The app Vine

Vine is my new favorite app.

Okay, so, this week I've been playing with the Vine app on my phone. Vine gives us 6.5 seconds to record life as it happens - but you must be over 17 to play. And. It's. AWESOME!

When I signed up, the app took my Twitter profile and used it to set up my Vine account... easy. Once my accound was set up I could watch other videos like the Editor's Picks, Popular Now, and several other categories available... sweet! I can also follow or unfollow other users too. Finding friends is easy because the app will search Twitter and my address book, and I may also search Vine... easy peasy.

Here is my first week in review at Cloey's:

First I made a 6 sec video, secondly I tweeted it, and finally, I present it here for you to view at Cloey's. Lookout because once I get comfortable I will be recording and saving a lot of funny footage on Vine - what an awesome app!

An interview with B.R. Kingsolver, a review & excerpt from What's A Witch to Do? #BookWorm #YourNextHotRead vine.co/v/bjPE5JvmHwa
— Cloey (@CloeyWorld) March 29, 2013

Jennifer Harlow

Excerpt by Jennifer Harlow and review...

Judging from the twenty voicemails, and house phone ringing off the hook, I’d say the demon woke up the whole town. Every witch he came within fifty feet of felt him. I know this because it’s in the book right in front of me Auntie Sara brought over. I sit at the kitchen table with Cora curled up in my lap as I scan the pages. She hasn’t let me go since I retrieved them from the office. Sophie was throwing ingredients into the cauldron as Cora watched. I think it was a protection spell. I just grabbed them and brought them downstairs with me into the kitchen where we’ve set up camp.

Adam hands Auntie Sara a cup of coffee, which she takes with shaky hands. Sophie sits across from me staring at her sister, face made of stone. Adam plops down in the empty chair beside me, sliding a coffee cup over. “Thank you,” I say.

He nods. “So…a demon. I thought they were just myths.”

“Says the werewolf,” I say with a crooked smile. It’s all I can muster right now.

“I cannot believe you lied to me,” Auntie Sara says to me.

I had no choice but to tell her everything. “I’m sorry.”

“What do you know about demons?” Adam asks me.

“Not a whole lot. It’s not something I ever thought would come up. They’re rare, at least the kind I think this one is.”

“There’s more than one type?” Adam asks.

“There’s the kind you summon and the kind that just sneaks through the dimensional cracks,” Auntie Sara instructs. “With the latter you get your basic demonic possession. They’re too weak, so they need a host body. The summoned kind is a specific demon. They have specific traits and powers, depending on who was called.”

“What do they look like?” Adam asks.

“Human,” Sophie says. All eyes dart to her in surprise. “He’ll look like whoever gave the blood for the ritual.” Auntie Sara, Adam, and I all share a concerned look, and Cora grasps me harder. “The murder of something innocent, usually an animal, helps open the doorway. It comes out of the portal, looking like a demon. It’s…” She shakes her head and winces. I get a chill. “It’s unnatural. It doesn’t belong here and can’t survive, so the witch gives her blood and it takes human form.” She looks down at the table away from our stares. “Um, it’ll look, sound, act, even bleed like us. I guess it sort of is us. Just…a little more. And powerful.”

“So it can be killed,” Adam says.

“It’s not as simple as that,” I say. “It’s like a psychic on steroids. If she summoned the demon in charge of fire it can make you spontaneously combust from twenty yards away. If it can read in its dimension, it can invade your mind and trap your consciousness inside yourself.”

“And it’s strong,” Sophie adds. “Probably as strong as you. And it heals fast too.”

My stomach clenches again. “What—what else do you know about them, honey?”

“People can’t tell what they are, but we can because we’re from here and they’re from there. They don’t like us because of it. And they don’t like it that they have to listen to the person who brought them here. But they only have to do one thing, and they’re free. We can trap them, though, with sigils and spells. They can’t hurt us then. Not even with their brains. And they don’t like certain smells, and silver hurts them real bad.”

“An—anything else, honey?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

She just shrugs.

I clear my throat. “Okay um, girls why don’t you go in the living room and pop in a movie?”

Cora burrows deeper into my chest. “No, I don’t want to leave you,” she cries.

“I’ll be in here. I’ll be able to see you the whole time, okay?”

“Come on,” Sophie says as she stands. “We’ll watch Toy Story 3.”

I manage to extract the child from my body and get her to her feet. A stoic Sophie takes her hand and leads her into the living room. Oh hell, what on earth am I going to do? “Mona, how did she know all of that?” Auntie Sara asks. “You don’t think—”

“Auntie Sara, that is a not now question, okay?” The telephone starts ringing again, sending splinters into my already throbbing temples. “Can you just field calls for me?”

“And what am I supposed to tell them?”

“The truth?” My brain is swimming. I rub my temples to focus. “Tell them we’re having an emergency meeting in the morning, time and location in an e-mail to follow.”

“Okay,” Auntie Sara says as she stands. She grabs the portable phone and walks out.

I glance at the girls sitting on the couch, then at Adam. He plays with his cup but his weary eyes stay on me. “Are you okay?” he asks.

I don’t know what it is about those words, or maybe it’s his gentle expression, but I almost burst into tears. Tentatively, he places his hand over mine, squeezing it. No, not now. I gasp and cover my mouth but a few tears make it to my eyes. I shut them. Using all my willpower, I push them away. If I break now I won’t be able to pull myself together again, so I do what I do best. I swallow my emotions so deep an archeologist couldn’t find them. I pull my hand away and wipe the stray tears off my face. Problem. Fix the problem first. “Um, what did you find out from Cheyenne? What time did she get to the bar?”

