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Wednesday Snippet - She smelt smoke and heard sizzling

4/26/2017

So! I got the first round edits for BLOOD OF ANGELS yesterday evening, and it's an Editor's Pick! I haven't had a chance to work on them yet (probably the fact that our house is currently a building site is distracting me), but I thought to celebrate the story getting that Editor's Pick badge, I'd share a teaser with you today. Hope you like it!

By sunset the storm clouds had gathered, billowing overhead in a bloody blaze of red and black. The heat was suffocating and the wind blew hot and wet through the house. Thea curled up on the faded chaise-lounge in the parlor and watched the storm prepare to break. Cracked Sky was the name of the county Milton nestled in, after the storms that raged in the summer months generation after generation. Cracked Sky County, where thunder and lightning was as common as birdsong. Thea loved a good storm. The drama, the intensity…there was something invigorating and cleansing about it.
            But when midnight came, the storm still hadn’t broken. Disappointed, Thea went to bed. Instinct prodded at her to sleep in the guest room rather than her own and, thinking of her dream with trepidation for the first time, she obeyed.
            When she woke up, she was outside.
            She wore just a thin cotton nightdress and the rain had already plastered it to her skin. Soaked and shivering, she hugged herself and stared around the storm-lit garden. She had no memory of coming out here, and no history of sleep-walking, but she felt as eerily composed as she had that morning, waking from her dream. Perhaps that was madness. Perhaps that was how it would manifest in her, not in drinking or suicidal urges, but simply in accepting everything that happened to her without worry.
            Thunder rocked the night, loud enough to make her believe in Zeus and Thor. She gazed up, watching lightning flick and flash through the iron clouds and wondered when the fireball would come. It seemed impossible, now, that it wouldn’t.
            It struck suddenly and brilliantly, illuminating the darkness as if Hell itself had exploded from the shadows. Thea was far enough from the house that she could watch without fear as the white-hot orb crashed into the roof, sending a shower of molten drops cascading down the ivy-ridden walls. She smelt smoke and heard sizzling, but the rain was heavy, so heavy, she knew it would quench the flames before the Old Clayton House burned. Still, her heart raced at the sight of flames spouting from the roof, sparks flying, and the ugly plume of smoke punching up into the storm. Was she scared or excited? She wasn’t sure. They felt about the same; adrenaline pumping, mouth dry, body coiled tight and tense.
            This was it. Something had finally happened.

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Amber's Reading Pile

4/20/2017

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So it's been aaaaaaaaaaaaages since I did one of these posts! Seriously ages. And not because I haven't been reading great stuff; I've just been moving straight from one great book to the next without taking the time to think about them. But there's been a few recently that have really stuck with me, and I think sometimes we're all guilty of raising our voices about shit we hate and not shit we love. So! To remedy that, here's some shit I loved recently.

I just finished Bloodlines yesteday. It's a snarky, fast-paced urban fantasy with a totally unique heroine in vampire assassin Zara, and I adored it. So much so that I didn't know what to read next - I had that kind of book hangover feeling you get when you know the next book will pale in comparison, regardless of what it is. I was already a fan of Skyla Dawn Cameron's Livi Talbot books (which I also highly recommend), so I was pretty sure I'd enjoy Bloodlines, but I really was blown away by how much I loved Zara. She's vain, pragmatic, and brave. Perfect! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Although Yasmine Galenorn's books can be hit-or-miss for me, I always enjoy her world-building. The Fury series is proving to be no exception, with a gorgeously evocative Shadow Run-esque cyber-punk feel, and an intriguing cast of characters. I enjoyed book two, Fury's Magic, a little more than book one, as the bulk of the heavy lifting on the setting had been done and Galenorn was able to simply dive into the plot (which never lets up!) and further flesh out our heroine, Fury, and the unique world she inhabits. Also, I really love the cover art for this series - almost makes me wish I still read paperbacks!

