Lisa Cardiff's Blog, page 13

One Day until The Bargain

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Just in time for St Patrick’s Day, you can enjoy a paranormal romance set in Ireland!

Marked By Destiny

Pre-Order The Bargain (Vargas Cartel, Book 1)

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The Bargain (Vargas Cartel Series Book 1)

Cover Reveal! The Bargain (Vargas Cartel Book !)

The Bargain (Vargas Cartel, Book 1) Blurb Reveal

The Bargain is coming soon…

Three weeks, twenty-one days, or five hundred and four hours…

That’s all it took to derail my life and twist it into something unrecognizable. One moment I had Evan, the man I thought I’d marry. The next moment shattered the illusion.

Now I have no one.

Except him.

Ryker Vargas, and I don’t really have him. He’d never belong to any one but himself. He sucked me into a web of lies and now it’s too late. I took the bait. I’m a prisoner of the Vargas Cartel.

I never thought I’d be another statistic, another girl abducted in a foreign country, my entire future washed away by an impulsive, split second in time.

But it’s true.

My name is Hattie Covington and I’m a statistic, but statistics never tell the whole story.

Three Books on Kindle Unlimited

My publisher moved a couple of my books to Kindle Unlimited.

1. Wrong for You (Before You, Book 3)

2. Wrecking Forever (Chasing Forever prequel #.5)

Marked by Destiny is still on Kindle Unlimited!

Chapter One – Wrecking Forever Excerpt

“No,” Lucas repeated for at least the fifth time in the last half hour. Olivia had been following him around the party, relentless in her pursuit to destroy Professor Pierce. He didn’t want anything to do with it.

“Come on, Lucas. It’s not that big of a deal. Just ask the girl out on a date or two and then you can break up with her in public. You do it to girls all the time. One more shouldn’t matter.” Olivia sat next to him on the arm of a chair in his fraternity house.

“I don’t get it.”

“What’s there to get?”

“Why do you want to hurt her? What did she do to you?”

“That’s not the point. I want to ruin his reputation.”

“Professor Pierce’s wife filed for divorce. He didn’t walk away from this mess unscathed, either. Let it rest.”

“I was suspended from the dance team. Do you know what that means?” Olivia held her hand over her chest as though she were mortally wounded.

Lucas fought the urge to roll his eyes at her drama-filled performance. Olivia would throw a tantrum if she knew he agreed with the suspension . As much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, she didn’t have clean hands in the whole Professor Pierce shit show. He didn’t recognize Olivia anymore . Their families had been friends since before either of them could walk and she had become a permanent fixture in his life, their childhood memories so intertwined that she was an extension of his family. “Yes. Dancing is your life, but you should have thought about that before you tried to seduce Professor Pierce for a passing grade. Better yet, you should have shown up at the midterm and then you wouldn’t have had to worry about your grade in the first place.”

Her eyes desperately searched his. She probably wanted to find an inkling of sympathy, but she wouldn’t. The Olivia he remembered from his childhood was shy, considerate, and one of his best friends. In the last two years, she’d become jaded, cold, and impulsive, and unfortunately, he had crossed out of the friend zone and into something else more than a few times. He couldn’t even say why he did it. Having sex with her strained their friendship to the breaking point. Now, they constantly danced the line between childhood friends and something more. He hadn’t touched her since school ended last year, but the awkwardness hadn’t subsided. It bubbled underneath the surface of every conversation and every touch.

She clutched his wrist in her hand and he barely resisted the urge to pull away. Only tears forming at the corners of her eyes stopped him. He hated seeing her like this— helpless and vulnerable. “Don’t you think I get that now?” she whispered, her voice hoarse and shaky, her nails digging into the underside of his wrist. “I would give anything for a do over.” She cleared her throat as she shook her head from side to side. “Do you know what my dad said?”

He nodded. He’d heard. Her dad wouldn’t win father of the year, but that wasn’t a new revelation. Rather than being upset about what happened to his daughter, he focused his efforts on insuring that neither he nor his baseball team could be linked publically to the scandal. “I was in the other room when you talked to him. I heard enough to know your dad won’t change. You need to stop caring what he thinks. Let this mess go. Learn from your mistake. Don’t compound it by orchestrating some ploy to take out your anger on Professor Pierce’s daughter. His wife is leaving him. Isn’t that enough?”

“He barely cares about her. He’s probably relieved she’s leaving him and he still has his career.”

“What makes you think he cares about his daughter? Maybe they’re both an inconvenience.” Lucas’s eyes darted around the party to make sure no one could overhear their conversation. Originally, he had intended to spend the night self-medicating with alcohol to relieve his boredom, but Olivia cornered him with this ridiculous idea the minute he left his bedroom. Just his shit luck. An hour later and he still hadn’t taken one sip of alcohol.

