Category Archives: Reading

Spotlight: Getting a Raise

Posted on by

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today!

I’m super excited about my first real Evernight release of the year.

A short m/m that I just adored writing and hope you guys enjoy it too.

 gettingaraise

Blurb:

Nick is the most beautiful, successful, amazing man—just ask his executive assistant Tayte.

Tayte’s been in love with his boss from the moment he set eyes on him. But two years working with him and Tayte isn’t even sure Nick is gay.

But it’s time for his contract evaluation and Nick wants to give Tayte more than just a raise.

 

Excerpt:

“Hey, Tayte.”

The insipid voice of Connor Turner bounced into Tayte’s brain and he suppressed the shudder that rose. He lifted his gaze and took in the spectrum of color before him.

“Hey, Connor.”

Connor, who was the assistant of Greg Scholl, the man just beneath Nick on the totem pole, flounced up and rested his hip on Tayte’s desk.

“So… found out if Nick is gay yet?”

Tayte forced a smile to his lips and sat up straighter in his chair. He didn’t know, much to his chagrin. Even if he did, he certainly wouldn’t be announcing it to the biggest gossip in the building.

“Not my business, Connor.”

Connor laughed and winked. “I’ll take that as a no. You know, they say Nick only wants male assistants because he has a super jealous wife at home who can’t handle the idea of him having a hot secretary.”

Tayte inhaled sharply through his nose and turned his smile up a notch.

“I haven’t encountered a wife, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”

And it was true. Tayte hadn’t encountered any wives, girlfriends, no significant other at all. However, that didn’t mean anything, since Nick received a lot of calls on his cell, but after two years, Tayte was starting to think Nick was single.

But Hetero or Homo? That was the million dollar question.

“I have heaps of work to do, Connor, and I’m sure you do too.”

Connor giggled and stepped back, his hips swinging as he moved back toward the lift.

“Oh, I’ve been working since sunrise. You know how it is.” He winked and laughed, turning away without waiting for Tayte to respond.

“No, but you certainly do.” Tayte answered anyway, grinding his teeth in frustration for a minute. He hated those sorts of guys. He didn’t mind effeminate gay men. Hell, he’d fucked more than his fair share of them over the years. But guys that deliberately acted ‘gay’ when it wasn’t their natural disposition just pissed him off. Not to mention how much men, and women for that matter, who slept their way to the top, and Connor was a prime example of that, really grated on his nerves.

“Well, you can get in line behind me if you want Nick, Connor, because I’m not moving.” Tayte muttered to himself and scanned over his list of daily jobs. Wow. Lucky Nick was out of the office today, or he’d never get all that done.

He worked all afternoon, not stopping when everyone else left at five. He really should go home, but what was waiting for him there? Two idiotic housemates and a pile of dirty washing.

“You could actually go out. Get laid.” He muttered to himself once again, furious he wasn’t excited about another one-night stand.

But how could he be? Ten minutes with some random guy? Yuck, he’d had enough of that sort of life.

“You could, I’m sure.” Nick’s voice boomed through the foyer and Tayte cried out as shock had him jumping back from his desk, his heart leaping into his throat before settling to pound against his rib cage as he looked up at his boss.

“Fuck, you scared me.”

Nick walked closer, pulling at his tie and letting it hang on his shirt in a casual way.

“Why are you still here, Tayte? You’re young and beautiful. You should be out getting your cock sucked by some lovely little thing.”

Heat flowed up into Tayte’s cheeks and he glanced down at his computer, quickly shutting down all the open programs. He’d never heard Nick speak like that, and the crude words were turning him on in a shameful way. Nothing better than a man who could talk dirty.

“Ah, well, I had to finish a few things and I, ah, l…lost track of time. I’ll g…get out of your way and h…head home now though.”

Tayte was stuttering, but he couldn’t help it. He was as embarrassed as the day his mother had found him jerking off in the bathroom when he was fifteen.

“Don’t rush, if you don’t have to go. Stay.”

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Raise-Romance-Tamsin-Baker-ebook/dp/B00LWHA640/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405645009&sr=1-9&keywords=tamsin+baker

Evernight: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/getting-a-raise-by-tamsin-baker/

 

 

Tamsin Baker Links:

Website: www.tamsinbakererotic.com

Blog: www.erotictamsinbaker.blogspot.com.au

 

Being Luca’s by Raven McAllan

Posted on by

beinglucas1s

The premise for the book was very limited.

Using the name Leigh, Monteith, and Corrieri, because my hairdresser asked me to. Apart from that it was up to me. I knew what I wanted to write, but oh boy it wouldn’t work for ages. I deleted the first two chapters, started with chapter three as chapter one, and all of a sudden, I wrote, and wrote, and finished a nice—well I hope so—Romance on the Go. Then I got worried that Leigh, the person, might not like Leigh the character. But she loved her, drooled over Luca and wanted to know when it was due to be published. Well I had to explain there was the none too small matter of subbing and getting an acceptance.

But chair swivel jiggle I got it…

This is the result…

 

What is a marriage without trust?

When damning newspaper reports point to the seeming infidelity of her husband, Formula One Racing Championship driver Luca Corrieri, Leigh runs without waiting for his explanations.

After all, the pictures don’t lie. He has been cheating on her with her best friend.

Luca is devastated at the ease with which Leigh abandons what they have. Surely their marriage deserves more, but how do you convince someone of your innocence when they are not prepared to listen?

When the truth finally comes out, is their love strong enough to save their marriage?

 

Here’s a wee tease…

She lay there in that pleasant state halfway between awake and asleep and relaxed.

The heavy hand on her shoulder made her scream, shoot up out of her chair, and turn around in a move to do any prima ballerina proud. Red wine went in every direction, except luckily, on her.

