I keep getting confused about all the Bloody Billionaire’s by Kay Widow, but I keep grabbing the books. They are quick reads, filled with vampires and romance. Right up my alley.
Quinn is the king and feels like he can do as he pleases, slaughtering humans left and right, leaving them for others to clean up. One of the problems, he eliminates their food supply and his inability to control his thirst could be his downfall.
In comes Tessa, his blood therapist, but she has an ulterior motive. She wants immortality for her and her sisters, and she must kill the king to get it. There is one problem….her attraction to the king.
The steamy sex scenes are smoking hot, even when its only in her head. The violence is graphic and gruesome.
Become a servant they said. It will be fun they said. And gods, they had no idea how fun it had become.
They fight their attraction for different reasons. Quinn because he cannot marry a commoner and Tessa because she must kill or be killed. I love the twist that Kay Widow throws into the mix and I wondered how she would do it. Do what, you ask? Well, if I told you, it would give too much away, so you’ll have t find out for yourself.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“My blood has never burned like this before…”
Tessa knows her mission: Infiltrate the estate of vampire king Quinn Rodin and end his undead life.
This deal with the ruthless King Marr will grant her and her sisters immortality, but only if Tessa kills Quinn, Marr’s enemy.
As Quinn’s personal “bloodbag,” Tessa lives in the vampire’s mansion while spying on her target.
Yet when Quinn sinks his fangs into her flesh, Tessa discovers unexpected heat raging through her veins. His bite stirs a dangerous longing that clouds her judgment and threatens her task.
The vampire king’s allure captivates her, even as his unearthly powers put her life at risk. And Tessa struggles between restoring her focus and indulging the enemy’s temptation.
Each night Quinn’s bite unravels her and carnal hunger replaces duty. But at what cost?
Her sisters are counting on her, and King Marr does not tolerate failure.
With immortality on the line, Tessa must master her thirst for Quinn’s embrace and regain her wits before his wicked bite destroys her from within.
Bloody Billionaire is a supernatural romantic thriller that will keep you turning pages until the breathtaking end. For fans of dangerous trysts, forbidden passions, and lethal creatures of the night.
ABOUT KAY WIDOW
Kay Widow is a paranormal romance author. She writes page-turning romances that readers consume faster than she can produce. If you love spicy romances with protective and dominant alphas who fall for sassy curvy women, then you might just love Kay’s novels. Kay lives in Kansas with her husband, Irish twins, and all her book boyfriends.
Dirty Plans Carissa Knight (The One Night Stand Club) Publication date: January 5th 2024 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Who knew finding true love would mean juggling a secret club’s rules, rethinking marital boundaries, and a best friend you suddenly want to kiss?
Lily’s life was predictably pedestrian: side-step her husband’s aloofness, indulge in racy novels with her audacious book club, and dream about feeling that kind of passion in her own life. But a surprise run-in at a cheeky adult toy shop flings her back into the orbit of London, her endearingly rogue-ish childhood best friend, now the manager of Club Nocté—a nightclub synonymous with whispered secrets and sexy encounters.
Dazzled by the nocturnal allure of Nocté and the undeniable chemistry with London, Lily’s once-staid world gets a titillating shake-up. He’s not the boy she once built forts with, but a man with seductive depths that pull her in. And the kicker? London’s not-so-subtle feelings have the urgency of a flash sale—tempting, fleeting, and impossible to resist.
But in a world of impromptu one-night stands, it’s the long-standing emotions that prove the most scandalous. London fell first, and hard. Lily, still tethered to her crumbling marriage, finds herself torn between the nostalgic sweetness of the past and the thrilling promise of a passionate future.
Brace yourself for a joyride of giggles, gasps, and ‘oh-my-god’ moments, as Lily and London navigate a dance of friendship and flirtation, underpinned by the most tantalizing question: Will they dare to cross the line between friendship’s safety for a chance at true love?
Carissa is all about bringing the heat in every romance she writes… but she also enjoys making the journey as angsty and awkward as possible. (Because come on! What could be more fun than making the characters squirm?)
While she’s a new kid around the rom-com block, Carissa’s actually been kicking out books for over a decade as Carissa Andrews.
So, hold onto your panties, ladies. They’re about to light on fire with her brand new titillating series, “The One Night Stand Club!”
When he looks into my eyes I don’t see any love or compassion whatsoever. The man I thought I knew doesn’t seem to be there. “I have to do what’s best for me. This is my time, my moment. I can’t let anything—or anyone—hold me back.”
“No. This can’t be happening.” I shake my head. Disbelief wars with the agony that’s ripping through my body. “How can you throw everything we built away?”
He reaches for his water glass and takes a swig. Motions for the server to bring us the check. “This has been coming for a long time. You’re great, Shay but you’ve never loved me for me. You adore the idea of a life you like to imagine we’d have together, but I could be anyone. As my agent advised me, I need to find a life partner who’s my equal. Who has her own things going. I know you’re hurting, and for that I’m truly sorry. Breaking things off now is the best thing for both of us, even if you can’t see it.”
I sit like a statue. Shocked and broken. Unable to find the words to fight for our relationship. To argue he’s wrong. I want to make him understand he’s making a terrible mistake. All I can do is cry. Tears are pouring out of my eyes in hot, angry waves as the reality of what transpired sinks in.
Tonight was supposed to be the start of our forever. The beginning of the next phase of our lives. Instead, it’s a cruel, brutal end that leaves me shattered and alone with nothing to fall back on.
I’m not enough.
Devon won’t even look at me as we wait for his payment to process. His face is set and determined. Literally how he looks on the field before he throws a hail-Mary touchdown on fourth down.
I wonder if what he said is true. Do I genuinely love him? Maybe I don’t know him at all.
I thought we were building something real, but clearly I’m wrong.
As I follow Devon through the restaurant, not knowing what’s coming next, I have an even gloomier thought.
What if my entire life has been a lie?
Author Bio:
When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.
Kiss in the Dark – The End Zone LJ McAlister Publication date: October 24th 2023 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
One Moment. One Plan. A Love that Changes Everything.
Abigail Stevens
There was a time when Hunter Collins dominated my every dream.
Now, he is an all-star Quarterback and the bad boy of the NFL.
He may have been my first kiss, but that’s in the past.
I’m no longer the small-town invisible girl I once was.
I’m a successful journalist,
and Hunter Collins is the next name on my list, nothing more.
He’s cocky, indifferent, arrogant, and utterly irresistible.
I can’t seem to get him off my mind, or out of my panties!
Am I really in danger of falling for Hunter all over again?
Or will I learn the hard way that memories are always better than the real thing?
Hunter Collins
I thought I was invisible. Indestructible.
I was the man everyone wanted to be.
Star NFL Quarterback.
Every Woman’s Fantasy.
A Billionaire with the world at my feet.
Until an injury knocked me down.
I may be struggling, but I’m Hunter Collin.
I make my own destiny.
And a short escape to my small hometown is just what I need.
What I hadn’t planned for was Abigail Stevens.
She may be a reporter, but she’s hot, whip-smart,
and now that she’s burst into my life, I can’t get her off my mind.
Meanwhile, my injury has left me with more questions than answers
And I can’t shake the feeling that there is something important I need to remember.
As painful as it is, maybe I should let her go – for both our sakes.
Kiss in the Dark: The End Zone is a steamy, contemporary, small-town, football romance. It should be read following the prequel Kiss in the Dark: The Kickoff.
“What the hell was that?” I demand, my blood boiling. “Making a big scene over that guy in front of everyone?”
“I wanted to protect you,” he says, but my adrenaline is too high for me to accept it.
“I can handle myself, thank you!” My voice reverberates down the hallway, booming enough to make Hunter wince and look around.
“Abby, calm down.”
Ah, the magic words. Just what every woman wants to hear when she’s upset—a man’s reminder not to let her emotions show.
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I shout, hoping to hell somebody hears.
