Hanukkah Giveaway - F/F Extravaganza

Happy holidays, beloved folks! Here's an effort to increase the visibility of some fantastic F/F fiction. I'm truly excited to show these books off. There will be one ebook given away a day for all eight days of Hanukkah. Giveaways end at midnight Central US time.

Day One: Eelgrass - Tori Curtis

Day Two: The Lost Magic (The Golden Magic Series Book 1) - SL Rawson

Day Three: Knit One, Girl Two and Eitan's Chord - Shira Glassman

Day Four: Treasure - Rebekah Weatherspoon

Day Five: Gillian's Island - Natalie Vivenn

Day Six: Daughter of Mystery - Heather Rose Jones

Day Seven:  Of Fire and Stars - Audrey Coulthurt

Day Eight: Screaming Down Splitsville - Kayla Bashe/ Certainly, Possibly, You - Lissa Reed

Lonely Crone Giveaway - Week Three

Guess who is made of fail? That'd be me. Apologies for the late post, I can only say I've been ill and trying not to die. As a result, the giveaway shall be open through SUNDAY at 4pm Mountain Time.

And here are this week's AMAZING books. First we have a Skyla Dawn Cameron double feature!

First is the AMAZINGLY RESURRECTED River. This is a paper copy, which will be sent to the winner on October 31st. I cannot tell you how excited I am about this book.

Defiant, nocturnal, moody–though River sounds like a typical teenager, she’s anything but. River’s a werewolf.

The life of an alpha female wolf was irrevocably changed the night she was attacked and bitten, and awoke confused, alone, and human. Three years later, thrust into a world where she doesn’t belong and living in foster care, River barely tolerates humanity and still doesn’t know who bit her or why.
But River isn’t as alone as she previously thought; someone’s been watching her, someone who holds the answers she’s been seeking. And though the human who changed her seems to be a step ahead of her at every turn, River is determined to beat his game and return to her pack and mate.
As if being stuck in a world she hates, with a life she never asked for, and faced with a destiny she doesn’t want wasn’t bad enough, River still must find a way to survive every human’s greatest challenge: high school.



Next is the digital edition of Bloodlines, the first book in the amazing Demons of Oblivion series.

If you're in her way, it sucks to be you.

After three hundred years of unlife, narcissistic vampire Zara Lain has seemingly done it all, and she's now making a living as a successful thief-turned-assassin. Her newest assignment seems simple enough: kill the aging leader of the O'Connor coven and his only heir, and she'll have another ten million in the bank.

But in the dangerous world of the supernatural, few things are ever "simple."

When a massive assault decimates the continent's population of powerful witches and warlocks, and its orchestrator has vampires being hunted down and captured, Zara realizes the tables have turned and now she'll be playing the hero. Forced to join with a smart-mouthed fellow vampire, a demonologist who's also a fan of hers, a recently widowed--and frequently brooding--warlock, and her best friend's mom, Zara's grudgingly willing to do what she can to save the day.

If only people would stop ruining all her outfits...

Finally,  Seleste deLaney gives us Badlands, the epic American steampunk novel.


After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nation's border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queen's assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Ever's reluctant ally.

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlands—if death doesn't find them first...

As before, comment to enter, the giveaway will be live on Twitter on Sunday. If you have trouble commenting here, ping me by email, twitter, or Facebook and I'll make sure you're entered. 

Lonely Crone Week Two

Welcome to week two, awesome people. It starts on my birthday, so I'm thrilled to start with one of my recently discovered favorites. The Exile and the Sorcerer by Jane Fletcher.

The quest for the stolen chalice is a sham - her family's excuse to get rid of Tevi. Exiled in a dangerous and confusing world filled with monsters, bandits, and sorcerers, Tevi battles demons within and without as she searches for her place in the strange new world. Jemeryl has her future planned out - a future that will involve minimal contact with ordinary folk who do not understand sorcerers. Her ambition is to lead a solitary life within the Coven and to devote herself to the study of magic. It is all very straightforward - until she meets Tevi. Two unlikely allies join forces to defeat an insidious evil and on the journey find one another.

Next up is a local friend, his first book, with the second coming out very soon! Denver Demon by Donovan Edwards. I have a SIGNED copy that came with an awesome hug.

David Arbor a gay man living in rual Wyoming is drawn back to the life he had left behind when a serial killer murdering gay men in the Denver area has claimed the lives of several of his close friends. Having some schooling in criminology and psychology David decides he must head to Denver to help find this crazed killer before anymore of his friends turn up dead. It isn't long before David's need for love, answers, and sense of purpose leads him into a dark world of sex, lies, death, and the supernatural.

Finally is the AWESOME first book by a woman who welcomed me to the internet with an eight armed hug! Hard Luck by M. A. Ray.

Dingus Xavier has the worst luck ever. As if just being named "Dingus" weren't enough, he's the red-headed son of an elven mother and a human father. He might also be a berserker -- and those are just the things he knows about. Sir Vandis Vail has always been too busy serving his goddess to consider training a Squire, but when he comes across a lynch mob attacking a young man, he can't let it stand. In obedience to his divine Lady, he takes the boy into the Order of the Knights of the Air as a Squire. Dingus Xavier, though, is far more than he bargained for: a gifted ranger, but deeply damaged by a life of abuse. Vandis doesn't know how to begin to help Dingus face his pain, and he can't handle his own paternal instincts, either. When a rival religious order targets the Knights for extinction, it could be the straw that breaks Vandis's back.

As with last week, comment, email, or tweet for any entry. I'll live-tweet the drawing on Friday at noon. Good luck!

Week One Giveaway Winners

Okay, first up is the Cats & Conjure set by Asha King. It goes to Jenna Breen!

Next up we have Meeting His Match, by @katee_robert, which goes to Ashley Mulvaney!

And finally, A Little Weird, by JB McDonald goes to @edana_ni_emer!

That's it for week one! Stay tuned for the AWESOME books next week. Featuring Donovan Edwards, Jane Fletcher, and MA Ray!

Lonely Crone - Week 1

Welcome to the first giveaway!

I have three books up for grabs this week.

First is the Cats & Conjure collection by Asha King. Read the stories of conjurer Adelaide and tiger shifter Erik in a (so far) two book series.

Next up is Katee Robert with Meeting His Match: When New York matchmaker Addison St. Claire is tasked with matching her best friend's new brother-in-law, she almost refuses. But the sexy southern CEO turns out to be a challenge she can't resist, because if anyone needs to meet his soul mate, it's this man. And if matching him with someone else removes the temptation of being near him? Even better.

The last thing Caine McNeill needs is a matchmaker—especially a gorgeous redhead who spouts nonsense about soul mates, critiques what he drives and how he dresses, buys him a dog, and pesters him about a million little things he couldn't care less about. It's a crying shame he has to keep his hands off because chemistry like what's flaring between them ought to be explored. Thoroughly.

And so the battle begins. Addison is determined to stick to her plan of setting him up on dates with other women, and Caine is equally determined to ignore these women and seduce her.

Finally, in print and SIGNED, I have A Little Weird by JB McDonald. Kel has seen his share of weird throughout his life, but when London asks him to sub for her and her boyfriend, that tops the list. He isn't gay. He isn't bi. He definitely isn't submissive. And with an underlying case of post-traumatic stress disorder from years in the military, anything BDSM just sounds dangerous. But he also doesn't want to see his friends hurt, and he's positive that will happen if they get together with strangers from the Internet. London plays things too close to the vest for him to get a good enough read on her, but Kel trusts Ty, even if he doesn't think he'll enjoy turning over control. It'll be a one-off, it'll be a little weird, and they'll all go back to normal. He's not sure what to do when a little weird turns out to be something he wants.

Entries start the minute this post goes up and continue through Friday at noon Mountain time. Just comment to enter.  Happy reading!

Edit to add: Comments seem to be stubborn, but a friend and I have been able to get them to post, so don't give up and double check!

Another edit: Comments are still being stubborn, so you can just drop me an email or a tweet, and I'll add one for you.

Lonely Crone Giveaway

Welcome to October and my Big Ass Book Giveaway! Each contest will be posted on Monday at noon MT, and close Friday at noon MT. Entries are via comments on the pertinent blog post. I MUST be able to contact you by email. If you want one of the physical books, you must also be willing to give me a mailing address. Drawings will be by random number generator.

Now that the boring part is out of the way, Let me introduce the authors!

First up, we have Asha King, author of some STEAMY erotica.

With her, I'll be giving away a print book by J. B. McDonald  and an ebook by Katee Robert.

The week after will feature Donovan Edwards, Jane Fletcher,  and M. A. Ray.

For week three, I bring you Skyla Dawn Cameron in all her epic glory, giving away TWO of her books! As a bonus, a WONDERFUL ebook by Seleste deLaney.

For the GRAND finale, I have Krista D. Ball, Lilith Saintcrow and Jordan L. Hawk.

I am SO excited, y'all. These are some AMAZING books, and I'm so proud of this line-up.

October Book Giveaway

I'm turning 35 and want to forget how depressed it makes me to be 35, childless, single, and drowning in student loans.

So I'm giving away awesome books.

Stay tuned to this blog, entries start October 1st. Giveaways are the 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. I'm SO excited about these books, y'all, I hope you will be too.

Are We Truly Saved?

Grak ignored him, aside from his last words and their clues to Kaj'ik's condition. He sent tiny tendrils of magic into her womb, looking for the tainted magic there. What he found was vaguely infant shaped and growing at an alarming rate. It linked to Kaj's own life, siphoning it to fuel its abnormal growth. It was killing her.

The link between mother and "child" was intractable, immovable. There was no way he could see to sever it and purge it from Kaj's body. Grak stared down in the warrior, despair and hopelessness threatening to overwhelm him.

But again, Grak wasn't one to sit idle when he might be doing ANYTHING.

He drew on his own magic, reached out to Kaj'ik's shamanic magic to pull in the natural forces around them. Then he began the delicate task of replacing the corrupt magic with the less toxic shamanic and sorcerous magic.

He found himself mimicking memories from his childhood, his grandfather's delicate and intricate weaving. He used to watch the old orc for hours when he should have been sleeping. He paid for it with knuckle-swats the next morning, but never regretted it. His grandfather was truly an artist, he had decided a decade later, in the human cities with its art galleries and museums.

He put a stranglehold on the magical umbilical cord, encouraged Kaj's own body to produce a normal placenta to give the "child" flesh, siphoned the toxic energy into the corpse next to them until he could find a proper way to dispose of it. The "child" was attempting to use up its "mother" in its own growth. Grak spared a bare second to wonder just what this "child" was supposed to do.

Sweat drenched his robes and dripped down onto the warrior. He desperately wished for some food, but focused on burning through his own fat stores for energy to fuel his... would "purefication" be presumptuous? But there was not time for these thoughts, when toxic magic sought ways to escape his grasp. He bound it into the corpse, mixed green and blue magics surrounding it like a cocoon.

Kaj's breathing eased from its frantic pace. Grak's muscles protested his chronic position, but he tied off the two magics with vicious precision. The warrior was saved.

And pregnant, with... something.

Magic Storm

When magic exploded on the horizon, Grak lost all dignity and stealth. He hiked his robes up around his waist and took off. He went faster than he remembered being capable. Fear lent speed to his feet, knobby green knees showing in the cool Autumn air. The warrior's scream somehow wrung more speed from his out-of-shape body. Air sawed in and out of his lungs like sand-paper, but Kaj's scream did not stop. As he drew closer, the whirling, mixed magic brought tears to his eyes. It became harder and harder to see.

But he didn't need his eyes when he could follow that pain-filled scream so easily.

He had to pull up short when the magic storm threatened to scrape his skin from his bones.

He could only wait.

Yet waiting patiently wasn't really in Grak's nature. He summoned a tendril of his own magic and extended it toward the maelstrom, sought to understand it and why it produced that dreadful scream of pain from such a strong warrior. Beads of sweat broke out on his brow as he struggled to keep his touch gentle as not to be scorched by the angry magic.

Grak attempted to "taste" the different elements. The colors were a clue for the origin of the magic, and he understood the green to be shamanic, from the living things around them. But the red and black were unfamiliar.

As his tendril sank deeper into the storm, Grak's horror grew. He tasted blood and hatred and the single-minded drive for vengeance. He sat down hard, knees no longer properly working. He couldn't even yet tell what the magic was doing.

He just knew that much hate couldn't be for anything good. He detected two human lives in the midst of the howling magic, one that was definitely his warrior, the other fading fast as he poured his own life force, hatred, and drive into Kaj'ik. Grak struggled to understand the things before his eyes.

Before he could truly grasp it, the storm blew away.

The two humans dropped to the ground. Kaj could not longer scream, her throat raw and unable to produce much sound. She struggled to her side to stare at the other human, an old man. She gasped for air, struggled to speak. "What- why?"

The old man cackled in what sounded disturbingly like glee. "You escaped the destruction of our people, traitor. You escaped it and did not enact vengeance. Maybe if you had, we wouldn't be here today. Maybe I wouldn't be bent like an old man, perhaps I might have been able to father a real child. But we'll never know, will we, coward? Instead of the mother of your people, you will be the mother of revenge." His crackling voice faded with his strength.

Kaj screamed again, the tortured sound that left her ruined throat would haunt Grak for all his years. He dove to her side, magic encompassing his hands as he tried to find the source of her pain. His eyes widened in horror as her armor creaked, giving way before a slowly swelling abdomen.

The old man cackled again, but the sound died away as he took his last breaths.

Vengeance

Her hand twitched toward her weapons, but fell again to her sides. What was the point? He wasn't wrong. It was on top of her mind to just keep going, let her master and the other villagers think she'd perished on her quest.

But you can't outrun fate, no matter how hard you might try.

"Cowardly Kaj, truth hurts, doesn't it?" He taunted. "You escaped punishment then, but don't worry your pretty head. I've come to fix that. I've been waiting for you." A tiny skull dropped from his hand, a dead infant. It took several horrified moments for her to notice the rusty red hair wrapped around the eye sockets. HER hair.

Her gaze shot back to Jola, but he was right there, next to her, clawed hands around her arm. Green, black and red magic surrounded them in a storm of wind and pain. She may have screamed, she couldn't hear herself above the yowl of the storm. Then her world narrowed to the pain coursing through her blood.