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Sunday, October 28, 2018

Book reviews: The Crow Series by Kristy McCaffrey

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The Crow and the Coyote:

In Arizona Territory, Hannah Dobbin travels through CaƱon de Chelly, home to the Navajo, in search of a sorcerer who murdered her pa. Only when she retrieves the silver cross taken from her father's corpse will she be able to free her pa's spirit, and allow him to be at peace.

Bounty hunter Jack Boggs—known as Crow—is on the trail of a vile Mexican bandito when he discovers Hannah and her companion, a superstitious old Navajo woman. He knows he must protect them, but with the shadows of Hallowtide descending, more dark magic is at hand than any of them know.


My review:

Sweetly charming, Jack and Hannah's happily ever after is sure to please!

In the middle of a manhunt, Jack comes across Hannah and finds himself caught up in her own troubles. As they dance around the other while working together, their connection sparked and burned bright.

I loved watching their interactions and seeing Jack and Hannah fall for each other. So many times I caught my breath with the trouble they found themselves in and again when the sweet flowed off the page. 

With just the right amount of mystic and adventure, this novella packs a punch, delivering a charming love story.


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The Crow and the Bear:

Bounty hunter Callum Boggs—sometimes called Crow—arrives in the mining town of Silverton on a cold October day in search of a man who has committed unspeakable crimes. Skilled in the technique of dream scouting, Crow has narrowed the location of the criminal to Silas Ravine. No normal man would dare to venture into this region, where so many gruesome and unexplained murders have taken place—a piece of land forever haunted where Death still walks. But Crow is no normal man…

Jennie Livingstone knows her papa is in trouble. When none of the local men will come to her aid, she must accept a newly-arrived stranger—a half-Comanche bounty hunter—as her only ally. As they head into the mountains to track Jennie’s father, she can hear more than the whispers of man. The mines carry spirits, and her only hope in navigating the living and the dead lies with the Crow.

But is Jennie prepared for the consequences of where her fate with Callum Boggs may lead? And is she the woman who can hold fast to the Crow’s heart after all his years alone? Bewitched by the beautiful young woman, Callum must do everything he can to stay one step ahead of the spirits that can’t rest—just to keep Jennie and himself alive.


My review:


Mmmm mmmm!! Feel good fuzzies accompany the creepy in Callum and Jennie's story.


I loved how Callum just arrived on the scene in Jennie's time of distress and quickly proved to be the man to protect and care for her. I giggled with the way she quickly wound him around her finger and he humored her quirks. Jennie has a unique presence and heart within her, with how in-turn to the world around her as she was. This softness made her especially charming.

With some surprising twists and lots of unnerving second guesses, The Crow and the Bear is sure to do the trick for a short, easy, sweet and fun Halloween story!


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A Murder of Crows:

Bounty hunter Kester “Kit” Boggs, along with his brothers, tracks and destroys the vilest of men, both from this world and the next. With a Scottish and Comanche lineage, his connection to the supernatural is tied directly to the crow. For too long, he’s been hunting El Viejo del Saco, a demon known as The Bag Man who feeds on the blood of children. A rumor leads Kit to the Mexican frontier, where he must find a man called Hamish Kerr. But with Hallowtide descending, Kit has lost his ability to hear spirits, and his only hope is a woman whose family is a sworn enemy to the Boggs’ clan.

Eliza McCulloch’s ancestors hail from Scotland, her clan carrying an ancient curse and a warning—a McCulloch may never bind herself to a Boggs. When Eliza learns that Hamish Kerr stole her family’s book of spells, the McCulloch Grimoire, nearly two decades ago, she sets out to reclaim it. Often called witch, she possesses a unique skill to open doorways to the other side. But when she finds herself beholden to a Boggs for protection, her abilities take an unexpected turn.

As Kit and Eliza unearth far more than a stolen book, they must work together if they are to survive. But with the past pushing into their future, can they resist the growing desire between them? Is it possible for a Boggs and a McCulloch to find lasting love? Or will defeating the demon separate them forever?


My Review:

With a little bit of magic and a little bit of eerie, Kit and Eliza's story enchants!

I loved getting to meet Kit and Eliza and see their determination and personalities separately, because once they set eyes on each other... you can just feel the intensity and connection between them. They compliment each other so well, but you don't even understand how deeply that runs right away.

I loved how strong Kit was, not just physically, but mentally, and how gentle he treated Eliza. He didn't let anyone or anything get in his way once he knew what he wanted.

