Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 103
July 26, 2014
Spotlight On: Time of Ruin
Time of Ruin (Ash and Ruin #2)
by Shauna Granger
Release Date: 07/22/14
Summary from Goodreads:
The world has ended, and hope is the most dangerous thing left.
Battered and bruised after barely escaping San Francisco with their lives, Kat, Dylan, and Blue press north – desperate to reach the possibility of a new home.
But strange, monstrous ravens are tracking the remaining survivors, food is becoming scarce, gasoline is running short, and people are becoming suicidal, making survival almost impossible.
And the Pestas are growing bolder. Somehow, their numbers are growing.
The further north they go, the harder it becomes to ignore the signs that they’ve made a fatal mistake. Kat must face the impossible truth that there is no escape, there is no safe haven, and their worst nightmares don’t come close to their new reality.
Book One:
(linked to Goodreads)
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Excerpt
Sitting on the bumper again, my jagged nails scratch at the plastic as I fight the urge to tell Dylan to hurry. Blue looks up at me and whines. I shake my head at him and pet him with the toe of my boot. His eyes are dark blue in the evening light. Blue drops his head and looks at Dylan, his ears perked up into two triangles. I follow his gaze. Dylan’s still standing, holding his instruments of destruction, and staring at the raging fire.
Blue pushes to his feet and barks one sharp, loud yelp. My hand drifts over to the rifle by my leg as I let my eyes slide from Dylan’s back to search for the source of Blue’s panic.
“Dylan.” I mean to call to him, but my voice comes out in a strangled whisper.
I swallow as I stand and pull the rifle with me. Across the street, the shadows between the houses are taking shape. They’re no longer the snapping, twisting formless shadows from the fire, but something more, something substantial. Dylan lifts the can of fluid and squirts more onto the fire, making it spike and lick the air.
“Dylan,” I try again, my voice a little louder. The rifle is in my hands now. The stock is pressed into my shoulder as I aim at the shadows peeling away from the deeper black.
Still Dylan doesn’t hear me, or is ignoring me.
Blue barks repeatedly, backing up until he hits the car. I find my voice and scream his name loud enough that it hurts my throat. Finally he looks at me, his face cast in shadows with the light behind him. I can’t make out his features, but I can make out the horde of Pestas behind him.
“Run!” I aim the gun as I walk backward around the car.
Instead of listening to me, he looks back to see what has terrified me so. They shuffle forward, lines of them spilling out into the cul-de-sac. Dylan takes two steps backward, nearly tripping over his feet and making me scream again. I rip the rear door open for Blue to get in the car. Slamming the door behind Blue, I lift the rifle and fire a shot, aiming well away from Dylan. The Pestas cringe in unison, as though they are all puppets controlled by the same set of strings.
“Run, dammit!” I scream.
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Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.
Book Blitz Organized by:
July 25, 2014
Songs I Couldn’t Travel Without by Adi Alsaid, Author of Let’s Get Lost
Songs I couldn’t travel without
This is a tough one, as I’m constantly listening to music during my travels. Lowering the windows of a car and blasting music is a crucial element to any road trip, and big headphones make staring out of a bus window feel cinematic.
5. California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade- The Decemberists
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7FVgfGtzsA
4. I Won’t Be Found- Tallest Man on Earth
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9M8yDwkuqw
3. Estate Sale Sign- The Mountain Goats
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZiOad87Jg8
2. The Trapeze Swinger- Iron and Wine
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8aPyBr-_S0
1. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea- Neutral Milk Hotel
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jtZx9LNpAY
Let’s Get Lost
by Adi
Alsaid
Release Date: 07/29/14
Harlequin Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Five strangers.
Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.
Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA.
She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need
someone the most.
There’s HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams
for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen
goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes
off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost
the ability to love.
Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves
them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila’s own 4,268-mile
journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need
most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you’re
looking for is to get lost along the way.
Early Praise:
“Five love stories, beautifully woven
together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full
appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss. ” – Justine Magazine
“An entertaining and romantic road-trip
debut.” – Kirkus
Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***
1 signed hard
cover copy of Let’s Get Lost
1 Let’s Get Lost
luggage tag
1 Harlequin TEEN
notebook
1 Let’s Get Lost
sachel
1 Harlequin TEEN
tote bag
July 24, 2014
Cover Reveal: Something Forever, by M. Clarke
Something Forever by M. Clarke (Mary Ting)
Available August 25th, 2014
New Adult Contemporary Romance
>>> GoodReads <<<
A heated moment.
Desperate decision.
Life altering choices.
Max and Jenna are forced to test their relationship. Will they be able to embrace the
challenges life throws their way?
Secrets can ruin the foundation of a relationship. Will Matthew choose to withhold vital
information from Becky that could consume her with doubt about their future?
When it comes to love, Something Great can turn into Something Wonderful, but can it
be Something Forever?
CHECK THE FIRST TWO BOOKS
JOIN THE LIVE PARTY ON FACEBOOK
Giveaways, teaser, and more!
https://www.facebook.com/events/766740190045206/
CALI PEEPS — CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME EVENT!
Revolution, by K. A. Salidas: Cover Reveal
Title: Revolution
Author: K.A. Salidas
Series: Chronicles of the Uprising (#3)
Genre: Paranormal/Dystopian
Publisher: Rising Sign Books LLC
Release Date: TBA
Blurb/Synopsis:
Peace is an illusion. Blood, violence, and death follow Mira like shadows.
Battle lines have been drawn between human and Otherkin and bloody war is on the horizon: one that will end in either a shift in the world’s balance of power…or ultimate destruction.
With their strength, powers and a rage known only by the oppressed, the Otherkin are evenly matched against the superior numbers of the human army. To tip the balance in their favor, the Otherkin need more soldiers; and their only options are the Gladiators of New Haven city.
Mira is sent across enemy lines to recruit any able-bodied vampires to her cause. But what she discovers along the way will blur the lines between friends and enemies. Seeds of doubt weaken Mira’s allegiance and she finds herself torn between the old masters who used her as entertainment, and the new ones who consider her as nothing more than a weapon.
As the war draws near, Mira will have to decide what she is truly fighting for.
Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, she can get the munchkins off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, she still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.
Places to find K.A (Katie)
Blog
Goodreads
Publisher
Amazon
Amazon
UK
ARe
Barnes
& Noble
Smashwords
Social Blogger Hop
Welcome to the Social Blogger Hop!
Come Meet & Greet your favorite bloggers and find a few new ones to love too! Enter the Grand Prize Giveaway then hop around and visit all of the Social Bloggers and learn some fun facts about them! There will be individual giveaways at some of the blog so don’t forget to stop by and say hi!
Grand Prize:
$70 Amazon Gift Card plus Kindle ebooks of Beyond the Count and Fairy, Texas
For this blog hop, we’ll be sharing interesting facts and giving away a grand prize–and some of us will be offering blog-specific prizes, as well, so be sure to stop by all the participating blogs!
So take a moment to:
1. read my post,
2. leave me a comment letting me know what you like best about book blogs,
3. enter to win an e-copy of my first published book, Waking Up Dead
4. HOP to check out the rest of the blogs!
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Facts about Words, Words, Words
1. I started this blog as a website to discuss my own books–but I quickly figured out that I was at least as interested in discussing other people’s books as much as my own, so I shifted my website over to http://www.MargoBondCollins.net and kept this as a separate book blog!
2. Number 1 is perhaps less surprising if you know that I have a Ph.D. in literature and spend my day job talking books all the time, too!
3. The title of this blog is taken from a line in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. I especially love the way Mel Gibson delivers the line, but I like seeing it performed in a number of ways. You can see my comments on it on my very first post on this blog.
4. I love interacting with people on my blog almost as much as I like writing fiction, so I’d love to hear from you! Tell me: what do you like best about book blogs?
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Legally Undead (Vampirarchy Book 1)
Beyond the Count: The Literary Vampire of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
July 23, 2014
Author May William’s Top Five Favorite Books in Romance
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind – What romance writer doesn’t love GWTW? I know it’s flawed in places, but Scarlet is the quintessential romance character. She’s strong, faces adversity, and “frankly” really screws up in the end, but knows it. Rhett, tall, dark and handsome, who loves her more than she deserves, is my idea of a romance hero.
