Into the Dark Has Over 10k Likes! #KindleVella #Vella #paranormalromance #pnr #KU #KindleUnlimited

 

I woke up this morning to find my paranormal romance, Into the Dark, has over 10,000 likes on Kindle Vella!

I'm grateful to my readers for following me on this journey.

About Into the Dark...

Trapped in a realm where the dead roam the forest, Allison Reed searches for the truth behind a mystery haunting her small town. Relying on a stranger may be her only chance at survival. Despite the danger, Allison refuses to give up hope of returning home, especially when she finds herself falling for the brooding man who saved her.

Brian Morrissey has long given up hope of escaping this cursed dimension. Living in constant darkness, he knows his time is running out. But when he meets Allison, she brings a glimmer of light into his life. He will do whatever it takes to keep her alive, even if it means sacrificing himself in the process.

As their fight for survival intensifies, Allison and Brian cling to each other and their dwindling hope against all odds. With sinister forces lurking in the shadows, will they sacrifice their love for a chance to escape? Or will they remain forever trapped in a nightmarish world where the dead hunt the living?

Into the Dark is now available on two platforms!

Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Vella!

New Release! Into the Dark #romancefantasy #dark #pnr #newrelease

Trapped in a realm where the dead roam the forest, Allison Reed searches for the truth behind a mystery haunting her small town. Relying on a stranger may be her only chance at survival. Despite the danger, Allison refuses to give up hope of returning home, especially when she finds herself falling for the brooding man who saved her.

Brian Morrissey has long given up hope of escaping this cursed dimension. Living in constant darkness, he knows his time is running out. But when he meets Allison, she brings a glimmer of light into his life. He will do whatever it takes to keep her alive, even if it means sacrificing himself in the process.

As their fight for survival intensifies, Allison and Brian cling to each other and their dwindling hope against all odds. With sinister forces lurking in the shadows, will they sacrifice their love for a chance to escape? Or will they remain forever trapped in a nightmarish world where the dead hunt the living?

 Now Available!

Read an #Excerpt from Into the Dark #ParanormalRomance #PortalFantasy #Witches #Zombies #KindleVella

  

Have You Fallen Into the Dark?

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

People in a small town are disappearing. Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, makes it her mission to find them. A mysterious tip sends her searching a wealthy family's secluded mansion where she discovers more than she ever thought possible.

Witches are real.

And as punishment for her intrusion, they cast her into a world where magic feeds from the living.

Oh, and zombies are real, too.

With the help of a handsome stranger, Allison fights for a way home. While she learns what it takes to survive in this nightmarish world, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious man who saves her time and again from the monsters who roam the forest.

Can they find a way home together?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

 

Excerpt:

The footsteps echoed closer.

She scanned the area, searching for an object she might use as a weapon. There was nothing except some debris in the far corner, what looked like leaves and old rags. Nothing she could use to defend herself. 

Allison’s heart thumped so loudly it became difficult to listen to the footsteps as they drew closer. All she heard was the drumming of blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t see anything beyond the archway leading to this room. The source of the dim light originated from somewhere to the left of the opening, but beyond that, she didn’t know what might be out there.

Fear made her feet scurry until her back hit the stone wall beside the wooden ladder. She didn’t know what to do. Whatever was down here had been put here for a purpose. 

Some animal? A bear, wolf or lion? Starved until the sisters fed him. Was she supposed to be sacrificed as dinner? 

Was that why they said they hadn’t killed any of their victims? They’d thrown them into a hole in the ground and let an animal finish their dirty work. Semantics, but maybe that’s how they viewed it.

Allison wasn’t ready to die, but she didn’t know how to defend herself against an animal without a weapon either. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of in a situation such as this. 

She hid.

Allison crawled beneath the wooden ladder, curling her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She wanted to tuck her face into her knees to hide, but she couldn’t take her gaze off the archway. She needed to see what animal approached.

If she kept still, perhaps whatever walked in this direction would pass the opening, not noticing her presence.

She waited, heart thundering as she clutched her arms around her knees. The footsteps got closer. They weren’t hurried. The steps sounded slow. Sluggish. Cautious.

Stalking? Hunting?

Allison wished to close her eyes.

I’m invisible. I’m invisible. 

If she kept repeating the words in her mind, they might come true. 

It will walk by. It won’t see me. I’m invisible.

A tall shadow appeared in the opening. As it stepped into the chamber, she recognized a human shape, not an animal as she’d expected. 

A man.

He stepped cautiously, his feet shuffling forward. He was tall. Well over 6 feet.

As he approached, he turned enough to allow the low light to illuminate his face. He had shaggy brown hair and a long, thin, narrow face covered with an unkempt beard. His blank expression sent a shiver of apprehension racing through her.

Something about his stance, the way he approached the chamber made her uneasy. He walked slowly into the room, aimlessly stepping from left to right and left again with no obvious direction. 