“She was there when I got there at 10:30. We talked until about 12:30, when I walked her to her car. We woke at 4:30, so she had plenty of time to summon it.”

“What did she say?”

“About you? Not a lot. She thinks you’re prissy, unimaginative, and holier than thou. Her words, not mine.”

“I don’t give a shit what she thinks about my character flaws! In between the make-out sessions did she give you any indication she hates me enough to do all this?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t get much out of her, I’m sorry.”

I stand, practically making the chair fall back. “Well, I can’t do much with sorry, can I?”

I can’t breathe in here. I need to breathe so I can think. I stalk into the backyard, taking in huge gulps of air. Instantly, I feel like a jerk. I can’t keep doing that. He is in no way, shape, or form deserving of mu ire.

Even still, a second later he steps outside to check on me. “Mona?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, “I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to speak to you like that, I really don’t. I’m not normally like this, I swear.”

“I know.”

“I have no idea what I’m doing, Adam. A killer? Now a demon too? What the hell am I going to do?”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“How? I can’t think. I can’t…” Shit, the tears are trying the damndest to get out. I take a ragged breath. “I am so scared.”

“I know.” He steps toward me, and the next thing I know his arms are around me, pulling me into his warm body. Dear goddess does this feel wonderful. He’s so solid and even smells good, like hyssop and soap. “I know,” he whispers. He simply holds me, my head on his shoulder and hand against his racing heart. I just want to melt into him. For a fleeting instant all the world fades except for me and him, and I can actually believe everything will be okay as long as he never lets me go.

But only for an instant. I’m too realistic for false hope. Lust, be gone. I pull away, my back straightening to gain some respectability back. “Thank you. That helped.”

“Happy to oblige,” he says, for some reason unable to look at me.

I step away and turn my back to him. Okay, I can think now. This is good. “So, um, I have a request to make of you.”

“Anything.”

I knew he’d say that. “I need you to take the girls away from here. Take them to Jason’s or your house or wherever, and keep them safe for me.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

I spin around. “The hell it isn’t! There is a fucking demon here to kill me!”

“Then you come with us.”

“I can’t! I can’t leave everyone here with a demon on the loose. Just take them and go!”

“I am not leaving you alone here!” he says with enough force to punch through a wall.

“This isn’t your fight.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“The game has changed. It’s far too dangerous around me now. Just take them and go! Please!”

“No. I made a promise and I take promises very seriously.”

I throw my arms up. “I absolve you! Take them and go!”

“No!” Sophie shouts from the door. I turn around as she leads her sister toward us. “If you send us away, we’ll just come right back! We will!” she says, voice shaking. “I can protect you! I can! I know what to do! Please!” She looks at Adam, eyes wild. “Don’t take us away. Please, don’t take us away.”

“Sophie—” I say, my voice breaking along with my heart.

“We are not going anywhere,” Adam says to Sophie. “I promise.”

“You can’t—” I say.

He grabs my arm and yanks me away from the girls, all but dragging me to the other side of the yard. “Now, you listen to me,” he says in a low voice. “You are letting your fear cloud your judgment, and you are scaring the hell out of those girls there. More than even the demon is. Is that what you want?”

“No, but—”

“We are not leaving, do you hear me? Do not mention it again.” He takes a deep breath to regain his composure. “Look, I know you’re used to doing everything on your own, but you cannot do this alone. You can’t. So, I am here to protect you and those girls so you don’t have to. But to do that, we all need to be here. Together. A cohesive unit working together. A pack, okay? And since you aren’t thinking clearly right now, I’ll do it for you. If you die, who will take care of them? They need to be near you, a strong you. If they go away, and you die, they will never ever recover. They have lost too damn much already.”

“It could kill them to get to me,” I whisper.

“Mona, if that thing wants them, and is as powerful as you say it is, it won’t matter where they are. It will find them and use them anyway. At least here they have you, and me, and an entire army of witches in this town to go through first. And I will die before I let anything happen to any of you. Do you believe me?”

I absolutely do. I shake my head.

“Good. Then trust me on this. Then we’re sticking together. We will be cautious, but we will not let fear rule our lives. We stick to the plan. We fortify this place and ourselves as best we can, we find who summoned this thing, and stop her. Together. You…and me. I am not going anywhere. I swear it to you.”

I have the strongest urge to hug him again, among other things I won’t admit to. He’s so sincere I can’t help but feel…relief. At least that’s what I think it is. It’s a new sensation. Take me awhile to get used to it. “Okay,” I whisper. “Okay.”

“Then let’s get started.” He turns away from me and walks over to the girls, picking up Cora as if it was the most natural thing and holding his hand out for Sophie. She looks at it, but after a second of indecision, puts her hand in his. He leads them inside, off to find a way to save my life.

This time I let the tears flow. Because I can.

What’s A Witch To Do? 

A Midnight Magic Mystery #1
Jennifer Harlow

Genre: Paranormal Mystery/Romance


Publisher: Midnight Ink
Date of Publication: March 2013




ISBN: 9780738735146

Number of pages: 336

Barnes and Noble Amazon

Indiebound Amazon Canada Amazon.UK


Book Description:

Mona McGregor’s To Do List:

• Make 20 13 potions/spells/charms

• Put girls to bed

• Help with Debbie’s wedding

• Lose 30 pounds before bachelorette auction

• Deal with the bleeding werewolf on doorstep

• Find out who wants me dead

• Prepare for supernatural summit

• Have a nervous breakdown

• Slay a damn demon

• Fall in love


With her to-do lists growing longer each day, the last thing Mona McGregor—High Priestess and owner of the Midnight Magic shop in Goodnight, Virginia—needs is a bleeding werewolf at her front door. Between raising her two nieces and leading a large coven of witches, Mona barely has time for anything else. Not even Guy, the handsome doctor who’s taken an interest in her.

But now there’s Adam Blue, the sexy beta werewolf of the Eastern Pack who’s been badly hurt, warning Mona that someone wants her dead. Hell’s bells! A demon is stalking her, and Mona starts to suspect her coven members and even her own family could be responsible for it. With two attractive men and a determined demon after her, Mona teams up with Adam to find out who really wants her dead.

.. . and who really wants her.

About the Author:

Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virginia home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time, she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.

http://www.jenniferharlowbooks.com 

Tales From the Darkside Blog http://blog.jenniferharlowbooks.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jenharlowbooks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.harlow.52

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4708453.Jennifer_Harlow

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jenharlowbooks/

I loved this book! I started it and finished it in one night - I didn't put it down.

Mona McGregor is a stressed out business owner and a single mom to her two nieces. She is just barely making ends meet, yup sounds like most single mom business owners that I know.

Mona's daily to do list is as long as mine but hers is way more interesting - I had a lot of laughs here. So, between running her business, her household, taking care of her nieces, running her coven, a website, and spell classes, she has to fight for her life and find out who wants her dead. Did I mention that she is stressed out?

The only difference between Mona and the moms that I know is that Mona is a powerful witch and the High Priestess of her coven. I recommend reading this one and I would definitely read another book by Jennifer Harlow.

More of the tour...

March 27 review
The Speculative Salon:
http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/

March 28 Interview and review
Cabin Goddess
http://cabingoddess.com
10 quick questions of things you didn't know about the author already

March 28 Promo and review
My Sexy Escapes
www.mysexyescapes.com

March 31st Guest blog and review
www.shewolfreads.com

B. R. Kingsolver

B. R. Kingsolver

I would like to thank BR Kingsolver for spending time with Cloey's Book Reviews and Other stuff today. I am sure that all of you are as interested as I am in hearing about The Telepathic Clans Sage and BR's writing process.

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

BR: I think I’ve always been fascinated by authors. I just never thought I could do it well. It wasn’t until self publishing came along that I had the courage to try. I had a story in my head and told a friend about it. She encouraged me to write it and see what happened.

Cloey: What inspired you to write Succubus Rising?

BR: As I said, I had this story in my head. I was working a contract job and they didn’t have anything for me to do. I sat around for hours every day waiting for my employers to give me something to do. I entertained myself by making up a story, and at night I went home and wrote it down.

Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

BR: Women are men’s equals. I know that’s rather clichéd, but even in the 21st century, they aren’t. Especially in the area of sex. Men who play around are studs. Women who act the same way are sluts. A quarter of women who enter college will be raped before they graduate. 40% of women soldiers are raped. Women and girls are trafficked as slaves in a business that makes 40 billion dollars a year. In my books, the women are powerful and kick ass. They don’t take crap from anyone. But they are still feminine, sexual, and like men. I think that’s the way it should be.

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character to develop and why?

BR: I’m divided as to whether I like Brenna or Rebecca the most. I relate to both of them a lot. I don’t know which was least. There were characters I developed that didn’t appear in the final book.

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Succubus Rising?

BR: I think I learned a lot about writing. It was my most difficult book. I wrote it in about two months, before the first two books were published. But it took six months to edit and revise. I learned so much turning it into something worth reading.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

BR: I had a lot of scenes I’d worked out in my head, but I didn’t have a coherent story, a coherent plot line. I didn’t realize it, of course. But my beta readers did. It’s wrenching to realize that you’ve written something that’s unreadable. People who loved my first two books hated it. Revising it, turning it into something far different while keeping the good parts. That is a challenge.

Cloey: What are you working on now?

BR: I’m writing a paranormal mystery set in the same world. It’s different as it’s written in first person, whereas the first three were written in third person. It’s much faster paced. I have about 10 chapters written, about a third of the book.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

BR: I read all sorts of things. Science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, politics, history, biographies. I have always been a voracious reader.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)

BR: I enjoy live opera. I hate to listen to opera music. But the live productions are fabulous. The costumes and staging are incredible. If you’ve never been to a live opera, I strongly encourage you to go.

Cloey: I too love live shows and music. Thank yo so much for sharing with us today. I am looking forward to reading Succubus Rising.

Succubus Rising 

Book 3 of the Telepathic Clans Saga
BR Kingsolver


Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance (Adult/New Adult)













Book Description:

The Goddess has plans for Brenna and Rebecca, and the Goddess has a wicked sense of humor.

Rebecca Healy is a true wilder, growing up with no contact or knowledge of other telepaths. Discovered by a Clan member on the streets of San Francisco, she felt like she’d hit the jackpot. Finally, she knew what she was, or at least she thought she did.

When Brenna O’Donnell, long-lost heir of the O’Donnell Clan, and the strongest telepath in history, is returned to her family, she and Rebecca form a tight bond. Brenna has it all, looks, money, power, and men falling all over her.

Rebecca isn’t jealous, but it would be nice to find someone who would really love her and stick around in the morning. She’s intrigued by a handsome South American general, but of course, he has his sights set on Brenna. Carlos de Vargas wants more than love. His Clan has its back to the wall, and they hope for an alliance with O’Donnell. An alliance that would lead to war.

The story began in The Succubus Gift and continued in Succubus Unleashed. In Succubus Rising, questions are answered and new mysteries are revealed.

Succubus Unleashed 
Book 2 of the Telepathic Clans Saga 
BR Kingsolver 

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance (Adult/New Adult)

ISBN: 9780985763800
ASIN: B008EMW4Q4

Cover Artist: Mia Darien


AMAZON BN SMASHWORDS GOODREADS

Also available on Apple iTunes book store


Book Description:

It's not easy being a succubus.

After a crash course in learning about her genetic heritage, Brenna O'Donnell has discovered what it really means to be a succubus and has learned to embrace her strange Gift. Her major concern is whether Collin will accept her for what she is. As she adjusts to telepathic society, others in the Clan have plans that will strip the last of her freedom. Rival Clans still hunt succubi, and discovering their dark motives is paramount.

The social season is also around the corner, including events that Brenna never imagined in her wildest dreams. The succubi, representatives of the Goddess on earth, are at the center of an ancient worship. And if a girl is going to be the center of attention, then obviously she needs a new dress.

The Succubus Gift, 

Book 1 of the Telepathic Clans Saga

BR Kingsolver
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance (Adult/New Adult)


ISBN: 9781476406077

ASIN: B007X7POWW

Cover Artist: Rebecca Sinz




AMAZON.COM BARNES&NOBLE.COM SMASHWORDS.COM

GOODREADS.COM KOBOBOOKS.COM DIESEL-EBOOKS.COM

INDIGO.CA Also available on Apple iTunes book store


Book Description:

The history of the Clans, called the Sidhe by the Irish, stretches back to antiquity. The Goddess blesses Her people with 25 Telepathic Gifts. In addition to Telepathy, the Gifts include command over Air and Fire, Telekinesis and Teleportation. In over 2,500 years, She has never bestowed more than 15 Gifts on a single person.

Brenna Morgan was orphaned at eight when her parents were killed in a plane crash. Through one foster home after another, she carried the ornate, carved wooden box her mother had left with her, keeping it always a secret. Then one night she stumbles over a man who claims her as family.

Brenna’s life isn’t the same after she discovers her unusual and mysterious heritage. In addition to being a telepath, Brenna learns she has the Succubus Gift.

That’s just the beginning of her problems. Someone is stalking her. Then there’s the tall, dangerous woman who shadows her and hints a Goddess has linked them. And what is she going to do with a handsome, charismatic, womanizing man she knows she should avoid?

Some days a girl just wants to pull the covers over her head and stay in bed -- with a willing young man of course.

About the author:

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school and I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff in Canada.

I have a very significant other, two cats and two Basset Hounds. I’m currently living in Baltimore, nine blocks from the harbor, but still own a home in New Mexico that I see too infrequently.

Twitter: @BRKINGSOLVER

Facebook

Web site



More of the tour...
March 26 review book 1
Paperback Princess
http://princess-paperback.blogspot.com.au

March 26 - book two - review and interview
Beverly @ The Wormhole –
http://wormyhole.blogspot.com

March 27 Guest blog
Books and Tales
http://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk

March 28 review
Books, Books, and More Books
http://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogspot.com/

March 29 Spotlight and review
Once Upon A Book
http://angelicdefiance.com

March 30 - book three - review and promo
Beverly @ The Wormhole –
http://wormyhole.blogspot.com

March 30 guest blog
Offbeat Vagabond
http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

March 30 Guest blog and review
The Book Maven
bookmaven623.wordpress.com

Tricia Skinner

Interview with Tricia Skinner

Hi Tricia, thank you for hanging out with us today and for giving me an interview. We are looking forward to learning about Angel Bait. I have got to tell you... your cover is hot. The guns, the wings, the back... it pretty much tells us what to expect when we open the cover.

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Tricia: I worked as a newspaper reporter in Detroit, like my heroine. I started as an 18-year-old intern at one of the largest newspapers in Michigan. At the time, that was my dream. I couldn’t wait to run around the city, asking strangers questions. It was a blast and fed my desire to write books.

Cloey: What inspired you to write Angel Bait?

Tricia: I always point to the television show Supernatural and its fan community on LiveJournal. I watched the show and was hooked, but I wanted more. I found the fan fiction community and lurked for a while. Finally I gathered enough courage to try writing a story, too. That’s one of the toughest things a fledgling writer can do. Putting your work up for others to read? I was terrified but the community was great. I tried different writing styles until I found one I enjoyed. Supernatural introduced angels into the storyline and those episodes sparked my own ideas. I kept messing with the mythology until I came up with my version of angels.

Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Tricia: I never consciously wrote with themes in mind, but that didn’t stop the messages from appearing in print. Perhaps the clearest message is about racism. The hero and his brothers are mixed race (angel and human) and have been mistreated their whole lives because of this. They’re supposed to be inferior because of their birth. Yet in my novel they are all heroes. My message? Never judge a person by their race. You’ll end up looking like an asshat.

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character to develop and why?

Tricia: This is different from the character I connected to most. My favorite character is Tanis, the angel sent to kill the nephilim when they were children. He saved them at great cost to himself. Not only is Tanis shunned by other angels and treated as poorly as his boys, but also his wings are horribly scarred. He has a tremendous strength to him that has nothing to do with muscles or superpowers. Any man who would forsake everything for the life of a child, like fire fighters or cops, is a real hero. I can’t wait to get more into his story.

I had a difficult time developing my heroine, Ionie. I adore her, but she and I had some nights where it was a cat fight to get her on the page. The problem was the books I’d read in the genre had influenced me. Urban fantasy heroines have a sort of calling card of “must do this” and I didn’t want her to be a carbon copy. I wrote Ionie as a real woman without hidden ninjutsu training or life-long skills in sword fighting. She’s strong and weak. She has good ideas and makes mistakes. It took a while for her to develop in a way I was happy.

Cloey:  What did you enjoy most about writing Angel Bait?

Tricia: I had a blast writing the action scenes. When I read them, I see the action as if I’m watching a movie. The characters amazed me. They’re rife with emotion. Getting a chance to push the heroes and villains to the edge and keeping the conflict high felt amazing.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

Tricia: Any time an author deviates from the expected is a challenge. I had one contest judge complain that my version of angels was so far from what’s believed about the celestial beings she didn’t expect any publisher would touch the book. She was wrong. When publishers say they want something fresh, they mean it. A writer will only get so far cranking out the same stuff the next one is doing. I had to believe in my story even when it felt as though no one else would.

Cloey: What are you working on now?

Tricia: I’m writing book two, Angel Kin, and another project.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

Tricia: I had to give up finding books on my own. There are so many and my time is now limited. I count on blogs like yours to find me awesome books. So, thank you for all your hard work in that area. Based on some recent recommendations, I have a new urban fantasy romance, a YA thriller, and a horror story on my iPad to finish.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs.

Tricia: I dressed like a Goth in college and preferred industrial music. My best friend of 20 years could tell you stories about my skull earring. As an adult my tastes remain the same with more movie soundtracks thrown in. I love epic instrumental music; the stuff you hear in movie trailers. I may prefer Zombie Girl over Beyoncé, but I appreciate cool songs in most genres.

Cloey: Thank you so much for sharing with us today. Angel Bait sounds like a hot read - it's a different kind of urban fantasy/romance - that alone makes it a must read. I can't wait to get it into my reader because I have a feeling that it will be one of those books that makes me want to download the next book in the series before finishing the current one.

She leaned back and studied him, taking in the casual way his thigh rested against a chair. Her throat closed, smothering her clever retort. Jarrid angled his chiseled face to study items on her desk, and Ionie caught the awed stares of her passing colleagues.

One woman tripped over her own feet.


Another face-planted into a wall.


Jesus Christ.


The half-angel was so handsome it hurt. Jarrid didn’t seem to notice the attention directed at him. Or maybe he didn’t care.


“You’re upset I won’t allow photos, but you still plan to work with me,” he said, his fingers sliding over a shriveled dictionary. “I want to know why.”

Blunt and to the point.

“I’m not upset.” Ionie snorted, a sound she hoped made her seem indifferent. “You’ve answered my prayers. I’m used to working obits, or chasing the occasional fire truck.”

He flicked his head at the desk adjoining hers. “You work with someone?”

“I don’t do partners.”

“Yet you will do me.” The simple statement, spoken in his sexy rumble, liquefied the marrow in Ionie’s bones.

“Uh,” she said. “My work takes on a whole new meaning when you say it.”

He leaned in, a smooth slide of firm muscle and taut flesh. She caught a whiff of his scent; she hadn’t noticed it before. Something nameless, celestial like the man – the being – it belonged to. She inhaled deep, lulled by his nearness. Gorgeous. No other word fit him better.

“Is there a problem?” Jarrid’s lips curved down. His tone held an edge she couldn’t place.

“Problem?” Mario’s smooth voice yanked Ionie from her trance. She shook her head and leaned away from the nephilim. “You okay, kid?”

What the hell am I doing?

Ionie strained to smile at Jarrid. The half-angel’s face presented a solid mask, obscuring any hint of his reaction.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Mario, this is Jarrid. He’s with the Eternal Order ... and my new story. Jarrid, this is Mario Hernandez. He trained me on the graveyard shift.”

“Story?” The men exchanged handshakes. She could see Mario’s mind working behind his casual expression.

“On Patrick’s say so.” She suppressed some of her excitement. “I’m doing a feature on angel society.”

“Angels don’t seek attention. Why the switch?”


“Times change,” Jarrid said in a tight, controlled voice.


The older reporter narrowed his eyes at the flat tone. She didn’t blame him. “Doesn’t explain why the boys above have sent a nephilim. Aren’t you guys a bit high level for PR?”

The muscles in Jarrid’s arms ticked. “My work is classified.”


“I bet,” Mario said.


What the hell?

Ionie stared at her friend, then Jarrid. The corded line of his neck bulged with thick throbbing veins. Her source appeared ready to pounce on the curious old coot. She slid off her chair. “We should get going.”

Neither man moved. Ionie reached out and touched Jarrid’s bicep. His arm shifted beneath her hand like she’d branded him. She removed her fingers before he decided to break them off.

No touching. Got it.

Without a word, he marched from the office. With the weird question and answer session over, she grabbed her bag and hauled ass to catch up.

“What happened back there?” She jogged to keep pace with him, his long strides churning yards of polished marble floor in his wake. “Why are you acting like this?”

Jarrid turned on her with a scowl. “Your buddy is inquisitive.”

“Newsflash. He’s a reporter, like me. Nosey is what we do.” That didn’t help. Not the way Jarrid stared at her as if she’d sprouted horns. “You’re a big deal in Heaven, huh? If it’s a secret, you shouldn’t be hanging around journalists. We suck up secrets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

“We keep to ourselves.” A tremor of annoyance filtered through the words.

“Not anymore.” The two of them standing in a newspaper lobby made the whole conversation seem ridiculous. Ionie stepped closer to Jarrid and angled her head to see his eyes. “Not many people can say they’ve seen, or met, an angel. Your kind might want to keep on the down low, but when you step out, you’re going to draw attention.”

His steady glare told her he didn’t believe a word. Or maybe he didn’t like what he heard. Or maybe he just liked glaring at her like she’d eventually shut the hell up.

Jerk. Angels weren’t the only ones who preferred seclusion. Try tracking down the Fae. Those bastards were near impossible to get out in the open. She’d tried.

“Angels and nephilim are private. I get the cloak and dagger bull, but you came to me. This covert thing? You want people to answer your questions?”

He gave a microscopic bob of his head.

“First lesson? People are naturally curious, especially humans.” Ionie moistened her bottom lip. She hated the nervous response, but Jarrid held a remote control on her anxiety. “They may have questions for you, too. We’re drawn to the unknown like butter to toast, at least according to my grandma. I’ll help you. You’ll help me. Everybody gets what they need.”

Silver eyes dipped to her lips.

The gap between them sizzled like someone had flipped on a low-voltage current. Every hair on her skin saluted. She stared into his eyes and her heartbeat doubled. By now she should be nervous, but the hint of danger she sensed in him only brought an embarrassing rush of arousal.

Her face must have flushed apple red because Jarrid’s mouth parted. His now wide gaze traced over her features, lingering on her cheeks and lips. She should kiss him. Kiss him right in the middle of her workplace. Kiss him in front of Stan the desk clerk who took classified ads. One kiss on the nephilim’s too-full lips. One hard press ....

She licked her lip again. His gaze tracked her tongue. Before she could lean into his body and act on the impulse, he jerked back and stepped out of reach.

“What are you doing?” His voice was low, dangerous.

What was she doing? She’d almost pounced on a guy at work! She didn’t jump her sources. Another wave of heat seared her face and she stared at her feet. “So ... we still have a deal?”

Jarrid didn’t reply. She chanced a peek at him. He looked pissed. His back was ramrod straight and his eyes glowed. Maybe she’d offended his angel sensibilities with her odd human reactions.

Wasn’t he half-Human? Did he feel an attraction to her? 


A miserable minute ticked by. 


“We still have a deal,” he said. “First, you meet my brothers.”





Angel Bait
Book 1 of the Angel Assassins Series
Tricia Skinner
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance


Publisher: Crimson Romance (F+W Media)
Date of Publication: February 18, 2013

ISBN 10: 1-4405-6515-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6515-1
eISBN 10: 1-4405-6516-3
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6516-8

Number of pages: 140
Word Count: 65,000




Book Description:

Saved by the angel sent to kill them, four half-angel boys are trained and employed as Heaven’s assassins. Jarrid and his nephilim brothers are raised as members of The Eternal Order, and must enforce Heaven’s laws by hunting down those who defy the Directorate.

His only shot at freedom is Ascension, but his employers won’t permit the ancient ritual. 

Then Jarrid learns a Renegade angel is in Detroit. Such a high-level take­down is the answer to his prayers—all the leverage he needs to Ascend.

For freedom, Jarrid is willing to do anything to lure his elusive enemy out of hiding.

Even use an innocent woman as bait.

News reporter Ionie Gifford has no clue an angel outlaw wants her dead. She agrees to help Jarrid, the enigmatic nephilim with penetrating silver eyes and a worship-worthy body, but only because he accepts her terms. He’s her all-access pass into the city’s supernatural underworld where she hopes to locate her mother’s killer.

Blind­sided by Ionie's beauty and tenacity, Jarrid soon finds the eternity-old glacier around his heart thawing. With duty and desire at war within him, he’s forced to make a choice—either save Ionie from the trap he snared and stay chained to Heaven, or allow her to become collateral damage.
Ama­zon 

Apple iBooks

About the Author:

After spending several years as a newspaper reporter and corporate communications director, Tricia Skinner cast off traditional journalism for the freedom of novel writing. ANGEL BAIT is her urban fantasy romance debut. Her read­ing tastes are all over the place, but she’s mainly drawn to fan­tasy (and its sub­gen­res), para­nor­mal, sci-fi, and history.

In those rare moments when she’s not writ­ing, Tri­cia is a new­bie “green” prac­ti­tioner, a fit­ness pro­cras­ti­na­tor, and a tech­nol­ogy geek. She is a mother and a wife. Her fam­ily includes two Great Danes.

Tri­cia stays active in various writing communities. She’s the Web Edi­tor for Pony Express(ions), the online lit­er­ary jour­nal of the Mas­ters of Lib­eral Stud­ies Pro­gram at South­ern Methodist Uni­ver­sity; a vol­un­teer with SMU’s The Writ­ers Path; the Newsletter Editor and a Mud Puddle Critique Group moderator for the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Chapter of Romance Writers of America. . In Decem­ber 2012 she received a master’s degree with a Cre­ative Writ­ing focus from SMU.

She welcomes correspondence from readers.

Visit her online at www.TriciaSkinner.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaSkinner

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/triciaskinner

Twitter: @KaziWren  

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March 25 review
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March 26 Promo and review
Paranormal Book Club
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March 27 Excerpt and review
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March 28 review
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March 29 Interview and review
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Heidi Garrett

Heidi Garrett 

Cover Reveal 

Why Do I Write Fantasy? Or: You Never Know Who Might Show Up at Your Front Door

By Heidi Garrett 


As long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with the truths that my physical senses cannot explain: the mystical things occurring on this planet. Writing fantastical stories is my testament to these other layers of reality.

There are many ways of looking at our world. Imagine sitting at home, perhaps in your living room. There’s a knock on the door. When you open it, a funny little woman is standing there. She is about half your height, and a plaid crimson kerchief—knotted under her hooked chin—covers her head. Her dress is sack-like over her square body. She’s wearing an apron that could use a good ironing and she’s carrying a battered brown suitcase that’s almost as big as she is.

“As long as you’re staring, a glass of water would be nice,” she says.

Despite her gruff manner, you sense something mysterious about this stranger, and to be honest, you’re dying to know more about her. When she crosses the threshold of your home, a strong wind slams the door behind her. You both jump. There hasn’t been a breeze all day. In fact, it’s sweltering and heat waves have been rising from the melting pavement for weeks.

