TELL TALE TUESDAY: A fast-paced miracle story about a runaway mom who goes to Tokyo to find herself, but discovers the strength of family and the power of love. TEN YEN TOKYO BY CHRISTINA ST. CLAIR & AMANDA ARMSTRONG

Title: Ten Yen Tokyo

Author: Christina St. Clair

  Amanda Armstrong

ISBN: 978-1-62420-272-8

Genre: Spiritual Fiction

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 2

Buy at: Rogue Phoenix Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble

TAGLINE

A fast-paced miracle story about a runaway mom who goes to Tokyo to find herself, but discovers the strength of family and the power of love.

BLURB

Seagull wanted to soar just like her namesake, didn’t she? When she heads to Tokyo in search of herself, she is drawn into a world of mystery and miracles. Encountering many colourful characters as she travels, she is caught up in a dark underworld that forces her to question her scientific mind as well as her family values. Can Seagull believe in the unknown and can she lay the ghosts of her past to rest so that her future can begin?

EXCERPT

Prologue

I can't believe I'm doing this. What kind of person am I? Leaving my own baby behind and him not yet two weeks old. It's not that I'm leaving him in a basket by the river, or putting him in a fire truck and turning on the alarm to alert the firemen. I am leaving him with a caring father who is gaga over him and four grandparents who think he is the most precious baby they have ever seen. My mom and dad act as if he's the reincarnation of the baby boy they lost.

Mom keeps hugging him and saying, "You are so precious, so perfect," in a hushed voice. It makes me wonder if she thought I was going to birth a kid with the sort of severe birth defects her baby had. My brother. He only lived a few hours after birth. I've not said a word to Mom about how I was almost twenty years younger than she when she had Stephen and how her age might have been part of the reason for his pitiful physical condition. I admit, though, during my pregnancy, I did have a few pangs of fear and was glad when the amniocentesis was okay. Lucas is thriving and healthy.

I simply cannot become gaga over him. When I said I didn't want him during the pregnancy, everyone ignored me or patted my back and told me not to worry. As soon as I saw him and held him against my breast, they said I'd fall in love. But I knew I wouldn't. And I didn't. I wanted a girl. In fact I want four baby girls who will love to dance and sing, who will straighten one another's hair, who will giggle at night after I turn the lights out. But now I'll not have any more babies, because what man will want to bond with me if he finds out I abandoned my first child. And I want honesty in my relationship. I don't want secrets between my man and me.

I could, I suppose, change my name. But how will I manage that? Unless I really am the person behind the name, it will be a big lie. I need to travel far away. I think I will go to the west coast, maybe to Seattle. I could get lost in a big city easily enough where no one will ever find me. I can keep my name and social security number and get a job.

Will John try to find me? Perhaps he'll send the police after me. They might locate me. I'll have to leave a note telling John I have left. Forever. Explaining my love for John wasn't enough, and I have no love at all for this baby boy. I told John to name him whatever he likes—he wanted me to choose, but I didn't care enough. I could not come up with one single name—which is a sure sign of the depth of my feeling of, well, disinterest. I am not interested in caring for this infant. He should have been a girl and things might have been different.

How will I cope without my parents? They will be so hurt, so worried, but they have my twin sister. She is not identical but she is much more pleasant than I've ever been. A bit controlling maybe, but usually no trouble. Me, I was always a rebel, always giving mom and dad grief. I could change my name from the awful one they stuck with me that gave me nothing but misery growing up. Seagull. Can you imagine being called such a thing! I hated it as a child when other kids would raise their arms like wings.

But now, I see, it was right for me. I am Seagull. I am about to fly.

Oh yeah, my twin sister's name is Sarah. Of course. She will, like the Biblical Sarah, have a baby she adores when she's in her nineties. I suspect she may have quite a few sooner since she just married Doug who is her dream guy. Okay, he's not an athlete, but she loves him for his geeky glasses, his sweet smile, his puny arms.

My John is so macho, so masculine. He matches me.

But I must fly. I must fly.

MYSTERY MONDAY: What would you do if you had the opportunity to travel back in time? Make a difference...or make money? TAR KYLER-TIME TRAVELING MERCENARY BY JOCKO LEE

Title: Tar Kyler-Time Traveling Mercenary

Author: Jocko Lee

ISBN: 978-1-62420-159-2

Genre: Scince Fiction/Time Travel

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 2

Buy at: Rogue Phoenix Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble

TAGLINE

What would you do if you had the opportunity to travel back in time? Make a difference...or make money?

