COVER REVEAL FOR A WARLOCK’S SECRETS – WOW!
Today on Authors’ Secrets, I am parading my gorgeous cover for A Warlock’s Secrets, second in the Demon’s Witch Series, release June 14, 2017. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and feast your eyes on the swoon worthy cover for A Warlock’s Secrets! My cover artist, Kristian Norris is fantastic, don’t you think?
In case you haven’t heard, the offical world-wide release date is June 14, 2017! Oh, yeah I already told you earlier. I am so excited! Pre-order links to follow next month. In the meantime, enjoy a little about A Warlock’s Secrets.
Here’s your Sneak peek into Tristian’s world in A Warlock’s Secrets, second in the Demon’s Witch Series.
Years ago a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven, turned deadly. Son of the high priestess, Tristian Shandie’s life changed forever. With a price on his head and revenge in his heart, he has no choice but to follow in his father’s footsteps to a profession shrouded in secrets. Now his skills as an enforcer for the Demon Overlord are second to none. But dangerous secrets he harbors are a liability he can no longer afford.
A chance meeting with a woman he finds irresistible flips Tristian’s world upside down. Hannah is a cyber security specialist with secrets of her own. Bad boys never appealed to her until Tristian, who changes everything. In his darkest hours she is dragged into his magical world. If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?
Excerpt:
Inside the house, a shadow passed by the huge bay window. She held her breath. Am I really going to go through with this?
Walking up the steps to the house, she paused. Why would he leave such an expensive car sitting out when he had a four-car garage? She was stalling. Straightening her shoulder’s she used the brass doorknocker. There was no answer. She knocked again.
The heavy oak door creaked open. Tristian stood shirtless, his abs rippled as he raised one muscular arm to lean on the doorframe. The skintight blue jeans hung low on his hips and his hair tousled as if he’d not been awake long.
When he stared at her, with those huge blue-gray eyes, tingles careened up her spine. She covered her mouth in case drool pooled in the corners her mouth. He was one sexy male. She sucked in a breath and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. A brow arched, he peered questioningly at her then twisted to glance backward into the house. The sunlight streaming through the doorway accentuated several scars across his chest, rib area and a healed slash across his back. Who gets those kinds of battle scars and lives to tell the tale? Not going to ask. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
The corner of his mouth curved up in an inviting sexy-as-hell grin. “Good morning, Hannah. What a surprise.”
Available for pre-order at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes& Noble, itunes
Keeping the cover under wraps almost killed me. I am so happy to finally get to share it with you! I know you are going to love Tristian and Hannah and their wild journey!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Angels, Assassin, Cyber Security, Demons, faeries, magic, Scottish Highlands, Shapeshifters, Warlock, Witches by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.
Fury of a Viking by Sky Purington
Give a warm welcome to Sky Purington, author of Fury of a Viking, fourth in the MacLomine series Viking Ancestors’ Kin just released on April 17,2017!
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 Fury of a Viking and Sky. Make sure you read all the way down and enter the Rafflecopter!
Here’s a snippet from Fury of a Viking:
He had learned an awful lot today and suffered from years of being haunted. Now his son was gone. So she figured if he wasn’t latching on to every little thing she said right away, that was okay. One step at a time. “You should get some rest, Matthew.”
“Yes,” he murmured. Yet the second she went to move, he grabbed her wrist gently. When he spoke, she realized he had, in fact, processed all of what she’d said. More than that, he must be catching glimpses of what she had seen. “There’s more to this. More to Uncle Kjar having my son. Somehow, they’re in that other place. Helheim.” He clenched his jaw as he struggled to come to terms with that. It seemed he had also telepathically caught what she hadn’t told him based on what he said next. “Do not put Emily’s life at risk for this, Shannon.” He shook his head. “And don’t put yours at risk either.”
She could tell by the way he said it, the emotion in his voice, that he fully understood why she held back. More than that, he agreed with her. He didn’t want Emily in harm’s way. Even if she could lead him to his son.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, guilt ridden. But she had to put her daughter first. “I just can’t put my baby in that kind of danger.” Emotion thickened her throat just like it had his. “Please forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive.” He cupped her cheek. “I would not allow you or Emily to be put in harm’s way. Not for anything, Shannon.”
“But he’s your son,” she managed to say into his mind because her vocal chords refused to work. “How can you…”
The next thing she knew his lips brushed hers. It was brief but so profound she lost her breath as he pulled away just enough that their lips remained centimeters from one another. “One of our children is already in harm’s way. Another will not be added to it.”
