Friday, October 28, 2011

Bewitching Blog Hop Halloween Giveaway

Be sure to visit everyone else on the trick or treating blog hop,

Here's what I'm giving away-

I have a bag of swag left over from The Vampire Ball-

stickers, magnets, postcards, bookmarks - all kinds of goodies from authors



I am also giving away a signed copy of

Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction

And a bottle of Wicked Spiced Pumpkin lotion from Bath and Body Works along with some of their fun Halloween hand sanitizers

And an HBO True Blood pen, that lights up- you can't really see it good but it says Fangtasia and Life Begins at Night



So you want this fun Halloween prize pack?

It is open to US Shipping Only

Leave a comment on this post with your email

Get an extra entry for being a GFC follower

Ghostly Heroes Guaranteed to Keep You Up All Night by Debra Glass

I have always loved Halloween. Growing up in Alabama, where the land itself is steeped in history and mystery, I enjoyed reading Kathryn Tucker Windham’s 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey. Of course, watching Dark Shadows, Night Gallery, and the Twilight Zone at an impressionable age only furthered my love of things that go bump in the night. Ghost stories especially fascinated me and I was thrilled when I bought a piano store that happened to be haunted by the gentlemanly former owner, Jeddy Ryan.

Mr. Ryan’s presence motivated me to write and publish several regional ghost story collections and also to start a Ghost Walk Tour in my hometown.

My second ghostly encounter was with the dashing Confederate Brigadier General Thomas Benton Smith on the Shiloh Battlefield near Savannah, Tennessee. The experience so fascinated me that I began to work with a military historian to research Smith’s life.

Smith’s story encompassed romance and tragedy, so it’s no wonder I based the hero of my first published romance on him.

Gatekeeper is the first in my Phantom Lovers series, which all feature ghostly heroes and haunting Southern settings.

Gatekeeper
Book one in the Phantom Lovers series


Evil shadow ghosts known as soul collectors haunted her childhood nightmares, so Nashville PD criminal profiler Jillian Drew did everything possible to turn her back on her psychic abilities. But now her eccentric sister has been abducted and nothing in her criminology background has prepared Jillian for that tragedy — or for Benton Smith, the powerful and devastatingly attractive ghost of a Civil War officer and the only witness to Amy's abduction.

Fearful of the brazen specter, Jillian nevertheless needs him. Benton is her Gatekeeper, a spirit sworn to protect her from the soul collectors, who attack each time she unleashes her long-dormant psychic senses in an attempt to find her sister.

Yet she must somehow keep the devilishly seductive spirit at arm's length, for Benton's soul is at stake — and succumbing to his desires could have dangerous consequences for them both.

Shadowkeeper
Book two in the Phantom Lovers Series


Amy Drew was once a damn good psychic until past catastrophic events stripped her of her psychic powers. Now, a year later, she has moved to a quaint, quiet southern town to help her brother restore a decaying plantation house.

The house is hauntingly familiar, and when the skeleton of a Native American is discovered in the cellar, Amy senses danger—and much more. From her very first meeting with the ghost of William Red Feather, Amy sizzles with desire for the sexy spirit. But mysterious past-life secrets separate them.

As Amy loses herself in lust-filled nights with her spirit lover, more secrets become known to her, and she soon realizes mysterious deaths at the plantation—both past and present—all point to William. Can she trust this beguiling spirit with her life the way she does with her pleasure? Amy must be certain, because giving him her heart may result in her death—again.



Watchkeeper
Book three in the Phantom Lovers Series


When Gwendolyn Wyse booked a room at a bed and breakfast in romantic Charleston, South Carolina, she’d hoped to rekindle the flame in her cold, unresponsive husband. What she didn’t expect were divorce papers—or her husband’s untimely death.

Shocked and desperate, Gwen relies on her background as a witch and her knowledge of magic, invoking the rite of twilight to bring her husband’s soul back from the dead. But nothing prepares her for the swashbuckling spirit who answers her call—Stede Bonnet, the gentleman pirate who died on that very spot three centuries prior and who now possesses her husband’s body.

