Wednesday, July 22, 2015

When Shadows Fall & The Darkness Comes by Bruce Blake

Series: Small Gods #1 & 2
Author: Bruce Blake
Genre: Fantasy, Magic

When Shadows Fall #1
Summary:
A hundred hundred seasons have turned since the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky, leaving the land to mankind alone.

For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom's savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It's his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can't possibly exist—and save mankind.

But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.

Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?

The Darkness Comes #2
Summary:
When shadows fall, the darkness comes...

A disgraced Goddess Mother wanders blind and alone, praying for her agony to end. When a helpful apostle finds her, could it truly be salvation, or does worse torment lie ahead?

A sister struggles to understand a prophecy that may not be meant for her while her brother fights for his life. If the firstborn child of the rightful king dies, will it spell the end for everyone?

Darkness and shadow creep across the land in the form of a fierce clay golem animated by its sculptor's blood. It seeks a mythical creature whose sacrifice portends the return of ancient evil banished from the world long ago. With its return will come the fall of man.

As the game unfolds, the Small Gods watch from the sky, waiting for their time to come and their chance to rise again. They wait for the fall of shadows, the coming of the darkness.

They wait for night to descend.

When Shadows Fall #1
Ine’vesi stumbled out of the tunnel into what had once been a picturesque courtyard filled with gardens for prayer and fountains for bathing. Now, instead of a place of beauty, it was a conflagration. The water for washing billowed from the fountains in clouds of white steam, the flowers and trees were ash, all but one of the Pillars of Life had fallen, and the river itself boiled and bubbled in the heat of the inferno.

The priest raised his arm to his face, protecting himself from the blaze as he fell to his knees, the roll of parchment pressed to his chest. His nostrils flared at the stench of his own hair melting, the stink sickening him, but he ignored it, thankful he’d paused in the channel to set the words of his dreams on the paper.

He lowered his arm and held the scroll on his lap, closed his eyes. Flames licked at the sleeves of his robe, crackled in the grass on which he knelt. It singed his flesh, but he’d prepared his entire life to concentrate on the task that needed his attention to the exclusion of everything else, including himself.

Ine’vesi ran his reddening fingers along the surface of the rolled parchment. Its coarse texture instilled hope in him and he brought to mind the solemn, sparse temple in Teva Stavoklis. He imagined each grain in the wood of its posts and beams, every rock and pebble strewn across its dirt floor. Bundles of protection herbs hung on spikes protruding from the walls; greasy smoke snaked up from tallow candles. He breathed deeply and, instead of scenting the blazing gardens, he inhaled the unsavory odor of the burning fat.

The priest opened his eyes and found himself in the temple. He rose to his feet, knees creaking and vague pain crawling across the surface of his flesh, but he ignored it, concentrating on the table set in the middle of the room.

When he took a step toward it, pain shot up his spine. Ine’vesi gritted his teeth and pressed on, covering the distance with a stumbling gait. He reached the table and leaned against its edge, raised his hand to place the scroll upon it. Flames flickered along his sleeve, and he fought the urge to shake his arm in an attempt to extinguish them. They’d not be put out.

With greater effort than expected, he extended his arm and set the roll of parchment down. The flames on his sleeve leaped to his hair and he released his grip on the scroll lest the blaze make its way to the paper. As soon as his fingertips left the surface of the scroll, the humble place of worship disappeared. Fire filled the priest’s vision and the stink of burning flesh replaced the scent of protection herbs and melting tallow.

He stumbled back, his foot teetering on the edge of the boiling river. A bolt of lightning rode a thunderclap down from the sky, striking the base of the last of the nine Pillars of Life: Faith. The column tumbled, and Ine’vesi watched it fall toward him. He raised his flaming hands and, an instant later, the heavy stone crushed him.

On the last day the Small Gods walked the land, fire fell like rain from the sky.

The Darkness Comes #2
Kuneprius attempted slinging each Brother over their saddle, intending to lash them in place and return them to the temple for burial, but they proved too heavy for him. He struggled Brother Fildrian up, the effort leaving him drained and panting, and worried that, if he took the time to do the same for the others, he’d be discovered. So it was the young Kuneprius rode through the gates of Teva Stavoklis with a child in his arms, four horses on leads, and a dead man lashed to a saddle.

Brothers and priests were already gathered in the square, though the leading edge of sunrise had just grazed the horizon. The sky perched on the cusp of the earth was crimson as the blood he’d seen spilled; the Small Gods swam in the ocean of darkness above that, waiting to surrender to the light of day.

Hands took control of Kuneprius’ steed, offered him help out of the saddle. He accepted, his sore and weary backside sliding off the smooth leather. When his feet hit the ground, his knees threatened to buckle, and another hand grabbed him by the elbow, helped him keep his feet. He glanced from one man to the next, realizing he knew each of them, but not recognizing any. A priest with his face hidden by a drooping cowl stepped forward and Kuneprius extended his arms, ready to hand over the child. The priest didn’t take the babe. Instead, he led the apprentice away from the throng of Brothers occupied with unlashing Fildrian from the saddle.

Three priests followed as the man led Kuneprius on a winding journey through the streets, past stone abodes and empty fountains, to a low building with no windows. To those unfamiliar, it appeared more storehouse than place of worship.

They crossed the threshold, as Kuneprius did every morning to pray for the return of the Small Gods, but didn’t stop to kneel on one of the threadbare prayer carpets. The hooded priest led him through the sanctuary room to a wide, stout door at the back, where they paused.

Kuneprius’ head spun and his belly churned, though his body had taken steps to ensure nothing remained inside it during his return. The scent of melting fat hung thick in the sanctuary room, given off by the squat tallow candles flickering and hissing on stands in each corner. For an instant, he thought his stomach might rebel again at their odor, but he forgot his beleaguered gut when the priest raised his hand and rapped on the door.

The baby, who’d been miraculously sleeping, shifted in Kuneprius’ arms, as though sensing the lad’s discomfort. He’d often wondered what lay hidden behind the short, wide door but now, as he stood on the precipice of finding out, he decided he’d prefer not to know. Unfortunately, the choice didn’t belong to him.

“Enter,” a voice within said, and a shiver ran along Kuneprius’ spine.

The priest pushed the portal open. Beyond, the chamber appeared similar to the sanctuary room, except much smaller. Bundles of herbs hung from spikes driven into the beams supporting the ceiling and thin tapers flickered in the corners. A table sat in the center of the room, a roll of yellowed parchment atop it. Beside it knelt Kristeus, the high priest.

In his twelve turns as an apprentice, Kuneprius had never laid eyes on the man or even heard of the door being opened. Seasons of wondering if someone truly lived behind the door had come to an end.

He hesitated in the doorway, gaping and waiting for the priest who’d led him there to enter, but he didn’t. A moment passed, expectation hanging in the air, before one of the other hooded priests behind Kuneprius laid his hand on the lad’s back and ushered him across the threshold.

The door clunked closed and the apprentice turned to find the others had left him alone with the high priest. The baby wriggled in his arms, then settled. Kuneprius gulped.

“This is the babe?”

Kuneprius knew the hooded figure spoke the words, but they seemed to float down to his ears from the ceiling. Before answering, his eyes flickered around the barren room, noting the lack of honey pot or personal items—only herbs, tapers, table, scroll, high priest.

“Y…yes.”

The hood moved minutely, as though the invisible head inside nodded.

“And the others are dead? Killed by the women?”

The words dropped on Kuneprius flat and monotone, except the last: women. It came out twisted and skewed, spat more than spoken. Kuneprius’ throat tightened with the urge to sob, forcing him to nod rather than attempt speaking. A dozen heartbeats passed and he thought the high priest might not have seen the gesture.

“Yes,” he said, his tone quiet.

Kristeus tilted his head back, revealing a chin and mouth, but nothing further. Lips pale to the point of transparency moved, the yellow teeth behind them clicking together twice before he spoke again.

“Bring him to me.”

The High Priest held out his arms, the sleeves of his robe falling away as he extended his hands. Skin as pallid as his lips; nails long, curved, yellowed, and cracked. Kuneprius hesitated. The baby stirred again, squeaked in his sleep.

“Come, boy.”

Kristeus gestured with his fingers and Kuneprius found his feet carrying him the short distance to the middle of the room, despite not having asked them to do so. He passed the baby into the High Priest’s hands and the child’s eyelids fluttered open. Kristeus regarded the babe for a moment, then lay him on the floor and bowed his head, words whispering from within the hood. Kuneprius resisted the urge to fidget.

