Fairytale Ambrosia Excerpt

Hey all,

If you haven't had a chance to meet Maggie, now is a great time. There is a special going on for her series this month. The first book is free and the second is only .99 at all retailers.

Excerpt:

There was an immediate sense of falling, though my feet were firmly planted on the ground. A too perfect, too green meadow stretched out in front of me. Lilacs danced in a breeze I couldn’t feel. A thatched roof cottage stood at the end of the meadow, just before a dark and ominous forest. Behind the woods, a tall castle loomed, the spires almost reaching to the clouds. I turned around to watch for Boone and Phoenix, but the doorway wasn’t behind me. There was only a dirt road that looked identical in both directions.

“Let go of me. Who are you?” Boone said as both guys appeared, though they looked completely different.

Boone’s dark blond hair was shorter and parted on the side into a perfectly unnatural wave. He was suddenly wearing a red cape and hat with a tan tunic and brown pants that were pretty tight. Phoenix, on the other hand, was wearing a turban, baggy pants, and an open leather vest with no shirt underneath it.

I snickered. “Did you stop for a wardrobe change?”

“Looked in the mirror lately?” Phoenix said, letting go of Boone.

Except for being too pale, Phoenix was pulling off the new look.

He caught me staring and winked, reminding me that I was mad at him. I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the side. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“And I told you, it’s my job to protect you.”

“Maggie, I think we should hurry,” Boone said, giving me an impatient gesture, but I didn’t miss the tightening of his square jaw as his eye went to Phoenix’s hand on my arm.

“Just so we are clear, this doesn’t change anything,” I said to Phoenix then strode over to Boone, my dress swishing around my legs.

Wait. Dress? I glanced down. I was wearing a knee length blue dress with a white apron. “What the holy hell?” I reached up and touched my hair, feeling a velvety headband. I had to look a lot like…I pulled a chuck of hair forward. Yep, hair was blonde. I looked at the guys again. We were all dressed in costumes. I pictured the kids. I’d noticed they were dressed oddly, but as what hadn’t struck me.

“We’re in a fairy tale,” I said. 

Books, books, and more books!

Maggie Edwards can't eat, sleep, or die, but she can bake

What have I been doing lately? Writing, writing, and a little more writing.

This month I have released the first three stories in the brand new Knead to Know series. You will remember Maggie from Be Light and the Jinn Trilogy. This series follows her on her adventures while she figures out how to be a modern business owner despite being a newly formed half-vampire. See old friends from the Abyss and meet new ones as Maggie navigates her way through life and hopefully toward love. 

You know what's worse than being blackmailed by a secret council? My family. - Femi

In other news, March's release Catacombs is available for preorder.

Blurb: You know what’s worse than being blackmailed by a secret council? My family. But somehow I was roped into a mission that required me to deal with both. If it weren’t for bad luck…well you know the rest.

Shezmu, the god of ointment with a penchant for dismembering bodies, made himself known in the catacombs by chopping up fifteen innocents and putting them on display. Despite the fact that Shezmu killed my father, the council determined I was the best person to send on this “diplomatic” mission.  All I had to do was convince him to go home, thwart whatever the council’s real plan was for the contradictory god, and save the world from everyone else’s personal agendas—or as I call it, just another Tuesday. 

Everything should have been simple enough, but it wasn’t. This mission was personal and when things get personal, lives change. But not always for the better.

Awaken Book Tour

 

  Awaken (The Patronus)

;Awaken (The Patronus) Lucy Donovan was supposed to have a weekend of fun in the sun, celebrating her upcoming graduation from college. In a split second, everything changed. A drunk driver ended Lucy’s mortal life.
Lucy opens her eyes to a world she never imagined possible and a new destiny: as a Patronus, a guardian of spirits. Adjusting to her new role and abilities while negotiating this confusing realm will test her limits and push her further than she ever dreamed she would go. From wayward spirits who don’t want her help to soul stealing vampires, and even a stuck-up British royal, Lucy must brave them all to save one spirit she can’t bear to lose.
Further complicating her confusing life is an inexplicable yet growing connection she feels to a member of her team, Max, whose mysterious behavior leaves her both confused and intrigued.
Waking up dead was just the beginning of her problems. Lucy’s death is about to become the greatest adventure of her life.

