Here Be Halloween! (A collection of Halloween-Themed Books)

Here are some Halloween-themed books from the authors at Here Be Magic, our alter-egos, and our friends! 

Rub My Pumpkin

Tales of the Blakeney Sisters,

Book 1

Linda Mooney (WA Carolyn Gregg)

Humorous Erotic Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance

Word Count:  15.5K

$1.99 e / $7.50 p / $6.04 a

 

https://lindamooney.com/rubmypumpkin.htm 

                   

Once upon a time, there lived a man with five rambunctious daughters. They were an average American farming family except for one minor detail. The man was a warlock, and all of his daughters were witchlets—half witch and half human.

 

Rick Carr and his friend Booey come to Toppers Cove seeking employment at the seafood plant. For Rick, it is a chance to try and re-establish roots on the eastern coast, plus he hopes he can make a life out here.

 

He never expects to meet someone like Kimberly Blakeney. One glance, and he knows he's fallen in love, until he discovers she's a witch. A real witch. But despite that revelation, his feelings don’t change.

 

The only problem is, before he can sweep her off her feet, he first has to pass what she calls a "sex hex test" to prove they are meant to be together. Rick doesn’t mind, but what he doesn’t realize is that his best friend isn’t about let him fall under her spell...even if it means taking drastic measures.

Visions Before Midnight

Oberon Book 7.0

PG Forte

Now Only $2.99

https://books2read.com/VisionMidnight

Chay Johnson is a traditional man; and the educator, flute maker, apprentice shaman has a lot of traditions to uphold, especially when it comes to choosing a life mate.

 Erin Allridge is a modern woman, with modern ideas about relationships and a painful personal history she has no intention of repeating.

 

 When terror and tragedy strike the small town of Oberon, the pair are forced to re-think their visions for the future.

 

 In this world of form and spirit it can be hard to find balance and harmony, but  sometimes, particularly when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, love can find a way to bridge the gap.​

Hungry Heart

An Oberon Halloween Story  

PG Forte

Now Only $0.99

https://books2read.com/HungryHeartOberon

​

Cara Matthews is trouble—with a capital T. That's one thing that pretty much everyone in Oberon can agree on—parents, teachers, other students, her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Seth Cavanaugh. 

​

Well, if you give a dog a bad name they'll probably live up to it, right?

​

This Halloween, after one insult too many, Cara's hellbent on wreaking revenge—no matter who gets hurt in the process.

 

***Please note: This is a companion book to Visions Before Midnight. While it can stand on its own (and does contain scenes and material that does not appear in Visions) this is essentially Cara's version of events, which may or may not be accurate. Do you trust her?***

Hallowed Love

Kate Davies

$1.99

https://www.amazon.com/Hallowed-Love-Kate-Davies-ebook/dp/B08LVWDLM8

A lost woman. A hunted man. On a night of forbidden rituals, the veil between past and present lifts—and their worlds will never be the same.

 

Scientist Moira Sinclair doesn't believe in magic. Or at least she hasn't since childhood. She's only come to Iona in remembrance of her long-deceased grandmother—the last person who encouraged her fanciful side. But now she's stumbled onto a secret druid ritual—and into another time.

 

Aedan Ap Crannog is furious to discover an outsider spying on their sacred, banned Samhain rites. With her strange garb and stranger mannerisms, Moira is unlike any woman he's ever known. But she could cause trouble for him and the people who follow him in the ancient ways. To prevent her from sounding the alarm, he takes her captive, hiding her in the labyrinth of caves along the far shore.

 

Despite their differences, sparks burn between them as brightly as the Samhain bonfire. Now captive and captor must find a way to bridge the centuries before the magic disappears with the dawn...

 

This book has been previously published under the title Ritual Love.

Something Witchy This Way Comes

T.L. Schaefer

$0.99

https://www.amazon.com/Something-Witchy-This-Way-Comes-ebook/dp/B0150HFFR0

Amanda Sims is a woman with a problem. Her brother disappeared in the woods on Halloween night. When she enters the forest with enigmatic, sexy-as-hell deputy Josh Kent, the last thing this self-professed witch expects is a spiritual presence the size of the Grand Canyon. Josh holds his own secrets. He recognizes the entity in the forest, and offers to trade his immortal soul for that of Amanda's brother. But the Keeper of the Way has other ideas. When Amanda offers a part of herself in exchange for her brothers safe passage, the Keeper thrusts her and Josh into another land. A land where scarlet-tipped grain waves across an endless landscape, where parrots speak the Queen's English, where the dead walk and where she hears of the prophecy for the first time.

 

Legend speaks of a human witch and an Earth-walker who will free the lost souls of Midland. But from there the details are murky, doled out in bits and pieces as they travel the countryside, encountering spirits in every conceivable shape and form. But Amanda and Josh find more than the prophecy in Midland, they find a love that transcends every world, every dimension, imaginable.

Alchemy Shift 

The Collegium, Book 7

Jenny Schwartz

$3.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MF741XY/

A woman, her sword, and the bear-shifter who’ll steal her heart.

 

Delphi Cosmatos is an alchemist. She investigates the strange and magical objects that find their way to Collegium headquarters in New York. She has magic—and a big Greek family, all ready to “help” her (they mean, interfere). When Jet Walsh moves in next door with no family except the two young orphaned cousins he’s responsible for, it’s a situation of opposites attracting, especially since Jet is a bear-shifter.

 

But Jet can’t pursue a romantic relationship. He’s tracking the rogue mage who tortured and killed his cousins’ mom. Banned spells are being trafficked across the world and the center of the trade is New York.

 

Delphi knew her city was dangerous, but now her heart is in danger, too. Jet doesn’t have magic, yet he’s tangling with a powerful, ruthless mage. If she wants to save her man, she’ll need all the help she can get. No! Not from her family. Stashed in the evidence bunker at Collegium headquarters is the legendary sword Excalibur, and Delphi is just the woman to wield it. Maybe.

 

 

***Alchemy Shift is a stand-alone novel in the Collegium series - enjoyed by fans of Ilona Andrews, Seanan McGuire and Lisa Shearin.

The Spirit of Love: 

A Hearts Through History Halloween Anthology

Multiple Authors

$0.99

https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Love-Through-Halloween-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DDJYQB52/

Whispered promises, forever kept... when love's pledge endures beyond the grave.

 

Join us on an eerie journey back through time with Hearts Through History's Halloween anthology, The Spirit of Love. Revel in historical romance short stories spanning over nine-hundred years from Medieval France up to Yellowstone in the 1920s. New debuts join best-selling authors in these thirteen pulse-quickening, breath-catching, never before published, Halloween-themed romantic short stories.

Halloween Frights

(Halloween Horrors)

Multiple Authors

$2.99

https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Frights-Holiday-Horrors-Fiction-ebook/dp/B09KPDFQZR

Halloween is full of tricks, treats, costumes, and fun, but are you ready to face the darker side of this Autumn holiday?

 

From spooky ghost kids to zombie trick-or-treaters, poisonous treats from serial killers to statues coming alive, this anthology from Black Ink Fiction has 150+ bite-sized horror treats for your enjoyment.

HERE BE NEWS for Monday October 28, 2024

 

 

 Monday October 28, 2024 

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

Tuesday October 22, 2024: Linda Mooney unveils Chapter 10 of her Fantasy Romance, DARK HOURS.

Now Available as an audiobook!

G8
The 8th Species, Book 2

Contemporary Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romance

by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 46.2K

$3.99 e / $10.99 p / $14.95 a

Narrated by

Jeffrey E Arndt

Length: 4 hrs, 23 min

Hear a Sample: https://amzn.to/3UeQoDx 

G8 Children and the others are adjusting and learning to live freely outside of the underground bunker that they were once led to believe was normal life. They’re trying to find jobs as they scrounge for food and clothing, although the town is nice enough to help them whenever possible. But they’re determined to do it on their own, for the first time ever. 

When a fire at Docenti Labs sent everyone running, Ingrid Shyne was told to wipe the computers and get out, but she couldn’t leave the babies behind. How could anyone? She escapes with them, hiding out at her parents’ place, but she knows she can’t keep the infants forever. They’re Chimeras, created in a lab like the other “children” who escaped, and they need to be with those who understand them. When she reaches out, she’s welcomed with open arms, especially by one in particular.

Ingrid can’t wait to share all the firsts with G8—first love, first changing of the seasons, first holiday season, first birthday celebration. It breaks her heart that he and his family have been deprived of the joys in life she’d always taken for granted. But all of this could be taken away before they ever get a chance to experience any of it.  

The sheriff soon calls G8 up to begin work in his new deputy position and aid them in investigating the abandoned labs, along with the help of Ingrid since she worked there. But they quickly realize their lives are at risk. For good reason. They’ll need everyone’s special abilities, along with local law enforcement, to protect themselves as well as the second generation of Chimeras.

Warning: Contains no wrong moves, surviving, eggs with beans, healing, a classic Chevy, BOOM!, and two people refusing to give up hope for love and a life together.

Excerpt and Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/8thSpecies.htm

Now Available as an Audiobook!

WET

Aftermath Series Bk. 2

Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance

by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 56.9K

$3.99 e / $10.99 p / $19.95 a

Narrated by

Chase Johnson

Length: 6 hrs, 27 min

Hear a Sample: https://amzn.to/4d8JpTk

It has been raining for days on end all over the world. The inundation is causing blackouts, severe flooding, homes going underwater, as well as entire coastal towns disappearing.

When will it stop?

Wylie Barraga and his dad, Cesar, are hoping for the best but planning for the inevitable, packing up whatever supplies they can find and readying their bass boat to launch. When Wylie’s girlfriend, Gwen, and her sister, Harper, call for help, Wylie and Cesar come to the rescue. Before long, water starts filling the house, and the group knows it’s time to head for higher ground.

Supplies are dwindling and becoming harder to find with everything submerged in the quickly rising water. Emergencies bring out the worst in people, and it doesn’t take long until it becomes survival of the fittest. But people have to work together to survive, and there are a few good ones left, ready to band together and look out for each other.

Who can they trust?

Is there a scientific explanation for the unending deluge, or is it divine intervention? Loyalties are tested. At times like this family means everything, or to some it means nothing at all. There’s nothing like the possible end of the world to bring out a person's true feelings and personality.

Wylie and Harper are banking on love and humanity to win out.

Warning! Contains a lost walkie-talkie, rain rain rain rain and more rain, Star Wars bandages, lots of improvisation, the need for coffee, a stroke of luck, ewww oatmeal, a drum, and one man realizing his mistake in time to find the woman he truly loves.

Excerpt and Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/Aftermath.htm

FOUND (The Folk, Book 3)

Meg Benjamin

https://www.megbenjamin.com/found/

Some think she’s a monster. He thinks she’s the love of his life.

After she sent several men to the hospital, Dame Blanche Eva Winchester is learning to control her power. But she’s also bored to tears. Enter Prince Bertie, who offers her the chance to go undercover as a waitress in order to find out who’s attacking men in the parking lots of Folk-owned clubs. Bertie’s motives aren’t entirely innocent—he’s smitten by the lethal lady’s charms. But he and Eva discover the attacks are part of a more wide-ranging conspiracy, involving the very survival of the Folk.

As their investigations bring Bertie and Eva closer, Eva finds the downside of dating a prince, even one as yummy as Bertie. But when the prince is attacked, Eva swears to protect him. To overcome a ruthless enemy, the two must stage a last-ditch battle in the blizzard-ridden mountains. And this time they’ll need more than love and super strength to survive.

This Halloween-themed event will run throughout October with posts going up 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Included are short stories, flash fiction, poetry and even sample chapters. 

 

The theme of the event is Simply Spooky. So, think ghosts, demons, serial killers, horror, dark fantasy, etc. 

 

Alongside this event, Samantha Gregory will also be doing her own personal challenge of writing 8 short horror stories on the run up to Halloween. She plans on releasing these as a collection during Halloween week.

www.skgauthorservices.com/blog

https://books.bookfunnel.com/halloweenspooky/2oaw6uezjs

DARK HOURS, a Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney - Chapter 10

DARK HOURS

Chapter 10  

            It wasn’t until darkness fell that Kayge finally left the road and sought refuge among the trees. He hadn’t seen another soul during his long trek but he’d observed the dragon aloft in the far distance on several occasions. It was as if the creature was keeping an eye on him, making sure he was returning to Noranye. Keeping his promise to his beloved, and hoping to avenge her.

            He debated whether to start a fire to cook the remains of the yearling. He knew the risk that the light from the fire could draw attention to him. Yet he was also aware that without it, the cold that was once more rising with the moon could become more of a hazard than encountering a wild animal or a wandering brigand or two.

            “I also need to eat,” he argued with himself. “I need to fill my belly so I can keep my strength up. Without a fire and without food, I might as well give up my need for safety, for the nighttime cold can just as easily rob me of my life.”

            In the end, he moved deeper into the trees where he found a small glade with enough open space to dig a small pit in which to build a fire. Using a few green branches as a grate to keep the deer carcass above the flames, he huddled next to the pit for warmth and fed the fire with small sticks and dried leaves as the meat roasted. Once he determined sections were adequately cooked, he carved off slices to eat with his knife, not waiting for the whole thing to be done. 

