Monthly Archives: December 2015
Alasdair by Ella Frank *Review
Bestowed with eternal life by the Ancient Vasilios, Alasdair Kyriakous is one of the most feared and ruthless vampires in existence. His name carries weight across all of the seven continents.
But he is a mystery to his kind, an anomaly among the self-indulgent. While he enjoys the pleasures of the flesh, he is exceptionally particular in his choice of partners and prides himself on his ironclad self-control.
Yet with one look his control will become a thing of the past, and Alasdair will discover that eternal life doesn’t always last forever…
A DEADLY ATTRACTION
Thrust into a world he could never have imagined, Leo Chapel awakens in his worst nightmare. Taken hostage by the dangerously mesmerizing vampire, Alasdair, Leo must rely on his intelligence to escape before he reveals a secret he isn’t even aware he’s hiding.
A FORBIDDEN DESIRE
Unaware that they’ve been brought together by an outside force and are little more than pawns to a higher power, Alasdair and Leo spend time trying to uncover the other’s secrets, the attraction between them growing stronger all the while.
But enemies are watching and preparing to act against them. When decisions that will alter lives and destinies have to be made—can a dead, grey heart learn to beat again?
Touching Spirits
“Who says dead can’t be fun?”
Fake ghost hunter (Dusty Yeager, star of Spectral Analysis) discovers he’s suddenly able to hear a real live spook – and he’s not happy about it.
Real live spook (Killian A. Black) decides to make Dusty’s life hell until he agrees to do the right thing and help solve a murder.
Hijinks ensure.
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Full book listing:
amazon.com/author/jd_phillips
This is a ghost story told from the ghost’s POV but don’t let that stop you from reading this funny fast paced story.
Killian is a ghost and he doesn’t know how or when he became one. But he does know one thing, he witnessed a murder but being a ghost there’s not much he can do or is there? No one can see or hear him so he feels helpless.
Dusty is a Internet Paranormal Investigator that doesn’t really believe what he does is real.
When Dusty and crew show up at an old asylum to investigate the so called hauntings, Killian is just hanging around. When Miss Katanta does her “hoo doo” as Dusty calls it suddenly Dusty can hear Killian! What follows is a fast paced story of a ghostly investigation that turns into something even more sinister.
I absolutely loved this book and I’m so hoping the author has more coming. The interaction between Killian and Dusty is hilarious and I love that Kallan wants to help Killian find out what happened to him. There’s so much feeling in the book and for a ghost Killian is a pretty cool guy.
Independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock. 5 amazing fangs.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28136081-touching-spirits
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3VWT1YLBUWRCV/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
The Bear Who Cried Whitney by Madame Leigh **Review**
Mystical by Michael Weekly *Review and #giveaway
Mystical
Mystical Series
Book One
Michael Weekly
Genre: New Adult/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC
Date of Publication: 12/8/15
ISBN-13: 978-1680583953
ISBN-10: 1680583956
ASIN: B018HB7AQA
Number of pages: 130
Word Count: 91,000
Cover Artist: Yvonne Less
Book Description:
When Eliza Rose found out she was a witch, she thought she’d be casting spells…
However, it turns out Eliza is on her way to becoming a mystical assassin. But first she has to start college with her best friend Dawn Roberts and her feline familiar Jared. If you think college is stressful, try finding your best friend being seduced—nearly to death—by a venomous fairy. Something is horribly wrong, and Eliza must find out what it is.
Knowing who’s who in the Mystical world can be a burden—or save her life…
Murderous mermaids, seductive fairies, and manipulative elves are terrifying enough, but pure witches can become corrupt…and they’re the most dangerous creatures of all. Eliza struggles to discover the source of this chaos, but is repeatedly attacked—and saved by a shadowy figure. On a very personal note, Eliza must learn whether corruption is beginning to claim her mother.
Her strongest ally might be handsome, enigmatic Donovan—but he is hiding a shocking secret…
Donovan wants nothing to do with his old gang—not after the things they’d made him do. But when he meets Eliza, he’s both frustrated by her amateur skills and impressed by her emerging strength, and he feels compelled to help her grow into the assassin she’s meant to be.
Every answer has a price, and there are beings born to corrupt the pure.
Eliza fights to master her skills before it’s too late, while Donovan must determine whether Eliza can be saved…or if she must die to keep her out of the hands of those who would use her powers to reign over all of Mystical.
Excerpt:
I kneel down and pull out my silver dagger slowly from my black boots. Tugging the dagger out carefully with my index finger and thumb, I structure a plan to save the girl in my head. One of the things mom said to herself when I eavesdropped repeats in my head: “Mystics, they are disguised amongst people.” I narrow my eyes and lock them on the creature before me.
