Category Archives: Scorpius Syndrome

Contest for $50 Amazon gift card!

on September 2, 2017

CONTEST IS CLOSED!  🙂

UPDATE:  Congrats to Julie for winning!  (Sorry about the email mixup and the post commenting mixup!). 🙂

Update:  The comment section is now working at the bottom of the post.  YAY!

Hi all!

So, we updated the website.  What do you think?  Nice, right?  :). To celebrate, I’m having a contest to give away a $50 Amazon gift card.  To enter, just comment on the blog below and tell me your best day of the summer so far.  “I saw a good movie,” is a perfectly fine response!  (We’re also checking to make sure the blog still works and goes to subscribers – LOL!). **If you are seeing this blog on GoodReads or Amazon or wherever the blog goes out, you MUST comment in the blog comment section on the Website to enter the contest.  We’ll randomly draw a name in a week (next Friday), so you have plenty of time to enter.  Once we draw a name, we’ll update the blog at the top to let you know.

Those of you still here, how about an update?  🙂

Personally, I had a ball at Comic Con in San Diego and plan to blog a bit about the adventure coming up.  The summer is winding down, the kids are about to go back to school, and we have wild fires kind of surrounding us.  We’re not in any danger (knock on wood), but there are a lot of folks who might be, so keep a good thought.  I’m just writing away and knocking down deadlines.  I’ve also taken up Mah Jongg with my mom, sisters, and friends…and yesterday the gods were not friendly to me.  Very few jokers in my hand all day!  What’s up with that?

On a professional front, a lot of going on!

Storm Gathering releases on September 19th.  It’s the fourth book in the Scorpius Syndrome series, and it has been named an Amazon pick of the month for September!  It features Greyson Storm and Maureen Shadow.  You might remember that Grey kidnapped Moe in Shadow Falling, and let’s just say she isn’t happy about it.  But he’s so sexy…

Wicked Kiss and Wicked Bite hit the USA Today Bestseller list in July and August, respectively.  Thank you so much!  I’m hoping to be able to share some news about the Dark Protector world very soon.  Stay tuned.

In the back of Wicked Bite, there’s an excerpt THE HIDDEN, which is the first book in a new series called The Requisition Force.  The new series will debut in October of 2018.  I’m really excited about it!

Twisted Truths, Book 3 in the Blood Brother series, releases on November 14th, which also happens to be my birthday.  Twisted Truths is about Denver and Noni.  Their romance has been hinted at for the last couple of books, so you might know a bit about them already.  Let’s just say their reunion is a bit explosive.  Okay.  A lot explosive.  This is the final book in the Blood Brothers/Sin Brothers books.  I really hope you enjoy it!

In other news, the Scorpius Syndrome books are now available in audio for those of you who like audio books.  They’re read by the amazing Michael Pauley, and I think he does a fantastic job.  He’s working on Storm Gathering as we speak, so that one would be ready right around release time.  Also, I hired Stella Bloom (she’s awesome and does a bunch of Kristen Ashley’s books) as the narrator for Under the Covers, Rising Assets, and Over the Top from the Maverick Montana series.  Under the Covers and Rising Assets are available now, and Over the Top is being narrated as we speak.  The first book, Against the Wall, is also available in audio.

I hope you had a wonderful summer, and thank you for being here!  Now that the website is all updated, I’m planning on blogging maybe once a week just for fun.  Good luck in the contest!

XO

 

Izzy’s Insights – with Tace Justice!

on February 8, 2017

Reporter Izzy
Photo Credit: Sergej Khakimullin
Shutterstock

Hi all!  Boy, I’ve missed interviewing people, but I’ve had a blast traveling around the world for a while.  Now I’m back to blur the line between reality and fantasy, truth and we-wish-truth, life and stories.  In other words, I’m here to interview Tace Justice.  You know Tace, right?  He’s the Vanguard medic.  What’s Vanguard, you say?  **Sigh**

Okay.  There’s more to life than vampires and super soldiers.  Turns out a nasty bacteria named Scorpius took out 95% of the human population, and a group called Vanguard sprang up in inner Los Angeles.  It’s led by ex-gang member and former soldier Jax Mercury.  Now, you’d think that having most of the population gone would leave things rather peaceful, right?  Right?  Nope.  Haha.  No way.  Turns out the bacteria messes with the brain and creates sociopaths.  (You do know about all the real studies regarding the structures of sociopathic brains, right?).  Anyhoo,  sociopaths can be good just not all that emotional, they can be crazy and eat dirt, or they can be super brilliant, scary, real life serial killers.  Guess who the biggest sociopathi serial killer is in the Scorpius World?  Yep.  The president.  (There are NO ZOMBIES in this series.  The bad guys are sociopaths.  Still human with brains).

