Spotlight: George Knows By Mindy Mymudes @VBTCafe

Title: George Knows

Author Name: Mindy Mymudes

Author Bio: Mindy Mymudes runs with the Muddy Paws Pack in Milwaukee, WI. She insists she is alpha, even as the dogs walk all over her. She hunts, cleans the den and keeps them entertained. When she can escape the pack, she enjoys digging in dirt, listening to audiobooks, and weaving the antics of the pack into stories. The alpha male, Tall Dude, just shakes his head and stays out of the way.

Author Links -

George's Blog: http://bassetbones.wordpress.com

Facebook (me): https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mindy-Mymudes/486126501426333

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6702514.Mindy_Mymudes?from_search=true

Book Genre: Urban Fantasy, Midgrade

Publisher: MuseItUp

Release Date: Dec. 6

Buy Link(s): Amazon

Book Description: An egotistical magical basset hound named George believes it's his duty to train and protect his 12-year-old, a greenwitch named Karly. The world is full of people who don't know how to use their natural human senses, and while teaching Karly to use hers, he's also teaching her how to use her magic. George is the perfectly designed familiar.

Excerpt:

I don't understand my Girlpup; the rest of my Pack adores me. Packmom Doreen is always an easy conquest. She saved me when I was a puppy and I fell over my ears, and my legs wouldn't stay under me. She is the most important member of the Pack-she feeds us.

Just not often enough.

Packdad Brian is very well trained and does whatever Packmom Doreen wants. In the last two years, I've become a model of the perfect hunting hound. Karly needs to see me for what I am, and she doesn't.

Yet.

When I prowl in her mind, I see how she pictures me-a clumsy, stupid, wobbly pup. I shouldn't have to prove to her I am the best familiar in the world or that I am brilliant. I shouldn't, but I know I'll have to.

"George!" she shouts through panting. Why is she running? "Where the heck are you?"

Although Karly's scent changed after her twelfth birthday from sweetmilkFrootLoops to that fakeflowerchemical that she thinks removes her odor, I know it's her. Even if I can't smell her, I can still hear her stumble over the path. Big rocks and trees that scrape the sky get in the way. She needs to get lower to the ground. Now she's sneezing. If only she'd work with me, her allergies would go bye-bye. Whoever heard of an allergic witch-in-training? We can use green magic. Except, Karly will first have to trust me.

And she doesn't.

Yet.

Maybe when she gets older.

She will.

I continue to scrape my claws into the damp ground, searching for more smelltastes and listening for my Girlpup. She's panting like it's a hot day. At least she's catching up. I am satisfied she's okay, and dig like a badger with my wonderful big paws and claws, the ideal excavation tools. I wish I was digging up the den of a rabbit. I slow to sniff.

No.

There's no rabbit here.

Something different's calling me.

What the heck is it?

Dirt and roots pile up behind me, and my rear is now higher than my front as I dig. I scrape against rocks and try to push them away. They aren't rocks-too long and thin. I wrap my jaws around one and toss it with a headshake out of the hole. I find another and do the same thing, until there is a pile of buff-colored things that looks like bleached driftwood.

I heave myself out of the hole and investigate my find. The thick sticks are hairy with fine roots. I pick one up. It's light for its size, hollow, and about the size of a rawhide bone. It has a round knob on one side and is broken off on the other. I retrieve more pieces from the hole and sit. Maybe they are old branches.

No.

They don't smelltaste like old branches.

Hmm.

Karly finally shows up, huffing and puffing, out of breath. She needs to get out more. I poke my nose into the pile of things I've dug out. "George, what are you doing? You aren't, um, eating those, are you?"

I look at her like she's crazy. I don't eat wood.

Anymore.

Karly points to the things and counts them. "So what did you find? There are nine of whatever they are." She bends down and touches one. "Weird, they look like someone snapped them in half." My Girlpup takes one of the longer things and rubs off the dirt.

She drops it like it's a pan just out of the oven. I take a sniff; it's not hot. There's something here, though.

Not a good something, either.

"G-G-George, those are bones," Karly's voice breaks as she stutters over my name. I take another sniff. Yeah, they could be bones. What's the problem with that? I lick one. It tastes like dirt. They've been here a long time.

Yup.

That's it.

Just a bunch of animal bones. Maybe a big dog buried them. What's bothering her? The hackles rise on the back of my neck. The not good gassulfurdrysnakecatstink smelltaste spins around my brain like smoke.

Oh.

Oh no.

I hack and cough. I know exactly what kind of bones these are.

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Promo: Sunbolt By Intisar Khanani @IntisarKhanani @GHBTours

Title- Sunbolt
Series- The Sunbolt Chronicles # 1
By-Intisar Khanani
Publication Date- June 17, 2013
Published By- Purple Monkey Press
Genre- YA Fantasy

Blurb-

The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Archmage Wilhelm Blackflame.

When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain-and execute-a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi's, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.

Links-

Goodreads Kindle Nook Kobo iTunes Diesel

Excerpt-

In the darkness, something chuckles, a sound like the rustling of dead grasses, the snapping of winter-hardened twigs underfoot.

"Amused?" Kol asks. "I thought you would appreciate her."

"Your men run like startled rabbits. Their noses even twitch the same way."

I press my back against the wall, turn my head to face the door, and then slowly, while the lantern still lights the room, slide a glance towards the speaker.

Kol tries to laugh. "Humans."

The creature doesn't answer. He sits against the far wall, his legs crossed, his back resting against the stones. He is tall and gaunt, so thin his face is but a skull stretched over with skin, his eyes so faintly colored that I can almost imagine they are not even there. His hair falls to his shoulders in a straggly fringe of white. His tunic and pants hang off his frame, and his hands where they rest over his knees are hardly more than bone. If he were human, he would be dead.

Kol says, "You'll want to know a thing or two about your dinner."

About the Author-

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five.

Intisar currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Until recently, she wrote grants and developed projects to address community health and infant mortality with the Cincinnati Health Department-which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy.

Intisar's latest projects include a companion trilogy to her debut novel Thorn, featuring a new heroine introduced in her free short story The Bone Knife … and of course, she's hard at work on the remaining installments of The Sunbolt Chronicles.

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Promo Blitz: Storm Without End By R.J. Blain @rj_blain @RABTBookTours

Storm Without End - Promo Blitz

By R.J. Blain

Epic Fantasy

Date Published: November 10, 2013

Kalen's throne is his saddle, his crown is the dirt on his brow, and his right to rule is sealed in the blood that stains his hand. Few know the truth about the one-armed Rift King, and he prefers it that way. When people get too close to him, they either betray him or die. The Rift he rules cares nothing for the weak. More often than not, even the strong fail to survive.

When he's abducted, his disappearance threatens to destroy his home, his people, and start a hopeless and bloody war. There are many who desire his death, and few who hope for his survival. With peace in the Six Kingdoms quickly crumbling, it falls on him to try to stop the conflict swiftly taking the entire continent by storm.

But something even more terrifying than the machinations of men has returned to the lands: The skreed. They haven't been seen for a thousand years, and even the true power of the Rift King might not be enough to save his people - and the world - from destruction.

EXCERPT

"Be welcomed to the Spire of the Eternal, Breton, Guardian of the King. What do you seek?"

"Knowledge and advice," he admitted, unable to stop from frowning. "Is Crysallis here?"

"My sister walks the world. I may be young, but perhaps I can help?" Asaleese cocked her head to the side. Without looking away from him, she reached up and threw back the hood of her cloak to reveal her short-cropped, black hair. "Come, and be as one of us for as long as you can."

Breton shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out the pouch he'd taken from the corpses on the plains. "Do you know of the outsiders?"

"I did know of them. You will be pleased, I think, to learn that their voices do not pollute the song of our ancestors. One remains, but flees up the trails in fear of the one who follows. I feel for their horses, wretched though they might be. I do not think he will find them worthy."

"He?"

Instead of replying, the witch gestured for him to follow. Stairs circled the entry niche's walls to vanish through a hole far above.

Breton swallowed back a sigh and began to climb. "I haven't seen Crysallis in quite a while."

"She wanders far," Asaleese replied.

"It seems like a rather contagious disease. I don't suppose you have a cure for it, do you?" Breton asked in a dry tone.

"You've been keeping company with Maiten again, haven't you?"

"Not for half a year or more. He's in Mithrias."

"He'll be disappointed to learn of all of the excitement he has missed, then." Asaleese guided him to the next level and sprawled on a stone bench covered with pillows. A thick carpet of furs covered the stone, and another bench lined the far wall. "Sit. Be comfortable. A drink? Perhaps I can tempt you with some Hessis for when we've finished talking about what has brought you up here."

"I might be tempted," Breton admitted, flashing the witch a smile. "It may be a while until we cross paths again."

"Then allow me to give you a fitting farewell until we meet again. I, for one, will miss your skill in the spearing caves." Asaleese sighed. "Do try not to get yourself killed chasing after that foal of yours."

"And here I thought you'd miss me for other reasons," Breton replied, feigning disappointment.

"We'll discuss this at length - later. Surely that pouch isn't all that brought you up the Eternal Spire?" The witch held out her hand. Breton dropped the pouch into her palm and sat on the floor beside her.

"It did, in part. What's in it?"

"You haven't opened it?"

Breton shook his head. "They had poisoned their weapons."

"What do you think is within?"

"The Three Sisters," Breton replied with a cringe. "I was hoping it wasn't."

"You're wise not to open it then." Asaleese slipped a finger under the string tying the pouch closed and opened it. Three sachets fell out into the palm of her other hand. "It seems your guess may have been correct." Setting two of the smaller pouches aside, she opened the third and dipped her finger in. She lightly touched the white powder to the tip of her tongue. "Vellest. It seems it is as you feared."

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She also has a tendency to play MMOs and other computer games.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Authors Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google +

Buy Link

Amazon

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Blitz: Once Upon a Darker Time By M.J. Bell @MarlaBell2 @GHBTours

Once Upon a Darker Time

Series- Chronicles of the Secret Prince Book # 2

By- M.J. Bell

Defying the odds, Deston Lespérance defeated Grossard, the Solitary Faerie who kidnapped his mother and father, and delivered the Light Crystal back to Tir na-nÓg in time to secure the Fae's reign of the high realm. Now at long last, his dream of having a whole family has come to pass. Unfortunately, "happily ever after" doesn't last forever, for Grossard lives and is more resolved than ever to get his revenge on the Fae-this time teaming up with Mordred to unleash the darkness which has lain dormant since the earth's creation.

Deston, though still struggling with his newly found powers, sets off with Margaux on another epic adventure to locate and destroy the Shard of Erebus before Grossard and Mordred can find it. He is fully aware the stakes are high, but he has no idea the scope of sacrifices he'll be required to make. As his world crumbles around him and his friends fall, he holds onto the only glimmer of hope he has left … that the Fae power and strength truly does reside within him and that he still has a chance to become the hero they claim him to be.

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Spotlight: A Love Stolen by Ella Jade @ellajade1 @Shades_of_Rose

A Love Stolen
by Ella Jade

Can time forgive the mistakes of the past?

After a six year absence, Lila Crofton has returned to her hometown of Steeple to bury her father. Hopefully she can avoid Trevor Matheson, her ex-boyfriend, long enough to take care of her business and get back to the city. With everything she's dealing with the last thing she needs is to run into the man who betrayed her and broke her heart.

Recently divorced Sheriff Trevor Matheson is picking up the pieces of his life. When his high school sweetheart, Lila, returns to Steeple, Trevor sees it as a sign. He's getting over a failed marriage and she's grieving the loss of her dad. They need one another. The timing couldn't be more perfect. But can they move past the events that tore them apart six years ago?

Is there a second chance in their future, or is their stolen love gone forever?

Content Warning: contains graphic sex and strong language

Note: This book has been previously published.

Excerpt:

As Trevor helped Lila up the porch steps, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her lips against his jaw. She hadn't taken her hands off him since they'd left Tate's.

"I love to feel your stubble." She ran her fingers along his cheek. "It's sexy."

"Keys?" He held out his hand and waited as she dug through her bag. She had him rock hard and ready to go. The fact that she'd rested her hand on his thigh the whole ride home hadn't helped matters. It was the alcohol lowering her inhibitions, but that didn't make it any easier not to respond.

"Here they are." She dropped them into his hand. "Come inside with me."

He opened the door and led her into the foyer. As soon as he let her go, she stumbled forward. He caught her by the waist and pulled her against him. He couldn't take his eyes away from her lips.

"Do you want to kiss me?" Her warm breath caressed his mouth.

More than you know.

"Let me help you upstairs. I don't want you to fall down the steps." He scooped her up and carried her to the staircase. She was so light and dainty. She was still his perfect fit.

"You didn't answer my question." She placed soft, open-mouth kisses along his neck as he made his way to her old bedroom. He remembered sneaking up those steps many times, while her father slept down the hall. They still creaked, but this time he didn't have to worry about getting caught.

"Of course I want to kiss you." He pushed the door open with his shoulder and set her down by the bed.

She closed her eyes and leaned into him. He swiped the hair from her face, took her chin between his fingers, and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

She opened one eye and peered at him, waiting for more. "That's it?" Disappointment flooded her beautiful features.

"For tonight." He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. "I want you to remember when I kiss you."

"I'll remember." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're not easy to forget."

He pried her arms from his body. "Believe me, I want to, but not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because four hours ago you ran away from me," he said. "Something made you run. Tell me why." He may not have wanted to take advantage of her physically while she was intoxicated, but he didn't see why he couldn't let her drunken lips tell him what she was afraid of.

"I can't."

"You can't what?" He needed to know what she thought about the two of them.

"I'm tired now." She lifted her dress over her head and tossed it in the corner of the room. She stood before him in nothing but her white push-up bra and matching lace thong.

"Hell." He couldn't take his eyes off her toned, tanned body. He mindlessly licked his lips when he discovered her rose-colored nipples poking through the thin, silky material of her bra. Struggling with himself, he tried not to lower his gaze. He lost the battle as he greedily took in her scantily covered sex.

"Want to kiss me now?" She ran her fingers down her neck and over her breasts. "Want to touch me like this?" She moved her hand down her stomach and to the waistband of her panties.

He stepped closer to her and grabbed her wrist. He had to get her to stop or he'd lose all control.

"You want to do it?"

Buy Links: Beachwalk Press

About the Author:

Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.

Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.

Author Links: Site Facebook Author Page Twitter

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Ella is giving away to a lucky winner and eBook off her backlist. And to five runners up Swag packs!

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Review of Heart of Mercy By C.C. Marks @CherieMarks

Heart of Mercy
The Mercy Series #2
By C.C. Marks

Goodreads Summary:

Charlie Little exists in a dangerous world. Her best chance of survival is to disguise herself as a boy and guard her secrets well. Yet just when things can’t possibly get worse, they spin completely out of control.

With Zeke and her sister Star by her side and the fresh memory of Thomas’s kiss still on her lips, she narrowly escapes the horrid plans of Jonas Bannon, a monster of a human being. Forfeiting the safety of the community, they leave and begin the search for the city of Mercy, the one secure place Charlie knows. However, as she struggles to reach her sanctuary, doubts creep in that anywhere is truly safe. If the Draghoul don’t get them, the human scavengers just might, and the assumption Mercy is a place of protection could be the most dangerous risk of all.

Amazon Smashwords Goodreads

Excerpt:

 

Sleeping soundly just wasn’t an option. I woke almost every hour. A couple times, I went to the door of the locked room and looked through the dingy window. Zeke slept fitfully as sweat poured down his face and neck, soaking his clothing. At one point, weakness nearly overcame me, and I wrapped my fingers around the cool metal of the key, reached for the lock with shaking hands, but stopped. I forced myself to lie back down and not think about the infection coursing through Zeke’s body, changing him forever into something unrecognizable, like my mother, like Snap’s mother, and so many other people.  

Light streamed through the upper window before I opened my eyes again, and the events of yesterday came rushing back to the forefront of my mind. I brought my hands up and covered my face as the emotions came too. I felt so guilty. So very, very guilty. I’d tried to save Zeke but had doomed him to a horrible death instead. How much worse could it get?

My Review:

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Charlie Little has a secret that she must keep hidden. Charlie's secret is that she is a girl. But everyone thinks she is a boy. Charlie had to disguise herself has a boy in order to survive. If anyone finds out that she is a girl she will be thrown out of the Community. But Thomas and Zeke will do whatever it takes to keep her alive even if it means putting their own selves at risk or die trying. When the leader of the community Jonas Bannon finds out Charlie's secret she is forced to leave and go outside the walls of the community where the Draghoul or the undead are. Draghoul are monsters that were once human. They have long claws for finger nails and razor sharp teeth. They go into hiding during the day but at night they come out to feed on the living. The one thing you don't want is never ever get bitten or scratched by a Draghoul if you don't want to become one of them.

Charlie, Zeke and Star (Charlie's baby sister) all head out to find a safe place to live. They are trying to find a place called Mercy. Charlie believes that Mercy is their only hope and they will be safe from all of the monsters. They believe that at Mercy they will find a cure for the virus that turns people into Draghoul when they die. But once outside the walls of the community they find out real quick like that the Draghoul are not the only monsters that they have to worry about. There are humans out there that will kill them just as fast as or faster than a Draghoul if they are not careful.

All Charlie wants is to get Star and Zeke to Mercy where they will be safe and they will not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or worry about the Draghoul or the bad people either. Charlie will protect them both with her own life. She also wants to bring help to all the people they left behind at the community as well especially Thomas. Charlie cares about Thomas a whole lot. Charlie is in love with Thomas but she is afraid that she may never see him again. Thomas has known from day one that Charlie was a girl and not a boy but he never told anyone not even his own father. He knew if he told then Charlie would be sent back to the outside. Women are not allowed inside the community.

About a year ago I was searching for something on the internet and I ran across this website that had this short story eBook that I could download for free. This book was called Mercy. After reading the summary I just had to give it a try and I am so glad I did. While I loved the short story called Mercy it was not long enough and I wanted to know more about Charlie and how she came to be at the community and about the Draghoul as well. Luckily I did not have to wait too long before Cherie contacted me about reading the first book in The Mercy Series. Can you image how ecstatic I was to hear that I was going to get to find out more about Charlie and her little sister Star?

I have truly 100% loved reading about Charlie, Zeke, Thomas and little Star and can't wait to read more. If you love reading apocalyptic books then you will love the new/different twist that C.C. Marks has put on the walking dead people in The Mercy Series. If you have not read any of this series yet then I recommend that you do and while you would probably want to start with Edge of Mercy I do suggest that you read the short story Mercy as well as it is a great read that won't take you long to read and is well worth it. So why don't you go pick up your copies today and follow along with Charlie, Star, Thomas and Zeke on their journey with the undead.

About The Author:

It all started with an old fashioned typewriter. When my family brought it home, I knew what I wanted to do. All those stories rolling around in my head could finally get out. The press and click of the keys were satisfying in their own right, but when I pulled out a finished page, I knew this was for me. Since then, I 've graduated to a laptop, but the stories still find a way out.

I’m a breast cancer survivor, a teacher, a wife, a mother, and from the very beginning—a storyteller. Always a hint humorous and honest to a fault, I love to make people laugh, smile, and have “a-ha” moments. My goal in life is to achieve tact and stop procrastinating. The battle wages on.

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Review of Range of Mercy By C.C. Marks @CherieMarks

Range of Mercy
By C.C. Marks

Goodreads Summary:

Thomas's side of the story.

Saving the world on a daily basis didn’t make you a hero. Thomas Morgan knew that much from experience. The hard decisions he was forced to make weren’t pretty and not all that heroic. He was the one who did whatever it took to maintain security. Each day he climbed into the guard tower and kept the microcosm that was the community safe from Draghoul, the once-human monsters that attacked every night. More importantly, he watched out for the vulnerable, especially Charlie and her sister Star.

Charlie disguised herself as a boy, but Thomas knew the truth, and though she wasn’t aware and though it put them all in danger, he kept her secret from the others. Reality was harsh in this unmerciful world, and if Jonas Bannon ever figured out the truth, Charlie didn’t stand a chance against the schemes of the self-appointed leader. Doing the right thing didn't make Thomas a hero. But it did keep him human, and it did put him in range of mercy.

Amazon

Excerpt:

It didn’t take long though for the truth to sink in. The look on her face said everything. She understood how they would use her, and it obviously turned her stomach as much as mine.

The sound of my boots echoed on the wooden platform as I crossed back to her. Everything deep inside me said this was the moment to tell her. No more hesitation. I set the weapon against the wall, gripped her arms in my hands, and whispered, "No one will find out, Charlie. That won't happen to Star...or to you."

Our gazes locked, and I pulled a hand free to wipe away a tear sliding down her cheek. A place in my chest squeezed sympathetically, knowing how scared she clearly was. But now she understood I knew the truth and that I meant her no harm. Time seemed to slow and the air felt heavy as I waited for her to acknowledge my confession. But she didn’t.

At first I stood in silent confusion. I’d expected immediate denials or questions, but she gave neither. Instead, she looked…well, she looked relieved. Maybe, like me, she’d felt the awkwardness and danger in constantly holding onto a secret only you knew, and she was thankful not to have to pretend any longer. I had to admit, I felt like we’d crossed a wide chasm and met somewhere in the middle. I no longer felt so alone.

My Review:

Thomas always tried to do what was right and follow all the rules. But sometimes times you had to break some rules and do bad things or things that others may have thought was wrong in order to keep people safe and alive. Thomas didn't like doing the things that he had to do or hurting anyone but he did the best that he could or the best he knew how. He was always looking out for the less fortunate and taking up for the ones that could take care of themselves or needed a little help along the way.

Charlie was a girl pretending to be a boy. She had to pretend to be a boy or she would get sent back outside the walls of the community with the monsters and be eaten alive. Charlie kept her identity a secret in order to survive. She thought no one knew her secret but Thomas knew her secret and had known since the day Zeke brought her inside the walls of the community along with her baby sister Star. Thomas cared for Charlie as a man cared for a woman and was determined to do whatever was necessary to keep her safe and alive.

Charlie tried so hard to keep her emotions in check and not let anyone see or know that she was afraid. She had to always stay on guard with her feelings and the way she acted to keep anyone especially Jonas Bannon their leader from finding out that she was a female. Things could turn out very bad for Charlie if anyone but especially him ever found out the truth about who Charlie really was.

I have really loved reading all of the Mercy books. But I am not real fund of the world that Charlie lives in. It is a male's world and the women have no place in it. The males give up all of their women so that they can stay alive. Although they are trying to find a cure for the virus the world cannot go on without both male and female. It takes both to keep the world going. Life will not continue without both a man and a woman. What are these men all thinking and where is their hearts at to send all the women away so they can live. Why would they not protect them? What gives them the right to think they can play god?

About The Author:

It all started with an old fashioned typewriter. When my family brought it home, I knew what I wanted to do. All those stories rolling around in my head could finally get out. The press and click of the keys were satisfying in their own right, but when I pulled out a finished page, I knew this was for me. Since then, I 've graduated to a laptop, but the stories still find a way out.

I’m a breast cancer survivor, a teacher, a wife, a mother, and from the very beginning—a storyteller. Always a hint humorous and honest to a fault, I love to make people laugh, smile, and have “a-ha” moments. My goal in life is to achieve tact and stop procrastinating. The battle wages on.

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Interview: King of Rags By Eric Bronson @VBTCafe

Title: King of Rags

Author Name: Eric Bronson

Author Bio: Eric Bronson teaches philosophy in the Humanities Department at York University in Toronto. He is the editor of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011), Poker and Philosophy (Open Court, 2006), Baseball and Philosophy (Open Court, 2004), and co-editor of The Hobbit and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012), and The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy (Open Court, 2003). In 2007 he served as the "Soul Trainer" for the CBC radio morning show, "Sounds Like Canada." His current project is a book called The Dice Shooters, based loosely on his experiences dealing craps in Las Vegas.

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Review of Dead Plains By Angela Scott @ascott_author

Dead Plains
The Zombie West Series #3
by Angela Scott

Goodreads Summary:

Evolved Publishing presents "Dead Plains" (Book 3 of the Zombie West Series) by Angela Scott, the final installment in the multiple award-winning series. (Young Adult, Zombie Western Romance) ..".Sometimes, the ones you least suspect are the ones that should worry you the most...." People aren't always what they seem, as Red has experienced all too well. Strangers are feared, towns are avoided, and everyone's intentions are scrutinized... even those closest to her. Her coveted ability has been revealed to far too many people, and now that a tiny heartbeat thumps and grows beneath her own, the risk has never been greater. As the group of ten searches for a safe haven, a place to finally call home, the sobering reality of it all finally settles over them: nowhere is safe, nothing is permanent, and death is everywhere. One by one, Red's reluctant posse grows smaller, as death claims some, and circumstance claims others. It couldn't be a worse time to bring a newborn into the world... but the baby is coming.

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Excerpt:

The fires burned out, and gauzy tendrils of smoke rose from the ashes. They disappeared into the red and orange tones of the early morning sky that came alive over the eastern hills. It was a beautiful day, except for the rotting corpses scattered on the ground, giving off a sticky, putrid smell.

Trace and Davis sat side-by-side on the roof, their legs dangling over the edge. They’d taken turns keeping watch overnight, but Trace had woken early with a lot on his mind, and joined Davis before the first glimmer of sun had appeared. Now, it slowly made its entrance into the sky. They sat in silence for the most part, both lost in their thoughts, enjoying a bit of silent reflection after the events of the previous night.

“We’re gonna need to burn the bodies today if we plan to stay on for a day or two.” Davis stretched his arms above his head and yawned, breaking their collective silence. “I doubt my sister’s up for walking any time soon.”

Walking. The very thought of walking brought a bitter taste to Trace’s mouth. After all this time and countless miles, they still hadn’t ended up anywhere. He held onto hope that someday things would change, that they’d somehow find a way to live their lives without the constant moving, the constant fear. It had to get better than this.

My Review:

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

In Dead Plains Red is pregnant with Trace's baby. Red, Trace, Wen, Caroline, Lily (Wen and Caroline's baby), Fisher, Rivers, Kitchi, Aponi and Davis, Red's brother are all out walking the Plains trying their best to just stay one step ahead of the zombies and any human that may want to take Red and use her as an experiment like John did in Survivor Roundup. Red is unlike other humans. She has a secret that everyone wants to know and wishes they had. They think that she is the answer to their zombie problems.

The group is running out of supplies and is in dire need for more. So when they come upon a town Davis volunteers to go into the town for the supplies they need. Davis is gone for a while or is gone longer than Red thinks he should have been and she is worried about him. Kitchi being the great person he is says he will go and find Davis and bring him back. Kitchi maybe only a child to a white man but to the Indians and his people Kitchi is a man. He knows how to fight and he can take care of himself and others as well. There have been times on their journey that if it had not been for Kitchi some in the group probably would have died.

Later Davis comes back with a team of horses and more supplies but no Kitchi. They all ask him about Kitchi. You know like where is he? What has happened to him? Davis tells them he never saw Kitchi going or coming. Trace has come to care a great deal about Kitchi. He loves him like a son. Davis wants to move the group along and get them back on their way. But Trace and Red will not leave Kitchi behind.

Trace goes into the town to find Kitchi. When he gets there he finds out that Kitchi has been arrested and put in jail for stealing. Trace tries to get Kitchi back by making a deal with the sheriff. The deal that the sheriff makes with Trace is for him to whip Kitchi. Trace does not want to do this. He doesn't want to hurt the boy but he doesn't see any other way to get him out alive. So he whips Kitchi and then the sheriff lets him take Kitchi with him. Kitchi doesn't blame or hold it against Trace for what he did. He knows that he did the best that he could do and that it was the only choice he had if they both wanted to get out of there alive.

All Red, Trace, Wen, Caroline and everyone else in their new little family want is just to find a safe place that they can call home, a place hidden away from other people so that there would be no one to recognize Red. But someone knows who Red is and what she is and they are out for blood. This person doesn't care about Red or her family all this person cares about his himself. I know you probably want to know who this person is. Am I right? Well guess what I really don't want to spoil the book for you so I am not going to tell you who this person is. You are going to have to pick up your copy to find out. But hey trust me you will definitely not be disappointed with Dead Plains. It is one of the best zombie books ever written. Angela Scott is an amazing writer and person.

About The Author:

I hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I'm not crazy. I'm an author. For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West-and loving it. My zombies don't sparkle, and they definitely don't cuddle. At least, I wouldn't suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn't require math. I can't spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.

As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I've been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I've pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.

You can find me at my website, where I blog obsessively about my writing process and post updates on my current works. I'm also on Twitter and Facebook, but be forewarned, I tweet and post more than a normal person.

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Interview + Review of The Newfoundland Vampire By Charles O'Keefe @TheNLVampire @RoxanneRhoads #bewitchingbooktours

The Newfoundland Vampire
Book One:
Charles O'Keefe

Genre: Horror
Paranormal
Vampire

Publisher: Penumbra Publishing

ISBN: 978-1935563853
ASIN: B007TRWUCS

Number of pages: 224
Word Count: 86,737

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Book Description:

Like every other geek alive, Newfoundland native Joseph O'Reily secretly wants to be a superhero. At thirteen he fantasized about being a vampire, and ten years later he's still fantasizing - but mostly about a beautiful redheaded woman who has eyes only for him. The one thing different about Joseph's adult fantasy is that, amazingly, it comes true one night when he goes to a local university pub. Cassandra Snow, literally the woman of his dreams, invites him to her place for an evening of personal pleasure. Of course he's not going to say no. But when strange things start happening afterward, Joseph quickly learns that not all dreams should come true.

My Review:

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Joseph O'Reily is a college student who just enjoys life and going to school to earn his degree. Joe is a geeky guy who loves Star Trek, Harry Potter, Batman and a lot of other fictional characters. He likes roll playing and hangs out with a bunch of his friends at least once a week to do a little roll playing. Joe has also fantasized about being a vampire for most of his life not ever knowing that one day he would meet a vampire and have his dream come true.

Becoming a vampire is not the only dream that Joe has had. He has dreamed of and wanted a girlfriend but I guess with him being a geeky kind of guy it just has never worked out or he probably just has never met anyone whom he felt he could trust or that would like the same things that he does. But Joe is in for a big surprise one night while at a bar when a very good looking redheaded woman ask him to go home with her for a wild night together.

Joe starts getting this craving for blood and wonders what is happening to him. This blood craving also makes him start to question his new girlfriend Cassandra. He starts to wonder who and what she is and what she has done to him. The blood craving starts to really get next to Joe because the only thing that he knows of that craves or drinks blood are vampires and they are not real. Vampires are only fictional characters in movies or books or are they?

But by the time he gets around to asking Cassandra if she is a vampire and if she has turned him into one he has started to deal with it and thinks it is kind of cool. Beside he doesn't want to lose the only girlfriend he has ever had either. But Joe is a real cool dude who is laid back and just accepts whatever life deals out to him most of the time that is if it is no big deal.

Joe learns later on that Cassandra has turned him into a vampire because she needs him to help her kill her husband and maker, John Snow. John Snow was a very mean person when he was alive and is even meaner dead. He can and does get away with a lot more as a vampire than he did as a human. For years now all he has done is terrify Cassandra and killed any human that she has turned into a vampire so that they could help her kill him. But old Joe may be a little bit geeky but he also knows how to fight and use a sword as well. With all the lessons that Joe has taken in his life ole John may just be in for the surprise of his life.

I liked that the only thing about Joe that changed after he became a vampire was the fact that he liked to drink blood or more like had to drink it to survive not that he really wanted to drink it he just had now choice. I like to that he kept his humanity too. He still knew and wanted to do what was right. Even though he was a new, young vampire he didn't want to hurt or kill a human or an animal and he had self-control where some other young vampire may not or didn't want to have control. I liked how when a human was turned into a vampire they still acted or did the same things as they did when they were human whether they were good or evil.

I would recommend The Newfoundland Vampire to anyone who loves to read about vampires and would like a new twist on vampires. The Newfoundland Vampire will take you down a road filled with love, madness, evil, killing with a little bit of humor thrown in.

Author Interview:

What inspired you to write "The Newfoundland Vampire"?

First off, Hi Nancy and thanks for being a part of my blog tour, I appreciate it. The Newfoundland Vampire was inspired by a couple of things, encouragement from friends, another friend who also published a book before me but mainly by the fascination I have with vampires and a desire to say something to the world. I listened to an interview with R.A. Salvatore (not that I'm a fan of his) and he talked about how great being an author was, it appealed to me so much and I got motivated. I also wanted to explore how my life might have turned out different if I had made different choices (the main character is strongly based on myself) and if vampires were real how to explore them in a somewhat realistic (and yet very different) way.

When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I've always been creative, I started doing short stories when I was around 11 I guess. A writer though, well that was much more recent. I'd say I realized I wanted to be a writer at 34. I had worked at several jobs (I was a teacher for 3 years and a student assistant for 3 years, among other things for shorter periods) and when I realized I was stuck at a job I really hated (some of the time anyway) I tried to find a way out (which sadly didn't happen but is still a wonderful passion to pursue).

What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?

Excellent question! Well I guess I would have been 10. It was called Gilipin's Space by Reginald Brentor and my grandmother gave it to me, it was a good book and I still have it.

What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

I used to read a lot of Sci-Fi but I got tired of them (occasionally I do read some though). Mainly I enjoy horror (vampires in particular). I really enjoy short-stories and quite like collections of them. I do also like non-fiction for a change of pace and I have read a fair bit about World War II and some Newfoundland history.

What is your favorite book?

Oh another tough one! It's tempting to pick one of my own books but that's just being an ego-manic. There's a book I read for a course in university called "Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley, I would pick that one. It has everything I want in a book, action, intrigue, sex, strong characters, good twists, magic, an engaging story and a satisfying ending. It turns the Arthurian legend on its ear and tells it from the female perspective over a number of years, it's an epic tale of almost 1000 pages but I read in less than 4 days. It's the quickest time I ever read a book and it brings me back to a happy time in my life.

You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?

I've always been fascinated with Ernest Hemingway. While I love his writing I certainly haven't read all of his books. It's his personality and lifestyle I love the most (though not every aspect of it), I feel a connection with him that's hard to explain. I've visited one of his houses in Key West many times (and a hotel room he stayed at in Cuba). Things like how he had such a great love for cats (and ended up with his own breed after he died) that he left money in his will so that they would be cared for (and their descendants) forever. He loved animals but yet he hunted and killed them in Africa. He is ultimately a tragic figure (he killed himself at 61) and we're left to wonder what else he would have done. What would his writing had been like if he hadn't been so depressed? Did his drinking affect his writing? These questions and others are forever unanswered and he remains a mystery to me.

If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?

You don't ask the easy ones do you? Hmm I would have to pick July 21st, 1969 at NASA Mission control in Florida to see Neil Armstrong walking on the moon for the first time. I've always been a lover of science-fiction and that moment in time is when for millions of people (sadly I wasn't alive to watch it on TV) we truly showed what we could accomplish as a human race. Of course the sceptic in me has always wondered if that particular time could have been fake, I'd certainly like to know the answer for certain. I feel while the human race has done plenty of other amazing things in history for me this is the most pivotal moment, nothing we've done since has the same meaning. Since then we've been mostly stuck on our planet and squandered much of our potential but for that moment it must have been such joy, such a wonderful dream come true. If I could, I would have been on the moon with them both but that's outside the confines of your question.

When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?

Well my first book took me 8 years to write…well with a gap of 7 years while I just thought about it and life went on. Seriously though I'm lucky that I've never suffered with writer's block, I'm not a really fast writer but I'm consistent. So while I don't find writing hard, editing is a nightmare! While I've gotten a bit better I still find it very difficult and I'm incredibly grateful to have a wonderful editor (Pat at Penumbra Publishing) and the input from some friends.

Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

I love animals, in fact book 1 is dedicated to one of my cat's (Frank) and book 2 to another (Jude). Sadly Frank is no longer with us but I still have Jude (male, black) and another cat Esther (female, orange, tabby). I can't imagine living in a house without at least 1 cat, they are certainly my favorite pet.

What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?

Unfortunately I love a lot of food, so there's a few on my list. Number one (believe it or not) would be freshly squeezed orange juice from a place in Florida called Hales. It is incredibly delicious and the first thing I get when I go down there. Number two would be popcorn, when it's hot and has just right amount of butter (not margarine!) it is also delicious (I usually have it at least twice a week). For a not so healthy option I love this cheezie-like treat called ChedACorn (here it's still by Humpty Dumpy). As I told a co-worker its nothing but cheese, corn meal and fat but it is ever tasty!

I love Ferrero Rocher chocolates (especially around Christmas). Carrot juice (I can never make it as good as the supermarket brand). A properly made Tempeh burger, French fries (not deep-fried), almond milk (chocolate is best), ketchup chips, homemade banana bread, homemade pumpkin-nut-chocolate chip cookies (very hard to find), homemade pumpkin pie, homemade carrot cake, Woodchuck Hard apple cider (amber) and most kinds of red wine. There's other stuff but that's enough, generally while I enjoy healthy snacks I have big weakness for chips, chocolates and cookies.

Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

I'd tell them to stick with it but be prepared for some reality checks. I thought before my first book came out that if I worked really hard at promotion and selling that I could quit my job and just write, it doesn't work that way. Like most things in life you have to put in time and effort and then be patient (and if you want to just write get REALLY lucky). I would also say if you enjoy writing then try to focus not on financial reward but in other non-tangible things like the feeling of seeing your first book on the shelf, getting a great review, meeting a fan, signing your first autograph, going to conventions as a guest and of course getting that first (however small) paycheck. Now there are so many ways to publish (or just put on a website) that as long as you can handle some negative feedback (and you will get it) I encourage anyone who loves to write and create to do it.

Thanks for some great questions, it was fun!

The Newfoundland Vampire
Book II: Killer on the Road
Charles O'Keefe

Genre: Horror / Paranormal / Romance / Vampire

Publisher: Penumbra Publishing
Date of Publication: August 31, 2013

ISBN-10: 1938758293
ISBN-13: 978-1938758294
ASIN: B00EWTYM3G

Number of pages: 193
Word Count: 74,020

Cover Artist: Nils Dannemann

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Book Description:

Joseph O'Reily is still adjusting to the lifestyle and the dangers that come with being a new vampire. He and Cassandra recently fought to the death with Cassandra's estranged husband John Snow, and now Joseph has experienced his first ménage a trios, as only a vampire can. As if all of this was not complicated enough, he and Cassandra have been tasked with hunting down and killing a rogue vampire, Donald Rathmore.

Another of John Snow's creations, Donald is an evil misogynistic killer in his own right. Donald has no interest in avenging his creator's death, but killing Cassandra is at the top of his list.

While Donald continues his murderous spree, Joseph and Cassandra always seem to be one step behind him. The chase is further complicated as they encounter other vampires and learn more about the mysterious nature of the Vampire Council and the coming war between good and evil.

Joseph is only now beginning to trust Cassandra, and this trust will be shaken when he discovers she has even more secrets than he imagined. Her idea of justice and morality is at complete odds with his own. Despite all his powers and growing skill, Joseph is tested physically as a vampire and emotionally by Cassandra. This time the answers and challenges may be too much for the young vampire to handle.

Prologue
My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean

Anne Bonny sat on the beach of Green Island, Hawaii, sipping a mai tai as she admired the view of the sunset. The sky began to turn crimson red, which helped dull the intense headache she suffered as a vampire up before dark.

She resided near what was thought to be an abandoned Coast Guard station, which secretly harbored her mansion underground and several paid servants and guards. Underneath a run-down airstrip lay a subterranean waterway where a submarine was docked. The submarine was used primarily for the human servants that needed to leave the island to fetch supplies or take vacations. The runway itself could still handle flight landings if a friend popped in for a visit.

Anne, like many vampires, was quite wealthy. Wise investments over enough time provided financial comfort that most well-to-do humans accumulated only through inheritance, corporate sharking, or a serendipitous blend of ideas, timing, and networking. The simple truth was, the duration of a human life was usually too short to build the financial stability to which most vampires were accustomed. Like most vampires, Anne chose not to flaunt her wealth. Going unnoticed made it easier to hide from humans. Peace and quiet was easy to obtain on a deserted island.

She had always loved tropical locations, and the Hawaiian Islands were so near the equator that the temperature almost never changed. She also loved sunsets so much that it was worth the suffering and slight risk of being out in the open before full dark. Green Island was primarily a bird sanctuary now, with the occasional monk seals that showed up on the beaches. Anne didn't hate animals, but she killed a few birds that had the audacity to crap on her head one afternoon. At night, her vampire presence kept them away. In case something happened to her human servants, she could call out to a seal for assistance.

She sang to herself, "My bonny lies over the ocean; my bonny lies over the sea..." She liked that song, even though it wasn't about her. As she sang and took another sip from her drink, she closed her eyes and grimaced in pain. This was a different kind of pain from that of a vampire out in the day. She knew that her estranged youngling John was in terrible danger and perhaps faced death. Despite the pain, she smiled and reclined easily on her lounger. "Serves the bastard right," she whispered to herself. "He was my biggest regret in life. His charms fooled me, and I made him one of us. It's time his life was brought to an end."

Anne sighed, feeling better as the sun dipped near the horizon. She thought of that spring day in 1834 Newfoundland. John was a handsome man who exuded charisma and confidence. A hundred and thirty years didn't seem so long ago. Time was relative when one was immortal. Still, she should have vetted John Snow and read his thoughts before turning him. But she was horny, hungry, and foolish. She not only bit him but kissed him afterwards with blood still on her lips. She didn't see the harm in turning a wealthy fisherman. She realized too late that he was married, and she vowed not to cause the destruction of his marriage. When she saw him shot and dropped into the ocean, she thought that was the end of him, but she was wrong once more. Fish, it seemed, didn't like the taste of vampires, and she learned that even a shot to the head and an injury to the brain would heal. Many years later, she heard of his rash actions, but didn't want to admit to the Council that she had caused the mess. Best let them deal with it in their own way.

Newfoundland had seemed like a good place for a pirate to go - Peter Easton, Black Bart, and George Fielding all had frequented the area in years gone by. She enjoyed her life as a pirate. She loved to capture booty, but didn't delight in slaughter.

Then she thought back to October, 1720, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. She had been imprisoned there and convicted of piracy. Luckily she had dreamt of her own capture and had grown her belly in the two weeks prior, so as to appear pregnant. It was a simple matter then to 'plead the belly,' as it was known at the time, and receive a stay of execution. This stay gave her a chance to escape and resume her pirate career disguised as a man. By 1860, with Albert Hicks hung for piracy in the US, she knew it was time to stop. The world had changed, and she had to change with it. Riverboat gambling was easy money. She did enjoy being on the water and the attention men paid her.

Anne took another sip of her drink and concentrated. John was fortunate that the sun was about to set, and her powers were activated in time. A man in a white shirt and shorts came over to her. "Excuse me, mistress. May I get you another drink?"

Anne opened her eyes. "No, Charles, I'd like to be alone for a few minutes. Take away the glass and bring me my cell phone in a bit."

The man nodded. "As you wish." He took the glass and left.

Anne resumed her concentration, and John entered her mind fully. He thought to her, Anne. my dear, my own youngling Catherine and this motherfucker Joseph are about to kill me. If you ever cared for me, avenge my death. I am in Newfoundland, and I will give you my last images so you will know their faces.

Anne snorted and thought back, Go fuck yourself, John. I just wish you had died in 1834 instead of living this long. Anne received no reply, but did see through John's eyes at his moment of death. She saw a statue of Peter Pan, animals at his feet, and a lot of blood. She saw a woman with beautiful long, red curly hair who looked terribly wounded in her chest, and man who seemed to have been shot as he stabbed John with a sharpened wooden stick.

Anne gasped as her own chest hurt terribly for a second. And then she received one final thought from John. They are watching us.

Anne waited for the pain to fade and rubbed her chest right above her heart. She snorted again and grumbled to herself, "Tell me something I don't know."

With the sun gone down, she sat up and smiled, absently admiring her slim, athletic figure in her gold bikini. She tossed back her fiery red hair, kept straight at shoulder length. "My dear John," she said aloud, "your death, and these other vampires in Newfoundland, are enough to pique my interest."

The last remnants of the sun disappeared below the horizon, and Anne felt her senses fully come to life. She heard Charles' heartbeat and smelled the sweetness of his blood. As he approached, she stood and held out her hand for the phone. Charles said in his accustomed manner, "Are you hungry, mistress?" He passed her the phone and stretched his neck to one side.

Anne smiled. "Yes, Charles, you'll have the next few days off, as I will drain you deeply. Remember, until you pass out, that I liked to be fondled. I'll make certain Michael carries you to sickbay."

Charles nodded. "Of course, mistress. Thank you for choosing me tonight."

Anne took the phone and clipped in on the back of her bikini bottom. She took off Charles' shirt and sunk her teeth into his neck. He tasted lovely, with not a hint of drugs or alcohol, and had a pleasant taste of cinnamon in his blood. She also enjoyed his ministrations, but she became more excited at the thought of sex with another vampire. It had been too long since she'd enjoyed the company of others of her kind. Any vampire capable of destroying John must be worth my interest.

She drained Charles until his heartbeat started to slow and he drifted into unconsciousness. Anne cared for her servants, the way a pet owner cared for her animals, and she laid him gently on the sand. She took the cell phone out and punched in the mansion number. She didn't allow time for a greeting but simply stated, "Have a boat waiting on the southeastern end of Midway Island. I'll whistle loudly. Also, prepare the sub and head off for Honolulu. I'll be there in a few days. Make sure it has my weapons on board. Oh, and send Michael down to take Charles to sickbay. He'll need a few days off."

The reply came instantly. "Of course, mistress, right away."

Anne tucked the cell phone into Charles' right front pocket and, after a brief glance at the first stars that came into view, dived into the ocean. The water was warm against her cool skin. She could easily swim in the Arctic and break through ice if necessary, but this was much more pleasant. Fish, dolphins, sharks and the occasional whale all moved out of her way as she cut through the water like a knife. She had been an excellent swimmer as a human, and when she was turned, her swimming speed and skill reached legendary levels. She could easily swim thirty kilometers an hour at night and go for eight to ten hours with a belly full of blood. Like all vampires, she had an uncanny sense of direction and knew she was headed for Midway Island. She planned to reach it just before sunrise. Perhaps, when she got to Newfoundland, she would find a new companion or at least some friends. John had created Catherine, after all, and she did at least owe her an apology. She wondered if this Joseph had experienced a blood embrace. In any case, he had not done it with her.

It would take her weeks to get there this way, but she was in no rush. Anticipation was a wonderful thing, and time was certainly on her side.

About the Author:

Charles O'Keefe lives in the beautiful province of Newfoundland, Canada, with his wife and two feline 'children,' Jude and Esther.

He works in IT support and enjoys many hobbies and activities that include writing, reading, watching fantasy/science-fiction movies and television shows, gaming, poker, walking, Pilates, and of course fantasizing about vampires.

To find out more about Charles, go to Twitter and Facebook or visit his website.

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