Bewitching Blog Tours: The Progeny - Ashlynne Laynne

The Progeny

by Ashlynne Laynne

Book One of The Progeny Series

Publisher: Novel Concept Publishing

Release Date: February 15, 2012

Genre: Paranormal Romance

“No fate other than the one I choose.” The timeless creed, and tattoo, bore by the Rousseau’s— a vampire clan with the purest bloodline of any vampire family. Out of this clandestine group came one who was different, yet the same: Ascher - a half-bloodling— half- human, half vampire.

Ascher questions the purpose for his existence and which world he truly belongs to: the human world or the vampire world. Two months from sealing to Ursula— a prearranged union to a woman he abhors — he’s at his wit’s end. He knows if he calls off the sealing, the Romanian clan will strike with deadly force, but he cannot see eternity with a cold empty shell of a woman like Ursula.

Just when he thought life was complicated enough, he meets Shauna— a beautiful, bi-racial human Wiccan — and immediately develops an unshakable attraction to her. She makes him feel alive and vital despite his origins and Ascher makes a decision that turns his immortal world upside down.

********
TEASER
********

“You’re hurting. That’s the thing about having a heart. It breaks and yearns for things.”

His eyes caught hers, love pouring from them, stunning her with their sincerity. “What does your heart yearn for, Ascher?”

He didn’t answer her.

He only held her tighter, his hands gripping her with the need to protect her from harm. She brought the warrior out of him, that fierceness he’d witnessed in his brothers but never thought he’d possess. His hold now mimicked his desire to shield her, shelter her, but mostly the overwhelming need to possess her, completely. “You’ve never been more wrong, about anything, in your life,” he murmured, his eyes sweeping hers. “This is exactly where you belong. With me, my brothers, people who care about you. I can’t tell you I know how it will all turn out, but I will tell you this. I’ll be there for you as little or as much as you need me to be. And if you want to talk about Katy, or anything else, all you have to do is talk. I’m always listening.”

Possessive arms pulled her to him, his lips aching, hungering for the touch of hers. This was what his heart yearned for. His eyes scorched her, smoldering their intentions into her. Her eyes froze, pupils fixed on his pale glare. He guided her back towards the bed, her feet stepping with his, their hearts beating eerily in sync.

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At its core, The Progeny is simply a story about a man and woman who fall in love, and the fact that he’s a half-blood (half-human, half vampire) and she’s a Wiccan human are secondary factors. It started as research about the Salem witch trials, some rough sketches of a special family heirloom that my guys would wear and two names—Ascher and Shauna. In the beginning, of the book, Ascher is grumpy. Frankly, who could blame him? He’s engaged to seal to Ursula—a cold and careless vampire who wants nothing more than to get her hands on a bloodstone— and he feels conflicted about his existence.

 All of that changes when he meets Shawnette McCutchin. She’s beautiful, intriguing and possesses some of the most potent blood that he’s ever smelled. A war immediately begins inside Ascher. He craves Shauna’s blood just as much as he craves her body and the closer they get, the harder it is for him to control his urges. After Ascher calls off the sealing to Ursula, the trouble begins. His family’s peaceful period ends when Ursula’s army attacks the Rousseaus. Kidnapping, some steamy love scenes between our hero and heroine and Wiccan rage complete the plot. 

About Ashlynne:

Ashlynne Laynne has always had a soft spot in her heart for vampires but grew tired of the garlic fearing, sun loathing creatures of old. An avid horror movie fan, she tends to enjoy media and music that is of a younger, more eclectic nature. This was the catalyst for her writing The Progeny. The vampire/witch pairing is unique and different when most books pair vampires with werewolves.

The infinite possibilities, for such a wickedly unique couple, intrigued her. There is no shortage of romance, steam and surprises in The Progeny. These books are for adults and contain adult sensuality and themes, but minimal profanity. She loves writing on the edge and teetering between the erotica and romance genres. She thinks of Ascher and Shauna as the damned version of Romeo and Juliet.

She’s currently working on book two of the series entitled Blood Bonds. In her spare time, Ashlynne enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. Ashlynne juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write full time one day soon.

Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.

Ashlynne appreciates and loves to hear from her readers.