Time crawled. The apprentice glanced away from the child, saw the herbs hung on the spikes were fresh, the floor swept, the walls free of soot from the tapers’ greasy smoke.

Someone comes in here.

The baby gurgled and the air in the room grew warmer on the lad’s skin. Kuneprius snapped his gaze back to the High Priest and found the man looking at him instead of the baby. He shivered despite the rising temperature.

“You have done well, apprentice. I have seen the coming of this child and you have done what needed to be done to make it so. Henceforth, you are Brother Kuneprius.”

The boy’s eyes widened and a flutter of pride pushed aside the nausea gripping his midsection. Never had an apprentice been named Brother before reaching their fourteenth turn. Eight seasons yet remained before Kuneprius reached that age. He thought it must be expected of him to respond, so he parted his lips to thank the High Priest, but Kristeus raised a hand, stopping him before he spoke.

“You will no longer be part of the liberating expeditions.” He slipped his hands under the baby, his long nails scraping on the wooden floor. “From this time forward, you have a much more important role to fulfill.”

Kristeus picked the babe off the floor, held him up as though examining a ripe melon rather than gazing on a living thing. Kuneprius wondered if the High Priest viewed everything in this manner, but put the thought from his mind. The air in the room prickled against his skin, standing the short hairs on the back of his neck on end. His sight wavered and, for an instant, he saw flames raining from the sky, trees burning, a river boiling. The hallucination disappeared as quickly as it came.

“Henceforth, you will be caretaker to the child,” Kristeus said, raising the baby into the air. “For you have brought to me Vesisdenperos, the sculptor. The one born to ensure the return of the Small Gods.”

The sweat on Kuneprius’ brow went cold.

Author Bio:
Bruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest coffee shop to work on his short stories and novels.

Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" than he does shovelling (and watch out for those pesky double l's). The father of two, Bruce is also the trophy husband of a burlesque diva.

Bruce's first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon. Another short, "Yardwork," was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod. Bruce's first Icarus Fell novel, "On Unfaithful Wings", was published in Dec., 2011 while the follow up, "All Who Wander Are Lost", came out in July, 2012. The third in the series, "Secrets of the Hanged Man", came out in July, 2013. The first part of his Khirro's Journey epic fantasy trilogy, "Blood of the King", was released Sept., 2012, book 2, "Spirit of the King," in Dec., 2012, and book 3, "Heart of the King," in Feb., 2013.

The two books in the Small Gods series, "When Shadows Fall" and "The Darkness Comes", were released in 2013, after which Bruce took a year out to concentrate on his family and career. Book three in the Small Gods series is Bruce Blake's current project.


FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE  /  AMAZON



When Shadows Fall #1
AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK  /  B&N

The Darkness Comes #2
AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK  /  B&N

Brought to you by: 

Choices by Sarah Ann Walker

Title: Choices
Author: Sarah Ann Walker
Genre: Adult, Psychological Romance
Release Date: July 3, 2015
Summary:
"Crying, I can't help but realize, nothing in life can destroy you faster than your own choices..."

Samantha Newman is awesome.
She has best friends, a soul mate, and the love of her life.
She is loved, and she loves in return.
She is sexy, intelligent, successful, and happy.
People gravitate toward her, and live for her love...
Until she has an accident.

Recovering, things begin changing in and around her.
Samantha is no longer loved and trusted, and she's no longer happy.
When her life becomes little more than grey darkness,
She slowly loses everyone who ever mattered to her.
Through a series of choices made,
Samantha become nothing but a memory of her former self.






Author Bio:
Sarah Ann Walker is a Scottish Canadian who was raised in Canada, where she attended McMaster University as an English major.  In 2002 Sarah met and married her American husband and they chose to remain in Canada together where they raise their son.
In the summer of 2012, during a manic two week period Sarah was transformed into the main character of 'I am HER...' released November 2012.  The sequel 'THIS is me...' followed in November 2013.  In May 2014 Sarah released the dark 'My Dear Stranger', followed by LOST in November 2014.  Sarah's newest release 'Choices...' was released July 3rd 2015 to rave reviews.

In her real life Sarah is an absolute junkie for coffee, high heels, and dark chocolate with sea salt.


FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE






***BONUS GIVEAWAY: Sarah will gift an e-copy of
Choices...to ONE Blog Follower that posts on her Facebook page
 the NAME OF THE BLOG that sent them and LIKES her page 
(she will randomly choose this winner and send the prize).***



Brought to you by:

Release Day Blitz: Possessed Box Set by Coco Cadence

Title: Possessed Box Set
Series: Possessed
Author: Coco Cadence
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 22, 2015
Summary:
Possessed - Part One
My boss is an asshole.
I’d take off my heels and throw them at his face, if they weren’t so expensive.

Why? Because my boss, the sexy, billionaire bad boy Leo King, wants me to be his wife.

That’s right. His wife. Except, it isn’t real. It’s all pretend so his family believes it, and I’m supposed to go along with it.

Asshole doesn’t even begin to describe him, and it’s only going to get worse. Especially because his cocky attitude and sudden interest in my private life make it difficult to concentrate on something other than his sexual innuendos. I always do what he wants, and we both know it. It’s not like I have a choice. Agree or get fired.

I’m going to need a drink … Or twenty.

Possessed - Part Two
I thought it couldn’t get any worse when my boss, the billionaire bad boy Leo King, blackmailed me into becoming his fake wife. Turns out he has secrets up his sleeve that put a whole new spin on the word douchebag.

Not only did he put my job on the line, my heart has now also become his playground. He seduced me once, but I refuse to fall for his lies again.

If only I had enough chocolate to distract me from his sexy presence. Something tells me he won’t give up the fight to claim me again.

Is he really only into one-night stands or is he lying to get into my pants? Only one way to find out ... Time to buy more booze.

Possessed Part Three
My boss, the billionaire bad boy Leo King, not only tricked me into being his fake-wife, but the dirty secret he’s been keeping from me is now also exposed.

I can’t believe I fell for his lies, and worse, I still want him. He says he loves me, but does that fix everything?

The joke is on me. His crazily hot presence is impossible for me to deny. Fighting temptation or risking it all; the choice is simple, but the consequences are tough.

However, when new revelations threaten to break us apart, there is only one thing I can do: Stock up on chocolate and sit this fucker out until the end.



Author Bio:
Coco Cadence is an erotic romance writer, who loves cocky heroes and smartass heroines. She adores happy ever after’s as much as her fans do, and she will never stop writing them. In her free time she enjoys reading a good book, playing with her cute dogs, and spending quality time with her soon-to-be husband, but you can always find her drifting off into her mind to think of new stories.


FACEBOOK  /  WEBSITE  /  NEWSLETTER
GOOGLE+  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS




Brought to you by: FACEBOOK  /  BLOG 

Blyss Trilogy by JC Cliff

Series: Blyss Trilogy
Author: JC Cliff
Genre: Dark Romance

Blyss #1
Summary:
Blyss is something the world has been trying to create since the beginning of time, the ultimate aphrodisiac, a drug used against women with one single purpose in mind ....

Julianna Oakley has just finished up her junior year at college and flies home to spend her last free summer with her father on their prestigious Georgia estate. Julianna isn't the stereotypical rich girl, a spoiled prima-donna. She's down to earth and has an independent streak a mile wide, insisting she makes her own way in this world.

Nick has been setting the stage for a long time, and sparks fly when their separate worlds collide. She is Nick's ultimate obsession, and he will stop at nothing to own her.

When Travis, Nick's right hand man, lays his eyes on the prize, all hell breaks loose. He should know Nick is playing for keeps, and while Julianna is fighting for her freedom, a lifetime full of secrets and twisted perceptions slowly unravel as Julianna gets caught in the fray.

Blyssful Lies #2
Summary:
Learning how to survive in her new world, Julianna has no choice but to play “The game of Life.” Except it's Nick's game, and his rules apply. Captivity, drugs, and submission are the cards that are dealt, and it's a losing game. 

Biding her time as she waits for her rescuers, it's far from smooth sailing, because all too quickly the rules abruptly change as Nick takes matters into his own hands…

As the drama unfolds, and hesitating to interfere, Travis has everything to lose should he decide to step in, including his life.
 It's opposition at its finest – freedom versus control as Nick and Julianna face the ultimate battle of wills.

While Travis has the uncanny ability to manipulate her with a single touch, Nick struggles to conquer her body, mind, and soul.

It's every man for themselves as each have their own secret agenda, including Julianna, whose plan is simple: survive.

