Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, mystery, paranormal, Review on October 30, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

A new cozy mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau series.

Avery Winters was overjoyed to be brought back to life… unfortunately, the dead were waiting for her.

Aussie journalist Avery Winters was content—she had a caring boyfriend, great job, and supportive… okay, so her parents weren’t actually supportive, but she’d accepted she could never be the son they’d wanted seeing as how she was born a girl. Avoiding them seemed to work well, and, she reasoned, no one’s life was perfect.

And that was fine, except whilst covering a news story in a storm, Avery’s cosy life disappeared in a flash. Lightning struck, stopping her heart and blowing her favourite black boots to smithereens. It was pure luck that an off-duty nurse was walking nearby.

When Avery came to in the ambulance en route to hospital, she’d thought the worst was over. She was wrong.

Her lightning-induced hallucinations—there was no way they were ghosts—were impossible to hide. Her boyfriend soon left, and her boss suggested she take extended leave. Unable to cover her rent, she moved back in with her parents. And that’s when the fun really began. Unable to cope with their insistence she was crazy, and desperate for an escape, she responded to a journalist-wanted ad… in the UK, because getting mega far away from her parents could only be a good thing.

Armed with a new fear of storms, companions others couldn’t see, and the hope that leaving the stress behind would improve her mental state, she boarded a plane for London. What she didn’t count on was not being able to leave her ghosts behind… literally. Oh, and that the quaint English village she’d be living in had more skeletons in its closet than the Natural History Museum.

When she stumbles upon a dead body in her rented apartment on her first day, she’s tempted to get back on the plane. But whilst it’s not a good omen, returning to her parents would be worse, so she decides to stay. Only, she’s not sure if it’s the best decision she’s ever made, or the worst.

She’s about to find out.

 

 

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Review

 

This was definitely a different type of cozy than I normally read but I really enjoyed the book.

Avery has moved from Australia to England to a small town to escape a broken relationship. She was also struck by lightning which has revealed a new talent, the ability to speak to ghosts. This can be a good and a bad thing and reminds me a lot of the show, The Ghost Whisperer.

Things don’t go so well for Avery when she arrives at her new home and finds a dead body on the floor. However, this turns out to be a really good thing because she meets new people and of course has to solve the murder, write newspaper articles that feature the town residents, and maybe even help a few ghosts along the way.

I thought this had a few different twists and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was and why. I think I solved the who right before it was revealed, but I wasn’t 100% sure on the why. There are a few clues and it all makes sense in the end.

I think this is going to be a fun new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next and if Avery finds a new love interest because there are hints of one in this book.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I’m a fantasy, cozy mystery, and suspense author with an associate degree of creative writing. My other day job is editing fiction and non fiction while my cat sits on my lap.

I love writing and sharing my stories, but I wish they wouldn’t keep me awake at night.

I also write women’s fiction under the pen name Eloise March.

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery, paranormal on September 1, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

The Spirit Woman of Locklear Mountain
Paranormal Mystery
1st book in 2 book series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elk Grove Publications (December 27, 2020)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 252 pages

 

Synopsis

 

There are sightings of a woman and a mountain lion near Lockleer Mountain, seen at moments of crisis. Is she the legendary Native American’s Spirit Woman, sent to protect the community? Nate is convinced his sister, missing for three months, and surely suffering from amnesia, is the elusive woman. He fears she will not survive the coming winter months, living wild in the wood with a mountain lion.

While Deputy Nate Darling pursues a relationship with Lou Shoemaker, he and Sheriff Peabody pursue a drug dealer, selling to the youth at the Native American reservation. Things are even more complicated by civil unrest regarding the government’s secret plans to build a mysterious facility, a big box store, and a housing tract close to Lockleer Mountain, threatening the livelihood of the local merchants.

Is there any hope that the Spirit Woman, real or imaginary, can bring harmony to the troubled community? Will Nate be able to apprehend the drug dealer, locate his missing sister, maintain his budding romance, and guarantee the financial future of Lockleer Mountain?

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Guest Post

 

Evolution of The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain

 

 

When I began to think about writing my latest novel, I remembered a short story I wrote several years ago about the owner of a sewer truck. While pumping out a septic tank in a rural community, he stumbles upon a drug lab, and is forced to use his imagination to ensure his safety.

Sewer truck driver? Cozy mystery? Humor? Sounded like a concept that begged to become my next novel. I placed the story in the CA Sierra foothills where folks still have wells and septic tanks. I thought the concept of a woman owning a septic tank business could be the perfect foil for a humorous cozy mystery.

With full intentions to write that type of story, the characters sent me in a completely different direction. So, the story concept: Lou Shoemaker owns a sewer truck, the Pooper Scooper. She begins a relationship with Deputy Sheriff, Nate Darling, whose sister, Suzanna, mysteriously disappeared three months previously following a minor motor vehicle accident. Enter the government, up to some shenanigans, pursuing plans to build a mysterious facility near the town without the knowledge of the city’s businessmen. Needless to say, this sends the city fathers into a frenzy with disastrous results.

When a drug dealer starts selling drugs to the teens on the nearby Native American reservation, frequent sightings of a woman and a mountain lion are seen at moments of crisis. Is she the legendary Native American Spirit Woman, said to protect the community?

Nate is convinced the mysterious woman is his missing sister, living wild with a mountain lion and suffering from amnesia. Is the Spirit Woman real, or a figment of mass hysteria? Where is Suzanna? How does Lou’s septic tank business relate to an attempted murder, drugs sold to teenagers, a missing woman, and an undesirable government takeover? You’ll have to read the novel to find out.

The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain is fictional, and not related to any particular Native American tribe, reservation, or legend. The novel explores relationships, the concept of a Native American spirit woman who may or may not be real, concerns for some of today’s most disturbing societal issues, humor, and surprises too numerous to mention. I hope you’ll enjoy reading Spirit Woman as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

 

About the Author

 

Elaine Faber lives in Elk Grove with her husband and four feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Cat Writers Association, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines, have won multiple awards in various contests, and are in at least 16 anthologies. She leads a local writer’s critique group.

Elaine’s ‘Mrs. Odboddy’ mystery series has won annual awards with Northern California Publishers and Authors. Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary, and All Things Cat, an anthology of cat stories, won Cat Writers’ Association 2018 and 2019 Certificates of Excellence.

Elaine enjoys speaking at author venues sharing highlights of her novels and her writing experience. She is currently working on two fiction novels to be published in 2021 and 2022.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Guest Post, mystery, paranormal, Review, Short Story on August 21, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

More Than I Bargained For: A Paranormal Mini-Mystery

Katie doesn’t like going to estate sales. Why? Because she sees dead people.

When Katie reluctantly attends an estate sale with her friend Diane, she gets more than she bargained for. The deceased former owner of the house, Grace, realizes that Katie can communicate with her, and she has a lot to say.

As Katie pretends to shop, Grace tells her the story of how she was murdered—and reveals that her killer is still in the house.

It’s up to Katie to uncover the murder weapon and get it to the police… before time runs out.

This 4,500 word mini-mystery blends offbeat humor with the paranormal.

 

 

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Review

 

Cute short story mystery!

I love that Katie can see dead people and in this case, she helps Grace solve her own murder since Grace knows who killed her and the police are suspicious but have no proof…that is until Grace meets Katie and provides that proof.

This may be short but it is a great read when you have a short amount of time and it wraps everything up nicely.

We give it 5 paws up

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Writing Across the Genre Spectrum

By Kelli A. Wilkins

 

Hi everyone!

When people ask me what I do, I tell them I’m a writer. Usually, their next question is: “What do you write?” My answer? “Everything.”

I write fiction in various genres and levels of intensity. I can give romance readers a tender love story or a spicy erotic novella. Fans of speculative fiction can be terrorized by my horror stories or whisked away into an alternate reality in my sci-fi tales. I’ve also written several non-fiction books. Looking to take care of a cat or a hermit crab? I’ve got those covered. And if you’re ready to write your own fiction, well, I wrote the book on how to get started.

I’m often asked a lot of questions about how (and why) I write across the genre spectrum. Here are four FAQ:

 

How did you get started writing in so many different genres?

 

I never set out to be such a multi-faceted writer; it was something that happened gradually. I started out writing short horror fiction, and always dreamed of “someday” having my work included in an anthology. (I’m happy to say my horror stories have appeared in several anthologies, both online and in print.)

Then one day I came across a “10-minute love story” in a magazine and thought, “I could write one of those.” So I did. The story was accepted and I became a regular romance author for the publication. A year or so later they asked me if I could write sci-fi. I said, “Sure!” and I did.

From that point on, I realized that I didn’t have to “just” write horror, or romance, or sci fi… I could branch out into any genre or type of writing I wanted. I figured, why limit yourself? If I have an idea for a story (regardless of genre), why not write it? Eventually, I started writing romance novels and horror novellas.

 

Within the romance genre, you write contemporary, gay, paranormal, fantasy, and historical stories. Why do you vary so much in one genre?

 

I get inspired from a multitude of ideas, so I basically go wherever the story takes me. My fantasy romance, A Most Unusual Princess came about because I wanted to write about a headstrong princess looking for a husband. The idea of a gay wrestler forced to come out sparked A Secret Match, and a mysterious stranger collapsing into the arms of an 1877 storekeeper became my historical romance novel, Love, Lies & Redemption.

The plot and characters dictate the genre, setting, and heat level in my books. So I may write a hot contemporary romance one month, and then two months later I’m writing a mild historical. I don’t mind switching up genres because it gives me leeway to create unique characters and plots each time I write. I never know where the next story will take me.

Within the historical category my books range from mild to super-spicy and take place in different time periods (Old West, Colonial, Pioneer, Celtic). I don’t stick to writing “all” Westerns or “all” Colonials. Once I have the time period for the story, I do research for details and/or ideas for clothing, occupations, etc. I like to weave authentic details into the books and blend them in as naturally as possible. When I’m writing fantasy romance, I try to make the details believable, even if I’m making them up.

 

How do you balance writing romance and horror? Which one do you like best?

 

My horror stories are more psychologically spooky rather than gory, and usually after I finish writing a few romances I switch up and write a horror tale or two. I use different “writing muscles” when I tell a horror story, and I can develop different plots, characters, and have an overall darker tone in my horror fiction than I can in a romance.

I like both genres, so it was only a matter of time before I blended the two… into paranormal romance. When I write paranormal romances I have to make sure I don’t cross over too far into the horror world. You don’t want to create a paranormal hero/heroine that’s too frightening and/or violent in the story. Romance lovers don’t want to read about a full-fledged monster. The character has to be likeable and loveable with all the traits of a romance hero/heroine – even if he or she is a vampire who needs to feed. (This was the basis for my paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover.)

Lately I’ve been scaling back on my romances and focusing on speculative fiction. These short stories aren’t exactly classic “horror” tales designed to scare readers, but they do include paranormal elements. For example, my new release More than I Bargained For is an offbeat mini-mystery about a woman who can talk to the dead.

One of my favorite horror stories is Nightmare in the North. It’s a novella about a man stranded with strangers in a blizzard. It was a lot of fun to write and after reading it, my husband called it “disturbing.” I love writing horror stories (or mainstream stories with speculative elements) and plan on releasing a few more of them this year. I’ve got lots of ideas, and I’m working on two new stories now.

 

You wrote the non-fiction book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction. What made you decide to write a book about writing?

 

Every time I do an interview, I’m often asked the same batch of questions: Where do you get your ideas? How do I get published? How do you write a book? What advice do you have for writers who are just starting out? Do you have any writing tips?

I’ve answered these questions many times in interviews and addressed them in blogs, but I always wanted to say more. One day, I started thinking about everything I’ve learned over the years, and inspiration hit me: Why not write a book on how to write? The result? You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction.

This fun and practical book walks you through the story-creating process step-by-step: from getting a great idea to meeting your characters, developing a plot, and on to writing, revising, and submitting your work. It covers the basics of storytelling—regardless of what genre you write.

Each easy-to-read chapter is based on my years of hands-on experience as a writer, advice I’ve received, and the technical “know-how” I’ve gained in writing classes and professional writing workshops. Basically, it’s practical advice on how to get started, almost like a Writing 101 workshop. Any writer can use the tips and writing exercises for an extra boost of motivation or just for fun.

 

Anything else you’d like to add?

 

Writers shouldn’t be afraid to try new things. Yes, it might be “easier” or “better” to find a genre or a niche and stay there for your entire writing career. You could build a solid brand, get a large fan base, and become a household name in that genre. That may work for most writers, but for me, it would become tiresome after a while (like having the same thing for dinner every night). I like to explore something new and different each time I write.

For me, writing across the genre spectrum is just what I do. Some days, I venture down a dark and mysterious pathway into a haunted cemetery… Other days, I’ll lose myself in the romantic adventures of a feisty historical heroine… But no matter what I write, I enjoy creating the characters, plots, and settings that bring the story to life for readers—and I hope they enjoy the journey as much as I do.

 

 

About the Author

 

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20 romance novels, 4 horror novellas, and 7 non-fiction books.

She writes romances in historical, fantasy, gay, contemporary, and paranormal genres. Although her romances span many genres and heat levels, she loves scaring readers with her horror fiction.

Kelli’s horror stories have been published in several anthologies, including Nothing Ever Happens in Fox Hollow Vol. 1, Halloween Horror Vol. 2, Madame Gray’s Creep Show, Moon Shadows, Wrapped in White, The Best of the First Line, Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, Frightmares, Mistresses of the Macabre, The Four Horsemen, and What If… She also authored four horror ebooks: More Than I Bargained For, Kropsy’s Curse, Dead Til Dawn, and Nightmare in the North.

Her writing ebook, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative guide filled with practical advice, handy tips, and motivating writing exercises all writers can use.

In addition to her fiction, Kelli has authored four pet care guides: Cats, Quick & Easy Cat & Kitten Care, The Simple Guide to Cats, and Hermit Crabs for Dummies.

Kelli was raised in upstate New York and is a graduate of Voorheesville High School, where she began writing short stories and taking creative writing classes. Rural settings and small towns often appear in many of her stories.

She received a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Dramatic Arts from Hofstra University and completed the Commercial Writer’s Certificate Program at Middlesex County College in New Jersey.

When she’s not writing, Kelli loves to travel, visit flea markets, read, and garden.

 

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Undercover Wolf

 

by Paige Tyler

 

Publication Date: 5/25/2021

 

Synopsis

 

When these two agents are under fire, they’ll have to reconsider everything they know…

 

Werewolf Harley Grant isn’t exactly comfortable with her inner wolf. Even though she’s on a STAT team where she can use her abilities openly, she refuses to do so, putting herself—and sometimes her teammates—at risk.

Alpha werewolf Sawyer Bishop would give anything for his MI6 team to know about his inner wolf, but his teammates are mistrustful of anyone or anything with inhuman abilities. When he meets Harley on an overlapping case and realizes she’s a fellow wolf, he’s more than a little intrigued.

Now that STAT and MI6 have to team up to stop a crew of supernatural bad guys intent on causing a nuclear meltdown, Harley can no longer deny her wolf and Sawyer can no longer hide his. As they grow closer to resolving the case and grow closer to each other, they discover things aren’t what they seem and revenge could cost them their lives.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Harley caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of her eye that made her snap her head around, but she didn’t see anyone. Sure she’d seen something, she skirted the outside of the dance floor in that direction. She was starting to question herself again when she spotted a tall, attractive guy with broad shoulders, casually disheveled brown hair, and scruff on his square jaw. He was circling the dancers on the floor in much the same way Harley was but in the opposite direction, keeping pace with her so they stayed exactly opposite each other.

Yeah, like that’s a coincidence.

A little voice in the back of her head told her to get on the radio and call Caleb and the rest of her teammates, but she ignored it, too mesmerized by the handsome man across the room from her. Every few seconds, piercing blue eyes locked with hers, making something inside her—maybe her inner wolf—feel a sensation she didn’t recognize.

Even if she hadn’t picked up on the scent, Harley would have known he was a werewolf from the graceful, animalistic way he moved.

He was a predator, no doubt about it.

Was he a kidnapper as well?

She wanted to say he’d never do anything like that, which was an asinine thing to consider about a man she’d never met.

Tired of stalking in circles, Harley stopped, turning carefully to keep her eyes on the big werewolf as he moved closer. She wasn’t sure, but for a brief moment, she thought she caught sight of what might have been a smile tugging at his sensuous mouth. The other werewolf—an alpha most definitely—strode past the last few people separating them and came to a halt a few feet away. Harley couldn’t ignore that the man in front of her was possibly the most gorgeous guy she’d ever seen.

Which pretty much guaranteed he was one of the bad guys.

Because that was how her luck worked out when it came to the  opposite sex.

Harley took a single step forward and felt a tingle in her stomach
when he did the same, that dangerous smile showing up again. She took another few steps toward him when his head whipped to the side. She looked that way, too, trying to see what had attracted his attention, and caught sight of two men slipping behind a black velvet curtain covering a section of the far wall. The second guy cast a furtive glance over his shoulder before disappearing.

That isn’t suspicious at all.

She turned back to the alpha werewolf, but he was already striding in that direction. She quickly followed, knowing she should call the rest of the team, but once again, her instincts insisted she hold off. By the time she slipped behind the curtain, all she saw was another set of stairs. The mysterious werewolf was nowhere to be found.

She paused long enough to slide a hand under her dress and pull the small frame Glock 9mm from the tiny holster strapped to her upper thigh, chambering a round as she started down the steps, rather proud of how comfortably she handled a loaded weapon. Considering that before joining STAT she’d never even held a gun, she thought she was doing rather well.

From down below, she heard the rhythmic sound of rapid footsteps along with the soft murmur of voices but no music or partying people or anything else to make her think this was a part of the dance club open to the public. Whatever the hell those two guys had come down here for, it probably wasn’t on the up-and-up.

Lit only by three low-watt bulbs mounted in cobweb-covered fixtures hanging from the rough stone ceiling, the room at the bottom of the steps was filled with crates, racks of empty bottles, and bags of trash. The dim glow was barely enough to throw shadows, but Harley didn’t need a lot of light to see the werewolf standing a few feet away, his broad back to her, a pistol down at his side.

“You always bring a gun when you go to a nightclub?” he asked without looking at her.

His voice was as deep as she’d imagined it would be, a little rough with a hint of a British accent, like he’d traveled extensively for much of his life and lost a bit of the distinctive sound over time.

“A girl has to be careful these days,” Harley said, smiling even though she was standing in the middle of a filthy storage room twenty feet underground with an alpha werewolf who’d probably lured her down here with kidnapping in mind—or worse. “I’ve heard big cities can be dangerous.”

The man turned to look at her, blue eyes piercing even in the dimness as they slid up and down her body. “If you think it might be dangerous, why come to Paris? And all the way from America, if I’m not mistaking the accent.”

The Brit’s perfectly sculpted nose lifted a little, his nostrils flaring the slightest bit, like he was trying to take in a scent he found tantalizing. Harley knew he was picking up her pheromones and couldn’t help wondering what she smelled like to him.

Did he like her scent?

Did she care if he did?

“You know the song ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun,’ right?” She approached him slowly, glancing around and trying to figure out where the other two men had gone. “Maybe visiting potentially dangerous places is how I have fun.”

“Strange hobby,” he said, his voice dropping down an octave to practically make her tummy vibrate…as well as regions a bit farther south. “I prefer reading, but whatever. You do you.”

Harley lifted a brow, lowering her gun to a safe position. “Is that what you’re doing down in this dank, dark room?” She stepped to the side a little, making him circle to the right as they resumed the little dance they’d done upstairs. “Looking for a good book?”

He snorted, coming to a stop again a few feet away. “We both know that’s not what I’m doing down here any more than you’re here looking for some fun. So, as entertaining as this banter is, I think it’s time we get on with what really brought us here.”

Harley was almost disappointed but knew the man was right. While she’d enjoyed their verbal jousting, she was here for more important things.

 

***

Excerpted from Undercover Wolf by Paige Tyler. © 2021 by Paige Tyler. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, Magic, Monday, mystery, paranormal, Review on December 14, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her. She knew because the mirror had given her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate.

Twenty years later Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of a world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had. But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This is a new series that is bound to be a smashing success for this author. It may be her first foray into fiction writing, but she definitely shows us what she can do in the fictional world.

The book starts off somewhat eerie and I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the prologue other than I was intrigued. We are tossed into Hayden’s world where we learn she is not a morning person (don’t talk to her until she has had her first cup of tea), has a love for cats, and an amazing support system with her best friend and grandmother and great grandmother. Her parents are long gone, or so she thinks until she is pulled into a magical world that introduces her to her brother, father, and his parents. What a crazy day that was for her to find out the true story of what happened to her father. On top of that, she can communicate with her cat, Sassy, who now wants to be called Princess Latifa.

Destiny Falls is a world unto itself and her family, the Caldwells, are the keepers of this town. The town is magical and continually rearranges itself to fit what Hayden, or anyone else, needs. All is going well until someone is murdered and Hayden is determined to discover who the killer is and why. There is a lot of effort displayed throughout the book to portray the town, the Caldwell family, and the other citizens. Quirky is probably an understatement to describe the Caldwell family. Outside of Hayden’s brother, her half-siblings are all named after shades of blue – Indigo, Sapphire, and Cobalt.  Their mother is Jade and that might have played a part in their names.

Caldwell Manor is another interesting facet of Destiny Falls. This is where Hayden is staying while she adjusts to the town. The house seems to sense what each person needs and provides it to them. Now if we could all have a home like that! The staff is rarely seen but there is one person, Cleobella, that is fascinating and I loved the descriptions of her each time Hayden saw her. The outfits and the glitter made me giggle.

The mystery itself kept me guessing and just when I thought I knew who the killer was, BAM, a twist. I was quite surprised at the reveal and never would have suspected this character. The author did a good job of keeping this character out of the spotlight and while I thought this character was a bit odd, I would never have thought them possible of the crimes. Shows you what I know!

The mystery does seem like a minor part of the story until near the end. With the magical aspect, it does take a lot to build up this world because it isn’t like going to another small town. Well, it is but it isn’t. There is a couple of potential love interests for Hayden and while there is a peek into what might happen in future books, we still don’t know what will occur since it would seem that Hayden would want to return to our world and her friends and family. I’m sure you are wondering where they think she is….Denmark, on a research trip. This does seem a little farfetched that Hayden would take off on a moment’s notice for another country and not tell anyone where she is going until she gets there. But, Hayden had to come up with something because she cannot tell them where she really is at that moment. In fact, the computer servers won’t let her spill those details.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and do recommend it. I am curious to see what is in store next for Hayden.  We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives near Seattle and is the mother of four and nana to one. This is her first work of fiction.

 

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Posted in Adventure, excerpt, Fantasy, paranormal, Science Fiction on December 7, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

The unthinkable has happened. The enemy has recovered the lost Stones of Sumer and have managed to neutralize the Prophecy of Tarkus. And now the only person capable of deciphering the runes written on the ten stones has been captured. Madeline Alleyn will risk everything to keep the meaning of the rune stones away from her captor, but how can she when these people can open minds as easily as turning a page. She must keep their enigmatic message from her enemies. Her only hope lies in her daughters. Can they rescue their mother in time to prevent Prometheus Erazmos from gaining this knowledge? Stonehenge is the key, but what terrible secrets does this ancient monument hold?

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Three girls and a man crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Phoebe groaned, rolled away from the thing poking her in the back, and reached up to the knot forming on her throbbing head. The pain was a good thing: it meant she was alive. But alive where? Had Rhea’s black hole deposited them near their home in upstate New York? Not likely. She glanced around the gloom—woods, a forest maybe. Even some strange, savage land would be okay as long as that crazy man they’d barely escaped from hadn’t tracked them here.

Phoebe reached out into the dark with her mind. Could these be the woods they had often visited growing up? The National Forest near Seneca Lake was big enough to get lost in for days. And then there was that story of the wild man living there. An urban legend maybe. Phoebe wasn’t sure. Weird that Rhea would bring them here. She reached out with her mind again. No one.

Nothing seemed broken, so she got to her knees and saw Dione lying flat on her back a few feet away. She looked paler than usual, like death. Steven Dryer lay sprawled to the left. She studied his still form, regret bubbling up in her. He’d discovered the triplets by accident. He hadn’t known of their power, but had gotten a good taste of it since meeting them. Too bad for him. They’d captured him and with their abilities forced him to help. It was a debt he owed anyway after stealing from their mother. There was no way he could escape them, but he’d slowly come to understand his purpose in all this. He was meant to help their family, and because Phoebe had gazed into his mind, she knew him, all his predilections, every nuance of him. She knew he would keep helping even without her control. And because of this knowledge it wasn’t much of a gamble to trust him. He’d come through big time and been brave in the face of that bastard’s attacks at the museum.

Only Rhea seemed to have managed a smooth landing. Phoebe reached out with her mind, feeling for Rhea’s aches and pains. She knew then that her knees had taken a beating. She’d been thrown to the ground with enough force to break them, but Rhea seemed ok otherwise. The four of them were still alive, and that was the only thing that mattered. Not their tattered nightclothes or soiled appearance.

Phoebe managed to stand on shaky legs and tried to get some sense of the direction they’d taken, of the length of time they’d been borne aloft. It was useless. She doubted even Rhea would know. The disturbance that had been their grandmother’s quantum trace and the explosion that had destroyed the museum had eliminated such sensory perception.
She managed to shuffle to where Rhea was bent over Dione, crying. Di was unresponsive, the result of the attack earlier that very night. Phoebe went to Dryer next and tried to stir him with a mental probe but gave up soon after. Her skills were still new. She wouldn’t risk damaging him.

 

 

About the Author

 

Stanley P. Brown always had heroes as a child. Born in Plaquemine, Louisiana to Joseph Harry, a painter, and his wife Vivian, a homemaker, these heroes mostly took the form of his big brother, Harry, and those populating the pages of Marvel Comics. Realizing he didn’t have the right stuff to be a superhero himself, he concentrated on academics at Louisiana State University and The University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned his doctorate in Exercise Physiology. He went from there to his first academic post at The University of Mississippi. Others followed, as did many scientific publications and several textbooks. But the call of storytelling remained strong in him, and he answered that call with publication in 2017 of his debut novel, The Legacy. Veiled Memory and Fallen Wizard followed in 2018. The Third Factor, the sequel to Veiled Memory, came in 2020. The completion of the trilogy, The Stonehenge Chronicles (VM and TTF and the Untitled final), will be done next year. A fourth fictional world is in the children’s chapter book, The Captain of Tally Ho, which is not yet published. Sequels are planned for all his novels.

 

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Posted in christmas, excerpt, Giveaway, paranormal, romance on November 30, 2020

 

 

Joy to the Wolves

 

by Terry Spear

 

Publication Date: 9/29/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Meet the shifters of the Red Wolf pack…

Close quarters make for a cozy Christmas…

 

As Christmas approaches, red wolf shifter Brooke Cerise unexpectedly inherits an antique shop in Portland, Oregon. But when a missing reindeer calf turns up on her property, she becomes embroiled in a kidnapping case and the primary suspect of far-too-intriguing shifter Detective Josh Wilding.

Josh doesn’t intend to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, but Brooke gets under his skin from the moment they meet, and he can’t help his instinct to protect her. These red wolves are both on the hunt for love, but there’s a mystery to solve before they can enjoy their holiday happy-ever-after.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Brooke called the first reindeer ranch she could find the number for while she hurried to leave the boxes outside for the recyclable trash. When she returned to the shop, someone from the ranch picked up the call.

“Hi, I’m Brooke Cerise, and a reindeer calf showed up—­” She quit speaking when she saw a tall, dark, and handsome man walk into her shop wearing a suit, a parka, and a badge. He’d better not be the bozo at the police bureau who had hung up on her!

The man glanced at the reindeer calf and then moved through the customers taking pictures of him. He reached Brooke, his posture saying he was in charge and going to get to the bottom of this. “This deer belongs to Wilding Reindeer Ranch. Do you care to explain why he’s in your shop?” He raised a dark brow. He had an Indiana Jones-­type build—­muscled enough to swing across caverns and climb tall peaks, nice broad shoulders, physically fit, not like he sat around in an office eating too many doughnuts. “This is your shop, correct?”

“Yes. I’m Brooke Cerise, the owner.”

That was when she smelled the officer’s scent and realized he was a red wolf like her. Wild, wolfish, and an Ivory fragrance. A red-­wolf pack was located outside Portland, but on her visits to see her great-­aunt, she hadn’t had time to meet anyone. She hoped it wouldn’t be a problem for her to move into the area without contacting the pack leaders first. Did he belong to the pack? Not that she could ask him in front of her human customers.

She said to the man on the phone, “Uh, sorry, it looks like I just found where the calf belongs.”

“No problem. Thanks for calling and checking with us.”

“You’re welcome. Have a great day.” She ended the call. “I called it in, but the officer I spoke to thought it was a crank call. The reindeer just walked into my courtyard.”

“I’m Detective Wilding, an investigator with the Portland Police Bureau. I’ve called the ranch, and someone’s coming to pick him up.” He had a nice, manly voice, warm and sexy like one of her favorite narrators of the romance audiobooks that she enjoyed listening to. He took a deep breath of her scent too. She wondered if he’d known her great-­aunt.

Brooke realized she was getting so much publicity that the police must have seen the news that the reindeer was at her open house and sent an investigator to investigate.

“I need to get your statement,” he said, all official-­like.

As if she were at fault for the reindeer calf being here! Hopefully, the other local wolves were a lot more welcoming than he was. That was all she needed though. To be considered a rogue wolf who committed crimes!

“By the way, you don’t leave anything important in your trash, do you? Like credit-­card or bank-­account information without shredding it?”

“No, why?”

“Someone was looking at your boxes.”

“Maybe to use for packing boxes?”

“Maybe.”

More people crowded into her shop. Brooke sure hoped people were going to purchase something and not just come to see the reindeer. Though she had to admit the little fellow made for a great marketing tool with all the social network shares that were going on. It was putting her shop on the map. He was adorable, and he seemed to be enjoying all the company.

Several of the customers were still texting about the reindeer and posting about her shop, and a few people had migrated to the drinks and food and begun to enjoy them. Then a couple of customers brought items over to her checkout counter. Yes!

“Sorry, why don’t you do your police-­officer duty and take care of the reindeer? I’ll give you a statement when things slow down, Officer,” she told Detective Wilding. She didn’t expect him to do anything with the reindeer, but she hoped he’d leave her alone while she was checking out her customers.

“Detective,” he corrected her. He situated himself right next to the checkout counter, waiting for her to finish ringing up her sales.

How annoying!

The ladies thanked her and smiled at the detective, who smiled back at them with a little lift to one corner of his mouth, giving him a charmingly handsome appearance. The ladies took their packages and left. Brooke glanced in the direction of the other people in her shop, wishing a whole bunch of customers would inundate her with merchandise to ring up so she could ignore the detective further, but nope. That meant she was at the detective’s mercy. Again. Darn it.

“Okay, give me your statement now.” He stood there tall and imposing, his dark hair windswept, his dark-­brown eyes capturing her gaze, powerful, demanding. There was no smile for her.

“He was eating holly berries off my shrub. Someone had left the gate open.”

“Not you, of course.”

“Of course not. I always close it.” Brooke folded her arms across her chest. She knew that was a defensive posture when she had nothing to be defensive about. She had nothing to do with stealing the reindeer!

“But you didn’t lock it.”

“Usually, I do.” She let out her breath. “I must have forgotten.”

“But you didn’t forget to close the gate.”

He might be gorgeous to look at, but he was annoying her to pieces. She was a law-­abiding citizen, and she wasn’t in the market for a reindeer calf. How could he make her feel like she was guilty of a crime just because she must not have locked her gate last night?

“The latch needs to be replaced.” She hated having to concede that to the detective.

“Faulty latch, hmm,” he said, writing it down.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. You’d think she’d committed the crime of the century!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over forty paranormal romances. Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing was a Romantic Times Top Pick. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears. She lives in Spring, Texas.

 

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, paranormal, Romantic Suspense on November 22, 2020

 

 

Wolf Untamed

 

by Paige Tyler

 

Publication Date: 11/24/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

The guys in the Special Wolf Alpha Team (SWAT) are hotter than ever.

 

SWAT werewolf Diego Martinez was on a mission to save lives when he walked into the hostage situation—he didn’t expect to find a newly turned teenage werewolf and the kid’s fiercely protective mother. For Bree Harlow and her son, Brandon, Diego is a godsend, and not just because he saved the day.

Bree has spent the years since her divorce trying to do her best by Brandon. But lately the boy who used to tell her everything has been keeping secrets. In the face of all the bizarre things happening at home, there’s something about Diego that Bree can’t resist—especially when he’s able to explain Brandon’s new abilities.

But the hostage incident was just the start in a wave of violence that no one can explain, and when Bree and Brandon are caught in the middle, Diego will do everything in his power to protect the family he wants as his own.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Bree had no idea if seconds—or hours—passed, but then she heard something so out of place with her surroundings that it immediately snapped her back to reality.

Growling.

Low, soft, pained…growling.

And it was coming from Brandon.

She looked down to find him gazing up at her with vivid-gold eyes, half-inch-long fangs visible over his bottom lip.

Bree had always considered herself to be a strong person. She’d gone through a lot in her life and dealt with it. But she couldn’t ignore the obvious. The accumulated stress of this situation had been too much for her. She was having a mental breakdown. Because there was no way she was seeing what she thought she saw.

Suddenly, the SWAT cop was at her side, pulling Brandon up and talking to him in a slow, calm voice, telling him to relax and breathe, that everything was over and he was going to be okay at the same time he used his big body like a shield, keeping other people in the diner from seeing her son’s face. His voice was the most soothing and calming sound she’d ever heard in her life, and even though he wasn’t talking to her, she found herself breathing in time with his instructions—in through the nose, hold it for five seconds, and out through the mouth.

Bree watched in stunned fascination as the yellow glow slowly receded from her son’s eyes and the fangs disappeared. All at once, his panicked breathing and frantic features relaxed, and she realized it was the first time in months he didn’t seem tense.

There was a commotion behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder to see the other officers—dressed like Diego but with weapons and heavy-looking tactical gear strapped across their chests—quickly moving the rest of the hostages outside, herding them in such a way that they didn’t have time to look at the body on the floor…or Brandon.

It was like they were all working together to keep anyone from seeing what was happening with her son. Like they all somehow knew something unexplainable was going on with him.

“There you go, kid.” The SWAT cop’s deep voice made her turn back around, and she saw him standing there with his hands on Brandon’s shoulders. “Just a few more deep breaths and you’ll be good to go.”

Diego was right. A few seconds later, Brandon was fine, and Bree found herself wondering if everything she’d seen was a figment of her confused mind.

It could have been, right?

She felt a gentle hand on her arm and looked up into the warmest brown eyes she’d ever seen, a little overwhelmed by the concern she saw there. Diego didn’t even know her, and yet he seemed genuinely worried.

“I think we should get out of here,” he said, nodding toward Brandon. “This place is about to be crawling with cops, crime-scene techs, and general-purpose gawkers. I’d rather be somewhere else before they show up. We have a lot to talk about.”

She was about to ask what he meant by that, but then it hit her. Everything she’d seen had been real. Diego had seen it, too. And now he wanted to talk about it. Because that’s what cops did. They dug into stuff until they knew everything.

Bree’s heart began to thump hard all over again as she realized the danger her son might be in now. What if Diego revealed what he’d seen? Brandon would be treated like a monster. From the look on Brandon’s face, he realized the same thing and was on the verge of freaking out.

“Relax,” the cop said softly, looking first at Brandon, then her. “I’m not a threat to your son. I promise.”

Gaze locked with hers, Diego’s eyes flared vivid yellow-gold. The color was only there for a second before it disappeared, but it was impossible to miss. Or mistake it for anything other than what she’d seen in her son’s eyes. The cop looked at Brandon, earning a wide-eyed gasp. Bree had no idea what any of this meant, but it had to be a good sign…right?

“Like I said,” Diego murmured. “We have a lot to talk about.”

 

***

Excerpted from Wolf Untamed by Paige Tyler. © 2020 by Paige Tyler. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Fantasy, paranormal, Review, Science Fiction, Young Adult on August 22, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Marcie is spending her summer working on the archeological dig that her mother runs: Angel Mounds, a site of an ancient indigenous civilization. Soon after she arrives, she meets some intriguing individuals, and becomes wrapped up in a supernaturally-charged mission to save the planet from the destruction man has brought upon itself.

Marcie Horton has a sixth sense. Not in the “I see dead people” way, but . . . well, maybe a little. She feels a sort of knowing about certain things that can’t be explained-an intuition that goes beyond the normal. Then there was that one summer four years ago, when she connected with a long-departed spirit . . . But nothing that incredible has happened to Marcie since.

This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke. The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.

 

 

 

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Review

 

This is the second book in this series but can be read on its own.  You get to know some of the characters in the first book, The Field, and there are a few references to what Eric was working on, but nothing that would hold you back.  I don’t remember much about Marcie from the first book but would assume she was introduced since she is Eric’s sister and that we learned something about her.

All that aside, this book was quite enjoyable. The pacing was just right, the characters were interesting, and if you care about the environment and our planet, you will enjoy the information provided about fracking and other ways the planet is being harmed.  If you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal you will probably also enjoy this book for the concepts of a fifth dimension and extraterrestrials. Some of it was a little out there for me, but I still enjoyed the characters and beings that the author brought into this story. I do think that humans have the potential to do more with their mind but haven’t really delved into the topic. This book made me think about the possibilities that are out there.  If you are into conspiracy theories, there is that angle in this book as well.  This book really does have a little bit for everyone.

This story is also about self discovery and stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something different. It is also about friendships and doing what is right for yourself and the world.

There are two quotes that really stood out to me regarding the environment and humans in general.  I feel these are really spot on.

“Earth and her human inhabitants are already going down the path of destruction, all due to the actions of humans.”

“Earth can only absorb so much abuse before cataclysmic results occur.”

I think I would suggest reading the first book, The Field, before reading this one. While you do not have to, I feel it would give you great insight into the book, the characters, and the aspects of what the mind can do at the right level.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Tracy wasn’t always a writer, but she was always a reader. Her favorite book growing up was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. In a weird way, her life reflects the book through odd synchronicities. She has a degree in Biology like Mrs. Murry and without realizing it she named her children Alex and Katie after Meg’s parents. (Really, it was not intentional, because that would be weird)!

Tracy uses her science background in her writing through her emphasis on environmental issues and metaphysics. Growing up, Tracy’s younger brothers called her ‘sarge’ and once when she took a personality test for a job, the evaluator said she could give a Drill Sargent a run for his money. If you need someone to boss you around, Tracy’s your gal! Tracy lives in Indianapolis.

 

 

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, paranormal, Romantic Suspense on May 24, 2020

 

 

Wolf Under Fire

 

by Paige Tyler

 

Publication Date: 5/26/2020

 

Synopsis

 

For the cases no one else can solve, they send in the Special Threat Assessment Team

Supernatural creatures are no longer keeping their existence secret from humans, causing panic around the globe. To investigate, monitor, and—when necessary—take down dangerous supernatural offenders, an international task force was established: The Special Threat Assessment Team.

STAT agent Jestina Ridley is in London with her team investigating a suspicious kidnapping. Over her radio, Jes hears her teammates being savagely attacked. She runs to help, but she’s too late. The only survivor, Jes calls for backup and gets former Navy SEAL and alpha werewolf Jake Huang and his new pack. Convinced that the creature who butchered her teammates was a werewolf, Jes doesn’t trust them. But if they’re going to uncover the facts and make it back home alive, she’ll need Jake’s help. And with everything on the line, Jes will have to accept Jake for who he is, or lose the partner she never expected to find…

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Jes sprinted down the hall without giving it a second thought. Grabbing the last man through the door by the collar of his jacket, she yanked him backward, flipping him over her hip and slamming him to the floor before he knew what was happening.

Balling her hand into a fist, she punched him in the throat hard enough to stun him, then ripped his pistol out of his grasp while he was gasping for air. Refusing to think about the brutality of the situation, she placed the barrel of the large-caliber automatic against the man’s chest and squeezed the trigger. In this position, the recoil of the big weapon was ferocious, but she ignored it—and the resulting blood—focusing instead on snagging the extra magazine from the man’s underarm holster.

Getting to her feet, she approached the room carefully. The last thing she needed was to catch a stray round from one of the guards—or Jake.

Pressing her back against the wall outside the open door, Jes darted to take a quick look inside. The room was filled with acrid smoke from the flashbangs, but she could still see the dead bodies strewn across the floor. Jake and Misty were nowhere in sight and something told her they’d taken cover behind the heavy desk that was flipped over.

The piece of furniture was thick enough to stop the spray of bullets the men were popping off, but the gunfire was so intense Jake couldn’t even try and get off a shot in return. Since the bad guys were already spreading wide to circle around and come at the desk from both sides, the situation was only going to get worse.

What if Jake had already been hit?

That thought scared the hell out of her. She’d heard a werewolf could absorb a lot of damage, but how much was too much?

“Backup’s arrived,” Jes announced loud enough for Jake to hear her in his earbud, even over the gunfire, then took aim and started shooting.

The moment the men realized someone was coming at them from behind, they turned their weapons on her. At the same time, Jake popped up from behind the desk and began blazing away with the automatic in his hand. Bodies started dropping under the combined effort.

Jes was sure they’d gained the upper hand, but then a flashbang came at her through the light haze of smoke still filling the room from the previous ones. Cursing, she leaped back into the hallway to keep it from blowing up right in her face. She hit the floor hard, the air getting knocked out of her. Ears ringing, she scrambled around and lifted her pistol, knowing a bad guy would be coming to finish her.

But no one did. A moment later, the shooting stopped. It was immediately replaced with a roar and a growl that seemed to echo through the house and make the entire third floor vibrate.

Jes quickly climbed to her feet, only to fall on her butt again as Jake and Damien crashed through the wall. Somewhere along the way, they’d lost their weapons and were now locked in hand-to-hand combat, like two enraged monsters. Jake wasn’t the only one with claws, either. Damien had them, too.

Jake had been sure the creature that had attacked Jaime and Neal wasn’t a werewolf, but seeing Damien fight, she was beginning to think Jake had been wrong.

Jes got up on one knee, trying to get a shot at Damien, but he and Jake were moving way too fast as they smashed each other into first one side of the hallway, then the other, fists slamming into their opponent so hard she could hear bones break.

She was about to say the hell with it and take a shot at Damien regardless of the risk, but then he slung Jake bodily across the hall, bouncing him off the wall. Even though it had to hurt, Jake immediately jumped to his feet and kicked Damien in the center of his chest, shoving him halfway down the hallway.

Jes didn’t waste the opportunity. Lifting her weapon, she emptied the remainder of her magazine in the man’s chest. Damien flew backward from the impact of all those rounds hitting, slamming into the floor so hard she felt it. She didn’t give a crap if he was a werewolf. That many bullets through the center of his chest had to mean he was freaking dead.

Dropping the spent clip, she quickly slammed a new magazine in and chambered a round. The son of a bitch had killed Jaime and Neal and tried to do the same to Jake. It took everything in her not to put all the bullets in the fresh magazine into him. The only thing stopping her was the knowledge that she might need them if they had to fight their way out of the manor.

She was so focused on keeping her weapon trained on Damien where he lay on the floor, she didn’t even realize Jake had disappeared back into the room until he ran out with a limp Misty in his arms. Jes’s heart sank like a stone.

“We need to go,” Jake said, striding past her and heading down the hallway away from the steps. “We’re about to have more company.”

Jes didn’t ask how Jake knew that. She simply chased after him.

The fight with Damien must have caused him some serious damage, but Jake carried Misty without slowing down. They were almost at the end of the corridor when she heard the thud of footsteps on the stairs behind them.

Jes glanced over her shoulder to see at least ten armed men reaching the third floor. That was bad enough. But then Damien sat up, shirt covered in blood and looking pissed as hell…and not nearly as dead as he should be. Suddenly, the group of armed men didn’t seem like a big deal. Damien worried her way more.

Turning, she sprayed the men—and Damien—with half the rounds in the magazine just to make them duck, then ran after Jake again. She expected him to seek refuge in the last room along the hallway. Instead, he yanked open the french doors at the end of the corridor with one hand, exposing a small Juliet balcony.

What the hell were they going to do with that? It wasn’t like they could hide out there. The balcony was too shallow. Besides, Damien and the rest of Darby’s men had already seen where they were headed.

Jes was about to ask Jake as much when he gently placed Misty on the floor. Before she could question the move, he turned, put both hands on Jes’s waist, then swung her over the metal railing of the balcony, holding her by one wrist and dangling her like a toy.

“When I let you go, grab the railing of the veranda below us,” he said, dark eyes intent on hers.

Wait. What?

Jes opened her mouth to tell him he was insane—that she wasn’t a werewolf with superstrength and animallike reflexes like him—but she was already falling. She released the pistol she didn’t even realize she was holding, somehow miraculously grabbing the railing on the second-floor veranda before she fell to her death.

Crap. It felt like her shoulders were being ripped out of their sockets.

She was never doing that again.

Jes was still hanging there in midair when she felt as much as heard Jake leap past her. She looked down just in time to see him land on his feet on the lawn below her, Misty wrapped firmly in his arms.

He’d jumped from the third floor of a building—with someone in his arms—and landed on his feet.

Double crap.

Setting Misty on the ground, he scooped up the automatic pistol Jes had dropped, firing it at something above her. She flinched when the bullets struck the metal balcony, but then felt like cheering when the men up there grunted as other bullets struck flesh.

“Let go!” he shouted to Jes before shooting another volley at the floor above her. “I’ll catch you.”

That idea was even crazier than the first one, but Jes did it, falling at a dizzying speed. She opened her mouth to scream, unable to stop herself, but then strong arms snatched her out of the air before setting her on her feet. She barely had a chance to catch her balance before Jake grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the manor.

He scooped up Misty in one arm on the way even as bullets kicked up the grass all around them. Seconds later, the big Rolls-Royce SUV was barreling across the lawn toward them, Harley at the wheel. The moment it skidded to a stop, Forrest jumped out of the passenger seat to take Misty from Jake while Caleb got out of the back and fired a MAC-10 machine gun at the remaining men on the third floor. Jes wasn’t sure if he hit anyone, but they sure as hell ducked.

Jake led Jes past Caleb and practically shoved her into the backseat, then jumped in after her, deftly climbing over her to take the window. The big omega followed, sitting on the other side of her and yanking the door closed as Harley floored it, tearing the grass to all hell as they sped away.

 

***

Excerpted from Wolf Under Fire by Paige Tyler. © 2020 by Paige Tyler. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

 

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