Haven by Author Celin Bresler Plus A Halloween Tale
Bewitching Halloween Tale
listening to my Irish grandmother’s stories about the Fae, including her
encounter with a Banshee in her family’s cellar when she was a teenager. Of her
many stories, this is my favorite, and I love to share it every Halloween. Enjoy!
by the Banshee
Celia Breslin
and grandmother. It was a cold, winter evening, nothing special or out of the
ordinary. My family dined together, then my sister and I cleaned up while our
parents and grandmother drank tea. We joined them at the dining table to do our
homework, but my grandmother said she was tired and went upstairs to bed. My
parents followed shortly after that, but my father paused on the landing.
kitchen, and went down into the cellar. I filled my bucket and returned to the
stairs. I had one foot on the first step when the temperature in the cellar,
already cold, dropped dramatically. Chills ran down my back. Behind me, someone
moaned.
bucket and covered my ears. A cold wind bumped against my back. I stumbled
forward as the shrieking wind rushed over me and up the stairs.
stupor. I screamed and ran up the stairs and out of the cellar, through the
kitchen and dining room, and up the stairs to my room. My parents and sister
found me under my bed, shaking like a puppy lost in a snowstorm.
hiding place.
conclusion moments later. We hurried to my grandmother’s room.
rights reserved.
A sneak peek between the pages of Haven!
Carina and Alexander’s First Date
… My hands roamed from his chest to his biceps. Smooth and solid, no hint of flab. Want you to wrap them around my body while you take me from behind. My little fantasy expelled the air from my lungs in a loud rush. Energy pulsed from my hands, hot and bubbly. His muscles twitched in response.
“Adrian was amused I’d followed a girl into the club.” His hands curved around my waist. “Until he realized it was you. He told me who you were, but he wasn’t happy about it.”
“What did you do then?” My voice wavered, his touch devastating, distracting.
His grip tightened. “I left.”
“Why?”
“The law according to Thomas. Your club is off-limits to all non-humans, except on Sundays. You yourself are off-limits to all vampires every day. Or you were then, anyway.”
I frowned. “You’re saying my uncle forbade you to see me?” This was so Romeo and Juliet. I didn’t like it. That story never ended well.
A hand slid to my back, pressing possessively. “Yes.”
I rolled my eyes. Thomas, interfering in my life. Again. “How long did you obey?”
His eyes narrowed. “Too long. But I sensed your presence after that whenever you were nearby. You spend a lot of time in my neighborhood after dark.”
“Adrian said the exact thing to me.” I bit my lip. Oops, now he knew I was talking about him. I felt myself blush like a crushing teenager.
He grinned at my discomfort. “You were hard to avoid. So I stopped trying. I showed up at the museum though I knew Thomas would intercept me. But it was worth it, to have you finally see me. I had to know.”
Talk time was over. We stared. And stared. And stared some more.
His smoky blue eyes bled to black and his power pushed at me, hot and hard, causing a response inside me, like a rumbling volcano deep in my core. My eyes widened. Was this the power my family had mentioned? No longer dormant and infinitely more intense than a little static electricity in my palms.
Alexander crushed his lips to mine. Need roared through me leaving me breathless with edgy hunger.
My hands burrowed into his thick, silky hair, holding his head as if he might try to escape. He growled his approval against my lips, his kiss growing more insistent. His tongue explored my mouth. He tasted metallic, like the blood he’d consumed. Again, I found I liked the taste. My tongue danced with his and delved into his mouth, searching for more penny metal flavor. He groaned and tightened his embrace.
I thought we’d devour each other forever, but Alexander stiffened and his head snapped up. His eyes glinted black as night, wild with lust and…aggression? He bared his teeth in a snarl, canines morphing into fangs. Long, sharp, lethal.
On instinct, I pushed against his chest to get some distance between those teeth and my neck. He ignored me, head whipping around to survey the room. A feral growl erupted from his throat and he shoved me under the table.
My cries of protest were drowned out by animalistic roars and breaking furniture. From my spot under the table, I felt around on the bench for my coat, all the while keeping an eye on the room. Dark blurs flitted back and forth, pieces of table and chair flew by…Bingo. My coat. I searched the pocket for my phone. Once in hand, I hit the button for my boys.
The fighting around me stopped. The familiar techno ring tone of Mark’s phone broke the sudden silence. He’s here?
