Review from Sinfully m/m Book Brief for ANOTHER SECRET!
“In many ways, it’s a classic shifter tale of best friends, an adversary, and more than one clawed problem to solve. Most of all it’s about love conquering.”
To read the full review, visit: http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/book-brief-another-secret-by-stevie.html
This is an excerpt from First Reflection – the prequel to On Reflection – that I’ve never shared before, hope you enjoy!
Excerpt:
He wanted to pray but couldn’t think of any prayers, and in truth, he never really believed in the Temple anyhow. Then the thought occurred that if there was truth in the legends of evil, perhaps good existed too. Though watching as the creature clutched Ettore to him and lapped the blood from the horrific wound in his neck, Andreas found it hard to believe anything could fight such evil. When the nightwalker finally released the now-dead Ettore to crumple at his feet, Andreas concluded it was too late for him to be having second thoughts.
The creature turned his attention to Andreas, the smile back on his handsome face. How could Andreas consider such an evil creature to be attractive? Lords of Divinity, he had blood dripping down his chin, and Andreas daren’t give name to what was coating his clothing.
He walked to stand directly before Andreas. “You are something special. I will enjoy so much being with you.”
Andreas’ skin crawled at the suggestion, but he could do nothing but stare at the nightwalker, whose smile widened as he grabbed Andreas around the waist and tossed him over his shoulder before dashing off through the park at a dizzying speed. Andreas felt himself lifted through the air, and he realized they were sailing over the wall surrounding the far side of the park, landing on a darkened road that Andreas didn’t recognize. It was difficult for Andreas to make out much of anything from his position hanging upside down over his captor’s back. The nightwalker continued across the road and then down a dark alley, his pace never slowing. A door slammed open, and abruptly they were inside.
From what little Andreas could see as they climbed the rickety staircase, they were inside a dilapidated building, what kind he couldn’t tell. At the top of the stairs, the creature turned down a corridor, entering the first door, and Andreas noted it was better cared for than the rest of the building.
There was a desk on one wall, a comfortable chair in the middle of the room with a small side table next to it, but the nightwalker strode past them, heading for the large bed in the corner. He tossed Andreas onto it, and Andreas was surprised to discover he could move. Immediately he attempted to jump to his feet, but a hand pressed on his chest.
This time the creature grinned as he said, “Oh no, my pet. I’ve not even begun with you yet, let alone finished.”
Andreas sank back onto the bed. Inside his head, he was desperately trying to make his body obey, to run as far and as fast as he could, but instead he calmly began to unbutton his clothing and remove it piece by piece. The watching nightwalker was also removing his attire.
When they were both naked, he said, “I knew I was right in my choice. You are perfect.”
***
To discover what happens next, go here
I’ve listed links for All Romance eBooks and Smashwords. The books are also available for purchase from Amazon Kindle, but Amazon has upped the price a little to around $1.25 – not my choice I assure you:)
Festivities – contemporary/Christmas: ARe Books Smashwords
Home For Valentines – contemporary: ARe Books Publisher
Treasured Possessions – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Throw Me a Bone – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
More Than Sex – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Conversations – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Roll of the Dice – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Tutelary – contemporary/fantasy: ARe Books Smashwords
The Wrong Path – fantasy: ARe Books Smashwords
For more information about my publications, please visit my website:
I wanted to find a new excerpt to post from my paranormal vampire novel, On Reflection, and I found one describing one Nicolo’s earliest memories – seemed ideal for a man who lived a longer than normal life:
A tall, thin, callow boy ran along the wooden planking of the docks, the hunk of bread he’d stolen clasped tightly in his fist. Heart beating in his chest, partly from fear and partly from the exertion, Nicolo darted between a stack of crates, cargo waiting to be loaded on one of the docked ships, only to be shocked when he ran into someone.
Yelling out, half-expecting a blow, Nicolo attempted to twist past the man, but a large hand had grabbed at his tattered clothing and hung on.
“What have we here?” the man queried, pulling Nicolo back against him, one strong arm holding the boy tight against his sturdy body.
“Let go!” Nicolo squirmed, but abruptly understood the man wasn’t going to let him loose. Afraid that the man would turn him over to the baker, who would at best beat him, at worst turn him over to the watch, Nicolo looked at up at the man holding him. “Please, please let me go. I mean no harm, I’m just hungry.” Nicolo used his large dark eyes as best as he could, letting his lip tremble a little, too, knowing it made him look helpless.
The man laughed heartily. “Oh, but you’re a smart rascal, too, aren’t you?” Still not letting him go, the man looked Nicolo over carefully, even turning him a little to push up his torn tunic and look at his back. “Avoided most of the bruises, I see. Smart and quick. The captain could make good use of you, I think,” he added thoughtfully.
Nicolo frowned, not understanding what the man was talking about, but afraid he might have run from the frying pan into the fire. “What do you want with me? Don’t hurt me, please. I won’t make any trouble.” Nicolo kept his voice low, not knowing why, but sensing he ought to be careful with this stranger.
“I’m not going to hurt you, boy. I’m offering you a chance to get off these streets, to do honest work. Sleep in a bed and have regular meals in return. You can earn a little payment, too, in time, when you can pull your own weight. Isn’t that better than thieving just to live, and risk ending up at the end of a rope or on the execution block for your pains?”
“Not my fault I have to steal,” Nicolo grumbled, not being taken in by the promised future. It was too much, too easy. “They threw me out when I got too big; they said I ate too much. I was only twelve. Is it my doing I’m big for my age, I ask you?”
“The foundling home?” There was sympathy in the stranger’s voice.
Nicolo looked up at the man again, searching his eyes, trying to decide what he really wanted. “Yes,” Nicolo answered. “They were always talking about how lucky I was to be looked after, how I was a fortunate child that the Divinity had saved. If I was so fortunate, why didn’t I have any parents? Why was I abandoned without even a name of my own? Found on Santa Nicholas Street, I was, so they call me Nicolo.” The memory still stung; it seemed to Nicolo that he was destined to be forever abandoned.
“Still, I’m pleased to meet you, Nicolo d’Volenzkya.” The man released Nicolo, holding his gaze as he continued, “My name is Phillipe Donato, and I am second mate on the clipper Oreole. Will you accept my offer; make a better way in this life?”
Nicolo looked at Phillipe, disbelief gnawing at him, even as hope grew in his heart. “You meant what you said? A place of my own to sleep, food to eat? For good, honest work?”
“Yes, I meant every word. Someone was kind to me once when I really needed it, and I swore to repay the favor one day.”
“And you—you don’t want—anything else from me? I…” Nicolo backed away a little. “Someone tried. I’m not that kind of…”
“No, Nicolo, I’m not that kind either,” Phillipe interrupted sharply. “You won’t be touched, I swear.” Phillipe actually smiled then. “Unless you earn the captain’s wrath, but that’s something we all risk. Come with me on board the ship. You will earn your keep, I assure you. The work is hard and you have much to learn, but one day you can proudly say that you are a sailor.”
“A sailor? I have dreamed of seeing other places. I saw pictures in a book once of far away lands. They are real? You have seen these places?” Nicolo asked excitedly.
Phillipe took hold of Nicolo’s arm, but gently, as he led the ragged boy out from among the crates and back onto the dock. Nicolo darted a look around, praying the baker was no longer looking for him.
“Oh, I’ve seen more places than you have ever heard of, boy,” Phillipe was saying. “The stories I could tell you.” He grinned then. “But Captain Costalla, he’s been to places you’ve never even dreamed of.”
Nicolo looked at the mate with fascination now. He’d heard all his life that Volenzkya was the center of the world, the capital city of a vast empire, but all he ever saw were the same dirty streets and the poor folk eking out a living in the shadow of the huge, grand buildings where people lived like lords. Places people like him couldn’t get near, let alone enter. The ‘world’ he heard talk of might just as well be across the wide blue sea that he could see from the top of the foundling home, for all the good it did him.
But still he could dream of something better, and he had long wished to escape the drudgery of his life for the adventure to be found on the large ships that swept in and out of the harbor day after day. It was one of the reasons he used the docks to hide out and make his base after he was thrown out of the foundling home. Hoping that, one day, he could leave on one of those ships and see the world beyond his tiny portion of it. Now, it looked as his long-held dream was about to become reality.
ON REFLECTION is available in eBook and Print from MLR Press – and all the other usual avenues:)
I was delighted to receive notification that Literary Nymph Reviews had given my novella, Another Secret, 4 stars!
“Another Secret is an intriguing romantic mystery. Stevie Woods has created an impressive short story blending a sensual budding romance with elements of dangerous action. I greatly enjoyed Another Secret.”
To read the full review, go here
I thought it was time I posted another excerpt from my dark fantasy/werewolf novella, Another Secret:
Drew slammed the door behind him and hurried toward his bathroom. The wolf part helped him fight the cold slicing through him as he’d made his way home, but his human body was desperately in need of heat. As usual, he’d left his clothes in the outhouse on the edge of his property, but this time he bypassed them to get home as soon as he could to check out his wounds. He’d never been hurt like that before and he was unnerved.
He turned on the shower, stepping under it as soon as it was hot. He sucked in a breath as the hot water hit his icy skin, sighing as the warmth slowly spread through his body. He was relieved to see his injuries were healing well and would likely be gone by the time he was dried and dressed. As soon as he felt wholly human again, he got out of the shower, wrapped himself in a big bath towel and headed for the main room. The fire was banked, but he quickly threw a few logs onto it, knowing it would soon be blazing.
Then he hurried to his bedroom, where he rubbed himself down with the towel before getting dressed. He hastened to the kitchen and was soon back in front of the fire warming his hands around his coffee mug. He sat on the rug, leaning back against his sofa and staring into the flames as they danced before him. When had his life become so complicated? He tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling. He knew the answer and hated it.
He closed his eyes and allowed the images to form…let the memory flow. For a time, he’d fought against the recollection, as if trying to forget could change anything. Then he learned the power of those memories and drawing on them kept him focused. Part of him hated that so much of his energy was centered on the need for revenge, but even his human side accepted James should pay for what he’d done; for what he might do to some other unsuspecting soul who let his defenses down enough to trust him. Though Drew couldn’t deny his own culpability, he’d gone looking for someone strong and sexy he could lose himself in. His mistake had been in choosing James.
Drew remembered walking into Pascoe’s Club in Huntington that Friday night, same as he did about every four to six weeks when his itch needed a particular kind of scratching. He’d argued with Leland that afternoon, nothing dramatic, but it was the last straw after a particularly demanding week and Drew knew what he needed. He wished it was something he could share with Leland, but that day seemed as far off as ever.
Available from Amber Quill Press:
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/AnotherSecret.html
MMGoodbook Reviews gave a very positive review for my gay dark fantasy/werewolf novella, Another Secret:
“I recommend this if you want a basic shifter story, forgiveness, hidden love, hot sex, a touch of danger, vengeance sought and a happy ending when the secrets are revealed.”
To read the full review go here
I’ve listed links for All Romance eBooks and Smashwords. The books are also available for purchase from Amazon Kindle, but Amazon has upped the price a little to around $1.25 – not my choice I assure you:)
Festivities – contemporary/Christmas: ARe Books Smashwords
Home For Valentines – contemporary: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=SW_HMVAL
Treasured Possessions – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Throw Me a Bone – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
More Than Sex – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Conversations – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Roll of the Dice – contemporary: ARe Books Smashwords
Tutelary – contemporary/fantasy: ARe Books Smashwords
The Wrong Path – fantasy: ARe Books Smashwords
For more information about my publications, please visit my website:
Brief Encounters Reviews has just posted a very well thoughtful review on my vampire novella:
“For those readers who like vampire novels this will be a good one to pick up. The setting may be a bit vague but Andreas is a strongly drawn and interesting character and I would recommend the story.”
To read the full review go here
Yep, if you wanted to buy First Reflection but were waiting for it to be available to read on your Amazon Kindle, it’s now for sale!
BLURB:
Andreas is a wealthy young man, scion of a noble family, but frustrated by his father’s demands for more acceptable behavior. Out with his friends for a night on the town he is shocked when they are attacked by a vampire. His friends are killed, but he is taken by the vampire to become his new plaything. Forced to kill to survive, all Andreas wants now is revenge on the creature who turned him. Meeting up with another vampire, Valente, Andreas finds salvation of a kind, but is still haunted by his desire for revenge.
Stevie Woods:author of gay romantic fiction
Stevie Woods:author of gay romantic fiction 