To participate in the Once Upon a Readathon enter your name into the linky. Then, from 12:01 am on July 9th to 11:59 pm on July 11th you read, read, and read some more! Make sure you do at least one update post (if you don’t have a blog you may do this on facebook and/or twitter) and participate in at least one challenge. Be sure to grab the button for your sidebar too! (Grab it on the sidebar!)
Angela, Candace, and Lori will be giving away a $60 Amazon giftcard (or TBD if you’re international). The winner will be picked at random from the participants list. They will also be having a couple of mini challenges each day and there will be some sort of giveaway with those. To win anything you must participate in the read-a-thon. You must post at least one update on your blog (or Facebook or Goodreads if you don’t have a blog) and you must complete at least one mini challenge.
From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! We want to know :-)
Here's mine:
She squeezed his neck lightly, loving the feel of his soft hair against her fingers.
He pulled her tight against his hips, trapping her arms against his lean chest. His eyes grew wide, but he didn’t release her. Neither said another word and too soon, the song finished.
Devon’s hands slid across her back as the last chord rang out. She took a small step back, only to bump into someone very warm and tall.
- Rae of Hope SWOON #YABound
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's eagerly anticipated release is:
Visions of Chains (The Awakening #3)
by Regan Hastings Expected publication: June 5th 2012
Every witch has a destined mate, an Eternal who will serve as her guardian and complete her powers. Once the first of the coven has awakened, the witches must race against time to join with their Eternals and protect the relics that will prevent the destruction of the world.... Deidre Sterling is tired of being used. Her mother, the President of the United States, uses her as a prop for the television cameras. And men only pursue her for political connections. Determined to stand for something, Deidre throws herself into causes like the fight for witches’ rights, but ends up stepping into the line of fire. Finn has waited eight centuries for his mate—united they will be a powerful weapon. Unfortunately, she wants nothing to do with him. Even after gunfire awakens her powers and a kiss from him engulfs them in flames, she refuses to take the final step. But as the world burns and her duty becomes clear, she realizes that some passions are worth paying the ultimate price….
I don't usually post things about my life on the blog, but I'm just really happy and excited today because it's my birthday! I turn 24-years-old today, and it just doesn't feel like I'm that old. Time just flies by and sometimes passes you by without you ever noticing.
With regards to ABTB, I'm really happy with how it's been going and the increase in followers and comments. I must be doing something right it that's happening. That's the best birthday present!
I'm glad I get to share the world of books with all of you! I look forward to more great times! :)
Summary: My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.
All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost--and the ghost saw me.
Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me.
Review:
Chloe Saunders just wanted to be normal. But when she sees her first ghost, she knows nothing will be normal again--least of all herself. Now she's been sent to Lyle House, a home for troubled teens. There, the doctors tell her she's schizophrenic, while the other residents tell her she's a necromancer with the power to communicate with and raise the dead. Which is true, she doesn't know, but she does know that there is something not right about Lyle House and its residents are more than they seem...
Meet the younger generation of supernaturals residing in the world of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld in her Young Adult trilogy, The Darkest Powers.
In The Summoning, Chloe is a 15-year-old high school sophomore with great ambitions of being a movie screenwriter and director. But that dream comes to a screeching halt when she starts see ghosts and has a total freakout in the hallway of her school. Now she's being sent to a home for troubled teens! Lyle House seems on the up-and-up, but Chloe has been hearing whispers that suggest otherwise.
With the help of housemates Simon and Derek, Chloe uses her abilities as a necromancer to learn from those who lived in Lyle House before them--and died, of course--that Lyle House was owned by Samuel Lyle. He did unspeakably evil and horrible experiments on other supernaturals. Samuel Lyle was a sorcerer using dark magic on those supernaturals he lured to him, offering them a better life. Most stayed far away from the sorcerer and his house, but there were those who were beguiled by his words of hope.
Once they realize that it's not a coincidence that Lyle House is full of supernatural teens, Derek, Simon, and Chloe plan to escape and search for Simon's father. But housemates Rae and Tori learn of the escape plan too. One wants to tag along and the other betrays them into the hands of those running Lyle House. Now the race to escape is on. Who can be trusted when your own family betrays you?