Buy it - Kindle, Paperback, Nook, and Smashwords



Author Sarah M Ross is working with Promotional Book Tours to bring you an incredible Prize pack. She is offering up



For 25 entries in the contest sign up for her newsletter to learn about new books coming out and contests.

Go HERE to sign up for the newsletter
Fill out the form to enter to win


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow the Tour!

Feb 20 - Mandie http://ereadingonthecheap.com

Feb 21 - Adelina http://matterofcents.net

Feb 22 - Celeste http://organicmommytoday.com

Feb 23 - Anne http://www.upstateramblings.com

Feb 24 - Jessica http://www.crossroadreviews.com

Feb 25 - Jen - http://www.craftylife.net

Feb 26 - Lisa http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com

Feb 27 - Christine http://more4momsbuck.com

Feb 28 - Shawnna http://www.cutthemcoupons.com

Feb 29 - Dina www.myunentitledlife.blogspot.com

Mar 1 - Laura http://daybydayinourworld.com/

Mar 2 - Emily http://emilysfrugaltips.com/

Mar 3 - Linette http://kidsfunreviewed.com

Mar 4 - Michelle http://moneysavvymichelle.com

Mar 5 - Laura www.wheelndealmama.com

Mar 6 - Cecile http://www.theshoppingduck.com

Mar 7 - Phaedra http://identitydiscovery.blogspot.com

Mar 8 - Mandie http://mommyreadstoomuch.com

Mar 9 - Felissa http://twolittlecavaliers.com

Mar 10- Theresa http://www.mymommysworld.com

Mar 11 - Olivia http://www.blog.thisnthatwitholivia.com

Mar 12 - Amber http://www.jadelouisedesigns.com

Mar 13 - Dawn http://www.alifeunscripted.net

Mar 14 - Susan http://www.susiebhomemaker.com/

Mar 15 - Karen http://practicalfrugality.blogspot.com

Mar 16 - Heather http://savingfor6.blogspot.com/

Mar 17 - Jessica http://sewcraftable.blogspot.com

Mar 18 - Stephanie http://beautybrite.com

Mar 19- Jessie http://momvantage.net

Mar 20 - Dawn http://www.slopswap.com

Mar 21- Kathy http://www.beentheredonethat.com/

Mar 22 - Melissa http://mychaoticramblings.info

Mar 23 - Terri http://www.terrislittlehaven.com

Mar 24 - Digna http://autumnbluesreviews.blogspot.com/

Mar 25 - Krista http://www.http://www.beentheredonethatwithkat.com/heavenlysavings.net

Mar 26 Brandy http://giveawayblogdom.com

Mar 27 - Mandie http://takingtimeformommy.com

Mar 28 - Erin http://www.forhimandmyfamily.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Deceived by Stephanie Nelson

Book 2 of the Gwen Sparks series has been released and it is a doozy! If you like a little steamy PNR do yourself a favor and read both of these fantastic books. Stephanie was nice enough to stop by today with a little excerpt for you.

 Blurb: Gwen’s life has been a downward spiral since she discovered vampires crave witches blood. She’s summoned to Moon, the town of witches, where she learns that a war is brewing and she’s the secret weapon. Paired with the Angel of Death, it becomes quickly evident that she’s more powerful than she ever realized. But this reaper isn't the robe wearing, scythe carrying kind – he’s a ruggedly handsome handful that has his eye on Gwen. As if that isn’t enough, she’s still tormented by Ian Desperaux’s constant intrusion into her thoughts and dreams. As Gwen struggles to balance her responsibility to the witches’ council and her secret relationship with her vampire boyfriend, Aiden, she’ll soon discover exactly what it means to be Deceived.

He regarded me with a look I’d seen a few other times, an expression I tried to ignore, but at the moment, I couldn’t look away from. I was a woman who noticed attractive men, but I would never act on those feelings. I loved Aiden as sure as the night is long. But Dorian stirred something deep inside of me, and we connected on a level I hadn’t with Aiden. It wasn’t easy to ignore something that profound, especially when it was staring at me like I was the sexiest girl in the world.

Dorian took a step forward. His arms hung limp, but I could tell he was nervous about what was happening between us. The tightness in his jaw and triceps betrayed the cool confidence he was trying to portray. An inch of icy air separated us. I lifted my eyes to his, and we stared at each other. No words were needed; our body language spoke for us. Dorian brought his arm up and with the back of his hand caressed the side of my face with more gentleness than I imagined. My eyes closed against the feel of it. A shuffle of feet enticed my eyes open just in time to see Dorian bending forward and toward my eager lips.

You can stalk Stephanie on Facebook, and have access to updates on her upcoming books!

www.stephanie-nelson.com

Holy Back Pain, Batman!

Two weeks ago I woke up with my back hurting. It hurt pretty bad, but I figured it would go away in a day or two. Now two weeks later and several chiropractor, doctor, and physical therapy visits later I am still nursing a twingy back. Everyone keeps asking, what did you do to it? And that seems like a fair question, but it is one I cannot answer. I went to bed fine and woke up with a pinched nerve. I have no idea how it happened. None, zip, zero, zilch, nada, nothing.

I was complaining about this to my physical therapist yesterday that I couldn't give people a proper excuse for my back pain which makes me feel like a hack. I mean I should know how I hurt myself when it has kicked my butt for two weeks. He told me the worst time he ever hurt his back was when he sneezed in the shower, so he sympathized with the not having a good story to relay to the concerned acquaintances. So he suggested I make up a good story. It sounds like a reasonable course of action so I am making up two so I can put it up for a vote. 

First- I was driving home Friday after a night thwarting zombie chaos and madness. When a group of walkers stumbled out in front of my car. I didn't run them over (as someone in the movies would do) because I am no dummy. I know that running over five zombies would 1. injure my car, 2. Not actually kill the zombies unless I was lucky, and 3. Be hell to clean off my car. So instead I slammed on my breaks just missing them and freezing their red, milky eyes in my head lights. I calmly and collectedly pulled my baseball bat from the car and went to take care of business (I have a world to save after all). The first three went down easy, but the last two were runners. They took off across the field in a mixture of bum legs and war cries as they gnashed their rotten teeth over their shoulders at me as I hunted them down. Well, I got the one with the bum leg first and took care of him, but the other one gained some distance on me. So I had to take off running and do a flying leap at the zombie, crashing into it and the ground. Immediately pain spiked through my back and all my muscles screamed in pain, but I gritted my teeth and took out the last zombie with repeated elbow blows to the skull. Then I crawled back to my car and went home to nurse my ailing back knowing I had just save the world for a few weeks longer. 

Second- It was a cold and blustery night, the sort where the wind chill makes every muscle in your body pull in on itself in an effort to stay warm. I was leaving a friend's house after a night of Jane Eyre and Zombie Zach children's book creating when this weirdly hot, stalkerish fellow steps out from behind my car. His piercing nearly black eyes seem to look right through to my soul as he watches me approach with a knowing smirk on his handsome face. 

"I've been waiting for you," he says all confidence and ego. 

I felt my cheeks warm despite the cold night, "I bet you have, but it's a no go. Emo is so last year."

"Wait, what? I'm not emo."

"Tight t-shirt. check. Morose attitude, check. Pointy teeth and hints of body glitter, check, check."

"I do not wear body glitter." His seemingly genuine abhorrence of body glitter gave me a moment's pause. Perhaps he wasn't an emo vampire after all. Maybe this one was different. 

"Are the teeth real?"

"Come find out."

"Tempting, but you might glitter me and it is hell to get out of fabric. I would find glitter in my sweater for the next year to come." 

"I don't wear body glitter. I'm just pale and the moon light makes my skin look like this." He stomped his foot flashing hints of fang my way.

"Whatever, Liberace."

"Damn Twilight," he grumbled as sulked off down the street. 

I began to feel bad I hurt his feelings and he might go cry himself to sleep in this coffin so I took off after him. "Wait, wait. I'm sorry. You may not have body glitter on."

"Too late." He waved me away, obviously not ready to forgive the implication he was anything other than a normal vampire who just wanted a tasty snack. 

I grabbed his arm, and he turned around black eyes glistening. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Buck up, champ."

His arm curled around my waist and his fangs lengthened. He moved in closer and I glanced at my hand I grabbed him with, sure enough glitter. I started to laugh hysterically lurching my back while he threw up his hands in disgust. "I get no respect." He stomped off as I continued to laugh, gasping for air and muscles straining in pain and cold. I hobbled back to my car, amused and glittery.