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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

WiP-It Wednesday for February 24, 2021

 PG Forte: I don't know if I shared this cover yet. This is Angel Mine, a freebie story I'm working on for my Angels in the Afterlife series. I hope to be finished with this story very soon. Meanwhile, here's a small excerpt. 

I don’t believe in destiny or meant-to-be. I don’t even understand the appeal of it, to be honest. The idea that there’s one special someone out there for each of us—seriously, how does anyone not find that depressing as fuck?

Think about it. The universe is so vast, and so timeless; even if your perfect soulmate did exist, how would you even go about finding each other? You could miss each other by centuries, by galaxies, by signing up for the wrong dating app. It’s all such an incredible crapshoot.

Or maybe I’m wrong. I didn’t used to be such a cynic. There was a time, not so long ago, when I was a pretty upbeat guy. But now…could be I just don’t want to believe that something like that is possible. Because now that I’m dead, now that I’ve missed my shot at hooking up with my other half... Okay, wait. I’m telling this badly, aren’t I? Let’s start over.

Hi. My name is Mattie. I’m an angel. And this is my story.
To read more about my angsty angels, and find out what they're up to there in limbo (where men are men and the angels are fallen!) check out their series page here: https://www.pgforte.com/angels-in-the-afterlife

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Additional Scene from VEILS, a Completed Sci-Fi/Time Travel Romance Trilogy by Linda Mooney

This month, I'm offering up this additional scene from VEILS, a completed sci-fi/time travel trilogy.
~ ~ ~
Forty years after the last veil swept over the planet, Griffin and Natalia have managed to live a prosperous and happy life. Their only true regret is never knowing the fate of all the people they’d met and come to care about during that horrific time.

            Taking a spontaneous vacation to a site they’d once dropped in, they never expected to find the final answer to their prayers.

Link

Monday, February 22, 2021

HERE BE NEWS for Monday, February 22, 2021


                            


Monday, February 22, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:



Tuesday February 16, 2021: Deborah A Bailey wants to know What Author inspires you?

Thursday February 18, 2021: Maureen Bonatch invites you to Stop by The Last Call for National Drink Wine Day!


           

On Sale Now for $0.99 cents: (click here to grab your copies)



Destiny Calling (Book 1)


Hope only wants to find out if her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with her touch makes her the devil's spawn, or his exterminator. But when the woman who raised her is murdered by something not human, she loses the only family she knew and discovers one she might wish she hadn’t.



Not a Chance (Book 2)


The last thing Hope Hallows wants is to become the latest headline. Living in a town that likes secrets, she prefers to keep hers hidden. Avoiding a nosy reporter’s questions about her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with a single touch, and those who crave this bliss, is nothing new. But having her brother’s annoying girlfriend, Berta, go missing is—especially when it makes Hope suspect number one.



Sound of a Voice That is Still by PG Forte

 I saw a photo online recently of a hallway strewn with red rose petals, and a caption that said something like, "Just once I wish someone would do something this romantic for me." To which someone else had replied, "I thought those were bloodstains." And someone else had quipped, "There are two types of people."

I don't know...maybe you had to be there?  I thought it was hilarious. But, even funnier, is the fact that everyone I know of who's seen the picture also thought they were viewing a crime scene. And that got me thinking that I'd like to write a scene like that. And THAT reminded me that I already had ! Or, at least, I'd written a scattered rose petal scene. 

Sound of a Voice That is Still is book three in my Oberon series--which is not currently available. I'm hoping to bring it back this year. Fingers crossed. I do have an Oberon /LA Love Lessons crossover novella available (and possibly another one coming before the end of the year--more crossed fingers!). But you're curious about Lucy and Danan, you can read more about them right now, simply by joining my FB Reader's Group, The Crone's Nest. 

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest  

Members have access to the Oberon prequel, Such Fleeting Pleasures, which tells the story of how Lucy and Dan first met--and includes the famous indoor picnic scene that Lucy is attempting to replicate in the excerpt below:



Lucy took a long last look around the bedroom. It was perfect. Rose scented candles stood ready on each of the nightstands, and in their bathroom a bottle of vanilla flavored massage oil steamed peacefully in the bottle warmer. A picnic basket containing most of the ingredients for the meal she’d planned sat ready on the bed. Olives and oysters and double cream Brie. And cherry tomatoes—out of season, of course, and not nearly as good as the ones they’d get later in the year, but that could not be helped. She’d fared better with the avocados and the artichokes. Two weeks of searching had turned up several bottles of a nice Cabernet that was a near match for the wine they had shared all those years ago. She’d struck out when it came to the fresh strawberries, however. To compensate she’d bought a box of marzipan fruit and two cans of whipped cream. She was ready. 