I loved Chloe as the heroine of this series. She starts off like a scared little girl, but quickly becomes a young woman who takes crap from no one. We get a glimpse of the kind of woman she'll become. I liked that she has dreams and ambitions--she's not a heroine who is just drifting along not knowing what she wants in life. Chloe is a smart girl and she shows it. I was most surprised by her great sense of humor and sarcastic wit. And finally, liked that though she was scared of Derek when she first met him, she quickly grows a backbone when it comes to him and doesn't back down when he gets in her face.
Chloe's power as a necromancer is more advanced than is normal for someone her age. When she communicated with one of the ghosts in Lyle House, he said that her power is too strong, too much, too soon, and unnatural. And when Chloe asked another of the Lyle House ghosts if she was in danger, she said, "You're a supernatural. You're always in danger." I'd say that Chloe has a lot to worry about, but at least she's not alone.
Simon and Derek are two of my other favorite characters besides Chloe. Simon is a sorcerer and Derek is a werewolf. Being foster brothers, and knowing the danger they are in, they are pretty tight and don't really trust anyone else. But for some reason Chloe is different--I would love to read their first meeting for the guys POV to see what they thought of her--and when they realize that she's in just as much danger, they let her in and protect her. There are definite signs of a love triangle forming.
The prologue to The Summoning sets the tone for the whole book. We have a young Chloe who is left with a babysitter who doesn't know that she's not allowed in the basement. Chloe knows that she's not to go down into the basement, but the babysitter is asking her to come down and help her look for the Coke. Chloe hopes that if she can get the Coke and run back upstairs before Mrs. Hobb sees her. No such luck. When Chloe turns around to go back upstairs, Mrs. Hobb is there, her death replaying over and over while she's standing there smiling at Chloe, all the while the babysitter is upstairs screaming Chloe's name, trying to find her. The first thing Mrs. Hobb says to her is, "Welcome back, Chloe."
How creepy is that? This prologue sets a dark undertone to the story. The foreboding just screams something bad is going to happen. The Summoning and the Darkest Powers is definitely one of the darker YA series out there.
Book Trailer:
About this Author:
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
The Summoning was read during the Bout of Books 4.0 Read-A-Thon
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My Teaser (I'll be posting teasers from Mirage by Kristi Cook all month as a member of the Winterhaven Warriors Street Team):
Click on the Cover to Pre-Order!
He leaned toward me, his voice a harsh whisper now. "For Christ's sakes, Violet, he's a vampire. How can you even..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Just...never mind."
What had he meant to say? Trust him? Touch him? Kiss him? (MIRAGE ARC, page 225)
Title: The Darkest Whisper Series: Lords of the Underworld #4 Author: Gena Showalter Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance Elements: Immortals, Sirens, Vampires, Deities, Harpies, Demons Publisher: HQN Books, Harlequin Books Format: Mass Market Paperback, 406 Pages ISBN: 978-0-373-77392-3 Release Date: September 1, 2009 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4/5
Tagline(s): He is the keeper of Doubt and his entire world's about to be rocked.
Summary: Bound by the demon of Doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern...until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.
Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she'd fall for a kind human who wouldn't rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora's box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love....
Review:
The Darkest Whisper shows us that even the strongest and most confident individual has doubts. Sabin, leader of the Greece Lords and Gwen, the timid and youngest daughter of the Skyhawk harpy clan, have to overcome their doubts and insecurities to find the truth.
Sabin's demon is Doubt. His demon targets an enemy's insecurities and makes them doubt themselves. This is a great weapon against the Hunters. Sabin is the most driven Lord in the war with the Hunters, a drive that is fueled by the murder of his best friend, Baden, keeper of Distrust. Though Doubt is beneficial to battle it's not beneficial to an intimate relationship. All the women Sabin has been involved with have doubted themselves so much that they eventually met an unfortunate end. This has lead Sabin to forsake romance and commit himself further to the war with the Hunters. That is until he met Gwen.
Gwen has her own share of doubts--in fact, she steeped in doubts, and was named Gwendolyn the Timid because of them. She doubts her own strength and ability to control her darker side. But Sabin knows her true strength and knows that she would be a lethal addition to his battle with the Hunters, if he can only get her to stop doubting herself (which is a feat in itself for someone possessed by the Doubt himself). What he doesn't expect is for Doubt to fear Gwen's harpy...
The Darkest Whisper is the most action-packed book in the Lords of the Underworld series so far. It starts off right away with the Lords searching the pyramids of Egypt for the Cloak of Invisibility and coming upon a facility breeding immortal Hunter children. The Hunters kidnap immortal women, rape them, and then take the children away from the mothers after they are born to train them as Hunters to fight against the Lords. Sabin and the other Lords take out the Hunters in the facility and free the women--some of whom are already pregnant. Gwen is one of the women the Hunters kidnapped, but she was left physically untouched thanks to the power of her harpy. The Hunters were too terrified of her and kept her locked up, forced to watch the other women being abused and not being able to do anything to help them. The attack on the breeding facility was a huge blow to the Hunters and they keep trying to get Gwen and the other women back by launching attack after attack. The chemistry between Gwen and Sabin at that first meeting was instantaneous, but each has doubts and worries that keep them from moving toward anything romantic.
I thought that the harpy consort concept was interesting. I was wondering about Sabin's ability to calm Gwen when she's going harpy. Consorts are forever, and it's very rare that a harpy finds her consort. A harpy is an independent free spirit, but every so often she will find a male that pleases her. His touch and smell become like a drug to her, and his voice soothes her fury. So it's like no matter how much Gwen and Sabin fight against it, they will keep coming back to each other because they will want no one else.
We get to see more of Paris, Aeron, and Torin's POVs. Paris is still lamenting Sienna's death and is now drowning himself in ambrosia-laced alcohol to relieve the pain. Aeron leans of Paris' sacrifice and tries everything in his power to help Paris, all the while feeling invisible eyes watching his every move. And Torin contemplates his relationship with Cameo while he watches a pointy-eared brunette walk the streets of Buda on his computer screens.
A new POV we get to see is from Gideon. He is the most misunderstood Lord because he can't say what he really means to say, being possessed by Lies. But in his POV we get to see his true thoughts since he "never lies to himself." I thought it was interesting that while Gideon was thinking about the other demons and what they could do compare to him, that he felt a longing when thinking of Nightmares that he couldn't explain. It'll be interesting to see what happens with that.
I enjoyed the guest appearance from Nix of the Immortal After Dark series by Kresley Cole. Her appearance is small and she doesn't say anything, but there are hints that Nix might be Torin's special lady. I don't know how that would work out, but Torin is the next Lord on my "Most Intriguing" list--I mean, he can't touch anyone at all--so I'd love to read his story.
There is a surprise revelation about Galen, keeper of Hope, toward the end that really threw the Lord for a loop. This series just keeps getting better and better with each new installment. I can't wait to read Aeron's story in The Darkest Passion.
About this Author: Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy.
Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.
The Darkest Whisper was read during the Bout of Books 4.0 Read-A-Thon
Coyote's Pup (Coyote's Pack, #1)
by A.M. Burns
Published November 13th 2011 by Mystichawker Press
Chance Latrans was just your average teenager until, on his fifteenth birthday, while camping in the mountains of New Mexico, his family is attacked by a beast under the light of a full moon. Chance finds himself surrounded by strange people only to find out that the beast that killed his family was a werecoyote, and he has been bitten. Embarking on a journey into a nightmare world of magic and wonder, he finds himself changing in ways he could never imagine. Can he find a place for himself in this new world with creatures he’d never imagined really existed, or will it all be torn away from him by the monster that took away his normal life?
3 Signed Copies will be given away on Friday, June 1, 2012!
It's simple. Every Friday, Free Book Friday gives away free books!
That's right. Each week, FBF features a new author with an exclusive author interview podcast or written Q&A and host a drawing to win free signed copies of his/her book.
All you have to do to enter to win each week is sign up using the entry form on the left sidebar. Winners are chosen at random and posted on the site every Friday morning. Hence the name, "Free Book Friday!"
His summer tan had almost entirely faded. He instructed Freya to look at his back, where she now saw a smattering of freckles across the shoulders. It continued across his spine.
At first glance, the freckles appeared haphazard, but on closer inspection, she saw that if she connected the dots, the lines would form the shape of a trident. Now she saw it clearly and remembered what Freddie had told her: Whoever stole it will bear its mark.
Weighted by Ciara Knight Expected publication: August 2012
The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.
I LOVE this cover! There's just a sense of desolation...it gives off a sense of hopelessness. But it's beautiful too (if hopelessness and desolation can be considered beautiful).
Title: Moon Called Series: Mercy Thompson #1 Author: Patricia Briggs Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction Elements: Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Shapeshifters, Witches, Ghosts Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group Format: Mass Market Paperback, 288 Pages ISBN: 978-0-441-01381-4 Release Date: January 31, 2006 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.
Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.
She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.
But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.
Review:
Patricia Briggs brings us a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride of an urban fantasy in the first book in her Mercy Thompson series, Moon Called. Mercy Thompson is a mechanic in the Tri-Cities area, but she's so much more than that. Hidden within the mundane world of humans is a world of werewolves, vampires, witches, and the fae. Then there is Mercy. She's a Walker, a Native American shapeshifter who changes into a coyote.
Mercy is very independent, fiercely loyal, and she knows her strengths and limitations. She was raised by the Marrok, the alpha of the alphas--so she knows her place among the werewolves; she has friends among the fae and vampires, and acquaintances among the witches. With hostility rising after the Gray Lords revealed the existence of the fae to the humans, Mercy needs all the friends and connections she can get.
A young man named Mac, who is running from some pretty bad men, shows up at Mercy's shop looking for a job. She knows right away that Mac is a werewolf, a newly made one at that. When he tells Mercy of a group doing experiments and drug testing on newly created werewolves, Mercy calls in help from the local alpha, Adam Hauptman. But things quickly go wrong when Adam brings Mac into his pack and his house is attacked by the very group Mac was running from--Adam's daughter, Jesse, is kidnapped, and Adam is almost killed. This leads Mercy back to her childhood home for help from the Marrok--and her first love, Samuel.
I've been wanting to read the Mercy Thompson series for a while, but hadn't had the chance until now. But I'm really glad that I finally picked up Moon Called. I'm already addicted to this series, and I've recently gotten Blood Bound and Iron Kissed so I can continue reading right away.
We have a straightforward, sassy, and fearless heroine in Mercy. Two alpha werewolves vying for her attention. And a conspiracy that erupts into and all-out battle for survival. All these create an engaging story I wasn't able to put down. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more romance. I know that urban fantasy doesn't usually have a lot in the romance department, but in Moon Called we only see hints of the love triangle forming.
We know that Mercy cares about Adam--she wouldn't have done so much to save his life otherwise--but we don't really know what she's feeling for him. With Samuel in the picture, Mercy is conflicted by her past feelings for him resurfacing. There's a nice kiss toward the end, but it's more sweet than steamy. There's isn't any depth to the romance, so it's left kind of vague and flat.
But since it is a love triangle, we know that Mercy will eventually have to choose between Adam and Samuel. Other than that I loved Moon Called and I can't wait to continue the series with Blood Bound.
About this Author:
Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.
Moon Called was read during the Bout of Books 4.0 Read-A-Thon
I'd like to thank Roxanne @ Bewitching Book Tours for giving me this opportunity to participate in the NIGHT WALKER Blog Tour and providing me a copy of the book to review, and I'd like to welcome Lisa Kessler to ABTB!
There's also a TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY at the end of the post for a signed paperback of Night Walker, a signed Night Walker poster and a $25 Amazon giftcard! Be sure to thank Lisa!
Title: Night Walker Series: The Night #1
Author: Lisa Kessler Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction Elements: Vampires Publisher: Entangled Publishing Format: PDF, 265 Pages ISBN: 978-1-937044-12-1 Release Date: August 2, 2011 Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours} Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her…
Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.
She’s haunted by dreams of her own death…
After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she’s drawn to him in ways she doesn’t understand.
They’ve waited in the shadows for centuries…
Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he’s ever loved again.
Review:
Night Walker is about loss, sacrifice, life, and eternal love. When Calisto's love Tala was murdered, being unable to endure another sunrise, Calisto gave up his humanity in the hope of one day finding her again in another life. It is now 200 years later and he's found Tala again in the form of Kate Bradley. Kate doesn't remember any of her past life as Tala, but she has nightmares every night about a woman being brutally raped and murdered. When she meets Calisto for the first time she feels an instant, intense connection. But centuries-old enemies are resurfacing and a deranged monk threaten their fragile reunion. The question is: will history repeat itself, or will fate intervene to give them the life together that was taken from them centuries ago?
Calisto is a hero who accepts things as they are. He accepts who and what he is. He's not afraid to use his abilities as a Night Walker to protect those he loves and cares about. He respects life even as he takes it. He's more aware of humanity than anyone else. And he has a selflessness that is rarely ever seen in anyone else. Calisto loves totally and without reservation, and his loyalty and devotion to Kate are unmatched. I just really love reading from the POV of a hero such as Calisto.
Kate has a fragility to herself that makes her seem like a damsel-in-distress, but she has a hidden strength that shows itself when it's needed. Kate has been thrown into this unbelievable and extraordinary situation and she stays pretty level-headed, though there are times when it got to be too much. She has a habit of running from her feelings, but when she met Calisto she decided to take a chance and follow them instead of hide from them. I thought that Kate and Calisto meshed very well as a couple.
Kate and Calisto's relationship focuses more on their spiritual connection than anything physical. There's none of the vulgarity or focus on sex as is common in most paranormal romances. Their connection is so strong and intense, but there's a fragility and sweetness that leaves you feeling like you just witnessed something really special. The Romneya bloom is like a symbol of their love and there's even a Spanish legend connected to the flower. As I was looking up information about the flower, I also came across a story involving a native woman who loved to sing and laugh. I don't know if this is where the inspiration for their relationship cam from, but the legend and stories definitely reminded me of Calisto and Kate.
This whole book has a foundation on spirituality, even when it comes to the Night Walker. It's made clear that Night Walkers are NOT vampires. Vampires are seen as evil creatures ruled by their blood lust. Night Walkers are peaceful healers. Because the Old One who changed Calisto was a leader of the Kumeyaay tribe, there is a Native feeling to the origins of the Night Walker. They even have spirit animals that they can change into. Calisto's is the raven.
The open ending left me really curious about what's really happening. The appearance of the white-headed eagle sent questions spinning through my head. Will this be the happily ever after that Kate and Calisto want and deserve? Or is there more going on than either of them could have ever thought possible? I'm really excited to see if these questions will be answered in future books.
Book Trailer:
About this Author:
Lisa Kessler is an avid reader and writer of dark fiction. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
Lisa recently signed a 4 book deal with Entangled Publishing to release her Night Series. The first book, Night Walker, is scheduled to be released August 5th.
When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com
Lisa lives in southern California with her incredibly fun husband and two amazing kids.
I have a new dark paranormal romance out, Night Walker, and I thought maybe we could chat about "coffee dates".
I didn't discover the "let's meet for coffee" phenomenon until I found myself single again after fifteen years of marriage. I didn't know dates had changed! LOL Eventually I figured out the magic of "meeting for coffee". You could get to know someone new without the commitment of an entire evening and the cost of a meal.
Coffee is warm and non-threatening. You also have the added comfort of a busy public place so you don't have to be alone with this stranger that you just met.
In my novel, Night Walker, Calisto is immortal and has waited over two hundred years for his lost love to be reincarnated. He's also able to shape shift into a Raven, his spirit animal, so he didn't drive when he met Kate downtown. On the walk to the coffee shop, Kate has confided in him that she left San Diego because being near the ocean left her feeling haunted.
She's never admitted that out load to anyone before...
~~~~~
EXCERPT:
"I know it sounds crazy. Sure you still want to have coffee with me?"
Calisto grinned. His hand brushed the small of her back, an encouraging touch. She let him guide her to a corner table, reveling in the feel of his hand against her and the acceptance in his smile.
Every time he touched her, her entire body tingled in response. And even though she shouldn’t, even though she needed time and room to settle into her new approach to life, she wanted more of Calisto. She yearned for it.
He took the seat across from her. Kate dreaded the awkward silence sure to come, but it didn’t.
“You are a musician in Reno?”
She relaxed into her seat, enjoying the way his accent colored the name of her city. “Yes, I direct a couple of middle school choirs. How did you know that?”
“I wish I could say that I knew your mother and she told me this, but I cannot. Sadly, I am not involved with the donors at the foundation as much as I would like.”
“Betty told you, huh?” Kate laughed.
“I wondered why a musician would give up a beautiful instrument like your mother’s piano.”
“My mother didn’t give me a choice in the matter. She wanted you to have it,” Kate said, surprised at how bitter she sounded.
“Do you play?”
She shrugged. “Not very well. But I get by.”
“Get by?” He moved his chair back and crossed an ankle over his leg.
In this new position, Kate could enjoy the cut of his shirt over his chest. She cleared her throat. “I can plunk out melodies just fine, but I’m a little rusty at playing the bass line with my left hand.”
“Sometime, I would love to hear you play.”
God, she couldn’t get enough of his accent. Focus, Kate. “Oh I’d be too embarrassed. Betty told me you’re a concert pianist.”
He cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. “How well I play has nothing to do with it.”
Kate laughed, leaning back slightly as the waitress placed their drinks in front of them. “What will happen to my Mom’s piano, anyway?”
Kate blinked and shook her head slowly, breaking the trance she felt when she noticed the ring. “I’m sorry. I saw your ring and I can’t help thinking I’ve seen it before.” She searched his face for something that might tell her why the ring seemed so familiar. “I swear I’m not usually this crazy, but it looks familiar to me.”
His gaze held hers, his voice soft but commanding. “You are many things, but crazy is not one of them. Perhaps intuition told you of our meeting in a dream. Stranger things have happened in this world, no?”
“I asked you first.” She sipped her coffee, desperate to shake off the nagging anxiety that haunted her since she saw his ring. Something inside of her kept grasping for a memory that she knew didn’t exist.
“Yes, you did.”
His voice guided her back to the present. “Do you always answer a question with another question?”
“You are not the first to accuse me of such a thing.” Calisto smiled, lifting his coffee to his full lips.
“Now that I can believe. So maybe I’ve seen your ring before, huh?” She glanced at his hand but, concerned the design would entrance her again, she returned her attention to his face.
“Maybe so.” He placed his mug on the table. “As I said, stranger things have happened.”
Kate nodded. Strange things were happening all right. She sipped her coffee, unable to take her eyes off of his. Did he feel the same attraction?
She was a choir teacher who lived out of state in a two-bedroom apartment, and he was a reclusive philanthropist. This was real life, not a fairy tale. She had to wake up. She was on the rebound here.
“We should probably get going.” She set her mug down. “It’s getting late.”
“I suppose it is.” He looked almost disappointed, but he rose from the booth and moved around to help her to her feet.
“Thank you.” The second her fingers touched his, a shock of desire zipped through her. She had to force herself to let go of his hand. Keeping a clear head was difficult when her body reacted to him this way. He made her feel more alive, her senses heightened. Her heart raced just holding his hand.
Imagine if we kissed. Her skin flushed with heat and she rolled her eyes at herself.
“Where are you parked?” Kate asked.
“I am not.”
“You’re not? Did you take a cab or something?”
“Something… ”
Kate grinned, shaking her head. “You play the man of mystery well, don’t you? I’d be happy to give you a ride. It’s the least I can do since you saved me from a night all alone.”
“You should never be alone.” Calisto offered his arm, tipping his head slightly toward her.
She placed her hand into the crook of his arm, barely resisting the urge to run her fingers along his bicep. “Are you always so charming?”
His eyes lost focus, and something shifted in his expression. For a moment, he looked as haunted as Kate felt. “Not always.”
She glanced at his ring again and wondered whether she had as much control over her life as she believed.
~~~~~
Hope you enjoyed Calisto and Kate's coffee date! So have you ever "met for coffee"? I'd love to hear your coffee time stories!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Lisa
I enjoy meeting up online too, so feel free to connect with me...
"Hot romance and cool characters make Night Walker an all-night read." - Kelley Armstrong, #1 NYT Best-Selling Author
A stellar first novel with heart-stopping suspense and a hero to die for. -- Angie Fox, New York Times bestselling author THE LAST OF THE DEMON SLAYERS
“Lisa Kessler pens the kind of lyrical romance we all want to experience!” ~ Linda Wisdom, national bestselling author of A DEMON DOES IT BETTER
“Night Walker is a wonderful tale about the power and magic of a love that transcends time.”~ Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, author of the Vampire Moons series
“A soulful, timeless love story and an engrossing new take on immortal
mythology—if you’re looking for a touching paranormal romance, Kessler’s got
one for you!”~ Christine Cody, author of the Bloodlands series
The characters were very relateable and I found myself investing in them as the story went. The plot and pace kept me glued to the book. With twist and turns, Ups and downs, I couldn't stop. My Rating 5 stars!! - - Were Vamp Romance Reviews
"Haunting and beautiful." - Fresh Fiction Reviews
Top Pick - Lisa Kessler has now officially been added to my authors-to-watch list. After reading this captivating tale of love, lies, betrayal, and redemption, I am hard pressed to find things I didn't like. - Night Owl Book Reviews
Night Walkers, rogue monks in a secret Brotherhood, a megalomaniac monk and a love that spans centuries make for a great sensual paranormal romance in this first of Kessler's new The Night series. - Bitten By Paranormal Romance
3 star RT Rating
In the first of her Night series, Kessler tackles a love that has waited 200 years. While the tale is tender and poignant, readers will sigh both in dreamy acceptance of a love that never dies as well as exasperation for the secrets the characters keep from each other. ~ Reviewed By: Sabrina Cooper http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/night-walker-0
SEQUEL TO NIGHT WALKER
Deep within the Yucatan jungle a demon has awakened...
Night Walker was read during the Bout of Books 4.0 Read-A-Thon
From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! We want to know :-)
Here's mine:
“You can answer me with kisses anytime,” she whispered with a smile.
“Good.” He took her hand, walking out into the waves. He hadn’t waltzed in centuries, but with Kate in his arms, it was easy. Her laughter, her smile, just hearing her say his name made his heart soar.
Eternity was theirs to share.
The marine layer floated in from the ocean tide, surrounding them until the moonlight became an iridescent glow. The waves lapped at their ankles while they turned in each other’s arms, laughing together. Calisto smiled down at her, stealing a kiss.
The lifetimes he spent waiting for her spirit to enter this world were worth every second.
-Night Walker SWOON #YABound
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's eagerly anticipated release is:
Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1)
by Gena Showalter Expected publication: June 26th 2012 by HQN Books
From the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld comes a dark, seductive new series featuring angels poised on the brink of destruction.... Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless-and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions, at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before. Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation-or her ultimate damnation?
I'm currently obsessed with the Lords of the Underworld series, and with Wicked Nights being the first book in the spin-off series, Angels of the Dark, I'm really looking forward to seeing what this new series brings us.
Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.
There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.
Title: Dime Store Magic Series: Women of the Otherworld #3 Author: Kelley Armstrong Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction Elements: Werewolves, Witches, Demons, Sorcerers, Necromancers, Ghosts Publisher: Bantam Books, Random House Inc. Format: Mass Market Paperback, 414 Pages ISBN: 978-0-553-58706-7 Release Date: April 27, 2004 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Paige Winterbourne was always either too young or too rebellious to succeed her mother as leader of one of the world's most powerful elite organizations--the American Coven of Witches. Now that she is twenty-three and her mother is dead, the Elders can no longer deny her. But even Paige's wildest antics can't hold a candle to those of her new charge--an orphan who is all too willing to use her budding powers for evil...and evil is all too willing to claim her. For this girl is being pursued by a dark faction of the supernatural underground. They are a vicious group who will do anything to woo the young, malleable, and extremely powerful neophyte, including commit murder--and frame Paige for the crime. It's an initiation into adulthood, womanhood, and the brutal side of magic that Paige will have to do everything within her power to make sure they both survive.
Review:
Kelley Armstrong introduces a new heroine in Dime Store Magic. Paige Winterbourne is the 23-year-old leader of the American Coven of Witches. We first met her in the second book in the Women of the Otherworld series, Stolen. Due to events in Stolen, Paige also gained custody of 13-year-old neophyte witch, Savannah Levine. Paige has a lot on her plate with an extremely talented ward, an unsupportive coven, old and new enemies surfacing, protestors in her front yard (and naked Wiccans in her back yard), and a sorcerer with good intentions; how can such a young leader come out on top?
Leah is back--and she's brought the Nast Cabal with her. Determined to gain custody of Savannah, Leah has gone to Savannah's biological father, Kristof Nast. What the cabals value most is money and power, and with Savannah's raw talent they can gain A LOT of power over the other cabals. And they will do anything to get what they want--ANYTHING.
But Paige and Savannah don't have to combat these forces alone. Help has shown up in the form of 25-year-old Lucas Cortez. He's young for a lawyer, just out of school, and he just happens to be a sorcerer. But not just any sorcerer--the illegitimate son and heir of the Cortez Cabal. The cabal world sees Lucas's idealism as rebellion--a rebellion that he'll eventually grow out of and take his place as heir. But no one, no matter what they say, can deny his noble intentions. The fact that Lucas wants to fight the evils of the cabal world and his inside knowledge on how they operate makes him a valuable ally.
I wasn't sure how I would like Dime Store Magic because I really liked Elena as the heroine of the first two books, Bitten and Stolen. I'm always wary when the main character changes, and to be honest, I didn't like Paige in the beginning of Dime Store Magic. But as the story went along Paige really grew on me and I came to like her in the end. Savannah is just really fun. She's spunky and confident. I liked her moments of maturity. Her level of maturity is certain situations is uncommon in someone her age. I think it would be really interesting to read from her POV. I absolutely loved Lucas. He's kind of nerdy and speaks way too formally, but I liked how genuine he was--in both his intentions and his sorcery. I also liked that he's trying to improve the world he was born into.
In Dime Store Magic we are introduced to the cabal world and it's operation. The cabals are like the mob or yakuza of the supernatural world, but more like a corporation with the main family of sorcerers leading the cabal. And below the sorcerer family are half-demons, necromancers, shamans, and any other paranormal; except werewolves and vampire--they won't hire anyone who could possibly eat them. There is a lot more to the cabals and how they work, but it gets kind of complicated, so it would be better for you to read the book for yourself to get the gist.
Not only do we learn about the intricacies of the cabals, but we also learn more about half-demons and a little of the history of the Salem Witch Trials.
One of my favorite moments was when Lucas came to tell Paige of the Wiccans in her back yard--the naked ("skyclad") Wiccans. Just Lucas and Paige's reactions to the situation were hilarious. It was a great tension-breaker that was really needed, and really entertaining to boot.
I also liked that Paige and Lucas's relationship happened in a natural way (as natural as you can get with a witch and sorcerer who are supposed to be mortal enemies, anyway). It wasn't rushed and at times it seemed like nothing was ever going to happen. The fact the Paige is a witch and Lucas is a sorcerer put a wedge between them in the beginning. But once Paige decided to trust Lucas, him being a sorcerer ceased to matter. It was fragile and genuine, and that made it beautiful.
I can't wait to read more of the Women of the Otherworld series. Industrial Magic brings us Paige and Lucas trying to stop a serial killer from killing cabal teenagers.
About this Author:
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
It will take place August 4th-August 12th. It will provide some motivation to finish up all the reading you were hoping to get done over the summer. You can read whatever you want and as much or little as you want. If you can only participate during a few days of the read-a-thon that is okay too. There is no requirement to follow but it's always appreciated. You don't have to have a blog, feel free to follow along on twitter, goodreads, or facebook. We will be tweeting with hashtag #SWUR. You can follow us on twitter for challenge updates but it's not required.
We have a ton of fabulous challenges and giveaways planned. The full schedule will be released closer to the read-a-thon start date. Also at the end we look forward to seeing what you accomplished so we will have a review linky set up after the read-a-thon. You can link up your goodreads reviews if you don't have a blog. It will give us a chance to check out the reviews of what everyone else was reading.
If you would like to sign up to participate in the Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon, CLICK HERE!
