And I mean ‘free' as in it doesn't cost anything, not as in there's
a monster on the loose.

Here are the links. Help yourself to a copy and help me spread the word.
Thanks so much!

On Amazon

On Smashwords

On iTunes

On Kobo

While I'm here I'd like to say thank you to the bloggers and readers who have supported me and my books. I have so much to celebrate this Thursday. In fact, I'm planning on toasting each and every one of you, so I should be drunk until mid-January. :)

*For Nook & Sony readers: I apologize for the book not being free on those sites. Unfortunately it's up to the retailers in this case. You can still get the book in the format you need from the Smashwords website though.

Thank you all so much for your support and patience with Strange Case. Evidently, in a previous life, I was a saint. Because I sure ain’t one in this life, and there’s no other explanation for why I've been so lucky.

My news for today is two-fold. The first part is that the book is now in the hands of my formatter. After she’s done, there’s only one more step—uploading it to retailers. Can I get an amen?

The second part is that my incredible cover designer/friend/critique partner, Olivia Rivers, has created another unbelievable cover. From the moment Olivia and I started talking about the concept for Strange Case's cover, I was in love. I don't know how she does it, but the design for each book is a perfect match to what Mitch and Eden are going through at that time. They all have so much meaning behind them and are really special to me. And without further ado…

How beautiful is this?

~~~~

Oh, and please remember to sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar. When the book becomes available, I’ll be sending out an ‘OMG, I'm so excited it's out' announcement and a direct link. The letter will also include a deleted scene between Mitch and Eden. It's Mitch being Mitch, and we all know what that involves. Naughty, naughty boy.

Thanks, all!

The Good, The Bad and The Ending

A few months ago, Strange Case was out of my hands and in those of an editor. I was gearing up for a mid-June release (just before my kids got out of school for the summer), and my world was perfect. Since my world so rarely stays perfect, I should’ve known something bad was about to hit. And boy did it. One morning I was woken up by a horrible realization:

The ending I had always envisioned for the series (and that was going through its final edits) was totally and completely and utterly wrong. Worst way to wake up ever.

Thankfully, none of the colorful expletives that filled my head for the next few hours passed my lips, or my children would’ve learned all sorts of words I pray they will never hear.

After the nausea went away, I understood that the ending of the book needed to be completely rewritten. And to make a new ending work, I had to go back and build it up from the very beginning. Which made my exciting-June-release turn into a fingers-crossed-July release. Which has now turned into a pretty-dang-sure-August release. As it is with some of the terrible comments that Mitch makes, I still don’t know exactly where the realization came from. But, as unpleasant as it was, I’m thankful it happened. Because the novel and the series are better for it.

So the good news is: the new ending is totally complete and totally better. I still have to read it over at least 4,000 more times (as I always do before I release a book because I'm insane). Seeing as how, in terms of word count, this book makes the first two look like children's picture books, you'll have to be patient for a little while longer. However, I truly believe that late August is a great time for reading and hope that everyone is ready for Strange Case.

Thanks so much for your continued support and understanding. And please remember to sign up for my newsletter to receive an email when the novel is released and to get the deleted scene between Mitch and Eden. Did I mention it's brutal? Until then, here's a snippet from Mitch that I enjoy. Hope you do too.

~~~~~

It had been out of desperation and Mitch knew it. But he never claimed any expertise with this kind of shit. Other things? Hell yes. He knew lots of other things. Sports, business, politics. And other equally predictable, straight-forward, simple things. Like how to spot a liar from twenty feet away. Or how to understand anyone with a dick. Because there wasn't that much to them.

But women? Women were like puzzles with half the pieces being invisible to anyone with a dick.

Emotions? Please. Emotions were things that shouldn't be seen or heard…from anyone with a dick.

And love? Yeah, that one was the worst. Something that— whether you feel it or not— you can't see, you can't control, you can't fake.

Someone had loved Mitch once, and he'd loved her. He killed for her. And she died for him. But his sister's love was different. It had always been there, ever since he was a drooling toddler, untouched by sin. He didn't need to understand Shelly's love or accept it or think it shouldn't be. It just was.

What it wasn't, was terrifying. What it didn't do was come at him from his blind spot and change his whole damn world. Nor did it push him to his knees and make him unable to think clearly.

So yeah, there were a lot of reasons he'd done something he shouldn't have. But only one of them was true:

He was a motherfucking idiot.

~~~~~

In Strange Case (Hyde Book III), Landon plays a very large role. So I thought it was fitting that the next short excerpt I post would be from his point of view. I adore Landon. He's a complicated man but is loyal and honest and puts up with a lot of shit from both Mitch and Eden. The Clinic (directly or indirectly) has taken everything away from him–his girlfriend, Tara, his career, his pride. Until the only thing he has left is the friendship he's built with two people who have some serious issues.

Recently someone asked me who is the series's main character. In my mind, there is no true main character, no one person we continue to follow and watch grow. There are the two main characters–Mitch and Eden–and one incredibly supportive character–Landon. All three of them have to accept themselves, each other, and their transformations as Abnormals and as people.

So here's a moment with Landon:

Were Eden and Turner his family? Yeah, they were. Landon imagined the Christmas card they could send out this year. He and Eden standing a foot apart in front of the cage, smiling uncomfortably, with Hyde growling at the camera through the bars. Nice. Unless they could figure out a way to bring Turner back. Then the Christmas pic could be of the two of them, their arms wrapped tightly around each other with Landon two feet away, his arms wrapped around nothing. Equally as nice.

Equally as painful.

Landon would never resent their happiness. He'd be thrilled to have the asshole back and would do almost anything to make sure he and Eden had a chance to be happy. But seeing them together had always been bittersweet, leaving him with the dull ache of envy. A reminder of what he didn’t have. Not since his ability to love died when his love did. Tara. Her memory brought a different kind of ache, indescribable longing. He hadn’t had much time with her and then she was gone. So he’d never know if they could have made it together. If he was everything she needed. If they could share something like Eden and Turner did.

Landon was ashamed for not being there when she died, to prevent it from happening. He was ashamed for doubting what they had. Sure, he’d said the words, but looking back on it, he wondered if it was love or a younger, and far more naive, man’s desire to be someone’s hero. A desire he didn’t fulfill.

A failure he was still paying for.

 * * * * *

In Strange Case, everyone's limits will be tested. Morality and ethics will be weighed against getting shit done. Desperation is not a good look for anyone and can make people do things they wouldn't normally think themselves capable of. And returning from death can be a big fucking wake-up call, especially when those you love have been dealing with all the crap you left behind.

The book is almost ready for release. But unfortunately, due to a few hiccups, I won't be able to have it out this month as I'd wanted. As soon as I know the release date, I will let you know. Thank you so much for your support and patience with this series.

Oh, one more thing. I had to cut a long scene out of the book, but will be sending it to everyone on my mailing list as soon as the book is released. So sign up for it on the sidebar. But you must promise not to read the scene before you read the book 'cause that's not right. ;) And just to let you know, the scene has Mitch being oh-so-Mitch-like in the worst possible way and, yes, clothes do come off.

Today, because it's my birthday, I have decided to take a break from editing. Because editing is really hard work, far less pleasant than writing something new.

I'll be finishing up the Hyde trilogy soon and am well into the creation of my next series, tentatively titled ‘The Rising'. It is a mixture of Urban Fantasy (UF) and Paranormal Romance (PNR). For those who don't know the official difference, UF isn't required to end each book with a happy ending and usually spends more time on the external plot than the romance plot. This series will cross the two–some characters will have an HEA and others will have to fight harder through multiple books. Just because I hate being predictable. :)

The Rising will have most paranormal critters in it, but the series begins with the story of Shad, a Vampire, and Addison, a woman who grew up believing she was a Seer (a human who can see through the glamour of the Supernaturals). I'm already in love with these two. Their banter cracks me up, though he's far more romantic than I'd imagined him being before I started writing him. The title for Book I is undecided, because my working title is just silly. I call it ‘Trashy'. And I'd like to share an excerpt. Remember, it is still in draft form, so names and anything/everything else may change.

Shad took her hand and began walking back to the Great Hall. Addison tugged against his grip as if she actually believed she could get away from him.

“Once you are identified as mine,” he said, “no one will get close to you. And thus, no one will bother you.”

“I’m not yours.”

He laughed. “You have been mine since the moment I opened my eyes and saw you.”

“Jesus, was that supposed to be romantic? Because it wasn’t,” she grumbled. “You’re supposed to look at someone in the eyes when you say shit like that, not throw it over your shoulder while you're dragging them back into a hellhole.”

He spun around and let her bounce into him. Then he took her by the jaw to keep her still. “I am inexperienced with romance. It has never been necessary.”

She looked panicked, but didn't pull away. “Well, then–”

“You are mine because I will never accept otherwise, and I will remain in your life until you realize its truth.” He kept his voice low, intimate, as he would speak to her in bed, her body under his. “Because—although I have not yet touched you in the way I desire—to even imagine you with another is to shove another stake in my heart. But this time it would land true, or you wouldn’t be there to save me.” They pulled from the same inch of air. With only a tiny movement, he could take her mouth. But he wouldn't take–he would force himself to wait until she did. And then…may the Powers help him, he would give her everything.

“I owe you my life, Addison, and I would give you my life in the only way I know how. By protecting you from anything that threatens you, anything that upsets you, anything you find unpleasant or boring or ugly. By giving you pleasure until you are so sated you beg me to stop. By making your life easier, better, more peaceful or exciting or, yes, even romantic. I will learn your needs just as I will learn your body.” He saw her gaze dance between his eyes and his lips, felt her body shudder, sensed the increased speed of her heart and her breath. “You are mine, Addison. Whether you know it yet or not.”

“Well, okay then…” She swallowed. “That was a lot better.”