Monday Flash Fiction

Happy Monday everyone! How was everyone's weekend? Mine was....amazing. I can't stop smiling and I'm actually in a great mood for a Monday. I know, I know. An insane notion. Haha. 

Without further ado, here is this week's picture. ^.^ It's in honor of the 'The Hobbit' that was just released and I haven't seen yet. Gah. Oh well.

Can't wait to read all the flash fictions for this one! It's bound to be a fantasy week indeed. 

Guess Who's Crimson Romance's Newest Author? Me!

Hi to all my blogosphere buddies!!

I shared my news on facebook last night after I signed my contract, but I sharing it here too! Crimson Romance accepted one of my submissions and I couldn't be more excited!! Squee!

If you're a reader, looking for your next fantastic read, come on over and take a peek here!
And, if you're an author with a finished manuscript, begging to be loved, they're accepting submissions here. I'd love to welcome you to the Crimson Romance family!

Oh, and they have a great reader's blog right here.

I hope I see you all there soon! You'll be able to find me shortly under my pen name, Lillie J. Roberts.

Talk to you soon!

Carole's Friday Flash Fiction: The Red, Red Rose

Happy Friday everyone! Don't be shocked, but I actually have a FFF this week. Huzzah! I'm so proud of this piece...its a little on the lengthy side, but I adore it! Be warned...there is quite a twist at the end. MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The Red, Red Rose

by: Carole Rae

The years trickled past like rain drops, but it never stopped her from coming. It never stopped her from planting the roses he so loved. Though the blistering, desert sun withered the roses to dust she still squandered her money and time to plant the red, red roses he so loved.

The years trickled past like rain drops, but still she came this year. Her hair was now streaked with gray and it was harder for her to pull herself out of the carriage that took her to this spot. Once upon a time ago she was able to ride her horse to this dusty spot. Like natural, her beloved horse passed and time has withered her bones.

Stepping out of the carriage, she looked up at the dark sky. This was an odd occurrence for it seemed rain was coming. Once she was out of the carriage, she grabbed her lacy and delicate parasol. Though it would barely protect her from becoming wet, it was a comfort for her. Though most of everyone knew of her odd travels to this spot in the desert of the West and of why she came to this spot every year on the day, she was still embarrassed of her obsession of planting the red, red roses. Taking a deep inhale, she began to walk to the spot. She always made sure that she had to walk the last few feet to the spot for it made her guilt ease its pull on her heart for a while.

The moment she reached the spot, she looked down and tears began to form. She hugged the pot of roses to her chest. The little thorns cut right through her skin and little drops of blood fell down into her bodice. Surely her white chemise was now ruined, but that concern was millions of leagues away from her mind. Without aid, she slowly knelt down. Quickly, she removed her white gloves and began scrapping at the arduous and dust-covered ground. With the pain of the digging, her tears evaporated. This was normal...pain always made the heart-ache and guilt disappear as the stars fade when the sun comes across the sky.

Once the hole was dug, she gently placed the red, red roses into the ground. She filled in the remaining of the hole with soil. She rubbed her blood and dirt covered hands onto her dress. Now that the pain of digging had ended, tears welled up in her eyes. A rain drop fell onto her face and mixed with the tear. Quickly, she lifted her parasol for the rain was surely on its way. As if stroking a newborn's head, she smoothed one of the red, red petals out and a sob escaped her lips, “I...am...so....sorry, Miles. I wish...I wish I could take it back. Oh God.”

She allowed herself a few moments of tears and for the guilt to eat at her soul.

A few moments....that was all.

Taking a heavy inhale, she forced the monster to return into its cage. If she allowed the guilt to run free for too long, she would lose her sanity forever. Wiping away the tears, she finally had herself in her infamous composure and self-control. The ever present smile returned to her lips and she slowly, but surely stood. Looking out into the distance she took in the scenery. As was normal. However, a dark figure caught her eye. With widening eyes she froze.

The dark figure knowing that it had been spotted, walked towards her. She could not move. Fear penetrated her heart.

After what seemed an eon, the figure stepped out of the fog and revealed its self to her. Her eyes went wide, “Miles....no....nooooo. It can't be! I....I....killed you twenty years ago! How...how is this possible?”

The man, Miles to be assumed, smirked at her, “Oh dear Cynthia. You really think you killed me? Ha.”

“But...oh dear god.” She covered her mouth and sobbed into her hands when she noticed the scar across his throat. She had done that. She had sliced his throat as if cutting into a piece of bread.

His eyes sparkled, “You did nearly have me, my dear.”

“Miles....I'm so sorry. They...they made me! You know I loved you, but it was either your life or my life and our unborn child's life.” Her control evaporated and tears began rolling down her cheek.

With slow steps, he walked towards her and with his thumb ever so slightly wiped away some of the flowing tears that trailed down her cheeks. Miles replied, “I know you are sweeting, but they lied. It was a test to see how much you loved me. Yes, these roses are lovely and sentimental, but you failed the test those many moons ago.”

“Miles...I--” Before she could stammer out another word, blood oozed from her lips. He removed his hand from her face and pulled out the knife he had stabbed into her gut. The place were his child had once been.

With a dark smile, “We are even my dearest Cynthia....but I doubt you'll survive that. Until our next life together.” Turning on his heels, he disappeared in the fog.

She fell to the ground holding her gut. Her body was so in shock all she could do was look at the red, red roses he so loved and think on how the years had trickled past like rain drops. Her world then went black........

THE END

================================

<3CaroleRae 

A Late Monday Flash Fiction

Hi everyone! I am back officially from the couple weeks of craziness. ^.^ Life is such a pain sometimes, but oh well. Though I'm a day late...here is this week's picture challenge.

There's so much going on in this simple little picture. Do you see the dark figure in the distance? A possible Historical Romance? Or even murder? Interesting to see what you guys come up with!

Page Turner's Book Tour: Shadow Man by Tara Fox Hall (Lash Series, Book 2)

At his request, I allowed Trystan Valeras a.k.a. Lash to be the one to pen this post for Tink’s Place. A heartfelt thank you to him for this, and also a warning: watch the language, and don’t be threatening anyone. :-)  Tara Fox Hall

FAERIES IN THE LASH SERIES 

I’m Lash. Those of you who frequent the Internet might have already heard of me. I’m trying hard to get the word out there about my exploits, promoting my series that bears my name as the title of the first book. If this is your first time seeing my name, don’t worry. I guarantee it won’t be the last.

In a series filled with weresnakes, demons, vampires, witches, and other non-humans, it was a sure thing that some faeries would show up. So far, the only one of my acquaintance was the lovely Bea. I first met her when her vampire lover Victor hired me to find her. Vampire hunters had taken her from him. I had to kick a little as…butt to find her, but it was one of the more pleasant jobs of my life. It made me feel righteous, an emotion I’d never expected to feel.

Beatrice was indeed at the hotel. When I asked to see her, I was surprised I didn’t have to chase her. She just came to me and asked me if Victor had sent me. When I nodded, she said she was ready. I was very relieved to see her collar still fastened around her throat. We began driving back. The trip I’d plotted would likely take a week. I didn’t want to push her. She was only human, or so I thought. 

 ***

The second night in, I thought I heard scuffling in her room. Drawing my knife, I entered, only to find her lying on the floor, desperately trying to conceal her body from me. I saw she was alone, and as much as I wanted to look at her, I turned my back and gave her some privacy. A few seconds later, I felt the warmth of her hand on my arm.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. 

“I’m okay.” I turned to her. 

“What were you doing?” 

“Changing,” she said in longing. “I’m faerie.” 

I felt dumb. “What’s that mean?” 

She smiled. “My mother was faerie, an air sprite. My father was an earth sprite, one of the dreamweavers. Though I look human, I inherited the ability to grow wings. I haven’t been able to change for weeks now. I was afraid to let George see, and other people, well...they might think I was a freak.” 

I felt a little in awe. Before I stopped myself, I blurted out, “Can I see them?” 

Beatrice blushed. “Why?” 

“Because I didn’t think such things were possible,” I said honestly. “Are you sure you are not some type of werebutterfly?” 

She laughed, and then she grew wings before my eyes. They were shimmery, but not like an angel’s feathered wings, or a butterfly’s wings, more like a water nymph’s wings, folded back, long and oval at the tips. Pretty. 

She let them flow back into her, and then looked at me. 

“Thank you,” I said, still awed. 

Bea was a gentle soul, one of the only truly good people I ever met, and certainly the only innocent. I’d like to think I gave her some comfort in the short time we knew one another. I would have liked to get to know her better, to protect her from the fate that awaited her. She deserved more.

I won’t lie; the story of my life is a dark tale. Justice isn’t always served when I’m hired to kill. As a rule, I do my job and don’t judge. But I will say that faeries probably make out the best of the non-human races. They get a pass from me as a rule, because of Bea, and how kind she was to me. They are also likely the only ones to get that perk…ever.

 

 Blurb from Shadow Man: 

A renegade vampire begins amassing a flock of true believers, threatening America’s vampire hierarchy. Weresnake Lash partners with old enemy Danial and new allies Burl and Spiderboy to track down and annihilate them. Betrayed and left for dead, Lash reemerges the victor, edging ever upward in the Assassin’s Ranking, and catching the eye of the sultry nightclub singer Cassandra Nile. Drawn into drugs by Cassie, Lash begins to doubt himself, yearning to leave his life of violence, even as enemies close in from every side.

 Excerpt from Shadow Man:

It was not a surprise to find out Victor had lied to me. “You almost look the same as you did ten years ago. You said you aged slow.”

“Being fey, we do. But Victor likes youth, the younger the better. And we look like women now, not girls. There are already two sisters who are thirteen staying at his estate, twins.”

 I let out a breath. “But you are his Oathed One, Bea. You still wear his collar on your neck. Vampire law says I have to take you back, whether you want to go or not.” I paused. “That man with you, is he the one who took you from Victor?”

 “Yes, but he didn’t do it for love, or lust, Trystan. He—”

“Is he your lover? You looked pretty cozy down in the dining room.”

“No,” she said in annoyance. “He would like to be, no doubt, but he is more of a crusading hero than a Casanova. He would not take payment for bringing me here. He thinks he is saving me.”

“Why are you here? Why did you leave Victor?”

“Because he is going to break the oath,” Bea said simply, “or maybe have me killed.”

“He is paying me a huge sum to bring you back! He wouldn’t kill you.”

“A Ruler cannot have an oathed female running away and leaving him,” she said patiently. “He can’t lose face like that.” She got up, and moved to the decanter, pouring herself a large drink. “But he’s bored of me, and without Eve, I’m a liability. He has other young lovers-to-be waiting in the wings, Trystan, who he would like to oath. But he cannot, not while he is oathed to me.”

“From what I know of vampires, they can have more than one oathed human at a time.”

She laughed bitterly. “My sister thought to protect me, precluding all others from Victor’s bed save she and I in our oaths to him. He agreed to it, because he loved her. But now she is dead, and her schemes have sealed my fate.”

She drank down her drink, and I went to her and poured one for myself. I slurped it down and faced her. “I gave my word, Bea. I have to take you back, no matter what awaits you.”

“I know.” She shivered a little. “I won’t fight, Tryst. There’s no point anyway. It’s not like I can marry Peter.” She laughed bitterly. “I knew someone would be coming for me.”

“Get some sleep,” I said gruffly. “I will sleep on the floor, and we’ll depart in the morning.” I turned from her, but then I felt her touch me gently on my arm.

“Please, don’t go.” I turned back to her, fixing her with my eyes.

“I’m only going to be here on the floor.”

“Stay here with me, please? Tonight?”

 “I am going to stay with you,” I hissed. “I thought I made that obvious!”

“And apparently I’m not making myself obvious enough!”

It took me a few moments to understand what she was offering. I grew immediately suspicious. “Don’t think to trick me—”

Bea unfastened her dressing gown and let it fall, and I hardened the moment I saw her soft inviting flesh revealed to me. But others had tried this trick before, and I kept my head clear.


Links: Website: www.tarafoxhall.com 
Email: tarafoxhallATgmailDOTcom
Tara's Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5286654.Tara_Fox_Hall/blog
Tara's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Fox-Hall/151813374904903
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TerrorFoxHall
Amazon Webpage: http://www.amazon.com/Tara-Fox-Hall/e/B005YPAA4W

For info on my recently published series books Lash: Shadow Man click here: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Man-Lash-ebook/dp/B009UHDZHY  

Bio: Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

Thanks Tara for allowing Lash to spend the day here with us on Tink's Place!

Review Coming for Shadow Man!

Shadow Man Giveaway on Page Turner Book Tours:

http://pageturnerbooktours.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/shadow-man-lash-series-book-2-by-tara.html

About Page Turner Book Tours:

Page Turner Book Tours is fronted by the face behind Read2Review Kate. Page Turner Book Tours has been put together to help promote authors and give something back to the writing world. Kate has put together a team of incredibly talented people to help with the project by incorporating their individual skills into making new, fresh and exciting promotional plans that we hope you agree are amazing. If you would like to book a tour with Page Turner Book Tours please check out their tour packages. If you would like to become a tour host with Page Turner Book Tours please check out their Tour Host page. You wont be disappointed! 

Practically Dreaming by Jennifer Wells

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 280

(Released: August 1, 2012)

From the Cover:

In a Zodiac-based world, finding a mate is easy. Falling in love is the hard part.

Astrology influences almost everything, from career choice to where people live. Even romantic matches are based solely on astrological compatibility and determined by the infallible Council of Venus.

Animal psychic Tierra has every reason to trust the Council save one. Her match with fellow Virgo, Evander, works better on paper than in person. But she stubbornly hangs on, believing their relationship will grow and develop, all the while trying to rationalize her feelings to Lachlan.

Veterinarian and Reiki master, Lachlan, hides a secret, which has kept him single for more than two years. This Pisces dreams of a happily ever after with Tierra, but believes it’s impossible for him.

Tierra and Lachlan must confront their doubts, differences, and society’s belief in the Council. Will they defy the odds and choose each other? Does astrological certainty eclipse the chance to fall in love?

Tierra and Evander have been a promised match, the Council of Venus as determined it is to be so... and yet... 

When Tierra returns to home to care for her ailing mother, she accepts a temporary assignment at local vet clinic. Evander can't come with her, and if she's honest, the break will do them good, maybe the heart will grow fonder?

But, something unexpected happens, and Tierra feels irresistibly drawn to Lachlan, the Reiki master who seems to understand the animals almost as well as she does.

Can Tierra disregard the Council of Venus? Can she forget Evander? Does she want to?

Practically Dreaming  by Jennifer Wells is part of Crescent Moon Press's new line of zodiac influenced stories, and Jennifer writes this story well. She truly understands her subject and she makes it easy to understand and to love the story. In this story, Tierra has always valued the Council of Venus, her adopted mother has sat on the Council for years, and it is seldom wrong. But, Tierra's charts have been written with an inaccuracy, and only her mother knows. Mayber Evander isn't her match, maybe they're not met to be together at all. And maybe, the Reiki master, Lachlan, may be exactly what Tierra needs.

Practically Dreaming is a fun read and I have to admit, Evander never sat right with me, he was too dependent, too needy for my tastes and easily ruled by other things besides his heart. He had a cruel streak that Tierra refuses to see. Lachlan on the other hand, was smooth, fun, caring... the perfect match for Tierra.... if Tierra can forget the Council's prophecy. If you're love zodiac based stories, or if you'd like to give something new a try, pick up Practically Dreaming, it's a quick fun read and I highly recommend it. Jennifer Wells tells an engaging story.

4.5 out of 5 fairy kisses for this reader

I received a copy of the ebook from the author, Jennifer Wells for review. All opinions expressed are my own.