“Because he has pictures of her all over his office and he’s always talking about how smart and perfect she is.”

He looked away and pinched the bridge of his nose . “She sounds like a good kid. Leave her alone. I’m sure the gossip traumatized her enough.”

“Look.” She tapped her hands on her thigh just below the hem of her skirt. Olivia always had beautiful dancer legs, but he had a hard time seeing anything about her as beautiful these days. “I’m not asking you to destroy her, just pretend you like her and then break up with her.” She shrugged as her eyes drifted toward the entrance to the room. “She’s here,” she whispered.

“Who?”

“Regan, Professor Pierce’s daughter.”

“Why? She’s not in your sorority.”

“No, but two of her friends from the dorm are, and when I saw them on campus with her, I suggested they bring her along tonight.”

“Are they mixed up in your stupid plan, too?”

“No.” She frowned. “I told them she might be a good candidate to rush our sorority second semester.”

“Jesus, Olivia. This is fucked up.”

“Look at her. She’s kind of cute in a homely sort of way.”

Lucas looked around the room through of sea of faceless women, some he recognized, others he probably should recognize after three years of being part of the monotonous Greek scene that strangled him centimeter by painful centimeter every day. “Which one?”

Olivia elbowed him. “The redhead near the entrance looking like a lost puppy.”

Slowly, he let his field of vision drift toward the entrance. Her impossibly green eyes met his and he couldn’t look away. There wasn’t a homely bone in that girl’s body. Flowing dark auburn hair and all that pale, flawless skin and lips that made him think of all kinds of things that should happen behind closed doors. Damn, he wished he never saw her face because now he wanted to talk to her. Olivia’s hand coasted up his arm, drawing his attention back to her.

“I know she’s not your type, but she’s conversation-worthy, don’t you think?”

He smirked. “That girl is everyone’s type.”

“You’re such a bag of shit.”

Olivia’s lips compressed into a tight line and he laughed, finally finding amusement in something. “I know, but you still love me.”

She flipped her hair behind her shoulder. “You wish. I only tolerate you because I’ve known you for so long. I don’t have a choice.”

“Uh huh,” he murmured, watching Professor Pierce’s daughter flee the room like she couldn’t get away from them fast enough. He stood up. “I need a drink.”

“Are you going to talk to her?”

Yes. Regan intrigued him, and not because of Olivia’s interest in her, but because he wanted to get a better look at the girl without Olivia breathing down his neck. “If I see her, I might.” He shrugged as he rubbed his hand along his jaw. “I haven’t decided.”

He took a few steps when Olivia’s hand snaked around his forearm. “Just ask her out and maybe she’ll talk about her dad or me. You don’t have to decide whether you want to help me yet, but I’d like to know her perspective. Getting a little inside information won’t hurt her or anyone else.”

“I don’t know.” His eyes darted to the side. He wanted to talk to her, but fuck, he didn’t want to get sucked into Olivia’s chaos. “What’d you say her name is again?” He hadn’t forgot, but he didn’t want Olivia to realize how much he actually wanted to talk to Regan.

Olivia searched his face. “Regan,” she spat out, her voiced laced with disgust.

He pulled his hand out of her hold. “I’ll talk to you later, Liv. Have a good night.”

Marked by Destiny Free on Kindle Unlimited (Prologue Sneak Peak)

The Tribe of Mil shall come as bringers of new bloodlines unto the children of the goddess Danu. As the land is divided, so shall the powers of the Four Treasures be divided. Only the one marked by destiny, possessing the bloodline of both tribes shall inherit the power of the Four Treasures. Prophesy – The Goddess Danu Sometime around 1700 B.C. Wrapped in a woolen cloak , Kalen, the Supreme Chieftain and Prince of the Tuatha Dé Danann tribe, stood at the top of a hill overlooking the sea. Heavy rain poured on him and his troops, and despite his cloak, he shivered— not from the rain but from a growing sense of dread as he watched Milesian invaders storm the rocky shores.

A single thought echoed through his mind, eliciting a far greater panic than any of the razor -sharp iron weapons threatening to rip through the flesh of his fellow Tuatha Dé warriors. Inis Fail is lost.

Four months ago, heedless of his argument to the contrary, the three Tuatha Dé Kings issued an order to kill the brother of the Milesian king sent to Ireland on a goodwill envoy. He knew it had been a foolish decision, one that threatened the very existence of their race. Kalen wasn’t surprised when the Milesians returned to Ireland a week ago demanding retribution. Instead of taking the threat seriously, the three Kings tricked them into giving the Tuatha Dé a week reprieve, and as the Milesians boarded their ships to await the decision of the Tuatha Dé Kings, the Kings summoned a magical storm to sink the entire fleet . To the Kings’ dismay , the invaders’ magic proved superior, and now they were back, swarming the coast with revenge in their hearts and the one type of weapon that could kill the nearly immortal Tuatha Dé in their hands: iron swords.

Brushing the rain from his face, Kalen’s eyes narrowed as he estimated the number of invaders partially hidden by the storm-darkened skies. The total caused the hair on his arms to stand on end. Knowing he had no choice, Kalen forced all doubts of the future from his mind. He had work to do— a battle to fight and the Four Treasures to defend.

A drumbeat sounded from the Milesian’s ranks as they climbed out of their boats. The most courageous Milesians surged forward with iron swords held high, taunting the Tuatha Dé warriors. They circled in front of the Tuatha Dé’s ranks, daring them to break formation and provoking rowdy cheers from the other Milesians.

“Ignore their taunts. We’re going to make them come to us. Hold firm. When they attack, the magic bestowed upon us by our faithful goddess will overwhelm them,” Mac Cuill, one of the three Kings of the Tuatha Dé and Kalen’s direct superior, shouted as he paced back and forth behind the front line of warriors.

An ominous chanting started from the rear of the Milesian’s formation, quietly at first then gradually growing into a loud rumble. “ I am a buck of seven tines, I am a broad flood on a plain, I am a storm on bottomless waters , I am a glowing tear of the sun, I am a hawk on a crag, I am fair among flowers, I am a deity who sets the head afire with smoke. I am a battle waging spear…”

“The chanting won’t be so inspirational when they’re lying in a pool of their own blood.” Mac Cuill mocked, letting out bubbling laughter. “Perhaps, they should save their energy for fighting instead of squandering it on premature celebration.”

“There are three of them to every one of us,” Kalen said, observing the invaders with growing unease. “Underestimating them would be a grave mistake.”

“We’ve encountered stronger enemies than this one, and we have the Four Treasures on our side. We are invincible.”

Kalen eyed the four separate groups of Tuatha Dé warriors, each flying the banner representing their city of origin in Atlantis and each proudly wielding one of the Four Treasures – the Stone of Destiny, the Sword of Light, the Spear of Victory, and the Cauldron of Renewal. As if sensing the wheels of destiny in motion, each of the Four Treasures glowed and pulsed with preternatural light, almost ungodly in its brilliance.

When the invaders finished disembarking, a cheer reverberated through the Mileasian’s ranks , followed by the bellow of one of their leaders. “Kill them! Kill them all, every last one and this land and all its treasures shall be ours. Their lives are yours to take . Show them their fate.” Like men possessed, they charged forward to meet their enemy, swords raised high.

Overwhelming anxiety caused some of the Tuatha Dé to break formation and meet the onslaught of the invaders.

“Stand and wait,” Mac Cuill hollered, struggling to be heard over the clanging of weapons . “The goddess will not desert us. The Treasures will not fail us. We are the chosen tribe. Don’t be afraid.” The Tuatha Dé shifted back into formation, nervously awaiting Mac Cuill’s command to engage the invaders.

“This is wrong ,” Kalen spat out, no longer able to hold his silence. “We cannot wait for them to slaughter us. Can’t you see their weapons are made of iron? The Treasures are irrelevant. We’re powerless to defend ourselves from this invasion. We should retreat and regroup. The Goddess Danu has forsaken us.”

Mac Cuill speared Kalen with his eyes. “Your thoughts are treasonous. We will be victorious.” Refocusing his attention on his warriors, he yelled, “On the count of ten, charge.” With mounting dread, Kalen turned from Mac Cuill, watching the invaders rush forward.

Mac Cuill’s count floated through the air. “… Three, two, one. Now!”

It happened so fast. Mac Cuill charged forward with the front line of warriors just as the Milesians released a cloud of iron-tipped arrows that glided through the sky, buzzing like swarming bees. As the arrows fell, so did Mac Cuill’s lifeless body along with dozens of Tuatha Dé warriors. And then the tribes collided, killing each other in a relentless fever of screaming, hacking, slashing, and indiscriminate slaughter. Blood covered the once green knoll, coloring it a deep burgundy. Bodies fell in rhythm with the haunting pulse of drummers as if the battle were a choreographed play of carnage.

Hours passed without the Tuatha Dé having any respite from the waves of invaders. Cries of agony faded into the roar of utter chaos. Kalen swung his club with desperation, smashing it against an invader’s head, nearly splitting it open. Sensing something menacing hovering near his back, he whipped around without hesitation, blocking the sword of his next adversary and throwing a dagger into his chest.

When he had a moment of reprieve, he surveyed the battlefield, looking for any sign the goddess had not abandoned them and they would not be forced to share this land with the invaders, or worse, be driven from their homeland, but it was hopeless. A seemingly endless number of Milesians continued to charge the battlefield from the growing fleet of ships floating near the coast. They were doomed to failure, and it was not long before the last living King realized it too.

The last King of the Tuatha Dé blew the horn calling for the remaining Tuatha Dé warriors to abandon the battlefield. Kalen looked around, mesmerized by the carnage of tangled, writhing, and limp bodies and offered a brief invocation to the goddess Danu for mercy and salvation. The surviving Tuatha Dé fought their way through the frenzied mob of invaders and the dead bodies littering the blood-soaked grass to find refuge in their underground stronghold.

Over time, the Tuatha Dé underground stronghold grew beneath the green hills and vales of Inis Fail, eventually becoming a kingdom of its own. Thus, Inis Fail, now known as Ireland was divided between the two tribes and into two kingdoms. The Tuatha Dé, also known as the Fae or Faeries, ruled over the Otherworld. The Milesians, or humans, ruled over Earth’s surface.

False Finder

Blurb

Cora has been able to detect lies since she was born, she’s…a False Finder.

However when blackmail, betrayal, and lying are all the population has to protect themselves, it makes her dangerous. It also makes her a target.

Because of Cora’s ability, Rogan Carvelli—London’s biggest criminal leader—has been trying to acquire her for years.

Cora has learned to survive and remain undetected—at least until one careless mistake causes her friends to betray her.

Sold to Carvelli, Cora is only left with the help of a secret organisation to escape. She knows nothing about them, but they have saved her too many times to ignore.

However, the closer she gets, the clearer it becomes…

Their motives are far from innocent.

Buy Links

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/False-Finder-Mia…/dp/B00RPSPSTS

US: http://www.amazon.com/False-Finder-Mia…/dp/B00RPSPSTS

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24246572-false-finder

Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC

Released: January 13th 2015

Pages: 400

About the Author

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal or romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.

By the age of nineteen, Mia had published nine books, including the Elemental Killers series and the Seasons of Change series. Since then, her books have charted on numerous Amazon Bestseller Lists, and she has also had poems published in a many anthologies. With an ever growing list of ideas, Mia continues to create fictional worlds through her writing, and is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.

Connect with Mia:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+ | Tsu | Amazon Author Page

or subscribe to Mia’s Newsletter for information on ARCs, giveaways and new releases.

EXCERPT

“Not my fight? How did you come to that conclusion? You made it my fight when you sold me, Cora. This is your fault not mine, and you only have yourself to blame!” Nick roared, his grip tightening to a new painful intensity.

“I did not sell you. I cut a deal with Rogan and you were collateral damage. I couldn’t help it.”

Even Cora flinched at her words. What she had done to Nick was awful, but it was a necessity if she was going to survive.

“You signed my life away. You ruined my life by forcing me into a god-damned contract that has no loop holes. Not only that, but then you had the audacity to attack me when you escaped Rogan’s mansion last time. That is not collateral damage!”

He didn’t realise he was shaking her fragile body until she let out another low groan.

“You weren’t meant to be a part of the deal. I couldn’t help it. I tried to get you out of it, but there was no way. It was me or you.”

“Don’t bullshit me. You know there was a way out. I did nothing to you but be there and you sold me out, just like your friends have done to you.” His words cut Cora like a knife, slitting her deep.

“You knew too much…you knew my secret…you weren’t meant to survive.” Cora muttered the last line, her jaw tight with anger as she finally admitted the truth she had kept bottled up. He wasn’t meant to hear it, but he did.

“What did you just say?” He was shaking her once more, anger flowing out of him as he was finally enlightened as to why Cora had betrayed him.

“You weren’t meant to survive. You shouldn’t have passed the first test Rogan puts his men through. You weren’t meant to come back. I was meant to be safe.”

“Well unluckily for you I manned up. Not only did I pass every test Rogan threw at me but I worked my way up. I’m now his second in command. How’s that for irony?”

“Screw you,” Cora spat, tired of the conversation.

“You wish. For now though, I think I’ll return the favour you so kindly granted me all those years ago.”

“Let me go, Nick, for old time’s sake. I thought we were friends?” It was a lousy defence and Cora knew it, but it was all she had left.

“We stopped being friends years ago when you shafted me, Cora. I couldn’t care less what happens to you anymore. Now shut up and move.”

Once and Forever, (Chasing Forever Series, Book 2)

The very rough draft of the prologue for this book is on WattPad. Check out Olivia’s story.