Sunday, August 25, 2013

Spotlight: Lichgates by S.M.Boyce



Being that I'm an avid reader as well as writer, I'm on Goodreads nearly everyday looking for the next book to read or add to my growing TBR pile. Here's what I found!

Blurb:
Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things—Ourea.

Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power. Discovered by Ourea's royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict—a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

Excerpt from Lichgates:
Kara Magari squinted back up the path she’d just climbed. The gazebo’s roof peeked through the trees, evidence of where she’d been only ten minutes before. Not bad. With her finger in the air, she traced the way she’d taken, starting at the lichgate and going down over each step in her head. Her finger hovered and came to a stop, though, when she examined the base of the hill.
Built into the rock was a marble door, shrouded with overhanging roots and dangling moss that clung to its frame like bangs. She rubbed her eyes, but the closed entryway was still there when she opened them again.
She brushed her hand along the door’s smooth stone. It was simple, with only a round stone knob and a small emblem carved into the rock at eye level. The symbol looked something like a four-leaf clover made out of crescent moons.
Kara’s fingers itched on the handle, but she hesitated.
The ground trembled with a sudden force that knocked her against the cliff. The breeze stopped, dissolving with a hiss into the hot summer sky. She scanned the valley. Several somethings cracked in the ground under her feet.
Thunder rumbled overhead. A dark cloud churned in the sky, and her heart fell into her stomach; there hadn’t even been a single fluffy cloud up there ten minutes ago.
A blinding bolt of moss-colored lightning flashed, striking the ground nearby. The hairs on her arms stood on end. Heat coursed through her calves, and she caught her breath. Her ears rang.
Wait. Was that lightning green?
The cliff trembled as a boom shattered the air. It began to rain. The heavy drops pelted her skin and clung to her hair as another rumble coursed along the far edge of the valley. She needed shelter, and the last place she would go in a lightning storm was up a hill.
She turned back and twisted the door’s handle, sighing with relief as it openedunlocked. Still, as wet as it was outside and as much as she wanted a safe place to wait out the rain, she lingered on the threshold to examine the room.
Mud covered everything from the floor to the ceiling. Since there weren’t any supports to hold the roof, she couldn’t figure out how the ten-by-ten dirt shelter hadn’t caved in yet. The air within was heavy, moist with the rot of dead leaves, and her only guiding light streamed in from behind her. Roots dangled from the ceiling like stalactites reaching for the floor. The wind picked up, howling as it pelted rain against her back.
Kara tested the ground with her sneaker. The dirt floor supported her weight, so she tip-toed into the room and left the door open. Rain fell in lingering drops on the threshold before it disappeared into the growing pools of mud. She stuck her hands in her pockets and watched the raging storm outside.
A flash of dark brown blurred past her.
She jumped. A tan flicker snaked along the roof, and clumps of soil fell in sheets. She glared at the ceiling, holding her breath as the settling dust rained onto her shoes.
It had almost looked like a root moving, but that—that was crazy.
Another streak of motion raced down the opposite wall. It passed through a shaft of light, and Kara saw its pointed, wooden tip. Tiny veins sprouted from it like hairs, digging into the dirt so that it could travel.
It was a root moving.
A second spiny vine shot up from the floor and wrapped itself around her leg. It pulled. She tripped, falling into the first root as it snaked along the far wall. Dirt poured over her head, blinding her. The scent of decaying bark made her cough. The root tugged again, and she was yanked onto her hands and knees. It dragged her towards the center of the room. She reached for the knife strapped to her free ankle, the one Mom had—no! She couldn’t think of Mom. Not now.
A third root wrapped around her waist, and another grabbed her hand as she reached for the blade. The roots flipped her onto her back. With a bang, the door snapped shut. Her stomach churned. The floor disappeared. She fell, and the roots let go.

Buy links:
You can get the ebook of Lichgates for free!

Author Bio:

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. Her B.A. in Creative Writing also qualifies her to serve you french fries. She updates her blog a few times each week so that you have something to wake you up in the morning.

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Monday, August 19, 2013

Now on Kindle! Blanche's Desire by Felicia Forella

I'm a huge fan of Felicia Forella! She's a friend and fellow Wild Rose Press author who also writes for Whiskey Creek Press's Torrid Line. I'm so happy to share the news that some of her books are being reissued with brand-new (hot!) covers and will be available on Kindle!

Blanche's Desire was re-released on August 15 and is now available on Kindle! Go get your copy now! It's only $.99 which is a great bargain! Her stories are sexy, delicious and smokin' hot!

Youthful, vibrant, and with far too many responsibilities to pursue a love life, Blanche Young is over-stressed and under-bedded. Thanks to her brothers, her only long-term relationship is with her favorite vibrator. When Payton Sullivan comes along, he's the embodiment of all her sexual fantasies wrapped up in one well-muscled package. Now, if only her seven over-protective brothers will stay out of her way...

From the first time he sees her, Payton knows Blanche is the hot, luscious incarnation of his dreams. He realizes he has to battle not only his own relationship fears but also her siblings for the right to court her. His ex-girlfriend, however, is a bonafide witch who stalks his every step and is determined to see that there's no happily-ever-after for these two.

Excerpt:

Payton made a generic sound in the back of his throat to alert her to his presence. He felt a twinge of sadness that he couldn’t startle her into flashing him again.

Okay, this was getting ridiculous. These inappropriate thoughts and images had to stop. And he could think of only one way to stop them. Drastic times called for drastic measures.

