Review: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon by Edgar Calabia Samar

Title: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon
(Janus Silang #1)
Author: Edgar Calabia Samar
Publication: April 2014
Publisher: Adarna House
Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fantasy
Format: Paperback, 179 pages
Source: Publisher for blog tour
Language: Filipino

In a TALA Online tournament in the town of Balanga, all the players fell dead, save for Janus. Soon after that, teen after teen suffered deaths in computer shops around the country. Janus was contacted by someone who calls himself Joey, apparently another survivor of TALA like him. Janus did not expect the truths he would discover, weaving him into the mystery of the RPG that enthralled him—and into the legend of the Tiyanak from Tábon!

In one of my previous posts, I think, I've already mentioned that it has already been almost a year since I first learned about this book, which was still a project at that moment. At that time, I find it clever and ingenious. I mean, is there a Young Adult book written in Filipino out in stores right now? Forgive me, but I can't think of any. If ever there is/are, I apologize that I haven't heard of it/them. Well, if you count Wattpad books as YA, then I'll trim my classification to Fantasy books suited for young readers.

It has always been my battle cry that youngsters nowadays don't read because they've been forced to read books they won't enjoy. (Take that, DEPEd! #SorryNotSorry) No, I'm not saying that I didn't like Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura and Rizal's Novels, I mean... those are Classics! But if you are bound to face countless class reports and compelled to illustrate every chapter, you'll also be thankful that you can skip the printed word and just opt to watch the movie version instead. I can't remember a time when reading has not been a task but a luxury we students enjoy, a time well-spent, a moment we can't wait for like Recess. I can talk passionately about this because it's not a very long time ago that I've been in the position the kids today are in. Moreover, I've always pointed out that young people don't read books written in Filipino because most of the published books either just talk about love, family, sacrifice, pain and struggles -- concepts they can probably relate to or not but they won't definitely take delight in. Or maybe, just maybe, some of the reading materials we present to them weren't written for them specifically. And that is why I laud Adarna House for publishing this book. Mad props!

I've been a gamer myself. I used to go to computer shops to play Counter Strike in elementary, but what really hooked me was Gunbound, I don't know if any of you still remember that game but it has really been popular back in 2006. Don't let its cute GUI fool you because I've met serious gamers around the world in the Gunbound arena. It's not just two players firing at each other, this artillery game is all about strategic calculation. However, as the fuss died down and DOTA captured the hearts of every gamer I know at that, I let the girl in me bloomed into a lady and shied away from RPG and online games. Okay, let's just be truthful here, DOTA is beyond me. My then 5 year old brother (who will turn 11 in June) understands it better than I do! I've tried so hard, but believe me, this brain I have just won't accept it.

In this book, Janus and his friends chose another online battle arena over DOTA, Terra Anima Legion of Anitos (TALA), a game developed by three Filipinos only known to many as ECS, LOG and JAP.  TALA plays a huge part in the narrative of this book. Online games lure kids and every kid at heart, its magnet is something no one can turn away from and that is why Janus and his friends can't stop playing TALA, be it just for bragging rights or self fulfillment, they know they need to find Tala and finish the game.

Like every other game, TALA has different levels and a player must compete and win against Philippine mythical creatures like the Tiyanak on Level 1.

Image from Talarchives.net

Every player needs a BAT or the Bayani-Anito-Tandem to combat the monsters on every level and because of TALA's intricate game design, every player is assured that no BAT is alike.

Image from Talarchives.net

A player can choose between a Bagani or a Pusong for their Bayani and their Anito can either be a Diwata or a Nuno.

Image from Talarchives.net

But the mystery will begin to unfold as Janus and his friend Harold alongside with four other gamers vie for a place in the nationwide TALA tournament and everyone died as they reach a certain level, save for Janus. The question is: Is the role-playing game really instrumental in the death of Harold and the others? Another gamer Joey, who contacted Janus affirms the theory, but should we really believe him?

I had my 10 year old brother read this before I did. I felt he'll appreciate this because he is an RPG addict like the protagonist of the story. He kept talking about the game and how to play it while reading and that to me is a testament that the author did an awesome job on world building. Well, it is safe to say that he created Janus's universe in a way even young readers can grasp and imagine it. I can say that at a time it is almost believable that I myself had to think about its implication to the real world I'm in. What if, what if the legend of the Tiyanak from Tábon were true?

I don't know if you've already read the first chapter but if ever you haven't I suggest you do. It just doesn't open Janus's story but it's a sneak peek into the life he leads -- a look into his family, friends, environment and who Janus really is.

The book is written in third person narrative as opposed to other Young Adult novels that are in first person but this only allowed the author the freedom to explore not only the thoughts of the protagonist but other events as well.

My instincts tell me that I must stop here and just invite you to the book discussion I will lead next week (I shall announce the venue very soon) or else I won't be able to stop myself from blurting out spoilers. Too. Much. Feels. I can't even....

Let me just leave you with this...
I've long concluded that the books written by The Edgar Calabia Samar are not just manuscripts but a mixture of love, passion and hardwork. Reading his work has always been an experience and Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon didn't stray away from that streak. It is exciting, thought-provoking and action-packed I just hate I need to wait until November for the second book.

Guest Blog: Edgar Calabia Samar

Ikinalulugod kong ipakilala sa inyong lahat ang isa sa mga paborito kong mángangathâ, si Edgar Calabia Samar.
Note: To my international readers, this entire post is written in Filipino.

Ang Talinghaga sa mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas

Sa una kong nobelang Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog, sinikap kong magbuo ng isang mito tungkol sa mga dakilang manunulat: na anak sila ng isang diwata sa isang mortal. At bagaman hindi nagiging diwata ang anak ng diwata, hindi rin sila nagiging ganap na karaniwang tao. Kaya marami sa kanila, káhit nabubuhay sa mundong ito, parang laging lumilipad sa kung saan ang isip. Parang laging may kinakapang kung ano ang puso. Mananatili sila sa mundong ito subalit hindi rin nila mararamdaman na kabilang sila rito kaya’t patuloy silang kakatha ng mga daigdig na ito-subalit-hindi-rin-ito sa pag-asa na matatagpuan ang kung anuman iyong hindi rin naman nila mapangalanan.

Samantala, nang isulat ko ang ikalawa kong nobelang Sa Kasunod ng 909, nagtuon naman ako sa mga manananggal, itong larawan ng ating sinaunang tákot, na pumapainlanlang sa mga gabi ng matinding gutom, at iniiwan ang kalahati ng katawan sa lupa. Sa isang banda, may matandang pangarap na pantao na tinutupad ang larawan ng manananggal: ang pagnanasang makalipad, at tanawin ang mga bagay mula sa itaas. Pero dahil din doon kaya’t hindi rin sila makapamumuhay bílang ganap na tao. Tulad ng anak ng diwata, namumuhay sila bilang iba. Nagbibitak at nahahati ang loob nilang magkasabay na nakatuntong sa mundo at pumapailanlang mula rito.

