Friday, May 2, 2014

Cover Reveal! Saving Abel by Gina Whitney



Title: Saving Abel (Rocker Series: One)
Author: Gina Whitney
Genre: Erotica BDSM

Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
Abel Gunner, the lead singer of the band Lethal Abel, is what beautiful nightmares are made of. His gritty, melodic rasp threatens to rip your heart out of your chest and leave you gasping for the very breath he robbed you of. His kisses, detonating on impact, leave you ruined. Abel is also a Dom, and his appetite for seduction is legendary and intense. After a chance encounter with Gia, his need to dominate this woman increases tenfold. He wants to consume her, merge with her, and never leave her body.

Abel's emerald eyes touch the deepest part of Gia's soul in a way that terrifies her. She fears he can see her secret. Lies, guilt, and betrayal lay beneath her skin, and she's terrified of being exposed. How will Gia ever begin to explain? She doesn't believe she's worthy of him, and her greatest fear is that her carefully guarded heart will be shattered. However, she finds herself unable to deny this rogue tattooed rocker whose kisses just might ruin her.




Author Bio:

Gina Whitney grew up reading Judy Blume, and Nancy Drew books. She was raised in the town of North Valley Stream, New York(Long Island)and attended community college for fashion design. At 19 she opened a boutique. She recently published her first paranormal romance novel Blood Ties. When she's not writing, she's hanging with family and friends. She shares a home with her wonderful son’s PJ and Drew, and their 200lb Mastiff Hercules. She currently lives in Massapequa, New York. Reading has always been a passion and obsession. You can usually find her typing furiously while shouting obscenities over her latest work. She also enjoys a good laugh, being snarky, espresso, and above all steamy swooning angst filled novels. She's pathologically obsessed with True Blood(Eric ;), Games of Thrones, Borgias, Vampire Diaries and Originals. You can also find her chatting it up with readers on Facebook.


Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7093718.Gina_Whitney
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginamwhitney
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Whitney/e/B00DWDU1KG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Blog: http://authorginawhitney.blogspot.com/



                                                                Prologue
The night

On ecru initialed paper the understanding was brutally clear…You’re to be blindfolded and waiting on your knees for your master. I reread a couple of times, my hands shaking with both fear of the unknown and excited to be delivered to brink of aching pleasure. Man, I was fucked! Folding the note in half, perfectly seaming the edges thoughtfully, musings of biting off more than I can chew swirled cyclonically…causing fluttering in my stomach to mount to upchuck levels. Picking up the Hermes silk scarf, I gentled it along my check before breathing in his alpha scent. Him. My eyes closed on their own accord…heart beating in concert with my pussy.  My clit charged and was primed already with my sweet ambrosia. The inner demonness scratching the surface of my psyche, relentlessly thrashing against confinement. Twirling around in a sexual dream-state, my eyes took in floor to ceiling windows—lush drapes pulled back. Gasping heavily… hand on my heart trying to keep the fucker in there. Was he planning to take me in the open—voyeur delight?  I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Then again this was about surrendering. A place my control had no say in. On the left was a free standing bar. His guitar leaning against it.  Chrystal decanters lined the top. Amber colored courage called to my parched throat. Begging, needing something to quell the tremors that plagued my body. I couldn’t. Could I?  Or was that breaking the rules? I couldn’t afford to piss him off nor did I want to. I wanted to please him. Hand over the keys to my soul for him to take up occupancy. I needed to take purchase of the prime piece of real-estate—his heart. Old demons plagued my thoughts with their clever mind tricks. Fighting their way to the surface—sneering that I would lose the man I’d come to love because of my deceitful heart. The mother of all motherfucking Karmas was going to bite my ass—hard. I needed to lock these incessant nauseating thoughts where they belonged…behind a door that had no moral key and slam it shut.
Looking to my left, a fire raged stunningly in a pastoral styled fireplace. Crackling embers radiated warmth to nurture my body. Perfect spot! Unbuttoning my pants and blouse letting them both pool at my feet…my bra and panties followed. The heat of the flames licked my skin helping gentle the goose bumps that stepped forward across my body. Double-knotting the scarf, I lowered to my knees, thankful for plush carpet. I sent a silent bid of gratitude upwards. God had no place here today. On this day, I would be rejoicing, reveling and partaking in rituals practiced by heathens. Tempering my breathing, I repeated Namaste over and over until a shiver redirected my attention to the door. Searching my mind to identify its source, the squeak of the door knob stopped all thought process—and thinking.  His innate maleness seeped into my pores, cocooning my skin in his alpha scent—marking my heart as his. Instantly, my body recognized him. An unwilling groan escaped, making my nether region clench in anticipation. He chuckled.
~~~
"Very good. I see you followed my directions flawlessly. I see that beautiful pussy’s shaved bare for me. This pleases me Gia. And you will see how much very shortly. But, are you ready for your Master?  If I part your folds will you be slick and hot for me?"
His warm breath tickled my ear. My mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish out of water, until I finally croaked out, (no paragraph)"Um, yes. I um. I believe so, Abel.”  Christ why am I reduced to a stuttering adolescent? He's fucking dangerous and hot that's why! Stealing myself, I needed to women the fuck up and show him who I am. Palming my chin out, he spoke gruffly.
“Love, when we’re in this setting I am your God…bringer of pleasure and pain.” He released me, clearly awaiting a response of praise.
“Yes Sir. I understand perfectly.” I affirmed. My body chilled knowing the moment he stepped away. The ring of the crystal decanter signaled loudly in the air. Rolling shutters had me clenching—hard. Moments ticked by at a snail’s pace and I wanted to rip my hair out. Frustration built as he took his time leaving me in a vulnerable position. He swallowed his drink before padding back over in my direction and bringing that delicious signature scent of his - musk and something wild I couldn’t put my finger on.
“I’m going to taste you now.” He quantified.
What? Christ on a motherfuckin cross. Two thick fingers teased my clit round and round, spreading my silky juices along my seam and preparing for his invasion. I held my breath. What else could I do?
“You smell like you want to be fucked.” He smiled appreciatively.” Breathe Gia. Your God would like to sample you. I want to commit your taste to memory. Savor you on my tongue. Swallow your goodness.” He rasped leaning into my ear.
I wanted to scream just do it already! His beard scruffed against my face…leaving his mouth against my ear. Every breath. Every heartbeat. Every swallow. Was mine hear. I had a front row seat to an erotic movie that I starred in. Holding my shoulder firmly with his left hand, he roughly entered my opening. One breath in. One long breath out.  Fingering me with precision…two fingers in me and his thumb on my trigger. I ground against his palm.
“You will not come. Yet. Stay still or I’ll stop.” He stated sternly. .  
Well that did it! I needed release and I needed it now. Fuck. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I was thankful for the blind-fold. He had to see how challenging this was for me. With a final stretching thrust he vacated my pussy. The heady juice permeated the air…releasing another gush of wetness. His sucking sound ended with a loud pop, followed by a growl of approval.
“Taste.” He fisted my hair driving his fingers into my open mouth.
“Taste how sweet your pussy is?” He queried.
I had the perfect opportunity to bring him to his knees. My tongue languidly snaked its way around his fingers, sucking greedily any remaining ambrosia—with my own kickass resounding pop. Umm…purring my contentment.  
A seismic roar rumbled its way free from his alpha chest. Oh, he was affected. Breaking dominant control momentarily—he lunged forward. Fisting my hair, his tongue forced my mouth open. Damn this Dom. My lungs fought for air as my hands braced against his muscled chest…alive with the vibrations from the beast tethered within—Abel. Dizziness threatening to take me under. Pulling air into my nose I took a breath. He didn’t let up. Apparently, my survival was to be damned while he consumed me from the inside out. My brain had only registered oxygen. Now I needed to return his kiss. My hands found their way up his neck into his thick hair. Fist full of hair…I pulled. He answered my call with his masterful tongue and gnashing teeth. Needing his cock in my pussy now, I reached for it, feeling its thick steeliness through his jeans. He gently removed my hands. Disappointed, I lowered my head but took the opportunity to nourish my blood with oxygen. He forced my hands behind my back. I sat on the back of my knees to steady myself.
“You have to earn that, Babe. You haven’t earned my cock yet. And he has a bigger ego then I do.” He laughed low and deep as he stood, leaving me again.
Was he serious? His dick had an ego?
Shuffling of drawers opening and closing to my left had me turning my head in that direction. My legs tingled with anticipation and lack of activity. I hoped I wasn’t going to be on my knees too much longer. The loud snap of something caught my immediate attention causing me to lick my dry lips and swallow the golf ball sized knot as I readied myself. Sweet smelling leather assailed my senses.
Do you know what the Cat of nine tails is, Gia?” He asked.
Thanks to Google, my ignorance for basic BDSM wouldn’t be apparent. I schooled my quickly
in the tricks of the trade like knots, whips, and positions 101.
