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Friday, December 20, 2024

Beyond Earth by Stephanie Morris, Lola Blix, Celia Breslin, Leslie Chase, Candice Gilmer, Alina Riley, Robin O’Connor, Sky Robert


Celia Breslin’s Top Ten Sci-Fi TV Shows

Here are my picks for some binge-worthy TV science fiction.

1.  Firefly (2002 – 2003):  A space western with a great cast including the awesome Nathan Fillion and the hilarious Alan Tudyk.  Stellar humor, action, and sci-fi tech makes it a must-watch.

2. Resident Alien (2021 – present): Did I mention how funny Alan Tudyk is?  Why, yes, I did. If you haven’t seen his new show, it’s definitely worth a binge. Tudyk is an alien sent to kill all humans, but things don’t go as planned…

3. Orphan Black (2013 – 2017): A dark and gritty science fiction thriller about human cloning with Tatiana Maslany playing multiple, fascinating roles. A must-watch for dark sci fi fans.
 
4. The Umbrella Academy (2019 – 2024): Parallel universes, time travel, robots, aliens, superpowers, and unlikely heroes trained from childhood to save the world… Begin the binge!

5. The 100 (2014 – 2020): The Earth is gone, and 100 young adults are forced from their space ark and exiled on a hostile planet. Gripping, gritty, dark, and addictive.
 
6. Severance (2022 – present): A must-see sci-fi psychological thriller starring Adam Scott, about corporate greed and the dangerous technology used to control people via brain implants. Yikes!

7. Stranger Things (2016 – present):  Sci-fi horror at its finest. Creepy monsters from alternate parallel dimension, telekinesis, remote viewing, telepathy, and science experiments gone terribly wrong. If you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for? ;-)

8. The Expanse (2015 – 2022): Space travel, alien organisms, worm holes, bioengineering, terraforming, and more. Humans have colonized the solar system, but is that a good thing? Compelling, hard sci-fi worthy of a good binge.

9. Babylon 5 (1994 – 1998): Sci-fi space opera goodness. Follows the lives of fascinating characters (aliens and humans) aboard a space station operating as a sort of United Nations. Political intrigue guaranteed.

10. Doctor Who (1963 – present): One of the most bingeable sci-fi classics on TV today. Dive in anywhere and join the Time Lord Doctor as he regenerates every season and time travels all over the universe. Both heart-wrenching and humorous, the Doctor never disappoints.

Bonus Pick: Farscape! I know what you’re thinking: “It’s a top 10, Celia.” Well, yes, but I couldn’t resist giving you a little bonus show. Another sci-fi cult classic, (1999 -2003) with riveting alien characters and a lone human astronaut whose mission goes horribly, horribly wrong. A fun and fascinating series.


Beyond Earth
Stephanie Morris, Lola Blix, Celia Breslin, Leslie Chase, Candice Gilmer, Alina Riley, Robin O’Connor, Sky Robert

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance, Science Fiction Romance
Publisher:  Carnal Imprint
Date of Publication: December 10, 2024

Tagline: Discover passion among the stars…

Blast off to the future with this limited-edition collection of sizzling, science fiction romance stories!

Book Description:

Otherworldly seduction and intergalactic adventures await you in these high-heat, open-door tales from a diverse group of authors. Meet alien gladiators, cyborgs, AI lifeforms, psychic aliens, interstellar royalty, psy-changelings, fearless humans, and more. Visit alien worlds, travel on high-tech vessels, and immerse yourself in red-hot seduction blazing brighter than any quasar.
 
The Beyond Earth anthology is a pulse-pounding, toe-curling journey into the cosmos. If you enjoy out-of-this-world romance with guaranteed happily ever afters, lovers from different worlds, fated mates, enemies to lovers, grumpy-sunshine, rescue romance, and more, then you’ll love this treasure trove of spicy, steamy, futuristic stories.
 
Order your copy of Beyond Earth to begin your passion-filled voyage into the galaxy today!

Amazon      Apple      Kobo     BN      Google


Excerpt from “Claiming Kaden” by Celia Breslin

The station’s vid screen flared to life, blocking her view. A handsome and angry male face filled the space. The brightest amber eyes she’d ever seen glared at her.

“Stop shooting,” the man growled.

The face disappeared.

“Who the hell was that, Athena?” A Zyphorran? She ignored the gorgeous stranger and kept firing at the battleship.

The face reappeared. Dark brows furrowed over his blazing whiskey eyes. “Desist, woman!”

“Desist this, you jerk!” She shot at the enemy. Continued to miss. “Ugh!”

She didn’t care how handsome he seemed, with his pale, silvery blue skin and spiky dark hair, and those glowing eyes which looked like they could melt a girl’s panties.

No one told her what to do, and no one would force her into servitude.

Never again.

The green vessel took out two enemy ships before it planted itself in front of Calie’s station.

Angry Guy’s face filled her screen. “I’m trying to help you. Stop firing!”

Oh… Cranky Guy was the pilot of the green ship. Possibly a good guy? Calie lifted her hands away from the controls.

As she watched, he took out every single destroyer then turned his attention to the warship.

“Shield at eight point seven percent,” Athena announced. “Hm…”

“What do you mean, hm? Should we head for an escape pod?”

“This is most intriguing. And disconcerting,” Athena murmured, not answering her escape question.

“What, that guy’s amazing battle prowess?”

“No. He infiltrated and took over my communication system to speak with you.”

Okay, now Calie was doubly impressed with good-looking Mister Frowny, because Athena was a powerful genius. No one bested her.

Calie plastered her palms on the controls. “Let’s help him kick that warship’s ass.”

“Don’t you dare,” their unknown ally barked, audio only.

“Are you eavesdropping on us? Rude!”

“The unknown male is attempting to take control of all station systems, Calie.”

“Cut it out, whoever you are,” Calie warned him. She aimed one of the station laser cannons at his ship.

“Who I am? I’m the male who’s going to disable and commandeer the warship, then eliminate everyone on board it while you sit on your pretty ass and stay out of my way.”

He thinks I’m pretty? She shook off the frisson skating down her spine. “Screw you. I’m blowing up that warship. Athena, take it out.”


About the Author:

Celia Breslin lives in California with her husband, daughter, and three feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, the Fae, and cyborgs. When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to fantasy TV shows and movies.














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Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Author Advice from Andrés Rosas Hott- Author of The Harlequin's Legacy



Find something that genuinely inspires you and sparks your passion. 

Take the time to deeply explore that topic and uncover your unique perspective. 

You don’t need to start from scratch or reinvent the wheel—often, the best stories come from what you already know. Draw inspiration from your everyday experiences, as well as from other books, movies, art, plays, and the stories of people around you. 

For me, the character of The Harlequin has been a lifelong source of inspiration. I first encountered Commedia dell'arte when I was very young, and from that moment, The Harlequin seemed to appear everywhere—in paintings, sculptures, and throughout different forms of art. 

The key is to find what resonates with you and use that as the foundation for your story. Let your passion guide you, and the ideas will follow.


The Harlequin's Legacy
Book One
Andrés Rosas Hott

Genre: YA fantasy
Publisher: Red Moon Publishing 
Date of Publication: Oct 20, 2024
ISBN-10: ‎9198971506
ISBN-13: 978-9198971507
ASIN: 9198971506
Number of pages: ‎ 338 pages
Cover Artist: Ary Fajriyanto

Book Description:

Dare to dream. Dare to believe. Dare to embrace your legacy. 

In the enchanting land of The Vale, the grand city of Pivot stands as a beacon of innovation where scientific progress clashes with the now-dwindling beliefs in magic the place once held.

Just outside of Pivot, 17-year-old Pascal has spent his life at The Skystead Home for Orphaned Children. Life outside of the orphanage seems ceaselessly interesting, and shielded from the rest of the world, he wants nothing more than to explore. Already puzzled by unanswered questions about his past, Pascal’s concern deepens as he learns about a grim mystery of local children’s disappearances.

