Death Is A Bitch Virtual Book Tour

Death Is A Bitch
Cate Masters

Genre: Urban fantasy/dark paranormal

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

ASIN: B008RQFJEQ

Number of pages: 113

Word Count:  43,000

Cover Artist:  LFD Designs

Decadent Publishing   Amazon  All Romance Ebooks

Book Description:

Eternity can suck when it’s all work, work, work. Death harvests souls even when they stack up faster than pancakes in an all-you-can-eat-buffet. No wonder she can’t shed the Grim Reaper rep.

As the patron angel of death and dying, Azrael works closely with Death but is dying for true intimacy. She’s the only immortal who’s ever aroused such powerful emotions in him. One taste of her leaves him needing her like humans need air and food, but will a demon’s lies leave a bad taste?

No one escapes Death – except King Sisyphus. Twice. With the help of Damien the demon, Sisyphus tries again, and she’s determined to have justice. Some say Death’s a bitch, but only when she has to be. But will the price of justice be a broken heart?

 Short Excerpt Death is a Bitch

Death stepped from the shadowy curtain of night along a deserted stretch of road toward the mangled hunk of cherry-red metal that used to be a sweet Z240 sports car. Stardust glinted in the black hair that dipped to her waist.

She kept a safe distance from the wreck. Inside, a thirtyish man slumped behind the wheel, the air bag deflating away from his near-lifeless body. Blood oozed from a nasty gash to his head. Should have worn his seat belt. Too late for life lessons, though. Those weren’t her expertise anyway. Just the opposite.

Leaves crackled in the underbrush beyond the nearby trees. Death gripped the silver charm bracelet on her wrist, her senses on high alert. Her finger poised near the hidden latch, ready to release a stream of lightning.

A deer. It stilled, its wide eyes fixed on her.

Seeing nothing else, she continued with a modicum of caution. Taking souls didn’t exactly make her popular, and after so many millennia, she should’ve been used to it. The bad jokes. The Halloween parodies. A scythe? Please. She’d never used cheap props. Only the finest weaponry. No mortal ever suspected the intricately designed baubles adorning her bracelet were anything more than ornamental.

Moonlight gleamed off the curves of the sports car, and she ran a gilded nail along its hood. She wouldn’t mind taking one of these babies for a spin. In its former condition, of course, before this guy took the curve too fast and wrapped it around a tree. Humans always rushed everywhere, sometimes straight into her arms.

The man’s moan signaled she had no need for weapons. This one would give her no trouble. She fingered his blond hair, matted with blood. What a shame. So young, and so handsome. He’d leave at least one lover grieving, no doubt.

His eyes fluttered open. When he looked up, recognition intensified the flicker of life in his eyes.

She needed no introduction. They always knew her, unmistakable in the glimmering black filament gown, its folds revealing a glimpse into infinity.

The stilettos usually earned a second glance, the four-inch heels glistening like fool’s gold. The butterfly tattoo spanning her upper arm likewise drew curious looks, which inevitably changed to horror when the souls recognized the face imprinted within that colorful ink: their own.

View more about Death Is A Bitch at http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2011/04/death-is-bitch-dark-paranormal.html

Author Bio:

Cate Masters loves romance with a dash of magic and mayhem! Multipublished in contemporary to historical, sweet to erotic, fantasy/dark fantasy to speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”

When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Cate loves to hear from readers! Friend her on Facebook or Goodreads, or email her at: cate.masters AT gmail.com

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CateMasters

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2944596.Cate_Masters

Coffee Time Romance: http://coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Masters/e/B002OBQ98A/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1331753999

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CateMasters

Win a copy of Death Is A Bitch!

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft: The Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft                  
Audrey's Guides Book 1

Jody Gehrman

Genre: YA paranormal romance      

Publisher: Magic Genie Books

ISBN: 978-0615658445

ASIN: B008G7L6TS

Number of pages: 295

Word Count: 97800

Cover Artist: David Wolf

Amazon    Barnes and Noble       iTunes    smashwords

Book Description:

Falling in love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her mysterious "cousin" shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past. 

The perfume of scorched sugar conjured my Mom’s face again, her eyes bright, her lips curved into a proud smile. We’d baked together a lot over the years. She was the one who taught me to use a culinary torch back when I could barely see over the counter. As I
watched, the memory of her happy face morphed, her mouth opening in a scream, her eyes going wide with horror. I shivered.

“Your turn.” Bridget handed me the torch.

I took it from her. The flame sprang to life when I pushed the button; I adjusted the intensity with the dial, turning it up just slightly. Bending over the nearest custard, I focused my attention, letting the room disappear around me. The top layer of superfine
sugar quickly transformed as I touched the flame to it. White powder became dark, bubbling beads. Soon the whole surface started to darken, oozing a rich satiny brown.

