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Showing posts with label Celtic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celtic. Show all posts

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Fantasy Author C.D. Britt: Pros and cons of owning Cerberus + giveaway

Pros and cons of owning Cerberus

One does not truly own Cerberus unless Cerberus deems one worthy, but if you're committed to nurturing a relationship with your own three-headed hell hound, here are the Pros and Cons. (The care and nurturing of said Hellhound will be in next week’s issue).

Pros:

1. Almost human in their level of intelligence, they are empathic to your emotions in a way a mortal canine is not. You can cry over your cheating ex, and instead of just slobbery kisses and furry cuddles, Cerberus is able to help you plot said ex’s bloody demise.

2. Cleans up their own poop which leaves time for other fun activities.

3. The best guard dog since he eats unwanted solicitors. (see #2 in cons)

4. Clears crowds when out for a walk. (see #4 in cons)

5. Great at burying things, like said ex.

Cons:

1. Acid slobber makes playing fetch a lot less fun

2. Will also eat your friends if not careful

3. When in beast mode, will light things on fire with his tail.

4. The screaming and running of humans in a panic can trigger his need to chase. This is when you will need to have an in with the local law enforcement.

5. Great at digging things up... just hopefully not the ex. (Again, a good relationship with local law enforcement would be beneficial here).


Prophecy of Gods and Crows (Clan of Shadows, #1)
by C.D. Britt
June 6th 2023
Genre: Fantasy/ Dystopian/ Celtic Mythology 
Publisher: C.D. Britt
ISBN: 978-1-7372652-8-3
ASIN: B0BRDHTFZX
Number of pages: 362
Word Count: 98,220
Cover Artist: GermanCreative
Welcome to Hell’s Half Acre.

Bryndis Kenneally is an anomaly, which is saying something when you live in a place called Hell.

Despite being born into a family of healers, she is unable to follow in their footsteps since disturbing visions overwhelm her with almost every human touch.

With few allies at her back, she keeps her head down… until she starts to see a man made of shadows, and a crow begins to track her every move.

Now, she can no longer pretend to be a normal woman among a town looking for witches to burn.

That is until a freak sandstorm brings more than she bargained for… and quite possibly her salvation.

Book one in the Clan of Shadows series, a dystopian paranormal romance series.
Book Trailer: 


Excerpt
Bryn swayed her body to the last of the music, the night ending slowly as people stumbled and laughed after having allowed themselves the pleasure of being human one night of the year.

Soon enough, only the light of the torches were left aside from the fires that burned only once a year along the street. The shadows took over the celebration as they danced along the buildings.

The feeling in her gut, the warning, grew at a rapid rate and she found herself standing and looking around.

“What’s wrong?” Niamh asked, standing as well, looking for a threat.

“I’m not sure. I’ve had this bad feeling…” Bryn whispered as her system flooded with adrenaline.

The warning horns split open the joyous atmosphere of the night like a knife. The screams of the people matching the horns as they ran from the streets to take cover from the unknown danger.

Bryn and Niamh both turned as one toward the gate as small dust devils made their way along the street, trailing the panicked townspeople as they ran, shoving at each other like wild, mindless animals.

“Sandstorm,” Niamh whispered, her eyes focused on something past the gates. Words in another language Bryn had never heard soon left Niamh’s lips.

In her own panicked state, Bryn tried to calm her nerves, debating on if she could make it back to her apartment or if she needed to take cover with Niamh. The fact that Niamh was in a trance, staring intensely at the gate, made her hand twitch with the urge to slap Niamh out of it.
“Sandstorm!” Justin yelled as he ran down the road toward them. “Get inside and take cover!”

They’d never had a sandstorm bad enough to cause such panic before. The walls usually took the brunt of the weather for them.

“Now!” Justin was suddenly in her face, shoving at her shoulder and pushing her and Niamh into The Sanctuary. A horrifying cloud of red dust enveloped the town right as Justin slammed the door shut behind them. The entire road engulfed in tornadic sand was the last visual she had of Saint’s road.

“Away from the windows!” He herded them to an inner room in The Sanctuary, yelling for the others in brothel to do the same. Bryn didn’t look to see what men from town were here.

