Sunday Review: Blood Stained Tranquility by N. Isabelle Blanco

Title  Blood Stained Tranquility

Author: N. Isabella Blanco
Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Published: March 27, 2014
Source: Free Copy from Net Galley for an honest review
Purchase Link:AMAZON   

Blurb

The wheels of destiny are spiraling out of control quicker than even the gods can keep up. They all thought they knew what war was like—but have no idea how bad things are about to get. In the continuation of the Szolite series, two of the most dangerous powers in the Universe will be unleashed, threatening to push two fated beings apart.

A normal human girl. . .

Evesse Salazar never imagined that a violent end to her already difficult life would be just the beginning. After being thrown into a vortex, shredded apart, and killed, she is reborn as something more. Something she might not be able to manage. If that weren’t enough, she awakes newly mated to the last being in the Universe she ever would have chosen.

Now, with no other option, Eve must come to terms with her powers, her past, and her mate before he loses control of what might just be uncontrollable.

A god with a monster locked inside. . .

For over eleven thousand years, Zeniel, God of Tranquility, has done everything in his power to keep his other half, the God of Vengeance, from breaking free. A single glance from Mavrak is all it takes to kill those deemed guilty. The wraiths under his command can tear thousands to shreds in an instant, no matter how small their crimes. Zeniel knows he must remain at peace to keep Mavrak at bay, but he’s rendered helpless with one look into the eyes of his mate.

The longing for Evesse is enough to rip the demon out of its cage, and with the Gods on the verge of a cataclysmic war, Mavrak has every intention of gorging on both his mate, and the vengeance he so desperately needs.

 

Review

It makes me sad to say this but I was very disappointed by this book. I really loved the cover. It had that BDB feel to it that I love. Which was the sole reason I wanted to read it. Let me first start by saying the things I liked about the book. The writing was good. It was very easy to follow along and the flow and pace were good. I felt like the author did a great job describing the scenes and characters.

What I didn’t like. I honestly feel like this book was reading another version of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s The Dark Hunters mixed with J. R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. The characters were just so similar. Even their names were similar.

I also think that 3 chapters in a row of nothing but sex was a bit to much. It got to the point of, come on already, what else could they be doing…

I really did want to like this book more but I just couldn’t get past the strong similarities to these other series.

This being said…if you have never read SK or The Warden, then you will probably love this book.

About the Author

N. Isabelle Blanco was born in Queens, NY (USA). At the age of three, due to an odd fascination with studying her mother’s handwriting, she began reading and writing. By the time she’d reached kindergarten, she had an extensive vocabulary and her obsession with words began to bleed into every aspect of her life.

An avid reader in her teens, her fascination with Japanese anime eventually led her to the universe of fan fiction, which became her on-again, off-again hobby for the next ten years. During that time she amassed a following of fans that, by her own admission, she would never be able to live without. It was those fans who encouraged her to step beyond the fan fiction realm and try her talent in the publishing world.

N. Isabelle Blanco now has three novellas and two full-length novels under her belt, and spends her days working as an author, web programmer, marketer, and graphic designer. Her free time is spent with her “spawn”, as she calls her son, brainstorming for his future career as a comic book illustrator.

Author Links

Author Page on TWCS

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Other Books by the Author

 

Fire & Ice Blog Tour Giveaway: Edge of Civilization by Jennifer Ott

Blurb:

Earl Hollsopple lived on the edge of civilization in a deserted shack for nearly forty years. His life was one beautiful night of stargazing after another, until a helicopter flies overhead, and exposing his meager world. It is a sign; it is time for him to return to civilization.
Unknowingly, Earl’s journey parallels another he had deeply repressed, and that is his return from the Vietnam War. The lone survivor of a plane crash, Earl waits for rescue that never comes. He is left to find his way home alone.
On his quests, old Earl and young Earl learn lessons of survival, overcoming isolation and handling conflicts; his travels teach him not just about himself, but humankind. Reaching pivotal points in both journeys, Earl meets fateful loves, leading to destinies that are ultimately intertwined.
Everything in life circles until we are able to answer the riddles that plaque man and humanity. Only until we take the journey, solve the problems of our own existence, do we find our way home.

