Two men. One woman. It could ruin a friendship, or bring a
satisfying twist to their lives. Artist, Jason Morgan, is used to making magic
on the canvas. Now he hopes to do it in the bedroom.
After a failed gallery showing, Jason decides the best way to cure his creative
block is to act on his own personal fantasy, and enter into a sexual
relationship with his two best friends.
From the time they were in elementary school, Russell Sinclair has been a
willing participant in Jason's adventures, but this one goes to a new level.
He's intrigued by the idea of sharing one woman, but is challenged by how to
fit this three-sided relationship into his traditional life.
Lauren Redmond is no stranger to fantasy. As the aesthetic sales rep to the top
Beverly Hills dermatologists, she is responsible for the majority of puffed
lips and filled wrinkles in the greater Los Angeles area. She detours from her
steady, secure path when she is offered the opportunity to live the dream with
the two men who have occupied her heart since college. The fantasy fast becomes
a powerful reality, and Lauren must decide if she is willing to give up
everything she has worked for to have a bit of temporary decadence.
Trifecta explores the boundaries of love, relationships and convention.
Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her need
for graphic sex scenes and love of happy endings inspired her to create her
own.She has a weakness for bad boys and
techno geeks, and married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep
her all her gadgets running.When not
writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles
and helping top doctors build their practices.
Humans are losing their devotion to the Gods. After everything the humans put themselves and others though; faith is still not high on their priority list. Even the Gods would think such things as wars would lead the humans back to them, but it is only a temporary fix. Their devotion still waivers. Other than Ra, no one seems to notice, or they just don’t care. They keep telling him it will get better with time, only it doesn’t. Worse yet, they keep denying his request for an earthly presence. He is sick of watching and waiting, and sick of being denied. He is not going to just stand by and let them keep denying him, he has his own plans. Plans put in place centuries ago, secretly. Now they shall all see what happens when he is forsaken.
While Ra is making plans of his own, Kenna, on the earthly realm, is figuring out that the people she loves and trusts are keeping secrets from her. She wants to know what those secrets are, and she knows they have something to do with her nightmares, but no one is giving up any information. She is not too worried though. She has Keyara, her best friend, right there beside her. Together they work to try to unravel the mystery that her life has become. Together they stand when Kenna’s life is turned upside down by some handsome stranger. One that is familiar, yet unknown to Kenna. Together they will continue to stand, when the secrets are revealed, and both girls find they have destinies they never would have dreamed of.
Kenna is sitting on her bed looking at me with a look of bewilderment on her face, and a little laugh in her voice. “Sounds like you were up to eaves-dropping again. How did the covert operation go? Learn anything new?”
“No, no nothing new tonight,” I quickly spit out, not wanting her to know that her parents know where she got the necklace. While I still hate the lying, I know I just need a little bit more time, and a few more pieces to start putting everything together.
Kenna gives me the eye, looking at me suspiciously. “Well you sure were gone long enough for no new information, and you were awful quick to spit that out.”
“Yeah well, just because we have an undercover mission going doesn’t mean I don’t ever have to drain the lily pad once in a while.” Truthfully I hate keeping this secret from Kenna, but I don’t want to let on to the fact that I think they are keeping secrets, and that I think it is something big. I want to wait until I have something concrete to bring her, so I don’t worry her any more than she already is. As it is, my poor best friend has hardly had a good night’s sleep in months and the less stress she has on her, the better off she will be. Knowing there is a secret out there about her isn’t exactly going to help her, but it is better than knowing just how serious I believe it may be, without being able to produce any proof.
Amy has been married for 16 years and shares two beautiful daughters with her husband. After being a stay at home mother for many years, she went back to school and graduated with her Associates Degree in Business Administration in 2009. When she is not working, she loves being able to travel whenever she can and has had the opportunity to visit several different countries with her family, and has even been able to live in some of them.
While it was never her dream to become a writer, she now loves every minute of her time spent in the writing world, as it gives her the opportunity to live in a world made out of imagination and sometimes dreams. She loves reading paranormal and fantasy books.
This debut novel offers a no-holds-barred account of two young lovers fighting their pasts for the chance of love and family.
Love is the one thing missing from Fatima’s life, beginning when her parents left her at the age of four. Usually she enjoys calling the shots in her love life, but when she runs into a mysterious man on a night out, everything changes.
Cory Hines would give anything to undo his childhood. Growing up with an abusive father and distant mother left him wary of family and relationships. And as he tries to straighten out his life, the nightmares return and send him down a drunken spiral. His siblings force him into therapy, but it’s not until he meets Fatima that he begins to learn what commitment is all about.
Though their pasts continue to haunt their relationships, it is their common problems that draw Cory and Fatima closer. In the process of getting their lives on track, they find out more about themselves and their pasts than they bargained for and realize they must rid their demons for good in order to survive. But just when Cory and Fatima get comfortable with each other and the idea of a relationship, news of an unexpected pregnancy sends them both running back to the familiar.
Full of raw emotion and a vulnerability that pulls you in, Parallel Pasts offers an inside look at what it takes to escape a history of domestic abuse, as Cory must suppress the urge to fight anything that gets in his way, and the women who love him through the process.
I
feel like someone is watching me. Look to my left, no one there. No eyes
staring in my direction to the right either. I take a long sip of my nerve
calmer. Maybe it’s my own thoughts stalking me. The rest of my drink goes down
in one sip.
A
cool breeze chills the hairs on the back of my neck. Lets me know I’m no longer
at the bar alone. Arousing hints of vetiver and tender violets draw my
attention to the occupied seat next to me.
It’s
the MC from earlier. His eyes more alluring up close than at a distance. He
looks at my empty glass. Asks, “What are you drinking?”
I
tell him. He orders me another round.
“Thanks.”
He
grabs a bottle of Johnnie Walker from behind the counter. Pours his own drink.
“Misery
loves company,” he says. “The name’s Cory.”
“Fatima.”
I shake his extended hand.
“So
what’s your story?”
I take a sip from my fresh drink. “Depends on
which book you want to read.”
I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, an aunt. I am a woman
on a journey to discover all God has for me; whatever avenues and paths that
may take me.
I am not one of those writers who fell in love with writing
before I could hold a pen; because I didn’t. I am not one of those writers
whose teachers encouraged to enter into writing contests; because that never
happened. I am not one of those writers who adored English; because I hated it.
I am simply a woman who was stuck in a boring job and had exhausted all
possibilities of entertainment. It was like the Universe sensed my desperation,
an unfamiliar voice called out to me, scaring the sanity out of me. But what
she said drew me in and I began typing out the words I heard as if I was given
permission to transcribe her diary. I realized the second my fingers touched
that keyboard, the moment I heard the keys clicking in an effervescent harmony,
that I had not found my calling in life, but that my true calling had found
me.
I am a Storyteller. I’ve been a lot of other things in my
thirty-something years. Spent half of my life growing up in the military. After
watching my dad jump under the bed every time he heard a siren or alarm go off,
I knew that was not the career for me. Shortly after graduating high school,
working dead-end retail jobs, and spending a semester in college, I found
myself raising my right hand swearing to protect my country from all enemies
foreign and domestic. It didn’t take long for me to realize I wasn’t cut out
for the Air Force. Once I laced up my combat boots for the last time, I
ventured into temp work, spent a couple of years working behind bars at a
county jail, and screened passengers and luggage for the government until a
back injury changed the course of my life.
Ever since I began writing, it was a goal of mine to write
full time. I had no idea how I would be able to do so. A nine-to-five was
needed in order to keep a roof over my head. At least that’s what I thought. My
plea had been heard, and I was tested to see if being a full-time writer was
indeed what I wanted. God opened a door that I would not have been able to open
on my own and I have not been able to look back since.
My path in life hasn’t been all good, but it hasn’t been all
bad either because it has led me to where I am right now. A few short stories
of mine have been featured in a magazine and in two anthologies. And now my
first novel will be in print. Everything in life I’ve experienced has all
played a part in who I am today. Nothing compares to the joy I feel when
creating memorable characters. Nothing compares to taking my imagination to
places the imagination dares to go. That is what bringing life to a blank
canvas does for me. It liberates my soul.
Currently, I reside in Columbia, SC. I’ve lived on three
continents and have a hard time planting my feet in one city for more than four
years. I am working on that, though, I don’t foresee that happening anytime
soon. Pray for me. *smile*
After a tragic accident, Araya Noelle is left with a constant reminder that nothing is forever.
Instead of dwelling over her loss, she plays the hand she's been dealt without complaint. In a world as black as hers, there's no room for bitterness, no time for regret. Sheltered from the outside world, Araya has become suffocated by a life she has no control over. Until Ryland Dare comes crashing into her life.
You don’t know true darkness until you've felt the light…
Like a firecracker, showering her with colorful sparks of freedom, Ryland quickly sweeps Araya away from her dark existence. For the first time since the accident, living in darkness is no longer something Araya wants to do willingly. Unleashed by the shadows of her reminder, being with Ryland, Araya touches light. Together they will learn what it’s like to be alive for the first time.
At the edge of darkness, a ray of light, will dare them both to live.
Excerpt:
I brushed my lips across her neck again and watched as the world around us, spun. Her fingers twisted in my shirt and she pulled my body closer. “I didn’t expect you Araya.” I rasped against her ear and my fingers tangled in her hair, bringing her lips up to mine. Her breath was warm and sweet against my lips and I wanted to taste her so bad it hurt.
Melissa started reading in high school when she found her
mom's romance book collection and has been hooked on books every since. She
became a complete book-a-holic, starting her own collection and improving her
reading skills. Most of the time she could finish a book walking around the
store, while her mom shopped.
She wrote her first short story in high school for a competition in her writing
class. It was a child's book called 'Arnold' - it was about an ant who believed
he could do anything. Oh by the way, she won!
She has written many stories since then, but this will be her first YA paranormal/fantasy
and the first book she will have published.
She lived in Mesa, Arizona with her husband of six years, and her 3 beautiful
daughters. They are her biggest fans and they inspire her everyday. She enjoys
spending time with her family, weekend dates with her mom & taking
vacations. Hawaii anyone??
Sixteen-year-old Hagan Curtis's life is a total mess-alcoholic single father, recently deceased brother (Robin), and social invisibility-until an eerie encounter with a trio of ghostly sisters reveals he is part of the Triad. Armed with newfound battle skills and wielding his amazing split-staff, Hagan plunges headlong into training. But soon he discovers that membership in the Triad can be lethal as Spectrals, Necropeds, and Feeders from other realms show just how bloodthirsty they can be. As his team plummets deeper into their first mission, Hagan learns that his brother’s death resulted from Robin’s knowledge of the Triad, and those closest to him are keeping dark secrets. Will Hagan survive the terrifying mission to finally untangle the mystery of Robin’s death?
Triad Awakening is the first book in the Triad Trilogy. The Young Adult Horror/Fantasy is Michael Grigsby's debut novel.
Seems I've always loved to read. Growing up in rural
Kentucky, the highlight of my summers was when the bookmobile delivered new
books to my house each week. During the school year, I spent hours at the
public library devouring horror and suspense novels.
As an adult, I've taught Language Arts for fifteen years. Reading and writing
with my students has inspired me to finally write my own books. I love opening
the door to a world I create and seeing what a spine-tingling events unfold!
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children. I also
read (of course) and watch horror movies. My obsession with all things scary
led me to write the Triad Trilogy. I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as
I have writing them for you!
Claire Martin is an empath. She’s lived her entire life as a slave to a
constant barrage of emotions that weren't hers. Off to college she hopes simply
to blend with the crowd where she can best hide her curse. Within her first few
weeks at school Claire meets Stephen Andrews, a small, fragile looking boy who
changes her life forever.
Stephen, a boy with a secret of his own, instantly recognizes Claire for what
she is. It is through Stephen's aid that Claire meets James, a vampire with a
talent of his own. As soon as they touch, their abilities connect in a way that
has not occurred in over three hundred years forming a bond that cannot be
broken.
James stood and put his right hand into the air separating
our bodies. I looked at it and snapped back up in alarm. “What do you want me
to do with that?” My heart started to race. We couldn’t touch. What if
he could sense how he affected me? He could do whatever he wanted then and he
could just tell Troy and Stephen I’d gone willingly to the slaughter. It would
be easy to get me to mirror his thirst.
“I will shield you myself and take it down a little at a
time as you learn to pick it up your own. But I will need to know how your
ability functions to better work with it. I sense people’s talents, but need to
touch you in order to do so. Each person’s is different. I cannot help you to
contain or manipulate yours if I don’t know the peculiarities of it.” He held
his hand out palm up and wiggled his fingers playfully at me, a grin crept back
into his eyes. “You will have to trust me.”
89I stood too, wiping my now sweating palms on my pants,
glad I had picked the jeans. They hid the marks so much better than khakis. I
raised my right hand and held it palm down a few inches from his. Our bodies
were little over a foot apart and my heart started hammering in my chest. My
stomach was fluttering and I felt the sweat beading on my back and under my
arms. I thought I was having an anxiety attack.
His face was calmly watching mine like this was the most
normal thing. “You must learn to settle yourself, we haven’t even tried our
first experiment yet.”
“Give me a moment.” I closed my eyes so that I couldn’t see
him, then I concentrated on my breathing. With all of my issues I had spent a
good amount of time practicing deep breathing and meditation. Taking this
moment to “find my breath” as my books had instructed, I found my heart rate
coming down and my body responding to my wishes. I reopened my eyes, my body firmly
back under control.
James stood exactly as before with a pleased expression.
“That was good, Claire. Are you ready to begin then?”
Too frightened to speak, I merely nodded and licked my
suddenly dry lips.
Much like my earlier confession, I watched his hand moving
toward my own except I felt like it was someone else’s. Mine was some
stranger’s body and I was standing beside her, seeing this from the outside.
When our palms were about an inch apart, I felt the hum begin, lower and
quieter than I was used to. He was different than a human.
My eyes sought his. They quickly became my gyroscope,
helping me balance here in this strangest of situations. He saw my surprised
reaction to his feel.
“I will be easier to work with because I am not human. My
emotions are much more fleeting and almost feel...” Here he became uncertain
for the first time since I had met him. “I guess you would say that my body has
been dead for so long that my human emotions have dulled. They are in my head,
but do not affect my body as your kind’s do.”
Hmm, that was curious. I felt it building, the unstoppable
urge to touch him. He’d said no harm would come and that he would help shield
me, plus I had to put my hands on his. Again I felt that inexplicable pull
toward him, but now it was total. The tug was in my head, in my stomach. I
could feel it even in my very skin.
Dropping my resistance, I brought my hand down onto his,
lightly then more firmly. I knew instantly that it was too much too soon. His
feelings rushed up to me. They were so fast and fleeting that it was hard to
focus on what I was getting as they flooded into me. With an incredible sense
of relief I also found that with them shifting so quickly they were easy to
block. It was like I had a box of his emotional “thoughts” and they were
wrapped up with enough cotton that I could choose which one I wanted to grab
and analyze once I got used to the pace.
I caught glimpses of faces and places from different times
go flashing past me. Fascinating. Would I be able to do this when my training
was complete?
Almost as rapidly as I had begun to read him, James pulled
his hand back and put it in his pocket. He was breathing hard and his eyes were
dark again.
“I don’t understand. That was great! I was able to separate
each emotive thought you had and if I had more time, I could have read them.”
It was hard to contain my exuberance. This was more than I had ever hoped I
would be able to do. It was like mind reading, but more than words, I could
feel flashes of what he felt about each person and place though
too complex to understand in the glimpses I’d been exposed
to. Realization struck me then and I felt the guilt over what I’d done.
“James, I am sorry, that was intrusive, wasn’t it? I should
have warned you. You said you’d shield and I figured I would just go for it.
Like ripping off a band-aid.” I couldn’t meet his eyes out of embarrassment.
Just then, the teakettle whistled making both of us jump to
our feet. Carefully, so that we didn’t touch again, James carefully stepped
around me before turning to go to the kitchen. “Have a seat, I’ll be right back
with your tea.”
“I’ll help.” I wanted something to do with myself to help
dissipate the awkwardness.
“No,” he said too harshly and too quickly, holding up his
hand to me.
The rejection and humiliation burned hot. He offered to help
me and when I wasn’t offending him, I bowled him over like an overeager
Labrador. I worried this time I’d pushed him too far and now he would take me
home.
He seemed to understand how I was feeling. His voice was meant
to soothe as he broke into my thoughts. “Claire, you have a stronger ability
than I was ready for. It took me by surprise is all. I will be better able to
help you if I eat before we continue.”
Instantly, I felt the color drain from my face. My heart leapt
into my throat. He was going to eat? Me? No, Stephen said he didn’t do that.
“Relax,” he assured with a small grin. “My supply is in my
refrigerator. If you would have a seat and give me just a few moments, I will
take care of my needs and return with your tea.”
“Oh, okay. That’s, um, thoughtful.” Well, that was arguably
the weirdest conversation I’d ever had. Feeling better about a lot of things,
confused about others, I sat down on the couch and pulled my legs up underneath
me to wait while James went about his business. Left to my own nosiness, I took
the time to look around. What had seemed so clean and streamlined about the
house initially I now saw as sterile.
Most people have pictures around their house showing hints
of who they are. Pictures of their hobbies, people they know and love, places
they’ve been. I hadn’t noticed it at first, but figured out in the lack of what
I was seeking that I was hoping to learn more about my handsome tutor. He spoke
formally at times, so I thought he was from at least the turn of the century
when English got more mixed and slang became more acceptable. Or, maybe he
wasn’t American initially and had learned it later. The foreign exchange
students I had met in high school had learned what we called “British English”
which was way more formal than our own American version. Of course I was also
looking for evidence of a girlfriend. She would have to be pretty amazing to
get this guy and, I assumed, she would have to be a vampire too, or it wouldn’t
be fair because she would be too scared to break up with him.
I had put the cashmere throw on my lap while I was deep in
thought about the hottie in the other room who was quickly becoming an
incredibly fascinating person. Uh oh, double trouble. Great to look at, better
to talk to.
Switching gears for my own safety, I looked around me. This
was a comfortable house, I was tired and it was safe here. Relax, I thought as
I closed my eyes for just a minute. I could return myself to a steadier place
while I waited, thinking we could work that much better when he returned.
It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes that I had
been asleep when I awoke to his voice in my ear. “Claire, I should bring you
home.”
I sat up with a start, nearly smashing into his face in the
process. He must have been right in my ear. Good thing he moved so fast or we’d
both have serious goose eggs on our foreheads; well, I would anyway. “No, I’m
alright. Please, I’ll be fine after I have some caffeine.”
He didn’t look convinced, but I wanted a chance to prove
myself after the earlier debacle. We couldn’t end our session like this or it
would be our last. “Are you certain? I warned you these practices can be
draining. If you are already tired, I don’t want you to pass out on me.” He
grinned teasingly and I felt my stomach flip. His color was closer to human,
feeding must give him color as well as warmth, which explained the difference I
saw in his pallor earlier as well.
“Let me have a cup of tea and I’ll be among the living
again.” I froze and shot a look at him unable to read his reaction. Not sure if
I had done damage or not, I concentrated on my tea.
After a few sips I put the cup down, pushed the blanket
aside and stood up. “Okay, let’s try this again. I’m ready.”
He stood as well, so gracefully it was inconceivable,
mesmerizing even. “Yes,” he agreed cautiously. “But this time, you hold still
and I will come to you.”
We both put our palms out again but this time, obediently, I
held perfectly still. When we touched, it was not like before. He was completely
shielded and I had my first feeling of just someone’s hand. This was just
touch. I felt the solidness of his palm, the coolness of his skin. I felt him.
I was unprepared for what it would do to me. Before I realized it, I was
weeping; uncontrollably weeping.
James instantly pulled his hand back and I heard the
confusion in his voice. “I was shielded, you shouldn’t feel anything.”
That just made me cry harder. I couldn’t look at him.
Through my sobs, I tried to speak. “I don’t. That’s it; I’ve never felt...nothing
before.”
He understood that and closed the last step between us. As I
saw his arms coming up, I jerked my face up to his and he saw my panic.
“Trust me. You’ll be safe.” James put his arms around me,
letting his shields block out everything and give me peace. I finally felt what
it was like to be comforted by an embrace. I wept for everything I’d never had,
for the fear that made me cringe from a hug instead of lean into one. I felt
him lift me up with one arm, sweeping my legs up with his other and without the
slightest indication of exertion, he sat on the couch pulling me up into his
lap. I tried to tell myself he’d seen it all before working with people like me
and then cast that aside, preferring to think this first embrace was special
for more than just me.
Follow the Trilogy:
Claire, James and the alliance of werecats bound to James's mentor Henry,
have beaten back the bad guys for now. Until a traitor among them sends Claire
and Stephen into enemy hands. Past loves, jealousy and politics dot the
landscape as the two lovers attempt to control the identity blurring bond that
has them at its mercy. The question that threatens their sanity becomes even
more critical: which nature will win, vampire or human?
Paris. Their bond grows stronger as Claire and James prepare to exchange
vows. But the political unrest in the vampire world does not allow for
vacations. Once again Claire and James are called upon to use their connection
to quell a war that would serve to destroy humankind and any supernatural
creatures who stand with them. No longer able to put it off, Claire must face
her destiny no matter the cost.
HK Savage has been a voracious reader of anything she could
get her hands on going back to the second grade when she would set her alarm
two hours early to read before school. Her passion for the written word has
continued and flowed into writing going back nearly as far. Her books have fans
in twenty countries on six continents with hopes of attracting attention on
Antarctica if for no other reason than to check a box.
Currently, HK is a mother, wife and black belt in Karate as well as an avid dressage
rider. Her three dogs: a Doberman she uses for therapy dog work and two ancient
Doxies keep her busy when she is not writing or working or whatever else.
In addition to editing for the past ten years in advertising, HK has been an
editor for several newsletters over the years; her favorite being for Heifer
International where her ideas were put into effect and complimented by those on
high. Currently her skills are being focused on clients in the writing world.
Paranormal is her favorite genre and science fiction because both address the
possibilities we have not yet realized and the darker things we have. Her
favorite premise: “what if?”
Be sure to check out
the other books by HK Savage: Life Blood
Blood Bound
Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window with the notes of her flute—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty, and seems to have a personal vendetta against Melody. Oh, and he’s her boss. If she wants to keep her job as principal flutist, she’ll have to impress Wolf while simultaneously keeping her undeniable attraction to herself.
Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?
Beautifully written, full of passion and simply incredible, Playing the Maestro is pitch perfect! The story is so realistic and detailed that I felt that I was experiencing the let downs of dating fellow musicians and falling for the untouchable conductor.
Melody is the uber-talented flutist who has had nothing but bad dating experiences. Wolfgang came to America to start a new life away from the drama back home in Germany. Melody and Wolf start off on the wrong note instantly but get to know each other and actually make beautiful music together.
Aubrie has written a heart-warming read with Playing th Maestro. I instantly fell in love with the characters especially Violet. If it wasn't for her, Melody and Wolf would've never went out. Afterall, everyone should listen to 5 year olds =)
About Aubrie
Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over again until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation-favorite character was Data by far-, and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.
Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be "A concert flutist" when she grew up. When she made that happen, she decided one career was not enough and embarked as a fantasy, sci fi author. Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.
Now for the professional bio:
Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She recently signed her YA sci fi novel with Inkspell Publishing titled: Colonization: Paradise Reclaimed, which will release in October 2012. When she's not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras. She's a big Star Trek TNG fan, as well as Star Wars and Serenity.
Nickie returns to town eager to get back to her life and routine but soon discovers that there are many more changes headed her way. After an old school friend is murdered, a threatening message is written on the news article about her death and left for Nicki. She begins to wonder if maybe her friend had been killed as a warning to her, but why?
Together, Nickie and Devon set out to figure out who is behind the murder and what it has to do with Nickie, but can they do it before she gets hurt again? More
Information and Buy Links
Excerpt:
I got home and made my way up the stairs to my third floor
apartment, expecting Devon to be there, only to find the place empty. I checked
the electronic lock panel next to the door, the entry log said no one had been
inside since I'd left that morning. I frowned, wondering where Devon was as I
started toward the bedroom to change out of my suit. As I turned toward the
bedroom I spotted a piece of paper on the floor near the door, close to the
wall or I would have stepped on it when I came in.
After the last thing I'd found under my door I wasn't sure I
really wanted to know what this was, but I picked it up anyway. It was a
printout of the news article I'd read that morning about Annie, but someone had
slashed "SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU" across the front with a red marker.
Rolling my eyes, I set it on the table next to the door and went to change
clothes.
I peeled out of my suit and hung it up. I was still standing
in my underwear flipping through the clothes hanging in the closet, trying to
find something to wear when I heard the front door open. I froze. I scented the
air and caught the smoky fragrance that was Devon, but I wasn't sure if it was
him coming in or a remnant from him sleeping in my bed. I really needed to
learn to differentiate between old scents and fresh ones.
"Nick?" Devon's voice called from the living room.
I let out the breath I'd been holding and went back to looking for something to
wear.
"In here." I called back, pulling a sundress off a
hanger. I quickly pulled it over my head and, still pulling it down, went to
see him.
He stood just inside, frowning down at the threatening note,
"Where did this come from?"
"I found it inside the door when I came in. You're later
than I expected, I thought you'd be here when I got home."
He looked up, "I got hung up at your folks, and then I
stopped and picked up dinner." He lifted the bag still hanging from one
hand, "I don't like this." he said.
"I'm not real crazy about it, but what are we gonna do?
I refuse to be terrorized or intimidated by people too cowardly to identify
themselves."
He sighed, "Will you at least agree to be careful? The
idea that what happened to Annie could happen to you scares me." he looked
back down at the paper with its angry red markings.
I watched him for a second, before speaking, "I won't do
anything stupid. I'll watch out and avoid situations where I could be taken
unaware, but I can't let these threats rule my life."
"I don't expect you to, I just want you to be careful.
Have you at least told the Anikitos about it?"
Anikitos is what we call our pack leaders, at least among the
Kitsune who become wolves, our Anikitos has been a friend of my family for
years, Bill is like a second father. Knowing and trusting him had helped my
transition when I discovered the Kitsune and that I am one.
I shook my head, "I haven't had a chance. I've been home
less than ten minutes." he looked at me expectantly, "I'll tell him,
just not right now."
"All right, then." he nodded, content that I would
let our pack leader know about the newest threat. He dropped the paper back
onto the table and headed for the kitchen. "You ready to eat? It'll be
better while it's still hot."
"Sure." I followed him, "Chinese smells great,
Super Wok I assume?"
"Of course."
We ate while discussing our day. He'd spent most of his
repairing a fence that had let out several of my father's cattle. I told him
about mine, how frustrating I had found trying to work while constantly
fielding calls from reporters.
"The whole thing with Annie has me in shock. We grew up
together, were in the same class most of the way through school, even played
tennis together in high school."
"I'm sorry," he laid his one hand over mine on the
small table, "I didn't know her. I knew who she was, I recognized her on
sight, but being older, I never spent any time with her."
I nodded, appreciating his sympathy but understanding what he
meant by not really knowing her. The only reason he'd known me in high school
was because he'd hung out with my sister Payson, who'd been in his class.
"That this would happen around here and that she would
be left on campus bothers me. It's almost like she was left somewhere directly
connected to you," he reasoned.
I looked at him a moment, thinking about the possibility. Was
Annie killed as a message to me? Or was it just a coincidence that she had been
dumped on campus? Was the note from her killers or just the group that had been
harassing us using it to their advantage? So many possibilities that I had no
answers for.
"I don't want to think about it anymore tonight. Let's
go watch some screen and relax. I've been dealing with this all day and I need
a break." I said, standing to clean up after dinner.
"All right." He agreed.
About the author:
Melissa was born and raised in
Arizona, she's spent her entire life living across the southern half of the
state. She's found that, along with her husband and three children, she prefers
the small towns and rural life to feeling packed into a city.
She started reading at a very young
age, and her love for series started early, as the first real books she
remembers reading is the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
Through the years she's found that there's little she won't read, and her
tastes vary from westerns, to romance, to sci-fi / fantasy and horror.
Forged by Magic. Origins is a collection of short stories, featuring the characters from the Forged series. This is the first out of two prequels to the series. Each story is told from a different character point-of-view.
Find out the details about how the Amulet and the Dasht-e Kavir have been created, and how the powers of the Universe opened the gates to other dimensions, letting some terrifying supernatural creatures into the Human World.
About Angela
Angela Orlowski-Peart was born and raised in Poland. She describes herself as European born, American by choice. She was just seven-years-old when she decided to learn English and translate her favorite Polish fairytales.
Angela is the author of the Young Adult and New Adult fiction novels, including YA paranormal/urban fantasy series, The Forged. First book in series, Forged by Greed, was published on September 20, 2012. There are two anthologies of short stories, serving as the prequels to the series. First of them, Forged by Magic. Origins is scheduled for publishing on May 31st, 2013. The second anthology (still untitled) will be out at the end of June 2013. Next three full size novels, including Forged by Coalescence, will be released in 2013 and 2014.
Angela writes in multiple genres, including paranormal, fantasy, urban fiction, sci-fi, and short stories. She loves reading good books almost as much as writing them. She speaks with Polish accent, but loves listening to the Southern drawl.
She is passionate about watercolor painting, fashion—especially stilettos, rock climbing, environment, and organic food and gardening. She lives in the Seattle area with her family and a chronically curious cat.
Gyanhumara “Gyan” nic Hymar is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
My Review:
DawnFlight is such an intense, action packed read that is fully descriptive and detailed. The reader gets swept into the story as the scenes unfold on the pages and playful banter and fighting play out in your head. Gyan is such a great character. She is strong and yet feminine, a warrior and a maiden. She is my favorite character throughtout the book along side Angus. Honorable, trustworthy and loyal, Angus should get his story told (hint, hint) =)
Kim definitely did an outstanding job on creating such a thrilling and intense read. I really enjoyed reviewing DawnFlight and look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, and assorted wildlife. People & creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins -- the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-20th century -- seem to be sticking around for a while yet.
Kim is a Seattle native (when she used to live in the Metro DC area, she loved telling people she was from "the other Washington") and a direct descendent of 20th century Russian nobility. Her grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim's novels. Another novel in the queue will involve her husband's ancestor, the 7th-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.
For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon's Dove Chronicles. She also writes other romantic historical fiction under the pseudonym "Kimberly Iverson."
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