Wednesday 28 May 2014

Loralie Hall Cover Reveal!

Don't we all just love a cover reveal? I know I do. That's why I'm so pleased to share Loralie Hall's new cover for Uriel's Fall. The book will be available July 25, but check out the hotness now!




Blurb
What's a corporate demon to do when the voice in her head is devouring her sanity from the inside out, and the hosts of heaven and hell would rather see her destroyed than surrender a power they shouldn't possess?
Ronnie has the job any entry-level angel or demon would sell their soul for—she's a retrieval analyst for the largest search engine in the world. Ubiquity is a joint initiative between heaven and hell. Because what better way to track all of humanity's secrets, both good and bad, than direct access to their web browsing habits.
She might appreciate the position a little more if a) she could remember anything about her life before she started working at Ubiquity, b) the damn voice in her head would just shut up already, and c) her boss wasn't a complete dickhead.
As she searches for the solutions to the first two issues, and hopes the third will work itself out in performance reviews, she uncovers more petty backstabbing than an episode of Real Housewives, and a conspiracy as old as Lucifer's descent from heaven. On top of all that, if she forgets the cover sheet on her TPS report one more time, she's absolutely going on final written warning.
Now Ronnie’s struggling to keep her sanity and job, and stop the voice in her head from stealing her life. She almost misses the boredom of data analysis at Ubiquity. Almost.

Excerpt
I materialized from the ether, already anticipating the comfort of Lucifer's office in hell and being enveloped in the closest thing I recognized as feeling like home. His door was open when I got there, and I saw him at his desk so I pushed in with a brief announcing knock.
I exhaled in relief as his familiar aura seeped into me. As one of the three remaining originals, he had his own little corner of hell that was all his and no one else’s. Instead of being generic day to day blahness, it radiated the fact that he’d occupied it for millennia. As I got far enough inside to see the rest of the room, I froze, all coherent thought evaporating.
It’s not… Maybe? Mikkel?
Lucifer wasn’t alone. The stranger looked up, steel-blue eyes locking on mine. A few days growth of black stubble decorated his chin, and his mud-caked boots rested on Lucifer’s desk, the occasional flake dropping down to mar the shine. It wouldn’t scuff the oak finish—Lucifer liked his polished-until-it-was-almost-a-mirror wood finishes too much to let that happen, but it still had to be irritating the hell out of my mentor.
It wasn’t always easy to tell the difference between an angel and a demon—since technically we were all made from the same stuff, and just accomplished our goals differently. But a real angel. One served order instead of looking for the loopholes that allowed chaos, had a different aura. A smooth glow instead of a kaleidoscope of fractured light.
And the arrogant man with his feet on my boss’s desk was more distinctly angel than anyone I’d ever met. Something about the situation, on top of the last twenty-four hours of my bizarre life, amused me. Who was he? Angels in hell weren’t unheard of, but they disliked our methods enough that visits were rare. I stepped toward him. With dark hair, light eyes, and an obvious disdain for the most powerful demon in existence, he was sexy, and compelling, and—
If you’ll stop swooning, I can kill that fucker. Right here and now. Draw your sword.



Find Loralie Hall Online


About Loralie Hall
Loralie Hall is a full time corporate geek and a fuller time writer. Her spouse is her muse and their cats are very much their children. When they’re not spending way too much time gaming, they’re making the world more good by vanquishing one fictional evil at a time.


Monday 26 May 2014

DJ Livingston...They Walk Among Us: Warrior Wolf 1.

I have only two things to say today: Navy SEALS. Wolf shifters.
Sold yet?
Well, perhaps when you hear more about DJ Livingston's debut They Walk Among Us, you'll be ready to add this awesome read to your TBR list. I'm so pleased to welcome this debut author and so proud to shine a light on this book.

Welcome DJ!





Blurb:

During a harrowing escape with her family from Nazi occupied Slovenia, Marta Dvorska sets into motion a series of events that will change her grandson’s destiny.  Kevin Dvorska has little use for the gift passed down through his family, but comes to uncertain terms with it after discovering his enhanced senses prove invaluable as point man for SEAL Team Two’s Alpha Fire Team.  While deployed to Aviano, Italy, the young warrior wolf becomes entangled in a web of love, lies, and revenge.  It is here that he must decide the fate of an innocent by either revealing the family secret or watching his Team Leader die at the talons of the world’s most efficient killing machine.