Iyon sa palagay ko ang bisa ng ating mga kuwento at karunungang bayan na pinagmulan ng mga tauhang ito—ang lagi’t laging ipaalala sa atin na may iba pang mundo. Sa isang banda, ganito rin ang bisa ng talinghaga sa ating mga sinaunang tula, na kasintanda marahil ng kuwento ng mga diwata’t manananggal. Talinghaga ang kapasidad ng kamalayan sa pamamagitan ng malikhaing pahayag na makita o tingnan ang isang bagay bilang iba pang bagay. Niyayanig nito kung gayon ang daigdig ng literal—ang pragmatikong mundo ng naririto, hayag at kongkreto—upang maghain ng bisyon, ng kaisipan na nagmumula subalit lumalampas sa dinaranas ng mga pandama.

Para sa pinakabago kong nobela at kauna-unahan kong YA novel, ang Si Janus Sílang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon, isang alamat ng Tiyanak naman ang binuno ko. (Siyempre, hindi ko sasabihin ngayon kung ano iyong nabuo ko.) Anuman, sinisikap kong harapin pa rin dito ang isa na namang larawan ng kagila-gilalas sa ating mga kuwentong-bayan. Tulad ng talinghaga, sa palagay ko’y nariyan ang mga nilalang na ito upang patuloy at paulit-ulit na pagbukalan ng ating pagpapakahulugan.

Ehersisyo ng pagpapakatao ang pagbibigay-kahulugan sa mga bagay-bagay. Hindi nito nalulubos at hindi malulubos ang pagsagot sa mga tanong na nasa isip natin, totoo, subalit kailangan din ang mga guwang at puwang na iyon upang pagsidlan ng ating haraya, ng ating imahinasyon, na maaaring naging bahagi ng ating pagkatao sapagkat kailangan natin. Sabi nga ng isang nobelistang Ingles na isa sa mga unang pumaksa ng nangyaring 9/11 sa nobela: “cruelty is a failure of imagination.” Kabiguan ng haraya ang kalupitan. Sa gitna ng kabi-kabilang trahedya sa bayan natin, paano natin ito hinaharap? At paano ito hinaharap ng mga manlilikha ng ating bayan?

Ang haraya, na nagpakilala sa ating mga diwata, manananggal, tiyanak, ang nagturo rin sa ating mga ninuno, sa pamamagitan ng isang dalít na: “Ang sugat ay kung tinanggap/ Di daramdamin ang antak./ Ang aayaw at di payag,/ Galos lamang, magnanaknak.” Ito siguro ang ubod ng ipinagpaparangalan nating tatag bilang isang bayan. Lahat ng sugat na kaya nating tanggapin.

*Maaaring i-like sa FB ang Janus Sílang Series sa http://www.facebook.com/JanusSilang. Maaari ring i-follow si Edgar Calabia Samar sa @ecsamar sa Twitter. Bisitahin ang edgarsamar.com para sa iba pang akda ni Samar.

Author Interview: Edgar Calabia Samar

Note: For my international readers, this post is written in Filipino.

Matagal-tagal ko na ring kilala si Edgar Calabia Samar o mas kilala ng ilan sa tawag na Sir Egay o Egay. Una ko siyang nakadaupang-palad nang ako'y dumalo sa isang pagtitipon ng Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books na noon ay sabayang binabasa ang kanyang unang nobela na Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog. Pagkatapos nga ng gabing iyon sa Marikina ay naging masugid na akong tagahanga ni Sir Egay na lalo ko pang nakilala nang minsa'y naglakbay kami upang hanapin ang Atisan. Noong araw din na 'yon ko nakilala si Janus Silang at simula nga noon ay talagang inabangan ko na ang araw na mababasa ko ang aklat na ito.

Ngunit bago pa natin pag-usapan ang buong libro, tayo ay pinaunlakan ni Sir Egay ng isang maikling panayam upang lalo pa nating makilala ang ating bidang si Janus!

TheLibrary Mistress: Bakit Janus Silang ang pangalan ng bida?

Edgar Calabia Samar: May kababata at kaibigan akong Janus ang pangalan, dahil January ang birthday niya, at matagal na niya akong kinukulit sa FB chat na isama siya sa mga sinusulat ko. Med rep siya, at kapag tinatanong ko siya kung ano ba ang mga interesting sa buhay-med-rep, wala naman siyang maikuwento. Sabi niya noon, kahit pangalan na lang niya ang gamitin ko. Nang pinaplano ko ang pagsusulát ng nobela, at nag-iisip ako ng pangalan ng bida, naghahanap ako ng pangalang makauugnay pa rin ang henerasyon ngayon, at noon ko naalala ang Janus. Pero hindi ko sinunod ang buong pangalan niyang Paul Janus dahil Janus Gregorio Sílang ang buong pangalan ng ating bida. Bakit Sílang? Sasagutin ito ng mga susunod na aklat kapag binalikan natin ang angkan ni Janus.

TLM: Sino si Janus Silang at bakit dapat namin siyang makilala?

ECS: Kinakatawan ni Janus ang karaniwang kabataan sa kasalukuyan na may mga barkada, nagkaka-crush, napapalayo ang loob sa mga magulang dahil sa pagbibinata, nalululong sa mga bisyong tulad ng pagdo-DOTA. Subalit si Janus din ay kumakatawan sa pantastikong buhay na pinapangarap at maaaring napapanaginipan lang ng ilang kabataan. Si Janus ang bayaning nasa puso ng bawat batang ibig iligtas ang mundo laban sa lahat ng nilalang ng dilim.

READ MORE: Cover Reveal: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon by Edgar Calabia Samar

TLM: Bilang awtor, ano ang inspirasyon mo sa pagsulat ng akdang ito?

ECS: Matagal ko nang gustong makapagsulat ng nobelang sa palagay ko’y mababasa’t magugustuhan ng mga taong mahalaga sa akin. Hamon sa akin ang pagpapahalaga sa simpleng pagkukuwento. Sa mga una kong nobela, higit na nangingibabaw ang proyekto ng pagsasanaysay kaysa pagsasalaysay. Ngayon, gusto ko lang lumikha ng nobelang pananabikan ng mambabasa. Ngayon, gusto kong maunawaan kahit ng isang karaniwang teenager. Kapag binasa niya ang nobela ko sa halip na mag-DOTA sa loob ng kung ilang oras, alam kong hindi nasayang ang panahon ko sa pagsusulat nito. Pagkatapos niyang magbasa at habang hinihintay ang Book 2, puwede na ulit siyang mag-DOTA muna.

READ MORE: First Chapter Preview: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon by Edgar Calabia Samar

TLM: Sa iyong nobelang, Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog, ipinakilala mo ang mga tiyanak sa mundo. Saan nangagaling ang iyong pagkahilig sa mga tiyanak?

ECS: Noon pa mang tula ang mas isinusulat ko, interesado na ako sa ating mga panitikang-bayan, lalo pa ang mga nilalang ng dilim sa ating mga alamat. Nakapagsulat na ako ng mga tulang nagtatampok sa tiyanak, bago ko pa man ito ginamit sa aking mga nobela. Sa isang banda, halos awtobiyograpiko ang simula ng Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog. Isa sa mga hindi ko malilimutang kuwento noong bata ako’y na pinaglaruan umano ako ng tiyanak.

TLM: Nabanggit na rin naman natin ang isa mo pang nobela, ano ang mas mahirap isulat?

ECS: Magkaiba ang antas ng hirap ng dalawa, dahil magkaiba ang proyekto. Mahirap magkompara. Unang nobela ko ang Walong Diwata, at gusto ko lang magsulat ng nobelang tingin ko’y hindi pa ginagawa sa nobelang Filipino. Iyan ang yabang ko noon, nagtagumpay man ako o hindi. Ang mahirap naman sa Janus Sílang, kailangan kong pagmukhain itong madali, lalo pa sa mga mambabasa. Siguro, kahit anong mahal mo, paghihirapan mo, dahil gusto mo ang pinakamabuti para rito. Pero sa bandang huli, ayaw ko nang pag-isipan ang hirap na pinagdaanan ko sa kanila. Ang importante’y natapos ko sa wakas, kahit pa hindi dito nagwawakas ang mga paghihirap na kailangan kong harapin.

*Maaaring i-like sa FB ang Janus Sílang Series sa http://www.facebook.com/JanusSilang. Maaari ring i-follow si Edgar Calabia Samar sa @ecsamar sa Twitter. Bisitahin ang edgarsamar.com para sa iba pang akda ni Samar.

Spotlight + Excerpt: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon by Edgar Calabia Samar

 

Title: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon
Author: Edgar Calabia Samar
Publisher: Adarna House

In a TALA Online tournament in the town of Balanga, all the players fell dead, save for Janus. Soon after that, teen after teen suffered deaths in computer shops around the country. Janus was contacted by someone who calls himself Joey, apparently another survivor of TALA like him. Janus did not expect the truths he would discover, weaving him into the mystery of the RPG that enthralled him—and into the legend of the Tiyanak from Tábon!

Meet and Greet the author, Edgar Calabia Samar! Have your books signed, meet book bloggers and Filipino readers at the bookstore launch of Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tábon on May 10, 2014 at National Bookstore SM North Edsa, 3PM. 

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Blitz: Escorted by Claire Kent

Title: Escorted
(Escorted #1)
Author: Claire Kent
Publication: December 15, 2012
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Erotica, Romance
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

She hired him to take her virginity...but now she wants even more.

Lori might be a popular romance writer, but she's never been anything but a flop with sex and love in her personal life. Still a virgin at twenty-six and increasingly frustrated by her inexperience, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires a talented, sexy male escort to take care of her inconvenient virginity.

She assumes one time with Ander will be enough, but she never dreams how much pleasure he can make her feel. Once isn't nearly enough. Twice isn't enough either. Soon, she becomes one of his regular clients.

Lori knows that nothing would be as foolish as falling in love with her paid escort, but she's never been wise with her heart. And, despite his professionalism, he doesn't seem entirely immune either.

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Book Spotlight: Parricide by S. Briones Lim

Stanley Heckley’s world was torn apart the night his wife and infant daughter were murdered by his wife’s ex-lover, James Gandy. Left with no family to call his own, Stanley is consumed with rage and thirsts to exact revenge in the only way he thinks is fair – to kill Gandy’s entire bloodline. 

Unfortunately for Stanley, his timid personality and good conscience makes killing a difficult task to accomplish. 

Tormented by his inability to avenge his family, Stanley seeks the help of a distant acquaintance known simply as the vampire, Geoff. Touched by Stanley’s plight, Geoff takes it upon himself to give Stanley a thirst for blood and the talent to kill. As a newly turned vampire, Stanley joins Geoff on a complex mission of murder and vengeance as they hunt each member of the Gandy family one by one, wiping the entire bloodline from existence.

Or so they thought.

Over a century later, Stanley learns that a dire mistake has left one Gandy alive. Once again faced with the monsters of his past, Stanley finds himself returning to his hometown of Meyers to hunt the remaining descendant, Amanda.  From the get-go, Stanley’s mission is plagued with many obstacles including a new henchman for Geoff, a ghost of a young, sadistic girl, and the fact that Amanda looks remarkably like his late wife. For this member of the undead, hunting the final Gandy may just be the death of him.

