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Friday, June 30, 2017

Book Tour & Book Review: Choosing Love by @eilidhmcginness #review #giveaway



New Adult / Romance
Date Published: May 19, 2017

Spark’s fly the moment they meet, but what happens next?

HE CAN’T DO LOVE
Jason Stanford is charismatic, handsome, wealthy and alone in Bordeaux, France.
He intends to stay six months in order to advance his space travel ambitions
and to learn French.   His plans are turned upside down by a chance meeting
with ambitious Aurelie Dumas. She is determined to teach Jason all about what
the French do best- love.

SHE CAN’T DO COMMITMENT
Aurelie Dumas is a career focused estate agent. Jason’s star bound ambitions
soon capture her heart, but this girl can’t do long term relationships.  Jason
helps her come to terms with a family secret which has fractured her family
but will that be enough to make her want to stay around.


Review

Jason was such a driving force in this novel for me. I feel like he really was such a strong presence in Aurelie's life.

There was so much going on throughout this novel. I was in it for the romance, like I always am. I felt like it was believable and even though there was an instant chemistry and attraction, the love and relationship unfolded in a steady way.

Eilidh McGinness really manages to captivate the reader with her words and descriptions. I felt their heartache and joy and loved the ups and downs. 



EILIDH MCGINNESS has always loved fairy-tales, history and other world fantasies.  She is never happier than when reading a good book.  Writing is a passion which she finds time for by studiously avoiding ironing and a whole manner of other household chores. Eilidh has four children. The elder two have now fled the nest and the younger two live with her in South-West France.  Eilidh was born in Scotland and although now based in France during the school term spends as much time as she can in Scotland and travelling.

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Book Blitz: First Kill by Mary Ashire #excerpt and #giveaway




First Kill (Heaven Sent Series) by Mary Abshire
Paranormal Suspense
Heaven Sent, 1

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Andrew enjoys the company of women, perhaps too much. The council in heaven had enough of his sexual promiscuity and sentenced him to return to Earth to destroy demons. To make matters more difficult, if he has sex with a woman he has to stay an extra year. Without clothes, money, or food, his task seems impossible.

Emily is in a world of trouble. She leaves her family, job, and home in Chicago to start a new life. As she's driving along a country road, she discovers a naked man lying in the middle of it. He's incredibly built, sculpted to perfection, and blessed with a fine package south of his navel. When he asks for her help, she can't resist.

Over the next several days, Emily's sanity is tested. Andrew struggles to keep his hands to himself. Emily seeks the truth from Andrew while he endeavors to kill a demon. What she discovers frightens her—angels, demons, heaven and hell exist. Determined to help Emily change her future, Andrew offers her a deal. But is heaven the best eternal resting place?


Buy the Book



Excerpt

“Is that a cell phone?” he asked.
“Yeah. Don’t say anything.” A few seconds later she said into the device, “Troy, I got the car. Raymond was an ass and tried to get more money from me. I didn’t pay him. Anyway, I’m at a hotel for the night. Don’t call me back. I’ll contact you sometime later. Take care, brother.” She lowered the phone and set it on the nightstand separating their beds.
“Wow. I can’t believe how much things have changed,” he said.
She rubbed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“That cell phone is so different. It’s so thin. Like the TV.”
“Yeah.” She leaned her head back and stared at him.
“Can I look at it?”
“What?”
“The phone.”
“Uh … sure.”
He set the remote on the nightstand before he lifted the cell. It was light and smooth, completely different from the ones in the 1980s. There were small buttons on each side and one at the bottom under the screen. He pressed it and a scenic picture appeared. The time showed at the top and there were tiny images underneath. The device reminded him of the computers he’d seen in heaven, but in a miniature version.
“Amazing,” he said.
He shifted his attention to Emily. She was lying on her side, facing him, and struggling to keep her eyelids up. The woman clearly needed sleep, but he sensed she might be unsure of him. He’d promised he wouldn’t hurt her and he’d meant it. If anything, he wanted to help her as much as he could, including undressing her, bathing her, kissing those cute little pink lips… He swallowed and looked away. Sex was not option.
The woman remained a mystery to him. She’d agreed to help him even after he’d told her he was an angel. If he’d been in her shoes and had come across a naked man with such a far-fetched tale, he would’ve left the man behind. She hadn’t. Why? He also was curious to know why she was so far away from home. Why did she exchange her car for the Toyota? It was a better vehicle, but still… From her appearance, he guessed she was in her early to mid-twenties. Did she have a job? Was she married? Did she have a boyfriend? And what about her family? Were they still in Chicago? She hadn’t said much about herself. She seemed more interested in learning about him. But then, he couldn’t blame her after what he’d told her. He wanted to know more about her, but he didn’t want to anger her.
“What’s it like?” she asked softly.
“Hmm? What?”
“Heaven.”
She was fighting to stay awake. He figured it was because she didn’t trust him. He had no intention of stealing from her. Even though her soul had color, she seemed to have a kind and generous heart. He couldn’t fathom causing her any more distress than he already had.
He set the phone on the nightstand and then scooted down and lifted his legs onto the bed. “It’s nice, peaceful, orderly…” He threaded his fingers behind his head.
“It sounds boring.”
“There’s plenty to do and places to go. People still work, but there’s no money. Everyone’s pretty much happy.”
“Were you?”
He thought over the question. He had his family and had made friends in heaven. He’d met plenty of women. He didn’t have any obligations. What was there not to like? “I guess so.”
“So why were you sent back?”
He pondered his answer. If he gave her the full details, he feared she would ditch him. The fact she continued to ask questions indicated she didn’t believe everything he’d told her.
“They need people to kill demons,” he said, which wasn’t exactly a lie.
There was a moment of silence. Her eyelids closed.
“I don’t believe in God, or heaven or hell.” Her words were a little slurred.
He stared at her for the longest time, wondering why she’d formed such a belief. Clear to him now, she didn’t believe he was an angel.
“You need to rest,” he said.
He rose from the bed and tugged the blankets off his mattress. The temperature in the room was warm enough for him, maybe a little too cozy, but he wouldn’t mess with the heating and cooling unit. He decided she might need the covers and didn’t want to move her since she was falling asleep. Carefully, he lowered the blankets over her. She didn’t stir at all. He resisted the temptation to kiss her cheek. Knowing his luck, he’d startle her and she’d smack him. He hoped he’d get a chance to press his lips upon her another time.


About the Author

Mary lives in Indiana and is a lifetime lover of the paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy. When she's not slaving away at her government job, she is a Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Author. She creates fantastical worlds with vampires, demons, werewolves, angels, and other supernatural creatures. Dive into her books and find suspense, a dash of mystery, and seductive men with passionate hearts.

For more information about Mary or her books, please visit her website: https://mary-abshire.com



Thursday, June 29, 2017

Virtual Book Tour: The Buddha Made Me Do It by @marlamartenson #review




Spiritual Memoir
Date Published: 5-25-16
Publisher: Cupid’s Press

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What starts as a search for a decorative Buddha statuette leads one woman on a spiritual journey that will change everything.

Marla lives the good life in Los Angeles—house, pool, her own business helping Cupid find love for LA’s most discriminating singles. Her handsome and ardent hubby Adolfo performs at an exclusive steak house in Beverly Hills. He tends to scoff at Marla’s green juice, vegan diet, yoga, and daily affirmations and can be a teensy bit of a control freak.

A discarded Buddha statuette that Adolfo suddenly can’t live without sends Marla searching through New Age boutiques along with her skeptical friend Julie. They are soon schooled by a charismatic “Goddess,” delving ever deeper into self-realization, conversations with angels, pendulums, candle “Magick,” Reiki, crystal healing, and more. Attend a Hindu Bajan? Sure. Orgasmic Meditation? (Wait, what…?) Maybe not that one. 

Growing in her spirituality, yet exceedingly frustrated with some of her persnickety clientele—aging men who see themselves as Dorian Grays, worthy of exquisite young women—Marla’s world is shifting. She achieves certifications as an energy healer and encourages Julie to sample the concoction Julie calls “green gunk” and other healthy practices to help her conquer an addiction to unavailable men. Marla deepens her communication with the Beyond while Adolfo, always so practical, asks, “Have you lost your mind? Are you hearing voices? Angels aren’t real, come on!” Matters grow worse when certain psychics warn of “dangerous low-vibrational entities” and rabidly disagree with each other. 

Her alternating universes give Marla spiritual whiplash, yet she discovers the LITE way to balance the human carnival with a transformational spiritual journey.


Review

This novel was different than I expected. It really walks the line between a few different genre's but I really liked that factor. 

I loved the ultimate lesson we learn by reading this novel. It is an emotional journey and I believe that we learn things about the author and ourselves along the way. 

I am a huge fan of this Memoir writing style. The way she weaves her tales is really inspiring. You're not just reading to escape, you're reading to feel! 


About the Author


Born in Tacoma, Washington, “The City of Destiny,” Marla was destined to move to Los Angeles where she shoots her arrow of love on a daily basis as a professional matchmaker, helping countless couples connect with their soul mates.

She is the author of three memoirs, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Hearts on the Line and The Buddha Made Me Do It.

Marla has been interviewed on the Today Show, WGN Chicago Morning News, San Diego Living, Urban Rush, CTV Calgary, Better TV, KUSI San Diego Morning Show, and over 100 radio shows including Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.

Her husband Adolfo has asked her, “Marlita, do you want to go to the moon too?” referring to her many interests—a true Gemini. Yet nothing has fascinated her like her profound adventure far beyond the moon and into the vastness of cosmic spirituality.

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Reading Addiction Blog Tours

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Book Blitz: A.K.A.




Title: A.K.A 
Author: TL Alexander 
Genre: Romantic Suspense 
Release Date: July 31, 2017 


Vote Today!

A.K.A a romantic suspense from the author of the smexy Layers Series, TL Alexander.
A.K.A. has been chosen by Kindle Scout. Yahoo!
What is Kindle Scout? It’s a place where readers help decide if a book gets published. Selected books will be published by Kindle Press and receive a 5-year contract.
So dear readers, I’m asking for your help. Go to https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1KRK9HLHAD43Q.
Read the book introduction and the excerpt. If you like what you see, please nominate A.K.A.
After you nominate, don’t forget to add your name to my newsletter http://www.tlalexanderauthor.com/newsletter for a chance at winning a signed copy of A.K.A. and a $25 Amazon gift card.
Hurry campaign ends July 10 2017.
Thanks for your support! TL Alexander

VOTE FOR A.K.A. TODAY!

 

A false reality of murder and love.
Morgan Steel is a rising-star ADA from LA. When her half sister is brutally murdered her world spins off course, tilts off its axis. Seeking justice, she commits the unthinkable and finds herself no longer living in a world of right or wrong, black or white. She finds herself living in a reality within a false reality of love, lust, betrayal and murder.

 

 

 


Hey, girlfriends and guyfriends…
So…what about me? Well…I live in the good old USA, the Pacific Northwest, to be more specific. Everything here is green and soggy, but it’s grown on me like…moss and slugs.
I love to read and write. I read mostly romance, but I love a good mystery or biography. I love to laugh myself to pee-my-pants, and do so whenever possible ( own lots of undies). I possess a very imaginative way with words (potty-mouth), and I can’t get enough of DIY words…linguistatard, gaywadest…the list is never ending.
When not writing or reading, I’m driving my family friggin' ass-crazy. And when not doing that…I garden, do projects (got to have a project) and travel—whenever possible (never enough).
Layers, is my first self-published romance series—but far from my last. I’ve got lots more to write about when Alexia, Jaxson, Jules and the gaywads, are written off into the sunset. I'm excited about my next series—Girlfriends Goddesses and Barflies—it's going to be fun!
A special shout-out to my fans…I love you! I love your—“you go girlfriends,” your DIY words, and your potty mouths. Potty mouths unite! Potty-mouths rule! Potty-mouths take over the world! Damn fucking straight! Thank you for taking a chance on a new author and for all your wonderful (colorful) words of encouragement and wisdom.
Make sure to check out my site often for updates and other fun stuff. Leave me a hey you, or even a review…what the hell! I'd love to hear from you. ( that friggin' rhymes) Contact me on my contact page tlalexanderauthor.com Potty-mouths…rule the universe—and beyond!!


Vote Today!!



Virtual Book Tour: Sanctuary by @http://www.twitter.com/authorlaurie #romance #bookreview #giveaway


Inspirational romance
Date Published: June 20, 2017
Publisher: Random Moon Books (indie)

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Hardworking, successful lawyer Nora Ramsey, was at the height of her career. Now, she's questioning everything in Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina.

When she accepts her aunt's dilapidated estate as her inheritance, Nora is plagued with misgivings and doubt. When one of her newly inherited horses takes ill, she prays for guidance and receives it in the form of veterinarian Shaw Flynn. 

Dedicated and rugged, he assists Nora through the trying time. In Shaw, she sees someone gentle, caring and deeply devoted to God. The more she’s with him, the more he inspires her to embrace her own faith. And as their relationship blossoms into a something real and beautiful—like the coastal sunsets of Murrell’s Inlet—Nora stumbles upon Shaw’s deepest secret. Her trust is destroyed and the wisdom of her life-changing decision shaken as the future she envisioned is threatened.

As the truth becomes clear, can she find forgiveness within the sanctuary of her heart or will his betrayal destroy her faith in him once and for all? 


Review

I enjoyed the characters immensely. I felt like the Romance was well balanced because of their respective personalities.

I liked that Laurie Larsen does not shy away from real topics. She takes the issues head on and brings them  to life for the reader. 


This is an emotional novel. There are ups and downs for these characters individually and as a couple. You will find yourself right in the rollercoaster of emotions with them.

About the Author


Award-winning author Laurie Larsen leads a double life.  During the day she's a respected Project Manager in the fast-paced world of Information Technology.  After dinner and a glass of wine, she becomes a multi-published author of Christian fiction grounded in today's modern world.
Laurie's been published for 17 years, but feels she finally found her writing "niche" in 2009 when her first inspirational romance, Preacher Man was published.  It won fans, accolades, and the prestigious EPIC Award for the Best Spiritual Romance of 2010.  From then on, her path was clear.  She was put on this earth (in part) to tell love stories combined with a strong message of faith.  Her Pawleys Island Paradise series is a much beloved, at times best-selling series of six books following Leslie and Hank, and the Harrison clan, as they face the daily challenges of life while trying to include prayer and praise.  Reviewers say the books are heartwarming, life-changing and an example to follow for including God in your life.

Laurie loves the beach (obvious to anyone who's read the Pawleys Island Paradise series) and she's fondly looking forward to a day (not too far away) where she can retire from the demanding day job, and spend her days living at the beach and writing novels.  Until then, she travels back and forth between Illinois and South Carolina just as often as possible. 

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Reading Addiction Blog Tours

PROMO: Nowhere is Home Since You Left by Madeleine Zeldin with an #excerpt


Death, Grief, Bereavement
Date Published: 1-6-2017
Publisher: Cygnet Publications, Cygnet Media Group Inc.

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When her beloved soul friend husband, Gerald, passed away a few years ago, and her friends and sons moved to distant cities, she found herself alone for the first time in her life.

Gerald, a professional artist, had his studio in their home. Their home was always filled with family life, art, music, joy and playfulness in the garden.
After his passing, the silence was loud. The joy was gone — her paradise — a lost paradise.

She had two choices, either to fall apart or to get on with life.  She chose the latter and traveled to find a home, a community — however - nowhere was home - since he left.
In writing Nowhere Is Home … Since You Left, Madeleine Zeldin shares her insights, emotions, and true life experiences as she journeys solo throughout the years following the sorrowful death of her soul mate, internationally renowned artist, Gerald Zeldin. She presents years of storytelling based on travel journals she wrote while traveling to countries such as Mexico, Philippines, Ecuador, France, Spain, and California, U.S.A.  Zeldin also reveals the intensity of the pain and sorrow experienced in her grief, along with the fulfillment, satisfaction and logistics of international travel. In her travels she volunteered in the medical field and gave help where help was needed. She brings inspiration to those of her generation, the 60’s, who find themselves alone.

Through her evocative tales of adventure, Zeldin reveals this life-changing knowledge to the world!

But ultimately where is Home?


EXCERPT



Finding Your Path

“Do not go where the path may lead.

   Go instead where there is no path

And leave a trail.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

When i travel to faraway places, i like to experience the local flavour … and often write a ‘sketch’ of my experiences …

My purpose in writing these travel journals … these ‘sketches’ …
is to share with you my adventures and cultural experiences of these places … the road less travelled …


saw two lovers on the beach this evening …

they were gentle and sweet …

one walked up to a bag of garbage that someone thoughtlessly left on the beach …

he tore the bag apart and started licking some juice 
from the juice box …

the female slowly walked over to her friend … and coyly looked at him … as if to say …

may i share … they both started licking, then stopped …

they looked at each other and rubbed noses …

as their lips gently touched …

their slender grey proud bodies strolled away graciously

when the dogs came to chase

these donkeys away …


as we were looking down at the clear ocean from the high cliffs … 
we saw the outline of a shark …

swimming around the shoreline far below … just where we were going to go snorkelling …

so the tour guides … all young ecuadorians with a sense of humor…

said they would keep us safe and took us to another spot … 
but not far off …

around the other side of this small island …

not sure whether to quite trust these young men …

as we were swimming in the deep waters way out in the pacific … 
i asked one to watch out for sharks …

he said not to worry … 
the only shark i would have to watch out for… was him …


last night i tripped and broke my toenail 
and did not want to cut it off …

so bought some crazy glue … for fifty cents … 
and glued my nail together …

the only problem … i glued the tip of my finger to my toenail …

was almost impossible to pull it away …

so now my finger tip is part of my toenail … 


About the Author

Professionally, Ms. Zeldin has been engaged in nursing and teaching. She has successfully advocated for changes in the medical field, along with homebirth and Midwifery. In her travels to out of the way places, she has been a keen observer of people and distant cultures, often writing a 'sketch' of her experience.

Madeleine is an advocate of advocacy.

Madeleine believes we can all make a difference.

Throughout her adult life she has successfully advocated for change. When she felt change was needed, she rallied. She lobbied. She started a group or joined a group.

In the late '70's, when her town council was considering tearing down old heritage properties in the name of 'Progress', she helped start a group of interested citizens in order to save these heritage properties. 'Progress' was stopped and many heritage buildings were saved due to the group's diligence.

Again in the early '80's, Madeleine herself changed local hospital policy to allow midwives to accompany couples in the birthing room, after the hospital refused to allow her midwife to enter.

She belonged to a group of informed parents who advocated for changes in the policies for vaccinations.

Madeleine volunteered at the local Health Center and advocated for improved health care for refugees. Improvements were made.

She successfully advocated for her soul-friend, late husband Gerald's medical care throughout their six year battle with cancer. Many important changes were implemented in our medical system due to her persistence.

Madeleine has been ahead of her time in her generation. She had many professions throughout her life including social worker, teacher, registered nurse. She also joined a group of midwives and again successfully advocated for choices in childbirth.

However, she considers her most important achievement as being a mother and grandmother. She has instilled in her family a sense of love and empathy and has taught them to love the earth and its people.

