Bewitching Book Tours Magazine February 2013

Bewitching Book Tours Magazine Issue 8 February 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 and urban fantasy (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 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 Auntie Ann’s Homespun Advice Naughty Nook Special Valentine’s Interview Green Living Tips Tarot in Fiction Marriage Folklore Be My Valentine Poetry Contest Murder on Mars Excerpt Green Living Tips Omega Excerpt—Monthly Feature Feature Author—Susannah Sandlin Vampires in Fiction Poetry Instinctive Review Dracula Facts Gabrielle's Cauldron-Excerpt Valentine’s Recipe High Gravity Excerpt A Time for Everything Excerpt Wicked Valentine Excerpt Cupid Rocks Excerpt

4 6 9 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 31 32 36 39 40 43 46 50

Happy Valentine’s Day, all! February is definitely the month for love. How’s Cupid been treating you here of late? Judging from the letters in my inbox, not all that well. Read on to see how some of your fellow BBT Magazine readers are managing their love lives.

Keep those letters coming: ann@anngimpel.com Dear Auntie Ann, My husband (we’ve been married eight years) is like a serial cheat. I’ve caught him over and over again with so many women I’ve lost count. Every time he promises it’s the last and he’ll be faithful from now on. I feel more like a detective than a wife. I check his email and his phone after he’s gone to sleep to see who he’s been texting. I’ve even hired a babysitter so I could follow him a couple of times. I suppose that makes me just as sick as he is. I’ve asked if he wants a divorce. He always says no. I’ve given up on him ever changing. I do love him. He’s a good husband and father when he’s home. But I don’t think I want to live with a man I can’t have sex with without worrying he’ll give me something. My girlfriends are tired of hearing me bitch. My mother told me to dump him years ago.

VPB Dear VPB, Let’s start with the easy part. Since you know your husband is sleeping around, you should

make a point of using condoms until you can get this part of your relationship under better control. That might be a bit of a wakeup call for him. I think you can believe him when he says he doesn’t want a divorce. Spouses who cheat over and over with multiple partners aren’t doing it for the sex. They enjoy the conquest part of cheating. Once a woman (or man if the sexes are reversed and it’s a hetero relationship) has capitulated, the fun is over and your spouse moves on to someone new.

It’s almost like your husband is two people: the loving husband and father and the lothario gathering con-

quests. I’m guessing he has some deeply insecure places and he compensates by having sex with many different

women. They don’t fill his empty, needy places, but like

any addict, he doesn’t give up trying.

You’re correct you can’t “fix” him. He needs to spend some time in therapy to figure out why he picks up women and has extramarital affairs. If I were you, I’d give him a chance. You do need to be clear that his behavior isn’t working for you and you’ll support him while he works on changing it. If he refuses to go to therapy (since he obviously can’t alter his behavior on his own), your choices become clearer. Not easier, but clearer.

You’ll notice I’m not recommending couple’s therapy, at least not now. Your husband needs to do some individual work to get his issues under control. Once that happens, a few joint sessions with a different therapist (e.g. not one aligned with your husband) might be in order as you work to rebuild trust. Please write back and let me know how things go.

Dear Auntie Ann, This might sound stupid, but my boyfriend doesn’t like my dog. The feeling is mutual. Darla (my German Shepherd mix) growls and snaps at him whenever he comes over to visit. It’s gotten bad enough, he says he’s not coming over unless I crate her. I feel torn.

JL

Dear JL, I may not be the best one to answer this since I’ve had dogs all my life. I always tell my clients,

“Children and dogs know.” What I mean by that is they often have better sense than we do about a person’s character. That being said, shepherds tend to be protective. It’s hardwired into their genetics. Have you had this problem with Darla with any other people? If not, she’s sensing some-

thing she truly doesn’t like about your current boyfriend other than he’s not family. How about

bringing Darla and meeting your boyfriend in neutral territory, like a park or a trail? Make sure he doesn’t lay hands on you which could throw Darla’s protective instincts into overdrive and see how it goes.

On a personal level, I’m not liking your boyfriend’s ultimatum about crating your dog. Seems to me if he really cared for you, he’d recognize your attachment to your animal and be more proactive in working on a solution. Please write back and let me know how this turns out.

20 Ways to Find Your Inner Sex-Goddess

By Roxanne Rhoads Being a sex goddess isn't about how you look, it is about how you think and how you feel. You don't have to look like a Victoria Secret model or a porn star to be a sex goddess. You just have to learn to think sexy and feel sexy, it's all about attitude.

Here are some simple things you can do to alter your way of thinking, define what you think is sexy, and help you find your inner sex goddess. You might want to grab a notebook and a pen because some it requires you to write things down.

These are simple things that can help you see yourself and your sexuality more clearly. They can boost your confidence and help you live life fully and sexually.

1) Evaluate yourself in the mirror, what are your best features? Decide what you would like to change about your physical appearance, if it can be changed- start doing something about it, if it can't -learn to accept it and love it. Learn how to accentuate your strengths and your best assets. Learn to love yourself and see your inner beauty.

2) Start exercising; get your body in shape for sex. A healthy body is a sexy body. Plus exercise combats depression and releases natural endorphins that make you feel better which will help you feel sexier.

3) Write down a list of your strengths and weaknesses both physical and mental/emotional. Work on enhancing your strengths.

4) Make a list of the women you think are sexy and why. This could be a fictional character in a movie or on TV or it could be your next door neighbor or someone you work with.

5) Describe what you think is sexy, define sex appeal to you.

6) Make a list of things you would like to do (ex: take a Pilates class, an art class or learn to tango) pick one item from your list and go do it 7) Make a list of places you would like to travel to (they can be 30 or 3000 miles away or anywhere in between).

Now make arrangements to go to one of these places.

8) Read an erotic romance novel or some great erotic short stories that you can find online.

9) Watch porn. You may cringe but there are movies made specifically to cater to women, movies by Playgirl or made for Playgirl Television and anything by Candida Royalle. There are also many websites that cater to women. You need to broaden your horizons and let go of your inhibitions. A sex goddess is uninhibited. There are also many websites that cater to women.

10) Write down a sexual fantasy of yours in explicit detail.

11) Order some lingerie catalogs or shop online, buy some new and sexy lingerie. Get something you would have never considered buying before, be bold and daring.

12) Get a makeover, color your hair, get a new hairstyle, do something that changes how you look and makes you feel good, makes you feel like a new woman.

13) Give your bedroom a makeover; turn it into a love nest with exotic bold colors, sensual fabrics, soft lighting, lots of fluffy pillows, and candles. Get rid of the pink frilly ruffles and lace, think sexy, silk, satin, velvet, damask, brocade, rich sumptuous fabrics that will tease and tantalize your skin.

14) Touch yourself, learn how your skin feels, how it responds to your touch, discover how you like to be touched, what feels good to you. Use different items like silk scarves, feathers, leather straps, delight in the different textures and how they feel. Wear a blindfold to increase the sensations 15) Masturbate, often. A woman that can control her own pleasure is a woman in control. This will help you be able to give and receive pleasure which is a major turn on. Invest in some sex toys.

16) Accept your sexual identity; do not be afraid of your sexuality or your desires. We are sexual creatures and we should not be ashamed of that.

17) Put together a sexual treasure chest, in it you should have things like a blindfold, fuzzy handcuffs, a selection of vibrators and dildos, scented massage oils, lickable/edible body oils and lotions, tickling feather, candles, cock rings, condoms (depending on your situation), etc... You could also store your copy of the Kama Sutra and your selection of porn magazines and DVD's in your little treasure trove of sexual goodies.

18) Pamper yourself, give yourself a wonderful treat, take some time to yourself, do something that feels good that you find relaxing.

19) Have sex as often as possible, be an active participant. Enjoy the sensations. Be open to giving and receiving pleasure.

20) Make a list of sexual things you would like to do, pick one and start experimenting or remember that fantasy you wrote down in explicit detail, go act it out.

We have a special Valentine’s Day interview with a few of the witches from the erotic short story collection Paranormal Pleasures: Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction.

I’ll start with Marissa from “A Last Goodbye”.

Marissa is new to the supernatural world, being a late bloomer with her magic but her trainer, Deirdre, who happens to be a vampire, is showing her the ropes and helping her acclimate quite well.

RR: So Marissa how are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, is Deirdre very romantic?

Marissa: Deirdre is quite the romantic though don’t tell her I said that, it would ruin her ice queen image. I’m not sure what she has planned but I know she’s up to something, she’s had a twinkle in her eye and that always means she’s in planning mode.

RR: Has she done grand romantic gestures before?

Marissa: Not any extremely grand gestures, she’s more of an everyday romantic- a rose on my pillow, a new book of spells on my desk…she always does something sweet for me.

RR: That is precious. I think it’s so important to have those little everyday reminders of love they keep the romance alive.

Marissa: Oh yes, it definitely does. And with our crazy lifestyles and supernatural drama…it can be hard to think about the mundane stuff.

RR: Vampires, witches and their drama…

Marissa: You know it.

As Marissa giggles thinking about her new life full of vampires I turn to Ariadne from “Witch in the Middle”. Ariadne has not one but two gorgeous men in her life. Such a greedy witch J RR: Hi Ariadne, how are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year? Anything special planned? Will you celebrate with both of your men?

Ariadne: I’m not sure what I will be doing for Valentine’s Day this year.

RR: Why not?

Ariadne: The whole “who to be with” issue, and choosing which guy to celebrate with is such a headache.

RR: Why not be with them both?

Ariadne: And risk the dirty looks, the questioning looks…or even worse the guys getting into it in the middle of a romantic dinner and embarrassing me? No thank you.

RR: So they’re still having issues with each other?

Ariadne: Men are so territorial, jealousy is always an issue. They are always trying to one up each other or be the better man. Sometimes I wonder if I should just choose and be done with it.

RR: I’m sorry to hear that, I was really hoping the three of you had worked things out.

Ariadne: Perhaps they’ll get over the pettiness so I can have a HappyValentine’s Day. I would really love to be with both of them and have a good time.

RR: Well there you go, just tell them you want to go out and have fun without their egos getting in the way.

Ariadne: Thanks, Rox I will do that. Now I just have to figure out what to wear.

RR: Maybe you should go chat with Marissa and Deirdre I hear Deirdre has closets full of amazing clothes.

Ariadne: Thanks, I’ll do that.

Ariadne wanders off to find Marissa and I turn to Elita from “The Questioning Concubine”.

