November/December Issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

Bewitching Book Tours Magazine Issue 48 November/December 2016

Bewitching Book Tours Magazine is a publication of Bewitching Book Tours and Bewitching Books.

Editor: Roxanne Rhoads Design Editor and Layout: Roxanne Rhoads Cover Artist: Michelle Berryman Contributors include Bewitching Book Tours Authors and Tour Hosts www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com 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 Š Copyright 2016 Stock images from www.123rf.com and www.pixabay.com

Did You Read the September/October Issue?

Table of Contents November/December 2016 Page 5 Changing Scenes by Jennifer Allis Provost Page 6 Sinful Chocolate Cake Holiday Recipe Page 11 Fever by Lola Taylor Page 13 Holiday Flash Fiction Mates and Mistletoe Page 17 Blood Ice and Oak Moon by Marsha A Moore Page 21 Holiday Flash Fiction A Sleigh Ride Home By Roxanne Rhoads Page 22 Easy Ideas for a Merry Green Christmas By Wenona Napolitano Page 26 ReGift with Class By Wenona Napolitano Page 28 Demimonde Series by Ash Krafton Page 33 Urban Fantasy is Dead…Long Live Urban Fantasy by Suzanne Johnson Page 36 Interview with Sienna Snow Page 43 Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place by Vanta M. Black Page 45 Desire Series by Roxanne Rhoads Page 55 Nuttycracker Sweet by Megan O’Russell Page 58 Wrecked in Love by Roxanna Cross Page 59 Recipe Candy Cane Latte Page 60 Recipe Grams Holiday Meat Pie Page 62 Poetry Candlelight by Roxanna Cross Page 63 Interview with Melissa Kate Page 66 The “Dearg-Dubh” and Other Irish Vampires by Colleen Halverson Page 69 Interview with Colette L. Saucier Page 74 Top Ten Favorite Paranormal Books by Kourtney Heintz Page 78 Feast of Chaos by Christian A. Brown Page 81 Southern Men – The Real Alpha Males By Kathryn M. Hearst Page 85 Nine of Stars: A Wildlands Novel by Laura Bickle Page 88 Fiery Seas Call for Submissions Page 89 Hot Shot by S.A. Stolinsky Page 91 Worthy of Song and Story by Neal Chase Page 94 Mistletoe Kisses by Erzabet Bishop Page 97 A Viking Holiday by Sky Purington

Changing Scenes Changes Book Two Jennifer Allis Provost Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult Publisher: Limitless Publishing Date of Publication: January 6, 2016 ISBN: 978-1680584431 ASIN: B019SHY37Q Number of pages: 247 Word Count: 62000 Cover Artist: Wicked by Design Book Description: For Astrid Janvier, image is everything…

Astrid is a world-renowned model, as famous for her strut as her startling green eyes. She’s modeled for the biggest names in the fashion world, and is regularly invited to parties in New York, London, and Paris. Thanks to a designer label addiction, she’s also broke, and takes a job as a cocktail waitress just to make rent. When her best friend Britt asks her to be her maid of honor at her upcoming wedding, their first task is to decide the menu.

Donnie Coehlo is a young, up-and-coming chef with a dinner menu to plan…

Donato—Donnie for short—is the head chef at Thirty-Nine and Twelve, a seafood bistro on the Connecticut shore. It’s a great accomplishment given his youthful age, but Donnie doesn’t brag. He just wants to find the right girl, settle down, and have a bunch of kids. When Astrid arrives at his restaurant, Donnie hopes she is the one. But would a high-priced model like Astrid be interested in a regular guy like him?

As Astrid’s life crumbles around her, and Donnie makes a terrible choice, Astrid learns the two of them are irrevocably tied together.

Will their connection be enough for Astrid to leave her high-fashion life behind, and accept what Donnie has to offer?

Or will she chase her dreams as a model, leaving Donnie as part of her past?

Amazon

What better time than the holiday season to be with the ones you love? In Changing Scenes, circumstances force Astrid and Donnie to spend their first Christmas apart. This is a much bigger deal for Donnie than it is for Astrid; while she sees holidays as something to endure, he enjoys going back to his grandmother’s house and spending a day or two cooking up a feast for his family.

In order to show Astrid just how much he is going to miss her, Donnie plans a special breakfast for Astrid—but this breakfast doesn’t involve bacon and eggs. Instead of traditional breakfast foods, he makes a few different chocolate pastries for Astrid, and she gets to choose between the sinful desserts. Does that make Donnie the dessert to the dessert?

I guess it does.

In the spirit of Donnie’s romantic breakfast of desserts, here’s a recipe for one of the most sinful chocolate cakes you’ll ever encounter. Below that breakfast scene itself.

Happy reading—and baking!

Ingredients butter and flour for coating and dusting the cake pan 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups granulated sugar 1½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tablespoon baking soda 1½ teaspoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons salt 4 large eggs 1½ cups buttermilk 1½ cups warm water ½ cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter three 9-inch cake rounds. Dust with flour and tap out the excess. (see cooking lesson below) Mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a stand mixer using a low speed until combined.

Add eggs, buttermilk, warm water, oil, and vanilla. Beat on a medium speed until smooth. This should take just a couple of minutes.

Divide batter among the three pans. I found that it took just over 3 cups of the batter to divide it evenly.

Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake meets the toothpick test (stick a toothpick in and it comes out clean).

Cool on wire racks for 15 minutes and then turn out the cakes onto the racks and allow to cool completely.

Frost with your favorite frosting and enjoy!

Excerpt from Changing Scenes: Donnie makes Astrid a special breakfast After the session wrapped, I went home, showered, and took a nice, long nap. When I woke I ate a bowl of cereal, then I got dressed in my warmest socks, leggings, and sweater while I waited for Donnie to pick me up. My man was right on time and came bearing hot coffee, and we did our usual circuit of the market.

“These fish get heavier every week,” I said when we were loading up. “And I think Trevor put rocks in those sacks instead of clams.”

“I hope they’re not clams,” Donnie said. “I paid for mussels.”

I shook my head, unsuccessfully stifling my latest round of laughter; my chef thought he was a comedian. “I’m ready to head out if you are.”

“You know it, babe.”

We hopped into the fishmobile and left the market. I watched the market get smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, wondering how big of a catastrophe would be needed for Donnie to cancel Christmas and hang out with me instead. The restaurant burning down? No, since he’s not an owner he’d probably go back to his family and wait for word from his boss. Massive snowstorm? No again, since he’s a New Englander; they laugh at snow. Me breaking a leg?

Hmm, now that could work. Donnie would have to stay in my apartment with me, taking care of me, keeping me company… Of course, I would have that broken leg to deal with…

“Babe?”

“What?” I asked, blinking myself back to reality.

“You’re a dreamer, you know that?”

I looked down. “I was just thinking.”

“Hey.” I glanced up, saw his smile. “Dreams are good.”

I returned his smile, then I realized we were headed toward my apartment instead of the diner. “We’re not going to breakfast?”

“I thought we’d do something special.”

“What special thing?” I pressed.

“I’ll make breakfast at your place.”

I flopped back in my seat, totally speechless. Just when I thought Donnie couldn’t be any more perfect, he goes and one-ups himself. Then I remembered that all this cooking would be taking place in my kitchen, and my happiness turned to horror.

“I don’t have a lot of food at home,” I babbled. “I haven’t had time to shop, and I don’t own things like spatulas and cooking spray.”

“I brought everything we’ll need.”

“You did?” “’Course I did. When I was in your place before I checked out your kitchen.” He gave me a look, and added, “The stove didn’t look like it’d been used this year.”

“I’m not a cooker like you.”

“Babe, there was dust on the burners.”

I crossed my arms and fidgeted in my seat. “What can I say, housekeeping hadn’t come by.”

“It sure hadn’t.”

We reached my building, and I directed Donnie toward my parking space. Once that was complete he handed me a cooler, then he grabbed a second bag and we headed toward the elevator.

“Will the fish be all right?” I asked.

“They’ll be fine for a few hours,” he said. “It’s cold, even in here, and they’re packed in tons of ice.”

When we entered my apartment Donnie went straight to the kitchen. “What do you want me to do?” I asked.

“What do you usually do after I drop you off?”

“Change and go to bed.”

“Go change, then.”

I blinked. “I thought if I didn’t help, I didn’t get to eat.”

He kissed the corner of my mouth. “Grandma’s rules, not mine. Don’t worry, I got this.”

I did as ordered, and shed my fish market gear. Since I wasn’t going to see Donnie for a while I decided to dress sexy, and put on a blue satin spaghetti strapped nightie and matching robe. The smell of coffee lured me back to the kitchen, and I saw little pastries set up on the counter.

“What’s all this?” I asked. “No bacon and eggs?”

“Sweets for a sweet lady,” he replied. The coffeemaker beeped, so Donnie poured a cupful and handed it to me.

“Gonna try one?”

“Sure.” I selected a tiny chocolate confection, then I took it and my coffee to the couch. Donnie sat beside me a moment later. “What brought this on?”

“I’m going to miss you, that’s what,” he said. “Not gonna lie, I was single for a long time before we met. Been a long time since I found anyone I wanted to spend time with…” Donnie shook his head. “And now, I won’t even be with you over the holidays.”

“It’s not like you’ll be gone forever,” I said, ignoring the pang in my heart. “If it’s any consolation, I’ll be miserable with my family.”

Donnie made a face. “I’d be miserable too, if they dragged me to some restaurant on Christmas.”

“Yeah, restaurants are terrible,” I said. “And the chefs, especially the head chefs, now they are the worst.”

“Hey, take that back.”

“Nope.”

Donnie grabbed my coffee and pastry from my hands and set them on the table, then he grabbed my waist. “Take it back,” he insisted, his hand sliding up my spine toward my neck.

“Make me.”

About the Author: Jennifer Allis Provost writes books about faeries, orcs and elves. Zombies too. She grew up in the wilds of Western Massachusetts and had read every book in the local library by age twelve. (It was a small library). An early love of mythology and folklore led to her epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Parthalan, and her day job as a cubicle monkey helped shape her urban fantasy, Copper Girl. When she’s not writing about things that go bump in the night (and sometimes during the day) she’s working on her MFA in Creative Nonfiction.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennallis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copperraven Twitter: @parthalan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975887.Jennifer_Allis_Provost Website: http://authorjenniferallisprovost.com/

Fever Blood Moon Rising Book One Lola Taylor Genre: Werewolf PNR Publisher: Indigo Dreamer Press Date of Publication: February, 2014 (Fourth Edition, October, 2016) ASIN: B00ING5PN0 Number of pages: 114 Word Count: 33k

Book Description: When the Blood Moon rises, the wolves come out to play… and find their mates.

Danica has about given up on love. In a last-ditch attempt at finding “the one,” she agrees to a blind date through an online dating service. But instead of finding roses and romance, she finds someone intent on killing her. That is, until the mysterious, brooding Gage shows up to save her….

Gage is running out of time to find a mate. If the Blood Moon sets before he can find her, he’ll lose the rank of packmaster—and the peace within the pack he’s worked so hard to obtain. When he saves a luscious blonde in the parking lot of a bar, he has no idea she is his mate—until he Marks her with his touch.

Determined to keep her safe at any cost, Gage whisks Danica away into a hidden world full of lust, unlikely love, and treachery. Someone’s put a hit on his mate, and he’s hell-bent on finding out who, all while the Blood Moon looms closer, threatening to destroy his chances at true love forever. That is, if something—or someone—doesn’t kill the woman he’s falling for first.

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About the Author: “Lola Taylor” is a pen name created for the romances I can’t show my grandma without blushing. My favorite genre to write is romantic suspense, usually involving hot werewolves, warlocks, or any other type of paranormal creature. Keep the action hot and the romance hotter—that’s my motto! I’m a horror film junkie, I still love Halloween as an adult (seriously, I think I get more excited for it than some kids do), and what precious spare time I have is spent with my family, reading (everything from sci fi to middle grade), playing the flute, painting pretty pictures, or screwing around on Pinterest or Etsy.

Hailing from the South, I currently live in the Midwest with five fur babies and my hubby.

I’m pretty easy-going. If you want to get to know me or just say “hi,” you can find me on Facebook, Google + , Pinterest,and Goodreads.

Website: http://www.lolataylorbooks.com/ Newsletter: http://goo.gl/3QDmao Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lolataylorbooks Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lolataylorbooks/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391457.Lola_Taylor Google +: https://plus.google.com/b/112596798164913586645/+Lolataylorbookslolataylorbooks/posts

“Mates and Mistletoe” A Blood Moon Rising story By Lola Taylor When Blake reluctantly agrees to go to a pack Christmas party, the last thing on his mind is finding his mate. But fate—and possibly Santa—has other plans… *** Blake observed the party with a look of supreme distaste. Crescent Manor had been decked out in blue and white twinkle lights, silver garland, and sparkly tinsel. Just looking at it made his eyes hurt. Not to mention the smell. Oh, God, if he ever had to smell pine, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice whatever-the-hell-it-was-called again, it would be too soon.

Being a werewolf royally sucked sometimes, mainly the enhanced sense of smell. And this place—his damn home for the past fifteen years—was doing nothing but reminding him why he hated the holidays.

Everybody here seemed to have found a date or had brought their mates. All but him.

It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t find a mate. Hell, he’d tried dating. And rutting. That part he especially enjoyed.

But the Mating Mark, the mystical symbol that designated his soul mate, had yet to appear on anyone. Which was supremely frustrating.

Damn, did the universe hate him that much? He was thirty-five, for shit’s sake. And he was beginning to wonder if, maybe, he was destined to be alone for the rest of his life.

His best friend and fellow Moonstruck Pack member, Ryan, walked up to him, interrupting his scowling. Ryan had gotten a little more into the Christmas spirit, wearing a red button down and black slacks. Blake, on the other hand, had gone with a Metallica T-shirt that should have been thrown away ten years ago, a pair of rugged jeans, and his shitkickers. Like hell he was dressing up for a party he didn’t want to attend in the first place. These people had been lucky he’d shown up to this damn circus. If it were up to him, he would’ve stayed up in his room, reading. Yeah, yeah, despite appearances and general “don’t give a shit” demeanor, he loved a good Brandon Sanderson novel.

Ryan surveyed him with a knowing twinkle in his eye and nudged him. “Someone piss in your champagne?”

“This ain’t champagne. I hate that bubbly shit. I went to the kitchen and grabbed a Guinness. Poured it in this fancy glass so Alara doesn’t yell at me.” Alara, the queen of the Moonstruck Pack and one of the newest additions to their ever-expanding family, was the only reason he’d deigned to show up to this shit show. One, because she was a hell of a leader and business woman. In the past few months since she’d been here, she’d increased profits from the pack’s real estate business by fifty percent. Blake, loving the shit out of math and money, could appreciate that. Especially since he was the pack’s accountant.

Two, he downright respected Alara. Not only was she smart, level-headed, and beautiful, she was into epic fantasy. After her mate, Nik, convinced her to binge-watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy and all six seasons of Game of Thrones, she was hooked to the genre. Knowing he was a big fan himself, she’d asked to borrow his wide collection of fantasy books. He’d happily obliged, and the two of them had become fast friends.

Friends or not, however, this was downright torture. But it wouldn’t be right, for political or friendships’ sakes, for him not to attend. Alara was one of the few people he considered a true friend. Plus, he was the pack’s accountant, and he loved his job. He wasn’t about to spit in their faces by not spending Christmas Eve in hell, er, at a party.

Ryan was quiet a moment. “You’ve been holding that wall up all night. Gonna come talk to some of us?”

“Nah. People seem too busy sharing pup pictures and dancing with their mates.”

Ryan tried not to look ashamed. He’d found his own mate, Stephanie, about a month back. Blake had been both thrilled for his bud and disgruntled their bachelor evenings were coming to an end.

Blake rolled his eyes, giving Ryan a dry smile. “You don’t have to hide your happiness—or your mate—from me, man. I’m glad you found Steph.”

Ryan’s shoulders seemed to relax, and he looked out at the dancing crowd. They were in the parlor. The furniture had been pushed aside to make room for a dance floor. A gorgeous brunette danced with a group of friends. Her face lit up when she saw Ryan, and she smiled and waved.

A stupid-happy grin, one that Blake couldn’t help feeling jealous of, lit up Ryan’s face as he waved back.

He and Blake made small talk after that, with Blake checking the clock every couple of minutes. God, had time stopped? Shit, he loved his best friend, but he couldn’t take much more of this. Every second here reminded him of how alone he felt, and exacerbated his fear that he would never find someone to share his life with.

After a conversation about hockey, another of Blake’s true loves, Blake said, “Hey, man, I’m gonna grab another beer and get some air. Care to join?”

A slow song started, and people went for their dates or mates. Stephanie started to approach. “Nah, man. I owe Steph a dance. Promised her before we came down. I’ll catch up with you later for that beer.”

“Holding you to that.” He said “hello” to Stephanie before slipping from the room.

After snagging another beer from the kitchen, he let himself outside, onto the back patio. Nobody was out there.

One, because it was freaking freezing, even for a werewolf. Their body temperatures ran hotter than that of a normal human, but cold was cold. And the air was practically subzero.

His breath fogged as he looked up at the stars, at the open sky, full moon, and silvery tips of trees in the forest surrounding the property. This place was beautiful. Always had been, even when it had sometimes felt like a prison during Malachite’s reign.