In pursuit of finding his place in life, Pascal is joined by Paloma—a street-savvy girl and former gang leader with a tragic past—and Pierrot—a silent, enigmatic companion. Together, the unlikely trio begins to sneak out of the orphanage to experience the one place that still embraces magic: the welcoming carnival.

As secrets come to light and begin to unravel, the truth unveils hidden strengths within each of the three young companions. Their fates become entangled with the lost souls, leading them to a terrifying truth that threatens the very foundation of their world. Their friendships are put to the test as they confront demons both within and outside themselves, drawing them closer to a sinister plot that can tear at the very fabric of their reality. 

Before they know it, their paths become profoundly intertwined with the fate of the missing children.

The Harlequin’s Legacy is a gripping tale of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery. Pascal, Paloma, and Pierrot trust in their inner courage and resilience in order to reach their true potential despite trials and tribulations. This story encourages everyone to dare to dream, to believe in themself, and embrace the legacy that awaits them.

Amazon      BN

Excerpt:

Pascal was late. Again. He stepped quickly over fallen logs and ducked low beneath swooping evergreen branches.   Though the wilderness was dense in this part of the forest, he navigated it with remarkable ease. His footsteps as light as a whisper over treacherous mossy rocks. With each exhale, misty clouds formed in the shake of his breath, the biting cold of winter creeping all the way through the thickness of his coat. He pulled his collar tighter to forbid the chill from entering even more.

Yet, as he walked, his mind strayed from his course, far from the natural beauty surrounding him.

He muttered under his breath as he walked over the gnarled roots, every step a cautious dance. He slipped and slid in his frequent eff orts to stoop under even more pointy twigs of evergreen that sought to block his path, to grab him as he passed. Pascal had taken this route countless times before, and today, that thought was a frustrating one.

After spending the majority of his life at the orphanage, he wanted nothing more than to leave, to see the world, to taste all that lay unseen and undiscovered. He would soon have that opportunity. Yet, knowing that he’d soon be graduating also left him uneasy.

Can I even handle surviving on my own? He wondered. I´ve always had the comfort of Mistress Alma and the orphanage to look after me.

The bittersweet longing left him conflicted and a little in secure, truth be told. How would he know when he was ready? What threshold would he finally cross?

The forest, usually a great source of comfort and solace, felt somehow different on this day. It seemed to be echoing his inner turmoil, causing him to lose all sense of time.

The sun stretched over the tree line of the Quiet Wilds, reminding him that his walk should have ended about fifteen minutes ago. He picked up his pace.

Great. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint Mistress Alma. And miss dinner.

The final approach was quick, as he nearly ran the remaining half-mile. Once he spotted the entrance, he slipped in with stealth. The mess hall was already full. He’d have to wait for the perfect moment to sneak inside.

“Have you seen Pascal?”

Whispers spread through the orphanage’s mess hall like wildfire as the children ate their typical meal for a Wednesday night: potatoes and vegetable stew. A classic, one that Pascal didn’t want to miss.

When he peered around the corner, he spotted his friends Clarion and Danton exchanging a knowing glance. Surely, they were assuming he’d been caught up in his exploration outside the orphanage grounds. Which he had. In fact, that was exactly what he had done.

His eyes wandered down the table to Tania, one of the older girls at the orphanage, just as she was motioning for Mistress Alma. Damn. Of course, Tania would notice his absence. She never knew how to keep quiet about these sorts of things.

Removing her pince-nez glasses, Mistress Alma scanned over the mess hall. She rubbed at her eyes, which seemed to be sore at the day´s end, a fact that proved fortunate for Pascal. In her scan, she’d somehow managed to Miss Tania’s raised hand. She circled the room slowly and met children along the wall, all beaming in her presence.

Then, she turned on her heel to stride toward the kitchen, her simple brown dress and jacket flowing behind her.