RR: Hello Elita, glad you could join us today. How are things going with the investigation?

Elita: Thanks to Connor I’m finally making some headway with the case. I’m closer than ever to finding out who killed my parents.

RR: That’s great news. Are you taking any time off to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Elita: Oh yes *she smiles coyly*. We will definitely be celebrating Valentine’s day.

RR: Do you and Connor have anything planned?

Elita: A wicked little grin creeps across her pretty features…I do. I want to surprise him with a very romantic and sexy evening.

RR: Really? How do give an incubus a romantic surprise? I mean, after all he is all about the sex.

Elita: That’s just it, he is used to doling out the pleasure and being the means to an end. I want to give him pleasure, treat him like he has treated me. I want to return the affection. I don’t think he’s used to being on the receiving end of love.

RR: So you plan to turn things upside down for your pleasure demon?

Elita: Oh yes *again with that wicked grin*. I wanted to ask her more but I didn’t want to get into the TMI area plus I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise for Connor, who knows maybe there’s a future story in the works featuring Elita and Connor’s Valentine’s pleasurefest.

RR: Good luck with that. I hope it turns out to be a spectacular night for the tow of you.

Elita: Oh it will it’s going to be so amazing and so damn hot… *she blushes as she realizes she’s getting a little carried away* RR: I clear my throat thanks for joining me for this little interview, I hope all of your Valentine fantasies turn out to be fabulous.

Elita: Thanks Rox I’m sure they will.

Elita wanders off and I turn to the witch that’s left, Vicki from “Witching You A Merry Christmas”.

RR: So Vicki, You and Daniel ended up having a very wonderful Christmas last year, will you be celebrating Valentine’s Day together as well?

Vicki: She gives me a shy smile Yes, we’ll be together for Valentine’s and for the rest of the holidays.

RR: Wonderful. So any plans?

Vicki: I think Daniel has something up his sleeve. He is such a sweet and charming romantic.

RR: What kind of romantic is he, hearts and flowers or something deeper?

Vicki: Oh a little of both. He does the hearts and flowers and chocolates but he always adds something deeply personal- like finding a first edition copy of my favorite book signed by the author. Or hunting down my grandmother’s locket which had been pawned years ago when my mother needed money.

RR: Wow. He puts his detective skills to work for romance huh?

Vicki: She laughs Oh yes. He is very good at tracking things down, and he’s such a good listener.

Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.

RR: I know he loves Christmas and goes all out with the decorations, is he the same way for Valentine’s day?

Vicki: He loves to celebrate…anything. He has an entire room filled with decorations for every holiday.

RR: So that’s a yes? I laugh.

Vicki: Most definitely.

RR: Well thank you for joining me today, thanks to all the witches that took the time to stop by and answer my questions.

To learn more about these characters check out Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction.

Paranormal Pleasures:Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction Roxanne Rhoads Publisher: Bewitching Books Genre: Paranormal erotica ISBN: 0615470386 / 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 two brand new, never before published tales of supernatural love and lust.

Extended Description A Last Goodbye New witch Marissa is learning the ropes of being one of The Others. One of her mentors is vampire Deirdre, a tall beauty who really irritates Marissa. Marissa is extremely pissed when she shows up to Dante's Ball and finds Deirdre there with Marissa's recent exboyfriend, Jeff. The one she was encouraged to break up with because of his humanity. Deirdre explains her reasons for bringing Jeff and offers to help Marissa say goodbye to him in a way none of them will ever forget Overkill Vanessa is tired of her boyfriend Simon’s promiscuous vampire ways and stakes him, repeatedly- not close enough to the heart to kill him but close enough to make it hurt. But now she’s had a change of heart and considers embracing the sexual world of the vampire instead of being jealous of it.

Witch in the Middle Ariadne is a witch torn between two men, a vampire and a human. Her heart doesn’t want to choose but the men force her to make a decision that could break her heart, unless with the help of the Goddess all three of them can come to a mutually acceptable…and enjoyable agreement.

When It Storms Devon’s witchy girlfriend becomes insatiable every time a storm rolls around and he’s more than happy to give her exactly what she needs.

Monster Inside

Shannon’s never seen her vampire boyfriend, Logan, vamp out before. Then one night he has to kill to save her life. Can she ever look at him the same way again?

The Questioning Concubine Elita, a pure blood witch, has come home to find who or what killed her parents and to take her rightful place as the head of the coven. After five years of investigating and exhausting all conventional methods at her disposal, she decides to do the one thing a good witch should never do—summon a demon. The demon is not what she expected. Elita is soon swept up in his power… and her own.

Renata The residents of the sleepy little town of Flushing, Michigan had no idea a vampire lived among them, seducing and drinking from all the men in town. Renata walked among them, blending in, taking only what she needed. One night, while she was on the prowl for fresh blood at a carnival, a handsome carnie caught her eye. She had no way of knowing he was a vampire hunter and was there for her.

Sea of Blood Liana made Nerissa a vampire centuries ago in the islands of Greece but she’s never tired of her companion or the way she hunts her prey.

A Halloween to Remember What says Halloween better than a wild party at an old Victorian mansion complete with its own cemetery? Perhaps meeting the man of your dreams thanks to the magic of Halloween.

Adena can’t believe her eyes when she spots Dimitri in the library- he looks like something straight off the cover of a historical romance novel-the type of guy she’s always dreamed of. Too bad he disappears before she has the chance to introduce herself. When she finally spots him again later that night she decides she’s not letting him get away again. Adena thinks she’s finally found the one. Until she wakes up alone the next morning- in the cemetery.

Halloween magic brought them together but will it be strong enough to keep them together?

Witching You A Merry Christmas Witch Vicki has been leery of vampires ever since she was attacked five years ago. Daniel's a vampire and he's been secretly in love in with Vicki for two years ever since becoming Vicki's partner in The Guardians a supernatural group of paranormal crime fighters. Daniel loves Christmas and hopes the spirit of the holidays will soften Vicki's hatred of vampires and help her see him in a new light. Will he get his Christmas wish?

The Lovers in the Tarot 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 that captures many peoples’ imagination is the Lovers card. When I first glance at the card, I see a man and a woman standing under the sun, blessed by the archangel Gabriel. On the surface, it’s a card that gives one a warm fuzzy, as love so often does. It’s easy to assume that this card is all about romantic love and eternal bliss.

But there’s much more to the Lovers than that, as there is in any relationship.

When I look more closely at the card, I see a tree in flames behind the man, and the serpent coiling around the Biblical Tree of Knowledge behind the woman. The man and woman are also standing apart, as opposites. The traditional meaning of the card is that the querant is at a crossroads – a choice must be made between two alternatives. Duality is represented here: good and evil, knowledge and naivete…and harmonizing them.

The card also reminds me of famous mythological couples, especially the story of Isis and Osiris. Isis and Osiris ruled Egypt as king and queen, overseeing a prosperous kingdom and happy subjects. Osiris’ brother, Set, was jealous of his brother’s power.

Set lured Osiris into a coffin, nailed it shut with a host of co-conspirators, and sent the coffin floating down the Nile. When she heard of this, Isis flew away in search of her husband.

Convinced that without proper burial, he would not be able to reach the Land of the Dead, she searched the river for the coffin. She succeeded in finding the coffin lodged in a cedar tree and took it with her. Isis hid it away in an isolated marshland as she prepared the proper rituals to allow Osiris to enter the Land of the Dead.

But Set was not through. He discovered the coffin, tore it open, and dismembered the body. He scattered the pieces of Osiris’ body all over Egypt.

The distraught Isis began to search for the pieces. She searched high and low until she had gathered them all and sang him back to life to receive the proper rituals. At this time, she conceived a child with him, Horus, the falcon-headed god that many of us associate with ancient Egypt.

But Osiris was dead, and could not remain in the land of the living. He descended to the underworld to become King of the Dead. Though he and Isis were reunited, they were also separated by that bridge of life and death… …and this idea brings us back to the Lovers card, the union of opposites. Life and death are the ultimate opposites. And when we turn the card upside down to read its reversed meaning, it signifies division in a Tarot card reading.

And that’s what love’s often about in a story…union and division. Love is never a smooth road. Even fairy tales and old myths have monsters and obstacles. The Lovers card reminds us, through the distance between the man and woman – whether we cast them as Isis and Osiris, Adam and Eve – standing apart from each other and reaching out.

Marriage Folklore and Superstitions from Around the World

By Wenona Napolitano Every culture has superstitions surrounding marriage and the wedding day itself. Many superstitions are so ingrained they have become a regular part of wedding traditions. The reasons why a bride wears white and a veil, why the groom carries the bride over the threshold, the placement of the best man, why there is a best man and bridesmaids, why we still decorate the getaway vehicle with noisy items and why the bride should have something old, new, borrowed and blue all come from wedding folklore and superstition. Here are some lesser-known superstitions and folklore about weddings and marriage.

It is good luck for a bride to dream of her wedding day.

Feed a cat out of an old shoe and your wedding day will be a happy one.

If a cat sneezes in front of a bride on the day before her wedding, it is a sign of very good luck.

It is bad luck for a bride to read the marriage service on the day before her wedding.

A woman should not marry a man whose surname begins with the same letter as her own. It is bad luck.

It is unlucky to marry someone born in the same month as you.

It will bring bad luck to marry on your birthday.

Be sure that the marriage is completed between the half hour and the hour.

If it rains on the wedding day, the bride will cry all her married life.

Postponing a wedding is very bad luck.

It is bad luck for the bride to eat anything while she is adorning for her marriage. Wait until after the ceremony.

After the bride is completely dressed and ready for the ceremony, she must not look into a mirror again until she is wed. The bride may dress before a mirror but should leave something off until after she walks away, like a necklace or earring.

Wear earrings when you are married and you will always be happy.

It is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the actual ceremony.

It is bad luck to make your own wedding gown.

It is a sign of very good luck to find a spider crawling on your wedding gown.

Pearls are the symbols of tears. For each pearl that the bride wears, her husband will give her a cause for weeping.

A bride should have her hair dressed and veil put on by a happily married woman.

Good luck will come to a bride if her veil is accidentally torn, especially if torn at the altar.

Bad luck comes to the bride who shows her veil to anyone other than family before the wedding.

In the saying something old, something new, the old should be something from a happily married woman, the borrowed should be an object of gold, and the sixpence, penny or new dime should be worn in the heel of the left shoe.

The bride should always be happy if she wears or carries a bit of salt.

The bridegroom should carry a horseshoe in his pocket for good luck.

The bride should step into and out of the church with her right foot first. When stepping away from the altar she should also put the right foot first.

At the altar, the bride should keep her right foot ahead of the groom’s.

At the wedding, the bride should make sure she sees the groom before he sees her.

It is unlucky to give away a wedding present.

The bride should drink a glass of water after the wedding ceremony.

Give the clergy an odd sum of money for good luck.

It is bad luck for the bride to put bare feet on the floor on her wedding night. Keep slippers on or have the groom carry you to bed. ~Wenona Napolitano is the author of The Everything Green Wedding Book

Back in 2011 there was a Be My Vampire Valentine Poetry Contest at Fang-tastic Books Here are the two poems that won Ages of Love

by Virginia C Some time ago, fifty years past, I met you, and you took my heart.

I stand beside you now, As you take your last breath.

Though I have lived many centuries, These years lived with you, Yet without you, are all that is real.

I gave you a choice, life eternal or life apart.

You thought to let me go, but I was never far.

I danced with you at your wedding.

Rejoiced at the birth of your child.

Shared your sorrow as war took your son.

I watched as silver touched your hair, and Your face became soft and lined.

He never deserved you, the man who shared your life.

You are my love, my heart and soul.

My forever wife.

I will not leave you now that your heart now longer beats.

I could not bear to never more look into your eyes.

I will hold your hand and await my own end.

The curtain is drawn, and the light filters in.

This is the final sunrise.

Blood Kiss

by Katrina W Sharp pain, blood stained.

Love and life is drained.

Life will never be the same.

Hot date, Tall, dark and handsome.

LIes told, hot kisses, passion ignited, Trails and lust, An Enchanted kiss.

An alley, fear, he was so very near.

His Blood kiss, Till the end.

Darkness evolved never to be told.

Love lies bleeding, a new life proceeding.

Darkness becomes her.

Eyes flutter, a whole new matter.

Eternally yours, in darkness forever but we will be together.

Now My blood kiss, drinking away the terror, the excitement, a vampire... life filled with blood , desires, it will never be the same

Murder on Mars (A New Orleans Mystery) Excerpt The flight was a good three hours and she arrived after four a.m. Even though it was early there was a live band playing near baggage claim. The band was exuberant and soulful at the same time; it was their way of welcoming visitors into their city. Ava paused for a moment to listen, she loved music, but unfortunately couldn’t play any type of instrument or sing for that matter, but she did admire those who were able to. She dropped a twenty dollar bill into a black hat as she made her way out of baggage claim and to the taxi stand.

There was a tall slim man leaning against a cab and as she neared he seemed to become excited, probably because he was about to get a fare so early in the morning. He pushed against the cab and stepped forward offering his help with her luggage. She had three bags with her; a large suit case, a carry on and her laptop bag which she wore strapped across her body.

Even though she was only sixteen years old Ava looked older, maybe it was because she was a fan of make-up and fashion. Fashion was a way for her to escape and pretend she was someone else, she went through many looks during her years at Clairmans Academy, and at times her looks might have been outrageous, but they were fun none the less.

She was dressed in a pair of trim black pants that hugged her curves and a silk blouse that was form fitted, her coat was dark grey a mix of a military cut with ruffles on the back just above the hem.

“Where are we going?” he asked her as he stowed her luggage in the trunk. Before she could open the passenger door he had whisked around her to open her door, and waved her into the cab.

“Le Pavillon Hotel,” she said as she took a seat. Her driver nodded his head than closed the door and within moments he was driving them away from the airport and as he did he turned on the radio to a reggae station. They pulled up to the

hotel which looked at least a hundred years old, but well kept. She remembered reading online that it was listed as a historic hotel, what she liked about it was that it was a few blocks away from the French Quarter and near the Garden District. The door opened and a bellhop welcomed her to the hotel.

It didn’t take her long to check-in and Ava was on the elevator riding up to her room. She noted she would be staying in room 930; it was on the top floor of the hotel. An older gentleman accompanied her to her room. He was shorter than Ava, his hair was beginning to grey, and he had a receding hairline which he didn’t bother to hide. He told her that his name was Tim and if she needed anything to ask for Tim and he would see to it that she got it.

There were pastries waiting for her inside the room along with the newest edition of the paper, her luggage arrived within moments. It wasn’t until after she was once more by herself that she received a text on her phone, in fact there were multiple ones and all of them from Felix. She read through them quickly as she strode to the pastries deciding that she was hungry– either that or they just looked to good to pass up. She stubbed her foot on the polished floors in her clumsiness and looked up onto the counter, the newspaper was unfolded and the headline was blaring at her. ‘Murder on Mars’ it read in bold black ink.

Murder on Mars A New Orleans Mystery book 1 M.M. Shelley Genre: Fantasy and Suspense ISBN: 13: 978-1480250062 ASIN: B00AF2MXCG Number of pages: 365 Amazon / Sony e-reader / Smashwords Book Description: A paranormal force has lured Ava to New Orleans, where shadows lurk behind every corner and an unknown power has yet to be unleashed.

There is darkness in New Orleans, one that has brought sixteen year old Ava Lopez to the city in search of her best friend, Dyson. A dark crime has been committed, and there are supernatural forces involved. Three sisters who whisper "fate" are awaiting the arrival of the Guardian.

Shadow People fiercely haunt the city, unchallenged, but Ava senses that Dyson may be involved with their crimes. She must discover the secret that the Shadows are so determined to keep hidden.

Ava will have to risk everything, because where the Fates are concerned there are no second chances.

S

ex is a big part of our lives and with an estimated 43% of Americans using sex toys it is important that what we use is safe and healthy. Consumers need to fight the government for safety regulations concerning sexual aides.

Many companies in the sex toy industry are listening to what people want- safe, eco-friendly and healthy products but the government still doesn’t care about creating regulations and health standards for the sex toy industry, they would rather ignore it and pretend that it doesn’t exist.

Sex is a fact of life and in today’s modern world we need to stop being embarrassed and stand up for our sexual freedom and our right to safe products.

Green sex toys allow us to have fun and experience a great sense of pleasure while being safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible.

It is time to give your sex toy box a green makeover.

Here are some of the materials to stay away from and a selection of sex toy materials that make super sustainable and sexy toys.

The Dangers of PVC and Phthalates in Sex Toys PVC and other plastics are often filled with phthalates- a nasty chemical used to soften the plastic and make it flexible. Phthalates have been shown to alter hormone levels, create damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system, and cause birth defects. In a study conducted by Greenpeace Netherlands 7 out of 8 sex toys contained some level of phthalates.

Try to avoid “novelty items”, really cheap toys, “jelly” materials, and anything that emits a strong chemical odor. Those are signs the toy is probably made from phthalate filled plastic.

Safer Sex Toys Not all plastic or plastic like sex toys are dangerous. Safer sex toys are made from medical grade silicone, hard plastic, elastomers, Lucite and acrylic. As long as there are no added ingredients all of these materials are phthalate free.

Silicone is a popular sex toy material for those who want to be green yet still want a more traditional style sex toy. Silicone toys are non-porous, hygienic, and pliable; they warm to the body, retain heat and are also extremely durable. They clean well with plain soap and water. Silicone is hypoallergenic and recommended to anyone who is has a rubber or latex allergy.

Glass, Granite, and Ceramic Toys High quality glass sex toys are very green. They are made with a natural resource that can easily be recycled. Just make sure you get high quality products that will not crack or break. Trusted names are Phallix, Don Wand and RubyGlass21.

All are made from heavy duty, durable Pyrex glass. Earth Erotics offers high quality glass dildos made by Jentle and their own exclusive line of Earth Erotics borosilicate blown glass wands.

Ceramic sex toys are not as popular as glass but with the rising need for eco-friendly materials ceramic toys are popping up at a few places like Coco De Mere. Ceramic dildos are slick and sexy works of art that are durable, made for lasting pleasure. Atraw Ceramic dildos are made from

non-toxic stoneware clay and finished with a dinnerware safe glaze. Another company that makes ceramic toys is Goldfrau in Australia.

Glass and ceramic are super fun ways to play green. Of course if you want something even harder you can opt for polished granite.

I don’t know how eco-friendly they are other than that they are made out of natural resource. They are not as popular or plentiful as glass and perhaps not as stylish as ceramic, but they might be something fun to try. So far I have found two styles: the Twist Stone Dildo and the Polished Granite in a realistic penis shape.

Wood Dildos Nothing says natural like wood. Sensuous curves, firm, smooth, sensuous designs and wood warms to the body and retains heat for a truly exceptional erotic experience.

I know you are probably thinking that as a treehugger you should be saving trees not using them as sex toys but trees are a renewable resource especially when they are responsibly grown and managed.

Nobessence ™ brand of wooden sex toys are made from sustainably farmed wood, mostly grown on their own tree farm- Tropical American Tree Farm. If they need something a little more exotic they make sure the wood is certified.

Not only is the wood eco-friendly but they coat their products with Lubrosity, a special odorless, hypoallergenic, waterproof, and chemical and bacteria resistant coating that is safe and natural. The Lubrosity coatings meet USP Class IV and VI Medical Device Implantation Standards.

There are no waxes to melt away, no oils that leach out, no toxic petroleum distillates, and no phthalates to worry about.

Nobessence ™ hardwood dildos can be used with any type of lubricant and are easily cleaned with soap and water or sex toy cleaner.

Aluminum and Stainless Steel Aluminum and Stainless steel are other renewable resources that can easily be recycled when you are done with them.

Stainless steel toys are sleek sexy and highly enjoyable. They are also nonporous and easy to clean. One popular brand is Njoy. Njoy sex toys are made of medical-grade stainless steel. They can be heated in warm water or cooled in the fridge. You can clean them by any means, just avoid abrasive cleansers.

Tantus Alumina sex toys are made from 100% aeronautic grade aluminum. They are designed to play with your pleasure zones. Aluminum is a lighter metal than stainless steel so it doesn't feel so heavy and is often easier to use. Each toy is anodized. This adds to the beauty of the toy and increases corrosion and wear resistance.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust and makes up about 8% of the weight of Earth's solid surface, so it is plentiful, recyclable and safe.

Recycle Your Old Sex Toys Now that you know what materials to look for when buying a green toy you can toss out your old, not so safe or eco-friendly sex toys. But instead of tossing them in the trash you can dispose of them in an eco-manner by recycling them.

