The Wytch's Mirror

Sherry Soule Guest Writer MMBlogTour

2012-08-01T00:05:00.000-04:00

Moonlight Mayhem Book Tour and twitter party at #MMBlogTour
It is easy to get excited about Sherry's Spellbound Series. Moonlight Mayhem is book 2 and today, I am thrilled to have the author sharing her Guest Post Supernatural Urban Legends.

Welcome Sherry Soule!

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Supernatural Urban Legends

Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from California, where it’s getting pretty foggy! Well, it’s the start of summer here, and even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting on Twitter about my love of YA books.

Thanks for letting me stop by today as part of my Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer. It’s a thrill to get to be a guest and fellow booklovers such as yourself. For those of you who haven’t heard of my epic blog tour, it’s not too late to join the fun!

To celebrate the release of Sherry Soule’s new YA novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM coming this July, she has put together a few mysterious and intriguing urban legends that surround the eerie township of Whispering Pines, California…

Urban Legend #1

Some researchers believe that certain demon races are actually the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim. (They are also considered to be Shadow People.) The origination of the Nephilim began with the legend of an archangel named Raziel. Urban legend states that Raziel escorted a sect of angels that were to instruct humans in morality.

Unfortunately, these angels began to educate man in sciences that God had deemed to be forbidden. These subjects included astrology, divination, and magic. The tutelage went on for centuries, until the angels began to pine for the human females.

After the fallen angels, or sometimes known as the Fallen, had sexual relations with the women, their unholy union resulted in the hybrid offspring called: Nephilim, which are the direct descendants of the antediluvian Fallen. Nephilim are also known as the Grigori or the Watchers.

It has been insinuated that one of the main reasons for the great flood, was not only to punish man, but to cleanse the earth of the Nephilim created from the union of fallen angels and human women. The flood banished most of the Fallen and their offspring into a Sheol.

So, do you believe in the Nephilim? What do you think will happen if they are ever freed?

Urban Legend #2

One haunted house claim that continues to be an urban legend is the infamous, Ravenhurst Manor in Whispering Pines. Books and stories have been written based on its hauntings and its reputation as one of California's most ghostly places.

Ravenhurst Manor’s first owner was a woman and dark sorceress named, Rowan Broussard. After her death, the estate was used as an all girl’s boarding school for many years. The sixty room Gothic mansion was listed for sale with the resident ghosts. Other odd things that occurred in in this house were: doors and windows that opened or closed on their own, cold drafts, whispering voices, and some visitors even claimed to see a dark shadowy figure roaming the halls.

However, Ravenhurst is most famously linked to the disappearance of six children during the years of 1964 through 1967. (After the school was closed, the estate became the property of the town before it was sold to an wealthy, oil magnate.) After the children’s' bodies were discovered buried within the walls of the house, obviously from less than peaceful circumstances, the town buried them in Silent Hollows Cemetery.

Did these Children buried on unconsecrated ground, lead to the strange tragedy that would make this mansion so famous?

Urban Legend #3

Ah, let’s move on to the zombie apocalypse!

Another interesting urban legend states that on September 28, 1941, during an eclipse, a zombie was spotted in Whispering Pines. To make matters worse, a fire at the local mill had swept through town. As day turned to night, more zombies appeared. Many townsfolk mistook the undead for dazed mill workers. After the residents received hugs from the zombies, they were bitten by these paranormals, and soon the epidemic spread across the town like wildfire.

To make matters worse, the roads and bridges connecting Whispering Pines to the rest of the Bay Area had burned in the fire. The townsfolk had no way to escape. Scores of people become lost when they chose to venture into the dark depth of Deadwood Grove rather than face the insatiable zombie menace.

Within days, the Paranormal Research Group (PRG) converged on Whispering Pines in a variety of aircraft. They established a base on the south side of the forest and went about the process of extermination. It took two weeks to secure the town. A total of 500 people were plague-ridden, an enormous number considering that there wasn’t a zombie vaccine available at this time.

Whatever the case, Whispering Pines’s zombie outbreak affected just under 600 people, making it one of the worst cases in U.S. history.

Are you prepared for a zombie apocalypse? What if zombies start showing up again?

