Anonymous is live!

Anonymous is live! I am so excited to share another story with all of you. Enjoy the first chapter. And if you like it pick up a copy at Amazon.

Chapter 1

Guilt.

It plagued her. She swam in the nauseating guilt of her life-- all day, every day.

She dropped her head inside the toilet bowl, she wished she could keep it all in because it helped solve her newest problem. It outdid any problem from before.

 And there were a lot of them.

As she listened to her family on the other side of her bedroom door she wished they would just go away and leave her alone. Let her succumb to her mistakes. It would make things easier for so many people.

One more knock before a loud racket. They broke the door down.

“Elle, we have to go now. They’re waiting,” Elle’s mother said.  It pained her to see her daughter like this. She couldn’t stomach it. Every time she looked at her it took her back to when she was a little girl with the most incredible smile, a laugh that never went away and so much energy.

This wasn’t her daughter. She was just the shell of what once was.

“I’m not going,” Elle said, covering her face, she dropped her head against her arm and closed her eyes and started to cry. Just in time for her brother, Nick, to come into the room.

He was older. He cared about her, but it hurt to see someone he was so close to fall apart. He didn’t know how to help her anymore. But he wanted to say goodbye.

He dropped to one knee and pulled her tangled hair from the toilet water. She reeked of booze. Her skin was cold and clammy and she looked like death.

 He patted her on the arm. “Elle, come on. Let me help you to the car.”

She sobbed even louder when he brought her to her feet.

The family helped Elle down the stairs, through the hallway of their upper-class home, and down the porch steps. Her parents kept their eyes glued to the yellow cab outside their house that waited for Elle, they refused to look at the neighbors as they judged her and made snide comments.

Nick raised his head high, he refused to break under so much pressure. He glared at Mr. Hopkins as he sprayed his rose bushes. He held back the urge to flip him the bird, or break something-- instead he squeezed Elle’s hand before she climbed into the backseat, her sobs hurt his ears as she begged them to let her die.

Elle groaned as her mother hoisted her upright, and buckled her seat belt for her. She smoothed her hair and placed a soft kiss on her temple.

“I love you, Elle,” she whispered.

Elle didn’t answer. She didn’t have it in her. If she loved her she wouldn’t let her go this way. She would let her go the way she wanted.

Her mother wiped her tears, and did her best to keep it together in front of the neighbors.

Her daughter made quite the mess. She knew how they felt. She sometimes felt the same.

Elle‘s bad choices took her away from them. And no one knew where to find her. She was captive-- a prisoner in her own skin; she clung to her sanity the one way she knew how. She closed her eyes when Nick pulled her in for a hug, and let him squeeze her tight.

They just wanted her back, the girl who used to laugh.

The Wingless series has come back!

For those of you who do not know, the Wingless Series is back. And it has been revamped. I even have the cover for book 2 in the series now. So in honor of my favorite series that I ever wrote I want to share the book covers and the link to book 1.

For a few days the first in the series will be free. So grab your copy and let me know what you think. Thanks so much everyone for all of your support!

Grab a copy of Book 1 for free on Amazon!

Meet the author: Brandy L Rivers

Author Biography - Brandy L Rivers

 I was born and raised in Washington State. I love the rain, my husband and my three kids. My seven year old wants to write and illustrate her own story. I'm trying to motivate her to actually do it. My mom is my hero, she helped keep me going with writing. Hell, she even helps in the editing process. What can I say, other than Mom rocks.

1) Tell me about yourself. 
 I'm a happily married stay at home mom with three awesome kids. They are 5, 7 and 8, so they curb my natural potty mouth. At least when I write, my characters can swear all they want. Seriously though, I love the little diva, princess, and my little bookworm.

 2) When did you first consider yourself a writer? 
 Always. At least I've been writing forever. I didn't manage to finish a full story until 2008 and I have a ton of stuff I have written, but not ready for public consumption yet. I finished this story a year ago, and put it aside for awhile, then came back to it after starting the next two in the series. And now I'm finishing up the prequel. Yeah, I totally did things backwards but Fallon was front and center and who I had to write about first and foremost.

 3) What Inspired you to write your first book?
 The first one I managed to write beginning to end was in 2008, but it has some serious flaws, and I need to figure out what to do with it.

 4) What books have influenced your life the most?
 Honestly, not sure. I read a little of everything but I don't relate it to life. I just like the stories.

 5) If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? 
 Man, that's tough. There are so many things I like about so many different authors, I'm just not sure. Just one, maybe HP Mallory for the simple fact she was probably the first indie author that I read and realized she was an indie author. After finding that out, and looking a little deeper into her story I decided to give self-publishing a go.

 6) What book are you reading now? 
 The Boomerang Effect by Lindy Spencer, and one that isn't published yet but will be soon.

 7) What do you like to do when you're not writing? 
 Taking the kids to the park, swimming, or whatever just to get the kids out and playing. Read a good book. Have stimulating conversation.

 8) Where do you get your ideas for books?
A very overactive imagination and music.

 9) What new author has grasped your interest? 
 I can't pick one. There's Lindy Spencer who weaves a good mystery. LJ Baker who I can honestly say wrote a YA that kept my interest with Save Me. And Melanie Codina who wrote Love Realized which is a very heartfelt tale you can easily relate too.

 10) If you couldn't be an author, what would your ideal career be?
 I'd probably run a cafe somewhere.

 11) What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
 Oh man, wow. Probably one, because so much is happening right off the bat in In Too Deep, and it sets the tone for the rest of the book.

 12) Why do you feel you had to tell this story? 
 Fallon, what else can I say? Oh and Brody, because once I had the idea for Fallon, Brody wouldn't go away. I wanted to tell the story my way with my characters. Fallon is a ballsy, independent tattoo artist and druid. She's done with men and drove away from her old life. Brody is a werewolf with a sexy southern drawl and looks a little like a surfer with his shaggy blonde hair. The best thing about him, he knows what he wants and he's perfectly fine with his woman kicking more ass than he does, and he can kick ass.

 13) Can you tell us about your upcoming book? 
 So I did things backwards. I wrote In Too Deep, but the further I got into it, the more her best friend developed. I always knew Jess was a werewolf and psychic, but as the blanks were filled in, she sort of earned her own story. And well, Slater too. New Beginnings takes place two years before In Too Deep and you get to know why Jess moved up in the first place, and how she wound up with the Alpha. I haven't set a firm date, but I will have it ready in July, probably late July. It won't be as long as the first book, but it's not as short as I expected either. I already have the next two half written, but I won't say more than Hayden is the next book.

 14) How do you market your book?
 I didn't do much at first. I'm trying more now. I hit publish on April 15th, but was sort of chicken to start sending it to the reviewers. Around the April 29th, I started contacting reviewers and sending them the book. I tweet it once or twice a week. I do keep my website and my facebook updated. That's really about it so far. I'm not a best seller or anything, but I'm gaining a few fans. I'm still new at this and figuring it all out.

 15) Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
 Just do it. Seriously, sit down and write. Then get a few friends or even strangers through various sites to read your book and give you feedback so you can more effectively edit. Then edit until you can't stand it, put the book down for a week, then do it again before publishing.

 Synopsis - Fallon is a brilliant tattoo artist with inherent magic. Tired of men and their games, she climbs onto her Harley and leaves her old life behind. Brody is a talented motorcycle mechanic and werewolf stuck in his painful past. It’s just another depressing night until he’s attacked by vampires. Thinking he killed them, he runs into the night and crashes into Fallon. Unwilling to walk away from anyone in need, she heals Brody and then takes out the vampires who aren’t as dead as he thought. Her past collides with the present, and she finds herself stranded in Edenton, Washington where an old friend lives. With no ride and no real plan, she winds up staying in Brody’s empty apartment. Feeling alive for the first time in years, Brody is determined to claim Fallon’s heart and keep her safe from the shadows in her past. However, she prides herself on her independence and would rather keep him safe, even from herself. With the impending danger from the group of vampires and dark images  they will have to work together. The closer they get, the harder it is for her to fight her attraction. Be prepared for monsters, magic and lots of ink.

