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Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 25
February 23, 2016
Spotlight On: Sing Sweet Sparrow by Angela J. Townsend
Sing Sweet Sparrow
by Angela J. Townsend
Release Date: January 2016
Genre: YA Historical Romance
Spinning Broom Books Publishing
Summary from Goodreads:
With the odd disappearance of her parents, Gussie Gibson has lived her entire life with her granny on a peaceful pecan orchard, owned by the meanest man in all of Georgia—Mr. J.P. Combs. Granny teaches Gussie many valuable life lessons as a black woman growing up in the still-segregated south. Mr. Combs is an evil underhanded banker who takes liberties beyond his privilege. When Granny dies, Combs informs Gussie she owes him back rent—but he wants much more than money for payment—and more than Gussie can live with.
After defending herself against his sexual advances, Gussie flees to escape certain vigilante justice when she meets a charming, handsome stranger, Sam Johnson, who is just returning from World War II.
Gussie and Sam’s friendship is short-lived when Mr. Combs hunts her down and drags her back to Green Ridge, driven by his craving for revenge and a grudge too deep to comprehend. Gussie fights to return to Sam and his love, but it seems, no matter where she runs, danger follows close on her heels, in the troubled South where cruelty disfigures the human spirit and love is a dim beacon of hope.
Buy Links:
Amazon
EXCERPT:
1945
No one on this earth deserves to die more than Mister J.P. Combs.
Mister Combs is the vice president of the Green Ridge Union Bank, and the nastiest man in all of Georgia. He robs from the old, the poor, the sick, and the weak. Granny and I been working for the Combs family for as long as I can remember. Granny taught me how to wash their silver and fancy china so it comes out shiny, how to iron the tablecloths, and how to fold the napkins just how Missus Combs likes it done.
Missus is a nice woman. She treats Granny and me right. On Sunday she takes her coffee into the kitchen to visit with us after church. But not Mister. He hates colored folks. He says we don’t know our place.
Mister never takes his eyes off of me. It’s like he’s making sure I don’t stop to take an extra breath while I’m working, so he’s getting his money’s worth. Granny and I tend the Combs’ house for just sixty-nine cents an hour. That’s a lot less than most maids. The trouble is that Granny is old, tired and slow. Her feet don’t work so good no more. We got to take what work we can get.
Mister comes home early every Friday. He likes to lean against the stove while he peels an apple with a buck knife. He chews the pieces and leers at me while I polish the silver. I’d love to stuff that apple in his mouth and stick him in the stove. I gotta learn to control my temper, sometimes it’s hard, especially when Mister’s at me. Don’t know from one day to the next what’s gonna happen. Somedays I wish I could explode and blow up the whole world.
Granny knows I got a bad temper. It worries her. She takes me into Mister’s parlor and stares at me with her brow all crinkled up. “Gussie child, you keep outta Mister’s way,” she whispers. “I don’t like how he looks at you.” Granny shakes her head in disgust. “You’re only sixteen years old. Don’t you let him get close. You stay by me—you hear?”
I can’t look at Granny. My cheeks burn with shame.
Granny takes hold of my hands. “You listening to me, child?”
I nod. She leans in real close, her bottom lip quivers in a two-tone brown. I stare at the wrinkles around her mouth, and at her bottom row of teeth all worn down. I worry about how much longer she’ll live. I don’t want her to leave me. “I see the way he’s been looking at you,” Granny says. “Like you the hottest thing on the lunch menu.” Granny lifts my chin so that our eyes meet. “If he comes round, and you alone—you tell him you got chores to do.” Granny squeezes my hands tighter. “His heart ain’t nothing but a thumpin’ gizzard. He’ll hurt you if he has a chance. You stay away from him. You understand me, child?”
I nod again. “Yes, Ma’am.”
The lines around Granny’s eyes soften. She cradles my head in her knobby hands. “You the only thing I got in this world, Gussie. I done lost my boy. I don’t plan on losing you too.”
My lips tremble. “I know Granny, I’ll be careful.” I cross my heart. “I promise.”
She hugs me round the waist, but I don’t hug her back too hard. She’s so frail, I worry that she’ll break. I press my face into her chest. Her heart pounds against my ear and I feel her shaking. All this worry isn’t good for her old body. I don’t want to let go of her. I bury my head into her shirt collar. She smells like shea butter and sweet ginger. Granny runs her hand over my head. Her fingers untangle the curls in my hair, the ones she makes with the pressing comb heated on the stove every morning. Granny pulls away from me and sits down. She never sits at Mister’s house. She looks so tired.
“Granny, you okay?”
She closes her eyes for a moment, placing a hand on her chest. “Take me home, child.”