Stede offers Gwen all the passion she never had with her husband. But when the pirate lays claim to her heart, Gwen must choose between the man she loves and the demands of Stede’s mortal enemy, a villainous spirit with the power to take away everything Gwen holds most dear—including her pirate lover.

All of these books are specially priced! For buy links visit my Ellora’s Cave Author Page at http://www.jasminejade.com/m-408-debra-glass.aspx or my website at http://DebraGlass.com

About the author:


Growing up in the south where the air is thick with stories steeped in legend and truth, Debra came by her love of romance novels honestly. Well…sort of. At an early age, she pilfered from her grandmother’s extensive library and has been a fan of the genre since.

A full time freelance writer, Debra especially enjoys combining history, mystery and a touch of taboo to weave stories with unforgettable, haunted heroes.

She lives in Alabama with her sexy real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts and a diabolical black cat.


Website: http://debraglass.com

Authors Participating in the Bewitching Blog Hop


Drea Becraft * Lee Brazil * Avril Ashton * Kellie Kamryn * Elizabeth Black * Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy * Lacie Nation * JoAnne Kenrick * Daisy Dunn * Cassandre Dayne * Jessica E Subject * Sara York * Wendy Smith * Anne Holly * Lucy Felthouse * Kiki Howell * Julie Lynn Hayes * J.S. Wayne * Robin Badillo * Karen Erickson * Cari Quinn * Mahalia Levey * Dawn's Reading Nook * Raine Delight * D.B. Moon * Kay Springsteen * Jillian Chantal * Cindy Jacks * Ashley Lucas * Rose Anderson * Eden Gleen * Beth Barany * D. Renee Bagby * S.L. Danielson * Ella Jade * Elizabeth Morgan * Rawiya & BL * Jean Joachim * Jambrea Jo Jones * Trinity Blacio * Debra Dennis * Natasha Blackthorne * S.J. Frost * Jaime Samms * Tabitha Shay * Sandra Sookoo * Kristyn Nicols * Roz Lee * Billi Jean * Dyanne Davis * Kharisma Rhayne * Erotic Diaries * Fiona McGier * Pender Mackie * Lily Sawyer * Roxanne Rhoads * Jodi Redford * Angel Martinez * Mary Absire * Sandy Sullivan * Kaily Hart * Dakota Trace * Lindsay Klug * Marie Rose Dufour * Stephanie Beck * Cara Bristol * B.A. Tortuga * Nicole Morgan * Missy Lyons * Secret Cravings Publishing * Marie Sexton * W. Lynn Chantale * Gabrielle Bisset * Karenna Colcroft * Lia Fairchild * Naughty Between The Stacks * Lelani Black * Wendi Zwaduk * Megan Slayers * Karen Marie Nutt * Kinley Baker * Paty Jager * Katherine Kingston * Beth D Carter * E. Jaime * Elizabeth Noble * Sarah Makela * Gracen Miller * Kerry Adrienne * Staci Brush * Cynthia Arsuaga * Kelly L Lee * Melisse Aires * L.K. Below * Selena Kitt * Ana Hart * Naughty Night Press * Kianna Alexander * Ami Blackwelder * Gabrielle Evans

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Halloween Guest Blog and Giveaway with Stacey Kennedy



How do you eat your Halloween candy?

I’m always amazed to hear the different stories there are of how people were allowed to eat their Halloween candy while growing up. For me, my parents never put restrictions on me. I went out with a pillowcase all dressed up in my costume, walked the streets and knocked on doors until I had a huge bag full of candy, then I got home and poured it out onto the floor.

After my parents sifted through it to make sure there wasn’t anything in it that was homemade from people we didn’t know, open packages or in any other way not good to consume, they let me dig in.

So, after a night of eating way too much candy I was left with a sore stomach and then I could gain some control. I’d usually take a few pieces to school with me every day and also snacked on some when I got home. As always, I ate all the good stuff first, so the leftovers never seemed as great and I always picked through them.

