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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A Minor Ruckus in Transylvania, A Big To-do in Savannah

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Did anyone hear about that little vampiric uprising that was held back in 1422 in Transylvania?  It made all the newspapers at the time, and the town criers were yelling about it from one street corner to the next.

Seems Baslo Rigla, Domnitor (that’s leader, to you English-speakers) of the nosferatu had to put down a revolt by one of his fledglings.  They met in Transylvania, in a little place called, appropriately enough, Vale lui Destrugere (Valley of Destruction) and believe me, it was.  All the rebels were killed, except one, and he—the upstart who started the whole mess, one Vlad Chemare by name—suffered the most extreme punishment of all.  While his followers were burned to ash by the morning sun rising over the valley, Vlad was buried alive in an unmarked grave.


Rigla laughed all the way back to his castel and a long time afterward, as he sipped from a good dark wine, vintage Romanian Nobility, 1399.

Unfortunately for Rigla, he forgot that Vlad had a very faithful thrall who was determined to find his master no matter how long it took…
So, in 2012, when a certain Marius Racleta flew out of Aeroportul International Bucuresti Henri Coanda from Bucharest, Rigla had no idea what was going to happen.  Had he known, perhaps he wouldn’t have been so complacent, sitting there in the ballroom-converted-into-an-audience-chamber in the abandoned mansion in Savannah, Georgia.  For that plane carrying Marius also carried a coffin in its luggage hold, in which a certain still-rebellious but now very much older and wiser nosferatu rested, in his sleeping heart a desire for revenge a-simmering…

…until he reached the Land of the Free and the Home of the Prey and ran into very much Undead Valerie Swanson and her equally alive twin, Meredith, and got slightly sidetracked.  But not for long.

After all, a woman is just a woman, but revenge is a dish best served cold.  And 700 years can make for some mighty chilly morsels!

The Last Vampire standing was released from Class Act Books on October 15.  www.classactbooks.com


EXCERPT:

(Vlad is introduced by Valerie to her sister, Meredith)


“So you’re Valerie’s boyfriend?” as he nodded, I went on, “At least her tastes have improved.” I decided I’d better act like a hostess. “Can I get you anything? I’ve got coffee, some homemade wine, and milk.” I knew vampires could tolerate the first two. Milk I wasn’t so sure about.
“I never drink…milk,” he intoned solemnly but I swear those fantastic eyes were twinkling.
“Of course you don’t,” I murmured. And apparently you also watch vintage Universal horror movies. “So how about a glass of wine? Homemade,” I repeated, as if enticing him. “132-proof.” Actually I had no idea what proof it was or alcohol by volume, either. But I’d discovered that the guys I occasionally dated went for it if they thought it was particularly alcoholic.
He laughed, revealing the expected pointed incisors. “In that case, perhaps not. I doubt you’d want a tipsy vampire floating around in your living room, knocking things off tables with his wings.”
That conjured up a picture that made me laugh. So vamps can get drunk? On alcohol?  How about blood? That brought another, less comical picture. I shivered slightly and turned toward the fridge.
“Are you chilled?” It came out so solicitously.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“You were trembling.”
“Don’t worry about it.” As if he didn’t know.
“Perhaps I should. If I was the cause.”
So he did know. That conceited smile said a lot. “You certainly have a lot of self-importance if you think you can make me tremble.”
“My dear Meredith.” His voice dropped to a whisper and he sidled closer. Slowly, not that quick-as-a-wink movement Valerie’s so fond of making because she knows I hate it. More a shifting. “I’d do more than that…” He brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. “…if you’d let me.”
“Back off, buddy.” Nevertheless, I was the one who moved away, untucking the hair as I did so. “There’ll be none of that.”
“Whyever not?” He gave me a wide, transparent, and totally ingenious stare but didn’t follow me.
“Duh! Because you’re my sister’s boyfriend.” Really. Did he have to ask?
“So?”
This guy was unbelievable. He sincerely looked as if he didn’t have a clue. “So I don’t poach on Valerie’s property.” Though she’d certainly done it to me enough. So why not turn the tables? The thought flashed through my mind. I shoved it back out before it could park itself and cause trouble because Vlad was definitely looking as if he were interested… Stop it right there, Meredith. You don’t do that kind of thing. That’s Valerie’s department.
“I’m no one’s property.” It was said so quietly that it sent another chill through me. I’d insulted him by referring to him that way. “I’m the one who does the possessing.” He cocked his head to one side, as if viewing something fascinating. Could he read my thoughts? Damn, I’d never thought to ask about that. Valerie had certainly never volunteered the information and I doubted if she could. You have to have a mind to read one. “And I’m wondering who claims you.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Last Vampire Standing by Tony-Paul de Vissage





The South is being invaded…by vampires.


That's nothing new, but Vlad Chemare isn't some angst-filled paranormal hero longing for his lost soulmate. He's up-to-date, traveling by jet, and seeking revenge against the master who buried him alive in punishment for daring to lead a revolt back in the 15th century. Armed with a Chase Sapphire and a Kevlar vest, Vlad’s out for blood…specifically Baslo Tigla's. With their American defiance of tyranny, the vampires of Savannah rally around him, so he's not only got his army, but the local werewolf population is volunteering to become his K-9 Corps.


As the fight begins, with the city of Savannah as the battleground, and the rest of the world as the prize, Vlad suddenly faces something he hadn't expected... Will his feelings for mortal Meredith Swan stand in the way?


After all, woman's just a woman, but revenge is a dish best served cold, and six hundred years makes for some pretty chilly morsels.

Bride of the Beast by Toni V Sweeney



A political marriage to stop a war…a king whose golden mask hides his face from his people… a princess who loves her husband though she never sees his face…and a curse placed on a royal family by God…


Senset’s people have fought the Beast Men for generations, but after one of the creatures is captured and the princess discovers him to be an articulate, intelligent man, she secretly helps him escape. Months later, an offer of peace comes from the king of the Beast Men…and a marriage request…all because of Senset’s mercy to his brother. Long wishing a husband of her own, the princess agrees, traveling to a foreign city where she will learn the odd customs of a people once slaves to her own before being freed by their God. She also falls in love with the tortured man behind the golden mask, and his shocking history.

Michael of Habir believes his bride is the one to break the curse God has placed upon him, but Senset herself has doubts. Only one who has selfless love will free the king from becoming a Beast. Can she truly be the one her husband seeks?

Autumn Dance by Jacqueline Paige


Coralee is a woman that represents grace and simplicity. She has the skill of being able to feel emotion, aura and see beyond the now. The pain sometimes associated with this gift has forced her to live her life from a distance. She decided early in life what she wanted, and returned from her years away at school set to obtain her biggest dream. Unfortunately she has found the past few years lacking just that as she waits for the man she wants to stop and look at her instead of every female that throws themselves in his path.

Dade is a man that follows life simply, yet his charitable personality brings him a wealth of satisfaction. He is the first to lend a hand, the last to stay and help and the one everyone calls when something goes wrong. Even though his own generous nature fills his life, he still manages to find time enough to get himself into a mess at every turn and spends most of the time imploring forgiveness from the one sexy voodoo woman he can't seem to get close to.

~
At the autumn gathering twelve angry and determined witches use their power to draw out the killer before anyone else can become a victim.

With his magic ability Dade has control like no other-if he had that in his everyday life he could have the one thing he wants.




Enter the Magic Seasons contest – 5 draws – 5 chances to win between April 30th &December 21st!  Enter as often as you like.  http://jacqpaige.blogspot.ca/2012/05/blessed-beltane.html



Jericho Road by Icy Snow Blackstone



On Jericho Road, the lives of the Conyers and the Brights have been entwined since the War between the States, but as the South emerges into a new Way of Life, the scars of a more recent war will soon tear the two families apart.

Wade Conyers' return from Vietnam should have been a joyous occasion but instead it brings conflict as his relationship with an African-American soldier threatens his recent marriage to a South Carolina socialite. His newly-acquired views on racial equality and his attempts to entice foreign trade to his home town also put him at odds with his father, a bigoted and prominent businessman.

Younger brother Heath is caught up in rebellion. Just emerging into manhood, he's an impatient virgin eager to taste life, and heading for trouble in the form of his new sister-in-law, and town tramp, Gaylene Bright.

Wade's sister Lindsey has fallen in love with a half-Native American doctor, sent to this small Central Georgia town to work off his student loan. Her affair with Logan Redhawk which will rip away the shield of normality and reveal secret lives, adultery, and the violence of murder.

When the smoke clears, the inhabitants of Jericho Road will never be the same.

Arresting Desire by Stacey Watts





A native Texan, author Stacey Watts has a sharp eye for fascinating stories. A family-oriented writer, she pursues educating her young son, while keeping her media-savvy husband's ego in check. She combines her love of suspense, drama and intrigue into writing spellbinding stories of romance and passion.