Three full length novels in one supernatural collection.
Book blurb:
Three full length novels in one supernatural collection.
In THE BIRD WITH THE BROKEN WING, a guardian angel finds herself trapped in Purgatory with a young soldier she was assigned to watch over. She knows the terrible secret that’s keeping him trapped in limbo, but can’t understand why she’s stuck with him.
In FEEDBACK, three teenagers receive the organs of deceased CIA agent and take on the task of completing the mission the spy died midway through, that of deactivating bacteria bombs threatening millions of lives.
In LITTLE RED GEM, bad advice from a ghost, magic courtesy of an unsuspecting half-sister, and a televised music talent show see this teen make more of a mess in death than she ever made in life.
That’s over 500 pages of action, drama, adventure, teen issues, and romance in one unputdownable book.
I’m so excited to have Ally Shields here today to talk about her latest book in the Guardian Witch Series, Burning Both Ends. This is definitely a series to check out if you haven’t already.
Welcome, Ally!
Thanks so much, Laura, for inviting me to your blog for a little BSP (Blatant Self-Promotion)!
I love talking about my books, but I was a reader first. From the time I was first introduced to urban fantasies about fifteen years ago, I fell in love with it. But I find there are readers who don’t understand why some books are just labeled paranormal and others are urban fantasy. The lines are definitely becoming blurred, but the simple distinction is in the word: urban. A city setting, and in particular a contemporary city setting, where the real world and the supernatural world both exist. It makes for very interesting cultural conflicts while blending the everyday world we know with another world that only exists in the writer’s and reader’s imaginations. I hope you’ll take a moment to step inside the urban fantasy universe I’ve created.
Burning Both Ends (Guardian Witch #3) Blurb:
Friend or lover. Life or death…
Supernatural cop Ari Calin arrives at the hostile Toronto vampire court with an ultimatum from the Riverdale vampires: Sebastian, Toronto’s vampire prince, must stop his unprovoked attacks—or else. Ari wasn’t expecting a fight—the “or else” was typical vampire grandstanding. But even with vampire Andreas De Luca by her side for a show of strength, things get ugly fast. Toronto’s vampire world is in crisis, and surrounded by enemies, Ari and Andreas find themselves under attack.
Then Ari gets the call from the Magic Council ordering her home. Steffan, a good friend and leader of Riverdale’s werewolves, has gone missing during top secret negotiations with the US government, and is believed to have been kidnapped—or killed.
Andreas can’t abandon the Toronto vampires, and Ari can’t leave him to face impossible odds alone. Neither can she disobey her orders from the Council, or leave her friend Steffan to be tortured and killed. Ari’s loyalties pull her in two directions—the closest thing to love she’s ever known on one side, and friendship and duty on the other. If she can stay alive long enough for the choice to matter…
Excerpt:
Fangs flashed where her cheek had been an instant before. Ari whirled, crouching to meet the vampire’s return charge, and her fingers sparked, witch blood clamoring for action. Refusing its urgent call, she threw the magic powder as he wheeled and sped toward her in a blur. Green particles sparkled. A loud thump. The vampire recoiled from the invisible barrier and took two staggering steps. A direct hit. Before a smile more than touched her lips, the dark figure recovered and leaped. Ari backpedaled, but his weight drove her to the hard ground.
He grinned down at her, a lock of dark hair falling across his forehead. Trapping her arms above her head, he leaned close, his dark eyes glittering. He brushed her lips with his and whispered, “Better—but not yet good enough.” Andreas shifted his six-foot, muscled body, sprang up, and offered her a hand.
Ignoring the courtesy, Ari scrambled to her feet. Getting pinned by your boyfriend wasn’t always a good thing. “Back off, bloodsucker,” she grumbled. She shook out the fallen leaves and pine needles that clung to her long, honey-colored hair.
Andreas chuckled. A rich, warm sound. “Touchy tonight. Did I put your nose out of joint, little witch? And here I was, trying to help with your training.” Andreas glided across the forest clearing with the smooth grace of a natural predator. He collected their cell phones from under a park bench where they’d stashed them earlier in the evening and handed her one.
“Thanks.” Ari avoided his eyes. Damn right she was annoyed. She was competitive, and second place wasn’t good enough—even against a master level vampire. Especially one who wasn’t really trying to kill her.
Andreas studied her face, his voice pragmatic. “I am glad you are taking this seriously. Other combatants will be less charitable than I, less mindful of breaking your pretty neck. I can almost guarantee Sebastian will continue his fight with Prince Daron, and next time he may lead the attack. You might have to face him again.”
“Oh, come on. You can’t really believe he’d come to Riverdale. He’s too comfortable lording it over everyone in Toronto.” Andreas shrugged. “It is unlikely, but a sobering thought. With Sebastian, anything is possible.” He frowned, obviously thinking about the brutal vampire leader. “He has grown more aggressive, erratic, perhaps less sane, as sometimes happens with the elder ones. Our defeat of his minions will only fuel his rage and make him more determined.”
“Minions? What kind of word is that?” Ari demanded. “You really should update your vocabulary. Being born in seventeen hundred and something is no excuse for using words no one understands.” She was just being bitchy. In truth, she wouldn’t change a thing about Andreas’s speech or sexy voice. The archaic words, the faint accent of Italian aristocracy, and the shivers of sensation it produced were all part of him. She never got used to the seductive effect…even when she wanted to be annoyed.
Ally Shields was born and raised in the US Midwest, along the Mississippi River, the setting for her urban fantasy series. After a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time writing in 2009, and Awakening the Fire, the debut novel in her Guardian Witch series, was released in September 2012. Ally still lives within driving distance of the Mississippi with her Miniature Pinscher, Ranger. When not writing, reading, or spending time with family and friends, she loves to travel in the US and abroad. Way too often she can be found on Twitter.
Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1), published September 2012
Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2), published Marsh 2013
Blood and Fire (Guardian Witch #4), coming in the fall of 2013
Wonderful excerpt and trailer, Ally! So cool!!! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful series with us!
My Young Adult Paranormal Romance, SHIFTING PRIDE, is going to be PUBLISHED!!!!!!!
That’s right, the wonderful folks at Etopia Press are making this happen.
I just signed the contract a few days ago. Right now, I’m working on blurbs, taglines, and gearing up for edits.
***SQUEE!!!!!***
Here’s my initial pitch for SHIFTING PRIDE (to give you an idea of what it’s about):
Sixteen-year-old Nickie Leone has proof that her missing (presumed dead) father is still alive. Receiving his watch in the mail is the first in a line of clues bringing her closer to discovering his whereabouts. But clues aren’t the only new thing in Nickie’s life. There’s the Memorial Banquet her mother insists she help prepare for, there’s the new kid/hottie, Xavian, and…well, the growth of whiskers and a tail!
Filled with secrets and a new love of tuna fish, Nickie must partner up with Xavian (don’t you know he’s a shapeshifter too?) to rescue her dad before she loses him forever. Oh, and she needs to figure out how to be a cat, too.
To spread the joy, I’d like to host a giveaway.
All you have to do is leave a comment–AND I’ll count your name TWICE if you help spread the word (by Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, etc) (just let me know if you’ve done it).
How about I announce WINNERS in TWO WEEKS to give peeps time to stop by. 🙂
WINNERS will be chosen at random. THREE lucky commenters will receive a book of their choice AND a three chapter crit from ME!
JUST BREATHE Cover Reveal & Behind the Scenes Pics
JUST BREATHE, the final book in Kendall Grey’s JUST BREATHE urban fantasy trilogy is coming soon to a book seller near you! Kendall enlisted photographer Teresa Yeh to shoot a custom cover image of Gavin and Zoe’s clasped hands. Check out these pics from the photo shoot:
Awesome body painter Vonetta Barry goes to work on model Bradley Nethercutt’s “tattoos.”
Vonetta paints a whale.
The crew sets up.
Models Hope Danielle Smith and Bradley Nethercutt posing as Zoe and Gavin.
Photographer Teresa Yeh goes to work!
The whole crew!
And the winner is…
Once Kendall chose her favorite picture, she turned it over to the talented Claudia McKinney from Phat Puppy Art. Claudia added an ocean backdrop and a whale fluke, then mixed in a little of her creative magic. Here’s the final product:
The first book in the trilogy, INHALE, is available now in paperback, Kindle, and Nook versions. Book 2, EXHALE, should be out in early July. JUST BREATHE is scheduled for release in August.
He sacrificed his soul to the devil he hates to spare the heart of the woman he loves…
After a terrible accident rocks the foundation of their relationship, Gavin Cassidy, leader of the Sentinels who protect humans in Australia, and whale biologist Zoe Morgan call it quits on their short-lived affair. He can’t come to terms with the trust he inadvertently shattered, and being with him is killing her. Literally.
But love is a powerful motivator, and neither biology nor misguided oaths sworn to mortal enemies is strong enough to keep them apart, despite the fact their new paths are on a collision course that can only end badly. When Gavin’s illicit alliance with his most hated foe threatens to betray millions of innocents to ruthless Fyre Elementals, Zoe vows to sacrifice everything – including the whales she loves – to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life.
INHALE, an urban fantasy romance by Kendall Grey, is now available in paperback and e-book for Kindle (MOBI) and Nook (EPUB). INHALE is the first book in the JUST BREATHE trilogy. Kendall is donating all profits from the sale of the trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face. Watch the video to find out why.
Kendall encourages interested readers to consider purchasing an e-book instead of a paperback. E-books save trees, cost considerably less, and bring in much more money for the whales.
Thank you for supporting INHALE, and most importantly, the whales that need our help.
INHALE blurb:
Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…
After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.
Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.
*This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.
Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer 