An Excerpt from Tonya Callihan’s Night Promises

Interviews / Guest Blogs / By Lisa Carlisle

Welcome to Tonya Callihan, who’s sharing an excerpt for Night Promises, book 1 in here Night Pleasures series.

Night Promises

Kelly O’Keefe first met a vampire when she was twelve. Now the pair are best friends and have opened Night Pleasures, an underground club that caters to vampires and their needs. When Kelly’s sister is murdered, she finds herself working with Connor, a vampire she’s been in love with for months. Unable to trust men, let alone a vampire, can she let him help her solve her sister’s murder?

Connor has been watching after Kelly for seven months with the help of his sire and best friend Micah. Connor has kept himself at a distance even though he knows they are life mates. He’s afraid of losing control and turning Kelly against her will. When he learns Kelly plans on investigating her sister’s death, he steps in and allows himself to get close to her.

But how close is too close?

Excerpt
Connor knew she was coming, he could smell her before she opened the door. He was sitting on the couch, legs stretched out, arms spread across the back of the couch.
Kelly caught her breath as she stepped into the room. His eyes were back to light brown; she had never seen them darker than they had been just a moment ago. Did that mean he was hungry for her blood? Did he want sex? One would think that working in this environment she would know. But truth be told, she had never been alone with or this close to a male vampire before.
“Sit down Kelly.” He looked amused. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to do.” That was the safest line he could use.
“Okay.” Kelly sat beside him on the couch and slipped her sandals off. Being on her feet all night, she appreciated the break. “You said we had to talk about my sister.”
“I know what you’re up to.” He wanted to touch her but restrained himself for now.
Kelly looked at him, “You can read minds then?”
“No, thankfully.”
“Then how do you know what I am up to?”
“Micah can read minds. He was here earlier tonight, heard what you were planning to do, and informed me.”
“Why would he inform you?”
He was amazed she wasn’t upset about Micah interrupting her thoughts but wanted to know why Connor needed this info.
“It came up,” he shrugged. “You are stepping into some very dangerous territory. You could get yourself killed.”
“I know that!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms. “But I owe Tammy. She never would have known that vamps existed if it weren’t for me.” Kelly stood and began to pace the small room. “I got my sister killed. Don’t you understand?” She turned to him. “She would still be alive and working if it weren’t for me, Connor.”
He stood. “You cannot blame yourself.” He again resisted the urge to touch her. “It could have happened if she knew about us and it could have happened if she didn’t know,” he tried to assure her.
“I have a strong feeling that a vampire I know, one who comes to my club, is responsible for this. Besides, I don’t need you to babysit me.” She turned for the door, but he beat her to it. “Get out of my way,” she said between gritted teeth.
“No!” This time he did touch her cheek, slightly. “You smell like sunshine.” He leaned closer to her.
“Give me a break. I have guys trying those lines on me every night.” She tried to push him away, but he only grinned.
“I’m stronger than you, Kelly. You can fight me all you want, but I’m not moving.” This time, he placed his thumb on her pulse. “It’s racing,” he whispered. “I can hear it racing every time I’m near you.”
“What’s it like?” Kelly asked, “Being a vampire?”
“Not much difference really, but I can hear sounds miles away, see past the stars, fly above the clouds, and taste every flavor in ones blood, kiss, and body.” He gave her body a glance, down then up again.
“I’ve never been with a vampire,” she blurted.
“Never?” he asked, half-shocked and half-relieved.
“No, never even kissed one.” she laughed at herself.
“Can I ask why?” Connor rubbed his hand down her neck and across the swell of her breasts. He asked the question, but he felt he already knew the answer. He needed to hear her say it.
“Because I only want you,” she confessed taking a step back. “I’m sorry, that was really forward.” She crossed her arms again.
“That’s okay.” He stepped closer to her. “Being forward is a good thing, especially when I don’t have Micah here telling me what you are thinking.”
“Oh,” she laughed a little shakily. “I should probably get back out there.”
“Don’t.” He placed a hand on her stomach to stop her. Connor knew better; he knew he should just let her go. She was better off if he didn’t take from her. Being his mate and being a full moon he could lose control and turn her against her will. He couldn’t do that, not to her.
“Does it hurt?”
“No, it’s very pleasurable for both.” He reached over and dimmed the lights. “Let me pleasure you, Kelly,” he whispered before placing his lips over hers and sucking her bottom lip into his mouth. Then his tongue was dancing with hers. Connor cupped her right breast and felt her nipple come to life under his thumb.
“Oh, wow.” Kelly murmured against his mouth. “This is just the start,” he promised, pushing her back against the wall. “Just relax,” he soothed, giving her neck an open-mouthed kiss. “I would never do anything to harm you,” he promised.
“I trust you.” She gripped his hips and forced her body to relax when she spotted his fangs.
Connor felt her tense, “I’m going to take you places you’ve never been, Kelly.” He pushed the top of her dress down to find her completely naked and greedily sucked her nipple into his mouth.
Kelly brought her hands up to grip his head and held him closer to her body, letting a moan escape.
After giving the same attention to her other nipple, Connor began kissing his way up her chest to her neck, where her pulse wildly raced, and he quickly pierced her skin. Kelly called out, shouting his name as her body began to shake, the beginning of a wonderful orgasm. She felt the blood flowing out of her body and into his mouth. The thought of him tasting her, every flavor, caused her toes to curl. She moaned and grasped him tighter as her powerful orgasm overwhelmed her body.
“Connor,” she mumbled, “weak,” moaning in pleasure and a bit of pain.

Bio

Tonya has been writing all of her life. At the age of 13, on Christmas break she snuck one of her mom’s romances from a box brought over by her grandma. The novel she read was ‘Montana Sky’ by Nora Roberts. Once she finished reading that book she knew someday she would to be a published romance author. She has been writing every since.

Now a single mom she balances her time between her 10 month old son, Mason, writing, work, and the Internet!

Tonya loves to help support some of her favorite authors and is very involved in several street teams and posts book reviews over at her blog!

Her first novel was published in January 2010, Night Promises, the first book in her Night Pleasures series! After a long wait her second book from MuseItUp Publishing, Claimed will be coming out Spring 2013! With hopefully, more releases this year as well.

Author FB:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Author-Tonya-Callihan/155567004477447

Website:
http://www.tonyacallihan.weebly.com/

Blog
http://www.tonyasramblings.blogspot.com

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/tonyacallihan

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11898212-tonya

Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/masonsmomma12/

Google+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104988658514193732252#104988658514193732252/posts

Book Reviews:
http://www.tonyasbookreviews.blogspot.com

Buy Night Promises
Secret Cravings Publishing
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=21&products_id=2&zenid=ac9d9b16effcb31fa9370fb8e2b157da

Amazon
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=21&products_id=2&zenid=ac9d9b16effcb31fa9370fb8e2b157da

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-promises-tonya-renee-callihan/1029632181?ean=9781936653010

Under His Wings by Anna Bayes

Uncategorized / By Lisa Carlisle

Welcome my guest for today’s egg-cerpt exchange. Anna Bayes is sharing an excerpt from Under His Wings, a M/M/F menage love story.

Under His Wings

Bonnie thought Matt was everything she ever wanted: boyishly charming, understanding and exciting. Then she realized that he had another lover: Sean, an artistic, intensely jealous and handsome man. She tries, and fails to accept herself as the barely tolerated female lover. On New Year’s Eve, she demands a meeting amongst the three. The confrontation sparks dangerous rage, and something else with an entirely different heat level: steamy desire. Can she bring about a reconciliation satisfactory to everyone involved as she surrenders to her passion?

Buy link:
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_183&products_id=3772

Excerpt:
As I stood before my reflection in the mirror this morning, I tried to rehearse my request to Matt. I repeated it many times, looking into my eyes: the round, dark brown pupils returning my gaze unconvincingly. I shook my hair loose, and reasoned with myself again. If all Matt’s talk about my importance is only empty words to keep me, then he is a lying bastard, and I am better off without him. I tried to say it aloud with conviction, but my voice betrayed me; I sounded like a frightened, disappointed little girl. I know logically that I can live without him, but loving him has become such an integral, necessary part of my life; I am not sure I could stop, even if we parted.

5 pm. Matt took my hand as I closed my shop early for the day, kissed it and buried it in the large pocket in his jacket. I love how my hand fits snugly in his; it is as if all my body parts have been tailor-made to suit him, and melt into him. I concentrated on staring at the toes of my boots, mustering up my courage, then I looked squarely into his eyes, and said, “I want Sean to meet me.” I had initially practiced declaring in a crescendo, “I refuse to be hidden like an undignified whore. I am not a filler between Sean and other things in your life. I need him to acknowledge me as a person. I demand his respect,” but this part of the speech became stuck in my throat. Matt looked at me, dumbfounded, until I almost started to believe that I had delivered my full speech, after all. Then he clenched his teeth, tightened his grip on my hand, and said, “Yes, you deserve better than this.”

The taxi ride to his apartment was a blur. The original plan for tonight, it being New Year’s Eve, had been that Matt would spend the early evening with me, then return home to Sean for dinner and to count down to 2013 over sizzling sex. Sean is not there when we arrive at the apartment, and we sit on the sofa to wait. Matt looks frighteningly dashing: his eyes blazing, his whole body tense, clearly deep in thought, preparing for something. He looks up as the sound of keys in the lock announces Sean’s return. “Hey you…” Sean’s lilting voice stops in its tracks as he opens the door wider and sees me seated next to his lover.

Find Anna Bayes at these places:
Her blog (http://annabayes.wordpress.com)
Her Amazon author page (http://www.amazon.com/author/annabayes)
Her Goodreads author page (http://www.goodreads.com/annabayes)
Her Manic Readers author page (http://www.manicreaders.com/annabayes)

Diano Rubino Sharing Excerpt for A Necessary End

Interviews / Guest Blogs / By Lisa Carlisle

Welcome to my guest in the Egg-cerpt Exchange Diana Rubino. Diana is sharing an excerpt for A Necessary End. Read on to find out more.

Hi, readers. I’m Diana Rubino and I write historical and paranormal romances, and biographical novels. I won a Romantic Times Top Pick award for my urban fantasy, FAKIN’ IT. The popularity of the Lincoln movie and President’s Day inspires me to launch a giveaway of

A NECESSARY END for Amazon Kindle this coming weekend.

Here’s a bit about A Necessary End and an excerpt.

A NECESSARY END is a paranormal twist on John Wilkes Booth’s insane plot to assassinate President Lincoln. It contains no fictional characters.

When Booth, under the guise of seeking spiritual advice, visits the President’s medium to gather information about Lincoln’s habits in order to kidnap him, a malevolent spirit begins to haunt and torment him, driving him to the brink of insanity. A mysterious coin also appears out of nowhere, and returns every time Booth tries to discard it. Each return of the bloodthirsty Roman coin brings increasingly terrifying events and eerie hauntings.

In the midst of these strange visitations, Booth falls in love with Alice Grey, a beautiful actress who’s hired by the government to spy on him. She’s torn between her love for Booth and her duty to protect the President from assassination.

It is a ‘dark’ paranormal because a malevolent spirit haunts Booth to assassinate the ‘tyrant’ as in Julius Caesar. But since I believe every situation, no matter how foreboding, allows for humor, I’ve added a few lighter scenes that offer the reader some much-needed relief. How can Booth’s plot not leave itself wide open for humor? It was pure comic farce, how he recruited this motley band of adoring disciples and gave them each an assignment in his absurd conspiracy. Yes, Booth sure gets what’s coming to him in the end.

