Posts tagged soul ties

New Paranormal Release from LJ Swallow ~ Torn Souls

Facebook banner Soul tiesThis week sees the re-release of the first two books my new adult urban fantasy series, Soul Ties and Torn Souls.

Torn Souls is available today and is FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Soul Ties released yesterday for 99c.

“Demons and angels, heaven and hell; they’re not what you think. And somewhere lost in the middle their war are people like me.”

Set in a city in the UK, this series follows the story of Ava, Keir, Jack and Dahlia as they struggle to find their way in the world where the lines between good and evil aren’t clear. Tied by events that bring them together, these enemies must learn to trust each other to survive in the war intensifying around them.

Torn Souls (Soul Ties #2)

Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

Jack spends his life plugged into a fantasy online world he shares with his friends. Now he faces his hardest quest yet: leave home for college and live in the real world.

Jack’s fantasy crosses into reality when he discovers his new girlfriend is better at killing demons than he is. Only the ones she kills are real — and he’s not 100% sure she’s human.

Soul-hunter Dahlia’s role in the human world is to retrieve stolen souls from demons and return them to her superiors. Mixing with humans is an annoying necessity… However, when she meets Jack, she can’t avoid her attraction to him, or explain the strange connection they share.

She is drawn away from her life and into Jack’s, and makes a choice which ties her to his world forever. But leaving her world behind isn’t as easy as Dahlia thought. When her old life catches up with them, Dahlia and Jack are left facing a future they never imagined.

Available on Amazon (FREE on Kindle Unlimited)

http://bit.ly/tornsoulsUS
http://bit.ly/tornsoulsUK
http://bit.ly/tornsoulsAU
http://bit.ly/tornsoulsCA

Also available:

Soul Ties (Soul Ties #1)

Amazon:
http://bit.ly/soultiesUS
http://bit.ly/soultiesUK
http://bit.ly/soultiesAU
http://bit.ly/soultiesCA

iBooks
http://apple.co/1TC1HlM

Both books can be read as standalone but are best read in order

New Paranormal Release from LJ Swallow ~ Soul Ties ~ 99c Release Price

Facebook banner Soul tiesThis week sees the re-release of the first two books my new adult urban fantasy series, Soul Ties and Torn Souls.

Soul Ties is available today for the special release price of 99c.

“Demons and angels, heaven and hell; they’re not what you think. And somewhere lost in the middle their war are people like me.”

CaSet in a city in the UK, this series follows the story of Ava, Keir, Jack and Dahlia as they struggle to find their way in the world where the lines between good and evil aren’t clear. Tied by events that bring them together, these enemies must learn to trust each other to survive in the war intensifying around them.

SoulTies.EbookSoul Ties (Soul Ties #1)

Soul-hunters sent to capture Nephilim souls never return and Ava has no choice. Bring his soul in return for her freedom – or die trying.

Ava has retrieved hundreds of souls from demons and this mission doesn’t worry her. But Keir isn’t what she expected. Half angel, half demon and a hell of a lot hotter than Ava’s usual targets, she’s tempted to seduce him before she takes his soul – if he doesn’t kill her first.

As if battling a Nephilim isn’t enough, Ava faces another hurdle: getting past the strange human girl, Dahlia, who has an inexplicable hold on Keir.

The pair have secrets and when Ava uncovers the true fate of the souls she returns to her superiors her world is turned upside down. Ava finds herself in the middle of a war where the lines between good and evil are blurred and she only has two choices… Betray Keir and live, or join his battle and risk going to hell.

Amazon:
http://bit.ly/soultiesUS
http://bit.ly/soultiesUK
http://bit.ly/soultiesAU
http://bit.ly/soultiesCA

iBooks
http://apple.co/1TC1HlM

And here’s a video trailer I created…

Soul Ties: Video Trailer and Excerpt

Soul Ties releases on 26th May ~ 99c pre-order price

I’m really excited to have my new and improved paranormal series back in the world.

The books have been revised and re-edited and Najla Qamber Designs has created an amazing set of series covers.
I also created a trailer for the series which you may see around Facebook.

And see below for an exclusive excerpt!

 

Soul Ties (Soul Ties #1)

Soul hunters sent to capture Nephilim souls never return and Ava has no choice. Return with Keir’s soul to her superiors in exchange for her freedom – or die trying.

Ava has retrieved hundreds of souls from demons and this mission doesn’t worry her, but Keir isn’t what she expected.