I attempt to move and save her. Instead, I clench my hands into a fist, my throat is dry, and my heart drops inside of my chest. My hands are shaking, and I’m struggling to breathe properly. I can’t lunge forth. I’m too nervous.
I press my lips together. Anxiously, my eyes slide from left to right as I try to think of what I can do to save this innocent girl. I glance down as soon as I hear something moving below me. Gravel on thin strands of weeds puckers out of the ground slowly and slithers up my calves. I cringe as the feeling of the moist dirt on my skin stings my legs.
The sweet wind his wings create brush against my face, intoxicating me and causing my neck to numb. I become drowsy, my vision becomes blurry, and I forget about trying to save her. I’m paralyzed in this peaceful reverie. The smell of fresh roses controls my thoughts and actions. My eyes daze and, though I blink twice to wake myself up, I don’t want to fight against this calm feeling.
It feels amazing.
The weeds continue to wrap around my legs, holding me in place. I shake my head, trying to fall back into reality. I press my lips tightly together and focus on cutting off the weeds slowly. With each slash, it feels like my movement and reactions are slowing down. It must be the scent causing the nerves in my body to act strange. I cover my nose and continue cutting the strands of weed silently. Each cut increases the growth beneath me. The mud from the gravel thickens, gluing me further in place.
The girl moans in pleasure while the weeds attach to me and cling onto the fabric of my clothing. The noise she is making and the weeds from underneath me are overwhelming me. My heart picks up frantically, and my lips feel dry.
The strange creature caresses his prey’s bruised body. There are glowing hickeys all over her skin. He allows the weeds to slither around her neck slowly. He leaves another colorful hickey on her skin. He kisses her neck, eventually pulling on her skin with his sharp teeth.
The scent of his tongue sliding slowly on her neck flows over to where I’m being held captive. My lips part as her eyes roll back into her head. I can feel my mind and thoughts drifting away with her. I want the creature’s lips on my skin just as much as his prey does.
Think, Eliza, think. Stay focused.
I shudder as the cold wind tickles the tiny hairs on my skin. The guy stops kissing the girl and the moans fade away. He looks up and scans his setting. His eyes lock on my hiding place. I increase my cutting movement as fast as I can. He smirks at me with colorful drool dropping to the ground from his white blade-like teeth. His red lips glimmer in front of me in the shadows.
He lets the weeds take over the girl’s body, preserving his meal for later. She is still stuck in ecstasy. Her eyes slide in my direction. Even though she must be in pain, she’s smiling. Weeds form around her body, slither up, and then slap across her eyes and mouth.
The creep holding her captive flutters toward me slowly. He reaches out as weeds beneath the ground and roots spring up and wriggle around my ankles and neck. They travel up against my thighs and then slap across my mouth, preventing me from screaming. I am lifted up against the wall, just how the girl is in front of me.
I raise my dagger to try and cut the weed covering my mouth, but I lose my grip and it falls to the ground. I panic, struggling to breathe, but the same scent crawls into my nostrils. Its sweet taste overpowers my senses. My heart beat slows down drastically as my eyes follow the monster, who is floating in front of me, grinning wickedly. He touches my skin with his soft hand, sizzling and calming my emotions.
My heart skips a beat. It’s finally my turn.
Eliza is special, there is no doubt about it. Nevertheless, the question I asked myself since the beginning of the novel until the end is: Why? She seems to have super senses that no other witch, male or female, appear to have. A lot of people seem to be making her or her stuff their target but…why is she so special? Why is everyone hiding so much info from her and, therefore, from the readers. If you are a fan of familiars, you would love to meet hers. She has her very own Salem. His name is Jared and is such a darling even when he believes his job is to tease her from time to time. He protects her but, in my opinion, is hiding way too much information for her even when the situation gets worse and, it’s obvious, she needs to get out of the dark. There was a point where I was shouting at him to spill the beans if he wanted her to stop being so reckless or to at the very least to make sure she is prepared for everything since she couldn’t probably be stopped.
The mother, Grace, was not such a likable character. I understand she wanted to protect her but keeping her on the dark even when the situation screamed that she shouldn’t was, in my opinion, something very stupid. Giving her a curfew, putting a charm on her door and asking Jared to keep an eye on her is not enough to protect someone that doesn’t even know the face of the real danger. This proves to be right when a corrupt fairy attacks Eliza’s bestie and, later, some mermaid decide to make the rookie witch their prey. There is something fishy going on with her mother, brother and the cute guy that seems to be so into her one second but mysteriously appears on her mother’s house and seems to be talking to her before she disappears.
All of a sudden another problem or maybe solution in disguise enters her life. His name is Donnovan and yes, he screams trouble. I suspect he has his own story to tell but for some reason he gives a vibe that assures you that he has her back. She was told male witches were a force to be reckon with but Donovan saved her a fair amount of times and who is this guy, Christian, that was given the same rose as her, the flower that everyone seems to want for their own?
