An Alien Exchange by Keri Kruspe

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Keri Kruspe will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Aimee Gwiazdowski has a passion for Alien Abduction romance stories. She vicariously lives through the heroines of her books to escape her lonely, loveless life. Until one morning, she wakes up in a strange, white room where an alluring voice invites her to the “Exchange” to find love and adventure in another world. Did she dare believe it? Could she leave everything behind and take a chance to become one of those heroines who finds true love among the stars?

Exiled Prince Qayyum E’etu and commander of the space vessel StarChance has a mission—transport the human women to the Exchange along with an offer he can’t refuse: find evidence against rumored human trafficking connected with the Exchange. If he can successfully bring the traitors back to Zerin for justice, it would give him a chance to return home. How was he supposed to know that meeting a human woman would put everything he was working for in jeopardy?

As unforeseen evil slowly brews discord within the galaxy, it works to tear Aimee and Qay further apart. If they don’t learn to overcome their fears and trust the love they have for each other, the coming cataclysm will devastate not only Zerin, but Earth as well.

An Alien Exchange is the first book in a sci-fi romance that features intergalactic action, engrossing plots, and courageous individuals. If you like fast-paced action, raw emotions, and sexy aliens, you’ll love this new space adventure.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to those who are alone in a crowd. To those who are desperately trying to right a wrong they’ve done in the past. Sometimes taking a chance may seem crazy, but you’ll never know until you try.

Read an Excerpt

Star struck, she gawked at him with her mouth open. Any preconceived notion she had about masculine beauty changed. His overt, exceptional maleness matched the images she’s conjured while reading her sci-fi romances.

His skin was a light russet brown nestled by a pearlescent sheen. Hair black as midnight layered with strands of cobalt blue reflected when he moved. A subtle widow’s peak crowned a smooth, wide forehead. A tiny intricate braid at his right temple ended in a long curl at the front of his crotch, framing his manhood. Pulled hair bared ears larger than a human’s, the tips ending in a slight point. A small gold hoop pierced the left tip, twinkling as it danced and teased in the light. Aimee’s lips moistened as she envisioned savoring the combination of warm flesh and cool steel.

She took in his matching black eyebrows. They rose up and down like an upside down V over his almond-shaped eyes framed by a set of thick lashes. Instead of black, his pupils were a dark iridescent green, oval-shaped and surrounded by a ring of dual color. The first ring was a dark emerald with the outer ring a contrasting shade of lighter green. His full lips parted in a patronizing smile and displayed small fangs where human eyeteeth were.

He pulled his arms away from his chest and she noticed he had three fingers on each hand instead of four. Those fingers were long and thick, one digit not any shorter or smaller than another— his thumbs no different than a human.

She sighed, trying to picture how many toes he had.

“Satisfied?” His amused accented tone left no doubt he was making fun of her. “Believe in aliens now?”

About the Author:

“Author of otherworldly romantic adventures”

A writer since the age of twelve, Keri Kruspe has always been fascinated with otherworldly stories that end with the dream of Happily Ever After.

A native Nevadan, Keri resides with her family in the wilds of Northwest Michigan where she enjoys the stark change in seasons and the pleasures each one brings. An avid reader, Keri loves an enjoyable bottle of red wine, a variety of delicious foods and watching action/adventure movies…usually at the same time. You can find her most days immersed in her fantasy world on her latest novel while foot tappin’ to classic rock. When not absorbed in her writing, Keri works alongside her husband in building their dream home or discovering intelligent life in America in their RV.

Why I wrote this book

I was reading one of my favorite Sci-fi romances on my electronic reader after watching the latest’s news about computer hacking. It got me thinking…what if aliens hacked into my reading habits to find someone like me who liked alien romances. Wouldn’t that be a perfect way to find women who might be willing to leaving Earth to find love among the stars…

I envisioned Star Wars meets Pretty women. And that, they say, was that. My story “An Alien Exchange” was born.

The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Buy An Alien Exchange to experience the first installment of this exciting trilogy!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Exchange-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B07JDRH6GR/ref=sr_1_1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-alien-exchange-keri-kruspe/1129746931
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-alien-exchange/id1438985680
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/an-alien-exchange

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klkruspe15
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lakezipper77/
https://www.kerikruspe.com/
https://twitter.com/authorkkruspe
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/26000075-keri-kruspe

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Roosters: Sweet and Innocent by Megan Slayer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author and signed swag to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Anissa Dunn wants one man -- Kameron. He’s got looks, brains and a boatload of attitude… and all that muscle. A girl can only take so much, and he's her heart's desire. She’s not afraid to give as good as she gets and she wants him to be her teacher in all things carnal.

There's only one catch -- he's her bodyguard and the rules state she can't date the staff.

But rules are meant to be broken…

Read an Excerpt

Copyright ©2018 Megan Slayer

Kam broke the kiss, then stood her on her feet. “That’s hot.”

Excitement like she’d never known coursed through her veins. The hotness was her. She’d turned someone on -- better yet, the someone was him.

“Kiss swollen lips, flushed cheeks and wide eyes.” He grinned. “That’s the sign a woman’s been properly kissed. Lesson one complete.”

She reached for him. “I didn’t get a passing grade. I want another try. I know I can bump my grade up to an A.” She wound her arms around his neck. “At least offer me some extra credit.”

“Get through this event tonight, and we’ll not only go back over lesson one, but we’ll move to lessons two and three,” Kam said. “Once we leave this room, we resume our roles. No question.” He caressed her ribs. “Remember, this is an event for kids.” He let go, then left her in the suite alone.

Anissa touched her mouth. Her lips tingled. She’d never felt so wanted before. She bit back a whoop and spun on her heel. Hope blossomed in her chest. She’d chosen the right teacher. He’d give her everything she craved.

Now to find ways to make him crave her, too.About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj

Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Buy Links:

Available from Changeling Press: https://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2745
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DVM3N4Q/
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/b5rkBA

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Exit Stage Left by Catherine Russell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Megan O'Day seems to be navigating the unpredictable relationship with Geoffrey Drake, her centuries-old vampire guardian angel, rather well. But then his past suddenly rips him from her, forcing her to face the unknown future alone in the gripping sequel to The Stage.

Still bound to Geoffrey through the power of the Link despite his unexplained absence, Megan's mind is flooded with his haunted memories. While she relives the darkest moments of his previous life, she discovers his attachment to a woman who bears a striking resemblance to her.

As she questions Geoffrey's love for her, she strikes up a dangerous alliance with Geoffrey's brother, Alexander, who is also a vampire. She hopes that he will help her find a way to rescue Geoffrey: instead, he seems to be awakening new emotions and desires within her.

As the past and present collide, Megan struggles to fend off Alexander's dark seduction. Is Geoffrey truly beyond the reach of her love forever? If not, what must be sacrificed to bring them back together again?

Read an excerpt:

Geoffrey and I stepped into one elevator, the others squeezed into the other. I fumbled with the box as the elevator doors closed. The elevator jerked slightly. Geoffrey had pushed the stop button, and gently took the box from my hands as the elevator halted between floors. I grinned, knowing what he was up to. I reached up to his delicious mouth as his cool palms softly held my face.

Whenever our lips touched the link became a hyper wire of electric current. My tongue danced in time with his as his venom flowed into me. Along with my being the mythological link to him, we’d also discovered that I was immune to his venom—but mind you, it still had its drawbacks. Sure, it gave me enhanced senses and physical abilities, but it also made me sicker than a dog if the dose was too big, basically a nasty hangover.

Just as his icy fingers skimmed my waist, the call buzzer rang, interrupting our moment. I had about two seconds before he pulled away, so I held him tighter to me, tugging on his delicious lower lip a bit longer, and his fingers grazed the top of my hips, which only made me want him more.

Damn buzzer. And I was just getting started, too. He grinned as I tucked my shirt back in.

“At least we won’t have interruptions to worry about anymore,” he said aloud as he tucked my hair back behind my ear, sending a small thrill through me.

About the Author:

Catherine Russell was born in Tacoma, Washington and raised in a small town just south, South Hill, Puyallup. At the time South Hill was a heavily wooded area and far off the beaten path. Growing up she had the forests as her fantasy world along with the wild animals. She lived with her parents and an older sister. There are a few similarities from her own childhood that have carried over in to her first novel, “The Stage”. As a child, she did have a small dog named Toto, whom she would quite frequently roam the woods with. Her childhood home still stands, and is still nestled in the woods even though South Hill has undergone an extreme makeover since she lived there. She enjoyed hours of day dreaming and playing in the woods, which in turn fed her fantasy world of make believe.

The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour only.

The Stage Chronicles site http://www.thestagechronicles.com/
Barking Rain Press site https://barkingrainpress.org/exit-stage-left
Amazon link for The Stage Chronicles Book 2 Exit Stage Left https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Stage-Left-Chronicles/dp/1935460889/ref=sr_1_2
Amazon link for The Stage Chronicles Book 1 The Stage https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Stage-Left-Chronicles/dp/1935460889/ref=sr_1_2
Twitter for The Stage Chronicles https://twitter.com/CathyMRussell
Facebook for The Stage Chronicles https://www.facebook.com/thestagechronicles
Instagram for The Stage Chronicles https://www.instagram.com/thestagechronicles_/

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Future Comes from Behind by S.T.K. Chan

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. STK Chan will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fighting what we've become.
An ancient dimension of dark echoes from the past.

Lisa and her family barely manage to escape an invasion from the Rebel army in their home of Malta. Shortly after this episode, she discovers Exo, the ancient dimension she cannot understand until her late 20s. Exo is made of memories of the past; it brings forth all the strong echoes we leave behind. Lisa desperately wants to resolve the conflicts of this inner world peacefully, but quickly learns she must fight the shadows in people's hearts, materialized through battle re-enactments, warfare and emotional turmoil.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Soon the windows revealed smaller buildings and less crowded streets. The train grew emptier too. Lisa heard the monotonous hum of the wheels more clearly; it slowed her heartbeat down to a peaceful pace. In a flash, as she had done many times before, she crossed into what she believed to be a dreaming state of mind.

A dense forest surrounded her. It was cold, and patches of snow covered the ground.

It feels so real… But I wanted a nice view of wild, untamed mountains. And a waterfall. And why can’t I better control the season or the clothes I’m wearing? Lisa wondered, shivering a little. There! She finally spotted an exit from the curtain of trees.

Below, a large lake covered with floating sheets of ice lay at her feet. She was indeed on a mountain. The fresh air was freezing, but she breathed it in eagerly, ignoring the abundant vapors of her warm breath.

What could this resemble? Canada? Alaska? Lisa had learned that, by focusing very deeply with closed eyes, she could sometimes change her clothing or some of the details around her.

This time, only a long scarf appeared on her shoulders after she opened her eyes. “Not enough,” she said, shivering, but proceeded to walk along the cliff regardless. Minutes later, she stopped to take a better look into the distance. A boat? I don’t want to come across any other people this time...Ah, it’s just a log. She could not stand the cold any longer, so she thought about getting back.

Greg raised an eyebrow when he noticed her repeated blinking.

“Your lucid dreams again?”

Lisa nodded in confession.

“Where did you go this time?”

“Far…far from these many babylons.”

“Just another reason why we are a perfect match.” He smiled.

“They are so real. And they feel so long, though they really last just a fraction of a second.”

“Do you meet any people in there?”

“Yes, but I avoid them. It scares me to death how intense and unpredictable they are. Last week I met a tribe in Africa and before that I was in the middle of a medieval city.”

“Lucky you,” said Greg. “It’s a strange yet blissful anomaly, to escape reality like that.”

About the Author:

A fan of nourishing SF&F fiction. Seeker of essential truths in historical non-fiction. Exploring life for almost half a century. Delivering action and matters of the inner self. "Chan has license to be more philosophical and issue-oriented, and on the whole he blends together different genres well." (John Staughton, SPR)

Website: http://stkchan.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18365677.S_T_K_Chan

The book is $0.99 during the tour.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PARADIGM-SHIFT-Future-comes-behind-ebook/dp/B07GVNH3GQ
Other book venues: http://stkchan.com/#shortcode-88edda7ce3603c2b9a964b5f0f2b8d1e

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Longevity: The Wardens of Time by Caleb Smith

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Caleb Smith will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Noah Thomas is a scrawny seventh grader who is bullied to the brink in his new town. Friendless, except for sassy tomboy Wendy Sherman, who seems to lend him the confidence he needs to stand up to his oppressors. Upon stumbling into a bookshop one afternoon while on the run from some teenaged tyrants, Noah is hurled into an unexplainable adventure. Noah learns that the bookshop does, in fact, lead to the Akashic Records – a place that holds all spirit lives recorded in tablets of light. With this new found knowledge, Noah begins to grow in wisdom and confidence to face his fears. His biggest challenge comes in the form of five demonic spirits that he accidentally lets loose from a lost tablet. Will Noah succeed with the help of his guardian angel cat he calls Keeper, or will all Hell's henchman prevail?

"A spiritual thriller that skillfully celebrates determination and self-discipline - Kirkus Reviews "

Read an Excerpt:

They reached the side of the building from which Noah’s room could easily be seen, and the twins walked through the exterior wall, making themselves visible. Noah was knocked unconscious and appeared lying on the floor, wedged against debris and a corner wall space. The book was on the floor, alive and open, shaking wildly, while the magic of dark energies poured from its depths. There was a flow of freed evil creatures clawing out through the window and into the night air. Enoch scooped the book up and slammed it shut; great, heavy iron doors locking into place.

About the Author:

Caleb Smith an author from Bangor Maine, holds a passion for nature, spiritual study, family, poetry, art, strength training and golf. Honesty, simplicity and a hard work ethic are the best things that shape his day.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/calebsmithauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/calebsmith
Publisher: http://www.blackrosewriting.com
Book Video: https://youtu.be/FmlGJqQ-t4Y
Goodreads Giveaway: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/284681-longevity-the-wardens-of-time

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Longevity-Wardens-Time-Caleb-Smith/dp/1684331382
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/longevity-caleb-smith/1129584642
http://www.blackrosewriting.com/childrens-booksya/longevity

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Mistletoe in Mayhem by L.E. Rico

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.E. Rico will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the rest of the stops on the tours.

A Christmas Wedding In Mayhem

You’re cordially invited to the wedding of the century! Please join bride-trying-not-to-be-a-zilla Hennessy O’Halloran and her prince-in-shining-snow-boots as they finally say, “I do.” Unless a rogue wedding planner and a blizzard that takes out the entire Midwest can stop them, these two will get married on Christmas. The town of Mayhem will make sure of it.

A Surprise Baby In Mayhem

The town of Mayhem, Minnesota, is about to have a population explosion…and the Whiskey Sisters are getting more than they expected! While newlyweds Henny and Bryan are anxiously awaiting not one but two little bundles of joy, Jameson and Scott are focusing on planning their own perfect wedding, with only one troublesome toddler in tow. But babies have a way of arriving on their own schedules…and fate has a way of intervening in this quirky hamlet. Now, the couple finds themselves scrambling to beat the clock—and the odds—to their own happily ever after before their unexpected special delivery arrives.

Travel to the quirky town of Mayhem, Minnesota, with these two companion novellas that prove love, and sisterhood, will always save the day.

Read an Excerpt

From Novella 2: Baby Bedlam

“I was thinking…”

She’s on guard immediately.

“Uh-huhhhhhh?”

I give her my best naughty smile.

“Nothing bad,” I assure her. “I figured maybe you and I could just get away for a couple of nights? We could sort out some of the wedding plans…maybe get a jump on the honeymoon…”

Jameson rolls her eyes and smiles at my suggestive suggestion. “Why don’t we just stay here? You, me, the calendar…the three of us can hole up here under the covers,” she counter-offers, wagging her eyebrows up and down in her own…suggestion.

But, adorable as she is, I shake my head.

“Nope.”

“Nope to which part of it? Me? Bed? The calendar?” she asks, sounding slightly amused.

“The ‘here’ part of it,” I explain. “Because you know it won’t just be you and me. It’ll also be Walker. And Bailey. And Bailey’s friend Dana. And Dana’s boyfriend Joseph—”

“All right already! I get the idea!” She’s giggling, even as she kicks me gently with her foot. “Then where did you have in mind?”

“Just leave that up to me.”

“Hmmm…a surprise…I think I quite like that, Scott Clarke.”

“Me, too,” I say, even as I’m leaning down to put my mouth to hers.

“I can’t wait to see what you have in mind,” she whispers between kisses.

Me, too.

About the Author:

L.E. Rico didn’t set out to be an author. In fact, she’s made a name for herself as a classical music radio host—doing her best to make the music and the composers relevant by putting them into a modern context. It was just a few years ago that she discovered a passion for writing that blossomed into an entire novel. And then another. And another. And, while she still spends plenty of time on the radio, telling the stories of the great composers, she spends even more time composing her own great stories.

Website: http://www.LaurenRico.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheLaurenRico
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/LaurenRicoAuthor

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Mayhem-Boxed-Whiskey-Sisters-ebook/dp/B07JLZMGD1/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistletoe-in-mayhem-boxed-set-le-rico/1129767993

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The Storm in our Chests by Enrique A. Betancourt

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enrique Betancourt will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

After being separated abruptly, best friends Benj and Élan reunite after five years. They are not children anymore, and teenage and experience changed them.

Benj used to be an isolated antisocial child, now he’s popular and outgoing, leaving for college in the following year.

Élan used to be chipper, now he’s sad and insecure after years of being tossed around the foster system and realizing he is gay, crushing on a boy he thinks is unattainable.

Their reunion proves to be a challenge as they are the polar opposites of how they knew each other, the journey to healing and proves to be tough. Bonding again may be the only thing that saves them. Through small moments and swift dramatic turns, Benj and Élan will have to prove they are more than friends - they are buddies, and the epitome of unconditional love.

Read an Excerpt:

ÉLAN

“Please! Don’t take my best friend away!”

I remember. Hurts every time.

Even if it’s been five years, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget that. The day that changed the course of my life, and the moment when I realized everything was lost. He was running behind the car, trying to reach me. I was crying, sobbing real tears that threatened to break my already shattered heart. I remember asking the social workers for leniency, to let me say goodbye to Benj. But they said this was for the better. They said this is what it was meant to be. They said it wouldn’t hurt that bad this way.

It still hurts every day.

I looked through the window and I saw him, crying for me. That was the last time I heard someone who loved me cry out my name. I know it’s stupid, it’s been five years and I should probably try to move on. Sometimes I want to forget, but then I remember that it would be worse. If I forgot Benj, I’d probably be hollow. So I held on to the memory of us as long as I could. He was my light in the darkness.

Every night filled with shadows, he was my anchor to strength. I kept saying that one day we’d meet again and things would be like they used to be, so I try to be strong. Even if I grow hair in unexpected places and my voice deepens, or if I’m taller, he would still like me. Even if I don’t see life the same way as before, he would still love me.

I was not Batman, he was.

He was my Batman.

About the Author:

I am the published writer of a novel called THE IMAGINARIUM OF THE INNOCENT by Austin Macauley Publishers, and also I have been awarded the Rosa Maria Porrúa Award for my Spanish-language novella SOBRE LAS CENIZAS. My books stand out for their literacy excellence that got me an award, and the dramatic and emotional way I handle my characters. I am Mexican who lived 6 years in the United States, I love to read, to write and music is such a powerful inspiring force for me.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7370307.Enrique_A_Betancourt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/enribetan

Purchase Links:

Barnes & Noble (Nook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1129696264…
Amazon (Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMNTR63/
Apple Books / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/…/the-storm-in-our-c…/id1438271505…
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/the-storm-in-our-chests

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House of Ashes by Loretta Marion

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Loretta Marion will be awarding a $50 mazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it's by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.

Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what's happened to the young couple...even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can't help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family's dark curse destroys everything in its path?

Read an Excerpt:

Present day ~ Whale Rock, Massachusetts ~ Cape Cod
September ~ three days since the disappearance

Back at home, I took a good look at my beloved Battersea Bluffs, with its towering widow’s walk, double chimneys, and impressive wrap-around porch. It had become part of Whale Rock’s lore that the majestic Victorian sitting high above the cliffs on the craggy northern end of town was possessed by the spirits of my great- grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, its original owners. The legend evolved from a rumor initiated by my father when he was trying to take back his rightful home. It had been a successful strategy, but he could never have guessed how prophetic his fable would become—or maybe he’d already sensed the mysterious aspects of the old house. To be fair, Papa and I had never discussed the lurking scents and sounds presented by the spirits sharing our home.

I unlatched the gate, to a warm greeting of soft whimpers and an exuberant tail.

“You’re missing them too, aren’t ya, buddy?” I reached down to stroke the German shepherd’s glossy black fur, those usually erect ears momentarily relaxed. I widened the gate.

I followed the dog to the ledge of Percy’s Bluffs, so named after my great-grandfather’s dramatic leap from the cliffs overlooking Cape Cod Bay. I stared down to where the waves were crashing against the rocks below. Through the years, this spot had become my refuge, where I’d come to contemplate decisions or brood over troubles. Exhausted and numb, I sank to the ground and idly fingered an abandoned champagne cork, probably left here the night Vince and Ashley moved in with me. We’d brought a bottle down to the cliffs to toast our new alliance and the home they were going to help me save. I closed my eyes to bring to memory the feel of the fizzy liquid against my tongue, the first I’d tasted in years. There’d not been much to celebrate in recent times. But that night, a sense of hope had returned to me.

About the Author:

A true bibliophile, Loretta Marion's affection for the written word began in childhood and followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she crafted award winning marketing and advertising copy and educational brochures. She then applied her writing skills as a volunteer, establishing a Legacy Story program for hospice patients, which inspired her to create her own fictional stories. Her debut novel, The Fool's Truth, was a twisty mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.

When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador”.

Website: https://www.LorettaMarion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorettaMarionAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/House-Ashes-Haunted-Bluffs-Mystery/dp/1683318439
Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/house-of-ashes-loretta-marion/1128856330?ean=9781683318439#/
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/House-Ashes/Loretta-Marion/9781683318439
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781683318439

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Some Men's Dreams by Eileen Dreyer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eileen Dreyer will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

SHE HAS NO TIME FOR LOVE

Dr. Gen Kendall has paid too high a price to let anything get in the way of her dream. In one month she’ll be a full-fledged doctor. She just has to impress her chief of staff, Dr. Jack O’Neill. She impresses him, all right. With one swing of a softball bat she puts him in his own hospital and changes both of their lives forever.

HE HAS NO TASTE FOR LOVE

A widower with a 12-year-old daughter, Jack hopes this move to Chicago will signal a new life for them both. He doesn’t plan on finding himself literally at the feet of one of the most compelling women he’s ever known. He certainly doesn’t expect her to turn his life upside down when she recognizes something in his daughter that could well break his heart. Is love enough to see them through, especially when it means that not just Jack but Gen must face the ghosts of their pasts to save his little girl?

Read an Excerpt

“You look like hell.”

Gen couldn’t help but laugh. “I hope you don’t expect me to say you look any better.”

She was glad when he closed his eyes. He wouldn’t see her rub her hands along her pants to wipe off the sudden perspiration. He wouldn’t be close enough to hear the sudden staccato of her heart.

Good grief, she thought. He looks like day-old hamburger, and I’m about to swoon. Her hands were tingling all the way to her elbows, and she had done nothing more than push him back into bed. She wanted his teasing. She wanted, ridiculously enough, to settle herself on the side of his bed and just enjoy his company.

A man who was recovering from a head injury. The man she’d single-handedly put in the ICU.

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling, RWA Hall of Fame author Eileen Dreyer has published 31 romance novels in most genres, 8 medical­forensic suspenses, and 10 short stories.

2018 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her foray into historical romance, the Drake’s Rakes series, which Eileen labels as Regency Romantic Adventure that follows a group of Regency aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. She is also working on her first non­fiction book, TRAVELS WITH DAVE, about a journey she's been taking with a friend's ashes.

A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

Website -- http://eileendreyer.com
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/EileenDreyer
Twitter -- https://twitter.com/eileendreyer

Buy Links:

Amazon https://goo.gl/WT5QfF
Nook https://goo.gl/UU7oyD
Kobo https://goo.gl/SjWEUn
iBooks https://goo.gl/bALN6z

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Incoherent Gods by Gabriele Russo

We are pleased to welcomes Gabriele Russoas she celebrates yesterday's release of Incoherent Gods, the third book in her Gods Inc. Series.

5 things you’d probably never guess about Gabriele Russo

1. I’m very shy, even if no one believes it.

2. And yet I dream of being a stand-up comic.

3. I almost always win at RISK.

4. I don’t drink hard liquor anymore, but I can still down an incredible number of Jack Daniels shots without batting an eye when the occasion demands it.

5. I learned how to drive on the left-hand side – in St Lucia. And I can be in third gear and still get the car going from a steep incline.

Hercules, guardian of the Lemuria Zoo, has a big problem: the Zoo’s divine animals have been going crazy. To make things worse, Queen Louhi, the CEO of Gods Incorporated, has just arrived for her yearly visit… with a new fiancé in tow (along with his yenta-minded grandfather Jupiter). Of course, the fact that Hercules is desperately in love with her doesn’t help his plight in any way whatsoever.

His attempt to cover up the situation quickly blows up in his face and they finally realize the animals’ madness is caused by artificial means. Cue in the bodiless god Mimir, who reveals that the real target of the mind-altering poison is Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

And if the Tree loses its cohesion, then so will the barriers between the worlds, crumbling the foundations of reality. Who in gods’ names could be crazy enough to want to do something like that?

About the Author:

Gabriele Russo, AKA Lucie-Gabrielle Jolicoeur-Rousseau, was born in Quebec City amidst a family of book lovers – her father had dreamed of being a writer and both of her brothers are published authors.

Since she earned her Bachelor’s in History, it was no surprise (except to her) that she ended up working in restaurants, eventually owning two, which almost drove her mad. She sold them and was nursed back to pseudo-sanity by Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

That’s when she answered the family calling and decided to write. Armed with her ideas for the Gods Inc. series she went back to the University and got her Master’s in Creative Writing.

She now lives with her husband in Culpeper, Virginia, where she divides her time between painting, ripping apart and reconstructing her recently bought historical home, playing tennis and, of course, writing more books.

Website: http://www.russogabriele.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabrieleRussoLGJR/?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lugabirusso

The Crying of Ross 128 by David Allan Hamilton

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books! If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?

This is a tough question. I try to live my life now without any regrets, knowing I’ve been saved by grace. But still, if I could change some things I did, I would. I’d apologize to my mother for being too young and selfish to even remotely understand the sacrifices she made to raise me and my siblings on her own. I don’t feel I was particularly nasty at all, but I was selfish and I know how much that hurt.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

Well, a unicorn or a dragon would be too big. Tempting, but... no. A centaur is another mythical creature I find really fascinating but again, too big. So with that in mind, I’m leaning towards a kitsune fox, the mythical nine-tailed creature.

How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

I feel my style of writing is probably closest to that of Robert J. Sawyer or even Ted Dekker (though Dekker is clearly not a science fiction writer). So I’m not like a Neal Asher or Heinlein or Asimov. I don’t pattern my work after them. My stories, while speculative in science, focus more on the human condition and relationships and our collective search for truth in an ever-changing universe. Perhaps because of that, my stories appeal as much to women as they do to men.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?

It’s hard to judge best and worst because different things work for different writers, but the best piece of advice that consistently works for me is two-fold. First, know where you’re going with your story. For me, this means plotting it out before I ever start writing. Sure, the story will morph as it goes along, but at least I have a road map to follow and won’t run into the problem of writing myself into a corner. Second, just write. Write it down. Stop fussing over whether I have the best word or not. Just write. Once the story is down, no matter how bad it is, at least I have something to revise.

The worst advice I ever got was to write for whatever genre or type of story is trending (if you want to get published). What nonsense. And savvy readers know right away when you’re writing outside your genre. They spot cynicism in this kind of writing all the time. No, don’t do that. Write what you love to read. That’s it.

Are the experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I suppose everything I write is somewhat based on things I’ve done or experienced, or people I know. But for The Crying of Ross 128, I made no conscious effort to bring in my own experiences. My lead character, Jim Atteberry, is a composite of many people I’ve met. There’s a bit of me in him, for sure, but he is not me. And the story about chasing an alien signal is not something I’ve experienced.

That said, as a ham radio operator, I’ve spent many nights listening to the radio bands, hearing signals from around the world, weak and strong, in Morse code and voice. There is something magical about pulling a weak radio signal out of the mud and trying to make contact with it. In that sense, Jim Atteberry’s discovery of a weak signal from space is very similar.

America has splintered into various independent republics after a brutal civil war. Against this backdrop, space exploration is on the cusp of new technological breakthroughs. Jim Atteberry, a mid-30s English professor at City College in San Francisco, spends his free time listening for alien signals on the amateur radio astronomy bands. His life as a single parent to his precocious daughter is turned upside-down when he hears an intelligent cry for help from the Ross 128 system and realizes we are not alone. This signal unleashes a chain of events pitting Jim and his brilliant, mysterious colleague Kate against a power-hungry scientist with his own secret agenda. Jim must learn the truth about the signal, the strange disappearance of his wife Janet, and the meaning of true love before it’s too late in this first contact thriller.

Read an Excerpt:

Atteberry understood immediately what this meant. “So everything I’ve been doing on the radio, monitoring the stars, finding the Ross signal, it’s all being seen by someone else?”

“That’s my guess. I thought the glitch could be a nasty sleeper virus, so I looked into that but, no, it’s definitely a tracer.”

Atteberry felt his heart race and his fingers shook a bit when he lifted his coffee mug and drank.

“I’ll tell you what I think, Jim.” Her notes flashed in front of the screen. “You remember that late night creeper fellow you scared away?”

“Sure.”

“Perhaps Creeper Boy came back when you were gone, broke into your house, and planted the code on your system.”

“No way, I’ve got security cameras and motion detectors everywhere. I would’ve seen something.”

“Jim,” she said calmly, “I could easily bypass your security if I wanted to. Those things are designed to dissuade teenagers and Neanderthals from arbitrarily breaking in, not those of us who know what we’re doing.”

“I see.”

“Listen, I’ll come over in a while once I’m dressed and bring my sniffer gear to clean up your radio and computers. In the meantime, you’d better check your equipment again for anything missing.”

Atteberry shook his head. A wave of anger, humiliation and fear washed over him. He kept putting Mary’s safety at risk, and Kate’s as well, and for what? Chasing an unknown signal across the sky? Time to drop this crazy business. His gut told him, however, that Marshall Whitt was behind it all, and he needed to find out why.

“Thanks, Kate, talk soon.”

He cut the link and held his face in his palms. The ripples of this event kept pushing outward into the dark corners, and there was nothing he could do to stop it’s spread.

About the Author:

David Allan Hamilton is a teacher, writer, and multipotentialite. He is a graduate of Laurentian University (BSc. Applied Physics) and The University of Western Ontario (MSc. Geophysics). He lives in Ottawa where he facilitates writing workshops and teaches. When not writing, David enjoys riding his bike long distances, painting, and knitting.

http://www.davidallanhamilton.com
http://www.facebook.com/davidallanhamilton
http://www.twitter.com/DAllanHamilton
http://www.instagram.com/davidhamilton2561
http://goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=david+allan+hamilton

Buy the book:

Amazon.com

hard cover: https://www.amazon.com/Crying-Ross-David-Allan-Hamilton/dp/1773705679/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1529416343&sr=1-1
paper back: https://www.amazon.com/Crying-Ross-David-Allan-Hamilton/dp/1773705660/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1529416343&sr=1-1
kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Crying-Ross-David-Allan-Hamilton-ebook/dp/B07DD7HHKR/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1529416343&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble

hard cover: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crying-of-ross-128-david-hamilton/1128831071?ean=9781773705675
paper back: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crying-of-ross-128-david-hamilton/1128831071?ean=9781773705668
nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crying-of-ross-128-david-hamilton/1128831071?ean=2940155275763

Kobo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-crying-of-ross-128/9781773705682-item.html?ikwid=the+crying+of+ross+128&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/834220

Indigo:

hard cover: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-crying-of-ross-128/9781773705675-item.html?ref=isbn-search

paper back: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-crying-of-ross-128/9781773705668-item.html?ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=1

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Resisting the Rock Star by Megan Slayer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author and signed swag to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What the rock god wants, he gets—including her.

Mason ‘Kross’ Khan left the rock and roll stage to connect with the son he never knew existed. He’s used to electrifying crowds and romancing the ladies. Money’s never been an object. He’s not looking for a relationship, but when he meets the saucy brunette at a club, he’s smitten. Danya’s perfect—curvy, smart and has no idea he’s a giant in the music industry. The one-night stand is just what he needs and he’s convinced he’ll never see Danya again—until he attends conference night at the local high school.

Danya Littrell isn’t just his one-night stand. She’s also his son’s art teacher and the woman who sparks his muse. Can he balance parenthood, a relationship with Danya and his music career? Or will his secrets be too much for the relationship to withstand?

Read an Excerpt:

©2018 Megan Slayer, All Rights Reserved

“You seem fine to me.” He held her close once again. “You seem pretty great.”

She tipped her head to the side to look at him. His eyes flashed, then he captured her mouth in a kiss. Electricity shot from her head to her toes. She pressed against him. She’d never been kissed so deeply. Sparks centered in her pussy. He threaded his fingers into her hair and held her tight without crushing her. When he broke the connection, her knees quaked. She sagged into him.

“Damn.” He smiled. “Better than I thought.”

She wanted to say something snappy, but the words weren’t there. Instead, she settled for honesty. “For me, too.”

She draped her arms around his neck. She didn’t want to leave the dance floor or for the night to end. She could almost hear Kelly encouraging her to leave with him and live a little. He hadn’t asked her to go home with him, but the better part of her wanted that to happen.

“I can’t offer you forever, but I want to give you tonight,” he said. He kissed her again then cupped her jaw in both hands. “Very much so.”

“Who needs forever when one night can be everything?”

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj

Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Buy Links:

B/N: https://goo.gl/DeeVfd
Amazon: https://goo.gl/HhTDkH
Google Play: https://goo.gl/tHTPNn
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/resisting-the-rock-star/id1410019067?mt=11
Kobo: https://goo.gl/xtX5wQ
Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/162344134X/

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The Nefarious Series by Lucille Moncrief

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lucille Moncrief will be awarding a (US ONLY) signed paperback copy of Book 4.5 and a poster of the series (The series is illustrated) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A captured mermaid, two vampire hives on the brink of war, and a bored, sadistic king weave a tale of forbidden love in this spin-off from Moncrief’s Nefarious series.

Follow Hannibal Steele, chief alchemist of the Scion Hive, as he races against the clock to produce the coveted Bone Elixir. Will he finish the elixir in time before the Great King Abaddon murders Hannibal’s love, Emmeline, princess of the rival Minoa Hive?

Find out in this thrilling, fast-paced tale set in a steampunk world, where the sea rises in anger at the capture of her princess, wolves howl within the hoary swirls of a white potion, and mermaids join forces with a lonely alchemist in the foggy Georgia night.

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

Nefarious Volume One: A Dark and Erotic Tale

Penny Dreadful meets Fifty Shades

Book 1 of 6 of Lucille Moncrief’s the Nefarious Series

Talcott Henderson, dead for over one hundred years old, wants to live again. Enslaved and abused, he longs to destroy his maker and return to the world of the living. But first, he must replace himself with someone else. Armed with only a silver tongue and a fuzzy sense of right and wrong, he sets his sights on Elyse Delafayette, a lonely melancholic. But Samuel Quartermaine, a vampire hunter with a dark past of his own, bears a grudge against Talcott's maker, and stalks Talcott from the shadows of the cemetery walls.

Will Talcott succeed in convincing Elyse to join the ranks of the undead before Samuel can stop him?

Fans of Dracula, steampunk, and gaslight fantasy will love this collection of dark and lurid tales. If you're tired of sparkly vampires and sickly-sweet romances, sink your fangs into the Nefarious Series and get a bigger bite out of the vampire world.

Nefarious Volume Two: Honor the Suffering

Genre: Steampunk/Gaslamp Dark Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Alternative History/Horror

Blurb:

While the bombs rain overhead, Talcott Henderson and a group of fellow soldiers huddle in the cratered ground beneath the German front lines. Through the never-ending din of enemy fire, the voracious, blood-soaked machine of war haunts Talcott. Memories claw at him; kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. In the bowels of the earth a specter appears and offers him an eternal life free of guilt.

But what is the cost of an unmarred soul?

If you like dark and gritty tales, war stories and the supernatural, you'll love this installment of the authoress Moncrief's Nefarious series. Grab your copy today, travel through time, and escape into a breathtaking new world!

Nefarious Volume Three: The World is Our Exile

Can evil consume innocence?

Can the one who walks the line between both save it?

Elyse Delafayette, innocent yet darkly cynical, continues a naive flirtation with evil incarnate. Although goodness pursues her, she rebukes him. Although he seems sincere, she fears he is not.

Samuel Quartermaine, embodying darkness and light, races against time to save her from the clutches of the undead.

Will she let him love her?

If you are sick of sparkly vampires and love sarcastic heroines, brooding, secretive heroes, and exploring the stark contrast between good and evil, you will love this story. Get your copy now to experience a sensual, thrilling ride into vivid new world!

Nefarious Volume Four: The Dirigible Airship Disaster

Penny Dreadful meets Fifty Shades

Described as “captivating,” and “hauntingly beautiful,” the Nefarious series is a sophisticated, enthralling, and well-written tale of intrigue and devious desires. Set in a lurid, southern gothic world, follow the undead Talcott Henderson as he engages in a battle of wits with his intended, Elyse Delafayette.

But wait, what’s this? Half-ling dhamphyrs armed with hawthorn stakes, an energy-witch coven torn apart by infighting, and a corpse-like, ancient vampire king with an agenda of his own?

Enhanced with custom illustrations, this fast-paced steampunk series will leave you on the edge of your seat and hungry for more. If you are sick and tired of wimpy vampires and the flood of terrible books on the romance market, grab your copy today of the Nefarious series and relearn what a true escape into fiction is all about.

Nefarious Volume 4.5: The Heads That Rolled

Fans of Trueblood and all things dark and steampunk will fall in love with Lucille Moncrief's Nefarious Series.

In the fifth installment of this newest generation of vampire lore, go back in time to the savage heights of the French Revolution. Heads will roll as the story follows the series' anti-hero, Samuel Quartermaine, as he falls victim to the family curse and his father's betrayal.

Book 4.5 is a wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading long into the night . . . With the lights on, of course.

Read an exclusive excerpt:

The encroaching daybreak had me sluggish, and I hurried up the mansion’s crumbling steps. I could still smell her on my skin, and taste her on the tips of my fangs. A sting of regret for how roughly I’d last handled her trickled into my spirit, like water dripping from the point of an icicle. This foreign, long forgotten feeling unsettled me, and I broke the lock on the door with a deft and forceful twist of my hand, and entered the silent, dark, musty house.

Plaster had fallen from the ceiling in tiny bombs like powdered sugar, crunching beneath my boots. I closed the door behind me with a creak, and my eyes glowed in the darkness, bathing the interior in bright, green light.

Beautiful cobwebs, like delicate lace, festooned the main hall. My reflection bounced off a filthy hanging mirror, flattering the space in an emerald prism. I passed the entrance to what was once a solarium, the plants all dead and brown, wilted like decapitated prisoner’s heads on the pikes of London Bridge. A black tote, lumpy as a bag of bones, sat forlornly beneath the brown, crispy dead leaves of what must have once been a lurid hibiscus. I approached with a giddy bounce in my step, and unzipped the bag.

Inside was a lap harp, clean and untouched, its brass crown still shiny as a freshly molded coat button. I plucked the strings with my talons, longing to discern her secrets in the untuned notes.

I pirouetted down the hall, turning around the back end of the main staircase until I reached the front of it again. The place was sad and perfect and grand, just like she and I. I did a quick, ragtime jig on the bottom step, and ascended to the second floor, determination and a foreign, longed-for optimism steeling my blue blood. Once I reached the top, I took a deep draught of the air, searching for a memory of Elyse within the walls, like a vague daguerreotype, and became drawn to the third door from the top step.

I waltzed down the filthy parquet floors, the heels of my boots whispering against the wood, imagining her in my arms with blood red lips and spinning, matching eyes hued in crimson. Oh, but she would be livid upon waking, or worse, terrified.

Annoyance gnawed at me for losing my control earlier. But Lucius, that damn, mad king. He lived! Flying devils in hell, I would end him soon, but first I would woo her, ply her and bring her closer to me yet.

The opening between the door jamb and the frame beckoned and whispered to me like a mother’s call across the foggy trenches of France. I pushed the door open with the edge of my talon, happiness soaring through my veins as I stepped across the threshold.

Inside, the rook—I do believe the same one from the pines outside the front door—fluttered from the windowsill, regarding me with a burning, yellow eye. My happiness turned to ice, and the shaggy bird gave a sharp caw, bouncing from the windowsill to a dingy marble console beneath a cracked mirror.

The mirror held no reflection.

The zing of metal strings engaging a projectile sounded throughout the room. At once, my heart was pierced by the sharp end of a stake of indeterminable wood, and my consciousness was no more.

About the Author:

Lucille Moncrief, authoress of the steampunk and gaslight vampire series, Nefarious, was clearly a stodgy old librarian in a past life. She loves poring over history books and binge-watching PBS's Secrets Of series.

Join her mailing list by downloading the free book, Hannibal Steele and the Bone Elixir: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9pmdoroswd.

When Ms. Moncrief is not yelling at the kids to get off her lawn, you can find her staring out her window pretending to be pensive. She's usually in a good mood and readily accepts follows and friend requests to her Facebook page.

To contact the authoress Moncrief and for more information on upcoming and past releases, please visit her website, http://www.moncriefs.net.

Website – http://www.moncriefs.net
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Lucille-Moncrief/e/B073MFT2CM
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16984216.Lucille_Moncrief
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/moncriefs.net/
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/501377123571897
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lucille_moncrief
Twitter - https://twitter.com/moncriefelle

Buy Information: Book 1 and 4.5 are $0.99 during the tour.

Books are all available for sale on Amazon.

Books 1-3 are available in a boxset at this link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077XQPT8X

All of the books are in KU except for the prequel, Hannibal Steele and the Bone Elixir. It is free on Bookfunnel at: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9pmdoroswd

Book One: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075FNWV9V
Book Two: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073HPLN1D
Book Three: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074XG61GB/
Book Four: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079RMBYDR
Book 4.5: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GMXJ1GG

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