Cami Checketts's Blog, page 48

A Fantasy Christmas Blog Tour

 What do Witches, Elves, and Greek Gods (Oh My) have in common? They are part of the romantic Christmas anthology, A Fantasy Christmas, written by Cindy C Bennett, Stephanie Fowers, and Sherry Gammon






  Blog Tour Schedule 












Halfling by Cindy C Bennett



(Author of Geek Girl, Heart on a Chain, Enchanted Fairytales, Rapunzel Untangled, and more)




Banished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen - and the orneriest. 

As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough. 

Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away and promises to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.



Check out Cindy C Bennett's web page for more information on her.








Aphrodite  by Stephanie Fowers



(Author of  the Twisted Tales Series, Meet your Match, Prank Wars, and more)




Nothing is simple for Aphrodite’s daughter, especially love. 


Scorned by society in regency England, Affry longs for romance. Upon encountering a dashing nobleman at her aunty's Christmas' ball, Affry gets caught in a lovely intrigue with disastrous results. Worse, she wins the interest of the gods. 


Now the furies of the underworld and Hades himself are after her. When all is fair in war,  Affry must use love as her weapon—but only for the one who’s stolen her heart. 



Check out Stephanie Fowers' web page for more information on her.
















Loving Marigold  by Sherry Gammon



Author of Unlovable, Unbelievable, Not So Easy and more)






Young Marigold Yarrow has a secret. She’s also in love with Jack Mahoney. In the middle of her ninth grade year, Jack's family up and moves to Port Fare, New York, leaving the small town of Sugar Maple, West Virginia - and Marigold - far behind.






Nine years later Jack and Marigold meet again. They join forces to weed out the shady Abbott boys. The unscrupulous brothers are illegally selling moonshine near her home on Sugar Maple Ridge. And they'll do anything to get Marigold to leave the ridge. Anything. This time it may be magic that tears Jack and Marigold apart.



Check out  Sherry Gammon's web page for more information on her.





My Review

I thoroughly enjoyed of each of these short romances and their Christmas connection.

Halfling was a fun yet touching story with Kara trying to find her spot and finding love even though she didn't want to. Seb was a great multi-faceted character (and I hate to sound like a teenager but he was very hot).

Aprhodite was great with all the Greek mythology characters and the hero reminded me of a Jane Austen hero (loved him).

Loving Marigold was so cute with Marigold being a witch and having to hide it from everyone, even the man she loves. I also loved that there was the connection to Sherry's other Port Fare novels, Unlovable and Unforgivable as those are some of my favorite books.

My recommendation would be to buy yourself a little Christmas present and download A Fantasy Christmas.




Purchase A Fantasy Christmas-Click on links:
Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords



A Fantasy Christmas blog

Facebook

Kindle Countdown Deal - Gifts and Consequences by Daniel Coleman

Gifts and Consequences by Daniel Coleman is being featured on the new Kindle Countdown Deals for only $.99 until Thursday, November 7th at midnight.

I loved this book and would highly recommend it. Read my review here.

Putting yourself out there

My 14yo tried out for Mr. Freshman yesterday. I've never seen him nervous before. He talks in church without a problem, never stresses before lacrosse games or even tryouts. But playing a toaster (yes, that was his talent) in front of his student council kept him up most of the night (there are some really cute girls on student council).

He felt good about his performance, and we'll see tomorrow what the results are. I was extremely proud of him for being brave enough to try. Isn't life about just putting yourself out there, trying your best, and hoping for a good outcome?

One day I complained to my husband because someone left a unflattering review on Amazon. Instead of buying me chocolate (I know, you'd think I had him trained better) he said, "You put yourself out there and sometimes people aren't going to be nice." And isn't that life too? We always hope everyone (especially ourselves and our children) will be nice, but sometimes it doesn't happen and sometimes we don't have the outcome we hoped for. But what would life be if we didn't keep trying?

So here's the advice I gave to my boy this morning: Keep playing that toaster and smiling no matter what happens. And you know what? He did.

Amazon

Amazon has some great new programs. One is called Kindle Matchbook, if you buy a print book through Amazon you can buy the Kindle version for a reduced price, sometimes free.