“Yes Sir. A traditionally favored whip with nine separate tails.” I rejoined, quirking a smile. I awaited his answer which came in the form of him running the tails along my breasts…down to my pussy… and snapping my clit to attention. Over and over again my body became acquainted with this new form of torture. With legs shaking, I thrust myself off of them into an upright position, hoping this little exercise would stop this embarrassing bodily display of minor earthquakes. No such luck. My body wanted to surrender to its Master as my wreathing ratcheted to panic-attack levels. An explosion of epic proportions was near tilt. Whack…the leather sliced across my behind. Ow…fuck me!
“Not nearly yet sweetheart. That nice shade of red on your ass is making me hard as fuck though.” He countered.
Well that’s not how I really meant it, but that’s exactly what I wanted right the fuck now. He was turned on. And that turned me on. If his lash marks on my skin do it for him—then so be it.
“I want to taste you, Master. It’s only fair.” I practically whined. Throw me a fucking bone. This BDSM shit was killing me. I’m not a patient person by nature, so, I deserved a reward for the restraint I’ve been practicing today. The sound of his zipper lowering had my full attention. The lava started to trickle down my legs again.
“Is this what you want pretty girl?” He stepped up smearing his pre-cum on my lips.
I moaned embarrassingly loud.  “Yes! More!” I demanded. He presented his cock to my tongue this time. My tongue stroked something unfamiliar. Was it a piercing? Bracing myself on his thick thighs, I fished for the object. Yep, he was pierced. Fuck me.
Expertly I lavished it with my tongue paying homage to this rock God. Maybe his cock deserved its own zip code? This was a local I wanted to move to…like now. Pushing forward I sought his engorged bell. Licking, flickering and tonguing at break-neck speed to the best of my ability. He roared. He ripped the scarf freeing my eyes from their prison. Site was returned. Though, I couldn’t see a fucking thing. Squinting I looked up towards his beautiful face. His face twisted in agony. He needed release. Eyes sparking with warning. His thread-like hold on reality virtually nonexistent. A sardonic smile pulled to his lips as he continued stroking his cock. Up. Down. Up. Twist. Down. Release. Up. Twist. Down. Release. His left hand squeezed his tightened sack roughly. Eyes glistening. His tongue snaked out to wet his plump lips. Sooty lashed eyes closed for a moment and he blew out a long breath…battling for control. I gulped—hard. Something sparkly caught my upturned eyes bringing my gaze back to his sack.
“Like what you see, Babe?” He smiled proudly. His stance was powerful and mighty.
It was then I noticed his tatted dick. Whoa. I didn’t have the time to even comprehend what art graced his gorgeous cock. I’ll come back to that. I was visually over-stimulated. Tilting my head awkwardly left then right. What even was that? I wasn’t naive. I knew there were guys who pierced the head of their dick. Shit. One was right in front of me. But, all along the underside of his cock? Can’t say I ever saw that or even heard of that before.
“It’s called frenum loops, Babe. The one through my head is an Apadravya. You’ll be thanking me soon for it.” His toothy smile made me blush at my naiveté. He took my lip-licking as a signal for further teachings of How to suck Abel’s cock 101.
“Relax. Open real wide. Get it nice and wet.” He instructed.
Relaxing my gag reflex, I readied my throat for his invasion. Not only did I have to worry about his girth, but his hardware as well. My mouth was desert dry. I pursed my  lips to conjure up enough saliva to get the job done. The wide tip of his cock made its way past my lips, wetting a groan from me of appreciation for this male. Lavishing the small beads of pre-come on my tongue…relishing his heady taste. God damn. His hooded eyes caught mine as I acquiesced. I closed my eyes and sucked his head hard with a quick swirl around his Apadravya. I spit into my palm pumping his cock once. Twice. A throaty groan made my clit swell. I loved his male sounds. I knew I was doing this right. I wanted more. More of him. More of that noise. Widening my mouth even further I took his cock deeply. Paying close attention to his frenulum loops,  I concentrated on them with my tongue. The jingling within my mouth had me shuttering. Up. Down. Twist. Suck. Tongue. Up. Down. Twist. Suck. Gag. Up. Down. Twist. Suck. Gag. His fingers found their home…deeply embedded in my scalp, the pain causing my eyes to mist. Licking from base to tip, I was on repeat. His eyes watched me intently. Appreciatively.
Though, I didn’t always see him watching me, I knew he was. One final swirling suck later,  I let my lips pop loudly. Jerking sounds of wetness aloud. I tried the impossible. To swallow him. Breathing through my nose, I watched. He watched. I swallowed. The thickness of his cock swelling was all the indication I needed. He was ready to blow—hard. My throat relaxed and opened to accommodate his girth further. Abel hissed his thankfulness by thrusting deeply. Once. Twice. Three times. He growled loudly face fucking me into oblivion. Surprising even myself…I swallowed his gift of spicy goodness humming my appreciation to this deity. Swallowing it down and suck-tonguing his Apadravya. I inwardly smiled, milking every last drop of his elixir.            
With a final groan, I fell back and let the fibers of the rug absorb my fatigue. Mentally and physically I was wiped out. I rubbed my fingers through the filaments trying to desperately sooth my restless soul. At that moment, I didn’t care where he was or what he was doing. His gentle fingers caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes savoring his warm touch.
“Oh, Babe we’re not done. Come, I’ll carry you to my bedroom.” He bent and scooped me up. Swaddled in his arms, his hooded eyes caught mine. A few long strides and we were in his bedroom where he gently laid me on his king-sized bed and stepped back.
“I’m gonna take a quick shower. Join me?” He motioned with his hand to the bathroom in not so subtle invitation.
“Nah, I’m good here for now. You go. If I change my mind I’ll find you.” She watched him carefully not sure how he would react to denying him.
His eyes darkened as if he had never been denied before. He nodded and left through the en-suite. Raising myself up to my forearms I took in his room. So this is his room here. Monochromatic black and white made up a majority of his palate choice aside from his poppy red silk shantung comforter. Everything was simple…yet elegant. It was clear to me that Abel sought home comforts and swathed the hotel room with his possessions. I guess a life on the road was a lonely one. Cocooning myself in the lush bedding. There was no better place. And his scent. Lord above if I could bottle his essence I’d be a wealthy chick.  Grabbing his pillow I brought it to my nose inhaling his heady alpha scent. A groan escaped and my clit was beyond engorged—needing release. I needed to steal this pillow.
“Enjoying yourself?” His voice caught me off guard.  I cursed inwardly when I saw his smile reach his eyes. Busted. He abruptly reached for my legs and pulled me across the bed. Holy shit. His eyes alit with mischief as he pulled until my bottom was at the end of the bed. Lying there naked, I started to feel self-conscience so I turned to grab the edge of the comforter.
“Don’t hide your body from me, Gia. Spread your legs for me. I want to see what’s mine. I want to taste your nectar.” He commands. And I obey my spreading my legs. When he doesn’t respond, I get anxious. There’s a mirror on the wall next to the bed and I can see my reflection. What a turn on. Me watching him—us. His eyes visually devouring my pussy. He removes his towel from his waist and turns to see me watching tentatively through the mirror. He grabbed hold of his thick cock, stroking, smiling and watched me for a good long ass minute. This is one big mind fuck and I’m barely holding my own. My blood boiled watching his erotic exhibition. Boy was he a showman. He knelt down and seizing both thighs pulling them back into a V across my chest. The image of us in the mirror is suggestive. He pressed his nose along my pussy—inhaling deeply.
“You’ve got such a pretty pussy, Gia. I’m a man starved for this pussy. When I’m done, I’m going to fuck you like the devil. My cock will be everything you’ve wished for, Babe.” He winked.
Cocky motherfucker. Holding my legs in place he dives face first into my pussy pushing his tongue deep into me…growling…devouring. The sounds of him sucking, licking and nipping my pussy had my muscles locking up. I reached for his hair. I needed to touch him. I wanted to hold his head to my pussy until I was good and ready to let go.
“, Put your damn hands above your head or I will tie you to the bed.” He growled.
I acquiesced. I would fucking die or kill someone if he stopped. Oh, God, don’t stop.
“God has no place here, Babe.” His voice was demonic.
Did I just say that aloud? Never lifting his face from his meal. He pushed my knees almost flush to my chest lathering his face in my juice. Oh, God. Growling, biting and sucking were sounds I would never forget. He was feral. Possessed. Using two fingers, his index finger fucking me as he sucked my clit. My legs shaking with deep vibrations, I started to rock my hips. Twisting the comforter in my hands, I began to scream for my release. He didn’t stop. I barley registered the rumbling from his chest as I floated back down to earth. My eyes now opening to a savage beast. He leaned over to bite my inner thing. I yelped in surprise. He stood tall and proud stoking his long thick massive cock. His face still glistening with my cum Nothing registered to this alpha. He had one thing on his mind and that was sinking his gorgeous cock into my soaked pussy.
“You want this cock now, Babe? He spoke through gritted teeth.  Still stroking his cock he spit in his hand. Fucking hell.
“Please, Abel. I want you now.” I begged. I needed him now.
“Need to hear you say it, Babe. Tell me you want me to sink my cock deep into you.” He whispered, his voice barely audible.
