Books, Books, Books... to read this month! Happy reading :)

Hey, Reader Friends! How have the summer months been treating you? Or winter months, depending on which part of the world you are in. I'm just popping in to let you know about some really special reader opportunities I'm a  part of now that we're into the month of August.

First up:
It's Christmas in July!!! If you love Sci-fi and Paranormal Romance, be sure to enter for a chance to win 55+ ebooks in this massive giveaway. You're sure to find many great new to you authors and books to fall in love with. But it ends Aug. 4, so hurry and get your entry in!

Next up:
Check out these fun reader opportunities!

Midsummer Lover

For the first time in ages, the god, Eros, wanted something for himself... her.

The veil is thin and passion is high. 
Summer Solstice—the time when Fae and spirits frolic in the human realm, 

A steamy, fantasy, mythology romance novella.


Coming soon to the Amanda V Shane newsletter!
Subscribe today for your free copy when it goes live.

“I knew this cruise was a bad idea,” Libby mumbled on her way out of the bathroom as the ship rocked from the storm.
It had been evening when she and Neil had returned from the ship’s last stop at a beach fair. A roll of thunder sounded from above. Storms always made her uneasy. This was supposed to be a calm time of year in the gulf—the only reason she’d, finally, let Aunt Mave bully her into coming on this ‘singles’ cruise. Now a freak thunderstorm had come up.
As she brushed her teeth at the sink in her cabin, her eyes glanced behind her in the mirror, squinting at something on the bed by the pillows.
“What in the world?”
Wiping toothpaste off of her chin, she walked to the bed, stopping cold at its edge. Her eyes rounded.
“Neil,” she grinned, reaching for the note on top of the old book from the market. “What a prankster.”
 
You needed to have this.
                                            - Neil
 
It read, short and sweet.
She laughed, wondering if he’d really make a move on the ship’s captain. At least one of them would get some action tonight.
“Okay, hot pirate dude,” she picked up the book then climbed into bed, “let’s get another look at you.”
Painted on the very first page was the best looking man she’d ever laid eyes on. Black hair, green eyes and a physique that could make a nun weep shone on the yellowed paper. She paged through. The whole book showed images of hot-ass-pirate-guy in amorous positions with different women. Her nipples hardened just looking. Jeez! She really needed to get laid. Here she was drooling over a picture in a book from the… what was the copyright on this thing, anyway?
Flipping back, she found an inscription inside the front cover.
“Weird.” She ran her fingers over the writing.
 
“Slave of hearts, I call on thee
to slake my lust, your purpose shall be.
Time’s prisoner for time to use
till the true of heart his heart doth choose.”
 
She wrinkled her nose at the dark poetry.
“A little heavy for old timey porn, but okayyy.”
Just as she moved to set the book down, the gentle sway of the ship grew more aggressive. The lights in the cabin flickered, going out momentarily.
“Oh, no! What’s going on? Help!!” She jumped out of the bed before everything calmed.
 “Great. Way to act like a hysterical moron, Libs. I hope no one heard me.”
“Oh, I heard you, lass. And I’m definitely here to help.”
Her head snapped around at the sound of a man’s voice.
“Uhhh,” she blinked over and over, her jaw falling open.
Him! It was him. Mister Lick-Me-Like-Your-Favorite-Flavor-Popsicle guy from the book! She shook her head.
“It’s not possible.”
He blinked, his eyes darkening as his mouth lifted in a wholly sensual smile. He wore a soft poet’s style shirt from the eighteenth century or whenever men went prancing around in those things, open all the way to the waistline of his black sailor’s pants. Yeah, and the way those things fit… Her eyes dropped to the bulge between his widespread thighs as he lounged in her chair like he hadn’t just popped in from out of nowhere. She should look away… she really should. An amused chuckle rolled out of him and she jumped, finally bringing her eyes up to his.
“Y-y-you’re not real.”
One dark brow lifted at that. Libby swallowed hard, an electric thrill zipping straight through her belly down to her core. The memory of him in all those lurid pictures raced through her mind. Holy hell—Frank had finally won! The stress from the divorce had broken her. She’d been driven to insanity, and now she was seeing painfully hot men in her manic state.
“Huh, could be worse.”
Hot guy made a face.
“Worse?” He scowled.
Great, imaginary men were giving her attitude now. What the hell kind of slipshod psychosis did her brain plan on running here, anyway?
He dipped his chin to glare at her like she was in so much trouble. Gawd, was that sexy! Moisture pooled between her thighs. Without another word, he stood and stalked toward her, smooth as butter, until he stood in front of her. She froze.
“Sheezus, you move like a cat,” she muttered. “A sexy cat, uh…” his eyes narrowed. “Can a cat be sexy?” She kept babbling. “Hip cat, maybe. Yeah, that’s what I meant… or a cool cat. Oh, god, please shut me up now.”
He grinned wide, leaned closer, then pressed her back onto the bed. Libby sucked in a breath as he followed her down, molding himself against her like he knew every inch of her sex-starved body would naturally yield to him—which it did.
“Granted.” He said.
“Wait, whu…?” she didn’t get another sound out before his mouth crashed down onto hers.   
All her erogenous zones sizzled at the feel of his lips. His tongue swept inside while his hands smoothed over her waist, hips and breasts, lighting little fires on her skin everywhere they touched. That bulge at his center she’d admired a moment ago pressed against her core, driving her further into her madness. At this point, she found sanity undeniably overrated. Crazy felt good.
He deepened the kiss, then did something sinful with his hips that had her arching up off the bed. She groaned.
But his mouth lifted away from hers, and he stopped moving. Her eyes flew open.
“And now?” He asked.
“Now?”
That hard part of him between her legs pulsed, and she nearly had a heart attack. He pushed back from her.
“You called me here, mistress,” his rich voice vibrated through the room, “now what do you plan to do with me?”
Libby stared at him. She found her breath, then huffed out a short, little laugh. His muscled chest heaved, and she smiled at the sight.
Oh, yeah, crazy felt perfect.

Copyright © 2021 Amanda V. Shane, First published as High Seas Enchanted in the Wild At Heart PNR Flash Fiction Writing Circle. All rights reserved.

“I knew this cruise was a bad idea,” Libby mumbled on her way out of the bathroom as the ship rocked from the storm.
It had been evening when she and Neil had returned from the ship’s last stop at a beach fair. A roll of thunder sounded from above. Storms always made her uneasy. This was supposed to be a calm time of year in the gulf—the only reason she’d, finally, let Aunt Mave bully her into coming on this ‘singles’ cruise. Now a freak thunderstorm had come up.
As she brushed her teeth at the sink in her cabin, her eyes glanced behind her in the mirror, squinting at something on the bed by the pillows.
“What in the world?”
Wiping toothpaste off of her chin, she walked to the bed, stopping cold at its edge. Her eyes rounded.
“Neil,” she grinned, reaching for the note on top of the old book from the market. “What a prankster.”
 
You needed to have this.
                                            - Neil
 
It read, short and sweet.
She laughed, wondering if he’d really make a move on the ship’s captain. At least one of them would get some action tonight.
“Okay, hot pirate dude,” she picked up the book then climbed into bed, “let’s get another look at you.”
Painted on the very first page was the best looking man she’d ever laid eyes on. Black hair, green eyes and a physique that could make a nun weep shone on the yellowed paper. She paged through. The whole book showed images of hot-ass-pirate-guy in amorous positions with different women. Her nipples hardened just looking. Jeez! She really needed to get laid. Here she was drooling over a picture in a book from the… what was the copyright on this thing, anyway?
Flipping back, she found an inscription inside the front cover.
“Weird.” She ran her fingers over the writing.
 
“Slave of hearts, I call on thee
to slake my lust, your purpose shall be.
Time’s prisoner for time to use
till the true of heart his heart doth choose.”
 
She wrinkled her nose at the dark poetry.
“A little heavy for old timey porn, but okayyy.”
Just as she moved to set the book down, the gentle sway of the ship grew more aggressive. The lights in the cabin flickered, going out momentarily.
“Oh, no! What’s going on? Help!!” She jumped out of the bed before everything calmed.
 “Great. Way to act like a hysterical moron, Libs. I hope no one heard me.”
“Oh, I heard you, lass. And I’m definitely here to help.”
Her head snapped around at the sound of a man’s voice.
“Uhhh,” she blinked over and over, her jaw falling open.
Him! It was him. Mister Lick-Me-Like-Your-Favorite-Flavor-Popsicle guy from the book! She shook her head.
“It’s not possible.”
He blinked, his eyes darkening as his mouth lifted in a wholly sensual smile. He wore a soft poet’s style shirt from the eighteenth century or whenever men went prancing around in those things, open all the way to the waistline of his black sailor’s pants. Yeah, and the way those things fit… Her eyes dropped to the bulge between his widespread thighs as he lounged in her chair like he hadn’t just popped in from out of nowhere. She should look away… she really should. An amused chuckle rolled out of him and she jumped, finally bringing her eyes up to his.
“Y-y-you’re not real.”
One dark brow lifted at that. Libby swallowed hard, an electric thrill zipping straight through her belly down to her core. The memory of him in all those lurid pictures raced through her mind. Holy hell—Frank had finally won! The stress from the divorce had broken her. She’d been driven to insanity, and now she was seeing painfully hot men in her manic state.
“Huh, could be worse.”
Hot guy made a face.
“Worse?” He scowled.
Great, imaginary men were giving her attitude now. What the hell kind of slipshod psychosis did her brain plan on running here, anyway?
He dipped his chin to glare at her like she was in so much trouble. Gawd, was that sexy! Moisture pooled between her thighs. Without another word, he stood and stalked toward her, smooth as butter, until he stood in front of her. She froze.
“Sheezus, you move like a cat,” she muttered. “A sexy cat, uh…” his eyes narrowed. “Can a cat be sexy?” She kept babbling. “Hip cat, maybe. Yeah, that’s what I meant… or a cool cat. Oh, god, please shut me up now.”
He grinned wide, leaned closer, then pressed her back onto the bed. Libby sucked in a breath as he followed her down, molding himself against her like he knew every inch of her sex-starved body would naturally yield to him—which it did.
“Granted.” He said.
“Wait, whu…?” she didn’t get another sound out before his mouth crashed down onto hers.   
All her erogenous zones sizzled at the feel of his lips. His tongue swept inside while his hands smoothed over her waist, hips and breasts, lighting little fires on her skin everywhere they touched. That bulge at his center she’d admired a moment ago pressed against her core, driving her further into her madness. At this point, she found sanity undeniably overrated. Crazy felt good.
He deepened the kiss, then did something sinful with his hips that had her arching up off the bed. She groaned.
But his mouth lifted away from hers, and he stopped moving. Her eyes flew open.
“And now?” He asked.
“Now?”
That hard part of him between her legs pulsed, and she nearly had a heart attack. He pushed back from her.
“You called me here, mistress,” his rich voice vibrated through the room, “now what do you plan to do with me?”
Libby stared at him. She found her breath, then huffed out a short, little laugh. His muscled chest heaved, and she smiled at the sight.
Oh, yeah, crazy felt perfect.

Copyright © 2021 Amanda V. Shane, First published as High Seas Enchanted in the Wild At Heart PNR Flash Fiction Writing Circle. All rights reserved.

It's time for another Wild At Heart PNR Flash Fiction installment! Subscribe to the Amanda V Mailing list to read April's  short story, High Seas Enchanted first. Go on a cruise, find an magical book, meet a sexy pirate--all in 1,000 words! Hurry and sign up, stories go live later this week.

Hello, lovely reader friends. Today, I'm posting links to all the great flash fiction pieces from March's Wild At Heart PNR Flash Fiction authors. Click on them to read all the great stories written to meet our "Lucky" challenge theme. Be sure to check out the book giveaways at the end too. Enjoy!

LUCKY LITTLE RABBIT by Bee Murray

https://www.facebook.com/groups/beemurraysbookclub

UNLUCKY by Mariah Thayer Garell

https://www.facebook.com/groups/amreadingmariahg

LUCKY CHARMER by Cassie Laelyn

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CassieLaelynsLogCabin

COLOR ME CURIOUS by Miri Stone

https://www.facebook.com/groups/206877663578982


GETTING LUCKY by Shelly Ferguson

https://shellyfergusonauthor.com/getting-lucky/

TREASURE by Amanda V Shane

http://www.amandavshane.com/blog/treasure-wild-at-heart-pnr-flash-fiction

WISH UPON A STAR by Kat Newman Orwig - coming soon!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOsPNRLair

Free Fantasy Books!

Leah ran, tearing recklessly around the globe shaped bush before they saw her. As she rounded the hedge outside Faerie Castle, the garden path sloped. Her ridiculously high heel caught in the gravel and busted off. Damn that Louboutin! As her ankle buckled, she went down in a flounce of silk skirts and a shrill aria of obscenities the boys back at Old Tam’s pub would’ve been proud of.
Eyes shut tight, she waited for impact. Instead, a strong pair of hands wrapped around her, supporting her back and neck so that the imminent crack of her skull on packed dirt never came.
Blinking, she looked up. Blinding mid-day sun speared into her eyeballs from over the top of the hedge wall. Her hand shot up to shield her eyes, bringing a shadowy figure into view.
Deep, blue, starry eyes stared down at her. The one who held her tilted his head, blocking out the sun, and Leah’s breath stuck in her throat at the vision that came into focus. High cheekbones, a broad jaw and soft, pale lips all worked together to form the most striking male face she’d ever seen. In addition, the unmistakable simmer of magic stirred the air. It hovered above his shoulders like a cloak. Dread filled Leah—he was one of them, a fae.
 Her eyes lowered, getting stuck on the smooth, tan bit of exposed skin above his black bow tie and crisp white shirt. Tiny brown freckles speckled his skin, spaced out enough to where all she could think about was using them to play connect the dots… with her tongue.
 “Were you dashing through the maze in a fit of terror from some bridge troll then, little lark?”
The name being a nod to her ear-jarring stream of curses a moment ago, no doubt. Giving her head a shake, Leah looked up to find a faint smile on his full lips.
 “Maybe,” she barked out defensively, fully aware of the vulnerable position she was in. “Maybe not. Maybe it’s a handsome prince I’m dashing to meet instead… lucky me.”
His cobalt eyes flashed, going dark, silver, then fathomless in the space of an instant. He dipped his head, scanning her from head to toe, those sea-deep eyes seeming to peel away the layers of her silly stolen gown as they went.
 “Lucky prince.” He said.
Leah’s mouth popped open, but no words came out.
He ignored her, taking in a deep and audible breath.
 “You didn’t drink the wine did you?” His voice rolled through her.
“No,” she answered, a bit too loudly for how close they were. He probably smelled the snifter of whiskey she’d gulped down for courage inside the castle before going through with this harebrained plan of Gill’s, “I’m not stupid enough to do a thing like that here.” She looked up at the arched bows of the garden maze overhead, then back at him. “Not with your kind ambling around.”
“My kind?”
His expression managed to look surprised and admonishing all in one. Leah didn’t give in. She drew her brows together in the Irish death glare she was famed for under the masquerade mask she wore—another stolen item she’d taken for her disguise, along with the shoes and the dress.
Finally, the stranger pulled her upright in one easy, grace-filled movement. Leah stumbled back on her broken heel. He crossed his arms, leaning back against a little stone doorway in the center of the hedge, making a study of her as he placed one ankle over the other. He did make a delectable sight in his black tuxedo, crisp white shirt and dark red-brown hair that hung just long enough to brush the top of his shoulders. Formal attire was required for this debauched, fae romp of a treasure hunt—the only reason Leah would be caught dead in the confection of a dress she wore.
On him, though, black tie proved nothing short of devastating. She sucked in a breath. One of his dark copper brows lifted upward, somehow drawing Leah’s attention to his lips at the same time.  
“Well, what are you?” Leah asked. Looking down, she brushed at her skirt, self-conscious as all get out. “Leprechaun or something? You’re clearly fae.”
That came out haughtier than she’d meant for it to, even accusing. Old resentments died hard. Fae had always been dangerous, but now that they were here, among humans, they were even more so.
He chuckled.
“Leprechaun? Not me. If you’d met Kell then, aye. You happen to be right though, perceptive, little lark. I am fae.”
Leah’s brow crinkled as she frowned beneath the mask. Her open book facial expressions had always been her downfall.
Just then, pounding footfalls thundered down the rounded path toward them at a breakneck pace. Leah jerked, her spine going straight.
The two fae guards who’d been hot on her trail earlier skidded to a halt, dust flying as they did. Their eyes went straight to her companion.
“Sire!” they both said, in obvious shock.
The stranger nodded—barely—in their direction. His perceptive eyes glanced over at Leah, then back to the guards.
Uh, oh. Leah’s mind raced. Sire? Who exactly was this gorgeous fae male? In an instant he was right by her side, though she hadn’t seen him move. His palm gripped her elbow.
“Gentleman,” he said, his deep timber skittering through her body once again, “thank you for finding my special guest for me. We were separated in the maze.”
The guards cast wary eyes her way, muttered apologies, then ducked their heads and left.
As soon as they were gone, the male turned her to face him.
“Am I right to assume you don’t have a formal invitation to this gathering, miss?”
Leah pressed her lips together. His midnight eyes sparkled. He stared right through her even as those delicious lips of his picked up in a sexy, grim smile.
Damn. Looked like her luck had just run out.
 
 
Copyright © 2021 Amanda V. Shane, First published as Treasure in the Wild At Heart PNR Flash Fiction Writing Circle. All rights reserved.

Be first to read more short stories like this, get the inside scoop on upcoming books and receive a free novella! Join the Amanda V Shane newsletter. You'll also gain exclusive access to the Ramone's Party Cove Happy Hour Club where you'll get some crazy, fun drink recipe cards and the Tides of Atlantis  "cocktail story" that inspired it.

Who feels like crashing a garden party and running into a mysterious, handsome Fae lord? I thought so. ;)
Here's a little teaser from "Treasure", my Wild At Heart PNR Flash Fiction piece with its lucky theme. I've had so much fun writing it. The garden maze setting really has me in the mood for springtime.

Be sure to stay tuned for the blog and sign up for my newsletter so you can read it for FREE!

P.S. What's your favorite thing about spring?

Grab some free fantasy books this month in the Books And Brews Fantasy Group Giveaway.

Hi, everybody! Here is a short little look at what the Tides of Atlantis gang are up to these days. If you've read King of the Tides, you know that Adam and Marley are a little MIA at the moment. That's left Kellan and Solomon to man the bar back home in Miami, while trying to figure out what to do about a shifting Sea Realm and demons on the loose. You know, nothing big. Anyway, here's the scene that inspired Kellan's new brainchild cocktail, The Sexy Leprechaun. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so that you can get all the Tides world inspired cocktail recipes direct from Ramone's Party Cove and join in on this crazy party!

Ramone's

*****
“Sol, you’ve got to quit shooting death daggers at people with your eyes when they order the special.”

Solomon death stared Kellan.

“I’m not calling it that.” His deep voice reverberated from his huge chest, the lights over the bar catching the glint in his dark eyes that should have conveyed his absolute annoyance. Neither that nor the fact that he stood over head and shoulders taller than the tech geek seemed to faze Kellan, though.

“And what is this music you have on? We’re never going to appease the spring breakers with this old crap.”

Sol’s jaw tightened. The tight sleeves of the black athletic T he had on strained then rolled up over his giant bicep as he unknowingly flexed it.

“It’s Solomon Burke,” he growled, “I couldn’t take another minute of that bump and gyrate mess you had on. When is the band supposed to get here, anyway?”

“Oh, I love this song.” Cindy swished her way up to the bar, Ronan sidling up behind her. “It’s from Dirty Dancing. The one that plays through, you know… the scene… where Johnny and Baby, finally, get together.” She bounced her blonde eyebrows up and down.
“Mmmm, sexiest dance scene ever,” Kay groaned, eliciting a sidelong glance from Xieran. She fanned her face with one hand. “That scene was so hot.”

“Dirty Dancing?” Ronan leaned down to say to Cindy. “I don’t think you’ve shown me that one, cará.”
“What?!” Kay feigned outrage. “How could you not have made him watch Dirty Dancing yet?”
“I haven’t seen it in a long time.” Xieran said, sliding his arm around Kay’s waist.
Kay and Cindy looked at one another, blurting out, “Movie night!” at the same time.
They high fived, to the amusement of the men. Cindy looked back over at Solomon and Kellan.
“Yeah, right after one more of these Sexy Leprechaun drinks.” She shook the ice around in her empty hurricane glass.”

Another lower than low growl emitted from Sol’s chest and he rolled his eyes. Kellan took both the girls’ glasses with a snicker and refilled them.

“You better watch out, Sol, I don’t think it’s only this schmoozy green drink the ladies are after when they come up here to order one from you.” Cindy wagged her eyebrows at the big, brawny security guard turned bartender.

Sol’s brow furrowed. But then he lifted his head and scanned the crowd inside the nightclub. Probably fifteen hot women stared back at him, and a couple men too. Every single one gave him a wink, smile or suggestive lift of the gods-awful green libation in their hand. He dropped his gaze, heat stealing into his cheeks.
“Kellan,” his deeper than deep voice rumbled under his breath, “if you value your puny, mortal life, you will stop that snickering.”

The techie howled at that, quickly finding something he needed to get from the bar’s back room. The two Atlanteans and their women across the bar from Sol all wore gigantic grins.
“Cindy,” Kay nudged her friend’s arm, “you made Sol blush.”

“It’s not my fault the Cove’s new bartender is causing a stir.” Cindy shrugged without apology. She gave Sol a wink. “It’s his muscles that have them drooling.”

“Hm?” Sol’s eyebrow lifted. He lifted the tiny drink glass in his big hand in a cross body motion, unconsciously flexing his bicep in the process. The thin fabric of his stretchy T-shirt strained even more, rolling up over smooth, dark skin and muscle as it went. An audible sigh was heard from somewhere in the background. Cindy and Kay couldn’t stop their giggles.

“Definitely the muscles… and the dimples.”
“What?” Sol rubbed his free hand over the lower half of his face, his frown coming back. This only seemed to delight the girls further. That, and probably the fact that they’d downed nearly all of their drinks already.
Adam and Xieran eyeballed him and then their women, identical Atlantean scowls come over their faces.
“I have muscles too,” Ronan said, puffing his chest net to Cindy.

“Me too,” Xieran leaned into the bar next to Kay, flexing his arms obviously as he went.
Kay and Cindy laughed even more.

“C’mon,” Cindy said, grabbing Ronan’s big arm, “we have a date with Patrick Swayze in tight, black pants on screen. Then a night of you imitating his dance moves for me with your big, sexy muscles.”

“Let us know if there’s any trouble tonight, Sol.” Xieran said, helping Kay off her barstool. Sol nodded, his expression grim once more. All jokes aside, they were all on edge, what with Adam and Marlowe lost in the Hell Realm and Misros somewhere out there, plotting gods knew what with the demons he’d released from the Underworld. He watched the couples leave, then wiped at the counter with a towel as he tried to avoid any flirtatious smiles from out in the bar.

As soon as his hand made contact with the hard, smooth bar top, a wave of energy shot through him. Jerking back, he looked up with a start. The jolt had been fleeting, but it left a residual current sliding through his veins. The feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. No, not unfamiliar at all. At one time, very long ago, it had been something he’d welcomed… along with the silken touch that always accompanied it. Those days were gone though… buried in stone way before anything resembling history had ever been recorded in the annals of time here in the human world. Still, impossible as it was… it was unmistakable.

A dark roll of dread rolled through his chest. Could she be here? Now? He quickly squashed down that tight rise of hope that tried to ignite in his soul. No, it couldn’t be. The gods wouldn’t allow it… the universe wouldn’t allow it. This world would not survive it were she to return. Plus all of that, where his mind had just gone was impossible.

His next breath brought with it a sacred, ancient scent. A plant long gone extinct. Sol closed his eyes against the sweet pain that rushed through him, the memory of the only one who’d worn its unique perfume. On his exhale, one word passed through his lips, inaudible in the noise of the club, singeing his tongue with its long, lost taste.

Kala…