They've also started a fun bargain price page called Kindle Countdown deals. Authors put their books at a discounted price and there is a countdown telling you exactly how good of a deal you're getting and how much time is left in the promotion.

Also, through Audible, you can buy the audio book and get the Kindle version for free or discounted.

I'm working right now with an amazing narrator, Christy Crevier, who is producing The Broken Path in audio. It's so exciting. I don't listen well so I was shocked to be listening to a book I wrote (and revised dozens of times) and be so drawn in by this narrator's voice. I'm loving it.

Do any of you listen to audio books? Do you use Audible?

Win a Kindle fire or $229 GC

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!

Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".






All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway




The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)




 

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)




 

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)




 

NOVEMBER SPONSORS



I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
Feed Your Reader
Ripple Effect Romance Series
Dark Motive's Books & More
Fae Books
Author Marianne Morea
Buku-Buku Didi
Author Camelia Miron Skiba
Author Stacy Claflin
Patchwork Press
Author Louise Caiola
Author Bella Street
Author Bonnie Blythe
Author Julia Crane
The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
Author Kim Cresswell
A Bookish Escape
Author Talia Jager
Mother Daughter Book Reviews
Fiction Dreams
Book Angel Booktopia
Kelly's Lucky You
Author Roxanne Crouse
Author Rachelle Christensen
Author Jennifer Laurens
Hardback Book Hotties
Lori's Reading Corner
Author Misty Moncur
MyLadyWeb: Women's History and Women Authors
Author Elizabeth Isaacs
Living, Learning and Loving Life
Fairiechick's Fantasy Book Reader
My Story That I Like Best
LeahSay's Views
Christine's Blog
Candle Light Reads
NESSAROX
The Demon Librarian
SMIBookClub
Author T.L. Clarke
Back Off My Books
Michael SciFan
Author Carole Brown
Coffee and Characters
No Thought 2 Small
Stanley and Katrina, Pet Authors
Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
Love Bites & Silk
Kimber Leigh Writes
Author Rae Z. Ryans
Author Georgina Young-Ellis
The Reporter and the Girl
Fic Central
Like a Broken Vessel

 

Sign up to Sponsor the December Giveaway (starting around December 2nd)

http://www.iamareader.com/2013/10/december-kindle-fire.html

 

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7".

Ends 11/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oyster?

Have any of you tried Oyster?

From what I understand, you pay $9.95 a month and can download as many ebooks as you want. Sounds pretty good, but I'm not sure how great the selection is.

If they have books my boys and I are interested in, it would save me a bundle of money. Does anyone else struggle to keep their children in reading material? Great problem to have :)

Winner - Blog This tour prize

Megan Myers won a $25 GC and five autographed books as part of the Blog This release tour. Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the tour and congrats to Megan!

A Light in Dark Places

 




A Light in Dark Places




In December, 2009, Susan Cox Powell was reported missing from her home in West Valley City, Utah. As law enforcement tried to piece together what had happened to Susan, her husband, Josh Powell, became the only person of interest in the case.




For Jennifer Graves, Josh’s sister, the nightmare started long before Susan’s disappearance. From her experiences growing up in the Powell family to the terrifying moment when she first started to believe her brother was a killer, she relied on her faith to stay strong. She devoted herself to the safety of Susan’s boys, Charlie and Braden, whom she hoped to be able to raise as her own. When the boys were murdered by their father in February, 2012, Jennifer was more than devastated, but she had to believe there was a reason for it all—including the deaths of her beloved nephews.




In A Light In Dark Places, Jennifer shares her struggles and her triumphs. In coming to terms with such tragedy she finally was able to embrace the truth that we all have the power to choose our own path—and there is always hope, no matter how dark things may seem.




