&nbsp; About the Author

Book Description

After her clique's bullying causes a classmate's suicide, Kat Grey trades the vicious world of the California "in crowd" for the chance to become a better person in Massachusetts. But when she steps in to protect a classmate from being bullied, Kat sparks a war with Hannah, Milton Academy's resident Queen Bee.

Kat's courage and compassion attract the attention of Blaze Ward, Hannah's ex-boyfriend. As they fall in love, Kat discovers that Blaze is more than the boy next door. He's a warlock. He is also the leader of an in-crowd like no other - the Brotherhood, five young warlocks charged with defending witches and humanity from a demonic adversary named Seth.

Kat challenges Blaze to become a better man and leader while he helps her find redemption as she makes it her mission to stop bullying at Milton. But when Hannah teams up with Seth to destroy her, Kat becomes a hostage in the age-old war between the Brotherhood and their greatest enemy. Saving Kat will require more than Blaze's strength and skill; it will mean breaking one of his kind's most sacred laws. Blaze will have to make a choice: his honor or Kat's life.

Excerpt

The body had left a spider web of cracks in Kat’s windshield. Still wrapped in her seatbelt, Kat clutched the sides of her seat, stricken with shock and fear. A rational voice in the back of her head screamed at her to move, someone was injured, maybe even dead. Trembling, she forced herself to get out of the car. On wobbly legs she rounded the front of the Prius and scanned the area for the body. Spotting a large, still lump lying in the grass, Kat sprinted over to the person’s side. Kneeling, Kat placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She couldn’t detect any signs of blood; there was also no blood on her windshield. Whoever he was, he smelled awful. Maybe it was a homeless person.

“Hello? Can you hear me?”

The man moved faster than the blink of an eye. One minute he was lying immobile on the ground, the next he had his hand clamped on her mouth and an arm around her throat. A shot of cold fear zoomed down Kat’s spine as she felt herself being hoisted up. She kicked and thrashed in a desperate attempt to get away, but the arm on her throat was like steel. Her cries were muffled by the foul-smelling hand, and the stench of the grave enveloped her. Kat thought she was going to faint until adrenaline and her fighting spirit came to her rescue. She bit down on the stony fingers and used all her weight when she stamped her foot on her attacker’s instep. The taste erupting in her mouth was worse than the smell and made her want to vomit, but she concentrated on wrenching herself free. The thing made no sound but jerked its hand back from her sharp teeth. Kat used the opportunity to let out an ear piercing shriek. Before it could silence her again, she tipped them both forward and sent them sprawling toward the ground in a heap. Kat aimed another kick at its stomach and managed to escape. It reached out and grabbed her foot but only pulled off her sneaker.

Kat shot off into the night, racing back to her car. She paid no attention to the gravel jabbing her shoeless foot as she ran. As she ran she continued to scream, hoping someone, anyone, would hear her. Her thighs burned as they ate up the distance, and she could hear her attacker gaining on her from behind. Fear and a desire to live propelled her onward despite the pain in her foot and throat, and tears ran down her cheeks from the biting wind. Soon the Prius was in sight, but her attacker had almost closed the gap between them. She could feel those disgusting fingers reaching out and trying to grab her. Kat pressed on, even though every muscle in her body screamed to stop.

Suddenly, a thick mist rolled in and enveloped the area, blanketing everything. Because of it, Kat couldn’t see the exposed root sticking up in her path. She tripped over it and pitched forward. As she fell, the attacker’s hand grasped her hair, yanking it violently. Kat thought her neck was going to break. She hoped it would, and that it would kill her before this person, this thing could. She thought of the mother she was just getting to know again, and felt sick. Then something hot streaked past her face, and the ground beneath her shook.

“Kill the mist, Q! I need to see!”

Kat’s heart lifted – was someone coming to help her? She didn’t want to believe, but then she heard another gruff, masculine voice.

“It’s not alone! Hold back till I clear this place!”

The mist receded, like water draining from a bathtub. Kat was on the ground, and through her watery vision she could see two pairs of boots racing toward her. Her attacker’s fist was still wound tightly in her hair and she could hardly breathe for the stench. She tilted her face upward and relief fled when she saw her saviors’ eyes cast an unearthly light in the darkness, the color of the glowing embers of a fire.

“Oh my God,” Kat breathed.

Another shot – of lightning?! – whizzed past her. The tension on her hair slackened. She heard a dull thud behind her as the blast of whatever-it-was nailed her attacker in the chest and sent him flying backwards. Her rescuers ran past her in a blur. One of them was a tall blond boy, the other African American with close-cropped black hair. Her attacker tried to crawl away from them but they surrounded him. The black boy brought his boot down on his ankle, pinning him to the ground. The blond kicked him savagely in the ribs, his body flipping over onto his back. He brought a knee down onto the attacker’s scorched chest and placed his hands on either side of its head. The blond boy’s hands glowed brightly as he twisted the attacker’s neck 180 degrees. A blinding white light filled the night, and the attacker’s body was gone.