The guy who stood behind her chair didn’t fare so well. With red wine dripping from his hair onto his face, and from his chin onto what seemed like a very costly silk shirt, he looked a mess. Even his expensive-looking trousers hadn’t got off scot-free.

The expression made Leigh want to giggle—after all she was a Scot— although the guy standing there with a face like frost didn’t.

“What a way to greet me, cara. Are you still feeling so pissy? After all you got what you wanted.”

Leigh saw red and it wasn’t just the spilled wine. All her introspective thoughts about being narrow minded flew out of her mind.

“Asshole. Fucking asshole. No, you got what you wanted. Your dick in that marriage wrecking groupie’s cunt. What I wanted was your bollocks in a vise. And her clit to shrivel and her channel to shrink.”

She couldn’t believe the profanities that spewed out of her. Leigh always prided herself on not swearing, because as her mother had often said, it showed a lack of imagination and vocabulary. Right then she couldn’t have cared less if it made her illiterate. The words fitted.

He reddened, took out a linen handkerchief, and wiped his face without saying a word.

Leigh was on a roll. In some perverse way she was enjoying herself. It was cathartic, saying just how she felt, to his face. “I hope you got yourself checked out, Luca? After all who knows who was in that pussy before you? Did you check the hair for nits? Oh no I forgot, she’s probably one who dares to bare.” She didn’t mention that since she and Luca had separated she’d tried that, liked it, and never gone back to hairy. “Best way really, less to catch anything in.”

“You know nothing.” He barked the words, looked around and then dropped the sodden handkerchief onto the table. “That’s enough.”

Leigh ignored him. “Not by a long chalk Signor Corrieri. Why are you here? How did you get in? Added breaking and entering to your list of transgressions now, have we?”

He swung a door key in front of her face. “No breaking necessary, cara. You left this in the door. Freudian slip? Or were you waiting for someone else?”

“Neither.” She snatched the key from him and put it in her pocket. “I’m not the one who played away.”

“Will this verbal crucifixion go on for ever?” Luca’s voice was flat and unemotional. Only the tic at the corner of his eye showed how affected he was. “I screwed up, I admit it. I said sorry, what more do you want me to do? Bleed?”

“Well you screwed all right, and I guess it was up. Up into her. Bleeding isn’t enough. I’ve bled enough for both of us.” Leigh bit back a sob. Luca lifted his arm toward her, took one look at her face and let it drop. She could only imagine what he’d seen there. However, if her emotions showed in her expression as usual, it would have been something along the lines of how she was wondering if she could commit murder and get away with it.

“You cheated, Luca. You defiled what we had. And that bitch crowed about it. In every bloody paper, before you said as much as a dicky bird. Were you hoping to get away with it? Fat chance with Angela, oh I’m your friend Leigh, bloody here’s my cunt screw me whatsherface. Two faced bitch.” All her thoughts of being open-minded, things aren’t always what they seem, had gone from her mind. She was, in the words of her friend’s daughter, ‘in a mad’. “As for you, couldn’t you have kept your cock in your trousers for one weekend? Was that too much to ask? And now I expect you’re going to say it was all her doing. That she came on to you, and you were drunk and didn’t know what was happening. Men. Think with their dicks.” She turned her back on him and very deliberately filled her glass.

“No, I’m not going to say it was all her doing. It takes two to be f…”

“Okay I get your drift.” Leigh sat back in her chair. “Oh sit down, Luca. Tell me why you’re here and then go away. If you want some wine, in a glass and in your throat rather than over you, there are glasses in the cupboard next to the sink. If not speak up and then fuck off. I want to wallow and wonder why I’m so lacking in sexuality my husband needed a whore.”

“You are so wrong, cara. But it’s not my story to tell.” Luca sighed, nodded and walked into the house. She heard cupboard doors open and close. Why hadn’t she just told him to get lost? Taken her key and locked the door behind him?

Because we’ve never really talked about it.

Luca returned to the garden and poured wine into a glass before he sat next to her and swirled the liquid around the vessel.

“Good legs,” he said.

She laughed, although there wasn’t a lot of humor in it.

“Me or the wine?”

“Both, although in this case I meant the wine.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him, and held his wine glass loosely between thumb and forefinger.

Leigh looked at him out of the corner of her eye. As ever during the race season there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him, only honed and toned muscle. In any other circumstances she would have drooled.

“Ah well, I had a good teacher.” By now Leigh had calmed down. Except for her unruly hormones which made her itch to undo his shirt and run her hands over those impressive abs and … down girl, this is your lying, cheating almost ex here. Or he was until she thought otherwise.  The cuss-filled rant had done her good, but worn her out. “Okay, Luca, why are you here?”

“You’re not going to like it,” he said in a warning tone. “But I felt I had to warn you.”

Warn her? That sounded ominous. Was there anything worse he could hit her with

“Tell me.”

*****

Being Luca’s is available to be downloaded to an eReader near you from…

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/being-lucas-by-raven-mcallan/

 

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Lucas-Romance-Raven-McAllan-ebook/dp/B00LUCO8E6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405507443&sr=1-1&keywords=raven+mcallan

 

http://www.amazon.com/Being-Lucas-Romance-Raven-McAllan-ebook/dp/B00LUCO8E6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405507443&sr=1-1&keywords=raven+mcallan

 

http://www.bookstrand.com/being-lucas-mf

 

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-beingluca039s-1571101-149.html

 Hair july 14

you can stalk me on www.ravenmcallan.com where all my sites are noted

Come Chat with Me!

Posted on by

Moonlight Warrior AGW6 cover small

I’m over at Bitten by Books this afternoon and evening. Come on by and ask me a question, strike up a conversation about shapeshifters, or whatever you’d like. Learn more about my Ashton Grove Werewolves series, and enter for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card or a complete set of the Ashton Grove Werewolves (what there is of it so far).