Website * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Praise for A Light in Dark Places




I just finished reading "A Light in Dark Places" By Jennifer Graves and Emily Gray Clawson. I was impressed with how well written the book was. The descriptions are such that I felt I was part of the story. I was grateful that the message was one of hope and peace in tragedy. The book does tell the tale of Susan Powell, her boys and their demise but doesn't dwell on it. It was nice to see inside the life experiences of someone so close to them and to see things from Jennifer's perspective rather than what you see on the media. I highly recommend this book. It doesn't disappoint! – T. Hyde




I love true accounts of people overcoming challenges and helping others with the lessons learned from them. This story of Jennifer's experiences throughout her abusive childhood, and later the disappearance of Susan and the murder of her two sweet nephews is just that. She shares how she felt God's hand in her life, guiding her to make better choices than the rest of her family did. Though the book had so many sad details, it ended with hope, courage and love. ~D. Raymond




I had followed the story of Susan Powell very closely so I wasn't sure if the book was going to tell me something I didn't already know...but it sure did. Jennifer was very brave in writing this book and all she had done in support for Susan. I highly recommend the book it sheds a light on the whole situation that helps make things more clear. ~ Carolyn




This was a very informative read. I lived in Utah at the time of Susan's disappearance and followed the news every day. This book answered many questions that the news did not. Although it was very sad and I already knew the outcome it was a good read. I admire Jennifer for her part in the whole story and I am glad she had the fortitude to write this book to honor her sister in law. ~Katie O.




To finally read about details that were never shared brought closure for me about this insidious crime. While the book was an easy read, the message shared about breaking the cycle of abusive relationships is invaluable. It truly does take someone removing themselves from their abusive family's presence to stop the cycle. Praises to the author for sharing her perspectives. ~Arlene




 









 




Jennifer Graves is the mother of 5 beautiful children, 2 girls and 3 boys. She and her husband have been happily married for 19 years and together have been active in their community and church.




Jennifer is the sister of Josh Powell who killed his 2 sons, Charlie and Braden, as well as himself in February of 2012, and is also believed to have killed his wife, Susan Cox Powell, in December of 2009.




She is the recipient of the 2013 ChainBreaker of the year Award, given for breaking the chain of abuse and violence in her family.




She enjoys homeschooling their children and mentoring in classes for the commonwealth school they attend. She also loves reading, playing card and board games, and learning new things. Most of all she loves to spend time with her husband and children. They currently reside in West Jordan, UT.




Blog * Facebook

♦ ♦ ♦
Emily Clawson is an author, a mother and a mentor. She traditionally writes inspirational fiction. This book has been a life changing experience for her and she is grateful to have been a part of telling this story. She resides in Taylorsville with her husband and four children where they run their leadership mentoring programs for youth.




Facebook * Twitter * Website
 




Tour Schedule





BookBlast Giveaway




$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash




Ends 11/15/13




Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen

Tour Schedule


 



Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen




Book Summary:

 A Proper Romance

 Ariella was only looking for a distraction, something to break up the monotony of palace life. What she found was a young man willing to overlook her title and show her a new and vibrant way of life. But when her growing feelings for Gavin spiral out of control and clash with the expectations of her station, she will discover that the consequences of her curiosity are far more severe than she’d imagined.




I watched in helpless horror as two guards hauled Gavin to his feet and dragged him from the room. My voice was frozen, unable to protest as another guard took hold of my arm, leading me upstairs. From the confines of my room, I stared into the darkness beyond my window, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Gavin. He was gone, and I wondered if he would have been better off if he had never met me.




I write clean romance. Why? Because that’s what I love to read, but over the years I’ve discovered it’s quite a challenge to find good clean romance. I believe it’s a genre that many people are looking for and too few authors are writing. My first novel, Just Ella, took me many years to write because I wanted it to be more than just a cutesy love story. I wanted it to have depth, to feel genuine. Hopefully I succeeded, but you’ll have to be the judge.




Amazon Paperback * Amazon Kindle
Praise for Just Ella




"I fell in love with this book. Treat yourself to something wonderful. You can't go wrong with Just Ella!" ~Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer




"By far one of the best romance novels I've ever read. Pulls you in with great, likable characters and keeps you going with a sweet and exciting love story--plus a good plot to give it even more substance. Full of those tender moments you want to go back and read again, plus exciting moments, clever humor, and some suspense as well." ~Jana Miller




"Annette Larsen writes a love story that takes time, is complicated, and yet still sweeps you up in the romance (without the cheese, thank you). It's compelling and emotional and sweet and you will love every page." ~Kimi




 





My Review

I really grew to love Ariella and Gavin. The first of the book was a bit slow for me (sorry, I'm a suspense junkie) but I kept reading and was so happy I did. Just Ella is a fabulous story of romance, deception, family drama, and honor. I would recommend it to romance lovers young and old.






Book Blast/Blog Tour Special

Grab your copy of Just Ella for just $4.99!
 




Author Annette K. Larsen




I was born in Utah, but grew up in Flagstaff Arizona and St. Louis Missouri, the fifth of seven children. I attended college at Southern Virginia University and Brigham Young University where I studied English and Theater. I now live in Idaho with my husband and four children.




I have Charlotte Bronte to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to sacrifice what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but it the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it.




I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.




 




Website * Twitter * Facebook


      Blog Tour Giveaway




$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash




Ends 11/5/13




 




Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.




 




a Rafflecopter giveaway








----------



EXCERPT

“When have we ever seen anyone else out here?”

“Just because we haven’t doesn’t mean we couldn’t.”

“Well, I’m sorry you regret confiding in me, but I’m not going to stop coming here.”

“I don’t want you to stop coming here. I love that you come here. But you have to let me come with you.”

“Because you can protect me from the wicked world?” My voice was mocking, mean.

His eyes narrowed. “I can hold my own,” he said in absolute seriousness. For the first time I considered his build in relation to something other than his striking looks. The years of hard physical work had resulted in toned muscle and rough, strong hands. He would be good in a fight. The thought made me swallow. “Can you say the same for yourself?”

I looked down at the book I’d been reading, rubbing one hand over the cover in agitation while my face burned. The guilt I felt at his reprimand surprised me. “All right,” I conceded. “You can come from now on.”

He moved close to me, then brush a curl behind my ear. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

I had to keep myself from closing my eyes as the warmth of his touch rippled down my spine. “I’m fine.”

“I’m still sorry.”

I rested my chin on my knees, staring at the water for a minute. “How old are you?” My quiet question broke the silence.

“Eighteen,” he answered, close to my ear. “How old are you?”

I turned to glare at him but was momentarily distracted to find him leaning toward me, smiling. I had the oddest urge to kiss the smirk off his face.

Forcing myself to look at his eyes, I resumed my glaring. He knew my age. Everyone knew, because everyone prepared for it. “I’ll be sixteen in five days,” I said caustically.

He just kept smiling. “Happy Birthday.”

Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampires

Tour Schedule
 




Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampires




Jack is back.




After his adventures at the Monster Hunter Academy (which included fighting a goblin army, befriending an ancient werewolf, and battling two fire breathing dragons), Jack Templar was hoping for a rest. No such luck.

In Book #3 of the Jack Templar Monster Hunter series, Jack embarks on a quest to track down and acquire the first of the five mythical Jerusalem Stones, an ancient power found by his ancestors the Templar Knights. Only the reunited Stones can stop Ren Lucre, the Dark Lord who holds Jack’s father hostage and prepares for an all-out war against an unsuspecting human world. But each Stone is held by a different Creach Lord and recovering them will not be easy. Jack and his friends begin their quest by seeking out one of the most powerful and dangerous keepers of the Stones, the Lord of the Vampires. The fate of the world rests on Jack’s shoulders and he will be tested like never before. But true monster hunters always do their duty…come what may.

Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampires.




Amazon


Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2)




After barely surviving the onslaught of monsters that tried to kill him the day before his fourteenth birthday, Jack Templar leaves his hometown on a quest to rescue his father and discover the truth about his past. Joined by his friends Will and T-Rex, and led by Eva, the mysterious one-handed monster hunter, Jack sets out for the Monster Hunter Academy where he hopes to find answers to his questions. Little does he suspect that the Academy is filled with dangers of its own, many of them more terrifying than anything he’s faced so far.




Amazon * Barnes & Noble




Jack Templar: Monster Hunter (Book 1)




Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.




As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.





Amazon * Barnes & Noble





Jack Templar Monster Hunter was chosen as a Book of the Year Finalist by Foreword Reviews.