EXCERPT

Stanley
April 9, 1904

“No! Please don’t shoot!” Her voice wavered slightly though she tried her hardest to remain firm and unfazed. Had it not been for the tremor in her tone and the unmistakable trembling of her shoulders, the intruder might have bought her act of valor.
The terrified cries of my wife echoed against the bare wooden walls causing me to run in a panic. I flew down a flight of stairs towards the parlor area and noticed the dim flicker of a single candle illuminating the room. It added an eerie ambiance to what was to be the most horrifying moment of my life.
“Gandy! What do you think you’re doing?! Get your hands off my wife!” I shouted with pure ferocity. I wouldn’t be surprised if the blood vessels in my eyes had burst open given the tint of red that shadowed my vision.
“Well, well, lookit ‘ere who it is,” Gandy slurred drunkenly as he gripped my wife’s strawberry blond hair between his fingers. “It’s Stanley Heckley! Or might I say, the Great Stanley Heckley.” He cackled and peered down at my wife.
My eyes fell instantly onto Christiana’s tear stained face. I made an attempt to rush forward, however, she shook her head slightly and mouthed, “Go! Save Katie.”
My stomach wrenched as I pictured our three-month-old daughter hidden under the floorboards in the main room upstairs. She was safe - for now.
I cleared my throat and stood up straighter. Holding my hands out as a final plea, I said as calmly, but with as much authority as I could muster, “Gandy, please put down the gun. You had a little too much to drink tonight and I promise that if you walk out of here this instant, I will not tell the authorities of this little incident.”
I braced myself for his reaction and was surprised to hear a hearty chuckle in response. Christiana winced as he continued his belly laugh and pulled tightly against her head. Her beautiful braid was now a rat’s nest and I was surprised not to find clumps of her pinkish locks strewn along the floor.
“Do you think you have the right to tell me what to do?” Gandy laughed hysterically. With his gun toting hand he reached up and wiped tears from the corners of his eyes.
“I beg your pardon but I don’t see the humor in this situation,” I growled.
“You want to know what’s funny?” Gandy snapped. “The fact that Christiana here picked you over me. What does she see in you anyway? Nothing but a stack of cash that your daddy gave you.”
I glanced around the room frantically, looking for any escape route. My eyes focused on the window and my mind methodically went over any possible option I had to get my family out of this situation. It was as if everything was running in slow motion, from the flow of my blood through my veins to the harsh beating of my pained heart.
“Are you listening to me?!” Gandy’s hazy voice interrupted my frantic thoughts.
I gulped. “Yes, Gandy.”
His eyes widened as he pointed the barrel toward me. Christiana gasped and began pleading frantically, begging for him to drop the gun. Ignoring her cries, he lifted an eyebrow as he looked me dead in the eye. “It’s yes, sir,” he corrected.
I nodded my head. “Yes, sir,” I replied through gritted teeth.
His lips curled up into a sinister grin and he began pacing the room dragging Christiana along with him. She grabbed at his hand, trying to pry his fingers from her scalp, but was unsuccessful. The gray skirt of her dress, a birthday present from me, dragged behind her, becoming soiled with the dust from the floor.
“Now, I don’t know why you’re stupid enough to come back to town,” he said through gritted teeth. “The folks here were finally steer clear of the Heckleys, yet here you are infesting our town again with your filthy riches. You think your family’s better than all of us here, don’t you? Just because of your blue blood ways.”
“Gandy,” I said in an even tone. It pained me to even speak, my throat dry and parched from fear. “Please leave my property. We’ll deal with this when you’re sober in the morning.”
“This ain’t about being sober! This is about the abomination that your family has bestowed upon the less privileged. That’s why you came back to town now, isn’t it? To take over all the businesses that your greedy father wasn’t able to get his cold, vile hands on! You should have stayed in God knows where you were!”
“It was a mistake to come back,” I agreed as I nodded my head; and good God did I agree. “We only came back to tie up ends concerning my father’s estate. Nothing more.”
“Ah, yes,” he grinned. “That’s right! Your old man croaked a month ago, didn’t he?”

My blood began boiling and instinctively my fists clenched together. “Yes,” I said in a raspy tone. The pain of having lost my father still burned freshly in my heart. Hearing Gandy speak so nonchalantly about his passing made me want to gouge his eyes out. That would have to wait. For now I needed to focus on helping my sweet wife.

Guest Blog: Marian Tee

The Library Mistress welcomes New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and Philippines' very own, Marian Tee.

My Top 7 Authors  - The Inspiration Behind My Writing

Hi! I’m Marian Tee, a Filipino-Chinese author from the Philippines. I’ve the privilege of being invited by The Library Mistress to guest post here, and I’ve decided to talk about the writers whose works greatly influenced me.

For those who don’t know, I write steamy romantic comedies, with emphasis on all three. As I come from a very conservative country and an even more conservative background, I used to write romantic comedies only. But when I went indie, my then publisher encouraged me to go steamy. The result: The Werewolf Prince and I, which to date remains to be one of my most popular books, having made it to Amazon US’ Top 250.

Today, most of my readers know me for writing about innocent girls falling in love with rich bad boys and lots of funny incidents happening in between. Why I do write like that? Well…you have these authors to blame – or thank for.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

My readers love how “innocent” my heroines are. My critics however think my heroines are “stupid” and “naïve”. Yeah, well, let’s just say that I love how my girls always have their rose-coloured glasses on and I don’t think this will ever change since I’m like that myself.

I’m a half-glass-full kind of girl and those are the kind of heroines that the wonderful Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes about as well. Her girls are quirky, funny, and innocent (virginal too!), and they have big hearts when it comes to loving the men in their lives.


One of my favourite books by her is Heaven, Texas ---

Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to drag the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star -- and no plans to cooperate with a prim and bossy Ohio wallflower whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hell-raising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion -- and a match that can only be made in Heaven.

You won’t regret reading this book I promise!

Judith McNaught

According to present-day dos and don’ts for writing, authors are not to do head-hopping POVs because…well, just because. I did my best to follow this rule back in the day when I was querying for literary representation, but when I started my indie career I decided to throw that rule out of the window and write the way I really want to write, and that’s like my all-time fave Judith McNaught.

With her books, you’ll be able to read how every character feels and what each character thinks all at the same time. I like this style because it makes the scene more vivid for me. It’s really hard to explain, and the best way to understand what I’m talking about is to read one of her books. I recommend you start with Double Standards, - a classic in romance.

Here’s the blurb---

The ruggedly handsome president of Global Industries handled his business the way he handled his women -- with charm, daring and ruthless self-control. A man used to the very best, Nick hired Lauren Danner, and assumed the proud beauty would soon be another easy conquest. But Lauren's flashing wit and rare spirit dazzled him -- and slowly, against his will, he was intrigued, challenged -- and in love. 
Yet Lauren was living a lie, a charade that became more dangerous with every passing moment. Trapped in a web of deceit, she fought her growing love for Nick. Her secret could destroy his fragile trust -- and the promise of life with the most compelling man she had ever met!

Once you read this, you’ll be hooked to her books forever!

Stephanie Perkins

She’s one of my newer faves – I first learned of her when I was querying for agents a few years back and her agent recommended her book as a way of explaining what made a great YA romance. That book was Anna and the French Kiss and I totally fell in love with it. What I’d like to emulate is her ability to incorporate the beauty of a setting into her story – I’ve never been to Paris but I feel like I’ve been there because of how she wrote it.

The blurb:

Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?

I don’t get to write a lot of YA romance these days, but when I do, I always think of her books and use them for inspiration.

Nalini Singh

I honestly think she’s one of the best paranormal romance authors in history. There are three main things that I love about her books: the characters (so many different supernatural creatures! I’m in heaven!), the beauty of her writing (she can make a murder scene sound so beautifully poetic!) and finally, the sex (she writes them hot! I want to be like her when I grow up). 

My first book of her was Angel’s Blood, and I won’t deny that her characters were my main inspiration when writing The Demon Duke and I.

Anyway, the blurb to Angel’s Blood –

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

You need to read this series. I love Twilight, but honestly, this is so much better! It deserves to have its own movie franchise!

David Eddings

Now, some of you who are familiar with his works may be thinking, what? What in hell is a SFF author doing in a list of recommendations made by a steamy rom-com author? Well, I don’t know about you but I like to think of David Eddings’ books as fantasy novels with moderate to strong romantic elements. My first book of his was of the Belgariad series and oh my – I am so in love with that series, I can read it over and over and over. His books are one of the main reasons why I hope to write my own fantasy series one day, most likely urban fantasy but hopefully with the same comprehensive world building similar to what you’ll get in his books.

His world building was also one of my inspirations for writing The Demon Duke and I. If you’re willing to take a risk on investing hours of your time in reading his works (even if it’s your first time to read fantasy), I promise you won’t regret this one either. 

The Belgariad 1 - 3

It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower—and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic

I know the blurb does not sound romantic at all, but I promise you there’s romance here. There is!!! A lot! 

Anne Bishop

Yet another SFF author whose works have strong romantic elements. I love, love, love her Black Jewels books and when you read it, I know you’ll love it for sure. Now that I’ve been exposed to erotica, I realize that it has a lot of BDSM elements, too. 

O.o 

This is fantasy, but yes I mean it. BDSM. 

O.o

The blurb for the Black Jewels Trilogy ---

Anne Bishop’s critically-acclaimed Black Jewels Trilogy is the saga of a young but still-innocent Queen more powerful than even the High Lord of Hell—and the three sworn enemies determined to win her and gain a prize that could be terrible beyond imagining…

Just to clue you in, the Queen here is the heroine and she has oodles of gorgeous, dark alpha demons / warriors devoted to her. Of course, only one of them is destined to be her Consort and don’t worry – this still stays true to my love for innocent virginal heroines. Her heart and body only belongs to her Consort. 

I don’t want to ruin it for you, but really – this is a must-read series! And, umm, yes, her books were another inspiration when I wrote The Demon Duke and I. 

Lynne Graham

The greatest jerks in romance novel history may be found between the pages of Harlequin paperbacks. You can quote me on that. But you know what? I can’t get enough of their heroes – the way they start like such cold-hearted arrogant bastards and then become the most passionate and loyal husbands in the end. 

My favourite Harlequin author is Lynne Graham – I talk about her all the time so this is a very obvious fact to my long-time readers by now haha – and my favourite book of hers is The Unfaithful Wife.

The Marriage Mistake!

Leah's marriage to powerful Greek businessman Nik Andreakis was an empty sham, and she was determined to get a divorce. But Nik didn't want one. In the circumstances, Leah found that totally unbelievable. Why would he want to hang on to a wife he'd been blackmailed into marrying!

Leah's lonely wedding night had set the pattern for the past five years, but now she couldn't sleep for wondering what motivated her husband. Why, all of a sudden, was he making advances to her when he had ignored her for so long?

Lynne’s heroes tend to be Greek billionaires, and yep – that’s where I got my love for Greek billionaires from. In fact, my Greek Billionaire Romance serials are practically my homage to her. Oh, and in case you haven’t read that particular serial of mine, then here’s the blurb of the first book The Art of Catching a Greek Billionaire – 

Once upon a time, there was an ordinary girl who grew up listening to bedtime stories where there were no knights in shining armor or Prince Charming. Instead, it had Greek billionaires and this little girl dreamt she'd one day have Her Own Greek Billionaire to live happily ever after with. 

When this little girl grew up, she did what she could to make her dream come true.

This is my story.

I mean your story.

I mean, Mairi Tanner's story.

This book is FREE to download: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

Anyway, there you have it – a list of writers I look up to and the books that helped me become the author I am today. Sorry if I ended up fangirling throughout my post – I’m like my heroines that way. When I heart someone, I heart them bad! :P

About the Author

Marian Tee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of steamy romantic comedies. She is Filipino-Chinese, has lived all her life in the Philippines, and is a frustrated mangaka. She is addicted to horror flicks, misses hip hop dancing, and loves all things Japanese.

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Book Spotlight: An Unholy Alliance by Deb Sanders

What would you do if the future of mankind depended on whether you lived or died?

Reyna Blair has learned two things from life – she can tolerate a lot of pain and wounds aren’t always visible. After a stint in the army, she’s ready to drop off the grid and heal. A job as Peace Officer in the small community of Purgatory, Texas sounds like the perfect solution – until the town is rocked by a gruesome murder.

When sexy Texas Ranger, Ty Carter, steps in to help with the investigation, Reyna is both thrilled and annoyed. He’s nice to look at and a definite boost to her sagging ego, but his aggressive ambition might push her right out of a job. To make matters worse, she’s being stalked by a mysterious stranger with a sword that can burst into flames on command.

Reyna’s problems are only beginning. The stranger is an angel of God . . . an Enforcer . . . sent to eliminate a Nephilim woman prophesized as giving birth to the Antichrist. Realizing she’s the target, Reyna must flee or be killed. Along the way, she discovers dark secrets which alter her world forever, challenge her faith, and force a choice between life and death. 

*** This story uses a biblical theme but includes scenes with graphic violence and strong language. 

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EXCERPT

“Reyna . . .” She turned away to hide the sting of tears building behind her eyes. “Get out of here, okay? I'm tired. It's been a long day. I think we've talked enough - unless you want to tell me about John Doe.” Max took a deep breath and held it, as if weighing his options. “He was Nephilim, part of a larger group congregating in the area. He led me to you.” Reyna returned the bottle of alcohol to the freezer before spinning around. A chill fell over her and it had nothing to do with the icy beverage she’d just consumed. “Was his name Darius?” “Yes. How did you know?” “Someone told me in a dream. Someone who died in the war yet managed to come back with a message.” It sounded crazy but no more crazy than the things this man was saying. “Are you Nephilim, too?” “No.” “But I am?” “Yes.” Reyna steadied her voice. “Did you kill Darius?” “Yes. It was necessary.” The blood drained from her face. Reyna remained rooted to the floor, unable to move. Max had confessed to murder. She stared at him, a firestorm brewing inside her. His demeanor appeared calm, as if they were discussing the weather. She glanced at her pistol, wondering how to reach it before he realized her motive. “What do you want with me?” “I'm not sure. Things have changed.” Lines formed across his wide brow. “I'm an Enforcer, sent to control a situation that no longer exists.” “And this situation involves me?” “Yes.” “Who sent you?” “I'd rather not say,” he murmured, glancing away. Had she somehow been given confidential data during her stint in the army, and now this Special Ops agent wanted it back? It was the only scenario that made sense. Perhaps the Nephilim were a covert organization trying to overthrow the government. But why would Max think she was part of it? Reyna stalled, trying to come up with a plan that didn't include battling a man with a flaming sword. When in doubt, bluff. She drew herself up to full height. “You’ve confessed to murder. I have to arrest you.” She pulled handcuffs from her belt, hoping he would step away from the counter long enough for her to reach her gun. He cocked his head to one side. “Arrest me?” “Put your hands behind your back. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say . . .” The back door burst open, startling Reyna so much, she dropped the handcuffs on the floor. A man stood in the entrance. He dressed like Max . . . and the other man she’d killed . . . but his expression was more ferocious. The long coats, military style boots, and swords must be a uniform of some kind. “I'm here for the girl,” he growled as Max stepped forward. “She belongs to us.” “You cannot have her. She is of no use to you.” The man uttered a harsh laugh. “Your God apparently doesn't know everything. He sends a single angel to fight a war that's been building for a millennium. This is our time, Enforcer. Run back to your Lord and take shelter behind His throne. We'll be coming for you. We'll be coming for all of you.” Reyna froze, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. Max slowly extracted his sword from the sheath, swirling it above his head in a wide arc. Flames burst from the blade's edge as he steadied his stance. She wanted to run but fear, and an overwhelming curiosity, kept her motionless. Max took a step forward, positioning himself in front of her. “There's no reason to wait, Nephilim. I'm here. God's will be done.” The man threw back his coat, withdrawing his own sword. He leapt toward Max but his lunge met empty air. Max sidestepped and swiveled, sending the edge of his white hot blade slicing through the man's side. Blood sprayed across the room as the Nephilim fell to the floor. Max straddled the injured man, staring into his eyes. “May God have mercy on your soul.” With a quick plunge, he drove the tip of his sword into the man's chest, slicing it open. Seconds later, his hand reached inside the cavity and pulled out his heart. “Oh . . . damn . . .” Certain she was going to vomit, Reyna stumbled for the door and threw herself down the steps, half crawling into the yard before collapsing on the ground. The brutal scene played over in her mind. She couldn’t believe it. Max ripped out a man's heart . . . the same manner in which he’d killed John Doe. Bits and pieces of conversation spun around her like dust from a prairie twister. God . . . angels . . . flaming swords . . . She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I'm hallucinating. The new meds are making me see things. None of this is real. It can't be. “But it is, Reyna.” She jumped as her eyes flew open, scooting backwards from the tall man looming over her. “Stay away from me.” “I can't. I'm indebted. You killed a Nephilim to save me.” “It was self-defense.” “As was this man's death.” Her eyes widened. “You cut the heart from his chest. What kind of sadistic pervert does that?” “It was necessary. The Nephilim have developed a drug that regenerates cells in damaged bodies, making them stronger than the original form. A super being, you might call it. Removing his heart was the only way to stop him.” Reyna tucked her knees into her chest and started rocking. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she buried her face against her jeans. It was too much. Too much. She fell backwards into a merciful black abyss.

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Book Spotlight: Witch's Bounty (The Witch Chronicles, Book 1) by Ann Gimpel

One of only three remaining demon-stalking witches, Colleen is almost the last of her kind. Along with her familiar, a changeling spirit, she was hoping for a few months of quiet, running a small magicians’ supply store in Fairbanks, Alaska. Peace isn’t in the cards, though. Demons are raising hell in Seattle. She’s on her way out the door to help, when a Sidhe shows up and demands she accompany him to northern England to quell a demon uprising there.

Duncan swallowed uneasy feelings when the Sidhe foisted demon containment off onto the witches two hundred years before. He’s annoyed when the Sidhe leader sends him to haul a witch across the Atlantic to bail them out. Until he sees the witch in question. Colleen is unquestionably the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Strong and gutsy, too. When she refuses to come with him, because she’s needed in Seattle, he immediately offers his assistance. Anything to remain in her presence.

Colleen can’t believe how gorgeous the Sidhe is, but she doesn’t have time for such nonsense. She, Jenna, and Roz are the only hedge Earth has against being overrun by Hell’s minions. Even with help from a powerful magic wielder like Duncan, the odds aren’t good and the demons know it. Sensing victory is within their grasp, they close in for the kill. 

EXCERPT

…The bells around the shop door clanged a discordant riot of notes. “Crap!” Jenna shot to her feet. “I should have locked the damned door.”
“Back to cat form.” Colleen flicked her fingers at Bubba, who shrank obligingly and slithered out of clothing, which puddled around him. She snatched up his shirt and pants and dropped them back into the canister.
“I say,” a strongly accented male voice called out. “Is anyone here?”
“I’ll take care of the Brit,” Colleen mouthed. “Take Bubba to the basement and practice.”
She got to her feet and stepped past the curtain. “Yes?” She gazed around the dimly lit store for their customer.
A tall, powerfully built man, wearing dark slacks and a dark turtleneck, strode toward her, a woolen greatcoat slung over one arm. His white-blond hair was drawn back into a queue. Arresting facial bones—sculpted cheeks, strong jaw, high forehead—captured her attention and stole her breath. He was quite possibly the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on. Discerning green eyes zeroed in on her face, caught her gaze, and held it. Magic danced around him in a numinous shroud. Strong magic.
What was he?
And then she knew. Daoine Sidhe. The man had to be Sidhe royalty. No wonder he was so stunning it almost hurt to look at him.
Colleen held her ground. She placed her feet shoulder width apart and crossed her arms over her chest. “What can I help you with?”
“Colleen Kelly?”
Okay, so he knows who I am. Doesn’t mean a thing. He’s Sidhe. Could have plucked my name right out of my head. “That would be me. How can I help you?” she repeated, burying a desire to lick nervously at her lips.
“Time is short. I’ve been hunting you for a while now. Come closer, witch. We need to talk.”
***
Duncan Regis eyed the grim-faced woman standing in front of him. She was quite striking with such stunning bone structure—high cheekbones, square jaw—she could have been a runway model. Her unwavering pale blue eyes held his gaze. Dressed in brown wool slacks, a multicolored sweater, and scuffed leather boots, she had auburn curls that cascaded to waist level. A scattering of freckles coated her upturned nose. Her lips would have been full if they weren’t pursed into a hard line.
He knew he was staring, but couldn’t help himself. Colleen was tall for a woman, close to six feet, with well-defined shoulders, generous breasts, and a slender waist that flared to trim hips. He smelled her apprehension and was pleased she was able to cloak it so well with the defiant angle of her chin and the challenge in her icy stare.
Despite his earlier command, she didn’t move. Annoyance coiled in his gut. He could summon magic and force her, but he wanted—no, make that needed—her cooperation. Compulsion spells had a way of engendering lingering resentments. He smiled, but it felt fake so he gave it up. “I like women with spirit, but I’m used to being obeyed.”
She frowned and tilted her chin another notch. “I’ll just bet you are. I’m not coming one angstrom closer until you tell me why a Sidhe is hunting for me.”
Surprise registered. He tried to mask it, just like he’d attempted to disguise himself in a human glamour. Duncan tamped down a wry grin, wondering if his second ploy had worked any better than his first.
“Not really.” She tapped one booted toe. “I read minds. You’ll have to do a better job warding yours, if you want to keep me out.” Colleen exhaled briskly. “Look. Maybe it would be easier if you just told me why you’re here. I’m sort of busy just now and I don’t have a bunch of time to spar with you.”
“You don’t have any choice.”
“Oh yes I do.” Anger wafted from her in thick clouds. Along with it a spicy, rose scent, tinged with jasmine, tickled his nostrils and did disconcerting things to his nether regions. He resisted an urge to rearrange his suddenly erect cock. Colleen unfolded her arms, extended one, and pointed toward the door. “Out. Now.”
“You’re making a terrible mistake—”
“Maybe so, but this is my turf. If you force me with your magic, you’ll have broken the rules that bind your kind—and the covenant amongst magic-wielders.”
Duncan’s temper kindled, but it didn’t dampen the lust seeping along his nerve endings. Rules be damned. He could flatten this persnickety witch, or better yet, weave a love spell and bind her to him that way. Maybe he should do just that and have done with things. He clasped his hands behind him to quash the temptation to call magic. The movement stretched his trousers across his erection, making it obvious if she chose to look down.
Something dark streaked from the back of the shop and planted itself in front of him, hissing and spitting. Gaia’s tits. A cat. He stared at it. Hmph. Maybe not a cat after all. Duncan reached outward with a tendril of magic. Before it reached the creature, Colleen bent and scooped it into her arms. The not-a-cat wriggled and hissed, but she held fast.
“Leave him alone,” she said through clenched teeth. “He’s mine.”
Duncan narrowed his eyes. “Damn if it isn’t a changeling. How’d he end up with you?”
Her foot tapped the scarred wooden floor again, its beat so regular it could have been a metronome. “I asked you a whole lot of questions.” She took a step backward. “But the only one I want to know the answer to is—”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Jenna wavered into view, having teleported in from somewhere. Her gaze landed on the cat. “Thank Christ! For a minute there I thought the little bastard got away from me.”
“Jenna,” Colleen snapped. “The Sidhe have deigned to call.”
The other woman whipped around and stared at Duncan. He stared back. What was it with these witches? Had they taken some sort of potion to supersize themselves? She made Colleen look positively petite. Jenna sidled closer to Colleen; part of her height came from high heels, but she was still an imposing woman. “What does he want?” she growled.
Duncan cleared his throat. “I’m right here. You can ask me.”
“Fine.” Jenna put her hands on her hips. “What are you doing here?”
“How do you know I want anything?” he countered, trying to buy time to figure out what to do now. He hadn’t counted on two witches, and a changeling.
“Because if you didn’t, Colleen would have shooed you out of here by now. You really do need to leave. We’re busy.”
He snorted. “Yes. Colleen made that abundantly clear.” He looked from one witch to the other. At least his erection was fading a bit. Crowds always had a dampening effect on his libido. Many other Sidhe thrived on group sex, but he’d never appreciated its appeal.
“Either tell us what you want right now,” Colleen moved toward him, cat still in her arms, “or leave. I’m going to count to three—”
“Maeve’s teeth, witch! We’re on the same side.”
“Generally speaking,” Jenna joined Colleen about three feet away from him, “that’s probably true, but the Sidhe have never helped us.”
Colleen quirked a brow. “No, they haven’t.” Her eyes narrowed. “And I have this prescient feeling that Sidhe-boy here is about to ask for a pretty big favor.”
“Sidhe-boy?” The dregs of his lust scattered; he crimped his hands into fists. “Show some respect.”
“You’re not respecting me,” Colleen said. “I’ve asked you to leave—twice. No, make that three times.” The not-a-cat finally twisted free. He skimmed over the distance to Duncan and buried his claws in his leg.
“Why you changeling bastard!” Duncan shook his leg. The thing didn’t even budge. He bent, curled his hands around the furred body, and tugged. The thing bit him. Anger flashed. Magic followed. The changeling howled and fell into a heap on the floor.
“Goddammit!” Colleen shrieked. “He was just trying to protect me. If you’ve killed him…”
“I didn’t. He’s only stunned.” Duncan rubbed his ankle, glanced at the puncture wounds on his hand, and directed healing magic to both places.
Colleen sprang forward and gathered the creature into her arms. Duncan felt her magic quest into its small body. She blew out an audible breath. Cradled against her, shrouded by her long hair, the changeling mewled softly.
Duncan shook his head. He’d hoped to be subtle, accommodating, encouraging, so the witch would at least hear him out with an open mind. The time for that was long past. “All right.” He spread his hands in front of him. The flesh wounds on the one were already nearly closed. “I’m here because we’ve had problems with Irichna demons—”
“Christ on a fucking crutch,” Jenna cut in. “Seems like they’re on everyone’s mind these days. We were just—”
Colleen rounded on her. “Shut up!”
“Oops. Sorry.” Jenna held out her arms for the changeling. “I’ll just take him and—”
“No.” Colleen’s voice was more like a growl. “You’ll stay right here.” She placed the changeling in the other witch’s arms and turned to face Duncan. “I know you’re Sidhe, but who are you?”
“Duncan Regis.” He held out a hand. She ignored it, so he let it drop to his side.
“Regis, Regis,” she mumbled, her eyes narrowed in thought. “Ruling class from somewhere in Scotland.”
He nodded, impressed. “Northern England, at the moment, but the border has moved around a bit over the years. I do lay claim to Scottish roots. I didn’t know witches studied our family lines.”
“Witches don’t, but I did.”
“Any particular reason?” He was almost sorry he’d asked. She had strong feelings about the Sidhe, and he was about to find out why.
The changeling yowled, obviously recovered from his semi-comatose state. Jenna cursed and set him down. “Damn it! He scratched me.”
Duncan thought about saying something cheery, like welcome to the club, but bit back the words.
Colleen rolled her eyes. “He wants to talk. There’ll be no peace until he shifts.” She flicked magic toward the creature winding itself between her booted feet. The air shimmered and a rather large gnome took form.
He rocked toward Duncan with a bow-legged gait that made him look like a drunken sailor; his open mouth displayed squared off teeth. “I’ll tell you why she knows about you.” The changeling drew himself to his full height of about three-and-a-half feet. “She came to the Old Country looking for help during the last demon war. You Sidhe were too high and mighty to get your hands dirty, so she had to settle for me.”
Colleen snickered. “Not exactly the way I might have described it, but close enough. Hey, Bubba! Get some clothes on.”
“Later,” the changeling snapped without looking at her.
“Which of us did you approach?” Duncan made the question casual. Whoever turned Colleen down had broken the covenant binding magic-wielders to come to one another’s aid in times of need. He wondered if she knew.
“Of course I do.” She sneered. “Your thoughts are as transparent as a child’s. Even Bubba here,” she pointed to the changeling, “does a better job masking his feelings when he puts his mind to it.”
“Thanks.” The changeling glowered at her before transferring his attention back to Duncan.
“What kind of name is Bubba?” Duncan linked to the changeling, and was surprised by the complexity of his thoughts. Maybe the witches had been a good influence.
“You didn’t have to just push your way in.” The changeling screwed up his seamed face in disgust, but didn’t draw back. “My true name is Niall Eoghan.”
“Clothes,” Colleen reminded him.
Bubba made a face at her, turned, and walked behind one of the display cases. When he emerged, he wore wide-bottomed green trousers and a black shirt.
“Irish.” Puzzle pieces clicked into place and Duncan transferred his attention back to Colleen. “You never did tell me who you’d asked for help. It appears they not only turned you down, but chased you across the Irish Sea.”
“We left voluntarily,” Jenna said.
Colleen’s lips twisted in distaste. Whatever she remembered apparently didn’t sit well. “We spoke with two Sidhe at Inverlochy Castle outside Inverness. They refused to give us their names, but said they were princes over your people. They heard us out and sent us packing. Gave us twenty-four hours to leave Scottish soil.”
“I was all for staying,” Jenna chimed in. “After all, we had passports.”
“Was it just the two of you?” Duncan asked.
“Roz was with us,” Colleen said.
Understanding washed through him. “Three. You brought three to maximize your power.”
Colleen’s full mouth split into a chilly smile. “We were under attack by the Irichna. Would you have done any less?”
“Probably not. So after we, that is, the Sidhe—”
“We worked fine,” Bubba said flatly. “Unless you’ve decided to renounce your heritage.”
Duncan traded pointed looks with the changeling. “Speaking of magic, you’re stronger than any changeling I’ve ever come across.”
“That’s because you’re used to our feeble Scottish cousins. They were stronger before you stripped their magic and diverted it for your own purposes.”
“Enough.” Colleen snapped her fingers. “Or I’ll change you back into a cat. We don’t need a history lesson just now.” She shook her hair back over her shoulders. The movement strained her sweater tighter across her breasts. Duncan dragged his gaze elsewhere.
“About the Irichna—” he began.
“We can’t help you,” Colleen said flatly.
“Why not? We’d pay you well.”
“It’s not a matter of money, although I’m not sure you could afford us.”
“We have an, um, previous engagement,” Jenna offered.
“Whoever it is, we need you more than they do.” He looked from one witch to the other.
Colleen dropped her gaze and rubbed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index fingers. When she looked up, the skin around her eyes was pinched with worry. “I’m not sure it’s a matter of who needs whom more.” She speared him with her pale blue gaze. “Do the Sidhe know why the demons are so much more active here of late?”
He debated how much to tell her. Given her ability to burrow inside his head, it was unlikely he’d be able to hide much. If he told her everything, though, it might piss her off. Hell’s bells, it annoyed the crap out of him. “Not exactly.”

Her nostrils flared. “You can do better than that. If you can’t, the door is behind you.” She folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Talk now or leave now. It’s all the same to me.” 

Book Blitz: Visionary Untamed (Visionary Trilogy Book 2) by N. Dunham + Giveaway

Aislinn and Sebastian, along with Mya and Caleb, set off to the Amazon Rainforest in search of 

the legendary visionary guru. When Aislinn and Caleb become separated from the group, they must adapt to the extreme conditions of the rainforest. Fending off exotic animals, building shelter, and finding food become necessities in this mysterious world.

During their separation, Sebastian and Mya are captured and must find a way to escape being sacrificed by the Rebel Leaders. Luckily, Aislinn and Caleb come to their rescue only to come face to face with an uprising.

As Aislinn learns more about her spirit animal, the red-tailed hawk, she discovers that she holds the keys to her memories and that her memories hold the keys to her purpose.

EXCERPT

Sebastian continues to fight off the Rebel Leaders, but his body becomes weaker and weaker and he suddenly falls to the ground.
     “Sebastian! Sebastian!” I bellow.
     My world is crashing all around me. Intolerable worry and fear take over my mind. What is happening? I shake it off and stare at Sebastian. My Sebastian. Then I see Caleb lying near him and his eyelids are closed. Their gone! Both of them, gone. I continue swiping away Rebel Leaders with my talons, but my sadness is strong. I want to fall too.
     Then, out of nowhere, rage comes over me. I am madder than ever. My body is boiling hot and I am infuriated. My weak posture straightens itself and I stand tall.
     “AHHHHHHHHHHH,” I scream. I squawk and screech and squawk and screech again while shaking my body, causing the earth floor to rumble. I’ve had enough of this. I’m done.
     I screech again, only this time my screech is so loud that the ground shakes hard and trees begin to fall and a swirling wind begins to pick up speed all around me. The Rebel Leaders stop what they’re doing. The mystical creatures stop what they’re doing and an eerie calm begins to take place. No one says a word as all eyes are on me.
     I stop my erratic outburst and notice my body has elevated into the air. I am not flying. I am hovering. Thousands of tropical birds start to surround me. My hawk body begins to leave and I feel my human body begin to take form. I struggle in the air trying to hold on to my hawk body, but it won’t listen. I can’t change back, no, not now. My head pops through and yet I am still floating steadily in the air. I desperately struggle to remain in hawk form. It is my only chance for survival.
     Suddenly, I black out while airborne. I travel telepathically to the place I visited before. I move so fast I can barely catch my breath. I try to grab the walls around me. I need to be back at the village to save Sebastian. I struggle to go back, but my body continues to glide forward.
     “It’s okay, Aislinn,” a familiar, gentle voice says.
     “What? Who are you? Where am I? Am I dead?” I ask.
     “You need to tell them who you are and what you’re there for. They will listen to you. Your power is in your voice,” she says. I try to look for the person who belongs to this beautiful voice, but there is no one around.
     “I need to go back. I have to help Sebastian. He’s dying.”
     “Aislinn, remember who you are,” she says to me.
     “But, I can’t.”
     “You can. Believe,” the voice says more firmly.  
     I close my eyes and try to believe, but sadness takes over my heart and I begin to cry. Sebastian is dying and he needs me. Everyone keeps telling me to believe and remember. I remember what this voice has told me before, but I don’t remember my past on my own.

     In that very moment, my eyes reopen and a powerful electrical jolt shakes my entire body. My brain starts calculating my repressed memories and my eyes start fluttering. Every memory flashes through my brain one after another and then I feel it. I know who I am. I remember!

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