Monthly Archives: March 2014
RBTL Presents ~ THE HARLOT’S PEN by Claudia H. Long ~ BLOG TOUR
Title: The Harlot’s Pen 
Author: Claudia H. Long
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Release Date: Feb 1 2014
Blurb/Synopsis:
San Francisco in the roaring 20s– After World War I, San Francisco is a wild town. Abandoned by her lover, Violetta is swept up in the new, freer ways and becomes America’s first “embedded journalist.” She joins a brothel that caters to San Francisco’s most powerful men in order to write her epic story on the conditions of working women. But federal agents looking to clamp down on both vice and workers’ rights don’t take kindly to her modern views. Shorter dresses, fair pay for women, and the dark and frightening worlds of sex and politics teach Violetta the lessons of a lifetime.
Book Links
Claudia H Long writes fiction when she isn’t mediating messy legal disputes. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and as a change she recently tried to take up belly dancing. Luckily, she is a better mediator than she is a dancer, by far, but her real love is writing fiction.
The Harlot’s Pen, her first venture into the roaring 20s, is a Devine Destinies book, an adventure in embedded (literally!) journalism and the rights of working women in the world’s oldest profession. Claudia is also the author of Josefina’s Sin (Simon & Schuster 2011). The Duel for Consuelo, which follows on Josefina’s Sin, will come out in late Spring 2014 with Booktrope.
Claudia has two grown children, and lives in Northern California with her husband and far too many animals.
Author Links
Excerpt
Violet turned the knob to her room. “Oh, that’s good,” Caleb said. “You got Posie’s room, didn’t you? Perfect.”
“Why’s that perfect?”
“Because I liked Posie, and I like you. Besides, it’s haunted.”
“Nonsense,” Violet said, feeling a surge of superiority. “Ghosts are figments of an overactive imagination.”
“Figments? That’s some vocabulary you’ve got there, Violet. Aren’t you superstitious? I thought all whores were superstitious.”
“Nope. My imagination is literary, and I can tell the difference between reality and fiction. Ghosts are just a convenient fiction to scare the credulous. You don’t believe in ghosts, now, do you, Caleb?” She grinned at him. Maybe he would just want to talk.
“Not since you just said they were just for the gullible.” He smiled back at her, but his eyes were narrowing. “I’m not gullible. And speaking of not gullible, I can tell you ain’t a whore, either. What’s your game?”
Violet stood very still. How do I answer? “No game, Caleb. Tonight, I’m your whore.”
“Good, since I just paid good money for you. Now, get over here.” He sat down on the bed. She took a step towards him. Impatiently, he reached for her hand and closed the gap between them. Then, with a single move, he swung her across his knees, and lifted her skirt over her head. He stroked the back of her thighs above her stockings. “You’re pretty cool, aren’t you? I know how to heat a girl up.” Violet shut her eyes tight as his hand came down hard across her naked rump.
After each blow he rubbed her bottom and slipped his hand between her thighs to keep them spread. As he struck, she could hear his breath come hoarser, and could feel his erection under her stiffening and growing. At last he released her, and she struggled to her feet. She was breathing hard, blinking back tears.
“On the bed.” She lay down immediately. He pushed her legs apart, knelt between her knees, and loosened his trousers. “You’re nice and warm now. Tell me how much you want me.”
“I want you,” Violet said.
Caleb clenched his teeth, and she saw the muscles move in his jaw. “Tell me, Violet.”
“I want you, Caleb. I want you now!” He released his erection from his pants, and Violet’s eyes widened. He was bigger than Sam, far more erect than Grayson, her first lover and runaway groom, and a drop of liquid at the end of the shaft glared at her in readiness.
“Beg,” he whispered.
Violet heard herself whimper, but she had dissociated herself from her body and had not sobbed volitionally. “Please, Caleb, please take me now.”
“How do you want it, Violet?” His voice was low.
She knew the answer, just as she had known it with Sam. “I want it hard, Caleb, hard and fast, and I want it now.”
She shut her eyes as he drove inside her. Far above her, she saw herself arch in pain, then buck in pleasure as she cried out her own release. She grasped Caleb by the back of his shirt and moved against him, begging and urging him on.