BLURB

When ex-SEAL team leader, Tar Kyler is hired by an elite cartel to strong-arm a physicist who has created a time machine, the plan backfires and he becomes the scientist’s protégé. With only months to live, he has to teach Kyler everything he knows as well as ironing out a few issues. When the old man dies of cancer, Tar hides the time machine from the Cartel and they have to deal with him from now on. Although he does undertake several missions for the Cartel, Kyler refuses to put women and children in harm’s way which alters plans— and he also has a few agendas of his own. Who he recruits to assist him, how he does what he is hired to do, and also wants to do, modifies the past, present and future.

EXCERPT

His real name was Ultar Ebert Kyler, an American born product of an Irish mother and German father. Ultar-Irish for 'Ruler of the armies,' Ebert-German for 'Strong as a Boar,' sometimes referred to as 'that stinking pig' by his employers, but not within his hearing, and Kyler-German for 'Little Warrior.' Warrior most assuredly, but not at all little. At six foot seven and two hundred sixty pounds, he looked down on most men. The few that he couldn't look down on, he could soon have them so broken that looking down on them was easy.

An Annapolis graduate and former SEAL team leader, he could operate almost every weapons system in the US arsenal, from the first generation Abrams Tank to an Apache Attack helicopter to hand held stinger missiles and any firearm. Almost all one and two man weapons systems from other armies of the world were also in his repertoire.

He was hired by a cartel of rich men from the year 2145 to keep an eye on Roland Hines, one of the inventors of the time machine who had developed an agenda of his own. The Cartel had funded the research that led to the invention of the time machine and felt that they, the Cartel, not Hines, should determine how the machine was to be used. Hines wanted to use the machine to go back in time and save lives and prevent disasters, like the twin towers on 9/11 and the sinking of the Titanic. The Cartel wanted to use the machine to affect the market so that they could make even more money. Kyler was to be the Cartel's insurance policy, to force Hines to do their bidding.

Unfortunately for the Cartel, Tar Kyler liked the old man and they soon became good friends. Hines managed to convince Kyler that the Cartel shouldn't be in control of the power of the time machine because they wanted to use it for the wrong reasons. In the few months that they had together, he trained Tar on how to operate the time machine, and between them they manipulated Tar's age so that he was always thirty-two years old, a time chosen by Tar because he was at his peak physical condition at that age.

One of the things they discovered was that there were three laws covering time travel. Law number one, if you traveled to another time and then came back to the exact time that you left, things were exactly like when you left. If traveling to another time to make a change, you had to be gone at least two seconds. Going to a market for supplies and returning to the exact time you left means you came home with an empty sack. But setting the clock so you would return two seconds after you left meant that whatever you went after came home with you.

Law number two they discovered after they figured out law number one. You only got one shot at making a change. You better get it right the first time because there was no second chance.

Law number three was that sometimes no matter what you did, you couldn't change everything. Fate determined what took place, and if fate decided that an event was going to happen, it happened no matter what you did. You may change a few minor details, but the main purpose of the trip never got changed.

They gathered pictures and newspaper accounts of the sinking of the Titanic, including accounts from the captain of the Carpathia. With these in hand, they went to Captain Edward Smith on the Titanic and regaled him with tales of the sinking and the great loss of life. Captain Smith listened intensely and then agreed to change course a few degrees to the south to miss the icebergs. Feeling smug with themselves, they returned home and read history. The Titanic sank, just like before. For the longest time they couldn't understand why.

They tried to avert many of the major disasters in American history, and failed each time. After failing at the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood and the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, it was more than they could understand. They had the pictures and eyewitness accounts and even had the officials convinced, or so they claimed, that disasters were coming to their towns. But later, checking back, Hines found that nothing had been done and that thousands of people had died, needlessly. Law number one had bit them.

After figuring out law number one, they attempted to go back and try again. Again nothing worked. It took several attempts before they discovered that there was a law number two. Time travel repairs were a one shot deal.

They never really figured out what to do with law number three. They just did the best they could and if fate permitted, they made changes. If not, well, on to the next project.

Other attempts to save lives fell on deaf ears, or stubborn ones. Officials in Boston and New York refused to believe that an airplane could topple the World Trade Center, even with pictures to prove it had happened. Doctored photos was the response, and they were ushered out the door followed by threats of imprisonment if they persisted.

Shortly after Tar came to work with him, Roland got sick. Several trips to the doctor determined that pancreatic cancer was the culprit. Roland put Tar through a rush advanced course in time travel machine operation and between them they made plans for the future; Tar's future. After the old man died, the Cartel came to confiscate the time machine—finding it, and Tar, missing. From then on, the Cartel had to deal with Tar Kyler. He would take the time travel trips on their behalf and carry out their wishes, most of the time.

Sometimes the wishes of the Cartel and those of Tar Kyler were at odds. And in those cases, the wishes of the Cartel came in second. If they had any other choice, they would take it, but Kyler had the time machine hidden, and he was the best they could hope to find.

He was now a time traveler and warrior for hire, but he was mostly his own boss. They controlled the money, but the time machine was his—and sometimes money wasn't enough. He had no problem with the Cartel members getting richer and no compulsion against killing, he was good at it, but he was not a bloodthirsty savage. Women and children and a few other innocents were off limits.

His employers hated him and wanted him dead. The few that tried to have him killed met with an undesirable end, so that idea was abandoned. Besides, sometimes he came in handy. As for now, they would keep using him, and when he went against their wishes, they just got over it. It was a lot better to bite the bullet than have the bullet bite them.

ROMANCE SUNDAY: Marielle, single, restless and thirty-something is looking for a man. Can love compete with Fate? MAY BY ALICIA STONE

Title: May

Author: Alicia Stone

ISBN: 978-1-62420-193-6

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 3

Buy at: Rogue Phoenix Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble

TAGLINE

Marielle, single, restless and thirty-something is looking for a man. Can love compete with Fate? 

BLURB

The problem is the man she desperately wants and needs is not interested in her.  He was once, but ten years ago she threw away their chance of happiness. Together again, Marielle and Peter discover how they have both changed and how much they have in common. Their attraction for each other is intensified, but can their love be rekindled? Can they risk everything for love? Affairs of the heart prove to be no match for the darker powers of Fate as Marielle’s very survival hangs in the balance. 

REVIEW:

May

Alicia Stone

978-1-62420-193-6

By C McKnney 

3.5 Stars out of 5

Alicia Stone’s first novel in the Many a Moon series promises an interesting series ahead.

Marielle made the mistake of giving up the love of her life years ago. When she meets him again by chance, she realizes her mistake and wants to get their relationship back on the rails.

Job woes, the challenges of pregnancy, and uncertainty that Marielle’s beloved can come to care for her again as he once did are only a few of the issues that make this an interesting read.

Marielle is an interesting and well-realized character; the author gets deeply into her heroine’s head, developing a sympathetic woman faced with realistic problems and issues, and negotiating an emotional minefield as she seeks happiness.

Unfortunately, the male lead is less fully realized, but after a slow start, he becomes a more relatable character. Readers should be patient and wait for him to emerge as the story unfolds.

Far more of a character study in Marielle’s development and feelings than a bodice-ripper romance, the introspective nature of this book makes it particularly suitable for readers who would enjoy seeing a single, strong woman negotiate the pitfalls of repairing the mistakes of her past and dealing with the consequences of both past mistakes and present ones.

EXCERPT

Peter gestured with a slight inclination of his head to a free table in the far corner. Again Marielle didn't move so he led the way and she followed, wondering what she could possibly say. Should they talk about the past? No. The present? Jobs? Holidays? Family? The plight of the Euro? The gallery she'd been to? Peter had already placed her coffee on the table and was holding out a chair. Marielle sat, putting her slightly shaking hands out towards her cup, sipping the coffee, withdrawing her hands and putting them together in her lap to still them. She looked up, unnerved to see Peter watching her carefully as if he were searching for something. Irrationally, she found herself desperately hoping she wouldn't be found wanting.

She tried to brazen out the examination by returning his steady gaze. She dropped her eyes to the table confused. She was stunned by his dark intense stare. She was aware of a physical response to his presence that was becoming uncomfortable. Marielle felt herself redden as she remembered. Their last parting was so painful. Peter had been more mature than she, more self-possessed. She knew he wanted her on many levels. Her younger self was not ready for commitment. She'd been more than halfway in love with him but hadn't wanted to be tied down. After the split she wanted a clean break so she stayed abroad and travelled. She had relationships and moved on, remaining restless. She'd heard no news of him for years as their mutual friends married, had children and also moved on. This did not mean she hadn't thought of him in the last ten years.

Looking at him now she had the decided feeling she was the loser here. He was absolutely gorgeous, radiating the sort of good looks and energy anyone could appreciate. She tried to swallow and attempted a smile. Unable to gauge the result the silence grew. Marielle remembered he'd always been good with silence, which she laughingly acknowledged was not her natural state. The atmosphere was choking like dry ice. She was overwhelmed and tongue-tied.

Seemingly aware of her growing misery, he spoke. "So Marielle. How are you? How have you been?"

The question she dreaded was out in the open between them, an invitation to tell all. She was still speechless, thinking. This was like the early stage of a migraine where the words dance on the page. Nothing was making sense. It too much of an effort to order her thoughts and make a sensible reply. What did he want her to say? How was she? How had she been?

The stare became concerned. She felt tears come to her eyes. She fought to get a grip on herself. She wasn't the crying sort. Especially not in public or in front of a man she felt she'd treated badly long ago.

"Fine," she said, "I've been fine."

She looked defiantly at him and saw the corners of his mouth lift in a slight smile then the eyes lost their softness and he gave her a cooler appraisal. She wondered again what he saw and felt herself blush deeply. What was going on here? She was amazed but disconcerted by the depth of feeling he stirred in her.

"Drink your coffee," he reminded.

The hot strong coffee did nothing to ease the ache in her throat, but she mechanically obeyed. She felt like an awkward teenager. All her senses were heightened and she realised the adrenaline now surging through her would suffice until the coffee began to kick in.

"Have you been happy?" he asked, "Do you enjoy your freedom?" This was said with a hint of bitterness and irony as he looked at her left hand holding the cup.

"Don't."

She reached for Peter's hands and felt him shudder on contact. Did he feel revulsion or something more positive? She realised this was the first time they'd touched. She was aware of a thrill of pleasure, but great confusion, too. Why was this man affecting her so? Their relationship was long over, they'd said goodbye and moved on. Hadn't they both got on with their lives? He was staring at their hands, hers pale and small now enveloped by his. His hands were warm and capable and she felt an absolute and absurd excitement that they covered hers. She could feel no ring. Irrationally emboldened by this detail, she asked him where he lived, the first bland question to enter her head.

"I have a flat in Chiswick near the business. I run a small design business with a partner. He's out of town this week so I was having an initial meeting with a client here. He just left when I saw you...I saw you, Marielle, buying a coffee." He shook his head with a wry smile and a measure of disbelief.

She searched for something to say. Anything would do. Their cups were empty and she could not let him go. She felt such powerful emotions and a desperate urge to stay with him.

"Well then, we have finished our coffee, shall we go?"

What made her say that? How would her suggestion be interpreted? Would he think she wanted to leave and walk away or would he think she was making a more brazen suggestion?

He did not let go of her hand and they moved to the door. As if they were following a film script he hailed a taxi with confidence and assurance. The next thing she knew they were sitting inside, their bags on the floor with nothing but space and a decade between them.

SCI/FI FANTASY SATURDAY: Sweet Misbehavin' is a romantic, mystical tale packed with magic, action, and adventure. SWEET MISBEHAVIN' BY CHRISTINE YOUNG

Title: Sweet Misbehavin'

Book three in the McKenna Clan Series

ISBN: 978-1-62420-110-3

Author: Christine Young

Email: aandcyoung@aol.com

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Excerpt Heat Level: 2

Book Heat Level: 5

Buy at: Rogue Phoenix Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Reviewed by Ashley Ladd, "Happily Ever After"
4 out of 5 stars

Sweet Misbehavin' is a romantic, mystical tale packed with magic, action, and adventure. Romance blooms when Margo, a novice fire starter running from an evil demon meets Carr, a heroic shape shifter. Although Margo has an innate distrust in people, especially in men, Carr gains her trust and convinces her to let him and his clan protect her and her young daughter. Not only does Margo come to know Carr, but comes to know herself, grow her powers, and trust in love again. This is a beautiful story that I heartily recommend reading. Although short, it packs a mighty wallop.

BLURB

Cast adrift after fleeing the home of Jokul, the ice demon, Atantsi, a firestarter, grew to womanhood as she moved through time to keep the demon from finding her. Though stubborn and courageous, she was ill prepared to use powers she had not been taught. Her first sight of the intoxicating Carr McKenna left her breathless, and her second encounter gave her hope for a future she never thought she had.

A playboy, a second son and a shifter, a man who thought his life would be carefree, Carr McKenna was shocked to discover the woman he’d paid as an escort is a firestarter who is running for her life. He is the leader of all the McKennas around the world and that he has multiple powers. His passion for Margo and the need to defend her might cost him his life as well as hers.

EXCERPT

In a sign of unity, they linked arms and strode to Phaedra's room. She picked up the crystal, and walking onto the balcony, Phaedra held the clear orb toward the sun. "Take us to Jokul, wherever he might be." Phaedra began to chant as the crystal seemed to take on a life of its own.

Splinters of sunlight hit the glass ball. The glow surrounding the crystal flowed into and around the girls. The world turned and spun. All the colors of the rainbow wrapped them in a protective tunnel.

Margo closed her eyes against the blinding light, clinging to Phaedra as they hurtled through space. She felt the difference. Time was not changing, only their destination.

In a matter of seconds, they were set down on a ledge of ice. Laughter echoed through the hallway then thunderous booms. Margo motioned to Phaedra to follow her. With caution, they walked toward the sounds. The building they were in shook and the ice columns around them swayed as if they might fall.

"What is it?" Margo felt nausea roll in her stomach. For a moment, she closed her eyes, hoping to understand what was happening and how to deal with it. She tried to remain composed, knowing the ability to think and react in a rational manner would serve her well.

A young girl cowered in a corner, a collar around her neck. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She turned from them when she saw them, her body trembling.

Phaedra knelt beside her. "Are you Jokul's slave?"

The girl looked up, terror clearly written in her eyes and nodded, "yes."

"Where are they? Where is Jokul? And what is he doing?" Margo's impatience grew exponentially. Fear spiraled, yet she forced control of her emotions and tried to remember everything she'd learned.

"Down that hall. He has killed. The big cats didn't have a chance. He is keeping one alive just to torment him." The girl's shaking hand rose from her lap and pointed.

"You'll be fine." Phaedra cupped the girl's cheek with her hand. "I promise. When this is finished, I will come back for you."

The girl didn't say anything. Instead she stared back with a vacant and torn gaze as if she didn't believe Phaedra.

"Jokul will not survive this day. I promise you. You will be set free." At her sides, Margo clenched and unclenched her fists. She meant to do this and suddenly she was no longer terrified of Jokul, his ice or his threats. With each passing second, her courage and confidence grew.

Several heartbeats later, Margo stepped inside the room where the slave girl sent her. The sight caught her breath. Carr's siblings and cousin were frozen ice statues. Relief that Carr wasn't frozen swept through her. Yet fear for him immobilized her for a moment. She watched him leap into the air, avoiding an ice bolt Jokul shot at him.

So consumed with their fight, neither male noticed their entrance to the room. Time was apparently on her side. Before anyone knew she was there, she shot fire at the three guards, their bodies aflame. The inferno lit the room. Then she turned her attention to the demon. Focusing on Jokul's back, she raised her hand, sending fire his way. Seeming to feel the searing heat, he whirled.

Rage lit his face then a smile. "You have come back to me but it is too late." He sent a torpedo of ice her way. Unflinching, she met it with fire. For a second, confusion creased his brows. She saw determination and rage in his face and a moment of confusion.

"You cannot defeat me." More powerful than ever, he sent another wave of ice towards her.

She met ice with fire. "No, Jokul, I'm not an innocent young girl who has no idea how to use her powers. Phaedra has taught me well. Did you think I would always be weak and in your control?"

Rivulets of water from the melting ice ran across the floor. Carr let out a mighty roar and leapt toward Jokul, bringing him down. They rolled on the floor, Jokul caught between Carr's claws.

At the close proximity, Jokul was able to slather Carr in a coat of frost. He broke free, scrambling to his feet and sending a small coating of frost to entomb Carr.

Margo could not risk Carr's life. Yet she remained ready for the battle, waiting for the right moment. Jokul left his mark on Carr once more. Then he rose, his frown growing.

"I will end you, Jokul," Margo said. "There is no other way." Her arms extended, her hands pointing to Jokul, she was poised on the brink of no return. She recalled the spoken words of caution. If she ended his life, there would be repercussions felt around the world. But if she did not, her life as well as the McKenna's would be threatened.

"You're very certain." Jokul's laughter encased her soul and terrified her. Once again, he sent a stream of ice, and once more she melted it with her fire. "You're no longer the weak little girl who fled my care."

"I told you it was so. I am strong, stronger than you because I have love for these people. You have only hatred to guide you." Her heartbeat slowed and assertive energy surged through her.

Phaedra remained behind Margo. "You must finish this. His strength is great. You must strike now before he regains his energy field. You cannot outlast him and you have the others to think of."

Margo tipped her head slightly, noticing how Carr had thrown off the cloak of frost and was stretching his muscles. While she kept her focus on Jokul, Carr looked at her and nodded.

She heard Carr's words in her mind. You have no choice. He means to kill all of us if he survives.

Reviewed by Harps Romance Book Review

I have just finished this book and it was awesome!  Carr McKenna meets Margo on her first night working as an escort to support herself and her young daughter.  Margo is an untrained firestarter so when she gets mad things catch on fire.  She is running for her life from an ice demon named Jokul.  Carr is more than he seems as he is a shapeshifting jaguar.  And he has more powers that he is just learning about.  He sees Margo as his life mate when they meet as sparks fly.  Can he save Margo from her stalking demon with the help of his family? Read and find out! I thoroughly enjoyed it.