Night Hawk by J. E. Taylor

Night Hawk        
Book One – Night Hawk Series

J.E. Taylor

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Novel Concept Publishing, LLC

Cover Artist: CoverShotCreations.com

Book Description:

Selling your soul has never been so charming and Mark throws in a little something to sweeten the pot, his girlfriend Naomi.

Sentenced to death at the hands of a demon, Naomi Hawk has a firsthand lesson in despair and betrayal in Mark’s deal for fame with all the trimmings. Deep in the clutches of the underground brotherhood, Naomi's light is coveted for the Master's gain.

When she slips and falls eighty stories from a precarious ledge, Naomi resigns herself to the inevitable impact and death by shattered bones. Before she can escape her demons in eternal slumber, something sinister plucks her from the plummet, stealing her out of the night to sacrifice her forever to the shadows.

Imprisoned in bottomless darkness, Naomi thirsts for justice…and revenge.

Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Kobo   Smashwords

Short Excerpt

“You’re more than welcome to join me,” I said when she showed no signs of moving.

Her mouth opened and she glanced back toward the living room. “When?”

“Right now,” I said, knowing she wasn’t referring to my offer.

She rolled her eyes. “When did you paint that mural?”

“A long time ago,” I said. “Now, are you going to join me or not?” This time I turned toward her, giving her the full view and I smiled at the way her gaze bounced, her eyes widening a fraction before inching their way back up my chest to my face. Her cheeks bloomed and I cocked an eyebrow at her.

She pressed her lips together and slammed the door, marching out of the room in a huff.

I chuckled and ran the soap over my chest, running my fingers over what was left of the welt on my skin. The vampiric healing powers still amazed me enough that I missed the shift in the air around me.

Nails scraped my back and I jumped, swinging my head in the direction of the disturbance. Her wide eyes met mine and I turned, drinking her in from head to toe. Exquisite was the only word that popped into mind and when her fingers touched my chest I reached, covering her hand and holding it against my skin.

“What are you doing?” I whispered because having her undressed and this close put me at a major disadvantage.

“I’m saying thank you,” she said and her hands moved lower.

Catching her wrists, I warned, “Naomi, don’t start something you can’t finish.” My body responded anyway and she closed the distance. Her lips grazed my chest and I closed my eyes, releasing her and surrendering to her exploration.

When her tongue trailed lower, I recalled the memories of her ex and my eyes snapped open. As much as the thought of her taking me in her mouth thrilled me, I didn’t want to be that memory and I grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her up to face me. She wasn’t one of the common harlots from my past that I let drop to their knees before me.

No, Naomi was different and I wanted more.

“You do not have to do this just because you aren’t ready for anything else.”

Her dark eyes met mine and I traced the frame of her face with my fingertips, studying every curve. Leaning down, I took her lower lip in my mouth, sucking gently before shifting and delivering a kiss that started as tender and rich as her blood, but it soon escalated into an all-consuming heat and I could envision living in this bliss for the rest of eternity.

I had lied to her today.

Fear wasn’t the only deep emotion I had encountered since I plucked her out of the sky, this need to connect, to love again overwhelmed me. The irony of her name and the form she turned into added to the feel that fate had prepared this feast just for me.

Zombie versus Vampires Guest Post:

My Night Hawk blog tour is winding down and in looking at Zombiegirl's blog, I figured I'd take the time to lament on what would happen to the vampire if a zombie apocalypse occurred. 

Which would you want to be in the fight for world domination?

Me, I'd opt for the vampire, especially those outlined in Night Hawk, because, while they crave blood, they are still alive.  A zombie is an animated corpse and that just gives me the willies.  However, in this "what if" scenario, the vampires would be another food source for the zombies. 

The vampires in my Night Hawk series are fast and strong and don't age because their cells are frozen by the shadow virus.  They heal within minutes and my main characters have another special ability that would aid in their survival against a zombie attack.  However, they have the drawback of being highly allergic to the sun, so if a zombie found them during daylight hours, they might not fare so well.

In Night Hawk, a vampire bite is toxic, but the ingredient needed to pass on the shadow virus is the vampire's blood, not his bite. 

Before I explore that, let's take a look at zombies in recent literature and entertainment.  The old school zombie from Dawn of the Dead were slow moving and clumsy.  However, if you look at the more recent renderings: Zombieland, The Walking Dead, Hollowland and even a much scarier brand - the ones from I am Legend -  these suckers move fast, but they're limited to the speed and strength they had as humans.  