Blyssfully Undone #3
Summary:
This is Julianna’s story. She lived a normal life until she was about to turn twenty-one, and then all hell broke loose. Years of diabolical scheming unraveling at the seams, unleashing torrents of lies and deceit. The whirlwind of chaos and heartbreak will forever change the game.

Her chosen fate is one of stellar proportions, and she struggles to keep sane, trying to hold it together every step of the way. As the matrix of her concealed past unfolds to deliver the final blow, rationality and sanity begin to take on a definition and meaning of its own.
Nick thinks he’s the night in shining armor while Travis believes he will be enough to save her from herself, but does she even want to be saved?
Both men want her. Both men love her, and both men want to claim her, keeping her for themselves. But, as usual, Julianna has other plans.




Blyss #1

Blyssful Lies #2

Blyssfully Undone #3

Author Bio:
J.C. Cliff is an independent author who strives to deliver a strong story line, keeping the reader captivated throughout. She loves the element of surprise, creating unique twists and turns while creating thrill and suspense. Oh yes, and lets not forget, making a little explicit romance happen in between.

She's a die hard 80's rock'n roll fan, and loves a good concert! JC wears many hats. They include wife of 24 years, 4 children, small business owner, writer, reader, and what ever else is required of her. She loves taboo stories with twists and turns, and full of suspense.

When she's not writing mind-blowing twists and turns which include erotica, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include: offshore fishing, learning anything new, sewing, spending time at the beach, or the mountains.


FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE



Blyss #1(Currently Free)
AMAZON CA  /  AMAZON AU  /  B&N

Blyssful Lies #2
AMAZON CA  /  AMAZON AU  /  B&N

Blyssfully Undone #3
AMAZON CA  /  AMAZON AU  /  B&N





Brought to you by: 

Release Day Blitz: Dishonorable Love by Savannah Stewart

Title: Dishonorable Love
Author: Savannah Stewart
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Summary:
Love, Loss, and Lies.

My name’s MacKenzie Cole and what I thought was a simple loving life with my husband, Sergeant Thomas Cole, was anything but that. After his death during a raid overseas I learned that our life together was full of twists and turns that would send me into a whirlwind of trying to figure out the truth behind all of the lies.

When Thomas’ partner from the Marines, Sergeant Julian Cooper, comes into my life it begins to unravel everything that I used to know and pushes me to make finding the truth my number one priority. But the more time I spend with Julian, the harder it becomes to ignore the attraction that I have for him that is burning stronger than anything I felt for Thomas.

Is it possible to overcome the deceit Thomas left me with on my own, or will Julian be the person to pull me from the ashes so that I can start living again?


