Blood in the Valley
J K Hogan
Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Date Published: 5/2/13
Synopsis of Blood in the Valley:
The daughter of a Las Vegas hustler, Raven Sabatier grew up trusting nothing and no one-she doesn't even trust herself to stay in one place for longer than a minute. When her quest to find out the secrets of her past leads her to the mountains of North Carolina, she's set on a collision course with the one man she thought she'd never see again.
In Appalachia consulting on an archeological dig, Anthropologist Dr. Drew Deveraux comes face to face with the indomitable beauty who broke into his apartment a year ago, tilting his carefully cultivated world on its axis.
Engaged in a fight with their demons, both imagined and real, the last thing either of them expected to find was love. Together, they must unravel the mystery of Raven's past and her connection with an ancient race of witches, in order to save their future-and all of the souls hanging in the balance.
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Excerpt from Blood in the Valley:
It had been just after midnight when she'd collapsed facedown on the surprisingly comfortable bed, dead to the world. It was close to three a. m. when she heard the first noise outside her door.
At first, it was a light thump followed by a muffled curse. Her eyes flew open, but she wrote it off as some drunk from the bar trying to find his room. She'd almost gone back to sleep when she heard a faint scraping sound, followed by the distinct turning of the handle.
Raven was instantly on alert but not overly worried, as no one else but Micah had a key to her room. Her whole body tensed as she heard the door pop open.
Her back was to it, so she couldn't see. Not her typical sleeping position-she never put her back to the door-but she'd crashed so quickly. She kept still, not wanting to let on that she was awake and lose the element of surprise.
She sent a low frequency energy wave rippling through the air. It would send back visual information as it bounced off the intruder, a lot like sonar. Not enough detail to discern identity, but enough to let her know what she was up against.
Extremely tall. Six-five, maybe six-six. Long, rangy build. Not a body builder type, but plenty of muscle to work with.
She watched the shimmering outline the energy wave sent to her neocortex. He didn't seem in too big of a hurry, and her internal warning system was not yet sensing a threat-other than the fact the guy had just broken into her room.
Raven perceived no immediate mortal danger so she decided to play dumb, let the guy think he'd caught her. Who the hell was it, anyway? Had The Watcher finally decided to show himself? Maybe he'd finally tell her what the fuck he wanted.
Footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor as the stranger walked over to the small writing desk. He grabbed hold of the spindly ladder-back chair that went with it, dragged it back to the door, and, presumably, sat down in it.
Hell, she hoped this guy didn't think he was being stealth. He did surprise her by suddenly flicking on the overhead lights. Her eyes had always adjusted quickly to changes in light, and tonight was no exception.
She sprang upright in the bed, clutched a hand to her chest, and blinked as if she'd been jolted awake. Playing the startled damsel in distress should buy her a little time to figure out what was up.
When she glanced toward the door, Raven saw that the tall guy had wedged the back of the chair up under the door knob and was sitting back with legs stretched out and arms crossed over his chest. The dirty leather cowboy hat was pulled down over his eyes and obscured most of his face.
She barely suppressed a snort when she realized he actually thought he had her trapped in there. Guy had no idea who he was dealing with. Putting just the right amount of shake in her voice, she spoke to him.
"Wh-who are you? What do you want?"
The man leaned forward to rest his elbows on his thighs, lowered his head, and pulled the hat off. After he raked a hand through messy ash-blonde hair, he looked at her and sneered. "Gotcha."
Raven gave him a hard stare. He was dressed differently, in a khaki work shirt and camo cargo pants, stuffed into steel-toe boots. All of it, including his skin, was covered in a fine layer of dirt.
The face was different. Harder, more world-weary than a year ago. But she recognized him. The good Dr. Deveraux had finally found her, and she never even knew he'd been looking. Touché. Well played, Doctor.
Raven dropped the act, seeing no point in it since he clearly knew who she was. With a toss of the covers, she threw her legs over the side of the bed and spun around to face him. She knew the jersey barely covered her lady bits, and she got a small sense of satisfaction watching his eyes zero in on the hem for just a moment before flicking back to her face.
So blue, she thought. Those eyes. A rich, sky blue. And that was enough of that. She could moon over hot guys when they weren't holding her hostage, however ineffectively.
She tilted her head and let a small smile play over her full lips, giving him what Ray had always called her curious bird look. "You got me. Now what are you going to do with me?"
As she watched his eyes dart around the room, it occurred to her that he hadn't thought this through any further than getting in the room. She decided to play along. For now. If she could get him talking, she might be able to get more information about what was in that book.
"Contrary to how it may look, Cliffdweller's isn't that kind of inn." That surprised a laugh out of him that had her fighting the urge to smile back.
Leaning back in the chair again, he crossed his legs, like he was settling in. "Why don't we start with your name."
With no reason to lie, she shrugged a deceptively delicate looking shoulder. "Raven."
"Raven...," he prompted, and urged her to continue with a wave of his hand.
"Just Raven. For now."
"Okay, Just Raven, why don't we start with why you're not the least bit scared of me, even though I broke into your room."
She flashed him a smile designed to distract, to seduce. "Come on, Doc, you're you're about as stealth as a bull in a china shop. I think the whole inn knew what you were up to."
One corner of his mouth tipped up in a half smile. "That bad, huh?" he said.
Raven noticed his voice slurred a little when he spoke. She narrowed her eyes at him. Bloody hell, was he drunk?
My Review of Blood in the Valley:
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a free copy of the book from the author for an honest review.
Ray Sabatier is a man that has had a rough life. He grew up with an abusive father and a psychotic step-mother. His father was never around when he was growing up. He was always out drinking and whoring, leaving Ray with his step-mother. Ray knew he couldn't stay there or he would end up dead. His dad would he up killing him from one of his beatings or Ray would kill himself. Ray left home and being on the road was harder than he thought it would be. He never had enough money but there was always drugs and booze. Ray started stealing, picking pickets, running scams to get the money he need for his next fix. Ray never wanted to have a family and especially not any kids that would grow up to be like him or have the life he had growing up. He was speechless when some lady showed up on his door step one day with his four year old daughter who had no name. Her mother died before she could give her a name. Ray named her Raven. Ray taught her what he knew about breaking and entering, stealing and not trust anyone not even him.
Drew is an anthropologist and professor at Tulane University. He is in Blowing Rock, North Carolina on an archaeological dig when he runs into Raven. He knows right away that she is the one who broke into his apartment last year. He remembers her so well because of her eyes and she has a good right hook. She almost knocked him out, he saw stars. Drew knows that she is a witch like Isla but he doesn't think she knows this. He knows he can't tell her a lot or he will scare her off. Drew calls his best friend Jere and tells him about Raven. Jere and his new wife Isla are now hunting people like Raven and trying to help them. Isla found out last year that she was a witch and a very powerful one at that. She knows what is like not knowing what you are and then finding out at the wrong time is like. Isla is a very sweet person and only wants to help people and do what is right.
Raven is having feelings for Drew that she has never had for anyone else in her life. Being taught by her father Ray to never trust anyone or let them in she is having problems with her feelings. She is very jealous of Drew. If a woman including Isla whom she knows is a very good friend of hers hugs Drew Raven gets very upset. She gets upset when Drew is upset. She doesn't know what or how to deal with these feelings she has never felt them before. In the past when she thought a guy was getting to close she would get on her bike and take off leaving the guy behind forever. Raven knows that Drew is not the type of guy that just plays around or would play with her feelings. But for some reason she can't run away this time.
Drew is having the same problems only somewhat in a different way or for different reasons. Drew can't stand to be away from Raven for any amount of time. And when he is with her he is always aware of her. She can arouse him just by looking at her or her looking at him. All she has to do is walk in the room and Drew goes off in lala land. Both of them are in love with each other and I think everyone knows it but them.
Jere and Isla from book #1 have arrived in the States to help Raven figure out whom or what she is and to teach her how to use her powers. Raven not ever trusting anyone is not sure about them but they are friends with Drew so that helps. But she can also feel Isla's energy and feels comfortable with her although she still doesn't trust her own feelings yet. Raven is afraid of getting hurt. Her father taught her this all her life. He taught her that everyone including himself will eventually end up hurting her and leaving. The only person she can ever count on is herself.
I love reading anything paranormal especially if witches are involved. I love reading about their magic and what they can do with their magic powers. Blood in the Valley's witches are kind of different than other witches that I have read about. But hey I loved that they were different. If you like a good book about witches, demons and hot dudes then Blood in the Valley would be just the book you need to read.
Fire on the Island
J K Hogan
Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Date Published: 8/2/12
Synopsis of Fire on the Island:
"She who wields the mark is the barrier between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man, protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem"
All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother's insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn't expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.
Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. Alastore does everything in his power to eliminate them but, unbeknownst to all of them, Isla is the only one with the ability to stop him for good.
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My Review of Fire on the Island:
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a free copy of the book from the author for an honest review.
Isla MacAllan loves her little island, the Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK. Isla's has her own little cabin that is surrounded by dense forest of trees. The tourist or anyone else couldn't see her place she lived in isolation she the way she preferred it. She moved to Arran about ten years ago from the city of Glasgow where she was born. She arrived on the island with nothing but twenty pounds and the clothes on her back. She got a job at the local pub in Brodick, she rented the one room flat on the floor above the pub. She also did odd jobs around the little village where she lived like taking care of people's lawns or walking their dogs.
One day Isla was working at one of her odd jobs, weeding in Mrs. Calahn's rose garden. It was a hot day in June she put her hair up in a loose knot when one of the islanders saw the mark on the back of her neck. It never crossed her mind to hide the mark. She had always had it and never gave it any thought; it was a part of her. One of the islanders saw it and he went and told someone and then that person went and told someone else. That is the way rumors get started, you tell one person something and they go and tell someone else only they tell it a little bit different than you did or maybe they add one little thing to it and then they go tell someone else and there you go by the time it gets around to everyone on the island they speculated and added to the story about what the mark means. That one little mark on the back of Isla's neck ended up causing people to talk about her behind her back and to shun her at the same time. In the beginning everybody loved and cared about her but one little mark cost her, her friends. Isla was the same person then as she was the day she moved to the island. The people on the island are the ones who changed not Isla and over a little mark. What does this show about these people? Isla didn't know how she got the mark. Isla was a small child when her father left her and her mother she was too young to understand besides her mother was an alcoholic who couldn't believe anything she said.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau earned his Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh, the focus of Jeremiah's studies and now his work was parapsychology—the study of paranormal phenomena. Currently he was a world renowned paranormal researcher and author.
The project that Jere is working on now is a particular sect of witches called the Bruixi. Most people when they thought about witches the Salem witch trials is what came to their minds. Jere found out in his research that this group of witches pre-dates the Roman Empire. As far as Jere could tell the Bruixi was the oldest sect of witches known in history. Jere is trying to prove that the Bruixi witches do indeed exists.
Jere's friend and editor, Ian Scott calls him and tells him he needs a vacation. Jere tells him no he don't he is almost through with the job he is on and will be home soon. This is not true he is already through with the job he is just taking some quite time to do some research on the Bruixi witches which his editor doesn't approve of.
But then Jere has a light bulb moment and thinks maybe he is right I do need a vacation and he knows just the place, the Isle of Arran. He has come across a woman living there by the name of Isla MacAllan and needs to pay her a visit to find more info on his research.
Isla owns a company that does tours, kayaking and hiking. She doesn't like everyone knowing that she is the owner.
Here is a quote from Fire on the Island that I just loved. Isla was talking to some of her customers that she was taking on a hiking tour. You could use this for a lot of different things which is cool but Isla was telling them not litter or steal and trying to save their lives. You would think that adults would already know this. I know Isla and the other tour guides had ran into this problem before or she would probably not have thought to tell them this.
"Lastly, remember the hiker's code: 'Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.' And don't touch anything that looks poisonous!"
I just love Isla's best friend and partner, Callum he seems like the happiest person alive. He has such a great attitude I mean it's like when he walks in the room the whole atmosphere just changes. He is like a breath of fresh air. I love how he tries to take care of Isla and not wanting her to be alone. He is very happy himself with his boyfriend Jack and wants Isla to be happy too. I like how he just kind of threw Jere on her by throwing in a free hiking trip for Jere with Isla leading the tour when he rented his cabin to Jere.
Isla decides to do a little investigatingon her own. She goes on the internet and types in Jere's name and what you know that is old Jere right there on Wikipedia. She learns not only is he a psychologist but he is a parapsychologist. She believes that he lied to her about being on vacation that he is really there because he heard the rumors that there may be a witch living on the island. This little bit of info has Isla upset she thought she had finally found someone she might could come to trust. I think she is hurt probably more that she is admitting. I believe that Isla has already fallen in love with Jere and he with her.
Isla is finding out that she is a witch from the Bruixi and that she has powers inside of her. She has to learn how to use these powers real quick like or she and everyone else will die. People are starting go missing and chief of police wants Isla in on the search for them even if no one else does. He doesn't care about what they say about her all he cares about is finding the ones who are missing. With Isla's life in danger Jere will not let her out of his sight. Where Isla goes Jere goes. Isla has rocked his world like no other has ever been able to do. I think he has rocked her world too only she is not ready for it just yet.
I loved Fire on the Island!! It is one the best books ever! I loved Isla, Jere, Marduk and all of the characters especially Callum he is one cool dude. It would be so cool to find out that Callum was a witch like Isla well men are not called witches they are called wizard. But it would be cool if a man could be a praeda, like Isla and Jack is/was his soulmate.
J.K. Hogan
Author Bio:
J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a "soundtrack" for her stories as she writes them.
J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives on a farm with her husband and young son, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn't on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert. In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading!
J.K. Hogan is a member of The Romance Writers of America.
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