A House with Bad Bones by Adeline Tatum #Poetry
Excerpt:I was born in a house with bad bones. I was seven when I saw him push her through the door, breaking her arm in a cocaine-fueled rage. I was dismantled at a young age.He was never really around, you know he's gotta be a man. He had gone out to get himself a brand new life with no room for me or his past. She wasn't ready for the flood that would hit our home, drowning herself in bottles of rum.Perhaps nostalgia had began spilling secrets of the angry war vet she could never please as a little girl. I just don't know. I don't think I can blame her, though. Maybe she didn't know any better.But in the end, it was these two who gave me life; who sealed my fate. Who made me think that love feels like a punch in the face, Begging and going after people who just don't care. It was they, who left me to wonder if I was invisible. A deprived little girl with self-esteem issues.Was it worth it? I know when you die, you'll know finally know who I am. I know you'll swim in a sea of my tears. Maybe then you'll know I was real.
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The Storm Descends by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy
Excerpt:
Kari knelt in a field of dark grass beneath a dark cloud pouring dark rain. Ari lay limp in her arms, dead to the world. She bowed her head over his prone body, colder than death even without the rain to drench them. It pattered, loud against her flicking ears—the only sound all around.
“Wake up, Ari, please,” she whispered to his chest, clutching him tighter. “Please.” Her voice broke, and a wail wrenched free.
“Love makes you weak.”
Kari’s head shot up at the whisper, but there was no one around. There was only the rain, hissing now, each drop harder and sharper.“You are a plague.”
The whispers came from the rain, now searing pinpricks rather than drops of frozen water. Gritting her teeth, Kari lifted Ari, held him close to her chest, and ran.
“One day, you will wish for the power you forsake!”
Kari’s feet sloshed through thick, black puddles. She slipped and barely managed to roll onto her back before she and Ari fell. She grunted, struggled to get back up with his weight.
A beam of light broke the murky sky. Kari squinted at it; the sight filled her with an unexplainable, instinctual hope. She pushed off from the muddy ground—harder now with her and Ari both sopping wet—and ran for the light.
“PLEASE!” she screamed to the sky. “SAVE HIM!”
It was all she wanted; she would give anything—anything.
“You have a destiny.” This whisper was deeper, ancient—a voice so full of raw power, it grabbed Kari’s spine and forced her to straighten. “Vessels do not earn worldly attachments.”
Velthas. His pull was strong even now, even though she had not seen the Tree in weeks—months. Forced rigid, Kari dragged her eyes to the beam of light.
“Holy light,” she managed through a jaw clenched shut. She curled her fingers around Ari. “I forsake everything else to you.”
A ripple—the jarring snap of something breaking in her mind. Kari gasped and fell forward, barely catching herself on one hand before she collapsed on top of Ari.
The rain slowed, she thought; at least, she felt the pattering on her back less. She closed her eyes, hoping, wishing, praying.
Fingers touched her cheek. Her eyes flew open and found Ari’s eyes—green as the deepest forest. He lifted one corner of his mouth tiredly.
“You’ll carry my faith, won’t you?” he whispered. “My light?”
Join Me at Sloan Museum on January 18, 2025 for the Grown Up Book Fair
Grown Up Book Fair | Presented by Sloan Museum - After Hours
Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 6 - 8 p.m.
Sloan Museum of Discovery | 1221 E. Kearsley St. Flint, MI
Tickets: $5 per person
Featuring new and used books from local booksellers R & B Used Books, and other amazing vendors.
Make your own bookmarks, buy a new book to start, or bring an old book to finish!
Find a gift for yourself or for someone else!
Cash Bar with food, drinks and snacks available for purchase at the Coffee Beanery Café.
Bonus! The entire museum will be open to explore after hours!
$5/person at the door, or buy tickets in advance
https://www.facebook.com/events/1105310597955220
I'll be at the event with all 3 of my Haunted America books.
Tickets available here
Beyond Earth by Stephanie Morris, Lola Blix, Celia Breslin, Leslie Chase, Candice Gilmer, Alina Riley, Robin O’Connor, Sky Robert
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Excerpt from “Claiming Kaden” by Celia Breslin
The station’s vid screen flared to life, blocking her view. A handsome and angry male face filled the space. The brightest amber eyes she’d ever seen glared at her.
“Stop shooting,” the man growled.
The face disappeared.
“Who the hell was that, Athena?” A Zyphorran? She ignored the gorgeous stranger and kept firing at the battleship.
The face reappeared. Dark brows furrowed over his blazing whiskey eyes. “Desist, woman!”
“Desist this, you jerk!” She shot at the enemy. Continued to miss. “Ugh!”
She didn’t care how handsome he seemed, with his pale, silvery blue skin and spiky dark hair, and those glowing eyes which looked like they could melt a girl’s panties.
No one told her what to do, and no one would force her into servitude.
Never again.
The green vessel took out two enemy ships before it planted itself in front of Calie’s station.
Angry Guy’s face filled her screen. “I’m trying to help you. Stop firing!”
Oh… Cranky Guy was the pilot of the green ship. Possibly a good guy? Calie lifted her hands away from the controls.
As she watched, he took out every single destroyer then turned his attention to the warship.
“Shield at eight point seven percent,” Athena announced. “Hm…”
“What do you mean, hm? Should we head for an escape pod?”
“This is most intriguing. And disconcerting,” Athena murmured, not answering her escape question.
“What, that guy’s amazing battle prowess?”
“No. He infiltrated and took over my communication system to speak with you.”
Okay, now Calie was doubly impressed with good-looking Mister Frowny, because Athena was a powerful genius. No one bested her.
Calie plastered her palms on the controls. “Let’s help him kick that warship’s ass.”
“Don’t you dare,” their unknown ally barked, audio only.
“Are you eavesdropping on us? Rude!”
“The unknown male is attempting to take control of all station systems, Calie.”
“Cut it out, whoever you are,” Calie warned him. She aimed one of the station laser cannons at his ship.
“Who I am? I’m the male who’s going to disable and commandeer the warship, then eliminate everyone on board it while you sit on your pretty ass and stay out of my way.”
He thinks I’m pretty? She shook off the frisson skating down her spine. “Screw you. I’m blowing up that warship. Athena, take it out.”
The Devil I Love by Kay Freeman- Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
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Excerpt
"We need to postpone the marriage." My words echo through the cavernous space, sounding harsher than I intended. The yellow flames from the candles reflect in River's eyes and a tear slides down her cheek. It's like when you're passing a car wreck; I don't want to look, but I can't stop myself. My bedroom is the quietest room in The Palace, which is the reason I brought River here. Everywhere else in the house is frenzied and boisterous with my employees getting ready for work. They live here with me and that's the way it's always been, and it seems it's going to remain that way.
River's shoulders slump. "I can't believe you're doing this, Cruz." She collapses onto my throne, carved from ebony. I purchased the piece at auction. It was a steal. In the past you had to come from royalty to sit on one or kill someone who did. Most people today don't feel comfortable sitting on one unless it’s in jest. You need a large ego to do it, which suits me fine. No one sits on it but me. River realizes she's made a mistake and gets up quickly. Her face crumples. "Why must we?"
"I thought I could, but I can't. I've lived in The Palace since I was twelve and—"
River staggers toward me. "You promised. You said we'd be a family. You're going back on your word." Her forehead wrinkles.
"I can't give up a business I'm good at it. I've done it a long time and—"
"You have Monsters now. It's a nightclub, and it's legal, not against the law like…" But she holds the rest of her words, while holding her hands at the same time. She doesn't call it a whorehouse, a brothel, or any of the other nasty names people use to describe what I do.
"Be realistic, River. Monsters doesn't come close to earning enough money. It’s just another Chicago nightclub. I make ten times the amount in receivables in a single day with The Palace. I'm sorry, River, but I can't give it up, or any of the others…yet. I've got too much overhead."
"But maybe someone else can run it and—"
"I can't; no one else can manage the women."
"When will you be ready to marry and give up the brothel?" River twists her engagement ring. The smell of burning sage is the only thing keeping me strong. I want to take back my words before I say them. Do anything to stop what's coming. But it has to be done. I need to make her go. I'd said several chants to build my strength earlier, but it won't protect us from what will happen when I say these next three words.
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Release Day Blitz Beyond Earth
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Excerpt from “Claiming Kaden” by Celia Breslin
The station’s vid screen flared to life, blocking her view. A handsome and angry male face filled the space. The brightest amber eyes she’d ever seen glared at her.
“Stop shooting,” the man growled.
The face disappeared.
“Who the hell was that, Athena?” A Zyphorran? She ignored the gorgeous stranger and kept firing at the battleship.
The face reappeared. Dark brows furrowed over his blazing whiskey eyes. “Desist, woman!”
“Desist this, you jerk!” She shot at the enemy. Continued to miss. “Ugh!”
She didn’t care how handsome he seemed, with his pale, silvery blue skin and spiky dark hair, and those glowing eyes which looked like they could melt a girl’s panties.
No one told her what to do, and no one would force her into servitude.
Never again.
The green vessel took out two enemy ships before it planted itself in front of Calie’s station.
Angry Guy’s face filled her screen. “I’m trying to help you. Stop firing!”
Oh… Cranky Guy was the pilot of the green ship. Possibly a good guy? Calie lifted her hands away from the controls.
As she watched, he took out every single destroyer then turned his attention to the warship.
“Shield at eight point seven percent,” Athena announced. “Hm…”
“What do you mean, hm? Should we head for an escape pod?”
“This is most intriguing. And disconcerting,” Athena murmured, not answering her escape question.
“What, that guy’s amazing battle prowess?”
“No. He infiltrated and took over my communication system to speak with you.”
Okay, now Calie was doubly impressed with good-looking Mister Frowny, because Athena was a powerful genius. No one bested her.
Calie plastered her palms on the controls. “Let’s help him kick that warship’s ass.”
“Don’t you dare,” their unknown ally barked, audio only.
“Are you eavesdropping on us? Rude!”
“The unknown male is attempting to take control of all station systems, Calie.”
“Cut it out, whoever you are,” Calie warned him. She aimed one of the station laser cannons at his ship.
“Who I am? I’m the male who’s going to disable and commandeer the warship, then eliminate everyone on board it while you sit on your pretty ass and stay out of my way.”
He thinks I’m pretty? She shook off the frisson skating down her spine. “Screw you. I’m blowing up that warship. Athena, take it out.”