 Excerpt - A breeze stirred Brody out of his slumber. The pain was gone, the burning gone, and he was buck-ass naked on the pavement. What the hell? Then he remembered crashing into her bike, the angel who healed his wounds and gave him peace he hadn’t felt in years. The vampires. Shit. Brody slammed back into awareness and bolted upright as he searched for her. He had been outside the bar getting ready to run when he was attacked by a male and female. He hoped he killed them because he didn't want them going after his savior. His gaze locked on her. Angel? Make that fallen angel because her motorcycle leathers fit her like a second skin. Her long red hair blew in the wind and she looked wicked pissed as she glared into the tree line. He couldn’t hear or smell anything out of place, but she sure as hell sensed something coming and she looked determined to tear whatever it was apart. A raven haired vampire streaked out of the woods and ran straight for the woman with a blood curdling screech. Brody had twisted her head completely around. He couldn’t figure out how the hell she was up and moving. He roared and ran for the vampire, but slammed into a wall of nothing as he promptly slid to his knees. Desperate to stop the vampire, he threw all of his strength into beating his way through the barrier, and got nowhere. The redhead didn’t even spare him a glance. She just dropped to her knees and brought her hands up over head as a wall of earth rose around her to form a dome. The vampire ran straight into the earthen wall and fell back in convulsions as if struck by lightning. Brody saw the crack in the wall the same time the vampire rolled to her hands and knees. She must have seen the weakness because she shot up from the ground and blurred straight for the crack. Feeling useless, Brody shouted. “Watch out, she’s going to bust through.” The dome shattered, but his angel was incredibly fast with a glowing blade, slicing straight through the vampire’s neck, sending the head rolling his way. He couldn’t figure out where the dagger had come from. There was no room to fit the blade under her leathers. The severed head hit the invisible barrier with a wet thunk, and he glanced down to see smoke rising from the smoldering neck. When he looked up, the rest of the body disintegrated into ash, blowing away on the wind as the empty clothes fell to the ground. Then he really looked at the redhead and his heart slammed against his ribs. Even covered in blood and ash, she was breathtaking. The light of the moon caught in her brilliant red hair when she tossed it over her shoulder. Her pale skin glowed and her vibrant green eyes sparked as her gaze locked with his.

 Links - 

Diesel Ebook 

 Amazon

Amazon UK 

 B&N

Is it real?-- Book boyfriends

So, recently I have been thinking about books, and about what makes me want to read them. I admit I am a huge book snob. I can only read a book if it has one of three things.

1. A bizarre, shocking, romantic or quick paced story line.
2. A steamy relationship with a ton of dysfunction.
3. Not a ton of details and humor.

And then I ask myself what do these three things have in common? And that's when I come up with the idea that it is the characters.

So now, I say, do we believe in book boyfriends? Is there someone in a story that just makes you swoon? I think we all have this. I read Becca Fitzpatrick's work and just loved Patch. I found myself smiling like a little schoolgirl, totally smitten.

I think the problem with book boyfriends, we as the reader develop a violent connection and we have these emotions that explode at the drop of a dime. We get extra sensitive about the circumstances in the stories, we feel, we cry, we freakin love them.

I think that is the fun of reading any book. You want to read about this creation and enjoy them so much that your world is shattered if any harm comes to them. You want to feel for them, even if they are the smutty bad boy or the arrogant jock, slobberin werewolf, snobby vampire, you get my drift.

I love writing books and hearing about my characters in a review. I love creating a character so stunning that somebody develops a fictitious crush on them. I love the joy of reading a good book.

Sunday Funday Director's note's: Perfectly Hopeless

I stumbled upon a cool blog idea. Letting the reader into my ideas behind chapters or the stories I write. So enjoy this little peek into the world of Maven from Perfectly Hopeless.

Maven is a young girl, heading back to her family's summer home after her very public breakup with her boyfriend, Jake Summit. Like anyone in life she is hurt, still dealing with her old wounds and debating whether or not it's the right thing to be doing.

When I wrote the beginning of Perfectly Hopeless, I imagined Maven, I could feel the dread in her stomach as she got close to her summer home. How vulnerable she felt. 

I wanted to give the reader a quick hello when it came to her family, I like to introduce main characters early on most times that I write.

In Perfectly Hopeless I saw Maven as a sweet, young girl with that simple naive way about her. She knows life isn't perfect, but she wishes it was. She's not much different than any of us in life. Though she may come off a bit prudish and innocent she can handle a lot when she has to.

And what's in store for her ends up being so beautiful, an experience like none she ever had before when she meets Henri. 

I'm not sure, nor have I asked how Henri and Maven come across to readers. But as for me, I wanted the connection to be innocent, simple and sweet. I wanted to take all the complication and paranormal out of most books that I write and just write a story about love.

I was touched emotionally while watching a youtube video, and this is what sparked the idea further for my book. I feel I found that video at the right time, because it took my story idea and painted it beautifully. I won't say what video it is because I feel it gives away the story.

But I will share with you the celebs I had in my mind for the two main characters in my story. If you get a chance to read it, let me know if you feel the same about them.

             

              Maven                                                                                       Henri

Summer time

This would be her summer. She swore it. The summer life would go from devastating to incredible. Maven stared out of the window as her parents gossiped in the front seat about Claudia, their too confident neighbor with more money than the entire town.

She closed her eyes dropping her head back against the leather seat, her golden blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. Maven,  a young woman full of hope. She never went to bed without reflecting on all she wished would happen for her.

Portwood , the setting of their summer home. Every home carefully nestled between giant willow trees. A small town right outside the lake. Maven’s family went every year during the summer. A home full of memories for all of them, a place you sat back and smiled about when you thought about all the good times you experienced. It would always be magical.

 “I wonder if Jake is going to be there,” Nick, her older brother said. Doing his best to tease Maven from her spot in the family car, Nick knew Maven prayed for the opposite. After their messy breakup she didn’t ever want to lay eyes on him again. Jake was a jerk. And the entire family knew it.

“I don’t know and I don’t care.” After the tears she cried over a guy like Jake she meant what she said. And now the family’s annual vacation was sounding less exciting and more torturous to her. She shrank down in her seat as the Portwood welcome sign whizzed by the window.

Mom shot her a sympathetic smile.

“Everyone who is anyone is at Portwood for Summer vaca,” Maggie her younger sister said, tearing off her sunglasses to gain better view of all the younger guys as they carried beach towels and coolers on their way to the lake.

“I don’t think the Maves considers Jake Summit anyone anymore,” Nick smirked. He leaned forward, clamping down on Maven’s shoulder. “If he gives you any trouble you just let me know. I’ll rough him up for you.”

Their mother shot a concerned look in both of their directions. She knew just how Nick’s temper could get sometimes. It wasn’t funny. “Nicky, you remember what we said.”

Nick sighed, letting out the loudest grumble he could muster. “I know, I know. No more money for college if I lay a finger on Summit. That’s what family is for though, Mom.” He ran a hand through his shaggy brown mop of hair giving Maven a secret smirk.

Maven unfastened her seat belt, staring up at the family summer home. A modern two story brick home with white shutters and a huge wraparound porch, lush green grass with the perfect amount of shade and sun.

She refused to let Jake Summit ruin her summer.

Buy Perfectly Hopeless on Amazon

Don't we all?

Tough Love: Things I am sure I've screamed after a good book.

1. Why, what, how did this just happen?!!

2. If only I could morph into this book and get a better look at Mchotty.

3. It can't be over! I need to know if he's dead or I'll die!!

Read Ink!

Tuesday Teaser

The book is almost finished. And because of this I am giving all of you a wonderful teaser for this Tuesday's teaser. Try saying that three times fast.

Ink 3 is going to be a wild ride for all you Ink fans. I can't wait for all of you to read what chaos Hope has to deal with this time. I have enjoyed writing this book, and I can not wait until it's for sale for all the fans.

“But, Dad, what if this isn’t a fad?” I couldn’t believe he was so quick to brush it all under the rug.

“This is real life, Hope,” Dad said. “Witches don’t exist. Girls don’t fall in love with vampires. Everything is going to be fine.”

“If she really knows magic she needs to do a spell to adjust that shitty attitude she has all of a sudden,” Nona said. “I may not be a witch, but I will knock her right off that broomstick if she keeps this up.”

“Everything is falling apart.” I pulled at my hair in misery. “My life is just disintegrating right in front of me and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Look tinkerbell, this isn’t the place for you.” The guy said. “So why don’t you and gidget get the hell out of here.”

Karsen stepped back appalled. “Tinkerbell?” She balled her fist as if she was actually thinking about hitting him. 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the Ink bundle or Black moon!

Thirsty Thursday: Drunk Uncle editon

It's Thursday, the day I do some unedited rants about whatever I like. I hope someone is familiar with the above image. It's drunk uncle and he is great at his drunken rants. So here goes, once a week I will rant, emptying out my mind and soul about whatever I feel like. So enjoy!

Why is writing so easy to sit and daydream about, but when I sit down to actually do it I feel like I'm doing rocket science? How come it all sounds so good in my mind, but when its there on paper I am just confused on what it was I was even trying to say most times?

Names are so hard to come up with, I pick and choose my character's name's like I am naming my real children. Sometimes I just hate my character and no matter what I do I can never be nice to them. That leads to another thing, someone always has to die. If not die in my book someone has to go through hell and back several hundred times.

Why are people so into Vampires? This includes me. I swore I'd never fall for the trend, but its so deliciously evil that I can't take my eyes off of shows like Vampire Diaries and True Blood. 

Some days I sit and try to fathom a world where we didn't love the forbidden so much. And than I come to the realization that it would suck.

Why are some books loved so much and some so little? Why do I find myself pining over a really good read like its going out of style? Am I crazy?

Why do I strive to make people cry when I write?

Is it okay to dream about your book characters as if they were real? Because I did that just a few nights ago and it was so strange yet cool.

Is there even a point to my blog? I wonder who I am really reaching all the time. But even if I didn't reach anyone I would still write it, because I am forever that angst riddled teen that loves curling up and bleeding her emotions all over the pages.

Why does sadness make me feel happy when I write? Is it the reality that feels good? Or is it the rebellion that takes over?

That's all of my mindless rants for now. I have my baby sleeping in my lap and a book to write. Oh! Don't forget to enter the giveaway, I love seeing more and more entries and I love giving away free stuff for all you awesome people!

If you have any rants of your own you would like to share I would love to read them! Have a good night!

Ink Bundle Giveaway!!!!!

Want to read the Ink series? Haven't read the first? Enter the giveaway to get all three in the series! Tell your friends, tell the world, anyone who enjoys a good paranormal romance. Have fun!

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Ink 3 release date!

Good news! Black Moon has a release date. July 15th, and as an added bonus I am running a giveaway all the way up until my newest creation is in your hands! So enter to win and enjoy! There are some fun ways to enter!





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Read the series!

Sample Sunday: Ink 3

It's time for Sample Sunday! I missed a Sunday or two, I promise I will make up for it. Today I am going to share some of Ink 3 with everyone. Just remember this is raw and hasn't been edited yet. But enjoy what is to come! And remember the ebooks are available on Amazon, if you are interested in reading the series.

                                  

“Witches,” Nona said.  For the hundredth time since the bars of the jail opened and I was allowed to walk free.

“Witches?” Dad asked me. I climbed into the backseat of Claude’s car.

“Is there anything anyone else wants to say besides that word?” I asked.

Nona buckled her seatbelt. “I just don’t understand the accusations.” She was just as confused about the situation.

“I think if my daughter was stabbed last summer I would have known about it,” Dad shook his head.

I rubbed my temples in a slow circular motion. My head ached beyond anything I felt before in my life.

Everyone wanted answers. They also wanted the truth. But the truth was they wouldn’t believe anything I had to say about witches.

I stared out the window at all the picketers surrounding the jailhouse. Everyone was holding a sign that showcased the hatred for witches. Cherry was a full on battleground after Audrey tried to kill Tucker.

Once Tucker escaped and told everyone everything went from bad to worse. There was no escaping before they cuffed us and threw us in jail on ridiculous charges.

I looked at Nona, thankful she was rich and could get me out of jail. I didn’t know the first thing about surviving in such a place.