Judith Krantz’s Scruples- I know it’s old school, but I was in the sixth grade (my mother had no idea what I was reading) and Krantz’s blockbuster opened my eyes to a whole new form of reading. I love the drama, the wealthy, but flawed characters, the big settings.
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton Series – I’ve read and loved them all and plan to start over from the beginning of the series and read them in order this time. Quinn’s dialogue is witty and engaging, her characters lifelike, and the pacing perfect.
Amie Denman’s The Gull Motel – This contemporary romance is one of my more recent reads and I loved it. Savvy, the main character, is funny and likable. The first person narration keeps the plot moving quickly and the laughs coming.
Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street Books – Whenever I’ve decided that the world is a dark place, filled with mean people, I read something by Macomber. Her characters are so darn nice that it restores my faith in humanity.
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Raising Her Hopes
May Williams
A Historical Victorian Romance
Turquoise Morning Press Vintage
When Sidney White arrives in England, he seems like the perfect man for Belinda Ferguson.
She wants to love him, but first she must overcome her past before she is free to raise her hopes.
Sidney Ferguson has one objective when he arrives in Bath, England. He plans to leave his daughter with relatives before returning to the United States to embark on a dangerous mission for the Union Army.
An encounter with the beautiful Belinda Ferguson strikes like lightning at his heart, but she doesn’t give her love or attention freely. Belinda’s past makes her cautious about placing her trust, especially in a man who must leave her to complete his task.
Despite the separation his work requires, Sidney convinces her to risk loving him and she dares to raise her hopes.
Buy Links: Turquoise Morning Press Amazon B&N ARe
Excerpt:
Belinda barely made it twenty paces outside the Hazel’s door when Sidney came alongside her and fell into step. He didn’t reach for her arm as she expected, but he was close enough that they bumped shoulders.
“I believe it was my job to see you home this evening,” he said as they crossed the center of the square.
“You’re undoing years worth of work on my part.” She tried for a light, breezy tone as if his presence were entirely superfluous.
“How so?”
“I’d finally convinced Benjamin that I didn’t need an escort. After you return to the States, I’m sure he’ll go back to walking me home and I shall have to start all over again.”
“My apologies, but there’s an obvious difference between his intentions and mine.”
“Is there?” she questioned. “The walk is the same.”
“I’m sure Benjamin does not wish to kiss you as I do.”
“Mr. White.” She stopped in the glow of a street light and faced him, trying to formulate a firm rebuff and control her rapidly beating pulse.
“Please, will you call me Sidney?”
“No, I don’t think I shall. You may turn back now. I can see my gate.” She resumed walking. Any man of sense would cease following her.
“Do you dismiss Mr. Barth in the same way? Or is he allowed a kiss and entrance past your door?”
“My relationship with Mr. Barth is not your concern. Please leave me or I shall have to assume Benjamin’s ill opinion of you is correct and my hasty judgment a few nights ago was erroneous.” She tried for a haughty tone to use as a weapon against him, but as usual it failed her. Being too nice could be a curse at times. “Perhaps you are a rogue after all,” she finished, slightly breathless, with one hand on her gate and the other held out in a gesture meant to stop him.
Brushing by her upraised hand, he closed the distance between them. “I hate the thought of proving my brother-in-law correct,” he put a finger under her chin and tipped her face up, “but some things are worth the risk.”
His lips were soft, yet demanding, as they met hers. She wanted to resist, to seal her lips tight, but the stirring of passion she felt in him under the controlled surface matched hers. When his arms circled her, she placed her hands on his lapels not to push him back, but to touch him, to have the impression of his strength on her fingers.
He broke the kiss she’d been unable and unwilling to resist and mercifully stayed silent while her world righted itself. No man other than Heath had ever kissed her, held her like this. She’d evaded Mr. Barth and he was too nice to press her. This man was different. He had no fear of demanding what he wanted. She had every fear of giving in to his demands.
“Goodnight, Belinda,” he whispered close to her ear.
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About the Author:
May loves romance. Big pink roses, chocolate hearts, sunset walks, but, most of all, she loves romance novels. She’s been reading romances since she first discovered the public library where the librarians didn’t notice or didn’t care what she was checking out even though she hadn’t hit puberty yet.
Since then, May has continued to read every genre of romance, but she writes mostly historical. Places and time periods have stories to tell. And she likes to listen. Her most recent novels are Victorian era pieces where she can imagine beautiful gowns and elegant teas.
When May’s not writing, she manages a houseful of children, pets, and flowers grown in her garden.
Links:
Website: http://www.maywilliams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/may.williams.942
Twitter: @maywilliams2
Blog: http://www.maywilliams.com/maypress/
Giveaway: $15 Amazon Gift Card
Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Direct Link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Yzc0NThmNDMxY2FlNDZkZGQ0NGVlNDgzNzBkZjkyOjM5/
Witch Hunter Olivia ~ Spotlight and Review
I love NA books and I love paranormal romance, so this might be the most perfect combination ever!
Olivia Adams has turned her back on the Witch-hunter Guild and therefore her family and her entire life.
But when she interrupts an assassination, she ends up connected to a half-warlock, Heath Blakemore, and the sparks fly.
What I love most about this book: the built-in tension between Olivia and Heath. Who doesn’t love a Romeo and Juliet story? Forbidden love is always so much fun! And the magical world that Kunz has built is great fun, as well. Ultimately, Kunz offers a well-told story with a nicely developed world. The characters’ connections to one another are strong and I like the way everything wraps up. The book leaves room for a sequel, but doesn’t leave so much untold that it’s a problem. Well done, overall!
Witch Hunter Olivia by T.A. Kunzs
Witch Hunter OliviaBy T.A. Kunz
Blurb:
In the town of Piedmont Pointe, where paranormal is the norm, a girl can easily get herself in over her head with a single wrong move. Unfortunately for Olivia Adams, she’s about to make several.
Starting over is never easy, but it seemed like the only option to Olivia. The decision to turn her back on the Guild of Witch Hunters, the very group she devoted her entire life to, was one of the hardest things she ever did. It meant leaving her family, her friends, and her old identity behind forever. Coming to terms with what caused her to abandon her duties in the first place was even harder.
While trying to lay low and stay off the Guild’s radar, Olivia finds herself thrust back into her old ways after unknowingly interrupting an assassination hit on a powerful witch. What follows is the last thing she ever thought she’d agree to do—protect the very thing she was groomed to hunt.
To complicate things even further, Olivia begins to develop feelings for a tattoo artist who also happens to be half warlock, and no matter how hard she tries to fight it, she can’t resist her inescapable draw to him. Olivia’s forbidden relationship isn’t her only issue though, because once the mystery behind the assassination attempt starts to unravel, she’s forced to choose sides when the loyalties still tied to her past life are tested again.
So much for the idea of a fresh start.
Available for purchase at
Available for purchase at
Excerpt
I turn on my side and watch Heath stroll to the bathroom door. He enters and slides it closed, but it gets stuck with about a half a foot left to go. He fights with it, but it doesn’t budge past that point.
He chuckles. “Damn thing. Been meaning to get it fixed,” he says. “All right, no peeking.”
I smile before turning over to face the other way. I find myself staring into the large mirror attached to his dresser that looks directly into the bathroom. It’s a small bathroom that’s streamlined straight back leading to the shower, so there’s no way he can move out of view from the opening in the door.
Heath inches up his shirt, revealing his tight, firm abs. His pants are resting low on his hips, showcasing the highly toned and defined groin area peeking out over the top of the waistband. Blush starts working its way up my cheeks when I realize I’m watching Heath like some kind of voyeur.
With his shirt off, it’s hard not to admire the tattoos that wrap from the top of his hips all the way up his side and then across his chest before cascading down his arm in a fluid motion. Warmth begins coursing through my body at the thought of my hands tracing the edges of his beautiful artwork. I shake out of it when I notice he’s unbuttoning his pants. He clearly has no issue with his body since he so freely strips off his clothes without hesitation.
I avert my eyes when he begins to slide off his underwear. When I hear the glass shower door slide open, I glance up when my curiosity gets the best of me, and see his highly defined and gorgeous body reflected in the mirror. The deep black tattoos spread across his back as well, and only add to the fact his entire body looks like a piece of art standing there. Once he disappears behind the door, I can relax somewhat, but dangerous thoughts begin to pound at my brain and a yearning develops between my legs.
“This was so not a good idea,” I whisper to myself, trying to keep my feelings at bay, but failing miserably.
The glass shower door is opaque, but I can still see the contours of his body through it. Even his outline is a work of perfection. My heart begins to beat faster in my chest the longer I stare at him. The throbbing between my legs starts to overtake my whole being, and I feel myself compelled toward the open bathroom door. I fight it back and flip onto my back to be face up on the bed so I can’t stare into the bathroom anymore.
Studying the minor cracks in the ceiling to distract myself, I try not to focus on my current obsession. The bed begins to feel like it’s on fire as heat assaults my backside in waves. This must be the exact place Heath sleeps. I can feel his residual energy while resting against his pillow and sheets. The light scent of his cologne clings to the fabric and is now swirling around me after I disturbed the bed by moving about.
I spring up in a sitting position when I can’t take the feeling anymore. The shower’s still running, and I can hear the sound of the water being redirected as it hits against Heath’s body, causing an irregularity in the sound. I’m so worked up right now, I have no idea what to do.
About the Author
T.A. Kunz has always had a fondness for reading thrilling mysteries and action-packed urban fantasies. So, it was no surprise when T.A. decided to write stories that they’d fall into one of those two genres. T.A. lives in Central Florida with two fur babies and a mechanical engineer who also happens to be quite the culinary badass, which there are no complaints about. Being a self-diagnosed caffeine addict, many joke that T.A.’s addiction to Starbucks coffee will likely be their downfall later in life.
You can find T.A. at
Giveaway
One winner will receive a
signed paperback copy of Witch Hunter Olivia,
a $25.00 Amazon gift card,
a skull messenger bag (black and red),
a Witch Hunter Olivia beaded bracelet, and a poster of Witch Hunter Olivia
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Presented By
July 21, 2014
Spotlight On: Deep in Death by Colleen Helme
Deep in Death – Release Blitz
A Shelby Nichols Adventure – Volume 6
Paranormal Mystery
Date Published: July 22, 2014
Running “errands” for her mob-boss employer, Joey “The Knife” Manetto, often ends with Shelby in trouble, making her cautious about continuing her association with him. Instead, she focuses on a new client who hires Shelby to find her missing mother. What seems like a routine case turns into something more sinister and deadly than she ever imagined. In the meantime, Uncle Joey has summoned Shelby to his office, where she runs into her former nemesis. Shelby inadvertently hears something that makes her fear for the lives of Uncle Joey and his hit-man, Ramos. This time, Uncle Joey is not sure he wants to involve Shelby in something he knows could get her killed. Keeping Shelby’s involvement to a minimum has disastrous results, sending Shelby on a dangerous path. As her investigation unfolds, Shelby finds death at every turn, and soon realizes she is in over her head. Can she escape from danger in time? Or will she find herself deep in death?
EXCERPT
A twinge of pain burned through my arm, and I gently rubbed the spot where I’d been shot nearly three weeks ago. Getting a shot in the arm may sound like a simple thing for most people, but when it’s done by a bullet, it’s a whole different story. At least it was healing nicely, and the scar wasn’t too big, but every once in a while my arm ached like it had happened yesterday, probably because I was overdoing it again. After a few seconds the pain subsided, and I finished pulling on my shirt and got dressed.
Today was my first day back at work since the shooting, and I was ready to take on a new project. This time the job was a client from my consulting agency, which suited me just fine. My last job for Uncle Joey, the local mob-boss, had gotten me both arrested for murder and shot by a bullet in the arm, so I was a little nervous about doing anything for him again.
A few months ago I had to tell Uncle Joey my secret that I could read minds so he wouldn’t kill me. We’d worked out a compromise, and over the course of our association, we’d even become close. Crazy as it sounded, I’d started to think of him as my real uncle, even though he wasn’t. Since most of his errands seemed to get me into trouble, he’d also saved my life a few times. Well, to be honest, it was his hit-man, Ramos, doing most of the saving. But it was Uncle Joey who’d told him to watch out for me.