In a place where everyone seems to have something to hide and a time when almost every magical creature, corrupt or not, wants to either feed on her or take away a very special rose that was given to her. Who can our heroine trust? I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in a fast paced fantasy novels with a hint of romance and a spoon of drama unlike any other. Nevertheless, I must warn you there is a cliffhanger that would grab you attention.
4 stars
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
About the Author:
Michael believes he is a mad scientist experimenting with his own imagination. He enjoys world building and having alluring conversations with his stubborn characters. He is your author of The Mystical Series. Specializing in many genres such as Fantasy, Urban Fiction, Dystopian, Young and New Adult.
Most of his inspirations come from fairy tales, music, and his curious what ifs. He’s never thought of being an author, writing was just a hobby to him. However, one day his thoughts and ideas kept interrupting his daily life. At work he’d come up with story lines and decided to join the reading/writing app Wattpad, and there he would write. Realizing the enjoyment from creating characters and worlds doesn’t stop him from ever jotting down a potential story.
You can find him anywhere to snuggling in a comfy seat with hot cocoa Netflix binging, or taking a soothing walk along the forest lines. Possibly diving in a tank with sharks, but that would be too insane.
He is a shopaholic east coaster living in Virginia with his fury companion Coco.
Where the two live happily ever after.
Website: www.MichaelDWeekly.com
Twitter: @MichaelDWeekly
Instagram: @AuthorMDWeekly
Tumblr: http://abcdmikey.tumblr.com
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1RU3LAm
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/20cIyaF
Wattpad: http://w.tt/1NvgHc4
Periscope: @MichaelDWeekly
Print copy of Mystical and Swag-
Bound and Teased by Marie Tuhart *Review
Author Marie Tuhart Releases Sexy New Erotic Romance, Bound & Teased Seattle, WA: Author Marie Tuhart has released her newest erotic romance novel, Bound & Teased. Published by Wild Rose Press on August 31, 2015, the novel is a steamy erotic romance that explores what it takes to build trust and love in a committed ménage with alpha males. Eight years ago, a naive Katie Crane ran from Ry and Jed, warned their brand of love would ruin her life. Now she’s all grown up and returning home with a better understanding of the BDSM lifestyle. After the betrayal she’s faced at her father’s hands, she worries she won’t be strong enough to submit to the men she gave her heart and virginity to at eighteen. Jed Malloy and Ry McKade are surprised and thrilled by Katie’s return to Felton’s Creek. They’d been heartbroken after her departure and had turned to each other, embracing the BDSM lifestyle without her. Katie’s homecoming sparks hope and worry. Ry isn’t sure he can keep his dominant side under control, and Jed fears Katie will see him as less of a man by being a switch and Ry’s submissive. Having Katie back could mean the beginning of everything they’ve ever wanted or the end to the only family they’ve ever known.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors that rock, in exchange for an honest review. The story revolves around Ry, Jed, and Katie- the MMF ménage and their BDSM tastes. I felt really lost with the plot in the beginning, as if I was reading book two in a series rather than a standalone, it moved too fast and lacked… information. It was basically- girl and the two guys are friends. They have a threesome on girl’s 18th b-day. She leaves them high and dry. Eight years later she returns and it’s like she never left. I wish there would have been more in the beginning that explained their back story. Hell, there could have been a prologue that contained just a few pages of the night of Katie’s b-day. But the story builds as it goes on. The story is in third person and switches between the character’s POVs. Editing was good, which can be an issue for me at times, so that was a plus. I’ve read quite a few BDSM & MMF/FFM, etc. types of books and there were certain parts during the “play” scenes that felt a little mechanical. Sometimes the words didn’t flow as well as I would have liked. Overall the story wasn’t bad. I have no regrets reading it. I really liked Ry, but that might just be my tastes because I found his overbearing hot-headed alpha @ss sexy. If you enjoy straight-up BDSM books and like or don’t mind MM/MMF scenes, then this is a read for you. Definitely a book recommended for mature readers only. I give it (4) Fangs baby. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1478426094 https://www.amazon.com/review/R6FDNCL5MGBPI/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv —
About the book: About the author: Marie Tuhart can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a book in her hands. She began writing at 19, and in 1994 decided to join RWA and get serious about publishing. When she isn’t reading or writing, Marie loves to spend time in bookstores. A world traveler, she enjoys searching out corners of the globe she hasn’t experienced yet. While still totally open to finding her own tall, dark and handsome, she is certainly enjoying the journey. |
Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne *Review
Forbidden Forest
The Legends of Regia
Book One
Tenaya Jayne
Genre: YA Fantasy romance, PNR
Publisher: Cold Fire Publishing LLC
Date of Publication: 2012
ISBN: 0988275716
ASIN: B009JVTLA6
Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 77,000
Cover Artist: Erika Doucesse
Book Description:
Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia’s laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he’s ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn’t matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Y2FtqAk64VA
Excerpt:
Forest pressed her back against the cool concrete wall, wanting to remain aloof from the entity of the crowd. She chose her position in the shadows, out of the paths of the roving, multi-colored spotlights. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the undulating human pheromones flying around on the air. At the beginning of every shift, she allowed herself a few minutes of this alien/human experience, though she didn’t fully comprehend the combination of dancing, drinking, and ear-breaking sound waves. They loved it, however, and never seemed to deviate from the recipe.
