Hi Everyone!
I’m headed offline for the rest of the year to spend some quality holiday time with my family. Before I go, I have a bit of Christmas-related cheer for you. Here’s a look at my snarky demon hero Stryker’s year-round holiday store, aptly named Christmas & More, as he shows it to his love-interest Zara for the first time. Hope you enjoy it. đ
Happy holidays and see you back here in the New Year!
xo,
Celia
… she came to an abrupt halt. A gasp escaped her. He strolled around to catch her expression. It was her first time here in his holiday store, and yep, as expected, she gaped, gaze flitting up, down, right, left, repeat, repeat. Throw in a few rapid blinks, a couple slow eyelid squeezes, and a little head shake…
He chuckled. âMy place has this effect on people. And apparently on angels, too.â
âWow,â she breathed, gliding forward. âI mean…wow.â
She spun in a circle, then trailed her fingers over the golden garland and silver lights twined around his two-story artificial Christmas tree, the lighted angel topper of which hovered near the balcony of the wrap-around second floor and gleamed with luminous light, casting the space in a warm glow.
Christmas tchotchkesânativity scenes in wood, porcelain, and marble, gaily painted nutcrackers both large and small, cheery metal holiday tins filled with treats, figurines of Santa and his merry little elves in various sizes, and moreâadorned table after table on the first floor, and Zara moved in an otherworldly blur now, touching, lifting, and inspecting item after item. Her soft delighted laughs and squeaks pleased him, and he rubbed at a sudden tight spot in his chest. He loved the happiness beaming from her right now, so sincere and unrestrained.
âSnow globes, I love snow globes!â She stopped her whirlwind of activity by the checkout counter, brandishing a globe in each hand, fake snow swirling around little snowmen encased in the clear glass.
âBest sellers. Theyâre yours, free of charge.â Hell, heâd give her his entire Christmas collection simply to see this exhilarated expression on her face, cheeks pink, blue eyes aglow, lips curved in a genuine, real smile. And she aimed all this positivity at him.âŠ
âOh, I couldnât.â She shook them both, seeming fascinated by the whirling glitter inside.
âYou can and you will.â He opened up the store app on his phone and booted up a surprise for her. âBehind you.â
A cheery whistle sounded from the front window display. Zaraâs eyes widened, and she twisted toward the source of the sound. Another delighted gasp. Jesus, joy oozed out of her every pore. Bloody brilliant.
She set the globes on the counter and hurried to the window display to watch the train and its attached red, green, and black cars chug lazily through the picture-perfect model town heâd set up. Mini pine trees, snowmen, and picturesque cottages dotted the entire snowbound landscape. Lights glowed in the windows of the quaint stores on Main Street. At one end of the street, tiny children figurines in winter gear skated on a mirrored faux pond in the townâs park. At the other, the train station and town hall teemed with holiday shoppers.
âSanta!â Zara clapped her hands when Santa in his sleigh pulled by tiny reindeer glided in a gentle circle over the town thanks to invisible wiring attached to a near-silent motor fixed and hidden in the ceiling of the display window.
Strykerâs face ached from all the smiling his happy angel had him doing, her glee as intense and endearing as that of the human kids who visited his store. âSo, you like Christmas.â
âWho doesnât?â She glanced at him for a millisecond before returning her attention to the scene.
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Want more Stryker and Zara? Read another excerpt here –>.
Hello my Dear Readers!
I’m excited to announce the release of another story I’ve written for The Cupid Dating Agency! This is the second in the quartet I’ve planned for this multi-author series. You briefly met snarky demon Stryker in A Warrior’s Kiss. Now watch him woo his heart’s desire, angel warrior Zara, in this Enemies to Lovers tale.
xo,
Celia
Title: A Demon’s Embrace
Series: The Cupid Dating Agency
Author: Celia Breslin
Genre: Adult, high-heat paranormal romance
ASIN: B08Q8JRLWN
ISBN: 9781393692881
Word count/pages: 30K/124pp
Cover Artist: Brantwijn Serrah
Release date: December, 2020
She believes him the enemy. He’s determined to prove her wrong.
Former relic-hunter and soldier for Hell, Stryker spends his days of redemption running a holiday store in a cheery little town in the California wine country. Heâs not complaining. The gig puts him across the street from his one and only heartâs desireâa blue-eyed angel with a clever brain, a hot bod, and the wickedest right hook this side of Heaven. Too bad his delectable Angel Cake wonât give him the time of day.
Warrior-class angel and restaurateur, Zara keeps busy designing interesting foods and beverages for the eateries and gym she owns with her celestial teammates. She certainly has zero time or interest in the annoyingly sexy, darkly bronzed demon who drove her bonkers for eons while working for the other side.
But then a freak storm complete with hell beasties rampages their hometown, and God and the cupids order the pair to team up to investigate. Frustrating news for Zara. Fantastic for Stryker. His new mission? Show his feisty angel their partnership is meant to extend far beyond this one job for Heaven…
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Vivlio (FR)
(Stryker and Zara’s First Kiss… location: Charon’s boat, River Styx, the Underworld…)
…The boat heaved upward as if struck from below, sending her airborne. Before she could conjure her wings, Stryker shot up and snatched her around the waist, hauling them both to the deck.
Flat on his back with her sprawled atop his hard body, he grinned, much too pleased with himself for her liking. âTold you it gets rough,â he shouted over the rush of water. âI never lie to you, Angel Face.â
âThat in itself is a lie,â she shot back, wedging her fingers in the gaps between the bone flooring and gripping tight while the chopping river tossed their ride. She could list thousands of his deceptions. Fine, they were revisiting his loathsome past behavior. âWhat about the time you stole the Ark of the Covenant? Or the Holy Chalice? The Vatican heist? Or when you took Joanâs sword andââ
âAw, câmon, she deserved it. She cut off the tip of my wing.â
âIt regenerated, and you had no right to bother her in the first place when she was busy savingââ
âHey, I gave it back.â
âI made you give it back, demon.â
He laughed but the sound was lost in the great roar of the river. Its turmoil increased, waves thrashing over the bow as if their presence angered the river.
âBuckle up, baby.â Stryker held her tight to his chest. The boat bucked upward and bashed down, again and again. Freezing water sprayed everywhere, drenching them in seconds. Zara shuddered, chilled to the bone, half expecting ice to form on her frame.
