Showing posts with label Vespers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vespers. Show all posts

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Nocturne! It's here....and here....and here....



Happy Release Day!



Irene and I are busy blogging and tweeting and generally sharing the news about book 2 in our Hours of the Night series. This page will evolve as reviews and guests posts happen, so keep an eye on it, m'kay?





Reviews








Guest Posts











Bayou Book Junkies

Joyfully Jay

J. Keswick




It's Mardi Gras, cher, but this year le bon temps kick off with murder…

For generations, the White Monks have treated the vampire Thaddeus Dupont as a weapon in their battle against demons. However, when a prominent matron drops dead at a party, Thaddeus and his lover Sarasija are asked to find her killer. Their investigation leads them to an old southern family with connections everywhere: Louisiana politics, big business, the Church, and an organization just as secret as the White Monks.

Meanwhile, an esoteric text containing spells for demon-summoning has disappeared, Thaddeus is losing control of le monstre, and Sara is troubled by disturbing dreams. These nightmares could be a side-effect of dating a vampire, or they could be a remnant of his brush with evil. As the nights wear on, Sara fears they are a manifestation of something darker – a secret that could destroy his relationship with Thaddeus.







“You said you were hungry.” Thad’s tone hinted at reproach. “There are no restaurants on this block and we have no need of” —a hint of red touched his cheeks as he scanned the items in front of them—“anything here.”

Sara smothered a grin. He had crashed hard after the funeral, woken up well after Thaddeus, and convinced the vampire to go out to eat. Thad had made it clear their current focus was Berta, not the Daemonum.  Feeding Sara, an entirely Thad-approved activity, provided the excuse for a little detour.

They were in the touristy voodoo shop in the French Quarter, not a place Thad would normally bless with his patronage but the only lead Sara could think of for tracking down Missy. Intent on killing time until the pale Goth chick at the counter finished with the other customers, he hadn’t paid any attention to the items in the display they were ostensibly browsing. He picked up one of the bottles Thad was scowling at.

“Are you kidding? This ointment promises to attract the object of your desire for hours of unbridled passion. Who wouldn’t want that?” He blinked at the vampire, trying to look innocent. “Where do you suppose we apply it?”

 He had meant to tease his boyfriend, who had an adorable prudish streak sometimes. Instead, he got the vampire.

Thad’s eyes turned stormy, then black. Sara felt himself falling into the abyss as the vampire’s emotions rushed through their bond. Lust. Fury. And threaded through all of it, à moi p—

The connection closed so abruptly Sara almost fell over from the psychic jolt.

“And who do you intend to attract with this vile potion?” Thaddeus looked calm, but his voice came out low and deep and still carried an echo of vampiric reverb.

Sara stared at him. “You, idiot.”

The vampire stared back, unappeased. “Then is it the hours or unbridled aspect you find lacking?”

Unbridled. Sara swallowed hard. Saturday morning had been pretty unbridled. And hot. And he did not need to think about that in public.

He swallowed again and tried to suppress the memory of Thad’s hands spreading him open, his tongue…

“We’re good,” he croaked. “You’re right. We don’t need any of this stuff.”

Thad gave him a predatory smile that did nothing to cool down the heat between them until Sara caught the tiniest flash of fang. Thaddeus?

Okay. Important note to self. No taunting the vampire in public. Thad looked one step away from pouncing on him and dragging him off to…not helping.

Sara tried to think about something, anything else. 






Today Nocturne's still $2.99, but it'll be jumping up to the regular price of $4.99 soon!



Vespers & Bonfire are still only 0.99, 
but they'll be regular price soon!!

Vespers


Bonfire

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores




We're running a giveaway for the month of October. Enter for the chance to win a $25 gift card!!



And if you want to keep up on all things Hours of the Nights, join us over at After Hours with Liv and Irene, our Facebook readers group!






Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The Cover Can Be Revealed!




This has been a long time coming! Irene and I have been sitting on the cover of Nocturne for close to six months now, and we're both so excited to have it out in the wild! I love how it's distinct from Vespers, but still has the same feel. Our cover artist, Kanaxa, really did an amazing job!

But you know what they say....a picture's worth more than any words I could come up with. Scroll down so you can see for yourself!



Isn't it pretty? 

Now keep scrolling, because there are buy links and giveaways and a screamin' sale price on Vespers and Bonfire. I haven't been blogging much lately - too busy writing! - so thank you for visiting. If you were a fan of the earlier books in The Hours of the Night, I hope you enjoy the newest installment in the series. 




It's Mardi Gras, cher, but this year le bon temps kick off with murder…


For generations, the White Monks have treated the vampire Thaddeus Dupont as a weapon in their battle against demons. However, when a prominent matron drops dead at a party, Thaddeus and his lover Sarasija are asked to find her killer. Their investigation leads them to an old southern family with connections everywhere: Louisiana politics, big business, the Church, and an organization just as secret as the White Monks.

Meanwhile, an esoteric text containing spells for demon-summoning has disappeared, Thaddeus is losing control of le monstre, and Sara is troubled by disturbing dreams. These nightmares could be a side-effect of dating a vampire, or they could be a remnant of his brush with evil. As the nights wear on, Sara fears they are a manifestation of something darker – a secret that could destroy his relationship with Thaddeus.



Sale price $2.99

Regular price $4.99

Amazon | BandN | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores






“You said you were hungry.” Thad’s tone hinted at reproach. “There are no restaurants on this block and we have no need of” —a hint of red touched his cheeks as he scanned the items in front of them—“anything here.”


Sara smothered a grin. He had crashed hard after the funeral, woken up well after Thaddeus, and convinced the vampire to go out to eat. Thad had made it clear their current focus was Berta, not the Daemonum.  Feeding Sara, an entirely Thad-approved activity, provided the excuse for a little detour. 


They were in the touristy voodoo shop in the French Quarter, not a place Thad would normally bless with his patronage but the only lead Sara could think of for tracking down Missy. Intent on killing time until the pale Goth chick at the counter finished with the other customers, he hadn’t paid any attention to the items in the display they were ostensibly browsing. He picked up one of the bottles Thad was scowling at.


“Are you kidding? This ointment promises to attract the object of your desire for hours of unbridled passion. Who wouldn’t want that?” He blinked at the vampire, trying to look innocent. “Where do you suppose we apply it?”


 He had meant to tease his boyfriend, who had an adorable prudish streak sometimes. Instead, he got the vampire.


Thad’s eyes turned stormy, then black. Sara felt himself falling into the abyss as the vampire’s emotions rushed through their bond. Lust. Fury. And threaded through all of it, à moi p—


The connection closed so abruptly Sara almost fell over from the psychic jolt.


“And who do you intend to attract with this vile potion?” Thaddeus looked calm, but his voice came out low and deep and still carried an echo of vampiric reverb.


Sara stared at him. “You, idiot.”


The vampire stared back, unappeased. “Then is it the hours or unbridled aspect you find lacking?”


Unbridled. Sara swallowed hard. Saturday morning had been pretty unbridled. And hot. And he did not need to think about that in public.


He swallowed again and tried to suppress the memory of Thad’s hands spreading him open, his tongue…


“We’re good,” he croaked. “You’re right. We don’t need any of this stuff.”


Thad gave him a predatory smile that did nothing to cool down the heat between them until Sara caught the tiniest flash of fang. Thaddeus?


Okay. Important note to self. No taunting the vampire in public. Thad looked one step away from pouncing on him and dragging him off to…not helping.


Sara tried to think about something, anything else. 









The celebration goes on! Irene and I put both Vespers and Bonfire on sale. 

Sale!!




Sale Price $0.99!

Regular price $3.99

Amazon | BandN | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores

~*~


Sale Price $0.99!!

Regular price $2.99

Amazon | BandN | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores


To stay in the loop for all things HotN, join our Facebook group!

After Hours with Liv & Irene. 

(Click the link to join!)

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Vespers and Bonfire and Halloween Giveaway!


Oh, my!!



I have definitely not been sitting around bored. Between Vespers' release in September and putting the finishing touches on Bonfire - our holiday novella sequel - it has been a busy couple months here at Chez Rancourt. So busy, in fact, that I barely had time for a Super Sekrit Project that I hope to be able to tell you more about real soon.

Favorite Sticker Ever!

Meanwhile, I did want to make sure everyone who follows this blog has the chance to enter the giveaway Irene & I are running. There's a $10 gift card at stake....and that'll buy a goodly amount of Halloween candy, I'm just sayin'...



a Rafflecopter giveaway


                               Amazon | ARe | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores





Find Bonfire on Goodreads HERE
~ Or ~
Preorder from Amazon HERE




Saturday, October 1, 2016

#MySexySaturday - My Sexy Soul Mate!



My Sexy Soul Mate! What a great theme, and really, I have to feature Thaddeus and Sarasija in this snippet. They're meant for each other - even though Thad was born about 90 years before Sara. Before the snippet, though, here's a note from the lovely team of organizers for this hop...