Claude was the only one being silent as we coasted down the main road back to my house. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I didn’t know what I would say.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to be taking her back to the beach house?” Claude asked. It was one of the first times I seen him say just about anything.

Dad sighed. “I think I can handle things. I will not let anyone lay a finger on my daughter.”

“Look what has happened so far, I don’t think you’ll have much of a choice,” Nona tossed in. She pulled down her visor and dropped her head back.

“Mom this is my daughter. I think I know what’s best for her,” Dad snapped.

I groaned. “You guys, calm down. We haven’t even made it home yet and you’re all freaking out. I’m an adult; I will choose what I want to do.” My fingers grazed my temples again.

But from the looks of my dad and grandmother I knew it was going to be hard to do.....

Enjoy!! Comment the blog to share your thoughts of Ink 3!

Read the series!

Sunday Sample

I have decided to designate Sunday for excerpts from the books that I am working on. So if your curious about what I am writing here is a sneak peek. Enjoy and always feel free to let me know what you think here on the blog, twitter, Facebook or my new website.

The project I am currently working on is a story about a girl sent to rehab. She is going through a lot and has lost her best friend. Without giving away a bunch I will share that she is the cause of her best friends death. The book is an adult romance. And so far I am really liking where it is going. I hope everyone else does as well.

So here you go:

She stood in front of him her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know why the thought of touching him was making her so tense, but it was.

“I can’t promise anything. And you can’t sue me,” she said, staring at his dark head of hair. The kind of hair that belonged to someone famous, the kind of hair you slipped your fingers through and tugged here and there.

She dropped her spray bottle.

“Somebody’s clumsy today,” Hart said a big grin on his face. His dark eyebrows rose in amusement, he kept his eyes on her as she tried to convince herself to touch him.

“I’m fine. Let’s get this over with.” She came a bit closer, he smelled amazing. And the way he was staring at her with those eyes, those brilliant eyes of blue, rimmed with dark lashes.

She ran her fingers through the front of his hair, brushing it back on his head. “What do you want?”

Hart was silent.

Elle tilted her head to the side. “Hello?”

“Sorry.” He blinked. “Do whatever you want to me. I’m sure you’ll make me look great.”

Elle bit her lip, spraying him with the spray bottle. She started to work, combing and cutting. Trying to remember everything that she had learned in hopes she didn't butcher him.

“Got any plans tonight?” Hart asked, he stayed still, letting her try her best. 

“I plan on going home and eating some of my mom’s famous spaghetti and meatballs and then probably going to bed,” she told him. She spun the chair.

“Sounds like a blast,” he said. “You’re never going to give in are you?”

“Probably not.” She looked over his hair, taking him by the chin to turn him the way she needed to get a better look. The scruff on his chin tickled her finger tips, his teeth grazed his bottom lip drawing her eyes to his mouth. He had an amazing set of lips.

“For once just be honest. Am I just not the kind of person you want to be associated with? Is it the rehab thing?” he asked.

Elle shook her head quickly. “No. Hart, it has nothing to do with that, it’s just me. I can’t hang out with you. It’s not a good idea.”

She was with Pauly and in a bad place in her life. She wasn't the girl to be anyone’s friend. She had a hard time being friends with the ones in her life already.

He wasn't saying anything. And now she felt even worse.

“Alright, I’ll be honest. I’m not doing okay. I've never been okay and all I want to do is make it through without another emotional breakdown. I can’t add anything to my life because I’m afraid it will crumble. And the idea of going back to that place I was in scares the shit out of me,” she said.

She dropped her scissors and comb on her station. “Anyways, I think you’re good to go.”

Hart took the mirror she was offering, but didn't look in it. “Looks great.”

“You didn't even look,” she said.

“I don’t care about my hair.”

She rolled her eyes undoing the collar of the cape. “Don’t do that, don’t worry about me. You did the same thing a long time ago.”

“Someone needs to worry about you. One time, just come hang out with me. And after that I’ll leave you alone,” he said. “If I make your life worse than it already is I’ll never bother you again.”

“Why are you so insistent on doing this?” She shook her head. “I’m a mess; you know this better than anyone.”

“So am I,” he insisted. “One time, come be a mess with me.”

“Fine,” she tossed the cape on her station. “One time. You’ll see how much of a mess I am and you’ll quickly go running for the hills.”

She hoped she didn't regret the choice she made. Because making choices was the hardest thing anymore.

Have a great Sunday!!

Saturday Surprise!

Saturday Sneak Peek


My eyes opened as soon as I heard him come through the door. He was home, but I quickly shut them and stayed warm nestled underneath Moms knitted Afghan. Dad set his keys down on the dining room table and settled into his favorite spot.
“Good your home,” Austin said from the recliner. He always woke up when Dad was getting home from a late shift. I swore any other time he slept like a rock.
Dad wasn’t one to discuss his career with me. I was a girl, I was extra sensitive to the ways of the world, as he put it. Austin was a grown man. He could handle hearing about all the gore.
“John Moore’s fixing that old barn finally, I hear he’s buying more horses,” Dad said.
“What happened out there?” Austin asked, if Dad was at the Moore’s it meant one of two things. John was dead or someone nearby was.
Dad was silent for a couple seconds. I opened my eyes just the slightest. Dad stroked the stubble on his chin. His sleek fingers came to a stop right before he began talking.
“It was the weirdest thing. We got out to the address, it was the house across the street from the Moore’s. The only thing I noticed was blood and a broken window.” Dad grabbed for the remote.
I squeezed my eyes shut staying still. No body. That was unheard of. I wondered what Dad thought about it.
“What about the neighbors,” Austin asked. “You guys are by the book. You had to have gone door to door to figure it out right?”
Dad cleared his throat. “Of course, but at any rate, it made my night shorter. Another dead body would have kept me up for days trying to find the suspect behind it.”
I scratched my nose, unable to keep still any longer.
“What are you doing listening?” Dad snapped. I sat up, snagging my pillow off the couch. I rolled my eyes heading for the stairs.
“I wouldn’t have to eavesdrop if you ever told me anything about what goes on around here,” I grumbled.
“Raven, some things are better left unknown. What good would it do for you to know how ugly this world is?” Dad asked. He said the same thing every time I tried to be included in his life.
“Being naïve gets a girl nowhere either. It gets them in trouble. That's what Mom used to say,” I stuck out my chin, giving dad a good stare and headed for the stairs.
I hit the light and crawled under the covers, staring at the moon as it beamed through my curtains, illuminating everything in its path. I loved the soft glow it made. It reminded me when I was little, when my Mom and I would sit on the porch and watch the fireflies at night. Her soft hair always tickled my shoulders when she hugged me. She smelled like flowers and cinnamon. It was the only memory I really had of her.
Mom was always trying to instill wisdom in me even when I was a little girl. Even before some of the rules applied, before I even knew any of it would mean anything to me. Now it all meant something.
I closed my eyes; the soft sounds outside easily lulled me to sleep.

Enjoy the weekend!

Celebrate Ink 2 release with me!

Want more Slade?

In honor of Ink 2 coming out this month, I will be giving away some Ink-related swag along with a free copy of Ink 2 to one lucky winner! If you haven't read the first and enjoy a good paranormal romance, check it out on Amazon.

Thanks everyone for the support! I wanted to do something fun for the release of Ink 2, so I have some cool swag that reminds me of Ink, along with a paperback copy of my favorite book. I can't wait to find out who gets to enjoy it!



I will be posting pictures of the swag soon! 


Happy reading!!

Holly Hood

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get ready for more Slade!

INK 2

Wanted to write a quick post about Ink 2. I am busily working on the last of the book so it can be ready by August for all you eager readers. I really hope everyone enjoys it as much as the first. And I would love to hear your thoughts right here on my blog.
Have a great summer! I am.

And for anyone who hasn't checked out Ink, the first in the series. Ink

Summer time

Its summer...a time for fun, sun and letting your hair down. So far, summer has been fabulous for me. I have already swam a couple times, actually plan on swimming today again. I have been thinking about my writing and how its came to a complete stall. I hope to get it rolling again, but it seems hard to jump back in. I have stories to finish and stories to start. Its hard sometimes, things have been busy.

My question to everyone is what books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Or what books are you currently reading?