Connect with her online at:

Twitter: @qlane

Facebook: Book Page-

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Progeny-Series-by-author-Ashlynne-Laynne/129418917161599   

Author Page-

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ashlynne-Laynne/118945981513261

Author Blog: http://ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com

Email: ashlynnelaynne@aol.com 

Enchanted Book Tours: Fezariu's Epiphany - David M. Brown - Guestpost

Title: Fezariu’s Epiphany

Author: David M. Brown

Genre: Epic Fantasy 

12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.

Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.

*~*~*~*~*

Any Seats Free At The Writer’s Banquet? 

by David M. Brown

Nervously entering the large dining hall, a large tray with glasses of wine and champagne rattling on the surface and clutched tightly in my hands, I glance around anxiously for the guests who are without a drink. I draw disapproving stares from Machiavelli and Marx, Pepys jots something in his diary, Plato and Aristotle are arguing with Socrates looking on rolling his eyes, Tolkien and Lewis are smoking pipes and sipping coffee, Hemingway and Joyce are talking Robert Jordan and Leopold Bloom, Austen is humbly accepting praise from the Bronte sisters and Tolstoy wants to talk crime with Dostoyevsky but Chekhov is adamant they should cover punishment. It’s an intimidating hall is this, among the literary greats, some writers of fiction, others plays and philosophers. I’m not worthy of sitting with them, only serving them rich delicacies, fine wine and sparkling champagne. As my tray slowly empties, Descartes and Hobbes have most of the dining hall scratching their heads, while Shakespeare commands the eyes and ears of whatever table he sits at. He has time for everyone. With my tray empty, I make a hasty exit, feeling maladjusted among such talent.

There are many forms of greatness when it comes to writing but in the modern age there seems to be something of a split. There are so many genres out there it’s hard to keep track of everything. Many writers find they can acclimatise to more than one field but others prefer to stay in their comfort zone and I include myself in that camp. You’ll find me in the sci-fi/fantasy section though with my novels, collectively known as the Elencheran Chronicles, I am trying to do something different with fantasy. I don’t want to be a poor pretender to Tolkien or Pratchett’s thrones, I want to be unique and offer a fictitious world where the characters seem as real as people in our own world, their lives, their struggles, their relationships all being akin to experiences we too have had in our own lives but being from another world there is still a conscious gulf between us.

I would argue today that being considered a writer of the finest novels doesn’t necessarily mean you will become a multi-millionaire and vice versa. I’m ashamed to say that I hear an author has won the Nobel Prize for Literature and I find myself scratching my head wondering who they are. This doesn’t apply to everyone of course such as Hemingway, Golding and Marquez, writers whose books I enjoy that have all claimed literature’s own version of the Oscar though this one is far more elusive. Writing shouldn’t be about prizes and making money, of course, but when it comes to recognition I used to debate about which I would prefer – the multi-millionaire status of selling many copies of my books or modest sales with the welcome consolation of being considered one of the greatest writers, worthy of a place in that dining hall with the other greats.

I’ll be honest with you. When I first started writing I had dreams of selling millions of books, topping the bestsellers lists and having a very comfortable life. Call it the futile dreams of youth but today those things don’t matter to me. I would quite happily earn just enough money to pay my bills, perhaps with a little leftover, but if I could have that guarantee and the luxury of writing full-time I’d bite your hand off. My aim is to be a good writer, always striving for perfection, making each book better than the last one and never being content with reaching a certain standard and playing it safe with every future title I decide to write. I’d rather take risks with novels, keep trying to do different things and with Elenchera I believe I can do that. The fantasy world is secondary to the characters that inhabit it, these are their stories and they want your focus not on the world that surrounds them but purely on them.

I have one novel published, Fezariu’s Epiphany, and another coming this year, A World Apart. Are they enough for me to have a seat in that dining hall? Certainly not. I’ll need to keep improving for a good while before I can even comprehend dining with the greats. Instead, I’ll be serving the drinks and meals, watching and learning from the masters. What I will say is to save a seat for me though because I’ll keep working hard to improve. It may be that that seat is never filled which will please Orwell and Huxley but for now keep it free because you never know what the future might bring.

*~*~*~*

Bio 

David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Honors in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.

Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and the in-progress A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month traveling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.