But take my husband for example. His parents only let him take out twenty pieces and then they had to throw the rest out.

*gasps* Yes, I would’ve cried if this had happened to me. But I do find it interesting to hear what “rules” your household had in regards to eating your Halloween treats. So share away and tell me your stories.

With keeping on the Halloween theme, I’m sharing a snippet from my new vampire erotic romance, SHADOWED SOUL.

With your comment about your candy eating habits, you’ll be entered to win a copy of that story to give you a supernatural erotic read on Halloween night.

Also, come find me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy). I love to chat!!



Four months have passed since Ellie’s heart was broken by her cheating boyfriend, Gerrid. Sick of mourning, she sets out in search of one thing, a man to make her forget. Madame Eve, a matchmaker, arranges for Ellie to meet just the man at Nocturnal Nightclub in Miami. Bryce is not only sexy as sin, but full of mystery. He does things no man should be capable of. Ellie might question his fast speed, cold hands, and even the way he bites at her skin―if he wasn’t so determined to awaken the part of her that’s been buried by lies.

Days have passed since Bryce’s last feeding and his vampire hungers demand to be sated. But feeding is not his only intention. Ellie seeks to be a different woman, to gain power for herself, and Bryce plans to push her to discover it. To show her she can do things she never thought possible and force her to see the strength she yearns for already lives inside of her.

Ellie will have to choose, expose all of herself, or remain hidden in the dark shadows. But Bryce will have to make a choice of his own—let her go or keep Ellie forever?


*m/f, anal, voyeurism, masturbation.

BUY LINK - http://www.staceykennedy.com/shadowed-soul/

Teaser:

Ellie scanned the dance floor, searching for the man matching the picture Madame Eve had emailed her. Instead, she got a few heated glances from guys she wouldn’t touch on her worst days. So, instead of continuing to search, she lingered taking a seat upon a stool, listening to the bartender and Kenna talk dirty nothings to each other. Why isn’t he here?

After she downed her second Cosmo, goose bumps pimpled on the back of her neck, and she glanced over her shoulder to discover her date standing against the back wall. His gaze focused on one person, her.

Hallelujah!

“Oooo...my night is looking up,” she exclaimed.

Kenna didn’t respond, too busy playing googly eyes with the bartender. Ellie jabbed an elbow into her side. She hissed as she rubbed her ribs. “Ow, what?”

“He’s here. I’m going to dance.” She gestured behind her and grinned to show her intentions.

Kenna peeked over her shoulder before focusing back on Ellie and giving a shit-eating grin.

“Have fun.”

Ellie slid off the stool, keeping her focus on the stranger. His mere presence screamed sex. Much taller than her five-foot-five frame—around six-two—but built like a brick shit house. His muscular arms were crossed over his chest, his broad shoulders tempting her and she couldn’t wait to run her hands over them tonight.

Putting a little oomph into her step, she made her way onto the dance floor. The loud techno song washed over her and the vibrations were strong against her feet. Her kinda music—hard and dirty.

Staying at the edge of the crowd, she found her beat and moved with the rhythm. Twirling, she ran her hands along her torso and did anything and everything to gain his attention.

To all appearances, her plan worked.

He dropped his arms to his side and stepped forward. His sparkling blue eyes, short, fashionably-styled black hair, and chiseled features warmed her right down to her toes. Her heart raced. Her insecurities drifted away. The world around her ceased to exist, leaving only him and her.

Wetness pooled in her panties. His nostrils flared and his heated gaze burned deeper. He approached and as he settled in front of her, he grabbed her lower back and yanked her against his hard body. Her head tilted back and he leaned down, cupped her nape and kissed her.

A kiss not meant for strangers―not meant as a sweet hello. No, a promise he would pleasure her and she sang a big thank you, Jesus for bringing him to her. No thoughts. No regrets. Just two sweaty bodies going at it until exhaustion set in.
~*~





Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book.

