A Vampire Narcise: An Unwilling Seducer of Mortal and Immortal Men

Skilled in the seduction of men, both mortal and immortal, Narcise Moldavi is the greatest weapon in her twisted brother's war among the Dracule. Until she falls for Giordan Cale.

Her first searing encounter with Giordan seals their fierce connection for their eternal lives. But Giordan's vow to help Narcise escape her brother's rule is followed by a betrayal more agonizing than sunlight.

Wounded but determined, Narcise ensnares vampire hunter Chas Woodmore in her quest for revenge and to reclaim her life. He wants her, worships her, will kill for her. And the Dracule never forget a wrong— nor do they forgive. 

Thursday's Series: Maude's Adventure Gone Fishing Part 1: You are a special kind of idiot.

So with the ending of my Tuesday posts on HCG and bootcamp I found I wanted to do something creative at the blog with my writing. I am a writer, right? So with that in mind I decided to invite a story I have had brewing into the blogosphere. It's about a woman who is single, has been a single mother most of her kids lives. With her son and daughter grown, married and moving on with their lives she decided to move on as well. After a massive weight loss and the new found energy that came with it she joined a local online dating service called Fish...There's Plenty. These are her stories....

Review for Stilettoes and Scoundrels: A must read this summer

I know that usually we do a Writer Wednesday today but I was supposed to review this on Monday and my calendar got screwed up. Anyways on with the review...

Review

Stilettos and Scoundrels pulled me in with it's fun title and equally enticing cover. After reading the blurb (which you will find below) I knew I had to check it out. Laina weaves a splendid tale of a small town girl returning home to find that the statuses of long ago high school chums have changed dramatically as adults. There is the former hunk who is not so hunk, and the bad boy turned cop. In fact technically there are two of those I suppose. 

She created and excellent balance between two genres, chick lit and mystery. The almost obsessive like mention of name brands especially in shoes will appeal to the chick lit readers and the murder mystery provides just the right balance to keep the story moving at a great pace. The characters for me were realistic, flawed and completely engaging each with their own secret agenda that only added to the plot line. This is a great summer read by the pool, at the beach or hiding in doors.

Dear HCG....Yes This is a Dear John

Dear HCG,

I'm breaking up with you. Frankly it's not me it's you. I can't work out if I am with you. If I do I become angry, extremely cold, irritable, moody very weak and tired. I can do all that on my own without your help. While I know that you have had many successful relationships with others, men and woman both, we are simply not compatible. 


So on the advice of my husband I have decided to end this before I hurt you or someone else. I will continue to eat better and exercise 5x's a week as I have been. And when he said "You aren't fat anyways hun." I knew that he was right. I am smoking hot and nothing you can do will change his mind or mine. 


Regards,


Bri

The Vampire Voss: More of the Dracule Series

Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule—a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls—the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral…until Angelica.

Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger—for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him—to protect her.

Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica…but this vampire never backs down from a fight. 

Disclaimer: These vampires don't sparkle but they entice you like the brightest jewel. A sensual romance. 

I have always been a fan of vampires. Since finding Colleen Gleason's Dracule series I am now a worshipper of Regency Vampires. A Vampire Voss is an amazing tale of finally finding what you desire most and how desire can create the an equal amount of pleasure and pain. Voss is a player among today's standards. Never one to take a side but remaining wise and unloyal has served Voss well through the centuries. That is until Angelica.

Angelica carries a the burden's of gypsy power. Burdens she can't share with anyone not even her siblings. That is until those very visions she carries her to her destiny and her agony, The Vampire Voss.

This is my favorite Dracule book between all three, The Vampire Dimitri, The Vampire Narcise and The Vampire Voss. Voss and Angelica's chemistry on the paper were so easy to imagine and a thorough delight to journey with them. Colleen Gleason does an amazing job of taking a series of events and writing about them in three different books but also from multiple POV's. Each books adds another layers but also expands the story so that you are chomping at the bit for the next book.

Pump it Up Blog Tours: It's a Freebie Kind of Day: Who Wants a Book Like No Other? Life Choices Is The One

Today at the Belle we are featuring Life's Choices by Judi Moreo. This is a collaborative work by 26 authors who pulled together under Judi's amazing tutelage and shared how they made their dreams a reality one brave decision at at time. One lucky commenter will get a free print addition of this book and this is international. Without further ado Life's Choices

Blurb

If you have ever had a dream that you wanted to pursue but didn’t have the courage, if you’ve ever wanted to do something that you didn’t think you could do, if you have ever wanted to go somewhere but didn’t believe it was possible… READ THIS BOOK. Twenty-six authors share with you how they pursued their passions and made their dreams become reality.

Writer Wednesday: Community Networking

You guys remember that post about how I wear many hats? Yeah that one. Oh you don't know well it's here if you are interested. Anyways taking that into context I will be speaking tomorrow at a community event called Ignite Boise. I'm not talking about writing as I am talking about personal experiences and hardships that happened in my life in a funny way. The event is full or artists, authors, agents, readers and the community. Needless to say that afterward at the after parties are going to be a great way to network. Let's face it when any author starts out they start from their home base and work their way out. So with that said one of the things I did with my presentation was include my twitter handle at the bottom of every slide for my PowerPoint. Most people have twitter on their phones and all my blog and facebook stuff link to twitter and my blog has my book page on it as well. The ring of network is complete. So have any of you ever done community networking? If so what were they?

Also: If you are unable to come to hear me speak you can follow along live online at  http://igniteboise.com/

Tuesday Post: Boot Camps Over...Now What...HCG and Bri

So it's Tuesday and I really like updating on Tuesdays and so I thought I would put myself out there and let everyone know I am trying HCG. I know several people...I won't name names that did HCG and kept it off. Better yet they did it a year ago and have kept it off. Now with the boot camp I lost about 5lbs, a ton of inches, gained the motivation to get up 5 days a week and workout. However, I need help with my eating habits. On top of that I have a thyroid issue working against me. Instead of going into a whole bunch of crap about my thyroid I'll just say it's huge and malfunctions most of the time. So the HCG diet advertises that it helps stabilize a thyroid as well.

Taking all these things into account I tried HCG back at a very stressful time in my life. I did good the first week and lost 3 lbs. After that the crap hit the fan and food was my bff and I loved it and stroked it and called it George. Ahem back to the rant ... My husband on the other hand kept it up and lost like 20 lbs. Did I mention I hate him sometimes.

Here I am on Day one of my new HCG diet and hopefully I will be held accountable. I will post every Tuesdsay. But the short bursts of rants will be on my twitter and facebook. If you'd like to follow click the badges to the right. I friend everyone and follow back. HCG and Bri...friend of foe?

That's Not The Picture I Sent!!!

If you want to see what I've been up to this weekend then go check out my guest post over at http://vincentzandri.blogspot.com/2011/04/intitial-impressions-and-gut-wrenching.html?showComment=1303139593778#c3814692217885574595

Disclaimer: I don't smoke and that is not the picture I sent. He is the only other man who can ruffle my feathers right up there with my brother and husband.

Signifigant Sunday: Hyperventilation and Keeping Covenants

So today was a lesson early on for me. I woke up to the realization that the Spirit was trying to tell me last night to plug in my lappy so I would realize that I forgot my laptop cord at the lovely VineArts Open Studio that I attend sometimes with my daughter. (To find out more about them click the name.)
Needless to say I didn't heed that prompting and so this morning when I got up and found that my precious lappy was not only dead but I had no cord to charge it with a small panic attack occurred.

Now most people would say just go buy one or just go get it from where ever you left it. Here's the problem. I made a covenant when I joined my church not to purchase things on Sunday unless absolutely necessary. Kind of like the ox in the mire saying. Meaning that back in the days of pioneers that if an ox got stuck in the mud on Sunday you didn't just leave it there to die cause it's Sunday but then if you could live without it until the next day hold off.

Then there is the respect I have for the friends that are the only ones that can get me into the center. They have worship in the morning then they are having a wonderful event afterwards at the same time my worship service is. Then they are pretty much off all week to celebrate the resurrection of Christ because Easter is next Sunday. So many factors to respect and keep. Like I said panic attack. I work from my laptop.

So anyway long story short I contacted my friends and one was able to help me out without being too put out (I think) then another gave me a laptop cord on a temp basis. Lesson Learned from all this I feel bad that I never took the time to ask in prayer what to do but inside me I was screaming for help and my prayers were answered and like so often they are in the form of friends.

A Vampire Name Dimitri...A Scoundrel You Love to Loathe

Dimitri, also known as the Earl of Corvindale, should be delighted that the headstrong Maia Woodmore is getting married. His mortal ward and houseguest has annoyed—and bewitched—the Dracule nobleman too long, and denying his animal cravings grows more excruciating by the day.
Miss Woodmore's family has a rather…complicated history with the immortals and she herself possesses a keen sensibility far beyond mere women's intuition. Marriage will give her safety, respectability and everything else a proper young lady could wish for. Everything, that is, except passion.
In the looming battle between Dracule factions, all pretenses will shatter as Maia and Dimitri come together in an unholy union of danger, desperation and fiercest desire. 

Disclaimer: These vampires don't sparkles but they are a load of fun and this is a sensual romance.



I'm so excited to find out The Vampire Dimitri is part of a series with The Vampire Narcise and The Vampire Voss included in the Dracuia Series. Dimitri is the epitome of the brooding self loathing vampire. Having made a pact with the devil to save his love he is transformed into the Dracule. Losing her love and being cursed in the process hardens a man...makes him self destruct. But destruction would be a release for the curse of immortality that Dimitri faces. That is until the prim miss of Maia Woodmore invades his life.

Maia Woodmore is of gypsy lineage and having almost ruined her reputation in polite society once she is determine never to chance it again. The matriarch holding her young sisters and wandering brother's family together after the death of their parents has forced her to be the proper mistress she must.

When Chas her brother disappears and leaves her and her sister Angelica in the care of the Earl of Corvindale she is livid. Her fiance' is missing and so is her brother and all the Earl cares about is domineering her and her sister into seclusion. Tempers flare and will is tried as The Earl of Corvindale meets his match in the smoldering proper heat of Maia Woodmore.

The world of the Dracule is one I could stay in. Colleen Gleason has successfully created a world that is familiar yet unlike any other vampire series. I am so looking forward to finding out more about the Dracule as this is a series. 

Pump it Up Blog Tour: The Sandalwood Tree: Driving In New Dehli

I'd like to welcome Elle Newmark with an insightful and heartfelt post of her experiences riding in New Dehli. Welcome Elle.

Driving in Delhi

My driver wove us through Delhi’s traffic with his usual calm expertise, avoiding rickshaws and bony sacred cows and suicidal dogs. Whenever we stopped at a red light, sad women came up to the car, holding limp, unconscious babies; they tapped on the windows as if they barely had the strength to lift their arms, and mimed putting imaginary food into their mouths. The babies flopped on their arms looked dead, and I was later told they are in fact drugged so as not to bother their mothers while they are working. The women’s bleak faces could rip your heart out, and if you hand them a 100-rupee note (two dollars) they run like hell, veils flying, before you can change your mind. If you don’t give them anything, they might pound the window angrily, their faces morphing in an instant from pathetic to furious. Sometimes they whine, “You are riiiiich. I am poooor.” You will always feel like a heel around these women.

At one stoplight, a filthy, skin-and-bones child tapped on my window, hopping up and down to bring his pitiful face into view. At the same time, an old leper with fingers grown together so that he had paws rather than hands, tapped on the opposite window with thick yellow fingernails. Shocked by the double onslaught of misery, the light turned green before I could react.

I groaned as we drove away, but my driver said that as soon as the light turns green they lose the mournful look and laugh like hell if you gave them money or call you vile names if you didn’t. But does that matter? They’re human beings, grasping for survival. Does it matter whether their situation is slightly less dire than they make out? One was a child. The other was a leper.

Writer Wednesday: As An Author I Where Many Hats

Today I'll discuss (really I'm just gonna rant) that if authors want to make money, build a platform, or be successful in this industry they have to do more than WRITE.













Here is a list of some of the things I do in this industry.

Disclaimer: I also am a mother, wife, friend, smartypantsdiva, sister, basically if it's female and sassy I've tried it or I'm doing it.

• I'm an author first and foremost. With two digital shorts out Caffe' Seduzione and Familial Witch already out and getting amazing reviews I now have the wonderful opportunity to follow those stories up with sequels in novel form. I've also contributed to two anthologys with some other wonderful authors entitled Blood Bound and Intrigue. I'm finishing up final edits of my novel Glazier that releases at the end of May and writing the sequel to Cafe' Seduzione entitled, A Mafia Seduzione.
• I'm an editor. Every author will spend more time editing than writing. There's a great quote and I'm sorry I don't know who said it but here it is "There's no great writer only great rewriters."
• I'm an advertiser. I handle not only my own linkedin, Twitter and Facebook accounts I contribute to the Twitter and Facebook accounts of Astraea Press one of my publishers.
• I am a blogger. I write and manage my own blog as well as one of my publishers Astraea Press.
• I am a book reviewer. I review books, interview and feature authors and novels on my blog. And because I just love hats I am now a reviewer for Romancing the Book as well.
• Finally I am a supporter of other authors. I help my fellow Astraea Press authors and people that I now know on facebook and twitter. 

It's so much more than being an author. So those are my hats...what else do you do?

Last Bootcamp Tuesday: And It's The End....

So this is my last week of bootcamp. Thank you baby Jesus. How am I doing health wise...fabulous. I look at my body and I'm proud. I feel good and I look great. At boot camp there is a couple of things I learned that I want to share. Some myths if you will that I want to set straight.

1.  Jesse the trainer is no where near Major Payne. He's more like major perfect. He has the balance of encouragement, correction and support that I didn't think existed. 
2. You need to work out for at least an hours a day 5 days a week to lose weight. 3 days is just maintenance. 
3. It's not just about exercise it's diet too.
4. If you don't focus on the numbers and more on how you feel you accomplish more. 
5. I can not work out when I am exhausted. Sleep, sleep, sleep is very important to maintain energy levels and mood stability. 
6. I'm a lazy, emotional eater which means that if I don't prepare it before hand or have a plan I will eat whatever is convenient. So I must plan and not purchase the bad stuff.
7. There is no way  I could ever do this for a substantial amount of time. Maybe when I am in much better shape. I do plan on doing another camp with Jesse in September. That one will be out doors. So we shall see what that's like probably something like this ...

 

Signifigant Sunday: Love Thy Neighbor

I have this friend and they needed a house and the people that owned the house needed the house sold. But before the owners could purchase a home where they moved out of state they needed to have tenants in the house that hadn't sold yet. A deal was struck and things progressed forward. Conditions were set that the house would show after an allotted amount of time. If if didn't sale in that time then a longer agreement would come to pass and the tenants would stay.


To say that this set of friends has dueling interests would be putting it mildly. But what the common goal is in this relationship was a desire for the other's family to succeed. For example...the Real Estate agent the owners used previously had a family he wanted to show the house to. The deal was the house would not be marketed for 6 months while the tenants were in there. They struggled with even asking the tenants. Finally they decided to let them decide. The tenants agreed to show it. They asked for time to make it presentable because they wanted to put the best face forward on the beautiful home. While in every legality they had the right to refuse. But they didn't.

The owners were very grateful and assured them they had not solicited the showing and that if it did sale they would take care of the family. The tenants knew that they could not only trust in their landlords/friends they could trust in the repercussions of unselfish acts of kindness. Call it karma, call it blessings or call it fate the trust between the two friends is what will outlast brick and mortar, wood and drywall.

Forever Vampire...Leaves You Shivering With Joy

Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.

Writer Wednesday: The Use Of Social Media and Multiple Postings

Yes I am on social media a lot. I get asked this question often. " Why do you post the same thing multiple times a day?" The easiest answer is it's my job and it's how I market what I do. My platform as an author, i.e. my blog, books that I have released, other blogs, articles or people in the industry that I think have valid and insightful info I will post and re post frequently. (Although sorry about that double posts within like 2 minutes of each other. I was made aware of that and I think I have it turned off now.) So with this post I hope to offer some ideas and also explain the reason behind not only multiple post but the timing of those posts.

Third Bootcamp Tuesday: It's About Feeling Good

So it's the third week of bootcamp. What I have learned?

• When I work out I make better choices when it comes to food.
• Just moving is better than not at all.
• However for progress to be made you need to have a rigorous one hour workout at least 5 days a week.
• If I don't do it first thing in the morning I won't do it at all.
• Only weigh yourself once a week. 
• If you look at the your body and can tell a difference that's what matters. Not what the scale says. 

It's about feeling good.

Signifigant Sunday: Crap I'm 29

So I have reached 29. What's so significant about that? Well if you would have been around when I was 15 you'd have heard me say I probably wouldn't live that long and I was serious. I was wild. Hung out with drug dealers, gang bangers and wanna be thugs. Let me tell you a wanna be is a whole lot more dangerous than a real one.

In birthdays past/teen years I have usually been the designated driver because the excuse to party was my birthday only I was never a big drinker. If you asked me what my favorite birthday was I wouldn't tell ya. Frankly I can't remember them.