Review: Two's a Couple, Three's the Law by Eve Langlais

Can one woman handle two dominant men intent on staking their claim?
Warning: This story contains adult subject matter and language that is probably not suitable for anyone. (MFM paranormal erotic romance)
Two’s a couple, three’s a ménage, not to mention the law. Welcome to an alternate world where the government gives tax breaks to women who choose to take on two or more men—and werewolves live amongst us.
Despite the laws encouraging polygamy, Chloe isn’t interested in a relationship with one man, let alone two. But all that changes when a werewolf client decides he wants her for more than just legal aid. He’s not alone though. Her nemesis in the courtroom, district attorney Anthony Vanderson, is also intent on seduction.
Caught between two men—naked and panting—she succumbs to passion, gets embroiled in a mystery and learns werewolves aren’t the only creatures living amongst humans.
My Review:
Welcome to Hell was probably my favorite series to date by this enchanting author, but I think this one is in close running threatening to take its place.  I was shocked by this revelation myself.  Chloe wasn't your typical mate me before I die kind of chic...in fact she truly wanted some rockin one night stands and her life to stay as it was.  I think the author did a great job in creating her character.  She was snarky, prissy, and believable...especially when it came to emotional baggage.  I can relate.  A really bad relationship can sure lead you into dry spells of not wanting to commit or get serious.
And the new laws?  All I have to say is.....can I visit and damn why can't THAT be a reality..lol. I could definitly be down with some 3's the law!!! 
As for our hunky alpha duo,  I like tortured and dark heroes..so I'm kind of in the vampire's corner, but honestly?  I can see both their appeals and would have jumped into that with both arms open!!  WHOOO....Chloe is definitely enviable.
One of the reasons I liked this book so much was because of all the mystery surrounding it. Paranormal beings coming to lite...new laws...magic users being eradicated.....secret societies....and the way it ended!!  This book was completely intriguing and I love it!!  I can't wait for book 2!!!!

Giveaway and Spotlight On: Psychic Appeal by Michelle McCleod

Blurb: Psychic P.I. Sofa Parker never thought she'd date a ghost, but when she accidentally kills her boyfriend, the phrase 'eternal love' takes on an unwelcome meaning. He doesn’t want a little thing like death to come between them and plans to haunt Sofia until she agrees. 
Add a case that results in being stalked by a necromancer, betrayal by dragons and the meddling of druids and things get complicated, fast. But the latest Supernatural politics aren’t her biggest problem. 
Sofia’s met someone and she can’t stop herself from falling in love. Life really hits the fan when her new relationship drives the lovesick ghost of her boyfriend to come back from the dead...anyway he can. 
‘Bad break-up’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.
  What readers say about Michelle McCleod’s work:  “Her writing style is unique and fast paced. Very easy to get lost in the world.”  “I was drawn into the characters, and I couldn't help but like them. I really liked that the heroine wasn't too stupid to live! A nice bit of world building.”  “Sexy and fast, with a quick-witted heroine and a hottie hero.”        Psychic Appeal Excerpt   As far as first days back at work went, things were going pretty well. No reporters. No gawkers. No business either, but it had been more than six months since I'd flipped the sign from 'closed' to 'open' on the antique store I ran.
A lot had changed since then. 
The shop felt like a time capsule. A perfectly preserved snapshot of my life before it fell apart. I had been happy here. Before the accident, I had been in a serious relationship with a thriving business. After...well, I wasn't lacking for dust bunnies. The store was dirty. Dust coated everything, and mold grew fragrant in my favorite coffee cup. The smell was so bad, I threw the mug away rather than clean out the fuzzy gunk inside.
Note to self: Always wash out the coffee mug. You never know when you’ll be accused of murder.  Boxes of inventory towered behind me, waiting to be processed, and a pile of paperwork--receipts, auction catalogs, correspondence, bills--covered the marble-topped bar that served as a checkout counter. I'd been trying to figure out where to start for the last hour. Organizing the paperwork had seemed like a logical first choice, but I couldn't focus on it. The memories were too overwhelming, reminding me that, if life was a ladder, I'd fallen from the top to the bottom, a bottom with a sinkhole underneath, waiting to swallow me whole.
Grabbing a rag and turning my back on the paperwork, I began wiping down the jumble of armoires, dressers, and tables scattered about the shop. Maybe I just needed to work out my anxiety with elbow grease. As I dusted, I tried to keep my mind closed to the whispers of the past that tried to push through my fingertips to my mind's eye. 
Normally, I didn't mind the constant barrage of history. Being psychic was a bonus in the antique industry, and I enjoyed the unique perspective on days gone by that my clairvoyance gave me, but there were a few recent events I didn't want to remember. The youngest memories always had the strongest voice.
If I let them, the walls would tell me all about my fall again. They knew exactly what had happened. After all, my downward spiral had started here, and the plaster, even the support beams behind as well as every other item in the shop, chattered with the knowledge of it. 
Well, they weren't actually talking. Inanimate objects didn't have personalities, but they did soak up impressions and events around them. People didn't just leave behind fingerprints when they touched something, but also bits of their energy, which then melded with objects, preserving some moments in time with startling clarity. 
A sudden chill raised the hair on the back of my neck reminding me that, sometimes, a lot more than just energy was left behind. Even with the warning the temperature change provided, I still jumped when a familiar face smiled up at me from inside the oak table I was cleaning.  Mark. 
Also known as my recently departed ex-boyfriend. Emphasis on the ex. As I liked to remind him, dead people don't date. He remained unconvinced.
Mark rose out of the table in a fog of gray vapor that coalesced into the shape of the muscular, sandy-haired man I had thought I would marry. Now I just wished he would leave me alone so I could forget the guilt and get on with my life. Whoever came up with 'til death do us part' knew what they were talking about. Sure, love beyond death sounded romantic, but it didn't live up to the hype the vampire soap operas gave it. 
Laughing, he raised his arms over his head and said, “Boo.” His blue aura twinkled with good  humor. Yeah, ghosts have auras. I’d been surprised too. Even weirder, I didn’t have to squint to see his. It was just there, no blurry vision required. On living people, I had to practically cross my eyes to catch sight of someone’s aura.
I frowned at Mark. “That's not funny.” When he'd been alive, one of the things I had liked about him the most had been his sense of humor. Now that he was dead, not so much.
Maybe I'd just forgotten how to laugh.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Psychic-Urban-Fantasy-Romance-Appeal-ebook/dp/B00GWPWHAI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385519975&sr=8-2&keywords=psychic+appeal   BN link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/psychic-urban-fantasy-romance-michelle-mccleod/1117501225?ean=2940149051762

Bio: Michelle McCleod saw her first ghost at the age of four and has been running scared ever since. She also stole a rock from a real vampire who is probably still looking for her. On top of that, any psychic tendencies she has are dyslexic. Basically, the safest thing for her to do is stay indoors and write what she knows: Paranormal.   You can find her online at: Her blog: http://michellemccleod.blogspot.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellemccleodwrites    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Merry Christmas my Friends!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!  Here is wishing all the Naughtiness you can handle over the Holidays!!!!
Merry Christmas!!!

Giveaway and Spotlight On: Layers Deep by Lacey Silks

Layers Deep Author:   Lacey Silks Genre: Erotic Romance  Categories:  M/F with HEA ending  Release Date: December 4, 2013 Publisher: MyLit Publishing Format: eBook (paperback TBA) Length:  Novel, 57000 words  He needs her to save a friend. She needs him to plan her revenge. Their pasts scar them Layers Deep. Their passion distracts them... ...and distractions can be fatal. Tristan Cross is battling emotional demons from the past. He lives in a world where trust is earned, loyalties are tested, and love is impossible. That is, until he meets Allie Green. She’s the only woman who can help him find a kidnapped friend and to top it off, she captivates him. All he has to do now is persuade her to work for Cross Enterprises, his top investigations firm.  Allie Green is a rookie cop seeking revenge and she’s willing to sell her soul to get it. When an opportunity to use Tristan Cross presents itself so does the time for payback. As her vengeance boils her blood she can’t keep her mind off her new boss and Allie finds it difficult to keep her employment professional. With the mouth watering Tristan Cross distracting her, she struggles to prioritize an undercover job she’s been assigned and her hunger for revenge. And when you’re ready to give up your life to save someone else, distractions can be fatal.  Note: This book is the first part of a Trilogy that is designed to be read in order. Tristan and Allie will get their happy ending but not until book 2. This book contains a cliff hanger ending you will not expect. A prequel to the series which can be read alone is Dazzled by Silver. Warning: This title contains erotic situations, and graphic language. Intended for adult audience 18+. Available at:  Amazon / Kobo / Barnes&Noble / Smashwords Excerpt: My feet pressed to the floor as the elevator lifted against gravity. Tristan turned, facing me. His sultry stare bore through my body, and I felt my back press against the mirrored wall. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He wasn’t supposed to hold power over me; no man ever had. I was a cop. A strong cop who wasn’t swayed by crying mothers, cute puppies, or gorgeous hunks speeding in their Ferraris, offering everything they owned and more. But I was also a woman – and to Tristan, my body responded of its own accord. I felt my breasts swell and I wished I’d worn a dress with a larger top: one that could hold the twins in better. Tristan didn’t seem to mind. “So, what will two thousand dollars buy me, sweetheart?” Even if we were playing, I had a feeling this was going to be one hell of an interview—one of the best ones I’d ever had. “Whatever you want.” I wondered how far he’d go, and how far I’d allow him to go. I already knew what he wanted. My instincts were solid, especially the hormonal ones. My body had secretly ached for his touch since he’d walked into the auditorium. And that one deep kiss we’d shared in his car was like a teasing spoonful of chocolate cake. I craved chocolate cake; and not just a bite. And before I could say another word, Tristan crushed his mouth to mine, possessing it like he owned me, spreading my lips apart with his needy tongue. The hint of scotch still lingered in his mouth. And at this moment, he did own me. Every. Single. Piece of me. His grip on my wrists above my head would have normally enraged me. But tonight I wasn’t a cop, and his strong and demanding fingers wrapped around my hands like cuffs, burning me with a long-forgotten yearning. The force of his lips devoured mine, his tongue exploring my mouth. The few moans that escaped me, Tristan swallowed. I had no room to breathe and found hardly enough strength to stand on my legs. He let go of my mouth and trailed his lips along my jaw to my cheek and ear before lowering down my neck, pinning me against the wall. Oh, God, he felt so good against my body. Everything inside me twisted and tightened and released in unbearable pulses between my thighs. I breathed him in, the oak smell of his scotch imprinted in his skin and in his hair. The elevator halted and Tristan jolted up as if he’d just realized what he’d done. He searched my eyes with his as if asking permission to go on. And for the first time tonight, doubt crept in. He leaned his forehead against mine. “We can’t do this. I’m your employee,” I whispered into his mouth. But inside, I laughed at my own unconvincing words, feeling the heat between my legs penetrate my dampened panties. The open elevator door chimed the second time. “Your body says we can.” He cupped my engorged breasts, one in each hand, squeezing them in slow motion, feeling their full weight. I held my breath, pushing my chest into his palms, filling them. He looked straight into my eyes. “And you’re not hired until the morning.” This time, his mouth took my lips slowly. The forceful tongue softened, teasing my gums, and I couldn’t get enough of his taste as he guided me into his apartment. We never broke our kiss and I couldn’t remember when my arms wrapped around his neck and fingers weaved through his silky hair. Tristan’s hands slid down my body and under my skirt, scrunching it up to my waist, and I felt him smile against my mouth. “You’re prepared.” His palm covered the hand gun in a holster strapped to my thigh. “You never know what weirdo you’ll run into on the street.” He laughed, pulling the buckle open. Tristan set my piece aside on the table. “What else are you hiding there?” He drew his finger along my brow, looking deep into my eyes. And for a moment I thought he could see everything, including my soul. “Things I can never forget.” Did I just say that? “I want to help you forget, for tonight at least.” The comfort and understanding in his eyes struck me deep inside. But behind those deep amber-like gems there was also pain. I wasn’t the only one hurting. Whatever had happened to Tristan must have been bad. Perhaps he was scarred as deep as I was? Had he ever allowed anyone to see what was hidden, layers deep inside his heart? I wondered what secrets he held and whether he’d share them. “I’m going to fuck you now.” His voice thickened with lust as his fingers gripped the lace panties on my ass. The way he’d said this so nonchalantly comforted me. Like it was something we both needed and wanted. A fuck to forget. “If that’s what two thousand dollars buys, fuck away.” When I looked into his eyes, Tristan understood completely. Tightening his grip, he lifted me up and seized my mouth. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my arms holding onto his upper body. Tristan carried me across his apartment, but I couldn’t remember a single detail about the place, except the faint smell of scotch, manly musk, and Tristan. I loved smelling him. His lips felt so good and natural against my mouth, just as it had when he’d kissed me that first time in the car. I’d dreamt about that luscious kiss every night. But this was much better than a dream, because his lips were warm and real. His bulging arms and flexing muscles as he carried me so effortlessly pulsed under my body. I wasn’t sure when he’d laid me down on the bed, or removed my skirt, panties, or even the top, because the next time he pulled away from my mouth and I looked up, I was naked, in a faintly lit bedroom, propped on my elbows, watching Tristan remove his jeans and shirt. About the Author   Lacey is an Author of Erotic Romance. Her stories come from her life, dreams and fantasies. She’s a happily married wife with two kids. Lacey likes to make her readers blush and experience the story as if they were the characters. Drawing on the reader’s most sensitive emotions through realistic stories satisfies her more than… …ok not really, but you get the point;) She likes a pinkish shade on a woman’s cheeks, men with large feet and sexy lingerie-especially when it’s torn off the body. Her favorite piece of clothing is a ‘birthday suit’. Connect with Lacey:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS: GRAND PRIZE: 
 $25 Amazon gift card   2ND PLACE: a book thong and an eBook of the prequel to Layers Deep titled "Dazzled by Silver".   2 RUNNERS-UP: will each receive an eBook of the prequel to Layers Deep titled "Dazzled by Silver". 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Ariel's Song by Evie Knight

About Ariel’s Song: Colin Hoskins, famous classical violinist, is tainted by his past. Angry at life, unable to move beyond the betrayal of his dead fiancé, he’s sworn off performing or falling in love ever again. All Colin wants is to be left alone, except no one listens. Especially the pretty little assistant he can’t fire and his body burns to claim. Stranded in a foreign country, bankrupted heiress Ariel Parks needs a job to fund her way home. Assistant of sorts to the musician she’s fantasized about for years sounds like a dream job. She never imagined the gorgeous genius would be a reclusive beast. But the real problem is the way every nerve in her body tingles at the mention of his name.

  Sneak Preview: The long narrow hallway looked as lush as everything else in his house. Ariel looked at the spotless dark wood floors lined by warm sand colored walls accentuated with expensive paintings. She bet all were originals. “Well, off you go.” The plump housekeeper motioned to the hallway. “He’s in his music studio.” Ariel bit the inside of her cheek, doubting her decision. Maybe it’d be best to ask the older woman to show her in. She turned to ask, finding the woman no longer stood next to her. Ariel looked around hoping to find her, realizing she stood in the middle of the room alone. She took a deep breath, glancing up at the vast arched ceiling, feeling it swallow her whole. All right, here goes nothing. Ariel adjusted the tote on her shoulder and walked down the hall, following the origin of the music, slowing down as she approached a half closed door from where the melody came. The notes to a Nirvana song filled her ears. She closed her eyes, allowing his music to hypnotize her how it always did. God. She loved his music. Some people frowned upon classical crossovers like Colin. Ariel bet he didn’t give a shit what anyone thought of his musical arrangements. He was an artist playing for the love of music and nothing else. He’d probably continue to mix classical with Pop, Rock, and Metallica for as long as he lived. She drummed her foot on the floor, her insides squealing. Her favorite musician played on the other side of the door. She bid her time, enjoying the music. As tempted as Ariel was to let him know she’d arrived for her first day of work, she didn’t want to interrupt. When Colin finished playing the Nirvana song, Ariel took a step forward ready to announce her presence. Then, the strings with the first notes to a gypsy song halted her mid-step. Ariel leaned on the wall, closing her eyes once more to hear him play. She resisted the impulse to remove her shoes and dance to the gypsy melody in his hall. Damn, he could play. “Are you going to come in or stand there all day?” he asked from inside the room. His voice startled her. Shit. She opened her eyes. How did he know she’d been there all along? Ariel cleared her throat and walked in. “Hi. I-I was waiting…” She motioned to his instrument. A palpable tension filled the air the moment her gaze met his, drawing her to him. His black T-shirt and jeans gave him a dark angel aura. He wore his hair down without a ponytail. Colin stood next to his music stand. His stubble denser, framing his face, giving his piercing eyes a darker caramel shade. Ariel cast her gaze to the large skull ring on his left pinky finger. The man was a hot rocker playing Mozart. “Let me make something clear to you.” He raked a hand through his hair, securing a strand behind his ear. “No one walks through that door when I’m in here practicing. Any questions?” Colin placed the bow on the stand and set his violin in its case. Ariel regained her composure. “No questions. However, I think we need to set some ground rules.” She crossed the room to the bay window opposite from him. “If I’m going to be your assistant, there are some things we can’t do.” She ran her index finger along the edge of the window then placed her tote on the side table next to it. “For starters—” She turned and bumped into his strong chest. “Enlighten me,” Colin said. Her heart skipped a beat as she lifted her gaze to him, lingering on his mouth before she met his eyes. Ariel fought the need to kiss him again. How would she ever pull this off when he looked at her with those eyes? Colin trapped her between the bay window and him. He hadn’t touched her yet, but the heat radiating from him being so close ensnared her all the same. Ariel shifted on her feet, trying to set an inch or two of distance between them. “For starters what, Ariel?” Colin placed a hand on either side of her, making it harder for her to escape. At her silence, he asked, “Are you going to answer me?” “This.” Ariel rested a hand on his chest, to push him away, his warmth burning her palm. “If we’re going to work together, there won’t be any touching.” Her fingertips tingled at the thrum of his heartbeat. Colin glanced at her hand on his chest. Shit. She curled her fingers into a fist. What was she doing feeling his hard muscles?  “You mean you don’t want me to touch you like this?” He gripped her waist, and she jerked at the unexpected contact.  The heat of his grasp on her waist seeped through the thin layer of her clothes, stirring her insides. “Yes.” She shook her head. “No.”  Colin angled his head, closing the distance. “What else?” he asked, his lips a breath away from hers.  She closed her eyes. “There can’t be any more kiss—”  He closed his mouth on hers, not demanding, just giving. Colin drew her in, teasing until she asked for more. Ariel didn’t have the willpower to resist him, not when he kissed her like this. Not when she’d fantasized about being in his arms for ages. Damned temptation. Nothing went as planned. She ran her hands up his arms, yearning to touch his hair, allowing herself the small pleasure. Ariel tangled her fingers in his hair, pressing her breasts against his chest. Colin groaned, opening his mouth wider, drawing her tongue in. He lifted her on top of the bay window seat, letting the décor pillows drop at his feet. He spread her legs apart until he stood between them.  He broke the kiss. “You should’ve never come today if you didn’t want me to kiss you again. I warned you yesterday.” He locked gazes with her. “If you don’t want me to touch you or kiss you, say it like you mean it. Don’t say it looking at me with sex hungry eyes.” He breathed in. “Ariel, I don’t just want to kiss you. I want to fuck you. Here and now. So tell me. Do you want me to stop?” No. Yes. No. Her chest tightened, heat rose from her feet up her body, her insides stirred. She couldn’t say it like she meant it because she didn’t, or not look at him without being entranced by the lust in his eyes. No. The answer was no and exactly what she’d feared. Not being able to walk away from the man she’d dreamt about for years. My fantasy come true.  “Ariel?” An inexplicable force drew her to this strange music genius, her Aerosmith turned Mozart as she’d called him many times before in her dreams, and fighting it was off the list. “Kiss me.”  Colin seized her mouth in another scorching kiss, his hands stroking her legs, bunching up her skirt at her waist. 

Where you can buy it All Romance eBooks  | Amazon | BookStrand | Evernight Publishing

About Evie: Evie Knight writes wickedly sexy contemporary romances with irresistible bad boys, sassy heroines, a bit of conflict, humor and a dash of spice. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time blogging, reading, listening to music, or looking for a muse. She lives in sunny Southern California. Evie loves hearing from her readers. Feel free to drop her a line at evie@evie-knight.com or you can stalk her on Twitter @inlovewromance Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr | Twitter
 

My Review:

I must admit, I got caught up in Colin.  I have a thing for strong, brooding, damaged men who play instruments...I mean who doesn't?  This was a great example of life throwing you constant curve balls and trying your best not to give up.  I loved the interaction between the two...it was intense, hot, and emotional....especially the sex scenes.  I honestly can say that I envied Ariel..towards the end.  Colin wasn't a very nice person in the beginning...and the middle..lol.  This story had an underlay of beauty and the beast, which is my favorite fairy tale.  I hope you fall in love as quickly as I did!  OH!  I cannot wait for book 2....fingers crossed its Jules!!!

1/2

Giveaway and Spotlight On: Wind and Shadow by Tori L. Ridgewood

Tori L. Ridgewood’s new book Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy, published by Melange Books, was released on June 20, 2013.
 
After a series of misadventures including being accused of attempted murder in high school, Rayvin Woods, a photographer and natural witch, left her hometown of Talbot in Northeastern Ontario, hoping to start her life over and never return. Ten years later, circumstances force her back to face her past and her former crush Grant Michaels.

Malcolm de Sade, a cunning vampire, escapes from an underground prison looking for vengeance. His accidental release unleashes his hunger and ambition on a small, sleepy town. Rayvin’s power is all that stands between de Sade and his domination of Talbot, and beyond.

Grant Michaels, a police officer, thought Rayvin was a murderer. He will do whatever it takes to protect the community he loves from danger... but will he learn to trust his heart, and the word of a witch, before it's too late?

Rayvin didn't count on rekindling a lost love or battling a malevolent vampire and his coven for her life when she came home to Talbot. Facing the past can be a nightmare… It’s worse when a vampire is stalking you.

Excerpt from Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy by Tori L. Ridgewood

Rayvin’s teeth were grinding together. The pretty little waitress, her head cocked while she smacked her gum and smiled saucily, didn’t know with whom she was dealing. Rayvin’s hand itched to wipe those too-red lips off her freckly face; her magick boiled inside her, making the room spin slightly with its intensity. Maybe the little bitch wanted those braces to be permanently glued to her teeth? Or every freckle to spontaneously morph into ugly, enormous, oozing pimples?

Rayvin had had enough of being nice. She had held her tongue while Asshole Wilson had made his insinuations, in front of everyone. She had been good, waiting with utmost patience while Grant Michaels, of all people, had risen somewhat to her defense. He had impressed her, just when she didn’t want to feel or be impressed, which put her in even more of a bad mood. Everyone kept assuming they knew everything, just like this dumb bitch behind the counter, who had smiled blandly when Rayvin had tried explaining her relationship to Andrea.

“Sorry, I don’t know you, I wasn’t on shift last night.” She snapped her gum. That particular habit had always driven Rayvin crazy. “I could lose my job if I let you have the necklace.”

“Is the assistant manager here?”

Snap. Chew. “Nope. Sorry. She’s busy.”

“Look, maybe I haven’t made myself clear—” Rayvin checked her name tag. “Susan.”

“Suzie.” She smiled brightly, flipping a long brown pigtail over her shoulder and thrusting her shirt forward.

“Whatever. You don’t seem to understand—”

“Hey, there, Suzie-Q!” Michaels eased his way between Rayvin and the counter. Inwardly, she seethed at his interference and at herself for feeling relieved. She had already fought this battle with herself; she did not need his help. So why was her breast still tingling where his chest had brushed against it while moving her aside?

As he smoothly explained the situation, again, Rayvin crossed her arms and scowled at the patrons watching with interest. Once more, she was getting attention that she neither needed nor wanted. Tapping her foot to focus some of her negativity, she looked away as Michaels continued to flirt with the girl behind the counter.

Susie was now leaning against her arms to reveal her assets at their best angle, beaming up at the tall dark off-duty cop who had to be twice her age. Her giggles clawed up Rayvin’s back. She saw a dimple flicker within the light dusting of bristle on Michaels’ face as he grinned down on the little girl.

She couldn’t look away. She’d seen him grin like that before, for his friends, but not for her. Her heart ached, remembering a flash of a grin she’d thought was directed toward her in high school. And the crushing embarrassment when she’d realized he was looking at someone behind her. It was ridiculous, really, that the man had this ability to affect her in this way, after ten years. Stupid.

Impatiently pacing to the door and back, she couldn’t decide what irritated her more; the entirely age-inappropriate crushing going on, or her reaction to it. Her hackles had gone up in a decidedly defensive manner. It shouldn’t matter that he wasn’t interested. He’d made the boundaries in their relationship painfully clear. She shouldn’t even use the word, ‘relationship.’ She was essentially a subject in an investigation, and the enemy of his best friend. And yet she needed him to get what Andrea needed. Michaels could talk to people in a way that she could not, and it was clearly working. She grudgingly appreciated the effort, on Andrea’s behalf, but still . . . did he have to be so obvious?

As long as he was able to get the necklace, then they could go their separate ways, and she wouldn’t have to watch him smiling at a pretty girl. She wouldn’t have to pretend that he might, in some small way, want to move forward. His offer of coffee had felt like a truce of sorts, and for a moment she had nearly believed that they were just two ordinary individuals, catching up after years of separation. But as much as she wanted to believe in the possibility and enjoy something of a reunion, or something more, because she had to admit that the man made her weak in the knees and always had, she knew it could never happen. There was too much history between them. Now, there was too much at stake. Whatever heartache and loneliness she might feel, she would have to bury it, for Andrea’s sake.

Rayvin swallowed her feelings, and resumed her post behind Grant, glowering at her former high school crush and the flirtatious waitress.

The door opened again, this time admitting an icy wind as well as an individual in dirty jeans and a torn and grimy black jacket. He pulled the door shut firmly against the breeze. Rayvin couldn’t see his face for the curtain of greasy black hair under his dismal grey trucker’s cap.

The patrons closest to the entrance reacted to the unexpected gust of cold air, grabbing for their coats and scarves. The newcomer stood by the door, rubbing his grubby hands vigorously. It was a hint of the winter to come, Rayvin reflected, shivering through her own thick woollen sweater. If it was as cold as that wind suggested, she was going to have an uncomfortable journey home, whether it was walking or riding with Officer Michaels. Constable Michaels. Whatever he was called now. She rubbed her arms, waiting for the brief burst of chill to dissipate with the warmth of the restaurant.

It didn’t.

In fact, as waitress Suzie twirled her hair around her finger and dipped below the counter to retrieve the necklace for Michaels, Rayvin noticed a distinct odour pervading the room. A couple behind her left off eating their soup, noses wrinkled wrinkling in distaste.

“Does it seem darker in here to you?” Michaels asked.

Before Rayvin could respond, Suzie called out, “Do you have a penlight or something? I can’t see down here.”

Obligingly, Michaels removed the tool from an inner coat pocket, and turned around.

Rayvin had noticed that the lights seemed dim, and the small votive candles on each table were giving off faint blue hues. Not that any of the diners picked up on their supernatural glow; they were putting on coats or sweaters against the chill that continued to spread, or using menus and napkins to try wafting away the stink that ruined their appetites.

She stepped toward the stranger who had walked in, sensing the source of the problem. For a brief instant, as he lifted his chin, her eyes met his in the shadow under the brim of his filthy hat.

Suddenly, it felt like the walls were closing in; the world tilted around her, her head pounded, and her vision exploded. Sickening lights and horrifying, demonic faces leered at her as the floor slanted under her feet. The breath left her lungs in a whoosh, as though she’d been punched in the stomach. Rayvin reached out, blindly, hands grasping for something solid, and found Michaels’ arm.

“We have to get out of here, now,” she whispered, clutching his wrist.

She turned her head away from the shadows and that elongated and loomed over her to gesture at the door, where the decorative lights shimmered and stretched into a matrix of fantastic threads snaking through the air to bind and trap her. They blinded her against the dark figure, but she could hear his malevolent laughter. It echoed all around her, drowning out the words she knew Grant was speaking; she could feel his chest against her back, an island of stability in the chaos, rumbling gently as he spoke. Her knees trembled, nearly giving way under the onslaught. The arm encircling her waist took her off-guard, and she fought against it at first, until touch revealed it to be Michaels’ muscle, sinew, and bone holding her steady.

As one, they moved toward the entrance. His grip tightened as Rayvin staggered under the weight of the malevolence bearing down on her. Black, dark, evil energy sank down along her shoulders and spine, cloaking her with icy tendrils and muffling her senses even as her feet shuffled toward the threshold, until she felt the contours of the door under her palms. The vile blanket lifted from her with the first brushes of crisp, fresh air against her face; she tilted her chin up, letting the calming breeze wash over her eyelids, her nose, and her lips. Exhaling, she let him steer her down the sidewalk a few paces. She felt like a swimmer who’d barely escaped drowning. Stopping at a low stone wall, Rayvin leaned her elbows against its frosty, pitted rough surface, and immediately missed the warmth of Michaels’ touch when his hand let go of her body.

“What the hell happened in there?” Michaels was standing a step away, his hands fisted on his hips.

She looked up, rubbing the back of her hand against her forehead. The pain banding her skull from temple to temple was starting to ease, but when she opened her eyes, halos of energy stood in bright relief around the living entities and made her head ache anew. Michaels moved into her field of vision. She flinched, but instead of the burst of agony she was expecting, his aura flooded her with calm. He stepped closer, and with relief, she felt herself opening to his vibration, warm and healing. She felt his concern, his confusion and frustration, and more.

“I . . .” Rayvin hesitated, unable to hold his gaze. She looked back the way they had come, down the sidewalk at the seemingly ordinary restaurant. Another couple was just coming through the doors, holding hands and laughing, oblivious to whatever had attacked her.

“It’s hard to explain. I felt something . . . wrong, really wrong. Something powerful, that came at me, like it was attacking me, or about to. It wasn’t safe to stay. I couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe . . .” She shuddered, bowing her head, and felt him move a step closer.

“Well, I thought you were going to faint,” Michaels noted. “And you’re still pale. Are you on anything? Any medications, herbs, or . . .” He cut off when she glared at him blearily. “What you experienced could logically be the result of a hallucinogen of some kind.”

Cradling her chin, he pulled out the penlight again to check her pupils. She jerked her head, trying to get away, but he refused to let go. The touch of his hand made her breath come more quickly. The sensation of his fingers brushing against the sensitive skin, just below her jawline, weakened her defences. Or was it his nearness, the way his eyes met hers, his lips so close to her own that hers trembled in response? Rayvin’s stomach was still clenching in reaction to fear, and her fingers were numb with shock; her instinct was tearing her in three directions. She wanted to run back in and fight the creature. She wanted to run for her own life. And she wanted to stay right here in the safety of this man’s arms.

She would never know who moved first.

Her eyes closed as his mouth covered hers, yielding to the hand that cupped her face and tilted it back. Her fingers touched his chest, exploring the contours of the warm muscle hidden under the soft flannel work shirt. Heat blossomed between her thighs as she felt his heartbeat quicken. He moved closer, settling into the space between her legs as their kiss deepened.

Wind and Shadow is available for sale on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Shadow-Talbot-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00DYCH64Y 

“During a period of writer’s block on Wind and Shadow, I wrote a prequel novella titled Mist and Midnight to help myself find answers to questions about how my vampire was trapped, and why he had come to the small town of Talbot in the first place. Mist and Midnight was released in 2011 as part of the Midnight Thirsts anthology, published by Melange Books. It’s a stand-alone piece, but it’s a terrific companion to The Talbot Trilogy,” said Ridgewood.

Blood and Fire: Book Two of The Talbot Trilogy will be released in February 2014.

About Tori L. Ridgewood

After her first heartbreak, Tori found solace in two things: reading romance novels and listening to an after-dark radio program called Lovers and Other Strangers. Throughout the summer and fall of 1990, the new kid in town found reading fiction and writing her own short stories gave her a much needed creative outlet. Determined to become a published author, Tori amassed stacks of notebooks and boxes of filed-away stories, most only half-finished before another idea would overtake her and demand to be written down. Then, while on parental leave with her second baby, one story formed and refused to be packed away. Between teaching full-time, parenting, and life in general, it would take almost seven years before the first novel in her first trilogy would be completed. In the process, Tori finally found her stride as a writer.

At present, on her off-time, Tori not only enjoys reading, but also listening to an eclectic mix of music as she walks the family dog (Skittles), attempts to turn her thumb green, or makes needlework gifts for her friends and family members. She loves to travel, collect and make miniature furniture, and a good cup of tea during a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Under it all, she is always intrigued by history, the supernatural, vampire and shapeshifter mythology, romance, and other dangers.

Tori is currently working on Crystal and Wand: Book Three of The Talbot Trilogy. She lives in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two children. She is a full-time teacher at a local high school.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToriLRidgewood

Website: http://torilridgewood.wordpress.com/

GIVEAWAY!!!  Comment below for your chance to win an e-book copy!!!!

Giveaway and Spotlight on: Taming a Gentleman

Blurb: John Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an urgent mission to find the killer of his fellow spy. After visiting the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn strengthens his resolve. A spy should never marry, and most certainly not to Lady Sibella Winborne, with her romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to give Sibella up entirely, he has kept her close as a friend. Then, weak fool that he is, he kissed her. Lady Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since she first set eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn. Sibella’s many siblings always rush to her aid to discourage an ardent suitor, but not this time. Her elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has approved Lord Coombe’s suit.  Sibella yearns to set up her own household. She is known to be the sensible member of the family, but she doesn’t feel at all sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss.

Buy Links:  http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Gentleman-Spy-Spies-Mayfair/dp/1908483644/ref=la_B003MJXQVG_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381878440&sr=1-1 Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing Ltd. http://www.knoxrobinsonpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=190?osCsid=7ca7b93ba2d4d9c4a32d9ec07cf6f205 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-a-gentleman-spy-maggi-andersen/1116300615?ean=9781908483645

Author Bio: Maggi Andersen fell in love with the Georgian and Regency worlds after reading the books of Georgette Heyer. Victoria Holt's Gothic Victorian novels were also great favorites.  She has raised three children and gained a BA and an MA in Creative Writing. After husband David retired from the law, they moved to the beautiful Southern Highlands of Australia. Maggi's free time is spent enjoying her garden and the local wildlife, reading, movies and the theatre. She keeps fit swimming and visiting the gym.  Maggi is a multi-published author, and writes mysteries and young adult novels as well as her Georgian, Regency and Victorian romances. Author Website: http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com Author Blog: http://www.maggiandersen.blogspot.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggiandersen Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggi-Andersen-Author/372854959805

Excerpt:   

Beneath glistening chandeliers, the dancers spun to the strains of a Handel waltz. Strathairn smiled down at his partner, her slim waist beneath his hand as they danced. Lady Sibella Winborne looked like a delicate flower in a gauzy pale gown covered in amber blossom. White ostrich feather plumes adorned her luxuriant dark locks. He enjoyed looking at her. Her serene oval face lifted and she smiled at him, her mouth wide and full. Too wide for beauty some might say, but made for kissing. She had inherited her mother’s famous eyes, a delectable mix of blue and green, but her nature was quieter, lacking the vivacity of her mother in her youth, who was said to have had men falling at her feet. He admired Sibella’s calm beauty, but she was oh, so much more: practical, poised and intelligent. Yet still unmarried, which surprised him.

          “You arrived late tonight. I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she said.

          “I was tied up with business.”

          “Not parliament?”

          “No.”

          She tilted her head. “Your horses, then?”

          He grinned at her blatant curiosity. “No.”

          “You won’t tell me.”

          “No.”

          Sibella laughed with good humor. “Very well. Might I find you riding in Hyde Park tomorrow?”

          “I hope to.”

          Her delicate brows rose. “If business doesn’t keep you.”

          He laughed. “Precisely.”

          The music faded away. Strathairn escorted her back to her chair where her mother, the Dowager Marchioness of Brandreth, sat fanning herself among the other dowagers. He bowed, planning to slip into the rooms set aside for gambling. As much as he might wish to dance with Sibella again, it would place them under scrutiny, and faro was an effective release from the tension he always carried with him.

          “Don’t rush off, Strathairn,” her sharp-eyed mother said. “We have seen little of you of late. You rarely frequent these affairs.” She waved her fan in an arc to encompass the ballroom. “Where have you been hiding?”

          “Not hiding, my lady, merely visiting my estates.”

Lady Brandreth adjusted the silk shawl over her shoulders. “Did you include that pile of yours in Yorkshire? I enjoyed the hunt ball, but it’s cold as charity in winter up in those parts.”

          “Not this time, but I miss it. There’s a wild beauty to the dales in winter, quite unlike southern England.”

          “I daresay.” Her purple turban wobbled as she nodded. “You are a fine figure of a man, Strathairn. What are you now? Six and thirty? You should marry. You should be setting up your nursery.” She gestured toward her daughter sitting beside her. “Sibella will bear you healthy children. The Brandreths come of good stock, and the Wederells even better.”

          “Mama, please!” He caught Sibella’s apologetic gaze and suppressed a wry smile. Her plea would have little effect; the marchioness was known to be one of the most colorful and outspoken members of the ton.

          The dowager batted her daughter’s protest away with her fan. “I am merely speaking the truth, Sibella.”

          “Your daughter is a credit to you, my lady,” he said with a smile. “She has inherited both your beauty and intelligence.”

          “Now you are toad eating.” A roguish smile lit Lady Brandreth’s face. “You always were a charmer. Sibella is intelligent. Walk with her on the terrace to discover it for yourself.”

          “I should be delighted.”

          

GIVEAWAY!!!  Enter to win a $30 Amazon card and an E-copy of  A Baron in Her Bed!!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

All things Paranormal, Especially the Awesome bundle for: $.99!!!!!!!!

All Things Paranormal.

Okay.  Maybe not ALL things.  How about the top TEN?

Hi there.  Jackie Ivie here, swooping in from the dark cold of Alaska to talk some heat with Nikki at Close Encounters with the Night Kind!  And I could just waste some kilobytes making sure you don’t miss the brand new bundle PARANORMAL NIGHTS!  

(Out today!  December 16^th!  99 cents!  Eight fantastic stories!  And it’s hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!  I mean, honestly, have you SEEN the cover?  Major swoon.) 

Oh crap. 

Where was I?

Oh…yeah.  Talking heat.  In the middle of the winter.  I know!  How about a top ten listing?  Yes!  That’s it.  The top ten paranormal beings of all time (according to Jackie Ivie).  I should narrow that a little.  How about the top ten paranormal beings that belong in a romance?  I mean, who’s going to want some hot and heavy action with a swamp thing?  In the mud.  All scaly and hard...  Okay.  Maybe me.  Bad example.  How about a lizard man?  Wow.  Think of the tongue action.  Mothman?  Seven feet of man-action with a huge wing-span?  Hmm.  I’m losing track again.  Let’s just say I’ll stick to the ten hottest paranormal beings I love to read/write about.  In my opinion of course.  And…what the heck.  I’m having trouble narrowing it down.  How about 11? 

PS – I’m hoping for some dissenting opinions out there.  What’s your top ten list? 

#11 – Mermaid/Merman. If I’m putting a character at sea, I’m thinking they need a bit of fantasy.  And what could be better than a mostly unclad hot-bodied creature who can hold their breath for like…ever?  I mean, come on.  Water sports takes on a whole new meaning.   

#10 – Elf/Fairy.  For the lighter/mischievous side of magic:  fairies and elves.  I used to think writing about these creatures would be a bit like going through 8^th grade again, but then I saw Orlando Bloom in LOTR.  Long hair.  Pointed ears.  As an elf.  Well.  I have changed my mind.

#9 – Mummy.  Okay.  Work with me here.  Add a half gallon or so of premium grade moisturizer.  Some ancient words for reanimating and giving flesh back.  Some mood lighting, and hey.  I could work this.  Besides, you have to admit, there’s not much better than unwrapping this kind of present.

#8 – Zombie.  You gotta admit it’s kinky/cool.  For some reason.  Maybe it’s because you get to envision hot and heavy action with someone who wants to eat you.  All of you.  Literally.

#7 – Dragon.  I’m adding Mothman in here, too.  I mean.  It’s large.  It’s got wings.  It can fly.  I’m sure we can put some fire-breathing action in there, too.   

#6 – Wraith/Ghost/Phantom.  Hmmm.  Now you see them.  Now you don’t.  Just think of the potential plot entanglements!  And you know, in Nordic tradition, ghosts are stuck in this world because they were bad.  Hmm….  A hot Viking ghost who was a really bad boy.  How bad would he have to be?  Hmm.  BAD.  

#5 – Witch/Warlock.  Oh yeah.  Bring it on.  I’m envisioning all kinds of sexy creatures casting spells and working dark magic.  Changing destiny.  What’s not to love?

#4 – (I might be running out of numbers.)  This has got to be the Demon.  Devil incarnate.  Beelzebub.  Belphagor (I love this one.  He’s one of the seven princes of hell.  And that does mean there are six more of them.  Can anyone see potential SERIES in here?)

#3 –Incubus/Succubus.  I mean come on.  No list is complete without creatures who arrive specifically to have hot and heavy action with a human.  Usually in their dreams.  And always out of their control.  Oh.  And don’t forget the Cambion.  Yes.  This is a real creature.  It’s what the half-human offspring of a Succubus or Incubus is called.  Wow.  I think I feel a plot coming on…

#2 – Werewolf, Jinn, Shape-shifter.  Okay.  Confess.  There isn’t much hotter than a buff werewolf, or a cat-person.  Or a batman.  It’s just so wide open.  Imagine the possibilities.  A human who turns into something else…and maybe they can’t even control the change.  Oh.  My.  My.  (I’m going to need wine soon!)

#1 – VAMPIRE.  Definitely the top of any list.  Oh yeah.  It’s the cold, calculating, classy personae.  No.  It’s the mystique.  The redemption part.  No.  It’s the wandering of the earth thing.  The lips and fangs.  The draining blood stuff.  Hmm.  That could be it, especially when it involves the neck thing.  They bite right into an erogenous zone that shoots messages through their victim’s veins.  No.  Wait.  It’s the entire package.  That’s it.  There is nothing like a vampire - and NOTHING better than fantasizing and writing about them. 

Trust me.  Or check one out.  The Vampire Assassin League is a series of really hot novellas, featuring soulless killers who wander the earth…and then what happens when they run across the one human mate who reanimates them.  WHY THESE TWO, VAL #11 is included in the Paranormal Nights Bundle!  It’s one hot collection!  Out today!  99 cents!