Thursday, December 29, 2016

Out Now! His Plaything [Slade, Inc. Book 2] by Mackenzie Williams #BDSM @EvernightPub



His Plaything [Slade, Inc. Book 2]
by Mackenzie Williams




Blurb:

It has been a couple of weeks since Connor Slade offered Morgan White a more permanent job with Slade, Inc. Morgan and her boss are getting closer and closer, except for one aspect of their lives. Morgan rarely gets to see Connor outside of the office setting. She is concerned that maybe their relationship will never strengthen beyond her merely being his office plaything.

Her insecurities only get worse when Mr. Slade hires a temporary secretary for an upcoming business venture. Did Mr. Slade hire her just for the extra help or is there more to it? Has he grown tired of only having Morgan to "play" with? Can Morgan ever be enough for Mr. Slade?

Adult Excerpt:

Morgan hesitated for a few seconds, just watching her boss. He looked fucking sexy as hell. His chest was a rosy-pink color from exercising. His hair was slightly messy, which was inviting. Mr. Slade then looked up at her, putting his hands on his hips.
"Why are you making me wait longer? Ms. White, are you trying to rile me up?" This time, his eyes softened just bit.
"No, sorry." His schedule floated through her mind, and she knew that he had a fifteen minute window here. That was one benefit to being his secretary. 
Morgan stepped forward, and Mr. Slade just barely turned to give her more room to walk. Again, it seemed he was purposely making this hard for her.Connor. Her breasts brushed past his chest as she reached the shower door. When she turned toward it, her ass then brushed against his thigh. His skin felt as if it was on fire.
She stepped into the shower. The water was warm but not too hot as it ran down her body. A small sigh came off her lips as he stepped in. Fortunately, this shower was a little bigger than one would expect in a private office. He's had other girls in here. That sordid thought wormed its way through her head.
Mr. Slade brought her attention back on him as he faced her, grabbing her hips. "So, Morgan. Let's see how I want to play this. Should I punish you first for making me wait and hiding from me—"
"I wasn't hiding." As soon as she interrupted him, she regretted it.
Mr. Slade's eyes flashed with something close to irritated amusement. "Thank you for making my decision easy."
Before Morgan could try to dig herself out of the hole she had created, Mr. Slade spun her around. She gasped in surprise as he quickly pressed her back down. Her face was almost touching the shower wall as he pulled her hips back closer to him.
He turned to the side so the water was spraying straight onto her ass. His hands were soon rubbing over her body. Morgan lifted her hands to the shower wall to steady herself as her eyes fluttered shut. She didn't entirely know why she craved his punishments but she did. Was it just to please him or was it for herself?
Sometimes the world seemed plastic. These moments were anything but.
Mr. Slade rubbed his hands down her back, over her ass, and lightly grazed her pussy lips. Morgan held her breath until he changed tactics. He smacked her wet ass harshly, and a moan flew from her. He smacked her again, and the sound of wet skin on skin echoed around her.
He growled as he smacked her ass again. This time was much harder, and Morgan's eyes flew open as she said his name.
"Not good enough. I want to hear my name much louder than that."
Morgan turned her head toward him and was trapped by his stare. He was looking at her like she was his prized possession. In that moment, she felt like it. He looked away from her, grabbing something. Morgan didn't know what until her ass felt it.
Mr. Slade grunted as a hard wooden stick spanked her wet skin. Morgan yelped loudly and twisted her body, trying to get a look at the object. Mr. Slade raised it up, and she saw that it was a back scrubber. He was holding onto the brush part. She was very thankful that the shower wall didn't give him too much swinging room. She closed her eyes as the handle came down on her ass.
"Mr. Slade!"
            "There you go." He rubbed his hand over her stinging ass cheeks. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"


Monday, December 26, 2016

Book Blast: At the Heart of the Stone by Roxanne D. Howard #Paranormal #Romance #Giveaway








At the Heart of the Stone

by Roxanne D. Howard



BLURB:

Dreams are the perfect shelter for our fantasies, safe havens to step inside without changing our daily lives. For Lark Braithwaite, all that is about to change. During the last six months, Lark has dreamt of a mysterious Irish lover who knows what she wants and gives her exactly what she needs. In her waking life in busy London, things aren’t as ideal, as her long-term relationship with Charles, her controlling fiancĂ©, has hit a dry spell.

When Lark is called home to Oregon for her father’s funeral right in the middle of a high-stakes corporate merger, she heads back to face the demons from her past. What she doesn’t expect is to meet her dream lover in the flesh. Niall O’Hagan steps straight out of her fantasies and right into her life, and the powerful connection they share rocks her foundation. Although she's dealing with the bitterness of being betrayed by Charles and his jealousy, Niall soon stirs Lark’s awareness of the superficiality of her existence and reawakens not only her sexuality, but her soul.

Excerpt Two:

She bit her lower lip, trying to get on solid ground, but from the hunger on his face, she shouldn’t have done that. The imprint of last night’s dream was still fresh in her mind, and she went for a bitchier approach, hoping to deter him. “Oh, please, Niall. My dad was more of a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do type of parent. So right now, I need these more than I need to be lectured, thank you very much.”

He shrugged a shoulder, and a wayward dark curl fell over his left eyebrow. “Fair enough. Could I make an observation, though?”

Lark put the cigarette between two fingers and played with the lighter in her other hand, prepared to take it outside. “Could I stop you?”

The corners of Niall’s mouth twitched. He glanced down, and she moved in for the kill.

“What? Oh, I’m sorry, are you intimidated by strong women?”

His gaze shot back up and fixed on hers. “Oh, no. On the contrary; I find it alluring. I find you, in particular, extremely alluring, though it’s unethical.”

Panic shot through her. What in tarnation was she doing? She should tell him she was with Charles, discourage him. But the way his eyes caught the hallway light, turning them a deep viridian, reminded her of their tryst in the cottage. She said nothing, but her nipples peaked and pressed against her shirt like hard pebbles. He glanced down at them and moved toward her until she found herself pushed up against the wall, trapped. She wasn’t an expert at reading people or anything, but I want you might as well have been written on his forehead in permanent marker. He dropped his law books on the floor without preamble and cupped her face in his hands, leaning forward to kiss her, with no uncertainty this time.

Stunned, she dropped her smoking items as his mouth claimed hers. She let out an involuntary whimper as he touched his tongue to hers, and it appeared to be all the encouragement he needed. With a groan, he fisted the lower back of her shirt and tugged her toward him as his other hand sought the side of her neck.





AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Roxanne D. Howard is a romance novelist who resides in the mid-western United States. Her first award-winning novel, At the Heart of the Stone, was published in February 2016 with Loose Id. Her other titles include Chicks Dig the Accent, and the recently released three-part Costa Mesa Series. Roxanne is a U.S. Army veteran, and has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. She is also an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and loves everything related to marine biology. She is the proud mother of two beautiful girls, several pets, and loves to spend time with her husband and children when she's not writing. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and she can be contacted at author@roxannedhoward.com. To find out more, please visit her website at roxannedhoward.com.

Note:Winner of the Coffee Time Romance Reviewer's Award!

Buy Links:


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Social Media Links:





~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER 


Roxanne will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment to better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sunday, December 25, 2016

Friday, December 23, 2016

New Release: Coltrane Corners @TeriLRiggs #westernromance #ColtraneCorners #OldWestRomance



They must both learn to trust again in order to save her ranch and her life.

Blurb:

Elizabeth Coltrane has given up on finding a man who will love her in spite of the physical and emotional scars she carries thanks to a mountain lion attack. When her father is murdered, she inherits Coltrane Corners. The only man she can trust to save her cattle ranch is the foreman she just fired…and the man she’s loved since she was a child. But can Elizabeth keep her desire for Chase under control and her heart safe as they work side by side every day?

Chase Cameron is determined the bad blood of his abusive pa will end with him and vows to never marry. When Elizabeth needs his help getting her cattle to market, Chase has to decide if he can do the job while fighting the strong attraction he has to her.

When accidents begin to happen, threatening Elizabeth’s life, Chase discovers he is willing do whatever takes to keep her safe. They must both learn to trust again in order to save her ranch and her life.

Available from Amazon: http://mybook.to/coltranecorners

Excerpt:

Chase stepped past her and stood next to the buggy. “Everett sent me to fetch you home. Now if you’d be so kind as to step aside, Miss Elizabeth, I’d be happy to load your trunk in the back of the buggy.”
Although she deserved his sarcasm, she cringed at the way he said ‘Miss Elizabeth.’ “I’d rather stick a cactus needle in my left eye than ride anywhere with you.”
“I think that can be arranged, but I imagine a poke in the eyeball would hurt like the dickens.”
“I’ve been gone six years, and you haven’t changed a bit, have you? Everything’s a big joke. You’re more infuriating than ever.” What was wrong with her? She couldn’t keep the hateful words from tumbling out. “I’d hoped you might have learned a few manners and social graces. But here you are, still a simple cowpoke.”
“What can I say? Once a donkey’s behind, always a donkey’s behind.” He threw her words back at her. “You know how things go when you spend your days chasin’ after cattle and ridin’ fences. A man can’t be expected to learn much in the way of social graces when he’s out mucking through pastures full of cow patties and horse dung.” 
She’d finally pushed him too far, gotten a reaction from him that wasn’t served up with a smile. Elizabeth saw the hurt in his eyes, heard the anger in his voice. Her face heated with guilt.
“I may have been overly crude when I called you simple and a donkey’s behi… Well, you know what I said.” She let her eyes drift down. She shouldn’t have spoken in anger. The insults weren’t very ladylike, but considering the way he’d treated her in the past, she’d truly thought he deserved the words…until she saw the hurt in his gaze.
“I accept your apology—such as it is.”
Her head jerked up. “I wasn’t offering you an apology.”
“No kidding.” His voice was low. “I’ve tried to ignore your bad behavior since this is your first day back, but damnation, Elizabeth, when did you turn into such an uppity snob?”
“Pardon me?” She tilted her head to one side. “I’m not a snob.” Well, maybe she did sound a little snooty, but he was the one to blame for that. He brought out the worst in her. “I don’t—”
He cut her off. “Never mind.”
Her eyes followed Chase as he sauntered back to the stagecoach in that don’t-rush-me cowboy way that always looked so darn good on him. Oh yes, years of hard work had definitely added plenty of muscle and strength to his broad shoulders. He picked up her heavy trunk as if it weighed less than a barn cat and carried the chest on one shoulder to the carriage without even breaking a sweat. He made quick work of securing the trunk, then he was back at her side, standing a bit too close for her liking.
“You gonna let me escort you home or are you planning on walking?” He glanced down at her feet and shook his head. He looked up, tipped his hat back, and scratched his forehead. “I can tell you right now, the fancy city boots you’re wearin’ aren’t gonna carry you very far.”
Elizabeth weighed her options and wondered how she’d managed to back herself into a corner so quickly. Of course she wasn’t going to walk all the way to the ranch, but she sure as heck wasn’t about to admit that to Chase. She couldn’t very well rent a horse from the livery—she wasn’t dressed suitably for riding. Maybe she’d hire a carriage instead.
“Damnation, Elizabeth. Either you’re comin’ or you’re not.”
“I’m still thinking. There’s no need to raise your voice at me.”
“If you’re gonna be noodling on your decision much longer, I’m gonna march my boots over to Burt’s Saloon and have a drink.”
“What a good idea. You go have your drink, and I’ll noodle on the subject a while longer. I’ll give you my answer when you return.”
He was grumbling under his breath as he walked away. She heard him anyway. “Well, if this don’t beat all. Damn fickle woman.”
Fickle? She’d show him fickle. “Oh, Chase, before you go, would you be kind enough to give me a lift up? I’d just as soon sit while I noodle.”
He stomped back in her direction, kicking up small clouds of dust.
She liked—perhaps a little too much—the warm, confident feel of his large hands wrapped around her waist as he gave her a boost up.
“Ten minutes, Miss Elizabeth. Then I’m comin’ back and you’d best have an answer for me.”
Elizabeth busily tucked her skirt’s mountain of material into the carriage.
“I promise. You’ll have your answer when you return.”
For the first time since she’d stepped from the stagecoach, she graced him with a smile.
***
Chase swung open the saloon doors, still riding high on the smile Elizabeth had offered. A smile more brilliant than a Texas sunrise and more embracing than a Texas sunset, he marveled. Instead of the braids she’d worn as a child, her blonde hair was now pulled back in a tight chignon. Several whisper-thin tendrils had escaped, caressing the smooth looking skin of her face. His fingers itched to tuck the flyaway wisps of hair back behind her ears. Better yet, he wanted to toss the stupid hat, free the hair from its tight bun, and run his hands through the loose curls.
Elizabeth confused him. He was drawn to her, yet she’d been nothing but pure mean since she’d stepped off the stage. But damned if a certain one of his body parts wasn’t about to embarrass him in the middle of Burt’s.
What was he thinking? Elizabeth was off-limits. She was right. He was nothing but a simple cowpoke. She deserved better. Hell, for all he knew, he’d turn out like his pa a few years down the road. And what would her father think? Everett was not only Chase’s boss and mentor, he’d become his closest friend over the years. He’d definitely want more than a simple cowpoke with bad blood in him for his daughter. Maybe when Chase’s ranch became successful, he’d finally feel respectable. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Nope. Wasn’t gonna happen. Even when the ranch began producing, his past would haunt him. He’d stick to his plan, one which didn’t include Elizabeth, or any other woman. Now all he had to do was convince his unruly body part of the fact.
He ambled to the bar, ready for a drink, and hoping to put all thoughts of Elizabeth out of his mind. The piano wasn’t playing. Then again, it seldom was until evening when things livened up in town. This time of day, the only noise came from the loud voices and laughter at the table where a group of men were playing a rowdy hand of poker. The place smelled of stale tobacco and cheap perfume. Only two of Burt’s saloon hall girls were strutting their assets around. They were dressed in colorful, flesh-baring costumes and cheap boas. Chase thought of Elizabeth’s feathered hat and smiled. She’d probably paid a fortune for the damned thing. He saddled up to the bar, with a grin still plastered across his face.
Burt brought him his usual shot glass full of whiskey and set it down in front of him with a loud thwack, then did a double take.
“Damn, Chase. What’re you all gussied up for and smiling like an idiot about?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, you crazy old geezer. Been dippin’ in the barrels a little too much today?”
“I don’t drink this piss-water. I just sell the stuff to fools like you.” Burt leaned in and sniffed. “So come on and tell me, what’s the pretty smell? You’re wearing cologne, ain’t you? Kinda reminds me of cloves.”
“It’s called bay rum and it’s none of your business how I smell.”
“You’re all shaved, bathed, and wearing clean duds.” Burt stared at him for a moment. “Hell in a handbasket, you done gone and dusted off your Stetson. Something’s up.”
“Well, if you gotta know, I’m escorting the boss’s daughter home to Coltrane Corners. I thought maybe, since she’s been living back East for the last six years, she might not be appreciative of ridin’ alongside a dust-covered, unshaven, cattle-smelling ranch hand.” Simple cowpoke my ass. “Now if you’re done mindin’ my business, I’d like to enjoy my whiskey in peace and quiet, and then be on my way.”
The nosey barkeeper leaned forward, elbows on the bar. “Can I ask you one more quick question?”
“If it’ll buy me a moment of alone time? Sure, ask away.”
Burt stood straight, lifted a glass, and wiped at the rim with a cloth. “Are you picking up Miss Coltrane in the Coltrane carriage?”
“Of course I am. You don’t think I’m gonna toss her over my horse’s back and ride away into the sunset with her, do you?” Chase scrutinized Burt’s face and narrowed his eyes. “Why’re you asking?”
“’Cause if my eyesight ain’t failed me, I believe the Coltrane Corners’ rig took off about the same time you was a-walkin’ through the saloon’s doors smiling like a ninny. And you, my friend, weren’t riding in it.”


Author bio:

As a child, Teri made up her own bedtime stories. When her children came along, Teri always tweaked the fairy tales she told her daughters, giving them a bit more punch and better endings when needed.

Now she spends her days turning her ideas into books. She lives in Marietta, GA with her husband.




Release blitz hosted by Writer Marketing Services.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Out Now! THROWN TO THE WOLVES by Naomi Clark #Paranormal @EvernightPub

Thank you for having me today! I'm here with my new Romance on the Go, THROWN TO THE WOLVES. This story was partially inspired by an article I read on Romania's Hoia Forest earlier this year. It's long been famous for paranormal activity, from UFO sightings to the strangely shaped trees. Some people believe it's a gateway to another dimension, whilst others say it's haunted by the ghost of murdered peasants. There's a rich history of folklore and urban legend growing there, and so what better place to set a paranormal tale?

I've stayed away from UFOs and ghosts, though, and instead gone with vampires and werewolves. Well, it is Romania! In THROWN TO THE WOLVES, aspiring author and tattooed tomboy Paige goes hunting for inspiration. And she finds it...along with danger, ancient enemies, and of course, love. I hope you'll enjoy my little venture into the Hoia Forest!





Paige went to Romania looking for inspiration for a book. She found herself caught in a horror story. Attacked and left for dead by a vampire, Paige finds herself at the mercy of Kata, a beautiful, enigmatic werewolf. Their attraction is instant, but Paige's fate hangs in the balance. She may yet be turned into a vampire herself. Soon it's clear to Paige that the only way to save herself may be to return to the woman who attacked her...even if it means placing both herself and Kata in the greatest danger.


Buy Links 

























Excerpt


This was her rescuer, she guessed. She'd gone from the jaws of a wolf to the bed of a woman, so someone had rescued her. But there was nothing about this woman that said “safe” or “friendly.” She was regal, imposing, and her silence was intimidating. But Paige didn't have it in her to sit meekly and say nothing. For all she knew, she could be worse trouble now, with this woman, than she'd been out in the woods or with the creature she'd fled in the first place.


The memory of the woman who wasn't a woman made her shudder, and she touched her throat. She felt dried blood and a dull ache, and it forced her to speak.

"What are you?" she asked.

It was probably the wrong thing to say. She should have said thank you, or asked where she was, or even asked the woman's name. But those questions didn't matter even a tiny fucking bit. Not after the nightmare she'd found herself in.

The woman laughed, a rich sound that made Paige think, incongruously, of sticky toffee pudding. "You are smarter than I thought," she said in heavily-accented English. "When you see a woman lost in these woods at night, you don't think she can be very smart."

Unnerved, Paige sat up slowly, pulling the rough duvet up with her. She was still fully clothed, she realized, but the duvet gave her a sense of security anyway. Stupid, but true.

"My name is Kata," the woman continued. She turned to a small, rough-hewn table at the bedside. A jug of water and a glass sat there, and she filled the glass before offering it to Paige.

Paige ignored it, despite the dry thirst gnawing at her. "I didn't ask your name."

Kata gave her a mock innocent look, eyes wide. "Sorry. Perhaps my English is not so good."

Paige thought Kata's English was probably fine, certainly better than Paige's Romanian. "What are you?" she asked again, louder and slower this time, in that ignorant manner so many Brits abroad used that she hated. Her voice shook as she spoke, but she managed to hold Kata's gaze and she was proud of that.

Kata set the glass down and pointed to the wound on Paige's throat. "You have seen things already tonight I think you would not believe, yes? So I will ask you, what do you think I am?"

Her voice was gentle, with genuine curiosity in the question. And Paige thought about it, and thought she could fall into hysterics or rage, deny what her heart already knew and claim it was impossible. It would be easy—nice, even—to do that, because twelve hours ago, she would have said it was impossible, and she would have laughed at anyone who told her otherwise.

The problem was, hysteria and denial never helped. Staying calm, acknowledging the problem and finding a solution, that was what helped, whatever the situation. And besides, wasn't the bite at her throat proof that it wasn't impossible? Wasn't passing out in front of a wolf and waking up in front of a woman just further proof? Impossible wasn't impossible anymore.

So she said the impossible words. "I think you're a werewolf."

About the Author

Naomi likes writing, perfume, fancy tea, and unfathomable monsters from the dark spaces between the stars, not necessarily in that order. She has been writing stories ever since she learned how to write, but is still trying to master the art of biography writing. When she's not dealing with werewolves, demons, or sea monsters, she's hanging out with her cat and probably watching a documentary about Bigfoot. If the cat isn't available, she's with her fiancé watching cookery shows and silently plotting her next book.

Find me online

Blog - http://naomiclarkwrites.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/naomijclark?ref=bookmarks

Twitter - @naomi_jay

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Out Now ~ A Harmless Little Plan (The Harmless Series Book 3) by Meli Raine @meliraineauthor #RomanticSuspense



Release date: December 13, 2016
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Political Thriller

Description:

Turns out there was a second video from that awful night four years ago. Mine wasn’t the only tape.

Too bad mine wasn’t the worst.

Drew can’t protect me no matter how hard he tries, but the roles are flipped now. I have to help him, but I’m not wired that way. Not anymore. That one night changed me more than anyone knows.

More than anyone could predict.

Three men think they’re above the law. They’re right.

But I’m willing to go beneath the law to make sure they never harm anyone else. Their threats don’t scare me.

When you have nothing left to lose because someone took it all away, you create the most dangerous creature imaginable.

Me.

Game over.

* * *

A Harmless Little Plan is the final in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine. This series includes:

A Harmless Little Game
A Harmless Little Ruse

Buy links:


Author Bio:

Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them.

Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.

Social Media Links:

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/beV0gf
















EXCERPT
“Okay,” I concede. “You win. Why me? Why are you doing this?” It takes so much control not to cry, or whine. The slight shake in my voice is pretty damn understandable, given the circumstances. Every muscle I have, including my lungs, keeps tightening, as if making them smaller will make me less likely to be hurt.
Not possible.
John shrugs. Shrugs.
“It’s nothing personal.”
I cough, choking on a universe-sized dose of incredulity. Nothing personal? This is nothing personal? A thousand responses flood my mind but I’m not rational, so none of them come out.
“Don’t you have a game or something? I thought baseball players didn’t get days off during the season.”
He pretends his shoulder hurts, rubbing it while pursing his lips in a pretend pout. “Perfectly-timed injury,” he says, adding a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. “I have three days with nothing to do.” He leans in, his hand stroking my jaw. I close my eyes but don’t jerk away. “I get to do you,” he whispers, his breath filled with moisture, like he’s licking my face although it’s just air.
My ribs cave in on themselves, tensing so hard I’m afraid they’ll crack, my belly clenching.
I can’t let go. Can’t relax. I start to shiver. I can’t control it. My bladder threatens to let go. Suddenly, I’m ten feet away from my body, because really, what else can my caged mind do?
I’m in hell.
People do whatever it takes not to be in hell. We have a biological drive to survive. It goes beyond the body.
Speaking of the body, I remember the microchip. A whimper comes out of my nose. Tears fill the back of my throat, hot and salty, thickening. I nearly gag but control myself, a sob trying to work its way out.
If nothing else, they’ll find my body. Drew’s chip gives me that relief.
Unless they cut my hand off.
The helicopter cuts a sharp right, angling down, and because they didn’t buckle me in, I roll into the door. John thumps against me, his hip digging into my butt. His body is tight and physically radiates heat that makes me nauseated. I can’t stand having him breathing in my hair, his hands on my ribs as the helicopter rights and he pretends to need to touch me to sit up.
Why pretend? I have no power. He can do anything he wants to me right now.
The thought makes the world go wavy, white dots filling my vision.
Oh, no.






Release blitz hosted by Writer Marketing Services.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Sales Blitz: Ground Zero by Alecia Stone #YA #Fantasy #Giveaway



Ground Zero
T.O.E Trilogy, Book 3
Author: Alecia Stone
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: February 17th, 2016


Book Description:
It happens every 26,000 years.



Only a few ever survive.



This time ...



No one will.



That is unless Charlie Blake can locate all four diamonds to restore the
Talisman of El and receive his calling from the remaining three
elements before the Annus Magnus strikes. With both Arcadia and the
mortal world in a state of unrest, his life quickly spirals out of
control as it seems everyone has put a bounty on his head. Maybe even
his closest allies.



Not knowing who to trust, Charlie starts to dig up the past. When new
revelations arise, he begins to question whether the Legion of Light
really is what it claims to be and whether he's been fighting for the
wrong side all along. The line between good and evil is no longer as
clear-cut as it used to be, especially when it appears Charlie's destiny
could very well be to destroy everything he loves.



Hero or villain? Charlie isn't so sure anymore.


Buy Links:
Amazon US ¦ UK



http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495593-ground-zero

EXCERPT



The crowd outside the cafe had scattered, the lingering bystanders making a move only upon Charlie’s approach. He exited the cafe onto a wide cobblestone street with buildings left, right and centre. Whispers travelled among the frantic crowd as people shot wary glances at him. The gunshots had to have been heard some distance away. He had to move. He held his palm up to his face for the second time and then glanced left and right along the street. The place somewhat resembled a market, stalls lining both sides of the street. Charlie caught sight of a large yellow phone icon with the word Publitel beneath it.

Heading in the direction of a castle-like building with a corner tower topped with a domed kiosk, he made haste towards the phone sign. He got only a few feet when he heard a noise that made him look to the sky. He stopped, his blood running cold as he gazed at the flock of birds moving across the clear blue sky, all heading in the same direction. The last time he had seen this many birds, he’d been standing in a graveyard. After the birds had come an army of the dead. The only difference between then and now was that this wasn’t a vision.

This can’t be good, he thought as he glanced around him. People had stopped what they were doing to look at the sky. Taking this moment to slip away unnoticed, Charlie took off again but stopped almost immediately when he spotted the uniformed officers moving through the crowd ahead of him. Whirling around, he took off in the opposite direction, his pace measured at first but after a few glimpses behind him and realising that he’d been made, he started to sprint.

He ran down a narrow, winding market alley covered by huge supportive eaves, two police officers hot on his tail. Charlie made his way through a warren of alleyways lined with closely packed white-washed houses with blue details. Everything looked the same. For all he knew, he could have been running in circles. Whichever way he turned, a circuit of walls surrounded him, but as lost as he felt, he had to keep going or risk being caught.

As he ran from alley to alley, he kept wondering if his parents had set him up. Then he chastised himself for even thinking such thoughts. He turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt. Two more officers had joined the chase. The situation suddenly intensified when the officers opened fire. Charlie picked up pace. He had no abilities but his senses were still sharp, allowing him to put a good distance between him and the officers. By now, he knew Azrael wasn’t coming. He was on his own. Whatever was causing his disconnection from the archangel, it had to be linked to him having no abilities.

After finally losing sight of the officers, he spotted a shaded tunnel with a lantern right above the entrance that he headed towards. As he approached the tunnel, he bounded off the adjoining wall and caught hold of the lantern pole and swung himself up onto it. With the aid of a semi-circular balcony, he made his way up onto the roof of a two-storey building and ducked out of sight.

Situations like this, no one had prepared him for. Mortal combat involved a lot more compromises than battling with Archons, he realised. Sure, he could easily execute the officers and give himself a good head start, but there was no guarantee they were immortal. With a demon, he wouldn’t have thought twice about his actions.

The sound of raised voices and hurried footsteps clotted Charlie’s eardrums. Keeping low, he scurried over to the other end of the roof and peered over the edge. He spotted a few awnings and about a dozen folks in the market alley below. Crouching down, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. He singled out each sound, mapping the area in his head. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and stood up, shooting his gaze around the surroundings as he contemplated the best way to escape the maze he was trapped in.

The ancient walled city was situated on rising ground, the tallest structure being a circular watchtower that had to be nearing ninety feet, which was a good distance from where he was standing. The buildings within close proximity were no greater than three or four storeys high, ideal for Charlie, who saw a good means of staying off the radar.

He didn’t waste any time deliberating. He leaped across the seven-foot gap, landing on the opposite roof with a thud. For the next three minutes, Charlie travelled via rooftops. When he rejoined the masses on the ground level, the atmosphere appeared a lot different. People were no longer gawking or chasing after him.

As he headed along a busy street, he felt a tremor under his feet that made him look down, but he kept going. It wasn’t until the third tremor that he finally stopped. The vibration was light at first, but then the shaking became more intense. It seemed almost as if the earth was coming apart but everything was still intact.

Charlie glanced up and down the street. Everyone had stopped what they were doing. Panic didn’t set in until a horrific noise blasted across the city. He didn’t recognise the sound. At one point, the noise resembled that of a jet engine building up. Were they under attack? Immediately, Charlie thought Gaddis’s minions had found him. He looked up at the sky, not sure what he would find. Nothing flew by overhead.

Then the screaming started. Charlie glanced away from the sky and saw people scattering in the distance. The folks nearby looked just as confused as he felt. Although he didn’t know what was happening, he didn’t stand around and wait to be trampled by the frantic group rushing towards him. He took to the street along with the crowd.

Chaos reigned everywhere.

‘Water, water,’ Charlie heard someone behind him yell in Arabic.

Before he knew it, he found himself being knocked off his feet by a strong force from behind. He landed in shallow water. When he got to his feet, another burst of water hit him; so strong and fast moving it was that it almost sent him hurling to the ground again, but he managed to stay on his feet, braced against a car. The water was up to his knees now and was moving with such speed that he could barely move his feet against the current.

It was suddenly very windy. Slowly, the screaming started to fade as the engine noise became louder. When the car Charlie was leaning against started to shift, he made a move, just in time as another vehicle made a strong impact, denting the side of the car he had been leaning against. Standing in the middle of what used to be a street but now looked like a river, people scattering all around him, he saw what had the folk of Tunisia in hysteria. Rushing towards him at a great speed was a black wall of water, maybe three to four storeys high. The huge wave smashed everything and anything in its path.

Charlie whirled around and powered through the water. Each time he glanced behind him, he saw the monstrous wave swallowing people as it gunned for him. The water was just a few feet away when he spotted a young woman kneeling on the bonnet of a car ahead of him, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the oncoming wave.

‘Run,’ Charlie yelled, but she didn’t budge. He wasn’t even sure she had heard him. Taking two big leaps, he lunged forward. The moment he made contact with the woman, the wave hit him hard.


Other Books in the T.O.E. Series




Talisman Of El
T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 1
Publication Date: May 20, 2012
Publisher: Centrinian


Book Description:
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?



One Planet.



Two Worlds.



Population: Human ... 7 billion.

Others ... unknown.



When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air
in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time
he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He's afraid to tell any­one. No one
would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had
four years ago - the day before his dad died.



Char­lie doesn't know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing
to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn't belong in the world
he knows as home.



He belongs with the others.




Buy Links:
Amazon US ¦ UK


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13419125-talisman-of-el




Blackout
T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 2
Publication Date: March 19, 2014
Publisher: Centrinian


Book Description:
What was shall no longer be. What was not shall now become.



Despite having the protection of the talisman and the Legion, a
reforming force of warrior angels and elementals, guarding his every
move, things are not looking good for Charlie Blake. Tasked with the
responsibility of saving mankind, finding the four diamonds to restore
the talisman is all he can think of, but when his prophetic visions
start to invade his reality and he suddenly can’t distinguish the dream
world from the real world, the pending extinction of mankind becomes the
least of his problems. Everyone assumes Charlie’s dormant powers are
activating, until he starts showing symptoms of a deadly disease.



With his nemesis, Gaddis, threatening the lives of his loved ones, he
faces a race against time to locate the Stone of Raphael, the air
diamond, before an imminent pandemic destroys civilization. As he
ventures into dangerous lands once again, he unearths shocking
revelations about his past life that forces him to question his
allegiance. With no one to turn to for answers, he can’t help but wonder
if his purpose is truly to save mankind.


Buy Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495579-blackout




About the Author
Alecia Stone has been in love with anything and everything paranormal
for many years. She grad­u­ated with a BA in Film & TV and had
worked in tele­vi­sion for a short period of time before branch­ing out
into storytelling. When she isn't writ­ing, she enjoys going to the
movies, lis­ten­ing to music and travelling. Talisman Of El is her first
novel. She currently lives in England, UK.



Author Links:

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