Eliza... oh! I'd love to have some of her spirit and mettle and heart! Either that, or I want to be her best friend and be along for the ride with her!

If you're looking for an enjoyable novella that gives you a taste of otherworldly magic along with a thrilling romantic story, this is a book to try!

Purchase Link:

          

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Book review: The Darker Side of Goodness by Cheryl Pierson

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Blurb:

When Jack Daniels goes into the local bar for a drink on Halloween, he meets Christian Lightfoot, a demon who shows him the truth about his wife Ashley’s infidelity. Jack learns he’s about to become the recipient of a large inheritance, and his wife has plans for it—plans that don’t include him. Will he live in spite of her evil plot to murder him, or will he choose another path…and walk upon The Darker Side of Goodness?

My Review:

Thought provoking and twistedly interesting little short story. You feel Jack's world finish its crumbling descent to the darkest depths of betrayal. Trying to decide what to believe and how important knowing the deepest truth can be a difficult decision with heavy consequences.

While there is heartache and anger and a thread of suspended disbelief wrapped into the story, there is also a touch of twisted justice and redemption and revenge that makes the story complete.

Purchase Link:

Friday, October 26, 2018

Book review: Night of Magic by Stephanie Burkhart

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Blurb:

Night of Magic…Samhain—Dark…Dangerous…Powerful…The year is 800 A.D. on the Emerald Isle, and Prince Jasper is determined to regain that which has been lost to him.

Five years past, Princess Aithne was taken from her father, Prince Jasper, by the forces of the Other World. On Samhain, the veil between the worlds is thin, and can be breeched more readily—especially if one walks amid the ceremonial bonfires.

When Princess Aithne disappears, her father vows every year to bring her back. He tempts many champions with a chest of gold, but only one man can succeed.

This year, Finn is determined to lay claim to that treasure, but to do so, he must tempt Fate. Will he survive his journey to the Other World to bring the princess back? Will he dare follow his heart? Or will greed determine what lies in store for him on this NIGHT OF MAGIC?

My review:

Talk about goosebumps, surprises, and interesting -- Fin and Princess Aithne's story was totally unexpected! I was hooked into the tale right away, thinking I knew what I was gonna get, and each time I learned something new about the characters or the situation, I was trapped even more and couldn't stop reading! I can't say too much more without spoiling the fun, so... if you're looking for a quick, unique, lightly unearthly story to escape into, you've found it!

Oh, and can we just say-- isn't that cover gorgeous swoony?  haha! 

Purchase link:

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Ghosts, Graves, and Time Travel Along the Little Bighorn

Little Bighorn Battlefield

October 2017
We're standing on the top of a hill, my husband and I, looking down to where the Little Bighorn River winds through a ravine. This is the spot where Custer's men had been driven back by the warriors, preventing them from fording the river into the Indian camp full of women and children. The intense fighting that took place is hard to reconcile with the serenity of the place now. The sky is immense and bright blue. We're surrounded by fields of tall, golden grass. The landscape is so free of distraction that we watch the shadows of the clouds overhead snaking across the grass.
But suddenly, the peace is disturbed. I hear them before I see them: thundering hoof-beats coming right at us. The ground shakes under our feet as a herd of horses runs right past us, heading down the hill toward the river. 
I get a chill up my spine. This is one of the many sounds you would've heard that day in late June, 1876 if you'd been unlucky enough to have been a solider under Custer's command standing in this spot.

Horses roaming the park

When gold was discovered in the Black Hills and white settlers started pushing into Indian territory, conflict was inevitable. The US government set about to solve the Indian problem.
In what would turn out to be a last hurrah, a combined force of Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota Indians gathered in one large camp under the great chiefs Sitting Bull, Gall, and Crazy Horse. The exact number of Indians is debatable, but there were thousands--perhaps as many as 8,000, with the camp stretching out over 3 miles along the Little Bighorn river.
Now, imagine you're a green solider (many of Custer's men were immigrants from Germany and Ireland who hadn't seen much frontier action until this day) and you come over a rise to see that vast camp spread out before you. I often wonder what thoughts ran through those men's heads as they realized they faced almost certain death--and there was going to be nothing peaceful about it.
Not only were the soldiers outnumbered, they were out-gunned. Recent archaeological work on the battle field, recovering spent shells, showed the Indians had superior fire power having repeating rifles. The soldiers were armed with single-shot Springfield rifles. Take a second and think about that. They had to reload after every shot--with thousands of warriors pouring out of the camp coming straight at them.
One misconception about the battle that is that the whole 7th cavalry was wiped out. It was not. The companies under Reno and Benteen fought elsewhere along the river, unaware of the fate of the 200 plus men fighting under Custer.
There were no survivors in the five companies under Custer that day. The battle ended quickly. One Crow chief said, the battle was over in "about as long as it takes for a hungry man to eat his dinner."
Days later, a group of soldiers came across the bloated and badly mutilated corpses of Custer's men. But fearing further attack, the detail only had time to cover the bodies as best they could, sticking tepee poles in the ground to mark the shallow graves. If a man could be identified, his name was written on a slip of paper and inserted in a shell casing. Some remains were never identified.
It took five years for those dead to get a proper burial. Storms and harsh weather kept churning the bodies up to the surface so that the ground was littered with the bones of men and horses. At some point white marble stones replaced wooden markers, which in turn came to replace tepee poles, which marked the spot where a soldier fell.




Where They Fell

Take a closer look at the miles of golden grass and you'll begin to pick out the white markers scattered around. Clustered together in some places, standing alone in others where a lone soldier either fled or fought for his life. It's a sobering sight, these seemingly endless and identical rectangles of white marble.
Only one marker is singled out. Captain Myles Keogh's marker, in the midst of his men, is flanked by flags. Born in Ireland, he fought in the Papal army in Rome before joining the Union Army in America during the Civil War. If you view Custer as the anti-hero, by contrast Keogh is remembered for his valor and decency. Incidentally his was the only body to not suffer ritual mutilation, which is one of the unanswered questions of the battle. One theory is he fought with such bravery, he earned the respect of the warriors. Native American accounts of that day single out an officer fitting Keogh's description. Keogh's horse, Comanche, though wounded, survived and was treated like a hero until his death in 1891. 
(There is some debate about the treatment of Custer's body after the battle, which is also sometimes said to have been left untouched. But, details of the mutilation he suffered may have been downplayed to spare his widow. But one story passed down is that Indian women put needles in his ears so that he might hear better in the next life.)

M.W. Keogh, Capt, Co 1, 7th Calvary, Fell here June 25, 1878

During the battle, Custer was pushed back to take up a defensive position on what would be called Last Stand Hill. There he and his men, sheltering behind a breastwork made from their dead horses, fought to the death. Custer's marker is distinguished by a black shield. He's not buried here, incidentally. His body was re-interred at West Point.

Last Stand Hill, Gen. Custer's Marker

It wasn't until 1881 that all the human remains were gathered and buried in one mass grave. A monument over the grave sits on top of Last Stand Hill. Though human bones continued to turn up in recent times.

7th Calvary Memorial

 While all these attempts to properly bury the white soldiers was going on over the years subsequent to the battle, the Indians were quietly remembering their fallen heroes in their own way. Stones cairns were placed to mark the spots warriors died. These warriors are known as the "Suicide Boys." The night before the battle 24 Sioux and Cheyenne vowed to fight to the death in the next battle with US soldiers and participated in a ritual--not knowing that the 7th cavalry was moving toward them at that moment. For decades the pact made by the Suicide Boys was a secret the Indians kept to themselves.
Attitudes about the park have changed along with its name from Custer Battlefield to Little Bighorn Battlefield, and in 1999, red granite markers replaced the stone cairns.

"A Minnikojou Lakota Warrior Fell Here On June 25, 1876 While Defending The Lakota Way Of Life."
Because we no longer think of this a tragedy that happened to General George Armstrong Custer, there is now a memorial to the tribes that fought that day. The park now acknowledges there were two sides to the conflict.

Indian Memorial, designed by Oglala Sioux artist Colleen Cutschall (alias Sister Wolf) 

And lest we forgot the other lives that were lost that day...

All the Horses

In 1886 the Custer National Cemetery opened on the edge of the battlefield for the burial of known and unknown veterans of our nation's wars and other distinguished individuals, among them men, women, children who died on isolated frontier posts, Indian scouts, and Medal of Honor recipients.

Custer National Cemetery

Buried here is one of Custer's Crow scouts, Curly. When the scouts came back with reports that there was the biggest Indian encampment they'd ever seen, Custer ignored them. Curly did not. He decided today was NOT a good day to die and took off. He survived to an old age, living in a cabin near the battlefield. (His cabin has been moved to Cody, Wy, Old Trail Town)

The Grave of Curly, Crow Scout 

Ghosts and such:

The Little Bighorn Battlefield is an atmospheric place, full of vibes on it's own, but with Halloween around the corner, let's talk about some of the ghosts stories.
If you don't believe in ghosts, fine. But, if you do...Of course, this place is haunted! If you had to make a recipe for hauntings this is it: sudden violent death, that release of intense energy into the scene, disturbed burials, body parts separated from buried, and then reburied bodies, and sad tales of heroism and lives cut short.

A lot of the weird happening seem to occur at the Stone House sitting on the edge of the cemetery. In the early years this building, which is now a library, housed the superintendents of the cemetery and later park staff. Bodies were stored here before burial...so, there's that as well.

The Stone House
The neighboring Crow called the superintendents of the cemetery "Ghost herders." They thought when the superintendent lowered the flag at dusk, it was the signal to the spirits to come out, and when he raised the flag in the morning, it was the cue to go back to their graves.
Among the strange things that happened at the stone house are lights that go on and off by themselves on the second floor and heavy footsteps on that floor when nobody is up there.
One man woke up to feel the his bed sink as if someone sat down there. When he sat up, he saw the torso of a soldier, sans head and limbs, walk across the room and through the wall.
Another woman reported waking up one night to find a soldier with a handlebar mustache and an anguished expression on his face sitting at the kitchen table as if he were trying to convey to her the horror he'd witnessed. The next day while getting a tour of the grounds she heard the story of Lt. Benjamin Hodgson who was killed on the banks of the river after his horse was shot out from under him. With a broken leg, he grabbed onto the stirrup of another passing horse and managed to cross the river, only to be shot dead on the other side. Curious about him, the woman asked to see a picture of Hodgson. When she was shown the picture later, it was the man who sat at her table the night before.
To me, one of the creepier stories at the Stone House involved a TV. The wife of one of the staffers was watching TV when the screen went black and a voice came out of the TV repeating, "second floor, second floor."
Apart from the Stone House, soldiers have been seen wandering around the visitor center, passing through walls and such.
A Crow woman who lived near by and was out one night saw two warriors in full battle regalia on horseback on the top of a ridge. One even sat up in his saddle to get a better look at her. Were they two of the Suicide Boys? She thought so.
The strangest story by far is the story of the disappearing tourist. A cab driver from New Orleans went missing for a couple of hours. He resurfaced ashen and terrified, claiming he had been transported back in time to the day of the battle.

Have you been to the Little Big Horn Battlefield or any other place that evoked strong emotion in you?

(all pictures courtesy of the author)













Thursday, October 18, 2018

New Release — NIGHT OF MAGIC by Stephanie Burkhart

Night of Magic…Samhain—Dark…Dangerous…Powerful…The year is 800 A.D. on the Emerald Isle, and Prince Jasper is determined to regain that which has been lost to him.

Five years past, Princess Aithne was taken from her father, Prince Jasper, by the forces of the Other World. On Samhain, the veil between the worlds is thin, and can be breeched more readily—especially if one walks amid the ceremonial bonfires.

When Princess Aithne disappears, her father vows every year to bring her back. He tempts many champions with a chest of gold, but only one man can succeed.

 This year, Finn is determined to lay claim to that treasure, but to do so, he must tempt Fate. Will he survive his journey to the Other World to bring the princess back? Will he dare follow his heart? Or will greed determine what lies in store for him on this NIGHT OF MAGIC?

EXCERPT

     "Darkness is coming."
     Finn Breifne sat on the bed polishing his sword. Glancing up at his friend, Kellis, he winked. "I know it is."
     Kellis walked to the window and drew back the drapes, gazing onto the open field. The sun dipped below the horizon casting deep orange, rust, and grey shadows over the land.
     Finn continued with his task. He was the finest fighter this side of the isle, and he wasn't prepared to shy away from the prince's challenge.
     Samhain marked the start of the darker half of the year. The people in this part of the country celebrated with a festival of the dead. Every night for a week there was drinking, whoring, and bonfires. Cows walked between roaring pyres of fire as part of a crazy cleansing ritual. The boundaries between this world and the dark, mystical world of spirits were considerably weaker on this eve, the high night of Samhain.
     Finn didn't believe in magic or gods. He was here for one thing – to collect the nobleman's daughter. Upon her safe return, the prince would give him a chest full of gold and silver. He'd grown up poor, and was sick of living from town to town scraping by as a sellsword. Now, he was going to do something for himself. Was he greedy? Some might think so, but Finn was tired of wandering and he wanted a better life. He wanted to find a wife, raise a family, and not worry about finding work to support them.
     Kellis turned away from the window. "The prince just arrived. They're goin’ to light the bonfire."
Finn stood. "Good." He sheathed his sword, forged out of the finest steel by one of the best blacksmiths in Dublin. He tightened the laces on his sheepskin boots and walked to the table before the mirror. Picking up his dagger, he tucked it into the holder on his belt.


