Deathly Magic by A. L. Kessler

Title- Deathly Magic Author- A.L. Kessler Release Date- 2-15-2016 Buy Link- Amazon

 

  Zombies... When Abigail Collins heard Nick’s theory on their current case, she knew he had to be crazy, but when a zombie shows up in her apartment she has no choice but to believe him. A renegade necromancer bent on manipulating witches and murdering innocent people runs amok in town and Abby and Nick have to stop them before more bodies pile up. Further complicating matters two PIB agents step onto the scene, claiming a link between their case and Abby’s. To top it all off, blood starved vampires are causing chaos in the city. It’s just another day for PIB Agent Abigail

 Collins, full of blood, monsters, and explosions.

 

 

"Abby?" I heard Nick's voice. I turned to find him standing behind me, also drenched from the rain. "Yeah, what are you doing here? I thought you lived on the other end of town?" "I was out and realized I needed to grab something before heading home." He shrugged. "What about you?" I took the hood of my jacket off. "Apparently I'm taking care of a lost cat until I can find the owner." His eyes widened. "A cat?" "Yes, a Sphinx. You know, a naked one." His eyes got bigger and I laughed. "He was outside in the rain, I wasn't going to leave him there." "Maybe he's your familiar." He said, "But just be cautious." I raised a brow. "He's safe and means no harm." "How do you know that?" "Because I made sure to put up a protection spell on my house last year after the Cult waltzed right in, oh and after Michelle waltzed in too. I decided it was the best type of defense." He pressed his lips together and gave me a disapproving gaze. "You never told me the Cult paid you a personal visit." Aw crap, I'd screwed up. "It doesn't matter. It wasn't any of your business anyways. The point is that they backed off." "You're just a magnet for trouble, Abigail." We walked further into the store and I had no idea why he was staying next to me, but I let it go. "Don't I know it?" I laughed. "You've gotten the mild end of it. Just wait, if Boss Man makes you shadow me much longer you could start to see the really weird shit." "For our sake, I hope we only have to partner until the end of this case. Because it's only a matter of time until your bad luck starts to rub off on me." A shriek came through the nearly empty store. Nick and I both cursed and headed towards the sound. People were running the other direction, one screamed 'vampire' as they passed us. Well, crap. Nick and I drew our guns and continued to where the people were running from. Sure enough, a vampire stood there with his lips sealed to the woman's neck. His red gaze flickered to me. "He's blood starved." I told Nick and we both moved closer. We took aim. "Let the woman go." I didn't have to technically warn the vampire, but I wanted to give him a chance. Reasoning with a blood starved vampire was kind of like reasoning with a toddler, they may not realize what they are doing is wrong and need to be told to stop. He ignored me and went back to the woman. His blond hair fell in front of his eyes and he started to turn. I didn't hesitate. I shot his leg. I couldn't shoot him in the head without risking the woman, so the leg was going to have to do. He snarled and threw the lady away. Nick went to her without me having to prompt him. The vampire turned his gaze to me and rushed me. The problem with vampires was that they moved fast. Inhumanly so. I took two more shots in hopes of slowing him down, but I ended up pinned to the floor. He bared his fangs at me. I didn't have any desire to be a meal. I brought my hand up and slammed the butt of my gun into his temple. He reared back and I scurried away and shot the moment I could. Blood and vampire brains exploded all over the floor and me. The body fell and I wiped the blood off my face and stood. "What the fuck." "Don't put your gun away Abby." Nick called. "Two more!" Seriously, two more? What the hell was going on tonight? Buy two get one free on blood-starved vampires?

A.L. Kessler is the author of Dark War Chronicles and Here Witchy Witchy Series. She dabbles in paranormal romance, steampunk and urban fantasy. Since she was a teenager she's loved weaving stories and spinning tales. When she's not at the beck-and-call of the Lord and Lady of the House, three black cats by the names of Jynx, Jiji and Sophie, training a playful puppy named Zelda, playing with her daughter, or killing creepers and mining all the things with her husband, she's either reading, participating in NaNoWriMo, or writing in her Blog Writing Rambles. For those who like things on the more spicy side, she leads a double life as Alexandra Webb. Links Fan Page Series Page Author Profile You can also find and follow her here: Goodreads Amazon Twitter Pinterest  

10 Years Ago Today .......

Here is a picture of me yesterday, May 13th. Do I look any different? And here is a picture of Tony and I ... 9 days after we got engaged.

Ten years ago today I graduated college. A full decade! That's insane to me. So much has happened in this decade that in some ways it travels through my mind as slow as a turtle and others it flies by so fast like a bullet.

Here's a little re-cap of what this last decade has brought us ...

The avg price for a movie in 2005 was $6.41. - Fun fact, the movie theater in Huntsville Texas STILL is $6.00 for an evening movie!

The avg price at the end of 2014 for the same movie was $8.17. For you non-math lovers that's an increase of 27.6% year over year in the movie price!

At the end of 2005 the average gas price was 2.197 - which doesn't seem like much. Until I think about the very first gallon of gas I bought in 1999. That week the avg gas price was 1.11.

At the end of 2014 the average gas price was 2.403. That shows a 9.38% increase. You would have thought it was more! When you look at 1999-2014 it's a 116% increase! That feels and seems far more drastic!!

And since this IS a book blog ... the best selling Amazon book of 2005 was ................ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! Hey at least I've read that one. I have NOT read book #2, The World is Flat: A brief history. But I HAVE read Book #3 AND I recommend this for EVERYONE! FREAKONOMICS!!! Seriously GO READ IT!

In 2014 the best selling books (I looked up Amazon and thought they must be wrong so I went with Publishers Weekly which was the same books just in a diff order, go figure!) The Fault in our Stars at the top followed by Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Long Haul and then Divergent. None of these I've read. I did however see the movie for The Fault in our Stars.

In 2005 one of my television addictions happened to be the #1 show that year. Desperate Housewives.

All these little things bring me back. Back to a time when life was easy and everything was just, simple.

Something else that happened in 2005 was my engagement. The man of my heart and soul dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was so sweet and lovely and ... perfect.

Thank God 10 years later we are still together or this might be awkward!

Here's the photos from that day ... just so emotional.

As I look through them I think of all the different changes. Mostly that three of my very loved family members are no longer here with us.

My Uncle Mark died June 6th, just 23 days after we all saw him. It was the last time my whole family was together. And even then his son, my cousin, was missing from the event. I can't help but feel tears weld up inside as I think of Uncle Mark. Then Grandpa Pete, died May 31st, 2012. 7 years later. Almost to the day. 7 years and17 days. And then last year, August 14th, 2014, my father-in-law passed on.

Three men that I loved, very deeply and in very different ways. Each one touched me so special. memories of each that I will always cherish.

My graduation day being one of them.

Then of course there are the friendships. Ones that stand the test of time and ones that come and go. Some people you couldn't live with out while in college now you never speak to. Others you only drank with end up being your BFF's to help get you through the work day. I am  blessed to have a small number of people whom I know no matter how much time passes ... from childhood through college and into adulthood - will always be friends.

And some of you may wonder what I graduated in ... excellent question ... I received my BBA from Sam Houston State University with a Major in Economics and a minor in Political Science.

And now I am SURE you are wondering what I am doing with this degree and if I am utilizing it properly ... well of course I am! I use my Economics degree daily at United Rentals!

So here in this blog are the pictures of the memories of this day, 10 years ago. The Ultimate Throw Back Thursday for my adult life. When everyone I loved was there ... and when I could spend time with Everyone who mattered to me .... I love all of these people ... in so many different and special ways.

Teaser Tuesday: The Therian Secrets Series by Johanna Rae

THERIAN SECRETS – Johanna Rae
What if life as you know it, was a lie? Redcliffe hides a secret, not all its residents are human.
To police this community, thriving beneath the public eye, a parallel justice system exists. Not only that, but it’s globally recognized. International Shifter Information and Control, or ISIC as it is more commonly known, helps protect the rights of both the civilians (their own kind) and the innocents (humans). It’s their job to keep the truth from the human population and ensure a peaceful cohabitation. That isn’t always easy with two types of shifters, Lycans and Therians, who don’t always get along.
Danny Archer, Captain of Redcliffe’s Urewera Unit, is charged with that responsibility. He and his team of Special Forces agents work around the clock to deal with all the problems and chaos which continue to unfold despite their best efforts. You see, ISIC has only been in NZ for eight years and many shifters and rogues still believe it to be a place to escape the law or hide from their own clans. This is further complicated when some of these agents fall in love. The ISIC agent’s life is hard enough without adding romance to the equation. Welcome to Redcliffe, a world the wildlife channels DIDN’T prepare you for.
 

The Mercenary
BOOK ONE


When twenty-three-year-old Jodie Fletcher realizes shape-shifters are real—and that they’re trying to kill her—she finds herself thrust into a life of danger and unimaginable intrigue. With both parents away, and her newly-single alcoholic brother Luke camped in the spare bedroom, Jodie feels like she’s drowning in a world she doesn’t understand. The only thing she can count on is the leopard who has taken it upon himself to protect her. She cannot ignore the raw emotion he awakens in her and longs for more. The leopard becomes not only her savior, but her escape.

Mysterious and unpredictable, leopard shifter Danny Archer hides behind his dimpled smile and pretty boy façade. What’s more, he has a second job the human population doesn’t know about—the one that leads him to Jodie and Luke. Archer feels an instant connection with Jodie, and must find a way to balance his volatile lifestyle to include her.

Luke Fletcher became an alcoholic long before his wife left him. Now he faces the brutal reality that the past has caught up with him. He made a series of bad choices while under the influence, which have placed his sister and his two young daughters in danger. Luke must try to find the man he used to be in order to survive the chaos he’s inflicted. He knows he won’t be able to live with himself if anything happens to his family.

BOOK TRAILER - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQaeR_kosjQ
BUY LINK - AMAZON

 
The Fury
BOOK TWO

Luke Fletcher had finally moved past his alcoholism and marriage breakup when the past caught up with him. Abducted by a clan of Lycans, he woke chained to a cell wall. How long will it take before someone finds him? Will he survive the ordeal and more importantly, retain his sanity?

Jodie Fletcher is under house arrest and not even in her own home. Her boyfriend Danny Archer has become more than protective since Luke disappeared. Working for International Shifter Information and Control, or ISIC, Archer is head of the Urewera Unit in Redcliffe.

Trained and employed to maintain the shifter justice system in a world where humans are oblivious, is no easy task. Now his connection with the local shifters has crossed paths with Luke’s past, Archer is caught between keeping Jodie safe and finding her brother.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There is conflict within the Unit. A group of men closer than family are suddenly at odds, distanced from their duty as ISIC agents. Rufus discovers he may have missed the chance to be with the woman he loves. Eddie reveals his animal side to girlfriend Ainsley for the first time; can she accept his second form?

The turmoil surrounding Jodie leaves her nowhere to hide. The clan of were-boars who took Luke, grow bolder by the day. This escalation of tension has to end, but who will emerge victorious?

BOOK TRAILER - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boFbgiTx08w
BUY LINK - AMAZON


The Butcher
BOOK THREE

Polar bear Therian, Rufus Ramanui, is one of Redcliffe’s most dangerous ISIC agents. He swore an oath to protect the innocent and serve the greater good. Now, he wants to retrain as a Phoniás – an assassin – believing it necessary to help his comrades in the ongoing conflict with the Lycans.

The only problem with that plan, is pretty bartender, Summer Matthews. She and Rufus have definite chemistry, but she’s currently dating someone else. Will it be too late to win her heart by the time he returns home?

Siblings, Jodie and Luke Fletcher, also intend to train as agents. With Rufus and the two Fletchers out of the country, Danny Archer, Captain of Redcliffe’s Urewera Unit, will have his hands full. Already Rufus’ boss, and Jodie’s boyfriend, Danny has a lot invested in their success. When things start to get complicated, both at the academy, and back in Redcliffe, will Danny be able to spread himself thin enough to avoid disaster?
BOOK TRAILER – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJXz6GKZ4LI
BUY LINK - AMAZON



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Johanna Rae is a former fashion designer and married mother of three. She has always had a passion for writing, even at a very young age. When she was five years old, her teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. The answer was: A writer and an artist. It is safe to say that she hasn't deviated far from that mindset. Johanna lives near Hamilton, New Zealand. She shares her rural property and gorgeous outlook, with her family, cats, cows, chickens and several crazy goats.



Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johannamrae
Website – https://johannamrae.weebly.com
Blog – https://johannamrae.blogspot.co.nz
Goodreads –
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5200713.Johanna_Rae
Twitter - @JohannaMRae




Everything you thought you knew about the world is a thinly veiled façade. Shapeshifters exist and live amongst the humans, a double life filled with danger and intrigue.

Addictive Book Promotions Presents: Guest Post from Amy Kessler on DWC Book Series

In the Light of the Moon (FREE in ebook)

AMAZON

Blurb:
A shifter with no control...

As a panther shifter stripped of her control Kassity has no choice but to be a killer for Lucius. Obeying the vampire was simply her way of life. Until Jaxon comes to town, bring trouble with him. When she recognizes Jaxon as her fated mate, Kassity must deal with betrayal, secrets and Lucius in order to be with him.

A war rages on...

Jaxon must decide who he is fighting for and against. What started as a simple job turns into a complicated game of hearts when he meets Kassity, the woman he thought he was rescuing.

But not everything is as it seems in Lucius' territory...

Interview

 

The Birth of Dark War Chronicles

DWC has taken me on an amazing journey so far, one that I only ever dreamed of and with each release, convention, and online event, I get the joy of growing as an author. To truly understand where DWC came from and how much these series means to me, we have to go back to the start.

DWC started with a character, one little character who had spoke up and told me her store. Her name is Isadora Sidel. Now, you won’t see her for a while. She has a cameo in On Torn Wings (bonus points for you if you realized that!). She was the main character in the book The Taste of Blood, which won’t see the light of day for a while. The book that I wrote before, which set up Isadora’s book, was The Edge of Darkness. The titles for the books and the series came along through a conversation with a really good friend of mine, but that’s a story for another post.

I wrote both those books as a NaNoWriMo project, but even though I sent queries out and looked for a publisher I knew something was off, wrong. So after a few months, I put them both in a drawer and moved on. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then Kassity came along a few years late. Now, Kassity started out as a RP character, but after moving from group to group it was clear that she was meant for bigger things. And it just clicked. Kassity had a hand in what was going on in the DWC world. I realized that I had started the series in the wrong place, on the wrong side of the war. From there it just flourished.

We’re talking a series that has taken over five years to actually get on a roll, from start to where we are now. The DWC world and characters are part of my heart and I love telling their stories. We’re almost to the original point that I started writing. Isadora will get her chance to shine and win her way into your hearts. I have big plans for this series, with the fourth book coming out in February, short stories in the works and working on the Hunters’ part of the war, I can truly say it’s going to be a wild ride from here on out.  

Excerpt:

Kass ran her hand against one of the evergreen trees that dominated Lucius’ mountain side property. Snow still dusted the peaks above the tree line, forming a nice white cap. The sounds of wild life running about around the land graced her ears and called to her panther, but she was forbidden from shifting. Some type of metaphysical block had been placed so she could feel her panther but not call it to the surface herself, the beast even leaned against it, fought against it, but nothing worked. She cursed Lucius and took a deep breath. Cold mountain air cleared her lungs, easing her anger as the crisp smell of spring leaves and another panther filled her senses. Her heart skipped a beat. Impossible. With another breath she knew there was no mistaking the scent.
 Footsteps echoed behind her, she spun in time to see a blur fly towards her and knock her to the ground. Air rushed from her lungs, but she managed to recover and rolled. Pinning the stranger to the ground with a hand to his throat, she met his gaze, sky blue eyes set in a soft face. The almost-too-delicate-for-a-male jaw line was sun kissed, and that amazing tan continued to the chiseled line of his abs and the delicious view disappeared into a pair of faded blue jeans. Kass licked her lips as the idea of tracing her tongue up his chest crossed her mind.
“Hey princess, eyes are up here.” He grumbled, putting an arm between them and pushing her off.
She didn’t fight him as she backed off and raised her eyes to meet his again. Now his shaggy light brown hair, a tad too dark to call blond, shadowed them, making the blue look darker. The panther in her urged Kass to nuzzle the stranger in front of her as they recognized the scent. “You’re a panther.”
“Just like you.” He nodded giving her a slow, sexy grin that showed just a hint of teeth with enough attitude to make a woman melt. “Do you pin every cat you meet to the ground?”
She snorted and looked away, toying with a strand of her hair. “Only the ones who pounce me first.”
He sat up and leaned in close to her. “I was just excited to see a female cat. Lucius said that there were none.”
Her cat tried to rush to the surface and caused Kass to stiffen as it hit the block in her. “He apparently had no intentions of us meeting, because he never mentioned you either.”
“I’m Jaxon.” He leaned in and nuzzled her neck in a classic greeting. She sighed against him, taking in his scent and missing the type of contact he offered.
She returned the greeting, rubbing against him, “Kassity.” The longer she touched him the more her beast hesitated against the block in her, calming and edging back to wherever it hid inside her.
“My beast rises to your touch.” He whispered with his lips against her cheek.
Heat tinted her face red. “And yours calms mine.” Panic crept up on her as she struggled to breathe, his scent overwhelming her. She scooted away from him, the wet grass soaking through her pants. He crawled towards her the muscles in his arms moving like liquid grace. He peered up at her through his shaggy hair.
She expected to see hurt in his eyes, but they were narrow and calculating how to get what he wanted. Her. She froze when she felt her beast collide with the block inside her, knowing that it was Jax’s beast that called to her. Clenching her fists, she fought against the instinct to call to him and his cry of need. As she closed her eyes, she tried to find her fading connection with the cat inside her, tried to control and channel it. The want to run in fear of the male overcame the beast and tried to force its way out. 
Kass’ jaw tightened as he moved closer. He straddled her legs and kissed her. Parting her lips with his tongue caused her cat to hesitate. Her body tightened in all the right places as she melted into the kiss and allowed him access to her mouth. She pulled her legs under her to get closer to him. He moved so he knelt in front of her and cradled her face with his big hands. Her beast settled against the block, content with the connection.
The tingling of happiness broke when their lips were ripped apart. Kass opened her eyes just in time to see Lucius throw Jaxon a few yards away. Kass swallowed and backed away from the vampire while Jaxon let out an inhuman snarl, but remained where he was.
Lucius glared at him. “Stand down cat, she isn’t yours.”
“That’s not your choice.” Jaxon stood. “If our beasts-“
“Your beasts will not be meeting again.” Lucius spun to Kass. “Room. Now.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but when she met the narrow pure black eyes of Lucius she thought better. She stole one last look at the male panther before running back to the mansion.


Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alkesslerauthor
Series Like Page: https://www.facebook.com/darkwarchronicles

Twitter:
@a_l_kessler

Website:
www.amylkessler.com


 

Author BIO

A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance and steampunk author residing in Colorado Springs. Since she was a teenager she's loved weaving stories and spinning tales. When she's not at the beck-and-call of the Lord and Lady of the House, two black cats by the names of Jynx and Sophie, training a playful puppy named Zelda, playing with her daughter, or killing creepers and mining all the things with her husband of 4 years, she's either reading, participating in NaNoWriMo, or writing in her Blog Writing Rambles.

Published work: In the Light of the Moon (DWC #1)- Novel

The Touch of Night (DWC #0.5) Note: This short story is not required to read to understand the over all arc of the story.

In the Light of the Moon (DWC #1) Kassity's &  Jaxon's Book

Dance in the Moonlight (DWC #2) Renee's &  Coran's Book

On Torn Wings (DWC #3) Orion's & Dani's Book

Past Demons (DWC #4) Tegan's Book, Due out Feb 2015