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May 30, 2014

See You in Hell by Demelza Carlton ~ Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway

seeyouinhell (1)
 
Title: See You in Hell 
Series: Mel Goes to Hell #2 
Author: Demelza Carlton
Publication date: April 30th 2014

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Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Book Description:
Hate your job? Try working in HELL! 

Melody Angel takes a job as a temp at the HELL Corporation. Surrounded by eternal bureaucracy gone mad, demons who love making life miserable, and dying for a decent coffee, it may take a miracle for Mel's mission to succeed. She must find out what evil plans the Lord of Lies has up his sleeve and stop him, using any means necessary. Lucifer and his minions are out to take over the world, but there's more than money at stake when the Devil drives.



Adding trouble and temptation to Mel's job is Luce Iblis, the damnably hot CEO, who has set his smouldering eyes on the new office angel and is determined to claim her, body and soul. 

Can ultimate evil and angelic perfection escape a limbo of desire and find a paradise of their own?



Excerpt

"Yep, that looks fine," Lili said, pushing the piece of paper across the table to Mel. "Just change it to the font in the style guide and you can take it up to Luce yourself." 

"I...what? I thought you said I just had to write it adn send it up to him," Mel protested. 

Lili's eyes glowed red as if she sensed Mel's discomfort and enjoyed it immensely. "Oh, no. He came down here personally and placed the offending report on your desk. He waited a while, too, determined to make sure you understood his message. He insisted that I send you to report to him as soon as you received it." 

Mel felt her jaw drop. "But...that was hours ago!" She felt her stomach and the sandwich inside it start to sink. 

Lili grinned fiercely. "Then I suggest you change the font quickly and leg it up those stairs to Luce's office before you're any later." 

Struggling not to swear, Mel marched back to her desk to make the letter and offending memo as perfect as she could. Fifteen minutes later, she pulled the pages from the printer and set off for the executive suite upstairs. 

She kept a serene smile on her face as she strode through the maze of cubicles, nodding slightly every time she caught the eye of another demon. She'd never recognise them all, but it still seemed a good idea to stay on good terms with them. If her job survived the day and the belated dressing-down from Luce. 

She shrugged. If her first job lasted less than a fortnight, so be it. She didn't much like the work, anyway, and there were plenty of demons to do it. It's not as if the HELL Corporation would miss her. She's tell Raphael that the CEO definitely was Lucifer and let him sort it out while she went to Korea. She could taste the bulgogi already... 

The cubicles were bigger now - spacious enough to take several visitors and a large meeting table between them. Mel knew she was nearing executive territory. 

"Can I help you?" an imperious voice asked. Mel heard the words, along with the implied message that the owner of the voice would not help her. Mel was perfectly happy helping herself. 

Mel's smile lit up her whole face. "Lili sent me to see Luce regarding a report." She proffered the papers. 

The older woman's lips pursed as her deep, dark eyes narrowed. She had to be one of Luce's more senior demons. Her demeanour spoke of indescribable age and experience - all of it decidedly dark. 

"I'm Mephi, Mr Iblis' personal assistant," the woman said, emphasising the demon's name. "All of his appointments go through me. Do you have an appointment?"

The woman's subtext was amazing, Mel decided. She radiated an aura that said Mel hadn't a hope of getting through her and she'd never be important enough for an appointment. Despite herself, she was impressed. She wondered how many demons balked at this formidable gatekeeper. 

"I'm delighted to meet you, Mephi. I wish I'd known to call you first - but Luce left this on my desk and insisted I speak to him about it immediately. Given the urgency, I didn't dare delay." Mel let the slightest look of concern cross her face. "I haven't missed him, have I? I'll wait as long as I have to, if he's with someone. I'd hate to be the one responsible for this getting to him later than he'd like." She slipped on a sympathetic smile that suggested she wouldn't want Mephi to bear the brunt of her boss's wrath. 

Mephi held Mel's gaze for a few seconds before she conceded her point and picked up the phone. "Mr Iblis, I have an angel here to see you." She managed to make it sound like something she'd found floating in the staff toilets.