I sighed every time I thought of Ramos. He had a troubled past which only I knew about, and I’d helped him come to terms with it. Besides saving my life several times, there was also a physical attraction that I only dared admit out loud to my best friend, Holly. Of course after seeing him, she had a crush on him too, and since we were both happily married, I had to think it was all right. But with all of that going on, I had to wonder about myself. I mean, Uncle Joey was a big, bad mob-boss who had threatened to do me bodily harm, and Ramos was his hit-man. They were the bad guys and I had a soft spot in my heart for them. Was something wrong with me?
My husband, Chris, had no qualms about severing all ties with Uncle Joey, and it put me in a hard spot trying to please them both. But since the last job, things had changed. After I got shot, Chris had a long talk with Uncle Joey, and I hadn’t heard from him in three weeks. In some ways it was a relief, but in others, I kind of missed him…and Ramos…well…mostly Ramos. Still, I wasn’t about to call and offer my services. Not considering what had happened last time. Nope. I wasn’t ready to get shot again. In fact, I would be pretty happy if I never saw another gun in my life.
I took a deep cleansing breath and checked the time. I had an appointment with my client at ten this morning, and it was time to go. Her name was Tiffany and this was her senior year of college. Since I didn’t have a real office, I’d told her we could meet at the campus library in-between her classes, and with her busy schedule, meeting on campus worked out great for both of us.
I drove through town with my windows down and breathed in the crisp fall air. It was the first part of October and the sky was the perfect color of blue. The trees were just beginning to change into brilliant autumn colors, and framed against the blue sky, the pure beauty and serenity lifted my spirits. With everything I’d gone through lately, I knew I was lucky to be alive.
I parked at the visitor parking meters near the library and headed toward the front of the building. It had been several years since I’d been there last, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I’d only been to one year of college before I’d talked Chris into marrying me. It was love at first sight for me, but it had taken some gentle persuading on my part to help Chris see how perfect we were together. Right after our marriage, we’d gone off to law school in another state. Josh had been born exactly nine months later followed by Savannah two years after that. There were times when I regretted not finishing college back then, but I wouldn’t trade the life I had now for anything.
I loved my family and, as it turned out, I had a pretty good career without a degree, and I was proud of what I’d accomplished. Of course, if I hadn’t gotten shot in the head during a bank robbery, which left me with the ability to read minds, it might be a different story.
It was still hard for me to believe how my life had turned upside down simply because I’d stopped at the grocery store for some carrots. Who would have thought? Now I had my own consulting agency where I could get paid for helping people, and most of the time, all I had to do was read their minds. Not that it was always that easy, but after getting shot, I’d take some simple cases for a while.
A young woman sat on a bench near the fountain where we’d planned to meet. Her gaze caught mine and her eyes widened slightly before she recognized me. As I approached, she smiled and gave me a quick wave. She had long blond hair and a sweet face, but her somber eyes seemed out of place for someone her age, like she’d gone through some hard times.
Since she was a college student, I was a little nervous that she couldn’t afford my one-hundred-and-fifty-dollar-an-hour fee. But we’d talked about that before I agreed to meet her, and she’d seemed fine with it then. She stood to greet me.
“Shelby Nichols? Hi. I’m Tiffany Shaw. Thanks for meeting me.”
“Hi Tiffany, nice to meet you in person,” I answered.
“I know this is kind of informal, but it’s such a beautiful day. Do you mind staying out here in the sunshine?”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“Good.” She resumed her seat on the bench and I sat beside her. She was thinking that she wasn’t sure how to start. What she needed might not even be possible, but she’d read about me in the paper and figured if anyone could help her, it was me. She’d been saving up for years to hire a private investigator and wanted the best. After a little digging, she’d heard rumors that I had premonitions. It didn’t faze her in the least. In fact, after all this time, she thought it might be the only thing that would solve the case. She just had to make sure her dad didn’t find out, since he was the over-protective sort. He’d tell her she was throwing away her money, and probably accuse me of taking advantage of her.
That certainly put a lot of pressure on me, and my stomach tightened with dread that her father would disapprove. But since she was thinking about not telling him, maybe he’d never need to find out. Considering her age and circumstances, I had hoped she’d hired me for something easy, like finding out if her roommate was after her boyfriend. But no, she was thinking about her mother, and that she was probably dead, and I knew nothing was ever as easy as I wished.