She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband.

Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Naughty Halloween Guest Post and Giveaway with Jodi Redford



There’s no question that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the decorations, the awesome costumes, the general spookiness. And don’t even get me started on the candy. Is there anything more delicious than mini Snickers?

I think not. Another of my favorite parts of this season is the month-long scare-a-thon of movies that channels like Sy-Fy love to host.

Vamps, ghosts, homicidal maniacs in ski masks…I love them all. But my all times faves are the zombie flicks. Give me the rotting, shambling reanimated dead on the lookout for a tasty finger sandwich and I’m a happy camper.

In fact, my love of zombies led me to write That Voodoo You Do, the very first book in my That Old Black Magic series. I knew I wanted to feature zombies in this book, and once my mind became fixated on the idea of a witch and her familiar having wicked, forbidden sex that triggers a possible zombie apocalypse, there was no stopping me.

What can I say? My muse is one weird chick…who also loves mini Snickers, coincidentally enough.

That Voodoo You Do blurb :

Something dead this way comes…

That Old Black Magic, Book 1

For ten long years Griffin Trudeau has managed to keep his paws off Jemma Finnegan, best friend and leading star of his kinkiest fantasies. As her appointed cat familiar, indulging those fantasies with the delectable witch is strictly forbidden. But when Jemma shows up at his door with seduction in mind, control goes right out the window.

Too late he realizes making love to Jemma is the trigger that launches a zombie apocalypse.

Jemma’s been dealt a double whammy: she’s just discovered she’s a witch. And Griff has been hiding whiskers and a tail. Oh, and if her life wasn’t crazy enough, a dead voodoo queen needs her blood to raise a legion of zombies.

There’s one plan that might work to increase Jemma’s powers so she can put an end to the looming holocaust. A sexy threesome with Griff and Logan Scott, a werewolf familiar with a history of rubbing Griff’s fur the wrong way. A cat and a wolf playing nice, much less sharing?

It’ll take a miracle.

Warning: A witch, tiger and wolf doing naughty things. A dead voodoo queen doing evil things. And zombies doing zombie things. Get your shovels ready.

Excerpt:

Griffin Trudeau didn’t know it, but he was about to have his bones jumped.

Bumping her car door shut with her rear end, Jemma Finnegan resituated her corset top, strategically plumping her cleavage to maximum overload. Satisfied her best assets were properly displayed, she strolled toward the log home nestled in the thick stand of white pines. The butterflies that’d taken up residence in her belly for the past hour started doing a drunken version of the Macarena. Sure, she’d taken this walk hundreds of times, but never with the end goal of seducing her best friend.

Hell, one of them had to get the ball rolling. If she left it to Griff to act on their mutual attraction, her vagina would shrivel up.

The windows flanking the front door were cracked an inch, allowing the spicy aroma of oregano and thyme to waft outside and taunt her nostrils. Okay, maybe she’d wait until after gobbling a bowl of Griff’s world-class spaghetti before tackling him into bed.

She gave a warning rap on the door and stepped inside the foyer. Normally she’d kick off her shoes and enjoy walking around barefoot, but the sexy high heels she’d splurged on gave her a much-needed boost of confidence. Not to mention they made her short legs appear longer. Hell, she needed to use all the ammunition at her disposal to get Griff panting after her.

“Lucy, I’m home.” Following the faint strains of Bob Seger playing on the radio, she trekked into the kitchen and found Griff hunkered in front of the étagère. The overhead track lighting accentuated the natural highlights in his sable strands, making her fingers itch to run through his hair. Apparently oblivious of the effect he had on her, he continued inspecting the various labels before reaching for a bottle of red wine. His broad shoulders shifted enticingly beneath his forest-green polo shirt and she dragged in a deep breath, willing the delicious scent of Griff’s cooking to beat her libido into submission.

“Hey, Jem? I don’t have Chianti. Will you lower your lofty standards this once and drink merlot instead?” He swung his head in her direction. The expression that crossed his face made the contortionist dance it’d taken to squeeze into her skintight jeans and the corset top totally worth it.