"If you're talking about the girl standing at your desk with the papers in her hand, send her right in, Mephi," came a voice from behind Mel.

Mephi shrugged. "If you say so," she sniffed, clicking the phone handset back into place. 

Mel nodded her thanks to Mephi with an unwavering smile, before turning to brave Luce in his lair. His office, she corrected herself, as she entered the airy space. She couldn't imagine a lair containing...

"Are those Pro Hart landscapes?" Mel asked eagerly. "I don't think I've ever seen the originals in oil before - just prints of them. It's the colours. They're always so vibrant, so real..." 

"They are," Luce replied, "but you're not here to discuss my art collection. You've kept me waiting and I am far from happy." His eyes seemed to catch the light in odd ways, as if each was a singularity drinking the photons in, with no intention of releasing them. 

Mel stepped forward and laid her papers on his desk. "The corrections you requested, along with a letter."

Luce gave the papers a cursory glance before turning the full pull of those dark eyes on Mel. "Do you know how long you've made me wait?" He lifted his chin. "Close the door." 

For the first time, Mel felt a premonition of danger. The demon reclined in his desk chair with his hands in his lap, a picture of relaxed repose. Only his eyes seemed to belie the image - like a crocodile lurking beneath still, muddy waters. Did the crocodile know how much danger he was in? 

"No," Mel said.      

Author Bio
Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.

She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.

Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.

The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by her suspense thriller Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.

Connect with the author:
 
 Giveaway:
$20 Gift Card (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour organized by:

Moonflower by E.D.C. Johnson ~ Book Blast

Moonflower by E.D.C. Johnson ebook is FREE for a Limited Time


I have a copy of this book for review, and I'm excited to read and review it for you guys, which will hopefully be soon! In the meantime, this sale runs through Saturday, so grab a copy TODAY while you can! :)
 

Moonflower_EDCJohnson_Cover

Moonflower by EDC Johnson

“Even the way he spoke was unusual. Josie added the pieces together in her mind and concluded that either she had been mystically transported to a mysterious land or she was utterly, totally going insane."
After Josephine Woods’ father dies of cancer, her mother up-roots the two of them and moves to the city. Josie hates her city life, but her teenage issues are of little consequence when they have a car accident and she wakes up in a strange land (reminiscent of Victorian Europe) alone. Lost, with her school backpack as the only connection to her world, Josie struggles to find her way home. She is found by Lucius Conrí, the son of a Marquess, who possesses royal blood and the gift to shift into a wolf’s form at will. Can the kind-hearted Lucius help her find her way while winning her love, or will she fall for Donovan Conrí his older, more serious brother and heir to the Conrí wealth? - See more at: http://www.edcjohnson.com/reviews/#sthash.HGF6L0ws.dpuf


Synopsis:

After Josephine Wood’s father dies of cancer, her mother up-roots the two of them and moves to the city. Josie hates her city life, but her teenage issues are of little consequence when they have a car accident and she wakes up in a strange land (reminiscent of Victorian Europe) alone. 

Lost, with her school backpack as the only connection to her world, Josie struggles to find her way home. She is found by Lucius Conrí, the son of a Marquess, who possesses royal blood and the gift to shift into a wolf’s form at will. 

Can the kind-hearted Lucius help her find her way while winning her love, or will she fall for Donovan Conrí his older, more serious brother and heir to the Conrí wealth?
After Josephine Woods’ father dies of cancer, her mother up-roots the two of them and moves to the city. Josie hates her city life, but her teenage issues are of little consequence when they have a car accident and she wakes up in a strange land (reminiscent of Victorian Europe) alone. Lost, with her school backpack as the only connection to her world, Josie struggles to find her way home. She is found by Lucius Conrí, the son of a Marquess, who possesses royal blood and the gift to shift into a wolf’s form at will. Can the kind-hearted Lucius help her find her way while winning her love, or will she fall for Donovan Conrí his older, more serious brother and heir to the Conrí wealth? - See more at: http://www.edcjohnson.com/reviews/#sthash.HGF6L0ws.dpuf

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Author EDC Johnson
EDC Johnson grew up in the Midwest, graduating from Michigan State University with her BFA in Art Education and her MA in Art Education from Western Michigan University. 

