August 2013 Bewitching Books Tours Magazine

Bewitching Book Tours Magazine Issue 14 August 2013 Bewitching Book Tours Magazine is a publication of Bewitching Book Tours and Bewitching Books.

Editor: Roxanne Rhoads Design Editor and Layout: Lisa McGeen Contributors include Bewitching Book Tours Authors and Tour Hosts learn more at www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com Submission details- for every issue we are accept: Articles- topics include writing, research, paranormal, vampires, advice for authors, publishing advice, and more Flash Fiction- paranormal, urban fantasy and erotica (for other genres please query) True tales of paranormal encounters Recipes Poetry Book reviews Please send submissions to RoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com place “Bewitching Magazine Submission” in subject line. Contributors receive free ad space in the magazine.

Ad space rates are: $40 full page ad $20 half page ad $10 quarter page ad

You can subscribe to this magazine at http://issuu.com/ bewitchingbooktours © Copyright 2013 Stock images from www.123rf.com

Contents

Find the Witch Scavenger Hunt Without You Elysian Fields Excerpt How (Not) To Kiss A Toad Tarot In Fiction Solstice Feature Green Living Tips Would Be Witch Feature Reviews DIY Ideas for Garden and Rustic Wedding Matchmaker Series Witch Weigh The Magic Series Feature Top Ten Movie and TV Witches The Sexy and The Undead Feature The Cat’s Meow Feature Remember This Feature The Guardian’s Witch Feature My Favorite Witches Obsession Feature I’ll Be Damned Feature Naughty Nook Sex and Chocolate Hex and the Single Witch Feature Excerpt from Witch in the Middle

4 5 6 8 16 18 20 24 26 30 32 34 36 40 44 46 52 54 57 58 60 62 63 65 69

Bewitching Book Tours Magazine Find the Witch Scavenger Hunt August 2013 Because this month’s theme is witches and magic we are offering a fun scavenger hunt throughout this issue.

The prize is a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card. Winner’s Choice.

You have to find this witch. She’s hidden in the magazine several times.

This is what she looks like.

Now you need to search for her throughout the magazine. Keep track of how many times you find her and on what pages numbers. This page does not count as one of her hiding places.

Once you have found her hiding places go to the Rafflecopter form here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f343/ and enter the giveaway To be eligible to win you must enter the correct number of witches and their page number locations.

The winner will be chosen from all of the correct entries.

You will have bonus entry opportunities available.

Good luck. Contest closes September 9, 2013 at 12am.

~Without You~ by: Annette M Guerriero The sun is up, it’s a beautiful day, And yet again I feel the same way.

I’m so sad and I want to cry, It’s just another day that I want to die.

Give me the strength to go on every day, This I beg, I plead, I pay.

All alone without you, And I don’t know what to do.

All around me people smile, Yet for me it’s been a while.

They seem happy they seem gay, I wish that I could feel the same way.

The pain I carry deep inside, Keeps getting harder for me to hide.

It seeps out from time to time, Without reason without rhyme.

All alone without you, And I don’t know what to do.

People leave and people die, And here I’m left wondering why.

Did I do something wrong?

Did I do something bad?

These are two questions, That make me feel sad.

All alone without you, And I don’t know what to do.

Each day begins, Then comes to an end.

I try to change, And I try to bend.

I still have questions, I’m still not sure.

All I know, Is there is no cure.

All alone without you, And I don’t know what to do.

By midafternoon, I was out of ideas and full of nervous energy that finally sent me out of doors, catching up on yard work I’d neglected all season, raking the small, crunchy leaves from the live oaks into piles a kid would love to play in.

“Need help?”

I ignored the voice and counted to ten, hoping it would go away. Instead, Quince Randolph knelt next to a tall pyramid of leaves I’d erected and took the lid off the big green trash can he’d brought with him. He began scooping up armfuls and piling them in the can.

“You should compost this down. It would make a good mulch for flowerbeds. Plus you need more color in your landscaping.”

“Whatever.” I didn’t know what mulch was, didn’t care enough to ask, and had such a brown thumb that flowers never survived my gardening efforts.

Rand wore a chocolate-brown sweater almost the same color as mine, with jeans in a similar wash.

With our comparable shades of long blond hair, we resembled grown-up Bobbsey Twins, except he was prettier. Freddie and Flossie do New Orleans.

“Are you here for any particular reason?”

He squinted up at me against the soft afternoon sunlight. “I just want to get to know you better.”

Uh- huh. “Tell me what you are, and then we’ll know each other better. I’m betting elf or faery.” I was kind of betting elf— it might explain his interest in me although, thankfully, he’d never shown any inclination to plunder my brain.

He grinned. “Go to dinner with me and I might tell you.”

I noted the return of his peridot earrings. Big liar. Super-big cheater. “Where’s Eugenie? You know, your girlfriend?”

A flash of irritation spoiled his perfect features a half second before he answered. “Working. Can

we—” What ever he planned to ask, my answer would be no, but he didn’t get a chance because a clomping noise reached us from the direction of Prytania Street.

Rand and I both were stricken speechless at the sight of Jean Lafitte sitting like royalty in the back of a gold and white French Quarter tourist carriage. It was being pulled by a light- gray mule wearing a hat festooned with fake flowers and driven by a smiling guy who had no idea how many daggers his undead pirate passenger had hidden on him.

The ornate carriage rolled to a stop, and the mule flicked an ear at the passing traffic. Those animals pulled tourists around the French Quarter all day, and it would take more than an impatient Toyota driver to rattle one of them. The carriages were also ridiculously expensive if one commissioned a ride outside the Quarter.

Then again, Jean Lafitte was loaded. The driver probably had a reason to smile.

Jean exited the carriage with extraordinary grace for such a large man. He was tall, powerfully built, black-haired, cobalt-eyed, a shameless flirt, and talked with a raspy French accent that made me swoon even though he was technically dead. In other words, I had a bit of a problem with Jean Lafitte and my own common sense being present at the same time.

Jean said a few words to the carriage driver, then turned to prop his hands on his hips in a broad pirate-like stance, giving Rand a disapproving visual once-over. The mule backed up a few awkward steps before pulling the carriage into my driveway.

God help me, I hoped Alex didn’t get home in time to see this. I’d never hear the end of it.

“Do you wish me to rid you of this intruder, Jolie?”

Elysian Fields Sentinels of New Orleans Series Book Three Suzanne Johnson Genre: Urban Fantasy Publisher: Tor Books Date of Publication: August 13, 2013 ISBN: 978-0765333193 ASIN: B00CQY7TOI Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository Book Description: The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi. New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans.

Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren't random--an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard.

Namely, DJ. Fighting off an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn't easy. Jake Warin's loup-garou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world's most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ's to-do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power.

Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte's pirate wench? It could be DJ's best option.

About the Author: On Aug. 28, 2005, Suzanne Johnson loaded two dogs, a cat, a friend, and her mom into a car and fled New Orleans in the hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

Four years later, she began weaving her experiences and love for her city into the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, beginning with Royal Street (2012), continuing with River Road (2012), and now with Elysian Fields (August 2013).

She grew up in rural Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years—which means she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.

She can be found online at her website or her daily blog, Preternatura. As Susannah Sandlin, she writes the best-selling Penton Vampire Legacy paranormal romance series and the recent standalone, Storm Force.

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Excerpt How (Not) To Kiss a Toad Excerpt How (Not) To Kiss a Toad Closing the door of the house behind me, I tossed my purse on the couch and threw myself after it. I lay limply for a moment, wondering if I would ever have the energy to move again, then decided to get my — oh, so stylish and oh, so painful — shoes off before I cast off to drama land. If I was going to have a crisis, at least my feet wouldn’t hurt.

My roommate, Jessi, peeked her head around the door of the open freezer, a spoon dangling from her mouth. She looked me up and down, removed the spoon and quipped, “Prince Charming or Toad?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Toad, of course.” I flopped back down, eyeing her spoon. “What do we have?”

She gave me another long look and disappeared back into the freezer. “I think you need Double Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough.”

I grinned. My roomie so got me. “Hand it over.”

She pitched it underhand and the pint came flying towards me, followed by a spoon. I dug into the rich decadence of the ice cream with a hopeful sigh. In my opinion, there were very few things in life that ice cream couldn’t fix.

As the first velvety icy mouthful slid

down my throat, I let out a moan of pleasure, letting all the stress flow off of my shoulders.

SweetDreams Ice Cream had only been available in our grocery store for a few weeks and we were already hooked. It was so good I could even let a bad date roll off my shoulders.

“So...” Jessi flopped down beside me. I squinted at her pint. She was eating Chocolate Cherry Cocoa Bliss. I considered snatching it out of her hands and finishing it for her, but there was nothing wrong with me that ice cream was really going to fix.

“So, nothing,” I said, crossly. “We went to dinner, talked, held hands...”

“Kissed.” Jessi giggled.

I glared at her, then sighed. “Yeah... and ...”

“Toadsville!” Jessi giggled again.

“I’m so glad you think my personal life is so hilarious.” I said dryly.

She waved her hands. “No, no, I’m sorry.

It’s just... Nathan was so a toad. You know it.”

He sure was. A giant, ugly, warty, slimy Colorado River Toad. He was nearly a pound of toxic waste done naturally.

Nasty.

In my limited experience the outside of the toad matched the inside of the man. Apparently I had just kissed a man whose insides were so gruesome that he was even more hide-

ous than the average toad. Much as I hated bringing another toad home, I’d dodged a silver bullet on that one. If there was a perk to my personal hell, it was that I never dated a bad guy for long.

Not that I dated any guy for long.

I tried to remember why I had gone out with him in the first place, trying to ignore the huge ‘desperate’ sign that was blinking on and off like a huge neon sign in my brain. I sighed again. There had to be one good guy out there somewhere, right? One single someone who was not instant toad material.

“This is it,” I growled, licking my spoon clean. The ice cream was really good, insanely good even. “I’m done with men. I’m going to stick to ice cream.”

Jessi snorted. She’d heard it all before.

“I mean it this time,” I insisted. “I’m just going to focus on my work at the bakery and stop looking for a Prince Charming who obviously doesn’t exist.”

Tansy padded into the living room from her room, complete with pink halter top, baggy flowery pajama pants, and pink bunny slippers.

Her light blond hair was gathered up in a rather messy looking ponytail. Her bangs were bound up in pin curls. Her eyes were slightly puffy.

She looked like we had roused her up from a deep sleep. Even then she looked like the epitome of the angel next door. She held out her hand. “Ice me, baby.”

Jessi bounced up from the couch with far too much energy for that time of night. I shook my head as she disappeared back into the freezer. Just watching her exhausted me.

“Let’s see,” she said thoughtfully. “I think White Chocolate Strawberry Fantasy should do the trick.”

Jessi was quickly becoming our ice cream therapist. Not that you could ever go wrong with Tansy and pink. Even her car, an old ‘Bug’, was painted a brilliant rosy shade.

Tansy held out her hand and was soon deep in her pint. “This is so good,” she said,

around a spoonful. She paused, spoon in the air, as she regarded me.

I cringed, knowing what was coming.

“Toad?”

“Ha ha.” I searched in vain for another spoonful of fudgy bliss in my empty pint and sighed. “You guys enjoy my misery way too much.”

“Well, at least you’ll know Prince Charming when he comes around,” Tansy pointed out. “We just have to muddle through like everyone else.”

“We think I’ll know the right guy when he comes around. We don’t know for a fact. It may just be that I’ll be kissing toads until I’m ninety.”

It didn’t seem fair. I wasn’t flat out gorgeous like Jessi or even girl-next-door cute like Tansy, but I wasn’t exactly Hagsville either.

Why I was stuck kissing toads instead of having a normal relationship, I didn’t know.

“I swear,” I muttered, “I am cursed.”

“We know,” my roommates chorused.

They’d heard it all before. Many times.

My purse made a valiant effort to scoot off of the couch and I grabbed it just as it was about to slide out of reach.

“Oh, no you don’t!” I shuddered.

The worst part of living in the dating world of Toadsville was making sure the repulsive things didn’t get themselves killed before they reverted back to their human forms. Nathan was a particularly icky specimen of toadkind.

I never knew how much human consciousness my ‘victims’ kept, but there was no way I was letting this nasty creature near my bedroom, even if I did have to keep an eye on him.

Luckily, or sadly, depending on how you looked at it, I was prepared for situations like this.

I carefully dumped my purse out over what we called the Toad Tank. The Toad Tank was half aquarium/terrarium and half doll

house. My roommates and I had put it together amid shouts of laughter. There may or may not have been ice cream involved.

I am not responsible for my behavior when under the influence of ice cream.

There was a toady swimming pool on one side of the tank, and a comfy flat stone for sleeping.

Artistic Tansy had supplied a small repurposed compact mirror and written ‘Beauty is in the Eye...’ around it.

Jessi had supplied the tank with miniature statuary, mostly featuring images of women kissing frogs. Lots of the women sported red hair, which I supposed meant they were supposed to be me.

I gave my purse another good shake over the tank. Out plopped an immense blob of mucus and slime. The size of an overweight pug, he sat blinking maliciously up at us, his chest puffing up as if he considered himself the pinnacle of male toad beauty.

My roommates, used as they were to me bringing home date refuse, gasped in horror.

“Yeah,” I said flatly.

“Gross.” Tansy whispered.

brulee, I day-dreamed, or maybe a nice summery orange-scented bread pudding. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for my four A.M. alarm and a full day of work.

I was one of those lucky few who truly loved my job. I knew that wasn’t always the case and couldn’t help but feel a little smug about it. Sugar High Bakery had been a job of desperation in my college days, begun with the advent of a ‘Help Wanted’ sign over a tray of late-night studying cookies. I’d figured ‘hey, I like food’ and applied. Very quickly after starting work there it had taken over my entire life.

I had even dropped out of my pre-law program to take classes at a pastry school to the horror of my entire over-achieving scholastic family.

I had found my true calling in being elbows-deep in flour and butter. My bosses, an adorable older-but-not-elderly couple, had given me free rein with creativity after only a year and one highly successful brownie that was still our number one seller. As long as I kept up with their traditional offerings, to please the long-term customers, I could create what I desired.

I seemed to have pastry-scented dreams these days. Wherever I went, dessert inspirations filled my head. Someday I was going to After demolishing another entire pint of own my very own bakery and fill the displays ice cream under the baleful watch of my latest with all of my own creations. Visions of handwarty ward, I decided a long, hot shower was made truffles spiked with chipotle and my spein order. I couldn’t believe I had actually let cial cinnamon honey caramel chews danced in that thing near me. Was I really that desperate? my head. I could almost taste the scent of bak“No more men,” I chanted, starting the ing bread on the air. hot water blasting. “No more dates. No more With a sigh, I pulled my hair up into a kissing. I’m done! No. More. Toads.” wet ponytail and dragged on my work uniform, I kept chanting my new mantra as I a t-shirt and what I called my ‘artistic’ jeans, poured half a bottle of sugar-cookie scented with the random rips, doodles, and patchwork shampoo into my hair and started sudsily flowers that I had painstakingly, and clumsily, scrubbing out my miserable night. Once I start- stitched on myself. ed in on my equally delicious conditioner I fiI knew better than to try to sleep when nally began to relax. this mood struck me. I would end up lying in Images of fabulous desserts danced bed daydreaming about pastry, sugar, and butter through my brain. Banana peanut butter crème until I got up and did something about it.

Ten minutes later I was unlocking the door of the bakery. Moments after that I was sifting flour while my block of butter softened on the counter and beckoned to my imagination. Puff-pastry nuggets nestled in a sticky sauce, ready for the oven. Mandarin-orange cheesecake and cupcakes formed under my hands. Rows of fresh bread slowly began to fill the cases. My own favorite jalapeno cheddar bagels came out of their water bath and into another oven. Flour and spices and magic filled the air.

Weeks into my early employment as a pastry chef, I had discovered that my rather capricious magic had been drawn to the pastrycreating process. Somehow my basic pastry skills and small gift in magic had combined to make me something more, a bit of a pastry genius.

Sometimes I thought that this exercising of my meager magic talent was the only reason my mother didn’t drag me kicking and screaming back to law school or into some ‘better’ profession, more suited to a child of her womb.

Only here, with flour on my hands, did my magic really shine, sometimes quite literally.

My mother was proud of her long legacy of magic. In our quiet community she was considered to be the strongest practitioner in the entire Southwest. Her magic was of the Earth type. She could grow any plant in her extensive gardens. She could even start a small earthquake when truly annoyed (She didn’t ‘get angry.’ That would have suggested she didn’t have mastery of herself, which no one who knew her would ever even insinuate).

She had always blamed the capriciousness of my magic ability on the elusive fatherfigure I had never met. A long series of men had come into my mother’s life, and left, starting with my own father, whom she stayed resolutely silent about.

I had five half-sisters. Only the twins had the same father. Currently Mom was married to

the head of the Western Magic Counsel, which meant she had been calling me with tons of ‘job opportunities’ she felt would be better for me than the bakery. The only thing that helped me keep my patience with her was that she always finished our conversations by asking me to send her a box of my goodies.

It tickled my vanity that even she couldn’t resist my baking.

My magic never worked the same way in two pastries. In some it could intensify flavors, others, well... my lemon meringue pie had a tendency to make people remember the very best day of their lives while they were eating it.

So, as I worked there was always a presence of magic in the air. It shimmered through everything in the bakery, enhancing, changing, and making sure every texture was right. My pie crusts were always perfect and my soufflés never fell. My oven always had exactly the right temperature, and I almost never burned anything.

Not that everything always went smoothly. Even magic couldn’t fix the mess I made when I mistook powdered milk for the flour. In my defense, I had a cold at the time, so the resulting goop was really the fault of a nonfunctioning nose, not my incompetence.

Before I knew it, Jessi arrived at the bakery to open it for the day. She surveyed the display cases and the bread rack behind the counter and shook her head. “Did you pull another all-nighter?”

I nodded. I was still on a magic high from all the creating, but I knew that I was heading for a crash, if I didn’t get a quick nap.

“Make the coffee, will you?” I yawned, heading to the far back of the bakery, where a nice comfy chair was set up just for me.

I was out cold and snoring the second my bum hit the chair. I happily dreamed about making cannoli with lavender honey cream.

When I awoke, the bakery was well into its early morning rush. I helped Jessi dole out

the goodies until she shooed me back to the kitchen.

I made cannoli.

They were a big hit. In no time at all, it seemed, we were sold out and I was measuring out homemade fresh ricotta again.

Jessi stuck her head into the kitchen not long after I sent a new tray up to let me know that our customers were hooked.

“We might have to make cannoli a permanent addition to the menu,” Jessi said.

“Someone wants to give compliments to the chef. Can you come out?”

