Don’t Fear the Reaper by Michelle Muto

23 Feb

So… I’m pretty sure that I have shared my complete and utter book love for Don’t Fear the Reaper by Michelle Muto. Seriously- I think it was my favorite book of 2011.

And I have Michelle here today on my blog to give you a little taste of the yummy goodness that is that book.

 

Synopsis:

Description: Grief-stricken by the murder of her twin, Keely Morrison is convinced suicide is her ticket to eternal peace and a chance to reunite with her sister. When Keely succeeds in taking her own life, she discovers death isn’t at all what she expected. Instead, she’s trapped in a netherworld on Earth and her only hope for reconnecting with her sister and navigating the afterlife is a bounty-hunting reaper and a sardonic, possibly unscrupulous, demon. But when the demon offers Keely her greatest temptation—revenge on her sister’s murderer—she must uncover his motives and determine who she can trust. Because, as Keely soon learns, both reaper and demon are keeping secrets and she fears the worst is true—that her every decision will change how, and with whom, she spends eternity.

First Chapter Teaser:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for they are with me.

I repeated my version of the psalm as I watched the ribbon of blood drift from my wrist. I’d hoped it would be a distraction—something to stop me from wondering what my sister’s dying thoughts had been. Exhaling slowly, I let the emptiness consume me.

Jordan had kept my secrets and I had kept hers. In the end, it came down to just one secret between us that took her life. Now, it would take mine. I should have said something, but nothing I said or did now could bring her back or make anyone understand what she meant to me.

Are you here, Jordan? Are you with me? Tell me about heaven…

 I told myself Jordan was gone, never coming back, but her memories continued to haunt me. I had no idea if there even was an afterlife. If God existed, I was convinced he had given up on me. Not once did I sense he’d heard a single one of my prayers. I wasn’t asking for the world—I only wanted to know if my sister was safe and at peace. What was so hard about that?

She should still be here. It wasn’t fair.

I’d been the difficult one—much more than Jordan. For a while, I’d even gotten into drugs. Mom and Dad had worried I’d get Jordan into drugs, too. But I wouldn’t. Not ever. Besides, that part of my life had been over long before Jordan’s death. A small gargoyle tattoo on my left shoulder was all that remained of my previous lifestyle.

Mom and Dad started treating me differently after Jordan’s funeral two months ago. She and I were twins, so I understood how hard it was for them to look at me and not see her. Sometimes, they wouldn’t look at me at all. Mom went to the psychiatrist, but no one asked if I needed to talk to someone about what happened. No one asked if I needed sleeping pills or antidepressants. Yeah, sure. Don’t give the former addict pills of any sort.

Not one person saw the all-consuming suffering that gnawed at my soul. Why couldn’t anyone see? Jordan had been more than my sister—she’d been my Samson, my strength. I would have done anything for her, and yet, I’d failed her. I wasn’t the one who’d killed her, but I might as well have been. How could I ever live with that? My heart had a stillness to it since her death.

I shall fear no evil.

 I couldn’t very well recite the first part of Psalm 23 because it said I shall not want, and I did want. I wanted to go back in time. I wanted my sister back. Clearly, goodness and mercy were never going to be part of my life ever again. In my mind, I saw myself walking through the iron gates of hell with demons cackling gleefully all around.

I didn’t want to die. Not really. I was just tired and didn’t know of another way to stop the pain. Doctors removed a bad appendix. Dentists pulled rotten teeth. What was I supposed to do when my very essence hurt, when the cancer I’d come to call depression made every decent memory agonizingly unbearable?

Before I’d gotten down to cutting my wrist (I managed to only cut one), I’d taken a few swigs of Dad’s tequila—the good kind he kept in the basement freezer. I’d used another swig or two to chase down the remainder of Mom’s sleeping pills in the event I failed to hit an artery or vein. Then I’d set the bottle on the ledge of the tub in case I needed further liquid encouragement. Instead of using a knife or a razor, I attached a cutting blade to my Dad’s Dremel. The Dremel was faster, I reasoned. More efficient.

It would have been easier to OD, I suppose. But I felt closer to my sister this way, to suffer as she’d suffered.

I recited the line from Psalms 23 again. It had become my personal mantra.

The words resonated in my parents’ oversized bathroom. I’d chosen theirs because the Jacuzzi tub was larger than the tub in the hall bathroom. Jordan and I used to take bubble baths together in this same tub when we were little.

Innocence felt like a lifetime ago. I searched the bathroom for bubble bath but came up short. Soap might have made the laceration hurt more so it was probably just as well. Besides, the crimson streaming from my wrist like watercolor on silk was oddly mesmerizing.

The loneliness inside proved unrelenting, and the line from the psalms made me feel better. I prayed for the agony inside me to stop. I argued with God. Pleaded. But after all was said and done, I just wanted the darkness to call me home.

I tried not to think of who would find my body or who’d read the note I’d left. I blamed myself not only for failing Jordan, but for failing my parents, too.

My lifeline to this existence continued to bleed out into the warm water. Killing myself had been harder than I’d imagined. I hadn’t anticipated the searing fire racing through my veins. I reached for the tequila with my good arm but couldn’t quite manage. Tears welled in my eyes.

Part of me foolishly felt Jordan was here. The other part feared she wasn’t.

Give me a sign, Sis. Just one.

 I imagined seeing my parents at my funeral—their gaunt faces, red-eyed and sleepless. How could I do this to them? Wasn’t the devastation of losing one child enough?

No. Stop. A voice in my head screamed. Don’t do this. Don’t. Please…

 I shifted my body, attempted to get my uncooperative legs under me. I could see the phone on my parents’ nightstand. I could make it that far. Had to. The voice was right. I didn’t want to do this. I felt disorientated, dizzy. Darkness crept along the edges of my vision. Focusing became difficult. A sweeping shadow of black caught my attention. Someone stood in the bathroom—not my sister. A man. Had I managed to call 911? I couldn’t remember getting out of the tub. And why’d I get back in? Did I use a towel?

Mom is going to be pissed when she sees the blood I’ve tracked all over the bedroom carpet. 

 “I’m sorry,” I told the man in black.

“It’s okay, Keely. Don’t be afraid.” Not my father’s voice. It was softer, with a hint of sorrow. Distant. Fleeting. Later, I’d feel embarrassed about this, but for now I was safe from the nothing I’d almost become. My teeth clattered from the chill. My eyelids fluttered in time with my breaths. The tub water had turned the color of port wine. The ribbons, the pretty, red watercolor ribbons were gone.

Dull gray clouded my sight.

A voice whispered to me, and my consciousness floated to the surface again.

“—okay, Keely.”

Cold. So cold.

 “I’m right here.”

There was no fear in me as the man bent forward, his face inches from mine. He was my father’s age, and yet strangely older. His eyes were so…blue, almost iridescent. The irises were rimmed in a fine line of black, and the creases etched at the corners reminded me of sunbeams as he gave me a weak smile. The oddly. Dressed. Paramedic. A warm hand reached into the water and cradled mine. My fingers clutched his. I sighed, feeling myself floating, drifting. Light—high and intense exploded before me. No! Too much. Too much! I shuddered and labored to catch my breath, but it wouldn’t come.

Finally, the comfort of darkness rose to greet me.

 

Where to buy/download sample chapters:

Connect with Michelle:

 

Awesome and spine-tingling, right?   She doesn’t promote suicide in this book- I just want to note that. In fact, she does the exact opposite, as the book progresses.  Keely realizes that the ramifications of her decision are far-reaching and affect many people besides herself.  But anyway.  This is an awesome book.  I highly recommend it.

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Gravity by M. Leighton. Oh. My. Word.

16 Feb

So, Gravity by M. Leighton comes out tomorrow.  Yes, tomorrow.  Eeeeeek!  If you have read and enjoyed any of M Leighton’s other works, then I’m sure you are aware how awesome Gravity is going to be.

And actually, I’m here to tell you that it is, in fact, as AWESOME as awesome can be.   I know…. because I’ve already read it.  Don’t hate me!  :)

Check out this beautiful cover:

Oh, my word.  That cover is beautiful.  And here’s the blurb:

Love is irresistible.  Gravity is undeniable. 

 Holy men have foretold their birth for thousands of years.  Supernatural creatures have awaited it for thousands more.  Now, in the presence of an eclipse, three souls mature for a single purpose—to fight.  They must fight for their lives, for their freedom and for the liberation of everyone possessed of a second nature.  

********

Peyton Giles’s world is turned upside down when she learns that everyone in her life and in her school is much more than they appear, she most of all.  Peyton is the one person in all of time and history powerful enough to bring peace to the darkness and to the light.  Not knowing that her powers could kill her, however, Peyton nearly loses her life only to have her brother’s best friend save it.  Drawn to him in ways she can’t explain, Trace is the one person that she literally can’t live without.  Her soul is tethered to her world through her connection to him.  Without it, she will die. 

For the most part, Trace Kramer has always steered clear of his best friend’s sister.  Until now.  He never would’ve expected that Peyton would hold his life and his future in her hands the way she’s always held his heart.  But she does. 

Peyton and Trace soon learn that love and fate aren’t easier than duty and destiny, at least not when you’re being hunted.  Together, they are more powerful than any other creature on the planet—and more valuable—but apart, neither can survive to fight for freedom, for the only life they’ve ever known and for the lives of everyone they’ve ever met. 

Their need for one another is undeniable.  Their love for one another is irresistible.  But can it endure all that they must suffer?

 

And if that isn’t enough… here’s a fantabulous excerpt:

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I slid from beneath the covers and padded to the window.  When I parted my sheer blush-colored curtains, Trace was standing outside on the lawn, hands stuffed into his pockets, waiting.  He wasn’t smiling.  He wasn’t fidgeting.  He wasn’t frowning.  He was simply watching.

Our house had the old style windows that push out, so I unlatched the right side and pushed it out toward Trace.  He’d apparently taken several steps back after he’d knocked, so it didn’t come anywhere near him.

