Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe (Shore Leave Cafe #1) by Abbie Williams

ebook
Published December 17th 2012 by Everheart Books (first published December 14th 2012)
Joelle Gordon is leaving Chicago and her cheating husband to head for her hometown of Landon, Minnesota. WIth her three beautiful daughters in tow, Joelle is bombarded with an onslaught of memories that Landon evokes. Landon -- home to the Shore Leave Cafe, the restaurant Joelle's family owns -- has some surprises in store for Joelle. Finding herself confronted with the reality of single motherhood, a mysterious but handsome young staffer at the Shore Leave Cafe, her upset daughters, and the prospect of returning to her husband for the well-being of her kids, Joelle must make decisions she never thought she'd face.

A story about heartbreak, blame, family, desire, love, and the difficulties of returning home, Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe highlights hardships to which everyone can relate.
 

My Thoughts…

When picking a book to read I look at the setting.   I love this town of Landon, Minnesota.    It is  the small hometown setting that manages to pull me in.   The neighbors, the local café, the family, and of course the town itself are all reasons I enjoyed this book.     I love that they have Saturday Margarita Night, small town celebrations with fireworks, and that the town is positioned on a lake that they kids and adults use.   

Joelle leaves Chicago and runs home when she finds her husband cheating on her.   Not just does she find out, she walks in on him in the act.      I can’t say I blame her.   I actually am proud of her for walking away and taking a path that she doesn’t know where it will lead instead of staying and living with a cheater.     I like that she takes her 3 daughters and shows them that they can be okay being a separated family.    She shows that she respects herself  enough to not put up with the disrespect that Jackie, her husband, shows her when he chooses to cheat on her.    

The romance part is different.    I am not sure that I felt the sparks at the beginning of their relationship.     Both Joelle and Jilly are interested in men with difficult histories.     While Joelle makes the decision to keep her relationship a secret, Jilly would like nothing more than to announce it to the world that she loves someone.      As they spend time with their men I was able to understand and enjoy their relationships better.     I liked that both women stayed true to themselves and didn’t give up on what they felt was right.
Summer at the Shore Leave Café is the first book in this series by Abbie Williams.    This one ended not with a cliffhanger but with a definite must keep reading the rest of the series ending.     I am anxious to get my hands on book two.

Book Links


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

PROMO BLITZ of Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg


An all new second chance love story by the New York Times Bestselling author of the Driven series.

Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg is NOW LIVE!




Sweet Cheeks.jpg

It all started with the invitation. To my ex-fiance’s new wedding.
I should have ignored it.Thrown it away. Set it afire. But I didn’t. I replied.
With a plus one.
And then my assistant accidentally mailed it.
Enter Hayes Whitley. Mega-movie star. The man who has captured the hearts of millions. But I gave him mine years ago. He was my first love. He was my everything. Right until he up and left to chase his dreams without so much as a simple goodbye.
When he showed up out of the blue ten years later, I should have known to steer clear. I should have rejected his offer to take me to my ex’s wedding. I should have never let him kiss me.
But I didn’t.
And now we’re left wondering if the pieces of the life we once shared still fit together somehow. First loves are hard to forget. The question is, do we want to forget? Or do we risk the chance and see what happens next?

5 Now I know.jpeg
Excerpt
I hear my name. I think I do anyway, and it distracts me enough momentarily that Hayes is able to grab and pull me tighter into him, the cupcake now inches from my face.
We stare at each other in a silent standoff, hearts racing and eyes daring. His gaze flickers over my shoulder and then back to mine as I prepare myself for the smash.
But it doesn’t come.
Instead he eases up and only dabs the frosting against the tip of my nose.
I sigh in relief.
Then gasp out in shock.
Because Hayes’s lips are on mine.
And not just a friendly peck. Not hardly. The hand that held the cupcake is now empty. Chocolate fallen by the wayside for a kiss. His fingers, sticky with frosting, are on my cheeks directing my face. But there’s no thought of the frosting he’ll get on my face or how funny it’s going to look when we walk back to our villa because all I can think about is Hayes.
I could tell myself I part my lips—grant him access—because I’m winded and need to breathe, but that would be a lie. Because the minute his tongue dances against mine, all I want to do is drown in his kiss. In the familiarity of it. In the difference of it. The unexpectedness of it. The comfort of it. In everything about him.
Hayes Whitley is kissing me. Again.
Finally.
His fingers are possessive—on the underside of my jaw and the small of my back—and the soft groan he emits communicates everything his lips are expressing and more.
His taste consumes me. The chocolate on his tongue. The spark of desire. The lick of lust. The sense of calm riled up by an overload of emotion.
My hands slide up the plane of his back over skin heated by the sun and slick with frosting. His muscles bunch beneath my palms as he shifts the angle of the kiss.
His tongue tantalizes and torments. Begs me to want more with its tender caresses and then switches gear and demands me to keep pace. To a

Monday, November 21, 2016

All Darling Children by Katrina Monroe

Paperback, 200 pages
Published October 20th 2016 by Red Adept Publishing, LLC
All boys grow up, except one.

On the tenth anniversary of her mother's death, fourteen-year-old Madge Darling’s grandmother suffers a heart attack. With the overbearing Grandma Wendy in the hospital, Madge runs away to Chicago, intent on tracking down a woman she believes is actually her mother.

On her way to the Windy City, a boy named Peter Pan lures Madge to Neverland, a magical place where children can remain young forever. While Pan plays puppet master in a twisted game only he understands, Madge discovers the disturbing price of Peter Pan's eternal youth.
 

My Thoughts…

I am a sucker for a good fairy tale twist.   All Darling Children is a new one for me.  This is the first Peter Pan twist that I have read.     I love that the characters were familiar, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Smee,  The Lost Boys, and Wendy.   Add to that list some new characters with Jane and Madge and the story takes on new life.    

The story of Peter Pan is a fairytale to most people.     In this story you see a different side of Pan and an entirely different Hook.    The Darling children from Wendy, her daughter Jane, and finally her granddaughter Madge all travel to Neverland and realize what Peter Pan really is.   The fact that Wendy returns to the real world and becomes a scorned old woman really changes my perception of her.     I felt for Madge, stuck growing up with a woman like Wendy has become.   


All Darling Children is a dark tale.   It is not bells and whistles, fun and fairies.   Katrina Monroe takes a happy Neverland and melds it into a dark, scary Neverland.    I really enjoyed this twisted fairytale.   Pick up a copy ASAP. 

Book Links

Goodreads   |   Kobo   |   Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble  

Friday, November 18, 2016

Little Boy Blue (Helen Grace #5) by M.J. Arlidge

Kindle Edition, 380 pages
Published March 10th 2016 by Penguin
Detective Helen Grace faces her own dark compulsions in the twisty new thriller from the author of Pop Goes the Weasel and Eeny Meeny.

In the darkest corners of the city, there is a thriving nightlife where people can let loose and cross the lines of work and play, of pleasure and pain. But now that sanctuary has been breached. A killer has struck and a man is dead.

In a world where disguises and discretion are the norm, one admission could unravel a life. No one wants to come forward to say what they saw or what they know—including the woman heading the investigation: Detective Helen Grace.

Helen knew the victim. And the victim knew her—better than anyone else. And when the murderer strikes again, Helen must decide how many more lines she’s willing to cross to bring in a devious and elusive serial killer...
 

My Thoughts…

Once upon a time I did not know who M.J. Arlidge was.    Now he is a must-read, wish-list, top of my TBR pile author.      The murder mysteries he writes keep me on the edge of my seat, turning page after page, and wondering who Helen Grace will catch.  

With Little Boy Blue there are characters and storylines brought back from previous Helen Grace Series books.    I enjoyed getting the slight reminders of why a character acts the way they do.    These past characters mentions are clues to who Helen Grace is chasing for the current crimes.      With all that I just said, know that if you have not read the others in this series you are definitely missing out on some amazing reading but you will still totally enjoy Little Boy Blue.   

Little Boy Blue is a good crime fictions story that kept me guessing and reading.     I love that I was kept anticipating what would happen next.     There are no giveaway clues, although there are clues that could or could not lead you to make the correct assumptions.    I am a reader that follows the trail the author wants me to and MJ Arlidge is masterful at taking me down a path full of drama, suspense, twists, and murders.   All of which add up to an amazing story.     I recommend checking out the rest of this series and picking up this book also.  

Book Links




Praise for LIAR LIAR
“British author Arlidge’s fourth novel featuring Southampton Det. Insp. Helen Grace (after The Doll’s House) is so good that it will send new readers scrambling to catch up with the
earlier books in the series.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This is an addictive installment in a reliably strong series — think James Patterson or Patricia Cornwell, with a (not-so-posh) British accent.”
—USA Today, 3 stars (out of 4)




Praise for THE DOLL’S HOUSE
“Arlidge has created a memorable heroine in Helen Grace, who combines insight, grit, and an appealing personal vulnerability…”
—Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine         




Praise for POP GOES THE WEASEL  
“Arlidge delivers on the promise of the first Helen Grace thriller with another gripping and action-packed read topped by a final twist.”
—Library Journal

“Readers will root for this admirable if flawed heroine every step of the way.”
—Publishers Weekly



Praise for EENY MEENY
“Boy, do the pages fly by…It's almost always cause for skepticism when a book's jacket copy promises an ingenious new variety of serial killer, but amazingly enough it's true of
M.J. Arlidge's gripping debut.”
—USA Today, 3 ½ stars (of 4)

“A brilliant read that is impossible to let go of until the final page.”
—Crimespree Magazine




Thursday, November 17, 2016

Westobou Gold by Hawk MacKinney SPOTLIGHT TOUR & GIVEAWAY

Book Description:

The Indian Queen would risk torture and worse to keep her secrets from these barbarians in suits of metal and their search for cities of gold. They never found the gold. Empires rose; empires fell, the centuries passed. Legend became fireside myths, but no treasure was ever found. Yet, among the grey-green drapes of wisteria and wild jasmine along the misty shrouded lowlands of bayous and marshes of the Westo River, the folktales persist.

In the lazed creep of a near-tropical dawn lit the pungent Turkish coffee permeates Moccasin Hollow. Beyond the kitchen door Lucky, Craige Ingram’s German shepherd gnaws a favorite bone. Looted burial mounds seem a world away until plundered mounds on Moccasin Hollow land brings amateur archaeologist PI Craige Ingram into the cross-hairs of kidnapping. Stealthy hideaways are concealed in old colonial brick-lined river grottoes beneath the big house of Ardochy plantation. Sex-tape underage blackmail and thrill killings on federal land spur a medical examiner’s preliminary postmortem to more than a hired cleaner’s quickie cover-up passed off as drug deals gone sour. Greed tangles a witch’s pigswill of illicit affairs and murder-to-hide-murder. Shady investigators and shadier politics stir an unexpected concoction that threatens the lives of those at Moccasin Hollow in a spiteful plot against ex-SEAL Craige Ingram and the woman he loves.

Buy the Book:  Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble

Author's Bio:

Internationally acclaimed author and public speaker, Hawk MacKinney began writing mysteries for his school newspapers. He served in the US Navy Reserve for over 20 years, and was a tenured faculty member at several state medical facilities, teaching postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel. Since retiring Hawk has authored several novels that have received national and international recognition. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel, was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. The Cairns of Sainctuarie, his science fiction series, includes The Bleikovat Event and The Missing Planets, with a third book in the works. Hawk’s latest project focuses on The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Book 1 in the series, Hidden Chamber of Death, was released early 2016.

