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Friday, April 5, 2013

Proximity and Relativity by MA George

Book Info- 
Title:Proximity 
Proximity Series-Book #1 
By: M.A. George
Published on October 3, 2012

Book Blurb:
Dr. Palta Capal would be a typical American career woman…if only she were human.

She has found her calling in this world as a physician. It’s an ideal outlet for her compassionate spirit...and unearthly healing powers.

Palta may spend her nights rereading Jane Austen novels, but she deliberately avoids pursuing her own love story. Human men — attractive as they may be — inevitably grow old and wither, leaving her to grieve in solitude. Frankly, no one has seemed worth the torment.

Enter Eric Moran, the intensely attractive and enigmatic new coworker on the scene. With his quiet confidence and warm smile, he manages to draw Palta’s attention. Little does she know that he, too, holds a secret…one that will propel them both into an escalating collision of two worlds. 

Amazon Kindle
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Smashwords
Excerpt:
I regained consciousness with my face still resting against his chest, rejoicing at its steady rise and fall.  His heart thumped powerfully in my ear, and I paused there to listen to the most wonderful sound imaginable.  I would have been content to daydream there for hours, but I snapped back into reality as a low groan resonated in Eric’s chest.  I quickly pushed myself up and scooted back to sit a few feet away from him, suddenly uncomfortable with physical contact.
Eric reached his hand up to rub the side of his head as he slowly propped himself up with the opposite elbow.  His eyes passed over the contents of the cramped shed, coming to rest on my face.
“Palta?” he asked, the confusion plainly visible on his face.
I hesitated momentarily, preoccupied with the fact that he knew my name.  “Yes?”  I finally managed to speak.
Regaining his polished composure, he lowered his hand and pushed up to a seated position.  With a polite tone, he said, “Forgive me, Palta—but I seem to be having difficulty recalling how we got here…”
“How’s your head?” I asked, as he reached up again to massage the side of his scalp.  “You took quite a blow.”
He lowered his eyes, tilting his head to the side and creasing his forehead for a moment as he considered the idea.  Eventually he collected himself again as he looked back up toward the door.  We both realized simultaneously that the light through the tiny window was beginning to fade to night.
Eric began to shift his weight to stand, but faltered as he stumbled backward into the cabinet behind him.
“Sit back down,” I urged him.  “You’re still weak…You lost a lot of blood.”
Suddenly he froze, his eyes now wide with alarm as he focused on my left shoulder.  I looked down to see the conspicuous patch of orange beginning to dry on my sleeve.
I looked back up at his face, still frozen with shock, with an anxious tension in my eyes.  I waited for a moment, then sighed aloud with the thought of what I was about to do.   Tentatively, I raised my hand and touched my fingertips to my right temple.  Diverting my eyes away from his, I slowly swept my bangs up and back, carefully tucking the strands behind my ear.  After a long pause, I shifted my eyes back to meet his gaze.
Eyes still wide, he swallowed hard as he took in the sight of me.  Then, with a startling jolt, he turned and darted toward the door.  I sat motionless as the sound of his footsteps pounding on the pavement rapidly receded into the distance.
I stayed there for several minutes, utterly spent, mulling over the images in my mind.  I was used to the unusual—but this evening had gone well beyond unusual.  My mind settled on two concerning realities:
Firstly, the sight of my ears could definitely clear a room.
Secondly—and much more disturbingly—Eric Moran was deathly afraid of me.

Kj's Review of Proximity:
   Palta is an alien who feels somewhat alone in life, she has no man because she doesn’t want them to grow old without her. Then she meets Eric, whom she is completely drawn to without knowing why. She lives a very quiet life, spending time reading and being with her father and sister. What she doesn’t know is that Eric is hiding a secret too and that the secret will change her very existence. When she saves him from a fire in his lab she discovers that he has the same blood she does. When they finally all come together amazing facts come to light and Palta’s life begins to change.
  This is a well written story of aliens who came to earth and live quietly among us. The story makes it so believable, you get drawn into the story immediately. I enjoyed it very much. I would like to thank MA George for the chance to read and review her book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.


Book Info-
Title: Relativity
Proximity Series Book #2 
By M.A. George
Publication Date: January 9, 2013 

Book Blurb:
No matter the planet, Palta Capal is an alien. 

She’s lived a lifetime where she never belonged…but relocating to the “home world” she’s never seen has her feeling more like an outsider than ever.

Teetering between the thrill of newfound love and the despair of family loss—not to mention the looming threat of global war—Palta doesn’t need any more excitement in her life. 

But what she needs and what she gets are two entirely different things.

Excerpt:
My eyes crossed as I focused on Nangí’s spindly finger.  He was no longer using it to meter the tempo of his words.  He was pointing.
Very deliberately.
At my face.
“Excuse me?...” I reacted with a look of confusion.  “I was with you, right up until that last part.”  It was plainly apparent he was referring to me specifically, but I couldn’t imagine why.  The intensity of his gaze made me shift uncomfortably in my seat.  “Um…I’ve never really had too much of a problem with being underestimated.”
“You only assume so,” he countered, “because you underestimate yourself.”
I was growing increasingly weirded out by his probing stare.  I couldn’t feel him permeating my mind…but there was no telling what he might be up to in there without my knowledge.
He read the question in my eyes as I studied him uneasily.  “You wonder what I could possibly know about you that you don’t already know about yourself?”
“Something like that…”  I nodded anxiously.
“I’ve been around a while…”  He gave a smug little raise of his eyebrows.  “I’ve learned a few things.”
Part of me wanted to fire back that I didn’t care how old he was…I wasn’t interested in having my fortune told.  But somewhere in the back of my mind was the nagging thought that he might have a point.  I found myself staring absently into his smoky gray eyes, clouded by antiquity.  It was impossible to fathom all that he had seen in his life…all that he had survived.  Nangí was living history.  And he undoubtedly knew a thing or two about life that deserved my consideration.    “Fine, I’ll bite,” I sighed in resignation.  “Why shouldn’t I be underestimated?”
“A unique power such as yours holds tremendous potential,” he replied shrewdly.  “Particularly in the context of current world affairs.”
“Is healing really that unique?” I questioned skeptically.  “And what does that have to do with current events?”
“Healing power is somewhat unique,” he shrugged indifferently.  “But that’s not the power I was referring to.”
“Of course it wasn’t,” I nodded with an amused smirk.  “Hmm, let me guess…You were referring to my ability to watch the same movie a hundred times and still somehow find it interesting?”  I squinted my eyes, feigning a look of intense concentration.  “Or perhaps my mad karaoke skills?...Oh, wait!  I do make a mean plate of nachos,” I added with a deviously self-satisfied nod.  “Maybe I could bore Bito Obo half to death with a repetitive movie marathon—then serenade him with a rousing rendition of ‘Dancing Queen’—while I finish him off with a hideous case of nacho-fueled indigestion.”  I scoffed with a sarcastic roll of my eyes, “You know, I don’t think any of those count as actual powers, per se…Guess your sensors are a little off kilter.”  I returned to a straight face, my tone of sarcasm fading.  “I only have one power, Nangí.”
“You can be intensely aggravating...”  His expression struck me as closer to boredom than aggravation.  “And somehow I suspect this isn’t the first time you’ve been told that.”
“Nope,” I smiled mischievously.  “Nor the last…”

Kj's Review of Relativity:
  Headed back to the home planet she has never seen with the love of her life, Palta starts to find out all kinds of new things. Not only does she need to learn her home planet’s language but she has powers besides her healing abilities. The war on their home planet is a vicious one, and the man leading it can warp people’s minds into not seeing him when he is right in the vicinity. Will everything come out alright in the end?
  As with the first I fell very easily into this book and did not want to put it down. MA George has a wonderful talent and I have truly enjoyed her books. I recommend this book as highly as the first…cannot wait for more. Thank you for the books to read and review!

Meet the Author:

M. A. George is part proud mother of two adorable children, part super top secret agent…Oops, probably just lost that job.

Writing is what keeps her up into the wee hours of the night.  Fortunately, she has a lot of energy (Read: caffeine is her friend).  She has a bit of an obsession with music (It does a fantastic job of tuning out rambunctious children while she attempts to focus).

She sincerely hopes people out there enjoy reading her work as much as she enjoys writing it.  And if anyone hears of work for a super top secret agent, she’s now available (Discretion guaranteed…).

Get news and updates on her latest work (including the continuation of the Proximity series) by visiting her blog at: 
proximitybook.wordpress.com or the Proximity Facebook page at:

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Forever My Lady Book Blitz





Title: Forever My Lady
Author: Jeff Rivera
Genre: A Contemporary Romance | New Adult

Reviews for Forever My Lady:

Buy Link:


Interviews with the Author:



Synopsis:

**Ages 18+ due to mature content and strong language.**

Dio Rodriguez grew up on the streets and knew all too well the hard, cool feeling of the barrel of a gun tucked down the back of his jeans. But his hard exterior softened when he met Jennifer. Jennifer understands Dio like no one else and makes him want to be a better man. Suddenly a drive-by shooting lands Dio in a prison boot camp and sends Jennifer to the hospital. When Dio learns that Jennifer is pregnant, he realizes that he must find a way to turn his life around and return to his lady. But can trainee Rodriguez get his act together among the hardcases in prison? And will Jennifer be waiting for him if and when he does?

Meet the Author:


Jeff Rivera is an author and inspirational media personality. He has appeared on national television, radio and print in such outlets asForbes.com, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Right On! Magazine, Rotarian Magazine, TMZ, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, SITV, American Latino and NPR.
His humble beginnings of living in American poverty on welfare and food stamps as the child of a single mother, to his days living in his car and final rise to becoming a published author, journalist and media personality have inspired many.


Author Links:

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Taking Angels by CS Yelle

Synopsis:
Britt Anderson went along with everything the doctors said for nearly four years, but she was still dying at eighteen. The cancer had won leaving her without a future, without any options, and without control. No control, except for how she would leave this world. As Britt tries to end her life by going into the frigid waters she realizes her mistake. She struggles to get back to shore, to cry out for help, but her atrophied muscles are useless and the frigid water steals the breath from her chemo-scarred lungs. Despite her father’s attempts to reach her, she flies over the waterfall.

When Allister Parks finds Britt’s fragile body on the riverbank something calls out to him. Ignoring the warnings of his sister, Allister brings Britt back from the edge of death. The only problem is that an Eternal like Allister isn’t allowed to touch those who have already passed from this world. It is forbidden; an infraction punishable by death.

As Britt relishes her new cancer-free life and senior year of high school, her very existence threatens Allister’s place in this world. Allister struggles to keep Britt a secret from the Eternal Council and out of the hands of the only Eternal who already knows the truth: the one who stole her guardian angel.


Buy Links:

EXCERPT #2 
Shaking my head, I pushed away from his chest, hard. “No.”  
The force caused him to stagger backwards a few paces. He teetered on the edge of the pit for a second as his eyes met mine and he toppled over backwards, surprise filling his eyes. 
“Allister,” I shouted in horror, dropping to my hands and knees and scrambling to the edge of 
the pit in time to see him splash into the lake below. 
“Oh my god,” I cried out.  

Kj's Review
  Britt was dying, she had cancer and had taken all she could stand. She plans suicide, but at the moment of death “angels” save her. Her cancer is cured, she is going to be able to enjoy her senior year at school with her three best friends. Everybody happy right? Not so much, she meets her “angels” who happen to move in next door to her. Turns out when Allister touched her, he broke the rules that govern the Eternals, and the trouble begins. As it is found out that she exists, Britt has to try to find a way and keep everyone she loves safe.
  I was intrigued by this book, loved the way it is presented and how the story plays out. I very much find myself breathless with speculation by wondering what is going to happen to everyone. Which way will things go? Will everyone be saved? I am very much looking forward to the second book in this series. I will also admit I stayed awake most of the night so I could read this all in one sitting. How could I sleep, I was right in the story moving through it with the characters.
  I highly recommend this book to everyone, it is a very good read. I would like to thank CS Yelle for letting me read and review his book, it has been a real pleasure! 

Meet CS Yelle:

C.S. Yelle was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MN, the "almost" middle child of six. He attended Grand Rapids Senior High School where he enjoyed music and sports. He received his BS in Chemistry from Mayville State University, Mayville, ND in 1987. He taught 7-12 Science and coached for six years in several North Dakota schools and currently works as an Executive Account Manager in the Water Treatment Industry where he has been for nearly seventeen years. He is the father of four and grandfather of one. He writes novels, screenplays, and an occasional short story. He has been writing seriously for over ten years and plans to continue until his fingers are unable, maybe longer. He currently resides in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with his wife Jennifer.

Follow CS Yelle:

Wolf Protector Release Day Blitz



Title: Wolf Protector
Author: Milly Taiden
Genre: Erotic

Buy Links:

Blurb:
A woman with a secret…
The Federal Paranormal Unit is an elite squad of supernaturals dedicated to solving missing persons cases. Erica’s gift allows her a special connection with the crime, but it comes at a deep personal cost… Until now, she’s kept her gift a secret, even from the other members of the team. But this case will throw her together with Agent Trent Buchanan. He’s the object of her secret desires, but he’s also a cocky womanizer. She’d rather swim in shark-infested waters with a paper cut than admit she has feelings for him.

A man with one desire…
Wolf Shifter Trent wants Erica more than he’s ever wanted any woman. He’s spent years patiently waiting for her to admit that she wants him too. Working one-on-one in a race to find a serial killer, Trent’s patience and Erica’s resolve wear thin. When Trent discovers the truth about Erica, will he accept her for who she is? And can he protect her from the horrors that her gift brings?

A case that pushes them to the edge…
Erica will have to risk it all if she wants to stop the killer, and when she does, Trent may have to put his own life on the line to make sure his mate is protected…

Meet Milly Taiden:

Want to know about me? Milly Taiden (aka April Angel) was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy.

She’s addicted to shopping for shoes, chocolate (but who isn’t?) and Dunkin Donuts coffee.
A bookworm when she can get her hands on a good story, she loves reading all Mina Carter and Dianne Duvall among others.


Contact Links:



                                                 




Monday, April 1, 2013

Alpha Girl by Kate Bloomfield Release Day Event

Book Info:
Title-Alpha Girl
Series-Wolfling Saga Book #1 
By: Kate Bloomfield
Genre: New Adult/Mature YA ( 15 & up) Paranormal Romance
**not intended for audiences younger than 15 years of age, as it contains scenes of a sexual nature, and coarse language.
Please do not read if you are easily offended.**

Check it out on:

Blurb:
Seventeen year old Rose Goldman is highly unpopular in the little town of Halfway. Ever since the 'attack' when she was a girl, people and animals have been afraid of her. She gets bullied in school, and called 'wet dog' because of the way she smells, despite being extremely hygienic. However, life takes a turn when a new teacher starts at Halfway High. Mr. Stone, the quirky and charismatic English teacher is twice Rose's age, but she feels an unexplainable pull towards him from day one. Despite her better judgement, Rose pursues a friendship with Mr. Stone, who seems unable to stay away from her.
What is pulling this unlikely pair together?

Review:
 “I was riveted. Alpha Girl is quite intimate and has a fairly small cast of characters. The protagonist is very believable and wasn't annoying, which is a frequent problem in a lot of books featuring teenage lead characters narrating in the first-person. This is a romance (albeit a twisted one). Don't pick up this book expecting a darkly sweet, cutesy love story. This book will blast you out of your comfort zone and make you hate yourself for turning the page. But you will turn the page.”
- Review of Alpha Girl by Mark Carver, Author of The Age of Apollyon.

Excerpt:
 Mr. Stone’s smile faltered. ‘I like my women to have a mind of their own – to be witty. Like you.’
My throat closed up. Like me?
‘You’re an amazing girl,’ he said suddenly.
His use of the word girl made my stomach twist painfully.
‘Am I?’ I asked.
‘Of course.’
‘A girl?’
He smiled knowingly. ‘An amazing woman,’ he corrected himself.
‘No one has ever told me that before,’ I said.
‘I don’t believe that,’ he smiled. ‘You’re clever, and beautiful, and damn witty.’
Mr. Stone’s jaw tensed as he realized what he was saying.
‘Beautiful?’ I asked, the word escaping as nothing more than a whisper.
‘Don’t you know?’ he asked.
My heart thundered as I stared at him. Oh please, my mind begged. Please tell me what is going on in that head of yours.
‘D-don’t I know what?’ I asked.
‘Don’t you know what you’re doing to me?’ He said as though I was torturing him.
‘What?’ My skin stung and my head swam with the possibilities.
‘Rose, I-’ He paused to collect his thoughts. ‘I’ve felt this … this pull towards you since day one. I can’t explain it.’
He didn’t need to explain it, because I felt it too. His eyes, his smile and his scent had me drawn in.
I placed a shaking hand over his, which was still on the steering wheel. He looked at our hands for a moment before allowing me to thread my fingers through his. I could feel his pulse in between each of my fingers.
Mr. Stone inhaled deeply. ‘Christ,’ he muttered, shutting his eyes tightly.
‘What’s the matter?’ I breathed.
‘That … that scent. The way you smell-’
I suddenly became very self-conscious. Bullies at school often accused me of smelling like wet dog. I
sniffed my shirt, but I smelled perfectly normal.
‘What is it?’ I said defensively. ‘I showered this morning-’
Mr. Stone laughed, and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
‘No,’ he said with a small smile. ‘You smell amazing.’
‘I do?’
‘Absolutely. You always do.’
I never wore perfume, only regular home brand antiperspirant.
‘It makes me dizzy,’ he confessed. ‘It’s intoxicating.’
‘What do I smell like?’ I asked, rather flushed.
Mr. Stone licked his lips as though he could taste me in the air. ‘Sweet,’ he said.
My cheeks burned crimson, and I wished he would look at me. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
‘I want to kiss you so very badly, Rose,’ Mr. Stone said under his breath. ‘But I can’t … and it’s killing me.’
My heart hammered so loudly against my ribcage that I was sure Mr. Stone could hear it from where he sat.
Suddenly, I felt powerful. He wanted me … and it terrified him.
‘Mr. Stone,’ I breathed, but he still didn’t look at me. ‘Tom.’
A small groan escaped him as though his name leaving my lips was taboo.
‘Look at me,’ I said, my eyes fixated on him.
‘I can’t,’ he said, shaking his head.

Meet the Author:


Best-selling and independent Australian author, Kate Bloomfield, has successfully made a name for herself in the world of self-publishing at just twenty-three years old. Her newest and most precious book yet, Alpha Girl, is a controversial Paranormal Romance between a student and teacher. A book not for those easily offended.

Kate was born in Enfield, London in 1989, but has lived in Wollongong, Australia for most of her life.
Now working full time as an independent author, Kate has published four novels, and two short stories.

Her fifth novel ‘Alpha Girl’ is a paranormal romance that explores a complicated a student/teacher relationship. It is due for release on April 1st 2013.


For more information about Alpha Girl, please visit:  www.bloomfieldkate.com

Follow the author links:

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Fat Chance by Brandi Kennedy




Fat Chance, book one of the Kingsley Series - Synopsis:
Meet Cassaundra Keaton, an adult orphan raised in the foster system. She's overweight and struggling to survive in a world that makes her feel like she can never fit in. Follow her journey as she learns to trust and love herself, and watch her grow as she finds love. But will an issue from her past rise up to ruin her new life?


About the Cast of Fat Chance
Cassaundra Keaton
Nickname: Cass
Description: She's a little short and a good bit overweight. She's got brown eyes and dark hair, and a good sense of what to wear for her body, partly due to the good counsel of her sister, Chelsea.
BackStory: Cass is an orphan, who spent her childhood watching various members of her family die off until no one was left. Alone in the world, she spent the later parts of her childhood and teen years being shuffled from foster family to foster family until she finally landed in the home of Janet and Jim Keaton, who took her in and made her one of their own.

Andrew Kingsley
Nickname: Drew
Description: He's a cop, so he's got that uniform body. He's fitness-oriented, taking Cass on hikes and stuff throughout the early days of their relationship, and is a hobby runner. With short dark hair boasting a bit of early gray in the temples, his green eyes are possibly his most astonishing feature.
BackStory: Drew grew up in the crowed but happy Kingsley family. A good guy through and through, he's living his life just the way he's always planned to ... with a few minor adjustments thrown in.

The Author's Take on the Cast of Fat Chance

When the idea of Cass first entered my mind, I was just totally taken with the idea of getting to know her. I loved her quiet nature, her insecurity, because I could relate so well to her struggles. I'm not an orphan, and I didn't grow up in the foster system, but I did suffer from a very low self image due to family issues and my personal feelings about my body, etc. It was so easy for me to write Cass as she made fun of herself, because I've been there. It was easy for me to write Rick as he verbally brutalized her, because I've been there, too. The music that lifted Cass' spirit, is the very same music that resides in the electronic secrecy of my cell phone, music that I listen to frequently, to remind mysef of my own inner (and outer) worth and beauty.


It was so much fun to write Mac as he took Cass while she was broken, and he helped her piece herself back together. I didn't have much of a mentor in that, and I've had to learn my own self-worth in bits and pieces throughout my life. But I've learned so much over the years and now I can look into my own round face with pleasure. Which is what made Drew so easy to write ...


I've had men in my life who loved me. Some did it in spite of my weight, in spite of the size or shape of me, simply loving me for what is underneath the exterior. Others? Others loved me maybe because of my body, because I've got full breasts like Cass, because I've got her overly round hips, because I've got that "coffee table" booty, and because I've got soft thighs that make a man wonder what's hiding between.


I've been lucky, too, like Cass, in that I tend to "carry my weight well," and I look best when I'm a little round. Still, it's been a great thing to learn how to look in the mirror and honestly appreciate what I see. It's a great thing to look in the mirror and not cry, not despise myself, and not wish for every little thing to be just a little different. I really did waste so much of myself over the years in wishing that I was someone else, or at least looked like someone else, and that's why Cass' story isn't just for "big" girls. It's a story for ALL girls, for all women who have looked down on themselves because the bathroom scale told them too. It's a story for every woman whose mirror tells her she is unworthy of love.


A message from Cass and me, from the other side?


"Get on out there, girl! Big or small, short or tall, you ARE worth something, and there's definitely a Drew for you."


Kj's Review
Cass is overweight and she hates it, beating herself up for it. She has some issues she just cannot get past on her own, so she finds herself a therapist. From being overweight to being verbally and emotionally abused; this is a wide eyed look at the issues that so many woman deal with on a daily basis.
  Taking control of her life Cass makes positive strides, with minor setbacks from time to time. She meets Drew and it seems happiness may be possible at long last, what will happen now? Ms. Kennedy has written a story that can be read and again, I can see Cass as being a great example of how to deal with the issues in your life.
  I would recommend this book to anyone, with or without weight issues, it’s a terrific story of how we can all win with a little help. If books can inspire us this one is a excellent example. I cannot begin to put in words how wonderful this book is, I just thank Ms. Kennedy for writing it! Fat Chance has hit my list for all-time favorites, a five star read!

Meet Brandi Kennedy


Brandi Kennedy is a romance novelist whose work centers on the contemporary set, sometimes with a playful twist of this or that as she toys with bits and pieces of other genres. She is the author of To Love A Selkie, which is a tragic romance with a twist of the fantasy element. She is also the author of the Kingsley Series, which is entirely contemporary and focuses on the romantic happenings of the fictional Kingsley family.

A woman of varied interests, Brandi loves photography, music of all kinds, knitting, crochet, and of course, mothering her two young daughters. Currently, she finds her home in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, among the mountains and the members of her extended family.



Follow Brandi Kennedy:
Amazon
Facebook
Blog
Twitter
Goodreads

Come join us in celebrating Fat Chance!!!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert Book Blitz

Title: Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1)
Author: Cecilia Roberts
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
FREE MARCH 30TH & 31ST!!!

17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice: save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.


                                              Buy Link: Kindle
Excerpt:
Zig was right about one thing: Grim is about to push me off the nest’s edge. Last night he told me he’ll assign me a client for collection. I hope my wings will be strong enough to fly solo. 
My parents and I cancel brunch and visit Anton in the hospital. He’s due for release tomorrow. I glance at Mom, her arm hooked with Dad’s. When we arrive home from the hospital, I power on my computer and scroll down my messages. I emailed Rolf yesterday, he hasn’t replied yet. I scroll down to read Lea’s email. She arrived safely and is looking forward to beginning her summer job at the museum on Monday. She reminds me to keep an eye on Reiner for her. I plan to call him tomorrow. Maybe go out. He might let me in on what’s happening.
I spend most of the afternoon with Lucy at the playground, skating a thin line between anxiety about the lone collection Grim intends to send me on and relief that it’s almost evening and he hasn’t contacted me. After coming back home, I immerse myself in tidying everywhere and everything to occupy my mind. Mom seems pleased about my sudden urge to clean.
As I finish wiping the kitchen sink clean, something ‘dings’ and I rush to check the microwave. Nothing. Words flash like neon in my mind, and I yelp at the sudden intrusion. Mom looks up from her interior design magazines. I murmur “cramps” and dash to the bathroom and turn the lock. 
Is this how Grim alerts about collection instructions? Why didn’t I think to ask? Why didn’t anyone warn me? 
I steady my breaths,  and read the instructions.
Assignment: Soul collection
19th District, Georges Hospital, Room 302
Age: Ninety-three years
Soul Colour: Red
No name, just the soul colour. This one seems to have lived a vibrant life.
I grab my soul collection trench coat, shove it inside my rucksack, and dash downstairs, heart pounding in my chest. Mom looks up, and so does Dad, working on one of his carvings at the kitchen table. 
Keep cool, Ana. I clear my throat and try to keep from fidgeting. “I’m just going out for a little while. I’ll be back before dinner.” 
“Are you are meeting Rolf?”
I shake my head. “He travelled to Japan with his father. I’m going for a stroll along the Danube. Then catch up on my reading.” I tap the rucksack. My chest twists painfully. 
Dad lowers his tools on the table. “I could join you if you like.” 
“Maybe next time?” I force myself to walk slowly out the front door, even though my feet want to run.
Outside, I dash under the low hanging branches of the walnut tree, glad for its leafy limbs, which hide me from sight.
Breathe. Concentrate. Conceal. Focus on my destination. Shift.
And smack straight into a wall. Rubbing my nose, I scan my surroundings and head for the hospital’s entrance while digging out the trench from my rucksack and putting it on. I shift to room 302 and freeze.
Eight people surround the bed obstructing my view, speaking in low voices. I scoot around them. On the bed lies a tiny woman, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. She says something, stops, and takes a jagged breath. The red of her soul flickers on her skin. Seconds later, she smiles, deep lines creasing her pale cheeks. A little girl with blond curly hair sitting on the bed next to my client whimpers. She wraps her small fingers around my client’s.
My number one mission: know the names. The souls deserve respect. I peek at the nametag stuck on the metal rail at the foot of her bed: Frau Elfriede Hofer.
I wait as Frau Hofer’s family pays their last respects. I shove my hands inside my pockets and shift my blurry gaze out the window. Once her family leaves, I wipe my face. Although I have collected souls with Grim the past weeks, it still gets to me every time. 
Frau Hofer opens her eyes and smiles. I wrap my hands around hers, gazing into her green eyes. And our conversation begins. 
She’s had a wonderful life. She met her husband at the beginning of the second World War and fell in love. At eighteen, he was drafted. It took her three years before she saw him again. They got married before he went back to war. I see images of him coming back when the war was over, and life after the war, struggling to make ends meet. Her six children were her dream and life. Her husband passed away fifteen years ago. She adores her three daughters-in-law and three grandchildren, but she’s worried what will happen when she leaves. From her memories, I see how she’s kept her family glued together. Nothing can break that bond. 
I tell her exactly that. She nods, and I know she’s ready. She closes her eyes and, with a smile, she draws her last breath. 
Once Elfriede’s soul dances its way inside the vial, I replace the cap, mark it, and slip it carefully inside the padded pockets of my trench. 
Outside the room, I slump on the wall, cover my face with my hands, and take deep breaths. I did it. All I need are a few more steps to deliver the vial to the soul chamber. I climb to my feet and hurry down the bustling hallway. With my head low, I head for the stairwell. I could shift, but I need to savour this feeling. My first solo collection success. A male nurse dashes past me, pushing a patient on a stretcher. I brush past a group of nurses waiting at the elevator. As I’m about to push the door leading to the stairwell, a familiar scent swathes my senses, freezing me on the spot.
“Ana?”

Author Bio:
Cecilia Robert lives in Vienna with her two children, has an incurable obsession with books, anything romantic, TV and medieval architecture. When not working in her full time job, catching up with her two children, writing or reading, she can be found, knitting or crocheting, taking photos of old buildings. 
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