Poor Tania was stretching her arm ever-higher, looking fit to burst from her efforts, but still, Mistress Alma did not see. That was a relief. Though, the win was short-lived; it was just a matter of time before she realized Pascal wasn´t present and that he was late again.

Once she disappeared into the kitchen, Pascal exhaled, his eyes glinting. This was the perfect opportunity. Yet, when he glanced around the mess hall at the tame expressions the children wore, he couldn’t suppress the urge to liven up their evening a bit more. After all, he’d been working on a few tricks that he could hardly wait to show them. Why not come in with a bang? He’d probably get in some amount of trouble anyway…

He walked around to the main mess hall entrance and burst through the doors with as much dramatic flair as he could muster. He flipped into a handstand, pressing his palms against the floor, and then strutted through the mess hall on his hands.

The room erupted in laughter. Pascal could never do things quietly.



About the Author:

Meet Andrés Rosas Hott, a fresh voice in the literary scene whose debut novel is a vibrant tapestry woven from diverse experiences. With a master's degree in Graphic Design and Illustration from Konstfack - University of Arts, Crafts and Design, and a background as a commercial director focused on creating animated and live-action commercials, Andrés emerges not only as an author but as a passionate storyteller devoted to whisking readers away on captivating journeys.

In his much-anticipated first book, "The Harlequin's Legacy," Andrés draws inspiration from his favorite character, The Harlequin, spinning a unique mythology around this mysterious figure. The tagline, "Dare to dream, Dare to believe, Dare to embrace your Legacy," sets the stage for a transformative adventure with his characters.

Beyond the fantastical realm, Andrés skillfully weaves conceptual storytelling with a deep understanding of personal growth, relationships, and emotions. Themes of courage, identity, and embracing one's true potential resonate with readers on a profound level, making his work more than just an escape into fantasy.

Andrés, grounded in diverse creative experiences, values his role as a family man. In the heart of Stockholm, Sweden, he adeptly juggles the realms of fantasy and family life, carving out precious moments with his wife and two sons. His story reflects the simple truth that creativity thrives not only in the world of imagination but also within the embrace of family.

As readers embark on a remarkable journey into fantasy YA literature with Andrés, they can expect not only an adventure filled with imagination and wonder but also a tale of self-discovery. "The Harlequin's Legacy" marks the beginning of an exciting series, and Andrés extends a warm invitation for readers to join him on this extraordinary literary expedition

Website: https://www.redmoonpublishing.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redmoonpublishing/   

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218594098

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565516144086




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Tuesday, December 17, 2024

The Storm Descends by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy

 


The Storm Descends
Demon Storm 
Book Seven
Valerie Storm

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
Date of Publication: 12/13/2024
ISBN: 978-1-956883-28-2 
ASIN: B0DMTF6L5Q 
Number of pages: 433
Word Count: 110731
Cover Artist: @Ginkahederling

Book Description:

The Catalyst is quiet.

Kari struggles with the damage she did when she lost control. Her loved ones suffered at her hands, leaving Ari scarred in ways she will never be able to ignore.

How he survived? Only the Seraph of Nalmi knows.

Then a request arrives, a simple task compared to everything else she has been through: travel as Freehaven's emissary and meet with Brianna, a now-ancient half demon who destroyed the first demon city across the sea - and who may have some information on defeating the Catalyst for good.  Kari, Ari, and Guine prepare to cross the Demon Sea...

But the shadows await them.


Bewitching Exclusive Excerpt

Using his free arm, Ari made sideways strokes. Kari watched him, studying the way he moved.

“It…doesn’t look so bad.”

“Ready to try on your own?”

Kari suppressed a shudder. “Maybe.”

Ari laughed. “It’s up to you. Just let go of me; I’ll be right here.”

Kari released a slow breath as she unwound herself from him. Keeping one hand on his bicep, she kicked her legs. It was easy to stay afloat, she realized. She gave a few tentative strokes with her free arm. Ari moved with her, his smile wide.

“See? No problem. You’re a natural, even. Now…” Ari trailed off, his gaze wandering someplace above her head. Then his eyes widened. “Guine, no!”