It is simple and easy to help your planet and make your sex life a shade or two greener. You can get rid of your broken, old, unused or unsafe sex toy and recycle it. Materials that recycled are rubber, silicone, plastic, and the motorized parts.

Learn more at www.recycleyoursextoy.com

Excerpt: OMEGA (Penton Legacy, Book 3) by Susannah Sandlin Will stopped and scented the air again. There were two vampires nearby; one belonged to the Penton scathe, and one didn’t.

He ignored both vampires and skirted to the back of the street where the burned shell of his house still smelled of smoke and ash after three days. Aligning his position with the oak tree twenty feet behind what was left of his chimney, he paced forty steps into the woods.

A thorny bramble that had been draped over a small, scrubby bush pricked his fingers when he pulled it back. Grasping the trunk of the bush, he eased it from its loose grasp in the soil, exposing the top of a metal box.

The loud click of a cocked pistol preceded the cold press of steel against the back of his head by less than a second.

He inhaled, annoyed. A rookie mistake. He’d gotten so engrossed in his task he’d let someone slip up on him.

Vampire.

Penton scathe.

Female.

Freaking Randa. *** Randa grinned, enjoying the disgusted look on Will’s face. “If I were your father, I’d already have the silver spoon back in your mouth, Willy. He’d have you trussed up like a rodeo calf by now, hauling you back to wherever it is he lives when he’s not terrorizing innocent people.”

Will Ludlam was the kind of guy Randa Thomas had hated as a human, and she didn’t like him a bit more as a vampire.

Less, in fact. Not only was he a spoiled rich boy, he was now a virtually immortal spoiled rich boy. He had probably been a bluechip jock in school with a 4.0 GPA and a string of girls trailing his every step.

Plus, he annoyed the hell out of her. The consummate smartass.

“No, if you were my father, you’d have slit my throat—not enough to kill me, but enough to make sure I couldn’t fight back.” His voice was soft, calm. “Then you’d hand me over to your sadistic, freakshow of a second-in-command Shelton, who would play with me until I couldn’t take it anymore. Only when I was good and broken would you return the silver spoon to my mouth.”

Good God, would any father really do that? Will didn’t sound as if he were joking. Randa relaxed her stance for only a split second before the world tilted and she hit the ground, landing on her back with Will stretched out on top of her in a full body press.

And he had her gun.

“Damn it.” She pushed against him but it was like pressing on bedrock.

He propped on his elbows and grinned down at her. His hat had fallen off in the scuffle and the moonlight glinted off his hair, making it look silver instead of a naturally streaked blond. And he had dimples, as if God hadn’t already rewarded him with enough in the looks department.

“And if I were my father, you would be dead. Or worse. Believe me, with Matthias, there’s always much worse. Give up?”

She squirmed again, but froze when she realized he was getting turned on by her movements. There was definitely more of him pressing on her than there had been a few seconds earlier.

He laughed, a white glint of teeth in the moonlight. “Oh, don’t stop moving, sweetheart. This is getting more and more interesting.”

Yeah, she could feel exactly how interested he was getting. She felt a very un-vampirelike flush of heat as he wedged a knee between her legs. Damn it. She clenched her teeth at her body’s betrayal—which he’d be able to sense. She hated being a vampire; there was no sense of privacy. “Get. Off. Me. Now.” Will lowered his head and, damn him, inhaled deeply, with his face pressed against the side of her neck. Her carotid artery also thumped in a very unvampire-like cadence. She waited for the smartass comments to start.

Instead, he lifted his head and looked her in the eye. She could swear his heartbeat sped up, although it was hard to tell over the pounding of her own. Well, this was awkward.

He blinked and opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.

Well, that was one good thing. Will had been stricken dumb, at least for a moment. It wouldn’t last.

Omega Penton Vampire Legacy, Book 3 Susannah Sandlin Genre: Paranormal Romance Publisher: Montlake Romance Date of Publication: February 5, 2013 ISBN: 978-1612183596 ASIN: B0073XV3L2 Number of pages: 328 Word Count: approx. 88,000 Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Book Depository

Book Description:

The bloody war between the Vampire Tribunal and the defiant scathe of Penton, Alabama, rages on, forcing its residents and their bonded humans to retreat into the underground fortress of last resort: Omega.

There, Will Ludlam is charged with the care of Penton's humans, though he longs to fight alongside his vampire brethren. He knows the risks: as the renegade son of the Tribunal's vicious leader, Will's capture could doom the resistance.

Yet he is determined to prove his worth to his adopted scathe, to his vengeful father and to former US Army officer Randa Thomas, his beautiful, reluctant partner. Randa has little faith that a former member of the vampire elite has what it takes to fight a war. But as their enemies descend upon Omega, Will's polished charm and Randa's guarded heart finally give way to the warrior within.

Fans of Susannah Sandlin's Penton Legacy are sure to devour this long-awaited third installment of the steamy paranormal series.

Pick a Date: A Vampire Valentine’s Day in Penton, Alabama Susannah Sandlin Imagine your ideal romantic Valentine’s Day. A romantic dinner, a shared bottle of wine, soft music, maybe a sparkling diamondlike bauble, passionate kisses…well, you get the idea.

Hang it up. You’re spending Valentine’s Day in Penton, Alabama, a small, idyllic town of about two -hundred, almost half of which are vampires.

They’re really nice vampires, though. Usually. Most of the time.

So here I give you a choice of three special Valentine’s Day evenings. You can spend your evening with Aidan Murphy, Mirren Kincaid, or Will Ludlam. Here’s what you might expect.

Aidan (whose story is featured in Redemption).

He’s just over 400 in vampire years, but was turned in his early 30s in Ireland, and still maintains a trace of an accent. He’s about six feet even, well built, has shoulder length chestnut hair and light blue eyes that grow downright frosty when he’s hungry or agitated or, um, aroused. Aidan’s the head of the Penton scathe (or vampire community), and he doesn’t tolerate disloyalty. In return, he is very loyal to his people and will put himself in danger to protect them. Aidan was a farmer in his human life, and he maintains a greenhouse that captures the sunlight during the day and grows night-blooming plants so he can still work the soil and smell the sunlight in the leaves.

A Valentine’s Day evening with Aidan would include snuggling on the sofa in front of a cozy fire, listening to some Celtic music (the real thing, not

modern interpretations), having a drink of red wine, maybe discussing a good book you’ve both read. The evening will end with tender and meaningful sex, during which you will probably be bitten. And like it.

Mirren (whose story is featured in Absolution). Another four-century-old vampire, Mirren was a gallowglass Scottish warrior of Norse descent, later turned vampire enforcer and executioner when he was in his early-to-mid 30s. He was very, very good at killing, and became widely feared among vampires as The Slayer. Mirren still has his battle axe and his sword, Faolain, but he now fights against the Vampire Tribunal instead of working for them. He’s a 6-8 moose of a man, with black short hair, a Vandyke beard, and stormcloud-gray eyes. He’s heavily tattoed, and is second-in-command in Penton. Mirren can be gruff and monosyllabic. Well, okay, he can be a jerk. But he has a wicked sense of humor he keeps hidden, and does have a soft underbelly if you are patient enough to look for it.

A Valentine’s Day evening with Mirren would include a glass of bourbon, a ride on one of his vintage motorcycles, and maybe an old Western shoot-em-up on his state-of-the-art entertainment system. He won’t talk much, but he does listen well and is good with smartass one-liners. The evening will end with pounding, intense sex, during which you will probably be bitten. And like it.

Will (whose story is featured in Omega). William’s the baby of the Penton lieutenants, having been turned in 1969 when he was only 22. He still has the

sun-streaked blond hair from his human days, paired with honey-brown eyes, dimples to die for, and a well-proportioned six-foot frame.

Will’s outgoing and friendly—razor-sharp wit, scary smart, with a tendency to tease people he likes unmercifully. Mirren’s a favorite target.

But Will’s got a serious side if you take the time to find it, and he’s capable of incredible sacrifice and loyalty—once you’ve earned it. He’s got a bit of a reputation as a ladies’ man. Okay, he might have earned it.

be take you to hear a good band (although, be warned: he’s fond of the music from his human era so don’t be surprised to hear “classic rock”). You might cruise around in his cream-colored vintage Corvette, and stop to take in the stars if it isn’t too cold. He will find out something you’re sensitive about and tease you until you can’t decide whether to slap him silly or laugh. The evening will end with creative, high-energy sex, which might or might not involve role-playing, during which you will probably be bitten. And like it.

A Valentine’s day with Will would start with flowers. He’d ply you with chocolate and may-

So, welcome to Penton, ladies. With whom will you be sharing your evening?

About the Author: Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night. A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch and the horror fantasy of Stephen King. (Um…it is fantasy, right?) The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana.

Website: http:// www.susannahsandlin.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susannahsandlin Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susannahsandlin Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828129.Susannah_Sandlin Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781612183541

The Psychological Appeal of the Fictional Vampire

By Roxanne Rhoads Vampires give us what we need.

The strength to fight the bad guys, the smoothness that gets the girl, the sexiness that grabs the guy, forever young, beautiful, powerful…

By living vicariously through vampires we can fulfill all of our fantasies. Vampires become extensions of ourselves, a way to deal with the monster inside, accept it and enjoy it.

Consider this quote from Richard Dyer that appears in the book The Lure of the Vampire by Milly Williamson.

“If the vampire is an other, he or she was always a figure in whom one could find one’s self…the despicable as well as the defiant, the shameful as well as the unashamed, the loathing of oddness as well as pride in it.”

The image of the vampire, everything that the vampire represents, is a way to accept and revel in everything that makes us odd and everything that we would love to do and to be.

In the book Blood Read this quote graces the introduction written by Joan Gordon and Veronica Hollinger: “An ambiguously coded figure, a source of both erotic anxiety and corrupt desire, the literary vampire is one of the most powerful archetypes bequeathed to us from the imagination of the nineteenth century.”

And now, in the twenty first century the liter-

ary vampire is still one of the most profound archetypes of any literary character or monster that we see today.

The vampire on the page still reigns supreme as he (or she) embodies more universal feelings of desire, empathy, and oneness than any other creature. The literary vampire lets us fully live out that wild existence and forbidden experiences in our way, vicariously through the words on the page. And even though the author leads the way we still use our own imaginations and desires to come up with an image that is each uniquely our own-not those pushed onto us by Hollywood.