Twitter hashtag: #MMBlogTour

Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

~~~~~

Places you can cyberstalk, Sherry Soule:

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Book Trailers on YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA

High Summer Read aThon

2012-07-19T09:02:00.000-04:00

Goldie by KC Shaw, Perchance to Dream by Peter Lukes, The Number by Sheenah Freitas, Moonlight Mayhem by Sherry Soule, The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf by Louisa Bacio, The Guardian of The Seventh Realm J.W. Baccaro

Michelle, The True Book Addict, is hosting High Summer Read-a-Thon July 16 through July 22 with twitter chats, challenges, prizes, and giveaways.

On Twitter using the hashtag #HSreadathon
Wednesday from 4 to 5pm CST
Friday from 8 to 9pm CST
Sunday from 12 to 1pm CST

A week for summer reading is never enough! Though I am late as always getting my start, you can see the TBR book pile has been existing and growing quite well. How am I spending my summer you ask? Thirteen cats, one dog, one bearded dragon, Mom, gardening, working on my first book How The Dragon Bleeds, and reading these wonderful titles with their amazing authors.

Happy Summer everyone and Happy Reading!!!!

As I begin my High Summer Read A Thon I have already been reading....

The Number (Book 2 Zincian Legend ) by Sheenah Freitas.

Kaia disappeared for five years. Now she's back and her planet is on the brink of war. Kaia's friend, Catrina, refuses to take part in the "Numbers" program, and that makes her the most dangerous Number of all. It's Kaia's duty to gather and protect the treasures of the gods. But neither the treasures nor Catrina are what they appear to be.

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What's next? I am not sure which one I will pick up next, but they all look amazing to me :)

Goldie by KC Shaw

Goldie dreams of a better life for herself, out of Colburn Supreme Steamworks plant. When a stranger turns up in her shift, Goldie wonders if he’s her ticket out. Ben is obviously more than he’s trying to appear. But when a venomous ghost rat attacks it sets off a chain of events. Now she just has to decide what, and who, she really wants.

Perchance to Dream by Peter Lukes

The Boston Police Sub-Net unit is an experimental department that lets cops invade the subconscious minds of criminals via their dreams, where they unearth criminal plans and gather information. Officer Manuel Corr is the best of the best. Until one night while on patrol, when the dream world around him suddenly collapses.Leaving him trapped.

The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf: A Threesome Wedding Adventure by Louisa Bacio
(Book 3)

Planning a wedding can be stressful and crazy-making. Planning three weddings at the same time? That’s insanity. While The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf embark on a nuptial excursion, Silver & Nick hold down the home fortress in New Orleans.

And as if everyone doesn’t have enough to deal with, the Voodoo King comes calling with a magic elixir that diminishes sexual inhibitions and an eerie quiet spreads across the French Quarter. Life as they know it may never be the same.

The threesome is forced to put off honeymoon bliss in order to banish the demons of their past, and embrace the uncertainty of the future.

Moonlight Mayhem by Sherry Soule
(Book 2 of Spellbound Series)

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the supernatural events of Whispering Pines, but the full moon has brought another surge of threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, and Shiloh must gain control of her magical abilities—fast! But it sucks that Shiloh has a crippling fear of the dark. As a demon slayer, this can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious animal and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace, but Shiloh’s battling a different monster within herself. She’s struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

The Sword of Righteousness by J.W. Baccaro
(Book 4 Guardian of the Seventh Realm)

Darshun Luthais-Nasharin warrior and chosen Guardian of earth, continues his journey across the arctic land of Syngothra, seeking to destroy Abaddon's Unholy Altar of Power, and bring the Second Great War to an end. But when a new and deadly sorcerer working for Abaddon discovers his plan, he sets up a trap for Darshun and his five companions, a colossal army of darkness lying in wait among the frozen elements, ready to unleash its fury once the intruders are in sight.
Now it is up to King Loreus-ruler of Loreladia to unify the scattered races of Light, and charge into Syngothra before the trap is sprung. For Loreus wields the Golden Sword of Purity, a weapon forged long ago by the Five Holy Races, before darkness had separated them. With little time to spare, the Loreladian King must stop the Elves from another civil war, gain their trust and then encounter the Centaurs of Cestmir, a pious Matriarchy and self-righteous race, where if they do not remember the Sword, they may prove to be more of an enemy than Abaddon.

Rise of the Guardian by J.W. Baccaro
(book 5 Guardian of the Seventh Realm)

While the Demon Lord Abaddon prepares to cast the Spell of Destruction and wipe out the glories of the earth for his own void of evil, Darshun Luthais, after a long oppressive journey, attempts to eradicate the source of his dark magic, the sacrificial Unholy Altar. But when the Dragon Gods unleash their barricade of fire the Delibious-a mystic realm of darkness, flames and witchery, Darshun must find a way through without burning his soul out of existence, and save the earth from the coming annihilation.

Book Review: The God King

2012-07-12T08:19:00.001-04:00

The God King (Book One: Heirs of the Fallen)
James A. West (Author)

Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...

For gold enough to buy a throne, mercenary Kian Valara agrees to guard Prince Varis Kilvar during a dull excursion across the realm. He should have known better than to trust a highborn.

Driven by a lust for supremacy, Varis sunders the lost Well of Creation, the veil between his world and the dominion of the dead. He steals powers never meant for mortal hands, at once transforming himself into a living god and unleashing a cataclysm that will change humanity and the face of the world forever.

In the heavens the three moons collide, fire scorches the firmament, and the seas rage as the face of the world trembles. Chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep, as a demonic host released from the bowels of the Thousand Hells seeks to possess the flesh of the living.

Bound to Varis by powers he neither wants nor understands, Kian is forced onto a path of defending a world that has ever turned its back on him. As Kian hunts after Varis, his love grows for a Sister of Najihar, who knows in her heart that she is preparing him for a battle no man can win.

About The Author

Biography of epic fantasy writer James A. West! If you like leaner, fast-paced fantasy, you've come to the right place.

When James was thirteen years old he read The Talisman, by Stephen King and Peter Straub, and a seed of an idea was planted that someday he, too, would create different worlds and realities.

After a stint in the US Army, a year as a long-haul truck driver, and a couple as a log home builder, he enrolled at the University of Montana. There, he majored in Psychology and, by chance, took a creative writing course that allowed him to revisit that old seed of an idea of creating worlds. Words started to flow, and worlds were born.

After college, he started a small woodworking business with the express purpose of using it to fund his writing journey.

James lives in Montana with his wife and his bodyguard, a Mini-Schnauzer named Jonesy.

Connect with James A. West:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

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My view and review: The God King is beautifully written. Though that is a simply put statement, it is one of the utmost truth. It really felt like a perfectly thought out and ingeniously designed world of fantasy literature. Not only is the reader taken away with an epic fantasy, but also with intricate and eloquent wording.

West has built a demigod world and allowed us a front row seat to the heroic action and fast paced story line. The characters are richly defined and easy to be drawn to.

Although it is clearly fantasy, the under lying facts are about defending one's beliefs, finding belief in one's self, and finding personal courage with strength through everything. There is also an emotional influence that cuts deep into the plot of things, adding another valuable and tremendous layer to the fantasy world of The God King.

We are also reminded that nothing is ever really free, not even a gift and especially when a God is the one gifting. I think James has taken a long lived lesson by most and turned it into a spectacular adventure.

I loved reading this book 'The God King', and I am genuinely impressed with James A. West as a wordsmith.

Mr. West has been very kind to offer two of his books as free downloads. You can find them at Smashwords. You will have to purchase his sequel to The God King, but I am certain you will do so gladly after reading this wonderful author's work.

I highly recommend this book to older teens and adults. Everyone can enjoy this book due to its literary quality. Fans of high fantasy adventures are going to swoon over this one and will be adding James A. West to their favorite authors lists.

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Visit James at Smashwords where you can download The God King and Night's Hun by James A. West for free.

The sequel to The God King is also available at Smashwords
Crown of the Setting Sun - Book Two: Heirs of the Fallen by James A. West

Book Review: Trapped on Draconica

2012-07-08T23:22:00.000-04:00

Trapped on Draconica by Dan Wright
Awesome and highly recommended!

Trapped on Draconica
Dan Wright (Author), Alexis M.Centeno (Illustrator)

Ben was just your typical teenager – loud, obnoxious and always getting himself into hot water. Coming from a troubled household, it’s no wonder Ben’s been on the wrong side of the tracks lately. Ben thinks that his troubles can't possibly get any worse.

How wrong he was...

Not long after being mysteriously teleported to the world of Draconica, Ben gets caught up in a Baalarian invasion – who are hell-bent on capturing him. But what did Ben ever do to upset them?

With no idea how he got here – and with intentions only on getting home, Ben embarks on a fantastical journey. Joining forces with the Dragonkin sisters Daniar and Erowin, Ben must help them take down the Empire before their dark grasp tightens across the land.

BUY NOW Trapped on Draconica available at Smashwords

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About the Author

Born in Canterbury, Kent, UK, Dan has always dreamt of being a writer. From a young age, he loved to read and hear about fairy tale stories that involved knights and dragons. Trapped on Draconica is his first book, written over 5 years, which is inspired by those very stories - but also including Manga style humour and action, of which Dan is also a fan. Though a fan of all genres, Dan considers his real passion for writing is fantasy and science fiction, he is also a fan of comic books. His favourite authors (which inspired his writing) are Douglas Adams, J.R.R Tolkien, Harlan Ellison, Alan Moore, Joss Whedon and Hiromu Arakawa.

Meet Dan:
On Smashwords, on Facebook, on Twitter, at PDPublishing, Trapped on Draconica,

I have been excited about Trapped on Draconica for several months and Dan Wright has been a guest at The Wytch's Mirror previously. Read our Interview and Dan's Guest Post

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My View and Review: When I first saw the cover for Trapped on Draconica, I knew I would love this book, and I did. Dan writes with a certain and defined creative voice, giving his characters their British accents and charm. The journey is taken by a group of teenagers doing normal every day things that young people do and reminding the reader of places they most likely have been at one time or another in their own life, and those places that some of us can only dream about.

For most books that I pick up, I expect that story to take me away to a place that can only be found in the author's mind. In addition, any thing with dragons is going to peek my interest and this one did not fail me one bit. The high energy of the activity, and the group of characters in this story with their high adventure is absolutely thrilling.

Literature takes on an entire new way of translating when art is involved and Alexis M. Centeno has incredibly illustrated Dan's world of Draconica. To say that I loved this book is really putting it mildly. Trapped on Draconica is appropriate for all ages and I recommend Trapped on Draconica as a suggested read for all ages too, especially for those of us that get into reading high fantasy literature.

I like to see things in color, however my nook is black and white. Trapped on Draconica still looks amazing on my nook and I am absolutely blown away with Alexa M. Centeno's artwork and Dan Wright's writing style.

Piece of Cake

2012-07-06T21:56:00.000-04:00

This was my first cheesecake ever that I had to bake in oven. Cheesecake is one of my absolute favorites but I have only made no bake recipes before now. It was not incredibly easy but it was worth it. Only after I had added my maple flavor did I realize I had the wrong bottle in my hand. We still liked it, and it is true, that making it a day early brings out the flavors.

___________________________

CHEESECAKE

Filling

    2 8oz boxes cream cheese
    1 cup sugar
    5 large eggs
    16 ounces sour cream
    1/4 cup flour
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    2 teaspoons lemon juice

Crust
     2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
     2 Tablespoons butter melted

Cream the boxes of cream cheese and add each ingredient one at a time while mixing, adding the sour cream last.

Mix Graham Cracker Crumbs and melted butter in a separate bowl, and press the mixture into a deep dish. I layered only the bottom of my glass casserole dish.

Pour the filling over the crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It sets best if allowing to cool before completely removing from oven. After turning off my oven, I opened the door and pulled out rack a little, leaving the cheesecake to cool on the rack. Once it has cool, cover and refrigerate. The taste is richer if made a day before eating.

I added a can of cherry pie filling over the top.

Sheenah Freitas

2012-07-06T10:18:00.000-04:00

The Number (Zincian Legend #2)
Sheenah Freitas

Kaia disappeared for five years. Now she's back and her planet is on the brink of war.

The new "Numbers" program, created by the Tueors’ leader, tracks and isolates demigods. Kaia's friend, Catrina, refuses to take part, and that makes her the most dangerous Number of all.

It's Kaia's duty to gather and protect the treasures of the gods. But neither the treasures nor Catrina are what they appear to be.

As the day a dire prophesy foresees draws near, will Kaia reverse the gears of fate, or will everything she's ever loved be burned away by the flames of war?

BUY The Number by Sheenah Freitas as Smashwords

Suggested reading for those that enjoy reading, vampires, adventure, fantasy, young adult, epic fantasy, series, ya, mermaids, ya fantasy, demigods, zincian legend

The Chosen (Zincian Legend #1) by Sheenah Freitas

Kaia’s entire life has erupted in flames after an assassin appears and burns her village down. She’s rescued by a god from another planet who requests her help because she’s the descendant of their last savior. Together with Reeze — the only other survivor from her village and her appointed guardian — they set off on a quest to find the treasures of the gods in hopes of preventing a dire prophesy.

Kaia and Reeze quickly meet the Tueors, a group of people many thought extinct, who are searching specifically for Kaia. Their intention: to protect the truth. As Kaia discovers more about the truth and her family’s past, she also learns of the Tueors’ bloody secret. Will Kaia be the savior the gods have been waiting for? Or will she let the prophesy come true?

BUY The Chosen by Sheenah Freitas at Smashwords

Suggested reading for those that enjoy reading adventure, young adult, gods, mermaid, epic fantasy, ya, fantasy adventure, high fantasy, merman, demigods

Author Sheenah Freitas

~About The Author~

A neek at heart, Sheenah Freitas has a love for the whimsical and the magical. She looks to animated Disney movies and Studio Ghibli films for inspiration because of their innovative twists on fairytales, strong story structures, and character studies. When not writing, you might find her in a forest where she's yet to find any enchanted castles.

Website/Blog: http://sheenahfreitas.com
Twitter: SheenahFreitas

The Heart of Faerie Oracle

2012-07-05T16:53:00.000-04:00

The Heart of Faerie Oracle

The Heart of Faerie Oracle (Hardcover) By Wendy Froud, Brian Froud, Robert Gould

From the renowned team of Brian and Wendy Froud comes a delightful and spiritual guide that offer believers a chance to connect with and experience the love and wisdom that comes from the hearts of faeries. The Heart of the Faerie Oracle box set includes 68 oracle cards, illustrated by Brian Froud. The accompanying book provides detailed instructions reading the cards and for the believer to relate to the Faerie World and learn valuable relationship information.Pairs well with How to See Faeries

How to See Faeries

How to See Faeries (Hardcover)By John Matthews, Brian Froud

International bestselling artist Brian Froud and New York Times bestselling author John Matthews come together for the first time to create a spectacular interactive book that opens the doors to the enchanted world of Faerie. How does one discover faeries in one’s backyard or a garden, forest, or meadow? Through insets, hidden messages, magical signs, reflective mirrors, and other paper mechanics, Froud and Matthews reveal how anyone may discover the way to the land of Faerie. Pairs well Heart of Faerie Oracle

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Thanks for visiting The Wytch's Mirror!

It is my hope that you have found something of interest and that you do return again soon. Until then, like The Wytch's Mirror on Facebook, and follow Cynthia on Twitter for updates.

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Blessed Be

A Declaration of Independence

2012-07-04T00:05:00.000-04:00

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

    He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
    He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
    He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
    He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
    He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
    He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
    He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
    He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
    He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
    He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
    He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
    He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
    He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
    For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
    For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
    For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
    For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
    For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
    For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
    For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
    For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
    For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
    He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
    He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
    He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
    He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple

Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

+++++++++++++

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It is my hope that you have found something of interest and that you do return again soon. Until then, like The Wytch's Mirror on Facebook, and follow Cynthia on Twitter for updates.

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Blessed Be

The American Flag

2012-07-03T16:53:00.000-04:00

The American Flag
By Joseph Rodman Drake
(August 17, 1795 – September 21, 1820)

When Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night,
And set the stars of glory there.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies,
And striped its pure celestial white
With streakings of the morning light;
Then from his mansion in the sun
She called her eagle bearer down,
And gave into his mighty hand
The symbol of her chosen land.

Majestic monarch of the cloud,
Who rear’st aloft thy regal form,
To hear the tempest trumpings loud
And see the lightning lances driven,
When strive the warriors of the storm,
And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven,
Child of the sun! to thee ’tis given
To guard the banner of the free,
To hover in the sulphur smoke,
To ward away the battle stroke,
And bid its blendings shine afar,
Like rainbows on the cloud of War,
The harbingers of victory!

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly,
The sign of hope and triumph high,
When speaks the signal trumpet tone,
And the long line comes gleaming on.
Ere yet the lifeblood, warm and wet,
Has dimmed the glistening bayonet,
Each soldier eye shall brightly turn
To where thy sky-born glories burn,
And, as his springing steps advance,
Catch war and vengeance from the glance.

And when the cannon-mouthings loud
Heave in wild wreaths the battle shroud,
And gory sabres rise and fall
Like shoots of flame on midnight’s pall,
Then shall thy meteor glances glow,
And cowering foes shall shrink beneath
Each gallant arm that strikes below
That lovely messenger of death.

Flag of the seas! on ocean wave
Thy stars shall glitter o’er the brave;
When death, careering on the gale,
Sweeps darkly ’round the bellied sail,
And frighted waves rush wildly back
Before the broadside’s reeling rack,
Each dying wanderer of the sea
Shall look at once to heaven and thee,
And smile to see thy splendors fly
In triumph o’er his closing eye.

Flag of the free heart’s hope and home!
By angel hands to valor given;
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,
And all thy hues were born in heaven.
Forever float that standard sheet!
Where breathes the foe but falls before us,
With Freedom’s soil beneath our feet,
And Freedom’s banner streaming o’er us?

+++++++++++++

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It is my hope that you have found something of interest and that you do return again soon. Until then, like The Wytch's Mirror on Facebook, and follow Cynthia on Twitter for updates.

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Blessed Be

Book Review: Slave

2012-06-05T13:34:00.000-04:00

Slave
Finding Anna, Book 1
by
Sherri Hayes

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, Stephan knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave. Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing. Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop (September 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612130488
ISBN-13: 978-1612130484

About the Author- Sherry Hayes ~Sherri is the author of several novels, and a short story, A Christmas Proposal. She lives in central Ohio with her husband and three cats. Her mother fostered her love for books at a young age by reading to her as a child. Stories have been floating around in her head for as long as she can remember; however, she didn’t start writing them down until four years ago. It has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found helping her husband in his woodworking shop.

Follow Sherri on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook

Thank you!
On January 15, 2012 I received an epub for my nook when I won a giveaway at The Forbidden Bookshelf and a copy of Slave by Sherri Hayes. Thank you and my apologies for taking this long to get my review done. I devoured it right away and loved it immensely.
+++++++++++++

~My view and review Brianna is taken, and broken by a monster. What transpires in her world is not exactly what any submissive would dream of, nor desire. What Brianna turns into is not what a dominate partner would dream of, nor desire. Not really. For the most part, as with anything, rules are broken and people are human. People change things as they go and make things work for them and for the moment. What was good for one man, was not good for Brianna. Now it will be up to Stephan to pave a new path and prove to Brianna her own self worth. In doing this, Stephan will need to deny himself to a degree while strengthening his own self control. Perhaps, that is exactly what the Dominate was seeking, and truly needed.

Slave is beautifully written. I can not stress this point enough. Sherri Hayes brings to us a subject matter that is controversial to say the least, telling a loving and tender story with taste. The story is broken up into two narratives. We get the story from Stephan's perspective and from Brianna's. An absolutely wonderful way to read their story, their feelings and the emotional roller coaster as they learn about themselves and about each other.

Stephan does not want Brianna to view her life as a punishment. Having a submissive nature is not a weakness and it is important to Stephan that Brianna knows this, and appreciates it fully. Brianna displays her submissive nature without even trying and it is that very trait that complicates and Dominants Stephan. However, Stephan spends much of his time displaying techniques that sharpen Brianna's awareness and at the same time heightens her level of submissiveness. Both characters are feeding from one another, their roles and at the same time relish in their nurturing, and control, of the other.

Due to how damaged Brianna is when Stephan finds her, it leaves Stephan little room to 'play'. We get a clear picture of their living arrangements and only a small taste of the BDSM life style. Simply a taste. The larger part of Slave is a story telling of two people hungry for gratification, but needing to heal before they can really allow anyone in. They are healing and trying to figure out how the other one might fit into their life. Slave really is a beautiful love story but told from a different and alternative perspective. Controversial, maybe. Written tastefully, absolutely.

Buy Slave Now!

+++++++++++++

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Blessed Be

Plant A Tree

2012-04-26T11:43:00.000-04:00

In honor of Earth Day that was April 22 and although I am late with my personal recognition, earth day should very well be every day of our lives, if we truly care about the life of our planet.

We do not always have to agree with the politics behind someone's reasoning, but the end result should benefit all. If you can see that, then you are visionary and the world needs you. Do not be afraid to take a stand for something that will make a difference.

Here's an easy way for you to help the planet.

RIGHT NOW!

This is really quick, and painless. If someone is willing to do the work, pay the price, and all you have to do is click your mouse, why would you not take the few seconds that it takes to do this and plant a tree?
||
||
||
||
\ /

From now until the end of the month, CREDO Action will plant a tree for every new person who joins them on Facebook by "Liking" their page. So if you become a fan of their page, they'll plant a tree on your behalf.

If you have a Facebook account, it's really simple.

First, click here to go to their action page.

Once the page is loaded, click the "Like" button under the words "CREDO Mobile on Facebook" at the top of the box on the right side of the page.

That's it!

Trees are great for the planet. And CREDO Action Facebook fan page is an important part of how they run their campaigns at CREDO.

Every day, the political team at CREDO posts the articles they're reading to their Facebook page. Then they look to their Facebook fans — that's you and me! — for thoughts on the issues, and they often take our opinions into account when they decide what campaign to pursue next.

This original message came to my inbox from
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

+++++++++++++

Thanks for visiting The Wytch's Mirror!

It is my hope that you have found something of interest and that you do return again soon. Until then, like The Wytch's Mirror on Facebook, and follow Cynthia on Twitter for updates.

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Blessed Be

Earth Elemental Series

2012-04-25T20:21:00.000-04:00

Earth Invocation
written by Cynthia Jones

Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North.
Keeper, and bringer, of the Earth.
Bring life. Fertility. Of your bosom.
Summons. Calling of thee. Stir.
Blessed Mother Earth.

Nourish. Give Hope. Fruition.
My Earth, my mother, my ground beneath my feet
you are the dirt in my nails and what nurtures me.
Growth of all things, life to death, earth.
Blessed Mother Earth.

Hold my body to yours, firmly.
My feet touch to your ground,
Planted. Soil, nurtures, feeds
sow, work, planting seeds.
Blessed Mother Earth.

Creatures of yours,
squirm, roll, walk and crawl..
giving life force, energy.
Nurtured. Growth. Live.
Blessed Mother Earth.

Seasons echo, imitate yours
born in spring with all new life
warm and glowing for all..

Under the moon on summer night
green to yellow, red, and brown
when the earth turns to fall..

And die... with the cold again
in rest, until time to begin
Blessed Mother Earth.

So mote it be!
written by my hand on this day april 25 2012

+++++++++++++

This is part one of an Elemental Series to include all five elements including
Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Spirit.

Earth Power is within the planet and can be obtained through stones, trees, plants, water, fire, wind, and everything that makes up our earth.

+++++++++++++

Earth

(The following facts and details were found at Natural Magical.)

DIRECTION: North

ASSOCIATIONS: Stability, food, wealth, crops, animals, home, mountains, strength, grounding, protecting, nature, death-rebirth

QUALITIES: dry, cold, heavy, passive

GENDER: feminine, receptive

MAGICAL POWER: To be silent

COLORS: brown, black, green

ARCHANGEL: Uriel-Auriel

ELEMENTAL BEING: Gnomes

ELEMENTAL KING: Ghobe

ANIMALS: most four-legged, animals that go by night

PLANTS: Celtic trees - Ash, Dwarf Elm, Hawthorn. Herbs - Patchouli, Vetiver, Wheat Natives - Bald Cypress, Inland Sea-Oats, Texas Persimmon, Elbow-bush, Indiangrass

STONES: Amazonite, Emerald, Hematite/Hematine, Jade, Jet, Lodestone, Malachite, Peridot, Serpentine, Turquoise

METALS: (Iron), Lead, Mercury

MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS: Giants, Leprechauns, Trolls

KERUB: Bull

TAROT SUIT: Pentacles/Coins/Discs

TAROT TRUMPS: Devil, Empress, Emperor, World

RUNES: Fehu, Wunjo, Jera, Berkano, Mannaz, Othala

ZODIAC SIGNS: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

PLANETS: (Jupiter, Saturn)

HOUR: Midnight

DAY(S): (Thursday, Saturday)

SEASON: Winter

LIFE CYCLE: Old Age

ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL: downward pointing triangle bisected by horizontal line

TATTWA SYMBOL: Yellow Square

QABALISTIC SEPHIROT: Malkuth/Kingdom

MAGICAL TOOLS: Pentacle, Rock, Hammer, Salt, Shield, Drum

CHAKRA(S): Root

TYPES OF MAGIC: Household, Prosperity, Ancestors, Fertility, Grounding, Protection, Eco-Magic

POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Reliable, punctual, stable, perserver, wise

NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Greedy, sensualist, materialistic, stodgy, narrow-minded

OVERBALANCE: Boring, tunnel-vision, materialistic

UNDERBALANCE: Unreliable, careless, tasteless

+++++++++++++

Thanks for visiting The Wytch's Mirror!

It is my hope that you have found something of interest and that you do return again soon. Until then, like The Wytch's Mirror on Facebook, and follow Cynthia on Twitter for updates.

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Blessed Be

Unclean

2012-04-17T18:10:00.001-04:00

UNCLEAN

by
Cynthia Jones

Never heard.
Never asked.

Ignored.

Hide the fetish,
keep the mouth clean.

wouldn't want to hear it..
wouldn't want it seen..

-SHAME- is a lie.
be true to thine self-

can not control, get abused
can not relate, get accused

Like a bum on the street...
dance for a cup of change.

JUST a beggar's plea...
To the world... just strange...

I'll drink from his bottle
his wine will keep me warm

I'll sleep in his box
his shelter from the storm

It aint much but I'll take it
it aint anything compared to....
...........

like the fucking tax man -hands already full...

-always passing judgment

Copyright 2006 Cynthia E. Jones

Whispers

2012-04-17T17:42:00.000-04:00

art by Selina Fenech, and find more fantasy art at Enchanted Designs

WHISPERS

by
Cynthia Jones

Listen for the whispers...
as they come across our lips,
after the kisses...
across.. our lips

of dew on the grass,
moist and wet...
and yet; not there,
not really there at all.

Soothing to the touch,
as fingertips tickle...
the blades of green...
felt.. but not seen.

Droplets from the sky
as the clouds cry,
to wet the dust
of yesterday;
and tomorrow

...brings the day light.

All that is... is memory.
She rides the wind of time
in search of a place
to reside.

Copyrighted 2000 Cynthia E. Jones

New Badge

2012-04-17T16:58:00.000-04:00

It's been way too long.

A new look, and a new banner.

I liked my other template, but

I lost domains and images.

Sometimes,

a fresh new start works.

Everything Erotic

2012-02-03T00:29:00.001-05:00

It's my pleasure to feature Everything Erotic! I've been reading my copy of volume one that I found at Smashwords, and although I still need to write my review....I can say right now it is sexy hot and all the books following are definitely on my wishlist. Thank you Everything Erotic authors and Red Hot Book Tours for the wonderful guest post today along with the amazing excerpt!

_______________

First, thank you for having Everything Erotic on The Wytch's Mirror today. It’s a pleasure to be here. Our wonderfully talented Nickie Asher volunteered to speak for the group today.

For today’s post I thought it might be fun to talk about story ideas that didn’t pan out. Writing as a member of the Everything Erotic team has given me an opportunity to try out a lot of different story ideas, but sometimes, ideas come along that just don’t make it. Every writer sifts through their idea-well for story fodder and every writer has some that are less than stellar. Here are a few of my rejects that bubbled up while searching for hot erotic story ideas.

One story I would still love to write involves my two favorite violinists. Of course, I couldn’t portray them as anything but fictional characters, though I would know who they really were. The idea I started with involved both men and a single woman. Each would to try to win her heart, but things fell apart when the idea morphed into something different. Very different. The woman vanished from the plot and my two favorite violinists were going to end up in bed with each other. Not that there’s anything wrong with a male/male plot. The problem was that I would have ended up writing them so well described that it would be pretty obvious who they really were. Those two men give new meaning to male beauty.

Anyone involved in violin would know who those characters were based on. Nixed that idea.
Another idea that didn’t make it involved a horny clown with a fetish for sucking women’s toes. I will confess that this idea partially came from an old children’s cartoon. That was bad enough, but the clown made me start thinking of John Wayne Gacy and that sent the idea right down the commode. Nothing sexy about a serial killer.

Another idea that never happened involved a dragon prince and female demon. Two fiery personalities, literally. On the surface it sounded like fun but come on, it was only a matter of time before someone got roasted, possibly during the heat of sex. I doubt erotica readers want to dip into horror and have one of the main characters turned into a lump of charcoal. So much for that idea.

Another idea that didn’t happen involved a stuffy historian who stepped through the pages of an enchanted book into the past where he met the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately, she was a courtesan who entertained half the town and enjoyed her career so much she wouldn’t return to the future with the hapless hero. What good is a heroine who refuses to run away with the hero because she’s having such a good time being a loose woman with every man she meets? Sheesh. I suppose it would work for the erotic aspect but I hated to do that to Mr. Stuffypants.

For every idea that doesn’t make it, another does. In addition to my erotica projects, I have several dark urban fantasy stories in the works. Two of my UF stories will soon go out into the world with another due out next year. And who knows, maybe someday Mr. Stuffypants will turn up in a story with a heroine who will accompany him back in time.

~ Nickie Asher ~

Website *** Facebook *** Twitter

Everything Erotic
Year One, Issues I to XII
Excerpt
Volume IV
Pumpkin’s Great Escape
By Boone Brux
   The radio announcer’s voice filled the confines of the rescue vehicle. “Breaking news—The Pixie Dust Processing Plant exploded earlier today, sending a cloud of Frisky Fairy Dust a thousand feet in the air. No fatalities have been reported, but the atmosphere at the explosion site is said to be agitated. Pixie Falls’ emergency teams ask citizens to keep clear of the neighborhood and give crews a chance to secure the area. A spokes-person from the plant advises people to “Stay inside until the dust settles.”
   Sirens warned drivers to the side of the road, as Peter wove his way through the traffic, lights blazing.
   “I’m sure she’s okay, man. The report said nobody was killed.”
   Peter cut a glance to his partner, Jack, who tried his best to exude reassurance. “Thanks, I’m sure you’re right. What about Jill?”
   “Naw, she took the day off. Said she’s gonna stand over the plumber until he finishes installing the new hot tub. She refuses to let me lug water from the old well anymore.”
   “A wife’s concern—must be nice.”
   “Things still not good between you and Pumpkin?”
   Peter shook his head. “Same ol’—same ol’. I ask but do not receive.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’m a freakin’ paramedic. You’d think I could breathe some life back into our sex life.”
   “You know the old saying, ‘You can’t lead a dead horse to water’.”
   Peter arched an eyebrow. “I think it’s ‘lead a horse to water’.”
   “Whatever, if the horse is dead you can’t lead it or make it drink, and you definitely shouldn’t bone it.” Jack paused. “Is your horse dead, Peter, cause I have pills for that?”
   “My horse is just fine, a damn stallion as-a-matter-of-fact. It’s Pumpkin’s horse that’s destined for the glue factory. She’s always like—‘Not tonight, Peter, I’m too tired.’ Or—‘Geez Peter, don’t you think of anything else?’”
   “How long has it been since you got any?”
   “I vaguely remember a mercy fuck a few months ago.”
   Jack let out a long whistle of pity. “Now that’s messed up.”
   “Tell me about it.”
   Dozens of flashing lights issued from what appeared to be every emergency vehicle in the county. Peter slowed the ambulance to a crawl as a cop in a respirator waved them forward. Weaving his way through the crush, he stopped the ambulance, and stared.
   “What the f…?” His question hung in the air as he and Jack leaned forward in an effort to get a clearer view.
   “Is that what I think it is?” Jack asked.
   The scene before them looked like the aftermath of a battle. Bodies spread across the manicured lawn of the Pixie Processing Plant. Only the people weren’t dead—far from it. Bodies writhed and undulated in every sex act known to man.
   “Whoa,” Jack whispered. “I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”
   A loud rap on the window snapped Peter from his daze. With great effort, he pulled his gaze from the carnal battlefield and looked at the man on the other side of the window. Peter squinted, trying to identify the officer behind the mask. The man pointed to his respirator and back at Peter and Jack.
   “I think he wants us to put our masks on.” Peter reached over the seat, retrieved two masks, and held one out to Jack.
   Jack stared at the offered respirator. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
   “Take it unless you want to be trippin’ on Frisky Dust.” Peter shook the mask at his partner, but Jack didn’t take it.
   Instead, he raised his eyebrows as if contemplating the possibility. “Well now, that is the dilemma. Can Jill really get mad if I succumbed to Frisky Dust in the line of duty and happened to bang a few willing victims while under the influence?”
   Peter shoved the mask into Jack’s chest. “Put it on—that’s an order.”
   They exited the ambulance with respirators securely in place. It took all of Peter’s willpower not to gawk at the mass orgy taking place on the lawn.
   “Nice of you boys to join us.” Officer Sprat crossed his arms over his chest and stood wide-legged. Amusement danced in his eyes. “There aren’t any injuries so grab your oxygen and start clearing some heads.”
   “Uh, how are we supposed to do that?” Peter asked.
   Officer Sprat slapped him on the back. “That’s up to you Peter. You’re the paramedic, not me. But I sure look forward to watching you work.” He turned and walked away, his laughter billowing behind him.
   “Finally, a crisis worthy of my skill,” Jack said.
   With oxygen tanks at the ready, they moved into the mass of gyrating bodies. Tits and asses bobbed—bounced—and shimmied.
   “One man should not have to resist this much temptation,” Jack mumbled.
   Peter silently agreed. It had been so long since he’d had anything resembling sex and now—here he was—wading through a lake of lust. His cock tightened. He tried to ignore the swelling but when the moans of pleasure and grunting enveloped him, he almost shamed himself.
   “Where do we start?” Jack said.
   “Right here,” purred a voice below them.
   Peter looked down and watched Little Bo Peep crawl toward them. Her exposed, pink nipples giving the name of Peep a whole new meaning.
   “Hey Bo, lookin’ good,” Jack leered.
   She rose up on her knees and cupped her breasts. “I’m feeling even better. Wanna find out?”
   “Well—since you’re offering.” Jack’s hand inched forward, but Peter pushed it away.
   “Are you crazy? Don’t you know who she’s dating?” Jack shrugged and shook his head. “Wolfgang Von Pelt.”
   “That crazy, shape-shifting florist?”
   “The same and if he catches your scent on Bo’s peep, you’re a dead man.”
   “Damn.” Jack jumped back and out of Bo’s reach. “Well, if you’ve got this under control—I’m gonna go help…” He scanned the crowd. “Red. She looks like she could use of a breath of fresh air.” Not waiting for an answer, Jack bolted, leaving Peter to deal with the randy shepherdess.
   “Peter,” she cooed. “I seemed to have lost my staff.” Bo walked her fingers up his calf to the inside of his thigh.
   The closer her digits traveled to his package, the more it swelled. “Uh, sorry to hear that, Bo.”
   A dainty pout formed on her lips. “Can I use yours?” Her hand swept up and rubbed his erection. “Oh, it’s so much bigger than mine.”
   Words stuck in Peter’s throat as she fondled and stroked Little Peter to life. Damn, it had been too long. Big Peter had meant to refuse Bo the use of his staff. He’d meant to apply the oxygen mask to her. Yet, as her nibble fingers caressed and teased him, all rational thought bled from his mind.
   With aching slowness, Bo reached up and popped the button of his pants. The zipper crept down a little on its own as his cock pushed against its confines. Bo pinched the little brass tab and tugged, unzipping him and setting his cock free. Holding his breath, he watched as Bo’s blond head move toward his erection, and when she wrapped her hand and lips around him his knees nearly buckled. To hell with Von Pelt. He wasn’t so tough.
   Warm, moist, soft lips pulled at the tip of his staff. Sucking—yes—glorious sucking. Peter buried his hands in her hair and thrust into her mouth. Fuck, it felt too good. He opened his eyes and stared at the hundreds of bouncing tits, thrusting cocks, and pumping pussies. Yeah, it had been too long.
   His gaze scanned the crowd. Fiery auburn curls drew his attention and he stopped thrusting. He’d recognize those locks anywhere.
   “Pumpkin.” The name was a mere whisper.
   Shit, he’d forgotten about her. With inhuman strength, he broke Bo’s vacuum seal around his dick and shoved the stiff rod back in his pants.
   “Sorry Bo.” He batted her searching hands away from his crotch and covered her protest with the oxygen mask. “Breath deep and everything will be fine.”
   His eyes remained riveted on the scene fifty yards away. Was that his Pumpkin? It had to be, but nothing else about the woman seemed familiar. She looked so uninhibited—so wild—so willing.
   Pumpkin leaned against a tree with Georgie Porgie and Hansel draped around her. Where had her damn blouse gone? Peter’s eyes rounded as Georgie cupped her breast and brought his lips to her large dusky nipple, suckling until she moaned.
   “Hey, you loose-lipped gigolo, get away from her!” But Georgie and Pumpkin ignored him.
   Peter gaped as the Hansel knelt at Pumpkin’s feet and ran his hand up her thighs to lift her tattered skirt.
   “No, no, don’t lift that,” he shouted. “Keep your filthy candy-filching hands off her.”
   Then she did it. Lifting her foot, Pumpkin wrapped her long, slender leg around Hansel’s shoulder and pulled him to her, burying his face in her pussy.
   “Oh no you didn’t.” Peter dropped the oxygen tank and took off across the lawn.
   He knew the second Pumpkin saw and recognized him. A lascivious smile spread across her ripe peach mouth. She ran her hand over the top of her licker’s head and grabbed a handful of hair. Arching, she pressed into him. Her tits bounced as she gyrated against her lover’s mouth.
   Peter stopped and pulled off his mask. Mesmerized by the ecstasy on his wife’s face, he stood like an idiot in the eye of a sexual hurricane. He’d never seen Pumpkin look so involved—so sexy. She rocked against the stranger, faster and faster. Peter’s cock swelled and strained against his pants. She bucked and the stranger drank her in. Pumpkin cried out and held the man to her, convulsing and shivering as she rode the pleasure train.
   “Son-of-a…” Peter should be riding that train, not some stranger. She was his wife, damn it, dust or no dust. “Pumpkin!”
   She looked up and smiled again. Peter closed the distance between them, pinning her with his stare as she unwound her leg and pushed her skirt down. But before he got too close, Pumpkin spun and ran into the Enchanted Forest, the echoes of her girlish giggles the only evidence she had ever been there.
   “Now that was fucked up,” Jack said from beside him.
   “You got that right.” Peter looked at his partner. “I gotta go after her. You got this under control?”
   “Yeah, it’s cool. Go get your lady.”
   Peter nodded and sprinted into the Enchanted Forest. Before this day was over, he’d capture his wife and show her the right way to eat a Pumpkin.

About the Authors:

Everything Erotic is a group of twelve authors doing the unthinkable—posting original erotic fiction and non-fiction for free on a blog.

The blog launched September 1st, 2010. Since their debut, they’ve built a following of close to a thousand readers via Amazon's Kindle Blogs and over 2000 followers on Facebook. Due to overwhelming interest, they started to compile their short stories, serials, and articles into eBooks.

The group currently has five eBooks available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Smashwords. The heat level of their writing varies from erotic romance to pure five alarm erotica at its best—there’s something for every reader to enjoy.

The EE Team of Authors: Alice Gaines, Boone Brux, C.J. Ellisson, Danielle Gavan, Delilah Devlin, Greta Goddard, Melissa Ecker, M.K. Elliott, Nickie Asher, Roxanne Rhoads, Scarlett Jameson and Whitley Gray

The ladies from Everything Erotic can be found at the following locations on the web:
Everything Erotic blog: http://everythingerotic.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/everythingerotic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvrythingErotic
Kindle blogs: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZDO2BM

Blog Tour: LJ DeLeon and Giveaway

2012-01-26T00:05:00.030-05:00

Welcome to LJ DeLeon and her Warrior's for Light series! WOW! Three books, three excerpts and GIVEAWAY! The Wytch's Mirror has today's stop of LJ's Virtual Book Tour presented by Bewitching Book Tours featuring Absolution, Dragon Child, and Warrior's Rise at Amazon for .99 cents! AND a GIVEAWAY! Giveaway details below.

Welcome LJ DeLeon!

Absolution
Warrior’s for Light Book 3
By LJ DeLeon
ISBN: 978-1-4524486-0-2

He did the unforgivable. Druid Lucan Woods killed his surrogate father and best friend for the greater good. Wracked with guilt, he infiltrates a brotherhood of evil, hoping the mission is one way. Absolution may come from a missing Fae Princess, if he will accept it. Or will he reject her love and use her as a pawn in his drive to destroy the leader of the brotherhood?

Fae Princess Alanna has just learned her twin daughters are alive. She leaves hIfreann to search Earth for them. Only she can touch Luc’s heart. But will he let her? Will he open his stained soul and allow her to enter in time to save them both?

Absolution Amazon Buy Link
Absolution Smashwords

ABSOLUTION Excerpt

   For a short interim, she had felt nothing from him and feared he had succeeded. Then his pain speared her heart and, when she had touched his mind, she learned he had been in Otherworld. That his life and soul survived was a balm. Now, in this room, his self-loathing dominated to a degree she'd never encountered or dealt with in her years as a healer.

   His bleak devastation battered at her, driving her to her knees. Unable to bear his oppressive grief, she crawled to him, and curled her hands over his knees, forcing a touch, a rush of compassion, anything to save him. The reason didn't matter, only the certainty that to do nothing, to allow him to be consumed, would be disastrous for both of them. He would suffer, as would she and her daughters.

   He stared at the gun then sighed. "If you're going to do it, Luc, get it over with." He placed the weapon in his mouth, aimed up and back. His finger slid off the guard and onto the trigger.

   No! She squeezed her fingers hard around his knees. Her hands didn't pass through his flesh, despite their non-corporeal composition, reassuring her that she had gained complete control over traveling the astral plain.

   Waves of energy rushed from her and enveloped him.

   He stilled. Slowly he removed the weapon, his finger poised on the trigger.

   She moved to the bed and eased behind him to cradle his head between her palms. She bent, her lips to his ear. It wasn't your fault. Hear me, warrior. Do not burden yourself with this weight.

   His gaze searched the room as he raised the weapon toward the door.

   This wasn't your fault.

   "Wasn't my fault? If not mine, then whose?" His voice rasped harsh and raw with pain.

He had heard her. She had time and a link to stop him. One she wouldn’t drop. Never again would she be this close to losing him. Nate’s death was due to manipulation by the parasite inside of him. He was an innocent caught in the crossfire. He would be saddened to have you lose your way like this. Please, I need you.

Amazon | BN | ARe | Smashwords

Dragon Child
Warrior’s for Light Book 2
By LJ DeLeon
ISBN: 978-1-4524813-8-8

A fire-breathing dragon, Moira O'Neal, was exchanged at birth for a Fae princess. Discovering the truth, she escapes the cage of the royal court and joins forces with the sexiest wereleopard on Earthworld. She fights the urge to mate and the trap that comes with it as they race against time to find the missing princess and a master of the black arts who covets her power.

Major Steve Taylor, a wereleopard in the Army For Light, partners with the impetuous Moira in the middle a dangerous mission where failure means all their deaths. Worse, his leopard decides Moira is his mate, leaving the man at war with his cat.

Dragon Child Amazon Buy Link
Dragon Child Smashwords

DRAGON CHILD Excerpt

   Never one to ignore a warning, she inched forward, preparing to make her escape. The door opened and Ma entered followed by Major Steve Taylor, a wereleopard visiting from Earth.

   Moira shivered at the sight of the tall, lean, hard-muscled warrior’s unflinching moss-green stare. His scent of laurel and crisp mountain air mixed with a hint of musk wafted over her, exciting every nerve ending. It drew her, enveloped her, melted her where she sat. Good thing she’d never gotten this close to him at her brother and Deva’s wedding. She inhaled again. Goddess help her, she would have fallen at his feet and made a fool of herself.

   Moira gnawed on her lower lip. What was it about this hard, closed-off Were? What made her look twice at him when no other male triggered her interest?

   A second later, a guard in the hall pulled the door shut, sealing them inside.

   Moira eased back into her corner and prayed she escaped discovery. They couldn’t see her, but she could observe and hear everything from her location. . . .

   He placed a finger to his lips and scanned the room. His eyes phased to those of a leopard, fitting seamlessly into his human face—unblinking, soft grass green with a narrowed black iris. His mouth opened slightly, his tongue pressed against his teeth, as if tasting the air. His head made small abrupt movements, taking in the room.

   Moira’s eyes widened at his mouthed, “We aren’t alone.”

   She froze as he turned and prowled toward her. Damn his wereleopard nose. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed to the Goddess with every cell in her being she were invisible.

   Goose bumps broke out all over her body. The air in front of her stilled. Nothing moved. Only his scent touched her.

   He’d found her.

   She opened her eyes and stared into his. Her chest constricted with dread. He stood, fully alert, feet planted directly in front of her. If he’d been in cat form, she suspected his ears would tip forward to catch the slightest breath. Whiskers would twitch, testing for any change in the air.

Amazon | BN | ARe | Smashwords

Warrior’s Rise
Warrior’s for Light Book 1
By LJ DeLeon
ISBN: 978-1-4524372-3-1

For Fae-human half-breed Deva Morgan, life as she knows it changes on her thirtieth birthday. One moment she’s a barkeep, the next she is a warrior fated to save Earth from the Dark Lord and his demon horde. Shunned by both her races, she faces a danger-filled quest with few allies. Too bad her powers haven’t fully emerged or stabilized.

For Deva it is life or death, on-the-job training with her companion, Padraig O’Neal, a Fae warrior with a shadowed past. Can he quiet the storm raging inside her, help her harness the growing power within her, and provide a barrier between Deva and a fatal outcome?

Will their love be enough to save Deva and stop the Dark Lord’s demons from entering Earth?

Warrior's Rise Amazon Buy Link
Warrior's Rise Smashwords

WARRIOR'S RISE Excerpt

   Padraig ignored the snarling werewolf in front of him, the throbbing beat of '70's rock, the whirling of the ceiling fan, and scanned the near-empty bar. No human norms present. Good, it made his job easier, cleaner.

   His gaze locked onto the woman behind the aged mahogany counter. She was beautiful, almost ethereal. Strange, considering she was about six feet and all angles. Even her face was a series of planes. Yet it all fit together in a unique, mesmerizing image.

   Inhaling, he filtered out the residual odor of norms and their stale cigarette smoke. Her scent of summer with just a hint of wisteria, drew him, enveloped him, singed him with the heat of her presence.

   Her bored expression didn’t hide the quick assessing look in her cool hazel eyes, then dismissal.

   Damn it to the Abyss. Her icy disdain combined with the unfamiliar pull of her sensuality were complications he did not need.

   Not now. Not ever.

Amazon | BN | ARe | Smashwords

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LJ DeLeon Bio:

Bestselling author LJ DeLeon is an Army brat and a world-traveled former CIA Intelligence Analyst who has seen enough of this world to appreciate other worlds. Working for the CIA was great training for writing fantasy, paranormal, and futuristic romance--and understanding the warrior mentality. Amazing how real life and fiction overlap.

Website: http://www.warriorsforlight.com

Publisher: Dark Hallows Publishing

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!
Someone is going to win
a $25 Gift Card of their choice of Amazon, ARe, or B&N.
To enter, comment on this post at The Wytch's Mirror
and go here to fill out form.
Thanks and Good Luck!

Complete Tour Schedule at Bewitching Book Tours

Blog Tour: J.F. Jenkins

2012-01-25T00:05:00.003-05:00

Welcome J.F. Jenkins, author of Vala Agendas. Today is The Wytch's Mirror stop of the Virtual Book Tour presented by Bewitching Book Tours. J.F. Jenkins shares her bio and an excerpt from her novel 'Vala Agendas'.

Vala Agendas

By J.F Jenkins

Cheyenne Loveless was just a boring sixteen-year-old girl. Then Denver Collins bit her and everything changed. Her plants start talking to her, she finds out she’s a Nymph, and a witch and the angel of death show up at her doorstep to take her away to the prestigious Vala School and Seminary. Oh, and she has no choice in the matter.

All she wants to do is blend in and return to being invisible, but the more time that passes, the harder that becomes. Plus she’s a daughter of the Divine, an exclusive secret society which rules the world of myth, and discovers she is a key ingredient to an ancient covenant created before she was born. A covenant that will reshape the order of the world.

Adjusting to a new school is difficult enough, but adding on everyone else’s hidden agendas is the icing on the cake. Cheyenne must learn to see through the lies in order to find her place — and possibly even love — in this new world.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Astraea Press

Excerpt:

"Can I help you?" she asked, shielding herself protectively with her arms.

"Sorry, you smell good," he murmured, practically purring in her ear as he pulled away. He still maintained his close proximity.

"I smell..." She frowned and was about to sniff at her arm, but she stopped herself. "_good?"

"You smell good. Kind of like lilies of the valley, actually. Let me guess-you use that for your scented body wash?"

"I just use Dial." Her entire body tensed more as he moved in again, his face dangerously close to her neck. "I don't mean to be rude, and while I'm flattered you're so fascinated with my body, you’re also making me uncomfortable. If you're just trying to butter me up so I'll go home with you, you should stop now, because that's not going to happen. Back off before I make you."

He moved away once more with a smug smirk. "I thought I smelled fire, too." He extended his hand to her for a polite and friendly handshake. "My name is Denver. Yes, like the city in Colorado. Last name is Collins, and I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I don't usually meet someone with that kind of scent. It's strong. I knew there was a reason I noticed you."

Is this guy high or something? "Apology accepted. I''m Cheyenne. I''ve seen you around school these past few weeks, but I don''t think we''ve ever been formally introduced until now. You''re new, right?" Cheyenne shook his hand nervously. He had a strong and confident shake. He seemed to be a genuinely nice person, outside of his odd behaviors. If anything, it made her look good in front of her classmates to be talking to the new cool kid, and a young, attractive male. She felt a little less like a freak.

"I''m temporary. I haven''t been formally introduced to anyone. You''re the first, and it''s only because you smell so nice I can''t stay away."

"Do you use that line on everyone? It's unique. A little creepy, but unique."

"No." He sat back and proceeded to grab a napkin off the bar and fold it in front of him multiple times. He didn''t have much of an attention span, apparently. "I actually don’t pick up women often. I just made an exception for the blue--- eyed beauty in front of me."

Cheyenne’s face flushed again. "I wasn’t aware you knew the color of my eyes, seeing as how you've been staring at my breasts the entire time." It came out a lot harsher than she intended. In fact, she wasn’t meaning to say it at all. "Sorry, I—"

"You’re right. I was, but I remember you from earlier. I noticed your eyes when you were looking across the school yard at me."

"You do remember that." She shrank in her chair a little, officially wanting to hide under a rock.

"It's a little hard not to when you're so cute." He moved closer to her, not quite as close as before, but enough to cause butterflies in her stomach. "You don''t like it here. I don't like it here. And since we both don't like it here, maybe we should head out and find something else to do. Maybe we can go someplace we both like."

AUTHOR BIO:

J.F. Jenkins lives in Minneapolis Minnesota with her husband, son, and two cats. She graduated from Bethel University in 2006 with a degree in Media Communication with minors in both writing and film. When she is not busy writing, she spends her free time playing games, reading, and spending time with her family.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jfjenkinsauthor

Twitter: @jfjenkinstweets

Blog Tour: Jerri Drennen

2012-01-24T00:05:00.001-05:00

It's my pleasure to host the stop today for Jerri Drennen's Virtual Book Tour presented by Bewitching Book Tours. Jerri shares a little about herself along with a wonderful excerpt of her novel 'Her Man Flint'. If you get a chance to stop by and say hello that would great.

Welcome Jerri!

If James Bond and Cleopatra Jones had a daughter, Adriana Kent would kick her ass.

Everything Adriana knows about being a top-notch, undercover agent she's learned from her partner, Flint Morgan, in and out of the sheets. That is, until he's caught between those same bed linens with another woman.

Heartbroken, Adriana refuses to forgive him. But when 'the other woman' is found dead in Flint's apartment, she steps up to prove his innocence--he might be a womanizer, but he's no killer.

As Adriana closes in on a suspect, she's kidnapped and sent overseas to a sadistic prince who collects women like priceless pieces of art. Now this tough as nails agent finds herself playing the helpless courtesan to a man hell-bent on breaking her spirit. Flint arrives in the nick of time, dressed as a harem girl, fighting off randy guards and surly camels to rescue Adriana so they can fly back to the states to find a way to exonerate him for murder.
BUY @
Amazon Barnes & Noble

I'm Jerri Drennen, and I have to say, I was nervous about this post since I hate talking about myself. I knew when I was a teenager I was an introvert and that being in a room full of people caused discomfort for me. I've always been this way, probably because of my upbringing.

I was raised on a farm in Minnesota, and me, my four sisters and two brother's hardly ever went anywhere besides school. My mother seemed content with that. Even now, I feel more comfortable in my house. I do miss out on a lot of things but I have adventures through my writing. I create strong female character who aren't afraid of anything. I think that's why I gravitated toward the romantic suspense genre as well. It's exciting and fast-paced, so unlike my own life.

In Her Man Flint, Adriana is everything I wished I could be. Strong, kiss-ass, someone who can hold her own in a job slated for a man. She takes no crap from her partner at the Department of National Security, Flint, my hero in the book, a man she loves, but thinks she was betrayed by.

Follow Jerri:Facebook | Twitter

Excerpt:

   Adriana swatted Billy's hand away. "Stop it. I’m fine."

   Billy nudged her down. "You're not fine, you have a concussion. The doctor said you have to stay in bed."

   "Nonsense, it’s just a little bump. I feel okay." She tried to sit up straight, but a wave of dizziness hit and sent her back to the pillow.

   "See, I told you. You need rest."

   "Maybe you're right. But I'm not staying here all day. I have things to do. I’ve already missed my session with Antonio."

   Adriana pounded the mattress with her fists, which sent a sharp, knifelike pain through her head. She sighed. More than anything, she hated feeling helpless.

   Billy sat in the chair next to her bed. "Can you tell me what happened?"

   Adriana turned to face him. "A black sedan rear-ended me twice. I tried to keep the Porsche on the road. Oh God, how’s my car?" She gnawed anxiously at her bottom lip. "Is my baby okay?"

   "It’ll live. But it's going to need some grill work." Billy raised a questioning eyebrow. "It wasn’t an accident, was it?"

   Adriana clutched his arm. "No. But for Heaven sakes don't tell Flint. He'll make a big stink about it. Promise me."

   "He has a right to know."

   "Who has a right to know? And what?" Flint asked from the doorway.

   Adriana’s gaze flew to him, now leaning against the open door in a pair of cut to fit blue jeans, and a black sweater that clung to every muscle and contour of his chest and shoulders. He looked incredible.

   She caught herself before she audibly sighed. Memories of his naked, wonderfully toned chest against hers stirred her senses. For a year and a half she'd gotten used to having Flint around-a year and a half spent cohabiting. And in that time, she'd fallen in love, even when most of the time he'd been a conceited horse'’s ass. Now she desperately wished she hadn't lost her heart to him because it hadn't mended the way she'd hoped it would.

   It had been six months since he moved out. Long, agonizing weeks of missing his toothbrush in the cup next to hers, his dirty socks scattered on the floor, or waking to his latest baritone rendition of some Barry White tune he knew. She missed that most of all. Hell, she missed everything about the man, including his inflated ego, and at times it hurt so bad she couldn’t even look at him. But their relationship was over, and she had to move on.

   "The doctor told me you took quite a blow to the head. I'd say you're lucky. We both know how hard it is."

Flint's words brought her attention back to him. "Right!"

"So what happened?" He looked to Billy for the answer.

   "She ran off the road."

   "You ran off the road? Where you putting on make-up again? I told you, you should never do that while you’re driving."

   "I know. I wasn’t thinking." Adriana turned away. She couldn't look him in the eye and lie. He'd always been too good at reading her.

   "How’s the Porsche?" Flint asked.

   "Leave it to you to ask about my car before asking how I'm doing." Adriana snorted, then looked at Billy, her eyes thanking him for not telling Flint the truth.

   Flint's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You know how much I love that car."

   Adriana's stomach tightened. Right. He'd loved her car, but never her.

   "What do you want, Flint? Did you come here to see if I'd died so you could have my baby? If so, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Wait, I thought you were in D.C."

"I was. I flew back when I heard you were in an accident."

   She frowned. "Why? I should warn you now that I'm leaving the Porsche to Billy."

   She gently fingered the huge bump on her forehead. What she wouldn't give for a mirror. She was sure she must look a mess, and with Flint standing just inches away, looking like he'd stepped off the cover of GQ, she felt a little self-conscious.

"Billy wouldn’t know the first thing about handling a car like that and you know it. He'd kill himself."

Flint stepped over to the bed and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

   "Thanks." Billy glared at Flint.

   "Hey, just trying to keep you alive."

   Adriana pushed Flint's hand away. "Right. You're just itching to get your hands on my car, but let me tell you this, Flint Morgan, I'm not going anywhere for a long time. So you needn't worry about the Porsche."

   "Calm down. I don't want your damn car."

   "How's the patient?" a handsome, dark-haired man in a white lab coat asked, as he made his way into the room.

"I’m fine." Adriana smiled demurely at him. "Can I go home now?"

   He smiled down at her. "That depends on whether you're planning to rest or not. If you're not, then no, if yes, then we'll see what we can do about getting you discharged."

   Adriana's heart skipped at beat. The man definitely had a winning smile, with his straight white teeth and deep inset dimples on either side of his mouth.

"Thank you, Dr–?"

   "Terrell. Mike Terrell."

"Nice to meet you, Mike. So, will you let me go home if I promise to stay in bed?" She batted her lashes at him. "You're welcome to come over and check on me if you'd like."

   His smile widened. "Is that an invitation?"

   Beside her Flint snorted.

   Adriana scowled at him, then returned her attention to the doctor.

   "That depends."

"On," Mike asked.

   "If you’re married or not?" She glanced at Flint and caught him rolling his eyes.

   "No, not married, or dating anyone right now."

   "Really?" Adriana's gaze held the doctor's for what seemed like minutes. "How nice for me."

   Flint cleared his throat. "Before the two of you go down on each other right here, I gotta go." He turned and bolted out the door, leaving everyone in the room looking dumbstruck.

   "What’s with him?" Dr. Terrell asked, obviously confused by Flint's outburst.

   Adriana shrugged. "He's just mad I didn't die and leave him my Porsche."

About the Author:

Jerri Drennen was raised on a farm in a tiny town in Minnesota where the winters were long and being stuck inside awarded her the opportunity to read and tell stories. Years later, after moving away from family, marrying her husband of twenty-five years and having their four children, she started writing when her youngest was three. Eleven years and many manuscripts later, she has one contemporary romance and three romantic suspense novellas with Samhain Publishing, a category romantic suspense at The Wild Rose Press and two action-adventure romances at Liquid Silver Books. Now, she's trying her hand at self-publishing.

Blog Tour: Kristine Cayne and Giveaway

2012-01-20T00:05:00.002-05:00

Deadly Obsession

Deadly Vices Book 1

By Kristine Cayne

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer… Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare...

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.

   Deadly Obsession Excerpt

   Lauren rolled her eyes. “Fine. Do it.”

   Nic bent down and brushed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, she didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away, either. Then, on a sigh, she leaned into him and her arms locked around his neck. His tongue darted out to taste her bottom lip. Mmm…cherry—his new favorite flavor. When her mouth opened, he didn’t hesitate.

   He dove in. And drowned.

   He’d meant this to be a quick kiss, only now he just couldn’t stop. His lips traced a path to her throat. Cupping her bottom with his hands, he lifted her up, grinding against her. She moaned. It was a beautiful sound, one he definitely wanted to hear again.

   A loud noise pierced the fog of his lust. He raised his head from where he’d been nuzzling Lauren’s apple-scented neck to tell whoever it was to fuck off, but as the sexual haze cleared, he swallowed the words. The paparazzi had gathered around, applauding and calling out crude encouragements. Some snapped photos while others rolled film. Shit. He’d pay for this fuck-up and so would she.

About the Author:

Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.

The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series, beginning with Deadly Obsession, are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.

Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.

Website: www.kristinecayne.com

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor

Twitter: @KristineCayne

Deadly Obsession is available in print and/or e-book format from the following retailers:

    Amazon ebook
    Amazon print
    Amazon UK
    Barnes and Noble
    Smashwords
    All Romance eBooks

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
The author of Deadly Obsession, Kristine Cayne is giving away 1 signed print copy tour wide, open to US Shipping. To enter CLICK HERE to use the form. If you would like to win an ecopy, please comment on this post. One commenter from my blog will be selected for an ecopy.
Thanks for visiting and Good Luck!

Blog Tour: M.M. Shelley

2012-01-19T00:05:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! I’m M.M. Shelley and I would like to give a BIG thanks to The Wytch’s Mirror, for inviting me onto the blog today so that I can share my latest book with you!

Mishap & Chaos

It’s about twin Latina girls, Grasiella & Tatiana who are hated and feared by the magical race to which they belong.

Here is an excerpt from my book:

        Grasiella had had enough for the moment. She headed for the main room of the Doghouse where she could hear voices and laughing as she moved along the hallway. Coming into view of the front room she could see several members of the staff cleaning tables and one was sweeping the floor. One worker balled up a cleaning cloth and hurled it across the room at the guy holding the broom. It hit him squarely on the back he only laughed, scooped it up and pocketed it in his pants.

      A woman standing behind the bar gave a loud whistle drawing everyone's attention to her, her eyes shot over to Grasiella in warning. Grasiella noticed the odd stares they gave her, but pretended not to notice. She gave a friendly smile hoping to break the tension that now circled the room.

      Not one of them returned her smile. Their friendly banter with one another broke up and one by one they made their exit.

      Grasiella was not alone in the empty room for long. Loud footsteps broke through the silence. At the doorway was a man who looked very much out of place. He made his way forward and stopped in the middle of the room his hands moving to his pants pockets. His hair was dark and his skin was very pale. His gray eyes settled uncomfortably on her.

      “The club's not open,” she said to him hoping he would leave.

      He gave her an amused smile that looked rather more deadly then friendly. “I can see that. The door was open. Is it possible to get a drink? Perhaps a drink of water would not be too much trouble?” He asked.

      “Well I’m not part of the staff.” He seemed other worldly to her. His energy was different. “Maybe I can get you a bottle of water.” She went behind the bar in order to create space between them and so that she could use the bar as a blocker. Grasiella tossed the bottle at him not caring if he caught it or not.

      “Thank you,” He cleared his throat before taking a sip of water.

      To Grasiella it seemed as if he was testing it like a fine wine. He must not have found it to his liking because he made a face followed by smacking his lips together in distaste.

      He cleared his throat once more before saying, “I noticed the name on the billboard outside, The Doghouse, and I thought it was amusing. I had to come inside and take a look.”

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Thanks again to The Wytch’s Mirror for hosting this stop on my Mishap & Chaos tour! You can find me over at my blog; mmshelley.blogspot.com or on twitter @MM_Shelley.

M.M. Shelley is a storyteller, word smith and dreamer. MISHAP AND MAYHEM, a captivating story of faerie's and magic, is her debut novel. She has traveled the world extensively in search of the magic which is often overlooked in everyday life. M.M. Shelley is a native of southern California, and a student of mythology from which she gets much inspiration.

Follow M.M. Shelly on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MM_Shelley

Visit M.M. Shelley at her blog: www.mmshelley.blogspot.com

Mishap and Chaos By M.M. Shelley

Genre: Paranormal YA

Book 2

Available at Smashwords

About Mishap & Chaos book 2

Twins Grasiella & Tatiana are hated and feared by the magical race to which they belong.

Deep within the Hawaiian Islands is a hidden danger an island witch who wants nothing more then to end the line of Pele, the fire goddess. Her influence has breached Pele’s inner circle.

The twins must face the consequences of a freed Mnemosyne who no longer stands alone and wants nothing more than to destroy them. Others from Mnemosyne’s world have traveled to earth with unclear intentions.

Grasiella and Tatiana’s only focus is to find their missing grandmother. Risking everything, not knowing if she is dead or alive...

__________________

Mishap and Mayhem By M.M. Shelley

Genre: Paranormal YA

Book 1

Available at Smashwords

Mishap & Mayhem book 1

For centuries magical beings have hidden in the darkness, waiting. Some good, some evil. A battle is brewing, and only twins, Grasiella and Tatiana, have the power to stop it.

A secret that has been kept since the dawn of time is about to be revealed with devastating consequences. It’s the summer of the year 2045, and sixteen year old Latina twin's Grasiella and Tatiana plan to visit their grandmother in Hawaii.

They have no idea that when they arrive on the island of Kauai, they are about to be drawn into a secret, the secret, of their family’s dark origins and magical powers.

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Thank you M.M. Shelley for visiting The Wytch's Mirror today on your virtual book tour and for sharing your guest post with excerpt of Mishap & Chaos. I look forward to reading both books and I wish you the greatest success!

Book Review: The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds

2012-01-17T00:05:00.004-05:00

The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds (book one) by Sally Dubats

5 out of 5

Romance. Urban Fantasy. Paranormal.
Magic. Witchcraft.

My View and Review: This is not a dark tale, although darkness does linger and hover over Cassie, the heroine and the leading character (although there are several other women in this book that are heroines and simply shine). It is not exactly a battle of light and dark or good and evil but rather a constant, a working, a way of life, and an embracing of witchcraft.

The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds is a story of discovery. A discovery of one's self and self awareness as well as a great understanding of those around us. The world is so easy to throw labels around and sometimes in such a critical manner that one's life may be determined or destroyed by those types of remarks and labels. In The Grimoire Chronicles, Cassie learns this lesson very well as she is thrown in the midst of being friends with and working with those that she would never have guessed might be her very means of survival. She learns there is so much to honestly gain when we genuinely take the risk and go out of our normal comfort zone. Was she too blind to see their strengths? What did they see in her? Did she think herself so insightful, that all they saw was her frizzy red hair or the fact that she was a Witch?

Sometimes in other books, Witchcraft is treated as something a high school student sneaks around and does like drugs or alcohol. Here it is a religion and treated as common place. Witchcraft is not introduced or explained, or apologized for. Witchcraft is a given, accepted, adored and embraced. It is told in truths and celebrated.

When. What. How. Who.
The title may shed light on the build up and When this story takes place. It is during Samhain when the veil between worlds is the thinnest and that leads to the complexity of the Astral Plane and here. What Trenton turns out to be is completely new and refreshing. How Cassie handles her life issues is with maturity and wisdom. Who the characters are and their places in Cassie's life are all astounding.

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Cassie's aunt Faye gives The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds its tender hearted warming flare and teaches by example that magic truly exists in everything around us and with everything we do. It is how we see life, ourselves, and how we respond to given situations that dictates our personal power, and our own self awareness.Whether we are cooking a meal, planning an event, or simply being a parent, the magic that resides in the heart is a powerful form of love. There are many aspects of this book that I will take with me and keep, using in my day to day life. The Grimoire Chronicles is very enlightening and spiritually in-tuned.

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Cassie has lost a lot. Her parents died when she was young, and her best friend moves away and passes on too soon. The one structural force in her life is her Aunt Faye, her Mother's sister. Cassie's Aunt Faye teaches Cassie how to appreciate life, how to use the magic with in, and how to find the power that is with in us all.

Since Cassie can remember she has celebrated the Sabbats, looked from her alcove to the cherry orchard, and worked on protection spells. Thursday nights are the best when she and aunt Faye celebrate that the week is almost over. Life changes when she meets Trenton. Without being able to forget him, she does nothing but think of him and those thoughts take her to the Astral.

The Astral is their one safe haven until Trenton's so called match seeks him out and finds him. That is the outrage and darkness that takes Cassie's life to a place she has never had to face or fight. This is when Cassie's strength and experience flares and peeks for the sake of survival. It will be Love, Magic, and Light as the driving forces that Cassie and her friends rely on to bring them safely where they belong.

"You can call this force God or Goddess. Buddha or Allah. Jesus or Moses. or you can simply know that sacred universal energy exists and is nameless. but I will always be a part of all of you. We are all divine."

When Cassie goes back to the Astral Plane to save Violet from Iris and shows Violet the way to Summerland. An absolutely breath taking example and very emotional. I was lifted, inspired and simply moved to tears.

About the Author:

Sally Dubats is Wiccan choosing to practice and learn about a variety of Craft traditions which uphold the spiritual principles found in all religions. Sally is the author of Natural magick: The Essential Witch's Grimoire which has been translated into German. Sally has held editorial positions of green non-profit organizations and was the editor of a metaphysical newspaper for several years. Sally is a student of the Tarot reading professionally for fifteen years and practices various healing modalities including Reiki and laying on of stones. She is a certified Sivananda Yoga instructor and loves to read. Sally currently writes the blog From One Witch To Another.
Find Sally Dubats online:
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Smashwords

About Book Two
Watch for “The Grimoire Chronicles: Winter Solstice” Go here to read Chapter One of book 2.

Blog Tour: Roni Loren Guest

2012-01-16T00:05:00.002-05:00

Welcome Roni Loren!

An exclusive excerpt, giveaway, and a wonderful guest post from Roni Loren, author of Crash Into You. Romance from an author that spends time putting her characters through hell, thinking of ways to get them into bed...that is straight from Roni's site and I am thrilled to have her as my guest today for her Virtual Book Tour presented by Goddess Fish.

Roni shares her writing process and has goodies for everyone in a giveaway! See Giveaway details at the bottom of this post. Be sure to leave your comment, and say hello to Roni, for a chance to win! Thank you Roni for being a guest of The Wytch's Mirror and for your awesome guest post with giveaway!

The 5 Stages of My Crazy Writer Process
by Roni Loren
Guest Post

Being a writer is kind of a bizarre (but awesome) job. And so answering the question “What’s life like when working on a project?” can be a little tough. Mainly because I’m always working on a project. Once I decided I wanted to make this my career and not a hobby, I made the commitment to always being working on something. But there are different phases, so I thought I’d share a few:

The Idea Generation Phase: This is when I’m actively trying to come up with a new book. For this phase, I usually can’t use the computer. New, fragile ideas work better with pen and paper for me. So “working” for me during this period usually looks like me spacing out, wandering around the house, and taking long showers (for some reason, ideas always hit me in the shower.) My husband begins to expect me to answer most of his questions with, “Huh? Did you say something?”

The Drafting Phase: This is when I actually sit down at the computer to write the darn thing. This phase is usually fraught with very manic moments (“I love this story! This is going to be the best thing ever! I can’t type fast enough to get the ideas out.”) and very beat-my-head-against-the-keyboard moments (“This story sucks! I have no idea where I’m going. I may as well trash it and start over.”) Therefore, during drafting, things like housework, laundry, and every day chores go by the wayside as I get consumed by finishing the story. My dear, loving husband starts covertly doing laundry and such because a man can only wear dirty socks so much.

The Stuck Moment: I hit this spot with every single book. There is always a point where I just don’t know where I want to go. Something isn’t working and I can’t move forward. I really, really hate this phase, but apparently it’s part of my process. I start asking hubby to bring home wine for with dinner. :)

The Epiphany: At some point, I get the BIG FIX for whatever has gotten me stuck in the first place and the rest of the draft flows pretty smoothly. I’m a happy girl.

The Editing Phase: I love this part. Once the draft is done, my I’m-never-going-to-finish-this-book anxiety goes away and I can just enjoy working with the bones of what I’ve put together. I turn the book into my editor and the road to publication begins.

Rinse. Repeat.

So basically the answer to what life is like is--it’s kind of crazy, lol. But I wouldn’t trade this job for any other. :) I feel lucky to get up every day and chase my dream.

So what kind of phases do you go through in your life? Does anyone else get brilliant ideas in the weirdest places or at the weirdest times?

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About The Author

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. Her debut novel, CRASH INTO YOU, will be published by Berkley Heat January 3, 2012.

Website/Blogs: www.roniloren.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/roniloren

Tumblr (where I post mancandy photos): http://roniloren.tumblr.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/roniloren

Buy links for book: www.roniloren.com/books

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Crash Into You
by Roni Loren

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger. Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

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Excerpt
*CRASH INTO YOU is told in chapters alternating between the present and ten years earlier. This is from a “past” chapter.*

   “That’s one of the things I like about you. You don’t seem to give a damn about who my family is, so I can just relax around you.”

   She laughed. “Yeah, once I found out you couldn’t fire me, you lost all shot of me kissing your ass.”

   He slipped a hand onto her hip and pulled her closer, their bodies almost touching. “So what’s your stance on kissing other things?”

   Every muscle in her body strained to move forward, to close the sliver of distance between them, but she held still. “Probably not a good idea since we work together.”

   He smiled and shook his head. “See, you’re always such a half-empty kind of girl. Working together means we’ll get paid to hang out with each other.”

   “And everybody in the office will think I’m hanging out with you for the wrong reasons.”

   He shrugged. “That’s why we don’t tell. It’s none of their business anyway.”

   She chewed her lip. “I like you, Reid, but I don’t know . . . it’s just complicated. I’ve got a lot—”

   He put a finger over her mouth, hushing her. “Stop overthinking things, Brynn. It doesn’t have to be so complex. I know you don’t bullshit, so I’m not going to either. Since the first day I met you, I haven’t stopped thinking about what it would be like to touch you.” He cupped her chin and ran his thumb over her lips. “To taste you. I leave the office every day fighting a hard-on because just hearing your voice sets me off.”

   She swallowed hard, the blunt words and his finger on her lips throwing gasoline on the flickering flame of longing she’d been fighting since they’d left the office.

   “So in about three seconds, I’m going to kiss you. If you don’t want that, you tell me to stop, and I’ll never try again.” He curled his hand around the back of her neck, his gaze tattooing her. “One . . . two . . .”

ABOUT THE GIVE AWAY

The Author of Crash Into You, Roni Loren is Giving Away :

* One signed set of Romance Trading Cards for "Crash Into You" to a random commenter at every stop.

* A $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

* A signed set of Romance Trading Cards for "Crash Into You" AND a basket of romance novels (approx. $50 value) to the host with the most comments (excluding the author's and their own) including: Switch by Megan Hart, Big Jack by J.D. Robb, Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow, Beyond the Night by Joss Ware, and The Fallen: Raziel by Kristina Douglas.

Be sure to follow the tour and comment on all tour stops; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-book-tour-crash-into-you-by.html
Good Luck!

Thank You Sherri Hayes

2012-01-15T15:53:00.001-05:00

And thank you Annelies from The Writer's Coffee Shop for contacting me and sending my copy of Slave by Sherri Hayes that I won in a Giveaway at The Forbidden Bookshelf. I look forward to reading and reviewing Slave.

Slave Finding Anna Book 1 by Sherri Hayes

Guest Sally Dubats

2012-01-14T09:18:00.000-05:00

The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds Free downloads from Sally Dubats! Sally Dubats is a published author of a non-fiction compendium on the practice of witchcraft. She has held editorial positions for green non-profit organizations, and was the editor of a metaphysical newspaper for several years. Sally is Wiccan and continues to practice and research the Craft.

Thank you Sally for sharing with me, and allowing me to share with my followers.

Read Sally's message...
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January is
A New Breath

January is like a new breath. For some of us, December ended with a sense of "Good Riddance". For others, it was a celebration of a wonderful year filled with community and achievements. And for still
others, 2011 was a confusing year, a mixed bag filled with stops and starts.

January offers us a choice to breathe in new opportunities. We can choose to be better, better to ourselves and to other people. January offers us the opportunity to start over. . . or to start again. Use your breathing as a reminder of life's beginnings.

We ALL have the ability to create the life we want with every new beginning!

♦ ♦ ♦

With each inhale, I fill myself with opportunity and the ability to move forward with integrity.

With each exhale, I rid myself of things that no longer serve me.

Blessed Be.

Hello and Merry Meet Again!

Happy January!

I hope 2012 is finding you filled with joy and abundance in all things good!

I've been working with some WONDERFUL people who are hosting FREE GIVE-AWAYS of my book on their websites! Now is your chance! Visit their websites for your free copies of the e-version of "The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds"! And please forward this e-mail to friends who might want a free copy! Here are the details:

NICOLE at Nicole's YA Book Haven has been fabulous! I'm thrilled to be her Indy Book guest for the month of January. Each Friday Nicole will post something new about me -- an interview, my book trailer, a guest blog, etc., along with TEN FREE E-BOOKS! See my interview with Nicole at Nicole's Giveaway

WANDA at Books Are Magic has been terrific! January is her birthday month, so when you visit her site, wish her a happy birthday! Wanda gave me an incredible review which I appreciate so much, and she's also doing a give-away of my e-book this month, so definitely go check it out! Wanda's Giveaway

LIANNE at The Towering Pile is wonderful. She has an incredible dedication to books (as you can tell by the name of her website!). I love that she also reviews the classics along with the new books and best sellers! Please check out her site along with free books at Lianne's Giveaway

By the way, you can download the Kindle app or the Nook app to your computer for free to your PC or Mac!

And... I have some exciting news! The paperback version of my book is now available at amazon!

On a personal note, I have been receiving so many incredible e-mails and tweets and posts. Thank you so much for your amazing support and feedback. I have been deeply moved.

THANK YOU!!!

Wishing you a
Beautiful 2012!

Sally

www.sallydubats.com