Shout-out to Unconventional Princesses!

Deja was a happy, trouble-making troll, until she was exiled from her home under the mountains for her perilous pranks. Now she must serve a frilly human, Princess Calleah who's locked in a tall tower. The Two Princesses from opposite sides of the Valley become unlikely friends in their seclusion, but when the time comes for Calleah to leave the tower, their bond is put to the test by propriety, princes, and parents. Deja doesn't take any gruff and will give it right back to protect Calleah, no matter the cost.

Buy the ebook on Amazon

Buy the print book via Lulu

Keep up to date with Tara on her blog!

Cloaked Tour - Romulus and Remus with T.F. Walsh

Romulus and Remus with T.F. Walsh

Hi Christine, thanks for having me on your blog today.

One of my favourite characters of Cloaked and Cloaked in Fur is the city of Brașov. The city is a perfect setting for any European tale with a long and varied history. Researching the city gave me a sense of the people and the traditions of the area. But one of the facts I learnt was especially surprising. Similar to the Capitoline Wolf in Rome, a bronze sculpture of Romulus and Remus can be found in front of the City Hall in Brașov.

The city of Brașov was for a long time a part of the Roman Empire. The statue is a reminder of that time it formed part of the north eastern border. But more importantly, it’s also a reminder of the extensive lore and mythology around wolves in Europe, especially in Romania.

But its time as a part of the Roman Empire, and many other sovereignties, gives it a varied geo-political history as well. Another facet I chose to introduce in my novels and explore even more the remaining stories.

What have you recently discovered during reading or researching?

Raised by an overly protective wulfkin pack, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world for her one-year independence ritual. But after someone steals the endangered bear cubs she’s been assigned to protect, she must locate them or lose her job and return home in disgrace. The sexy inspector on the case isn’t making this any easier. He knows nothing of her kind, and wulfkin rules forbid relationships with humans.

Newly divorced Inspector Connell Lonescu trusts no one but himself. He’s convinced relationships are a waste of time and thinks burying himself in work will ease the pain. Yet he’s attracted to the gorgeous and mysterious Daciana, even if there’s something slightly odd about her. Can Connell learn to trust the sexy but secretive woman? 

Cloaked is the prequel to Cloaked in Fur, book 1 in The Wulfkin Legacy Series. Find out how Daciana and Connell fell in love and set in motion the paramount events that forever change their lives and those around them.

Cloaked is only 0.99c

Grab Your Copy: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iTunes

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Coming Soon

Cloaked in Secrecy (Book #2) – March 2016

Cloaked in Blood (Book #3) – May 2016

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for T.F. Walsh’s newsletter to keep up to date with latest releases, special offers, and exclusive content.

About The Author

T.F. Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she's always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.

Author Links: Website  |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Pinterest   |   Goodreads   |   Amazon

Giveaway! Click and enter to win one of these awesome Cloaked bookmarks.

Cloaked now available for pre-order

 

 

Add it to your 'to read' list!

Pre-order HERE!

 

Blurb: 

Raised by an overly protective wulfkin pack, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world for her one-year independence ritual. But after someone steals the endangered bear cubs she’s been assigned to protect, she must locate them or lose her job and return home in disgrace. The sexy inspector on the case isn’t making this any easier. He knows nothing of her kind, and wulfkin rules forbid relationships with humans.

 
Newly divorced Inspector Connell Lonescu trusts no one but himself. He’s convinced relationships are a waste of time and thinks burying himself in work will ease the pain. Yet he’s attracted to the gorgeous and mysterious Daciana, even if there’s something slightly odd about her. Can Connell learn to trust the sexy but secretive woman?

I LOVE this cover! I'm honored to be one of Tania's critique partners, and let me tell you, this story is as rich and sumptuous as the cover. 

Friday Five for December 18, 2015

1. I had a bump in my writing this week because a nasty headache told me to nap Wednesday afternoon. I'm about 4000 words away from finishing  my novella. I'm going to try to NaNo sprint today and finish it before my son's Christmas break starts.

2. Christmas break is where I'll be headed, too, for the next two weeks. We stay at home, but I'm planning lots of fun family and friend activities including going to an indoor waterpark and the exotic cat rescue center. I have a couple of posts coming next week. One of them a flash fiction story gift to you from me!

3. I'm over halfway done watching Daredevil on Netflix. LOVE it. Dark and intriguing and the villain! I really like what they did with Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). That is the sort of story I want to write... and have HBO or AMC or Netflix make into a show!

4. My son is bringing candy canes in today for school to give out to his class. Yesterday, I asked him if he would like to make a craft out of it and dress up the canes like reindeer. He gave me this look that was ten years too old for him and said, "I'm in elementary school now, mama. We like candy canes without the costumes."

5. However you're spending this holiday season, enjoy! Have a very merry Christmas and I'll see you in 2016. It's going to be an amazing year.

Shelfie Blog Hop and two BIG releases!

This is your last chance to share with us your Shelfie and be entered to win one of the fantastic prizes!

When: Ends October 6th, 2014

What: Take a picture of your favorite book(s), your bookshelves, or you with your favorite book(s). We understand if you're shy and don't want to be in the picture, but you get bonus points if you are. Then share it on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter. It's as quick and easy as that!

I'm excited to co-host this blog hop with seven amazing authors: Tara Tyler, Heather Gardner, CD Coffelt, M.J. Fifield, Elizabeth Seckman, Rena Rocford, and Vikki Biram. We'll be offering prizes for various categories. The grand prize winner will win $40! I'll be giving away a digital copy of The 13th Floor Complete Collection for the geekiest Shelfie.

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Book 2 in the Indigo Eady Afterlife series is now available!

Ghostly Gallows:

The case of missing paranormals is far from solved.

Hundreds of Sabrina Shores’ spirits are still missing.

In Second Death, Indigo and her friends escape an eternity underground in evil clutches. Back aboveground with a few missing ghosties happily in tow, one truth is painfully clear: the size of their problem is bigger than the village cemetery itself.

Now in Ghostly Gallows, new information leads Indigo and her fellow investigators to the ruins of Gallowsgate Prison, long abandoned by everyone and everything except malevolent spirits. It’s not called Gallowsgate for nothing when the noose swings a little too close to home.

Indigo Eady:

Much to her chagrin, Indigo Eady is a celebrity among spirits. She’s the girl who can see and speak with them. She has a proven track record in helping spirits find their murderers, so it’s no surprise when she’s drafted onto the Missing Paranormal Committee. Who better to help them than the experienced teenage ghost whisperer- investigator and her friends?

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords

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Polar Night's Aleksei Nechayev leaves war-torn Russia in 1917 and makes his way to Alaska. Settling in at a railroad camp, Aleksei comes up against an adversary who seems to know the truth about the newly-turned vampire's identity, and who soon gives Aleksei much more than he bargained for at The Turnagain Arm.

Cover design by Michael Di Gesu

Only 99 cents on Amazon Kindle

Book Blurb: 

Locomotive wheels screech to a halt. Potters Creek, Alaska is nothing more than a small camp set up alongside the tracks. A weathered sign dominates the scene.

The Turnagain Arm Saloon 

Est.1917

Only one passenger remains and exits.

The early afternoon full moon peaks through a shimmering snow fall as a shadow casts over each split rail. The wind howls, sweeping the cloak of a hooded figure. He follows   the tracks toward the distant saloon. A hulking man crunches through the snow, attracting his attention.

Calling out to him in a foreign accent, the townsman stops in mid step. The stranger catches up and engages him.

Until...

The man disappears under the stranger’s cloak.

Blood drips from his lips, and he wipes the remaining trickles from his mouth. After disposing of the body, the mysterious figure continues on his journey. He glides through the snow as if on a sleigh, leaving no footprints behind.

*          *          *          *          *

Within a short period, he convinces Vasyl, the owner of the saloon, to hire him. Aleksei charms everyone he meets. But soon mistrust enters every tense line on Vasyl’s face as others disappear, and his wife falls under Aleksei’s spell.

The classic game of cat and mouse continues, but who will win?

Is a mere mortal any match for Aleksei?

A spark ignites within Alexei after yet another of Vasyl’s attempts to disgrace him.

This man knows of me. He must be a witch. Aleksei laughs. You are no match for me or my plan.

About the Author: 

Julie Flanders is a librarian by day and a writer all the rest of the time. Julie is also a television show addict with a particular fondness for Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead and a slightly obsessive sports fan who cheers for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Cincinnati Bengals. She is a life-long animal lover and an animal rescue advocate and shares her home with her rescued dog and cat.

Julie’s published novels include the paranormal thriller Polar Night and the historical ghost story The Ghosts of Aquinnah. Both are available from Ink Smith Publishing. Polar Day, the sequel to Polar Night, will be published by Ink Smith in January, 2015.

Julie is a proud member of the speculative fiction writing group Untethered Realms. Meet the rest of the group and explore their books at http:// untetheredrealms.blogspot.com/.

Please visit Julie at her website at julieflanders.net or contact her by email at julie@julieflanders.net. She can also be found on Twitter at @JulesFlanders.

Enter to win one of two prize bundles featuring a $15 Amazon.com gift card and an ebook copy of The Turnagain Arm. 

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Friday Five for March 28th, 2014

1. Is March nearly done already? Wow. Time just flew past, and April's going to be a busy month outside the blogging world for me. I'll be slowing with my blog posts here and participating in the A to Z Challenge with Untethered Realms. We're featuring fantastical creatures. It's going to be a lot of fun!

2. I didn't get much done revision-wise this month. I had hoped to be halfway done with revisions for one of my WIPs, but my CPs and betas have been busy folks too. That's okay with me. I'm not forcing hard deadlines on myself this year. And I'm getting much more sleep because of it!

3. What have I been doing? I'm almost finished a new novella. I couldn't resist writing something new, and this is completely new for me. I found a call for themed novellas on a popular publisher site. One of them made me laugh. A lot. So I went for it, and the story flowed so easily. It's a geeky contemporary tale with absolutely no supernatural elements. Weird for me! And yes, I'm being mysterious about what it exactly is, because if the publisher rejects it, I love it so much I might self-publish it. Then you'll hear no end of it!

4. My son had his first literacy after school special this week. He blew the socks off the teacher. He's the best reader in his preschool by far. I'm so proud of my wonderful little guy.

5. No plans for the weekend. Maybe we'll finally watch Gravity. And the season finale of The Walking Dead. It's been an awesome season! Have a great weekend.

P.S. What do you think of my new blog banner?

Once Upon A December Nightmare is Free!

Blurb:
They were only going out to dinner and a movie.

But their plans go astray, and friends Cassie, Mary, Denise, and James decide to take a detour down a lonely mountain road. A felled tree blocks their passage and forces them to turn around in a clearing containing a disturbing arrangement of four deer carcasses.

Then their truck breaks down, and their cell phones don't work. They must brave the cold December air, nightfall, and a long hike. Yet their troubles are just beginning. Tension runs high between the four young friends ... and they are not alone. Each step brings them closer to safety, but will they make it to the main road alive?

My review:
It was suppose to be a fun winter night touring the back roads with old friends, but a tree blocks the trail and the old truck breaks down. There's no light, warmth, or cell phone reception. Cassie, Mary, Denise, and James decide to walk the few miles back to the main road. The cold and darkness adds friction to an already disgruntled group, and Cassie's scary story doesn't help ease the tension. There's also something stalking them in the woods. Perhaps Cassie's story holds more truth than they want to believe.

Cherie Reich has managed to pack vivid detail and nail-biting suspense in this short horror tale. I can still feel the cold and hear the strange cracks from the woods. It seemed like a normal night for the young folk, but I fast on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't relax even when I reached the end. The most unique part of this story is that the reader is allowed to see through all the characters' eyes. Each of the four characters have their own sections and it's like peeling back layers of an onion. More is revealed about the dynamics of the group and each individual's inner most feelings. Cherie does a marvelous job with characterization. This is the perfect story for a cold, dark night when you're bundled up in bed. You'll need a big blanket when those chilly goose bumps crawl up your arms!

You can download Once Upon a December Nightmare at:

 Amazon US / UK / DE / FR / ES / IT / JP  Smashwords  Nook  Kobo  iTunes

Author bio:
A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her ebooks include a horror novelette titled Once Upon a December Nightmare, a short story collection with authors Aubrie Dionne and Lisa Rusczyk titled The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers and Untethered Realms.

Find Cherie at: Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads *

You still have time to enter The Harbinger blog tour giveaway for your chance to win the first four ebooks in the 13th Floor series!

Weighted review

Blurb:
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.

My review:
Raeth Arteres is at the mercy of the cruel interrogators aboard the Queen's ship. There's information they want, but she cannot talk or it might mean the destruction of all her people. The Queen won't let Raeth go into the arms of her parents in the land of the dead, though. Whatever it takes to make Raeth talk, they will find a way. Raeth's only hope is Princess Semara, but is she truly an ally or is she pretending to be to learn Raeth's secrets?

I was immediately hooked with the first paragraph. This steampunk novella thrummed with tension and kept it tight from beginning to end. I couldn't stop reading. Though Raeth is narrating the story, she's a mystery even to herself, and I was enthralled by her people's plight and her strange gift. For such a short story, I became emotionally invested quickly and ached for Raeth's escape. Semara also fascinated me. She and Raeth are two unlikely friends. If they are friends at all!

A veil of dread covered everything. The setting was frightening and exotic. The writing was brilliant. Such amazing detail! Why was this book sitting on my TBR list for so long? I highly recommend Weighted to everyone. Bravo, Ciara!

Visit Ciara Knight's website and blog.

You can purchase Weighted on Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, and B&N.

Nightmare Ever After review

Blurb:
Almost ten years have passed since that fateful December night.

But the monster is hungry again.

As the killings start again New Haven, Virginia, FBI Agent Timothy "Tim" O'Conner sends for the lone survivor from the '02 murders to help him catch a killer. Cassie Richards wants nothing to do with the monster who killed her friends or the agent's investigation, but she can't forget the night that has haunted her nightmares. She returns to Virginia in search for closure, but will she be able to catch and kill a legend in time?

My review:
Ten years ago, Cassie Richards survived a waking nightmare. Now the monster is back and killing again. FBI Agent Tim O'Conner is assigned to the case, and he's determined to get the only living witness of these vicious attacks to help him. Even though Cassie doesn't want anything to do with the case or the little Virginian town that scorned her, she hopes this trip can bring her some closure. Tim pushes her for details as the murders escalate, and Cassie finds herself opening up to the handsome agent more than she originally intended. While she stands by her supernatural story hoping to convince Tim it's the truth, the monster hunts the one that got away. Will Cassie be lucky enough to survive its hunger a second time?

Nightmare Ever After is the chilling sequel to Once Upon A December Nightmare. It takes place a decade after the first tale, and lets the reader peek into the life of someone who survived one horrible night. Cassie is a fascinating character that must not only deal with living with the trauma of that night, but also with the fact no one believes her. She struggles with her fears which grow with the re-emergence of the monster.  She's a survivor, though. A strong and sympathetic protagonist. Tim is the perfect complement to her character. He's calm and logical, but willing to listen to Cassie when no one else will. They're thrown into the chaos of a case that's never been solved. The mystery haunts the reader through the pages, slowly unveiling the horror.

The monster stalks the woods of Virginia. They can be beautiful and romantic, but Cherie Reich can take the smallest detail and twist it to make the woods a creepy setting. Even in broad daylight! The tension builds as the number of murders grow until you're on the edge of your seat waiting to see what's going to happen. The story has a definite X-Files feel. Though Tim is more Scully where as Cassie would be Mulder.

This is the perfect scary tale to cuddle up in bed at night and read. Make sure you have someone to keep you company, though, or else keep a light on the rest of the night. Nightmare Ever After might just give you nightmares!

Nightmare Ever After is now available on Amazon, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and B&N.
Mark it to read on Goodreads!

Author Bio: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her e-books include the horror series Nightmare, a short story collection with authors Aubrie Dionne and Lisa Rusczyk titled The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, the futuristic space fantasy novelette trilogy Gravity, and The Foxwick Chronicles, a series of fantasy stories. She is member of Valley Writers and the Virginia Writers Club.

Please stop by Cherie's website and blog. Say hello and congratulate her on her newest release! You can also find her on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.

Once Upon a December Nightmare re-released

They were only going out to dinner and a movie.​

​But their plans go astray, and friends Cassie, Mary, Denise, and James decide to take a detour down a lonely mountain road. A felled tree blocks their passage and forces them to turn around in a clearing containing a disturbing arrangement of four deer carcasses.​

Then their truck breaks down, and their cell phones don't work. They must brave the cold December air, nightfall, and a long hike. Yet their troubles are just beginning. Tension runs high between the four young friends…and they are not alone. Each step brings them closer to safety, but will they make it to the main road alive?​

Includes the monster's origin story "Nightmare at the Freak Show"

To Purchase:  Amazon US / UK / DE / FR / ES / IT   Smashwords   Nook   Kobo  iTunes (Forthcoming)

Add on Goodreads   

Please visit Cherie Reich's blog and say hello! Hopefully by next month, she'll have the long awaited sequel to this novella out, Nightmare Ever After. What a great Halloween read it will make!

Review for Fighting Gravity

Blurb:
Forced into executing Aresia’s people, Phoebus escapes the Aresian Guard by flying his spaceship through a wormhole.

The only single woman of marrying age, Marissa flees her prospects of becoming Elder McGee’s third wife for a chance at freedom upon the New Atlantic Ocean.

When Phoebus’s spacecraft crashes upon an asteroid-ravaged Earth, he is captured by a rogue Earthling youth and thrown into a cellar. Marissa stumbles upon the spacecraft, but it explodes before she can find any sign of the alien. When she awakens, she discovers the alien’s whereabouts and vows to help him. They plot his escape when they learn Phoebus’s Aresians have landed and are searching for him. Phoebus and Marissa must battle against their despair and their peoples in their quest for freedom and love. And through it all, an Earthling and an Aresian will find it easier to fight gravity than their love for each other.

My review:
Phoebus is tormented by his daimon and forced to execute his fellow Aresians. He attempts to escape through a wormhole, but ends up being captured on a primitive planet called Earth. Marissa hopes to find a new life for herself, but the world outside her tiny community isn't what she expected it to be. Her old friends turned scavengers have nefarious plans for her. Her only chance for help is to free Phoebus and flee with him. They're hunted and must learn to trust one another, finding more than just trust along the way.

This is the second novella in Cherie Reich's Gravity series. She has outdid herself with this dark and action packed science-fiction fantasy romance. She starts you off right in the middle of the action, and I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing. The image Cherie paints of an Earth hit by an asteroid is harsh and dismal, but not without hope. Marissa has the light of hope in her heart. She's sweet and compassionate, and though she's rightfully afraid, she has the courage to do what's necessary when the time comes. Phoebus is from a cold and war-hungry people who make themselves into something more by infusing themselves with daimons. It's fascinating and terrifying at the same time. The Aresians are a complex culture and the daimons a mystery. This aspect really intrigued me because I didn't know what Phoebus' daimon would do next.

This story is light on the romance, so I believe sci-fi and dark fantasy fans will love it.  There's fighting, betrayal, and unexpected twists. Cherie's writing is sharp and her imagery vivid. She makes the story come alive before your eyes. Fighting Gravity captivated me from beginning to end. Even if you haven't read the first book in the series, Defying Gravity, you can still thoroughly enjoy this one.

Fighting Gravity will be available on May 1st. Mark it on your calendars!

Author's bio: Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, and library assistant. She typically writes horror, fantasy, and mysteries, but she enjoys other genres. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her e-books include ONCE UPON A DECEMBER NIGHTMARE published by Wild Child Publishing, THE BEST OF RAVEN AND THE WRITING DESK published by Hazard Publishing, and DEFYING GRAVITY published by Surrounded by Books Publishing. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers. She was the third place winner in Roanoke Valley's BIG READ writing contest.

Please visit Cherie's website. Fighting Gravity is already up on Goodreads.