Through the Paintings is out today! Please purchase it from your favorite vendor. If you purchase it at Jupiter Gardens Press and use the coupon code treasure, you get ten percent off all of your purchase! I’ll post other links below. And thanks to Megen who already read it and commented in a post below. You made my day!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance
Smash Words
Coffee Time Romance
I’d like to welcome the lovely Lex to my blog. She’s no stranger here, having done the artwork for both my header and the cover for Through the Paintings. Today she’s here to treat you to a glimpse of the world in her Spellbound Treasure novella Unbreak Me. Before I turn the blog over to her, I wanted to let you know you can get a ten percent discount this week at Jupiter Gardens Press on your whole purchase if you buy at least one Spellbound Treasure book and use the code word treasure. Also, I’m giving away Unbreak Me to the first five people who register for email updates from my blog after this goes live. Please come back Wednesday for the release of my first novella!
I give you Lex Valentine:
Unbreak Me isn’t a new book, but the characters still enthrall me. When my editor, Mary Wilson, and I discussed this world back in 2010, I decided my contribution would be a trilogy. Somehow, life got in the way and I’ve never gone back to this world and finished the story of betrayal I began with Unbreak Me. Now that the audiobook is set to begin production soon, I’m hoping it spurs me to write the other two books.
When I was asked to talk about this book I jumped at the chance in part because the audiobook version will be out this year and in part because I love this world. The characters in Unbreak Me are special. The setting is special and the plot is very different from what I usually write. And the book was a 2011 Passionate Plume finalist as well as the second place novella in the 2011 Lories Best Published contest. I knew this novella was special but I wanted everyone else to think so too. And then Happily Ever Reviews gave it 5 teacups saying, “This is not a quick, light read. This is a living thing that sinks its claws into the reader and doesn’t let go.”
Well. It just doesn’t get any better for an author than that.
Unbreak Me isn’t a pretty story. The world itself is filled with a mixture of modern Earth type tech, magic, and sci-fi. The realms of this world include Crossroads of the Realms, the place where Spellbound Treasure has its home. ST is run by an angel, Etienne, and her assistant Robin, a handsome demon. Etienne and Robin sell items imbued with magic. They are the only ones who can handle such items.
The main realm in my story is Estep Realm whose capital is Falconaire City, the seat of government for my world as well as the home base of the Pythian Elite, a fighting force of warriors who have magic and tech. It is also home of the Prime Minister and The Citadel, the Ministry Office Complex.
Within Falconaire City are several districts including The Avenal, an upscale appearing area that is actually dangerous. It’s a place where anyone with money can buy anything they want on the black market. It’s a place where spies seek secrets and where men take their mistresses. There’s also the oldest city in Estep, Hawksmoor, a once proud city that is now a slum filled with criminals.
The places in this novella aren’t pretty. They are gritty, dark and filled with unsavory people. And the beautiful places like Falconaire City are only surface beautiful. Falconaire City’s beauty hides evil people in high places, making it just as ugly and dark as Hawksmoor.
My main characters are a trio of best friends. My heroine, Tait Boland, is the daughter of the General in charge of the Pythian Elite. Her long time lover, Major Marcus ‘Ren’ Renniger and their best friend Captain Branson Gaines, were on a mission which Tait did not go on. Their transport was hijacked and Marcus and Branson were presumed dead. Many things happen to Tait, Marcus and Branson prior to the start of the book, but those things all have bearing on the story.
The story opens with Tait bidding for a heart carved out of heartstone. Someone else bids for it too and wins. Tait comes out of hiding and goes to Crossroads to try to get the winner to sell her the heart. That’s when she discovers her lover is still alive. This sets off a chain of events as Marcus, Tait and Branson seek those who betrayed them six years before.
I don’t want to go into too much detail about the story because it might spoil it for you! But Unbreak Me is an emotional roller coaster as Tait and Marcus reunite and try to make sense of what happened to them and why. It has a satisfactory ending, besides the HEA, on one level as we see Tait gain revenge on those who hurt her. However, the bigger picture, the depths of the betrayal against Tait, Marcus, Branson and Tait’s father the General, are only touched on.
The second book is meant to be a continuation of their search for answers and in it the characters are joined by Branson’s twin brother who, on paper, doesn’t exist. That story is meant to be MM. The final book in the trilogy winds up the mystery of who really betrayed them and why and gives Branson his HEA. One day, I will sit down and write the other two books.
This is an incredibly emotional story and, like I said, it’s not pretty. The cover art (all of the ST covers are done by me, mine as well as the other authors) is appropriately dark, but still shows the depth of the love between my hero and heroine. I hope that when the audiobook comes out that readers who loved the book will check it out. I think the narrator’s voice is wonderful and I think she will bring my characters to life.
For any reader who likes their romances with a bit of magic, this multi-author series is a must read. All of the authors have used Crossroads in slightly different ways, but each story contains an object containing magic obtained from Spellbound Treasure. It’s an awesome world and a great series that I’m grateful to be a part of.
Lex Valentine
Youtube.com/lexvalentineauthor
My teaser for this Friday is the cover reveal for my book coming out on April 2! Please enjoy and come back Monday for a guest blog by Lex Valentine.
Welcome to Karenna Colcroft who is kind enough to share with us her experience in writing in the Spellbound Treasures’ world. Today, I’ll give away five copies of her story Reflected Love to the first five people who comment on her post. Also, please come back Friday for more Flirtations 😉
Sharing a World
A few years ago, one of my publishers suggested doing a “shared world” series. Her concept was for a store which sold magical objects, existing across dimensions, that somehow caused people to find their true love.
I liked the idea, and at that point I was trying to build my backlist, so I said I’d give it a try.
Shared worlds are definitely not for everyone. My brain tends to go off on its own tangents, and I like creating an entire universe myself. Writing in a shared world, I had to use the components the publisher had stated were required for all books in the series, and I had to make sure I didn’t contradict anything she had set up or other authors had written. The series isn’t entirely connected; each book can be read as a standalone. The only threads tying all the books together were the store and its owner, and their reason for existing.
But I still found it difficult to work my ideas into a world that someone else had established. I managed it; my novella Reflected Love came out in June 2011. But that is the only story I’ve done for Jupiter Gardens Press’s Spellbound Treasures line, and I don’t plan to do anymore. For some authors, having a shared world to play in and other authors to share the ideas with works great, and I love reading stories that are done that way. I’m happy to be part of Spellbound Treasures, and someday I might do a revisit to Ralie and Listrial, the heroine and hero of Reflected Love. But otherwise, I guess I’m a little too much of a control freak to play in other people’s worlds…
Reflected Love is available from Jupiter Gardens Press, http://jupitergardenspress.com/shop/reflected-love/, and third-party retailers.
Karenna Colcroft began writing erotic romance in 2006 on a challenge from a friend, as part of her journey. In her books, Karenna shows that no matter what someone has been through, they can overcome and go on to find love and healthy relationships. Her characters may be afraid and may need to heal, but no matter what, they learn that they and their relationships are worth the effort. Love isn’t a magical cure for trauma or mental illness, but having that special person or people in one’s life can be motivation and support for healing. Even in the dark times, light and hope exist. Find out more about Karenna and her books on her website, http://www.karennacolcroft.com.
Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt from Reflected Love:
Ralie has moved into a new apartment, and the antique mirror she finds on an online auction site is the perfect addition to her bedroom.
Fae soldier Listrial has no need for the mirror he finds in a peddler’s tent while on patrol. But the mirror calls to him, and the small amount of coin he carries is just enough to purchase it.
Through the mirror, Ralie and Listrial discover each other. Is the mirror powerful enough to bring a human and a Fae together? And can their love surmount their differences?
EXCERPT:
With a gasp and a pounding heart, Ralie whirled around. No one stood behind her. Again she reminded herself that no one would be able to enter the apartment without her knowledge.
Yet when she looked at the mirror again, the man’s image remained.
He looked a bit older than Ralie, late twenties, perhaps, and wore his hair pulled back. His eyes were a shade of green she had never seen before, and lashes as long as her own rimmed them. His clothing, pants and a tunic in shades of brown and green, resembled something from medieval times, and a scabbard hung at his side. Random junk surrounded him, as if he stood in a warehouse or store.
“Hello?” Ralie said tentatively.
The man didn’t appear to hear her. He turned his head and spoke, apparently to someone beside him. She didn’t hear his words.
When he faced the mirror again, his eyes widened, and he put his hand against the glass. The image faded, and Ralie’s own reflection returned.
“It’s official,” she muttered. “Ralie, you’re losing your mind. Too much time alone.”
“You aren’t alone,” the cool voice from before informed her.
Right. Because I have a magic mirror that talks to me. “I’m not listening.”
Hands over her ears, she stomped out of the room to the accompaniment of laughter.
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she’d barely had time to eat. Maybe the voice and the man’s image had been hallucinations brought on by hunger. Food would make everything seem more normal.
She knew better, but she still needed to eat.
From the freezer, she took one of the many TV dinners she’d stocked. Never having lived alone before, she hadn’t quite figured out yet how to cook for only herself. The dinners had been an easy solution while she adjusted to her new home and job. Eventually she would have to start making real meals. For now, at least she had food.
She ate in front of the evening newscast, then channel surfed through game shows and sitcom reruns. The mirror’s presence called to her from the bedroom. She refused to respond. She didn’t know what she’d gotten herself into by buying the thing, and until she found out she didn’t know if she wanted to be in the same room with it.
The thought of seeing the man’s image again appealed to her. He’d certainly been handsome. Ralie felt like she knew him from somewhere. Like he was someone important to her.
Which was completely ridiculous, because she’d never seen him before. He was a random image in an antique mirror, nothing more. A random image that shouldn’t have been there, since mirrors only reflected what lay in front of them.
Going out, or staying in? Either way, start your evening off with this flirty drink:
Find the recipe for this delightful Earl Gray Martini at All Recipes. Surprise your special someone by serving it in only an apron after a long week of work, or grab a new romance book and some scones and treat just yourself.
Have a great weekend!
Welcome to my first Romancing the Reader spot where guest authors come by and chat a spell about creating their stories. Kisses to Jasmine Aherne for sharing her experiences in the Spellbound Treasure’s world with us. She has written several novellas for the series including her new release A Wolf at her Door. Be sure to come back Friday for my first Friday Flirtations, or, better yet, register for email notifications from my blog. The first five people to register for email notifications after this post goes live will receive a free Jasmine Aherne Spellbound novella of their choice!
And now, without further ado, I present the lovely Jasmine Aherne:
My name is Jasmine and I write for Jupiter Gardens Press. I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege to have written several novellas in the shared world of the Spellbound Treasure series, and I have been lucky enough to have the permission to create my own section of that world, the Faewild. The Fae live in the Spellbound Treasure world, but the Faewild is a sectioned off area which was born when some of the Fae developed shifting powers to take the form of animals. Unable to deal with the fear that the shifting Fae might one day attack or try and stage a coup, the Fae of the fairy realm of Caroann banished the shifting Fae to a dark, wild forest they named the Faewild.
The shifting Fae cannot cross into Caroann (well, maybe except if they got someone to help them, through bribes or otherwise!) but with the help of a magical human called the Realmbinder, they can cross into the human world in order to find a mate for bonding, and to explore.
I found writing in a shared world extremely exciting. In a way it was easier for me, as I created the Faewild, so I could start with an almost blank canvas. It was very useful to have Caroann to compare the Faewild to, as well – Caroann is a magical fairytale Kingdom of light, ruled by a King and Queen. The Faewild is much more like a collection of tribes or clans, each with the own lands and tribal leaders.
Shifters are such an interesting group to write about, because they’re so out of this world, especially to humans. How would someone react when confronted with a shifter, especially when seeing them shift. Fear? Anger? Total denial? I think all are possible. The thing about shifting through magic, is that it happens so fast that the process is very hard to take in and consider/observe properly. But at the same time, I was aware that I didn’t want to write something totally unbelievable. If you push your reader too far, they’ll put the book down, say “that’s just too crazy” and walk away. A fantasy world has to be at least believable and I think that’s where your characters come in. If your characters can be related to, then you’re halfway there with making your books believable.
My first book in the Faewild “series” (I say series loosely as none of the characters, except the Realmbinder, are connected) was Birthday Shift with Cade, the cat shifter. Cade is one of my favourite shifters as he was the first one I ever wrote about! I found it fun exploring the human world through his eyes, and telling the story of his love for Molly, his chosen human mate.
To make matters more magical (and fun for me!), the shifting Fae can only enter the human realm in their shifted animal form (after all, magic has its boundaries – I dislike stories where magic can do any damn thing you want, at the drop of a hat). So, in order to get close to Molly as someone she could love, Cade appears to her in a dream, in his biped form, and all sorts of sexy fun times begin!
I won’t ruin the story for you if you want to read it. But the other really exciting part of the ST worlds is that any author wanting to write a book within Caroann, or the Faewild, or any other realm, is that with the creator’s permission, characters can be “borrowed” – as Evelyn is borrowing Cade, who now works with Etienne at ST HQ, for her new release. I was so glad to hear from him and that he’s still enjoying life. I love it when characters get to live on, and I firmly believe that shared characters leads to even more verisimilitude for the ST world as a whole, and thus a better experience for the readers.
If you would like to read more of the Faewild, you can check out Outfoxed, where a shy but sexy professor falls for a female fox shifter, or the latest in the ST novels, A Wolf at Her Door, where a smoking hot wolf shifter rescues an animal sanctuary in danger.
I will leave you with my vision of what the Faewild looks likes – dark and wild, mysterious and deep.
Image credit: www.alphacoders.com
Please check out Evelyn’s work. I had the pleasure of reading a bit of Through The Paintings and it’s awesome, a great addition to the Spellbound collection.
Pull up some chocolate and sit a spell. My first novella Through the Paintings will be coloring e-book readers everywhere starting April 2. But you can travel to the Spellbound Treasure world now by reading the other sultry stories published by Jupiter Gardens Press. Just click on an image to the side and let it transport you away to realms of magic and romance.
Authors will be fluttering by the blog soon to introduce you personally to their characters and settings. I’ll by hosting Friday Flirtations to start your weekends off with a wink and a smile. Please come often!