I was elbows deep in dough for my cinnamon butter rolls, but I dusted a little flour off of my arms and went out to meet my fan. It was kind of exciting to have my presence requested, as if I were a super star of pastry.

I came out of the kitchen, patting flour dust out of my favorite apron. It featured a grinning skeleton with a bow on her head and right now she had a flour beard to rival Santa’s.

I tucked a stray coppery curl back under the bandana I wore over my hair.

Someone was standing near the register.

It had to be my fan. He turned towards me. I reached out a hand to shake his. Our eyes met.

And I slipped.

I thought I had a good thirty seconds of hang time while all of the customers stared with horror before I landed hard on my rear end and slid into the wall with a resounding THUD! My head hit the glass door of the large display fridge where we kept the cheesecakes. I could feel a goose egg rising even as I struggled to my feet.

My cheek bone was already throbbing and, by the tenderness of my face, I knew I was going to end up with black eye.

“Omigosh,” Jessi shrieked so fast that it became one word. “Are you OK?” I knew my face was scarlet. It took all my willpower not to scuttle back to the kitchen to hide. I was absolutely mortified and what

made it worse was that I had a sudden urge to cry. I gulped back the approaching tears and tried to catch hold of my fleeing composure.

“Um,” I managed to say.

“Omigosh,” Jessi said again. “Cindy, this is Timothy Borden, the one who wanted to meet you.”

I put out my hand to shake his before looking up at him, hoping that I didn’t come across too much as a victim of a hit and run with a wall. I glanced up and froze.

He was yummy. I mean yummy as in, I could eat in his face for the rest of my life and not get tired of it… Not in a creepy zombie way, of course.

I was immediately reduced from bumbling idiot to speechless bumbling idiot. He was about six feet tall, nearly a foot taller than me, with dirty-blond hair and the clearest hazel eyes I had ever seen. His eyelashes were beyond ridiculously long, past movie-star and right on to camel-length. The lashes were surprisingly dark around those amazing eyes of his.

He was gorgeous.

And I was staring at him with my mouth open.

“This is our pastry chef,” Jessi nudged me in the ribs so hard I almost fell over... again.

“Um...” I said, brilliantly. “Cindy Eller.

Pleasedtomeetcha.”

His eyebrows rose and I cursed myself for not remembering to add in my middle name. ‘Cindy Rachel Eller’ sounds saner than ‘ Cindy Eller’.

He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry? I thought I heard you say...”

If possible, I blushed harder. If my face got any hotter I was going to spontaneously combust. “Cindy Eller.” I carefully enunciated every single syllable of my detested name. “I have an evil mother.”

He cracked a grin that made him even more gorgeous, if that was even possible. I was

pretty sure I was starting to drool. So much for avoiding that whole zombie thing. “Not an evil step-mother?”

I shook my head, sure I was creating a flour halo around my head. “Nope. I wish I could say she was my stepmother, but she’s really all mine.”

He laughed and I managed to smile back at him, hopefully not looking too frightening.

Wow, he had serious dimples. He must have frequent dimple mileage.

Darn it. I was staring again.

Toads, I reminded myself. Big, bad, slimy, toxic toads.

It didn’t help.

“This cannoli is spectacular,” Timothy Borden was saying, apparently— and hopefully!— oblivious to my inability to rub two brain cells together in his presence.

“Um,” I dazzled him with my stunning charm and wit. “Thanks.”

“What made you think to use crushed pistachios in the cream filling?”

I shook my head, trying to clear it. “I love pistachios with honey,” I managed, only slightly too fast. “I was thinking they would play off each other with that little hint of lavender.”

He smiled. “I think you aced it. In fact, I’ll take the rest of these. I can’t wait to show them off at work.”

Jessi nodded and started packaging the order.

“Would you like anything else?” I asked, hoping I sounded professional and not... like I was desperately asking him to order a serving of me.

He frowned slightly in thought, creating an adorable crooked furrow between his eyebrows.

“Bad girl,” I told myself. “Toads. Think toads.”

“I’ll take the ‘Road to Bliss’,” he decided, pointing at my brownie creation featuring three kinds of chocolate and Macadamia nuts covered in a shell of ganache.

“One piece?” I asked. “A dozen?”

He shook his head in thought. “No. I’ll just take the whole tray.”

I gaped at him yet again as Jessi compiled his order and rang it up. I stood stupidly as he paid with a credit card.

“You’ll be seeing me again,” he said over his shoulder, as he carried his packages out the door.

“Um,” I cleverly retorted.

How (Not) to Kiss a Toad Cindy Eller Book One Elizabeth A Reeves

With toads, cupcakes, romance, magic and ice cream, life never has time to get dull!

About the Author:

Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionaGenre: Con- ble, it is true that books and horses have been temporary consistent themes in her life. Born in MassaFantasy/ chusetts, she was quickly transplanted to ArizoParanormal na by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying "If you can't find a book that you want to read, Number of write a book you want to read." pages: 314 Word Count: In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, 51,638 hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons.

Cover Artist: Angela Nelson www.cindyeller.blogspot.com Amazon Book Description:

issylthesthlia.wix.com/cindy-eller-cupcakes

Cindy Eller is a witch with a gift for creating decadent desserts highlighting the exotic and spicy flavors of her native Southwest. However, life isn't always sweet for this magical baker. All her life she's been cursed-- every man she's ever kissed has turned into a toad.

Love isn't likely to come her way, she knows.

@SelkieHorse

If that weren't a big enough problem, her 'curse' has come to the attention of the Council of Magic and she may never be able to use her powers.

Enter the perfect man-- handsome, sweet, and loves food just as much as Cindy does. It would seem to be a match made in Heaven, or is it?

Cindy isn't the only one keeping secrets.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-AReeves/177376417308

The Dark Side of the Priestess

by Alayna Williams I use Tarot cards a good deal in my writing, to give me ideas about creating characters and develop plot points. Sometimes, I pick cards on purpose that catch my eye, but more often, I deal them out at random. I let my imagination roam over the pictures to generate situations and connections.

One of the cards I used frequently in writing the ORACLE books is the Priestess. The Priestess sits on a throne, surrounded my the moon and shrouded in white robes. The black and white pillars to her right and left hands represent good (mercy) and evil (severity). She's about goddesses, mystery, intuition, and the subtle power of the moon.

left in the dark, guessing at her motives.

Tara Sheridan, estranged from Delphi's Daughters, uses Tarot cards to solve crimes. Her relationship with the Pythia is contentious. She often feels the Pythia's hand in her cases, interfering, moving people around like chess pieces. Whenever Tara draws the Priestess card, I wanted her to see both the light and shadow sides of the card.

Interpreted in the upright position, the Priestess is the card of secret, supernatural power. She represents all the psychic talents Delphi's Daughters: cartomancy, astrology, pyromancy, geomancy...she is mistress of all the hidden arts. Used for light, as In my stories, the Priestess represents represented by the white pillar, they a secret order of women, Delphi's can be a force for immense good in Daughters. They are the descendents the world. The Priestess can reveal of the Oracle of Delphi. The title of secrets by the moon's light and teach Pythia, the leader of the oracles, is magic to the initiated. handed down through generations of women, all oracles with their own But the Priestess can also be a force unique talent for foreseeing the fufor evil, twisted by her own power ture. Delphi’s Daughters are a secret and shadows. Reversed, the Priestess organization, nudging world events represents keeping secrets and abusand gathering information through ing power. She can lean too close to vast networks of helpers. Their bethe black pillar of severity, becoming havior is sometimes sinister, someruthless. She can forget the compastimes pure, but always secretive. No sion of her intuitive teachings, one but the Pythia herself knows how amassing power for its own sake. the puzzle of world events fits together, and her priestesses are often Tara questions these things about

Delphi's Daughters. She sees that they are a force for good, sheltering the weak and seeming to work toward mankind greater good. But she also sees their shadow side...the ruthlessness, the ends justifying the means. She knows the brutal tests that Oracles must endure, has seen the Pythia kill in a cold, calculating fashion.

a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen…

ROGUE ORACLE is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Dark Oracle

Not only will Tara need to fight to solve her current Delphic Oracle #1 case - a spy killer who's selling nuclear secrets on the international black market - but she will also need to Alayna Williams look over her shoulder. The Priestess can be her greatest ally or most devious enemy, putting Tara and those she loves in harm's way, seeking to sacrifice them all in the service of a larger goal.

TARA SHERIDAN HAS A GIFT . . .

AND IT ALMOST ROGUE ORAKILLED HER. CLE Delphic Oracle #2 The more you know about the future, the more there may be to fear.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi’s Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try.

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man’s life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear. She clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspira- knows she has to protect Cassie. But there may be no cy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and way to protect herself—from the enemies circling Tara's increasingly ominous dreams - suggest somearound her, or from the long-buried powers stirring to thing darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings life within. . . . for Harry and her fractured relationships with the mysterious order known as Delphi's Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach

CHAPTER 1 Solstice Once in a lifetime you meet a person who takes your breath away. Not because you want them to, but because they are meant to.

– Author unknown Sofia paused on the marble steps outside her parent’s art gallery. The Manhattan street below bustled with New York activity. People shouted, cabbies leaned on their horns, and a siren wailed in the distance.

The warm October sun beat down on her, yet it couldn’t quell the chill that quivered down her spine. She stood still and waited. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of two casually dressed men. They appeared to be in a heated conversation, but from behind their dark glasses, Sofia knew they watched her every move.

Could she get to the front door of the gallery before they made their move? She climbed a step and stopped. She rifled through her purse and ascended another step. Three more to go.

Powerful arms snaked under hers.

“Sofia Palmalosi?” a blond man with a southern drawl asked.

She didn’t answer.

“Please come with us,” said the dark haired man.

Defiant, she crossed her right leg over her left and dropped to the ground. “Ms. Palmalosi, don’t do this,” whispered an irritated voice. The man on her right tried to lift her without drawing unwanted attention, but she remained seated in her resistance.

“Don’t make a scene. We’re trying to help you.”

Sofia closed her eyes and relaxed her body.

With deep cleansing breaths, she cleared her head and summoned the Lare, the spirits of her ancestors. In her mind, she repeated the incantation.

Dear ancients ones, powerful and wise Many times to you I’ve prayed Please reach down from high in the sky And offer to me your gentle aid.

The wind picked up and cool gusts blew against her face. Her eyes fluttered open. Bits of litter and leaves spun within the vigorous whirlwind that surrounded them. The men on each side of her fought to keep their balance against the unexpected squall. Their free hand flailed in the air as if they were swatting at a swarm of hornets. The Lare wouldn’t hurt them. They were mischievous, not malicious.

Sofia sat patiently as first one, then the other man, let go of her, needing both hands to break their fall as they tumbled to the ground.

From behind, another pair of firm hands gripped under her arms and raised her to her feet. This time her legs straightened and supported her. The wind had calmed.

The Lare had vanished.

“What the hell are you doing?” a new voice demanded.

The arrival of another person wouldn’t cause the Lare to disappear. Unless…

“What Mr. Palmalosi asked us to. Make sure his daughter arrived safely to his office.”

“She’s not a criminal.” The third man steadied her on her feet. His warm breath was on the back of her neck. “Sofia, are you all right?”

She’d had enough. “Why is it—” She whipped around and was stopped short by dazzling,

steel-blue eyes. She cleared her throat and continued. “You know my name, but I don’t have a clue who any of you are?”

“I’ll let your father explain.” Mr. Steel Blue shooed the two men away. “I’ll make sure Ms. Palmalosi gets to where she is going.”

The taller of her two assailants spoke. “Ma’am, we’d like to apologize.”

“You both work for my father?”

The stockier man nodded at Mr. Steel Blue.

“Yes. All three of us do.”

“My parents have never had security quite like you before.”

They mumbled an apology or obscenity and left.

Sofia crossed her arms over her chest and looked to the last man standing for an explanation. Once more, spellbound by his eyes, she took a step back and caught her breath.

She should be doing the bewitching, not him.

He stood a few inches taller than she did. His black hair was longer than most men chose to wear theirs these days. He sported a neatly trimmed beard.

He held the gallery door open for her. “Your parents are waiting for you.”

Intrigued by the handsome man who caused the Lare to vanish, she went inside.

Solstice Debbie Christiana Genre: Paranormal – Romantic suspense Publisher: Black Opal Books Date of Publication: May 4, 2013 Book Description: Time is running out for Armend Zogu. The 250-year old family curse on his head will claim his life on his 30th birthday, the winter solstice.

Sofia Palmalosi is just the Strega who can save him. A descendant of a long line of powerful Italian witches, her family’s magic was a gift from the Goddess Diana.

In order to break the curse, Sofia and Armend must connect two pieces of a violin sonata that Armend’s ancestor composed for his forbidden love.

Together they embark on a journey from New York to Sicily, to the ancient ruins of Diana’s Temple and back to New York all the while fighting a battle of magic and wits with a psychopath who wants them both dead and the curse intact.

If the curse doesn’t kill Armend, breaking it just might. www.debbiechristiana.com www.debbiechristiana.com/blog Twitter: @DebChristiana https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Christiana-Author/152091691536121 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomdebbie_christiana

Looking Good Green: Your Guide to Being Eco-Sexy

By Wenona Napolitano Looking Good Green: Your Guide to Being EcoSexy

By Wenona Napolitano Dress the Part The quickest way to look like a greenie is by dressing the part. Forget about toxic pesticide laden clothes and opt for greener duds. Don’t worry with stores like Wal-Mart offering organic options you don’t have to spend a fortune either. And in case you didn’t know, used clothing is very green. Trade, swap or hit the used clothing stores and opt for vintage goods to look stylishly green.

Organic Personal Care Products What goes on your skin goes in your body. Lotions, shampoos, conditioners, cosmetics…all of your personal care products should be as natural as possible to avoid more exposure to toxic chemicals.

care products per day. For many women you can triple that amount if you include each individual product and cosmetic: lipstick, eyeliner, eye shadow, foundation, concealer, powder, etc. It’s no surprise then that CDC scientists found that two million women of childbearing age may have phthalate levels of up to twenty times greater than the average person. Women of childbearing age use more personal care and health and beauty products than anyone else.

And all of those products can contain massive amounts of toxins thanks to a major loophole in the FDA; cosmetic companies can pretty much put whatever they want in their products with no required testing, no required monitoring of health effects and no required labeling.

Recent studies show that over 200 different chemicals are used in personal care products- with many being known toxins. It is estimated that over 90 percent of all beauty and cosmetic ingredients are derived from petrochemicals and other synthetics. The European Union has banned over 1,100 chemicals from use in personal Toxic chemicals may be lurking in any or all of your care products because they are known to or suspected beauty products. Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hair of causing cancer, reproductive problems and birth despray, hair gel, hair mousse, body lotion, fragrances, fects while the US has currently only banned around 10 nail polish, hand lotion, face powder, foundation, eye ingredients from being used in personal care products. shadow, even in baby products– even those made by popular brand names, have been found to contain In addition to phthalates and parabens here are chemicals that are known carcinogens like phthalates some other possibly dangerous ingredients commonand parabens. Phthalates are industrial chemicals that ly found in cosmetic products that should be avoidhave been proven to cause birth defects. Parabens are ed: hormone disrupting compounds that mimic estrogen and have been linked to breast cancer.  Petrochemicals-these are the byproducts of crude oil and are known or suspected human carcinogens.

The average adult American uses about ten personal They may appear as petrolatum, mineral oil or par-

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affin. They are found in lip balms, lipsticks, perfumes, hair relaxers, shampoos, anti-aging creams, body lotions, foundations and many other cosmetic products.

Mercury-mercury is found in some eye drops, mascaras and ointments. It is suspected of being a human carcinogen and human reproductive toxin.

Phenol carbolic acid-this is found in many lotions and skin creams. Research has linked it to circulatory collapse, paralysis, coma and respiratory failure.

Dioxane-often labeled as 1, 4 Dioxane. This is a petrochemical and synthetic derivative of coconut so may be lurking in any coconut like products.

The chemical was first reported to be a carcinogen in 1965 and later in 1978 by the National Cancer Institute. Dioxane is found in chemical compounds that may be listed as PEG, polysorbates, laureth, and ethoxylated alcohols.

Toluene-this is made from petroleum or coal tar and is commonly found in synthetic fragrances yet is known to be harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), benzoic, and benzyl contain toluene.

Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLS)-this product is found in car washes, degreasers and…90 percent of personal care products. It breaks down the skins moisture barrier and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate and enter the body.

Propylene glycol-used as a moisturizer in cosmetics. It is also a carrier for fragrance. It has been shown to cause dermatitis, skin irritation and may inhibit cell growth.

Acrylamide-has been linked to breast tumors in lab research. It is found in many face and hand lotions and creams.

Nanoparticles-these extremely tiny particles are largely untested and unlabeled in personal care products yet they are capable of being absorbed right into the bloodstream. They can be found in some bronzers, sunscreens, and eye shadows.

Environmental Working Group, over 1/3 of personal care products contain at least one chemical linked to cancer. Check out your products before buying at the cosmeticdatabase.com and see which companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Not Just a Pretty Face by Stacy Malkan is also full of loads of information about cosmetics and the cosmetic industry.

Look for Natural and Organic Personal Care Products Alima Cosmetics, www.alimacosmetics.com, offer 100 percent natural mineral cosmetics Saffron Rouge, www.saffronrouge.com, sells organic face and skin care products Terressentials, www.terressentials.com, make hand crafted certified organic skin, hair and baby care products. They use USDA certified organic food grade ingredients.

Avalon Natural Products, www.avalonnaturalproducts.com, sell organic body care products and cosmetics by Avalon Organics and Un-Petroleum products by Alba Toms of Maine, www.tomsofmaine.com, one of the original all natural personal care product lines commercially available Origins, www.origins.com, is an organic beauty brand which is a division of Estee Lauder they sell cosmetics and bath and body products Trillium Organics, www.trilliumorganics.com, nice selection of natural, organic products JASON, www.jason-natural.com, organic skin care products Garden of Eve, www.garden-of-eve.com, natural and organic Purely Shea, www.purelyshea.com, organic shea butter skin care Mother Nature, www.mothernature.com, carries a wide variety of personal care products from all the big companies-Avalon, Tom’s of Maine, and more plus they sell many other items

Organic and All Natural Cosmetics Paint yourself beautiful with all natural, organHow do you know what is really in your products or if ic, and mineral cosmetics. Beauty doesn’t have your products are safe? Check the labels on your prodto be cruel. ucts or go online to cosmeticdatabase.com. Many chemicals in your personal care and beauty products You need to make sure that what makes you pretty may not even be listed on the label. What is really lurkdoesn’t make you sick. Natural, organic cosmetics ing in your lipstick? Could your body lotion or face made without toxins are the best route to go. cream make you sick? Researchers and experts believe that they can. According to a Skin Deep report by the Lavera Naturkosmetik (http://www.lavera.com) is a

German cosmetics company that comes highly recommended.