Cheek to cheek, Stryker clutched her close with a hand cupping her head and one massive arm banded around her torso. âHang on Angel Cake, Iâve got you.â Warmth slid into her quivering body, a soothing heat wafting from the demon. âNice trick, right?â he murmured into her ear, lips grazing her skin.
Teeth chattering, she didnât reply, too caught up in the sensation of his surprisingly soft lips on the shell of her ear, and his spicy scent, an intriguing blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and earthy, masculine musk.
Desire danced through her, followed fast by denial. No. Please, no. Eternal enemy. Archnemesis. Heâs the bad guy. But her libido didnât seem to care one bit about their battle-filled past, or even their more recent clashes. Her treacherous body relaxed against his, basking in the continued warmth emanating from him.
âYes, baby. Thatâs it.â His hand slid to her nape, and he exhaled against the sensitive skin of her neck, setting off a flurry of butterflies in her stomach.
Trap. This has to be a trap, right? Nothing good could come of a tryst with a demon. It didnât matter how loudly the hum chimed in her, or how wonderful his hard body felt under hers, they couldnât possiblyâ
Oh, no, now his clever fingers kneaded the knots in her muscles, massaging the tension from her neck and shoulders, making her melt.
His warm lips brushed her ear once again. âAngelâŠâ
She should stop him. Really, she should. Then he nuzzled the hollow of her shoulder, and his soft kisses eroded her superegoâs usual iron will. I mean, thereâs nothing else we can do at the moment. Maybe, if she explored the cosmic hum trying to call them together instead of running from it, she would discover it meant nothing at all. Maybe, she could simply kiss him and move on.
She turned her head. He stilled, one hot palm planted between her shoulder blades, the other lounging on her lower back, his mouth so close their breath mingled. Goose bumps tracked over her and not from the cold since she had Stryker as her personal space heater.
Zara didnât dare look into his eyes, instead digging deep one last time to stop this insanity, dredging up reasons this was a bad idea. Demon. Dâuh. Longtime foe. Brash, blunt, devious, conniving, opinionated, manipulative, flirtatious, and yes, flirting was bad, so very, very baâ
[…] Lord help her, she wanted him too. Her gaze clashed with his. Such pretty eyes for a demon, like black onyx flecked with amber. He went statue-still beneath her, seemed to be holding his breath now, waiting for her toâŠ
Make a move?
She wrapped a lock of his shoulder-length hair around her finger. Damp from the crashing river. Shiny, deepest black. Silky, and as warm as his body. She tugged on it.
A groan escaped him, and he kissed her.
Hi Everyone!
I have a new release in the Cupid Dating Agency to share with you this week, along with some holiday cheer. First, let’s start the work week with Lea Bronsen’s latest release in historical romance.
Happy Reading!
xo,
Celia
Title: Pink Triangle
Genre: Historical, MM, Erotic Romance
Publisher: Writers In Crime
Date of Publication: October 2020
ASIN: B08KQGHVG8
Word Count: 146 Pages
Fearing and desiring the enemy… Sometimes you canât choose who you love.
Oslo, April 1945
Paul is a handsome, free-spirited Norwegian in the prime of his life, but he doesnât fit the German occupant ideology simply because heâs gay. And so, when the Gestapo catches him for producing illegal propaganda, heâs tortured and threatened to be sent to a German concentration camp with a pink triangle sewn on his shirt, the symbol for homosexuals.
It will take great courage and mind-blowing circumstances of luck, as the FĂŒhrer commits suicide and the end of the war seems nearer by the day, for Paul to avoid his death transport to Germany.
And it will take the growing attraction of the Gestapo commander himself to regain his full freedomâand capture his heart.
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The horseâs hairy muzzle appeared in the crack before the big animal pushed the door open and stepped into the shed.
Heimlich sat straight in the saddle, bare-chested, slim but muscular in all the right places, his uniform folded across his lap. Paul tried not to gape at the sight. With ease and grace, the commander dismounted and hung his clothes on hooks on the wall. Drops of sweat pearled on his forehead and temple and rolled down his firm chest and abdomen, making his skin shine. So, so very sexy. He took off his hat, uncovering his dark blond hair slick with sweatâbut it only accentuated the sexiness.
He turned to Paul and caught him staring. âWhat are you smiling at?â
Oops.
Paul straightened and regretted having let himself be carried away. âI wasnât smiling.â
âYes, you were. You think Iâm not aware I look like an office rat? You need to rub it in?â
âWhat are you talking about?â
âI know very well I could use more muscle, and that I need to strengthen my stomach.â He tapped his six-pack, which was perfect in Paulâs world.
âWell, that hasnât crossed my mind.â
An understatement.
âReally?â The commander raised a brow. âDo you honestly like what you see?â
Holy fuck, what a question…
Uncertain whether the man realized what heâd just said, Paul waited a bit before he asked, voice low, âAre you honestly asking a homosexual if he likes your body?â
The commander blinked slowly. âWhen you put it like that…â With a goofy smile, he turned to gaze out of the shed and shook his head.
Paul allowed him a moment to recoup. He was tempted to tease, but didnât.
When the commander returned to Paul, he pointed at him. âForget I said that. I didnât mean it like that.â
Yeah, Iâm likely to forget…
They held each otherâs looks for a while, the commander inscrutable.
âListen,â Paul said, emboldened by the awkward situation. âIâm going to be very frank with you. I hate you with all of my heartââ
No reaction.
ââBut when you parade around me like that,â he pointed at the manâs naked torso, âyou make it difficult for me to…â
âTo what?â
To not like you.
Lea Bronsen likes her reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strives to give her own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with her debut novel Wild Hearted, she divides her writing time between psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and dark erotic romance.
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Hi Everyone!
The December holidays are almost upon us and I’m in the writing cave preparing the next Cupid Dating Agency story for release. I can’t wait to share Zara and Stryker’s story with you. In the meantime, you, my Dear Readers, get to see the cover first! Designed by the fab Brantwijn Serrah. Enjoy!
xo,
Celia
She believes him the enemy. He’s determined to prove her wrong…
Title: A Demon’s Embrace
Series: The Cupid Dating Agency
Author: Celia Breslin
Genre: Adult, high-heat paranormal romance
Release date: Soon! December, 2020
Former relic-hunter and soldier for Hell, Stryker spends his days of redemption running a holiday store in a cheery little town in the California wine country. Heâs not complaining. The gig puts him across the street from his one and only heartâs desireâa blue-eyed angel with a clever brain, a hot bod, and the wickedest right hook this side of Heaven. Too bad his delectable Angel Cake wonât give him the time of day.
Warrior-class angel and restaurateur, Zara keeps busy designing interesting foods and beverages for the eateries and gym she owns with her celestial teammates. She certainly has zero time or interest in the annoyingly sexy, darkly bronzed demon who drove her bonkers for eons while working for the other side.
But then a freak storm complete with hell beasties rampages their hometown, and God and the cupids order the pair to team up to investigate. Frustrating news for Zara. Fantastic for Stryker. His new mission? Show his feisty angel their partnership is meant to extend far beyond this one job for Heaven…
Hi Everyone! It’s Nanowrimo month, and I’m in the writing cave working on my third Cupid Dating Agency story, yay. For the blog today, I have a vampire character interview for you, plus recipes for a cocktail and an appetizer. Also, my Tranquilli Bloodline vampires have been on a month-long tour via Silver Dagger Tours, so be sure to check it out and enter my e-gift card giveaway (ends 11/7!). Details below the chit-chat with Carina and Alexander. Enjoy! đ
xo, Celia
âHi Everyone! Celia here. Author of the Tranquilli Bloodline Series. My lovebirds Carina and Alexander have agreed to sit down and chat with me for a rare interview. Letâs get started, shall we?â
I smile at Carina and Alexander, who are seated across from me on a loveseat. âHi, guys! Thanks for joining me on the Champagne blog.â
Carina grins. âOur pleasure. We always like hanging with you, Celia.â
âAw, thanks! Easy first question: can you tell us where youâre from and what you like and dislike about your home?â
Alexander looks over the top of his sunglasses and nods at Carina.
She smirks at him than turns her attention to me. âRight, well, Iâm originally from Italy. I moved to San Francisco when I was very young and thatâs the place I call home. I love the weather, especially the fog, and thereâs pretty much nothing I dislike about it.â
âHow about earthquakes?â Alexander asks.
âOh, yeah, hate those.â She strokes his arm. âYour turn.â
Alexander removes his shades and spears me with his sexy smoky blues. âIâm from San Francisco and like Carina, Iâm a fan of the fog. For obvious reasons.â He winks.
I laugh. âOf course, being a vampire, fog is your friend. SoâŠdo you guys have a refuge? Some place you like to go to get away from it all? Where is it and why do you go there?â
âMy refuge is wherever Carina is.â
âAw, my man.â She kisses his cheek. âDitto the love, but also, my dance clubs are our favorite retreats. I opened both my clubs, Haven and Destiny, so both humans and the preternatural community would have a safe place to party. No discrimination allowed. Everyone is welcome as long as they understand love is love is love. Bullies get bounced.â
I nod. âSounds great. I guess this means you dance to relax right?â
âYes,â they say at the same time.
I nod again. âI can see how that would be a great release after fighting evil all day. Speaking of your battle against Team Evil, is that what motivates you in life? What is your life dream and what do you do to make your dreams come true?â
A dark expression crosses Carinaâs face. Alexander wraps an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. âEasy, baby,â he whispers, as power vibrates the air between us, and Carinaâs dark chocolate eyes take on an eerie glow.
After several seconds, Carina sucks in a breath and exhales it slow. âHad to ask the tough ones, eh, Celia? Protecting my family and my friends is my top priority. And always will be. Itâs my dream to keep them all safe. Iâll face down every single one of our enemies and take out anyone who dares hurt them.â Suddenly, she grins, and a fireball appears above one palm. âThanks for the handy power, by the way. It rocks.â
I lean back in my chair, relieved the tension has dissipated. âSpeaking of your enemies and your powers, anything or anyone standing in the way of happiness right now? And can you also tell us a little more about your abilities? Same question to you, Alexander.â
Carina closes her hand, snuffing out the fireball. âOur enemies are many. Currently, a bunch of bad vampires have issues with my relatives. Iâll need to take care of these pesky fangy troublemakers. As for my abilities, well I can burn vampires. Iâm also strong, fast, agile. Can chat with my vampire family in my head. Pretty good with a sword too, thanks to my mentor Jonasâs training. Your turn, Alexander.â
Alexander kisses her cheek then cocks his head at me. âMy favorite ability is telepathy. Being able to talk to Carina mind to mind. As a vampire, Iâm powerful, quick, and generally deadly. Iâm fairly good at playing piano, too.â
âGood?â Carina scoffs. âYouâre freaking fantastic.â She glances at me. âNext question?â
They are so cute together, I almost forgot this is an interview. âHm, how about sharing your favorite and least favorite memories from childhood? And your biggest fears?â
Carina rolls her eyes. âAlways with the dark stuff, Celia. Sheesh. Favorite childhood memory is flying with Jonas when I was a little kid.â She gives me a disgruntled scowl. âMy least favorite would be the one where I witnessed a murder. While the victim was holding me in his arms. Yeah, not fun. And biggest fear?â She exchanges a long look with Alexander.
I suspect theyâre chatting mind to mind, then Alexander says, âOur biggest fear is losing each other.â
âAnd the darkness destroying our loved ones,â Carina adds with a grimace. âNot that Iâll ever allow this to happen.â Once again power floods the room, raising the hairs on my arms.
âThanks for answering the tough questions. Iâm sure the readers appreciate it. Letâs end on a happier note, shall we? Whatâs your life motto? And are you happy with the person you are today?â
Alexander chuckles and dons his sunglasses, looking like the sexy rockstar he is. âDefinitely happy. Carina makes me a better man. And vampire. My life motto would have to be âLove is the best medicine.ââ
âOhhhh, good one,â Carina says, patting his knee. âIâm happy, too.â Then she leans forward, gazing at me with eyes gone vampire black. âMy motto is more a warning: The Chosen One is here to stay. Bad, little vampires beware.â
(Character Interview, copyright 2020, Celia Breslin, all rights reserved.)
Carina Tranquilli, the star of my Tranquilli Bloodline series, owns two dance clubs and has been known to mix a wicked cocktail. Hereâs one of her favorites, plus a savory appetizer she likes to eat with it. Enjoy while watching your favorite spooky movies or reading a spooky tale…
The Bloody Carina
* 1-2 oz. vodka (optional)
* 4 oz. tomato juice (Carina prefers V-8)
* œ – 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce (Carina makes her own!)
* dash of celery salt to taste
* pepper to taste
* Tabasco to taste
* dash of lemon juice
* twist of lemon as garnish
Pair your tasty beverage with Deviled Eggs. Carina likes Mary Nolanâs recipe on the Food Network
* 6 hard-boiled egg yolks (set aside egg-white halves for later)
* Œ c mayo (Carina uses Vegenaise for an egg-free, dairy free option)
* 1 tsp vinegar
* 1 tsp yellow mustard (or to taste. More, if you like it tangy like Carina)
* 1/8 tsp salt (optional in Carinaâs opinion)
* black pepper to taste
* smoke paprika for garnish
Mix. Dispense into the egg white halves. Eat!
Haven (#1) is on sale for 99 cents on Amazon.
Vampire Code, a prequel short story starring Jonas, The Executioner is free on Kobo and Champagne Books.
Visit the Tranquilli Bloodline Series Silver Dagger Book Tour to read excerpts from all three books and enter Celiaâs e-gift card giveaway!
The Tranquilli Bloodline is an urban fantasy vampire series with high-heat romantic elements, and starring San Francisco dance club owner Carina Tranquilli. Hot, undead musician Alexander is her love-interest. Over the course of the series, Carina transforms into a kickass warrior while wading through abundant family drama, battling assorted enemies, and, of course, falling in love.
Hello Dear Readers, This is the last installment for this year’s Bewitching Spooktacular Tour and Giveaway extravaganza. Today, S. Peters-Davis shares her New Adult Paranormal Romance and a piece of flash fiction. Be sure to enter her gift card giveaway, too. Enjoy!
xo, Celia
Title: Ghost Guardians, 1
Author: S. Peters-Davis
Genre: Paranormal Romance,
Suspense-mystery, New Adult
Publisher: BWL Publishing, Inc.
Release date: September 2020
Kindle ISBN: 978-0-2286-1492-0
Print ISBN: 978-0-2286-1494-4
# or Pages: 162
Word count: 65k
Cover Artist: Michelle Lee
Bri intends to work for her father, but ghosts, an old high school flame, a downtrodden best bud, and a deceitful tormenter play havoc with her future.
Briâs intentâto work for her father, but ghosts, an old high school sweetheart, a downtrodden best bud, and a deceitful tormenter play havoc with her future.
Kyle broke it off with Bri before college but realizes he still harbors unrequited feelings for her. Then he discovers Briâs ability and wants to keep her close, not just for himself, but as an asset for Spectral Paranormal Investigations.
Ghosts rely on Bri, Kyle confuses her, the best bud requires stability, and the bully deserves a punch in the face until they join forces on a mission to rescue the paranormalâthose spirits left behind. Murder, mystery, and mayhem aboundâŠin ghost-form.
âHe-e-e Ha-a-a.â Max cackled like a wild man as the boat veered off, rooster-tailing water spray and slamming turbulent waves into the raft.
Trembles shook my hands and body. What the hell is wrong with him?
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths to relax. Warm tingles thrummed against my sternum from the quartz on my necklace, giving me a heads-up that my ghost friends were near.
âHeâs gone, little missy,â Martin said. âOff to the other side of the lake.â
Gloriaâs fingers clasped the stone through her blouse. âIs your stone vibrating like mine? I touched it, thought of you, and here we are.â She stared at me.
I climbed the ladder and sat across from them, stretching my legs in front of me for the warm sunshine. âIâll have to try touching my stone and thinking of you. See if I can call you to me.â
She nodded then turned to Martin. âWhenâs the last time we sat by water?â Gloria slid her body closer to him.
âNow, girl, donât you be gettinâ any crazy ideas.â He chuckled and wrapped his arm around Gloriaâs shoulder then turned his attention to me. âWe want answers about what happened. Neither of us remembers it, nothing other than a truck rammed into the back of the Olds. It scared the heck out of us, so we turned off the main road and drove down a dirt path into the woods, hoping to hide. Then we saw lights coming fast behind us.â
âItâs a constant loop we live over and over, ending with the truck following us and crashing into the back of the car. The sound is like a grand clap of thunder.â Gloria sniffled, but there were no tears. Ghosts didnât cry real tears. Martin rubbed her back.
âWe blackout or something.â Martin looked across the water but seemed unfocused. âI wake up outside the car, and a few minutes after, Gloria is beside me. We got stuck next to the Olds, doing the same thing over and over.â
Apparitions didnât usually possess recall of being stuck in a loop. They simply lived it over and over as if for the first time, every time. What was different for these two? Maybe our crystal connection brought the change in their loop and opened their acknowledgment to it?
âIâve got a friend coming to stay with me. Heâs got mad internet skills. I think he can help research, figure out a few things. Maybe find out who followed you and why.â
A boat motor revved behind me, I folded my legs to my chest, preparing for impact.
âKyle, wanna ski?â Max hollered. He zipped past and stopped next to Kyleâs dock.
Kyle stared in my direction and waved, and I waved back. Max sneered.
How long was Kyle out there? All he saw was my backside while I chatted with Martin and Gloria. When I turned around to pick up where we left off, Martin and Gloria had disappeared.
Spirited Wishes
(Includes characters from Ghost Guardians)
By S. Peters-Davis
Kyle tapped on the walk-out sliding glass door, and I waved him in. He wore a black cape and had slicked his blond hair back. His big smile showed the vampire teeth capping his eye-teeth.
âAhhh, Count Kyle, letâs eat, Iâm starving.â My stomach growled as if on cue. âPizza, beer, and Grampsâ Halloween cupcakes.â I swept my hand toward the goods.
âWhat is that?â Kyle pointed at the strange, ancient-looking glass jar candle on the coffee table as he removed those crazy teeth.
âDoesnât it look spooky and old? I found it in Lukeâs room. He brought some things with him when he moved in.â Luke, my best friend through school and college, was now more like my brother. I flipped the gas on for the fireplace, and Kyle dropped onto the couch.
âMan, itâs pretty crappy outside. Hardly any kids came for candy. The rain just wonât quit.â And to prove it, lightning shocked the sky, and reverberating thunder shook the windows.
âItâs a dark and spooky night.â My voice trembled in an eerie laugh.
Kyle uncapped the candle and lit it.
A woosh of wind gusted through the room, the electricity went out, and the candle flame flared tall. A chill swept across the room, even though the fireplace cranked out heat.
âWho calls upon me?â A plume of gray smoke rearranged, forming into a haggard elder woman with a bent nose, bushy brows, and unsettling sharp teeth exposed by her thin-lipped grimace.
Kyle and I glanced at each other, our wide-eyed gaze matching.
âIs someone here, Bri?â Kyle reached for my hand, not gifted with the ability to see spirits like me.
âYes, and I believe that candle brought this upset woman here.â I stared at the woman, her face wrinkling as if angered.
She scoffed, âAs if you didnât know Iâd arrive to grant you a wish, but understand with that wish comes sacrifice. I take something in return.â She scanned the room and drifted down the hall.
Kyle squeezed my hand. âYou appear concerned. Is she still here?â
âShe just wandered out of the room.â
âShould I call for back up?â Kyle let go of my hand to grab his cell phone from his pocket.
âIâm sure the gang is busiest on Halloween night wrangling ghosts, donât you?â We worked for S.P.I., Spectral Paranormal Investigations, and I mostly guided ghosts into the light while Kyle kept me grounded.
âIs this woman good or evil?â Kyle pocketed his cell and rose from the couch. âDo we need supplies?â
I shook my head, not understanding what this freak show might have in store for us. âWhatever you do, donât speak a sentence with the word âwishâ in it. Got it?â
âLike, I wishââ
Before Kyle finished, I slapped his mouth to stop him. âNot one word,â I whispered. The scary spectral suddenly stood beside Kyle.
âFine specimen.â She eyed him. âHeâll do in a pinch.â Her body shook from the eruption of a guttural chuckle.
âWe donât require your services, whoever you are. Please go back now.â
âAre you making a wish for me to leave?â Her eyes widened as her tongue slid out and licked over snarling lips. Her hands reached for Kyle.
âDonât touch him,â I screamed.
Kyle jerked back, stumbling over the coffee table and nearly sprawling into the fireplace. He jumped up fast, shaking his hand. âDamn, burnt my fingers.â
The woman shot out a horrifying cackled, creating a wave of goosebumps down my spine. âIâm taking him.â A wind gusted me aside, and Kyle froze in place, only his wide eyes scanning the area in front of him.
âI said, donât touch him!â I pushed my way through the gale of air, chanting protection mantras for Kyle and me.
The woman melded into another imageâa human-sized grub worm, pustules coating its wrinkled skin, and it moved in front of Kyle. The worm opened along its center, showing grizzly insides lined with pointy teeth. It shuffled closer to Kyle.
Kyleâs eyes moved wildly.
I grabbed the sage and lavender smudge pack Iâd forgotten to use before Kyle arrived, lit it, and waved the smoke as I ran toward the entity. âArchangel Michael, I call upon you to take this entity of darkness where mother earth and father sky can best direct its beneficiary properties,â I repeated three times.
As my words ended, a hole opened beneath the vermin, and boney hands reached out and grabbed the lower section of the grub, hauling it down into the fires.
I stood between the entity and Kyle.
His arms slid around me, drawing me back as if he had an inkling of what happened in front of me.
âYouâre back, unfrozen.â I entwined my fingers with his.
He kissed the side of my face from behind my shoulder and whispered, âWhat just happened?â
The grub disappeared, screaming in a high-pitched shrill, and in a stinky puff of smoke that sounded like a nasty belch, the flooring settled back in place as if nothing had occurred.
âAll I can say is the spectral turned into something else, supernatural. I donât know about dark entities, other than ghosts. This thing wanted to eat you, Kyle.â I turned toward him inside his arms. Our lips met as tears rolled beside my nose, leaving a salty taste as I pulled away. âI didnât know if I could stop it.â My stomach dropped. The thought of losing Kyle ran rampant through my head.
âYou called in Archangel Michael. Impressive.â He smiled, showing his even teeth. âYou know more than you think when it comes to stuff that goes bump in the night.â He kissed me again, taking his time, and I let him. Then he asked, âSo, can I say the wordââ
ââwish? Yes. Let me do it for you. I wish we were in bed, right now.â
Kyle lifted me into his arms, carrying me toward the bedroom.
âWait!â I dropped to my feet and ran back to the coffee table, capping the candle. âNo more mishaps, not while I have my way with you.â I grinned.
Kyle grabbed my hand and rushed me toward the bedroom. âI believe thatâs my wish, not yours.â
S. Peters-Davis writes multi-genre stories, but loves penning a good page-turning suspense-thriller, especially when itâs a ghost story and a romance. When sheâs not writing, editing, or reading, sheâs hiking, RVâing, fishing, playing with grandchildren, or enjoying time with her favorite muse (her husband) in Southwest Michigan.
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S. Peters-Davis’s giveaway: $20 Amazon Gift Card
Hi, Everyone! Halloween is almost here, can you believe it? This means the Bewitching Spooktacular Tour and Giveaway is drawing to a close, so be sure to enter the giveaways! Nancy Gideon is here today with her paranormal romance and a list of her favorite Halloween things. Enjoy!
xo, Celia
Title: Rise By Moonlight
Series: By Moonlight
Author: Nancy Gideon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: 8/3/20
ASIN: B08DKGQV9G
# or Pages: 273
Word count: 88k
Cover Artist: Patricia Lazarus, Lazarus Art
Max and Charlotte return for the explosive conclusion of the âBy Moonlightâ series . . . and the stakes have never been higher!
Heâs the Promised One
A Mobsterâs attack dog turned legitimate business powerhouse, Max Savoie is the reluctant leader of New Orleansâ shapeshifter clan. Theyâve kept to anonymous shadows, working and living unnoticed by the human world until their new Shifter Kingâs past draws dangerous outsiders who threaten all.
Sheâs the Protector
A fiercely determined NOPD detective, Charlotte Caissie has sworn to defend her beloved city and her unborn child from both criminals and otherworldly factions at war. While standing boldly at the side of her mate/husband, secrets from the past return to shake the foundation of her beliefs.
They Have a Problem
Walking a marital tight rope between opposite worlds, Max and Cee Ceeâs paths place truth and trust at odds when outside threats force enemies to become allies. The time to take a stand for their family and their future is at hand. Time to rise together for the survival of all they love!
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Max hadnât visited that dark portion of his past for a very long time. Why now? Because of the life his mate carried? Or were the dangerous shadows of unfinished business reaching out from a swampy grave, a reminder of things heâd rather forget?
A rocking chairâs familiar creak. He tensed and twisted anxiously in the throes of his dream. Icy fingers of caution and loss clutched his chest as eyes darted behind closed lids. Unable to deny his desire to look again upon the worn elegance of his motherâs features, he faced his dread the way heâd addressed his life, with a cautious, reluctant need to know the truth . . . of who and what he was.
Shadows, like those long-ago secrets, hung thick, revealing little of the dark head bent over the child Marie Savoie held in arms both protective and comforting. Max wished sheâd look up to feed time-starved memories, craving the gentle curve of her smile and loving warmth in her gaze. He settled for the steadying croon of a voice from the past.
âWhat is it, Max? Another bad dream? They canât harm you.â
As much as he loved her, then and now, heâd never quite believed that assurance. Bad things existed beyond the rusty gate imprisoning his youthful curiosity within their overgrown yard for the first five years of his life. He knew because he was one of them, a child of the unnatural world. All heâd wanted was to find his place within it. But his mother had hidden that knowledge from him, just as sheâd kept the outside away for as long as she could.
âMama, whatâs wrong with me?â that small voice sobbed.
The rocker continued to complain as she stroked the childâs black hair. Her tender gesture failed to calm either boy or the man heâd become.
âNothingâs wrong with you, Max. Youâre perfect. They just donât understand, so they fear you. Thatâs why you must be careful to never let them see the truth.â
âWhat truth?â heâd pleaded. âMama, tell me!â
Low and soft, Max repeated from where he watched, decades away, âMama, tell me.â
She brushed a kiss across the top of the childâs flushed brow then slowly straightened, turning toward Max Savoie, a surreal voyeur from the future sheâd never see. Her gaze swam with tears like liquid silver before flaring bright, then hot.
Then red.
âMax,â she crooned, âyouâre just like me.â
Itâs Halloween Party Time!
October brings out the party animal in me!
I canât help it . . . from the extensive decorating (too many orange tubs to count!) to the ghoulish appetizers (including skull Jell-O molds!) . . . I love it all!! But for sake of space, Iâll condense my bump in the night and howl at the moon passions into a list of favorite things.
Favorite childhood scare: Bella Lugosiâs Dracula
Favorite type of shapeshifter: Wolf
Favorite Halloween movies: Wolf, Ernest Scared Stupid, Hocus Pocus, Halloween 2019
Favorite costume from childhood: The front half of a donkey
Favorite scary place: The Myrtles Plantation outside New Orleans
Favorite scary book: Stephen Kingâs The Shining
Favorite paranormal TV shows: Supernatural, Penny Dreadful (first 3 seasons), Night Gallery, Kolchak the Night Stalker
Favorite otherworldly passion: Collecting Tarot cards
Favorite Halloween candy: Snickers
Favorite Halloween decoration: my animated/lighted Halloween village, now with over ten buildings and graveyard!
And my other favorite . . . Halloween music videos! For your grim enjoyment, shiver your way through my Halloween Video Playlist on YouTube
Have a Boo-fully scary (but safe!) holiday
Nancy Gideon is the award-winning bestseller of over 70 romances ranging from historical, Regency, and series contemporary suspense to dark paranormal and horror, with a couple of produced screenplays and non-fiction writing books tossed into the mix. Newly retired from 20 years as a legal assistant, she feeds a Netflix addiction along with all things fur, fin, and fowl, and dotes on her grandguy. Sheâs also written under the pseudonyms Dana Ransom, Rosalyn West, and Lauren Giddings.
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Nancy Gideon’s giveaway: Collector edition of By Moonlight over-sized paperback which includes complete copies of the first three books in the âBy Moonlightâ series: Masked by Moonlight, Chased by Moonlight, and Captured by Moonlight. Personally signed for winner!
Hello, Dear Readers! We’re starting this week with a young adult fantasy from author Sara M. Schaller. Be sure to enter her giveaway for a fab prize pack, too. Happy reading!
xo, Celia
Title: The Genesis of Seven
Series: The Empyrean Trilogy
Author: Sara M. Schaller
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Designs by Seraphim
Release date: 7/7/20
ISBN: 9781732516205
ISBN: 9781732516212
ISBN: 9781732516229 – ebook
# or Pages: 368
Word count: 87k
Cover Artist: Sara M. Schaller
In the beginning he was one of us.
Eighteen-year-old Jordan Conway has always wanted to help people, but helping seven archangels to achieve their divine duty was never quite what he had in mindâŠ
When Jordan is entrusted by the head nun of his orphanage to deliver a mysterious backpack to a New York City address, he comes unexpectedly face-to-face with Archangel Gabriel. Their acquaintance fast uncovers a labyrinth of secrets that connect Jordanâs once-normal life to an ancient heavenly prophecy. Now, he must help Gabriel to reunite the archangels before evil forces grow too strong.
Soon, Jordan and Gabriel find themselves on a divine quest across the globe, while deep in the pits of Hell, Satan plots his return to earth. To gain control, however, Satan needs the powerful prophetic objects locked safe inside Jordanâs backpackâand the devil will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
With that notion threatening his only family and the safety of his newfound friends, Jordan must do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves and help the archangels succeed. If that means sacrificing all he thought he knew to go to war with the devil himself? Bring it on.
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âRun!â Sister Helen shouted.
Somehow, my body obliged. My legs carried me down the alleyway, past dumpsters and trashcans. At the street, I stopped briefly to figure out where to go next. I glanced at the paper and realized I had a bit of distance to cover. The address was near Central Park, but the orphanage was in the opposite direction. In fact, the orphanage wasnât even in Manhattan. There wasnât time to figure out a route though. At the sound of running footsteps, I looked over my shoulder and saw two men dressed in black fast approaching.
Without a second thought, I broke into a sprint and headed right.
Iâd never been chased in my life and soon realized I was the worst person for it. I kept running straight for blocks. Not once did I try to evade my chasers. I was merely in flight mode, running forward without a thought of where I had to go. The backpack hit my shoulders every time I moved my legs, creating a rhythm my heartbeat began to mimic. I was scared senseless, had no idea what to do, and was weighed down by the duffel bag, which gave me a weird, galloping stride.
As I raced on, some unknown part of my brain took over and told my legs to veer left into an alleyway. My chasers passed by, unsuspecting, though they soon backtracked and followed. At that point, my run became a series of quick turns and dashes through side streets and alleys in an attempt to evade them.
Breathing hard, heaving the cursed bag, and almost tripping over my own feet, I came to a standstill in front of a chain-link fence. Did this seriously have to turn into some iconic movie chase? I groaned as I sized up my new enemy, wondering why I never took gym class seriously. Surely, completing the rope climbâsomething Iâd never successfully achievedâwould come in handy right about now.
At the last second I decided to backtrack, but the two chasers blocked my path. One was a big, burly man, and the other was the second guy from the subway, who was much taller and leaner than his accomplice.
Frustrated, I ran up to the fence and swung my duffel bag through the air. It landed surprisingly safe on the other side of the chain-link barrier. Without a momentâs hesitation, I ran and jumped at the tall gate, latching onto it with my hands. Flashbacks of the rope climb came to mind, and I knew this wasnât going to be easy. In a struggle, I scrambled up as my chasers approached.
By some miracle, I made it to the top, and I was preparing to swing my leg over and ring that fictitious bell when a hand gripped my ankle. When I looked down, a menacing skull tattoo met my gaze.
Sara M Schaller is a paralibrarian, publishing professional, and young adult author. She lives in Colorado with her mom, dad, brother, and four furry canine siblings. Sara loves the world of pop culture and the performing arts, so when she is not reading or writing, she is either watching movies and shows, attending conventions, or going out to see live performances. She likes to write stories for all ages in the fantasy genre, and her writing usually contains elements of speculative fiction and features a large cast of characters. Sara has a Bachelorâs degree in English, Art History, and Religious Studies from the University of Denver, and a Masterâs degree in Publishing from Pace University. For five years, Sara worked as a graphic designer, and her creativity in design carries over into other areas of her life like writing. You can visit her online at http://www.saramschaller.com.
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1 Grand Prize Pack: Backpack to match the main characterâs, Necklace to match the main characterâs, Signed Hardcover, Bookmark, Set of Book Pins with Pen, Passport with Sticker Sheet
2 Prize Packs: Tote Bag, Signed Paperback, Bookmark, Set of Book Pins with Pen, Passport with Sticker Sheet
Enter the Sara M. Schaller’s Rafflecopter giveaway.
Happy Friday, Dear Readers! Let’s kick off the weekend with a paranormal, mystery romance from Tena Stetler, as well as her thoughts on Halloween. Be sure to enter her gift card giveaway, too. Enjoy!
xo, Celia
Title: Hidden Gypsy Magic
Series: A Witch’s Journey
Author: Tena Stetler
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Mystery
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release date: 9/28/20
ISBN: 978-1-5092-3256-7
ASIN: B08FXBNLW5
# or Pages: 330
Word count: 85k
Cover Artist: Kristian Norris
The consequences of awakening hidden gypsy magic could forever alter life as they know it!
The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.
The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.
Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs.
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“This house may not have a history of magic, but I’d bet it’s magical. You’re going to put an offer in. Right?”
“As I said before, it may be completely out of my price range.”
“I have a feeling the house has been waiting for you.” Gwen flung her hand to her mouth, her face flushed, and her gaze swiveled to him. “I don’t know what made me say that.”
Looking thoughtful, he grinned. “Since the day I stumbled upon Pepper’s secret â then discovered that you and I share the gift or curse of gypsy blood, things have been differentâ” Pausing, he shoved his hand in his jean’s pocket and jingled the change in his pocket. “I’ve been different. It’s as if knowing magic exists awakened something in me.”
“Join the club. Years ago my best friend Pepper made a believer out of me. In fact, there were times I wishedânever mind. Whether it was my outlook or as you said magic awakened. But to be fair, I’ve always had what I called a sixth sense with animals, attuned to their feelings, almost their thoughts, fears, that kind of thing. Pepper called it my talent. But as we became close, I noticed other abilities⊠you’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Try me.” He moved closer to her and the front door banged open. Quickly he rushed to the top of the stairs.
Do you have a fear of Halloween?
Then you suffer from Samhainophobia.
I don’t fit in that category! Do you?
Today Halloween is attracting adults in a masquerade type atmosphere, much like Mardi Gras. Their costumed antics mock, challenge and tease the mysterious, possible malevolent forces of the night. The otherworld becomes our world on this night of enchanted possibilities and transcendence. Are we reaffirming death as a part of life in an exhilarating celebration of magic for an evening? Or like me, just enjoying the air of celebration on a night the veil between the living and dead is purported to be the thinnest. Every year with the help of my hubby, I decorate our house to the hilt on the first day of October and revel in Halloween décor the entire month.
Did you know Jack-O-Lanterns originated in Ireland? People placed lit candles inside hollowed out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) holiday. Boy, did we do a role reversal on that aspect of Halloween. Instead of chasing the spirits away, we tend to invite them in.
Most present day Halloween traditions are traceable to the ancient Celtic day of the dead. Halloween consists of mysterious customs, but each has a history, or at least a story behind it. Take wearing costumes, and roaming from door to door demanding treats. This behavior can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and about, along with fairies, witches, and demons. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like these creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This is where the practice of trick-or-treating began. To this day, vampires, witches, ghosts, and skeletons are among the favorite costumes.
Our Halloween also retains activities from the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, (pumpkins) as well as the fruits, nuts, and spices for cider associated with the day. Although at my house, hot chocolate is pretty popular, since Halloween almost guarantees the first snow of the year.
Happy Halloween!
Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When sheâs not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.
Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Web Site | Blog: Authors’ Secrets | Tena Stetler’s Say What Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Amazon Author Page | Newsletter | Pinterest | Instagram | Triberr | BookBub | Tumblr
Tena Stetler’s giveaway: $15.00 Amazon Gift Card
Hello My Dear Readers! The month is half over, can you believe it? The Halloween Spooktacular Tours and Giveaways continue with a look at Louisa West’s new release in paranormal women’s fiction. Be sure to enter her giveaway for an e-book pack, too. Enjoy!
xo, Celia
Title: Midlife in Mosswood
Author: Louisa West
Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Louisa West
Release date: 9/30/20
ASIN: B087KYLF3N
# or Pages: 170
Word count: 50k
Cover Artist: Louisa West
She thought the thriller part of her life was behind her. But when the man sheâs falling for has a sinister secret, sheâs no longer sure whether heâs a trick or a treat.
Rosemary Bell is a witch for Halloween⊠and every other day of the year. And thatâs not even the weirdest thing about her life. Her ex-husband is a turtle, her daughter Maggie’s new best friend is an imaginary kangaroo, and the guy sleeping on her couch is a Kingâas well as her fated lover.
Just as sheâs starting to fall for Declan, Rosie gets spooked by a revelation that leaves her wondering whether she is really meant to be his Queen. And as a new houseguest quickly proves, promises donât always mean forever. When a sexy choir girl arrives in town with her eyes set on Rosieâs King and crown, she will have to decide for herself what her destiny is, and soon.
Struggling between caring for Declan and caring for herself, Rosie has better luck advising her friends what to do about their love lives than tending to her own. But when Maggie goes missing on All Hallowâs Eve, Rosie is forced to admit that jealousyâs a witch – literally!
The Good Witch meets Hocus Pocus in this short novel about stepping into new shoes, choosing who youâre going to be, and never letting fear decide your fate, even on Halloween.
Jealousyâs a Witch is the second book in the heartwarming new Midlife in Mosswood series by Louisa West. Available exclusive to Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.
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The sounds of the hot summer afternoon seemed dulled by the arrival of Tammy. She looked sheepishly between Declan and Rosie, her knuckles tight around the laundry bag of clothes she held like Santa Clausâ sack over one pudgy shoulder.
âI hope Iâm not imposinâ,â she said softly, even though it was clear that she knew she was. âOnly that…well!â Unshed tears suddenly welled in her eyes, and she tried a combination of blinking and fanning her wedding-ring devoid hand in front of her face to stop them from falling.
Declan looked from Rosie to Tammy and then back again, as though trying to weigh up how useful he might be in a situation like this versus how much damage he might cause by way of a poorly timed and probably inappropriate joke. âI think I better check on the painting crew,â he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck as he took off for less emotional turf.
Rosie crossed over to the table, set down the potato salad she had been carrying. âWhy donât you have a seat and Iâll pour us some lemonade,â she suggested. Tammy nodded mutely, swiping at the tears now streaking down her face. Two sips of lemonade seemed to give her the confidence she needed to carry through with the story.
âIâm so sorry to barge in on yâall like this,â she sniffled, âbut I didnât know where else to go.â
Rosie thought back to the day Tammy had rolled up to the cottage as part of Prissyâs entourage. She had seemed like the only genuine woman out of the three. Rosie had felt terrible when Tammy had seen her husband Terry making a pass at her the day heâd come out to the cottage to âoffer his servicesâ as a handyman. She hadnât seen her since that day, but it didnât look like things had improved for her any.
âYou donât need to apologize,â Rosie told her, âso letâs get that out of the way right-quick. Weâre havinâ a cook-out, and youâre officially invited.â
Tammy offered a weak smile in return, sipping her lemonade. âThank you.â
Rosie smiled back. âYouâre welcome. Now,â she added, glancing up at the cottage. âI feel duty-bound to tell you that at any minute weâre likely to be infiltrated by a rush of starving teenage boys, an Irishman with a huge appetite, a girl who can put away three hotdogs in one sitting, and a turtle thatââ
ââa turtle?â
âLong story,â Rosie grinned.
Buffy. Sookie Stackhouse. Elena Gilbert. Bella Swan. If you know one or all of these characters, then thereâs a pretty good chance that you like to read paranormal romance. These women range between being kick-ass, plucky, and just plain specialâbut thereâs another thing they all have in common: really hot supernatural love interests. Iâm the first to admit that thereâs nothing I love better than a Buffy re-watch, or curling up with a Charlaine Harris novel to whittle my time away in a land where Eric Northman exists. But as I get older (sigh), I find myself wanting more out of my paranormal romance.
I want to relate.
I want to feel as though my real-life struggles of bills, and raising a child, and the body-image issues I have are real for the characters Iâm reading as well. I want to be able to laugh because Iâm not the only one who has problems with her neighbors, or can never fold a fitted sheet (thatâs another kind of witchcraft, friends!), or because sex after twenty can sometimes be a little awkward and hilarious at the same time. Life after 35 just gets even more real. At best, you start thinking about long-term plans for your retirement. At worst, you need to be careful about how many cups of coffee you have before you drive to the grocery store fifteen minutes down the road.
Paranormal Womenâs Fiction is a rising genre thanks to the collective efforts of a group of women known colloquially online as âThe Fab13â. The genre touches on what itâs like for âmatureâ heroines to get by in a modern world, with all the hurdles that life throws in their paths. These women are dealing with issues like divorce, potential homelessness, toxic relationships, and other really gritty, grown-up stuff. But the sparkling platter that these themes are served on comes in the form of literal magical circumstances, witty one-liners, love interests that are hotter than Hades and women who are empowered to not only move forward but to do so while coming fully into their own power.
Typically, the heroines of these books are over forty. Itâs kind of that golden age where youâve lived enough of life to know whatâs what, but also youâve seen enough to know that you just donât have the time or energy to put up with any more crap from anyone. It also means that youâre probably not as perky or unwrinkled as you once were (if you are, leave your skin-care and exercise routines in the comments below!). For me, reading these books and getting to know these women who not only face who they are but fly that Older and Fabulous flag proudly has been an absolute joy.
So it made sense that my next series would be written in the same vein.
The main character in my Midlife in Mosswood series is Rosemary Bell, a thirty-nine year old mom who finds the courage to finally leave a toxic relationship. While sheâs petrified of starting over again, Rosie and her young daughter Maggie soon settle into the slow rhythm of life in a small town. Rosie is resilient hard-working, and desperate to raise her daughter right. Sheâs also emotionally damaged, untrusting, and determined to hold everyone except Maggie at armâs length. Throughout the series Rosie must face not only her past with her ex, but also her family history. She learns how to be a better mom, and how to navigate the challenges of living in a small town when youâre obviously different and more than a little out of your depth. And she also finds a way forward for herself, finding out that sheâs actually a witch and that thereâs possibly and handsome Irish witch King in her future.
The Paranormal Womenâs Fiction genre has set up new expectations for books about older women written by older women. Iâm thrilled to be part of it!
Author by day, Netflix connoisseur by night.
Louisa likes Pina Coladas and gettinâ caught in the rain. Determined to empty her brain of stories, she writes across several genres including fantasy, speculative fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, and romance.
She lives in Mandurah, Western Australia, and drinks more coffee than is good for her. When sheâs not writing or researching projects, Louisa enjoys spending time with her family, and Harriet The Great (Dane). Hobbies include playing video games, watching copious amounts of tv, and various craft-related initiatives.
She strongly believes that the truth is still out there.
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Louisa West’s giveaway: 1 âMidlife in Mosswood eBook pack including a copy of New Witch on the Block (book 1) and Jealousyâs a Witch (book 2)
All content, Copyright 2012 – 2019 Celia Breslin, all rights reserved. Contact: celia(at)celiabreslin.com