Shannon barely processed his words she was so caught up in his taste lingering on her lips. Had he said our children? He had, right? Yet she couldn’t focus on that. All she could do was run her tongue over her lips and relish the flavor. His flavor. It almost felt like she could taste what he was made of. And it wasn’t what she expected.
“You used to laugh and smile all the time,” she whispered before she could stop herself. For a flicker of a moment, she could see his smile. Hear his laughter. Then it faded. Long ago. Shannon closed her eyes and pulled away. He had been taken down a path he didn’t deserve all because there was a glitch in the system. All because…
Her eyes shot open.
The cave was gone. The water at her feet vanished. Now she stood on a shore with hundreds of men and women coming together. Vikings with their blades drawn and fury on their faces. Battle raged. Matthew, Sigrunn, Freydis and so many more, fought, determined to conquer.
This was the infamous battle that took so much from Matthew.
Seconds later he vanished yet the battle raged on.
Yet she knew where he went.
It all made sense now.
Newsletter: http://www.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com/p/newletter.html
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged fantasy, Fury of a Viking, Romance, Sky Purington, Time travel by Tena Stetler with 9 comments.
Ash Krafton Author of Bleeding Hearts
Bleeding Hearts is part of The Spellbound Boxed Set, a compilation of 20+ full-length Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance reads and will be released on May 2, 2017! Pre-Order sale only 99 cents. See special offer below and a rafflecopter give away.
Readers of all ages will be swept away by this fascinating mix of existing titles and brand new content, full of pages brimming with faeries, witches, vampires, shifters, psychics, Greek gods, angels, demons, and even ghosts!
With over a million words of fiction, this is your one stop shop for urban fantasy, epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, shifter romance, vampire romance, elemental magic, time travel, and MORE from today’s New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling authors!
Although some of these reads may be gritty and dark, this is a collection of clean reads that anyone will enjoy!
A little about Bleeding Hearts by Ash Krafton
Sophie Galen is an advice columnist whose work leaves her neck-deep in other people’s problems. Thanks to her compassion, her gut instinct, and her magnetic charm, Sophie really knows how to attract little black clouds.
Marek Thurzo is no little black cloud; he’s a maelstrom. Marek is Demivampire, a race with the potential to evolve into vampire. A warrior who’s taken his share of spiritual damage, he hovers dangerously close to destruction.
He seeks salvation. She’s driven to save him. But what if he can’t be saved?
Sympathy for his plight becomes true empathy as Sophie’s hidden nature is revealed. Marek suspects she may be one of the Sophia, oracle and redemption of the damned Demivampire. She alone can turn back the evolutionary clock.
All she needs is the courage to face her fears. Can she save him from Falling?
A Sneak Peek into BLEEDING HEARTS – Demimonde Book 1 by Ash Krafton
In the great hall housing the Egyptian exhibitions, I immediately noted the change in the atmosphere. The room was cool and dry, its climate controlled to mimic the conditions in which the relics had existed in their native land.
The entire room had been designed to resemble an Old Kingdom temple. The main lights were dimmed while strategically-placed spotlights emphasized massive columns and magnificent wall carvings like sunbeams through temple windows.
I scanned the room. No other tourists. Even better. I meandered, enjoying the rare opportunity to linger.
Craning my neck, I ran my gaze up each of the columns, reading the images, admiring the palm leaves carved at the tops like great stone trees. Eyes toward the ceilings, I turned slowly around, admiring the handiwork of the ancient artists.
What was it like to live in those lands and those times? Could an ancient version of my spirit have been there, stepping barefoot and silently through a sandy temple like this one?
Lost in contemplation, I was completely unprepared for the shock of smacking into someone, bumping him hard enough to lose my balance. I’d have fallen had he not caught my arm. Wide-eyed with consternation, I stammered an apology to the handsome but serious-faced gentleman.
“You are not hurt, I hope?” His voice, deep and smooth, sent shivers marching down my neck, between my shoulders, down my spine.
“I’m okay.” I shook my head, too shy to make direct eye contact, wishing I’d checked my hair and lipstick before coming in. “I’m far too adept at being inept.”
He flashed a grin and I caught a glimpse of nice white teeth. “Temples are places for spiritual reflection. It is forgivable if your vision was turned inward, rather than toward where you were walking.”
His expression softened by amusement, he tilted his head toward the pillars. “Majestic, aren’t they?”
I stole another glance at him—black hair smoothed back into a discreet tail, clear light skin framed by long sideburns, strong jaw culminating in a square, cleft chin. Like the other items in the museum, something about him made me want to look closer, inspect each detail.
