Sunday Series Spotlight~ Poppy Dennison's Triad Series

Discover a world filled with magic, action/adventure and romance in Poppy Dennison's Triad Series.

Book One: Mind Magic
Paranormal M/M, High Fantasy, Fantasy, Werewolves, Vampires
Dreamspinner Press
Available in e-book & Print

Magical species must never mix. According to the rules, Simon Osborne should ignore the children’s cries for help. After all, they’re werewolf cubs, and he’s an apprentice mage. But for once in his life, Simon breaks the rules and rescues the cubs, saving them from a demon intent on draining them of their magic. 

Of course, all actions have consequences, and Simon’s bold move earns him the displeasure of his peers and the attention of the cubs’ alpha, a man named Gray Townsend. 

The last thing Gray needs is a mage in his life, but Simon did save his son. Since Simon is now a friend of the pack, Gray doesn’t have much choice about it—or the forbidden attraction that goes along with it. Unfortunately for the alpha, he needs Simon’s help to track down the demon behind the kidnappings—before it strikes again. Simon and Gray must join forces to protect the pack, even as they struggle to resist the temptation that threatens to destroy them both.

Book Two: Body Magic
Paranormal/Fantasy, Werewolves, Vampires, High Fantasy, M/M
Dreamspinner Press
Available in e-book & print

A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted. 

Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming. 

Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction.

Book Three: Soul Magic
Paranormal/Fantasy, High Fantasy, Werewolves, Vampires, M/M
Available in e-book & print

Blood runs soul-deep. Cormac hasn’t been the same since the night the High Moon Pack was attacked. With his magic weakened, he’s consumed by a bloodlust he hasn’t felt since he first became a vampire. His need to replenish his power makes him a danger to his last remaining family member, and his hunger makes him careless. And that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Feeding from pack beta Liam Benson was supposed to slake his appetite, not leave him craving more.

Simon Osborne and Gray Townsend are trying to fight a being history says shouldn’t exist—one with all three types of magic. The pack must use all of their resources to combat the mysterious triad, even turning to the shady Council of Mages for help. While Cormac struggles to reconcile his past failures with his current desires, Simon must attempt the impossible: an alliance between mind, body, and soul.

Book Four: Wild Magic
Paranormal/Fantasy, novella, Shapeshifters, M/M
Available in e-book only

Joseph Anderson was heartbroken when his childhood best friend Dominick Levent moved away. Years later, Joseph is a successful real estate broker with good friends, an easy smile, and a stunning house. When he finds a dying mountain lion who miraculously shifts into Dominick’s sister, Joseph must find Dominick and reunite him with the two young sons she left behind. 

When mountain lion shifter Dominick gets a call telling him his sister is dead, he rushes home to protect his nephews and avenge his sister. Seeing Joseph brings back the feelings Dominick tried to bury and he dares to hope Joseph’s newfound knowledge of shifters means they can finally be together.

About the Author

A sassy southern lady, Poppy Dennison developed an obsession with things that go bump in the night in her early years after a barn door flew off its hinges and nearly squashed her. Convinced it was a ghost trying to get her attention, she started looking for other strange and mysterious happenings around her. Not satisfied with what she found, Poppy has traveled to Greece, Malaysia and England to find inspiration for the burly bears and silver foxes that melt her butter. Her love of paranormal continues to flourish nearly thirty years later, and she writes steamy love stories about the very things that used to keep her up all night. If her childhood ghost is lucky, maybe one day she’ll give him his own happily ever after.

WEBSITE / Facebook Page / TWITTER / PINTREST

Book Spotlight~ Soul Magic

Check out the next installment in the Triad series by Poppy Dennison....

Soul Magic by Poppy Dennison

Triad: Book Three

ISBN-13: 978-1-62380-580-7

Publisher: Dreamspinner

Genre: Paranormal M/M

Price: $6.99 eBook $14.99 Print

Pages:  220

Release Date: May 6, 2013

Blood runs soul-deep. Cormac hasn’t been the same since the night the High Moon Pack was attacked. With his magic weakened, he’s consumed by a bloodlust he hasn’t felt since he first became a vampire. His need to replenish his power makes him a danger to his last remaining family member, and his hunger makes him careless. And that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Feeding from pack beta Liam Benson was supposed to slake his appetite, not leave him craving more.

Simon Osborne and Gray Townsend are trying to fight a being history says shouldn’t exist—one with all three types of magic. The pack must use all of their resources to combat the mysterious triad, even turning to the shady Council of Mages for help. While Cormac struggles to reconcile his past failures with his current desires, Simon must attempt the impossible: an alliance between mind, body, and soul.

Buy links:

Dreamspinner eBook http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3799

Dreamspinner Print http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3847

Teaser Excerpt:

THE high-pitched screeching of the club’s so-called music momentarily deafened Liam. Strobe lights flashed, overwhelming his already sharpened vision. He winced, closing his eyes as he struggled to regain control. Frustration swarmed through him, adding to the annoyance of the task at hand.

Searching the crowd, Liam finally located the spiked blond hair of his target. He scowled, pushing aside an overeager dancer who chose to grind up against him. Steaming masses with grabby hands and a mob mentality. Their sweat, combined with too much cologne, made tracking his target by scent a challenge as well.

With a low growl, he shoved his way through the undulating crowd until he had a clear line of sight to the man he sought. His gaze drifted down over exposed, muscular arms to the man’s jean-covered legs. And not just any jeans—these were skintight and cut so low on Cormac’s hips Liam could make out the swell of his ass.

Liam chose to ignore the burst of arousal that rushed through him. He also pretended not to be jealous over the dancer whose hands freely roamed Cormac’s tight body. No, he couldn’t feel anything but anger toward the vampire at the moment. The fact that Cormac allowed this stranger to touch him, to casually grope where Liam only wished he could—well, he’d shove that thought to the back of his mind with the other conflicting emotions he’d felt since the moment he’d seen Cormac walk out of his house dressed to kill.

It wasn’t Liam’s first clue something was amiss. That had been when Cormac ignored Simon’s phone calls for the past week. His alpha-mate had grown increasingly frantic until Liam had finally taken matters into his own hands and gone to the vampire’s home. He’d expected a fight—wanted one, if he was honest with himself. Pack first. There was no excuse for Cormac letting Simon worry.

Liam certainly hadn’t expected to see Cormac prance out of the house dressed like a stranger. His customary conservative clothing—button-down shirts, crisply pressed slacks, and damned argyle sweaters—had been replaced by an outfit guaranteed to attract a lot of attention. Cormac had been injured by the triad as well, not that you could tell by the way he’d rushed to his car and sped away to this obnoxious excuse for a club, or by how he currently twisted his body and shimmied up against the strange man on the dance floor.

Liam rubbed his hand self-consciously over his stomach where the injuries he’d received in the fight still hadn’t entirely healed. All of Simon’s worry, and Cormac was out dancing? Liam’s anger turned to rage. How dare he? Liam pushed his way through the crowd, determined to grab the vampire and force him to explain himself to Simon. Nothing less would satisfy Liam at this point. And the explanation had better be a good one. Cormac tossed a sexy grin at the stranger. Liam’s claws itched with the desire to slap the sexy grin from his face.

Cormac looked up and met Liam’s gaze. He smirked, fucking smirked, just as the music changed to another screeching beat accompanied by multiple flashes of the strobes. Temporarily blinded, Liam continued to push his way toward Cormac. But when his vision cleared, the vampire had vanished.

“Fuck!” Liam spun around, searching the crowd of bodies, but couldn’t find the one he sought. Whatever song pounded in the background was a popular one, because more bodies appeared on the dance floor, boxing Liam in and making it impossible to get through without injuring anyone. Not that Liam would mind at this point. His blood boiled as he fought groping hands and hunted for Cormac’s distinctive hair.

He finally caught a glimpse, all the way by the entrance. Cormac tossed a look over his shoulder—smug and mischievous. He winked at Liam before pushing his way out the door, the groper he’d been dancing with right behind him.

It took long minutes for Liam to shove his way to the door. One of the club’s bouncers waylaid him and passed on a warning. Apparently Liam had pushed one too many patrons out of the way in his rush to chase after Cormac. Liam nodded his apology as he continued to try to get out the door without causing a bigger scene.

The bouncer stepped in front of him, blocking the way. Liam forced back another growl. “I’m leaving,” he yelled over the music.

The bouncer scowled but moved out of his way. Liam ran into the parking lot and looked around for Cormac’s car. It wasn’t where the vampire had parked it earlier, but the distinctive hum of the engine had Liam spinning around in time to see Cormac speeding up the next row of spaces.

The man from the club was in the front passenger seat. He turned his head just as the car went under the streetlights. His neck was bloody, a bite mark distinctive on his pale flesh. Liam jerked his gaze to Cormac, who casually wiped away a drop of blood from his lips as he drove away.

“Goddammit,” Liam bellowed to the empty lot. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

About the Author:

A sassy southern lady, Poppy Dennison developed an obsession with things that go bump in the night in her early years after a barn door flew off its hinges and nearly squashed her. Convinced it was a ghost trying to get her attention, she started looking for other strange and mysterious happenings around her. Not satisfied with what she found, Poppy has traveled to Greece, Malaysia and England to find inspiration for the burly bears and silver foxes that melt her butter. Her love of paranormal continues to flourish nearly thirty years later, and she writes steamy love stories about the very things that used to keep her up all night. If her childhood ghost is lucky, maybe one day she’ll give him his own happily ever after.

You can find out more about Poppy’s books on her website http://www.poppydennison.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poppy-Dennison/270574609631110?ref=ts

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/ParanormalPoppy

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5108648.Poppy_Dennison

The Triad series is as follows:

Book One: Mind Magic

Fantasy, Werewolves, Paranormal, High Fantasy M/M

Available in E-book & Print

Magical species must never mix. According to the rules, Simon Osborne should ignore the children’s cries for help. After all, they’re werewolf cubs, and he’s an apprentice mage. But for once in his life, Simon breaks the rules and rescues the cubs, saving them from a demon intent on draining them of their magic. 

Of course, all actions have consequences, and Simon’s bold move earns him the displeasure of his peers and the attention of the cubs’ alpha, a man named Gray Townsend. 

The last thing Gray needs is a mage in his life, but Simon did save his son. Since Simon is now a friend of the pack, Gray doesn’t have much choice about it—or the forbidden attraction that goes along with it. Unfortunately for the alpha, he needs Simon’s help to track down the demon behind the kidnappings—before it strikes again. Simon and Gray must join forces to protect the pack, even as they struggle to resist the temptation that threatens to destroy them both.

Book Two: Body Magic

Fantasy, Paranormal, M/M, Werewolves, High Fantasy

Available in E-book & Print

A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted. 

Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming. 

Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction.

Dreamspinner Press's New Releases This Week

Chase The Stars by Ariel Tachna
Sequel to Inherit The Sky, Lang Downs Series Book Two
Western Novel
Buy  in E-book & Print

Twenty-year-old Chris Simms is barely keeping his head above water. After losing his mother and his home, he struggles to provide for himself and his brother. When homophobes attack him, he thinks his life is over, but then he’s rescued by jackaroos from a nearby sheep station. He's as stunned to be offered a job there as he is to discover both the station owner and foreman are gay.                                                 

For Chris, Lang Downs is a dream—one that only gets better when Chris realizes the jackaroo he's crushing on, Jesse Harris, is gay and amenable to a fling. Everything goes well until Chris realizes he’s falling for Jesse a lot harder than allowed by their deal.

Jesse is a drifter who moves from station to station, never looking for anything permanent. Convinced Chris is too young and fragile for a real relationship, he sets rules to keep things casual. Watching the station owner and his foreman together makes Jesse wonder if there are benefits to settling down, but when he realizes how Chris feels about him, he panics. He and Chris will have to decide if a try for happiness is worth the risk before the end of the season tears them apart.

Body Magic by Poppy Dennison

Triad Series, Book 2. Sequel to Mind Magic

Werewolves/Shifters, Novel

Buy in E-book & Print

A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted.

Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming.

Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction. 

For Men Like Us by Brita Addams

Timeless Dreams, Historical-Europe, Novella

Buy in E-book Only

After Preston Meacham’s lover dies trying to lend him aid at Salamanca, hopelessness becomes his only way of life. Despite his best efforts at starting again, he has no pride left, which leads him to sell himself for a pittance at a molly house. The mindless sex affords him his only respite from the horrors he witnessed.

The Napoleonic War left Benedict Wilmot haunted by the acts he was forced to commit and the torture he endured at the hands of a superior, a man who used the threat of a gruesome death to force Ben to do his bidding. Even sleep gives Ben no reprieve, for he can’t escape the destruction he caused.

When their paths cross, Ben feels an overwhelming need to protect Preston from his dangerous profession. As he explains, “The streets are dangerous for men like us.”

For The Long Run by Elizabeth Noble

BDSM/Kink, Werewolves/Shapeshifters, Mystery/Suspense, Novel

Buy  in E-book & Print

After being bullied into the closet by his conservative senator father, Jay Molloy reconciles himself to a life of one-night stands instead of the loving D/s relationship he craves. When he meets the man of his dreams, trained Dom Eric Keger, all Jay dares to hope for is a quick fling. Eric has other ideas. He’s been hired by Jay’s father to run security at the family’s hunting resort, but now he has his heart set on Jay.

When murder victims begin to turn up at the resort, Eric and Jay start an investigation, but chasing down the killer proves less frustrating than dealing with Jay’s abusive, homophobic father. Exploring their new relationship would be hard enough on their own, but Eric and Jay also have to deal with politics, Jay’s fake fiancée, and a murderer who may be something more than human.

The Prince of Winds by Tali Spencer

High Fantasy Novella

Buy in E-book Only

Rimmon may be an eagle warrior, but he’s never known war, and he’s never known love—until his kingdom’s army is destroyed by Ekari, the demon of winds, and he is captured by Melkor, one of the Iron Horde that has been killing off the world's gods. Those gods have cursed Melkor and his brothers to be conquerors and never to be loved, but Melkor, hoping to overcome his fate, carries Rimmon off to his island. There, he heals Rimmon’s wounds and teaches him about sexual pleasure, earning the young warrior’s trust and fanning the flames of an attraction both men yearn to embrace. But the curses of vengeful gods are difficult to break, especially when Rimmon discovers Melkor is the demon who destroyed his home.

Choosing America's Next Superstar by Jeff Erno

Contemporary Novel

Buy in E-book & Print

For years, eighteen-year-old Corey Dunham has been a die-hard fan of the reality show and nationwide talent competition Choosing America’s Next Superstar. Now he finally has his chance to show off his natural ability and perfect pitch—not to mention meet other talented young musicians like Jimmy Sawyer, a country crooner from Kentucky.

In the cutthroat audition round, Corey and Jimmy get off on the wrong foot. It doesn’t help that they seem to be complete opposites, both in terms of musical taste and personality. But when both make it through to the finals and become roommates, an unlikely romance blossoms.

Reality show dating is nearly impossible. Corey worries that the competition itself could spell the end for them. At any time, voting results could send one of them home and force a separation. And one of the judges wants Corey for himself and will do anything to get Jimmy off the show. Can Corey and Jimmy win each other’s heart, regardless of who wins the show?

The Hand-Me-Down by Zahara Owens

Contemporary Novel

Buy in E-book & Print

When a volcano erupts in Iceland and leaves globetrotting headhunter Jez Robinson stranded in Barcelona, he isn’t sure what to do. He has a hard time sitting still, so deciding to make the best of his situation, he pays a visit to his old friend Nick Stone, a retired porn star he shares a history with. Only the visit doesn’t go anything like Jez expected.

First Nick introduces Jamie, his much younger lover, a man so painfully shy he can’t even bring himself to talk to strangers. The love he and Nick share is plain to Jez, but also puzzling, because Nick was never the monogamous type. Then Nick tells Jez he’s dying and wants Jez to look after Jamie.

In his whole life, Jez has never committed to so much as a house plant, so at first he refuses. But Nick and Jamie are insistent, and soon Jamie worms his way into Jez’s graces and his bed, determined to do the convincing Jez’s heart needs.

Dreamspinner Press New Releases-Week of June 18th

The Trust by Shira Anthony & Venona Keyes

Length: Novel

Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Science

Buy in E-Book & Print

 Eight years ago, Jake Anders was a college kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Then Trace Michelson recruited him into The Trust, a CIA-backed agency whose “executives” eliminate rogue biotechnology operations. Trace was everything Jake ever wanted in a man: powerful, brilliant, and gorgeous. But Jake never admitted his attraction to his mentor, and Trace always kept Jake at arm’s length.  

Now Trace is dead and Jake is one of The Trust’s best operatives, highly skilled and loyal to the organization.  But the secret agent has his own secret: six years ago, before he was assassinated, Trace designed a Sim chip containing his memories and experiences—and now that chip is part of Jake. It’s just data, designed to augment Jake’s knowledge, but when Sim becomes reality, Jake wonders if Trace is still alive or if Jake really is going crazy like everyone claims. He doesn’t know if he can trust himself, let alone anyone else.

To learn the truth about Trace and the chip, Jake embarks on a dangerous mission—except he’s not the only one looking for the information. Some of the answers are locked in his head, and unless he finds the key, he’ll be killed for the technology that’s become a part of him. 

Now, more than ever, Jake wishes Trace were here to guide him.  Too bad he’s dead... right? 

Additional info: The authors are throwing a release party over at the Dreamspinner Press Blog today.

Wolf's-own: Incendiary by Carole Cummings

Book 4 in Wolf's-own series 

Length: Novel

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Buy in E-Book & Print

Fen Jacin-rei finds himself again on the run after discovering the reality of what he is and why the gods won’t let him go. His one source of support, Kamen Malick, is suddenly unavailable, and now hounded and chased by ghosts who want to drive him into insanity and keep him there, Fen will have to face life all alone.

…Or maybe not. Old enemies and new allies seek to control Fen, now known as “Kamen’s Untouchable.” It’s going to take everything Fen’s got to figure out who he can trust—and who he should fear. It might take more than what Fen’s got to discern who is even real.

The Auspicious Troubles of Chance by Charlie Cochet

Length: Novella

Genre: Historical: America/European/World

Series: Timeless Dreams

Buy in E-Book Only

Chance Irving is a young man with a gift for getting into trouble—not surprising, as trouble is all he’s ever known. After losing everything he held dear one fateful night, he decides to leave New York and his past behind, and joins the French Foreign Legion. But even in Algiers, Chance can’t seem to shake his old ways, and he ends up being transferred to a unit made up of misfits and rabble-rousers like him—a unit he finds just in time to be captured and thrown into a cell with his new commandant, Jacky Valentine.

A highly respected commandant with a soft spot for hard luck cases, Jacky is the kind of guy who would go to war for you, and the three equally troubled youths from his unit he’s more or less adopted feel the same way about him. Suddenly Chance starts to think that his life doesn’t have to be as desolate and barren as the wastelands around him.

But even after their escape, with the promise of a future with Jacky to buoy his spirits, or maybe because of it, Chance can’t stop making mistakes. He disobeys orders, lashes out at the boys in Jacky’s care, and blazes a trail of self-destruction across the desert—until someone makes him realize he’s hurting more than just himself.

The Blue Paradise by Theo Fenraven

Length: Novella

Genre: Contemporary

Buy in E-Book Only

Pro baseball player Devin Carter is set to break a home run record until a knee injury puts him on the bench. With nothing to do but wait for recovery, Devin impulsively treats himself and his dog to a vacation in the Florida Keys. He checks in at a family-run hotel called The Blue Paradise—and that’s where things get interesting.

Sparks fly when Devin meets Jim Dellwood, the resort owner's grandson, on the beach. Though Devin’s time in Islamorada is limited—and he's still in the closet to his teammates and the media—they decide to give the budding relationship a shot. Once he returns to Sarasota, Devin and Jim find ways to make their long-distance love affair work, but the team’s new outfielder has other plans for Devin. Can Devin make his way back to The Blue Paradise—and Jim?

The Tenor Tuner by Etienne

An Avondale Story

Length: Novella

Genre: Contemporary

Buy in E-Book Only

Josh Carpenter is just a few weeks from graduation, and he’s got everything going for him. He has a growing reputation as a piano tuner, and he plans to pursue a master’s degree in the fall.  If his best friend, Norm, is to be believed, he’s handsome enough to have his pick of gay men.

He’s also been blind since birth.

When Norm suggests they take in some sun at the beach, Josh has no idea their lives are about to change for the better—until they meet identical twins Zeb and Zeke. Now that love is in the air, life can’t really get any better… or can it?

Ash and Echoes by Augusta Li

Blessed Epoch Series,Book 1

Length: Novel

Genre: High Fantasy

Buy in E-Book & Print

For the past few years Yarroway L’Estrella has lived in exile, gathering arcane power, but that power came at a price. Now it’s time for him to do his duty: his uncle, the king, needs him to escort Prince Garith to his wedding, a union that will create an alliance between the two strongest countries in the known world. But Yarrow isn’t the prince’s only guard. A whole company of knights is assigned to the duty, and Yarrow’s not sure he trusts their leader.

Knight Duncan Purefroy isn’t sure he trusts Yarrow either, but after a bizarre occurrence during their travels, they have no choice but to work together—especially since the incident also reveals a disturbing secret, one that might threaten the entire kingdom. But will it ultimately work in their favor?

When a third member joins the precarious alliance, it seems to cement the bonds between all three men. But the arrangement isn’t perfect: Yarrow knows the power inside him and fears getting too close. The mysterious newcomer was raised to believe love and trust are weaknesses. And Duncan struggles to accept them as they are. Saving their home will take everything they have—including the fragile relationship they’ve built.

Fire on the Mountain by P. D. Singer (Reprint) 

The Mountains: Book One -- 2nd Edition

Length: Novel

Genre: Contemporary

Buy in E-Book & Print

Take a break from academics, enjoy the Colorado Rockies, fight a fire now and then. That’s all Jake Landon expected when he signed up to be a ranger. He’ll partner with some crusty old mountain man; they’ll patrol the wilderness in a tanker, speak three words a day, and Old Crusty won’t be alluring at all. A national forest is big enough to be Jake’s closet—he’ll spend his free time fishing.

Except Old Crusty turns out to be Kurt Carlson: confident, competent, and experienced. He's also young, hot, friendly, and considers clothing optional when it’s just two guys in the wilderness. Sharing a small cabin with this walking temptation is stressing Jake’s sanity—is he sending signals, or just being Kurt? And how would Kurt react if he found out his new partner wants to start a fire of a different kind? Jake’s terrified—they have to live together for five months no matter what.

Enough sparks fly between the rangers to set the trees alight, but it takes a raging inferno to make Jake and Kurt admit to the heat between them.

First Electronic Edition published by Torquere Press (2009).

Bonus Short Story: Into the Mountains

Long before he met Jake, Kurt Carlson climbed Yosemite with his best friend, Benji. But after a storm traps them halfway up the face of El Capitan, Kurt has to accept that their friendship isn't what he thought.

WRITER'S WRITE...WRITING PARTNERS FEUD

We thought we'd share something a bit different this week, a bit bent, a bit unique, a facet of our work you have never encountered. This is the first book in a series, and will be available for purchase very soon. We hope you enjoy.

Let us know what you think and we'll send you an e-copy of our latest release CHASING YESTERDAY. Don't forget to leave your email addy under the comments.


THE FABLE OF SIN-SIN-CINDERELLA
BOOK ONE
THE SIN IN CINDERELLA

Angelica Hart and Zi


Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true. ~ Cinderella


PRELEWD

"Thank you. Thank you so much for everything." ~ Cinderella

The sweet chirp of sparrows and the hazy sheen of noonday sun filtering through new spring leaves seemed to follow the two plucky girls as they strolled along the forest path. Both had grace that eclipsed the elegance of a black swan or the grandeur of a white raven, each had voices as sweet and soulful as the hypnotic melody of a flute, the pair had curvaceous forms that had spellbound frog-Princes vying for love's true kiss, bewitched bears, and bedazzled dwarfs. These lasses had the yen, the urge, the craving, the hankering, and yes, those spirited hormonal urges that often beset those of never more a child yet not quite yet grown. A natural condition that was all the more fervent in this land of magic,enchantment, and well-honed oddity.

One beautiful maiden wore a damask gown of all white while the other wore a silk frock that was a brilliant red. Both dresses were hand-sewn but were of rough and scratchy workmanship. The girls just shy of wenchdom covered magnificent long slender legs with hose so colored to match their gowns held with lacy garters. If the wind blew strong enough to move their wrap-arounds the image presented beguiled any man that witnessed, for silk and lace and flesh teased. Still, the beauty of each of the lasses transfixed the humble adornments into gowns worthy of royalty and that being eclipsed by their raw carnality.

Snow-White asked as she plucked the petals from a posy, "Guy yet?"

"Nay. You?" asked Rose-Red, her ruby colored lips all the more red from suckling a freshly picked strawberry.

Snow-White sighed that oft heard sigh of the woebegone. "There is not a Prince Charming. There is not a Knight in shining armour on a white steed, or a dark steed, or a horse of a different color, for that matter. There is not even a nerd in mismatched khaki."

An understanding nod caused Rose-Red’s auburn silky locks to bounce quite attractively. "Been hanging with a bear. Hoping he turns out to be a Prince or something."

"Fat chance."

"He has a brother."

"Introduce me." Anxiousness plagued her tone and a brush of pink appeared on both cheeks.

Nearby mice flopped and tumbled together, rabbits peered out from bushes and twitched their noses at the passing to-be-Princesses as if wishing they, too, could participate in girl-chitter. "I hear that Sleeping Beauty is living with seven guys."

"Aye, what a tramp." Snow-White contemplated the idea, and then added wistfully, "Wish I was living with seven dwarfs. Maybe someday I can." She adjusted her bodice to display her pearly flesh just a rabbit hair outside the rim of propriety. It plumped out as if baby's butt cheeks.

"Have you touched one?" And everyone knows what one is referencing.

"Nay. You?" Noting the visiting Emperor riding by on an old steed in his new clothes, she hiked up her skirt and waved. He didn't notice. She pointed and remarked, "He has a nice one!"

"Would touch one...maybe...haven't...I heard they are burning hot...I might have to wear gloves."

They stopped, sat upon a bench that a flock of singing song birds hauled, using multi-colored ribbons as carriers, to a bend in the road just for the to-be-Princesses to sit upon. Song birds did that, you know, trying to outshine the mice who oft had worldly conversations with humans of fable and verse. Notice we have an inner species pseudo-sibling rivalry. That's small of them.

The girls, and we are referencing actual girls not the bosom buddies, stopped their twittering and faced each other, words coming fast and full of curious query. What might they say?

"Would you put one in your mouth?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Nay. You?" said the other dismissively.

"If he made me do so."

"We are going to die old maids," she sighed with resignation.

"Have you given it up yet?" asked but she knew the answer.

"Nay. You?"

"Would like to do so but good girls don't."

"You should be more Cinderella. She'd do a mansion simply because the word begins with M-A-N."

"She puts the Sssss in slut." Giggled.

"Heard she's getting her kitty tickled by...."

"My katten wants to be tickled," she interrupted.

"You self-tickle." She slapped her sister on her tushie.

"Nay. You?"

"Would but I was told I'd go blind." The corner of her mouth rose.

"Do it until you need glasses." Her mouth reflected her sisters.

"You are so bad."

"Cinderella is so bad."

"She'll regret that. Princes and Knights want good girls."

"Good in the parlor and naughty in the boudoir's hammock."

"Can you be naughty?"

"Nay. You?"

"Cinderella could."

"She could also fake being goodie-goodie." There was a tint of anger that followed. It highlighted by apparent jealousy.

"But her reputation."

"Who'd challenge a Knight or Prince about their lady. Anyone who'd try would lose their heads."

"So are you saying that we should be more like Cinderella and practice every naughty skill we can?" She was keen on the possibilities but was quickly resolute in her sweetness persona.

"She's the compeTITion. Mary had a little Lamb or Mary-Mary aren't catching a Prince or Knight. But Cinderella could. She has eyes that could charm a Prince. Hair with charisma that could fluster a Knight. She's sylph as an angel. And, the kicker is, she got big hooters."

"She has owls?" Knowingly teasing.

"She wears short dresses."

"Ours are Princessy."

"She gets hands on her bum. Hands to slap away. Hands...hands...everywhere."

"Aye, she attracts fellas."

"We attract dwarfs, witches and bears."

"The bear has a biggie."

"Seen it?"

"Yep!"

"Introduce me to his brother."

"You are so Cinderella."
***