BOOK NEWS: Holloway Pack 4 is a go!

HOLLOWAY PACK 4 HAS BEEN CONTRACTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, in case you didn’t quite get the message, Holloway Pack 4 HAS. BEEN. CONTRACTED! With a projected release date of April 2014!

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Anyone who follows me will already know this book took me a looooooooooooooooooooooong time to write, but it is FINALLY coming to close.

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!

So, whose book is this one going to be, you ask?

Yeah, that’s the kicker.

Because, after much discussion with my editor, it’s been decided to hold off on that titbit of information until the blurb goes live alongside the cover reveal. The reason for this is that CAGED isn’t out until August, and I ALWAYS worry about spoilers because, well, I HATE them in books I read myself. So, to conquer that, these details will be held back on.

HOWEVER …

You DO get to know the book’s title!

Ready for it?

Holloway Pack 4 will be called:

UNNATURAL

And on that note, I’ll leave you guessing over what it might be about whilst I go back to dancing my truffle shuffle ‘round the house. Thanks for stopping by to read.

~~~~~

You can add Unnatural to your TBR HERE!

And you can read the official press-release HERE!

Vlog Post: Keri Lake on Soul Avenged and the Sons of Wrath

Now, I make no secret of the fact that I’m a big fan of writer buddy Keri Lake’s latest novel Soul Avenged, so when she announced that she’d made a vlog, I natural asked permission to share it, too.

In case you have no idea what Soul Avenged, book one in the Sons of Wrath series, is, take a peek below.

Passion is blind in vengeance and love …

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

Sons of Wrath

Never gamble with vengeance

AND if I still have your interest … watch on.

 

See? Like I said, this one is defo worth checking out.

Off you go.

And whilst you’re there check Keri’s Website out, too, and watch out for an upcoming readers vote she’ll be running for the cover model of book two in the Sons of Wrath.

Blog Tour: Silent Echoes by Aimee Laine: How Would You Interpret ‘What’s the Time, Mr Wolf?’ into a Game of Zeus?

Howdy, howdy, howdy, and welcome to my stop on the Silent Echoes Blog Tour.  I Luuurved Silent Echose–it’s a great addition to this series (and Tripp Fox in Hide & Seek is one of my top book boyfriends so he was a lot to live up to). And today, I have a real treat for you, because I’m handing over my blog to Aimee Laine for a special Games of Zeus post.

Aimee, it’s all yours.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Silent Echoes is a “Games of Zeus” novel but it’s not a traditional mythological conundrum. No, as the author, I’ve taken quite the liberties in creating a situation Zeus could have use to mess with we puny humans.

So, to have a little fun as Silent Echoes releases this month, my host here at J.A. Belfield’s blog has challenged me to create a Game of Zeus out of What’s the time, Mr Wolf!

How could Zeus use What’s the time, Mr Wolf upon two unsuspecting humans? How could he manipulate a seemingly inocuous game into a maniacal, devious relationship conflict? Oh, let me count the ways … or rather, let me show you.

What’s the time, Mr Wolf?

From Wikipedia:

“One player is chosen to be Mr Wolf. Mr Wolf stands at the opposite end of the playing field from the other players, facing away from them. A call-and-response then takes place: all players except for Mr Wolf chant in unison “What’s the time, Mr Wolf?”, and Mr Wolf will answer in one of the two ways:

1) Mr Wolf may call a clock time (e.g., “3 o’clock”). The other players will then take that many steps out loud as they go (“One, two, three”). Then they ask the question again.

1. Mr Wolf may call “Dinner Time!” Then Mr Wolf will turn and chase the other players back to their starting point. If Mr Wolf successfully tags a player, that player becomes the new Mr Wolf for the next round.”

Before we get to the ultimate What’s the time, Mr Wolf? romance … let me tell you a little about Silent Echoes.

For years, Ian Sands has enjoyed his life as a bachelor, taking advantage of singlehood and exploring his own definition of passion—whoever she may be. Blonde. Brunette. Tall. Short. Hot. Not. Five months ago, all that changed.

Ian’s been celibate, frustrated and desperately seeking answers to why one woman, who doesn’t play by girls’ rules, haunts his every waking moment.

As a renovations specialist, Taylor Marsh lives, works and breathes construction—a profession her southern belle of a mother would rather Taylor not touch. The same goes for Ian; Mama Marsh would never approve of him.

Like Ian, though, each time he and Taylor draw near, something compels her to get closer.

Something else tells her to run away.

Fast.

As much as their histories suggest they shouldn’t be together, neither Taylor nor Ian can deny the pull, and the two succumb, indulging in a relationship that brings pleasure to body, mind and soul.

Doing so, though, also ushers in a series of events both should have foreseen as well as one final outcome neither expected.

And now … 

What’s the time, Mr Wolf?

This game reminds me of Red Light/Green Light. Of course, for J.A. Belfield, the ‘Wolf’ theme certainly does seem like it applies more given her propensity for wolves!

Now, how would the awesome Zeus take wolves or rather, this kids’ game and turn it into a conflict or conundrum for two characters? I’m thinking very very simply.

You know that prize you want? The one that been on your radar forever … maybe it’s a jewel. A book. A date with a Hollywood hottie. The lottery. Whatever it is, Zues would make sure that it’s unattainable.

Now, per the rules of the game, only one can be the Wolf and the other must be chasing after the Wolf, only to be chased BY the wolf.

So let’s have Him authorize Her forward.

One. Step. At. A Time.

Of course, He and She probably aren’t going to like each other too much. Maybe he has the prize. Maybe he’s letting her get closer with a date. A kiss. Something more. Something less.

Start. Stop. Start. Stop.

Will there be a point where he breaks the pattern and goes after her? Oh yeah. The twist in a good Zeus game is that she’ll then be able to start and stop Him. With a catch of course. The moment they switch places, she will no longer desire the thing that brought them together, but he will.

How does one resolve a situation that changes every time the lead shifts? Think like a wolf and I think you’ll have an idea.

And there you have it. What do you think? Is What’s the time, Mr Wolf? a possible Game of Zeus?

Aimee is a romantic at heart and a southern transplant with a bit of the accent (but not a whole bunch). She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and with him, she’s produced three native North Carolinians, two of whom share the same DNA.

With an MBA and a degree in Applied Mathematics, there’s absolutely no reason she should be writing romance novels. Then again, she shouldn’t need a calculator to add two numbers, either … but she does.

Find her here: Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

Blog Tour: Soul Avenged by Keri Lake: Guest Post + Giveaway

OOoooooookay. So, here I am on the blog tour for Keri Lake’s Soul Avenged, and I cannot tell you how excited I am.

Because:

1) I’ve read this, and LOVED it. Like, reaaaally loved it.

2) I have an absolute treat of a post for you guys today.

When Keri offered me early pick on my stop, I decided to be a little bit tough on her.

Because having read this, I already had a handle on the characters, and there is a mention in the story of a place called Obsidius. Now, I think I’m allowed to explain: Obsidius is kinda like a demonic prison for demons who have wronged, where they get tortured pretty horrendously, and two of the Sons of Wrath just happen to have spent time there–but, in Soul Avenged, because it occurred in times past, we don’t get to see it.

And I wanted to.

So I challenged Keri to write me a scene, from the POV of one of the brothers, of their time spent in this hellish place.

And because Keri loves a challenge (which I was counting on), she accepted.

But before I share it, let’s take a quick peek at this book I’ve been blathering on about for weeks.

Passion is blind in vengeance and love …

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

Sons of Wrath
Never gamble with vengeance

See? Sounds awesome, right?

You can buy it at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

So you ready to see my–I mean, Keri’s post?

Below …

but WARNING: Contains Strong Language so please do not read if easily offended by profanity.

~~~~~~~~~~

A Night in Obsidius

The bone gavel cracked against the sound block.  Its echo traveled Gavin’s spine and for a brief moment, tested his nerve.  Jaw clenched, he leveled his gaze in the direction of the high demon official who’d just committed him to fifty years in the most feared prison of the Underworld.

Obsidius.

Only the craziest bastards were sent to Obsidius.  Gavin questioned his own sanity as held out his hands, allowing the Enforcer Demon to shackle him.  What the hell kind of freak volunteers to spend five decades in hell’s prison?  No doubt his brother was thinking the same thing.

Gavin looked beside him.

Logan—the youngest of Wrath’s sons—stood with a frown, his gaze cast downward, away from Gavin.  “Why?”

“Because whether you believe me or not, I am your brother.  You are a son of Wrath.  We are bound by blood.”

“They say that even those who survive here never escape the hell.”Logan’s voice carried a chilling edge of intrigue than despair.

“All the more reason I’m glad to have cut your sentence in half,” Gavin said before the yank to his bindings jerked him forward.

A century of misery had been doled out to Logan for killing a high-ranking demon official who murdered his mother.  As his brother’s Brozszius, or advocate in the demon realm, Gavin agreed to half of the punishment.

A door on the opposite side of the Orcosii’s court opened to a dark corridor and silence.  Only the drag of chains against the concrete sliced through what felt like a momentary suspension of Gavin’s existence.  Like the final breath just before death seeped out from the shadows to swallow his soul.

As if being sentenced to five decades of torture wasn’t enough, the Enforcer that led them down the path to this twisted Disneyland of pain had to be one of the meanest looking bastards in Orcosia.  Enforcer Demons, their breed designed to dish punishment as both tormentors and mercenaries, were often hired as bounty hunters in the human realm.  Covered in a black carapace with a medieval looking weapon like a double sickle sword, they were about the most intimidating beasts Gavin had ever seen—andWrath Demons weren’t easily intimidated.

Pulling a set of keys from its holster, the Enforcer stopped before a black door that Gavin estimated to be about ten feet in height.  Heat bled through the gaps—an ominous sensation that crawled over Gavin’s skin.  The patterns of rot etched into the wood looked almost like the blackened souls of the victims punching through from the other side, eternally trapped within its threshold.

No going back. 

Not that he would.  No brother of Gavin’s was going to take a full term punishment in this place.  Even if Logan hadn’t yet accepted him as his own blood, Gavin couldn’t bring himself to let his brother suffer an unjust sentence.

He shot one glance at Logan, whose face remained stoic as ever.  Christ, did the kid ever show the slightest bit of fear?  His nerves must’ve been fashioned with some impenetrable grade of steel only found in the ‘batshit crazy’ bin of demon body parts.

The door swung open to the orange glow of flames in the center of a circular path.  Hell’s fire burned much hotter than the earthly variety—the same brand of pain that his brother Ferno carried, makinghim the one of the more dangerous Wrath Demons.

Impervious black doors lined multiple levels overlooking the pyre that licked the boundless darkness above them.  Ash rained from the sky like snowflakes and for a moment Gavin wondered if they were the vestiges of victims who’d been burned alive.  With a sharp exhale from the corner of his mouth he blew the hot cinders off his cheek.  Screams echoed from all directions, a blanket of suffering that settled over him as he scanned the surroundings, squinting his eyes to keep the ash out.  The cries weren’t the shallow screams of new horrors, but the tired wailing of long-lived agony.

The words of his Divine Matron drifted through his mind.  Stay strong.  Stay true.  And above all else, never let it break you.  She’d also called him insane.  But then, for whatever reason, Cefirinahad always harbored some distaste for Logan.

His vision told him at the very least, he’d survive it in the end.  But fuck if it didn’t give him a single clue as to what happened in between.  The down side of being half-seer:  half-ass predictions of his future.

This would be the first of many nights.  Daylight never touched Obsidius—only nightmares that arrived in a relentless stretch of midnight—or so the rumors went.  He’d be tortured in ways he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

The clinking of chains tapped an unfaltering cadence as they clambered the black tarry-looking stairs to the second level.   Gavin peered over the railless ledge at the other Enforcers moving below with purpose, like oversized warrior ants at a flesh picnic.  The one leading himcame to a halt in front of two adjacent doors.Dread churned in Gavin’s stomach.  Their chambers were side by side—meaning his brother’s sufferance would be his own.

Logan stood behind his assigned Enforcer who unlocked the door, and glanced over at Gavin.  “See you on the other side.”  Not an ounce of humility in his voice.  His eyes appearedfocused and unfettered as if his mind was resolved to the possibility that his immortal body might be sacrificedfor the gruesome torment that awaited him.

Gavin nodded and entered his own chamber.  In spite of the fire that burned outside of the room, a cold emptiness lingered on the inside.  Gray stone walls didn’t carry evidence of life like many prisons with markings and chipping.  Instead their dull, smooth surface told a story of forgotten death.

The slab of concrete in the center of the room, with spattered flecks of blood, would serve as Gavin’s bed for the next fifty years. A tug on his shackles brought him standing before the Enforcer Demon.  His binds were removed and the Enforcer paused, a silent command that prompted Gavin to climb atop. The uneven surface bit into his flesh—a far cry from the plush mattress and satin sheets of his own bed back at the manor.  One by one his hands and legs were bound at the corners.  The flicker of light from outside the room faded to complete blackness and the thump of the door.  A soft white glow blossomed from somewhere below Gavin, casting enough light to see his reflection in the mirrored ceiling.What kind of twisted bullshit … and yet at the same time, it didn’t surprise him.

Lifeless, beady eyes of Gavin’s captorobstructed his view and stared down at him like those of a shark—undeterred by emotions, driven by instincts.  Sick fucks were masters of both physical and mental torture.  There’d be no mercy.  No admiration for volunteering on his brother’s behalf.  Only pain.  The kind of dark shadows that nested deep inside the soul and remained dormant.

Wrath demons didn’t register pain likemost species of the Underworld—their bodies were designed to endure physical destruction.  Yeah they had nerves and could sense an assault to the flesh, but their wounds healed so quickly, the agony tended to be short-lived.  Obsidius had methods of punishing all breeds of demon though, with centuries of effective torture tactics, perfected to break a victim—by any means.

The Enforcer pulled a small blade from a side holster and as he held the gleaming metal in front Gavin’s face, tipped his head.  Goddamn if those beady eyes didn’t squint into something of a smile.  The blade disappeared from Gavin’s view and he lifted his gaze once more toward the ceiling.  In the reflection, the Enforcer zipped the blade across his chest, the sound of tearing trailing his movement as he sliced away Gavin’s black t-shirt, exposing his bare skin.  He tried to imagine what his flesh might look like near the end of his punishment.

So much for a great complexion.

Gavin sucked in a breath through his nose, rolled his shoulders back against the rough concrete, flexed his arms and gave a sharp tug of his bindings.  “Let the fucking games begin,” he muttered.

~~~~~~~~~

Gavin. *sigh* Logan. *rubs thighs*

Man, oh, man, I kinda adore these guys.

Anyway, moving swiftly on before any kind of salivating kicks in, let me tell you about the contest!

To celebrate the release of Soul Avenged, Keri is holding one BADA$$ giveaway.

Here’s what you can win:

Soul Avenged Blog Tour “Fire & Ice” Giveaway

Grand Prize:  (Valued at approximately $280)

1-Kindle Fire HD (approximate value $199)

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug

1-Soul Avenged Notebook

1^st Runner-Up:  (Valued at approximately $75)

1-$25 iTunesgiftcard

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug

1-Sons of Wrath notebook

2^nd Runner-Up: (Valued at approximately $35)

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

See? BADA$$

And to enter, all’s you gotta do is clicky on the Rafflecopter LINK!!!!!!!

Off you go, go, gooooooooooo!

You can also check out the tour schedule HERE!

~~~~~~~~~~

Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan.  She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy and loves a good, tragic love story.  Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction whenever distraction manages to suck her in to the Land of Shiny Things.

When she isn’t toiling away on plots and protagonists, she enjoys reading, music and travel.  If she could create mystical powers for herself, she’d have the ability to flash to anywhere in the world.  And if she could flash to anywhere in the world at this very moment, she’d be staring at the ocean from her adirondack chair on the shores of North Carolina.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Happy Book Birthday, Make Believe!

Today is the OFFICIAL launch day for the MAKE BELIEVE anthology.

Can I get a huzzzaaaaaaaaaaah!?

Yep, very excited about this one. Seems like eons ago that I wrote my short for this antho, Escort to Insanity. LOVE this story. It was heaps of fun to enjoy. And now I FINALLY get to share it with you guys!

Wheeee!

So, if you fancy a diverse array of tales, from fantasy to paranormal romance, all wrapped up in a beautiful wintry bundle, why not grab yourselves a copy.

You can do so here: Amazon  | Barnes & Noble | Amazon UK | All Romance  |  Diesel eBooks |  Books on Board

Aaaaand you can add it to your Goodreads by clicking on the pic ==>>

But that’s not all. Nope, because Blue Moon ALSO launched today. That blog post went live a little while ago, and you WILL want to check it out—especially as it contains an exclusive giveaway you won’t want to miss.

PLUS, check back in each day this week to read what went down when I interviewed the rest of the contributing authors for the Make Believe anthology.

AND be sure to follow along on the Make Believe Blog Tour, where there will be chances to win yourself a copy. First stop is over at Jennifer Bielman’s blog, and includes a giveaway. Full tour schedule can be found HERE!

Cheers, guys. As always, the continued support I get from folk means the absolute world to me.

Five copies of Make Believe ARC’s up for grabs over at J. Taylor Publishing’s Blog!

Yo, gabber-gabbers!

Yesterday I left my sick bed long enough to tell you about a giveaway for 5 Blue Moon ARC‘s over at my publisher.

Today, I’m leaving it to tell you they have ANOTHER giveaway going on–and this time they’re giving away 5 ARC’s of the winter anthology my short story, Escort to Insanity, is headlining.

For a chance to win a Make Believe ARC, just follow the link: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/blog/?p=1125

And Good Luck!

Surrender Blog Tour: An Interview with Cael Aldridge! Roawrrrrr!

Welcome, welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Surrender by Aimee Laine. Before we move on, let’s take a look at the book in question:

Face the past or look to the future? Both will hurt. One could kill her.

All her life, Lily Crane has supressed her childhood memories, masking the signs of abuse with a variety of looks. From brunette to blonde, tall to short — as a Mimic, changing shape is her gift. Her right. Her achilles heel.

It’s Lily’s latest likeness, chosen simply by accident, which threatens to repeat a history she’s desperate to forget. Worse, she must do so without the one man who takes all her pain away: Cael Aldridge.

Cael has no intention of leaving Lily on her own. He never has. Now, with the woman he loves in the hands of a predator who wants Lily for her genetics, Cael will do everything he can to bring her home.

Alive.

He can only pray he isn’t too late.

Love, love, LOVE this cover & blurb. Though, if that’s not enough to convince you, you can check out my review HERE!

Now, to celebrate the release of this awesomesauce 2nd novel in the Mimics of Rune series, on my blog today, I have the totally hawt and swoon-worthy Cael Aldridge. Chestnut hair. The. Most. Amazing. Eyes. So blue, they’re almost violet. And even through his checquered shirt, anyone with visual ability can see he is totally ripped.

One must remain professional about this, however—here goes:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So, Cael … how you doing?”

“I’m alright.”

“Tell me: is this you I’m looking at now?”

“Is this the real me?” He looks off the side with a smirk on his lips. Back to me, he says, “If you could look like this, would you be your real self?”

“Touché! Though in all fairness, I’d rather not look like a dude. However hot.” I cough. “Moving swiftly on: I think it’s safe to say looks aren’t the deciding factor for you when it comes to the opposite sex.” I smile. “Does that mean then, if Lily had never entered the picture, I’d be in with a shot?” I stare innocently. “With a bloke like yourself?”

He sits back and stretches one muscular arm across the back of the chair next to him. “Sorry, but no. Lily has always been the one for me.”

“Yeah, Lily. What can you tell me about the bird that caught the worm?”

The smile that creases his lips probably tells more than anything he could utter. “Let’s just say that Lily is beautiful inside and out no matter what she thinks of herself. She’s kind, incredibly caring, an amazing chef, loves me and … loves me.”

Yeah, that smile really does give away his feelings. Ladies are gonna be swooning everywhere. I sigh. “So how about we go back to my initial question, give the readers a clue as to why I’d even ask that at all?” I lean in closer, wiggle my eyebrows. “Willing to divulge?”

“You want to know if I’m me?” He chuckles. “I’m always me, whether I’m mimicking some short geeky scientist, a high powered CEO or a housewife from New Jersey.” A huffed laugh escapes. “Yeah those are fun, and yes, I did say housewife. I have to give most of you women credit for what you go through with all the war paint on your faces and having to pee sitting down.”

“Finally! Recognition for the trials of being a woman.” I laugh. “You’ll defo have to tell me some time about your gender switch antics, for sure,” I say, giving him a wink. “So, being a mimic pretty much means you can look like whoever you want. Yes?”

He nods. “Yup. It does.”

“Doesn’t it ever get confusing when you all keep switching up your appearances? I mean, there’s how many of you all living together? All of you with the ability to constantly look different?”
Cael’s lips quirk up. “We know how to recognize each other, but to the outsider, yes, it could get really confusing. Charley, for example, used to love to screw with James and me. She was the best at truly mimicking someone because of her photographic memory. Lily, on the other hand …” he sighs “… she has tells that most anyone can decipher. Even you.” He bobs his head in my direction.

“Oh, yeah?” I sit forward as intrigue kicks in. “Such as? Do you all have tells? How about you? Care to share yours?”

“I’m tell-less.” With a wink, he adds, “Lily though, she can’t hold her form well and so who she is often starts to bleed through who she’s trying to be. It’s never been a real problem though because we don’t keep her on the front line of projects. She’s always behind the scenes.”

“Must have been hard then, when she went and stuck herself on the forefront of the latest project. For you and for her.”

He turns toward the side, happiness evaporating from his expression. With his head dipped down, he says, “That’s not really something I want to remember.”

“Then I’m, er … sorry I brought it up?” I clear my throat, coz, damn, I just wanna cuddle this dude; he looks so sad. “How about you wrap up by sharing a memory that you hold tight to instead?”

The twinkle in his eye reappears as does the grin. “There’s never a better memory that sitting at the bar in our kitchen with Lily at the helm. She makes the best blueberry pancakes. Totally from scratch. Everything we’ve ever been through is worth a slap on the back of my hand as I try to pilfer blueberries from her mix. She’s the most ‘at home’ then, and everything she does is a hundred percent her. No pretense. No faking. Nothing but Lily. That’s what I love … when she’s just being her.”

I heave a huge sigh. Complete with goofy smile. I think I may just be in love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, has he sold ya yet? Whaddaya waiting for?

Purchase links for Surrender can be found HERE! It is available NOW!!!!!!

You can add Surrender to your Goodreads pile by clicking HERE!

And if that’s not enough and you just so happen to have a yen to stalk Aimee Laine (you should: she’s awesome), you can do so at the following places:

BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Aimee is a romantic at heart and a southern transplant with a bit of the accent (but not a whole bunch). She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and with him, she’s produced three native North Carolinians, two of whom share the same DNA.

With an MBA and a degree in Applied Mathematics, there’s absolutely no reason she should be writing romance novels. Then again, she shouldn’t need a calculator to add two numbers, either … but she does.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment for Aimee, Cael … me … AND remember to check out the rest of the Surrender blog tour by clicking HERE! (psst, there’s bound to be some giveaways, too ).

Escort to Insanity Exposed!

Yep, the time has come to share another sneak preview with you all. You recall a week or so ago, you got to see the opening for the next Holloway Pack story, Blue Moon? Well, as Escort to Insanity is my short story for the Make Believe anthology, which just so happens to be releasing around the same time as Blue Moon in December, there have been a lot of posts chasing each other for the two.

Anyway, here we go. A little different to the other stories in there, and very much me, here’s a peek at my Make Believe offering:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ugh.” I marched the width of my living room for the hundredth time before wedging my stilettos into the shag pile in front of the mirror. “Why do I subject myself to such …” I threw up my hands.

My tenant’s reflection stared back at me from over my shoulder. “Craptapular evenings just to keep your flipping family happy?” One brown eyebrow rose above the sardonic expression in Kellie’s hazel eyes.

“Yes, but …” I groaned and leaned forward, teasing my ebony fringe into perfect alignment and prodding at my French twist. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I mean, an escort, for goodness sake.” A quick appraisal assured my black cocktail dress hugged where it should beneath my scarlet swing coat. “Like I’m some bloody saddo incapable of acquiring a date of her own.”

“You have nabbed a date. That’s the whole point.”

“Okay, incapable of nabbing a date that doesn’t cost me five grand for a few hours of his time.”

“Five grand? Holy frickin’ cow, Cole.”

I met her reflected gaze. “You gave me the bloody number.”

“Yeah, because they had prices starting from fifty quid.”

“Fifty quid was for a date with Quasimodo. No point doing this if I’m not going to take someone to keep the vultures off my back.”

“True.” She nodded. “Very true … but …” At the chime of the doorbell, she spun away as I whirled on the spot. “Forget it,” she said, already moving for the hallway. “I’ll see for myself what five grand worth of man looks like.”

Frozen in place, I could only listen as she vanished into the hallway, and her socked feet brushed over the floorboards. The catch twisted. The front door whooshed open.

“Nicole Harrington?” Disbelief tinged the deep, masculine tone.

“Would you like me to be?”

As I thought of what confronted him, Kellie in her Snoopy, fleece shorts, peeling and faded Iron Maiden T-shirt and hiking socks that had long ago lost any elasticity, I snorted out a laugh.

“Ignore her,” I said. “She’s just my tramp of a housemate. Come on in.”

“What’d you do that for?” Kellie said. “I almost had him.”

A deep chuckle preceded the delicate clop of a shoe on the floorboards. A moment later, one black clad shoulder peeked around the living room door, followed by a shock of honey blond hair and amber eyes.

Nice.

His left eyebrow arched up. “Nicole?”

Head tilted in an attempt to see the rest of him around the door, I nodded. “My friends call me Cole. Might be best if you stick to that this evening.”

He crossed the room in a few easy strides, his hand already outstretched. “Benjamin Gold.” He smiled down at me as I slid my fingers across his. “And I very much doubt you want to know what my friends call me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whatcha think? Sound like something you’d enjoy? You can add it to your Goodreads pile by clicking HERE! (or on the bookmark image above). Plus, all SIX excerpts are available to read over at the J. Taylor Publishing Blog. Go check ‘em out!

And to say thanks to those who stop by to read, I shall be giving away ONE signed* printed Make Believe book cover.

All’s you have to do is leave a comment before midnight on Sunday Aug 26th.

*please note: the won book cover will be signed by me only.

Time to Share a Little of Blue Moon! #HollowayPack

Yup. I FINALLY get to show you what’s going on between the covers of my upcoming novel, Blue Moon: Holloway Pack 2.

You’ve seen the cover.

You’ve read the blurb.

And now the time’s arrived for a tiny glimpse of the goods.

Yargh!

So here you go–the opening of Blue Moon‘s chapter one:

Bookmark: Front

The Porsche purred beneath my palms. Wind whipped through the gap in my window, stirring my hair into a halo. In the passenger seat beside me, my best friend Poppy sat, shivering. “You sure you’re warm enough, Pop?”

“I’m good.” She pulled her coat a little higher around her wild red curls and re-aimed the vents her way for the twentieth time.

She’d never complain anyway, not when she understood being a werewolf notched up my regular body temperature enough that sweater and scarf compensated for the chance at fresh air. At least she had the burgers for warmth. Brown paper bags filled with lunch pressed against her lap. I’d already eaten one whilst driving, but the wafts of fat-scented steam continued to entice.

Rounding the corner, I turned onto the road to the site of the pack’s latest property development. Although tempted to squeal through the gates, and announce my arrival in style, I figured it best if Sean continued to believe I drove like a snail when in his car, and shifted down the gears one by one. 

I spun the wheel left for the turn and braked hard at a woman standing in the middle of the gatepost.

She whirled, lids narrowed over irises of bright blue until she settled into a look of bewilderment.

If she thought I’d missed the fleeting irritation in her expression, she was mistaken. I stuck my head out. “Can I help you?”

Bookmark: Back

From beneath a full head of black waves, her cool stare trained on me as her hands faux-flapped in front of her. “You scared me out of my wits, flying round the corner like that.” The chill in the woman’s tone matched her expression.

I scowled. “Five miles an hour is not flying.”

“She trying to put out a fire, or something?” Poppy mumbled.

She turned from me to Poppy and quit with her hands before circling toward the almost completed apartments.

Near the entrance, Ethan, Sean’s older brother by two years, had his head in close to Connor Larsen’s ginger curls, but her focus only swung round as far as Connor’s son.

As though aware of the attention, Josh lifted his chin. His gaze shifted from the Porsche to the stranger. After he mumbled something to Connor and Ethan, the three men headed our way.

I glanced back in time to see a smirk cross the woman’s face.

“What’s she playing at?” Poppy hissed.

Shrugging, I stuck my head back out the window. “I asked you what you wanted.”

She glanced back to me. “I was just admiring the apartments.” At the arrival of the three men, she gave them her full attention, complete with winning smile.

“She switched that on pretty quick for them,” Poppy murmured.

Josh smiled at the young female as he strode past her. Arms coming to rest against the window ledge, he planted a kiss on my cheek. “You’ve been ages, Jem.”

“Well, I’m here now.”

He thumbed over his shoulder. “Who’s your friend?”

“She’s no friend of mine.” My lip curled. “She looked like she was spying.”

Dum, dum, dum! Who’s the broad?

I hoped you enjoyed it. If you haven’t already, feel free to add it to your reading list over at Goodreads. And as a thank you for stopping by to read, I shall giveaway a signed Blue Moon bookmark (as shown up yonder). All’s you gotta do is leave a comment before midnight on Sunday August 19th.

That’s it.

Need a Wolfie Summer Read? Then Come Enter to Win at the Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop!

Hey all, and welcome to my stop on the Lazy Days of Summer Hop. First up, I’d like to give a huge thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Colorimetry for hosting this hop. Please remember to take a moment to click on the image to hop across to the linky list of participants, where you’ll find tonnes of great giveaways happening.

And onwards with my post!

Well, as summer is pretty much right on top of us, and most kids are done with school for the holidays, which means many of you lovely folk will be heading off to beaches and forests and relaxing evenings by the pool, I figured what better to accompany such a trip than a great wolfie romance read.

Yep, one lucky winner shall receive an E-Copy (either mobi. or epub) of my paranormal romance (with a supernatural twist): Darkness & Light.

Here’s what it’s all about:

Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes to be, a bid to escape boredom.

Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn’t met—at least, not in this lifetime.

Apart, the two are safe, but live unfulfilled lives.

Together, they’ll become prey to rival packs, just as they have been for hundreds of years.

When their worlds collide, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Their renewed bond deepens. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.

Can Jem accept her destiny before it’s too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean?

Sound like your cup of tea? Coolio. Then head on over to the Rafflecopter Form to enter.

Good luck!