Vampire Seduction Games in The Darkness of Love

Are you in the mood for some forbidden romance and a vicious backlash from the possessive husband? Then read The Darkness of Love. This Victorian vampire story tells us how Marcus Scott (from the Redcliffe novels) became the man he is today.

 

Excerpt

            Gregory smiled as he surveyed the poor, helpless young man in Amelia’s bed.  She reported that Marcus had been excellent, strong, and compliant, and extremely invigorating. Now he lay staring at Gregory with a mixture of terror and defiance on his youthful face. He swallowed nervously, unsure whether to speak, and he pulled the bed sheet higher as though to try and conceal his obvious state of undress.

            “Good morning, Marcus,” Lord Stockton said as he approached the bed, “I understand you are feeling ill.”

            Marcus nodded.

            “I apologize, my Lord,” he replied in a hoarse voice, “this appears very improper, and it will not happen again.”          

            “Do not fear  me, Marcus, at least not yet” Gregory replied briskly, “You may rest for a while until you are strong enough to return to your room. I do not require your assistance today; I would rather you regain your strength. Now rest, and I will send a maid with clothes and food for you. I am sure this is simply a lethargy and will pass within the day.”

            “Thank you, my Lord,” Marcus replied weakly, “I am indebted to you,” .

            “No matter,” Gregory said, “I am aware of Amelia’s activity, and I understand that you were totally at her mercy. We will not speak of this again.”

 

Ooh, steamy! Lady Amelia has a hearty appetite, pardon the pun, and when she demands attention, she gets it. Click here to read the full story.

Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

 

#BookReview: Gone Dutch by Louise Murchie

A beautiful, sweet story.

 I am not usually a fan of sweet romance, but I decided to try after enjoying the author's recent novels. I enjoyed the story and the fairy tale elements combined with modern-day practicality.

A widow finds love for a second time when she least expects it, and changes her whole life for the man she loves. There is long-distance romance, steamy sex scenes, description of normal family life, and some luxury lifestyle elements for good measure.

I will say that the book could have used a little more editing and some of the writing is clumsy, but that doesn’t detract from the overall story. It had me wanting to read more, unable to put down my Kindle, and I spent a whole morning on holiday reading until I had finished the book because I needed to.

A lovely holiday read!

Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

The Vampire of Blackpool Tells Her Story

Are you planning a holiday to Blackpool this year? You had better watch out for the resident vampire and her companions. Here’s an excerpt from Vampire of Blackpool:

 
Excerpt
 
Leaping into the air, I struggled to ascend at first. My balance was unsteady, and my body felt like a lead weight. Gritting my teeth, I forced my mind to focus, and I managed a swift if unstable flight to the hospital. Fortunately, it was only a short distance away, but by the time I alighted behind a brick store shed in the grounds of my destination, I almost collapsed. I was starving. I was weak. I managed to walk slowly across the road and towards the double doors that led into the waiting room for the casualty department. There were ambulances and vehicles coming and going, but the pavement was strangely empty of people. All the busy life was contained within the building.
Staggering through the automatic doors, I gasped as a wave of sheer exhaustion poured over me. I was descending into bloodlust. I very nearly attacked the first person I set eyes on, but at the last moment managed to control myself. I was surrounded by beating hearts and succulent bodies. I needed blood. As I leaned against the wall, my breath rasping, my eyes wild with hunger and pain, I became aware of voices approaching as two nurses hurried to my aid.
“Here,” one woman shouted, “Let us help you.”
 

 
What happens next? Read the book to find out! Click here to get your copy and meet the vampires that lurk in my part of the world.

 
Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 
 

#BookLaunch: Enchanted Forests Anthology for Charity

 If you go down to the woods today…

You’d better not go alone…

 

Discover the secret world between the trees where fairies, unicorns and even monsters dwell. Take a stroll through enchanted woods and dance with pixies and dryads by the light of the stars. Escape Baba Yaga and fall in love with a prince in disguise. Taste the fruit at the goblin market and be whisked away on a magical adventure.

 

Among ancient trees, find beauty, danger, and adventure in these enchanting short stories by award-winning, best-selling, and up-and-coming fantasy authors.

 

Enchanted Forests is fully illustrated by the talented Elena Shelest.

 

All profits from this anthology will be donated to Rainforest Foundation who support indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfil their rights.

 

Stories included:

 

Gems of Fae and Foolery by Alice Ivinya

One Fair Eve by Lyndsey Hall

To Snare a Prince by Sky Sommers

Willow Daughter by Astrid V.J.

Pingguo and the Dead Forest by Xander Cross

The Fern Flower by Elena Shelest

Blood of the Unicorn by N.D.T. Casale

Dimension of the Sasquatch by Donna White

Feather Green by Jennifer Kropf

The Lucky Tortoise by Ben Lang

 

Buy the Book:

 

Enchanted Forests from Enchanted Anthologies is available to pre-order now from your favourite bookstore – click here. It launches on 1^st July 2022 and will be available in eBook and paperback formats. You can get the audiobook on 24^th July 2022.

 

Authors: Astrid V.J., Alice Ivinya, Sky Sommers, Lyndsey Hall, Jennifer Kropf, N.D.T. Casale, Ben Lang, Donna White, Xander Cross, Elena Shelest.

 

About the charity:

 

The mission of the Rainforest Foundation is to support indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfil their rights by assisting them in:

 

* Securing and controlling the natural resources necessary for their long term wellbeing and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate their culture or compromise their future; and

 

* Developing the means to protect their individual and collective rights and to obtain, shape and control basic services from the state.

 

More information: https://rainforestfoundation.org/

 

 

Other anthologies in this series:

 

Enchanted Waters, a collection of illustrated short fantasy stories, raising funds for Oceana, a charity working for sustainable fishing and ocean conservation. Available in e-book and paperback formats (audiobook coming soon!): Click here.

 Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

 

There’s a Vampire Hunter in Town! New British Paranormal Suspense

I was searching through old files recently and discovered this little gem from a work in progress. It’s a vampire hunter novel set in and around Middlewich, UK, my hometown.

I started writing it when a fan approached me on an event and asked if I could bring the vampires closer to home. I happily took up the challenge, but the book is not finished. I should return to that later this year if nothing else distracts me in the meantime. Anyway, here is an excerpt to tantalise your imagination:

 

Excerpt

 

            “Dr Worthington,” the man said politely as he stood before her.

            She looked up at him without smiling. He wore blue jeans and a red checked shirt. His blue eyes sparkled with power, and his short blond hair was carefully styled.  She knew immediately that he was much older than the mid-twenties age range that he embodied.

            “Yes,” she said, “Who are you?”

            “My name is Kian,” the vampire replied, “Mr Vance is expecting you. Please, follow me.”

            He turned and walked back the way he came. Jennifer looked around the room, but everyone seemed preoccupied, perhaps a little too studiously. Narrowing her eyes, she stood up and followed the vampire, her fingers flexing at her sides as she resisted drawing her guns too soon. The humans were most likely enchanted not to notice the vampires. It would cause chaos if Jennifer suddenly began wielding a gun and fighting with a powerful undead creature right in front of them.

She found herself walking into a long corridor at the back of the building, and she noted the exit leading out onto the car park. Kian led her up a wide flight of stairs and stopped outside a brown painted door on the landing above the pub. This was it.  He knocked once and then opened the door carefully. Jennifer had to follow. Drawing her guns, she squared her shoulders, let out a breath, and stepped into the room, keeping her back to the wall and the exit in sight.

                                            -----------------------------------------

Phew! That was tense. I need to get that finished, the first draft is about halfway complete and there was a fantastic twist at that point if I recall… The vampire hunter is not all that she seems.

 

Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

Book Review: Dìonadair: Tango Down Duology Part 1 - A Scottish second chance romance by Louise Murchie

It’s a long time since I read a book that stayed with me like this one. I got so hooked that I had to read it in one day, wandering around the house with my kindle in my hands, trying to multitask. That is the sign of a good book for me!

 

The bit I enjoyed most was the three-way relationship that developed between Blythe and her men (brothers, by the way). Maybe it speaks to my inner thoughts, but I found it fascinating and interesting to read. Throw in the military references, modern technology, suspense, and mystery, and you have an intense book to read.

I haven't read anything like this before and now I'm desperate for the sequel. Mature characters, tech galore, suspense and action. And let's not forget the 3-way sex and lots of it! I like that the story is set in Edinburgh, it makes a nice change from the heavy London focus for this type of novel. I loved it!

You can find Louise Murchie on social media and you can buy the book here.

Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

Book Review: This is What You’ll Get by Bobbie Collings

 “Let’s face it, even when it’s an accident, someone must take the blame.” – from This is What You’ll Get by Bobbie Collings.

I really enjoyed this book! It appears to be a cheerful romance novel, something not too heavy that will take you away from the stresses of daily life for a while. Featuring older characters (30-something), some with children, some without, and the protagonists being wealthy and carefree, there are elements of this story that I can relate to and some that I aspire to. I did identify with a few of the characters, although some of the younger ones did come across perhaps more self-aware than I think young people generally are. However, I speak from the experience of a woman who grew up before social media became the norm, so maybe I’m out of touch myself.
 
This book is definitely one for 21^st century attitudes but featuring older characters that I could relate to. It is a hefty tome at 533 pages, and it could benefit from another proofread and editing session to tighten it up and correct some grammatical errors, but I don’t think that detracts from the overall story. I was a little irritated that the female characters were described as “girls” throughout the novel, even though for the most part they were mature women. That might just be my attitude, however, or maybe it was intentional by the author, I don’t know.
 
There is a lot of sex in this book so be warned if that is not your thing. I enjoyed it, but there were a few scenes that left me feeling squeamish. I suppose it depends on what your kink is. The characters did seem overly mature and understanding with each other and I would have expected more animosity or conflict in some of the scenarios. That said, I also find it refreshing to read a book where people are not immediately judging each other for their lifestyle choices, and it is made clear throughout the story that all characters are consenting adults. There are no nasty games here, only adult fun.
 
The ending is not what I expected and does provide an interesting twist that will leave you pondering about social norms, morals and our attitudes towards love and relationships. I am open-minded myself and do not conform to traditional marriage norms, so I enjoyed reading this book for that reason. It is nice to know that there are people who can integrate a healthy sex life into their world without it being taboo or hidden. We all do it, we just don’t like to talk about it! Well, in this book, they do talk about it a lot and while it was a bit much sometimes, generally I enjoyed the subject and the way it was described.
 
Find Bobbie Collings on Instagram and order the book here: This is What You’ll Get.

Download your FREE copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

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