The Black Lotus by Claire Warner

Title: The Black Lotus

Author: Claire Warner

Genre: Historical Romance with a paranormal twist

 

....though I would dearly love to play court to you, I would hurt you more than any other.” 

It is 1752. The year that will change the life of heiress Melissa De Vire. As she makes her first steps into society, she meets Justin Lestrade and his world tears her perceptions apart. Drawn irresistibly to him, she finds herself sinking into a realm of feuds, magic and old curses. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt:

15^th June 1752

The floor was cold. This first impression floated through her mind as the deep dark of unconsciousness began to shift from her. The unyielding surface sent small stabs of pain through her limbs and confusion set in. Why was she slumped on a hard floor? Her head felt heavy and somehow hollow, even though the darkness that clouded her vision had slowly begun to recede. She managed to blink, the mundane task rendered difficult by the lassitude swamping her. As she struggled closer to full awareness, she became aware of something clasped in her hand, something smooth with petals. Despite her temporary lack of memory, its presence between her fingers sparked a wary, almost sick sensation of worry.

"I think she's waking up."

A voice, feminine and vaguely familiar, sounded close to her head. She tried to move, to turn her head to stare at the speaker, yet her body refused to cooperate, still caught in the spell of near insensibility.

“Yes, I can see that.” Another voice, male this time and disapproving, spoke from further away. “You need not sound so thrilled; I doubt she will welcome you when she opens her eyes.

“Oh, Hugh darling, how can you say that?” Petulant yet teasing notes flowed through the woman’s light lilting speech and she longed to see the face that it belonged to. Those tones invoked cautious recognition, a recognition which did not bring her any sense of peace.

“Because it is the truth,” The man moved position, coming closer to her prone figure. “Why on earth did you do it?” The voice dropped lower, becoming accusatory in tone and timbre. She wondered at this, struggling with tattered threads of memory that refused to make sense.

“It solved a problem.”

“I beg to differ,” He was standing over her now; she could feel the tips of his toes against her side. “Do you think that Justin will thank you?”

Justin, that name caught at her mind, dragging it free from the sludge her mind had become. She knew that name and the feelings it provoked were soft and wondrous. Once again the memories fluttered close to the surface yet she was still not awake enough to make sense of it all

“He should,” The voice argued, louder and less teasing than before, “This solves all,” She felt the woman move, the edge of a skirt brushed against her side and she wondered how long they were going to stand and argue over her.

 

Author Bio:

By day I am a boring civil servant, but by night (and at weekends) I write stories. I love fiction, I love the way that words can draw you from your own everyday world.

I love to read. As a child I read all of the Enid Blyton books and devoured Roald Dahl. As a teenager, I discovered LJ Smith, Anne McCaffrey, Tamora Pierce, David Eddings and went through the phase of reading Point Horrors. As an adult, I found Kelley Armstrong, Raymond E Feist, Georgette Heyer, The Brontes, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Sheridan La Fanu and Henry James. I cannot imagine live without books. 

Links:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Lotus-Night-Flower-Book-ebook/dp/B00J69MC5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418147159&sr=1-1&keywords=black+lotus

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Lotus-Night-Flower-Book-ebook/dp/B00J69MC5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418147159&sr=1-1&keywords=black+lotus

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-black-lotus

http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/the-black-lotus-by-claire-warner/2940149779789

http://nightflowers.weebly.com/

The Dream Slayer series by Jill Cooper

The epic two book finale starts here. The stakes are higher. And the enemy is one of their own. It's all come to this. This moment in time. Everything Natalie Johnson has fought for. Newly promoted paladin commander Natalie Johnson is about to bring the demonire tracking system online. If she's successful Meadow's Creek may finally be safe from bloodsuckers. If not, the egg on her face will be enough to make a gourmet omelet. But when old friends and foes begin showing up in town under questionable circumstance, it's clear something new is on the horizon. The murder of a prominent official threatens to cripple the brittle peace Natalie has brought to town. Alternate realities and timeline jumps all converge revealing truths, deceptions and worst of all, roads not taken. Natalie must face her worst fears, her biggest regrets, and most of all a deep longing that nothing will ever be the same again. Meanwhile a long sought after ally brings them all to the brink of madness. And his betrayal? Could be the biggest heartbreak of them all. In the tradition of young adult vampire fiction such as Twilight and Buffy the Vampire slayer, comes The Dream Slayer.

Buy on Amazon

  The 2nd part in the epic finale starts here. Once [SPOILER] believed in her and now, one last time, Natalie will put everything to the test to bring him back. But with half of Natalie’s team in critical condition, the fight won’t be easy. WOMP’s order to shoot [CENSORED] on sight to protect their vast empire of secrets will pit Natalie against the organization she’s been faithful to since she first heard the word paladin. Now that relationship will be put to the test. Natalie will find a way to restore his soul, no matter the risks. No matter the stakes. Even if it means revealing her identity and location to her mortal enemy. And the end? Well, it might just prove to be the very beginning. In the tradition of young adult vampire fiction such as Twilight and Buffy the Vampire slayer, comes The Dream Slayer.

Buy on Amazon

Excerpt:

"Don't go all afternoon special on me." Natalie knew all of this because already it was in control. Already it had its grip on her. "I know I'm being stupid. I know I never should have started. But when I couldn't say no to the package of cookies, when I started eating again for more than just nourishment." Natalie shook her head and she couldn't even look at him. "You have any idea how much stress I am under?"

"Yes." Damien said softly. "Yes, I do and it's a lot to bear. But you have friends, colleagues, a boy that loves you. You don't need to do it alone."

Natalie twisted on her heels and chewed on the inside of her lip. "Yes, I do because they look to me. They look to see if I'm okay. If I have a plan. And if I didn't? It'd fall apart. And this town would fall apart too. And I'd be responsible for just one more failure. One more thing that got away. I won't do it again. Won't."

Damien consoled her, his strong arms wrapped around her frame and Natalie wanted to melt into him, but she pushed him away instead. "Why is it always you?" She asked, her chin quivering. "Anyone else could be there in my time of need. The times when I am ready to bare my soul, but why is it always you?"

"I don't have an answer to that. Maybe I'm ready to see your faults and struggles when others aren't."

"I hate that it's you and can't be Tristan." Natalie said with a glare.

Damien's jaw tensed. "I'm sorry. If I could fade away..."

Natalie shook her head. "I don't want that either, that's the part that makes me angry with myself. I should wish you away, but I can't."

"There's no chance for us." Damien said.

"None." Natalie agreed.

"So why do I keep thinking of kissing you all the time?"

"Maybe for the same reason I keep wishing you would." Natalie hung onto his neck an when he came down to kiss her, Natalie trembled. Every part of her quivered in his arms. For her lips to be pressed up against his, was a piece of forbidden fruit she couldn't have. But one her heart desired and that tasted so good. Just one more taste, one more kiss, and when his tongue entered her mouth, Natalie thought she might never let him go.

"NATALIE JOHNSON TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM!" It was Regina's voice, loud and booming.

Slowly and with regret, Natalie pulled away. "I've got to go. I'm sorry."

Damien nodded and stroked her hair back. "Do I stay and fight for you? Is that what you want? What would you have me do?"

"I...I can't do this right now. I'm sorry. Really." Natalie didn't have an answer. Not right then. It wasn't fair, she was being cruel, Natalie knew that. But she didn't want to use Damien. And she didn't want to lead him on, but she just couldn't say good-bye. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

About the Author:

I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Tsu  

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Teaser for Fina Life by Rose Garcia

Final Life by Rose Garcia
Book #1 in the Transhuman Chronicles

Nothing sucks more than being forced to move cross country during senior year. And Dominique Wells doesn't think things can get any worse until she's invited to a quirky neighbor's party. When pressured into playing a magical card game, Dominique's world goes from sucky to terrifying. She begins having visions of a red desert and an evil presence--a presence who hints at past lives and promises to kill her.

Plagued by fear and suspicion, and unaware of a family secret kept hidden from her, Dominique is determined to live. Together with a mysterious and gorgeous guy who's moved in while his parents are away, and a hot, popular guy from school, Dominique must seek clues to her past if she's to survive. That, and keep her emotions in check for the two guys she suddenly can't stop thinking about because if she doesn't, she'll be dead. For real.

Available on  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

___________________________________________________________

ABOUT ROSE

Rose Garcia is a lawyer turned writer who's always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, she often had her nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently she's been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by her imagination, she created The Transhuman Chronicles--a series of books about people who have overcome human limitations.

Rose lives in Houston with her husband and two kids. You can visit Rose at www.rosegarciabooks.com

Bridges Burned by Chris Cannon

Bridges Burned

By Chris Cannon

January 27, 2015

Don’t just fight the system…burn it.

Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red dragon and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he’s betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn’t a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally.

Because if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to change it.

BUY IT ON AMAZON, ITUNES, BARNES AND NOBLE, & KOBO: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/bridges-burned/

~*~ABOUT CHRIS CANNON~*~

Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures. Going Down In Flames is the first book in Chris Cannon's shape-shifting dragon series.

The 5 Stages of Falling in Love by Rachel Higginson

   

 

 

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1uDW62G

Purchase on iBooks: http://bit.ly/1L5c3DE

Purchase on B&N: http://bit.ly/1xLum7S

Purchase on Kobo: http://bit.ly/1upZf01

 

Elizabeth Carlson is living in the pits of hell- also known as grief.

Her husband of eight years, the father of her four children and the love of her life, died from cancer. Grady’s prognosis was grim, even from the start, but Liz never gave up hope he would survive. How could she, when he was everything to her? Six months later, she is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and get the kids to school on time. Both seem impossible. Everything seems impossible these days. When Ben Tyler moves in next door, she is drowning in sorrow and pain, her children are acting out, and the house is falling apart. She has no time for curious new friends or unwanted help, but Ben gives her both. And he doesn’t just want to help her with yard work or cleaning the gutters. Ben wants more from Liz. More than she’s capable of ever giving again. As Liz mourns her dead husband and works her way through the five stages of grief, she finds there’s more of her heart to give than she thought possible. And as new love takes hold, she peels away the guilt and heartache, and discovers there’s more to life than death.    

About Rachel Higginson

 

 

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Rachel Higginson is the creator of The Star-Crossed Series, Love & Decay Novella Series, The Starbright Series, The Siren Series, Bet on Us and the soon to be released, The Five Stages of Falling in Love! She is also the co-creator of the podcast "Zach & Rachel Take Over the World." She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days raising four amazing kids. In the few spare moments she has to herself, she is either reading for hours on end or writing her own stories.