But first answer me this. Today's connection to "bad luck" made me want to ask you all a few questions:
- Do you have superstitions?
- Do you believe in good luck and bad luck?
- Do you have a lucky item you bring with you or wear?
I'm more of a realist. I don't really believe in luck. I believe in chance - that sooner or later random good and bad things happen to us for no apparent reason. I also believe in Murphy's Law and irony and try not to dwell on the "bad luck" circumstances of "when it rains, it pours" because eventually the sun has to come out and good stuff will happen again.
Expect the worst, hope for the best, and pray for peace to deal with what happens.
First, OF BLOOD AND SORROW by Christine Rains
Christine is giving everyone a taste of this scrumptious paranormal thriller by introducing her enticing characters. I was fortunate to get a sneak peek at it and chose this especially intriguing and mysterious character, though not a big role, he was my fave...
ABDIEL
Death has no face.
Tall, dark, and deadly. Abdiel is a demon bounty hunter. There's nothing he fears, but everyone is afraid of him.
Don't wonder too long about what he looks like. If you see him, it'll likely be someone you once knew you see instead. Allu demons don't have faces of their own. They can only wear the faces of the dead.
Abdiel may be young, but he's powerful. He speaks for the Allu demons in the region. Not because he's their leader –they have no use for rules– but because he will kill any who go against him. He's also a trusted friend of Aleo Putzkammer, the highly respected demon owner of Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.
When something is stalking demons in the night, Abdiel makes it his business to find out what's going on. Lucky for him one of the Putzkammers' employees has made friends with a fledgling vampire. She's the perfect bait to help him gather information and draw out the villains. Not that she needs to know his plan.
Favorite line from Abdiel: “I don't exaggerate.”
Tidbit from the author: Abdiel is my favorite character. Dark and mysterious with a subtle, warped sense of humor. He's the reason I might write a sequel.
That right there made my heart beat a little faster - yay for sequels!
Erin Driscol works the perfect job consoling fellow demons by feeding off their grief at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.
When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese comes to Erin for help, she learns the truth behind the legends and hides him from his sire and the vampire hunters who seek him. But when the Putzkammers begin to die one by one, Erin is caught between her act of kindness and the need to save her adopted family. Only by facing her own personal demons can she stop the slaughter and still rescue Nicolas from his dark fate.
My review:
This book had me from the first line. The characters draw you into their dark story and there's mayhem lurking around every page. And I learned a lot of cool legends about demons. I never knew there were so many kinds! Just loved it!
Here are the links:
And you can find Christine here:
Also shining bright like a diamond today...
ONE GOOD CATCH by Heather M. Gardner
Part of the Maguire's Corner series.
A Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Release Date: March 13, 2015
Ignoring a recent trauma affecting her everyday life, ER Doctor Kate Maguire engages in some high risk activities. But putting herself in these dangerous situations doesn't satisfy her edginess. She needs something more. When her brother’s high school best friend comes back to town, it’s her chance for a ‘no strings attached’ fling with the man who still headlines in all her best dreams.
Rhys MacGrath’s days of one-night-stands are long over. The pro-football player might be side-lined at rehab for a shoulder injury, but that doesn’t mean he can’t admire and desire the all-grown-up, so-damn-hot, version of the tomboy he once knew. His sudden interest in Kate might aggravate his best friend, who doesn’t approve, but it’s her indifference that’s driving Rhys crazy.
Everything heats up when Kate’s nosy nature sets her in the line of fire of an arsonist forcing them to deal with more than just the sparks igniting between them.
I can't wait to read this long awaited sequel to Maguire's Corner (soon to be re-released with new title and cover - that's exciting too!) Heather knows how to bring the action and the heat!
A Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Release Date: March 13, 2015
Ignoring a recent trauma affecting her everyday life, ER Doctor Kate Maguire engages in some high risk activities. But putting herself in these dangerous situations doesn't satisfy her edginess. She needs something more. When her brother’s high school best friend comes back to town, it’s her chance for a ‘no strings attached’ fling with the man who still headlines in all her best dreams.
Rhys MacGrath’s days of one-night-stands are long over. The pro-football player might be side-lined at rehab for a shoulder injury, but that doesn’t mean he can’t admire and desire the all-grown-up, so-damn-hot, version of the tomboy he once knew. His sudden interest in Kate might aggravate his best friend, who doesn’t approve, but it’s her indifference that’s driving Rhys crazy.
Everything heats up when Kate’s nosy nature sets her in the line of fire of an arsonist forcing them to deal with more than just the sparks igniting between them.
I can't wait to read this long awaited sequel to Maguire's Corner (soon to be re-released with new title and cover - that's exciting too!) Heather knows how to bring the action and the heat!
Buy it today!
Find Heather Here:
Blog: The Waiting is the Hardest Part ** Twitter: @hmgardner
And don't forget to sign up for the A to Z challenge! The Theme Reveal is coming up 3/23!
Have a fantastic weekend!
28 comments:
Hi Tara .. Abdiel - well I'm glad it's morning here .. seeing Abdiel might make me distinctly Friday 13th as the night wore on ...
Congratulations to Christine and to Heather - love the picnic table setting ... cheers Hilary
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Tara! I'm so happy to share a release day with Heather. She's awesome! :)
Hilary, thank you! Abdiel is a good one for today.
Can only wear the faces of the dead - creepy.
Congratulations Christine and Heather!
I don't believe in luck either.
I love both covers.
I have a black cat so obviously I'm not too superstitious.
I say I don't believe, but I do throw salt over my shoulder and avoid ladders. I'm fond of black cats, though. I do think there is Karma. 13 is my lucky number. So, I guess I'm half and half!
Congratulations, Christine! I can't wait to read it! I love sharing this day with someone so amazing!
Thank you, Tara for helping to spread the word! You are a classy lady!
Heather
I got Christine's book the other day. You making me want to break it open now.
Abdiel looks creepy, but my kind of a creepy!
Congratulations to Christine and to Heather!!
I can see why Abdiel is calling for a sequel!
Congrats to Christine and Heather! I don't really believe in luck, but I do sometimes think I'm cursed...
Congrats to Christine and Heather. I believe in chance and that you increase your chance of good luck by working hard.
Alex, Diane, Sarah, and Susan, thank you!
Heather, woot! High five to my release day buddy!
Patricia, open it. You can resist! ;)
Rachna, he's awesome creepy! Thanks.
Southpaw, he's got quite the story to tell!
I mean "can't" resist! D'oh! *LOL*
I tell myself I'm not superstitious but if I know about a superstition, I have a "just in case" mentality about it. "Just in case superstitions are real, I probably shouldn't cross that black cat's path." Which makes me superstitious, I'm pretty sure!
I see some mighty good looking covers here. And that image of Death gave me the shivers. Can't imagine meeting Abdiel and seeing someone long gone.
Great to see Heather's book here, too. The idea of romance and suspense is a definite page turner.
LOL - I am totally superstitious, and I don't drink bathroom water (out of the sink tap). Hubby finds that to be my oddest quirk. Interesting books, I like the way you introduced the characters.
Ooh, I'm loving the sound of Abdiel already. He sounds like such a fascinating character. No wonder he's your favorite!
I loved Abdiel. He's definitely not one to mess around with. And there's no "might." I want a sequel. :) Congrats, Christine!
Congrats to Heather too!
Congrats to Christine and Heather! I don't know if no face is better or a dead face. Very creepy.
Congratulations to Christine and Heather!
I have a green scarab as my lucky charm, and used to lie to people that it came out of a real mummy's tomb. It's probably a lot younger than that! I believe we can create our own luck, for good or bad. Legendary film comedian Max Linder's best-known film, Seven Years Bad Luck (1921), has just this premise. Max breaks a mirror at the start of the film, and by going out of his way to avoid bad luck, ends up getting in a lot of trouble which could've been avoided had he just stayed home and ignored the superstition.
Lee, Abdiel gives me the shivers too!
Rhonda, thank you!
Heather, thanks!
Cherie, you already know what might be in the works! ;)
Nick and Carrie-Anne, thank you!
Abdiel was perfect for a Friday the 13th post. I have two siblings who were born on Friday the 13ths. In fact, my sister's birthday was the day of this post. I prefer to see it as a lucky day and one full of optimism. Plus, it's fun because I always watch something horror related on Friday the 13th. It's like a mini Halloween throughout the year.
This is the second character of Christine's that I've "met" today. This dude sounds SCARY.
As for luck... I believe it turns on a dime.
I'm more like you. Don't have any big superstitions. And my Friday the 13th went just fine, so I'm glad I didn't hide inside. :)
I tend to be more a realist as well in the way you've described.
Best wishes to Christine and Heather!
A to Z here we come!
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Congratulations to Heather and Christine. Great covers.
I don't really believe in luck, but I do have a Canadian coin I've been carrying with me since 1989 because of something good that happened just after I got it. Would that make me semi-superstitious?
yay for Heather and Christina, very exciting stuff! and I love Friday the 13, mainly because I love black cats :) lol
Congrats to Christine and Heather.
And I think 'Chance' neatly sums up our life options.
Shannon, that's so cool! And yes, it is fitting for Abdiel. :)
Robin, thanks!
Arlee, LD, Beth, and Sandra, thank you!
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