Sunday Snipppet 20-04-14

 

This week I am sharing a snippet from 

He's My Husky

A light paranormal romance.

Release date April 22nd.

 

Emma acknowledged the same intensity in Max as he stared at his son in the framed pictures.

Startled by Sue’s touch on her arm she spun around.

“I knew Shane reminded me of someone but never realised who it was until he—” She pointed at Max. “—turned up this morning.”

They stared at the man still absorbed in the photographs.

“Didn’t he know?”

 

“He knew!”

 

 Amazon UK    Amazon

 

Thanks for coming by :-) 

You'll find a lot more gifted authors at SNIPPET SUNDAY

 

 

Please welcome fellow Astraea Press author, Nell Dixon

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog to talk about my latest release from Astraea Press. Lights, Camera, Poltergeist! will be my 21st title release! So a kind of coming of age.

 

For those who haven’t met me before my name is Nell Dixon and I’m a UK author based in the Black Country, a small region which is more or less dab bang in the middle of the UK. I write for a number of publishers in the US and the UK and have been fortunate enough to twice win the UK’s prestigious romance prize for category length fiction. I’m the only person to have won twice.

 

Lights, Camera, Poltergeist! Is set in Scotland, and yes there is a man in a kilt in the story, but I’m not going to spoil the surprise!

 

Here’s the blurb: Things don’t just go bump in the night, sometimes they throw tea cups!

As the presenter for Ghost Uk, the leading TV show investigating paranormal activity, Fae thought she’d seen it all. Until a Valentine’s Eve live show from Scotland’s Fingelly Manor upsets both her preconceptions and her love life.

And a wee taster!

 

          Fae snuggled down deeper into the chunky knitted roll neck of her sweater and wished she could shake off the eerie sensations. She puffed out a sigh and watched her breath condense in the air before her face. It wasn’t only the room that was chilly. The relationship between herself and John had taken on a distinctly frosty tinge lately too.

She strolled across the room to the huge diamond leaded window that would have filled the room with light if it hadn’t been shrouded in dust and some dark red velvet drapes that had seen better days. Out in the corridor the electricians and tech staff were hammering and cursing the ancient electrical wiring.

The afternoon light had already started to fade and fingers of frost were beginning to form at the corners of the window. A flicker of movement near the trees on the far side of the lawn caught her attention and she leaned forward, almost bumping her nose against the glass in her quest to see what it was.

Whatever or whoever she thought she’d seen had vanished and she relaxed back on her heels. Working as a presenter on Ghost UK had made her jumpy. Every dark corner now held the possibility of something spooky. In such a deserted spot it was unlikely that anyone would be outside in the grounds, especially in this freezing weather.

“Fae, darling, there you are!”

She turned around to see her producer, Tim, sweeping towards her. She pasted a fake smile on her lips when she saw he was accompanied by the owner of the house, Giles McGinty, Laird of Fingelly. She’d already met Giles when she’d arrived and her impressions hadn’t been favourable.

“Giles has invited us all to dinner tonight before we start filming. Isn’t that marvellous?” Tim raised his eyebrows at her.

“That’s very kind.” Fae was quick enough to pick up the signal.

Giles smiled at her, his gaze lingering just a fraction of a second too long on her bust before raising his gaze to her face. “The pleasure is all mine. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better before the filming.”

She suppressed a shudder as his dark eyes locked on her face. “John and I will look forward to it.”

© Nell Dixon 2013

 

My Web: http://www.nelldixon.comRomance with Heart

You can get a copy of Lights, Camera, Poltergeist from all good etailers, including:

Amazon      Amazon UK   

Why not read more about Fae in Cue Me In? Haunted happenings in a Welsh Castle. http://www.amazon.com/Cue-Me-In-ebook/dp/B005XSEQJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357038762&sr=8-1&keywords=cue+me+in 

 

Thanks for coming by and sharing a bit about your new book, Nell and congratulations on book #21!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

[I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed this book :-)] Sherry

 

Six Sentence Sunday 30th

As always, my thanks to everyone who stops by. I appreciate your company and your comments.
This week I am again posting six sentences from my current WIP. Today's offering carries on from last week.


Hardening her heart against the hurt she saw in his eyes, Debra focussed on the reason for her outrage. She’d battled the petty restrictions placed on a single woman, and the constant need for a chaperone since her early release from the schoolroom, until her marriage. But Harold always accepted her as his equal, and his recognition of her sharp mind and ability to work beside him soon assured her a place in the everyday working of his estate. They’d ridden the countryside together, visited tenants, and spent many hours discussing all aspects of the estate’s wellbeing and future together in the evenings. Everything she knew, she’d learned from Harold.