Smothering her grin of triumph, she rounded the kitchen island, her black patent stiletto heels clicking on the wooden floor planks. She stopped in front of him and leaned down, planting her breasts squarely in his face. “Would you like me to get that?”

He didn’t immediately answer. His focus, however, remained glued to her cleavage.

Ground control, we have contact. “Griff…the wine?”

Snapping out of his trance, he passed her the bottle. She repaid his mute obedience with a smacking kiss on his forehead, an action she’d indulged in more times than she could count. This time the gesture had the hidden benefit of awarding him a bird’s-eye view down her corset. His loud gulp music to her ears, she pivoted and strode to the center island, making sure she put plenty of sashay in her booty. She couldn’t say for sure, but she swore a whimper trickled from Griff.

Yanking open the middle drawer, she pulled out the corkscrew. Sounds of him shuffling around and the melodic clinking of stemware competed with the raspy strains of Seger crooning about “Night Moves” and the roiling bubbles building in the pasta pan. The familiar backdrop of the noises surrounding her were both comforting and arousing, adding to the heady buzz of sexual tension that hung thick in the air. Swiveling, she caught the spastic twitch in Griff’s jaw and knew he felt the brewing chemistry too. Biting the inside of her cheek in an effort to stifle her smile, she worked the pointed end of the corkscrew into the foil cap topping the wine bottle. “So how did everything go at the store today?”

“Your dad was his typical slave-driver self.” Beneath the mock sarcasm, genuine affection laced Griff’s tone. He and her dad were not only boss and employee, but good buddies. A fact she was eternally grateful for. If things did progress beyond friends-with-benefits between her and Griff, she didn’t need to worry about her parents not supporting the relationship. Crap, who was she kidding? They’d be so overjoyed they’d probably throw a party.

“Dad’s lucky to have you. No one runs that place like you do.” Or looks as hot in a tool belt. For that reason alone she made sure to stop in at Finnegan Hardware at least three days a week. Something her cousins loved to tease her about unmercifully, the brats. Chewing her lip, she smoothed a hand over the waist of her top. She noticed Griff’s unblinking fascination as he visually tracked the path her fingers took. Tingles skipped across her skin. “You haven’t commented on my outfit.”

His gaze immediately veered to her boobs again before shooting away. “You look…different.” The gravel in his voice betrayed him and he cleared his throat. “Maybe I shouldn’t have made spaghetti. I’d hate for you to accidentally splatter sauce on your white top.”

Hoo boy. Could he have given her a better lead in? “Hmm, should I take it off then?” Conjuring her inner mischievous vixen, she reached for her top’s uppermost eyehook. The glasses slipped from Griff’s hold and clunked onto the kitchen counter.


Jodi’s bio:

At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.

She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star. When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.

Currently residing in Michigan with her husband and overgrown lapdog, she is a member of RWA national and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.

She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at jodiredford@jodiredford.com and visit her online at www.jodiredford.com. She invites you to follow her crazy ramblings on Twitter and Facebook.

purchase link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/that-voodoo-p-6116.html



Jodi is giving away an autographed copy of

That Voodoo You Do (US shipping)
or a non-autographed copy from The Book Depository to anyone outside of the US
To enter leave a comment on this spot

Please include your email and if you are US or International

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Halloween Guest Blog with LK Rigel Author of Give Me

In Halloween celebration of Give Me, A Fairy Tale, here are my top ten favorite movies about fairies and witches:

1. FairyTale: A True Story. From IMDB: “Two children in 1917 take a photograph, believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on a true story.” This story features Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

2. The Witches Based on the book by Raol Dahl. This is a dark and twisted film. Angelica Huston is perfect, as always, as the Grand High Witch.

3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream Michelle Pfeiffer is enchanting, and Rupert Everett brings his droll wit to Oberon, but this is the movie where Calista Flockhart made me fall in love with the word spite.

