A Reaper Made ~ It's Released to the World!

Howdy and thanks for stopping by! We (and by we I mean the 'royal we' aka me) are THRILLED to be promoting the release of the newest novel by Liz Long. A New Adult Paranormal - there really need to be more books in that genre/category - that looks awesome! Check it out:

A Reaper Made 

Release Date: October 30, 2014

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy

 

Grace had finally gotten used to her new afterlife as a “Made” – a Reaper who used to be human. When Made Reapers and souls begin disappearing, however, Grace and her mentor Tully suspect demons. Grace’s worst fears are confirmed when her living family is threatened.

She’ll have to break every rule in the Reaper book to save them, including using a little magic to become temporarily human. With the help of Tully and her witchy friend Tessa, Grace goes undercover to save the fates of kidnapped souls – only to discover that demons aren’t working alone. Betrayal and distrust runs deep and Grace discovers that sometimes even Reapers are prone to humanity. 

   

Does this book not sound AMAZING? Here's a bit about our author, Liz Long:

About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website  I  Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Amazon Author Page

Excerpt

A REAPER MADE – CHAPTER 1

The old woman in the hospital bed took in a ragged sigh that sounded like a struggle. She looked around the room, to the bouquet of wildflowers that sat in a plastic jar at the foot of her bed. Then her watery blue eyes focused in on me, sitting in the chair next to her. I sat up, leaned in to take her wrinkled hand in my smooth one.
“Who are you?” she asked, her tone fearful.
“I think you already know the answer to that, Anna,” I said, keeping my voice low and smooth. No need to further frighten them before they passed on.
“An angel?”
I shook my head, a curtain of dark hair swaying with the motion. She swallowed hard.
“You’re Death.”
“Not quite. More like an escort.”
“A R-reaper.”
Many humans knew us by name, but it still surprised me when they came out and said it. I nodded, a slow movement to prevent her from panicking. Everyone feared dying. It was my job to help them transition.
Anna looked to the closed door and back to me. “You…can anyone else see you?”
“When I want them to, yes. Right now, however, it’s just you and me.”
The old woman blinked hard and when she opened them again, a single tear streaked down her cheek. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Anna, it’s all right. You’re moving on.”
“To where?”
I shook my head. “I can’t answer that. No one can. You must discover it for yourself.”
Anna withdrew her trembling hand from mine, put it over her heart. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”
“What about my family? My daughter, my grandchildren? Can I say goodbye?”
“You saw them this morning, don’t you remember?”
Confusion crossed her face. Anna had been struggling with dementia in addition to her illness, but I knew to be patient. It was in the job description. When she still didn’t speak, I prodded a little.
“Anna, it’s time.”
She gave me another scared look. “Will it hurt?”
“No,” I assured her. “All you need to do is close your eyes and relax.”
Anna appeared to consider her options, her grip tightening on the thin sheets. She sucked in a deep breath, wincing at the rattle in her lungs. Then she steeled herself, looked at me and nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”
I gave her a warm smile and put my hands on hers. “Close your eyes.”
She did as instructed, the scared look on her face fading as she relaxed into the bed. I sent warmth from my hands to hers, waited for her soul to disengage from her physical body. After maybe ten seconds, I felt a shift in Anna. A sigh escaped her, the air leaving her withering lungs and decaying body. Keeping my hands on hers, I stood and waited.
Then Anna’s spirit came forward, her hand in mine as she lifted herself from the physical plane. Without problem, Anna stood tall next to me, looking younger than she had in years. Her body may have been old and weathered, but her soul, as like most others, appeared younger, vibrant. Most of the older souls, once out of the body that held them back, were happy to feel alive again. It was one of my favorite things about the job, to see the light shine in their eyes after years of aging and physical pain.
Anna gripped my hand, looked back to her body lying peacefully on the bed. She gave me a relieved look. “You were right, that didn’t hurt at all.”
“I’m glad,” I told her with a smile. “Do you want to say goodbye?”
“To that old thing?” she said, waving her hand at her wrinkled body. “I suppose I should, but now that I’m out, all I can think about is the next step.”
“Not unusual,” I said, the corners of my mouth turning upward. Now that Anna was free, the spunk she’d had in her youth returned. I motioned my head towards the door. “Come. Walk with me.”
She didn’t let go of my hand as we walked through the door and out into the hallway. No one so much as blinked at us as we wandered. At first, Anna tried to skirt around obstacles and people, before she realized she went right through them. Before we’d even reached the end of the hallway, she was practically skipping.
“I haven’t felt this good in years,” she said. “Do you think I’ll reunite with my husband?”
“I can’t answer that for certain, but he’ll know you’re coming. He’ll find you if he can.”
“He used to say he’d follow me anywhere. I’ve missed him so much.” She smiled at the memory, then paused as though realizing something. She turned to me. “What is your name?”
“Grace.”
“Grace,” she repeated. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure. Would you like to continue walking or do you think you’re ready?”
Anxiety flashed across Anna’s face before she swallowed hard and nodded. “I think…I think I’m ready to go.”
I squeezed her hand. “May you find peace in your afterlife.”
A warm breeze swept through the hallway, though the living continued as though nothing were happening. The wind found us, circled around and played with my and Anna’s hair. I let go of her hand and took a step back as Anna looked around.
“Am I supposed to walk into the light?” she asked.
I couldn’t help but smile at the question; it seemed like everyone always asked. I shook my head. “There are no bright lights. It’s okay – take a deep breath and be patient.”
Souls didn’t need to breathe, but I always saw them do it before they moved on. It seemed to calm them down as it would’ve had they been in their human bodies. Old habits died hard, I supposed, but if that helped them feel better, I saw no need to point it out.
The breeze picked up, turned into an unseen tornado that swirled around Anna. Her hair went in every direction but her posture stayed still. As she closed her eyes, I saw a smile grow on her face. Then the wind took her, and Anna’s soul faded away in front of my eyes. Warmth grew in my chest, as it usually did with each peaceful passing, and I smiled briefly before turning back into the retirement home to find the next soul.

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*teehee*

Abe- New Release from MJ Fields!

Twenty-six-year-old Abraham O’Donnell is the CFO of Steel Inc. After working tirelessly for over a year, he takes a week off to enjoy the sand, surf, and bikini-clad women of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. After all, he's earned it.

When a brief interlude with a flight attendant in her hotel room goes awry, Abe heads to a rental home with a private beach. While floating naked in the pool, he learns a guest house on the property is also occupied. So much for rest and relaxation. Ever the gentleman, Abe tries to make the most of his misfortune, and offers to make the beauties staying on the property some dinner.

It's senior year and Nikolette (Nikki) Bassett is a few days late for her last college Spring Break with her four best girlfriends. When she arrives, all these ladies can talk about is the guy next door. And once Nikki gets a look at him, she knows what they mean. Fresh from an afternoon of surfing, Nikki can hardly believe her eyes when Abe approaches. The sexual tension and banter between the two of them leads to steamy hot sex on the Atlantic shore.

It's only a Spring Break fling, and both Abe and Nikki know better than to make it out to be more than that. Or do they? Abe’s calm demeanor changes once he has a taste of Nikki. That night, no location is safe. He takes her on the beach and ravages her in his bed. But despite their mind-blowing sex, Abe's taste for ultimate control in the bedroom makes Nikki uneasy. Nikki's just getting over a heartbreak and she can't afford to let Abe in. So, she pushes aside her budding feelings, and leaves Florida and Abe behind without a backwards glance.

Not used to being dumped and afraid to admit how much it hurts, Abe cuts his loses and heads back to Steel Inc., resume his role at the top of Steel Inc., pouring his heart and soul into his work. But Nikki Moore won't be forgotten so easily. Her taste, scent, voice, the noises she made when he brought her to ecstasy, the way she tasted on his tongue, and felt under his touch haunts him. Always fighting for control, Abe tries to push Nikki far into the back of his mind, as he fucks the rented women he had grown accustom to.

But Karma is a bitch, and Abe blames her for Nikki leaving him the way she did. So when Nikki shows up unexpectedly, Abe welcomes Karma with open arms. Control has left the building and safety of one's heart is no longer strong enough to stop what happens next.

ABE, is the first in the TIES OF STEEL series from bestselling erotica author MJ Fields. It is a spin-off of the bestselling MEN OF STEEL series featuring the Steel brothers: Jase, Cyrus, Zandor and Xavier.

MJ Fields's love of writing was in full swing by age eight. Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter and they sold it to family members. She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 2013. Today, she has completed four self-published series, The Love series, The Wrapped series, The Burning Souls series, and The Men of Steel series. The Norfolk series has one title self-published so far and Ties of Steel, which was acquired by Swoon Romance in June 2014. Book 1 ABE releases October 28, 2014. MJ is a bestselling romance erotica author and former small business owner, who recently closed the business so she could write full time.
MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.

Facebook ☆ Website ☆ Twitter ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Goodreads ☆ YouTube

This complete collection of MJ Fields Men of Steel series together has over 600 5 star reviews.

Men of Steel 

Tattooed, pierced, alpha, New Jersey brothers Jase, Cyrus, Zandor, and Xavier Steel work side by side at their families tattoo shop Forever Steel. 

These sexy and confident young men vow to never fall in love. They show no restraint when it comes to living life the way they want, and enjoy the simple pleasures in abundance. They have an unbreakable family bond and stand by each other through all of lives ups and downs.

'Why Didn't I Take the Blue Pill' ~ Beautiful Oblivion

 I'm going to level with y'all here... this review is about Beautiful Oblivion, and it's not happy.  These are just my personal musings, reactions, ramblings about this book; many readers how fangirled and thrown their panties at the feet of Trent Maddox.  More power to those readers that enjoyed their experience, I wish I had shared the sentiment.  How I wanted to love it, really, I did.

Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.

*Sigh*

I need that blue bill to forget ever reading this.