Excerpt:

“Let’s be realistic about this.  One, he has a future in college football and with the right coaching, maybe even the NFL.  That kind of chance doesn’t come around to just anyone.  Two, my mother and father risked their lives and mine to get to the States for a better life.  I hate to be the one to point out the obvious, but there’s still the reality that we’re not quite normal.  I refuse to have some gung-ho John Wayne teach my child how to kill people!  I won’t stand for it!”

Beth sat down next to her husband.  She took his hand in hers, looked into his eyes, and gave that little smile that always calmed her husband.  She knew where he was going with his opinion.  During their first year of marriage, she wanted to have children, but Luka was against it.  He always told her that his gene pool should stop with him.

The day he shared the secret about his gift with her, she thought he was joking.  It’s not every day that your husband sits you down and tells you he’s a werewolf.  To the unknowing woman, it was like saying “I’m sorry, honey, I should have told you earlier, I’m actually from Mars.  I wanted to know if you might like to take a vacation there next year when my spaceship is out of the repair shop.”  She even sensed his reluctance when she asked him to prove it to her.

She remembered that drive to the desert as if it had happened just last week. She had been genuinely worried about him and had kept telling him that he should see a doctor.  There had to be some explanation as to why he thought he was some mythical monster.  Beth would never forget their conversation from 1969, as they got out of the car in the middle of nowhere.

July – nineteen years earlier.

“Luka, this is silly.  What are we doing way out here?  If you want to prove you’re a werewolf, why can’t we just do it at the apartment?  I’ll get you a nice bone to chew on after you go all hairy on me,” Beth joked.

On any other day, Luka would have found her jab funny.  His face showed nothing but concern and doubt about what he was going to have to do. “We’re out here because when you scream, we won’t get arrested by the police.  I want you to promise me not to run away, I’m not going to hurt you. No matter what, I will never hurt you.  You are my soul mate, and my one true love.”  Luka kissed her lips softly, then walked a few yards away from her.

“Luka, please.  I don’t know what your mom and dad did to make you think you’re a werewolf, but you’re not.”  She watched with a puzzled expression as he began to remove his clothes.  “Oh, I see, you’re one of those kinds of werewolves.  Get all naked, change, and then take your mate from behind; kinky.”

“Promise me, Beth, this is important to me.”

Elizabeth Dvorska sighed in frustration and began walking toward her delusional husband.  “If it will make you feel better, I promise.  This is so stupid, we need to…”

In an instant, her husband, Luka, transformed right before her eyes into the world’s most efficient killing machine.  Beth blinked twice to clear her vision.  Just as Luka had predicted, she let loose with an ear-splitting scream of fear.  When she regained her senses and realized she was still standing within striking distance of the beast, she turned and fled back to the car, throwing herself inside and scrambling to lock the doors.

With the doors locked, she fumbled with her purse.  She searched for her car keys, but they weren’t there.  The only other set was in Luka’s pants pocket.  Beth looked outside and saw that the large beast was standing over her husband’s discarded clothes.  The massive brown wolf lay down on the ground, and rested his head on top of his paws.  Even through the closed windows, she could faintly pick up the sound of the animal whining.

For over an hour the wolf never moved.  It remained on the ground, never lifting its head off its paws.  It was still daylight and the inside of the car was beginning to swelter.  Beth longed to roll down a window, but was afraid of the consequences.  She only had two choices, die of heat stroke in the car, or take her chances with what used to be her loving husband.  “This is insane.  If I go out there I’m gonna get killed, or worse–bitten.  My damn luck, I’ll turn into a monster during the next full moon,” she muttered to herself.

Beth looked at the beast.  It was a big as the polar bears she’d seen at the zoo, and he could have easily torn the car apart and gotten her out.  Maybe she could crack the window just a tiny bit and let some of the heat out.  She wondered if the wolf would see that as an invitation to attack.  How could she defend herself against such a creature?  She finally decided that it was now or never.  “Now be a good doggy, and just lay there,” she said as she eased the door open.

Beth paused for a moment as she watched the wolf lift its massive head and look at her.  “That’s a good boy, no need to be frightened.  I’m not going to hurt you, and you’re not going to hurt me.”

When she was fully out of the car, she peered at the animal.  The image of her husband flashed through her mind.  The day they were married, their leisurely walks in the park.  The passionate love they made at night, which left them both weak.  “Can you understand me?  You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

Luka got up, grabbed his pants in his powerful jaws, and moved carefully toward her.  His massive size brought his muzzle to just below her chin. Lowering his head, he dropped the pants at her feet, gazed up at her and then turned around.  He walked away a few feet and resumed his position on the ground.  This time however, he was facing away from his one true love.  He began to wonder how she could ever love him again now that she knew the truth.  With nowhere else to go, he succumbed to the fate of being alone for the rest of his days.

Beth picked up the pants, pulled the keys out of the pocket, and scrambled into the driver’s seat.  When she turned the key, the engine roared to life. She put the car in drive, but her foot remained pressed on the brake pedal.  Just as she made up her mind to speed away, she heard the lonely whimpering of the wolf again.  The battle raged within her.  “That’s my husband lying on the desert floor.  No it’s not; it’s a monster that came to life from a fairy tale.”

Beth took a chance, maybe for life, maybe for love itself.  Reaching up she turned off the ignition, and peered out the window.  What she saw made her eyes mist over, her love for her husband grow even stronger.

When Luka heard the car shut off, he rolled over onto his back in a submissive gesture.  When he turned his head to look at the car, he saw Beth opening her door and getting out.  In his last gesture of hope, Luka howled into the bright sunshine.

Beth moved to the front of the car, placed her hands on her hips, and glared at the large beast.  “Stop making all that noise, you stupid mutt, someone will come by and put you in a cage.”  Luka stayed on his back so as not to push the delicate situation.  His one true love was coming around to the realization of what he truly was.

Beth moved toward her husband and knelt down by his side.  “Luka, are you going to stay like that all day, or can you please change back so we can go home?  I have pork chops that are thawing out, and you have a lawn to mow.”  The large beast whimpered and turned his head away.

Beth reached out and started rubbing Luka’s belly.  “Okay, let’s get something straight right now.  I know you can kill me whenever you want.  You can rip me to shreds and tear me into a million pieces.  That bit of information has no bearing on the fact that we have responsibilities at home.  You have a yard to take care of, and don’t think for a minute that you get off from taking out the trash.  Do you understand me, Luka Dvorska?”

In a flash, Luka turned back to human form.  He lay there on the desert floor covered in sweat from the heat.  Beth’s hand remained on his powerful chest, as he gazed into her eyes.  “There are just a couple of things you have to know, Beth.  The lawn mower is broken and I really don’t like your pork chops.”

“Fine, you can put the lawn off until tomorrow and you can take me out for dinner then.”  Luka Dvorska pulled his wife down and softly kissed her. His life was now complete.

Buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Wolf-They-Walk-Among-ebook/dp/B00KGYS67O/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401061052&sr=1-2&keywords=they+walk+among+us

Bio

DJ Livingston lives in Western Ohio with his family.  He is a twenty-four year retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer.  He was a crew chief on the H-46 Sea Knight helicopter which included working with the U.S. Navy SEALs.  Theaters of operation included Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. 
To follow the new releases of the Warrior Wolf series please go to :
or


Wednesday 14 May 2014

Lyn C. Johanson...Till Death and Beyond!

It's always exciting to discover a new-to-me author and this occasion is no exception. Please help me welcome author Lyn C. Johanson as she introduces Till Death and Beyond!




There was a time when I naively believed (hoped), that once published, I’ll get noticed somehow.  Others achieve it, so why not me? The truth of the matter is, only a few out of a vast number of authors climb to the top over the night. Becoming published is not a goal, as I once thought, it’s just a step further towards it. And I still have miles to travel.

Good thing I enjoy every step of the way, even though I was forced to educate myself in marketing and promotion aspects of selling books. Something I had no desire in learning. But… when you don’t have a big publishing house behind you, you have to become master of all trades.


Till Death and Beyond

Till Death and Beyond is a sizzling tale of two souls bound by destiny in a cruel plot to separate them forever...

A COLD BEAUTY WHO KNOWS DEATH INTIMATELY...

Amira is the strongest witch on the face of the earth, with psychic abilities no others possess. And yet, she is but a slave to the whims of the gods. Forced to be born anew every time she fails in fulfilling an ancient prophecy, Amira is desperate to break the vicious cycle.

A TORMENTED WARRIOR WHO HAS LOST EVERYTHING...

Plagued by the memories and guilt over his family’s demise, Raven lives for the sole reason of restoring his younger brother. And kidnapping a witch is only the beginning—for he intends to right the wrongs of his past by any means necessary.

A DESTINY TO CHANGE THE WORLD...

While the gods might have planned for her to be captured, surrender is not something that comes easy to Amira. Yet one glance into her captor’s eyes, and she is swept away by emotions long ago denied to her. She decides to play along. For a while.

Despite the hatred Raven harbors for their kind, he is intrigued by the witch. One taste of her lips, and she becomes his obsession. Soon, he discovers that fighting against the passion they ignite in one another is futile. But as they strip each other’s secrets, a powerful force threatens to destroy them both.

For in this game of gods nothing is simple—the whole universe seems to conspire against them. And no matter how fiercely they fight, or what they are willing to endure to save each other ... the path they travel is paved with loss.

Will they survive the ultimate test, if even their determination—to fight till death—might not be enough?




BUY LINKS:



About the Author:


 Bio:
A computer science major, Lyn C. Johanson decided to leave the cold world of code lines and pursue her passion for writing romance stories. Now, she mostly lives in the world she dreams up. Except when her husband and sons drag her back to reality—where she enjoys photography, dancing, and spending time with her family.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Sharon Stevenson...The Gallows Series!

It's a great pleasure to welcome Sharon Stevenson as she embarks on her blog tour for The Gallows Series. Make sure to check out the Rafflecopter at bottom.




Blood Bound (Gallows, #1)



19-year-old twin demon trackers Shaun and Sarah Gallows are used to running into trouble - mostly the kind with fangs - but while Sarah embraces her powers to their fullest extent, trusting her instincts implicitly, Shaun distances himself from his abilities and can do little more than despair at his sister’s reckless nature and idly back her up.

When they come across 17-year-old Melissa Carling, a demon tracker who’s been torturing innocent super-naturals, they know they have to stop her. Sarah is desperate to punish Melissa for what she’s been doing but Shaun’s instant attraction to the girl points to a soul-mate bond stronger than anything he’s ever had to fight before…

BUY LINKS:



Demon Divided (Gallows, #2)


***This is the second in the Gallows series of novels - the following description contains spoilers***

Twin demon trackers Shaun & Sarah Gallows are getting used to dealing with supernatural threats...

Six months after Sarah's reckless choice, she is struggling to deal with what she has done and trying to find a way to break free from the demon bond she has made. She finds out the vampire lied about his maker and she's faced with more difficult decisions.

Clueless to what his sister is going through, Shaun has been spending time in White Oaks on the pretence of training with his parents. He’s determined to find out who Elle’s working for, and he’s thinking about asking her out, maybe.

A new threat surfaces in White Oaks and the twins have to neutralise it before things get out of hand, and before the Council find out. It would just be another day's work, if Shaun wasn't being accused of murder and Sarah wasn't being driven to distraction by her demon..

BUY LINKS:



Fate Fallen (Gallows, #3)


***This is the third book in the series and as such the following contains spoilers for the first books***


Shaun & Sarah Gallows are demon trackers, hunting down and dispatching supernatural threats by order of their Council.

A few months past their twentieth birthday, Shaun takes Elle to Shadows Grove to check out the site of the brutal murder he's become obsessed with. The ill advised trip starts unlocking his own past and the mystery of his destiny begins to unravel.

Sarah realises she needs to train Ray to keep him safe. When her mother finds out she took him on a job, she gives Sarah an ultimatum that forces her rethink their relationship.

BUY LINKS:


Curse Corrupted (Gallows, #4)


***This is the fourth in the Gallows series of novels - the following description contains spoilers***


Twin demon trackers Shaun and Sarah Gallows are used to dealing with supernatural threats but what happens when that threat comes from within?

The twins are in the middle of a murder case when Shaun is captured by werewolves. Suddenly his future as a tracker is in question. Faced with the choice of remaining as he is and continuing to serve both the Council and the Seelie Court, or becoming a werewolf powerful enough to be an Alpha and gaining a life with a mate he is already attracted to, Shaun is conflicted. His werewolf curse was corrupted after he was ravaged in battle and now a witch has removed the corruption. He has days before his first shift takes all choice away from him and he becomes wolf. Can he make his decision in time, or will it be taken out of his hands?

Meanwhile Ben has come back into Sarah’s life and is attempting to prove he has changed. She isn’t sure if she can trust him but when it comes right down to it she may have no choice. When she is marked for death she must find a way to defeat a demon and avoid being dragged to hell without the use of her physical fighting skills. Her demon bond might be the key to her survival, but can she trust War to look after her best interests when he could have her to himself in hell?


***Be warned this book is Adult Modern Fantasy, not YA. It is not suitable for younger readers as it contains profanity & sexual references.

BUY LINKS:



About the Author:



 Bio:
I'm your typical reclusive author type. Anti-social in person, but I love tweeting online friends! I love my laptop, probably a bit too much mind you.
If you want to know more, check out my website or follow me on twitter.
I'm a reader and enjoy finding new indie authors to follow - there are so many good ones out there! I'm fairly new to posting reviews but I do try to be fair and honest and will not post anything less than 3 stars, as if it is not at least that good I just won't finish it.


Where can we find you?

Twittter             https://twitter.com/chettsgenie






a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday 2 May 2014

Experiencing the teen years again

I'll be honest with you. I pretty much despised my teen years.
Now, that doesn't mean I didn't have good times or proud moments. In fact, I had some great ones. I did well in school, aside from those abominable topics of math and science. I had friends, nice girls who proved good influences. But, like most teens, I felt awkward and out of place. I was the embodiment of every single Molly Ringwald character, minus the romance with Andrew McCarthy.

My two sons are pretty much teens themselves now. My eldest is 13 and my youngest is 11. Both wonderful boys, but full of the same insecurities most teens exhibit. Watching them navigate the rocky road that is teen life sets me on edge. In fact, I think I'm more nervous now than I was the first time.

I have to give kudos to single parents everywhere as I delve into this topic. My mom was a single mom and I don't know how she did it. If I didn't have my husband, I doubt I'd be able to parent successfully. It's so comforting knowing we can bounce ideas and approaches off each other. His approach is usually different than mine, which helps too.

Nevertheless, it seems my kids come home every day after having dealt with new challenges. We're blessed in the sense that we receive amazing support from their schools and they've always had great teachers and friends. Even still, their days are often fraught with angst and peer pressure and temptation.

So what's a nervous mom/former high school nerd to do? Well, my own temptation is to whisk them away from the den of iniquity known as "school." To hide them close to my bosom and promise no one will ever hurt them.

Sadly, I can't do that. As hubby and I constantly tell the boys, "You need to learn how to operate in the world." They need to learn how to handle bullies, how to deflect negativity and how to contribute to society. They need to stand up for themselves, to be proud of their unique traits and to be positive. And they need to learn all of this while fending off those horrible teenage hormones.

I wish I could go back and talk to my teenage self, and reassure her everything would be okay. I try to tell my sons the same thing. "Keep things in perspective." This is hard to do for a teen who makes a mountain out of every molehill. When we're teens, every problem appears disastrous and every triumph enduring. In reality, it's all so fleeting.

I guess the most important thing to do is keep the lines of communication open and to show my support. They say the teen brain does not mature until the age of 25. That's a lot of hormones.

Hopefully my poor heart can take it.