Perhaps, if she remained hidden in the poor light, he’d turn and leave. 

Although, how could he not see her? The ladder was not solid wood. There were open slats. She curled beneath, searching for protection, but the low light from the doorway must be enough to illuminate the area. She was sure there wasn’t much shadow beneath the ladder to keep her hidden. 

Yet, he didn’t see her. And why didn’t he move his gaze to search the room? He stared straight ahead, neither looking left nor right, up nor down. Simply straight in front of him.

He held a long, sturdy stick in his hand. As he shuffled near, she realized the point of it was sharpened. Like a makeshift spear. 

A weapon. 

He was armed.

Had this man killed those victims? Would she be next?

Allison wanted to duck her head and cry, but she was too frightened. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on the man as he walked across the room. The space wasn’t large, perhaps 15 feet at its widest. And he was only a few steps away. It wouldn’t take much for him to turn in her direction and use the spear to attack her. 

As he walked past her hidden spot, she noticed his clothing. Faded blue t-shirt and tan trousers, badly torn and filthy. Not only dirt stained his clothes, but something else, too.

Was it mud? 

Or was it… blood?

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

New Chapters for Into the Dark! #Excerpt #PNR #suspense #witches #zombies #strangerstolovers #KindleVella #Vella #VellaRomance

 

Into the Dark has new chapters to read! Episodes #48 and #49 are now available and #50 will be published later this week. We're nearing the end of this story, so I hope you've been enjoying the ride!

Here's a quick, sneak peek at the newest installment:

Excerpt:

“I’m going with you.” Her hair muffled Brian’s voice as he spoke into the crook of her neck.

She licked her lips, baffled by his statement.

“What?”

Brian rolled onto his side, leaving a chill of empty air above her. She grasped at the only blanket they had, but since they both lay atop it, she could only use the edge to cover herself. Not that it mattered, she reminded herself and felt foolish for feeling so exposed. Brian couldn’t see her nakedness. Not without his hands.

She had the sudden urge to take his hands and place them on her body again.

“When you leave,” Brian clarified with a relaxed sigh. “I’m going with you.”

Allison blinked, then moved, lifting herself onto her elbow so she could face him.

“You can’t.”

He grunted an unamused laugh. “Who says?”

“I say. They need you here.”

“They need more than I can give them, Ally.”

“You’re all they have.”

Brian sighed, and the sadness he carried within started to chip away at his relaxed and sated state.

“They don’t need me. Ally, they need medicines we don’t have. They need hospitals and doctors who can heal them. People who can see them.” He scowled and the serene expression from a moment ago faded completely. “And I don’t want to leave you alone with Donovan.”

She huffed. “You don’t trust me?”

“I don’t trust Donovan,” he amended. “And I can’t stand the thought of not hearing your voice. Even for a day.”

Emotion swelled within her, striking her silent. Her throat clenched tight. She couldn’t speak for fear of having him hear her tears in her voice.

A loud knock sounded at the door.

“Break’s over,” Brian sighed, turning his face from her. Dismay and heartache settled once again into his expression as he got out of bed, searched the floor for his clothes with his hands and began dressing. 

Allison’s lips parted, wanting still to say the words, but the moment was gone. She shut her mouth, frowning.

Later.

Maybe tomorrow.

Then she'd tell him.

First 3 chapters are FREE to read!

Read an #Excerpt for Into the Dark #paranormalromance #survivalromance #strangerstolovers

 

New Chapters are available for Into the Dark!

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison must learn to survive with the help of a mysterious stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. But living in this world presents its challenges and horrors, as Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will Allison and Brian find a way home?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Excerpt:

The footsteps echoed closer.

She scanned the area, searching for an object she might use as a weapon. There was nothing except some debris in the far corner, what looked like leaves and old rags. Nothing she could use to defend herself. 

Allison’s heart thumped so loudly it became difficult to listen to the footsteps as they drew closer. All she heard was the drumming of blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t see anything beyond the archway leading to this room. The source of the dim light originated from somewhere to the left of the opening, but beyond that, she didn’t know what might be out there.

Fear made her feet scurry until her back hit the stone wall beside the wooden ladder. She didn’t know what to do. Whatever was down here had been put here for a purpose. 

Some animal? A bear, wolf or lion? Starved until the sisters fed him. Was she supposed to be sacrificed as dinner? 

Was that why they said they hadn’t killed any of their victims? They’d thrown them into a hole in the ground and let an animal finish their dirty work. Semantics, but maybe that’s how they viewed it.

Allison wasn’t ready to die, but she didn’t know how to defend herself against an animal without a weapon either. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of in a situation such as this. 

She hid.

Allison crawled beneath the wooden ladder, curling her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She wanted to tuck her face into her knees to hide, but she couldn’t take her gaze off the archway. She needed to see what animal approached.

If she kept still, perhaps whatever walked in this direction would pass the opening, not noticing her presence.

She waited, heart thundering as she clutched her arms around her knees. The footsteps got closer. They weren’t hurried. The steps sounded slow. Sluggish. Cautious.

Stalking? Hunting?

Allison wished to close her eyes.

I’m invisible. I’m invisible. 

If she kept repeating the words in her mind, they might come true. 

It will walk by. It won’t see me. I’m invisible.

A tall shadow appeared in the opening. As it stepped into the chamber, she recognized a human shape, not an animal as she’d expected. 

A man.

He stepped cautiously, his feet shuffling forward. He was tall. Well over 6 feet.

As he approached, he turned enough to allow the low light to illuminate his face. He had shaggy brown hair and a long, thin, narrow face covered with an unkempt beard. His blank expression sent a shiver of apprehension racing through her.

Something about his stance, the way he approached the chamber made her uneasy. He walked slowly into the room, aimlessly stepping from left to right and left again with no obvious direction. 

Perhaps, if she remained hidden in the poor light, he’d turn and leave. 

Although, how could he not see her? The ladder was not solid wood. There were open slats. She curled beneath, searching for protection, but the low light from the doorway must be enough to illuminate the area. She was sure there wasn’t much shadow beneath the ladder to keep her hidden. 

Yet, he didn’t see her. And why didn’t he move his gaze to search the room? He stared straight ahead, neither looking left nor right, up nor down. Simply straight in front of him.

He held a long, sturdy stick in his hand. As he shuffled near, she realized the point of it was sharpened. Like a makeshift spear. 

A weapon. 

He was armed.

Had this man killed those victims? Would she be next?

Allison wanted to duck her head and cry, but she was too frightened. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on the man as he walked across the room. The space wasn’t large, perhaps 15 feet at its widest. And he was only a few steps away. It wouldn’t take much for him to turn in her direction and use the spear to attack her. 

As he walked past her hidden spot, she noticed his clothing. Faded blue t-shirt and tan trousers, badly torn and filthy. Not only dirt stained his clothes, but something else, too.

Was it mud? 

Or was it… blood?

New chapters are available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Only on Kindle Vella!

Into the Dark #Excerpt #SummerReading #ReadonVella #KindleVella #serializedfiction #paranormal

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison has to learn to survive with the help of a mysterious stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. But living in this dimension presents its challenges and horrors, as Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will they find a way home?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Excerpt:

The footsteps echoed closer.

She scanned the area, searching for an object she might use as a weapon. There was nothing except some debris in the far corner, what looked like leaves and old rags. Nothing she could use to defend herself. 

Allison’s heart thumped so loudly it became difficult to listen to the footsteps as they drew closer. All she heard was the drumming of blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t see anything beyond the archway leading to this room. The source of the dim light originated from somewhere to the left of the opening, but beyond that, she didn’t know what might be out there.

Fear made her feet scurry until her back hit the stone wall beside the wooden ladder. She didn’t know what to do. Whatever was down here had been put here for a purpose. 

Some animal? A bear, wolf or lion? Starved until the sisters fed him. Was she supposed to be sacrificed as dinner? 

Was that why they said they hadn’t killed any of their victims? They’d thrown them into a hole in the ground and let an animal finish their dirty work. Semantics, but maybe that’s how they viewed it.

Allison wasn’t ready to die, but she didn’t know how to defend herself against an animal without a weapon either. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of in a situation such as this. 

She hid.

Allison crawled beneath the wooden ladder, curling her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She wanted to tuck her face into her knees to hide, but she couldn’t take her gaze off the archway. She needed to see what animal approached.

If she kept still, perhaps whatever walked in this direction would pass the opening, not noticing her presence.

She waited, heart thundering as she clutched her arms around her knees. The footsteps got closer. They weren’t hurried. The steps sounded slow. Sluggish. Cautious.

Stalking? Hunting?

Allison wished to close her eyes.

I’m invisible. I’m invisible. 

If she kept repeating the words in her mind, they might come true. 

It will walk by. It won’t see me. I’m invisible.

A tall shadow appeared in the opening. As it stepped into the chamber, she recognized a human shape, not an animal as she’d expected. 

A man.

He stepped cautiously, his feet shuffling forward. He was tall. Well over 6 feet.

As he approached, he turned enough to allow the low light to illuminate his face. He had shaggy brown hair and a long, thin, narrow face covered with an unkempt beard. His blank expression sent a shiver of apprehension racing through her.

Something about his stance, the way he approached the chamber made her uneasy. He walked slowly into the room, aimlessly stepping from left to right and left again with no obvious direction. 

Perhaps, if she remained hidden in the poor light, he’d turn and leave. 

Although, how could he not see her? The ladder was not solid wood. There were open slats. She curled beneath, searching for protection, but the low light from the doorway must be enough to illuminate the area. She was sure there wasn’t much shadow beneath the ladder to keep her hidden. 

Yet, he didn’t he see her. And why didn’t he move his gaze to search the room? He stared straight ahead, neither looking left nor right, up nor down. Simply straight in front of him.

He held a long, sturdy stick in his hand. As he shuffled near, she realized the point of it was sharpened. Like a makeshift spear. 

A weapon. 

He was armed.

Had this man killed those victims? Would she be next?

Allison wanted to duck her head and cry, but she was too frightened. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on the man as he walked across the room. The space wasn’t large, perhaps 15 feet at its widest. And he was only a few steps away. It wouldn’t take much for him to turn in her direction and use the spear to attack her. 

As he walked past her hidden spot, she noticed his clothing. Faded blue t-shirt and tan trousers, badly torn and filthy. Not only dirt stained his clothes, but something else, too.

Was it mud? 

Or was it… blood?

New chapters are available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Only on Kindle Vella!

Behind-the-scenes of Into the Dark #KindleVella #pnr #mustread #dystopianromance #writinglife #WhatToRead

 

This story is just moving along! It's got to be one of my favorite books that I've written. I'm so excited I get to share it with you chapter by chapter. This format has really helped piece this story together.

I'll give you a little behind-the-scenes info that I haven't shared anywhere else. I wrote this book roughly 5 or 6 years ago. Finished the rough draft of 50k in about a week. I was obsessed with this story! Wrote like a madwoman! So much that my (then) husband complained that I was neglecting cooking my typical high-standard family suppers for him and the kids (which I retorted that he was fully capable of making supper himself. After which, I ordered pizza because clearly, that wasn't going to happen.)

The scene where Allison is pushed through the portal which is an opening in the ground that leads to a cave is what started this story. I dreamt of this scene. It was terrifying! With her cowering in the dark, listening to the approach of the stranger, feeling disoriented and not knowing if he meant her harm. And then when he grabbed her - not to hurt her, but to protect her, to protect them both from the monsters crawling out of the dark.

This entire novel was created from that one scene.

Everything fell into place as I wrote. I had no idea where the story was going, or what was going to happen to these characters. There was no outline. I was thrilled to enjoy the ride of what happens next??

A week later, I had the first draft finished. But it was so different from my typical writing that I didn't know what to do with it. Over the next few years, I fixed it up, polished it to a brilliant shine, then sent it off to publishers. I had a few nibbles, requests for more, but nothing ever came of it.

It's different.

It's not exactly horror. Not fantasy or sci-fi. Not completely romance, although this is clearly represented. It's not post-apocalyptic. More like an odd combination of all.

I see it now as Alice in Wonderland meets The Walking Dead. That really is the best way for me to describe this story.

Eventually, I decided to publish it myself. I bought an amazing cover that fits this story perfectly. As I began my 20th time reading through it (seriously, I lost count reading this one!), I heard about Amazon's new venture, Kindle Vella. After exploring that and learning more about serialized fiction, I realized that was what I had with Into the Dark. Each chapter, each scene, was written with a cliffhanger, a suspenseful ending to get the reader to turn the page. It's basically how I kept writing it. With endings to scenes like those, I was constantly left with the question What Happens Next? Well, I have to keep going to find out!!

I realized quite quickly that Into the Dark would be a perfect fit for Vella.

And really, what was there to lose? The poor novel had been languishing on my desktop for years. I wanted to share this story with readers. I wanted to hear what others thought of Allison and her adventure. I wanted readers to fall in love with Brian. And what about Donovan? Is he friend or foe? And also, what happens to Noah!? These are complex characters set in a strange, frightening environment.

So, I took the jump, plunging myself and my novel into the world of Kindle Vella and it has been exciting! I've met some amazing people. Read some fantastic stories. And I'm learning more about my writing as I pick apart the chapters and scenes to make them fit Vella's short episode format.

I promise you, this story is complete. I'm dusting off each chapter and editing it as I schedule them to post. I know some readers tend to be wary of serialized fiction because of writers who stop writing. But, the manuscript is finished! I've been posting around 2 to 3 chapters a week to stay active and have accumulated more than half the story online already.

With over 30 episodes, it's ready for you to binge-read! One short episode at a time!

It's been a fun ride! I hope you'll join me! 

The first three chapters (episodes) are free to read! Give them a try! But I'll give you a little hint, the scene that started this story with my dream is actually episode 4! I'd love for you to read it and let me know what you think!

New chapters available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison has to learn to survive with the help of a mysterious stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. But living in this dimension presents its challenges and horrors, as Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will they find a way home?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Find Out Now!
Only on Kindle Vella!

Into the Dark #ReadOnVella #serializedfiction #ReadMe #PNR #paranormalromance

 There are new chapters available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison has to learn to survive with the help of a stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. Living in this dimension presents its challenges, and Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will they find a way home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read Now!
Only available on Kindle Vella!

Into the Dark Episode 3 #Excerpt #KindleVella #pnr #zombies #witches

 

I've got new episodes this week!

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality.

Brian has lost all hope of escape. Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long?

As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read the first three episodes for FREE!

If you enjoy what you read, please "like" the episode and "follow" the story!

Into the Dark Excerpt

Episode #3

"Please." He whispered so softly that even with his mouth pressed against her ear, she barely heard him.

The desperation in his voice stunned her. Silenced her. Allison stopped struggling.

And she realized his attention wasn't on her. He stared in the direction of the opening, where the moaning grew louder. Whatever made that horrible noise moved closer.

A shadow filled the doorway. It shuffled, rocking side to side as it crept forward. And then it stepped into the light, making it visible to where she sat huddled with the stranger beneath the ladder.

At one time, the creature must have been human. It had the features of a being who could have passed for human.

Arms, legs, a torso, a head.

Beyond that, the thing was barely recognizable.

Read More!

Taken to the Forest ~ Into the Dark Episode 2 #Excerpt #pnr #witches #KindleVella #readonvella

 

I've got new episodes this week!

For a short time, Amazon is giving away FREE tokens to new Vella readers!

Hurry over and grab your tokens now! 

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality.

Brian has lost all hope of escape. Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long?

As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read the first three episodes for FREE!

If you enjoy what you read, please "like" the episode and "follow" the story!

New to Kindle Vella?

Vella stories are serialized novels written in short segments. These episodes are published as installments at regular intervals from weekly to monthly.

There is nothing new about serialized fiction.

Some famous novels written as serialized fiction were A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.

More recently, Stephen King's The Green Mile was published in 6 installments.

Into the Dark Excerpt

Episode #2

Three large stones about four feet in height stood around the platform and each of the women moved to take their place by a separate stone. Allison remained standing in the center of the triangle-like arrangement while Shannon continued aiming the pistol at her.

At the platform by Allison's feet lay a large, flat, rectangular slab of stone protruding slightly above the rock. Although it wasn't high, it appeared coffin-shaped, which did not bode well for her regardless of the sister's assurances she was not meant to die.

"What is this?"

"Our altar, sweetie," Melanie said. "You're our sacrifice."

Despite the warm air, a chill swept across Allison's skin. "I thought you weren't going to kill me."

"You won't die. Not yet. We're sending you through a portal into another dimension where we'll feed on your energy while you're alive. We're witches, sweetie. Immortal witches, as long as we feed on souls to sustain us."

"Funny," Allison grunted. "Do you regale all of your victims with fairy tales?"

Again, Shannon laughed. "It's just too much fun to see the look on your faces!"

"Enough," Morena reprimanded in a sharp tone. "Either we send her or let her go. Let's be done with it."

"Oh, we can't let her go." Shannon giggled, tucking a few strands of black hair behind her ear. "Although, it's been a joy to watch her panic."

"She's not simpering or wailing like some of them, though," Melanie added, glancing at her sister. "Maybe we should shoot her, anyway."

Their bantering sounded too bizarre for Allison to decipher between truth and fiction. They simply concocted nonsense to scare her witless.

Witches? Immortal? A portal into another dimension?

Maybe she was dreaming?

Read More!

The Mansion Holds Secrets ~ Into the Dark Episode 1 #Excerpt #KindleVella #PNR #DystopianRomance

 

I'm thrilled to share an excerpt of the first episode of my paranormal dystopian romance, Into the Dark. I've been working on the idea of this story for a long time. It's one that is close to my heart.

Each week, I'll post a short excerpt and some details about the story, characters or writing that you might find interesting. I hope travel with me on this journey!

If you like suspenseful romances filled with the supernatural,

then I think you'll love Into the Dark!

You can read the first 3 episodes for FREE!

If you enjoy what you read, please "like" the episode and "follow" the story!

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality. Brian has lost all hope of escape. Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long? As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Excerpt Episode #1

"I have information," Allison Reed whispered into the cell phone as she pushed aside the heavy drapes covering the tall, arched gothic-style windows. Beyond the rain splattered beveled glass, Allison had a clear view of the empty driveway and a portion of the road lit by a streetlight beyond the iron gate surrounding the property.

"What are you doing, Ally?" Noah growled. Of course, he wouldn't be pleased if she informed him of her whereabouts, so Allison kept silent about that part.

"Meet me at the Hidden River Diner in twenty minutes." She also wouldn't explain that she broke into the old Victorian mansion after the Adler family left their home nearly an hour ago. Nor would she mention over the phone what she discovered after searching the house.

That she needed to show him face to face.

"I told you to leave Mr. Adler alone. He's part of a wealthy and respectable family. They are not kidnappers."

Allison grimaced. Leave it to her detective brother to suspect what she was up to. There was a reason he excelled at his job. But as an investigative journalist, she was pretty darn good at her job, too. And she didn't have a pesky moral code with the law to keep her from digging into places without proper authority.

"I wouldn't be too sure."

Allison's fingers tightened on the pocket watch in her palm. It was an ornate silver case with a thin chain attached. She found it in one of the bedrooms upstairs.

"Ally..."

"Just meet me at the diner, Noah. I gotta go."

She tapped the red button with her thumb and turned her phone off to keep it silent as a car turned onto the street. The headlights shone through the drizzling rain as it slowly drove by the house.

Allison released a breath. She thought she'd heard a noise indicating the sisters had returned home, but it must have been the wind.

The Adler Mansion was built in 1862 and furnished with a mixture of antiques and modern-day conveniences. The place abounded with dark corners and eerie old-house noises. Since picking the lock to gain entrance, Allison had constantly looked over her shoulder. The hair still stood on the back of her neck with the feeling of being watched.

Read this episode and two more for FREE!

#NewRelease! Into the Dark #KindleVella #pnr #dystopian #Romance

 

If you haven't heard of it yet, Kindle Vella is Amazon's new serialized reading platform which opened in July 2021. Basically, it's reading a story one short episode at a time.

I'm dipping my toes into this and having a blast with my paranormal dystopian romance, Into the Dark! I already have several episodes available with more to come. The first 3 episodes are FREE, so there's no harm checking it out! I'll be dropping 2 to 3 episodes a week going forward, so keep checking for updates!

And if you read and enjoy it, please, please, please like the episode with the thumbs up and hit that follow button! That helps me know if you want to read more of the story! And it helps other readers take notice, too!

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality. Brian has lost all hope of escape.

Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long?

As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

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Skin by Kylie Scott #BookReview #Post-Apocalyptic #PNR #Zombies #EroticRomance

Skin by Kylie Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb:

Six months since the zombie plague struck, former librarian Roslyn Stewart has been holed up in a school with eight other survivors. But now the shelves in the school canteen are bare. The stranger at the gate has supplies that will ensure the group’s ongoing survival, but at a cost. He wants a woman.

Nick is a man with a plan. He’ll treat Roslyn like a Queen, devoting the rest of his life to protecting and providing for her. In exchange, of course, for sexual favors. It’s the deal of the century given the state of the world. But Roslyn doesn’t see it that way. The first chance she gets she attacks the ex-army man and attempts to escape, forcing Nick to contain her. And so begins his awkward courtship of the woman, with her chained to the bed for security reasons.

Chained like a dog and forced to spend her every waking moment with a creep, albeit a good looking one, Ros is determined to escape. When circumstances force them to band together against a common enemy their very survival depends on their ability to learn to trust each other. An uneasy partnership develops, but can a relationship with such a difficult beginning ever have a future? 

My Review:

I'll be honest. After reading Flesh, I wasn't sure how I could even like Nick. Even the description had me doubting that a man who would "buy" a woman for basically sexual needs could ever be redeemable. I'm happy to say I was wrong.

Times are tough in post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested Australia. And women are scarce. When Nick finds one very attractive redhead among a group of survivors holing up in a school, he barters for her. The group doesn't put up much of a fight, eagerly handing her over in exchange for supplies.

But Nick isn't simply "buying" her. He's saving her. He knows those people would never be able to keep her safe. He's also not one for forcing women. He plans on wooing her. He's gone to great lengths to treat her well and ensure she has everything she could possibly want or need.

Roslyn is a librarian. She's furious at being "sold" and plans to escape at the first opportunity. She refuses to bend to Nick's seductions or his efforts to treat her every kindness. She knows he wants only one thing from her. But by the time such an opportunity to escape arises, she's realized that Nick isn't the kind of man she expected him to be. And she questions whether she should run back to the others or talk things over with Nick instead.

Again, Ms. Scott's writing style hooked me from the first page. Even with my misgivings, Nick wooed me along with Roslyn. Nothing is simple in the apocalypse. There aren't simply good guys and bad guys, but more of a gray area in between. Nick has done things he's not proud of, but he did them to survive. And as Roslyn learns more about him and his past, she's confronted with not only the morality of their current predicament but also the feelings that have grown for him and her knowledge that he would do everything, even sacrifice himself to keep her safe.

I was super pleased to see a return of some of the friends at Blackstone that we met in the first book. I hadn't expected to see how Ali, Daniel and Finn were getting along, so I was happy they made an appearance in this book.

This was a complex story told of two people fighting to stay alive and find their happiness amidst a dangerous world. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Recommended for readers of post-apocalyptic romances filled with zombies, paranormal erotic romances, steamy sweet romances, and fans of The Walking Dead who want more passion, love and hope in their zombie-filled world.

This book contains harsh language and graphic scenes (both erotic and the gory horror-filled kind). Reasons that drew me to this series. But if such offends you, please do not read.

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Flesh by Kylie Scott #BookReview #Post-Apocalyptic #steamyromance #zombies

Flesh by Kylie Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb:

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilization collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbors turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.

Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realizes that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.

When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilization.

Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

My Review:

I'm constantly on the lookout for books that are addicting. Page-turning. Unputdownable. Books that keep me up at night. That make me question my own reality since my imagination is lost within the world of the author's creation. These kinds of books make me yearn to cancel all my appointments and responsibilities and simply read the day away.

Flesh by Kylie Scott is that kind of story. It was compelling. Well-written. The characters came alive. There was so much emotion and I loved how well the dialogue was written. There were moments of humor as well as despair. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to go back and start reading it over again. In fact, I did go back and re-read passages. I just couldn't help myself. I didn't want to say good-bye to the characters. Not, yet. It was too soon. Well, it didn't help that I read the book in less than 2 days. I would have read it in one, but I have four kids to feed and care for. If I didn't, you can be sure I would have done nothing but read all day. It was really that good.

I connected immediately with Ali. This would have been me in an apocalypse. Caring for my neighbors until all went to hell and then hiding in the attic. Oh, yeah. I would have hid, no doubt about it. I can only hope that I'd find someone like Daniel in a time like that.

Daniel was ecstatic to find another person in a world filled with zombies. It didn't matter that she was pointing a gun at him. He was just so happy to find out that he wasn't alone.

After that, the story consisted of Daniel's pursuit of Ali. His one goal was to keep her safe, no matter what. And to get in her pants. Well, they were the only two left for all he knew. It didn't take long for Ali to be persuaded by Daniel's seduction. I don't think I could have resisted either. Daniel might have been persistent and a tad bit overbearing, but he was adorably in love. Protective, passionate and considerate.

Even when Finn came along, Daniel's thoughts were on Ali. How to keep her safe. Adding Finn to the mix would benefit her.

Finn was so different from Daniel, and although it was a bit rocky at times, it was so sweet how accepting they all were of each other. I loved the dialogue between these three. The things they were willing to do for each other. To keep everyone alive. To find love. Happiness.

The love scenes in this book were incredibly tender. I don't think I've read many other books that had this level of intimacy and raw emotion. It was beautifully written.

Finding love during an apocalypse is a feat, for sure. But finding two hot guys willing to sacrifice themselves to keep the woman they love safe... Well, that is a very sexy romance indeed.

Recommended for readers of post-apocalyptic romances, erotic romances, reverse harem romances, steamy sweet romances, and fans of The Walking Dead who want more love, romance and hope in their zombie-filled post-apocalyptic world.

This book includes harsh language and graphic scenes. Which is frankly one of the reasons I wanted to read it.

Also, a side note, for whatever reason, if this book was made into a movie, I could see Karl Urban playing Daniel. I don't know exactly how this popped into my head while I was reading, but there it is.

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Also Available on Kindle Unlimited

Bind My Body by Jayelle Morgan ~ A Cursed All Hallows' Eve Author Spotlight Interview #CursedHallowsEve #zombies #witchbooks

Blurb:

I spit dirt out of my mouth and shamble home to my wife, only to find out I’ve been missing for six weeks. That’s impossible, but the last thing I remember is... Well, nothing.

My wife thinks I left her, but I love her more than life itself. Now it’s just a matter of convincing her of that as we piece together the missing time with the help of a friend.

The problem is, I’m starting to think I did something worse than just leave. That I am something worse than an unfaithful husband.

Turns out the most impossible thing to happen to me isn’t being murdered... It’s coming back.

Excerpt:

When I get home, the garage door is still up. Everything else looks normal and undisturbed. The front door is closed, and no shadows move behind the curtains. 

I sit in the car, fighting off disappointment and fear. Maybe I am just crazy.

Maybe I’d been dreaming, sleep walking. I’d gone back to sleep quickly after the neighbor’s dog had quit barking, but then I’d awakened to sounds outside. Rustling, and the trashcan lid. There had been a feeling in the air, a weird pressure, but I’d ignored it, thinking raccoons had gotten into the trash. I’d turned on the light to chase them off when I’d heard the scraping at the door. Then I’d heard him say my name.

Shaking, I turn off the car and shut the garage door behind me. I won’t run again. This is my chance to see Grady, even if it is all in my head.

Breathing deep, I get out of the car and quietly enter the house. The lamp is still on in the living room, and I step toward the warm glow. As I round the corner, I see him, and stop. My knees weaken under me and I sink into a chair. “Oh my God.”

He's lying on the couch, looking gray, dirty, and thin, and just as dead as he should be.

But then he opens his eyes and turns his head toward me. “I’m sorry I scared you. Can we talk?”

However he appeared, whatever he is, my dead husband is lying on our couch, talking to me.

Where can readers find Bind My Body?

Available exclusively in A Cursed All Hallows' Eve: Limited Edition Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Reverse Harem Halloween Themed Collection

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Available to read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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The veil is thin. Darkness calls. Will you answer?

Halloween curses plague the daring heroes and spunky heroines in this spirited collection of tales. A Cursed All Hallows' Eve brings you 20+ stories stuffed with everything from dark gods to brooding shifters, delivering hours of decadent, pleasure-filled reading from bestselling and award winning urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors.

If you can't get enough of those supernatural creatures—vampires, ghosts, witches, demons, and fae—this limited edition collection will alternately thrill you with the spicy and tempt you with the sweet. Delve into these worlds where the living haunt the dead and the undead tempt the breathing.

Answer the call, because this Halloween, not all the costumes are disguises.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Hello and welcome, readers! We have Jayelle Morgan here with us today. Jayelle, thanks for visiting us.

How long have you been a writer and how did you come to writing? 

I’ve been writing seriously for about four years. It’s something I always wanted to do since reading romance novels when I was young. One day I decided to write a story that I had been thinking about before bed for many years. That was book 1 in my first series, Burn!

Tell us about your title featured in: A Cursed All Hallows’ Eve

My book is Bind My Body. It’s a spooky, emotional, fun intersection of Voodoo magic, zombies, and romance. 

How did you come up with the storyline?

I was listening to a song, and this story just ‘showed up’, playing like a movie reel in my head. It was after a health scare with my husband, so between the song, my fears for him, and my love of PNR, this story was born.

What inspires you to write?

Emotions, mainly. I want to make people feel things when they read my stories.

Tell us about your other books:

My other books are all mainly in my Elemental Hearts series. It’s a series about HOT warriors with elemental powers, falling in love and saving the world!

Where can readers find you? 

I am most active on Facebook. - https://www.facebook.com/jayellemorgan

Website: www.jayellemorgan.com

About the Author: 

Jayelle writes paranormal and fantasy romance. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two kids. A Romance addict, nature lover, and chronic daydreamer, she often finds herself absorbed in romantic visions of different worlds and characters. Sometimes, she even writes them down. 

Get more Halloween themed stories like this in 

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Zombie Apocalypse - Where's the Toilet Paper? #LongandShortReviews #BlogChallenge

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

This week's topic: How I'd fare in a zombie apocalypse

I have to say, this topic feels fairly prophetic being that these topics were selected at the beginning of the year, before Covid-19 took root in North America. And although zombies aren't involved with the novel Coronavirus (that we know of!), the reaction of many made this pandemic feel like the beginning of an apocalypse.

So... how would I fare in a zombie apocalypse?

Well, first of all, I'd probably run out of toilet paper.

I truly didn't expect that everyone in the country would run in a mass panic to the grocery stores just for toilet paper. Obviously, there are more Supernatural fans out there than I know! While everyone was stocking up on tp, I was preparing to feed my four kids for two weeks. This was back in March when my children came home and said that school was cancelled for two weeks. Knowing that, I immediately ran to the grocery store to stock up on milk, bread, cereal, and frozen pizza. I was not aware that we were going to have a tp run. I was shocked when I got to the store to see the all food well-stocked, but the toilet paper gone.

Was there something that no one was telling me? The toilet paper was more important than food? I was baffled. Especially, when later the next week I saw YouTube videos posted with people fighting each other in the aisles and breaking into vehicles... all to grab as much toilet paper as they could. Fighting?!

Honestly, I'm still amazed. And horrified that people could behave in such a way.

Meanwhile, because I have 4 kids, I typically buy toilet paper and paper towels in bulk at least 4-5 times a year. I'd just stocked up in January, as per normal in my household. I had no idea that the stores would fail to re-stock for over two months afterward!

Yes, my poor little family eventually ran out of toilet paper. I had to go to several stores searching for it. And I cried. I admit it. I sat in my car and cried in the parking lot because of the callousness of so many people to hoard things. To act so selfishly. To think only of themselves and not of their neighbors. I just wanted to stay safely at home with my children, not scour the county during lockdown in search for the almighty tp. We had plenty of milk, eggs and bread. No one was touching those products. But the toilet paper was gone. And then I felt selfish for crying. There are so many people who have it so much worse than me.

To answer this week's topic, I doubt I'd survive long. I'm much too giving. I think of others before myself and clearly, during an apocalypse (or a pandemic), not many people do that. Of course, I'd try to survive as long as possible. I tend to view the world through rose-colored glasses, as they say. I'm fairly optimistic.

Even now, with all this quarantine and self-isolation, I'm keeping hope alive that they will find a cure or a vaccine that is safe to use and will work. I'm also happy that mother nature has had a chance to recover from the pollution of humans. I hope that people will learn from this experience and try to do better in our future for the whole world.

Yeah, I'm that person who tries to stay calm by saying, "It's gonna be okay. We'll make it." I'll give away my toilet paper to those who need it and I'll do my best to not get eaten by a zombie as I head to the library to wait for a vaccine.

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I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

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ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME!

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