     I clutched the folded flag in my arms as the first notes of “Taps” began. Twenty-one gun shots rang out throughout the cemetery as the sounds of people crying for the loss of Sergeant Thomas Cole echoed through the warm breezy air. I wasn’t crying for Sergeant Thomas Cole, I was crying for the loss of my other half, my best friend, my husband.
     I cleared my throat as the overwhelming smell of his cologne filled my nostrils. I frantically looked around, thinking it was all some sick joke and that Thomas was standing off in the distance waiting for the precise moment to surprise me with his arrival and beg for my forgiveness for playing such a cruel and heartbreaking joke. I’m not sure how long I sat there scanning the cemetery for a glimpse of Thomas when a man’s voice pulled me back to reality.
     “MacKenzie Cole?” I turned my head towards his voice and sucked in a breath from the close proximity of the man sitting beside me. I hadn’t been this close to another man’s face since the last time I was near my husband, the day he left for his last tour of duty.
     “Yeah?” I sat back in my chair, putting a little more distance between me and the stranger. He was dressed in the same uniform Thomas was buried in.
     “I’m so sorry for your loss…” He choked back his own emotions and extended a hand for me to shake. His sandy brown eyes were glistening from unshed tears. “Sergeant Julian Cooper.”
     As soon as his name left his lips I knew exactly who he was. He was Thomas’ right hand man during the last tour of duty. Every time I talked to Thomas he spoke about Julian and how good of a man and soldier he was. I slid my trembling hand into his.
     “Nice to meet you, Julian.” A sad smile pulled my lips up just enough to look friendly instead of completely broken.
     “Thomas and I were on the same mission when…” Julian trailed off.
     “It’s okay,” I placed a hand on his shoulder, still clutching the flag with my other arm. “I know what happened that day.” My voice sounded stronger than I actually was.
     Julian’s eyes were full of sorrow and understanding. “He was a helluva Marine.” The strength and honor was laced thickly in his voice as he spoke of Thomas.
     “That he was.” I smiled again at the memory of how much Thomas loved fighting for our country. He was brave, loving, and always believed in the mission of keeping our country safe from harm. I loved that about him.
     The wind blew in my face and the smell of Thomas’ cologne hit me hard once again. I coughed a couple times as tears pricked my eyes. “Are you okay?” Julian asked, concerned from my small coughing spell.
     “I’m—I’m okay,” I lied as I realized the cologne was coming from Julian. I closed my eyes and took in the familiar smell that reminded me so much of my husband. It was almost too much to bear.
     “I know you have a lot on your plate, and I don’t want to keep you.” I opened my eyes to find Julian standing. “It was nice to finally meet you, MacKenzie.” He smiled sadly. “I’m sorry it was under these circumstances.”
     I stood and placed the flag under my left arm. “Thank you for being a good friend of Thomas’, and thank you for coming today.” A set of tears rolled down my face and I quickly wiped them away.
     He nodded. “You don’t have to thank me, ma’am. Thomas saved me on numerous occasions; I just wish I could have done the same for him.”
     The thickness of my emotions was closing off my throat. A large sob ripped through my body as I took in the truth of the day. Thomas was gone, his brothers-in-arms couldn’t save him, and I was officially all alone again. The trembling in my legs was so severe that I thought I could collapse at any moment; my arm reached for the wooden chair as I slowly lowered myself back into it.
     “I didn’t mean to upset you.” He leaned forward and took one of my hands in his.
     “It’s not you,” I managed to say through my heartache. “I just don’t know where to go from here,” I admitted.
     Julian took a seat beside me again and allowed the silence to fill the air. He knew there was nothing he could say that would make me feel better; I just wished that there was a way to bring back Thomas. My life was changing and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it except move forward.
     As my tears dried up I watched the leaves hanging from a tree a few yards away swaying in the light wind. Julian was still sitting beside me, taking in the silence just as I was. I shook myself out of my trance and turned away from the tree to look at him. “What are your plans while you’re in town?”
     “I don’t have any.” He turned his attention to my face. “As soon as the hospital released me, I came straight here.”
     “You were in the hospital?”
     “I was hurt during the raid.” Julian diverted his eyes to the area where Thomas lay.
     “I—I didn’t know.” Tears stung my eyes once again.
     “I’ll be okay.” His grin didn’t touch his eyes. “It’s a pretty deep flesh wound, but it’ll heal.”
     As awful as it sounded, I had never thought about the others that were injured that day. Was it selfish of me? I wasn’t sure. I was still learning how to cope with the news that Thomas wouldn’t be coming home ever again. Guilt twisted in my gut at hearing that Julian had been injured during the same raid that ended Thomas’ life. I wondered how many others were hurt, but I was too afraid to ask.
     The sound of a phone buzzing caught both of our attention. Julian dug in his front left pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “I apologize.” He typed away on the screen before placing it back in the same pocket. “I have to go.” His eyes met mine for a second before standing.
     I stood as well and wrapped my arms around him tightly. “Thank you for sitting with me.”
     Julian hesitated before hugging me back. “You don’t have to thank me. I would have done anything for Thomas.” He took a step back, and I picked the flag up from the chair I had been sitting in. “I’ll be in town for a few days, if you need anything.” Julian pulled a pen from his pocket and scribbled his phone number on the inside of my free hand.
     “Okay, thanks,” I smiled. We said our goodbyes and I watched as the only person who was as close to my husband as I was disappeared over the hill.

Savannah’s Upcoming Signings 


Author Bio:
From the Most Beautiful Small Town of America & the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky, Savannah Stewart writes Contemporary Romance, New Adult, and Romantic Suspense novels. She is very much a Leo, with one fur baby named, Jack. She's a Book-a-holic who loves music, tattoos, photography, singing, writing, & laughing. One of her favorite quotes is "Love is the beauty of the soul."


FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE  /  TSU
INSTAGRAM  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS



AMAZON AU  /  B&N  /  KOBO  /  GOODREADS TBR





Brought to you by: