative+leeB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-negative-c-lee-mckenzie/1120081274?ean=9781771309417
*~*Guest Post*~*Five Things I’d Do Before I Published My Book


    1.    Have a professional website and/or blog designed.
   
    Be sure the navigation is easy and the pages are easy to read.
   
    Buy a domain name. Mine’s cleemckenziebooks. I wish it were simply         cleemckenzie.  The simpler the better.

    Don’t use music. People often browse in public places and music isn’t         always appreciated.

    Be sure people can pull up your site on all their mobile devices.

2. Become visible on the Social Networking Media

    Facebook
    Twitter
    Goodreads
    Shelfari
    LinkedIn
    Amazon (Especially, become familiar with Authors Central)
    There are more, but these are ones I’ve chosen to focus on. You’ll         have to choose the ones that work best for you.

3. Build a relationship with well-respected and highly visible reviewers.

4. Build an email list of people who know you and know your work.

5. Find bloggers with a large following and similar interests: books, hobbies, lifestyle. Build a relationship with them.

Why these 5?

Your website/blog is going to be a major marketing tool. It’s going to reveal who you are and what you write. You’re unique, so this is where you show that uniqueness.

The Social Networking sites are all a bit different, and there’s a learning curve for each one. That takes time, and after you’re published, you really don’t have much of that anymore. Learn how to use each of these or ones you find more comfortable using.

If you only have time for two, go with fb and twitter.

When you build a relationship with a reviewer you’re doing double duty. You’re learning what they like and how they respond to different types of books. They’re also reading your comments and learning a bit about you. You’ve established a relationship before you ask for a review. I think that’s important.

Email is a powerful marketing tool. Just be sure you know the people you’re contacting and they know you. Don’t be a spammer. 

Bloggers are amazing. First, they love content, so if you know what they want, you can give it to them. Second, they’re pretty cool people who like to help others because they know others will help them when the time comes. It’s a very symbiotic relationship, and it’s effective for writers who are marketing books.

AUTHOR BIO In my other life--the one before I began writing for teens and younger readers--I was a teacher and administrator at California State University, San Jose. My field of Linguistics and Inter-cultural Communication has carried me to a lot of places in the world to explore different cultures and languages. I can say, “Where’s the toilet?” and “I’m lost!” in at least five languages and two dialects. Go ahead. Pat me on the back.

My idea of a perfect day is one or all of the following: starting a new novel, finishing writing a blockbuster novel, hiking on a misty morning trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, saying Namaste after a great yoga practice, sipping a cappuccino topped at a bustling café, reading in front of a fire with snow outside, swimming in an ocean someplace.

I've just set out my perfect life. Day after day after day.
Author links:http://cleemckenziebooks.com/https://twitter.com/Cleemckenziehttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie

*~*Giveaway*~* (1) ebook copy of 
Double Negative. Open internationally.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Destiny's Wings Cover Reveal byD.S. Schmeckpeper

Destiny's Wings

Cover designed by EmCat Designs
Release Date: September 19, 2014Author: D.S. SchmeckpeperGenre: Epic Fantasy
Synopsis
Celeste is tired. She just wants to be left alone.

For centuries, the half-blooded elf has hidden herself away from the world and lived in isolation. Things have been peaceful, quiet. But some have a greater calling, a destiny. When the humans unwittingly set about a plan to release the source of all evil back into the world, Celeste is called upon by an old ally to stop them, and to keep all of Altierra safe.

Now she must face her past as she and her allies travel across the continent to save a world she has been apart from for eons. Will even her angelic birthright and druidic powers be enough to stop the rise of the last god?

She never asked to be a hero.

Destiny can be funny that way.

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Excerpt
Celeste moved her arms up and around Tarnelius’ neck, while his dropped to her waist. They deepened the kiss, their tongues exploring each other’s mouth and twisting together in an erotic tango. Tarnelius moaned into her mouth in pure rapture. She trembled from the sheer emotion of it all. She knew that if elves died when they had nothing more to live for, she and Tarnelius would live for an eternity because they had each other. This was truly their happily ever after.

He broke off the kiss and inched back, trying to catch his breath and running his hands up and down her body in a delicious caress. “Don’t stop,” she spoke inside his head. “Don’t ever stop.”

“Celeste, my angel. Don’t ask me that now. I will never be able to refuse you. Come on, I’m sure the others are spying on us out here, and I want our first time to be in private, not out here in the open where anyone could interrupt us.”

She leaned forward, offering her lips to him, pressing her body completely flush against his. He gave in and tried to give her only a brief kiss, but she reached up and tangled her hands into his golden hair, holding him against her. She moaned as she felt him straining against her and shivered as he caressed her wings.

He felt his control slipping as he kissed her with all the desperation of a starving man. They needed to get themselves under control or he would take her right there. When he felt her shiver he pulled back once more, running his hands again over her wings. She licked her lips and closed her eyes, breathing heavily. “Does that feel good, Angel?”

“Mmm,” she answered.

He gave her a devilish grin as he stroked her feathery wings. “I had no idea your wings were so sensitive. Come on, we need to get inside. We’ll have an eternity to get to know each other intimately, starting tonight. I promise I will always be exactly what you need, Celeste.”



Author Bio

D.S. Schmeckpeper (a.k.a. Dottie and Steve Schmeckpeper) live in Florida, USA. They are a husband and wife team who work together to create the Land of Destiny series. Both have loved the Fantasy genre for many years and have wasted way too much time playing fantasy-based games. Dottie was a vocal performance major in college, before she decided a liberal arts major was not for her. Ironic, huh? They have two wonderful twin boys, who are three at the time of this publication. They are the light or their parents’ lives. Steve does the artwork and comes up with many of the story concepts. Dottie brings the ideas to life. When not working, writing or drawing, the pair love to take their children to Florida’s many amusement parks, and can often be found there. Check us out on Facebook to see upcoming news, excerpts and more of Steve’s artwork!
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Cover Reveal hosted by:

Pandora Boxed Set and Giveaway

Pandora Boxed Set
Publication date: August 5th 2014
Genres: Paranormal


Synopsis:*TWENTY COMPLETE FULL-LENGTH NOVELS AND NOVELLAS FOR $0.99! NO CLIFFHANGERS!*
Do you dare open the box?
Whether you love paranormal in the form of romance, suspense, mystery, horror, or fantasy, this box set will have something to entice your preternatural sensibilities. Supernaturally thrilling and engaging, this box set has it all: ghosts, vampires, mind-readers, shape-shifters, demons, faeries, werewolves, and more.
For a limited time, you can enjoy books from today’s New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling authors and many more. We have everything from titles that are slated for the big screen to stories from Pulitzer Prize and Bram Stoker Award Nominees! When purchased separately, these books cost over $50! But they are your’s today for less than $1.
Professionally formatted, no cliffhangers, and no short stories. Every selection in this rare, limited edition paranormal box set are full-length novels and novellas! A few are “First in Series,” but we carefully selected only those which can still be enjoyed as a standalone!
Riley J Ford, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: INTO YOU
Rebecca Hamilton, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist: HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL
Apryl Baker, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist: THE AWAKENING
Carole Lanham, Amazon Best-Selling Author and Bram Stoker Award Nominee: CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE
Thomas Sullivan, Pulitzer Prize Nominee: THE WATER WOLF
Rainy Kaye, Amazon Best-Selling Author: SUMMONED
Laura Howard, Amazon Best-Selling Author: THE FORGOTTEN ONES
Noree Cosper, B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree: A PRESCRIPTION FOR DELIRIUM
Louise Caiola, Amazon Best-Selling Author: WHAT TRULY KNOWS
Kelley Anne Blount, Amazon Best-Selling Author: SHADE
Susan Stec, Amazon Best-Selling Author: DEAD GIRLS NEVER SHUT UP
Christi Goddard, Amazon Best-Selling Author: FOUR IN THE MORNING
Steven Katriel, Amazon Best-Selling Author: THE PORTRAIT OF ALATIEL SALAZAR
Heather Kenealy, winner of MTV’s “Stan Lee presents the Seekers” contest and Cinescape’s Short Story Contest: THE TRAITORS’ TRILOGY
Peter Dawes, Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award winner: EYES OF THE SEER
DelSheree Gladden, Amazon Best-Selling Author: INVISIBLE
with…
Angela Fristoe: LIE TO ME
Conner Kressley: THE BREAKER’S CODE
Samantha LaFantasie: MADE TO FORGET
Rachel Walter: TRUE CONNECTION
 Excerpts:
SHADEby Kelly Anne B