4. The Witches of Eastwick Again with Michelle Pfeiffer? This movie just cracks me up. I get the feeling everybody on the set was having a blast. Jack Nicholson and Cher chew every scene – except when Veronica Cartright is on camera.

5. Stardust Seriously. I think Michelle Pfeiffer has a witch wish. This is a fun movie, worth watching for Robert Dinero’s fay pirate and Pfeiffer’s witchy camp. Based on the Neil Gaiman novel.

6. Willow Worth watching just to hear Val Kilmer say, “I feel better!”

7. The Spiderwick Chronicles Freddie Highmore gives another astonishing performance.

8. I Married A Witch (1942) Fun to watch if only to see how attitudes about men and women have – and haven’t – changed in almost seventy years.

9. The Crucible Okay, I had to throw in a serious one! Yikes! Witch, communist, atheist – pity the person accused of being the despised flavor of the day.

10. Ella Enchanted – Yay, back to fluffy sweet/tart fun! Apparently lovers of the book were disappointed with the movie, but I haven’t read the book and I adore this flick. Especially when the giants dance.

Bonus: Season of the Witch I hope this one is good! (coming next month) And I hope the witch wins.



Give Me: a fairy tale
Copyright 2011 L.K. Rigel
Published by LK Rigel
Edited by Debra L. Martin
Cover by Robin Ludwig Design

A young witch with a good heart. Two lovers in mortal danger. A spell that ends in disaster.

Lilith Evergreen lives in the California desert, an ordinary woman until her fiancé returns from London with a ring he bought from a street vendor. When Lilith puts it on she dreams of a green land that's anything but desert, a tree at cliff's edge, a ruined castle, and a handsome prince.

Then she discovers that it's all real.

When Lilith visits the ruins of Tintagos Castle, she discovers a world of magic and love - and its dark side when she's entangled in the remnants of an ancient spell gone bad. From the moment Lilith sees Cade Bausiney, she's overwhelmed with desire for him. Cade is drawn to Lilith too - but their feelings might only be sparked by dark and dangerous magic.

Lilith and Cade must break the old spell or be forever possessed by spirits who've waited a millennium to consummate their love.

Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Smashwords





Author Bio:

LK Rigel lives in California with her television-watching cat, Coleridge. (His favorite show is Castle, but he was enthralled by Game of Thrones.) Rigel wrote songs for the 90's band The Elements, scored the independent science fantasy karate movie Lucid Dreams, and was a reporter for the Sacramento Rock 'N Roll News. Her work has appeared in Literary Mama and Tattoo Highway.

Rigel writes the postapocapunk "Apocalypto" series about the end of the world and the new reality in which the gods return to save humanity from itself - and end up fighting with each other.

Her short story "Slurp" about an author with muse problems on Halloween is included in DEADLY TREATS, Anne Frasier's Halloween anthology published by Nodin Press.

Her latest book, GIVE ME, is an adult fairy tale about possession.

website: http://www.lkrigel.com/
Amazon page http://www.amazon.com/LK-Rigel/e/B0043WEB06/

Free Magazine





http://wonderfulreadofthemonth.blogspot.com/2011/10/november-2011-issue.html

Monday, October 24, 2011

Halloween in New Orleans: Eternal Desire Ebook Giveaway






Blurb:

Eternal Desire Blurb:

Liz Beth, a paranormal researcher, is haunted by the seductive vampire, Quillon, who may or may not be real. She arrives in New Orleans the week of Halloween to search for the elusive vampire of her dreams and instead encounters a handsome stranger, Christien, with whom she begins a passionate affair with.

Soon she is torn between her dream lover and a flesh and blood man, both of whom are a mystery to her. The closer it gets to Halloween the wilder things become. LizBeth gets closer to the truth about Quillon while Christien has her under his own spell.

Will all be revealed at the Vampyre Ball or will the masks stay in place?

In New Orleans at Halloween anything is possible.

