Title: Sweet Misbehavin'

Book three in the McKenna Clan Series

Author: Christine Young

Email: achristay@aol.com

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Book Heat Level: 5

BUY AT AMAZON

 

BLURB: Sweet Misbehavin

 

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.

 

Sweet Misbehavin': Review

 

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.

 

EXCERPT: Sweet Misbehavin'

 

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.

 

#SweetDreams #ParanormalRomance

 

Title: Sweet Dreams

Author: Christine Young

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Book Heat Level:

 

Buy at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, Google Play

 

Read first chapter

 

TAGLINE

 

Guy McKenna knew eventually he’d find his soul mate then Casidhe Doyle walked into the Red Neck Bar and Grill in Cactus Junction in hopes of finding the shapeshifter of her dreams that would save her life.

 

BLURB: Sweet Dreams

 

Sweet Dreams 

 

For Cas Doyle finding the shifter of her dreams was a matter of life or death. She walked into the Red Neck Bar and Grill in Cactus Junction with a hope and a prayer he would be there and she would recognize him. What she needed was for him to take her home and take her virginity. Cas never thought to be a one-night stand. She had no choice.

 

Guy McKenna knew eventually he’d find his soul mate. He didn’t expect the reality to happen this night. When he saw her he knew. She was dressed provocatively, enticing him to an extreme he never felt before. What he didn’t know was if he could convince his protective family that Casidhe Doyle was indeed his soul mate.

 

 

EXCERPT: Sweet Dreams

 

Her dark sooty lashes lowered making a perfect arch across her high delicate cheekbones then, “I guess it is up to me to say no.”

            Lord, but he didn’t want her to say no to anything. “What were you studying?” 

            Perhaps that would be an easier question and might give him some insight into his recalcitrant soul mate. She obviously felt some attraction for him. Unfortunately, she didn’t appear to understand exactly just how potent and raw that magnetism was between them.

            “Paranormal abnormalities in the southwest. There have been plausible sightings, you know, shapeshifters, mostly big cats but there was a wolf sighting a few years ago. I left my studies because something terrified me. I started running but whatever it was it followed me. For some reason I ended up here.”

            His heart caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure where to go with this information but knew she wasn’t telling him the entire story. “Do you think shapeshifters exist?” 

            Slowly, he sipped keeping his gaze focused on her over the rim of the glass.

            She smiled at him again. This smile was somehow different. One perfect eyebrow rose a fraction. Then, “I know they exist. I know something else too.”

            He finished his beer before ordering another round for both of them. After minutes of thought, “How? How do you know something so strange or is it just speculation?”

            She shrugged those delicate shoulders again, ones he wanted to kiss from one side to the other, “Just my gut. No, actually I’ve seen one, a coal black jaguar shapeshifter in my dreams. I’ve seen all of him except his face. I’ve seen him take his clothes off and shift then in another dream I’ve seen him change from the jaguar back to a human.”

            Cas had seen him... naked. Or had she seen one of his brothers or sisters? No, he was sure she was speaking about him. 

            She said him. “What do you mean?” he asked, suddenly feeling out of his element and a bit at a disadvantage. 

            She’d seen him naked and... strangely he didn’t feel at all violated. He had this unthinkable need to ask her if she liked what she saw. He drew in a slow breath of air while he thought about all she told him.

            “I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink.” She finished the glass in front of her then changing the subject, “Should be getting back to my room before I fall asleep right here.”

            “At the hotel?” he asked, “I’ll walk you back, unless you’d like to come home with me.” 

            Where did that come from? He didn’t want her to think all he wanted from her was a one nightstand when he craved a lifetime. If she was truly running from something dangerous though, he wasn’t about to leave her alone and unprotected in the hotel. If she refused to come home with him, he’d stand guard outside her room.

Or inside, female permitting.

            “You said,” she paused, “a person had to walk. Don’t know if I can make it that far in these shoes.” Cas looked at her feet before she let him help her to stand then leaned on him. “I’m feeling a wee bit tipsy. I think I drank too much.” Her words began to slur a bit. 

            She was adorable, endearing.

            “You don’t have to walk. I rode my horse.” He chuckled thinking of holding his mate in his arms while riding the big stallion, taking her home, to what would be their home soon, he hoped.

            “You’re not going to walk.” She wrapped an arm around him, steadying herself. “Should I tell you now or later that I don’t know how to ride a horse? Terrified of them. I could fly...” she gasped, putting a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers.

            He stared at her a moment trying to understand then chocked it up as too much wine. “Neither of us is going to walk. We’re both riding my horse. Come on, I’ll show you.” His eagerness came through all too clear, but she didn’t seem to notice.

A few minutes later they stood in front of his horse. “Name’s Sam. He always sees me home even when I’ve had a few too many. Knows his way with his eyes closed. Don’t even have to use the reins. He’s as gentle as a kitten.”

            She stepped back a few feet, her hands outstretched as if she warded him off. Repeating an earlier statement, “Don’t know how to ride a horse. Never been this close to one either. How the devil am I going to stay on? How am I going to get on?”

            “Easy enough, I’ll ride the horse and you can sit on my lap. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. I promise. You can trust me.” 

He almost said and you can ride me but stopped himself just in time. He might explore with his hands, just a little. The last thing he wanted was to send her running away from him before they even got to know each other. He didn’t want to be the one she was running and hiding from.

            “How do we accomplish this?” Her words slurred even more now. She wavered slightly, her hands reaching out to grab him for support. “I doubt if I can mount that thing.”

            “I’ll mount Sam. You can give me your hand then I’ll pull you onto my lap,” he said as he proceeded to do just that.

            “Don’t know...” She was backing away from him, her head tilted slightly, her eyes squinting as if she tried to see what was in front of her.

            “You can do it. Besides, I know you don’t want to stay at the hotel by yourself. Whatever you’re running from might find you there.” He watched her face pale while she swallowed hard.

            “I never thought of that.”

A few minutes later, Cas sat on his lap, her body trembling as he slowly let Sam take the lead. He held onto her, praying something wouldn’t spook her or his horse. He was sure he just died and was in heaven. Her feminine curves fit soundly against the hard planes of his body.

            “You have to trust me,” he told her, his whisper close to her ear. He lightly touched the lobe with his tongue, felt the tiny shiver of desire. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’ve got you. All you have to do is relax.”

            “So you say,” she murmured softly, leaning against him doing as he asked. “I wish...”

            “Do you trust me?” he asked, hoping she’d say yes, his hands running up then down her arms.

            “I want to,” again a whisper.

He began to chant a song his great grandfather, an Apache medicine man, taught him when he was a child. The chant always soothed his nerves when he was upset or frightened as a child as well as during the skirmishes, the endless nightmare he lived in Iraq. He felt Cas slowly relax into his body. She could be falling asleep she had so much wine, but her body didn’t relax totally. Her hand rested on his forearm. He felt the curve of one breast push against his chest.

            This was good. It was all so very good. He would find out more about her when the time was right.

            A full moon appeared in the sky just as he reached his home. A slight breeze cooled the hot summer air. His house was built in a small grove of trees, some he planted years ago, some more recently. In times of draught, he had to haul water yet they survived just as his clan survived, lived and prospered in these barren lands.

He bent close to her ear and whispered. For a moment he was tempted to touch the shell of her ear with his tongue but held back. He wanted her to be the aggressor this first time with her, “We’re here.”

            She placed her hand on his chest, her fingers kneading his skin through his shirt. “I think we’ve stopped. Told you Sam knew his way home.”

            “Umm...”

            “I’ll let you down. All you have to do is land on your feet. Do you think you can do that?”

            “Maybe. I’m like a cat. I always land on my feet.”

            Her words sent a shiver down his spine. Like a cat.

 

 

KEYWORDS

 

Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Shapeshifters

 

 

Website: http://christineyoungromancewriter.com

 

Blogspot: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/achristay

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/

 

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young

 

Triber: https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe

 

 

LINKS

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSV23BZ

 

Barnes and Noble: 

 

Apple: https://tools.applemediaservices.com/book/1537483046?country=us

 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sweet-dreams-135

 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_Sweet_Dreams?id=y-sEEAAAQBAJ

 

 

#TellTaleTuesday #DesertBlood

 

Title: Desert Blood

Author: Brain Young

Email: byoung0201@aol.com

 

Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

 

Buy at Amazon: 

 

 

BLURB: Desert Blood

 

The Dolus invasion rolled over the unassuming Kingdom of Larista leaving ghost towns in its wake. It brought death and destruction in abundance and left the people of Larista without their king or his heirs. It left the kingdom reeling with the realization that they weren’t alone on their isolated side of the Maker’s Mountain but instead part of a world that desperately wanted and needed the life giving water they took for granted.

 

One of the king’s sons, the Prisoner Prince Alexander, is still alive but held captive on the unexplored eastern side of the Maker’s Mountain known as the Wasteland. The man that holds him is the Emperor of the Free Cities, Jameson. His quest for vengeance and conquest has stirred up the other nations of the Wasteland and made them aware of the riches of Larista.

 

Alexander’s lifelong friends, Percival and Maximus must set out on individual journeys to find their friend, their king and themselves. But they will face a litany of foes along their paths. A horde of Beleick soldiers led by the Dictact threaten to sweep over the land sending everything into chaos while the Sisters of Gnaritas and the Death Stalker assassins weave their own intricate schemes for control of the Wasteland and the water that might flow from Larista.

 

Amongst so many people blood thirsty for power can Alexander find his way to the Maker’s Path or will he succumb to his own demons and find the Wraith’s Den in Oblivion…

 

REVIEW: Desert Blood

 

Book Whiz

This was a very fun, action-packed read. Desert Blood has very well-paced POV switches. Also, I love the fact that there are POVs for the villains; it helps us gain an insight into their world and how they think, which is a very good idea. There’s a massive character development arc in just one book! The characters in this book have dimension and their own backstories. I love how throughout the book, each character has a specific subplot and in the end, all these subplots just tie together wonderfully. I like the fact that you feel sympathy for every character — even the villains! I caught myself rooting for them a lot. The author’s writing style is eye-capturing, descriptive and full of action. He has more of a show – don’t tell – style, which I love in books. This book has so many cliffhangers; they kept me up all night reading! Overall, this book is an engaging, tension-filled read with beautiful descriptions and an amazing writing style.

 

 

EXCERPT: Desert Blood

 

 

Gravel bit at his face and the palms of his hands; it tore at his light shirt as well, causing pain to sear across his chest and elbows and mixing his blood with the grit and dirt of the road. Being thrown from a moving vehicle wasn’t something Maximus had ever intended to experience. Until a couple of months ago, I hadn't even seen one in working condition.The thoughts managed to penetrate the turmoil of his current circumstances.

The frayed ropes that had bound his hands together snapped from the impact of his fall. Once he skidded to a stop, Maximus tore the rough sack off his head. Light from a high and hot, late day sun forced his eyes half shut, and he started to cough as the corrosive grit swirling in the air invaded his lungs. He forced himself to suck in more of the dreadful stuff along with the oxygen mixed with it and painfully made his way to his feet.

The choppers, as the locals affectionately called them, circled around him. Their riders hooted and jeered over the rattling engine noise that provided the bikes with their name. They were makeshift versions of the motorcycles high-priced couriers possessed and cobbled together from whatever spare parts their riders could scrounge up. Tires spit more sand at him and added to the growing cloud of dust. He turned circles, in vain, attempting to follow the dancing mob and make an accurate head count. After a moment, he realized it was pointless as not only was the sun hampering his vision, but his sight was slightly blurry as well. He didn’t remember hitting his head when he was thrown from the chopper, but it throbbed nonetheless.

He did notice an abandoned building that loomed in the distance beyond the motorcycles; it was distorted from the dust swirling in the air and heat waves radiating from the ground. Its broken windows and sagging roof weren’t very promising, but it would be better than standing out in the open. The only problem was getting to it. He doubted he’d get more than a few steps in any direction before being run down by one of the gangers. And that was definitely all they were. Despite his foreign status, Maximus had spent enough time in the military to tell the difference between a professional unit and a bunch of testosterone teeming punks.

It’s worth a try.He sprinted towards it and made it all the way to the ring of riders before realizing he would never get through them. The idea of trying to dive past them and hope his luck held out crossed his mind, but his instincts took over. He skidded to a stop and one of the passing riders gave him a boot to the chest. The rider’s momentum was jarring and Maximus fell on his back hard enough to send the wind rushing from his lungs.

He looked up to see the rider who had kicked him wobble out of line before his bike tipped over and spilled him to the ground. A howl of laughter loud enough to be heard over the other riders was aimed at their fallen brethren. He responded with muttered cursing and a show of rude gestures. Maximus pulled himself to his feet for the second time in as many minutes.

Motion caught his attention and Maximus tried to focus his gaze on one of the riders who broke from the pack. The man sped to mere feet in front of Maximus before slipping his rear wheel to the side and coming to a skidding stop, spraying more sand into the air. Maximus didn’t flinch from the display of showmanship; he only closed his eyes and tilted his head aside to avoid the worst of the grit.look at his greeter, he allowed himself to slump against the relatively cold stone wall. 