Excerpt

Washington City, November, 1864

I don’t believe in ghosts, Wilkes assured himself as he listened to the high keening of the medium. He shivered as a draft wafted over him. Smoky incense intensified the gloom. He wasn’t at this séance to seek omens or cryptic guidance from beyond the grave. He was attending this charade to learn of Abraham Lincoln’s future.
He still ached with grief over his boyhood friend’s death. A part of his soul died along with John Beall, who was everything the South stood for. Rage over the betrayal seized his heart and boiled his blood. How could Lincoln do this to another human being? How could the President look him in the eye and promise he’d let John live, then murder him?
Wilkes fought to subdue these emotions. No phantom held the answers he sought on this bone-chilling night, just the bird-like matron entranced before him, Nettie Colburn Maynard. The medium was Mrs. Lincoln’s spiritualist, famed for her evenings at the White House “bringing back” their dead boys, Eddie and Willie. Wilkes had to admit she put on a good show. One thing he appreciated was fine acting. But he was wary. The parlor felt haunted as shadows crept up the walls. The hairs at the back of his neck already stood on end, and a chill slithered through his body. Although his hands were icy, his palms sweated, making them even colder. The room stood silent and musty as a tomb. The dank staleness assaulted him. His throat aching for a trickle of brandy, he coughed.
Mrs. Maynard’s eyes were shut tight. His own gaze darted about, unable to settle. Candles flickered jagged shadows around the room. Wallpaper patterns swirled to impenetrable fog. And the curtains…did they flutter, even though the windows were closed?
“A spirit is present, Mr. Booth.” Her voice, almost a whisper, barely reached his ears. She exhaled feathery tendrils of steam in the eerie half-light. “It watches over you, seeks to guide you.” He felt her shoulders shake with violent tremors. “He was powerful in life, but more powerful in death, released of mortal frailty.”
Wilkes felt the dread of approaching harm, but sat too spellbound to get up and quit the whole thing. He guessed it was raw fear that kept him frozen in his seat. His voice, trained in delivery of lines, was suddenly struck silent. He had to admit she was gifted, the perfect witch for Macbeth. The funereal black dress draped her gaunt figure like a shroud. Shadowed by the pale flames, Mrs. Maynard played her role to perfection. Once again, he convinced himself it was all an act. But if it was real and some being from beyond really did hover over him…
Just then he realized his jaw was tightly clenched. He struggled to slacken it.
“He lived many centuries ago, Mr. Booth, and knew you by another name. He revisits you now, drawn close by your pain and grief. She shuddered again. Her grip crushed his hand, her knuckles white as bleached bone. “I feel his essence very forcefully, right there…” Her hands turned to ice. “Behind you…”
He nearly ripped a tendon snapping his neck around, but saw neither phantom nor flesh, just movement at the edge of his vision flickering up the wall. Threads of fear tickled at his nerves. Nothing was as it seemed. Turning to face her again, he felt foolish for succumbing to her trickery. An embarrassed blush heated his cheeks as the room temperature plummeted. He breathed deeply to calm his pounding heart.
“He will thrust you towards your true destiny, young man.”

To learn more or buy now, visit:

http://www.amazon.com/Necessary-End-Desperate-Lincoln-Assassination/dp/1481020722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360857297&sr=1-1&keywords=a+necessary+end+diana+rubino

Visit me at:

http://www.dianarubino.com

http://www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com

on Twitter @DianaLRubino

5* Reviews for Smoldering Nights and Fiery Nights by Lisa Carlisle

Books, Reviews / By Lisa Carlisle

I’m thrilled to share Cornelia Amiri’s fantastic five star reviews of Smoldering Nights and Fiery Nights, the first two books in my Underground Encounters series. Cornelia is the author of the short, sexy Dancing Vampires series at Ellora’s Cave, as well as many other books.

5* – “Slick,Sexy, Suspenseful… “Listen, buddy, I just saw a wall blow up, a man whom I was kissing sprouted fangs and jumped out a window, and now two men, if they even are men, are after me. So cut the crap. Who are you? No, what are you? Why are they trying to kill you? And what the hell is going on!”

After hard work as a firefighter, Nike and her friend Maya take a girl’s night out at Vamps, a hot goth club. There Nike spots the hot, mysterious French hunk from her rock climbing gym, Michel, who is also the owner of Vamps. Suspense an action ensues as a man, who has been after Michel for many, many years, blows up the club to try to kill him.

“Lisa Carlisle has loved vampire stories since she was in third grade, when she had a crush on Dracula.” Smoldering Nights is the first book of her Underground Encounter series. The point of view in Smoldering Nights and the Underground Encounters series is interesting and unique. The author uses first person point of view but switches it from hero to heroine by listing a header per scene or chapter as to which one she’s using.

I loved this slick, sexy, paranormal romance and its engaging characters. The book has both steamy love scenes and fast action with riveting suspense. I highly recommend Smoldering Nights.” ~ Cornelia Amiri, Author of the Dancing Vampires series.

5* – “Sizzling… “Gifts are different for everyone. Maybe she has an affinity with some type of good spirits. Or maybe her gift is a connection with you. The light to your darkness.”

In book two of the Underground Encounter series, the heroine, Maya, is the best friend of Nike, the heroine form Smoldering Nights. After hard work as a firefighter, Maya, dressed in a sexy pirate wench costume, celebrates Halloween at Vamps, a hot goth club. There she meets the tall, dark, handsome new owner of the club, Tristan Stone. He is a paranormal being, other than a vampire, but just as sexy and mysterious. Tristan and Maya connect well in more ways than one as she discovers that with her own paranormal gift she may be the same type of being.

“Lisa Carlisle has loved vampire stories since she was in third grade, when she had a crush on Dracula.” Fiery Nights is the second book of her Underground Encounter series. The point of view in the Underground Encounters series is interesting and unique. The author uses first person point of view but switches it from hero to heroine by listing a header per scene or chapter as to which one she’s using.

The writing has a smooth, seductive flow. I loved this slick, sizzling paranormal romance and its engaging characters. I highly recommend Fiery Nights.” ~ Cornelia Amiri, Author of the Dancing Vampires series.

Lisa Carlisle is the Author in the Vampire Book Realm Spotlight

Books, Interviews / Guest Blogs / By Lisa Carlisle

This is my last weekend in the Vampire Book Realm author spotlight. Be sure to stop by before Monday to check it out!

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

Interviews / Guest Blogs / By Lisa Carlisle

My guest today is Stacy Juba. Stacy is sharing an excerpt from Twenty-Five Years Ago Today. It sounds very intriguing. Check it out!

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

Should we dig for the truth when Pandora’s Box is a coffin of buried secrets?
Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling “25 Years Ago Today” items from the microfilm. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology.

Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana’s suspicious nephew, Eric Soares – until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. She soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday’s headline is tomorrow’s danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris’s present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

Available in e-book and audiobook formats from retailers including:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Five-Years-Ago-Today-ebook/dp/B003U4WVKA/ref
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twenty-five-years-ago-today-stacy-juba/1017979048?ean=2940011980930
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Twenty-Five-Years-Ago-Today/book-fc55-OLdikey2hFgy_jaDA/page1.html?s=ujwec_jtbU2U134hnmDkXA&r=7
Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_3?asin=B00B8VUQM2&qid=1359725371&sr=1-3

More retailers, reviews and book trailer at:
http://stacyjuba.com/blog/books-2/twenty-five-years-ago-today/

Excerpt

Cheryl came up behind Kris. Her voice sounded sad and tired. “Please don’t tell my mother too much, even if you’re making progress. I don’t want to raise her hopes.”

