Book Review of Tales From the Eerie Canal #anthologies #fantasy #horror

 4 stars

Dark and thought-provoking

This anthology of short stories fed the darker half of my soul. They reminded me of the Twilight Zone, of which I am a fan. Ms. Rein's talent is apparent in her ability to both scare and challenge this reader's grasp of the unknown.

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BH99QKJZ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

New Release: Sinfully Hot by Tina Donahue #PNR #erotic

SINFULLY HOT

Erotic Paranormal Romance

UNIVERSAL LINK: https://books2read.com/u/mV8vpP

Blurb:

 

A hotter-than-sin reaper. A badass demon. Hell doesn’t get steamier than this.

 

Zekiel owns the newest nightclub in the French Quarter. The decadent atmosphere draws the corrupt, their blackened souls just what he likes to reap.

 

Jewel is not amused. Not only has Zekiel cut in on her territory, Satan’s gotten hardcore, upping her quota. All hell’s going to break loose if mortals don’t start selling their souls to her.

 

The race is on. Zekiel claims victory and wants Jewel as his prize for one evening. Nothing forbidden. Nothing denied. In other words, the whole enchilada, including voyeurism and BDSM.

 

After the first promising look and lingering touch, they’re goners…even though they’re supposed to be competitors.

 

This book was previously published in a box set.

EXCERPT:

 (R)

 

She stilled then stroked his arm. “I’m not leaving. You can’t make me.”

“How right you are. You’re staying all night. That’s what I won, an evening with you. My games. My rules. You forbid me nothing and don’t hold anything back.”

Zekiel’s demand flooded Jewel with outrageous warmth. She got lightheaded and weak.

He trailed kisses from her ear to her temple, his lips velvety, his breath gliding across her skin.

Her lids slipped down. Bad move. She had to stop this before he went too far. Screwing around with him when he’d been a possible conquest was one thing. Losing herself to lust that wouldn’t go anywhere was another matter entirely.

He turned her until they faced each other.

She sagged into him, her boobs crushed against his massive chest, her slit snug to his rod and balls. Heaven. And a waste of precious time when she should corrupt mortal souls. She parted her lips to protest.

He slanted his mouth over hers and did far more than claim. He possessed, spearing his tongue inside, entering her deeply.

Coherent thought vanished, the moment too delectable to resist. She wreathed his shoulders and buried her hands in his glorious hair.

They staggered to the right and left, trying to get closer, touching as much of each other as they could. He squeezed her breast and thumbed her nipple. Delight thrummed through her. Giddy, she enjoyed the delightful package between his legs.

Someone bumped into them.

Zekiel growled.

She suckled his tongue.

He groaned like an oversexed teen then dove in for more passion. All man, he took what was his, cupping her ass, pulling her closer, her belly tight to his. Not even a breath could get between his sex and hers. The way it should be with lovers.

Internal alarms rang. Dismissing them, she pushed his tongue from her mouth and filled him instead, sweeping his inner cheeks and teeth.

An uncivilized noise poured from him, deeper than any sound the music could make.

Reckless and wanting, she ground her hips into his, needing to crawl inside his body and become a part of his core, making him her new home, a shelter against every crappy thing in her life.

Right. He was a reaper, her main competition.

Good luck getting over that hurdle. Once they fucked, she’d be an afterthought to him, and a nuisance he wouldn’t let inside his damn club.

Outrage and sorrow coursed through her. She tore her mouth free and gasped. Perfume, perspiration, and booze scents filled the heavy air. Beneath those fragrances were odors from too many vile souls.

Zekiel stood in the way of her getting even one.

His breathing was rough, hair wonderfully mussed. She’d pulled his tee from his jeans and unzipped his fly. No way did she regret that.

He smiled lustily. “More.”

An eternity wouldn’t have satisfied her. Better not to dream. She locked her knees and forced herself to stay put. “No.”

Surprise then confusion raced across his face. “Why not? What happened between a few seconds ago and now?” He pointed at her. “Don’t you dare say you didn’t enjoy our kiss. You’ll never convince me of that.”

The crowd hooted and whistled at the newest song. A skinny young man spun in place, lost his balance, and rammed into Zekiel.

He waved his hand again. An invisible force pushed the kid away. Not once did Zekiel’s attention stray from her.

Damn, he knew how to make a woman feel important. She should lie about that and everything else but couldn’t. “Okay, so I did enjoy it—you—what we did. Satisfied? If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

“Not here.” He cuffed her wrist and reeled her in.

“Aw, come on. I’m desperate. If I don’t make my quota tonight, you have no idea the bad shit that can happen.”

He pressed her hand to his chest, nothing but hard slabs of muscle. “Tell me what you’re afraid of.”

“Why? You want to gloat worse than you already are?”

“I thought I was being nice.” He eased her hair behind her ear.

She slumped against him, hating herself for being weak and wanting him so badly. Oddly enough, he did seem to be a good guy with a wicked streak she honestly liked. “Let me do my thing and then we can talk.”

“That’s not the way competitions work. You haven’t given me my prize yet.”

“You don’t remember my tongue halfway down your throat?”

He laughed. “I’ll never forget it. But it was far too little.” With his arm around her waist, he led her to the left.

She held back. “We’re not staying here?”

“Too tame for what I have in mind.”

A pulse beat deep within her channel, already slick from arousal, primed for his rigid cock. “Are you sure?”

“Yep. Too noisy, too.” He settled his hand on her tummy and skimmed her waistband. “First, we go to a place where you tell me what Satan has in store for you. Then we play.”

Pain and pleasure. Sounded like a plan. And a recipe for disaster. “I shouldn’t. I can’t.”

“You will. Come on.”

About Tina:

 

Tina’s an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

 

On a less serious note: she’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

 

Website/Blog: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinadonahuebooks/  

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/1wFmIu6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Triberr: https://bit.ly/1CE2ec7

Pinterest: https://bit.ly/1yFLeMx

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

My page at TRR: https://bit.ly/1vb7eEc

Kensington Author Page: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/24772

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: https://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

 

 

Interview with fantasy author Katie Zaber #authorinterview #fantasyauthors

Meet fantasy author Katie Zaber

 Interview

1.  Tell me about yourself. What inspired you to write?

 

I’ve always been creative, but never took up writing until I was recovering from surgery, was on a lot of meds, and let my imagination loose. Once off the meds and healed, I edited the story, building and rearranging, working through drafts until I was happy.

2. Describe your desk / writing space.

 

I sit in front of a walnut stained secretary desk with a hutch holding an array of keepsakes. Albums, picture frames, my Snoopy collection, souvenirs, and nostalgic knickknacks line the shelves of the hutch.

My work space is a wonderland of post-it notes in three different colors: pink, neon-yellow, and green. On the right corner of my desk, shoved between the monitor and notary stamp, is a yellow, mini-spiral notebook that contains book outlines, plots, and ideas. Little sticker tabs separate the notebook into different sections. The tabs not in use are floating on the surface of pamphlets and lists of login information to accounts I hardly visit.

A leather bounded diary with nautical embellishments, complete with anchor bookmark, holds random thoughts and sketches. A mechanical pencil can be spotted, hiding between the yellow notebook and leather diary. Its extra parts—erasers & extra graphite are strewn about the entire desk.

Between the post-it notes there are three hacky sacks. There’s also a rectangular leather box with a brass kaleidoscope made to look like it was used on a whimsical pirate ship.

It’s a happy mess.

 

3. Do you have a writing routine or do you write when inspired?

 

I try to stick to a schedule, but that normally doesn’t happen and I end up writing when inspired.

 

4.  How do you come up with the title to your books?

 

When I write a book, I usually have a broad idea of what I want to call it, but I usually decide when I’ve finished the first draft. Almost like a parent meeting their new born. They might have an idea of what they want to name the child while pregnant, but that can change when they see the baby face to face and realize he isn’t a Jim, he’s a Stephen. Kind of like that.

 

5. What was the hardest scene for you to write? Which scene was your favorite to write?

 

Intimate scenes. They are my weak spot. I feel like I can never get them exactly right.

My favorite ones are when I’m describing something for the first time. When I introduce the reader to a new environment, object, or food, my goal is for the reader to feel the mist and sun on their skin. I want them to see in minute details what the character is looking at and taste the juice running down their cheeks as character bites into fruit.

 

 6. What inspired your book/series?

 

My fantasy series, Dalya was inspired by the song, Lord of the Dance. Somehow, it was stuck in my head and my imagination took over. I pictured a king singing the song—a much more sinister version—while destroying a village of people who disobeyed him. At first, the story was going to be about him and how his reign ends, but I didn’t want to tell it from his perspective. That’s where Megan comes in.

 

My other series, DNA Demons N Angels was inspired by a recurring nightmare. It’s weird, I know. But I kept having a dream that out of the blue I was pregnant and that it was a demon. One day, I played around with the idea of what it would be like to be the mother of something different. The story grew from there.

 

7. What are you working on next?

 

After that, I plan on writing the second book in my paranormal romance series, DNA Demons N Angels. I’m playing with the title, Raising Hell, How to Survive the Terrible Twos. Here is a link to the first few chapters of the first book. DNA Demons N Angels

 

8. What authors or books have influenced your writing?

 

There’s a few. I’d say Margaret Atwood, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Conroe, Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Karen Marie Morning, Jennifer Estep, Laini Taylor, and Chuck Palahniuk are some of the biggest influencers. However, I’d like to think I’ve absorbed a little bit from every book I’ve read.

9.  If you could live anywhere, in this world or fantasy, where would you live?

 

I’d love to live on a winery in southern Italy. The architecture is breath-taking and I love the small villages with cobblestone streets, knowing your local artisans by name and buying locally from them. There’s something really romantic and peaceful about that small village lifestyle that I hope to one day experience.

 

If I got to live in a fantasy world, it would be made of chocolate and it wouldn’t be frowned upon if I ate everything.

 10.  What is your favorite meal?

 

I’m a steak and potatoes kind of lady, but the steak needs a decadent brandy cream sauce and buttery garlic whipped potatoes.

 

11.  Coffee or tea? Wine or beer?

 

A good cup of black tea with a little bit of sugar and milk is my go to in the morning. If I drink coffee, its half milk, and I don’t count the how much sugar.

I love sweet, fruity wines.

 

12.  Describe yourself in three words.

 

Curious, Spaz, Sensible

Katie's Books

 

 Pre-order now on Amazon

FREE June 16^th, 20^th, July 28^th, & 29^th.

Grab your copy on Amazon

Kindle Countdown starting June 16^th $.99, June 18^th $1.99, June 19^th $2.99.

Buy on Amazon

Katie's Bio

Katie Zaber, author of the series Dalya and DNA, is a fantasy author whose imagination knows no bounds. As a child, her parents read stories about Atlantis and other fictional places that she dreamed of exploring, fueling her love of history, adventure, and fantasy. She loves to spend what little free time she has winemaking, baking, and reading. When she has a full day to herself, you can find her at the beach or at a winery. Her favorite meals are the ones her boyfriend cooks, and she loves spending quiet nights at home with him, binge watching new fantasy shows or play video games.

Katie's Links

Newsletter and Free ebook of Ashes and Blood - https://www.subscribepage.com/s4t6x8

Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Zaber/e/B087YXPDF2

Website- https://zaberbooks.com/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20290665.Katie_Zaber

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie-zaber

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dalyaseries

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Zaberbooks

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zaberbooks/

History knows him as Aedan the Treacherous, Cat's Curse #PNR #Historical #MFRWSTEAM

New Release! Do you like romance, intrigue, and star-crossed love? A mixture of history and Celtic mythology, Cat’s Curse is an ancient Scotland paranormal romance based on a real Irish king known as Aedan the Treacherous in the Welsh court. Warning: Iron-willed enchantresses, hunky sword-wielding warriors, some violence and steamy sex, more than a little blood-drinking, a complicated love triangle, and lots of passion.

He’s a cursed, exiled Irish prince. She’s a succubus with lost memories. Destiny brought them together. Their dark secrets will tear them apart.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y6BYMGN

Steamy excerpt:

Cardea climbed on top of him and brushed her naked body along his shaft in a slow, sensual cat-like crawl. His muscles caressed her skin, and she wanted him more than she’d ever wanted another.

“Ye desire to ride the horse.” He chuckled, low and soft. “I thought as much.”