INVISIBLEby DelSheree GladdenWithout warning, catching my breath seems impossible. I don’t know if I can handle the thought that someone might actively be trying to hurt Mason. Before I can stop myself, I feel tears begin sliding down my cheeks. I’m not the only one who feels them. Mason reaches up and touches my face, seeming startled when he realizes I am crying. Not that I can blame him. I’m about as much of a crier as he is. “Oh, Ollie,” he says softly. His strong, but gentle arms easily pull me out from behind him and nestle me against his body. I curl against him as I try to shut out the fear that is quickly swallowing me up. “Mason, I can’t bear the thought of losing you,” I whisper against his chest. 
His arms press me against him so tightly there is no space left between us. “I’ve already lost one family. I won’t lose you, too.” The night quiets as we lay in each other’s arms. Slowly, Mason’s breathing calms. As he relaxes, my own fears begin to calm as well. They don’t disappear, but they come down to a manageable enough level that I can think and ask the question lingering in both of our minds. “Mason, what do we do now?” He sighs. His fingers stroke my hair softly. “I don’t know. I’m not sure how to get more information out of Robin without telling her the truth.” “We can’t tell her the truth. We have no idea who she’s really involved with. It’s too big of a risk.” “I know, but we have to stay close to her, too. If she is a threat, we can’t be blind to it.” I know he’s right, but I don’t like to think about Mason being so close to someone who could potentially hurt him. But what choice do we have? I look up at Mason and find him already staring down at me with a look of concern. Something about the moment makes my heart lurch. It takes me a few seconds to gather my thoughts. “Mason, we’ll figure this out,” I promise. As his fingers brush against my cheek, that strange sensation flashes again, but I am too anxious to pay it much attention. “Out of everything Robin told us today, do you know what hurt the most?” Mason asks, surprising me by his change in topic. He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Robin said something like sometimes it’s hard to remember ‘I wasn’t human,’ that I was sent here to be raised by Caretakers. Do you realize what that means? Not only am I not human, my family isn’t even my real family. All of the sudden, I’ve lost another family, one I never knew, maybe one that didn’t even want me to begin with.” “We’ll find answers, Mason.” I know it’s not much as far as comfort goes, but I don’t know what else to say. I have no idea why anyone would give up someone as wonderful as Mason. If his biological parents didn’t want him, their stupidity was our gain. I can’t imagine my life without Mason. I have no idea what time it is, but weariness begins to creep over me. My eyes are starting to close when Mason asks one last question. “Do you think Robin is right about me not being human?” A yawn stretches my jaw before I can answer. “I don’t know. Maybe. You are invisible.” “Does that bother you?” he asks quietly. My shrug is more of a twitch as sleeps tries to steal me away. “Why would it? I love you no matter where you came from.”


HER SWEETEST DOWNFALLby Rebecca HamiltonNight crept over Damascus. After treating the rapidly warming serpent mark with more Cruor blood, Ophelia spun toward the open door. Ethan sat between the frame, his strong shoulders resting back, his face turned to the field where a small red fox burrowed in the dirt. The night breeze wisped through his hair. She set the blankets on the end of the bed and walked over.“Is it far?” she asked.“No.” He cleared his throat but didn’t look up at her. “Sorry. For a human, it’s very far, but it won’t be for us.”Ophelia bunched her fingers together in front of her stomach. “Same as we got ‘ere then?”“Yes.”She stepped around, outside, and kneeled in the grass across from him, resting her hands in her lap. “Ethan, if something is wrong . . . ”“I’d tell you,” he replied, lifting his gaze from a long piece of grass he’d been slipping between his fingers. Moonlight paled his tan complexion and darkened the shade of his jaw, making him appear more defeated than he had hours ago.“The Cruor I mentioned earlier is in the Americas. She’s not expecting us.”“But I thought—”“Please trust me.” He stood and dusted off his pants, then leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. She tried for a smile and busied herself attempting to prop up a wildflower that was wilting among the yellow grass. When she looked up, Ethan’s expression was gentle. His gaze moved from the small flower to her eyes. There was a brief moment where she wondered if he, like Lady Karina, found her bright, ice-blue eyes alarming. But his express was soft, and her fears quickly melted. He walked behind her, crouched down, and covered her hand with his, his fingertips touching the flower. It revived before her very eyes, and Ophelia leaned her head against Ethan’s shoulder as she stared at the flower in awe.“Beautiful,” she whispered, wishing she had been destined to be one of the Ankou—to be one of the elementals who revived life and put an end to evil, rather than bring death. She told him as much.He sat back, and she turned around to face him. He was standing now, holding his hand out to her. “Come with me,” he said.He took her hand and they fell through darkness just as they had when he’d taken her to the cabin. When she could see again, her stomach suddenly jolted. She hunched forward, heaving, but this time she did not vomit. She held her midsection until the feeling passed, then dried the moisture from her eyes.
Ethan smoothed his hand across her shoulder blades. “Traveling will get easier with time. By your third or fourth time you shouldn’t feel anything.”“Why does this keep happening?” she demanded. She could hardly think straight.“When we travel this way, we are in the in-between. You are suspended from such things as time and space and then thrust immediately back into it. Your system is forced to catch up instantly on arrival. If not for the magic the Ankou are granted, it could kill you.”Ophelia sighed, nodding. “Where are we?”Ethan turned her toward a small house and pressed his fingers to his lips.
He led her along the outer walls of the house until they reached a window. Inside, a man and a woman held each other, crying. Ophelia peered around the room, trying to make sense of what she was searching for. She found her answer on the floor. A young man sat, collapsed to his knees, covered in blood.“What ‘appened?” Ophelia whispered.“The young man just watched his comrades kill his sister.” Ethan’s voice was tight and his tone clipped. “He was unable to act to save her. He’s returned home to tell their parents.”Ophelia backed away, shaking her head. When Ethan approached, she pounded her fist against his chest. “Why would ye show me such a thing?”
Ethan didn’t move, even as Ophelia tried once again to push him away. “The young girl who lost her life was a dual-breed. She was only killed because of what she is, and for no greater reason. This . . . this is what we’re fighting for. It is not that I want you in harm’s way, or that I wish for you to become a creature you detest. If I could do this for you, protect you from your calling, I would. But I cannot let my feelings for you sway our responsibility. I am confident you are capable, that you can do this to save the innocents in this world.”Though Ophelia tried, she could not summon a response. She covered her mouth with hand, her entire body trembling. Could she live with herself, knowing all this, if she didn’t try to help?



LIE TO MEby Angela FristoeVivian was such a drama queen. What did Nathan ever see in her? I rolled my eyes, then slid the note over to Tonya. Her soaring eyebrows made me wish I hadn’t. No way would she believe me about the first note now. My best chance against her questioning was a quick escape after class, before she started the interrogation.Luck, however, deserted me. The bell rang and Tonya grabbed my bag, holding it hostage behind her as she stood with the table between us. That was the problem with having a best friend; they always knew what you were going to do. She was almost as bad, or good depending on your point of view, as Chloe sometimes, though I’d never say that to Chloe. Doing that would just open Chloe’s vision floodgates and I’d be constantly bombarded with every detail of every soon to be minute of my life.I refused to struggle for my bag. Tonya would only take it as confirmation that I was hiding something from her. Instead, I screwed my face up in confusion and hoped she’d buy it.“What’s wrong?” I sank back further in my chair, tipping it up on its back legs again as Mrs. Schaeffer went out the door, following the rest of the students. Owen and Bianca stopped behind Tonya, waiting, Owen looking mildly disinterested, while Bianca was completely confused.“What are you hiding?” Tonya asked, her head tilting to the side.“Noth-”“Cut the crap, Phoebs. Vivian is pissed and you’ve been looking guilty all class, well at least the part where you were awake.” Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring my bag as it swung around and bumped her hip. There was no way to get out of this, but if I told her now it’d be all over campus within an hour.“Fine, but not at school. I’ll tell you when you come over tomorrow.”“I can’t tomorrow.” Her face shuttered and she turned around, tossing my bag to me in a quick motion. I caught it as it slammed into my chest.“Why? I thought we were gonna go Christmas shopping? You already ditched me last weekend.” There were only six days left to shop and I needed to get, well, everything, and Tonya was one of those people that managed to find the best things the instant she walked into a store. She shrugged and twisted a strand of her straightened hair.“I’ve gotta go see my mom.”Liar. It whispered through me, my stomach churning to the point I thought I’d puke. There was a moment when my brain tried to make sense of what I was hearing, what I was feeling, then it came again. Liar.“Liar.” The word slipped out, unrestrained in its harshness, and almost instantly, my stomach settled. Until I saw the expression on Tonya’s face.“What did you call me?” Her back stiffened and her head reared back. Shit. Owen and Bianca went bug-eyed behind her. Tonya’s lips pursed and her eyes narrowed, darkening from brown to black.“I...I...” My voice faded, unsure if I should call her on it again, or try and fib my way out of it. This wasn’t the first time I’d called her a liar and she’d always laughed it off before. Her reaction and the flush coloring the soft brown of her cheeks told me I’d actually caught her.“Screw you,” she snapped as I stood there with my mouth moving like a gasping fish. “I don’t need to tell you every move I make, and I don’t need my best friend calling me a liar.” She spun, shoved Owen out of her way, and took off out of the room, slamming the door behind her.My bag thudded to the floor. Owen and Bianca stared at me, the question in their faces a reflection I was sure of my own. What the hell had just happened?