If Kat thought she was scared before, she was absolutely terrified now. She pushed herself off the ground and tried to run away, but a sharp pain in her ankle brought her back down. She must have sprained her ankle when she tripped. Kat gritted her teeth against the pain and rose again. She would crawl the last few feet to her Prius if need be, but come hell or high water she was getting out of there.

“Hey, stop!”

Kat didn’t look back as she half ran, half hopped away. She was almost to the Prius. Impossibly, the blond boy was right next to her in an instant, blocking her path.

“Stop,” he commanded in a voice accustomed to being obeyed.

“Go to hell,” Kat spat back as she moved around him. She tried to evade the long, powerful arms that reached out for her, but she was too slow. Or rather he was unbelievably fast. On instinct, Kat fired her elbow into his ribs. The blond let out a grunt and she slipped halfway out of his grasp. He tried to regain his hold, but Kat reared back and scraped her nails across his cheek. This made him angry, but she didn’t care. She was pissed. If he took her, it wouldn’t be without a fight.

“Get away from me!” she screamed. Despite her best efforts, he caught her again. His arms were like stone pinions around her.

“Relax,” he said into her ear in a deep, rich bass. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“You expect me to believe that! You just broke someone’s neck!”

“You’re welcome, miss. It was a pleasure saving your life.”

Without thinking, Kat spat in his face.

A low whistle sounded behind him. It was the other boy.

“A girl who is immune to Blaze Ward’s charms – I do believe this is a first.”

The one called Blaze lifted his right hand to wipe her spit away, while still keeping her imprisoned in his left arm. She struggled against his hard body uselessly.

“Do me a favor and hold onto her while I call Etienne.”

Oh no, there are more of them, Kat thought as she was passed like a ragdoll between the two of them. The other boy held her just as tightly. Her ankle throbbed. She thought about screaming again, but figured it was impractical as there was no one else around.

Her captor leaned down to her ear and spoke to her in a calm voice. “Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you. Just keep still and quiet. And please keep your saliva to yourself.”

Blaze stepped away from them and closed his eyes. He made no sound or movement, but he seemed to be reaching out to something or someone. Moments later, another huge blond appeared with eyes as green as hers. Out of thin air.

“Oh, good Lord,” Kat said aloud.

The new blond turned to look at her. “Crap – a norm. What’s she doing here?”

“Dark One had her,” Blaze replied. “We rescued her.”

“And she thanked Blaze with a nice, big loogie,” Kat’s captor said gleefully.

Mirth twinkled in the new blond’s eyes. “Did she see anything?”

“Too much. Which is why I called you,” Blaze said.

“You need me to wipe her?”

“Please.”

Kat stiffened with terror. Her captor felt the change, and rubbed her arm soothingly. “Calm down – he’s not talking about killing you.”

The new blond moved toward her. “No, baby. I promise this won’t hurt, and you won’t remember any of this.”

“Get away from me,” Kat said in a hard, angry voice. He said nothing, bringing his face closer to hers. Kat could make out the individual hairs of his prickly stubble. His green eyes flashed gold.

Something pricked at Kat’s consciousness. She closed her eyes and shook her head. The pricking continued, and some force deep within her mind resisted. Kat squeezed her eyes and opened them again. The pricking stopped, and she fixed him with a glare.

The blond frowned. “This one’s mind is strong. Most norms would be drooling wrecks by now.”

“Try harder,” the first blond said.

Suddenly, a feeling of tremendous calm washed over Kat. Her muscles relaxed, and the pain in her ankle drifted away. Those golden eyes mesmerized her, held her in their sway. If her captor hadn’t been holding her, she was sure she would have fallen to the ground. Her mind tried to fight back, but this time it was impossible.

“You’re calm,” he whispered. “You’re safe, and warm.”

“Safe and warm,” Kat repeated drowsily, in spite of herself.

“Give her to me,” the first blond said. His voice sounded far away and she nearly collapsed into his arms. He wrapped her arms around his neck. Reaching down, he slipped an arm behind her knees and lifted her off the ground. Cradling her to his chest, he turned to the others.

“Etienne, do something about her car. Q, conjure up another shoe for her, will you?”

If she had been alert, she would have thought their conversation was insane. But now all she could think of was sleep.

The one called Q stepped forward with her white and pink Puma sneaker. Kat wondered idly where he had found it.

“I wonder who she is, and where she lives?” Blaze asked Q.

“Never seen her before. Probe her mind for it,” Q suggested.

“No need,” Etienne shouted. “Got her license here. Katherine Grey, lives at 223 Shady Oak Lane.”

“Pretty sure she’s breaking curfew now,” Q said. “We should get her home before she’s grounded for life.”

A thought occurred to Kat. “Text Mom,” she murmured.

Blaze shushed her. “Etienne, is there a phone over there?”

“Yup. Texting her mom now. Man, there are like 10 messages from Momma Bear on this thing.”

“Q, go back to the others and make sure there are no more Dark Ones roaming around. Etienne, drive her car back to her house. I’m going to run ahead with her.”

Kat looked up at the young man holding her in his arms. His handsome face was angular and sculpted, with high cheekbones and a strong, masculine jaw. He must have felt her looking at him, because he peered down at her. His narrowed eyes were a translucent, shimmering blue. She breathed deeply, inhaling his scent. He smelled of sweat, dark spice, and pine. In spite of herself, she felt completely safe and taken care of. He stared at her for another second, and his eyes were inscrutable. The next thing Kat knew they were moving, the night rushing past them at incredible speed.

Copyright 2013 Verdell Walker. All rights reserved.

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About the Author

Verdell Walker is the author of THE COVEN series. Born and raised in the South, writing has been her escape from reality for many years.

Verdell is an avid sports fan and absolutely devoted to the Green Bay Packers. A gifted cook and baker, few things make her happier than making a meal for her family and friends. Except maybe writing about her favorite boys.

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{Release Day Blitz Giveaway} Demon by Laura DeLuca

Demon, Book Two in the Dark Musicals Trilogy, inspired by Sweeney Todd is available now!

Purchase

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When Justyn and Rebecca set off for the New York School of Performing Arts, they think their dreams are about to come true. To their dismay, they aren’t in high school anymore, and the competition is steep. Rebecca must compete against accomplished singers for a role in the production of Demon Barber, including a stunning Gothic diva with her sights set on Justyn

It doesn't help that things keep disappearing from their apartment or that Rebecca's father refuses to accept that Justyn is an essential part of her life. Yet, all this seems minimal in comparison to the serial rapist terrorizing the campus.

Consumed by fear and obsessed with revenge, Rebecca and Justyn start living the story of Sweeney Todd—both on and off the stage.

Head to face book to join the Demon Release Party. You can also add Demon to your shelf on good reads.

If you haven't read the first book in the series, now is a great time to get your copy. To celebrate the release of Demon, Phantom is now on sale for only $1.99 exclusively on Amazon!

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Phantom, Dark Musicals Book #1

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

About the Author

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player and Demon. She also has short stories featured in two anthologies called HerStory and A Celtic Tapestry.

Follow the author Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Pinterest

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Demon, Author Laura DeLuca has put together a Demon themed prize pack. It includes a signed copy of Phantom, geode and geode slice, rough crystal points, incense and holders, Gothic style leather key chains, smudge stick with abalone shell, mini Buddha and elephant statue, crystal, natural stone and pentacle pendants, and a $10 GC to Little Caesars, .

The The Sisters Elemental Etsy shop has also created custom Lavender Purification bath salts and a set of ammonite necklaces, both of which are featured in the book.

And finally, the awesome mommy bloggers at Mom Powered Media are also throwing in a $50 Amazon GC to support one of their own!

One lucky winner is going to receive all these fabulous prizes. To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on 5/17/13. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Mom Powered Media, The Sisters Elemental and the author for offering these fantastic prizes.

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****Please note no compensation was received for sharing this post. Host blogs are not responsible for prize delivery.***

Friday, March 29, 2013

{Guest Post} Twelve Nights by Carole Remy

The Book

Twelve Nights

by Carole Remy

Genre: Erotic Romance

Pages: 222

Word Count: 62,500

Cover Artist: Olga Ekaterincheva via Shutterstock,

model release signed

Cover Designer: Marissa Lepe Preciad

Teaser

Recipe for Twelve Nights: Two stunning female twins + $120,000 + Two lonely horny men = Sexy Fun!

Book Description

$120,000 + Expenses: Rich man wants companion for 12 nights. Attractive normal female. Never married. No children. Over 30 years old. No prostitutes. Reply to box 74716.

Angela and Aggie are stunning identical twins, one a call girl and the other a librarian. If only Aggie will do the sweet-and-innocent interview, Angela is sure she can earn the fortune between the sheets. Jimmy is a lonely, horny half-billionaire and Richard is his hard nosed lawyer, and before long, the two friends are convinced they’re in lust with the same maddeningly hot woman!

Stir in a brilliant autistic younger brother, a nerdish doesn't-know-he's-ex-boyfriend, a well-meaning but alcoholic father, and a prostitute with the proverbial heart of gold. Then bring to a boil over a sizzling Twelve Nights!

This rollicking, bawdy coast to coast serving of sex and mayhem will make you laugh out loud even as you moan with delight. Author Carole Remy tickles, fascinates, and arouses in another inventive tale for those who love a hot story filled with unforgettable characters and lots of Sexy Fun!

Excerpt

“Not tonight. How have you and Jimmy gotten into such a mess?” he asked. The change of subject was smooth, his voice no more than mildly curious.
Angela shrugged and took another sip of scotch. At the moment, Jimmy was far from her thoughts.
“He’s crazy about you, you know.”
Angela frowned. Jimmy was crazy about Aggie, not her.
“What?” Richard probed.
“Nothing.” Angela swallowed the rest of the drink. She put down the glass and walked to the window. “Can we go outside?”
“It’s chilly.”
“Another scotch will keep me warm.”
Richard took the hint and poured her another drink. He brought the glass and her coat. She shrugged into the jacket then took the scotch. He opened the glass door and led her outside. The view to the mountains was stunning. The office was on the opposite side of the building from the seashore and looked out over the tops of other buildings past a vast expanse of dark forest toward a lighted slope.
“Skiing?” Angela asked. She walked to the railing and Richard followed.
“Grouse Mountain,” he explained.
“It looks like the Rainier R,” Angela commented. The lighted slope was shaped almost exactly like the beer symbol.
“I’ve always thought they should use it in an advertisement,” Richard agreed.
“Do you like me?” Angela turned to face him.
“Tonight?”
Angela nodded. Their faces were almost touching as they instinctively huddled for warmth in the chill breeze.
“Yes.” The word was almost a caress.
“Even though I’m cold?” Angela reminded him of his earlier comment. Her body edged closer to his.
“You weren’t cold the other night when you blew up,” Richard reminded her. “I’m not very hot-blooded myself. Jimmy is though.”
“You and I; Jimmy and Aggie,” Angela whispered under her breath.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she smiled. “It’s beautiful out here.”
Angela looked up into Richard’s eyes. She saw a confused attraction. He wanted her. He knew she wanted him. And he was thinking about Jimmy.
“I think I should go,” she said.
“Yes,” he agreed heartily. “You should.”
They went back inside and Angela put her untouched drink on a side table. Richard called for a taxi.
“Thank you.” She held out her hand. Richard took it between both his and held on.
“For what?”
“For the drink and the view,” Angela smiled. “For being nice.”
Richard released her hand and walked in front of her to the elevator. They descended silently.
“Aggie,” Richard began as the elevator doors opened.
Angela touched his lips with one finger.
“Shh,” she whispered and kissed him on the cheek.

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Who is Candid? by Carole Remy

Who Is Candid?

by Carole Remy

Genre: Erotic Romance

Pages: 226

Word Count: 70,000

Cover Artist: Catalin Petolea through Shutterstock,

model release signed

Cover Designer: Marissa Lepe Preciado

Teaser

Lucy, aka Candid, is a naughty girl who takes a sexy fun road trip across America, and tells everybody all about it!

Book Description

Is love the ultimate virtual reality?

In the spring of 1998, recent graduate Lucy Ralph decides it's time to try something different. On a road trip across America, Lucy reinvents herself as 'Candid,' a naughty girl who has sexy fun with just about everybody she meets, and tells the world all about it!

Her raunchy 'Candid' Internet posts go viral overnight. From an unconventional encounter in the depths of Lewis and Clark Caverns, to sweet sex with a Belgian tourist under the watchful eyes of Abraham Lincoln at Mt. Rushmore, to cataclysmic orgasms on the roller coaster at the Mall of America, with many more adventures in between, she spins a modern day sexual Arabian Nights.

Lucy's being chased by a sweet and sexy inventor named Dick, the National Security Agency, the entertainment media, the paparazzi, and soon the entire nation. Can she extricate herself with the help of Elvis and an alien? Can she find true love?

Will we ever find out - Who Is Candid?

Excerpt

Intro to Excerpt: Lucy stops for a day in Missouri. She meets a friendly soldier, and yes, there really is a painted frog just outside Fort Leonard Wood. Lucy knows exactly what to do with a painted frog on the side of a hill.

I recognized the location as soon as he slowed down. He pulled over to the side of the road and parked near where my truck had slid into the ditch.
"Where we met," I commented. I wanted to kiss him but held back.
"Let's climb up to the frog," he suggested.
We got out of the truck and held hands as we walked up the slope. We sat on the back of the frog, almost hidden from the view of the road. He slid his arms around me and pulled me back against his chest.
"Is this a favorite spot?" I asked.
"It is now."
"You've never been here before?"
"You inspire me."
"Can we make love here?"
"Here?" He sounded surprised. "By the road?"
"If we lie down on the back of the frog, nobody can see us."
"What about the truck? Somebody might stop."
"Move it down the road a few hundred yards. Put a note on the windshield that you've gone for gas."
"You're smart." He shook his head. "Do you do this often?"
I shook my head. "You inspire me."
By the time he came back from moving the truck, I was naked. Luckily the night was warm. I spread the sweats across the rock and lay back against them. As he walked toward me, his steps slowed. He knelt down beside me.
"Pinch me," he requested.
"Why?" I asked as I pinched his cheek.
"I'm not dreaming," he smiled.
Then he lowered his head and kissed me. His lips were soft and full. I traced the line of his cheek with my finger. His tongue brushed me and I opened my mouth to him. He cupped my face in his hands and deepened the kiss slowly, gently. When he pulled back, I smiled a relaxed, sleepy grin.

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About the Author

Carole Remy

Carole Remy lives in Mexico with her beloved dog Gemma. When she isn’t writing and touring her novels, you can find her rescuing dogs, learning wood sculpture, and salsa dancing!

Author Guest Post

Thank you so much, Krystal, for including my novels Twelve Nights and Who Is Candid? in your Enchanting Reads! Your blog is a lot of fun, and I enjoy visiting when I’m looking for a new book. It’s great to find my novels in such good company!

Did Who Is Candid? Actually Happen???

In a sense, Who Is Candid? is as much a true story as it is a novel. My daughter and I wanted to take a long road trip together, and we brought along our little dog Joey. Yes, he was a blanket humper just like Trigger in the novel. We bought a trailer, hitched it to my pickup truck, and took off, much like Lucy does in the opening scenes of the novel.

It had occurred to me that I could write off some of the costs of the trip on my income tax if I did research as we went and then wrote a novel based on the research. Yup—thrifty and a little sneaky (but legal!), that’s me!

Since I was traveling with my daughter, and I’m not really Lucy, I only imagined the sex scenes as they appear in the novel. My libido got a sexy workout, as I tried to imagine a screaming hot chapter for each locale. We really did visit Lewis and Clark Caverns, the Mall of America, the frog at Fort Leonard Wood, and every other stop in the novel. And yes, the thought of having sex under the watchful eyes of President Lincoln at Mt. Rushmore freaked me out, just as it does Lucy!

When we got home from our trip, I had dozens of brochures, maps, and photos, and a scribbler full of notes. All I needed was a backstory outrageous enough to match the sex scenes! I thought of Voltaire’s Candide, and how the main character travels the world, recounting his misadventures. Lucy was born in a moment of gender-switch (the original Candide is male), and Voltaire’s patient heroine got a major gender-swap makeover as the sexy, talented, but still patient, Dick!

To say that Who Is Candid? was fun to write is an understatement. I laughed my way through this book, as I hope you will too. Now as you read it, you can imagine me standing on the sidelines, making notes as Lucy um, you know... all over the map!

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(Twelve Nights board contains 15 captioned photos of locations from the novel)

Thursday, March 28, 2013

{Spotlight} Grimm Diaries by Cameron Jace

Hey Everyone!

Welcome one and all to the Grim Diaries Release Day Blitz with Xpresso Book Tours, this is the 3rd bundle in the Grimm Diaries novella series.

The Books

Grimm Diaries

by Cameron Jace

Prequels 11-14

Publication date: March 28th 2013

Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Book Descriptions

10.5) Happy Valentine’s Slay by Wee Willy Winkie The real Sandman Grimm sheds a light on what happened in Jawigi, and tells about how some of the teens in Sorrow spend their Valentine’s Day.

11) Children of Hamlin by the Devil The Devil tells the story of the Piper of Hamlin, who he really is, the historical events he witnessed, and his relationship to Ladle Rat. Most of all, why they call him the Black Death.

12) Tooth & Nail & Fairy Tale by Jack Madly Jack Madly stole a sack full of baby teeth from Bluebeard’s enchanted castle, which reminds him of when he first met the Tooth Fairy when he was a child; a memory he wishes to forget.

13) Ember in the Wind by the Little Match Girl All the Little Match Girl wants is to sell her matches so she uses the money to eat and find shelter from the cold. But no one in the cruel city of crowded London helps her. Eventually, she learns something about who she really is, and it changes her life forever.

14) Jar of Hearts by the Queen of Sorrow The Queen of Sorrow, still trapped in the Dreamworld summons Cassandra, the fortuneteller, to ask her about the identities of Lost Seven. The problem with Cassandra is that she’s cursed that her predictions will never be believed. The Queen is still determined to believe her, but it will cost more than she can bargain for.

