Wednesday, January 21, 2015

~~Author Wednesdays-Dominique Eastwick!!~~

© Astine | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images 

Welcome to Author Wednesdays on For Whom The Books Toll. Dominique Eastwick is here today sharing about her book The Earl and His Virgin Countess.  Thanks for stopping by today Dominique.






Title: The Earl and His Virgin Countess
Author: Dominique Eastwick
Series: The House of Lords book 3
Publisher: Decadent Publishing~Imprint-1 Night Stand Regency
ISBN: 9781613337707
ASIN: B00PKVPMRK
Heat Level: 4
Price: 2.99
Length: 86 pgs

Blurb:
Lord Andrew Masterson, Earl of Windenshire has had a string of bad luck with women. While his best friends are all getting leg-shackled, he can’t seem to get a lady to stay in his presence long enough to court them. Not sure what he might be doing wrong, he turns to Madame Evangeline, hoping she can help him change his luck.

Betrothed since before her birth to Lord Masterson, Miss Miranda Beauchamp has prepared to be his countess ever since. Although the Earl of Windenshire maintains her upkeep and pays for everything she needs, she might as well not exist for all the attention he pays her. Determined to break the marriage contract, she’ll go to desperate measures to achieve her goal, even if it means losing her virginity to do so.

Can Madame Eve show Andrew and Miranda there is more than a contract between them? Or will family secrets and years of hurt be too much for the earl and his virgin countess to overcome?

Buy Links:
Amazon  
ARe  
Barnes & Noble 
Decadent Publishing 
Kobo  


Excerpt:
“Yes, please. Perhaps it’s unladylike to admit, but I am starving.”

He smiled, taking her plate. “It’s actually quite refreshing. I grow tired of petite young things who eat nothing and pass out at a drop of the hat.”

“I am neither young nor petite.”

No, she had curves in all the right places. Making sure it wasn’t ignored, his cock twitched as it hardened. “You seem perfect to me.”

“Ha! Far from perfect.” Again her lips formed the tantalizing O before she asked, “Did you put something in my tea?”

“I did not.”

“Then I have no excuse for my behavior.”

He laughed that time, filling her plate with a bit of everything. “You have done nothing in need of excusing.”

“But I would have thought you’d prefer a perfect woman.” Her eyes clouded with what appeared to be confusion. He supposed it wasn’t too hard to believe; a peer of the realm would be looking for what society considered would be important in a mate. He handed her the plate laden with delicacies and far more food than he had ever seen any woman eat.

“Thank you, milord—Andrew.”

“You’re welcome. Now, indulge me.” he said, retaking his seat in the high back chair. “What do you think is perfection?”

“I believe....” Taking a bite, she contemplated the question. “Perfection for you would be a woman who is well-mannered and carries herself with decorum at all times. She is the perfect hostess. She does delicate needlework, plays the pianoforte, and sings beautifully. She would complement you, if on your arm, and would never argue.”

What she described sounded like a paper doll. A woman with no thoughts of her own. He didn’t want a vacant vessel in his bed only for the purpose of begetting children; he wanted a partner. Andrew yearned to have a woman look at him the way Llysa and Chandra looked at their men. Both women stood up to their lordly men, all the while complementing and supporting Wolfe and Simon. “Sounds bloody boring, if you ask me.”

“Really.”

“Might as well be with a living statue. I’ll bet this woman would also stare at the ceiling and think about England while I drive into her.”

She choked on her bite. “I suppose she just might.”

“And she probably eats enough to stay barely alive, ties her corset too tight, and then faints at the slightest hint of impropriety.”

“Oh dear, yes, into the most dainty faints possible.”

“I would rather face the guillotine than endure a woman of that sort.” Setting his food aside, he turned his attention fully on her. Her face lit up as they continued to banter back and forth, showing none of the disgust she’d found for him earlier. Standing, he grabbed her plate while ignoring her protest. “Would you condemn me to such a cavernous, empty life, Miranda?”

“Condemn?”

“Utter and complete boredom.” He sat on the edge of the seat next to her. “Somehow I have a feeling you could never bore me.”

“Well, but then, I am not perfect.”


Author Bio:
Dominique Eastwick currently calls North Carolina home with her husband, two children, one crazy lab and one lazy cat. Dominique spent much of her early life moving from state to state as a Navy Brat, because of that traveling is one of her favorite past times. When not writing you can find Dominique behind the lens of her camera following her second passion...photography.

Where you can Find Dominique
Website
Blog
FB
Pinterest
Goodreads
Authorgraph
Twitter @dominieastwick
 
Hashtags. #houseoflords #regency #romance #shortstory #1nS

Meet the House of Lords
The DUKE His Grace Wolfe Thane, Duke of Foxhaven (The Duke and the Virgin)

The MARQUIS Lord Simon James Winston, Marquis of Breckinridge (The Mistress and the Marquis)

The EARL Lord Andrew Masterson, Earl of Windenshire (The Earl and His Virgin Countess)

The VISCOUNT Lord Jonathon Railey, Viscount of Aunton (The Viscount and the Heiress.)

Thank you for sharing about your book The Earl and His Virgin Countess! I know we'll all be waiting for The Viscount and the Heiress.

Don't forget to visit with Dominique on facebook and/or Twitter and stop by her website to check out all of her amazing books.

Please stop back next Wednesday when Seleste deLaney will be here!


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

GMB Presents~ Lavinia Kent's Revealing Ruby Release Day Blitz & Giveaway!!


Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I'm hosting Lavinia Kent's Revealing Ruby Release Day Blitz & Giveaway presented by Give Me Books.

Title: Revealing Ruby
Author: Lavinia Kent
Series: Bound and Determinded Book 1.5
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Goodreads

Blurb:
Unmasked by smoldering desire, a rigidly disciplined madame gives in to the ultimate temptation in Lavinia Kent’s seductive new eBook original novella.

As the proprietress of London’s most discreet house of pleasure, Madame Rouge—Ruby to her clientele—prefers to keep her own company. The first rule in her establishment? She never, ever personally entertains the customers. However, the tall, dark, and provocatively tattooed American sailor who shows up on her doorstep makes Ruby wonder whether some rules were made to be broken. If she indulges, even just once, Ruby’s loyal patrons might get the wrong idea. If she doesn’t, she may never stop fantasizing about where that tattoo leads. . . .

No complications: That’s all Derek Price, captain of the Dawn’s Light, asks of his consorts on shore, and he’s willing to pay handsomely for the favor. But of all the women at Madame Rouge’s, the one he wants is the only one he can’t have, for any sum. Derek is not a man with an abundance of patience. However, for a night with Madame Rouge, Ruby, whoever she is, he’s willing to make those lush curves and sapphire eyes come to him.

Revealing Ruby is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences. Don’t miss a preview of the next novel in the Bound and Determined series, Bound by Bliss.
 

Buy Links:
Amazon US  
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble 
iBooks  
Kobo 


ALSO AVAILABLE
#1 Mastering the Marquess



Author Bio:
Lavinia Kent is a former two-term president of the Washington Romance Writers and a four-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart nominee. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her family and an ever-changing menagerie of pets.

AUTHOR LINKS
Website  
Facebook  
Twitter  
Goodreads  

The Giveaway:
5 Loveswept mugs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

InkSlinger Presents~Julie Kenner's Find Me in Pleasure: Part 2 Release Day Blast!!


Welcome to my stop on Julie Kenner's Find Me in Pleasure: Part 2 Release Day Blast presented by InkSlinger PR.


A doomed woman. A dangerous and mysterious man. And an epic passion that cannot be denied…
Don’t miss Mal and Christina’s story:

Find Me in Darkness, Part 1 (Jan 13th)

Find Me in Pleasure, Part 2 (Jan 20th)

Find Me in Passion, Part 3 (Jan 27th)



From the first moment I saw Malcolm, I felt his power shudder through me. Lithe and powerful, dark and controlling, he cast a spell over me that I didn’t understand, but to which I willingly surrendered.

One touch and I melted. One glance into his storm-swept eyes and I was lost. One kiss, and I was bound.

But sometimes passion can burn to hot, and it would take all of our strength for Mal and I to survive the fire that raged between us...


From New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling author J. Kenner writing as Julie Kenner….

After what seems like an eternity, I am finally back in Malcolm’s arms. My lover. My mate.

Our passion is wild. Violent and all-consuming. A heat that binds us through touch and time.
But passion has a price, and our enemies search for us. For me.


Because there is a power inside me that I do not understand. A fire that burns as wild as the pleasure I find in Mal’s arms.


And the evil that chases us will stop at nothing to reclaim that power…



Buy Links:
Amazon

Read the first chapter of FIND ME IN DARKNESS here

Find Me In Darkness – Part 1
Amazon

Find Me in Passion – Part 3 - Jan 27th
Amazon 


***NOTE TO READERS*** Each of the 1001 Dark Nights novellas stands alone. (Caress of Darkness and the 2015 release, Caress of Pleasure.) The Find Me books are a true trilogy spanning Mal and Christina’s romance and are meant to be read in order.
 



 Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

Contact Julie:
Website   http://juliekenner.com/
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/JKennerBooks
Twitter  www.twitter.com/juliekenner
Instagram  www.twitter.com/juliekenner
Pinterest   https://www.pinterest.com/juliekenner/







Wednesday, January 14, 2015

~~Author Wednesday-Gemma K. Murray!~~

© Astine | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images 

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Author Wednesday of 2015!!! My guest today is a fairly new author, Gemma K. Murray.

Thanks for being here today Gemma.

Please share 5 fun facts about yourself that most people don't know?

What don't people know about me? Hmmm...

1) I seldom drink caffeine...I exist on water to drink.

2) I spent about 3 months on Long Island as a nanny.

3) I love to walk through mud in my bare feet.

4) I have two keys that I've made into a necklace and bracelet. They never leave my body.

5) The name Gemma came from my zodiac sign, Gemini.



What inspired you to become an author?
I felt I had a story to tell, something unique. I am such a biblioholic! I love books, but I had a dream one night about a man who shifted into a phoenix and flew off into
the sky with a man who shifted into a dragon...this was the start of the Cedar River series.

What’s your favorite music?
Any and all! I am as addicted to music as I am to books. Right now, I'm hooked on Hozier and their song, Take me to Church.

Can you tell us about your current book, The Golden Dragon's Treasure?
This is the third book in the Cedar River series. For a few this has been an long anticipated story since they fell in love with Brady Golden in Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart. Due to a few issues, it took over 2 years for me to get it out. I'm just so proud of this book! It is
not only the third book, it is also the first one I've self-published and the first one to be put into print.


What is your hero and heroine like?
Brady,  oh heavens, Brady is something else. He is old-fashioned and a tad bit anal about things. He is a neat freak who loves everything in its place. He also has this HUGE heart that is so full of love. Silver is the opposite end of the spectrum. She is very modern in her way of thinking. She loves living and loving. She is one who tried something repeatedly until she gets it right, she doesn't follow the rules. She is the chaos to Brady's life, a whirling dervish, who has a few self-esteem issues. The similiarity to Brady is that she loves with her whole heart.
What can readers expect next from you?
I have so many things in the works. I am hoping to put out the first Witch Lake book, the fourth and fifth books in the Cedar River series, along with my first BDSM book
in a new series under a different name.


If you were deserted on an island, who or what would you have to have?
My English Mastiff, my best friend, pens and paper, music, and my Diana Gabaldon books.

Fun Questions
Coffee or Tea?
Neither one, strictly a water girl.

Chips or pretzels?
Chips, unless the pretzels are covered in white chocolate.
Mountains or beach?
Mountains.

Favorite color?
Green

Favorite ice cream?
Vanilla though to be specific, New York Style vanilla is the best!


The Golden Dragon’s Treasure (Book 3)

Blurb:
Life in the Upper Peninsula is never boring. The newcomer to Cedar River is welcomed with open arms and she is protected as one of their own. Even though her memory has yet to return, the residents of Cedar River are helping her and her son to settle in. 

Brady Golden is a dragon who loves routine. Being outside makes his job as a guide an easy one. He believes women are meant to be treasured and sex is not something to be taken lightly. 

Silver Larkin is a witch from the town of Witch Lake. Her coven is one of the most powerful covens in the world. She rides into town desperate to find her childhood friend who went missing four years ago and instead, finds something she never thought she'd find: True Love. 

A witch who believes she's incapable of true love and a dragon who is looking for a specific type of woman, two beings who are complete opposites, yet perfect for each other. With danger looming on the edges of Cedar River, can Brady convince Silver that she is The Golden Dragon's Treasure?

Buy Link:
Amazon

Excerpt:
 “So, that’s the hot little witch who’s got you all tied up?” Blaze said as Silver walked away.

I probably should explain a little bit about Blaze. He is the complete opposite of me.
How we ever became friends, I’ll never truly understand. I’m the guy who likes to stay home and keep to myself, Blaze wants to go out and party. I’m a one woman kind of guy. I’ve seen Blaze go through four women in a single night. The phoenix shifter moved to town the summer before our freshman year in high school. Bowie and Brand, the fire chief, spent most of their time in high school as rivals, but Blaze and I had been instant best friends. Mama always compared Blaze and I to the devil and angel you see sitting on the characters’ shoulders in cartoons. Blaze raised his share of hell, but I kept him from raising more than he did.

“Yeah, that’s her,” I said, trying not to notice the wiggle in her walk or her laugh as she
joked with Samson.

“She’s hot, brother, I will give her that.”

“She’s also annoys the hell out of me. I want a woman who is all sweet and feminine. I want
to make the moves in a relationship. Something tells me that is not how it would be with Silver Larkin.”

Blaze laughed. “So? Maybe it’s time for something different. If you haven’t noticed, your
bed has been awful cold the last few years. I say Ms. Larkin would be just the thing to heat it
up.”

“More like turning it into an inferno,” I mumbled as she came back with our food.





Keeper of the Golden Dragon’s Heart (Book 1)

Blurb:
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan seems like it is another country. The rawness and beauty of the land draws people from every walk of life. What most people don't realize is there is a little town nestled on the banks of Lake Superior that an entire group of supernatural beings call home. Shifters of every shape and size live there. They raise their families there. Tourists come from near and far to visit the quaint town of Cedar River, Michigan. The tourists never realize they are walking among some of the most unusual beings on earth.

Bowie Golden is a dragon shifter who is in charge of Cedar River's safety. Until now, the biggest threat to anyone's safety was Anastasia Plum, a witch/puma-shifter. She has been the town hellraiser since she was a teenager. Now someone has discovered the secret the residents of Cedar River keep for one another. These radicals are determined to eradicate the entire town. It's up to Bowie to keep them all safe.

Ana has always idolized Bowie. She may have stirred up trouble from time to time, but Bowie or one of his brothers would always get her out of the trouble she was in. One day, it happened. The unthinkable, the unimaginable occurred. Anastasia Plum fell for the "golden" boy. What an unlikely duo- the sheriff and the hellraiser!

Just as these two discover their passion for one another, a group of people is determined to keep them apart. It's up to Ana to prove that she is the only Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart.


Buy Link:
Amazon

Natural Born Enemies (Book 2)

Blurb:
Cedar River, Michigan is a wonderful place to fall in love. Some people see change as a good thing, but there are a few others who can’t let go of the “old ways.” “Breeds should stay within their breeds,” they say.

Adam Thomas is the deputy sheriff in Cedar River. His black puma shifter side got him released from the military and sent back home. His demons followed, but they are nothing compared to the ones within his pride.

Luna McIntyre is the only daughter and shaman to the McIntyre pack. She is tired of being smothered and told what to do in regards to her life. She’s opened a sweet shop and moved forward with her life. However, the love of her teen years is back in town and her family is trying to rein her in again.

Someone in this small town is so set in their beliefs that they can’t see how love is sometimes simply love. Cats and canines may be natural born enemies, but love may be enough to get past the differences.

Buy Link:


Author Bio:
Gemma K. Murray is a busy college student and mom to an amazing 6 year old English Mastiff, who spends most of his time trying to steal her spot in bed. She laughs, loves, and lives a life that she thought was only for fairytales…of the adult variety. She has found her happiness…

Social links:
Website: http://gemmakmurray.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GemmaKMurray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/GemmaKMurray
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GemmaKMurray
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GemmaKMurray
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/

Thank you so much Gemma for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here today! It was a pleasure to host you.

Alright readers, go visit Gemma's website and don't forget to grab your copies of this new series!!



InkSlinger Presents~Laura Kaye's Hard To Be Good Cover Reveal!






Thank you for stopping by today for Laura Kaye's Hard To Be Good Cover Reveal presented by InkSlinger PR.

Title: Hard To Be Good
Author: Laura Kaye
Series: Hard Ink book 3.5
Publisher: HarperCollins~Imprint-Avon Impulse
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Goodreads

Blurb:
Hard Ink Tattoo owner Jeremy Rixey has taken on his brother’s stateside fight against the forces that nearly killed Nick and his Special Forces team a year before. Now, Jeremy’s whole world has been turned upside down—not the least of which by a brilliant, quiet blond man who tempts Jeremy to settle down for the first time ever.

Recent kidnapping victim Charlie Merritt has always been better with computers than people, so when he’s drawn into the SF team’s investigation of his army colonel father’s corruption, he’s surprised to find acceptance and friendship—especially since his father never accepted who Charlie was. Even more surprising is the heated tension Charlie feels with sexy, tattooed Jeremy, Charlie’s opposite in almost every way.

With tragedy and chaos all around them, temptation flashes hot, and Jeremy and Charlie can’t help but wonder why they’re trying so hard to be good…





Pre-Order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo

Title: Hard To Let Go
Author: Laura Kaye
Series: Hard Ink book 4
Publisher: HarperCollins~Imprint-Avon Impulse
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Goodreads


Blurb:
Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers' Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger's gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he's also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat's brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett's sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies' crosshairs. Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.





Pre-Order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo

 

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:
 

And right now, for a limited time only, grab HARD TO COME BY on sale for $2.49!







Praise for the Hard Ink Series:
For Hard As You Can:

"TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!" ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine

"Hard As You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!" ~San Francisco Book Review


For Hard As It Gets:

"Edgy, sexy and full of suspense!  A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward

"Sizzling romance... The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna." ~Publishers Weekly Review

"Kaye's depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks' KGI and Julia Ann Walker's Black Knight's series." ~Booklist


Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.


Contact Laura:
Website  
Facebook 
Twitter 
Newsletter SignUp  






Hard to Be Good on Goodreads
Hard to Let Go on Goodreads 




Monday, January 12, 2015

~~The Darkside Codex Books~~

Hello everyone!!!! It's good to be back! Today I'm hosting The Dark Codex Books. Check out the books and have a good time.


The Caelimane Operation 
Southwatch is a steampunk city divided: the rich live in the luxurious airships of the Aerie, while the poor eke out an existence in the pollution-choked streets below. From one extreme to another, idealistic professors, devious aristocrats, mechanicals and fae all struggle for the future of the city they all share -- or just try to survive. The Caelimane Operation by Chris Pavesic is the latest story in The Darkside Codex, a series of stand alone stories which take place in Southwatch. 

Released January 16th, this is one story you won't be able to stop reading.
  
In case you still need some convincing, here's a blurb: 
When the Temples to the Goddess north of Southwatch are burned and followers of Dione are murdered, Hierocrat Catherine, a bard of the Caelimane Temple, sets out to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. With only the help of a traveling group of minstrels and a retired fae investigator, Catherine must solve the mystery before more people are killed, but will she succeed when she finds herself pitted against members of her own Temple, rogue members of the Seelie Court, and a seemingly unstoppable army of undead?  
And here is how the story begins: 
Prologue: 
Jackson “We should turn north, sir,” Corporal Ben Jackson urged as the shadows started to lengthen. “If we hurry, we can be inside the capital city borders by nightfall.” He glanced up at the surrounding trees, tall oaks for the most part, with a birch or an ash here and there. To the west, where the sky glowed with the departing sun, the branches and leaves were outlined in yellow light like the converse of the unifying dark lead network of stained glass. To someone like Jackson, more accustomed to patrolling fields swept clean from the Dark Cloud devastation that still surrounded the towering city of Southwatch, the sight of so much living vegetation was unnerving. “Are you afraid of the dark, Corporal?” Lieutenant Reginald Daniels asked with the hint of a smirk. Jackson did not respond directly to the question. He was experienced enough in the Army to know that no good came from answering an inquiry of this sort. Newly appointed officers like Daniels loved testing their men with these types of abstractions, and Jackson did not want to spend the foreseeable future on night patrol outside the borders of the city when they returned to Southwatch from their current mission. “Just concerned about the mounts lasting, sir,” Jackson lied. “We’ve been riding hard since we left the garrison, and it’s been a while since I’ve wound the clockwork.” He patted the side of his horse’s neck almost as an afterthought to lend credence to his reply. The mechanical tossed its head in close approximation of a real horse. It neighed, the gentle sound echoing a bit too loudly back from the trees. Somewhere, an animal crashed off though the underbrush, startled by the noise. “There is no need to be concerned, Corporal. Thalaker’s Mounts are the original all-terrain vehicles.” Daniels smiled at his own humor. He sat a bit straighter in the saddle and brushed a bit of dust from his left sleeve. Although following the same general pattern, the material in Daniels’s uniform was of higher quality than Jackson’s own—a creation from a tailor that serviced the families in the Aerie. It wouldn’t do to have an aristocrat wearing something that was standard issue, after all. Jackson favored his superior’s outfit with a bitter glance. The cloth and tooled leather were probably worth more than his annual salary. “And we’ve barely put the mounts to the test,” Daniels continued. “I’m sure the clockwork will hold until tonight.” “The test, sir?” Jackson asked. He didn’t like the sound of his superior officer’s comment. “Need to Know, Corporal, but I can guarantee you won’t see the inside of St. Louis tonight. We have other duties.” He spurred his horse down the path. “Quickly, now, before the light deserts us completely.” Jackson glared at his superior officer’s back, suppressed anger in his eyes. He didn’t believe the “Need to Know” explanation one bit; the commander of the Southwatch Army unit, Lt. Colonel Randall Fitzgerald, wasn’t the sort to send out men on a mission with so little information, or even normally to send them this far outside the borders of Southwatch. Fitzgerald might be a bit lax when it came to some things, but he was not one to put his soldiers’ lives at risk unnecessarily. And this was beginning to feel dangerous. He suspected Daniels was making some sort of a power play and dragging him along for the ride. This was typical behavior of aristocrats who joined the military, and Daniels came from a family that lived in the Aerie, albeit in one of the lower airships without the best view of the sky. Still, it was a lot higher in the city than a low rank solider like Jackson could ever hope to attain. He doubted if he and his family would ever live above the Dark Cloud, the toxic stew of chemicals, pollution, and dust bisecting the city. But there was nothing to be done for it. The order had been given, and honor bound him to obey. Ten minutes more of hard riding found them approaching a small, overgrown side road, now no more than ancient double ruts cut into the ground. Daniels swung them onto it, slowing their pace to accommodate the new terrain. The road carried them up and across a rising series of fields like steps. There were many deep breaks of evergreens on the rising slopes at either hand. They finally topped a long ridge where the path split; to the east, the road descended into a dark wood, finding its way among trees that were centuries old. To the west, the fields had been cleared and gradually sloped even higher. A building stood on the apex. The upper reaches still held the sunset and glowed with a delicate cool pink. Daniels dismounted. He checked the position of the sun. “Just enough light left, I think, for a quick reconnaissance. We will continue on by foot from here, Corporal,” he said. “You take point. We are heading for the Temple of Dione at the top of the hill.” The ground was damp and muddy, pulling at their boots when they lifted their feet to take a step. There was no sound except the chirping of small insects in the grass. The old cobblestones from the path were scattered, making footing even more hazardous, and Jackson threaded his way through. He could just make out the outline of a burned wall and spire, all that was left of the Temple. Jackson felt a momentary sadness seeing the Temple in ruins. Like many others in Southwatch, he was a follower of Dione and a member of the Caelimane Temple. He may have been a bit careless of late in attending services, but that was more about his distrust of the clergy rather than his faith in the Goddess. He still believed in Dione; he believed in her light as a shining salvation. To see one of her Temples reduced to this burned state didn’t fit into his concept of divinity. He considered what it must look like inside—the stone altar scorched, the pews overturned, broken, and blackened—and he wondered if anyone had been inside when it burned. Had this happened during the night when the Temple was deserted or during a full service? Had the people been able to evacuate in time, or had they been trapped inside? “Do you know what happened here, sir?” he couldn’t help asking. Daniels paused a moment, staring off into the distance, his face reflective. “This is what we need to determine, Corporal.” Jackson scanned the area as they approached the ruins. The shadows of the evening were beginning to stretch outward and obscure the small details of the landscape. The ground here was dry and level. The smell of the fire, a mix of charred oak and a sickly sweet odor he couldn’t identify, still lingered in the air. Even their footsteps seemed to fall like stones dropped into water, muffled and dying away in ripples. Then the wind picked up, flattening the grass in the courtyard. A few of the ornamental trees in the yard of the Temple creaked and groaned in chorus, the movement of the leaves and branches making shadows jump and dance across the ground. A thin trail of blackened grass started about ten yards away from the building and led toward it in a straight line. Daniels knelt next to it and scooped up a handful of earth and ashes. He examined them, lifted them to his face to smell, and then sifted the ashes and dirt through his fingers as the wind bore it away in a puff of dust. “Definitely some sort of an accelerant was used here. Probably splashed over the building and then the arsonist used this as a safety zone to start the blaze.” “Were there people inside, sir? When it burned?” Jackson didn’t know why he asked; he didn’t think Daniels would even know, and indeed his commanding officer appeared to be ignoring the question. It was just a desire for comfort, perhaps, so he wouldn’t have to envision the worshipers caught in the flames, crying and shrieking to the Goddess for mercy. He shook his head, as if to clear it of the images, and found he was sweating. You have to stop being so spooked,  Jackson told himself.  It’s only an empty shell of a building. Even if people died in there…you have to go up there and investigate. That’s all. Don’t give Daniels a reason to write you up when you get back. Don’t give him the satisfaction. A huge white owl circled above the crumbling Temple spire, unhurried, powerful, and silent. Daniels dusted off his hand against the leg of his trouser. “Take a look around the perimeter.” They had almost crossed the courtyard when the wind shifted, blowing in from the dark forest. The stench was horrific. Jackson covered his mouth, and Daniels was struggling not to gag. It was the fetid reek of carrion. “Respirator!” Daniels barked, pulling on his own. Jackson fumbled with his protective breathing apparatus, managing to snap it into place after a few frantic seconds. He took a deep breath, grateful for the clear air that flowed into his lungs. A shadow arose from the dark of the wood. It came at them with startling speed, almost seeming to sprint up the hill. As it drew closer, the last gleams of light fell upon its maggoty-white, glistening skin. Black, gelatinous fluids seeped from pustules that covered its face and arms. It bared its teeth and spat specks of ichor with a burbling growl. It was the shambling wreck of a human being. It was one of many. They emerged from the shadow of the forest and charged up the hill en masse, ten…fifteen…twenty… Jackson stopped counting and drew his weapon a scant moment after Daniels barked a command to attack. They fired their pistols into the advancing horde with no effect. “Rapiers!” Daniels yelled, throwing his pistol to the ground and drawing his secondary weapon. He activated the electrical field, and sparks flew. Jackson followed suit. They fought with their backs to each other. Their electro-rapiers flashed in the dim light. Fluids gushed from the undead creatures, the flesh taking on a creamy consistency and turning black where their blades sliced and burned. Pieces of the creatures fell in all directions. Limbs were everywhere, crawling on the ground, unattached fingers squirming. Howling with harsh tones, thrashing in agony, the undead fell at their feet, the bodies still flaying with wild movements. Daniels fell to his knees, shrieking and covered in blood, overwhelmed by the sheer number of bodies charging him. Cold, fish-white hands rent his limbs. Some were more decomposed than others, bones visible in places as they staggered forward, mouths gaping. The eyes were as dark as the pavement on the lower streets of Southwatch; there was no human thought or feeling in them. Jackson was panting from the effort, now. His respirator could barely keep up with the increased breaths. He took one hit, then another. He felt the sting of torn flesh as the undead carved away chunks of his body. He cried out in pain. The sharp white teeth, behind the full lips of blood dripping mouths, clamped together like those of wild beasts. A flash of anger filled him that his body would be taken in bits and pieces by these things to feed them—it was not acceptable. That his living flesh was no more than so much meat to be torn and slashed by their ravenous maws spurred him into a frenzy of unthinking attack. He thrust his rapier forward, overbalanced, and fell to the ground screaming as a dozen maggoty-white bodies swarmed over his fallen frame. The men’s cries of agony silenced. Soon, only the wet sounds of flesh being torn and dragged could be heard.  

You can purchase a copy of The Caelimane Operation here.  

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 Blurb:
Charles Woodridge is a man pursuing a vision. His advancements in hydroponics promise both to relieve the hunger plaguing the poorest citizens of Southwatch and to propel his ambitions for career, fortune, and family. But when an act of sabotage destroys his lab and his records are stolen, all his dreams are put in jeopardy.

Against a backdrop of riots, class conflict, and criminal intrigue, Charles must decide who to trust: his long-time mentor, Professor Cyril Wainwright; the methodical police detective, Jack Montgomery; or Mira Trevarias, his brilliant, mysterious botanist, a woman with a connection to Charles he does not fully understand. The choice he makes will have far-reaching consequences for both himself and the city. The wrong choice could destroy them all.


You can purchase a copy of Applied Natural Magic here. 

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 Blurb:
Alysse has just been cast in the role of a lifetime―the lead in a famous opera. But when her sister Leonie dies, Alysse believes her sister was murdered, and vows revenge.

Kyria is an Angel of Steel, who works with Alysse to find the killer. They soon realize that Leonie's death was the opening gambit in a plan that reaches from the industrial districts to the palatial airships of the Aerie, and they need to find its source from the clues left behind. 


But what do a dead courtesan, a Fae spy , a hidden cache of jewels, and a cadre of conniving conspirators have in common? Nothing less than a plot to control not only the political power of Southwatch, but that of the Caelimane Temple as well. Alysse and Kyria must find a way to stop them, even in the eye of the storm.
 

  Storm Angel can be purchased here. ,  

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 Blurb:
An experimental operation by a shady scientist left Mellia immune to most electrical currents, but addicted to high voltage that pushes her to the edge of death. When she isn't chasing a fix in the factories and tunnels of Southwatch, she is an expert at fixing the wiring in broken gas masks.

A job offer from a professor offers what she needs most: money. As she fixes masks, though, she grows curious about his work. Can he really breed plants that will survive beneath the Dark Cloud of the city? The only way to test his theories is to travel into a region of the Cloud so foul that every mask fails. Running an electric current through the filters might be the last chance to keep their masks working, but that means Mellia has to go along with the professor and his students. Playing with electricity inside the abandoned levels of the city may be the last thing her addicted body needs.
 

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 Blurb:                                                                  
Hot-shot engineer Arthur Singleton is on the verge of achieving all his dreams when they are snatched away from him. His sympathies for the plight of mistreated workers lead him to speak up in their support, but for doing so he is made a scapegoat by the heads of industry, falsely accused of inciting a riot which they orchestrated to keep the people in their place. With his reputation ruined and his career in tatters, Singleton vanishes into the squalid streets of Southwatch, determined to make a difference where it really counts: in the lives of ordinary men and women, forgotten or ignored by those who live in comfort and luxury above the Dark Cloud.

Years later Singleton emerges from obscurity again as a secret leader in the Workers' Movement, an underground protest organisation dedicated to challenging the status quo--but no change comes easy, especially when it threatens the profits of the wealthy. Looking down on their activities is Jocelyn Duville, heiress to a unique airborne transportation empire, who once considered Singleton more than a colleague and was an unwitting player in his wrongful disgrace. Now a darling of high society, Jocelyn is far from a conventional figure herself, refusing to simply marry and give up her independence. She has big plans for Southwatch, a proposal that will change the face of the city and write her name in the history books in the process. But her goals epitomise everything the Workers' Movement struggles against, and they will not stand by and watch without a fight.

However, these are not the only forces at play. Street gangs, the city government, and the strange, inhuman beings that live in Southwatch's deep shadows all have vested interests in the outcome of the building conflict. Arthur Singleton and Jocelyn Duville will face off across a chasm of class, each wielding very different kinds of power--unaware that they are pitted against each other, and of the terrible consequences their actions will have on the city they both love.


You can purchase a copy of The Glass Sealing here.


Monday, December 8, 2014

Laptop Issues

I'm sorry to say to my followers and the tour promotions I post for that I am unable to post anything until my new laptop arrives.

A warning to those who's laptops have an AMD processor, watch it carefully that it doesn't over heat! Also make sure your backups are up to date.!

I will start posting again as soon as I can.

Thank you everyone for understanding.


Julianne