I help her up, and hold tight to her thin hand as she walks unsteady beside me. My heart twists over Granny working so hard at her age. How she worries over me.
We head outside and make our way down the path through the pecan grove. The path is uneven and it’s hard for Granny to walk. Her toes are twisted like tree roots with arthritis. I wish I could carry her home so her feet don’t have to hurt. She holds onto my arm as I help her up the front steps of the shack we rent from Mister.
We go inside but Granny won’t rest. She puts supper on the stove, and waves me away when I try to help. She lowers herself onto her rocking chair while the beans boil on the back burner. Granny releases a heavy sigh, closes her eyes and stops rocking. I touch her hand and she don’t move. I can’t breathe. My soul dissolves into darkness. I know she’s gone but I can’t face it. I run to Mister’s house. Missus lets me use their telephone and I call for help.
Half an hour later, Granny’s church ladies come and take her away while my heart rips into pieces. I sit in the dark staring at her empty chair, at her shoes, at the knitting needles sticking in the ball of yarn. I close my eyes willing it all to be gone, for the day to start over with Granny alive. I wish life could be like a chalk board where you can erase the bad parts and start over. Hours pass with nothing but the ticking of the clock. I look out the window surprised to see the world still going on even though Granny isn’t.
After the funeral, I lay up in the bed and pray that God kills me so I can be with my Granny—the only mother I’ve ever known—the only person I ever loved. I don’t sleep. I don’t eat. I don’t go to work. I just don’t care about living anymore. When Granny died, something came apart and broke inside me. Fell off a shelf and shattered to the floor. And I just can’t put all the pieces back together.
A week passes and Mister comes looking for me. He’s mad that I haven’t been to work. He yells his fool head off, saying I gotta pay the rent or get out. I don’t got no money and nowhere to go. I don’t know why God don’t come down and take me to Granny. What kind of a life do I have to look forward to anyhow. I don’t want to be stuck in some white man’s kitchen the rest of my life.
Mister comes back the next day, but I already got my bags packed. He looks at me and frowns. “Where you think you’re going?”
I just shrug.
“You come on home with me. You can have a room in exchange for looking after the house. You got that, girl?”
I nod my head. I don’t know what else to do.
I don’t got no choice.
A lonesome sparrow hatches inside of me, flies out my mouth, and pulls out my insides as it leaves, taking all my happiness with it.
*****
Missus shows me to my room. Mister follows and stands in the hallway, watching. Missus hands me a washrag and towel, shows me where to put my things, and then pulls back my bed sheets.
“I’m so sorry about your Granny. She was a good woman and I‘ll miss her,” Missus says.
“Try to get some sleep, child.”
She closes the door behind her, but I hear Mister breathing through the thin wood. I get undressed and slip my nightgown on as quickly as I can, wash my face and jump into bed, hoping he’ll go away. As I close my eyes I see Granny, smiling at me. Tears fill my eyes and roll down the sides of my face into my ears.
Later that night, the feeling of being watched startles me awake. In the moonlight, Mister stands in the doorway. Clamping my eyes tight, I try to shut him out. The wood floor groans as he creeps closer. The smell of whiskey and cheap cologne fill the room. His cigar breath comes in rapid, short bursts, followed by a wheezing rattle. My heart jumps like a cricket and blood pulses in my ears. The bed shifts under Mister’s heavy frame. I lay still as death, petrified, pretending to be asleep.
Mister leans over me, dripping sweat from his forehead onto my face. I fight to keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to look at him. He flips back the thin sheet. The bedsprings squeak like a flock of birds.
“J. P., are you coming to bed?” Missus yells.
Mister lets out a grunt and curses under his breath. The bed squeaks again as he moves away. The sounds of his heavy footsteps echo across the floor and the smell of whiskey grows fainter. Springing from the covers, I close the door, lock it and slip on my clothes. I climb back into bed, pull the blankets up under my chin and try to erase what just happened from my mind. I stare at the moonlit ceiling, praying that God will keep me safe or take me to heaven so I can be with Granny.
A few hours later, the grandfather clock in the hallway strikes midnight, waking me up. Heavy footsteps shuffle outside my door again. The doorknob moves slowly from left to right then rattles fast against the lock.
I don’t sleep the rest of the night.
The next day Mister slinks up behind me in the kitchen, grabs my shoulders and yanks me backward until his big gut presses against my backside. My legs tremble when his hot breath brushes my ear. “I can get into that room anytime I like, so you better be ready” he growls. His rough tongue flicks at the base of my neck. I swing my elbows back hard and pull away. I return to my chores, paying him no mind at all. I may be his house girl, but he don’t own me. I won’t give in without a fight.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!