 

COME CHAT WITH ME!

Mastering Elodie – Available for Pre-Order

Posted on by

pw-gp-masteringelodie3

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Rubenesque Consensual BDSM Cowboy Ménage a Quatre Romance, M/F/M/M, spanking, food play, sex toys, HEA]

Elodie Mitchell has struggled her whole life, not only with her weight but also with feelings of being a misfit in the only home she’s ever known. She may not have ever been with a man, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t dreamed about it. When Beau and Beck Davidson enter her life, she thinks they’re too good to be true. Then she finds out there aren’t two brothers—there are three! What’s a woman to do with all of that hard, muscular, sun-kissed flesh just beckoning to be stroked? Try everything she’s ever read about!

But things are not all sunshine and roses in Elodie’s life. As she learns to explore her sexuality with the brothers, there’s a darkness hanging over her. She’s survived so much already, but there is more yet to come. Will the brothers be able to save her in time, or will they lose the only woman they’ve ever loved?

EXCERPT

Elodie finished her shift, working hard the rest of the day and night, feeling like she was going to drop at any moment. Her feet had never been so sore before. And she wasn’t going to think about how much her back ached. She doubted even a hot bath would cure what ailed her tonight. But as ready as she was to put her feet up, she didn’t really relish going home to her empty apartment. When she’d woken this morning, she’d discovered that her cable had been shut off. Apparently she was farther behind in payments than she’d thought. Thank God, she had one of those pay-as-you-go cell phones, or she’d be without a phone by now too. Couldn’t anything go right for her? It seemed if it could go wrong, it did.

After clocking out, she gathered her things and headed out to her car. She’d had to park around the corner in back of the diner. It wasn’t an ideal place to be at night, in the dark, because there weren’t any lights back there. The light over the rear entrance had a short in it and never worked properly, so the owner just quit turning it on.

The door slammed shut behind her, and she dug blindly through her purse in an attempt to find her keys. If she’d been smart, she’d have pulled them out before she stepped into the blackness of the alley, but she was just too damn tired to think clearly. Finally, her hand closed around the cold metal of her keychain, and she pulled it out, keys jangling. She walked briskly down the side of the building toward her car, one hand gripping her purse.

A shadow stepped away from the building, directly into her path. She froze, aware that she’d have to go through him to get to her car, and the door to the diner was too far away. The shadow moved closer until she could make out his features. Casey Woods, Mayor Woods’s illegitimate son, and known troublemaker. What he could want with her, she had no idea. She’d seen him around town, but they’d never really talked before. He’d been two years behind her in school.

“Give me your purse,” he said, his voice raspy like he was getting over a cold. As he drew nearer, she saw his eyes were bloodshot and his skin was pale. She quickly assessed him, saw his jittery hands and determined that he was in need of a fix.

All of the money she’d earned today was in her purse. If she gave it to him, she’d have nothing. Even her phone was in the purse, along with her license and her favorite lipstick. Something told her he wouldn’t allow her to remove any of the items, especially not the hard earned cash that she so desperately needed. With a hand that was steadier than she’d have thought possible, she held the purse out to him.

He stepped closer and jerked it from her grasp. “Now the keys.”

She swallowed hard and clenched her hand around the keys. That damn car was the only thing she had left; she couldn’t part with it willingly. Maybe if she refused, he’d decide it wasn’t worth the hassle and just leave.

“You can’t have my car. I need it.”

“So do I, bitch. Now give me the keys.”

She shook her head and backed up a step. With wide eyes, she watched as he pulled a gun from behind his back and pointed it at her. As if in slow motion, she saw him pull the trigger, watched the gun kick, and a moment later felt the bullet slam into her. Either he was a lousy shot, or he didn’t intend to kill her. Blood blossomed on her shirt near her left shoulder and the world spun. She pressed her hand over the wound and sank to the ground, her knees hitting the unforgiving pavement. The heat of the day seeped through her jeans and burned her skin. Even though it had been hours since the sun went down, it was still a hot and humid night. Sweat beaded on the back of her neck and drenched the cups of her bra.

The metallic scent of her blood filled her nose as dots swam before her eyes. Casey stepped closer and wrenched the keys from her hand, pulling on her shoulder. She cried out in pain and watched, helpless, as he ran to her car. He jumped inside, started it, and peeled out of the alley. As the taillights disappeared around the corner, she called out for help, hoping someone would hear her.

Lightheaded and dizzy, she sucked in a lungful of the balmy air before sinking into oblivion, her body slumping to the ground. Lying face down on the pavement, blood began to pool under her shoulder.

 

Available for Pre-Order! 

Coming July 3rd

Witch Way to Love – Now Available!

Posted on by

 wwtl1m

 

When Breena McCall goes to find her wayward wand, the last thing she expects to find is the man destined to be hers. Instant attraction only goes so far, especially when her chosen one acts like someone pissed in his kibble.

Wolf Shifter Cade Milcom doesn’t understand the sudden urge to bend the witch over and take her every way imaginable. She’s sassy, sarcastic, and gets on his nerves from the beginning. And yet, he finds himself answering the distress call when she gets herself into trouble.

An accidental mating and a demon bent on blackmail make for an interesting few days, but it’s nothing Breena can’t handle. Maybe.

 

EXCERPT

 

Lightning skittered across the sky, the brilliant flashes lighting up everything around her. Thunder boomed overhead, shaking the earth beneath her feet. The high-powered winds whipped her long, red hair around her head and made her fight for purchase on the pavement. It was a bad night out, for witches and mortals alike. If only she hadn’t lost her damn wand! What was a witch without her wand? Damn near mortal, that’s what. The heavens were going to open up at any moment and she would be drenched. Taking a witch’s wand was as good as stealing her powers. No, she didn’t need the wand to create magick, but if it wasn’t in her possession, her powers sort of…fizzled and died out.