Excerpt

from Snow White Blood Red

Dear Wilhelm Carl Grimm,

She is not that giddy, naïve, and helpless princess she pretends to be. Please don’t let her fool you with her innocence if you see her sing to the birds in the forest. Resist her charm from bringing joyful tears to your eyes, and shield yourself from her devious beauty before she deceives you into wanting to kiss her awake. It'll be a kiss of death. Your death. That’s how she fooled the Huntsman, Prince Charming, and me, her birth mother.
I still remember the original script of the fairy tale, the one you wrote in 1812. It clearly stated that she was my own flesh and blood daughter. I don’t have the slightest idea why you altered it fifty years later.
What was the point of turning me into an evil, narcissistic, and heartless stepmother, blinded by jealousy and envy of the young princess?
For years, I have been looking forward to telling you the truth about her, but you were impossible to reach.
I am glad I found your brother, Jacob. He told me that you wanted to tone the stories down so children could sleep better at night, instead of having nightmares about the Queen who sought to eat her daughter’s heart and liver.
Shame on you, Wilhelm.
You, of all authors, knew why I wanted to kill her. My actions were justified. I was trying to save my kingdom from her wrath, before everything we loved was destined to an end. The same way you had to rewrite the true fairytales after cursing us, so the War of Sorrows would end forever after.
Night after night, and year after year, parents fed their children false bedtime stories, until your lies grew into inescapable memories. Your happily ever after lies, Wilhelm, shaped the so called fairy tale world.
I wondered why you didn’t burn the original scripts, instead of rewriting them. You must have figured out that sooner or later someone would dig up the truth and expose you. Altering it was the smarter solution. You let children believe that the bites were resurrecting kisses, and that torturing glass coffins were made for sleeping beauties, waiting for a prince to come and kiss them awake.
A wise man once said that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he was someone else. You did the same with us, Wilhelm. You turned us into pastiches of the immortals that we really are, and made it harder for us if wanted to persuade the world otherwise.
I know that you did it to save us from her. And I appreciate how you concealed our real names, or we would have ended up like Rumpelstiltskin, tortured by those who knew of his real name.
But sometimes, I can’t help but wonder why no one ever questioned why I was called the Evil Queen, and why I was never given a real name in the books.
Was I so superficial to the world, so stereotypical and mundane? Why was I treated as if I were the monster of the week?
You know what I think? I think that the world never got the time to hate me. It just wanted to hate me long before it met me.
If I tell those who detest me about the true nature of their little princess, would they ever care about me half as much as they care about her?
I know that deep inside, they adore me. They like the way I talk, walk, dress, and even the way I kill.
They are just afraid to admit how much they love me. I am the Snow White Queen, strong enough that I don’t need anyone’s pity or love, because I am loved by the greatest and most majestic heart in the world:
Mine.

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SALE: the first and second bundle will be 0.99 each from the March 28th until the 31st.

About the Author

Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

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{Cover Reveal} Frailties of the Bond by Angela Brown

The Book

Frailties of the Bond

by Angela Brown

Pages: 69

Published: March 20th 2013

Book Description

NEO – Network of Extraordinaires and Otherworldlies:

Those who answer the call from NEO play their part in maintaining balance in our ever-changing times. With power-hungry malcontents, jealous gods, and even those with misguided good intentions, the fate of our world has oft been held in the hands of unsung heroes such as those that are members of NEO.

But before NEO, these heroes and heroines had lives, loves, issues and interests that didn’t involve saving mankind.

In Frailties of the Bond, it only takes one bite to change a life…

After a hiking trip gone wrong, sixteen-year-old Luca should have been dead. Since then, he’s drifted from one school day to the next, annoyed by the looks of suspicion. When a vampire attack claimed his mother and forced his first shift into animal form, Luca set out for Texas, vengeance bound, only to discover so much more when Aimee crossed his path.

Flesh-born of vampire parents sixteen years ago, Aimee shouldn’t exist. Magic, though, made dreams come true for an undead couple desperate for a child all their own. But this magic came with a price, a cost Aimee discovered after one forbidden bite.

Excerpt

Luca veered into the woods for his normal scenic route home. Broad tree trunks stood tall, a legion of nature’s soldiers deeply rooted and strong. He closed his eyes briefly, skin tingling. He sensed another presence. He’d felt it before, but it felt almost tangible this night.

The setting sun crept from its throne in the sky leaving a trail of golden fingers splayed out over the familiar cliff side in the distance. For a moment, Luca smelled the scent of apricots. His heart skipped a beat. His mind wandered back to the red letter…then further back to that fateful day.

A twig snapped nearby. His ears perked and he paused mid step. Glancing around, he spotted a raccoon shaking itself free of a small heap of fallen leaves. He let go of a breath he hadn’t realized he held. Whoa, maybe I’m thinking about Vivie a little too much.

He turned his mind to other things, like the trouble he’d face when he got home. He forgot to call his mom and tell her he was going to the gym. No telling how pissed she was.
Arriving home, he took the steps two at a time, focused on digging his keys from inside his bag. He reached one hand out, grasping for the door knob.

Instead, nothing but air.

He finally looked up, startled at the sight before him. The door didn’t stand ajar or slightly open.

It. Was. Gone.

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About the Author
Angela Brown

Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home.

Reading and writing have been lifelong passions. It was around the time she gave birth to her forever-love, nicknamed Chipmunk, that she really took writing seriously. After all, how could she teach her child to follow her dreams if she hadn't tried herself?

As a YA fantasy/sci-fi reader and author, she favors the magical, mysterious, the darker side of life...even harbors a secret fright for things that go bump in the night.

NEVERLOVE is a special project spawned from a blog-challenge-turned-blog-opera, the Abby and Basil affair. It is the first in the Shadow Jumpers series.
FRAILTIES OF THE BOND is the first in a series of novellas and short stories introducing heroes and heroines of the secret organization, NEO – Network of Extraordinaires and Otherwordlies.

Five Things You May or May not Know About me.

1. I stole a box of Chiclets gum when I was five. Guilt tore me apart. I haven’t had the stomach for stealing anything since.

2. My then fiancé couldn’t attend my senior prom due to distance, so I had his name drawn on my left ring fingernail in white to match my all white dress.

3. I’m addicted to chocolate and Wild Cherry Pepsi (lol!! Most of you probably already know that.)

4. I’m a middle child (who may or may not suffer from that silly middle kid syndrome lol!!)

5. I’m an Aquarius :)

Did someone happen to check my horoscope today? If it’s bad news, I’d rather remain blissfully ignorant lol!

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

{Spotlight & Giveaway} Fate War: Alliance by E.M. Havens

The Book

Fate War: Alliance

by E.M. Havens

Genre: Sci Fi Romance / Steampunk

Pages: 270

Published: February 25th 2013

Publisher: E.M. Havens

Book Description

Prince Cole meets Samantha when she walks down the aisle. Though she seems like the polished women he is familiar with, there is something different. She is complicated and full of mystery. Her dowry comes with a promise of air ships and mech capable of defense against their common enemy and for his country to survive, he must unravel her secrets. It is only when each accepts their destinies can they save their people from the plans of the Fate Sovereign.

Excerpt

Family Breakfast

“King Arnold, a pleasure.”

Samantha curtsied low, holding the layers of her blue, lace trimmed dress up from the floor. The handmaid had done a tremendous job of tightening her corset. Multi-colored stars popped before her eyes with the movement.

“None of that now. We’re family.” The King’s kind voice and hand guiding her back up put her at ease. He stood in the doorway of her and Cole’s bedchambers. Images of him in red coattails flashed into her mind, and she pushed them back. Today, he wore a grey morning coat, complete with a red striped waistcoat and ascot. The ruby eyes and toothy grin of a gold dragon head peaked at her from the crook of his arm where his cane rested.

He took her hand, kissing the gloved fingers, then wrapped them around his elbow to lead her to the balcony. “And how are you this morning daughter-in-law?”

“I’m well. Thank you for asking, King Arnold. And you?”

“Doing well, my dear.” He patted her hand as they reached the balcony where Cole stood, fidgeting with his tawny waistcoat. Under her fingers, Samantha felt the King tense. He and Cole nodded to each other, but no words were exchanged in salutation. Cole pulled out her chair, and both men helped her settle for their family breakfast. As the men took their seats, they continually eyed each other, like one expecting a tame tiger to turn man eater at any moment.

Thankfully, the servants began uncovering today’s dishes, and the men were distracted by bacon.

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Guest Post

Five MORE things you don’t know about E.M. Havens

1. I’m a musical genius. – Okay, not really. But I am the only person in the history of my college alma mater to test out of the first two semesters of Music Theory and Sight Singing. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Music. I know, an English major would have made more sense…but I hate English.

2. I write music. – Music has been a passion of mine since I can remember. I started playing piano by ear when I was five. As soon as I learned to write enough words to make a poem, I started writing lyrics. My first delve into novel writing came at a time when I had no access to my instruments for months at a time. I always try to include something musical in my novels.

3. I’ve seen over 20 babies born. – One of my past passions was being a Doula. Doula means servant of woman. I accompanied birthing mothers while in labor to help them achieve their goals, no matter what their goals might be. Most of the time that was a natural labor, but not always. Having an advocate in one of the most emotional and vulnerable times in your life can be quite helpful.

4. I was a Country and Western singer. – Well, I was a local celebrity anyway. I sang at all of the Oprys within a day’s driving from Dallas. I even once sang at a Janie Frickie’s garden party. Though I miss the notoriety, fringe and tight jeans, I felt my life needed to take a different path. My family is convinced I could have been something big. I’m glad I avoided that lifestyle. I struggle with depression and music has always really affected my emotional state. Frankly, Country music, for the most part, is not uplifting and that’s not good for my outlook.

5. I am married to my best friend, love of my life, soul mate. – My love and I will be celebrating fifteen years of marriage in May and looking forward to eternity with each other. We met online in 1997…dial-up style. No one thought we would make it past our whirlwind romance, engagement and marriage, but I love him more today than I did then. Just knowing him makes me a better person.

About the Author
E.M. Havens

Who is E.M. Havens? I’m a lot of things. The word that seems to define me most at the moment is mom. It can be all consuming. Not only am I a mom of three (one of them is a teenager…pity me), but I also home-school (pity me more). I share this awesome responsibility with the love of my life, best friend, and soul-mate husband.

Add to that, the twenty-five chickens, twelve turkeys, ten guineas, nine pigs, three barn cats, two Great Pyrenees guardian dogs, a Chihuahua, a house cat, and a goose, it makes for one crazy, full, and certainly entertaining life.

Somewhere in there I find the time to write. I started out young writing poems, then moved on to songs. I actually have a Bachelor in Music with a secondary in Science because I can’t stand English. Yes, the writer hates English. I like to read the story for the experience of reading the story, not to nitpick each letter and comma. But I digress.

I eventually found blogging and really enjoyed sharing my life that way. When an unfortunate turn of events separated me from my music equipment, I decided to use my overactive imagination, my love of reading, and my new found hobby, prose writing, to release some of my creative energy. I wrote my first novel and loved the experience. Fate War: Alliance is actually the second novel I wrote and the first to be published. Now I’m working on my third and several sequels to Fate War!

So that’s pretty much me, sitting in the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma, reading, writing, collecting eggs from the coop, and being a schoolmarm. It’s a pretty great life.

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Giveaway

The Author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card and 3 eBooks.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

{Spotlight & Giveaway} Terra by Gretchen Powell

Book Cover and Blurb

Terra
by Gretchen Powell

Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 286
Published: December 12th 2012
Publisher: Hopewell Media

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Book Description

A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl struggling to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.

A discovery that will change everything.

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial--a denizen of the barren groundworld--who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra's world is turned upside down.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam--a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own, and with him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything--a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love.

The first book in debut author Gretchen Powell's anticipated Terrestrials series, Terra catapults you through a story filled with blood-pumping action, intrigue, and surprising twists that will both wrench and warm your heart. As the hidden truths of this world unfold, new dangers that loom on the horizon are sure to leave you waiting breathlessly for the sequel.

Excerpt

“Hey, I’m sorry,” he says, grabbing my arm as he catches up. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Sometimes I don’t think about my words before I say them, and things come out wrong. But I wasn’t trying to offend you.”

I spin around to face him, throwing his grip off my arm. “You don’t know me!” I say. I am alarmed at the prickle I feel in the back of my throat, a precursor to tears that I refuse to let him see. “You don’t get to know me. And you definitely don’t get to judge me.”

“I wasn’t, Terra.” He calmly steps toward me. “It’s not my place to judge, and even if it were, I would never judge you for being independent. You’re so defensive. I’m just saying that I admire your ability to take care of yourself. I should probably add it to my notes, to be honest.” He offers me a grin.

“You admire me?” I say skeptically. I want to step away from him, but the Intheria statue’s large stone base blocks my path.

“I think you are strong.” He reaches his hand to my face and, surprisingly softly, brushes a lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers linger as they reveal the bruise underneath my hairline. “And I’m sorry this happened to you.”

I don’t know if he’s talking about my bruise or something much greater than that. A lump rises in the back of my throat. The heel of my boot presses against the statue’s base and, before my mind can tell it not to, my body folds itself into Adam’s arms. He leans into my weight, surprised, but in an instant has wrapped his arms around me. I stand there, pressing my cheek against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heart pulses against my ear.

“Looks like sunsets are growing on you,” he says with a laugh.

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About the Author

Half-Chinese and the daughter of a US diplomat, Gretchen Powell spent her childhood growing up in far-off places. She made it all the way to her mid-twenties whilst maintaining her deep-seated love for young adult novels, so she decided to write one of her own.

Her creative process involves copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids and sleeping fitfully.

When she isn't writing young adult dystopian science fiction, Gretchen also writes a successful healthy living blog, entitled Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!

She lives in Northern Virginia with her two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters.

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