She slid onto him, his length eliciting tremors throughout, the passion and bloodlust building to great heights. The hard lines of his face softened, and his eyes brightened to a joyful blue different from the tormented darkness always present there. He cupped her breasts in his large hands, teasing her nipples to peaks. A blissful shiver rushed from her nipples to her sex.

“I enjoy the view from here.” He grinned at her.

She glided up and down on his hard, sleek shaft, circling her hips to find the point of pleasure. Pleasing shocks coursed through her pelvis, the orgasm cresting. She used her inner muscles to squeeze his length, eliciting a groan from him. It filled her with a sense of power to have such a hold on him if only for a short time.

Aedan’s breathing grew ragged with exertion as his orgasm closed in.

She bent against his chest and found the bulging vein in his neck. Her breasts pressed against his muscled chest in a pleasing crush, their hearts beating as one. The blood pumped in his vein, loud and hypnotic, demanding she drink. She licked his neck, savored the saltiness of his skin, and lost her hold on her emotions. Overpowered by the bloodlust, Cardea’s eyeteeth lengthened with both desire and hunger. Her lower body trembled, giving her the sensation of teetering on the edge of an abyss.

“Cardea,” he whispered in a ragged voice, grasped her hips, and pushed himself deeper within her, his entire length pressing to her core.

Aedan’s body quaked and rocked beneath her, his deep penetration inducing moans and shudders from her. Groaning, he exploded his seed inside of her in a powerful pent-up surge.

His potent orgasm sent her over the edge. She sank her fangs into his neck and drank his warm blood. Overcome with multiple orgasms, she plummeted into the blissful abyss. His life force flowed into her, exhilarating and intimate, linking them together. Just as she reached the bottom of the chasm, she experienced the sensation of being lifted by dark wings, hovering above the clouds in the land of the moon and stars.

Fire engulfed her body, rendering her powerless as if the brilliant sun were about to turn her into ash. His blood tasted sweeter than any she’d ever swallowed. She forgot about everything else, and she could not stop drinking his blood.

“Cardea?” He resisted, and then his struggles weakened.

A sudden clear thought rang inside her head, and she pulled herself away. He lay still, and panic quickened her pulse.

“Aedan? Oh no. Wake up, Aedan!” She shook him hard until he let out a soft groan.

Cardea woke as if from a daze. “What have I done?” she cried.

He’d think she was an animal for feeding on him, and she could not endure the disgusted look he would surely cast upon her.

Before he could recover his senses, she waved her hand over his face. “You will not remember. Sleep now,” she said, speaking in the sorcerers’ tongue, the language of the Romans.

Using her first and second finger, she touched the two holes in his neck and healed them with her magic.

A realization hit her. She’d done more than just touch him and he was still human. Something else troubled her about their dark embrace. A strange feeling had flowed into her mind when she had taken his blood from him.

 *

 https://www.kelleyheckart.com/

~~~~~~

Check out the other steamy excerpts from some talented authors: http://mfrwsteam.blogspot.com/

Book Reviews: The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith #paranormal #victorian

 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Spell-Luanne-G-Smith-ebook/dp/B093SHTLLB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WC6WJOCB6DAK&keywords=the+raven+spell&qid=1648482283&sprefix=the+raven+spell%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-1

5 Stars

Mystery, magic, and mayhem

The author weaves a plot with the skill of a witch weaving magic.

Edwina and Mary Blackwood are more than strange even among fellow witches. Mary’s fascination with death and stealing memories sets her apart and stirs fear in others. Edwina tries her best to protect her sister, but giving into one’s darkest desires has grave consequences.

Ian is left for dead, but he awakens with his memories gone. His life is entwined with the sister witches as he tries to solve a string of London murders.

This Victorian London paranormal mystery thriller is filled with surprises. The author’s well-crafted descriptions drew me into the story and held me spellbound. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

New Release! Privilege: The Valesky Crime Family Book 2 by Tina Donahue #darkmafiaromance

 

She’ll destroy the mobsters who murdered her brother… unless they kill her first.

District cop Lia Blosky warned her twin brother not to get involved with the Valesky Crime Family. He didn’t listen. Now, he’s dead, tortured horribly before mobsters murdered him. Out for blood, she’ll do anything to see these monsters dead.

FBI Special Agent Adrian Kalin is connected to the Valesky Family in a way he loathes and doesn’t want. His stepfather rules the syndicate and is tired of Lia threatening to kill him and others responsible for her brother’s death. To shut her up for good, he orders Adrian to murder her. Who better than an FBI agent who has no connection to her and knows how to hide evidence?

Adrian resists, but if it comes down to saving Lia or his brothers and mother from Dimitri’s rage, he’ll have to choose family.

In a deadly game between each other and the mob, Lia and Adrian fight to survive… while also surrendering to their undeniable attraction to each other.

This is book two in the Valesky Crime Family series, can be enjoyed independently and has an HEA.

Publisher’s Note: This contemporary dark mafia romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, adult themes, and possible triggers for some readers.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60169480-privilege

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09QLBZ89H

Books2Read:  https://books2read.com/u/4Elpno

Excerpt:

LIA

My rubber soles squeak on the polished floor.

Tap.

The unexpected sound stops me.

I cock my head.

Nothing.

The walls must be settling.

I put in my earbuds to listen to music then quickly take them out. If I fuck up while I’m on duty here I’ll have no income.

The store’s main entrance is past the shoes and cosmetics, the faintly lit mall visible beyond it.

I proceed.

Tap.

Again, I stop, my skin crawling. That sound isn’t coming from the building nor is it a coincidence.

I spin around.

No one’s behind me.

Holding my breath, I wait for something to pounce at me from either side.

Nothing does.

What the fuck?

Shaken and confused, I face front.

Adrian advances.

No, no, no!

“You need to come with me,” he says.

To make my murder easier on him? His jeans, tee, and biker boots show he’s dressed for manual labor… like digging a grave.

Instinctively, I reach for my gun, which isn’t there. This mall doesn’t want their security guards involved in shootouts even if they’re cops. Standing down is their preference. My only weapon is my phone.

I pull it out and back away.

He follows. “If you plan to call 911, that’s not a wise choice. Remember, the cops in this area are on Dimitri’s side not yours.”

Just like him. Together, they could easily subdue me. Once I’m cuffed or hogtied, transporting me to another location for the final kill would take zero effort.

I shove the phone back in my pocket but keep retreating.

He matches my every step. “Lia, come with me, please. If you don’t want to go into WITSEC, I can take you somewhere safe.”

Like a fucking grave?

No thanks.

He may be bigger and have a gun but I know this place. He doesn’t.

Using that to my advantage, I back toward the escalators. They’re turned off but still lead away from him.

His gaze jumps from me to them. “There’s no need to run. I can protect you.”

Liar. Bastard.

I don’t stop.

Neither does he.

Junk jewelry displays crowd the area a few feet from the escalators. No one bothers to put that stuff away. Thieves wouldn’t bother with it.

At last, I stop.

Adrian does, too. “Please say you’re coming with me. I’m begging you.”

I’d rather he was shrieking in agony from a bullet to his dick or gut, but keep that venom from my voice. “We can talk. That’s it. I’m not promising anything. Got it?”

“Sure.” He gestures behind himself. “Let’s go outside to my car or yours. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

I won’t relax until he’s dead. “I have to close up first. There’s a door upstairs I need to lock.” I point to the upper floor.

He nods. “I’ll go with you.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Lia, please.”

I feign indecision then nod. “Fine.” Alert and impatient, I wait for him to step closer.

When he’s no more than a foot away but still coming, I push the junk jewelry display in his path.

Unable to stop, he trips over it.

I lift the next display and bring it down hard on his back.

His breath whooshes out. He falls face forward… directly in my path to the mall entrance.

Before I can get around him, he’s pushing to his knees.

Shit. I race up the escalator to leave from the exit I mentioned.

Tap, tap, tap.

He’s steps below me, murder in his eyes, his gun drawn. “You’re going to fucking stop,” he says, “and you’re going to do it now.”

About the Author:

Tina’s an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

On a less serious note: she’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

Author Links

Website:  http://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/?zx=95d61d0b25f33bf4

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinadonahuebooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tina-Donahue/e/B001IZPJXO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon

Follow the tour for special content and a giveaway!

https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/privilege-book-tour-and-giveaway