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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Book Tour & Book Review of On the Edge of Death by @CiaraBallintyne #review #fantasy


EPIC FANTASY
Date Published: 22 April 2017
Publisher: Evolved publishing

All the Left Hand of Death wants is something to call her own, but is the price too high?
Ellaeva, the fated avatar of the death goddess, is desperate to track down her missing family but the trail is decades old. Instead, she discovers her battered and bloodied sister priestesses driven across the Jerreki border on pain of death. Ellaeva must turn aside from her personal quest to investigate the murders, only to find her parents have been taken into the heart of the conflict.
Lyram Aharris, favoured son of the royal line of Ahlleyn, is the only living person she trusts to help her infiltrate the enemy stronghold and uproot the horror they find there, but their chequered past threatens the mission. Accompanying him is his crown prince, the one man Lyram wants dead above all others.
Now Ellaeva must face down the darkness in her soul before a dark god is brought into the world.
At the boundary of life and death, all oaths will be tested. 


Review 

This is a fantasy novel that is not simply action and adventure and fantasy, it is dark and involved the entire way through. There is a lot going on and these characters go through quite a bit over the course of the novel. I enjoyed that fact. I liked how much we got to experience throughout their journey. 

I liked the growth the characters showed in this novel. There wasn't any character who seemed stagnate, which was great. 

I think the addition of the darkness was great in this one. It added a creepy element that I actually quite enjoyed.

I think the flow of this novel was well done and I found myself flipping pages quite quickly to keep the story going.



Ciara Ballintyne grew up on a steady diet of adult epic fantasy from the age of nine, leaving her with a rather confused outlook on life – she believes the good guys should always win, but knows they often don’t. She is an oxymoron; an idealistic cynic. Her debut work is Confronting the Demon, and In the Company of the Deadis her first book to be published with Evolved Publishing. She holds degrees in law and accounting, and  is a practising financial services lawyer. In her spare time, she speculates about taking over the world.
Twitter: @CiaraBallintyne
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Book Blitz: The Complex: Heart of Knives




Title: Heart of Knives 
Author: L.V. Lewis 
Genre: ScFi/ Fantasy Romance 
Release Date: June 27, 2017 






The Complex Book Series. A Lone Planet. One Complex. Unlimited Chaos. When an elf princess is threatened for her activism, who will come to her rescue—her fairy prince fiance’ or the handsome human bodyguard she adores? Princess Amarie Vanyarin has a reputation for doing what’s right, no matter the cost. When she volunteers to act as Elf ambassador at the Complex—a domed community of Humans and Metas on the planet Lorn—a faceless assassin threatens her life. Soon, the civil rights activist is torn between thwarting another war and concentrating on her betrothal to Fairy Prince Erihstall Habbernock. Their plan to strengthen their mystical bond with a love spell goes awry when the magic inadvertently enchants the wrong person. Or does it? Amarie soon discovers that her fiancé and Gary Locke, the human bodyguard who’s captured her heart, both have ulterior motives—neither of which bodes well for her. With the future ahead uncertain, will the headstrong princess continue to fight for Human-Meta peace, or will she choose to confront the emerging threat targeting the men she loves?






The blinders are already beginning their slow descent when Gary reaches Princess Amarie’s apartment. The moving shadows make him nervous and more alert. His boss’ voice slices through the paranoia already building up inside his mind. She’s going to need you, Sergeant. Right. I’ve got a job to do. Time to get to work.
Until a kit shows up, the only weapons Gary has are the Ama Seldova-issued segif on his gun belt and a pocket knife. The gun only temporarily knocks out an individual, and the knife won’t be useful against most Nighters. Against a single opponent, this won’t prove to be an issue. Two attackers, and Gary will have to take some chances. More than that, and the only real option for guaranteed survival is running. Hoping the attack doesn’t come tonight, or has happened already, Gary runs for the elevators leading to the top floor.
During the day, the Complex is filled with Humans and Metas moving about, each doing their job or living as best they can in what amounts to a giant tube. The same is true at night. The Human population gives way to Nighters, who are inherently quiet, which makes the atmosphere far more stifling to Gary as he passes them in the apartment’s lobby. The stares are worse. In Gary’s mind, each one of them looks hungry and thinks he is a stupid, easy meal.
Safely upon reaching the elevator, Gary smacks the ‘Up’ button hard enough to echo back towards the awakened civilians. Snickers echo around him as he turns with a silly look on his face. Hey fella, we’re all here to be peaceful. Chill out. Those words are etched on every face that turned at the sound. Fuck, Gary thinks. Why do I have to be so damned human?
An eternity of stares and seconds later, the elevator doors open. Gary forces himself to step inside with some semblance of dignity. Not too fast, not so slow as to be cartoonish. Now alone, he heaves a sigh. The doors begin to close, and he thinks, Okay, get your bearings back. Relax. You’re a goddamn soldier. Act like one.  Before the doors can fuse shut, pale blue fingers slip between them, automatically reversing open. A tall, lean man with the pallor of undeath smiles at him.
“I assume you’re going up,” the man asks.
“Yep. Straight to the top,” Gary replies.
“Perfect.”
The man pushes the button for the floor below Princess Amarie’s, then steps back and to the side so he’s flush with Gary. Side by side for the full ride, neither looks at the other. Gary decided early on this was the most uncomfortable elevator ride in man’s history that didn’t lead to someone’s death or dismemberment. So far. They reach the man’s (vampire, Gary) floor and the doors slide open. Before exiting, he looks Gary straight in the eye.
“Come and see me sometime, when being a monster hunter isn’t such a new smell on you. We’ll have more fun then,” the man says.
“Don’t do anything I need to come and see you for. We’ll pretend this didn’t happen,” Gary replies, meaning every word.
“Everybody knows that is not how this experiment will go down, Locke. You don’t have enough to lose yet, so it’s no fun to play with you. And please, feel free to visit me any time.”
The man vanishes into shadow as the doors close. Gary stares at the ceiling of the elevator, wondering why vampires were gifted with mind-reading. Willing the car to move up faster than programmed, he thinks, Just one more floor, dude, and we’ve finished the hard part.
The elevator doors open, and immediately Gary knows he’d been wrong. The hard part wasn’t over at all. A piercing scream is sounding through the thick walls of the princess’ suite on his left. What the fuck is happening to her? No time, gotta move. Gary pulls his segif from its holster and finds the nearest door leading left.
With one swift kick, he splinters the solid oak door. With a second kick, he smashes enough to duck in without his vision being impaired. From the corners of his eyes, he sees a flashing light but has no idea what it might be. To his right, however, is the princess. Naked. Her dark olive skin on display. Her arms and face are tilted up and what looks like purple smoke is weaving its way into her nostrils. Another scream escapes her mouth. Bolting from his crouched position, Gary harpoons himself into the princess in a desperate plea to stop this attempted possession.
With a heaving gasp, she falls underneath him, and the smell of her sweet perspiration invades his nostrils, saturating every pore of his being. Gary barely has time to realize he recognizes this scent before he loses all awareness in the emerald green mirrors of the princess’ eyes.
The vision before him is perfection personified. Her skin is so soft to the touch he could caress it forever. The vulnerability in her eyes slays him, and he feels himself reacting to her in a way that is not very professional, but he can’t help himself.
Perhaps it’s the fact that he hasn’t been with a woman in a while. His job keeps him busy, and fuck paying for sex. He’s old school and would rather hook up the old fashioned way. Princess Vanyarin certainly is his type—exotic brunette. Maybe it’s her Meta powers that’s got him under her spell, but it can’t be that. The device he’s wearing should protect him from that.
The fruity-looking fairy boy says something in a language Gary doesn’t understand, and his body’s reaction to the Princess goes into overdrive.
“What in the absolute fuck!”
Gary tries to turn away from the sleek, lithe body beneath him, away from the enchanting eyes, but he can’t. Within seconds, blackness covers him, the world goes cold, then nothing.
 




Growing up, L.V. Lewis wanted to be an internationally known rock star, but unfortunately, lived in the wrong part of the country to pursue that career (and neither American Idol nor The Voice were available then). An early love for the written word gave her the plan B she sought. Now she pens romance novels that let her live vicariously through rock stars and other fascinating archetypes.