The Elencheran Chronicles

http://elenchera.com

The World According to Dave

http://blog.elenchera.com

Twitter 

http://twitter.com/elenchera

Facebook: 

http://www.facebook.com/fezariu

Goodreads: 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11451305-fezariu-s-epiphany (book page) 

Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Fezarius-Epiphany-Elencheran-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00515BM9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327742120&sr=8-1

B&N: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fezarius-epiphany-david-brown/1102095604?ean=9781456500597&itm=1&usri=fezarius+epiphany

Book Depository: 

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Fezarius-Epiphany-David-Brown/9781447718772

IndieBound: 

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781456500597?aff=elenchera

Spotlight on The Memory of Roses - Blair McDowell

When renowned archaeologist Ian McQuaid dies, he leaves his daughter, Brit, a villa on the Greek island of Corfu. The only thing Ian asks is that Brit deliver a package to a woman he once loved there. The problem is Brit knew nothing about either the villa or the love affair. She thought her parents had been happily married all these years.

After a disastrous love affair of her own, Brit finally admits to herself that she's desperately unhappy. At thirty two and left with more questions about her life than answers, Brit has a dawning sense that to live her own life free of shadows, she must trace the path of her father's past. 
Brit's journey takes her from San Francisco to Athens, to the villa on Corfu, and finally to Venice, where she discovers a truth long hidden that holds the power to destroy lives. During the course of her odyssey Brit meets Andreas Leandros, a young Greek archaeologist, and while uncovering the secrets of her father's past, she discovers her own future.

Blair McDowell wrote her first short story when she was eleven and hasn’t stopped writing

since. After many years producing non-fiction professional books in her field, Blair decided to

exercise her rich imagination and write novels of mystery and romance set in places she knows and loves, peopled with characters drawn from her experiences in those locales.

One of her favorite places in the world is Greece, the setting for ‘The Memory of Roses’, Blair McDowell’s latest novel. While in Greece Blair was inspired by the ancient culture, friendly people and the picturesque settings, and the plot for the ‘Memory of Roses’ was born.

Blair has a home on a remote island in the Caribbean where the local lore of the ‘Jumbie’ (‘the dead who walk’) formed the basis for her novel ‘Delighting In Your Company’.

The setting for Blair McDowell’s book, ‘Sonata’, is the spectacular city of Vancouver with its

vibrant multicultural population and its rich musical life. In ‘Sonata’, Blair McDowell’s love of

music comes into play, and is intricately woven into this story of mystery and romance.

Blair is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America (Greater

Vancouver Chapter), and the Romance Writers of America (Women's Fiction).

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Sizzling PR: Claiming Their Cat - Maggie O'Malley - Interview

Cat Watson managed to escape from the powerful drug lord Alvarez and right into the hands of the notorious killer—Rabid Rio. Rio promises to protect her and her baby if she becomes his mistress. With no money, what choice did she have?

Rio Wolff has found his mate, and she’s carrying another man’s child, not that it makes a difference to a werewolf. Cat’s running from the bastard, and only he can save her. It would help if she’d stop trying to run away every time he turns his back.

Creed Wolff gazes at the beauty standing in his kitchen and wonders why Rio has broken the rule never to bring a female home. She’s Creed’s mate so he can forgive his brother. Now he needs to replace Rio’s scent with his.

Cat can’t believe she lets both brothers pleasure her. Finally, she’s found a place where she feels safe, protected, and loved. But her world crashes when she finds out they have sold her to Alvarez.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Ménage (m/f/m), anal play/intercourse, sex with toys, and spanking.

And be sure to check out my review of this book HERE

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Hi Maggie!  Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me today!

I just finished your book, Claiming Their Cat, and I was impressed!  It has a kind of gritty sensual feel to it that I really enjoyed.  What can you tell us about this book that isn’t part of the synopsis? 

                Hi Liz. Thanks for hosting me today.  This book is about 1 woman and 2 brothers. It’s about making difficult choices, learning to trust, and betrayal. Oh yeah, it has hot sex.

I really loved Rio.  He had so many layers, and he was full of surprises.  Sure, he was a mercenary with a brick wall for a body, but his heart was even bigger.  So who could play him in a movie? 

Hugh Jackman would work. I bet everyone thought I’d say Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black,) but he’s a little too young for my tastes. Jason Statham has a great bod. Chris Hemsworth from Thor. Maybe Ryan Renolds. Hum, I think I’d pick Hugh for Rio and Chris for Creed (drooling.)

