Sin...spiration!

Back from my holidays and ready to get back to work, I thought it might be nice on this Friday morning to have some inspiration for the day ahead ;)

What do you think?

Yep... I think we can find something amongst that lot.

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend what wonderfully wicked things you are planning to get up to.

UNOFFICIAL SIX

BLURB:

Evan Griffin moved into his remote country house with all the excitement and promise of a new start. He thought he'd found it until the strange noises began… When the attacks became physical, he was left bruised and battered and desperate for help.

When Evan walks into the offices of paranormal investigators, Knight & Stone, Ross Stone is dumbfounded by the injuries the man bears. Injuries Evan insists were caused by an unseen assailant in his own home. Something in the man's eyes tugs at Ross's heartstrings. Does he dare risk getting close to Evan when he is fighting his own demons?

GOING UNDER IS AVAILABLE NOW AT SILVER PUBLISHING

This week's six...

"Would you think I was totally insane if I asked you to kiss me?"

"Evan," Ross's voice was gentle and soothing as he took the other man's slender fingers in his. "You're under a lot of pressure and I'm not going to take advan—" His flow was cut off by the sudden press of Evan's mouth to his. His immediate thought was how soft Evan's lips were, quickly followed by a half-hearted attempt to tell himself that he should stop this. But then Evan's tongue teased along the seam of his lips and he was unable to form a rational thought beyond, more right now.

REVIEW: DEAD THINGS BY MEREDITH RUSSELL

A deadly virus rages indiscriminately across the United States and then beyond. The survivors face a new terror--the undead creatures created in the wake of the infection.

Devin Reid is part of a group surviving out of a high-security penitentiary near Kansas City. Resources are limited and it's down to a handful of people like Devin to meet the demands on food and supplies. The newly-made monsters are hungry, and the survivors risk their lives scavenging the cities and highways.

On one fateful venture, Devin finds something, someone, with the potential to change a dark future, destined for blood and heartbreak, into one of hope and second chances. He finds Noah Weber.




RATING: 4.5 LULU'S

REVIEW:

Those that know me are aware I have a little passion for the horror genre, so when Meredith promoed her new book, I was excited. I can't lie. Well I could.. but I'm not very good at it, so there's no point.

Anyhoo, I opened the book and from the first page I was transported into a post-zombie apolocalyptic world of survivor and predator. Within moments you feel like you are in the world Russell has built, surrounded by zombies ringing the dinner bell. You know what it reminded me of? A scintillating cross between The Stand and the Walking Dead. Yes I know The Stand didn't have zombies in it, but it's all about the survival and the way they come together to try and build a new life.

Devin was the perfect hero. Handsome, strong, determined, but oh so broken. *le sigh* And Noah has been alone for so long, wondering if he is the only one left and not even knowing he could be the answer to everything.

I admit there were a few dicey moments there when I thought I was going to have to bring down a world of pain on the lovely Ms Russell's head... after all she was the one who lifted me up and threw me into zombieland - and I really don't do enough cardio to outrun supercharged pitbulls in human form. 

But this is a wonderfully written helter-skelter ride with twists and turns that leave you reeling. And beneath it all, Devin and Noah try to find out if they can have a future, together, when any future at all seems so unlikely.

Bloody loved it. The total dogs bollocks! Go get your copy now!

DEAD THINGS IS AVAILABLE HERE AT SILVER PUBLISHING

What do you want to read this holiday season?

Howdy blogger family...

I am getting to the point in the year when I should be seriously considering whether or not I am going to do a holiday story.  After the success of both of my Christmas stories last year, I think I just might.

However, I am going to be in need of a little assistance from my chums. So... when you are cuddled up under the blanket on the sofa and it's snowing outside, who would you like to hear more from?

Maybe you want to know how Parker, Jake and Nate are fairing as a family coming up to their first Christmas together. Are the flames still burning brightly, or has Jake decided he's bitten off more than he can chew?

Perhaps you want to find out if Jamie and Luke have managed to make a go of things?

Maybe the honeymoon period is well and truly over and things get serious when a tragedy strikes...

Who knows... maybe you'd like to know how Gabe and Tom are settling in New York... and whether or not their first Christmas as a couple is all they hoped it would be?

The choice is yours... just leave me a comment letting me know which one you'd like to hear more of and I'll tackle the one with the most votes. If you leave me your email addy, you'll also go in the hat to get yourself a copy of the finished article.

The First Time

There has to be a first time for everything... doesn't there?

I wasn't so sure when I was dabbling in the wonders of fanfiction and a friend of mine sent me a link for a special submissions call over at Dreamspinner. (So if anyone is to blame it's RJ). I'd hit a bit of a rough patch at the time and I thought it might give my mind something else to concentrate on, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Like so many others, of course, I convinced myself that there was no way they were going to accept it. The germ of an idea crept into my slightly twisted mind and when I was finished... Halfway House was sitting in my documents file and I was knocking on RJ's door (metaphorically speaking, we don't live close enough for that and if we did I'm sure she'd have moved several times by now ;)) and asking what I did next.

There was mention of POV's, to which I said and quite eloquently I might add... huh? Wots dat? Points of View I was informed. Oh, I replied.... wots dat? After a lesson in what a POV actually was, I sent my ms to an as yet unknown friend (Chris Quinton) who beta'd it for me.

What an experience that was! There was a lot of red - but it made a lot of sense. Especially the fact that I kept referring to eye colours and longing looks all while the two protagonist were standing in the pitch black. I think the comment might have been along the lines of... "Put some bloody lights on!"

Once that was all set right and the boys were indeed told to go into the light, I compiled my introductory letter, attached my ms, then prevaricated over the sending for quite a while. Then a quick stab and it was gone.

I have to admit I wasn't that pleasant to live with for the next few weeks and that my email privileges were nearly revoked because I kept checking it so often, but eventually the email popped up telling me they actually liked the story and were offering me a contract. It's a fantastic feeling, one that's not really possible to describe. Like your kid won an award... or your favourite cow got best in show... or you know what I mean, it felt good!

Even so... I told myself I shouldn't use a pen name because it would be the one and only time I would see my name in print.  But that first time turned out not to be the last.  More short stories and a dozen books later that email keeps popping up and I thank my lucky stars that there are those out there who enjoy my little corner of the world.

So that's basically my advice to any newbies. Take a deep breath, square your shoulders and pop your cherry... it might not be as painful as you think ;)

If you would like the chance to win a copy of my latest release, Going Under, just leave me a comment with your email addy - good luck.  And head on over to the RJ Scott Anniversary Blog Hop, of which this is part, for other writing advice and goodies :)

NEVER SAY JUST - KATIE HARPER

Haunted by her past of murder for hire and skinning people alive to gather vital intelligence, Kat Boudreaux wants nothing more than to hide away in her sprawling mansion with the love of her life--her daughter. But then Private Gump and his band of Bubbas land on her doorstep. Her brother and his unit of misfit Marines insert themselves with the misguided need to protect her from someone hell-bent on vengeance.

For Shooter, it's love at first sight, though he wouldn't be caught dead admitting it. When Kat is nearly fatally injured while saving his life, he knows he's found the woman for him. Together, they fight side by side to get to the bottom of the threats. Kat's daughter is kidnapped and this ex-assassin mom reverts back to old habits to save her. Saving Kat and her daughter is easy, taming the shrew that is Hell Kat Boudreaux might mean losing his favorite appendage.


REVIEW: 5 Lulu's

What can I say about Katie Harper's first novel? *Taps chin* What does it have?
The question should be, what doesn't it have? Intrigue, suspense, family, love, excitement. Everything but the kitchen sink... no wait... there's one of them in there, too!

It grabs you from the first couple of pages and it's grip only tightens as you read more and more, until you are so firmly wrapped up in the story you find yourself glad the kids are away for a week, because if they'd disturbed you during this... you may have had to build some stairs to put a cupboard under it so you could get rid of them!

I want to be Kat Boudreax when I grow up. She's fantastic. Feisty, beautiful, sensual and, best of all, within minutes of meeting her you know she ain't gonna take no shit from no one.

I also want a Shooter of my own. *whispers* I would quite like THE Shooter, but I think Kat would stake me naked to an anthill and then add some fire ants for good measure.  They are perfect together, damn them!

To say I was impressed with this book and couldn't put it down is an understatement and I cannot wait to see what the uber-talented Harper comes up with next.  I am tapping my fingers impatiently and my breath is bated!

I insist you do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars and go straight to Decadent Publishing for your copy... now... go on... I can still see you... run... or I'll set Kat on you!

AND THE WINNER IS....

The winner of the quest for a title for my male midwife story is.... drum roll please.... ENNY KRAFT... with UN-EXPECTING!

Thank you all for participating and I hope you enjoy the story when it's finished :)

PRE-ORDER NOW! HEARTS OF ENGLAND ANTHOLOGY

I am very fortunate to be associated with four wonderful UK authors in this anthology where all the stories are set in the United Kingdom.

Available now for pre-order at Silver Publishing with a 15 September release date.

The Cameraman's Tale - Chris ...

Quinton
Mark is a researcher for a paranormal reality TV show. A cameraman on the show encountered a ghost and needs his help. Mark must break the cycle of injury and death before filming begins, or others will be at risk.

Featuring Mark and Jack from the story: The Psychic's Tale.


By Design - Lisa Worrall
Robbie Cooper gets more than he bargains for when Shane Donald walks into his shop, photograph in hand, asking Robbie to tattoo the likeness on his skin. There’s something about the photograph and the way Shane talks about the man in the picture that ignites a spark deep inside Robbie, and he longs to know more. But will he like what he hears, and will he be able to control his instant attraction to his client?

Child Of Storm - RJ Scott
Ben Hyland is excited to be showing Cory Vasilyev Yorkshire. Cory scouts locations for film studios and needs the right inspiration for a new film version of Wuthering Heights. Problem is. while Ben wants to share his passion for the story and for the wild moors, Cory just wants to go home. Until he doesn't.

A Good Feeling - S.A. Meade
Jamie never expected to meet the love of his life in a tea shop. He never expected his lover, Connor, to be an Army Officer about to return to Afghanistan for one last deployment. After twelve short weeks together, Jamie has to face uncertainty and worry. Worry that Connor may not make it back alive, uncertainty that Connor will want him to be at the base, waiting, when he returns. Will the good feelings he always had about their future together survive their separation?

This Morning - Sue Brown
When Neil takes his son to school he doesn't expect Alex to tell him that he doesn't want to go to South Africa on a year-long trip with him and his husband. Neil has to make a choice between his son and his husband. He only hopes that Baz understands his son must come first, otherwise he faces the prospect of his love walking out of his life forever.

William's Heart - Meredith Russell
Jude is confident, happy, and views his world through the lens of a camera. Brody is a writer. Haunted, and searching for inspiration in Stratford-upon-Avon. In Jude, Brody finds something his heart has longed for—acceptance for who he is.

UNOFFICIAL SIX

Here is my unofficial six sentences from my new WIP... loosely entitled... The Midwife :)

This is Micah :)

 “You said… it would be… walk in the park.”

“Well, more like a brisk jog,” Micah grinned.

“Bastard.”

“That’s it, get pissed,” he encouraged, not batting an eye when a bare foot was suddenly lifted onto his shoulder. He swept two fingers around the perineum as another contraction hit and the baby’s head crowned for the third time. “Another push, Sarah and the head will be out. Bear down and we can meet this beautiful boy.”

RELEASE DAY!! GOING UNDER! (GIVEAWAY)

It's release day for Going Under! Woo hoo!
If you want a copy... leave me a comment with your email addy and my assistant (my son) will pick a winner out of the hat when he returns next Friday :)  Good luck!

BLURB:

Evan Griffin moved into his remote country house with all the excitement and promise of a new start. He thought he'd found it until the strange noises began… When the attacks became physical, he was left bruised and battered and desperate for help.

When Evan walks into the offices of paranormal investigators, Knight & Stone, Ross Stone is dumbfounded by the injuries the man bears. Injuries Evan insists were caused by an unseen assailant in his own home. Something in the man's eyes tugs at Ross's heartstrings. Does he dare risk getting close to Evan when he is fighting his own demons?

BUY LINK:

SILVER PUBLISHING 

EXCERPT:

Prologue

Pulling open the curtains to let in the morning light, Evan Griffin gazed out the glass pane at the rolling hills that surrounded his house on every side. His house. It sounded good in his head; new house and new beginning. Surveying the beautiful countryside that the large farmhouse was sitting smack dab in the middle of, he wondered how he could be anything but happy here. It was perfect—almost. But he wouldn't think about Mack now—couldn't. If he let himself walk that road, he'd end up in a useless heap on the floor and those boxes wouldn't unpack themselves.

Lost in his thoughts he opened the first box and began to sort through the linen he found there. Halfway to the linen closet, he was stopped in his tracks by a loud bang. "Fuck," he hissed, dropping the curtain and padding onto the floor. He listened intently for a moment and, hearing nothing, he bent to pick up the items he'd dropped. Then he heard it again, coming from the bathroom. Swallowing, an uneasy feeling unfurling in his belly, he opened the bathroom door and looked around the room. Everything seemed in place. His toiletries were on the shelf in a large shoebox and the stack of towels he'd unpacked yesterday were still sitting in the bone dry tub.

The tub was one of the things that had attracted Evan to the property. It was huge and at six-one in his bare feet, a tub that he could actually stretch out in was something of a novelty. It sat in the middle of the room on claw feet with old-fashioned steel faucets and the head end higher than the foot end, like something you would see in a Victorian lady's boudoir. The white porcelain was cracked a little with age and he would have to repaint the underside with some specialized paint, but he didn't care. The proportions of the room and the grandeur of the fittings, albeit a little worn, were what had clinched the deal.

Slam!

"Jesus Christ," he spat, spinning around to find the bathroom door shutting him off from the rest of the house. His heart pounded in his chest when there was another crash and he spun around to see the large casement window at the end of the room banging in the wind. "For fuck's sake, Griffin," he admonished himself, walking over to the window, pulling it shut, and securely latching it. "It's an old house. The window was open which made the first slam and then the centrifugal force created by the window and the door being open caused the second."

He stopped in front of the mirror he had hung above the basin the day before and ran his hands through his shaggy hair, scratching his scalp with blunt nails. "If you're going to think that every knock, creak, and bang is something sinister, you might as well pack up and go back to the city right now." He shook his head at his reflection before turning on his heel and crossing the room to open the door. "And stop talking to yourself," he added with a smile, firmly closing the door behind him and heading back to the bedroom to get dressed.

* * * *

"You think moving houses can get rid of me, Evan?" She watched from her seat on the deep window sill as the man moved around the bedroom. "You always were stupid." Her hands clenched into fists as the rage bubbled inside her. Narrowing her gaze she smiled in satisfaction as Evan rubbed his hands together to warm them. "What's wrong, Evan? Cold?" She lifted her hands and gripped at the wet strands of her hair and hissed through her teeth. "Not as cold as me! But you will be… you will be. I'm not going anywhere until you and everyone you love has paid for what you did."

Chapter One

"I'm late, I'm late," Ross Stone mumbled over and over as his feet pounded the sidewalk. He bumped into other pedestrians on the way and tossed shouts of apology over his shoulder, left and right. If he'd had the time, he'd have stopped to say sorry personally, but that was all anyone was going to get from him today. If he was any later for this meeting, Jack would skin him alive.

Skidding to a halt outside the austere brick building, he all but flew up the stone steps and into the foyer. "Hey, Burt!" he yelled, waving a hand at the doorman behind the desk as he slipped and slid over the highly polished oak flooring.

"Late again?" Burt chuckled, returning the greeting with a lift of his hand. "Jack don't look happy, son!" he called after him.

"Tell me about it," Ross replied, bouncing from one foot to the other while he waited for the elevator, and then sighing gratefully when the doors finally opened. He ducked inside the metal box and pressed the button for the eighth floor. "My ears have been burning for the last four blocks!"

The elevator doors slid open again when it reached the eighth floor, Ross took a step back at the expression on the face of the man waiting for him. Jack Knight was not exactly the biggest man in the world, but what he lacked in height, he more than made up for in attitude. Ross took in the crossed arms, steely blue gaze, firm set of Jack's lips, and the little wrinkle above his nose that made him look halfway between really pissed and constipated. Not that Ross thought this was the time to let Jack know that.

"Erm… Hi?" he said, hoping his smile wasn't as sheepish as it felt. "Am I late?"

"I suppose you think that's funny?" Jack said softly, menace in every word. "Do you know how long I've had to entertain our new client?"

"Jeez, Jack. I'm only like ten minutes late, if that," Ross griped. "What's the big deal?"

"Look at your watch again, Ross," Jack ground out.

"Why?" Ross replied, not willing to play Jack's stupid games.

"Have you by any chance noticed that the hands haven't moved since you woke up this morning?"

"Don't be stupid," Ross hissed, looking back down at his wrist. "It's—" His gaze flew back up to the annoyed man in front of him. "Shit, how late am I?"

Jack tapped his fingers slowly on his forearm. "Two and a half hours."

"Two—"

"And a half hours," Jack repeated, his tone filled with the obvious desire to kick the shit out of his partner.

"If I say sorry," Ross said, sticking out his lower lip and looking at the other man through lowered lashes, "will you promise not to hurt me?"

"Put the lip away, Stone," Jack huffed, grabbing the neck of Ross's T-shirt and hauling him out of the elevator. "Just get your ass in the office. The poor guy is on his fifth cup of coffee; he's practically bouncing off the walls." He shoved Ross along in front of him. "I'll deal with you later. You're lucky we've known each other since the womb, man, or I'd be firing your ass about now."

"You can't fire me, numb-nuts, I own fifty percent, besides, you love my ass," Ross threw over his shoulder, opening the door to their offices and dumping his bag on his desk. He quickly threw his jacket on the chair and ran a hand over his short, dark blond hair before grinning at Jack. "Come on then, we don't want to keep him waiting." He snorted, ignoring Jack's hissed questioning as to whether or not Ross's birth may have been entirely legal and opened the door to the smaller room where they interviewed their clients.

"Mr Griffin?" Jack said shouldering his way past Ross and entering the room first. "This is my business partner, Ross Stone."

Ross approached the man who was looking out the big window encompassing one whole wall of the room. "Mr Griffin," he said, holding out his hand. "I am so sorry for my tardiness. Hell of a morning." His gasp was involuntary when the man turned and slipped long, slender fingers into his. The face he looked into was ruggedly handsome with a square jaw and high sloping cheekbones and quite possibly the hottest he'd seen in a long time, even covered with bruises and scratches.