These were the people she was sworn to protect. She had developed a light affection for the human race and considered them a benign, if not slightly silly, bunch of creatures. Her religious passion for her job was rooted in hatred of that which harmed the humans, not a superhero tendency to protect the weak.
Forest opened her eyes and focused all her senses to sniff out the illegal suckers that tried to sneak through the portal. She was in the zone tonight, and not for the first time did she feel that hers was the best job in existence. It was a shame she couldn’t legally kill suckers in her native world.
Over the next two hours, Forest didn’t move from the wall. She monitored the light traffic through the portal: two shifters and one elf, each of which nodded to her respectfully as they passed. Yawn. The shifters left the club to enjoy the delights of Austin’s nightlife elsewhere.
The elf would have been breaking Regia’s law had he left the club, but he dutifully seated himself at the bar and ordered a fuzzy navel. He wore a plaid, porkpie hat, pulled down over the tops of his pointed ears. Forest didn’t know him personally, but she had seen him in here before. The bartender surveyed him with narrowed eyes as the elf nervously tugged his hat down further and ordered a few more girly cocktails.
Intent on making sure that not one sucker was able to sneak past her, Forest was blindsided by the drunk bubba who had been trying to catch her eye for the last twenty minutes. He had finally decided to stagger over to hit on her.
“Hey babe, you’re too beautiful to look so lonely. How’s ‘bout I buy you a drink?”
“How’s ‘bout I call you a cab instead?” Forest mimicked his drawl.
“Only if you share it with me, Darlin.” He leaned in closer, and Forest’s throat began to sting from the noxious fume of booze mixed with his natural musk.
“While I appreciate the offer, Jethro, it seems only right to inform you that I’m not actually attractive at all. If you leaned in a little closer, you’d see that you’ve fallen victim to the effect of beer goggles. A hag like me can’t take advantage of a stud like you.”
As he leaned in, Forest instantly enlarged her nose, pockmarked her skin, evaporated her front teeth, and added a large black mole with a long hair sprouting from it for good measure.
“You’re no hag, baby! You’re the sexiest little thing in…I…uh…” He stumbled backward. “Good grief! Sorry, sorry…” he stammered, retreating. “I’ve gotta quit drinking,” he mumbled as he turned away.
Forest chuckled to herself once he absorbed back into the crowd. Being a shape shifter sometimes had unusual perks.
About the Author:
Nationally Bestselling author Tenaya Jayne has always walked a shaky line between reality and fantasy. A nomad by nature, she’s lived all over the US, and now resides happily in the Midwest, with her husband and sons. She’s an advocate for Autism awareness and women trapped in abusive relationships, and feels everyone has too much pain to not enjoy an escape into a fictional fantasy world. Her passions include reading, independent and foreign films, cooking, and moody music. For more about Tenaya and her books, visit http://www.tenayajayne.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3187149.Tenaya_Jayne
https://www.facebook.com/Tenaya-Jayne-192787414160877/
https://twitter.com/TenayaJayne
Tour giveaway
1 set of The Legends of Regia on Audible
Annabeth Neverending by Leyla Kader Dahm *Review
Annabeth Neverending
Leyla Kader Dahm
Genre: YA paranormal romance/historical
ISBN-13: 978-1518613289
ISBN-10: 1518613284
Number of pages: 300
Word Count: 75,000
Book Description:
At first, teenager Annabeth Prescott thinks she’s found quite a deal when she talks down the price of an ankh pendant she discovers at a flea market. She soon wonders if the bauble is more than she’s bargained for when she faints and glimpses images from a past life in ancient Egypt.
The discovery coincides with another new find: Gabriel, a handsome young man who takes an interest in her. When she meets his twin brother C. J. at a Halloween party, she realizes they look exactly like two boys who figure prominently into her memories.
Does C. J. share the heroic qualities held by his past incarnation Sethe, her bodyguard when she was Princess Ana? Does Gabriel possess the same evil powers he wielded as Kha, the black sorcerer who sought her affection?
