Valentine's Day Giveaway - Night Secrets

Valentine's Day Giveaway

10 e-copies will be given away in celebration of Valentine's Day. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter, and you can enter daily for more chances to win. Winners will be announced on February 16, 2012. While you're exploring Night Secrets, enjoy a Valentine's Trio with our Night Secrets characters.

Keara Crosby had the perfect life. Her family was not hurting for anything. When her parents are suddenly killed, Keara must learn to live without them. After mourning their death for two months, Keara starts to live again. She follows her favorite band, hangs with her best friend Jared, and falls for the new kid on the block.

When her favorite band is playing at Night Secrets, a new club downtown, she takes her first outing since her parents death and finds this mysterious boy watching her. Mesmerized by his lapus blue eyes, she can't help but feel drawn to him. Her body responds to him in ways she never thought possible, and she needs to figure out why. What is it about Channing that has her yearning for his touch?


Not only is Keara drawn to Channing, but the owner of Night Secrets seems to be drawn to her. Giving her special treatment, she can't help but wonder what he's hiding, and the sense she's seen him before. When she's attacked in the parking lot, her world turns inside out, literally. Keara will soon learn that secrets of the night, just may be the death of her.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0059XPGTS/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk
 
A Valentine's Trio (Warning *ADULT CONTENT*)

I was so excited that Channing would be coming today. Spraying on his favorite perfume, I rushed to meet Corbin to pick him up at the airport. I found it strange that werewolves flew on planes, but I guess they are not magical creatures blessed with teletransportation. I really didn't care how he got here I was just excited he was going to finally be here.

"Come on Corbin. I'm ready to go." I moved hastily to the front door.

"Calm down Sweet Keara. I don't understand how you can be so excited. He's just a smelly mutt." He smirked.

"Promise to be nice."

He looked at me with such intensity, I felt the electricity jumping off his body. A shiver ran through me and I was suddenly aroused. "Please Corbin. Let's just go get Channing."

"As you wish."

I could hear him grunt as he placed his arm at the small of my back. His driver was waiting for us patiently. Corbin opened the door and I crawled in, careful not to let my skirt ride up. The car pulled out of the driveway and I thought my heart may quit beating with anticipation. "Can you hurry up, driver?" I pleaded.

"Keara, we will be there in plenty of time to greet him. Relax, please?"

"Fine." I closed my eyes remembering the last time I saw Channing. He was protecting me from Dante', Corbin's crazed brother. The wolves were patrolling my property every night, and I remember him jumping up to my window. The moonlight lit up his blonde hair as he sat crouched in the frame.

"Keara, you may want to control yourself a bit better. I can smell your desire, and you're driving me mad." He pressed his lips into my collar bone and that desire was now more than just a smell, I could feel it.

The driver cleared his throat. "We're here Sir."

I jumped back from Corbin and bolted out of the car. "Hurry Corbin, I don't want him to think we're not here waiting.

Running through the terminal I couldn't wait to see those deep, lapus blue eyes. As I hurried to his boarding gate, I heard my name being called.

"Keara?"

Turning abruptly, my jaw hung like a broken hinge. The sight before me was more beautiful than I even remember. His blue eyes were bright as ever, like a gem still waiting to be found. He looked at me and a jolt went through me like an electrical current. "Channing." I put the hinges back on my jaw and smiled. Without waiting another second, I flew into his embrace. "God I've missed you."

Pulling me tightly to him, he kissed the top of my head. "I've missed you too."

I couldn't wait to get him home. The smell of him had my libido on fire, and I partly blame Corbin for that. Pulling him behind me I turned to head back to Corbin's. Seeing Corbin, Channing stopped in his tracks.

Corbin nodded, "Dawg." He grinned.

"Fang-face." Channing retorted.

"I thought we were passed all this." I asked.

Channing smiled. "We are. Just friendly banter."

"Then let's go home." I kissed his cheek and pulled him again.

*****

Back at the house, Corbin had his help deliver a wonderful feast. Being the smart ass he is though, Channing's first plate came out holding a raw steak.

"Just like you pefer, isn't it Dawg?"

"Bite me fang-face."

"Don't tempt me mutt. Bring him his real supper Janelle." Janelle nodded and headed back to the kitchen.

I sent Corbin a warning look. "What? I was just playing. Utilizing that 'friendly banter' the mutt was talking about earlier." He chuckled.

"Corbin."

"Okay. I'm sorry. Eat." Corbin sipped his special wine.

Surprisingly, we enjoyed the rest of dinner. Moving into the study, we chatted about what's happened while we've been apart. Time moved slowly, and I grew anxious for some alone time,yawning heartily.

"I'm a bit tired myself. Must have a bit of jet lag." Channing stood, grabbing my hand to pull me up. "I'll see you later fangs." He tipped his imaginary hat before tugging me with him to go to bed.

Closing the door behind us, Channing dropped his bags as I leapt at him, giggling like a school girl. Crushing my lips to his, the heat rose between my legs like somebody had just lit a fire. Wrapping my legs around his waist, he carried me to the bed.

"I've dreamed of this for so long." He lowered me on the bed and crawled on top of me.

Kissing me slowly, he ran his hand down my side, causing a shiver to ripple through me. Using his magic hands, he peeled off clothes until we were both naked beside each other. Planting kisses across my jawline and down my neck, his fingers explored my body like they were feeling it for the first time. Goose pimples formed on my skin, but it wasn't from being cold. I ran my fingers through his hair as he continued kissing down my chest. Flicking his tongue across my nipples, hard peaks formed, a moan escaping my throat.

"Channing..." I couldn't get the rest of what I wanted to say as his fingers started playing in my folds. A wet pool gathered at my core and he plunged his fingers inside.

Opening my legs he moved further down my body. My breathing became a pant and before I could control it any further, he gathered my hips up sinking his tongue into my wetness. He kept exploring with his tongue as I moaned out in pleasure. It was just as I remembered it. His tongue moved over my clit and I felt my walls tighten just before an orgasm erupted between my legs, like a hand grenade exploding before you had time to throw it after pulling the pin. My back arched and I felt my muscles spasm, over and over again. Pulling his face from my womanhood, he moved to linger above me. Without giving it a second thought, I flipped him to his back and straddled him. Finding him hard, I slid above his girth and slowly let him enter me. Knowing he was large and not seeing him for so long, I took my time as I took him in. My wetness slicked his shaft until I slid completely over him. Finding a rhythm, I rode him like a cowboy riding into the night.

Moaning out, I felt him grow harder, just before we both climaxed. I never heard the door open and jumped when suddenly I felt someone behind me. Turning my head, Corbin was straddling Channing's legs as he wrapped his arms around me from the back, kissing my neck. "Sweet Keara. I love the smell of your desire."

"Corbin." I quickly looked at Corbin, who still had his eyes clsoed.

"It will be fine Keara."

Pulling me back, he bent me over so my head was at Channing's crotch. I watched as his manhood came back to life. Corbin ran his hand down my back, causing another round of need within me. Playing with my ass, he pushed my head towards Channing's now erect cock. "Suck him."

I paused looking at Channing once again. He didn't seem to be mad or bothered, but aroused. Placing my mouth around his thickness, I used my tongue as a lubricant. When I took him fully in, I felt Corbin pull my ass cheeks apart and plunge his own thickness deep inside me. Gasping, I moved faster with my mouth around Channing. He moaned out and Corbin thrust faster. Deeper and deeper he sank with each plunge, and I finally relaxed enough to meet him thrust for thrust while still sucking Channing's cock.

It felt like a dream, one that I couldn't believe was even happening. I never thought in a million lives that Channing would allow Corbin in the same bed, let alone sharing the same woman.

Hearing Corbin let out a pleasurable sigh, Channing let his seed flow and at the same time I felt the spasms as we all fell over the edge...together.

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GOOD LUCK!

Today Only - Book Blitz with Aaron Drew - Light Under the House

Join the Blitz!

For TODAY ONLY, when you purchase Light Under the House by Aaron Drew for just $.99 onAmazon.com, with your proof of purchase, Aaron will gift you another book of your choice valued at the same price of $.99, (exluding Erotica). That's 2 books for the price of 1! So jump on the bandwagon and go get yourself some awesome books!

Send Proof of Purchase to bkwalkerbooks@comcast.net with your Amazon receipt and the book of your choice (title and link) and preferred email. Once it's been verified, Aaron will gift you your book and send you a personal note of thanks.

Can the Worst of Times Make for the Best of Lines? Guest Post by Aaron L

I think I heard somewhere that life is pain. I beg to differ. Life is the ability to survive the pain.
When I began my journey into creating my novel Light Under the House, I only had a germ of a plot and not much else. I was a college drop out at the time and didn't have much going for me. I had also sown a lot of seeds into endeavors that turned out to be useless. I had a mountain of wasted opportunity and regrets piled up. I wasn't a trained expert in any field. What did I know? Then again, I did know a few things  I knew about rejection. I knew about the loss of friendship. I knew about living with frustration, anger, and fear. I knew those things. I knew I had a story to tell.



So I asked myself, what does it look like to overcome the wounds I've been dealt? What does it look likeil and come back again? What does faith in action look like? As I started to ask myself these questions, the novel grew and so did I. In the process I learned some key things:

If you want to challenge the reader, you have to challenge yourself. Light Under the House is a novel about character. I knew I wanted to be better. A better brother, son, friend, a better man. If I didn't find it challenging, I was certain no one else would.


Don't be afraid to be open and generous. I've learned not be afraid to talk about issues through my story and its characters that are personal me and my struggles. Our scars are just proof that we're still alive; we can show them.


Everyone has a strength; let yours shine. Don't get me wrong; it's not all pain. I've lived a very blessed life. While it was true that I didn't have any technical expertise, I did have life experience. By the time fifteen I had lived in numerous places in the U.S. and abroad. I had been around the world. I had diverse experiences to draw upon in dealing with people and life. It also helped to hone a unique perspective. What are your strengths?


So can the worst of times make for the best of lines? I think it can. If not, I'm sure I'll survive it.

Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up in places from Seattle to South Africa, he spent a lot of his time drawing. Aaron always knew that his future lay in a creative field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of different types of art and design, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. He lives near Chicago, Illinois.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Under-the-House-ebook/dp/B0060C2O92

Aaron L
kuumbacandle@hotmail.com
Creator of the upcoming book "The Light Under the House"

Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up in places from Seattle to South Africa, he spent a lot of his time drawing. Aaron always knew that his future lay in a creative field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of different types of art and design, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. He lives near Chicago, Illinois. 


See his website at www.lightunderthehouse.com 

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Immortality and Beyond

At the Round Table & Giveaway with Danielle Smith - Black Dog & Rebel Rose

Howdy all! Today I am so happy to welcome Danielle Smith to Immortality and Beyond. She's not only an author of some fabulous paranormal erotica, she is also a phenomenal artist.

Welcome Danielle!

Danielle D. Smith was born in San Diego, California, USA. She was first published at age 29. In addition to being a writer of bestselling gritty angel-and-demon themed supernatural fantasy stories that have gained a dedicated cult following, she is an accomplished fine artist and illustrator whose visual work has appeared in various public, private, and gallery exhibitions and in national publications, and has studied everything from costuming to tattooing. Dani, as she is known by many who are close to her, lives in San Diego with a large number of books, indie flicks, and documentaries. Her novels appeal to dreamers, troublemakers, dark romantics, horn dogs, and general escapists. She is the proud owner of a beefcake husband and several beautiful tattoos. She adores reading, tattoos, motorcycles, muscle cars, prison bodies, and cuddling her sweet little boy, Ryker...not necessarily in that order. ;-) 

www.danielledsmith.com

So happy to have you with us today at Immortality and Beyond. May I offer you a beverage? 


DANI: True to my style, I’ll take the frothy Guinness!  Yummy!

Now that we're all settled in my lair, I'm de-bite-fully glad you stopped in.


DANI: Many thanks, mama! Thrilled to be here! :-D

BK:  Please tell us a little bit about your current release...


Demon’s Slave is my first foray into BDSM erotica, with a definite paranormal twist. It centers around the two most popular characters in the world I have created: Skriker, a heavily tattooed, Harley-riding, gun slinging, half-demon bad boy and the love of his life, the beautiful Nephil (half-angel) huntress, Rose. In this particular tale, the reader catches a glimpse of their life when they are not hunting the evils that dwell in darkness. Rose, being one of the paranormal elite, frequently feels guilty about loving a demon, despite the fact that she really does adore Skrike. In order to show him how deep her love and commitment to him really is, she offers herself up as his submissive as a dirty birthday gift for three days and three nights. Little does she know that Skriker has already dabbled in BDSM with past lovers, and he is utterly thrilled to try his hand at tormenting—and teasing—his Nephil lady love! I must say that Demon’s Slave is NOT for the faint of heart; there are some pretty graphic hardcore scenes, some verging on consensual torture, so be aware of this, kids!


BK:  What inspired this particular novel/book?


DANI: My fans! They asked for it, and boy did I give it to them! Everyone in the cult who follows Skriker and Rose’s adventures have seen them have some truly hot moments together…and they wanted more! 


BK:  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?


DANI: I think I really realized I wanted to publish my work when I was in high school, but I filed it away for a number of years to focus on my art (I am also an artist/illustrator, and have worked as a tattoo apprentice, costume designer, etc.). When I was 28 my husband entered law school and I turned to writing for the first time in years to relieve the stress of it all. Little did I know that I’d ACTUALLY get published! It was a great feeling to sign that first contract.


BK:  How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?


DANI: To be blunt, I don’t focus on what, well, everyone else is doing…namely, vampires and werewolves/shifters. Were and vamp books are a dime a dozen nowadays, and being the rebellious creative type that I am, I have always marched to the beat of my own drum. I want to write what I would enjoy reading—most of my favorite authors are cult-followed, not big time bestsellers (with the exception of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman, even though Gaiman is still somewhat “cult” in his writing). I like outside-the-mainstream stuff, even though I’m less likely to become some trendy bestseller. I’m not trying to rewrite “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” with my own fantasy version of Spike, and you will not find the word “Alpha” repeated in every other sentence in one of my books. I like angels and demons, I like tattoos and big bikes and muscle cars and something occasionally written from the male perspective, and I like plotlines that didn’t come out of HarperCollins’ meat grinder. I always chuckle when I read the occasional review of my work stating that my “plot was predictable”. I don’t feel that I write anything that is predictable, but I could be wrong. Hope that wasn’t TOO blunt, but I’m pretty serious about what I do, and I want my stories and their characters to be unique. ;-)


BK:  What was the hardest thing about writing this story?


DANI: Having to sit back and ponder whether or not I was going “too far” with some of the themes. I have participated in the BDSM lifestyle with my husband, and what I think is ok may not be ok to others. You are truly taking a gamble. There were points where I was wondering if I would lose half of my precious readership, including some of my truest and closest fans (I love to keep in touch with some of my fans on Facebook, and have made some very close friends in the process). Would Skriker go from being my most popular hero to being utterly despised? Would Rose be seen as anti-feminist, even though she is typically a badass heroine in the truest sense of the term? Would their activities be seen as stilted, unrealistic, too much? In the end, I had to decide for myself what I was willing to put out there.


Another thing that was hard was writing from Rose’s perspective—I usually find writing from the male perspective much easier. But it made sense to give it to the reader in Rose’s voice.


BK:  What character was your favorite to write for in this story? Why?


DANI: As usual, it was Skriker. He’s always more fun than a barrel of monkeys…er…demons.


BK:  Which was your favorite scene to write?


DANI: It’s a tossup between two scenes for me. There’s the scene where Skriker ties Rose Kinbaku/Sokubaku-style to his dining room table and uses her as a breakfast plate before screwing her senseless. And then there’s the scene in the fight cage where he makes her play a game he calls “Pretty Pony” before banging her doggy-style over a bar stool. It’s a tossup. ;-)


BK:  Will this become a series? If so, what inspired it to be a series?


DANI: It’s already part of the Black Dog and Rebel Rose Novella Series, even though readers who don’t like BDSM can skip this one with no problems. Thus far there are two other books in the series: Black Dog and Rebel Rose, the tale that started it all, and Coyote Night, which takes place just after BD&RR, as it has come to be called in casual circles. The next book in the series, Ghosts of Winter, will be released in July.


BK:  Now for a little fun, and into your everyday life, What is a day in your life like?


DANI: Right now, much of it revolves around my two month old son, Ryker! (I actually wrote my BDSM tale during pregnancy—lol!) My husband takes the night shift with Ryke so I can sleep, so I typically get up around the time that he takes his 8AM feeding. I change him, play with him, and then get him down for a mid-morning nap. I might run to get coffee or run errands, and the baby sleeps in the car and in his baby carrier while I do that. When I get home, I feed the wee bean again, have more playtime, and then my creative time begins. I then grab a drink and a cigarette and hang out on my balcony for a bit (no, people, I DON’T smoke around my son, EVER). After my chill time, I write, take care of emails/blogs/giveaways/etc, and draw. Right now I am working on my first comic book, so that is a big project that I am jumping on as often as I can. Naturally, I feed and care for Ryker as often as needed, and my creative stuff goes on while he sleeps, which at this age is frequent. I have to put down the pencil, brush, or laptop pretty frequently to answer the diaper duty call! Evening usually has me handing Ryker over to daddy for the night, so I usually end the day watching a movie or documentary and reading before lights out.


BK:  What do you like to do when you're not writing?


DANI: Draw, paint, read, watch foreign films and documentaries, sample the local food and booze in my SoCal city, play with my son, get tattooed, and generally just tool around with my little sister or my husband.


BK:  What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?


DANI: That I have never ridden a motorcycle! I love them, but have never had that opportunity. I hope to change that in the near future when I get my motorcycle license and my own bike, preferably a Harley Nightster.


BK:  What do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?


DANI: I love horror, dark urban fantasy, “weird” fantasy, history, and anthropology. My favorite authors include Stephen King, Clive Barker, China Mieville, Neil Gaiman, and John Ajvide Lindqvist.


BK:  Please tell us one piece of advice you were given as an author that you carry with you when you write?


DANI: To stay true to yourself. If you don’t want to jump on the bandwagon, don’t. Find your own voice—your work will be better for it. 


BK:  What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?


DANI: Write what you would want to read. Polish, polish, polish. And don’t ever give up.


BK:  What are you currently working on?


DANI: The Black Dog and Rebel Rose comic book, and the next written installment of the series, Ghosts of Winter.


BK:  Where can readers connect with you? 


WEBSITE: http://www.danielledsmith.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=522911002 
TWITTER: @DaniDSmith
BLOG: http://www.theangelsgate.blogspot.com
PUBLISHERS:
www.solsticepublishing.com
www.solsticeatnight.com
www.liquidsilverbooks.com
www.rebelrosepublishing.com 

Rose, Nephil daughter of a Warrior of Heaven, has betrayed her celestial heritage by falling for the guy from the wrong side of the tracks: Skriker, tattooed half-demon hunter, and the most irresistible chunk of hard meat that she has ever taken to her bed.

Rose knows that there is no love in all of Creation more forbidden than that between an angel and a demon, and that knowledge has left her terribly fragmented, despite her passionate love for her Halfling bad boy.

As Skriker's "Dirty 30" approaches, she will offer him the ultimate birthday gift: she will be his devoted sexual slave for three days and three nights, laying aside her angelic pride to fully commit to his pleasure (and hers) with every part of her being...and neither Heaven nor Hell will have any power to stop it.

**Publisher's Warning: This delightfully sordid tale contains graphic BDSM sex, including forceful oral and anal sex, bondage, blindfolding, slapping/spanking, nipple clamps, toe-curling dirty talk, hot wax, and crazy hardcore sex in a church.**

Excerpt: 


“Call me Sir, angel.”


“Skrike—”


He slapped her cheek lightly, making her scarred flesh sting, and she gasped.


“Sir, Rose.”


Her breath caught in her throat; that thrill was there, building slowly in the pit of her belly, flooding her heart and head. Sir. The word made her heart flutter with forbidden excitement. She felt his big hand reach around and take a thick fistful of her hair, jerking her head back; her scalp burned as her hair was mercilessly tugged. She could taste his breath as his lips hovered near hers: Camel Turkish Gold cigarettes and sweet wine…and something beneath that.


Fire. Her preternatural senses, heightened even more by her intense sexual arousal, could smell, even taste, the fire that lived in him, dark and hot and Hellish. That angel living within her screamed; she slammed the door in her mind on it to shut out its cries.


Skriker’s jade eyes glittered greedily. “You will call me Sir, angel. I will accept nothing else.”


“Yes…Sir.”


She felt his tongue snake along her lips and her mouth opened eagerly to his. His kisses were forceful, rough, and hungry, and she responded in kind. Still gripping a fistful of her hair, he pushed her mouth harder against his, lapping and sucking, pulling her full lower lip into his mouth and nibbling at the sensitive flesh. When he drew away from her she was panting, sweat standing out on her brow in hot wet droplets.


Skriker released her hair and wrists and gripped her arms, jerking her up off of the floor. He lifted her up as easily as he would a child, marching into his bedroom with her flung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.


Skriker’s big platform bed dominated the center of the room, large and plushly appointed with piles of pillows and expensive bedclothes, including a satin spread, all in masculine shades of dark grey and red. He dumped Rose into the center of it and stood over her, smirking as she lay staring up at him, her body bubbling over with excitement and, yes, even trepidation. She had promised to be his sexual servant for three days and three nights; the greatest birthday gift she could have ever offered. He would possess her as a master does his slave, free to do as he wished with her angel’s flesh; a demon’s true delight. What he had thought up—what he had planned—she could only guess. He was a master of pleasure, and she had to assume, some of that had to cross into pain. It was only natural for one of his kind.


“Spread your legs and pull those sweet panties aside. I want to see it…now.”


Rose did as she was told, her heart pounding. She slipped a hand between her spread thighs and hooked her long fingers into the black thong she had worn just for this occasion, twisting the flimsy fabric aside, revealing the plump dark pink lips of her pussy, already slick with eager fluids. Skriker folded his arms and grinned, shaking his head.


“Well, look at that. Already dripping wet. You’re a naughty, slutty angel, you know that? Getting all drenched over a Halfling…you like breaking the rules, don’t you, whore?”


Rose did; fuck yes, she did! She was so used to being powerful, being dominant; hell, when she had met Skriker, she had tried to kill him, and had almost succeeded. She was a Nephil, the first born in millennia and the last on earth—a true princess among the supernatural peasants. And now she found herself in his bed, a beaded silk mask obscuring half her face, ready to obey any command her lover spat at her. He’d called her a whore, a slut.


And, shit, she was enjoying the hell out of it.

Giveaway:

To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below. Dani is giving away 1 e-copy to two lucky winnersa and winners will be drawn using Random.org and announced on February10.

Skriker.

A meltingly sexy hunter with rock star style. An insatiable seducer and lover of women. Son of a human lady of the night and a True Native of Hell, he is a killer of the evils that dwell in darkness. Fifty miles of bad road will lead him and his rumbling Harley to an abandoned town and the vampyre hunt of his dreams. It is in the rot and the ruin that Skriker will discover his destiny.

Rose.

A fierce and beautiful huntress haunted by a tragic past. The most amazing woman that Skriker has ever met. A sizzling tryst will lead him to discover that Rose is his soul mate, the girl who will make him abandon his lustful ways and make him hunger for her alone. But Skriker's new beloved harbors an ironic secret.
A secret that may lead to a half-demon's gruesome undoing...

*Publisher's
warning: this sordid tale contains sizzling explicit sex (including oral
sex), foul language, bloody violence, and a half-demon bad boy who will
utterly rock your world.*

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Thank you so much for taking time to chat with us today Dani. It's been such a pleasure and we wish you much success in the future.

VBTC Review - Pandora's Box by Katie Salidas

After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.

Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?

When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.

Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?

And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?

Werewolves…

My Review:

This was a great installment to the Immortalis Series. I loved the introduction to a new supernatural species - Werewolves. Salidas did a great job of not over-doing it with this phenomenal breed. Though we still see their strength, they do not overpower the actual plot of this series.

Fallon, Alyssa's best friend from human life, remains a strong character in this book. She maintains her humanity while becoming a first time, mortal member of this clan. I love the interaction between Fallon and Nicholas, the snarkiness kept things humorous and bright. Alyssa still has an inborn need to protect Fallon, but I think Fallon has grown quite a bit and can definitely defend herself.

The entire plot of this title was wonderful. With new elements, and even a few deaths, Salidas has vividly brought us into her world. As we are reminded that curiosity is still a human fault, Fallon and Alyssa open a Pandora's Box that was delivered to Lysander. This brings a whole new form of trouble to this clan. When trying to fight this unknown, they are taken to Boston where we meet a few new vamps and a werewolf pack. We are taken into the wolf way of life, learning that there are more connections between supernatural beings than was ever thought.

While learning the truth of the past, old vamps revisit and sacrifices are made. The ending of this had me reeling, and yes, Miss Katie, A Cliffhanger? Really? LOL. Way to keep your readers yearning for more. I loved it, and the ending is not what you will expect and a complete twist that I've not come across in any other reads in this genre. Overall, I enjoyed this read very much. The tension of the plot was excellent, I just thought  the action that led to it moved just a tad too fast, and I wished it had been drawn out just a smidgen more. I can't wait for book four in this series!

1/2

You can find all of the Immortalis Series on Amazon.com or at Written In Blood

VBT Pit Stop At the Round Table & Giveaway with M.D. Cliatt - The Public Pretender

Welcome to Immortality and Beyond Monica. We're so happy to have you with us today. Monica is on tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and you can view her schedule HERE. I also had the pleasure of interviewing her live at BK Media Entertainment, and you can listen in HERE.

I'm a wife and a mother who loves to tell stories. I live in Central Pennsylvania where I'm a staff attorney in a law school clinical program, and I'm an adjunct law professor who teaches juvenile justice and legal writing. I used to be a public defender specializing in representing children, and for the most part, loved the work. I thrived on the heat of courtroom battle, but the highs are very high and the lows are very low and I burned out. Now, I spend time grading papers, supervising law students as they represent indigent clients in court and reading with my sister in our long distance book club.

Blog: http://mdcliattbooks.blogspot.com/

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/mdcliattbooks/home

Now that we're all settled in my lair, let's get started shall we?

BK:  Please tell us a little bit about your current release...

The story is about a fiery criminal defense attorney, Maeven Dayne, who specializes in representing juvenile defendants. When it comes to her job, she’s driven and passionate. When it comes to her family, she’s devoted, but her job is demanding and distracting. She pleases her husband when she decides to quit her job to spend more time with the family. But, on Maeven’s last day at work in the courtroom, a juvenile probation officer she despises drags a weeping young girl before an irritated judge for an unscheduled hearing while Maeven is packing up her things to leave. She is walking out of the courtroom, fighting her urge to turn around when she hears the probation officer had the girl incarcerated for weeks without notifying her parents or arranging for representation. Maeven can’t resist the girl’s pitiful pleas for help and intervenes.

BK:  What inspired this particular novel/book?

Because I was mad about the way the juvenile justice system works and how little families knew about it, I started writing a guide. A creative spring erupted in my mind while I was writing, and I couldn’t force myself to stay within the rigid lines of legal exposition. It seemed fitting because I spent more time using stories and analogies to explain to kids and their families what was happening to them in court. And, admittedly, I enjoyed the fictional narrative more.  

BK:  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I developed a voracious appetite for reading as a child. I marveled at the way an author could magically transport me to another world by using my imagination and without the use of pictures, videos or soundtracks. So, I started buying journals to write stories, but I never finished any of them.

    

BK:  How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

I just write about what I like and the types of characters and subjects I don’t see.

BK:  What was the hardest thing about writing this story?

Emotional upheaval.  Sometimes, I trudged through some dark memories to create content for characters. And then, I just had to fight off procrastination.

BK:  What character was your favorite to write for in this story? Why?

Besides the main character, I enjoyed writing about three other characters: Crow, Nathan and Jason.  Since you asked for one, I’ll pick Nathan, the main character’s husband. His love, protection, patience and genuine concern for his family and others are at the core of his character. When his love for and trust in his wife is pushed to its limits, his reaction to the challenge is pivotal to the plot. I just love the way he loves. I’m sorry, but I just have to add that I enjoyed her youngest son’s snarky humor and laughed out loud, cried over her oldest son’s scenes and found myself fascinated by Crow, her shady, but loveable former client. 

   

BK:  Which was your favorite scene to write?

I love the courtroom scene where Maeven first hears about this young girl’s predicament. It’s her last day of work, she has just finished her last case and she keeps telling herself to keep moving. The probation officer she detests is waiting and watching to make sure she’s leaving before he addresses the judge to explain the young girl’s case. Maeven’s conscience is tugging at her and the sheriff is looking at her with an expression on his face that begs her to stay. She succumbs to her conscience, turns around and then intervenes. The judge and the probation officer are livid by the time she’s done.   

BK:  Will this become a series? If so, what inspired it to be a series?

Yes, I’ve developed the plot for the second book. The characters are still alive in my head and there are characters and relationships I’d like to explore. It helps that one of my students told me that she liked to see more of Maeven’s adventures, so I don’t feel totally stupid about doing it.  

BK:  Now for a little fun, and into your everyday life, What is a day in your life like?

I wake up around four in the morning when I’m the only one, besides the dog, stirring around my house. I turn on some instrumental music so lyrics don’t distract me, get a cup of tea or hot water with lemon, a pillow, a blanket and park myself on the couch in front of my bow window. Hopefully, I find my writing vibe and voice and get lost in my imagination with a particularly intriguing character and/or plot. I write for a couple of hours and then head off to work where I teach and supervise law students.

BK:  What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

I like sneaking off to the movies with my husband during the middle of the day and reading with my book buddy, my sister.

BK:  What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you? 

I ran away from home when I was seventeen, moved in with my school bus driver and then married my high school sweetheart a few months later. Twenty one years and two teenagers later, we’re still like newlyweds.  

BK:  What do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

Right now, my book buddy and I are reading Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance. We read a lot of fiction in different genres. I love to read Jane Austen and J. K. Rowling.

BK:  Please tell us one piece of advice you were given as an author that you carry with you when you write? 

Write what you know and break some rules.

BK: I love that!

BK:  What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?

Here’s the one piece of advice I haven’t mastered, but I’m trying: write every day.

BK:  What are you currently working on?

I have three projects swirling around in my brain right now. I’m working with my sons on a fantasy novel about a pregnant queen, I’m flirting with an idea for a romance novel, and as I said earlier, I plan to write a sequel to The Public Pretender. 

BK:  Where can readers connect with you? 

https://sites.google.com/site/mdcliattbooks/  or  http://mdcliattbooks.blogspot.com/

Maeven discovers people are profiting from imprisoning innocent kids. A whistleblower ends up dead, but he left clues. When her oldest son is beaten, arrested and detained on false charges, her husband receives a message proposing an offer: Maeven must quit the girl’s case, or they lose their son. The problem? Can she sacrifice one for the other?  

Excerpt:
       ###

        Down a dark and an empty hallway lined with closed, gray metal doors, loud angry voices bounced off the walls. The sickening sounds of fists pummeling flesh and furniture crashing to the floor took her by surprise. She quickened her pace to get to the office to see what was happening, her heels clicking on the linoleum. She didn't want them to hear her so she walked on the tips of her toes.

        From the doorway of an office with dim light, she could see the silhouette of a person standing in front of a desk. The silhouette picked up a heavy object and bashed someone else behind the desk over and over again. She gasped in horror. Frightened, she slipped into the janitorial closet next to the office and hid. She didn’t close the door all the way so that she could see. Someone screamed and then she heard a groan. From the closet she watched the attacker run out of the office and down the hallway to a pitch black stairwell.

        She trembled behind the closet door. She saw an eerie green glow coming from the office where the attack happened, and she could hear a muffled voice. Her muscles tensed and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Silence enveloped her. Her fear paralyzed her, but she forced herself to move fast to get out of the closet and into the office. The sweat began to creep down her face and sting her eyes. She was wasting too much time. She eased out of the closet and looked both ways. No one in sight.

        The office door was ajar; she slipped inside. Finding the room in disarray, she took two apprehensive steps forward. She stumbled over black loafer clad feet. A body wearing faded blue jeans lay on the floor behind the mahogany desk bleeding from the head. The janitors would find dark red pools tomorrow morning. She took two steps forward. Her feet straddled both sides of his legs as she crouched over the body. From the glow of the screen saver on the computer, she could tell the hair was caked with blood.

        She waddled near his head and then reached down with her hand to touch his neck as if she were checking a child for a fever. No pulse.  She could feel her stomach churn with nausea as she stared at the blood on her fingers.  She stood up and then stared down at him.

        She reminded herself about why she came, and she used her clean hand to rummage through papers with a sense of urgency, files and books on his desk. She had to find those papers. She looked in the metal file cabinet behind his desk. The soft hum of a clarinet and a sultry male voice crooning from the radio on the corner of the desk startled her.  She switched it off. She opened the first cabinet drawer and found a box of tea bags. She opened the second drawer and found a battered manila file.  She grabbed it, and the papers inside the file crackled in the silence. She opened the file, unfolded the first page, held it up near the computer screen glow and skimmed it. Yes, these were the papers she needed, and she shoved the file under her arm.

        She looked down at the body and noticed his eyelids were open. She crouched down and bent over him, putting her ear close to his mouth. She could hear shallow breathing coming through his lips. Horrified, she stood upright and looked for his phone. Shaking, she lifted the receiver off the desk phone.  She heard a dial tone, and then used her index finger to push the numbers 9-1-1.

        A male operator's flat business voice asked, "911, what's the problem?"

        She didn't answer. She laid the receiver on its side on top of the scattered papers and then ran out of the room.  As she ran, she stumbled but caught herself by grabbing the doorknob. She turned to take the route down the hallway opposite the attacker's path. She headed for the other darkened stairwell, skidded to a stop at the top of the stairs and then took off her shoes. She let her hand slide down the metal handrail as she flew down the metal steps until she reached the bottom. 

         She ran for the side door, and the red and white "EXIT" sign above the door beckoned to her. She burst through the door and raced toward alley, escaping into the cool evening air.  As she ran, the bells from the cathedral next door chimed several times. 

        She turned at the sound of a car driving toward her. A black sports utility vehicle sped around the corner of the building and down the alley. She ran away from the light of the street lamps to cower in the dark behind the bushes alongside the wall.  

        The black vehicle pulled up to the corner of the alley and parked.  The attacker got out with a gas can, walked to the sidewalk, and up to the building. She ran down the alley in the opposite direction from the attacker toward her parked car behind the courthouse. Once inside, she jammed her key into the ignition and started the engine.  She threw the file and her shoes on the seat and pressed the gas pedal.  

        She passed a speeding police car with flashing lights.  Through her rearview mirror, she saw it come to an abrupt stop in front of the building she just escaped.   Two officers jumped out of the car just as glass shattered overhead and flames exploded through the windows.

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