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Embracing the Demon Teaser Tuesday

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Date to be Published: March 17, 2023

 

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Love is always a gamble, but when you bargain with a demon the deck’s
stacked in his favor.

 

Demon’s Bargain (Embracing the Demon 1): Ella is desperate. A vicious
dragon stalks her people. The only man strong enough to defeat it is Vaz,
the half-demon outcast — banished long ago for his tainted blood. Ella soon
learns just how potent a demon’s touch can be.

Living with a Demon (Embracing the Demon 2): When Nate answered a personals
ad, he wasn’t looking for romance. But now he knows Pierce is the man
for him… even when he finds out Pierce is something more than
human.

Playing Games (Embracing the Demon 3): Nate adores his demon lover, Pierce.
But lately, Pierce has been distant and preoccupied, and it’s driving
Nate crazy. Awakening Pierce’s possessive instincts is a dangerous
game to play… but to Nate, the danger just makes it more
tempting.

Escaping Darkside (Embracing the Demon 4): After he’s killed in a hit
and run accident, Christian wakes up in Darkside — the demon-infested world
between life and death. If he can reach door back to Earth, Christian will
have a second chance at life. But going back will mean leaving Seth behind
forever… and Christian is falling in love with his demon.

Publisher’s Note: Embracing the Demon (Box Set) contains the previously
published novellas Demon’s Bargain, Living with a Demon, Playing Games, and
Escaping Darkside.

 

 

EXCERPT

 

Copyright ©2023 AJ Graham

Excerpt from Escaping Darkside

 

Christian woke face down on the ground, head throbbing. A smell like
garbage and sewer water filled his nose, and hard, gritty pavement pressed
against his cheek. He opened his eyes to find himself lying in a narrow
alley between two brick buildings, next to a row of overflowing
trashcans.

Christian stood, staggered, and leaned against the nearby wall. What had
happened? Had he been mugged? A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he
swayed. He must have hit his head. Maybe that was why he couldn’t remember
anything. When the world finally stopped spinning, he began to walk.

Run-down, brick buildings lined the narrow street, and fragments of broken
glass glittered on the pavement. It looked like one of the bad parts of
Chicago, but it wasn’t a neighborhood he recognized.

He heard a low, faint moan, like distant wind, and froze. The back of his
neck prickled and he slowly turned.

Four red-cloaked figures stood in the street, motionless. Hoods covered
their heads and shadow hid their faces. Goose bumps rose on Christian’s
flesh. “Um… hello.”

No reply. One figure stretched out an arm and curled a long, bony finger in
beckoning.

Christian swallowed, hard. His heart rose into his throat as fear slammed
into his gut like a fist. He took a shaky step backward, then turned and
ran, feet pounding the pavement, breath coming in frantic gulps. He looked
over his shoulder and saw them following — not running, but floating
several inches above the road, their red cloaks billowing behind them.

What the hell was going on?

He kept running, but he could sense the things getting closer, closing in
on him. An icy hand curled around his arm, the fingers brittle and thin, yet
strong as iron. Cold filled his chest, as if that skeletal hand had reached
into his body to grip his heart. He looked into the darkness beneath the
thing’s hood and saw the glint of eyes. A weird clicking, chattering noise
drifted from that darkness.

Christian twisted away. “Let me go!” He yanked his arm free. His
skin still burned where the thing had touched him.

He ran, ignoring the throbbing stitch in his side and the burn in his
lungs. There was nothing left in his mind but the desperate need to get
away. He ran until his legs gave out, and he sank to his hands and knees,
gulping air, each breath like nettles scraping his raw lungs. He looked over
his shoulder, shaking. The red-cloaked figures were nowhere in sight.
Somehow, he’d lost them.

