Posts Tagged ‘Vampire’

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Just check out this cover!

Isn’t he just yummy?

Let’s see,

Great hair: check

Dreamy eyes: check

Sexy mouth: check,check!

Bad Boy: Oh Yea!

Shadow's Son ebooksm

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The Shadow’s Son by Nicole R. Taylor

Series: The Witch Hunter Saga #3

Publication date:  August 1, 2013

Genre: NA / 17+ Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:

I am the oldest vampire alive and I am the most feared. Wherever I walk, death follows. The downtrodden have the fiercest fire inside of them. Those are the  vampires I want by my side. The pain they have been through only fuels  their thirst for blood. Those I would ask to kill for me, simply because they bask in the glow of their true nature. The nature I created in my  own image. We are each our own devil and this world is our hell. I was the first of six and now I am the last. My revenge has only just begun. You better start praying, because I’m coming for you first.
*
When a mysterious stranger from Aya’s past shows up in Ashburton it’s not  all good news. Tristan, a man she saved almost a thousand years ago,  brings a warning that will affect not just her, but her new family. Regulus is coming. To protect Zac, Aya has to destroy the best thing that has ever happened  to her. She has to pretend that their love has been a lie. But, is it  really the right thing to do? Aya travels to the other side of the  world with Tristan to learn the secret behind Zac’s blood and to hunt  down Regulus before he can find them first. Tristan is her way into the  Roman’s circle, but she might just find that both her quests are more  linked than she ever thought possible. Heartbroken again, Zac must  surrender to the darkest places inside himself if he ever hopes of  coming back. Even if that means aligning himself with his greatest  enemy. Even if that means turning his back on everything he’s worked for and walking away from his brother, Sam. Lovers are torn apart,  friends are pitted against each other and families are splintered. But,  what they find buried under the streets of London will change everything they’ve ever known about their world. Something that should have been  left alone.
But, what Regulus does is the most unexpected of all.

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The first two books in this series
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The Witch Hunter
The Witch Hunter Saga #1
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The Witch Hunter (Witch Hunter Saga #1)
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I was born into the world covered in blood, and that’s exactly the way I left it.
Ever since, I have been damned to walk the boundary between life and death alone. Unwillingly turned and left to my nightmare, I have seen men commit countless horrors and committed many of my own.
My origins shall remain unknown, my true self hidden. I have been called by many names, but in this life I am known as the Witch Hunter. I have been asleep these past 150 years, until I was awoken by a haunting call. Zachary Degaud was twenty-three when he died. The problem was, he didn’t stay that way.
Present day, he’s just another vampire with another unremarkable story. That is, until he manages to provoke a two thousand year old witch named Katrin, who wants to make him pay in the most horrible way imagined.
Along with his brother Sam, newly made vampire Liz and their only witch ally, Gabby, his only chance for survival is to summon the ancient and unpredictable vampire known as the Witch Hunter.
Zac is just looking for a way out of his psychopathic witch problems, but instead will find himself falling head first into a blood feud that has stretched thousands of years.Aya has been asleep for the past 150 years, until she was awoken by a haunting call. The witch she has been hunting for thousands of years, Katrin, has resurfaced and marked a young, annoyingly arrogant vampire by the name of Zachary Degaud. Unless she does something, he will die a slow and painful death. He has given her an opportunity to end the witch, but does she want to help him or leave him to his fate?
Zac will get under her skin like no one else has and she just might find herself making the ultimate sacrifice before he is gone forever. They will both have to choose sides and look deep within themselves before the end. But, what Zac learns about himself, will surprise him most of all.
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The Return
The Witch Hunter Saga #2
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The Return (Witch Hunter Saga #2)
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I’ve wandered my afterlife believing that I was the monster my maker told me I was. It was the only thing I knew. Not even my brother, Sam, could convince me otherwise. Not until her. Not until Aya. She walked into my life like a hurricane of destruction and nothing would ever be the same again. None of us could have known what would happen next. What fate had in store…
I finally grew a heart, only to have it ripped out. Now, I will stop at nothing for revenge. Zac’s afterlife is just going from bad to worse. He grew a heart only to have it torn out by the founding vampire, Arturius. Nobody is sure what he wants, but Zac doesn’t want to know. He’s more interested in finding a way to end him for good. But, it might just be that he’s after Gabby, who’s harbouring a secret of her own, one that Arturius would do anything for.Aya’s past will come back to haunt Zac in ways he never thought possible and what he finds out will alter everything he ever knew about her. He will uncover a deadly secret that should have remained buried. A secret Aya has fought to keep for thousands of years. One she has killed for.
In the end, who’s secrets will betray them to the one man who wants them all dead? Aya’s or Zac’s? They’ll need to figure it out sooner rather than later, because death is not an option.
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AUTHOR BIO:
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shadows son Nicole
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Nicole R. Taylor is an Australian born paranormal, fantasy and contemporary  fiction author. She is a graduate of the University of Ballarat  Professional Writing and Editing programme and is a former music  memorabilia sales person and grocery merchandiser.
She  currently lives in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia with a two year old  rescue cat named, Burger. She enjoys reading, writing (of course!),  traveling and a little too much chocolate. One day she hopes to sky  dive, but has to work up the courage first.
The first in her new paranormal fantasy series, The Witch Hunter Saga is available in e-edition and print from March 20th 2013
Links:

I’ve been waiting for the fragile things to be released!

It’s here and I’ve just finished reading it.

the fragile things is episode one of V. Shaw’s 4 part serial horror story.

The Fragile Things

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My Review

Jennifer has kicked her long time drug habit, but temptation is great as she’s living with her drug dealing boyfriend, Tony.

In desperation, she flees Tony and his druggie friends and camps out in the woods. She’s estranged from her family and has nowhere to go.

Her neighbor, Ebony, from across the street, happens upon her and they form a tentative friendship.

It’s difficult for either woman to trust anyone, or themselves, as they both have baggage.

Jennifer is fighting her soul-eating craving for drugs and Ebony is fighting her craving to not drink Jennifer dry.

Two damaged women with no one to turn to but each other.

This book reads like a serial episode on TV.

You know before you start reading it,  it’s going to be short and leave you hanging.

That didn’t bother me, as I’ve read another of the authors books and loved her writing.

This book is a dark, psychological read about hope, friendship, and overcoming huge adversities.

I was immediately drawn to Ebony and Jennifer. These flawed characters are genuine and my heart went out to them.

Sure, ones an ex-addict and the other is a vicious vampire, but you forget that somewhat as you learn what makes them tick.

The town of Blackcross has its secrets and something evil is coming.

There’s no shortage of suspense and the horror jumps out and says Boo!

A great beginning to this series and excited to read more, for sure!

I hear Part II will be available later in May.

5 Stars for excellent  campfire storytelling.

~

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_jDqd8eAg]

~

I’ve also read and reviewed V. Shaw’s The Lady of Chains and Other Stories

The Lady of Chains and Other Stories

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Description from Amazon: “Remember; you have seventy-two hours to do the deed and not a moment longer. Cut her throat and remove her heart. That, my girl, is the only way to destroy the wretched creature.” Greylock. A city supported by a network of scaffolding, bleeding rust and wheezing steam. Patrolled by an army of ‘metal men’ – creatures who’re designed for nothing more than to kill and destroy. Nothing grows. Nothing truly lives. Viola, a young orphan girl, has been thrust into this nightmarish world by the devious Mrs Casket, caretaker of the mysterious tower and maid to the Lady of Chains, a woman imprisoned without a sentence. A woman who almost single-handedly destroyed the world . . . Viola has been gifted with a task which could either see her demise or be her salvation. But who is the Lady of Chains? And why does she insist that she is connected to Viola? With the clock ticking and the metal men drawing near, Viola is about to learn that not everything in Greylock is what it seems. A spellbinding novelette with elements of steampunk. **** ALSO INCLUDES THE SHORT STORIES; Hansel and Gretel Rogan and the Gargoyle The Silent World BONUS MATERIAL: Also contains a preview of the up-coming horror serial, The Fragile Things.

You can read my review here.

About the author

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V. Shaw is the author of the short fiction collection, The Lady of Chains and Other Stories. Born in Scotland, she studied Film and Media at Stirling University. Having reviewed horror films for the now defunct FatallyYours.com, she has turned her attention to creating her own stories.

Writer. Urban explorer. Climber. Horror junkie. Beer guzzler. Book obsessed. Cinema and television fiend. Nerd for life.

Her blog

Goodreads

I’ve got a special treat for you today.

Taylor Dean is here to tell us about how she got started writing paranormal romance.

Then I have reviews for Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle.

But that’s not all. Taylor has a very special giveaway.

So, please welcome Taylor Dean and feel free to say hello!

~

Taylor Dean

What inspired me to write a paranormal romance?

I write romance in all of its many sub-genres: paranormal, suspense, contemporary. The main theme is always ROMANCE. It’s what I love to write. My daughter called me one day and challenged me to write a paranormal story. It’s her favorite genre—and she doesn’t really enjoy romantic angst in other forms.

“Mom,” she said, “Let’s both write a paranormal story and see what comes of them.” I responded with, “My mind just doesn’t think that way.” Truth be told, I didn’t really want to write anything paranormal and I kinda dismissed the whole idea pretty quickly, even though I found myself promising her I’d think about a plot as we hung up.

Paranormal? Really? No way, I thought, I write about sweet ROMANCE, not things that go bump in the night. Not going to happen, I told myself. This was during the Twilight craze (has that ended?) and I figured the world had seen enough paranormal! Although I love Twilight, I admit it. Okay, back to the story. At about this same time, I was ridiculously addicted to American Idol. With the crazed excitement of a groupie, I watched every minute of the Season 8 finale.

And then it happened.

Who’d of thought that an American Idol performance could inspire a 90,000 word novel? Not me. But it did. Go figure.

How the heck did an American Idol performance inspire Lancaster House?

Good question. I’m not really sure myself, but somehow the visual kicked my imagination into overdrive. Season 8 of American Idol blew me away. I thought Adam Lambert was amazing in every single performance. During the finale, Adam once again sang his haunting rendition of ‘Mad World.’ Even my husband was impressed by this performance, and that’s saying a lot because he isn’t usually impressed by singing performances. (Ever) Adam performed while wearing vampire-like garb on a fog-shrouded stage.

This link is a very poor video of the performance. I couldn’t find another one and I’m surprised that there are not more links to it. I own a perfect copy of it that I purchased through iTunes. I watched it umpteen times as I wrote Lancaster House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEQyz0acKNo

It’s a haunting performance—like Twilight, the Musical or something! I remember saying to my daughter, “Now that’s how I pictured Edward.” My daughter, a book-a-holic, immediately corrected me. “That’s not how Edward is described at all, Mom.” She was right and I knew it, but I have this nasty habit of picturing the hero of the story the way I want to picture him, no matter how the author describes him. Adam wasn’t Edward. Not by a long shot. But, he was how I pictured Edward. There was only one thing to do.

Write my own story.

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The visual of Adam rising up out of the stage amidst fog and then pausing before he began to sing, the way his movements were slow and dreamlike—all of it left me intrigued. It screamed paranormal story. What if a man appeared in my home looking like that? (sans the microphone!) What if he was a ghost? I would be scared and fascinated all at the same time. It was at that moment that Lancaster House was born.

It wasn’t quite that easy, of course. My hubby and I spent an entire car drive to Idaho (driving our daughter to college) hashing out all of the details of the story. By the time we arrived home, I had my story in my mind, beginning to finish.

And it was all due to one amazing performance sparking my imagination.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Taylor.

And now for my reviews.

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To find out why Joy tried to kill herself, why she is under the care of Dr. Channing at Serenity HIlls, and why she is suspected of killing two men, we have to go back to the beginning.

When Joy first laid eyes on Lancaster House, she knew she had to have it.

She couldn’t wait to get started on the restoration. Couldn’t wait to bring the old house back to its former glory.

hauntings photo: S1081774201401.jpg

The work was slow but rewarding. She was doing one room at a time. She would go to bed exhausted and rise to start again the next morning.

After five hours of scraping and sanding the bannister, she took a lunch break. When she returned to finish up, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was finished!

She told herself maybe she was confused, being so tired and all.

But the next night it happened again. She didn’t get the wall papering done.

In the morning, when she came downstairs, it was finished.

Now she panicked, racing through the house, but no one was there.

Not one to be scared, she knows she can figure this out.

Stop standing here like a ninny and figure this out. There has to be a logical explanation.

But there isn’t. And she is beginning to think the former owner, Andre Lancaster, is still living in the house. Either that or she is going crazy.

~

Mini Excerpt for ya.

“You can see me?” he asked again, his tone urgent.

“Yes,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.

For several seconds he simply stared at her, his eyes smoldering. She trembled under his gaze, her bottom lip quivering. One hand reached up, his motions slow, and cupped her cheek. He let out his breath and closed his eyes as if the feel of her did something to him.

“I won’t hurt you Zoe.”

~

But how can that be? He’s been dead for many, many years.

A really fun part of this story is the language. The slang from the 1920’s is quirky and I enjoyed reading how Joy figured out what Andre meant by some of the sayings.

Stuff like giggle water is alcohol. Makes sense. And Bank’s closed which means no kissing.

After you finish reading Lancaster House you tell me what you think. Is Joy crazy?

ghost hands photo: Ghost Hands Hold Me hold.jpg

Did she just make up Andre and their passionate affair to keep from being alone?

 Is Dr. Channing right in that ghosts don’t exist?

So many questions and an ending that will let you decide, or not.

I adored Joy and Andre and want a Lancaster House of my own.

5 Stars for this haunting love story.

And it continues in The Middle Aisle

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Hmm, how do I tell you about this book without spoiling it. It’s hard to review the next book in a series.

In Lancaster House, you are left wondering if Andre is real or a ghost. Is Joy crazy as a loon, desperate for any kind of love, or is her house haunted?

In The Middle Aisle, you will still be wondering. You may think at some point, “Oh, now I see.” But then, as you read further, you are in doubt again.

Taylor Dean has written a series like none other. You are kept “in the dark,” figuratively, throughout both books.

I don’t recall ever being so unsure of my own conclusions in a book.

The love between Joy and Andre is very real and so endearing. But is Andre real? If he isn’t, then is their love real?

~

Mini Excerpt

“You’re imagination intrigues and fascinates me, Zoe,” Wade commented, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat and ran his hands over his face. “Why don’t we take a break?” he suggested and quickly exited the room, stumbling on his own feet as he left.

It wasn’t possible, it just wasn’t possible, he thought, as his mind wandered to that moment…. Turns out it was possible, it just wasn’t real…

~

And if Andre is real, then that makes the alluring, malevolent Adelle real as well.

hauntings photo: hauntings ShhhhhhEyes.jpg

Aah! I can’t say I ever really figured it out. But, I don’t have to. I feel it is up to each reader to decide for themselves. And whether you figure it out or not doesn’t matter. It is still a love story for all time. One that goes beyond the physical, to the otherworldly.

5 Stars for keeping me wondering.

That makes a total of 10 Stars for Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle.

I had these books on my kindle, but when I saw a giveaway on Sherry’s blog fundinmental, I just had to try to win the paperbacks, and I did!! Thanks so much Sherry.

Since then, I’ve went on to read Taylor’s “i have people.” You can read my review here.

 And I’m getting ready to start reading Sierra. Next up will be the upcoming new release of Joshua’s Folly.

Thanks so much for your lovely books Taylor.

As long as you keep writing, I’ll keep reading!

Giveaway

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You could win this really awesome swag pack from Taylor. Check it out!

One winner will get signed paperback copies of both books along with a tote bag, book marks, and a “Believe it, Know it, Accept it” pencil.

US Only

AND

Five winners will get:

e-book copies of both books.

E-book Giveaway is International.

To enter, please leave your email address, specify whether entering for swag pack or e-books, and answer this question,

“Have you ever been in a haunted house?”

Giveaway ends May 3rd.

Good Luck ya’ll!

About the Author:

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.

Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy
~

For all of Taylor Deans books go here.

Lancaster House  The Middle Aisle (Lancaster House)

I Have People and coming soon! Joshua's Folly

Sierra

For all of my giveaways go here.

For a list of free e-books go here.

celine-barragebanner

Welcome to my stop on the Barrage Tour for Celine, The Night Touched Chronicles #1

All kinds of good news to tell you!

Included in my post is this amazing cover art. If the cover doesn’t hook ya, the synopsis will. And there’s a bonus. Included is a fun, delicious excerpt.

To top it all off, there are two giveaways!

Check out Maegan Provan’s debut novel and have fun.

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Celine (The Night Touched Chronicles #1)

by Maegan Provan

New Adult Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Self-Published/Indie

Heat Level: Sensual

Word Count: 50,000

 

AMAZON

Blurb

Love

Destiny

and War

Created by the First Born, The Night Touched created the bloodlines from which all modern day vampires descended. Different because of their incredible powers and advantages in the human world, The Night Touched were a special kind of vampire. However, they were believed to have died out centuries ago, and had been reduced to little more than whispers in the vampire world.

Until now.

Harper Kemp was the only modern Night Touched in existence. The reasons behind her creation were unknown and she had been abandoned during her change. Eventually she was found by Lily and Jason and taught how to handle what she had become. She learned how to blend in with the human world and even made herself in to quite the socialite of the New York City elite scene.

After a plea for help in her dreams and the dangers of a forbidden love, Harper is sent down a path to discovery; not only is she not alone, she’s about to face her worst nightmare – a devastatingly handsome slayer named Silas with a finger on her non existent pulse.

Enjoy this fun excerpt.

Excerpt #3 (from Chapter 3)

As the song came to an end, he spun me out and smiled. I felt like I was floating. As the next song started, he led me out into the hallway and towards the stairwell. I giggled to myself and followed as we sprinted down the long hall. He opened the door for me and I walked in.

He pushed me back against the wall and kissed me passionately. His strong hands held me and he stood with his body pressed against mine. I kissed back against his soft lips and pushed myself to him. My bun had worked itself loose and my long brown hair cascaded around my shoulders He ran his fingers through it as I resisted the urge to bite his lip. He grunted a little and it was so amazingly sexy. I sighed and tried to remember how to make it look like I was panting.

Suddenly I felt that old familiar tingle in my chest. Fuck! Not now. Please not right now. I did everything I could to make sure that he wouldn’t be able to see my mark glowing through my dress. Before it could even become that big of an issue, his phone rang.

“Hello?” He pulled back and answered, mouthing to me that it was his work. “Really? Okay, I’m on my way.” He hung up and shoved his phone into his pocket.

“Harper, I am so so sorry, but I have to go. I promise I will make it up to you.” He threw the door open and rushed out of the stair well.

“That’s okay, I was about to eat you anyway.” I said to myself leaning back against the wall and looking at the ground.

After about a minute the door opened and I looked up, hoping that it was Silas coming back to kiss me like that again. Jason stuck his head in and looked around before noticing me in the corner.

“Come on, it’s time to go.” He looked at me, confused. Then, like a light bulb going off, his eyebrows raised and a sly smile appeared on his face “What were you doing in the stairwell?”

“Practicing great self-restraint” I took my wrap from him and put it around my shoulders.

Reviews

“CELINE is the first book in the Night Touched Chronicles. This is a series I’m very excited about because the author takes us back to the roots of vampires from old horror movies, while still adding a modern twist. Provan’s vampires are sophisticated, intelligent, and calculating. But, make no mistake–there is nothing tame or vegetarian about these vampires, particularly the Night Touched … This fast-paced story is full of tension, passion, and surprises. Once I began reading, I couldn’t stop and read it within a matter of a few hours. This is easily one of the most engaging vampire stories I’ve read in a long time and I would recommend it to both old-school vampire fans and to Twilight lovers alike.”–triciaATW (Amazon)

“I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book from the very beginning. The cover is stunning! This book had a way about it. It was an easy read because it was action packed and kept the reader interested. I liked how there are two types of vampires and I found the background about each type very interesting. I also liked how the author incorporated other supernatural beings, but they didn’t take away from the vampires. … All in all, this was a great start to the trilogy. I can’t wait to read more and find out where the story leads. I would recommend this book to vampire lovers. I look forward to the rest of the series.”–Justine (Goodreads)

Giveaway

Prizes are
(1) Autographed Copy of “Celine” and (2) Kindle Copy of
“Celine”
.

Autographed Copy Rafflecopter

Kindle Copy Rafflecopter

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck.

Make sure you check out the other stops on the tour.

About the Author

mprovan-authorphoto

Maegan Provan was born and raised in Texas. She is married to a great guy. They have a dog and two cats. When not writing, Maegan spends a lot of time on social media sites as well as playing a lot of computer games. Her love of vampires is what brought her into the urban fantasy/paranormal genre.

Celine is her first novel, as well as Book 1 in the series The Night Touched Chronicles

Connect with Maegan Provan

authormaeganprovan@gmail.com

http://authormaeganprovan.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheNightTouchedChronicles

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maegan-Provan-Author/403492586408377

https://www.twitter.com/ProvanMaegan

Schedule:
April 18, 2013
Bunny’s Review
Danita
Minnis

fuonlyknew
Musings of an Independent Artist
(Review)
Mythical
Books

Rambling Reads
Readaholic’s Reviews
(Review)
Salacious
Reads

Storm Goddess Book Reviews
Wicked Readings by Tawania

April
19, 2013

abookandalattee (Review)
Author Raine Delight’s World
Brianna’s Bookshelf
Coffee
Beans & Love Scenes

Crazy Four Books
Immortal Books
(Review)
It’s All About the Romance
Penny For
Them…
(Review)
Regina May
Ross’s

Samantha Holt
Shah Wharton’s
WordsinSync

SnifferWalk Books

I’m back to tell you about the conclusion in this amazing Amish Bloodsuckers Series. I’ll be reviewing Reckoning by Barbara Ellen Brink and we have an awesome giveaway too! You can enter for a chance to win all three e-books in the series!

Reckoning (The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, #3)

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I love the cover art for this series. It’s fresh, humorous and “sticks” with the story.

Reckoning picks up right where Shunned, Book Two, left us.

Question : How do I review the third book in this series?

Answer : By telling you as little as possible.

That doesn’t mean I won’t tell you something.

We know Jael is the Chosen One, chosen to slay vampires. She wasn’t always Amish, but circumstances landed her at her grandparents home in an Amish community in Minnesota.

She knew she’d be going there sooner or later. Her target, The Bishop, was there and it was her destiny to destroy him.

Her best friend Bree, along with Shad, are in Minnesota for the summer and don’t plan on letting Jael face this all alone.

But she’s not alone. She has a sweet, loyal, and surprisingly determined new boyfriend, Gabe. He learns quick. He has to.

With Father Thomas, her Uncle Seth, and her three loyal companions, Jael sets out to do what must be done.

They are going to need a lot of luck if they are to survive. The vampires are more brazen than ever and even more determined to kill them.

Jael’s role as The Chosen One has forced her to do things most young women wouldn’t dream of. She’s grown a thick skin to fend off the pain of some tough decisions.

“Cure her?” Jael blew out a laugh. “The cure for bloodsuckers is death.”

“We must save her! She has a baby for heaven’s sake!”

Jael shook her head, releasing an exasperated sigh. “Here we go again. Another bleeding heart wanting to save something. The problem is, there’s just as many vampires running loose in Minnesota as there are wolves – but vamps are far more deadly and not even close to extinct…yet.”

This doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. She does. It just means she has to protect her heart lest it be crushed from the weight of her deeds.

Jael has a date with destiny.

A reckoning is looming.

There is only one outcome.

The Bishop dies or Jael does.

This is a  great wrap up to this series! I’m sad it’s over. Who knows, Jael is young, maybe we’ll hear from her again! (Wink)

Five drops of blood for Reckoning!

       

Check out Chosen and Shunned and enter the giveaway to win all three books!

Chosen (Amish Bloodsucker trilogy, #1)

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Blurb from Goodreads

With tongue firmly in cheek and genuine Amish-made stakes at hand, Jael the vampire slayer is ready to kick some serious bloodsucker butt. Seriously.
Move over Buffy – there’s a new slayer in town! Raised in the desert of Nevada, and destined for the Minnesota Loon Lake Amish Community, Jael Shetler is the Chosen One.
Trained by her uncle and father in twenty-one different forms of hand-to-hand combat – she also throws a knife with the speed of a bullet, and is accurate to within two centimeters of a cold, dead heart with her crossbow – she is a bloodsucker’s worst nightmare.
Her parents, forced to leave their plain and simple upbringing to escape the clutches of the new Bishop – an ancient and powerful vampire with plans to use the Amish Community as his own personal Jamba Juice – raise and train their daughter to continue the fight begun thousands of years earlier by another Jael, and to fulfill the prophecy in the Book of the Shunned.
Soon Jael is turning sweet sixteen and then … all hell will break loose.

****Read my review here****

Shunned (Amish Bloodsuckers, #2)

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Blurb from Goodreads

In Shunned, Jael leaves Nevada and her close friends, Brianna and Shadow, behind. She travels to the Loon Lake Amish community in Minnesota where she moves in with grandparents she’s never met and learns to live the plain and simple life… at least as plain and simple as she can handle. She may learn to milk a goat, but she is definitely NOT giving up her cell phone or crossbow!
While finishing out the school year at Loon Lake Public High School, she meets the guy of her dreams…someone to keep her company when she goes out staking vampires at night.
Her true purpose is to destroy the Bishop, the oldest and most powerful vampire of all. But first she must find out just what his diabolical plans are for the teenagers of the community, and put a stop to him and his undead followers before it’s too late.

****Read my review here****

Giveaway

And now for the giveaway!

One person wins all three e-books in The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question, “Do you believe you have a destiny, a purpose?”

Giveaway ends Feb. 11th.

Thank you and Good Luck!

About the author

Barbara Ellen Brink

I’m the author of eight novels, with another always on the way. I grew up on a small farm in Washington State but now live in the mean “burbs” of Minnesota with my husband and our dogs, Rugby and Willow. With our kids now pushed out of the nest and encouraged to fly, I spend much time reading, writing, collecting books, riding motorcycles with my husband, and keeping one step ahead of AARP. I’m a member of the Christian Writer’s Guild and try to attend a writer’s conference somewhere each year. At the 2006 Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference I was a finalist in the mainstream novel category with “Time in a Bottle.” (Now published  under the title: “Entangled”) In 2007 I was once again a finalist, but in the mystery/thriller category, with…moreI’m the author of eight novels, with another always on the way. I grew up on a small farm in Washington State but now live in the mean “burbs” of Minnesota with my husband and our dogs, Rugby and Willow. With our kids now pushed out of the nest and encouraged to fly, I spend much time reading, writing, collecting books, riding motorcycles with my husband, and keeping one step ahead of AARP. I’m a member of the Christian Writer’s Guild and try to attend a writer’s conference somewhere each year. At the 2006 Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference I was a finalist in the mainstream novel category with “Time in a Bottle.” (Now published  under the title: “Entangled”) In 2007 I was once again a finalist, but in the mystery/thriller category, with “Sense of Danger.” (now published under the title: “Split Sense”) My new young adult Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy is now available: Chosen, Shunned, & Reckoning. I also really like black licorice.

Author Website/blog: http://www.barbaraellenbrink.com

Amish Bloodsuckers website: http://www.amishvampireslayer.moonfruit.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEllenBrink

Goodreads

Twitter

To purchase The Amish Bloodsucker novels, just click on the images below.

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For more books by Barbara Brink click on these images.

Have I got some great short stories for you! Two new releases by Emma Meade.

Read my reviews and enter the awesome giveaway!

The Dead Beats

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Tristan and his band are a sensation. Their rock concerts are jam-packed show after show. There’s nothing he loves more than performing before a screaming mass of fans. Well, except for her.

Alex loves Tristan, can’t keep her hands off him. There’s just one problem. He’s a vampire, but that’s not the problem. The problem is he wants to make her one too.  As much as Alex loves Tristan, she doesn’t want to become a vampire.

He loved feeling her beneath him, her warm, beating body that knew his own so well. His next words were muffled into her curls but Alex heard him.

“I don’t have you completely. This world is so dangerous. You know that more than anyone Alex.”

“Shh, please,” she murmured and kissed the top of his head.

Alex doesn’t know how much longer she can put him off. Tristan is losing patience. She knows what she has to do and wishes there were any other way.

I became so wrapped up in this struggle between Alex and Tristan. I wanted her to become a vampire so she’d be with Tristan forever, but I understood her refusal. I don’t think I could wrap my mind around the idea of drinking blood for all eternity.

I wanted Tristan to have Alex by his side forever. But he is young and foolish and pushes her too hard. I don’t trust him not to force her.

The Deadbeats is the first chapter in the lives of Tristan and Alex. They are insatiable and incorrigible. The sexual scenes are hot and steamy, Oh My!  This story is exciting and startling. If you think you know what’s going to happen, think again.

       

Stick around. I have more to tell.

The Old Vampire (Short Story)

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Hailey’s dreams aren’t about a knight in shining armor riding up on his white steed to rescue her. Her knight is a vampire, or maybe a demon or ghost. Any of these would do.

She’s longed for the supernatural world her whole life. Is she really destined to a hum-drum existence or is there something more for her.

She dreams and she waits. And she waits. And waits. Will she ever meet her knight?

It’s Halloween night. All of the candy has been handed out and the trick-or-treaters have all gone home. Hailey settles in with some wine and a movie.

There’s a knock on her door. Must be a straggler.

The lantern led me to you.”

What a great story. Melancholic and tragic. Quite scary too. When do you stop dreaming? Why should you? You’ll find the answers to these questions in An Old Vampire.

This one gave me shivers. A true horror story.

       

Giveaway

One winner will receive e-book copies of both books.

Two winners will win one of these e-books (their choice).

Te enter, please leave your email address and answer this question, “Why wouldn’t you want to become a vampire?”

Giveaway ends Feb. 7th.

Thank you and Good Luck!

Some more books by Emma that I really loved.

Under the Desert Moon

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17 year old Erin Harris spends her time daydreaming, hoping to escape her small town life in Copperfield, Arizona.  When a movie crew arrives unexpectedly to shoot a vampire film over the summer, Erin’s small town world changes forever. Erin is positive she has seen the star, James Linkin before in a thirty year old TV show.  He hasn’t aged a day. How is this possible?  Erin is determined to find out, but how will James handle the scrutiny of an all too intelligent teenage girl?

Go here to read my review.

The Awakening & Other Stories

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Put on the kettle, close the curtains and curl up by the fire. Dive into 8 short tales, each with a slice of the paranormal.

Ghost Story – Who is the shadow in the window of the abandoned house, and what or who is he waiting for?
The Awakening – It’s time for Sabrina to wake up and face the light.
End of the Line – Cassie wants to die. When midnight rolls around, she stands on the tracks waiting for the train to come.
Milsa Loris – The once magnificent kingdom of Milsa Loris comes alive one night each winter. The King’s witch is brewing up a little magic, sure to make the soup all the tastier.
The Old Vampire – Hailey spent her life dreaming of a dark prince falling in love with her. He never showed up, until now.
The Knocking – Alison’s grandfather has one eye on the next life. After all, he’s heard a lot of rapping at his door lately.
The Boy on the Beach – Kate’s grandmother warns her about the boy with the green eyes. Will she pay heed?
Snowglobes- It’s busy at Calvin’s Cabins this Christmas. Eddie and Maggie are a young couple in trouble. Not to fear, Calvin is always ready to lend a hand.

Go here to read my review. This collection includes the short story The Old Vampire.

Night Sighs

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It’s good to be alive…when you’re dead!

Meet Alex & Tristan, modern star-crossed lovers of the supernatural variety.
Alex is running-on-empty, one year on from the death of her fiancé, and the only thing that keeps her going is her romance with the young vampire Tristan. Tristan, meanwhile has a serious obsession with Bruce Springsteen, and is battling a ‘can’t live without you’ sort of love for Alex. He’s trying to persuade her to come over to the dark side but so far she’s resisting his efforts.

So come and sing along to Tristan’s band, The Dead Beats, the hottest group in London right now, and walk with Alex as she teeters between this life and the next. Because when you’re around Tristan, you’ll see, how much fun it is to be alive when you’re dead….

Night Sighs is an adult paranormal romance, following the relationship & adventures of Tristan & Alex through five short stories: The Dead Beats, The Ancients, Until My Body Is Dust, Bourbon & Jazz and West of Forever.

Go here to read my review.

About the author

Emma Meade

Author of Nights Sighs, Under the Desert Moon and The Awakenings & Other Stories.

Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction. She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural. Stephen King’s The Stand is one of her most loved books. Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on. She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.

Writing supernatural stories & watching marathon re-runs of Buffy are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality.

You can find Emma here:

http://emmameade.com

Http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4229395.Emma_Meade

http://www.twitter.com/emmameade83

Purchase Emma’s books by clicking on images below:

To join in, copy and paste these rules and the above banner into your Fanged Mania post and add your link to this week’s Fanged Mania post at Elisabeth Wheatley’s Blog. Fanged Mania is a Friday meme counting down to the release of Fanged Princess and displaying all things vampire and awesome. Fanged Mania posts can be a review of a vampire book, a quote from the latest Vampire Diaries episode, a showcase of a cool vampire book’s cover, or whatever you like so long as it is vampire related. Don’t forget, participants will be entered in the drawing to win a fanged-abulous prize pack!

The prize pack I mentioned includes Vampire Diaries and Breaking Dawn posters as well as a paperback copy of Erica Steven’s Captured (my review here) and the complete collection of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter stories by Jennifer Malone Wright, in paperback, too! =D

Oh, and the contest is international. And the more Fanged Mania posts you have, the more entries you get! So what are you waiting for? Hop on the bandwagon!

I thought I’d have a little fun with this post and show you some of my favorite Ladies of the Night!

Santanico Pandemonium ~ From Dusk Til Dawn

But this is what she really looks like!

Another vampire that really slithers so sensually is Akasha ~ Queen of the Damned

Never have I seen someone move like this!

And there’s the brides from VanHelsing

They’re not quite so sexy really!

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There are so many more I could show you but then this post would be huge! I love Kate Beckinsale as Selene in the Underworld series. There’s Lucy and her twisted transformation in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Another I really enjoyed was  Sheryl Lee’s role as the prostitute, Katrina, in John Carpenter’s Vampires.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqxnotMB-Sg]
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These ladies of the night are fascinating. But I still wouldn’t want to be one!

How about you? Do you have any favorites?

The House on Blackstone Moor by Carole Gill is free on Amazon right now!

Go here to get your copy. Don’t wait too long.

The House on Blackstone Moor

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The House on Blackstone Moor is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship as Rose Baines, only survivor of her family’s carnage, tells her story. Fragile, damaged by the tragedy, fate sends her to a desolate house on the haunted moors where demons dwell. The house and the moors have hideous secrets, yet there is love too; deep, abiding, eternal, but it comes with a price.

Sounds great doesn’t it? More good news. You can purchase Unholy Testaments – The Beginnings, Book Two for just 99 cents. On sale for a limited time.

Get your copy here.

Carole Gill

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The day Eco first laid eyes on Rose Baines was the day she discovered (The House on Blackstone Moor) her family’s savage butchery at the hands of her mad, incestuous father.

“I saw you leave the house that day, Rose, that terrible day you discovered your family butchered. I saw you…”

Eco realizing he has fallen in love with her pens a confession documenting all of his sins committed in the course of his immortal existence. The one request is that Rose reads his confession.

Rose, having become his captive, is forced to read this unholy testament of his.

From Ancient Egyptian vampire cults to Roman vampire brothels to The Dark Ages, The Crusades, The Black Death of 1348 to his meeting with child murderer and Satanist, Gilles de Rais, concluding with his wicked affair with the Blood Countess herself, Erzebat Bathory.

Eco is, if nothing else, frankly and brutally honest. The pages are filled with debauchery and vice and murder–yet, there is also love or what Eco swears is love.

The story is continued in Unholy Testament – Full Circle, to be released in early 2013.

Bonus material:

The first two chapters and book cover of Unholy Testament – Full Circle is included in this book.

For information about Carole and her many books click here.

Website

Free Blood, The Quinn Chronicles #1

by Marny Copal

Freeblood

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Pretty cover art. Love the stained glass and the cool chick.

Let’s talk about the story shall we.

Quinn’s busted. Her cousin Kasey received a text message that was meant for Quinn. It’s from her best friend Jo-Jo.

“Quinn, it’s Jo-Jo. You know that recorder we set last night? You’ll never believe what we caught. It’s more than an EVP. Meet me at Chockablock at six. I’ll bring my laptop and hit you with the details. Gotta run.”

Great. Just great. Her Aunt Renae would kill her if she let Kasey get involved in ghost hunting. She’s here staying with Quinn while she attends college. Besides, there’s much more going in and around the Portland Underground than just ghosts.

Kasey is persistent, and to placate her, Quinn lets her come along to meet Jo-Jo. They get there before her and as Jo-Jo’s crossing the street a vehicle races up and some goons jump out and grab her.

Quinn puts a hurt on some and Kasey jumps in, trying to help. There are too many and they take off with Jo-Jo.

If they’d been ordinary men, Quinn could’ve managed them, but they weren’t. They were vassals. Vassals are people who’ve drank the same vampires blood three or more times, binding them to that vampire and doing his bidding.

To keep Kasey safe, Quinn keeps her by her side. They’re going to have to enter the vampires world to get to the bottom of Jo-Jos kidnapping. And whether she likes it or not, she’s going to need Del’s help.

Quinn and Del have a shared past and still have feelings for each other. They also have secrets they’ve kept to themselves. If they’re to get Jo-Jo back alive, keep Kasey safe, and stay alive themselves, they’ll need to trust each other.

Wow, does this book start with a bang and just keep packing it on.

You’ll get to go into a vampire club and meet some strange beings.

The vampires in this story are pretty vile. They are motivated by their own agendas and are master tricksters.

Then there’s the blood drinkers. The human ones. You have the fastbloods(or vassals) and the freebloods. The freebloods are people who drink vampire blood in order to gain their strength and healing powers. For some, the risk of drinking the same vampires blood too may times is worth the risk of becoming its slave.

About the characters. Quinn is my favorite. She’s flawed, comes with a lot of baggage, and has a nasty habit. That just makes me like her more. She’s also fiercely loyal, quick thinking, and doesn’t hesitate to put her life on the line. She also likes a good battle.

Her cousin Kasey, with her barbie doll looks, really comes into her own and she’s also the comic relief. Her antics had me smiling and laughing. She’s also stubborn and quite good at getting her way.

Del is the alpha male type. He’s the man you’d follow into battle, trusting him to have your back. But he’s vulnerable where Quinn’s concerned. She makes his head spin.

There are other characters you’ll meet along the way, with their own special influences.

The world building is well described and easy to envision. I enjoyed reading about the lifestyles of the vampires and their motivations.

There’s never a dull moment and Marny Copal’s Freeblood doesn’t disappoint.

A great beginning to an exciting new series. I’ll be snatching up the next chapter as soon as it’s available.

Five vials of liquid gold for Freeblood

       

Giveaway.

Marny is offering one signed paperback for the giveaway.

East to enter. Leave your email address and answer this question, “Would you drink vamp blood to gain their powers, even at risk of becoming their slave?”

Contest ends Dec. 15th.

Sorry. This giveaway is for US only.

About the author and where to find her

Books, school, and farm animals kept Marny Copal busy as a kid in Central Oregon. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Oregon, she worked in archaeology and freelance writing. She lives in Eugene with her husband. No farm animals in their residential neighborhood, but plenty of deer, raccoons, possums, and cats keep her company as she works on her latest writing project.

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Freeblood is on sale for 99 cents until January 1, 2013 as part of the Ring in the New Year Holiday Promotion. Click on the cover to get yours.

Have A Holly Jolly Christmas!

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To join in, copy and paste these rules and the above banner into your Fanged Mania post and add your link to this week’s Fanged Mania post at Elisabeth Wheatley’s Blog. Fanged Mania is a Friday meme counting down to the release of Fanged Princess and displaying all things vampire and awesome. Fanged Mania posts can be a review of a vampire book, a quote from the latest Vampire Diaries episode, a showcase of a cool vampire book’s cover, or whatever you like so long as it is vampire related. Don’t forget, participants will be entered in the drawing to win a fanged-abulous prize pack!

The prize pack I mentioned includes Vampire Diaries and Breaking Dawn posters as well as a paperback copy of Erica Steven’s Captured (my review here) and the complete collection of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter stories by Jennifer Malone Wright, in paperback, too! =D

Oh, and the contest is international. And the more Fanged Mania posts you have, the more entries you get! So what are you waiting for? Hop on the bandwagon!

Today’s post is about the vampire novels I will be reading. To purchase them, just click on the covers.

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother’s bedside. She’s been stricken with something the old-timers call “Milk Sickness.”

“My baby boy…” she whispers before dying.

Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother’s fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.

When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, “henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose…” Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.

Dear Mom,

I might be a wee bit late for Cousin Missy’s wedding. It’s been a tough week. Turns out, my blind date from hell was literally from hell. Guy bit me. Next thing I know, I’m being chased all over the city by vampire hunters. And did I mention that I got fired, too?

Bright side-I met a man. Thierry de Bennicoeur. How great is that name? Anyway, he’s sexy, six-hundred years old, and a tad suicidal, but no one’s perfect, right? And we have a deal-he’s gonna show me the ropes of the vampire world, and I’m supposed to help him end his existence. Or maybe I’ll just try to convince him life is worth living – no small challenge with the mostly immortal, let me tell you. I’ll admit it’s a complicated relationship. But with any luck, I just might have a date for that wedding after all…

Hugs and Kisses,

Sarah

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird‘s world, vampyres have always existed.  In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire — that is, if she makes it through the Change.  Not all of those who are chosen do.  It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling.  She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx.  But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers.  When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny–with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Daniel ‘Jerry’ Jericho is a your average teenager. Outgoing, curious, smart, friendly, likes cars, rock music, movies, drinks, smokes, is moody at times, a few parental issues, girl troubles, has supernatural blood, decapitates monsters in his spare time…you know, the usual.

Its been three months since he found out that vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches and pretty much every other horrible thing you’ve ever dreamt about are real. That was around about the same time he decided he was going to protect as many people as he could from them.

Backed by his best friend Goose, his uncle Joe, the vampire vixen sisters, Cass and Claire, the annoyingly mature fourteen year old psychic Rachel and the peaceful super-vamp Sophinia, Jerry is going to school during the day and hunting evil at night all the while desperately searching for answers about his unnatural blood.

When large groups of supernatural creatures that were targeting him start getting massacred without warning, Jerry thinks it’s possible that he may have an ally out there protecting him.

Unbelievably powerful, undeniably intelligent and indescribably beautiful, Aria isn’t just an ally, she’s every teenage guys greatest fantasy. Not to mention the fact that she has a thirty foot wing span. And when she offers Jerry protection and answers to all the questions that have plagued him since this began, he thinks his dreams have come true.

So why are his instincts telling him that this woman is more dangerous than anything any of them have ever seen before?

Most preternatural creatures just want to eat people.

Aria wants to play…and this is a game like no other.

Start playing and start praying.

Let the games begin.

2/8 of the Blood Heavy series.

WARNING: This novel contains strong language and violence throughout.

“Perdu” –the first novella in the science fiction and fantasy series, Redire de Vampyrus…

“I hope it was as good for you as it was for me.”

Ruth and Eugene Flowers desired the American dream: two kids, a big house, and a dog. But it wasn’t meant to be–at least not initially. When a surprise package literally fell into their laps, however, the Flowers would finally get their wish (sort of). Soon, it all goes awry, as mysterious deaths followed by a disappearance permanently disrupt their lives. Meanwhile, many years later, a grown-up Valerie Green, a nearby neighbor’s daughter and high-school sweetheart of their son, Zan, hits it huge in the Big Apple, first landing at Columbia University, then at the New York Pioneer, the hottest online periodical in the city. When she is forced to cross the path of hotshot FBI special agent, Dr. Devean Rasr, she doesn’t realize she is also wading much deeper into the biggest, most dangerous, and most challenging killing spree in the history of NYC.

These are just some of the books on my huge list and don’t include the ones I’m already reading.

See anything you like? Click on the cover to get it. Got any new suggestions? Just let me know.