NVEY ECO (http://www.econveybeauty.com) is an organic collection of make-up from the Australian cosmetic house NVEY Le Maquillage. NVEY ECO is a luxurious and comprehensive collection of makeup colors suited for all skin types. They are currently the only cosmetic brand to be certified organic by the Organic Food Chain.

Kissable Green Lips Make sure your lips are eco-kissable with all natural organic lip balms, lip glosses, and lip sticks.

and mineral cosmetics.

Crazy Rumors offers several line ups sure to please.

Yummy flavor lines include the ice cream inspired A La Mode Lip Balms in six “indulgent” flavors: Orange Creamsicle, Pistachio, Banana Split, Raspberry Sherbet, Mint Chocolate, and Almond Fudge. Then there are the lip balms for the coffee crazies (like me). The Perk line includes: Amaretto, Coffee Bean, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Mocha and Irish Cream. Then there’s the tea flavors of the Brew line up of lip balms: Plum Apricot, Orange Bergamot, Apple Spice, Peppermint Lemongrass, Ginger Peach, and Spiced Chai.

Crazy Rumors also has a new line of lip colors HibisKiss™ - All Natural & Vegan Gourmet Lip Colors combine the moisturizing goodness of the their lip balms with a hint of all natural mineral color for gorgeous lightly tinted and fully hydrated lips.

Coco Zen offers the very yummy brown sugar and chocolate lip scrub and chocolate lip balms that no self respecting chocolate lover can resist.

Guys and Pin Up Balms offer vintage glamour with new green gals alike can have kissably green lips with the vast ingredients. Perfect for the person that loves a little retamount of all natural and organic lip balms that are ro flair but is all about being green. Pin Up Lip Balms now on the market. Forget petroleum jelly and toxic are made with certified organic, fair trade, unrefined, petroleum by-product cocktails. Smooth your lips natu- and cruelty free ingredients including: avocado oil (an rally. organic UV protectant), beeswax (a natural emollient), apricot kernel oil (good for hydration) and Vitamin E (a You can find Burt’s Bees prodnatural antioxidant) no parabens or ucts in just about any grocery petroleum products in these all natand drugstore these days and ural lip balms. many mainstream brands like Packed in little metal tins featuring Chapstick are adding organic vintage style pin up girls (that the and all natural products to their guys are sure to love) these little lineup. If you are looking for balms are sexy and eco-friendly. something a little different or With over 40 flavors to choose something with a little more from you are sure to find the pergreen cred then check out some fect treat for your lips. of these fun and so very eco lip balms from several online comLead Free Lipstick panies that offer delightful organic lip balms in numerous lip You may have heard about lead smacking flavors that will leave being found in lipsticks, over half your lips soft, smooth, and toof the thirty three brand names tally kissable. tested for lead in September 2007 contained detectable levels. The top amounts of lead Eve Organics has a delightful organic lip balm with a were found in L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” and light mint flavor that will leave your lips soft and “Classic Wine”, in Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor smooth. Eve Organics also offers a full line of organic “Maximum Red”, and in Christian Dior Addict

“Positive Red”.

Natural Hair Removal Many of us are into smooth bare skin and not hairy parts, but removing hair is not the most eco-friendly process. Shaving leaves behind a lot of waste at the landfill- more than 2 billion disposable razors are dumped every year into the landfills. Salon waxes are usually petroleum-based and the process can be more than a little painful. Then there’s hair removal creams.

According to the Environmental Working Group, some Some of the companies and researchers say that the hair removal creams contain suspected carcinogens level of lead found in lipstick is so small it is safe. that when combined with the absorption enhancers also Multiple studies show that no amount of lead exposure in the creams, your body will actually absorb more of is safe. Lead builds up in the body over time. Consider the carcinogens. Then add in all the fragrances that can this: A woman may apply lipstick several times a day, contain hundreds of synthetic chemicals that make almost every day for years. When women eat, drink, many people sick. lick their lips, or kiss someone the lipstick can be inWhile this is one area that doesn’t have as many ecogested. In the June 2002 issue of Glamour magazine it choices there are options. You can remove hair in priwas reported that women inadvertently ingest about 4 vate areas with natural waxes, organic shave creams pounds of lipstick in their lifetime. If every lipstick in- and lotions. gested contained lead I wonder how much lead could Intimate Shaving the Eco Way that could add up to and what the damage could be?

Bikini Kitty’s (www.bikinikitty.com) products are orSome of the companies found to have lead in their lip- ganic, vegan, cruelty free and paraben free which sticks have changed their ways and become lead free makes for a smooth earth-friendly shave. The shave kit while others haven’t changed a thing. contains a body brush to get the blood flowing before your shower, a natural smooth shave gel that works You can opt for unleaded by choosing natural, organic wonders, razor oil to lube up your razor, two single lip sticks. blade disposable razors, and Bikini Kitty’s Everyday Magic Spray to help exfoliate and prevent ingrown Hemp Organics (www.colororganics.com) offer a hairs. The Bikini Kitty kit is the secret to a gloriously wide variety of colors for all natural, hemp lipsticks, smooth shave, no bumps, no redness, and no irritation. lip liners, lip tints and gloss. They are one of the best Bikini Kitty also offers a shave kit just for guys, the for color variety in the all natural lipstick lineup.

Dirty Dog Shave Gear Kit. And for those who wax Hemp Organics Lipsticks use hemp seed oil and natu- Bikini Kitty offers an all natural pre and post wax kit. ral pigments to create their lipsticks with a base that consists of 95% certified organic ingredients with no petro-derived dyes or F, D, & C pigmentation that can Dr. Bronner’s Organic Fair Trade Tea Tree Shavdry and crack your lips. No animal testing and no syn- ing Gel is about as green as you can get for hair rethetic preservatives, the lipsticks are also fragrance moval. The USDA certified formula is completely free free. Hemp Organics Lipsticks are also wheat and glu- of synthetic ingredients and works great, even for sensitive skin. ten free, petroleum free, and soy free.

What is more disturbing than the lead being found in lipsticks? The fact that the companies and the FDA don’t seem to think anything is wrong with it. They claim that the minute levels that are found in cosmetics are safe. Lead is a proven neurotoxin which can cause learning and behavioral problems, reduced fertility and birth defects.

Real Purity (http://realpurity.com) offers personal care, bath and body and pure cosmetics including lip glosses and lipsticks in a decent amount of color choices with lipsticks made from Candelila Wax, Beeswax, Aloe Vera Extract, Sweet Almond Oil, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Kaolin, and Pycnogenol.

Preserve makes razors from recycled plastic containers, the handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and can be recycled when you are finished with them, they have titanium blades that can be replaced, replacement blades come in packs of four, and the Preserve handle can also be used with Personna Acti-Flexx and Gillette Sensor blades.

Southern Witch Series Release Schedule Would-Be Witch (new paperback & e-release): Sept 2013 Southern Witch Anecdote (free e-story): Sept 2013 Barely Bewitched (new paperback & e-release): Dec 2013 Halfway Hexed (new paperback & e-release): Mar 2014 Magical Misfire (electronic release): Apr 2014 Slightly Spellbound (paper and e-release): May 2014

Would-Be Witch Southern Witch Book 1 Kimberly Frost Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Publisher: Berkley (Penguin) Date of Publication: Re-release September 3, 2013 ISBN-10: 0425267555 ISBN-13: 978-0425267554 Number of pages: 320 Amazon BN IndieBound

Back Cover Blurb: In the small town of Duvall, Texas, the only thing that causes more trouble than gossip is magic.

The family magic seems to have skipped over Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets in the way of the supernatural are a few untimely visits from the long-dead, smart-mouthed family ghost Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.

After a few bad experiences with her magic, Tammy turns to the only one who can help: the very rich and highly magical Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers, but the locket isn’t the only thing passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning…to stay away from anyone named Lyons…

About the Southern Witch Series: In this “coming of age in the world of magic” story, urban fantasy meets humorous mystery in small-town Texas. Plucky pastry chef Tammy Jo Trask comes into her spell-casting powers unexpectedly, and malfunctioning magic makes her a reluctant heroine. As her adventures continue, she learns the secrets of her supernatural heritage and embraces her butt-kicking destiny. Gorgeous love interests and an ocelot sidekick add to the charm of this bestselling book series.

About the Author: Kimberly Frost is the national bestselling author of the humorous Southern Witch series, which currently includes Would-Be Witch, Barely Bewitched, and Halfway Hexed. After her first release, Kimberly won the 2010 PEARL Award for best new paranormal author. Her second series featured darker paranormal romantic suspense stories.

These "Etherlin" books launched in November 2011 with the novella, “First Light". It appeared in the multi -author Christmas anthology, Tied With a Bow, reaching the extended New York Times Bestseller List. The subsequent Etherlin novels included All That Bleeds, a featured Barnes & Noble “Must Read Romance”, and All That Falls, a Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence finalist.

Learn more about Kimberly and her books at: http:// frostfiction.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyFrost https://twitter.com/FrostFiction https://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/1958136.Kimberly_Frost http://frostfiction.blogspot.com/

Reviews of Books 1-3 in the Southern Witch series by Kimberly Frost Reviewed by Roxanne Rhoads

Note: these reviews are all from the first releases of the books 2009-2011- I have been in love with this series from the beginning and I am super thrilled that the first three books are being re-released and after that we’re finally going to see this series continue with a novella and two new full length novels.

Be sure to check in with Bewitching Book Tours as we tour the re-releases and all the new releases in this series.

Five Fangs for Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost What is it about authors with the last name Frost totally heating up the page with their out of this world paranormal fiction?

First Jeaniene Frost did it and now Kimberly Frost has completely blown me away with her words.

Would-Be Witch is a fabulous debut novel that hooked me on the very first page. After that I couldn't put the book down. I read it in one night. I just had to know what happened and see what was next. Now I am so bummed because I want more of The Southern Witch Series.

In Would-Be Witch, Tammy Jo Trask comes from a long line of witches. Too bad the magic seems to have fizzled out by the time it got to her. The only spells Tammy Jo seems to be able to whip up are those created with sugar and frosting. As a witch she sucks but as a confectioner she totally rocks...until she gets fired from her job for refusing to cave under the pressure of the town bitch. So now she finds herself totally broke and jobless and hopping from one magical mishap to another. She sure finds herself in a lot of magic related trouble for a woman with no magic powers.

And then men in her life...hell yeah. Sexy but alpha in a kind of-bad-normal-man-bad way- ex-husband Zach (who she is still sleeping with, he didn't get the memo they were divorced or something) is wonderful and terrible at the same time. Overbearing and boorish, completely clueless about some things, yet loyal, sweet and loving at the same time. So he's pretty much your average southern guy (I know because I’m married to one- LOL).

Then there's Bryn...oh give me some of him. Sexy wizard with loads of money, he's smart, sexy, completely debonair and seems to be completely taken with Tammy Jo. Not to mention yummy as hell.

Then you add in the other colorful characters in this book: funny Southern belle best friend Georgia, out of the picture and who-knows-where mother and twin sister aunt, Edie the ghost of Tammy's great great grandmother's twin sister, and then there's the local gay/Asian/psychic hairdresser Johnny Nguyen Ho whose boyfriend is a cross dressing vampire. Wow. And let's not forget Bryn's gift to Tammy Jo, a strange kitty named Mercutio who turns out to be an ocelot. But more than that he's Tammy's best friend and protector who seems to completely understand everything she says and protects her better than anyone else.

Good thing too cause with a pack of crazy werewolves after her Tammy needs all the help she can get while trying to find her family's locket containing the spirit of Edie before October 24th. But she needs to do it without getting killed or causing too much magical mayhem. Yeah, so much for that.

I love Kimberly Frost's world. She has completely captured the Southern Texas charm and wrapped it into a magical world of wizards, witches, ghosts, werewolves, zombies, and cross dressing vampires. And Tammy is so wonderful. Beautiful, clueless, snappy, sassy and obviously bursting at the seams with power she doesn't even realize she has- all wrapped up in a small town southern charm package complete with a sexy drawl bow.

I can't wait to see what kind of trouble this wickedly funny witch gets herself into next.

I've never read anything like Would-Be Witch before. I can't even explain the complete and utter charm this book holds. Frost has captured something truly magical between the pages of this book. Amazing debut novel, a must read for fans of the paranormal. Witty and wickedly sexy you'll be hooked in an instant. Frost has cast a spell you won't be able to resist. A fabulous new series that's being added to my list of must have reads. .

Well done, Kimberly! (Who by the way is a former Michigander turned Texan!) I love your way with words.

5 Fangs for Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost Kimberly Frost can tell a tale like no other. Barely Bewitched is another installment of her Southern Witch series that I devoured in no time. A totally fang-tastic read.

In Barely Bewitched Tammy Jo is still jobless and suffering the consequences of her misfiring magic when the World Association of Magic (WAM) sends a "wand-wielding wizard and a menacing fire warlock" to Duvall to train her for a mandatory challenge that she is supposed to face without the help of Bryn Lyons, who she is again forbidden to be in contact with.

First her family and now WAM, why is everyone so hell bent on keeping Bryn and Tammy Jo apart? Probably because they are a magical match to be reckoned with when they are together. Of course Tammy Jo needs his help now more than ever. She has never followed the rules before why should she start now, after all "rebellion is an old Texas tradition."

Tammy Jo faces struggle after struggle when once again it seems like the whole town is out to get her.

First the wizard and warlock that are supposed to help her seem more like they are not really on her side, even

Aunt Edie the ghost seems to abandon Tammy Jo when she needs her help the most, then Tammy Jo gets cursed and accidentally spills pixie dust on the whole town causing normal sane people to go nuts, to counteract the spell Tammy Jo casts one of her own making things even worse, and to add insult to injury Tammy Jo gets shot and poisoned by an evil little fairy changeling and Bryn has to save her which may lead to his own demise.

The only one who is always on her side is Mercutio, her faithful Ocelot sidekick.

And throughout the whole story Tammy Jo is, as always, torn between her ex-husband Zach the man she has loved her whole life and the man she seems to be destined to be with, the oh so sexy Bryn Lyons. What a tough choice, especially with the character growth that seems to be coming from Zach though Bryn and Tammy Jo have a connection that seems to be written in the stars.

I can't wait to see where this goes because right now I can't even choose which man is the best. Gosh if I was Tammy Jo I'd beg to keep them both. Zach the strong, loyal and ever loving Texas cowboy is such an All American guy, though he has his All American faults as well. Then there's Bryn, rich, sexy, wizard, powerful with a connection to Tammy that neither can explain but he's not running from it. Both men are willing to give their lives for Tammy Jo. The characters are totally engrossing, Tammy Jo is a gem, the guys are just breathtaking, and even the side characters are fun and enjoyable like Rollie the vampire, and Edie the ghost. You never know who is going to play a major roll and which way the plots and subplots are going to go. Full of twists and turns which always spell trouble for poor Tammy Jo. But at least Tammy Jo learns a little more about herself and her magic in this book as does Bryn which also clues us in to why perhaps they are so well connected.

Wow, what a wild joyride of a read! Totally engrossing from the first page to the last. This is a book you will not put down until it's done and even then you are left craving more Tammy Jo. Kimberly Frost has wielded magic by writing this series. I can't even compare it to anything else because it is so new and fresh. I am completely compelled to read this series.

The Southern Witch series became an instant hit with me from the moment I read the first couple pages of the first book, Would Be Witch.

Five Fangs for Halfway Hexed by Kimberly Frost I've said it before and I'll say it again- Kimberly Frost's writing rocks.

The third book in The Southern Witch series is filled with as much drama, intrigue, and adventure as the first two- all twisted together with a little southern sizzle.

I haven't read any other character that can get into as much trouble as Tammy Jo Trask. Within the first couple of chapters she can go through more turmoil than most characters do in an entire book.

Who else could get kidnapped by two totally unrelated groups- in the same day? Yes 2 kidnappings in 1 day and she manages to get away from both of them and report it to the police who of course think she's insane.

Poor Tammy, not only is the World Association of Magic (WAM) got her in their sights but now some of the locals have got it in their small minded heads that Tammy is a witch (which she is) and that she's evil ( of course she's not) and it's up to them to rid the town of her evilness. And they go to some pretty extreme (and very un-Christian like) measures to get rid of her.

Good thing WAM is more on her side than what she thought because they help her out of a jam more than once.

But they probably have their own crazy agenda and selfish reasons for doing so.

Crazy much? Oh I forgot to mention that the leader of the fanatic Bible thumpers is none other than Tammy's arch nemesis Jenna Reitgarten. Of course it is. Who wants to get rid of Tammy more than Jenna?

With the whole town and WAM against her, Tammy Jo is lucky to have Bryn Lyons. Sexy Bryn who she has worked so hard to stay away from because of some premonition her great aunt had about them and why her family should avoid any Lyons at all costs.

I personally think Bryn and Tammy are made for each other- crazy premonitions of visions be damned. They fit. Their magic fits. Above all else he believes in her and gets her.

Which is more than I can say about her good ol boy, southern ex husband Zack who nice as he is- he's not magic and he didn't believe anything about Tammy until the magic stuff smacked him right in the face so hard he couldn't deny it any more. I give him points for trying after that- he even went off to get trained in working with supernatural elements.

Which is why he was delightfully absent in this book.

I say good because the story got to focus on Tammy and Bryn and their relationship. Bryn is everything Tammy Jo needs in a man- sure of himself, no need to belittle her or feel threatened by her, he loves her unconditionally, and he can teach her everything she needs to know- everything her family cut her off from. Plus it helps that he's gorgeous and rich. (Hey, if Tammy Jo doesn't want him I'll take him-just don’t tell my husband I said that.)

I really hope this is not the last Southern Witch novel. If it is I will be pleased with the ending but there are still so many questions to be answered and a lot of what if's that I would really love to see more. I think Tammy Jo, Bryn and the rest of the crazy cast of characters could definitely see more adventures in future books. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I really want more Southern Witch novels.

The fast paced action combined with southern humor all mixed up with magical elements quickly made this one of my favorite series. Tammy Jo is a fantastic heroine who is quirky, kooky and down to earth. You can't help but love her.

I was hooked from the first page of the first book and have not been disappointed yet. Each book is a quick read I refuse to put down before I finish the entire book. (note- I now know this is not to be the end of the series- which is fabulous because there for a while I was afraid there would be no more Tammy Jo stories)

DIY Ideas for Garden and Rustic Weddings

By Wenona Napolitano Looking for crafty wedding ideas?

Well DIY brides here are a few ideas for eco and DIY wedding decorations for a garden or rustic theme outdoor wedding.

