Friday, April 25, 2014

Book Spotlight: Forgiven in Darkness by @ZoeForward1

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Scimitar Magi

After an unjustified two-century stint in purgatory, Scimitar Magus Dakar returns to the human realm, renewing his eons-old curse. Either he or the woman he loves must murder the other within days of meeting in each new lifetime. To break the vicious cycle, he must kill her before she strikes her deathblow, something he's never done in the past.

Archaeology grad student Shay McGinnis suffers a near-death attack in pursuit of a piece of Scimitar Magi lore.  But did the magnificent warrior who pinned her to the wall injure her or the daemon he fought?  In her search for answers, she draws the attention of both an ancient evil sorcerer and the warrior Dakar. The attraction between her and Dakar is instant, and for Shay confusing. She wants to be with him, but intuition equates him with death. Not random death. Hers.

Will this be the lifetime they break the curse before they are murdered by an age-old enemy or worse kill each other yet again?

Excerpt:

Shay's brain ordered her body to make a break for it, or at least let loose a scream to draw attention, but she stood there, dazed and staring. It was the throw-your-panties-off-gorgeous bad boy from her hotel room.

My God, this guy was a brick shithouse oozing don't-screw-with-me vibes. And didn't that just make her knees weak. She was so not a swooning type of girl.

Despite the warmth of the day, he wore a knee-length black leather jacket. No doubt he was armed out the wazoo beneath it.

He subjected her to a scrutinizing once-over. A swirling black substance in his irises mesmerized her.
 She hadn't noticed that last night.

What was this guy? Definitely not completely human. A month ago, she would've rationalized the sludgy black substance obscuring the real color of his irises into normalcy and remained in complete denial of anything amiss.

She wondered if this guy might just be the real deal—one of those mythical, sorcerer-like immortals obligated to fight daemons for all eternity. A Scimitar Magus. Shouldn't he be a good guy? A hero figure? Why then did her intuition demand immediate evasion? For some reason, her gut equated this guy with death, but not random death. Hers.



About the Author:
Zoe Forward writes adventure paranormal romances. She lives in the south with her family and an assortment of pets. A deep part of her wishes she'd pursued a career that would have her at a dig site in a hot, sandy country, but she's a small animal veterinarian caring from everything from cats and dogs to chinchillas...and there was even a hermit crab in there. When she's not being a vet, a mom or sneaking out to a movie with her husband, she's at her laptop writing. You can learn more about Zoe at http://www.zoeforward.com She loves hearing from readers: zoe@zoeforward.com


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Friday, April 18, 2014

Book Spotlight: Walking Into Her Heart by @SusanJPOwens

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A First Realm Novel

Seeking the truth about her husband's death, Shelby Littleton heads to Wyoming where she meets handsome cowboy Kyle Pressley. Their immediate connection makes her blood race, but she never expects it to lead to another realm where spirit guides suggest she's the chosen one and evil warriors seek to destroy her.

Although he knows a spiritual war is at hand, Kyle, a Mind-Walker and an ex-SEAL, has sworn never to use his gift again. He's prepared to handle ancestral curses and the hoodlums pursuing the powerful token Shelby possesses--but falling in love with her turns his world upside down.

Together, they struggle to understand their soul-baring love even as evil forces attack them. Can Shelby let go of her connection to her husband and embrace Kyle's love? And can Kyle accept that mind-walking is a gift for a greater purpose--in time to save Shelby's life?

Excerpt:

Kyle’s stomach clenched as remorse flooded his gut. “When you touched my arm, I responded. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Shelby hugged him and gazed into his eyes. The connection of her trust, coupled with his conviction to protect her, created an inconceivable force within him, producing a stimulus for something deeper, an impetus toward a commitment. He sucked in a breath and admitted there was more.

A visceral reaction drew him to her—where no woman had taken him in a long time. He visualized his hands in her thick brown hair spread on his pillows, tangled in sheets after a night in bed…with him. Sweet Jesus, it’d been ages since he’d had this type of response.

Her hazel eyes danced. Shelby tilted her head, and her silky hair cascaded down her back. The creamy skin of her neck invited him and his body answered in a primal way.