 

 

#MysteryMonday #DragonsAmongThe Eagles

 

Dragons Among the Eagles by C. L. Kraemer

Excerpt Heat Level: 0

Book Heat Level: 

 

Buy at Amazon:

Buy at Barnes & Noble  

 

BLURB: Dragons Among The Eagles

 

Aleda Sable faces the toughest decision of her life--to stay in dragon form, live as a two-legged or put one foot in the human world and one talon in the dragon world.

An urgent call from her newspaper editor sends Aleda to report on an accident whose driver appears to be a dragon. Authorities have the scene locked down and aren't allowing access to anyone. Television broadcasts flash pictures of scaly legs hanging from a crashed car. However, the bodies disappear into thin air. When the stations try follow-up reports, all they find are state highway workers busily tearing up the roads.

In determining the truth of the shifter disappearances, Aleda finds the truth of her own dilemma.

 

EXCERPT: Dragons Among The Eagles

 

Rain thwacked against Aleda's leathery black a

ppendages. Her arms ached; heck, every muscle in her body ached. This flying thing was going to take more practice. The continual downpour of the spring night slithered past her shielded turquoise eyes, bathing her scales in cool refreshment. As much as she would like to have frolicked in the showers, she was more interested in landing in one spot, curling up and sleeping for the next four days. If only…

 

Cyre winged up to her side.

 

"You go in first and I'll follow. I want to wash off the grit of the trip."

 

Aleda pulled back her lips in a semblance of a smile.

 

"No problem," she shouted over the wind drafts.

 

When Cyre's sister, Brittany, had first suggested Aleda attend the dragon council in China, she'd been ecstatic. Her recent discovery of her true identity--half human, half dragon--had put her beliefs to the test. She imagined being around those like her would make her transition simpler. Cyre and Brittany, full-blooded Celtic dragons, had helped as best they could by explaining rules of dragon protocol and pointing out the good guys from the bad guys at the council meetings. By the end of the week, Aleda's fairy tale illusion had fallen abruptly on sharp rocks. Politics and power were as rampant in the dragon-shapeshifter community as in the human community.

 

Brittany was going to spend a night or two in Cyre's den before continuing her journey back to Scotland. Then Aleda and Cyre would be faced with the decisions they'd both been putting off since their first meeting.

 

She felt the solid rock beneath her talons and breathed a sigh of relief. The council meeting had been exhilarating, educational and overwhelming all at once. It was nice, really nice, to be back in the Northwest of the United States. Aleda stood, getting her land legs then shook the extra moisture from her body. Placing her talon on the button in the rock wall, she pushed and the door of the cave slid open. Watching the heavy glass trundle into the backside of Mt. St. Helens still gave her chill bumps. So much about the twenty-first century dragon world made her shake her head. How could they survive with all the advancements humans had accomplished? Knowing the answer still didn't stop her from asking the question.

 

The few minutes she'd stood contemplating questions already asked had given the cavern a chance to air out. While her sense of smell wasn't as acute for some things, sulfur being one of those, she still hadn't been able to adjust completely to the acrid aroma Cyre tolerated in his cave.

 

As she dragged her tired feet over the threshold, Cyre backwinged his way on the landing. Aleda turned just in time to catch the wicked twinkle in his eyes.

 

He sprayed water over the landing, his laughter bubbling over the surrounding rocks like thunder.

 

"Cyre! I just dried off! Jiminy!"

 

Aleda wrinkled her brow and glared at the young gray-green dragon. His mirthful smirk did nothing to help her anger.

 

"Hey, you two. Get in here and dry off. I did some hunting before you got here and there's dinner in the great room. I've had mine and to be quite frank, I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep."

 

Brittany tromped back to the great room and found a warm spot near the back wall. 

 

Cyre and Aleda located the carcasses of the deer where Brittany had dropped the bodies. Each took one and moved off to eat, alone, before settling in for the night. Minutes after devouring their meals, the trio of dragons were fast asleep, the decisions of the previous week set aside for the normality of life.

 

 

 

Dragons Among the Eagles is an excellent sequel that will hold your attention until the very end and leave you craving more. Well done Ms. Kraemer for delivering yet another awesome book!

 

Worthy of a 5 Angel Eyes rating

L. Nickels for Rogue's Angels

 

 

#RomanceSunday #ForeverHis

 

Forever His by Christine Young

Excerpt Heat Level: 

Book Heat Level:

 

August 30, 1895

Near Buffalo Creek,

South Dakota

 

Buy at Amazon

 

 

BLURB: Forever HIs

 

Struggling to come to terms with the part she played in Jacob St. John’s death, Etta Barringer resigns from Pinkerton Agency and seeks peace and solace in a Rocky Mountain Cabin.

 

Jacob has vowed to discover the reason Etta has betrayed him, sold him out to his enemy and left him for dead.

 

Isolated in their cabin, they discover their love for each other and learn to trust. But the trust is shattered when Jacob learns she is married to his sworn enemy; the man who left him in the desert to die.

 

REVIEW: Forever His

 

Christine Young has done it again in this historical romance. The blizzards, betrayal, deceit and a ruthless bandito like Chavez made this a great romance.

 

Melinda for Night Owl Romance     5 out of 5

 

 

EXCERPT: Forever His

 

The sun beat down. Searing heat waves hit the hard packed earth, blistering, charring everything, even the dry prairie grass. Jacob St. John, his arms stretched overhead and bound to a whipping post, no longer counted the lashes tearing into his back, no longer felt the horrific agony. 

 

More than a half-dozen men and one woman were gathered in the sage-patched backyard of the run-down shack. So far not one person made a sound as they watched Chavez wield the whip, stripping the flesh off his back.

 

If Chavez weren't so angry and seeking revenge of his own, he would probably have just had him shot. Revenge was a powerful motive. Chavez wanted Jacob to suffer, to yell before he died. It seemed Etta Barringer did too. So far Chavez was toying with him, taunting and teasing him, cutting an inch here, ripping an inch there, not doing much damage but making mincemeat out of his back.

 

Jacob hadn't made a sound yet, not even a sharp, indrawn breath. He wasn't about to even though he knew Chavez would get impatient and start slashing. There was no hurry. Chavez had as long as he wanted. No one save Etta knew where he was, no one would come looking for him, at least not until the sun went down. By then Chavez would be done with him, and he would either be dead or buzzard-bait. For the life of him, he couldn't figure why Etta would hand him over to Chavez. She had always been Pinkerton to the core, yet she had betrayed him once before. If he survived this, he meant to have answers. He'd move heaven and earth to search out the lying Etta Barringer and find out exactly what she had against him.

 

The pain of betrayal at the forefront of his mind, and vows of revenge against the instigator of this kept him going. He focused on the woman's laughter and the scent of lemons that permeated his soul.

 

He had been taken by surprise. Still, he didn't go down easily. It took all of Chavez's men to get him bound securely to the post in back of the shack. And of those men, not one came away from the encounter without a scratch. Blood from the multitude of small cuts Chavez had inflicted ran in rivulets from his back, pooling on the parched thirsty ground, soaking into the dirt, staining it. 

 

He stood, his head proudly erect and that seemed to draw anger from Chavez. The grip of his fingers curled around the top of the post, the only sign of Jacob's pain--and fury.

 

The first real stroke of the whip felt like a red-hot branding iron searing across his back. Jacob didn't flinch, nor would he as long as he could hear her laughter or smell lemons floating languidly on the breeze. He wished he could see her, stare into her beguiling, green eyes until she knew he'd never stop hunting for her. Fury at his own weakness rose, and the anger he felt deep inside simmered, because she'd always attracted him. Ever since she showed up in a small town in Oregon, seduced him then drugged him and left him to sleep off the opium-laced whiskey, she'd fascinated him.

 

Concentrate on her--on what you're going to do when you find her again . . . 

 

 

 

Christine Young has done it again in this historical romance. The blizzards, betrayal, deceit and a ruthless bandito like Chavez made this a great romance.

 

Melinda for Night Owl Romance     5 out of 5

 

 

#Sci/fiFantasySaturday #ElvenRoses

 

Title: Elven Roses

Author: Brandon Hill

Email: khyron20@gmail.com

 

Genre: science fiction/fantasy

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

 

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BLURB: Elven Roses

 

            Aldrec was an elf who was mystery to all but himself. Keeping others at arm’s length, he lived each day staving off madness from his impossibly long and somewhat reclusive life.  Mericlou was an Alerian model: an obsolete brand of android from a bygone era, lost in the monotony of the daily grind and her eccentric ‘family.’  Their friendship, born of  serendipity, healed their lonely souls.  Later, love entwined their lonely hearts…and nearly rekindled a shameful war.

 

 

EXCERPT: Elven Roses

 

Nalsa district, across the river, Number 4 Windhill Apartments.

The elf repeated the address to himself as he pushed his way through the crowds. In human cities it was unusual for a something as petty as purse-snatching to be the subject of intense gossip amongst the marketplace goers, but elven cities like Lusea were known for their tranquility and near-nonexistent crime. The owner of the flower shop, an elf maiden who knew him, had given him the android's address from her records after his promise to deliver the flowers she had dropped, and he had magically stored them for safekeeping. Her home was not far away. Yet he hoped that he could find her first and offer his help.

He was in luck, it seemed, as he became aware of her crying above the ambient noise of the thinning crowds as he reached the marketplace edge. Her electronic voice was very distinctive, and her cries were both plaintive and miserable.

The elf pressed on through the final throngs of shoppers and followed the sound at last to a lone figure sitting on the steps of a shop just beyond the pillars of the marketplace atrium. Her face was buried in her hands.

He came to her side and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she lifted her head.

"By the Divine…!" the elf gasped, eyes widening at the sight of her.

She was beautiful!

Though her amber-colored doe eyes were bloodshot and red, her tear-streaked face was, like all androids, devoid of any physical blemish. If it could be said to be an imperfection, there was only a tiny mole set below and to the right of her deep-bronze-red lips. A black leather choker was clasped around her neck, from which hung a gold-encrusted amethyst. Androids were a common sight, and female types, even more so, but it was as if, at the sight of this particular android, he had never truly noticed them before. For a second, he simply stared, his voice caught in his throat at her beauty that, for lack of a better word, could only be described as perfect.

The elf fumbled with his hip satchel for a handkerchief, which he offered to the android. The android hiccupped another couple of suppressed sobs as she stared curiously at him then at his gift. With only the faintest of smiles, she accepted it. The pale, near-alabaster tone of her skin made her fingers seem as delicate as a china doll's.

"I saw what happened," the elf said, finally finding his tongue. He knelt beside the android as she used the handkerchief to dab at her eyes. "Are you okay?"

The android shook her head, and a couple more tears streamed down her stained cheeks.

"No…I…I think I'm really, really far from okay," she croaked. "That little punk… My entire lifewas in that purse! My ether link, my makeup, my ID cards…"

Her last few words became garbled as she grimaced and broke again into a torrent of cries and wails. She buried her face in the handkerchief, and before long, had soaked it through with her tears.

"It's…the perfect end…to a perfect day!" She came up for air, only to cover her face again and resume her crying fit.

Alarmed, yet hesitant, the elf placed his arm around her shoulder, and to his surprise, she readily accepted him. The android leaned into his breast, and coughed out a few more ragged sobs, too exhausted to cry anymore.

"Th-thank you," she quavered, having composed herself and looking more than a little embarrassed at having emptied her sorrow into the bosom of a complete stranger. "I'm not usually like this, really. It's just that…well, today's just gone all to hell, if you know what I mean?" She followed her statement with a loud, wet sniffle.

"Oh, I can guess," the elf said, recalling, in spite of himself, his mood before seeing her chase after that purse-snatcher. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Besides, I've had something of a bad day myself."

"Have you ever had yourpurse stolen?" The android asked, as though nothing could have possibly been worse than what had happened to her.

At this, the elf stifled a potentially regrettable laugh. "No, but then again, how many men, human or otherwise, do you see with a purse?"

The android let out a slight guffaw, and smiled.

"Aha, so you canlaugh!" the elf said. "I was beginning to wonder if your sense of humor had been taken as well. But seriously, if I didhave a purse—heaven forbid—I know that it isn't exactly the best thing to wear in the city, even in Lusea. It's too easy to steal: bands snap; there's nothing to hold on to. I've seen it before."

"I guess I learned it the hard way, huh?" the android said grimly. She bent over, cradling her forehead in her hands. "Boy, was I stupid, or what?"

"Look, don't talk like that." The elf shook his head resolutely. "You're notstupid. You just made a mistake, is all. Besides, that kid was the one to blame. Hewas the one who stole your purse. Hey, that reminds me…"

He removed his hip satchel from his belt and unzipped it. "Here," he said, "you can have this."

"Oh, no!" the android said, pushing it away the moment he presented it. "I couldn't possibly-"

"No, I insist," the elf said, pushing it back her way. "Besides, it's full of stuff that I don't really need. Go ahead. Take a look inside."

She wiped the stray tears from her face and eyed him suspiciously, but the elf's reassuring smile was mysteriously disarming. She reached inside.