A great way to be eco and DIY with a garden or rustic style outdoor wedding is to think outside the wedding box and look to traditional and old fashioned garden decor and even garden tools like wheelbarrows, wagons, watering cans, and buckets.

These can all easily be transformed into quirky wedding decor.

Try these ideas: Have your flower girl carry an old fashioned watering can instead of a basket.

sanding and a fresh coat of paint might be all they need to become something unique and gorgeous for your wedding.

Terra cotta flower pots filled with plants or flowers make great centerpieces- or scale them down to mini pots for growing favors to give to your guests.

If you don’t like the traditional terra cotta colors give them a quick and easy coat of paint to match your wedding colors.

Big garden items like trellises and arbors are always welcome wedding decor and if you purchase one for the wedding- you can reuse it in your newlywed yard and garden.

The same goes for any other garden related item – they can serve double duty by being reused after the wedding in your home or garden.

Start planning early to find a great collection of rustic garden Use old vegetable baskets theme wedding items perfect (like bushel barrels you for both your wedding and your see at the farmer’s margarden. Hit up flea markets, ket-only smaller) or architectural salvage yards, antique stores, and yard and small metal buckets (think old milking pails) as centerpieces for your tables. Fill them with flowers garage sales. You just never know where you’ll find the or the metal buckets with floating candles or float- perfect treasure. ing flower heads. ~Wenona Napolitano is a freelance writer, author and Grab an old wheelbarrow and transform it into a fabu- poet. She writes everything from articles to web conlous place for guests to deposit your gifts. Then you tent. She is the author of The Everything Guide to can just wheel it out- presents and all after the wed- Green Weddings. ding. No wheelbarrow? How about an old wagon.

Old mailboxes make perfect card receptacles. A bit of

Matchpoint The Matchmaker Series, Book Two Elise Sax Genre: Comedic romantic mystery Publisher: Ballantine (Random House) Paperback Pages: 288 ISBN: 978-0-345-53224-4 Book Description: Lovably troublesome Gladie Burger runs into sizzling danger and a fiery love triangle in the second installment of Elise Sax’s hilarious and sexy Matchmaker romance series.

“Elise Sax will make you laugh. Her larger-than-life characters jump off the page and make crazy seem like a fun place to hang out.”— New York Times bestselling author Christie Craig Since joining the family matchmaking business run by her eccentric Grandma Zelda, Gladie is always looking for love. But when an unbearable toothache knocks her out of commission and into the dentist’s chair, she prays only for relief. No such luck. Emerging from an anesthetic haze, Gladie awakes to find that not only is her tooth still throbbing, but her dentist is dead—and the lead suspect in the murder, office receptionist Belinda, just so happens to be Gladie’s first real client. Now it’s up to Gladie to find Belinda a man and keep her from being locked up behind bars.

As if that weren’t enough distraction, two gorgeous men are vying for Gladie’s attention: Spencer, the playboy chief of police, and Holden, Gladie’s secretive, gorgeously muscled neighbor. Still, Gladie’s not complaining about having a helping hand or two when the case leads her to a dangerously bizarre cult. She may have met her match—and if she’s not careful, it could be her last.

Booktrailer: http://youtu.be/HIO1MTit7Ww Amazon Kindle BN BN Nook Booksamillion An Affair to Dismember The Matchmaker Series, Book One Elise Sax Genre: Comedic romantic mystery Publisher: Ballantine (Random House) ISBN: 978-0345532220 Number of pages: 320 Word Count: About 80,000 Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY

Amazon

BN Wal-Mart

BooksAMillion

Book Description: Certain to appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, and Katie MacAlister, Elise Sax’s hilarious series debut introduces matchmaker-in-training Gladie Burger, who stumbles into a dangerous quagmire of murder and red-hot romance.

Three months has been Gladie Burger’s limit when it comes to staying in one place. That’s why Gladie is more than a little skeptical when her eccentric Grandma Zelda recruits her to the family’s matchmaking business in the quaint small town of Cannes, California. What’s more, Gladie is also highly unqualified, having a terrible track record with romance. Still, Zelda is convinced that her granddaughter has “the gift.” But when the going gets tough, Gladie wonders if this gift has a return policy.

When Zelda’s neighbor drops dead in his kitchen, Gladie is swept into his bizarre family’s drama. Despite warnings from the (distractingly gorgeous) chief of police to steer clear of his investigation, Gladie is out to prove that her neighbor’s death was murder. It’s not too long before she’s in way over her head—with the hunky police chief, a dysfunctional family full of possible killers, and yet another mysterious and handsome man, whose attentions she’s unable to ignore. Gladie is clearly being pursued—either by true love or by a murderer. Who will catch her first?

Praise for An Affair to Dismember “Elise Sax’s new Matchmaker series is off to a rousing start! . . . Sax gives the comic mystery genre a new spin. . . . A fun read sure to entertain.”—RT Book Reviews “Fans of laugh-out-loud romantic suspense will enjoy this new author as she joins the ranks of Janet Evanovich, Katie MacAllister, and Jennifer Crusie.”—Booklist About the Author: Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. An Affair to Dismember, the first in the Matchmaker mystery series, is her first novel. http://elisesax.com/ https://twitter.com/TheEliseSax http://www.facebook.com/theelisesax http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elise-sax/ http://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/5766108.Elise_Sax

Witch Weigh Excerpt this road and I don’t have time for your ridiculous de“Hey, lady, anyone ever tell you you’re a real tour.” witch?”

“Guess you should’ve used your broomstick “More times than you can imagine.” Contessa then because there ain’t no way I’m letting your car get Von Hellengaard, Tessa to her few friends and many through here.” He crossed his beefy arms over his enemies alike, eyed the obstinate construction worker chest. who blocked the path of her sleek black Mercedes.

He seemed altogether too amused with his juveShe wondered how this mere mortal would like nile humor for Tessa’s liking. Broomstick indeed. She being turned into a fluffy skunk. Her fingers itched to revved the motor to let him know she meant business. work their magic, but she kept them gripped on the He couldn’t say he hadn’t been warned. steering wheel. She was already in enough trouble with She pushed up her black lace sleeves and pointthe Upper Hallows Witch Council without casting what ed to the orange and white barricade. “Last warning. they would consider another unnecessary spell. If she Remove yourself and that thing from my way.” was detained any longer she’d be late for her meeting He laughed at her. Laughed. At her. with said council. Tessa knew they were already ticked She narrowed her eyes. This sorry excuse for a off enough without her adding another infraction to government employee was not going to make her late their precious list. for her meeting. Removing him from her path, she deShe leaned out the window. “Remove your cided, was a very necessary act indeed. She could overfed self from my way immediately. I need to use make the council members understand. But only if she

got there on time.

With the tip of her red lacquered fingernail she

make out his foul words.

Tessa flicked her finger across her palm with

traced a circle in her palm, silently reciting the spell

one last quick swipe and waited while the barricade

that would get her what she wanted. A small, satisfied

went flying to the side of the road and crashed on a pile

smile tugged at her lips as the man in front of her be-

of rocks.

gan to levitate. She stroked her index finger sideways

She waved farewell to the construction worker

to help direct his ascension. His shocked expression

as she slipped her Mercedes into drive. The fool would

and angry torrent of curse words bothered her not at

be wise to quit struggling or he’d soon have a painful

all. He continued to fuss and kick even after he was

wedgie.

hooked on to the high crane by the back of his overalls.

At over forty feet above the ground she could barely

Silly mortal. He had no reason to panic. Someone would be along to get him down. Eventually.

Witch Weigh Caroline Mickelson Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy Publisher: Bon Accord Press Date of Publication: April 24, 2012 Number of pages: 155 Word Count: 29K Words Amazon Book Description: Tessa Von Hellengaard is a real witch. Magical spells aside, she’s snarky and selfish, and the other witches in her silent spell coven are fed up with her. Their plan to reform Tessa involves taking away her magic, saddling her with one hundred extra pounds, and sending her to a weight loss spa.

For good measure they call in Liam Kennedy, a charming and sexy fairy godfather, to teach her some manners. Desperate to regain her magic and determined to shed the weight, Tessa soon realizes that protecting her heart from Liam will prove to be her greatest challenge.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Love

I would have to say my writing style is ‘adaptable and ever changing’. Each book has a different feel while writing it so everything from plotting to writing is tailored for that story. I could plot the entire thing out or just sit and write as the story comes to me. I could write it from page one to the end or in bits and pieces and then put it together.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I’m currently polishing up a few different stories, after Beta reader feedback. The first book in a new series, The Ancestor’s Enchantment : The Witch Within. Regardless of what I’m writing, I seem to levitate back to witches and curses. It’s one of my favorite places to escape. I’m also finishing up the first book in The Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true Chronicles of Alterealm : The Cross Over Huntress. life experience, someone you know, or events in your I’m very excited with this new series it’s has mages, own life? magicians, witches, demons, other realms … all those things that go bump in the night being real but not as The Magic Seasons does have a bit of reality based ex- expected. perience to it. Prior to writing it, I had spent a few years going to various pagan festivals in province. At Is there anything you find particularly challenging in the time though the idea of writing it hadn’t even been your writing? born inside my head.

Aside from the obvious, self-editing I would have to If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? say the hardest part of writing is when it’s all finished Any details you can share? and you have to take the entire story and describe it in 250 words. Those little description blurbs that attract There are five books in the Magic Seasons series. At readers… like climbing mount Olympus with your this point that’s all I plan to do. In the future though, I hands tied behind your back. To me at least. J do have ideas for a few more books. Unfortunately it’s Do you have any advice for other writers? a long way in the future because I have too many other Just keep writing and reading. I started by writing one pieces that have to be done before I can sink back into story after the other, filing them away when done. At the lives of my favorite group of witches in the series. some point you’re going to hit that one that you just have to share and it will help you get over that dauntWhat books are in your to read pile? ing first step of handing your baby over to someone else.

I have two separate TBR piles, one in paperback and one on my e-reader. The top three from both are: (e) I find the more I read, the better my own writing beSapphire by Bryan Alaspa, Home to Whiskey Creek by comes. You can’t make the perfect sandwich if you Brenda Novak , Descent by C.L Roman (p) MacRieve never eat them. Same goes for writing a book, although

by Kresley Cole, Affliction by Laurell K Hamilton and I suggest reading them and not eating them.

Rise of the Gryphon by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled up- tions coming out soon. Also five novella stories that coming releases or works in progress? were in anthologies are going to be coming out as individual stories in the next several months. This Ring Aside from the ones I mentioned above, I have the in August, Behind the Mask in October and In Our third book in the Hidden Senses series : Inner ReflecDream in December and the other two in 2014.

How I came to write the Magic Seasons series I’d love to say the series was planned and plotted, but in truth it wasn’t. At the time I typed that first letter, I hadn’t even written anything other than the odd poem for about ten years. The actual idea to sit down and write a book started as me trying to get the last word in on a friend.

mal romance turned into something entirely different and the first murder victims were discovered on that damp morning of the Beltane gathering.

*** The characters from The Magic Seasons series I fell in love with each and every one of them. For My close friend and I both worked from home in almost two years while I was writing this series they 2006 when From Beltane Magic was written and at were with me all the time, whether I was working, that time we spent nearly every day together, whether trying to fall asleep or making dinner. I didn’t want online or short road trips, even working together. In to let them go and deep down inside I haven’t, there the fall she decided she was going on a trip to see will be more to the series later, much later. family in the states and was going to be gone more than a month. I was devastated and had no idea what While each character is in all of the series, with news I was going to do with myself while she was away. being added in later on, I tried to focus on a couple in When I asked her that question her reply was ‘write a each book so we could really get to know them. I book’ … so I did. didn’t plot their pasts, I sat down and found their names and general personality and then let them come A month later when she returned I was on the asecond to life and share with me what they were all about. book and the story was just flying onto the pages. My This is why I fell in love with all of them: friend read the first story, and I’m sure she expected a joke in some way and it was my surprised when she In From Beltane Magic: was honestly shocked that I had an actual story, with Leena is so calm and serene at times writing her plot—and a good one at that. The rest they say is his- scenes and just typing her dialogue made me feel a tory. peace, it was quite amazing to experience. Aileena (Leena) is a woman that is gentle in everything, her Where did I get the idea for the plot? At first I didn’t personality and moods. She always feels maternal really have a plot, just ideas and experiences to put with her closest friends and would go out of their way onto paper. The series really started to form when I to look after any one of them. Her ability of controlbegan to figure out the characters. I had just spend ling the elements and knowledge of plants make her two years traveling around to various pagan festivals magic abilities strong and unbreakable. She is a leadand met some rather fantastic people along the way. er at work and in life, always working hard to keep While I didn’t base my characters on any one person I those around her close, but never allowing anyone to met at this time, it clear that each character is a mix of get too close. many from that time. I really wanted to share all the knowledge I had obtained in this time and even Owen is the strong, silent type of male. He reminded though I didn’t have the thrill of seeing some of the me of a giant teddy bear when I was writing his parts. fabulous things my characters can do, the underlying Who doesn’t love a teddy bear? Owen is a man that pagan beliefs are there weaved in the story. reflects humor and cavalier vibrations to others, he is gentle and caring as is his ability to draw negative and Of course I was as shocked when my sweet paranor- heal others. If you didn’t know him, you would never

realize he came from violence. Knowing how the real world can be, he has vowed to never put himself into the position, or allow anyone else that could open up the world he has carefully sealed shut forever

jovial. He hides his strength in body and magic, never letting others know that he is more than the carefree man with everything he needs.

In Autumn Dance:

In The Solstice Heat: Kasey makes me tired just watching her fly across the pages. She also makes me laugh and that’s never a bad thing. Kassandra (Kasey) is a woman that exudes energy and brightness; she is as equally passionate when angry as she is when she’s happy. The energy she carries from life comes through in all her magical workings with spells and stones, giving them great magical strength. She is a dreamer and often wishes she could re-write her own story so that she was charming and sophisticated enough to be with a certain wealthy male lawyer she wants more than anything else.

Cora is so graceful and forgiving there is no way I couldn’t find myself drawn to her. Coralee is a woman that represents grace and simplicity. She has the skill of being able to feel emotion, aura and see beyond the now. The pain sometimes associated with this gift has forced her to live her life from a distance. She decided early in life what she wanted, and returned from her years away at school set to obtain her biggest dream.

Unfortunately she has found the past few years lacking just that as she waits for the man she wants to stop and look at her instead of every female that throws themselves in his path.

Chris has a dark, powerful magnetism that he keeps carefully under wraps. I enjoyed unraveling his secrets and finding out what made him that way. Christopher is a force of strength and experience that is carefully hidden behind the easy mannerism he has adapted so carefully. There is nothing he cannot do where magic is concerned and he has tried all manner of things, whether right or wrong. His fortune has left him wanting for nothing else in life, except the one thing money can’t buy him, the woman he feels too unclean to approach.

Dade despite nothing ever turning out quite like he wanted it to, I loved the way he tried to help everyone.

Dade is a man that follows life simply, yet his charitable personality brings him a wealth of satisfaction.

He is the first to lend a hand, the last to stay and help and the one everyone calls when something goes wrong. Even though his own generous nature fills his life, he still manages to find time enough to get himself into a mess at every turn and spends most of the time imploring forgiveness from the one sexy voodoo witch he can’t seem to ever get close to.

In Harvest Dreams:

In Winter Mist:

Rachel with her careless and recklessness I find myself just a little envious but love her just the same. Rachel is a woman that lives carefree with a buoyant recklessness. She loves being a flirt and has spent many years indulging that side of her personality. Her energy draws other; her character is to protect all those that cannot protect themselves. When she’s not riding on life, she is helping children less fortunate then herself.

Steven, at first I thought he was the comedian in the group, but I was shocked to find out there was so much more under the surface. Steven (Doc) is man that gives more than his energy usually allows. He is a highly respected pediatrician that always goes that extra step to ensure all in his care are receiving his utmost attention. He often sacrifices sleep to spend time with his friends, and he can’t seem to help affably chasing the skirt of the one woman that breaks his easy going charm and makes him forget he’s supposed to be the

Rhonda, I could never survive as she has, her strength and determination amazes me. Rhonda is a woman that becomes a victim to the vicious attack of a killer. Even though she survives, she will have to learn to live with the scars for the rest of her life. In hiding she has to rebuild the strength to get through it. She is forced to spend her days and nights in the company of a detective, that seems to have no other plan in life than to constantly aggravate her and get in her way.

Patrick is the hero in my Magic Seasons world, he came out of nowhere and it took me a long time to find out what makes him tick. Patrick is a man that has lived a rough life undercover in all the wrong places, for too long. His light Irish charm carefully keeps others from seeing the dangerous man that lies inside. He is the first for justice and will go out of his way to keep the innocent safe. He finds himself falling for the

woman that was a victim of a sick and vile person and fear of him and slowly tears away the walls that suris caught between keeping her out of harm’s way and round him. completing the job he needs to finish. She shows no

About the Author: Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker being a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and having a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance —with just a touch of suspense.

Jacqueline lives in Ontario, Canada and avoids the ever changing weather of the region she lives in by creating other worlds to fall into in her stories of all things paranormal.

Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published ten. She is always writing and currently has more than a dozen stories in one stage or another of the writing process.

You can find all of Jacqueline’s books at: www.jacqpaige.webs.com

Top Ten Movies and TV Shows Featuring Witches – April Aasheim Recently, I asked a large sampling of my friends to list their favorite TV shows and movies featuring witches. I collected their data (and added mine in too). See if you agree with the following list: (Note: I realize that many were left out but I could only include ten. I chose the ones that were repeated the most often).

The Top Ten Movies and TV Shows Featuring Witches 10. H.R.Pufnstuf - If you were a kid in the 1970’s you probably remember watching H.R.Pufinstuff (and if you were an adult in the early 1970’s you probably remember tripping out while watching H.R. Pufnstuf).

H.R.Pufnstuf was a live-action puppet show that featured a giant talking cheeseburger with a heart of gold and his arch nemesis, the evil Witchiepoo. A green meanie, Witchiepoo lures innocent Jimmy and his talking flute Freddie to the crazy Living Island in order to get her hands on Jimmy’s instrument (His flute! It’s a family show!). Unfortunately, she is thwarted at every turn. Witchiepoo was the embodiment of the bumbling, broomstick-flying, nasty witches we all learned to fear as children. Although it only ran for 17 episodes it was very popular in its day, freaking out an entire generation of kids.

9. Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - One of Disney’s first, full-length animated classics, this movie features an evil queen who wields dark, magical powers. When the queen learns from her magic mirror that she is in danger of losing her title as ‘the fairest in

the land’ she goes to great lengths to ensure that this doesn’t happen. No one who has ever seen this film will forget the image of the evil queen in the guise of an old woman, handing Snow White a red poisoned apple. For this reason it made my list.