This is particularly hard to write without any spoilers, because everything I have issue with is a ginormous spoiler for the whole book.  Let's see if I can attempt to explain myself without giving key points in the book away...

a. The end of the book - I want to say I got an inkling of it early on, but fought against my thinking because you just DON'T do that.  NoNoNo.  No.  Ok, I know those of you that haven't read it are thinking, "Alana is coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs," right?  The bomb isn't dropped until the end.  The VERY end.  Clear as mud, but remember, no spoilers!

b. Tainting the Beauty of Beautiful Disaster and even Walking Disaster.  Granted, I ended up skipping Beautiful Wedding (just had that uneasy feeling about it) and had I read it, I would have gotten and earlier image of this new 'spin' - 'dynamic' might be a better word- in the relationship between Travis and Abby.  Namely, that it got turned into a 'Beautiful Lie.'  Again, no specifics, but I'm too upset to even look at the cover of Beautiful Disaster now.  I loved BD with a bright fierce passion despite all the grumblings about it being abusive - lalala - I adored it.  But now, it's all tainted, spoiled, soured. *Sigh*

c. While we're on the subject of BD... I get that it was a really popular book.  I loved it.  I have an eBook and and a 'real' book just to place on my shelf and gaze at.  BUT.  Yes, the big "butt".  You don't have to add BD into each and every book.  Beautiful Oblivion makes this a, what, 3rd POV look at Beautiful Disaster.  Granted, it wasn't solely a 'new look' at BD, I feel I should point that out as to not give you the wrong impression.  It's not a retelling, but 'clips' of BD crashed into this book right and left.  I suppose it had unquie-'ish' moments. Yes, this involves Travis' brother and such in addition to the timelines overlapping; so obviously the books are not their own little bubble, but for the love of whatever you hold dear- stop beating the dead horse.  Please.  It's painful to watch, and I can't even consider reading it anymore.

d. All sorts of characters with issues but BO was VERY short on resolutions.  VERY VERY VERY freaking short of any sort of growth in many areas that REALLY needed it.  Dangling plot lines, issues, troubles just left blowing in that wind with no hint of wrapping them up into a little tighter package.  No, they are just left there in their nappy, naked glory taunting you.  Don't even get me started on the secret...  no, seriously, don't.  I'll start cussing like a sailor, spit will start flying... it's not a pretty picture.

Instead of one of those lovely book hangovers, you know the ones that you can't even bring yourself to open a new book quite yet because you're still mourning the fact that the book is over... yeah, I didn't get one of those from Beautiful Oblivion.  Why, oh why, did I not take that blue pill and just pretend that it's BD and maybe even Walking Disaster, and just be content with my re-reads?  Oh, no.  I had to go down that Maddox-hole, and what did I get?

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Bitten by the M/M Bug! Cut and Run into My Heart!

Blurb:

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case. Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliche: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer. Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again - this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

My Thoughts: Hot and Bothered, but eBook Might be Better... 

I will admit I'm torn on this one.  I need to break it down a bit, especially since I listened to the audio version.  I've decided: Narration, Romance, & Mystery as my points of interest or contention.

Narration: 
 *Meh* Was not great, difficult to tell which character was speaking, but on the flip side he wasn't so bad that it felt like listening to nails running down a chalkboard. Sloppy but serviceable - if only just. I'd probably give it 2♥'s, maybe 2½♥'s on narration.

“I've never made fun of you. Making fun of you would imply that something about you is fun.”

Romance:
I need a cold shower. Followed up by a cold shower. Maybe Ty and Zane could join me? To quote a line from a Madonna song, "My bottom hurts just thinking about it." (but in a good way...)

“Fuck," Ty finally muttered as they broke another heated kiss.
"Is that a comment or a request?" Zane asked breathlessly.” 

It's exactly how I feel two guys that are very 'alpha' and manyly and braun and FBI agents that are not totally 'out there' to act. Equals parts of wanting to smack their ass and their faces and upside the heads. *Shiver* It was intoxicating. 4½♥'s on this part.

Mystery:
*Sigh* OK, I'll admit, this part kind of blew chunks. And there was much of 'this part'... wasn't nearly as clever as I wanted the mystery to be, and COME ON... I saw it coming a mile away. But, it's the first book in the series, and the man-love made up for so much. I think I need another shower. Scooby has better 'mystery' plots, but I didn't mind the more 'office-like' FBI parts. 2-2½♥'s.

“If I’d been there, I might have been able to do something. But I wasn’t, and I lost them.”

So, by the law of averages, my rating should be lower- but like I said... Ty and Zane sandwich, order up! I'll happily be the spicy mustard of that sandwich, and can't wait to sink my teeth into the rest of the series.

“Evening,” Zane greeted quietly, voice still dark with sleep. He yawned and ran his hand through his hair. The short curls were riotous. “I’m hungry.” “Ugh,” Ty groaned sleepily. “God, you’re worse than a date,” he muttered. “I have to feed you, too?

About Abigail Roux

 
Abigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year. Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of 'Call of Duty' throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.

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