Love meets the supernatural in this gripping young adult paranormal romance. Readers with an interest in reincarnation, as well as ancient Egypt, will be drawn to its mystical mixture of history and hesitation as Annabeth sways between the two brothers.
Will her reincarnated soulmate win out? Or will Kha finally find the way to her heart?
Excerpt:
Chapter One
Mrs. Lansing pulls her SUV into the dusty, unpaved lot, which is located behind two antique malls. I exit and unload her trunk, suppressing a groan as I hoist a heavy cardboard box and set it carefully on the dirt.
I take in the ramshackle affair. I’ve heard that the flea market is a popular meeting place for bargain hunters and collectors, and it looks as strange as its name sounds. There are rows of rickety wooden tables, and it’s surprising that none of them buckle from the sheer number of goods they hold.
“This is the Arundel Flea Market. It’s the hub of Maine’s secondhand economy,” explains my elderly neighbor, who now doubles as my boss and triples as my tour guide.
As we make our way through the helter-skelter maze of booths, the buzz of negotiation can be heard coming from every direction. I drag along the cart of wares, but stop when I’m seized by a sneezing fit, courtesy of free-floating dust and mold. When Mrs. Lansing offers me a handkerchief instead of a Kleenex, I’m made acutely aware of the fact that I’ve entered a new…er, different world.
Mrs. Lansing’s stooped over just low enough that her poor posture has probably cost her a couple of inches, but that doesn’t slow her down. She shuffles toward a vacant table nestled under the welcoming shade of a chalky-white birch tree.
Seeing that she’s claimed a prime spot, I follow her lead by setting out everything from orphan candlesticks to shell cameos to tin wind-up toys. Then, Mrs. Lansing adds a few eccentric items like yellowed tarot cards and an iridescent crystal ball to the collection.
“What’s the deal with this?” I ask while turning over the fortune-telling device.
“It reeks of mystery and the supernatural, which I love. Besides, the weird stuff always sells,” explains Mrs. Lansing, her eyes twinkling.
“So, who usually comes here?”
“Most of the sellers are serious dealers, but there are also everyday folk looking to earn extra cash. Usually by cleaning out their musty attics or basements.”
“I’ve never sold anything before. Not even girl scout cookies,” I admit.
“You’ll get the hang of it. Why don’t we try some role-playing?”
Mrs. Lansing lays down a parchment document with what looks to be a children’s book illustration of an old masted ship. This is something I’ve seen before. Many times. It’s a Mayflower Society certificate.
“My mom’s a member, you know.”
“Now that’s a great angle. The certificate’s going to be passed, in a manner of speaking, from one Pilgrim descendant to another,” states Mrs. Lansing, her voice crackling with wear.
“I’m not a blood descendant. I was adopted, remember?” I gently remind her.
She looks ruffled. Of course, the subject makes everyone feel awkward, especially me.
“Oh, that’s right. I’m so sorry. My mind isn’t the steel trap it once was.”
I shrug it off, not wanting her to feel bad when it’s a common slipup, and we engage in a marathon training session as we try to sell her product that goes on for hours and hours. In addition to the finer points of salesmanship, she fills me in on all the vital information I need to know regarding the current stock and teaches me how to handle the money that comes in.
While learning how to work the old-school cash register, my friend Bernadette, wearing a floppy straw hat and oversized sunglasses, steps up to the stand. She looks over the merchandise, with a mouth that’s either puckered in interest or disgust—I’m not sure which.
“Can I wait on this person I’ve never seen before?”
Mrs. Lansing nods and crosses her arms while standing back to observe my efforts.
“Miss, are you looking for anything in particular?” I ask in my most professional tone.
“Not sure if you noticed…all these things are used but still expensive,” Bernadette states, as though she’d doing me a favor by educating me.
“They’re antiques.”
“In that case, I’ll take none of everything.”
My lips tighten in displeasure.
“You sure about that?” I ask.
Mrs. Lansing chuckles.
“Annabeth Prescott, I’m impressed. Not every new employee cons a friend into acting like a fake customer,” she says with a smile so wide I can see all her dentures.
“You recognized me?” asks Bernadette, sounding genuinely puzzled. She pulls off her hat and glasses, revealing her delicate Asian features.
I sigh, disappointed that my plan failed so wretchedly. I should’ve figured that Bernadette could never fully disguise her…Bernadetteness.
“Shocking, I know. But it does show that you really care about this job, dear,” Mrs. Lansing says, before jotting something in her inventory log.
“Well, I better get back to work. Thanks for coming. Don’t forget to make a purchase before you go,” I say loudly and somewhat pathetically.
“I don’t think so.”
“If you don’t buy something from me, who will?”
“Excellent question,” she agrees.
“Please?” I ask, eyes pleading.
“Begging. Interesting strategy,” Mrs. Lansing says, pretending to mull it over.
“No offense, but I’m heading to the Kittery Outlets. Later!” Bernadette cries as she scurries off.
“Don’t worry. My associate, Gabriel, will help you refine your sales technique. He’s the master.”
I gaze around and notice an elderly army of gray-and-blue hairs surrounds me. I’m the youngest person manning a table by a long shot.
“So he’s…older, huh?” I ask.
“Yes, you could say that. Of course, everyone seems like a baby to me. Now, let me give you some details about this Bakelite phone.”
I scan my surroundings some more and shake my head in hopes of clearing it. My waning attention must be obvious.
“All right, I’ve been doling out a lot of information. Why don’t you take a break? Walk around the market; get an idea of what the others have for sale? We can pick this up when you get back.”
“OK, but when I do, give me your worst piece of merchandise, and I’ll unload it,” I say with false confidence, hoping to salvage things.
“That’s the spirit!”
I peruse the market, and a strange sense of stillness falls. Brass wind chimes break the silence, eerily clinging and clanging as I wind my way through the many stands. I keep passing one table in particular. Though nothing interests me at first, I repeatedly find my way back to it despite myself. It’s as though I’m on autopilot.
I dig in and pick up a broken tassel necklace, which is entangled with several others. While trying to pry them apart, I knock to the ground a box chain holding a pendant. They’re both caked with grime. I bend down and grab the necklace. I look over the charm, which is roughly three inches long and resembles a cross with a loop on top.
My hands tremble. The wind whips through my hair and whistles in my ears. Are the northeastern breezes whispering to buy it?
I give the piece to the table’s merchant, a middle-aged Mainer in a threadbare brown overcoat and scuffed L.L.Bean rain boots. He turns it over in his stubby, chapped fingers.
“How much is this?” I ask nonchalantly, trying to hide just how much I want it.
“Uh, twenty dollars oughta do it,” he says, in a regional accent so thick it sounds like he has a speech impediment.
“Twenty? That’s kind of steep…I really shouldn’t…” I grumble sadly.
“Ten?”
***
I gleefully run toward Mrs. Lansing, hardly able to contain my excitement. But I manage to rein it in. Which is hard because I suspect that I’ve achieved a tiny triumph.
“Wait till you see what I bought!”
“I thought the point of this job was to make money, not spend it,” she replies tauntingly.
“I know, I know. But you’ll be happy to know that I totally haggled. And this seems…special.”
I give over the encrusted ornament to Mrs. Lansing, who offers to clean the piece. She takes out a cloth and some jewelry cleanser and polishes the necklace in a flash.
“This shape is an ankh. It’s an ancient Egyptian symbol.”
“Do you know what it means?” I ask, curiosity seeping in.
“I believe it represents some sort of key.”
Now that it’s been spiffed up, Mrs. Lansing and I admire my find, which sparkles in the muted autumn sun.
“Is it real gold?” I wonder aloud.
“I’d say so. In fact, this is the darkest, most beautiful gold I’ve ever seen. Just enough alloy was added to the precious metal to make it durable while maintaining its warmth of color. What did you pay for this?”
“Ten dollars.”
“Looks like somebody’s a born negotiator,” Mrs. Lansing states, with a hint of pride. “You got quite a bargain, kiddo.”
I take the ankh back into my possession and caress its cool, smooth surface. I feel everything around me go topsy-turvy, upside down and inside out…
***
I’m enveloped by heat stronger and more intense than any I’ve experienced before. Drops of perspiration tickle my skin as they run underneath my flowing linen gown. I feel arms clasping a chain behind my neck. My hands fly up to find the ankh resting on my collarbone, but I didn’t move them there. It’s as though I’m a mere observer, instead of a participant, when it comes to this body’s actions.
The man who has just bestowed the necklace upon me pulls away, and I’m allowed a good look at him. He’s a hideous fellow with bulging eyes, a hooked nose, and a shock of bright-red hair that peeks out from underneath a black-and-white headdress. His outfit, the way he has about him, makes him seem important. Is he a pharaoh?
He grins, semitoothlessly, and I feel myself smiling in return.
“This is all for you, to commemorate your sixteenth year, your entry into womanhood,” says the probable monarch.
“My gratitude runs as deep as the Nile,” I reply, in a voice that is not my own, in a language that is not my own, and yet I know exactly what I’m saying.
The man, who’s wearing a tunic covered with fringe, motions to a procession of beautiful objects, the likes of which I never could have imagined. Priceless treasures zoom past, carried by servants wearing loose shift dresses and stiff black wigs. Elaborately carved pieces of ivory and ebony furniture, lion and leopard skins, gem-encrusted gold jewelry in the shape of beetles and butterflies, and granite statues of animal-faced men and women are all presented to me individually. Clearly, these are gifts for a very privileged young lady. What I wouldn’t give to own them myself.