THE FORGOTTEN ONESby Laura HowardWe’re going to the beach tomorrow,” Nicole said.“Have fun,” I mumbled.She wiped her lips with a napkin and narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re coming.” I opened my mouth to argue, but she held a slender finger up at me and pursed her lips. “It’s the first Saturday you’ve had off in months. School’s over, at least for the summer. You’re coming.”I sighed and looked up at the pattern of our umbrella. “You really know how to ruin a perfectly good sundae.”Her eyes shot daggers at me. “We’ll have a great time, Al.” Her expression changed as she seemed to change tactics. Her green eyes widened and her lip stuck out just the tiniest bit.Cranky Nicole was a challenge, but pouting Nicole was impossible.“Fine,” I sighed. “We’re going to the beach.” I looked at my sundae, which had made me so happy a minute earlier and a thought came to me. She hadn’t said anyone else was coming, but Nicole and her boyfriend Jeff were practically inseparable. “Wait, who else is going?”Nicole grinned, clearly smelling her victory. “The usual crew: Jeff, Rachel, Sean and”—her eyebrows inched up—“Ethan.”I nodded, trying to breathe evenly. I hated the way my pulse spiked at just the mention of his name. Handsome, cocky Ethan. His smile had the power to break down every one of my defenses. But, I didn’t have space in my life for that. I had a plan—to focus on taking care of my mom. My grandparents had done it by themselves for long enough. I needed to find a way to help, to unburden them. That was my priority. But Ethan…he was so hard to resist sometimes.


TRAITOR’S TRILOGYby Heather Kenealy
The three had been here for longer than they themselves knew.There was no ceiling to this round room, or if there was it was so high that it could not be seen. The walls were pocked with blackened windows that filled with demons now and then that watched the trio and laughed and mocked. Gnarled creatures with eyes like coal and twisting horns ringing their heads like sham crowns. Each of these men saw them differently, and each man heard their taunting cries in their own language. But they didn't know this. The language of the damned is always the same.Screams echoed through the room, sometimes. The tormented souls outside suffered differently than the three who waited in here. They were Betrayers, afforded a special place in the Eternal Confinement, for was their Jailer not a Betrayer, Himself? Did He not rise against one who trusted Him, and was He not cast down for itThere was a bonfire in the middle of the room and the three reclined around it on hard marble benches stained black with the soot that did not touch these damned souls.They were stained enough already.Loki Shapeshifter, Judas Iscariot and Mordred Le Fey.Loki was long and thin, fair in the manner of his people. His hair was red as the flames that surrounded him and there was a fine network of scars around his red and green eyes from where the serpent dripped its poison on his face in the time before Ragnarok. His lips too were scarred where once Brokk the Dwarf sewed them shut as punishment for an insult. His legs and arms were shapely but the ankles and wrists bore red never-healing burns from where he broke his chains when the time came for him to end the world.Sometimes in this place, he became a woman, who batted flirtatious eyes at the others with mocking laughter on her lips. Sometimes, he was a horse, who nickered softly and paced the room, restlessly. Sometimes he was a bird, who flew upwards, looking for the way out of this room. He could never maintain these forms for long, that power had been limited here in this place, restricted by being reduced to myth. It was how he was chained here, though there were no chains to be seen. Loki was the only one to ever sleep here but when he did he woke up in the middle of a nightmare, flailing at the serpent that was no longer there, feeling the poison's burn on his face, calling for Sigyn, his good and godly wife, who had gone into exile with him. She was at rest now, now that Ragnarok has come, rewarded for her devotion to an unworthy man who never said a nice word to her. She was at peace but Loki never would be.He was forever dressed in only a white fur trimmed tunic and high-laced sandals that he had worn for eternity, a gold torque about his throat the only ornament. He was here in this place longer than the others, longer than this place was even known of. Once upon a time, this place was ruled by his little daughter Hel, but no more. She died at the World's End and this place was given to another.Judas was next to him, Judas dark and bearded, reddish highlights in his deep brown hair. He did not look at the others. He did not speak to the others. He lay on his back, his brown-almost-black eyes seeking the Heaven that he would never see, the mark of the rope that throttled the life from him burning red on the tan skin. Now and then, his lips moved in prayer, but always they stopped again, as if he had forgotten the words.Sometimes despair came upon him and he wept, beat his chest, pulled his hair and tore the pure white robe he wore. Always the rips were mended and the scratches his nails left in his cheeks were healed. The angry welt on his throat would burst and the black blood dried quickly in the heat of this place, but that would never heal. It was the mark of his death."Why?" Judas sometimes murmured. "Why me? My Lord, forgive me." Mordred, who called himself Le Fey, was the last. He was a Pendragon by birth, though Arthur never recognized it. The youth who should've been a prince didn't acknowledge it either. He looked like Arthur, though, strawberry-blond and handsome, blue eyes that reflected only pain and heartache. He was small and delicate, barely twenty years of age when he died, well formed except for the one shoulder that raised itself the tiniest bit higher than the other.Well that, and, the hidden deformity in his chest.Beneath the white and gold velvet tunic that he wore, there was a gaping hole. His heart had been there, but Arthur's rejection had ripped it from him. He had plunged his pike through that empty space, and Mordred's hatred had given him the strength to pull himself up the length of the shaft to kill his murderer.That hole had never healed.He did not look at the others, either. Why should he? He did not trust people. People turned on him. People judged him. People betrayed him. What good would it do to place his faith in these two? After all, they were betrayers already. That's why they were here.There was only the confinement, the mockery, and the waiting.So, forever, the three waited. They didn't know what they waited for. They didn't know how long they would wait.But, they waited.For there was nothing else for them to do. Myth, faith and legend joined in their evil, joined in their betrayal, awaiting redemption—maybe---awaiting an end--certainly.