About the Author
Angela is a multi-published, award-winning author of young adult and middle grade books. She has a motion picture based on her award-winning novel, The Forlorned, coming out soon, and a second motion picture project in production for River of Bones.
Author Links:
February 19, 2016
Book Playlist: Angel in Training by C. L. Coffey
Playlist: Angel in Training by C. L. Coffey
Better Than Ezra – Sincerely Me
Short Stack – Planets
Howie Day – Collide
The Cab – Bad
The Last Goodnight – Pictures of You
Wallflowers – One Headlight
Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Garth Brooks – Callin’ Baton Rouge
Matchbox Twenty – Long Day
Lea Michelle – Cannonball
Little Big Town – Boondocks
Jedward – Luminous
Major Lazer – Get Free
Tim McGraw – Live Like You’re Dying
Angel in Training
by C.L. Coffey
Release Date: February 17th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:
After a night out turns fatal, a misunderstanding with the Archangel Michael presents Angel with a chance at Eternal Life: the opportunity to earn her wings and one day become an archangel herself.
Angel is given the task of protecting her charge, trainee detective, Joshua Walsh. There’s no denying the attraction between Angel and Joshua, only Michael has pretty strict rules: no drinking, no drugs, and certainly no relationships with humans. Thankfully, she’s got other things to deal with, like trying to convince Joshua New Orleans has a serial killer who is preying on other angel potentials like herself.
Angel must quickly learn that when keeping someone safe, doing the right thing is not always the easiest, especially when you’ve got an archangel looking over your shoulder.
Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│iTunes│Kobo│Smashwords│Amazon UK
About the Author
Cheryl works in an office by day. By night she leads a (not-so) secret life DJing, and throughout it all, is constantly scribbling away as the plot bunnies demand constant attention.
Her first novel was written when she should have been revising for her exams. While it is unlikely to ever see the light of day, it was the start of long relationship with the evil plot bunnies of doom.
A need to do more than just one subject led her to the University of Hull, where she graduated with an honours degree in American Studies. For the third year of the four year degree, she was able to call Baton Rouge home. Since then, Louisiana has claimed a large chunk of her heart, and remains a place she will always consider home.
LSU was where she discovered FanFiction and currently writes (mainly) CSI:NY stories and a Rescue: Special Ops story.
When not transcribing the stories of the angels and archangels, working, or DJing, she is at the beck and call of three cats – all of whom rank higher in the household than she does.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 18, 2016
Spotlight On: The Twistedly True Guardian Tale (Ruby Hood Series 2) by Stephanie Greenhalgh
The Twistedly True Guardian Tale (Ruby Hood Series 2)
by Stephanie Greenhalgh
Release Date: August 9th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:
In the small town of Woodsville, Ruby Hood is settling into her role as Guardian of the Wood. In the blink of an eye, her monumental high school graduation comes and goes without her attendance. There are too many other things on her mind.
Her mom, Christine Wood, has just returned from caring for Ruby’s ill grandmother. Kent Wolf finally gets released from the hospital and Kayla Wolf is desperate to make amends, while Dylan Hunter works to hone his Huntsman skills. Everything seems like it’s going to work itself out, until Ivy Snow shows up on Ruby’s front porch with an RV filled with seven dwarfs.
As a new darkness casts a shadow over Woodsville, Ruby is unsure where to turn when turmoil erupts in the Wood, and finds herself aligned with an unusual cast of characters. As Guardian of the Wood, Ruby worries that she can’t save everyone, but what if she is the one who needs saving?
This is the second book in the Ruby Hood Series by Stephanie Greenhalgh.
Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Smashwords
Book Trailer:
Previous Book in the Series (click on image for Goodreads link):
About the Author
A born and raised Midwestern girl, Stephanie Greenhalgh currently resides in Las Vegas. As an avid reader and writer, literature and learning have always been more of a passion than a hobby. This two time UNLV graduate spends her days teaching elementary school and her weekends and summers writing stories. The first book in her Ruby Hood series debuted in 2013, and the sequel,The Twistedly True Guardian Tale, will release in summer 2015. Stephanie also has four published short stories and a self published novella, If the Silver Slippers Fit. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends and lovable Labrador retrievers.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances Boxed Set
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances Boxed Set is now available worldwide for a special introductory price of only $0.99!
This ebook boxed set features sizzling paranormal romances by eight New York Times and USA Today best-selling romance authors. Fulfil your darkest fantasies with alpha-male bad boys of the night in these stories about vampires, shifters, fallen angels, werewolves, demons, psychic warriors and ghosts.
Here’s more about this fantastic eight book boxed set, including an excerpt from one of the stories.
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bad-boys-of-the-night/
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances
By Jennifer Ashley, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Colleen Gleason, Felicity Heaton, Bonnie Vanak, Caris Roane and Erin Quinn
Featuring…
Bad Wolf (Shifters Unbound) by Jennifer Ashley
Wolf Shifter Broderick is stuck looking after his three younger brothers and a Collar-less Shifter who is driving him crazy, but he’s putting up with them for Joanne, the human woman he wants to take as mate. When Broderick is captured, mistaken for a Guardian, it’s Joanne who figures out that hackers are after the Guardian Network, the database that holds the deep secrets of Shifters past and present.
Shadow Fall (Shadow series) by Erin Kellison
A man with all Custo’s sins isn’t cut out to be an angel. One moment he’s fleeing Heaven; the next, he’s waking up stark naked, called by a woman who’s afraid of the dark. Shadow gathers around Annabella as she performs, a magic that allows her to move between worlds. Her abilities attract a primeval wolf, and it stalks her relentlessly. Custo stops at nothing to keep her safe, and though danger proves seductive, they fight for redemption and love.
Warrior’s Heart (Iron Portal) by Laurie London
Librarian by day, Zara Kane is a thief by night, stealing artifacts that belong to her homeland. When she learns a man she once loved has been wrongly imprisoned, she uses her para-abilities to orchestrate a daring escape. Vince Crawford isn’t afraid of anything, but when the woman he’s never stopped loving and the son he never knew he had are threatened by a ruthless enemy, he will stop at nothing to keep them safe… even if it costs him his life.
The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason
In 19th Century London, vampires live alongside the uppercrust members of Society…
Even after centuries of lust, hedonism, and women, Voss, rarely finds himself bored. He is a rogue of the first order who loves nothing more than a warm woman, excellent vintage, and even a puzzling challenge to keep his mind active. But when one of his seemingly harmless manipulations sets him on the path to seduce the beautiful Miss Angelica Woodmore, things become a little less simple…a lot more passionate…and definitely more complicated.
Hunger (Vampires Realm Series) by Felicity Heaton
A vampire assassin hardened by centuries of service, Tor is a man of discipline and loyalty, never straying from his mission, and has purged all his weaknesses, including his emotions. But the moment he meets the broken, fiery female he is to escort to Oslo, something dangerous awakens in him, something possessive and powerful, and when he is pulled into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the man who betrayed her, Tor discovers he will do anything to protect the woman slowly claiming his heart and give her the vengeance she desires—even break all the rules.
The Mating Challenge (Werewolves of Montana) by Bonnie Vanak
Alpha werewolf and ranch owner Aiden Mitchell desires the curvy, vivacious Nikita Blakemore, alpha female of the Blakemore pack. He will have her as his mate and no other. To force her hand, Aiden maneuvers her into hosting a Mating Challenge, the ultimate warrior competition for werewolves, where males fight for the right to mate and breed with a female alpha. Fiercely protective of his future mate, Aiden will do anything to make her his own, even fight to the death…
Dark Flame (Flame Series) by Caris Roane
Committed to the rule of law, vampire Border Patrol Officer Robert Brannick falls hard for a beautiful fae woman who illegally seduces him in his dreams…
Diablo Springs, by Erin Quinn
When she escaped Diablo Springs years ago, Gracie Beck swore she’d never return. But all that changes on the night of her grandmother’s death when Diablo Springs lures Gracie’s teenage daughter to its treacherous border. Gracie races to the rescue—only to find herself trapped in the undercurrent of a hundred year old curse and the menacing spirits that still terrorize the town. She isn’t prepared to deal with Reilly Alexander—a man from her past who she’s never forgotten—at the same time. Reilly is determined to help Gracie and prove his to love to her, but they’ve come to a dangerous place where every lurking shadow should be feared…
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bad-boys-of-the-night/
EXCERPT FROM THE VAMPIRE VOSS BY COLLEEN GLEASON
There were many ways to sneak into a woman’s bedchamber, and Voss had tried a good variety of them in the last century, with great success and few disappointments.
Since, after all, there was little danger to him physically should he be found with his hand down (or up) a frilly night rail—being shot, tossed from a window or otherwise attacked were not real threats to a vampire of course—Voss had no qualms about taking advantage of the lowered defenses of a slumbering woman. There was something even more attractive and sensual than usual when a woman was tousled with sleep, her face slack and without artifice, her slender arms and delicate shoulders exposed from beneath rumpled sheets, her lashes fanning over pale cheeks.
But most of all, he appreciated the way she would come to consciousness under his touch. Most often, like a cat—stretching and sighing, with a languorous roll. Warm skin and creased cheeks, and, most of all, the soft, hot valley between her breasts…easily accessible when bare of a corset. His gentle strokes and nuzzling lips would bring her slowly awake to delicious pleasure, and once she opened her eyes, his own would be there…glowing, coaxing and easing any hesitation.
Now, as Voss looked down at the woman in the chamber he’d invaded, all thoughts of Giliane and every other of the thousands of women he’d known faded. A shaft of moonlight rippled over Angelica like the caress of a hand, and the curtains fluttered in a soft breeze. She slept with her face half buried in the pillow, her hair loose and curtaining her cheek. One hand was curled beneath her pillow, and the other tucked beneath her chin.
p
Voss moved closer to the bed, his heart pounding, suddenly rampant. A violent surge of awareness had taken over, trammeling through his veins, rushing to fill his cock and to thrust his incisors free. His skin flushed hot and his eyes warmed with heat.
Yes.
He reached to touch her hair, gently sliding his hand over the long tresses in a way he hadn’t had the chance to before.
There’d been no gentleness, no caresses, no learning the texture and shape of her.
Before he realized it, Voss had come to sit on the bed next to her. His heart pounded, rampant and apprehensive. Ready, again, to cover her mouth to stifle a scream, he gently lifted a thick lock of hair from her bare shoulder, skimming his fingertips over the smooth, warm skin.
He bent, pressing his lips to the curve of her shoulder, resisting the sudden blinding urge to slide his fangs into that sweet muscle. Instead his teeth slid along her skin and he flicked his tongue out to taste her.
She was salty and hot, citrus and musk, and he curled his fingers into the blankets. A wave of pain clashed with the new rush of desire and he kissed her again, squeezing his eyes closed against the battle that raged within him: Lucifer versus Angelica.
Taking and violating conflicted with coaxing and seducing.
It would be nothing to slide into her. To release that hot flood of rich blood. Take, Lucifer teased, deep in Voss’s mind. Take.
She was well asleep…She would enjoy it. She would moan, and her eyes would flutter behind her lids and she might perhaps spread her legs so he could slip a hand into that warm crook to pleasure her while she dreamed.
And then, suddenly, Voss felt something pushing into him. Poking into his torso.
“Get away.”
Her words, cold and low, were unmistakable. And the pressure in his torso could only be…
Voss eased back and saw that, yes, indeed, she had a whittled wooden stick pressing against him. A bit too low for his heart, but too close, nevertheless. She must have pulled it from beneath the covers.
She’d been sleeping with a stake. Expecting him?
He tried to smile, but it felt weak. Surprisingly, his fangs had retracted, although his gums still throbbed a bit.
“Get away from me,” she said again, and jabbed him hard enough that he felt a definite point through his shirt, into the soft part of belly below his sternum.
Hands raised in placation, he shifted off the bed. “All right, then. There’s no need to be overset.”
To his chagrin and delight, Angelica sat up, still holding the stake like a talisman in front of her. Her technique left much to be desired, for it wobbled a bit, and it wasn’t quite at the right angle…but Voss was not about to underestimate the sister of a renowned vampire hunter.
“What do you want? To finish what you started? Are you going to bleed me dry and tear me into ribbons of flesh?” Bitterness filled her voice.
Voss’s belly tightened. Never. “No,” he said. “Of course not.”
She sniffed and the play of moonlight over her face told him her jaw tightened.
Angelica could have no idea how enticing she looked at that moment, with the pearly light half illuminating the details of her face, and the dip and curve of her shoulder. The strap of her night rail was nothing but a three-finger-wide pink ribbon, and the eyelet lace that edged the straight neckline gapped a bit. Her lips were gently parted and full, and the cloud of dark waves cascaded over her shoulders and onto the pillows.
And then there was the loathing burning in her eyes. Even in the ineffective light, he saw it.
The smile he tried to force wavered.
“What do you want, then?” she said again, still as coldly as before.
This was not as simple as he’d expected it to be. Voss knew he could easily overpower her, remove the stake from her hand and do whatever he wanted. He could take what he needed, and be gone from London within hours.
The sharp, pounding pain radiating over his back urged him to grab those delicate shoulders and drag her to him. Take.
“I came to ask that you use your Sight to give me information.”
Her eyes widened in shock, and those delicious lips pruned up like an old maid’s. “You came to ask a favor of me? Why in God’s name would I do anything for you?”
Voss winced at her use of the name of God—or perhaps it was simply Lucifer’s Mark blazing on his skin—and he once again tried to adopt a placating smile. “Because if you assist me, I’ll leave London and I won’t bother you ever again.”
Despite her bitterness and loathing, he didn’t expect her reaction to be quite as quick and businesslike as it was. “You’d leave London? Is that a vow? Because if it is, I would be most happy to make such a bargain.”
Something panged uncomfortably in the vicinity of his heart and even his belly squeezed—like it did in the morning after too much blood whiskey and ale and wine had all mixed up and sloshed around. “You have my word,” he said.
Grab the boxed set for just $0.99 to read this story and seven others…
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bad-boys-of-the-night/
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Feb 16
Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
Feb 17
Reading Between the Wines Book Club
Feb 18
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Bitten by Romance
Musings From An Addicted Reader
Feb 23
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BB’s Book Reviews, Marketing Sales & Promo
February 16, 2016
Sneak Peek: Siren’s Curse Excerpt ~ Paranormal Love Wednesdays Blog Hop #PNR
Welcome to the weekly blog hop featuring paranormal stories. From witches to werewolves, vampires to berserkers, you name it, we have it.
This blog hop is open to authors and writers whose work is published or unpublished. We also welcome works-in-progresses/WIP’s.
Join us each week and check out all the cool stories!
This week, check out this sneak peek at a snippet of Siren’s Curse, coming out this fall as part of the Hotel Paranormal collection, then be sure to HOP back to check out the rest of this week’s entries. Keep an eye out for more information about both Siren’s Curse and the Hotel Paranormal collection!
Be sure to pick up your copy of Siren’s Kiss, too! You can get it through Amazon or enter my giveaway and get a free copy!
Excerpt
The world of mer is no place for men.
I said so to Skyla when she returned from the surface with her earthen male. He drifted nearby, his human bulk and muscles a clear contrast to our Atlantean males, with their sleek bodies.
He had to work to move through the water and to keep himself still, and the muscles of his new tail rippled with effort.
“I had no choice.” Skyla’s eyes glowed green in the depths, lighting the ocean around us. “Poseidon himself sent me. We need an army if the Titans are returning.” She flicked her tailfin in suppressed emotion, her eyes darting to the side as if to evaluate her new companion’s mood.
Not that she had any need to do so. Anger emanated from him in ripples that charged the ocean water around him with energy.
“And you’re certain the Old Ones are pushing their way back through on the surface?” I didn’t truly doubt her—she is not known for lies—but I wanted to hear her say it aloud again.
“I am.” Her words bubbled out and around me, tasting of truth and of fear.
I Love Vampire Novels + Margo Bond Collins are hosting a giveaway! Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card. Plus everyone who enters wins a copy of Siren’s Kiss. Enter here!
Be sure to enter to get a free copy of Siren’s Kiss!
About the Author
Margo Bond Collins writes contemporary and paranormal romance. She lives in Texas with her daughter and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about cowboys, vampires, ghosts, and other monsters, along with the women who love–and sometimes fight–them.
Connect with Margo
Newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/03A21E5E161401F0
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
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Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com
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Book Blitz: Dark Alpha’s Embrace by Donna Grant
Dark Alpha’s Embrace
(Reaper Series, #2)
by Donna Grant
Blurb:
An exclusive new series from New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant!
There’s no escaping a Reaper. I’m an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…
I’m a warrior. My unbreakable determination, my backbone of steel define me. As a Reaper who does Death’s bidding, weakness is a word I don’t understand. Until a stunning librarian stirs emotions deep within me I’ve never felt before. Her soft curves blunt the sharp edges of my soul, crushing my defenses – yet make me stronger. But underneath those wide eyes and fierce femininity, she has a weapon, one she won’t hesitate to use. And when the Dark begin their deadly descent, we’ll need each other’s love and protection…or risk fracturing apart.
Available for purchase at
Excerpt
River’s gaze was locked with Kyran. She’d seen many Fae over the years, but there was something fascinating and absorbing about this Dark that made her heart race – from something other than fear. If only she could lay her finger on what it was.
She knew what the Dark Fae did to humans, how they had sex with them, giving the humans ultimate pleasure. And all the while the Dark drained them of their souls. It was a horrendous way to die.
But Kyran seemed different. She didn’t get a vibe of evil from him despite his hair and eyes. All Dark had red eyes and silver in their black hair. Despite what he was, she couldn’t deny his attraction. Perhaps it was the way he held her gaze, looking at her as if he couldn’t get enough.
Her stomach quivered, and she moved a half step closer, even as her mind warned her to keep her distance. But she couldn’t. She had to get nearer.
He didn’t look away. With a simple look, he invited her to get closer. It was a temptation she wasn’t sure she could refuse.
