Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Spotlight Hot New Urban Fantasy: Finding Magic

Finding Magic (Novella)
by Stacia Kane
4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Urban Fantasy



Karen Marie Moning has called Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series “dark, sexy urban fantasy at its finest.” Now, in this breathtakingly suspenseful eBook novella, Kane has written a prequel to her thrilling series. Before Chess Putnam was a magic-wielding Churchwitch, she was a student in the Church of Real Truth—with a keen sensitivity to magic, a strong rebellious streak, and a penchant for self-destruction. And in Finding Magic, a grisly ghost murder becomes Chess’s baptism of fire.

When eighteen-year-old Chess Putnam is offered the chance to train with a special team of investigators known as the Black Squad, she feels torn. She’s never been a team player and hates how one male Inquisitor condescends to “the new kid.” But at her first bloody crime scene, she gets a taste for investigation—and is hooked on the high. Though the seasoned Inquisitors consider the series of ghost murders random events, Chess starts to detect a pattern. Is a psycho killer summoning ghosts from the City of Eternity and using them as murder weapons? As Chess gets closer to the dark truth, she puts herself in grave danger and risks losing everything she’s fought so hard for.

Includes a special preview of Stacia Kane’s upcoming urban fantasy thriller, Chasing Magic!


Quotes from Reviews:


This series is not for the faint of heart however. It revolves around people scratching out an existence in a very dark `Downside'. 


I feel that Stacia Kane did a fabulous job of achieving that rare perfect novella--a full, satisfying story with a compelling character.


Stacia Kane really knows how to tell a story!! 


In Finding Magic, Stacia Kane has delivered a wonderful story that has me rooting harder and hurting even more for Chess.





Free Contemporary Fantasy Kindle Books 7-3-2012

These ebooks were listed as free downloads at the time of the post. These are usually only free for a few days at most. Always double check the prices before downloading.


Born Of Fire (A Channeler Novella)
by Heather McCorkle
5.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon
YA Urban Fantasy


The story of the night Aiden was born has never been told, until now. Fleeing the Hunter's, Kevan and Shannon O'Reilly find their way to Spruce Knoll Colorado, assuming they'll be safe in America. Their unborn son is special, even for a druid, or channeler as the American's like to call their kind. But why the Hunter's, people who are sworn to keep their kind safe, are after them is a mystery. All they know is that if they don't outrun them they'll be killed.

Trouble has followed them to Spruce Knoll and just when it seems it may be too late, they discover why.



One by One
by Phil Tucker
4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Dark Urban Fantasy


For Peter, the end of civilization begins quietly with the disappearance of his mother. At the police station he learns that thousands of others have gone mysteriously missing overnight, and that tens of millions more are vanishing daily across the globe. Without explanation humanity finds itself facing its final year on the planet, and it is only then that Peter falls in love.

Her name is Sophia, and though both are haunted by loss they find in each other a passion that is as real as it is worth fighting for. As the government buckles and then collapses, as the darkest registers of human nature are sounded and a brutal demagogue rises to lead a reign of terror, they strive to find meaning and purpose in a world that is bereft of all certainties but one: that they too are fated to disappear.




Somewhere in Time (The Crosse Harbor Time Travel Trilogy)
by Barbara Bretton
4.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Time Travel Paranormal Romance


Reviewers Choice Award - Best Historical Time Travel
--Romantic Times

Historian Emilie Crosse dreamed of a love that would last forever
Who knew she'd have to sail across two centuries to find it?

When her ex-husband Zane Grey Rutledge showed up at her door with a Revolutionary War uniform that was part of his grandmother's estate, neither one suspected that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn't possibly imagine.

Swept back in time to 1776 where a nation is struggling to be born, Emilie finds herself torn between two men: Zane, her ex who still holds the key to her heart, and Andrew McVie, the Patriot hero of her long-ago dreams . . . .



Seeds of Discovery (Dusk Gate Chronicles - Book One)
by Breeana Puttroff
4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon
YA Paranormal Romance


Nobody at Bristlecone High School has ever paid attention to William Rose. Since the day he arrived in the small, mountain town years ago, he's blended into the background.

Quinn Robbins never noticed William at all, until the icy Friday night he suddenly appeared directly in the path of her car, and just as suddenly vanished. After that, she found herself noticing him constantly, seeing for the first time just how different he was.

First were the books he always had his nose buried in. Why would a senior in high school always be reading medical journals? Then there were his habitual appearances down by the river every Friday night, just like the night she almost hit him - not to mention his odd habit of disappearing there, with no place and no reason to hide!

Overtaken by a sense of curiosity that she just can't seem to shake, Quinn finds herself trying to figure out exactly what is going on with him.  When he starts to show up in her dreams, she can't decide if her curiosity has become too much of an obsession ... or if there is something ... more.

Finally it becomes clear that the answers she seeks might only come from finding out what is happening at the river. But on the night Quinn decides to follow him, her very new mystery draws her fatefully to a very old mystery. To a discovery she thought could only exist in a fairy tale.

Uh oh, Quinn. 1st Period History will never be the same!

In the Dusk Gate Chronicles, you'll meet characters who find their way straight into your heart, on a journey you'll long to join. Join readers everywhere as you fall in love with the Dusk Gate Chronicles.




A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones)
by S.L. Baum
4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Romance


If you live LONG enough... love (and danger) will find you.

A new family has just arrived in the isolated mountain town of Telluride, Colorado. Welcome the Johnstons - Jason (a doctor), Rachel (a designer), and their niece Emily (a current High School Senior).

Emily has lived the life of a quiet loner in the past, trying to go unnoticed. But with Telluride being such a small and welcoming town, she finds a group of friends at school almost immediately. When Emily meets Link (another new transplant in town) her world turns upside down. She doesn't understand why she feels a magnetic pull toward him, or why she unknowingly lets her guard down around him. Link is just as confused by his own need to be with her.

Emily knows she is playing with fire. She should be doing whatever she can to keep herself isolated, to keep Link from getting too close. Danger has a way of finding Emily's family - that is what keeps them on the move. They arrive in a new town every few years - it is safer that way.

Because... Emily isn't really Emily... her real name is Charity - and Charity has an even bigger secret. Charity and her family are not like other people, they have "skills" that mere mortals cannot begin to comprehend.

Before long, Charity is struggling with the reality that her two lives are coming closer to each other with each passing day. Soon Link will find himself wrapped in a supernatural world that he never knew existed - and discover that mortals are not the only beings that walk this earth.


Monday, July 2, 2012

Spotlight YA Paranormal Romance: Birthright

Birthright
by Willow Cross
4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon
YA Vampire Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy



For one-thousand years, Druid prophecies foretold of a young witch destined to alter the fate of both human and immortal alike. This witch-turned-vampire would be capable of harnessing the supernatural abilities of both and, in a bloody rise to power, would rule with unwavering control.

Unwillingly thrust into a world she never dreamed existed, Liz Markum is catapulted into an ancient war between rival vampire factions. She must choose between those she loves and the ever-present darkness attempting to devour her very soul.

Only one question remains: Will Liz claim her birthright or surrender to the dark gift?

One choice.

One chance.

Two destinies.


Quotes from Reviews:


There is a little romance, but it is centered around the thrill and action, it is full of twist and turns and doesn't let up. And not to mention there are also ghost, witches and a druid, OH MY! The author has a real skill for describing the characters and the scenes. It mad me feel as I was watching it play word by word in my head. I could see this being a big hit if it were to be turned into a movie.




Definitely will not be disappointed!!!! Great vampire story!!!




This is so refreshing, genuinely creepy, great new concepts, real scary (not just romanticized, but that, too) vampires. It's just honestly a great book. And I'm excited for the new book releasing soon.




Willow is an amazing storyteller. Birthright is a great addition to her works and Inheritance. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.




This is NOT the typical vampire book! I loved the variety of characters and how the author worked them all in together. When I first began reading this book, I was skeptical. As I read further and became engrossed, I was quickly past that point. 




Free Contemporary Fantasy Kindle Books 7-2-2012

These ebooks were listed as free downloads at the time of the post. These are usually only free for a few days at most. Always double check the prices before downloading.


Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
by H. P. Mallory
4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Romance


A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead.

A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover.

A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches.

The Underworld in a state of chaos.

Let the games begin.

Life isn’t bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.



Deadly Night
by Vicki Keire
4.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Romance


Caspia Chastain is finally coming to terms with the carefully buried secrets of her hometown and bloodline. Life is returning to what passes for normal. Ethan is learning to live with life in Whitfield. Her brother is so healthy it's mildly terrifying. She hasn't drawn the future in ages, her school schedule is creepy professor free, and her job as Whitfield's only Coffee Goddess remains secure.

But someone is kidnapping Nephilim descendents and using them to build an army. An unpredictable new gift threatens to consume her. With it comes a persistent dream: a strange young man with gifted blood who may hold the key to her ancestry. Whitfield has enough buried secrets to protect its residents, though, even if that protection comes with a price.

Ethan has secrets, too. He's never spoken of his long life before meeting Caspia. When his past catches up with him, it could tear their relationship and the Realms apart. Soon, Caspia and Ethan must discover if the light and life they've built together can withstand the gathering darkness.



Gifts of the Blood
by Vicki Keire
4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon
YA Paranormal Romance


Before her world tilts towards impossible, Caspia Chastain thinks the only strange thing about her is that she sometimes draws the future. Only her brother Logan knows what she can do. When she draws a man surrounded by brilliant light, dark wings, and frightening symbols, she can only hope the vision won't come true.

But when a stranger named Ethan appears, determined to protect Caspia and her brother from dangers he won't explain, she's not sure what to think. Strangers almost never come to Whitfield. They certainly don't follow her around, frightening her one moment and treating her like glass the next. And they certainly don't look exactly like the subject of her most violent drawing.




Deadly Night
by Quinn Loftis
4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon
YA Paranormal Romance


Jacque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don't realize the last two weeks of their summer was going to get a lot more interesting. From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis Lupus, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul. The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas. Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane's mate and complete the bond between them?



Sunday, July 1, 2012

Spotlight Paranormal Romance: The Hunter and the Hunted

The Hunter and the Hunted
by Kelley Armstrong
4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Romance



From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes two Otherworld short stories that take readers on an exhilarating honeymoon chase with werewolves Elena and Clay, and a mysterious mission through the afterlife with dark witch-turned-angel, Eve Levine.

It’s not a good sign when Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers resort to everyday activities on their long-awaited honeymoon in St. Louis. But their encroaching boredom is about to take a back seat to an unexpected threat that catches Clay’s attention. A non-pack werewolf is clearly stalking them—out to claim Elena for himself—and Clay has no intention of letting the upstart mutt spoil their romantic getaway, even if that means deceiving Elena as he pursues the rival werewolf on his own. Originally part of an anthology of supernatural romance stories, STALKED is the perfect introduction to Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series and an action-packed interlude for fans to revisit some of their favorite characters.

In OFF-DUTY ANGEL, dark witch and half-demon Eve Levine is desperate for a little entertainment while her lover Kristof Nast is detained in afterlife court—enough to volunteer an extra week’s worth of angel corps duty just to pass the time. Luckily something even better comes up: a real celestial bounty-hunter mission to trail a shaman, someone who might prove to be a useful lead in Kristof’s court case. Following the target goes smoothly, until he leads Eve to The British Museum, where she inadvertently steps into a secret dimensional passage and stumbles upon a far more enticing puzzle…and a much greater danger. Packed with suspense and surprising twists, OFF-DUTY ANGEL reveals fascinating new insights into a beloved series character.

Includes an exclusive early look at THIRTEEN, the epic finale to the Otherworld series, coming July 24, 2012.


Quotes from Reviewers:



"Oh, how I love Kelley Armstrong's books! Right before the release of 13 (coming out July 24, 2012) she gives us a little teaser present with The Hunter and the Hunted. This collection contains two novellas, Stalked and Off-Duty Angel and plus a sneak peek of 13. All three are a great way to get ready for 13."


"So did I enjoy the two novellas? YES! Would I read more? YES Would I recommend? I always do recommend Kelley Armstrong!"


"with these two short stories, Armstrong showcase what makes her series great - believable relationships, different types of strength, different types of people, and a sense of humor."





Free Contemporary Fantasy Kindle Books 7-1-2012

These ebooks were listed as free downloads at the time of the post. These are usually only free for a few days at most. Always double check the prices before downloading.


Deadly Night
by Aiden James
4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Suspense


When Country singer Candi Starr is found dead along with two close associates in Nashville's esteemed West End, it proves to be just the beginning of a murder spree involving anyone close to the music superstar. This includes ghost hunter and psychic, Fiona Alea, who, along with her handsome rock n' roll husband, Jimmy, head up a local paranormal investigative team known as NVP, or Nash-Vegas Paranormal.

Soon Jimmy and Fiona find themselves on a roller-coaster thrill ride through some of Nashville's most renowned historic sites and famous haunts, where a gruesome discovery lies buried in the past. As horrifying revelations come to light, Jimmy and Fiona close in on an enemy both powerful and merciless—and the chilling truth behind Nashville’s darkest secret.



Deacon Leeds and the Pyramid of Symbols
by Grant Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon
YA Contemporary Fantasy


Deacon Leeds is spending his summer vacation on a scientific expedition in frigid Antarctica. Unfortunately, the only other teen staying at the Terra Nova Station is a royal jerk named Broderick Norsworthy. But when a football-sized golden pyramid—covered in curious symbols—is discovered buried below the ice, Deacon quickly learns that Broderick is more than just a pimple-faced nuisance: He's a thief on a dark mission.

Now it's up to Deacon and Fitz, an old driller, to track Broderick down and rescue the ancient artifact. The unlikely companions are thrust into a harrowing adventure across the polar plateau, where they must survive the brutal climate, as well as a mysterious entity that will stop at nothing to prevent them from acquiring the golden Pyramid of Symbols.

Along the way, Deacon deciphers the pyramid's magical symbols and unlocks a secret that will lead him to an even larger mystery thriving below the ice. It is there that Deacon learns what is truly at stake….



The Brooklyn Leprechaun
by Bernadette Crepeau
4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Mystery


Adventure, mystery and wry humor propel this reality fantasy, along a fast paced narrative romp from the streets of Brooklyn to the myths and legends of the Irish countryside.

Bridget is street smart, but her trip to Ireland suddenly starts to become more than she can handle when she is challenged by the Fae, to save her family’s land, expose a murderer, and stop terrorist activity, while on a two week vacation. Sometimes her greatest concern is what cow patties or ancient catacombs will do to her favorite pair of Jimmy Choos.

Brooklyn’s rough streets may not have taught her enough to handle the peaceful Irish countryside.



Mayan Lover
by Wendy S. Hales
4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Romance


Escaping the brutality of her past and following in her father's archaeological footsteps, Gwen Kramer's love of Mayan civilization uncovers more than artifacts when an ancient myth walks into her present, very real … and extremely sexy. Giving love a second chance isn't Gwen's greatest challenge, just her greatest fear.

Arka's destiny as Journeyer for the gods takes him on a 2600 year passage to find the Moon Goddess who's walked in his dreams since childhood. However, the shock at finding her clad in khaki shorts, hiking boots and covered in dirt is nothing compared to the one he receives when his true destiny is revealed.
When past and present collide, Gwen and Arka's love may not survive the forces threatening to destroy their future ...



Lover's Betrayal
by J.E. Hopkins
4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Paranormal Romance


A Vampire Out to Clear Her Son’s Name.

A Former Lover Bent on Revenge.

But Neither is Prepared for What Happens Next…

Vampire couple Olivia and Lucian were forced to separate nearly two centuries ago, but now a series of murders has brought them back together. Their task? To investigate who’s responsible for the grisly killings. And the prime suspect is none other than Olivia’s son, Kaden.

For Olivia, the reunion brings back all the pain of their shattered love—a love she abandoned to marry another. The decision held fateful consequences for herself and her troubled, warring sons. But her new mission also offers a chance at redemption as she risks everything to prove Kaden’s innocence—and put back together a fractured family before it’s too late.

Through it all, Olivia faces the seemingly unyielding hate of Lucian, a powerful leader of the Council, the enforcers of all immortals. He’s determined to seek vengeance on Olivia and her son—but can his hatred withstand the love his heart can’t deny?

The first book of the Misfits of the Lore series, Lover’s Betrayal challenges everything you thought you knew about vampires and the paranormal. Savvy, sexy, and full of surprises, Lover’s Betrayal will keep you guessing right up until the finale.