CASSIE SCOT
MYSTERY SERIES
PARANORMAL DETECTIVE
SECRETS AND LIES
BY
CHRISTINE AMSDEN
BLURB:
Book One
Cassie Scot: Paranormal
Detective
Cassie
Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but
belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but
earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s
reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and
tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly
belongs.
Book Two
Secrets and Lies
Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal,
wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is
falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who
can save them.
To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.
To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.
Excerpt:
Somehow, I knew it was Evan as soon as his fist hit the
door. But unlike my father, I couldn't put him off because he'd set the wards.
This meant he could go through them. Even if he hadn't, he could have commanded
me to let him in.
Framed by the doorway, he looked impossibly large, though he
was only half a foot or so taller than me, probably 6'1” or 6'2”. He had a
lean, well-muscled frame, usually garbed in fitted, designer jeans and
t-shirts. Today, the t-shirt was in his favorite shade of forest green, with a
plea for people to recycle on the front. He wore his hair long, to just past
his shoulders, making it longer than mine at the moment. (I had recently lost a
lot of my hair to a fire.) Somehow, it heightened his masculinity, framing his
hard face, and highlighting his blue eyes.
He looked good. He always looked good, only now the sight of
him caused an odd fluttering in my stomach. Twice I had felt his lips on mine,
and the result had been... intense. I was ashamed to realize that part of me
wanted to feel them again.
Dangerous. I summed him up with that single word. Most of
the town would agree, although until recently, I had never thought of him that
way. He had been my friend, even my best friend at times, but now, thanks to a
magical debt, he was my owner.
He was also the last thing standing between me and a
completely normal, magic-free existence: A powerful, handsome roadblock who
could make me forget my resolve with a kiss. I had wondered how long he would
stay away before returning with all his considerable charm. He was a man who
got what he wanted. Now, he wanted me.
*GUEST POST*
Where do
ideas come from?
Ideas come
from everywhere. Good ideas are another story.
The thing
about ideas is that in two different author's hands, they become two different
stories. An idea is not a story. Ideas are cheap, in fact. The right dressing
can make any idea – even one that has been told into the ground – seem
brilliant, shiny, and new.
I don't like
to force ideas. When I came up with Cassie, in fact, I was taking a break from
writing. It wasn't a long one – I didn't seem capable of not writing for more
than a few weeks! But I was struggling to come up with my next idea, a little
burned out, and so I gave my muse a break. It was the best decision I could
have made. With the pressure off my muse found – not an idea I had forced upon
her – but the next idea I could get excited about. It's a good thing, because
it took me years to tell Cassie's story.
I don't know
what one thing made Cassie pop into my mind. I had been doing a lot of reading.
I'd just looked up the date of Jim Butcher's next book release and seen that it
wasn't too far off. I was excited about it, and thinking of Harry Dresden. I
was also thinking of Monk from the USA Network. Monk was another sleuth I
enjoyed, and for the same reason – strong character. “Characters Welcome” came
to mind – the USA tagline. That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to come up with
the next great character. I wanted to write a fantasy novel, but what could I
do that hadn't been done before? The urban fantasy world is swimming in
(wonderful) characters who are the chosen one, or immensely powerful, or who
are haunted by that very power.
And then it
came to me... What if... What if my character were the only one in the magical
world without magic? The word squib flashed through my mind for an
instant. Then I went upstairs to write the first few paragraphs which haven't
changed much from that first effort.
AUTHOR BIO:
Award-winning
author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a
touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after
attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly
afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards. Expect many
more titles by this up-and-coming author.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden
GIVEAWAY!!
Christine will be
awarding a $50 Amazon or BN GC to one randomly selected commenter.
Follow the tour and
comment; the more YOU comment, the better YOUR chances of winning. The tour
dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteThanks for the guest post and spotlight!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating excerpt. Sounds like a great story.
ReplyDeleteFun post, and the series' premise is inspired!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great series!!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com