THE BREAKER’S CODEby Conner Kressley
I stared at myself; half in shock, half in horror. A wedding dress, an honest to God wedding dress. It fit perfectly, hugging all the right places, and flattering all the wrong ones. I almost looked like a woman. I almost looked beautiful.“You forgot the veil.” A man’s voice sounded from behind me. I spun, the fabric of my gown ruffling, to find Allister Leeman leaning against the doorway. He smiled a wide, dark smile. The raven at his throat seemed to caw and move; its wings flapping against his Adam’s apple. His dark hair was slicked back, and a toothpick peeked out from between his lips. His eyes cut into me. A delicate white veil danced around in his fingers, and he was dressed in a tuxedo that, sickeningly enough, seemed designed to match my dress.“Where are my friends?” I asked, trying to steady my voice. “You don’t have any friends.” He plucked the toothpick from his mouth. “If you mean the people that were captured with you; they’re fine.”“And my mother?”“She’s fine too,” he answered, and started to make his way toward me.
I flinched away. “I want to see them. I want you to let them go. I’m here. I did what you asked.”“You did part of it,” he thumped his toothpick onto the floor in front of him. “I’ll let them go when you do the rest.”He reached for me, and ran his disgusting hand through my hair. I shivered and slapped it away. “Though, I don’t know why you’re so attached to them,” he grinned. “They don’t care about you, my darling. Not really.”“They risked their lives for me,” I snorted. “They don’t even know you. To them, you’re something to kill, something to change. Even your mother-Or, more appropriately, the woman who calls herself your mother, has only the most conditional of loves for you. None of them accept you for what you are. They would never try to understand you, or embrace the truth of who you are. That’s why they’re here, Cresta Karr. Not for you; it was never for you. They’re here because they can’t stand the idea that you are more than them; that we’re more than them. I’m the only one who understands you, Cresta. Because I know what it is to be called for something so monumental. I share your pain and your exhilaration in the same way that I will soon share your bed and your life, because it is mine as well.”“We’re not sharing anything!” I couldn’t help it. I slapped his stupid face. I probably shouldn’t have done it. After all, he did have everyone I cared about in the entire world in his clutches. But he was just so smug, pushing all my buttons. “What the hell is the matter with you anyway?” I shouted. “What kind of lunatic actually wants the world to end?”He put a hand up to his quickly reddening face. “The kind that knows it has to.” A broad dangerous smile crept across his face. His eyes glowed menacingly.“They haven’t told you all of it, have they?” He did a little shuffle with his feet, almost like he couldn’t wait for what came next. “This isn’t about the way the world ends. It’s about what comes next. The world has ended a hundred times before; with ice ages, and floods, and meteors that have purged this planet of everything it could find. But each time, the world has come out of it for the better, stronger, and more evolved.”There it was, that word, evolved. “Just as human replaced the dinosaurs, we will replace humans. It’s the way of the world. The strong always replace the weak, my darling.” He held the veil out toward me. “And you are the one who will set it all in motion.”I slapped it away too. “I would never hurt anybody.”“Just as the wave would never hurt the mountain. Still, the mountain erodes. “He picked the veil up, folded it, and put it in his pocket. “They paint you as an antichrist, but you are a messiah.”“I’m not,” I said. “I’m not the Bloodmoon. I’m not anything. Look, I’m not going to kill anybody. So, I can’t be the Bloodmoon. The sun will be up soon, and then everybody will know. So, just give me my mom and my friends, and let me go.”“Still, with these friends, “he muttered. “Come here. Let me show you something.”