She currently lives with her husband and daughter in Palm Harbor, Florida. Her decade of experience as a public school art teacher has inspired her to write fiction novels that will entice young readers. 

You may see some of her illustrations in Renee Mallet's: Fairies, Mermaids, and Other Mystical Creatures.

EDC Johnson



Moonflower by EDC Johnson-free ebook

Grab your copy on Amazon


Feature & Follow #50 ~ Great Characters or Gorgeous Writing?


Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where two blogs are featured. Click the links above to follow the hosting bloggers and featured bloggers. Enter your own post's link in the linky, then hop around to as many blogs as you can - find new blogs to follow and gain new followers as well. Mingle and make some new bloggy friends! :D

Follow me any way you'd like 
as long as you keep coming back, lol! ;) 
I do like bloglovin' & GFC follows :D



Q:  How important is good writing to you? In an ideal world, a book would be beautifully written AND have great character development, plot, etc. 

But in the real world, which do you prefer: 


(1) Great characters and plot with lousy writing 
or 
(2) Middling character development and plot but gorgeous writing

A: This is a really hard question to answer for me because I really want both, lol. I think if I had to choose, I'd go with option one. Even if the writing is bad, as long as I care about the characters, I think I could make it through. Characters are very important to me. 

How about you? 


May 29, 2014

First Impression by Pauline Creeden Blitz ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!


Back in early April, I read First Impression and loved it. Click here to read my review. :)

Today you can read an excerpt and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a SIGNED paperback copy with swag.  


First Impression: A Shadow Maven Paranormal
by Pauline Creeden
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Mystery
Publication date: March 31st 2014
Published by: AltWit Press

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Purchase: Amazon | B&N 

Synopsis

Chira Kelly thought she didn't need anyone...until she met Ben. 

Because of one ugly rumor, Chira lives as an outcast at her school. Which is fine with her, because she works better alone. Always has, always will. And at least she has her one and only true friend, Tasha. When Tasha insists that they join a group to visit a possibly haunted abandoned old schoolhouse, she's wary, but joins her friend. Because of that decision, their lives are in jeopardy as a malevolent spirit targets the group. Tragedies and accidents pick them off one by one, and Chira finds herself drawn to the one person who can see the truth. But can he protect her?

Teaser Trailer

Excerpt

She rips my hall pass from her pad and points it toward the young man sitting across from her desk. "Chira Kelley, meet Ben Oscuro. He's new here and needs someone to show him around. It just so happens he's also a member of class 18B."

I finally focus on the boy. He doesn't look up at me, and his disheveled dark hair is just long enough that it hides his eyes. But he pushes himself up from his chair, and his slim form towers over me. He's at least six-feet-two and his uniform is almost as crumpled as his hair. He swings his backpack onto a strong, square shoulder and nibbles his full bottom lip. His smooth olive skin and dark hair make him look like a foreign rocker, and there's something about him that seems vaguely familiar. 

"Here's a copy of his class schedule. When you're not in the same class, I want you to leave a few minutes early and help him find the next class room. That's your job for today. Got it?"

I swallow back and resist sniffling again. Taking the hall pass and the copy of the schedule from her, I say, "Um...sure." 

"Excellent. Robin, you're off the hook."

The office aide pumps a fist in the air before returning to file more papers in the cabinet. The secretary's chair squeals a dismissal, and Mrs. Campbell picks up her phone, returning to her duties without another word.

Ben pulls open the office door and stands to the side to allow me to go first. The hallway that was empty only a short while ago is now full of students and their continuous conversations. With a shrug, I eye his class schedule quickly. Except for second and sixth period, we have exactly the same schedule. He's in all of the advanced classes, too. Only he has gym for second period and Latin for sixth - opposite of my schedule, except I take French.