Readers, please visit us at our new Author Central where we’ll be sharing even more from our authors besides Saturday’s snippets. We’d love to have each and every one of you there as we’re starting new things this month with fun and prizes along the way.

So keep reading for a bit from my favorite soul mates, and check out the list of other blogs in the hop, down at the bottom of this post. Thanks so much!!




~*~


The tub was large and deep, and I set the tap running hot. Sara shivered in the rising steam. Caring for him became an imperative. “Here.” I gently lifted the shirt over his head, baring my teeth at the slashes marking his chest. “Let me.”
The tub took several minutes to fill, and I spent the time undressing my young assistant, stroking his warm, bronze skin. His shivers slowed, and his breathing mellowed under my touch. I made note of each bruise, each scuff mark. He was healing, yes, and I swore he would never again suffer such injuries in my service.
“What are you doing, Mr. Dupont?”
“Thaddeus,” I murmured. I knelt to remove his shoes, shushing his protests. “Let me take care of you.”
He braced himself with his hands on my shoulders. “You don’t need to.”
“Sara.” I tipped my head up, forcing him to meet my gaze. “You were not meant to be here as my assistant, nor were you intended to be the focus of a demon’s attack. Yet you are, and you were, and somehow you fought it all off. This”—I gestured to his shoes and the bath—“is the very least I can do.”
I stood next to him while waiting for the water to reach a decent depth, still lightly stroking his skin. He moved closer and rested his head on my shoulder. I wrapped an arm around him, emotions running riot. Pride, affection, even, possibly, love.
Love.

~*~







Thaddeus Dupont has had over eighty years to forget...

The vampire spends his nights chanting the Liturgy of the Hours and ruthlessly disciplines those unnatural urges he's vowed never again to indulge. He is at the command of the White Monks, who summon him at will to destroy demons. In return, the monks provide for his sustenance and promise the return of his immortal soul.

Sarasija Mishra's most compelling job qualification might be his type O blood...

The 22-year-old college grad just moved across the country to work for some recluse he can't even find on the internet. Sounds sketchy, but the salary is awesome and he can't afford to be picky. On arrival he discovers a few details his contract neglected to mention, like the alligator-infested swamp, the demon attacks, and the nature of his employer's "special diet". A smart guy would leave, but after one look into Dupont's mesmerizing eyes, Sarasija can't seem to walk away. Too bad his boss expected "Sara" to be a girl.

Falling in love is hard at any age...

The vampire can't fight his hungers forever, especially since Sara's brought him light, laughter and a very masculine heat. After yielding to temptation, Thaddeus must make a choice. Killing demons may save his soul, but keeping the faith will cost him his heart.



Amazon | ARe | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores


Also....if you want to enter the giveaway Irene and I are running for a $10 gift card, jump HERE!




Sunday, September 11, 2016

VESPERS. It's HERE. And HERE. And HERE.



It's time...




Yep, VESPERS is here, or it will be soon. This project has been many things: a huge opportunity for learning,  an off-hand comment that turned into a long-term commitment, an evolution in friendship, and whole lot of fun. 

Did I mention fun? 

It surely has been that, and I hope you give VESPERS a read. While I'll put the blurb and buy links below, first I want to point you at some unbiased sources. Irene and I have been fairly well pleased with the reviews on VESPERS so far, so check them out!

VESPERS REVIEWS

(Will add to these as reviews come in.)



You can check out ALL the reviews on Goodreads HERE.

You can check out ALL the reviews on Amazon HERE.






VESPERS BLOG POSTS


We've also been running around the interwebs, sharing info and insights, excerpts and - oh yeah - the widget for our giveaway. Here's a list of where we'll be (or where we've been) and when...also, most every one of these has our rafflecopter widget or a link to it. (There, um, also might be a link at the bottom of this post.) You can enter our giveaway until 9/24/16, and I hope you do. We'd be nothing without readers, and this is our way of showing appreciation!
















And for those of you who like to plan ahead, we've got a guest shot on Herding Cats & Burning Soup on 10/27/16, and Crystal's Many Reviewers on HALLOWEEN! Because what better time of year is there to read a vampire story, right?







Thaddeus Dupont has had over eighty years to forget…

The vampire spends his nights chanting the Liturgy of the Hours and ruthlessly disciplines those unnatural urges he’s vowed never again to indulge. He is at the command of the White Monks, who summon him at will to destroy demons. In return, the monks provide for his sustenance and promise the return of his immortal soul.

Sarasija Mishra’s most compelling job qualification might be his type O blood…

The 22-year-old college grad just moved across the country to work for some recluse he can’t even find on the internet. Sounds sketchy, but the salary is awesome and he can’t afford to be picky.  On arrival he discovers a few details his contract neglected to mention, like the alligator-infested swamp, the demon attacks, and the nature of his employer’s “special diet”. A smart guy would leave, but after one look into Dupont’s mesmerizing eyes, Sarasija can’t seem to walk away. Too bad his boss expected “Sara” to be a girl.

Falling in love is hard at any age…

The vampire can’t fight his hungers forever, especially since Sara’s brought him light, laughter and a very masculine heat. After yielding to temptation, Thaddeus must make a choice.  Killing demons may save his soul, but keeping the faith will cost him his heart.

Vespers is a complete novel with no cliffhanger. It can be enjoyed as a standalone or read as the first book in the Hours of the Night series.








Later in the afternoon, they kicked back in the den while they waited for Dupont to wake up. Nohea had showered and changed into clean clothes from one of the other spare bedrooms. She flicked absently through the channels on the TV while Sara made up fun anecdotes about his new job to email to his mom. He really does want me to set up his Facebook page, he finished up. Tonight we’re meeting a client at a local historic church, so stop worrying. What could be safer than a church? (And don’t worry, I’m not converting.)

Okay. He’d have to remember to set up some kind of Facebook page to show Ma. He hit Send.

“Hey, does Mr. Dupont show up on camera?” Because Ma would want to see a profile picture.

“Yes, he shows up on camera. You can ignore most of what you think you know about vampires. Most of that Hollywood stuff is bogus.”

“But he can’t go in the sun. That’s real?”

“He doesn’t burst into flames or anything, but he starts turning red pretty quick, and it hurts him. I’m not sure how long he could last before he got to a point he couldn’t heal. And it’s almost impossible to wake him up during full daylight.”

“Ha! See—this is the kind of thing I expected from my Renfield training.”

Nohea choked on her Coke mid-swallow. “Renfield training? Jesus, Sara.”

“Yeah, I mean, one-year contract. Seems like it would be easier to just have a manual to get us up to speed. You ought to be used to all the…” He trailed off as something she had said earlier came back to him. “Wait a minute. Why don’t assistants need training?”

Nohea evaded his eyes. “What did Mr. Dupont tell you?”

“Dupont hasn’t told me diddly. He just… Oh. My. God. He does the whammy on them, doesn’t he?”

Nohea remained silent, which was answer enough.

“That’s just…” He shook his head. “So not cool.”

“Look, Sara, he’s trying to protect them. For the most part, the less they knew, the safer they were.”

“Yeah, but…” It sounded good, but something about the explanation was off. “If they don’t know anything, how can they, you know, assist him?” Vampire Assistant seemed like a job requiring full knowledge of…vampires.

“Well, he doesn’t have them do much. I mean, they take his daytime messages and…stuff.”

“Because he can’t work voice mail?”

And the salary. No one paid eighty grand for someone to take messages. Not even a vampire.

His heart started pounding. Not racing, not yet. Just pounding until it was the only sound he could hear.

He was an idiot. Because vampire.

Pound.

“How often does he need to eat?”

Nohea didn’t answer.

Pound. Pound.

“I’m not his assistant, am I?”

Pound. Pound. Pound.

A rush of saliva.

“Sara.”

He turned to Dupont, who had appeared in the doorway as though summoned by his thoughts.

Pound-pound. Pound-pound. Pound-pound.

He was hungry again. And, and… He shook his head, trying to clear the rush of sensation. He pointed a finger at his boss, pleased when it didn’t shake.

“I. Am. Not. Food.”




About Irene Preston
Irene Preston has to write romances, after all she is living one.  As a starving college student, she met her dream man who whisked her away on a romantic honeymoon across Europe.  Today they live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin, Texas where Dream Man is still working hard to make sure she never has to take off her rose-colored glasses.

Where to find Irene


About Liv Rancourt
I write romance: m/f, m/m, and v/h, where the h is for human and the v is for vampire … or sometimes demon … I lean more towards funny than angst. When I’m not writing I take care of tiny premature babies or teenagers, depending on whether I’m at home or at work. My husband is a soul of patience, my dog’s cuteness is legendary, and we share the homestead with three ferrets. Who steal things. Because they’re brats.

Where to find Liv