TRUE CONNECTIONby Rachel WalterI watch him as he drives. Seeing the veins in his arm pop out as he turns the wheel and the muscles ripple when he shifts a gear, I wonder what those arms would feel like wrapped around… Stop it!Every damn time I’m around him, I think like a pervert! I inwardly growl and press my head back onto the headrest. I’ll just look out the window then.Trees are in no way erotic, or sensual, or perverted.Focusing on the trees is easy, but I can still smell him. His amazing smelling cologne mixed with his clean, spicy scent assaults my nose and begs me to lean in close. This car ride is taking forever.The longer it takes, the more nervous I get. I shift in my seat, cross and uncross my legs, and bite my lip as I stare at endless trees.‘The way she bites her lip makes me want to pull the car over and…’I gasp, and choke on my breath or saliva.What was that?!Who was that?“Jaz, are you okay? Do I need to pull the car over?”I stare at him with saucer-like eyes. Oh, my God, “pull the car over.” It was him, he was in my head.His voice, in my freaking head!“Stop the car! Stop the car, now!”He glances in my direction looking concerned. “We’re about five minutes to the lake. Can’t you…”“Stop. The. Car. Seth.” I demand between rasping breaths.He pulls over alongside the road. There’s a fallen tree next to the car on my side, but there’s enough room for me to open the door. I wrench that sucker open and stumble out.I need a minute to myself. Or twenty.I walk towards the back of the car, step over the log and sit on it so I’m facing the trees, and away from him.Good Lord, I just heard his voice in my head.Was that really his thought? Can I hear thoughts now? Wouldn’t that be mind reading?Wow, maybe I am crazy.Mind readers don’t exist.Henry will have to admit me to the hospital, and I’ll share a room with Mom. Maybe I’ll have my own room, and the walls will be padded. I’ll get a straightjacket, and they’ll have to give some really strong medicine to knock me out.Was I really biting my lip at the time?Should I ask him if he thought that?Oh, my God! No, I cannot ask him that!He’ll think I’m a loon for sure! Maybe I should test it first. I’ll bite my lip and see if that voice pops in my head again.I lean on my knees and put my head in my hands.This is ridiculous! Just get back in the car you’re being a jagoff!I resist the urge to pull my hair out, and with a sigh, I stand. When I step back over the log, I look up to see Seth leaning against his back bumper, watching me.“Is everything okay?” he asks me slowly, like if he talks too fast I might run away. He has his arms crossed over his chest.His muscular arms, over that perfect... Stop it already!I squeeze my eyes shut. “Umm…well…” I take a deep breath, open my eyes, and look at him. Gathering whatever courage I can conjure up, I bite my lip on purpose.He shifts a tiny bit and licks his lips.It really was him in my head! I wasn’t hearing things! I was hearing him!He takes a step towards me, and I take one back. But I forget about the log and end up landing on my ass with my legs draped over the log. I burst out laughing, and Seth laughs, too.He reaches out his hand to help me up. With him laughing this hard, it’s easy to knock him off balance and pull him down to me. So I do.It feels nice having him like this, the pressure of his body on mine. I have one hand on his chest, the other grips his bicep.Suddenly, we aren’t laughing anymore. We’re just staring into each other’s eyes. He leans down towards me, and I bite my lip again. He groans and closes his eyes as he gets closer to my mouth.“I heard you, Seth,” I whisper against his lips.


MADE TO FORGETby Samantha LaFantasie
ALL AT ONCE, THE weight and darkness lifted. I sucked in a deep breath, sitting up in the cloudlike bed. Immediately, I found that abominable man staring out the window. I left the bed, fueled by anger. I approached, stopping before I got too close to strangle him. “What the hell did you do to me?”“What was necessary to keep you here … and safe.”“According to who?” I snapped.“The man that loves you and would turn this world upside down if it meant keeping you safe.” He sounded despondent, continuing to stare out the window.“I’ve got news for him–if he even exists–keeping me prisoner and taking my memories from me isn’t love, it’s torture. If he really loved me, he’d be here and I would have answers. Besides, now I’m getting a headache.” A throb started at my left temple and pulsed through my head.“He loves you more than he loves his own people. That’s why your father was angry. As soon as your relationship was discovered, he disowned you and refused to listen to any reason. Even when he was told the truth about you. You must have thought the man who loves you was worth it, at one point.”“He—he’s Nepherium?” “Yes,” he said, barely above a whisper.“I guess that makes sense,” I said. He turned to me with eyes wide, full of questions. “My dad said I was mixing blood with them. He was in such a heated rage I barely understood what he said. But there’s more that I need to know.”“What’s that?” he asked.“Why would my lover want me to forget him?”“He hoped that while you couldn’t remember, you’d stay alive. He could protect you and finish the mission.”The way he looked at me, pulling me in, made me weak in the knees. “And how would he feel about the way you’re looking at me?” I asked before I could stop the words.He blinked away, turning his attention to the window before sighing and taking a seat in the shadowed chair.I pushed further. “Or about knocking me out before bringing me here?” He leaned forward on his knees, covering his face with his hands. “I’m …” I waited a few seconds for him to continue. When he didn’t, I wondered if I heard anything at all. “What?”“You have to understand, for him, he’d move the moon and stars to keep you safe. He did the only thing he could to save your life.”“And you? What is your place in all of this? Why did you give me a ring to cover up a strange tattoo? Why can’t I see him?”“I’m your partner. It is my job to protect you. I can’t answer the last one.”“Can’t or won’t?” I retorted.“Pick one,” he snapped. “You told me if I thought I could kill you, you’d let me, because you deserved it. What did you do that would warrant me killing you?”“Please understand, this is more difficult than giving simple answers to your questions. It’s far more complicated.”I smiled at him, because it was the only thing I could do with his ridiculous beating around the bush. He sat up, seemingly disarmed by my small action.