Blanche pushed her chair back from her desk and spun around. An expectant smile graced her lips.“Did you manage to take care of everything?”

Ahh, solid ground. “I’m all set to begin the installation of your new computer and network tomorrow. I’ll also get the cable installed for your modem. Hopefully, I’ll begin work on Aaron’s office tomorrow as well. Your other brothers will have to wait until Friday, I’m afraid. I want to take care of you first.” He prayed the ground would open up and swallow him whole when telltale blotches popped up on her cheeks again.

On the other hand...

Did this mean her mind wallowed in the gutter right along with his? That fit right into his plans. His very unprofessional plans. So much for all of the valuable lessons and wisdom imparted by his father.

His conscience decided to pick that very moment to make an appearance. And you know what happened the last time you tread down that road, it taunted. What could it hurt, his small head goaded. She’s obviously thinking the same things I am. His cock twinged in anticipation. Mixing business with pleasure is not wise, his damn inner voice spoke up again.

“I’m glad to know that I’ll be well taken care of.” Her smile promised much.

That solved that minor dilemma. “I hope you won’t think I’m too forward or out of line, but would you like to go out for a drink, or better yet, dinner, this evening?” He watched the play of emotions flit across her face—intrigue, interest, and confusion.

He prayed this would not come back to bite him in the ass.

“Well...I, er...that is...”

He saw the indecision. “Strictly business, if you prefer.”

Now the look was pure disappointment. Until she spoke. “A friendly drink, or dinner, would be very nice. Should I run home and freshen up or would you rather get an early start?”

Yes! He mentally pumped a fist in the air. He could now explore this unusual lust for what it really was. A chance to get his lust under control until he finished this job. Now to survive answering a question with no right answer, along the lines of the Do-I-look-fat-in-this-dress trap.

“I think you look fine just the way you are. But if you would be more comfortable freshening up or changing, I can wait for you here.” Or wait for you in your bedroom.

“I wouldn’t mind an early start myself. Do you have any place in mind?” She fiddled with a strand of hair near her ear.

“As a matter of fact, I do.” He offered to drive together in order to spend more time with her. Strictly in the interest of learning the necessary facts, of course.




Visit Felicia Forella's website to learn more about her books or follow her on Facebook.

To purchase this book: Amazon Kindle

Sunday, August 11, 2013

The 12th Doctor


There's a new Doctor in the house…er, rather T.A.R.D.I.S.

Last weekend I started watching Doctor Who again.  


Well, that's an interesting question. The Doctor is a time-traveling human-like alien, also known as a Time Lord, from another planet that was destroyed in war. The TV series currently airs on the BBC, but I have some catching up to do, so I checked out Netflix.

I've known about Doctor Who since I was a little girl. I watched a few episodes here or there to at least recognize and know a little about it. I also know the show has a huge fan base who are called Whovians. My Uncle Jim was a fan of the show. He loved science fiction in every form; books, TV shows and movies. So when I started watching Doctor Who on Saturday, I kept thinking about my uncle and how I would have enjoyed talking with him about the Doctor. My Uncle Jim passed away when I was 15; only 5 short years after I lost my mother. In some way, I felt a little closer to my uncle while watching one of his favorite series.

For those non-Whovian's out there

It's a science fiction show. It's actually one of the longest running shows on television. The series began airing in 1963 and continued to 1989, then 1996, and then 2005 to present. The Doctor has the ability to regenerate his body, which explains his changing appearance. He travels through time in the T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space). This took the appearance of a police box, which were a popular sight in Britain during the 1960's. These telephone boxes were used by police or for the public to call the police before two-way radios and mobile phones made them obsolete.

The Doctor often travels with a companion, sometimes 2 or 3. He visits different times and places, doing good-deeds such as saving civilizations or righting wrongs for ordinary people. He meets many interesting alien creatures, both friend and foe, during his extensive travels.

What I like about the show:

The creativity, for one. Each episode is unique and strange and exciting! It's very fast-paced. The characters barely have time to absorb what's happening when boom! something else lands at their feet. The humor is another element which draws me in. The dialogue is snappy and there are little quips that can get a chuckle or two. So far I really enjoy Christopher Eccleston's incarnation of the Doctor, but many of my friends favor David Tennant. I'll probably get to those shows in a week or two.

And it's British! I love watching movies or shows or reading books about Britain. It's one of those places that I can't wait to visit someday!

Also, I enjoy seeing the episode's writer's name at the beginning of each show. I suppose its because I'm a writer who likes seeing other writer's get the credit they deserve. I'm not sure if I'd even notice if I wasn't a writer myself. I hope they keep doing this throughout the series, but I have no idea since I started watching the 2005 episodes.

What I don't like about the show:

Um…I really don't have anything to add about this. So far, I like the show just fine!

The New Doctor 

And that brings us to the announcement of a new Doctor! Actor Peter Capaldi will be filling the Doctor's shoes by the end of the year during the Christmas Special. He will be the 12th incarnation. Peter Capaldi (age 55) is also the oldest actor to portray the role of the Doctor since William Hartnell. The announcement was made during Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor which aired on the BBC on August 4th. I had the pleasure to watch it live, joining millions of viewers from the U.K., the United States and Canada.


1963-66
William Hartnell
1966-69
Patrick Troughton
1970-74
Jon Pertwee
1974-81
Tom Baker
1982-84
Peter Davidson
1984-86
Colin Baker
1987-89
1996
Sylvester McCoy
1996
Paul McGann
2005
Christopher Eccleston
2005-10
David Tennant
2010-13
Matt Smith
2013-
Peter Capaldi