NEW RELEASE: ECHOES BY L.A. ASHTON

28/2/2019

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Title: Echoes

Author: L.A. Ashton

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: February 25, 2019

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 78500

Genre: Paranormal, LGBT, Vampires, werewolves, paranormal, romance, friends to lovers, immortal, reunion, Viking

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Synopsis

After one thousand years of listless eternity, Oskar is used to his particular brand of loneliness. But a long walk through Middle America and a few chance encounters will lead him straight to a man he’d known to be long since dead―his childhood best friend, Aranck.

Being undead hasn’t stopped Aran from living life to the fullest. He has all the money and power his charm and business savvy could earn him, and plenty of friends. Lately, though, something seems to be missing. After a millennium, perhaps the world’s shine has worn off—and that’s when Oskar stumbles back into his life, reminding him of who he used to be.

Together the two vampires remember what it felt like to live, all the while navigating a conflict with the local pack of werewolves. A lot has changed in a thousand years, and only time will tell if those changes will bring Oskar and Aranck closer together, or ensure they remain apart.

Join NineStar Press Authors Alex Harrow, L. A. Ashton, and Tash McAdam on FACEBOOK for a virtual launch party of their releases, EMPIRE OF LIGHT, ECHOES, and WE ARE THE CATALYST!

Find the party HERE. The event is February 25th from 8-10 PM CST, but feel free to drop by and stay as long as you wish!

For more info on each author and their books, visit:

EMPIRE OF LIGHT by Alex Harrow
ECHOES by L.A. Ashton
WE ARE THE CATALYST by Tash McAdam

Stop by for exclusive snippets, character takeovers, prizes, and swag!

Excerpt

Echoes

Prologue

Ana’s eyes opened, unseeing. Her limbs were heavy, anchored to the floor by her own weakness and fatigue. And yet, she was alive.

That confused her.

The rough punctures of a bite burned at her neck. Blood dripped slowly from the wound, traveling the few short inches from her throat to the hardwood. Everything else felt fine; no broken limbs, no gashes or extraneous injuries. Her head rang, a high trill in the dark―perhaps a minor concussion sustained while collapsing.

The room smelled like blood, wolves, and a bit of spilled beer. But shapes were still hazy black masses in dim red lighting, and even with her superior sight, she couldn’t discern foreground and background, solid artifacts and darkness.

She closed her eyes. What would be more useful to grasp first, memory or sight? She could recall vague things: the laughter of her brother beside her as he beat them at another hand of poker, the limited light of the room, and the shuffle of cards against skin. Then there was…

She tipped her head, pressing her cheek against the coolness of the floor.

A vampire. A vampire had charged into the bar―their bar―and attacked.

After all the work she and Jackson had done, after all the effort they’d put into pack and vampire relations…

She opened her eyes again. There was movement, slow and deliberate as if the person wasn’t entirely coherent. She could barely see her packmates around her. Four of them were strewn about the floor, unmoving. They were alive, though, and that confused her as well. Their heartbeats and breaths filtered into her range of hearing as her mind cleared, and she could see the steady rise and fall of her brother’s chest.

Why would a vampire attack them? No―why would a vampire attack them and leave them alive?

She attempted to track the motion. There was a figure moving above them, heavy boots clomping against the floor. She looked toward their face and they paused, gazing down at her with a face swathed in shadow.

Her focus was bleary. She wouldn’t have been able to make out their features even if they’d looked at her full-on, dead in the eyes. They were all outlines… short or close-cropped hair… average height…

They had no heartbeat.

Her lips parted. She wanted to ask them why. Here lay five of her pack, drained to the point of immobility but not death. They would heal fast, as werewolves do, and they would track this assailant, as werewolves do. And then, without trial, they would kill them.

What kind of fool are you?

But she didn’t ask; her mouth was too dry and her body too slow, and by the time her mind had formed a proper question, the vampire was walking toward the entrance. The door opened up―a single rectangle of blue-black cut into the red-black of the bar―and bright stars shone quietly, like everything in the world was at peace.

The vampire sent one last look at her pack. Then they closed the door―softly, as if to not disturb. Ana stared at the doorway in sedated wonder.

Eventually she closed her eyes. The rest of their pack would find them, or their hearts would slowly beat them back to health, and the hunt for a vampire would begin.

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Meet the Author

L.A. Ashton is an LGBT+ author writing LGBT+ fiction. They enjoy rock music, traveling, and anything else that adds color to their daydreams. They believe in the healing properties of art and of having a cat firmly stationed on one’s lap. Their official site can be found at www.LAAshton.com.

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REVIEW: CARMILLA & LAURA BY S.D. SIMPER

12/2/2019

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REVIEWED BY L.A. ASHTON

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pairings: F/F

Queer Rep: Lesbian

Warnings: Violence, some gore

Synopsis

In the late 19th century, Laura lives a lonely life in a schloss by the forest, Styria, with only her doting father and two governesses for company. A chance accident brings a new companion, however – the eccentric and beautiful Carmilla.

With charm unparalleled and habits as mysterious as her history, Carmilla’s allure is undeniable, drawing Laura closer with every affectionate touch and word. Attraction blossoms into a temptation Laura fears to name, a tantalizing passion burning brighter than the fires of hell. But when a mysterious plague begins stealing the lives of young women in her home and the village beyond, Laura wrestles to reconcile the truth – that the gentle, fragile woman she loves may be a monster cast out of heaven.

General

“Carmilla and Laura” is a retelling of the classic vampire novella “Carmilla” written by J Sheridan LeFanu. If one thing is certain, it is the love S. D. Simper feels for the original. This story was crafted dearly and devoutly, the essence of the original sewn between lines and pages while casting light on the queer relationship we all want to see. The prose is gorgeous—perfectly fitting and a joy to read—and the story and pacing are a sight for a sore heart. Anyone interested in vampires, sapphic tales, or just plain pretty writing should be giving this novella their attention.

Plot

I don’t want to ruin how the story unfolds. The synopsis does an excellent job of encapsulating the story, and it is told in an interesting and rewarding manner. I was always ready for more words, more Carmilla, more Laura. Every scene was a treat, as it didn’t meander or drag out unnecessarily. It was succinct without feeling rushed, atmospheric without dragging on.

Setting

This author knows how to write. She twists the natural and opulent around the reader’s mind without a fuss, painting vivid pictures and sweeping them off to this secluded setting. I was at ease while reading; I could practically feel the sunlight on my skin and hear the rustle of the trees. I sensed the loneliness that surrounded Laura in her mansion of a home, and felt the cloud of warmth and vibrance Carmilla carried with her.

Characters

I love both the female leads. Even Carmilla, whose affection could be seen as calculating or over the top, felt genuine to me. I don’t know how the author did it—underpinned her flamboyant nature with enough truth that we could feel it—but she did. Perhaps it was because of what Laura could see. Laura was our lifeline, our eyes and hearts. I so badly wanted the best for her. I wanted her to have her most happy ending, and to be free of all the things that shackled her. She was an intensely relatable character, and seeing her receive love was completely fulfilling.

I can’t recommend this novella enough. I recommended before I had even finished it, and then I recommended it some more. It really is a sweep-you-off-your-feet tale. It has hope and light and edges of darkness and shared turmoil. It feels like being swept into an intimate waltz with love and death, and I enjoyed every step of the dance.

My Rating: 5 stars!

S D Simper’s official site is here, and her twitter is this way.

Note: I am an Amazon Associate and I am using affiliate links. These do not affect you or my reviews.

Buy From Amazon (and available to read free with Kindle Unlimited!)

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: JACKIE D

12/2/2019

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1.     There are some intriguing social and political themes at the heart of Rise of the Resistance. What is one key theme or idea you hope readers might think about as a result of reading this novel?

There were a few key themes. First, we are going through something in America right now that has been bubbling under the surface for much longer than anyone would like to admit. The trifecta of evil (as I like to call it): racism/xenophobia/homophobia/sexism, partisan media, and the destruction of the middle class. Biased media has been stoking the fire of hatred and distrust since Richard Nixon left office and an entity called Fox news was dreamed into existence. It has created a culture of fear and suspicion among our citizens. This book is a “what if” if Donald Trump (or someone like him) and his family were to gain control of the United States forever. If they were able to successfully remove the constitution and deploy their own tactics as a form of governance. I wanted people to see what could happen if we continue to ignore these threats as well as the ever-looming promise of climate catastrophe. Not one person is going to be able to fix this, it has to be all of us; or at least the majority of us, that take a stand. The United States is sick and only by dragging these issues into the light will we find a remedy. Another prominent theme was the age-old tale of good versus evil. I wanted to make the characters truly good or evil to demonstrate the acute contrast between the two choices. Was it a little over the top at some points? Sure. That was intentional. Kaelyn and Arrow are the purest forms of what is right and just in the world. Adon was the epitome of corruption, narcism, and abandonment of reality. This first instalment was meant to be laid out in a true black and white format. The subsequent instalments will delve more into the gray; where you find people like Sloan and Nora

2.      How did you choose the names for your characters in Rise of the Resistance? I'm curious, is Macleod's first name (Adon) a partial anagram of Donald?

Well, Adon is a mash-up of Adolf and Donald. MacLeod was the maiden name of Donald Trump’s mother. Arrow and Valor were named after the fall of America (in the storyline) with the intention of invoking hope and direction when you thought of them. Kaelyn was merely a throwback to a time where things weren’t as perilous

3.     Given the subtitle of the book (Phoenix One), it feels like this is the beginning of the series. There were also a few characters along the way that felt like seeding or foreshadowing for further stories. Are there any plans for a continuation of the story?

Yes, there will be a sequel, at the very least. I will probably write a total of four. Two that take place after this one and then potentially a prequel. There are characters placed through the book that I will focus on later. Specifically Phoenix Two, Sloan, and Nora. I believe they all have some interesting perspectives that need to be explored. I’m looking forward to writing Sloan’s story (in the nest book). She has existed in Eden as an indentured servant of sorts, and an outsider in many ways. Her family remained loyal to the Resistance throughout her whole life, which cost them dearly. When I see the world through her eyes, I imagine it was plagued with a look of resentment and confusion. This probably wasn’t always laid at the feet of MacLeod; it would have had her questioning the Resistance as well. Unlike Arrow, who had it ingrained in her everyday duty that this was the only way to survive, Sloan saw a more comfortable path day-to-day life unfolding in front of her.

4.     And more importantly, will Nora be involved? She's intriguing! Can you tell that I like villains...

Nora, yes; I actually get the most questions about her, which I find fascinating. Readers really love to hate her, and weirdly, are pulling for her. With Nora, you can see a brilliant woman who is a product of her circumstances. She has been raised in a terribly sexist world and has had to keep her intellect in check to fulfil her ambitions. Although she was born into privilege, her capabilities were limited. The final instalment of the series will focus on her story, and her internal battle to not only survive but thrive. Nora will be able to reinvent herself, but some aspects of her will remain the same. She will never be “the good guy”, but instead, an antihero. Strangely, Nora might be the most relatable character in the story, and I really want to dig into her flaws as well as her attributes. In the real world, people aren’t one-hundred percent good or evil. The majority of us fall somewhere in between. I think Nora is an excellent vehicle to exemplify those characteristics.

5.     If you could plan a dinner party for a handful of characters across all of your books, who would you love to see engaging in conversation over canapes?

I have written in several different genres at this point, so this is an interesting question. In my After Dark Series, there are military, FBI, Homeland Security, terrorists, and CIA personnel. Lands End is about a restaurateur and a PR Rep. In Lucy’s Chance there is a police officer, journalist, and serial killer. I’m working on a book with, Jean Copeland right now that is about a time-hopping witch. So, if I had to choose one from each, I believe it would go something like this: Tyler Monroe, Lucy Rodriguez, Amy Kline, Jennifer Glass, and Nora MacLeod. Tyler suffers from PTSD from her time in the Marine Corps and trying to find where she now fits in. She should be hardened and untrusting, but she has managed a level of empathy and understanding that I missing in most people. Lucy Rodriguez threw away her first love to pursue her career aspirations and has had to deal with the repercussions. She is smart, sassy, and a lot of fun to write. Jennifer Glass also appears in the After Dark series with Tyler. She struggles with insecurity and tinges of jealousy. Finally, Nora, because I think she would liven the whole thing up. Nora is a formidable force with very strong opinions on…well…everything.

6.     Star Trek or Star Wars?

Star Wars, no question. I’m a huge fan and am really enjoying the direction they’re taking the storyline. Although they both have the ability to keep reinventing themselves while holding true to their tried and tested themes; I find Star Wars to be much more entertaining. Plus, I’m genuinely enjoying Rey’s journey and find myself counting down until the next instalment.

7. If you were trapped in a derelict building surrounded by nefarious, supernatural enemies, who would you want to save you, Buffy or Wynonna Earp?

This was a hard one…but I’d have to say I’d go with Wynonna. She’s a bit of a wildcard, which just adds to her appeal. I also find Wynonna to be a bit more of a layered person, in contrast to Buffy. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think they’re both fantastic, badass women. But, if push came to shove, I’d much rather see Wynonna breaking through the window with Peacemaker, then Buffy.
***
You can buy Jackie D's scifi novel, Rise of the Resistance, here and connect with Jackie here.

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NEW RELEASE: ECHOES BY L.A. ASHTON

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Excerpt

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

Giveaway

REVIEW: CARMILLA & LAURA BY S.D. SIMPER

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: JACKIE D

ABOUT C.B.

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