Now, in all of these instances, a zombie bite turns you into the walking dead.  So, it's easy to surmise that a zombie bite is just as toxic as a vampire bite.  The only difference is that a vampire bite won't turn you into a vampire, it will just kill you.  Whereas a zombie bite not only kills you but turns you into a mindless monster. 

So if a zombie did get a bite in against my breed of vampire, that could potentially create a new and extremely deadly species...the Zompire.  A zombie-vampire hybrid.  The entertaining thought here isn't what would happen to the zombie, but what would happen to the vampire. 

It's one thing to think of a mindless killing machine now armed with inhuman strength and speed, but imagine the same bloodlust armed with intelligence?

The human race would perish in no time.

Hmmm,  I think I just found an interesting plot line for a future novel. 

In the meantime, check out my current novel Night Hawk:

Selling your soul has never been so charming and Mark throws in a little something to sweeten the pot, his girlfriend Naomi.

Sentenced to death at the hands of a demon, Naomi Hawk has a firsthand lesson in despair and betrayal in Mark’s deal for fame with all the trimmings. Deep in the clutches of the underground brotherhood, Naomi's light is coveted for the Master's gain.

When she slips and falls eighty stories from a precarious ledge, Naomi resigns herself to the inevitable impact and death by shattered bones. Before she can escape her demons in eternal slumber, something sinister plucks her from the plummet, stealing her out of the night to sacrifice her forever to the shadows.

Imprisoned in bottomless darkness, Naomi thirsts for justice…and revenge.

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Hawk-Series-Volume/dp/1482763206/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363393777&sr=8-2&keywords=night+hawk+by+J.E.+Taylor

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Hawk-ebook/dp/B00BSLIM3W/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1363116364&sr=8-12&keywords=Night+Hawk

Barnes & Noble Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-hawk-je-taylor/1046234690?ean=2940016354132

Kobo Link: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Night-Hawk/book-Tz1v2NFiHEiwDgltFBmltQ/page1.html?s=ioy9JBgsN0KWUSpl9P4MWw&r=1

Smashwords Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/294780

Thank you for swinging by Zombiegirl Shambling and listening to my ramblings.

Until next time,

Ciao.

JET

Review:

This book is a romp through the darkness that dwells in the deepest shadows of the night. It was a fun read with some dangerous twists and turns. The blend of vampires and demons battling it out was harrowing and made for an enjoyable afternoon read.

3/5

About the Author:

J.E. Taylor is a writer, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife and a business analyst, not necessarily in that order.  She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:

“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”

From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back and now her writing resume includes a more than a dozen published novels along with several short stories on the virtual shelves including a few within eXcessica anthologies.

In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing

(www.novelconceptpublishing), Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory (www.allegoryezine.com), an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. She has been known to edit a book or two and also offers her services judging writing contests for various RWA chapters.

She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine. 

Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com

https://www.facebook.com/JETaylor

https://twitter.com/JETaylor75

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3153969.J_E_Taylor

http://www.amazon.com/J.E.-Taylor/e/B003FER8M6/

Want to win a PDF or e-pub copy of Night Hawk? Leave me a comment and your email and follow this blog for a chance to win! 

Halo of the Damned Review Tour

Halo of the Damned

By

Dina Rae

BLURB:  

A chain of advertising agencies, a new breed of humans, and a fallen angel to worship... Andel Talistokov is known for his slick advertising agencies across the globe. He is a fallen angel that uses advertising as a weapon for Satan's work. His growing power emboldens him to break several of Hell's Commandments. Furious with his arrogance, Satan commands him to return to Hell after finding his own replacement. Yezidism, an ancient angel worshiping religion, quietly expands throughout the West. Armaros appears as a guest of honor during their ceremonies. He mates with young women to produce nephilim, a mixed race of humans and angels. They are alone and unprepared for their supernatural power. Joanna Easterhouse, a recovering drug addict, steps out of prison shortly after her mother's fatal accident. She and her sister, Kim, unravel their mother's secretive past. Intrigued, they learn their bloodline is part of a celestial legacy. Both worlds collide. Halo of the Damned is a horrifying tale that weaves research together with suspenseful twists and turns.

EXCERPT:

The next day, Kim packed up her own drawing of her mother’s carved wall, the scroll, and the piece of metal. Her excitement put her in a giddy mood. Once she was parked and in front of Loyola’s entrance, Sandra met her in the foyer and escorted her back to the Arts and Science College. Sandra took Kim to their lounge and introduced her to six other professors who were equally interested in seeing her finds. All of them specialized in fields that had to do with the ancient world.

Kim began with unveiling her own copy of the symbols she drew from her mother’s basement. “I appreciate all of your attention. Can anyone tell me what this is, and even possibly what it means? Each symbol was copied down in the order it was etched into the wall,” Kim said.

One professor immediately took the paper and made a copy. This made Kim uncomfortable. He asked, “Where did you find this?”

“Again, none of that matters,” Kim defensively repeated. Her daughter’s omen chimed throughout her brain. The man intuitively put up her defenses.

“Doctor Nrogbi’s English is somewhat limited. He’s not trying to be pushy or rude,” Sandra explained.

“This is Angelic script, also known as Adonite language, alphabet of the Ark, or even Enochian. It’s the first written language of this world. Angels used it to communicate with God. The first humans also used it before the Fall,” Doctor Nrogbi lectured.

“Before what fall?” Kim asked, very confused. How could Maria have known all of this?

“Before Adam and Eve sinned. Before they were kicked out of Eden. It pre-dates Hebrew, Sanskrit, Aramaic, and other ancient languages. It’s very sophisticated and difficult to translate. These symbols look like a key, invocation, or lyric. Let me get something off my bookshelf.”

While the doctor frantically flipped through several of his books, other professors rattled off bits and pieces of their own views concerning the script. Kim learned that Enoch didn’t name the language, but his name was chosen for it thousands of years later because of his communications inside of Heaven.

The professors spoke of John Dee, a famous mathematician, cartographer, and seer of Queen Elizabeth I. He had a revelation about angelic script and later recorded it. Sir Edward Kelley, his colleague, also witnessed the revelation and recorded additional symbols called Keys or Calls. Their legitimacy had been debated for centuries.

“Ah, I found it. What you have here is a Key. Angel script is read left to right. These symbols together are sort of like a prayer. A rough translation in English means, ‘Forever fallen is forever damned, until one can unlock from within.’ I wish I knew where you found this. The context would help cypher the meaning,” Doctor Nrogbi stated.

“Anyone have an inkling to what the passage could mean?” Kim asked.

“I can only guess that fallen is either man, as in Adam…or possibly angels, as in the Fallen that waged war with Satan against God. He and all his angels were cast down and forever damned. However, there is a loophole suggested-‘unlock from within.’ Don’t know, just a guess,” answered Doctor Barry Lowenstein, an ancient comparative literature professor.

“Kim, you said you had a few more items to show us. Can we see? The anticipation is gnawing away at all of us!” Sandra exclaimed.

“Okay, I have a scroll that might be of some interest,” Kim answered as she gingerly took it out of her purse and laid it down on a long table. All the professors’ jaws dropped in astonishment. They all hovered over the scroll, whispering theories of what it might be. Doctor Nrogbi quickly grabbed his cell phone and began taking photos. The rest of the professors followed suit.

“Tanned animal hide, probably lamb or ram, of the highest quality for ancient times. This must be dated as far back as 500 B.C., maybe even a 1000 B.C. We need to carbon-date this. It’s in perfect condition. What was this stored in?” Doctor Lowenstein questioned.

“It came in a box. I didn’t bring it with me,” Kim replied, feeling suffocated and wanting to leave.

“We could use a combination of steam and chemicals to remove the seal so that it doesn’t break. That way we could read the scroll. Can you leave this with Sandra for the next couple of days?” asked Doctor Litner, an art history professor and expert in document preservation.

Can you bring in the box? Can you take us to where this was found? Can you leave this for display? Can we take this to the Smithsonian? Can you, Can you, Can you...Kim’s head was about to explode. She wasn’t about to disclose the ornate metal she still had in her purse.

“I’ll call Sandra and we can do this another time. Thank you all for your help,” Kim abruptly announced. She packed up her things and rushed out of the university. Not paying attention, she almost got hit by a car. Once in her Lincoln Navigator, she calmed down. Rush hour traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway gave her time to process.

Review:

Halo of the Damned is a book that will intrigue fans of dark angels and demon stories. Filled with enough raw horror to please any slasher fan as well, Halo introduces us to a fallen angel and his media empire. Enter our heroine, Joanna Easterhouse, who is just getting out of prison for a drug conviction. Faced with the difficulty of getting a job with a record, she takes the job at Evil Empire and thus begins
the adventure.


This book had a lot of gory scenery. It does have a well developed and intricate plot that will entertain readers of multiple genres such as myself. There are a few points in the dialog that were a little stilted, and I had a hard time connecting with Joanna at first, but as I got to know the characters, the intricate nature of the relationships fleshed out and made the book a pulse pounding late night (with a flashlight)
read.


There is romance, through the rituals, dismemberment and mysteries surrounding the Easterhouse family and what a fallen angel has to do with whatever secrets Joanna and Kim's mother may have been hiding.


This is a good read for anyone in the mood for a little angelic carnage.


3/5

Upcoming...

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Dina Rae is a new author here to stay.  As a teacher, she brings an academic element to her work.  Her three novels, Halo of the Damned, The Last Degree, and Bad Juju weave research and suspense throughout the plots.  Her short story, Be Paranoid Be Prepared, is a prequel of sorts to The Last Degree, focusing on the James Martin character.  In the spring of 2013, her latest novel, Halo of the Nephilim, will be released.  Dina also freelances for various entertainment blogs.

Dina lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside of Chicago.  She is a Christian, an avid tennis player, movie buff, and self-proclaimed expert on several conspiracy theories.  She has been interviewed numerous times in e-zines, websites, blogs, newspapers, and radio programs.  When she is not writing she is reading novels from her favorite authors Dan Brown, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Brad Thor, George R.R. Martin, and Preston & Childs. 

http://dinarae.co

www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dinaraebooks/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DinaRaeBooks

@haloofthedamned

Eternalpress.biz

 Dina is awarding one randomly drawn commenter a new peacock necklace.

Encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-tour-halo-of-damned-by-dina-rae.html

Be sure to head over to Dina's blog for more giveaways!

Dark Light of Day Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Dark Light of Day
Noon Onyx Book #1

By Jill Archer

                                

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Ace

ISBN: 978-0-425-25715-9

Number of pages: 384

Word Count: 123,000

Barnes & Noble   Amazon

Book Description:

Armageddon is over. The demons won. And yet somehow…the world has continued. Survivors worship patron demons under a draconian system of tributes and rules. These laws keep the demons from warring among themselves, the world from slipping back into chaos.

Noon Onyx grew up on the banks of the river Lethe, daughter of a prominent politician, and a descendant of Lucifer’s warlords. Noon has a secret—she was born with waning magic, the dark, destructive, fiery power that is used to control demons and maintain the delicate peace among them. But a woman with waning magic is unheard of and some will consider her an abomination.

Noon is summoned to attend St. Lucifer’s, a school of demon law. She must decide whether to declare her powers there…or attempt to continue hiding them, knowing the price for doing so may be death. And once she meets the forbiddingly powerful Ari Carmine—who suspects Noon is harboring magic as deadly as his own—Noon realizes there may be more at stake than just her life.

Failing is not an option...

“I’ve been watching you, wondering, waiting to see where you’d end up. After all, there are other demon law schools,” Seknecus said, making a moue of distaste that made it clear exactly what he thought of them. “But I was happy to see that you chose St. Lucifer’s.”

Technically my mother chose St. Lucifer’s . . . But there seemed no reason to interrupt just to clarify that bit of misinformation. Seknecus wandered around the room, picking through papers, flipping open and quickly shutting the front covers of various leather-bound books, never meeting my eye. I had no doubt, however, that his attention was fully focused on me.

“So, you see, seeing your name on my List wasn’t exactly a surprise, although it appeared much later than I would have liked.”

He did look at me then, with a frown of disapproval. I did my best to look expressionless because none seemed appropriate. It wouldn’t do to look amused, bored or, Luck forbid, rebellious. Seknecus stared at me with narrowed eyes and then went back to wandering.

“You’ve got some catching up to do,” he said, addressing a copy of Sin and Sanction: Codification & Case Law. “It doesn’t matter why or what excuses you’ve got for yourself. You will be held to the same standards as everyone else, regardless of whose daughter you are. And you’ve missed a lot of class already.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off with a wave.

“Manipulation class,” he clarified. “You’re going to have to work ten times as hard as everyone else just to pass. Quintus Rochester doesn’t go easy on students and he’s likely to see your absence during the early part of the semester as a challenge. You know, failing is not an option. Not if you want to live.”

What do you think guys? Sounds great, doesn't it? From what I have read so far, the plot is a twister, the voice gripping and the characters are ones you wouldn't mind hanging around with for a few more books. Excellent read!!

4.5/5

 Dark Light of Day's Settings

Most people have heard that some settings can have such story presence or provide such an impact on a reader's experience that the setting is almost like a character. Consider these places:

·       Manderley from Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca

·       Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children from Ransom Riggs' novel of the same name

·       Le Cirque des Reves from Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus

·       Arrakis from Frank Herbert's Dune

·       The Overlook from Stephen King's The Shining

Those places have a sense of themselves; they feel like a person, not a place. Creating such a setting takes intricate worldbuilding, careful sculpting of tone and feel, and effect. The place acts upon another character or characters, as if it were a character, and so impacts plot and story.

I'll be the first to admit that Dark Light of Day does not have a setting quite on the level of those listed above. But I still took care in creating the various places where Noon Onyx's story takes place. Since this is one of the last guest posts I'm doing in my blog tour, I figured it might be nice to highlight some of the settings in the story. Here are the main places where Dark Light of Day takes place:

·       HALJA: Halja is the fictional country within which the entire story is set. The tagline of DLOD is "Armageddon is over; the demons won." But, though the story is post-Apocalyptic, it's set 2,000 years after Armageddon, the last battle of the Apocalypse. So both sides (the descendants of Lucifer's army and the Savior's) have had time to rebuild their world. Halja is a country ruled by demons and their Maegesters – humans with waning magic who train as peacekeepers. Halja has a circa 1900's technology level and its Maegesters act sort of like "modern day" magical knights.

·       NEW BABYLON: New Babylon is a city that's as old as the Apocalypse. It was built over the ancient battlefield of Armageddon. By the time Dark Light of Day takes place, New Babylon is a bustling, cosmopolitan city. It's full of high stone, iron, and glass buildings and it's home to almost a million Hyrkes – humans with no magic – who go about their daily lives – shopping, eating, working, paying taxes and offering tribute to various patron demons in a fairly ordinary way.

·       THE RIVER LETHE: The River Lethe is the large river that New Babylon was built alongside. It divides Halja in much the same way that the mighty Mississippi River divides the United States (although the Lethe runs west to east, not north to south). In real world Greek mythology, the river Lethe was one of the rivers in Hades and its name means "forgetfulness" or "oblivion."

·       ETINCELLE: Etincelle is the sleepy town of Noon Onyx's birth. It's located almost directly across the Lethe from New Babylon. Etincelle is a French word that means "spark" or "sparkle." At night, the town is like the soft, yellow glow from a lightning bug up against New Babylon's whiter, brighter city lights. Etincelle is a small village with large estates, old money, and old magic. Halja's magic users – the equivalent of Haljan nobility – grow up in Etincelle.

·       ST. LUCIFER'S LAW SCHOOL: I suppose if any of Dark Light of Day's settings have a shot at being a character like one of the places I first listed above, it would be the "demon law" school St. Lucifer's, or "St. Luck's" as the students call it. It's described initially as "lots of heavy, clunky, gothic architecture with an emphasis on pointed arches, flying buttresses, and gargoyles" – but St. Luck's is more than it seems. Without spoiling the story, I'll simply say that the campus is quite old and some of its classrooms have a darker, damper feel than what most post-grads are used to.

Hopefully, these descriptions have piqued your interest in Noon Onyx's world and Dark Light of Day. A big thanks to Dana for hosting me here at Zombiegirl Shambling!

Author Bio:

Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jill earned a bachelor of science from Penn State University and later moved to Baltimore to attend the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. She went on to practice law as a “dirt lawyer” for ten years, specializing in real estate law, municipal development, commercial leasing, and anything involving exceedingly lengthy legalese-like contractual monstrosities.

Jill now lives in rural Maryland with her two children and husband, who is a recreational pilot. Weekends are often spent flying around in the family’s small Cessna, visiting tiny un-towered airfields and other local points of interest.

website: www.jillarcher.com

blog: http://jillarcherauthor.wordpress.com

twitter: @archer_jill

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillarcherauthor

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13556956-dark-light-of-day

 Tour giveaway details

• At each Interview and Guest blog stop- not promo or review stops- to be drawn randomly from that stop's commenters, one Ace/Roc Science Fiction and Fantasy 2012 Sampler. These are bound, print samplers with a color cover and the first few pages of new work from the following authors/titles: Benedict Jacka's FATED, Alex Hughes' CLEAN, Jacqueline Carey's DARK CURRENTS, Steve Bein's DAUGHTER OF THE SWORD, Anton Strout's ALCHEMYSTIC, and Jill Archer's DARK LIGHT OF DAY. US ONLY
• * Jill will choose the winner.
• * Sampler giveaway will close by midnight the day AFTER the post.
• * Jill will announce the winner via comment on the post the day after the giveaway closes (so two days after the post).
• * Winners have 48 hours to send Jill their street address.
• *Jill’s plan is to mail samplers out every week or so during the tour.

Tour Wide Giveaways

Three signed copies of Dark Light of Day to the blog tour followers who visit the most stops. US ONLY

• $10 eGift Card (either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner's choice) to be drawn at random from all blog tour commenters.
• $10 eGift Card (either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner's choice) to the person who brings the most people to the party. To enter to win this one, tell a friend about the tour (someone who hasn't yet commented). You'll be entered to win when your friend stops by at any spot on the tour and tells us that you told them about the tour.

Death Is A Bitch Virtual Tour, Character Interview and Giveaway

Death Is A Bitch
Cate Masters

Genre: Urban fantasy/dark paranormal

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

ASIN: B008RQFJEQ

Number of pages: 113

Word Count:  43,000

Cover Artist:  LFD Designs

Decadent Publishing   Amazon  All Romance Ebooks

Book Description:

Eternity can suck when it’s all work, work, work. Death harvests souls even when they stack up faster than pancakes in an all-you-can-eat-buffet. No wonder she can’t shed the Grim Reaper rep.

As the patron angel of death and dying, Azrael works closely with Death but is dying for true intimacy. She’s the only immortal who’s ever aroused such powerful emotions in him. One taste of her leaves him needing her like humans need air and food, but will a demon’s lies leave a bad taste?

No one escapes Death – except King Sisyphus. Twice. With the help of Damien the demon, Sisyphus tries again, and she’s determined to have justice. Some say Death’s a bitch, but only when she has to be. But will the price of justice be a broken heart?

 Short Excerpt Death is a Bitch

Death stepped from the shadowy curtain of night along a deserted stretch of road toward the mangled hunk of cherry-red metal that used to be a sweet Z240 sports car. Stardust glinted in the black hair that dipped to her waist.

She kept a safe distance from the wreck. Inside, a thirtyish man slumped behind the wheel, the air bag deflating away from his near-lifeless body. Blood oozed from a nasty gash to his head. Should have worn his seat belt. Too late for life lessons, though. Those weren’t her expertise anyway. Just the opposite.

Leaves crackled in the underbrush beyond the nearby trees. Death gripped the silver charm bracelet on her wrist, her senses on high alert. Her finger poised near the hidden latch, ready to release a stream of lightning.

A deer. It stilled, its wide eyes fixed on her.

Seeing nothing else, she continued with a modicum of caution. Taking souls didn’t exactly make her popular, and after so many millennia, she should’ve been used to it. The bad jokes. The Halloween parodies. A scythe? Please. She’d never used cheap props. Only the finest weaponry. No mortal ever suspected the intricately designed baubles adorning her bracelet were anything more than ornamental.

Moonlight gleamed off the curves of the sports car, and she ran a gilded nail along its hood. She wouldn’t mind taking one of these babies for a spin. In its former condition, of course, before this guy took the curve too fast and wrapped it around a tree. Humans always rushed everywhere, sometimes straight into her arms.

The man’s moan signaled she had no need for weapons. This one would give her no trouble. She fingered his blond hair, matted with blood. What a shame. So young, and so handsome. He’d leave at least one lover grieving, no doubt.

His eyes fluttered open. When he looked up, recognition intensified the flicker of life in his eyes.

She needed no introduction. They always knew her, unmistakable in the glimmering black filament gown, its folds revealing a glimpse into infinity.

The stilettos usually earned a second glance, the four-inch heels glistening like fool’s gold. The butterfly tattoo spanning her upper arm likewise drew curious looks, which inevitably changed to horror when the souls recognized the face imprinted within that colorful ink: their own.

View more about Death Is A Bitch at http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2011/04/death-is-bitch-dark-paranormal.html

Azrael and Damien go head to head (a character interview)

by Cate Masters

Tell us about your family.

Azrael: I consider all beings to be part of the universal family.

Damien: *whistles* Really? So when you’re boinking Death, you’re committing incest? You’re sick, dude.

Azrael: Of course not. I’m not related in any way to Death.

Damien: But you just said we’re all related. Which is it, Azrael?

Azrael: I meant in a philosophical sense, Damien.

Damien: Philosophically, you want to boink your sister. Seriously, dude. *gags*

Azrael: *heavy sigh* Can we move on?

What was the scariest moment of your life?

Azrael: The moment I heard Death was missing. *glares at Damien* I knew you were behind it.

Damien: Moi? Commit a misdeed? How could you think such a thing?

Azrael: Right. Demons are perfect angels.

Damien: More perfect than you, dude.

Azrael: Your ego is astounding.

Damien: *gestures to crotch* Only because it matches the size of my –

Azrael: Can we move on?!

What’s your greatest weakness?

Azrael: *shifts in seat* I used to have some difficulty speaking in public. Now that I’ve been promoted to the head of the Department of Death and Dying, I’m working on that flaw. *stops to glare at Damien, who’s silently mimicking him* Do you have a problem?

Damien: Dude, get over yourself. No one listens to you anyway. *turns to interviewer, taps cheek* Greatest weakness, greatest weakness… now that’s a toughie. Mainly because I have so many. The top two are hot cars and hot babes. If I see a sweet car sitting all by its lonesome, it practically begs me to take it for a spin. And what’s the fun in going for a spin in a hot car all by yourself? So natch, I find a hot babe to share the ride. And whoo hoo, it’s usually a really hot ride, if you catch my drift.

Azrael: *rolls eyes* And you claim to love Death so much.

Damien: I do. She’s Numero Uno on the list. But she’s always busy with work. Or whatever… *takes a sudden interest in his fingernails and hums*

Azrael: What are you implying?

Damien: Just that she’s a hot babe, and I’m not the only other guy hot for her. If she’s smart, she’ll play the field – er, realm – before settling down.

Azrael:  *jaw clenches* You –

Damien: *smiles sweetly* Can we move on?

What are you passionate about these days?

Azrael: *cheeks redden* Well…

Damien: *jaw goes slack, eyes deaden* Just say it, dude. Everyone already knows it’s Death.

Azrael: Okay, yes, it’s Death. She’s amazing.

Damien: *wicked gleam fills his eyes* You get all hot and bothered around her, is that what you’re saying?

Azrael: None of your business.

Damien: Eh, you’re a dud. You even admitted it.

Azrael: *says proudly* I’ve had no complaints from Death.

Damien: She’s too sweet to say anything…

Azrael: *smiles to himself* Did you happen to notice the double rainbow the other day? That was because Death and I –

Damien: *growls* Yeah, fine, we get it. You did it twice. Let’s move on.

Azrael: *sighs and smiles dreamily, gazing off into the distance*

Who should play you in a film?

Azrael: Great question. Paul Walker is perfect for the role. In fact, Cate Masters already planned the entire cast. You can view the Casting Call on her blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2012/08/casting-call-death-is-bitch.html

Damien: Talk about perfect casting – Colin Farrel, man. He’s like my doppelganger. Seriously. Don’t you think so? Stunning, intense, a babe magnet all the way.

What are your quirkiest quirks?

Azrael: *screws up face in thought* Quirky? Hmmm…

Damien: A wasted question, on him. Now me… I have some quirks for you, sweetie. We don’t have enough time in this interview. *leers* Maybe I could show you later? I’ll get your number.

What would we find hidden in your closet?

Azrael: Hidden? I hide nothing. Maybe some dust bunnies.

Damien: *waves him away* Shush, you’re boring me to death. *leans forward* Now things are getting interesting. In my closet, you’ll find every sex toy imaginable. Not that I need any help getting the ladies off, but I love ratcheting up the excitement, you know? I can show you that too. Later. *winks*

Do you have a favorite quote?

Azrael: Mark Twain said, “Always do right.”

Damien: *yawns* Quote? I dunno, maybe ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’?

Azrael: “Every sin is an attempt to fly from emptiness.” Simone Weil

Damien: Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before." Mae West

Azrael: “Goodness is its own reward.”

Damien: “God helps those who help themselves” So that’s what I do, I help myself to whatever.

Azrael: You’re a lost cause, demon.

What do you think makes a good story?

Azrael: A satisfying plot, and of course, a happy ending.

Damien: An irresistible antihero. That’s me. Check it out. *winks*

Azrael: A kickass heroine. Like Death. She kicked your ass, didn’t she?

Damien: Why yes, she did kiss my ass, among other things.

Azrael:  Not kiss, kick. Kick!

Damien: *kicks Azrael* There you go. I don’t know why you’d ask me to kick you, but like I said before, you’re one sick dude. Can we move on now?

What do you do to unwind and relax?

Azrael: *rubs sore leg* My soul is instantly healed just being with Death. She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.

Damien: *winces* I find a hot babe to boink. Lately I’ve been really stressed, so I’ve needed a little *clears throat* extra unwinding.

Azrael: His way of saying he likes orgies. And not just lately.

Damien: Hey, I know how to work it, dude. The ladies love it.

If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?

Azrael and Damien say at the same time: Death

Damien: Why would you apologize?

Azrael: For not being with her when she needed me most. But the dire situation demanded I hunt for Sisyphus and you instead.

Damien: Aww, did I ruin your big come-on to Death? Bet you had it planned for centuries, didn’t you?

Azrael: I did, yes. But it worked out great in the end, so you don’t have to apologize to me.

Damien: I had no intention of apologizing to you, dude. Next question.

What’s your biggest regret?

Azrael: Waiting centuries to ask Death on a date.

Damien: Yeah, I bet. *chuckles*

Azrael: You have no regrets?

Damien: For what?

Azrael: Your multitude of mistakes?

Damien: What’s the point in regretting them now? It’s done. I move on. Let’s move this along, too.

What one word best describes you?

Azrael: Integrity.

Damien: Fan-fucking-tastic! *grins*

Azrael: *mumbles* You mean fuckhead.

Damien: *feigns shock* Why Azrael, I can’t believe you used that word. I’m calling your superior.

Azrael: Get real, demon. I have no superior. *pumps fist*

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Azrael: *reddens* Well, Death and I have been experimenting... Discretion and valor demand I not reveal anymore.

Damien: *exasperation morphs to mischief* Guilt? Don’t know what you’re talking about. If something gives you pleasure, I say go for it.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Azrael: I’m not exactly a ladies’ man. I get tongue-tied around women I like.

Damien: *bursts out laughing* Tongue tied! you mean like this? *twists his forked tongue into a pretzel braid* Babes love the split tongue effect, too, if you know what I mean.

Azrael: *rises* This is a waste of time. Interview over. I’m going to find Death.

Damien: *rises* Hey, I’ll come too. She’d love a threesome.

Azrael: *bares teeth at Damien. His wings whoosh open, and he rockets into the sky*

Damien: *blows raspberries* Show-off. *cozies up to interviewer* Now, how about your number? We have a lot to cover yet… Hey, where are you going? Oh, whatever. I’ll round up some other babes. Adios! *whirls away. A shadowy cloud fills the spot where he stood, then fades*

Find out more about Death Is A Bitch at: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2011/04/death-is-bitch-dark-paranormal.html

Death Is A Bitch is available at:

Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=598&osCsid=1rs5de21jcfh2ov3ikjhd26tk4

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Death-is-a-Bitch-ebook/dp/B008RQFJEQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344011853&sr=1-1&keywords=cate+masters%2C+death+is+a+bitch

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deathisabitch-904931-140.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-is-a-bitch-cate-masters/1112332842?ean=2940014956710

Coffee Time Romance: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/decadent-publishing-c-93/death-is-a-bitch-p-8338

Overall:

I love a great mix of immortals, angels demons and a bit of soul sucking when things get a little dicey. It's that zombie part of me that just pumped her fist in the air when I started reading this book. Death is kind of bitchy, but that is so part of her charm. I support bitchy. It is something I do well, if I do say so myself. 

Cate Masters can craft some words. She does a great job with the edgy quality of the story, especially as you are just getting sucked in and introduced to the characters. The only thing I can really say was I wanted to be shown more things instead of being told about them. Let me see more grit. More smut. Give it to me. I can handle it! Lol. As a writer myself, this is one thing that comes with time. All the elements are there. You have characters that rock, dialogue and action that flow and a plot that works. I just want more in depth feeling and an all encompassing reading experience.

That said, this was a great book. 4/5 stars for sure. I am going to be watching for more from Ms. Masters. I love the premise of this book and the mythology was awesome. It was compelling and it was hard to put it down to do stuff like, oh...go to work...hmmm. 

Thanks for being on the blog today Cate! That character interview was fun!

Author Bio:

Cate Masters loves romance with a dash of magic and mayhem! Multipublished in contemporary to historical, sweet to erotic, fantasy/dark fantasy to speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”

When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Cate loves to hear from readers! Friend her on Facebook or Goodreads, or email her at: cate.masters AT gmail.com

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

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Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2944596.Cate_Masters

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Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Masters/e/B002OBQ98A/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1331753999

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