New Release: A Matter of Fate Ellie Heller

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Crimson Romance 

Book Description:

Someone is setting death-spells targeting mortals and elf blood alike. With her mentor out of commission, it’s up to half-trained Warder Mona Lisa Kubrek to stop the magic. Despite being told repeatedly her job is to nullify spells and not go after the source, too many people are at risk for her to not track the spell-caster down. Even meeting a sexy half-elf shifter won’t distract her from her goal.

Except Cart Dupree is fully trained and has the team to search for the evildoer, so she’d be stupid to not use his expertise. Stupid is something she can’t afford to be, not with her enemy’s henchmen after her. Later she’ll deal with Cart and his questions about her special abilities and the non-standard training her mentor has given her. Right now, they need to unravel where the magician is, and who he is, before he builds enough power to decimate them all.

First, though, they need to stay alive.

 Excerpt:


Headlights flitting across wind-driven flurries, Mona turned the last corner of the treelined drive to find the entry of the Warder’s complex in complete darkness. The dashboard read six fifteen. Hell, given the crappy roads this morning she was lucky she’d arrived only a quarter of an hour after her scheduled lesson. She knew Smythe would be snitty about her late arrival, but turning off the lights seemed a bit extreme.

Yet another reason to wonder why she put up with his crankiness. If there were anyone besides the self important old coot who would teach her about wards and spells, she’d take them up on the offer in heartbeat.

But this, this was just wrong. Even the motion sensitive floods stayed dark when she pulled over to park next to a pile of plowed snow. One or two windows of the castle Smythe called home hung lit and disembodied in the ebony bulk of the buildings, so the power was on.

No, something was off here. As much as a pain in the ass Smythe could be, and some days she swore he made it into an art form, he wouldn’t outright ignore her. He enjoyed busting her chops too much.

In the weak winter moonlight, the blue shadowed gate and the crenellated wall around the complex looked positively gothic.

Mona blamed the thought on too little sleep. Along with the sneaking worry that Abner, Warder Smythe, might be in trouble. She shook the worry aside; the complex was literally a fortress, built of stone and embedded with spells. Besides, clandestine images apart, the place didn’t seem to show any evidence of an attack. Apart from the gated entry being dark, and the eerie picture the moonlight painted, everything seemed ... normal.

But she definitely needed to check things out, just to be sure. She was too far away to see whether the guard spells on the walls and gate had been breached. First step would be to look at them and figure things out based on what she found.

Opening the glove compartment, she pulled out her flashlight, hearing Nic’s smug “Aren’t you glad I made you put one in there?” She’d never told his overprotective self how, after the first time she’d gotten stuck in the snow heading out of Buffalo to the Warder’s to train, she’d made sure to keep one in the car. Particularly since she hadn’t informed him about her training. So not going down that road with him. He chose to deny his folk blood; she didn’t have a choice.

Mona bundled up and headed out into the lightly falling flakes. Her tire tracks were the only ones showing in the inch deep snow. Aiming the flashlight at the drive, she tried to find evidence of anyone coming by recently. Nothing obvious struck her, no lost hubcaps, no distinct furrows under the snow. Hell, she had no clue what she’d expected to find.

She cautiously moved toward the entry; last thing she wanted was to turn her ankle. A strong breeze smacked her upside the head as if to ask what the hell she thought she
was doing.

“Look, I’m just going to check the guard spells, then head back.”

Crap, had she really said that out loud?

The wind slammed into her, so strong that another step forward became impossible. She stopped and the gale force gust stopped with her.

Mona was reasonably certain wind sprites were incorruptible by evil. And this wasn’t a spell; not a trace of magic threaded the breezes.

Whoever or whatever had requested the sprites’ help didn’t want her to go any further.


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About the Author:

After living in several cities east of the Mississippi, but never quite out of the snow belt, I've settled down in SW Ohio with my three kids, two dogs (one of whom thinks he's a cat) and one cat (who thinks he's a dog).

I write paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy, all with a suspenseful edge. A MATTER OF FATE, a 'traditional' paranormal romance, will be available this spring from Crimson Romance. My first published short (GLBT sensual), "Ginny's Capture" is available now.

I'm also an acquisitions editor (i.e. slush reader :-) ) for Curiosity Quills Press using my full first name, Alison.

www.elliewrites2.com

@EllieWrites2

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellie-Heller-Author/279665692092672 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762572.Ellie_Heller 

http://pinterest.com/ellieheller/a-matter-of-fate/

New Release: Kate Pearce and the Soul Sucker

New Release from Kate Pearce.

Check out the book on Carina's Website.

http://www.katepearce.com/books/soul-sucker/

Supernatural Branch of Law Enforcement empath Ella Walsh sucks memories from people’s heads. The job fills her mind with others’ nightmares and leaves her with little time for love, but if she doesn’t pair off with a mate of the government’s choosing soon, the psychic blowback will destroy her powers and her sanity.

The last time shapeshifting SBLE superstar Vadim Morosov worked with an empath, he got her killed and himself assigned to a desk. He worries about taking on another partner, but helping Ella track down an empath killer might be his only chance to save his career.

Naturally, the government decides to throw them together…

They resist at first, but they can’t deny the simmering heat between them. As the killer’s strikes grow closer to home, their bond gets tighter. And when the murderer finally traps Ella, her developing link with Vadim might be the only thing that can save her.

New Release: The Heart of the Dragon - SD Grady

Another new release for S.D. Grady!  The woman is a dynamo and can write some awesome romances.  If you haven't tried her yet, then definitely pick up a copy of this book.  It's great!

Available now at Purple Sword Publications:
http://purplesword.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=136&zenid=im6ku756up789os0s5igbu22p6

BLURB:

At night, he fights. In the dawn, he loves. Only with her, he lives.

Lady Yelena is sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon. Instead of her sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the warrior prince. A hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena behind as he battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war.

Each morning he returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace for their homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and she must find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her honor and her prince.



EXCERPT:

Yelena’s arms shook. Sweat trickled down her neck. Her breath came in ragged pants. He crowded her, forcing her submission. She growled and pushed forward. His advance stalled, she danced away from his reach. She laughed. “Again!”

Pietro caught his balance , brought his sword back to prime and nodded his agreement. Yelena stepped forward. Her blade swung in a short arc designed to make him block high. Their blades sang as they clashed.

She worked through the rudimentary attack, sure she did not challenge his abilities one bit. She paused, met his laughing eyes, and ducked. She rolled away and earned a grunt of surprise. She kicked out with her left foot, regained her balance on her right and rose up inside his defense. She punched his ribs. “Do you concede, my lord?”

His elbow trapped her fist. “No. You just nicked my armor and dulled your dagger.” His foot stepped between her legs and lifted.

Off balance, she dropped her sword and grasped his upper arms.

“And now, at my mercy.”

She felt the blush only a second before his lips conquered hers.

The kiss lingered, sweet and hot. When he released her, he stepped back and bowed. “Shall we go again, my lady?”

The practice yard appeared ghostly in the yellow light of the torches. She bent to retrieve her steel from the paving stones, never taking her eyes from his relaxed form. She stood, absently tugged at her leather leggings and kicked at a pebble.

“Why would you ask, my lord? Do I appear fatigued?”

He winked. “No, just flushed.”

In frustration, she raised her weapon and came at him again. He deflected her advance with ease. The truth was she was feeling a bit tired. Fighting beneath the half-moon, parrying his masterful thrusts, she had reached her limit much sooner than she had expected. But she didn’t want to stop.

For the third night, Pietro remained behind as the army marched out against the Wasti. During the hours they spent together, he made every effort to be a civilized gentleman. Laughter came easier to her—and him. She thought the tight lines that carved his mouth had eased.

Her sword went flying through the air and she found herself at the mercy of Pietro’s deadly point. Her lips pursed in vexation and she nodded to him.

“Shall we call a halt?” Still, his sword rested against her breastbone.

“I guess so.”

“You were not paying attention.”

She stepped back. Ashamed, she pulled at her gloves. “I admit to being distracted.”

He sheathed his blade. “Did Captain Sershi not teach you any better?”

Bristling at the insult, she walked toward her corner. “Of course he did.”

He followed her. “Loyalty is an admirable quality, my lady.”

Her annoyance at failing to adhere to practice yard protocol diminished. She took his compliment and savored it. “Thank you.”

He began to lift her light mail shirt over her head. “Where is the good captain? I have not seen him since supper.”

She pulled at her linen shift before reaching for a long, silk cloak. “I gave him leave to seek his own entertainment, tonight.”

Pietro crowded her against the high wall. “Feeling a little braver, my little one?”

She shivered as his rough hand held her neck. His thumb ran up and down her throat in thrilling small circles. She frowned.

The spark of humor had vanished. He watched her. Severe. Angry. Hurt?

Even as she had become more comfortable in his presence, there were still moments when she wondered what he was truly thinking.

She placed her hand over his and offered a shy smile. “Can I take a bath?”

That got him to smile again. “Can I join you?”

Her heart hammered. Was that from the sword play? Or the way his breath drew bumps from her flesh? She swallowed and nodded. “Of course, my lord.”

His other hand grasped her waist and drew her forward. Unable to escape, she squeaked when he sucked the surprise from her mouth.

He kissed her often. There had been few activities where he couldn’t find an excuse to be near her, touch her, taste her.

The heat built. Her limbs grew heavy. She sank into the seductive strength.

He stopped.

She stood, firming the muscles in her legs, and blinked.

“Before or after?” his deep voice questioned. He nipped her ear, her neck and kept moving lower.

“Before or after what?”

Strong fingers pulled at her long braid. “The bath. Shall we go to bed before or after we are clean?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

S.D. Grady is a lover of many things: men, movies, music, and fast machines. An award winning author, she shares her life with her college sweetheart and two cats. They live in the house on the hill and often vacation at NASCAR tracks in their RV.



Visit her online at: www.sdgrady.info

Like her at: https://www.facebook.com/Author.SDGrady

Follow her at: http://twitter.com/laregna

New Release: Shooting Stars - H.D. Gordon

Brand new release for H.D. Gordon, author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga.  Be sure and check it out!

Shooting Stars Blurb:

Once upon a time, a common boy fell in love with a princess. It was a hopeless, forbidden love, grown in a world where sorcery and magic rule over all. Now, dark times are brewing, and destiny will bring them together, while fate works to keep them apart. Extraordinary battles will be fought, and extraordinary choices made. Join the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga for the beginning of a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss, of desperate wishes made on stars.


Book Info
Title: Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel #1)
Author: H.D. Gordon
Publisher: ShareAread
Release Date: March 15th, 2013
Formats:  E-book
Goodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17453446-shooting-stars
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba

Website
Amazon Author Page for H.D. Gordon

New Release: Shattered Heart - Jerri Drennen

Jerri's got a brand new release!  Be sure and stop by her website to check out her other books too.

Jerri's Website

http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Heart-Z-series-ebook/dp/B00BPTBXRY


 Blurb

Covert Z operative, JT Malone, is in Oregon on assignment. By taking an engineering job, he’ll investigate accusations of possible threats to national security made by an informant, who has since died under suspicious circumstances. He didn't plan to fall for the dead man's widow.

Two years after her husband's accidental death, Charlotte Delaney will do whatever it takes to save her cafe from foreclosure, even accepting a marriage proposal from her late husband’s boss. That is, until an appealing stranger insinuates that her husband's death was no accident and the person responsible could be the same man who's asked her to marry him. The attraction between Charlotte and JT is instantaneous and explosive, making her question everything she thought she knew about herself and her life.

Together, the two battle against an unquenchable desire while scrambling to thwart a terrorist act that could thrust the country into epic tragedy. The closer they get to the truth, the higher the stakes, with Charlotte at risk of becoming collateral damage. Now, both will be forced to put everything on the line: for life, liberty, and love.

Excerpt

Charlotte sucked in a breath, then raced through the living room to the front door, flipping on the porch light. Through the window, she was shocked to see the very reason she was up, on the stoop.

That cold sweat turned to intense heat.

Why would he be here? How did he find out where she lived?

Without releasing the chain, she unbolted the lock and slowly eased the door open.

“Mrs. Delaney?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes.” A whirlwind of confusion tugged at her mind. How could he possibly know her last name? Cara had never told him. Unless she did when he was having breakfast that morning.

“I need to talk to you about your husband.”

The statement staggered her back a step. “What?”

He leaned closer and his eyes widened. “Charlotte?”

“What is this about?”

“Can I come in, please. I don’t want anyone seeing me standing here.”

Charlotte’s thoughts spun. Why would he need to talk to her? This late at night? The whole thing seemed fishy. Maybe he wanted in to rape her.

“I—ah...”

“I’m not going to hurt you, Charlotte. I need to talk to you about what was going on with your husband right before he died.”

Her jaw slacked. What could he possibly have to tell her about Shaun? He couldn’t have even known her husband since he was new to town.

She glanced into his eyes. The seriousness reflected within their depths made Charlotte want to hear what he had to say.

She closed the door, pausing long enough to gather her composure, then released the chain and opened it to him.

JT rushed inside.

Charlotte twisted her hands together, uncomfortable with her state of dress. The mere thought brought goose bumps to her arms.“What is this all about?”

“Two years ago, your husband contacted Homeland Security. He was convinced the man he worked for was bringing illegal contraband into the country. The night before he had his accident, he called them to say he had evidence. Before he could meet with those officials, he was killed.”

“Are you serious? What are you saying? That Shaun’s accident was no accident at all? That my husband was murdered?”

Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess!

The very first books I can remember reading were Dr. Suess'.  I had the entire collection of those books.  Loved every one of them!

So here's to you, sir.

Miss you! I will pass your great legacy on to my grandchildren.

Wonderful Valentine's Day

Yes, I had a great day!

Look what my honey of 34 years sent me.

He is soooo sweet.

Hope everyone else had a great Valentine's day too.

Congrats to all the winners in the CAPAs!