Hunter scans the hallway again, then grabs me by the arm and pulls me to a door beside the entrance to the hall. It’s a coatroom, and a pimple-faced attendant looks up from his seat, shocked at the two of us barging in.
“Beat it,” Hunter tells the kid, who complies without a word.
The door shuts, and I wrench myself free of Hunter’s grasp yet again. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl, squaring off against him.
“We can’t fight like this in public,” he counters, his voice every bit as hard as mine. “I’m not going to let you ruin this event for those kids.”
“Me?” I clamp my teeth together to keep from calling him every name in the book. “Last time I checked, you were the one who went all alpha male in there and threw a guy out.”
“His hands were all over you,” Hunter shoots back, the color in his face rising.
“Maybe, but what does that have to do with you?”
“Everything!” He looms very close, and the musky scent of sandalwood that always clings to his skin floods over me. “Abby,” he says in a tight whisper. “You have no idea what it does to me to see someone else touching you like that.”
“You’re jealous,” I spit. “So what if I am?” Suddenly his hands are on me, crushing me against his massive body. “Jesus God,look at you,” he says, feasting his eyes on me. “How could I not be?”
His mouth dips down for mine, ready to crush our lips together, and I turn my head just in time. Partly to avoid igniting whatever memories a kiss might spark but also to keep from giving him the satisfaction of winning the prize of my mouth through sheer dominance.
But all my turning away does is offer him my neck, and he finds it readily, ravaging the crook above my collarbone with greedy kisses. The stubborn fire in my chest flares. No matter how determined I am to resist him, the primal effect he has on my body is undeniable.
Author Bio:
Cary, North Carolina is where my journey began, and it’s been quite the adventure so far. I’ve carved out a niche for myself as an Indie Author, specializing in the world of Contemporary Romance. These days, you’ll find me nestled in a cozy town just outside the bustling streets of NYC, where I’ve turned my dream of being a full-time author into a beautiful reality.
When I’m not immersed in the world of writing, you’ll often catch me embracing the great outdoors. Ultra trail running has become my favorite pastime allowing me to clear my mind and recharge my creative energy. And speaking of passion, I’m an unapologetic New York Giants Fan – Sundays are sacred in our household, dedicated to the thrilling spectacle of NFL football.
I share this incredible journey with my high school sweetheart, my anchor in life’s unpredictable seas. Together, we’ve built a loving family, blessed with two wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter. This is my story, one that continues to unfold with every word I write and every page I turn. Thank you for being a part of it.
I love that quote from the book and Sara is spot on. She knows a jerk when she sees one, and she has seen plenty of them. Sara works for The Agency, or she did until a mission went wrong. Terribly wrong. It left her scarred, inside and out. Because of that, they had let her go, but does a shadow agency ever let anyone go?
Psychic groups collide when Sara meets Beckett, a stiff English professor, and it is discovered that she has immunity to being read. Beckett, well, when push comes to shove, his love and loyalty will shine…BUT it will be a rough road to get there.
Hollie Smurthwaite’s vivid descriptions bring the characters to life. I can see them through her words, feel their emotions, join in their fight for life and love.
I met Sara in The Color Of Betrayal, Jolene and Cass’s story. Sara is a diverse character, suffering from dyslexia. She is vivacious, has a snappy wit, and people are drawn to her beauty. She trusts no one, except, possibly, Jolene, Cass and Kiera, but they have not seen each other for years. She does not want to take her troubles to their door, so she tries to handle the situation on her own. As the danger rises and betrayals take her down, I fear for her. The tension and pacing pick up, making me flip the pages…rapidly.
I love when Sara brings Ren into the story. Ren has a level of innocence that makes me want to shelter her, protect her. I love when Sara brings a level of fun and companionship to the others in the group.
I have had my eye on one character in particular, waiting for him to show his ugly side. When he does…Hollie creates a twist that had me smiling. I love when an author throws something totally unexpected my way.
I wouldn’t change a thing about The Color Of Shame by Hollie Smurthwaite. My question is: Will Ren get her own story? The series could end here and I would be satisfied, but when a find a fascinating character, I want more. I want them to have their happy ever after.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When her immunity to psychics is discovered, Sara is sucked back into spying for the criminal organization she was poised to escape.
The worst scars are hidden . . .
For years, Sara served the shadowy Agency, until a mission gone wrong left her physically and emotionally wounded. Haunted by these scars, Sara is counting down the days to her reconstructive surgery, the final step towards freedom from the Agency’s clutches.
Just as she’s close to escaping, Sara’s path crosses with Beckett, an uptight English professor with the uncanny ability to delve into people’s minds with a mere touch.
Anyone’s mind except Sara’s.
Unbeknownst to her, Beckett is a member of a clandestine society of memory magicians, and he sees in Sara the perfect instrument to catapult his career within their ranks.
Sara and Beckett clash fiercely, both determined to follow their own paths. But the Agency’s grip on Sara is tighter than she realized, and they give her one more assignment: work for Beckett and his program to help budding memory magicians. And report back all the details.
While forced to work side by side, Sara and Beckett soon discover that first impressions can be misleading, and animosity can transform into an intoxicating mix of frustration and fascination.
As the lines blur between loyalty and self-preservation, Sara finds herself torn between protecting Beckett and his students or safeguarding her own precarious freedom.
Will Sara’s immunity be her salvation or her downfall? Can she navigate the treacherous landscape of spies and memory magic while protecting her heart?
Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she’s been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.
Finding the End Zone Tam DeRudder Jackson Publication date: November 8th 2023 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Never date a player.
Football god Callahan O’Reilly can keep his blazing blue eyes to himself. I have a scholarship to maintain, and I do not have time to babysit a jock through a make-or-break class project. Even if one smoldering glance from him sets my panties on fire.
Time to change her mind.
Jamaica Winslow opens her mouth and spews sass like a volcano. One look at her uptight package and I want to coax the genie from the bottle, unleash all the passion she hides beneath a mop of unruly curls and a smart-ass attitude. She’s not my type, she doesn’t know one damn thing about the game that rules my life, and I can’t stop thinking about her.
Who said anything about love?
Jamaica does her best to keep me at arm’s length, but I’m not a pro prospect because I let the plays come to me. With the game on the line, I always want the ball. When an alum with deep pockets and delusions of grandeur makes demands that threaten my NFL chances and Jamaica’s scholarship, I have no choice but to man up and do the right thing no matter the cost.
It started as fun and games. Now I’m playing for her heart—and my own.
He tugged at my curls, and I inched closer. “No. I’ve been thinking about an even more fun game.”
Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “There’s a game you like playing better than football?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“What game do you like better than football?” With his eyes zeroed in on my lips the way they were, my question came out on a whisper.
“Tongue tag.”
His warm lips covered mine, and I sighed into the soft pressure of his mouth.
Author Bio:
Tam DeRudder Jackson’s love of all things Celtic led her to write the Talisman Series. Steeped in Celtic mythology, these steamy, fated mates, paranormal romance adventures are set in the mountains of Tam’s native Montana and the Highlands of Scotland. Rogue, the most recent book in the series, was named a best romance of 2022 by the Independent Book Review.
An avid fan of rock music, Tam never misses a chance to see a live show, especially if it’s Shinedown, one of her favorite bands. Her love of rock music inspired her contemporary rock star Balefire Series, a sexy fun ride following the lives and loves of the members of a fictional mega-band. Readers of this series consistently give the books five-star reviews.
Tam earned her BA in English from Montana State University and her M.Ed. in literacy from Lesley University. After a short teaching stint in Bath, England, she settled in the wilds of Wyoming where she taught adolescents all about the Celts and a bit about writing before she stepped out of the classroom to pursue her writing career full time.
When she’s not writing, you can find her working her way through her mountainous TBR piles, alpine skiing, or traveling to some new place on her ever-expanding bucket list. To stay up to date on her adventures, connect with Tam on her website www.tamderudderjackson where you can subscribe to her newsletter.
Research was not required. Write what you know, right? As a longtime participant in the Alaska fishing industry, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use my experience as the backdrop to this book. What could be more intriguing than creating a world where commercial fishing and murder meet? However, I knew nothing about police dogs and so made an inquiry with the Seattle Police K9 Unit. They invited me to their training site. I was so appreciative, I named the dog in the book after the K9 Unit shepherd, CoCo.
Which was the hardest character to write?
The arch villain. It was difficult for me to navigate how to leave clues without giving away the identity of the culprit. The protagonist was a bit of a struggle, a learning experience really. Because the book is written in third person, I wrote many revisions trying out ways to best express what was inside her head.
Which was the easiest?
The police chief was the easiest character to write. I have no idea why.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
Aside from my own experience at sea as a fisherman that included surviving a boat that sank off the coast of Kodiak, I’ve heard many sea stories, most far more interesting than my own. There’s something about living on the edge of civilization where your life is at the mercy of Mother Nature and your survival may depend on the skill of your crew mates that is made for drama.
There are many crime mystery books out there. What makes yours different?
As a former fisherman married to a fishing boat captain, and with a career as a journalist, fisheries specialist for the State of Alaska and a seafood company executive, I’ve got the credentials to pull off authenticity. And along the way, the reader will learn a lot about Alaska and commercial fishing.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Just do it! Take creative writing courses on story structure and join a writing group so that it becomes a hands-on learning project. It’s fun, so you’ve got nothing to lose.
Your book is set in Alaska. Have you ever been there?
Our family lived in Alaska for many years and still participates in the Alaska fishing industry. One of our sons is at sea now. More specifically, I have been to Dutch Harbor, Alaska where the story unfolds. Dutch Harbor is a real place, now famous to fans of the television show, Deadliest Catch. It’s the nation’s busiest fishing port even though it’s located in the remote Aleutian Islands, halfway to Russia because that’s where the fish swim. I’ve experienced its famous white knuckler airplane landings and drank my share of beer at a well-known saloon there famed as Alaska’s most dangerous bar.
Do you ever get writer’s block?
No, never. Isn’t that terrific? I’m sure my former career as a journalist helps launch me into my task without much trepidation. But it’s not unusual for me to go back after writing a scene and delete the first few paragraphs as if they were just a warm-up exercise.
What’s your next project?
I’m currently writing the second book of the series. So if you like the characters that inhabit DEATH IN DUTCH HARBOR, you can revisit them.
What is the last great book you read?
I could not put down the book, HORSE, by Geraldine Brooks. Its historical fiction, based on a real racehorse that was trained by a slave. The mystery unravels through the point of view of different characters, some in the present and some in the past. It tackles racism in a unique and poignant manner.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
A few friends have called me in the morning after staying up all night reading the book. They’d been unable to put it down and their voices still transmitted excitement. It doesn’t get much better than that.
How are you similar or different from your lead character?
Well, I’m not a veterinarian, my hair is not red, and I don’t engage in sleuthing about in dark places. But I was about the doc’s age when I moved to Alaska, so the wonder of beholding the last frontier for the first time was something I purposely injected into the character.
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
Now that’s a fun question! The book is very visual and would make a great movie so please be sure to send any interested producers my way. Off the top of my head, Emma Stone comes to mind. It’s not because her hair is red like Doctor Mo’s, it’s because they seem to share a sassy intrepidness, smarts and sense of humor. George Clooney as One-Eye Ben. That’s an inside joke which you’ll get when you read the book.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
Because I am a debut author, it was like stumbling around in a hailstorm, knocking on the doors of strangers in hopes of finding shelter.
What authors inspired you to write?
There were many authors that inspired me to write like Kurt Vonnegut, John Irving, Craig Johnson, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Martin Cruz Smith, Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie and Dashell Hammett but the book that lit a writing fire under me as a teenager was John Barth’s book, The Sot-Weed Factor. It’s a wild ride of historical fiction that showed me there was no limit to using your imagination when crafting a yarn.
What is something you had to cut from your book that you wish you could have kept?
There was a scene between Dr. Mo and her pal, Patsy, in a restaurant that was painful to cut. Patsy, one of my favorite characters, used salt and pepper shakers, hot sauce and catsup bottles and a fork to make a point about the doc’s messed-up personal life. It was near the end of the book where the pace had escalated. The scene slowed things down and, gulp, had to go. I hope to find a place for it in the second book!
Where do you write?
I have a writing studio in the backyard. It was a shed that my amazing husband upgraded for me, including installation of a large window at my desk where I can watch the ducks swim by in the creek. I am a lucky woman.
What is your writing schedule?
I find that writing in the morning suits me best. I think it’s because I’m still connected to my subconscious at that time of day. As a Pantser, I write by the seat of my pants, so it’s important to keep my head plugged into my imagination rather than cluttered with the banal practicalities of the real world.
Synopsis (from Amazon):
When two murders strain the police force of a remote Alaskan fishing port, veterinarian Maureen McMurtry is tapped by Dutch Harbor’s police chief for forensic assistance. The doctor’s got a past she’d rather not discuss, a gun in her closet, and a retired police dog that hasn’t lost her chops. All come in handy as she deciphers the cause and time of death of a local drug addict washed ashore with dead sea lions and an environmentalist found in a crab pot hauled from the sea in the net of a fishing vessel.
When her romantic relationship with a boat captain is swamped by mounting evidence that he’s the prime suspect in one of the murders, McMurtry struggles with her own doubts to prove his innocence. But can she? McMurtry’s pals, a manager of the Bering Sea crab fishery and another who tends Alaska’s most dangerous bar assist in unraveling the sinister truth.
Author Bio:
D. MacNeill Parkerand her family are long time participants in the Alaska fishing industry. In addition to fishing for halibut, salmon, crab, and cod, she’s been a journalist, a fisheries specialist for the State of Alaska, and a seafood company executive. She’s travelled to most ports in Alaska, trekked mountains in the Chugach range, rafted the Chulitna River, worked in hunting camps, and survived a boat that went down off the coast of Kodiak. Parker’s been to Dutch Harbor many times experiencing her share of white knuckler airplane landings and beer at the Elbow Room, famed as Alaska’s most dangerous bar. While the characters in this book leapt from her imagination, they thrive in this authentic setting. She loves Alaska, the sea, a good yarn and her amazing family.
“From the first scene, she evokes the real Dutch Harbor and the dynamic people who call it home. It’s a roaring mystery that braids together oil rigs, fishing, sea lions and the kind of Russians we love to hate. Death in Dutch Harbor is a must read for anyone who wants to vicariously experience a rugged world on the edge of an unforgiving sea”
— Lori Swanson, Former Director Marine Conservation Alliance, Federal Fishery Observer
“Any fan of the Deadliest Catch television show should reach for this book!”
—Captain Sig Hansen, FV Northwestern and a star of the Deadliest Catch TV series
“Death in Dutch Harbor grabbed me at the outset and did not let go. Right away you can tell Ms. Parker knows the issues facing the fishing industry in the Bering Sea. She weaves them into the tale and uses her characters to draw the reader deeper into the murder mystery.”
— Frank Kelty, Former Mayor of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska
“What a banging beginning for this author. Parker successfully tied together the multiple themes with strong characters, especially the women, with a believable and exciting plot. I recommend this book and look forward to Parker’s next novel.”
Jumper Ali Lucia Sky (Why Choose Romance, #5) Publication date: November 14th 2023 Genres: Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
It’s so dark in his life that his Claimed mates may never get out.
Becca Grimm is a Legion demon and has known one thing since she was a young girl: she would have a breeding pact. That her breeding pact partner turned out to be her Tether was a dream come true until he broke her heart, and then she wanted to break his face until he crawled back to kiss her feet.
But Jumper’s world is darker and more secretive than he’s ever let on. Even with her guardian-Tethers, at her side, she can barely navigate it. And finding her way back to the light is impossible in a world where wickedness reigns.
Becca can’t say no to the things Jumper demands of her. She loves the things that Tobin wants from her. And she can’t look away from the things she sees Jumper and Crux do together.
Content warning coming. . It’s recommended that you read the series in order, beginning with RAIDEN–all previous books available on Kindle Unlimited.
I dial Jumper’s number for the third time. When it goes to voicemail, I growl. It’s just like the jackass to stand us up. Crux, Tobin, Jumper, and I all had plans to go to Sapp’s Coffee Shop for breakfast, but it was two now, and I’d heard nothing from him all day. I stretch and yawn. If I’d known he was going to flake, I would have slept in.
“Becca, mail for you,” Andy says, grinning and tossing me a handful of college packets. I don’t order them, he does. I flip through them. “Northwestern? You think the four of us are going to Illinois?” I raise a brow.
“I don’t care where you go, as long as you don’t end up a statistic,” my brother grumbles. “Where are dumb and dumber?”
“Making food with Adina,” I nod toward the kitchen.
“I know they are your Tethers, but look at me and Adina… we waited, and we survived. You don’t have to rush things. Go to school first, Becca. Claim one another later. Real love can stand still for five minutes.” Andy stands and leaves me with that.
I grab my phone and call Jumper again. When it goes to voicemail this time, I leave him a quick voice message. “Thanks for canceling, drummerboy. Next time, actually let me know you aren’t showing.”
My phone rings as soon as I hang up. Thinking it’s Jumper finally calling, I answer.
“Hello, shit-for-brains–” I start.
Lilah cuts me off. “Is he with you!?”
“Is who with me?” I ask.
“Jump. Is Jump with you?” she asks, tension high in her voice.
I shake my head, though she can’t see it. “No. He’s not with me. He stood me up this morning.”
“When did you last talk to him?” Lilah asks quickly.
“Two days ago,” I answer with my heart racing. I just know something is wrong.
“He’s missing, Becca. Jump is missing. No one has seen him in two days,” Lilah sobs.
Author Bio:
Ali Lucia Sky is the author of The Powers That Be series. She lives in Southern California with her husband and a house full of kitty cats and a yard full of crows.
She loves laughing, drinking good coffee, vegan food, and supporting animal rescues.
When she isn’t writing or dreaming of new stories, she can be found planning her next vacation because traveling is life.
If you encounter her in the wild, don’t be offended if she should run away. She’s timid with strangers, but can be plied with shiny things and pictures of your cat or dog.
The beginning of Old Scores by A J Harrison has me thinking of The Mummy…an underground archaeological dig, an odd looking brick, a little blood, and the floor gives out beneath their feet. You would never find me down there!
Years later, from Syria to Chicago…The atmosphere is spooky…darkness and a sarcophagus, and him. He takes what he needs with no remorse, yet at a mothers desperate request, he becomes The Equalizer. Simon is a vampire, drawn to humans. His fascination with humans makes me think of Lucifer. He was so intrigued, he had been going to the University of Illinois Chicago for five years.to be around them. His world was dealt a dramatic change when he, literally, ran into Anita. Simon meant to walk away, but there was something about her. Moments of Lucifer with Chloe and Edward with Bella kept creeping in.
I found myself laughing at the dialogue, especially with Marion and Anita’s mother…and Simon’s gruesome, internal thoughts. Like when he sat at the dinner table with the humans. I wonder if those thoughts will be implanted in my mind when I visit family and friends for Thanksgiving. LOL
The story had been all about Simon, until Salem came to town. And Shafax. They are more powerful than he is and he gets caught in the middle of their blood feud. Shafax is the power crazy King of Vampires. Salem was Simon’s mentor, but their difference of opinion when it came to humans, caused their split.
Simon is a fascinating character and watching him learn makes for a fantastic story. The final fight against the vampires, puts both Anita and Simon at risk, but Simon is pretty hard to kill and Anita is not so shabby herself. Coyotes, rats, and zombies are thrown at them.