            With his belly full, he was almost to the point of nodding off when he heard a horse neighing. Jerking awake, he grabbed his sword and took cover behind the nearest tree. From there, he watched and waited to see if anyone advanced into the glade. When no one appeared, he slipped through the forest to approach the road. He knew the chances were slim that his or Emers’ horse had managed to find its way back, but he couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility until he checked for himself.

            Reaching the tree line, he remained behind the bushes and surveyed the road. The moonlight cast a glow as cold as the night, but he was able to see far down the path in both directions. It wasn’t until a movement caught his eye that he finally made out the figure of a man on a horse. As there were no others, he assumed the traveler was alone.

            “Not wise,” he muttered. “One does not go it alone in the dead of night, no matter how great a soldier he is.”

            It was then he realized the man, or whoever was atop the saddle, wasn’t moving. The horse had gone off the road and was grazing on the side. Kayge briefly wondered if the man could be a decoy, with his cohorts lying in wait under the cover of darkness. But that didn’t make sense, either.

            “Unless they know there is an approaching coach or rider, why would they choose to lay a trap here?”

            The horse took a few more steps toward the trees. When it turned, Kayge could see the figure of the man more clearly. The rider looked to be asleep, head bowed but the body still erect, with the reins wrapped in his hands. He also noted the man wore no cloak or outer garment to keep him warm.

            Another thought came to him. If the man was dead…

            Quickly, Kayge approached the rider, sword still in hand in the event the man was pretending to be asleep, or if another figure should suddenly rise from the trees and come at him. Keeping his other hand out, he softly murmured to the horse to prevent it from bolting. The animal stared at him but didn’t show signs of aggression or fear, and allowed him to take hold of its bridle.

            “Whoa, big boy. Good boy. Who do you have here?”

            The figure in the saddle jerked away and tried to wrest Kayge’s grip on the horse, when he got a good look at the man restraining his mount. Gasping in shock, he whispered, “Centurion? Is it you?”

            Kayge recognized the voice and stared up at the priest in disbelief. “Father Matthias?”

            “Oh, thank the Lord I found you!”

            Dropping the reins, Kayge threw up a hand in warning. “Hush, Father! There could be others about.” He glanced around them. Although there didn’t appear to be anyone else in the vicinity, he still couldn’t take any chances. “Get down off your horse and come with me.”

            He had to help the old man dismount. The priest’s movements were hesitant and punctuated with soft moans of pain, letting Kayge know the man wasn’t well.

            Eventually, he managed to lead both man and animal to the secluded shelter of his fire where the priest collapsed next to the small pit to warm himself. After throwing the horse’s reins over a nearby bush, Kayge joined him.

            “Would you care for some venison, Father?”

            Matthias waved away the offer. “I have provisions, thank you. ‘Tis your fire I am most anxious to acquaint myself with.”

            Kayge studied the man’s appearance. Signs of imprisonment and, worse, torture were evident on the man’s body and face. He didn’t need to ask who had incarcerated the priest, or why. He already knew the answer.

            “Tell me what happened to you, Father,” he gently begged. Removing his cloak, he placed it over the thin shoulders. Matthias gratefully wrapped it around himself.

            He listened as the priest filled him in on what had happened after Kayge and Emers left the church. He noticed the frail man deliberately kept a lot of what he’d suffered at Gola’s hands to himself, but judging from the priest’s appearance, it didn’t need to be explained.

            Yet, one main question remained unanswered. “Father, how did you escape? How were you able to get here?”

            The man’s rheumy eyes stared at him. “She had me brought before her because she had a message she wanted me to deliver to you.”

            Kayge sat up straighter. “To me?”

            “Yes.” The priest gave a single nod. “She wanted me to tell you…” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to concentrate. “‘The only way Centurion Kayge d’Bayar can get back his beloved Emers Ammin of Deccatar is by killing the heart of the dragon.’”

            Kayge continued to stare at him. “Then she is alive?” he breathlessly demanded.

            “Is there a dragon?” Matthias asked instead of answering the man’s question.

            “Yes! Yes, there is. And…” The Centurion ran a hand over his pate. “Let me tell you what we have been forced to endure.”

            He explained what happened to him and Emers. As he related his story, the priest’s face went slack and pale to where Kayge feared the man might swoon.

            “Are you all right, Father?” Reaching out to the man, he grasped a thin arm. On second thought, Kayge picked up the skin of water he’d taken off the priest’s horse and handed it to him. Matthias gulped down a couple of swallows.