Excerpt:

The screen door swung open with the ringing of a bell. “Georgina!”

She loved to hear her name shouted with such passion and exclamation. It made her feel young and desired. Turning around, she beamed a crooked smile and once again, she was a twenty-year-old beauty.

“Heya Earl.” Georgina admired his coveralls and aviator cap. “What’s with the getup, Earl? You look like you’re about to fly away.”

Earl swaggered to the counter. “It’s time, Georgina, I’m leaving town.” His eyes shifted around the shelves of dusty cans and tattered boxes. “I’m going to need a few things for the journey.”

Georgina came around the counter and followed his eyes, picking out his purchase—can of stew, spam and sardines—before he had the chance to choose. “What do you mean you’re leaving? Where are you going?”

“Home,” he said.

“Where’s home Earl? You’ve been living in that abandoned mine since I knew ya,” replied Georgina. “How can you go back to nowhere?”

Earl grunted. “I don’t know. I just know it’s time to go.” He focused on the whiskey bottles behind the counter. “And a couple of those.”

“Well, hold on a second.” Georgina stepped into a small, neatly organized office and retrieved a dusty bottle of fine Scotch from the shelf. She returned and presented it to him, accompanied with two glasses. “Let’s drink to your journey and for old time sakes.”

Earl released a boyish grin that Georgina always had difficulty resisting. “Georgina, you are a woman who knows the way to my heart.”

“If only I could get you drunk, I might be able to bring you to your senses.”

She opened the back door to her garden oasis of native rocks, several potted plants, and a faded awning to keep cool; a beautiful garden tilled by a hardened woman. Earl was a mystery to her. She wondered what brought him to the outskirts of civilization. Did he share a story similar to hers of disappointment and lost love, or was it something different entirely? As often as she had tried, she was never able to get an answer to Earl’s past.

 Buy Link:

Amazon 

About the Author:

Inspiration comes from watching way too much Monty Python. The abstract and the absurd way of looking at normal life, not only offers humor, but questions many problems in society in a light-hearted manner. If we can laugh at ourselves, if we can laugh at life, problems do not seem quite so difficult to tackle.  In fact, problems are not as complicated as they seem; everything is very simple. If you can laugh at it, write about it and read about it, most likely one would think about it.

Author Jennifer Ott has written several satire fiction, Wild Horses, The Tourist and two non-fiction books Love and Handicapping and Ooh Baby Compound Me! She recently published, Serenidipidus and Edge of Civilization. She also is the host of the SuperJenius Internet Radio show on Artist First radio Network.

Jennifer Ott lives in Long Beach, California, enjoys the sun, the sand, the surf and lots of Mexican food. 

Author Links:

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Pinterest 
Website 
The Super Jenius Show
Youtube 

Giveaway:

Author Jennifer Ott is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card on Rafflecopter and two print copies of Edge of Civilization on Goodreads! The rafflecopter giveaway is open internationally, the Goodreads giveaway is open to residents in the USA, CA, GB, and AU. Enter 3/14/14 – 3/28/14. 

 

 

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

Edge of Civilizaition

by Jennifer Ott

Giveaway ends March 28, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Fire & Ice Boog Tour Giveaway: Blind Date with a Bear by Marie Mason

Blurb:

The first blind date Quinn Blackwood’s matching making sister set him up on proved to be his last. The curvy brunette waiting for him at the bar was indeed his true mate.

Even though they had never met, Paige Matthews had nursed a secret crush on her co-worker’s oldest brother since moving to town. She knew the odds were against it, but she couldn’t resist going on a blind date with the big bear shifter. She was heart sore that she wasn’t his true mate but quickly decided to take him up on his offer of a good time. Cause this good-girl wanted nothing more than this bear’s sweet loving.

Excerpt:

“Oh, my God, what is this?” Quinn thought he’d died and gone to heaven when the taste of honey melted on his tongue. He looked down at the food he was eating and realized she’d baked a cake. A freaking honey cake. It was gone in two more bites. “I’ve never tasted anything so delicious in my life,” Quinn told her as he licked his lips clean. He eyed her container. “Aren’t you going to share?”