Eternal Desire is a hot and steamy paranormal erotic romance so finding a suitable PG excerpt was hard -not that the book is all sex- but even when LizBeth is alone she’s thinking about the vampire of her dreams and the hot blooded stranger she can’t get enough of.

The scene below is an excellent introduction to her thoughts on Quillon her vampire and Christien her sexy stranger. It also tosses in a few clues about LizBeth’s lonely life and her lack of connection to humanity.

PG Except from Eternal Desire:

I found myself going back and forth thinking about Christien and Quillon. One moment, I would be concentrating on Quillon. The next moment, I would have a flashback from the night before with Christien, and my knees would get weak. For so long, I had dreamt about Quillon, first imagining him as my guardian angel, then later imagining him in a much more carnal light. But Quillon was always so ice cold in my dreams. He was so distant, a fantasy but not flesh—at least not yet, not to me.

Christien was so warm, so non-vampirish, so human.

Christien was a man—a real man—and being with him rivaled the dreams and images I had of Quillon.

I felt myself being torn between a shadow and a stranger. Could it get any more complicated?

I was feeling run-down and my head ached. I decided I really needed some caffeine. I found the Café du Monde on Decatur, right on the edge of Jackson Square. The square was full of a variety of people: street musicians, artists, a dreaded mime, several fortune tellers and other people from all walks of life. I sat down at a small table, sipped at my pick-me-up-in-a-cup—a delicious café au lait—and people-watched.

My life was usually focused on the dead, the undead, or other strange preternatural occurrences. I often forgot about the humanity that surrounded me. They laughed, they danced, and they seemed to be having a good time. Teenagers hung out with their friends while tourists had their fortunes told and dropped money into the jars and hats of the artists and musicians. It was a beautiful slice-of-life scene. So everyday, I thought. So normal. I was lost in it.

Suddenly, I realized the sun was hanging low in the sky. It was getting late. I had to rush back to my hotel, drop off the books and get cleaned up. I was all dusty from digging around in the library, and I couldn’t meet Christien looking all disheveled.

I took an ultra-quick shower and dolled myself up as best I could with what I had available, which, unfortunately, wasn’t much. I hadn’t packed for dating. Jeans and a tight t-shirt would have to work this time.

I scurried out of the hotel and practically ran the whole way to him. I was out of breath by the time I met Christien, promptly at sunset, at the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets. He smiled as I ran up to him. I was huffing and puffing, completely out of breath. Good job, Liz! Score another dork point for you, I thought. I could have tried for a sexier arrival and maybe sauntered up like a sex goddess a few minutes fashionably late. Instead, I was like a love struck teenager who couldn’t wait to be with him. I was just staring at him and following along with whatever he wanted. Luckily, he didn’t seem to mind.

He took me on a carriage ride around the city. He seemed very knowledgeable about New Orleans history, and he told me many stories that the tour guides had not. He also told me about all the Halloween festivities that would be going on that weekend. “I would be honored if you would attend the Vampyre Ball and Dark Masquerade Ball with me this weekend.” He sounded so formal.

Praise for Eternal Desire:

After reading Eternal Desire, I would have to call Roxanne Rhoads a master of words. Each sentence flowed into another with a nice blend of old elegance and contemporary style… ~review by author Kiki Howell

Ms. Rhoads is an artist with words. She very tastefully wove the romance with the love scenes making the reader feel as if true romance and chivalry were still here… ~review by Bertena Varney

Eternal Desire won second place in The Pen and Muse’s 2010 Short Story Competition


Link to book video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuJ6niYhgJg



Eternal Desire is one of my favorite stories that I have written.

I love Christien, Quillon and LizBeth and have mentioned them in a few of my other works but hope to write a sequel to Eternal Desire soon, maybe a full length novel. I have the idea written down and the story slightly mapped out- it’s just on the back burner right now. One day soon I hope to get to it because there have been requests for more of these characters. I take that as a good sign.

Today I’d like to give away a ebook copy to one lucky reader.


~Roxanne Rhoads