Sunday, June 23, 2013

VOODOO MOON IS HERE!

PLEASE WELCOME AUTHOR JUNE STEVENS
TO TATTERED PAGES ON HER
SUMMER MAGIC BLOG TOUR!
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom for the deets
to participate June's fantastic giveaway!
 
 
Voodoo Moon
(Paranorm World #1)
by June Stevens
 
Zombies aren’t supposed to exist, yet they are turning up all over Nash City. As a member of the Elite Black Blade Guard, Fiona Moon is tasked with hunting down the most dangerous Paranorm criminals. Now she must find out who is kidnapping mages and sucking the life energy from their bodies. To make matters worse, she has to work with the one man that embodies everything she despises.

Ian Barroes is the rich founder and head of the Necromancers Guild and a professor of Necromantic Studies at the Academy of Science and Magic. There is one thing he wants more than anything else in the world… Fiona.

They each hold secrets that could destroy them but could also be the key to destroying the evil Voodoo priest, Bokor. They must learn to trust each other track down Bokor before more innocents are taken, and murdered. To make matters worse, when Fiona becomes a target of the evil madman she is lured into his trap. Now she and Ian have to fight for survival and their very souls.

PRINT ISBN 13: 9780615598628
EBOOK ISBN 13: 9781301780792
KINDLE ASIN:  B00DII5RSG
 

And now for a sneak peek inside Voodoo Moon...

 PROLOGUE

It only took Millie a few minutes to tally up the day's business and put the money in the safe for Mr. Fegley to find the next morning. She quickly wiped down the counters and made sure everything was tidy. She went into the backroom removed her apron and took a quick look in the mirror that hung next to the backdoor. Wisps and strands of tawny hair had escaped the ribbon she tied it back in this morning and formed a messy halo around her pale, freckled face. In the threadbare brown tunic and pants that were her normal work uniform, she looked drab and washed out. If she weren’t so clean she could almost be mistaken for a beggar. She swiped at her hair, but it did no good. No matter. She didn’t have time to pretty up and she wouldn’t be graded on her looks today, just her powers.

She jumped as the clock on the wall rang chimed the hour. She had less than half an hour to get across town in order to make the evening test. If she was even a minute late they would turn her away and she would have to wait six more months for another test date. Luckily she’d saved up a whole buck so she could take the trolley.

Being sure to lock the door behind her, she ran out into the early evening twilight. She just had a few minutes to make it two blocks over to the magi-trolley line. She glanced down the street. It was crowded with daytime shoppers hurrying home to dinner and the beginnings of night time shoppers coming out. Dusk and dawn was always the busiest time in this part of Old Nash City. The vampires who stayed out of the daylight to avoid severe sunburns and allergic reactions were venturing out and mingling with the norms and paranorms who had no such allergies to the sun. The shops and streets were usually crowded for the first hour or so past dusk.

Even as small and fast as Millie was, it would take her forever to slip through the crowd. She eyed the narrow alley to the right. The light from the blue tinged crystal street lights didn’t make it into the alley. It was dark and dirty and she hated walking through it even in the daylight, but she didn’t have much choice. Some things were just more important than her fear of the dark.


***
 



He leaned against the stone wall, deep in the shadows cast by the setting sun and the solar-crystal lights that illuminated the bustling street. This body was awkward and cumbersome. He’d used it too many nights now and it was starting to get stiff. He should have picked another for tonight’s hunt. No matter. He would pick another from his store tomorrow. But for now, he needed to find new food, another worthy enough to fuel his body and perhaps become a vehicle for his spirit.

He scanned the crowd using his second sight, his divine sight, to view the magical auras that pulsed around the unsuspecting people. They had no idea he was there, hunting, waiting for the perfect specimen. Of course, none of them had anything to worry about. Their auras were all dull and muddy. All no to medium powers. Not one bright aura in the bunch. Not one was worthy. He was just about ready to give up his search and move on to another street when a bright light caught his eye at the other end of the alley. He turned his full attention to the young girl moving down the alley quickly as if she were afraid. Her magic burned bright around her. Most people, common people, wouldn’t know what was inside the girl. But he did. Brilliant shades of purple and blue pulsed and shimmered around her. The colors of her aura were so dark and bright they were almost tangible. His fingers itched to reach out and touch it. She was brimming with untapped power. Oh yes, her power would be filling and delicious. She was worthy. He would have her.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
June Stevens, AKA DJ Westerfield is a wife, step-mom, sister, auntie, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, friend, and Mommy to three adorable and mischievous four-legged babies. She writes non-fiction, blogs, and co-hosts an internet radio show as DJ Westerfield. She uses the pseudonym June Stevens to write fiction in a variety of genres including contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic fantasy, paranormal romance, urban fantasy. June Stevens creates new worlds in the form of short stories and books. When you step into one of June Stevens worlds you will encounter at least one (or a combination of many) of these elements: ROMANCE, mystery, suspense, magic, ghosts, vampires, witches, werebeasts, elves, faeries, other magical creatures, space ships, aliens, space travel, time travel, angels, demons, gods and goddesses, and who knows what else. If it can be dreamed up…it may be in one of her worlds.

 


GIVEAWAY!
Prizes:
1 $20 Amazon Gift Card
2 Signed Copies of Voodoo Moon
2 Ebook Copies of Voodoo Moon (Via Smashwords Coupon)
1 Rough Amazonite Crystal Pendant Necklace
1 Polished Lace Agate Pendant Necklace
1 Fleur de lis Cameo Ring
1 Black Blade Guard Pendant Necklace
1 Fleur de lis Cameo Pendant/Brooch
1 Pain Skull & Crossbones Earrings
 
 
RAFFLECOPTER CONTEST (contest runs until July 24)
 
 
**click the link below to participate**

 
 
 

Friday, June 21, 2013

Summer Solstice Supper and Summer Reading List!


Summer doesn't get any better than a good meal and a great book, so a few of my friends and I picked the Summer Solstice to offer you a sumptuous supper and a buffet of books to satisfy your reading hunger.

Each author has shared a favorite dish and the menu is chock-full of mouthwatering delights. The buffet of books offers a flavor for everyone--romance of many genres, historicals, cocktails made simple and secrets to an enriched life. As you can see below, the menu contains the title of one of the author’s books and a web link.
 
To get the ingredients for each menu item, go here:  http://lindajoycecontemplates.wordpress.com/
Scroll down for eye-candy book covers and some insights about each author. I invite you to visit each blog or website, make a new friend or two and celebrate the summer with us.
Here's to a great Summer 2013 and happy reading (and eating)!
 
~ * ~

Cocktails
Blackberry Gin and Tonic by J.K. O'Hanlon -Three Ingredient Cocktails ~ www.thirstyjane.com
Pomegranate Martini by Kathy L Wheeler - Quotable ~ http://kathylwheeler.com
Appetizer
Japanese Chicken Wings by Jan Morrill -The Red Kimono ~ www.TheRedKimono.com
Sweet & Sour Hawaiian Meatballs by Vonnie Davis - Rain Is A Love Song ~ http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms by Alicia Dean - Liberty Awakened (Isle of Fangs, Book 1) ~ http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/
Salad
7 Layer Salad by AJ Nuest - She's Got Dibs ~ http://ajbooks.blogspot.com/
Mandarin orange & spinach salad by Barbara Barrett - And He Cooks Too ~ http://www.barbarabarrettbooks.com
Entrée
Pesto Chicken by Nancy Parra - Gluten for Punishment ~ www.nancyjparra.blogspot.com
Taquitos by Calisa Rhose - Risk Factors ~ http://calisarhose.com/chit-chat/
Linda's Summer Shrimp Boil by Linda Joyce - Bayou Born ~ http://lindajoycecontemplates.wordpress.com/
Oven Fried peach chicken Juli D. Revezzo - The Artist's Inheritance ~ http://julidrevezzo.com/blog/
Betty’s Nutty Pork Chops by Betty Bolte - Hometown Heroines ~ www.bettybolte.com/blog.htm
Dessert
Kolaches by Gina Hooten Popp - The Storm After ~ https://www.facebook.com/ginahootenpoppauthor
Chocolate-Cherry-Coconut Cupcakes by Luna Zega - Tokyo Tease ~ http://lunazega.wordpress.com
Fruit Compote by Brenda Sparks - A Midsummer Night's Demon ~ http://www.brenda-sparks.com/blog.html
After Dinner Drinks
After Dinner Iced Coffee by Sandra Sookoo - Winging It ~ http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/

 
~ * ~

Recipe for AJ's 7 Layer Salad
(Which is really 8 Layers)

Place chicken breasts in shallow baking dish and cover entirely in Fat Free Italian dressing. Cover and bake at 350 until done. Remove chicken from oven and allow to cool. Cut into cubes and refrigerate prior to salad assembly.

Clean and cut lettuce and place in a large clear bowl.
Sprinkle with dried dill weed and toss until evenly distributed.
Layer cold cubed chicken over lettuce.
Clean and thinly slice scallions. Layer over chicken.
Layer thawed, uncooked peas over scallions.
Peel and thinly slice boiled eggs. Layer over peas.
Crumble cooked bacon and layer over eggs.
Sprinkle entire package of sharp cheddar cheese over eggs.
Pour entire bottle of ranch dressing over cheese.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.

This is a great salad to make and take to a summer party to share with several families. I also make it a few times during the summer for our family of four because it serves as a great meal in its own right. Add a loaf of crusty garlic bread and you've got a cool summer supper. As long as the leftovers are kept refrigerated in an airtight container, they stay fresh for several days...although they never usually last that long. :-)

FOUR MORE DAYS AND SHE'S GOT DIBS IS FREE!
Starting June 25-29 at Amazon, She's Got Dibs is FREE at Amazon
Don't forget to download your copy!
 
 She’s Got Dibs, won 1stPlace in the Contemporary Category,
Heartland Romance Authors, Show Me the Spark! Contest, 2010

True love does not exist…or so event planner Tessa Adams learns the day she gets jilted—twenty-four hours prior to walking down the aisle. One-night stands are much easier, and with sexy philanthropists like David Brenner, how can she resist? Now if she could just get rid of him. Had she known the biggest event of her career would be working for David’s father, she would have cut and run. Instead, she’s unwittingly become a part of his parents' plan to destroy his life-long dreams. Will sacrificing her love protect him or be the ultimate betrayal?
Wealthy and gorgeous, David Brenner seemingly holds the world in the palm of his hand—his generous heart and infectious smile are just two in an endless stream of attractive qualities. But the one thing he wants, he can’t have—a repeat of the passionate night he spent in the arms of a skittish Tessa Adams. His family’s far-reaching power threatens to crush their dreams. To prove his love, he would risk everything…but will the return of her ex-fiancĂ© be their final undoing?
 
“Dibs.” He extended his hand.
Frowning, she accepted his greeting. “Dibs on what?
“No.” He chuckled. “That's my name. Or well, actually, my nickname. Either way, it's what everyone calls me.”
“O-o-okay...” The guy definitely had the smolder covered...and those incredible ice-blue eyes. Yikes!
“And you are?”
“Oh, Tessa Adams.” She laughed.
“And everyone calls you...?”
Her frown returned. “Tessa.”
“Oh.” He scanned her face. “No nickname, huh?”
“Not that I recall at the moment.”
He pressed his full lips together as if restraining a smile, eyes twinkling with merriment, and handed her the notepad. “Here's your confirmation number. The room's at the Waldorf Towers over on Park.”
Two suites at the Waldorf? In this mess? What was he, a wizard? “Wow, great. Thanks so much for the help.”
“Glad to be of service.” He retrieved his briefcase and started down the corridor, abruptly stopped, and peered at her over the perfect slant of his shoulder. “And don't worry, Tessa, I'll think of a good nickname for you.”
She offered him a blank stare. “Hey, knock yourself out.”
Mischief danced along his lips before a grin broke free and he continued down the hallway.
“What a whack job,” she muttered.

 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Flightless Blog Tour

FLIGHTLESS BLOG TOUR IS HERE!
Pen was a Guardian, but one violent night took his wings. Ten years later he is given the opportunity to earn them back.
 
Jade is spellbound by the new student. Pen is quiet, but she is determined to learn more about him. When her terrifying past comes back to haunt her, Pen reveals there is much more to him than she could have ever imagined.
 
With his soul on the line, Pen cannot protect Jade if his feelings keep getting in the way. But with Jade’s soul on the line, he must protect her from unearthly forces who want her blood. Will the truth redeem them, or tear them apart?


Keri Neal designs book covers. Flightless is her fourth published book. She lives near Austin, Texas with her husband, two children, two hamsters and a snake. She crochets, sews, reads, paints and loves all things artsy & craftsy.    

Find Keri on the Web here:

Cover Artist: booklovers.kerineal.com
Twitter: @authorkerineal
Facebook: facebook.com/authorkerineal

 



Excerpt

Pen and I are lounging under a big white umbrella. I am curled up with my head on his chest. His heartbeat is steady and slow, his breathing shallow. He is asleep. I pinch his arm playfully. “You’re going to miss it.”
He takes a deep breath and chuckles. “I’m awake. And I’ve seen my share of sunsets.”
I turn my head and rest my chin on his chest. His eyes are still closed. “You’re a grouch, you know that?”
He opens one eye and stares at me. “You know I’m going to find you. You don’t need to do this.”
My throat burns with emotion. “Yes, I do. You might not make it in time.”
Both his eyes open and stare blankly up at the umbrella. He is angry. His jaw clenches and his nostrils flare.
“It’s almost time.” I crawl up and lie down, straddling him. My blonde hair makes a curtain around us. He looks sad as he reaches up and holds my face.
“I don’t know how to say goodbye to you.”
I smile. The sun is glowing in the horizon. Its resting place comes alive with color. I see it all happen in the reflection in his eyes.
“Yes, you do.” I press my lips against his, urgently stealing every taste of him. I pull his lip through my teeth, and he groans loudly. The sound is erotic. Suddenly his hand is on the back of my head, pulling me roughly against him. His lips are not gentle anymore. They are rough and scaly, like a snake. He is hurting me. I push hard against his chest, only to realize my hands are bound. I start to cry as the sun descends into its salty grave.


Available on KDP Select and Paperback
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Release date: May 30, 2013
ISBN: 1484157338
ISBN13: 9781484157336

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

OBSESSION is FREE! Come hear the Soundtrack!


Over the past three years, I've been researching, writing, and rewriting my paranormal romantic suspense, Obsession, which is coming soon from the Wild Rose Press.  I also searched for songs to inspire me to help me dig deeper into the emotions of the characters.

Obsession is the story of a frantic mother, Angie Edmonds, who is forced to work with a Mexican drug lord, Alejandro Torres, because her son has been abducted by a cult leader who believes the child is the Chosen One, I had a lot of choices in music to accompany me on my writing journey.

The book opens with a near-death experience and Angie's encounter with a guardian angel.  U2's  If God Will Send His Angels made this scene come alive for me, as did Alanis Morissette's Uninvited. At the end of the book, Angie is calling for divine intervention, which goes well with the Australian band Real Life song, Send Me an Angel.

When Angie discovers her son is abducted and taken to Mexico by her cult leader father, the bottom of her life falls out. Peter Gabriel's I Grieve said it all for me.  Angie's is not going to let this pass, she's not going to lay down. She will pick up and carry on, do whatever she must do to rescue her son, even reaching out to the biggest drug lord in Mexico for help.

While fighting for her life, she calls out for help and Alejandro, the Mexican drug lord, appears. Is he evil or is he a hero? Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero felt right for this critical first meeting scene.

One of the interesting types of music I found along this journey was Norteño music, born in northern Mexico, but played in many other locales. The accordion is one of the key instruments in this style. The pace ranges from "smooth" jazz-like music such as this Groove Norteño music video, to music that reminds me of polkas with lyrics about the Crime of Chihuahua,  and rhythms to get you up and dancing in Copper Canyon.

Music was my muse for much of Obsession. Here's my playlist with links to YouTube videos. I hope you enjoy it as you read the book. What songs do you like for invoking your muse or to read by?  

Playlist for Obsession
Uninvited by Alanis Morissette
I Grieve by Peter Gabriel
The Unfeeling Kiss by Gabriel Yared
Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
Groove Norteño music video by Adrian Pedrin
Private Eyes by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Crime of Chihuahua by Los Cadetes De Linares
Maneater by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Mambo #5 by Lou Bega
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet by Bachmann-Turner Overdrive
Loveshack by the B52's
Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti & Natalie Wilde
Set Fire to the Rain by Adele

Great News!  Obsession is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD June 4-8, 2013!
A desperate mother...
A Mexican drug lord...
A dangerous obsession.

A year after a barbaric childbirth, complete with a near-death experience and an encounter with her guardian angel, Angie Edmonds is just happy she and her son, Jake, are alive. She's finally in a good place: clean, sober, and employed as a defense attorney. But at the end of a long work day, she finds herself in a parent's worst nightmare: Jake has been kidnapped and taken across the Mexican border by a cult leader who believes the child is the "Chosen One."

Stymied by the US and Mexican legal systems, Angie is forced to ask the head of a Mexican crime syndicate for help. Much to her chagrin, she must work with Alejandro Torres, a dangerously attractive criminal and the drug lord's right-hand man. Little does she know Alejandro is an undercover federal agent, equally terrified of blowing his cover—and falling in love with her.
~~~~~~~~~~~

After working in health care delivery for years, Sharon Buchbinder became an association executive, a health care researcher, and an academic in higher education. She had it all--a terrific, supportive husband, an amazing son and a wonderful job. But that itch to write (some call it an obsession) kept beckoning her to "come on back" to writing fiction. Thanks to the kindness of family, friends, critique partners, Romance Writers of America, and Maryland Romance Writers, she is now an award-winning author published in contemporary, erotic, paranormal and romantic suspense. When not attempting to make students, colleagues, and babies laugh, she can be found herding cats, waiting on a large gray dog, fishing, dining with good friends, or writing. You can find her at www.sharonbuchbinder.com  

~~~~~~~~~~~

Where Obsession and Sharon Buchbinder can be found on the Internet
Download link for Obsession http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGOGT12
Book Trailer for Obsession http://youtu.be/f1kujUWoGbk
Facebook page for Obsession https://www.facebook.com/pages/Obsession/174546772700131

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sharon.buchbinder.romanceauthor

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417344.Sharon_Buchbinder

Twitter @sbuchbinder https://twitter.com/sbuchbinder