So…Tace Justice has survived the bacteria, and he’s darker and deadlier than before.   He’s also kind of wondering if he’s going crazy.  Just to give you a picture, he’s blond with blue eyes straight out of Texas…with the sexy as sin accent.  Yep.  He’s a big guy who has served his country as a medic.  Now we’re meeting in a looted bar somewhere right outside Vanguard territory.

With that intro…

IZZY:  Hi Tace.  Thanks, for, um meeting me.

TACE:  What the hell is going on, and who are you?

IZZY:  I’m Izzy.

TACE:  I don’t know what that means.

IZZY:  (Man, he’s cute.  Huge blue eyes–they sizzle like a hot Texan sky.  I feel the urge to fan myself, but I don’t.  Because I’m a professional, you know.)  It means, you’re here for an interview.  You know it’s important to preserve history, even though we’re fighting for our lives.

TACE:  We have people preserving history?  (He glances down at my brand new red Louboutins and frowns).  Those are pretty fancy shoes for the end of the world.

IZZY:  The king sent me these.

TACE:  The king?  What king?

IZZY:  (Shit.  I’m crossing realities again.  King Dage Kayrs (from the Dark Protectors) can do so because, well, he’s the king.  Most everyone else can’t).  Just a guy I used to date.  You know, before Scorpius.  I wear them to remember him.  (I may need a vampire friend to get me out of this mess.)

TACE:  Did you lose him?

IZZY:  Um, yeah.  Okay.  So.  You’re fighting your attraction to Sami Steel, and that’s not working very well, right?

At this point, Tace leans back in his chair, and his eyes darken to this really cool but kind of scary deep blue.  I swallow, maybe a little nervously.  But hey, I’ve dealt with cranky vampires, remember?  So instead of talking, I just lift one eyebrow.  That usually works.

TACE:  The eyebrow thing doesn’t work on me.

IZZY:  Okay.  But you still need to answer the question.

TACE:  While I don’t see what my love life or current obsessions have to do with history, I guess I could tell you that I’ve always fought my attraction to Sami.  She’s a warrior, and that just turns me on, you know?

IZZY:  In this day and age, with the world ending, it seems like things could revert to the bad old days where women were just, well, used.  To hear you talk about her like a warrior is uplifting.

TACE:  We’re fighting for survival, and anybody who thinks women can’t fight as well as men are just crazy.  Hell.  The smartest and most likely most dangerous people we have at Vanguard are women.  Lynne, Vinnie, Sami, April…they’re all crucial to surviving this.  You get that, right?

IZZY:  I surely do.  So you don’t try to protect her at all.

Tace then rolls his eyes and turns to scout the deserted and garbage riddled street outside.  Then his shoulders seemed to relax.

TACE:  Of course I try to protect her.  She’s well trained and dangerous, but she’s not invincible.  If anything happened to her, I’d lose my mind. 

IZZY:  I understand.  So.  Do you see a happy story for you?

He snorts.

TACE:  No.  I mean, we have enemies outside the gates who want us dead.  One of them is the president of the USA.  We’re gonna have to take the fight to him soon, and my only goal is making sure Sami survives that fight.  Even if I don’t.

He’s sweet and more than a little sexy.  I can’t help but wonder why Sami hasn’t just tackled him to the ground already.  I guess I’ll go read their story now.  I’ve been waiting, and it’s finally here.

The door opens, and there stands three hundred pounds of pure muscle.  I sigh as I take  in golden eyes, longish dark hair, and a deep scowl.  Tace stands, and the second he does, I bound to my feet.

IZZY:  So.  This is my bodyguard from the, ah, Mission to Preserve History.  We’re not affiliated with any group or gang or organization.  (My voice rises as I hustle toward the badass at the door.  I need to get him out of here and out of this reality before I blow everything.)  Bye.

TACE:  Hey.  Good luck with the history!  I’m not sure what’s going to happen to us, especially with so many enemies, so it might be good to keep a record.  Bye.

When will the protectors stop trying to, well, protect me?  With a zip, I’m out of the Scorpius reality and back into another one.

See you guys soon!

XOXOXO, Izzy

Justice Ascending

 

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Here’s an excerpt from JUSTICE ASCENDING:

“Sami,” Jax said. “Damon arrived an hour ago to request assistance. I’m sending Tace into Merc territory to help with the wounded from the attack yesterday, and I’d like you to provide backup.”

Merc territory? Eesh. Although it would be advantageous to catalog their weak points. “Got it.” She kept her face stoic and strode past the men and into the war room. After she’d tapped out the night before, Tace had let her up, and she’d all but run for her quarters. A sleepless night later, and she still couldn’t forget his lips so close to hers. No way was she getting involved with a brilliant bad boy who freely admitted he was about to go dark—especially since he was smart enough to figure out everything she was fighting so hard to keep hidden.

Tace followed her. “You shouldn’t come with me,” he whispered, keeping pace past the table to the lockers.

What was happening with him? “Why not?” she whispered back, yanking open a locker to outfit herself.

He didn’t answer.

She fit a gun holster over her shoulder, pushing her green sweater out of the way. A knife went in her jeans pocket, and a couple more went beside her calf and in her boot. She looked up. “Well?”

Tace’s jaw flexed, and he stepped into her space. “It’s Merc territory.”

“No shit.” Heat flared through her at the nearness of his hard body. Man, she was off-center. “Would you move back?”

“No.” He tugged on her shoulder holster. “This isn’t secure enough.”

She slapped his hands. “Stop it.”

He yanked on the strap, and she smacked his wrist, engaging in a clumsy struggle. He leaned in. “You need to listen to me. Last night I dreamed of you beneath me, naked in bed, and coming hard. We need distance from each other.”

She didn’t back down even as her libido sprang right up into awareness. “What about Barbara?”

“It’s over,” Tace said flatly.

“That’s your problem and not mine.” Sami drew out a knife.

“Yeah, except you’re the one haunting my dreams,” he said, his voice gravelly.

She shook her head. “You’re just having more brain issues from the illness. It’ll go away once you heal. Nothing can happen between us because of our jobs.” And the fact that she was lying to everybody about her past. Oh yeah. That.

His jaw clenched. “I know that, which is why we could use distance.”

“I’m not neglecting my job because you’re horny, Justice.” She shoved him.

He tugged on the strap again, and she slapped his hand. Again. They engaged in a struggle for control, and she shoved his arm.

“What the hell?” Jax snapped from the doorway.

Her head swiveled the same time Tace’s did. Heat climbed into her face.

Jax frowned and looked from Tace to Sami and back. “Is something going on between you two?”

“No,” Sami burst out just as Tace snarled, “Hell, no.”

Jax rocked back on his heels, his face harder than usual. “All right. Keep it that way.”

Sami brushed by Tace. “No worries there.” When she reached Jax, he stopped her by the arm. She lifted one eyebrow and stared up into his sharply cut face.

He dropped his hand. “This isn’t an order. If you don’t want to go into Merc territory, you don’t have to.”

Sami stiffened. The men had never treated her differently because of her sex. Her abdomen cramped. “Did you give Tace the out if he didn’t want to go?”

Jax paused and then frowned again. “Actually, yeah. I did.”

“Oh.” She settled. “All right then. I’m fine on mission.”

“Copy that.” Jax released her. “Learn everything about the Mercs that you can—I’m interested in their holdings and provisions. Well, and security. If we decide to take out Greyson Storm, who steps up?”

Sami paused. Sometimes she forgot what a cold strategist Jax could be. He’d mellowed a little since falling in love . . . but only a little. “You’re thinking of taking the leader of the Mercs out?”

“Maybe.” Jax turned toward Tace. “Are you focused enough for this?”

“Yep.” Tace grabbed a black cowboy hat off a rack near the door.

Sami shook her head. “Do not let him wear the hat. We’ll look like idiots.”

Tace ran his finger along the brim of the hat. “This is my natural look.”

It might have been at one time, but the new Tace Justice? She took a good look at him. The brim hung low over his blue eyes and cast part of his face in shadow. Fine lines and rugged features were visible and yet his expression remained veiled. Tingles exploded in her abdomen. He did look good in the hat. “Maybe it will fit our purposes for them to think you’re a moron.” She pivoted on her heel and headed for the vestibule, using every ounce of her strength to sound normal.

He chuckled low behind her, and the sound shivered down her spine.

Release Day, Wild Turkeys, and an Effing DNS Server…

on August 30, 2016

SHADOW FALLING_revHi all!  How is everybody’s day going so far?  Mine’s going all right.  To be honest, it’s been an odd one.  First, Shadow Falling has released, and I am over the top excited about Raze and Vinnie’s story being available.  Reviews are already pouring in, and they’re wonderful, so it’s a great day.

Second, somehow Buddy got out and ended up with a gag of wild turkeys (all bigger than he is).  I went outside after a cheerio incident where I dropped a bowl and scattered the IMG_5261round little buggers (without milk, at least), and he barreled for me, meowing wildly, trying to get back inside.  It was a little funny, truth be told.

Oh, and my internet provider is having DNS server problems, and I can’t get on FaceBook.  Imagine being an author having a book release, and FB is unavailable.  I can Like posts from my phone, and I am, but still.  It has been interesting.

But really, with Shadow releasing, it’s been a pretty awesome day.  Here’s a quick excerpt for you that has Raze and Vinnie, and also Jax and Shadow Falling 3Lynne (from Mercury Striking):

All Vinnie knew was that Lynne and Jax had helped rescue her from the most powerful Ripper on the planet, and that secured her loyalty without question. “I’m, ah, not sure where I will be staying,” she murmured.

Jax stood, grabbing both empty soup bowls. “You’re bunking with Raze. Only room available.” He turned and stalked across the room to dump the bowls in a rubber bin. “Raze? You done scouting?”

“No. I took a second shift that starts in thirty minutes.” Raze glanced at what appeared to be a military watch on his wrist.

Jax nodded. “I’ll be back to join you. This decision is on you and don’t forget it.”

“Copy that,” Raze said, his expression giving away nothing.

Vinnie looked from one to the other. Decision? Were they talking about her?  She opened her mouth to ask, and a sharp shake of Raze’s head stopped her words in her throat. 

Jax looked back at Lynne. “Blue? Get some damn sleep before you fall down.” He pivoted and headed toward his office and war room, which were connected by a newly cut door in the building.

Lynne stood, her lips twitching into a smile. “You smooth talker, you. Take me now.”

He stopped at the doorway, all hard-muscled male.

Vinnie swallowed, heat sliding down her back. Tension filled the air.

Jax turned around and studied Lynne for a moment. Then smoothly launching into motion, he retraced his steps, no expression on his hard-contoured face. The legends whispered about him far and wide, the dangerous leader of the Vanguard, the man who killed easily, could be seen in every step.

He reached Lynne, towering a good foot over the pale brunette.

Vinnie’s knees wobbled with the need to do something, but her feet remained frozen in place. She cut a glance at Raze, who was watching the two with heavy lids, appearing almost bored.

Vinnie turned back to Jax.

With a shockingly gentle movement, he slid a knuckle under Lynne’s chin and lifted her face. “I’m sorry. What I meant to say was that you’re working too hard, you need sleep, and I’m worried about you. If I lose you, there’s no fuckin’ reason to keep going.” Leaning down, he planted a soft kiss on her mouth, released her, and turned to head back to the doorway.

“That’s better,” Lynne called out, a pretty pink covering her cheeks just as he disappeared into the other part of the building.

Vinnie exhaled. Wow. All righty, then. Reality slammed her, and she turned to Raze. “I am not living with you.”

Buy now: 

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Win a Sephora Mini-Emergency Kit!

on January 30, 2016

UPDATE:  Congrats to Reverly Kerner for winning!!!  We’ll get your kit to you!  Thanks to everyone for entering!

Hi all!  Thanks for a FABULOUS release week!  As you know, the release week for Mercury Striking is coming to an end, and I still have a Sephora Emergency kit to give away. So let’s give it away here on the blog.  Before I forget, the 23% off the kindle price is only set until today, and I’m not sure what happens after that.  The regular price is more.  Here’s a link if you want to make sure to get today’s price:  MERCURY STRIKING.

How has your week been?  Mine has been crazy with promo and the fun of Mercury.  I went a little darker with this book (it’s a post-apocalyptic world, after all), and the response and reviews have been awesome.  I’m so glad!  In addition, I went into  my local Walmart the other day, and look what I saw!

WalMartI did a very happy dance and took pictures.  I’m also supposed to be in Target, but I’m not in my local Target.  If you see one of my books in Target, would you shoot me a picture?  I’d really appreciate it!

Here’s a sample of one of the Sephora kits:

Survival kit 1Finally, I’m heading off to Daytona next week for the Coastal Magic Convention and Booksigning.  The public booksigning is on Saturday the 6th, 5:30-7:30 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort.  Come by and say hi!

To enter the contest, just answer this question:

If it turned out that the supernatural world existed, and we all had latent genes, I would turn out to be:  (vampire, shifter, healer, psychic, demon, drgaon, etc…)

Win Books as the Apocalypse Arrives!

on January 26, 2016

The apocalypse is here!!!  Well, Mercury Striking is here, and it’s a post-apocalyptic romance.  🙂

MERCURY STRIKING

The Scorpius Syndrome, Book #1

Mercury Striking compJanuary 26, 2016 print and eBook release

With nothing but rumors to lead her, Lynn Harmony has trekked across a nightmare landscape to find one man—a mysterious, damaged legend who protects the weak and leads the strong. He’s more than muscle and firepower—and in post-plague L.A., he’s her only hope. As the one woman who could cure the disease, Lynn is the single most volatile—and vulnerable—creature in this new and ruthless world. But face to face with Jax Mercury…

Danger has never looked quite so delicious…

“Thrilling post-apocalyptic romance at its dark, sizzling best!” —Lara Adrian

“Nothing is easy or black or white in Zanetti’s grim new reality, but hope is key, and I hope she writes faster!”New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione

 [Amazon]  [BN]  [Books-A-Million]  [GooglePlay] [ Kobo ]

Here’s a quick blurb:

Lynne swallowed and stepped back inside to shut the door.  Tears pricked her eyes.  How silly.  What the hell did she care about some crazy woman who didn’t like her?  Nobody liked her, and she’d always be alone.  She placed the soup on the table, no longer hungry.

Even her bones were exhausted, and sometimes she wondered why she hadn’t just died.  What had she done that was so terrible to have deserved this?  Her heart beat steadily, the small glow showing blue through her heart.

A tear fell.

Of course, Jax Mercury chose than minute to walk inside. 

He paused, an ‘oh shit’ expression crossing his rugged face.  She would’ve laughed, but the struggle to step the tears was too hard.  A frown lowered his eyebrows, and he shut the door, placing several guns on top of the useless refrigerator.  “Did I hurt you that badly?” he asked.

She paused and waited until his words sank in. “No.”

He blinked and glanced around the apartment. “Stop crying.”

At the order, a loud sob erupted from her chest.

He stilled.  “Ah, what’s wrong?”

It was a simple question.  A nice question.  One a civilized person would ask.  The easy words ticked through her, and something exploded deep inside.  “Everything.”  She threw out her hands.  “Everybody hates me, the world is dying, and you fucking spanked me earlier.”  She doubled over as the emotional hurt overcame her.

“Well, hell.”  A second later she found herself lifted and cradled in very strong arms.  Jax held her against his hard chest, his mouth near her ear.  “Nobody hates you.”

“Yes, they do,” she hiccupped, crying harder, her body shaking.

He sighed and dropped onto the sofa, holding her closer, tucking her face into his neck.  “We fear things in direct proportion to our ignorance of them.”  His breath brushed her ear, and his size provided safety.

Now for the contest:

Answer the following question in the comments below.  I’ll draw five names, and those winners will get to choose whether they want an ebook of Wicked Ride or Wicked Edge.  Good luck!

Question:  If the apocalypse does come, are you prepared?  If so, how?  🙂