Teaser Tuesday with Touched by Fire

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!

I won three of Catherine Spangler's books in a giveaway. Lucky me! These are fantastic paranormal romances. TOUCHED BY FIRE is the second book in the Sentinels series. Great mythology based around Atlantis, and I do love the men in these books. Sexy!

Here's your teaser:
She stared at her trapped hand, wondering how to retrieve it gracefully. Unfortunately, her skills at verbally sparring with sophisticated, gorgeous men were abysmal. (32% on my Kindle in a file containing the three books)

Teaser Tuesday with Dark Witch

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!

I managed to snag this new book from Nora Roberts off the express shelf at the library last week. The start didn't grab me right away, but it's starting to sound more promising. This is the first book in a paranormal romance series. Sometimes the characters are talking in such a thick Irish accent in my head, I can't catch every word!

Here's your teaser:
She let go, released her spirit and left her body by the cabin in the deep green woods.
And as the fog swirled, something shifted in the black ashes. (page 36)

* * * * *

Please vote for my book, THE HARBINGER in BigAl's Books & Pals Readers' Choice Awards. The Greek gods would greatly appreciate it... by not sending a dangerous thunderstorm your way.

Teaser Tuesday with Full Moon Rising

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!

This is the first book in the Riley Jenson Guardian series by Keri Arthur. It nabbed me right away. Lots of action, a great story hook, and quite a few steamy scenes. I was afraid it was going to go over the top with a half-werewolf, half-vampire protagonist in the midst of moon fever, but it's working. Working really well!

Here's your teaser:
His laugh sent warm shivers down my spine. "One thing I love about werewolves - they're always forthright when it comes to sex." (page 37)

Teaser Tuesday with Dog On It

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!

This was a book my husband heard about on one of his podcasts. DOG ON IT is the first book in Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie Mystery series. The books are narrated by Chet, a dog. While this is amusing for a while, it does get a little annoying. After all, Chet is a dog. He particularly does not pay attention at very important information moments in the story!

Here's your teaser:
And sure, because of my leaping ability - I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved - how could I not wonder a bit about certain possibilities? But I wasn't about to find out now, was I? We were on the job. (page 12)

Teaser Tuesday with CassaStorm

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!

This is the final book in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Cassa trilogy, and it doesn't disappoint. A cleanly written and exciting story so far. Plus I love the family dynamic with Byron, his mate, and their son. A must read for any sci-fi fan!

Here's your teaser:

His father disappeared into the shuttle, and the hatch closed behind him. The fighters were almost upon them, their engines screaming. (67% on my Kindle) 

If you haven't read this fantastic trilogy yet, there's good news! Starting today and going for one week, the second book CASSAFIRE is on sale at Amazon and Dancing Lemur Press.

Get your copy now.

Teaser Tuesday with Spell of Summoning

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!

This one has been on my Kindle for a while, and I'm so glad I finally got to it in my TBR list. A great paranormal romance by Anna Abner with a refreshing take on necromancers. No longer the creepy, basement lurking evil mages you're used to reading. This guy is hot!

Here's your teaser:
"Yeah." It wasn't that she didn't or couldn't trust Kristin, but how did a person admit they were being possessed by a demon? (45% on my Kindle)

* * * * *

We're coming upon that time of year again.

Romance is in the air.

And it can be on your e-reader too.

The Valentine's Day Book Giveaway!

Hilary Grossman and T.B. Markinson have organized a great group giveaway. 21 authors are giving away books! I'm giving away a digital copy of The 13th Floor Complete Collection.

Click HERE to enter.

 Don't worry. I'll remind you of it again!

Teaser Tuesday with Fireseed One

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!

This YA futuristic thriller is not like anything I've read before. In a very good way! FIRESEED ONE by Catherine Stine takes place in the not so distant future. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the Arctic ice melted? This is very well what might occur. I'm loving it so far!

Here's your teaser:
"Under no circumstances," I tell her.
Under no circumstances until we've been in flight for three hours over high desert and my facial blisters have popped and new ones have formed over the popped ones. (71% on my Kindle)

Teaser Tuesday with Doctor Sleep

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!

This is one worth reading just for the journey alone. DOCTOR SLEEP is the sequel to THE SHINING. Have you ever wondered what happened to Dan Torrance? Find out. So far, it's classic Stephen King.

Here's your teaser:
Abra thought she might be the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Also, she realized at once, and without a shadow of a doubt, she was insane. (page 220)

* * * * *

Join me over at the Untethered Realms blog

for a post about setting your writing goals for 2014.

Do you have any tips about how to stick with your goals that you want to share?

Teaser Tuesday with How To Date A Nerd

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!

This is a book that has been on my TBR list for a while. I needed a good fun book that would indulge my inner geek and make me laugh. Cassie Mae's book has done that so far. It's so much fun!

Here's your teaser:
Okay, so I lied. He's nothing like Peter Parker. He's a bajillion times sexier than Peter Parker. Spider-Man ain't got nothing on Zak Gibbons. (9% on my Kindle)

Teaser Tuesday with Shadows

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!

I've been surprised by Robin McKinley again. She writes beautiful fantasy, but once in a while, she'll put out something completely different. SUNSHINE was one of those books. One of the weirdest vampire tales I've read in a long time. Now she's done the same thing with SHADOWS. It's hard to describe this book. It's YA, definitely, but mature YA. Science-fiction, fantasy, dystopian, horror. Marvelous speculative fiction. This is unlike anything I've read before.

Here's your teaser:
They were curling around the windows and Mom's geraniums and Takahiro's and my paper things, perched on the picture frames, half-tucked behind the legs of furniture, lying raggedly along the gap between the tops of books and the shelf above them. I think I whimpered. I'd never seen them this bad before - never seen this many of them - although they weren't moving around much, and Val's shadows usually moved. (page 76)

Teaser Tuesday with The Ocean at the End of the Lane

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!

This book is pure magic. I was immediately sucked in by Neil Gaiman's storytelling and the wonder of the tale. I can't stop reading!

Your teaser:
"I'm going to tell you something important. Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world." (page 112)

Teaser Tuesday with Affliction

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!

AFFLICTION is the newest in the Anita Blake series by L.K. Hamilton. I loved the series right from the start, but these last books have been hit or miss. I like it when Anita is out there fighting monsters, especially fulfilling her duties as a Marshal. This one has promise, but it could be another political and relationship maneuvering one. A little of that is fine, but with the immense cast of characters in this series, it can get convoluted.

Here's your teaser:
"It's an old wives' tale that all shapeshifters need fresh meat after they shift," I said.
"Was that 'old wives' comment aimed at me?" she asked, her voice belligerent.

Teaser Tuesday with What's a Witch to Do?

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!

This book I picked up randomly at the library, and I'm so glad I found it. WHAT'S A WITCH TO DO? by Jennifer Harlow is what I'd call a cozy paranormal mystery with a few pages of steamy romance. It has these cute to-do lists at the beginning of each day. Of course, the hero's life can't ever be as simple as a little to-do list!

Here's your teaser:
Time flies when you have fifteen potions to concoct, customers to assist, a survival plan to make, and a fantasy wedding to envision. Adam's had three hours to play wolf when I return to the barn. (page 54)

Teaser Tuesday with Pop Travel

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!

POP TRAVEL is Tara Tyler's debut novel. She visited with me just yesterday. Check out her Lazy Housewife guest post! The book pulled me in right from the beginning. It's an action-adventure sci-fi thriller. Yes, it does pack all that wonderfulness in there. I can't wait to see where the story takes me.

Here's your teaser:
A pop would take care of the pounding in her head. Sarah always felt fresh and healthy after a pop. Reborn. (page 4 in my Adobe Reader)

Teaser Tuesday with Dragon Bound

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!

This is a book I picked up randomly at the library. I wanted a good, fast paranormal romance read, and this book is providing it. Though DRAGON BOUND can stand alone, I think I'm missing out on some things in Thea Harrison's universe. You'd probably want to read her earlier books first.

Here's your teaser:
Dragos summoned his Power and began whispering beguilement into the night. He held the image of his thief firm in his mind. (page 42)

Teaser Tuesday with Curse of the Bane and That Fatal Kiss cover reveal

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!

This is the second book in Joseph Delaney's The Last Apprentice series. I'm loving this one even more than the first, and the first one was awesome. It's MG dark fantasy fiction. I love the world Delaney has created, but even more so the supernatural creatures. Wow. Original and frightening!

 

Here's your teaser:

What I have lost, or might yet lose, I dare not think about. Beauty is a terrible thing; it binds a man tighter than a silver chain about a witch. (page 43)

Now for Mina Lobo's magnificent cover reveal!

Mina Lobo has long held a passion for Greek mythology. The story of the goddess Persephone's marriage-by-kidnap to Hades, Lord of the Underworld, has particularly fascinated her, and thus came about Mina's debut novel, That Fatal Kiss. Coming September 2013, the revisionist tale features a fiery and noble heroine, a handsome and broody hero, and some heated, earth-shakin' lovin'!

Given Mina's self-professed neurotic nature, it took her and cover artist Steven Novak a few go-arounds before settling on the cover design for That Fatal Kiss. It had to be curiously compelling, slightly spooky, and yet super sexy—and so it is!

The Book:

Feared by mortals for his inexorable power, and loathed by his fellow Greek gods for the same, Hades rules the Underworld alone. A stark eternity looms before him until he discovers Persephone. Struck by the youthful goddess’ beauty, kindness, and spirit, he must have her. But Hades believes Persephone could never love him, and so he conspires with his powerful brother, Zeus, to take her by force.

Persephone too seeks a mate but her possessive mother, the goddess Demeter, frustrates her husband hunting. Then Hades abducts Persephone, tearing her away from the Upperworld she loves to reign with him in the dank depths below. Though outraged, Persephone cannot deny the desire ignited within her by the dark lord’s touch. And even as she hopes that Demeter will unearth her, Persephone aches to surrender to the heat in Hades’ immortal soul.

The Teaser:

“Enough,” Hades said, closing the distance between them. “I have taken you with your father’s consent, as custom allows. You are in my kingdom, under my rule, and if you have any care for your continued well-being, you will get into my bed. Now.” And with the removal of the pins that held together the black cloth about his waist, he stood naked before her.

The anger warming Persephone clashed with another fire that roared to life within her. She choked on a breath and turned her face from him. “Be warned; I will resist you with the full force of my being, through violent means, if necessary.”

His large, unyielding hands encircled the soft flesh of her upper arms as he said, “If you must. Though your surrender to me would prove more satisfying to us both.”

The Author:

Mina Lobo has a lot of Scorpio action going on in her natal chart, which makes for a rather sybaritic and lust-driven Sagittarian. She aims for a wildly successful future as a writer of dark and whimsical romance while dodging the slings and arrows of her outrageous teenaged son, who's buggered off to college (hence the "Lite" in her Twitter handle, below). She enjoys comedic horror and alt rock, goth, & new wave music, as well as quality Belgian chocolates.

Mina invites you to keep abreast of updates regarding That Fatal Kiss, as well as the development of any new neuroses, by stalking her at her usual haunts:

Her blog: Some Dark Romantic
On Facebook: mina.lobo.1
On the Twitter: @GothMomLite
And GothMomLite Will Tumblr For Ya as well

Teaser Tuesday with Joyland

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!

JOYLAND is Stephen King's newest book. I was lucky to nab it off the express book shelf at the library and didn't have to wait for 55 other people to read it first. It's very King-ish. Lots of nostalgia. Not very creepy yet, but the characters are fascinating.

Here's your teaser:
"What's a self-respecting amusement park without a ghost? Maybe you'll see her yourself." (page 29)

Teaser Tuesday with Revenge of the Witch

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!

This MG book was recommended to me by Clare Dugmore. She knows me so well. I love it so far! REVENGE OF THE WITCH is the first book in Joseph Delaney's dark fantasy series called the Wardstone Chronicles. A great young protagonist and some magnificent world building. So much to explore.

Here's your teaser:
What harm could it do just to give her three cakes? A bit of comfort from her family against the cold and damp, that's all it was. (page 144)

Teaser Tuesday with Gameboard of the Gods

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!

I've been waiting a while to get my hands on GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS by Richelle Mead, and it hasn't disappointed me. In fact, it's fast becoming one of my favorite books of all time. Yes, it's that amazing. Exceptional worldbuilding and characterization. A futuristic dark fantasy with a beautiful and slowly unfurling supernatural aspect.

Here's your teaser: 
A haughty, lethal bodyguard. An assignment involving shadowy phantoms. This homecoming was starting to accrue a hefty price tag.
You still want to pay it? asked Horatio.
Absolutely. (page 61) 

Don't forget to enter THE GHOST giveaway for a chance to win all of the books in my 13th Floor series!

UR Post and Teaser Tuesday with Dark Storm

Join me for a sneak peek of THE GHOST at Untethered Realms blog.

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!

DARK STORM is the latest novel in Christine Feehan's Dark series. So far, there aren't any surprises. There's a basic formula to these books, but they're still enjoyable if you like a good solid paranormal romance.

Here's your teaser:
How was he going to fight Mitro when he could barely take a step without falling? The dragon hadn't had a body in centuries and Dax's body was far too small for him to comprehend how to move it around. (page 47)