Author Jeff Gunhus




Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.








My Review 

You can't go wrong with Jack Templar. The books are clean, fast-paced, fun, and violent enough to entertain my 14yo but not violent enough to make me upset he's reading them! This series is wonderful because both of my older boys and I enjoy reading them and talking about them. Highly recommended.





 




Blog Tour Giveaway




$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash




Ends 11/3/13




 




Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.




a Rafflecopter giveaway






 










EXCERPTS








Prologue





As the man staggered into the narrow corridor of the castle, he knew the woman he left behind would be dead within minutes unless he did something. The thought of losing her gripped him by the throat as strongly as if a hand seized him and sought to wring the life from him. He tore at the tight collar around his neck and ripped it open, gasping for breath. His fingers brushed against the wound there, two deep punctures that seeped a slow trickle of blood.

“Vitus!” he cried. “I need you!”

His rushed down the stone hallway, bent over and running his hand along the wall to keep his balance. Since his birth in this castle, he had spent countless hours running through its many rooms. But tonight it felt as disorienting as one of the mazes the workers made out of the cornfields for Harvest Festival.

“Vitus! Show yourself!” he bellowed.

Stairs. Narrow and steep. The man half-ran, half-fell down them, growing more desperate with every step farther from the room where he had spent the last three days caring for his wife. Once the essence of life, she was now no more than a brittle husk, a frail body with a withered soul. He could still feel the damp on his clothes from holding her fevered body next to his as he gently rocked her, singing her the soft songs of their youth. But her breathing had only gotten worse, now a faint rasp of air, so strained that he feared each would be her last.

Finally, as the shadow of death filled the room and hovered over her, something had broken inside of the man. The promise he had made to her—no, more than a promise, a solemn oath bound by the strongest words her dying mind could conjure—suddenly seemed a transparent lie. In a flash of clarity, it appeared so obvious that he lurched from the bed, calling himself a fool, and ran from the room.

If she died, nothing else mattered.

Even if she hated him for what he intended to do, he didn’t care. He could not let her die.

The man came to the enormous oak doors of the banquet hall. He lowered his shoulder with a snarl and barreled into them. The doors flew open on well-oiled hinges, revealing a massive room with a soaring ceiling supported by rows of thick stone pillars. Tapestries and banners covered the walls. A long table, enough to seat dozens at a feast, filled the center aisle. Platters of food and goblets of wine sat atop the dark, polished wood. Fanciful flower decorations served as centerpieces, alternating the length of the table with candlesticks made of the finest silver. Every chair was filled with a gentleman or lady wearing the most fashionable clothing. Vests embroidered with gold and silver. Dresses assembled in layers of sheer fabrics. Cloaks of ermine and mink draped over the chair backs in case a draft should appear.

But a draft would not bother any of the assembled guests.

Even the coldest wind will not bother a corpse.

The dinner guests were all frozen in a dramatic tableau of death. Some lay facedown on the table. Others leaned back, dead, open eyes staring at the ceiling. The worst ones, someone had propped up as if they were still conversing, but pale white skin accented the bright line of red blood across their necks.

The room was dark, the candles long since melted into puddles of wax on the table. The only light came from a small fire burning in the giant hearth in the center wall of the room. A solitary figure sat in a wooden chair, rocking back and forth, keeping pace to music only he could hear.

“Vitus, I know you could hear me,” the man shouted. “I need you.”

Vitus cocked his head slightly toward the man as if picking up only the slightest creak of the floorboards in the middle of the night, but he continued to stare into the fire. Vitus’s beard grew down to his chest and stood in contrast to his clean-shaven head. The fire cast odd shadows across a weathered face, chiseled deep by time and pain. Vitus looked no different from any number of old men lost to his thoughts deep inside the flames of a hearth fire.

No different that is except for his eyes and stains of blood that ran down both sides of his mouth. His eyes were black wells that seemed to suck the light from the air and give nothing in return. No reflection from the fire or glistening from moisture, just dead endless darkness that saw both nothing and everything. For the first time since leaving his dying wife, the man paused, terrified at what he intended to do.