2024 COVERS

2024 covers

Welcome to the Dark Side!

We are writers mainly from Australia and New Zealand who write speculative fiction with romantic elements. Be it fantasy, paranormal, dark urban fantasy, futuristic and everything in between.

Monday 27 November 2017

DarkSider News for November: Part 4


Welcome to the latest DarkSider News!

Grab some pom poms and raise a cheer as we bring you our latest news.



NEW DARKSIDER(s)

M.J. Scott has been a DarkSider for a while now, but her alter egos haven't been. Say hello to Emma and Melanie.

Welcome Emma Douglas to the DSDU!

Emma Douglas has read like a wild thing since she was small. She discovered romance novels at an age that way probably way too young but she survived unscathed. When she realized you could make up stories as well as read them, she started taking notes about what the characters wandering through her head were telling her and then, eventually, books happened.

Before the books happened she did the usual things (was a band geek (and a geek generally), had crushes on rock stars and fictional characters, spent chunks of her summers on an island beach, got a degree in something sensible that doesn’t involve writing about kissing, became a black belt in internet procrastination, fell down the rabbit-hole of craft, traveled a bit, indulged her love of baked goods, got bossed around by cats, began a quest for the perfect margarita, and napped to recover from all of the above.

She still does most of that plus the writing thing from a tiny house which her feline overlords have kindly agreed to share with her.





Welcome Melanie Scott to the DSDU!

Melanie Scott is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, dark chocolate and fabric. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.




NEW RELEASES


Come Back To Me by Annie Seaton is Book 1 in the Love Across Time series. It was published on 9th November 2017.


A beautifully written time travel love story. A romance that mixes the suspense and implications of time travel. 

Megan Miller has come to a crossroads in her career. Accusations of a breach of ethics in her university teaching have rocked her world. As she travels halfway across the world to the Glastonbury rock festival to research and complete her doctoral thesis, she hopes that the mess she leaves behind in Australia will be sorted while she is in England.

Davy Morgan, reclusive rock singer, tries to keep his music world and his private life separate; his very existence depends on it. But when the beautiful fey woman turns up at the cottage next door, he must do all he can to keep his dark secret. Because everything is not as it seems in Davy's world.
When the truth comes out, can their love cross the decades, or will it be lost in time?


Buy links are available from Book2Read.





Maid of Ice by Shona Husk is Book 3 in the Blood and Wine series. It was published by Lyrical Press on 21st November.


Stalkers and death threats . . . 
For Finlay Ryder, danger means playing a racecar driver on a daytime soap. That is, until he’s forced to reckon with his true identity as an Albah, a magical ancient race, by one of his own kind. Someone wants him dead. And worse, an ancient vampire is on the prowl, drawing blood left and right. Now, Finlay has no choice but to hunt enemies with unspeakable powers—or risk being hunted himself . . .

. . . and that’s just the first date 
Ice skater Alina Nyx is using her broken wrist as an excuse for a career change. And when she falls for handsome Finlay, Albah drama feels like her new full-time job. Learning about magic and vampires is exciting, until her life is threatened. Now, as she begins to uncover her own mysterious powers, she must combine forces with Finlay to eradicate their foes for good, or all Albah will suffer . . . 




Buy links are available from the Blood and Silver page on Shona's website.

The first two books in the series were published earlier this year, see below for details.







Wheelchair Mermaid
 by Carlie Simonsen is book 4 of the Wheelchair Adventures series. It was published by C.M. Simpson Publishing on 18th November. 


All Stacey wants is a morning on the beach—okay, and maybe to surf again. Like that’s ever going to happen, but a morning on the beach, on her own, as close to the waves as she’ll ever get, again, will do. It’s just that when something swims under the jetty, and a speedboat full of dangerous-looking men arrives on the beach shortly after, she has to do something. Right? Wheelchair or not, right? And that’s when life really starts to get interesting…


Wheelchair Mermaid is the fourth book in the Wheelchair Adventures series, which is based around young people getting their wheels underneath them, after they find themselves in wheelchairs.






Non-paranormal titles

Her Outback Surprise by Annie Seaton is Book 2 in The Pickle Creek series. It was released by Entangled Publishing's Bliss line on the 9th October 2017.


Angie Edmonds is content with life in her small town. Being alone doesn’t bother her. Really. Until Liam Smythe, the man who broke her heart, shows up at her vet clinic with an injured puppy. Unfortunately, he's just as irresistible as she remembers. In an attempt to prove to him that she’s moved on, somehow a little white lie begins…

When Liam returns to help run the family farm, his enjoyment of the slow life in Spring Downs surprises him. After all, he’s used to the thrill of chasing the next big story. Running into the girl he's never been able to forget is unexpected, and he’s shocked to learn she’s getting married--to someone who's not him. She’s off-limits, but Liam can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous vet and what could have been. But convincing her he’s changed will be harder than finding a needle in a haystack.



Buy links are available from Books2Read.


See below for details of Book 1 in the series, also published in 2017. 




PRE-ORDERS



The Trading Game: Zach by Ellie Moonwater is Book 2 in The Mentraden Training Centre series. It is expected to be released by C.M. Publishing on the 15th December.


Zach has been searching for a Dom to partner for a very long time, a partner he can give control to, knowing they can be trusted to be in charge. Agathia looks like she can more than fill the role, right up until Zach discovers she’s not alone, and he has two partners to deal with, instead of one…and then the shape-shifting shen take the ship, and things get complicated.

The Trading Game is an erotic science fiction adventure story, containing elements of romance, light bondage, slave-capture fantasy, multiple partners, mfm partnering, bondage, and explicit, kinky and consensual sex, as well as gun fights, fist fights, and underhanded dealings.


Pre-order at Smashwords.









Serpents' Souls & Dragon Hearts by C.M. Simpson is a science fiction short story. It is expected to be released by C.M. Publishing on the 1st December.


Mankind has legends of intelligent serpents, dragons and vampires in almost every culture, and now mankind is out amongst the stars. When an emergent psi of lizardine-human descent dreams of a many-legged threat and serpents walking the skies, mankind might just have a chance to discover those legends made real.



Pre-order at Smashwords | Amazon US | Amazon Aus



















Non paranormal title

No Place Like You by Emma Douglas is Book 3 in the Cloud Bay series. It's expected to be published on 5th December by St Martin's Press.


Home--in the island village of Cloud Bay--is where the heart is. . .

Leah Santelli always knew that Zach Harper, son of a rock legend and her best friend's brother, was painfully out of reach. Then, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Leah shocked herself by asking for--and receiving--the gift she wanted: one night of passion with Zach before he left town to pursue his rock star dreams. Now, years later, Zach is back in Cloud Bay to record his first solo album. His return could also be Leah's big chance to step up her own music career. But getting the producing credit she needs means spending long hours with Zach in the recording studio...and falling back into the habit of longing for him, for better or worse.

Zach used to believe that a man must put his past behind him. But coming back home for Cloud Bay's famed music festival has allowed him to finally make amends with his family and, much to his surprise, reunite with Leah. He might have left her once but now it seems he can't stay away. Trouble is, even though the heat between them burns hotter than ever, Leah has old wounds in need of healing before she can give Zach a real chance. Can he find a way to convince her that they can make more than just great music together--and that she's the one that he wants for all time?


Pre-order links are available on Emma's website. 

The first two books in the series were published earlier this year, see below for details. 






PREVIOUS 2017 RELEASES


Lady of Silver by Shona Husk is Book 1 in the Blood and Wine series. It was published by Lyrical Press on 21st February.


A man on a mission
A brutal crime is haunting detective Dale Morgan. A young woman has been murdered on the city’s outskirts, and her blood drained. Dale suspects the leader of a depraved cult may be to blame. Yet with barely a shred of evidence at the crime scene, Dale will have to turn to the one person despises almost as much as the killers he puts behind bars. 

A woman with secrets
To humans, Saba Venn is a psychic, but she’s Albah, a race long forgotten by humans but who live amongst them, her powers fueled by blood and silver. She agrees to help Detective Morgan, if it means stopping the vampire cult she believes is behind the killing. But the attraction she feels with Dale is immediate, and as their relationship intensifies she begins to doubt she can keep her secret from him.







Warrior of Fire by Shona Husk is Book 2 in the Blood and Wine series. It was published by Lyrical Press on 20th June.


Is theirs a love match?
For Leira Venn, her future is a given foretold by the oracle of the Albah, the ancient people she was born to. Which is why she knows from the moment she meets Dr. Julian Ryder that he is fated to be hers. But nothing else about the prophecy feels right. For the handsome doctor is shrouded by darkness, and intimately involved with a woman who seems intent on killing Leira . . .

Or a death wish?
Sorrow has shadowed Julian Ryder for as long as he can remember. But from the moment he meets lovely Leira, his heart is filled with hope for the future—a future that is as combustible as the powerful attraction between them. For Leira is marked for death by the very forces who killed his mother. The very darkness that stole everything he held most dear. Only this time, Julian is stronger, more in control of his powers than ever. But will it be enough to save Leira from those who would destroy her?







Buy links for both books are available from the Blood and Silver page on Shona's website.




White Pinnacle by C.M. Simpson is a fantasy short story. It was released by C.M. Publishing on the 3rd February.





I grew up with the White Pinnacle always on my horizon. It was the first thing I saw in the morning and the last thing I saw at night. Was it connected to me not being allowed to go to sea like the rest of my siblings, and why my father refused to tell me why? The night my sister’s ship capsized, was a night of revelations, but the price… my sister… Was it something I was strong enough to bear?


Available from: Amazon USAmazon AusSmashwords | Drive Thru Fiction











The Starman's Arrival by C.M. Simpson is a science fiction short story. It was released by C.M. Publishing on the 8th September.


Knocking over those crates of beer was a death sentence. I did it on purpose, in front of everyone, and then I did the only thing I could—I ran. I think I saved the starman. Now, the only way I’ll know, is if the supply ship comes in time to drive the raiders away—and I get back out of Blacklegs’ Forest alive. Wish me luck, okay? I’m gonna need it.




Non-paranormal titles

Need You Now by Emma Douglas is Book 1 in the Cloud Bay series. It was published on 29 August October by St Martin's Press.


Welcome to the small island town of Cloud Bay, where it's never the wrong time to find a love that's oh-so-right. . .