 Closing the door behind her, she headed down the hallway toward her kitchen to check on the rest of the meal. She glanced at her smartwatch to see how much time she had, and felt a momentary tightness in her chest when she saw how late it was. Where was he? Surely he wouldn’t be late tonight? Not that there was any hurry, of course. They had all night to eat and talk, and to love each other. To remember the way things used to be. Could still be. Were

 She could hear Mandy and Kate giggling in the family room as they watched one of the videos that she’d rented for them. She thought of Scout and her cousin, probably already checked in at the spa—already in bed, perhaps. And Marsha, out to dinner with Sam. She tried to rein in the jealousy which for weeks had threatened to overwhelm her. 

 She’d had a whole lifetime of loving and being loved, after all. It was petty of her to begrudge her two best friends a little of the same happiness she had, wasn’t it? But she did, all the same. 

 As she checked on the artichokes, wiggling a couple of the outer leaves to see how loose they were, she imagined how it would feel to slide one of them into his mouth, to feel the touch of his lips as they brushed against the tips of her fingers. The faint tug as she pulled the leaf out again, and his teeth clamped down on it, resisting her. She imagined the taste of and the feel of melted butter as it dripped down her chin. The sweet aftertaste in both their mouths as he licked the butter away and then kissed her. The artichokes were ready she decided, turning off the heat beneath the pot. And so am I

She was ready to break down the wall that had sprung up between her and Dan. Ready to break through the silence that threatened to suffocate them both. Ready to reclaim her marriage. And reclaim her husband, too, from whatever it was that had stolen so much of his attention recently. She had everything she needed to accomplish her task, except for one little thin: Dan still wasn’t home. 

 She resisted the urge to check the time again and uncorked one of the bottles of wine. It was just as well that he was late. It was a fairly young vintage, after all. It could use a few minutes to breathe. She poured herself a glass of it, anyway, admiring the deep, clear color of the wine. Three drops, red as heart’s blood fell on the white tile counter. She wiped them up and licked her finger, and then turned at the sound of the door opening, her chest tight again. 

 “Hey babe. Sorry I’m late,” Dan said, smiling as he came toward her. He was carrying a bouquet of roses and a small, insulated paper bag. 

 Lucy could hear her heart thudding in her ears. “Hey, yourself,” she murmured, putting her glass down, and leaning back against the counter. She cocked her head to the side. “What’s in the bag?” 

 He put the roses on the counter and leaned in close. “Your Valentine’s present.” He pushed her hair back behind her ear and nuzzled her neck. His voice was a warm whisper. “Part of it, anyway. I thought maybe we could take this back to our bedroom with us later, maybe have our dessert in there tonight?” 

 He brushed a brief kiss against her lips and then pulled away and handed her the bag. “Here. Take a look.” He rested his hands on the counter, one on either side of her, and watched as she opened the bag. 

 “Lavender ice cream?” Her favorite. She stared at him in wonder. There was only one place in town that made it, and then only during the summer. “How’d you get it?” 

 He flashed her his most mischievous grin. “It was easy. I just called and asked if they’d make up a batch of it special for me. Told them I’d give them a real good deal on the lavender this year, if they did. That’s why I’m late tonight, I had to stop downtown and pick it up.” 

 Lucy clutched the pint container against her chest, mindless of the chill, as she thought about the velvety smoothness of the ice cream, the sweet taste of lavender, the way it would feel later tonight, as it melted on her skin. 

 Dan’s eyes gleamed as he watched her. “Well? Don’t you have anything for me?” 

 She nodded and reached for his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you. Bring the roses,” she said, smiling at him over her shoulder. She’d been foolish to be so worried, she thought, as she led him down the hallway towards their bedroom. 

 Nothing had changed between them. They were still on the same wavelength, still in sync. Still in love. 

 She dropped his hand as they entered the bedroom. Crossing to the bed, she pulled down a corner of the bedspread, so he could see the rose petals she’d layered between the sheets: red and white, just like the ones he’d brought her. 

 He smiled at her from across their bed. “The red rose is a falcon and the white rose is a dove,” he recited softly. “The red rose whispers passion and the white rose breathes of love. Looks like we might have been thinking along similar lines today.” 

 “Hmmm.” She returned his smile. “Looks like.” 

 He frowned suddenly. “Except...I think I may have reversed the order of those verses.” 

 She shrugged and rested one knee on the bed. “Does it really matter?” 

 “No.” His glance sizzled as it wandered slowly over her. “Not at all. So, what are you tonight? A falcon, or a dove?” 

 “I don’t know.” She shrugged again. “I haven’t decided, yet. Maybe neither.” 

 “Neither, huh?” He looked amused. “Why don’t you come over here and let me change your mind about that.” 

 She peered up at him teasingly, “What’s your hurry, Cavanaugh? You got places to go?” 

 “Just one,” he said. His glance went briefly to the basket on the bed between them. “Are we having a picnic?” 

 She nodded. “Take a look.” She held her breath and watched as he lifted the lid and looked inside; watched the smile that slowly crept across his face, watched his throat work as he swallowed. He remembers. Her heart soared at the look in his eyes when he looked at her again; at the heat and the passion that blazed within them. 