Mesmerized, I watched the sugar transform into something else, something molten.

From under the surface of the custard, a slow movement began. At first I thought it was just bubbling slightly from the heat, but then I felt my stomach clench in fear and I knew something bizarre was happening. The yellowish custard roiled under the layer of
liquefied sugar. Gradually, beneath the steady kiss of my blue flame, a face began to take form. The darkened sugar gave way as the pale features took shape. At first I could only make out a faint outline, but then it sprang out at me, eyes and nose and mouth bulging up from the custard like a swimmer emerging from the depths of an opaque sea.

“Ack!” I yanked the torch away so abruptly I almost burned Bridget, who hovered at my side.

Bridget spoke softly, almost reverently. “What was that?”

“I don’t know!” With panicky fingers I turned off the torch and set it down. 

“Did you see it?”

“I saw something.”

“Oh, god.” I darted a look at Mrs. Jackson, who thankfully had her hands full keeping a couple pimply-faced sophomore boys from using their kitchen torches as light-sabers. 

“It looked like—didn’t it—wasn’t there a—?”

“A face?” Bridget said. “Yeah. What’s up with that?”

I covered my mouth with one trembling hand, afraid to answer her. The scariest part was that I hadn’t just seen a face, I’d seen the face, the same blue-eyed man that had been haunting me all morning.

Bridget stared fixedly at the custard. “You can still kind of see it—like the Jesus face on that tortilla.”

“What Jesus face?”

“You know, the miracle tortilla.”

A nervous, slightly hysterical laugh escaped me. I covered my mouth and studied the custard. I had no idea what miracle she referred to, but she was right about one thing; you could still see a man’s face etched into the caramelized sugar. The singed caramel coating outlined high cheekbones and fine, angular features. I knew I’d never seen him before, yet something about that face felt hauntingly familiar.

Bridget suddenly got all excited. “Maybe he’s a being from another dimension trying to contact you.”

I snorted. Here it was! I’d been right to keep it from her earlier. 

“If you say so.”

“You’re so cynical. How can magic ever find you if you won’t let it in?”

“Put that on a bumper sticker.”

Witchy Earth Mamas Rule, But I'm Not There Yet

by Jody Gehrman

As a native of Northern California, I've known many new age mystics and earth mama types, some of whom practiced witchcraft. I've dabbled in spells and ceremonies some myself--just basic stuff--so it felt like the right topic to explore in my writing. In Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft I mixed what I know about real witches with a fictional world where their power could be even more startling. There's an amazing force running through nature, and the idea of tapping that fascinates me.

As an aspiring witch, though, I feel terrible about my total lack of skill with plants. It seems like a pretty essential part of any respectable witch's skill set, right? I want to be an earthy, witchy woman—I really do! I fantasize about dawning my floaty sundress, my moon amulet, and waltzing among the flowers, letting dragonflies and finches alight on my shoulder. The problem is, I’m a witch reject. Let’s face it: I kill things.

Seriously. Take one look at my famished houseplants and you’ll understand I’m no goddess of plants. I get distracted. I forget they need water. I’m too preoccupied spinning worlds inside my head to feed myself sometimes, let alone feed the flora around me.

I long to have a garden like a proper witch--one that is carefully tended, pleasing to all the senses. It’s just that I’m not there yet. The garden of my dreams is lush and fertile, but so far I can only grow things on the page, not in the earth. Someday, maybe my real yard will look like the one in my imagination.

But don't hold your breath.

Overall:

This book grabbed me from the first page. The high school experience is horrible, as most are and I could feel Audrey's pain as she tried to cope with the resident evil queen bee. When she slung a zot her way, I cheered. Yes. Out loud. I did. 

This is the reason you like a book. It resonates with something inside you. In this case the witchy aspect of the book was of course, right up my alley. The recipe for creme brulee was helpful too. Mine always comes out with eggy little lumps in it. Maybe now that I know I am supposed to wait before I add the two sets of ingredients together, there will be hope. *grin*

The plot for the book was great and hummed along. Who was the stranger on the crisped sugar coating? (love that) and where did Audrey's Mom go? Why was she obsessing about it all day at school? All of these are an awesome way to hook a reader and I was hooked. 

Great read for a teen audience or above. I will be keeping this author on my watch list. Loved the voice and that is the key to my heart!

4.5/5
 

Author Bio:

Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland has recently been optioned by the Disney Channel and won the International Reading Association's Teen Choice Award. Her adult novels are Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin (Red Dress Ink). Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English at Mendocino College.

http://www.jodygehrman.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/jody.gehrman

https://twitter.com/jodygehrman

http://www.jodygehrman.com

Tourwide giveaway: US only of one print copy of the book.

My Familiar Stranger Virtual Tour

My Familiar Stranger
By Victoria Danann

The Order of the Black Swan #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: 7th House

Date of Publication: April 21, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-933320-49-6

ASIN: B007V8RAKW

Number of pages: (estimated 370)

Word Count: 111,268

Purchase Links: Amazon  Smashwords

My Familiar Stranger is free September 1-3!

Book Description:

Minutes ahead of inevitable assassination, Elora Laiken is forcibly transported to an alternate dimension similar, but not identical, to her own. She is stranded. Alone. Far from home. A stranger in a "strangish" land.

Of course a girl could suffer worse problems than having gorgeous suitors. Perhaps more importantly, in the midst of an epidemic of vampire related abductions, can she stay alive long enough to choose between an honor debt, true love, or the breathlessness of single-minded passion?

My Familiar Stranger is a full length, stand alone, Paranormal Romance novel that also sets up the foundation for the Black Swan series. It is loved by fans of paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and urban fantasy.

The Interview:

1. What are some of your favorite witchy reads?

Well, if you mean non-fiction, I would have to mention my own. That would fourteen years of Seasons of the Witch, The Seasons of the Witch Primer, and The Witch's Dictionary. Then there is the four year curriculum I wrote for Seasons in Avalon School of Witch Arts which is a masters course for witches and magicians in what they would no doubt call the Danann Method. Next to that would be The Master Grimoire published by my company, 7th House.

If you mean witches for fun in fiction, that would be Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (Kresley Cole), The Lace Reader (Brunonia Barry) and, of course, Practical Magic (Alice Hoffman).

2. If you were a witch, what power would you want and what one would you hate to have?

Since I am semi-famous for being a witch, it's hard to answer that question as asked.  Assuming we're talking about the folkloric variety of witches, I would want glamour without the usual accompanying drain on power or emotion.

3. Practical Magic vs. Bed knobs and Broomsticks?

My personal practice is more conceptual than either one. I do sometimes rely on practical magick because it's so organic and innate to the feminine character, but I normally rely more on mind magick; gaining the cooperation of The Powers That Be to make slight (usually) adjustments in reality.

4. What was the toughest scene you ever had to write?

Sex scenes are always a little speed bump. We all know who has what and where it goes. Finding fresh ways to present that challenges creativity and, if you're not careful, you will get a review with the dreaded "the sex was repetitive" tag line.

5. Midnight Margaritas or Pumpkin Juice?

Please don't make me choose. I'll gladly party at midnight, but my spouse will drink my margaritas and his, too. As to pumpkin juice. Really? Ew.

6. What are you working on now?

The third book in the Black Swan series entitled, The Summoner's Tale. This is Baka's story, which readers have been begging for, along with a secondary storyline running simultaneously that I'm keeping under wraps for now. We plan to release it February of 2013.

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Absolutely. First, decide whether you are a merchant or an artist.

If you're an artist who writes, go watch the movie Dead Poets' Society and pay close attention to the absurdity of attempting to quantify or graph art. If anyone tries to talk to you in terms of the inner circle lingo, just rip out the page and press forward with birthing the expression of your unique perspective and voice.

If you're a merchant who sells books, then attempt to identify the formula that sells and write what's already been written with just enough changes so that you're not tapped for plagiarism.

Overall:

This book starts off with action that really moves, and continues that feeling throughout the story. There were a few bumps in the flow of the work, but the story line was great. When Elora is sent to another world to save her life, she arrives rather unceremoniously  in the middle of a paranormal ops group bent on slaying vamps. Ram and Storm are two of the members of the Black Swan Society and become part of a love triangle that will keep you turning the pages.

If you enjoy paranormal romance, you will like this book. The story at first is like the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but really evolves into its own. Elora is deceptively fragile at the onset, even as she survives being hurled through dimensions and landing in a bloody heap in the middle of a vampire/human war. She really became the kind of kick butt heroine I enjoy reading about. 

*vampires

*romance

*adventure

Great start to a series I can't wait to continue with-the best part is that book two is going to be out in October!!!

4.5/5

On a side note, I am completely interested in checking out Victoria's nonfiction titles. They sound positively witchy and wonderful! Let's take a vote on which one you want to hear about most! 

Author Bio: 

For the past thirteen years, Victoria has illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners.

Though works of fiction are a departure for her, she has had this series simmering on the back burner of her mind for years. In addition to authoring and illustrating Seasons of the Witch, she plays rock music and manages one of Houston's premier R&B/Variety/Pop bands.

This series will include some of my actual experience in the paranormal with fictionalized anecdotes from my journals during the years when I was a practicing "metaphysician", but most of the material is fantasy.

web http://www.victoriadanann.com

blog http://www.victoriadanann.me

facebook http://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Danann.9

goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8920457-victoria-danann

GIVEAWAY QUESTION: 
“Since the ancient Greeks, and probably since we became sentient, men have been asking the question, ‘What do women want?’ I think I know what the answer is – at least for a lot of us - and it’s related to why Paranormal Romance is so popular with women and so satisfying to the core in a way no other genre can be. Before I began writing for this audience, I read about two hundred PNR books and realized that there is one element common to almost all and that it can only be expressed in a fantasy world. Can you guess what it is?” (NOTE: You don’t have to match my answer to win. I’m always interested to hear what other PNR fans think.)

The prize is a free download of M.F.S. with Smashwords coupon. Anyone who gives a thoughtful answer wins.

Guardian of Bastet: The Virtual Tour

The Guardian of Bastet
By Jacqueline Battisti

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Carina Press

Date of Publication: 8/20/2012

ISBN: 978-14268-9424-4

ASIN: B0088NH1Z8

Number of pages: 237

Word Count: 84,000

Amazon  Barnes and Noble

Carina Press - http://carinapress.com/blog/coming-soon

Book Description:
Cat-shifter Trinity Morrigan-Caine has discovered a demon is killing supernaturals. Magically challenged, she has every intention of letting handsome Alpha werewolf Gordon Barnes handle it. But after a dying vampire gifts Trinity a mystical amulet, she is drawn into the fray as the legendary Guardian of Bastet, a warrior born when the need arises.
Though Trinity initially rejects the role, she warms to the idea when Gordon agrees to train her—and their passion for each other grows as he teaches her to embrace her animal instincts.
As she begins to accept her destiny and believe in her growing powers, Trinity realizes the danger is even closer to home than she ever imagined—and she and Gordon are going to have to face the demon in a fight to the death

I can't wait to get some time to read my copy! Check out this great excerpt!

The Guardian of Bastet Short Excerpt:

Like a good girl, I try to say my prayers every morning. This morning was no exception.

“Goddess, it’s me, Trinity Morrigan-Caine. Could you please let me get through today without pissing off too many people or wanting to kill anyone? And would you please grant me patience for the idiots I meet and guidance to keep my mouth shut when they say something really freakin’ stupid? Thank you.”

Afterward, I felt better. Today was just one of those days. I slept through the alarm. My familiar, a longhaired Birman feline named Bronwyn, had to wake me up and there is nothing like being swatted in the face with a clawed paw first thing in the morning. I showered and then realized I had no clean work scrubs. Crap. I put on already worn scrubs which didn’t smell too bad. The only brightness of the morning was my cousin and roommate, Lily, had made a pot of coffee and saved me some before she left for work—and probably on time, of course.

Once again, I was late and I knew my boss was going to have kittens because of it. Okay, not literally, although the thought of that made me giggle aloud. No, I was the one who turned into a furry feline once a month. She was just a human pain in my ass.

I grabbed the travel mug and took a swig of the coffee I had heated up before leaving. I didn’t even care I burned my lips on the brew. I let out a deep sigh. Ah coffee, the elixir of gods and humans. There was just nothing better than the jolt of caffeine to wake up to. I drove to work whistling.

Author Bio:                           

Jacqueline Battisti was raised in Little Falls, New York where she met and married her high school sweetheart. They have two children and live near Rochester, New York where she is a stay at home mom and writer of the paranormal and urban fantasy of her vivid imagination.

Her first novel, The Guardian of Bastet, is being published by Carina Press August 20, 2012. She is currently working on a sequel as well as a dystopian paranormal.

Her life has taken her from the trials and tribulations of working as an administrative assistant at various companies, back to college as an adult student, and then into the adventurous world of motherhood.

Jacqueline began writing seriously in 2007 after attempting NaNoWriMo for the first time. It was the first time she had disciplined herself to finish a novel. From there, her supportive critique group was formed and attended, and then she attended RT Booklovers Convention in 2009. Jacqueline attended their aspiring authors workshops and met with many talented writers who inspired her to continue writing.

Flash forward to today: Jacqueline has two children who are very outgoing and keep her on her toes. Cub Scouts, Daisy Scouts, play dates, school activities for the kids...then writing, reading current authors, following blogs, facebook, household chores, gardening and exhaustion for mom. Add in a new puppy, two furry feline children and fish and you have the craziness that is the Battisti household.

www.jacquelinebattisti.com

https://www.facebook.com/jacquelinebattisti.author   

Twitter:@jmbattisti

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jacquelinebattisti

Enter the giveaway:

Tour Wide Giveaway

5 free copies of The Guardian of Bastet - Winners can choose epub or .pdf format
3-Pewter Egyptian Bastet Cat Pendants, The Goddess Bastet (cat goddess) is an important role in The Guardian of Bastet

Open to North American Shipping