Her lips turned into a smile and her natural beauty smacked him on target. He shifted minimally to relieve the pressure in his jeans but not to dislodge her from his thigh. Hot streaks of desire shot through his veins, while tiny sparks set his skin on fire. He shivered, recognizing the irony. Reining in his thoughts, drawing back his fervor, he blinked long, inhaled fully, and released the air.

With Shelby’s arms wrapped around his waist, their gazes still locked, her eyes were a window to her soul. He wanted to mind walk with Shelby. No. He intended to keep his vow. Damn, what was he thinking? What had this woman done to him?



About the Author:
 Susan JP Owens lives on a ranch in Texas with her loving and supportive husband. After work and leaving the dangerous and sizzlin' hot world of her romance stories, she enjoys skydiving, the great outdoors and a fine glass of wine from time to time. You can visit Susan at www.SusanJPOwens.com Email: Susan@SusanJPOwens.com Connect on Twitter, she follows back:@SusanJPOwens and Facebook, Susan JP Owens, Author Find her on GoodReads, Google+, LinkedIn, Triberr, and Pinterest

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Book Spotlight: True Nature by Neely Powell

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Attorney Hunter MacRae and Private Investigator Zoe Buchanan uncover lies and secrets for the clients of their law firm. He's a shape shifter who can morph from man to cat and back on a whim. She's a psychic who is reluctant to explore her full abilities. Somehow, they make business and friendship work.

When Hunter's father and family patriarch is found murdered, a long-kept dark secret is revealed and their easy lives change forever. Hunter must abandon his carefree lifestyle to lead a battle with a rival monstrous enemy.

Among the wealthy and powerful on both sides of New York's Hudson River, Hunter and Zoe face their own true natures in a fight for survival. The question is will they survive the Chimera bent on destroying the next leader of the MacRae family--Hunter.


Excerpt:

Maybe the peace of the church was what did it.

Because that’s when I tapped into Hunter.

I felt him moving through the forest. I saw him, his body sleek and black, golden-green eyes glowing. He wasn’t running as he had last night, but prowling through the undergrowth, twining around trees, huddling at the base of rocks. Often, he stopped to sniff the air. A low growl rumbled in his throat. The forest was deeply shadowed and growing darker by the moment.

Was this happening now or was it a future event? I had no idea. My mind was spinning, hundreds of miles from the quiet church. But my spirit was with Hunter, and he was stalking something.

Chymera.

I concentrated on the scene in my head. I heard voices in the distance. I saw Shamus. Fraser’s loyal bodyguard with other men, close on Hunter’s trail. I saw the high-powered rifles they carried. At least Hunter wasn’t alone and unprotected. But what was he thinking? He was an alley cat who used his shifting abilities for fun. Did he really think he could battle the monster that killed Fraser?



About the Author:
Neely Powell is the pseudonym for co-writers Leigh Neely and Jan Hamilton Powell. The best friends met when they both worked at a rock 'n roll radio station in Chattanooga. It turned out their husbands were long-lost high school buddies, and Jan and Leigh were both writing romantic fiction in their spare time. A partnership was born. They tried writing fiction together for several years, but life and other adventures got in the way. Their friendship endured as they went on to individual careers. Writing as Celeste Hamilton, Jan published 24 romance novels for Silhouette and Avon Books. Her books appeared on the B. Dalton, Waldenbooks Romance, and USA Today bestseller lists before she left fiction for a career in corporate communications. Leigh became a successful nonfiction writer and editor of newspapers and magazines, though she was still interested in writing fiction. Something clicked when she focused her talents on the paranormal world. Her short story "A Vampire in Brooklyn" was published in the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime anthology, Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices, in 2011. Around that time, Leigh started a novel about a shape shifting attorney. Jan was enthusiastically providing editorial support when Leigh said, "You know we're really writing this together. Why don't we make it official?" Neely Powell was born again. The result was a sale of that novel, True Nature, and contracts for several more. Neely Powell writes about shifters, witches, weres, faeries and ghosts, mixing in shades of romance, mystery and thrillers - the kind of books they both love to read.

Find out more at  http://www.neelypowell.com/

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Friday, April 4, 2014

Book Spotlight: Taste of Darkness by @VictoriaNoxon


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The Siorai Legacy III

For over 750 years, Immortal Guardian Cahira O'Leary has vanquished vampires and werewolves while preparing for the resurrection of an even greater threat to mankind. As the only female Guardian of the Tuatha De Danann, she has much to prove, and chooses to fight her battles alone. But when a handsome Police Detective crosses her path, her world no longer seems empty...or cold.

Since the death of his wife, Jake Bradshaw's mission has been to protect his daughter. Suddenly a rash of horrifying homicides occur on his beat, followed by the arrival of a red-haired enchantress, his predictable world spins on its axis, and he is drawn into a treacherous whirlwind of passion and danger.

As an ancient Vampryss targets Jake's gifted daughter, will Cahira and Jake overcome their differences, nurture their growing love, and come together in time to save her?

Excerpt:
Cara melted beneath his sizzling touch, lost in his masculine scent. He tasted of peppermint spice. She smoldered with a passion that burned to her core. Never before had she experienced such craving.

His lips left hers and traveled across her cheek where his whisper brushed her ear. “Stay with me tonight?”

Oh how she wanted to say yes, but common sense warned her of the dangers that action would bring. She turned her lips into his neck.

“I canna.” Even as she denied her need to him, and to herself, she couldn’t stop the instinctive reaction his scent and his nearness created.

Her mouth burned and stretched. The tips of her incisors pierced through her gums, taking the shape of large, sharp fangs.

No! No! She cringed as the words echoed in her thoughts, a cruel reminder of what she was. She battled within herself, but knew she’d lost when her teeth pierced the flesh of his neck. An overwhelming power of electricity shot through her when the coppery taste of his blood filled her mouth.

Overcome by an erotic hunger, Cara was reluctant to step away.

When she did, remorse shot through her.

What had she done?




About the Author:
Victoria Noxon is a hopeless romantic. Her passion for reading began at an early age so it seemed quite natural when this obsession transformed into a love for writing. She writes contemporary, historical and dark paranormal stories about strong, sexy heroes and the beautiful, intelligent heroines who rule their hearts during the day and their bodies at night. A mother of four, she resides with her loving and supportive husband of twenty-five years in Upstate New York where the number of cows far outweigh the number of high-rises. When she's not reading or writing, she works full-time at a local area hospital.

For more information, please visit her website.

Find her at:
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Facebook




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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Camp NaNoWriMo 2014


Time for camp! Get out the smore's and gather around the campfire to tell your stories. Join the campers in Camp NaNoWriMo to get your novel written. Don't know about camp? Here's a little info from their website:

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. Participants work toward the goal of writing a 50,000-word draft during the month of November. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought fleetingly about writing a novel.
Camp NaNoWriMo is a more open-ended version of our original November event. We have Camp sessions in both April and July, and we welcome word-count goals between 10,000 and 1,000,000. In addition, writers may attempt non-novel projects. Camp is a creative retreat for whatever you’re working on!

Sounds like fun, right? I enjoy participating in Camp NaNo more than the November version. First, because November is inevitably a busy time as I get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas and other family-related events that take most of my attention away from writing. Not that I don't write, but there's so much more to distract me.

Second, I love the fact that we can pick our own word-count for camp. I love challenging myself, but sometimes 50k in one month is just a bit much. On an average day, I can easily write between 500 - 1,000 words. I'm comfortable with that. There are those great days when I can hammer out 2,000 a day. I love those days! But, with a family of young children (ages 3, 6, & 8), I'm pulled away from my writing by their needs. Sometimes to settle disputes (fighting over toys!) or sometimes just because they need cuddle time (I adore hugs!). This year my word count goal is 30,000 words. I'd like to go a little higher, but I tend to get easily discouraged when I see that I'm falling behind in my word count goal. If I can keep to 1k a day, I'll be happy. 

Since I write every day anyway, why do I bother signing up for camp? I enjoy chatting with other writers. Writing can be a very solitary existence. There aren't too many people who can understand a writer's fears & struggles, joys & triumphs. It's great to connect with like-minded people just so we don't feel alone. And in the past, I've made great friends by connecting with other NaNo participants.

If you aren't ready for April, there's another camp session in July. I'll probably participate in both since I have an abundance of story ideas floating around. :)

You can check my progress here.

Happy Writing!