Saturday, May 23, 2015

Kindle Freebie May 21-23 A Hot and Sinful Summer









A Hot and Sinful Summer

5 Tantalizing Tales of Sizzling Summer Seduction
By Roxanne Rhoads

Five sinfully seductive tales of scorching summer trysts grace the pages of this short story collection.

Something More Than Friends- a clandestine hookup in the front seat of a car is anything but casual as two friends simmer with emotion while hiding their secret affair from the rest of the world.

Sun Worship- The heat brings out carnal urges in Gina, urges she can't control as the hot summer sun beats down upon her bare skin. You won’t believe the naughty things she does to appease her needs...while her neighbor, Joe, secretly watches.

Lawn Service- Serena's loneliness and the relentless summer heat have her aching for something sinful. Her wishes are granted when Rob, a sexy lawn service technician, shows up to get her yard in shape for the annual 4th of July party.

A Hot and Sticky Summer Night- It’s a hot summer night and a young couple are plagued by boredom. They drive around looking for something fun to do. They end up making love in the woods... and it's anything but boring.

Not Another One Night Stand- Rebecca has been watching Damon at the nightclub for weeks. One night she finally works up the courage to approach him...and he goes home with her. Will it be just a one night stand or could it be something more?

Get it at Amazon 

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Interview and Giveaway: Destiny by Charlene A. Wilson




What inspired you to become an author?

I’ve been writing since my early teens, so I guess it was just a given I’d end up as a published author.

Do you write in different genres?

I enjoy writing in the paranormal or fantasy, but my works do encompass some science fiction. I also have some contemporaries waiting in the wings.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

I held a small contest to come up with some ideas for the name of Cornerstone Deep book three, but none of them really hit home. So I laid on my bed, gathered my characters around my head and started saying words that had to do with their story in this book. Destiny felt right.

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

I guess it just depends. For book two, Echoes, I knew right away before I even wrote chapter one.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

This is purely fictional. Parts of this entire series come from a dream I had long ago. I just filled in the pieces. (smile)

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

Aside from starting a follow-up series to Cornerstone Deep entitled Midway Summit, I’m working on book two of my Aumelan series, World Beneath the Rock. It will be the next book coming out.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

You bet! This is a scene from Aumelan book two, World Beneath the Rock. It’s a Sci-fi/Fantasy Romance and Salana is being challenged about following her heart…

The rock seemed to press on Salana’s eardrums as silence replaced the rumble of the engines.  A deep hum filled her ears.  
Eric jangled rope links and slammed compartment doors, and she had to wonder if the silence affected him too. Their heavy boots crunched rock as they walked the wide byway. The trail led them through large tunnels that looked as if a giant snake burrowed into the mountain and left a neat trail for future exploration.
Beams cast by the lanterns on their hats turned shadows into vertical belts of toffee and beige formations against the flat walls. Long slabs made up the floor like a misshaped puzzle. She brushed her fingers along a rogue boulder.
Eric looked at Salana and then inched closer. “A word, Miss Goffin?”
Salana slowed, and Chad and Styne eased past. He glanced behind him at Dae several steps back and then spoke in a low voice as not to be heard by the others. “Excuse me if I’m being too forward, but you don’t belong here. This isn’t a holiday. We’re headed for some real rocky situations. No pun intended. And it might not be safe.”
Salana stifled a snort. “I know what’s below, Eric. I’m not looking for a holiday. I’m here to help. To support Chad.”
A long growl rumbled in his throat as he looked away. “So I didn’t imagine you on the terrace in his arms that day. Or that you told him you loved him.”
“No, you didn’t imagine it.”
“But you’re promised to Dr. Masterson. You pair with Chad and you know what will happen.”
“Nobody knows what will happen, but it will happen with me and Chad together. And this is your concern how?” Her tone came out offensive, and Salana tilted her chin at him. That’s right. Give me a reason to prove my love.
“It’s my concern because you’re the daughter of my Nation. An icon of discipline to the people. Our people idolize you. Any of them would step up and fight for you, but you turned your back on them like they mean nothing.”
“Our people mean the world to me, Eric. But a person’s personal life is theirs, not those who think they know what’s best.”
“But you just gave up everything.”  He threw his hand to point from where they came.  “Riches, prestige, security.  Who’s going to protect you?  Chad?”  He glanced at the two men as they walked ahead of them.  “They don’t fight.  And their people won’t accept you.” He huffed as Salana arched her brow. “Okay, forget the people. This task is going to be rough. It’s not just another camping trip. Your clothes will get battered, there are no soft beds or tarts, and chances are if you haven’t felt it yet, claustrophobia will set in.”
“Don’t pretend to know me, Eric. I’m not as shallow as you think.”  She looked at the formations in the side of the tunnel.  “Accept the fact that I had to follow my heart.”  
“So.  You gave up everything back there – for Chad.”  
“Do you love Lulu?”  
Eric’s brows dipped into a deep furrow. “What’s she got to do with this?”
“What if you were a Son of the Nation and promised to another?  What would you have done?”
A slight sneer caused the scar on his face to press against his cheek bone. He lowered his gaze to floor of the pass. As he veered a few steps away, she clearly heard his murmur. “Lulu would never expect me to submit to slavery.”

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Keeping to a rigid writing schedule. I really need to learn to buckle down and get those words out! 

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

That would be J.D. Brown. She has a way of putting you right in the scene and falling in love with her characters. 

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Believe in the magic that’s in you, its potential, what it can achieve. But most of all, believe in yourself and create a world where dreams become reality.~
Oh, and never, never, never give up!

Destiny 
Cornerstone Deep
Book 3
Charlene A. Wilson

Genre: Paranormal/light sci-fi/ Fantasy

Publisher: Spectrum Publishing

Date of Publication: May 11, 2015

ISBN 10: 0989984656
ISBN 13: 978-0-9899846-5-2
ASIN: B00W35XAY8

Number of pages: 200
Word Count: 52,886

Cover Artist: Charlene A. Wilson       

Book Description:

Angels, Gods, High Ones… Could anything else find its way into the prophecy caused by their father, Sylis Shilo, the renowned realm traveler? Vincent understands there were things in his father’s work he wasn’t privy to simply because his soul was too young, but how could this be kept a secret from even his brothers? The more he learns, the more he’s glad he hadn’t known.

The sentinels of Cornerstone Deep are in for their most difficult challenge yet. The portal to the Spectrum of the Realms must be sealed, and punishments must be carried out. Will the Gods take all that is dear to Vincent, James, and Cole Shilo?

“Flesh cannot take away that which our souls have united.”


Available at Amazon

Excerpt:

Stars blinked, and Vincent scowled at the firmament. They mocked him—tiny gems as out of his reach as the treasure he sought. With a snarl, he scanned the area around the empty town square, whirled to face Simpson drive, and then jabbed his hand toward the deserted street of the city’s east side.
“Orvertre!”
The summoning command echoed through the night and then ebbed into the quiet atmosphere with no result.
A frog croaked from Center Creek somewhere within the park to his right. The urban green rustled and deep shadows waved as the breeze whispered along the tall border hedges. A cat padded from an alley between the north side commerce onto the sidewalk and then looked his way. The dim streetlight reflected in its eyes, two silver discs that taunted alongside the night sky.
With a growl, he punched his frustration into the air. Blue neon flashed from his fist. The bolt highlighted the crimson brick storefronts and plowed into the street with a resounding blast. Asphalt bulleted the commerce, shattering glass behind the barred windows, and pelted the granite griffin perched on top of the corner archway of the entrance to Shilo Park.
The cat darted back the way it came. 
Vincent snarled. Turning toward the city center, he clenched his jaw and glared around the empty court. How many times have I tried to summon the Mother Earth beads from here already? Every faithful follower of the gods had come to witness the absence of Gryffin. When they left, the park was in shambles. It took three weeks to pick up all the rubble and return the vegetation to its rightful state. He glanced over his shoulder at the stone gargoyle. The god of conformance couldn’t have made a more striking statement with that disappearance act—and the beads couldn’t have been lost at a worst time. Anyone could have stashed them away, thrilled to find such a keep.
Vincent ground his teeth together so hard his temples ached. Humidity thickened the early summer night and carried the sulfuric odor from the west side industries. It coated his senses with added irritation. Where was the floral scent of Shilo Park? He needed the sweet comfort it held.
Releasing his breath, he whispered a vow he didn’t intend to sustain. “Elaina, you will never touch another magical charm as long as you live.”
He glanced at his watch and sighed an anxious breath. I need to get home.
How long before his brothers questioned his excursions? How long could he keep the disappearance of the relic a secret? 
Furling his cape, he dispersed his elements into a fine mist. He allowed his dark essence to meander as he flew the length of the boulevard, recalling the crowded scene. Pilgrimage buggies, tents, covered wagons; they were only a portion of the massive gathering of faithful that had finally cleared the area.

Irritation rippled his essence. With a growl, he conceded failure and headed over the southern apricot orchards to Shilo Manor.


About the Author:

Charlene A. Wilson is an author of tales that take you to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse you into the lives of her characters.

She began writing in her early teens when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters and worlds were so amazing she brought them to life through her books.

Charlene resides in a small community in Arkansas, USA, with her two beautiful daughters, husband, a cuddly Pekingese, and a very chatty cockatiel named Todder.






a Rafflecopter giveaway



Kindle Freebie May 21-23 A Hot and Sinful Summer: 5 Tantalizing Tales of Sizzling Summer Seduction by Roxanne Rhoads

Get it free at Amazon



A Hot and Sinful Summer: 
5 Tantalizing Tales of Sizzling Summer Seduction
Roxanne Rhoads 

Five sinfully seductive tales of scorching summer trysts grace the pages of this short story collection.

Something More Than Friends- a clandestine hookup in the front seat of a car is anything but casual as two friends simmer with emotion while hiding their secret affair from the rest of the world.

Sun Worship- The heat brings out carnal urges in Gina, urges she can't control as the hot summer sun beats down upon her bare skin. You won’t believe the naughty things she does to appease her needs...while her neighbor, Joe, secretly watches.

Lawn Service- Serena's loneliness and the relentless summer heat have her aching for something sinful. Her wishes are granted when Rob, a sexy lawn service technician, shows up to get her yard in shape for the annual 4th of July party.

A Hot and Sticky Summer Night- It’s a hot summer night and a young couple are plagued by boredom. They drive around looking for something fun to do. They end up making love in the woods... and it's anything but boring.

Not Another One Night Stand- Rebecca has been watching Damon at the nightclub for weeks. One night she finally works up the courage to approach him...and he goes home with her. Will it be just a one night stand or could it be something more?

Mythean Arcana: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set by Linsey Hall





Mythean Arcana
Paranormal Romance Boxed Set
Books 1-4
Mythean Arcana Series
Linsey Hall

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press

Date of Publication:  May 20

ISBN: 978-1-942085-34-8
ASIN: B00WDCMARY

Number of pages: 898
Word Count: 290,000  
3 full length novels, 1 novella

Cover Artist: Damonza

Book Description:

In celebration of the release of Fate Undone, Book 5 of the Mythean Arcana series, the first four volumes are available for a limited time for only $0.99!

"Linsey Hall's brilliantly imaginative Mythean Arcana is THE must-read series of the year for fans of paranormal romance." - Maggie Shayne, NY Times Bestselling Author of TWILIGHT GUARDIANS

Braving Fate

Bookish academic Diana Laughton has been having terrible dreams. Dreams of battle, dreams of blood... dreams so vivid she's living them day and night. When demons invade her quiet life and she flees to Scotland, she wonders if she's going mad. Or if perhaps she's remembering a past life she had no idea existed...

Mythean Guardian Cadan Trinovante loved and betrayed Britain's warrior queen Boudica two millennia ago. Now he's tasked with protecting mortals whose lives affect the fate of humanity. His latest assignment is Boudica herself, reincarnated as a woman with no idea of her past or her fated future.

Thrown together in a shadowy world that exists alongside our own, Diana and Cadan must fight not only the demonic forces that want Diana dead, but a past and a passion that have lasted centuries. Their desire could be deadly. But as evil from the underworld unites against them, their only hope could be each other.

Soulceress

Three hundred years ago, Warren sold his soul in exchange for the safety of his people. He lives immortal and inhuman, a life in the shadows, hiding his secrets. Until now, when he finally has the chance to reclaim his soul after three centuries of suffering…

Esha is a soulceress, an immortal who drains the magical powers of others. Shunned by everyone she meets, she’s a rogue mercenary who hunts evil for a living. The only man she cannot harm is Warren, whose secrets intrigue her and whose body sparks her desire…

Esha is the only person who can help Warren reclaim his soul. But what begins as a simple quest soon becomes a deadly battle, one in which choices will be made and secrets revealed that could tear them apart. As Esha and Warren uncover their passion, they must defeat the evil forces unleashed against them before time runs out…

Rogue Soul

Andrasta, Celtic goddess of victory, has fled the cold, sterile wasteland of Otherworld for the steamy South American jungle. It's only a matter of time before the vengeful gods catch and punish her - unless she can convince the man she betrayed two thousand years ago to help…

Born in Otherworld to the life of a god, Camulos went rogue centuries ago. He's living on the banks of the Amazon, boxing in bare-knuckled fights. The gods believe he's dead--until Ana finds him. Ana, the woman who gave him nothing but trouble, and the woman he could never forget…

Thrown together, Ana and Cam must evade the wrath of the gods and a return to the living death of Otherworld. But as they flee through the jungle - and as their passion ignites - they find themselves at the heart of an ancient secret. One that could kill them both and extinguish their souls forever...

Stolen Fate

Fiona is an Acquirer, an immortal who uses magic to hunt for ancient artifacts. Ever since she failed to live up to her fate and find the Book of Worlds,, she’s been slowly losing her mind as her subconscious keeps trying to accomplish her fated task. When she’s presented with one last chance to find the Book and save her sanity, she’ll stop at nothing to accomplish her goal.

For more than one hundred years, Ian has been locked in a nightmarish prison. An accomplished thief, he was thrown into hell for failing to maintain the secrecy of his magical race. When Fiona presents him with an opportunity for escape, he’ll do anything it takes to ensure that it’s permanent, even if it means betraying the woman he’s grown to care for.

As Fiona and Ian get closer to finding the book, they learn that there’s more at stake than they ever imagined – like the fate of the world.



Available at    Amazon     Kobo     Google Play  iBooks    BN


Chapter One of Rogue Soul, book 3 in the Mythean Arcana series

The Caipora’s Den
Edge of the Amazon River, Brazil
Present Day

Andrasta, Celtic goddess of victory, swallowed hard, her gaze transfixed by the man in the makeshift boxing ring. Was he that handsome when I tried to kill him? Or that brutal?
She honestly couldn’t remember. It had been more than two thousand years since she’d seen him last, and she barely recognized him. Dim spotlights gleamed off sweat-slicked muscles and highlighted the feral brutality with which he pounded his opponent. No gloves protected his big hands, just white fabric wrapped around knuckles. They were spotted with blood.
She swallowed hard again, unable to look away.
She’d known she would find him here when she’d strolled up to the Caipora’s Den, a little dive bar perched on the edge of the Amazon River. But she hadn’t expected the outdoor boxing ring surrounded by a horde of cheering Mytheans or that her prey would be inside it, pounding his opponent into a sack of broken bones.
She’d never before been to the bar, which catered only to the supernatural beings who lived secretly alongside mortals. The building itself was ramshackle, and she had a feeling that it was just as run-down on the inside. The outdoor lot in which she stood was pressed between the building and the river. It housed the boxing ring and nearly a hundred Mytheans, most of whom looked human even though they weren’t. They screamed and cheered as punches landed with fierce smacks.
“All right, that’s enough,” hollered the ref, a big ugly brute who stepped forward to end the fight. The man she’d come for stood over his collapsed opponent, his heavily muscled chest heaving. He was declared the winner—no surprise, considering his opponent didn’t look like he’d be getting off the floor anytime soon.
She sank back into the crowd when he turned to exit the ring. Though she wanted to watch him, to devour every hard inch with her eyes, she didn’t want him to see her before she could approach him on her terms.
Their past was a pit of snakes, so confusing that even she couldn’t figure head from tail though she’d lived through it. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was pissed as hell, considering the arrows she’d sent through his heart the last time she’d seen him. Not that he hadn’t wronged her. He had. He’d started the nightmare that had ended in her stealing his godhood for herself. Worse, they’d cared for each other. Until it had all gone to shit, at least.
And now she needed his help.
She turned and pushed her way through the crowd, toward the small bar pressed against the outside of the building. She needed to buy herself some time to recover from the sight of him but didn’t want to do it inside the bar where she might lose track of him. Seeing him again made her shaky, even though it had been so many years. She just needed a minute to catch her breath, that was all.
She squeezed between two Mytheans of indeterminate species and reached the bar—which was more of a table with some liquor bottles and a cooler, but it would do.
“A beer,” she said to the bartender, a beautiful brunette who had the slightly feral face of some kind of shifter. Ana had never been any good at identifying Mytheans since she rarely got away from her own kind.
The bartender handed over a sweating glass bottle and hissed, “On the house.”
Anaconda Incantada. The sound of her voice gave away what her features did not. She was a snake shifter.
And it had better be on the house. There had to be some perks to being a god, since everything else had been a disappointment. Although Ana never tired of Mytheans fearing or bowing to her. Some watched her warily even now, and she appreciated it all the more for not having had it when she’d been mortal.
“How often does this happen?” Ana asked the bartender, hiking a thumb at the ring.
The shifter shrugged. “Every night.”
“Know anything about the fighters?”
“Not the loser. But the winner, he’s never lost. Fights pretty often. Seems to like it. Keeps to himself otherwise.”
Ana nodded and turned to look for her prey. The beer slid refreshingly down her throat, and she sighed in pleasure at the smooth taste of the infrequently allowed delicacy. Focusing on the taste helped calm her nerves just a bit. She was raising the bottle to her lips a second time when she spotted him standing off to the side of the crowd near the jungle that crept up to the dirt lot.
It had been two thousand years since she’d seen him last, when she’d thought she’d killed him and taken his place as a Celtic god. Those years had been kind to him, considering that he was still alive. Almost as kind as the way-too-hot woman draped around him, sucking on his neck while he unwrapped the bloody cloth from his hands.
Ana stifled the strange little twinge in her chest. She’d cared for him once, and he for her, but that was so long ago the memories had gone to dust. Or so she told herself. She took one last swig of the beer to chase them away.
Now or never. If she wanted a permanent escape from Otherworld, the land of the Celtic gods and what felt like her eternal prison, there’d be no more dawdling, no matter how nervous she was about his reception or willingness to help her.
She needed him. Admitting to it scraped something raw inside her. But after two thousand years, she wanted out more than she wanted her pride.
Ana sucked in a deep breath and wound her way through the crowd. When a lobisomem got handsy as she passed, an elbow to the gut halted his straying paws, and a glare stopped another. Fancy Brazilian name or not, they were dogs like the rest of their werewolf brothers. Within moments, she’d reached the edge of the crowd and stood before the now-kissing pair.
She squashed her nerves as she gazed at the strong profile of the man she’d never been able to forget—whose mouth was glued to the woman’s. He was a bruiser, even from the side, a contrast of hard features and short ginger hair. He looked rougher than she remembered. Bigger, too.
“Camulos,” Ana said. She glanced dismissively at the sultry woman now trying to swallow his tongue.
“Cam,” he said absentmindedly as he drew his face away from the woman’s to look at Ana. His brows shot up, his gray eyes widening the barest fraction. A scar sliced through one of the brows.
“Recognize me?” she asked, absorbing the fact that he no longer went by Camulos.
“Andrasta,” he rasped, shock plain on his face.
Did she hear his breath catch?
Hers certainly did. He looked every inch the god he’d once been—strong and powerful, with broad shoulders and big arms that looked like they’d been cut from steel. A man comfortable with the mantle of worship, even if he no longer carried it.
Ana shot a pointed glance at the other woman.
 “Luciana,” he said, drawing the woman’s mouth away from where it had suctioned onto his neck.
Ana’s eyes zeroed in on the huge hand that cupped the back of Luciana’s neck, then looked back to realize that he’d kept his gaze trained on her own face.
“You need to go,” Camulos said to Luciana.
Luciana pouted at him, then turned to look at Ana.
“A goddess?” Her brows shot high. She no doubt noticed the small glow emitting from Ana’s skin and marked her as one from Otherworld. Her lips twisted in a sneer. “I thought you Celtic gods never left your cold realm.”
She’d be right, Ana thought bitterly. Cold and emotionless, that was Otherworld, and she was trapped there except for a few times a year when she could sneak out without the other gods noticing. But that’s what she wanted to change.
“Beat it, sister,” she said, trying out some earth slang she’d seen on a TV show. Sneaking a laptop into Otherworld and firing up movies with her magic was one of the few ways she stayed sane.
The woman pouted, gave one last longing glance at Camulos, and then moved off into the crowd.
Camulos gave her a hard, searching look, his shock now masked. He didn’t make a move to kill her—which was good. Not that she’d let him. But still, it was promising. He might have cared for her once, but after what had happened at the end, she wouldn’t be surprised if that had been pushed out by anger.
“Come on. Let’s get a seat inside.” He jerked his chin toward the ramshackle bar.
Ana nodded and turned to lead the way. This time, with the huge male of indeterminate species following closely behind her, the crowd parted in waves to let her pass. Camulos was so close on her heels she swore she could feel the heat of him. It made the fine hairs on her arms stand on end. She tried to ignore it.
The smell of sweat and stale beer assaulted her nose when she walked into the bar. It was even more crowded than the outside, with dozens of volatile Mytheans partying and fighting in the dark, smoky space lit only by bare, dangling light bulbs.
She blinked. Wow. This was so different from Otherworld. Gross, definitely, from the smell to the cleanliness of the occupants.
But it was great. It was nothing like Otherworld, and she loved it. There was one small unoccupied table in the corner, but it was far enough from the main crowd to suit her.
They hadn’t so much as settled at the table when a beer appeared in front of Camulos, carried by a smiling waitress whose eyes didn’t stray from him. He ignored it and spared her only a curt nod.
“How the hell did you find me?” he asked when the waitress slunk away.
His rough voice sent a shiver down her spine. That first tingle of attraction hadn’t been a fluke, after all. Damn it. This was what had gotten her in trouble so many years ago. Insane attraction that had blinded her to the danger she’d stepped into.
She dragged her mind back to the present. “More importantly, how the hell are you still alive? I thought I killed you.”
His big hand clenched on the table. Scars sliced across his knuckles.
She tried not to squirm in her seat as his eyes roamed from her face down to the hint of cleavage she knew peeped above the top of her leather breastplate. She always wore it, but then she spent most of her time in temperate Otherworld or Scotland. It was damn hot in the jungle.
Finally, his gaze dragged back to hers. The sight hit her straight in the solar plexus. Damn, he looked good, no matter how wary or how harsh his gaze. His short reddish-blond hair glinted in the dim light that struggled to illuminate the seedy bar with its sticky seats. He still looked like a damn god, no matter what he’d turned into.
“You didn’t kill me,” he said, one corner of his mouth hiked up.
“Then what the hell are you? How are you immortal?”
“Why would I tell you that?”
So it was going to be this way? A game of chance where neither showed their cards? But it suited her too, since she had no idea how she felt about him. She glared at him as a Jurassic-sized fly buzzed around her head, as annoying as the questions hanging in the air between them. She still didn’t fully understand everything that had happened those many years ago when she’d taken his place as a god by sending an arrow through his heart. Twice. She flinched at the mental image that came with the thought—him dying in the snow, his blood soaking through the knees of her dress.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?” he asked.
“Nope.” If she was going to be afraid of anyone, it would be him—with his huge body, scowling face, and potentially deadly grudge against her. But she wasn’t. She could take care of herself, damn it. Being afraid was a thing of the past.
“Cocky.”
“Yep.” She wasn’t the same girl he’d once cared for, however briefly. After they’d gotten caught in the crosshairs of the gods and her whole life had gone to hell, she’d changed.
“Anyway, it worked out for the best.” He raised his smudged glass in toast to her.
“Really?” Her brows shot up. He truly thought their past—trading places so that she became a god and he went to earth—had worked out for the best?
He nodded, but she had a hard time believing him.
“Why? You should have loved Otherworld. You’re a god,” she said.
“Not anymore.”
“Yeah, but you get what I mean,” she said. “Otherworld, the coldness there, shouldn’t have bothered you since you were born a god. The power, the perfection. It was all yours. Without all the downsides.”
Like the soul-sucking loneliness of a place with no emotion. No one could care about anyone else. She was a fluke, a god with the ability to feel because she’d once been mortal. But there was nothing to feel there. No joy, no love, no fun. No way to distract herself from the misery of being trapped. All the other gods, they were perfect for it. Automatons in their impeccable world. But not her.
“So why would it be better for you on earth?” she asked when he didn’t respond. He had less power here and had to hide from the other gods. And earth was messy and miserable compared to Otherworld. But it was that ability to be miserable, and alternately joyful, which made her want to return. “There’s nothing for you here.”
His gray eyes darkened, his expression effectively closing the subject. “That’s my business, not yours. Why the hell are you here?”
 “I want out.”
“Are you kidding? Do you know what will happen to you when the other gods figure out you’ve tried to run?”
What was it about his voice that made her want to squirm in her seat? The mixed accent from his long life sounded exotic somehow and a hint of roughness dragged across her skin.
She shivered. “I’ve snuck out before.”
“For a few hours maybe, and not with the intent to flee.” He nodded smugly and she knew he must see acknowledgment in her eyes. “When they figure out that you’re gone and don’t intend to come back, you’ll end up chained to the most desolate tor in Blackmoor for a thousand years while ravens circle for dinner.”
Ana swallowed hard. The knowledge of the great rock formations where lawbreakers were punished was something she’d tried not to focus on when she’d decided to run. Blackmoor was the most desolate place in Otherworld, all scrubby ground punched through with granite tors and howling wind and rain. She had about a day before the other gods figured out she was gone. At that point, she’d be considered a deserter and they’d hunt her down.
“I’m aware of the risks.” She tried to make her voice hard. “I want out.”
“What the hell do you expect me to do about it?”
“You cared for me once.” She didn’t want to play that card—not after how it had ended between them—but she was desperate.
Truth flashed in his eyes, then his jaw hardened. “It was a long time ago.”
It had been. But seeing him was dredging up emotions she’d forgotten she’d ever had. She tried to force them to the back of her mind and focus on her goal. “I want to know how you became mortal.”
“Not mortal.”
“Damn it, you know what I mean. I just don’t want to be a god anymore. You stole my life when your obsession with me attracted the attention of the other gods. I want my life back.”
“I don’t owe you a thing.” He raised his glass and his strong throat worked as he swallowed, drawing her eyes to it. She couldn’t help but notice the way his worn shirt stretched over his broad chest. She scowled at her own interest. Long ago, that same interest had gotten her into trouble.
“Fine. I’ll just have to convince you,” she said.
He didn’t respond, just smiled and folded his muscled arms over his chest. She sighed, then tensed when he swung his feet up onto the chair next to her.
Her breath caught in her throat. She could almost feel the heat of his thighs close to hers. Her leg tingled, her skin prickling. Something low in her stomach tightened, and it reminded her that this was one of the reasons she wanted to be back on earth.
Fates, her nerves were on edge, and he wasn’t helping matters. She’d spent nearly every day of the last two millennia in Otherworld—the dullest, loneliest place in all of creation. As much as she loved the hustle and bustle of the Mytheans and mortals on earth, there was way too much of it in this bar. Her senses were on overdrive, and the air fairly buzzed with emotion from the dozens of volatile Mytheans carousing around her.
She swallowed hard and met his eyes. His smile reappeared, as if he knew what was going on inside her head. Inside her body.
“I need some air.” She jumped to her feet. “Come on.”
As soon as he stood, she spun and headed for the front door of the bar, hoping it would be quieter than the fighting ring out back. She had to cool down or things were going to get out of control.





About the Author:

Linsey Hall is the author of the Mythean Arcana, a sexy paranormal romance series. Before becoming a romance novelist, Linsey was an underwater archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). Her books draw upon her love of history, travel, and the paranormal elements that she can't help but include.

Several of her books may or may not feature her cats.






a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Interview and Giveaway: To Mate a Wolf by Jordan Ashton




1-What inspired you to become an author?

My imagination and passion for storytelling were my inspiration. I loved to tell stories as a kid and the older I got, the more stories I told.

I decided to write romance stories because I’m a romantic at heart and enjoy writing and reading about tortured souls who find themselves and their soul mates and calling in life.

2-How did you come up with the title for your latest series?

The title Mates of Nethermore came to me when I wanted to write an erotic romance fantasy series about the nether creatures in folklore.  I mashed all these beings together and came up with some pretty malevolent villains.

As for the heroes of the series, well they are paranormals or humans who get caught in the antagonists’ evil plots. Not only do they have to fight to survive, but also to find true and lasting love in the new harsh and cold dystopian world that has evolved.

3-Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

I make up a title for a series before I even write the overall outline of the storyline.
But as for individual story titles, no, I always choose a title once the outline or the story is completely written.

4-What books are in your to read pile?

My Kobo Aura is stacked! I think I have almost a hundred books I haven’t yet read. Most of them are the first books in paranormal romantic suspense series, which I got free at Kobo. I love taking chances on new authors I’ve never read before. I’ve uncovered so many good books and writers this way. For instance I’ve recently discovered the talented Bella Andre and Stephanie Rowe’s this way. I read the first book in a series they offered on Kobo, got hooked, and then bought the rest of the books in the series after that. Now I’m a huge fan of all their work. J

5-What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

I’m writing the seventh book in the Shifters of the Claiming Kind series. There is a new character I’m introducing to the series who is a big surprise for the readers and for the Brooks brothers.

Once I’m done with this story, I’ll either write the next book in Mates of Nethermore or Harbor of Lost Souls. It depends on which premise that I have in mind solidifies first.

6-Who designed the cover of your latest book?

The extremely talented and wonderful cover artist Harris Channing has created all my covers. She is the best! She always reflects what I want and how my heroes look in her creations. Actually, her covers are even better than what I imagined they would look like. J

7-Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?

No, there isn’t a song or playlist that I can say represents this story. But you know what. Please don’t laugh when you read this. You’ll probably think I’m super weird, which I am. J But I started listening to soundtracks of storms while I write. That’s what I was listening to part of the time when I wrote To Mate a Wolf and all the stories since then.

It’s so invigorating, so powerful. It actually stimulates my ears and in turn my brain to be more productive and creative. J

I always used to love sitting on my covered balcony during thunderstorms when I was a kid. Listening to the thunder and watching the lightning strike the sky always gave me goose bumps. I never really outgrew that interest. It always made me feel so alive to see how powerful Mother Nature can be.

8- Do you have any advice for other writers?


It’ll take you some time before you find your true voice. And you may change it a few or many times as you evolve as a writer and as a person, but once you find the true author you, go for it with your whole heart and soul. Write and keep writing from the heart. It’s the best feeling ever!


To Mate a Wolf
Shifters of the Claiming Kind
Book 2
Jordan Ashton

Genre: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Cowboy, M/M, shape-shifters

Publisher: Siren Publishing

Date of Publication: October 2014

ISBN: 978-1-63258-432-8
ASIN: B00P89X9CO

Number of pages: 93
Word Count: 21,486

Cover Artist: Harris Channing

Book Description:

Evan Michaels has just become the mob’s number one target. They want him dead before he can tell the police what he knows. When the Brooks brothers, five kind and brave wolf shifters, offer their aid and protection on their cattle ranch, Evan jumps at the offer.

Chandler Brooks opened his home to Evan Michaels, a cute half-lynx who was in dire need of his and his brothers’ protection. But he never imagined he’d open his heart, too. All this time he thought an eternal mate didn’t exist, until Evan came into his life. He tries to win the frightened and cocooned half-lynx’s heart and make him his life mate. But a past lover returns, determined to ruin any chance Chandler has at love and happiness.

Can Chandler make Evan trust him and open his eyes to the everlasting love that exists between them, while protecting him from a hidden and deadly danger lurking nearby that’s ready to strike?

Available at   Bookstrand    Kobo     Amazon     Amazon UK     BN



Excerpt:

When they got to the range, Chandler removed his hat and rested it on a wooden post, then waltzed up to a magnificent black horse. Patting its black mane, he said, “This here is Wanda. She is a thoroughbred. I bought her from our neighbor Sal Winfred. He owns several racehorses. She’s too old to race competitively anymore, but she’s perfect for us.”
He turned to get the burgundy leather saddle resting in the corner of the stall and hauled it over her, securing the straps on both sides.
Jumpy and fearful, Evan stammered, “D–do you have a super slow pony I can ride instead?”
Chandler laughed, his pearly white teeth sparkled in the beaming afternoon sunlight. “Wanda is the slowest and tamest we have, I’m afraid.”
Evan’s armpits began to perspire with his apprehension, and he really regretted wearing this light blue T-shirt which turned dark blue when it got wet. Soon he’d be a sweating slob. And if he lost his grip on Wanda and landed on his ass or his face in front of his dreamboat hunk, well, there went any chance of making a good impression.
“All right. I–I guess I have no choice but to ride her,” he stuttered.
“I’ll be riding with you, if that reassures you.” He gave him a slanted, flirty smirk.
Panic and excitement twirled around Evan like a tornado, making him anxious and super uneasy. He hoped he didn’t forget to put on deodorant after coming out of the shower, because with all the sweating he was doing, he’d start smelling like the horse they’d be riding pretty soon.
“Unless you prefer to go solo…” Chandler tilted his head to the right.
Evan shook his head. “No, believe me, the last thing I want to do is ride Wanda solo. I’m scared I’ll hurt her or she won’t like me and hurl me off.”
Chandler held out the stirrup, grinning. “No, she would never do that to you. She likes you a lot. You’re a super likable guy, you know.”
Evan blushed as he put his foot into the stirrup and hoisted himself onto Wanda. Her wide girth had his tense inner leg muscles stretching.
Once he was settled, he absorbed Chandler’s words. You’re a super likable guy. Was that a good thing or a bad? Was he likable as in he could be a good friend? Or was he likable as in a boyfriend-boyfriend relationship? He hoped Chandler meant the latter.
After Chandler positioned himself behind him on the horse, he wrapped his arms around Evan to reach for the reins. Evan lost his breath when Chandler’s nose tickled the back of his neck through his stretching movements. His heart raced fast. He could feel its pulse in his throat.
“Sorry about that,” Chandler apologized.
“It’s okay.” Evan squeaked and coughed, trying to clear the nervousness from his throat.
Chandler’s cologne smelled sweet, alluring, and very familiar. Was it Drakkar Noir he wore? Before he could ask him if it was, Chandler squeezed Wanda’s sides, and she began to gallop slowly.
Evan gasped.
“You okay?” Chandler’s warm breath caressed and tickled Evan’s ear and cheek.
“Yeah,” he mumbled, trying to get a grip on his raging hormones and stop his churning stomach.
Wanda continued to gallop at a steady pace. Soon Evan’s drumming heartbeat settled to its natural pace as his fear began to subside. He stared out at the vast grasslands. It was breathtaking. He’d only witnessed this type of view in movies or still life photos, but never in real life.
As if reading his mind, Chandler said, “It’s thirty acres. My parents started this ranch some thirty-one years ago. They had just moved to Oklahoma when someone told them that this place was being sold through an auction. The previous owner had passed away. He had no kids or wife, or any other family who could inherit it, so it went to the state upon his death.
“They got it at an amazing price. My brothers and I have always lived here. It’s the only home we’ve ever known.”
Evan sighed slowly, still admiring the land. “And it’s beautiful.”
Chandler nodded, gazing around as well. “Yes, it is.”
After a moment’s silence, Evan turned to stare into his eyes. He said, “Felix told me your parents died when you were only twenty-one and you had to look after your four younger brothers all by yourself.”
Chandler stared back in silence. He wasn’t smiling nor frowning, and he seemed to simply be thinking. Evan wondered if he was remembering the past and how it must have been hard for him to have so much responsibility put on his shoulders at such a young age.
“Yeah, I did. I also had to take care of the ranch. It was really difficult at first, especially with Bane, my hardheaded brother. It isn’t easy for two alpha wolf shifters to get along. And at that time he was a rebel, to say the least. But we all found a way to get along and work together.”
Staring deeply into Chandler’s eyes, Evan said in a soft, low voice, “You’re remarkable.”
Chandler chortled. “Thanks. No one has ever called me that before.” His laugh turned to a soft smile. “And so are you.”
Blushing once again, Evan lowered his gaze. “No, I’m not. I was never like you. I wasn’t a responsible person or caring of others. I was the opposite. I let my brother and my mom down.”
Chandler gently touched his chin, lifting it so Evan’s eyes would meet his. “You were young, and didn’t know any better. But now you do and have changed. So stop putting yourself down and be proud of who you’ve become. Evan Michaels, you are one remarkable, handsome, amazing guy.”
He leaned in, joining his warm lips to Evan’s. Electricity traveled through their contact, taking Evan’s breath away.


About the Author:

Jordan Ashton is a writer and wife whose passion for reading romance novels led her to writing them, too. She believes love can conquer all and that it makes the world go round, not money. Her heroes, heroines, and the worlds she creates bring this belief to life. She is and will always be a true romantic at heart.





Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006608238654



May 1 Spotlight and review 
Dark Side of Romance 

May 7 Review
Fanatical Paranormal Romantical

May 8 Spotlight
Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog 

May 14 Interview
Robyn Bachar: Paranormal and Sci Fi Romance Author 

May 18 Spotlight
Nautical Star Books 

May 19 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm

May 20 Spotlight
All I Want and More Books  

May 21 Review
Booklover Sue 

May 22 Spotlight
BookSkater Blog

May 25 Spotlight and review
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess



a Rafflecopter giveaway