8. Sabrina the Teenaged Witch - Originally a comic book in the 60’s and 70’s, Sabrina was resurrected in the mid 90’s as a television series. The plot was simple, Sabrina, a half-witch living with her two witchy aunts, discovers on her 16th birthday that she too has magical powers. Of course, being new to the world of witchcraft, her spells don’t always turn out like she planned.

Sabrina made my list because she was fun and fashionable and her heart was always in the right place even when her spells were not.

7. Hocus Pocus - This early 90’s flick didn't do well with critics but gained a big following once it was released on VHS and aired on cable channels. The story chronicles three naughty witches, the Sanderson sisters, who are resurrected from the dead and must use their witchcraft to siphon the life force from children in order to stay alive. The film has a dark theme but thanks to Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker, has many fun and zany moments that lend to its charm. Besides, good eventually prevails in the movie, but it’s very entertaining to see how it plays out.

6. Charmed - In the late 90’s and into the mid 2000’s we got to know Piper, Phoebe, Prue (and later Paige) Halliwell, otherwise known as the Charmed Ones.

These gals had some awe-inspiring magic and with help from their Book of Shadows, continued to grow in power. What I loved about the show was that it focused on the three sisters trying to maintain a normal life includ-

ing dating and family dramas while protecting the innocent from things that go bump in the night.

5. Bell, Book and Candle - No witchy list is complete without this 1958 classic. The film focuses on witchy Gillian who falls in love (of course) with a mortal man and, because of this, is in danger of losing her magical powers. I loved this movie because the chemistry between free-spirited Gillian (Kim Novak) and Shep (James Stewart) is as bubbly and delicious as a fine glass of witches brew. Plus, it’s a classic and one of the first witchy movies my mother introduced me to.

You can never go wrong with a classic.

4. Practical Magic - So, confession here. This is probably my all-time favorite witchy movie. BUT, not everyone I queried agreed. The plot follows two sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens, who live with their eccentric witchy aunts on Maria’s Island. The family has been cursed and no man can ever love an Owens woman without dying at a young age. The plot sounds tragic, and at times it, but it’s also sweet, and poignant, and hilarious. And very romantic. Don’t wait for Halloween to watch this movie. It’s great any time of the year.

3. The Harry Potter Series - I originally forgot to include Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter films.

When I think Harry Potter, I think wizards, but as I’ve been thoroughly reprimanded and reminded by all my Hogwarts loving friends, Hermione Granger is a witch, and a powerful one at that. I don’t have to list all the great things about this series. It’s a fantastic, magical world that you can get lost in for hours. The characters are interesting and well-developed, and they

grow up in many ways along their journey. Though Harry is the star of the show our little witch Hermione holds her own with a quick wit and a quick wand.

Plus, she’s super cute and someone we want to root for.

2.The Wizard of Oz - We all know the story: small town girl gets tossed by a tornado into the magical world of Oz. There, she meets Glinda the Good Witch and The Wicked Witch of the West. She also inadvertently knocks off the Wicked Witch of the East in the process. The movie is great in so many ways: amazing song and dances sequences, brilliant use of Technicolor, and unforgettable characters. The real charm of the movie, however, lies in it’s simple storyline: the pure heart of one little girl is more powerful than any magic a witch can do.

1. Bewitched - Every person I asked mentioned the 1960’s sitcom, Bewitched. Samantha Stephens is a lovely young witch who loves her dull husband so much that she is willing to give up her magical powers in order to please him. This includes doing her housework like (egads!) a normal woman.(Ladies, it’s not worth it! The only thing cowing to a man ever got poor Samantha was an even duller doppelganger version of her husband who appeared in the sixth season). Of course, Samantha’s nosy neighbor, her disapproving mother, and her practical joke playing uncle add drama and hilarity to the mix. This is one of the most beloved witchy shows ever made and in 2002 was listed in TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. To this day, whenever I catch an old rerun on TV, I have to revisit Samantha and her zany family. It just feels like home.

The Witches of Dark Root The Daughters of Dark Root Series April Aasheim Genre: Paranormal/Fiction Publisher: Dark Root Press Date of Publication: June, 2013 ISBN-13: 978-0615819327 ISBN-10: 061581932X ASIN: B00D6OUDDG Number of pages: 350 Word Count: approx. 112,000 Cover Artist: April Aasheim

Amazon Book Description: Deep in the forests of Central Oregon is a town called Dark Root, a place shrouded in secrets, mystery, and witchcraft.

But for Maggie Maddock, Dark Root is also a prison, a place where she is forced to spend her days working in her mother’s magick shop, forfeiting any dreams of her own. So when a mysterious stranger suddenly appears and offers to take her away from it all, Maggie jumps at the chance.

Now, seven years later, a strange phone call sends Maggie back to Dark Root and she is unprepared for what awaits her: a dying town, a sick mother, a renewed sibling rivalry, and a past she had hoped to forget.

Part Practical Magic, part Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood, The Witches of Dark Root is a tale that seamlessly weaves the normal with the mystical, the mundane with the fantastic. Zipping in and out of time from Maggie’s childhood as an apprentice witch to current day, where Maggie struggles with her increasing powers, as well as family obligations, The Witches of Dark Root is a book rich in both fantasy and heart which will leave readers believing in magic.

Excerpt: Harvest Home, Dark Root, Oregon October, 1995 “Maggie, wake up.” Merry jostled her sister, rousing her from her nap on the couch.

Maggie sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around. For a moment she forgot that she was in the living room of Harvest Home.

“Already?” Maggie asked, pushing herself onto elbows.

A loud chime coming from the grandfather clock confirmed that that it was midnight, time for the ritual.

Maggie felt the chill from the open door and looked around for her sweater.

“We aren’t supposed to wear anything other than our robes tonight,” Merry cautioned, but helped Maggie into the sweater, anyways.

“Where’s Eve?” Maggie asked. If she was going

to have to wander the woods in the middle of the night for some crazy ritual, then Eve better be up, too. Maggie saw her standing by the door, jumping up and down, not tired at all.

Miss Sasha and six of her friends emerged from the dining room, talking excitedly and exchanging knowing glances.

“You girls ready?” Miss Sasha asked. This was to be their first grown up moon chant and Miss Sasha could hardly contain herself. She noticed the sweater Maggie wore over her long blue robe and frowned but didn’t mention it.

Merry, Maggie, Eve, and Ruth Anne followed their mother and her friends into the night.

It was cold and the sisters shivered as they wound their way along an old dirt road shrouded by trees to a circular clearing, a half-mile away. The girls had played in the clearing many times during the day, but this was the first time they had seen it beneath the light of a full moon. The grass looked dewy and lush as the soft light fell upon each blade, but the trees that surrounded the meadow looked foreboding and ominous, as if their long, twisted boughs were ready to snatch the girls, if given the chance.

“What are we doing here again?” Maggie asked, as they made their way towards the center of the circle. “...And how long do we have to stay out?”

The adults moved to a point in the very center of the clearing and the girls positioned themselves a few dozen feet behind them.

Ruth Anne surveyed the area and sat, crosslegged, on the moist grass. “We are rooting out the evil spirits that are trying to infest Dark Root.” Her voice was as flat and informational as an encyclopedia entry.

She reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a key-chain flashlight and a comic book and started reading.

“How do we do that?” Maggie asked, watching as the elders––five women and two men––linked raised hands towards the sky.

They began singing, a soft melodic chant that Maggie had heard before.

Merry answered, “Every fall, the Council of Seven places a protective spell around our town. It must be done before the second half of the year begins, on November 1st. It keeps out the dark energies and ensures that the circle is strong.”

Maggie hopped on one foot, and then the other, trying to find warmth in the chill of the night. “But why do we have to do it now?” she moaned. “When

it’s so cold?”

Ruth Anne responded, never lifting her eyes from her book. “It’s the witching hour. According to legend, the hours between twelve and three AM are when all things magical, including witches, are at their most powerful.” She turned the page of her book and cracked a smile at one of the drawings. “...It’s too bad we can’t keep out the crazy.”

Maggie widened her eyes. “But if witches are the most powerful now, won’t the bad things be more powerful too?”

“I’m scared,” Eve said, jumping in place as the elders continued their chant. Eve liked magick, but only the lighter arts, and those that yielded her a reward.

Merry took Eve’s hand and kissed it, and Maggie latched onto Merry’s other hand.

“I’m scared, too,” Merry fibbed.

Merry wasn’t afraid of anything.

There was a long silence, followed by the heavy beat of a loud drum. Miss Sasha looked over her shoulder at her daughters, letting them know that it was almost their turn. They had been practicing the spell for weeks now, and Maggie hoped she wouldn’t forget the words.

Ruth Anne set down her comic book and the four girls clasped hands and waded towards the center of the circle.

Miss Sasha nodded and the girls began their incantation.

As the Witching Hour chimes And the whole world sleeps and dreams We join our hands in sisterhood Staving back the darklings The circle stands, its shape eternal Though the darkness is still beckoning Our light will ward back the infernal And shield us from the doomsday reckoning

especially when spoken in numbers––that matters.

When we stand together, no enemy would dare traverse the boundaries of Dark Root.”

Maggie caught a movement to her right. She thought she had seen a dark form take shape and then vanish. And then another. Were they coming or going?

She couldn’t tell.

About the Author: April Aasheim spent her childhood traveling the Southwestern portion of the United States with her fortune- telling mother and her get-rich-quick dreaming stepfather. During that time, April and her family toured with a carnival company, sold bug repellant door to door, and resided in an abandoned miner’s shack in The Superstitious Mountains of Arizona.

When April became a teenager she went to live with her biological father in California. Her father saw April’s need to express herself and encouraged her to write her stories rather than tell them. By learning to write April was able to make sense of her family and the world she lived in. She continues to do that to this day.

April currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She is the mother of two incredible sons and the step-mother to a beautiful little girl. She is the author of numerious short stories, has contributed to several anthologies, and is the author of the well-received novel: The Universe is a Very Big Place.

The Witches of Dark Root is The first in the Daughters of Dark Root series and April looks forward to writing the second book in 2014.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ AprilAasheimWriter

Maggie was still tired and stumbled on a few of the words, completely missing some of them; howevWebsite: http://www.aprilaasheim.com/ er, Merry spoke them as loud and clearly as she recited The Pledge of Allegiance at school. All the while, Eve Blog: http://aprilaasheim.blogspot.com played with her hair and hardly tried at all. For her part, Ruth Anne recited the words without emotion, Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprilAasheim anxious to get back to her comic book.

“Who wrote the spell?” Ruth Anne had asked Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/ their mother earlier that day while they were preparshow/6535145.April_Aasheim ing. “It doesn’t sound right.”

“It doesn’t matter if it sounds right or not,” Miss Sasha had explained. “It’s the power of words––

The Sexy and The Undead Sexy Witches Series Book One Charity Parkerson

Zombies, Angels, and Pixies. Oh my! Don't miss out on the first book in the new "Sexy Witches"series by Bestselling Author Charity Parkerson.

Genre: Paranormal Romance

“This place flipping sucks,” Tam said, using her whiniest voice.

Publisher: Punk and Sissy Publications Date of Publication: May 1, 2013

She didn’t get to visit with her friend, Lena, very often since she lived amongst the humans, and Tam was stuck living in the Hall of the Gods. She was taking full advantage of the rare social call by laying all her problems on the Seer as thick as possible. “I mean, look around,” she added, gearing up for a full rant.

“There’s not one man in this joint I’d be willing to sleep with.”

ISBN: 1484875001 ASIN: B00CLYIMD0 Number of pages: 156 Word Count: 25,769 Cover Artist: Designs by Charity Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/wYF7ZCfUhNo Amazon (US) Amazon (UK) BN ARe Smashwords Book Description: A potion gone wrong, or right?

Short Excerpt:

Lena’s bright pink hair, which stood out in a spike above her head, tilted from side to side as she did as Tam ordered. Her eyes widened, showing her confusion.

“Are you insane?”

Disbelief laced her words. Lifting one beautifully manicured finger, she pointed out a blond angel that was guarding a nearby door. “What about that one?”

Before Tam could answer, Lena added, “or that one?”

Single, unemployed, and in charge of her very own pet Tam didn’t bother glancing in the redhead’s direczombie, Ella Perry is cooking up trouble, and it's rain- tion. She knew without looking that both men wore ing men. matching black kilts and nothing else. Their golden muscular bodies were a common sight in the Heavens.

Ella has spent years searching for a cure for a zombie named Freddie. However, when an experimental con“Bloody freaking hell, Lena. All these guys are coction takes an unexpected turn, she gets a glimpse of three feet taller than me. What am I supposed to do the life she's been missing by hanging out with the un- with them, I ask you? Their,” she made a swirling gesdead. ture with her index finger, searching for the right term.

“Pricks. Yes,” she said with a nod, deciding that she

liked that word. “They are probably the size of my leg. I’d be killed.”

A snort of laughter escaped Lena, but she covered her mouth as if attempting to hold it in. Tam’s nerve endings lit up at the sound. Most people believe that chanting their belief in fairies will cause one to grow strong, but in truth laughter was the key to pixie power. A day with Lena was equivalent to a day at the spa for Tam. Not only was Lena the clumsiest immortal in all the realms, she was also a regular hoot.

bly.

About the Author: Charity Parkerson was born in Tennessee, where she still lives with her husband and two sons. She is the author of several books including fifteen Amazon bestsellers.

Her “Sinners series” was voted one of the top ten best books by an Indie author in 2011- Paranormal Romance Reads Her book “The Danger with Sinners” Feeling encouraged, she grew even more outrawas named “Best Book of 2012” by Paranormal geous. “Take that one, for example.” Tam nodded to- Reads Reviews and was a finalist in the 2012 Australward a dark-haired angel that stood a few inches taller ian Romance Reader’s Awards for Favorite Paranorthan the rest. “Notice that his kilt falls to his shins in- mal Romance. stead of his knees,” she pointed out.

She was named as one of the top three Indie authors Lena nodded. “I did think that was odd, but then of 2012- EbookBuilders She is a member of The Paranormal Romance Guild, is a Goodreads moderator, a again, what isn’t here?” member of Coffee Time Romance, and co-host of The It was Tam’s turn to snort. “Well, his is not a Melissa Craig and Charity Parkerson show. fashion statement. I heard that he tried wearing the standard uniform when he first arrived, but everyone She won author of the week in August of 2011, and is got sick of seeing that huge one-eyed monster slapa five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath. ping his kneecaps every step that he took. Mistress Katrina finally made him wear a longer one.”

Website: http://www.charityparkerson.com Lena openly gawked at the man in question.

Leaning over in her chair, she tried to peek under his pleat before losing her balance and almost landing on her face.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ authorCharityParkerson Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/4506281.Charity_Parkerson

Catching her stare, the man began to inch the plaid upward as if fully prepared to relieve Lena’s cu- Blog: http://charity-thesinners.blogspot.com riosity.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharityParkerson “Thomas!” Tam cried, admonishing the wicked angel.

With a wink in Lena’s direction, he turned away, but Lena didn’t look the least bit ashamed as she attempted to right herself.

“Too bad,” she sighed. “I’ve never seen a kneeslapping monster before. Why don’t you just leave?”

Wasn’t that the million-dollar question? Tam’s wings drooped, mimicking her inner deflation. “I want a normal man,” she confessed to Lena. “An ordinary man who won’t squash my twat,” she added misera-

The Cat’s Meow A Witch’s Brew Book Stacey Kennedy Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance Length: 256 pages Release Date: December 2012 ISBN: 978-1-62266-857-1 Imprint: Entangled Edge Amazon Goodreads

BN

Kobo

iTunes

Book Description: When a magical presence is detected around a recent string of feline slayings, Libby, an enchantress, is determined to discover who is behind the odd deaths. But being a witch gifted by the Goddess won’t protect her from the talented warlock the Coven sends to assist her. Kale weaves a spell more powerful than any she’s ever seen–and he’s sexy as sin. But why he’s even needed for such a simple mission is beyond her.

While having some muscle around can’t hurt her investigation, fighting her growing attraction for Kale is worse than a hex, especially considering she knows he—and their Coven—are hiding something from her. When she turns up clues that point to something far more sinister than slaughtered cats, though, the elusive warlock isn’t the her only concern. She now has a political rebellion on her hands, too. And when the truth about who she really is begins to surface, the only person Libby can trust is herself.

Copyright © STACEY KENNEDY, 2012 All Rights Reserved, Entangled Publishing.

Chapter One Fur. Guts. Blood.

I scrunched my nose as my spaghetti dinner threatened to make an appearance at the sight of the slaughtered black cat on the forest floor. The kitty’s stomach gaped open and its intestines spilled out along the ground, as well as other grossness I’d rather avoid.

Not how I intended to spend my night, or any night for that matter. I turned to my fellow witch, Peyton. “Of all the hobbies to take up, taxidermy isn’t something I’d peg you as interested in.”

Flicking her blond bouncy curls over her shoulders, her baby-blue eyes narrowed on me. “This isn’t a time for jokes, Libby.”

Not as if her wrath had the desired effect; an angry Peyton looked as deadly as a growling puppy. She placed her hands on her tiny waist, pursing her lips. Too bad, I only paid attention to her cute knee-length black babydoll dress, a tad jealous I didn’t own it. “Look at the poor kitty. Its guts are hanging out.”

“Yes, I see that.” Even if I wanted to pretend I didn’t. In fact, I would have preferred to enjoy the dark night surrounded by the rich earthy scents of the large trees hugging the trail. Sadly, that wasn’t an option. Once again, I glanced down at the disgustingness at my feet.

From all viewpoints, this appeared to be an open-and- shut case. “Looks like a wild animal wanted a snack.”

Evil warlocks, I’m there. A dead cat was not a priority. “You better have a good reason for bringing me here.”

“An animal didn’t do this. There’s magic present.” She fiddled with the hem of her incredibly cute dress.

“Besides, it’s the fourth gutted cat in three days.”

I paused at that bit of weirdness. I had dealt with at least a hundred cases in the five years I’d worked for Charleston’s coven, and out of all of those cases, none had ever involved animal murders. Four cats in three days was staggering.

I sighed, beginning to understand my presence there. “Four, really?”

Worry darkened Peyton’s eyes. “Each death the coven has sent me to, there has been this weird magical presence.” She rubbed her arms, shaking her head at the dead cat. “It’s peculiar.”

The leaves beneath the cat’s body were soaked in enough blood that I assumed it had been killed at this location. To my disappointment, even with that knowledge no answers materialized, and actually more questions were raised. “If this is the fourth cat, why is this only coming up now?”

“At first, it didn’t seem malicious and no human deaths resulted from the dead cats.” She shrugged. “Now, with this many felines dead, it could be an animal ritual.”

“Possibly,” I agreed. Charleston’s last case of a warlock tapping into dark magic happened only a week ago, but it got cleaned up quickly enough and the warlock received his death sentence. Compared to that, a few dead cats wouldn’t concern the coven, but then why did it now?

Furthermore, why hadn’t the coven contacted me? Peyton held the ability to sense magic’s presence. I am an Enchantress, a witch gifted to work spells. We both held an important role in the coven, as did every witch and warlock who worked for them. Peyton located the scenes tainted with magic, I found the offenders, other witches assisted with different gifts, and warlocks killed the guilty.

If the coven had been as concerned as Peyton seemed now, I would’ve been brought into this a lot sooner. They would’ve requested I take on the case to search around and see if I discovered a reason behind it. That I knew with total certainty. The coven didn’t take chances on these things. The longer we waited to act on someone who harbored evil, the higher the chance they would succeed.

“The coven clearly wasn’t worried about the past deaths, so what’s happened to change their opinion?”

Peyton nibbled her lip. “They didn’t think much of it before because the level of magic isn’t dangerous. Strong, yes, but not dark.” She continued to rub her arms, shifting uneasily on her feet. “I’ve been watching over the matter to see if things worsened, but the only change has been more deaths.” She tilted her head. “One cat can be shoved aside as maybe someone who practiced their magic. This many deaths can’t be overlooked.”

The coven obviously requested that she see if the levels of magic had increased. Yet, why did Peyton call me and not the coven? An order had never come to me in this manner before and it made me curious. “Who told you to ask me to come here?”

“Glenda.” Peyton grimaced at Fluffy. “There’s a reason behind this. The Goddess is warning me.”

I refused to look at the mangy beast and attempted not to inhale the odor of decomposed flesh beneath me. Instead, I scanned the area. Within the dark night the old trees around me created shadows. The stars above twinkled in the sky and the damp grass below my boots glistened with dew. A typical night for me—I hadn’t seen a sunny day in the five years I’d been employed by the coven.

Danger happened during the witching hours of midnight to three in the morning because magic held the most strength then, so the coven stuck to the night shift. I’d become so accustomed to it I never missed the days I had lounged in the sun anymore.

On a sigh, I continued to ponder the fluff ball at my feet. If magic were present, clearly someone had either spilled its blood as an offering to dark magic, or simply practiced a spell to kill. Either one sucked, at best. Resolved I’d get nowhere in discovering the truth right now, I moved along. “What does the coven expect me to do about this?”

Peyton rolled her eyes, giving her customary flippant look. “Find who’s responsible.”

I snorted. “What am I, a pet detective?”

“Yes, Lib, that’s exactly what you are.” She frowned. “Must you be a smart-ass all the time?”

I grinned. “I must.”

She ignored my dig—as usual—and carried on in a hurried tone. “Stop stalling, conjure a spell, and fix it.”

“You know I can’t—it’s dead.” I glanced at the cat and groaned. Yes, still very dead. “The coven would wring my neck if I brought it back to life.”

The role as Enchantress with the coven came with one rule—never step out of white magic boundaries. Resurrecting a dead cat hit the no-no list. My job within the coven: stop those who went against the coven rules to protect human lives, since the last thing we needed was the human population going out on a witch hunt. The coven existed to keep witches in Charleston safe. That one law ruled my life.

Peyton’s shoulders slumped and her eyes saddened. “Okay, okay. I know we can’t, but it’s so sad, the poor little kitty.”

My best friend at her finest: her soft heart in this cold magical world had never changed over the years. Yet Peyton’s innocence had once been damaged by loss and pain over the death of her mother, and ever since she’d been emotionally fragile. Three years ago, I’d seen her go into a deep depression at the death of a teenager, and it took her a good month to recover. I would give my life to ensure she stayed away from anything that could damage her again.

Especially now, seeing the vulnerability in her eyes, confirming that any death still rattled her. “Who’d do this?”

“Someone after a higher power.”

At the low velvety voice, I glanced over my shoulder, scowling at the approaching warlock. The coven’s muscle came after I found the offenders. I preferred no help, so his presence at my scene awakened my inner bitch.

Not to say I didn’t realize their worth to the coven. I might be brave, but I couldn’t kill, and warlocks held that desire in spades. However, his presence this early in an investigation meant this matter leaned to the serious side. The coven wouldn’t have called him in if something wasn’t up. More to the point, called in a warlock I’d never seen before. Two strikes against my coven on the “what the hell are they doing” meter.

“Go away.” I pushed the bitch to the forefront of my voice and snapped, “I’ll call the coven when I’m done.”

“I’m looking for Libby Jenkins.” The warlock stopped a foot away by a fallen tree, ignoring my demand, and in the same low voice with a slight Southern accent said, “Would that be you?”

I grunted, not at all impressed with the confidence he exuded, either in his voice or his powerful posture. Doubly annoyed, in fact. “I’m Libby. You are?”

As he took a step into the moonlight, the shadows of the night left his face. He appeared relaxed, shoulders back in his black T-shirt, chest out, and chin lifted. Typical I am a fine specimen of man.

His eyes were a shadowy gray and his face was defined by hard angles, from his high cheekbones and sculpted jaw to lips that seemed carved out for a serious smooch. His chocolate- brown hair reached the bottom of his ears, all scruffy and sexy-like, and he filled out his pair of faded blue jeans well enough.

Not like that impressed me either. Warlocks tended to be pretty. Maybe to some I’d be easy on the eyes with my small frame, longish light-brown hair with honey and auburn highlights, and my dark-blue eyes. But it

came from the magic, not a natural gift. Besides, witches aged the same as the humans we lived among. We just tended to do it a little more gracefully, and typically lived to be over a hundred.

The warlock’s focus swept over Peyton as if he took a measure of her before his firm gaze returned to me. “I’m Kale Griffin. The coven requested I join you on this case.”

Great. What serious danger had I landed myself in? “They what?”

Sure, Kale looked nice, but I didn’t want—or need—his help. The idea of being teamed up with a warlock interested me about as much as if someone pulled out my hair strand by strand. Besides, never in all the years I had worked for the coven did they team me up with a warlock, which only made me wonder why they’d done it. I thought back over the past cases I’d worked. Perhaps some cases took longer to solve than others, but why in the hell had they sent me a babysitter now?

With more confidence than I felt, I returned his look of challenge, and had the urge to take my clenched fist and send it into his flat stomach. “Go tell the coven I refuse your help.”

His eyebrow arched, an emotion close to amusement crossing his face. “The choice isn’t yours. I’ve been instructed to take over this investigation.”

My already hot blood took a nosedive. I might abide by the coven’s orders, even if I had no idea what they were up to now, but it didn’t mean I had to like it. This brute needed to get one thing straight. “We are taking over the investigation.”

He smirked. “Is that so?”

Damn the warlock for making the smile look sexy and damn me for noticing it. “Yes, that’s so.” Warlocks could kick some serious ass, and the coven needed them, but they were so haughty and always the ones to grab the glory.

Of course, I might be—scratch that, was—the only witch in Charleston to dislike warlocks, since most swooned over them. Well, the witches did. Non-magical folk lusted after their hot butts, never knowing what they were up against.

After the Salem incident, we magical folk kept our powers to ourselves and hid from the humans for good reason; a repeat in history wasn’t on anyone’s to-do list. Especially not mine.

Inhaling to shed my frustrations, I fought my gag reflex as I drew in the cat’s putrid scent. “Know this, if you get in my way I’ll hex you.” I poked his chest and met taut muscle.

With indifference, Kale watched my finger hit his hard, delicious pectorals. Seeing that my action unsettled me more than him, I withdrew my finger and shoved my hands into the pockets of my skinny jeans. His head slowly lifted, and when his eyes settled on me, they had darkened. “Warning noted.”

The weight of his smooth voice melted across me like a warm bath. I bit my lip and refocused my thoughts to my angry position. “Good.” My voice sounded harsh, pleasing me since on the inside I’d become gooey. “As long as we understand each other we won’t have a problem.”

Peyton stifled a laugh by coughing. No doubt she’d taken notice of Kale’s attributes too. “I guess I should be… uh… going home to Jace. Call me…ah…” Her eyes twinkled as she fought her smile and turned. “Just call me later, Lib.” I snorted softly, only imagining what she’d go home and tell her boyfriend, Jace, about this moment. I could do without him having the knowledge that I tried to dominate a warlock and failed miserably, even if Jace was the only warlock in existence I tolerated. “Let me know if the coven contacts you again,” I called after her.

“Will do.” She waved a good-bye, striding down the trail, and her laughter followed her out of the forest.

I watched Peyton until she faded into the shadows before I finally looked at Kale. He regarded me with such a probing look it became all the more irritating. “Before we start, I need to give the cat a proper burial. Which I’m sure you won’t understand since you’re a big ol’ bad warlock.”

His gray eyes sharpened, voice equally so. “You appear to have misconceived notions about warlocks.”

“Sure I do,” I muttered, grabbing the cat by the tail and ignoring the guts flapping in the wind. Without a glance back, I headed out of the forest.

The trees passed by in a blur as I hightailed it out of there. The sooner I got to my SUV, the sooner I could stop pretending I wasn’t holding a dead cat. Thoughts of Kale’s arrival worried me and I didn’t like it. Had the coven hired a new warlock without my hearing of it? While that wouldn’t surprise me, since I tended to stay away from the coven unless I had to be there, it did shock me they didn’t throw a welcoming party for him. Moreover, why would they send a new warlock to me, and not one experienced in Charleston?

If the matter were serious, which I suspected it was if he was there, then why were they taking chances? It didn’t add up. This, I’d get to the bottom of. For now, I focused on getting rid of the stinky cat.

Kale followed behind me for only a moment before he easily caught up with his lengthy strides. When he settled in next to me, he slowed down since my five-foot-five frame couldn’t match his six-foot-three, and he stayed silent.

Fine by me.

At the edge of the forest, I spotted my black Benz parked on the grass near the entrance. My SUV wasn’t anything sporty like I’d prefer, but my M-Class sport utility vehicle made sense. The SUV was safe, big, and powerful. All good things to have in my line of work. Besides, it also had a big-ass hatchback to put things like dead cats in.

I grabbed the keys from my pocket and clicked the button to open the back. Scanning the area, a missing object grated my last nerve. I glanced sideways at Kale. “You didn’t drive here?”

He shook his head.

Terrific! The bitch of it, he had to come with me. “How’d you get here, then?”

“Walked.”

The silence continued.

Once at my SUV, I reached into the side compartment of my hatchback and drew out a garbage bag.

“I’ve got that.” Kale stepped next to me and took the bag, holding it open while I dumped the cat in. The kitty plopped into the bag and Kale tied the red string to close it, then he threw the bag into the back. It landed with a heavy thud.

I glared at him, even if his helping me came as a shock since no warlock had ever offered to help me before.

“Couldn’t you have been a bit gentler?”

“It’s dead.” His eyebrow lifted. “I doubt it noticed.”

A sassy retort hung on my tongue, but I ignored my impulse to rise to the bait. “Warlocks.”

I left said warlock behind, making my way over to the driver’s side of my SUV while Kale got into the passenger seat. Careful not to touch anything with my dirty hands, I settled into my leather seat and grabbed my hand sanitizer from the cup holder, drenching my hands with it.

I could only imagine what I would have seen on the cat’s tail if I had looked hard enough, but I shoved the images of maggots from my mind to settle my woozy stomach. I dropped the sanitizer in the holder, then I started the SUV and headed off in a hurry.

On the outskirts of town, leading back into Charleston, the streets were relatively quiet. For the most part, if any people were out and about they would be downtown to enjoy Charleston’s nightlife. Most around here, including warlocks and witches, lived a relatively normal life. Sadly, I wasn’t among them, and my “normal” involved a hunt for evil before it became danger.

In my hopes of keeping conversation to a minimum, I cranked the radio station, drumming my fingers on my thigh to the alternative song blasting through the speakers.

Kale didn’t appear to have the same wish. “Do you plan to tell me where we’re going?” I turned the music down and he continued, “With a gutted cat, no less.”

Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I noticed how his body filled my seat quite nicely. Too bad warlocks were men I avoided—I found getting with a warlock always led to disaster—because this warlock would be one to have some fun with.

While his looks might tempt me, the decision came years ago when I’d had enough of their egos, their need to be the tough guy, and their tendency to have their own agenda. My last attempt to respect warlocks ended at the age of twenty when one broke my heart. Since then, the only warlock I could stand was Peyton’s boyfriend, and even he walked a fine line of always needing to prove himself to me.

Lately, I’d stuck to the non-magical man, but those relationships hadn’t led to anything serious, nor did they belong on my fantastic memories list. Where warlocks had too much stuff, non-magical folk didn’t have enough. Needless to say, it’d been months since I heard the word date and my regions south had declared death a while ago.

I cleared my mind of unimportant things and set to answering him. “We’re going to Magnolia Cemetery.”

“I see.” He turned in his seat and set his hard stare onto me. “You’re an Enchantress?”

The rich nature of his voice made funny things awaken in my dead regions. Perhaps my libido wanted to be reincarnated. I quashed the thought with a fierce no. “Mm-hmm.” Two could play at the game he presented—if he wanted to assign labels, so could I. “You’re a Ward?”

“Correct.”

Not like I needed the confirmation. Any warlock who worked for the coven received the title. “What’s your talent?”

“Runes.”

I jerked my head to look at him and the car swerved before I straightened the wheel. “You draw runes?”

A hint of a smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “You look surprised.”

“I am,” I admitted with no shame. “I haven’t met a Ward who holds the talent of rune magic.” Glancing back at the road to avoid a crash, I shrugged to downplay my awe. “At least, not any from Charleston.”

“We are few and far between,” he replied, cool and collected.

My breath seemed lost in the state between shock and bewilderment. He appeared to hold back on the interesting talent. Intriguing, considering most warlocks I’d met would gush at the opportunity to prove their abilities over mine. My curiosity about the warlock next to me rose, especially since I needed to discover the reason he’d been assigned to the case. “How long have you lived in Charleston?”

“Not long.”

Oh, this made no sense at all. We had our own Wards, who were talented in their own right, so we didn’t need Kale. I waited two breaths for him to answer, but he didn’t oblige me. “Where are you from?”

“Down south.”

I blinked at his indifferent voice, keeping the wheel tight in my hands to ensure the SUV went straight, but looked at him. “Do you plan on telling me anything about you?”

“I just did.” He gave a halfhearted shrug. “I’m a Ward, who draws runes, and I live down south.”

I snorted loud enough to ensure he heard it. Elusive might be an understatement when it came to Kale Griffin. I almost laughed at the situation; I wanted warlocks to shut the hell up, and now one did and I’d rather he talked.

Figures!

I had to wonder if he did it to get a rise out of me, since warlocks tended to do that, too, which is why I bit back the rest of my questions. He might want to play that game, but by the Goddess I wouldn’t feed into it. I slammed the accelerator down, ignoring the sexy warlock next to me. We had bigger problems.

The dead cat stinkin’ up my SUV reminded me of that.

About the Author: Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happilyever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

Website - http://www.staceykennedy.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/ StaceyKennedyFanPage Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy

Remember This Kenya Carlton Genre: African American Romance Book Description: Ex-ballerina turned rehab designer Cece Newman competes in a reality show that could give her fledgling company the boost that it needs. Assigned a relic of a house in a renovation challenge, Cece soon becomes suspicious of the producer’s intentions. When she finds the house is one of many properties her ex-fiancé and baby daddy Brock Thorn owns, Cece is convinced that she is being set up for failure. Ready to drop the project and what’s left of her career, Cece has to find a way to ignore the handsome athlete while she navigates around his kooky family. Cece must also convince their daughter that mommy and daddy won’t be getting back together again, a job easier said than done—especially when the attraction between the two is hotter than ever.

years later, Brock is more determined than ever to get answers from his baby’s momma. Even in regards to joint custody of their daughter, Brock’s only form of contact with Cece is through her loving, protective sister Lily. Brock packs up his high profile life and digs his heels in at the crappy house he’s inherited—the very one Cece is set to renovate. As he dodges cameras and uninvited family members, Brock must get to the bottom of his failed romance with Cece—especially if he has any chance of getting back the life that was lost when Cece left.

About the Author: Native of Chicago Illinois, Kenya worked in the Network operation Center for PBS and TLN television stations. Executive producer of her own production company Black R.O.K Productions Kenya produced a pilot for travel series Destination Everywhere, Independent short film Dawn shown at the Chicago Latino film Festival, and wrote and directed the documentary Our Africa. Writing titles available; Jaded, Sweet as Sin, Brazil re-issue, Devil’s Play, and Remember This.

Kcbookcafe.com

Twitter @kcbookcafe The biggest hit Brock Thorn took on or off the field occurred when Cece Newman left him at the altar. Five

The Guardian’s Witch Ruth A. Casie Genre: Historical Fantasy Publisher: Carina Press Date of Publication: July 1, 2013 ISBN: 978142689577 ASIN: B00CC68G88 Number of pages: 360 pages Word Count: 71,000 Cover Artist: Angela Waters - Millennium Promotions, Inc Amazon BN Book Description: England, 1290 Lord Alex Stelton can’t resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it’s his. Desperate for land of his own, he’ll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.

Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she’d never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.

Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can’t get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they’ll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.

Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/19jej7y

Excerpt- Chapter One Northumberland, England, 1290 “You won the wager with His Majesty,” said Lord Bryce Mitchell astride his Arabian. He cantered down the forest trail with Alex Stelton, the newly minted Lord of Glen Kirk Castle.

“The entire court placed odds on whether I would succeed.” The two men slowed their horses to a walk.

Alex glanced at Bryce. “Did you lose much?” He refocused his attention on the trail ahead. “You should have put your coin on me. I only wager when I’m certain of the results.”

“After one year of holding the old stones against the Scots, he actually gifted the castle and his ward to you.” Bryce shook his head.

The ring of surprise in Bryce’s voice and evident disbelief on his face amused Alex. “His Majesty is a man of his word. Did you have any doubt?” asked Alex, his head cocked to the side with one eyebrow raised.

His face split into a wide grin.

“About the king being a man of his word or of you holding off the Scots?” Bryce colored his smooth retort with a smirk.

The two friends looked at each other, exploded into laughter, and continued on until they reached the crossroads where they brought their horses to a halt. The tower of Glen Kirk Castle, bathed in the setting sun, peeked through the trees still some three miles to the north. Alex surveyed his new holding. His chest swelled with pride. Mine.

“Though Edward did make you pay.”

Alex was peeved by Bryce’s patronizing tone. He masked his emotions until they were as unreadable as stone.

“Yes, you could say that.” Alex tried his best dismissive tone. Best he forget the king’s retribution for now. There would be time enough to deal with it later.

“Could? Surely you knew if he lost the wager he would find some way to make you pay. He doesn’t lose gracefully at anything, but to actually marry you to his ward by proxy. I can still see the apoplectic look on your face.”

“Yes, Bryce— what about the look on my face?” demanded Alex. His voice sounded strident even to him.

Bryce turned all shades of purple trying to conceal his mirth but he said not one word more. Instead he diverted his attention and polished the gold clasp, embossed with the Mitchell coat of arms, on his cloak.

Alex bristled at being the center of anyone’s jest. He didn’t take it well from his brothers, although the six of them only teased to vex him. Even though he was the youngest, his brothers deferred to him. They knew his worth and, it appeared, so did the king.

His teeth clenched at the thought of his proxy wedding and his humiliation. He knew he had to take a wife. He had to make his own way in the world. The Stelton holdings were extensive but not enough to provide him with an income. He’d have done anything to prove himself worthy of a holding of his own. Maybe even marry. Perhaps even Lisbeth. He never thought he would marry on the whim of the king. He had tried to argue, but there was no arguing with Edward. Faith, the king all but patted him on his head and sent him off like a new page. A page. He raked his hand through his hair.

With a nod of his head, Bryce motioned toward Glen Kirk in the distance. “Marrying Lisbeth does secure your claim to Glen Kirk.”

Lisbeth. He had lived at Glen Kirk for a year and hardly saw her. The only way he knew she was near was the little charms she left or the serenity that surrounded them. She kept herself in the forsaken hunting lodge and managed to elude him at almost every turn.

On odd twinge of disappointment hung round him. She hadn’t been like that years ago when they encountered each other at court. She had laughed and didn’t have a care in the world. Four years later he wouldn’t have known it was her if she hadn’t presented herself at the castle. The impish girl had grown into a poised beauty. Dark hair fell in long waves down her back. Her slender body was punctuated with soft curves that couldn’t remain hidden by the black mourning gown. Large green eyes stared at him from under a fan of long

dark lashes. Even with her dour expression her full lips tempted him. He moved uncomfortably in his saddle.

How things change. How people change.

“You do know you’re the envy of everyone. Not because the king gave you Wesley’s treasured Glen Kirk or daughter.” Bryce turned serious. “You inherited Wesley’s brewer and ale recipe. That should give you some compensation. I understand it’s a long-held family secret. Wesley was all about family.”

Family. He let his mind wonder. It landed on memories of his early days at court with his parents and siblings. He enjoyed the candor and tumult around the table in their assigned apartment. How he would appreciate that safety and security today in the midst of a court filled with politics and intrigue.

“I intend to leverage our close friendship,” said Bryce, “I’ll sample each batch and make certain it retains its high standards.”

Alex grinned at his friend’s declaration. Lord Wesley and Lady Darla Reynolds had been close friends of his parents. They didn’t bring their daughters to court often but Richard, their son, was always with them and became close to the tight-knit band of Stelton boys. Richard’s death on the Welsh battlefields had been a shock to them all. He and Wesley had spent a good deal of time together consoling each other over a good many tankards of ale.

It was only a short time after Alex left for the Welsh Wars himself that he heard of Wesley and Darla’s fatal accident. He felt their loss deeply. Now in a twist of fate their beloved Glen Kirk and daughter were his.

“Have you sent word to her?” Bryce’s question hung heavy in the air.

Alex broke away from his musings. “No, I will tell her when the time comes.”

About the Author: Ruth A. Casie is a seasoned professional with over twenty-five years of writing experience but not necessarily writing romances. No, she’s been writing communication and marketing documents for a large corporation. Over the past years, encouraged by her friends and family, she gave way to her inner muse, let her creative juices flow, and began writing a series of historical fantasies. She lives in Teaneck, New Jersey, with her husband. They have three grown children and two grand-children.

Discover strong men and empowered women as they face unexpected challenges. Watch their stories unfold as they encounter magic, danger, and passion. Join them as they race across the pages to places where love and time know no bounds. Ruth hopes they become your favorite adventures.

Website: www.ruthacasie.com Personal Blog: www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/RuthACasie FB Author Page: www.facebook.com/RuthACasie Amazon Author Page LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ruth-seitelman/6/6b7/964 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ruthacasie/ GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002658357/Ruth-ACasie/

My Favorite Witches from Television and Movies Roxanne Rhoads I have always loved watching shows and movies with supernatural themes.

I grew up watching The Munsters, The Addams Family, Bewitched and Scooby Doo. Many of my favorite shows and movies have featured witches.

Here are my favorites: Samantha from Bewitched Samantha gets top billing because as far back as I can remember she was my first witch. I adored this show and always thought Darrin was an idiot. He should have appreciated Samantha’s magic.

Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer Willow gets the next spot because Buffy remains in my top ten favorite TV shows of all time.

And because nerd girls rule. Willow rocked- even when she went all dark and destructive- or perhaps because she did go all dark and destructive. I loved that her power grew over time, I appreciated that the show spotlighted addiction and coming to terms with it even if it was about magic and not drugs. I also like that they had Willow learn how to control her powers and deal with her addiction.

Hermione Granger from Harry Potter Hermione earns this spot because she rose to the top despite the odds being stacked against her. Plus I have to admire her know it all attitude. Once again nerd girls rule.

Sabrina the Teenaged Witch This show has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my younger years. It was not particularly fabulous but it was cute and didn’t require much brain power to enjoy. It was fun and sometimes that’s all we need.

Alexandra Medford, Jane Spofford, Sukie Ridgemont from Witches of Eastwick If you’ve watched this, I don’t even need to explain. If you have not watched it, run to the video store now and grab a copy. These three witches are amazing- just don’t cross them.

Roxie, Joanna and Kat from the short lived tv show -Eastwick This tv show was loosely based on the movie and the original novel. I loved this show and thought it was fabulous- funny, sexy and definitely for adults. I’m not sure if it was the wrong time slot, wrong channel, bad timing or what but it sadly didn’t last.

The Craft Robin Tunney’s character in The Craft was great. She was the new girl and had a history. So that immediateSally and Gillian Owens from Practical Magic ly made her the underdog. Then she gets involved with Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies of all some crazy bitch witches that just want her power and time. I have watched it over and over and over. There’s when they don’t need her they turn on her. And she has so much to love- sister bonding, the aunts, and the love to overcome her history and revel in her real magical story - “I wished for you”. abilities.

Bonnie Bennett from the Vampire Diaries Good, bad, powerful…Bonnie. Just like any teenager she has to figure out who she is and what she can do.

She just has the added struggle of magic- going dark, being in control…she earns this spot for all that and the fact the Vampire Diaries is on my must watch list of TV shows.

The Halliwell sisters from Charmed Again, sisters, witches, magic- and all the drama that brings. What a fabulous show this was. I plan on revisiting it one day via Netflix. Maybe I’ll get to see all the episodes I missed.

Obsession Excerpt Running clothes on at last, Angie flew out a side door into the pool area and smack into that damn man, Alejandro. Half-naked. Despite her verbal jabs about flab, his six-pack abs and sexy scar made her fingers itch to touch his skin. He wore a tiny, tight Speedo that left absolutely nothing—nothing—to the imagination.

Had he no sense of modesty? Were there no laws about indecent exposure or just plain lewdness in this freaking country? Or unconcealed weapons of Miss and Mrs. Destruction? The man was, without a doubt, a humongous danger to anyone with a vagina.

ing breasts. She folded her arms over her chest and glared at him. “You have my full attention.” She struggled to keep her eyes on his face and not below the belt.

She pretended he had a giant python in his pants.

That helped. Sort of.

“Look, I didn’t mean to upset you before. I had your best interests in mind. If your father’s cult is in the mountains or valleys of the Sierra Madre, we’re going to be traveling over rocky terrain, some of it at high altitudes and steep grades.”

At last she tore her gaze away from the man’s groin and “And?” This was not news to her. up to his smirking face. She hadn’t even worked up a sweat, and she was already breathing hard. “Goats have no problem making their way around What the hell was wrong with her? Did she have altithere. Well, goats and the Tarahumara.” tude sickness?

“Pardon me?” What the hell was he saying?

“Are you following me?”

“Indigenous people, here way before the Spanish ar“No.” He frowned and gave her a slow once over. rived. Subsistence farmers, goat and sheep herders, tire“Are you following me?” less runners. As in they can run thirty to fifty miles a day without breaking a sweat.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She tossed her head, and her ponytail smacked her in the face. For God’s sake, even her “Cut to the chase. What does this have to do with me?” hair was attacking her now. She grabbed her eye.

“You’re not a goat. Or a native of the area. I’m worried He touched her wrist. “Need first aid?” about your stamina. The days are hot, the nights cold and windy. It’s a desert in areas, wooded in “No.” She swatted him away. “I need you to leave me others, and generally uninhabited except for a few thoualone.” She turned to get away from him, from his sand hardy Indians, Mexicans, mixed bloods, and Mensmarmy good looks, and his teeny-weenie swimsuit. nonites.”

“Hey.” She turned. “What is it? I really need to get some exercise.” She jogged in place, then stopped when she saw his eyes moving up and down in sync with her bounc-

“Skip the travelogue. Here’s what I hear you saying.

You think I’m going to slow you down and be a burden.

Is that right?”

He had the grace to look sheepish.

“I grew up on a chicken farm. I also do roosters and “Okay, Mr. Hot Shit. Put on some clothes.” Please lawnmowers, but that’s only when I’ve been put on some freaking clothes and cover up that drinking, and I don’t do that anymore. Aw. C’mon, snake. “And your running shoes. I challenge you to a let’s go for a little race.” race.”

He tossed her a puzzled look. “Give me five minutes.

He put his hand up. “That’s really not necessary.”

I’m going to whip your ass.”

“I insist. And, how about a little friendly wager to make it fun?”

In her dreams. She enjoyed the view of his nice tight buns as he walked into the changing room. Her feet itched to take her in the same direction. Stop, woman.

“Sure.” He grinned. “What’s the prize?”

A two-year dry spell didn’t give her permission to hop into a bathhouse with the first cabana boy she “Loser gets to ask Isabel where we can find Raul’s met. She ordered herself to do some stretching exerbody parts.” cises. Mid-lunge, Alejandro appeared. In khaki shorts, a white T-shirt and sneakers, he still looked His face fell. “That’s not a good idea.” too freaking hot. The shorts did a terrible job of hiding his pet python. She swore the damn thing looked “What are you? Chicken?” She flapped her arms and larger released from its Speedo captivity. clucked.

She cleared her throat and licked her dry lips. “You He laughed. “No, I’m more of a rooster. But that was know the area, you go ahead of me.” A reasonable an impressive imitation.” suggestion. Plus, she’d get to see that nice tight ass in motion.

Obsession Sharon Buchbinder Book Description: A year after a barbaric childbirth, complete with a neardeath experience and an encounter with her guardian angel, Angie Edmonds is just happy she and her son, Jake, are alive.

She's finally in a good place: clean, sober, and employed as a defense attorney.

But at the end of a long work day, she finds herself in a parent's worst nightmare: Jake has been kidnapped and taken across the Mexican border by a cult leader who believes the child is the "Chosen One."Stymied by the US and Mexican legal systems, Angie is forced to ask the head of a Mexican crime syndicate for help.

Much to her chagrin, she must work with Alejandro Torres, a dangerously attractive criminal and the drug lord's right-hand man.

Little does she know Alejandro is an undercover federal agent .

I’ll Be Damned Excerpt It happens practically every night. My pleasant dreams take on a life of their own, morphing into terrifying nightmares. They are the tsunamis of the dream ocean, spinning me in their churning tides before thrusting me awake, whereupon I find myself drenched in a pool of sweat, and gasping for air. Abandoning my worry isn’t an option since a demonic element is the driving force behind them. It sounds crazy, but even as a child, a special darkness visited me in my dreams. Is it a warning? Or a threat? Your guess is as good as mine.

They always began the exact same way - I'm being hurled into a pitch-black hole of nothingness. I open my sleepy eyes, allowing them time to adjust. Isolation surrounds me, reminding me how unprepared I am for this place. A dim, orange light cuts through the dark abyss like a blade. I squint, realizing it’s much further than it appears. I attempt to move my feet, but they stubbornly refuse. I try a second time, and manage to overcome the terror that is binding them. One step becomes two and I find myself walking at a cautious pace, listening for the faintest sound. I haven’t the slightest idea where I am, which makes me suspicious of everything.

My nose wrinkles as I walk through a large pocket of air that reeks with an overpowering odor of burnt hair. I swing and wave my hands, hoping to break up the stench, but to no avail. What could be the source of such a rank smell? I’m not sure I want to know the answer. I quickly push the thought away. Curiosity can be dangerous when it comes between reality and panic.

I tread delicately, hoping no one hears me. I don’t think I'm alone, and I find some comfort in the darkness. Whatever is with me is out of my sight, and therefore, out of my mind. I never thought I would find a cliché so helpful to me until now. I wrap my thoughts around it, mustering up the courage to carry on. The orange light grows, compelling me to pick up my pace. I glance at my surroundings, unsure of what I might find.

The curved, dank walls and concrete blocks beneath my feet are bare, but fortunately, no revolting creatures dan-

gle from the ceiling or slither past my feet, although I am thinking of them! Where the hell am I? Dreams have a funny way of camouflaging life’s problems, but this is ridiculous!

A glint of light from the ashen wall catches my eye. I step closer to it, noticing how the curved cobbles gently mold my feet to their shapes. Small, rectangular stones that suggest their age goes well beyond the medieval era are arrayed in front of me. A dense tackiness catches the small granules of little dust motes that are reflected by the light here. Some kind of liquid begins to seep from one of the cracks in the stones, and I lower my head to inspect it. The crimson liquid slides sluggishly, like a snail, towards the ground. Leaning closer, I realize I’m staring at blood, and I gasp, jumping backwards. My heart thuds loudly in my chest as my adrenaline speeds through my veins like a racecar. My eyes skip around, noticing thousands of little red capillaries materializing all over the wall. An overwhelming paranoia that the tunnel will cave in torments my mind. I turn and dash towards the light, fueled by my distress.

My lungs scream for air as I push myself further and faster than ever.

The orange light surrounds a large opening.

Skidding to a stop, I barely avoid falling over the ledge at the cave’s entrance. I stare out at a fiery, scarlet landscape that appears infinite, and sends me a menacing warning. I lean forward when a wall of intense heat slugs me in the face, forcing me backwards a few inches. The air is dense, and it’s hard to catch my breath.

Sweat beads on my brow, evaporating before I can wipe it away. I scan the ravaged scenery, watching pillars of fire erupt from the ground before disappearing into the onyx sky, rimmed in red. A chain of mountains with jagged cliffs, emerge straight up from the bloodshot dirt.

Floating objects I don’t wish to know about, travel in an orbit, weaving in and out through the rough terrain. I’m in a completely different world. My terror lingers, refusing to go away. A raging river of lava slices through the

valley, determined to leave its own mark in the middle of this inferno. I stroll down a steep trail that leads directly to the unusual river. I stop long before reaching its banks, and gradually inch my way closer. My eyes drift over to the whirling mass of disturbing beauty. Deep shades of red and orange mesh with each other, creating a horrid kaleidoscope of angry colors. Flashes of distorted images of my family and friends bob in and out of the blazing lava. I watch in horror as the greedy river of fire consumes them without remorse. Despite my attempts to reach in, my hand

snaps back after feeling the agonizing heat. I step backwards, staring in numb bewilderment. I know I’m dreaming, but it doesn’t lessen my anxiety. My back slams into something solid and unyielding. Long, crooked fingers wrap around the tops of my tiny shoulders like spiders. Suffering and emptiness engulf me. My heart pounds like a hammer as my limbs melt into rubber. The hands squeeze me hard, sending excruciating pain throughout my entire back. The snapping of my shoulders, cracking like glass, shatters the unbearable stillness.

I’ll Be Damned Anna Wolfe Series Book One Casey Keen Amazon

BN

Kobo

Sony Smashwords

Book Description: A sister kidnapped.

An impending war between Heaven and Hell looming around the corner.

A Grand Witch who has no idea what she is.

The Prince of Darkness’s obsession in claiming her.

Two sinfully gorgeous men pulling her in two different directions.

As the owner of the coffee shop Deja Brew in Savannah, Georgia, Anna thought her life was ordinary. That is until her sister is kidnapped by a demon, prompting two handsome men to march into her life unexpectedly. Valen, the sinfully gorgeous, overprotective werewolf who is Anna’s sworn guardian and Roman, the most handsome and powerful Warlock in the entire Netherworld.

Suddenly, her world is stripped of everything she knows and replaced with frightening news about who she really is - a powerful Grand Witch. Now, it’s up to her to draw out her dormant magic, rescue her sister and stop an impending heavenly war threatening to eradicate the human race all while staying alive.

Book Trailer http://youtu.be/MpBiZFhiagg

Sex and Chocolate

By Roxanne Rhoads Chocolate must be the most devilishly delightful and sensuously sinful of all foods. Sex and chocolate seem to be intimately intertwined, but how did it happen? How and why did chocolate become known as an aphrodisiac?

It all started when Ancient Aztecs and Mayans discovered cocoa beans thousands of years ago; they believed that chocolate had mystical and aphrodisiac qualities. They also believed that anyone who consumed chocolate would gain power and knowledge.

The Aztec emperor, Montezuma, was said to have drank 50 goblets of chocolate a day to enhance his sexual prowess. He introduced the Spanish explorer Cortez to his aphrodisiac concoction in his court. Cortez took chocolate back to Spain and its libido boosting reputation followed. Cortez tried to keep chocolate a secret, he hid cocoa beans in monasteries where the monks cultivated it and started plantations. The secret of chocolate couldn't stay under wraps long, the Spanish turned it into a successful industry by improving chocolate’s taste by adding ingredients to sweeten it up like sugar, vanilla, and wine.

Chocolate became of favorite of the rich and elite. It flourished in the French courts in the 18th century. The art and literature of the time was full of rich and erotic imagery tying sex and chocolate together. The Marquis de Sade mixed the erotic qualities of chocolate with its ability to disguise poisons and the famous lover Casanova was reputed to have consumed chocolate to boost his libido and stamina before seducing his conquests.

So is chocolate really an aphrodisiac? Many people think so but scientists are still trying to prove it and are slowly unlocking chocolate's secrets.

Scientists have found that chocolate is very complex and made up of many chemicals, many which have mood lifting qualities. Some of the feel good aspects of chocolate come from the substances phenylethylamine, which is known as the love chemical, and the mood modulating serotonin. Both of these substances occur naturally in the human brain and are released when we are happy and having feelings of love and passion.

Euphoric feelings that some people get from chocolate can come from the body's own endorphins that are released when we eat chocolate and the caffeine that chocolate naturally contains. Any of these chemicals and especially the combination of them all can cause increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, mood change, and feelings of well being that mimic the feeling of being in love. These feelings combined with the proper frame of mind can increase sex drive and stamina therefore being an aphrodisiac. Some researchers also believe that the phenyl ethylamine (PEA) causes the brain to release mesolimbic dopamine, this is a chemical that’s

presence peaks in the pleasure centers of the brain during an orgasm.

Chocolate also contains powerful antioxidants, potassium, sodium, iron, fluorine, and the vitamins A, B 1, C, D, and E. So not only does chocolate make you feel good, eaten in moderation it can also be good for you and good health leads to sexual health. The research of Dr. Myrtle Wilhite shows that a diet rich in dark chocolate, the kind that is at least 70% cacao, has positive effects on sexual arousal. She has found that eating dark chocolate not only gives you a love buzz from all the chemicals but it improves the flexibility and function of blood vessels which have a direct impact on sexual arousal and sexual function. She says you should stay away from milk chocolate and white chocolate which are both full of calories, stay with dark chocolate, the darker the better.

This is probably another reason why chocolate became known as an aphrodisiac, in the days of the Aztecs and Mayans chocolate was pure cocoa without all the chemicals we add today. Their diets then and even in 17 and 18th century Europe diets were usually lacking in the proper nutrients and vitamins needed to stay healthy.

Back then chocolate was in a purer form and packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and mood altering chemicals that were not watered down, processed and combined with tons of sugar and man made chemicals. Consuming it was an instant high, a physical and mental boost. It worked like magic, to them it was magic.

Today lovers frequently exchange chocolates on romantic occasions and women, who seem to be more susceptible to chocolate's effect, have an ongoing affair with the sweet, velvety richness of chocolate. 99% of women say they love chocolate and some women even say they prefer chocolate over sex. Wow. I love chocolate but I can’t say I prefer it over sex... well maybe... it depends on what I’m craving at that moment.

Science still can't prove that chocolate is a love drug or aphrodisiac but over 1500 years of beliefs say otherwise. Most of us don’t need any proof; just let a smooth, creamy piece of chocolate melt in your mouth.

Some people may eat chocolate to make themselves feel good while others use it as an aphrodisiac, as an invitation to sex or even as foreplay. Just think of all the ways you can combine sex and chocolate either before or during your intimate interludes: feed your loved one pieces of rich dark chocolate as a provocative dessert; share a bowl of cold, creamy chocolate ice cream on a hot summer night; enjoy mugs of steamy hot cocoa on a cold night in front of a roaring fire; feed each other fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate; pour chocolate syrup on your lover’s body and lick it off; the possibilities are as varied as the chocolate products that are now available.

You can enhance foreplay and heat up sex with tasty chocolate delights. You find just about anything that goes along with sex either scented or flavored like chocolate from warming, lick able lubes to edible undies and chocolate flavored body dust. Enjoy some tasty chocolate treats during your next sensual lovemaking session.

Some great items to try are Chocolate Fantasy Body Jam, Chocolate Fantasy Finger Paints, The Kama Sutra Lover’s paint Box with dark, milk and white chocolate paints, Chocolate Scented Massage Oils and there are even Chocolate Flavored Condoms.

When Characters Change the Story

By Roxanne Rhoads Hex and the Single Witch is a story that’s been in my head and scribbled in my notebook since 2007.

I’ve been jotting down notes and ideas for years, then typing up scenes, deleting scenes, and piecing things together until finally it all came together as a completed book in 2012 (and Kay Dee Royal played a special part in the final product as she was the editor for Hex J).

It was a long road bringing my vision to life. I wanted to turn Flint, aka Vehicle City, into a place where “Others” walked among humans, practically out in the open being who and what they are.

And while I wanted the city to play a large role in the books- I’m a character driven writer (I am also a character driven reader- I can do without detailed world building and tons of crazy plots and subplots- give me angst, dramatic interaction, turmoil and mystery within the characters and I’m hooked).

I want to showcase the characters and their flaws, I want their quirks, their needs and motivations to be center stage. And that’s where things got crazy.

Hex and the Single Witch was originally supposed to have a love story, not a love triangle, as the romantic element. Mike Malone was supposed to be a prevalent side character, but never a contender for Anwyn’s heart.

But Mike had other ideas. As I wrote the story he became more dominant, more pushy, and just appeared in scenes. All the sudden he and Anwyn were up close and personal…and it worked.

And Galen…poor Galen. I think he was very upset about that turn of events because as Mike worked his way into the story more and more Galen became less vicious vampire and more whiny, damaged and angsty then he was ever supposed to be. Galen was supposed to be the epitome of danger and damage. The poster boy for bad boys with fangs.

The end result for Galen in Hex was a damaged bad boy with a tendency to be confused- and to leave Anwyn confused as well.

From the reviews it seems Galen didn’t wimp out as much as I thought he did because readers are still rooting for him- or they are still undecided as to whether they want Anwyn to end up with the vampire (Galen) or with the human (Mike Malone).

Personally I have a plan for where the story will end….but as I have discovered sometimes characters will write their own ending so we’ll all have to wait and see who ends up with Anwyn’s heart.

I’m currently working on book 2, Hex and the City. I wonder who will be frontrunner for Anwyn’s heart in this book. What do you think? Any ideas on who Anwyn will end up with?

Hex and the Single Witch Excerpt “You should have told me why you hate vampires so much. It was during the Hysteria wasn’t it?” The damn Hysteria ruined and destroyed so many lives all thanks to a bunch of power hungry vampires and Others who thought it was a good idea to let humans know they existed. Like the witch hunts, the burning times from before hadn’t proven that was a bad idea. But, no, they thought a new, modern generation of humans could handle it.

The Hysteria proved humans hadn’t evolved much. Of course, neither had the Others.

“Yeah,” he said into his hands.

“You know I lost my dad to vampires at the end. At the last battle. The rogues had the humans all riled up. No one knew what was going on, the riot started and there was this group of mercenaries, humans killing anything that moved. My dad’s team tried to get them out of there, but as soon as they realized vampires and Others were on the police squad the mercenaries decided to wipe everyone out. My dad was shot and while he was down rogue vampires finished him off.”

“Then how can you still be close to them?” Mike sneered.

“Humans played their part in his death too, Mike. Can I shut myself off from the world and hate everyone? It’s unrealistic. I understand your hate, but they are not all bad.”

“They all drink blood. They are monsters designed to kill humans.” His snarl looked ferocious.

I had not realized his hate ran so deep.

“And humans are designed to kill animals and each other. Doesn’t mean we all do.” Stubborn man.

“Anwyn, I’m sorry I can’t look at them the way you do.” He glanced at me then stared at the floor.

I touched his face gently and made him look at me. “Mike you can’t carry pain and anger around with you forever. Believe me, I know. I dragged it around with me for a long time. I lost both my dad and my mom that night. Even though my mom still lives and breathes, she’s not the same. But I can’t change it, and I can’t hate everyone for it. I just have to accept it. I took this job to try and prevent other kids from growing up with this pain and anger. Isn’t that why you took this job too? You know we have to fight the bad guys and take help from all the good guys we can, right?”

“Yeah,” he muttered.

I caressed his strong jaw. Goddess, he was a beautiful man. And more complex and tender than I had thought. I took off his top hat and laid it on the desk so I could run my fingers through his wild wavy hair. The move startled Mike and he looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face for a moment before heat flared in his eyes.

As soon as I saw the flames in his eyes my body responded. A burning need rose inside me, an ache suddenly needed to be filled.

Mike’s expression changed into one that promised deliciously wicked things. Hot damn.

Hex and the Single Witch Vehicle City Vampires Book One

By Roxanne Rhoads Publisher: Bewitching Books Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance / Urban Fantasy Word Count: 83,000 Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team.

It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town.

The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.

Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.

www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com Facebook www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoads http://www.facebook.com/ BewitchingBooktours Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit http://www.facebook.com/ of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy RoxanneRhoadsAuthor love triangle that will leave you wanting more. http://www.facebook.com/FangtasticBooks Twitter @RoxanneRhoads Amazon Kindle Print Roxanne can also be found on Linked Book Bonus material http:// In, Goodreads and Google+ roxannesrealm.blogspot.com/p/hex-and-singleMysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.

witch.html Book Trailer http://youtu.be/TnlTlZ2VEMY

About the Author: Story strumpet, tome loving tart, eccentric night owl...these words describe book publicist and erotic romance author Roxanne Rhoads.

When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne's world revolves around words...reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.

Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.

When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.

Visit her online Author blog www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com Book Blog www.fangtasticbooks.blogspot.com Bewitching Book Tours

Advertise Here Contact Roxanne at Roxanne.rhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com

Excerpt from Witch in the Middle Story #3 in Paranormal Pleasures: Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction

By Roxanne Rhoads I smiled seductively, cautiously stepping toward them while unbuttoning my sweater.

The two men looked at me nervously before locking eyes with each other. It seemed they were each silently asking the other “What the hell is she doing?”

I, myself, couldn’t believe what I was doing.

As I continued, I unbuttoned my sweater, then sexily shrugged it off my shoulders and tossed it onto the recliner. I pushed my skirt down into a pile at my feet and kicked it off. While I stood there in my bra and panties, both guys stared at me with their jaws hanging open.

I let the Goddess propel me and decided I wasn’t going to try to choose between them.

I was going to have my cock…and get eaten too. Oh my, now I was thinking naughty. Hell, it was better than wallowing in heartbreak.

I smiled as really naughty and really specific thoughts of having both of my sexy men at the same time sent thrills of electricity coursing through my body. Heat flowed directly to my core making me wet with anticipation.

Drew’s nostrils flared. Nathaniel’s eyes bulged as he said, “Now hold on a minute, Addie.

Think about this.”

“Yes, Ariadne, stop and think about this before rushing into something we…you aren’t ready for,” Drew interjected.

I laughed seductively. It was like some other woman had crawled into my skin, someone sexy and confident. “Oh Drew, ancient vampire, I know you aren’t going to be the one to lecture me about sex.”

Drew didn’t have a chance to respond before Nathaniel harshly said, “I won’t do this Addie.

I can’t. I will not share you with this bloodsucker.” Nathaniel grabbed his jacket and turned to leave.

The ache inside me started to come back.

“Please don’t go, Nathaniel. I need you here.

This is how it has to be.” I held onto his arm pleading with him to stay. He wouldn’t even look at me.

“And, you’ve already been sharing her with me for months. What difference does tonight make?” Drew added snidely from behind me.

I turned and shot him a dirty look. “You’re not helping Drew.” Then, I turned back to Nathaniel. “I need you here. All of us need to be here together.”

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. His fists crunched the leather jacket in his hands. “I’m just a normal, everyday guy, Addie I don’t do orgies, wild parties, threesomes, or any kinky supernatural shit. I think sex should be one on one…between two people that love each other.”

I knew he’d be the one to have the most problems with this. Drew, even though he was extremely territorial, knew how to share. Centuries of sexual experience had taught him there was more to experience than what human morality was willing to allow.

“Sex can be whatever feels right. Nathaniel, I love both of you. Neither one of you will ever accept that unless you see it for yourselves.

Unless you learn to share me. Completely.

Sexually. Please, share me tonight.”

“I can’t.” He opened the door to leave.

“Then don’t. I didn’t think you could handle it, human. But it’s fine with me. You’re leaving which means you are letting her go. Now she’s all mine, which is exactly what I wanted,” Drew goaded Nathaniel.

My gut tightened. This wasn’t the direction I wanted things to go. Drew knew how to push buttons. I was just afraid they would be the wrong ones, and that this night was going to end in bloodshed rather than pleasure.

Nathaniel stopped in the doorway. His body froze in place, stiff, tense, trying to hide the pain and fear I could sense. He took a deep breath and turned to me, his eyes filled with pain. “Is that true, Addie? If I walk out this door are we over?”

“I can’t choose Nathaniel. I cannot choose between you. If you force me into a choice, I will have to accept the man who can accept me and what I am, who I am, what I want to do. If you’re not able to handle that, then yes, this is goodbye.” My heart was breaking as the words came out, but I had to be strong. The Goddess was guiding me. I had to trust her way was right.

“I will not just walk away and let fangface win you without a fight.” He tossed his jacket back onto the sofa and slammed the door behind him. “You want us both at once, you want to compare us, to make us share you, then fine, may the best man win.”

“This isn’t about winning or losing. I’m not going to pick one or other of you after tonight.

I want to keep you both. That’s why you have to learn to share me, either together or separately, but always knowing that I may be with either one of you.”

“This is unfair, Addie. You’re being selfish.”

“No, you’re being selfish trying to make me choose who I love more, when I love you both. Drew is willing to concede to this. Even though all his territorial instincts tell him to make me his, he isn’t the one protesting here.”

Nathaniel towered over Drew ready to fight.

“Big freaking deal. The vampire can share. So fucking what? I’m a man, not a monster. I’m not wired that way!” Nathaniel’s nostrils flared, his anger growing. I needed to do something to stop the fight. Fly the white flag.

Or maybe, the white panties. I was already standing there in just my undies. Maybe, I should get rid of everything, bare my body and soul to my men. Hmmm. It would either cause a bigger fight or sooth the savage beasts into thinking about something other than fighting.

Sex. So, I sauntered sexily over to the men, pushed my way between them and threw out all the sex vibes I could.

Drew looked hesitantly at me, his eyes glowing slightly with anger. He took a breath he didn’t need, then looked over to Nathaniel. I could feel Nathaniel’s anger subside. His heat flared as his hesitation lessened. I felt his consignment to being part of this. I turned on tiptoe and grabbed his face, pulling it down to me.

I kissed his lips gently and murmured, “I love you, Nathaniel,” quietly against them.

Then, I turned back around to face Drew. I didn’t have to stand on tiptoe to reach him as he lowered his face to mine. “Do you love me too?” He asked, “Really?”

“I do, Drew. I do love you too.” I smiled as I kissed him playfully.

Turning back around to face Nathaniel, I looked up into his dark blue eyes trying to decipher how he was feeling and how he was going to react.

I looked over my shoulder at Drew, lifting my long dark hair off my back. “Could you undo my bra please?”

Nathaniel’s jaw dropped as he stood there like a statue. Drew unhooked my bra while I stared into Nathaniel’s smoky eyes. Drew removed my bra and curled up behind me pressing his body against mine. He reached around and cupped my breasts, kneading them, caressing them, while Nathaniel watched. My nipples grew taut as desire and need coursed through me. I could see Nathaniel was aroused, the length of his cock strained at the denim encasing him.

I reached up and kissed Nathaniel, pushing my tongue between his lips, encouraging him to return my passion. At first, he didn’t move, just continued to stand before me frozen in place. Then, finally, he began to return my kiss. First with hesitation, then after a glance over my shoulder at Drew, he put everything he had into it, showing me his passion, his desire, his fear. I drank it all in, letting it flow over me, through me.

Nathaniel’s hands settled on my hips then moved on to roam my body, exploring my bare skin. My hands found their way to Nathaniel’s zipper freeing his shaft from its tight denim constraints. Nathaniel groaned softly into my mouth when I wrapped my hand around him, gently moving up and down the long length of him.

Drew had stopped fondling my breasts and made his way down my backside. He removed my panties and tossed them into the pile with the rest of my clothing. His lips kissed designs down my back. I quivered when he moved lower. Little shivers of pleasure soared through me as he nibbled and licked various spots on my backside.

Drew pushed my thighs apart so he could move between them to caress my red hot core.

A finger parted my folds, and he slid right into my desire slick center. I moaned, stroking Nathaniel’s cock while Drew’s finger thrust in and out of me.

Almost on the verge of orgasm, I realized I

was completely naked between two men who were both still fully clothed. “Get naked,” I commanded them. It was a power trip to feel so sexy and so in control. It was such a rush.

Combined with the two gorgeous men shedding their clothes in front of me, wicked witches on wheels, I was experiencing a high like no other.

I reveled in the beauty of the naked man flesh moving before my eyes. Taut muscle moved under firm flesh. It was the epitome of masculine beauty. Drew was pale and leanly muscled where Nathaniel was tan and bulkier. Drew was built like a martial artist while Nathaniel was much brawnier, built more like a construction worker or street brawler. Nathaniel’s eyes were a smoky, liquid blue, heavy lidded with desire, while Drew’s were wide, glimmering with hot green fire.

Once they were both completely naked, they looked each other up and down, sizing up the competition I suppose. Then, they looked back to me for approval.

Oh, approve I did. I licked my lips as I admired the view. Both were quite well endowed at about nine inches long. Drew’s cock gleamed like pale marble, while Nathaniel’s staff pulsed like red hot steel.

My body hummed with sexual anticipation and the steady static of magick.

I smiled and held out my hands in invitation.

They both came to me, one on each side. Before I knew it, hands were everywhere. I couldn’t keep track of whose hands were on what body part as I was being kissed, caressed, licked and sucked. I closed my eyes so I could enjoy the sensation of a mouth on my breast while another mouth kissed its way down my neck to the other breast.

The pleasure went directly from my nipples to my aching pussy. I was hotter than I’d ever been in my life. I opened my eyes and took in the sight of two gorgeous men suckling at my breasts.

My knees gave out, and I started to crumple to the floor. Thankfully, they caught me before I fell. Entwined in a tangle of limbs, we crashed gently to the floor with me sprawled on top.

I sat up to get a good look at both men on their backs

under me. Wow. Never in a million years would I have imagined a witch like me with two gorgeous men like them. It was fantasy fulfillment beyond my wildest imagination.

I shook my head in disbelief and to put myself back in the moment.

Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction Roxanne Rhoads Publisher: Bewitching Books Genre: Paranormal erotica ISBN: 0615470386 ISBN: 9780615470382 Page Count: 138 Book description: Ten tantalizing, erotic tales of vampires, witches and demons grace the pages of this short story collection by Roxanne Rhoads.

Step into the darkness and let these tales tempt and tease to satisfy your paranormal cravings.

Eight of Roxanne Rhoads' previous eBook publications appear in print for the first time, along with

Submit to Bewitching Book Tours Magazine Submission detailsFor every issue we accept: Articles- topics include author/writing advice, advice for book bloggers, how writer’s do research, paranormal, vampires, publishing advice, and more Flash Fiction- paranormal, urban fantasy and erotica (for other genres please query) True tales of paranormal encounters Recipes Poetry Book reviews Art Jewelry designs and creations Please send submissions to RoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com place “Bewitching Magazine Submission” in subject line Contributors receive free ¼ or ½ page advertising in Bewitching Book Tours Magazine and two months of free sidebar ad space at Fang-tastic Books