Rogue Phoenix Press

Blog Tour: Shadow Warrior by Courtney Rene

2012-02-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Courtney Rene starts her Goddessfish blog tour today. Visit her as she talks about her books from February 13th through February 17th. Courtney is giving away a $10 Amazon.com gift certificates to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

Tour schedule:

Feb 13th http://its-raining-books.blogspot.com/
Feb 14th http://www.thefairytalenerd.com/
Feb 15th http://www.familyreads.blogspot.com/
Feb 16th http://wefancybooks.blogspot.com/
Feb 17th http://www.readergirlsblog.com/

Excerpt

Shadow Warrior

Courtney Rene

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

"Mom, we have been through this. It'sonly ten days." My mom and I were at it again. The same fight we had beenhaving for the past month. Spring break had finally arrived and wouldofficially begin the next day, and that was the day that Leif and I had decidedto make my first trip to Acadia. It was the perfect time to go. I was thinkingof it as a much needed vacation. It was a chance to pop into Acadia, have alook around, and come home. Do the whole meet and greet thing. The how we weregetting there was still a mystery, but I would figure it out soon enough, or assoon as Leif told me.

My mom, well she was not real keen on thewhole idea. In fact, you could say that my mom and dad weren't too happy withthe whole shadow walking thing at all, which means, they were pretending therewas no such thing. I could try and bring it up, try to get them to understand,but they just changed the subject every time and stayed in their nice, safereality. I understood, really I did. It was just a bit annoying.

"You are not going, and that'sfinal."

"Mom," I said, sighing theword. "How do you plan on stopping me? You know this is something I haveto do. We've been through this."

"I'm telling you, you're notallowed, that should be enough." She stood there, wringing her hands whichmade me feel a twinge of guilt. Her brown eyes were upset, and her lipsquivered. "Please don't go, Sunny. You won't come back."

I told Leif my parents would be aproblem. He never listened. "Of course, I will. I'll come back. This is myhome."

"No, you won't. You'll leave to goto that...place, and I'll never see you again."

I walked over and stood directly in frontof her and took her cold hands into mine. She was several inches taller than myfive feet four inches, so I had to look up to see her face. "I promise Iwill come back, in ten days. Easter Sunday, I'll be back. I expect turkey andhomemade noodles to be waiting," I added with a smile.

I didn't want to fight with her. She didn'treally want to fight with me either. We both knew I was going, and we both knewthere was nothing she or dad could do about it.

Everything had changed since August whenI'd discovered that a race of humans existed that could walk in the shadows,and that I was one of them. I was not the easy going, boss me around girl thatI had once been. Learning that I was a Shadow Walker was hard enough to take,but learning that I may also be royalty, was even harder. My Thanksgiving nightbattle with the Shadow Guard from Acadia had taken away the innocence thatother girls my age still had.

I was afraid all the time now. I wasafraid of the dark. Not really the dark, but what I couldn't see in the dark. Iwas afraid of being alone. Bad things happen when you're alone. Leif was takingmy phobias rather well, thankfully, hardly ever leaving my side. He seemed tounderstand, which was a surprise, as I didn't. Then you had what no one knewbut me, that I was afraid of my gift of energy control.

What a crock, I couldn't control it.Sometimes it seemed to be trying to control me. I would get startled, or when Iwas afraid, I would instinctively pull the energy to me and inside. I wouldn'teven know I was doing it until I'd feel it zipping around in me.

I didn't want anyone to know, so I wouldslowly push the energy back out of me through my feet, into the ground. Itburned and tore at me every time now. I hated that gift. Why did I have thegift of energy control when I was afraid to use it? What was the point? I wasafraid of hurting someone, and I was afraid of the slicing pain that came withit every time.

Leif said time and again howcool my energy gift was. If he only knew what a real burden the gift was, I don'tthink he would have felt that way. Why didn't I tell him? I didn't want him tothink of me as weak.

Featured Title of the Day: Unexpected Journey by Christina St. Clair

2012-02-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Excerpt

UnexpectedJourney by Christina St. Clair

ExcerptLevel: 1

BookHeat Level: 3

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

Ina dream, Gishuk saw the image of a shewanakw girl with skin as white as theblackberry flowers in spring. Her hair, glowing like the color of autumn leaves,tumbled down her back. Though still asleep, he heard the dogs howling outside,their cries rising balefully into the night. He stared at the floating image inhis mind. Upon awakening, the girl's strange face remained etched into hispsyche.

For a while he lay on hisstraw mat, looking at the bark ceiling. Had this girl somehow disturbed thedogs? But this made no sense. She was merely a phantom in a dream. Still,something was not quite right. The starless night contained not even a sliverof moon to make the dogs howl. A steady rainfall, smelling of leaves and earth,fell from the pitch black sky, pattering onto the thatch roof of his parents'house. It lulled him back to sleep where the shewanakw girl still hovered inhis dreams. She seemed so innocent, but even in his sleep, anger and confusion arosein him. What right did any shewanakw have to appear to him when they had causedso much trouble to his people?

At daybreak, he soon forgotthe dream, listening for the song of Tàskëmus who always got up first to takehis bath alone in the pond in the center of the village. Gishuk loved Tàskëmuswho was his great-uncle as well as the village medicine man. He sang like hisnamesake, the mockingbird, able to imitate many sounds. Often he tapped like awoodpecker seven times because this was a number from the heavens. Usuallywomen were the ones called by the Great Spirit to become healers, but Tàskëmuslaughed at such an idea and made Gishuk his apprentice. Yet this did not stop otherboys in the village from making fun of Gishuk, especially that weasel Sàngwe.This eldest son of the village sachem acted as if he ought to be thechief. Gishuk also suspected Sàngwe of jealousy because he, Gishuk, wasGrandmother's favorite. She'd even given him his secret spirit name.

Gishuk rolled quietly fromhis mat and crawled past his brother Tëme, who snorted but did not attempt toget up. As Gishuk crept by his parents, Kèkw smiled dreamily, snuggling closerto her husband, Tihtës, and pulling the turkey-feather blanket over theirshoulders to keep out the damp. Outside, Gishuk watched his great-uncle swimsteadily through the water, his muscular arms rising and falling with hardly asplash. At last he scrambled onto the shore near the Big House, allowing thewater to drip from his body. He stretched his hands out palms-up to greet theday and began to chant.

As each of Gishuk's summerspassed, he realized he was very different from the others. He saw visions ofthings to come, but no longer told anyone, because often his predictions wereonly half-true. Tàskëmus told him this ability was a gift from Nenabush, buthis visionary skills needed to be more fully developed. Gishuk heard the woodssing and understood all the animals, from moles to bears. Herbs, roots andflowers comforted him. They did not strike him with their fists or hurt himwith their words. Yet deep inside he wished he could join in pahsahëman, theball game everyone in the village loved to play. He wished he might rough and tumblelike other boys, but sports never interested him.

Gishuk, copying his greatuncle, held out his hands. "Wëli kishku," he said. "It is a goodday." He admired the sky. The dome reminded him of Grandfather--farawayand yet sometimes as close as a low-hanging cloud on a mountain, kissing thetops of the trees. A tëmakwe swam out of its dam-house, slapped its tail, madea wild splash, and dove beneath the surface. Tàskëmus, across the pond fromGishuk, grinned at him before intoning musical notes that felt as if they wererising and falling within Gishuk's body.

Browndog, one of the villageanimals Gishuk sometimes took with him into the woods while he gathered herbs,jutted his cold nose against Gishuk's knee. Gishuk scratched the creature'shead. "You are quiet now," Gishuk said, remembering the night-criesof the hounds. Something inside his stomach seemed to claw at him. Overwhelmingsadness filled him. For a moment the dreamgirl's face flashed in front of him,but he quickly pushed her image away. She was not one of his people. He didn'teven know if she was real. Perhaps he would tell Tàskëmus about her, but notnow.

Featured Title of the Day: Thirst of Youth by Preston J. Sexton

2012-02-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Thirstof Youth

PrestonJ. Sexton

ExcerptHeat Level: Violent

BookHeat Level: 4

Buyat: www.roguephoenixpress.com

Excerpt

Elenastood in the doorway of the store and stared out. She took adeep breath, apologized one last time to the cashier, and stepped outside. She turned first to her left and then to her right. Elena was relieved to see the women were gone. Unless she took a shortcut through a long alley,about another half mile lay between the convenience store and her apartment. The alley trailed behind a group of apartments twoblocks from the convenience store. Again, she felt thecold rush of fear cramping her joints as she attempted to speed up her pace. Elena refused to turn around. She knew her pursuers stalked closely. If she looked over her shoulder, Elena would haveknown the two women were within an arms reach. They movedwith the wind, silent and with little effort. At anymoment, the devious strangers could have snatched her. Their instincts made them patient for the exact secondwhen Elena’s body was at its ripest. The point in timewhen her heart pumped erratically and her life’s energy was so full of horrorthat when they bit into her flesh her vital fluid would spill into their mouthsas uninhibited as water from an overflowing dam. It was allpart of the game to them, a strategic element of the hunter. They consumed the fear radiating from Elena’s body.

Onceshe reached the alley, it was a straight shot to her front door. Elena forced herself to believe she had reached a semi-safepoint in her journey. If anything were too happen,she presumed her screams would echo amongst the walls, encouraging one of thetenants in the apartments above to call the police. Turning the corner into the alley, she glanced overher shoulder to determine the distance separating her and the two menacingwomen. The two anomalous strangers had disappeared into thedarkness once again. Elena saw the small light fromthe front porch of her apartment. A quarter of theway into the alley, she began to hear a sound similar to whispers all aroundher. She marched through the darkness observing everythingthat hid in the shadows. Her eyes filledwith terrifying illusions. Every box, garbagecan, or heap of trash became a threat. There was noone there. She turned toward her apartment and gazed intentlyinto the beacon of light. She sauntered steadily,nearly running.Elena’s ears filled with the unnervingring of whispers.The whispering grew louder, soundingmore and more like hissing, or the unmistakable rattle of someone shivering. She looked over her shoulder again. This time two shadows appeared behind her at thecorner where she entered the alley. She heard theirlaughter as they moved closer and closer. A powerfulgust blew by. Suddenly a blackened figure appeared next to Elenashoving her to the ground. As she rolled onthe cool pavement kicking and screaming, the two women grabbed her legs,reeling her in like a hooked salmon. The women’s eyeswere darker than the darkest night, resembling black shiny marble. They bore into Elena’s soul. Both hissed--exposingthere jagged demonic fangs. When Elena felt theicy fire of pain arch through her body, she knew she was going to die. Themonsters moaned as they cut into Elena’s limbs, ripping away the firm flesh. She closed her eyes as the demons sucked blood fromher wounds. She tried to scream. Her musclescramped from the lack of blood flow. She grew weaker andweaker. The two ferocious women continued to pull tissue awayfrom her legs.

Carsdrove by on the narrow street in front of Elena’s apartment. No one heard her screams. Suddenly the two beasts relinquished theirbloodletting. Both ran off giggling playfully as a man approached. Elena’s tears blurred her vision. She silently thanked the mysterious man for arrivingbefore the two demons had eaten her completely. She layparalyzed. Droplets of blood escaped from her mutilated legs--pooling underneath shredded tears at the back of herarms. She whispered for the man to help her. Elena could not see him clearly. As he moved cunningly toward her, she realized hissoothing eyes hypnotized her. Something about himmade her feel relaxed even after all that had happen only seconds before. He kneeled close to her. Softlygrabbing her hair, he yanked her head back exposing her neck. She could feel the warmth of his sharp fangs as theypierced her skin.Elena struggled to breathe as the mansucked harder and harder. Slipping in and outof consciousness, she tried to reach up to pull the man away from her neck. His thirst drained the little strength Elena had left. She heard him purring as her eyes closed. When she opened them again, the man had disappeared. In the humid heat of the summer night, the chill ofdeath coursed through Elena’s young body. She took twoslow gasping breaths and then she breathed no more. Elena lay lifeless--eyes wideopen, fixated on the small light on the front porch of her apartment.

Featured Title of the Day: The Wager by Christine Young

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Wager

Christine Young

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 4

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Excerpt

Coast of England 1816

"It's a bloody cursed day."Damian Andrews swept the child into his arms and waded through the poundingsurf to the beach. He braced himself against the out-going current then sloshedthrough the crashing waves. Salt spray clung to the wind, stinging hisnostrils.

Damian turned. Beneath his ribs, his heartpounded the cadence hard and fast. He swore again as he watched the captainshout orders to his crew. The French brandy that was supposed to have arrivedthis night would have to wait.

Standing in the longboat, the captain ofthe ship that brought the brandy as well as the political refugees from theGermanies held a torch aloft--the only light in the vast darkness. "Hurry,laddie. We have human cargo tonight and the tide is changing."

A little girl whimpered.

Damian pulled her into his arms, bent onprotecting her at all cost.

"It's all right. You will all betogether soon." The smuggling of French brandy was a cover for the causethat meant so much to him. Religious and political refugees--at times it seemedthey came in droves. All were seeking a better life. A life of freedom."Your mother is coming as well as your baby brother. You will all besafe."

Damian looked to the captain. "Thefather?" he queried.

"He didn't come with his family. Hesaid he had one more thing to do. You must hurry."

The child leaned into Damian, her littleface nuzzling his shoulder, her silent sobs gut-wrenching. He pulled hercloser, cursing at the elements as well as mankind and wishing he could find away to shield the tiny child from all harm. He knew the feat to be impossible.The little girl touched a place in his heart and for a moment filled thatbroken space with light. Yes, the mother would be with her children, but whyhad the father stayed where his life was in peril? He had learned long ago onecould come to regret rash actions. And he'd also learned one could lose allchance at love in one instant.

Lord, but he'd lost his concentration andin losing that, he could well lose his edge.

No secrets-- no lies. The thought hauntedhim.

His life was a lie, but he would changenothing until his penance was paid. A constant drizzle soaked him to the skin.The wind sent goose bumps rising on his arms. He reached shore and handed thegirl over to Aric Lakeland, a trusted friend and accomplice in this night'swork, then turned and walked back to the longboat. Her baby brother as well asher mother waited.

He had never meant to get involved. It wasthe greatest of ironies that he was here now. He'd been a man who loved hisfamily and his home.

He'd been content but that seemed yearsago--a life time.

It felt like centuries.

The captain spoke, his voice hushed."Hurry, now, Master Damian.

It's the watch. They are due to ride byhere any time now. The patrols have doubled these last few weeks. I fear it'snot as safe as it used to be." The captain handed over the baby wrapped inblankets. Damian stared at the child. The babe couldn't be a year old. Thechild didn't make a sound, not even a whimper.

This was injustice, a travesty. He lookedat the mother. "Can you make it on your own?" He prayed the fragilelady standing before him had more courage than she appeared to have. She noddedand with the captain's help, she stepped into the ocean, struggling forbalance. Yet her shoulders were squared and her spine stiff.

As soon as the captain placed the babe inDamian's arms and the three of them were headed for land, he gave orders. Twosailors rowed out to sea, moving toward the black ship that rose and fell onthe distant waves.

On a cliff above, the dark silhouette of athird man, Ryder McClaren, could be seen for a brief moment. He waved his armsthen disappeared into the shadows once more.

"Hurry," Damian bade the mother,his hand resting on the small of her back, urging her forward.

Featured Title of the Day: The Unknown Son by K.J. Dahlen

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Excerpt

The Unknown Son

K. J. Dahlen

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Sable glanced over at theempty desk in the office and wondered when Max would be back. The bullet hereceived from Shawn last week had done a number on him, but he survived. She had hoped the nightmare of her past was trulyover now but even as she gazed at the open letter on her desk, she knew shemight have one more battle to fight.

The letter was from MaggieYost and it had come out of the blue. She hadn’t thought about Maggie sinceshe’d left Chicago a few months ago. She’d disappeared from the hospitalagainst medical advice after Micah died. Sable tried calling her in Clevelandbut Maggie had never returned. Sable learnedfrom Kyle Benson, Maggie’s landlord, she had called him and asked him to packher things and put them in storage. She would deal with them later. That hadhappened a couple months ago. Since then he hadnot seen her or heard from her.

Sable was surprised byMaggie’s letter, but her surprise soon turned to dismay when she read what shehad to say. The dismay turned to dread when she realized her nightmare wasn’tquite over yet.

This is the hardest letter I’ve ever had to write.I’ve never admitted this to anyone else, not even myself, but I made a very badmistake twenty two years ago and now that mistake is going to kill me. I toldyou I fell in love with Richard at the same time your mother was with Micah,but that wasn’t the truth. Summer had been with Micah earlier, almost two orthree years earlier. When Micah and Richard came back and Micah found out aboutyou, that’s when I met Richard.

I fell in love with what I thought was his bad boyimage. I didn’t realize what I thought was an image was the real deal until itwas too late. He was a real bad person. I was caught between a rock and a hardplace. I knew if I left him Richard would track me down and kill me. He told meoften enough when he noticed I didn’t want to be with him anymore. I thought hewas becoming lost to his own reality then he was dead. When Micah killedRichard, I knew I had to run before he could find and murder me. I saw thefight they had that day and I was witness to the murder. I knew the only way hewouldn’t kill me is if he couldn’t locate me. I had to run away and that’sexactly what I did. I moved around a lot so Micah wouldn’t find me.

It wasn’t until weeks later I found out I wascarrying Richard’s child. At first I didn’t know if I wanted to keep the babyor not, but in the end I couldn’t harm my baby. My baby was the only innocentone out of the bunch of us. It was hard to be alone and pregnant, but I knew Icouldn’t go home. My family would never have understood my relationship withRichard, and I wanted to keep my baby. When my son Noah was born, I tried toforget his father. I had hopes he would become my son and not a reflection ofRichard.

We struggled but we had each other. Noah was such ahappy child and he became the love of my life. After awhile, I guess I hadforgotten about Micah. I thought I dodged the worse but all that changed whenmy son was ten. He became secretive and sneaky and he began looking at me withmistrust. I tried to get him to talk to me but he wouldn’t tell me what I’ddone wrong. It never dawned on me I could lose him; especially not to the oneperson I had learned to fear more than Richard. Noah spent a lot of time away fromhome but he wouldn’t tell me where he was or who he was with. Then when he wasfourteen he ran away. It was several weeks before I realized he was runningstraight to Micah.

Micah sent me a postcard about three weeks after Noahdisappeared. He told me not to worry about my son; Noah was with him and hewould raise him to be a man, just like his father was. He told me he would beback to settle the score with me at a later date. Every day for the last nineyears I’ve had to live with the fear that one day Micah would just show up atmy front door. I moved from town to town hoping to avoid the confrontation Iknew was coming.

When you found me, I was almost relieved. I’m onlysorry I didn’t tell you the truth, the whole truth but I had to keep certain thingsfrom you. I still had to protect my son. I prayed Noah wasn’t with Micah andfor a moment I thought he wasn’t. When Micah took me to the well, he told meNoah had become the man he had hoped. He said Noah took to the life better thanRichard had and if by some chance Micah died in the final battle between thetwo of you, it would be Noah that would finish his work; Noah, Sam, or Shawn.

I’ve been running for awhile now but it hasn’t doneany good. No matter where I go I can still feel him right behind me. I don’tknow if he’s really there or not but someone has been watching me. Maybe it’sonly my conscience making me feel this way, but the other day I saw someonestanding on the corner staring at me. I came to La Crosse to get lost in thecrowds but I think Noah has found me again. I know after all I’ve done to you,you have no reason to help me but I’m begging you to please help me. I don’twant to die by my son’s hand.

Even as I write this letter I can feel him gettingcloser. I received a call late last night. When I picked up the phone, I hearda voice I barely remembered. He told me he was in town and wanted to stop byand say hello. When I told him I didn’t believe him, he told me I shouldn’t. Hesaid he was here to tie up loose ends. He said he had a job to finish and Micahwas counting on him to finish it.

“Nick,” she called out.

Nick lifted his head fromthe report he was reading. When Sable held up the letter she received in themorning mail, he pushed back his chair. Walking over to her desk, he took theletter and began reading it. A moment later he lifted his eyes from the paperand looked at her. “Are you kidding?”

Sable shook her head.“Apparently this nightmare isn’t quite over yet.”

Featured Title of the Day: The Talisman by Christine Young

2012-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Excerpt

The Talisman byChristine Young

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 4

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

This is the 4th book in theLakota/Pinkerton series

Dakota's Bride, My Angel, The Locket, TheTalisman, and Forever His

Buffalo Creek,

South Dakota

1895

Hot, dry air scorched theprairie grass. Sweat slid along his spine. Danger clung to every whisper;seemed to swirl and grow with each passing second. Ivan Civanovich watched thewoman below. With deadly purpose, he studied the lady who had hired him--thewoman who had bought his gun and perhaps death.

"Recklesscourage," Ivan mused.

"Si Senor, she doeshave what you call a great courage, but I don’t know about the reckless part.She is always so very careful," Pedro said.

"I’m a dangerous man,Pedro."

"This is why shehired you."

"The lady has nobusiness hiring men like me. She’s a woman. She is supposed to nurturelives."

"She needs you tokeep the bad men from taking the land away--our home," Pedro said.

Ivan pushed the tip of hishat back from his brows. From his vantage point, he considered the woman whileshe hung the freshly laundered white sheets on the line. A strange shudderswept through him, his muscles tensing with the sudden feeling he knew thiswoman, had known her forever. The sensations were too strong, the feelings tooacute, and it troubled him because knowing her was impossible.

Her hair, a wild mop ofred curls, battled with the stiff, hot wind rising off the prairie. The breezeand her hair flowed in undulating currents between the lines, threatening totangle themselves in the wire. She bent over at the waist, giving him a perfectview of her backside while she toyed with something on the ground. Secondslater she picked up the object of her curiosity, turned it over in her handsthen tossed it aside.

He didn’t like to thinkabout what could happen to her in the next few weeks. She’d advertised for agun for a hire. She didn’t know what she bargained for, and he’d bet hisinheritance she didn’t have any idea what kind of trouble she’d purchased.

When she looked up thehill, his grin widened. She couldn’t see him, but her shoulders tensed and shesucked air. Her hand touched her forehead, shielding her eyes from the blindingsunlight. She scanned the horizon, turning a complete circle before shestopped.

"Good," he said,"she is cautious."

"She knows someone isup here," Pedro announced.

"She’s got morestarch in her drawers and the stiffest backbone of any woman I’ve everseen." Ivan whistled through his teeth, his eyes intent and focused uponthe woman.

"Si." Pedroagreed. "She sure enough does but her heart is made of spun gold."

Ivan wiped the back of hishand across his forehead. Beads of sweat dripped down his back. His gaze sweptacross the barren landscape then followed the line of trees that bordered thecreek. He lifted the glasses to his eyes and turned his attention to a spotabout a mile north of her ranch. The railroad wanted easement rights. So whywouldn’t she sell to them. "Spun gold, huh." He dropped thebinoculars, letting them dangle from their strap around his neck.

"Si, boss."

"I see." Ivanleaned forward, resting his forearm on the saddle horn.

Ivan wasn’t sure heunderstood. Women had a lot of fine qualities, many of which he didn’t want tolive without but a soft, feminine heart shouldn’t be deciding life and deathmatters.

Spun gold.No, he’d never met a female with a heart of gold, spun or otherwise. He’d neverknown a woman who wouldn’t betray a man for a piece of gold. Save one, heamended, and his best friend had married her. Alexi Popov had his trials too.He had kidnapped Angela and spirited her away to his home in the Crimea. In theend though, he gave up his title, his land, and most of his wealth for Angela.He followed her back to America and married her.

Review

This is a wonderful tale,full of action, emotion and a bit mystical at times. Enjoy this one.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More 4 Cups

Featured Title of the Day: The Phillip Dolly Affair

2012-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

College Leadership Crisis:The Philip Dolly Affair

Jann M. Contento and JeffreyRoss

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Call Me Phil

I'm Phil Dolly, EdD,recently resigned, or deposed, community college president.

Yesterday I was the CEO atNorth East Central Community College here in Folsom County, West Dakota. Today,I'm contemplating my own crisis in leadership. Following a faculty vote of noconfidence and caving in to growing board pressure, I packed it in thismorning. No one was surprised, really, including me. But more about thatlater...

This evening I am sittinghere at the bar nursing a weak gin and tonic, assessing the landscape of myshattered career. This place is nothing fancy, that's for sure. I don't knowwhen it saw fresh air last. Located in Payson, West Dakota, this bar and grillhas been owned by the same guy, I.M. Tyred, for nearly a decade. I'm a littlebit out of my element--but I'm comforted by the visual relics of my own bluecollar past--seed company calendars, jars of pickled pig's feet, softballtrophies, and the effervescent aroma of bacon, beer, and cheese. Many of thelocals know me and enjoy seeing me stop in for an occasional drink. I probablyget in here once a month. Maybe more.

I'm not sure what happened.Enrollments didn't increase, but they didn't decline much, either. We opened upmore centers. I had bandwidth upgraded. I was in Rotary Club. I brought in someof my former graduate school colleagues from University of Toledo at Arlingtonto help invigorate the executive staff and to help bring this district into the21st century in terms of management. I wanted diversity on the management team.

Hmm, I made all of thedirectors deans and all of the deans became associate VPs. Only one of the newVPs had emotional problems, but no damage was done. He checked into rehab. Ourquality initiatives must have moved the college forward. We redid offices, putin new floors and windows, and really spruced the place up too. We won several nationalawards.

I remember there was somegrousing when I had the president's salary increased to 475K, but the boardagreed we needed to be competitive in future presidential searches.

I guess the future arrivedmore quickly than I anticipated.

The hazy blue smoke inthis bar settles at about stool seat level. I wish I.M. Tyred would dosomething. Why doesn't he install some fans or air purifiers or something? Ishould say something before I have another asthma attack. The country musicjust drones on and on. All those sad songs about lying, drinking, and needingto be somewhere else are driving me crazy. How do these people stand it?

The lights around themirrors seem so harsh. I barely recognize my own face in the mirror--theburdens of leadership, I guess. All those retreats, keynote speeches,conferences, dinners, trips to Europe--just so much, so much over the years.

The governing board said Ispent too much time out of state. They said I belonged to too many nationalorganizations and attended too many conferences. They just don't understand thedifficult and complicated nature of being a community college president.Networking means survival and prosperity for the institution and for me. Theydon't understand the community is much bigger now. We can serve China! GIs!Nebraska! Technology has empowered us to do so much more than teach welding,massage therapy, and fertilizer applications.

We ought to do more thanjust serve the needs of our county taxpayers! We can have the reputation ofbeing a global higher education leader! Oh, I guess it's no longer we.

Featured Title of the Day: The Look of Love by Rosemary Indra

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Rosemary author of a three book contemporary romance three book series.

Excerpt

TheLook of Love by Rosemary Indra

ExcerptHeat Level 1

BookHeat Level 3

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

Thepager on her waistband sounded a moment before Penny heard the city's alarmsound. Her sense of duty and the need to help others pulled her back into thestation to answer the call. "One vehicle off the road-milepost two on OakKnoll Road." Penny read her pager out loud.

Onceshe put on her turnouts, she jumped into the engine. That's why she was there.After years of working at the bank, she'd gone back to school and became aparamedic. She wanted to help others and make a difference. Joining the firedepartment was the best way to honor Jim's memory.

Scottgot into the officer's seat in front of her. She wondered if she should getout. Catching her reflection in the window, she straightened her turnout andrenewed her fortitude. They'd shared a few kisses. Nothing more. The passionhis kiss ignited was best forgotten. If he was uncomfortable with the situation,he could get into the other vehicle.

Sheignored the usual chatter in the engine cab as other firefighters joined themand they drove to the accident. A pickup truck rolled over in the ditch withone occupant was all she'd heard. She drew a deep breath trying to still herclamoring nerves. Until now, she'd ignored her growing awareness of Scott. Forsome reason tonight her defenses were lowered and she could no longer disregardher desire for him.

Oncethey stopped at the scene, Scott asked. "Penny, do you feel comfortabledirecting traffic?"

Withoutlooking at him, she replied, "Yes." Then she grabbed a flashlight,fluorescent vest and stop sign from the side compartment and hurried to theback of the engine. Red lights flashed around her. She directed the rescue unitand ambulance to the accident a few yards up the road.

"Watchyour backside," Scott yelled. Like always, he stood behind her, protectingher.

Guidingdrivers wasn't her favorite job in the department, but traffic was light forthe middle of the night. She couldn't believe how much time they'd spent in thestorage room.

"Howare you doing?" he asked a few minutes later.

Pennyjumped at the sound of his voice beside her. "You startled me, I didn't hearyou." She hadn't been able to get Scott off her mind since they left thestation. Now she hesitated to look at him.

"Iwanted a chance to talk to you alone." His voice held a serious tone; anI-want-to-clarify-any-misunderstanding-tone.

Redlights from the rescue unit continued their rhythmic flash around them. Thecolored illumination added a surreal appearance to the worry lines that markedScott's face. He too appeared shaken by something. In the darkness she couldn'tfully read his expression. With his brows lowered, he had a stern look offinality over his features. She guessed their kissing surprised him as much asit did her. Afraid she was losing her best friend, she breathed in deep. Sheknew and dreaded the subject he wanted to discuss with her.

"I'msorry about earlier. I…"

"Iunderstand it won't happen again," she said hurriedly. If only she couldturn back the clock.

Review

Seriously Reviewed

The Look ofLove by Rosemary Indra

Story: 9.5

Presentation:9.5

Total: 19

Publisher:Rogue Phoenix Press

http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

ContemporaryRomance

To Purchase

Blurb: ScottDenton always thinks of Penny Herrington as his best friend, a co-worker in theForest Ridge Fire Department. She tricks him into helping her with thedecorations for the Sweetheart Banquet. During their discussion about love andromance, Scott starts to notice Penny as a desirable woman.

When Pennyhurts her ankle, Scott feels responsible and decides to move in with her.Spending time together, they share intimate discussions about love andmarriage. Penny, a widow, feels guilty when her relationship with Scott becomesromantic. Devastated after a nasty divorce, Scott no longer believes in loveand vows he’ll never remarry. He denies his feelings for Penny until herealizes only she can comfort him after he assist the fire department at a tragiccar accident.

Review:Scott and Penny are both members of a fire department and most of the storyinvolved their related activities. Scott is a survivor of a tumultuous divorceand Penny is recovering from the death of her husband. If readers have everdealt with either of these situations, they will feel the pain and emotionsthat these two have to overcome in the development of their own love. Ms. Indradescribes their feelings with such description that I could believe I wassharing them. I feel like I really know Scott and Penny

Even therelationships of secondary characters, like Scott's dad and his lady, weredealt with in such detail, that they were more than just people to add moredetail to the main story. Their lives and families added much more interest tothe main plot.

I reallyliked this story. Part of it made me stop and think about different aspects oflife.

Read andenjoy this one. Overall, this story gave me happy thoughts about life and love.It gave me many things to think about.

Read and enjoy this one. Overall, this story gave me happythoughts about life and love.

Seriously Reviewed 19 out of 20

Featured Title of the Day: The Locket by Christine Young

2012-02-05T00:01:00.001-08:00

Please welcome Christine Young author of a five book Lakota Pinkerton series.

Excerpt

The Locket by Chrsitine Young

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 4

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

This is the 3rd book in theLakota/Pinkerton series

Dakota'sBride, My Angel, The Locket, The Talisman, and Forever His

Oregon Coast,1894

Bone-weary from a hard day at sea, Misha trudged up the long mud-ruttedroad to the boarding house that sat on top a hill less than a mile outside MistHarbor, Oregon. A thick, cold mist hovered close to the ground wettingeverything: the rhododendrons that grew wild, the azaleas that lined the cementwalkway to the front porch, and the saw grass that grew easily in the sandysoil. Misha paused a moment to push back a lock of hair that repeatedly fellacross his brow and into his eyes.

The land was windswept and salt battered, yet he enjoyed the salt-tasteof the air and the swooping sea birds as well as the playful sea animals. Heloved the way the trees bent to the power of the wind and found a way tosurvive despite the brutality of the elements.

His purpose here was short lived, he reminded himself. He didn’t intendto find himself attached to these parts in any way.

He smelled of a hard days work. The lingering aroma of sweat and Chinooksalmon filled his nostrils. It was not a scent he had any use for, but for thetime being the job on the fishing boat gave him a reason for staying in thesmall coastal town. Right now he couldn’t wait to submerse himself in a hotbath, wash the stench from his body, and ease his stiff, strained muscles.

The sea had always been one of his favorite places. But fishing?

By God no, he’d just as soon relax and watch the sails billow on aclipper as the majestic ship rounded the horn or stand at the tiller with thewind whistling around him. He’d even rather battle a hurricane off theBermudas.

Blending in with the people who lived in this small coastal village hadbeen imperative.

The quest he’d undertaken had led him straight to Miss Ariel Cameron’sboarding house in Mist Harbor, and there the trail stopped. Thinking aboutAriel set his nerves on edge.

Ariel was willow thin, femininely delicate, and hardly capable of theatrocities he’d set out to avenge less than a year ago. Yet the evidence he’duncovered had sent him here, to her home. The name he’d followed had been hername. The men he’d followed had landed in Mist Harbor more than once, herfather one of them.

He walked up the immaculately kept steps to the house and opened thedoor to the screened in porch.

"Misha," the captain boomed out a welcome. "Fine weatherwe’re havin’ now. Just right for the salmon runs."

The rocker squeaked as the captain moved back and forth in the wickerchair.

"Just right," Misha acknowledged and stepped through the nextdoor to the parlor. A blast of heat met him as he nodded his head in politerecognition to the other borders. In a pale blue day dress, Ariel moved with aslight limp through the hallway and disappeared into one of the first floorrooms. Even though she seemed to favor one leg, the sway of her hips enticedall of Misha's senses.

He didn’t understand the feeling but in a way no other woman had touchedhim, she beckoned to him. Her amber colored eyes were wide and when she smiled,they glistened and shimmered, reminding him of the bronze mosques inConstantinople when the sun beat upon them. Miss Ariel Cameron was unique--unconventional--and she fascinated him. She was the key to his revengeas well as his salvation.

The Locket is a veryexciting tale with a dramatic setting. Overall, this is a very entertainingstory.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

Featured Title of the Day: The Rock Star by Genene Valleau writing as Genie Gabriel

2012-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Genie Gabriel author of a three book contemporary romance series.

Excerpt

The Rock Star

Genie Gabriel

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 3

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Spotlights flashed inrainbows across the stage. Red. Green. Blue. Crisscrossing until they mergedinto one white-hot light on Geoff Chastain’s face, evoking memories of othertimes. The screams of thousands of teenaged girls washed through his memory ashe pulled the microphone from its stand.

The first notes of hisdaughter's favorite song filled the auditorium and his breath caught, jagged,in his chest. Pain pulsed through Geoff's heart with each beat of the drum. Henearly dropped to his knees, longing to crawl back into the self-imposed exilewhere he had existed since his daughter died.

The faces of the kids inwheelchairs looked up at him with bright expectation. The whispers of thesingers waiting in the stage wings curled around him in concern.

Daddy, promise you won’t let the music die. His daughter’s last request haunted Geoff. He neversuspected life would become so desolate he would forget to eat and sleep, letalone lose touch with the music that had always flowed so easily from his soul.

A singer moved from thewings to stand beside him. Her presence drifted around him in silentencouragement. Her sweet contralto coaxed him to sing with her.

Focus, heordered his brain, staring at the woman. Waves of auburn hair framed her face,then tumbled halfway down a lush body barely covered in spandex and sequins. Awoman designed to stir a man to action.

Geoff's voice rasped withdisuse on the first verse; the woman's harmony covered it. As he started thesecond verse, an image of his daughter swam before his eyes and Geoff's throatclosed. The woman picked up the melody without missing a beat, as if they hadplanned this duet.

He grasped at her hand anddrew a deep breath. Her soft scent filled his nostrils, drawing his attentionaway from the pain. Giving him the strength to dig deep inside where the musichad lain in silent mourning.

Geoff's voice mingled withhers on the chorus, then soared as he soloed the third verse. Their voiceschased each other through the final refrain, then their eyes met and held onthe last triumphant note. Awed silence hung for a moment before applauseerupted and the crowd was in motion.

A sea of well-wishersswarmed onto the stage. Not the frenzied near-riots of years ago, but theexuberant cheer of celebration. Smiles and congratulations wrapped warmlyaround Geoff as men pumped his hand and women kissed his cheek.

But the mysteriousauburn-haired woman who saved his musical butt had disappeared.

Featured Title of the Day: The Haversham Legacy by Nickie Fleming

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome historical writer of women's fiction Nickie Fleming.

Excerpt

The Haversham Legacy by NickieFleming

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at www.roguephoenixpress.com

October,1668

A woman approached the group of courtiers around the King.She looked very young and very innocent compared to most of the other womenpresent. Her delicate pink gown made her stand out even more.

Charles the Second smiled pleasantly when he saw her andbeckoned, "Ah, there you are, my dear! James, may I present Lady Claire DeVere, eldest daughter of the Earl of St. Albans."

The man he addressed made a courtly bow.

"Lady Claire, this is one of my best friends, theMarquis of Haversham."

A bit further away, a young man watched the scene. His namewas George Templeton and he was the cousin of the marquis. He was not dancing,as one would expect of such a young and dashing young lad. With his fair hair,blue eyes, and his sportsman’s body, he was the dream of every girl and hermother--even more so because he was the sole heir of the Marquis of Haversham.The marquis was already thirty-eight years old and had never married.

James faced the girl--and it was plain to George how thispleased the older man. Of course the lady was pretty, with her black hair, blueeyes, and cherry-like mouth. She could be his daughter though, and mostcertainly she was too innocent for his cousin’s taste. Although James had neverlooked for a wife, he did not object to taking the occasional damsel to hisbed. He once told his cousin that he preferred experienced women who knew howto please a man and did not make demands.

Yet right now he seemed to be drowning in the eyes of thisgirl who could only have sixteen or seventeen years of age. She said somethingand he laughed at it. Then he offered her his arm and they moved to the dancingfloor.

George began to feel a bit unsure at that exact moment. Itwas as if the center of his universe suddenly shifted out of focus. He hadbuilt his life on the certainty of becoming the next Marquis. He couldnot--would not--allow something to happen to his dreams of becoming a rich andwealthy man.

Review

The Haversham Legacy by Nickie Fleming

Reviewed by Mindy MacKay for Rogue’s Angels

Buy at: http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Rating: 4

The Marquis of Haversham and his wife are murdered as part of a plot toseize his fortune and title, but there's a hole in the scheme: the Marquis'sdaughter and heiress, Justine, yet survives.

Adopted and raised by a highwayman, Justine has no idea about thenature of her true parentage. Her life spirals into one adventure afteranother, bringing her up against the rigid hierarchy, throwing her intomaritime battles, and pushing her into the arms of a dashing sailor with avendetta.

The Haversham Legacy is a beautiful blend of the lavish and thepicaresque, combining courtly life with swashbuckling adventure. The plot movesfast and the settings are effortless to step into. Fleming's clever use ofarchetype creates a story that is easy to identify with. This book is like anovelization of all the joy and pathos one might find in a classicblack-and-white movie. Despite a few romance scenes that range from tender toheated, I think this is a book is fun for the whole family. However, I do wishJustine was introduced much earlier in the story; she has such a big role andis sure to be an instant reader favorite. For fans of history, mystery, andintrigue, The Haversham Legacy is a must-read.

The Haversham Legacy is a beautiful blend of thelavish and the picaresque, combining courtly life with swashbuckling adventure.

Mindy McKay for Rogue's Angels

Featured Title of the Day: The Doe and the Dragon by Richard Anderson

2012-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome fantasy writer Richard Anderson.

Excerpt

The Doe and the Dragon by AndrewRichardson

Excerpt Heat Level: 0

Book Heat Level: violent

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

The Hunting Horn of Venedos died into the distance.

EinionYrth's ears strained, but the sound was lost in the breeze and the clomping ofhis horse's hooves. "What say you, Majestic, to the notion we escape for awhile?" The prince leaned forward in the saddle and patted the animal'swhite flank. "We can have some time to ourselves."

Majesticsnorted a response.

"Whilemy warriors seek a stag, we can explore the Gwynant Valley. We shall see ifthis place is as they say; with faeries and magic and evil around every turn."Einion eased the horse down a steep slope. He paused to push aside thickbranches and guided Majestic around a jumble of boulders.

Thebeechs' autumn-red leaves dappled the sunlight.

Atthe River Glaslyn the prince stoppedto pull a silver coin from his saddlebag. He tossed it into the water as they forded,at a place where the river was shallow and danced over her pebbles with aplayful gurgle.

TheAfon Glaslyn swallowed the gift with barely a ripple.

Einiongave the ford's god a silent prayer for safe passage. He looked and listenedfor any sign of evil.

Anorange stream joined the Afon Glaslyn and Einion looked along hercourse. His eyes met the gauge in the earth, created when the Old People hadmined the mountain's flanks for copper that still tinted her water. The ancienttear in the mountain's flank was deep and dark.

Majesticwhinnied.

Einionpulled Lightning from her scabbard and kissed the bare iron. His eyes flittedamong the rocks and beeches. The prince gazed at Yr Wyddfa's steep slopes and stilled, his heart pounding his ribs.

"Merlin'sfortress. The citadel seems dead, Majestic. See the way the grass grows intufts from the walls. If anyone was living there, they would maintain theplace. You need not be afraid, friend."

Theanimal snorted.

"Mensay two dragons dwell in a cave beneath the fortress. They say Merlin freed thebeasts in the days when my father was my age. They say the dragons fought, andthe red dragon defeated the white. The old druid saw their battle as a sign wewould wipe the Saxons from Britain." Einion paused for a bitter laugh. "TheSaxons have driven deeper into the south. It seems the great Merlin wasmistaken."

Iam Einion the Impetuous. I do not fear dragons and magic in this accursedvalley, the prince told himself.

Still,his knuckles whitened around Lightning's hilt.

"Ifthere are dragons here, friend, they are hiding well." Einion forced hisweapon back into her scabbard, but almost immediately reined Majestic to ahalt, his heart pounding his ribs.

Whatwas that? He stilled, but the sound of music eluded him.

"Didyou hear anything, boy?"

Majesticwhinnied.

"Iam sure I heard a noise." Einion slid down from the saddle and gaveMajestic words of comfort as he tied the animal to a tree. "The grass hereis lush. You will have a good meal while I seek out what I heard." He gavethe horse's flank a reassuring pat.

Majesticswung his head around and whinnied again.

Einionturned and put a finger to his lips, urging the horse to calm.

Breathlocked in the prince's throat as he heard the sound again; the tune carried tohim on the breeze. He looked into the beeches, trying to peer through theirleaves. He told himself he was hearing a trick of the wind dancing through thebranches.

"No,"Einion assured his horse as his hand found Lightning's hilt. He crouched behinda lichen-encrusted rock. "This is a flute I hear, not a joke played by thevalley."

Catchinghis breath, Einion emerged from his hiding place. Crouching to avoid detection,he followed the river's bank downstream.

Thesound reached him again. Melodic, but with an occasional blurred note. As ifa gifted musician has a poor instrument that cannot match his talent. Einionswallowed. It is the faeries. They are playing enchanting music to entrapme.

He looked around then back up the valley.

Icould turn around, and no one would ever know.

The Prince of Venedos pulled himselfupright and pushed out his chest.

Iwould know. And I will not be afraid of a mere fairie.

Hekissed Lightning's blade and strode toward the sound. His gaze flitted, seekingout spits and traps among the Gwynant Valley's scattered trees and jumbledrocks.

Review

The Doe and The Dragon by Andrew Richardson

Reviewed by Carole Ann Moleti

http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com/

Buy at: http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Andrew Richardsonand I have been longstanding critique partners, which should be no surprise tothose of you reading my blogs. Despite our very different styles, and what wereinitially very different genres, our authorial personalities seem to mesh,probably because we both are willing to do some heavy lifting with our writingmuscles and try something different while the other serves as a spotter to besure we don't drop a fifty pound barbell on our chest.

We don't loveeverything each other writes (his horror stories give me nightmares, and mychildbirth scenes make him queasy and uneasy), but objectivity and tough loveprevail. The Shoot has long been one of my favorite of his erotic shorts (seewhy here) and his upcoming release The Doe and The Dragon threatens to unseatit.

I've seen this novelfrom the first draft to the final one, and loved it. If, like me, you havealways been intrigued by Arthurian legend and lore, there is no better place tobegin—before it all began—with Andrew's rendition of how Uther Pendragon, theman who would father King Arthur, met his mate.

A shade lessbloodcurdling than most of Andrew's supernatural horror novels Andraste’s Bladeand The Wood, this more traditional fantasy has it all—sword and sorcery,witchcraft, prophecy, gallantry, vengeance, and epic battles all presented withas much historical accuracy as possible for a time, place, and people swathedin the cloak of mythology.

Andrew describes TheDoe and The Dragon as a novel which “follows the north Welsh version of sixthcentury legends. These stories place national events in a local setting and sogive a distinctive Welsh flavour. […] Other ‘non-Arthurian’ charactersappearing only in the local legends and have been incorporated into this work.As with any story set in the ‘Arthurian’ period, no matter which sources areused as an inspiration, part of the writer’s job has been to uncover charactersabout whom little is known, and to flesh them out in the way that makes themreal.”

This is astory full of love, violence, magic, and revenge. It draws you in and makes youwonder about the time period, but leaves you with good happy ending.

CourtneyRene for Rogue's Angels

Featured Title of the Day: Fisherman's Son by John Sikes

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome new to RPP author John Sikes. This is a story of fishing on the Pacific Ocean. It is available today from Rogue Phoenix Press.

Excerpt

Fisherman's Son

John R. Sikes

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Jason had just started dreaming about cruising in his newMustang car he was going to buy when he was thrown from his bunk and landedhard against the bulkhead. At first he didn’t know what had happened.Billy Bob stumbled out of his room, holding his survival suit and told Jason toget his and come to the wheelhouse.

The ocean was nothing like Jason had ever seen. Waves werehitting the Wave Dancer, sending agroaning shutter from the bow right through to the stern. This worried Jasontill Billy Bob and Uncle Buick both agreed as long as you heard and felt it,everything was ok; it was when the boat quit talking to you that you should getworried.

The boat was lifted high by waves, which had grown enormousin the short time Jason had slept. When the boat crested the taller of thewaves, Jason had his first glance of the mainland. It looked like the water wasboiling closer to shore. Uncle Buck told him this was because the currents nextto the shore met ones coming from the open ocean causing the waves to becomecloser together and much bigger. Jason noticed that all of the sea gulls wereflying way higher than usual. There appeared to be thousands of them flying ina circle so high they looked like tiny dots in the sky.

The first wave braking completely over the boat caught himoff guard. It sent him bouncing all the way to the other side of thewheelhouse. When he stood up, he noticed some of the smaller fish not tied downhad washed over the stern. He started to go try and save the ones stillflopping around the deck but was told by his uncle to stay put.

“We can handle losing a fewfish but your mom would be awful mad at me if I didn’t haveyou onboard when we make it back!” exclaimed Uncle Buck. “Justhang on to the boat with one hand and keep you're survival suit in the other.If I give the order to abandon ship and you say, "What?" You will betalking to yourself.”

It eased some of the fear building in Jason when he saw thelook on his uncle’s face. To him Uncle Buck looked as calm as if he was takinga walk in the park. Uncle Buck had spent most of his life on the water andseemed right at home even when it was rough. He had even heard his uncle talkabout never getting seasick but not feeling so good when he was on land. EvenJason admitted he slept better on the water than he did at home.

Night was falling as they approached shore. Waves seemed tocome from all directions. The Wave Dancerwas still cutting through the ones they were hitting head on, but wavessmashing in from the sides of the boat were keeping the deck awash with foamyseawater.

The entire crew jumped when the gang way was ripped off theboat's railing. Cables that made up the rail sounded like rifle shots as theysnapped from pressure of the water. Pieces of splintered wood still attached tothe cable were banging the side of the ship like sticks on a drum. In a matterof minutes windows on the starboard side were shattered and seawater wasflooding in. Captain Buck started shouting orders.

“Ivan, check and make sure allbilge pumps are running. Billy Bob and Jason, get to repairing the brokenwindows. You can use your bunk mattresses and lumber in the emergency locker.Try to stop any water coming onboard through those windows.”

Ivan disappeared down to the engine room and Jason and BillyBob attacked the flood of water coming in each time the Wave Dancer was broadsided by cresting waves. Luckily the panes ofthe window were made of safety glass. Jason was thankful that sharp shards ofglass weren’t sloshing around in the stream of water flooding in. Waterwas gushing down through the walkway into the engine room at an alarming rate.Shoving his mattress against the biggest hole took all the effort Jason couldmuster. Billy Bob slammed a brace against its back and wedged it to the floor.

“Take a hammer and nail thebottom of the brace to the floor. We will jam one on both ends to hold it inplace,” Billy Bob shouted to Jason over the roar of the water.

They repeated this process till all bigger windows wereplugged. With the wooden plugs they found in the locker they were able to stopsome smaller leaks caused by the whipping pieces of gangway. Thankfully mostcables had tangled up with rigging still attached to the ship lessening theirdestructive force. By the time they had slowed most of the water floodinginside, the feel of the Wave Dancerhad changed. She had settled deeper in the water and now blue water wascrashing completely over the boat.

Featured Title of the Day: The Darkness Within by K.J. Dahlne

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome mystery/suspense writer K.J. Dhalen author of The Darkness Within.

Excerpt

The Darkness Within

K. J. Dahlen

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

I am just a simple man, living the American dream;

I might be just like you except for thefact that

I am also a serial killer. At first Ihated that part of myself, I tried to deny the truth for a long time but Icouldn’t deny the excitement that I felt when I began hunting an innocent womanonly to end her life. The more I hunted the better I became at hiding from theworld my dark secret. Over the years I began to crave the rush I got when theraging beast inside me reared its ugly head. The obsession grew until all Icould think about was the next kill, the next young woman whose life I wouldcut short.

Sable’s hand gripped thepages of what she had just read as she looked up at her boss. “Nick,” she wether parched lips with the tip of her tongue.

Nick glanced over at her andfrowned. Sable’s face was pale and there was a quickness to her breathing thatwasn’t normal. “What is it?”

Sable held out the pages tohim and sat down at her desk carefully. She put her hands to either side of herhead and slowly closed her eyes against the shock she felt. She rubbed heraching temples in an effort to calm her nerves. When she opened her eyes, the firstthing she saw was the plain manila envelope lying on her desk. The envelope hadher full first name Sabella scrawled in ink on the outside of it. This was theenvelope she had opened moments ago. Sable frowned as she reread the name onthe front of the envelope. It wasn’t a name she used and no one other than hermother ever called her by that name.

Sable opened her desk drawerand pulled out a large clear plastic bag and carefully tucked the envelopeinside. Looking up she saw concern on the faces in front of her. Without sayinga word she handed the envelope to her boss, Nicholas Ramer.

Nick glanced at the envelopeand compared the writing to that of the letters. Sable’s name was written bythe same hand as the pages. He was surprised to find there was no returnaddress on the envelope, and it hadn’t been run through the post office. It hadbeen hand delivered. “What the hell? How did this get in here undetected?”

Nick looked over at theother members of his team and handed the envelope to Quentin Parks. “Run thisover to fingerprinting and see who besides us has handled it.”

Nick glanced at BrandiNichols. “Get a board in here and set it up with the pages. Let’s get a handleon what exactly we’re dealing with.”

He looked over at Max. “Seeif you can find anything on the surveillance tapes from last night. I don’tlike the fact that this guy just walked into our offices without being stoppedalong the way. This is supposed to be a secure FBI office.”

Max nodded and left theroom.

Nick pulled a chair upbeside Sable and sat down. “Do you know anything about the pages? How they gotinto the office or who wrote them?”

“No,” Sable replied. “Ifound the envelope sitting on my desk and I opened it. I guess I really didn’tthink about it.” She looked at Nick and had to ask, “What’s going on here?”

Nick shrugged. “That’s oneof the things we need to find out. We also need to find out if this is real or ahoax; and if it is a hoax, we still need to find out who is responsible. I’mnot sure I like the fact that someone can just walk in here off the streets andleave a package on one of our desks then walk out again undetected. If it'sreal, we need to find out who this killer is and how to stop him.” He stood upand held out his hand to her, “Let’s find out what this guy has to say. Let’sdo our job and get him off the streets.”

Review

AlexJouJou for Manic Readers says: "The way all thepieces fit together is actually quite a feat--and a big kudos to the author forthat. There are major bestselling authors that couldn't tie up a plot as nicelyas this one does."

Featured Title of the Day: The Body Guard by Genene Valleau writing as Genie Gabriel

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Genie author of a contemporary three book series.

Excerpt

The Bodyguard

Genie Gabriel

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 3

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Two weeks before Christmas, Mitchdecided he had waited long enough.

"Come on, mutt." Mitchgrabbed his coat and a pair of work gloves. "Let’s go find thetwins."

Gabe bounded to his feet and bumped thedoorknob with his nose. He sniffed and marked around the yard while Mitchpulled the Ferrari out of the garage. As soon as the dog jumped into the car,Mitch drove to a lot selling Christmas trees. He selected one that would fitnicely in Julia’s small apartment and strapped it to the top of the car.

The mutt hung his head out the window,riding in silent watchfulness until the apartment building was in sight."Woof!"

"You have to be quiet or we’ll getcaught smuggling you in." Under cover of the falling twilight and a bushyevergreen tree, Mitch and the dog walked quickly toward Julia’s apartment.

As soon as Julia opened the door, thedog pushed inside and sniffed out the twins, quickly falling back into theirgame of hide and seek. Within seconds, the twins’ giggles let Julia know thedog had found the children.

"I brought a tree." Mitchstood the evergreen upright.

"I see that." Julia bit herlip as she walked around the tree. "Nice choice. Bushy all around."

"I had three picky sisters whotrained me in the fine art of Christmas tree selection."

Julia smiled. "They trained youwell."

"I thought we could decorate ittonight and maybe have cookies and hot chocolate."

The wistful look on Mitch’s face tuggedat Julia’s heart. She didn’t want to disappoint him--or miss the chance tospend time with him. "That would be great. Except..."

"Except?"

"All the decorations were leftbehind."

Understanding dawned in Mitch’s eyes."I’m sorry, Julia. I didn’t think--I’ll go buy some."

"Wait--" Julia didn’t want toowe Mitch anything more, and she couldn’t afford to buy decorations for anentire tree right now. "Let’s make decorations. We have construction paperfor paper chains and snowflakes, and we can pop corn to string together. Ihaven’t done that in years. It will be fun."

"How about the angel for thetop?" Mitch asked.

Julia tapped her chin thoughtfully."Origami. We can do a fancy folded paper one." She hoped.

"Sounds great to me." Mitch tookoff his jacket. "I did remember a stand."

While Mitch set the tree in the stand,Julia gathered supplies for ornaments and explained to the twins what they weregoing to do. The twins were delighted, as they hadn’t been allowed to touch thefussy tinsel and glass ornaments on the tree in the West Hills house. Just onemore reminder of how suppressed her children’s joy had been. Julia muchpreferred this homemade Christmas tree.

The tiny apartment soon became litteredwith scraps of paper, as loops of red and green chains took shape. The poppingof corn rattled a cheerful accompaniment to the giggles of the twins as Juliabrought another bowl of popcorn for Mitch to add to the string the dog snitchedpieces from.

"Why don’t you just give him somepopcorn?" Julia asked.

"He won’t eat it except off thestring." Mitch threw a disgusted look toward the dog. "It must be anew game."

Julia turned away to hide her smile.The tree was shaping up beautifully, even if Angelina insisted on hanging allher handmade ornaments on the same three branches. "Anyone want refills onhot chocolate?"

When Julia returned from the kitchen,the room had grown quiet.

"Your helpers are asleep,"Mitch said.

The twins lay curled like cherubs nextto the dog beneath the spreading limbs of the now decorated tree.

"Do you want to move them tobed?" Mitch asked.

Julia nodded. Soon the twins weresettled in their beds for the night.

"Sometimes I just want to watch mychildren." Julia’s heart swelled with joy as she gazed at Abraham andAngelina. "If I could have one thing for Christmas, I’d ask for mychildren to be safe."

Julia and Mitch lapsed into silence fora moment, absorbing the innocence of the twins as they slept. "What wouldyou ask for, Mitch?"

Mitch stared at Julia for a momentlonger. His gaze caressed every inch of her face and finally settled on hermouth. "A kiss from you."

Startled, Julia tried to cover a thrillof excitement by folding her hands primly in front of her. "That’sall?"

"Maybe that kiss could bedelivered early." The hunger in Mitch’s eyes generated a tingle betweenJulia’s breasts.

"Maybe it could." Juliadidn’t believe the words slipped from her mouth. However, the expectant look inMitch’s eyes confirmed Julia had spoken her thoughts aloud. And now she felthonor-bound to carry through. She could do this without acting like a fool. It was just a kiss, right?

Featured Title of the Day: Shattered Tomorrows by C.L. Kraemer

2012-01-28T18:40:00.000-08:00

Please welcome C.L. Kraemer mystery/suspense writer of Shattered Tomorrows.

Excerpt

Eight

The door slammed, the sound echoing against the bare walls. A slumped figure shuffled in the room and plunked down a green garbage bag, aluminum cans clinking noisily. Each lock slid satisfactorily into the matching bolt receptacle. He trundled to the kitchen area and threw the bag in a corner populated by similar green holders.
Leaning over the sink taking great care not to touch the counter, he used his index fingertip and thumb to turn on the hot water faucet. He proceeded to stick his hands under the scalding liquid holding them in position until he saw the dark spots before his eyes that usually signaled he was about to pass out. With a forefinger, he stopped the flow of the steaming liquid and stood letting the liquid drip off his hands into the sink.
“Must be more careful next time. Can’t… touch… anything. Flower…”
He shuddered.
“…DDT. Door has millions of germs.”
His eyes darted wildly about the room as his feet began moving.
The extensions at the end of his arms were swollen an angry red. Skin had begun to blister and peel, and he knew if he bumped them they would bleed. But he needed to go—really bad.
Bleeding was acceptable. It would flush away the poison. Wetting himself was not. It would result in punishment. He flinched at the memories of childhood so vivid he could feel the sting of the belt leather and unconsciously gritted his teeth against the sharp pain of the buckle hitting his raw, wet skin.
He walked stiff legged to the small bathroom. After relieving himself, he examined his throbbing hands. They hadn’t bled. He must be toughening up.
Richard would have to be tough if he was to protect Lucy from the danger.
He growled through a grimace.
“Why don’t they learn? If she surrounds herself with evil, I’ll be forced to protect her from those forces.
“They only seek the pure ones.”
He gingerly pulled the shirt over his head tossing it in the trashcan when he’d freed himself from the material. His jeans followed.
“Poisoned, deadly, bad.”
Turning every light in the small studio apartment on, he curled up on his plastic wrap covered couch. He drew his knees to his chest shivering in the cold room.
“Need to turn on the heat.”
“NO! Germs, poison.”
He lay shivering until his eyes closed and he floated to the land free of worry.
A new face invaded his sleep time. That bartender from Lucky’s, Gregg. This was one he needed to keep an eye on.
Richard could sense the danger. In his dream world, he warned the Lady Lucy and she came to his side after he ran his blade through the evil Gregg.
He needed to be cautious and watch the man. His Lady Love was in danger.

Review

SHATTERED TOMORROWS
C.L. KRAEMER
ISBN- 978-1-936403-34-9
August 2011
Rogue Phoenix Press
http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/
E-book/ Paperback
$ 3.99/$17.95
105/144 Pages
Mystery/Crime
Rating: 4 Cups

A huge secret is something Lucy Daniels has kept for thepast thirty years. But a trip to a lawyer’s office with her best friend hastriggered two demons she faced in her past.
Her friend corners Lucy and insists on her spilling thebeans on what happened all those years ago, and why she is so affected by it now.She is in for one wild story.

Her story about a man she fell in love with, and the face of pure evil sheencountered years ago, is hard to tell, but Lucy needs to finally face herdemons in order to move on.
Shattered Tomorrows is a great story of love, loss, fear andhorror. The story Lucy conveys is nothing you would expect, and it makes for avery entertaining read. It is even a bit shocking at times, which adds to thebook’s appeal. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Featured Title of the Day: Shadows by A.W. Lambert

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome mystery/suspense writer A. W. Lambert

Excerpt

Shadows

A. W. Lambert

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

There were three of them. They had been watching himfor the last twenty minutes and the signs were not good. He could tell from thebody language; the lowered mutterings between them, the constant hooded glancesin his direction. He raised the glass of lemon and lime to his lips and took aslow drink, his eyes flicking toward the bar, quickly assessing the situationbefore dropping back to the newspaper spread in front of him.

The headline followed a familiar theme; Afghanistan,two killed; a roadside bomb. He read the article from start to finish, butthere was little need so familiar was he with the situation he could havewritten it himself. Maybe not, he thought, notquite. His was a different scenario. Death visited the SAS it was true, butfrequently in the world of covert operations where men stalked forbidden areas;it was a death covered with a shroud of silence, such headlines suppressed.

His stomach turned a notch as the scene of only a fewweeks before invaded his mind. It shouldn't have happened, of course; theadvance bombing, the Intelligence report - area clear. But then they weretrained, weren't they? Expect the unexpected and deal with it. And they had.That would be of little comfort to Robbo's family, though. Their onlycompensation would be they wouldn't have heard the sudden withering, incoming.Neither would they have to live forever with the vision of the human form beingsliced in two.

It was the largest of the three that made the firstmove. Leaving the other two at the bar he approached the table, standing forsome moments looking down, the derisory expression saying all.

"Army, right?"

He looked up, but said nothing. He knew whatever hesaid would be of little use.

"I said you're army, right?"

More silence, but with the belligerence emanatingfrom the man standing over him he felt the change begin. Green alreadybeginning its move toward amber.

"Cat got your tongue, has it?" the mansneered. "Or are you just frightened to admit what you are?" Helooked back over his shoulder, toward the two grinning at the bar. "Don'tneed to speak, though, does he, lads? We know what he is, don't we?"

He looked back down, shoulders back, confidencegrowing.

"Well if you know what I am there's no need forme to speak is there?" The words were soft, tightly clipped. Amberoverpowering green now.

"Well, well, it does speak. Bit quiet though.Maybe that's because it ain't got its gun, ain't got all its mates to help itout. Or maybe it's because it ain't just facing a bunch of unarmed civilians itcan shoot and nobody gives a toss."

He was hanging in there, his breathing slow and deep,but amber was now firmly in control, tinges of red hovering in the wings."I came in here to have a quiet drink and read the newspaper," hesaid softly, his voice only just under control. "Whatever I am is noconcern of yours. I would really be obliged if you would go away and leave mein peace."

"Peace?" the man snorted. "Your lotdon't know the meaning of the word. You go charging into other countries,especially those you know can't defend themselves, and carve them up. Arabstrying to live a peaceful life, never done any of you lot any harm, and you goin with your guns and knock seven bells out of 'em. Big brave boys, ain'tyou?"

His breathing was becoming less controlled now and hefelt the tremors begin. He wished this would stop. It wasn't how things shouldbe. The ignorant moron standing over him had no idea, couldn't imagine. Heclosed the newspaper, folding it neatly, taking his time, fighting forcomposure. Finally, standing, he eyeballed the man in front of him.

"You just don't know," he said.

"Don't know," the man spat. "I'll tellyou what I do know. I know when you lot went into Iraq it was illegal. I knowyou invaded a country you all knew couldn't defend itself and was an easytarget. And I know you killed thousands of innocent civilians. I knowthat."

He stood, his face only inches away from the spittingtirade confronting him, his whole body now bowstring taut, his insides inturmoil. Slowly the fear began to creep into him. Not a fear of the manopposite, but a fear of himself, a fear of knowing what could happen. He saidnothing. There was nothing to say, nothing he could say. He needed to get away, to leave this place, but the manstood before him, blocking his escape and now red was moving in and fast.

Featured Title of the Day: Shadow Warrior by Courtney Renee

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Courtney Renee author of a three book young adult series.

Blurb

Sunny finally makes herfirst jump to the Kingdom of Acadia that is on the other side of the shadows,for what she hopes is a vacation. Onlyher vacation turns into quite an unwanted adventure. Aside from new and unexpected issuesregarding her relationship with Leif, Sunny meets the rebel group, makes newfriends, fights with controlling her powers, and finds herself neck deep withina county that is torn apart by two sides, each fighting for power. Acadia is not quite what she imagined. How is she, one young girl, supposed to unitethe Kingdom as well as unseat a King to take her place as ruler of Acadia.

Excerpt

Shadow Warrior

Courtney Rene

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

"You are not going, and that'sfinal."

"Mom," I said, sighing theword. "How do you plan on stopping me? You know this is something I haveto do. We've been through this."

I told Leif my parents would be aproblem. He never listened. "Of course, I will. I'll come back. This is myhome."

"No, you won't. You'll leave to goto that...place, and I'll never see you again."

I didn't want to fight with her. She didn'treally want to fight with me either. We both knew I was going, and we both knewthere was nothing she or dad could do about it.

Featured Title of the Day

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Courtney Renee author of a three book young adult series.

Excerpt

Shadow Dancer

Corutney Rene

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at www.roguephoenixpress.com

“My Lady? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whatelse...I think we need to call for help.”

“Where is she? I can’t see her.”

“She’s fine, my Lady. She’s sleeping, right overthere. Can you see her?”

“Bring her to me. I want to hold her.”

“My Lady, you have lost too much blood. We need toget you to a hospital or something. Please.”

“Star, it’s already too late. You know it. We can’tcall for help. We have to keep her safe. She’s all that’s left. She is worththat and so much more. God, I am so tired. Please bring her to me.”

“My Lady...“

“Even now Star, after all these years, can’t you justbe my friend?”

“I will always be your friend, my Lady, but you willalways be my Queen. Even now, even later, that will never change. Here she is.Do you have her?”

“I’ve got her. Please don’t hover over me, Star. I’malright. Look how beautiful she is. Can you believe Malcolm and I madesomething so beautiful?”

“Yes, I can. She looks like you. She has your hair,all golden and soft. She has your mouth too. Don’t you think?”

“Yes. Oh God, I want to hold on to her forever. Inever want to let her go. Star, you have to promise me that you will keep hersafe. Whatever you have to do, you have to keep her safe. Promise me.”

“No, my Lady, we will keep her safe. You and Itogether.”

“No, Star, this burden will fall to you. You alreadysee the truth of it, right here in front of your eyes. I’m just so tired. Here,you’d better take her. Bye, my baby girl. I love you so.

Star, promise me. You’ve done all you can here. Allthat is left is her. Malcolm is gone, and I…”

“Stop it! You can’t just give up! Don’t laugh! Can’tyou see that it’s tearing me apart? I can’t do this without you.”

“Star, I’m not laughing. I promise you. There justisn’t anything I can do to stop it. You can do this. I believe in you. Star?”

“Yes. My Lady?”

“Promise.”

“All right. I promise I will do everything I can tokeep her safe.”

“Do you think you will ever return?”

“I don’t know. Everything is changed now. Our wholeworld has changed.”

“Star?”

“Yes?”

“Stay safe. You have always been my very best friend.I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you, so much, foreverything.”

“My Lady...“

“Keep her safe...“

Blurb and Review

Title: Shadow Dancer

Author: Courtney Rene

Publsher: Rogue Phoenix Press

Buy Link: Buy Shadow Dancer Here!

Rating: You Gotta Read

Reviewed by: Brynna

Blurb:

Sunny has a gift that she has no idea how to use, until shemeets Leif, a boy from the kingdom of Acadia, on the other side of the shadows.

Leif teaches Sunny about Shadow Walkers and how to use hernew found gifts. As they grow closer and their gifts grow stronger, a threatarrives. The Shadow Guard has been sent to bring Sunny back to Acadia, todetermine if she is a threat to the king as the rightful ruler of Acadia.

As Leif and Sunny prepare to defend themselves, Sunny findsthat Leif has also been sent to bring Sunny back to the kingdom but for verydifferent reasons. As a battle for possession of Sunny wages, she is strugglingto come to turns with her feelings of inadequacy regarding controlling hergifts as well as the hurt regarding the lies and deceit of everyone around her.

Review:

After learning she has special gifts, Sunny meets Leif ofthe kingdom of Acadia which exits on the other side of shadows. Soon the ShadowGuard are dispatched to bring Sunny before the king and determine if she's athreat to the throne. Leif has also been sent to retrieve her for differentreasons. As the war for her power rages she struggles to come to grips with thebetrayal all around her.

Shadow Dancer is a fun read. When Sunny realizes she is aShadow Walker, life starts to get strange. Able to manipulate the shadowsaround her to make herself invisible she becomes a target for the Shadow Guard.The king of Acadia wants her dead. Leif also wants her powers but for otherreasons. Sunny is strong, funny and smart never failing to hold up when itcounts, she's no wilting wallflower. And though she comes to love Leif, shedoesn't fall blindly into anything. Leif is patient, kind, a protector ofsorts. A tracker, he can tell where Shadow Walkers are which certainly is ahelp to Sunny. I found all the characters endearing. If you like your storieswith tons of world building and sweet romance, you'll love Shadow Dancer.

Shadow Dancer is a fun, light read with some action, someromance and some kick-butt abilities.
LunaMoth for Far from Reality Reviews

Featured Title of the Day: Secrets and Lies by K.J. Dahlen

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome mystery/suspense writer K.J. Dahlen

Excerpt

Secrets and Lies

K. J. Dahlen

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

Jack Bracken sat in thedark, waiting. He had been expecting trouble all day, and he was scared todeath. The more time passed the more frightened he felt. The shotgun in hissweaty hand slipped and fell to the floor. The thud it made when it hit thefloor startled Anne Marie Bracken as she waited with her husband. She sat onthe floor in front of the couch and peered toward the stairway as if checkingwhether the sound had awakened any of the children.

Anne Marie peeked at Jack.Crawling to where he sat on the floor opposite the front door of their home,she whispered, "Maybe they’re not coming. Maybe they didn’t see you andAdam."

Jack’s stomach had been tiedup in knots since this morning and his mind filled with dread at what was aboutto happen. "No…they saw us and I told you earlier, they know it wasus."

"How do you know?"She whispered.

"I just know." Heclosed his eyes for a brief moment and leaned his head on the barrel of theshotgun. With a soul filled with dread he turned toward Anne Marie, "I’msorry I went hunting with Adam today. If we hadn’t trespassed onto the logging road,we wouldn’t have seen what we did."

Anne Marie stared hard atJack. "You still haven’t told me what you saw," she reminded him. Shehad seen his pale face when they returned this morning and asked about it, butJack stared at his children and covered his eyes with his hands. She’d tried toget him to talk about what happened all day, but he wouldn’t tell her.

A couple of times during theday the phone rang and when Jack answered it the first time, his face paled andhe slammed it down. He asked her not to answer the phone the rest of the day. Afew minutes later it rang again and Jack let it ring.

As soon as they had toppedthe hill this morning and Jack gazed down the other side he knew a moment ofsheer panic. When he looked down and saw the two men with automatic rifles, heunderstood he was in big trouble.

He and Adam hadn’t seen the‘NO TRESPASSING’ signs but Jack had forgotten the unspoken rule about the hillsbehind the Hawken Mill.

They had been searching forwild turkey signs this morning. He and Adam had been out squirrel hunting whenthey ran into Milo Wilks. He had told them about seeing wild turkey tracks onthe hill east of town. It was too early in the season to be hunting turkeys, asit was late September, but Adam had begged his father to see if they could findthe trails and Jack hadn’t been able to resist the enthusiasm in his youngson’s eyes.

They had been told thetracks began about half way up the eastern slope of the hill and when they cameacross them, Adam had been elated. They continued up the hill and while Adamwas busy searching for the elusive wild birds, Jack had happened to gaze downthe hill to the clearing below.

When he saw one of the menbelow lift his scoped rifle to his shoulder, he knew in a moment the man behindthe gun recognized him.

He hustled his son off thehill, but the damage had already been done. He had been expecting a visit fromthem all day. He hadn’t told anyone, not even Anne Marie what he’d seen, hopingif he were the only witness, they wouldn’t hurt his family. After the childrenhad gone to bed, Anne Marie had asked him again who or what he was waiting for.As much as he wanted to keep the information to himself, he told her what mightbe coming.

The grandfather clock readfour-fifteen. The sun would be up soon. If they were coming, he wished they’dget here and get this over with. He crawled to the window and checked outside.The full moon lit up the front yard, and he could see the driveway from wherehe sat. The shadows of the outbuildings didn’t reveal anything, and he hadn’theard any vehicles on the road for awhile now. He rejoined Anne Marie when hesaw the silver truck slowing moving along the highway. The truck pulled into thedriveway and cut its lights.

"Here they come,"he told her.

"Who?" Anne Mariewanted to know. Jack’s panic seemed to transfer to her with those three littlewords. "Who do you think is out there?"

"I don’t know who theyare but someone is coming, and I don’t think it’s a social call." Jackwatched the front door. Adrenalin pumped through his veins, and he tightenedhis grip on the shotgun. He pulled back the breach and checked the shells. Hewas as ready as he could be.

Featured Title of the Day: Safari Moon by Christine Young writing as AnnChristine

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Christine writing as AnnChristine author of Safari Moon a contemporary romance.

Blurb

Solo St. John, a wildlife photographer, is preparing for a trip toAlaska. Suddenly, Solo finds women ofall sorts invading his privacy, his home and his office, all cooing nonsensewords and blatantly throwing themselves at him. Solo doesn't know why, and he has no idea how to rid himself of thepersistent women. He finally decides tobeg a favor of his best buddy Nyssa Harrington.

Inlove with Solo for the past ten years and knowing he doesn't return herfeelings Nyssa doesn't want to talk to Solo. She knows if she accepts his phone call, she will not be able to resistthe temptation to hope again.

Excerpt

Safari Moon

Christine Young writing asAnn Christine

Excerpt Heat Level: 2

Book Heat Level: 2

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Wanted:A professional wildlife photographer to take pictures in the Alaskanwilderness. Experience first hand a real safari moon. Call(555)381-1252 or sendresumes to 2286 Main, Suite 2D Bend, Oregon.

SoloSt. John was in the middle of an erotic dream about his buddy, NyssaHarrington, when the click of his front door shutting brought him to instantalert mode.

Sololooked up, caught a flashing glimpse of a good deal of naked flesh; long legs,perfectly rounded derriere, and a waist he could span with his hands. Theintruder's long blond hair curled around her shoulders an inch above the tiesof her bikini top.

Thenhe saw the skunk. He blinked twice.

Thiswoman and the skunk were not the subject of his brief and very strange dream, afantasy that made his mind speed along at sixty in a residential zone. This wassomeone he had never seen before and he resented the intrusion.

"Hello,"she cooed seductively from his living room. "Will you come out andplay?"

Theskunk stuck a black and white head around the open door to his bedroom. Asecond later the animal turned and lifted his tail before disappearing into theliving room.

Solowas out of bed and pulling on his jeans before the count of five. Yet in thatshort time, the lady in question, along with the skunk that was now exploringhis fireplace hearth, had taken over his living room.

Thelithe, supple blond sported an expensive camera, and all the while the lady inquestion babbled nonsense words.

"I'mwilling, able, and eager." She posed for him, a pose meant to entice.

"You'reinsane?" He hesitated then said to the lady, "Get that animal out ofhere!"

"Iread the ad in the newspaper for a wildlife photographer, and I wanted to bethe first one here." She smiled and tugged on a leash which was connectedto the skunk. "Juniper is my pet. She's deperfumed or whatever."

Pet?

Hehad never, to his recollection, set eyes on this woman. Frozen stock-still inhis bare feet between the bedroom and the living room of his rustic forestretreat in the hills outside Sisters, Oregon, Solo St. John was completely,utterly baffled.

Afterall, he had placed the ad in a few of the most widely distributed papers inOregon. That was two days ago. Yesterday, having second thoughts and knowing hedidn't want to train an assistant, he pulled it. Although none of this madesense, instinctively, he knew she told the truth. The ad was the cause of thisphenomenon in his cabin.

"Comehere and play." Posing seductively once again, she beckoned him with oneslim index finger.

Whydidn't he want to play? Wouldn't any normal, warm-blooded American male dreamof waking up to an almost naked blond bombshell in his living room? Wouldn'tthat male want to play?

Whydidn't he feel turned on and excited. Why didn't he fantasize about what wouldhappen if he obeyed? All those lush curvaceous parts on display didn't interesthim in the least.

Heclosed his eyes for a brief count of three. No, this wasn't a dream and theslap on the face he gave himself didn't cause the vision to disappear. He stillhad a good view of long, shapely legs and a bust line that threatened to popthe seams of her minuscule top.

"Lord."Only now, he realized he must have left his front door unlocked. He pulled hisgaze from the fiasco on his hearth and reminded himself that a gentleman didn'tstare.

"Smile."She brought the camera up and clicked a sideways snapshot of him before shestepped back and captured a print of the skunk. "You did want someone whocould photograph wildlife. Didn't you?"

Soloraked a hand through short, ragged blond hair he knew had begun to stand onend. He didn't need this, and he was always hard pressed to put two and twotogether this late at night. He was a morning person, up before dawn. Even ifhe'd had all his wits about him, he wouldn't know how to politely rid himselfof this strange intruder and her pet skunk.

Hedidn't want to admit, even to himself, but it looked like she was disrobing.Stripping was a better term. All she needed were a pair of tassels and music.

Ashe stepped forward in an attempt to stop her, she slipped off her top andtwirling it around her index finger tossed it at him. The bikini bra flew pasthim and missed his nose by less than an inch. The bottoms landed squarelyagainst his chest and slid down his body to land on his bare feet. Before hecould reach her, she stood in front of him, all kinds of pale pink fleshrevealed and waiting for him.

Review

SAFARI MOON

ANNCHRISTINE

ISBN# 9780982002544

January 2009

Rogue Phoenix Press

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

E-book

$3.99

154 pages

Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4 cups

Solo St. John is looking for an assistant. After placing anad in the local paper, he stops it. Solo's grandfather, Colonel, runs an ad ofhis own, in the hopes of helping his grandson find a wife.

Nyssa Harrington is Solo's best friend as well as thesubject of his fantasies. After leaving New York for reasons she refuses toshare, she is now living in the same city as Solo. She is happily engaged toRobert, who is a state Senator, but she has one longing...Solo.

Being best friends for the last ten years, Solo has takenNyssa off on some of the wildest adventures. Nyssa has gone on thesespontaneous expeditions and followed Solo simply because it gave her a chanceto be with him. Because of the chaos Colonel has caused, Nyssa promises Soloone last adventure before her wedding. One tiny problem...there is a secretthey have been keeping from each other, and it is about to be discovered in thewilderness of Alaska.

What a gorgeous setting for this story! From Oregon toAlaska, the fresh air and beauty leaps from the pages. I adore the relationshipSolo and Nyssa share. Best friends with the potential to be more. It is a taleas old as time itself, yet so fresh and new, I kept reading just to find outthe outcome. These two people are so confident until it comes to their feelingsfor one another. This story will bring laughter to your life, a tear to youreye, and joy to your heart.

Kimberly

Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Featured Title of the Day Revealed by Julia Fellener

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Revealed

Julia Fellner

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy now at: http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

"Miss Watson, eitheryou are going to be famous or you are about to die."

I blinked at the secretaryof the chief editor of the Tea Party News.

"I didn't mean you wereliterary going to die, just your career," she amended in a perky morningperson voice.

She was wrong though. Mycareer as a journalist was my life. I didn't care for an elaboration on how mycareer, and thus my life, would end so I interrupted her mercilessly."Miss Higgins, what are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know."She leaned forward as she said this in a stage whisper. She was old enough tobe my mother and dressed as if she was the same age as me, namely eighteen,which didn't help to improve her credibility.

"No, I don't," Ideadpanned.

"Of course, you know what I'm talking about." Shewinked at me conspiratorially.

"No, I honestlydon't."

To my surprise Miss Higgins startedto laugh. "You are such a good actress, Anne. I told Theodore you wereperfect for the job."

I sighed. "Look, Ireally have no idea…"

My doomed objection wasinterrupted as the door next to Miss Higgins's desk was opened by our boss whostrolled in.

"Anne, how good to seeyou. I've been dying to tell you some news. We are after all working for a newspaper." He laughed at his joke,while I smiled uncertainly back at him.

"So, you really don'tknow?" Miss Higgins looked at me in shock, before her expression changedback to the one of a meddlesome conspirator. "Soon you will know."

"Thank you, MissHiggins." I said with a tight smile, before I followed my boss into hisoffice.

He beckoned me to take aseat across from him, as I waited patiently for the big solution of thismorning's mystery.

Today had started outnormally enough. I got up, had breakfast and left for work.

But once I entered theeditorial department of the Tea Party News, I knew something was up.

People were giving mestrange glances; people, to whom I usually was invisible, started noticing me.

As if this weren't enough ofa shock, after I had turned on my computer I realised I had received a mailfrom Miss Higgins informing me about my boss wanting to see me. It was the lastproof I needed to know something was afoot.

I looked expectantly acrossthe desk at my boss, a rather chubby and balding but caring, man who lookedaround fifty but was probably younger.

"Anne, the decision youmake today will decide whether you are going to be one of the big, famous onesand will be admitted into the Olympus of journalists or," I wanted to rollmy eyes, as he made a dramatic pause, "whether you are not meant to be ajournalist."

I wanted to groan. Why waseveryone making such a big deal about this…this…well, whatever it is thismystery thing was?

But since my boss was theone to sign my paychecks, I kept a big, fat and friendly smile pasted on myface.

"Today, Anne, I'm goingto offer you a job of life-changing potential."

Hold on, was I going to bepromoted and get a raise?

With much more enthusiasm Istarted to fire questions in true reporter fashion at him. "Are youserious? What kind of job? Will me being still on probation be a problem? Whencan I start? W-"

My boss chuckled. "Giveme a second to answer, will you?"

I smiled sheepishly at himand kept my mouth shut firmly, waiting for him to explain.

"I have an amazing andyet risky job offer for you." I could see he was working himself up intoanother dramatic tirade. In an attempt to avoid being subjected to such a fate,I interjected with a polite smile. "Why don't you tell me what this joboffer is about, sir?"

"Of course." Hisgood mood seemed to falter for a moment before it changed back to excitement."I need a kind of foreign correspondent." When my boss noticed I wasabout to interrupt him again, he forgot about his need for dramatic pauses andquickly continued. "I need someone to report from a boarding school inIreland."

"Where's thecatch?" I asked suspiciously, remembering the weird looks I had beengetting all day.

"The whole reportingthing has to happen undercover. Nobody can know about you being a journalist,if you accept the job which I am sure you will."

"But how do you expectme to investigate then?" This morning was so confusing, and I hadn't evenhad my daily dose of coffee yet.

"It's very simple. Youwill go there as a student, a senior to be exact." My boss's glintedmischievously.

"You want me to go backto school?" Now, I was truly horrified.

"Yeah, is theresomething wrong with it?" It seemed ironic, since it was his time to beconfused now. "You graduated at the top of your class. If you werevaledictorian, why wouldn't you want to go back to school?"

Why? Did he just ask why Idid not want to go back to a place, which was to me nothing more than adisguise for hell?

"I thought I wasfinally out of school." I answered diplomatically. It wasn't a lie. Mylast day of school was the happiest one in my entire high school career.

I didn't like school per se.I enjoyed the learning part enough. Actually, I loved it. The problem, however,were my fellow students. Being ignored and bullied were the main reasons why Iloathed my high school time. Although there were also other things I loathed,like not being taken seriously because I was still a student.

All in all, I was glad itwas over.

So the thought of graduatingagain, after I had barely survivedthe first time, made me want to throw up.

Nevertheless I didn't say nojust yet. "How long would this take? You know I was planning on goingpart-time to college this fall?"

My boss shuffled through hispapers, deliberately not meeting my eyes. "Well, I don't know how manydays exactly…"

"Sir?"

"An entire academicyear." He looked up from his files, looking guilty. "Look, it's oneof the hardest assignments I have ever given out. You will have to leaveeverything behind you for a whole school year. But if you make it, this couldbe your breakthrough."

"Why did you choose mefor this job?"

"You see, since suchyoung journalists like you don't really make much money, we can spare you for ayear." He said nonchalantly before he started grinning. "I amkidding. I chose you because I have faith in you. You are the perfectjournalist for this job."

"You think?" Iqueried unconvinced.

"I know." Hebeamed at me. "Listen, I am going to finance you for a year in one ofIreland's finest boarding schools. This is an opportunity some people wouldkill for."

But I wasn't some people. Iwas me.

Okay, maybe at some pointwhen I still had been in the hellhole called high school, I would have jumpedat the opportunity and would have packed my suitcases without any questionsasked. But now I had finally survived high school and was reluctant to go back.

"All right, let's go sofar as to say I would accept this job offer. What would I be writingabout?"

My boss looked happy, as ifI had already accepted his offer for real. "This private boarding school Iam talking about is called Panthera Academy. I have received hints fromanonymous sources something big is going on there."

Oh, no. He had gone back tobeing mysterious and beating around the bush. "And what is this big thing?"

"It is exactly what Iwant you to find out." He winked at me cheerily.

"But… how am I supposedto know what I am looking for?"

He shrugged. "This isall I know. There is a secret society in the school which is sponsored by thealumni."

I frowned. "A schoolclub which is financed by alumni doesn't sound suspicious to me."

"It is not an ordinaryschool club; it is a secret society." My boss's voice dropped to a stagewhisper. "And the really important thing is what this secret society isdoing."

"What is it this secretsociety is doing then?" It was unfathomable to me why I automatically loweredmy voice as well.

My boss suddenly smirked ashe leaned back in his chair. "My point exactly, I want you to find out theanswer to this question."

This still sounded allrather mysterious so I tried gathering information from another angle."What has a boarding school in Ireland to do with our newspaper here inBoston?"

"It is a great chancefor our Tea Party News to improve our reputation and sell more issues. I amcertainly the only one with this information thus making us the only newspaper,which will be able to publish anything about it. Uncovering scandals alwaysbrings in a lot of money. We will even be able to sell copies in Ireland."

If you asked me, we hadreached the point where my boss had finally lost his mind. The newspaper wasdoing fine, although I didn't trust him to always make the best businessdecisions for the paper.

So, I asked. "Are yousure about this?"

"I am sure aboutthis." He nodded encouragingly. "This is going to be yourbreakthrough, trust me."

I guessed he wouldn't giveme any other details, no matter how long I continued asking. "Can I atleast sleep on it?"

"Sure." He lookeddisappointed for a moment since I wasn't as happy to throw my life away for ayear as he was. "But if you do not take the offer soon, I will have togive it to someone else. There is not much time until term starts."

"I understand." Iagreed and stood up.

"Miss Higgins is goingto give you information on the assignment." My boss rose and patted me onmy shoulder. "I know you are going to make the right decision, Anne."

"Thank you, sir."I smiled at him.

When I opened the door, Ialmost ran into Miss Higgins, who had obviously been eavesdropping. She brushedback her long, blonde hair nervously, knowing I had caught her.

"Miss Higgins, can yougive Anne the file on the top secret assignment? Thank you." And my bosshad already closed the door behind him, leaving me alone with Miss CrazySecretary.

"Certainly," shepiped up. "Let's talk about it over a cup of coffee, okay?"

"Actually, if you wouldgive me the file, it would be fine." I smiled at her uncertainly, scaredshe would attack any moment.

And attack she did."Oh, nonsense. We are going to have so much fun together, looking at thisfile."

"But if it's secret, wecan't talk about it, while we are out to get coffee and -" But all myprotests were futile and doomed to fail. Once she started, there was nothingcapable of stopping Miss Higgins, short of the news of her favourite movie stargetting a divorce.

"Well, then we'll stayhere and talk about it all alone in my office!" she announcedgood-naturedly, as she went off to get two cups of coffee.

I stayed right where I was,rooted to the spot, still in shock. This assignment better be good if I wasgoing to spend an undefined amount of time with Miss Higgins in a confinedroom. Alone.

"I am back!" Sheannounced cheerfully, as she shut the door to the office, cutting me off frommy only means of escape apart from the window, which was out of the question,since we were on the third floor--I might have been desperate to get out ofthere, but not suicidal, before she set two cups of coffee on her desk andbeckoned me to take a seat across from her.

"Miss Higgins, if Icould just take a quick look, really only a peek, at those files, I-"

It was hopeless, a lostcause. So, I contented myself with drinking my cup of coffee, while I let herblabber.

"This is going to be sogreat. You can enjoy school without having to worry about your grades becauseyou already have graduated." I almost felt guilty she was so happy for me.Keyword being almost. "Now, this private boarding school is calledPanthera Academy--a great name for a school, if you ask me. A great name, for aplace in general. Makes it sound so mysterious and romantic and -"

"Miss Higgins?"

"What is it, dear? Oh,right, the school. So, it is located near Galway. It's supposed to be a reallybeautiful city. At least considering what I have heard. I have never beenthere, although I would love to go to Europe. Have you ever gone to Europe? Ihave--"

"Miss Higgins?" Iinterrupted her again. "I think your phone is ringing."

And I wasn't lying. MissHiggins pulled out her cell phone, a rather new model, which was coloured neonpink, and blushed once she had looked at the caller ID.

"Um, I will be rightback," she declared before she jumped up and vanished out the door.

The only thing I could hearwas something along the lines of "Hello, Sweetkins. I missed you my SugarPie."

Ew… way too muchinformation. But at least I was rid of her, and it sounded as if she was goingto chat for a while with Sweetkins.

Without thinking about itfor more than a second, I snatched the file from where she had left it andbegan leafing through it.

There were pictures of thisPanthera Academy, and I had to admit it did look amazing. The school buildingwas actually an old castle like Hogwarts in Harry Potter.

The campus of the schoolconsisted not only of the castle and its respective gardens, but also ofstables and a few hectares of forest where one could go riding.

Next there was a sheet witha short description of Panthera Academy. It looked as if it had been cut out ofa brochure.

PantheraAcademy--every student and parents` dream

Panthera Academy is a private boarding school nearGalway. It has its origins in the beginning of the 17^th century.

The 120 students are sorted into four houses (Vanora,Vala, Wren and Arwain), which are named after the two couples who foundedPanthera Academy after their lengthy travel to Italy.

In their free time the students have the opportunityto enjoy the vast grounds surrounding the historic castle, which acts as schoolbuilding and dorm for students and teachers.

The next section wasobviously meant for the parents, since it was about the good reputation theschool had and how much good manners mattered.

I skipped down the page. Myeyes almost bugged out as I read how much a term would cost at this fancyschool, let alone a whole year.

Oh boy, this story reallyhad to be big if the newspaper was willing to spend so much money on a reporterwho would spend their year doing no work except investigate this mysterious, secretsociety.

I leafed through thedocuments until I came across a list with subjects. Of course there were thenormal ones like science and art. Having to relive trig class was only onereason speaking against going back to high school.

But there were alsointeresting subjects like Ancient History, Computer Design, Politics andTheatre Studies. What caught my eyes however, were the many languages beingoffered. I had always had a thing for literature and exotic cultures. Thechance to learn Greek, German, Latin, French or Spanish was tempting.

On the next page there was acalendar of the school. The first day of school was on the third of September,not even a whole week away.

After a Christmas vacation,Easter holidays and a few other minor breaks, the academic year would end inJune.

The rest of the fileappeared uninteresting. I quickly sorted the documents and put them back intothe folder, which I put onto the exact spot where I had found it. My secretmanoeuvre was finished just in time. When Miss Higgins returned again, she putaway her cell phone, before she took the file from her desk and opened it."Where was I? Oh, right, the super-secret assignment. This is all soexciting, don't you think? I think so. Now, what have we got in this file? Ah,there it--"

"Miss Higgins, thankyou for your time, but I think I have heard enough about it." She lookedas if I had just kicked her puppy. "I need to think about this now.Alone."

She seemed disappointed butnodded and I left the office.

Back at my desk I decided tolook up Panthera Academy on the Internet. But to my surprise I didn't findanything, no homepage or newspaper articles. Nothing. This only seemed to addto the mysterious reputation of this school.

The rest of the day I threwmyself into my work. Only, when I was home, I started thinking about thisextraordinary offer I had received.

Why in the world should I dothis?

I didn't know anything aboutthe school or this mysterious secret society and what it was about.

I couldn't just pack mythings at a moment's notice and leave the country for a year.

This was madness, nothingbut utter madness, even if the challenge and mystery were calling to me.

So, the next day I decidedto phone my boss and refuse the job offer.

"Office of the chiefeditor of the Tea Party News, Miss Higgins speaking, how may I be of assistanceon this exceptionally lovely day?"

"Hi, this is AnneWatson. Is the boss in?"

"Hello, Anne," shelilted. "Have you decided yet? If I were you, I would of course take thisincredible chance at starting my career. This is all theoretically speaking ofcourse. I am quite happy being a secretary, but if I--"

I took the first pause shemade to breathe as an opportunity to interject. "I am kind of in ahurry."

"Oh, sure." Herdisappointed voice almost made me allow her to continue her tirade, but Ireally was in a hurry. "I understand. I'll put you through."

"Yes?" a boredvoice answered.

"This is Anne Watson,sir. I am calling about the assignment."

"Ah, Anne." Hismood instantly improved. "I knew you would be brave enough to take thischallenge."

"Well, actually--"Actually all I wanted to say was. I don'twant the assignment, but he wouldn't let me.

"It is a hardassignment, but I know you are going to do a great job. This is going to beyour breakthrough, trust me. Before you know it, you will be editoryourself."

"Sir, I..."

"You are not going toregret this. Panthera Academy is a fine school. You will get to take coursesyou couldn't take before. You will be able to enjoy all the fun things aboutschool without ever having to worry about your grades. It's every youngperson's dream. Heck, I would do this assignment myself if I was youngenough."

"Sir?" I triedagain.

"I am sorry, Anne, youwanted to tell me something?"

"Yeah, I did." Iwas about to open my mouth and tell him I didn't want to have anything to dowith Panthera Academy when all of a sudden my mind shut itself off. Was itreally so bad not to at least give it a try?

Sure, I had hated highschool, but wasn't this the perfect possibility to have a wonderful high schoolexperience for a change?

I was young. What was thereto lose? I could always give up and start college next semester if PantheraAcademy turned out to be as bad as my old high school.

"Anne?" My bossasked. "What did you mean to tell me?"

"I…" I took a deepbreath and decided to go for my spur of the moment decision. "I wanted totell you I am going to take the assignment."

"Of course youare!" My boss chuckled. "You would have to be stupid not to."

I had been about to be sostupid. Whether my current decision was the smart one, I would only know if Iwent through with it.

"I am glad you agreedto do this assignment." I could hear the smile in his voice."However, I have to warn you. You shouldn't underestimate this. It couldturn out to be rather dangerous, especially, when you don't know what toexpect. Are you still willing to do it?"

I thought for a shortmoment. "Yes. Tell me everything you have heard about this secretsociety."

"Certainly, you willneed all the information you can get, although I am afraid it isn't much."It sounded as if he was shoving around stacks of paper on his desk, rummagingaround in them until he found the desired sheet. "Supposedly this secretsociety is almost as old as the school itself. It is big on cloak and daggeroperations and meetings in the middle of the night to do god knows what."

This didn't sound asinteresting as I had expected. "So what? A bunch of kids partying secretlydoesn't seem like such a big deal."

"Where it getsinteresting is the number of unexplained deaths and people who died inmysterious accidents has been uncommonly high ever since the schoolopened."

A shiver ran down my spine."Are you saying there is someone at the school killing students?"

"In a way--yes."He hesitated for a moment. "It doesn't happen often and obvious enough toraise suspicion. There is always an explanation for the deaths. Whether saidexplanation is true is another question."

"These deaths are whatyou want me to investigate?"

I heard him shufflingaround. "They are to be the main focus of your research."

He wouldn't have had to usea word like mission to make it sound dramatic. It was scary and exhilarating onits own.

This feeling of an adrenalinerush was why I had become a journalist in the first place. Sure, I could havealso become an extreme athlete, but I also loved uncovering the truth.

This did indeed sound likethe perfect breakthrough, a memorable start for a great career.

"Anne, are you stillthere?" My boss interrupted my thoughts.

"I'll do it." Irepeated with more self-confidence than I thought I had.

"Glad to hear you areso enthusiastic." He chuckled again before he sobered a little. "Ihave faith in you, just be careful."

"Of course." Inodded eagerly even though he couldn't see me.

"Since you will stillbe a minor officially you will need a guardian," he began to explain.

"My parents..."

"Don't worry aboutthem." He cut in quickly. "A good friend of mine lives not too faraway from Panthera Academy. His name is Colonel George O'Callaghan. He is goingto act as your guardian."

"He is going to act asmy father?"

For some reason the idea mademy boss laugh. "Not at all. He is rather old, so he is going to play therole of your grandfather."

"Okay," I said,unsure of what to say.

"Don't worry. George isreally nice. You will get along brilliantly."

"If you say so."It was strange how the possibility of a murderer at this school didn't scare meas much as having to pretend someone whom I had never met before was mygrandfather.

"Go to Miss Higgins.She will give your visa information, plane tickets and everything else you willneed."

This is how the phone callto my boss, in which I meant to tell him I wasn't going to take the assignment,ended with me going to Miss Higgins's office to retrieve the ticket and allother documents.

The idea of me having gonemad only occurred to me when I was already at the airport a few days later andhad passed all the security checks.

When I was actually boardingthe plane to Dublin, I started thinking about whether I had made the rightdecision.

Because of my doubts I wasbeginning to feel so nervous I wanted to jump up and leave. But I couldn't. Itwas too late. We were already soaring over the Atlantic.

By the time mainland was insight again, I had calmed down and convinced myself. I had made up my mind andthere was no turning back.

This decision was final.

As I stepped off the plane,I thought to myself, Panthera Academy, here I come.

And so the biggest adventureof my life began.

Courtneyfor Rogue's Angles says: "I enjoyedthis book very much. An undercover mission with a secret to discover, firstlove, and murder on top, yes it was worth the read."

Buynow: http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Review

Revealed
by, Julia Fellner
Rogue PhoenixPress,

http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

262 pages (ebook)
Rating 4.0
Reviewed by Courtney Rene for Rogue's Angles

Summary/Blurb:

Vampires,secret societies and first love - those are things that Anne Watson missedduring her first high school experience.

PantheraAcademy is not only a place for eccentric characters, but also the home of twosecret societies, the panthers and the rebels. There Anne has to deal withmidnight meetings, shocking confessions of dark secrets, a mysterious death anda stubborn highland cow as she experiences falling in love for the first time.

Whileher rebel friends and her boyfriend, who is leader of the panthers, accuse eachother of murder, Anne tries to reveal the truth. But sooner or later she willhave to realize that not everything at Panthera Academy is as it seems and thatvampires might just be more than fictional creatures?

Review:

I enjoyed this book very much. An undercover mission with asecret to discover, first love, and murder on top, yes it was worth theread. Anna Watson was a great maincharacter. She was quirky and girlie and very real to me. Although the beginning was a bit slow, and Ididn’t quite understand the need for some of the background story, once it gotmoving it was a fun and entertaining read. The author did a good job of keeping me guessing all the way to the veryend as to who were the bad guys and who were the good. Was it the groups of rebels or the groups ofvampires? You will have to read the bookto find out.

Buy now at: http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Featured Title of the Day: Rekindled Love by Rosemary Indra

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please welcome author Rosemary Indra. Rekindled Love is the first book of a three book series: Rekindled Love, The Look of Love and Everlasting Love soon to be released.

I'm sure Rosemary would like to have you share this excerpt with friends. You can do this by using the buttons at the bottom of this post. You can tweet or share on facebook among others.

First let's learn a little bit more about Rosemary.

Ever since her mom gave her a romance book whenshe was a teenager Rosemary has enjoyed happier-ever-after stories. She hasbeen writing her own happy endings most of her adult life. When she’s notwriting she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and crafts. She hastwo grown children and a three year old grandson who keeps her busy. Her andher husband live in a small town in Oregon.

Excerpt

Rekindled Love

Rosemary Indra

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 3

Buy at www.roguephoenixpress.com

He saw no one as he made hisway up the incline to the dilapidated storage shed. Situated on the edge of anolder residential area, the structure he’d picked was perfect. The weatheredbuilding appeared vacant, and a large empty lot separated the shack from thenearest house. He pushed opened the unlocked wooden door and removed thebackpack full of supplies from his shoulders.

After wiping his sweatypalms on his pant legs, he opened two small containers and sloshed the liquidon the wooden floor. Soon the pungent aroma of gasoline filled the room. Heplaced the igniter in a bed of steel wool then attached the wires to the smallbatteries and the timer. After picking up his backpack, he hurried from theshed closing the door behind him.

He glanced in bothdirections. Confident no one was in the area, he walked up the dead end street.His heart hammered in his chest. Ignoring his trembling hands, he removed apack of cigarettes from his coat pocket. After he flicked his lighter, hestared at the bluish-yellow flame. Excitement raced through his veins.

A foggy mist hugged theground and darkness shrouded the sleepy little town. Despite the wetness fromthe damp, January air, he crouched at the edge of the trees across from histarget and waited.

He pulled a long drag on hiscigarette then checked his watch. Two minutes before the hour. He’d completedhis work on schedule. He had everything under control. Nothing would stop him.With the heel of his shoe, he ground out the butt.

The ignition flared to life.Shattering glass and splintering sounds of wood interrupted the stillness.Debris shot in every direction. "Damn," he muttered as he covered hisears with his hands, blocking the pressure from the explosion. The detonationwas more powerful than he’d anticipated. The flames were clearly visiblethrough the gaping hole in the side wall. No alarms, no security, and noadvance warning. Everything had gone according to his plan. His gaze locked onthe growing flames.

"Fire! Fire!" Aman pounding on a neighboring house drew his attention down the street."There’s a fire over there. Call 911," the Good Samaritan shouted ashe pointed up the street.

He didn’t plan for anyone todiscover the fire until it was too late. He needed more time. The firefighterswould destroy his masterpiece.

In the distance, the firealarm clanged to life at the station. Within minutes, he tuned into the soundof sirens growing louder with the approaching trucks.

Anxiously, he looked at theshed. A smile formed on his lips when he noticed the flames reach the top ofthe window frame. Hopefully, the fire would finish the building before the crewarrived. He drummed his fingertips against his forehead.

Red lights from theapproaching trucks flashed, brightening the pre-dawn darkness. He didn't intendto stay once the crew disembarked. On second thought, he'd enjoy watching theirfutile efforts to extinguish his creation.

Review

Definitely not your normal run of the mill romance novel. Onthe whole a very good book and well worth reading.

Orchid for Long and Short Reviews

Featured Title of the Day: Highland Song by Christine Young

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please Welcome Christine Young. Highland Song is the third book in her Highland series about the MacPherson clan. If you like Highland books, you won't want to miss this one. Christine would love to have you share this post by tweeting, or sharing on facebook. You can do this by clicking the appropriate button at the bottom of this post.

Excerpt

Highland Song

A. W. Lambert

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 4

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

Ayr, Scotland

1514

Lainie MacPherson let the crumpled wanted poster dropto the ground. Her stomach knotted and fear snaked down her spine. Beneath theshadows of the hooded cape she wore, Lainie searched the room for her enemies.

Every man here fit that description.

Forced into a trap of her own making, out of courage,friendless, and terrified Lainie did the only thing she could think of to bringthe pig Bertram to his knees.

She would steal the temptingly displayed secretpapers that were on the table in front of her. Papers she hoped showed troopmovements--papers stamped with the King's seal--papers she could hand over toher brother, Hawke.

First Lainie made sure the shadows in the tavern hidher from view, shrinking into the dark interior, hiding her face with the hoodof her cape. She tried not to stare at the dark-haired stranger who hadabsent-mindedly set his jacket and satchel on a table with the documents shesought poking out almost as if they challenged her with a secret invitation.The man’s dangerous, dark looks sent a strange sensation of heat coursing downher spine.

English soldiers like Jericho Manning and Rory Slaterwere more dangerous and more terrifying than any highland lass should have todeal with. To make the situation worse, she didn’t need a dark-haired strangerto make her fingers shake and her insides quake.

Lainie inhaled a deep steadying breath. Easy, shetold herself. Go nice and slow. The stranger looks half-drunk and the tavernmaid sitting on his lap has all his attention.

"What’s in it for me?" Rory asked Jericho,his haggard features lighting up with anticipation and snagging Lainie’sattention.

"Only what Bertram wants to give youhimself." The dark stranger looked at the

English officer. The fingers on one hand tapping theoaken table top impatiently.

Rory’s toothless grin sent a shiver of fear downLainie’s spine.

"Jericho always gives me his left-overs,"Rory said. “You going to give me this one?”

Rory’s diabolical laughter sealed the darkness in herheart.

Jericho nodded then leaned forward. "I want thelass. And I’ll have her before I give her over to Bertram. She’s only awhore."

Lainie nearly gasped but stopped herself. Courage, Lainie, you’ve been in tighterspots than this. It was not her plan to give herself away to these men.

She inhaled a long, deep breath once more and reachedfor the satchel beneath the soldier's jacket. A few more seconds and all wouldbe hers. A few more seconds and she would hand the papers over to a friend.Someone who would carry them to the Scottish King.

She committed no treason here.

She was Scottish to the core.

This was for the good of her country--not England.Besides she’d already been labeled a traitor by the crown of England. She hadnothing to lose.

If Bertram suffered a set back, his lack of attentioncaused the problem.

Aaron Slade let his hands slide up and down the armsof the lass sitting on his lap while his steely gaze seemed to be riveted onLainie MacPherson.

He knew what the young woman was up to before she’dcommitted herself to stealing. He had read the determination in the girl'sposture when she backed into the shadow-filled corner of the tavern, pullingher dark cloak around her slender frame and letting her hood shadow her face.The combination of steady eyes and slightly trembling fingers had given heraway.

He would make sure neither Jericho nor Bertram couldget their sweaty hands on the girl. He’d heard stories. He believed them--everyword.

Jericho didn’t even realize the girl he sought stoodin the corner. Moreover, Slade didn't mean to tell Jericho. Slade had hisorders. He was to find her and bring her to Edinburgh where she would be triedfor high treason. The charges were lame. Now that he watched her stealing thephony papers he’d planted in the pocket of his jacket, he wasn’t quite so sure.

The rumors had it that a lot of men had wanted thelass, but none had gotten her. He’d thought all along Bertram had been one ofthose men. A cynical smile shifted the line of Aaron’s black mustache. Therewas nothing new in that particular game. Teasing and promising men somethingthey wouldn’t give was a primal game played by every woman ever born.

But there was something very different about thiswoman.

An air of sadness and vulnerability emanated fromher. Aaron methodically lowered his lids when he glanced from the girl who satin his lap to the woman whose fingers were closing over the sealed documents.He couldn't help but stare at her. The woman's eyes were a clear, uncanny bluethat matched the color of the sky on a bright summer day. The few strands ofhair escaping her hood were so blond they were nearly white. The cloak she worewas plain, but did nothing to hide the lush fullness of her figure beneath thecloth. The vision he imagined set him to thinking about what it would be liketo unfasten the cloak, strip away all the other fabric covering her and touchthe luminous skin that lay beneath the tattered cloak.

Aaron was irritated at the direction his thoughtswent. He was certainly experienced and old enough to keep sexual need away fromhis mission. He had been taught and teased by the most expert females on thisearth. He’d learned more than one lesson at their hands.

Looking at Aaron, Jericho swirled the contents of histankard.

"I don’t figure I can trust any man. Who’s tosay that if you find the girl, you won’t want to keep her for yourself,"he said to Aaron. "She might be worth a damn sight more than what oldBertie is paying you to bring her to him."

The devil you say," Rory retorted with a smuggrin. "I have it on good authority and knowing old Bertie for years, helikes nothing better than to share soiled goods. We both know he’s the only onewho can save the girl from a conviction of treason."

Jericho looked coldly at Aaron but didn’t refuteRory’s statement.

Aaron urged the tavern wench from his lap and kepthis eye lids lowered slightly. He watched the girl, and if he was right, shewas about to dip her hand into the pocket of another man. She had moved fromher spot near his table, using the shadows in the tavern to hide herself. Shebrought up a fat purse and slipped it inside a different sack than the oneshe’d put the papers she’d stolen from his satchel.

The stories about her were intriguing enough, but itwas the rumors of Lainie MacPherson’s spying that held his interest. To him anyone who could spy on his country was a traitor. But Lainie MacPherson, if shewas anything like her brothers, was Scottish bone deep. To Lainie, what she didhere would not be treasonous because she would be loyal only to the ScottishKing James. In addition, the rumor--the ones of Lainie prostituting herself forinformation--didn’t bother him. Women did what they had to do to survive. Andif the rumors were true, he would find a way to enjoy her charms while he tookher to Edinburgh for trial. To him women’s flesh was sweet and soft, but womenwere as fickle as newborn kittens. They were far too easily corrupted, and somany times they turned out to be less than they seemed. He never let any womantouch his heart.

Silently, Aaron measured the distance between thedoor and the MacPherson wench and wondered at the innocence, or was it guilt,he saw flash in her eyes for one brief moment when she met his glance. Fromwhat he’d heard, the Scottish cause was everything to the MacPhersons. This wouldnot be the first time they pitted their clan against the English crown.

But this time it was the most foolhardy.

The smile he gave Lainie made her look away. Hewatched as her shoulders quivered, and she shrank back into the shadows. Hefelt a wave of nausea sweep through him when he thought of Lainie being at themercy of a man like Bertie for even a single night, much less until Bertie grewbored with her and gave her to Jericho and Rory.

Silently, he told himself he would never let her fallinto Bertie’s hands, because he meant to bring her straight to the authoritiesin charge. If she were guilty of treason, she would be prosecuted. If she werenot guilty, he would see she was set free and he would personally escort herhome.

For the first time, he felt justified in his missionand the exorbitant pay he would receive for handing the girl over. If anything,there was a certain justice in cheating Bertie out of his spoils. Heacknowledged that once he caught Lainie, he would have not only Rory andJericho after him, most likely the MacPherson brothers would be on his tail aswell.

A man bumped into Lainie near the door. Aaron thoughthe would see her pick this man’s pocket too. The movement was quick. Except forthe slight of hand and Aaron’s vigilance, he would have never seen the exchangeof the satchel from Lainie’s hand to the man's. The document Lainie just handedover was worthless, but the stolen goods were not. They would find out soonenough he had baited her, set the trap, and she’d fallen for it. Would he haveLainie in his possession when that was accomplished? Or would Jericho?

Aaron shifted slightly, not wanting to give Jerichoand Rory any indication that he meant to leave. His hand was on the hilt of hissword. Silently, he measured the catlike elegance of the girl with thedetermined posture and long back. It would not be much longer when Jericho andRory discovered their own missing goods.

He rose and walked toward the door, barring her wayif she meant to flee yet he was not sure he would stop her. "You sure youwouldn’t want to stay a while and keep me company, Miss…what was the nameagain?" Aaron asked, though he knew very well.

"’Tis naught your business," she saidsoftly, lowering her dark sooty lashes as if she meant to flirt. "Agentleman would not ask a lady he didn’t know."

Lainie MacPherson’s voice sounded calm andcontrolled. Nevertheless, he knew she’d been in this position often enough,that she knew how to handle herself and no longer hesitated, knowing full wellthe consequences if she did. In any case, her compliance was not a part of hisplan for her abduction.

Aaron’s instincts kept whispering that this woman wassomehow different from women like Sarah and Anna, unfeeling women who carednothing about anyone save themselves and the fortune and titles that could begained from marrying into the right families. At the same time, he had no doubtLainie MacPherson could kill a man.

"You should take heed," Aaron said softly,ignoring the other man who had now slipped quietly out the door.

"Remove your hand. sir," she told himindignantly.

Aaron shrugged, outwardly indifferent, his fingerssettling once more on the hilt of his sword, ever wary of the girl and her nextmove.

The tavern’s hush changed into a humming of malevoices as people left their drinks and focused on the pair standing so close tothe door where unbeknownst to them an unspoken challenge had just been issuedby both parties.

The stakes revolved around a woman named LainieMacPherson and release from the commission he’d bought so many years ago hecouldn’t remember. As for the bounty, Aaron Slade didn’t care a damn about it.

Aaron was certain he would end up the winner in thiscat-and-mouse game. Besides the obvious, he wondered how the woman withtrembling mouth and steady blue eyes had ended up on a wanted list issued byKing Henry himself and standing in one of Scotland’s most infamous taverns. Sointrigued by her he would move heaven and earth to learn her story.

"I know what you handed over to yourcompanion," Aaron said with a bit of impatience, trying not to give awayhis purpose before it was necessary.

"I don’t know what you mean," she saidsoftly with a sardonic smile gracing her intriguing mouth.

"You stole something that was mine. I mean toget it back. You need to remember that England rules this land--all ofit." He inhaled deeply the soft scent of her that seemed to be hers alone.It seemed to possess all his senses.

Her shoulders stiffened as her gaze raked over him."I’m Scottish, and loyal to James," she said, her voice wavering."Henry doesn’t rule me or my kin."

"Slade," Jericho said, stepping forward,"what’s--"

The wolfish smile Aaron gave Jericho stopped him coldin his tracks.

"Who’s the girl?" Jericho asked pointedly."You the sharin’ kind, Slade?"

"No one of interest," Aaron said smoothlylying to Jericho.

Aaron moved in front of Lainie, blocking the men fromseeing her face and her hair. He didn’t know if they’d recognize her butsomething Rory had said earlier made him think Rory at least had met her. Givena choice, he would have taken her by the arm and escorted her away from thesetwo cutthroats. Now he didn’t have a choice. He would have to let her go andhope he could catch up to her.

Lainie could melt into the forest if given a chance.She knew these lands better than most. And her companions were sure to bewaiting for her a safe distance from the tavern. If her friend wasn’t waitingfor her, where would she go? A sudden and unmistakable sickening feeling sweptthrough him. Fear for this slip of a woman clouded his judgment.

Featured Title of the Day: Peacebreakers by Mindy Mackay

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please Welcome Mindy MacKay. Mindy is multitalented. As well as writing the story Mindy creates her own covers. If you are a lover of horror, you will not want to miss this book. I'm sure Mindy would love to have you tweet your friends and share on facebook. You can do all this by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of this post.

This book is available at www.roguephoenixpress.com

Peacebreakers

Mindy MacKay

Excerpt Heat Level: Violence

Book Heat Level: 2

Buy at:www.roguephoenixpress.com

The cat’s tail dangled froma nail on the wall in the middle of the school cafeteria, looking like a greathairy worm, while two teenage girls painted a message next to it in theanimal’s blood: Remember 1860. It wasfive in the morning, hours before school started. The cat had belonged to theprincipal. And when the first bell sounded to ring in the day, the girls wouldbe up to their scrawny necks in trouble.

"Remind me again, whyare we doing this, Chamika?" asked the taller of the two miscreants, a blondewho finger-painted the letters of graffiti with her left hand; her right onewrapped in bandages. "Not that I’m not having the time of my life playingwith dead animals, but do we reallyneed to get ourselves kicked out of another school?"

The other girl, the onewearing too much color with her hair dyed too many shades of black, let out anirritated sigh at her friend’s sarcasm. "It doesn’t matter how manyschools boot us out, Kiera. That’s insignificant when you consider the grandscope of things."

"And what, dare I ask,is this grand scope?"

Chamika tapped on the wallwith a manicured fingertip. "The Purge of 1860. It’s what got the ballrolling and started the ongoing war between mutants and humans. It’s the reasonwe’ve got to teach mutant-haters like our principal a lesson every now andagain."

Kiera wiped her bloody handon her jeans, cringing as she did so. She didn’t object to most forms ofcruelty, but the amputation of a creature’s tail unnerved her, perhaps becauseshe had one herself when she turned into a wolf every month. "Why the cat,though?" she asked. "Why its tail?"

Any fraction of a smile onChamika’s face disappeared. "Did you know," she began, her tonesuddenly stoic, "that almost all mutants used to have tails?"

~ * ~

The mutant tail was a long,whiplike organ whose tip barely grazed the floor when relaxed. Its covering offlesh was much like the skin on the rest of the body, though it grewtranslucent at the tip so the tiny muscles and the last of the vertebrae werevisible. It was a sensitive organ, containing a number of large and vital bloodvessels, and there was once a time when almost ninety-nine percent of mutantshad one sticking out of their skirt or trousers.

In the eyes of humans, thetail was seen as a sign of the Devil. And in 1860, a small faction of humanstook it upon themselves to purify their land by weeding out the demons livingamong them.

The Purge first reared itsugly head on a market day in Messina, Italy. Just as the stands were packing upand closing down, a bellowing holler of "Hear ye, hear ye!" dreweveryone’s gaze to the center of the square. There, a group of men had fivesmall, naked, whip-tailed boys tied at the wrists and ankles. The leader of themen announced to the populace the boys were about to be stripped of their evil.

At the end of his speech,the man drew his sword and the little boys struggled in their bonds. They madefeeble attempts to free themselves with telekinesis but it was no use. Afull-grown man with a weapon was more than a match for a few mutant childrenwho couldn’t control their powers. With five slicing blows, the tails of thefive boys were severed, and the appendages flopped and writhed for a moment,separate from their owners, before going limp.

The boys bled. A sea of redspilled into the market, and the air boiled with the screaming of the poor,agonized souls until all the blood was gone from their little bodies and theylay quite still.

A twig-thin figure shovedthrough the crowd, frantically shrugging past bystanders and protectivelyclutching a trembling tail with both hands. The girl ran and ran until she cameto a little cottage whose door she threw open and slammed behind her. Once shewas safely inside, she collapsed on all fours and sobbed.

"Amelia! What happened?"her mother gasped, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

"They killedGino," the girl cried out between heaves of grief. "They killed mybrother; they chopped off his tail and murdered him! They said we’re theDevil’s children!" Her outburst sent objects flying across the room andfalling off shelves.

Her mother was in too muchshock to speak.

"What could p-possessanyone to d-do such a h-h-horrible thing like that?" sobbed Amelia.

Review

Soap Box in My Mind says:"I really enjoyed this book. It was a surprisingly good storyline writtenby a 17 year old."

Featured Title of the Day: Revealed by Julia Fellner

2012-01-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

Please welcome Julia. Revealed is a great YA written by a very talented young lady. If you love mystery and vampires this is the perfect book for you.