In Our New Release Spotlight: Quarry (The Vampire Guard #2) by Elizabeth Noble (author interview and special excerpt)

quarryfs_v1

Quarry (The Vampire Guard #2) by Elizabeth Noble
D
SP Publications

Available for Purchase at

DSP Publications

amazon square borderB&N borderKobo border:

 and Google Play

~

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Elizabeth Noble here today. Welcome, Elizabeth. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your latest novel.

~

Thank you for having me on your blog today! I loved the questions you sent.

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

The short answer to the first question is yes. I do a bit of a combination and my story planning is something akin to chaos. Honestly, sometimes I don’t know how I pull it all together to create a book. I know there are authors who have detailed outlines for every chapter.

I’m not one of them.

Generally, I start out with a few scene ideas that turns into a plot. Then I’ll complete a rough story synopsis and general outline for the book as a whole. My outlines or story overviews are mostly a few lines of this, that, and something else that needs to happen somewhere begin Chapter 1 and The End. I take those few scene ideas and write a story around them. No one is more surprised than I am at how I interconnect those scenes. It’s a discovery and journey I love taking with each and every book.

As to the second question, the why…I really have no idea. I’ve accepted that’s simply the way my mind works. I’ve tried various method of detailed outlines or mind maps and they turn into a log jam every time.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

Honestly? Before I could write. I remember when I was very little making up and telling stories to anyone and everyone who’d listen. I think at that time in my life I was a constant chatterer and probably drove those around me nuts. I lived with my grandparents and though I have siblings I spent very little of my life with them. So, in essence, I grew up an only child. My grandparents, particularly my grandfather, loved books and encouraged my storytelling. I think they were happy when I learned how to write, however. I was always gifted with pads of paper and pencils!

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I don’t remember being read to, but I’m sure I was. I do remember reading books even before I started school, and I remember my grandmother teaching me to read. She used to get frustrated when I was in early grade school and only brought home books on birds and wildlife from the library instead of storybooks.

The books I loved the most as a child were ones like Black Beauty, King of the Wind, Call of the Wild and Lassie. After those I loved books by Jules Verne and read all of them.

quarry_headerbanner

Blurb

The members of the Vampire Guard—Jonas Forge, spy and soldier turned cop; computer hacker extraordinaire Blair Turner; Declan, thief, con man, and ex-pirate; and medical examiner and werewolf Dr. Lucas Coate—face a dangerous and elusive enemy.

And this time, it’s personal.

Over the course of three hundred years, a man has touched each of their lives in ways they are only just realizing. When a hunt for a psychotic killer in the present resurrects memories and clues from the past, they discover how they have been affected and are bound by the existence of a ruthless vampire criminal. Now, while preventing a heist at a high-tech art show and thwarting several large-scale explosions, the team must employ their unique blend of science and supernatural abilities to put an end to the machinations of the man toying with their lives.

This time, he won’t slip through their fingers.

This time, it’s more than a case. It’s a hunt, and Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas won’t stop until they’ve captured their quarry.

Excerpt (this was one of those scenes that lead to the rest of the book):

Jonas laid his hand on Declan’s shoulder for a few beats. “It’s okay.” He settled on the ground beside Blair and pulled him close. “You’ll be fine.”

Blair reached over and ran two fingers down Jonas’s cheek. “You’ll do okay without me.”

Jonas sighed and shook his head. He shifted his weight so he squatted as much as possible behind Blair instead of beside him and slipped his hands under Blair’s arms.

“Ready?” Declan asked. Jonas nodded.

“We can do this,” Lucas said. He, along with Ori and Kai, positioned themselves with Declan at various points along the chunk of concrete pinning and trapping Blair. Even with all four of them, it was a strain lifting what had at one time been a wall. They got it up far enough so Jonas could haul Blair out.

Blair shouted through clenched teeth and shuddered. He reached around and gripped Jonas’s shirt with one hand. Shifting him carefully, Jonas hefted Blair up and held him in his arms.

“I don’t want you to die,” Blair whispered. He rested his head on Jonas’s shoulder and ran his fingertips over Jonas’s cheek again. “Declan promised he’d take care of you.”

Jonas raised his eyebrows and sighed. Declan pinched the bridge of his nose for a few seconds and said, “He’s lost a lot of blood.”

Jonas leaned to the side and stared down at the dark puddle under the chunk of concrete. “I see.”

Blair gasped a few times and touched Jonas’s face again. “Don’t die. You don’t have to die if I do.”

“I have no plans on dying, and you’re not going to either. Not today anyway,” Jonas said softly.

“Normal folks die from blood loss. You vamps are cool. All you do is become delirious.” Lucas patted Jonas’s arm. “Get him on the stretcher so I can see what we need to do.”

Once Blair was on the stretcher, Lucas ripped the material covering his leg. Bones stuck out in places they shouldn’t have, and his leg bent sideways right below his knee.

Lucas reached up and put his hand on the side of Blair’s neck. “The good news is, you’re a vampire, and this will be healed in a week or two. The bad news is, you’re a vampire, and there isn’t a lot I can do about painkillers.”

Blair licked his lips and nodded. “Quick. Do it quick.”

quarry_fbbanner_dspp

About the Author

Elizabeth Noble lives by the adage “I can’t not write”. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t make up stories and eventually she learned how to write them down. A part of every day is spent living in worlds she created that are filled with intrigue and espionage.  Using a real love of scifi and urban fantasy highlighted by twisty plots she crafts stories taking place in a slightly altered version of our world.

When she’s not chronicling the adventures of her many characters Elizabeth is a veterinary nurse living in her native Cleveland, Ohio. She shares her little brick house with an adorable canine princess and her tabby cat side-kick. Elizabeth is a fan of baseball, basketball (go Cavs and Indians!) and gardening. She can often be found working in her ‘outside office’ listening to classic rock and plotting her next novel waiting for it to be dark enough to gaze at the stars.

Elizabeth received several amateur writing awards. Since being published, several of her novels have received honorable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Her novel Jewel Cave was a runner-up in the 2015 Rainbow Awards in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards.

Please visit Elizabeth Noble at:

Visit The Vampire Guard:

  • The Vampire Guard website: http://bit.ly/232TyHH
  • Email members of The Vampire Guard:  jr.vampx@gmail.com

Other links:

An Alisa Review: Quarry (The Vampire Guard #2) by Elizabeth Noble

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

quarryThe members of the Vampire Guard—Jonas Forge, spy and soldier turned cop; computer hacker extraordinaire Blair Turner; Declan, thief, con man, and ex-pirate; and medical examiner and werewolf Dr. Lucas Coate—face a dangerous and elusive enemy.

 

And this time, it’s personal.

 

Over the course of three hundred years, a man has touched each of their lives in ways they are only just realizing. When a hunt for a psychotic killer in the present resurrects memories and clues from the past, they discover how they have been affected and are bound by the existence of a ruthless vampire criminal. Now, while preventing a heist at a high-tech art show and thwarting several large-scale explosions, the team must employ their unique blend of science and supernatural abilities to put an end to the machinations of the man toying with their lives.

 

This time, he won’t slip through their fingers.

 

This time, it’s more than a case. It’s a hunt, and Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas won’t stop until they’ve captured their quarry.

 

This was a great continuance of the Vampire Guard series.  These four characters are wonderful for each other; they can play off the others’ strengths wonderfully.  This book kept moving with another twist just around the corner to keep the reader’s interest.

 

In this story we see even more of the characters’ backgrounds and how they are connected.  I love how connected all of the friends are and not just the soul mates when disasters happen and when they are just laid back.  They are all surprised by the additional connections they find to each other while working on this case.

 

I loved seeing them play off each other’s strengths to solve the mystery and catch the bad guy.  Being able to see the thoughts and emotions of the four main characters goes a long way to understand what is going on in the story and to stay connected with the many characters.  I will commend this author, she does a wonderful job with her writing of keeping the characters separated that I don’t get confused and have to check back on which character I am focusing on at the time as I often to in other books.  I am loving this series and can’t wait to read more when they come out.

 

Cover art by TL Bland is great and is following the basic pattern for the series.

 

Sales Links: DSP Publications | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Expected Publication: January 17, 2017 by DSP Publications

Edition Language: English

Series: The Vampire Guard #2

 

A Caryn Review: Bridge Over Troubled Water by Vivien Dean

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

bridge-over-troubled-waterOnce again I found myself choosing a book for all the wrong reasons:  I love the Simon and Garfunkel song.  And I like this author, so I picked the book without even reading the blurb.  When I started reading, and found out it was about vampires, my first response was ugh.  I really don’t like vampire books, why did I choose this???

Detective Brady Lindstrom is the quintessential workaholic cop.  He never takes a day off, has no life outside of his cases, and doesn’t even seem to want one.  He has no friends, no lovers, few possessions, and life outside of work is mainly working out until he drops.  He works homicide, and has dealt with some of the most horrific cases in the Bay area, but his single-minded devotion to the job means he is usually successful in bringing criminals to justice.  The case he’s investigating now, however, is much worse than anything he’s ever seen before – 12 frat boys slaughtered, found with their throats and hearts ripped from their bodies.

When he goes home from the murder scene, he’s in his usual routine of running on his treadmill until he’s exhausted enough to sleep, because he has a good idea of what committed the murders, even if he doesn’t know who.  When someone knocks at his door just before dawn, he is not as surprised as he should be to find his ex-lover, Cole Singer at the door.  Cole, who died 10 years ago.

Despite his deep distrust of vampires, and Cole in particular, he needs Cole to help solve this murder and kill the vampires who did it.  He’s the only one on the force who is aware of vampires’ existence, so he’s on his own.  Cole is severely injured, and needs Brady’s protection and help, so the two forge an uneasy truce in order to track down the killers.

Two things frustrated me about the story:  the first is that the author seems to assume that her readers know all the powers of the vampires in this book.  There is some explanation, but it was a little inconsistent – the superhuman strength and speed, the heightened senses, the rapid healing are traits I’ve come to know from other books, but what was with the hearts being cut out from bodies?  Was that another thing that vampires do?  Cole is no longer killing people, but he does go to “blood bars” where he can partially bleed men who get off on that.  It wasn’t really clear how that worked.  And what was the deal with his fangs during sex?  The second issue is the almost complete lack of background.  Why and how did Cole become a vampire?  Was it an act of malice or a random accident?  How did Brady come to know about it?  Cole apparently almost killed Brady shortly after his change, but was that what made Brady hate Cole?  Or something else?  Although the main plot arc was finding and killing the vampires responsible for the murder, the secondary arc was clearly the changing and developing relationship between the two men, and it was much harder for me to follow it without knowing what happened before.

I thought it was kind of funny that Brady brought home human blood a few times for Cole.  Like that is something you can just pick up at the grocery store.  Really?  Another pet peeve for me was how the author kept describing how Brady’s tongue would be cut just about every time they kissed, and I was thinking this poor guy shouldn’t have been able to talk or eat solid food by the time the story ended.

But despite all of those things I didn’t like about the story, in the end I did like the relationship arc between the two men, enough that I was able to give the book 3 stars.  It won’t be a reread for me though.

Cover Art by Ginny Glass captures the two MCs perfectly

Sales Links

Loose Id

c60a7-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 2nd Edition, 112 pages
Published October 17th 2016 by Loose Id LLC (first published 2008)
Original TitleBridge Over Troubled Water
ASINB01MDNXUO2
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersBrady Lindstrom, Cole Singer settingUnited States

A Lila Advent Calendar Review Day 22: The Vampire’s Dinner (2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug) by T.J. Nichols

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

the-vampires-dinnerFor vampire Charles Redfort, Christmas is a bitter reminder of the day he was killed by a werewolf. After fleeing the vampire army he was created to serve in, he has lived in exile in England. Once a year he allows himself to tell the truth about his life over dinner. Then he eats the man he’s hired for the night.

Blake Wells is an engineering student by day and escort by night. He works Christmas because he doesn’t want to see his father, and his mother doesn’t want to see him. When he meets Charles, he thinks he’s gotten a bonus present that he can’t wait to unwrap. But as the truth is revealed, Blake will have to think fast to live until morning and convince Charles to give up his lonely life.

The Vampire‘s Dinner is a refreshing change from the standard Christmas story. I liked Charles best. It’s easy to feel all his years of disappear and loneliness as we learned of the events he had lived over the centuries. Even so, he still has some humanity left in him and when meeting Blake, it becomes an obstacle in his well-designed plan.

Blake might be working as an escort, but he has his life organized to perfection in order to graduate from college and get a job in his career field. His life hasn’t been easy, but he had persevered and it’s now closer to his goal. Meeting Charles presents a new opportunity.  

This short story is well-paced, funny, and smexy; all in one unusual plot. The banter and the negotiations between the main characters leaves the reader hoping for more in the future. It does have a satisfying ending with a HFN but it has a lot of potential for a longer story, and perhaps other couples in the same world.

The country descriptions and the food tasting were another great detail integrated by the author. As well as the hotel setting and the characters’ descriptions.

The generic cover is definitely Paul Richmond’s signature style but doesn’t go with the story.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | AmazonARe

ebook, 39 pages
Published: December 1, 2016, 
Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1635331846 (ISBN13: 9781635331844)
Edition Language: English

Merry Christmas, More Announcements and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

man-walking-down-christmas-lighted-street

Merry Christmas and More Announcements

Merry Christmas all.  This will be a short post this morning as I’m busy with  all things family and the holidays.  I hope you all are having a safe, happy, and wonderful holiday as well, no matter where you are.

Announcements

✒︎Our first major announcement is that the author with the most votes of our poll is Ross Common who wrote Christopher.  If you want to read Christopher or any of the other stories, go to our Flash Fiction header in the menu and you can find them all there.  Congratulations to Ross Common for his amazing story.  Our thanks to all the authors and for their wonderful flash fiction.  We intend to do this again next next.  Stay tuned!

✒︎Second announcement.  The reader randomly chosen to receive the $10 Dreamspinner Press gift card after voting and leaving a comment was Suze294. Congratulations to suze294.  

Merry  Christmas everyone and here’s our schedule.

free-snowman-clipart-holiday-clip-art-of-a-festive-winter-snowman-decorated-with-colorful-christmas-tree-lights-on-white-by-djart-6340

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 25:

  • A Melanie Advent Calendar Review Day 25: Don’t Let the Light Go Out by L.A. Merrill
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Saving Jason by KC Wells
  • Merry Christmas, More Announcements and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, December 26:

  • DSP GUEST POST Peter Grover
  • An Alisa Review: Russian Blau by Emily Carrington
  • An Ali Audiobook Review A Fortunate Blizzard by LC Chase
  • A Caryn Review: Boots by Angel Martinez
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: Chosen Pride by Mary Calmes
  • A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 26: Title Surprise

Tuesday, December 27:

  • DSP GUEST POST Raine O’Tierney on The 12 Days of Hipster
  • DSP GUEST POST Jeff Adams
  • An Ali Review: The Road To Frosty Hollow – RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Joe Cosentino and Narrated by Joel Leslie
  • A Barb the  Zany Old Lady Advent Calendar Review Day Review Day 27: Title Surprise
  • A Caryn Review: Wild Rose, Silent Snow by Angel Martinez
  • A VVivacious Review The House Guest by Asta Idonea

Wednesday, December 28:

  • DSP GUEST POST BA Tortuga on Catch and Release
  • DSP GUEST POST David Connor and E.F. Mulder
  • Cover Reveal for Hipster Brothel by K.A. Merikan
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Deefur And The Great Mistletoe Incident by RJ Scott
  • A Stella Release Day Review: Jackass Flats by Julia Talbot
  • An Ali Release Day Review:  Whiskey Business by Avon Gale
  • A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 28: Title Surprise

Thursday, December 29:

  • DSP GUEST POST Paul Comeau on More Things in Heaven and Earth
  • Review Tour – Posy Roberts – Analog to Digital
  • A Caryn Review: Bridge Over Troubled Water by Vivien Dean
  • A VVivacious Review: Under my Bed by T. A. Chase
  • A Lila Audio Review Fish Out of Water by Amy Lane
  • A Paul B Release Day Review: Analog to Digital

Friday, December 30:

  • Blog Tour: “Accused” by Leona Windwalker
  • Cover Reveal Regeneration by Louise Lyons
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Champagne Kisses by Lynda Aicher
  • A Lila Release Day Review: More Things in Heaven and Earth By Paul Comeau
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: In Enemy Hands by MA Church
  • A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review: Title Surprise

Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve):

  • A Stella Advent Calendar Review Last Day:  First New Year’s After the Apocalypse by Jessica Payseur

two holly berry branches

An Alisa Review: French Kissing Vampires for Beginners by L.M. Brown

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

 

french-kissing-vampires-for-beginners-by-l-m-brownWhen a dentist meets an average suburban vampire, it may just be a match made in heaven.

 

Tom is your typical modern vampire. He lives in a detached house in the suburbs, pays his taxes, and bemoans the price of bottled blood. He doesn’t usually tell people what he is, but sometimes it can’t be helped, like now, when he has toothache and needs the assistance of a dentist.

 

Martyn’s night isn’t going too well at all. He’s working late, his patient is a vampire, and now they’re being mugged. But what sort of a vampire is Tom if he can’t leap to the rescue and use his superpowers to save them?

 

There’s only one way to find out and Martyn, a self-confessed geek with a love for all things vampire, intends to get to know Tom better, despite the bloodsucker’s fear of dentists.

 

This story takes a different view of vampires than usual.  Tom finally gives in and goes to the dentist to have his aching tooth removed.  Martyn has never met a vampire before, but can’t deny that’s what Tom is, despite the fangs, after his tooth immediately grows back when he removes it.

 

Martyn and Tom connect after being mugged on their way to their vehicles after Tom’s appointment.  Martyn is attracted to Tom and the mystery of Tom being a vampire makes him even more appealing.  We see both of the characters points of view which helps us connect with the characters.  Martyn is determined to be the right person for Tom and his family’s easy acceptance of Tom’s nature is wonderful.  Tom is adorable and won’t push Martyn for anything more than he knows he is willing to give.  I can see them together for a long time.

 

The cover art is nice and gives a visual of Tom.

 

Sales Links: MLR Press | Amazon | ARe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 79 pages

Published: October 26, 2016 by MLR Press

ISBN: 9781634861700

Edition Language: English

Tis the Season for Holiday Stories and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

50560-winter-is-magic

Tis the Season for Holiday Stories

Have you noticed a preponderance of book covers with snow on them?  Maybe with elves or people with red hats or maybe even a stocking or two?  Yes, its that time of the year when all the wonderful holiday stories are releasing from authors and publishers everywhere.  And its not just Christmas stories but stories from other religions as well, from Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah to Yule, the holiday season is spreading warm, love and special meanings to those involved in the celebrations.

Its a time of giving, and joy.  A time of remembrance, and yes, even sorrow for some. It can be magic.  And it can be painful.  Full of stress and overwhelming optimism for the future.  What a bundle of conflicting emotions this season can bring with it, along with the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the fear of the dark and loss could be driven back by songs, a yule log and people gathering close together to watch for the rising sun.

What I have always loved most about these stories is the variety.  I never know what to expect from the multitude of stories we get here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  Christmas in Space?  You betcha!  Vampires in love?  Yes indeedy!  Stories of Yule and lost visitors in Greenland, yes, one of my favorites last year by Freddy McKay.  This year is no exception.  I finished a wonderful story about loss and recovery during Hanukkah,  review still coming.   There are comedies, dramas, relationships of all kinds…all wrapped up in love and romance.  Be still my heart!  And those of the rest of the reviewers here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  We love this time of the year!

yule-log1

Be sure to check out all the reviews and holiday tours we have for you all in our schedule below.  Maybe make a list for yourself.  Or given if you love to give books as a gift.  Tis the season after all!

 

writer-605764_640

 

You Can Still Vote and Win!

We also have our on-going vote for our wonderful favorite flash fiction.  A random reader who leaves a comment after voting will be chosen to receive a $10 gift card from Dreamspinner Press.  Here again are the stories and their links:

STRW Flash Fiction Stories and Authors

Master’s Work by Tod Heil  

What Is Left Out By R. R. Angell

Consequences by Andrea Speed

THE SMIRK’S UP By Jenny Tate

Christopher by Ross Common

Magpie King by Leslie Plank

What Weighs Us Down by K.S. Trenten

Sad and Silly Humans by K.S. Trenten

[The authors retain the copyrights to their stories.  Stories may not be reprinted or copied without the express permission of the authors.]

Now here’s our poll.

For all the wonderful stories (there’s one extra), visit our Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Flash Fiction 2016 Page.  For the readers who vote: We will gift a $10 DSP gift card to a reader (randomly chosen) who has voted. so readers please leave a comment once you have voted so we can pick someone as well as a email address.  Vote ends on the Winter Solstice, 12/21 at midnight. The author will get the $25 Amazon gift card.

You can only vote for one story, then press vote.

two holly berry branches

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

kiss-ride-by-teodora-kostovahis-needsthanks-a-lot-john-leclair2-days-later

Sunday, December 11:

  • Tis the Season for Holiday Stories
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • Blog Tour and Giveaway: Cowboys Don’t Come Out by Tara Lain
  • A Stella Advent Calendar Review Day 11: Title Surprise

Monday, December 12:

  • Release Day Blitz for Ibiza on Ice by Gillian St. Kevern
  • In the Spotlight: Ash and Cinders Blogspot by Rodd Clark
  • DSP Author Guest Blog: Grace Kilian Delaney
  • Release Tour & Giveaway: Sue Brown’s Alpha Barman
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: Treasure for Treasure by R Cooper
  • A Barb the Zany Old  Lady Audiobook Review: Snowed In by Teodora Kostova
  • A Jeri Release Day Review: Noble Intentions by Andrew Grey
  • A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 12: Title Surprise

Tuesday, December 13:

  • Release Blitz – Passing Shadows by Anna Butler
  • In the Holiday Spotlight: Holly & Hockey Boots by V.L. Locey (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Dreamspinner Author Guest Blog: Lex Chase on The Unlikely Prospect
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review:Holly & Hockey Boots by V.L. Locey
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Absinthe of Malice (Sinners #5) by Rhys Ford and Tristan James (Narrator)
  • A MelanieM Advent Calendar Review Day 13: Title Surprise
  • An Alisa Review: 2 Days Later by CM Corett

Wednesday, December 14:

  • Release Blitz & Review Tour – The Road To Frosty Hollow – RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
  • DSP TOUR Ari McKay on Writing in Tandem and Striking Sparks
  • Blog Tour: Kiss & Ride by Teodora Kostova
  • A Stella Review:  Kiss & Ride by Teodora Kostova
  • An Alisa Release Day Review:  His Needs by Kris T. Bethke
  • A Lila Advent Calendar Review Day 14: Title Surprise
  • An Alisa Review: French Kissing Vampires for Beginners by L.M. Brown
  • An Ali Release Day Review: The Road To Frosty Hollow – RJ Scott & Meredith Russell

Thursday, December 15:

  • RIPTIDE TOUR: One Life to Lose by Kris Ripper (giveaway)
  • In the Spotlight: The King and the Criminal by Charlotte Ashe
  • DSP Author Guest Blog Andrew Grey
  • A VVivacious Release Day Review: Thanks a Lot, John LeClair by Johanna Parkhurst
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: Striking Sparks by Ari McKay
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Sweet Young Thang by Anne Tenino and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)
  • An Alisa Advent Calendar Review Day 15: Title Surprise

Friday, December 16:

  • Dreamspinner Press Author Guest Blog: KC Burn
  • Riptide Publishing Tour: Murder Once Seen by JT Hall (giveaway)
  • A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Whispers of Old Winds by George Seaton
  • A Lila Release Day Review:  Holiday Weekend by Charley Descoteaux
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Once Upon a Time in the Weird West Anthology
  • A Stella Advent Calendar Review Day 16: Title Surprise
  • An Alisa Review: Night Train to Venice by Carolina Valdez

Saturday, December 17:

  • A Stella Advent Calendar Review Day 17: Title Surprise
  • Cover Reveal and One Day Book Blast: Tarnished Souls by Dev Bentham
  • A MelanieM Advent Calendar Review:The Orpheum Miracle (2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug)
    by Pat Henshaw

holly-hockey-bootsthe-road-to-frosty-hollowholiday-weekendthe-orpheum-miracle

An Alisa Review: The Perfect Bite by J.D. Walker

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

the-perfect-biteGabe Villagran has been an outcast since birth. The large purple birthmark on the right side of his face has ostracized him from family and community, leaving him with little self-esteem. So, imagine his delight when, at the age of eighteen, vampires come out to the world. Finally, he’s not the only freak of nature around.

 

Five years after leaving home, Gabe meets Pierre Sangre outside his gay vampire club quite by chance. Meaning, he rescues Gabe from becoming vampire food. A vampire himself, Pierre sees something in the young man before him, and wants to keep him close. Pierre hires Gabe as a sort of boy Friday at the club and Gabe, grateful to his savior, accepts and falls irrevocably in love.

 

For ten years, both men dance around their attraction to each other until a night of misunderstandings clears things up. All it takes is the perfect bite.

 

This was such a sweet story.  Gabe has always been an outcast first in his hometown and now as the only human employee at a gay vampire club.  Pierre has been watching Gabe since he saved him ten years earlier, but never had the courage to actually pursue him.

 

Gabe doesn’t feel he is worthy of anything, let alone the love of Pierre, he is determined to keep it to himself.  Pierre has finally let go of his love that had died centuries before, but needed to figure out the best way to approach Gabe.  Gabe was so innocent, even though he worked at a gay club for years he has no experience himself and quickly misinterpreted many of the signs he is given, almost causing his own heartbreak.  When Pierre shows him he is worthy they connect perfectly.

 

The cover art is great and eye catching.

 

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 36 pages

Published: March 31, 2016 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634860925

Edition Language: English

In the Holiday Spotlight: Frostbitten by Charlotte Stein (Riptide Publishing Tour & Giveaway)

frostbitten_600x900

Frostbitten (2016 Holiday Charity Bundle)by Charlotte Stein
R
iptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C.Chase

Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

About Frostbitten

Shy nurse Cora both dreads and lives for the moments she sees Zeke, an orderly at the hospital where she works. Zeke is too handsome, too compelling, too much, and seems totally unaware of Cora. But before she can bring herself to his attention, an explosion rips through the hospital Christmas party.

Zeke has noticed Cora—in fact, he’s so irresistibly drawn to her that he saves her from the explosion by turning her into a vampire, much to the jealousy and resentment of his partner, Merrick. Zeke hates being a vampire, and now that she’ll live, doesn’t want Cora to suffer his fate. If they can both resist the overwhelming instinct to bond, joining their bodies as Cora draws her maker’s blood, she might be able to return to her normal human life.

As Merrick uses every erotic trick to keep Zeke distracted from the blood passion, Cora becomes more and more drawn to both of her reluctant captors. And more and more happy to abandon her old life in exchange for an eternity with two hot immortal lovers. All she has to do is convince Merrick and Zeke that being a vampire isn’t all that bad.

Available from Riptide Publishing.  

About Charlotte Stein

Charlotte Stein is an RT-nominated erotic romance writer of over thirty novellas and novels. She lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and cheeky dog.

Connect with Charlotte:

frostbitten_tourbanner

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Frostbitten, one lucky winner will receive an ebook of choice from Charlotte’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 3, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

NineStar Press’s 1st Anniversary! Come Celebrate with Us! (giveaway)

ninestar-press-celebration

WWW.NineStarPress.com

It’s our first anniversary.

Thanks to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting us today!

Don’t forget to comment here, on our Facebook posts, and our Tweets. We will be giving books away each day to commenters.

 

You will also be added to the drawing for a FREE year of books.

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

I have been muddling this over for quite some time, and today I thought I’d take the time to put it into words.

This year has had so many things to celebrate, and so many others to mourn.

We opened our doors on November 23, 2015, by releasing our first two books. At the time, I was an editor for NineStar, but I had dreams of making it my home. I wanted to see more books by unknown authors, about subjects I hadn’t seen before with characters I felt strongly about.

So, we released books, and things were looking pretty good. In the first part of 2016, the owner asked me to step in for her because she was under the weather. Then in May, she decided to sell the company, which is how I became the owner. A time to celebrate and a time to mourn! I was getting my dream, but it came at the cost of someone losing theirs.

I worked to make NineStar something I could be proud of. I listened to the community and saw the upheavals and anger over bi-erasure and casual racism and so many other offensive things. It was a time to mourn the loss of the togetherness I once felt.

We have to stop and listen to the hurt some books cause. Take it to heart. People are saying they are hurt, and if we ever want to fight what’s coming, we have to stand up for others in our community and celebrate the similarities and differences in the LGBTQIA+ community.

We have a lot to mourn right now. We have a lot to fear. The things taking place in the US government are scary as hell. I still mourn every day. I still panic over it. But I also see more people talking about how to make a difference. How to fight back. So while it may be a while before we can celebrate our wins, we can fight.

But we need to listen to others and become a better community. When someone says they are hurt, listen to their hurt. Please don’t tell them to be nicer about expressing their anger and hurt and frustration. These are real people with real hurt. Ask questions, research, understand why they are hurt. Do something about it. Stand together, even if it means losing a trope or having to change some opinions. I have seen this community do some amazing things, but what’s coming will be our biggest challenge yet. And I may be misguided, but I believe we can better fight this if we do it as a community rather than fractured pieces.

The lives of the people we celebrate in books may be changed forever, and it’s time to stand for those lives in the real world.

Raevyn ❤

NineStar Press

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