Monday, October 15, 2018

Columbia, California’s Haunted Fallon House & Theater


Like many old towns that are not “ghost towns” because they are still in existence, Columbia State Park, a preserved California gold rush town in the western foothills of the Sierra-Nevada mountains has its share of ghosts. This post I am going to share a bit about the Fallon House and Fallon Theater


Remaining since the days of the California Gold Rush, the Fallon Hotel was built by an Irish stone cutter in 1859. Original owner, Owen Fallon expanded the hotel in 1863 by purchasing an adjoining building and later the Gunn Saloon. These three buildings became Fallon’s Hotel. Today, visions of the Gold Rush era are often seen in this historic building. Though smoking is not allowed, guests can often smell the odor, along with that of whiskey. A female apparition is often seen in Room 9, and in the theater lights seemingly turn on and off of their own accord and shadow images are often spotted.

Visitors and guests often comment on a strong odor of smoke in different parts of the hotel, although California does not allow smoking in any of its public buildings. Many feel it is reminder that during the course of its history, the building has burned down twice. Also, its owner, Mr. Fallon was known for smoking cigars. Guests also detect the smell of whiskey even though the saloon was replaced by an ice cream parlor long ago (a must-see place to stop by for a wonderful treat, by the way). During the remodeling, a phantom youth was often seen climbing through a back window. When the construction crew rushed inside, there never was anyone around.  They came to the conclusion it was a youthful spirit searching for a sweet treat.


Guests in Room #13 are often startled by a young woman wearing a Victorian gown who disappears as quickly as she appears. She moves from room to room. Also, a little boy has been seen in Room #3 and the second-floor hallway. He likes to play and takes other children’s toys and hides them. In Rooms #1 and #6, guests have seen shadowy apparitions. Strange noises and cold spots in the halls and guest rooms have lead visiting paranormal experts to conclude the building is definitely haunted.


The hotel and the Fallon Theater are the same building, so most guests don’t take much notice of the mustachioed gentlemen seen occasionally in the upstairs halls. They assume he is in costume and part of a play. The ghost of James Fallon has been seen roaming backstage and in the halls of his theater, usually wearing a top hat and a long coat surrounded by cigar smoke.

My one and only ghost story, Haunted by Love, is set across the Sierra-Nevada Mountains in Bridgeport, California. Known as the “White Lady,” she has been spotted many times in Room 16 of what was once the Leavitt House and is now the Bridgeport Inn. There is even a historical plaque bearing record of her. No one knows who she was, or any reason why she stays. However, I have my own theory, and it is included in my book.

To read the book description and find the purchase link for Haunted by Love, please CLICK HERE.



Sources:
Williams, Nancy K.; Haunted Hotels of the California Gold Country
http://fabulousfoods.com/articles/21946/true-ghost-stories-of-tuolumne-county-california

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Book review: Time Plains Drifter by Cheryl Pierson

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Blurb:

Trapped in Indian Territory in 1895 by a quirk of nature, high school teacher Jenni Dalton must find a way to get her seven students back to 2010. Handsome U.S. Marshal Rafe d'Angelico seems like the answer to her prayers: he is, after all, an Angel. In a race against time and evil, Rafe has one chance to save Jenni's life and her soul from the Dark One – but can their love survive? 4.5 Stars (Highest Rating) from Romantic Times Cheryl Pierson's fresh, well-crafted novel pits some unlikely heroes against evil incarnate. The characters are vibrant and tell a story of courage in difficult circumstances. An open thread invites a sequel. —Donna M. Brown Romantic Times

My Review:

Oh my goodness. What did I just read?!?! I wasn't prepared for what an amazingly twisted and intriguingly charming story Time Plains Drifter turned out to be! The combination of historical western and time travel, good vs evil, and adventure and romance had me captivated from the first page - which drops you right into the action and doesn't let up for a moment.

I don't recall reading a book that had this unique kind of world building in it - combining the supernatural with the natural and feeding you nuggets of truth for your soul along with emotional tidbits for your heart.

Rafe and Jenni blew me away with how powerful their connection to each other was, gifting the other with strength, acceptance, and love that they both so desperately craved. As much as this was Rafe and Jenni's story, it was also all about Cris and Rafe. Their brotherly love and devotion to each other, no matter the cost, hits you deep inside.

Throw in some surprising secondary characters in Beck, Cris, the kids - even Josiah - and the tangled webs continue to be weaved.

This book makes you think about how just one decision can ripple out and have untold consequences. How when it's all on the line, how much are you truly willing to risk to dream and protect and claim.

I'm hoping that someday we'll be able to see a sequel come out to tie up the couple of loose threads, but even without, the story of the d'Angelicos feels complete with enough foreshadowing to satisfy.

If you're looking for something to make you laugh, cry, cringe, cheer, swoon, and charm, you don't want to miss out on this deep and entertaining story. It's a perfect read whether you're young (older teen) or old, man or woman.

Purchase Link:
     




Thursday, October 11, 2018

New Release — A MURDER OF CROWS by Kristy McCaffrey (The Crow Series: Book 3)


Bounty hunter Kester “Kit” Boggs tracks and destroys the vilest of men, both from this world and the next. With a Scottish and Comanche lineage, his connection to the supernatural is tied directly to the crow. For too long, he’s been hunting El Viejo del Saco, a demon known as The Bag Man who feeds on the blood of children. A rumor leads Kit to the Mexican frontier, where he must find a man called Hamish Kerr. But with Hallowtide descending, Kit has lost his ability to hear spirits, and his only hope is a woman whose family is a sworn enemy to the Boggs’ clan.

Eliza McCulloch’s ancestors hail from Scotland, her clan carrying an ancient curse and a warning—a McCulloch may never bind herself to a Boggs. When Eliza learns that Hamish Kerr stole her family’s book of spells, the McCulloch Grimoire, nearly two decades ago, she sets out to reclaim it. Often called witch, she possesses a unique skill to open doorways to the Other Side. But when she finds herself beholden to a Boggs for protection, her abilities take an unexpected turn.

As Kit and Eliza unearth far more than a stolen book, they must work together if they are to survive. But with the past pushing into their future, can they resist the growing desire between them? Is it possible for a Boggs and a McCulloch to find lasting love together? Or will defeating the demon separate them forever?

EXCERPT
     She moved to the window and held the book up to the moonlight that offered slightly better illumination. The words were in Scottish Gaelic. Thanks to her mother and aunts, Eliza was well-versed in the language of her ancestors.

     A ‘nighean mar a mathair.
     Such mother, such daughter.
     Or, as Aunt Rose liked to say, Like mother, like daughter. It was an oft used phrase of Eliza’s upbringing.
     Exiting through the window, she clutched the book to her bosom and swiftly ran down an alleyway beside the building. Abruptly she halted, fear surging through her.
     A shadow shifted.
     She stood unmoving. Eliza couldn’t take her eyes from the form that slowly appeared.
     She blinked, not believing what she saw.
     A three-headed dog. And a large one at that, with its trio of fangs bared.
     Taking a step back, she prepared to flee but bumped into something. A man? It was the last thing she remembered.

Don’t miss all the books in The Crow Series:

Book 1: The Crow and the Coyote
Book 2: The Crow and the Bear
Book 3: A Murder of Crows


            

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

For Love of a Brystile Witch by Kaye Spencer – October #blogabookscene #westernromance #PrairieRosePubs #paranormalromance


Blog-a-Book-Scene is a monthly themed blogging endeavor from a group of authors who love to share excerpts from their stories. Find us on Twitter with the hashtag #blogabookscene and #PrairieRosePubs.

Since October’s blog-a-book-scene theme is Autumn/Halloween, I’ll share a witchy excerpt from my novelette For Love of a Brystile Witch.


Blurb

Mercy Pontiere is the last ‘daughter’ in a long line of heredity witches. Two hundred years ago, Reid Corvane’s ancestor condemned the “Brystile witch” to hang. On the gallows, she placed a curse of short life and great suffering on the men of the Corvane line.

As the years passed, unintended consequences developed that impacted both families.
If Mercy overcomes two centuries of generational hatred to find love and forgiveness for Reid, and if he returns her love, the curse will be broken. Mercy thinks time is her ally; Reid’s time is running out.

Love must find them by midnight All Hallows’ Eve, or the Brystile witch will claim the life of another Corvane man. Reid has thirty-one days and counting…

Excerpt

A throng of onlookers filled the area around the hanging site. Even when standing on tiptoes behind the crowd, all Mercy could see was the gallows platform and upper steps, which wasn’t at all interesting to her. She wanted to see Reid Leighton, not watch him die.

The local citizens knew Mercy well enough to overlook the eccentricities of the Harmony Spring women, so when she hiked her calico skirts above her knees, shinnied up a tree near the scaffold, and perched herself at the juncture of trunk and horizontal branch, few even noticed.
“Here he comes!”

The crowd hushed. As if the on-lookers were a many-headed, gigantic bird, they craned their necks to see over the people in front of them. Mercy had a close up, clear view from her perch. With arms tied behind his back, and flanked on either side by the valley’s two deputies, Reid Leighton approached the scaffold stairs with dignity and bearing. For a man whose solace had come from a whiskey bottle, his strides were remarkably steady. When he paused at the base of the plank stairs and gazed up at the gallows platform, she wished she knew his thoughts. What drove him to commit suicide by legal hanging? Was he sorry? Did he have dark secrets in his past? Had he known love and happiness? Did he leave a family behind? Would a woman mourn his passing?

Reid needed no urging to mount the steps and, in spite of herself, Mercy kept watching. He ascended with an easy gait, the ball of each polished boot touching lightly upon the next plank. Once on the platform, he turned toward the crowd, head bowed and hat brim throwing a shadow over his features. Sheriff Samuel Dunne and Axel Moser, the valley’s minister of twenty some years stood on either side of the condemned man, and the deputies took watchful positions behind them and off the trap door.

When Orlie Eidler drove up with the hearse, Mercy’s gaze wandered to the glass windows and the coffin that awaited the man’s body. A shiver crawled up her back, and her hand flew to the ribbon necklace tied to the small tatted bag that held her agate stone charm as she whispered hasty words of protection against the sudden chill. “By earth and stone, by flesh and bone, by moon and sun, ill luck undone.”

The sheriff’s voice rose above the crowd’s murmurings. “If you have any last words, speak them now.”

For the longest time, Reid didn’t move. The quiet in the street became quieter. A baby cried; a woman shushed it. The autumn breeze ceased blowing. Mercy held her breath, entranced by the scene playing out before her. When he lifted his chin, she sucked in a little gasp of pity. His eyes—such sadness—maybe it was regret. Whatever his pain, it was deeper than the prospect of leaving this life in a few minutes. Did he deserve to die like this? Alone? With no one here to mourn his passing? Certainly, she didn’t know, but she blinked away tears for him nonetheless.

His deep voice resonated through the silent streets. “I hold the world, but as the world…a stage where every man must play a part. And mine is a sad one.”

A gasp of sorrow at his utter hopelessness left Mercy’s lips and, as if he’d heard, he caught her gaze with his, holding it in a way that made her feel he was memorizing her face as the last tender sight he’d take with him to the grave.

Sheriff Dunne waited a few seconds for the man to say more. When nothing came, he addressed the crowd. “As the duly appointed legal authority in Dulcet Valley, I hereby declare this hanging to proceed this first day of October 1892. The condemned will hang by the neck until dead, and his body will be interred in the local cemetery with a gravestone bearing his name, birth, and death dates. As per his signed and witnessed last requests, his epitaph will read, Teach me to feel another’s woe. Reverend Moser will settle his debts and notify next of kin.”

Those words—

She knew the poem and went on in her head with the next lines…to hide the fault I see / that mercy I to others show / that mercy show to me. It was strange that the word mercy, her given name, would show up in duplicate at this moment. Two of any one thing meant balance, partnership or opposites, either way it meant a pairing of something. Since coincidences didn’t exist in her world, Fate was at work here. She swept a hurried glance around the area, searching for other signs she’d overlooked.

“Let it be known the Honorable Judge J. A. Swanson has authorized me to accept a plea of innocent and commute the death sentence.” He leveled a hard gaze on the condemned man. “Reid Leighton Corvane, this is your last chance to save your own life.”

What? A Corvane? Here?”

The words burst forth, loud and unbidden. Jolted, stunned to her bones, Mercy grabbed a better hold on the branch to keep her seat. So her months of conjuring had proven fruitful after all.



Available on Amazon.com
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Until next time,

Kaye Spencer








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Tuesday, October 9, 2018

New Release: A Murder of Crows by Kristy McCaffrey - October #blogabookscene @prairierosepubs

By Kristy McCaffrey

Blog-A-Book-Scene is a monthly themed blogging endeavor from a group of authors who love to share excerpts from their stories. Find us on Twitter with the hashtag #blogabookscene and #PrairieRosePubs.

October's theme is Autumn and all things spooky. It's my favorite time of year! This excerpt is from my upcoming BRAND NEW release, A Murder of Crows. This is Book 3 in The Crow Series, a collection of spine-chilling stories set during Hallowtide in the Old West. I hope you enjoy Kester and Eliza's supernatural adventure into a place called The Hallow, while trying to deny their growing attraction to one another.


Bounty hunter Kester “Kit” Boggs, along with his brothers, tracks and destroys the vilest of men, both from this world and the next. With a Scottish and Comanche lineage, his connection to the supernatural is tied directly to the crow. For too long, he’s been hunting El Viejo del Saco, a demon known as The Bag Man who feeds on the blood of children. A rumor leads Kit to the Mexican frontier, where he must find a man called Hamish Kerr. But with Hallowtide descending, Kit has lost his ability to hear spirits, and his only hope is a woman whose family is a sworn enemy to the Boggs’ clan.

Eliza McCulloch’s ancestors hail from Scotland, her clan carrying an ancient curse and a warning—a McCulloch may never bind herself to a Boggs. When Eliza learns that Hamish Kerr stole her family’s book of spells, the McCulloch Grimoire, nearly two decades ago, she sets out to reclaim it. Often called witch, she possesses a unique skill to open doorways to the other side. But when she finds herself beholden to a Boggs for protection, her abilities take an unexpected turn.

As Kit and Eliza unearth far more than a stolen book, they must work together if they are to survive. But with the past pushing into their future, can they resist the growing desire between them? Is it possible for a Boggs and a McCulloch to find lasting love? Or will defeating the demon separate them forever?

Available this Thursday (October 11) at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.


Excerpt from A Murder of Crows

“There are more of you?” Eliza asked.

Kester gave a nod. “But I’m currently alone.”

“Would you help me, Mister Crow?”

“Like I said, you can call me Kit. Why are you looking for Kerr?”

“Unfinished business.”

“Why would you get into bed with a Boggs?” He immediately regretted his choice of words, not only from the withering look Eliza cast upon him, but also because bedding her was a desire that had taken residence in his head, and he doubted it would leave anytime soon.

A Boggs is never to touch a McCulloch.

Kit set his jaw. It was definitely Granny in his ear. Hell of a time for her suddenly to confide in him. He bristled at the smug authority in her tone, transporting him back to his boyhood when Granny’s exasperation with him inevitably led to a rant.

“Kester, your stubbornness will lead you into trouble. I’m trying to help you. It’s my duty to teach you. Heed my warning, grandson.”

“I’m not offering you my body, Crow,” Eliza said, an edge to her words.

“What are you offering?”

“You’re a hunter of the night. I’ll pay you to help me track down Hamish Kerr.”

Leaning back in the chair, Kit stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankle. He almost laughed. This whole thing was going south, and fast. As much as he’d like to help the pretty McCulloch, she had no business going anywhere near Hamish.

“I’m afraid I’ve got my own agenda,” he answered. “You should let this go, and you should leave town as soon as possible.”

Eliza arched an eyebrow. “Let me get this straight. You tell me I’m incapable of handling this myself, but when I ask for your help, you say no.” She shook her head, her look dismissive. “Then I will leave.” She stood.

He immediately came to his feet, blocking her path to the door. “No.”

“You don’t want to bed me, and you don’t want to help me. I think we’re done here.”

How wrong she was on the first count, but he didn’t voice it aloud.

“Get out of my way,” she demanded. “I’ll find Kerr on my own.”

It would seem he wasn’t about to be free of the McCulloch siren after all. And despite the danger, a traitorous part of him was glad for it.

Kit brought his hand to her dark hair and lifted the strands spilling over her shoulder. The awareness between them was palpable. It pleased him that she didn’t pull away.

“Fine.” He watched her, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I’ll help you.”

“A McCulloch cannot bind herself to a Boggs,” she whispered, then raised her gaze, renewed once again with a flash of hard determination. “I offered to pay you, not to pleasure you.”

He didn’t bother to hide his grin, which soon turned into a full-on laugh.

Copyright  2018 K. McCaffrey LLC



Don't miss all the spooky and romantic tales in the series.

Book 1: The Crow and the Coyote (Jack’s story)
Book 2: The Crow and the Bear (Callum’s story)
Book 3: A Murder of Crows (Kit’s story)


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