A subtle flush warmed my cheeks and ears so I quickly turned back to the heights of the exhibition. Murmuring a sound of agreement, I circled the column, stepping a few feet away so I could see both him and the stone. “Do you visit this museum often?”
Furtive glances allowed me to take in more of his appearance a tiny section at a time. Clothing dark as his hair. Long blazer, something in between a suit coat and an overcoat. In one hand he carried a bound book and fountain pen, as if he’d been making notes.
His gaze was calm and steady and entirely on me. Taking a deep breath I permitted the contact of the direct look. My boldness was well-rewarded. His Paul Newman lips brought to mind the sculptured busts on display in the Greco-Roman Quarters and he wore a stern expression that cast a veil of hardness upon his features, enhancing the impression he’d been carved from marble.
Except for his eyes. The Roman busts bore eyes that were blank and white but this man’s eyes were alive with bright green color. Like gemstones, they glittered and drew my gaze.
“No, actually,” he said. “My first time here. Although, I admit, I’m drawn to places like this.” His voice made music of the words—deep bass notes and soothing rhythm.
“Ah!” I said. “A man after my own heart.” His left eyebrow arched so sharply I thought it might disappear into his hairline and I hurriedly continued. “Are you a professor?”
“No, nothing like that. I do studying of my own, it’s not a living. It’s more of a hobby. Personal research, of sorts.”
“Studying past times is one of my pastimes. It’s my preferred form of entertainment.”
“Mmm.” Eyebrow cocked again, he cast a disapproving look at me and swept his hand around the contrived temple. “Would the gods be pleased to know they are reduced to the level of entertainment?”
“I hope so.” I kept my tone light. Considering the seriousness of his expression, I didn’t want to accidentally insult him. “Otherwise, they’d have to be content with staying dead, right?”
His gaze swept over me and I shivered again as if the touch had been tangible, a brush of fingertips against my cheek.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your worship. I mean, your wanderings.” He gave me a conspirator’s wink. “Unless…”
He hesitated, with a quiet clearing of throat as he tucked his notebook and pen into an inside pocket. “You wouldn’t mind a companion? Sometimes one sees things differently when seeing through another’s eyes. I would appreciate a new perspective.”
I mulled it over, listening to the rain spattering the windows and distant voices echoing faintly from other rooms. Although I’d looked forward to a quiet afternoon, it might be nice to spend it with someone who seemed to share my interests. He certainly was attractive, and his pleasant voice intrigued me.
I realized I’d become used to living inside a shell. This man made me want to step outside for once.
“I’d like that.” I smiled at his pleased expression. “I’m Sophie, by the way.” I stuck out my hand in introduction.
Instead of shaking my hand, he bent his head over it and pressed polite lips to the backs of my fingers. The quaint gesture would have seemed strange and out of place had we been elsewhere. “I am Marek. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Fingers tingling from the unexpected kiss, I fought the urge to curtsy. “Well, Marek. Lead me into the past.”
His almost-smile sent a thrill down the back of my neck. “That’s exactly the sort of thing I’d hoped you say. Shall we?”
He turned on his heel and swept out a hand with a slight bow, indicating the archway to another exhibit. For the first time since I’d been coming to this museum, I wondered what I’d see on the other side, and was surprised to realize I wasn’t afraid to find out.
The first chapters of books by each featured author are also available in the Spellbound Sampler, available on Wattpad
Purchase Spellbound Collection from:
A bit about author Ash Krafton:
Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction girl through and through, Ash writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels as well as poetry and short fiction. She also writes for New Adult audiences under the name AJ Krafton. Her work has won a bunch of awards and was even nominated for a Pushcart Prize. When she’s not writing, she’s practicing Tai Chi, listening to loud rock and metal, or crushing on supervillains.
Most recently, she’s re-released her urban fantasy trilogy THE BOOKS OF THE DEMIMONDE because she never really left the world of Sophie and her Demivamps. She’s also working on the next installment of her Demon Whisperer series.
Find out more when you visit www.ashkrafton.com
Blog: http://ash-krafton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ashkrafton
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ashkraftonauthor
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/Ash_Krafton
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/demimondeash
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ash_krafton
Website: http://www.ashkrafton.com/
Newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/b1w9p1
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Ash Krafton, Bleeding Hearts, compilation, Giveaway, Multi-Author, Paranormal, Romance, Spellbound by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Susan V. Vaughn – Beyond Fate
Give a warm welcome to Susan V. Vaughn, author of Beyond Fate just released on March 24, 2016!
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 Susan and Beyond Fate.
Susan if you could use one line to discribe Beyond Fate, what would it be? Years of separation mean nothing when love is in the air…
What inspired this particular story?