“And you’re nothing if you’re not a quick study,” he often told her with a laugh that usually ended with a cuddle.

 For more wonderful snippets visit Six Sentence Sunday

Today Kerri interviews Judge Mom…Redux…

Guest Blog Day #3: 
Interview with Judge Mom…Redux…

Kerri is crouched down in a dark pit, the walls made from compacted mud.

Kerri: Hello? (she whispers shakily)

A flicker of light nearby draws her attention followed by the sound of clicking footsteps.

A sexy male voice with the hint of a British accent sounds: Who do we have here?

Kerri: Uh…I’m looking for Paisley?

The owner of the sexy male voice comes into view. He’s holding a small lantern which casts a wicked glow about his breathtakingly handsome face.

Sexy Male: She’s not here at the moment. Well, really she is here but she won’t be available to see guests for quite a while.

Kerri: (feels the sudden urge for a potty break) If I could just get back to my car, I’ll get out of your way then.

Sexy Male: Ah now, no need to be afraid. I’m Camden.

Kerri: (Eyes him warily) Nice to meet you, Camden. Are you a friend of Paisley’s?

Camden: Well, sort of. She certainly doesn’t appreciate my helpfulness though.

Kerri: (Not immediately convinced by his poor me routine) Well, I would be appreciative if you could get me back to my car.

Camden: (Reaches out and caresses Kerri’s cheek) Ssshh…let’s not worry about that right now.

Kerri: (Heart thundering inside her ears)

Zelef: Geez, leave the author alone, would ya?

Camden retracts his hand and turns toward Zelef.

Camden: Would you kindly mind your own business?

Zelef: You mind your own business. Paisley is looking for you.

Camden and Kerri: Me?

Zelef looks back and forth between the two of them who have responded in unison.

Zelef: Sorry girlie, she’s looking for Camden. You have to be going now. This interview isn’t going to happen.

Kerri: Sure. No problem. I just need to get back to my car.

Camden: I can take her to her car.

Zelef: No way. Get your demon mind out of the gutter and go find Paisley. She’s not happy.

Camden: What’s new?

Zelef: Excuse me?

Camden turns and gives Kerri a wry smile and a wink and then he’s gone.

Kerri: I think I’ve got enough information for my story.

Zelef: (shakes head and then leans in closer to Kerri) You can never write about what you’ve seen here. Never.

Kerri: (nods) No worries. No worries at all.

And really, this is all I can tell you about the time I attempted to interview the new Judge Mom and the time I spent in the Underworld. But what I can tell you is that if you enjoy many zany characters, one large dose of mayhem and chaos, and true collection of humorous situations…please check out Courting Demons. Warning: Fits of Laughter May Occur and Author Not Liable for any Spewed Drinks Damage to Computer Keyboard!

Book Title: Courting Demons



Blurb:


Paisley Barton was already having a bad day before she turned her husband into a rat.


First, she was fired by her boss and then came home to find hubby in the shower with a naked blonde chick. They say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but this break-up may just unleash hell on Earth when Paisley casts a spell of vengeance against her philandering husband.


After her spell casting inadvertently opens a portal between dimensions, Paisley finds her family home transformed into a nightly courtroom for settling disputes between demons of the underworld and she’s the judge! If that’s not enough, she’s got to deal with a charming, ancient demon named Camden who wants to be her personal bodyguard while trying to explain her husband’s sudden, mysterious disappearance to sexy police Detective Dalton Briggs.


But Paisley will show them all that an everyday working mom is better equipped than most to deal with the mystical mayhem…and with a tempting demon hottie and a flirtatious young detective vying for her affection, she soon learns that being single again isn’t so bad after all.


“When a wronged wife turns her cheating husband into a rat, you know you have to keep reading! Kerri Nelson offers up a lot of fun and wild magic in Courting Demons!” --Bestselling author, Linda Wisdom, Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend

Author Bio:
Kerri Nelson discovered her love of writing at an early age and soon became a columnist for her local newspaper winning the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After a fifteen year career in the legal field, Kerri fulfilled her lifelong dream of publication and is now an award winning multi-published author of nearly every genre under the sun (and moon) and also writes young adult fiction under the penname K.G. Summers.
A true southern belle, she comes complete with a dashing southern gentleman and three adorable children for whom she often bakes many homemade treats.
Kerri is an active member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America as well as numerous chapters including Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers and her Presidency of Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Read more about Kerri’s books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com
Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter
Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

Buy Links (print and e-book versions available 9/15 wherever books are sold but here’s the publisher link—free gift available with purchase of print copy—while supplies last):
http://jupitergardens.com/Courting-Demons-by-Kerri-Nelson-print.html
or
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Courting-Demons-ebook/dp/B005OAY7TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316621839&sr=8-1

Giveaway for the day:

Leave a question or comment on each day of my appearance here at Sherry’s blog to be entered to win one of 3 daily prizes:
 Day #1 (A Custom made Momwitch Bread Bag Clip)
Day #2 (An autographed PRINT copy of Courting Demons)
Day #3 (A Gift Card to Amazon.com)!


Then, enter to win my book tour Grand Prize Kindle by following me on tour and e-mailing me the answers to each question of the day at the end of tour. The more questions you answer, the more entries you gain.

Question of the Day (good for 1 entry each day you comment here at the blog):
In what month and year did my first book release occur?

Details on how to enter to win the GRAND PRIZE Kindle at the end of my “Dark Days of Demons Tour” located here:
http://kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/courting-demons-blog-tour-win-kindle.html

Excerpt link for Courting Demons: http://www.jupitergardens.com/excerpts/kn_cd.html
© Kerri Nelson 2011

Kerri, it's been a pleasure having you visit The Heart of Romance, and I love your characters, they sure know their own minds and where they think your place is! 
Best wishes with Courting Demons.

Kerri gives us a peak in A Day in the Life of an Author Mom

Guest Blog Day #2:

A Day in the Life of an Author Mom

A lot of people ask me what “a day in the life” is like for me and it really does vary each day. Let me share with you one day this past weekend wherein I was attempting to attend a writer’s conference in…Georgia.

Luckily, I had family that agreed to keep my two girls for the weekend so that hubby could drive me to the event. But my toddler was tagging along for the ride. He’s a little over 1 year old and a handful. So here’s how my Saturday went.

6:30 a.m. Awaken to annoying cell phone alarm. I’m on Central time which is an hour behind the local time for conference so this is really 5:30 a.m. for me.

6:45 a.m. Get up and grumbling…make my way to unsatisfactory shower and the “shared” towel that hubby and I had to use because the hotel ran out of clean towels (I kid you not).

7:15 a.m. Finished showering and dressing to find toddler awake and racing around the hotel room with sagging dirty diaper. Hubby watches the news on television from bed.

7:30 a.m. After changing toddler, race out of room to grab some breakfast for the fellas and keeping an eye on the clock for my 8 a.m. appointment with a photographer (yes, I left the room without make-up).

8:00 a.m. After woofing down huge quantities of bacon and leaving the remainder of the food for my boys, I barely squeak through the door for my make-up and photo session on time.

9:00 a.m. Done with make-up session (which was great) and photo shoot (which was fun except I was wearing a sleeveless top and the temperature outside had turned to a surprise unseasonably cold 50 something degrees or less!)

9:30 a.m. Get boys ready to depart for their day of fun at the golf course and lay on bed contemplating just sleeping in and skipping conference completely. Mommy hasn’t slept through a night in about 3 years now. Did I mention I have 2 children under the age of 3?

10:00 a.m. Roust myself up and back down to conference to attend several workshops but all I can think about is lunch. I’m starving!

12:00 p.m. Lunch finally arrives but the food is…well…kind of like a combination of beef jerky and cardboard (a/k/a overcooked roast beef and some unidentifiable rice dish). But the guest speaker, bestselling author Eloisa James is absolutely wonderful. Makes the lunch bearable.

2:00 p.m. Attend one more class and then back to room to check on tired boy who has not had a nap and needs a bath after golf course running.

3:30 p.m. Hubby and little one settled in with snacks and clean diapers (my son—not hubby—LOL) and they are watching Saturday afternoon football. Mommy heads back downstairs to my very first book signing event!

5:30 p.m. Book signing is over and I believe a great success for me. Sold some books. Met some of my formers students. Chatted with many other talented authors and smiled a lot.

6:00 p.m. Back in room and still starving! Haven’t really eaten all day.

7:00 p.m. Gobble up about 4 pieces of pizza with my boys and then get in shower. I have a banquet to attend.

7:30 p.m. Make the mistake of getting on the bed for just a minute to rest my aching feet.

Oops! End of day for writer Mommy! Banquet was missed but a lot was accomplished nonetheless. It might not be possible to “do it all” when you’re a writer and a Mom. But you can do a lot.

~ ~ ~ 

Tell me how you juggle your work load on a daily basis.

~ ~ ~

Book Title: Courting Demons


Blurb:
Paisley Barton was already having a bad day before she turned her husband into a rat.
First, she was fired by her boss and then came home to find hubby in the shower with a naked blonde chick. They say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but this break-up may just unleash hell on Earth when Paisley casts a spell of vengeance against her philandering husband.
After her spell casting inadvertently opens a portal between dimensions, Paisley finds her family home transformed into a nightly courtroom for settling disputes between demons of the underworld and she’s the judge! If that’s not enough, she’s got to deal with a charming, ancient demon named Camden who wants to be her personal bodyguard while trying to explain her husband’s sudden, mysterious disappearance to sexy police Detective Dalton Briggs.
But Paisley will show them all that an everyday working mom is better equipped than most to deal with the mystical mayhem…and with a tempting demon hottie and a flirtatious young detective vying for her affection, she soon learns that being single again isn’t so bad after all.

“When a wronged wife turns her cheating husband into a rat, you know you have to keep reading! Kerri Nelson offers up a lot of fun and wild magic in Courting Demons!” --Bestselling author, Linda Wisdom, Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend

Author Bio:
Kerri Nelson discovered her love of writing at an early age and soon became a columnist for her local newspaper winning the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After a fifteen year career in the legal field, Kerri fulfilled her lifelong dream of publication and is now an award winning multi-published author of nearly every genre under the sun (and moon) and also writes young adult fiction under the penname K.G. Summers.
A true southern belle, she comes complete with a dashing southern gentleman and three adorable children for whom she often bakes many homemade treats.
Kerri is an active member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America as well as numerous chapters including Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers and her Presidency of Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Read more about Kerri’s books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com
Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter
Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

Buy Links (print and e-book versions available 9/15 wherever books are sold but here’s the publisher link—free gift available with purchase of print copy—while supplies last):
http://jupitergardens.com/Courting-Demons-by-Kerri-Nelson-print.html 
or
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Courting-Demons-ebook/dp/B005OAY7TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316621839&sr=8-1

Giveaway for the day:

Leave a question or comment on each day of my appearance here at Sherry’s blog to be entered to win one of 3 daily prizes:
Day #1 (A Custom made Momwitch Bread Bag Clip)
Day #2 (An autographed PRINT copy of Courting Demons)
Day #3 (A Gift Card to Amazon.com)!

Then, enter to win my book tour Grand Prize Kindle by following me on tour and e-mailing me the answers to each question of the day at the end of tour. The more questions you answer, the more entries you gain.

Question of the Day (good for 1 entry each day you comment here at the blog):
In what month and year did my first book release occur?

Details on how to enter to win the GRAND PRIZE Kindle at the end of my “Dark Days of Demons Tour” located here:
http://kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/courting-demons-blog-tour-win-kindle.html

Excerpt link for Courting Demons: http://www.jupitergardens.com/excerpts/kn_cd.html

Thanks for hosting today, Sherry. See you back tomorrow with more fun!



Please welcome Kerri Nelson for the next three days

Guest Blog Day #1:

Author Bio:

Kerri Nelson discovered her love of writing at an early age and soon became a columnist for her local newspaper winning the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.

After a fifteen year career in the legal field, Kerri fulfilled her lifelong dream of publication and is now an award winning multi-published author of nearly every genre under the sun (and moon) and also writes young adult fiction under the penname K.G. Summers.

A true southern belle, she comes complete with a dashing southern gentleman and three adorable children for whom she often bakes many homemade treats.

Kerri is an active member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America as well as numerous chapters including Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers and her Presidency of Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Read more about Kerri’s books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com
Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter
Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

Buy Links (print and e-book versions available 9/15 wherever books are sold but here’s the publisher link—free gift available with purchase of print copy—while supplies last):
http://jupitergardens.com/Courting-Demons-by-Kerri-Nelson-print.html

or

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Courting-Demons-ebook/dp/B005OAY7TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316621839&sr=8-1

Giveaway for the day:

Leave a question or comment on each day of my appearance here at Sherry’s blog to be entered to win one of 3 daily prizes:
Day #1 (A Custom made Momwitch Bread Bag Clip)
Day #2 (An autographed PRINT copy of Courting Demons)
Day #3 (A Gift Card to Amazon.com)!

Then, enter to win my book tour Grand Prize Kindle by following me on tour and e-mailing me the answers to each question of the day at the end of tour. The more questions you answer, the more entries you gain.

Question of the Day (good for 1 entry each day you comment here at the blog):

In what month and year did my first book release occur?

Details on how to enter to win the GRAND PRIZE Kindle at the end of my “Dark Days of Demons Tour” located here:

http://kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/courting-demons-blog-tour-win-kindle.html

Excerpt link for Courting Demons: http://www.jupitergardens.com/excerpts/kn_cd.html

Book Title: Courting Demons

Blurb:
Paisley Barton was already having a bad day before she turned her husband into a rat.
First, she was fired by her boss and then came home to find hubby in the shower with a naked blonde chick. They say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but this break-up may just unleash hell on Earth when Paisley casts a spell of vengeance against her philandering husband.
After her spell casting inadvertently opens a portal between dimensions, Paisley finds her family home transformed into a nightly courtroom for settling disputes between demons of the underworld and she’s the judge! If that’s not enough, she’s got to deal with a charming, ancient demon named Camden who wants to be her personal bodyguard while trying to explain her husband’s sudden, mysterious disappearance to sexy police Detective Dalton Briggs.
But Paisley will show them all that an everyday working mom is better equipped than most to deal with the mystical mayhem…and with a tempting demon hottie and a flirtatious young detective vying for her affection, she soon learns that being single again isn’t so bad after all.

“When a wronged wife turns her cheating husband into a rat, you know you have to keep reading! Kerri Nelson offers up a lot of fun and wild magic in Courting Demons!” --Bestselling author, Linda Wisdom, Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend

An Interview with Judge Mom:

Today, I’m doing something a little different. I’ve decided to interview my main character from Courting Demons, Paisley Barton. Here’s what she had to say…

Kerri: Hi, Paisley and welcome to the book tour for the book which tells the tale of your recent adventures in small town Georgia.

Paisley: Thanks Kerri, but I may not be able to stay long…I’m having “kid issues”.

Kerri: Yes, I can understand that completely. I have quite a few kids myself.

Paisley: Yes, well…I appreciate your understanding but you have no idea what I’m dealing with here.

Kerri: Really? So, has something happened since we left you at the end of Courting Demons?

Paisley: (sigh) Really, I can’t talk about it here (looks over shoulder). They could be listening in.

Kerri: (looks around suspiciously but sees nothing) Okay then, let’s get back to the interview.

Voice cries out nearby: Mom! Moooooom!

Paisley: Oh, Crap. That’s my son Marshall, I’ve got to go check on him.

Kerri: Sure, go ahead.

5 minutes pass.

10 minutes pass.

Small elf wearing bowler hat enters the room.

Kerri: Uh, hi…where’s Paisley?

Elf replies: She’s a little tied up at the moment. You know, Judge duties and all that. I’m Zelef and I’ll be completing the remainder of her interview, if you don’t mind.

Kerri: Uh, well…okay…hmmm…but my interview was really supposed to be all about “regular moms” and how we might handle it if our life got turned upside down by suddenly becoming a Judge for the Underworld.

Zelef: (raises eyebrows) And you’re questioning my abilities as an interviewee?

Kerri: No, no…of course not. I…just…well…you’re not a mom…are you?

Zelef: (glares at Kerri)

Kerri: Okay then, perhaps we should just reschedule for when Paisley has more time.

Zelef: (taps foot impatiently) That won’t be happening anytime soon. She has…new issues…

Kerri: Could you give us a hint about the new issues she’s facing?

Zelef: Let’s just say…the new drama in her life makes the rat drama look like a day at Disneyland.

Kerri: (giggles) Disneyland. That makes me think of Mickey Mouse and well…you said rat drama…and…

Zelef: (annoyed grunt) This is no laughing matter, girlie. You have no idea what is going on here in Georgia. You’ll be lucky if the entire state doesn’t go down in flames any minute.

Kerri: (stops laughing) Okay…this sounds serious…shouldn’t we get out here then?

Zelef: (snaps fingers and disappears into thin air)

Kerri: I guess this concludes our interview, folks. I’m not sure what is going on but I’m heading west and out of here…

(Rumbling from beneath.)

Kerri: (jumps to feet, drops interview notebook, runs towards door)

To be continued….

Thanks for hosting today, Sherry. See you back tomorrow with more fun!

Sweet Saturday Samples - 29th Sept.

Thank you to everyone who visits every week and to those joining us all this week. Click here-> Sweet Saturday Samples to enjoy many other fabulous excerpts.

This week I'm sharing one more snippet of my short paranormal story, Riddick. 

“What kind of behaviour is that, I’d like to know?” Hands on hips and flashing green eyes told me what he thought of my instinctive reaction to his presence.

“I’m very sorry,” I kept my voice penitent, and reached my hand down for him to step onto. “I didn’t know you were there.

“Didn’t know I was there?” His indignation ripped over me, like waves in a storm. “Of course you knew I was there. You were looking right at me.”

“I was looking at a moth.” I corrected. He didn’t have sole rights to indignation, and mine was growing exponentially with every twist and turn in the unfolding situation.

“Like I say.” His satisfaction flowed over me liked warm honey.” You were looking right at me.”

Sweet Saturday Sample

Thank you to everyone who visits every week and to those joining us all this week. Click here-> Sweet Saturday Samples to enjoy many other fabulous excerpts.
This week I'm  sharing more of a short paranormal story that so far has failed to find a home.


I’d locked both my front door and the side gate into the garden before coming outside. So how had an intruder gained access to my private space? And more to the point, I wondered, as panic and sanity warred for supremacy, where was he?

“See what I mean?” The indignant speaker demanded.

“No, I don’t!” My fear of intruders, and the absurdity of the situation, raised my voice to full throttle.

“That’s because you’re not looking.” Did I detect amusement in that voice?

Amusement!

Some invisible intruder dared to laugh at my situation!  I sprang up from the rocker allowing anger boot my fear away.

The sound of vitriolic cursing near my toes converted my anger into astonishment. "Watch where you put those clumsy feet of yours!"

“What the...” I bent over and peered at the decking, then reared back, as before my very eyes, the beige moth morphed into a human form about two feet high.

One, very angry male, human form.

Sweet Saturday Sample

Thank you to everyone who visits me every week and to those joining us all this week.  Click here->  Sweet Saturday Samples to enjoy many other fabulous excerpts.
This week I'm taking a break for The Brat and sharing the opening of a short paranormal story that so far has failed to find a home.

Riddick.
Snip, snip. Two more dead-heads for the compost. Snip, snip. I sighed with delight at the best display of roses I’d enjoyed, since moving here five years ago.

Since my husband’s death, my garden was my life. I never felt alone when working with my flowers. Indeed, I enjoyed my connection with them, one that transcended the physical; the logical. When I tried explaining to my neighbour, Rachel, she jokingly scoffed at my description as being ‘almost spiritual’.

“Next, you’ll be telling me you have faeries at the bottom of your garden!” We shared her joke with iced tea and laughter, but something deep inside me shifted uneasily.

With one foot, I pushed the swing and watched the sky fade from rose to dusk, and contemplated my earlier sense of unease. Faeries were fantasies of children and story-books. They didn’t exist.

Did they?

My Website: www.sherrygloag.com
My Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/

Review of Paramourtal

Title: Paramourtal
Author: Various
Publisher: Cliffhanger Books
Genre: Paranormal/Horror/Romance
Length: 205 – Anthology.
Heat: Mixed.
Review requested and book supplied foc by Kevin Hosey


Review: Story One.
A Touch of Sand by Nicole Brugger-Dethmers


Blurb: The Sandman is forbidden to love humans. Then he gazes upon the enchanting face of Angeline and wonders why she stirs his cold heart.

Review: Almost as soon as I started reading this story I heard the lyrics of the song Mister Sandman playing in my head.
Creating a full-bodied story within twenty pages is not easy. And in A Touch of Sand the author creates a charming tale within an indeterminate time period, cast with characters this reader instantly connects with. So why is there a ‘but’ coming?
Because I wanted more!
The opening line “Out of the night sky, above the sleepy English town of Ashborough, a whirlwind appeared.” Is guaranteed to grab the attention of any reader who knows there are few, if any, whirlwinds in England. Thus hooked and bombarded with several questions already you can only read on.
It contains lost love, betrayal, undying love that conquers and a happy ending in two parts.
From Sandman and his gnomes, to Angeline, her precocious sister Margaret and Nicolas each character is fully formed and plays their part impeccably. Emotion packs every page, and Ms Brugger-Dethmers’ fluent writing offers up a medly of scenes each as fascinating as the last.
This delightful story is a brilliant opening shot for the Paramourtal Anthology.
* * *
Review: Story Two
Dark Legacy by Elizabeth Ireland

Blurb:  As a teen, Katherine was saved by a mysterious lake spirit. Now she returns to that lake to face a dark family pact that may end her life.

Review: Occasionally a story pulls at the depth of the reader’s emotions whether it be sorrow and tears, joy and laughter, or the chills of horror and fear of the unknown. In this story I felt the intense and unquestionable love between Katherine and Patrick. And yet the skilful weaving of words at the beginning of the story gives a moment of doubt. A second of questioning about what might come.
Three people monopolize Dark Legacy, Katherine, Patrick, and Katherine’s cousin Julie. In the background Nana and Granddad lay the background story and Julie’s daughter, Rachel portrays the possible future.
In between Ms Ireland tells a tale of spirits, boundless love that lasts beyond the grave, the pull of the lake and what happens when one of them tries to evade destiny.
This is a story that will linger in my mind long after turning the final page.
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Review: Story Three
The Fisherman’s Wife by K. Stoddard Hayes

Blurb: In an Irish fishing village, Sean has the perfect life with his loving wife, Muireen. But then she discovers a very dark secret he’s hidden for years.

Review: Deception, betrayal, forgiveness are the themes of The Fisherman’s Wife. Muireen, a selkie bound to the land by a scheming old man concerned only with his own comforts, discovers his plot, she leaves home and returns to the sea, ignoring her husband’s love for her. The way Ms Stoddard Hayes weaves past, present and myth together so fluently compels the reader to take pity on poor Sean.
So far, The Fisherman’s Wife is the shortest story so far, but like its predecessors is packed with emotion and charm. The author depicts the lifestyle of her characters in few words that add to their impact. Combined with the her seascapes and the call of the sea Ms Stoddard Hayes offers characters who will pull at her readers’ heartstrings and a compelling story that complements its companions in this anthology.

Review: Story Four
The Prince and the Spoon by Kelly Wisdom

Blurb: Walking in the park, Summer is attracted by strange fairy tale creature who seem to know her. And then things really get weird.

Review: The slow and compulsive build of tension--written in 1st person. Sibling rivalry, magic spoons and wishes granted. It’s all in this amusing tale by Kelly Wisdom takes the mystery of swamps and Summer’s love of nature, breaks all the rules and adds in a cast of hundreds, and makes it work.

Faeries, pixies and humming birds, with teeth, all walk through The Prince and the Spoon. And then there is Hunter. Hunter, who saves Summer and wins her heart. But how he does it and what he has to do to prove himself is part of the author’s magic.

I have read and reviewed man anthologies and this one is out there in front. Like the previous stories this has charm plus an effervescence of its own.

Review: Story Five
The Flower of Hell by Noree Cosper

Blurb: When Gabriella a demon hunter, meets the handsome Dimitri, it kindles long forgotten desires. But those desires may get them killed.

Review: Now, I have to ‘fess up. Mention demons as a book subject and I’ll usually choose to ‘pass’. But I am so glad I had the chance to read Ms Cosper’s The Flower of Hell. If I have a small nit with this story, it is set in Paris, but I can’t say I got a flavour of the city at all.
Gabrielle is no prissy heroine. She has scores to pay off, traumas to deal with, baggage to decide whether to continue carrying it through millennia or not, and when Dimitri barges into her well laid plans and creates mayhem she is not best pleased.
Considering his ancestry I am surprised he made such an apparently elemental mistake about Gabby’s potential target.
The author held my attention and carried me through her fantasy, so much so that when the end came I was both startled and disappointed. Coming from a reader, who’d previously avoided stories about demons that’s quite an admission.

Review: Story Six
His Familiar Touch by L.K. Below

Blurb: Unable to shift into natural cougar form, Rikkita seeks the help of Derek, a mystifying man who may have the cure—for a price.

Review: I have come across Ms Below’s writing before and so looked forward to reading her story, and I wasn’t disappointed. From the title I garnered the content of His Familiar Touch but the way she twists the normal expectation is masterly.
It is a sibling’s aim in life to annoy, and Rikkita’s sibling wastes no time, thus triggering long withheld secrets and the key to her future. A key she spurns. And so, with Ms Below’s skilful manipulation her heroine enters a world she has long scorned and has to face reality. But will her pride win over her heart and allow her to walk away from the only man to inspire emotions within her she’s never experienced before?
The author’s scene setting is vivid and immediate. Her characters are flawed, yet strong enough to take that leap of faith not knowing the consequences.
While this story lacks nothing, I came away feeling I wanted more.

Review: Story Seven
Of Fate and Fire by Rebecca Rhielle

Blurb: As a child Eleia last her family to strange marauders. Now she falls in love with a beguiling stranger whose past is even darker than hers.