In the beginning of the book, I thought it a bit slow, but I loved all the time I spent with Simon. The last half was no slouch. Sure, some familiarity, shades of Lucifer and Twilight, but I loved both of those, so having some of those similarities are a huge draw for me. That doesn’t mean there are no dark and disturbing moments, blood and guts, and savage battles. A J has a way with words, bringing the characters and scenes to life, making the action easy to visualize.
I am VERY impressed with A J Harrison”s debut novel, Old Scores. The story could end here, but I feel these characters have more to say. How about it A J? Will there be more?
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
It takes only a brief mischance and a few drops of blood to awaken an unspeakable evil and unleash it upon an unsuspecting world.
The vampire Simon has always prided himself on his detachment from humankind, but curiosity draws him to them nonetheless. A chance encounter with mortal Anita Rothard entices them both too much to ignore, but as the two grow closer and Simon finds his secret harder to keep, they are caught in the middle of a centuries-old blood feud between Shafax, the power-mad King of Vampires, and Simon’s estranged mentor, the enigmatic vampire Salem.
When enemies stir and rivalries reawaken, old scores will be settled and blood will flow.
Andrew J. “A.J.” Harrison has had a lifelong love for vampires, werewolves, and other classic things that go bump in the night. A retired officer of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, he lives in the Chicago suburbs with his calico cat, Vandal, who lives up to her name. Old Scores is his first novel.
Moonflower: Vampires of Los Angeles Heather Ewen-Foster Publication date: November 7th 2023 Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Sonia, a 250-year-old Australian vampire, thought she had found peace in the quiet neighborhood of Whitley Heights, Hollywood. But when a mysterious creature starts slaughtering young vampires, Sonia is thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
With her friend Sunny targeted by an ancient monster, Sonia must uncover the truth behind these brutal attacks. Desperate to save her friend and end the bloodshed, Sonia navigates the treacherous politics of the vampire world. Along the way, she finds herself torn between her irresistible attraction to Alex, the enigmatic human journalist helping in her investigation, and her deep bond with sexy and charismatic Sunny, Alpha Vampire extraordinaire.
As the sinister plot unravels, Sonia’s race against time becomes a pulse-pounding battle against an impossibly powerful foe. Will she uncover the truth before more lives are lost? And what sacrifices will she have to make to protect those she loves?
Moon Flower is a spellbinding urban fantasy that will leave you breathless. Heather Ewen-Foster’s suspenseful tale immerses you in a world of danger, romance, and mythical creatures. Get ready for an electrifying adventure that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
The only link to the world around you is the sound of your own heartbeat pounding in your ears. Your hearing seems to be the only sense still functioning, while sight, smell, touch, and taste seem oddly suspended.
You vaguely realize something is wrong with that pounding. You become aware that your pulse is slowing, beat by beat, which rapidly absorbs all of your attention.
Soon, far sooner than should be possible, you have reached that critical point where that little muscle—the strongest in the human body—struggles to keep you from crossing the threshold dividing the world of life from what awaits you at death.
But something else is terribly wrong: there is no warm light to dissolve into, there are no familiar faces waiting to usher you into paradise. There is only darkness and a failing heart that tries to pump what is no longer there. The terror within you surges as you realize that, should your heart fail, this great, dark oblivion of nothingness will become permanent. And all that is you—your very essence of self—will be gone.
And your heart, most assuredly, is failing.
It is at this crucial moment, when time seems to stand still, that you are offered a choice—a choice that is really no choice at all since the basic animal instinct to stay alive now dominates higher forms of reason.
You do not hesitate. You embrace the offer with a ferocity that speaks to the predatory nature once so close to the surface in humanity, though long since buried by generations of social, sedentary living and the trappings of “civilization.”
Then comes the oblivion, but not the one you expected—not the one which serves as the fate of everyone else. You are in limbo, with no beginning and no ending. No up and no down. But your sense of self is mercifully intact. You are still you.
Here, in this mental womb, you remain for days until— if you are one of the lucky ones—you open your eyes for the first time to a world utterly transformed. And, as you lay there staring into the brilliant colors of the night, you slowly realize that nothing will ever be the same.
This, dear readers, is what we call The Birth. My name is Sonia.
I am Vampire.