Before Kari could turn her head, water engulfed her. It was there then gone, and Ari was right there; she clung to him again, gasping. Her hair was plastered to her face, dripping water. Ari brushed it away from her eyes.

“It’s alright, Kari, you’re okay.”

A burst of laughter made her ears perk hard and fast. Kari twisted her head around to scowl at a shirtless Guine as he stepped into the lake.

“What’s that look for?” He sneered. “Afraid of a little water?”

She snarled. “If Ari weren’t here—”

“Yeah, I bet you’d love a good thunderbolt right now. But guess what? No-can-do in the water!”

Guine splayed his fingers over the lake’s unstable surface. “So, how’re you gonna win a water fight, Kari?”

Kari launched herself across the water. Any fool could see she couldn’t swim—her technique was horrible. But her splashing and kicking was enough to propel herself. Guine’s eyes widened and he stepped back. His magic glittered; was he forming ice?

I’m going to break his jaw!

The water around her waist crackled then hardened. Kari punched through it, heedless of the way her knuckles throbbed.

Then she was on the human, tackling him into the shallow depths. Water made volatile from their splashing seeped over his face and into his mouth.

“K-Kari!” Guine sputtered before she slammed her fist into his cheek.

“You…BASTARD!” she roared, raising her other fist.

Ari grabbed her from behind and hauled her off. Unbelievably, he was laughing.

Kari squirmed. “Let me go! He needs to be punished!”

“Now, Guine, you know that was very rude,” Ari said over her shoulder.

Guine sat up, his fingers raised to heal the beginning of a bruise on his face. “It was,” he admitted. “I am sorry, Kari.”

Kari’s struggles slowed. She narrowed her eyes. “Are you?”

“’Course not.” Guine raised a finger, releasing a shot of water into her face.

This time, Ari let her go. Kari ran at Guine; he dove into the water, laughter irritatingly confident as he swam away. She chased him, kicking her legs and swinging her arms, splashing water more than actually moving in her attempts to catch up to him. All the while, Ari lost himself to laughter.

 


About the Author:

Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a place to call home.

She can be found online:









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The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza



Winter Solstice
By Nicola Solvinic

The sun god is gone
He stripped the leaves when he went
Trampled the grasses 
And swept into the bronze sunset

The winter god is here
The stag-horned watcher
Known only by cloven tracks in the snow
And the weight of his gaze under snow-spangled lashes

Heavy twitching branches of green
Once obscured the moon in summer
That seething night
Of cicadas, crickets, bullfrogs singing 

Night’s perfectly still now
Except for the crunch of snow 
And the moon burns through skeletons of bare trees
With the thousand flickers of dead stars

Underground, curled in thick earth
Prey dreams of summer days, 
He will dig it up, drag it, bellowing and twitching
To the surface

In the red and white field
Prey races across the snows
He will overtake it, felling it
In a tangle of broken legs and sinew

He is the hunter in both seasons, king of these woods
Seething and silent
Searching out his precious sacrifices
Sunless, in shadow, he reigns.



The Hunter's Daughter 
Nicola Solvinic 

Genre: Supernatural Mystery, Serial Killer Thriller
Publisher: ‎Berkley 
Release Date: May 14, 2024
Hardcover: ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10: ‎0593639723
ISBN-13: ‎978-0593639726

Book Description:

A hypnotic, sinister debut mystery about a seemingly good cop who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer.

Anna Koray escaped her father’s darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father’s shadow. 

When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest. 

To Anna’s horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?

But as she haunts the forest, using her father’s tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness? 

Penguin     Amazon


Excerpt:

“I didn’t mean for you to find out like this, Elena.”

A soft voice echoed from the other side of the house. I turned my gaze to a pile of rotted fallen beams. My dad sat there quietly in the dark, perched as he would in a tree stand in the forest. His hat was low over his head, and his rifle was slung over his shoulder.

“I didn’t mean for you to find out at all.”