Connect with the author:  Website

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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Scars Keeper by Scarlet Wolfe RELEASE BLITZ

Title: The Scars Keeper
Author: Scarlet Wolfe
Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: November 16

Goodreads

Synopsis
Avery
My scars are mine alone. They’re the validation of my pain.
The anxiety, anger and sadness I bleed.
My dark secret. A grim, ugly truth.
Most of all, they’re the one thing in my life I control.
It’s inevitable that one day I’ll have to reveal them to someone. What I wasn’t expecting was to share them now with him … with Hayden.

Hayden
Girls like Avery are all the same. They’re spoiled, superficial blondes who don’t appreciate mommy and daddy’s wealth.
Plastic shells that are empty on the inside.
Or so I thought … but I was wrong.
Avery’s heart is an abyss of emotions. She feels like no one I’ve ever met, wallowing in her insecurities and anguish yet savoring every exciting moment within her reach. I was blindsided by the immense love she was willing to give once she trusted me, and I was left with no choice but to trust her, too, exposing my own pain and scars.
I hate myself for caving in … for loving her. How do you let go of the one person you let in? How do you say goodbye to the girl who trusted you with her body and soul?
I have to leave Avery, and where I’m going, I can’t take her with me. She’s going to believe I built her up only to tear her down, but what she doesn’t realize is unlike her, I can’t change my destiny. I was born into the Knights Union MC, and it’s where I’ll go to die.


Excerpt
Every few breaths bring with them the sweet aroma of honeysuckle. The plants' balls of tangled vines huddle on the outskirts of our hideaway, soaked from the brief rain shower that fell moments ago.
As we sit on the tattered bench, our bare toes slide along the aged soil beneath our feet.
Shoulders brushing ...
Pinkies touching ...
Our crush for one another is unveiling itself beneath the afternoon sun.
Allowing my head to fall against his toned bicep, I savor from his t-shirt the lingering scent of rain. The fabric peppered with droplets of water grazes my cheek, and I breathe in the smell of pine needles that have fallen into his wavy hair from the trees above.
A twig in his hand is drawing a line on the thigh of his blue jeans, the back and forth motion hypnotizing, words needless and serenity endless. Hayden is my link to nature. He is my earth, and I long to be rooted in him.

AMAZON * B&N * KOBO * iBOOKS

About the Author 


Scarlet Wolfe began writing in January of 2013 as a way to distract and heal from some of the grief she was dealing with after the death of her teenage son.
She instantly fell in love with bringing characters to life. Releasing contemporary romance throughout 2013, she branched out in 2014, adding erotica and teen. In 2015, her first romantic mystery/suspense, The Cassano Series, came to fruition.
When not writing, Scarlet enjoys her time with family and friends and has an addiction to Pinterest. She loves bacon, coffee, stories about possessive, hot alpha males, and other flavors of ice cream besides vanilla. ;)
She hopes her writing will encourage readers to explore their sexuality.



                                   Amazon * Pinterest * Scarlet's Red-Hot Readers *                                                        The Cassano Series Fan Group


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Friday, November 11, 2016

Tru Blue by Melissa Foster & GIVEAWAY

New Release........
TRU BLUE is a sexy, dark stand-alone novel written in the same loving, raw, and emotional voice romance readers have come to love, and the deeply emotional literary prose women's fiction readers have come to expect, from New York Times & USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Melissa Foster.

He wore the skin of a killer, and bore the heart of a lover... 

There's nothing Truman Gritt won't do to protect his family--Including spending years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. When he's finally released, the life he knew is turned upside down by his mother's overdose, and Truman steps in to raise the children she's left behind. Truman's hard, he's secretive, and he's trying to save a brother who's even more broken than he is. He's never needed help in his life, and when beautiful Gemma Wright tries to step in, he's less than accepting. But Gemma has a way of slithering into people's lives and eventually she pierces through his ironclad heart. When Truman's dark past collides with his future, his loyalties will be tested, and he'll be faced with his toughest decision yet.

My Thoughts…

Tru Blue is Melissa Foster at her best.     She brings to this story an absolutely amazingly complex character in Truman.    He has lived his entire life, even as a child, protecting and saving those who he loves.    He even went to prison to protect his brother.     The things he saw, the things he did, and the reactions he had have shaped him into the man he is today.   Then he meets Gemma.  

Oh Gemma…she is exactly what a man like Tru needs.    She accepts him for who he is, she offers him support not pity or sympathy, and she loves him.     The things she is able to do for him are not easy.   She offers him support and guidance even when he doesn’t think he needs or wants it.    She loves him even when he thinks he is unlovable.     She lifts him up when he is down on himself and his life.     In return for all this Truman gives Gemma the two things she has wanted her entire life.   The first is unconditional love.   He just gives it to her, there are no conditions, no do this for my love, he just opens his arms and his heart and lets her in.   The second thing she has wanted her entire life??  Well, you need to read the story to find that out.  


You have to pick up this standalone story.   Truman and Gemma are amazing.    Their love is real, with rough spots and all.      

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...

melissa newsletter

"Such a powerful, gritty, emotional, heart-wrenching, soul searching read.  In my opinion, this is her BEST BOOK YET! And it really, really needs to be made into a film!!!! If you only read one book this year - make sure it's this one!"

"Tru Blue is more than a romance, it is a story of love, a story of hope and a story of courage. 10 + stars."

Above reviews from Goodreads



Tru_Teaser12

About the author
About the author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance (M/F, M/M, F/F), romantic suspense, thrillers, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook or her personal website.

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites....

Follow the Book Tour

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I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

Two lucky winners will each receive ebook River of Love (Bradens at Peaceful Harbor)
Ending on Sunday 27th November at 11.59pm EST
Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!


Thursday, November 10, 2016

Dangerous Passion by Lisa Kamps

Dangerous Passion
by Lisa B Kamps
Genre: Contemporary Romance


When passion proves dangerous....

Curator Shelby Martin's lie is as dry, dull, and dusty as the artifacts with which she works.  But when she accepts an adventurous dare posed by her friends, Shelby finds more than one night of unforgettable passion.   

No-nonsense Vice cop Josh Nichols has seen his fair share of the seedier side of Baltimore.  Drawn to Shelby immediately, Josh can't resist the attraction he feels for the quirky, yet sexy, woman coming on to him in the bar.  And when she bails without leaving her number after a night of hot sex, he's reeling with desire to see her again.

But suddenly, when Shelby and Josh are thrown together to solve a crime at Shelby's museum, neither can trust the other. Josh sees Shelby in a different light.  The carefree and courageous sex goddess from their one night together is nothing like the reserved introvert standing before him.  Determined to understand the intriguing woman, he vows to solve the mystery behind the museum and the secrecy behind the woman. As suspicion riddles them with doubt and misconceptions, they struggle to find common ground.  After all, they can't possibly build a future on one night of passion—a passion that just might tear them apart. 



Lisa B. Kamps is the author of the best-selling series The Baltimore Banners, featuring "hard-hitting, heart-melting hockey players" (USA Today), on and off the ice. Her newest series, Firehouse Fourteen, features hot and heroic firefighters.

In a previous life, she worked as a firefighter with the Baltimore County Fire Department, then a very brief (and not very successful) stint at bartending in east Baltimore, and finally as the Director of Retail Operations for a busy Civil War non-profit.

Lisa currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons (who are mostly sorta-kinda out of the house), one very spoiled Border Collie, two cats with major attitude, several head of cattle, and entirely too many chickens to count. When she's not busy writing or chasing animals, she's cheering loudly for her favorite hockey team, the Washington Capitals--or going through withdrawal and waiting for October to roll back around!

Author Media Links:



Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Children of the Veil The Aisling Chronicles Book 2 Colleen Halverson & GIVEAWAY




Genre: Urban Fantasy
 Publisher: Entangled
 Date of Publication: October 26, 2016


Book Description:

Elizabeth Tanner has one goal: to find her mother in whatever dimension she’s imprisoned. But to do that, she has to face her estranged father, and to do that, she needs a shot of whiskey…or seven. But after an attempt on her life and the return of her lost love, she wakes up with one hell of a hangover and a whole barrage of questions.

Finn O’Connell doesn’t know why the Fianna want him to aid Elizabeth in her search, but he’ll take any excuse to be near her again. Together, they dive headlong into the shadows of her mother’s secrets and find themselves embroiled in a Fae rebellion that will test Finn’s loyalties and their love.

With the Faerie realm verging on chaos, Elizabeth and Finn will embark on a quest that will lead them from the streets of Chicago to London’s seedy Fae underground. But rescuing Elizabeth’s mother means journeying to a place Finn can’t follow, and Elizabeth is forced to make a choice between finding her at last or saving her own soul.

My Thoughts...

Children of the Veil is the second book in the Aisling Chronicles Series.   The story picks up where the first one ended.   My only complaint is that there was no lead in.    With the number of books I read and the length of time between book 1 and book 2 I needed to go back and refresh my memory as to what had happen at the end of book 1.   

 Now onto all the good stuff, the amazing storyline, and the wonderful characters.      Elizabeth is searching for her mother.   The mother who has never been around but gave her the part of her that is fae.    She has to face her father, who is not such a great dad, and search through history to find out what has happen to her.   Finn, Elizabeth’s boyfriend, is sometimes helpful and sometimes secretive.   I understand that he is trying to protect her but it seems that every time he leaves her out of something or tries to be sneaky it backfires and Elizabeth is put in danger.  

 The story is not a quick and easy story.   There is a lot happening and a lot of different type’s to keep track of.    The story is based on Irish mythology and is complex.  This makes Children of the Veil a different feel that the other paranormal books I have read.   You absolutely have to read the first book in this series before picking up this one.      But they are both worth reading.     Take the time, find a quiet spot and enjoy!

Amazon    BN     Kobo    iTunes  



Teaser Excerpt:

Elizabeth Tanner has one goal: find her mother and free her. But after an attempt on her life and the return of her lost love, her search leads to more questions than answers. Finn O’Connell doesn’t know why the Fianna want him to help Elizabeth, but he’ll take any excuse to be near her. Diving into the shadows of her mother’s secrets throws them into a Fae rebellion that will test their love, and rescuing Elizabeth’s mother means making a choice between finding her or saving her own soul.

Excerpt 1

            My legs buckled and he snatched me into his arms, my head lolling against his chest. I breathed in the smell of leather, fresh folded laundry, and that pure, manly scent of Finn-ness. God, I had missed him.
            “Who…?” I managed to say, the words feeling like caked mud in my mouth.
            He didn’t answer, but slipped me into his car and I sank into the leather seat, darkness eating at the edge of my sight. The purring engine lulled me into a daze, and I must have passed out because the next thing I knew, we were stumbling up the stairs to my apartment.
            “I live here,” I slurred.
            “I know,” Finn mumbled, his muscled arm propping me up. “Where are your keys?”
            Snowflakes collected on the crown of his head, his eyebrows knitting together. The curve of his mouth filled my vision, and my fingers slipped over the soft skin, tracing the delicate cupid bow on his top lip. His face softened, multiple Finns swimming through the muted streetlight.
            “Mmmmm…” I murmured, running my hand against the side of his face, trying to keep from seeing double. “Stay still.”
            He placed a gentle hand over my hand. “Elizabeth, your keys. It’s freezing out here.”
            I brought his palm next to my face, brushing my lips against his callused fingers. Need burned through my body, and I fell against his broad chest, covering his mouth with mine with a moan. For a moment, he kissed me back, his hands pressing firm against my shoulders. The falling snow tickled my neck, sending icy trails down my spine, and I pressed into him seeking his warmth. He made a low sound in his throat.
            “You’re drunk,” he whispered.
            “I don’t care.” I whispered into his ear.
            Finn disentangled himself from my arms, and I slipped on a patch of ice, falling on my ass with a giggle. He leaned over me, patting my jeans in search for my keys. His hands strayed to my waist, tickling my side, and I laughed, grabbing his hands.
            He hovered over me, his hair grazing the firm line of his jaw. “Elizabeth, stop. I mean it. Where are your keys?”
            He rifled in my coat, and something landed on the balcony with a thud. The book of Yeats’ poetry lay in the snow, white powder quickly accumulating on its worn cover. Finn made to grab it, but I snatched it away, wiping it off and sticking it safe back inside my coat. He stared down at me and swallowed hard, the tinkling crystal of falling snow the only sound in the silent street.
            “Elizabeth…” He whispered, his hand brushing away a wet lock of hair plastered to my cheek.
            I shrugged away, rifling in my jeans pocket for my keys and threw them at him. A wave of dizziness washed over me and I curled up on the balcony, willing the snow to blanket over me, desiring nothing but to become the winter so I could sleep for four months and reemerge whole again. Stinging numbness gripped my fingers and toes, and I shivered, burying my head against my arm.
            “Let’s get you inside.” Finn’s arm slipped beneath my shoulders and under my knees.

Excerpt 2

Finn stood up and placed his hands on my shoulders, massaging my sore muscles. I turned my head to the side, allowing him access to my neck. He rubbed his thumb down my spine, and I let out a soft moan as the tension in my body released.
             “The way you addressed that soldier tonight, and your oath to Phelan,” he said. “I have to admit, I was quite enamored by your display of power.”
            “Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet, Mr. O’Connell.” My fingertips hummed with aisling energy as he brushed my hair aside and kissed me between my shoulder blades. In spite of my exhaustion and everything I learned tonight, my body ached for him.
            “I think royalty looks good on you.” He smoothed his hands down my arms, and breathed into my ear. “But then again, I think everything looks good on you, Princess”
            I placed my hand over Finn’s. “You just want to see me in a dress again.”
            “I suppose I’m still stuck in the 18th century.” He stroked my hair, pulling my wayward curls behind my ears. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to seeing women in trousers.”      
            I stood up and stretched, turning to the cot in the corner. “Well, get used to it, buddy.” Finn grabbed my ass, and I squealed as he pulled me into his lap, the rickety wooden chair groaning beneath our weight.
            “I could get used to these tight blue jeans, however.” Finn moved his hand down my hip. “They are quite flattering in a twenty-first century sort of way.”
            “I’m glad you approve,” I breathed into his ear, reaching back and placing his cheek close to mine.
            “It’s just that a lady’s skirts made it much easier to do this.” Finn wrapped his arm around my waist and slipped his fingers inside the waistband of my jeans.
            I gasped, grabbing at his hand—to release me or plunge deeper, I wasn’t sure.
           

About the Author:

As a child, Colleen Halverson used to play in the woods imagining worlds and telling stories to herself. Growing up on military bases, she found solace in her local library and later decided to make a living sharing the wonders of literature to poor, unsuspecting college freshmen. After backpacking through Ireland and singing in a traditional Irish music band, she earned a PhD in English with a specialization in Irish literature. When she’s not making up stories or teaching, she can be found hiking the rolling hills of the Driftless area of Wisconsin with her husband and two children. CHILDREN OF THE VEIL is the follow up to her debut urban fantasy novel, THROUGH THE VEIL.








Tour giveaway

Signed copy of THROUGH THE VEIL, Book 1 The Aisling Chronicles

Signed copy of CHILDREN OF THE VEIL, Book 2 The Aisling Chronicles

A select collection of pins, patches, and stickers from Creepy Company

$50 Amazon Gift Card

OPEN TO US ONLY

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