            “Yes. I think I will be. Son, why did the dragon swallow you first? Why did it upheave you and swallow Emers?”

            “I have given that much thought,” Kayge admitted. “At first, I thought it was to punish me. But then, maybe it wanted me to experience the horror of being inside that creature’s belly before taking my Emers and subjecting her to it. Or perhaps…perhaps it realized that by taking her, I was more likely to fight to save her than I would to save my own life.”

            “That would be giving intelligence to that monstrosity,” Father Matthias noted. “I believe its every action is dictated to it by the witch.” Softly moaning, he bowed his head. “Forgive me.”

            “For what?”

            “I am the one who told the witch about marrying you and Emers. I am responsible for her sending that flying demon from Hell after you. I am the one…” The old man broke down crying. In between sobs, he kept repeating, “Forgive me. Please forgive me.”

            Kayge let the man weep until Father Matthias had nothing left in him. Although the priest’s confession finally answered the Centurion’s remaining questions, Kayge’s initial reaction was to ignore the man’s plea. It wasn’t until Father Matthias laid a bony hand on Kayge’s knee that he had a change of heart.

            “I prayed I would find you in time to give you the message. I prayed the Lord would give me strength to make it up to you and Emers. I prayed. God knows how hard I prayed.”

            It was then Kayge knew the priest was only alive because of his resolve to make right what he’d done wrong.

            Our Lord forgave him and led him to me. I can do no less.

            Reaching over, Kayge placed his hand over the priest’s. “I forgive you, Father,” he acknowledged.

            Matthias reacted as if he hadn’t expected to be pardoned. Lifting his tear-stained countenance, he weakly made the sign of the cross. “Thank you, my son. Thank you. And God bless you.”

            Kayge’s expression hardened. “We are going to need it, Father. Come daylight, you are coming with me to face that witch, Gola, and her demon dragon. Somehow I will make her return my Emers to me, and I do not care how many men I have to kill, including that demon spawn, before my beloved is back in my arms.” 

TO BE CONTINUED

Linda's Website

HERE BE NEWS for Monday October 21, 2024

 

 

 Monday October 21, 2024 

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

Thursday October 17, 2024: PG Forte discusses what happens when characters speak for themselves.

Alien Haunts (Pax Galactica Book 3)

Jenny Schwartz

https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Haunts-Pax-Galactica-Book-ebook/dp/B0DJTC48Q6

Alien ruins — avoid or explore?

Madison Cardinal knows some mysteries are best left buried—like her past. But there’s a new multi-species exploration team in town and their proposed expedition is stirring up trouble.

If Madison’s new business as a human pilot in hantu space is to survive, she needs the exploration team to get in, get out, and leave her cargo route intact.

So, she agrees to drop them off.

But when it’s time to collect them, comms are down, the people are missing, and the ruins are…waking up.

***

Alien Haunts is a stand-alone novel in the Pax Galactica series. It’s a character-driven space opera with a twisty plot and a guaranteed happy ever after. Alien Haunts is a novel about finding your place in the universe.

Unseen (The Folk, Book 2)

Meg Benjamin

https://www.megbenjamin.com/unseen/

A routine job, but then it turned deadly.

Teran Richter is in Animas, Colorado, to find members of the Folk, a simple task. But the annual Animas Fall Festival brings hordes of tourists and daily celebrations that make it frustrating. Things begin to look up when Teran meets Marika Sager. Marika’s business partner Eva seems to be a member of the Folk, only it’s Marika Teran’s attracted to, particularly after a local witch’s brew sends the two into a memorable night of passion.

But there are sinister forces at work in Animas. Teran’s attacked and his assistant is kidnapped. When Marika also disappears, Teran’s forced to confront the truth: someone is out to sabotage his mission and destroy anyone who tries to help. With an eccentric team of magical allies, Teran must rescue Marika and fight off those who want to destroy both him and the Folk. But can he find a way to confront the shadowy forces while keeping himself and his lover safe from harm?

This Halloween-themed event will run throughout October with posts going up 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Included are short stories, flash fiction, poetry and even sample chapters. 

 

The theme of the event is Simply Spooky. So, think ghosts, demons, serial killers, horror, dark fantasy, etc. 

 

Alongside this event, Samantha Gregory will also be doing her own personal challenge of writing 8 short horror stories on the run up to Halloween. She plans on releasing these as a collection during Halloween week.

www.skgauthorservices.com/blog

https://books.bookfunnel.com/halloweenspooky/2oaw6uezjs