Monday, September 30, 2013

Spotlight On: LOUDER THAN LOVE (INTERMIX) BY JESSICA TOPPER

Book Description:

In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband...and discovers a love that defies classification.

It's been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth...the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.

Recluse rocker Adrian "Digger" Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids' TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.

Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it's unclear whose past looms larger: the widow's or the rocker's. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart?


About Jessica Topper:


Jessica Topper is an ex-librarian turned rock n' roll number cruncher. She can trace her love for the written word back to age three, when she memorized Maurice Sendak's "Chicken Soup with Rice" in its entirety.

After her daughter was born, Jessica left the Manhattan library world and began working for her husband's music management company. He offered her a part-time bookkeeping job so she could "stay home for the baby's first year" and pursue her dream of writing.

The baby is now eleven, and Jessica has been working her full-time, sold-her-soul-for-rock-n-roll job as Office Manager for veteran jam band moe. ever since. She may have traded in books for bookkeeping, but the written word is never far from her mind, or her heart.


Louder Than Love is only available as an ebook only at this time.

Buy Louder Than Love:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Kobo



Friday, September 27, 2013

Giveaway: NEVER DESIRE A DUKE by Lily Dalton

Thanks to Julie Paulauski of Grand Central Publishing, I am giving away 2 copies of Never Desire a Duke.

Book Description:


Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Vane Barwick, the Duke of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a single touch is all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he's ever truly loved. He'll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves-and the passionate lover she desires.

Praise for Never Desire a Duke:

RT Magazine called the described the romance between Sophie & Vane as grabbing “the reader’s emotions in an intensely passionate love story…But, for all the intensity, this gifted storyteller also deftly lightens the mood in a very well written and satisfying read.” And, Publishers Weekly just gave DUKE a starred review saying, “Dalton’s Regency debut resonates with genuine feeling.

About Lily Dalton:

Lily Dalton grew up as an Army brat, moving from place to place. Her first stop after relocating was always the local library, where she could hang out with familiar friends: Books! Lily has an English degree from Texas A & M University and after graduation worked as a legal assistant in the fields of accident reconstruction and litigation. She now lives in Houston, Texas, with her family. When she isn't at work on her next manuscript, she spends her time trying out new recipes, cheering on her favorite Texas football teams and collecting old dishes, vintage linens and other fine "junque" from thrift stores and flea markets.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends on October 11, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Giveaway and Excerpt: Thread of Gold Beads by Nike Campbell-Fatoki

Thanks to Amy Bruno of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I am giving away one copy of Thread of Gold Beads.

Book Description:

Publication Date: November 16, 2012
Three Magi Publishing
Paperback; 412p
ISBN-10: 0988193205

Amelia, daughter of the last independent King of Danhomè, King Gbèhanzin, is the apple of her father’s eye, loved beyond measure by her mother, and overprotected by her siblings. She searches for her place within the palace amidst conspirators and traitors to the Kingdom. Just when Amelia begins to feel at home in her role as a Princess, a well-kept secret shatters the perfect life she knows. Someone else within the palace also knows and does everything to bring the secret to light. A struggle between good and evil ensues causing Amelia to leave all that she knows and loves. She must flee Danhomè with her brother, to south-western Nigeria. In a faraway land, she finds the love of a new family and God. The well-kept secret thought to have been dead and buried, resurrects with the flash of a thread of gold beads. Amelia must fight for her life and what is left of her soul.

Set during the French-Danhomè war of the late 1890s in Benin Republic and early 1900s in Abeokuta and Lagos, South-Western Nigeria, Thread of Gold Beads is a delicate love story, and  coming of age of a young girl.  It clearly depicts the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversities.

Praise for THREAD OF GOLD BEADS:


"A highly competent contribution to the growing genre of popular historical fiction in Africa" - Sefi Atta, author of A Bit of A Difference, Swallow, Everything Good Will Come. Winner of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

"At the heart of Thread of Gold Beads stands Princess Amelia, an intelligent, courageous young woman who loses everything when the 1892 French invasion of Dahomey forces her to seek refuge in South-Western Nigeria. Following a series of unexpected twists, Amelia's journey mirrors that of her Nigerian-born mother as secrets and betrayals threaten her hard-fought peace of mind. Through a cast of distinct characters, Campbell-Fatoki presents an intriguing coming of age story that captures the majesty of a 19th century African kingdom."-Yejide Kilanko, author of Daughters Who Walk This Path 
Book Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yc6V8nM7k2k


Read the Excerpt:


Our compound, surrounded by a tall mud wall, was fairly large. Comprised of ten huts, father’s hut was strategically located in the center, and the others surrounded his in a fetus position. Today, I wished that the huts were organized differently to allow for privacy. I circled the communal kitchen wall to the back, pausing to look around to make sure I was not followed. As I bent to enter Na Zevoton’s hut, I felt eyes on me.
“Amelia, is that you?” Her voice was low.
“Yes, Grandmother. How did you know?”
She cackled loudly. “You are the only one that visits,” she said matter-of- factly, warming her feet by the small fire burning. She always complained of cold and aching bones. She grinned, happy to have some company.
“Come here. What trouble have you gotten yourself into? Are you hiding from your mother?” she asked, her black eyes twinkling in amusement. I could imagine her as a young girl up to some mischief, too.
I sat beside her and patted her hand. “I don’t ever get into trouble, Grandmother! I’m here to see how you are doing,” I said, hugging her.
She chuckled, giving me that knowing look. “Of course you are.” She looked around the room. “Call me the help to get us something to eat.”
I tried to explain that I wasn’t hungry, but it fell on deaf ears. I had more important things to do.
“You’re not? Well, that’s surprising. You always ask for those little meat appetizers, but not today?” she sounded disappointed.
“Well—”
“Come here, Boy!” She called out. A slave boy of about seventeen harvests appeared. He had been selected for her, because of his physique. Grandmother needed to be carried around sometimes because of her failing health.
“Bring that tray of roasted meat for me,” she ordered.
As he moved about to get the food, I watched him. He was expressionless, moving about almost in a mechanical manner. He placed the tray of roasted meat in front of us  and left quickly.  I immediately turned to Grandmother, feeling for the box under my wrapper.
“Eat, my child.” She was already munching on a juicy piece of roast meat. I hurriedly dropped a piece in my mouth and swallowed. “Grandmother…”
“Yes, my child.”
“I was wondering…have you ever come across something like this?” I laid the plain box on the mat between us. There was silence.
Grandmother stared at the object for a long time. “Amelia,” she finally said.
“Yes, Grandmother?” I noticed she hadn’t touched it.
“Where did you get this from?” she asked
“I found it.”
“On whose body?” she asked. Her dark eyes shot up, flashing in anger. I sighed in resignation.
“Kamlin,” I muttered.
Nodding, her eyes flashed as she patted the box. “This is a reading box. Kamlin is a sand reader.”
I gasped. “She can read sand? What exactly does that mean?” I asked, my heart racing faster.
“She can read people’s future using the sand,” Grandmother answered softly.
“Like Father’s? Can she tell he’s going to be the new King?” I asked excitedly.
Grandmother grabbed my lips and held them tight. “Amelia, you talk too much.” The quickness with which she had grabbed my lips gave me the impression her ill health was all pretense. She refused to let go.
I finally pulled free from her, holding my scarred lips. “Sorry, Grandmother.” I grabbed the box, ready to run. She held my wrist.
“No, you cannot take this back with you. If anyone sees it, you will be in a lot of trouble.”
“You will keep it for me?” I asked hopefully, happy to have a confidant.
“No, dear child, I will return it to the owner. I will tell her it was me that found it,” she said curtly.
I thanked her, getting up quickly to escape.
“Amelia?” She called to me.
I turned from the doorway to look at her.
“You’re not like most children your age…”
I nodded, stepping closer to her and knelt down. “You are hungry for knowledge. Just be careful how you go about acquiring it.”
“Thank you, Grandmother. Thank you,” I said, leaving with more questions in my mind than I had come with.

About 
Nike Campbell-Fatoki:

Nike Campbell-Fatoki was born in Lvov, Ukraine to Nigerian parents. She spent her formative years in Lagos, Nigeria, listening to stories and folktales told by her maternal Grandparents. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Howard University and a Master of Arts degree in International Development from American University, Washington, DC. Presently, she is a Budget and Finance Manager in the municipal government in the Washington DC area. She is an avid reader. She loves traveling, watching movies and listening to music. She is also the Founder of Eclectic Goodies, a party favors and gifts packaging company. She lives in the Washington DC area with her husband and three sons. 

For more information please visit Nike’s website and blog. You can also find her on FacebookTwitter and Google+ or follow the Facebook page for the book.

This giveaway is open to Canadian and U.S. residents and ends on October 10, 2013.  The winner will have the choice of print or ebook.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Buy Thread of Gold Beads:

Author Website: www.nikecfatoki.com
 
Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Gold-Beads-Nike-Campbell-Fatoki/dp/0988193205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375617256&sr=8-1&keywords=thread+of+gold+beads
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thread-Gold-Beads-Nike-Campbell-Fatoki/dp/0988193205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353952597&sr=8-1
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3958444




Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Review and Giveaway: The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden

Book Description:


When prestigious plantation owner Cornelius Allen gives his daughter Clarissa’s hand in marriage, she takes with her a gift: Sarah—her slave and her half-sister.  Raised by an educated mother, Clarissa is not a proper southern belle she appears to be with ambitions of loving who she chooses and Sarah equally hides behind the façade of being a docile house slave as she plots to escape. Both women bring these tumultuous secrets and desires with them to their new home, igniting events that spiral into a tale beyond what you ever imagined possible and it will leave you enraptured until the very end.
Told through alternating viewpoints of Sarah and Theodora Allen, Cornelius’ wife, Marlen Suyapa Bodden's The Wedding Gift is an intimate portrait that will leave readers breathless.

My Thoughts:

The Wedding Gift is historical fiction at it's best.  I love reading just about anything on the human condition, human rights abuse, and slavery, has always been a fascinating topic to me.  I just can't seem to get enough of it.  No matter how much I read about it, I don't get it and never will. How can one human being treat another like that because their skin tone is different?

The story opens with Cornelius Allen takes his new bride, Theodora on a tour of his plantation.  When they are at the slave quarters, he gives the children candy and boosts about how well he treats his slaves.  They get the afternoon Saturday through Sunday off to rest, have their own church, and he encourages them to marry.  

Of course it is illegal for slaves to marry in the legal sense and his motive for encouraging marriage is far from pure.  He want his slaves to produce more slaves. 

Theodora soon has children, one of which is their daughter Clarissa.  Around the same time one of the kitchen slaves, Emmeline gives birth to Sarah, also Cornelious's daughter.  Clarissa and Sarah play together and are like best friends.  Sarah is groomed to become Clarissa's maid and when Clarissa is married, Sarah is her wedding gift.  

Clarissa's marriage is not a happy one and Sarah gets wrapped up in it in more ways than one can count. Through all of this, Sarah has always dreamed of running away to freedom but the odds of getting away successfully are slim.  She also has a husband to think about as well.  There is so much to tell but I don't want to risk spoilers. Just know that there are lots of surprises.

It is hard to believe that this is Marlen Suyapa Bodden's first book.  She writes with great comand and poetic pose.  Her characters are fresh and well drawn out and she captures both the time and place beautifully.  I did not want this book to end! Highly recommended!

5/5

I received a ebook copy of this book for my honest review.

About Marlen Suyapa Bodden: 

Dr. Marlen Suyapa Bodden is a lawyer at The Legal Aid Society in New York City, the nation's oldest and largest legal services organization. She has more than two decades' experience representing poor people and low-wage and immigrant workers, many of whom are severely underpaid, if paid at all.  

She drew on her knowledge of modern and historical slavery, human trafficking, and human rights abuses to write The Wedding Gift, her first novel. 

On May 20, 2012, the University of Rhode Island conferred on Marlen an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Marlen is a graduate of New York University School of Law and Tufts University.

Thanks to Staci Burt of Wunderkind PR, I am giving one print copy of this book away.  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends on October 9, 2013
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Giveaway: Love Gone Mad by Mark Rubinstein



Thanks to Veronica Grossman of Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc., I am giving away one copy of Love Gone Mad.

Book Description:

When attractive and successful heart surgeon Adrian Douglas meets Megan Haggarty, a beautiful neonatal ICU nurse, at the hospital where they work—it’s as if the stars aligned to bring them together. Neither is aware of the dark shadow that is following close behind them. Strange and frightening events begin happening to each of them: burglarized houses, flowers sent anonymously with ominous messages, and the eerie feeling that someone is watching and following them at all times. They have a stalker—who is not only brilliant and crafty, but is seeking revenge for a crime that lives only in his own mind.  After nearly being run off the road, Adrian and Megan realize their lives are threatened. Danger escalates as the stalker breaks into their homes then pursues them with deadly intent.

After Adrian fights for his life, the perpetrator is arrested. The gripping trial seems to return a semblance of normalcy—but not for long.  More chilling surprises await the couple as Love Gone Mad concludes with an ending that will leave the readers questioning the country’s legal system and the competence of some members of the psychiatric community.

Praise for Mark Rubinstein

Mark Rubinstein has done it again with another psychological thriller guaranteed to raise goosebumps. This time, the cauldron of suspense is filled with large doses of danger, intrigue, and lust. …Love Gone Mad will keep you on the edge of your seat…Be prepared for unexpected twists and turns that leave you exhilarated and begging for more.”-- Judith Marks-White, author of  Seducing Harry and Bachelor Degree

"Mark Rubinstein's Love Gone Mad is a beautifully crafted suspense novel. The characters are people you care about, the story is fast-paced and cleverly plotted, and the dialogue is on-point. Let me warn you, though. This book is Stephen King scary. Some of the scenes were so intense I found myself wanting to get up and go check the locks on my doors andwindows."-- Scott Pratt, bestselling author of the Joe Dillard series

About Mark Rubinstein:


MARK RUBINSTEIN grew up in Brooklyn, NY, near Sheepshead Bay. After earning a degree in Business Administration at NYU, he served in the U.S. Army as a field medic tending to paratroopers of the Eighty-Second Airborne Division. After his discharge, he went to medical school, became a physician, and then a psychiatrist. As a forensic psychiatrist, he was an expert witness in many trials. As an attending psychiatrist at New ork Presbyterian Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell, he taught psychiatric residents, psychologists, and social workers while practicing psychiatry. His first thriller, MAD DOG HOUSE was released in the fall of 2012. Before turning to fiction, he coauthored five books on psychological and medical topics.  He also is a contributing blogger to Huffington Post and Psychology Today. He lives in Connecticut with as many dogs as his wife will allow in the house. He is currently working on his next novel. To learn more, please visit www.markrubinstein-author.com.

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends on October 8, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.



Friday, September 20, 2013

Giveaway: THE RUSSIAN ENDGAME by Allan Topol

Thanks to racy G. Minsky of Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc., I am giving away one copy of The Russian Endgame.


Book Description:

When former KGB agent Dimitri Orlov orchestrates an alliance between two world powers bent on domination, he unleashes a powerful chain of events that will rock the Western World. The agenda? Eliminate the President of the United States and seize classified military weaponry capable of shifting the balance of world power. But before this nefarious scheme can reach fruition, Craig Page is on the scene, joined by companion Elizabeth Crowder, ready to confront a painful past and the enemies that helped create it. But can the indomitable Director of Counterterrorism emerge victorious? Finding himself facing an old enemy unexpectedly catapulted into a lethal position of power, Craig is pushed to the limit in an effort to foil his enemy's deadly plans and keep potentially devastating military technology out of the hands of those prepared to destroy the world as he knows it. 

Filled with thrills, twists, and danger, The Russian Endgame showcases best-selling author Allan Topol's talent for delivering electrifying, gripping expeditions into the world of international intrigue.


About Allan Topol:



Allan Topol is the author of eight novels of international intrigue. Two of them, SPY DANCE and ENEMY MY ENEMY, were national best sellers. His novels have been translated into Japanese, Portuguese and Hebrew. One was optioned and three are in development for movies. His new novel, THE RUSSIAN ENDGAME, is the third in a trilogy of Craig Page novels, following the successful CHINA GAMBIT and SPANISH REVENGE.

In addition to his fiction writing, Allan Topol co-authored a two-volume legal treatise entitled SUPERFUND LAW AND PROCEDURE. He wrote a weekly column for Military.com and has published articles in numerous periodicals including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Yale Law Journal. http://www.allantopol.com/

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends on October 4, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Giveaway: The Partner Track by Helen Wan


Thanks to Staci Burt of Wunderkind PR, I am giving away one copy of The Partner.


Book Description:

A young attorney must choose between the prestige of partnership and  the American Dream that she—and her immigrant parents—have come so close to achieving in The Partner Track, a riveting debut from Helen Wan

In the eyes of her corporate law firm, Ingrid Yung is a “two-fer.” As a Chinese-American woman about to be ushered into the elite rank of partner, she’s the face of Parsons Valentine & Hunt LLP’s recruiting brochures--their treasured "Golden Girl." But behind the firm’s welcoming façade lies the scotch-sipping, cigar-smoking old-boy network that shuts out lawyers like Ingrid. To compensate, Ingrid gamely plays in the softball league, schmoozes in the corporate cafeteria, and puts in the billable hours—until a horrifically offensive performance at the law firm’s annual summer outing throws the carefully constructed image way out of equilibrium.

Scrambling to do damage control, Parsons Valentine announces a new “Diversity Initiative” and commands a reluctant Ingrid to spearhead the effort, taking her priority away from the enormous deal that was to be the final step in securing partnership. For the first time, Ingrid finds herself at odds with her colleagues—including her handsome, golden-boy boyfriend—in a clash of class, race, and sexual politics.

About Helen Wan:

HELEN WAN is Associate General Counsel at the Time Inc. division of Time Warner Inc. Before that, she practiced corporate and media law at law firms in New York. Born in California and raised near Washington, D.C., Wan is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Virginia School of Law. Her essays and reviews of fiction have been published in The Washington Post and elsewhere. She lives in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with her husband and son.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends on October 3, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter the enter.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Book Tour & Giveaway: Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson


Thanks to Cheryl Christensen of A Proper Romance, I am giving away one copy of Blackmore.


Book Description:


Title: Blackmoore
Author: Julianne Donaldson
Page Count: 276
Genre: Regency Romance
Book Brand: A Proper Romance 

Kate Worthington knows she can never have her heart’s desire and so believes she will never marry. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore on the cliffs above the seashore, where she must face the truth and the man that has kept her heart captive.

Set in northern England, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn to follow her heart. With hints of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, Blackmoore is a page-turning tale of romance, intrigue and devotion.

About Julianne Donaldson:


Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.


This giveaway is open to Canadian and U.S. Residents only and ends on October 2, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.



Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Book Tour/Excerpt: Wolf Sirens #2: Fever by Tina Smith

If you are a fan of paranormal fiction with some romance and suspense, give the Wolf Sirens series a try.


Book Description:

Publisher:Indie
Publication Date: January 2013
Genre:Paranormal/fantasy/romance/suspense

Eternally Cursed to Love & Not Purely Desire…

Temperatures rise as the flames of longing still burn in the thrilling sequel to Wolf Sirens Forbidden. The legend continues. Apollo, god of deadly plague, conspires to undo his sister’s legacy. The wolves exist between two worlds, one in the town another in the forest.

Prophecy says hunters and wolves are cursed to a mutual attraction. Increasingly, each successive slayer becomes more alluring to the wolf. The predestined enemies struggle, to both resist and contain their fierce rivalry in a conflict powerful enough to tear two worlds apart.

A shadow has fallen over the heartlands of myth and reality. The chosen is reborn broken-hearted, in the scorching embers of grief. Devastated, Lila trains tirelessly as the assassin. She must submit to deliver justice and protect the innocent of Shade.

But is it love or revenge which motivates her?

Will the huntress or her heart prevail? Breaking away from the call of destiny and fearing betrayal, Lila makes a desperate escape in search of her lost beloved. The intensity between two ancient enemies ignites. The history of the wolf pack is revealed as devotion and desire in the underworld reaches fever pitch.

  If The Bite Doesn't Get You, Then the Fever Will


Praise for Fever:

“Rich, complex, and deeply fascinating. Smith’s creation stands apart from other books in the genre. Wolf Sirens has raised the bar for paranormal romance.”- Kevis Hendrickson, author of Rogue Hunter

"Smith weaves a thrilling and beautifully crafted tale that sinks its fangs in and refuses to let go."- Michael Alexander, author of The Vessel

“Fever does not disappoint! Tina Smith captures her readers on the first page and leads them on a fast-paced journey full of suspense and adventure as heroine, Lila, struggles towards the truth.” - Beverley Eikli, author of A Little Deception


Excerpt:


Phase one was complete. Reid pulled himself into my window in an open hoodie, shirtless and
barefoot. I looked at him as I hadn’t in months. He looked more rugged than I had remembered. All appearances had slipped since Sam had gone. We were all more jagged now Cresida was queen. He had let his hair grow out more and it hung about his neck, damp. Judging by his dress I would have bet he had rummaged in the hidden stash nearest my house. I noticed the unzipped hoodie was at least two sizes too small, he didn’t seem to wear a shirt under it and the shorts were way too short; perhaps they were women’s clothes. His feet were bare. He was scowling, with his now mud green eyes.
“What are you playing at?”
I eyed the black earth on his feet that would now be spread on my carpet; I would have to get it before Sophie saw it. I wasn’t sure how I should react. I let him think he could handle me. “I thought it would be nice to get out.”
“Sure you did.” His expression remained unchanged.
“Who let it slip?”
“Ha, wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Does Cres know?” I tried to sound innocent. Then maybe he would buy it.
“We all do. Everyone from here to Tarah knows!” he bellowed, and then he waited for an answer.
I readied myself for him to phase. His stance was stable, wide and ready to shift. I looked at his arms; they trembled, and I thought of my stash but didn’t look in its direction. If he went for me it was no holds barred.
“What are you playing at, L?” He scowled.
“Nothing, I’m bored … I can’t hunt, I can’t leave, and I just wanted something to do! For Cres! And you’ve ruined it.” I decided to turn the accusation around to make him feel bad. He shifted uncomfortably so I continued; tears welled in my eyes. “For God’s sake, can’t I do something as normal as arrange a party for my best friend, I’m sick of living in this world. I’m a victim, I didn’t choose it! What harm could it do?” I begged wide-eyed and teary. I had a latent talent. Cres was wrong, hunters did cry when it served their purpose.
“You should have pulled the trigger sooner, little girl, I’m watching you. You so much as put a foot out of order and I’ll be all over you like a bad rash,” he threatened. He seemed sceptical of my case, so I broke out the big guns so to speak.
“He left me here! Every night I want to die to be with him…”
He looked sad then, guilty, he glanced down. I watched his expression closely, his jaw clenched.
“I’m sorry.” I thought I heard his voice break.
“But we are right to be suspicious of you being who you are now.” His eyes narrowed and then relaxed.
“I don’t get what you’re all so worried about, it makes me feel wired - I know you’re all watching -all the time. Where would I go, Reid? What have I got?” I sniffed, challenging him. I felt him take a deep breath then. He came toward me; I filled the rest of the space and let him take me in his arms, as I rested my nose on his collarbone. His skin goose bumped under the tip of my nose and my cold breath. He was cautious but he had still let enough of his guard down for me to now hurt him if I wanted. It occurred to me that I could hurt him worse by toying with him
again. If I could distract him with my body and his desire for me, I might be able to pull the entire thing off. I used everything at my disposal, that’s what I was taught.
Subtly I turned my nose ridge, to roll my face along the concave part of his chest under his shoulder touching the soft curve of my cheek to his warm flesh. We hadn’t touched in so long. I let the tears for Sky flow, as they had done many a night before they dried up completely. They dripped now onto his burning red brown skin; I gently touched my lips to his chest. I thought I could almost hear his heart respond. For a moment I imagined pulling my gun from my hip and loading it with lead, stopping it mid thud. I was strong enough. His right arm gently stroked my back. I knew I was something frosty to him.
“Come away with me, Reid,” I uttered.
“Where?” he mumbled rocking me softly.
“Away from all this.”
He swallowed but didn’t speak, it was a hopeless request. This wasn’t escapable, and the things that possessed us came from within. These feelings that glued him to me now in the quiet, I was creating from desperation. Could I rekindle his feelings for me? For a moment it felt as though we were still together. I had the blood and heart of a woman, he felt it beat, warm pooling in my veins, but I felt it run cold. I inhaled his scent across his skin. Abruptly he let go.
“It’s not the same.” He shook his head. “I’m not him, Lila, he’s not here, and this is a mistake.”
“I know, but I thought -”
He cut me off. “Cres’s shift.” He gestured with his chin. “You’re not the same girl, Lila.” He shook his head, shifting toward the window.
“You’re wrong.”
He turned and looked at me, waiting for what I would say next.
“You just never knew me,” I whispered.
“You’re right; I didn’t care enough to want to know you.” He was aiming for a nerve, rejection in all its forms stings. “We can all see it in your eyes.”
“And what? You’re not attracted to me anymore?”
I made my voice sound disgusted, hurt and angry –but those were feelings that I might have directed towards myself. “You are different Reid, your eyes, they aren’t the same.” I insulted him in kind. He turned to walk away. “Reid I’m sorry it was stupid, forgive me, I’m just going stir crazy here. I thought maybe if you and I…but it’s stupid. I’m embarrassed.”
I wiped a crocodile tear from under my eye. A pang of guilt hit me inside, it was all lies, and I’d sooner spit on him than kiss him. I would never love him the way I loved Sky. I felt disloyal but I was desperate – it was all for Sky, just like it always had been.
He smiled with his thin dark lips. “I’m a full blooded werewolf - more than a year and a half old.” He turned to walk towards the window, with his back to me he continued. “I’ve accepted what I am. I eat and hunt as one being, my system is pure, my body is clean, and it shows in the iris. The way yours tell us what you are.” He was quiet. “I’m not under any spell of Sam’s anymore.” He wasn’t frightened, I could feel it. The shy smile from the river was gone. He was proud of what he was, an amber-green eyed werewolf. Then just like that, he disappeared
through the open window.
I heard the thud of his landing. He must have been a bit off his game, wolves could be stealthy, and I hoped it was the effect of me, unsteadying him. Besides, Cres wasn’t due for at least another half hour. I had noticed a rotation of late. I had at least affected him, planted a seed, perhaps softened him, I hoped, but I knew that ship had sailed long ago. I could have been wrong but I thought he was telling me he’d only felt something for me because Sam wanted him to. I shouldn’t have felt any hurt over that, but I did a little. Was I so undesirable? I tried to not let it bother me. I felt my pocket, and realized it was empty – my hunting knife was gone. Reid had removed it, whilst I kissed his bare chest.

About Tina Smith:

Tina Smith is an herbalist, dog lover, Piscean and mother with a fondness for strong female protagonist's. A love of the fantasy genre and the deep exploration of dark and evocative subjects inspired Wolf Sirens Forbidden. The sequel Fever further unfolds the tale of the heroine femme fatale, on her journey in the underworld between the lands of myth and reality.

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