Every Last Mile is a short but fun (and sexy) intro to the sisterhood of the Mutiny Dolls. A friends-to-lovers/second-chance romance, this novella clearly sets the scene for future books starring the Dolls, but don't look past Stella and Jamie! Riley's writing style is engaging and lyrical, and I loved the tight bond between the Dolls.

Shapeshifters? Check. Fantastic heroine who's out of her depth but keeps fighting anyway? Check. Cute dog? Check. The Wild Rites Saga kicks off with a bang with The Jaguar King. This looks to be a series that's going to keep getting deeper and darker, which I love. I've already picked up book 2, and can't wait to see where Emma and her growing motley crew end up next!

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Sex Up Your Sunday with April Zyon!

4/16/2017

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Hopefully you're all curled up with plenty of chocolate today, whether you celebrate Easter or not! But just in case you need something else to keep you busy for the weekend, how about a shapeshifter romance? April Zyon is here to fulfill your needs!

A Mate for The Sheriff

Shifters Match.com book 4
by April Zyon
Published by Evernight Publishing
Cover by Jay Aheer

Jessica Morris has a secret that could get her killed. Hiding in plain sight, pretending to be normal, is all she’s ever known. And even though she’s been lucky so far, she knows that she can’t hide in Shifter Falls forever. Getting involved with the town sheriff is the last thing she needs, but lately it’s all she can think about.

Novak Porter has watched Jessica since the first day she came into town. He suspects that, like everyone else in Shifter Falls, she’s got a skeleton or two in her closet. She’s nervous around him, and for years he’s forced himself to give her time. But when a chance encounter throws them together for more than five minutes, Novak decides he’s tired of waiting. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep her around. Convincing her to work for him is easy, but getting her to believe in happily ever after might be a little more difficult.

Jessica turned to the voice in the darkness. The sexiest voice on the face of the planet. “Sheriff,” she said, her pulse increasing when she turned to look at him.

He looked as if he had been built of stone, and again she wondered just exactly what sort of shifter he was. No one seemed to know, or be willing to share, which was very strange in a town like Shifter Falls. Then again, she didn’t let anyone know what she was, either, so it could just be a privacy thing.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but suddenly all the electronics inside the car went completely dead. The lights, dash, everything. I’m afraid it’s the alternator, since it has a brand-new battery.” She might be a lot of things, but she wasn’t completely stupid. “And I think that Jagger’s cub swiped my cell phone, again, so do you think you could maybe call a tow for me?” She shook her head. “That little guy gets me every single time. I swear he’s taken more cell phones off of me than I can count. Phi is never able to find them, so there’s no telling what he does with them.” She was snickering as she said that. She didn’t know why she was talking so much, but she was.

The sheriff was watching her intently and didn’t seem all that bothered by her random rambling. He merely pulled out his cell and put in a call for a truck. “Mick will come get your car. He said to leave the keys on the passenger front tire since he might be a while. They had to pull a couple cars from a slough after some young twits decided that drag racing with their parents’ cars was a good plan. Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”

She whistled. “Oh boy. I bet there are going to be some kids in serious trouble about right now. Thanks for the offer of the ride.” She grabbed her purse, locked the car, and put the keys on the front passenger tire as she had been instructed. “You’ll probably be going out of your way a bit. I live at twenty-nine Forest Acre Road.” It was a dirt road surrounded by forest and she loved it. Nature called to her, and at least there she didn’t have to worry about nulling any abilities as she typically did when she was near other witches.

“No worries at all. It keeps me out of the station until the parents have finally wound down to a dull roar and the kids have had a few minutes for everything to sink in. Anyhow, I think that an hour’s worth of stewing before I arrive to come up with some interesting charges might help the situation. By then I’ll know if the lawyers have actually been called in or not and can figure out how to play this to keep the kids from doing something worse down the line.” The sheriff held her door for her, then shut it when she settled into her seat. A minute later he was setting out reflective markers behind her car before sliding in behind the wheel to take her toward town and home.

“You are a good man. Too bad you can’t keep a secretary to save your gorgeous ass.” She felt her face turn red from heat when she realized she’d blurted that out. “Crap, ignore me. I don’t know what I’m saying.” She cringed, but then shrugged. Since it was too late to take her candid observation back, she pressed on. “Well, from what I understand, you have gone through thirteen of them inside of three months. That’s outstanding right there.”

He leveled a look on her she couldn’t read. She was only thankful he seemed to ignore her initial comment and it allowed her cheeks to cool. “I have a specific way I expect things to be done. And, I admit, my temper can get the best of me. Everything we do can be called into question inside a courtroom. If even one I isn’t dotted right, or a T was missed being crossed, that is potentially a dangerous offender being allowed out on the street due to clerical error. Unacceptable in my book so, yes, I have some impossibly high standards I expect to be carried out by every man and woman in the department.”

“No, not impossibly high standards. They are perfectly reasonable. The way that everyone made it sound you were seriously a neat freak nut job, but what you’re saying doesn’t sound like that at all.” She understood the importance of perfect record keeping, of ensuring that everything was where it should be at all times. “When the council took me on as their secretary, I had to redo a hell of a lot of stuff because the person before me couldn’t seem to understand that paperwork is filed by number then letter. Idiots.” She smirked and looked over at him. “I guess I have high standards as well. Then again since I’m a witch without abilities, I have to be able to contribute somehow, right? Especially with my mother’s coven proclaiming me to be nothing but a human.” That’s what all of Shifter Falls thought of her, and she was happy to keep it that way. When she’d first started out on her own, she’d wondered if it wouldn’t have been smarter, and safer, to try to hide even the fact that she’d been born into a witch family. Ultimately she’d decided that it was better to stick as close to the truth as possible. So she never tried to hide the fact that she had been born to witch parents. It was unlikely that she would ever run into anyone from her old coven, but on the off chance that she did, she didn’t want to arouse suspicion by being caught in a lie. Besides, being known as a witch without powers—therefore, more or less, human—kept her just as safe as if she’d tried to pass herself off as a normal human.

“I’m glad you understand. Few do,” he muttered. “I think the council foisted their rejects my way for some form of payback. They all loved the idea when the mayor had me run for office and I won by a landslide, but the minute I arrested the first council member and wouldn’t take a bribe, they started to wonder. Told them the same thing I told the mayor when he hired me—I was going to run things my way, and if they found someone that could run against me and get elected that would be the only way they’d get me out of that seat. They haven’t had any luck yet.”

Jess knew it was because the sheriff was respected by every citizen in the Falls as well as the other two cities that made up their exceptionally small county. While not everyone agreed with his methods and strict by-the-book ways, they liked how he’d cleaned up and kept the area protected from a drug problem several years back when he’d first taken the position.

“You cleaned up the area. No one would run against you. You’re too good at your job, so it is what it is.” She shrugged. “You are strict and you can be an ass from what I’ve been told, but then again there are a lot of falsehoods that fly through Shifter Falls, aren’t there?” she asked with a smile.

“True enough. The trick is determining what’s truth and what’s lie in everything that goes around town. It’s amazing what one can discover the moment they find that tiny thread and give it a tug. After all, there’s not a soul in this town that is exactly who they appear to be on the surface once you dig down a little further.”

Other Books in the Series

Book 1 – A Christmas Home – http://www.evernightpublishing.com/a-christmas-home-by-april-zyon/
Shifters-Match.com, 1
Ophelia Lambros thought her life was in order, until she lost her fiance and job all in one day.

She couldn’t return the honeymoon trip she’d been given so she takes the opportunity to find herself on the slopes of Wyoming on the back of a snowmobile.

Jagger Morris was perfectly happy running his repair shop in Shifter Falls, his home for years. As the Kodiak Bear Alpha, he has a lot on his plate. When a new pack asks to join them, Jagger’s hackles rise, but he doesn’t know why.

When he meets his fated mate, Ophelia, she shares a piece of herself that confirms his suspicious nature was spot on. As a seer, she can see death coming their way. Can she make her new mate and his friends understand the risk before time runs out?

Book 2 – The Kodiak’s Mate – http://www.evernightpublishing.com/the-kodiaks-mate-by-april-zyon/
Shifters-Match.com, 2
An ancient evil has come back to Shifter Falls…

Living in a town called Shifter Falls isn’t always easy. Alaska Ceridwen has lusted after Harley Ogden for years, even though she learned the hard way that you can’t trust bears. But when Alaska becomes the target of a dangerous stalker, Harley may be the only one who can save her.

Harley thought that rescuing a terrified, bound woman on the street would be the most excitement he’d see all day. Then he found out she was his mate. Now he’s fighting to hold on to what’s his. He knows that keeping Alaska safe and teaching her to let go of her fears won’t be easy, but for Harley, nothing less than forever will do.

Book 3 – The Jaguar’s Mate – http://www.evernightpublishing.com/the-jaguars-mate-by-april-zyon/
Shifters-Match.com, 3
Quinn Ash is as human as they come. She came to Shifter Falls to hide from the danger. Too bad trouble always has a way of finding her.

Piran Raske works with wood. It makes his Jaguar happy, plus he makes a great living doing it. But he’s lonely and needs more to keep him and his cat satisfied.

Quinn comes into Piran’s life with her shockingly dark secret, and he knows he must protect her. As much as he doesn’t want to, Piran asks his friends for help to keep his mate safe. But is it too late to save the love of his life?

Be Warned: light BDSM

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Sex Up Your Monday with Allyson Young and Lydia Michaels!

4/10/2017

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Yep, it's two authors for the price of one today! Allyson and Lydia are here with FORFEIT, the first in their contemporary romance trilogy. Let's waste no time and dive right in!

Forfeit

(Degrees Of Separation Part One)

The debut novel of a masterfully emotional, high stakes trilogy that will have readers forfeiting tradition to gamble with love…

December and Austin have a traditional, storybook marriage complete with defined roles. Married young, they’ve shared nearly a decade of passion and love. December’s submissive nature is perfectly suited for her husband’s authoritative, yet adoring response and he seamlessly holds the indisputable role as head of the household.

But Austin harbors secrets, and the pressure of losing his job makes those festering skeletons impossible to ignore. Turning to alcohol instead of his wife, Austin finally drives December away and into the arms of their closest friend, Cord, despite her intense loyalty.

Cord has loved December since the day they met. His moral compass is challenged and lines are blurred when Austin steps aside and insists Cord take his place.

Forfeiting all, Austin must face a harsh truth. Take control of his life, or forever lose the woman he loves.

WARNING: This book contains subject matter suitable for mature reading audiences. Some content may be offensive to sensitive readers. Degrees of Separation is a ménage trilogy with many emotionally graphic encounters and challenging situations that break the rules of traditional romance.

Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
iBooks
Kobo

EXCERPT

It was like he no longer saw her, just looked right through her, when she used to be all he could see in the whole world. No matter what she did, he stayed away—alone—wandering through the house at night and sleeping all day. She had pride too, and he’d been chipping away at it, scarring her with deep tattoos of doubt.

Something happened to a woman when her husband no longer touched her. First there were the superficial frustrations of unrequited desire, but then it became something worse. The insecurity, fear, and uncertainty ate away at her insides.

Her self-esteem fractured, perhaps beyond repair. Tiny little shards of self-worth were all she had left. Even if he came to her now, begging and full of apologies, she feared someone might get cut.

This rut seemed to get deeper and darker every day. She was losing sight of the light and worried she’d never see herself out. She needed to feel alive, feel something. She needed to reclaim control and pull herself back to her feet, which was why this job with Cord was imperative.

AUTHOR BIOS:

Lydia Michaels
Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of 30 romance novels. Her novels from the darkly compelling Surrender Trilogy were iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. In 2015 she was the winner of The Best of Bucks Award and she has been nominated as Best Author in the Happenings Magazine two years running [2015 & 2016]. She is a four time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.

Allyson Young
Allyson lives in cottage country, Manitoba, Canada with her husband of many years and numerous pets. She has written for many years and after reading an erotic romance, quite by mistake, decided to try her hand at penning one. A best selling Amazon author, she has now published three series and several stand alones in contemporary, sci fi, fantasy and suspense genres, as well as several novels under a different pen name. Allyson will write until whatever is inside is satisfied, until the heroes man up and the heroines get what they deserves. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.

www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com
www.AllysonYoung.com

Sign Up for Lydia Michaels Newsletter
www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com/newsletter/

Social Links:
https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMichaels
http://www.facebook.com/Allyson.Young.54
@Lydia_Michaels
@AllysonYoung45

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Retro Reading - The Mummy

4/8/2017

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After thoroughly loving my re-read of Help Wanted, I decided my next Point Horror should be one I didn't read as a teenager, so as to view it without those rose-tinted nostalgia goggles. I remember seeing The Mummy in bookshops during my Point Horror years, but I never picked it up. I'm not sure why, because I love Egyptian mythology, so this should have been a must-read for me. Maybe I was already weaning myself off Point Horror by the time this one came out?

Anyway! Our story is simple enough. Egypt-obsessed aspiring archaeologist, Lana, volunteers at her local museum to help run a priceless Egyptian exhibit. As she becomes more and more fascinated with the mummy of the boy-prince, Nefra, creepy things begin happening to and around her. Part of the exhibit is stolen. Someone - or something - is stalking Lana. And they may not be human - or even alive. Through in some dreams that might not be dreams and a too-smart cat, and you've got a recipe for spookiness!

Honestly, I started out thinking I wouldn't like this. The writing felt more juvenile than Help Wanted or The Silent Scream, but I think some of that is down to the nostalgia goggles. Lana came across at first as very young, and her Egypt obsession was painted as kind of childish. As the story develops, she improves, but I could never really get a feel for how old she was supposed to be, and she could have been anywhere between fourteen and eighteen based on her behaviour.

The central mystery - who stole the necklace from the exhibit and who is stalking Lana - is handled well in that there are several suspects who all seem equally likely. Disappointingly, it's another case of "the villain is psychotic!" and I really think there should be a disclaimer in these books somewhere that reads PSYCHOTIC DOES NOT EQUAL DANGEROUS/CRIMINAL. But I liked that the answer wasn't obvious, and that Lana pieces the clues together herself, without any wild last-minute confessions from the bad guys.

The Egyptian elements rely heavily on the motif that Egypt is an exotic, mysterious country where everyone believes in magic and curses, which...I don't know, probably isn't entirely a sensitive presentation. But I think any story written by a non-Egyptian person is probably going to take that route, because it's an idea that's so entrenched in Western society. There are paranormal elements in the story that turn out to be genuine - Lana's cat is the reincarnation of Nefra, and Lana's dreams really are dreams of her past life as an Egyptian princess. I liked that, in the sense that it was cool that it turned out the spooky stuff wasn't all Scooby-Doo style "bad guy in a mask" shenanigans.

There was a heavy emphasis placed on how Lana could so easily pass for an ancient Egyptian without anyone ever addressing what an "ancient Egyptian" looked like. I guess it's entirely possible Lana is a WoC, but mostly it just seems like she wears her hair a certain way (it's not said, but I'm assuming she's gone for the Elizabeth Taylor Cleopatra cut), and everyone says "wow, so Egyptian!" I found that weird, especially as there are two Egyptian characters in the book who are explicitly described as "not white." It irked me that Lana, who is presumably white, is lavished with praise for being so beautifully Egyptian-looking.

What I did like was this:

There's a nasty tendency for certain Westerners to mock the broken English of people who speak it as a second language. I am always going to champion a book that makes the point that - hey, how many languages do you speak? So just going to leave that there.

That aside, this turned out to be a fun read. Hey, it had a magic cat! And I can definitely relate to a heroine who just wants to stay home with her cat.

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Cover Reveal - OWNED BY THE ALPHA

4/5/2017

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Hey guys! You love anthologies, right? And you love shapeshifters, right? (I hope so, because I love writing them!). Well, Evernight has something for you!

Coming to Evernight Publishing April 24th:

OWNED BY THE ALPHA ANTHOLOGIES

The Alpha lives for the hunt...

Driven by instinct, an Alpha shifter recognizes his fated mate from one scent, one touch. He'll pursue his woman, regardless of the cost, and anyone else would be smart to get out of his way. He won't stop until he takes possession of his prize.

Although the hunter doesn't need convincing, his mate certainly does. The Alpha will have to prove himself as a lover and convince his woman that he plays for keeps.

OWNED BY THE ALPHA

Scent of Destiny by Rose Wulf

Taken Mate by Sam Crescent

Finders Keepers by Stacey Espino

The Hunt by Doris O'Connor

Alpha at Altitude by Lily Harlem

Fated to the Razorback Demon by Maia Dylan

Running Home by Michelle Graham

Alpha's Sunshine by Elyzabeth M. VaLey

Checkmate by Wren Michaels

Frozen Heart by Beth D. Carter

Wolf Hunter by Elena Kincaid

Returning to the Coyote by Roberta Winchester

But wait! There's more - there's also an m/m version of the anthology coming too!

OWNED BY THE ALPHA: MANLOVE EDITION

A Tiger's Luck by Maia Dylan

Last Alpha Standing by James Cox

Mooncrest by Jules Dixon

His Guardian Panther by Elena Kincaid

The Scarf by L.J. Longo

A Matter of Trust by Pelaam

Conflict of Interest by L.D. Blakeley

I'd say they both have pretty awesome-looking line-ups! Grab your copy on 24th April - I know I will be!

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April Accountibility

4/2/2017

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So it's April! Following March, as it's wont to do. I got inspired by Leanne Fitzpatrick yesterday and decided to do myself a tarot reading for the month. I also figured it might be a good time to look back at my goals for 2017 and see how I'm getting on. So here we are!

My writerly resolution for this year was to not start any new projects, and just wrap up ones already underway. That gave me the following to-do list under the Naomi Clark projects:

Through Fire (Blood Canticles 3)
Lich Queen (Blood Canticles 3.5)
Mercy's Gate (Southern Gothic urban fantasy book of my heart)
Black Dog (Urban Wolf 6)
Crow Called (Standalone novella)
Flesh and Bone (The Deva Chronicles 2)

Well, LICH QUEEN is now done and dusted, and slated for release in June, and Through Fire is now called Imperial Demons and is sitting pretty at 43k, which feels like the halfway point at the moment. It's definitely going to be longer than the 60k I anticipated. I was hoping to finish it in March, but now sometime in April is looking more reasonable.

Writing as Amber Morgan, my list was:

Wild Blood MC #3 - technically I haven't actually started writing this yet, but I have enough of it planned that it counts.
The Last Sin - Russian mob romance
Keys to the Kingdom - London crime family romance/thriller
Impact - MMA/new adult romance
Blood of Angels - paranormal romance
Last Hope, Alaska - shapeshifter romance

I had planned to drop BLOOD OF ANGELS and Last Hope, Alaska from the list as being the least important to finish. What actually happened there was that I had a burst of passion for BLOOD OF ANGELS, finished it, submitted it, and that's slated for release in May.

So that's two projects off the list and one about halfway done, which is pretty good progress for 2017 so far. Once Imperial Demons is done (or at least the first draft), I intend to work on Wild Blood MC #3. I may finish a short story in between though, as that's always a nice palate cleanser after working on something big and heavy, which Imperial Demons most certainly is.

So! The tarot reading. I used the XIII deck by Nekro and did a one card draw, just to give me an overview ~feeling~ for the month.

I drew the Ten of Wands, which I consider a good sign as I associate Wands with creativity and work. It's also a suit related to passion, enthusiasm, and pushing the limits, all things I consider important in my writing and in generally getting shit done. To keep up with my to-do list, I need that kind of energy. The Ten of Wands speaks of problems getting resolved and striving to meet goals. Obviously I'm constantly striving to meet writing goals. April is a busy month for me, with a few family birthdays (including my own), a lot of social going-ons, and a week of dog-sitting while my mum's in Mexico. It's also busy at my day job for various reasons, and there are definitely some situations (let's not call them problems) that need wrapping up there pretty sharpish.

So this card affirms what I already knew - that the next few weeks are going to be manic and I need to stay focused and patient, while keeping my energy levels up. I can probably anticipate having edits for BLOOD OF ANGELS at some point, so I need to remember to pace myself with my personal projects.

With all that in mind, I should probably go have a shower and get dressed now...

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Sex Up Your Sunday with Erzabet Bishop!

4/2/2017

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*Blows dust off blog* I really need to get my act together and post some stuff! I should have another retro reading review up soon, and hopefully news on BLOOD OF ANGELS, as it's scheduled for release next month and I'm assuming that means the first round edits shouldn't be too far away. I'm excited to get back to Thea and Turiel! Mostly at the moment though, I'm eye-deep in a Naomi Clark project and gunning to finish that up this month. Can you believe it's April already? What is happening?

Anyway! Luckily, Erzabet Bishop is here to pick up the slack for me with a look at her witchy romance, MALEDICTION! Let's get to it.

It’s witchcraft…

Nestled in the shadowy thoroughfares of Salem, Bridget has created a new life for herself. Saved from the noose by the mysterious Mr. Black during the witch trials, she runs Broomstix, a thriving curse worker and hex shop. Dangerous cravings thrust her back in harm’s way as evil stalks the streets. Will the allure of the forbidden be her curse or her salvation?

Alistair is a wolf caught between desire and duty to his pack. His Alpha goes missing and evidence of arcane magic and murder come a little too close to home. A chance encounter at a Halloween party brings his beast to the forefront and one night of passion leaves him wanting much, much more.

A war is brewing in Salem between the wolves and witch kind. When more deaths are found linked to rogue wolves, the two join forces. But wild magic reigns on Samhain and the moon may just have a mind of her own…

Curse Worker Series:

1. Sanguine Shadows (Fenris and Mari)

2. Map of Bones (available in Sanguine Shadows)

3. Malediction

4. Arcane (coming soon in the Prowlers and Growlers box set!)

5. Wild Magic (Fenris and Mari) coming soon

Excerpt

Alistair spotted the gorgeous brunette across the room and, when she approached the refreshment table, he followed. For a millisecond he’d taken her for the scrawny woman in the red dress, but on closer inspection he was pleased to note the differences. Same dress, but the way this woman wore it, he was tempted to peel it from her, inch by scrumptious inch.

His pack mate had poured a few bottles of something into the punch and, while it was entertaining to watch some of the guests succumb to the antics of the season, he didn’t quite feel the same about the sexy female in front of him. This woman would be far more interesting sober, he had a hunch and his predictions usually turned out to be spot on. The markings on her arms intrigued him and he wondered if they covered more of her body. Like tendrils of smoke curling around her flesh, they spiraled around her skin in an unending pattern, giving him the urge to trace every single one and see where it led.

He should be home at Briarwood, but his duties as Beta brought him here to make sure Jessup didn’t get too out of hand. So far the pup had been a bit mischievous, but nothing that would make him worry. Whatever concerns he had melted when he gazed at the beauty in front of him, his animal taking control.

Serious gray eyes winked at him from behind an elegant lacy black mask and he had the urge to peek beneath it to see what she was hiding. Full lips bowed below the mask, and her mass of dark hair was wound into an up-do that he longed to plunge his fingers into while he explored her mouth with his.

Jesus, Alastair. Get a grip.

His wolf perked up when she’d come into view and his instinct to bed her followed in quick succession. He shook it off with a frown. One night stands were not his style, especially with women he didn’t know. He had other concerns and, as soon as he made sure Jessup wasn’t going to fuck up and intoxicate half of the wealthier citizens of Salem, he was out of here. Duncan was still missing and he’d left Laurel in charge in his stead.

But, her eyes. Fuck. They fairly glowed with a power that socked him in the gut as they watched him from behind the mask. When she wet her lips and took her bottom lip between her teeth, he almost lost the battle with himself not to let his beast take over and drag her into the nearest coat closet.

“Are you here with someone?” He cleared his throat, aware of the growl threading through his voice.

“No. Are you?”

“Just a couple of friends. What do you think? Want to end up in a compromising situation with a stranger?” He grinned and, seeing Jessup approach, steered her away from the refreshment table. Alistair wanted her to himself, at least for a little while.

“Seven deadly sins? How about a dance? With my footwork, that could lead towards all kinds of infractions.”

“Hmm.” He swung her into his arms and into the crowd, relishing the sensation of his hand on her lower back. The plunging view offered by her bodice made his body stand at attention and the wolf beneath his skin whined with want. “So, which deadly sin could you possibly have that would sink a guy faster than lust? That dress…”

“These shoes.”

“Oh, but those… those are not a sin. Not at all. In fact, I could look at them all night long.”

“You could, could you?” The woman laughed, deep and sensual. Her eyes snapped with amusement. “Then you try wearing them.”

“Maybe I will.” He wanted her, and the closer they got, the more obvious it was going to become. He weaved her around the dance floor, her movements matching his. Her perfume and the spicy scent of her hair were making it hard to concentrate. At the look in her eyes, he dragged her back hard against him, his animal wild in his blood.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

“Please.”

“Let’s get some air.” Alistair led her out onto the balcony, the twinkle lights flickered making the grounds outside the hotel look enchanted. He had to clear his head.

“Who are you?” Alistair brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“I’m just a girl who needs an escape from reality. How about you?”

“Same here.”

“Just a girl, huh?” The mystery woman smiled.

He gathered her into his arms, letting her feel the full force of his arousal. “I don’t know. I’m not feeling much like a girl right now.”

“No. I didn’t think you were.” She leaned into his embrace, her lips curving up in an inviting smile.

“What’s your name?”

“Bridget. Yours?”

“Alistair.”

“Well, Alistair. It’s nice to meet you. I have one question.”

“What’s that?”

“How long is it going to take for you to kiss me?”

“Time me.” Alistair’s mouth covered hers hungrily and he forced her mouth open with his thrusting tongue. She gasped, trembling within his embrace and he pulled her deeper into the shadows, away from prying eyes.

About the author:

Erzabet Bishop is an award-winning and international bestselling author who loves to write naughty stories. She is the author of Lipstick, Crave, Snow (Three Times More Lucky Box Set), Malediction, Map of Bones, Sanguine Shadows, Arcane (Prowlers and Growlers set),The Science of Lust, Wicked for You, Heart’s Protector, Burning for You, Taming the Beast, Mistletoe Kisses, Surrender, Torment (upcoming), Hedging Her Bets, Cat’s Got Her Tongue (Alpha Heat Box Set), Arcane Imaginarium: Spirit Board, Holidays in Hell, Mallory’s Mark (upcoming),The Devil’s Due (upcoming), Charity Benshaw’s Enchanted Paddle Emporium (upcoming), Club Beam, Pomegranate, A Red Dress for Christmas, The Black Magic Café, Sweet Seductions, The Erotic Pagans Series: Beltane Fires, Samhain Shadows and Yuletide Temptation along with being a contributor to many anthologies. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry children and can often be found lurking in local bookstores. She loves to bake, make naughty crochet projects and watch monster movies.

Follow her on Twitter @erzabetbishop.
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