  

In Claiming Their Cat, we get a glimpse of how Cat became the object of Alvarez’s attention.  And then Brody is born, and there is some speculation on his future (trying to be a bit vague here to not ruin the surprise for the readers!).  Do you see a sequel or a prequel in the future for this book?

 That depends on if Brody starts talking to me. I’ve honestly never planned to write a particular story. I wake up and bam! It’s on my brain with the hero and heroine telling me what I’m supposed to write.

This book has both werewolves and vampires, do you have a favorite breed of paranormal?

 I’m a werewolf fanatic because I love wolves. They are beautiful creatures that move with grace and purpose. They’re strong and powerful. Now don’t get me wrong; vampires can be all that too, but I’m just attracted to wolves. To me, it’s easier to write werewolves instead of vampires because of that whole sleep when the sun sets thing.

How do you go about writing a book?  Like, do you construct an outline, or do the words just come out?  Something else entirely?

                 I dream the first chapter with my characters and how they meet. Most of the time I don’t even know who the bad guy is. I have no plan; I just write what the characters tell me to, which is a good thing, because when I have all the answers, it’s not fun anymore. The puzzle is solved, and other characters are invading my sleep.

  

Are you working on any other projects, what can we expect from you for 2012?

 This year, I plan to publish Taming Raven from my Kitty DuCane pen name. Then I’m starting a new series about 7 brothers who are werewolf/hybrids—the best of both worlds and no sleeping restrictions. The characters for the first two books are already talking to me.

Ok, some quick fire questions…

Day or night? Day.

Do you like candy, and what kind? Chocolate and more chocolate with chocolate on top.

Favorite season? 

Summer because I love the lake.

Favorite book genre? 

Erotic Paranormal.

Favorite movie? 

The Mummy with Brendon Fraser and Rachel Weisz.

Thank you so much, Maggie, for taking the time today.  I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from you in the future!

Sizzling PR: Claiming Their Cat - Maggie O'Malley - Review

Claiming Their Cat

Maggie O'Malley

From Goodreads:

Cat Watson managed to escape from the powerful drug lord Alvarez and right into the hands of the notorious killer—Rabid Rio. Rio promises to protect her and her baby if she becomes his mistress. With no money, what choice did she have? Then Rio's brother, Creed, shows up and vows his protection too. She finally feels safe, that she belongs only to discover they’ve betrayed her.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Ménage (m/f/m), anal play/intercourse, sex with toys, and spanking.

And also be sure to check out my interview with author Maggie O'Malley HERE

*****Review*****

Wow, what an interesting twist on …everything!  Rio is werewolf.  A hot, built, sexy, lethal mercenary werewolf.  He’s a loner, in a big huge way.  There are plenty of stories about Rio and the kills he’s done for money.  Rio is someone to be reckoned with.  You don’t mess with Rio.  So when he is in his friend’s diner having a cup of coffee, and obviously an obviously distressed woman named Cat comes in, he takes notice.  And when some goons who work for drug lord Alvarez come in looking for her, he takes bigger notice.  Oh, and let’s not forget she is pregnant, and no one really knows exactly whose baby it is!

“An eighteen wheeler skidded to a stop outside the diner, and a small woman threw herself from the cab, surely she wasn’t the cause of his uneasiness.  Anything was possible since women were nothing but a pain in the ass.”

Haha!  What a quote!!  But that sums up Rio.  So he was the last person you’d expect to fall for a woman.  But fall he did.  He rescues Cat, even if she is too stubborn and untrusting to see it.   She tries to escape, multiple times.  And ahem, that’s not the only thing she does multiple times.

This was a really good story.  You have a lot of factors during it that really grab your interest.  There is the slimy drug lord Alvarez, who is trying to get Cat back.  You have Rio who realizes Cat is his mate, so he is fiercely protective of her – except he’s yet to tell her that!  Then in walks Creed, sexy fine brother of Rio, who happens to be a military sniper.  He realizes Cat is his mate too. 

What?!!?  Two werewolves find a mate in the same woman??  Yep!!  That’s what I said.  What a big twist on a werewolf story.  Maggie O’Malley did a fine job of illustrating how it would work too.  And this is where I would insert my big wink so you know I mean there is definitely more than what I can tell you in this review.  There is some kink in nearly every intimate scene in this book.  The developing relationship between the three of these people definitely warrants the Publishers warning.  However, if you dig some major heat in your romance, then this will definitely spark your fire!

So what else is in this book?  Well, there is a seer, and she is always right.  Oh, and vampires.  Vampires that are freakishly awesome!!  Mainly, his name is Draco.  Draco is bad ass!  He can do all kinds of mind trickery and other magical things that you don’t see too often in vampire stories.  I just loved him.  He is suave and cool, and I totally hope he gets a book of his own someday!

I think the author did a really good job with this story, and I’d definitely recommend it.  There were a few things that bothered me – like Cat’s stubbornness to see what an awesome position she landed in.  But that was her personality, and I guess you aren’t supposed to get mad at a fictional character because you don’t agree with their decisions.  Because we never do that, right??  Heheh.  Overall I really enjoyed all of the characters.  They were written very well and you felt their emotions and their struggles were your own.  The story had an urgency to it, and you knew the clock was ticking.  It was an exciting and interesting read, and I think you should give it a chance!

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Aladdin's Samovar - Lauren Sweet - Excerpt/Giveaway

Aladdin's Samovar

By Lauren Sweet

A nice, normal, boring life—that’s all Amber Polaski ever wanted. One where she’s not unchaining her flaky New Age mom from endangered trees, bailing her out of jail, or getting dragged to naked pagan rituals. But when Amber finds a sexy genie in her antique brass samovar, any hope of normal goes up in smoke.

It’s just one tiny little wish—to find her long-lost father. What could go wrong?

Plenty. Dad shows up, all right—with a computer drive full of stolen data and angry mobsters hot on his trail. Now Amber has Fugitive Dad holed up in her Manville, NJ duplex, fending off the Mafia on one side and the FBI on the other. And she has Jasper the genie lounging in her blue plush recliner, conjuring chocolate chip cookies and passing himself off as her boyfriend. While Jasper is trying to tempt Amber with more disastrous wishes—and his seriously hot thousand-year-old body—Amber and her mom are forced to fight off Mafia assassins with nothing but chutzpah and household appliances.

It’s time for Amber to call in the B-team: Iggy the homeless dwarf, Tim the ecoterrorist, and Wanda the Fairy Dogmother with her pack of Happy Puppies. Together, they need to save Dad before the Mob makes him disappear again—permanently!

*~*~*~*

Excerpt

When Amber came to, she was lying on the couch. Not tied up, not naked, not dead. All good signs. She opened one eye a tiny crack. The crazy genie man was sitting in her recliner, feet up, reading the newspaper. She closed the eye. Now what?

“I know you’re awake,” he said. The newspaper rattled.

Amber cracked her eye open again and watched his triceps ripple as he turned a page. Yowsah. Too bad the best-looking guy she’d met in, well, forever, happened to be an insane home invader. At least he hadn’t put her through the wood chipper. Yet.

“You’re faaaakinng,” the man singsonged softly.

Okay, that was creepy. And obnoxious. Amber rubbed the back of her neck, which was still tingling. “What was that?” she asked. “Taser? Vulcan death grip?”

“I told you,” he said. “I have magic powers.”

Sure you do, buddy. She started to sit up and a wave of dizziness passed over her. She lay back down.

He lowered the newspaper and gazed at her. “Can I get you something?” he asked politely. “A glass of water?”

“I think I need a beer,” she said.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I don’t have anything stronger.”

He righted the recliner and went into the kitchen. Amber sat up—carefully—and gauged the distance to the patio door. Could she make it?

Too late. The man returned with two bottles, already open. He handed one to her, and then sat back down in the recliner, looking much more comfy than he had any right to. He took a swig of beer and made a face. “You must buy the cheapest beer in the universe.”

Ungrateful lout. “If you wanted expensive beer, you should have broken into somebody else’s house.”

“I didn’t break in, o gracious one,” he said. “You summoned me.”

“Stop calling me that,” she said. “And I certainly did not ‘summon’ you.”

“Did so.”

“Didn’t.”

“Did.”

“What are you, five years old?” Amber snapped.

He grinned at her, then passed his hand over his beer bottle. Amber heard it fizzing. The man-who-was-not-a-genie took another sip and looked much more satisfied.

Amber frowned. “What did you do to your beer?”

“Improved it,” he said.

 Amber stalked over to him and took the bottle out of his hand. At least if she drank his, she’d know it wasn’t drugged. She took a sip and choked, almost spraying the crazy man with her mouthful of beer. She checked the bottle. The label was her brand. The beer was not. It was rich, mellow, and expensive. Imported.

“Where did you get this? Not in my fridge.”

He raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Magic powers,” he said. “Believe me now?”

“No.” She handed back her own bottle of cheap domestic and returned to the couch.

The not-genie looked affronted. “Hey! You took my beer.”

“It’s my beer,” Amber informed him. “My house, my recliner, my beer.”

Heaving an exaggerated sigh, the not-genie waved his hand over the second bottle. It fizzed. Amber got up, went over, and tasted this one. Not the cheap beer she’d handed him.

Holy cannoli. Amber checked around the chair and behind the end table, looking for the bottles he’d switched out. Nothing. She tasted the beer again, and stared at him. He smirked again. “I’m an all-powerful—”

“Genies don’t exist.”

He spread his arms wide. “And yet here I am, in all my glory.”

“You’re not glorious. You’re delusional.” Not entirely true. He was delusional, but he was also fairly glorious. In a disturbingly hot, I-could-go-postal-and-break-you-in-half-any-second kind of way.

He sighed. “It’s always so tedious getting beyond the shrieking and disbelief,” he said. “You saw me improve your beer. I’m real. Can we move on to the good part?”

Amber refused to give in. The world had rules, and they didn’t include magic. “Any stage magician can do that beer trick,” she said. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

The Necromancer's Apprentice - Naomi Clark

Title: The Necromancer's Apprentice

Author: Naomi Clark

Format: ebook provided by author for review

From Goodreads:

All Evanthe wants is to hone her necromancy skills and gain the affections of her reclusive mentor, Morrow. And just when she thinks he might reciprocate her feelings, a face from his past threatens the life Evanthe is working so hard for. Now she's up against rogue necromancers, smarmy demonologists, and blood-thirsty zombies as she and Morrow fight to protect a secret that could kill them both. Evanthe's a talented necromancer, but that might not be enough to guarantee her a happy ending. 

*~*~*~*~*

I’ve read several books from Naomi Clark.  She definitely flew to the top of my favorites and automatic lists.  And this story, The Necromancer’s Apprentice, is no exception.  Novella in length, but that’s about it.  There is a ton of story within these sixty-something pages!

Evanthe (beautiful and unique name, by the way!) is twenty years old and living with Morrow, who is a mix between guardian, mentor, and the man who sparks her heart.  She’s had a hard life, bumped from foster home to foster home.  Living with Morrow is the first time in her life she’s ever felt at home.  And she and Morrow, well, they practice Necromancy! Necromancy, in case you don’t know, is the art of communicating with the dead.  Creepy, right?  Well, Naomi does such a beautiful job with this story, that even when there are rotting body parts around, you don’t feel creeped out at all.  Or, if you are like me and love a good spooky story, then this is perfect for you!

“He’d taken her in, convinced her there was nothing wrong with her.  The first person that made her feel valued, when all her life people had been determined to make her feel abnormal.”

Morrow is seemingly the strong silent type, wrestling with himself between what he thinks he should do and what he wants to do where Evanthe is concerned.   But she is not a teen anymore, and he has feelings for her.   I was hoping and waiting for him to make a move, to set my anxiety to rest!  I think these two have some real flair, and I would love to see a full length story about them!

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t just about romance.  You are dealing with some heavy duty magic, demonology,  The Hand of Glory,  zombies…. Yep, zombies!!!!!!  Evanthe and Morrow are fighting to save themselves from several onslaughts, and it’s them against the world.  There’s the Guild, and then there’s Natasha – Morrow’s nasty ex!  Oooh, I really don’t like her!!  Oh, and theres zombies…. Yep, zombies!!!!!!!

I have nothing but wild praise for this book, and I can’t wait to read more!  You got some romance, some heroic behavior, a great mystery, and hmmmm, what else?  Oh yeah, zombies!!!!!!!!!!

Let's Stalk Naomi!

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Bewitching Blog Tours: Lawke's Flame - Erosa Knowles - Guest Post/Giveaway

Lawkes Flame

By Erosa Knowles

Can a woman who has been betrayed in the worst way by an ex-spouse learn to trust again? Will she open her heart to a man who seems to be too good to be true, meeting every requirement she has ever wanted or needed in a partner?

Alayna would. But it will take time. Time is the one thing Khayden, Master Lawke, doesn’t have. His enemies are bent on destroying his people and harming Earth in the process.

The only way to save both is for his Kee, Alayna, to unlock him, freeing his powers and unbeknownst to her, her own. But first she has to believe that there’s more to her current lover than she sees. It will take a leap of faith to accept his pursuit and engage her battered heart again. The attacks are speeding up, with an alarming amount of casualties. Despite the fierce attraction, Alayna isn’t sure she’s strong enough to lay bare her heart again, so soon. Khayden is betting his life that she is strong enough to do that and to handle his flame.

A Lesson in Submission

By: Erosa Knowles

Khayden, Master Lawke didn’t need anyone. He ruled his people with an iron fist. Standing over six feet, with wide shoulders, muscular chest, and long legs he feared no man. Every desire was filled. His people ran to do his bidding. Everything he wanted was within his grasp. Yet his people were dying. Filled with a silent rage, he cursed his destiny. He hated the fact his existence was the catalyst draining his people’s energy.  After centuries of waiting, and fruitless searching he’d lost all hope. Just as he decides there is no Kee to unlock his powers and save his people, she walks down the cobblestoned streets of his domain.

The answer is clothed in human flesh. Something as alien to him as he is to her.  The idea that his salvation and that of his people, is encased in someone who lacks the gelatal membrane beneath the skin, critical for the unlocking, slams him to the brink of madness. After railing against his fate, he comes to one undeniable conclusion.

Left without a choice, the Master must submit.  It’s not easy, but it is necessary. For such a Alpha male the idea of submission initially leaves an acrid taste on his tongue.

He submits to the hand of his Kee, the only being alive who can handle his fire, his blue flame.  By handling his flame she stokes his inner fire to a fevered pitch, he learns submission has its own rewards.

He submits to her mindset, especially when it becomes evident her strength complements his. Together they co-rule his people, making everyone stronger, better. With her standing next to him, he learns the true strength of submission; it takes a strong man to truly share his power.

He submits his heart to her as he realizes without her his life lacks focus and joy. He is humbled further when she gives him not only her heart but her very being. He learns the choice of submission offers the best of all worlds, two hearts beating as one. Not because they have to, but because they want to. No one can force a Kee into a Lawke.

Erosa is giving away 4 ebook copies Lawked Flame and 2 print copies Lawked Flame tour wide!!

Ebook copies open to international winners, print copies open to US Shipping- total of 6 winners tour wide

 Originally from Miami Florida, Ms. Knowles now resides in North Carolina with her husband and teen-aged son. Two older children are married and live in North Carolina as well. An avid reader since college, Ms. Knowles is one of those people who keeps her books as old friends and has re-read all of them at least once. Many have been read more often. Writing stories, creating worlds and characters fuels my imagination is both physically relaxing and mentally invigorating. Although life got in the way and she had to postpone her writing, it is the one career she always craved. As a full time writer, her days are just as full, except now she is doing what she loves. Reading exciting stories from talented authors from various genres and writing the stories that tickle her imagination

Please note that this Rafflecopter giveaway is tour wide.  Winner will not be announced or notified by Fictional Candy, and Fictional Candy is not responsible for any prizes offered. 

Marooned In Miami - Sandra Bunino - Review/Excerpt/Giveaway

Title: Marooned in Miami
Author: Sandra Bunino

Format: Ebook provided by author for review

From Goodreads:
Undeniable lust and a fierce Miami storm bring sexy strangers together at The Hotel Del Santos for a passion filled night.

Stephanie, still reeling from a failed marriage, needs a break from the past. She decides to take her friends’ advice and finds a perfect stranger for a night of no-strings-attached, smoking hot sex.

Jason, a wealthy Seattle builder has the worst luck with love. Swearing he would never allow another woman to get under his skin, Jason decides a life of casual sex is just fine with him. While watching Stephanie’s sexy stilettos click across the lobby floor he zeros in on his next conquest.

Cut off from the outside world, the lives of these two strangers collide and burn with desire when stranded in the perfect storm. Both are content with the idea of sharing a glorious one-night stand together, that is, until they go their separate ways.