The grit in his voice had me wanting to grab his dick and fuck myself with it. He was watching me closely, his control threadbare.
“Abel, fuck me with that big gorgeous cock of yours. Grind that piercing over my clit.” I hissed. That did it! He couldn’t wait another minute—neither could I. He teased the entrance with the head of his cock agonizingly slow, paying special attention to my clit with his Apadravya. Back and forth. Round and round. The pressure mounted. I couldn’t stand another second of the exquisite torture. I leaned forward and grabbed his cock—hard.
“Stop fucking with me and take me already.” I hissed out my plea. He answered by feeding me his cock one motherfucking inch at a time.
“I have to loosen you up a bit. I can’t go balls deep yet. Let me work myself in there. Love my girl greedy for my cock. Have me harder than fucking stone.” He spoke growled breathlessly. Leaning over me his eyes hooded he fed me his delicious scorching cock. He leaned down over my face, arms at either side of my head. His warm breath humming in my ear. His hand reached down to stroke my clit.
“Come on, Babe. Open for me.” He rumbled. Thrusting a bit harder and quicker I felt my body opening up for this mythical creature. My eyes closed tightly and I tried to wrap my legs around his waist to lock him into place.
“Not yet, Babe. I haven’t worked in my rings yet. I’ll tell you when you need to hang on.” He nipped my ear.
I sighed. Fuck, I thought he was all the way in. Christ, I’m not built for this kind of torment. I reached down to his butt cheeks and clamped down with my hands…pulling him deeper to me. He corkscrewed his ass over and over. I screamed my pleasure.
“That’s it, Mama. Scream for me. You’ll be doing a lot more of that.” He proclaimed.
Biting my lip to stay present and not float away…I took a mental screenshot of this moment. I felt so full. My walls stretched to accommodate his girth. Each thrust he sank deeper. And I fell a little harder. Yeah I was fucked. Literally. The sound of my blood pumping through my veins roared in my ears. I couldn’t tell if it was my breaths or his. It was a hodgepodge of ecstasy. He reached his hand over pining them above my head.
“Arch your back for me, Babe, and spread those pretty legs nice and wide. I’m going to own this pussy right the fuck now.” He gritted out. I did as he asked completely submitting. After all this was what he asked for. Complete and utter submission.
“That’s it, Babe. Offer me that sweet cunt.” He whispered. How did he make my least favorite word sound like a fucking sonnet? I felt so incredible—so alive. Our bodies in tune with one another. Rutting rhythmically in a crescendo of lust. His frenulum rings hitting spots I’ve never sensed before. He manipulated my body with expert precision. I regarded his handsome face relishing beautiful man on top of me. His eyes bore into me with stealth precision. Looking directly into my soul. He smiled wickedly kissing me deeply. Arrogant prick. Yeah, he knew he was the best ride in town. Fuck me. Grinding my heels into the mattress to get better leverage I met him thrust for thrust. He moved his fingers from my clit. His other hand still pinning my arms above my head and pushed my right thigh up from under my knee. Hitting a whole new angle I lost it. Screaming his name…my pussy clenched and squeezed his cock. Jack hammering me a few good thrusts I felt his head swell further. He released my hands rushing to his knees. After a few long strokes of his dick, his hot thick ropes painted my tits and stomach with his come. Yeah, he was an artist all right. His eyes were closed—mouth parted. His breathing hurried—body still. He looked like a fucking God—absolutely stunning. I will never get this image out of my head.
He opened his eyes finally…to see his handiwork. Abel watched me closely. I smiled in post coital bliss. Blissed the fuck out. He leaned over and on top of me kissing me with his full lips, coaxing my mouth open with his talented wicked tongue. Not caring about the fact that his come was smeared all over is body. Most men would mind. But, he wasn’t most men.  I accepted with a moan. He kissed me for a long while until sleep drew me under. I slept without dreams…just a piece of colorful pastel swirls. If I had any conscience thought it felt much akin to Alice and the rabbit hole. My body enveloped in his scent marking me right down to the bone. I would forever be his…whether he knew it or not. His to control. His to do with as he wished. His to consume…eating away at my very soul. I was in that deep. My veins ran with his essence—fuelling nourishment my body craved. His melodic gritty voice carried me to the surface of conciseness. It was faint, but spoke to my heart—awakening me. I opened my eyes…seeking him out. He was singing an acapella version of…? What song was that? I knew it wasn’t one of Lethal Abel’s. I listened keenly…searching for any frame of reference. Oh, I knew now!  It was his version of Katy Perry’s Dark Horse. His version had an edge to it. Nonetheless, it was beautiful.  And more importantly it was quintessential Abel. He mastered everything he did. It was on his terms.
Make me your cubid
Make me your one and only
But don’t make me your enemy, your enemy, your enemy
So you wanna play with magic
Girl, you should know what you’re falling for
Baby, do you dare to do this?
Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for a perfect storm, a perfect storm?
Cause once you’re mine, there’s no going back…
Oh, God. His version of reality was quickly becoming mine. I laid back down and let his voice pull me back under again…swathing me in his gravely tones—carrying me to him.


: Release Day Blitz!!! Seeress [Runes Series: #3] by Ednah Walters


 


Book Title: Seeress

Series: A Runes Novel #3

Author: Ednah Walters

Release Date: April 28th 2014

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Firetrail Publishing

Presented by: As You Wish Tours


BLURB


I love Torin St. James...
I need his strength…
But someone from his past wants me dead.


Raine Cooper is certain of two things: her love for Torin St. James and her destiny to be a powerful seeress. But when she starts having premonitions, they are unclear and disturbing. Worse, they involve Torin. With her mother gone, her father dying, and her best friend in Hel, she is not sure who to talk to.

But when the visions become more personal and she foresees her future with Torin threatened by someone from his past, Raine becomes desperate for answers. Just her luck two new students arrive at her school and they seem to have answers. When with them, her powers are enhanced and her visions become clear. There is only one problem: Torin forbids Raine to see the two girls.

Can their love survive without trust? 



Runes Series Books:


 EXCERPT


I pushed the matter of the witch aside for the rest of the day. After school, Torin dropped me off at the back our shop.

“Text me when you’re done,” he said.

The back door of the store dinged when I pushed it open. Mirage was our family shop. We did custom framing, but we also sold mirrors. Lots of mirrors. Big. Small. Runed and unruned frames. People didn’t notice them or if they did, they just assumed they were part of the designs.

Mom had hired an assistant before she left. Hawk. An Immortal. If Dad knew about him, he’d hit the roof. He didn’t like Asgardians as he liked to call Immortals and Valkyries yet he was married to Mom, a Valkyrie, and I was an Immortal. The irony was lost on him.

Hawk didn’t seem to be around, but Jared was with the one person I didn’t want to see, his wife Celine. The bubbly blonde could drive any sane person crazy with her smothering.

“Raine,” Jared said, waving me over. “How’s school?”

“Busy. Hey, Celine.”

“Oh, you poor dear.” Her beefy arms looped around me in a hug. She came up only to my chin and I had my backpack looped over my shoulder, which made our hug awkward. She stepped back and gripped my hands. “How’s your mother doing?”

“Better. She’ll be home soon.” Mom had left six weeks ago, so we’d come up with a reason for her sudden disappearance. She was officially undergoing treatment at a private institution for nervous breakdown. Dad’s illness had taken a toll on her.

“How are you coping, dear? How is your father doing?”

“Dad’s doing much better and, uh…” I tried to wiggle my hand from the woman’s, but her grip tightened. “I’m fine too.”

“Oh, how brave you are. First your father’s plane crush then the cancer and now your mother, it’s too much for someone so young to bear.” Tears rushed to her eyes.

I begged Jared with my eyes to rescue me. I had to deal with her when Dad disappeared, then when she learned he was ill and now.

“I was just telling Jared we should visit your mother. She’s been so good to us. She’s at PMI, right?”

“No, she’s at a private hospital in Portland and only family is allowed.” I finally freed my hands. “I’ll let her know you were asking about her.”

“Oh, that’s nice. As for you, young lady,” she peered at me, “I want you to know you can come to the house any time, okay? If you need anything, anything at all, call us. Do you have Jared’s cell phone number?”

“Yes, she does.” Jared practically dragged her out of the store. He came back with a sheepish expression. He ran his hand through his thinning hair. “Sorry about that. Celine has a big heart, but sometimes she gets carried away. So what can I do for you?”

“Dad wants a copy of this month’s inventory and tax forms.”

He chuckled. “The person to talk to is Hawk. Come on. He’s in the office.”

Hawk got to his feet. He was a tall man with coppery complexion, straight black hair, and brown eyes that seemed to never miss a thing. He also loved black suits. “Ms. Lorraine, this is a nice surprise.”

“Dad sent me to get a few things, Mr. Hawk.”

“Hawk. Sit, please.” He indicated the chair across from his. Jared excused himself.

“How’s your father doing?” Hawk asked. He kept the pleasantries short and soon shifted to business. An hour later, he’d explained inventory while I tried to keep up.

“Why are you telling me all this?” I finally asked.

He studied me as though trying to figure me out. I stared right back. Most Immortals I’d met were centuries old, so I tried to figure out how old he was. He could pass for a fifty-something Native American man.

“One day you’ll inherit this place, Ms. Cooper, so you should know how things are run. If you like, you could come to the shop and I can show you.”

Mom never liked me working at the store before. She’d said something about my being clumsy because of a few broken mirrors. Now I knew it had something to do with her customers. She hadn’t wanted me around Immortals. Of course, she hadn’t known about the Norns’ agenda.

“Okay. Until Mom comes back.” She’d be surprised. In a good away, I hoped.

He nodded without cracking a smile. “Every day?”

“No.” I laughed. “I have school and homework and… a life. Let’s start with three days a week. If I can stomach all the business jargons and whatnots, then I’ll add a day. If not, then I can say adios and convince myself I tried.” No, I wasn’t going to quit. I was broke. Mom had forgotten to put more money on my debit card before she left. “I get paid, right?”

“Of course. Ten dollars an hour,” he said.

Sweet. “When do I start?”

“Tomorrow. I can show you what you’ll be doing now.”

“Deal. And please call me Raine.” I leaned forward and offered him my hand, feeling more grownup than I’d felt an hour ago. I reached down for my backpack and got up. He stood too. I put the folder with the tax forms and inventory in my backpack, then left the office.

My eyes met with Andris’.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.



Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, was released March 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her at www.ednahwalters.com.



Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. IMMORTALS is book 2. She just released book 3, GRIMNIRS December 2013. Read more about this series and the world she's created here www.runestheseries.com.



Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published five more books in this series. She's presently working on book seven. You can visit her online at or www.ebwalters.com.




SEERESS [RUNES SERIES: #3]

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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Ride of Your Life by Shevi Arnold


 Seventeen-year-old Tracy Miller met the love of her life . . . thirty years after her own death.

Tracy was working at the House of Horrors at the Amazing Lands Theme Park when the fire broke out. Instead of running, she lost her life trying to save eleven-year-old Mack. Now thirty years have passed, and suddenly everything changes with the arrival of two new ghosts: a little girl named Ashley and a cute, seventeen-year-old boy named Josh. Josh would do anything for Tracy, but can he help her let go of the past? 

Ride of Your Life is a bittersweet, romantic, YA ghost story that was inspired by a true event, the Great Adventure Haunted Castle fire, which killed eight teenagers in 1984, exactly thirty years ago this May 11th. It is a fantasy novel about undying love, and it won third-place in Smart Writer’s Write It Now (W.I.N.) contest in the YA category, which was judged by Alex Flinn, the author of Beastly and Cloaked.

Hang on. Love can be as terrifying as a roller coaster, but it can also be the Ride of Your Life.

Additional information about the Six Flags Great Adventure Haunted Castle fire- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_Castle_(Six_Flags_Great_Adventure)



Shevi is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of all time! The first book I read by her is Why My Love Life Sucks (The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer) and I was a sucker for it. Then I land this awesome book and BAM... I'm hooked. The simple fact that this book is based on a real life event and turned from a tragedy into a ghostly love story makes it seem possible. I would have to say that I love Tracy! She is the coolest ghost is the book. When she meets Ashley and takes her under her wing and the fact that she stayed with Mack this whole time...she needs her wings dammit! 
What I love most about Shevi's books are the little details that make a difference. The emotions that the character was feeling in the moment makes you feel like you are there as a witness to the event. It is an incredible feeling to have when you are reading a book. 
SO on that note...I highly recommend reading Ride of Your Life! 


Links-

About the Author-
Shevi Arnold grew up in Philadelphia, and her family had a season pass to Great Adventure in the early 1980s. She was nineteen-years-old and studying overseas when a fellow college student asked her if she had heard about the Great Adventure Haunted Castle fire. Eight teenagers had lost their lives. Like many, Shevi was shocked by the news. In her mind, she wanted to give that tragedy a happy ending. Ride of Your Life is the result.

Shevi loves writing, illustrating, and making people laugh—and she’s been doing all three since 1987 when she started working as an editorial cartoonist for a newsweekly. She’s also worked as a comics magazine editor, as an arts-and-entertainment writer specializing in comedy and children’s entertainment, and as a consumer columnist. Nowadays, though, she enjoys writing (and sometimes illustrating) humorous fiction, fantasy, and science fiction for children, teens, and geeks of all ages. Her other books include Toren the Teller's Tale, Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey, and Why My Love Life Sucks (The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer, book one). She is currently working on Why It Still Mega Bites, the second book in the Gilbert the Fixer series.

Links-


Book Blitz & Giveaway!! Scary Modsters by Diane Rinella


Title: Scary Modsters
Author: Diane Rinella

Genre: Contemporary Romance with a taste of Paranormal
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb
Scary Modsters… and Creepy Freaks

A fantastical romance involving a girl, the music that fuels her, and her Ouija board.

Rosalyn possesses a sunny personality that is laced with quirks. Although she seeks acceptance in a world where she lives out of time, what she gets is ridiculed for her eclectic wardrobe and unconventional music collection.

One fateful night, Rosalyn bewitches Niles, a stylish man whose offbeat character perfectly complements her own. Unfortunately, he possesses a critical flaw that means relationship suicide for him and pretty much anyone.

While under the influence of insomnia-impaired judgment, Rosalyn summons Rock ‘n Roll deity Peter Lane back from the dead. Not only does he spin her hormones into a frenzy, Peter is also the precarious puzzle piece that brings sense into her world. When Niles learns that he can overcome his life-long challenge by helping Peter avenge his death, how far will he go to secure Rosalyn’s heart?


Enjoying San Francisco as a backdrop, the ghosts in Diane’s 150-year old Victorian home augment the chorus in her head. With insomnia as their catalyst, these voices have become multifarious characters that haunt her well into the sun’s crowning hours, refusing to let go until they have manipulated her into succumbing to their whims. Her experiences as an actress, business owner, artisan cake designer, software project manager, Internet radio disc jockey, vintage rock n’ roll journalist/fangirl, and lover of dark and quirky personalities influence her idiosyncratic writing.

Links







ROSALYN
Once home, it was straight to the family room stereo to listen to The Stones and crack a beer while dancing to Exile On Main Street. I had to shove aside stacks of albums that I had taken out of the oversized, shutter-door closet the night before for reorganizing. With the signed album propped on the sofa, as if it were an audience, I shed my alter ego by ripping off my tailored suit coat. The liberation of no longer feeling dressed for a corporate costume party brought me back to life. The flick of my neck with each shoulder roll sent my deep-auburn, iron-pressed locks flying. My hips ground while I stared at the record. I kicked my stilettos across the room (nearly landing them in the stone fireplace) before shimmying out of my skirt. My butt plopped onto the sofa with me wearing nothing but my blouse and panties. The man on the album with the engaging eyes pulled my attention to him. “Who are you?”
From my cell phone I typed Deep Trance into Wikipedia before taking a swig of beer. As the details appeared the malty liquid was nearly sprayed out of my mouth before being choked back. Clearly Rob, the shop's owner, had no clue as to the value of the album. Easily it was worth six hundred, not the six I thought I foolishly paid.
Deep Trance was the third album by the legendary band Love Machine and marked a departure from their usual pop sound. The album lacked label support causing some to believe it was intended to fail in order to offset the financial gains of other bands. The original cover was to depict the band behind an opaque veil of psychedelic swirls, but management rejected it, claiming that the photo made the band unrecognizable. A test run of the rejected cover produced a handful of copies that were likely destroyed.
Love Machine! “Holy St. Elvis!” The infamous, chart topping, UK band that barely caught a break in America? That had to mean—
I grabbed the album while still a little dizzy from my revelation. “This is signed by Peter Lane!” In a grand master flash I was standing on the sofa, bouncing and squealing at the top of my lungs, “Oh, my God, Peter Lane! Peter freaking Lane!” It was a proud fangirl moment—the flipping out over the scribbling of a dead legend that sat in my hands. My only embarrassment was over how I ever missed who the guy was. Thankfully Rob missed it too. With a jump I flipped my legs out from under me and landed my butt on the sofa. “Well, Peter Lane, I certainly never expected to meet you, such as it is.”
My deep-brown eyes were more drawn into the image than ever. Peter's impish gaze seemed so deep and powerful. His eyes were now a solid black, and my mind started slipping into their void while a haze clouded my peripheral vision.
The sudden screech blaring from my phone brought my hand to my heart and snapped me back into the present. One Direction blasted through the air, clashing with The Stones. Darla was calling. Sometimes my friends' taste in music scares me.
“Hey,” I answered. My voice sounded oddly detached.
“Drinks! Twenty minutes! Mulligan's! Meet us there!” came screaming into my ear.
“What happened to being too tired?”
“Don't know. Don't care. I just got a burst of energy. Must mean we are not meant to be at home tonight. Get on it!”