I have a huge connection to Beyond Fate because I wrote the first chapter of it when I was still in college. I attended Central Michigan University, which is the same college my characters meet. The fraternity party they were at is based off a frat house I used to go to all the time. Years later, when I found this story, I decided it needed a proper ending. I began the story from a college perspective, which is when my characters first fall in love. I finished the story from an adult perspective, which is when my characters get their second chance at love.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I like to write the dialogue in a scene first, then go back through and add the action. Not only does this help me break through writers block, it decreases instances of choppy dialogue. It’s also a great way to give my characters their own voice while staying true to the story line.
What inspired you to write?
I have been writing romance for five years now. I started doing it for myself because I enjoy the creative process so much. But then things changed. I watched my children grow, and develop their love of writing. All the journals around my house now are filled with my kid’s imagination. There is no paper left in our printer, no notebooks unfilled. My children are little paper thieves! They write because I write. I have opened their world to the notion that you can make a living from your imagination. My children have given my creativity a greater purpose.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Both the main characters in Beyond Fate suffer the loss of a loved one. For Russell, the loss is his sister. For Julia, the loss is her best friend. Although Katherine Webb is dead, both Russell and Julia began experiencing signs from her. But it’s only when they start following those signs that they find their paths intertwined again. It’s almost as if Kat is playing matchmaker from beyond, which is consequently how the story got its name.
I really connected to this story and to the characters, because I know what it’s like to lose someone I love. I know so many other people know this pain as well. Loss is a part of human existence. It is something that connects us all.
What do you want your readers to take away from Beyond Fate?
This book takes you on an emotional journey. There is love, loss, heartache, and of course, laughter. Every good romance has got to have laughter! For my two main characters fate leads them in directions they never thought possible, which is what I hope readers will experience while reading it.
Sounds like a greaat book.
Tell us a little more about Beyond Fate.
Julia Diaz never wanted to fall for her friend’s older brother, especially at a college frat party. But, for some reason, her heart was stolen by Russell that night. Eight years after, she never forgot him. Now destiny has brought them together. Only this time Russell is no longer a boy. He’s a man who knows what he wants and will not be denied.
Russell Webb used to be optimistic, and fun loving until a family tragedy turned his world on its side. Putting all his focus on work, he picked himself back up, and managed to turn his grief into something resembling a life. When a woman from his past reappears, and gives him a glimpse of true happiness, he’ll do anything to secure her heart. Even face the darkness he has avoided for so long.
How about a peek into the book itself?
His heart pounded as he made up the distance between them. He’d fought the urge to hold her in his arms all week. He no longer could.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Her question was lost as he pulled her against him, and covered her lips with his own. She sank desperately into his embrace for a moment, before pushing him back. “Russ, stop.”
“Why?” He grabbed one of her hands, and kissed the soft skin of her palm. She smiled, her face flushing red, her eyes flashing hazel.
“Because we are supposed to be friends, and we’re at work.” She glanced nervously around the deserted hallway.
“Nah, work’s over,” he said lightly, refusing to address the friendship statement. “It’s time for us.” He secured her hand in his, and led them toward the parking lot with single focus. “I’m taking you to dinner.”
“Wait! I have to grab my things from the music room.”
“No time for that.” He quickened his pace through the parking lot, determined to take her to dinner, not caring who witnessed his desperation. He’d waited all week for this opportunity.
“I guess you’re not giving me a choice then?” She sounded amused, not annoyed, a good sign.
“Now you get it.” He winked back at her. “I am your boss, after all.”
She sighed loudly in exasperation, and then began to giggle. It made him grin like a man who had never been happier in his life.
About the Author:
Romance Author, Susan V. Vaughn understood the meaning of sarcasm before she could walk. Her childhood in the suburbs of Detroit was spent mainly trying to outwit her six creative siblings. When she wasn’t working on the next soul-crushing jab, she sharpened her imagination on romantic literature and day dreamed about her knight in shining armor.
It didn’t take long for this hairdresser by trade to turn her passion for reading romances into writing her own unique love stories. Susan lives her life finding laughter in all situations, and delights in marrying sarcasm with romance to create realistic falling-in-love stories in the unlikeliest of scenarios.
Susan lives on the shores of Lake Huron with her real life knight in shining armor and enjoys watching their three children learn the art of sarcasm and wit.
Website: www.susanvvaughn.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanvaughn1124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Susan-V-Vaughn-123758787958942/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14660814.Susan_V_Vaughn
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-V.-Vaughn/e/B016H54WWI/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Beyond Fate.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Beyond Fate, Contemporary, Fate, Romance, Susan V. Vaughn by Tena Stetler with 3 comments.