When he was finished he lay upon her, breathing raggedly.
“Oh, my God, Violet. You’ll never last here.” He pushed up on his elbows and looked down at her, the boyishness and sparkle back in his eyes. “A whore’s supposed to fake it, Violet. Not actually like it!” He stroked the side of her face. “You’ve got a room full of men downstairs to please. If word gets out about this, you’ll be used up in a week. There’ll be a line out the door!”
Violet looked up at his blue eyes. “No, Caleb, I don’t think it will be like this with everyone. Just you.”
Caleb grinned at her. “You’re a real bearcat!” He got up and adjusted his pants. “See you downstairs,” he said with a wink. He tossed a handful of coins on her bureau. “A real bearcat, yessiree.”
A convenient fiction to snare the credulous.
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COVER REVEAL ~ RBTL Presents ‘Night Moves’ by Kristen Strassel
Night Moves by Kristen Strassel
Title: NIGHT MOVES
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Rockstar Romance
Book Release Date: March 26, 2014
NIGHT MOVES on
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20815056-night-moves
On Amazon: to come
On Barnes and Noble: to come
Cover reveal: March 11, 2014
Book Blurb:
Melanie Vaughn’s job ruined everything. Her social life, nonexistent. Her relationship with her boyfriend, a hostile roommate situation. She resolves to fix everything one snowy afternoon, but instead comes home to discover her boyfriend is already exploring other options. Blonder, bustier options. Rage drives Melanie to do the unthinkable.
When Soul Divider was on the top of the world, so was Ryder Maddox. When the band faded into obscurity, Ryder’s luck plummeted with it. In a last ditch effort to rekindle the band’s heyday, Soul Divider teams up with powerful vampire clean leader, Talis de Rancourt. In return for her services, the band pays the ultimate price for never ending fame.
Now on the run, Melanie meets Ryder in a middle of nowhere hotel. She never expected her teenage rock star crush to be as lost and as in need of a companion as she is. Their connection is all consuming, even before they find they share another kinship: murder.
The newly turned vampires in Soul Divider still have a lot to learn. The police and public begin to connect the girls that go missing or die in sync with the band’s tour schedule. Back at home, clues are also adding up against Melanie as well. Between constant media coverage and unrelenting attention from the authorities, Melanie and Ryder find themselves in unchartered territory.
About the Author:
Kristen shares a birthday with Steven Tyler and Diana Ross. She spends each day striving to be half as fabulous as they are. She’s worn many hats, none as flattering as her cowboy hat: banker, retail manager, fledgling web designer, world’s worst cocktail waitress, panty slinger, now makeup artist and aspiring author. She loves sunshine, live music, the middle of nowhere, and finding new things to put in her house. Kristen is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.
Find Kristen online:
Blog: deadlyeverafter.com
Twitter: @kristenstrassel
Facebook: facebook.com/deadlyeverafterblog
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/imagebykristen/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/kristenstrassel
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7267647.Kristen_Strassel
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Review Tour ~ February Lover ~ Rebecca Royce
February Lover
Author: Rebecca Royce
Series: Calendar Men (#2) {A Multi Authored Series}
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Release Date: February 2014
Editions/Formats Will Be Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Aidan Roux fled New Orleans fifteen years ago, leaving behind a woman he loved. Planning to keep it light because he has no intentions of sticking around, he’s caught off guard by his mother’s health crisis. Forced to stay, he challenges Stacey to be his lover for February with no expectations of anything else.
Stacey never stopped wanting Aidan, but she’s not a girl anymore and she meets his proposition with one of her own. A hero, just back from Afghanistan, he’s the perfect guy for her calendar contest. If he wants her in his bed, he’ll pose for her camera.
Stacey and Aidan seem made for each other—but old hurts cannot be forgotten and love isn’t always enough…
Book Links
Author Information
As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.
I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. We live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.
I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I’ve been told I’m a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
I’d love to hear from you!
Cheers!!