She didn’t want that on her conscience and since she was a horrible poker player, she didn’t want to pretend in public when she watched them walking with their families to church service before she turned in for the day.

Settling down in one of the supply rooms, Bryn put her head to her knees, wrapping her arms around her legs. Focusing on her breathing and not the glass breaking, Bryn worked to calm her heart rate, trying to ignore the sobs of the other women in the dark room as the glass broke and the wind howled.

Finian whined, having moved back to Justin’s side.

The only light was from the cracked door Justin looked through, flinching every once in a while as he watched the storm bear down on their little town.

“Calm yourselves. Your yelling isn’t going to change the course of this storm,” Niamh chided, her voice barely audible over the furniture breaking outside of their little room. Bryn was surprised by the calmness in Niamh’s voice as her business was being torn apart. Her whole life was in The Sanctuary.

A tingling started in her fingers and toes, as well as the all too familiar feeling of ants under her skin. Bryn rubbed along her arms at the same time as Justin, their movements mirroring each other.

Looking to Niamh, her eyes focused on the wall as if she could see through it, as if her focus could stop the destruction, Bryn patted the woman on the shoulder before she pulled back.

Her skin was growing more sensitive and the anxiety building up inside her was becoming a raging inferno.

“I am here, come to me, my child,” Bryn heard the whispered words, and looked for who was speaking. No one else looked around for the voice, as if they hadn’t heard it.

Bryn was sure her heart stopped. Was this a vision? It didn’t feel like one.

When Justin looked at her, his eyes confused, she realized it wasn’t just her who had heard the whispered plea.

The distraction of Justin kept her from noticing one of the men in the room sitting too close to her, his fingers brushing hers and she knew before it happened she was going into a vision. Feeling it come upon her, she scooted away from him, further into the corner of the room right as the black stole over her vision.

About the Author
C.D. Britt began her writing journey when her husband told her she needed to use her excessive imagination to write stories as opposed to creating a daily narrative for him. Ever since she penned her first words, life has been a lot more peaceful for him.

She currently resides in Texas where she has yet to adapt to the heat. Her husband thrives in it, so unfortunately, they will not be relocating to colder climates anytime soon.

Their two young children would honestly complain either way.

When she is not in her writing cave (hiding from the sun), she enjoys ignoring the world as much as her children will allow with a good book, music, and vast amounts of coffee (until it’s time for wine).

C.D. Britt is the author of the Reign of Goddesses series, Clan of Shadows series, and the upcoming Blood of Saviors series.

Tweet: 

Bryndis Kenneally is an anomaly, which is saying something when you live in a place once called Hell.
Prophecy of Gods & Crows combines Celtic Mythology, strong female leads, & slow-burn romance https://amzn.to/3IdvI8U
 #clanofshadows #celticmythology #dystopianfantasy #fantasy 

Tour Giveaway 
4 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

Friday, August 31, 2018

Book Review: Scales (Book One of the Fate and Fire Series) By Amity Green

Scales (Book One of the Fate and Fire Series)
By Amity Green
September 1, 2018

260 pages
Publisher: Petrichor Press
ASIN: B018WZY15Y ISBN:
How does Tessa, an orphan from Austin, Texas, cope with being transformed into a living, breathing gargoyle? By rolling with change, learning to control new abilities, and using super powers to help the less-fortunate and vanquish evil. A sickly childhood under the care of a rotten gaggle of nuns is all Tessa knows, until studying in London confirms the gut feeling that there is more to her beneath the skin, and ultimately, beneath the scales. A Celtic demigoddess has fused her existence with Tessa, and much to Fate’s delight, mayhem ensues as Tessa struggles to embrace her new existence as a gargoyle with strong goddess tendencies.

Tessa has lived her life in an orphanage in Austin, Texas, until she has a chance to study one life-changing summer in London, England. As she prepares to return home, Tessa visits a bookstore. A man changes her into a gargoyle and she finds her path changed forever. Not only set in London, this fantasy novel is set in Scotland, too. There is romance with a fellow bookseller who is also a gargoyle, a bad guy named Kia, and others, including her American human girlfriend from Austin, Bree. It’s an origin story for the heroine.

If you enjoy paranormal romances and urban fantasies, Scales is a fun read styled just for you!

I gave Scales 4 sheep.





Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

About the Author:
Amity Green was born in a small town in Colorado in the spring of 1971. She graduated high school in Kingman, Arizona in 1989. She started taking college courses in the fall of 1992 while working as a raft guide on the Arkansas River. Amity won her first writing award as an essayist in the fall of 1998 and continued college part time while raising her children and working as a haul truck driver in the mining industry. In the summer of 2006, she went to Austin, Texas to continue her education. She has studied Creative Writing and British Literature, including a stint in London during the summer of 2010, where she toured and studied theater and the history of English Literature. Amity returned to Colorado in late 2010, where she began her first novel, "Scales" which she outlined in Stratford Upon Avon while touring bookstores and playhouses. Since then, many of her short stories have appeared in numerous published anthologies and continue to appear in new publications. In 2014 she moved to Manitou Springs, Colorado, where she currently resides and continues to produce works of Urban Fantasy and Horror. Amity is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and keeps steady attendance at local writers groups. A lover of animals, Amity is an advocate against animal abuse and assists with lost pets in her community.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Release Day: Emerald Isle Enchantment Paranormal Romance Box Set $.99

Release Day! Only $.99
emerald-isle-enchantment
by Various Authors
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Excessica
October 11, 2016
Tullamore Castle Ireland is an enchanted place where the adventurous can expect the unexpected. Phantom lovers materialize in haunted beds, werewolves lurk in the woods, a vampire falls in love with a jewel thief, seductive Djinn appear the bedchambers, an enchanted lift carries lovers away, and a lonely griffin patrols the castle ramparts hoping to reclaim its long lost mate. And that’s just the beginning of Emerald Isle Enchantment, steamy paranormal romance with a magical Celtic twist. Katalina Leon, Dena Garson, Rebecca Royce, Rea Thomas, Louisa Masters, Virginia Cavanaugh, J.L. LaRose.

Featured Titles in Emerald Isle Enchantment
Katalina Leon, Lord Griffin’s Prize. A loyal griffin’s love is forever, but Ronan has only has one day to win back his long lost lover.

Dena Garson, Ghostly Persuasion. True love is a special kind of magic. But is it strong enough to break a three hundred year old curse?

Rebecca Royce, Crimson Lust. Stealing a ruby made him a vampire. Now she'll steal his heart.

Rea Thomas, Desire and the Djinn. This Djinn can make all of Ciara’s sexiest desires come true.

J.L. LaRose, Phantom Mischief. Should a girl scream and run for her life when pinned to the bed by a ghost performing the best sex ever? Not a chance.

Louisa Masters, An Irish Flirtation. A last-minute change of venue has wedding planner Jillian on edge. Can the magic of Castle Tullamore and sexy Fin tempt her to throw away a lifetime of professionalism?

Virginia Cavanaugh, Tell Me Your Secrets. Jesenia came to castle Tullamore hoping to find her muse, instead she was chased by a wolf right into the arms of sexy, mysterious Dorian.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Celtic Deities in my Fiction with Ann Gimpel (GenTech Rebellion Series book tour)

Celtic Deities in my Fiction 

I tread carefully when I include gods in my fiction because I want to be respectful. I try for a balanced approach, but there will always be those who love something I’ve written and those who feel I should’ve done it differently. That’s particularly true for mythological figures.

During my psychoanalytic training in Jungian approaches to dream work, I read a lot of mythology. Hundreds of books. Not just Greco-Roman myths, but also Celtic, Norse, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Judeo-Christian. One thing that struck me is the diversity in different researchers’ depictions of gods and goddesses including their personalities, their relationships with one another, and their role in their respective pantheons.

When I’ve included gods and goddesses in fiction, I’ve tried to stay with the mainstream impressions of them. That being said, once they become fictional characters in my mind, they develop their own personalities, ideas, and ways of being in the story world. One thing I do aim for is consistency across books. For example, Arawn, god of the dead, revenge and terror, and Gwydion, master enchanter and warrior magician, are in my Dragon Lore Series, and also in the Earth Reclaimed Series. They’re the same person, no matter which of my books they show up in. The same can be said for Ceridwen, who is in the Dragon Lore books and also in The Witch Chronicles Series.


For those who might be curious how the gods showed up in my books, it surprised me too. The authors among you will understand when I say writing is an altered state of consciousness. The story flows through me, but I’m more a medium at that point than a mastermind pulling puppet strings. Characters come to me in dreams, while I’m out walking, and when I’m writing too. 
My fond hope is I don’t disrespect any of the gods or goddesses in Celtic lore, but I’m always interested in feedback from readers. If any of you have read my books and have thoughts about the gods and goddesses in them, I’d love to hear about them.

Thanks so much for reading this post. Love to see more of you on my website, blog, FB or Amazon pages.


GenTech Rebellion Series Backstory:
Sometime between the interminable wars in the Middle East and 9/11, the United States moved forward breeding a race of super humans. Clandestine labs formed, armed with eager scientists who’d always yearned to manipulate human DNA. At first the clones looked promising, growing to fighting size in as little as a dozen years, but V1 had design flaws.

Seven years ago, a rogue group turned on their creators, blew up the lab, and hit all the other breeding farms, freeing whomever they could find. In the intervening time, they’ve retreated to hidden compounds and created a society run by men. Women are kept on a tight leash because the men fear if they discover their innate power, they’d launch their own rebellion.

Winning Glory
GenTech Rebellion
Book 1

by Ann Gimpel
Dream Shadow Press
Release Date: 4/21/15
Genre: Military Romantic Suspense
The line between hunter and hunted thins, blurs, and finally shatters.

Being a genetically altered human without a name grew old, so Glory named herself. Surrounded by a maze of unpleasant alternatives, she makes a bold choice and ends up a fugitive in the midst of a Minnesota winter. Once she’s on the run, she discovers how unprepared she is for life outside her protected compound.

CIA agent, Roy Kincaid, devoted his career to hunting super humans who staged a rebellion seven years before. He’s not making much headway, so he goes deep undercover. One blustery night, a striking woman staggers into the café where he’s catching a late meal. Part waif, part runway model, the half-frozen woman arrows straight into his heart.

Glory’s flat out of alternatives, but death in the storm might be preferable to telling the tall stranger looming over her anything. Sensing Roy is dangerous, she pushes into his head seeking clues and discovers he hunts those like her. Maybe she can fool him, just for tonight. Get a hot meal and dry motel room out of the deal. If she’s lucky, he’ll never find out she’s on the run from the same group he’s targeted for death.

The thing she didn’t count on was falling in love.


Excerpt
“Dessert, hon?” The waitress sidled back over to him, and Roy realized he was her only customer.

“Sure. What do you have?”

She rattled off a series of pies and cakes. He chose apple pie with a scoop of ice cream, and she left with his dinner plate. Roy slumped against the chair. He had to keep going. No choice. Not really. A good night’s sleep, coupled with the first adequate meal he’d had in a couple days might make a big difference in his attitude. At least he hoped they would.

He’d just begun on the pie, which had a surprisingly flaky crust, when a rush of cold air yanked his attention toward the door. A tall woman walked in. Long, dark hair caked with snow swirled around her, and she held her body tightly as if she were really cold. Roy glanced at her feet and was shocked to see a pair of tennis shoes with holes in them. Good God, had she been outside with such inadequate footwear? Didn’t she understand she could freeze to death? Even his stout boots didn’t do much to divert the cold.

Keeping her gaze downcast, she made her way to the counter and sat.

“Coffee, hon?” The waitress asked.

“How much is it?” the woman inquired.

“Two bucks.”

“Oh.” The woman’s shoulders drooped, and she swiveled the stool around, getting ready to go back out into the storm.

“No, you don’t.” The waitress’s voice sharpened. “I’ll stand you a coffee. You look about done in.”

The woman’s even features melted into what looked like relief before she turned back to face the counter. “Thank you. That’s really kind and I appreciate it. My wallet was stolen, and—”

“Never you mind.” The waitress patted the woman’s shoulder. “Bet you’re hungry too.” She poured hot coffee into a mug and handed it to the woman, who drew the steaming liquid to her lips.

“Maybe a little,” the woman ventured. She clasped the cup with fingers white from cold.

By now, Roy knew he was staring, but he couldn’t make himself turn away. There was something waiflike and alluring about the tall woman with long, black hair. Snow dripped off her, creating puddles around her stool. All she wore against the winter weather was a thick, gray sweater and worn jeans. No scarf. No gloves. No hat. He was close to certain her wallet hadn’t been stolen. She looked more like an abuse victim on the run to him. Maybe he could help her get to her intended destination, if it wasn’t too far out of his way.

He pushed his chair back and made his way to the counter. “Say—” he began, but she started and drew away as if she expected him to hit her.

I was right. Abuse victim for sure.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He kept his voice low, soothing. “Order whatever you want, and I’ll pay for it.”

She kept her gaze on her hands clutching the coffee cup. “I can’t let you do that, sir. I’m all right. Truly I am.”

Without waiting for an invitation, he took the stool next to hers and called to the waitress. “Bring her the same meal I just had.”

“You got it, hon,” rang from the direction of the kitchen.

“You are not all right,” Roy said. “You’re thin as a rail, and you were shivering when you came in here. In fact, you still are. I’ll bet your shoes are wet clear through.” When she didn’t respond, he ploughed on. “Let me help you.”

She shook her head. “Don’t want your kind of help. It always comes with strings.”

“Mine doesn’t.”

He pushed a little with his enhanced mental ability to get her to look at him. If she did, maybe she’d see truth in his eyes. A shudder ran down her thin frame, but she dragged her gaze upward reluctantly. Roy felt bad for forcing her, but he didn’t have time to soothe her wounded places, which he suspected ran deep.

Eyes a shade of green he’d never seen inspected him. Long, thick lashes framed those eyes, and they were set in a face with high cheekbones, a high forehead, and black eyebrows winging a track over porcelain skin.

“Who are you?” The words tore from him. He hadn’t meant to say them. She was nervous as a feral cat as it was.

She shook her head sadly. “No one. I’m no one. You’ll forget all about me when you leave here.”

Something shifted in his mind, but he fought it. Before he could determine if something real had just happened or if he were imagining things, the waitress showed up with the woman’s dinner.

“Here you go, hon. Hope medium’s okay for that steak?”

“Fine, thank you.” Before the words were out, the woman picked up the fork and knife and shoveled food into her mouth.

Roy congratulated himself on a good call. Even though she’d been reluctant to admit it, she really was starving. He had no idea what she’d do tomorrow or the next day, but it wasn’t his problem. While she ate, he observed her from the corner of his eyes. In addition to being hungry and underdressed, she looked young. Maybe twenty. He’d be surprised if she were much more than that.

He shook a mental finger at himself. The country was full of abused women running from the men who used them as punching bags before they raped them. It was one part of law enforcement work he’d never understood: why the women kept going back for more.

“There are safe houses for girls like you,” he said, and could’ve kicked himself. What the hell was wrong with his mouth tonight? He couldn’t seem to keep words on the other side of it.

She stopped chewing long enough to glance at him. “What’s a safe house?”

“A place where women like you can go so whoever’s after you can’t get to you.”

“What makes you think someone’s after me?” Color splotched across her white cheeks.

Roy took a deep breath. “I was a cop for a long time.”

Her entire body tightened, and he wondered if he’d been wrong about why she was out in the storm. “You said was.” She swiped a paper napkin over her lips. “Are you still?”

“No. Not anymore.”

She took another bite, clearly thinking about what he’d said. “These people you think are after me. Could they still find me in a safe house?”

He wanted to lie to her, but didn’t. “Sure. Anyone can find anybody with the Internet and all, but the people who run the safe houses won’t let anyone who might hurt you inside.”

She drew her arched brows together and drank some coffee. “I’d have to go outside sometime. Work. Earn my way.”

He nodded. Those things were all true. He scratched his head and pushed too-long hair out of his eyes. “Sometimes, when a man is really persistent, there are ways of setting you up with a different identity in a different part of the country.”

Interest lit her features, and she cut up the last of her steak. “Where would I go to have that happen?”

“I’m not sure, but we could check with local agencies in the morning.”

A blank expression washed over her face, as if someone had shut out a light. She shot him a look she might have given yesterday’s overripe trash. “Morning, huh? You’re just like all the rest of them, mister. Means I’d have to spend the night with you.”

Roy winced. He hadn’t been thinking. Of course she’d make that connection. “No.” He shook his head emphatically. “I’d buy you your own room for the night. You can clean up, get some sleep, and we’ll regroup in the morning after breakfast.”

She narrowed her eyes, and he felt himself drawn into their depths. “My own room with a locked door?”

He nodded solemnly, willing her to believe him. If he could just do one decent deed, it would make up for the last two weeks of beating his head into a brick wall. Maybe it would give him enough juice to keep hunting for the scientists who were a bunch of Houdini fuckers.

“Mmph.” She started on her potato, taking large bites. In between them, she said. “I’m trying to figure out your angle. If I’ve worked my way around to believing you won’t hurt me by the time I’m done eating, I’ll accept your offer.”

It was the best he was likely to get. Roy stood. “Fair enough. I’m going to finish my pie.” It was sitting in a pool of melted ice cream, but he didn’t mind. “If you’d care to accept my help, just stop by my table on your way out. If you walk past, I give you my word I won’t bother you.”

“Deal.” She said around a mouthful of food. Swallowing, she twisted to look at him.

It felt as if she were staring straight through him, but Roy held his ground even after he identified a zing of power withdrawing from his mind. What the hell was she, anyway? When she returned to her dinner, he retreated to his pie, thoughts racing a mile a minute. What the fuck was he doing? If he were smart, he’d forget his offer, throw enough money on the table to cover both meals, and run like hell for his car.

There was something about the woman, though, an appeal that drew him, snared him, and wouldn’t leave him be. He ate mindlessly, not tasting the pie. He knew the feel of freak mind control. Was that it? Had he inadvertently stumbled onto one of them?

Impossible. They’re never by themselves, and whatever she examined me with didn’t feel quite right.

Plus, she didn’t resemble the ones he’d killed before. They had dark hair, but animal eyes. Amber, not green like hers. Of course they’d been men, but simple genetics argued they’d all look much the same if they came out of the same petri dishes.

Were there other augmented humans beyond those he already knew about? The thought fascinated and chilled him at the same time.

He scraped his fork over the plate and realized it was empty. Slugging back long-since-cold coffee, he dug for his wallet and extracted what he was certain would cover dinner, laying bills on the table and placing his empty mug atop them.

The woman looked almost done with her meal. What would she do?

What would he do if she walked by him and out the door? Would he be able to keep his promise and not go after her?

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter-blog
Ann Gimpel is a mountaineer at heart. Recently retired from a long career as a psychologist, she remembers many hours at her desk where her body may have been stuck inside four walls, but her soul was planning yet one more trip to the backcountry. Around the turn of the last century (that would be 2000, not 1900!), she managed to finagle moving to the Eastern Sierra, a mecca for those in love with the mountains. It was during long backcountry treks that Ann’s writing evolved. Unlike some who see the backcountry as an excuse to drag friends and relatives along, Ann prefers solitude. Stories always ran around in her head on those journeys, sometimes as a hedge against abject terror when challenging conditions made her fear for her life, sometimes for company. Eventually, she returned from a trip and sat down at the computer. Three months later, a five hundred page novel emerged. Oh, it wasn’t very good, but it was a beginning. And, she learned a lot between writing that novel and its sequel.

Around that time, a friend of hers suggested she try her hand at short stories. It didn’t take long before that first story found its way into print and they’ve been accepted pretty regularly since then. One of Ann’s passions has always been ecology, so her tales often have a green twist.

In addition to writing, Ann enjoys wilderness photography. She lugs pounds of camera equipment in her backpack to distant locales every year. A standing joke is that over ten percent of her pack weight is camera gear which means someone else has to carry the food! That someone is her husband. They’ve shared a life together for a very long time. Children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out their family.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Spotlight: Bound by Blood INHERITED DAMNATION Book #4 by Claire Ashgrove + giveaway


INHERITED DAMNATION is an 8 book paranormal romance series being released as one book every three weeks between January 27th and June 23rd, 2015.

Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls.

The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple.

The first four volumes – Cursed to Kill, Tormented by Darkness, Destined to Die and Bound by Blood are available now!



Keep up with all things Inherited Damnation over on the
Inherited Damnation Facebook page!

Bound by Blood
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #4
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Beth Whitley has finally put her life back together after her husband’s betrayal and is determined to piece together the clues to her past. But she never imagines an ancient scroll bearing the name of a Celtic ancestor will plunge her into a world of demonic ritual. Nor does she suspect that a kiss shared with genealogist Fintan McClaine will unveil the secrets of her dreams and a burning desire.

Fintan McClaine wants freedom from the dark curse he’s suffered for centuries. When Beth arrives with evidence that she shares ancestral ties with his Selgovae Celt tribe, he must confront the truth of his inherited damnation. As he struggles to convince Beth the truth within her dreams, she awakens a dangerous and forbidden yearning in his heart.

To save them both, Fintan must convince Beth to believe in herself and her ability to overpower his unholy sire. If he fails, he will remain an eternal slave to his tainted blood and lose Beth forever.

Book #5, Fated for Sacrifice, will be coming on 4/21/15. Keep your eye out…


Cursed to Kill
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #1
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE Amazon AU / B&N / ARe
Free







Tormented by Darkness
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #2
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE / Amazon AU / B&N 






Destined to Die
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #3
Add to your GoodReads Shelf

AmazonUS / AmazonUK / AmazonCa / B&N




About the Author:
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.

In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.



GIVEAWAY

INHERITED DAMNATION LEG #4 Giveaway info (3/31 – 4/22) 3 eCopies of Bound by Blood

a Rafflecopter giveaway

EXTRAVAGANZA Giveaway (1/27 – 7/18) 1 - $50 Amazon Giftcard 1 – Set of the entire Inherited Damnation series in eBook

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Spotlight: Destined to Die (INHERITED DAMNATION Book #3) by Claire Ashgrove + giveaway

INHERITED DAMNATION is an 8 book paranormal romance series being released as one book every three weeks between January 27th and June 23rd, 2015.

Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls.

The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple.

The first volume and second volumes, Cursed to Kill and Tormented by Darkness are available now!

Keep up with all things Inherited Damnation over on the Inherited Damnation Facebook page!



Beth Whitley has finally put her life back together after her husband’s betrayal and is determined to piece together the clues to her past. But she never imagines an ancient scroll bearing the name of a Celtic ancestor will plunge her into a world of demonic ritual. Nor does she suspect that a kiss shared with genealogist Fintan McClaine will unveil the secrets of her dreams and a burning desire.
Fintan McClaine wants freedom from the dark curse he’s suffered for centuries. When Beth arrives with evidence that she shares ancestral ties with his Selgovae Celt tribe, he must confront the truth of his inherited damnation. As he struggles to convince Beth the truth within her dreams, she awakens a dangerous and forbidden yearning in his heart.

To save them both, Fintan must convince Beth to believe in herself and her ability to overpower his unholy sire. If he fails, he will remain an eternal slave to his tainted blood and lose Beth forever.



EXCERPT
Her lips touched his, and Belen’s heart came to a screeching stop. He remained motionless, frozen from head to toe, as her mouth feathered across his, seeking, beseeching him to acknowledge the desire that arced between them.

The tip of her tongue teased one corner of his mouth, slid along the inside of his lower lip. A low, feral groan rumbled in his throat as his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. He angled his head and captured her lower lip, pulling it into his mouth, nipping it with his teeth.

Her hands fastened in his long hair, her nails scraped against his scalp. She kissed him with unabashed abandon, forcing him to acknowledge all the yearning he’d bottled up inside. His fingers curled into her narrow waist, and he deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with hers like he had spent a lifetime waiting for this moment.

Maybe he had. It sure as hell felt like it. The velvety slide of her tongue was sweeter than honey. More painful than the sword that had plunged into his side when he’d taken up arms against the Romans the day the Selgovae were invaded.

And more saving than if the Ancestors had promised him a life without the darkness.

He slid one palm up her back, pressing her closer. Her breasts pillowed against his chest, and her hips ground flush with his. Through the thin material of their formal clothes, he could feel the heat of her feminine center, and that warmth against his aching cock pulled another throaty groan from the depths of his soul. How he had craved her, yearned for this…

Belen’s fingers tangled in the nape of her hair, tugging the loose mass free. Long silken strands cascaded over the back of his hand, down her back, and brushed against the hand he kept fastened at her waist. He breathed through his nose, savoring the scent of almonds, the rich flavor of her mouth, the perfect way Faith’s body molded into his. She was so willing, so eager, and tonight he would…

He pulled back with a soft, protesting grunt. Tonight he would not.

Their breaths clouded around them in the frosty night, rasping in broken harmony. He sucked in air, held it to stop the racket clamoring through his body. Then, exhaling slowly, he touched his forehead to hers. She held his gaze, turquoise eyes dark with arousal.

“You need to go home,” he whispered huskily.

Confusion clouded her eyes, but she nodded as she stepped out of his loose embrace. Her voice vibrated as she asked, “Are you afraid of me, Belen?”


Cursed to Kill
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #1
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE Amazon AU / B&N / ARe
Free


Tormented by Darkness
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #2
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE / Amazon AU / B&N 





Book #4, Bound by Blood, will be coming on 3/31/15. Keep your eye out…


About the Author:
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.

In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.



INHERITED DAMNATION LEG #3 Giveaway info (3/10 – 4/2)

3 eCopies of Destined to Die
INHERITED DAMNATION EXTRAVAGANZA Giveaway (1/27 – 7/18)

1 - $50 Amazon Giftcard
1 – Set of the entire Inherited Damnation series in eBook
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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Book Review: Rising Fire (Stone Circles #1) by Terri Brisbin

Rising Fire (Stone Circles #1)
by Terri Brisbin
Paperback, 352 pages
March 3rd 2015 by Signet
What if the standing stones and stone circles across the old Celtic world had a secret origin and use? What if some opened into another world? What if the goddess of fire was trapped beneath one?

Lovely and innocent, Brienne of Yester has always been able to manipulate fire, but when her powers suddenly surge, the simple life she once knew explodes.

Handsome, fearless, and commanding, William de Brus has been summoned by the king to investigate a nobleman rumored to have powers linked to the fabled fire goddess. When he chances upon Brienne, his desire for her is immediate. But as his mystical quest unfolds, William realizes that she is at the center of it — for Brienne possesses the very power he has been sent to vanquish....

As their attraction deepens, William attempts to free Brienne from the dark force beginning to control her — even when his duty demands that he treat her as an enemy. With emotions flaring, fire rising, and evil threatening at every turn, can the two lovers survive the coming battle and save all of humanity?


Rising Fire is the first book in the Stone Circles series by Terri Brisbin. Set in AD 1286 in Yester, Scotland, Brienne discovers that she can play with fire, literally. She keeps her secret from her adoptive parents but soon finds out that her mystical powers are not something that she alone carries. Always told not to wander away from the village alone she finds herself meeting a mysterious man that instantly sparks a fire between them. 

The story would have had a more genuine feel if the language would have reflected Scotland, the surrounding areas and the time period. I enjoyed reading a story that hasn't been told a thousand times with different names for the main characters. Terri wove a tantalizing story filled with ancient Celtic Gods and bloodlines that possess different powers that kept the imagination going. There was a great chemistry between the two main characters, Brienne and William that was hot and steamy which made me hope for their love. William was filled with honor and loyalty which I’m a sucker for. I look forward to continuing the journey with Brienne and Will in the next book of the series.

Getting 4 sheep





Denise B


About the Author:
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Terri Brisbin, an award-winning author and three-time RWA RITA® finalist, has had her historical and paranormal romances published in more than 20 languages and 25 countries around the world since 1998. She’s written more than 33 novels, novellas and short stories for Berkley/Jove, Harlequin and Kensington Books. Now working on more romances for NAL/Signet, Terri has also self-published her backlist books.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a married mom as well as a dental hygienist to hundreds while plotting and planning future stories.