 “C’mere,” he said and his voice, husky with emotion, warm and dark, set all her nerves aflame.


Such Fleeting Pleasures 
An Oberon Prequel Novella 0.5 

 Love wasn't always strawberries and cream for Lucy and Dan Cavanaugh...or was it? 

In this Oberon prequel, we travel back in time to see how it all began. Most of the material in this prequel novella (set some eighteen years before the series begins) also appears as flashback scenes in A Taste of Honey

 Although the series as a whole is not currently available, you can access a FREE DOWNLOAD of this novella when you join my Facebook group: The Crone's Nest:   

                                         https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest 



Going To The Chapel 
Crossover Book 1.0 

In Waiting For The Big One, Gabby and Derek went from being friends to being lovers. Now, they're waiting for their Big Day. But will it be the wedding of their dreams? Or a bride's worst nightmare? 

 A quick trip to Gabby's hometown turns into the wedding from hell when Gabby and Derek are plagued by hailstorms, lost reservations, voracious goats, angry bees and enough family drama to fill a barn. 

 Guess it's true what they say, "The course of true love never did run smooth." But can the happy couple hold it all together, or will their Big Day turn into a Big Mess?

 ***A different version of this book was previously released as part of the Sapphire Falls Kindle World program.*** 

 Available now, only at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SF7MD54/

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Bring It Back(List) Sound of a Voice That is Still by PG Forte

 I saw a photo online recently of a hallway strewn with red rose petals, and a caption that said something like, "Just once I wish someone would do something this romantic for me." To which someone else had replied, "I thought those were bloodstains." And someone else had quipped, "There are two types of people."

I don't know...maybe you had to be there?  I thought it was hilarious. But, even funnier, is the fact that everyone I know of who's seen the picture also thought they were viewing a crime scene. And that got me thinking that I'd like to write a scene like that. And THAT reminded me that I already had ! Or, at least, I'd written a scattered rose petal scene. 

Sound of a Voice That is Still is book three in my Oberon series--which is not currently available. I'm hoping to bring it back this year. Fingers crossed. I do have an Oberon /LA Love Lessons crossover novella available (and possibly another one coming before the end of the year--more crossed fingers!). But you're curious about Lucy and Danan, you can read more about them right now, simply by joining my FB Reader's Group, The Crone's Nest. 

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest  

Members have access to the Oberon prequel, Such Fleeting Pleasures, which tells the story of how Lucy and Dan first met--and includes the famous indoor picnic scene that Lucy is attempting to replicate in the excerpt below:



Lucy took a long last look around the bedroom. It was perfect. Rose scented candles stood ready on each of the nightstands, and in their bathroom a bottle of vanilla flavored massage oil steamed peacefully in the bottle warmer. A picnic basket containing most of the ingredients for the meal she’d planned sat ready on the bed. Olives and oysters and double cream Brie. And cherry tomatoes—out of season, of course, and not nearly as good as the ones they’d get later in the year, but that could not be helped. She’d fared better with the avocados and the artichokes. Two weeks of searching had turned up several bottles of a nice Cabernet that was a near match for the wine they had shared all those years ago. She’d struck out when it came to the fresh strawberries, however. To compensate she’d bought a box of marzipan fruit and two cans of whipped cream. She was ready. 

 Closing the door behind her, she headed down the hallway toward her kitchen to check on the rest of the meal. She glanced at her smartwatch to see how much time she had, and felt a momentary tightness in her chest when she saw how late it was. Where was he? Surely he wouldn’t be late tonight? Not that there was any hurry, of course. They had all night to eat and talk, and to love each other. To remember the way things used to be. Could still be. Were

 She could hear Mandy and Kate giggling in the family room as they watched one of the videos that she’d rented for them. She thought of Scout and her cousin, probably already checked in at the spa—already in bed, perhaps. And Marsha, out to dinner with Sam. She tried to rein in the jealousy which for weeks had threatened to overwhelm her. 

 She’d had a whole lifetime of loving and being loved, after all. It was petty of her to begrudge her two best friends a little of the same happiness she had, wasn’t it? But she did, all the same. 

 As she checked on the artichokes, wiggling a couple of the outer leaves to see how loose they were, she imagined how it would feel to slide one of them into his mouth, to feel the touch of his lips as they brushed against the tips of her fingers. The faint tug as she pulled the leaf out again, and his teeth clamped down on it, resisting her. She imagined the taste of and the feel of melted butter as it dripped down her chin. The sweet aftertaste in both their mouths as he licked the butter away and then kissed her. The artichokes were ready she decided, turning off the heat beneath the pot. And so am I

She was ready to break down the wall that had sprung up between her and Dan. Ready to break through the silence that threatened to suffocate them both. Ready to reclaim her marriage. And reclaim her husband, too, from whatever it was that had stolen so much of his attention recently. She had everything she needed to accomplish her task, except for one little thin: Dan still wasn’t home. 

 She resisted the urge to check the time again and uncorked one of the bottles of wine. It was just as well that he was late. It was a fairly young vintage, after all. It could use a few minutes to breathe. She poured herself a glass of it, anyway, admiring the deep, clear color of the wine. Three drops, red as heart’s blood fell on the white tile counter. She wiped them up and licked her finger, and then turned at the sound of the door opening, her chest tight again. 

 “Hey babe. Sorry I’m late,” Dan said, smiling as he came toward her. He was carrying a bouquet of roses and a small, insulated paper bag. 

 Lucy could hear her heart thudding in her ears. “Hey, yourself,” she murmured, putting her glass down, and leaning back against the counter. She cocked her head to the side. “What’s in the bag?” 

 He put the roses on the counter and leaned in close. “Your Valentine’s present.” He pushed her hair back behind her ear and nuzzled her neck. His voice was a warm whisper. “Part of it, anyway. I thought maybe we could take this back to our bedroom with us later, maybe have our dessert in there tonight?” 

 He brushed a brief kiss against her lips and then pulled away and handed her the bag. “Here. Take a look.” He rested his hands on the counter, one on either side of her, and watched as she opened the bag. 

 “Lavender ice cream?” Her favorite. She stared at him in wonder. There was only one place in town that made it, and then only during the summer. “How’d you get it?” 

 He flashed her his most mischievous grin. “It was easy. I just called and asked if they’d make up a batch of it special for me. Told them I’d give them a real good deal on the lavender this year, if they did. That’s why I’m late tonight, I had to stop downtown and pick it up.” 

 Lucy clutched the pint container against her chest, mindless of the chill, as she thought about the velvety smoothness of the ice cream, the sweet taste of lavender, the way it would feel later tonight, as it melted on her skin. 

 Dan’s eyes gleamed as he watched her. “Well? Don’t you have anything for me?” 

 She nodded and reached for his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you. Bring the roses,” she said, smiling at him over her shoulder. She’d been foolish to be so worried, she thought, as she led him down the hallway towards their bedroom. 

 Nothing had changed between them. They were still on the same wavelength, still in sync. Still in love. 

 She dropped his hand as they entered the bedroom. Crossing to the bed, she pulled down a corner of the bedspread, so he could see the rose petals she’d layered between the sheets: red and white, just like the ones he’d brought her. 

 He smiled at her from across their bed. “The red rose is a falcon and the white rose is a dove,” he recited softly. “The red rose whispers passion and the white rose breathes of love. Looks like we might have been thinking along similar lines today.” 

 “Hmmm.” She returned his smile. “Looks like.” 

 He frowned suddenly. “Except...I think I may have reversed the order of those verses.” 

 She shrugged and rested one knee on the bed. “Does it really matter?” 

 “No.” His glance sizzled as it wandered slowly over her. “Not at all. So, what are you tonight? A falcon, or a dove?” 

 “I don’t know.” She shrugged again. “I haven’t decided, yet. Maybe neither.” 

 “Neither, huh?” He looked amused. “Why don’t you come over here and let me change your mind about that.” 

 She peered up at him teasingly, “What’s your hurry, Cavanaugh? You got places to go?” 

 “Just one,” he said. His glance went briefly to the basket on the bed between them. “Are we having a picnic?” 

 She nodded. “Take a look.” She held her breath and watched as he lifted the lid and looked inside; watched the smile that slowly crept across his face, watched his throat work as he swallowed. He remembers. Her heart soared at the look in his eyes when he looked at her again; at the heat and the passion that blazed within them. 

 “C’mere,” he said and his voice, husky with emotion, warm and dark, set all her nerves aflame.


Such Fleeting Pleasures 
An Oberon Prequel Novella 0.5 

 Love wasn't always strawberries and cream for Lucy and Dan Cavanaugh...or was it? 

In this Oberon prequel, we travel back in time to see how it all began. Most of the material in this prequel novella (set some eighteen years before the series begins) also appears as flashback scenes in A Taste of Honey

 Although the series as a whole is not currently available, you can access a FREE DOWNLOAD of this novella when you join my Facebook group: The Crone's Nest:   

                                         https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest 



Going To The Chapel 
Crossover Book 1.0 

In Waiting For The Big One, Gabby and Derek went from being friends to being lovers. Now, they're waiting for their Big Day. But will it be the wedding of their dreams? Or a bride's worst nightmare? 

 A quick trip to Gabby's hometown turns into the wedding from hell when Gabby and Derek are plagued by hailstorms, lost reservations, voracious goats, angry bees and enough family drama to fill a barn. 

 Guess it's true what they say, "The course of true love never did run smooth." But can the happy couple hold it all together, or will their Big Day turn into a Big Mess?

 ***A different version of this book was previously released as part of the Sapphire Falls Kindle World program.*** 

 Available now, only at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SF7MD54/

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Stop by The Last Call

 

   Disclaimer: Scruff did not consume any actual wine ...he's more of a tequila man

By Maureen Bonatch

I hadn't realized there was a National Drink Wine Day, or that it was on February 18th each year. There is a day for almost everything anymore, so I suppose choosing a day in the dead of winter would be appropriate for curling up with a book and a glass of wine (or coffee—I won't tell since everyday is drink coffee day for me). 

Drinking is often done socially. Whether it's meeting friends for a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or other beverage. I do enjoy a glass of red wine, although most of the places in my area don't offer much of a selection, and with COVID precautions, it's not something I've gone out to do much of lately. 

If you're missing hanging out and having your beverage of choice, you can virtually visit the Last Call bar featured in my books Destiny Calling and Not a Chance—which both happen to be on sale now for $0.99 cents. (click here to grab your copies) So grab a stool and slide up to the bar. 

Hope will get your drink—although she'll probably recommend the tequila. The Last Call doesn't have that great of a wine selection, but luckily you can visit this bar from the comfort of your home with your favorite drink.

On Sale Now for $0.99 cents




Destiny Calling (Book 1)


Hope only wants to find out if her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with her touch makes her the devil's spawn, or his exterminator. But when the woman who raised her is murdered by something not human, she loses the only family she knew and discovers one she might wish she hadn’t.



Not a Chance (Book 2)


The last thing Hope Hallows wants is to become the latest headline. Living in a town that likes secrets, she prefers to keep hers hidden. Avoiding a nosy reporter’s questions about her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with a single touch, and those who crave this bliss, is nothing new. But having her brother’s annoying girlfriend, Berta, go missing is—especially when it makes Hope suspect number one.

Cheers! Whatcha Drinking?


Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. 


Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter Be the first to know about Maureen’s book sales and new releases by following her on BookBubAmazon and/or signing up for her newsletter

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Available Now! Truth or Dare by PG Forte

This book was previously published. 

Truth or Dare 
Games We Play, Book One
by PG Forte
Paranormal/Erotic Romance
35K 
Release price: .99!

Gwyn has her hands full these days trying to help save the family business -- a quirky hotel on the Jersey Shore. She has no time for romance. But when the two men with whom she once spent a drunken menage weekend show up with a sexy proposition, how can she resist? Berke and Cam might have broken her heart once, but Gwyn is older now and wiser. She's not looking for forever. She just wants a good time. And, after all, it is Valentine's Day. 

 For Berke and Cam, the weekend isn't just about fun, or adding some spice to their marriage; it's about winning back the woman who got away, and convincing her to give a committed three-way relationship a shot. They each have skills that could help make the hotel a success -- and they're not above bartering to get what they want. but first they have to get past the walls Gwyn's built to keep them out. But while Cam's biggest concern is making sure Gwyn doesn't break Berke's heart a second time, Berke is worried about what Cam will think if he learns about Berke's part in screwing things up the last time around.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

What Author Inspires You?

 An author who has always inspired me is, Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006). Up to the point where I discovered her, I'd read a lot of the classic stories and authors, such as Arthur C Clarke and Robert Heinlein. They were the authors who were on the reading lists for the science fiction classes I took in college. 

 After college I found women authors in the genre. That's when I started reading Ursula LeGuin, Anne McCaffery, Vonda McIntire...and Octavia. I was excited because not only did I have a space as a woman, but as a black woman. Finally I could see myself in these stories.

These days it might seem odd that those voices weren't on my reading lists. I hadn't known that other voices existed. Now - thankfully - the doors are open for different storytellers to be represented in science fiction and its sub-genres. 

A winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards, Octavia E. Butler was a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and a PEN Lifetime Achievement Award. She also attended the Clarion Writers Workshop for science fiction and fantasy writers. 

There's so much I can say about her books, but I'll resist making this an extra-long post and share my favorites. 

Bloodchild and Other Stories includes her award-winning novella, Bloodchild. It deals with a recurring theme in her work about humans who leave Earth to find refuge from unjust systems. On this particular planet the humans have had to make an arrangement with the inhabitants as a condition of being able to stay. Actually the sacrifice they make is quite startling. It left me questioning how much humans would be willing to give up for the promise of safety and security. 

This comes up again in her Xenogenesis trilogy (which I'm re-reading right now) which deals with humanity after a devastating war. Aliens have allowed Earth a second chance, but there's a catch. Humans won't be able to re-populate the Earth unless they are also mated with the aliens. Yes, this does sound like a familiar plot for many science fiction romances, doesn't it? Though the trilogy isn't a romance, there are relationships - lovers, friends, parents and children - and those are at the core of the story. What is family and what does it mean to be human? 

Kindred (which was mentioned in a recent profile of Dolly Parton as being one of her favorite books) is about a black woman who is inexplicably whisked back to the antebellum South to the plantation owned by one of her ancestors. 

It's a powerful story that goes in a different direction than the reader expects. Especially considering that her ancestor is the one who is actually responsible for pulling her into the past. She's forced to come to terms with her connection to the ancestor and the knowledge that her actions could end up destroying her present life. There's also a beautifully illustrated graphic novel version as well.

Of course, I could go on because there are more books I could mention. One that has become more known (or perhaps mentioned more in the media due to its prescience) is her masterpiece, Parable of the Sower. I read this years ago and it blew me away.

Set in Earth's future (it was written in the 1990's and set in the 2020's) society is breaking down due to climate change, people live behind gates for safety and a president who wants to make things great again is in power. In spite of the state of this world, there is hope and the chance for a rebirth. 

That's part of what has always drawn me to her work. Yes, it often deals with a destruction of societal norms, but there's also transformation and a second chance. Most of all, there's hope. But humans must move through and resolve the hard parts first. Truth, then reconciliation. 

Perhaps that's why her work continues to draw readers over a decade since her passing. What she observed and shared in her work is timeless.

I haven't included spoilers in these descriptions, so if you're interested in reading about these books you can find more information on her website http://Octaviabutler.com and her extensive Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_E._Butler.



Monday, February 15, 2021

HERE BE NEWS for Monday, February 15, 2021

                            


Monday, February 15, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:


        


 NEW!

N8
The 8th Species, Book 1
Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count:
42.3K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p

Born with special abilities, N8 and the rest of “the children” have lived underground their entire lives, where they’ve been led to believe there was a nuclear war that left the Earth’s surface uninhabitable. The scientists chose what information they were given, what TV shows and movies they could watch, as well as what they were allowed to eat. It was only a matter of time before he and the others started questioning their very existence.

They endured brutal experiments and testing since birth, but to what end? When will it stop? They realize it won’t, unless they do something about it.

Cydney Huddleston works for corporation, but she can’t stand how the company is treating “the children.” N8 and the others know nothing of real life outside of the underground labs they’re forced to live in, or the lies they’ve been fed. When she’s ordered to seduce N8, she makes a decision that will ruin her career, and possibly cost her her life, but it’s worth it to free the innocent ones who have never breathed fresh air, seen the stars, or even felt love.

Out of thousands of attempts to create an 8th Species, only six survived, and they must stick together. The question is, who can they trust with their secrets?

Because the truth has the power to set them free. Literally.

Warning: Contains choco-vanilla swirl ice cream, a long-abandoned campground, tracking devices, a sexual demand, genetic manipulation, and a chance to pursue a life of liberty, happiness, and love.

Excerpt and Buy Links


RE-RELEASING February 17, 2021

Truth or Dare 
Games We Play, Book One
by PG Forte
Paranormal/Erotic Romance
35K 
Release price: .99!

Gwyn has her hands full these days trying to help save the family business -- a quirky hotel on the Jersey Shore. She has no time for romance. But when the two men with whom she once spent a drunken menage weekend show up with a sexy proposition, how can she resist? Berke and Cam might have broken her heart once, but Gwyn is older now and wiser. She's not looking for forever. She just wants a good time. And, after all, it is Valentine's Day. 

 For Berke and Cam, the weekend isn't just about fun, or adding some spice to their marriage; it's about winning back the woman who got away, and convincing her to give a committed three-way relationship a shot. They each have skills that could help make the hotel a success -- and they're not above bartering to get what they want. but first they have to get past the walls Gwyn's built to keep them out. But while Cam's biggest concern is making sure Gwyn doesn't break Berke's heart a second time, Berke is worried about what Cam will think if he learns about Berke's part in screwing things up the last time around.


       



Once Upon a Princess Trio
Books 1 through 3 in the Upon a Princess series
By Deborah A. Bailey
Multicultural/Interracial Romance, Paranormal Romance 
Available now for: 1.99 

Formula for Fairy Tale Love:
1 adventurous Heroine + 1 tortured-but-noble Hero = Happily-Ever-After

Box set includes books 1-3 of the Once Upon A Princess paranormal fairy-tale inspired romance novellas.
For all the innate complications involved in finding the secret to blissful fairy-tale love with shape-shifters, three wise and discerning princesses trust their hearts instead of their eyes and fall in love with the unlikeliest of princes.

"Heart of Stone:" Leesa trespasses into a haunted palace, where she meets a gargoyle. Breaking the spell that cursed him may carry a price steeper than she's able…or willing…to pay.

"Beauty & the Faun:" Kayla flees an arranged marriage and falls for a faun shifter instead. But how can she ignore her duty by refusing to marry a prince?

"Land of Dreams:" Cicely knows she possesses magical ability. Falling in love with the courageous, self-sacrificing Willem may be the key to her awakening…or may unleash forces that will separate them forever.

Available on most online booksellers: https://books2read.com/u/4Dg5xA



The House That Walked Between Worlds
Book One of the Uncertain Sanctuary trilogy
By Jenny Schwartz
Cyberpunk/Science Fiction

ON SALE NOW! Limited time only. .99!

A tornado of chaos is tearing through Reality and in its path is the newest House, a bleak and forbidding fortress built of magic and grief by the most unlikely of sorcerers, a human.

A reckless act of compassion costs Dr. Kira Aist her family and her future on Earth. To escape her enemies, she calls on her heritage as a descendant of Baba Yaga and walks between worlds.

As Kira roams the paths of Reality, strangers are drawn to her House. Some seek refuge, some seek power, and one just wants kitty treats.

With the fate of multiple worlds hanging in the balance, Kira must discover what it means to be a sorcerer and the keeper of a House.


The House That Walked Between Worlds is a compelling and original fantasy novel of multiple worlds and beguiling mystery in the tradition of Ursula Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones.

Friday, February 12, 2021

Truth or Dare Redux

 Next week I'm doing a soft relaunch of my novella Truth or Dare--mostly because I'm still not sure how best to go about re-releasing books that have been previously published. But I spent most of this week reformatting all three of the books and, frankly, falling back in love with the characters. So, let me introduce you to a few of them--or reintroduce you, if you missed them the first time around. 

The Wild Geese Inn, which is where all the stories are set, is a resort hotel that has seen better days. Located in the fictional town of Atlas Beach (and, seriously, WTF is wrong with my fellow New Jerseyans that no one ever thought to give that name to an actual town?) that once was a Beach Destination of Choice for Jersey Shore-goers but which has now, like the hotel itself, fallen out of favor. And that was before Hurricane Sandy beat the crap out of it. The the town is rebuilding. The hotel? Ah, that's where things get interesting.

"Wild Geese" is a term that was first coined in the 16th century. It initially referred to a particular brigade of soldiers who left Ireland to fight in France. Over the next few centuries the meaning changed--as frequently happens! At first it was applied to any Irish soldier who left to fight abroad, and gradually it began to be used to reference any Irish emigrant.

The Inn was founded by an unnamed ancestor of our protagonists. All we know it that he, or she, came from Ireland, settled in Atlas Beach and opened a hotel. It's possible the pub came first, and the hotel came later, but now it's just one big, sprawling, Victorian-era, conglomeration of accomodations. There's the hotel itself--a grand old building that's big on charm and romance, but totally lacking in modern amenities. Also, it's haunted. There's the attached bar, the only part of the package that works year 'round and which, seemingly, has a boggart attached to it. Boggarts are Scottish, and how it came to live in an Irish pub is anyone's guess. There are also beach cottages that are located on the adjacent blocks, and which--by and large--are only habitable during the summer months. 

The property has been in the same family since it first opened, but since it has always been handed down along the matrilineal line, the names keep changing. When the story opens, matriarch Moira Walsh Gallagher has just passed away, leaving the hotel to her three adult grandchildren, Brenda Donovan, Luke Kelly, and Gwyn Carmichael. 

Great-grandfather Walsh is the closest thing the family has to a patriarch, and given that his wife kicked him to the curb, he wasn't a very good one. He's the man responsible for the family curse, but since no one believes in the curse anyway, they don't hold it against him.

Gwyn Carmichael is the youngest of the cousins, although given that there's only a six month age difference between Brenda (the oldest) and  and Gwyn (the youngest) with Luke more or less in the middle, that doesn't mean very much. Out of the three cousins, she's probably the one who's spent the most time at the hotel--she and her mom even lived there for awhile when she was a kid. So it's not surprising that she's also the most emotionally invested. Currently, Gwyn's in charge of the hotel itself. She's the only one of the cousins on speaking terms with the hotel ghosts.

Berke Weidman was Gwyn's college boyfriend--the good guy who still managed to break her heart when he left her for his bad boy best friend Cam Steiner. Gwyn hasn't seen either of the men since the super hot, totally disastrous Valentine's Day weekend the three of them spent in one of the hotel's cottages. 

But now, it's Valentine's Day once more and they DID NOT just show up at her door again! Gwyn's ready to peace out on whatever plan the two guys have in mind, but it seems the ghosts have other ideas.

Luke Kelly is the middle child of the three cousins. Well, technically, of course, they're all only children, but... Luke's birthday falls midway between the two girls', and "between the two girls" is where he spent most of his childhood (no! NOT like that!) breaking up their squabbles and attempting to keep the peace, etc. 

Luke's domain is the pub, and his two bĂȘte noires are the boggart who messes with the bar, and Kristy DiLuca, who messes with his head, and his heart, and always has. Luke's a sadist, and even if Kristy hadn't friend-zoned him back when they were kids, he'd still be reluctant to introduce her to all his kinks. 

Kristy has loved, lusted, and longed for her good friend for as far back as she can remember. But Luke grew up with two gorgeous cousins, and Kristy could never believe he could ever really be interested in plain old her. Little does he know, but she'd love for him to do all the kinky stuff he's dreamed of doing. Luckily for the two of them, the boggart's got their  back...or does he? Pinning all your hopes on a mischief-making spirit is probably not the best idea! 

Brenda Donovan is the most responsible of the cousins, or at least she thinks she is. But, then again, she also thinks she knows best because she's the oldest. Needless to say, the other two don't take that all too seriously. Still, they happily put her in charge of the business side of things, because that's what she trained in, having gone to school to study hotel management while the others got more hands-on experience. 

Like her cousins, Brenda has always dreamed of someday returning to Atlas Beach and running the Wild Geese Inn. But, now that someday is here, she's not sure the three of them are ready for it. The hotel's losing money and unless Brenda can come up with a solid plan, the three of them are going to lose their entire inheritance. 

At sixteen Brenda fell in love with a boy named Noah. She he risked everything to be with him, and lost it all when he disappeared. Since then, she's walled off her feelings and refused to take risks. She's pretty sure she's not about to reverse that position and start taking risks now, but she'll need a little help convincing her cousins. That's where Max comes in...or so she thinks.

Max Murphy is a bit of a dark horse. He's working undercover at the Inn. Brenda thinks he's helping her negotiate a profitable sale of the property. Brenda's cousins think he's warming Brenda's bed. There's more going on than any of the cousins realize--but is it destiny taking a hand, or the family curse kicking in? Only time will tell...

Click HERE to read the prologue!


Gwyn has her hands full these days trying to help save the family business -- a quirky hotel on the Jersey Shore. She has no time for romance. But when the two men with whom she once spent a drunken menage weekend show up with a sexy proposition, how can she resist? Berke and Cam might have broken her heart once, but Gwyn is older now and wiser. She's not looking for forever. She just wants a good time. And, after all, it is Valentine's Day. 

 For Berke and Cam, the weekend isn't just about fun, or adding some spice to their marriage; it's about winning back the woman who got away, and convincing her to give a committed three-way relationship a shot. They each have skills that could help make the hotel a success -- and they're not above bartering to get what they want. but first they have to get past the walls Gwyn's built to keep them out. But while Cam's biggest concern is making sure Gwyn doesn't break Berke's heart a second time, Berke is worried about what Cam will think if he learns about Berke's part in screwing things up the last time around.

New! N8 - The 8th Species, Book 1, a Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romance by Linda Mooney

 NEW!

N8
The 8th Species, Book 1
Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count:
42.3K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p

Born with special abilities, N8 and the rest of “the children” have lived underground their entire lives, where they’ve been led to believe there was a nuclear war that left the Earth’s surface uninhabitable. The scientists chose what information they were given, what TV shows and movies they could watch, as well as what they were allowed to eat. It was only a matter of time before he and the others started questioning their very existence.

They endured brutal experiments and testing since birth, but to what end? When will it stop? They realize it won’t, unless they do something about it.

Cydney Huddleston works for corporation, but she can’t stand how the company is treating “the children.” N8 and the others know nothing of real life outside of the underground labs they’re forced to live in, or the lies they’ve been fed. When she’s ordered to seduce N8, she makes a decision that will ruin her career, and possibly cost her her life, but it’s worth it to free the innocent ones who have never breathed fresh air, seen the stars, or even felt love.

Out of thousands of attempts to create an 8th Species, only six survived, and they must stick together. The question is, who can they trust with their secrets?

Because the truth has the power to set them free. Literally.

Warning: Contains choco-vanilla swirl ice cream, a long-abandoned campground, tracking devices, a sexual demand, genetic manipulation, and a chance to pursue a life of liberty, happiness, and love.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Monday, February 8, 2021

HERE BE NEWS for Monday February 8, 2021

                            


Monday, February 8, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:


Wednesday February 3, 2021: PG Forte offers a sneak peek at her WIP Lightning in a Bottle.


Thursday February 4, 2012Author Nicole Luiken takes on the age-old question of whether it's better to write for love or money.




AEQUANA
Book 1
Urban Fantasy Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count:  69.1K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p / $19.95 a
 
Narrated by Guy Veryzer
Length: 7 hrs, 39 min
Hear a Sample

John "Talon" Eagletalon had no idea what the government intended when it assigned him to its latest secret project - an icy blonde beauty with a miraculous ability.  All he knew was that he owed Uncle Sam fourteen more months of his life, and if it meant being this woman's partner and bodyguard until he'd paid his dues, he'd find a way to endure the ordeal. 

Until he discovered what the government had been doing to her.  And at the same time, discovered he was falling hopelessly in love with her.   

Now it's no longer a matter of protecting her.  It's a matter of keeping her out of their clutches. 

And making her his.

Warning! Contains a wise Indian saying, cold showers, extreme hazardous pay, corrupt scientists, sorry sons of bitches, chains and collars, things that bite, and a two thousand mile journey that ends in an incredible night of love.

Excerpt and Buy Links