Caleb White knows what he wants out of life--and being a star tennis player is not it. After speaking to the press about his plans to retire, Caleb decides that a trip to quaint, beautiful Cloud Bay for its legendary music festival is exactly what he needs. There will be time to figure out what to do with his life without a racket in his hand soon enough. Until then, Caleb is content to be stuck on an island with CloudFest's gorgeous director Faith Harper. . .

The daughter of a famous rock star, Faith knows all about fame, fortune, and hot flings that aren't meant to last longer than a few good songs. Gorgeous, built Caleb is a temptation she can't resist, but she's not prepared for the way he makes her feel. . .and the dreams that they both share. What begins as a carefree distraction deepens into something real. But is Caleb ready to put his celebrity behind him and give life in the slow lane with Faith a chance?




A Season of You by Emma Douglas is Book 2 in the Cloud Bay series. It was published on 3rd October by St Martin's Press.


It's Christmastime in the quaint island town of Cloud Bay, where love is always in season... Will Fraser has believed in love at first sight since the day he first laid eyes on Mina Harper five years ago. There was only one problem: She was happily married. Then, when Mina's husband was killed by a drunk driver, Will figured she'd want nothing to do with a guy who owns a whiskey distillery. So he's kept his feelings locked away, knowing that not even a Christmas miracle would be enough to melt Mina's heart. . . Mina believes her days of true love are behind her.

Since losing her husband she's kept to herself, content to do her own painting and stay out of the limelight that comes with her famous family. But when, after a freak accident, Will comes to her rescue, Mina can't quite get him out of her mind. As curiosity turns into a fling during Cloud Bay's first Christmas Festival, she finds it harder to convince herself that her feelings for Will are just mistletoe-inspired. Could Mina be ready to lay the past to rest and finally admit that what she really wants for Christmas--and forever--is Will?


Buy links for both books are available on Emma's website. 




Her Outback Cowboy by Annie Seaton is Book 1 in The Prickle Creeky series. It was released by Entangled Publishing's Bliss line on the 19th June 2017.



The last thing advertising art director Lucy Bellamy wants is to go home to the Outback, but duty to family calls. At least there’s one bonus—her first love, sexy cowboy neighbour, Garth Mackenzie, is there and the attraction between them is still explosive. But Lucy has no intention of getting stuck in this two-bit town and she counts down the days until she can go back to her real life.

After an engineering degree and working in the mines of Western Australia, Garth has returned to the Outback and is home to stay. His goal is to settle down, start a family, and work his beloved land with the girl he’s always loved. But if it comes to Lucy choosing between the glamour of the city or making a home with him in the Outback—he’d lose, hands down



Buy links available from Books2Read.









WEBSITE UPDATES

Updated pages since the last DarkSider News: Melanie Scott, Emma Douglas, Annie Seaton, Shona Husk, and Cassandra L. Shaw.






Congratulations to all our DarkSiders!


Thanks for joining in our news. We'll see you next time...

Saturday 25 November 2017

Darklight On ... Juanita Kees

Today's Darklight On is ... Juanita Kees,

Welcome, Juanita




Hello, DarkSiders, and welcome.

After writing and releasing my rural romantic suspense, Under Cover of Dark, way back in 2014, my mind searched for something lighter, a challenge of a different kind, the opposite of the angst and trauma I’d submitted my characters to in that story. Not yet having established a brand back then, I decided to have a little fun with the gods and asked myself, “What if?” What if Greek myths revisited the modern world? What havoc would Zeus unleash on the 21st century? 

The idea came to me out of the blue and pushed any other planned work right off my whiteboard. A hero called my name, except he was no ordinary, everyday hero and he wasn’t about to be wrapped up neatly and put into a box. This was a man, with a mind of his own, on a mission. He was Ajax the Great, and he wasn’t going to leave me alone until I’d written his story. So began the journey of Arian and Jax in Finding Paradise.

I had a lot of fun writing this book and took some artistic liberties with the myth. It’s not every day you get to fly a harpy or drink ambrosia with Zeus while he embarks on a Twitter meltdown. I have more planned for this series involving a few of the other gods of myth. Not even Hades will be safe from an HEA.

May this book take you on a different kind of adventure with the same message I have in all my stories – good always triumphs over evil, and true love conquers everything.



Finding Paradise

From the shores of Mykonos to Melbourne Australia, Arian and Ajax find that sometimes in life or death true love is worth fighting for.

Arian Kendrick has always felt she doesn’t quite fit in. On holiday in Mykonos she rescues a little girl from drowning and discovers powers she didn’t know she had. As her long-dormant mystical talents blossom, so does her heart when she meets Ajax, the handsome, mysterious Greek-Melbournian who swears he is destined to be in her life.

After falling on his sword after the Battle of Troy, Ajax the Great is banished to Van Diemen’s Land where he must search for a way to redeem his soul. Two thousand years later, he is given a second chance when Zeus orders him to Mykonos to search out and protect the future Queen of the Faeries, Arianrhod. The last thing he expects is to fall in love.

But every romantic island holiday must come to an end, and the mysteries and fairytales of Mykonos fade into the suburban reality of Melbourne where Arian begins to doubt Greek lore and the magic in her veins.

Can Arian embrace her mythical legacy in time to save her people as Hades threatens to destroy Paradise forever, and will Ajax rise to fight by her side, or is he destined to fall on his sword for eternity?

The quiet suburb of Oakleigh may never be the same again. Not as long as the gods are in town…

What readers are saying

When Jax walked out of the ocean and onto the beach and Arian saw him for the first time, I wanted to flick sand in her face as I elbowed her out of the way. He is the epitome of a Greek God and you brought him to life with fan girl, lust-filled perfection. There is nothing more special to me than to read something that takes my breath away or moves me to tears, so much that I must stop reading and deal with the emotion the words evoked. You did that.” ~ DD Line

Buy Link:  Finding Paradise  

About the Author:  Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

~~~

Thanks. Juanita

Monday 20 November 2017

DarkSider News for November: Part 3



Welcome to the latest DarkSider News!

Grab the ice bucket -  our latest issue of news is sizzling hot....



NEW RELEASES


The Forbidden Heir by M.J. Scott is Book 2 in The Four Arts series. It was indie published on the 7th November 2017.


She fled to save her life, but surviving what comes next might destroy everything she believes in… 

The royal witches of Anglion have always been bound to serve their country. But Lady Sophia Mackenzie, whose unbound magic and near claim to the crown made her a target, was forced to flee Anglion, leaving behind a dead assassin and shattered loyalties. Now she finds herself in Illvya, where the magic is everything she’s been taught to fear and the only person she can trust is her new husband, Cameron.

Sophia and Cameron must navigate a strange world of illicit temptations, dangerous threats and political intrigue, where as a royal witch Sophia is both prized and reviled.

As she begins to master her powers, the factions seeking to control Sophia close in, and her magical and emotional bonds with Cameron are pushed to the limit. To survive long enough to claim the future she seeks, she may have to choose between love and loyalty, and hope the price of her choice is one she can bear.




Buy links are available from M.J. website.


Non-paranormal title
Nothing to Fear by Claire Boston is Book 1 in The Blackridge series. It was released by Bantilly Press on the 18th November 2017.


The gifts were innocent… at first.

All Hannah Novak wants to do is to live a simple life, but her traumatic past refuses to let go. Her trust in men is at an all-time low, but when she becomes the target of a dangerous stalker she’s forced into close proximity with the sexy new cop in town.

Ryan Kilpatrick has travelled across the country to get away from his manipulative ex-wife. Now, all he wants is to build a stable, loving home for his son. The last thing he needs is to be attracted to the secretive Hannah but he’s duty-bound to protect her.

As the stalker’s gifts turn nasty, and time is running out, Hannah must face her fears and learn to trust again. Because if she doesn’t, she may not get a second chance.



Buy links are available on Claire's website.




COVER REVEAL


Rogue by Anna Hackett is Book 8 in the Galactic Gladiators series. It's expected to be indie published on 28th November 2017.

Rogue has two stories in it. The first novella, Information Rogue, stars arrogant, intelligent information merchant Zhim…who’s having his world turned upside down my a certain hacker from Earth.

The second novella, Desert Rogue, stars caravan master Corsair. This man of desert is determined to help a stubborn, prickly woman from Earth…whether she wants his help or not!












Dahlia by Mel Teshco is Book 4 in the Dragons of Riddich series. It's expected to be indie published sometime in December.



More details to follow.












EXCERPTS



The Black Tide by Keri Arthur will be released in 2018 but Keri has put a teaser on her website with the first chapter. You can go directly to the download here.


Though Winter Halo–the pharmaceutical company behind the evil experimentation on both children and adults–has been destroyed, the danger is far from over. Not only do seven children remain unaccounted for, but some of the vampires are now able to walk in light.

The key to stopping the unthinkable lies in finding Ciara Dream, the last member of the trio behind the plot to give full light immunity to both the vampires and the Others. But Ciara, like Tiger herself, is a shapeshifter, able to take on any human form she desires.

To find her, Tiger will need to use every skill in her formidable arsenal, and even that might not be enough to save the city and the people she has started to care about.

Because the vampires are coming, and this time, the lights won’t stop them.






FREE READS


Apprentice Bound by Eleni Konstantine is her first fantasy short story published in Shortz: Flights of Fantasy edition, 1999!  She has just made it 
available on her website as a tribute to her early writing. 


Ddrill is scouting the country-side looking for wizard apprentices. Can he find anyone worthy in the backwards country of Marinndi?


You can have a read HERE. (It opens up a pdf file). 











The Day You Went Away by M.J. Scott is Book 0.5 in the Wilde Side series. It was indie published n 2014.

Ashley Keenan thought she'd found the one in Daniel Gibson. That they were going to be in love for a lifetime. But it only takes a moment to change forever. 


The Day You Went Away is a short story prequel to The Wolf Within, the first book in my urban fantasy series, The Wild Side. The Wolf Within. It's short (about 8k). It's the story of what happened in the first stage of the romance between the hero and heroine of The Wolf Within before that book starts. While Ash and Dan have some ups and downs in this story (that's what happens when one of a couple becomes a werewolf), I promise they'll get their happily ever after in the end! 


Buy links are available from M.J.'s website. 










PREVIOUS 2017 RELEASES


