Blurb Blitz/Giveaway - Angel Within by C.B. Barlow

 

 

Angel Within by C. B. Barlow 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GENRE: YA Urban Fantasy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 BLURB: Sixteen-year old Rachel has an over protective but loving mother and a boring but safe life. All this changes in a blink of an eye. Rachel is now an orphan and learning she is more than human. She is thrust into a new world of friends, family and love along with fears, foes and evil. Evil that seeks to destroy her and all she holds dear. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 Excerpt: They say your whole life flashes before your eyes right before you die. Well for me, it didn’t, it was only the last couple of months. That might be, because that was when my whole world changed. In those months, I had lost a loved one, been attacked, run for my life, seen suffering, and fought for revenge. But it hadn’t all been bad. I had learned the truth about myself, made new friends, strengthened old friendships, become part of a family, and fallen in love. My vision was getting blurry, but I could still see Isaac standing over me, beautiful, angelic Isaac. If he was the last thing I saw on this Earth before I died, I would consider myself lucky. Although I wish…Suddenly there was a bright light, so blinding that I closed my eyes. This must be the infamous white light everybody sees before they die. The pain was getting worse. I didn’t want to die. I’m only sixteen years old. None of this should have happened. I should have been at home with Mom watching TV, hanging out with friends, or going to a football game. It’s kind of funny, a couple months ago that was the only thing that mattered. Going to a football game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

AUTHOR Bio and Links: Cindy has lived most of her life in Erie, Pennsylvania, just a stone’s throw away from where her main character lives. She traded in the bitter cold winters of Erie for the sizzling hot summers when she moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She is an avid reader of all genres of books and has a passion for anything angel related. When she is not working full time as a Registered Nurse, she enjoys writing. Recently Cindy decided to mash up her enjoyment and her passion into a book. She hopes her readers will have as much fun reading this book as much as she did writing it. 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C-B-Barlow/e/B08CC17L6D 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBBarlow1 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20486914.C_B_Barlow 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 C. B. Barlow will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. RAFFLECOPTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review/Tour/Giveaway - Faerie Forged by L.R. Braden

Faerie Forged 

The Magicsmith Book 3 

by L.R. Braden 

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance 

New world, new rules . . . 

Alex is screwed. She’s due at the fae Court of Enchantment in less than twenty-four hours, but she’s not even close to being ready. Her job is hanging by a fraying thread. There’s a new vampire master in town. And several of her werewolf friends have been captured by the Paranatural Task Force. 

She’s their best chance for release before the full moon reveals their secret, but the Lord of Enchantment is not someone you keep waiting—even when he happens to be your grandfather. All Alex can do is call in a favor, hope to hell she can survive the plots of the fae court, and hightail it home to salvage her life. 

One mistake at court could change everything . . . . 

My Thoughts: Sadly of the first three books in this action packed series this is the one I have liked the least. I don't know why exactly...but the bits where Alex was in the fae world fell a bit flat for me. I still have high hopes for the next installment though and fully intend on carrying on with The Magicsmith series.

“Original and riveting.”—Book Likes Blog on A Drop of Magic, Book One of The Magicsmith series 

“Great plot. Lovable characters. Heart-pounding action.”—Lauren Davis, Netgalley Reviewer on A Drop of Magic 

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Courting Darkness 

The Magicsmith Book 2 

“A great story of murder, mystery . . . and well-developed characters.”—Margie Hager, Netgalley Reviewer on A Drop of Magic 

“A Drop of Magic is a damned fun and original read, with sass, action, hot men, and a whole lot of magic.” —Diana Pharaoh Francis, author of the Diamond City Magic, Magicfall, and Horngate Witches series 

Deeper into the shadows. . . 

The paranatural community isn’t done with Alex. She’s been summoned to the fae court, and she's got her hands full trying to prepare. But her date with the fae will have to wait. There’s been a death at the gallery, and the man she hoped would be a part of her future is the prime suspect. 

Bitter enemies pull her into the middle of a paranatural war for territory that has her dodging police, swords, teeth, and claws—not to mention the truth. The deeper she digs, the more secrets she uncovers, and the less certain she is about the innocence of the one man she wanted to trust. 

She thought she was done with murder and monsters, but she’ll have to enter the belly of the beast if she hopes to save her friend.


My Thoughts: Book two picks right up with Alex being summoned to Fae Court and is learning how to handle her mixed heritage. It also has us/her wondering what the heck is up with James? hmmmm
Again I'm loving all the action and conflicts and that the story is made up of so many different creatures intertwining.  

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A Drop of Magic 

The Magicsmith Book 1 

The war isn’t over . . . 

With the world clinging to a fragile peace forced on the Fae by humanity after the Faerie Wars, metalsmith Alex Blackwood is plunged into the world of the half-fae who traffick in illegal magical artifacts. Her best friend’s murder and his cryptic last message place her in the crosshairs of a scheme to reignite the decade-old war between humans and fae. 

Worse, violent attacks against her and the arrival of a fae knight on a mission force Alex to face a devastating revelation of who and what she is. To catch a killer, retrieve a dangerous artifact, and stop a war, Alex will have to accept that she’s an unregistered fae “halfer” with a unique magical talent—a talent that would change everything she believes about her past, her art, and her future. 

Her world is crumbling around her, and Alex will have to decide who to trust if she and the world are going to survive. 

“A Drop of Magic is a damned fun and original read, with sass, action, hot men, and a whole lot of magic.” —Diana Pharaoh Francis, author of the Diamond City Magic, Magicfall, and Horngate Witches series 

My Thoughts: I haven't read Urban Fantasy in a long while and decided I was in the mood for what was once my all time favorite genre and boy I am so happy I started with A Drop of Magic! It was a super exciting read with a fantastical main character, Alex and a world full of magic and mystery! The only thing I really wished it would have had more romance in it but still a very good start of a new series! I'm on to book two now! Yes, I'm on a roll and not ready to let this story end!

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Born and raised in Colorado, L. R. BRADEN makes her home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her wonderful husband, precocious daughter, and psychotic cat. With degrees in both English literature and metalsmithing, she splits her time between writing and art. 

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Attack the Geek by Michael R. Underwood


Synopsis: A side quest novella in the bestselling Geekomancy urban fantasy series—when D&D style adventures go from the tabletop to real life, look out!

Ree Reyes, urban fantasy heroine of Geekomancy, is working her regular barista/drink-slinger shift at Grognard's when it all goes wrong. Everything.

As with Geekomancy (pop culture magic!) and its sequel Celebromancy (celebrity magic!), Attack of the Geek is perfect for anyone who wants to visit a world “where all the books and shows and movies and games [that you] love are a source of power, not only in psychological terms, but in practical, villain-pounding ones” (Marie Brennan, award-winning author of the Onyx Court Series).


My Thoughts: I'm just choosing not to rate this book because I swear I have no idea what I just read. I don't think it would have mattered had I read the first two books in the series either. I can't say the story was not good because in fact a few passages even had me laughing but it's just really that I don't feel it was my type of read. It was totally not what I had in mind when I picked it up.

*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Tour/Giveaway - Ghost Revelations by Aspen Black

Ghost Revelations 

Ghost Dud Book 1 

by Aspen Black 

Genre: Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy Romance 

Publication Date: October 25, 2019

I was always told growing up in my family, surrounded by magic, that I was a dud. I had no power except the ability to talk to ghosts. It never bothered me because I enjoyed my job as a bartender at my Uncle's bar that caters to the supernatural community. I spend my nights working and getting to flirt with my crush.

Then one night, my life turned upside down. Someone was murdered right around the corner and suddenly a hot wizard detective with a perfect bubble butt from MEPA, The Magical Entity Protection Agency, swooped in and asked for my help with the victims' ghosts. Working with the detective soon leads to a race to stop a killer who is bent on exposing the supernatural community to humans with more deaths.

Join Victoria on her journey as she works to stop an evil being with the help from her crush Akira the werewolf, Lucian the wizard, and her ex-boyfriend Shax.

This is a reverse harem medium to fast burn book or a why choose novel.

F/M/M/M. This does include M/M heavy elements. 

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Aspen Black is often described as kooky by her friends. She writes the stories that have floated continuously in her imagination since she was a child. She's a lemonade addict that really shouldn't be allowed near lemons. 

Being an introvert, she spends most of her time writing and reading her favorite books. 

Please join her on her facebook and twitter feeds for up to date information on current and in-progress books. 

She is a lover of all animals, having a small zoo at home. 

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Book Review/Giveaway - A Symphony of Starlight by Allison Pang

A Symphony of Starlight

Abby Sinclair

Book Four

Allison Pang

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Date of Publication: 10/8/2019

ISBN: 978-0-9985343-4-3

ASIN: B07YDZFDFV

Number of pages: 304

Word Count: 97k

Cover Artist: Ravven

Tagline: Sometimes you have to go to Hell to give the Devil His due…

Book Description:          

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions . . . and sometimes unicorn puke.

In the span of a few months, mortal TouchStone Abby Sinclair has been trapped in a painting, had her memories stolen, and been Tithed to Hell, killed, and brought back to life by the OtherFolk. Now she’s pregnant and torn between her incubus lover, Brystion, and her elven king of a husband, Talivar. Otherworldly love triangles notwithstanding, she’s more than content to set the political drama of magic and mayhem aside and quietly settle into motherhood. But nothing is ever that easy . . .

Years ago, Abby’s best friend, Melanie St. James, virtuoso violinist and DoorMaker to the CrossRoads, lost her soul to the Devil in return for an enchanted violin. Now the magic of her violin is fading, and the Devil is calling in her debt to serve Him as His TouchStone. In an effort to escape the terms of this reckless bargain, she flees to the CrossRoads with her lover, Nobu.

But reneging on a deal with the Devil isn’t the wisest of moves, especially when He knows Abby is the only one who can bring Him what He wants. And when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Abby and her friends to find a way to stop the violin from consuming Melanie’s soul before it’s too late, even if the journey takes them straight into Hell itself.

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Excerpt:

“Well, I’m running out of ideas.

What about the thread?” I asked Kitsune. “You gave me a spool of red thread
once to help me find Talivar or my destiny or something like that.”

           
 Ion and Talivar blinked at me. “Destiny, is it?” Talivar said wryly.

          
 “It led me to the tent with your horses,” I explained. “I’m not sure it worked the
way it was supposed to, but you did show up afterward, so who knows?”

            
Kitsune brightened. “Ah yes. The red thread of Fate. A useful spell at times, though I
don’t know if it will work for us here. Depends on how entwined you and Melanie
are. It might not even lead you through the Gate at all.”

            
She paced, her fur seeming to shimmer slightly, and then one of her tails somehow
plucked a spool from the air and deposited it at my feet. I picked it up,
Brystion craning to see it curiously.

           
 “And what is that all about?” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t like the way it feels.”

           
 Kitsune cackled. “Mortals are bound by Fate more so than OtherFolk. It’s often wrapped
so tightly around them they don’t even notice it. You were never one for such
things, aye?”

            
He grunted at her and rolled his eyes. For a heartbeat, I could see his natural
form, the dark skin, the antlers, the hooves . . . the bells braided in his
hair with red thread. My mouth quirked, but I said nothing. Perhaps the incubus
was bound more by Fate than he liked.

           
I rolled the spool in my hands, taking one end of the thread. It shivered between
my fingers, almost like touching a live wire, jolts of power zipping beneath my
skin.

            
“Focus, ”Kitsune snapped. “What is it you really want? Where do you want to go?”

           
 I shut my eyes. Melanie, I thought. I need to find her. I need to fix this. I
need to save her.

           
The thoughts repeated over and over in my head, and as before, the spool jumped
from my hand and rolled across the ground toward the Gate. Talivar skirted out
of the way as it hurtled toward him, swearing softly.

            
The Gate lit up in an instant, the spool shunting through and disappearing in a
splash of silver and gold, the red thread trailing like a tail behind it.

            
The fox limped over to the Gate, sniffing at the corner. The corruption on her side
grew more pronounced, but her three tails lashed wildly, coating her fur with a
silver light. “Abby! Let’s go! Before it closes!”

            
She shifted slightly, her paws becoming humanoid, and she snatched at the hand
holding the thread and pulled me hard, the pair of us tumbling through the
Gate. “Wait!” We swept through the entrance, but my voice was enveloped in some
sort of film, a quiet I couldn’t seem to break through.

            
I reached for the others, but it was as though I was looking through water, a
barrier stretched between us that I couldn’t quite reach.

            
The thread. I clenched my fist. I was still holding the goddamned thread. What
happens when the thread keeping the Gate open goes through, Abby? What?

            
“It fucking closes,” I said. “That’s what.”

            
I struggled against Kitsune’s clawed grip. “We have to go back . . . The others . . .”

            
“There is no time.” Her voice was hollow and empty as she staggered beside me. Her
tails dragged limply across the ground, the dark magic beginning to move along
her fur again. “Must make it . . . Inari.”

And then she was tumbling forward, the track we were on abruptly disintegrating
beneath our feet. I snatched at her, and the two of us fell, fell, fell, the
red thread wrapping around us.

My Thoughts: Oh I was so excited when I saw another book coming out for the Abby Sinclair series! This is book 4 of the series and I really suggest reading the first 3 before this one to get a better understanding of whats going on. A Symphony of Starlight tidied up some of the loose ends and I have just really enjoyed this series. Phineas (the tiny unicorn) has been one of my favorite characters with his attitudes and underwear shenanigans. 

About the Author:

Allison is the author of the Urban Fantasy Abby Sinclair series, the IronHeart Chronicles and the writer for the webcomic Fox and Willow. She likes LEGOS, elves, LEGO elves…and bacon.

She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids, cat, and an obnoxious northern breed dog, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.

https://www.heartofthedreaming.com

https://www.heartofthedreaming.com/newsletter/

https://www.facebook.com/apang

https://twitter.com/allison_pang

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3965895.Allison_Pang

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Book Review/Giveaway - Inheritance by Gail Z Martin

Inheritance 
Deadly Curiosities Series

Book Four

Gail Z. Martin

Genre: Urban fantasy

Publisher: SOL Publishing

Date of Publication: October 23,
2019

ISBN: 978-1939704986

ASIN:B07ZHKR2LD

Number of pages: 222

Word Count: 66000

Cover Artist: Lou Harper

Tagline: Can Cassidy and her friends find the demon box, stop the killer ghosts,
and break the Pendlewood curse before Beckford’s murderous cousins and the
vengeful demon destroy them all?

Book Description:

Book four in the Deadly Curiosities series.Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles & Folly in modern-day Charleston, an antiques and curio shop with a dangerous secret. Cassidy can read the history of objects by touching them, and she teams up with friends and allies who use magic and paranormal abilities to get rid of cursed objects and keep Charleston and the world safe from supernatural threats.

Caribbean ghosts terrorize Charleston and start racking up a body count. Then Beckford Pendlewood, the heir to a powerful family of dark warlocks, shows up raving about a bound demon locked in a lost box and begs sanctuary. Can Cassidy and her friends find the
demon box, stop the killer ghosts, and break the Pendlewood curse before Beckford’s murderous cousins and the vengeful demon destroy them all?


My Thoughts: Fast paced supernatural mystery full of enough cursed items and angry ghosts to have one trembling thru the night and hoping that was just the wind that blew across my neck! 

Though this was a short book around 225 pages I still couldn't read it in one sitting because outside the story I took great interest in some of the folk tales and stuff that was included like my favorite was the rolling cow and duppy spirit. I would hate to have one of those things chasing me!

*I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. 

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Excerpt 1 from Chapter 1 484 words

“I have a
problem antique I’d like you to take a look at.” The man on the other end of
the call sounded rattled. I recognized his name—Alfred Stone, from Stone
Auctions—but I didn’t think we had ever spoken, let alone met.

“What kind of
‘problem’ does it present?” I asked. A number of possibilities came to mind.
“Questionable provenance? Not sure how to authenticate?”

“I think it’s
trying to kill me.”

Well, damn. That
kind of problem. “All right, Mr. Stone. Try to stay calm.”

“I just told
you, it’s trying to kill me. I heard you…know…about these things. Please, help
me.”

Across the
store, Teag Logan glanced up to make sure everything was all right. I nodded,
and he went back to helping a customer.

“I can come now.
Are you at the showroom?”

“Yes. Thank you.
And…please…hurry.”

I ended the call
and sighed. This might be the first time Alfred Stone had an antique try to
kill him, but that made it just another day here at Trifles and Folly.

I’m Cassidy
Kincaide, and I own Trifles and Folly, an antique and curio shop in historic,
haunted Charleston, South Carolina. The shop has been in my family for more
than three hundred years. While we’re known as a great place to buy
high-quality antiques, the shop is also a cover for the Alliance, a coalition
of mortals and immortals who save Charleston—and the world—from supernatural
threats. I’m a psychometric, which means I can read the history and magic of
objects by touching them. Teag is my assistant store manager, best friend, and
sometimes bodyguard—and he’s also a talented Weaver witch. Sorren, my business
partner, is a nearly six-hundred-year-old vampire. Together with some other
friends with very specialized abilities, we do our best to keep the world safe
from dark magic and things that go bump in the night.

“Problem?” Teag
asked when the customer left.

“I’m not sure,”
I replied. “Alfred Stone just called—from the auction house. He says he’s got
an item that’s trying to kill him.”

“You want me to
go with you?” Teag pushed a lock of dark hair out of his eyes. His skater-boy
haircut and skinny jeans made him look younger than his late twenties. “Maggie
can handle the store.”

On cue,
Maggie—our lifesaver of a part-time associate—waved to agree from the other
side of the store. She was sporting a new bright pink streak in her short gray
hair, and it matched her sweater, a reminder—as if I needed one—that she
believed in taking risks and living large.

I reached up to
slick my humidity-frizzy strawberry blond hair back into a ponytail and shook
my head. “Let me go see what the problem is, and I’ll figure out what to do
from there. It’s not far away, in case I need to give a shout.”

About
the Author:

Gail Z. Martin writes epic
fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL
Publishing, Darkwind Press, Worldbuilders Press and Falstaff Books. Recent
books include Reckoning, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, CHARON, Wasteland Marshals.
As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the
Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail series. Recent books include The Rising,
Flame and Ash. Find her at

Website: https://ascendantkingdoms.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gailzmartin

Blog: https://disquietingvisions.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WinterKingdoms

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin

Newsletter signup link http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj  

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/e/B002BM8XSQ
  

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Book Tour/Giveaway - Daughter of Rage and Beauty by Amy Pennza

Daughter of Rage and Beauty 

Berserker Academy Book 1 

by Amy Pennza 

Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance 

Publisher: Scribble Pretty Books 

Publication Date: November 4, 2019

The sagas claim you can’t fight fate. I’m determined to prove them wrong. 

They say your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life. 

Clearly, they don’t know what they’re talking about. 

Because right now, my life is in shambles. As the daughter of one of the most powerful berserkers in the world, I should be taking my place among the noble guild of berserker assassins. By now, I should have mastered my emotions and conquered my rage—all the better to use it as a weapon when called upon to kill. 

But I’m not just Harald Berregaard’s daughter. My mother was a nymph, which makes me a magical mutt. When I was born, my father thought I might possess the best traits from both races. 

He was wrong. 

Now he’s shipping me off to the Berserker Academy, where the unofficial motto is “graduate or die.” 

Nice, huh? 

With the stakes this high, I can’t afford to get distracted. Too bad the academy’s headmaster keeps showing up at the most inconvenient moments, reminding me how much I suck at magic. And fighting. And basic conversation. 

It doesn’t matter that he does it with a smile. Or that his eyes fire silver when he’s amused . . . or aroused. Hauk Sigridsson has his own problems. He’s not going to be one of mine. 

On the other hand, he’s offered me a way to accelerate my studies and make it out of the academy alive. I just have to help him steal a priceless rock and defeat one of the most powerful immortals to have ever lived. 

No big deal. 

I’m in way over my head, but I’m determined to survive. They say you can’t fight fate. I’m going to show fate exactly what I’m made of. 

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Amy Pennza has been a lawyer, a soldier, and a copywriter. She's worn combat boots and high heels in the same 24-hour period--and she definitely prefers flip flops. Actually, she prefers going barefoot while writing steamy romances about strong women and alpha men with hearts of gold. After years in Tornado Alley, she now makes her home in the Great Lakes region with her husband, kids, and more baskets than any one person should own. (You can never have enough.) 

Keep up with new releases, news, and giveaways by visiting www.amypennza.com

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Rune necklace

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Review - Werewolves Be Damned by Stacey Kennedy

Synopsis:

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But
that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.

Amazon / BN / Kobo / iTunes

Review: This was my first time reading anything by Stacey Kennedy and I really enjoyed it alot! I have heard her erotic works are very good also so I will definitely be looking into those now as well!

Nexi our heroine is another heroine it took me a while to warm up to more or less because she like most of the others want to be so stubborn and hard headed. Although I could feel sympathy towards her I couldn't get that actual "like" feeling going on until well into the story and her actual training with Kyden. But in a way I really appreciated it taking some time for me to watch her grow in herself and her training as she evolved from just being a simple person to what she becomes after training. It gave me the respectful feeling and likeness I needed to have in a character especially a main character.


Excerpt:

I’ve found you, fur ball.

Nexi peered from behind the large oak tree and spotted the small log cabin nestled in the thick forest. The porch light cast a warm glow into the night. Fog settled over the lush grass, and the night was dark, eerie.

Stepping away from her hiding place behind the tree, she strode forward and gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Keeping the silver blade pointed outward, she climbed the cabin’s porch steps, taking each one slowly to avoid detection.

Once she arrived at the front door, she wrapped her hand around the door handle. Rich hunger for revenge burned in her veins and made her intent on one thing: to slaughter the werewolf who escaped the night of her parents’ murder. Not caring what awaited her, she stormed inside, dagger pointed, ready to kill.

The simple cabin had two large brown couches near a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette behind the living room, and a quilt-covered bed resting in the back. And that was it; there were no other rooms to investigate. No secret hiding places she could see.

No damned werewolf.

She cursed, shut the front door behind her, then trotted down the steps to return to her hiding spot. On her way across the yard, she glanced at the space to the right of the tree, which looked much like a heat wave, indicating that the portal to the Otherworld remained.

In some places around the world—or the Earthworld, as supernaturals had called it—there were permanent portals to the supernatural realm. This portal had only appeared because Nexi had travelled to this cabin from the Otherworld. Once she passed through the portal again, the gateway would vanish.

Magic had its perks. Quick travel was one of them.

Nexi shook her head at how normal all this magical stuff seemed now. Just over a month ago she’d never believed in anything that went bump in the night. Now she knew all those things existed, and in fact, she was one of them.

To her horror, she had learned that her birth mother, Tillie, had been murdered by a power-hungry vampire, Lazarus. All those years ago, her birth father, Drake, had protectively decided to block Nexi’s supernatural abilities. He had planned for her to live and die as a mortal. Now with her return to the Otherworld and the removal of the block on her true identity, there was no going back.

She was no longer plain, human, Nexi Jones.

She was Nexi Jones, part guardian, part witch.

Looking away from the portal and to her hiding spot until the werewolf returned, she hurried her steps. She wasn’t ready to return to the Otherworld yet. Not until she had the werewolf’s head as her wall ornament would she dare go home.

Just as she neared the tree, a woodsy scent that had nothing to do with the forest mixed with the citrusy aroma of aftershave. A blink of an eye later, the dagger she held was now at her throat, a hard body closed in on her back.

“You smelled lovely when you arrived.” The low voice by her ear held a faint English accent. “But I never imagined you’d be so pretty.”

The blade pressed into her skin, not drawing blood, but implying that if the werewolf chose, she’d be destined for the grave. “I’m…”

“Going to explain yourself.” He lowered the dagger, took hold of her arm, and jerked her forward.

In a few short strides, the werewolf tossed her through the threshold of the cabin, and slammed the door behind them. He sauntered to the couch, sat down, and regarded her. “Now then, darlin’.” His olive skin was stunningly flawless, and his chocolate-colored hair was spiked tall. “Why would a pretty lass like yourself plan to attack me?”

“Don’t move.” That charm wouldn’t fool her. “Stay right where you are.”

“My mouth is the only thing moving.” His slanted amber eyes raked over her. “Would you like me to stop talking?”

“No.” She hesitated then added, “Only your mouth can move. Nothing else. Tell me what you know.”

He gave her a long look. “I’d be glad to tell you anything you’d like, love.”

His kind face and soft voice wouldn’t trick her. He was a werewolf. She was certain, which was another oddity.

After the block on her supernatural abilities had been lifted, she could identify a supernatural creature as if knowing the difference between a brunette and a redhead. “Tell me why you killed my family.”

“That’s an interesting accusation.” He cocked his head, studying her with a frown. “But I think the more important question is who are you?”

She lifted her chin. “The lass who’s going to cut off your furry wolf balls.”

About the Author:

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

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