Review: It had to come. The story that broke the pattern. The story that takes the reader to the pinnacle of emotional perfection and leaves them crying with frustration as the Fates combine to destroy true love. And this is the one that does that, and yet--.
The author takes the dark and paints it blacker by the end of a sweet and sensual tale of love and bonding. There are three characters in this tale and all have a major impact on each other’s future. All have the Knowledge, but not all of them are fully aware of the powers in store for them.
This is tightly and fluently written, and peopled with characters of impact. While it is a love story there is no HEA and I, for one, was left with many unanswered questions. Not something I would normally enjoy, but the sheer skill of Ms Rhielle’s writing ensures I ‘turn the last page’ and forgive her for not answering those questions.

Review: Story Eight
Sympathy From The Devil by M.C. DeMarco

Blurb: While protecting a soul from temptation, angel Ariel faces Forcas, a charming demon. And she soon learns her own soul may be at stake.

Review: I laughed so much through this story it took twice as long to read as expected. It’s all there. The two sides of the coin, the irreverent look at heaven and hell, and everything in between. And yet this is another story that leaves you with unanswered questions. Does that mean it would make for a longer story? Perhaps. We’ve all heard of Guardian angels, but the concept that they all belong to heaven is shot to piece, or perhaps hell, in this encounter.
You could say we meet guardians from both departments in this story, and it is Forcas’ job to lead Ariel astray. Which he does with great aplomb. Thanks to Ms DeMarco, I’ll never quite look on Guardian Angels in the same way ever again!

Review: Story Nine
The Underlying Beat by Evelyn Welle

Blurb: After meeting the reclusive music composer Lee, Megan soon encounters mystifying forces that test both her sanity--and her heart.

Review: Ms Welle provides enough false clues in this short story to fill a full length novel, and offers a tightly written and provocative story for her readers. The build up is beautifully paced and she builds her characters at an equal pace. As someone who enjoys listening to music, but not knowing the first technical thing about it, I may well have missed a specific beat in the author’s writing to represent a heartbeat. And it is the heart that is the central engine that powers The Underlying Beat.
The back story is interwoven seamlessly with the present and future and adds to the power of the author’s presentation. Each secondary character, none of them ‘seen’ all play their part in carrying the story forward.
Combine a sneaky spirit with Fate and lace it all with music and you have yourself a charming story you’ll not forget in a hurry.

Review: Story Ten
Rain by Kevin Hosey

Blurb: When his wife leaves him, Kyle escapes to a mountain cabin. There he meets the beautiful Reanna, a mysterious woman who can only appear when it rains.

Review: We were promised dark, we were promised horror and in this final story we get both. The longest offering in this anthology is hard hitting, dark and pretty horrific. That said a reader can empathise with both the hero and heroine and their dilemmas.
In both cases it was a matter of be careful what you wish for... for there are always consequences.
Reanna, a spirit of the rain is ‘living’ with the consequences of her wish and there is still more of her ‘contract’ to be worked out.
Kyle’s dilemma appears to be one familiar to many, and yet, nothing is quite as it seems. And the final confrontation with his wife take his life in a direction he never anticipated.
This story has not pretention towards the ‘feel-good-factor’ and the skilful writing of the author beguiles his readers into hoping for the best until the very end. And yet... in a convoluted way you can almost persuade yourself it IS a HEA. What I do know, is that Rain is a ‘disturbing’ story.

Overall Summary of the Paramourtal Anthology.

Fairy tales are for children! Aren’t they? Well, not these ones. O.K. but if they are fairy tales they all have happy endings, right? Wrong!
Some are inspired by mythology, other from these very children’s fairy tales mentioned above, but all take the reader to a fantasy land of one kind or another. All touch on the other-world reality.
Some will have you howling with merriment while others have you reaching for the tissues. But all of them have you totally involved with the unfolding events and the characters caught up by them.
More than once I touched on my disappointment the stories were not longer. I hold by that comment. Not only did I love the characters, but felt when reading I must have skipped a page on a couple of occasions.
I have reviewed many anthologies and understand the importance of balance of content, and in this I have to compliment both Cliffhanger Books and their editors for their selection.
For those who enjoy the paranormal, then this is definitely a book worth checking out. For those looking for well-written stories which, on the most part, will have you smiling, then dip your toe into the paranormal with this book. For those of you always looking for new authors to read, here are ten well worth adding to your TBR lists.
I know Cliffhanger books will be launching another edition of new Paramourtal stories. If they are as good as this anthology, the second book is one to put at the top of your wish list.