We mentioned Anna Hackett's latest release in the Hell Squad series, Ash,  in a previous DarkSider News. Anna was busy publishing more titles in the series in 2017.


Theron is Book 12 in the Hell Squad series. It was indie published on 30th April 2017.

Squad mates, best friends, and fighting to survive in the middle of an alien invasion. Can she make one stubborn alpha male soldier see her as something else?

Sienna Rossi has always been a mix of contradictions. She loves ice cream, likes cooking, and is skilled at taking down aliens with her squad. Sweet and tough, soldier and woman, most people can't seem to make sense of her...even the loving family she lost in the invasion and especially men. One man accepts her as she is, her best friend Theron. But the big, silent, muscled soldier has her firmly in the 'friends' zone...except that Sienna knows he wants her, and she's determined to claim the stubborn man as hers.

Theron Wade lives to fight aliens. They killed his parents, his foster siblings, and his fellow Rangers. Now he has a new team--the tough, mostly-female Squad Nine. But one certain female haunts his dreams and stars in his darkest fantasies. Sienna is his sunshine in the darkness. He wants to her to be happy...and he knows that would never be with a man like him. A man with darker, rougher tastes that would shock her.

As Squad Nine works to track and destroy a dangerous alien device, best friends collide. Theron introduces Sienna to a world of rough, edgy passion that she craves. But as a mission goes off track, the two of them will risk everything for love, for their lives, and to save the world.

Note to readers: This sci fi romance contains a lot of action (think climbing shattered skyscrapers and daring rescue missions), tough warriors (the kickass ladies of Squad Nine and the badasses of Hell Squad) and a steamy romance (lots of edgy sexy times between a quiet, stubborn soldier and his tenacious best friend). So if you like it fast, and gritty, and sexy, this is for you!




His Light in the Darkness is Book 12.5 in the Hell Squad series. It was indie published on the 16th May 2017.



A short story featuring a quiet moment between Marcus and Elle. This story fits into the Hell Squad timeline between the books Theron and Hemi.

Available from: Anna's website (opens pdf)








Hemi is Book 13 in the Hell Squad series. It was indie published on 29th May 2017.

In the middle of an alien invasion, a big, tough, tattooed former mercenary is finally going to chase down his woman.

Camryn McNab knows love is a lie. Okay, maybe not for everybody--her fellow soldiers on Squad Nine have managed to fall in love in the middle of a vicious alien attack. But it's not for her. She comes from two people incapable of love. For now, her life is about survival, fighting to protect others, and kicking some alien raptor butt. What she doesn't need is a certain wild, bearded, tattoo-covered soldier always underfoot, messing with her things, and driving her crazy. But no matter how hard she tries to outrun Hemi Rahia, she can't seem to shake him, and a terrified part of doesn't even want to...

A member of the Squad Three berserkers, Hemi knows his squad has a reputation for not following the rules and being a little wild. Former bikers, mercenaries, and...other less savory things, they fight hard and party harder. But Hemi has known for a while now that there is only one woman for him. One courageous, sexy, attitude-filled woman he wants to claim as his own. But he has to catch her first.

Tasked with a top-secret mission deep in alien creeper territory, Hemi and Cam will fight side-by-side to achieve their dangerous goal. Their chemistry is off the charts, but persistent Hemi wants more than Cam's body...he wants her heart and soul as well. As their battle with the aliens turns deadly, they will have to fight not only for their love, but for their very survival.

Note to readers: This sci fi romance contains a lot of action (dangerous missions and deadly aliens), tough warriors (the kickass ladies of Squad Nine and the badass berserkers) and a steamy romance (lots of sexy times between a bearded wild man and his sexy soldier). So if you like it fast, and gritty, and sexy, this is for you!





The Sorcerer's Spell by Dani Kristoff is Book 1 in the Cursed Ones series. It was indie published on 18th May (It was previously published by HarperCollinsPublishers via their Impulse imprint).

Asleep in bed, widow Annwyn dreams about making love with her dearly departed husband and wakes up in another woman's body. The other woman is Nira, an evil sorceress, who is in bed with Dane, a sorcerer she has cursed. Nira has used Annwyn’s body to escape Dane’s binding spell. Annwyn has to fight her own attraction to the powerful sorcerer Dane and find a way to get her body back. But Dane’s curse is not what it seems. As a werewolf he is consumed by the beast, losing his humanity. If the curse is not removed he will be changed into a mindless wolf forever!


Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus | iBooksKobo | Google Play








Dragon Wine, Volume 1 by Donna Maree Hanson is Book 1 and 2 in the Dragon Wine series. It was indie published on 23rd June.

Shatterwing

The world of Margra is a desolate wasteland after one of its moons shattered. Factions fight over resources as pieces of the broken moon rain down, bringing chaos, destruction and death.
Dragon wine is a life giving drink imbued with the essence of dragons. It is what keeps people alive. But the prison vineyard where Salinda works to grow grapes is in jeopardy. Not only does the Inspector, the sadistic ruler of the prison vineyard, make her life and the life of others a misery, he wants to rule the world by hoarding all the dragon wine. But Salinda has a secret power, an ancient gift called a’ cadre’, that may one day save the world.
When the Inspector suspects that Salinda has secrets, she may have to die to protect the cadre from falling into his hands…


Skywatcher

Salinda recovers in the subterranean city of Barrahiem and learns more about the mysterious Hiem creature, Nils of Barr, and his vast store of pre-Shatterwing technology and knowledge. Meanwhile, Garan, Laidan, Danton and Brill flee from the Inspector only to have him pursue with his rebel army. Imbued with pure dragon essence, he also wants Laidan’s power!

Salinda must gather them together to defend the observatory so Margra has a chance to survive final moon fall…


Donna has continued to publish more in this series with books 3 and 4.



Deathwings  is Book 3. It was indie published on 18th June.


Life on the ravaged world of Margra is more difficult than ever… Salinda and Garan blasted the evil Gercomo into the sky. Except … he didn’t die, he transformed into a dragon. Final moonfall looms ever closer and the world is on the brink of destruction.

Gercomo’s vile influence spreads among his dragon herd and he is reaching for power in both the human and dragon worlds.

Salinda has the means to stop him and save the world.


And Gercomo wants her dead.







Bloodstorm  is Book 4. It was indie published on 23rd July.


The planet of Margra is drawing closer to the brink as Shatterwing's debris field grows increasingly unstable.

Salinda and Garan fight Gercomo in dragon form, with unexpected consequences and end up making matters worse. Laidan’s life is saved but at great cost.

Sartell has become dangerous with conspiracies and betrayal everywhere. Brill and Danton gamble with their lives to find the location of the stolen dragon wine while Mandin gambles with her life to save her daughter.

Nils searches for the writings of his grandsire, Trell of Barr, which may contain the much needed information on how to avert moonfall.

Gercomo’s influence and power within the dragon herd peaks just as he is able to reach out to old human allies and the battle begins…







Buy links for all the Dragon Wine series can be found on Donna's website. 


Existence by Mel Teshco is Book 4 in the Dragons of Riddich series. It was published by Totally Bound Publishing on 2nd May.


Escaping the nest of their vampire master is an amazing triumph. Surviving will be their greatest challenge of all.

Alexander. I’ve been a blood slave to my vampire master for forty-six years. My rare blood makeup gives my master the perfect nutrition. My addiction to the couple of drops he feeds me in return ensures I have no compulsion to leave. I’m a willing blood donor, an immortal slave. And then my master brings yet another blood slave to his nest, and I can’t tear my eyes away from her.

Maya. I can’t believe I’ve been kidnapped. I definitely can’t believe vampires are real. But I soon learn they’re not just real, they’re cold and brutal, and will do anything for their bloodlust. Everything within me burns to escape, and if I have to use the other blood slave to do just that, I will. If I’m all too quickly seeing past his addiction and good looks to the man beneath, that’s just too bad. Survival is my focus; love and desire have no place in this nightmare I’m living. Does it?





Non-paranormal title
Exclusive by Mel Teshco is Book 3 in The VIP Desire Agency series. It was published by Tule Publishing on 6th June.


Rock star Amos Drynn isn't interested in a relationship. He’s been there, done that, and wished he’d listened to his better judgment. As the lead singer of the famous band Frankenstein’s Blood, he’s not short of female attention, but in his world, a long term relationship isn’t feasible. That is, until he purchases a night with a call girl who makes his blood run hot and has him forgetting about his fear of commitment.

Tiffany doesn’t believe in fairytales, not anymore. In her world trust is thin on the ground and promises are meaningless, especially from the mouth of a married client. A night in bed with her rock idol, Amos Drynn, will surely salve her wounded pride. But will their explosive chemistry shatter her infatuation with an ex-client or will she turn her back on Amos, the one man willing to give her everything, including his heart?



Buy links available from Tule Publishing.







WEBSITE UPDATES

Updated pages since the last DarkSider News: Dani Kristoff, Donna Maree Hanson, and M.J. Scott







AROUND THE WEB 

Juanita Kees joins Theresa Smith for the column, Behind the Pen











APPEARANCES
Keri Arthur was at Supanova Adelaide this past weekend signing books at the QBD Bookshop stand. 

Check out the author cupcakes with Keri second from right. Photo courtesy of Keri's tweet







Congratulations to all our DarkSiders!


Thanks for joining in our news. We'll see you next time...

Tuesday 14 November 2017

DarkSider News for November: Part Two!




Welcome to the DarkSider News!

Grab a cuppa, sit back and relax as we share our latest news....



NEW RELEASES


Flames of Hope by Cassandra L. Shaw is book 2 of The Katoom series. It was indie published on the 6th November.




A suicidal ex-assassin fights for justice and the chance to walk again while pushing aside the one female capable of giving him a reason to live.

500 years ago, two human subspecies, the gold-bearing Crea and the silver-bearing Eli, left their dying planet and took refuge on Earth. Capable of turning into metallic beasts eight times stronger than Earth humans, the Eli and Crea have long aroused fear and prejudice among the planet’s original inhabitants.

After decades of relative peace, a cauldron of hatred has begun to bubble, via a movement called the Pures. The Pures’ ultimate goal—Crea and Eli genocide.

But movements take money, so Pure zealots have begun kidnapping Crea and Eli to “milk” their blood for the precious metals.

Suicidal ex-assassin and paraplegic Xylvar Johansson is contracted by the leader of Katoom’s Eli clan to act as part of a newly married couple in an undercover sting. The fake couple’s task—hunt out Pure supporters and rescue as many kidnapped Eli and Crea as possible.

Only the “wife” turns out to be Jasmine Pembroke, the one woman Xylvar ever loved. But that was a decade ago, long before his soul died and he blew himself into a chair. He wants nothing to do with playing house, especially with her.

But he’ll do anything to walk again, and the fee Kaid’s offering will fund the experimental spinal treatment Xylvar covets.

Jasmine’s experienced her own dark hour, but even though both their lives have changed, one thing’s clear—she loves Xylvar, broken or whole. Can she convince him, whether the spinal treatment works or not, that with love, life is worth living?


Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus




Ooops, I didn't put a blurb last time, so here it is again!....

Grave Robbing Gone to Hell by Cassandra L. Shaw is the second book in the Grave Robber series. It was Indie Published in October.



Time-jumping psychic Angel Meyers makes a living by traveling to the past to hunt for clients’ lost family treasures.

But this case is personal.

Good friends Gary and the very pregnant Tess, desperately need money to save their animal rescue farm. To help, Angel must find the legendary emerald and diamond jewelry set Gary’s family lost over a century ago.

Only on her first trip to the past, Angel discovers dybbuk, Josey Richards, a body and soul stealing monster from Hell, has the jewels in her clasp.

What sucks more is Gary’s ancestor, the besotted fool, gave Josey the jewels and as he did, he unknowingly also handed her his soul.

Suck or not, Angel knows two things.

Josey will kill to keep her soul trapping gifts. And with Viggo, her guardian angel, and the panty melting Tyreal at her side, Angel will risk everything to save her friends animal rescue and a dead man’s soul—even face supernatural evil.

Again.

Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus




NEW DARKSIDERS



Welcome Cassie Laelyn to the DSDU!


Growing up, Cassie was fortunate enough to live in many different towns across Australia and had a childhood filled with crazy adventures. She now calls coastal Queensland home with her husband and two energetic boys.

Since she was a teen, Cassie has been borderline obsessed with the paranormal world and has a passion for writing stories involving otherworldly characters; where the heroes and heroines are equally as powerful and capable of kicking butt when they need to.

Cassie is a self-confessed book-a-holic who loves nothing more than a gripping paranormal story and is a sucker for a gut wrenching happily ever after. When she isn’t narrating the characters in her head, Cassie enjoys binging on TV shows, spending time at the beach and embarking on memorable adventures with her family.

Cassie has written several paranormal suspense short stories and is currently completing her debut paranormal romance novel.


Cassie has her first fabulous writing news to share....see the competition wins section!




Welcome Kelly Steel to the DSDU!

Kelly Steel lives in a slice of paradise. She has always read and started penning her own stories from a very young age. She lives in search of Happy Ever After for her characters.

She writes Paranormal and Contemporary romance.


You can find Kelly on her Blog, as well as  Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.














COMPETITION WINS

Cassie Laelyn, one of our newest members, won the 18+ category in the Calliope Country Carnival Writing Competition with her paranormal short story Swallow Creek Spring Fair!


Here's the blurb...

A quaint country town hiding a deadly secret.

Amelia craves an adventure. To trade her hectic, smog-filled existence for the majestic, fresh, clean countryside. If only for a day. And an invitation to the Swallow Creek Spring Fair is the perfect excuse.

Something strange is luring tourists to the town and Amelia soon discovers not all is as it seems. But when her adventure suddenly takes a frightening turn, she must race to escape the town limits before it’s too late.

But can she make it out alive?


You can read the whole short story HERE





FREE STORIES

Heat by Cathleen Ross has an erotic romance post-apocalyptic story that is available free from Amazon.



The world’s gone to hell, and Helen MacKenzie's only chance of survival is the two sexy commandos determined to keep her safe by taking her to the newly secured Base.

There's an unwritten rule at the Base where women are scarce. The soldier who finds a woman gets to keep her, only this time two commandos want Helen.

When zoologist Helen volunteers to remain at the zoo to protect the animals until help comes to rescue her from flesh-eating braindeads, she doesn't expect her work colleagues to turn too, thanks to the virus that’s changed her world—and everyone else’s—into a living hell. On the day Corporal Peter Clark and Corporal Adam Tenny rescue Helen, she doesn't know which commando she wants more, until she discovers she can have them both.

Heat is a ten thousand word story that is linked to the novel, Base


Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus



Kadin by Mel Teshco is book 1 of the Dragons of Riddich series, which was released on 5th January. This Alien Sci-fi tale is currently free on Amazon.


The dragons will search the universe for their one true mate... 

Grace has a special ability. She senses paranormal beings. It’s the perfect trait to have as an operative for the Paranormal Detection Agency. A pity her next target, Kadin Marres, doesn’t just trigger her paranormal senses … he triggers her lust too.

Kadin has been aware of the elusive Grace for some time now and has waited patiently for her. She’s a dragon breeder, and once he finally has her, he isn’t about to give her up. Not even if it means she goes from hunter to hunted.


Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus 


Details of books 2 & 3 of the series are in the next section....






PREVIOUS 2017 RELEASES
We continue showcasing releases published in 2017.


My Highlander Lover by Cathleen Ross is a Forbidden Fantasy book, and is book 4 in the Highlander Romance series. It was indie published on the 26th August.

1314 Highlands

Grieving widower, Sir Eoin Bruce is forced to marry wealthy Lady Jehanne de la Croix in order to keep her dowry in Bruce hands. Eoin hates enchantment of any kind and he soon discovers Jehanne is the witch who haunted his dreams. She brings him more titles and wealth than he ever thought possible as a second son of a laird. Can he overcome his grief and go against everything he believes in to love her?

Jehanne de la Croix wants nothing more than to be safe and loved by her husband, Sir Eoin Bruce but she was born from a line of great seers. If she can't get Eoin to accept her prophesies, she will burn at the stake and he will meet a violent end. Everything rests on Eoin and his willingness to love a witch.


Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus | iBooks | Smashwords | Google Play | Kobo 





The Chronicles of Lady E: African Alliance by Nicola E. Sheridan was indie published on the 7th March.



The Chronicles of Lady E and the African Alliance

An ancient culture
Memories lost
A new beginning

See the book trailer for this HERE.


Available from Amazon US | Amazon Aus 







Mel Tescho has published two more books in the Dragons of Riddich series in 2017. 

Book 2,  Asher,  was released on 19 January.

Riddich king, Asher Mannett, has more to worry about than the agony of shifting into his dragon form. Tantonics, his alien enemies, will do anything to invade and destroy him and his people, and extract their vital energy. 
When the last Riddich stronghold is breached, Asher boards a craft and escapes his planet along with a handful of his people. They crash land on Earth, where a rare few human women can breed with his species, giving his people hope of continuing their genetic line. 

Thanks to her now dead fiancé, Luke, Marissa Kinkaid’s life has gone from one of decadent luxury to hardship. But then a huge, wounded dragon bursts into her life and opens her eyes to the dreary existence she’s accepted as her own. A life she no longer wants. 
Despite her fear of abandonment, leaving her drought-affected farm with Asher seems far less complicated than facing Asher’s Tantonic enemies. She can’t imagine a life without the big, sexy alien in it. But will she lose him too before they’ve even had a chance at love?


Available from Amazon US | Amazon Aus



Book 3, Baron, was released on 23rd March.

The dragons will search the universe for their one true mate... 

Piper Meadows hates her strange ability that allows her to sense supernatural beings; it’s made her an oddity and an outcast in her small town. It’s at a party she doesn’t want to attend that her ability is suddenly triggered, making her aware of someone not human. A pity that someone is also the best looking male she’s ever seen. Not that it matters, a man like Baron wouldn’t look her way twice … would he? 

As captain of a mighty dragon army, Baron Alsharma has been exposed to a whole world of violence. Then he sets eyes on the gentle and remarkable Piper, and there is no way in hell he’ll give her up. He doesn’t care that she’s not a rare breeder. If he has to forcibly make off with her to convince her they’re perfect together, he will, even while having to keep one step ahead of the Tantonics, his sworn alien enemy. Except the Paranormal Detection Agency is also on his tail and will do anything to capture a shape shifting dragon, even if it means hurting Piper to get to him. 


Available from: Amazon US | Amazon Aus




Non speculative fiction title

Take by the Desert Sheikh is a collection of contemporary romance stories about three brothers by three of our DarkSiders, Cathleen Ross, Mel Teshco, and Christina Phillips.

Three Sheikh brothers, three virgin brides…
The Grand Vizier has a plan to save Qutum…
To prevent a war…three royal brothers must wed

Stolen by the Sheikh by Cathleen Ross

London interior designer, Lilly Jones has the perfect job. When she lands an account to do up a mansion in Kensington and an old fort in Qutum, she can’t believe her luck. What she doesn’t know is that she is the piece of the puzzle that will prevent a war. When the commanding and sexy Sheikh Jamal El-Amin pays her bridal price, Lilly refuses to believe it means they are married, but it is legal in Qutum. Lilly must decide to escape or stay.


The Sheikh’s Rebel by Mel Teshco

As the daughter of an indulgent sheikh, Amber Al-Fayed has had everything her heart desires, including a western education. But her perfect life is shattered when insurgents try to overthrow her country, killing Amber’s mother in a mortar attack and forcing Amber and her father into battle. Now Amber will do anything she can to reclaim control…even if that means marrying Zafar El-Amin, a wealthy and formidable neighboring sheikh. Except Zafar isn’t quite as separated from the conflict as she believes.


The Sheikh’s Reluctant Princess by Christina Phillips

He claimed her body, but can he capture her heart?

The last thing Tariq El-Amin wants to do is marry, but duty is everything and his country requires an heir. A political marriage is all he expects–until he hunts down his unwilling bride and duty becomes pleasure. But he soon discovers Princess Sofia has no intention of being a meek and obedient wife, and Tariq must make a tough choice if he wants to win the heart of his reluctant princess.


Available from:  Amazon USAmazon Aus | iBooks | B&N | Kobo







WEBSITE UPDATES


Updated pages since the last DarkSider News: Kelly Steel, Cassie Laelyn, Cathleen Ross, and Nicola E. Sheridan.






AROUND THE WEB


Juanita Kees has had her book Secrets at Wongan Creek reviewed over at the Australian Romance Readers blog.







Congratulations to all our DarkSiders!


check out all our books on our dsdu-books shelf:
DarkSide DownUnder's book lists (dsdu-books shelf)