Author Links
Rebecca’s Publishers
Places Rebecca Blog’s At
Paranormal Romantics (Every Tuesday)
Java Karma (22nd of every month)
Diamond Authors (19th & 30th of every month)
Excerpt
Stacey knew she should be horribly offended. He’d propositioned her to have sex for the rest of the month and then go their separate ways. But the truth was, the second he’d started talking she’d become so hot inside she could barely breathe.
There was no way to go back in time and fix things between them. No way she would ever find out exactly why he’d left, if there was something she could have done to make him happier. She wasn’t exactly certain she wanted to. When she’d told him his leaving had prompted her to go make her own career, her own life, she’d meant it.
But today he offered passion. They’d been kids together. She’d given him his first kiss. For all intents and purposes, it might as well have been hers. A sloppy kiss-and-run at twelve years old shouldn’t get to count. They’d lost their virginity together, and all of her early sexual education had been found in his arms.
What would they be like now?
She sucked in her breath. “You’re a hard man to say no to.”
“You didn’t say yes.” He took her hands in his. “I need a yes. I can’t leave here with you upset again.
I won’t hurt you again. So, you have to tell me you understand what I’m offering and what I’m not, that you grasp completely I’m not going to be here in March.”
“I’m not a moron, thank you.” She stood up. “And I’m not the head-over-heels-in-love-with-you twenty-year-old with dreams of marriage and Sunday crawfish boils wrecking my brain. I have my own life here. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth disrupting it for you for an entire month of my life.”
She felt him when he moved behind her, his warmth filling her from the outside in. With a quick tug, he pulled her flush against his body. “I can promise you. It’ll be worth it.”
MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed February Lover from Rebecca Royce…
I’ve not read a lot of her books but I intend to change that very soon!
February Lover was a really great, short, hot & sexy read.
It had likeable characters with a history full of memories, a little bit of a secret and a lot of attraction, passion & heat…
I read the book in an evening and would definitely recommend it!!!
I’m looking forward to relaxing with more of Rebecca’s books in the near future!!
** I received an eARC of this book from Fated Desire in exchange for an honest review **
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Manday Hotties Hop ~ 10/03/14
Hey lovelies, welcome to another Manday Hotties post….
I’ve got 3 great pics for you this week!! Hope you like them!
Can’t really decide which one of the three I prefer…… I’ll come back in a little bit and see if I can make up my mind!!! 😉
As ever, don’t forget to check out the other blogs taking part in Felicity’s Hop this week!!
http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/
http://cecesreviews.blogspot.co.uk/
http://amandajgreene.blogspot.co.uk/
http://alexandraanthony.wordpress.com/
http://deenar116.wordpress.com
Enjoy the girls choices today!!!
Have a fantastic week and I’ll catch you back her next Monday for more eye-catching Hotties!!!
T xx
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Cover Reveal ~ Target This by Lily White
Synopsis:
“I’m not sure what I was thinking that day.
It was a normal Thursday, nothing new or exciting had occurred in the morning.
I’d risen from bed, taken a shower and brushed my teeth. I’d then jumped on the 8:05 bus that ran a short distance between my house and the county library where I worked.
The ride took its usual 15 minutes before it left me standing fresh faced in front of a building of gothic construction that was my favorite place in the world.
After straightening my knee length skirt, I pushed open the door that led into the interior of the library.
It was at that moment that my world would change – impossibly and forever. It was a fateful movement of wood that collided with the shoulder of a man that would alter my very existence.
It wasn’t fear that I felt at that moment – more like the feeling of being watched. It was the feeling of knowing that danger lurks – the sensation of the hair standing on end at the back of your neck.
Looking back on a moment that happened so many months ago, I now realize that I should have listened to that feeling.
As I would later find out, the man standing in front of me referred to himself as Master Lucas…
…and I was his next target.”
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21363389-target-this
About the Author:
Lily White is a dark writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. Most of the time she can be found wandering around aimlessly while her mind is stuck in some twisted power play between two characters in her head. You may recognize her in public by the confused expression, random mumbling, and occasional giggle while thinking up a scene. Lily’s favorite things in life are reading, thinking about reading, buying books for reading….and writing. Her other secret pleasure is meeting with her plot editor in public to discuss her books and watching the shocked expressions of the people around her that don’t realize she’s talking about a book. When Lily is not reading, writing, wandering or freaking out innocent bystanders, she’s sleeping.
Contact Lily White:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlilywhite?ref=hl
Twitter: @eroticlilywhite
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Spotlight Blog Tour ~ Her Master’s Courtesan by Lily White
Her Master’s Courtesan by Lily White
THE BLURB:
“I am a Master.
You must know this fact to understand my story.
I capture women.
I break them down.
And I rebuild them.
If they are lucky, they are sold into the professional hands of another Master. If they are less fortunate, they are buried beneath the ground, never to be thought of again.
I lust for the control, I demand absolute submission and my body yearns to warp the minds of those I train.
Power is the only thing I’ll ever need and I am addicted to the feeling of ultimate control.
I am wealthy, good-looking, educated and charming.
And I am – in no way – a good man.
I do not want love.
I do not want kindness.
She thought she could change me by giving me the two things I knew I never wanted.
She was wrong”
Exerpt:
“Look up, Rebecca. Open those pretty green eyes and see what you’ve become”
A wicked grin pulled at my lips and I adored the initial expression on her face when she saw the photographs. The were magnificent, erotic and the quintessential example of how the human body became art.
Using one finger to pull up her chin, I looked into her face, a mischievous expression obvious in the look in my eye and the smile that stretched across my face. “Don’t be shy, beautiful. When I found you, you were looking at art such as this. You were transfixed as I recall – your cheeks turned pink when I’d first asked you about it.”
Links To Book
Banned from Amazon
Find Lily:
About Lily
Lily White Bio: Lily White is a dark writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. Most of the time she can be found wandering around aimlessly while her mind is stuck in some twisted power play between two characters in her head. You may recognize her in public by the confused expression, random mumbling, and occasional giggle while thinking up a scene. Lily’s favorite things in life are reading, thinking about reading, buying books for reading…. and writing. Her other secret pleasure is meeting with her plot editor in public to discuss her books and watching the shocked expressions of the people around her that don’t realize she’s talking about a book. When Lily is not reading, writing, wandering or freaking out innocent bystanders, she’s sleeping.
Her Master’s Courtesan Giveaway
For your chance to win an eCopy of HMC click the link below
Her Master’s Courtesan eBook Giveaway
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Release Blitz ~ The Junior Bridesmaid by Amy Baker
Synopsis
Before the wedding, Delilah discovers that the bride-to-be is keeping a torrid secret. Fearful that she will hurt Hugh, she remains silent, going about her Junior
Bridesmaid duties as planned.
Until…
All hell breaks loose during the wedding ceremony. Embarrassed and devastated, Delilah flees the wedding. But not before hurting the love of her life.
Twelve years later, Delilah is 28 and living a happy existence in New York. Until one day when she receives a message addressed to JUNIOR? Has Hugh hunted her down twelve years later to exact revenge or is he in New York for a different reason entirely? Either way, twelve years is a long time to wait to find out!
***This is a stand alone novel meant for mature readers over the age of 18 due to mature content and language.***
Excerpt
“Anyway, what would make me think that it would have mattered to you if I’d returned to Virginia?” I asked way too confrontationally raising my eyebrows to accentuate my point.
Then I proceeded to machine gun my supportive evidence.
“You never called to check on me after the wedding or to ask if I was being ostracized at school or if I was totally humiliated since I essentially bowled my tits down the aisle in the middle of a wedding ceremony! Look ma! No hands!”
I was yelling wasn’t I?
My face couldn’t have flushed faster. I don’t know what the fuck I was doing. I totally obliterated his wedding and I was reading him the riot act on how he should have behaved after? Well it seemed that as fast as I had grown a set of balls my tongue had also grown a mind of its own. I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth, whatsoever. When I finally looked at Hugh, really looked at him, I saw that he was stunned speechless. I became even more flustered and it actually started to feel like my head was a pressure cooker and it could blow at any given moment. Since shoving my napkin in my own mouth wasn’t an option, I brought it to my lips hoping it would deter me from blurting out any other latent anger that I wasn’t aware I was harboring.
Purchase Links
Author Bio
Author Links
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Upcoming Release – STEPPING OUT by Marie Harte
We’ve got just 1 week left until the release of STEPPING OUT from one of my favourite authors MARIE HARTE!!
Here’s a wee taste of what’s to come!!!
His gaze narrowed. “One thing, though. That kiss in the restroom.”
He just had to bring that up.
She swallowed, hoping she didn’t look as red as she felt. “The kiss?”
“The one you planted on me while I was bleeding from a head wound?” he reminded her with sarcasm.
And there went her compassion for Mr. Arrogant. “You mean the kiss you instigated?” she asked with mock confusion. “I remember sitting in your lap, trying to help you out. Then you gripped my hips, grinding into me with that iron bar in your pants, and turned a flirtation into something else.”
He blinked. “So you’re saying I hit on the woman I thought was making time with my sister’s boyfriend?”
“You’re saying I tried to French the loser cheating on his pregnant fiancée? It was supposed to be a brief, punishing kiss. Then you turned it into something more.”
They stared at each other, stymied, apparently, because she had no intention of confessing he’d turned her on so much she’d lost herself in his kiss. And he didn’t seem to be able to admit the truth either.
Huh.
“Well, this is awkward.”
http://marieharte.com/books/stepping-out/
LINKS TO MARIE:
Marie’s Website
Facebook Author Page
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Manday Hotties – 03/03/14
Hi lovelies, yep, it’s that time again!!!
This week I’ve gone for some images from the wonderful Michael Stokes
I just LOVE his pictures!
Coming up with a draw this week, kinda hard to choose just one from these..
What about you, do you have a favourite?!?
As ever, don’t forget to head on over to the other blogs taking part in Felicity’s Blog Hop this week!!
http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/
http://cecesreviews.blogspot.co.uk/
http://amandajgreene.blogspot.co.uk/
Enjoy the hotties the ladies have for you today!!!
Have a great Monday and I’ll see you all back here for more fabulous pics next week!!!!
T xx
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BLOG TOUR ~ Peyton’s Ride & The Reaper and the Cop
Peyton’s Ride by Jennifer James
Peyton’s Ride Blurb
She’s about to trade her treasured motorcycle in on a much wilder ride – Ian Coghlan.
Divorcee Peyton Reynolds is ready to escape the the judgement of a small town, bad memories of her failed marriage, and the grief of her mother’s death. A month long, cross-country ride should do just the trick. One last check-up on her new cruiser has her tripping over her hormones while alone in the garage with the town’s sexy bad boy, Ian Coghlan.
Tattooed, pierced, and able to shape-shift, Ian will give her the ride of her life.
Ian Coghlan knows he’s nothing but disaster for a woman like Peyton. His place in the Wild Hunt and killer instincts have held him back from acting on a five-year attraction. When the curvy brunette responds to one tiny grin with a spark of interest, sockets fly out of the toolboxes and Peyton is knocked to the floor.
That month of solitude she wanted just disappeared, but the consolation prize is looking pretty…damn…hot.
With the magic of the Hunt in the air, Pixie pranks abound, and his old biker gang roars into the parking lot, dousing the heat in the garage with the cold dredges of mayhem. Peyton’s life is on the line with his bad brothers’ return to his world, and Ian has to decide if he can let her go or if he’s willing risk her eternal hatred by changing her life forever.
Peyton’s Ride Links
Peyton’s Ride Excerpt
“Yes. I’m sorry Peyton. But I want you to live.” He hauled her up tighter to him and cradled the back of her head in his hand. “I hope you forgive me.”
Tight bands of steel wrapped her chest, and she fought to gain a breath.
The soft, sensuous glide of a tongue inserted between her lips, and coaxed her into a response. He plunged deeper and bit her mouth. The crest of a wave broke open in her, and the sensations she’d experienced before when he’d changed shapes from horse to man centered in her being.
She clenched his hair in her hands and managed a deeper breath. Icy cold and wild, his scent permeated her nostrils and flowed into her lungs. The throb of his erection ground into her abdomen.
Her clit pulsed, and wetness slicked her pussy as urgent need overtook her. Never had she felt this kind of sexual craving. It burned and soothed, claimed common sense and destroyed it on fires of passion. A whimper tore from her throat, and she went limp.
“Figures…” Of course she’d finally get the guy naked, right before she passed out and was half dead. She was a total failure at cougar-ing.
About the Author – Jennifer James
For a girl whose first book was called “The Scariest Forest Ever,” the jump to romance may seem to be a far one. But a love of happy endings and the stories she kept making up in her head for strangers on the street lead to an unhealthy amount of time spent behind the keyboard typing away and giggling mischievously over sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and healthy sprinklings of geek humor.
With time split between a day job staring at teeth, two little girls, college courses, workaholic husband, and too many voices in her head, Jennifer still finds time to sneak off and devour all the books she can find – even if it means hiding in the closet to read them.
She insists on her jokes being dirty, drinks spiked, and tattoos placed in intriguing, muscular places you can only find when the clothes come off.
Author Links – Jennifer James
MY REVIEW
I hadn’t heard of Jennifer James until I was asked by Anna over at Herding Cats & Burning Soup if I’d be interested in reading and reviewing an ARC of the book….. Really glad I said yes!!!!
Peyton’s Ride was more than I expected it to be. I love paranormal reads, especially ones with Fae (and pixies)……
This is a really good story with a few twists. The down and dirty action, when it came, was hot & sexy…. but there was so much more to this book than the sex!!!
I liked Peyton – enjoyed reading about her history and how she was now viewing her life… and Ian – well, gods – sex on a stick in biker form!!!!
I read this book in an afternoon – glued to the sofa so I didn’t have to put my eReader down!!! 😉
For a well written, interesting and fun read, grab yourself a copy of Peyton’s Ride and settle down for a few hours of escape!!!
Looking forward to more in the Riding With The Hunt series from Jennifer!!!
** I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review **
The Reaper and the Cop by Mina Carter
The Reaper – Blurb
Death’s big business. For Laney Larson, it’s a full time job.
The latest in a long line of Reapers, Laney hits Liberty, Oakwood expecting the usual ‘reap and run’ type of job. However the small town holds far more secrets than she expects, including a sexy cop who blind-sides her reaper instincts big-time.
Liberty. It used to be a nice town until the things that go bump in the night moved in.
Detective Troy Regan moved to Liberty to claw back a little of his soul after working homicide in the big city. But the sleepy little down has problems of the paranormal kind and it’s police department have gone from calls about lost cats to Boggarts in the basement. Then the seriously nasty stuff moved in.
Sparks fly when a sexy Reaper meets a hot as hell Cop…
Troy’s not sure exactly what flavour of paranormal Laney is, but he doesn’t care. She’s tiny, delicate and gorgeous. When he finds a Lycan looming over her in an alley, all his protective instincts flare up. He needs to get her home, keep her safe…in his bed.
But is she the answer he’s been looking for to fill the empty spot in his heart, or the most dangerous creature he’s ever met?
The Reaper – Links
The Reaper Excerpt
Death is inevitable. For most, that means worrying about the how, and more importantly, the when. It’s an obsession the marketing industry has latched onto like a leech, and from one person to the next, ranges from the absent worry about leaving loved ones behind to narcissistic panic at leaving this mortal coil.
For some of us though, death is a job. I would say it’s a nine to five, daily grind, but it’s more of a 24/7/365 deal.
Let me introduce myself.
I’m Laney Larson, and I’m a Reaper. Yeah, you heard me right. I said Reaper. As in the big, bad dude with the robes and scythe—looks like he needed a few extra squares in his life? That guy.
Kinda.
Well, not quite.
It’s more accurate to say that I’m his great—god-knows-how–many—great grand-daughter. Hard to tell since no one has seen his Grimness since the middle ages, but every single Reaper carries a piece of him, their Grimm, within. It’s what gives us our abilities and lets us see things that others can’t. Without a Grimm, a Reaper is a standard human with an interesting family tree. Nothing more, nothing less. With a Grimm? Yeah, even I don’t know everything we’re capable of.
I don’t want to think about what we can do. Not with how many of us there are.
It’s a bit like the Santa deal, but instead of presents, there are lots of souls to be reaped daily all over the world. I have no clue how the big dude in red manages it—yeah, he’s real too. And the Easter Bunny? Don’t get me started on that asshole. Reapers spread the load.
It’s like a franchise. You don’t buy into it, you’re born into it. There are Reaper families everywhere, but not all of us get the call and receive a Grimm. When my grandfather died, it skipped over my mom and two older brothers to pick me.
My eldest bro had been so convinced that he’d be the one, he’d gone out and bought himself a costume. Head to toe armored bike leathers in Reaper black, with a death’s head helmet. Idiot can’t even ride a bike. He thought it looked cool though, so he was well pissed when the Grimm passed him over and picked me. You can imagine how awkward Thanksgiving was in our house that year. He’s still not talking to me ten years later. Twat.
So yeah, back to the point. I got the family Grimm—which, by the way, is a cantankerous bastard at the best of times—and I’ve been reaping souls ever since. It’s an interesting job, especially since my promotion less than a week into it.
You see, there are different types of Reaper. My grand-pop dealt with the “Naturals.” Those are the nice and easy reaps, those who die all peaceful of old age in their sleep, or in their garages, or gardens while cutting the grass. The ones who are expecting a visit from the big old GR himself so they’re not surprised to find they’re dead.
In fact, I remember Pop saying that the most exciting reap most months tended to be the old boys who snuffed it while on the job. According to Pop, trying to convince a soul that it’s not still having sex can be difficult. And icky. I don’t want to see no soul’s junk. Ever. Thank God, I’ve never had to deal with one of those.
Nope, after a couple of days on naturals, there was an opening, and I moved on to violent deaths. Gunshots, car accidents, beatings. You name it, I get to wade in and take the souls out. Some fight, but I prefer those to the victims. The pain in their auras, and the relief to see me because they know that their ordeals are over, tears at my heart. Especially the kids.
I’ve put more than a few email requests into head office to be the Reaper who takes their abusers down. Reaping is painless for the reapee. Is that even a word? Huh, I made one up. Go me.
Where was I, oh yeah, we train long and hard to make sure the souls don’t suffer. But since Reapers don’t go to heaven or hell, we’re out of that loop. There’s nothing to stop me from holding up somewhere quiet and taking a couple of days to strip a soul from its body. And believe me, given the right situation, I can be real inventive.
About the Author – Mina Carter
Mina was born and raised in the East Farthing of Middle Earth (otherwise known as the Midlands, England) and spend her childhood learning all the sorts of things generally required of a professional adventurer. Able to ride, box, shoot, make and read maps, make chainmail and use a broadsword (with varying degrees of efficiency) she was disgusted to find that adventuring is not considered a suitable occupation these days.
So, instead of slaying dragons and hunting vampires and the like, Mina spends her days writing about hot shifters, government conspiracies and vampire lords with more than their fair share of RAWR. Turns out wanna-be adventurers have quite the turn of imagination after all…
(But she keeps that sword sharp, just in case the writing career is just a dream and she really *is* an adventurer.)
The boring part: A full time author and cover artist, Mina can usually be found hunched over a keyboard or graphics tablet, frantically trying to get the images and words in her head out and onto the screen before they drive her mad. She’s addicted to coffee and would like to be addicted to chocolate, but unfortunately chocolate dislikes her.
Author Links – Mina Carter
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Giveaway
To win an eCopy of both Peyton’s Ride & The Reaper and the Cop, click the link below.
This Giveaway is open internationally.
Peyton’s Ride & The Reaper and the Cop eBook Giveaway
MY REVIEW
This is the first Mina Carter book I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last…
My first love in book genres is Paranormal so this book was right up my street!!!! The Reaper and the Cop was a fun, sexy, quick read.
I really enjoyed the premise of the Reaper!! Great character – Laney is a fabulous kickass, snarky and spunky heroine who, though small in stature, is big in character!!!! Troy our handsome cop hero is HOT and sexy with a caring side… Loved them both!
I read this book in one sitting ~ the only thing I will say is that I wish it had been longer!!!
If you are looking for a short but well written, interesting & laugh out loud read then pick up a copy of The Reaper and the Cop – you’ll be glad you did!!!!
** I received an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review **
Book Loving Pixies 