Book Description:
There’s
a new evil in town, and it’s gunning for Scarlet...
a new evil in town, and it’s gunning for Scarlet...
Scarlet Burke isn’t
an ordinary witch. She comes from a long line of Burke witches, whose job it is
to protect the good folks of Purgatory, Alabama from things that go bump in the
night—and things that might slip through the portal in Fool’s Wood. Normally,
it’s an easy gig that doesn’t take much time from her day job. Until her
ex-husband turns up dead in a ritualistic killing no one recognizes. William, a
mundane, had high-tailed it out of town years ago after getting Scarlet’s baby
sister pregnant. So why had he come back? Better yet, who (besides Scarlet) had
wanted him dead badly enough to lure him to the forest, stake him, skin him,
and drain his blood? It wasn’t a vampire kill, but she was damned if she could
determine what it was.
an ordinary witch. She comes from a long line of Burke witches, whose job it is
to protect the good folks of Purgatory, Alabama from things that go bump in the
night—and things that might slip through the portal in Fool’s Wood. Normally,
it’s an easy gig that doesn’t take much time from her day job. Until her
ex-husband turns up dead in a ritualistic killing no one recognizes. William, a
mundane, had high-tailed it out of town years ago after getting Scarlet’s baby
sister pregnant. So why had he come back? Better yet, who (besides Scarlet) had
wanted him dead badly enough to lure him to the forest, stake him, skin him,
and drain his blood? It wasn’t a vampire kill, but she was damned if she could
determine what it was.
Werewolf Jake Mills,
the bossy and possessive chief of police, can’t believe anyone in his town
could commit such a brutal crime. And Scarlet can’t believe she’s still trying
to avoid his advances. Jake has been chasing her for years, and if he wasn’t so
charming—and so drop dead sexy—she might try harder to outrun him. Or at least
summon a bit of self-control. But the man simply refuses to stay in the “Just
Friends” box she’s placed him in.
the bossy and possessive chief of police, can’t believe anyone in his town
could commit such a brutal crime. And Scarlet can’t believe she’s still trying
to avoid his advances. Jake has been chasing her for years, and if he wasn’t so
charming—and so drop dead sexy—she might try harder to outrun him. Or at least
summon a bit of self-control. But the man simply refuses to stay in the “Just
Friends” box she’s placed him in.
But when the killer
targets Scarlet’s family, ghouls, demons, and dark fae all come under
suspicion. And when her daughters become the targets of an ancient dark ritual,
Scarlet and Jake are forced to make an impossible choice. Fight evil with evil,
or watch Scarlet’s daughters die...
targets Scarlet’s family, ghouls, demons, and dark fae all come under
suspicion. And when her daughters become the targets of an ancient dark ritual,
Scarlet and Jake are forced to make an impossible choice. Fight evil with evil,
or watch Scarlet’s daughters die...
~ EXCERPT ~
Although the
house wasn’t as haunted as the local kids claimed, it did have a minor spirit
hanging about. But it wasn’t a ghost that put Scarlet on edge when she parked
her car. One powerless little haint was not the problem. She and the spirit had
a deal. As long as it didn’t try to scare anyone into a heart attack, she
wouldn’t blast it into oblivion. It sure as heck wasn’t what made her senses
tingle with the anticipation of a good fight. She swept a cautious gaze around
the lawn before stepping out. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but that
didn’t mean a damned thing in her hometown. Good thing she’d come to check up
on the place before her new renter arrived.
house wasn’t as haunted as the local kids claimed, it did have a minor spirit
hanging about. But it wasn’t a ghost that put Scarlet on edge when she parked
her car. One powerless little haint was not the problem. She and the spirit had
a deal. As long as it didn’t try to scare anyone into a heart attack, she
wouldn’t blast it into oblivion. It sure as heck wasn’t what made her senses
tingle with the anticipation of a good fight. She swept a cautious gaze around
the lawn before stepping out. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but that
didn’t mean a damned thing in her hometown. Good thing she’d come to check up
on the place before her new renter arrived.
Purgatory,
Alabama, was a crossroads between worlds. Deep in Fool’s Woods was a portal
that connected Earth and another land, Terra. Mirrors of each other, she’d
heard it said, yet opposites. She sent back anything unwanted that came
through. Well, her and her family, Guardians all.
Alabama, was a crossroads between worlds. Deep in Fool’s Woods was a portal
that connected Earth and another land, Terra. Mirrors of each other, she’d
heard it said, yet opposites. She sent back anything unwanted that came
through. Well, her and her family, Guardians all.
The small hairs
on the back of her neck stood on end when she stepped onto the walk. Something
supernatural skulked nearby. She’d known that, but damn it, it was midafternoon
and too hot to deal with things that went bump in the night. Though whatever
lurked obviously wasn’t limited to darkness.
on the back of her neck stood on end when she stepped onto the walk. Something
supernatural skulked nearby. She’d known that, but damn it, it was midafternoon
and too hot to deal with things that went bump in the night. Though whatever
lurked obviously wasn’t limited to darkness.
She took her time
approaching the house, letting her senses flare out as she walked. Azaleas
created natural boundaries up both sides of a lawn dotted with dogwoods and
huge old magnolias. Big terra-cotta pots overflowing with flowering perennials
were spaced evenly along the deep front porch. The place was a Southern belle’s
dream, built for balls and garden parties. Its utility bills were a
cheapskate’s nightmares, though.
approaching the house, letting her senses flare out as she walked. Azaleas
created natural boundaries up both sides of a lawn dotted with dogwoods and
huge old magnolias. Big terra-cotta pots overflowing with flowering perennials
were spaced evenly along the deep front porch. The place was a Southern belle’s
dream, built for balls and garden parties. Its utility bills were a
cheapskate’s nightmares, though.
Despite the
picture-perfect scenery, the prickling on her skin grew as she paced forward.
Halfway up the walk, she spotted the culprit, a stout-looking brownie perched
under a tree. Unease morphed into irritation in two seconds flat. Damn it, she
was wearing a new skirt. And heels. Any other day of the week, she wouldn’t
have worn them. She should have known better. Today’s outfit was a far cry from
her usual day-job clothes: jeans and sturdy shoes. But it was Monday, which
meant a town council meeting, which meant getting lectured by her mother for
not taking her duties seriously enough to dress the part. Like she normally
went hunting down the creepy-crawlies in anything but jeans and boots?
picture-perfect scenery, the prickling on her skin grew as she paced forward.
Halfway up the walk, she spotted the culprit, a stout-looking brownie perched
under a tree. Unease morphed into irritation in two seconds flat. Damn it, she
was wearing a new skirt. And heels. Any other day of the week, she wouldn’t
have worn them. She should have known better. Today’s outfit was a far cry from
her usual day-job clothes: jeans and sturdy shoes. But it was Monday, which
meant a town council meeting, which meant getting lectured by her mother for
not taking her duties seriously enough to dress the part. Like she normally
went hunting down the creepy-crawlies in anything but jeans and boots?
Too late now. She
could hear Momma in her head saying the same way she’d done hundreds of
times: as soon as you let your guard down the bogeyman comes out to
play. But oh hell no. She was not chasing that little hellion down while
wearing heels. Somehow her mother always seemed to pull it off in pearls and
fancy shoes and pencil thin skirts, ending victorious with not one hair out of
place. Not Scarlet. Even with no chasing she’d probably end up a red-faced,
bedraggled mess.
could hear Momma in her head saying the same way she’d done hundreds of
times: as soon as you let your guard down the bogeyman comes out to
play. But oh hell no. She was not chasing that little hellion down while
wearing heels. Somehow her mother always seemed to pull it off in pearls and
fancy shoes and pencil thin skirts, ending victorious with not one hair out of
place. Not Scarlet. Even with no chasing she’d probably end up a red-faced,
bedraggled mess.
~ GUEST POST ~
Writing The Southern Belle's Guide To Witchcraft
I've
written a few times about why I wrote this book but it all comes down to, for
my mother. We talked about it for years. I wrote a very rough and first short
draft in 2006. It was for her, the kind of thing she loved. A Southern
paranormal story with a little horror and a little gothic and a lot romance
added in. Because who doesn’t like a happily ever after? Mom and I loved them!
There were
so many things to draw on, though. Great books and TV shows and movies have
depicted the South and, ultimately, that's what I wanted to do. I'm many
generations Southern and not the first to say we can be pretty mystifying. Or
some might say ridiculous lol. There is just something about a community,
whether it's in a small town or the middle of a city. They draw us in. We
belong. We can relate to each other. Some of my favorite shows or movies show
that. I hope y'all enjoy these shows too!
1. Steel
Magnolias. Everyone loves this movie right?
2.
Designing Women. Best ever show about the South!
3.
Remember The Titans. I think this might be the best football movie ever.
4. Sweet
Home Alabama. Really great one liners. What can I say? I love them lol!
5. My
Cousin Vinny. Really great movie!
Bio:
Loribelle
is like the South she calls home. Hot and sultry. Languid and sexy. Magnolias
and gardenias scent her silk lined boudoir, and men and children alike bow to
her magnificence...
Okay, maybe it isn't quite that glamorous. She
does have two smart and lovely daughters who give her a run for her money and a
son that will one day be someone's model of a romance hero. (She promises.) Her
husband is a real life hero, and Loribelle just tries to keep up with the
demands of military life. In between, she writes a book or two.
She's had every job under the sun, but haven't
most writers? That Army military police, bookstore manager, waitress, wedding
photographer, website designer experience has to come in useful sometimes. As
they say in the South, it all washes out in the end.
is like the South she calls home. Hot and sultry. Languid and sexy. Magnolias
and gardenias scent her silk lined boudoir, and men and children alike bow to
her magnificence...
Okay, maybe it isn't quite that glamorous. She
does have two smart and lovely daughters who give her a run for her money and a
son that will one day be someone's model of a romance hero. (She promises.) Her
husband is a real life hero, and Loribelle just tries to keep up with the
demands of military life. In between, she writes a book or two.
She's had every job under the sun, but haven't
most writers? That Army military police, bookstore manager, waitress, wedding
photographer, website designer experience has to come in useful sometimes. As
they say in the South, it all washes out in the end.
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