Summer Reading Trail - July

Sadly, this is the last month of the Summer Reading Trail. You can go directly to the list of US and UK writers by clicking on the illustration, or you can start on the Short Story page on my website. This is a collection of short reads, so if you'd like a three minute break, join us!

My story this month is straight from Mudflat.
Phoebe Matthews, Epic Award winner
Mudflat urban fantasy series

Vampires: Blood conquers all until it spills with too much scandal.....

It's that time of year again. Thanks to Stephenie Meyer and the cast and director of Eclipse, book lovers and moviegoers have one thing on their lips--vampires! Sounds like a great time to suggest a vampire romance series, doesn't it?

If you're looking for a vampire romance, check out the Winning Virgin Books in order:

Winning Virgin Blood

Winning Virgin Love

Winning Virgin Lust

Winning Virgin Promises

To tease you a bit, below you'll find a blurb and excerpt from one of the Winning Virgin books:

Gabriel Sabbat is the secondary mate for Constance Spenser. He knows the feel of her skin, the touch of her hand, the true experience of her body. He participated in his brother's mating ceremony and he didn't walk away from the event unscathed. His heart is heavy and he is in love with a woman he may take as his own but there will be sacrifices, and consequences.

Constance belongs to Sebastian but she's never forgotten the time she spent with Gabriel. When Sebastian doesn't return home, news circulates and word travels fast. Sebastian is in trouble and he may not return to Scotland.

With time running out for Constance and the needs of a vampire mate quickly surfacing, Gabriel is called upon as a secondary and Constance isn't happy with the turn of events. In fact, she's out for more than a little blood to keep her alive. She's looking for answers and knows precisely how to get them and when Sebastian returns home, he finds quite a surprise.

Excerpt:

The bodyguards tripped over their own feet to hold the door open for her. They looked like bouncers, but they were in fact, Darian’s men.

Constance pushed her dark curls over her shoulders before shooting one of them a wink. “Better let him know I’m here and make sure you tell my brother-in-law I’m lethal tonight.”

The large man with ugly scars across his cheeks and chin, grinned. “I’ll follow your request.”

“I don’t doubt it for a minute. It’s why I suggested it.” She wanted to curse him under her breath for valid reasons. She bet whatever cash she carried in her purse that many of the men on Darian’s payroll knew of her father’s precise whereabouts.

Samuel Spenser, many believed, departed the world years ago. Constance and her brothers never stopped searching and since they had unlimited resources, they never would.

Most considered the Spensers vampire royalty, at least those who understood myths and followed legends. Reality crossed somewhere in the middle.

Constance thought of herself as a member of a new race. It beat the hell out of what mortals thought. Those who believed in vampires at all feared them and with good reason. They held an extreme power, a license to kill and get away with it.

She walked through the mirrored hallway and the display of laser-crossfire, the latest in security features for the more paranoid of the Sabbats. The oldest and the most dangerous of the lot, Darian, didn’t take unnecessary risks. When someone entered one of his clubs, he knew in an instant if mortals joined them or bloodsuckers were among them. Some of the poor, unsuspecting women who paraded through his doors in search of a good time instantly became bait once they walked through the check-point.

Constance stepped into the heart of Agendas and everyone recognized her. Heads turned and a few men here or there made the mistake of whistling. If Sebastian were around—her life mate—or maybe even Gabriel, the signal alone would lead to another man’s death call.

She took a quick spin around the room after she crossed over the threshold because if she made an appearance there, she might as well make sure everyone in Edinburgh knew it. She copped the kind of strut to make grown men twitch and vampire elders uncomfortable in their robes, if they even wore them. At times, Constance wondered if those on the panel did anything more than sit around and play with themselves all day, a decision she reached after observing the perverse orders they often handed down to their young.

She scanned the dimly lit dance floor and noticed some recognizable faces, one in particular. After she spotted him, she didn’t waste time moving toward him without so much as a break in her stride.

Darian headed up the Sabbat family and conducted most of his business from Agendas. He was the Sabbat she wanted to talk to most, but with her fast approach, she quickly observed his body language. He cautioned against the sudden advance when he turned his back and squared his shoulders. The Sabbats, much like the Spensers, never wanted their enemies to meet their women.

If the man in front of Darian was an enemy, she’d hate to see his friends. A mortal, no doubt, he looked good enough to eat and swallow with one delectable bite. Broad shoulders, tight chest, high cheekbones, lovely lips, and Constance couldn’t stand it. She had to see the rest.

She hurriedly scooted around the room so she could steal an even better peek. Sure as hell, right there in front of her, her suspicions materialized. He had one fine-looking ass. Best of all, she thought as she inhaled his scent, he was mortal, as she’d suspected. Life sugar-coated in blood-red sweetness.

http://www.sirenpublishing.com/destinyblaine


Book Five: Winning Virgin Devotion is COMING SOON to Siren Publishing. Take a look at what you can expect:

Arturo is a ghost from the past. His mother was a prostitute brought into a Spenser-Sabbat ménage situation and the sensational scandal was more than anyone could handle. Hundreds of years later, Arturo stirs the very seas where his ashes were once scattered. And the Sabbats and Spensers prepare for his wrath.

Interested in a new generation of vampires, Arturo joins Constance and Gabriel for a supernatural ménage encounter. Waiting for a ripe time to join them, Arturo has one goal, to see Constance pregnant with the first of many children he wants to father. When the plan fails, new ideas with harrowing consequences develop. Will Darian Sabbat stop Arturo before he destroys his family or will Samuel Spenser be the only force strong enough to deal with the ghost of Arturo Devries?

*Please note this is not the official blurb for Winning Virgin Devotion*

Wednesday's Words for June 30, 2010

Here in Southern Ontario, school is out for another year. I’m not sure where the time has gone; I could have sworn it was the beginning of March just last week. But the days have been sweltering, the corn is getting tall, so I guess it must truly be summer. And the first ritual of summer is our Nation’s birthday.

Tomorrow is Canada Day, and since we celebrate on the actual day, many people will be having a day off work mid-week. Here, companies don’t tend to give more than the one day holiday to employees, so the only time we get a long weekend out of the deal is when July 1 falls Friday to Monday.

We celebrate our National holiday much the same was as Americans celebrate Independence Day. We have parades and picnics, music and laughter, craft sales and dances and fireworks after dark.

Canadians don’t tend to be as overtly patriotic as Americans are. I recall one vacation, way back in the last century (that makes me sound really old), when we were in Orlando. We visited the Church Street Station for an evening, and we’d never seen anything like it. What impressed us the most was the closing number of one show we saw at the Country and Western Bar. There we witnessed the most rousing rendition of America the Beautiful, complete with flags and pyrotechnics, we had ever seen—and yes, this was several years before 9/11.

Here, you might get a playing of the National Anthem. Maybe. At the beginning of a show or performance. But unless it is a very special occasion—or Canada Day—you’re not likely to see flags waving much at all.

Our lack of display isn’t, however, synonymous with a lack of patriotism. We just tend, most of the time (Olympic hockey championship games notwithstanding) to be quieter about it.

This year, our Queen is in country for the occasion. She’ll be in Ottawa, of course, our Nation’s capital for tomorrow’s festivities. Monday she attended a special ceremony in Halifax to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy. Our Navy isn’t very large, so it was an International flotilla gathered for the celebration in Halifax harbour and which Her Majesty “inspected”.

When I was a child July 1 was called “Dominion Day”, and my first real memory of the holiday is wrapped around the fact that it’s also my brother’s birthday. Yes, he had me convinced the parade in downtown Hamilton was in his honour. I was gullible then and in fact, that hasn’t changed much. I still tend to take people and things at face value.

The last few years we attended a Canada Day pig roast co-hosted by a friend of ours who is a co-worker of my husband. A casual event, with fewer that one hundred people, it was one of the highlights of the summer for us, an event we really looked forward to. Unfortunately, that party isn’t being held this year, and we haven’t made plans to do anything else instead.

Despite the fact that the small town we live in tends to have organized events at the fairgrounds, and the city next door to us has a huge celebration in one of its parks complete with live bands and cotton candy, we’ve actually never attended either event. That sounds kind of dreadful, doesn’t it? But the truth of the matter is we really are not party animals, and we don’t like large crowds at all.

We do, however, have the Maple Leaf flying proudly on a flagpole on our front porch, and it is there every day, not just one.

One of the best things about living in a free society—you can celebrate, or not, as you choose. Honestly, I wouldn’t live anyplace else.

Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury

Release Day ~Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?~

WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF?

Wolf Creek Pack 6

by Stormy Glenn

Erotic, Paranormal, Shapeshifter, M/M/M, Romance

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY

Ben knew there would never be a mate for him. No one in his or her right mind would want to be shackled with a man with no tenderness, no gentleness, and certainly no kindness. He didn't even know what those emotions were anymore. They were stripped from him along with a good portion of his sanity. Ben has nothing to offer a mate, and he knows it.

When huge sky blue eyes peak out at him from under strawberry blond hair at a Wolf Mating party, Ben can't deny his fascination, or his need to claim Stefan as his mate. But Stefan comes with a lot of baggage. According to vampire law, he's been given away by his brother to Dane, the brother of Stefan's best friend, Audley. In exchange, Audley has been given to Stefan's brother. The problem? Audley and Stefan are both Ben's mates.

When Stefan and Audley are kidnapped, Ben and their friends race to save them. Can Ben survive long enough to save his mates or will his worst nightmare come true? Can Stefan and Audley overcome their fears long enough to save their mate or will they lose him forever?



STORY EXCERPT

A small movement of ragged brown fabric to one side of the circle caught Ben's attention. He watched from the edge of the trees, his eyes never leaving the figure in brown. He caught sight of a small pale face glancing out from behind stringy hair.

The dirty strawberry blond hair was not what caught his attention. Nor was the length, which seemed to go on forever, from the top of the young man's head to just below the soft curve of his ass.

It was the huge sky blue eyes that peaked out between the thick streams of hair. They were the most expressive eyes Ben ever saw. Then the little man smiled at him and Ben felt a strange tightening in the middle of his chest.

The world around him simply disappeared. It was only the young man and him. No one else existed. But, as quick as it had come, the smile disappeared along with the beautiful eyes that had seemed to see into his very soul.

Ben leaned up on his feet to get a better look him. At six foot nine, he stood feet above most men. In fact, he had never met anyone who was taller than him. There was nearly nothing that could make him leave safety at the edge of the party. But the body was huddled down behind the horde of partygoers and Ben couldn't get a good look. He felt a need to find the young man.

If he had been truly thinking about it he would have questioned this obsessive need to find the man hiding on the other side of the circle. And then he would have run for his life. But all he could feel was an unnatural desire to hunt down the brown fabric and meet the man who smiled at him.

Ben left his safety at the edge of the trees and began working his way through the crowd, his eyes never leaving the young man. He knew the man could see him walking to his by the slight turning of his body towards him. He seemed to be waiting for him. From the small smile on his lips he assumed he would be happy to see him.

As he got closer to him, Ben could see more of his stature. He was small. He might reach Ben's sternum… if he stood on a stool. Otherwise, he would barely reach Ben's chest. The man couldn't have been more than five foot ten or so. His thread worn outfit was definitely not made to look pleasing on him. There seemed to be no contours or soft places on him. On a whole, it seemed to hang over him more like a sack than a shirt. It was not made to entice anyone.

As Ben drew nearer to the man the smile fell from his lips and he could see fear begin to form in those blue eyes. Ben slowed his quick stride. He felt the sorrow in his heart as he realized that the little man was afraid of him. He stopped a mere foot from him. He wanted to give the man the opportunity to flee from his side before he said anything to him.

As he tried to form the words that might keep the stunning man where he could look at him, he noticed that the man's gaze was not on him but on some unseen person behind him. He slowly turned as he felt a cold shiver creep up his spine.

A man walked slowly towards them, a look of triumph plastered on his thin lips. He was a vampire. Ben could tell even from here. He looked back down at the young man. His fear was almost tangible. Before his eyes, the man began to shake.

It came suddenly to Ben that the little man wasn't afraid of him. He was afraid of the vampire walking towards them. He wasn't even looking at Ben. His entire being was centered on the man coming towards them, and his body was readying itself to flee.

"Dane," the little man whispered, terror lacing his thin voice.

An eternity from now Ben would understand why he did what he did but for now, it was a complete mystery. He only knew that he had to get the young man to safety, to protect him. Reaching out he grabbed his arm and began dragging him through the crowd. The man gasped as he was pulled along.

Ben stopped suddenly when the smarmy looking man stepped in front of him. He felt the smaller man plow into his back and reached around behind him to place a steadying hand on him.

"Are you claiming Stefan?" Dane asked.

Ben suddenly realizes what he was doing. His only thought was to save Stefan, not to claim him. His stomach rolled just by the thought of it. He couldn't have a mate. "Why do you ask?" Ben growled.

"Because if you do not claim him, I will," Dane said as he stepped around Ben and reached for Stefan. "Stefan, come," he stated triumphantly.

Ben could feel the terror filling Stefan by the shaking in his body. "You will not!" he snarled as he stepped between them. He didn't know why but he knew he could not let this man take Stefan from him. "He is not your mate."

"If you do not claim him then he is fair game for the rest of us," he says as he reached for Stefan again, grabbing his wrist. Stefan seemed to make his body as small as possible as he pressed up against Ben.

"Touch him and die!" snarled Ben as he pulled Stefan from the man's grasp, wrapping an arm around Stefan's waist and pulling him back against his larger body.

"Ben," said a strong voice behind him, "what goes on here?"

Ben turned towards the voice, knowing it was his alpha. "Nothing goes on here, Daniel."

The man beside him sputtered, "That's not true, Alpha Nash. This man is refusing my claim on Stefan."

Alpha Daniel Nash looks over at the arm that Ben had wrapped around the waist of the cowering man. "Ben, if you do not claim this man than you must give him up to he who will."

Ben's body went stiff at his alpha's words. He didn't want to claim Stefan. He always believed that he would spend his life alone. Then he heard a small whimper come from the frightened man pressed against him. He knew his choices were gone.

"Then I claim him."


To learn more about the Wolf Creek Pack Series, visit my website at http://www.stormyglenn.com/wolfcreekpack.htm

Angelic Forecast ~ #95

Then I see it, a circle appears on the underbelly of the disc. We streak toward it.

To say I’m not frightened would definitely be a lie.
‘It won’t hurt. I promise.’ The Heavenly One speaks inside my mind as his jovial nature fills me.
“Wow. Full moon,” I say.
It looks like we’re about to hit the moon. Instead, we slide though, a sensation of zipping through gauzy fabric. When we stop, I gaze at Moon Dream to make certain she’s okay. She give my cheek a sweet slurp.
“Welcome.”
The manly timbre of the voice has me swivelling my face toward the owner. I start in utter surprise.
“You’re impossibly handsome,” I blurt out.
With no restraint whatsoever, I stare at the man who reminds me of Kevin Sorbo as Hercules, and how I imagine a sun god would look.
Even if he doesn’t fully grin, his eyes smile. Oh yeah, right, eyes can’t smile, ‘they’ say. Yes, I guarantee you they can and do smile.
“I’m glad you see me that way since I hope to suitably impress my heroine,” he replies.
His English is somewhat foreign sounding, a melodic, but virile purr that has my middle performing flip-flops as I cock my head. “Heroine?” I ask.
“Yes. I realize you haven’t been inspired by my story yet.”
“Your story?” I sit back, raising my brows.
“I am a dragon shapeshifter. And, I desperately need my heroine.”
~~~~~~

During the following week, INTENSITY will be the name of the game on the world stage, and in most folks lives. Every financial dynamic will ratchet up to an excruciating level. Those of the dark force knows they are losing control and like a cornered beast-demon, they are attacking, and will continue their attack in an attempt to suck the life out of humanity.
In opposition, the light force sweeps the TRUTH like hundred-mile-an-hour winds throughout the whole of humanity. Diamond particles of light descend from the heavens empowering each and everyone of us. Now is the time. This is the turning point.

On a personal level, look around with a critical eye. Whatever you need to do to take care of you and yours, now is the time. This includes evacuating dangerous areas. Know, too, the land is calling for folks to return. Mother Nature wants you. She needs you. If you’ve ever had the yen to live closer to nature, to farm, to simply be away from the city. Now is the time. Make plans and follow through as fast as you are able.

Angelic blessings from Volcano & Sedona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS

Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth ~
Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes?

Blurb: Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012 – The end of the Mayan Calendar
What happens when a world weary, worn out incarnated angel, Sedona, who believes she is merely human has three choices after her old van breaks down? ...more

~~~ IN PRINT ~~~ a former #1 on Siren-BookStrand’s bestseller list ~

Author Discovery by Lindsay Townsend, BookStrand author of FLAVIA’S SECRET, A SECRET TREASURE, BLUE GOLD, BRONZE LIGHTNING, SILK AND STEEL, HOLIDAY IN BOLOGNA and CHASING RACHEL ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-discovery-savanna-kougars-when.html

WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ adventure fantasy erotic romance ~ available from BookStrand ~ bookstrand.com/savanna-kougar ~
~~~

~ HAVE A MAGICKAL SUMMER ~

~ MAY YOUR BRIGHTEST, MOST ROMANTIC READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Kisses from Savanna Kougar...

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Siren-BookStrand Author of ~

All Shades of Blue Paradise
[World of the Blue Pearl Moon, Book 1]

When a Good Angel Falls ~ In Print
[Winter Solstice 2012, Book 1]

Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
[New Atlantis Trilogy, Book 1]

Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
[Chrontropolis, Book 1]

Stallion of Ash and Flame ~ released September 24th, 2009 ~ In Print

Branded by the Texans [Three Star Republic] ~ E-available August 2010

Murphy's Law wins HOLT Medallion!

I'm pleased and very, very proud to announce that my first Damaged Heroes novel, Murphy's Law, was awarded the HOLT Medallion for Best Long Contemporary Romance of 2010. HOLT stands for "Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent" and is considered one of the most prestigious awards in romance writing. I was also thrilled to find out that Turning Thirty-Twelve was given a HOLT Award of Merit for Best First Book!

Sandy James
Award-Winning Romance

Murphy's Law Damaged Heroes Book 1
By: Sandy James | Other books by Sandy James Categories: Mainstream Romance, Contemporary, Women's Fiction, Word Count: 116,784 Heat Level: STEAMY Published By: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc. Seth Remington had a fortune at his fingertips, but something was missing in his life. Purpose. Knowing he has one last chance to redeem his son, terminally ill Sterling Remington rewrites his will. To earn his inheritance, his son Seth must labor as a groom for a horse trainer. Katie Murphy's orderly existence is turned upside down by Sterling Remington's will. Raised on hard work and dedicated to her harness racing stable, Katie agrees to take Seth on as a groom. How can she ever fulfill the challenge of instilling a work ethic in Seth and still keep her faltering stable running? Kept at arm's length by the strict terms of Sterling's will, Seth and Katie are forced to struggle with their growing attraction until a devastating racing accident forces them to take a hard look at their relationship. How much is he willing to risk for her love? "This book is straight from my heart. Until my husband and I jumped into owning racehorses, I had no idea that world even existed. I fell in love with the animals and the wonderful, generous people who work with them every day, and I wanted to share that experience with readers. I offer this story to all my friends in harness racing in hopes they'll know how much I love being a part of their world." ~Sandy~ BookStrand Mainstream Romance 10 Ratings Avg - 5.0 5 4 3 2 1		Murphy's Law Available in: Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket Price: $5.99

First Review: Eris by D. Renee Bagby

FIRST REVIEW!!!

Eris has gotten it's first review from Rites of Romance.

5 lyres and a recommended read

"I was so taken in by the characters I loved, yes loved this book... The characters came to life for me, they all had flaws and imperfections and that’s what made them real to me."
~ GJM

Read the full review

Buy Now
Read First Chapter

Wednesday's Words for June 23, 2010

A couple of news items caught my attention this past weekend, and I have to tell you, as far as I can see, things are not looking good for humanity.

The first item was a story about how a museum in London has doctored an historical photograph of Winston Churchill by “air brushing out” his cigar.

Now, on first look, this would seem to be a silly story, a case of “socio-political correctness run amok”. But then I got to thinking about it. Someone, somewhere, made a decision that expressed in just so many words is this: it’s better to lie than to tell the truth.

Think about it. Who in their right minds could construe that photo, with Churchill’s ever-present cigar, as being a promotion of smoking? Seriously? Where are our lines anymore? Tampering with the historical record...do we, as a species, understand how dangerous that is? It is many times more dangerous to the health of humanity than is smoking, no question about it.

When you consent to changing the historical record of anything for any reason then you are setting a precedent that will mean future generations may change anything for any reason at all.

Rewrite history, and you run the risk of having to repeat the most horrific lessons of our civilization.

The second story that had me shaking my head was this: “Newlywed rushes bride to hospital, and now he’s in trouble with the law”.

If you’re not familiar with this story allow me to recap: The groom, a gentleman with medical training, saw signs that his bride might be having a stroke. As she had other underlying medical conditions that made her having a stroke possible, he immediately got her into the car and rushed to the hospital. He stopped for two red lights but then proceeded through them. He was chased by a police officer who, when he arrived at the hospital’s emergency entrance, tried to wrestle the man to the ground as he was getting his sick wife out of the car!

What do these two stories, I ask you, have in common? In a word: stupidity.

You see, the problem with “dumbing down” the population, while it may make the masses more manageable in some respects is that very quickly society breaks down. Why? Because stupid people get put into positions of authority, and some of those stupid people are also bullies.

A smart police officer would have seen his “perp” lifting a woman out of the car and put two and two together and would have stopped right there. Maybe if he was a hard-ass he would have given the guy a traffic ticket for running two red lights after the woman was in the hands of the hospital staff. He certainly would not have carried it further. One of the comments of the officer was that on top of everything else this horrible felon did, the man carried the woman into an ER examining room where he had no authority to be! Un-be-lievable.

A smart museum employee would never have dreamed of altering a photograph of historical significance. The museum in London, by the way, is dedicated to Churchill, and his amazing leadership during England’s “finest hour”.

These are just two examples of many similar stories we’ve all heard in the last couple of years. The seizure of a GI Joe figure at an airport, because there is a “ban on guns” is the one that keeps coming to my mind. I would like to know who had the bright idea that the best way to deal with a moron was to give him/her a uniform and some authority?

So I’m really worried, and you all should be worried, too.

We’re getting older, and if God blesses us to live long enough to become elderly people, then our day to day needs will be in the hands of the terminally stupid.

And I’m not altogether certain there is a cure for stupid.

Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury

New Release! Mind-Blown by Michele Hart

Greetings, Siren-BookStrand readers!

This is New Release Day for my steamy Sci-Fi Romantic Suspense, Mind-Blown, on sale right now at Siren-BookStrand.com. I’m very excited, and I hope you’ll come along on a tour of my new novel with me.

Here’s a first bite of Mind-Blown:

Jon Paige discovers his employer is developing brain-washing techniques. He quickly learns how to hijack the system and breaks down his beautiful assistant’s persistent walls. Will Holly forgive him, if she ever learns of it?

Holly Maddox is determined not to dip her pen in the company ink, a policy that’s served her well…until Jon comes along. He steals her mind when he’s in the room, weakens her fortitude with every flash of his flirty eyes and secretive smile. How will she keep herself from falling in love with her boss when he melts her impulse control?

When Jon and Holly decide to sabotage the mind-control experiments, they learn they’re up against a greater power than they’d bargained for. Doing the right thing risks lives. Will the truth of their beginnings wreck their sizzling affair?

***

Ready for an excerpt?

This excerpt is rated PG. The story is rated R.

“Stay quiet, Holly,” Jon told her, pressing the cell phone headset deeper into his ear, despite the latex chimp mask he wore.

Jon went to the door, cut the light, leaned to the window overlooking the hallway, and cracked the mini-blinds. A slide to the left, and he spotted Dr. Ramirez quietly pacing down the hallway, carrying in her hands the stack of books and papers Holly had mentioned. Headed toward her lab at the end of the hall, the doctor passed his room unexplored and him undiscovered.

Quietly engaging the doorknob lock below a keyed dead-bolt and drawing the flashlight from his belt, he turned back to the computer monitor and sat, hot blood coursing through his veins as the computer animation showed files flying into folders. Mapping his escape route in his head, he noticed how hot it was in the chimpanzee mask. It began to feel like his head was in a sauna.

Just when the file copying finished, and Jon snatched the flash drive from the port, the clink of keys hitting the metal doorknob ripped through the room, sending a sharper shockwave of adrenalin shooting through his body. His gaze snapped to the door.

Jon hit the power button on the computer, shutting it down, then he dove for the covered chair of the enormous mind-control machine. He crawled under the dust cover and into the seat, unseen, and quickly shut his flashlight off.

Through heat-dispersal holes in the plastic cover, he watched the doctor enter the room and turn on the lights, pushing the door all the way open and leaving her keys hanging from the doorknob. The door stop didn’t catch the latch, and the door closed anyway. She didn’t seem bothered to have found the room locked when he’d found it unlocked, or she hadn’t noticed. A notebook in hand and appearing distracted with work, she made a beeline past the mind-control machine for the computer that controlled it stationed in the back of the room, and she booted up the machine.

Patient at first, Jon watched as she typed into the system some unseen information, and he wondered what mind-control stunt the center would pull next. Considering the majority of the center’s funds came from pharmaceutical companies, he didn’t want to imagine what connection these brain-washing experiments had to their funders.

He had too much time to think. He hadn’t anticipated feeling a flicker of guilt about his attempt to influence Holly into his arms, but now, watching the granddaughter of Dr. Frankenstein plot her next breach of someone’s mind, he felt the violation of Holly’s will it really was. It was no big guess to know she’d be livid if she learned of it, but there was no way to back out now. He’d already slipped pictures of himself into her slideshow file, piggybacking whatever mind-tampering methods the sleep center used. Would he be able to forgive himself when he held Holly in his arms?

Yep, probably so.

Of course, a really good guy would wait Dr. Ramirez out until the woman left the room, and he’d delete the pictures he’d planted. Jon hadn’t yet decided just how good a guy he wanted to be.

The shriek of a police siren in close proximity blaring, then silencing came blasting through his headset too loudly, nearly deafening him. Jon spotted Dr. Ramirez spin around in her seat, her eyes narrowed on the covered chair. She’d caught his startled jerk and heard the siren. The brain-washing machine in which he sat lay between her and the door.

Jon was caught. He heard Holly whisper in his ear-piece, “Damn.”

Through the pin-prick holes in the chair’s dust cover, he watched Dr. Ramirez, her eyes wide with fright over a stranger hiding in the room and so close to her. She swept her space for a weapon.

“Ya need any help, little lady?” Jon picked up from a male voice with a rough Southern drawl in his headset. The drop of Dr. Ramirez’s jaw said she clearly heard the voices coming from the chair.

“No, officer,” Holly’s stressed voice replied, “I just finished changing my tire, and I’ll be on my way.”

Ramirez snatched the leg of one of the nearby medical carts, dumping its electronics, and she brandished the cart as a weapon. The cart shook in her hands.

“You don’t look like ya got yourself dirty doing it, sweetheart,” the male voice replied. “Ya sure you aren’t out here working this block?”

The police were about to arrest Holly for prostitution. How would Jon get out of this room?

Dr. Ramirez brought the light-weight medical cart crashing down onto the chair, barely missing Jon in her assault. When she reared back for another swing, Jon caught Holly’s denial, “No, officer! I’m just trying to get home from working night shift at Scrappy Joe’s. My house is just down the block. My husband’s on his way.”

“Scrappy Joe’s closed two hours ago.”

Jon ducked just in time to avoid the second blow, still unseen under the dust cover, though his movement gave him away. The cart crashed into machinery behind him, another close miss. It was time to take action.

Jon scampered out from under the cover, revealing himself in the chimp mask. He let out a terrifying chimp scream, waving his arms high in the air to frighten the doctor more, and it worked. She backed up all the way to the wall, her hands held up before her in defense, having lost her weapon in her second swing. Her eyes were alive with the shock of seeing her opponent. She couldn’t have expected a man-sized chimpanzee.

Taking advantage of her fright, Jon snatched the door open, bolted over the threshold, and slammed the door of the room shut. Then he pulled the key from the doorknob lock, shoved it into the deadbolt and spun it, locking a terrified Dr. Ramirez in the telephoneless room.

Fisting the keys, he pressed the headset deeper into his ear to hear the police officer giving Holly a disbelieving bellow of laughter. “What’re you selling tonight, little lady? Ya showin’ alota skin at work.”

Harking back to his days on the football field, Jon ran as hard as he could down the science center’s main hallway, pumping his arms double-time to the quickened sound of Holly’s anxious breath in his ear. This was going to hurt. He hadn’t been on a run this hard since the night of the accident. Ignoring the cameras recording his visit, he still needed to make it past two security guards and run a long stretch of distance to save Holly from arrest.

***

Mind-Blown

by Michele Hart

Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/mind-blown

Available in e-Book ISBN#: 1-60601-773-X * Soon in Print

Read reviews and more excerpts, watch the book trailer at:

http://www.michelehart.com/b26-book.htm

Read and live an adventure today.

Have a passionate day,

Michele Hart

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance Author
~Walk Another World ~ www.ILoveShapeShifters.com ~

MIND-BLOWN * New Release! * Siren-BookStrand

LUMINOUS NIGHTS * coming Sep '10 * Siren-BookStrand
LOOKS ARE DECEIVING * Siren-BookStrand

About zombies -

Saw a lot of them at Crypticon this weekend in Everett, WA. What an amazing range of costumes! Super decorations and lots of panels and activities. And zombies everywhere, as well as vampires and other scary types. From Claire here's today's fortune cookie: MONDAY, LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR BRINGS ANNOYING WORK CHANGES BUT GOOD EMOTIONAL VIBES. Rest of the week is posted on the Prediction page at http://phoebematthews.com.

Angelic Forecast ~ #94

Summer 2010 Forecast by Volcano

Beloved Ones on Mother Earth,

The Summer Solstice of 2010 is a pivotal time and moment for all of humanity, and for every individual. For in the following days a ‘revealing’ will take place that is tantamount to the light of ten suns shining, at once, upon the surface of the Earth. What has been known by the ‘few’ will now be known by the ‘many’. And, out of that knowledge and from that wisdom, there will be decisions made, and actions taken, which will *forge* parts of the immediate future into existence, and, thus the long-range future.

For century upon century, WHO you are, fully, as a human being has been concealed from you. This was done by those of evil intent to gain control and keep their miserly control over world affairs. However, this age is now OVER. One culminating point that will expose and end this behind-the-scenes control is the current Gulf of Mexico catastrophe. For, as the Aquarian age gathers momentum, human beings will come into their own and discover more of their true hidden heritage. They will discover their inner strength, their inner magic.

This is especially true for those who are known as way-showers, or those who hyper-swiftly Ascend toward their true nature and will act as guides to others. On a personal level, there will be many ways to recognize your own fast and furious progress, all in accordance with the pattern of your soul.

For some precious individuals, there will be a major jump in intuition and/or psychic abilities and awareness. There will also be a significant heightening and sharpening of your current skills, talents and unique abilities, as if you’ve suddenly jumped to a mountaintop. Take advantage immediately and use this ‘jump’ to secure your life in those ways that work best for you, then be of assistance to others.

During this ‘summer’ window, extreme changes will take place and matters of the Spirit will become paramount. This occurs in concert with what has been termed the Soul Rising, or each of us profoundly connecting with our own soul as well as connecting to the soul of others, in order, to bring about the ‘new harmony’, the new sacred songs of humanity.

As well, a powerful magick is arriving, once again, and is available for those bold enough in vision to claim it. There will be individuals who will emerge as magicians, that is, the use of magick as it was practiced by the Wise Women and by those like Merlin. Before the Turning toward technology was allowed, as a method to circumvent the dark force, Magick reigned as the true and natural force on Earth.

Indeed, technology and Magick will begin to twine together, and complement each other, thus, opening up a vista of possibilities.

Another divine energy now blanketing the Earth, creates what is known as the ‘open heart’. This summer solstice begins the age of the OPEN HEART. It also brings forth the age of the JUDICIAL HEART. Offer an open heart to those who will receive your loving energies. At the same time, the judicial heart recognizes those who are not receptive and would cause harm. The wisdom is ancient. Do not cast your loving pearls before those who choose to remain ‘unloving’, who behave as brutish swine.

Only for those who are up to this mighty task, this summer of 2010 is the time to take all TRUTH to heart. For what has been un-embraceable, the dark hidden forces operating in this world, must now be embraced. That is, known and recognized at such a deep level of the soul, that the light of ten thousand suns is released to cleanse and purify, and then transform... an alchemy of transformation, as lead was once transmuted to gold.

The transmutation toward a golden world begins on this day of the summer solstice.
~~~~~~

The following week will be one of chaos and craziness, for the most part, on the world stage. It will appear as if sinister jesters have taken over. Nothing spoken, nothing claimed will make any real sense. The blue sky will be called green. And the green grass will be called any other color but green. Just shake your head and walk away... that could be your best option.
Another wild twist in the economic picture will occur. To outward appearances it will make no sense. However, it make look inviting to some as an opportunity. In reality it is a sinkhole waiting to swallow up more of the still-working economy.

On a personal level, this week is a good time to take stock of your life. What direction do you want to take your efforts, your talents, your career? This is a key question at this time. For, there is an opening door, a current vibration, which will allow you to see, and be aware of the opportunities that will best serve you. Follow your gut instinct and pay strict attention to your intuition. Forge ahead, for, you will not be disappointed.

Angelic blessings from Volcano & Sedona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS

Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth ~
Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes?

Blurb: Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012 – The end of the Mayan Calendar
What happens when a world weary, worn out incarnated angel, Sedona, who believes she is merely human has three choices after her old van breaks down? ...more

~~~ IN PRINT ~~~ a former #1 on Siren-BookStrand’s bestseller list ~

Author Discovery by Lindsay Townsend, BookStrand author of FLAVIA’S SECRET, A SECRET TREASURE, BLUE GOLD, BRONZE LIGHTNING, SILK AND STEEL, HOLIDAY IN BOLOGNA and CHASING RACHEL ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-discovery-savanna-kougars-when.html ~

WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ adventure fantasy erotic romance ~ available from BookStrand ~
~~~

~ HAVE A MAGICKAL SUMMER ~

~ MAY YOUR BRIGHTEST, MOST ROMANTIC READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Kisses from Savanna Kougar...

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Siren-BookStrand Author of ~

All Shades of Blue Paradise
[World of the Blue Pearl Moon, Book 1]

When a Good Angel Falls ~ In Print
[Winter Solstice 2012, Book 1]

Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
[New Atlantis Trilogy, Book 1]

Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
[Chrontropolis, Book 1]

Stallion of Ash and Flame ~ released September 24th, 2009 ~ In Print

Branded by the Texans [Three Star Republic] ~ E-available August 2010

Wednesday's Words for June 16, 2010

The difference between dogs and cats is that dogs have masters while cats have staff.

This truth has been brought home to me in the last few months. I find that I am a human, living at the mercy of feline masters.

When my daughter and her son moved in, you recall, they brought with them their fifteen-year-old cat, Crash. I had met Crash many times when visiting my daughter and he treated me with predictable feline distain. After all, I was a foreign human being taking up space in his home.

In the fifteen months my daughter lived here, Crash came to tolerate my presence in his new home. I was not permitted to pick him up of course; the occasional pat I was allowed, as long as I gave him his cat treats, first.

You know that myth going around that animals have a “pecking order”? Don’t believe it. When Crash moved in here he should have been low-cat on the totem pole. Unfortunately for my familiar, Boots, Crash doesn’t play second banana to anyone.

So then my daughter moved out. She took an apartment at the other end of town, and, much to my shock and dismay, acquired another kitten.

This was my daughter’s first mistake.

This kitten was cute and cuddly, as they all are, and a bit of a live wire. It loved to do three things: eat, sleep on my daughter’s bed, and attack Crash. This newcomer to the family was given the name MoJo. MoJo was soon joined by another kitten, one who had hidden in the spare tire well on my son’s work truck. My son already has a cat (are you listening, daughter?) and could not keep it but he knew who would. This kitten’s name, of course, is Hitch.

You may wonder why I was shocked and dismayed by my daughter’s taking in two more cats. I guess this is where I admit yet one more flaw in my personality: it’s bad enough that I usually cannot bear to hurt the feelings of another human being. I extend that anathema to animals, too. You see, I would never get a cute, cuddly kitten for fear of hurting my Boots’ feelings.

The apartment my daughter rented was atop a pizzeria and didn’t work out for her. It was too noisy, too smelly, and too hot. So she looked, and low and behold, she found an apartment just two and a half blocks away from me.

The first thing that she did, after she got moved in, was to show Crash and MoJo how they could walk from their house to Grandma’s, to visit!

This was my daughter’s second mistake.

Crash came to visit Grandma, and stayed. MoJo only came once in a while to eat, but Crash figured he’d moved back home. Daughter would come, take him back to her apartment. And he would remain for an hour or two. Then he would return to Grandma’s.
One time when she came and said to him, quite sternly, “We’re going home,” he blinked at her, turned around, and headed up the stairs, to the “apartment” he’d occupied with her when she lived here.

My daughter, as you can imagine, is very hurt by this perceived feline betrayal. I’ve explained to her that as far as Crash is concerned, the betrayal is all hers.

Well, last week, my daughter brought home yet one more kitten, this one black and even more of a live wire than MoJo was. And yesterday morning, MoJo came into my house, with a live bird offering, which because I speak kitty I know means, hi grandma, can I live here too?

I think in my next life, I’m going to be a cat.

Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury

Saving Grace Now Available!

Saving Grace by Stacey Espino

Word Count: 52,672

Heat Level: SEXTREME

[Ménage and More: Erotic Cowboy Ménage a Cinq Romance, M/F/M/M/M, mild BDSM, public exhibition]

Grace is thrust deep into cattle country with dozens of sex starved cowboys. Her modest, timid nature soon fizzles away to make room for her raging lust. From one night stands to a ménage a cinq, her body won’t allow her to refuse the muscled ranch hands that seem desperate to pleasure her.


Grace explores her sexuality and pushes her personal boundaries. She discovers the sensual woman that remained dormant during her adult years. It is the love of a good man that forces her to let down her guards. Can she commit after everything she has been through in the past? Will she accept the love she’s craved for a lifetime?

First Review from Happily Ever After Reviews

Lena’s Review

Grace is a woman who just found out the biggest shock of her life. She has just been traded, like a cattle animal, for another woman. Grace has no idea what is in store for her, but nothing prepares her for the gorgeous country guys where she is going. They sure know how to treat her in a way she never has been treated before in her life. With these guys she is thrust into a sexual world that she has never known.

The cowboys, Trevor, Connor and Scott scare her, but in a good way. With Trevor she is loved in a way that makes her feel free and adventurous. Connor is a man who takes her like she has always fantasized about and she is not treated liked a fragile woman. Yet it is Scott who loves her for who she is, and not what she should be like. In every guy she loses her heart in a different way which confuses her in a big way. Can she go back to her deceitful husband after the month is over?

Sex: vanilla, kinky and ménage, are just part of what makes this book hot, fun and sexy. Stacey did an awesome job in creating one orgy of a book that sizzled in this reviewer’s head. Cowboys rule this book, and man do they rule Grace’s body and head.

I loved Grace in this book. In the beginning she is a shy, naïve woman, yet in a cowboy’s hands she is set free in every way. The way Stacey did this was good for you to see her confusion, her joy, her fear and most of all her happiness when she does find it. Everyone will love the cowboys, but most of all Grace for what she has to overcome. Great job Stacey!

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

New Release: Eris by D. Renee Bagby

Eris by D. Renee Bagby

Genre: Fantasy Mainstream Menage (m/f/m), Interracial, Unorthodox Time Travel
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Menage Amour Imprint
ISBN: 1-60601-837-X
Release: 14 June (today)
Length: 160,003 words (508 pgs PDF)
Format: eBook
Price: $6.99

BUY NOW

Read Excerpt
Read First Chapter

Eternal Truths Series, Book 1


Time is on their side and they can be together, assuming the truth doesn't ruin everything first.

Immortals born in the thirteenth century, Lucien Riordan and Ranulf Styr have waited centuries to be reunited with their love. Want for her cemented their friendship through time even as it tore it apart. She changed their lives, made them want better, and they plan to show her that. There’s only one catch—she’s never met them before.

Eris Brue is flattered by Lucien and Ranulf’s attention but they are her bosses. She doesn’t want to get tangled up in an office romance, especially not with two men. Their joint seduction overcomes her resolve and she gives in even though she knows they are keeping secrets that could doom their relationship.

Centuries of planning have finally come to fruition. Lucien and Ranulf have a short amount of time to make Eris love them, because once time has her, everything could come to an end.

Contest

Three lucky people will win a download of Eris What to be one of them? Visit my cyber launch and leave a comment or a question. That's it. You'll be entered into the lottery. This is a one-day thing only and that day is today (14 June). Winners announced tomorrow (15 June) at the same location.

Good luck and have a happy!

~ Renee
------------------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com

Angelic Forecast ~ #93

It hits me like a strong blast of wind, the closer we soar to the disc. I can’t prove it, of course... yet, the feeling is there, powerful and unyielding... and staring back at me inside my own mind.
THEY’VE been told, THOSE who could pull off Project Blue Beam... that if they do use holo technology to fool everyone into believing *we are not alone in the galaxy*... if they do use it to control all of us, then the real outer space aliens will stand up. The real aliens will interact with us humans in defiance of the world governments, in defiance of THOSE who rule over the national governments.
“Wow,” I whisper on a rush of breath, and hug Moon Dream closer.
‘We are monitoring the transmissions on your world.’ The Voice inside my head sounds rather like Data from Star Trek.
I look to the Cherub and he nods, affirming that the aliens have spoken to me. Then I see it, a circle appears on the underbelly of the disc. We streak toward it.
~~~~~~

The following week will vacillate between high drama on the world stage and words of calm spoken by leaders, words meant to quell the concerns of the public. Remember, during these difficult times, discernment is your best friend. Look and listen for the TRUTH. If you currently live on the coastal areas, east, south or west of the US, prepare to *possibly* evacuate. The more plans you make *now* and the better your preparations, the better off you will be if you must leave. Do not rely on any manner of assistance. Further, if there is a back way out your area, that could be your wisest option.

On a personal level, this week is about having fun, enjoying life as best you can, while keeping an eye on world events. This week is also about noticing Nature in a more profound way than ever before. Nature will sing all around you.
Know that your thoughts and prayers for Mother Earth, in her time of need, will help heal her and She is always grateful for your kindnesses toward Her, and toward her creatures.

Angelic blessings from Volcano & Sedona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS

Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth ~
Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes?

Blurb: Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012 – The end of the Mayan Calendar
What happens when a world weary, worn out incarnated angel, Sedona, who believes she is merely human has three choices after her old van breaks down? ...more

~~~ IN PRINT ~~~ a former #1 on Siren-BookStrand’s bestseller list ~

Author Discovery by Lindsay Townsend, BookStrand author of FLAVIA’S SECRET, A SECRET TREASURE, BLUE GOLD, BRONZE LIGHTNING, SILK AND STEEL, HOLIDAY IN BOLOGNA and CHASING RACHEL ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-discovery-savanna-kougars-when.html ~

WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ adventure fantasy erotic romance ~ available from BookStrand ~ bookstrand.com/savanna-kougar ~
~~~

~ HAVE A WONDERFUL ALMOST-SUMMER WEEK ~

~ MAY YOUR BRIGHTEST, MOST ROMANTIC READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Kisses from Savanna Kougar...

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Siren-BookStrand Author of ~

All Shades of Blue Paradise
[World of the Blue Pearl Moon, Book 1]

When a Good Angel Falls ~ In Print
[Winter Solstice 2012, Book 1]

Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
[New Atlantis Trilogy, Book 1]

Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
[Chrontropolis, Book 1]

Stallion of Ash and Flame ~ released September 24th, 2009 ~ In Print

Branded by the Texans [Three Star Republic] ~ E-available August 2010