The vampire in a book is each and everyone’s own personal fantasy. And now we have so many to choose from we can decide which book, which series, which vampires we love the most.

And fulfill that need inside us that reaches for something different while still finding something of ourselves in the Other.

A Review of Instinctive by Cathryn Fox Reviewed by Roxanne Rhoads The first novel in Cathryn Fox’s series, Eternal Pleasures, is a steamy, erotic book full of supernatural seduction and paranormal primal sexuality at its best.

Instinctive introduces us to Jaclyn Vasenty, a scandalous young woman who is about to inherit a cosmetics empire. She moves to a gated community in Serene, New Hampshire to hopefully lead a quieter life. Too bad when she moves there she has no idea that Serene is home to demons, witches, vampires, lycans, and panthers that love to play dangerously sexy games and the town is anything but Serene once the sun goes down.

Among the paranormal creatures in her community one shape shifting panther in particular draws Jaclyn’s attention; Slyck is a sexy shape shifter that opens her eyes to all sorts of erotic possibilities.

The book opens right up with a sizzling hot sex scene and never fails to disappoint throughout the book.

Scene after scene of a variety of sexual scenarios will leave you hotter than a tin roof in July. Grab a fan and a cold drink before settling down to read this scorcher.

I am a huge fan of paranormals and this book has a delightful mix of many creatures coexisting in a community…and displaying such wild sexual diversity among them. It’s a wild romp into a supernatural side of sex that you don’t often see in other books.

If you love paranormal erotica this is a book for you…and then some.

Wow. Hotter than hot. The combination of a strong heroine and a shape shifting hero is not to miss and the way they interact is a combustible combination that will leave your windows fogged up.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, Impulsive- this one’s going to be a werewolf tale (I love me some werewolves) and will be out in May 2010.

Title: Instinctive Author: Cathryn Fox Publisher: NAL Trade Release Date: October 6, 2009 ISBN-10: 0451227948 ISBN-13: 978-0451227942 Cover Price: $14.00

7 Interesting Facts About the Original Novel of Dracula By Armand Inezian Dracula may not have been the first vampire story, but it blended elements of myth, legend, drama, horror and romance (and a distinctly British perspective) to create the modern vampire novel.

Interestingly, however, many people have not actually read the original novel, but have instead seen the various film adaptations or learned about the book via references from modern fantasy novels.

In fact, Bram Stoker's Dracula has been reinterpreted so many times that elements of the original book have been lost. In an effort to set the record straight, below is a list of some of the more interesting (and lesser known) facts about the original book as penned by Bram Stoker in 1897. fact 1. Van Helsing, was old, distinctly not sexy, and talked way too much.

Today's vampire hunters are often young, sexy and tough, but Professor Abraham Van Helsing of Amsterdam (yes, he is Dutch) was originally presented as a kindly and wise old gentleman (with "bushy brows") who tended to blabber on and on. His dialogue is anything but snappy. In Dracula, his lengthy monologues and diatribes fill often half a page or more.

fact 2. The story is told by a collection of letters, journals, and newspaper clippings.

We are so used first person fantasy thrillers (like the Dresden Files or Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series) or 3rd person narration (like Harry Potter) that it's easy to imagine that Dracula is also told in this way.

In fact, the story of Dracula is told entirely through letters, newspaper clippings, and journal entries, as though someone had stumbled onto them and put them together like a jigsaw puzzle to tell the entire story. The first words in the book are: "Chapter 1: Jonathan Harker's Journal..." fact 3. Dracula had facial hair.

Various incarnations of Dracula have been cleanshaven, but the original Dracula is described thus: "His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel looking, with peculiarly sharp, white teeth..." He is later described as having a pointed beard. You gotta watch out for those bearded guys!

fact 4. Dracula does housework: The beginning of Dracula concerns itself with Jonathan Harker's journey to visit the Count in Transylvania. At first, he arrives thinking that he will be Dracula's guest, but he is soon ensnared by the dark lord. In the meantime, however, Dracula must trick Harker into believing that he is the guest at a fancyschmancy castle, this includes all the fineries like dinners and cigars and such.

The only problem, however, is that old Drac' has no staff, so he sneaks around, setting tables and doing dishes when Jonathan is out of the room. In fact, he even pretends to be his own coachman when he goes to pick up Jonathan at a mountain crossroads. As Jonathan writes (in his journal): "I heard the great door below shut, and knew that the Count had returned. He did not come at once into the library, so I went cautiously into my own room and found him making my bed..." fact 5. Dracula's origins are discussed. His powers come from a deal with the Devil.

After consulting with Arminius, a professor in Hungary, Van Helsing states that, "The Draculas... were a great and noble race, though now and again were scions who who were held by their coevals to have had dealings with the Evil One. They learned his secrets in the Scholomance, among the mountains over Lake Hermanstadt, where the devil claims the tenth scholar as his due..."... or to put it simply, Dracula became a vampire after selling his soul over to Satan in exchange for dark, ritual knowledge.

fact 6: The scariest scenes are travel scenes (the stagecoach and ship voyages).

For me, the scariest scenes in Drac-

ula are not the passages where Dracula claims his victims, but instead the creepy travel scenes.

One is the opening stage coach segment during which the locals race a stagecoach as fast as possible to keep Jonathan from meeting Count Dracula's own coach at a preordained crossroad and- just when they think they pulled it off- Dracula (disguised as his own coachman!) shows up.

Another great/ creepy passage is the captain's log of the doomed voyage of the Demeter, the ship that Dracula stows away in.

Even by modern standards, the disappearance of one crewman after another and the accompanying fear and paranoia is pretty unnerving. fact 7: Bram Stoker weaves narrative magic and creates a new template of forbidden love when Jonathan wonders what he will do if the Mina (the love of his life) is turned into a vampire.

As the book draws to a close, Mina and Jonathan finds themselves in a horrible situation. She has been infected by Dracula's blood, and she might soon find herself becoming a vampire. Jonathan is eventually forced to contemplate what this might mean: "To one thing I have made up my mind. If we find out that Mina must be a vampire in the end, then she shall not go into the unknown and terrible land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one vampire meant many... so the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for their ghastly ranks..." This beautiful turn-of-phrase introduced one of the most common tropes of modern fantasy/ romance: What do I do if I love a vampire?

~Armand Inezian is the author of VampCon, a dark fantasy thriller containing thousands of bullets, hundreds of vampires, two portals to damnation, and one bloody chance at redemption. Available now on Amazon, for Kindle, and for Nook.

VampCon Armand Inezian Genre: Fantasy, Fantasy Thriller, or Dark Fantasy Thriller.

Publisher: Greyhart Press, Bromham UK. ISBN: 978-1478279525 ASIN: B009FMWCF0 Number of pages: 310 Word Count: approximately 95,000 Cover Artist: Banchick Illustration.

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=SHDEuJ6HGQI&feature=player_embedded Print editions through Amazon, Amazon UK., ebooks at B&N Nook Reader Kindle. Diesel eBooks (for iPad and Android Tablets) Smashwords eBooks (for Nook, iPad, and Kobo) and at the Kobo store (for Kobo!)

Book Description: Jonathan Stoker is a reluctant vampire who wants nothing to do with the dark world that turned him. He isolates himself, sucking nonlethal quantities of blood from helpless drunks and making a marginal living. However after he learns that someone he holds dear has been lured to the VampCon, a cut-throat vampire summit, Jonathan is forced to deal with his kind again.

But Jonathan and company quickly discover that the VampCon is much more than a meeting. It’s a conspiracy that holds the key to both the creation and possible extinction of all vampires.

Now Jonathan has no choice but to come to terms with his own dark side while working with a small band of troublemakers to stop a nightmare from coming true.

About the Author : Armand Inezian resides in Boston with his wife, two children, and three cats. In addition to writing, he also works two day jobs, one in grants administration and the other in teaching English, and he is grateful for both. He graduated from Emerson College with an MFA in Creative Writing. His short stories have appeared in various literary journals including The Missouri Review and Glimmer Train. In 2003, his short story, Baer, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Another of his shorts, See Me, won the Glimmer Train Story Open in 2008. VampCon is his first completed novel.

Blog: https://armandinezian.wordpress.com/ Amazon Author Profile: http://www.amazon.com/ Armand-Inezian/e/B009FRASC4/ ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/4078320.Armand_Inezian FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/armand.inezian Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArmandInezian

Gabrielle's Cauldron

By Ann Gimpel

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books ISBN: 978-1-93176-119-2

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Gabrielle McCallaghan just lost her job. Seeing the writing on the wall, she quit to spare her uncle the embarrassment of having to fire her. With her bond fairy on her shoulder, she strides through a crowded neighborhood contemplating her options.

Out of nowhere, a gorgeous, full blood magic wielder appears and makes a beeline right for her. Gabby knows her hybrid witch magic is no match for his, so she tries to evade him. The fairy does her best to help, but the contest is laughable. Even in his human form, the wolf-man is still stronger than she ever dreamed of being.

It doesn’t take long before Gabby is drawn into a deadly game of intrigue that started over a thousand years before. The stakes are high and the timing abysmal, but she finds herself falling in love in spite of herself. Can she and her full blood lover make a life for themselves? Or will the long-running battle between full bloods and hybrids pound the fragile bond between them to dust?

Excerpt:

Gabrielle shook her head. She was shocked at how eager she was to be free of Brad and this office.

Now that the possibility of independence sat there, beckoning to her, she couldn’t resist. “Thanks, Uncle Brad. You’ve been more than kind to me.”

He cleared his throat. “Well,” he said, voice surprisingly gentle, “keep in touch. If you stop by tomorrow, Gabrielle knew how little she’d done. “That’s okay. I’ll just grab my things and be out of your hair. I—” but she didn’t know what else to say. Suddenly uncomfortable, she turned away from her uncle and went to clear her few possessions out of her desk. After inadvertently slamming her long, dark hair in a desk drawer, she pulled it into an untidy pony tail. Ten minutes later, she let herself out the swinging glass door adorned with BRAD MCCALLAGHAN, CPA, in faded, dark blue letters.

“That wasn’t very smart,” she muttered to the pixie sitting on her shoulder. “What am I going to do now?”

Doesn’t matter, I’m free.

“No, we’re free,” Amalia corrected. The pixie was clearly in mind-reading mode. "It hasn’t been any fun at all being your bond fairy ever since you took that job. All you’ve done is grump around, hating life.”