The Reapers Series
Reaper #1
Available for purchase at
About the Author
Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.
You can find Donna at
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February 15, 2016
Spotlight On: Dust and Water, by Cassandra Webb
Dust and Water
A Song for the Stained novella
by Cassandra Webb
Release Date: December 25th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:
Dust and Water is a Song For The Stained novella.
Hunter is living a hard life, as an orphan working for his unappreciative uncle he gets little respect. One day he see’s a girl (Kemla) take a risk and ask a farming family a favor. He decides to try the same at the next house and winds up sleeping in their barn, eating good whole meals, working for his keep, saving them from bandits, helping Kemla with her slave trader problem though she’ll never know it, and earning respect.
But will taking a risk be enough to change his life?
The Song For The Stained series are short reads, averaging 10,000 words, which spin off from the Kemla Saga but are perfectly readable as individual books. They’re clean reads, with no sex, no swearing, and little violence with the main character trying to avoid violence and find other solutions. They are also diverse reads, aiming to have a variety of characters in each book.
ONLY $0.99!
Buy Links:
Amazon│Sparkle Publications
CHECK OUT THE GIVEAWAY!
About the Author
Cassandra Webb is a chocaholic writer from the small coastal village of Narooma, Australia. Writer of children’s and young adult fiction, fantasy and picture books. Cassandra also enjoys writing creative non-fiction. She grew up in rural and remote Australia and remembers riding horses, working with helicopters and being homeschooled. Now on the coast with her three children she enjoys the beaches in summer and the nearby snowy mountains in winter.
Author Links:
Deathly Magic by A. L. Kessler
Title- Deathly Magic
Author- A.L. Kessler
Release Date- 2-15-2016
Buy Link- Amazon
Zombies… When Abigail Collins heard Nick’s theory on their current case, she knew he had to be crazy, but when a zombie shows up in her apartment she has no choice but to believe him. A renegade necromancer bent on manipulating witches and murdering innocent people runs amok in town and Abby and Nick have to stop them before more bodies pile up. Further complicating matters two PIB agents step onto the scene, claiming a link between their case and Abby’s. To top it all off, blood starved vampires are causing chaos in the city. It’s just another day for PIB Agent Abigail Collins, full of blood, monsters, and explosions.
“Abby?”
I heard Nick’s voice. I turned to find him standing behind me, also drenched from the rain. “Yeah, what are you doing here? I thought you lived on the other end of town?”
“I was out and realized I needed to grab something before heading home.” He shrugged. “What about you?”
I took the hood of my jacket off. “Apparently I’m taking care of a lost cat until I can find the owner.”
His eyes widened. “A cat?”
“Yes, a Sphinx. You know, a naked one.”
His eyes got bigger and I laughed. “He was outside in the rain, I wasn’t going to leave him there.”
“Maybe he’s your familiar.” He said, “But just be cautious.”
I raised a brow. “He’s safe and means no harm.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I made sure to put up a protection spell on my house last year after the Cult waltzed right in, oh and after Michelle waltzed in too. I decided it was the best type of defense.”
He pressed his lips together and gave me a disapproving gaze. “You never told me the Cult paid you a personal visit.”
Aw crap, I’d screwed up. “It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t any of your business anyways. The point is that they backed off.”
“You’re just a magnet for trouble, Abigail.”
We walked further into the store and I had no idea why he was staying next to me, but I let it go. “Don’t I know it?” I laughed. “You’ve gotten the mild end of it. Just wait, if Boss Man makes you shadow me much longer you could start to see the really weird shit.”
“For our sake, I hope we only have to partner until the end of this case. Because it’s only a matter of time until your bad luck starts to rub off on me.”
A shriek came through the nearly empty store. Nick and I both cursed and headed towards the sound. People were running the other direction, one screamed ‘vampire’ as they passed us.
Well, crap. Nick and I drew our guns and continued to where the people were running from. Sure enough, a vampire stood there with his lips sealed to the woman’s neck. His red gaze flickered to me.
“He’s blood starved.” I told Nick and we both moved closer. We took aim. “Let the woman go.” I didn’t have to technically warn the vampire, but I wanted to give him a chance. Reasoning with a blood starved vampire was kind of like reasoning with a toddler, they may not realize what they are doing is wrong and need to be told to stop.
He ignored me and went back to the woman. His blond hair fell in front of his eyes and he started to turn. I didn’t hesitate. I shot his leg. I couldn’t shoot him in the head without risking the woman, so the leg was going to have to do.
He snarled and threw the lady away. Nick went to her without me having to prompt him. The vampire turned his gaze to me and rushed me. The problem with vampires was that they moved fast. Inhumanly so. I took two more shots in hopes of slowing him down, but I ended up pinned to the floor.
He bared his fangs at me. I didn’t have any desire to be a meal. I brought my hand up and slammed the butt of my gun into his temple. He reared back and I scurried away and shot the moment I could. Blood and vampire brains exploded all over the floor and me. The body fell and I wiped the blood off my face and stood. “What the fuck.”
“Don’t put your gun away Abby.” Nick called. “Two more!”
Seriously, two more? What the hell was going on tonight? Buy two get one free on blood-starved vampires?
A.L. Kessler is the author of Dark War Chronicles and Here Witchy Witchy Series. She dabbles in paranormal romance, steampunk and urban fantasy. Since she was a teenager she’s loved weaving stories and spinning tales. When she’s not at the beck-and-call of the Lord and Lady of the House, three black cats by the names of Jynx, Jiji and Sophie, training a playful puppy named Zelda, playing with her daughter, or killing creepers and mining all the things with her husband, she’s either reading, participating in NaNoWriMo, or writing in her Blog Writing Rambles. For those who like things on the more spicy side, she leads a double life as Alexandra Webb.
Links
You can also find and follow her here:
February 13, 2016
Spotlight On: Earth’s End by Elise Kova
Earth’s End (Air Awakens #3)
by Elise Kova
Release Date: February 11th 2016
Summary from Goodreads:
A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.
Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.
Book Three of the Air Awakens Series
Buy Links
Previous books in the series (click on images for Goodreads links):
About the Author
Elise Kova has always had a passion for storytelling. She wrote her first novella, a high-fantasy, in sixth grade. Over the years she’s honed her love of literature with everything from fantasy to romance, science fiction to mystery, and whatever else catches her eye.
Elise lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she’s currently working on the next installment in her debut YA fantasy series: Air Awakens. She enjoys video games, anime, table-top role playing games, and many other forms of “geekdom.” She loves talking with fans on Twitter (@EliseKova) and Facebook (/AuthorEliseKova). Visit her website, EliseKova.com/, for news and extras about her books!
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 12, 2016
My Sexy Valentine ~ Taming the Country Star ~ My Sexy Saturday ~ @MySexySaturday #MySexySaturday #MySexyAuthors #Saturday7 #MSS128
Welcome to the My Sexy Saturday Blog Hop, where we celebrate all things sexy!
Although none of my books feature a Valentine (yet!), I like to think that the spirit of Valentine’s Day–giving gifts of love–lives in all romance novel.
One of my favorite romantic moments in all my books is in Taming the Country Star, when Cole sings to Kylie, and the song he sings is one he wrote just for her:
Excerpt
Grabbing his microphone off the stand, Cole thrust his guitar toward Freddy without ever taking his gaze off his target. He waved at the band to keep going, then moved to the edge of the stage and vaulted off.
The two security guards manning the barricade separating the row of seats from the stage glanced at each other, startled.
“Hey, man,” one of them yelled over the shouts of the audience. “You okay?”
Cole nodded and kept moving. Bringing the microphone up to his mouth, he started singing again, picking up at the chorus.
“I know you gotta catch a flight
So walk on out the door
Go ahead and leave tonight
Just call me tomorrow.”
Women leaned in over the barricade, yelling and reaching toward him. He brushed past them, then bent over far enough to take Kylie’s hand. Heat sparked from her palm to his and he smiled, more slowly this time.
Kylie blinked and panic flashed across her face, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he tugged her toward him and curled her fingers in his, pulling them up to his chest, holding them there, and gazing into her eyes. The tempo of the music slowed as he sang the final verse.
“I know you have to leave tonight
I know you have to go
But don’t call me your yesterday
Please call me your tomorrow.”
As the last notes died out, Cole felt a shudder run through Kylie’s arm, and holding the microphone loosely between his thumb and forefinger, he stretched out to cup her cheek. She pressed up against the opposite side of the barricade and he tilted his head down toward hers. The heat of her breath fanned across his mouth. He could almost taste her.
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HOP to the rest of the participating blogs!
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Buy Links
Kindle US: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Country-Star-Hometown-Entangled-ebook/dp/B00KK4DORC/
Kindle Worldwide: http://bookShow.me/B00KK4DORC
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About the Author
Margo Bond Collins writes contemporary romance and paranormal fiction in several genres. She lives in Texas with her daughter and several spoiled pets. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love, and enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre. She spends most of her free time daydreaming about cowboys, vampires, ghosts, and monsters, along with the women who love them–and sometimes fight them.
Connect with Margo
Newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/03A21E5E161401F0
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.net
Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/