Piece of cake.

I glance up at him again, and his eyes meet mine. My breath hitches. His intense gaze makes me feel like he's measuring me. The dark pools of his eyes seem deep and bottomless, but there's something strange about them. They're brown, but he has colored contacts. Why would anyone color their eyes brown?

My heart flutters. A sniffle escapes me before I can stop it. Ugh. I clear my throat and start in the direction of first period. "Follow me." 

We elbow our way down the freshman hall toward the second floor, but before we start up I point down the way. "Do you know what your locker number is?"

Ben nods and pushes his backpack on his shoulder farther.

I wait for a second and then smile. "What is it?" 

"706." He has a slight accent, and his voice is deeper than I expect. I suppress a shiver at the jolt the musical timbre of his voice sends through my body. I'm resonating like a tuning fork. I really want him to speak again with every fiber of my being. What's with me?

"Uh...okay." I swallow, trying to regain composure. I take him to the general area of the locker. "Here it is."

He looks at it, nods, and returns his hard gaze to me. Is he always so stiff? Probably just nerves from being new.

"I know you don't have any books to put in it, but do you want to try out the combination?"

He lifts one shoulder in a shrug and spins the combo quickly through the three numbers. I purposefully avert my eyes so he knows I'm not peeking. He opens the locker wide, nods toward me, and then closes it again.

"Great. We have first period over here." 

"You and I have the same first period?"

My body vibrates again, and I blink hard. So glad my back was to him so he couldn't see the effect his voice has on me. I swallow and face him. "Actually, yeah. Our schedules are very similar. It's a smallish school, so there're only a few tracks that juniors can be on."

He nods, and his eyes are half lidded as if he's bored already.

I lead him toward our classroom. "We don't really have assigned seats, so you can pretty much sit anywhere you want. I'll show you to the gym at the end of class. I have French next, but it's not too far from there." 

I lead him to the front of the class, and my friend Tasha gives me a wan smile and raises her eyebrows, looking back and forth between me and Ben. She mouths, Who's that?

I roll my eyes and put up one finger toward her to let her know I'll tell her in a minute. Then I turn to the teacher. I hand him the schedule from the office. "Hi, Mr. Scott, this is Ben Oscuro, a transfer."

Mr. Scott's kind blue eyes smile at us both. He sets down the Mountain Dew he was drinking and offers Ben a wide grin. He puts a hand out for him to shake. Ben hesitates but takes the hand in what looks like a firm grip. Mr. Scott shakes his hand afterward. "That's some grip you've got there." He laughs and leans down to the bottom drawer of his desk and hands Ben a geography text book.

With a nod, I return to Tasha and squeeze into the desk next to hers. I'm at Jackson Hall partially on my father's insurance money partially on scholarship because my stepdad works at the school. What he does, I don't know, because I've never seen him. Because of all this, I'm somewhat of a social pariah. My only real friend is Tasha Brown, a pariah herself, being one of the few African-American kids in the school. Still she tends to be more popular than me, because at least her family has the money they've made in the night club and music business. But then there's that rumor...

"So who is the new hottie?" Tasha hops up and down in her seat.

I shake my head at her. "You are one big hormone, you know that? Sure, he's cute, but is there any guy in the room you don't consider a hottie?"

Tasha scans the room with her hand on her chin and a very serious expression on her face. Her hair is in the typical pigtail braids she usually uses to play up the uniform. She has on no sweater, and her shirt is one size too small, the buttonholes at the front stretched to expose part of her red bra. Finally she returns her gaze to me. "There's only one guy in here that doesn't rank hottie."

"Really? Who?"

She leans in conspiratorially and whispers, "Mr. Scott."

I nearly choke on a laugh as I eye the middle-aged, balding teacher at the front of the room. But I have to admit, Jackson Hall is a prep school. And there's no one who can afford to make their children look their best more than the wealthy. I guess if I take my father's words to heart, it's better to be the poor kid in the rich kids' school...than the other way around. Right?

Tasha's smile returns, and I follow her gaze to figure out why. Ben Oscuro walks down the aisle between us and takes the desk right behind mine. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He smells like pine and mint, and it reminds me of the outdoors. When I open them again, Tasha's smile has grown impossibly wider. She leans toward me and whispers, "What was that you said about hormones again?"

I shove my elbow toward her, but she dodges me with a giggle.

About the Author
   
   

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. 

Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. Her books have hit #1 on the Amazon Bestseller List and Armored Hearts won the 2013 Book Junkie's Choice Award in Historical Fiction. First Impression: A Shadow Maven Paranormal is her first mystery. It's a dark urban fantasy and will be released March 24, 2014. 

Author Links

Giveaway

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May 28, 2014

Crane by Stacey Rourke Blitz ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!


I love the cover and concept of this novel. 

"What if the monster that spawned the legend lived inside of you?" 

That line on the front cover gives me chills! I snatched up a copy and hope to read it this summer. I'm really looking forward to it! :) 

There are two giveaways below - the blitz wide one and the one where you can enter for a chance to win an eBook copy of Crane! So don't forget to enter both after enjoying the excerpt! :D 



Title: Crane
Series: Legends Saga #1
Author: Stacey Rourke
Publication date: May 26th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

Blitz organized by: Xpresso Book Tours

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Purchase: Amazon | Smashwords | B&N   

Synopsis

The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan't lessen.
If you break the curse, 
you become the legend. 

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane's disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep. 

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse. 

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

Excerpt from Chapter One

If his wife hadn't let her ass grow to the size of a sofa, Vic wouldn't have to cheat. Shrugging his navy blue sport coat over his shoulders, he stepped forward, allowing the hotel room door to shut behind him with a soft thump. A smug smile curled across his face, his chest puffing with pride at his own prowess - thanks in part to those spiffy little blue pills his doctor prescribed. The heels of his wing-tipped loafers clicked against the cement stairs, one impeccably manicured hand running along the handrail as he descended. The rusted metal rail squeaked its protest under the faint touch. Taking its suggestion, he retracted his hand. 

Why he humored Karma by letting her drag him to this diver every week, he had no idea.

Her firm little apple bottom isn't that great, he mused to himself, snorting a quick, dry laugh. 

Of course it was. She made good money with it at the Sugar Shack down by the airport. Grinding to R&B's raunchiest hits, while clad only in a sequin thong. She was a sweet, albeit naive, girl that believed if she stroked Vic's...ahem, ego just the way he liked, she would someday find a fat rock on her finger and the title of Van Tassel behind her name. Hence her insistence on the flea bag hotel. She had flipped her bleached blonde waves, batted those ridiculous fake eyelashes, and pouted that she couldn't be seen as the "other woman" by the same crowd she would soon be rubbing elbows with. As if he would ever let that happen. Karma's airbrushed nails and hooker heels would never fit into his world. After all, in Tarrytown the Van Tassel name meant something, and not because of the stupid legend the residents of the smal glen of Sleepy Hollow mercilessly clung to. No, as one of the founding families they helped build this town. Meaning, here, he might as well be a Rockefeller. A fact he reveled in and would never tarnish with outward displays of his cheap conquests...no matter how well she could wiggle.

Vic crossed the parking lot, lit only by one humming street lamp, with a wide, jovial stride. As he shook his keys from the pocket of his slacks, thumbing the button to unlock the doors, his phone buzzed from the breast pocket of his Armani shirt. 

Snatching it from its resting place, he tapped to answer. "Yello?"

"Don't you sound chipper for someone working late?" Yvonne slurred, the only hint he needed that she'd already cracked open tonight's bottle of wine. 

"Why shouldn't I be chipper?" he playfully asked, turning to glance back up toward the room Karma had rented. A flash of her blonde locks appeared from behind the stained drapes. He raised his hand in a casual wave, but couldn't tell from this distance if she returned the gesture. "I just finished showing a multi-million dollar estate that the buyers are very interested in, and now I get to head home to my loving wife."

"Yeah, right," Yvonne openly scoffed, her voice muffled by her glass as she took another sip. "We're the friggin' Cleavers. Hey, Cassidy is at the mall. I need you to pick her up on your--"

Vic jerked his head to the right, in the direction of the neighboring gas station. Between the normal ebb and flow of rushing traffic, he heard the distinct snap of hoof beats pounding over pavement. "What kind of idiot would bring a horse out this close to the highway?"

"The highway? Where the hell are you, Victor?"

A moment ago the drum of the approaching rider had been coming from the south of him, Vic was sure of it. Yet somehow, without so much as a faltered step, it shifted to the north. "Stopped for gas, that's all." Vic paid little attention to the lie rolling off his tongue as he rose up on tiptoe and craned his neck to peer into the darkness. 

"Oh!" Her momentary flash of accusation was all but forgotten at the exciting prospect of fresh booze. "Are you near Gordon Bleau's? I need a bottle of Amaretto."

Vic stifled a cringe at the thought of his wife's mixed drink induced wandering hands. If he wanted to fend off an overly Botoxed hag that reeked of booze, he'd go visit Nana at the home. Her old biddy friends loved him, and putting in his time there helped secure his spot in her will. "I'd love to, pet, but I'd hate to keep Cass waiting." 

A hot, snorted breath heated the exposed skin of Vic's neck, tickling down the collar of his shirt. He spun, his heart pounding painfully in his chest, and pressed his back to the car door. Chills raced up and down his spine, electrifying his entire body. Nothing. There was nothing before him but that lone buzzing light and the seedy motel. "Damn it! Punk kids!"

"And they have a horse?" Yvonne's giggle morphed into a hiccup. "You better watch out, Vic. It could be one of those lesser known equestrian gangs." 

The lightning that flashed on the otherwise calm night was the only omen Vic needed to spur him into action. Throwing himself off the car, his trembling fingers fumbled with the door handle. Behind him, metal hissed free from leather. Slowly - with a cold, hard fist of dread clenching his gut - his head swiveled. 

"Oh," he said with a nervous lilt of laughter to the ominous symphony of black before him. "That's...good. You got me. I really believed for a sec-" 

Vic's anxious, cracking plea morphed into a scream as the figure pulled back. The blade of their arched sword gleaming gold under the yellow-hued light. 

Victor's hands raised in the only defense he could offer. "No! Noooo!"

He sucked in one last gasp as metal winged through the air. 

"Vic? Victor!" Yvonne screamed, panic clearing her alcohol induced haze. "What's happening?"

The only response she received came in the form of a ghostly whinny...followed by a soft thump. Her shrieks were muted as the phone tumbled to the ground - right next to Vic's still rolling head.

About the Author


  • RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
  • Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
  • Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Stacey Rourke lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. 

Mark your calendars! Her latest literary adventure, Crane, will release May 26, 2014. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this thrilling Legends Saga, as well as other literary projects.


Giveaway #1
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2 


Blitz organized by:

May 27, 2014

The Queen of Swords by Nina Mason Blog Tour ~ Review, Excerpt, Trailer & Giveaway!


Hey there! Welcome to my stop on the Queen of Swords Blog Tour; I have a review for you today. 

And wait until you read the excerpt! Swoon! 


The Queen of Swords, A Paranormal Tale of Undying Love
by Nina Mason
Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing
Heat Level: Sizzling
Formats: Kindle and Paperback

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Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Paperback | B&N  

Synopsis

When Graham Logan, a Scottish earl turned vampire by a dark wizard's curse, draws the Queen of Swords, he knows he's about to meet the love of his life. For the third time. But surrendering his heart will mean risking her life...or making her what he is. Neither of which his morals will permit him to do. Graham, who believes he lost his soul to the curse, rages at God: why give her back only to take her again? 

Cat Fingal, the third incarnation of Graham's twin flame, won't let him escape so easily. As soon as they meet, she feels she knows him and begins having past-life flashbacks. A white witch, she casts a spell to summon him, wanting answers and to fill the void she's felt all her life. 

Graham has other problems, too. Like the seductress who wants him for herself and the dark wizard who cursed him and killed his beloved the first two times. 

Will he find a way to save her this time around? Or will she save him?


I had been looking forward to reading The Queen of Swords since I signed up for the blog tour and was impressed with the level of creativity, writing style, and new take on vampires, not to mention the blending of history and the paranormal.  

There are many things I loved about The Queen of Swords - a few of which I listed above. Cat and Graham were intriguing and absolutely made the story. I found the Tarot card readings interesting, especially since I've had mine read before. Cat's practice of white magic held me captive, and I agreed with her feelings about organized religion. It was refreshing to read about a witch who wasn't portrayed as using magic for evil.  

I can't express enough how much I loved Mason's writing style, and her new take on vampires was a welcome change from the usual. I don't want to say too much about how they're different so as not to give anything away, but suffice it to say, I was just about to think there wasn't anything new that could be done with them. I was happily wrong!   

The chemistry between Graham and Cat was sizzling hot. I'm totally into Scotsmen now. They really are meant to be together, at least in my mind, and while I didn't want Cat to be in danger, I wanted them together somehow. I rooted for them all the way.  

Another aspect of The Queen of Swords that had me invested in the story was the blending of history and paranormal elements. I will say that there are many terms I wasn't familiar with, but I read this on my Kindle and easily found the meanings. If you read a paperback copy, I'd keep Google close by in case you aren't familiar with the terms either. 

The Queen of Swords had vampires, faeries, witches, romance, and suspense. There's nothing more I could ask for! I recommend this to anyone looking for a sizzling hot romance with a dreamy quality. 

My Rating: 




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Excerpt

12th May. Visited Caitriona tonight for the first time since becoming a monster. She slept, unaware of my presence, and for a time, I was content simply to observe. As the hours passed, I began to wonder what might happen if she awoke to find me in her room. Would she think me a wraith? Would she think it a dream? Desiring to know, and to get closer, I sat down on the corner of the bed, alert for any stirrings. Seeing none, I crawled up the bed until I reached her side. Still she did not stir. Ever so carefully, I set my head upon the pillow next to hers. She slept on. Drinking in her scent, I felt contentment for the first time since fate and Fitzgerald tore us apart. I closed my eyes and must have drifted off, because next I knew, her arm fell across my chest. Startled awake, I found her blinking at me in disbelief.

I lay there, still as death, waiting for her to react. Her hand moved up my chest to my face. She dragged her fingers across my jaw, pressed them against my lips, touched the end of my nose, my eyebrows, my forehead. As she combed back my hair, she whispered: "This must be a dream. But you feel so real, so alive. I don't ken how such a thing is possible; nor do I care. I only pray I shall never awaken." 

I kept still. I could hear her heartbeat, smell her blood, but her blood was not what I craved. She set her head on my chest and started to sob. 

"Am I dreaming?" she asked, soft and low. 

"Aye." 

She raised herself up, came over me and pressed her mouth against mine.

"Can we make love in my dream?"

"Aye."

When it was over, I collapsed beside her, feeling so elated, so profoundly moved, I very nearly wept. 

She set her head against my chest. "Will you promise me something?" 

"Anything, m'aingael."

"Always come to me like this in my dreams."





About the Author 


Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. 

Three of her books will be published in 2014: The Queen of Swords, an urban fantasy/paranormal romance; The Knight of Wands, book one in the Knights of Avalon Series; and The Tin Man, a political thriller about the dangers posed by media monopolies. 

She is currently at work on Book Two of the Knights of Avalon series and is itching to get back to a bok she started a while back about a merman who falls for an oil company spokeswoman after a phantom tanker capsizes on the coast of the Hebrides islands. 

When not writing, Nina works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home stager. Born and raised in Southern California, she now lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie named Robert. 

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