“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly, hyper aware of what Brady’s reaction would be if he found Trace at my window.  Luckily, Julia was still gone, although I doubt she would’ve cared anyway.  She wasn’t exactly maternal.

I leaned against the window sill, waiting for Trace to speak, but he didn’t.  He just stood perfectly still for about thirty nerve-racking seconds.

Finally, the light breeze carried his raspy voice to my ears.

“There was something I wanted to tell you.”

“Okay.”

He took one step forward.  “I couldn’t stop thinking about you tonight.”  Another step.  “In fact, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you for a while.”  Another step.  “It’s just getting worse.  But tonight,” he said, taking the step that would bring him within a foot of me.  “There was something else.”

I felt breathless with anticipation.  I saw his honey eyes, turned dark gold in the dim light, flicker to my lips and back.

“And what’s that?”

“Something I’ve wanted to do for a while, but tonight I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I do it.”

“What’s that?” I repeated, my own voice barely a whisper.

“I want to kiss you, Peyton,” he confessed, shifting forward just enough to put his face within six inches of mine. “I need to kiss you.”

Slowly, as if giving me plenty of time to tell him to go home, plenty of time to stop him before he went any further, he raised his arms and cupped my face in both of his hands.

“I need to kiss you,” he said once more, almost reverentially.  And then, inch by agonizing inch, he lowered his head until his lips met mine.

As though someone had flipped a switch to turn it off, the world disappeared the instant his mouth made contact with mine.  At that moment, it seemed that all I would ever need to live would be provided through the touch of his skin.  I didn’t have to open my eyes to know that there were threads from our souls stretching from the center of our being and meeting in the air around us.  I could feel them joining us together, bonding us forever.

Trace tilted his head and deepened the kiss.  My lips fell open and his tongue slipped easily between them.  It slid along mine, teasing me with the sweet taste of his mouth as he moved one hand to the back of my head.

I reached up to hold on to his biceps, needing more contact, but unable to get it with the wall between us.  They twitched beneath my fingertips causing a thrill to race down my spine.

Much too soon, Trace wrapped up the kiss and pulled his mouth away from mine.  He looked down into my face and smiled, a gesture so gorgeous I thought my heart might stop.

Happier than I could ever remember feeling, I smiled in return.  But then a sad, troubled look fell over his face like a dark curtain.  And I felt doom knocking at my door.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I also came to say goodbye,” he announced, rocking my world to its very foundations.

“Wh-what?”

“I’m going to find my father.”

“But what about the magic and trying to figure out what’s going on with your mother?”

“I still want to do that, but I just got this feeling in my gut like I should go back to the meadow.  I think my father might be there.”

“Trace, that’s crazy!  What if he’s not the only one there?  What if there is a repeat of last night?”

“That’s a chance I’m willing to take.  This is just something I have to do,” he said, taking a step back away from me.  “I just wanted to see you before I left, just in case…”

“Don’t talk like that!”  I felt almost panicked at the thought of never seeing Trace again.  “This is…it’s…it’s crazy!”

“I know, and if this wasn’t something I truly felt that I had to do, I wouldn’t go.  I’d wait until I had some more answers.  But I just feel like I need to go tonight.”

I let his words sink in as I debated my best course of action.  It seemed, however, that logic and reason and sensibility were all taking a back seat to the overwhelming fear that Trace was walking out of my life forever, that something might happen to him and I’d never see him again.  I knew that I literally couldn’t survive without him. I knew that if he didn’t come back that I would be torn apart by all that was happening around me.  Instinctively, I knew that he had been made specifically for me, and I for him, that we were necessary for the other’s survival.

So I decided to go with him.

It wasn’t as rash a decision as it sounded.  The realization hit me that I would rather die with him than live without him.  That’s what made up my mind.

“I’m coming with you,” I announced flatly, hoping my tone brooked no argument.

“No, it’s too dangerous.”

“I don’t care.  Two is better than one.  We’re stronger together.  You know that.”

He opened his mouth and started to say something, but he snapped it shut quickly.  I knew what he was doing.  He wanted to argue, he was trying to argue, but he knew it as futile.  He knew I was right.  He knew there was no point in debating the truth of the matter.

“Out there, I’m not sure I can protect you.”

“Then maybe I can protect you.”

Several emotions flickered across his face in rapid succession.  It was a fascinating display to behold.  And then, with an urgency born of something not from this world, he stepped forward, drove his fingers into my hair and crushed his mouth against mine.

Desperation was there.  Desire was there.  Strength was there.  Gratitude was there.  So was fear, just a small amount, but it was all wrapped up in something else, something stronger than every other emotion.  It was something solid and eternal, something mystical and surreal, something more important than anything else in our lives.

When he released me, both of us breathless and shaking, I tossed him a quick smile and ducked back into my room to throw on jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt.  Pushing my feet into tennis shoes, I raced back to the window.

Only he was gone. He’d left me anyway.

* * *

Whhhhheeeeewwww! Right?   That M. Leighton sure can write.  I was going to write up a long review, but I’m quickly realizing that my post today is getting pretty wordy.  So, I’m going to do an abbreviated review instead.   Here goes.

Gravity has tied with Madly as my favorite M. Leighton book, hands-down.   M. Leighton’s skill- her gift of tying me to my chair until I finish every last page- grows with every book that she writes. Gravity is creative,

In Gravity, she has a strong main character in Peyton, someone likeable and relatable…vulnerable yet strong.   In Trace, Leighton has written a beautiful, swoon-worthy romantic interest.  By the time Peyton and Trace finally kissed, I was rooting them on from my seat.

Gravity possesses a unique story-line and exquisite writing.  Peyton learns who she really is and accepts it with grace and spunk.  She doesn’t sit back and accept her fate meekly though.  She faces her issues head-on, which is one of the reasons that I like her so much.  The romance is perfectly written.  If you are a fan of paranormal and romance, then Gravity will surely rank right up there with the rest of your favorites.  It’s certainly one that goes on my ‘Re-read over and over” shelf.  Well done, M. Leighton.

It will be available tomorrow on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com.   Don’t forget to look for it!

 

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Re-Reveal: Princess

14 Feb

Okay.  So I know that if someone mentions my name, readers usually immediately think of the Bloodstone Saga.  I get that.  It doesn’t hurt my feelings- I love that series.  I’m actually flattered that readers recognize my name at all.  :)   However, I have written a couple of other things that have been overshadowed by my beloved Bloodstone Saga.

One of them is Princess. I wrote it, it released and then I barely paid it any more mind- I was so focused on writing the rest of the Bloodstone Saga.  Shame on me for neglecting it because Sydney and Stephen have a really great story to tell.  It’s not paranormal, but it’s still really interesting.

Anywho.  It has recently been decided that my book, Princess, will become a series…. The American Princess series.  I am actually currently working on its sequel, Glass Castles.  I’m also working on the sequel to Soul Kissed.  I will probably emerge from this experience of writing two books at once as a madwoman.  But then again, I doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference.

Over the past year or so, one thing we’ve consistently heard about Princess is that readers didn’t think the cover fit the story. We thought about it and you know what?  You were totally right.  While I loved the previous cover and thought it was beautiful- and the cover model was amazingly nice, too…. it was too glamorous and perfect for the story.  Princess has grit.  It’s dark and twisted and its cover needed to reflect that.   So, over the course of this past month, it’s been re-done.   It needed to reflect a beautiful  rich girl whose life is crumbling around her and she is experiencing really horrible things.  And I think we nailed it:

Here’s a little blurb about Princess in case this is the first you’re hearing about it:

Money can’t buy happiness… even in a world that begins with a Tiffany teething ring.

Sydney Ross has it made. As the 17-year old daughter of Illinois senator Randall Ross and socialite Jillian Ross, Sydney was born with perfect teeth and a killer trust-fund. Everything about her life is idyllic…the life of a princess. The Ross’ are richer than God and twice as beautiful, the picture-perfect All-American Family.

Except that it is all a lie.

After a positive pregnancy test, Sydney’s life unravels in the space of just one breath. Life as she knows it is over and survival itself begins to look questionable as life and death literally hang in the balance with each sordid twist that she is dealt.

After the shocking climax, Sydney is brought to her knees with one seething question: Who in the world can she trust when no one is who they seem to be?

Caution: This book is not set in a Mayberry kind of world nor is it a simple book about teen pregnancy. Princess is somewhat twisted and edgy. You might need to fan yourself during some parts and a box of tissues during others. It contains love, suspense, heartache and loss. Oh- and some adult themes and language, too.

Anyway, if you are in-between books- maybe you’ve finished The Bloodstone Saga and Soul Kissed and you are waiting to read Soul Bound (I’m working on it, I promise!) perhaps you can pick up Princess and give it a try.  It’s different from my other work, but I hope you will like it anyway.   You can find it here on Amazon.

I hope everyone is having a fabulous day!!

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Steamy Scenes: Em and Brennan

10 Feb

Sooooooo.  Happy Friday, folks!  This week on the YA Indie Carnival, we’re all featuring Steamy Scenes.

I battled with which one to use… Sydney and Stephen (from Princess) have an awesome steamy scene.  But I finally decided that it wasn’t quite PG enough to post.

So, I’m going to share a scene from Soul Kissed… with Em and Brennan.

Em is a siren/blood-sucking succubus.  She’s been cursed with that existence because of her father… and then she falls in love with her soul mate, Brennan.  She’s vulnerable and strong and I love her character.   Here they are in a scene from  Soul Kissed (which is told from Empusa’s point of view):

“The world is not going to end,” I insisted slowly, taking in the desperation on Brennan’s stricken face.  “Why would you think so?  I was wrong when I said it would, Brennan. We can prevent my visions.  We can do anything we set our minds to.”

Brennan turned to me, his expression slightly calmer than it had been a scant moment ago.  I reached out to grab his hand, but he backed away, causing my heart to race.  He stepped out of the tent and I trailed behind him quickly.

“What is it?” I whispered.  “What did you see, Brennan?”

His eyes were pain-filled and stark when he answered.  “I saw flames and floods and a lot of blood.  There was so much blood.  I saw the same things that you did, Empusa.  And if we both see it, I think it is likely to happen.”

“It won’t!” I cried, gritting my teeth and throwing myself at him.  Clutching at him, I gripped his shoulders, trying to make him touch me.  Yet he still shirked away from my fingers, like I had a sickness.  It was alarming.

“Why are you moving away from me?” I asked helplessly, trying to ignore the cold pit growing in my belly.  “I didn’t cause your visions, Brennan. I wish nothing more than to protect you from any ugliness in the world.”

“I know,” he admitted softly.  “But I also know that this isn’t going to work.”

His voice was like gravel, painfully scraping the surface of my heart with every husky syllable.  “I can’t be with you,” he repeated.

He was so casual, so perfunctory, as though we were simply talking about a Cubs game or the weather. I stared at him, at his flecked hazel eyes that gleamed in the sunlight and my chest literally constricted at the thought of even one day without him.

“Yes, you can.  You’re perfect for me,” I answered uncertainly, reaching for him, trying to pull him close. If he could just feel my heart pressed against his, I knew that he might bend, if only just enough to listen.  But he would have none of it and backed away, leaning against the rocks behind us.  He knew the danger within my touch.

“Brennan,” I tried again, stepping forward.  The way that the sun bathed him in backlit glory was breath-taking and I had to re-focus.  It was difficult not to concentrate on his handsome, rugged face and the way his mouth moved as he spoke.

     “Em,” he continued, as if I’d never even spoken. “I’m not…I’m not strong enough for this yet.  I won’t be able to control my abilities.  I just saw it.  I can’t jeopardize the entire mortal world simply because I can’t master my power.  And Circes… she said that you would risk everything for me. I can’t allow that, Empusa.  I can’t be the one who extinguishes your light.  That won’t be me.”

     He pushed away from the rocks and strode down the ledge with his distinctive lope.  He paused just once on the edge, before he bounded, landing gracefully on his feet far below me.  He didn’t look back, he simply walked away from me.   I stood still, frozen by his words, astounded by their meaning.  Until I realized that if I didn’t do something right now I would never see him again.

I lunged from the ledge, landing roughly in the packed sand below before I raced along behind him.  Even employing supernatural speed, I didn’t catch up with him for a mile. He had mastered speed himself, it seemed.    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of black and I knew that my mother was close, watching us, but it didn’t sway me.

I pushed Brennan against a nearby red stone rock mound, shoving him hard and he stumbled, staring at me in shock as his back collided with the stone.  He had never seen me lose my temper.  No one had.  I always had to be so careful, so controlled.

“You think it’s only up to you?” I shouted.  The wind whipped my hair around my face and I ignored it as I stared directly into the mesmerizing eyes of the only man I had ever loved.

“I have a say in this, too,” I insisted.  “You think you can just throw everything away with a handful of cliches?  Newsflash:  The old it’s not you, it’s me line isn’t effective.  If you don’t want to be with me, just be man enough to tell me why.  Don’t tell me that it is because of the visions.  We can overcome them.  I know it.  If there is something else, tell me right now.”

My face was barely an inch from his.  I was close enough to feel his heart beat through his shirt, to feel the heat from his skin pulse through and bleed into my own skin.  I was close enough to inhale his very breath.  I knew what my nearness would do to him, but I didn’t care.  I closed my eyes and leaned into him… instantly absorbing what he felt; the jagged pain, the overwhelming uncertainty, but mostly, his unbridled need for me.  It filled him up and spilled into me.

“Tell me,” I murmured against his lips.

He groaned and pulled me against him, his large hands flattening against my back as he smashed me to his chest and ravaged my lips with his own.  He kissed me like the world was ending.  And I knew, with every breath in me, that if he left, my world would end.

His body was rock hard and he smelled like the sun.  I inhaled him as I grasped his hair and pulled him closer to me, as close as I could possibly get.  Even in the heat of this moment, though, I had to keep a corner of my consciousness carefully focused, making sure I didn’t absorb too much of his strength.  But I still allowed myself to taste it, to enjoy it.

He was delicious.  Everything about him.

His tongue rammed into my mouth, swirling with mine and he tasted like honey as his very life flowed into me, wispy and transparent, but pulsing hard.  He was so vital.

It made me wild and I couldn’t control myself.  I ripped at his shirt, breaking the buttons as I frantically pushed it off of his shoulders.  I knew it was expensive, but I didn’t care.  My only thought was consuming all of him, every bit and I needed him inside of me to do that.  It was the only way.  My focus faltered and then was obliterated.  Nothing else mattered now but my need for him.

I began seeing things in blurs of color, tasting the scents in the air and feeling the textures beneath my hands as everything else faded away. His breathing was ragged, his heart beat stuttering and racing as we fumbled with clothing.  Our skin was hot and sticky as we pressed together.  I felt his heart beat join with mine, synching perfectly, as the process began.  My fingers pulsed and my vision unfocused.  It was happening.  I would only need a moment longer.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the beautiful field of pink flowers explode into flame, too close to withstand my energy as it flared into an uncontrollable storm. They burned impotently against the sandy horizon as our very own fire burned within us.  A loud boom exploded somewhere nearby and I saw chunks of earth scatter, falling around us from the sky. I had no idea where it had come from and I didn’t care at this point.

Brennan yanked at the button on his pants and I reached to help him, desperate to continue, to finish, but somehow sanity returned to me as I thought of that very word.

Finish.

If we completed this act, if I made love to this man- the man that I loved with every ounce of my being, it would finish him.  He could die because we hadn’t learned to master our power.

I froze.

He reached for me, but I held out my hand.

“Don’t,” I rasped uncomfortably.  “Give me a minute.”

And that’s Em and Brennan.  Whew.  Does anyone have a fan?  I need one now.   If you liked this excerpt, you can find Soul Kissed (Book One of the Moonstone Saga) on Amazon here.  And incidentally, it’s Free today in an Amazon promotion.  So,  you might as well snag it while it’s free.    Because free is good. And if you read it and enjoy it, I would soooo appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes and review it on Amazon.  That would be awesome!  :)

Now, if you’re in the mood for some more steam (and really, who isn’t?) then check out the rest of the Indie Carnival chicks.   I know I’m going to.  Right now, actually.  Have a good weekend, everyone!

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It’s raining free e-books from Patti Larsen!!

9 Feb

Who doesn’t love FREE books?  And my friend, Patti Larsen, has a couple free today!!  Woohoo!

TWO DAYS ONLY: Wednesday, February 8th and Thursday, February 9th! Come and get ‘em!

For those with a love of YA paranormal: Family Magic (The Hayle Coven novels, #1) Sixteen year old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord but she just wants to be ordinary. Find it HERE.

And for those who like a thrill in their YA fiction: Run (The Hunted, #1) Reid thinks life has gone back to normal when his sister rescues him from the foster system. All that changes when he is kidnapped and dumped in the wilderness, forced to run from those who want to kill him. Find it HERE.

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Family Magic

Raising the Demon

 “Haralthazar,” my mother glided closer to the statue, “we summon you this third night of Power, nine days and nine nights from Samhain Eve, to tighten our bond with you and your realm.” She knelt at the foot of the altar, the picture of the submissive handmaiden. Could she be any more ridiculous? Seriously. “My love, come and be welcome.”

 The blinding flash that leapt from her to the statue continued to pour out of her in a deep blue rush of light. I turned my head slightly to the side, squinting in the glare, grateful for the edge of the cowl and the shadow it made. The whole room started to thrum, the floor vibrating with condensed magic as Mom used the energy we had given her to make the doorway that would let my father through.

Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord of the seventh plane. The trouble is, she just wants to be ordinary. Syd struggles to survive the minefield of her new high school while being torn between her attraction to football hero Brad Peters and the darkly mysterious Quaid Moromond. When her coven comes under attack, Syd is forced to face the fact only her power can save her family’s magic.

What readers are saying about Family Magic:

“This book has everything. Great family drama, hot boys, magic, witches, demons and difficult choices. This is one of my new favorite books of 2011 and I CANNOT WAIT to read the rest of the series.”

“With a fantastic, empathetic heroine, plenty of magic, an intriguing mystery and incorporating themes involving the search of self, familial relationships, duty and free will, Family Magic is an enchanting and enjoyable read.”

“I think Syd is one of my all-time favorite characters. She is funny and snarky but has a fierce love for her family. I am ready to follow Syd’s journey through this series. I was hooked from the first paragraph. I thoroughly enjoyed Family Magic, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal novels.”

(You can read the full reviews on Amazon.com)

Amazon LINK

Run

Kidnapped

 Alone, Reid gasps in one deep breath, another. It hurts his ribs, his lungs. He manages to roll over on his right side and regrets it. His shoulder screams in protest. Still, he is finally able to wriggle his numb hands loose from what holds him and claws at the cloth around his eyes.

 Darkness. But not complete. The moon is up. Trees loom over him, the smell of spruce and fresh air so sharp it almost hurts. He jerks at the plastic ties around his ankles while. his vision swims through a veil of pain-laden tears. He manages somehow to force his screaming hands to work the ties loose and he is free.

Sixteen-year-old Reid thinks life is back to normal. His sister Lucy pulls herself together and cuts him free from a year of foster care. She promises to take care of him, that her new boss and her new life are what they both needed to start again. Until Reid is taken in the middle of the night, dumped in a wild stretch of forest far from home with no idea why he is there. Lost and afraid, he learns to run from the hunters who prowl the darkness, their only pleasure chasing down kids like him. And killing them.

What readers are saying about Run:

 

“The fear, the thrill, the emotion that comes through in the writing is amazing. There is never a dull moment in this story of survival.”

“If you’re a fan of YA books that make your heart pound with the unknown and leave you cringing at places (but in a totally cool kinda way) then Run’s the book for you.”

“Reid is such a great strong character and when the story ends, we are left begging for what is to come in the next of the series. This story was unique and SUPER fast-paced! It was a great festival of suspense.”

(You can read the full reviews on Amazon.com)

Amazon LINK

Thank you for taking the time to check them out!

Happy reading!

About the Author: Patti Larsen is a middle grade, young adult and adult author with a passion for the paranormal. Her YA thriller series, The Hunted, is available now. The first four books of The Hayle Coven series, Family Magic, Witch Hunt, Demon Child and The Wild are also out now. Her YA paranormal novel, Best Friends Forever, and steampunk series, Blood and Gold, are due early in 2012. She is a full time writer and a part time teacher of her Get Your Book Done program. Patti lives on the East Coast of Canada with her very patient husband and four massive cats.

 

You can find her:

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Sealed With a Kiss!

8 Feb

Since it is so close to Valentine’s Day, a group of the Paranormal Plumes and I decided to take turns writing about our first kiss… or the first one that really mattered, anyway.

Obviously, the first one that counts for me anymore is my first kiss with my husband…so I figured I’d share that with you. It’s not a super-exciting story, but it’s mine.  :)

I was introduced to my husband by a mutual friend after I moved to Indiana from Kansas.  Before we ever met face to face, he and I  emailed back and forth for a good two months.  I think I fell in love with his sense of humor long before I even saw his face.  For me, a great sense of humor is absolutely essential-the most important thing.  I love to laugh.

The night that I met him, we decided to have dinner.  I told him what I would be wearing and he told me the same.  We met at the restaurant and sat and talked for hours…instantly clicking.  He was tall, handsome and I loved his smile.  When it was time to go home, he walked me to my car.

But he didn’t kiss me.   In fact, he didn’t even ask me for my phone number!  I was totally astounded since I thought the date had been awesome.

Puzzled, I asked him, “Do you want my number?”   He very hurriedly took it- cramming the number into his phone as fast as he could.  I couldn’t figure it out- because like I said, I totally thought we had had an awesome time.  (I learned later that it was because he had a horribly upset stomach- and he didn’t want to be sick all over me.  Nice!)

So we didn’t kiss that night. But he did email me the next day to tell me what a great time he’d had and asked, “When do I get to see you again?”  I thought it was a sweet question and we got together the next weekend.

We went to eat at a great local Mexican place and then went back to his apartment for a movie.  He sat on his end of the couch and I sat on mine, never touching… and the entire time I was thinking… what is the deal here?  We were hitting it off perfectly, we were clearly attracted to each other.  Why is this guy not making a move?  Am I misreading this?  Am I a total idiot and can no longer speak a fluent dating language?

After the movie ended (and to this day, I can’t even tell you what it was), I got up to leave.  He started joking about something… something about hearing voices.  I laughed and asked him what the voices were telling him.  And he said, “They want me to kiss you.”

So he did.  And it was amazing.  He was absolutely, without a doubt, the best kisser ever.  Hands down, end of story.   I apologize to the other guys in the world who I have kissed… truly.  But my husband has that one won.

Anyway.  Here we are, over a decade later, and I still think that is true.  My husband is the best kisser in the world and he is still making me laugh.

Happy early Valentine’s Day, everyone!

It’s my friend Nichole Chase’s turn to dish about her first kiss tomorrow.  Check her out!

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I’m baaaack!

6 Feb

And I’m back from the Paranormal Plumes’ book-signing trip to Florida.  Sad face.

I’m happy to be home and back to my routine, but I sooo miss the happy sunshine and my wonderful authorly friends.

Our booksignings were awesome and our talks with the schools were amazing.  This is me… signing something.  :)

That was one particularly long day.  We were up by 4am, out the door by 5am, talking to classes at Deltona High School all day long, book signing all evening and we didn’t step foot back into our condo until 10:30pm.  Whew!  Good times.

Now that I’m home, I’m back at work.   I’ve received quite a few emails asking when Soul Bound (Book two in the Moonstone Saga) will be out.  But I have to tell you a little secret.  I’m working on something else right now.

Turns out, Sydney and Stephen, the main characters from my novel, Princess, weren’t done with their story- and Princess is going to be a series…the American Princess Series.  Princess is going to get a new and improved cover and everything!

But this is all news to me.   I hadn’t intended on that book becoming a series.  But Sydney and Stephen kept popping into my head and expanding their story… and every writer has to listen to his/her characters.  So, I’m working on book two right this second.  I’ll be working on Soul Bound along the way as well, so don’t worry.   I’ll post updates as I know more about the release dates and of course, I’ll unveil Princess’ new cover when it is ready.

So, that’s it. I just wanted to say hi and that I’m back.  I hope everyone is having a WONDERFUL Monday!

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YA Indie Carnival: What Reading Teaches Me

20 Jan

Happy Friday!

Today’s YA Indie Carnival topic is… What Reading Teaches Me.

This one is easy.  Reading can teach you everything.

When I was a little girl, I lived on my grandparents’ farm.  When I was in grade school, the other kids teased me a lot- because I lived with my grandparents, because my grandparents dressed me like… well, like a grandparent would, and because kids are just mean.

What did I do?  I retreated into books.  And I learned about other kids through books.  I learned about the healthy relationships that friends can have though  Trixie Belden and her bestie, Honey Wheeler.  I learned that it’s okay to be who you are and not change simply because you don’t want kids to make fun of you.  What do mean little girls know, anyway?   Um, not really anything.   So, a bookworm I stayed.

Eventually, I grew up and went to junior high and high school.  My social life changed.  I was no longer an outsider, I had a healthy circle of friends.   But I always retained my love of reading.  And because I have read so much, I know what it takes to write a good book.  So, basically, you could say that reading has given me my livelihood.  Being a reader has made me a writer.  Continually reading even now makes me a better and better writer.  And being a writer is something that I am thankful for every day.

I’m thankful for good books for so many reasons.  I have cultivated that love of reading in my daughter- she’s a bookworm too and proud of it.   So, my message today is, READ.   It does a body good.   :)

To read what some of my YA writerly friends have to say on this topic, visit here.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

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Dear Readers: Thank You

17 Jan

Dear Readers,

I just have to take a moment and say thank you.  THANK YOU, thank you, thank you.  I undoubtedly have the most amazing and wonderful readers on the face of the planet and I just need for you to know that. 

When I first started writing, I really had no idea where that path would take me. I didn’t know if my work would be any good.  I didn’t know if anyone would end up reading it.  I didn’t know anything.  But I jumped in feet first anyway and plugged along just doing my thing and writing what I wanted to write.  And it has worked out for me in ways I had never dreamed of before. 

Every day, I get emails and tweets from awesome fans.  And I can’t describe what an awesome feeling it is so hear someone say that they loved my work– that they loved something that I completely made up in my head.  It still gives me goosebumps when I think of it.

This week, my first book in the Bloodstone Saga, Every Last Kiss, has been available for free on Amazon Kindle as a promotion.  Since Friday, 40,000 people have downloaded it.  That’s… that’s… that’s just staggering.  I was born and raised in a town of 1,100.  So that means that enough people to fill FORTY of my hometowns has added my book to their Kindle over the past few days.  That’s just so incredible to me that I can hardly wrap my mind around it.  It’s so very humbling.

Thank you for reading my work.  Thank you for buying my work.  I hope that you will continue to read it for years to come- and I hope that I can continue to keep turning out projects that you find interesting and love.   I hope everyone has a fabulous day. 

Hugs,

Courtney

PS

Did I mention THANK YOU?  :)

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Why Do We Love Vampires Soooo Much?

16 Jan

I was thinking about this on the way to the grocery store earlier.  (I know… random thoughts by Courtney Cole…)

What was I thinking of, you might ask?       Oh, this…this…. and this.  :)

      

Why do we have such a love affair with vampires?  In theory, we should be disgusted.  Cold, dead vampire skin should be repulsive… and let’s not even think about the…um, private vampire parts… which would/should be cold and dead, too.  Eew.

But these guys don’t look cold and dead, do they?

Sigh.  Man, is Eric like the hottest thing on the face of the planet or what?  And I don’t usually even go for blondes.  And therein, I rest my point.   There’s something so inordinately sexy and romantic about the fact that vampires are immortal.  The sheer thought that they have been around for hundreds of years, gleaning experience as they go… is just tantalizing.  They are forbidden, mythical, magical.  Total sexiness.

And because the thought is so sexy, we tend to gloss over what the physical reality would be.  Drinking blood?  Eew.   Sleeping Underground like in Trueblood?  Eew.   Never being able to go out in sunlight?   No thanks.   Cold, creepy vampire skin?  Eew.

But the romantic thoughts in my head… well, they don’t include any of those icky things.  In my head, they are warm, vibrant and real.  And very, very romantic.   Of course, in my head, I alter quite a lot of reality.  For instance, in my head, Taylor Lautner is a bit taller and is 29.  :)   But we won’t go there.

I was thinking about this fascination with vampires because I was thinking about my new book, Soul Kissed.  I had always said that I wouldn’t write a vampire book- not because I didn’t like them, but because there is already so much good vampire stuff out there. The market doesn’t need my take on the subject.    And Soul Kissed toes that vampire border, but doesn’t exactly cross it.

The main character Em, is the daughter of the goddess of witchcraft and she’s been cursed as a soul-sucking blood-drinker. But she’s not a vampire.   Really. She’s not- just ask her.   And her love interest may or may not end up being immortal- but he’s definitely not a vampire and he’s certainly not dead.  He’s warm and vibrant- the total opposite of a vampire.  I hope you find him as sexy as I do.   (Yes, Brennan actually exists in my mind.  Hey, my mind is a very colorful place…)

Anyway, Soul Kissed is available now on Amazon here.  And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can borrow it for free.  :)

Anyway, this ends my totally random and pointless musings about why vampires are so sexy.    If you’d like to chime in the comments section about why YOU think vampires are sexy, feel free.  I’m curious about what other people’s thoughts are on this subject.  :)

Have a great day, everyone!

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