HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Excerpt

I'm back! This is my last post about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series. I've had fun sharing excerpts and posts with you. Hope you've enjoyed them too!

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


In this excerpt, Nadira is in a medical evacuation center or “medi-evac.” She was caught in an ambush of a security team and used her PSI abilities to fight her way out. Now she has to rest in order to regain her strength. She’s had a few shocks up to this point (with more to come) and Jonathan is concerned that she’s taking on too much without giving herself a chance to recover.


Nadira tried to sit up, but her arms ached so much they couldn't support her. Instead they wobbled and she was forced to drop back down against the pillows.

"Relax. You're not going anywhere." Jonathan propped himself up on his elbow and pulled the covers back over her.

She looked up into his grey eyes. What she saw there wasn't what she was expecting. But it wasn't just concern for her that had etched the dark circles under them, there was something else.

"You look tired," she said, as she ran the tip of her finger along his face, following the line of his squared jaw. Stubble pricked and tickled her skin, encouraging her to continue her exploration. After reading Varyn and being attacked in the warehouse, she'd shut down her awareness, just so she could block out her emotions. If she allowed herself to feel something now, she'd have to feel it all, and she wasn't sure she was ready for that.

Jon captured her hand and pressed it to his lips. "I didn't know how to find you. A security officer told me about the warehouse fire. When I got there, they told me to check the medi-evac. I heard you calling me."

Had she? She couldn't remember now. In fact a lot of the attack was hazy, without clear definition, like waking up and trying to remember a dream. "I couldn't save them. I tried and I couldn't." Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision and making her feel ashamed.

Emotions were to be controlled at all times. That's how Zina had trained her, and that's what she had always fallen back on. But now, it wasn't working.

"Let it go," Jonathan said. "It's all right."

"No." She shifted and turned her back to him. "Stop. Just go. Come back in the morning." She wasn't ready yet. If she let it out now, she'd never be able to stop.


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Writing Romantic Scenes

Hi there! I'm back with another post about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series.

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


Writing Romantic Scenes

For the most part when I wrote short speculative fiction stories, I didn’t include love scenes. Romance and flirting, yes. But that was as far as it went.

But when I wrote my novel, Hathor Legacy: Outcast, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. It’s a romance, isn’t it? So I knew at some point, the heroine/hero would have to get together romantically.

Since I’d just started getting to know the characters, Jonathan and Nadira, I didn’t feel comfortable having them move too quickly. But by book two, they're in an established relationship, so I let their love scenes flow naturally.

Whether the hook up comes sooner or later, it should never feel forced. Once I decided how explicit I wanted to get, it got easier. Instead of doing endless “insert tab a into slot b” descriptions, I looked for descriptive words that could set the mood without my having to actually describe the blow-by-blow. And in the interests of keeping it "PG," I won't go into more detail in this post! :)

One of the love scenes, where they've reunited after a separation, happens on a beach. During that scene I used words like "roar," "crashing," "fueling" and "explosion" to make a strong impression. They drive up the tension and the reader has a reaction to them, even if they’re not fully aware of it.

All writers know that words are extremely powerful. They paint images and stir up emotions. Do I like reading love scenes? Sure. But sometimes writing them is challenging. I want to show what’s happening, while at the same time I want to stay within what I think is appropriate for that story.

There are readers who skip those scenes. Others can’t get enough. So I don’t think a writer can anticipate if a reader will be glad the characters hooked up, or when they’ll be turned off. All I can do is stay true to what I feel works at that point. The characters will let me know when they’re ready, and that will make the scene much easier to write.


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Mythology

Here's post three about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series.

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


Mythology in the Series

The planet, Hathor was discovered (or will be!) in the year 2234.

The name of the planet is a perfect fit for the theme of the story. Hathor is an Egyptian goddess who symbolizes joy, love and motherhood. In my books, mothers play a key role in shaping the events. Both Jonathan Keel and Nadira’s mothers rebelled against the established order.

Their rebellion ultimately led to Jonathan and Nadira getting together and falling in love, and that relationship will help shake things up in a culture that is controlled by Novacorp, the corporation that runs things on the planet.

Hathor is also known as the “cow goddess,” and her symbol is a sun disk sitting between the horns of a cow. Novacorp’s U-shaped corporate logo is based on that symbol.

Since Hathor is also known as “Mistress of the West,” I had Jonathan’s mother be from that part of the planet. Hathor is the patron goddess of miners–and mining is at the core of the Novacorp economy. Nadira’s mother is named after Minona, a West African deity who protects women and the home. And in the books, her mother takes action to protect Nadira from the forces that want to use her for their own purposes.

Hathor’s mythology is similar to the goddess Isis, and over time a lot of their characteristics were merged. But Isis has her own story, and it inspired me to name the twin moons of Hathor, Isis and Osiris. This relates to the myth of Isis searching for her husband Osiris after his brother Set killed him to assume the throne. There’s a lot more to Isis’ story that I won’t go into here, but I used the imagery to symbolize the journey that Nadira and Jon take when they’re searching for Jon’s father who’s presumed dead.

Jonathan Keel is from the planet Astarte, which is about three days away by space cruiser. Astarte is a goddess who's also known as Ishtar. Known to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, she was also associated with Aphrodite and Isis. Since she's the goddess of love, it's fitting that when Jon arrives on Hathor, he and Nadira are in a romantic relationship at the end of book one.

One of the moons of Astarte is Demeter (where Jon's father is CEO of the mine). In Greek mythology, Demeter went into mourning when her daughter Persephone was taken away by Hades. This is a reference back to Nadira being taken away from her mother so that she could be made into a Guardian.

There are so many mythological stories from across the world. They're an endless source of inspiration for writers and for readers!


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Hathor Legacy Worldbuilding

Hi again! Here's post two about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series.

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


Hathor Legacy Worldbuilding – The Guardians

Believe it or not I came up with the idea for the Guardians from watching a PBS documentary on U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Well, there were a few twists and turns between the idea and the execution. After they went into the details of how FDR was infected by the virus that causes polio, I wondered what would happen if that disease was as prevalent in the US today?

From that thought, I got an idea about a virus that would fundamentally change the person who became infected. But instead of having the virus unleashed on Earth, I chose a settlement on another planet. A person who survived the infection would be left with PSI powers. Though not just the ability to read minds or predict the future, they’d also be capable of moving objects and sending out energy blasts.

In book two of the Hathor Legacy series, Hathor Legacy: Burn, I reveal the origin of the Guardians. They’re descendants of settlers who were infected by a virus unleashed after the planet was terraformed and prepared for human habitation.

Instead of being superheroes using their extraordinary powers to save the day, they’re corporate employees doing a job for Novacorp Intergalactic, Inc. Though the Guardians are also separated from the other humans on Hathor, they have their own culture and hierarchies within that culture.

They don’t get to choose their professions and they’re discouraged from having relationships with people outside of their group. Not only that, but once an individual develops abilities and becomes a Guardian, they’re forced to leave their family and give up their family name. Everything is done to strip them of who they were before so they can start a new life with a new identity.

Nadira (the heroine) has to fight convention when she decides to continue her relationship with Jonathan Keel (the hero).  Some Guardians do push back in spite of the pressure to conform. As with any group, there will be outliers, but with the Guardians, if too many of them push back, it could destroy them and completely rip apart the fabric that holds the society together.

Novacorp needs them to hold on to their control, and yet the Guardians are strong enough to overpower them. At the heart of the story, conflict and tension exists between two groups that need each other for survival, yet don’t trust each other. And ultimately this conflict directly impacts the relationship between Nadira and Jonathan.

That’s how I got from FDR to the Guardians. Certainly not what I expected when I sat down to watch that program!


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Excerpt

Hi there! I'm excited to share a few excerpts and posts about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series.

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


In this excerpt, (the heroine) Nadira is leaving a gathering where she was called into a private meeting with the members of the Guardian Elders. During a conversation with Mikal, an old childhood friend of hers, she discovers his true feelings about the Elders and about her.

“Whatever the Elders think they can accomplish, it won’t work. But I mustn’t criticize Elder Dakar even if I feel his actions are questionable,” Mikal said.

“Are you going to tell me what you mean by that?” Nadira asked.

Mikal looked off in the distance. “Your transport is coming.”

“You’re not going to answer me?”

“I’m his assistant. It’s not my place say anything against the Elder,” Mikal said.”But I know he’ll do everything in his power to force you to comply with him.”

“None of them can force me. That would be a violation.”

The transport trundled up the street and pulled over to the curb. The door swung back with a hiss.

“They’re desperate and afraid of what Novacorp may do to us, Nadira. And desperate people can do violent things.” He reached out and ran his hand along her cheek.

His touch was like fire against her skin, searing her with his open desire. Startled she jumped back and stumbled. “Mikal, don’t. I have to go.” Brushing past him, she climbed into the vehicle and moved to the opposite side of the seat. Sitting there huddled in the corner, she felt vulnerable, like cornered prey.

“I’m sorry if I was too forward, Nadira,” he said, leaning into the cabin. “My emotions overpowered me.”

About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

HATHOR LEGACY: OUTCAST Giveaway

Hi everyone!

Thanks for your comments and feedback! The $10 Amazon gift card giveaway goes to commenter Cathy Lee. Congrats, Cathy!

My next tour stop will be on Jan 8th at Books to Light Your Fire, so stop by and comment for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of my book. Other stops will be posted on my blog (URL below).

Buy it on Amazon.com for Kindle and in Print.

Visit my blog here: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com

HATHOR LEGACY: OUTCAST Giveaway & Excerpt 3

Here's the final excerpt of the day! At the end of the party, I'll be randomly drawing the name of a commenter to receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card!

Excerpt 3

Nadira opened her eyes. Above her, the cream-colored ceiling swam into view. Shifting herself, she braced her hands against a nearby table and lifted her head. Bad idea. She leaned her face against the cool, glass surface of the table, and hung on, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

It was a violation for Guardians to use their powers against each other. The charge was serious enough to incur banishment--something that hadn't happened in recent memory.

Ilana couldn't have the same abilities as a Guardian. There had to be another explanation.

"Are you all right?" With a groan, Jon dragged himself over and crouched beside her. "How the hell did she do that?"

Nadira eased herself into a sitting position, resting her back against the edge of the table. "She must've used some kind of weapon or had a chemical enhancement." She'd have to wait until her head was clear before she could sort it all out.

"She didn't use a weapon," he said, his grey eyes searching hers. "It came from her--the same way you blasted those attackers."

"Her abilities aren't as strong as mine…and she hasn't been properly trained, so she's reckless. She uses all her power in her blasts." Nadira rubbed her forehead. "I tried to read her, but I couldn't get through her shields."

"If she's weaker, how could she blast you?"

"She used my abilities against me. People who are weaker can undermine someone who has stronger energy."

Jonathan helped her to her feet. Her legs were wobbly, but after a moment she was able to stand on her own.

"We have to get out of here now. They're calling security," he said.

Supported by Jon's firm arm around her shoulders, she walked out into the corridor.

About the book

On the planet, Hathor, a powerful group called the Guardians serves as the security force for Novacorp, the corporation that runs Hathor with its ruthless monopoly. Nadira, as one of the most powerful Guardians, is expected to use her intuition and telekinetic powers to keep the capital city safe from thieves and intruders.

Jonathan Keel, son of a mine CEO on the nearby planet, Astarte, is wealthy, privileged and used to getting what he wants. When his father goes missing after a robbery and explosion at the mine, he defies the authorities and heads to Hathor to search for him and for the robbers.

Security is on high alert and Nadira is charged with protecting Jon. She rescues him from an vicious attack and discovers that the Guardians have another agenda that has nothing to do with solving the crime.

Jonathan finds evidence of his father's possible involvement, while his attraction to Nadira forces her to confront all she has known about being a Guardian, especially the rule to put duty before her personal feelings.

Struggling with their growing desires, and chased by company security, Jon and Nadira flee the city. But solving the crime leads them to endure betrayals from the people closest to them, as secrets are revealed that not only link their pasts but also threaten to destroy Jon's family and separate him from Nadira forever.

Buy it on Amazon.com for Kindle and in Print.

Visit my blog here: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com

HATHOR LEGACY:OUTCAST Giveaway & Excerpt 2

Here's another excerpt from Hathor Legacy: Outcast. As I mentioned, I'll be randomly drawing the name of a commenter to receive a $10 gift card from Amazon.com!

Excerpt 2

Running. He was running through the twisting tunnels that led deeper into the mine. And yet his pursuer was still behind him. Jon didn't know where he was going as he dashed through the damp, hollowed out caverns. Rocks moved beneath his feet. Another step would send him tumbling over the edge of a precipice. Digging his fingers into the openings of the slick, machine-blasted walls, he groped his way back from the edge…

"Jonathan! Wake up, Jon." A soft voice echoed through the darkness. Calling him back.

His eyes snapped open as he gasped for air. "What? Where am I?"

Nadira was kneeling on the bed in front of him, her gold-flecked, brown eyes shimmering. "You were dreaming. The storm's over. We have to go."

He sat up and ran his hand through his hair. "How long was I asleep?" A dream? It felt real, right down to the dust he still tasted in his mouth. But why would he dream about being in the mines?

"Almost an hour. I was talking to you and all I heard was a snore." She eased off the bed.

"I don't snore." Stretching, he joined Nadira at the window.

The sea was back to its regular sapphire blue calm, the waves gently lapping onto the shore. Even the dark clouds were gone, with just a few smudges of red, gold and purple against the horizon.

"It's almost sundown. We'd better get going," she said, as she rolled her shirtsleeves down.

"Too bad I didn't stay awake."  Jon pulled his boots on. "We could've done something else to pass the time."

She narrowed her eyes at him, the hint of a smile on her lips. "We didn't have time for that."

"There's always time for that," he replied, slipping into his shirt. 

"Jonathan, you are just--"

Whirrrrrrr

"Damn it! What's that noise?" From deep inside he felt a vibration scraping his nerve endings. Wincing, he ran to the window.

There was nothing out there but a flock of brown birds gliding across the water. 

"I don't hear anything," Nadira said, as she reached out to him.

Jon rushed out of the room and was halfway down the stairs before he heard Nadira's footsteps behind him. The door swung open and he bolted out onto the sand.

About the book

On the planet, Hathor, a powerful group called the Guardians serves as the security force for Novacorp, the corporation that runs Hathor with its ruthless monopoly. Nadira, as one of the most powerful Guardians, is expected to use her intuition and telekinetic powers to keep the capital city safe from thieves and intruders.

Jonathan Keel, son of a mine CEO on the nearby planet, Astarte, is wealthy, privileged and used to getting what he wants. When his father goes missing after a robbery and explosion at the mine, he defies the authorities and heads to Hathor to search for him and for the robbers.

Security is on high alert and Nadira is charged with protecting Jon. She rescues him from an vicious attack and discovers that the Guardians have another agenda that has nothing to do with solving the crime.

Jonathan finds evidence of his father's possible involvement, while his attraction to Nadira forces her to confront all she has known about being a Guardian, especially the rule to put duty before her personal feelings.

Struggling with their growing desires, and chased by company security, Jon and Nadira flee the city. But solving the crime leads them to endure betrayals from the people closest to them, as secrets are revealed that not only link their pasts but also threaten to destroy Jon's family and separate him from Nadira forever.

Buy it on Amazon.com for Kindle and in Print.

Visit my blog here: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com

Fathoms of Forgiveness - Separated for 200 Years, A Couple Confronts Their Demons (Each Other)

The second novel in the Sacred Breath Series by Nadia Scrieva. 

Romantic fantasy/Science-fiction novels about biologically plausible mermaids. 

Synopsis:

      There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death—even if death comes in several centuries, and in that time your spouse happens to become your sworn enemy. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

      Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she has no faith in their feeble bond and knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged man would relish breaking her down and making her lose her sanity.

      Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands; she will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior woman with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing?

A brief excerpt from chapter 11 of

 Fathoms of Forgiveness: 

        “Your boobs are stunning, General,” said a young man, nodding emphatically.

        Visola smiled at him thankfully, and had started to form her flirtatious reply when something whizzed right by her ear. In the next moment, before she could process what had happened, she saw the quarter-sized dark hole in the middle of the forehead of the man who had complimented her. There was shock on the faces of his companions, and all the smiles that had been on their faces disappeared. A dark cloud of blood began to surround the young man as his eyes stared forward, wide open but unseeing.

        Visola felt awful. It had just been a little bit of harmless flirting. At least, her flirting was usually harmless. She briefly wondered if it signified unrest in the Clan of Zalcan’s camp that they were killing their own men; then she realized that this type of thing would only inspire more discipline in the troops. They had plenty of manpower to spare. Considering the way she had left Adlivun, after knocking her princess unconscious, she was not one to pass judgment on this.

        She did not want to turn around to see the beast that had shot the bullet because she knew exactly what she would see. It would be him, but he would be changed in some awful way. His viciousness and spite would appear in his transformed face as great ugliness and scarring. It would be a creature of untold horror; something that children could not look at without bursting into tears. She could feel his eyes boring into the back of her skull. His violating gaze was forcing itself between the strands of her hair and into the skin of her scalp, beyond hair follicles, blood and thick cranium, and into the most tender part of her brain. There, it sprouted razor-blade blossoms which it promptly juggled with inside her head, slicing and dicing away at her grey matter.

        Turn around, her frayed cerebellum told her. She refused. She could see his reflection in the fearful faces of the men in front of her. She could see the way that he petrified everyone, and she did not need to see the revolting person that was causing this. Turn around, her unprincipled curiosity implored her. She had seen glimpses of him from afar in the battles of the 1950s, but she had not faced him directly.  There is a monstrous phenomenon behind you, her imagination told her. Her self-degradation had to add, and you’re married to it, sucker. She had never been a wimp, and she knew that she needed to turn around eventually. I need a divorce, the progressive part of her declared. She took a moment to make her face absolutely, utterly expressionless. Maybe I should think about baseball, a desperate part of her suggested. I like baseball, an honest part of her argued.

        Unify yourself! the wisest division of her psyche commanded all the other squabbling subdivisions forcefully. Be strong, and be calm, and be emotionless. Everything will be okay. You should turn around. So, knowing that it was the wisest part of herself which advised this, Visola obeyed it. I am bulletproof, declared the brave bits. There were quite a few of those. Only because my clothes are made of Kevlar, explained the derisive portion. She ignored this last comment, and was able to make herself tranquil and strong before she finally turned around.

        Some good all that mental preparation had been. She saw him and knew that she should not have come. Aazuria had been right to lock her up. She silently wished that this was all a nightmare; at any moment she would surely wake up comfortable and protected on the luxurious floor of her prison cell. She held her breath. At any moment now. Really, any moment. Hard floor? Vertical bars? Okay, so never mind—this was real, devastatingly real.

        Meeting the scrutiny of his steel-grey eyes made her feel sweltering hot and bitterly cold at the same time. It was a thousandfold more difficult to tolerate the intensity of his gaze when it was penetrating her skull from the front instead of the rear. She felt like her eyes did not offer as much protection as the dense bones of her skull had. He was already piercing beyond her eyeballs to knead her memories with his knuckles, and to dissect her thoughts with his fingernails. She tried to get past the pain in her skull to objectively observe her enemy. His jet-black hair was pulled back into its classic ponytail at the nape of his neck. Had he not changed his hairstyle in all this time? Had he not grown hideous with all the horrible deeds he had done?

        It did not seem possible, but he looked exactly the same. Except for his eyes; those vicious grey-blue eyes would have terrified any lesser woman to tears. Visola could not help seeing the blatant resemblance to her daughter in his face. Although Alcyone’s coloring was closer to Visola’s own, there was still so much of Vachlan in her. Seeing this; seeing the glimpses of Alcyone in this man who was little more than a stranger, drew her spirit to him involuntarily. Visola realized that she had to face the terrible truth.

        She was not strong enough to face the father of her child.      

  

About the Author: 

Nadia Scrieva was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where she grew very strong from carrying heavy bags filled with books back and forth from the library. She attended the University of Toronto, graduating with a B.A. in English and Anthropology. She likes knives. Her writing always features powerful females and (mostly) honorable male characters. 

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/NadiaFans

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/#!/NadiaScrieva

Blog: 

http://www.nadiascrieva.blogspot.com

Drowning Mermaids - Terror and Romance on the High Seas (Fantasy/Science Fiction)

Enjoy this trailer for the first novel in the Sacred Breath Series by Nadia Scrieva.

An excerpt from chapter 38 of Drowning Mermaids: 

    “Why are we here, Brynne?” Trevain asked, leaning against the wall angrily.

    “I wanted a snack,” she said, rummaging through the cupboards.

    “I didn’t.”

    “Well, you need to eat dinner,” she said, with her mouth full. “We’ve been fishing all day.”

    “I’m not hungry. Look, Brynne, is there a reason you haven’t left my side this whole trip? Do you think that I’m emotionally vulnerable because Aazuria left me and I’m going to fall into your arms or something?”

    “Here, just relax and let me cook something good for you.”

    “I appreciate your concern for my health, but I already told you that I’m not hungry…”

    “Why is there sound coming from this bag of rice?” Brynne asked, putting her ear to the bag. “That’s weird. It sounds like a clock.”

    Trevain frowned and moved over to the bag of rice to listen.

    “Reminds me of that story about the captain and the crocodile—he could always tell the crocodile was near because it had swallowed a clock, and he could hear the ticking…”

    “Shut up, Brynne.” Trevain said, pulling a knife out of a drawer and slitting the bag open, causing rice to spill out all over the floor.

    “Hey, you’re making a mess!” Brynne scolded.

    “Where the hell did you get this?” Trevain yelled, staring at the strange homemade bomb which was nestled in the rice.

    “A blond woman on the docks gave it to me…”

    “Dammit!” he cursed. “There’s no time.”

    “No time?” Brynne asked in confusion. Trevain grabbed her hand and was pulling her into the next room. “What are you doing?”

    “Get in the bathtub, Brynne!”

    “What? Why? I’m not into kinky…”

    “Down, now!” Trevain grabbed Brynne and dived with her into the bathtub, covering her body with his and waiting for the sound.

    The next second, all that they heard was—nothing. The sound of the explosion was so deafening that there was a moment of intense pain in their ears before they lost the ability to hear. They felt, however. They felt the pressure of the bomb exploding. They felt the heat of the explosion burning their skin and singeing their hair. They felt the bathtub being ripped from the ship, and pieces of debris colliding with their bodies. Trevain felt large objects colliding with his head and back, before he was aware that they were surrounded by water.

    It was several seconds before the heat subsided to the cooling water, and he was able to open his eyes. He could barely make out the scared expression on Brynne’s face in the darkness. There was debris everywhere; pieces of the broken ship. Trevain was completely disoriented. It was difficult to figure out where they needed to swim. He could tell that pieces of the ship near the surface were burning. He looked around for the other members of his crew, trying to get his bearings.

    The flames were growing stronger. The ship’s diesel was leaking from the ruptured gas tank. They could not swim to the surface, or they would be burned. Brynne’s face was lit by the flickering firelight as she panicked and tried to communicate with him, but they could not understand each other. He appreciated the need for sign language more than ever at that moment. Brynne was freaking out and she began swimming off in one direction. He was sure that was not where they needed to go. He tried to reach for her, but he was feeling dizzy from the lack of oxygen flowing to his brain. He looked around, trying to figure out where to go and what to do. He was panicking too.

    Trevain tried to swim away from the flames, but he could not get very far. He needed air badly. He realized he was going to drown. He could not breathe underwater; he did not have the ability. He did not know how. What Aazuria and his mother were talking about—he wished it was all true, but it was not. Not for him.

    He knew that he was about to die. His lungs painfully begged him to take a breath, but he knew that the moment he did, he would drown. Although he had almost wanted something exactly like this to happen to him when he had set sail earlier, he now realized that he had been fooling himself. As demented as he had been feeling, as self-destructive as his intentions, it had all been just a farce. He did not really want to die.

    He tried as hard as he could to hold onto his last few moments of life.

    A flash of white caught his eye, and he saw that an exquisite creature was suddenly before him. Long white hair fanned out around her face, and the purest sapphire blue eyes stared at him. The lovely phantasm was smiling, and reaching out to take his hands; he knew it was an angel. 

    It was his angel. He knew her, although she looked nothing like before. She was his Aazuria, his mythical heroine. In the dancing glow of the oil blaze, she was simply too dazzling to be real and he knew that he must be dying. As she hovered in suspension before him, her skin and hair were almost luminous in the dark water, almost phosphorescent. Perhaps she never had been real. It did not matter—she was firmly grasping his hands, and it sent a feeling of comfort and tranquility through him. He knew that she loved him.

    He could see forgiveness and acceptance in her expression. None of the turmoil between them mattered any longer in this pacific moment. In her benevolent gaze, he could finally forgive himself. He smiled at her, although his vision was fading, and the world was disappearing. He tightly gripped her hands to thank her for coming back for him. He could not bear the thought of letting go; he did not want to be robbed of her touch. He tried to keep his eyes open for as long as possible, to keep looking into her unfamiliar ultramarine orbs. So this was what she really looked like, in her element. He wished he could have known her true form. It was mystical.

    Trevain could imagine no better way to die. No better sight to see the last time he closed his eyes. A peaceful smile descended on his face, and the captain’s tired eyes closed for what he knew to be the last time ever.    

Connect with the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NadiaFans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/NadiaScrieva
Blog: http://www.nadiascrieva.blogspot.com

Spoiled Pets are the Best Kind

Normally it's not my philosophy to spoil pets or children. It never leads anywhere good, especially with pets. But when it came to my heroine, I couldn't help but indulge her a few times. Besides, she was Bekion's first pet, of course he's going to spoil her.

Pet's Pleasure
by Zenobia Renquist

Coming Out 05 April (Thursday)

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9948-pets-pleasure.aspx


EXCERPT:

She said, “You left your work.”

He shook his head. “I can do it in my chambers. It will be quieter there. I’ll be happy when Vieve returns. She may be a pushy woman but at least she does her job without complaining.”

“It also helps that she likes me. She wouldn’t have complained about the mess I was making.”

“Also true.” He made a thinking noise. “Maybe I should worry about how much she spoils you.”

“She doesn’t spoil me.”

He snorted. “Who gave you three boxes of pebble candy?”

“Vieve.”

“And the bell beads that adorn your hair?”

Starling touched her head, making the beads at the end of her braids tinkle. “Vieve.”

“Who commissioned the table and chairs you use in the main dining hall?”

“Vieve. But that’s because she beat you to it. She probably thought you would request it eventually and decided to get it done before you asked.”

“I enjoyed having you sit on my lap,” he grumbled. The topic strayed to dangerous territory and they had yet to reach the privacy of his bedroom. “It matters not. I have validated my point. You are being spoiled. In my experience, spoiled women cause trouble.”

“I’m not a woman. I’m a pet. Pets are meant to be spoiled. So there.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

Behind him, a few of his guards chuckled under their breath. Bekion joined their amusement and shook his head. “I am supposed to spoil you, not my secretary.”

“If it makes you feel better, Vieve always says the presents are from you.”

“She should inform me of the presents before giving them to you.”

“Now who’s whining?” Starling lifted an eyebrow at him when he met her gaze.

He stopped, put Starling on her feet and then walked away.

Starling called after him, “Petty.”

He didn’t acknowledge her. He did smile though. Laughter escaped him when she caught up with the group at his chambers. She had Nausic carrying her. He said, “Spoiled.”

“I’ll admit to mine when you admit to yours.”

Bekion said to Nausic, “Take her to the inner chambers. I need to work without interruption.”

Nausic nodded and walked away.

Starling called back, “It’s my naptime anyway.”

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9948-pets-pleasure.aspx

Tune in 06 April at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters blog for the a sneak peek at the full first chapter.


Stop by my website for a chance to win a PDF copy: http://zenobiarenquist.com. Contest ends 08 April.


Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://zenobiarenquist.com
@ZenonbiaRenquist

WHITE TIGER IS RELEASED TODAY IN PRINT!

WHITE TIGER, book one in the Chronicles of Kassouk series, was first published in eBook This multiple award-winning eBook is also being released TODAY IN PAPERBACK. Now that the series in eBooks is complete (with the publication today of the prequel, Noah's Ark), the books are coming out in paperback in the order they were originally published in eBooks, for those of you who do not yet read digitally.

WHITE TIGER:

On the frozen plains of Kassouk, where a few aliens rule a medieval Human world, Tora, Human warrior trained by tigers, seeks her father’s murderer. But what she finds at the point of her sword confuses her. How dare Dragomir, the handsome Mutant, question her bloodline and her loyalties? And could a new enemy control the savage hordes of the fringe?

Dragomir offers to help, but Humans and Mutants are forbidden to fraternize under penalty of death... Should Tora trust her mind, her instincts, or her heart?

In the vortex of war, treason and intrigue, among blizzards, avalanches and ambushes, will Tora solve the mystery of her father’s death and unveil the secret of her birth? Can she and Dragomir escape persecutions long enough to save their planet from the invaders and fulfill their destiny?

REVIEWS:
"...an exceptional tale that belongs in a place of honor on keeper shelves everywhere."
Johnna Flores - Coffee Time Romance - 5-cups rating

"...this is one futuristic that you do not want to miss!"
Naomi - Fallen Angels Reviews - 5 angels - Recommended Read

"...kept me enthralled from the first page...a thrilling science fiction romance"
Marlene Breakfield, Paranormal Romance Reviews

"I'm adding this to my 'keeper' shelf and on the 'to be re-read' list."
Niniri Theriault for The Road to Romance

The paperback is available from the publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing, and from Amazon, as well as B&N and other bookstores, online, and you can order it from your favorite bookstore.

Find all my books on Amazon: HERE

Vijaya Schartz

Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick

http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

Find all my books on Amazon: HERE

NOAH'S ARK - Prequel to the Chronicles of Kasouk - Sci-fi Romance by Vijaya Schartz

After my readers requested it, here is the sequel to the CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK romantic science fiction series, titled NOAH'S ARK. It's the story of what happened a few hundred years before White Tiger, the story of the very first Human settlers on New Earth. And it's being released today from Desert Breeze Publishing.

NOAH'S ARK

When Trixie's starfreighter, Noah's Ark, drops out of jump space in an uncharted part of the universe, she believes the M-class planet on her viewer represents hope and salvation for her motley crew and the ragtag settlers aboard her ship.
Kostas, ex Space Marine, the expert survivalist recruited for this expedition, doesn't believe in coincidences, and knows that when something looks too good to be true, it usually is.
Everyone on this voyage to seed a new planet with life, is running from something, and harbors dangerous secrets... including Trixie, who vowed to never let a man control her life again. As for Kostas, he would get lynched on the spot if anyone suspected who he really is.
But on this seemingly abandoned planet, others are watching, herding them for evil purposes... And when the truth emerges and secrets unravel, Trixie and Kostas will have to fight for survival, for freedom, and for the right to love...

The other books in the series are all available in eBooks everywhere. Here is the right chronology for the entire series:

NOAH'S ARK (prequel) - WHITE TIGER (Book One) - RED LEOPARD (Book Two) - BLACK JAGUAR (Book Three) - BLUE LIONESS (Book Four)

I believe this series is now complete, so if you were waiting to get it all at one time, do not hesitate anymore. Here is the link to the publisher's page for the book, but it is available (or will be in a day or two) everywhere eBooks are sold. For now you can find it on Amazon and at Desert Breeze Publishing HERE

Happy reading!

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/
Vijaya's books on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Vijaya-Schartz/e/B001JP7UJ4
You may have to search for Noah's Ark, which may not yet be on my Amazon Author Page yet but is available if you search Amazon by title.

Tentacles, Aliens, and Inspiration... Oh My

Hello Pavilion Party-Goers!

This is Zenobia Renquist speaking (typing) and I hope April Fool's Day is treating you well. Personally, I'm hiding. I go into hiding every April 1st to avoid the pranks. But, being in hiding doesn't include the internet so I'm able to stop by and entertain you lovely people with my new releases.

I have two new releases back-to-back. I didn't plan it that way, and I didn't even notice the release were a week apart until I looked at the dates on a calendar. The only reason it happened that way is because they are at two different publishers.

Released 30 March at Changeling Press:

Taking It Back
by Zenobia Renquist

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance, Interracial, Tentacle Monster

eBook BIN: 05619-01800

Price: $4.49/US

Length: Novella

Sometimes you have to get grabby to get what you want.

Nami is in Vegas for a business seminar. Kosuke is a tentacle monster in search of a cure for the affliction keeping him from eating. While she may not make him better, Kosuke is more than willing to put that aside to enjoy the other things Nami can do for him.


Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1800


The inspiration for this particular story comes from my love of hentai, which is Japanese animated porn. One of the major genres, and most popular amongst women, is tentacle monsters. It's a paranormal that hits the bondage crowd as well as the menage crowd. As I like to say, it's all the fun of a gang bang without the gang.

Of course, a tentacle monster as a hero has to be Japanese. My inspiration for Kosuke was Gackt (picture above), a very popular Japanese actor/singer idol. His look in the movie "Bunraku" (nice little action flick that is worth watching) was exactly what I envisioned for my hero. And such a good looking model made this story an easy one to write.

*****

Releasing 05 April at Ellora's Cave, Blush Imprint:

Pet's Pleasure
by Zenobia Renquist

Genre: Mainstream Science Fiction Romance, Interracial

eBook ISBN: 9781419936524

Price: $5.20/US

Length: Plus Novel

The love of a good owner is hard to find.

Starling envied the easy life of pets…until she became one. Kidnapped from Earth and sold to the highest bidder, she now belongs to an alien king. But she doesn’t want to be his pampered possession. She wants Bekion to see her as an independent woman with needs and desires of her own.

Only deviants break the laws barring sexual relations between owners and their pets, and King Bekion has no intention of succumbing to simple lust. But the long nights with Starling’s lush body pressed tight against his take a toll. Her strength and intelligence make it difficult for Bekion to remember Starling is human—and forbidden. He knows it isn’t right but he can’t stop thinking of his pet and all the pleasure he could give her, even if it costs him his crown.


Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9948-pets-pleasure.aspx


The inspiration for this story came from pet envy. My two cats laze around the house all day, leading the good life. I, being the type of person I am, wondered how a human would react when suddenly tossed into the same lifestyle by aliens.

My inspiration for the Starling and Bekion came from Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson as they appeared in "Lakeview Terrace." While I never saw the movie, I loved the way those two looked with each other, and it just fit with my story.


Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://zenobiarenquist.com/
@ZenonbiaRenquist

Riding the Pulse - Erotic Sci-Fi Superhero Fiction....Really!

Riding the Pulse
by Sam Cheever

Categories: Erotic Fantasy, Science Fiction

Book Length: 107 pages

Book Type: eBook

Publisher: ChangelingPress

ISBN: 978-1-60521-722-2

BLURB:

Marissa O'Neill and Jurden Bailey share a past they don't remember, though it's haunted their dreams for a decade. In their teens, they encountered something powerful in a cave in Mexico, and it changed them forever. But it isn't until they meet again, years later, that they realize just how much they've changed.

Suddenly they have powers -- super powers -- and they don't know how they're supposed to use them or why they have them. All they know is that sex seems to trigger the power and enhance it. And that's one trigger they're happy to explore.

But something alien and terrifying is trying to kill them, and it won't give up until it gets what they don't even know they have -- the single remaining object that can tie an advanced, alien race to much of Earth's history.

If only Rissa weren't so distracted by the things Jurden's vibrating finger can do!

EXCERPT:

Rissa panted beside him, her body still riding the aftershocks of her orgasm. Her muscles continued to buzz with residual power. After a moment, when the buzzing didn’t lessen but, instead, seemed to grow, Rissa lost her afterglow and grew concerned. She sat up, holding her middle and frowning. Her stomach tightened painfully. She realized her lungs had contracted too. Panic rolled through her.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Jurden touched her cheek and snatched his hand away. “Your skin’s so cold it hurts.”

She looked at him, a plea in her eyes. “Something’s not right.”

He nodded, climbing out of bed. “We’ll get you to the hospital.”

She grabbed his arm as he started to drag his jeans on over a semi-erect penis. He didn’t even take the time to grab his boxers. He glanced at her. “What is it, Rissa?”

“Something’s wrong…”

“I know, that’s why we’re going…”

“No! Not with me. Out there.” She lifted a hand toward the window as a knot twisted hard in her belly, causing her to cry out and double over in pain. Rissa didn’t know how she knew it, but she knew that someone needed their help. And she also knew that the pain wouldn’t stop until she listened to the warning her body was giving her. “I have to help them…”

“Help who?” Jurden glanced toward the window and then back at her, unsure what to address first. But when Rissa cried out and dropped into a fetal position on the bed, his decision was made. He hurried around the bed and scooped her up into his arms. “I’m taking you to the hospital, now. We’ll deal with everything else later.”

“No!” She pushed at his chest. “Let me get dressed.”

He looked down and realized she was naked. “Yeah. That’s probably a good idea.” He settled her on the edge of the bed and turned away to collect some jeans and a T-shirt.

As he yanked drawers open, flinging garments around the room in his rush to select clothing he could easily drag over her legs and arms, the room exploded in light and throbbed with a concussive wind sound. He wrenched around, horror tightening his throat in anticipation of what he would find. He gaped, his mouth hanging open. A pair of fire engine red, silk panties dropped from his suddenly nerveless fingers.

“I know where we need to go,” Rissa told him.

“Arggh, gurgle, gack…” was all Jurden could manage.

She stomped a foot impatiently -- or rather a giant claw. “This is no time to screw around, Jurden!”

“Uggle, bleurgh, cuggg…”

“Jurden!” An enormous pair of silvery wings flapped angrily, and Rissa’s stunningly beautiful face went still. She turned her head slowly and took note of the wings flapping behind her.

“Wha… What the hell!” She looked down and took in the giant claws at the end of a pair of deformed, silver legs. “I’m a flippin’ bird?” 

Her voice screeched painfully. 

Jurden dropped the clothes and covered his ears. “From my college days studying mythology, I’d say you’re more like a harpy,” he told her in as soothing a tone as he could manage under the circumstances.

She was beautiful, and slightly terrifying. When she opened her mouth he saw that it was filled with rows of jagged teeth, which looked like they’d be good at ripping flesh -- or metal -- into ribbons. Her torso and head were covered in shimmery silver feathers, and her arms, which were human-shaped to the elbows, flared into wings from the elbows down. Her torso was human-shaped too, but her thighs were massive, and her slender calves ended in enormous, clawed feet.

Rissa’s mouth opened to argue with him, but in her agitation she flapped her wings, knocking the bedside lamp to the floor and lifting her off the ground several inches.

She panicked and threw her upper body forward, plunging toward the ground. As she fell, she whacked Jurden in the face with a wing. He was knocked to his knees from the powerful strike. “Holy crap, girl, get control of those things!” Blood trickled down his face from his nose.

“Sorry!” She tried to push herself off the ground with her hands but realized too late that she didn’t have any. She made a sound of frustration, and her wings flapped again, knocking the bottles and a couple of pictures off the top of her dresser. “Argh!”

Jurden ducked beneath her wings and grabbed her around the waist, dragging her back to her feet. He held her waist until she lowered her wings. “I guess you figured out how to turn into something else.” He grinned at her. “I’m finding myself strangely attracted to you in your new form.”

She glared at him. The buzzing under her skin had increased, giving her a sense of impending doom. “We need to get moving.”

Jurden glanced at the discarded clothing and then back at her. “I guess you won’t be needing clothes.”

BUY the book!

Sam

Magic, Adventure, Love on the Run

www.SamCheever.com

www.si-decker.com (young adult)

"Ms. Cheever writes with class, humor and lots of fun
 while weaving an excellent story." The Romance Studio

WELCOME TO THE BOREALIS SPACE STATION

BLACK DRAGON is only one of the novellas set in the BOREALIS universe. But if you are a fan of sci-fi and you like romance, you'll love this series. After two BOREALIS anthologies, come two single title novellas from DESERT Breeze Publishing this month. Here is the complete series so far:

In orbit around Sestus-3, a minor star in a dying system half way between Corabora Prime and Pith, hovering at the edge of conquered space sits an aging space station under the control of the Trans Planetary Protectorate. The Borealis is slowly falling apart as the Protectorate funnels its massive resources into the border wars and keeping the outlaying systems in line, as insurrections break out and a subversive group known as The Rebellion gather and organize to take back what TPP has taken away.

The Borealis is a hive of villainy where anything can be bought or sold -- anything or anyone -- if the price is right. Boasting the slogan 'The last stop for debauchery before falling off the edge of the universe', the station and its inhabitants do their best to live up to the motto.

Once intended to function as a city unto itself when the universe first began to 'shrink' and Mankind spread out into the stars. Exploration turned into domination. Nearly a hundred years have passed since then, and now the Trans Planetary Protectorate governs all. The Borealis, once a thriving station, is now little more than a slum town, decrepit and crumbling.

When the last stop to nowhere is the first stop to rebellion, the lives of a few outcasts are the only thing standing between the Universe and all out war.

BOREALIS  ANTHOLOGY  BOOK ONE:

Contains novellas by

PI J. Barrington , Gail R. Delaney , J. Morgan

BOREALIS  ANTHOLOGY BOOK TWO

Contains novellas by:

Stephanie Burkhart , Esther Mitchell , She McMaster

BOREALIS - BLACK DRAGON
by Vijaya Schartz - October 1, 2011

BOREALIS - THIS SINCING FEELING

by Michelle Levigne - October 15, 2011 

HAPPY READING.

Vijaya Schartz

Romantic Science Fiction with a Kick

http://www.vijayaschartz.com/