I whimpered.

He sighed.

“Are you a monster?” I demanded. The word didn’t seem adequate. “Monster” sounded like a word for fairy tales. Not my beloved dad.

He looked at the bodies arranged around the room. “Maybe.”

He stretched his legs and slid down the pile. I backed up against the rusted stove. Liquid sloshed, and something cold and wet splashed down my side. I recognized the smell immediately: curdled blood. A metal bucket turned over and crashed on the floor, spilling the rest of the blood over my sneakers.

I was frozen. I saw the outline of the door, and I should’ve run. But I was rooted in place, as motionless and helpless as any of these women.

My dad loomed over me. His face was strange, his eyes too dark and still. This man who stood over me was not my dad. He was some changeling who had come to take him, leaving an evil shell in his place. A monster.

“What have you done with my dad?” I croaked.

He reached out to touch my cheek. I flinched.

“Your dad is gone.” His voice was a low hiss, like rain in a gutter.

And I knew then what I saw. It was my dad’s Forest God, the one he called Veles, dark and terrible and devouring everything under this roof. He wanted me. I didn’t know if he meant to consume me like those other women or if the Forest God was wanting to do to me as he was doing to my dad, wearing my skin like his own . . .

The door crashed open. The Forest God spun, reaching for his rifle, but he was tackled by a snarling dog. Percival.

An armed shadow stood in the doorway. Agent Parkes. “Freeze,” he ordered.

The Forest God had no intention of obeying anyone’s orders. He wrestled with the dog, and the rifle went off. A new hole was blown in the roof, and I was partially blinded by muzzle flash and deafened by a gunshot in a closed space.

“Drop it!” Parkes commanded. His voice was faint and tinny over the ringing in my ears.

The Forest God scrambled away from the dog, kicking Percival in the chest. He sighted his rifle on the dog.

I screamed.

The Forest God hesitated for an instant—only an instant.

It was enough.

More gunfire, muzzle flashes. The Forest God tumbled across the floor. Parkes advanced on him, shouting, his shoes slipping in the blood. Percival was growling, clamping my dad’s right hand in his jaws. The rifle spun out on the floor, the barrel skidding up against my sneakers. It was hot, and it singed the rubber of my shoe.

“Put it down!” Parkes yelled. The man who had once been my father had gotten his hunting knife loose from his belt and was slashing at Percival. He’d pulled himself up into a half crouch, dripping on the floor, snarling like a cornered animal.

“Put it down now!”

I knew Parkes was going to kill my dad.

Trembling, I reached down for the gun at my feet.

 

About the Author:

Nicola Solvinic has a master’s degree in criminology and has worked in and around criminal justice for more than a decade. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and cats, where she is surrounded by a secret garden full of beehives.










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Friday, December 13, 2024

WILD by Adrienne Wilder - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza



August and Keegan have been naughty and nice. 

Here is their Christmas list for Santa. 

• Ammo
• Bag of M&Ms
• New pair of long Johns(cause Daisy chewed up his other pair)
• Pair of snow shoes
• Hunting knife
• Satellite phone
• Edible underwear (because August thinks it would be funny)
• Angora luxury brand sweater (cause August thinks Keegan would look sexy and it would be red to match the edible underwear)
• antibiotics
• First-aid supplies


WILD
Adrienne Wilder

Genre: gay romantic suspense
Date of Publication:  September 1, 2017
ASIN:  B07518D2PZ
Number of pages:  341
Cover Artist: Adrienne Wilder

Tagline: Survival story of passion and love

Book Description: 

August Vallory had it all. A modeling career, a man he loved, and the extended family he’d acquired in the business. Then the world he knew was torn away when the plane he was on crashed en route to a photo shoot.

Lost in the Alaskan wilderness, August doesn’t stand a chance.

No sane man would choose to live in the Alaskan bush unless he had something to hide. And Keegan Brooks has secrets darker than night, more dangerous than wolves, more brutal than an Alaskan winter.

Every day was a fight for his life until he stumbled upon a downed plane with a lone survivor. Now it’s no longer just Keegan’s life teetering on the edge of survival.

It’s his heart.


And be sure to check out the Christmas novella follow-up with the Wild characters- 

The eyes watching August from the tree line were not blue. They weren’t even human.

They belonged to a brown-furred monster, with long black claws.

Snow crunched, and piles were ejected from under the stretcher with the forward movement. Night had already fallen under the trees, creating shadows that swallowed the bear as it moved. There were times it disappeared so long August thought he’d imagined it. Then the golden highlights in the animal’s fur would snap it out of the dark.

“Keegan.”  

The stretcher bumped a rock and August was jostled hard enough to move his leg. He clenched his jaw. Sweat stung his eyes, and nausea welled in his stomach. It withdrew, and the bear picked up its pace.

Wind tossed up particles of ice. August coughed, trying to clear his throat but it was too dry. “Keegan.”

Could the man hear him? His heavy breaths were more labored than August remembered. How long had he been asleep? How long had the bear been following them?

And if he yelled, would it charge?

August had to take the chance. He put more force behind the man’s name, and everything came to a stop. The ice had made chunks in Keegan’s beard and clung to the fur covering his hands. More had packed the folds of his pants. The edge of his boots was swallowed by what covered the ground.

“You okay?”

The bear froze, its body a mass merging into the thick trees. Was it gone? Dark eyes glittered. Then slowly, as August’s eyes adjusted, the outline of the beast reformed. It had crouched down, body tense. A loaded spring.

“Bear.” The word wasn’t much more than an exhale.

The Keegan made a slow turn and at the same time dropped the rucksacks he carried. By the time he had his back to August, the rifle was in his hands.

“Two o’clock,” August said. Keegan took a step, blocking August’s view. Then another, clearing the way. Shadows pooled in the empty space around the tree trunks. Keegan scanned, turning his whole body, rifle raised. When he’d made a full circle, he put down the gun.

“It was there,” August said.

Keegan knelt and loaded the satchels he’d been carrying onto the stretcher.

“It was there. I saw it.”

“I believe you.” He tightened everything down.

“I swear, I swear, it was that fucking grizzly.”

Keegan put a hand on August’s shoulder. “I said, I believe you.” As Keegan stood, a massive brown shape rose up behind him. The scream got caught in August’s throat, but it was too late. One huge paw came down, catching Keegan in the side, sending him airborne. There was a clatter of metal and wood and Keegan rolled out of sight. The bear raised its head and the air shook with its voice.





About the Author:
 
Adrienne Wilder (trans-male – he/him) is an author of gay contemporary and speculative fiction and an artist of all things monster. He was born and bred in GA and moved to NC in 2013 where he lives with his partner, multiple dogs (one has atomic farts), cats (one of those also atomic farts), and lots of corals (although not known, statistics suggest that at least one of them probably—you guessed it—atomic farts) 

He lives to create new worlds and the people in them. Several of his books have been best sellers both nationally and internationally.

He writes original stories with powerful characters and emotion as well as a fast-paced plot. His goal isn't just to deliver a good story but to take the reader into the story and let them experience the characters as if they are right there with them.

 While his books have a strong romantic element, some are not traditional romances. In fact, he'd like to think there is nothing traditional about them. And the stories he paints are done outside the lines of traditional genres.

 One of his favorite things is to push the boundaries of what makes a story by delivering the unexpected and maybe even changing the perspective of the reader. His characters are more often than not beautifully flawed; they're not always the good guy, and make mistakes. Their stories will take dark turns which, in the end, make the light at the end of the tunnel all the brighter. 

 If you're looking for something different, exciting, and unique, his books are for you.

He has recently been creating a lot of artwork for his stories. You can see SFW ones on his Instagram and NSFW ones on his Patreon. He is creating a Nox graphic novel available for patrons only right now.

Check out Adrienne’s website for updates and how to contact him. His Facebook group is the best place to talk with him and get info. Join his newsletter to see some content early.







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