He crawled to the side of the street and hid behind a Dumpster, hugging his
knees to his chest. He looked down at his arm, where the thing had grabbed
him. Its grip had left ugly, black burn marks on his skin, and the marks
writhed like something alive. Just looking at them made him nauseous. He
pulled his sleeve over the burn, hiding it, then leaned back against the
brick wall and closed his eyes. His muscles felt like overcooked noodles,
but somehow, he managed to drag himself to his feet and resume
walking.

Ahead, a row of motorcycles stood next to a low, windowless building with
black cement walls. Even from a distance, Christian could hear the pulse of
a bass-beat. A dance club?

Whatever it was, he needed to get inside. He ran toward the building, flung
open the door, and entered. A blast of warm air and sound hit him. After the
eerie silence of the street, the sudden din of music and voices was
overwhelming. The club was dimly lit, smoky, and packed. Music thumped in
his ears. Christian squeezed through the crush of bodies, his gaze darting
back and forth. Sweaty shirts surrounded him wherever he turned.

“Ow! Watch where you’re going!”

“Sorry. I –” Christian looked up and his jaw dropped. The thing
staring down at him had the body of a weightlifter, but from the neck up, it
resembled a cross between a bull and a lion, with curved black horns, a
shaggy mane, and sharp fangs. “What are you staring at?” growled a
deep, rough voice.

“S-sorry,” Christian stammered and backed away.

Had he stumbled into some sort of costume party? No, that hadn’t been a
mask. He’d seen its mouth move.

He stepped on something that felt like a rope and heard a snarl. He looked
down to see a long, furry tail pull away, and something with three horns and
four eyes glared at him. Christian stumbled backward.

Breathing hard, he made his way through the crowd. He spotted a
silver-haired girl in black leather. Relieved to see someone relatively
normal-looking, Christian grabbed her arm. She looked at him. Her eyes were
huge, almond-shaped, and completely black, without whites or irises.
“Excuse me, Miss, I’m sorry, but could you tell me…”

She opened her mouth, revealing inch-long fangs where her canine teeth
should have been, and hissed like a cat. He backed off. His head swiveled
back and forth. Everywhere he looked was a creature out of a nightmare.
There stood a man with a wriggling mass of tentacles where his mouth should
have been. Across from him loomed another man with the head of a hawk and
four feathery arms.

A hand grabbed his arm and twisted him around. He found himself staring up
into a face that was almost human, except it was black — not brown, but
licorice black — and topped by a pair of small, spiral horns protruding
from crimson hair. The man dragged Christian through the crowd, out the
door, into the cool night. He shoved his face into Christian’s, eyes
narrowed. “What are you doing here? You’re not from
Darkside.”

“I don’t even know how I got here. What is this place?”

His lip curled in an unpleasant expression that was half-grin, half-sneer,
revealing tiny, sharp fangs. “You’re from Earth, huh?”

“Earth? You mean we’re not on Earth?”

“Oh boy, are you in for a rude awakening.” Sharp claws dug into
the meat of Christian’s arm, making him squirm. “There’s bound to be a
fat reward on your head. The Council doesn’t like it when souls slip through
their grasp.”

Breathing hard, Christian tried to pry the sausage-thick, dark fingers from
his arm. “Let go!”

“Oh no. You’re not getting away so easily.”

 

About the Author

AJ Graham has a passion for cold weather, unusual beers, and anything
otherworldly.  Dragons, demons, shapeshifters and psychics have always
populated their imagination, but sometimes the real world can be just as
fascinating and mysterious.  And no matter the genre, AJ has always
loved stories about soulmates connecting.  Whether it’s instant,
explosive passion or a slow burn, the power of two (or more) minds and
bodies coming together to form a greater whole is always a story worth
telling.  AJ lives in the Chicago suburbs with their husband.

 

Follow the Publisher on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @changelingpress

 

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Henry Teaser Tuesday

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(Devoted Guardians MC)

 

Motorcycle Club, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Shifters, Mages

Date Published: February 24, 2023

 

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Raya — Elias kidnapped me nearly a decade ago and used me for his awful
experiments. His goal: to create a superior race. How could that possibly go
wrong? Now I’m no longer fully human and I’ve lived a life in
hell. But I adore my two kids, no matter how they were conceived. I thought
we’d die before we ever found freedom, but it arrived in the most
unexpected way. The big biker shifter is scary as hell, but it’s
either go with him, or remain chained and starving.

Henry — The dark mage killed my mate and unborn child. There’s
nothing I want more than revenge. It never occurred to me he’d have a
woman and kids chained in his cellar. They reek of black magick, enough so,
I hated them on sight. I’d planned to leave them behind. Until I heard
their story. My club won’t be happy when I walk in with three people
covered in the stench of black magick. But something unexpected happens when
I catch Raya’s true scent. She’s my fated mate, and now I have
the difficult task of not only gaining her trust, but the children’s
as well.

 

WARNING: Contains subject matter some readers may find difficult to read.
Recommended for ages 18+ due to adult situations, bad language, and
violence. Guaranteed happily-ever-after, no cheating, and no
cliffhanger.

 

Henry tablet, phone

EXCERPT

Copyright ©2023 Harley Wylde & Jessica Coulter Smith

 

Raya

Elias paced the small cabin. I didn’t know why we’d come here.
He’d spoken about this town before. Many times. I knew a shifter
nearly killed him thirty years ago. Fatally wounded, he’d escaped to a
community of mages, where they’d healed him. It had taken years for
him to regain his health and full power. He’d often bragged about
surviving.

Why return now? He’d dragged us all over the country. At first,
I’d thought he was running from something. Now I wondered if
he’d simply been heading toward Wolf Creek. Even though I’d been
with him for years, he never confided in me. Not about anything important.
There was no reason for it, since I was little more than a prisoner. His
slave.

I heard the chains clink in the cellar and fought not to wince. It
wouldn’t be long before I joined them. My babies. No matter how
they’d been conceived, I’d love them with all my heart until the
day I died. They were my reason for living. And the only way Elias
maintained control over me all this time. If it weren’t for my
precious children, I’d have run before now.

“It’s nearly time,” he muttered. “I’ll take
her just like the others. I’m sure she’ll be useful. Stupid
fucking dhampir doesn’t know why I invited him to Wolf Creek.
Everything is falling into place.”

Her? I didn’t know who he was talking about, and I would not ask. And
a dhampir? Did he mean the man I’d heard him speaking to a few times?
It didn’t matter. The less I knew, the better. I’d learned that
the hard way. Although, his words bothered me a great deal. Was he going to
enslave someone else? I reached up to lightly touch the collar around my
throat. I hadn’t been the first, nor the last. However, I’d been
the only woman to survive.

Elias not only used black magick, but he also liked to experiment.
He’d abducted countless women across the globe, all in the name of
creating a better species. It wasn’t something recent, either. From
what I’d learned during my time with him, he’d been working on
this project for decades. Even before he’d fled Wolf Creek thirty
years ago. I didn’t know what made me so special. Why had I survived
when others hadn’t?

I lifted my hand and stared at my fingers. Even now, black tendrils of
smoke shifted around the digits. I’d been completely human until Elias
snatched me off the street. Through pain and suffering, he’d infused
me with some of his black magick. I couldn’t actually use it, but it
had become part of my cellular structure, which meant I passed those traits
to my children, which had been his intent all along.

“It’s time.” He rubbed his hands together, a wide smile
on his face. “Into the basement. You know the rules. Keep your mouth
shut. But first… I’m going to prep you for a special guest
arriving within the next two days.”

I knew exactly what that meant. He removed a syringe from his pocket and
injected me with the serum that would make me mindless with need. While he
preferred for me to get pregnant without it, and enjoyed hearing me scream
in pain, he’d used this on me several times before. I honestly thought
he got off on hearing me beg for someone to fuck me. At least, it
didn’t take effect immediately.

Elias tossed the syringe aside and gave me a shove, and I walked to the
hidden door. He opened it and I went down the steps into what I assumed had
once been a root cellar. My children perked up when they saw me. Elias
followed me into the hole, attaching a chain to my collar. I held open my
arms and my babies ran to me. Their chains barely reached, but we were close
enough I could hold them.

I smoothed the hair of my precious little girl, Marigold, and kissed the
forehead of my son, Logan. Mari had not only inherited some of the black
magick, but she’d also gained her father’s ability to shift. As
for Logan, he only had black magick. His father had been a dark mage like
Elias.

“I’m scared,” Mari said.

I hugged her tight and wished I could ease her fears. Instead, I did my
best to tamp down my own. I didn’t think we’d ever escape Elias.
One day, he’d sell my children. When I became useless, he’d kill
me. As it was, I’d lost the last two babies. I knew he was searching
for another male to impregnate me. He’d desperately wanted a baby that
was half vampire and half dark mage. It seemed my body rejected the
vampire’s offspring, as both babies came from the same male.

“When I’m older, I’m going to get us out of here,”
Logan said. “With my magick, I’ll take down Elias and free us
from this prison.”

I placed my fingers over his lips. “Hush, sweetheart. If he hears you
say such a thing…”

He nodded, understanding what I meant. I hated that my children had to grow
up so quickly. They’d never been able to play, make friends, or enjoy
their lives. If I thought it would be possible to run away with them,
I’d have done it long ago. But I knew Elias would hunt us down and
punish us.

The door upstairs slammed, and the tension in my body eased. At least he
would be gone for a while. I felt bad for whatever woman he’d lured to
this town. Would her fate be the same as mine? I hoped not. I didn’t
wish this existence on anyone.

Mari began humming The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and I rocked her. Logan slumped
against my side and stared at the opposite wall. Elias hadn’t even
left us with anything to occupy ourselves while he was gone. There’d
been times he’d left a rubber ball or a pack of crayons and a coloring
book. I knew it wasn’t out of the kindness of his black heart.
He’d claimed it made the children less whiny and more tolerable.

“One day, if we’re ever free of Elias, you’ll get to
enroll in school so you can learn new things. You’ll make friends.
Play outside. Go to the movie theater, the park, learn to swim. We’ll
have so much fun.” I smiled wistfully, thinking of all they’d
missed out on, and the things I’d taken for granted before Elias
kidnapped me.

“Do you really think we’ll ever get away from him?” Logan
asked.

My heart ached at the despair in his voice. My little angel already knew
the answer. No matter how much I’d tried to instill hope in my
children, Logan somehow knew we’d be the property of Elias until he
either sold us or killed us.

I couldn’t answer him, refusing to lie.

Mari dozed a bit, and even Logan closed his eyes for a little while. Every
second was even more agonizing, because time stretched endlessly in the
cellar. At least the lightbulb hadn’t gone out. The dim light helped
little, but it dispelled some of the darkness. Being locked down here in
absolute blackness would have been much worse.

Mari whimpered in her sleep, waking Logan. I smoothed her hair and murmured
to her, hoping to ease whatever nightmare she might be having. Logan blinked
and rubbed his eyes before sitting up a little straighter. I knew he’d
fight to stay awake now. My little boy had grown up entirely too fast.

Mari woke twice and dozed off again each time. While she napped, I told
Logan a story. Mari liked the romantic fairy tales about princes. Logan,
however, wanted action and adventure. His favorites were tales of pirates or
explorers. So I talked about One-Eyed Willie, Captain Jack, and the others
I’d watched in movies when I’d still had my freedom. He ate up
every word, and it helped pass the time.

My stomach rumbled, and so did the children’s. Mari woke again,
yawning and leaning away from me a little. I knew she wouldn’t fall
asleep again anytime soon. Every time the monster who owned us made her go
hungry, she’d be awake for hours. Unlike Logan, who said sleep made
him feel less hungry.

Elias hadn’t left us with any food or water. A bucket in the corner
served as a toilet, but none of us had been desperate enough to use it
today. We’d each had a chance earlier to use the bathroom upstairs to
relieve ourselves and clean up a little.

“He’s been gone a while,” Logan said. “He
didn’t forget us, did he? I’m not sure starving to death is much
better than suffering whatever he’s planned for us.”

With no windows, I couldn’t tell what time of day it was by now.
However, my butt had gone numb from sitting on the hard ground. I had to
have been down here for more than an hour. I listened intently, wondering if
Elias had managed to quietly return. Minutes ticked by, and when I was going
to give up, I heard booted steps. They seemed to scout the entire
house.

Would they find the hidden door to the cellar? Did we want them to? I
caught Logan’s gaze, and he gave me a slight nod. Whatever he sensed
or smelled seemed to make him feel as if the person upstairs wouldn’t
harm us.

“Help! Please, we’re down here!” I yelled as loud as I
could. By the fifth time I’d called out, the door at the top of the
stairs opened and a large silhouette moved toward us. My breath caught when
the man approached. I couldn’t tell his age and depending on what he
was, he could have been hundreds of years old and still appeared
young.

“What the fuck?” he muttered. His gaze narrowed on me before
shifting to my children. I held them tighter, wondering if I’d made a
mistake by calling for help. “Who are you?”

Henry phone

Author Contact Links

Harley Wylde on Facebook , TikTok, Instagram: @harleywylde

Jessica Coulter Smith on Instagram: @jessica_coulter_smith

 

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Beastly Tales Anthology Teaser Tuesday

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Paranormal Romance

Date to be Published: February 21, 2023

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

 

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Monsters deserve love too…

From werewolves, vampires, and even Bigfoot, these beasts manage to find
love. Whether they are able to sink their claws into that love and keep it
is another story. When it comes down to it, don’t judge a book by its
cover. This anthology brings a mixture of what ifs and happily ever
afters.

Featuring stories from T.C. Mill, A.K. Moss, Toni Mobley, Barend
Nieuwstraten III, Ashley L. Hunt, Charles Kyffhausen, Lil Deville, Kelly
Piner, Jess Monica, and Karen Bayly.

Graphic sexual content is included within this anthology.

 

The Beasts of Hank’s Wood by Lil DeVille

Joe Schola III is the eighteen-year-old son of Joseph Schola Junior, a
fire-and-brimstone preaching Fundamentalist televangelist. While young Joe
is far less homophobic than his father, he is struggling to come to terms
with his own sexual orientation. Will Joe dare accept the invitation to
become part of a clan of shapeshifters, and will he accept the love being
offered to him by the handsome fox shifter Lovell Azarola?

 

Beastly Tales standing book

Excerpt from The Beasts of Hank’s Wood

 

Reverend Jed didn’t miss what was happening between me and her
gorgeous friend. Taking my hands in hers, she smiled.

“There’s nothing wrong with letting nature take its
course,” she advised. “Then again, you don’t want to dive into
deep waters too soon. I’ve known Lovell all his life. He’s not the casual
and fleeting kind.”

“I’m not either,” I reassured her. “The truth is,
I’ve never been in a relationship. Because I don’t know a thing about
letting someone know I’m interested in them or establishing if they’re
interested in me, I don’t want to make a mistake. Straight people have it
hard too, but I think it’s even harder when you’re not straight. If a
straight guy hits on a girl who’s not interested, he probably won’t get his
backside handed to him, unless she has a jealous boyfriend he doesn’t know
about.”

“The thing is, I wouldn’t have said anything if I hadn’t seen what was
happening between you and Lovell. He definitely noticed you.”

“Um…Forest didn’t, you know, notice Vic, did he?
‘Cause Vic’s straight. Vic won’t kick his butt, but I wouldn’t
want Forest to waste his time on a straight guy.”

Reverend Jed burst out laughing.

“Forest is straight too. He simply sensed a kindred spirit in
Vic.”

“I guess my gay-dar is broken,” I said. “’Cause he
looked me up and down and I kind of thought he might be checking me
out.”

“He was checking to see if you were safe for his brother. The boys
are very protective of each other.”

“Well, I’m safe,” I reassured Reverend Jed. “But
maybe a fine guy like Lovell isn’t going to be too keen on an
inexperienced dude like me.”

“He’s keen,” Reverend Jed said. “It’s up to
you if you want to encourage his interest.”

 

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Now and Always Virtual Book Tour

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Hearts and Haunts Book 1

Paranormal Romance

Date Published:  01-10-2023

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

 

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Romance may not be all that awakens while two best friends renovate a
mansion rumored to be haunted.

 

If you kiss your best friend…

Halloween-loving Ren needs a new job. The only problem? The sole accountant
opening in her small town requires construction experience, which are skills
she lacks. Luckily, her best friend Leo— sexy, grumpy and completely
off limits— is a construction hotshot. Their relationship is perfect
as is, and, despite the intense chemistry, Ren refuses to ruin it with
romance. Leo agrees to teach her, with one condition— she must live on
site with him… and somehow survive the temptation.

 

You’ d better be sure…

Skeptic, sword-swinging Leo has loved Ren since she mistook him for a
hardware employee in the plunger section two years ago. While he took his
time winning her trust, she caged him in the friend zone. He’ s done hiding
his feelings, and living together— working, sleeping, playing—
at the Gothic mansion he’ s renovating will convince her that best friends
make the best lovers.

 

It’ s meant to be forever.

Ren resolves to resist Leo, even if he bends every rule. Discovering the
mansion’ s secrets— and lingering spirits, no matter what Leo
claims— offers distraction enough. But with her defenses splintering,
one kiss is all it takes to shatter every boundary, one night of passion to
believe in happily ever after… and one crumbling letter of unrequited love
to awaken ghosts forgotten. If Ren and Leo can’ t piece together the past
for two lost souls, they might lose more than their hearts.

Now and Always tablet

EXCERPT

Before the lunch hour had hit on Monday, Karen visited human resources, applied her saved vacation and personal time off so she could work part-time. She used Tuesday and Wednesday to finish up bookwork. Thursday at noon, she ditched the office and packed her suitcase. She made it to the gravel driveway leading to the Granton estate in time for afternoon cocktails. The mighty iron gate leading to the mansion, locked every time she’d driven by before, was opened wide in welcome.

Excitement shivered through her as she drove through the gate, and the crowding trees offered new glimpses of the building’s pointed, Gothic gables. Diamond-paned windows flashed like waterfall spray in sunlight, liquid and magical. The woods opened up into a roundabout drive circling a cracked, dry fountain and she got her first full look at the mysterious Granton Hall.

“Wowza.” Karen parked her car beside Leo’s motorcycle and got out for an unobstructed view. She knew Leo had some serious cash, but this must have cost most of his hard-earned fortune. The steep roof and killer gables made it seem taller than two stories high, not including the attic. Walls tangled with ivy and made of gray stone added a foreboding beauty. It would make the perfect horror movie setting. She couldn’t hide a grin. Leo probably wouldn’t appreciate the irony.

A fractured stone walkway, hardly more than a trail, led through weeds and overgrown grass to the mansion’s front porch. An occasional sculpture weathered by years and negligence added a cemetery vibe. Matching faun statues flanked the entryway, lichen oozing from their eyes and leering mouths, ivy shackling their limbs.

She couldn’t wait to see what hid inside.

Suitcase in hand, she stepped toward the walkway and paused as a tremor rolled down her back. Maybe it stemmed from delight at discovering Granton Hall’s secrets. Maybe it came from taking a dive into the unknown.

Or maybe the man stepping from the porch and heading for her, his lopsided smile aimed at her, sparked her imagination to life.

Her pulse kicked into race-car speed. Best friend. Not made for jumping.

That was a total lie. There was no better specimen for a girl to jump on, grab ahold of and explore every wicked daydream with. Leo’s collar length hair would be perfect for her fingers to tangle in. Too many times to count she’d wondered if his mouth felt as soft as it looked. His body was sculpted from a foundation of sports and horseplay with four brothers, perfected by hard labor and the Hughes clan fighting with swords, light sabers or the weapon of the week. A few of those muscles tempted her from beneath his long-sleeved T-shirt and faded jeans. Had he been any other man, she’d be drooling.

But Leo wasn’t any other man. She had to keep things cool…somehow.

“Hey, Ren.” He took her suitcase and pivoted to face Granton Hall with her. “What do you think?”

Karen did her best to ignore the heat radiating from him, the scent of cedar and sawdust that always clung to his clothing and instead focused on the mansion before her. Shadows and secrets lurked in every corner, from the stained-glass windows frowning from the second floor to the moss-filled crevices in the stone walls. A black iron fence caged one side of the building, a subtle warning to keep out. No light glowed from within, as if Granton had already dismissed Leo’s presence as a passing memory.

“It’s everything I imagined—stark, arcane and breathtakingly Gothic. Splendidly chilling. I’m shocked you went in there alone.” She smirked sidelong at Leo. “Did you check under the stairs for demented clowns with chainsaws?”

“Yes,” he said, utterly serious, “I did.”

“Are you sure you’re up for living here?”

“With you to protect me, I’m feeling pretty good about my odds.” Hefting her suitcase as if it weighed no more than a goldfish, he led her past the statues guarding the entrance.

Karen followed, savoring each soft step of her boots on moss-fuzzed pavestones. It was a true testament of her willpower that she managed to drag her gaze away from Leo’s fine backside to the looming mansion. She slipped into the shadows cast by the gabled roof and shivered at the sudden cold. Dead leaves gathered in the corners of the covered porch, and dry husks of moths dangled from cobwebs in the rafters. A stand of pale toadstools crouched beside a faceless gargoyle.

“How long has it been since anyone lived here?” she asked, catching up with him as he reached the porch stairs.

“Decades. Careful of the steps.” He frowned as the planks creaked under his boots.

“How much you want to bet someone died here?” The wooden steps groaned and threatened to buckle beneath her, and she jumped to the safety of the porch. “Or better, was murdered?”

“How is being murdered better?”

“You know, restless spirits. Secrets in the attic. Monsters in the basement.”

“You watch too many horror flicks.”

“Not possible. You’re supplying popcorn, right?”

His lazy smile reappeared. “Movie buttered, caramel, chocolate dipped—I’ve got you covered.”

“I knew there was a solid reason why we’re friends.”

“So many reasons.” The blue of his eyes deepened. He held her gaze as he opened the front door wide. “After you, darling.”

Her pulse quickened, and she forced herself to focus on the vines and roses carved into the door before her imagination took over. She slipped her hands into her coat pockets to prevent any touching mishaps as she passed by. That didn’t prevent his heat from caressing her neck when her shoulder brushed his chest or the goosebumps on her arms. She crossed the threshold into the mansion, and electricity tingled through her, as if she’d shifted between one world to the next.

About the Author

C.J. Burright

 Once upon a time, a girl with flat hobbit feet dreamed of adventures in the
woods with an elven hero, fighting off orcs and saving magical rings. All
grown up now, C.J. Burright resides in Oregon (at least she got the trees).
While she faces her duties at the law office day job, she avoids writing
legal thrillers and instead turns toward romance—contemporary
(sometimes with a supernatural flair), paranormal or fantasy. With a 5th Dan
Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, it’s no surprise she prefers feisty
heroines who aren’t afraid to jump into the fight. Her slivers of
spare time are spent working out, gardening, playing the latest
Assassin’s Creed, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners, always with
music. She shares a house with her husband (not elven, alas, but a fine
alternative) and a devoted cat herd while missing her daughter from afar. C.
J. is represented by Brittany Booker of The Booker Albert Literary
Agency.

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First For Romance

 

 

 

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Utopia Teaser Tuesday

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Utopia cover

Paranormal Romance

Date Published: January 20, 2023

 

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UTOPIA (3-Book boxset)

When pack politics collide with destined mates, Alpha Levi and his men must
make some hard choices…

 

The Alpha’s Demiwolf (Utopia 1)

Kya: I’m a demiwolf — half wolf, half human, and both species
despise my weird mix of genes. Despite the fact I strip for a living,
I’ve hung on to my virginity for twenty-two years. Until I got knocked
up by a big, bad wolf. Now, I’m going to bring another demiwolf into
the world, but his father will never know.

Levi: I’m all wolf, and Alpha of my pack, committed to keeping our
bloodlines pure. Then on the night of my bachelor party, I hooked up with a
stripper. I just wanted to teach the demiwolf a lesson, but the sex set me
on fire. My wolf claimed her and now I can’t get her out of my head.
But what if she won’t accept me?

The Beta’s Spitfire (Utopia 2)

Samson:

Levi and I have always been best friends. Now he’s the pack Alpha and
I’m his beta, a.k.a. the man who cleans up after his shit storms. This
one is a doozy. He dumped his intended bride, and now it’s my job to
take care of her while he goes off to find his soulmate. Delilah is
beautiful, a real spitfire, and completely off limits. But she ignites a
fire that makes my wolf sit up and howl.

Delilah:

I was meant to be the mate of an Alpha, so l accepted an arranged marriage
with Levi. But the arrogant jerk dumped me right before the wedding.
I’m no damsel in distress, so I took off for New York to live a life
of independence. Along the way, I was kidnapped and my situation became
desperate. When Samson came to my rescue, I never expected him to claim me
for himself.

 

The Omega’s Temptation (Utopia 3)

A bullied omega leaves his pack and hides in plain sight among the humans.
But will he reveal his true identity to save the woman he loves.

Utopia paperback

Teaser from The Alpha’s Demiwolf (Utopia 1)

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2019 Gale Stanley

 

Kya

I cringed when I saw the billboard proclaiming, Girls! Girls! Girls! It was
a tacky way to get attention, and I hated it. Averting my eyes, I turned the
corner, pulled into the lot, and parked my old pickup behind the club. It
was my first night at Show ’n Tails, and a definite step down from my
old job, but I’d been fired and needed a gig ASAP.

The incident wasn’t my fault. There were two of us on the stage and
Brandi was so sloshed she invaded my space and fell on her ass. As if that
wasn’t enough, she accused me of tripping her. Well, one thing led to
another and we both got canned. Another girl told me that Show ’n
Tails was hiring and I went for an audition. The manager was an asshat, but
he doesn’t ask too many questions. I like to keep a low profile.

This isn’t the life I wanted, but taking off my clothes pays the
bills, and I won’t apologize for trying to earn a living. At least
I’m not selling my body, just the illusion of sex. A lot of girls up
their game, but not me. My virginity is the last piece of self-respect I own
and I won’t give it up to some creep for any amount of money.

The heavy backdoor slammed shut and locked behind me and the manager shot
me a dirty look. “Hey, Kya. You’re late.”

“Sorry, it won’t happen again. And my name is Raven when
I’m working.”

Marty’s lip curled in a sneer. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You
better get dressed. I mean undressed.” He snickered.

I ignored his disrespectful ass, and walked over to the dressing room. A
row of dented lockers lined one wall. A wide counter with a lighted mirror
behind it ran the length of the opposite wall. Everything stunk from sweat
and cheap perfume. The long vanity was cluttered with makeup and no one made
room for the new girl, so I started changing next to my locker. When a spot
at the mirror opened up, I grabbed it and started working on my wild black
curls.

Marty stuck his head in the door. “Hey, fresh meat, you’re on
next.”

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and
pencil.

Some things never change.

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