Blake shivered, banishing thoughts about that psychopath to the recesses of his mind. After filing those bloody, dark memories away in the archive of “Shit He’d Rather Not Think About,” he took another swig of his beer about the same time a husky voice said, “Taking a break from the glitter festival, too?”

Blake nearly choked on his beer as he struggled to swallow and inhale at the same time. Whirling, he could barely make out the curvy figure standing in the shadows. Then she stepped into a pool of moonlight, and he forgot how to breathe.

Holy hell.

She was gorgeous, like something from a dream. With curves that would make Marilyn Monroe jealous and long, satiny blond hair that tumbled over her shoulders in waves, she looked like a siren come to steal him away into the night.

Her dress was black, shimmery, and skin-tight, clinging to her like a second skin. Her four-inch crimson pumps made her nearly as tall as his six foot five.

A wave of desire made his skin hot, and an assortment of lustful thoughts filled his mind.

Down boy.

Clearing his throat, he shifted his weight and angled his body in such a way he hoped it would mask any obvious signs of his growing desire.

Could it be a mating fever, the time when all a werewolf could think about was sex? Possibly. Then again, sex was usually at the back of his thoughts, especially since he hadn’t had any in the past two months. Work had simply kept him too busy.

But now, in the presence of this dream girl, he found he couldn’t stop thinking about how soft her skin would feel or what her full, cherry-red lips would taste like.

As if sensing what he was thinking, she slowly smiled, and his heart skipped a beat. *** Download the full story for free and find out how to get one of Lola’s full-length, standalone werewolf romances for free! (Limited time offer.) Click here to download “Mates and Mistletoe” for free!

A note from Lola: Hello! I use a service called BookFunnel to deliver my books. If you have trouble getting this book, just tap the Help Me link at the top of the book download page and their friendly support team will help you get your book!

Blood Ice and Oak Moon Coon Hollow Coven Tales Book Three Marsha A Moore Print Length: 211 pages Publication Date: October 3, 2016 ASIN: B01LWS4V2G Genre: PNR Book Description: Esme Underhill is about to discover a darkness hidden inside her that could destroy her chance for independence and possibly kill her.

Esme’s mother took her young daughter away from Southern Indiana’s Coon Hollow Coven to prevent her from learning about the unusual witchcraft she had inherited. When Esme is twenty-seven, her beloved Grammy Flora passes away and leaves her property in the Hollow to her granddaughter. With this opportunity to remake her life and gain independence, Esme attempts to emulate Grammy Flora as a wildwood mystic who relies on the hedge world of faeries to locate healing herbs. But fae are shrewd traders. When they open their world to her, she must meet the unknown malevolence of her birthright.

Thayne, the handsome king of the fae Winter Court, faces his own struggle to establish autonomy as a new regent. He is swept into the tempest of Esme’s unfolding powers, a dangerous threat to his court.

His sworn duty is to protect his people, despite Esme’s beauty and allure, which tear at his resolve.

Both Esme’s and Thayne’s dreams of personal freedom are lost…unless they can trust each other and overcome surmounting dangers.

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Excerpt from Chapter One: Winter Began Dear Miss Rebecca Esmeralda Underhill, Please accept our deepest sympathies concerning the loss of your grandmother, Flora Esmeralda Freestone. She was much loved and well-respected in our community.

As per her documented wishes, the ownership of her property on 10510 East Lost Branch Run passes to you. This transfer has been filed in our office. At the request of High Priest Logan Dennehy, all council members have voted to reinstate you as a member of Coon Hollow Coven after your absence of twenty years.

However, despite Coon Hollow Coven being your birthplace, a majority indicated the lapsed time was sufficient cause to withhold transfer of Ms. Freestone’s ceremonial standing to you, which customarily would accompany a property transference to blood kin of adult age. For explanation of how you may attain ceremonial approval in your name, please visit the council office at 50013 Owls Tail Creek Road.

Enclosed, please find pamphlets describing the expected dress and personal property code of our coven, which adheres to the time period in which the coven was founded in 1935. This is to best protect our witchcraft traditions.

Sincerely, Nathan Wells Coon Hollow Coven Council, secretary

Esme’s gaze fixed on the words that acknowledged her as the property owner. She’d never lived alone. First her mom, then a roommate and finally Doug. Esme’s shoulders straightened and chest lifted with strength and independence at the thought of owning her own place. But, why wasn’t she approved for ceremonial status? Her hands gripped the edge of the table, knuckles whitening, and her heart raced. It’s not fair. I won’t be accepted as a healer. Only children not yet graduated from the coven’s secondary school were kept from participating fully in ceremonies. Esme loved learning the ways of a hedge witch and helped Gram every summer from grade school through college. Fascinated with tending Gram’s plants, Esme even studied botany in college.

The research company she worked for had already accepted her request to work offsite and study mystic plants…at the stipulation she be reduced to part-time. She needed work here as a healer to supplement her income. She’d assumed incorrectly that her experience with Gram and college studies would’ve qualified her as an accepted healer. Her standing in the coven would be important to patrons, all except Gram’s closest friends who knew Esme well. An attempt at independence seemed bound to fail before she started.

Her gaze drifted to the name used in the letter’s greeting. She hadn’t seen her full name in print for decades. It didn’t even appear on her birth certificate, which labeled her as Rebecca E. Underhill, one of the many things her mother insisted upon. Mother wanted nothing to do with the coven or witchcraft and said, “Esmeralda sounds too much like a witch. No need to encourage the darkness out.” Grudgingly, she accepted her own mother’s middle name for her child to uphold custom. Esme never understood Mother’s view since Gram was well-respected for her kind and gentle strength by all who knew her.

To Esme’s Indianapolis friends, she was Becky. Only her mother addressed her as Rebecca. But inside, she was Esme. Gram had always called her that, or Esmeray in carefree moments. Her middle name suited the mystic inside Esme, something Gram must have known. If only Esme could use Gram’s last name Freestone. Underhill felt like a lead weight.

Esme set the letter aside and paced the length of the rag runner through the small kitchen. Frustration wound her along a circular track through the sitting room, to her closet-sized guest room, and back. The space was too small to work answers out of her tangled mind. On the second pass, she sank onto the goose down comforter of Gram’s iron bed.

Billowing fluff sheltered her from the problems. Gram’s linens, scented with homegrown lavender and rose sleep liniment, comforted Esme and tugged on her eyelids.

She forced her eyes open and pushed herself up and off the bed. Hiding wasn’t the way to begin this fresh start in life. She’d done enough kowtowing to stronger wills, letting Doug and her mother run over her. At the back door, she paused long enough to grab a rain parka and pulled it on as she strode outside.

Gram’s cat, Dove, zipped alongside with a sharp meow, slipping out before the door closed. Esme smiled, grateful the tomcat kept Gram company during her illness. She’ doted on the smoky blue stray that happened into her garden one early fall afternoon and never left. Gram swore he was an omen and chose his name ‘cause of his whitewinged breast patch. She used to say, “One day soon my spirit will fly on those outspread wings, and together Dove and me we’ll roam the wooded hills.” Gram loved those hills. Thinking about the hills drew Esme to gather Dove and head outside.

Ice still peppered down, adding more layers to the spiky crystalline grass blades. A breeze blew at Esme’s back.

She allowed the wind to guide her toward the woods behind the cabin. At the trailhead, ice coating the bittersweet vine berries glistened the same shade of blue she’d rubbed from Dove’s coat. Alert to the strange color, she followed a line of

branches dangling sky blue icicles, each one more fanciful and richer in hue than the last. A beautiful play of light, ranging from cerulean to ultramarine. Even worth the chill at her ankles, which were bare in her cropped jeans.

Whenever Esme paused to marvel at the colored icicles, Dove pawed them and then dodged when they dropped.

Minutes later and deeper in the forest, the ice pelted heavier, and Esme reached for the hood of her raincoat.

Strands of hair fell forward, woven with frozen ultramarine threads. The same purplish tint coated twigs along the path.

Light from the sky reached this far into the woods since all but the oak trees had lost their leaves. The unusual color couldn’t be caused by light refraction. She’d never seen any rain, sleet, or snow like this, not even in the Hollow.

Grammy had taught her a little about omens. Was this a sign?

Esme scurried along the trail, sliding at times and spotting richer and deeper shades of purple and red-violets. At the far side of the woodlot, iris-hued spider webs clung to berry brambles. She gasped at the beauty. Tempted to touch, she extended a hand but at the last instant resisted.

A deep groan echoed from the adjoining property ahead.

She snatched her hand back and scanned for some god of nature angry at her ruinous attempt. Grappling for Dove, Esme crouched behind a thicket.

The cat gave a single hiss, then clung to her leg.

In the distance, a big middle-aged man, both tall and wide, staggered behind a shed, dragging a long, clumsy load wrapped and tied into a blanket. His balding head snapped in her direction, eyes wide and face blanched gray-white.

“Who’s there?” His booming voice sliced the delicate webs from their branches. Crimson freezing rain assaulted both trail and yard.

Esme froze, afraid to move and attract his attention. Her heart, drumming against her ribs, threatened to give her away. She wanted to run home. But if the colored ice omen was meant for her, she needed to stay and learn its meaning.

Could the man see the omen?

Thankfully, her cover must’ve fooled Baldy. He resumed lugging the limp bundle, and didn’t seem affected by the magical ice.

From between the tangle of branches, Esme studied him.

His wet, black shirt clung to his round belly. Blood-red ice coated his load, tracing the outline of a human body.

Smaller than his, probably a female. Was she dead? Of natural causes? Or had he murdered her? The thought wrapped around Esme’s breath and trapped it deep in her lungs. Her legs twitched. Gaze riveted on Baldy, she positioned to bolt from potential danger.

He rolled the body into a depression Esme couldn’t see.

She leaned to one side, bracing herself with a hand on the ground.

Over what looked like a freshly dug grave, Baldy grunted as he shoveled and kicked dirt and large rocks. Clumps of red clung to long strands of his comb-over, now hanging along one ear. Was it ice or real blood?

Dove huddled closer, and Gram’s voice from years ago spoke in Esme’s mind. “Blood ice is stained with revenge.”

Crimson liquid dripped from the man’s eyes and fell from grimacing jowls. The face of a demon © Copyright 2016 Marsha A. Moore. All rights reserved.

About the Author: Marsha A. Moore loves to write fantasy and paranormal romance.

Much of her life feeds the creative flow she uses to weave highly imaginative tales.

The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing, as well as other pursuits of watercolor painting and drawing. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and is a registered yoga teacher. Her practice helps weave the mystical into her writing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transformed into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors where she’s always on the lookout for portals to

other worlds. Marsha is crazy about cycling. She lives with her husband on a large saltwater lagoon, where taking her kayak out is a real treat. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!

Mailing list: http://bit.ly/MarshaAMooreList Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore Google +: http://google.com/+MarshaAMoore Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/marshaamoore/ Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/marshaamoore Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore

A Sleigh Ride Home

By Roxanne Rhoads The moonlight glittered off the freshly fallen snow. It was like taking a sleigh ride through a forest of crystals. Everything sparkled, glimmered and shimmered. It was truly beautiful. Caleb was really trying so hard to give me the “good, old fashioned Christmas” experience that I had always dreamed of; complete with a one horse open sleigh, fresh falling snow, and a thermos full of hot cocoa.

The blanket started to slip off my lap so I tugged it up to make sure it didn’t fall to the floor of the sleigh.

Caleb glanced my way, “Are you cold Maggie?”

How could I be cold with Caleb, the man of my dreams and fantasies sitting beside me? I had wanted this man since high school, when he was the popular, hot guy that was so nice to everyone.

Including a skinny, scrawny girl with braces and glasses. Me. “No, I’m actually quite warm. The night doesn’t feel that cold and between my thick leggings, sweater, wrap and the blanket I am toasty warm.”

“Good, I didn’t want you to get cold. After living in Texas for the past couple years I bet you aren’t used to the cold, Michigan winters anymore. I was afraid you’d be freezing by now.”

Caleb was always so wonderful. He was the kind of guy that was always concerned about people.

We had been pretty good friends. He was so sweet he even took me to our senior prom seven years ago.

I was sure he’d just done it to be nice because he felt sorry for me since no one else had asked me to be their date. Now I wasn’t so sure that he had taken me to the prom just to be nice. Maybe he had real feelings for me. The kind of feelings I have for him.

This was only the second time I had seen him since I left to go to college in Texas right after graduation but I had never stopped thinking about him.

It seemed that he never stopped thinking about me either. He sent me letters, cards and emails from time to time always asking when I was coming home. This was the first year I had replied telling him that I’d be home for Christmas. Usually my mom flew out to Texas to spend the holidays with me there. This year though my mother had finally met someone special and she wanted to spend the holidays with him…and me. Honestly I was glad. I had really begun to miss Michigan lately, especially at Christmas. There was nothing like a snow covered Christmas.

“No matter how long I stay in Texas I’ll always be a cold blooded Michigan girl.”

His smile twinkled as bright as the snow, “Glad to hear that.”

“You know Caleb this was awfully nice of you to invite me on this sleigh ride. The drive through town seeing all the Christmas displays and lights was fun and then here, in the woods…it is so still, so quiet and so utterly beautiful. It is a dream come true.”

“Maggie, I remembered that last Christmas we spent together before graduation and how you would always talk about wanting an old fashioned Christmas with sleigh rides and hot cocoa and even ice skating. I have always wanted to give that to you. I’ve had old Drew here,” he motioned to the horse, “and this sleigh for five years now hoping you’d come home for the holidays so I could give you the Christmas sleigh ride you’ve always dreamed of.”

“Really? Caleb, I had no idea. But why?”

“Why? Maggie isn’t it obvious? I love you; I’ve been in love with you since middle school. I’ve tried to put you out of my head, I’ve tried dating other people but it’s you. You are the one that’s always had that special place in my heart.”

My eyes welled up with tears as his words rang true. My heart swelled telling me I felt the same way. All this time I hadn’t let myself believe in my feelings because I feared rejection.

Caleb pulled the sleigh off the trail and into a small clearing.

“Maggie would you consider coming home?”

“Caleb, I am home,” I said as I threw my arms around his neck.

“Really? To stay? With me?” he mumbled into my neck.

“Yes, with you, for as long as you’ll have me,” I cried.

“I hope forever isn’t too long for you,” Caleb said with a smile as he pulled away from my tear soaked embrace to look into my eyes.

“Forever sounds just about right.”

Easy Ideas for a Merry Green Christmas

By Wenona Napolitano

Are you tired dealing with a Christmas season that is stressful, commercialized and consumer-oriented?

Have you been trying to live a simpler, greener lifestyle, but you are not sure of how to go about greening the holiday season?

This year you can make your Christmas more eco-friendly and meaningful for you and your family.

Make Your Own Holiday Magic One way to add more meaning into the holiday season is to slow down and make time for the ones you love. Shop less. Spend more time not money on your loved ones.

A great way to make memories that last is to create holiday traditions that you look forward to doing as a family: like making and decorating Christmas cookies, decorating the tree together or wrapping gifts together. Other traditions could be reading Christmas poems and stories, such as "The Night Before Christmas", as a family.

Another way to make holiday magic is to celebrate the true meaning of the holidays by doing something meaningful for someone else: Donate to charity or volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter for a day. Go through your closets and donate unused, un-needed items to charity. Get the kids involved too, have them find things they no longer need, and donate the items to charitable organizations or local churches that distribute items to the needy.

Decorate Green A fake tree can keep real trees from being cut down but artificial trees are not usually made of earthfriendly materials, yet once you buy one it lasts for years. Even experts are divided on whether it is better to buy a fake tree or purchase a real one. My pick is if you already have a fake one stick with it but if you need a tree then opt for a live one. Preferably a real tree that is purchased from a local tree farm (organic if possible) and have your tree mulched afterward. Many communities are now providing tree-recycling services during the holidays.

Once you have a tree, light it up with LEDs. They use 90% less energy than regular lights, which means you’ll be green, and you’ll save some green at the same time. They also don't emit as much heat, therefore helping to reduce the risk of fire. LEDs have other benefits as well: one LED light can outlast 60,000 regular incandescent bulbs and last up to twenty years longer than a regular bulb.

Another way to decorate green is to purchase decorations of good quality that will be used over and over again for years to come. You can also decorate with vintage ornaments or ones made from recycled and natural objects.

How about an old fashioned popcorn string that can be fed to the birds or composted after the holidays?

Just make sure to skip the disposable stuff that will only be thrown away. Save your ribbons, bows, bags and boxes and use them again next year. If it can't be saved, recycle it.

Greener Gifts You can green up your Christmas shopping habits, too.

One way is by purchasing eco-friendly gifts. These could include organic, sustainable, reused, recycled or fair trade items. Examples include organic bath and body products, natural beeswax or soy candles, or clothing and household linens made from organic cotton, hemp or bamboo.

Another way to shop green is to purchase items from nonprofits. Many of them sell great Christmas gifts and donate the proceeds to charity. Like the NWF (National Wildlife Federation) and WWF (World Wildlife Federation) both offer wild animal “adoptions” where you donate money to help an endangered animal and in return you get items like a certificate and stuffed animal-which would be the perfect gift for a child on your list.

Give green by giving gifts that are sure to be used. No one ever lets gift cards or gift certificates to someone's favorite store, tickets to a concert, movie passes or cold hard cash go to waste.

Shop for unique gifts for the collector on your list. Treasure hunt at local thrift stores, consignment shops or antique stores for one-of-a-kind fabulous finds.

