Last day to enter!
08 Wednesday Nov 2017
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08 Wednesday Nov 2017
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06 Monday Nov 2017
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Welcome back to Medieval Monday and the last installment of our “First Encounter” theme! I’m pleased to share with you the fourteenth and final excerpt from Soul of the Wolf, Book 2 of The Novels of Ravenwood. Let’s follow Wulfstan as he steals back up the hill to Woden’s Circle and glimpses Lady Jocelyn in an unguarded and most provocative moment!
Jocelyn’s back was to him. She had freed her hair from its tight braid, and the long locks clung to her hips. Her delicate hands caressed one of the ancient stones, then pushed against it. Arching her back with catlike grace, she lifted her face to the rain. Water poured down on her, and she accepted it with abandon.
He couldn’t move. His heart thumped in his chest. She seemed a primitive goddess amid the pagan stones, and part of him wanted to join her.
No. Remember your quest. Keep your promise.
Gritting his teeth, he tore his gaze from the intimate scene. He spun around and marched down the hill, leaving his bride behind.
And there you have it! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Soul of the Wolf.
A little more about the book:
A Norman loyalist, Lady Jocelyn bristles when ordered to marry Wulfstan, a Saxon sorcerer. She nurses a painful secret and would rather bathe in a cesspit than be pawed by such a man…until her lifelong dream of motherhood rears its head.
A man of magic and mystery, Wulfstan has no time for wedded bliss. He fears that consummating their marriage will bind their souls and wrench his focus from the ancient riddle his dying mother begged him to solve. He’s a lone wolf, salving old wounds with endless work. But Jocelyn stirs him as no woman ever has.
Their attraction is undeniable. Their fates are intertwined. Together, they must face their demons and bring light to a troubled land.
Buy Links
01 Wednesday Nov 2017
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Author Interview, historical romance, Judith Sterling, Medieval Monday, Never Too Late, Sherry Ewing, The Bluestocking Belles, The Malala Fund, The Piper's Lady
I’m delighted to have Sherry Ewing here today! She and I are both part of the Medieval Mondays crew. We’ll give you a sneak peek at The Piper’s Lady, one of eight novellas in the Bluestocking Belles’ 2017 box set, Never Too Late. 25% of the proceeds benefit their mutual charity, The Malala Fund. But first, let’s get to know Sherry a little better.
At what age did you write your first story? I remember being in grade school. Certainly that was several lifetimes ago.
Which genre was the first to hook you? Historical Romance – The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
What was your first published book? If My Heart Could See You, a medieval romance, in July 2014.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process? Brainstorming? Research? Outlining? Writing? Editing? I really like those little ah-ha moments when everything all of a sudden clicks inside my head.
What are you working on now? I have several projects I’m working on for my Knights of Berwyck series.
Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite? Why? I love the medieval time period mostly because I’ve always dreamed of handsome knights. I used to tell my kids I was born in the wrong century and wrong continent.
Have you ever dreamed about a character you created? I have. They also tend to wake me up at all hours of the night voicing their opinions. Sometimes they’re like misbehaving children.
If you could have a conversation with anyone—dead or alive—who would it be? I would have a conversation with my daughter who passed away in 2013. She would have been sixteen.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Sherry. If only I could grant you that wish. If you could travel to any time and place, when and where would that be? Besides the medieval time period, I would love to have seen the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I.
Yes, that would be amazing! If you could step inside any book or series and live there for a week, which would you choose? Outlander
If a fairy godmother appeared and offered you one thing—anything at all—what would you request? To turn back time so I could spend more of it with my daughter and family.
Again, I wish I could make that happen for you. Unfortunately, I’m neither a fairy nor a godmother. For what it’s worth, I’m sending you love and a long-distance hug.
Now, it’s time to learn some of your favorites!
Sound: rain
Eye color: green
Foreign language: I wish!
Song: Too many to count but for writing, Whisper of a Thrill from Meet Joe Black
Book: A Rose In Winter by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Movie: Gone With The Wind
TV show: The Big Bang Theory
Cuisine: Japanese
Cookie: Snickerdoodle
US location: San Francisco, CA
And finally, list your preference from the following choices:
Tea or coffee? Coffee
Cake or pie? Cake
Halloween or Christmas? Christmas
Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes? Sherlock Holmes
Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters? Jane Austen
A mortal, vampire, ghost, or fae for a lover? Ghost
English gent, Scottish highlander, European count, or all-American guy? Scottish Highlander
A little about The Piper’s Lady
True love binds them. Deceit divides them. Will they choose love?
Lady Coira Easton spent her youth traveling with her grandfather. Now well past the age men prefer when they choose a wife, she has resigned herself to remain a maiden. But everything changes once she arrives at Berwyck Castle. She cannot resist a dashing knight who runs to her rescue, but would he give her a second look?
Garrick of Clan MacLaren can hold his own with the trained Knights of Berwyck, but as the clan’s piper they would rather he play his instruments to entertain them—or lead them into battle—than to fight with a sword upon the lists. Only when he sees a lady across the training field and his heart sings for the first time does he begin to wish to be something he is not.
Will a simple misunderstanding between them threaten what they have found in one another or will they at last let love into their hearts?
Heat rating: PG
A peek between the pages
Garrick once more captured the woman in his arms as they fell to the ground in a heap. In a repeat performance, he rolled to bear the impact ’til she was captured beneath him. Hazel eyes stared at him in wonder, and his heart lurched in his chest.
“Sir Garrick…” His named passed her lips in a breathy whisper.
“Lady Coira…” he answered, and afore common sense returned to him, he leaned down and placed his lips upon her own.
By God’s Bones, he must be mad, he thought even as her arms pressed their way over his shoulders and wrapped themselves around his neck. His mouth moved over hers gently for he did not wish to scare her. ’Twas an exploration… a first-time meeting of two souls as their breaths exchanged with one another. He was lost ’til a low throaty moan escaped her and brought him back to the reality of what he was doing.
He broke off their kiss and jumped up as though he had been burned, which was not far from the truth. Bloody hell! If Coira were in truth Morgan’s lady, the knight would skewer him alive and see his head placed on a pike outside Berwyck’s gates for taking such a liberty. He would not think of what Lord Dristan would do to his remains since the lady was also under his watchful eye.
He began cursing and pacing back and forth ’til he realized he had left the lady of his musing lying on the hard ground. She had propped herself up on her elbows and was watching him intently. He came to her and held out his hand to help her rise. Her fingers slipped into his palm, and he once more forgot about everything else but the lady he pulled up to stand.
Her knees gave out, and she once more fell into his arms as they stumbled up against the very oak that began the downfall of his life as he knew it. Garrick reached out to steady them whilst her back was up against the solid trunk. He clearly had no sense left in his head whilst he rested his arm above her head and stared down at the beautiful woman who was beginning to claim his heart.
“Coira…” he murmured. “’Tis a beautiful Gaelic name, but I am surprised ye are called such for an English woman.”
“’Twas my mother’s doing. She told me years afore she died that she and my father had travelled to Scotland, and she fell in love with the country and its people. She said I was a wonderful reminder of their time together.”
“Ye must miss them. I am sorry for their passing along with yer brother’s.”
“I seem to be alone in the world now,” she answered softly. Garrick did not miss the small catch in her voice.
He reached out and ran the back of his finger along her cheek. “Ye are not completely alone, lass,” he replied, and although he hated to say the next words, he knew he must. “Ye have Morgan. ’Tis obvious he cares for you.”
Where to purchase Never Too Late
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2xwo2uE
iBooks: http://apple.co/2yY4gXC
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/750339
More about Sherry
Sherry Ewing picked up her first historical romance when she was a teenager and has been hooked ever since. A bestselling author, she writes historical & time travel romances to awaken the soul one heart at a time. Always wanting to write a novel but busy raising her children, she finally took the plunge in 2008 and wrote her first Regency. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Beau Monde & the Bluestocking Belles. Sherry is currently working on her next novel and when not writing, she can be found in the San Francisco area at her day job as an Information Technology Specialist.
Where to find Sherry
Website & Books: www.SherryEwing.com
Bluestocking Belles: http://bluestockingbelles.net/
Hearts Through Time: http://heartsthroughtime.com
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TrWtoy
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherry-ewing
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SherryEwingAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/author/show/8382315.Sherry_Ewing
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sherry.ewing
Pinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/SherryLEwing
Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/Sherry_Ewing
Sign Me Up!
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2vGrqQM
Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/799623313455472/
Thanks so much for joining me today, Sherry. Wishing you all the best!
30 Monday Oct 2017
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Dragon Knight's Axe, Judith Sterling, Mary Morgan, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Order of the Dragon Knights, Soul of the Wolf, the fae, The Novels of Ravenwood, time travel
It’s Medieval Monday and Week Thirteen of our “First Encounter” theme. I’m delighted to welcome the lovely and talented Mary Morgan today! Don’t you love this cover?
If you’re following the moment when my hero and heroine meet in Soul of the Wolf, you can find the thirteenth snippet on Mary’s blog: http://www.marymorganauthor.com/blog
But let’s focus on Mary’s thirteenth snippet from Dragon Knight’s Axe, Book 3 of her Order of the Dragon Knights series:
Intriguing little bird…
Alastair’s fists were clenched by his sides. How did this mere wisp of a woman know his true name? Very few had heard of the Dragon Knights. What made her so special? She was nothing but a slave, possibly cast out by her own people. Or so he thought.
He would get the truth out of her. She was now his. Bought and paid for.
His anger simmered just below the surface, and he allowed his eyes to flash with the fire of the dragon. Hearing her gasp, he smiled. Good, little bird. Fear me.
Without giving her time to react, he swept her up and dumped her over his left shoulder, and strode toward the ship.
He heard her sharp intake of breath, and then she started to pound against his back. “Put…me down,” she demanded.
“Nae.”
Follow along next week on Mary’s own blog for the final excerpt of her “First Encounter” with the hero and heroine of Dragon Knight’s Axe. http://www.marymorganauthor.com/blog
And don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of the book!
A little more about Dragon Knight’s Axe:
Alastair MacKay, a battled-scarred Dragon Knight flees to the sea to separate himself from his fae-given power connecting him to the land. But it is on land that he rescues a woman from a slave trader in Ireland. It is through Fiona he steps back inadvertently into a world filled with magic—taking on the role of protector and at the same time leading him on a journey to confront his greatest regret and fears.
Research assistant, Fiona O’Quinlan loves translating ancient artifacts at Trinity College. When she falls asleep on an archeological dig, she awakens in another time. She soon discovers a Dragon Knight’s relic has been entrusted into her care. Determined to return the artifact to the Great Glen, Fiona is unprepared for the danger ahead—losing her heart and soul to Alastair “Beast” MacKay.
Will their love be strong enough to soothe the beast and heal the man? Or will Death swing its axe, leaving them lost for all eternity?
Buy the book:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Knights-Axe-Order-Book-ebook/dp/B00Y5756TO/
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-knights-axe-mary-morgan/1122070231/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dragon-knight-s-axe-1
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dragon-knights-axe/id996720081?mt=11
27 Friday Oct 2017
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ghosts, Halloween, Judith Sterling, medieval romance, paranormal, Phantasmic Friday, Soul of the Wolf, Stockholm, Sweden, Yuletide
Welcome to the last Phantasmic Friday of October. Halloween is less than a week away, and I’m loving it! I love the Yuletide too, which is probably why my second medieval romance, Soul of the Wolf, is set in December of 1101. It’s also the season in which today’s true ghost story begins.
Christmas of 1992 found me packing for Sweden, where I would study for the next six months under a Swedish Institute scholarship. At the time, which was long before I met my husband, my Swedish-American boyfriend arranged for me to stay in his grandmother’s empty house in Stockholm for the week leading up to nyårsafton (New Year’s Eve). It was a small, quaint dwelling with numerous knick-knacks and—as I would soon discover—a tragic past.
The bedroom where I slept opened onto an alcove, above which the trap door to the attic was poised. My first night, I woke with a start…to darkness and an acute sense of someone hovering in the alcove. The space was alive with creaking floorboards and a bluish light.
A flashlight? An intruder?
My heart pounded. I shifted in bed to gain a better view.
No one was there. Or so it seemed.
I slid out of bed and tiptoed around the house, just to be sure I was alone. The doors were locked, and by the time I climbed back into bed, the strange light was gone. I fluffed up my pillow and rearranged the bedcovers.
Then a scraping, scratching sound filled the alcove. Had rats infested the attic?
A sudden rush of emotions slammed into me. Despair. Dread. Distress. Not mine but another’s.
Every night brought the same experience: the light, the sounds, and the mood. When the phenomena ceased, I sought sleep again, but as you can imagine, it took a while before I drifted off.
Months later, I learned the truth. My boyfriend’s uncle had committed suicide years before. He’d hung himself in the alcove, not ten feet from where I slept. If I’d known that at the time, I would’ve tried to help him move on. I hope he has since found peace.
I’ve enjoyed sharing some of my paranormal experiences with you this month. Believe it or not, they’re just the tip of the iceberg! Not surprisingly, the supernatural finds its way into almost everything I write. Check out My Books for more information.
Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

23 Monday Oct 2017
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Elisabeth Hobbes, Judith Sterling, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Redeeming the Rogue Knight, Soul of the Wolf
Welcome back to Medieval Monday and Week Twelve of our “First Encounter” theme!
If you’re following the moment when my hero and heroine first meet in Soul of the Wolf, you can find the twelfth snippet on Elisabeth Hobbes’ blog: www.ElisabethHobbes.co.uk
But let’s focus on Elisabeth’s twelfth snippet from Redeeming the Rogue Knight:
‘Where are you going?’ she asked, alarmed at the prospect of being left alone with the man who had earlier appeared intent on violating her. The word we did not give her any comfort either.
‘You heard what he said. I must hide our horses. We are being hunted. I’ll explain properly later.’ Thomas gazed around frantically as if expecting assailants to appear from the wooden chest at the foot of the bed or behind the open door. He lumbered out, pulling the door shut.
‘What is this place called?’
The man on the bed had spoken, his voice rough and rasping.
See what happens next on Sherry Ewing’s blog on Monday, October 30! Here’s the link: https://sherryewing.com/blog/
A little more about Redeeming the Rogue Knight:
The spy who sought refuge…
When injured spy Sir Roger Danby comes asking for shelter at her inn, Lucy Carew is wary. He may be strikingly handsome, but the disgraced single mother has learnt the hard way with men like him. Against her better judgement, she gives him refuge.
Sir Roger has never been at the mercy of a woman before, and he’s never met one as mysterious and bewitching as Lucy. He hasn’t come looking for redemption, but Lucy is a woman who could reach in and touch his closely guarded heart…
Buy the book:
20 Friday Oct 2017
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ghosts, Guardians of Erin, Halloween, Haunted Happenings, Judith Sterling, London, paranormal investigation, Phantasmic Friday, Salem Massachusetts, The Cauldron Stirred, YA paranormal, YA series
Welcome back to Phantasmic Friday! Here in Salem, Massachusetts, “Haunted Happenings”–our month-long celebration of Halloween–is in full swing. I doubt Salem’s founder, Roger Conant (pictured above, in front of the Salem Witch Museum) would approve, but those of us who love Halloween and/or the paranormal have a lot of fun! In that spirit, let’s journey back to my college years for today’s true story.
As an undergraduate, I studied one semester in London. I dove into life in that venerable city and bonded right away with my two roommates. We and our fellow students lived in a Victorian hotel in South Kensington, which also provided classrooms and a baptism-by-fire acquaintance with English plumbing.
The bathroom adjoining our room was a boon, but it was also the lair of the “toilet monster.” Out of the blue, said toilet emitted thunderous, tortured gurgles that begged our attention day and night. During the day, the toilet monster was harmless; at worst, a disturber of the peace. At night, it creeped out the roommate who slept closest to it and often wrenched me from my dreams. Or perhaps there was another culprit.
Once awake, I sat up in bed and squinted into the darkness. Someone unseen watched us. The presence was male, and I sensed he’d lived in an earlier time, closer to when the hotel was built. Sometimes he stood in our room, most often at the foot of my bed or near the bathroom; other times, he lurked just outside the door. His location was as clear to me as if I’d seen it.
Halfway through the semester, another student—who had no idea what I’d experienced and whose room was directly across the hall from ours— shared his own encounter. He woke in the middle of the night to find a 19th-century soldier standing at the foot of his bed, staring at him.
I was certain our neighbor saw what I’d repeatedly sensed. Intrigued, I researched the street where we lived. A few doors down, in 1926, one of England’s first paranormal investigators established the National Library of Psychical Research, where mediums were scientifically tested during numerous séances. Closer still was the home of a 19th-century lieutenant colonel who died under suspicious circumstances.
Did activities in the ghost hunter’s lab become a beacon for stray souls? Was the soldier one of them? Perhaps it was he who wandered the halls—and our rooms—as we slept.
In my YA paranormal fantasy, The Cauldron Stirred, the protagonist’s father is a paranormal investigator (in this century, though!). His family joins in the hunt for Irish ghosts in the ruins of a medieval castle and on the shores of Lough Leane. The story’s climax occurs on Halloween to boot! 🙂 If that sounds like something “up your alley,” check it out!
16 Monday Oct 2017
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Cathy MacRae, Judith Sterling, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Scottish historical romance, Soul of the Wolf, The Highlander's Viking Bride
Welcome back to Medieval Monday and Week Eleven of our “First Encounter” theme!
If you’re following the moment when my hero and heroine meet in Soul of the Wolf, you can find the eleventh snippet on Cathy MacRae’s blog: http://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs-author-blog
But for now, let’s check out the eleventh snippet from The Highlander’s Viking Bride by Cathy and DD MacRae:
She averted her gaze in an effort to wrestle her body and emotions under control. Inhaling deeply, she raised her eyes again only to find the same sensations slamming into her anew. She needed a distraction.
See what happens next on Bambi Lynn’s blog on Monday, October 23! Here’s the link: https://bambilynnblog.wordpress.com/author/bambilynnblog/
A little more about The Highlander’s Viking Bride:
Calder MacGerry, laird of an impoverished clan, has resolved to end the bitter feud between the MacGerrys and Sinclairs. He jumps at Laird Sinclair’s offer of marriage to his only daughter, Katja, to seal the agreement between their clans—only to get more than he bargained for.
Katja’s chance to escape her father’s harsh treatment appears to be too good to be true. But becoming Lady of a clan that despises her because she’s a Sinclair, doesn’t make her life any easier. When the attacks turn deadly, she fights her way out, making a dangerous passage to the Shetland Isles for refuge with her Viking family.
Calder and Katja’s marriage, built on mistrust, rushes quickly into disaster. As Calder seeks to repair the damage, Katja discovers not another enemy, but a husband who pledges a new beginning.
Buy the book:
13 Friday Oct 2017
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apport, doppelganger, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Judith Sterling, paranormal, Phantasmic Friday, Salem Massachusetts
It’s Friday the 13th! We’re nearly halfway through October, and Salem, Massachusetts is abuzz with all things Halloween. Needless to say, I’m in my element and excited for another Phantasmic Friday. So get cozy and read on for more adventures from my “paranormal past.” 🙂
As a little girl, I believed anything was possible. Truth be told, I still believe it. Perhaps the magic of that conviction links three uncommon events which happened in a common place: the living room of my childhood home.
On the first occasion, I was ten, and my older brother and his friend, Carl, invited me to play hide-and-seek. Carl was the first “seeker,” and once he started counting, I scampered to the living room and crouched behind a chair.
I’m invisible, I thought. I’m part of this chair.
I repeated those phrases in my mind again and again, then held my breath as Carl entered the room. He searched the entire area, but when he reached my hiding place, he merely glanced behind the chair, then dashed off to another room.
When at last the hunt was over, we plopped onto the living room couch. He turned to me with knitted brow.
“Where in heck were you?”
“The living room,” I said.
His face transformed into a mask of shock. “I checked the whole room. There’s no way you were in here.”
The fact he hadn’t seen me was strange, but my reply was even stranger. “How do you know? Maybe the molecules of my body changed to make me invisible. Maybe there are doorways we don’t know about. That wall right there could’ve opened up to let me pass through.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “What are you? A ghost?”
Well, yes…in a way. If ghosts are earthbound spirits with unfinished business, I suppose we all qualify; we’re just attached to physical bodies at the moment.
A few weeks later, the second event occurred. My little brother and I were sitting on his bedroom floor rolling a ball back and forth. At one point, he went for gold, and the ball whisked past me and out the open door to the living room. I jumped to my feet and hurried to retrieve it, but it was nowhere in sight.
My brother was close on my heels. “Where is it?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but it has to be somewhere.”
We began a search that left no corner unchecked, no cushion unturned. Then we investigated the surrounding rooms, only to come up empty-handed.
Was it an example of what parapsychologists call “apportation”? Or the possible result of a portal? Your guess is as good as mine, but we never did find that ball. It was just gone.
Fourteen years later, I was home from college, and because my parents were away, my little brother and I had the run of the house. Naturally, he threw a party, which involved loud music and a lot of beer. I holed up in my room for the duration, and around 1:00 a.m., the house emptied. My brother turned off the living room stereo and cleaned up. Then we went to bed.
I was just dozing off when a blast of heavy metal music jolted me awake. Without a thought for my glasses, I bounded out of bed, down the hall, and into the living room.
I glared at the blurry figure illuminated by the blaring stereo. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Unmoving, my brother stared at me.
“Answer me!” I shouted. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” He turned down the music.
With a huff, I made a dismissive gesture. “Whatever. Just shut that off. I’m going back to bed.”
Silence clipped the music as I turned toward the hall. Then I took a step forward…
“Jude, who are you talking to?”
I whirled around. My brother stood way over in the dining room, but he should’ve been five paces to my right.
He flicked on the light switch and joined me in the living room. “I thought you were asleep. Why did you turn on the music?”
“It wasn’t me. I thought you did it.”
He shook his head and lifted a hand to his stomach. “I was throwing up in Mom and Dad’s bathroom.”
On the opposite side of the house.
I frowned, wishing I’d worn my glasses. The figure in front of the stereo had looked fuzzy, but it had my brother’s height, build, and thick, shoulder-length hair. It also sported his boxer shorts.
My brother saw it too, though from a distance that made the figure appear even blurrier than how I’d seen it. So what happened?
Bilocation, a phenomenon supported by quantum physics which I’ve experienced in a variety of ways since. History is peppered with stories of doppelgangers, including doubles of Elizabeth I, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Percy Bysse Shelley, to name only a few. It’s a strange, beautiful world we live in, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
If you enjoyed reading the true account above, check out My Books. Whether I’m writing fact or fiction, the supernatural always finds a home in my work. Happy Friday the 13th!
11 Wednesday Oct 2017
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Hi, everyone! I’m doing another giveaway on Goodreads. This time, you could win a signed copy of Soul of the Wolf, the second of The Novels of Ravenwood.
Here’s the link to enter: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/258154-soul-of-the-wolf
Good luck!