Kris glanced back at Irene, who hunched on the couch, turning the locket over in her hand. “I’ll be careful with what I say. My aunt would’ve been eager, too.”

“How was your cousin killed?”

“She was strangled, kidnapped by a neighbor while walking alone. We were twelve.”

Cheryl heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry. I remember reading about that. It happened locally, didn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I know you’re a terrific writer. I couldn’t have been happier with the business story. I’m just concerned about my mother.”

“I understand,” Kris said. “I won’t let you down.”

She trudged out to her car and brushed off her windshield. She waited behind the steering wheel as the defroster warmed the interior. Not knowing Diana’s whereabouts must have tormented Irene. Kris’s family had agonized over Nicole’s disappearance. As one day blended into the next, Nicole had seemed further and further away.

Finding her was worse.

Kris had learned a new phrase that May, a litany that surged back into her mind, drumming to the beat of the windshield wipers. If only.

If only it hadn’t rained the afternoon Nicole had disappeared.

If only she hadn’t climbed into the car with Randolph Coltraine.

If only Aunt Susan had been home when Nicole called for a ride.

Kris swallowed the metallic taste in her mouth. If only I didn’t trick her.

She chose the long route home, driving fast. She hadn’t driven in New York and had forgotten the thrill of a climbing speedometer. Her first week back, she’d landed a speeding ticket.

Kris skidded onto the Fremont State College campus, her tires kicking up tufts of snow. She passed dorms, tennis courts and the library before parking in front of the deserted baseball field. White trees cast shapeless shadows across the broad expanse of snow.

A chunk of ice slid off the roof, hitting the front window. Kris jumped, her hand to her heart.

“No one’s out there,” she murmured, gazing into the woods. “Not now.”

But once.

Beyond those trees, Diana had lain dead.

Police had crowded the scene, their search over.

Middle-aged reporter Dex Wagner had scribbled in his notebook.

Twenty-five years ago today.

Celebrating an Offer for My Military Romances

Books / By Lisa Carlisle

I am thrilled to announce that the first of my military romances has been offered a contract! They’re based Okinawa, Japan, where I was stationed as a Marine 20 years ago. I started them in 2003 and finally picked them back up this year, determined to finally finish them. I guess you can say the moral of the story is Never Give Up! 😉

I’m so excited, I don’t know what to do with myself! I’ve already tortured the kids enough with many ridiculous dances. Any suggestions?

An Excerpt for Sky Tinted Water by Keta Diablo

Interviews / Guest Blogs / By Lisa Carlisle

I’d like to welcome my next guest on the Egg-cerpt Exchange, Keta Diablo. Just look at the cover to begin with–gorgeous!

Sky Tinted Water

A ‘Sweet’ Historical Romance

Keta Diablo

About Sky Tinted Water

* Mystery

* Suspense

Note: This is a ‘sweet’ historical romance

Familial bonds, malevolent schemes and passion collide in this sweet historical novel. Set in Minnesota during the Civil War and the Sioux uprising, this is the story of Rory Hudson, the exquisite Irish lass with an unbreakable spirit and the enigmatic Dawson Finch, a man bound by honor, duty and loyalty.

When Dawson enlists in the army to bring peace to nation divided, Rory’s world plummets into a tailspin. War, distance and time separate them, but nothing can dispel the haunting memories of their love. Not even death can destroy their fierce passion or a love so strong it beats the odds of the impossible.

Available here:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/WKj5lK

Barnes & Noble:

Kobo:

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/WqzPSx

To see all of Keta’s Books visit her Amazon page here: http://amzn.to/11NsXSf

Excerpt

The woods loomed ahead. Here, the path would narrow and she’d be surrounded by clusters of dense hardwood and pines. On the other side of the forest, her sister’s belching chimney would come into view and to the east Jab and Louisa Pearson’s homestead, to the west, Hiram’s. She hadn’t thought of him since her wedding day. Neighbors claimed he’d changed; some said he’d run amok after Jane and Levi died. A pang of sadness cloaked her, but the day was far too beautiful to be bogged down with tragic thoughts.

Entering the woods, the familiar call of a whippoorwill competed with the harsh screech of a blue jay. Twisted limbs and branches hugged the man-made trail and thick bracken and underbrush covered the ground around her. Rory stopped Charmer when an eerie stillness descended on the woodland. The chatter of small critters had stopped and the songbirds had ceased their melodic trills. She forced her eyes to scan the trees in all directions, the lump in her throat tightening.

Looking over her shoulder, she blew a sigh of relief. Minx had paused to nibble on a sprig of grass bursting through the forest floor. The foal would act skittish if danger lurked. She relaxed in the saddle and journeyed on . . . until Charmer’s ears flattened against her head. Had the mare heard a foreign noise or were her muscles preparing for an attack from pesky flies?

Rory turned a keen ear to her surroundings and concentrated on a sliver of sunlight ahead. Keep moving toward the light. A scream tore through the still woods, or a war-cry. She’d never heard a native prepare for battle, but had read about their nightmarish shrills. Charmer whinnied and tossed her massive head and a sense of danger spiked Rory’s heartbeat. Clutching the reins, she looked down at her white knuckles and caught a flash of movement on her left. Her blood ran cold when she spied a tall, dark form stalking her with the stealth of a panther. God’s nightgown, is it human or beast?

* Watch for SKY DANCE, book 2, coming to a Kindle and Nook near you March 2013

FOLLOW KETA’S KEEP

http://www.amazon.com/Keta-Diablo/e/B002BODURI

Click on link above to visit my Amazon page

Summer’s Growth by Tina Gayle

Uncategorized / By Lisa Carlisle

I have a guest post from Tina Gayle today. Summer’s Growth is the 1st Book in her “Family Tree” series. Check out the excerpt below.

Summer’s Growth

Forced by the family spirits to get a life, Mattie Winston has to train her replacement Amber Harrison to be in charge of all the workings of the Winston estate. Reluctant to make changes in her life, Mattie forms a bond with Amber, when strange accidents start happening which threaten their lives and an unknown ghost makes an appearance.

After being rescued by an old flame, Quincy Miller, Mattie faces old wounds of rejection. As the general contractor for Amber’s redecoration project, Mattie is in constant contact with Quincy and realizes she still in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Amber, learning her new role in the family, wants to discover the identity of the ghost who keeps appearing. After several appearances, Gwen, Amber’s distance grandmother, shifts the book into more of Amber’s struggle to find out why her grandmother disappeared two hundred years ago without a trace. In a fight to claim her position in the family, Amber searches for clues to solve the mystery.

Mattie and Amber are both challenged when the family spirits decides Amber shouldn’t be the keeper. Battling for Amber, Mattie realizes she wants a life with Quincy outside the Winston estate.

Amber realized the importance of her new spiritual family, and she works to discover how Gwen died.

Can these two women achieve their goals?

Read the first chapter at

http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html

Find at

www.smashwords.com

www.amazon.com

Excerpt

Standing by the bay window in the front room, Mattie watched the car approach. Her new recruit’s arrival had goose bumps popping out on Mattie’s skin, adding to her anxieties.

She wanted to run, but instead glanced at the kindhearted spirit of Opal, her distant grandmother. Dressed in her best early American gown, the many layers of her petticoat swished with a soft hiss when she moved.

“There’s no reason to be nervous. Once you meet Amber, you’ll see she caps the climax,” Opal voiced in a soothing tone. “Your Aunt Rachel is absolutely thrilled to have a descendant from her branch of the family as keeper.”

Looking beyond her at the rest of the room, Mattie searched for the other members of the family council. They always offered her their support when she faced a big decision. Yet, today they were conspicuously absent.

“Don’t worry. The whole family is behind you. We just thought it better if we didn’t all hover.”

Shifting from foot to foot, she wrung her hands together. A simple process of a changing of the guard for them, Amber’s arrival marked the end of the life Mattie loved.

The beautiful spirits around her didn’t understand how cruel humans could be to each other. What if she screwed up and the girl left? Or the girl hated living with a house full of spirits?

Unease pricked at Mattie’s mind. She had no experience in dealing with strangers. All her business associates understood her likes and didn’t force her to attend any social events.

A quick glance out the window, and a car rounded the fountain. She wasn’t prepared to entertain Amber. How could she be? She never invited guests to the estate.

“Now, Pumpkin, there’s no need to worry. It’s time another branch of the family realize what a pain it is to be keeper.” Opal smiled, offering her special form of reassurance. “We’re all here to help with the transition.”

The high notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sprang from the piano. Mattie jumped in surprise at the sudden noise. She whipped around to see Uncle Samuel, the artist of the family, standing next to the piano.

“The game is afoot.” He arched his eyebrows and grinned, then disappeared.

“I’d better leave.” Her aunt patted Mattie’s shoulder. “Just remember, the girl is uneasy too.”

Opal disappeared.

With a deep breath, Mattie turned and gripped the cold metal knob in her hand.

Soon her home would belong to a stranger, and then what would she do?

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home – www.tinagayle.net

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Lisa Carlisle at the Vampires for Valentines Blog Hop

Uncategorized / By Lisa Carlisle

What a fun blog hop for Valentines Day — vampires are sexy! The way they talk, their intense gazes, their insatiable lust… I hope you discover a hot vampire story to read this Valentine’s Day during this hop. I know I’ll be adding some to my list.

I’d to introduce you to my paranormal erotic romance series with Ellora’s Cave, called Underground Encounters. Supernatural creatures, such as vampires, shapeshifters, and humans with extraordinary abilities meet in an underground goth club called–wait for it–Vamps! I couldn’t resist. 😉

“…Get ready to be hooked on the series.” ~ Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

Smoldering Nights

Nike loves visiting the goth club Vamps—she can exchange her firefighter uniform for a slinky fantasy outfit. There she runs into the man she’d been admiring from afar at a rock climbing gym. He’s been the star of all her fantasies, so is it any wonder they end up in his private room upstairs? Just when things begin to heat up, Michel’s enemies appear.

Only Michel isn’t an ordinary mortal. And someone from his past is on the hunt for vengeance. Michel and Nike are forced on the run and hide out in a coastal cottage in Maine. They can’t resist their attraction and spend the nights exploring each others’ bodies while trying to sort out how they feel about each other. Can they overcome their differences to be together? And how will they evade the predators who are chasing them?

Read an excerpt

Buy now at Ellora’s Cave

Buy now at Amazon

The second book Fiery Nights, which was recently released, features two humans with extraordinary abilities. Rock Me Tonight and Blood and Metal will be out soon with more lovable shapeshifters and vampires. Follow me on social media to stay tuned!

Fiery Nights

He may own a Goth nightclub, but Tristan Stone avoids people—the darkness that surrounds them drains him. When he sees Maya for the first time, alone on the dance floor, a light surrounds her. He must discover who she is and what gives her power. He wants her, must have her.

Maya sees a man with haunting eyes watching her from the back of the club. She feels their connection, but thinks it’s merely physical attraction. Their passion ignites, overpowering them, and they must work together to understand their connection. The heat of their passion could send their world up in flames.

A Romantica® erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Read an excerpt

Buy Now at Ellora’s Cave

Buy Now at Amazon

For a chance to win a copy of Smoldering Nights, enter below. In your comment, let us know who gets your vote as the sexiest vampire.

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Thank you to be the blog hop hosts for running such a fun event this Valentines Day: Paranormal romance authors Felicity Heaton, Caris Roane and H. D. Thomson. Visit the other authors during the blog hop: