A Christmas Poem for Christmas Eve

'Twas the day before Christmas

And all through my home

The children were stirring

In an unending drone.

The cat was tied up in

All the ribbons and bows

And the husband was constantly

Blowing his nose.

The dishes were done,

Thank God for that,

And the cider was boiling

In a great spicy vat.

The stockings were actually

Hung on the hearth

First time for everything,

We've made a good start.

The cards had been sent

and the gifts were all wrapped

With the holiday parties and

Gatherings on tap.

I'd paid all the bills

And solidified plans

To settle accounts and pay Uncle Sam.

2014 was almost all done

And looking around,

I declared we had won.

We'd dealt with the pitfalls,

The angst, and the fear.

We'd dealt with the troubles plaguing this year.

2015 approached like a teaser,

The promise of better things.

We could all use a breather.

So I sat down at my computer

To pound out some words,

That would bring joy and fun

To numbers unheard.

On Phinnius, and Kendra,
And their demon, too,

On Rimshot, and Bam-Bam, 
And the whole SEAL crew.

A new story had just started to gel,

Of a Hollywood Starlet and her warrior as well.

A serial would come out,

Full of adventure and fun,

With sword-fighting and high-jinks

All while on the run.

Add to that a succubus and a pair of werewolves,

A vampire menage,

And a dragon who moves.

Make room for an assassin

With a princess to match,

A Sword of God blademaster

And a Valkyrie, natch.

Dracula will make an appearance all right

And a coffee shop patron who stays for the night.

An incubus who's looking for one special lady,

And a water-folk pirate who's just a little bit shady.

The stories were calling

Likes wolves on the prowl,

Each wanting to be written

And finished right now.

But I cracked my knuckles

And grinned at the screen.

"Wait your turn," I said.

"Or I'm gonna get mean.

I'll leave cliff-hangers

Right out of the gate."

And the stories settled back

On the hard drive to wait.

So what lies ahead in the snowy New Year?

What characters get my attention so dear?

Looks like the Starlet and her warrior true,

And a Navy SEAL and his girlfriend, too.

I shall type as long as my fingers can work

And as long as the Muse isn't a jerk,

I'll bring you the best tales, of that have no fear.

So blessings and love for a happy New Year!

Siobhan

Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - Cannon Fodder

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove is recovering, but she gets caught in a little backstory about her life and her children. Darius has a great way of putting it about her ex.

He frowned and studied her for a few moments. “Where is the girls’ father?”

Old patterns of anger and hurt rose in her mind, rumbling through her gut and tensing her shoulders. Probably off fucking some buxom bimbo without stretch marks. The unhappiness churned in her gut until she felt as if she’d throw it up. Let it go, he’s not worth it. But the fury remained.

“I don’t know. He left after Holly turned six months old.”

The silence between them thickened with unspoken anger and disgust, but Darius only nodded sharply. “Was he your husband?”

“No.”

“And he left after Holly, your youngest, was born?”

“Yes.” Sabrina turned her head away from him and closed her eyes. She’d been a fool. She’d thought they were in love and believed Tommy wanted her for her. But he’d walked away because her body had changed with the pregnancies. He’d told her he’d only been “trying” the Goddess’s path. Yeah, he’d only been “trying” it for two and a half years, two children, and then ran off with Merrilee Fuckstwice. But I’m not bitter.

“Perhaps it’s something to be grateful for.”

“What?”

“A man who leaves a woman and children is lower than pond scum.” Darius’s teal eyes glittered in the dim light. “But a man who leaves his wife and children is only good for cannon fodder in a losing battle.”

Despite the old anger, Sabrina laughed. “I’ll have to remember that.”

His face creased into a smile. “In the meantime, just rest while I fetch the tea.” He patted her arm and rose.

Sabrina watched him saunter out of her room, wondering for the hundredth time what motivation bubbled around in his head. It made no sense to injure the person he wanted to perform the rituals, but he’d definitely manipulated his way into her home, something he’d expected when he first arrived. On the other hand, he’d saved her from Tír na nÓg without hesitation and swore to protect her and her children before the Goddess.

It’s simply because he can’t have a dead witch to perform the rituals.

She couldn’t argue the point, but her gratitude for his help remained. And he continued to help even now.

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Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - Holding His Big Sword

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove gave herself a nasty concussion and now Darius is taking her home. She suspects ulterior motives, but she's too loopy to fight it.

“She won’t be alone. I’ll be there to help look after her.” Darius’s voice rumbled against Sabrina’s shoulder.

“No, you don’t have to.” She didn’t want him anywhere near her home when she felt so vulnerable.

“I want to, Ms. Foxglove. And it’s no trouble. I’ll be happy to stay as long as you need.”

Sabrina glared at him while the women who’d overheard sighed with “awwws” and “ohhhhs” at his kindness, but she knew his game. His innocent look only added to her frustration.

The sneaky bastard just got into my home and got a free place to stay.

“All right then, we’ll get you home in a blink.”

Moira led them through the kitchen to the back rooms of the bar and gathered her purse, coat, and keys. She hustled them out the door to her snow-dusted Jeep parked beneath a small overhang. Darius set Sabrina in the back seat and climbed in beside her while Moira stepped out to sweep the windshield. Sabrina wondered where he’d put his huge sword, grateful she didn’t have to hold it for him in the car.

Oh, man, that sounds bad. Can I hold your big sword, Darius? She had to stifle a giggle. Thank the Goddess he can’t hear my thoughts.

“All ready?” Moira asked as she started up the Jeep.

“Yes.” Darius brushed her shoulder with his as he sat back, and she inhaled a scented gust of warmth from his jacket.

Sabrina turned her face before he noticed how much she enjoyed it. She let her gaze drift out her window, hoping the drive home would be quick so she could get away from Darius’s sensual allure.

They left the town and headed across the railroad tracks, bumping over two sets of them laid side by side. Her gaze followed them where they merged together in a synchronicity of rails and ties. Sabrina wondered if her life would ever find such a connection, the perfect blending of two life-lines into one continuous path.

She laughed silently at herself. Not likely after Tommy.

She turned her head just enough to glance at Darius’s noble profile.

And not likely with this peacock, either. He’s a player and the Fae’s minion. Definitely not husband material.

Sabrina tried to ignore the flare of pain from her burned belly. Why am I even thinking of husbands? Marty Robinson must have rubbed off on me after his last threat. She sighed and closed her eyes. A woman needs a husband like a zebra needs a frying pan.

Available at Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

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Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - Tir na nOg

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove knocked herself out at the coffee shop and now she's at an mysterious misty world. Darius has found her, he must convince her to come with him before things get worse.

Sabrina gritted her teeth and flailed for his hand, desperate to reach him. When his warm fingers closed around her frozen skin, relief flooded through her as he drew her into his embrace.

“There you go, acushla.” Darius gathered her into the folds of his coat as he wrapped his arms around her. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

As soon as she touched him, her lungs expanded and blessedly sweet air filled her chest. Her belly burned and her head ached, but everything paled before the wonderful ability to simply inhale. Never taking it for granted again.

“I couldn’t breathe.” Her voice rasped no louder than a whisper, but any sound made her happy.

“I know, acushla, but you’re all right now. Come, let’s get to solid ground.”

Darius shifted his body to escort her the remaining steps to the terminus before the great tree, never releasing her waist. She kept her gaze focused on the hazy branches, but the scents of autumn leaves baking in the sunshine and pumpkin spices filled her nose. As much as she loved spring, the scents of the harvest season gave her comfort, and his natural scents, mixed with the leather he wore, brought the harvest alive.

Goddess of all, he smells wonderful.

“Sorry?”

Crap. Did she say it aloud? “I said it smells wonderful here now that I can breathe.”

“I’m glad you can. I thought I’d lost you.” Darius’s voice sounded remarkably serious.

“Lost me? So I was dying?” A sick feeling hit Sabrina’s stomach as she reached the tree, touching its marbled bark. “I was that close?”

His teal eyes held no humor. “You stopped breathing when you hit your head.”

Sabrina frowned. “I hit my head?”

“In the coffee house.”

She looked around at the misty environs. “Where are we now, then?”

“At the bridge.”

A rather obvious answer, but she realized he’d capitalized the first letters: The Bridge. She swallowed hard. “Like the Rainbow Bridge of Norse beliefs?”

“The very same.”

Sabrina looked back over her shoulder at the rope bridge disappearing into the mists. “I stood on the other side. I was on Tír na nÓg.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Goddess, my children.” She clutched his shirt.

“They are well, little witch, and so are you. But we must come back to the conscious world or there will be more trouble than just a little headache.”

Available at Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

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Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - Burns and Blue Shadows

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, the rescue team came for the hikers and Zach and Lily got them on their way with Lily's SAR partner Randy. Caroline made one more play for Zach and pissed off Lily so much, she accidentally burned her hand on the stove feeding the fire. We're in Lily's POV, but Zach is the first to speak.

“What’s wrong, princess?”

“Everything. Nothing.” She swiped at her eyes with her burned hand and yelped.

“Let me see your hand.” Zach pulled it gently toward him, clucking sympathetically at the reddening burn. “Let’s take care of this first. Then we’ll talk about the everything/nothing problem.”

“Zach—”

“Shh, just give me a moment.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm as his body shifted from his human guise to his white Ice Demon form. Talons grew from his fingertips and his hair turned to tinkling crystals. The scents of cardamom and cloves intensified as he blew on her hand, his breath freezing the skin. She loved his white skin wreathed in blue shadows, but he still wore too many clothes to see his snowy physique properly.

Nothing could shake her excitement or curiosity when he shifted. She’d seen him do it hundreds of times, but it still made her heart pound with delight.

Lily might be worried, but she knows what she wants. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Sarah Wesson.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.

Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - The Other Shoe Falls

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, Zach and Lily got the hikers to the Forest Service shed, and Lily let Zach know she's aware of Caroline's efforts. Zach appeared less cognizant of her flirting. Until Caroline comes up to thank him. We're in Zach's POV, but Caroline is the first to speak.

“Oh, thank God.”

Better to thank Lily Sinclair.

“Yes, you’ve all been really lucky.” The water churned in a slow boil and he turned off the stove.

“Thanks to you.”

Zach shook his head as Lily’s sarcastic words slid through his mind. Oh, thank God, Zach. You saved us. How can I ever thank you? “No, thanks to Ms. Sinclair and Mr. Montesque. I merely backed them up. They’ll get everyone to safety with the team coming tonight.” He poured some of the water into a cup and handed it to her.

“Thanks.” She sipped the water and sighed with relief. “It’ll be good to get back to civilization and real warmth.”

“I’m sure.”

Zach would’ve preferred to be outside in the screaming snow and wind than stuck inside with his angry mate or this woman. He reached down to unzip his pack to give him some time to figure out what to do about both.

“Hey, so, when we get back down to the lodge, how ’bout I buy you a drink in thanks for saving us up here?” Caroline gave him a hopeful smile over the rim of her mug.

Guess Lily's concerns weren't so baseless. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Sarah Wesson.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.

Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - Threat Nullified?

 

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove has just been cornered by 5 men intent on doing something to her when a stranger arrives. And this stranger means business.

“She needs to be taught a lesson. She needs a husband.” Sabrina swore Mr. Frustrated had been dropped on his head as a child.

“Mayhap she does, but this is not the way to convince her,” the dark stranger remarked, amusement in his voice. “Did your fathers teach you nothing about wooing? Flowers, chocolates, perhaps even sweet poetry or jewelry. But never threats or fear.”

“Hey, man, we saw her first.” She knew that voice. Timmy Lewis’s pockmarked face looked ghastly in the weak light. “Go find your own woman.”

Nice to know she held some value to the local male population.

A deafening silence settled around them. No one moved for a few seconds, but the energy in the little parking lot shifted from tolerant amusement to icy disdain. In a flurry of motion, the stranger swept the feet out from under Mr. Frustrated, slammed Timmy into one of his cronies until they slumped to the ground, held the fourth man in a choke hold, and had a long dagger blade pressed against Marty’s throat by the time he stilled.

He’d positioned himself between her and the others and she got a good look at his back. The sword in its leather scabbard hung to his hips and she thanked her lucky stars it remained sheathed. The wide expanse of his shoulders assured her he could wield it, probably faster and stronger than the propeller on an airplane. His arms, one holding the gasping man and the other holding the dagger, never wavered.

“Now would be an excellent time to gather your friends and retreat to your mothers’ skirts.” The words came out in a growl and Sabrina shivered. “Go. Now.”

The stranger released the man he held, and Mr. Frustrated, Marty, and Choke-Hold scrambled to retrieve their two fallen comrades and retreated back toward Main Street. The hooded man watched them go, big, powerful, and menacing in his stillness. When their footsteps faded from hearing, he turned to her and offered her a gloved hand.

“Let’s get you home, Ms. Foxglove.” His voice encouraged trust.

Sabrina looked at his hand then up at his face for a long time while she waited for her heart to stop pounding. She’d just watched him kick ass on five guys in an icy parking lot, and he expected her to trust he meant her no harm?

On the other hand, he looks fast enough to catch me if I run.

Biting her lip, she reached out to grasp his hand. The warm leather engulfed her frozen fingers and she felt dwarfed by his size. Her hand looked like it belonged to a small child’s in his and he tugged her up, guiding her away from the black ice.

“Thanks.” She tried to pull her hand away as soon as she gained her feet.

His grip tightened and he dragged her closer to his hooded face. “They were right in one respect. It’s not safe for you to be walking alone at night.”

“Thank you for the reminder.” Goddess save her from nosy men. Her reactionary anger surged. “And you just helped so much by embarrassing them in front of their friends. Now they’ll be after me because of it.” She shook her head and tugged at her hand again.

“There are greater concerns than that now.” He released her, gesturing with his free hand toward her van. “Perhaps we could discuss them on the way to your home.”

Sabrina followed the line of his arm with her eyes then looked back into the darkness of his hood.

“What makes you think I’ll let you in my car with me?” She snorted. “I don’t even know you. Yeah, you beat off those guys, but it only proves you’re much stronger than me. Why would I trust you?”

“I just saved you.” He gestured, palms up, as if his words explained everything.

“So? I said thanks. Who are you? And how do you know my name?”

He hesitated for a moment, nonplussed. Then he pushed back his hood to reveal his face in the weak light of the bare bulb.

Good heavens, he’s beautiful.

Long, straight hair parted haphazardly and fell to his shoulders, the front strands pushed behind his ears to keep it out of his eyes. The eyes were some light color, but she couldn’t tell which one in the darkness of the parking lot. They had heavy lids and crow’s feet at their corners, telling of his experience. A goatee framed his elegant lips and deep laugh lines at their edges gave him a humorous expression, though he didn’t smile. He had eloquently arching brows, one higher than the other in amused query.

“My name is Darius Winterbourne, Chamberlain of the Summer Court, and I’ve been sent to prepare you for the Court’s arrival.”

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Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - Cornered

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove is just your average single mom trying to make ends meet. Unfortunately, there are a few in her town who see her as a problem, and are taking - odd - steps to rectify the situation.

“You should have a man to take care of you, Sabrina. Single women with children are an affront to God. You'll never enter Heaven.” Marty voice approached reasonable, but his eyes glowed with an unhealthy zeal.

“Hey, you know, I'm not really worried about it.” Where had she parked her damn van? “Thanks for the concern though.”

The men moved closer, trying to circle her before she could reach her car. The wind blew the scents of cold blacktop and spilled gasoline past her and she wished she’d parked closer to the building. So much for getting more exercise. I should’ve taken kickboxing. Her eyes darted around to see any visible weapon she could use to hold them off other than her keys, but she saw nothing. Not even a damn snowball.

Winter’s continued grip on the Rockies sent a cold breeze eeling down her back as her heel came down on a patch of black ice. Her foot shot out from under her and she slammed to the cold pavement on her butt. Cold seeped in through her pants and filled the crannies of her heart.

Glory be, I'm so screwed.

Fear surged as the men closed on her. How would she get home to her daughters? How could she face them after these men did…whatever they were going to do? She wouldn't allow herself to even name the heinous acts groups of men did to women in the dark.

“Now we're gonna teach you why you need a man.”

Marty’s expression shifted to rabid as he reached for her. She gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the keys. If they chose to do this, she’d make sure they’d remember how hard they worked to get her to submit.

“Five men against one woman is a little unorthodox and unfair, don’t you think?”

The deep masculine voice floated out of the darkness of the alley they’d left behind. Her attackers turned to look over their shoulders, their bodies tense.

Sabrina couldn’t see much at first, just a blacker shadow among the rest. A tall male form emerged into the edge of the light wearing a long black trench coat with a wide hood over his head. He had leather gloves on his hands and heavy black boots on his feet to protect him from the spring cold in the mountains. The hilt of a very large sword rose over his left shoulder, held there by an ornate leather strap embroidered with oak leaves across his chest.

Oh Goddess, who the hell is this?

Available at Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

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Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - Clear as Crystal

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, Zach and Lily got the hikers to the Forest Service shed, but the whole hike there Lily has been battling her unreasoning jealousy over the redheaded hiker's flirting. Fortunately, Zach isn't completely dense, but he might be missing something. We're in Lily's POV, but Zach is the first to speak.

“Hey, princess, talk to me. I can feel you’re upset, but I don’t know why.” He stepped closer and tried to take her hand. But Lily turned out of his reach, presenting him with her shoulder.

“You don’t know why? All right. Let me make it really clear.” She faced him, tilted her head, and gave him a coy smile. “‘Oh, thank God, Zach. You found it. You saved us. How can I ever thank you?’” She batted her eyes at him before they narrowed. “That give you enough of a clue?”

Zach snorted. “She’s just grateful to get out of danger.”

“Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that.”

Oh dear, he better have a good comeback to that. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Sarah Wesson.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.

Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - Plot Thickens with the Snow

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, Zach and Lily pulled the hikers out of the chute in time, but now they have to get to shelter to await transport. Both are relieved and thrilled to see the other. Lily's not the only one who's excited to see Zach. We're in Zach's POV.

Zach wanted to grab Lily and kiss the hell out of her, but she turned away to give Randy the plan. Zach dropped his chin to hide his grin and made sure Lily’s pack remained connected to his. A new scent intruded as he worked and he looked up to meet the gaze of Caroline.

“Hi, I just wanted to thank you for coming all this way out here to rescue us.” She gave him a shy smile. “I didn’t think anyone knew where we were.”

“They had a vague idea.” Zach gave her his best noncommittal smile. “Ms. Sinclair got a text out to me and I managed to get up here in time.”

Caroline brandished her smile again. “I don’t know very much about mountain rescues, but don’t Search and Rescue people always work in pairs?”

I guess Zach has made an impression. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Sarah Wesson.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.

Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - All for One, and One for All

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, Zach made it to Lily and the hikers in time, but now they have to get out of the chute. They're out of time, and being all tied together, if the last person doesn't get out, they'll all be swept away. We're in Zach's POV.

A blast of wind and snow ripped away anything she might have said and Zach turned his attention to getting the humans out of the avalanche chute. They had no time left and while the ridge wasn’t far, it would take a fair amount of effort to reach it before noon. Zach’s Ice Demon abilities remained curtailed by his human guise, but what little leaked through allowed him to make a fairly stable path up the edge of the chute.

He and Lily crested the ridge, and he breathed a sigh of relief. They’d made it.

“I think we did it.”

Lily smiled. “Yeah, we—”

Her words cut off as a deep rumbling started upslope. Lily gasped and hauled on the rope, bringing the next person within sight through the snow.

“Fuck! Help me, Zach, we have to get the others out of there before we’re all swept with the avalanche.”

All for one, and one for all, and not in a good way. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.