When you offer it, she almost grabs the glass from your hand, and you can’t stop your staring—even though you know it’s rude—as she drinks in noisy gulps.

“What? You’ve never seen a spring faerie before?” she asks.

Before you can answer, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Guess not, there aren’t many of us left. And I haven’t been to the Mortal World, since…”

She stops. Her deeply etched face softens. Something like sorrow pools in her dark brown eyes. She waves her hand. “That’s not what I’m here to talk about.”

Your heart tugs. You want to pull her from that sad place. “What’s in your suitcase?”

She points to the table. “I’ll show you.”

The suitcase is filled with eyeglasses. There are so many. Some have square black frames, others have round wire frames; there are a few speckled frames with octagonal lenses. You spy a pair of purple ones.

She shoves a pair of thick black glasses into your hand. “Put these on. Tell me what you see.”

With the eyeglasses settled on the bridge of your nose, you can’t see anything but yourself. You blink. You can see your hands and feet, your legs and toes. But the spring faerie—if that’s really what she is—is just a blur. You pull them off. She trades them for a pair of wire rims. With these glasses you can see her and your home.

“What’s your name?” you ask.

“Flora.”

“Like flowers blooming.”

She nods and looks away with that whiff of sadness.

Again, there is something about her that pulls at your heart. You think of the miracle of spring after a long hard winter, and that she shouldn’t be sad—if she really is a spring faerie.

“But...you don’t have any wings,” you say.

She smoothes the wrinkles in her apron. “Not all faeries do.”

“But—”

She almost jerks the wire-rim spectacles from your nose. You reach for that purple pair. She doesn’t stop you. Now, you can see down the street; your eyes travel the highway. Your view elevates, as if you are a bird. Soon you see the entire city you live in. With each pair of glasses, you see the bigger world.

When Flora tucks the temple arms of a pair of red frames behind your ears, perspective zooms around you. It’s like the lens pulls you into outer space, and you can see the entire world and all the billions of people who live on Earth.

Your heart flutters in your chest; it’s a lot to take in.

“Now—” Flora hands you a pair of fuchsia glasses with tiny rhinestones embedded in the frames. “Try on these.”

When you put them on, you’re able to see beyond the physical entirety of the world into the things that you’ve always known exist, but since you can’t see, touch, smell, or hear them, sometimes you’ve doubted. But you’ll never doubt again, because now—with these special glasses—you can actually see the bonds of love that death can never sever, the strings of fate that wrap the brown paper package of all our lives with twine, the tide of time that alters us, even as we never change...

But most importantly, you’ve seen that you belong here, on this planet. And you know—without a shadow of a doubt—that everything fits. Including you.

“I don’t ever want to take these glasses off,” you say.

Flora is already cramming the rest of them back into her bag. “Then don’t.”

__________


The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.


In The Dragon Carnivale, book 3 of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the half-bloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them, and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.

The first two books in the series: Nandana’s Mark and The Flower of Isbelline are currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. Nandana’s Mark is free.


The Dragon Carnivale is scheduled for a June 18, 2013, release.


Sign-up for Heidi Garrett’s new release email List and receive a lavender and gold Half-Faerie bracelet while supplies last…because you’re half faerie, too, right?

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Author Bio:

Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is:

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…

There is magic in all our lives; sometimes we need to look through different eyes to see it.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.

The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.

The series was inspired by the 15th century French fairy tale, Melusine.

Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.

She currently resides in eastern Washington with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it magical.

Learn more about Heidi and enjoy her stream-of-consciousness reading journal, Eating Magic, at: www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com.

If you want to say hello, give her a shout out on Twitter at @heidigwrites or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heidigwrites.


Book Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Kobo

Smashwords 

Ann Gimpel

Guest Blog Post and Excerpt by Ann Gimpel

Character Interview with Moira Shaughnessy

AG: Ms. Shaughnessy, I’m so glad you could spare a few minutes today.

MS: My pleasure. Tim gets interviewed all the time. He’s actually better with the social skills stuff. Me, I sort of tell it like I see it.

AG: Speaking of Tim, how about if you tell the readers how you met.

MS: Sure. <eyes sparkling> I’ve known Tim since we were kids. We grew up in the same sprawling Irish American community.

AG: Yes, but when did you know he’d be someone special?

MS: I knew a long time before he did. <eyes narrow> Well, maybe that’s not totally accurate. I decided I wanted him before we were done with high school. We dated through college, but I could never get him to do much more than kiss me.

AG: <leans forward> Sounds frustrating. What did you do to change his mind?

MS: <snort of laughter> Nothing. I dumped him. Didn’t run into him for ten years and then

AG: <holds up a hand> We want the readers to buy our story, Moira. If you tell it to them, they won’t have to.

MS: <blushes> Oh, right. Sorry.

AG: Tell us about your job. You’re in uniform today.

MS: I’m a ranger with the U.S. Park Service.

AG: That’s a pretty plummy job. Aren’t those positions hard to come by?

MS: You bet they are. I applied right after college. Got one of two available jobs.

AG: You must have had some stiff competition.

MS: No kidding. There were something like two thousand applicants.

AG: Wow! And you’re still working for them.

MS: <snorts> Yeah, pretty amazing, huh? I’ve even been promoted a few times. Tim’s fine with me working. He still owes a few months to the U.S. Public Health Service for putting him through medical school.

AG: Do the two of you have plans once he’s done?

MS: <nods> Yes, we’d like to settle in the Sacramento Valley. See he has this other, um, obligation to his Druid group—

AG: <holds up a hand again> The readers need to find that part out for themselves, sweetie. You’re such a special character, I want to make certain as many people as possible get to know you. If you spill your whole story here, no one will buy your book.

MS: Of course. Sorry. <glances at watch> Darn. My lunch hour is about over. This has been great fun, but I really need to get back.

AG: I totally understand. Be sure to give my best to Tim.

MS: Will do. Thanks so much for inviting me today.

AG: You’re most welcome.

Moira Shaughnessy’s booted feet hit the ground in front of the Family Medicine Clinic. Slamming the door of the dusty white Park Service pickup, she considered ignoring her boss’s orders, peeling out of the parking lot, and heading for the Baxter Pass trailhead. She had a crew to oversee, goddammit. And a work project to complete. But her boss, John, had been painstakingly clear, both yesterday at Park Headquarters in Three Rivers, and just ten minutes ago on the sat phone. Granted, he’d been far more pointed on the phone.

“It’s not a suggestion, Moira,” he’d growled. “This is a directive—from me. I want to hear from someone with MD after his name before I authorize you to head up that work detail. Do not set one foot on that trail before you receive my orders, e-sign them, and e-mail them back to me.”

“But that’s usually a formality—”

“Not this time. No buts. I made you an appointment at the clinic in Bishop that clears some of our crews. They’re open until six. I already lost two rangers this summer in the Pinecrest fire. That was two too many in my book, so get your butt into that clinic.”

Moira had thought she could avoid dealing with the whole mess by leaving the office early yesterday and taking one of the northern passes over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but John had tracked her down.

Phooey. I ran, but guess I couldn’t hide…

It was downright annoying that her boss needed a doctor to reassure him she wouldn’t collapse or something in the backcountry. For the briefest of moments, she felt like pounding her fist into the nearest tree—then she pulled herself together. Nothing was wrong with her, except her slimy, cheating husband. Sure, she’d lost a few pounds since she’d moved out, but she hadn’t been all that hungry.

Problem was John remembered similar struggles from years ago when she’d first started working as a park ranger. She hadn’t eaten enough then, either, and had gotten far too thin. Just her luck, he’d been overseeing a backcountry work detail when she’d gotten woozy and fallen off one of the mules.

Understanding surfaced. Her boss cared about her. That wasn’t a bad thing. The anger bled out of her with a whoosh.

“May as well get this over with,” she muttered. Moira walked briskly to the clinic, pushed the door open, and went to the counter.

“Yes?” A young woman with dyed red hair looked up from her computer screen with eyes so green she had to be wearing colored contact lenses.

“Moira Shaughnessy. I think you’re expecting me. My boss called from Kings Canyon-Sequoia Park Headquarters.”

The receptionist clicked a few keys. “Your insurance card, please.”

Moira blew out an impatient breath. She dug through her fanny pack for her wallet, extracted the plasticized Blue Cross card, and handed it over. “I’m really in a bit of a hurry—”

“Here’s your card back.” The clerk gestured at the nearly full waiting room. “The doctor will be with you as soon as he can. He had a full schedule before he agreed to work you in.”

“Is it okay if I go outside for a few minutes? I need to lock my truck. I, uh, didn’t think I’d be in here for very long.”

“Sure. So long as we know where to find you.” The phone trilled. The woman picked it up, Moira obviously forgotten. “Family Medicine, how may I help you?”

Moira paced up and down the parking lot. Fall had turned the aspen trees lining Bishop’s streets to shades of red and gold that were really quite striking, but all she could think about were the minutes ticking by. It was twelve miles from the trailhead to the top of the pass, and a couple more to where her trail crew was. Leaving today would be foolhardy at this point. She’d never even make the pass before night fell.

“Damn it!” She glanced at her watch. How long was this going to take anyway?

“Ms. Shaughnessy?” A man’s voice sounded from behind her.

She spun, surprised out of her funk. And stopped dead. “Tim?” Moira stared at the tall, rangy man with long, white-blond hair and ice-blue eyes. He was dressed in teal scrubs and sandals with a stethoscope draped around his neck. A broad grin split the clean planes of his face. She’d forgotten how heartbreakingly beautiful he was.

“I saw the name and hoped it was you.” He held out a hand, but she felt frozen in place. “After all, how many Moira Shaughnessys could there be?”

She just stood there, flabbergasted. What were the odds? She hadn’t seen Tim O’Malley since they’d both graduated from U.C. Davis. When she realized her mouth was hanging open, she shut it with a snap.

“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” One corner of his mouth turned down in an expression she remembered all too well.

“It’s just … I mean I never expected…” She felt warmth rise from the open neck of her buff-colored uniform shirt. Heat suffused her face until she was certain every freckle was outlined in bright, living color.

“Hey, mo ghrá. I know we didn’t split up under the best of circumstances…”

“No shit. And you can skip the beloved part.” A familiar anger stirred, but she batted it aside.

Destiny’s Shadow
Ann Gimpel

Release Date: February 18, 2013


Book Description:

A ranger for the U.S. Park Service, strong, competent Moira Shaughnessy is in serious trouble. Fleeing from her cheating husband, a Native American shaman, she stumbles into the arms of a man she never thought she’d see again. He hurt her once by choosing his druid heritage over her. Can she take a chance on him now?

Pursuing very different motives, both men follow her deep into the backcountry. Moira is caught in the crossfire between Celtic magic and Native American shamanism. A freak blizzard compounds her problems, taxing her survival skills to the max. Against the specter of almost-certain death, the sweetest, purest love she’s ever known rises to the fore, engulfing her in unbelievable passion.

About the Author:

Ann Gimpel is a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Two novels, Psyche’s Prophecy, and its sequel, Psyche’s Search, have been published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing, a small press. A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.

www.anngimpel.com

http://anngimpel.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel

http://www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author

@AnnGimpel (for Twitter)

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