“I’d like to hire you to find my mother.” Her lips tightened and pain flashed through her eyes. “You see…I’m getting married in a few weeks and I really want her to be there.” She didn’t add ‘if she’s still alive’ like she was thinking.
She’d always imagined her mother would be at her wedding, and now that it was actually happening, she couldn’t stop wondering where her mom was and what had happened to her. The day her mother had gone missing was the worst day of her life, and thinking about it brought all the horror back, but she knew she would never move on unless she had some answers.
“Tell me what happened,” I said gently.
She took a deep breath. “It’s been nearly six years, and I know that’s a long time, but just hear me out before you decide if you can take the job or not.”
“Okay.” I encouraged her with a smile. “Go on.”
“Like I said…it will be six years on the twenty-eighth of October since she went missing. That night, she drove to the office where she worked to drop something off and never came back. They found her car parked in the parking structure with the keys in the ignition. Her purse was on the passenger seat. Nothing was taken, and there was no sign of a struggle. It was like she just disappeared off the face of the earth.”
“What did the police tell you?”
“Well…they dusted for prints, checked her office, put out a missing person’s report, questioned her colleagues at work, and brought my father in for questioning.” She hated that they had suspected him. He was innocent. He had nothing to do with it. He loved her mom. It still made her angry. It was part of what had made the day so bad. She not only lost her mother, but her father was never the same after that.
“What happened to your father? Did they charge him with anything?”
Tiffany shook her head. “No. They had no evidence that he was involved, but the police always suspect the husband first. So it was bad enough that my mom disappeared, but the fact that they thought my dad had something to do with it made it ten times worse.”
She sighed, wondering for the thousandth time what kind of person she would be right now if she still had her mom. She’d probably be a lot happier, that was for sure. “My dad’s doing better now. He even got married a couple of months ago.”
“That’s good,” I said.
“Yeah.” She was glad he had finally moved on, and wished it was something she could do. But the ache just wouldn’t go away, especially with her upcoming wedding. This was the most important day of her life, and her mother should be there. So where was she? What had happened? Who had taken her? Why hadn’t she come home?
In her heart, she knew her mother never would have left unless she was forced into it. Speculation from the police and others of affairs, with her mom running off with another man, only deepened the wound, and she wouldn’t believe any of it. That’s why a small part of her had to believe her mom was dead, but what if she wasn’t? What if someone was holding her captive? It could happen, and she just couldn’t give up until she knew for sure.
“What did the police decide about the case?” I asked.
“Officially, she’s missing and presumed dead. At least that’s what they declared so my dad could re-marry. I don’t know what happened to the case files. But I’m hoping you can dig them up and maybe find something that got passed over. I know it’s a long shot, but I’ve never had the resources to hire a private investigator until now. Do you think you could look into it for me?”
I bit my bottom lip. The chances of finding out what happened at this point were pretty slim. My mind-reading ability wouldn’t be of much use, although I could still question her dad. Even though she didn’t think it was him, I’d learned that some people were really good at keeping secrets, and I wasn’t about to rule him out. I could probably get my hands on the police file and talk to the detectives who handled the case, but beyond that, I didn’t have much hope.
About The Author – Colleen Helme
As the author of the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, Colleen is often asked if Shelby Nichols is her alter-ego. “Definitely,” she says. “Shelby is the epitome of everything I wish I dared to be.” Known for her laugh since she was a kid, Colleen has always tried to find the humor in every situation and continues to enjoy writing about Shelby’s adventures. “I love getting Shelby into trouble…I just don’t always know how to get her out of it!” Colleen lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family. Besides writing, she loves a good book, biking, hiking, and playing board and card games with family and friends. She loves to connect with readers and admits that fans of the series keep her writing.
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Christmas in July Giveaway Hop!
Welcome to the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop!
For this giveaway, I’ll be offering a holiday treat: an e-copy of Janet Evanovich’s Visions of Sugar Plums (or an equivalent book, if you already own this one!). And because it fits thematically (even if it’s not set at Christmas), I’m offering a copy of my own book, Fairy, Texas.
And as an early Christmas gift (and much sooner than I actually planned to!) I am offering a small glimpse of the forthcoming cover of Sanguinary.