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Come Back To Texas by K.K. Hendin Book Blitz

Come Back To Texas by K.K. Hendin
(Twelve Beats In A Bar #1)
Publication date: August 18th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult 
Synopsis:Everyone thought we’d be the ones who made it through high school. The ones who’d get married and stay married forever. The example of how young love can work.
We thought so, too.
Too bad life had other plans.
It’s been three years since Hayley and Nate broke each other’s hearts. Three years, and a lot has changed. Hayley’s a freshman in Bushwick University, and the only things keeping her sane are stress baking, and her a cappella group, Twelve Beats in a Bar.
Nate’s a Marine, stationed in Afghanistan. The only thing that’s keeping him sane is the last picture he has of him and Hayley, and the hope that maybe when the hell of deployment is over, he can find her again and apologize.
One explosion will change everything.
When a bomb kills all of Nate’s unit, leaving him missing a leg and eyesight in one eye, he’s sent back home to Texas. Texas, where he loved Hayley more than he could possibly imagine ever loving anyone else.
With seemingly endless amounts of free time and needing something to distract himself, Nate starts making YouTube videos, imploring Hayley to come back to him, and come back to Texas.
Hayley’s life is wrapped around the Beats, making sure she doesn’t flunk out of biology class, and babysitting Ohio’s smallest monster, Brandon. She doesn’t want to admit it, but she misses Nate more than anything.
It’s too bad she doesn’t know just how much he misses her, too…

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AUTHOR BIOKK Hendin's real life ambition is to become a pink fluffy unicorn who dances with rainbows. But the schooling for that is all sorts of complicated, so until that gets sorted out, she'll just write. Preferably things with angst and love. And things that require chocolate.
She spends way too much time on Twitter (@kkhendin), and rambles on occasion over at www.kkhendinwrites.blogspot.com.
Author links:https://twitter.com/kkhendinhttp://www.kkhendinwrites.blogspot.ca/https://www.facebook.com/pages/KK-Hendin/425268687590642?ref=tn_tnmnhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7231267.K_K_Hendin

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Alec by L.A. Casey Book Blitz

Alec by L.A. Casey(Slater Brothers #2)Publication date: August 17th 2014Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:Keela Daley is the black sheep of her family. She has always come second to her younger cousin Micah. Even in the eyes of her mother, Micah shone bright, and Keela faded to black. Now, in adulthood, Micah is a bride-to-be and the spotlight is solely on her. Keela is a low priority…or so she thinks.

Alec Slater is a bachelor, never one to bed the same woman, or man, twice. He is a free agent who does what he pleases and answers to no one; that is until a fiery Irish redhead with a temper to match her hair colour knocks him on his arse. Literally.

She hates to admit it, but Keela needs a favour from the cocky Slater brother, a huge favour. She needs him to not only escort her to Micah’s wedding, but to also pose as her boyfriend. Alec agrees to help Keela, but has certain conditions for her to abide by. He wants her body and plans to have it before anyone can say I do.

What he doesn’t plan on is losing his heart as well as the possibility of losing his family when someone from his past threatens his future.

Alec owns Keela, and what Alec owns, Alec keeps.

Goodreads Purchase:Will be found here come release day: Amazon
AUTHOR BIO
L.A. Casey was born, raised and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. She is a twenty two year old stay at home mother to an almost two year old German Shepherd named Storm and of course, her four and half year old (the half is apparently vital) beautiful little hellion/angel depending on the hour of the day.

Her first novel, Dominic, was released on March 17th, 2014, and on March 21st, 2014, it became an international Amazon bestseller.
Author links:https://twitter.com/LAWritesBookshttps://www.facebook.com/LACaseyAuthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7759811.L_A_Caseyhttp://www.lacaseyauthor.com/


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