Just Imagine

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Welcome to my blog! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and read what's on my mind. I've a vicious sense of humor, an apprecation for romance and a mad addiction to writing.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Witchcraft. Mystery. Romance. Midnight Magick by Katerina Martinez.



Today It’s my pleasure to welcome over Katerina Martinez, author of Midnight Magick, Book 1. Love Paranormal Romance/ Paranormal Mystery? If so, then feet up, cozy in and check out this fabulous read!

ISBN-13: 978-0958303200
ISBN-10:0958303207
ASIN: B00NS3LXPM

Number of pages: 149
Word Count: 51,643

Cover Artist: Katerina Martinez

Book Description


"Lonely witches get up to no good."

Amber Lee has a decent life: she lives in a great house, she's about to start school again, her best friend Eliza is pregnant, and the pair of them are Wiccans with a healthy bond. But ever since Eliza moved out of Amber's house and in with her boyfriend Evan, Amber's been feeling a growing pang of loneliness in her chest.

When Damien, a stranger to her town, mysteriously comes into her life bringing with him all manner of strangeness, everything changes. Damien shows Amber a side of her she never knew existed, and ignites in her a spark she hadn't felt in a long time, but he's haunted by a dark secret and a purpose which may prove fatal to them both - and by the time she realizes it, there's no turning back.

Midnight Magick will take you deep into a world of witchcraft and mystery, where bonds are tested, hearts broken and lives lost.

Available at Amazon  Amazon UK  Amazon CA

Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card.

Interview Time!


Who is Katerina Martinez?

“So, Katerina, first question; who are you?”

“I’m a 27 year old, fresh faced writer, new to the scene and thrilled to be here! Thank you so much for hosting me.”

“We’re glad you could sit down with us! We’re a little strapped for time so I’ll just get right into it if you don’t mind.”

“That’s fine, I’m a little nervous anyway. This is my first real interview.”

“Don’t be nervous! Just relax, we’ll take it one question at a time.”

“Alright, hit me with your next question.”

“How long have you been writing and how long have you been published?”

“That’s two questions! I’ve been writing for about two years, although never with the intention to publish anything, just for my own sakes. I didn’t consider publishing until August of this year (when I finished Midnight Magick), and since then I’ve written three titles.”

“What inspired you to write this book?”

“Well, I’ve always known I wanted to write about Witches. I didn’t need much more inspiration other than the idea that you should write about what you know, so it just made sense that my first novel be about witches and that my protagonist start off as a Wiccan, like me.”

“Interesting approach, you must have started off with a fair bit of background knowledge I bet?”

“I did! I knew the rituals she’d be doing, how she’d perform magickal spells, and had a pretty good idea on how I may cross the line into fiction while keeping a foot firmly in the real world.”

“You spell magic with a k?”

“Yes I do. The spelling dates back to Aleister Crowley. He proposed that the words ‘magic’ and ‘magick’ described two different things. The former being stage illusions used by magicians and the latter being used in the context of religious or spiritual belief systems.”

“So, with that in mind, tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story.”

“The basic storyline, as written, is ‘A lonely witch struggles with emerging feelings for her mysterious mentor as bizarre deaths with a common link pile up.’ Without giving anything away, Amber, the lead, is going to be faced with some tough decisions regarding her love life while at the same time unraveling the mystery behind a series of deaths which have recently occurred. Amber’s needs will drive her to actions her otherwise logical mind wouldn’t make, and that in itself causes plenty of inner and outer conflict.”

“What about your heroine makes her different from others in literature?”

“Many ‘heroines’ in literature (I’m talking about Paranormal Romance in particular) today are, in my opinion, a little soft. I’ve heard it said that the paranormal romance genre is about ‘hunky, powerful men and the women who love them’. I disagree. Mythology and folklore is rife with powerful women who are very much in charge of their lives and have throes of men fawning over them. Amber is my first attempt at capturing the essence of a woman who is hurt, but independent and strong in her own right. This is a motif I will endeavor to portray in many of my stories.”

“Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.”

“I presently don’t really have a favorite writing environment. I write when I’m able, and that seems to be mostly when it’s quiet at work—don’t tell my boss! But I can say that I couldn’t possibly write without music in my ears. Music drives me, and the right music helps me really immerse myself into a scene to make it even more powerful. The Cardigans, Garbage, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack Off Jill and Nirvana all threw me back into the 90’s for Midnight Magick’s sake.”

“Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.”

“I am! Besides my erotic paranormal anthologies which I write here and there, at the moment I’m working on Midnight Magick 2 and another novel I’m not in a position to talk about yet. After all I’ve learned in these last few months about writing and self-publishing, Midnight Magick 2 will be sharper and tighter—a great successor to my debut novel. I can’t say much, but I can say that Amber’s past misdeeds will catch up to her; and boy if she’s unprepared for what’s coming.”

“Do you have a website?”

“If you’d have asked me a week ago I would’ve said no, but I worked very hard in having a website ready before this tour launched! http://www.katerinamartinez.com/

“Any last words before we sign off?”

“Besides the heaps of thanks I’d like to offer to my host, to Bewitching Book Tours, and anyone who has taken time out to read my books, I’d like to tell everyone that I’m hosting a giveaway to celebrate this, my first ever book tour! Details below! Blessed be and thanks for being a part of this with me!”

Excerpt: CHAPTER 1


I was sitting cross-legged on the main counter of a bookstore on Rosella Avenue one cool autumn afternoon. As blades of orange light from the setting sun cut through the gaps in buildings across the street I somberly thumbed a silver Triquetra—a three cornered trefoil knot with a circle around it—not much bigger than a quarter.

Angular shadows crept across the floor growing larger and more predominant with each passing minute. Copper dust motes hung in the air, twinkling without a care in the world. Even though I’d been fiddling with my mom’s old charm for a good half hour, the metal was still cool on my fingers. After years of having it hanging around my neck I couldn’t believe I’d just broken it.

 “—don’t you think?” asked Eliza.

“Huh?” I pocketed the pendant and came back down from my thoughts.

“Are you even listening to me, Amber?”

“Totally… what did you say?”

Eliza sighed. “That girl? The one who drowned in her pool?”

“What about her?”

“They closed the case today. They say it isn’t suspicious anymore, writing it off as an accident.”

“Accidental? I thought they had a suspect and everything.”

“They did, but they didn’t have enough evidence to convict. Don’t you think it’s all a bit weird?”

I shrugged and feigned disinterest, but the grim topic gave me jitters. People didn’t normally die suspiciously in my neck of the woods, but this was the second one this year. The first was another girl. She hung herself from a withered birch at the heart of the forest. I saw the pictures. God how I wish I hadn’t.

“Can we talk about something else?” I asked, “How’d that fight with Evan go last night?”

“The fight?” Eliza planted a copy of Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ on my lap. I wasn’t expecting it. “Go put this on the shelf, will you?”

“Yes, master,” I said. I hopped off the counter and wiped my hand on my grey dress as I searched for the book’s proper home among the shelves. “So? What happened with Evan?” I asked through the aisles.

Eliza grunted. “It’s this thing with Mordecai.” Mordecai was her tabby cat. “He’s been wheezing a lot. I asked Evan to take him to the vet yesterday for a check-up and he didn’t do it, so we had a big stupid fight.”

“How does that turn into an argument?” I slotted the book between a pristine copy of Moby Dick—a personal favorite—and A Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

“Because! It just does,” said Eliza.

I walked around the aisle and caught her stacking books from a box marked “OLD” on a high shelf. Her tank top crept up her stomach exposing her flat belly as she stretched. No bump yet. Evan and Eliza always fought over silly things but it’d gotten worse ever since she found out she was pregnant. I could never say that to her face, though; she might charge at me with a step ladder!

“You guys will be fine,” I said, “You’re fighting because of the baby. Babies bring stress.”

Eliza shot me a scowl. “When did you become Doctor Phil?”

I smiled. “I’m just saying, you guys never used to fight about stuff and now you are. What’s changed? You’re pregnant.”

Eliza closed the box. A puff of dust exploded forth in defiance. “And he’s still a jackass sometimes,” she said.

“Oh come on, a little ice cream and a kiss in just the right spot and the fight will be history.”

Eliza moved the box into a small closet nearby and smiled to herself. “Yeah, okay, I’ll give you that. Anyway, let’s get finished up so we can get out of here.”

The doorbell tinkled. Evan’s silhouette broke the faint sunlight and crept into the store as quiet as a mouse, eyes to the floor. I smiled as he arrived and gave him a light peck on the cheek.

“Hey Evan,” I said, “How’s the cat?”

“On meds,” he replied, though he wasn’t looking at me, but rather at the visage of annoyance itself glaring from; behind me. “But he’ll be okay.”

Eliza had black, poker-straight hair which fell to about the small of her back. Her pale skin and cobalt eyes gave her an Ice Queen kind of air, but her round face and button nose gave away her heart of gold. Evan, meanwhile, was tall—taller than Eliza—and nicely put together. She’d get on her tiptoes to kiss him. It was cute.

“That’s great! Eliza was just telling me. I hope he gets better soon.” I gave the pair a winning smile.
 “Eliza, I’m gonna go through the new stock and whatnot. I’ll be in the back. Let me know when you’re ready to lock up,” I said.

Eliza nodded at me and then glanced at her man. He approached her like someone would advance on a stray cat they wanted to pet; slowly and cautiously. They started to speak as I disappeared into the back room.

We didn’t get any new stock today; I simply figured they needed to talk. Besides, I knew she’d appreciate the space. Luckily I wasn’t stuck in a tiny room entirely without purpose. Inside my backpack I had a bunch of brand new textbooks and more stationary than a girl knew what to do with, ready for my first day back at the Raven Hall University.

Lost in the plethora of pens and notepads my back to school kit comprised of, I almost didn’t notice the sore thumb on the oaken desk. I had to double-take before the words written on its spine, and the image on the front, struck a chilling chord.

The giant squid on the cover of Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues stared back at me from atop the table. An old copy, just like the one I’d placed on the shelves moments ago. Why did we own two of them?

I plucked the book from the desk and advanced toward the door to the main room. Evan and Eliza were still there. Their muffled voices told me the discussion still hadn’t finished. At least they weren’t shouting. No one wants to be caught in between these two when they shout. It’s like watching cats fight. I’d know.

I slid out of the back room and snaked my way silently down the closest aisle. The lovebirds went quiet as I approached my destination. I’d slip the book in next to its sister so they can spend time together before someone buys one and separates them again. When I found the nook where I’d placed the original copy, I froze. The two books flanking Mr. Verne were still there, but the absence of a book between them made them slant into each other like tired lovers.

“Dammit,” I said, under my breath. I wish I could’ve dismissed the strange event, pretended like I’d imagined the whole thing, but in truth this kind of thing had happened before.

With the delicacy of someone trying not to disturb sleeping children, I slotted Jules Verne into its rightful place and decided that this time I would be cleverer than whatever specter enjoyed playing tricks on me. I snapped a shot of the books with my smartphone and double checked the image to confirm, smiling smugly at the triumph of technology.

Making my way back, I wondered if our repository of books was haunted. It’s an old building built on an old street in an old town. And I’m sure a lot of old people live in the apartment block above. I could ask Mrs. Peters on the second floor. She’s probably as old as the building itself, or at least that’s what her musky perfume suggests.

A sudden pleasurable moan made me dart back into the aisle just as I was about to waltz into the open. I peered around the corner and was met with a scene like something out of a fantasy. My heart raced. Eliza would’ve easily spotted me if I hadn’t any wits about me.

Eliza sat on the counter, her legs wrapped around Evan’s waist. Their lips locked in a passionate kiss. I glanced toward the front door, which they were in full view of, and hoped for their sake no one would come in.

Evan picked Eliza up by her thighs and carried her out of sight, to the back of the historical section which accumulated the most dust. The bookstore already smelt of lust, and listening to Eliza’s giggles brought a flush of warmth to my cheeks. I thought about that night a few months ago when the three of us called down the Moon Goddess and experienced each other intimately. It was my first time with two other partners, but I was glad they were my best friends.

The door to the office was only a few feet from where I stood, backed up against an aisle. The store had been quieter when they were talking. Now that Eliza’s moans rang off the walls I entered the safety of the back room without being spotted. I emerged a few moments later into the middle of a warm embrace between true soul mates.

“Look guys, why don’t you go home?” I asked, “I can lock up.”

“Are you sure?” asked Eliza.

“Absolutely. Get out of here.”

I’d grown used to hiding my green eyes from them. They had something I’d always wanted to share with someone else; a connection. Happy for them though I was, lonely people will yearn, and lonely Witches will get up to no good; ask my ex-boyfriend.
  

About the Author



My name is Katerina. I love to read and write, and until now I've been cooped up in a desk job with nothing to do but drift away on a sea of corporate bull until I do what is expected of me (marriage, kids, etc).

Eventually I decided that enough was enough, so I took a chance and wrote a book; my first book. Then I mulled over my options and chose to self-publish with Amazon, panicked over the "Publish" button for a few hours, and waited patiently for my book to show up on the listing.

Now I'm here, part of this big, wide world, trying to meet other people like me - folks starting out in the self-publishing business or just fellow authors/ readers who share my kinds of interests!

For those of you starting out, I can tell you, it's a rollercoaster. None of it is easy. And even if your work doesn't sell, at least you can be proud that you put yourself out there and took that step!

Visit Katerina Martinez



Monday, October 27, 2014

Cover Reveal! The Coldest Sea by Marian Parera.



Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. Today I'm welcoming over Marian Perera for a Monday Covers It Book Cover Reveal for her latest release, The Coldest Sea. I think this cover is gorgeous. Ready to hear how it came to be?  

Let’s hear from Marian…

The Coldest Sea is inspired by Titanic, so there’s a sailing ship and a giant iceberg (though the story is a romance, so… happy ending). I wanted the cover to give readers chills, not just from the ‘berg but because the ship is so small and vulnerable next to it.

My incredibly talented cover artist Kanaxa put that together and sent me some stock images of models so I could choose the heroine, Maggie. In the story, Maggie has amber eyes and very curly dark hair. One of the models looked almost exactly like what I had in mind, and Kanaxa made sure her eyes stood out from the ice. I think that’s my favorite part of the cover, her  smoldering, molten-bronze look. The hero—the captain of the ship—likes her eyes as well. :)

The Coldest Sea will be released by Samhain Publishing later next year, and I’ll be sure to enter it into some cover contests then.

My website : Marian Perera, with blurbs, covers and excerpts of the other books in the series.

My blog : Flights of Fantasy, where I post about fantasy, romance, writing and publishing

Here I am on Samhain Publishing’s website.

Two of the other books in the series were reviewed by Smart Bitches Trashy Books, so check these out!

And of course I’m on Twitter.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Paranormal Erotic Romance. Life Reignited by Sabrina Garie.



Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Sabrina Garie, author of Life Reignited, Divine Temptation, Book 2. So sit back, relax and check out this scrumptious Paranormal Erotic Romance.

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave
ISBN:  9781419991691

Number of pages:  87 novella
Word Count: 24,000

Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of the following: 2 e-copies of Life Reignited (Book 2, Divine Temptation), 2 e-copies of Thirteen Nights (Book 1, Divine Temptation) or 3 decks of Ellora’s Cave Playing Cards.

Book Description


Phoebe lives trapped between two worlds. Born an Amazon warrior, she’s sworn to serve the Greek pantheon. It’s her work as a scholar in the human world that gives her life passion and purpose and eases her heart—which shattered when the pantheon forced her to abandon her human lover.

Alexander Xenos is world renowned classics expert, who has dedicated his life to the study of ancient cultures and promoting peace. His fame and global adventures hide a hole in his heart, ripped out by a beautiful, gentle scholar, who shut him out cold after the most intense love affair he'd ever had.

Thirty years later, Sander meets his long lost love, only to learn she's an Amazon, the mythical gods are real, and they are about to go to war. And Phoebe, who still sets his blood to boil, is in the thick of it.  He'll have to prevent a conflict between the Greek and Norse pantheons or lose her again—this time permanently.

Available at Ellora’s Cave

Interview Time!


What inspired you to write this book?

A couple of years ago, some critique partners and I decided to write an anthology together.  Each of was had to have a club run by a siren proprietress.  We had free rein to write any type of story—the siren sisters would be the connecting link. While we never did produce the anthology, I did write the story, which became Thirteen Nights, Divine Temptation 1.   I feel in love with the secondary characters, and wanted them to have a happy ending.  As luck would have it, Ellora's Cave launched its VaVaBoomers series which was love stories for those over 50, which gave me the opportunity to write Phoebe and Sander's story and give it to home. Life Reignited is part of two series: VaVaBoomers and Divine Temptation.

Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.

For the cover artist, I identified the power of ancient knowledge as a key theme of the story and she knocked it out of the park. You have the hot guy in a library, just crackling with magic and power.  The hero, Sander, wins battles using knowledge and his mind.  While Phoebe, the heroine, is also a scholar she is an Amazon warrior and tends to fight with her fists first.

Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.

I am finishing up Hope Restored, Divine Temptation 3. The heroine is Marta, who appears in both Thirteen Nights and Life Reignited. She's not very likeable in Thirteen Nights so I use Life Reignited to soften her a bit, but not completely. In Hope Restored, we learn why she is the way she is, which makes her past actions very forgiveable. Here's a short section, where Marta meets Paean, our hero, for the first time.  Her prickly personality is front and center until Paean is forced to look below the surface. 

A tall, leanly-muscled woman, over six feet, light brown hair pulled back in a French braid glared at him. The aristocratic beauty of her face was marred by a stare that spit venom and a mouth pursed so tight her lips were barely visible. Dark circles rimmed her eyes. She rubbed her hand as if it had been hurt. “That case is dangerous,” she growled. “Take better care of it.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Ya think?”

She was a prickly pear. “Let me see it. I know a little first aid.”

He put his guitar and backpack down to examine her outstretched hand, surprised she let him touch it. He turned the arm toward him, noticing an unusual tattoo on her shoulder—the kill markings of an Amazon warrior. Fury erupted in his gut, clawed up his chest into this throat. Even after a millennia, the wound remained raw. Not that it was her fault. She would have no idea who he was. He’d been thrown off Olympus so long ago, his name disappeared from the common language. Maybe somewhere in an old dusty old scroll the historians no longer picked up, there was reference to him, but he doubted it.

“Are you going to patch it up or just stare at it?”

“Not liking my bedside manner or you just a grouchy patient?’ He couldn’t stop the resentment from leaking into his tone until he looked deep into her eyes. She wasn’t angry, she was tortured.

What sort of personality does your hero have?

Sander is geeky, fearless, with a sexy British accent and an Angus McGyver I-can-fix-anything approach to life. He's equally at home trekking through the savannah, searching for artifacts in Scandinavia, writing a blog, teaching a class or presenting a paper. He doesn't do love. He never got over Phoebe, or the pain of losing her.

What sort of personality does your heroine have?

She's stoic, moving forward with life even though she has a hole in her heart the size of Texas.  She's an Amazon, who struggles with being an Amazon. She'd be happier doing research, writing papers, and being bonded to her love, who she had to leave because of her obligations to the gods. She's a little fearful of upending the apple cart, but ultimately learns that it takes more courage to rebel against authorities than it does to fight your enemies in a fist fight you were trained from birth to win.

Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.

I write on my couch, with my feet up.  The room is silent. I know many prefer to write with music, but that does not work for me.  The only downside is that I don’t have soundtracks for my books that I can share with readers.

Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.

I do write books is series.  Life Reignited is part of my Divine Temptation Series with Ellora's Cave, all centered on Amazon women, obligated to the Greek Pantheon, who find a way to be with the men they love. Often, in many paranormal books we find the men who are bonded warriors. I switched that, and made the women's tribe the group that flows through the series.  Divine Temptation includes Thirteen Nights,  A Flicker of Power (1.5 available free), Life Reignited, and coming next year, Hope Restored.

If you could make changes to a story you’ve already written, which would it be and why?

I am happy with the story in Life Reignited overall. One thing I would do if I rewrote it today would be to add hints of a romance between Forseti, the Norse God of Justice, and his head Valkyrie, Sigrid.  There is one suggestion of this, but it could easily be written off as the action of a body guard.

Excerpt


Copyright © SABRINA GARIE, 2014
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Sander wished Phoebe didn’t feel so enticing. Her unique orchid scent wove its way through his bloodstream, mucking up his focus. He couldn’t square the gentle, quick-witted, brilliant scholar he loved as Cassie with the sad-eyed, battle-scarred Amazon warrior called Phoebe fitted against him. His body remembered her. No other woman ever came close to her creativity, capabilities and stamina in bed. She taught him what it was like to fully lose himself in a woman, and he’d never been able to replicate it. He finally understood why—it was never a fair fight. A human woman could not match a physically enhanced being. He’d always thought she was the love of his life, but did he even know her? Nothing made sense, except the hard-on straining against his zipper. Her physical impact hadn’t dimmed. At all.

When Phoebe stabilized, she led them back to her room at Neutral Ground. She appeared perfectly fine after a fight that would have killed most humans. At her door, she pressed her thumbprint on a small indent above the handle, then pushed it open.

