#MFRWauthor BOOK SPOTLIGHT: On Wings of Darkness @JoliePethtel

On Wings of Darkness

Mainstream Paranormal Romance
Jolie Pethtel
Muse It Up Publishing

What would happen if you were meant to die, but someone intervened? Your very existence would disrupt the natural balance, effecting everyone you touch for the remainder of your unnatural life. What if you met your soul mate? A man who was meant for you alone, but at the same time not because you should no longer exist? This is what happens to Adara James when she crosses paths with Journey Montgomery, a man unknowingly shadowed by darkness. This is no chance meeting between two human strangers, but a collision of souls whose continued proximity to one another has the potential to tear apart the world.

When a fallen angel battles for control over her body, Adara James must fight to resist her dark side. BUY LINK

EXCERPT

Adele curled herself into a fetal position, in an effort to fight off whatever agony was consuming her flesh. Unable to bear it any longer, she let out a blood curdling scream.
Journey ran to her side, gripping her shoulders forcefully.
“Adele! What is happening to you? Tell me!”
Wordlessly, she turned her back to him and he nearly scuttled backward in horror at the sight of her flesh tearing. Something was protruding from the two gashes in her back. It looked like black feathers wet with some sticky substance he couldn’t identify.
“My God! What is it?” He turned to the healer, who was backing away from the woman in fear.
“Evil.” The man muttered.
“Can’t you do something?”
The healer wordlessly shook his head no. Whatever this was, it was beyond his powers. It was beyond anything. They had been fools to think they could trick this possessing spirit. Now she was angry. He could feel the rage bursting from the helpless woman’s body. It was doubtful she would survive whatever came next.
A whimpering came from the other side of the fire. Adara bit her lip till it bled to hold back her own scream of agony. Much like her sister, she was curled into a tight ball, trying to evade whatever was coming. She rocked back and forth muttering under her breath.
Journey couldn’t quite hear what she was saying, until he reached her side.  She was repeating the same three words over and over.
“Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop.”
He turned her ever so gently, so he could see her back where something undulated beneath her skin. Whatever was inside her sought a way out and when it found none, it tore through her flesh. Two rips appeared, as with Adele and white feathers tinged in red poked through. Now he understood what the wet, sticky substance was—blood. Finally Adara could hold back her scream no longer. A long, piercing shriek rent the air, echoing around the camp.
Adara pushed away from him, rising to her knees, facing Adele across the fire. Adele rose to the same position. Their eyes locked briefly and then they seemed to slump weakly, their heads falling forward. They both appeared ready to topple over into the fire pit. Journey held himself ready to pull them out, should such a thing occur. God! He hated feeling this helpless.
He wanted to do something to stop their pain. Hell, he wanted to stop whatever horror was about to happen. It certainly couldn’t be anything good. Yet he sensed that whatever lay ahead was as inevitable as it was inescapable.
        Blood ran like a river down Adara’s back, as a pair of wings pushed their way outward through her flesh, but she did not scream again, nor did Adele. It was exactly like the mirrored image painting. The internal struggle between light versus darkness. But this time the battle was out in the open and there appeared to be one hell of a smackdown about to take place here on his mother’s reservation. One woman had white wings and the other black. They rose to their feet simultaneously, facing off against each other. No longer sisters, but rivals, prepared for a fight to the death.

ABOUT Jolie Pethtel
Jolie Pethtel, an avid reader and writer, has always loved a good plot twist. In fact, when watching movies with her family she typically spoils the ending before the big reveal with her guesses, but nothing thrills her more than being wrong—except maybe hearing that a reader never saw the twists and turns coming in one of her own books. She has two published novels from her Jezebel Jinx Mystery series; Painted Jezebel and Poison Pens. On Wings of Darkness is her first paranormal romance.

http://www.joliepethtel.com
http://www.facebook.com/authorjoliepethtel
http://twitter.com/joliepethtel
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5244232.Jolie_Pethtel

It's a False Start! Meet #MFRWauthor Marianne Rice @MarianneRiceAut

Meet Marianne Rice
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romances set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines her smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always find everlasting love. When she's not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there's time, relaxing with fancy drinks and a great read. She tries to make time for her husband too, but he often places behind her love affair with books.

facebook | website | pinterest

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Well, I read. A lot. As in 150-200 books a year. Somehow I manage to work full-time, tend to my three kids and their busy schedules, and keep my husband fed and clothed and...happy. Reading romance is my escape from work and mommy life. With so many stories and hot heroes running through my head each week, they sort of morphed into new characters with their own sets of problems and goals. One day when I was home with my newborn son, and two and four year-old daughters I thought, ""Hey, I should start writing some of my stories down."" And so I did.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Oh lordy. If my books were autobiographical they'd be a genre of their own: comedic horror meets dramatic nut house. My husband likes to think the hero and romantic elements are based off him, but eh, no. I like to write about situations that could have happened, or that have happened to someone, somewhere. My characters have flaws and internal conflicts--who doesn't?--and I like to give them something we all want: Happily Ever After.

What genre do you write?
I write contemporary romance because it's what I like to read. I do read some historical romance, but researching the specifics of different time periods and cultures would discourage me from writing. I'd love to write a dystopian YA (my children love reading them), but I can't imagine crafting a whole world from scratch. Kudos to those who can!

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I am a teacher and am blessed with summers off. Although sometimes being home with three kids is more work. I remind my husband that I'm not on ""vacation"", but I'm a stay-at-home mom, which is a crazy, busy job! Anyway, I spend much of my ""working"" months cooking up my stories, and during vacations and the summer I'm able to spit it all out rather quickly. It may not be pretty, but I get the first draft of a book written in two months and spend the next few months reading it when I can. I don't get bogged down with crafting the perfect sentence the first go-around. I think I would get discouraged. In the summer, it's all about word count. It's what works best for me.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?
Oh, yes. I love humor. Most people are funny in some way, shape or form. Maybe not all the time, but life is full of quirky situations and one-liners. I like to incorporate them into my writing.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
I love Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Belle Andre. Oh, hundreds more, but those are the names that first come to mind.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story?
My hero in False Start is a retired NFL player. I've always loved the game and even married a football player. Naturally I had to have a quarterback in my first book!

False Start

Book One in The McKay-Tucker Men series
Liquid Silver Publishing

Vowing to never follow her heart again, Meg Fulton keeps men at a safe distance. But retired NFL player Connor McKay manages to crack Meg’s defenses and she discovers the sports-loving alpha male is much more than a sexy package wrapped in great biceps and a tight rear end. He’s got to make the riskiest play of his life to get her to fall in love again …

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

“We need to talk.”
Startled by the deep growl, Meg Fulton looked up to the towering stack of testosterone filling her office doorway and cursed the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach.
She straightened her posture, ran her hand through her thick hair in an attempt to put all the strays back in place, and then reached for the lapels of the suit coat that wasn’t there. She felt vulnerable in her silk tank top and wished she had an extra layer to shield her from the menacing daggers targeted at her. Putting on the jacket would only make a spectacle of herself. The thin tank would have to do.
“Sure. Have a seat.” She crossed her legs and attempted to smile. Inwardly, Meg groaned. Connor McKay. She’d noticed him on the football field coaching his athletes and had not looked forward to the expected confrontation.
He remained in the doorway, making no move toward the empty seats across from her desk. His blond hair was short, barely longer than the scruff on his face, and as she looked up she saw his eyes—a fierce, fiery blue filled with accusation and something that ranged between confusion and lust.
Meg stood and retrieved her suit coat off the rack, slid her arms through the expensive fabric, feeling the need to protect herself after all. In three-inch heels, she stood at almost five-eleven, but he still had half a foot on her. “What can I do for you?”
“This plan? Not gonna happen.” He didn’t elaborate, just made his statement sound like fact.
Pompous, arrogant jerk. He was probably used to flaunting his muscles to get his way. The Texas A&M shirt stretched over his massive chest, making him appear menacing and…hot. Horrified she even noticed, she tipped her head back and raised her eyebrow. “Why do you believe it’s not going to happen?”
His wide stance continued to rigidly occupy the doorway. “Season’s already started. My players won’t be benched because of a policy that might start half way through their season.”
The stereotypical football coach was obviously not used to having a woman as a boss, but Meg wouldn’t let him intimidate her. The job as principal at Newhall High School would be a challenge, but one she was ready to face.

Meet #MFRWauthor @CaraCarnes in A Shadow's Embrace @FatedDesires

MFRW Author Cara Carnes talks with MFRW about her latest book.
Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13. In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves travelling, photography and reading.

More information about Cara can be found at www.caracarnes.com or on facebook, tsu and pinterest.

Here's what we learned...
1. If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
New Zealand

2. What song would best describe your life?
It's My Life by Bon Jovi

3. What is your secret guilty pleasure?
CHOCOLATE

4. Ebook or paperback?
Ebook

5. Zebras or elephants?
Elephant

6. Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?
Sticky notes and colored markers

7. What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Not recognizing Nora Roberts at my first writer's conference when I first started writing

8. Tell us about your latest book.
A Shadow's Embrace is an erotic Paranormal Romantic Suspense with Fated Desires Publishing
BLURB

On the run from evil, her only hope is the Shadows.
Devyn James escaped hell once. A rare technopath, she eventually broke out of the genetics testing facility with the help of the Shadow Elites—General Conver’s super soldiers, who rebelled and now fought to protect psychically enhanced humans.
For the past few months Devyn, or Indy as she’s known on the street, has covertly passed intel to the SEO. Even though the street doesn’t trust the Shadows, she does. They rescued her once and she knows they’re the only ones who will be able to save her from Conver and figure out what she uncovered.
Dagan is determined to save the female being chased by Conver and his squadron. He soon discovers her identity and vows he’ll do anything to keep her protected—even if it’s from herself.
Together they discover everything is possible when you trust A Shadow’s Embrace.

EXCERPT

Devyn focused, suckling on the metadata drifting in the atmosphere. Ah, she’d missed the city. The morsels of data streamed into her. Her synapses hummed, sated by the calming presence of her third eye’s power. For the first time in a week, she was whole again now that she was back in the bustling psychic sector of Chicago. Leaving the city and her team a week ago had been a difficult decision, but the right one. Her powers had become more focused without the residual white noise of bustling Chicago’s technological strain vying for her attention.
Now the same technology she’d shunned the past few days would save her. She accessed traffic and bank cameras—anything and everything that allowed eyes-on access to the enemy that was herding her into a proverbial cage. There were too many of them. No exit strategy existed.
Damn.
A strong arm encircled her waist, crushing her against a brick-like torso before she could react. Pain pierced her mind, radiating from her temples. Startled by the psychic intrusion, she writhed in her captor’s embrace and threw up what telepathic walls she could.
The bastard shattered each defensive layer she created. Hot breath fanned across her cheek when he lifted her up off her feet and planted a huge hand over her mouth. Dangling like a doll, she punched the meaty arms holding her captive.
“Enough.” The harsh psychic hammer pounded her into submission. She stilled, unable to maneuver past the thick mental fog he created. “I need you to be quiet if you want to live.”
That voice. Dagan. This was the contact she’d slipped info to at the SEO.
She clamped his wrist and pressed hard, but he maintained his hold. The proximity to one of the most lethal people in existence skittered apprehensive pangs along her spine. She’d chanced returning to Chicago because of him, but how had he known she’d be here?