Revisiting Stories

Over the summer I had a lot going on. My daughter was out of school and a friend's daughter stayed with us during the day. It was an interesting summer filled with crafts, hiking and a good bit of water fights, but all that distraction pulled me away from my main writing projects. I found myself starting the third story in the dream realm stories I've been working on. I also ended up with an outline for another interactive story.

But I think the one writing project over the summer that I enjoyed working on the most was Smoke Hunt. A follow up short story of the Saving Grace Saga, this story took two side characters from the novels and slammed them together in an attempt to show the world after the big reveal. The two characters are werewolves and end up mated together, but this revisit brought so much back.

In the Saving Grace Saga, the world is filled with werewolves, witches and a Federal Agency that has been dubbed the "Witch Hunters." The witches have their covens and the werewolves have their packs. I still remember and know the characters even though they haven't appeared in any other stories in years. The fact that the only thing revealed at the end of the series was that the Witch Hunters had been disbanded bothered me a little.

So Smoke Hunt is almost a wrap up of that. Yes, the Federal Witch Hunters were shut down, but that didn't get rid of the hate. Rodney and Lizzy see this first hand as they work together to defend a small Native American pack.

I learned from completing this short story that the world is far from finished. Instead it's still evolving, like any great fictional world will. I may never write any more stories surrounding the Saving Grace Saga, but it's nice to know that I can dip in a toe from time to time and check up on everyone.

Peace and Love

MidWeek Tease: Witch Hunt

It's time for a MidWeek Tease and this morning I've pulled a snippet from my first novel, Witch Hunt. This is Aidan's first look at leading lady, Rei.


Witch Hunt excerpt:

Aidan had only tracked her for twenty minutes before he spotted her fire. The young woman looked like an old-school Earth worshipper with her arms stretched out to the large fire. He was a little shocked to find a witch on the hunting grounds but figured she had trekked too far from the national park bordering the land.

When he saw her standing down there with her pale skin glowing in the firelight, he had decided to settle in and watch for a while before interrupting. She was a rare creature of beauty standing boldly in nothing but the gifts nature had given her. She looked like a golden goddess praying to the stars. Staring down from a low-lying ridge, Aidan, in his shape as a large gray wolf, watched her stretch up from her toes all the way to her fingertips. He lay on his stomach, front paws folded under his muzzle. Her short dark hair drifted lazily in the cool breeze. The firelight caught teasing hints of scarlet highlights in her hair, creating a glowing halo around her face. He was just starting to admire her full, perky breasts and lovely flat stomach when a surge of energy shot through his body like a shock. The energy had the same feeling to it as the explosive energy he had felt the pack shaman call up on occasion. He jumped up to his paws, transforming back into a man, intent on yelling out for her to stop. Just as his hands had cupped around his mouth, the Earth answered her call.

Aidan had only one thought when he saw the nude woman actually manage to call up the Wild Hunt. That crazy bitch! As the woman ran off into the darkness of the forest, Aidan started to quickly move higher up the ridgeline. He dropped his hands to the ground and again transformed into the sleek wolf. The wolf gave pursuit, tracking the woman, searching for the boundary set in place by the hunt. He knew if this crazy woman found the pack’s ceremonial grounds the power she found would eat her alive.

I hope you were intrigued and don't forget to hop on over to the other great blogs! 

Peace and Love 

After the bloody murder of her brother, Rei finds herself on the run from the coven that killed him. A powerful Earth witch, Rei searches for a natural well of magic to avenge her brother’s death, even if it costs her life. However, standing between her and her goal is an alluring wolf.

Aidan never took the time or interest to look for his mate, but when the young witch shows up on pack hunting grounds his solitary life is turned upside down. Now, he must find a way to protect his pack and the woman that fate has handed him.

  availabl@

 Amazon    The Nook Store


  

Full Moon Releases (Sept 2017)

It's been too long. Summer burn out and family obligations have pulled me away from the Full Moon New Releases for too long. So, we're back with some great new reads!

Highland Dragon Warrior by Isabel Cooper

Legend claims
When Scotland fell to English rule
The Highland dragons took a vow:
Freedom at any price.
The war may be over, but so long as English magic controls the Highlands, not even a dragon laird can keep his clan safe. What Cathal MacAlasdair needs is a warrior fierce enough to risk everything, yet gifted enough to outwit an enemy more monster than man.
What he needs is Sophia.
Alchemist Sophia Metzger traveled to Loch Arach in search of knowledge. She never dreamed she'd learn to do battle, ride through the stars on the back of a dragon, or catch the eye of a Highland laird. But as her quest turns to sizzling chemistry and inescapable danger, she'll soon discover the thrill of being caught in a dragon's claws...

Released Sept 5th by Sourcebooks

Dark Legacy (Dark Series #31) by Christine Feehan

In a thrilling Carpathian novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan, a woman fights to free herself from the grip of the vampire trying to possess her...
 
In a beautiful compound hidden away from the world, Emeline Sanchez tries to blunt the pain that has wracked her body ever since her terrifying ordeal in the labyrinth beneath the city—when she was forced to exchange blood with an evil master vampire.

Now, it’s his voice that haunts her...that calls to her in the dark...that never lets her rest. And while the children that she helped to free from his clutches struggle to heal, watched over by their Carpathian protectors, Emeline knows one thing: She must sacrifice herself to keep them all from harm...

For her beauty is irresistible to the vampires, her psychic ability like a drug. Whipped into a frenzy, they’ll never stop coming for her. And only the taste of one Carpathian warrior—the rush of his blood—can save her...

Released by Penguin Publishing Group on Sept 5th.

Grave Danger by S.K. Gregory

Sure, she'd summoned a zombie as a teenager, but that was an accident. Only now, as an adult, does the power she's been denying for years finally come in handy, when a fellow citizen of the small town of Stone Marsh asks her to use a spell to bring her straying husband back. Aurelia agrees – and sets a series of uncanny events in motion, a chain reaction that leads to self-discovery, danger, and truly supernatural romance..

With the help of local sheriff Brody Clarke (the man who's loved her since high school, who would do anything to protect her), and an experienced witch and psychic named Sabine Blyth, Aurelia must learn to master her new abilities as a necromancer, solve the mystery of a string of bizarre deaths that are plaguing her beloved town, and ultimately battle a Shadow Mage – a wizard cursed to live between worlds – who's determined to destroy them all.

Aurelia hasn't a clue how to use her power, and a world of trouble and true love is heading her way. Can she cast a spell that will give her and her sheriff the happy ending she's always wanted?

Coming Sept 15th from Winlock Press

Night's Caress by Mary Hughes

When artist Brie Lark left her vampire ex and her straitjacket of a hometown to breathe free in New York City, she promised herself two things: she’d never go back to Meiers Corner, and no more vampires. The last thing she expected—or wanted—was to be sent back home on an assignment. But her boss at the FBI needs her undercover on a murder case, working with a black-haired, black-eyed giant god of a man who’s her idea of perfection, except for one thing—he’s a vampire.

FBI Special Agent Seb Rikare is an ancient vampire hardened by loss. He’s cut all emotions to protect himself and leads a deliberately steady, almost sterile life. The brash young woman forced to pose as his lover irritates him, with her jangling bracelets and colorful hair. But as much as she irritates him, he finds himself drawn to her lively spirit and he’s tempted to make fantasy a reality.

Coming Sept 25th from Entangled Publishing, LLC

Those are the new paranormal romance releases I've rounded up for this month. As always if you know of a great new paranormal romance coming out let me know! 

Peace and Love!

Genre Confusion

Romance, erotica and erotic romance. Touchy subject, but let's be clear: One is not the other and each have their places and I don't feel anyone should be judged for reading any of it. Read whatever you want! It's a free country and no one should judge you on your reading habits.

Anyways, onward...

Over the last few years I've had people tell me all romance is just porn. For those folks, romance is a story about emotions and building a relationship between character. If the story focuses on the relationship more than the sex, it's romance, graphic scenes or not. I've had people say the romance of today is just fluffy erotica or, yep, porn. Again, romance is about emotions and relationships. Deal with it. You don't have to read it if you don't want to, but at least understand it before trying to talk about it. 

Now, on to erotica. Erotica is a story that is meant to arouse the reader. It puts them in a sexy fantasy style of story. There is nothing wrong with reading erotica, but if it isn't your cup of tea it's just not for you. I have found some erotica stories that were really well written. They took the reader into the fantasy and euphoric bless was achieved. With that said, at least learn the difference between the genres.

Finally, erotic romance. This is an odd ball in my post. Erotic romance is defined differently by different readers, authors, publishers and whoever else may feel like defining it. Some people will say it's just really steamy romance. That could work for a nice definition. So could the definition that it's a story that focuses on emotions, the relationship and graphic sex helps that relationship move along. I've read books that do this. Some of them good some of them not so much. Personally, it depends on the author's ability and style. 

These are blurry times we live in. A genre could prove to sell really well and you have authors that rush to take advantage of that genre. This leads to some great books and some crappy books. However, no matter how popular a genre becomes that does not, REPEAT, does not change the genre. Learn the differences before jumping into a conversation, because a romance author may not enjoy hearing romance novels being called erotica. And an erotica author may not enjoy the ranting a raving of a reviewer who grabbed up their book expecting a Happily Ever After.

Peace and love! 


PS: Just Beyond Daybreak, my steamy witchy romance novella, is now available on Amazon!

Cover Reveal Just Beyond Daybreak

Here it is! 

Just Beyond Daybreak

When the source of her family’s magical energy and life force is stolen, Meredith Blackburn is left with little choice, but to search out the best magical tracker she knows. Unfortunately Malcolm Blackwood is more than just a tracker, he is also a man who captivates Meredith’s thoughts.

She strolled into Malcolm’s life with a job that he didn’t want, but instantly he regretted turning her away. Now, with his own family relics in danger, Malcolm finds himself unable to leave Meredith behind.

Can they save the Blackburn bloodline? Or will family ties tear them apart?



Check out a teaser here!
Now Available for Pre-Order on Amazon!

Peace and Love

Just Beyond Daybreak Teaser

As promised, here is a tease from my up coming novella, Just Beyond Daybreak. The story starts with Meredith, the leading lady, searching through Magic Town.

Magic Town was a dingy maze of alleyways tucked away in a section of Atlanta that never made it to the travel guides. It was crawling with some of the lowest members of society and if a person had to be honest it also had quite a few members of high society slinking around from time to time. It was a place that Meredith Blackburn despised venturing into. After four nights of searching questionable bars and occult shops, the young witch found herself standing in front of a small Chinese shop called Heavenly Herbs. Flexing her fingers, she could feel the flow of magic in her veins cycling painfully slow and it only reminded her how important it was for her to find the man she was looking for.

Meredith despised the man just as much as the area she knew she would find him in. Malcolm Blackwood was one of those high-society brats who had slunk down to Magic Town after displeasing his family. At least Meredith liked to think that he slunk, but entered with a cocky stride would fit his character more. Malcolm had been the second-son playboy that every family dreaded, but for some reason he held a type of charm that made everyone want to be near him. For all her detest of the man, Meredith was no different. Just like every other woman, she’d been drawn to him too.

But the Blackburns and the Blackwoods had been at each other’s throats for more than a millennium. It was family bickering left over from their roots in the old country, and that left little room for feelings besides distrust. So Meredith ignored the attraction and focused on the man’s arrogant attitude.

Nonetheless, he was one of the best magical trackers on the East Coast, and that was what she needed.

That's your tease! Hope it caught your interest. Stop back by tomorrow for the full cover reveal and to find out the winner of the giveaway!

Peace and Love

Cover Reveal Giveaway!

Just Beyond Daybreak is set to come out August 15, 2017!

And we're running a giveaway to celebrate the lead up to the cover reveal this Friday!

For a chance to win a velvet choker and turtle pendant just follow the instructions below!

Peace and Love!