Gabrielle stared balefully at the pixie. “You need to keep your opinions to yourself.”

“Why?” Amalia crossed one leg over the other. The foot that dangled beat a tattoo against Gabby’s breast.

“Never mind.” Knowing it would be wasted breath to try to get the pixie to do anything but what she wanted, Gabrielle sucked in crisp autumn air and walked toward the bus stop. It felt good to be outside. Not living a lie anymore was a big relief. She’d struggled with guilt for months about her antipathy for Microsoft Excel, Turbo Tax and Tax Cut. At least that part was over.

Strangers swirled around her. Seattle’s Capitol Hill was always full of people. Gabrielle looked longingly at a Starbuck’s sign, but three dollar coffees weren’t part of her new austerity plan. Actually, neither was the bus. What she needed to do was walk home. She had the time. And lower Queen Anne Hill wasn’t all that far away. She could be home in an hour.

What a joke. I have nothing but time now. Maybe if I walked more, I could get rid of some of this blubber. She tugged at the too-tight waistband of her too-short dark green skirt. Sitting eight hours a day hadn’t improved her figure at all. Gabrielle knew her height masked extra pounds; she also knew she’d gained a good ten since she started working for her uncle.

“Don’t stare,” Amalia hissed, sea-blue eyes wide with apprehension, “but that looks like trouble.” The pixie always reverted to mind speech when she felt threatened. Good thing too. Her constant dialogue had gotten Gabrielle into trouble more than once when someone had assumed she was the source of some smartass comment or other. Not all humans could hear pixies. It depended how much magic they had. The problem was when a person had no idea they had magic, but had been blessed—or cursed—with just enough to hear fairy chatter. Those folk were the ones who’d ended up in asylums a hundred years ago. Now doctors just crammed them full of mind-numbing drugs.

Gabrielle’s head snapped up. A hunk of a man who radiated power—wore it like an aura that screamed how much clout he had—strode down the opposite side of the street as if he owned the world. Coppery hair fell nearly to his waist. Well past six feet, he was dressed like a pirate in a creamcolored shirt with full, old-fashioned sleeves, a dark brown leather vest, and tight-fitting, black leather pants that left very little to the imagination. Knee-high boots of buff-colored suede fit over the pants.

Apparently feeling her gaze on him, he slowed, head turning from side to side. Gabrielle could have sworn he was scenting the air like a dog.

“What is he?” Gabby sent. “I know he’s a full blood, but what kind?” Because pixies were entirely magical just like the full bloods, they were often quicker on the uptake. Gabby was a hybrid and her human blood often got in the way.

“Warg. He can see me, Gabby. Do something.” Amalia’s nails dug into her shoulder.

The pixie’s words had barely registered when a wolfish amber gaze settled on Gabrielle, boring into her. Heart racing, she ducked into the first shop she saw.

“Are you all right, miss?” A shopkeeper hurried over. Dyed red hair spiked in curls that fell past her shoulders. Sharp, green eyes took in Gabby and her off-the-rack J.C. Penney’s clothes.

Gabrielle looked around and saw she’d entered a lingerie store, and a pricey one at that judging from the tags hanging off flimsy bits of silk. She tried to quiet her breathing. “Yes. Just thought I’d, uh, look around a bit. I have a friend who’s, ah, getting married.” She offered up what she hoped was a convincing smile, reinforced by the tiniest leave me alone spell. The last thing she needed was for the salesclerk to boot her out of the store.

“There you are, darling.” A cultured baritone rang from the doorway. The voice had a definite German accent. “Nice of you to shop for something to entertain me.” The warg moved to her side and slid a hand under her elbow. A blast of sexual energy set Gabby’s nerves on fire. Her nipples pebbled instantly and her skin tingled with promise. Mostly so she wouldn’t throw herself into his arms, she took a step away and tried to settle her heart back into a normal rhythm. But the warg’s heat—and a delicious musky scent—followed her.

The shop girl’s eyes grew huge. She was practically salivating. Gabby could tell she was struggling to keep her gaze above the warg’s waist. “Welcome to my shop, sir,” she cooed. “We have things for men too.”

He raised a well-formed eyebrow. “Yes, dear. Your whole shop is actually for men.”

About the Author Ann Gimpel is a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Two novels, Psyche’s Prophecy, and its sequel, Psyche’s Search, have been published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing, a small press. A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family. www.anngimpel.com http://anngimpel.blogspot.com http://www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel http://www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author @AnnGimpel (for Twitter)

By Lisa McGeen

Ingredients 1 pound (about 20) strawberries with stems, washed and dried very well 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped Directions Rinse, but do not hull the strawberries. Drain and pat completely dry.

Put the semisweet chocolate into heatproof medium bowls. Fill medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. *Cook's Note: Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a glass dish in the microwave on high power for 60 seconds. Remove, stir and microwave for 10 seconds more until the chocolate has melted. Allow the chocolate to cool slightly to thicken Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the bottom half of each strawberry in the melted chocolate. Twist the strawberry so that the chocolate forms a "tail" at the end. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining strawberries.

High Gravity Embarkment 2577, Novella 2 Maria Hammarblad Genre: Scifi Romance ISBN: 1456515128 ISBN-13: 978-1456515126 ASIN: B004HO673O Number of pages: 131 Word Count: 28566 Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/FWMObuBulXc Purchase Links: http://amzn.com/B004HO673O Book Description:

In this second novella in the "Embarkment 2577" series, the story picks up shortly after it left off in "Brand New World." The main character Alex has come to terms with her new life on a starship in the year 2577, and reluctantly won both respect and admiration for her actions during an alien attempt to conquer the ship.

Little does she know a number of new trials are about to shake her world. Besides encounters with alien species and an unexpected relative surfacing, a fatal navigation error will test her relationships with both her android lover and her friends.

Excerpt High Gravity “Joshen Martinez is an old friend of mine, a mentor, he wouldn’t hurt you. He just wants to connect you to a machine that will tap out your memories. Your knowledge is valuable, and everyone would be able to see what you know. Sort of... like watching a movie.”

Having people watch all my memories? Intrusion of privacy, much?

I got to my feet. “I’ve heard enough of this. I have other things to do.”

Kevin stood up too. “Yes you do. Go pack your bags. This joke is over and you’re coming with me to the Kentucky.”

I took a step towards the door. “In your dreams.”

Blake said, “Sit down. Both of you.”

He didn’t raise his voice, but it was impossible not to obey. Kevin opened his mouth and my Captain made a dismissive gesture. “You’ve already said too much. Sit down and be quiet.”

Watching the scientist sink down, carefully keeping his mouth shut, filled me with glee. Blake pressed a button on his desk. “Commander Adam, could you come to my office for a minute, please.”

My husband’s voice filled the room. “Right away, Sir.” I didn’t realize how tense I was until he stood in the doorway and I dared relax. He glanced between me and Kevin and crossed his arms over his chest. Adam was tall, strong, intimidating, and mine.

“What’s going on?”

Once again, Kevin opened his mouth. Blake snapped, “Silence.”

Kevin leaned back in his chair and rolled his eyes.

“Adam, this is Kevin. He has come to retrieve your wife.”

“Not happening, Sir.” I wanted to squirm. “Can I move now?”

Blake smirked. “Yes Alex, you may move.”

I bounced to my feet and threw my arms around Adam. He hugged me back and murmured, “Don’t worry.”

After kissing me tenderly, he put his hands on my shoulders and turned me around so I faced Kevin.

Then, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. “This is my wife. She means more to me than my life. She definitely means more to me than your life. If I were you, I’d choose my next words wisely.”

I glanced up at him. “I love you too.”

He smiled and brushed his lips over my temple.

Blake leaned his elbows on the desk and tapped his fingers together. “Mr Nolan, have we satisfied your curiosity, or do you wish to continue the discussion with the commander? I’m sure he’d be more than happy to demonstrate his... abilities. Would you like to see him fold a spare piece of hull plating a couple of times?”

“We’re good.”

Brand New World Embarkment 2577, novella 1 Maria Hammarblad Genre: Scifi Romance ISBN: 1456338366 ISBN-13: 978-1456338367 ASIN: B004HO630G Number of pages: 128 Word Count: 29477 Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/FWMObuBulXc Amazon

Book Description:

When Alexandra wakes up in an unknown environment, populated by a cat-like woman with a tail and a hologram of a rockstar, she knows she has to be hallucinating. Maybe she hit her head, or finally suffered that nervous breakdown. It doesn't get any better from finding out she died and was taken into the future by the elusive Adam, whom she can't remember, or from people telling her she's on a spaceship.

The last year or so is gone from her memory, and she has no choice but to try to adapt. As days go by, her new environment becomes more and more unnerving. She finds herself helpless, and completely dependent on a man who isn't even human.

"Brand New World" is the first novella in the "Embarkment 2577" series.

Author Bio: Born in Sweden in the early 1970's, Maria showed a large interest for books at an early age. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together into booklets she filled with drawings of suns and planets. She proudly declared them, "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun. She also claimed, to her mother's horror, that her being on Earth was a big mistake and that her alien family would come and bring her home at any moment. This never happened, but both the interest in space and the passion for bookmaking stayed with her.

As an adult Maria's creativity got an outlet through playing bass in a number of rock bands, and through writing technical manuals and making web pages for various companies and organizations. She did write drafts for a few novels, but the storytelling muse was mostly satisfied through role playing online on Myspace. It was here, while writing stories together with people from around the globe, she stumbled onto Mike. They started talking out of character, and she moved over to Florida to him late 2008. Today the two are married and live in the Tampa Bay area with three rescue dogs.

Besides writing and playing bass, Maria enjoys driving off-road, archery, and Tameshigiri.

Upcoming releases Flashback, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing June 2013 Operation Earth, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing August 2013 Borealis XII, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing November 2013 Find Maria on the web Website: http://www.hammarblad.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariahammarblad Blog: http://www.scifiromance.info Twitter: @mariahammarblad Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114780.Maria_Hammarblad Publisher's website: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com

A Time for Everything Ann Gimpel Blurb: Siobhan Macquire’s fortune has attracted a string of men who are out to drain her for everything they can get. Her last boyfriend was no exception. Furious at being used— again—she goes for a walk in the Highlands.

With the weather worsening, she wanders alone for hours.

She’s soaking wet and starting to get scared when someone calls out to her. A striking-looking man emerges from the mist. Except there’s something wrong. His kilt is way too long and he talks with an archaic accent. Siobhan soon finds herself not only lost in the countryside but also in time.