The table above me was tossed away. Steel hands grabbed my legs and dragged me, face down. I dropped the phone and flattened my palms on the floor, trying to resist. One hand bumped into a steak knife and I grabbed it. My assailant flipped me over and lunged. I aimed for his heart but the knife plunged into his throat. …
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bxqwRL
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Celia Breslin, Haven, Tranquilli Bloodline Series, Urban Fantasy Romance by Tena Stetler with 3 comments.
Interview with Leslie Scott Author of Two Hearts, One Stone
Give a warm welcome to Leslie Scott, author of Two Hearts, One Stone, just released September 26, 2018!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Leslie and her Tow Hearts, One Stone.
Why should we read this book and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book unique?
With Two Hearts, One Stone I remember sitting in on a chat about Western romances and how publishers were looking for something different than Montana or Texas for contemporary novels. I live at the tail end of the Smokey Mountains and we have cowboys too! Down here we say farm not ranch (though most of us know farms grow food and ranches raise animals—but still it’s what we say) and don’t have thousands of acres of cow grazing pasture. We do have a strong horse culture though and raise some amazing animals. I wanted to show that and I think I did well.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
Well, most everyone who has known me my entire life, knows I write. It’s part of who I am. A few were surprised when my debut novel (The Finish Line) was published, but not many. My son is super proud—he’s eleven—and tells everyone we meet that I’m a writer. It’s cute.
One funny story though: I’ve known our church secretary for a few years (I met her at her previous job). I really like her, she’s one of my favorite people. I got a message from her not long ago about how she’d bought my book and read it, but didn’t want to tell me she had bought it until she finished (just in case she didn’t like it, or I ended up being a terrible writer, etc). Turns out she absolutely loved it and is now one of my ARC readers.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Not really, no. Is that bad? Each character I write is like living in someone else’s brain for a few months. They are all so different from me and I love that. I want them to be someone else, otherwise I think writing them would be pretty boring.
Raelynn in The Finish Line is subdued, which I am not. She internalizes a lot and I’m a complete extrovert. She has multiple handsome men vying for her affections—I do not (ha!).
Hadley (in the upcoming Hot Lap) is upbeat and positive in the face of difficulties and hardship. I am not. I cave, I get angry, I lash out. She smiles and dusts herself off.
Emmy in Two Hearts, One Stone is by far way more intelligent than I’d ever be. Thanks to be son’s pediatrician for her help with that one.
BUT… they all have a piece of my heart and I think that’s what matters the most.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
Joy and entertainment. I want readers to feel like each character is a friend, a part of their family or better—like they were a part of the character’s family. A novel is about escape, transporting yourself to somewhere else. I want that for everyone that reads my book.
Speed Round: (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: I have two: Legends of the Fall or Robinhood Prince of Thieves.
Favorite book: Far too many to count. But, John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War comes close to the top.
Last book read: I just finished Lisa Cron’s Wired for Story.
Favorite color: Pink.
Stilettos or flipflops: Flipflops, I’d break my face in stilettos.
Coffee or tea: Neither? Or a fancy sweet, iced coffee.
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: No audiobook.
Pencil or pen: Pens, of varying colors.
Favorite song: All of them (I’m not picky with music).
Streak or not: I joke that God made me fat so I wouldn’t run around naked. So, no. lol
Favorite dessert: All of them (I’m not picky with food). See what I did there?
Favorite junk food: See above.
Favorite thing to do to relax: Write.
Champagne or gin: Champagne. I got drunk on gin in highschool and it wasn’t pretty. Nope.
Paranormal or Historical: Steampunk! (Ha! Take that!)
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Dude… WW for sure.
Favorite TV show: Sons of Anarchy (I love hot biker dudes, I cannot help myself)
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: Gah! First is the reel that plays in my head. However, I’m learning to love third limited.
I’d die if I don’t have: My kid, my cats, my dogs, my laptop… the list goes on and on and on.
Review or Not: Review!
See I told you, writers just cant do it! LOL
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
So tell us a little about Two Hearts, One Stone. Interesting title.
Horse trainer Stone Dempsey’s life is all about the ride—with horses and women. He uses his equine talents to impress the country club set and earn money for Smoky Mountain Reining Horses. When his drug-addicted sister deposits her sick baby on his doorstep, he’s suddenly saddled with real responsibility.
Dr. Emmersyn Cole’s goal of starting a practice in her favorite place on earth is finally coming to fruition and she is not going to be sidetracked. Everything is going great until Stone swaggers into her life, half-dressed with a smile that could melt her insides. She’s determined to keep her distance…until he rushes into her grandfather’s home, clutching a feverish baby, terrified and vulnerable, and her heart’s hard shell begins to crack.
In only a few short weeks, Stone’s wayward heart suddenly relies on two women—one who needs him—and one that he might not be able to live without.
Can we have a sneak peak between the pages of Two Hearts, One Stone.
Sure.
He was spinning and dizzy because of Emmy. He hadn’t expected her to throw him for a loop like she had, have him waiting on her after work, cleaning up his cabin, and all the other silly things he’d done in the past few weeks.
Yet there he was, with a shoulder against the stall door, watching the sparkles of faded sunlight dance in her reddish, curling hair.
He was a goner.
“I feel naked when you look at me like that.” Her fingers trembled as she tucked a lock behind her ear.
“That’s not the way I look at you when you’re naked.”
Buy links:
About the author:
Leslie spends most days attempting to wrangle the voices in her head and often wishes she could clone herself so that their stories get told faster. She loves words, romance, and characters that feel like family and spends almost all of her free time with her own family; including a boisterous eleven year old that she homeschools and an assorted cast of rescue pets. She lives her own happily ever after with her soul mate and best friend in the northern part of Alabama and hopes you enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
Leslie Scott on the internet:
Website: http://lesliescottromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliescottwrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leslieSwrites
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lesliescottwrites/
Youtube Playlists: http://bit.ly/2O6IDea
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Two Hearts, One Stone!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Leslie Scott, One Stone, Two Hearts, Western by Tena Stetler with 8 comments.
Abigail Owen Author of The Boss
The hotter the fire, the deeper the burn…
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
FINN CONLETH leads his team of enforcer dragon shifters with an iron fist and a cold heart. Every dragon seeks his destined mate, and he thought he’d found his, but the process to turn her killed her and devastated him. After that he vowed he’d never risk his heart again. His team is his family now. When his body eventually gives out, he’ll leave, living his last days alone.
Finn knows the fire is dragon-caused, which puts Delaney’s problems directly in his jurisdiction to solve. But no matter how her wounded grey eyes appeal to every part of him, he has a vow to keep.
He refuses to risk her life in the mating process.
Until another dragon threatens to claim Delaney for his own, and Finn has to sacrifice everything to keep her alive…
Plumes of smoke seeped out of the door she’d left open, but the flames were still hiding inside.
Oh God, I have to fix this.
Delaney had thought she’d be safe here. She’d thought the fires that plagued her in Vermont wouldn’t follow her across the country.
She’d been horribly wrong.
She ran to the water faucet that stuck out of the ground about twenty feet from the barn. A long hose already attached lay coiled beside it. With a twist, she turned the water on full force and dragged the hose toward the barn.
I can’t let Sera’s wine burn.
That reason, more than her own safety, drove her actions.
Carefully, she moved closer to the building. Her aching eyes and fuzzy vision didn’t help, but she kept going. She inched inside until she glimpsed flame, then she aimed her hose at the spot and sprayed, using her thumb to focus the water. The fire appeared to laugh at her pitiful effort like a crazed, caged animal. Flames receded in fizzling, smoldering protest before lunging for her with renewed vigor.
I’m not even making a dent.
Delaney stepped forward, not giving up, dousing more of the blaze.
A snap of sound was the only warning she had before the beams above her crumbled. With a scream, Delaney jumped, feet scrambling as she tripped and fell backwards. Luckily the beam didn’t land on her, but it lay so close, heat singed her skin. Grabbing the hose, she crawled back to her feet and turned the spray on the beam.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” a deep male voice thundered in her ear a second before a strong arm banded around her waist.
Delaney found herself hoisted over a shoulder, the air punching from her lungs with a whoosh as her middle connected with a broad shoulder, as she was bodily carried from the burning structure.
She didn’t struggle.
She also didn’t think to let go of the hose.
Her rescuer stumbled over the line and jerked to a halt.
“Damn,” the same deep voice swore and he yanked the hose from her hands.
Realization sank in that she’d been dousing the firefighter who’d “rescued” her, and a completely inappropriate giggle escaped her.
He took off again, not letting her go, jostling her none too gently as he ran across the gravel drive to plonk her on a boulder beside the main winery building. Delaney lifted her gaze up, way up, over his green flame-resistant pants, yellow long-sleeved shirt, and white helmet. A firefighter, but not any kind she’d dealt with before, not based on the clothing. He pinned her to the rock she sat on with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
Delaney blinked.
Anger and frustration pulled his brows down in an intimidating glower. “Are you hurt?” he asked. Yelled more like, his voice a harsh growl.
Delaney blinked at him again, shock taking over and slowing her brain way down—like molasses in the winter.
When she didn’t answer, his severe expression softened. “Are you hurt?” he repeated, no less urgent, but gentler.
Pull yourself together. Delaney shook her head.
“Is anyone else in there?”
“No.”
“Any animals?”
“No.” At least, she assumed the cat she’d saved was the only creature in there. “It’s for wine. State of the art with temperature control.” No way should fires be happening in the building.
He nodded. “I’ve got this now. Don’t go back in there. Wait here for the paramedics.” He straightened and anything soft about him disappeared behind granite determination.
This guy had it.
Relief surged through her followed by immediate the prick of tears that had nothing to do with the smoke.
Why does this keep happening to me?
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H292L61
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1129473389
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-boss/id1435075742?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-boss-53
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Abigail_Owen_The_Boss?id=fyhrDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41089942-the-boss
Free Prequel Short Story
Get an early start on the series with a prequel short story to the Fire’s Edge series. “The Mate” will be available for FREE via all retailers 9/17.
Preorder:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GV99XP5
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1129424409
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Abigail_Owen_The_Mate?id=g7RqDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41520087-the-mate
OR… Join Abigail’s newsletter to get a copy now. http://eepurl.com/Lw2XH
She loves to write sassy heroines and the sexy heroes who love them. One of her favorite things to do is interact with my readers. Find her on social media:
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Abigail Owen, Dragon Shifters, Fire's Edge, Paranormal Romance, The Boss by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview Natasha Brown Author of Half-Blood Descendant
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter Cookie from the plate, and lets find out a little about Natasha and Half-Blood Descendant.
What inspired you to write?
You know that feeling when you read a great book and you can’t put it down? You stay up way too late reading, your heart races as you’re sucked into the world between the pages, and you think about the characters when you should be doing other things? It was that excitement that led me to want to create the same experience for others. I wanted to build my own worlds and characters. And it was during a stressful time in my life following one of my daughter’s open-heart surgeries when I needed an escape. So, I poured myself into writing my very first novel, and it proved to be just what I needed.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing novels for the last six years, although in my youth, I spent lots of time writing prose.
I don’t often write characters modeled after myself. If I do, I’m not aware of it at least. They are based off personalities I’ve observed. Although, the more humorous side of my characters definitely channels the smart-aleck in me since I’m often cracking jokes
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
I try to give readers a sense of excitement and wonder and endeavor to deliver them into another world where they imagine themselves as a fly on the wall.
Jax never stays anywhere long enough to put down roots. He’s a shapeshifter—the only one of his kind, or so he thinks. While prowling on his landlady’s property, he is stunned to find a man feeding on her neck. Although he frightens away the blood-sucker, Jax leaves behind a paralyzed woman and a trail of blood in his wake.
Aerilyn teaches high school and doubles as a guardian for the Genus Society, an ancient underground shifter organization. After learning of a cougar attack in her own mountain neighborhood, she suspects a rogue shifter is to blame.
When the Society accuses Jax of the “animal attack,” he is ordered to stick around until he can clear his name. Desperate to regain his freedom, he must put his trust in his beautiful guardian. Their forbidden attraction leads Aerilyn to wonder if the blue-eyed drifter is innocent. And if he is, the Society has an even bigger problem on its hands—one that feeds on blood.
A sneak peek between the pages of Half-BLood Descendant
Aerilyn pulled off her jacket and set it on the ground. Next, she slipped off her shoes and unbuttoned her jeans. A cold breeze whistled through the valley, raising goosebumps on her arms as she pulled her V-neck off. She held the fabric to her chest and hunched away from the wind.
When it died down, she dropped her shirt onto her growing pile of clothes. She rested her hand against one of the aspens to brace herself while she took off her socks and happened to glance back at her companion. Jax was down to his underwear, standing in the moonlight. Dark lines adorned his back, forming what appeared to be an intricate tattoo, one she couldn’t see well enough from her vantage point. She could, however, see how muscular he was. As he tugged at the waistband of his boxers, she blushed and looked away, reminding herself he would be gone as soon as her father allowed him to leave town.
She didn’t waste any time removing the last of her clothing and stood among the pale aspen trunks, calling to the energy at her core. It surged through her pores, chasing away all visible marking of her humanity until none was left. Aerilyn took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the trees.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Half-Blood Descendant, Natasha Brown, Paranormal/Supernatural Suspense, Shifter by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