Another Egyptian, a young man who is ostensibly a prince, looks to be seething with anger. His arms are crossed, his face set in a scowl. He watches on in disgust as the gifts continue to appear.
“This show of generosity shall stir jealousy in her sisters,” he states venomously.
“I reserve the right to spoil my favorite daughter as I see fit,” replies the suspected ruler.
And now, the last offering, the one with the place of honor at the end of the parade, is finally brought before me.
A boy! Or is he a man?
“This prisoner of war is such a fine specimen, he would be wasted as a lowly house slave. He shall serve as your bodyguard,” announces the intimidating ruler.
“His name is Sethe.”
The captive has shackles on his hands and feet. I can even make out a brand upon his chest. It seems as though it’s still scarring over, which is understandable, since he was not born into slavery. Regardless, he looks like somebody who has done nothing but labor in the sun. His skin is bronzed, and his muscles are impossibly defined. He seems reluctant to look at me.
Finally, his gaze meets mine. I’m at a distance, yet I can still make out the flecks of gold that dapple his hazel eyes. For a blissful moment, I’m lost in them, swimming in their beauty, floating in their comfort.
***
I come to amid a background of concerned chatter and find myself surrounded by a crowd of curious onlookers…and a strange boy. His muscular arms are holding me tight, making sure I don’t RSVP to the gravel’s invitation. He’s impossibly good looking, with the palest-possible blue eyes and the darkest-possible black hair.
He couldn’t be less like the slave in my…hallucination?…but he’s just as handsome. Not like it’s a contest.
“You passed out. Good thing I was here to catch you,” says my hero, while wagging a pair of thick brows.
About the Author:
Leyla Kader Dahm popped popcorn and dreamt of a career in show business when working in a movie theater while in high school. The small-town Midwestern girl went another route and studied communications at Carroll College and Cornell University, but still found herself drawn to the big screen when a temp agency placed her in a production and development gig at Miramax/Dimension Films.
Dahm went on to work as a script consultant for numerous production companies. She appeared in the acclaimed spoken word show Sit ‘N Spin and had her comedy feature spec, Due North, optioned by Michael Levy Enterprises. She sold her pitch, Survival Instinct, to Nickelodeon Original Movies. Dahm lives with her husband, sitcom writer Richard Dahm, and her children in Los Angeles.
https://leyla-dahm-6b8g.squarespace.com
https://twitter.com/annabeth_egypt
https://www.facebook.com/annabethneverending/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48461643-leyla-dahm
Tour giveaway
5 signed paperback copies
Pistol Whipped by Ashley Bostock *Review and Giveaway
Pistol Whipped
by Ashley Bostock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Contemporary Erotic Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
She’d known him for forever…
Gabriella Crawford has been best friends with Logan since the 2nd grade, but that’s all they’d ever been…friends. Suddenly after 20 years, Gabbie starts to notice Logan in a different light. But sex has never been something Gabbie thought was great and it’s certainly not something worth risking a friendship over. Or is it?
He’d never really seen her until now… Logan Reeves should not be looking at his best friend’s breasts. Not even when he sees her modeling lingerie. But try as he might to stay in the ‘friend zone’ Logan can’t stop fantasizing about Gabbie. And when a business trip forces them to sleep in the same bed, all bets are off. Especially once Logan finds out Gabbie needs to be shown how good sex can be…
But is it too late?
Incredible sex might not be enough to keep these two together. Not when old secrets from the past and new career opportunities threaten to rip Logan and Gabbie apart forever.
She tilted her head to the side as if she were willing him to tell her what he was thinking. She stood there a moment longer, allowing him the privilege to commit her body to memory. Her client whispered something to Gabriella and she looked through the mirror at him once again, gave him a nervous smile and disappeared back into the changing room.
He tuned the women out as the customer continued to gush over the ensemble. Hell, where was he? He worked so hard trying to get the image of Gabbie wearing the erotic lingerie out of his mind, so when she nudged his back, he jumped.
“I’m sorry. I just need to get by you to ring her up.” Her voice was angelic, breathy.
“Sorry.” Sorry for many, many things right now.
He mindlessly watched her ring up the red items. As each item passed his line of vision, each of Gabbie’s body parts flitted through his mind the same as the lingerie flitted through her hands. She took her time folding the sexy get-up into tissue paper before she deposited them into a bag and handed them over to the lady.
***Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock. ***
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ashley Bostock was born and raised in Colorado where she currently resides with her husband, two children, her dog and two cats. She loves reading, writing, and music and is always trying to find more time in the day to incorporate all three. Seeking an outlet and pursuing her life-long passion for writing, she began composing her first novel in late 2013. She has traveled all over the world, but still has an extensive list of places she would love to visit. Anywhere near a sky-blue ocean will always be at the top of that list. She carries a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a concentration in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State College of Denver. While she loves children, she now fears teaching, which probably has something to do with being a stay-at-home mom.
LINKS:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12492128.Ashley_Bostock
https://www.facebook.com/Ashley-Bostock-764206770337484/
Buy Links:
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pistol-whipped-ashley-bostock/1122917558?ean=2940152671438
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pistol-whipped/id1056377192?mt=11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER
Ashley will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and winner’s choice of one autographed book of the Girls with Guns series (U.S. Only) to a randomly drawn host.
Claimed by the Bad Boy by London Saint James
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Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne *Review
Forbidden Forest
The Legends of Regia
Book One
Tenaya Jayne
Genre: YA Fantasy romance, PNR
Publisher: Cold Fire Publishing LLC
Date of Publication: 2012
ISBN: 0988275716
ASIN: B009JVTLA6
Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 77,000
Cover Artist: Erika Doucesse
Book Description:
Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia’s laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he’s ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn’t matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Y2FtqAk64VA
Excerpt:
Forest pressed her back against the cool concrete wall, wanting to remain aloof from the entity of the crowd. She chose her position in the shadows, out of the paths of the roving, multi-colored spotlights. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the undulating human pheromones flying around on the air. At the beginning of every shift, she allowed herself a few minutes of this alien/human experience, though she didn’t fully comprehend the combination of dancing, drinking, and ear-breaking sound waves. They loved it, however, and never seemed to deviate from the recipe.
These were the people she was sworn to protect. She had developed a light affection for the human race and considered them a benign, if not slightly silly, bunch of creatures. Her religious passion for her job was rooted in hatred of that which harmed the humans, not a superhero tendency to protect the weak.
Forest opened her eyes and focused all her senses to sniff out the illegal suckers that tried to sneak through the portal. She was in the zone tonight, and not for the first time did she feel that hers was the best job in existence. It was a shame she couldn’t legally kill suckers in her native world.
Over the next two hours, Forest didn’t move from the wall. She monitored the light traffic through the portal: two shifters and one elf, each of which nodded to her respectfully as they passed. Yawn. The shifters left the club to enjoy the delights of Austin’s nightlife elsewhere.
The elf would have been breaking Regia’s law had he left the club, but he dutifully seated himself at the bar and ordered a fuzzy navel. He wore a plaid, porkpie hat, pulled down over the tops of his pointed ears. Forest didn’t know him personally, but she had seen him in here before. The bartender surveyed him with narrowed eyes as the elf nervously tugged his hat down further and ordered a few more girly cocktails.
Intent on making sure that not one sucker was able to sneak past her, Forest was blindsided by the drunk bubba who had been trying to catch her eye for the last twenty minutes. He had finally decided to stagger over to hit on her.
“Hey babe, you’re too beautiful to look so lonely. How’s ‘bout I buy you a drink?”
“How’s ‘bout I call you a cab instead?” Forest mimicked his drawl.
“Only if you share it with me, Darlin.” He leaned in closer, and Forest’s throat began to sting from the noxious fume of booze mixed with his natural musk.
“While I appreciate the offer, Jethro, it seems only right to inform you that I’m not actually attractive at all. If you leaned in a little closer, you’d see that you’ve fallen victim to the effect of beer goggles. A hag like me can’t take advantage of a stud like you.”
As he leaned in, Forest instantly enlarged her nose, pockmarked her skin, evaporated her front teeth, and added a large black mole with a long hair sprouting from it for good measure.
“You’re no hag, baby! You’re the sexiest little thing in…I…uh…” He stumbled backward. “Good grief! Sorry, sorry…” he stammered, retreating. “I’ve gotta quit drinking,” he mumbled as he turned away.
Forest chuckled to herself once he absorbed back into the crowd. Being a shape shifter sometimes had unusual perks.
About the Author:
Nationally Bestselling author Tenaya Jayne has always walked a shaky line between reality and fantasy. A nomad by nature, she’s lived all over the US, and now resides happily in the Midwest, with her husband and sons. She’s an advocate for Autism awareness and women trapped in abusive relationships, and feels everyone has too much pain to not enjoy an escape into a fictional fantasy world. Her passions include reading, independent and foreign films, cooking, and moody music. For more about Tenaya and her books, visit http://www.tenayajayne.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3187149.Tenaya_Jayne
https://www.facebook.com/Tenaya-Jayne-192787414160877/
https://twitter.com/TenayaJayne
Tour giveaway
1 set of The Legends of Regia on Audible
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