Ready? Here it is:
Keep an eye out here for more information about Sanguinary, coming soon!
In the meantime, be sure to:
1. take a look at the prizes below,
2. leave me a comment telling me your favorite Christmas treat,
3. check out all my books below,
4. enter the Rafflecopter to win,
5. then HOP to the rest of the entries!
Taming the Country Star: A Hometown Heroes Novella (Entangled Bliss)
Beyond the Count: The Literary Vampire of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
July 20, 2014
Spotlight On: Demons, by K. F. Breene
Title: Demons
Author: K.F. Breene
Series: Darkness #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publication: July 21st, 2014
It’s been a long road, but Sasha has finally claimed her role as the least knowledge mage in history. She’s also acquired a new, incredibly grumpy bodyguard, and a spunky new BFF. With her team by her side, she learns the ropes of this new profession.
Her experience level is about to be fast-tracked, however.
On a routine trip to check out a perimeter breach, she encounters a hideous demon called by an experienced magic worker. It is this terrifying discovery that unlocks a deeper problem: Stefan’s troubled past and the reason he gravely mistrusts the Mata.
While Sasha struggles to fight the physical demons, Stefan struggles to fight the demons of his past. If he fails, his future in Sasha will be lost.
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“I’ve never felt anything like this
before,” I said quietly, passing my hands through the air. “Although, granted,
I haven’t had a lot of experience.”
Three more steps had me halting,
sucking in a huge breath.
Did that moan come from me?
“No human could have done this,” I
whispered. “His back was broken in half.”
“Not without opposable thumbs,” I
retorted into the hush.
“This has got to be a few days old,
at least…”
“Oh. Well, you could’ve made
that more clear before I looked at the body.”
The black glow of my magic, hardly
discernable in the gloom of the warehouse, drifted over the overturned pot.
Like a match to kerosene, a circular fire lit up, climbing into the sky like
fairy lights. Sparkles danced and played in a shimmering orange halo lazily
drifting toward the right. Toward the body.
Still it drifted. Reaching for that
death. What would it do when it got there?
A blast of rotten flesh crawled up my
nose, prompting a gag. That smell didn’t come from the body, it came from the
disgusting magic corroding this area. Magic that was still active. Lingering,
waiting. But for what? Whatever spells had been laid, they weren’t used to
create rainbows. They were also extensive and intricate. Beyond my training.
My magic spread like a fog over the
body. For a second, nothing happened.
“Don’t go in there, mong—“
“This isn’t normal…” Jonas’ voice
drifted away.
Something tugged at my magical
senses. It was like undertow, rolling and fierce, sucking. Consuming. As fast
as magic surged into my body, elements desperate to get in, something in that
area stole it again, using my draw to fuel itself.
“Oh shit,” I mumbled,
scrabbling to pull my power back.
“Get out of here, Jonas! I need to
tie off this weird spell. It’s sucking magic to it.”
I got to work, sweat beading my brow,
fighting the draw both of that corner, and from the elements fighting to rush
into my body.
“Dark magic,” Jonas whispered. “Hard
to work. Harder to control. Someone has balls of steel.”
I snubbed out the elements that made
up the spell, like soldering wires, closing the spell in a sort of circuit. The
question was, did I just lock all that power in, or would it fray and
disintegrate like it had been, needing someone with magic to come along and fan
it higher?
As I was about to turn away toward
Jonas, wanting to talk about what I’d done and see what he thought—we’d
probably have to go get Toa—the lacy spell cleared away like mist. In its place
grinned the head of a black monster, staring at me like a hungry lion would a
fresh steak.
Terror jolted me back as a stringy
leg stepped forward.
The monster slapped into an invisible
barrier. Orange sparks rained down on its head. It glanced up, and then around,
noticing the hazy orange circle trapping it. And then its face straightened
out, staring right at me out of black pits instead of eyes. “We can rule,
you and I. Our power, combined, will be indestructible. Join me.”
I eyed his cage as it did, sensing
the weakness of it. The shaky spell, barely held together. Even as I stood
there, the thing was starting to eat away at its cage.
Was this terrible spell by design, or
some sort of failed attempt?
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