“How did you open the door?” He peered inside. “And what did you do to merit this suite?” Molded ceiling, velvet coverings, red and gold Persian carpets and antique furniture that reminded him of a bedroom he’d find in Buckingham Palace. He was sure the paintings—Botticelli’s Birth of Aphrodite, Rubens’ Judgment of Paris among others—were the artists’ originals. Phoebe was right. This would be an intellectual candy land if his emotions weren’t tied up into knots.

A distraught laugh whispered out of her. “I ticked off the Elders and a portion of the Greek pantheon resistant to change. Neutral Ground is one of six safe havens worldwide sanctioned by the Council of Pantheons. Anyone who threatens me here is subject to death. Outside, well you saw for yourself. The DNA lock is an added protection, just in case. Thank you for coming to my rescue, by the way. My fighting skills are not what they used to be.” Her cheeks burned red. Was she embarrassed?

“You’re welcome.” In the corner an inlaid mahogany desk piled high with ancient scrolls drew his attention. “Are those what I think they are?” Her eyes followed his gaze and her eyebrows rose in what looked like an aha moment, then an indulgent and very real smile lit up her face. It was the first time tonight he’d seen the vivacity that lived in his memories, and he’d sneaked glimpses of her all evening.

“Yes, they are. Ancient scrolls documenting the history, culture and science of the Greek pantheon. I even have an original of The Republic by Plato, and Sappho’s poetry. You’re welcome to take a look.”

As a classics scholar, he read ancient Greek, Latin, Scandinavian, Teutonic and Celtic languages. This was a treasure trove he couldn’t resist. “Aren’t you afraid of ruining them?”

“They’re protected by pantheon magic. They can’t be destroyed.” She hooked her arm through his and guided him to the corner. After scrutinizing the pile, she picked up a scroll and handed it to him. Her fingers lingered on his hand longer than necessary. Sparks ignited under the touch. This was the woman he remembered—glowing eyes, an impish grin, with ancient knowledge flowing around her as if it were part of her aura. If there were more lines radiating from her eyes and lips, they softened her, made her more the Cassie he had adored, less the unknown Phoebe.

He took the scroll in one hand and pulled his reading glasses out of his jacket pocket with the other. He got the spectacles a year ago and wasn’t used to wearing them but his eagerness for the scrolls overcame any hesitation.

“They suit you,” Phoebe said.

He nodded, too absorbed by the parchment now open on the table. “You remembered The Odyssey was my favorite. This is truly Homer’s original copy?” A shiver ran down his spine. It wasn’t every day a man meets his personal deity.

“Yes, it is.” She moved closer, her hair brushing his ear as she leaned over to look at the text with him. Phoebe’s floral scent, the heat of her body skated along his skin, threw his concentration off, something that never happened. If his mind questioned the emotions he thought he once felt for this woman, his body didn’t. Given his age, he thought he could move past physical needs.

Apparently not.

His cock stiffened like that of a hormone-driven teenager in heat. By the way Phoebe squirmed, he’d guess she felt it too. Like in London, when they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

“Take a look at this passage in its original. You can see why it’s commonly misinterpreted.” 
Phoebe’s arm brushed his, sending electric charges exploding beneath his skin.

“The article you published on this created controversy. I was impressed with the argumentation. Now more so. This passage makes interpretation harder, not easier.”

“You’ve followed my work?” Her face beamed with happiness and a soft pride. “I’m glad. I’ve read everything you’ve published, and follow your blog, Found Worlds. You’re making history and culture popular.”

Her praise shot jolts of warmth into his chest. That smile and her soft breasts brushing his arm unlocked the door to his memories. Unbidden, images of naked, sweat-drenched bodies tumbled out. Yes, he’d followed her work, justifying the way he gobbled up her writing as respect of one professional for another. With her next to him, touching him, he had to admit now it wasn’t true. Through her words, he stayed connected to her. And she, him.

About the Author



Sabrina Garie is on a journey to create the most kick-ass heroine romance fiction has ever known and the hero who can take her. A believer that big, audacious goals spice up life, she relies on coffee, red wine and laughter to make those goals (and her characters) come alive.

When not at the computer, she wrangles vegetables and extra helpings of homework into her star-spangled, fashion-loving progeny, kowtows to a fat cat and reads, a lot. As a child, she wanted to be an astronaut, just to see what’s out there. Now, she just makes it up.

Visit Sabrina Garie 


    Web/blog        

Twitter@sabrinagarie

       Facebook          

Goodreads   



Monday, October 6, 2014

Paranormal Romance. Borealis Ardor by Kay Phoenix.



Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Kay Phoenix, author of Borealis Ardor, Seasons of Passion, Winter Winds. Love paranormal romance? Then cozy in and check out this fabulous new release!

Publisher:  MuseItUp Publishing

ISBN:  978-1-77127-495-1
ASIN:  B00IA1QKFK

Number of pages:  58
Word Count:  14,709

Cover Artist:  Suzannah Safi

GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of 5 e-book copies of  Borealis Ardor (pdf format).

Book Description


Lauren Madison’s life started unraveling at a speed too fast for her to keep up with. Every truth she had taken for granted was torn away, and the pieces that were left painted no clear pictures at all…only more confusion.

The only pillar of strength in her fragile life was David Wagner, her bodyguard who was placed in witness protection. But, what had he seen that day, and why couldn’t she remember? 

She had no choice but to run. And if her life was threatened again, who would be there to protect her?

Available at Amazon

Let’s hear from Kay Phoenix...


I just spent the weekend with an amazing group of fellow authors at www.hotmojaveknights.com. One of the events we hosted was a book signing, and a common question that I noticed being asked was “So…what do you like to read?”  Well, while I do write romance and enjoy reading it, there is another genre that I love much more.

I love true adventure!  When I was 10 or so I wrote a book report on “Cry of the Kalahari” by Mark and Delia Owens.  To me, this is a romance if ever there was one.  It is the true story of two married scientists who gave up everything to move to the Kalahari Desert in Africa to research animals. What animals?  They didn’t know until they got there.  It was so brave, and such a romantic notion to my young, impressionable brain.  They have since written several more books and now reside in America researching grizzly bears.  I love their devotion to each other, their devotion to their causes, and I especially love their storytelling abilities.  Each of them has a specific voice and I have garnered much inspiration from their texts. 

I am a contemporary and paranormal romance writer but I’d rather read true adventure any day.  And, well, if LOVE isn’t the grandest adventure, what is?

Excerpt


“You shouldn’t be here, Lauren.  Leave quickly.” The voice stopped me in my tracks.  It was David’s voice, in my head.  But, I shrugged it off and walked forward until I saw the new stone and the rectangle of earth in front of it that had noticeably less pine needles than the surrounding area.

I knelt beside it.

“David Alan Wagner.  Beloved Son, Brother and Friend.”  The lines of the letters were etched deep and black, contrasting heavily against the light grey stone.  I gently lay the roses down and traced the letters with my finger.  There was a cross carved below the words.  I ran my hand along the entire edge of the top of the stone, feeling the rough edges in contrast to the freshly polished front and back. I wondered how long the stone had been there. Dad assured me he had taken care of the funeral expenses, and he must have made sure there was a rush order on the headstone.  There was a fresh bouquet of white roses lying at the base of the stone and it made me feel deeply saddened for his family, as well as for him.  As much as dad irritated the living hell out of me with his overprotective gestures, if I had to disappear forever and have him think I was dead, it would break my heart.  After we lost mom, we were all the family we had.

I loved David with my whole heart.  Even though we had only been together for two of the six months that he was assigned to me, I knew that he was the “one”.  I just knew it.  There was no explanation.  And, I was the “one” for him as well.  But, now he was gone, and it was unlikely that I would see him again, at least not any time soon.

I reached up to trace the “D” again and saw a strange light flash across the polished surface of the stone, which I realized with horror to be a set of headlights.

Who would be coming to a graveyard at this hour? Besides me of course? Teenagers with a Ouija board and bottle of Strawberry Hill wine in tow, perhaps?

I could take no chances.  I could have been followed.

About the Author



Ms. Phoenix is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada.  She serves on the board of the Las Vegas Romance Writers and is also a member of the Kiss of Death and Women’s Fiction chapters of Romance Writers of America.

In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping and photography and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology.  She is also a member of the Vegas Artists Guild as a photographer.  Prior to writing, Kay was a Graphic Artist for 15 years in the casino industry.

Kay writes in the contemporary and paranormal romance categories, as well as non-fiction articles. Please visit her website at www.KayPhoenix.com.

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