Her high-heeled sandals were a poor choice of footwear at the moment, as she tottered down the sidewalk, following the beacon of light in the distance. She’d cast a locator spell in hopes of finding her wayward wand. She wasn’t certain if it had been appropriated by someone, or had merely wandered off, kind of like her broom had done the month before. Anyone who thought a wand was an inanimate object was a fool. It had a life force of its own. Otherwise, it would just be a piece of wood with pretty carvings.

The beam of light shooting into the sky started to flicker, and she worried it would sputter out completely. She could tell it was in the area the residents of Mayfair Heights called “the jungle.” Only shape-shifters lived in that part of town. Despite the ominous clouds in the sky, she knew there was a full moon tonight. She just had to hope whoever had taken the wand, or the lucky person her wand had chosen as its guardian, was in residence. It would be just her luck that the furball would be out on a run, even if the weather did leave a lot to be desired.

With the wind buffeting her small body, she felt like she was fighting an uphill battle, and wondered if she’d ever reach her destination. If her powers weren’t on the fritz, she could just translocate to wherever she needed to go. But, of course, on the worst night they’d had in months, she was stuck traveling on foot. She couldn’t even use her broom until she was at full power again. The damn thing refused to work. She completely blamed the tree sprite, the one who had gifted her with the branch used to carve the broom handle. It had obviously imbued some of its stubbornness into her broom.

Breena rounded another corner and sighed in relief. The home she sought was half a block away and lit up like the fourth of July, thanks to her little spell. She thanked the goddess that it had worked so well, or at all, for that matter. She couldn’t imagine having to find her wand the old-fashioned way, or having to hire someone else to cast the spell for her. How embarrassing! It was bad enough that things like this kept happening to her, but if the spell-casters guild caught wind of it, they’d pull her license to practice for sure.

As she neared the home, she took in the little details, like the gargoyles standing guard at the edges of the roof. She had no doubt they were the real thing and gave them a little wave. The red door stood out in stark contrast against the gray and black home, beckoning her closer. She stepped under the portico just as the rain began to beat down, a deluge really, and she thanked the goddess she hadn’t been standing out in the open just then.

She lifted her fist and knocked on the door, listening for any sounds of life within. No answer. She banged again, this time a little harder. The light from her spell spluttered and blinked out, leaving her standing in the dark. The fact that there were no lights on in the home, nor on the porch, told her that her query was probably out running wild, but she refused to give up.

Breena’s tiny fist pounded on the door for the third time. Grumbling under her breath, she gave the wood a good, hard kick, wincing as her toes met the unforgiving surface. She had just turned, and was about to leave, when the door flew open.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” growled a deep voice, a voice that zinged through her and made all of her lady parts take notice.

She spun around with a snappy retort on the tip of her tongue, but it died the moment she was faced with six-foot-six of yummy goodness. A button-down shirt hung open, leaving his scrumptious muscular chest in full view. Her gaze dipped down over six pack abs and she licked her lips, wanting to run her tongue over each and every inch of him.

“I’m, uh, looking for my wand,” she stuttered lamely, her brain having been fried by his hotness.

He smirked. “Oh, I have a wand for you all right, but I don’t think it’s the one you came looking for.”

 

Buy Links

ARe – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-witchwaytolove-1557640-140.html

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Way-Love-Spell-Book-ebook/dp/B00LB8ZFD2

Evernight Publishing – http://www.evernightpublishing.com/witch-way-to-love-by-jessica-coulter-smith/

One Night in Bangkok by Gale Stanley

Posted on by

onib1s

The temperature in Thailand is a humid ninety degrees but things are about to get a lot hotter. David Elliot is in Bangkok on business, but when he meets Kai, the younger man turns his world upside down. It was never meant to be anything more than a pleasant diversion but David can’t walk away when it’s over.

 

Buy Link

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/one-night-in-bangkok-by-gale-stanley

 

Excerpt

 

The door closed behind them, and suddenly David felt a little shy. He stared at Kai for an awkward moment, wanting to touch and be touched, but not quite believing they were finally alone. Or maybe he was just used to Bernie taking the lead.

 

Kai waited silently. He really was hotter than any man had a right to be, with those almond-shaped eyes and pouty lips just begging to be kissed. David’s gaze slid south and settled on the full, hard cock straining against the thin material of Kai’s pants. God, he wanted to hold Kai’s prick in his hand, breathe in the scent, taste the drops of precum leaking from the tip….

 

When he looked up, he saw Kai still watching him. The heat in those brown eyes turned his insides to mush. Desire overcame shyness, and David edged closer. Kai met him halfway and David let out a moan as he captured Kai’s mouth, teasing him with his tongue. Two arms snaked around David’s waist, and their swollen cocks rubbed as they kissed. Hot spikes of sensation flared at David’s groin, and he pulled Kai tighter against his body.

 

When they broke for a breath, Kai was flushed and panting. Without a word, he slipped from David’s grasp and went to his knees. His slim fingers gripped the waistband of David’s slacks and tugged until they puddled at David’s feet. Eyes so wide and dark they appeared black looked up at him. Then Kai pressed his mouth to the silky fabric covering David’s erection.

 

“Oh, fuck.” David threaded his fingers in Kai’s thick black hair.

 

When Kai sucked on the tip of David’s cock, David swore he could feel the wet heat through his boxers. His thoughts scattered and he swallowed hard in anticipation. “Kai, please.” He tightened his grip on Kai’s hair and pulled gently.

 

Kai stood, and they undressed each other like they had that day at the temple. David smoothed a palm over Kai’s chest, muscles tensed and quivered under his touch. The goal had been to get inside this man who tempted him beyond reason, but now he didn’t know if he’d last that long.

 

Author Bio

 

Gale Stanley is a hopeless romantic, who grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her nose buried in a book of fairy tales. If a story ended badly, she created her own happily ever after. Now, she writes romance, in all its many splendored facets, because she believes the world needs more love and happy endings.

 

Links

 

Website:http://galestanley.net/

Blog:http://galestanley.blogspot.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/galestanley

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/GaleStanleyBooks

Instagram:http://instagram.com/gale_stanley

Pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/GaleStanley107/

StumbleUpon:http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/GaleStanley

Email: gale@galestanley.net

 

 

Moonlight Angel, an Ashton Grove novella

Posted on by

AGW6.5 Cover

The angel Adriel has faced hard decisions before, but deciding to give up his wings for the smallest shifter in the Ashton Grove pack was a no-brainer. All right, so maybe he shouldn’t have rushed things. Maybe he should have waited until they actually met, but after keeping tabs on her from Heaven for the past month, he knows she’s exactly what he wants.

Kinley Taylor, Aussie transplant and only sugar glider in the Ashton Grove pack, decided long ago she didn’t believe in mates. Well, not for her anyway. People are pairing up all around her, falling in love, binding themselves to one another, but she’s holding out for something more. No ordinary wolf or shifter is going to hold her attention, of that she’s certain. Imagine her confusion when she’s attracted to someone new in town – and he’s human! What would her dearly departed parents think of such a match?

Adriel is determined to show Kinley that he’s everything she’s ever wanted, and more than she’ll ever need. If he can’t persuade her with words, he’ll just have to keep his mouth occupied with other delights – like kissing her senseless.

*NOTE: If you read this before reading Moonlight Warrior, you’re going to be very confused

EXCERPT

Adriel stood before the Archangel Gabriel, hoping he wasn’t making a huge mistake. In his heart, it was the right thing to do, but so many things could easily go wrong with his plan. His fellow angels couldn’t believe what he was going to do, had in fact tried to talk him out of it, but Adriel wouldn’t be swayed.

He’d seen her once, across the battlefield during the demon war in Ashton Grove. The moment he’d laid eyes on her, something inside of him had shifted, warmed, and he’d felt a certain rightness as he gazed upon her. She’d fought valiantly, attacking the demons who chose to pick on her for petite size with gusto, her long blonde hair cascading down her back in a ponytail that whipped around with her movement.

Fighting the demons that came his way, he’d kept an eye on her, making sure no one dealt a deadly blow. When he saw two other packmates join her, he was relieved. The three women worked together, protecting themselves, hacking and slashing at anything that came their way. When the last demon fell, and all that could be heard were the painful moans and cries of the injured, Adriel’s gaze had sought her out once more, grateful she seemed to be okay.

He’d wanted to walk up to her, introduce himself, maybe even touch her sun-kissed skin that looked silky smooth. But he’d felt the pull of Heaven and knew that his time on Earth was at an end. With a heavy heart, he’d ascended into the Heavens, taking his place beside his brothers and sisters once more, left with nothing to do but observe those down below.

It had been a month now, and every day he watched the woman he’d learned was named  Kinley Taylor. He had watched over her, guided her actions, and made sure no harm came her way. And if he deterred an amorous male or two in the process, well, no one was the wiser. She deserved better than the horny wolves sniffing around her skirts.

Gabriel cleared his throat, bringing him back from his memories, his cheeks warming in embarrassment. One did not wander off, mentally or otherwise, when facing one of the archangels. They were God’s generals and oversaw the running of Heaven.

“Are you sure about this, Adriel? There’s no coming back from this.” Gabriel’s blue gaze drilled into him.

“I’m certain.”

“You would give it all up, for a human you don’t even know? What if she turns you away? Did you stop to think that maybe you aren’t her destined mate? Perhaps there’s a shifter out there, maybe even a wolf in the pack, who has been biding his  time to claim her.”

He felt a growl rumble out of him before he could think better of it. “No one will touch her! Kinley is mine!”

“If you go through with this,” Gabriel said, “your only way back into Heaven is to live a life without sin. I can read your thoughts, Adriel. You’ve already sinned over and over in your mind. If you do this, you may never see Heaven again. Are you willing to take that chance?”

He stiffened his spine, lifted his chin, and stared Gabriel right in the eyes. “Yes. I’d rather have one lifetime with Kinley, than an eternity without her.”

Gabriel sighed. “Very well.”

Adriel held still as Gabriel reached out and placed his fingers against his forehead. There was a warmth that suffused him from head to toe; then, the world tilted. Heaven fell away, and Adriel was free-falling to Earth, his wish having been granted. Pointing his feet toward the ground, he landed with a thud that vibrated through his whole body. There was a slight indention in the ground as he moved toward the road in front of him.

To the left, lay an open two-lane highway with nothing but trees and hills. To the right, the most beautiful thing he’d seen yet today–Welcome to Ashton Grove. He smiled at the sign and began walking toward town. Now that he was here, he didn’t have a plan. He couldn’t very well walk up to Kinley, declare himself her mate, and cart her off to the nearest bedroom, much as he’d love to. It just didn’t work that way.

As he meandered the streets of Ashton Grove, he found himself on the doorstep of none other than Colin Tierney. He shouldn’t be surprised, really. He’d gotten to know Colin rather well when they prepared for the war. Maybe the wolf would have some idea as to what he should do. Adriel had nothing – no clothes, no money, no job. Heck, he didn’t even know where he was going to sleep tonight. Perhaps this hadn’t been the best laid out plan ever, but he was here now, and he wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Not unless the pack forbade him from seeing Kinley. He hadn’t thought of that before.

He rang the bell and waited patiently. When the door opened, a tousled Colin answered, and he winced, realizing he’d probably interrupted a rather delicate time for the couple. It was nightfall, after all.

“Adriel,” Colin asked, his brow furrowed, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m not exactly certain. I just started walking, and this is where my feet led me.”

“Walking?”

“A lot has changed since  we last saw one another.”

Colin shoved the door open further. “I think you should come in. Kendall will be happy to see you.”

Adriel wiped his feet on the mat and brushed past the wolf. The last time he’d been in their home, it hadn’t been under the best of circumstances. Now, he took the time to look around, taking in his surroundings. The furnishings were comfortable; their home, inviting. He could see Kendall’s subtle touches here and there, in a vase of flowers or set of knick knacks–things only a woman would think to add.

“Why don’t you have a seat?” Colin gestured.  “I’ll go get Kendall.”

Adriel obligingly made himself comfortable on the sofa, . He was starting to wonder how he was going to pull this off. When he’d asked to be made human, he hadn’t thought about his daily needs. Having been created an angel, he’d never had to eat or drink, never had to worry about a roof over his head, or a change of clothes. What could one of God’s soldiers possibly do here on Earth? He no longer had any of his heavenly powers or connections. He was human, with all that that entailed.

Kendall stepped into the room, giving him a warm, welcoming smile.

“Adriel, it’s so nice to see you.”

He rose and gave her a hug. “It’s good to see you, too. I’m sorry to just show up on your doorstep like this, uninvited and unannounced.”

“You’re always welcome in our home,” she responded.

“What brings you back to Ashton Grove?” Colin asked. “There aren’t more demons coming, are there?”

“No. Nothing like that. At least, not that I know of.”

Colin laughed. “And here I thought you knew everything.”

Adriel rubbed the back of his neck. “Not anymore. I’ve sort of been expelled from Heaven.”

Kendall’s eyes widened. “Expelled? But… what did you do?”

“I asked to be made human, so I could be with someone special.”

Colin smiled broadly. “You’re in love? How splendid! Who’s the lucky lady? Anyone we know?”

“Yes. Well… about that. She doesn’t know me, has never met me. Not officially, anyway. I’m sure she knows of me, but…” He sighed. “I’m in love with a woman who doesn’t know I exist.”

“You gave up Heaven for someone you don’t even know?” Kendall asked. “Adriel, how could you do such a thing? What happens if she never returns your love?”

“Then, I’ll have given it all up for nothing,” he said softly. “But I have to try. The moment I saw her, I knew she was special, that I wanted to be with her. Angels have been left to roam the world for far less than falling in love. At least I had a good reason to become human.”

 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

B&N

All Romance Ebooks

 

AG6.5_Banner

 

Phantom Fears by Naomi Clark

Posted on by

phantom-fears-free

As a private investigator with a werewolf girlfriend, Shannon Ryan is used to the unusual. But her latest case has even level-headed Shannon questioning reality. Joyce Bonner swears her daughter is being haunted by a poltergeist. Charlotte Bonner swears she’s not. Shannon has one night to uncover the facts behind the supposed supernatural phenomena. Between an over-enthusiastic ghost-hunter and her own scepticism, can she get to the truth?

Available from:

 

EXCERPT

Charlotte moaned again, mumbling something incoherent and probably rude. She sat up slowly, as if she was moving through tar. “Whassup? S’not time for school.”

“There was a power cut,” I said in explanation. “We just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“I’m fine,” she said irritably. “Just wanna sleep.”

Esther fussed around her like a mother hen, fiddling with the duvet and muttering about hormones. I was about to tell the au pair to leave Charlotte be when the screaming started.

I’m not ashamed to admit, I jumped. Esther did too, clutching at the bedpost for support. Charlotte just groaned “What the fuck?” and buried herself under her duvet. I wished I felt so apathetic. It was a woman’s scream, shrill and eerie, and once again I was plunged back into the shadows of Paris. I didn’t want Ayla’s night vision or sense of smell anymore; I just wanted Ayla.

I sucked in a deep breath and reminded myself forcefully that there was no such thing as ghosts. “We should go find out what that is,” I said, impressed at how calm I sounded. Esther gripped my hand as we left Charlotte’s bedroom and I squeezed her fingers as I would Ayla’s, missing the warmth and reassurance of Ayla’s firm grip.

Taiki was running down the hall when we came out, a torch in hand. “How amazing is this? Actual manifestation! I can’t wait to see the data!”

I snatched the torch from him since he was waving it around like a lunatic. The beam wasn’t very bright, but I felt better with a light in my hand. The sound of clanking blended in with the screams now, like some old brass machine full of rusty gears. I gritted my teeth, hating the sound. “Where’s Joyce?” I asked Taiki.

“In the kitchen. Where’s Charlotte?”

“In her room, trying to sleep through this racket.” I shone the torch around the hall, not sure what I expected to see. My chest was tight with adrenaline, but the longer I stood here listening to the awful noise, the less nervous I felt. Noise was all it was. No slime dripping down the walls, no apparitions or flying objects. It was surprisingly anti-climactic and I just wanted it to stop. That meant finding out where it came from.

Without waiting for the others, I ran down to the kitchen, calling Joyce’s name. She sat at the kitchen table, head in her hands. I touched her shoulder lightly and she jumped, slapping my hand away.

“Shannon! Oh goodness, I’m sorry. I just…my nerves…I can’t take much more of this.”

“Then let’s stop it,” I said. The noise wasn’t as loud down here, although I still had to raise my voice to be heard. “Let’s get the lights back on, okay? Where’s the circuit board?”

“In the basement.”

Of course it was. What horror film scenario was complete without a trip to the basement in the dark? “Right, show me the way then.”

 

About the Author

My first love as a writer is urban fantasy, quickly followed by werewolf myth and legend. The Urban Wolf series lets me combine the two and put my own spin on them – what more could a girl want? When I’m not writing, I’m probably creating my own perfumes, reading, watching wacky documentaries and/or drinking fancy tea.

 

Find me online:

Blog – http://naomiclarkwrites.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/naomi_jay

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/naomijclark

Open World – C.O.V.E.N. by Casey Moss

Posted on by

openworld_CMoss_400x600

The world has broken out in wars. Las Vegas has been ravaged by chemical warfare and is now home to several clans and creatures.

Welcome to I-D-8 Entertainment’s newest game: Clans of Vegas—Endless Night.

Friends and family have gathered for a crunch time playtest of C.O.V.E.N.. When a horrible thunderstorm hits, everyone’s sucked into the game for real. In the MMORPG, Hope Collins is kidnapped by Buzz and forced to submit to his whims. Her boyfriend, Alden, has to delay his quest of defeating a clan’s prince to save her, but time and circumstance don’t seem to be on his side. Faith Collins is bombarded by strange dreams brought on by Buzz. Her boyfriend, Tavis, learns to dream walk, but can he help break the spell she’s under and save her before she’s lost to him?

C.O.V.E.N. is more than just a game. It’s a whole other world.

 

Tell us a little about yourself. What’s it like to be you?
Hi, I’m Cassandra. I make somewhat of a showing in Casey’s story, Open World. She says my turn will come in story number four. I’m usually not a very patient person, but in this case I have to be. Sometimes it’s hard to be me. People don’t understand me. In fact, my parents shipped me off to live with my aunt, uncle and cousins because they didn’t know how to deal with me anymore. So I’ve lived with my relatives for the past handful of years. My aunt and uncle are uber religious. I’m a Wiccan. See? That’s one of the issues I’m dealing with. I’ve been successful keeping that a secret, but by now they probably know something’s up with me. My cousins like to hit me up for help, but I know they’re still hesitant about my beliefs.

Who is the most important person in your life and why?
My best friend, Morrigan. She’s my mentor, my friend, and has been my sounding board as I live with my relatives. She’s a high priestess and has been helping me grow in my belief system.

Do you prefer books or movies? Do you have a favorite?
I love books. Though reading a great fiction book once in a while is nice, my favorite books have to do with anything Wiccan.

Describe your ideal mate.
Big and tough. I’m thinking Viking like. Even so, when it comes to me, he’s a teddy bear.

Do you think the author portrayed you correctly?
I think she did a great job, and she’s really kicking ass in the story where I’m featured.

What in your past had the most profound effect on you?
My parents kicking me out and making me move to Las Vegas to live with my relatives. Though it sucked, it was the best thing for me. I have a wonderful job now that I love. If I hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t have the awesome position in I-D-8.

 

Available now at Evernight Publishing ~ Open World – C.O.V.E.N. by Casey Moss

The world of C.O.V.E.N. (Clans of Vegas – Endless Night) first appeared in Evernight Publishing’s anthology Keyboards & Kink (available here: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/keyboards-and-kink/ & at other fine e-tailers) in Casey’s story, AFK.

In AFK, we saw a peek into I-D-8 Entertainment’s in-production MMORPG: Clans of Vegas – Endless Night, also known as C.O.V.E.N. when Beth and another gamer got sucked into the game for real.

Now, when it comes to Open World, it’s actually made up of parts from two novellas that had been previously published. Those stories were my very first published ones released in 2008 under my alter ego’s name. A few years ago, I received the rights back on them, and they sat in a file until this year. There’s been some major work done to revamp them from a sci-fi’ish plot to the computer gaming one present in the book today. I am so excited these stories, and more to come in the C.O.V.E.N. world, have found new life and a great new home with Evernight Publishing.

In the story, Open World, some of the employees of I-D-8 have joined together for a LAN party to test the game. For definitions on the computer gaming term: open world, check out http://www.techopedia.com/definition/3952/sandbox-gaming).

 

Excerpt

Big T watched her with a huge grin on his face. Happier than she’d been in ages, she returned the expression. Again she closed her eyes, continued to juggle the shining spheres and hummed the tune from the dream she had the night before.

“Zya,” Tavis whispered proudly.

She popped her eye open and stared at him, astonished. The orbs came to rest in her hands. She stepped toward him, the tops of her fingertips barely touching his chest with the spheres stilled in her palms, and opened her mouth to speak.

“Nice set of balls you have there in your hands, Faith,” Cassandra commented from the entrance to the kitchen before her cousin could get a word out.

Faith and Big T dropped their balls like they were two kids in trouble for having something they shouldn’t. As the orbs hit the floor, they dissipated into the air.

Cassandra shook her head. “I don’t know about you two. Every time I come in here, I catch you guys up to something. Well, have at it. Alden is off fetching Hope. I’m heading out to Morrigan’s property. Then we’re off to the temple. Since I’ll be with my friend, you won’t have to babysit me, Big T.” She gave each one a cursory glance again, then left.

Once the front door closed, Faith gathered her wits and focused back on Big T. She gasped. “You’re glowing!”

“Describe it for me.”

The rich, deep timbre of his voice reverberated through her core, reminding her of the passion she’d shared with her new dream man. She took a deep, steadying breath. “It’s like a fog edging your body. Not a thick fog because I can still make out some detail behind you, but enough of a haze to be defining. It’s a gorgeous turquoise. It ebbs and flows with your breaths.”

“Well, my dear, you’re glowing, too. Your hue is a beautiful amber, like that of your energy globes.” He took her hand in his.

“This is too weird,” she commented as the colors swirled and blended together. “It’s like what happened in my dream. Maybe I need some more sleep.”

“No, Faith, you don’t need more sleep. You need to find your eyes, look with your soul, then you’ll see the truth and the path which is already before you.” He stepped in toward her and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Your salvation from Mabuz’s world and the ties that bind you there lie in choosing the right course of action, deciding between good and evil.”

 

Buy Links:

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/open-world-by-casey-moss/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Open-World-C-O-V-E-N-Casey-Moss-ebook/dp/B00KCE12JW

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-openworld-1514409-147.html

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/open-world

About the Author

C Moss

Casey Moss delves into the darker aspects of life in her writing, sometimes basing the stories on reality, sometimes on myth. No matter the path, her stories will take you on a journey from the light-hearted paranormal to dark things unspeakable. What waits around the corner? Come explore…

Website: http://caseymossbooks.com/

Blog: http://caseymossbooks.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.CaseyMoss

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyMoss_

 

Bite of the Recluse

Posted on by

biterecluse1m

Two years ago while Tristan and his boyfriend were enjoying some privacy, a recluse demon attacked them and his lover paid the ultimate price. Since that day, Tristan has dedicated himself to finding the demon. After all, an eye for an eye. All evidence points to a recluse named Damon.

Like all spider demons Damon knows about Tristan’s mission and is forced to stay on the move. But fate has a wicked sense of humor and they must team up to fight the real killer. But when she’s closer than Tristan expected, his and Damon’s relationship is tested before it can begin.

A few questions for Damon and Tristan…

Favorite sex position?
Damon: I suppose it would be called missionary. Or some position where we’re facing each other.
Tristan: Missionary. Damon has the best come face.
Least favorite sex position but you still do?
Damon: Doggy, from behind, whatever you humans call it. I like to see the look on Tristan’s face when he’s fucking me. Unless he’s forcing me against a wall, or I have a blindfold on. I love it when he’s dominant with me.
Tristan: Over the shoulders. I don’t care who can do what, I cannot contort enough for that shit.
 
Favorite sex toy?
Damon: Anything that restricts movement. Cuffs, ropes, etc. and a blindfold.
Tristan: Paddle. I love the sound an ass makes when it gets smacked.
 
Sex toy you’d like to try?
Damon: This is another of my little secrets, since Tristan and I don’t practice hard BDSM, but I’m really interested in a cock and ball harness. Shhh… Maybe one day I’ll get the courage to ask.
Tristan: Ben Wa balls. I want to see Damon squirm while I cut open a demon’s throat.
 
If you could change one thing about the other, what would it be?
Damon: His overall attitude against all demons. I know he spent years killing demons in search for me, but now that’s he’s found me, his attitude with demons hasn’t improved much. There are good demons, well as good as a demon can get. But for him, they’re all evil. Sometimes I wonder if he still feels that way about me.
Tristan: His views on humans. He thinks all humans are beautiful. All creatures, in fact. He doesn’t understand that most want to hurt or kill you. Damon has too much of a trusting nature.
An Excerpt from Bite of the Recluse…

He placed his hands on his hips. “I need to see. I need all the pieces of the puzzle.”

Kill me now, God. “I have a sore spot. It started hurting shortly after Marcus died. I’ve always meant to go to the doctor, but looking for Marcus’ killer became priority.”

“Okay. Well, where is it?”

Please God, kill me now. Not only did I not want to drop trou, but in front of a demon? More importantly, in front of Damon, and those magnificent eyes, gorgeous body, and desirable lips? How in Jesus’ name I became attracted to him blew my mind. For that matter, when? Completely out of left field. It hit me suddenly. We were driving, talking, at the mountain, and suddenly I felt it. A passion I’d forsaken years ago. Yet, here I was, my cheeks reddening. Fuck it. I sighed, stood up and began unbuckling my belt. I slid my pants down.

Damon backed up a few feet. “Umm, what are you doing?”

“The bite is on my thigh.” I lifted my boxers to just the bottom of my butt cheek. “My upper thigh.”

Damon gazed over me skeptically before kneeling down in front of me. I felt his warm fingertips touch my skin. To my surprise, I had to do everything in my power to stop from shivering. The way his touch felt, his fingers dancing over that sensitive spot… It normally hurt, but Damon was so gentle with me that it caused a different reaction. A different, dangerous reaction.

I glanced behind me. Damon looked up, his gorgeous silvery eyes gleaming with…lust? No, that couldn’t be it. But I thought it was. I drank in his gaze, the power behind those eyes. I had the urge to push him on the bed and allow our feet to entwine as we spent hours in bed together. Instead I pulled up my pants. Much smarter move.

“What do you think?” I asked.

He stared at me, a look of confusion crossing his face before he smiled and moved back to his seat. “Definitely recluse. I’d say my sister bit you.”

My skin burned from his touch. I wanted to, desired more than anything, to ask him to touch me again. I peered at him from below my lashes. He was doing the same. Fuck it. I rushed over to his chair and placed my lips upon his, claiming his mouth. The way he slipped his tongue past the barrier made my cock harden. I did the same, and our tongues danced with one another’s. He was warm, inviting, and didn’t hold back. My breath became harsh as I stilled, afraid of what I had just done.

I quickly pulled away and ran for the bathroom. Once inside I closed the door and pressed my body against it, hoping that if Damon came knocking, he couldn’t get in.

I knew I stunk. Plus I had a massive erection in my jeans. I turned on the water of the shower and got it to a nice temperature. After undressing, I stepped beneath the spray.

Buy Links

Be sure to click the link below to enter the giveaway! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway