I’m back in Chicago and back in business with my boss, Rinaldo Moretti. So much for my run at a normal life. There are some new faces in the organization, and someone’s been cooking the books. Personally? I think they’re after more than a just little cash. If I have any hopes of flushing out the traitor, I’m going to need to find a good hooker to help me sleep at night. As the bodies pile up, I find solace in Alina. There’s something about her, something different. She understands me without asking a lot of questions. It’s as if she’s known me for years, yet we’ve only just met. If I weren’t so distracted by business, I’d try to figure out her story. She’s the only one keeping me grounded as my world spins out of control.
I’m going to lose the one man who has ever meant anything to me – the only man to ever call me son. I want to deny his request, but there is no avoiding what awaits me. I never wanted any of this, but I’m out of options, and time is running out.
Some choices have unforeseen consequences, and some choices are simply irrevocable.
Fred's Notes
Shay is awesome at creating characters and situations as intense and overwhelming as her online persona, and this latest installment in her popular Evan Arden Series is no exception. Check it out, but be sure to fasten your seat belt first!
Shay lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an
accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. When the geek fun runs out, she also loves off-roading in her jeep, and soccer in any and all forms - especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories. Follow her on Twitter here: @savage7289
Thursday, January 22, 2015
New Release Blitz &
Two Awesome Giveaways!
Strange Magic by Michelle Mankin
Part One Now Available
YOU ARE INVITED
STRANGE MAGIC Release Party
January 15 to February 17th
Join us for a Mardi Gras/New Orleans themed party with games & prizes every day plus weekly video responses from Ask the Author. Party kicked off with a video interview of how Strange Magic came into being and will end shortly after an Anything-Goes-Embarrass-The-Author-Grand-Challenge for Author Michelle Mankin to undertake while in NOLA for the start of Mardi Gras.
Billy Blade is a hardworking, hard living, razor sharp musical force. Mysterious behind his dark shades, the rough around the edges Texan mesmerizes with his haunting harmonica and tantalizes with his dangerous looks and smooth country charm. His latest album is topping the charts. He’s the newly crowned King of the Bacchus Krewe. He’s definitely living the rock star dream.
Exotic Creole beauty Thyme Bellerose couldn’t be more content. She has it all. An adoring grandmother. A handsome Tulane medical student beau. A satisfying job in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Her life is as rich as the ice cream she creates. She’s got everything under control.
But control is an illusion. Dreams can turn into nightmares. And now during Mardi Gras, otherworldly powers stand ready to shape their destinies in ways they could never imagine.
Shadow and light. Magic and mystery. Reality and myth. All come together in a place where rules bend and lines blur. Even those between life and death.
STRANGE MAGIC is a novel in two parts. Part Two, the finale of STRANGE MAGIC will be released on February 5th!
I love this way this starts out with a bang (kinda literally), and the way we encounter burnt-out, beat down bad boy wanna be Bacchus Billy Blade, singing his gritty songs of experience to an audience that is grateful and, apparently only mostly dead. A black stetson isn't your typical shining armor, but Thyme Bellerose (she's the song of innocence part), can't really afford to be picky about it at this point. I love Michelle's poignant and pointed use of poetry to punctuate her perfect prose (girl can wax lyrical, in that violet tinged way we love!), and how the quotes she chooses enhance the vibe, and move the narrative too. The mythopoeic, archetypal fairy tale nature of the story is beautifully reflected in Michelle's style, almost like a lover whispering the words in your ear. Can't wait for part two, really girl, how can you leave us hanging like this! Belle is beyond tied to the damn tracks, the train has done come and rolled over her, backed up and done it again. Gonna need some strange magic, indeed, to resuscitate this bruised reed, that hopefully will not break. Great story, great characters, great setting. Michelle has rocked it again, and part two is just around the corner, so read this now to be ready when it comes.
Just for fun I put together a Strange Magic playlist at Spotify, some old friends (haven't heard Gimme Shelter in a while? I promise it's still amazing, and a great harp part too!), and some new, including an awesome cover of Don't Fear the Reaper by The Beautiful South.
Pre-Order for Part Two Now Available:
STRANGE MAGIC: Part One & Part Two
DREAM MAGIC: October 2015
TWISTED MAGIC: Coming soon
Love Evolution is a rock star romance based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
http://amzn.to/KZoJS4
After the death of her twin brother, nineteen year old guitar prodigy Avery Jones finds herself desperate, alone, and out of options. Hope arrives in the form of a job opening with Brutal Strength, one of the biggest rock bands out there. Only problem is temperamental lead singer Marcus Anthony doesn't want a woman in the group. So Avery and her manager Trevor come up with a plan involving a Bieber haircut and men's clothing. No one seems to be onto their little con. But what happens when Avery starts falling for Marcus? Will she be able to continue with the farce or will the whole thing come crashing down around her like a house of cards?
(Revised and an additional 10,000 words of content, including 2 new chapters and an epilogue)
Love Revolution is a rock star romance inspired by Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
http://amzn.to/1aeXf43
The wheels of love are always turning at Black Cat Records. Things are just starting to settle down when two Texas sisters start to stir things up at the Vancouver record label. CEO Mary Timmons sets spirited country superstar Sara Daniels on a collision course with cocky rocker Chris Alex. Meanwhile, Brutal Strength's suave drummer, JR, has his head turned by pretty young intern, Samantha Daniels. Do all their highways lead to happiness or will the wheels fly off when the sisters' tragic past comes back to haunt them?
Love Resolution is a rock star romance inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest.
http://amzn.to/1whIVAp
To forgive or not to forgive...There's a storm brewing at Black Cat Records and lead singer Marcus Anthony and guitarist Avery Jones are at the center of it. Brutal Strength is leaving Vancouver and heading out on a big stadium tour with the reprobate rockers from Tempest as their opening act. Avery is forced to deal with a troubling figure from her past while being pursued by Tempest's tatted bad boy, Bryan 'Bullet' Jackson. Meanwhile, Marcus must battle his own internal demons as well as this rival for Avery's affection. Can Avery and Marcus keep their fairy tale happily ever after together when the prevailing winds of the real world are against them?
Three full-length rock star novels in one limited edition set
Michelle Mankin is the Amazon bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Romance with subtext.
Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.
For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn't kill her but the hours and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.
Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the Magic series.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.
Connect with Michelle Mankin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleMankin
On tsu: https://www.tsu.co/AuthorMichelleMankin
On her website: http://www.michellemankin.com/
Receive the Black Cat Records newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Lvgzf
Billy Blade is a hardworking, hard living, razor sharp musical force. Mysterious behind his dark shades, the rough around the edges Texan mesmerizes with his haunting harmonica and tantalizes with his dangerous looks and smooth country charm. His latest album is topping the charts. He’s the newly crowned King of the Bacchus Krewe. He’s definitely living the rock star dream.
Exotic Creole beauty Thyme Bellerose couldn’t be more content. She has it all. An adoring grandmother. A handsome Tulane medical student beau. A satisfying job in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Her life is as rich as the ice cream she creates. She’s got everything under control.
But control is an illusion. Dreams can turn into nightmares. And now during Mardi Gras, otherworldly powers stand ready to shape their destinies in ways they could never imagine.
Shadow and light. Magic and mystery. Reality and myth. All come together in a place where rules bend and lines blur. Even those between life and death.
STRANGE MAGIC is a novel in two parts. Part Two, the finale of STRANGE MAGIC will be released on February 5th!
Pre-Order Now Available:
STRANGE MAGIC: Part One & Part Two
DREAM MAGIC: October 2015
TWISTED MAGIC: Coming soon
Fred's Top Ten Reasons to Love Strange Magic & Michelle Mankin
1. Because New Orleans. This could probably be reasons 1-9 for me, lol, I love that town. Here's a picture of an awesome street performer (plus that ubiquitous Blue Dog) I took at RT last year. Cool stuff like this just happens there. A lot. Specially round midnight.
2. Because Harmonica. Did you know that Delbert McClintock gave John Lennon tips on harmonica? That had a big influence on Love Me Do, one of the Beatles first hits. Delbert's comments on learning how to play harmonica are pretty hilarious.
3. The Krewe of Bacchus has had some pretty awesome Kings, starting in 1969 with Danny Kaye. I kinda love that guy, not gonna lie. Here he is, kickin' it with Louis Armstrong.
4. Michelle is a rocker. Some people give away bookmarks for swag. She gives away guitar picks!
5. More proof that Michelle's a rocker? Her e-mail address starts with "foofighterfanatic."
6. Shakespeare + Rock, what's not to like?
7. There's a librarian named Fred in Love Revolution (Hey, it's my top ten, right?)
8. Because the original Strange Magic rocked!
9. Because this is only Part One, which means there will be lots more to love, soon!
10. Because Giveaway! Scroll down to enter!
Love Evolution is a rock star romance based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
http://amzn.to/KZoJS4
After the death of her twin brother, nineteen year old guitar prodigy Avery Jones finds herself desperate, alone, and out of options. Hope arrives in the form of a job opening with Brutal Strength, one of the biggest rock bands out there. Only problem is temperamental lead singer Marcus Anthony doesn't want a woman in the group. So Avery and her manager Trevor come up with a plan involving a Bieber haircut and men's clothing. No one seems to be onto their little con. But what happens when Avery starts falling for Marcus? Will she be able to continue with the farce or will the whole thing come crashing down around her like a house of cards?
(Revised and an additional 10,000 words of content, including 2 new chapters and an epilogue)
Love Revolution is a rock star romance inspired by Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
http://amzn.to/1aeXf43
The wheels of love are always turning at Black Cat Records. Things are just starting to settle down when two Texas sisters start to stir things up at the Vancouver record label. CEO Mary Timmons sets spirited country superstar Sara Daniels on a collision course with cocky rocker Chris Alex. Meanwhile, Brutal Strength's suave drummer, JR, has his head turned by pretty young intern, Samantha Daniels. Do all their highways lead to happiness or will the wheels fly off when the sisters' tragic past comes back to haunt them?
Love Resolution is a rock star romance inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest.
http://amzn.to/1whIVAp
To forgive or not to forgive...There's a storm brewing at Black Cat Records and lead singer Marcus Anthony and guitarist Avery Jones are at the center of it. Brutal Strength is leaving Vancouver and heading out on a big stadium tour with the reprobate rockers from Tempest as their opening act. Avery is forced to deal with a troubling figure from her past while being pursued by Tempest's tatted bad boy, Bryan 'Bullet' Jackson. Meanwhile, Marcus must battle his own internal demons as well as this rival for Avery's affection. Can Avery and Marcus keep their fairy tale happily ever after together when the prevailing winds of the real world are against them?
Three full-length rock star novels in one limited edition set
Michelle Mankin is the Amazon bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Romance with subtext.
Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.
For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn't kill her but the hours and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.
Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the Magic series.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.
Connect with Michelle Mankin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleMankin
On tsu: https://www.tsu.co/AuthorMichelleMankin
On her website: http://www.michellemankin.com/
Receive the Black Cat Records newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Lvgzf
All 4 ebooks of the Tempest series & an arc of STRANGE MAGIC - Part One
Shay lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an