Half angel, half demon and a hell of a lot hotter than Ava’s usual targets. She’s tempted to get closer to Keir before she takes his soul — if he doesn’t kill her first. 

As if battling a Nephilim isn’t enough, Ava faces another hurdle: finding a way past the strange human girl, Dahlia, who has an inexplicable hold on Keir.

The pair have strange secrets, and when Ava uncovers the true fate of the souls she returns to her superiors her world flips. She finds herself in the middle of a war where the lines between good and evil are blurred. Ava has two choices: kill Keir and trade his soul for her freedom, or help the man she loves and risk eternity in hell.

99c Amazon PRE-ORDER
RELEASES MAY 26TH

http://bit.ly/soultiesUS

http://bit.ly/soultiesUK

http://bit.ly/soultiesAU

http://bit.ly/soultiesCA

Torn Souls (Soul Ties #2)  release July 5th
TSEbook-Amazon

http://bit.ly/tornsoulsUS

http://bit.ly/tornsoulsUK

http://bit.ly/tornsoulsAU

http://bit.ly/tornsoulsCA

Excerpt:

“So what do we do with the soul hunter?” asks Dahlia.

“I don’t know. Whatever we do, they’ll just send another,” Keir replies.

“You could’ve disposed of her already, like the others; why the hell didn’t you?” Dahlia’s frustration is evident in her tone. “That might still be the best option, Keir.”

“Maybe we should tell Ava the whole truth; you told her half of it. She might back off then.”

My body slackens with relief. No mention from him about killing me. Yet.

“Why are you questioning this? She wants your soul!”

“She has doubts. I’ve seen it in her eyes.”

“Don’t be so bloody stupid, Keir. Ava’s trying to seduce you, like the others. She’ll say whatever it takes to get you in a weak enough position. The soul hunter won’t give up on this, because if she does, she may as well be dead. They won’t take her back if she fails.”

“You didn’t,” replies Keir quietly. “You’re alive.”

Ah. More of Dahlia’s secrets. I attempt to listen, but can’t hear anything of the low conversation that follows.

A couple push the double-doors open and a tall boy with his arm slung possessively over a smaller girl’s shoulders wanders past. The adoration in her eyes as she looks up at her boyfriend spikes my regret. I can’t spend time becoming close to anybody; a reminder of the loneliness of my life. The boy removes his long scarf and wraps it round the girl’s neck, pulling her to him. The girl giggles and pushes her hands into his hair as they pause for a kiss. Stomach plummeting further, I turn way, pretending to look at the notices pinned to the wall. I ignore the rising conflict: I don’t want to grow close to anybody; they’ll die or disappear. The only person who ever managed to touch the edges of my heart was Daniel, and he was out of bounds. Now he’s dead.

Cool air blows into the hallways as the door swings open again. Hairs lift on the back of my neck at the awareness somebody stands behind.

“Ava.”

I turn almost bumping noses with Keir, whose face is centimetres from mine. I’d forgotten the impossible blue of his eyes, pulling people into his Nephilim trap.

Not me.

“You cut your hair,” I say, flicking my fingers toward his head.

“And yours is a different colour.”

Memories of the night in the alley fly into my mind again. Our bodies don’t touch this time, but the strange energy flows between us. Positive there’s a desire flickering across his eyes, I close mine. Make him move away with his tricks. I take a deep breath. Wrong move because his clean scent sends more memories scattering across my mind, and heat spreads through me.

Keir’s mouth turns up at one corner. “I knew you were listening. Dahlia didn’t.”

If he’s expecting me to show surprise and yield, he can forget that. I lift my head and poke my tongue into my cheek. “So what did you decide? I think I missed the crucial part, where you decided if you were going to dispose of me, as Dahlia so delicately put it.”

“We didn’t decide anything, Ava.” Keir lifts an arm and sets his palm on the wall behind me.

Dizziness creeps in, as he winds his enchantment around and pulls me in; his lips hovering close to mine.

“If you know who I am, why I came, why didn’t you kill me in the alley?” I ask.

“You came to take my soul, correct?” I nod like a stupid kid, the one I haven’t been since before the Caelestia took and trained me. “You haven’t tried yet, why?”

The fog from his proximity clouds, and I struggle for a believable answer; one which could keep me alive. Instead, the truth falls from my mouth. “Because I want to know what you’re doing. Why you’re killing demons.”

“I don’t believe you. I think it’s because you haven’t had a chance to kill me yet.”

“I think you do believe me because you know I heard what you just said to Dahlia. You said you’d seen my doubts.”

Keir touches my hair and the sensation sparks across my scalp. “Your hair looks pretty this colour.”

I blink at his change of subject. “Yeah.”

He trails fingers toward my cheek and my stomach tightens. Stop. This is my strategy. I turn on the seduction, not the demons. Not him. I should be repulsed, but I’m far from, and I struggle as if his hold were physical.

“Do you know why I didn’t kill you that night?” he whispers, fingers settling on my lips.

I yank my head away from his touch. “No.”

Keir stops abruptly and steps back with the same look as the last time we were as close. Confusion. Desire. Anger. “Nor do I. Next time you might not be so lucky.” He grips the handle of his rucksack, lowering his voice. “Stay away from us until you decide what to do, and then we can end this.”

As he leaves, Keir pauses, hand on the door handle as he looks back. “This won’t end well for you, Ava.”

I jump as the door slams shut behind him. Spell broken, I turn away and smack my palms against the wall, holding my forehead against the cool bricks. How does he bloody do this? Silence me? Keir digs out the hidden Ava, the vulnerable girl I buried when I left the Fated and became a soul hunter.

Whenever Keir looks into my eyes, I’m transparent. Keir has the advantage and he knows.

21 Shades of Night ~ Author Spotlight ~ LJ Swallow

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Check out SOUL TIES by LJ Swallow. LJ is one of our contributing authors to 21 SHADES OF NIGHT box set. For a tiny 99c you can own 21 wicked novels from today’s NY Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling Authors.

About Soul Ties

SoulTies.EbookAva has retrieved hundreds of souls from demons, but this is her first mission for a Nephilim soul. Soul-hunters sent to capture Keir’s soul never return but Ava has no choice. Bring his soul to her superiors for the ultimate reward – or die trying.

When Ava meets Keir she discovers he’s unlike any target she’s met before. Half angel, half demon and a hell of a lot hotter than her usual victims, Ava’s tempted to seduce Keir before she kills him – providing he doesn’t kill her first

About LJ Swallow:

LJ is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who is the alter-ego of bestselling contemporary romance author Lisa Swallow. Giving in to her dark side, LJ spends time creating worlds filled with supernatural creatures who don’t fit the norm, and heroines who are more likely to kick ass than sit on theirs.
https://www.facebook.com/LJSwallow/
http://lisaswallow.net

 

Don’t forget to pre-order your copy of 21 Shades, just 99c for limited period of time on links below

 

21_Shades_JPEG.jpg

**21 bestselling paranormal romance books. 99c only*

21 Shades of Night is an amazing boxed set of Twenty-One Exciting Paranormal and Urban Fantasy stories. With ONE MILLION WORDS of romantic paranormal fiction this boxed set will light light up your night with vampires, witches, warriors, and more!

This limited edition omnibus is packed with today’s NY Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling authors to create a collection you won’t soon forget. With 100 hours of reading, you’re paying a penny per sixty minutes of enjoyment.

Grab this collection today before it’s gone for good!

**99c. Click NOW to order. Limited Time Only**
Nook | Amazon | Kobo | Apple

Geek Heroes For The Win (Three Wishes Blog Blitz)

Today I’m participating in the Three Wishes Blog Blitz, hosted by author Juliet Madison! From 2nd to 6th September you’ll have the chance to win some awesome prizes at all the blogs participating in the blitz, including mine. All you have to do is follow my instructions below for winning the prize I have on offer, and then you can click over to Juliet’s blog to enter her prize draw, and see the list of all other blogs taking part and enter their giveaways as well. How cool is that? Why is it called the Three Wishes Blog Blitz? Juliet’s new  romantic comedy release, I Dream of Johnny, is about three wishes, a high-tech genie in a lamp, and one very unfortunate typo that proves magic isn’t all it cracked up to be…

geek |gēk|
noun informal
1 an unfashionable or socially inept person.
• [ usu. with modifier ] a knowledge
able and obsessive enthusiast: a computer geek.

Recently, I’m seeing more ‘geek’ heroes appearing in the romance genre and as a bit of a ‘geek’ myself I feel drawn to writing them too. Okay, so the heroes of my last two books are definitely not geeky. Keir from Soul Ties initially pretends to be a little nerdy but soon proves he isn’t (and the whole geek vs nerd debate is a different story…). Evan in Because of Lucy, well, he has a poetic side but I wouldn’t classify that as geek – and he certainly isn’t socially inept.

But Jack in Torn Souls (Soul Ties, #2) is an unashamed geek. The story begins with him gaming – and he studies computer science. Jack is socially inept apart from a close circle of friends, and his first date with Dahlia is cringeworthy and funny. I suppose his ‘geek-ness’ helps a little with accepting the urban fantasy world Dahlia pulls him into. As a character he has to move out of his comfort zone to grow, but his ‘geek’ nature never changes, even when everything else in his life does.  Who would’ve known my years of playing World of Warcraft would end up helping me write a romance novel? And to the guys I met playing the game – no, Jack isn’t based on any of you!

I worried about the reaction I might have from some romance readers with this type of hero but I think there’s a place for the Jacks of the romance world. Not all readers want the alpha male – and I think the light-heartedness which can come from having these heroes is also a reason they’re popular. When I researched this topic I was amazed at how many feature in erotica!

When I introduced Jack to my beta readers they loved him, and I enjoyed writing his awkwardness and humorous thought processes. The quote above is from Jack in Torn Souls (shortly after he discovers his girlfriend isn’t human and he’s not entirely sure what she is). Torn Souls is the second book in the Soul Ties series and will be available later this year (more details here).

So, I’m looking forward to meeting Juliet Madison’s new geek hero in I Dream of Johnny and definitely planning to write more of my own! What do you think? Do you like geek heroes? Do you have any favourites you recommend?

I’m currently running a Rafflecopter giveaway HERE to win a copy of my new release contemporary romance, Because of Lucy. Entries close 12pm Friday 6th September.

Once you’ve entered my giveaway, visit Juliet’s blog & enter her giveaway too, and visit any or all of the other participating blogs to enter more prize draws. You could potentially win a whole heap of prizes! Good luck! Visit the official Blog Blitz post here: http://julietmadison.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/3-wishes-blog-blitz-official-post/ 

My Call Story (Or The Post I Thought I’d Published)

I’ve wrote this post in May and sat on it for a few days while I signed contracts, calmed down etc.

And then forgot to publish it!

I have signed with Limitless Publishing for the Soul Ties series, the first book is scheduled for release in August this year.

So how did this happen? Soul Ties is the second manuscript I’ve queried this year. Following a few rejections, I decided to shelve my other paranormal romance for revision and focus on Soul Ties. The response I got to the characters and story early on, from my writing group and CP, confirmed this was the way to go. And I loved what I’d created (especially Ava and Keir).

Once I decided to try and get Soul Ties a publisher, I entered a few pitching competitions (because you know I love those). I also sent to a couple of publishers who I thought my work suited, including Limitless Publishing. A few requested full manuscripts and I sent, sat back and waited for the rejections to roll in again.

I had my fingers crossed for Limitless Publishing because as soon as I saw their website, it was evident how much support they were giving their authors. The book covers and marketing jumped out at me and I hoped I’d be a fit for them. So I read through some of their authors’ books and waited hopefully…

Once they requested my full, the offer for the series followed quickly. What a start to my weekend!

This was a few weeks ago now but the excitement hasn’t worn off. I’m now working with my editor on polishing the manuscript and enjoying connecting with the Limitless team. I feel lucky to have the chance to share Soul Ties with you all and thank Limitless Publishing for the opportunity to join their group of talented authors.

I will keep you all updated every step of the way. And I’m writing the sequel right now :)

Writing Outside My Comfort Zone

I recently started writing a new book in the ‘Soul Ties’ series and I’ve given myself a challenge. I’ve decided to write in first person. And dual POV. And present tense.

All my recent books have been 3rd person, because I’ve never felt comfortable writing 1st person. I’m not sure why, I think I got into the habit and preferred it.

I’ve been reading a lot of new adult genre books written with dual POV. At first, I wasn’t too sure, I thought I’d find it too confusing. But I enjoyed them – being able to see directly into the minds of both the hero and the heroine added something new. Maybe it’s because I like delving into more than one character’s head and here is a different way of doing it.

I’m having a lot of fun writing my hero. Jack’s a completely different age (and sex!) to me, and getting the voice right is a real challenge as a writer. Dahlia is easier, but swapping from head to head means ensuring their voices are different.

I’m not head-hopping every page, they have their own chapters that blend and that is also a challenge – not making it too jarring for the reader. Occasionally, I come across a book using dual POV in a confusing way and I hope to avoid that!

Do you prefer 1st or 3rd person?

Have you read any books in dual POV you’ve enjoyed? Or have you written in that style? I’d love to hear your experiences!