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Ok, I first learned of this book while I was hopping during a hop. After I spent about an hour drooling over the cover (you know it is hot), I read the synopsis and I really hoped I’d win a copy!! Well, I didn’t!!! LOL. But luckily for me,  Sandra and I were able to talk, and here I am in the lucky spot of getting to read and review! Woohoo!!

The basics - Jason is a wealthy man, and he is in Miami at The Hotel Del Santos after finding his girlfriend in a very compromising position. The girlfriends in his past have all been the same – gold diggers. You can't really blame him for being a bit jaded when you are constantly thought of as a walking wallet. But then he sees Stephanie. Zap!  Instantly he wants to talk to her, to know her, to... you know!

Jason follows her onto the elevator, which is not always the wisest place to be in a horrible Miami storm!

I really  loved Jason as a character. He is clever and charming, just the sort of guy who you think knows his way around a woman. But whats so wonderful about him is that he is also sincere and caring. That pretty much makes him near perfect, right? He takes matters into his own hands, and is determined.  Those are all terribly sexy traits!

The chemistry between Stephanie and Jason is electric, white hot, and sensual. This story definitely delivers on all counts of romance and erotica, while not being overly graphic in the sex scenes. Even without the graphic content you catch yourself holding your breath as you read. It definitely had enough steam and sensuality to make it interesting!

And then their one night stand is over and you want more! They both have to leave town, but will they hook up? I was hoping and wishing!!  And I am totally not telling you! Haha!  I love this couple and I can’t wait til Lusted In Las Vegas is released, because trust me – it looks like it will definitely live up to the title and its legacy!

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Guess what! There's more!  Sandra Bunino is offering up an excerpt of this tasty book and a copy to one winner!  How awesome is that??  So read the excerpt, then cool off for a moment, fill out the Rafflecopter and leave a comment! 

Thank you Sandra, for offering up this awesome prize! 

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Startled by an angry crack of thunder, she saw a flash of lightning through the lobby’s floor to ceiling glass window. The chandeliers all flickered in unison as the elevator doors opened. She swore under her breath, looked down at her three-inch heels and considered walking up the six flights of stairs to her room.

“Hey, is it okay to take the elevator in this storm?” she called to the front desk clerk who nodded and gave her a small wave.

A night stuck in the elevator was not in her plan. She debated for a moment about walking up barefoot when she heard a low voice to her right.

“How about we chance it together?”

She spun around to see the source of those words that washed over her like a slow moving current. Stephanie’s breath caught when she turned toward the source of the silky voice. His eyebrows raised and waited for an answer to his question. His lips curled to showcase his straight white teeth. He appeared out of nowhere; surely she would have noticed him in the lobby. A day’s growth of dark stubble covered his chiseled cheekbones below dangerous blue eyes. Stephanie’s heart raced, while she imagined her fingers combing through his dark wavyhair. Stop it, she thought as she shook her head slightly and hoped the action would rid her mind of these visions. One side of her said kick off those heels and walk up all of those damn flights of stairs, but the other told her to take him up on the offer. It was as if an angel and a devil sat on her shoulders. The devil was winning. The front desk didn’t foresee an issue with the elevator so why should she?

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed, careful not to give him any indication of the attraction she felt, even though his dark hair and tanned complexion made her insides turn to mush. There was something about his presence that made her feel sexy. She couldn’t make sense of the feeling. Heat coursed through her veins and straight down to her core. How could a stranger have that effect on her? I’ve got to start dating. I’m turning into a horny mess. She stepped inside the elevator and pushed the button for the sixth floor. The man followed closely behind, slid his key into the PH slot at the top and pushed the button.

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Sandra's next release is due out in May is entitled SARA'S SMILE. 

Have you ever wondered what happened to your first love? Sara has her dream job at a top architecture firm, a swanky New York City apartment and the interest of a sexy builder she just hired for her new project. However, her idyllic world comes to a screeching halt when her first love and the man who has been invading her dreams, Will, turns up where she least expects him.

From the innocence of young love found on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the rekindling of love’s passion in New York City and Santa Monica, SARA’S SMILE will leave you breathless for more.

Then LUSTED IN LAS VEGAS will release sometime during Summer 2012!!

Stephanie and Jason’s sexy tryst continues in Sin City! Their chemistry is undeniable and lust is taking a turn toward love when they return to each others arms. However, all is not perfect in paradise when Jason’s ex comes to town.