Alexandra Christian's Blog

Author Kimberley O’Malley has a book birthday today! The latest in her Windsor Falls series, Second Chances, goes LIVE today! Check it out…

✯✯✯NEW RELEASE✯✯✯

[image error]

Second Chances (Windsor Falls Book 3) by @KOMalley67

Dr. Charlotte Avery is the newest resident of Windsor Falls, North Carolina. Just back from the war-ravaged plains of Africa, Charlie only wants to settle into her new life and to reconnect with Elizabeth Fitzgerald, her best friend from residency. What she doesn’t expect, or need, is the instant attraction she feels for Elizabeth’s brother-in-law, Brendan. A single dad, Brendan Fitzgerald isn’t interested in anything that will further complicate his life. Will they be open to a second chance?

#NewRelease #WindsorFalls #RedCoatPR

iBooks: http://apple.co/2zJDrcO

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mM3n2l

B&N: http://bit.ly/2zQ0TTj

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2hHgBvs

Start the series…

[image error]

– – Kobo Smashwords

About the Author…

[image error]

Kimberley O’Malley is a recent transplant to Charlotte, North Carolina from the frozen North. She is learning to say y’all but draws the line at sweet tea. Sarcasm is an art form in her world. When not writing, she is a full-time nurse and part-time soccer Mom, but not necessarily in that order. She shares her life with an amazing husband of more than twenty years, two teenagers, and one very sweet Shetland Sheepdog, Molly.

 

I love saying that. It makes me feel like a rock star.

[image error]

At any rate, I’m going on a blog tour beginning Monday, November 13- Friday, November 17. I don’t usually do blog tours, but Bewitching Blog Tours was recommended to me by a few of my writer friends, so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’ll be supporting the first two books in the Phoenix Rising series, Naked and NeoGeisha. Along the tour stops, you’ll find interviews, articles by me, and a few excerpts. There will also be a RAFFLECOPTER giveaway where participants can win Amazon monies, autographed books, free ebooks, and I’m even selecting a winner to be a character in book three! Isn’t that exciting? Plus, you’ll get to visit a bunch of blog sites that you may not have known about before. So here’s the schedule—

November 13 Mythical Books
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

November 13 Literary Musings
http://literarymusing.weebly.com/

November 13 SImply Kelina
http://simplykelina.blogspot.com/

November 14 Other Worlds of Romance
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Paranormal Romances
http://lindamooney.blogspot.com/

November 14 Fang-tastic Books
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

November 15 Paranormalists
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/

November 15 Books,Dreams,Life
http://booksdreamslife0829.blogspot.com

November 15 Mello and June, It’s a Book Thang!
http://mellojune.com/

November 16 The Book Junkie Reads
https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com/

November 16 Vicky at Deal Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

November 16 The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
http://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/

November 17 Share My Destiny
http://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com

November 17 Saph’s Books
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/

November 20 Supernatural Central
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.com

November 20 Lisa’s World of Books
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/

November 20 Roxanne’s Realm
http://www.roxannerhoads.com/



[image error]

Today is release day on my new book NeoGeisha! It’s the second in the Phoenix Rising series and picks up about a year after Naked. Cage and Phoe have begun their careers working for B.E.A.S.T. (Bureau for Espionage And Strategic Tactics). Their first case together takes them into a den full of vampires in a dystopian Las Vegas and the action takes off from there. I hope you’ll give the series a chance. If you’re a lover of James Bond, I think you’ll be satisfied.

[image error]

BACK…

Macijah “Cage” St. John’ didn’t want the spy life anymore. He would have been thrilled to spend every morning lying in the field behind Phoe’s home in smalltown Louisiana watching the clouds roll by. But his Miss Addison wanted to spread her wings, literally. So Cage accepted a mission that teamed him up with his lady love. If only he had trusted her.

TO THE FUTURE

Everything about being a spy was a million times more exciting, and scarier, than the books she’d read in her former life as a librarian. When her first mission with Cage turned into a colossal clusterf*ck because he withheld information and kept secrets, Phoebe’s world narrowed into a long tunnel of betrayal. Captured by space pirates and delivered to a horrible fate, she wished the last words between them had been of love, because she was certain she would never see Cage St. John again.

[image error]

Boroughs Publishing: boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/neogeisha

Amazon: (eBook): https://www.amazon.com/NeoGeisha-Phoenix-Rising-Book-2-ebook/dp/B076DDG8MX/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=K9NEY4DT95M7BBVJYFCX

Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/books/view/754577

Hello, kittens! This week is very special, not just because it’s nearly Halloween (the Belle’s favorite holiday), but because the 2nd book in the Phoenix Rising series is out on Thursday, Oct. 26th! I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek at what you can expect from this 2nd installment by posting a little bit for your reading pleasure.

In this little blurb, Phoe is attempting to escape from a dangerous captor, Mr. Smith. She’ll use her feminine wiles to set the honey trap, but will he fall for it? And is Mr. Smith all that he seems?

[image error]

“Dance for me as you did before, little firebird.”

“There is no music,” she said.

“Close your eyes. You can hear it down below.” She did hear music coming from the great hall somewhere beneath them. A strange melody with a heavy, sexual rhythm. “Hear it, little one?”

Phoebe nodded, opening her eyes.

“No. Keep your eyes closed. Feel the music, don’t listen.”

“But I…”

“Come closer,” Smith commanded, rising from the chair and moving toward her.

There didn’t seem to be enough air in the room as Phoebe took in the size of the man. He could crush her head easily with one of those enormous hands. He wore a fitted black tuxedo that looked so out of keeping for a man of his size. He looked like a bully cartoon character come to life. When he stood before her, his shadow completely obliterated her form. He pulled off the silk bowtie around his neck and Phoebe’s heart skipped a beat. Her fear almost got the better of her, but she stood firm. “When you feel the music, your body is free.”

Phoebe didn’t understand what he meant, but he reached around and tied his bowtie around her eyes. It was tight and completely blinded her. She started to panic, but then something…there was something so familiar about his scent. It was clean and woodsy and spicy. And masculine. God help her, the corners of her jaw ached and her mouth watered. “There. That’s better.”

Phoebe could hear his footfall as he paced around her. She could imagine his eyes scanning over her body, taking in every inch of her. Part of her wondered what he was thinking as he watched her here in the dark. Was he aroused? Incensed with a lust for her blood? The stories she’d heard from the other geisha didn’t seem to fit with this person.

“Now dance. Dance for me, geisha.”

The programming sequence immediately flooded her brain with information. Phoebe could almost see the code flash in front of her eyes. It was commanding her body to move and she found herself obeying, listening to the music downstairs. She was slow at first, simply swaying to the rhythm. Then she circled her hips in time to the music, sliding her hands across her midsection. She imagined that it was Cage sitting in that chair watching her; his eyes cataloguing every turn of her wrist and pop of her hip.

“Very good, little one. Very good. Now turn for me.”

Phoebe did as she was told, turning away from Smith as she stretched her arms out to either side. The gauzy folds of fabric parted and she could feel the cool air against her skin. She should be embarrassed, but whatever they had done to her brain had deadened her inhibitions and she reveled in her nakedness.

“Don’t you want to dance with me?” she asked. Her voice took on a deadly timbre and her heartbeat slowed. Phoebe could hear Cage’s voice in her head, reminding her that fear was good, but panic would get her killed. Right now she needed Smith close. Her first kill would be intimate.

“I don’t dance,” Smith replied.

Phoebe giggled and twirled, pulling the long pin that held her hair in place, letting the piles of curls spill down over her shoulders. “Everyone can dance,” she teased. “You just have to move your body.”

“Why don’t you move your body over here.”

**********************

Go HERE to order your copy now. And if you haven’t read NAKED already, you better get on it!

So I’m not normally a “free stuff whore.” I think my work is worth the price of a cup of coffee and I hope you do too. BUT, I do believe in giving folks previews of  my work in the hopes that they’ll become big fans. In the spirit of that, I wanted to let you guys know about an #Instafreebie promotion that I’m participating in that’s all about Erotic Horror.

[image error]

My offering is a short story entitled “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” from a collection I did with Lucy Blue called Until Death: An Anthology of Twisted Love Stories. It’s kind of a love letter to all the rabid Sherlock fangirls out there. Well, some might call it a love letter. Anyway, it’s the story of obsessive love gone terribly wrong and it’s just perfect for Halloween reading.

[image error]

But it isn’t all about me. There’s lots of stuff to choose from in all lengths and subgenres of erotic horror. All of it is free, but there are some email opt-ins.  So check us out! Get yourself some spooky reads! https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/UYIox...

Greetings! It’s finally autumn!!! Can you believe it? I was starting to think it would never get here. I know it’s been a while since we’ve talked, but I promise it was for a good reason. I’ve been finishing up some projects (a couple of which I’ll be telling you about in a couple of weeks) including the next book in the Phoenix Rising series. Neo-Geisha is book two in the adventures of Cage St. John and his beautiful badass librarian, Phoebe Addison. In this installment, Cage and Phoe’s new relationship is challenged by old enemies and a few personal demons that were lurking in the wings.

[image error]

BACK…

Macijah “Cage” St. John’ didn’t want the spy life anymore. He would have been thrilled to spend every morning lying in the field behind Phoe’s home in smalltown Louisiana watching the clouds roll by. But his Miss Addison wanted to spread her wings, literally. So Cage accepted a mission that teamed him up with his lady love. If only he had trusted her.


TO THE FUTURE

Everything about being a spy was a million times more exciting, and scarier, than the books she’d read in her former life as a librarian. When her first mission with Cage turned into a colossal clusterf*ck because he withheld information and kept secrets, Phoebe’s world narrowed into a long tunnel of betrayal. Captured by space pirates and delivered to a horrible fate, she wished the last words between them had been of love, because she was certain she would never see Cage St. John again.

***********
The book is up for PREORDER now and goes live on October 26, 2017! I hope that you’ll love it and if you haven’t read book 1, that you’ll consider giving this series a try. If you love spy stories mixed with a little romance and a little sci-fi, then you’ll love it!

PREORDER HERE:  boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/neogeisha

ORDER NAKED (Phoenix Rising 1): boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/naked

[image error]

<<<<< BACK TO CH. 6

That familiar ache that began just behind the eyes woke Scarlett just after 3 a.m.  She called it “The Ache of Inspiration,” and it always happened at the most inopportune times.  Once she had lost a boyfriend because she’d been overcome by the muses in the middle of a moment of passion.  She still laughed, thinking of the look on his face when she’d suddenly left the room and began painting, completely naked.  But what no one understood was that it wasn’t her choice.  Once that spark of inspiration hit, she had no choice but to answer its call.  It was a demanding lover that did not wait, and it did not matter if she were sleeping, taking a bath or standing in line at the grocery store.

Scarlett rose from the bed and stumbled around, still weary from the Halcion and sleep.  As she groped around in the dark for the light switch, she kicked something that crackled like old newspaper.  The shopping bag full of clothes Raze had bought for her.  It hadn’t been there before.  She assumed it was still down in the studio space.  He must have set it down in her room earlier when she’d been pretending to sleep.  She grabbed it up and began rifling through, looking for something to wear.  She pulled on a pair of snug fitting jeans that sat low on her hips, but all of the shirts she’d purchased weren’t exactly painting attire.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a large wardrobe that sat in the corner.  She opened it up to find a large television and stereo system on the top shelf where one might have once hung clothes.  There were three deep drawers below the shelf and Scarlett opened each one, looking for anything that might be of use.  She finally got lucky, finding an old sweatshirt folded neatly in the bottom drawer.  As soon as she pulled it over her head, she could tell it belonged to Raze.  It swallowed her small frame.  She could smell him all over it and her stomach fluttered.  With a sigh of frustration, she gathered her hair into a low ponytail and tied it behind her head.

Opening the door slowly, Scarlett slipped out of the room and sneaked down the hall toward the stairs.  She peered at Raze’s room as she passed and could see a soft light coming from under the door, as if from a television set that had been left on in the dark.  She bit her lip and tiptoed past, praying that the floor wouldn’t creak.  She didn’t know how she was going to face him in the morning and it wasn’t something that she could work out right now.  Now she had work to do.

Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief as she made it down the stairs soundlessly.  She’d just stop in the kitchen and make herself a cup of coffee, but when she came around the corner, she saw that Geoffrey was standing at the counter.  The old man was in his pajamas and moved slowly around the room, making a pot of coffee.  She started to derail and go on out the door, but it was too late.  “Miss Munro,” he called.  “What are you doing up?”

“Good morning, Geoffrey… or… well, it’s not quite morning yet.”  She smiled and joined him in the kitchen.  “I might ask you the same question.”

“The old don’t sleep much, young lady,” he said, pouring water into the back of the coffeepot.  “But you’re far too young for such maladies.”  He turned, giving a knowing smile and setting a cup down in front of her.  “The coffee will be done in just a minute.  Sit.”

Scarlett obeyed and watched him for a few more minutes as he flitted around the kitchen, gathering sugar bowls and cream.  He seemed to be pretty spry for his age. He was obviously at least in his seventies, yet he moved like a man with boundless energy.  “So Geoffrey… how long have you been with Raze?”

“Quite some time, Miss.  He’s been quite good to me over the years.”  He came over to the counter and poured Scarlett a cup.  “Cream and sugar?”

“Yes, please,” she replied.  She prepared her coffee, watching the cream swirl around in the dark liquid.  “He seems like a nice man.”

“Of course.  Raze has always been the compassionate sort.”

“So you’ve known him for a long time?” she asked.

“In a manner of speaking.”  He seemed to hesitate a moment, as if he were planning each word very carefully.  Scarlett could tell that he was hiding something, though what it might be she couldn’t imagine.  Constantine was like some kind of billionaire boy scout.  At least, according to everything she’d read about him.  She smiled behind her coffee cup as she took a sip.  Perhaps there were some skeletons in his closet.

“How old is he?”

Geoffrey chuckled.  “Much older than you think.”

“Oh he can’t possibly be more than thirty-five or forty at the outside.”

The older man smirked, but did not respond.  “I’m afraid Mr. Constantine is somewhat of an enigma to us all.  I only know what I have observed of him.  As I’m sure you’ve noticed, he doesn’t confide much.”

“No kidding,” she grumbled.

“Just because a man doesn’t say a thing, doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it.”

“I just wish I understood him a bit more.”  Scarlett sighed, resting her chin on her hands as she leaned against the counter.  “I mean, I’ve been here for a couple of days now and I still don’t know what he wants with me.  The paintings, of course, but there seems to be something more.”

“Raze has always felt a need to seek out those with no hope and help them find it.  He loves your melancholy, though he wishes to take it away.  Your art speaks to him in a way he’s never known.  He understands you, Miss Munro.  Though you may not know it just yet.”

“But why?  No one has ever understood me or even wanted to try,” she said.  “And I learned a long time ago not to open myself up.  Baring your weaknesses and fears to the world only makes them vulnerable to exploitation.”

“You think Mr. Constantine means to exploit you?”

“No, I don’t.  That’s what’s so frightening.  You see, everyone in my life, as long as I can remember, has wanted something from me.  Sex, money, adoration… but I can’t figure out what it is that he wants from me.  Whatever it is… I’m terrified I won’t be able to deliver.”

“Perhaps there is nothing.  Perhaps it is he that wants to give to you.”  Geoffrey smiled and topped off her cup of coffee.  “There you are.  Now… off you go.  I can sense the urgency of inspiration radiating off of you.”

Scarlett returned his smile.  Though she did feel her muses shouting in her head, she wished for a moment that she could stay here with Geoffrey.  He made her feel comforted like an old grandfather or favorite uncle.  “Yes, I suppose I’d better get started before I fall asleep again.”  She stood up and went toward the door.  “Thanks again for the coffee.”  Geoffrey nodded and waved goodbye, leaving her to puzzle over his words.

****

As soon as she was gone, Gabriel shed the image of the old man in seconds.  The gray hair and wrinkled skin dissipated like smoke and she stretched, glad to be rid of such a meager form.  Strangely, she could see why Azrael was so taken with this human.  She had a fire that was quite unexpected for one in her position.  Gabriel wished she could hate her.  Scarlett had cost her the only love she would ever know.  Angels weren’t supposed to fall in love with humans.  It just wasn’t done, but Azrael had fallen in love with Scarlett’s soul to such a degree that it had become an obsession.  Thousands of human years passed and he followed her through lifetime after lifetime.  Gabriel’s heart ached when she thought of it. The letting go.  The realization of the fact that he could never love her as he loved this flawed, pathetic human.

 

EDIT: This post was done before the devastating events in Puerto Rico. Seeing as how our “president” doesn’t see fit to do much in the relief effort, you can find out how to help our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico. 

United for Puerto Rico
UNICEF
Direct Relief
Hispanic Federation
Save the Children
International Medical Corps
Americares
Global Giving

Hey kids. I usually try to keep things light over here at The Belle, but I felt like it was important to pass along this information. As you know, Hurricane Harvey has devastated parts of Texas, especially the Houston area. If you were curious as to how you can help these folks, here are some organizations that are organizing disaster relief (courtesy of Our Revolution, Texas).

The Texas Workers Relief Fund. A union-relief effort by the Texas AFL-CIO, donations are tax-deductible. The state fed has been closely coordinating with the Houston and Corpus-area central labor councils to provide material aid.

RNRN Disaster Relief Fund. Our ally the National Nurses United organizes medical relief for major disasters through this fund.

Texas DSA. DSA chapters (also allies) have been organizing both volunteers and those in need at a grassroots level. Sign up here to offer help (or ask for it) or donate directly to Houston DSA.

Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group Fund. If you want to donate directly for relief in the Coastal Bend towns hit directly by the hurricane.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Houston’s mayor has set up this fund to assist with victims of Houston’s ongoing and increasingly dangerous flooding. Donations are tax-deductible.

Thanks, y’all.

Hey kids. I usually try to keep things light over here at The Belle, but I felt like it was important to pass along this information. As you know, Hurricane Harvey has devastated parts of Texas, especially the Houston area. If you were curious as to how you can help these folks, here are some organizations that are organizing disaster relief (courtesy of Our Revolution, Texas).

The Texas Workers Relief Fund. A union-relief effort by the Texas AFL-CIO, donations are tax-deductible. The state fed has been closely coordinating with the Houston and Corpus-area central labor councils to provide material aid.

RNRN Disaster Relief Fund. Our ally the National Nurses United organizes medical relief for major disasters through this fund.

Texas DSA. DSA chapters (also allies) have been organizing both volunteers and those in need at a grassroots level. Sign up here to offer help (or ask for it) or donate directly to Houston DSA.

Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group Fund. If you want to donate directly for relief in the Coastal Bend towns hit directly by the hurricane.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Houston’s mayor has set up this fund to assist with victims of Houston’s ongoing and increasingly dangerous flooding. Donations are tax-deductible.

Thanks, y’all.

Hey kittens! Glad to see ya. This week I wanted to let you know about this fantastic romantic erotica giveaway I’m a part of. All these authors got together to offer a story for #free through Instafreebie from 8/24- 9/5. I’m giving away my infamous threesome story, Unmasked, but if menage isn’t your thing, there’s tons of stuff to choose from: contemporary, paranormal, kink, vanilla— whatever your pleasure might be. And no, you don’t need to tell me about it in the comments…