Paige hugged her cake to her breast and laughed. “Not going to happen, big boy,” she replied as she cut off a piece and placed it in her mouth, slowly pulling away the fork. She moaned and closed her eyes, savoring the taste. “So good.”

Quinn was on her in a flash, tossing away the container and dragging her down on the blanket in one coordinated move. He quickly spread her legs, settling himself between them with ease.

“Quinn!” Her hands grabbed his shoulders.

He grinned down at her shocked expression. “Don’t you know better than to tease a hungry bear with the smell of honey?” He bent down and licked her lips and savored the feel of her nails biting into his shoulders.

“There’s more cake in the bag.” Her voice was low and breathless, that same sex phone whisper that had his cock going from hard to a piece of fucking granite in ten seconds flat.

“That’s good to know, but that wasn’t the honey I was talking about.” He moved, dislodging her hands as he slid down her body.

“There’s honey,” he said, kissing the flesh revealed by the low bodice of her dress. He continued his downward path to the peak of her right breast. Taking one taunt bud in his mouth, he sucked it inside, again taking fabric and all as he had in the elevator, making her back arch and her hands fist in his hair. He hardened even more, thinking about her reaction to what he was about to do. He tugged his head from her grasp and her hands fell to her sides. He placed kisses along the rise of her belly, then sat back on his knees, looking at her splayed before him, a feast for him to devour. “And then there’s this honey.”

He put his hands under the hem of her dress that had ridden up past her knees. Giving the soft flesh a hard squeeze, he pushed the light fabric up. “I smell your want, Paige.”

Paige shivered as Quinn’s thumbs caressed the insides of her thighs as he pushed her dress out of the way. Yes, she wanted him. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted a man. Knew she wanted him more than she’d ever want a man. It was no wonder he could smell her want. Moisture gathered between her thighs, soaking into her pink silk panties. Before she knew it, he’d pushed her dress up her thighs and over her panties.

She’d worn one of few matching lingerie sets she owned, a bra and panties in a dark shade of pink that bordered on red. Quinn lowered himself, his mouth urgently burning a trail from her knee to her throbbing pussy. She lost herself in the moment, the warm breeze wafting over her heated skin. The screech of the hawks above and the sounds of the city below faded away. There was nothing except this, this man.

Quinn bit the soft flesh on the inside of her right thigh, and then he was there, his mouth, covering her, his rough tongue licking, sucking her swollen clit through the silk fabric of her panties.

“So sweet, baby,” he murmured. “I want a deeper taste.” He leaned back and lifted her legs over one strong arm. Hooking a thumb beneath the waistband of her underwear, he had them down and off before she could say a word. “Now where was I.”

He lowered her legs back down to the blanket, then parted them, pushing her knees up and spreading her open for his pleasure.

Paige’s body trembled. She was so exposed. She knew she needed to protest, put her legs together. Blush. Something.

Buy Links:

AMAZON.COM

B & N

SMASHWORDS

KOBO

About the Author:

Like many, Marie Mason had always suspected the career that would make her happy would be something to do with writing. And like many, she managed for years to avoid any job connect with writing. Writing is something she has to do every day. It’s a calling, or should she say, it’s the characters calling, whispering…write about me, write about me.

Author Links:

Facebook  

Giveaway:

Author Marie Mason is giving away 4 Prizes! Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or One of Three Copies Of Mate Of The Alpha (Ebook). Must be 18 or over to enter. Open internationally. Enter 3/13/14 – 3/28/14 (midnight).  Please note, we do verify entry methods! 

 
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RELEASE DAY --- MAVERICK TOUCH: THE HIGHWAY --- FROM THE ART OF SAFKHET

The Mavericks Are Growing!!!!

Release day is here and now all the action is starting over. The fast paced, quirky news reporter, gripping mystery series is back and this time they are in Houston, TX!

I cannot even begin to say how much I love these characters. Each year during the month of November they take up residency in my head and hang out, giving me lots of ideas and crazy conversations. They don't expect a lot from me, simply writing their story without influencing them.

They want to see that you, my wonderful readers, get a chance to experience their world the way it was meant to be!

So what has happened over the last year to bring us to this point? Well, Mr. A and Nadia have gotten extremely close. Gabe is still her BFF but now she has this other man in her life who is slowly capturing more and more of her heart.

Gabe and Kevin are doing great, their relationship is moving along nicely for a small town of Iowa.

Anabella is fiesty as ever and in this book she develops a new friend .... Mr. J. Who is Mr. J? Well, if you aren't able to figure it out from his name then I guess you're just going to have to read!

Kane, Leon and Daman are all here in the tale, along with William and Laura. The whole family has to pull together when once again .... SOMETHING HAPPENS TO NADIA!

I spent 22 actually days, 27 if you count the 5 I skipped to hang with my hubby, to write this book. It flew out of me unlike any novel ever has. And I think that is why these characters mean so much to me. Because they require no effort.

It is great when you get to read a piece that just simply, 'is'. It makes it a wonderful experience.

So, with out further delay ... I bring you ... MAVERICK TOUCH THE HIGHWAY

And in case you haven't noticed the trend, book three will be out March 2015!

Nadia and Anabella head down to Houston, Texas for what they thought would be a relaxing vacation. Nadia could work on her travel news articles for her boss in Cedar Rapids while Anabella caught a few rays of sunshine. Or that was the plan. Little did they know what trouble lurked inside the luxurious hotel nestled in the center of downtown Houston.

When Carlisle Ali introduces Anabella to his friend and brother-in-arms, Carter Jackson, all hell breaks loose for the Mavericks. Trouble never has a problem finding Nadia when she is out and about looking for a story. Be it Cedar Rapids or Houston, it doesn't matter. Nadia finds a way to cause chaos and disaster.

What happens when MR. A and Mr. J go out on a hunt for the man who is terrorizing people along I-45, the interstate running through the heart of Houston? More importantly, what happens to Nadia and Mr. A when they are forced to face the feelings that have been boiling between them for over a year now?

Print Copies $10 each plus shipping

E-Book copies can be purchased in PDF: All Romance Ebooks, BookStrand

Purchase Ebook version at Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, and Smashwords

Shipping rates and appropriate taxes are calculated through Paypal automatically

Please make sure you state if you want it personalized or a generic signature

Please make sure you state the name of the person you want it autographed to

If you have any questions or issues please email me at: Ashley@AshleyNemer.com

Name for autograph

Sunday Review: Prizm: Dominatrix of Sulan, Book One of the Jen Cycle by Andy Schwartz

Title Dominatrix of Sulan, Book One of the Jen Cycle

Author Andy Schwartz

Published

Source Received this from the author in exchange for an honest review

Purchase Links Amazon

Blurb

 Imagine a world where children are made into monsters, where dictators cheat death and where a line of deviant Amazon clones work to pacify and enslave whole populations. Then imagine this world found a way to invade yours.

Review

Wow. That is really what I have to say about this book. It was absolutely nothing like I expected it to be. And I really cannot say it enough how much I enjoyed it.

I tend to scan the blurbs and focus more on the cover and title when I look at books before I select them to read. That is what I did this time. The name caught my attention and I thought, what the hell, lets give it a try. And I am so glad I did.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I honestly thought it was going to be a science fiction erotica based on the cover and title but that wasn't the case at all.

And the use of were-bears was unique and fresh. Beau and Jen had a great story, and there were not a whole lot of predictable moments, which as a reader I liked.

It is a time in the future where we can essentially jump through space and time and end up in otherworlds that are existing at the same time our Earth is. A lot of deadly, scary and unpleasant worlds. 

And at the end its a fight to save man kind from the vicious were-bears. Creatures who would rip us apart and feast on our flesh, or convert us and employ us to kill our breatheren. 

Ella-Nessa is a great character, and the twins do a remarkable job of having distincly different personalities. Which is hard sometimes as an author to give very unique voices to such alike beings.

This book was long, and a few parts of it felt like it drug out but I understood that was needed to get past the points where they were and futher the story.

It was an easy read, I mean, I ddin't have to put forth a lot of effort to understand and enjoy. Even though it wasn't the easiest of subjects to write about.

Overall, this book is a 5 star winner because I have to say, it kept me on the edge of my seat!!!

Andrew Michael Schwarz grew up in frozen Minnesota with frequent day trips to Narnia. He knew he had become "one of them" when he found himself in an e-bay bidding war for a Tom Baker Dr. Who Scarf. He writes other worlds fiction because he finds those worlds more inhabitable than this one. You can find him lurking at any of the following links:

Facebook

Amazon Author Page


Blog 

That Indie Adventure...

Memories in a Box ... the blog to categorize, journal and record my adventures as an Indie Author. When I started this journey in 2011 I did not have any clue as to what an Indie Author was. I knew what a vanity press was and traditional print. But the whole concept if Self-Publishing alluded me.

Now, three years later, I couldn't imagine this journey any other way.

Some of you know that I started writing Blood Purple when I lost my job, like so many fellow Americans, in 2011. I had four weeks of nothing and I put an idea to paper. The first three chapters were extremely hard. And then when one person (who shall remain nameless) told me it wasn't any good I stopped. But then I let a friend read the ten thousand words and convince me there was more to this story and that I needed to finish it.

And I did.

Now fast forward to November 2012 and NaNoWriMo. I was determined this year to finish the challenge. Plus, Blood Purple had taken me like, forever to finish, I wanted to challenge myself. It was off to the races I went writing as fast as my fingers would take me. In the end, thanks to the lovely weather changes and getting sick, I finished in seven weeks. Still a record breaking time frame for me.

Now I was faced with the challenge -- Send it to the publisher I was with, send it to a different publisher, or try to strike out on my own...

I pulled on my big girl panties, pulled out my economist hat and decided the latter was the path for me. This was a very scary feeling for me. I didn't know if I would succeed or fail. I didn't know if I was going to end up ruining the short career I had started. And I didn't know if I was going to be able to make all of the things necessary to be worth it.

There are a few choices as an adult I can look back and say, "This was a defining moment of my life and I made the right choice."
--My first day of College
--My last day of College
--My Wedding Day
--The day I published Maverick Touch The Cat.

This last year, and I can't believe it has only been a year, has been a whirlwind of insanity. There has been so many different things going on that I cannot believe so much was able to be achieved.

So now I am looking at the launch of the second Maverick Touch Series book at the anniversary of most important day in my author career and I am just all smiles. I feel like I've lived a whole lifetime and yet I am still such a babe in the age of experience.

I hope that in the future the stigma of 'Indie Authors' vanishes. Like any revolutionary individuals there will be a lot of fire poured on them. The strong survive and rise to the top and that is where I will be.

And, almost most importantly, I'd like to announce my new covers. The whole new face of "Ashley Nemer." I think they give the perfect image of what I want my career to be about. Professionalism and Quality.

I just love how when you look across the books you see uniformity and crisp clean images. I love the colors and the fonts. Front or back, either side, you never doubt that what you have is a well thought out product.

As this concludes the "Ashley Random" of the day I want to say a special thanks to Stacy. Without her, this year would have been non-existent.

Fire & Ice Book Tour: Guest Blog: David M. Echeandia

Blurb:

A Dark sorcerer is Awakened from eight hundred years of ensorcelled slumber, unleashing an ancient and terrible scourge upon the land as he uses his malevolent powers to enslave a continent and create an empire built on blood magic and death.
Across the Luminous Sea in Calderia, a crown prince grows to manhood, unaware that he carries within him a seed of divine power that must now be Awakened, if his people have any hope of surviving the evil sorcerer’s coming invasion of his homeland.
But to do so, the human prince must help forge an alliance with other warring nations, including his blood enemies, the Elves, and their warrior princess who wants him dead. Somehow, these sworn foes must join forces, gathering other companions as they undertake a perilous journey to find a hidden talisman, solve an age-old mystery, and save their world from oblivion.

Why I wrote Classic Fantasy - Part IV: The Romance of Medieval Times

This is the fourth in a series of tour posts about why I write classic fantasy.  I’ve noted that fantasy is imprinted onto our DNA almost from birth through children’s fairy tales—those amazing stories of magical lands and mythical creatures that capture our imagination, taking us beyond the mundane world to places where the stuff of dreams (and sometimes nightmares) becomes reality.  As an adult, I graduated from the Brothers Grimm to iconic fantasy authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and later to writers like Robert Jordan, David Eddings, R.A. Salvatore, George R.R. Martin and Jacqueline Carey.  And, when I finally tired of haunting the bookstores for new books to read and decided to write my own, my natural choice was classic fantasy.

In previous tour posts (3/10, 3/13 and 3/14), I mentioned three key elements and themes of classic fantasy literature that I most enjoy, and that inspire me to write: 1) wizards, sorcerers and the wonders of magic; 2) mythical races and magical creatures; and 3) the great quest.  Now I would add another favorite to the list: 4) the romance of medieval times.

Classic fantasy is often set in an alternative reality that more or less resembles the Middle Ages or medieval era—5th to 15th century A.D.—of English, Celtic and western European history and culture.  (The land and people of Calderia in my book were partially inspired by medieval Scotland, as a tribute to my Scottish ancestors).  The long and diverse heritage of this period provides a rich tapestry of folklore and myths to draw upon for worldbuilding, story themes, plot lines and character development.  Writers can call upon a thousand years of history and legends, from the tales of Avalon, the Druids, the “fae folk,” Merlin and Morgaine, and the Knights of the Round Table to William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart, Robin Hood and countless others (possibly including the Dread Pirate Roberts ).

Against this backdrop of medieval feudalistic society, classic fantasy chronicles the rise and fall of kings and queens, the lives of the privileged nobility and the common man or woman, and the roles played by soothsayers and advisors, healers and assassins, tradesmen and artisans, warlords and clergy.  Woven into the fabric of these tales are descriptions of their religion, art, music, law and literature, codes of chivalry and honor, methods of medieval warfare and weapons of combat, rural peasant customs, and other images of daily life in the Middle Ages.  To me, this period ranks as one of the most fascinating and dramatic historical eras, and offers fertile ground in which the seeds of great fantasy literature can flourish.

True, much about the medieval era has been romanticized, downplaying the harsh reality of life that was often brutal, oppressive and short, plagued by war, disease and pestilence without the benefits of modern law, technology, science and medicine.  For many, it was hardly an idyllic existence.  Still, for me, there is the wistful and admittedly romantic appeal of a period so rich in history and legend, a time imagined as less complicated and more low tech, when people lived at a slower pace, closer to nature and their gods; and when acts of great heroism and courage were immortalized by minstrels and poets in song and story.  Throw in the three other elements—the wonders of magic, some mythical races and beings, and a great quest or two—and the stage is set for a captivating tale.
To view previous posts on this topic, please visit earlier tour stops or find links on my website at: www.avatarofcalderia.com.

Excerpt:

Killian moved forward to the edge of the clearing, then turned and looked at Ellianthia, holding out his hand.  After some hesitation, she inhaled deeply and walked over to his side, raising her hand tentatively to press her palm to his.  The Elfin princess looked up at him, his flame-red hair gleaming in the sun, his blue eyes clear and bright with excitement.  What kind of power did this human possess, that he could so easily enter this sacred place, this Elfin sanctuary where even Mellisandria, an ancient Wise One, trod lightly?  She gripped his hand more tightly, wondering what might happen if she let go.

They walked directly to the mound, hearing no sound save that of their own footsteps, the pounding of their hearts, and the rustle of the grass as they brushed against it in their passing.  When they reached the mass of tangled vines and stood before the Stone, he felt humbled by its megalithic size and grandeur.  The surface visible beneath the branches and the blossoms appeared smooth and flawless, with no sign of weathering, as if time had stood still for ages here in this place of power.

Killian did not know what he was meant to do next, but he felt drawn to walk around the Stone while it waited for him to unlock its mystery.  Still leading Ellianthia by the hand, he had paced perhaps a quarter of the way around its base before he found that same palm-sized circle that he had seen in his vision, positioned partway up the side of the monolith.  Knowing instinctively that this was what he had been seeking, he raised his hand toward the circle and looked at Mellisandria for final confirmation that he should proceed.

“It is your destiny,” she said, nodding once.  With that, he stepped forward and placed his palm flat upon the circle.

At the instant of his touch, a brilliant flash of golden light erupted from the circle, encasing the Calderian prince and the Elfin princess. Then several gasps arose from the observers, Ellianthia’s loudest and nearest of all, for Killian’s eyes were two luminous orbs glowing with divine presence, as if the gods themselves had entered his body and now looked out through their Avatar upon the awestruck mortals gathered there.  In that moment, any lingering doubts that he was indeed the chosen vessel of the deities vanished from the minds of all who had witnessed it.

Almost immediately thereafter came a deep rumbling that shook the ground and rattled the lofty branches of the trees around them.  A strong gale sprang up, whipping hair and clothing about, and making them blink from the force blowing against their faces.  The deep vibration seemed to be emanating from within the Stone itself as, before their wind-stung eyes, a vertical crack appeared in that flawless gray surface.

Soon, the crack became a narrow crevice running down from top to bottom, then widened steadily into a rift that grumbled and creaked with every inch of movement, cleaving the granite and snapping the vines that covered it.  Then two stone doors, each some five feet in width, pivoted as if on hinges and swung outward, revealing a dark, mysterious opening into the monolith.

Killian glanced at Ellianthia, who was staring back at him with the same expression of shock written on the faces of the other Elves and humans waiting behind them on the edge of the clearing.  Though the glow in his eyes had dimmed, he was undeniably the prophecy fulfilled, for all could see that the “One who will come to split the stone” stood before them.  She tried to pull her hand away, but he shook his head slightly and pointed toward the opened doors, knowing that their presence was required there.  Gathering his courage, he led her inside.

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Sony 

Author Bio:

I was raised on the East Coast, enduring the freezing winters and loving New York pizza by the slice, the kind you fold in half and start eating with the hot melted cheese dripping down into your mouth. Now a psychologist, I live here in the California sun with my wife and daughter, and assorted pets. I don't regret leaving the cold weather behind, but I do still miss the pizza.
I have been enamored with science fiction/fantasy since I was (as my southern grandmother used to say) "knee-high to a grasshopper." Thank the gods for ebooks, because I ran out of room to store my collection many moons ago. I enjoy reading, RPG’s, canning homegrown preserves, old time radio, more reading, and Scottish Highland Games (middle name is McMaster). I actually had a kilt of my clan tartan made, and I've been promising myself to learn how to play "Scotland the Brave" on the bagpipes. Perhaps one day…

Connect With The Author:

Website
Facebook
Twitter 

Giveaway:

Author David M. Echeandia is giving away two $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Cards (winner’s choice) to two lucky winners! Enter with Rafflecopter.  The giveaway runs 3/5/14 – 3/20/14 (Midnight Eastern Time). 
 

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Fire & Ice Book Tour: Spotlight: The Vamp Experience by Courtney Lane

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

“The life you lead when death is at a short bend around the corner is not for the cautious.”
Reegan Barcel, the sole heir to her father’s fortune, is a free-spirit who lives without boundaries and responsibilities.
When Reegan is given tragic news about her health, she creates a fantasy bucket list of all the erotic (and not so erotic) things she wants to accomplish. She toys with the idea of completing the list with Emile Garcin, the man in her life, but he balks at the chance.
An ominous encounter with an employee of Executive Suites (a company that fulfills adult fantasies) provides her with an attractive alternative that she can’t refuse.

Excerpt:

“She’s in the middle of a meeting,” the receptionist greeted me as she continued to type on her laptop. “Please have a seat, Miss Barcel.”
I gave her a fake smile, and took a seat in one of the leather bound chairs.
Five minutes later, Rana’s meeting partner came out.
He was one of those guys that immediately demanded your attention. While you took notice, the world around you seemed to slow — he was that beautiful. His squared jutting jaw, his rose tinted generous lips, the heavy lidded dark brown eyes, the heavy jet brows, the closely buzzed hair — I could only think of one word: damn.
He smiled at me, revealing his bright white straight teeth and deep-set dimples in the center of his cafe au lait toned cheeks. His smile made him more of a pretty boy than he already was. His sharply tailored black on black suit, and shiny italian leather shoes made me feel very dressed down in my skinny jeans and band T-shirt.
“Morning,” he greeted me. His voice was fairly deep, but quiet and dripped in sex. He could’ve told me to take off my panties, and I would’ve easily obeyed.
I crossed my legs and stared directly ahead, ignoring him.
A guy like him had to be cocky as hell, and I wasn’t going to give him another reason to be. He looked to the receptionist and leaned across the desk. They had a hushed conversation with each other. My eyes trailed back to him. I soon realized that I couldn’t stop staring. The receptionist looked just as entranced with him as I was.
“Reegan,” my sister barked from the doorway of her office, startling me. “I’ve been calling your for a minute. What’s wrong with you?”
I didn’t realize I was in a daze. I caught his eye again as I strolled into my sister’s office. He gave me a slow wink and a smirk that made me feel like someone dropped ice down my spine. I nearly ran into the wall…okay, I did run into a wall. Rana grabbed my shoulders and led me to the doorway.
I came in, closing the door. “I know—” I fanned myself while whispering to her like he could hear me. “—you have to be hitting that.”
“Hitting what?”
I jerked my chin over to the door. “That guy.”
“Did you forget I was married?”
I looked through the clear glass square in the smoky glass door, watching him.
“You look very interested.”
“He looks corporate. Is he corporate?” I asked frenetically. While he made his way to the elevator, he paused like he knew someone was watching him.
“Very,” Rana answered.
“Damn,” I said as I watched him walk into the elevator. While he thumbed his lips pensively, his eyes lifted at me. He gave me another wink — like he was inside my head and knew every single X-rated thought I was having about him.
The doors closed, but I could still feel the ice at my spine. I shivered dramatically.
“Hello?” Rana clapped behind my head. “Reegan?”
“Who—” I cleared my throat, realizing my voice was cracking like I was a pubescent boy. “Who is he?”
“Richard and I are having a wine tasting party. His family runs a vineyard up north. I was working with him on a custom blend. I think he runs a few restaurants, and some companies in other industries. My receptionist recommended him. I think she said something about him being involved with a company named Executive Suites. Never heard of it, so I’m not sure of what he does there.”
I came back down to Earth. “What?”
Rana examined me with a lifted brow.
“Are you sure it was Executive Suites?”
“Almost positive.”
“What’s his name?”
“Calind something or other.” She flourished her hand like she was bored with the topic. “To why we’re here.”

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Author Bio: By way of Rochester, NY and several other places before I landed in California. I live with my husband, dog, daughter, and a demon masquerading as a dog.
When I began writing (I know this sounds familiar, over dozens authors state this) it was an outlet for me. Not only that, I was creating fan fiction before I knew what fan fiction was. Eventually, my writing evolved into standalone worlds with standalone characters.
While I write across genres (I find it hard to stick to one genre), I do have an archetype when it comes to the female protagonist -- they have to have certain type of strength, strong convictions, and layered personalities. There will often be a lot of darkness and depth to my stories, but I don't see the point in writing vapid characters who are thrust into "safe" situations.


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Giveaway:

Author Courtney Lane is giving away ten of her books to ten lucky winners! The winners will each be able to select one ebook from the following:

StrangeHer Love

StrangeHer Love: Undulation
AfterPlay: The Vamp Experience Series (Sequel)


To enter, simply leave a blog comment with a valid email address! Winners will be randomly selected. Follow the tour and enter at each tour stop to increase your chances of winning. Must be 18 or over to enter!