Edible gifts are another eco-treat (except the fruitcake). A box of cookies, a cake, crackers and gourmet cheeses or fine chocolates are sure to be enjoyed. A wine lover would enjoy a good bottle of wine.

Other options could be jars of do-it-yourself mixes for cookies, cakes, brownies and even soups.

Homemade jams, jellies and canned vegetables or fruits are also a good choice and a way to extend your bountiful harvest.

A very green gift is one that you know someone really wants or needs. That way, you know it won't sit around unused, be returned or end up in a landfill anytime soon.

Other ideas for eco-friendly gifts include multipurpose, practical gifts that are likely to be used over and over again.

If you can’t come up with a great green gift idea you can always give the gift of yourself. Make up handmade certificates or coupons for your time or talent that may be needed. Could your best friend use some time by herself? Give her a coupon for a night of babysitting. Does your mom need some help with housecleaning? Would grandpa like a home-cooked meal? Is there a special event your daughter would love to go to with you? How about a night on the town with that special someone?

Wrap It Up Once you have the gifts you are going to need to wrap them up green.

You can make your own holiday cards, presents and gift wrap out of scrap materials, used items or recycled materials.

Get the kids involved. Children love craft projects, and they’ll feel like they have more input in the holidays beyond asking for what they want from Santa. Let them paint, stamp, and decorate plain boxes, bags and paper and transform it into fun holiday wrappings.

Here are some tips for wrapping gifts the green way:

Use unique reusable items for wrapping paper, such as the comic section of newspapers, pages from magazines, colorful maps or paper you make yourself.

Plain brown or white package paper can be completely transformed with stamps, paint, markers, stickers or anything else you may have laying around the house. Have the kids use finger paint and stamp their little handprints on the paper, which grandparents will love.

Make the present part of the package by wrapping a gift with another gift. Are you giving a blanket as a gift? Put another present inside the blanket, and use the blanket as the wrapping. Tie it with a ribbon, and you are all set. Roll up sweaters, and stick items like socks and underwear inside. Tie gifts up with curtain tiebacks, shoelaces or hair ribbons. That way everything gets used, and nothing gets thrown away.

If you are handy with a needle and thread you could make reusable cloth gift bags to wrap up your green gifts.

If you like the idea of cloth gift bags but can’t stitch to save your life, check out www.giftbagsgonegreen.com for a nice selection of hand crafted, reusable cloth gift bags.

No time to make creative eco-wrappings? Then make sure you at least purchase wrapping paper that is made from recycled paper or tree free materials.

FishLipsPaperDesigns.com offers a cute selection of wrapping paper made from 100% recycled paper and printed with soy based inks. EarthLoven.com has some snazzy wrapping paper also made from 100% recycled paper and is printed with vegetable based ink.

Interested in learning more about greening the holidays? Check out I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More by Anna Getty. It is full of crafts, recipes, gift ideas and so much more to help you have the best, and greenest, Christmas ever.

ReGift with Class

By Wenona Napolitano It happens, we all end up receiving a few less than desirable gifts throughout our lives. Maybe it’s that third crock-pot you received as a wedding gift or the fourth toaster for your house warming or maybe it’s the ten millionth holiday coffee mug that found its way to your stocking but most of us all have a few things tucked away in cupboards or closets that we have never used.

With the economy in such a slump and eco-thoughts fully conscious in your mind it is time to rethink the regift.

The key to regifting is to do it with style and class.

First of all don’t regift to the person who originally gave you the gift or at a social function where that original gift giver may be. If the gift is something unique also don’t regift to someone who is in contact with the original gift giver (you wouldn’t want the gifter to see the gift at the new giftee’s home unless you plan on offering full disclosure).

Second, make sure the gift was never used and that it is still in pristine, brand new condition (exceptions are allowed for books, CDs and DVDs that you know someone would really love but they still have to be in good shape). For any appliances or items with multiple parts make sure that all the pieces are there and that the item is still in working condition. You don’t want to give a gift that’s all banged up and missing pieces after being shoved around in your closet, tossed around in the garage or moved from place to place. If it needs batteries put a brand new set in with the gift.

Third, rewrap the gift. Do not ever leave the gift in the same torn wrapping paper that you re-taped or in the same (now) rumpled gift bag it came in . And make sure you put a new tag on it addressing it specifically to the person the gift is for. This cleans it up and makes you put a little thought into it. A gift should always have a bit of a personal touch to it.

Fourth and most importantly, don’t regift just to get rid of something taking up space in your home or so can have a gift to give someone without spending any money. Give the gift to someone who will actually use and/or enjoy the gift. If you know someone needs a toaster or coffee pot then by

all means give them the extra appliance that you have in your closet but don’t just give it to someone to get rid of it.

There’s a way to really regift with class- personalize the gift. Make the receiver feel special by letting them know the gift is just for them, that you really thought about it. This could be done by adding little custom things. If it’s a scarf or linens add a bit of custom monogramming. Is it a book?

Add a special note in the book for the person who is receiving it. Find some way to add a special touch to the gift so the receiver will feel special.

If you really want to unload some of those unused gifts taking up space, participate in a regifting party, also known as a white elephant exchange. You could even hold it on National Regifting Day which is December 22, 2016 this year. Always the third Thursday in December.

There are many ways to have a regifting party. One is to have everyone bring one or two unwrapped gifts and place them on a table. Everyone takes a number and the first number called gets to pick the first gift and it goes on from there until everyone gets a chance to choose a gift Here are two other ways to have a Regifting Party : http://regiftable.com/Regifting101/WhiteElephant.aspx Leftover gifts and anything that’s really unwanted by anyone at the party can always be donated to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or a local shelter. Someone could love it.

To learn more about regifting visit http://regiftable.com/ and make sure to check out ReGifting 101 http://regiftable.com/Regifting101/Default.aspx for a crash course in regiving. ~Wenona Napolitano is the author of The Everything Green Wedding Book: Plan an elegant, affordable, earth-friendly wedding. Visit her at www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

Bleeding Hearts Demimonde Book One Ash Krafton Genre: urban fantasy Publisher: Ash Krafton Date of Publication: October 13, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-946120-00-7 ASIN: B01M7PCLWJ Number of pages: 380 Word Count: 94k Cover Artist: Red Fist Fiction Book Description: Sophie Galen is an advice columnist whose work leaves her neck-deep in other people's problems.

Thanks to her compassion, her gut instinct, and her magnetic charm, Sophie really knows how to attract little black clouds.

Marek Thurzo is no little black cloud; he's a maelstrom. Marek is Demivampire, a race with the potential to evolve into vampire. A warrior who's taken his share of spiritual damage, he hovers dangerously close to destruction.

He seeks salvation. She's driven to save him. But what if he can't be saved?

Sympathy for his plight becomes true empathy as Sophie's hidden nature is revealed. Marek suspects she may be one of the Sophia, oracle and redemption of the damned Demivampire. She alone can turn back the evolutionary clock.

All she needs is the courage to face her fears. Can she save him from Falling?

Amazon

Blood Rush Demimonde Book Two Ash Krafton Genre: urban fantasy Publisher: Ash Krafton Date of Publication: October 13, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-946120-01-4 ASIN: B01M7PCWFD Number of pages: 376 Word Count: 94k Cover Artist: Red Fist Fiction Book Description: Sophie doesn't believe in happily ever after. These days, she'd settle for alive after sunrise.

Advice columnist and newly-appointed oracle to the demivampire, Sophie Galen has more issues than a Cosmo collection: a new mentor with a mean streak, a werewolf stalker she can't shake, and a relationship with her ex's family that redefines the term complicated. And then there's her ex himself, who is more interested in playing leader of the vampire pack than in his own salvation.

Becoming a better oracle is tough enough, but when Sophie encounters a deadly enemy - one she never dreamed of facing - it will take everything she's ever learned in order to survive.

Amazon

Wolf's Bane Demimonde Book Three Ash Krafton Genre: urban fantasy Publisher: Ash Krafton Date of Publication: October 13, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-946120-02-1 ASIN: B01MA3JHUV Number of pages: 388 Word Count: 104k Cover Artist: Red Fist Fiction Book Description: Since becoming oracle to the demivampire two years ago, advice columnist Sophie has battled werewolves and survived a vampire attack (or two). However, not only was she powerless to save her lover Marek when he slipped to the brink of evolution, she also witnessed his transformation into a falcon, the symbol of Horus United.

Sophie’s quest to save Marek is further complicated when rock star Dierk Adeluf – who also happens to be the king of the Werekind – invites her backstage after a concert. Just when it seems she will find respite from heartache, Sophie is bitten by a werewolf and Dierk decides she is destined to be his queen.

Sophie is caught between the demivamps she loves and the Were who commands her to love him.

Throw in his jealous wanna-be girlfriend—a true bitch if ever there was one—and an ambush by witches, and there you have the big mess that Sophie calls her life. And, hello? Her soul mate is still a bird.

Amazon

BLEEDING HEARTS is the first book in Ash Krafton's Demimonde Series (urban fantasy novels with strong romantic elements). The book has won several awards and distinctions, including Finalist rank in six different RWA chapter competitions. Today, the author talks about the biggest difference between paranormal romance and urban fantasy…and why BLEEDING HEARTS was written to skirt the rules...

A Hard-Earned Happily Ever After Romance. It's one of the most popular genres of books these days, and with good reason…it is so diverse! There is a flavor of romance to tickle any palate. Regency, western, pirate, paranormal, historical, suspense…and every level of heat imaginable. Despite the seemingly endless list of categories and variations, people who enjoy romance literature can all agree on one thing: there has to be a HEA. HEA stands for "happily ever after". It's the ending our lovers are struggling to reach, their hits and misses and obstacles creating the story that sweeps us up in their journey. After watching two people go through so much together, we want them to get their HEA. We need it, ourselves.

When I set out to write BLEEDING HEARTS, I didn't intend it to be a paranormal romance. I knew that the story arc was going to be too big to wrap up neatly by the end of the book. Marek and the Demivampires had a lot of challenges ahead of them, serious issues that would keep him from being able to give Sophie a HEA by the end of the novel. The book was definitely urban fantasy (or paranormal chick lit, by some standards) but, because it didn't meet the single most criteria—the requisite HEA—BLEEDING HEARTS was not a romance.

Was it romantic? Sure it was! Sophie and Marek overcome many issues to allow themselves to fall in love. It's no surprise that more readers are on #TeamMarek than any other. They know there is more to their story than what we get at "The End" of the first book.

Over the course of the next two books, Sophie and Marek encounter more obstacles, more tender moments. Along the way, she gets tangled up in #TeamRode and #TeamDierk…but those aren't roadblocks. They were the kinds of challenges people meet along the way to the HEA of their dreams.

When I wrapped up WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3), I sat back and thought two things: With the Books of the Demimonde I'd completed an urban fantasy trilogy…but I'd also created an epic paranormal romance. And I was truly satisfied with how the story played out because I needed a HEA for me, too. We all did.

So if anyone asks what genre The Books of the Demimonde are, the answer may vary depending on which book I'm thinking about at the moment. Readers who pick up BLEEDING HEARTS and BLOOD RUSH know they are urban fantasy because of the ever-elusive HEA… But those who get to "The End" of WOLF'S BANE may answer very differently. All you have to do is see the grins on their faces when they close the book to know the series goes far past the boundary

of urban fantasy to that sweet place that romance readers crave. After getting to know her so well, I believe Sophie deserves her HEA. And, as the readers who have come to know and love her, we deserve her HEA, too.

About the Author: Ash Krafton writes because if she doesn't, her kids will‌and NOBODY wants that. A speculative fiction girl through and through, Ash writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels as well as poetry and short fiction.

Her work has won a bunch of awards and was even nominated for a Pushcart Prize. When she's not writing, she's practicing Tai Chi, listening to loud rock and metal, or crushing on supervillains.

Most recently, she's re-released her urban fantasy trilogy THE BOOKS OF THE DEMIMONDE because she never really left the world of Sophie and her Demivamps.

Find out more when you visit www.ashkrafton.com Blog: http://ash-krafton.blogspot.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/ashkrafton Facebook: http://facebook.com/ashkraftonauthor Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/Ash_Krafton Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/demimondeash Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ash_krafton Website: http://www.ashkrafton.com/

URBAN FANTASY IS DEAD…LONG LIVE URBAN FANTASY! Suzanne Johnson The 2014-15 death knell for urban fantasy might have been a wee bit premature. The old warhorse is showing signs of life again after being on the respirator for the past few years. (Its kissing cousin, paranormal romance, is still on life support, but one can always hope…)

So here’s what happened, or at least my interpretation of it.

About 2013-2014, the market for urban fantasy and paranormal romance went into freefall. Except for a few small companies, no publisher would touch either genre not written by a proven author.

After several years of strong sales fed by the success of series like Twilight and Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampires (aka Sookie), the market just died, seemingly overnight.

What happened?

Well, the whole publishing world was turned on its ear by the rapid growth of self-publishing, aka indie publishing. Instead of 50 urban fantasy books coming out each year, 5,000 (actually, more like 50,000) came out. Same with paranormal romance, except in larger numbers. Authors, tired of banging on the door of big publishers and getting said door slammed in their faces, simply put out their own books and set their own prices for readers.

That was a whole lot of books for the same number of readers. While the number of books have ballooned, there has not been a corresponding growth in the number of readers. Faced with tons of choices, urban fantasy readers picked the less-expensive options, which were not those coming from the big publishers. So the publishers, for the most part, picked up their toys and went home, saying “no more urban fantasy.”

I was lucky in that I began my Sentinels of New Orleans series a couple of years before the big changes happened. Since then, however, if you aren’t already a proven best-selling author, the big publishers don’t want to know you.

Until now. Slowly, we’re beginning to see new urban fantasy creep in from the bigger publishers.

Why? For one thing, I think they realize the market is big enough that it can support more books. I can’t speak for other readers, but I read urban fantasy as well as write it because it tickles my imagination.

I love the idea that there might be “others” living among us. That my former boss on my day job turned into a slobbering ghoul every night (oh, wait, that might be real).

To me, urban fantasy brings together the best of real-world suspense fiction and the elements of fantasy in one setting. It brings fantasy to life by setting it in a world we know, and making a plethora of creatures just human enough that we can identify with them, cheer them on, or wish them dead.

So after a couple of years spent thinking of genres other than urban fantasy, I’m encouraged enough to look beyond the Sentinels series and think of new worlds and new ideas to pursue.

In the meantime, I’m still happily immersed in the Sentinels world, and looking forward to the release of book five, BELLE CHASSE, tomorrow. This will be the penultimate book in this series, although the undead pirate Jean Lafitte is clamoring for his own spinoff book. (Oui?) Long live urban fantasy! Now, if we can just get paranormal romance off that respirator….

What are your thoughts about the revival of urban fantasy and paranormal romance? Are you burned out, or ready for more vamps and shifters, faeries and elves? And, of course for me, more wizards and members of the historical undead.

Belle Chasse Sentinels of New Orleans Book 5 Suzanne Johnson Genre: Urban Fantasy Publisher: TOR Books Date of Publication: November 8, 2016 ISBN: 978-0765376992 ASIN: B01E3PFTCQ Number of pages: 336 Word Count: approx. 93,000 Cover Artist: Cliff Nielsen

Book Description:

Suzanne Johnson's "strong and intriguing" (Publishers Weekly) urban fantasy series continues with Belle Chasse. The Sentinels of New Orleans series has earned starred reviews from Library Journal ("a resourceful heroine who relies on her magical ingenuity") and PW ("vivid...a lively tale jam-packed with action, magic, and intriguing plot twists").

With the wizard-elven treaty on the verge of collapse, the preternatural world stands on the brink of war.

Unless former wizard sentinel DJ Jaco manages to keep the elven leader, Quince Randolph, focused on peace and not personal matters.

With no one on the throne, Faerie is in chaos, with rival princes battling for power. The still-undead pirate, Jean Lafitte, is building his own army of misfits, and DJ stripped of her job and hiding in the Beyond to avoid the death sentence handed down by the wizard Council of Elders can’t get anywhere near her beloved New Orleans or her significant something-or-other, Alex.

It's time to choose sides. Friends will become enemies, enemies will become allies, and not everyone will survive. DJ and her friends will learn a hard lesson: sometimes, even the ultimate sacrifice isn’t enough.

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BN

Book Depository

Books-a-Million

Indie Bound

About the Author: Suzanne Johnson is the author of the award-winning Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series but perhaps is best known for her romantic suspense and paranormal romance books written as Susannah Sandlin, including the Penton Vampire Legacy paranormal romance series, the Wilds of the Bayou suspense series, and The Collectors romantic thriller series. Her awards include two Holt Medallions in 2013 and 2015, a 2015 Booksellers Best Award in romantic suspense, and nominations in 2014 and 2015 for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award. A displaced New Orleanian, she currently lives in Auburn, Alabama. Suzanne loves SEC football, fried gator on a stick, all things Cajun, and redneck reality TV. Web: http://www.suzannejohnsonauthor.com Blog: http://www.suzannejohnsonauthor.com/blog Newsletter: http://www.suzannejohnsonauthor.com/newsletter Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSuzanneJohnson Twitter: @Suzanne_Johnson Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sj3523/

What inspired you to become an author?

My interest in writing started at an early age. When I was in the third grade, my elementary school principal gave me a copy of Beezus and Ramona. From the moment I finished the book, I wanted to write adventures for other children to read. Needless to say, that didn’t happen but the seeds were planted for the future.

A few years ago, my husband was reading an article on NaNoWriMo (Nation Novel Writing Month) and suggested I participate. At first, I wasn’t sure I should do it since I’d placed my writing aspirations on hold over twenty-five years before hand, but then I thought, why not and signed up. I never did anything with that first novel, but it gave me the push I needed to pursue writing.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

The title of my book came from a joint effort with my publisher. I wanted a title that conveyed some of the themes in the book. A few months before the book went into production, I sent my publisher a list of possible titles and Rule Breaker was one of them and the clear winner.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I believe what I want readers to grasp about my novel is that healthy, smart, well educated, and confident women can enjoy an alternate sexual lifestyle without having a background filled with trauma or issues.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

I am looking at writing paranormal/fantasy. I love reading the genre and have an urge to write something. I’ve outlined a few stories, now I only have to find time to dive into the writing.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?

Rule Breaker is the first in a three book series following three best friends on their journey to happily ever after.

The second book, Rule Master is the story of Milla Castra, a party girl, shipping heiress (imagine a Paris Hilton type of girl, but with degrees from Harvard and MIT). The story focuses on the ups and downs of Milla’s relationship with her husband, Alexander Duncan, following her kidnapping by arms dealers. Rule Master is scheduled for release on March 7, 2017.

What books/authors have influenced your life?

I love Jane Austen. She was a trailblazer for her time, writing about smart and strong women who lived during an era when women had little or no rights whatsoever.

Another author, who I admire, is Nora Roberts. She has had one of the longest and most versatile careers of any author. She continuously weaves characters and stories that keep readers wanting more. She can move in and out of genres with ease and builds worlds readers wish were real. My goal is to have the longevity and the versatility of Nora’s career in my own.

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

Here is one of my favorite scenes from Rule Breaker.

“Hello.”

“Open your eyes, Arya, and look out the window.”

Oh no, the voice.

I followed his command.

Max leaned against the outside wall of the club, watching me.

“No matter what you tell yourself, you know where you belong. Don’t think I’m giving up. I know you aren’t ready yet, but soon you won’t be walking away.”

“Max, you have no claim on me. Not anymore.” I protested. Closing my eyes, I willed my body to calm.

“Keep telling yourself that. Even now, I know your skin is on fire, craving my touch. I know that with the slightest change of my voice, you react. If I told you to slide your hand down between your legs, you would, and you’d find yourself wet and aching.”

I didn’t need to touch myself; the dampness soaked through my underwear. I couldn’t go back there again. “Max, please don’t do this to me. I’ve built a new life for myself without you in it.”

“Well, you’d better start making room for me. I plan on becoming a very permanent part of your life, and it isn’t beneath me to use every opportunity to remind you of who you belong to.”

“This isn’t fair—” “I’m not playing to be fair,” he interrupted. “I’m playing for keeps. Consider yourself warned.”

Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?

Each of my books has the theme song that triggered the story in my mind. It is usually something in the words or the music for a particular song that ignites the premise of my book.

For example, Do What You Want by Lady Gaga, was the song that activated the thought process for outlining my debut novel, Rule Breaker. The story is based around Arya Rey, my heroine, agreeing to a no strings relationship with her ex-lover to protect herself from a broken heart. Arya is willing to let Maxwell Dane, her lover, do whatever he wants to her body but she refuses to give him anything more.

Once I find a theme song, I create a playlist on Spotify, with each song representing a scene in the book. It can be anything from classical symphony music to punk rock. My personal taste in music is very eclectic so my playlists are too.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Most people would not know that I am a total Star Wars geek. I can sit for hours with my friends and family debating and discussing the different movies. Even during Halloween, we dress up as different characters. My husband, children, and I have dressed as the Skywalkers (Anakin, Padme, Luke, and Leia) and this year we are dressing up as old school vs next generation (Darth Vader and Padme vs. Kylo Ren and Rey). It’s something our friends and family expect of us every year.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?

I just finished editing my second book, Rule Master. The second in the Rules Series follows the ups and downs of Milla Castra’s relationship with her husband, Lex Duncan, following her kidnapping by arms dealers. Rule Master is scheduled for release on March 7, 2017.

I am also in the middle of writing book three, Rule Changer. This book follows Carmen Dane and her relationship with another dominant, Thomas Regala as they navigate a relationship where both of them are used to taking charge and making the rules. Rule Changer is set for release on July 11, 2017.

Rule Breaker Sienna Snow Genre: Romantic Fiction, Erotic Fiction Publisher: Hachette Book Group Forever Yours Imprint Publication date: 1st November 2016

ISBN: 9781455568734 Book Description: She controls a technology empire. He controls her.

At just twenty-eight years old, Arya Rey has become queen of the tech world. While she is highly respected as a philanthropist and fearless businesswoman, no one would suspect that beneath her controlled exterior simmers a private passion. A desire never spoken of in Boston's elite social circles. A need for submission, for satisfaction, for the kind of exquisite pleasure that can only be provided by one man . . . her billionaire ex-lover Maxwell Dane.

It's been five years since Max and Arya last met. Five years that they've longed for the feel of each other's skin. Max always takes what he wants, and he wants Arya back. But it's more than the memory of her broken heart that makes her resist. During their time apart, Arya has collected secrets of her own. She can give Max her body, but can she give him the truth?

Amazon About the Author: Born in London, England, Sienna Snow moved to the USA at the age of five. From an early age, she learned to balance two cultures, keeping the traditions of the Indian while learning the ins and outs of the American.

Her love of reading started at a very young age with “Beezus and Ramona.” By the time she entered high school, a girlfriend introduced her to Bertrice Small and Jude Deveraux (much to the horror of the nuns at her Catholic school), and an avid romance reader was born.

Writing was her childhood aspiration, but her loving parents encouraged her to seek a “real job.” So, she placed her secret passion on hold and went on to receive two bachelor’s degrees and two masters degrees.

After a prolific career as a management consultant and the completion of her husband’s medical degree, she became a stay at home mom and PTO Goddess.

Sienna has a deep-rooted love for travel and planning vacations years in advance. Her goal is to visit all seven continent in the next ten years.

When she is not writing, traveling, or reading, she spends her time with her husband and two children.

Sienna writes sexy romance, some with a lot of heat and spice and others with a bit of fantasy. Her characters represent strong women of different cultures and backgrounds, who seek love through unique circumstances.

Website: http://siennasnow.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sienna_snow

What Makes Bewitching Book Tours Different From Other Virtual Book Tour Companies?

Bewitching Book Tours has been in business since 2010 making us one of the oldest virtual book tour companies around. We know book promotion.

Our authors are our number one priority. This is not a hobby or a side job in addition to the day job. This is our day job, which means we put our authors first.

Bewitching Book Tours offers multiple tour packages and services for authors- we have one day packages for cover reveals, release day blitzes, and one day tours. We also offer one week, two week and one month tours. Bewitching also offers Kindle Free Book Blitz tours to promote your Kindle free book for up to five days. Other services we offer are Twitter parties, Facebook parties, Press Release Writing, and radio interviews.

Custom packages are available.

Bewitching has optional special features including a monthly magazine, a BlogTalk Radio Show and we offer custom Bewitching Book swag creations such as bookmarks, keychains, purse charms and more.

The most important things about Bewitching is that your book starts receiving promotion as soon as you sign up with Bewitching. A media kit is created, tour banners are made, and a page goes up on the Bewitching Blog announcing your upcoming tour. An invitation is sent out to all the Bewitching Tour Hosts and your upcoming tour is shared throughout our vast network of social media which includes multiple Facebook pages and accounts, Tsu, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest, Tumblr, and other book social sites.

Immediately your book has been put in front of thousands of book lovers. And we don’t stop there. We continue to work on your tour scheduling tour stops, reviews and more depending on your tour package chosen.

Once your tour is set up we send you the tour schedule, materials and instructions so there is no confusion.

You return requested materials to Bewitching and we handle the rest.

Once your tour has started we promote every single tour stop every day on multiple social media platforms several times throughout the day. Combine this exposure with the daily tour hosts’ and the author’s social media promotion of the tour stops and you have your book in front of thousands of readers every day.

Even after the tour Bewitching continues working for you. Your name and web link will be listed on our blog as a client and your tour pages will be archived, not removed. So they will always be available for readers to access. If Bewitching has special events in the future like calls for submissions, holiday contests or other multi-author events you will be invited to participate.

Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place Vanta M. Black Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Genre-Fiction, New Adult, Horror Publisher: Black Chateau Publishing Date of Publication: March 2016 ISBN: 978-0-9964488-2-6 ISBN: 978-0-9964488-1-9 ISBN: 978-0-9964488-0-2 Number of pages: 566 Word Count: 247,912 Cover Artist: Black Chateau Enterprises Book Description: Veronica knows the monsters aren’t “just in her head”, but no one listens to the headstrong ten-year-old as they tie her to a hospital bed every night.

Years later, after being dumped by her business-partner/boyfriend, Veronica finds herself on the verge of bankruptcy. Then a late-night call promises the perfect solution — a job opportunity decorating a castle in France.

Will Veronica risk what little she has left to chase a fairytale?

When the shadowy things that once terrorized her come back, Veronica must decide how much she’ll sacrifice for them, for her sanity, and for her life.

This epic book consists of interwoven stories with paranormal twists. A horror-filled historical fiction adventure, it spans nearly two millennia.

You'll be transported to an ancient Pagan ritual, Roman-ruled Gaul, the bloody Inquisition of the Knights Templar, France as it's ravaged by the Black Death, the duplicitous Reformation, the Paris Catacombs, and the gory French Revolution, while you unravel Oubliette’s cryptic layers.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/y0NMLzBnxKg

Amazon BN Author Website

About the Author: Vanta M. Black, author of Oubliette—A Forgotten Little Place, enjoys uncovering the dark mysteries of our Universe.

In addition to writing, she enjoys traveling to provocative places and studying all things esoteric.

Black has degrees in English, communication and art. She resides in Southern California with her husband and two pug-mix dogs, and spends her time in support of causes that empower women and advance science and technology. http://www.vantamblack.com/ https://www.facebook.com/VantaM.Black https://www.facebook.com/OublietteNovel/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14697666.Vanta_M_Black https://twitter.com/VantaMBlack @VantaMBlack http://oublietteaforgottenlittleplace.tumblr.com/ https://www.pinterest.com/VantaMBlack/ http://www.youtube.com/c/VantamblackOubliette https://www.iauthor.uk.com/oubliette-a-forgotten-little-place:18380

Eternal Desire Desire Series Book One Roxanne Rhoads Genre: Paranormal Erotica Publisher: Bewitching Books Release Date: April 14, 2015 (2nd Edition) Book Description: Halloween in New Orleans, anything can happen…including love and magick.

Paranormal researcher Liz Beth's dreams are haunted by a sensual vampire.

She arrives in New Orleans the week of Halloween in search of her elusive dream lover, but instead finds a handsome stranger.

They begin a passionate affair. Soon she is torn between dreams and reality, lost somewhere in the middle trying to regain reason.

She aches to find the vampire of her dreams but can't seem to break free of the spell her sexy stranger has her tangled in.

Amazon

BN iTunes

Eternal Desire Excerpt: There is no place on earth like New Orleans. The sights, the sounds, and the smells all assaulted my senses.

The fragrance was like a drug. A mixture of seafood, gumbo, exotic spices, and rich chicory coffee floated in the moist air, which mingled with the sweet sounds of jazz coming my way. Add to that the feeling of fun and excitement that the city was exuding, and it was truly a unique experience. New Orleans hummed and crackled with energy all its own.

It was the week before Halloween, and the New Orleans Halloween festivities were already in full swing. New Orleans is a city that loves Halloween, and treats the holiday almost like a second Mardi Gras.

The residents love to party, and even a week before Halloween people were already running around in costume. The haunted city, full of magic and ghosts, kicked everything into high gear for the tourists. I saw signs and posters for Boo at the Zoo (for the kids), the Moonlight Witches Run, the Krewe of Boo Parade, Anne Rice’s Vampire Lestat Ball, The Endless Night Vampire Ball and the Voodoo Music Experience in City Park. Nearly everywhere I went, there were haunted history tours taking place: the Ghost Tour of the French Quarter, the Haunted Garden District Tour, the Spellbound Tour, the Voodoo and Cemetery Tour and the one I was most interested in—the Vampire Tour.

Oh, I know, it all seems so cliché: vampires in New

Orleans at Halloween! But I think that was the point. He seemed to have a sense of humor, and irony was something he used to his advantage.

Walking through some of the dark streets of the French Quarter was like taking a step back in time. The lacy wrought iron work that defined New Orleans architecture and style, the horse drawn carriages full of tourists, and the old fashioned flickering gas lamps made me feel nostalgic. I wondered whether it looked the same when he strolled along these streets over 200 ago.

Haunting Desire Desire Series Book Two Roxanne Rhoads Genre: Paranormal Erotica Publisher: Bewitching Books Release Date: February 5, 2016 Book Description: Welcome to the Inn of Amorous Apparitions where your every libidinous longing can be fulfilled by sensual spirits.

LizBeth has been hired to use her ghost whispering skills on the specters at the Castle Inn, but instead of banishing the seductive spooks Barbara, the Inn Keeper, wants them to "come out and play" with her special guests.

The Castle Inn is set to become the destination for the ghost sex fetish crowd. But first LizBeth has to convince the voluptuous visions that it is alright to participate in spectrophilia fun with the guests.

LizBeth has a special talent for seeing and communicating with ghosts but these enchanting ethereals are not cooperating with her, or her vampire boyfriend. Something odd is fueling the raunchy wraiths and they have to discover the power source or risk leaving a customer unsatisfied.

There’s more to this haunting than the average ghost. Will LizBeth be able uncover the mystery of this sexy haunted mansion?

Amazon BN Kobo iTunes

Bewitching Book Tour Packages and Pricing Book sales will magically soar during one of our spellbinding virtual book tours Bewitching Book Tours specialize in tours for paranormal, urban fantasy, and paranormal erotica books with prices just right for any author's budget

Every tour package includes:  a custom media kit  custom tour button and banners including a facebook header banner  the option to offer review copies to bloggers- the number of reviews actually received during a tour are not guaranteed- they depend on blogger participation  two tour pages at Bewitching Book Tours (one invitation tour page announcing the upcoming tour and one final tour page with schedule)  distribution to our mailing list of over 600 tour hosts  Daily promotion throughout the Bewitching social media outlets including multiple facebook pages and accounts, twitter, and google plus Giveaways are not necessary during tours but they are highly encouraged. Giveaways draw many more readers and viewers to tour stops plus they help increase your social media followers.

We utilize Rafflecopter entry forms so you can offer one prize package or several throughout your tourwinners are chosen at the end of the tour. $47.50 will get you the Release Day Blitz One day book release blitz includes  Posting on up to 20 blogs which will include- tour banner, your book info, excerpts, and fun tidbits (character profiles, music playlists, etc or whatever other materials you would like to provide)  a custom media kit  custom tour button and banners including a facebook header banner  the option to offer review copies to bloggers- the number of reviews actually received during a tour are not guaranteed- they depend on blogger participation

 two tour pages at Bewitching Book Tours (one invitation tour page announcing the upcoming tour and one final tour page with schedule)  distribution to our mailing list of over 600 tour hosts  Daily promotion throughout the Bewitching social media outlets including multiple facebook pages and accounts, twitter, and google plus The release day blitz can be purchased alone or added to another tour package

$50.00 will get you the week long Bewitched Book Blitz Tour Your will receive 1 week of tour stops  Posting on approximately 5-7 stops which will include- tour banner, your book info, guest blogs, interviews, excerpts, and fun tidbits (character profiles, music playlists, etc or whatever other materials you would like to provide)  a custom media kit  custom tour button and banners including a facebook header banner  the option to offer review copies to bloggers- the number of reviews actually received during a tour are not guaranteed- they depend on blogger participation  two tour pages at Bewitching Book Tours (one invitation tour page announcing the upcoming tour and one final tour page with schedule)  distribution to our mailing list of over 600 tour hosts  Daily promotion throughout the Bewitching social media outlets including multiple facebook pages and accounts, twitter, and google plus This tour is perfect for an author to get a taste of how a book tour works Great for new releases or for the backlist book that could use a sales boost $85 will get you the 2 week Cast a Magic Spell Tour 2 weeks of tour stops  Posting on approximately 10-14 stops which will include- tour banner, your book info, guest blogs, interviews, excerpts, and fun tidbits (character profiles, music playlists, etc or whatever other materials you would like to provide)  a custom media kit  custom tour button and banners including a facebook header banner  the option to offer review copies to bloggers- the number of reviews actually received during a tour are not guaranteed- they depend on blogger participation  two tour pages at Bewitching Book Tours (one invitation tour page announcing the upcoming tour and one final tour page with schedule)  distribution to our mailing list of over 600 tour hosts  Daily promotion throughout the Bewitching social media outlets including multiple facebook pages and accounts, twitter, and google plus

$140 will get you The Spellbinding Special 1 Month Tour This is our most popular so far- with it you'll receive one month of tour stops  Posting on approximately 20 stops which will include- tour banner, your book info, guest blogs, interviews, excerpts, and fun tidbits (character profiles, music playlists, etc or whatever other materials you would like to provide)  a custom media kit  custom tour button and banners including a facebook header banner  the option to offer review copies to bloggers- the number of reviews actually received during a tour are not guaranteed- they depend on blogger participation  two tour pages at Bewitching Book Tours (one invitation tour page announcing the upcoming tour and one final tour page with schedule)  distribution to our mailing list of over 600 tour hosts  Daily promotion throughout the Bewitching social media outlets including multiple facebook pages and accounts, twitter, and google plus

Kindle Free Book Blitz $50

Is your book going free on Kindle?

Get the most out of your Kindle free days with Bewitching Book Tours We are now offering a Kindle Free Book Blitz Tour- Up to 5 days of promotion just $50- this includes:  Posting on numerous blogs that will announce that your book is free is Amazon  a custom media kit  custom tour button and banners including a facebook header banner  the option to offer review copies to bloggers- the number of reviews actually received during a tour are not guaranteed- they depend on blogger participation  two tour pages at Bewitching Book Tours (one invitation tour page announcing the upcoming tour and one final tour page with schedule)  Daily promotion throughout the Bewitching social media outlets including multiple facebook pages and accounts, twitter, and google plus

Cover Reveals are $45 Add a live Facebook party to any package for $100 A Facebook Party includes the coordination, set up and moderation of a live Facebook party (event) page.

The party will last for about two hours.

A party page will be created and moderated by Bewitching Book Tours.

This is a great way to interact with readers. They can post questions and the author can answer in real time.

The author will be responsible for providing party content (book/author facts and links, quizzes, games, and prizes). Bewitching Book Tours can help with brainstorming ideas for content and prizes.

The Facebook party can be purchased by itself or added to a tour package.

Please understand Bewitching Book Tours is not responsible for missed your stops on your tour. After the tour is scheduled and all of the tour materials have been sent out, it is the responsibility of the Blogger who signed up for the tour to post materials on their designated day.

Bewitching Book Swag Bewitching Book Tours offers custom book swag creations that can be added on to tour packages or ordered separately.

We offer high quality, hand crafted, one of a kind items made to match your book. Currently we are offering beaded bookmarks, beaded keychains, purse charms, belt loop charms, wine glass charms, and earrings.

These items can be created with colored beads to match the colors in your book cover.

We can also add small charms to coordinate with book content- we have a wide variety of charms to choose from and if we don't have something that matches your book we can get it.

Some of the silver charms available are: vampire fangs, wolves, witch hats, keys and locks, books, hearts, haunted houses, bats, foxes, hamsas, dragons, sugar skulls, rhinestone skull and crossbones, high heeled shoes, Fleur de lis, masquerade masks, owls and many more.

You can also opt to have the items completely customized by adding your book cover to a metal charm. The book covers are encased in small metal photo frame charms and sealed in resin for a high quality charm that looks fabulous and is very durable.

Our goal is to create custom book swag that represents your book.

Nuttycracker Sweet Megan O’Russell Genre: Sweet Romance Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing Date of Publication: 12/08/2015 ISBN: 978-0-9904757-8-1 ASIN: B018DDKLR2 Number of pages: 64 Word Count: 17,000 Cover Artist: Jess Small Book Description: Pointe shoes, tutus, and a snowy road trip with the man she hates. What could possibly go wrong?

The plan was simple. Get to Portland, dance The Nutcracker, and don’t murder your dance partner.

And most definitely, do not, under any circumstances, fall in love with him.

A snowy road trip strands Elle Grant in a tiny cabin better suited for serial killings than rehearsals for two professional ballet dancers. With no one but the incredibly talented, excruciatingly handsome, and notoriously terrible Zachary Benson and a few taxidermy woodland creatures for company, Elle’s Christmas plans are officially ruined. Can she and Zach learn to like each other enough to dance together? And can Elle get home without losing her heart to the Christmas Cavalier?

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/JtCwOu8QT58 Amazon BN Kobo iTunes

I’ve been an elf, a tap dancing reindeer, a teddy bear, a showgirl, the Virgin Mary, and Mrs. Cratchit.

All for the joy of Christmas onstage.

I’ve spent my entire life onstage. Not like every moment of every day, but it’s how I spent all my free time as a child and how I’ve made my living as an adult. The stage is my home, the lights are my sunshine, and the cast is my family, even if only for the run of the show.

Life under the stage lights is glamorous but hard. And it gets hardest around the holidays.

Just like retail workers and plenty of other professions, the holiday season is crunch time for performers. I’ve performed on Thanksgiving for I don’t remember how many years, and on Christmas Day for five out of the past nine years, and always far away from home. Don’t get me wrong. I love it. I spend my Christmas Day performing for either people who have nowhere else to go or who have theatre for Christmas ingrained in their holiday traditions. (Thanks for keeping me employed, theatregoers!)

But when you go to the Nutcracker and see a performer from New York City that is there to lead the local ballet company, that means that performer packed up her life, braved the elements, and is trusting in the world that the show will turn out well. That her dance partner won’t be a terrible human, and that when it’s all over the paycheck will clear. It’s a life of tiny Christmas trees in hotel rooms, hoping you get to see your family before New Year’s, and finding someone nearby to make your Christmas merry and bright. No one wants to be alone for the holidays, even those of us who live our lives with dance shoes and glitter.

And that is where the holiday showmance comes into the picture.

In case you’ve never heard the term “showmance,” it’s a romance that happens during the run of a show. You’re away from home, living and working with the same people, in a profession where you are meant to touch your co-workers, and emotions are bared under the spotlights. It happens all the time. Two people come into a show, play love interests, get close in cast housing, and fall madly in love.

Sometimes they end up married. Sometime there’s drinking and sobbing when they break up on closing night. Sometimes the rest of the cast takes bets to see which way a showmance will go.

But add in the romance of the holidays—fireplaces, snow, and warm fuzzy feelings—toss in a dash of the normal human desire to be with those you care for the most for Christmas, and you just might have the makings of a Christmas romance. Or devastating heartbreak.

From tap dancing soldiers to beautiful Christmas ballerinas, whomever you watch on stage this Christmas just remember they are far from home for the holidays so they can bring joy to their audiences. But don’t worry. It is, in fact, a glamourous life, and while the stage lights bring warmth and beauty to the show, they can also bring a little holiday romance along with them.

About the Author: Megan O’Russell is the author of the young adult fantasy series The Tethering, and Nuttycracker Sweet, a Christmas novella. Megan’s short stories can also be found in several anthologies, including Athena’s Daughters 2, featuring women in speculative fiction. Megan is a professional performer who has spent time on stages across the country and is the lyrist for Second Chances: The Thrift Shop Musical, which received it’s world premier in 2015. When not on stage or behind a computer, Megan can usually be found playing her ukulele or climbing a mountain with her fantastic husband. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8061709.Megan_O_Russell https://www.facebook.com/ORussellauthor/ https://twitter.com/MeganORussell https://meganorussell.com/

Wrecked in Love Book One Roxanna Cross Genre: BDSM, Erotic Romance, Mystery, Paranormal Publisher: Extasy Books Date of Publication: August 19, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-4874-0795-7 ASIN: B01KPPFGNK Number of pages: 45 Word Count: 12265 Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs Book Description: Josephine Herveaux is haunted with guilt over the death of her cousin. The traumatic event from her youth left an empty void she has tried to run from for the past twenty years.

Derek Owens has fought to come to terms with the love triangle from his youth. An OCD Dom, the only place he feels in control is in the safe room he has constructed to deal with his turbulent emotions. The slim thread is shattered when Josephine returns to town.

The past brings Josephine and Derek together once again, but the ghost of Josephine’s cousin refuses to remain quiet. Can Josephine and Derek come to terms with her cousin’s death, or will the ghostly voice in her head drive her to insanity?

A compelling story that will leave you craving more answers….

Extasy Books

Amazon ARe

Excerpt: Josephine stood caught in one of those moments—the ones that sent her heart running a marathon and her sanity flying out the window. Why else would she have been driven to her knees with fright not from nearly being crushed to death by a two ton truck, but by the man jumping out of its cab? Derek Owens. Oh my.

Worse, she found herself staring back at him just as hard as he seemed to stare at her. Her gaze got lost in the dark amber pools. Golden sparks flared near the irises. Sweet Jesus, not even five minutes back in town. Technically, not even in town yet, and she’d managed to make him mad. Furious, even. Her teeth sank down on her lower lip.

Guess I pushed his buttons.

“Do you have a death a wish?” he roared.

His voice, deep and rich, resonated in parts of her that had been left dormant for far too long, jostling her system in an unexpected way. Goosebumps formed under her skin. Bubbles of lava danced on her spine. The contrast between the creeping cold and invading heat felt disconcerting.

“C’mon Jo, don’t you remember what I always told you about this damn curve? You can’t just stop in the middle of it like that. Christ, I could have killed you!”

“You’re such a pompous ass idiot sometimes! Of course I know the damn road. You know what, Derek, you’re absolutely right. I planned for this, for my car to break down at the worst possible spot in the blind curve. Oh, I also planned for your truck to come barreling down and come crashing into me. That’s right, I planned it all. As my welcome back to town party—Right!”Jo rolled her eyes skyward and huffed aloud to let out the steam of frustration this man always seemed to evoke inside of her.

Some things never changed. **** Derek’s fingers twitched. He wanted to march up to her, take her over his knee and teach her the lesson she richly deserved. No female challenged him. He ruled. No one talked back to him. How dare she?

Pure lust gnawed his insides raw. He admired her strength, her spirit. It drove him wild the way she ran her mouth. As much as he wanted to spank her for it, it stirred up old tendrils of… could that be… friendship?

“Damn Jo, I am sorry. Of course you didn’t mean for your car to break down here of all places. It’s just…” his voice trailed off.

“It’s just you acted like a big jerk and put your foot in your mouth like you always do.” She put her fist on her curvy waist and cocked her eyebrow up at him, challenging him.

Every hair on his body stood on edge. His jaw locked. Damn, she knew how to push his buttons. And here he’d done for her something he never did—apologize. He’d actually said those words to her, I am sorry, and she’d called him a jerk. The bitter taste in his mouth reminded him why he never did this.

The need to dominate grew inside. This, however, was definitely not the right time or place. The only way he could gain control would be by towing her car to her summer house and getting her out of the road and out of his way—at least for tonight.

“Just get in the truck, Jo! I’ll get the damn cables and tow you up the rest of the way,” he snapped.

Candy Cane Latte

1 cup milk 2 tsp maraschino cherry juice 1 to 2 drops of peppermint extract 5 Hershey Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped and roughly chopped 1 tbsp instant coffee Whipped cream, if desired 1 candy cane, if desired Heat the milk in the saucepan until it’s hot and steaming, but not boiling. Stir in the chopped Candy Cane Kisses. Return to heat for an additional 20 seconds. Stir with a small whisk until the candies are dissolved. The milk will take on a pinkish hue. Whisk in the coffee, maraschino juice and add in the peppermint extract drops. Top of your glass with a bit of whipped cream and decorate the side with the candy cane as a final touch. Enjoy while it’s hot!

Grams Holiday Meat Pie

Crust      

5 ½ cups of all purpose flour 2 tsp of salt 1 lb Tenderflake lard 1 tbsp vinegar 1 egg, lightly beaten Cold water

1. Mix together flour and salt 2. Cut in Tenderflake lard with two knives or pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse oatmeal 3. In 1 cup measure (250 ml), combine vinegar and egg. Add water to make 1 cup.

Gradually stir liquid into Tenderflake mixture. Add only enough water to make dough cling together 4. Gather into a ball and divide into 6 portions. If desired, wrap unused portions and refrigerate or freeze 5. Roll out each portion on lightly floured surface. If dough is sticking, chill 1to 2 hours.

6. Transfer dough onto a pie plate. Trim and flute shells or crust and bake according to your recipe.

Filling              

1-1/4 pounds ground pork 1/2 pound ground beef 1/4 pound ground veal 1/2 cup grated onion 3 garlic cloves, minced 1-1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon dried savory 1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, divided 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1 egg *Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches) 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the pork, beef, veal, and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the garlic, seasonings and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

2. Remove from the heat; cool to room temperature. Stir in bread crumbs. Combine egg and remaining water; stir into meat mixture.

3. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry; trim even with edge. Fill with meat mixture. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in pastry. Cover edges loosely with foil.

4. Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil. Reduce heat to 375°; bake 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

About the Author: Roxanna is a mother of three teenage girls, a wife and she juggles a full time career all the while living in two worlds. Being a writer, a dreamer, a drifter gives her an outlet to calm the voices in her head.

Her quirky, sarcastic sense of humor and easygoing, non-judgmental temperament shines through on the page, a knack that until a few years ago she wouldn’t let herself claim. When an editor selected her short story “Belted In” for Best Bondage Erotica 2014, then it hit her like a ton of bricks—she’d done it. Earned the title she coveted for so long, author. And it’s one she cherishes. https://roxannacross.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/roxanna.cross.180 https://twitter.com/RoxxxannaC http://roxxxannablog.tumblr.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7235811.Roxanna_Cross https://www.pinterest.com/roxanna4856/

Candlelight Roxanna Cross Mesmerized Eyes caught By the dancing flame Of the giant sized candle Burning this Yule night Its orange flame like a beacon Its bright blue pillar, a spear of hope And the evergreens all around, sign of new beginnings Blessed it be to all under the Yule candle’s light

Do you have a specific writing style?

I don’t think I have a particular writing style but I do try to weave humour and light heartedness into my stories and particular my dialogue. I write contemporary romance so the end goal is to write in such a way that the reader is transformed from the pages of a book to the mind of the characters.

Do you write in different genres?

No, I’m a sucker for Contemporary Romance How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

I wanted to weave in the concept of the book with the title. My hero is a race car driver so what better than love in the fast LANE? Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

Sometimes the title comes to me upfront and other times I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out something clever and catchy.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

Not usually. Sometimes arb things find their way into my stories from my own experiences – some dumb moment I encountered or something stupid I said. But characters and plot are completely fictional Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Yes definitely! But not in this book. My upcoming novel, It Had to Be You, both main characters are my absolute favourites.

What books/authors have influenced your life?

EVERYTHING Rachel Gibson.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Lauren Layne Do you have any advice for other writers?

Keep writing and do it because you have a passion to get the words on the page. Don’t let others discourage you. Only YOU know your passion for the story. And you will be your worst enemy.

Keep your eye on the end goal.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I’m teeny tiny – 1.5m. I can move my ears without touching them and I can fake a pretty good Irish accent Love in the Fast Lane Melissa Kate Contemporary Romance Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC November 8, 2016 Book Description: Racecar driver, Nathan Wolf, is primed to win his first championship. A thriving career and sexy holiday fling have Nathan riding the high life. But the past haunts him and could ruin it all.

After six long years, Brielle Woods has finally put the past behind her. Or so she thought, until she bumps into the hotshot who that turned her world upside down and left her...to raise their son...alone.

Can they overcome baggage from their past and give into the passion that still burns between them? Or will they lose the chance at true happiness and the family they both long for?

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/U_c6W44QtZE Fiery Seas Publishing

About the Author: Melissa Kate is a new author who lives in a small town along the coast in sunny South Africa. She writes for the pleasure of living in a new story and all the quirks and crazies that go with each character. A true romantic at heart, she loves the moment of falling in love. Her pet Beagle and maniacal lovebird keep her company while writing and often inspire senseless moments in her stories.

When she’s not furiously typing away on her laptop, Melissa can be found cooking or baking up a storm. Even she has to admit, she’s a pretty awesome chef. She has a small addiction with shoes which she attributes to her petite stature or as she likes to call it “Short girl problems”.

She balances her day job and conjuring up new romantic tales with a local personal blog with arb ramblings about her life in Durban. She’s been writing for years now, any bits that she can and she can't wait to share that with you! http://www.melissakatebooks.com/ https://twitter.com/MelissaKate_1 https://www.facebook.com/melissakatebooks

The “Dearg-Dubh” and Other Irish Vampires When Roxanne asked me to write about my book, I knew I needed to tell you all about one of my most beloved characters, Malachy Moray. Malachy is a “dearg-dubh,” (pronounced DYE-rig DOO), a vampire-like figure from Irish folklore. The name itself derives from a local Sligo legend, and Bram Stoker used this story for the inspiration behind the fate of Lady Westenra in Dracula and her transformation into a vampire, aka the “Bloofer Lady.”

While I may have borrowed the name from Stoker and the good people of Sligo, my inspiration for Malachy actually comes from a story I heard when I was traveling through the west of Ireland on the Dingle peninsula. The tale is long and rambling (in the absolutely best way), but it involves a priest who was on his way to give the last rites to a dying man. Years later, I would find a version of the story in the book, Meeting the Other Crowd, which is a collection of tales from the legendary Seanachaí, Eddie Lenihan. In the story, the priest meets a mysterious figure on the road playing the violin, and the music was so sweet and beautiful, the priest realized right away it was one of the Good People, or the Fae. The Fae demands the priest ask the dying man, “What will happen to the Good People on the last day of judgment?”

When the priest returns to the Faerie, he says, “I got an answer all right, but I don’t know if ‘tis the one you want. It didn’t make much sense to me.”

The Faerie is desperate and begs for an answer.

“Tell me!”

“He said…if one drop o’ blood could be found in their veins on the Day o’ Judgment, they’d [the Good People] see the face o’ God. Does that make any kind of sense to you?”

“One drop o’ blood,” says the lad. “Only one drop?”

In a rage, the Faerie throws his fiddle to the ground and takes out a dagger. The priest backs away, terrified out of his mind and fearful that the Fae man is going to attack him.

In the version I heard, he stretched out his arm and without flinching, slashed a great rent into his pale flesh. Nothing but ash poured out. The Faerie then declared:

“For the last five thousand years and more, I and my people are traveling the roads of Ireland, and in all that time we never did harm to man, woman, child, or any living creature, only playing sweet music for all of ‘em in the dark, hurting no one. But from this time on, Father, there’ll be no music.”

From that moment forward, that road the priest had traveled was known as an evil, haunted place. Farmers picked up and moved, shopkeepers closed up, pub owners begged people to take their property off their hands. Travel only returned in the late ‘50s when more of the Irish started driving cars, but as Lenihan states, “You can believe it or not, whatever you like: That road isn’t right.”

My character Malachy is complex, mysterious. His deeper motivations remain an enigma throughout most of CHILDREN OF THE VEIL, but one thing is true. He, like the Good People from Lenihan’s stories, belong to a cursed race of beings. Malachy is seeking out power, but also, somewhere in his pale, immortal body, he is looking for redemption.

Children of the Veil The Aisling Chronicles Book 2 Colleen Halverson Genre: Urban Fantasy Publisher: Entangled Date of Publication: October 26, 2016 ISBN: 9781633757738 ASIN: B01LZDAFQY Number of pages: 400 Word Count: 120K Book Description: Elizabeth Tanner has one goal: to find her mother in whatever dimension she’s imprisoned. But to do that, she has to face her estranged father, and to do that, she needs a shot of whiskey…or seven. But after an attempt on her life and the return of her lost love, she wakes up with one hell of a hangover and a whole barrage of questions.

Finn O’Connell doesn’t know why the Fianna want him to aid Elizabeth in her search, but he’ll take any excuse to be near her again. Together, they dive headlong into the shadows of her mother’s secrets and find themselves embroiled in a Fae rebellion that will test Finn’s loyalties and their love.

With the Faerie realm verging on chaos, Elizabeth and Finn will embark on a quest that will lead them from the streets of Chicago to London’s seedy Fae underground. But rescuing Elizabeth’s

mother means journeying to a place Finn can’t follow, and Elizabeth is forced to make a choice between finding her at last or saving her own soul.

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Amazon UK Amazon CA Excerpt Finn stood up and placed his hands on my shoulders, massaging my sore muscles. I turned my head to the side, allowing him access to my neck. He rubbed his thumb down my spine, and I let out a soft moan as the tension in my body released.

“The way you addressed that soldier tonight, and your oath to Phelan,” he said. “I have to admit, I was quite enamored by your display of power.”

“Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet, Mr. O’Connell.” My fingertips hummed with aisling energy as he brushed my hair aside and kissed me between my shoulder blades. In spite of my exhaustion and everything I learned tonight, my body ached for him.

“I think royalty looks good on you.” He smoothed his hands down my arms, and breathed into my ear. “But then again, I think everything looks good on you, Princess” I placed my hand over Finn’s. “You just want to see me in a dress again.”

“I suppose I’m still stuck in the 18th century.” He stroked my hair, pulling my wayward curls behind my ears.

“I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to seeing women in trousers.”

I stood up and stretched, turning to the cot in the corner. “Well, get used to it, buddy.” Finn grabbed my ass, and I squealed as he pulled me into his lap, the rickety wooden chair groaning beneath our weight.

“I could get used to these tight blue jeans, however.” Finn moved his hand down my hip. “They are quite flattering in a twenty-first century sort of way.”

“I’m glad you approve,” I breathed into his ear, reaching back and placing his cheek close to mine.

“It’s just that a lady’s skirts made it much easier to do this.” Finn wrapped his arm around my waist and slipped his fingers inside the waistband of my jeans.

I gasped, grabbing at his hand—to release me or plunge deeper, I wasn’t sure.

About the Author: As a child, Colleen Halverson used to play in the woods imagining worlds and telling stories to herself. Growing up on military bases, she found solace in her local library and later decided to make a living sharing the wonders of literature to poor, unsuspecting college freshmen. After backpacking through Ireland and singing in a traditional Irish music band, she earned a PhD in English with a specialization in Irish literature. When she’s not making up stories or teaching, she can be found hiking the rolling hills of the Driftless area of Wisconsin with her husband and two children. CHILDREN OF THE VEIL is the follow up to her debut urban fantasy novel, THROUGH THE VEIL. www.colleenhalverson.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbhalverson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbhalverson/

What inspired you to become an author?

I had written poems, short stories, and novellas since I was in elementary school; but then jobs, kids, real life got in the way. Then a few years ago I spent a month in Peru on something of a spiritual journey, which included three ayahuasca ceremonies with a curandero. The second ceremony told me that I should be writing again. So I suppose one could say the plant made me do it!

Do you write in different genres?

Oh, yes: Romantic suspense, paranormal, historical, mystery, and now my current project is a Steampunk shapeshifter parody of Wuthering Heights.

If yes which is your favorite genre to write?

Suspense/mystery with a romantic edge.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth is the sequel to Pulse and Prejudice - the vampire adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. At the end of both of those novels, Darcy calls the woman he loves “dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” so it’s a macabre turn of phrase on that particular line.

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

In this case, after I had completed the outline.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

There is an argument between two characters in the novel, and a tiny bit of the dialogue is from a debate I had with my daughter regarding the difference between a gnome and a dwarf. (We were in Amsterdam at the time…)

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

Steampunk, but I shall be resolving that with my next novel.

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Alice from The Proud and the Prejudiced. She’s smart yet vulnerable, tough and pragmatic but empathetic. Plus she loves a good guitar line! I love the relationship between Peter and her.

Frequently when I am having that “writer’s insecurity,” I will re-read their story to remind myself that, hey, I do know how to write!

What book are you reading now?

Re-reading Wuthering Heights in preparation for my parody.

What books/authors have influenced your life?

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi. After that, I immersed myself in true crime books. I think that’s why I prefer to write suspense and mysteries.

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

Here’s an excerptThis is from a heated discussion between Darcy and Fitzwilliam. Those who have read Pulse and Prejudice may be surprised by the changes in their relationship, which occur in Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth....

“We cannot pretend any longer," said Fitzwilliam. “You cannot deny your nature, what you are. I wanted to believe – I convinced myself.”

“It is not as you think!” Darcy stood with such force that his heavy chair toppled over, and he turned his back on Fitzwilliam and stared out the window. “That is not what I am.”

“I noticed your lip has healed. The moonlight I suppose. You cannot deny what you are when it is plainly written on your face.” Fitzwilliam reached again for the bottle and, as he splashed more brandy into the crystal, said, “If I were to call for pistols at dawn, would your wound fester all day until the moon came out?”

“You assume you would win,” Darcy said.

“I am in His Majesty’s army. Perhaps I would like the opportunity to try.”

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Usually the research, especially for historicals. For Pulse and Prejudice, I devoted eighteen months researching not only England and the Regency period but also vampire folklore. One would think living here, I would have had an easier time researching New Orleans after the War of 1812 for Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, but it actually took me two years (off and on… I wrote several other novels – some under different names – during that time) and so many sources contradicted one another! Even though these novels are paranormal, I want them to be historically accurate and input details of actual occurrences in them, like the Frost Fair in London or a breach in the levee at a plantation in 1816.

But overall, I find promoting my own work to be the greatest hardship, as though I am begging, “Please buy my books!” So, please buy my books!

Who designed the cover of your latest book?

Dawné Dominique of Dusk til Dawn Designs has done almost all of my covers.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

For this, I will quote Dorothy Parker: “If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”

Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire Book II Colette L. Saucier Genre: Historical paranormal romance Publisher: Southern Girl Press Date of Publication: eBook August 8, 2016; Date of Publication: print October, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-9969974-0-9 ISBN: 978-0-9863718-8-2 ASIN: B01K3DP652 Word Count: 80,000 Cover Artist: Dawné Dominique

Book Description: The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - elegant, dark, brooding...vampire. In Pulse and Prejudice, the definitive vampire adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic, the Master of Pemberley reveals his haunting tale of unquenchable desire and forbidden love.

His story continues in Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, the lurid, lusty sequel to Pulse and Prejudice, as death shadows the newlywed Darcys from Pemberley to the parlors of Regency London to the courtyards of Antebellum New Orleans. As Elizabeth discovers the trials and travails of marriage to a vampire, can Darcy ever believe that she loves him as he is? Or will his jealousy tear them apart?

Note: Pulse and Prejudice is not “fan fiction” but a complete stand-alone adaptation. No prior knowledge of Pride and Prejudice is required for full enjoyment of this remarkable novel.

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Excerpt: Crimson drops fell onto the white snow, staining it pink.

Darcy had not intended this—to drink from his wife—when he claimed his prize of a kiss after catching her as they raced through the hedge maze at Pemberley. Elizabeth had actually done surprisingly well in evading him,

considering his intuitive abilities; but, of course, he caught her—laughing in his arms, eyes ablaze, cheeks chafed from the cold.

“And now my prize!” As had so often occurred in the span of their brief marriage, his tender kiss had escalated quickly into fervent ardour. The laughter then in her eyes, his wife had taken hold of the lapels of his greatcoat and, falling back onto the snow, pulled him down with her. As their kisses deepened, so, too, had his hunger and desire. He pulled off his gloves and trailed his cold fingers down her face. Untying her bonnet and unfastening her cape, he exposed her neck for his lips and his teeth.

She moaned softly as he drew the blood from her throat, sharing her warmth and her pulse, savouring the rich, metallic taste. He pulled back to watch her, only then noticing that a few precious drops of lifeblood had escaped his embrace and fallen onto the snow.

“William,” she whispered in a half-plea, her hand running over the front of his trousers to convey her intent.

He gazed into her eyes. “Should we not go in? Are not you cold?”

“Cover me to keep me warm.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth onto hers, sharing the taste of her blood as their tongues intertwined.

Darcy pulled at her skirts and brought the hem to her knees. He reached his hand up between her cold thighs to the hot core that drew him in. She gasped against his mouth as he touched her there, but he wasted little time in freeing himself from his trousers and thrusting deep within her.

About the Author: Colette Saucier began writing poems, short stories, and novellas in grade school. Her interest in literature led her to marry her college English professor, but eventually a love of history encouraged her to trade up to a British historian.

Technical writing dominated her career for twenty years, but finding little room for creativity in that genre, she is now a full-time author of fiction.

Pulse and Prejudice was named “A Most Inventive Adaptation” by Elle Magazine (April, 2016). It was the 1st Place Winner in its category in the 2013 Chatelaine Awards Romantic Fiction Contest and is listed in Chanticleer’s 2013 Best Book Listing. Colette dedicated 15 months traveling to Europe and Britain, researching Regency England and vampire lore and literature, to complete for historical accuracy. It remains faithful to nineteenth century literary conventions and Jane Austen’s narrative to create a compelling, thrilling paranormal adaptation.

Colette was selected a “2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award” Semi-finalist and named “Debut Author of the Year” by Austenprose for All My Tomorrows—now expanded and republished as The Proud and the Prejudiced—which was also chosen Austenesque Reviews “Favorite Modern Adaptation” 2013.

Colette’s romantic thriller Alicia’s Possession was the publisher’s #1 Bestselling Romantic Suspense for 4 straight weeks following its debut in June of 2013 and then again in January, 2014, after being voted a “Top Ten Romance Novel of 2013” (P&E Reader’s Poll). Colette is also the author of the controversial and erotic noir romantic suspense The Widow, an Amazon bestselling new release and Kobo bestseller.

Colette’s latest novel—Book II: The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire—entitled Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, follows the newlywed Vampire Darcy and his bride Elizabeth from Britain to Antebellum New Orleans. Due to her devotion to historical accuracy, she spent two years researching Creole Society and Nouvelle Orleans in the years following the War of 1812.

A bestselling and award-winning author under multiple pseudonyms, she is currently working on multiple projects including a parody of Wuthering Heights and a children’s book based on the inspiration for the dog Amadeus from Pulse and Prejudice and Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth.

Colette lives in a lakeside community in South Louisiana with her historian husband and their two dogs. www.colettesaucier.com www.facebook.com/ColetteSaucierAuthor http://colettesaucier.blogspot.com/

Top Ten Favorite Paranormal Books I’ve always been fascinated by the paranormal. I can’t seem to write a story without something paranormal at its core. That means I read a lot of paranormal novels in children’s, YA and adult fiction. Here’s my top ten list. As you work your way down the list, please imagine a drum roll before each is revealed.

10) The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom: It was one of the most meaningful books I’ve read and one I think I’ll reread in years to come when I need perspective on time and what truly matters in life.

9) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling: This to me was the best book in a very beloved series.

8) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: It’s a heart-rending tale of two enemies who fell in love and dared to hope...and what came next. Laini Taylor writes emotions in a way that makes it impossible not to feel every excruciating and exhilarating moment of it.

7) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Part horror, part paranormal. I loved having an unreliable narrator and not knowing what's a hallucination and what's real.

6) Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs: There's a creepy gothic feel to it, cool found photography that weaves into the narrative, a unique take on time travel, and scary monsters with unexpected origins. The writing is phenomenal. I have an author crush on Ransom Riggs.

5) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: It's a fable that resonates with your soul. I love Gaiman's confident writing. You never question his dreamy world building. Sentences are so gorgeous and magnificent. You never want this tale to end.

4) Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead: What a brilliant ending to the Vampire Academy series. The entire novel kept me on the edge of my seat, gripping my armrests. It was intense and awesome.

Action packed and heart-stopping.

3) An Ice Cold Grace by Charlaine Harris: I loved how the darkness in the characters and the story never completely extinguished the light inside it. Great flawed, gray characters!

2) The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: This is the kind of book I dream of writing.

The kind of emotion I hope to one day bleed onto the page.

1) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: This was the book that hooked me on paranormal. It’s what I aspire to in my own writing: memorable characters, an unforgettable love story, and paranormal elements that weave through the fiber of the story.

What are some of your top paranormal reads?

Highway Thirteen to Manhattan The Six Train to Wisconsin Series Book Two Kourtney Heintz Genre: Paranormal and Suspense Publisher: Aurea Blue Press Date of Publication: 11/1/2016 ISBN: 978-0989132688 ASIN: TBA

Number of pages: 420 Word Count: 94,000 Cover Artist: Creative Paramita Book Description: His secrets almost killed her. Her secrets may destroy them both.

Kai is recovering from a near-death experience when she realizes something isn’t right. Her body is healing, but her mind no longer feels quite like her own. Her telepathic powers are changing, too. She can’t trust herself. The darkness growing inside of her pushes her to use her telepathy as a weapon.

Oliver clings to the hope that he can save their marriage, even though he was the one who put her life in jeopardy. As his wife slips further and further away from him, he becomes increasingly obsessed with bringing the man who ruined his life to justice.

The sequel to The Six Train to Wisconsin is a genre-defying tale of love and consequences. Once again, award-winning author Kourtney Heintz seamlessly weaves suspense and paranormal intrigue into a realworld setting, creating characters rich in emotional and psychological complexity.

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"Family secrets, paranormal suspense, and romance collide in Heintz's fascinatingly original tale. A compelling read that will keep you guessing and haunt you long after the last page is turned." -Gretchen Archer, USA Today Bestselling author of the Davis Way Crime Capers Book One The Six Train to Wisconsin

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CHAPTER 1 Kai Like most daughters, I loved my parents, but right now, I wanted them anywhere but here. Hospitals are always hard, but my parents managed to make it harder. My head was already pounding from all the thoughts and emotions coming at me. Not just from the patients and their families and the doctors and the nurses, but also from my mother and father. Instead of shielding their thoughts and trying to make it better for me, they let their emotions crash into me.

My mind wasn’t strong enough for all this. Neither was my body. Tubes eviscerated my right hand. A giant bruise blossomed beside the newest IV line. A cast wrapped around my left wrist. My broken pinky finger had been set and taped to my ring finger. The back of my head was held together with stitches. Beneath the blanket, my body was covered in bruises.

I didn’t feel any physical pain because of the medications the doctors pumped into me. They said I needed it to recover, but it made my body feel like it wasn’t mine. And the steady drip of opiates didn’t just steal my physical pain; it left me unable to form the psychic shield I needed to protect myself from the misery swirling around me.

Mom sat in the chair closest to my bed. She wore one of her flowing peasant blouses and faded jeans. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and light brown strands slipped loose to hang around her face. The corners of her hazel eyes were pinched with worry.

Her hand hovered over my arm, unsure where to touch me—if she should touch me. Finally, she laid her hand gently on my thigh. “You just need to rest here for a few more days.”

She was wrong. I needed to get out of here. Away from all these thoughts as soon as possible. “I want to go home.”

Mom shook her head. “You need to let the doctors help you.” Like they did last time.

Her thoughts slammed into my brain. She thought hospitalization was the solution to everything.

“Please. Look at what’s happened to you. You can’t go home until you’re better,” she said. I can’t lose you. I won’t let that happen.

I didn’t know how to reassure her. Yes, I’d almost died, but being here was hurting me more than it was healing me. I swallowed all the words I wanted to say and hoped for Caleb to come back soon. My brother would know how to talk to Mom, how to make her understand.

The doctor came in to check on me and Mom’s agonizing fear rose up. Don’t let her have brain damage.

Dad patted Mom’s shoulder. He looked like an older, surfer version of Caleb. Both were tall and muscular with curly blond hair. Dad’s hair was a darker blond streaked with platinum from decades in the sun and salt water.

His eyes were greener than Caleb’s, but like Caleb’s, they were rimmed with purple bruises. When Dad smiled, sun lines radiated from his eyes and cut across his cheeks. But I hadn’t seen them since he’d arrived at my bedside.

Instead, waves of exhaustion rolled off him and rippled over me, right before I heard his thoughts. I can’t go through this again, watching you slip away.

My younger sister Naomi lounged in the chair in the corner as far from me as she could get. She had Mom’s light brown hair and thin frame and Dad’s green eyes and height. She looked nothing like me and only distantly related to Caleb. Her long legs looped over the armrest as she flipped through a magazine. Thanks for ruining Christmas break. I’d rather be anywhere but here.

I felt the same way.

At least Oliver was gone for the moment. Mom had convinced him to go home, take a shower, maybe even sleep. I couldn’t bear his guilt; it was so thick it choked me.

Oliver. My husband. God. I’d never loved and hated someone so much at the same time. I still couldn’t believe he’d called my parents. He knew how bad they were at handling me. How could he have thought that having my family here would be good for me?

Bitterness frosted my thoughts. I was in a hospital, bruised and battered. I’d almost died. That’s what Caleb had said. He was the only one willing to tell me the truth. Oliver had said it was bad, but he wouldn’t say how bad. He couldn’t bear to admit what happened to me.

About the Author: Kourtney Heintz is the award-winning and bestselling author of The Six Train to Wisconsin (2013), the first book in The Six Train to Wisconsin series. She also writes bestselling young adult novels under the pseudonym K.C. Tansley. Heintz is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Heintz has given writing workshops and author talks at libraries, museums, universities, high schools, conventions, wineries, non-profits organizations, and writing conferences. She has been featured in the Republican American of Waterbury, Connecticut; on WTNH’s CT Style; and on the radio show, Everything Internet.

Kourtney resides in Connecticut with her warrior lapdog, Emerson, and three quirky golden retrievers. Years of working on Wall Street provided the perfect backdrop for her imagination to run amok at night, envisioning a world where out-of-control telepathy and buried secrets collide.

You can find out more about Kourtney and her books at: http://kourtneyheintz.com http://kourtneyheintz.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/kourhei https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7047704.Kourtney_Heintz

Feast of Chaos Four Feasts till Darkness Book Three Christian A. Brown Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Literary/ Romance Publisher: Forsythia Press Date of Publication: September 23rd, 2016 ISBN: 978-0994014429 ASIN: B01M1ESQ3Y Number of pages: 698 Word Count: 250K Cover Artist: Dane at Ebookcoverlaunch

Book Description: Menos has been destroyed. No corner of the realm of Geadhain is safe from the Black Queen’s hunger. Zionae—or the Great Dreamer, as she has been called in ancient tongues—has a thirst that cannot be quenched until all of Geadhain burns and bleeds.

She preys on the minds of weak men and exploits human folly for an unhuman end. She cannot be defeated in her current state, but the answer to her downfall may lie in the land of her past.

It is with this aim that a Daughter of Fate, Morigan, and her brave and true companions venture to the mysterious Pandemonia, the land of chaos itself. Ancient secrets and even older power lurk in its swamps and deserts. Life itself becomes uncertain, but the Hunters of Fate have no choice: Pandemonia must give up its secrets if they want to find the Black Queen’s weakness.

Elsewhere in the realm, alliances form and break. Dead men rise and heroes fall. Eod prepares for war. In hiding, Lila, the bearer of its destruction, will be given a chance to atone and answer for her sins. Will her actions save Eod, or has she damned it with her crimes?

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/rURqUni_lco Amazon

Excerpt: Heathsholme was quaint—Central Geadhain’s darling, as the locals proclaimed. Looking down upon it, passengers on skycarriages were often struck by the fact that the realm possessed the look of a joyfully made quilt. Red-leafed orchards, yellow fields of flax and corn, patches of blue brocade that were swimming pools and watering holes…all threaded with brown branching roads.

Sweet winds blew down from the North year-round, bearing only cool and refreshing properties until winter rose to claim the throne of seasons. When the North wind came, it froze Heathsholme’s pools into skating circles and decorated the large trees with grand chandeliers of ice. In the depths of that

season, the staunch apple trees finally died. Their fruits fell to the ground and were collected. Their blossoms broke from their branches and filled the air like flocks of migrating winter birds. During this season, families came from the West, South, and East to visit Heathsholme and enjoy great outdoor festivals of food, music, mulled cider, and wine—for which the region was also famed.

Partly on account of the season’s coolness, these celebrations happened around great bonfires.

At night, when the happily drunk howled at the moon, a primal spirit took hold, and effigies of nameless spirits were burned in the pyres. No one could remember why or how the Vallistheim tradition had been born, only that it was a remnant of the customs once imposed by Taroch. The ancient warlord had been fascinated by the Northmen’s rites, and had introduced many of them to Central Geadhain. Vallistheim—the winter festival—was believed to bring bounty and luck in the New Year. Over time, polite society had done away with many of the less pleasant sacrificial details to make the ritual friendlier to outsiders. Now only one cow from each of the barns and byres that rose on rings in the hilled highlands around the heart of the township was cooked in a great feast, without having been ritually slaughtered first.

In the uncultivated grasses past the city proper and its farmlands, a dedicated explorer could find the remains of crumbled churches that had been built to honor the now vanished religion of Taroch’s fancies. Runes that the sages had translated into such names as Freyallah, Odric, and Helhayr were found chiseled in the mossy arches of these grounds. These sites of an ancient religion were thought by modern minds to be haunted or perhaps protected by the ancient spirits or warriors mentioned in the stones. It was the sort of refuge where a monster, fearful of being seen, could find sanctuary.

About the Author: Bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Feast of Fates, Christian A. Brown received a Kirkus star in 2014 for the first novel in his genre-changing Four Feasts Till Darkness series. He has appeared on Newstalk 1010, AM640, Daytime Rogers, and Get Bold Today with LeGrande Green. He actively writes a blog about his mother’s journey with cancer and on gender issues in the media. A lover of the weird and wonderful, Brown considers himself an eccentric with a talent for cat-whispering. www.christianadrianbrown.com https://twitter.com/authorchrisab https://www.instagram.com/authorchristianadrianbrown/ https://www.facebook.com/ChristianAdrianBrown

Southern Men – The Real Alpha Males

By Kathryn M. Hearst I was born and raised in rural Florida—think down-home country, not Metro-Miami. I have a soft spot for honest to goodness Southern men. I don’t know if there’s something in the water, or it’s because these boys were raised by Southern women, but these men walk the line between perfect gentlemen and alpha males. Walk the line, get it?

Johnny Cash?

Southern men know how to rock a pair of jeans. Whether they’re old and faded or crisp and new, jeans should fit a man’s backside like a second skin, not sag below the upper swell of the tush. Country boys know how to wear their jeans to show off their bitts, without crushing the jewels.

There’s a fine line between a hint of a bulge and the male equivalent to camel toe. Like any alpha male, they wear their confidence like a lazy smile. They have it, there’s no need to prove it.

Southern men aren’t afraid of strong women. In fact, they expect a woman to speak her mind and keep them in line. These boys love it when women can hold their whiskey, look good without makeup, and can bait a hook. Let’s face it, these boys have a wild streak. Only women secure in themselves and their relationships can handle this type of man.

Southern men clean up real good. They know when to put on a jacket and tie. Likewise, they enjoy the softer side of women. I believe they appreciate the way we smell, our soft skin, and gentle touch more because they’ve seen the Tomboy side. Contrasts are sexy. Contrasts in the same person are even sexier.

Chivalry isn’t dead, and good manners are alive and well in the South. Men open doors, pull out chairs, and say “please” and “thank you.” Southern men keep their women safe. They’ll make sure their women walk on the inside of the sidewalk, and keep an eye out for danger. Not that they think women can’t fend for themselves, but because they protect what is theirs.

Southern men know how to take charge in and out of the bedroom. They’ll listen to your opinions, but at the end of the day they will make up their own minds. They’ll let you be on top, but their rough hands will lock on and set the rhythm. These boys work hard, and they play just as hard.

“Ladies first” takes on a whole new meaning in the South.

Southern men understand a woman’s need to spend time with her friends. Most will run for the hills rather than crash their women’s time with the girls. They were raised to believe that women are a mystery, and some puzzles shouldn’t be solved. Respect is a two-way street. Don’t complain about their boy’s nights and hunting trips, and they’ll never stray.

Southern men are the alpha males most women crave. They’re not the domineering yet sensitive, cocky yet troubled, billionaire yet born poor, romance novel clichés. They’re strong men who are confident enough in themselves to love strong women. If this is your type of dream man, you’ll enjoy the Tessa Lamar novels, “The Spirit Tree” and “Twelve Spirits of Christmas.” Bryson and Aaron are two distinctly Southern men who love the same woman.

Twelve Spirits of Christmas Tessa Lamar Novels Book Two Kathryn M. Hearst Genre: Paranormal Romance Publisher: Wyndham House Date of Publication: November 8, 2016 ASIN: B01MQ09LJU Number of pages: 315 e-book 354 print Word Count: 86,000 Cover Artist: Marcela Bolivar

Book Description: Two amazing men. A serial killer. A Christmas to remember.

Tessa Lamar is dreading her first Christmas without her beloved grandfather. They say the holiday season brings out the best and the worst in people. This year, it’s brought out a serial killer, who chooses his victims based on the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

As Tessa comes to terms with her life as a Nunnehi, the Cherokee equivalent to fairy, she finds herself in cahoots with a ghost to stop the Christmas Killer before he strikes again. She must wrangle her magic, manage family responsibilities, juggle the men in her life, and discover the person she was meant to be, in order to save…

Seven Swans a Swimming Eight Maids a Milking Nine Ladies Dancing Ten Lords a Leaping Eleven Pipers Piping Twelve Drummers Drumming Twelve Spirits of Christmas is the second of the Tessa Lamar Novels, Paranormal Romances with a Southern twist. If you like Southern humor, supernatural creatures, and a healthy dose of romance, then you'll love this series. Be sure to check out Kindle Scout winner, The Spirit Tree, to read the beginning of Tessa’s journey.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Y-hRMPwCTzM Amazon EXCERPT 2 Aaron grabbed my arm. “When I left the scene tonight, I planned to go home. I don’t remember driving, but I ended up here.”

“That happens to me sometimes. Life on autopilot.” I smiled, trying my best to normalize the situation. I didn’t want to have this conversation without Bryson present.

“When you kissed me—” I laughed. “You mean when you kissed me?”

“Stop dancing around the question. This is what Bryson meant when he said we were mates, isn’t it?”

I nodded. “I think so. This is new to me, too. We should talk to him about it.”

“Will you show me?”

“Show you what?”

“The firebird. I was too stunned to get a look at her, you, it is you, right?”

I considered the question. I’d always thought of the spirit animal as a separate entity. “She’s a part of me, but separate. Sometimes it feels like I have two brains running the show, especially when I shift.”

“That’s why you need to learn to control it?” He took a step closer.

“Yes.” I turned my face to his.

“I understand. Since I woke up in the hospital, I’ve want to touch you, but I know I shouldn’t. The other night with you and Bryson was the first time I felt whole in months.” He nuzzled my cheek. “I want to see her.”

It occurred to me that none of us knew what parts of Bryson Aaron had gained. Did it work like a brick?

A chip off a brick was still brick. Or were the pieces unique like a mosaic? Did Aaron inherit Bryson’s magic?

His ability to shift?

“We should wait for Bryson. I don’t know what will happen.”

“What do you think will happen?” He ran his hands up and down my arms.

“For one thing, you could change into a hawk.”

He laughed and nuzzled my neck.

My knees turned to rubber. Whether Aaron’s need to touch me came from ordinary human desires, or something metaphysical, I needed to distract him. “All right. Let’s go out back, but I refuse to take responsibility if something goes wrong.”

“Deal.” He took my hand and half-dragged me out the back door.

I chewed the inside of my lip. Showing him the firebird would involve me getting naked. “Turn around.”

“No. I want to see the process.” Aaron folded his arms. “Do you morph into it like in the movies?”

I shook my head. “You saw the process the other day.”

“Like I said, it was fast.”

I motioned for him to turn.

He threw his hands up and turned around. “Happy?”

“Yes.” I stripped down to nothing and focused on the firebird, easy to do considering she’d waited just below the surface since Aaron arrived.

Aaron drew a breath.

I glanced up and met his eyes. My cheeks heated, but I didn’t look away. My magic rose, and I threw my head back as the firebird burst free. She stretched her wings at her sides and soared into the night sky.

About the Author: Kathryn M. Hearst is a southern girl with a love of the dark and strange. She has been a storyteller her entire life, as a child, she took people watching to new heights by creating back stories of complete strangers. Besides writing, she has a passion for shoes, vintage clothing, antique British cars, music, musicians and all things musical (including theater).

Kate lives in central Florida with her chocolate lab, Jolene; and two rescue pups, Jagger and Roxanne. She is a selfproclaimed nerd, raising a nerdling.

The Order of the Sinistra Dei is her first series and includes titles, Feast of the Epiphany and Feast of Mercy. Kate's novel, The Spirit Tree, won a publishing contract with Kindle Press through the Kindle Scout contest. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies. http://facebook.com/kathrynmhearst http://twitter.com/kathrynmhearst https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-M.-Hearst/e/B017S8Z088 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13847103 http://www.kathrynmhearst.com/ Newsletter sign up http://eepurl.com/cmk6dv

Nine of Stars A Wildlands Novel Laura Bickle On Sale Date: December 27, 2016 ISBN: 9780062437662 Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Publisher: Harper Voyager

About the Book: Following on the heels of her critically acclaimed prequel novels Dark Alchemy and Mercury Retrograde comes the first installment in Laura Bickle’s dark contemporary fantasy series, Nine of Stars, a Wildlands Novel Winter has always been a deadly season in Temperance, but this time, there’s more to fear than just the cold…

As the daughter of an alchemist, Petra Dee has faced all manner of occult horrors—especially since her arrival in the small town of Temperance, Wyoming. But she can’t explain the creature now stalking the backcountry of Yellowstone, butchering wolves and leaving only their skins behind in the snow. Rumors surface of the return of Skinflint Jack, a nineteenth-century wraith that kills in fulfillment of an ancient bargain.

The new sheriff in town, Owen Rutherford, isn’t helping matters. He’s a dangerously haunted man on the trail of both an unsolved case and a fresh kill—a bizarre murder leading him right to Petra’s partner Gabriel.

And while Gabe once had little to fear from the mortal world, he’s all too human now. This time, when violence hits close to home, there are no magical solutions.

It’s up to Petra and her coyote sidekick Sig to get ahead of both Owen and the unnatural being hunting them all—before the trail turns deathly cold.

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Excerpt: She dreamed of an ache in the marrow of her bones, so much deeper than frost.

In her dreams, Petra had dropped into Skinflint Jack’s hand-dug cellar, his underground ossuary. It was cold and silent there, and her breath made ghosts in the darkness. Light emanated from the bodies on the bed, from beneath their parchment-thin skin, moving like drifting fireflies underneath the surface. The bodies sat upright, heads turned toward her with empty gazes.

Petra would have run away, but she was pinned to the wall. Bones laced over her body like shackles, splitting through the skin of the dirt to wrap around her wrists, ribs, and legs. She tried to turn her head, but it was enclosed in a helmet, the Stag’s skull, and she blinked through the eye sockets of the Stag.

What had he seen? What had he done? She struggled against the weight of the bones, torn between wanting to know and wanting not to know.

Jack’s wife stood, walking across the floor to Petra in a dress of black lace. Bits of her skin fluttered to the floor, disturbed by Gabe’s autopsy efforts. In her hands, she held the Star of Antimony, gleaming in the shifting low light.

“What happened to you?” Petra asked, her tears blurring her gaze. The tears slid down her cheek, underneath the skull-mask.

The woman didn’t answer; only gazed at Petra with those empty, vacant eye sockets.

And Petra realized that her mouth had been sewn shut.

About the Author: Laura Bickle grew up in rural Ohio, reading entirely too many comic books out loud to her favorite Wonder Woman doll.

After graduating with an MA in Sociology-Criminology from Ohio State University and an MLIS in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she patrolled the stacks at the public library and worked with data systems in criminal justice. She now dreams up stories about the monsters under the stairs. Her work has been included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016.

More information about Laura’s work can be found at www.laurabickle.com https://twitter.com/Laura_Bickle https://www.facebook.com/Author.Laura.Bickle

Fiery Seas is looking for well-written manuscripts that have been polished to shine. We want wonderfully written manuscripts that grab the reader and will not let go, with a strong hook and plot that merge together flawlessly and characters we never want to leave behind. We are looking for anything from romance to edge-of-your-seat suspense.         

Dystopian Fantasy Historical Mystery Paranormal Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Young Adult Special call for Erotic romance of any genre for eBook publication. Please send all submission per our guidelines, which you can find HERE.

What made me write about a gambling addict? Well I was always interested in the stories of people who won millions of dollars at the touch of a slot machine and then said it was their last nickel before their flight home. Tyler West is just such a person. He had total faith that he could lose and win money at the whim of a deck of cards. He believed in ESP and “a sixth sense,” and that luck comes in waves. If you have bad luck, then good luck is right around the corner. What he hadn’t bargained for was trusting people who handed him 1.5 million dollars and then expected him to win with it and split the profits. Tyler was an innocent and he soon becomes sophisticated to the ways of the world. What did he think was going to happen when he lost? Did he even think he could lose? He knew he had the talent, but lady luck at the tables has a funny way of running out. I thought that gave him a good background. He loves his mother, he knows about the foibles of his father and I wanted him to be well-equipped to overcome vulnerability.

I really loved Sam Allen, Tyler’s best friend. Sam is the voice of reason when Tyler insists the trouble is coming from the outside. He, Tyler, takes no responsibility for it at all. He truly believes the gambling houses should warn would-be addicts that it’s dangerous to gamble. “It’s all the casino’s fault.” “Hey,” Sam says, “they’re in business to make money. They tell you to gamble responsibly but if you can’t get help.”

Sam is strong and he gives Tyler advice all the time. They argue, but Sam is the one person Tyler will listen to, and these are very nice people. I write about good people who get stuck in bad situations often of their own making. Something happens which charges into their lives and they have to respond to it, and solve their own problem. That's the theme in many of my books and short stories. I choose to write about people whose trouble comes from the inside, not the outside.

Hot Shot S.A. Stolinsky Suspense November 1, 2016 Book Description: Payback is a powerful thing...

Actor and bartender, Tyler West experiences a sudden streak of luck -- winning poker games. Determined to change his life, he enters the World Series of Poker. His life is suddenly turned upside down when the Russian mafia fronts him 1.5 million dollars to play at the tables. And then...he loses‌ Now on the ride of his life, deceit and deception are his key to uncovering the truth. He must recoup the money, but will it come at a price? Can he stay alive long enough or will his time run out?

Fiery Seas Publishing Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/cc3b8xb7sl8 About the Author: Stefanie Stolinsky, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and forensic psychologist with a private practice in Beverly Hills, California. She specializes in trauma, adults sexually, physically and emotionally abused as children, and PTSD. She is an international speaker and has taught training seminars in overcoming the aftereffects of child abuse. She has also taught licensing examinations to candidates for both marriage, family and child counseling and for the psychology licenses.

She began her career as an actress in motion pictures, television and stage and created a unique therapy combining acting exercises with psychodynamic psychotherapy to help survivors of all kinds of trauma overcome the aftereffects of abuse. The first edition of "ACT IT OUT" was a top seller for over nine years. A second edition of the popular book was launched in April of this year and is available on Praeclarus Press, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

She is also the author of several award-winning short stories including her newest short story anthology, DATE NIGHT, and numerous comedy mystery. Dr. Stolinsky lives with her husband in Los Angeles.

https://www.facebook.com/stefanie.stolinsky https://twitter.com/sastolinsky

The first time someone asked me why I wrote Worthy of Song and Story, I’m sure I had the deer in the headlights look. After stumbling through the answer, I realized it came down to wanting to write about something I enjoyed and a desire to entertain kids and hopefully get them to discover that reading can be fun.

Ever since I was a kid, Norse mythology fascinated me. Its stories are big, full of adventure, and largely not well known, which is great for storytelling. I just needed to put my own twist on them.

Not the same old Thor did this or Odin did that. I wanted a hero who saw the Viking world unlike anything seen in the traditional myths. Thus, Stian was born, a twelve year old wanna be Viking, desperate to show the world his greatness.

Now that I had a story idea, I wanted it to appeal to both boys and girls. With all of the options out there, tablets, youtube, video games, etc., it’s hard to encourage kids to read. If a book doesn’t grab them right away, they’ll put it down, Even if it does manage to get their attention, the book still needs to hold it all the way through. A couple boring chapters and goodbye book. And good luck trying to peel their hands away from the electronics next time.

Kids think a lot of the books they have to read for school are boring and because of this, many think all books are boring. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and ask them. They aren’t shy about telling how bad something is and how it’s a waste of time. I wanted to write something they actually wanted to read. Something to take them away from their normal day to day world. Kids face enough real life issues and troubles already, they need somewhere they can escape and their minds are free to wander and imagine. Magic, gods, giants, and Vikings are pretty hard to beat for that.

That is why I wrote Worthy of Song and Story. What kind of stories did you read and enjoy as a kid?

What type of stories do you think will get kids to put down their electronics and read?

Worthy of Song and Story Stian the Viking Series Book One Neal Chase Middle Grade Fantasy Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing Winter 2016 Book Description: Twelve year-old Stian’s plans to be The Greatest Viking Ever appear to be over before they even begin. He’s captured by Dahlia—a dark elf and a girl. If that wasn’t bad enough, he discovers he may be the son of Loki, the greatest enemy of the Viking gods and the one foretold to bring about the end of the world.

Knowing he is meant to be extraordinary, Stian decides to discover the truth for himself and free Loki from the clutches of Odin. Only then, will he discover who he is and what he is meant to do.

Stian must out-think, misguide, and defeat Thor’s children. To do this he will need the power of Gram—a sword with magical powers. There is one catch, only one pure of heart with the desire to help others, is worthy of wielding it. If Stian succeeds, he will become the world’s most famous Viking, but if he fails he will fall victim to the gods’ merciless justice.

Book Trailer https://youtu.be/AM_q8e-5oRQ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks About the Author: Neal Chase lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, two children, two dogs, and a bird, which strangely has the same name as his dad. He is a member of SCBWI and the Writers’ League of Texas. When he is not writing and reading, you can find Neal coaching football or adventuring with the help of his PlayStation. http://ncchase.com/ https://twitter.com/ncchase

Mistletoe Kisses Westmore Wolves Book Five Erzabet Bishop Genre: Erotic PNR, Shifter, Holiday Publisher: All Romance eBooks Date of Publication: 12/1/2016 ISBN: 978-1-945193-88-0 ASIN: B01MXI521W Word Count: 20000 Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill Book Description: With some gifts, it’s all about the unwrapping...

Jess looks forward to a holiday season of saving puppies and working at the shelter. With her new sister-in-law taking over the Yuletide Gathering, it’s run for the hills or wind up covered in glitter.

What she doesn’t anticipate is her brother lining up yet another in a long string of bodyguards. She might be a wolf who can’t shift, but that doesn’t mean she needs anyone’s protection. When things heat up during the festivities, she finds herself face to face with the one man who just might hold the key to her heart.

It was supposed to be a two-week Ops for ridding the world of hybrid wolves, not a babysitting gig for the spoiled sister of the Westmore Pack Alpha. But when Thorne sets eyes on the curvy brunette, he finds a fierce beauty with a soft interior just begging to be tamed, and he’s just the gargoyle to do it.

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Excerpt: Thorne sat across the desk from his new employer and tried unsuccessfully to shake away the incredulous feeling gnawing at his gut. He’d come to Westmore with the understanding that this would be a two-week Ops mission to locate and destroy the violent hybrid wolves he’d been hearing about. They a role to play in his father’s death, he was certain of it, and now he could finally get the answers he was seeking and kill a few in the process. But, as he sat across from the Westmore Pack Alpha, he found himself staring at the man, completely disbelieving his ears.

“That wasn’t the job.”

“I want her protected.” Thorne met Carrick’s eyes, and Thorne struggled to hold in his frustration. This was why he’d been brought to the famed Westmore Estate? The Alpha was legendary for taking down his predecessors with nothing but brains and his own two hands…but to suggest he babysit a female? He was no one’s nanny.

“You want me to be a bodyguard? For a woman?” Thorne sputtered and erupted from the chair, stalking to the window. He kept one eye on the comings and goings outside and another on the man behind the desk. Thorne had come at night, as requested, to see the estate at its most vulnerable. What he hadn’t expected was to be insulted.

“Not just a woman. My sister. And the job is a trial period for two weeks.”

“And after?”

The Alpha thrummed his fingers on the desk. “We’ll talk about that if you’re still here.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

The door opened and another man entered, closing it behind him. Thorne eyed the man and waited to be introduced. The pinched look of the other man’s mouth and worry lines in his face indicated he cared about this woman. Interesting.

“Where is she?” the Alpha demanded.

“Probably at the shelter again. She’s not in her room and the guard at the front gate said she took off around eight this morning. Something about an adoption drive at Barks.”

“Thorne, this is Reid, my second in command.” Carrick ran his hand through his mane of dark hair and frowned. “Jesus, she knows I want her to be careful. I keep telling her to quit, but she won’t listen. After what happened with that fucking dragon…”

The other man, Reid, unconsciously rubbed at his arm.

“You were injured.” Thorne stepped away from the window and moved deeper into the room. He could sense their unease. Perhaps something more was happening here than met the eye.

“I was.”

Dragons? Now that was interesting.

“I was told there were hybrid wolves.”

“Originally, that was the contract. Yes.” Carrick rose from the chair, came around the desk, and leaned against it. “But we’ve come to find out that the previous alpha may still have some support out there.”

“A dragon?” Thorne raised an eyebrow. Dragon kind and Night Wing gargoyles were not on friendly terms.

Territorial disputes in his homeland had made them natural enemies. But here? That would remain to be seen. Not that he would mind tangling with one.

“An old bastard of a firefighter, too. Seemed like he was setting more blazes at the end rather than putting them down.” Carrick’s lips thinned and his jaw clenched. “He endangered the life of my mate.”

Thorne considered the Alpha carefully.

“If you’ve rooted him out, then why am I here?”

“He’s not the only one,” Reid bit out. “We know there are more out there. What remains to be seen are when and where they choose to rear their ugly heads.”

“Why don’t you go to them?” It seemed a simple question, but the shuttered looks from the men in front of him stopped the suggestion before it could go any further.

“The Yule Gathering is coming and I want no complications. Likely as not, there are more of them out there and I won’t take a chance with my mate, my sister, or my pack. I spoke with your last employer and he said you were the best, most unobtrusive operative he had.”

“I am.”

And Thorne could find the creatures the Alpha sought. All he had to do was give the command.

Thorne wasn’t boasting. It was the truth. People paid for his work and paid him well.

“Good,” Reid snorted. “If you’re tailing Jess, you’re going to need it.”

“Is she your mate, this…Jess?”

“No.” A shade of pink crept up the sides of the other man’s face. “More like…a sister, if you want to know the truth.”

The Alpha sighed. “And she’s stubborn.”

“Yeah…”

The two men glanced at each other, a pregnant pause filling the room. Any information withheld could jeopardize Thorne meeting whatever goal they had in mind.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“Her last bodyguard didn’t make it longer than a day.” Carrick closed his eyes, a twitch of humor playing at his lips.

This ought to be good.

“May I ask why?”

“He, ugh…went up in flames.” Reid coughed, but underneath the sound Thorne was certain he heard a note of laughter.

Flames?

“What did she do, torch him?”

“Not exactly.” Carrick cleared his throat and turned his face away in what Thorne was sure was an effort to compose himself.

Were they hinting he couldn’t handle a woman? It didn’t sound like she needed protection in the least.

Thorne’s lips curved up in a humorless smile. “If she’s such a force of nature, then why the protection? I thought your females were fierce.”

Reid met Carrick’s gaze and the Alpha cleared his throat until his second glanced away, his eyes finding Thorne’s.

“Tell him.”

“She can’t shift.” The Alpha sighed.

Reid crossed his arms over his chest. “Won’t shift. There’s a difference. She can but she doesn’t want to.”

“I don’t accept that.” Carrick pushed off from the desk and went to the window.

“Well, you’d better start. You and I both know that bastard damaged her. She may be strong for a female, but her wolf is broken,” Reid replied, his tone filled with frustration.

Thorne’s stomach lurched at the thought. To hear that her beast had been harmed was unacceptable. War with men he understood well, but not females. Women being abused made his skin crawl. He’d seen much in his line of work, but that was one thing he would not tolerate. It took a good bit of doing to squelch an animal. He should know.

“What happened?”

“You’ve heard what took place here? What the previous alpha did? The atrocities and the genetic experiments?” Reid asked with a bitter twist of his lips.

“I have. The overthrow of the previous regime was unavoidable. Your prowess in battle is legendary.” He nodded to Carrick in a show of respect. He’d found the main source but some of the tendrils remained. And he fucking wanted to tear out the rest of them by the roots. That was why he came here.

Reid shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. He took them…the girls. The women. He…” “Stop.” Carrick’s voice was strained and his stance was tense. “We don’t need to hash out any of the details.”

He didn’t.

About the Author: Erzabet Bishop has had a love affair with books since she first started reading. Just recently, she discovered that writing naughty stories was even more fun. She lives with her husband, menagerie of dogs and a mountain of books she is sure will crush her one day in her sleep.

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A Viking Holiday The MacLomain Series Viking Ancestors’ Kin Sky Purington Genre: Time-travel Fantasy Romance Date of Publication: November 29, 2016 ASIN: B01MAVTKH4 Number of pages: 120 Word Count: 35,000 Cover Artist: Tamra Westberry

Book Description: Having time travelers in your life isn’t always easy. Given that he’s said goodbye to several of them over the past few years, Sean O’Conner knows that better than most. Now his best friend Megan has returned from tenth-century Scandinavia to modern day Maine. Not only has she aged over twenty-five years, she hasn’t traveled through time alone. Her troublesome daughter Svala is with her.

Of dragon blood and proud to be Viking, Svala Sigdir has no use for the twenty-first century and makes it evident to all around her. Even so, she will protect her mother at all cost. Meanwhile, she needs a man. Sean to be exact. Despite his aversion, she is determined to make him hers.

Svala might be after him, but Sean wants nothing to do with her. At least that’s what he tells himself as the holidays arrive and he struggles to keep peace in what’s become a battleground instead of a festive Winter Harbor home. At his wit’s end, he finally calls on an old friend’s help. Or so he had hoped. Cast beneath the spell of a powerful Scottish wizard determined to protect his Viking Ancestors, Sean and Svala go on an

unexpected yuletide journey. As it turns out, there’s only one way to break free from the spell. A life-altering choice that might very well cost Sean both his sanity and his heart.

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Excerpt: Svala wrapped her fur cloak around her shoulders and started to breeze past them as she eyed his crew mate.

“So you’re New England’s finest, are you?”

“Naw.” Nick chuckled and nodded at Sean. “Most ladies think he is.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure about that,” she said before she started down the hallway.

“I don’t think so.” Sean grabbed her wrist and stopped her. “Nick, go make sure none of the guys head this way. Tell them I’m catching a rat or something.”

Svala winked. “Or a dragon.”

“Where you gonna hide her, Cap?” Nick kept grinning. “She don’t look like the type of woman who’ll keep hidden if she’s decided otherwise.”

Svala cocked a grin at Nick. “I think I like you.”

“I know I like you, beautiful,” he returned.

“Just make sure no one heads this way, Nick,” Sean reiterated. “And I’ll make sure Svala stays hidden.”

“I betcha will.” Nick chuckled as Sean pulled her toward the meager sleeping quarters.

“I am not staying down here.” Svala started to fight him. “I want to be on deck. I want to help you fish.”

“Hell, no.” Sean grabbed her before she could bolt in the opposite direction. “My men won’t be able to concentrate on work with you around.”

Her eyes met his. “Then you must not lead them well if they are so easily distracted.”

It felt as if the narrow hallway only grew smaller as her eyes pinned his…as he remembered with vivid clarity how she’d felt against him last night. “You know damn well the effect you have on men.”

“I did not dress in modern day clothes.” She pulled the cloak off her shoulders. “See, I am dressed like a Viking again.”

His eyes fell to the fur-trimmed, leather tunic. To her unmistakable curves. He swallowed and tore his eyes away. “What difference does it make? You’re still trouble.”

“Only when I dress like a modern-day woman, yes?” Svala cocked her head. “That is why you fought for me last night, is it not? Because you desired me in those clothes?” She frowned. “Now I am not wearing them. You will not desire me so they won’t either. There will be no trouble. You will not be ashamed of yourself.”

Sean had no idea what to make of her logic. “I’m not ashamed of myself.” But he had been when he overreacted last night. “And trust me, sweetheart, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. You’re gonna distract my men.”

She didn’t press closer, but her words made the hallway seem even narrower as she murmured, “Am I distracting you now, Sean? Is that why you seem so convinced?”

When they hit a small swell, he braced his hand against the wall beside her head and bit back desire. “Just do as I ask, Svala. I don’t need any trouble, okay? Not with my men.” He ground his jaw. “This is my livelihood. Please don’t screw it up.”

Shockingly enough, Svala looked as though he’d slapped her. “That’s not why I’m here, Sean…” She trailed off, clearly upset before she gathered herself. “I just wanted to see you fish.”

“Commercial fishing isn’t like normal fishing.” He shook his head. “There’s not much to see, really.”

Except when the nets came up. That feeling of excitement and expectation before they found out how big a load they’d caught.

He had no idea what to make of the look on her face. She was vulnerable in a way he’d never seen her. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, not sure what to say, still confused about why she hadn’t already traveled back in time. “Maybe I can take you out fishing another time?”

“Maybe,” she said softly, her eyes alarmingly gentle as she stepped close. “So how are you going to keep me entertained while you hide me away?”

Ah, there she was. The little Viking he knew so well. Except he wasn’t doing what he always had.

He wasn’t stepping away.

Something about having her on one of his boats, on his turf, on the high sea…was different. Somehow, though it was on his territory, they had found common ground. The sway of a ship. The pulse of the ocean beneath them.

“Sean,” she whispered, clearly sensing a crack in the wall he’d kept between them. Slowly, inch by inch, she unzipped his jacket. “If I understand things correctly, you aren’t needed for hours yet. Why don’t we fill in that time in a pleasurable way, yes?”

About the Author: Sky Purington is the bestselling author of over twenty-five novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington.com. Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter. Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.

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