Excerpt: Sam pulled the draw cords of her hood tighter, squinting against driving rain. She shivered, willing her legs to move faster. Even in the northern latitudes, it got dark eventually during what passed for summer, and the light was definitely fading. One foot sloughed into a hole. Cursing roundly, she yanked it out, noting the mud added what felt like ten pounds to her tired leg. Going on a ramble— as the locals called it—by herself had seemed like a good idea earlier in the afternoon. Now she wasn’t so sure. It had been hours since she’d seen another soul. The air felt heavy—and threatening, somehow.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she scolded herself. “My imagination’s off the clock, working overtime.”

A flash off toward the river was followed almost immediately by a rumbling crash. It started raining harder. The sky lit again, casting the wet greenery and surrounding mountains in a macabre glow. Thunder sounded so loud it made her ears ring. The next lightning flare sparked off a rock not twenty feet away. Sam’s heart sped up. She stared at the mountains ringed about her. Why wasn’t the storm up there? Lightning was supposed to be drawn to high points, not meadows saturated with water.

As if determined to prove her wrong, another flash struck the ground off to her left. She threw her hands over her ears but the thunder reverberated in her brain as if someone had struck an anvil right next to her. Shaking her head to try to make her ears stop hurting, she started walking again. Lightning struck inches from her feet. Sam lurched to a stop, blinking to clear the afterimage. Even as wet

as it was, the air felt electrified, thick with sharp edges. She could almost see marauding electrons reaching for her, hungry little mouths wide open.

Fear raced along her nerve endings, making her feel as if she’d downed half a dozen double espressos in a row. The breath whooshed out of her and her head spun crazily.

The storm’s trying to kill me.

Oh, please, she answered herself. Sam hated her tendency to engage in two-way inner dialogue,

but she’d done it all her life.

An excruciating twenty minutes and half a dozen lightning strikes later, she thought it might be safe to move. It was raining like a son of a bitch, but after striking what looked like a circle around where she stood, the electrical part of the storm had left as quickly as it had come.

Guess the storm gods didn’t want me, after all.

Why should they? No one else does.

Sam sank into a funk. Shit, could I possibly be any wetter? Weather in the British Isles had been

particularly wretched this summer. “Yeah, sort of like the rest of my life,” she muttered as she tried to assess if she’d be better off staying on the track or cutting cross-country toward where she thought a roadway was. Resolutely, she struck out for the road and promptly stepped into calf-deep water. It ran over the top of her boot and soaked her thick, woolen sock before she could jerk her foot back to solid ground.

So much for that idea. Obviously, there’d been so much rain the ground on both sides of the track had turned into a bog. She’d never seen one before this trip to Scotland. They were hideous. Miles of saturated ground with water deep enough to reach her knees in some places. Sam glanced at her watch and groaned. She’d been walking for close to five hours. No wonder it was getting dark. The village she was aiming for shouldn’t actually be all that far away. In fact, she should have been there long since. About to tuck her watch back under her sleeve, she took one last look at it and realized the second hand had stopped. She tapped the crystal with her finger but nothing happened.

Crap! Wonder when it quit? Must be the damp.

Yes, another less pleasant voice piped up, it also means I have no idea how long I’ve been walk-

ing. Peering through mist-shrouded countryside, she looked for some signs of Beauly Village but all

she saw were sheep.

Sam told herself to keep walking. It wasn’t as if there was anywhere she could even sit to consider her options. Everything dripped water. Her jacket and pants, which had always provided adequate protection from the elements back in the States, were woefully inadequate here. She was afraid to pull out her cell phone. Electronics and water definitely weren’t compatible. Yeah, just look what happened to my watch. Dark thoughts crowded her mind. Why had she thought it would be romantic to spend a year in Scotland?

You know why, an inner voice—the nasty one—sneered. It was your infatuation with Clint. Sam gave her resident maven a point for accuracy. Clint, with his spiffy Scottish intonations, dreamy blue eyes, and red-blonde curls, had sweet-talked her into bankrolling a trip to his home. Between his ever-so-broad shoulders, washboard abs, and nice, tight ass, he’d barely let her out of bed for a month.

By the time she’d figured out the reason he had so much time on his hands was because he didn’t have a job, it was too late. She was head over heels in love. And hoping desperately that this time it would lead her to the altar. After all, it wasn’t as if he had to work. All he needed to do was treat her like a queen. She had plenty of money for both of them.

Eager to grant her prince whatever he wanted, she’d readily agreed when he’d talked longingly of going back to Scotland for a while. Except he’d had a personality transplant practically the second they’d landed in Glasgow. In the month-and-a-half since they’d arrived, she’d scarcely seen him. He was always off with his mates, as he called them, drinking or climbing. There were weeks when he hadn’t returned to their rental flat in Inverness at all. Worse, she suspected some of those mates were gay. When she’d asked him if he swung both ways his eyes had turned to blue ice chips. He’d twisted away and slammed out of the house. That was the last time she’d seen him.

Water ran off the bill of her hood. Some of it dripped into one eye. “Oh to hell with it,” she snarled. “I’m catching the first plane out of here—without him.” She sighed, feeling sad and angry by turns. Clint was far from the first man who’d taken advantage of her. As soon as they found out she

was an heiress to a whiskey fortune, they promised her the moon and then fleeced her for everything they could get. She’d gotten pretty cagy in the years between sixteen and her current twenty-five.

She’d even rented a modest apartment in Seattle and pretended she lived there when she met someone new.

Eventually, though, when she thought a guy might be different, she took him to the Capitol Hill mansion she’d more-or-less inherited after her parents relocated to one of their many other homes. No matter how promising a relationship looked, the truth of that rambling mansion was always the beginning of the end.

About the Author

Ann Gimpel is a mountaineer at heart. Recently retired from a long career as a psychologist, she remembers many hours at her desk where her body may have been stuck inside four walls, but her soul was planning yet one more trip to the backcountry. Around the turn of the last century (that would be 2000, not 1900!), she managed to finagle moving to the Eastern Sierra, a mecca for those in love with the mountains. It was during long backcountry treks that Ann’s writing evolved.

Unlike some who see the backcountry as an excuse to drag friends and relatives along, Ann prefers her solitude. Stories always ran around in her head on those journeys, sometimes as a hedge against abject terror when challenging conditions made her fear for her life, sometimes for company. Eventually, she returned from a trip and sat down at the computer. Three months later, a five hundred page novel emerged. Oh, it wasn’t very good, but it was a beginning. And, she learned a lot between writing that novel and its sequel.

Around that time, a friend of hers suggested she try her hand at short stories. It didn’t take long before that first story found its way into print and they’ve been accepted pretty regularly since then. A trilogy, the Transformation Series, featuring Psyche’s Prophecy, Psyche’s Search and Psyche’s Promise is complete. The initial two books have been published, with the final volume scheduled for release in 2012. One of Ann’s passions has always been ecology, so her tales often have a green twist and the Transformation Series is no exception.

In addition to writing, Ann enjoys wilderness photography. Part of her website is devoted to photos of her beloved Sierra. And she lugs pounds of camera equipment in her backpack to distant locales every year. A standing joke is that over ten percent of her pack weight is camera gear which means someone else has to carry the food! That someone else is her husband. They’ve shared a life together for a very long time. Children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out their family.

Excerpt Wicked Valentine Chapter One What in the hell was wrong with this picture? She was at a retreat, or what she liked to think of as a stupid idea someone with too much time had come up with to push her and her coworkers into learning to communicate better, get a feel for what each employee wanted to get out of the job, and figure out a way to provide better service…and some other crap she couldn’t remember at the moment.

Why in the world did she have to be there? She slapped her calf, killing off another mosquito. Darkness enveloped the group around the campfire, which made it easy for her glance over to the side and chug on the wine bottle, the one she had strategically placed next to the tree trunk she sat on. Everyone was so involved in “sharing” that they didn’t notice her getting drunk in the back, alone. And that was perfectly fine by her.

If only they would stop the incessant chatter already and send her off to bed, giving her some peace. But if she went to bed in her very lonely cabin, she wouldn’t be able to watch Max. She glanced off to the side, as if admiring the scenery, and took another gulp of wine, the fruity flavor no longer bursting on her tongue but mixing with the lingering sweetness from her previous swig.

“Sabrina?” Eve’s sharp tone made her jerk to face the rest of the group. Normally she wouldn’t mind being called by her real name, though everyone outside of work knew her as Nina, but the way Eve said it, with so much severity, it made her want to wince.

“Hmm?” The outdoors and nature did nothing to smooth out Eve’s harsh features. Nor did she look anywhere near friendly with the glare she directed toward Nina. Nina had to fight the urge to giggle every time Eve looked at her that way. Eve reminded her of Cruella de Vil. “I asked if there was anything you’d like to add to the discussion?”

Nina’s gaze slid past Eve to lock on Max. His lips quirked, almost like he knew exactly what she’d been doing.

Too bad he was so far away and there were all those people there, or she’d finally do something about the attraction that didn’t let her sleep. She was ready to finally give in to temptation and have her way with him. Screw the fact that they worked together. Or better said, she worked for him.

“No, Eve. I think what you have shared covers all the important points we’re here to discuss.” Lie. She had no clue what Eve had been saying.

Eve’s frown smoothed, and she lifted her chin. “Thank you, Sabrina.” She turned back to the others, effectively dismissing her. “As I was saying…”

Nina shut Eve’s low, droning voice out of her mind again and peeked down a passageway between the trees.

There was enough light from the campsite, she could just make out her way down the path. Curiosity got a hold of her. She stood on wobbly legs and blinked. The group spun out of focus for a second.

“Sabrina?”

Nina took a few steps toward the dimly lit passage in the woods before she turned to Max’s enquiring voice.

“I’m just going to the ladies room for a moment.” She pointed in the direction of the trees.

“Wait! That’s not…”

She ignored Max’s call to her and strolled off, breaking twigs and dead leaves with each step. Mosquitoes nibbled on her legs, each bite a constant reminder that she wished she was home in her bed, relaxing, or at least with someone that would help her fight the arousal shooting through her whenever she glanced at Max. But she’d broken up with her last boyfriend a while back. Since he didn’t get the message that she was no longer interested, she had stopped going to the places she might encounter him.

With each step she took, the sound of the river beckoned her in its direction. Her foot caught, and she tripped on a branch. She squealed as the earth tilted in front of her. Rocky ground rushed up to meet her face.

A strong pair of hands grabbed her by the waist and hauled her backward. “I got you.” Max’s deep voice caressed her ear while he helped her straighten.

Swooshing from water streaming nearby and crickets, somewhere in the vicinity, were the only sounds to be heard. Each noise drove home the fact she was outdoors and anyone could come by, not that she cared.

He shifted her in his arms until she faced him, her front leaning heavily into his muscled body. She sighed, glancing up into his shadowed face. Not that she needed light to know what his delectable square jaw looked like. Or how brilliant his blue eyes were. He leaned back into a thick tree trunk, pulling her with him.

Slow caresses trailed down her back, making her shiver and her blood thicken in her veins. With each intimate touch, her body throbbed. It was time to stop torturing herself. She couldn’t fight her body any longer.

“I think you’ve had a few too many, beautiful. Let’s get you back to your cabin.”

“No.” She lifted on the tips of her trainers, curled her hands around his neck, and pulled his head down to her.

“Now stop torturing me, and kiss me, damn it.”

He groaned softly. “Sabrina, you’ve definitely had too much to drink. Sneaking in wine was not part of the agenda, you know.” He stroked down her spine to the curve of her ass and palmed her cheeks.

She huddled closer, cradling his erection in the juncture of her thighs. “I know it wasn’t, but Eve is boring. And it’s not that I’ve had too much too much to drink. I’ve just had enough, Max. I’m tired of fighting this. I want you.”

“Baby, you hate my guts.” He chuckled, lowered, and dropped a kiss on her nose.

Arousal gathered inside her, heating her blood by more degrees than she cared to admit. “No. I don’t hate you. I just don’t like that I want you so much.” She kissed his jaw, loving the sound of his sharp inhale when she licked his neck.

“Sabrina…”

Breaths mingled, gazes connected, and wet heat dripped from her sex. It was pure torture to have his sexy mouth so close and not get a taste. “Just kiss me, Max. I need you.”

Peaks of tension zigzagged inside her and made her shudder. He held her neck with one hand, tilted her head back, and swooped down for a kiss. Potent need, unlike any she’d ever felt before, possessed her. She whimpered into the sensual kiss. Each swipe of his tongue over hers added kindling to the explosions going off inside her. She raked her nails down his T-shirt, over his hard-muscled chest, and to his jeans. “Fuck me.”

He drew back from their kiss, ending the twining of their tongues. A scowl, deeply etched on his face, showed his disbelief at her words. But this time she wasn’t going with logic. She decided to give in to what her body desired. And it desired Max. “Sabr—” One soft moan left his lips when she gripped his cock over his jeans.

“Max, this isn’t a game. I want to see you.” She panted, unbuckling his belt. “I want to touch you.” Excitement rushed through her, urging her to unzip his jeans. “I want to taste you…”

Wicked Valentine Sizzling Encounters Book 2 April Angel Book Description: Who knew being wicked could be this fun?

Maxwell Stone has wanted Sabrina for over a year. But Nina’s the ultimate professional and has no intention of getting involved.

That is, until the night she gets a little tipsy and finds herself begging for his touch.

After an intense night of making Nina’s sexual fantasies come true, Max finds he doesn’t want to let her go. Nina wants Maxwell too, but she won’t put her job on the line for any man.

She loves the passion they shared, but when she’s invited to the Wicked Valentine Ball, she decides it’s time to put Max out of her mind. Of course, the last thing she expects is for him to be her es-

cort.

And she doesn’t expect to find someone else trying to keep them apart.

Permanently…

Amazon

BN

ARe

About the Author:

Want to know about me? April Angel (aka Milly Taiden) was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic.

She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy.

She’s addicted to shopping for shoes, chocolate (but who isn’t?) and Dunkin Donuts coffee.

A bookworm when she can get her hands on a good story, she loves reading all Mina Carter, Cynthia Eden and Dianne Duvall among others.

Website: http://www.millytaiden.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/millytaidenauthor Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/millytaiden

Cupid Rocks Francesca Hawley ISBN: 9781419945281 Book Length: Novel Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc. Availability: Feb 22, 2013 DESCRIPTION When her parents’ rock band The Pack performs at Zach’s bar, Mandy discovers her True Mate, Joe Blackwolf, the band’s lead singer and guitarist. All she has to do now is convince Joe that she told a little white lie to make her mom happy, her father that rock musicians aren’t all alike, and her new mate’s family that rockers aren’t all that different from classical musicians.

Joe Blackwolf is celebrating his fortieth birthday.

And what he wishes for when he blows out the candles is to find his True Mate. He succeeds when he meets Mandy Goldwolf. Problem is…she belongs to someone else. Finding out the truth leaves him free to explore every inch of her smokin’ hot curves, but now Joe and Mandy are neck deep in overbearing relatives and everyone is in for a rockin’ Valentine’s Day. A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave Excerpt “Am I dead, Angel? Cause you look like you’re straight from heaven!”

“That has to be the worst line I’ve ever heard,” Mandy laughed, looking up into warm brown eyes. She shivered as he settled into the chair beside her.

“Maybe, but it made you laugh.” He took her hand. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Joe waved over a waiter and ordered for them without once releasing her hand. She could feel the rough calluses guitar playing had created on his fingers, but they turned her on. He turned her on.

This was Joe? “Good ole Joe” as Eddie called him. He was neither good nor old. No. He was gorgeous…and talented. Zach wasn’t kidding when he’d said this Blackwolf was a great guitarist and singer. For the first time since Carly bugged her, she wished with all her might she hadn’t lied about Zach being her mate. Zach might be handsome, but Joe made her throb in places that hadn’t throbbed in all of her thirty-five years.

“So what’s with the camera, Angel? Fan or reporter?”

Mandy looked down at her fingers clenched around her camera strap. If she told him who she was, he’d back off so fast she’d see skid marks on the floor. Just this once, she wanted to pretend she was someone else. Just tonight. She leaned forward pressing her lips against his ear.

“I’m more than a fan. I’m a groupie. Can’t you tell?” He shuddered, turning his head he met her gaze. The fire glowing in his eyes set her boiling. Yes. She had to have him. Now. “A groupie? For just any rock musician?”

“No, Joe. I want you.”

“Fuck, yeah,” he growled, standing so abruptly his chair toppled over. No one nearby noticed as he dragged her to her feet. “Where?”

Mandy looked over toward the hallway leading to Zach’s office and smiled. They had a clear path. She pulled him after her and they ducked into the shadowy space. He pressed her to the wall and took her mouth in a deep kiss. Their mouths meshed together. Joe pulled back to nip at her lips, then ran his tongue along the inside edge of her lower lip. She caught his long dark hair in her fingers, holding his mouth to hers.

Fire. Heat. She’d never felt anything like this in her entire life. She moaned as his mouth slid to nuzzle her neck. Mandy wrapped her free arm around him, clutching his leather jacket. She lifted her right leg along his hip. He stepped into the opening she’d created, thrusting his hips against hers.

She shivered as his rough fingers slid along her leg and under her skirt. He slipped his fingers under her panties and cupped her ass. Grasping her, he pulled her more firmly against his hard cock. He reached up to her peasant top, untying the drawstring to bare her bra covered breast. His hot breath teased her neck and then his warm tongue grazed her skin as he licked his way over her curves “Hey. Anyone seen Joe?” Mandy and Joe froze as she heard Eddie’s voice. He was close. Too close. She looked out of the entrance of the hall. She didn’t see him, but he was right there. She knew it. Mandy closed her eyes, fighting to keep her panting excitement from giving them away.

“I think I saw him with a hot chick earlier. I didn’t get a good look at her though. Just noticed she was his type.” Tom responded with a laugh.

Joe groaned in her ear, and kissed her cheek. She turned to look up at him. He was still on fire, she could see it but there was a definite question in his dark eyes? Stop or go?

She lowered her leg and he sighed, then she smiled and grabbed his hand. “This way,” she whispered.

Mandy knew there was an empty unlocked office back here and she wanted this wolf and she wanted him now.

He chuckled as they moved into the darkness. She found the door on the right and turned the knob. Hearing the click, she pushed, wincing at the creak when the door stuck. He pushed her through and they shut the door behind them. Mandy flipped the light switch, blinking a bit to adjust to the table lamps that came on. She’d been expecting an overhead. They looked at each other and grinned.

Joe pulled her over to the empty desk and she climbed up onto it. He stroked her cheek. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. I don’t want to stop. Not now.”

About the Author Hi. I’m Francesca Hawley and I’m a fat chick. A woman with dangerous curves just like my heroines.

Many people don’t like the word, “fat” but I do because it’s the truth and I’ve learned to own it. I am a fat chick and I always will be. Even if my fairy godmother popped in right at this moment and waved her wand to make me a size 2, I know that mentally and emotionally I’d still be a fat chick. So why is this relevant? Well, my size has had a major influence on how I see the world and how I write.

I first began to read romance when I was in my teens. I loved the genre, but the heroines were all thin. Their thighs didn’t rub together…had never rubbed together…and frankly I had trouble relating to these ladies. The stories were great—full of emotion and well told, but the heroines weren’t like me and that was a major disappointment. I kept wondering where were the fat heroines? I found some occasionally, but to have their Happily Ever After they usually had to lose weight and go from ugly duckling to swan.

Well, I wanted a fat heroine who loved herself—or at least learned to love herself—and a hot alpha hero who liked her jiggly bits just the way they were. Since I didn’t find many big girls to read about, I decided to write about them myself. After all, I loved to write anyway and had been writing almost as long as I’d been reading, so Francesca Hawley – author of Romance with Dangerous Curves was born.

In a Francesca Hawley romance, my readers will find authentic, sensual, fat heroines who love and are loved by their intense, passionate, and seductive Alpha heroes. I hope you enjoy their dangerous curves just as much as their hunky heroes do. http://www.francescahawley.com http://www.francescasmindstream.blogspot.com/ https://twitter.com/francescahawley http://www.facebook.com/francesca.hawley http://www.youtube.com/francescahawley

We are now accepting submissions for the February issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine We would love to see some short stories and poetry along with the normal articles, interviews and book reviews.

For every issue we are acceptTrue tales of paranormal encounters Articles (around 500-1200 words on writing, books, reading, and/or paranormal themes) Book reviews Poetry Artwork Recipes and Crafts Ad space rates are: $40 full page ad $20 half page ad $10 quarter page ad