Halloween
Event with Anchor Group Publishing
If you are not familiar with this publishing company
you must do so, a.s.a.p.
Here is their link to Facebook
and the lovely Website
BE SURE
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
A
wonderful group of authors
belong to this firm and its
imperative for all book lovers to meet them.
So many delightful books are published monthly from Anchor Group.
You will meet a few now.
Anchor Group has decided to do an annual Halloween event and giveaway for all
the fans.
Not only are the authors hosting giveaways but they have also included snippets
from their books.
They were asked to include the spookiest parts of their books so that the
Halloween theme will spread from blog to blog.
Without further ado, here they are.
Enjoy!
Author Emily Fogle
Chasing Flames
Spooky Teaser:
A
sudden flood of panic froze me where I stood. I could only stand there, gaping
in shock at the horrifying beast. Its shadow blotted out the waning light and
blocked the view of the outside world. I stared at it with my mouth hanging
open. The tip of my tongue held onto my scream, too terrified to let it go.
A
hideous face of matted fur and gnarled teeth glared at me. Its eyes glowed
blood red, and a monstrous paw with jagged dagger-claws reached out toward me.
The tip of one nail snagged on my shirt and I could feel the horrendous power
beneath its grip. I tried to run, but my fumbling feet got tangled together.
Hard, I fell on the wood floor. I kicked my legs, trying to get away from the
beast, but it closed the distance before I could back up an inch. It crouched
down in front of me, kneeling on all fours, and I could see its ripping teeth.
It
was so close.
With
one twisted claw, the monster ripped at his face with tearing nails. The
fur-riddled flesh tore away from the wolf’s face, but the slashing fingers did
not shred the skin. Instead, it melted away into a solid hunk of deformed fur.
What was left in the wake of the gruesome carnage was ...
Find Emily on Facebook
and attend her Release Event
for Chasing Flames:
Author Karen Swart
Kasayda Hellhound Awakened
Spooky Teaser:
I could hear a girl’s giggle as he stepped out silently. I followed
the silent approach he was doing, and closed the door slowly. Turning around, I
could see the couple in the corner of the alley; the girl was between the wall
and the guy.
Chax moved along the wall, keeping his eyes on
them, one slow step at a time. I looked at him and decided that this is as far
as I go. I don’t
want to be in the middle of whatever he has in mind. The girl suddenly
screamed, and I looked away from Chax to them. The ally was dark, so I couldn’t
make out what’s
going on. She was hitting him on the back but he wasn’t
backing off. The next thing I knew, Chax punched the guy in his side, a growl
like a beast escaping into the alley.
Holy crap, it’s not a guy, it’s a freaking demon!
I took a few steps back. So not ready for this
yet.
The demon turned around and faced Chax, who already had his swords drawn; he stood there ready and waiting. The guy’s face changed then, into what can only be described as a cross between a cat and a dragon. He had two large fangs sticking out of his mouth and from his chin downwards, I could see what looked like dark liquid running down, crap it was blood!
year old demon. This was the Alec I first met whilst rolling a tire. The carefree boy I had started to fall for before fate intervened. Yet the look that darkened his gaze was more murderous then welcoming. I thrashed and bucked beneath him but couldn’t seem to summon one iota of strength. His grip on my wrists tightened to the point of pain. “Is he worth it?” He hissed in my face, “Is he worth the blood on your hands?” Crimson red blood bubbled up Alec’s throat. It seeped between his teeth and dribbled down his chin. “Will he still want you when he knows what you’ve done and what it cost?” Squeezing my eyes shut, I cringed further into the mattress as blood rained down. The warm stickiness, with its pungent rusty smell, dripped on my face and soaked my shirt. I risked a glance up to see Alec’s lips curl in an evil grin. “Now, how ‘bout a kiss?” He bowed his head and crammed his blood soaked lips to mine. My muffled scream quickly turned into a gurgled gasp for air as I fought not to drown in this crimson hell. -Excerpt from Ascension, Gryphon Series Book 4 releasing in November
The demon turned around and faced Chax, who already had his swords drawn; he stood there ready and waiting. The guy’s face changed then, into what can only be described as a cross between a cat and a dragon. He had two large fangs sticking out of his mouth and from his chin downwards, I could see what looked like dark liquid running down, crap it was blood!
I stopped dead, not wanting to attract attention
to me. The demon stormed forward attacking Chax, who only stepped aside, made
two swipes with his sword and then walked over to the girl. I looked at the
demon to see why the hell Chax is just leaving it and not killing it, only to see its head
missing, and the body slumping to the ground.
Something
hit my boot so I looked down straight into a pair of eyes, I jumped away from
it. “Oh that’s so gross,” I complained and slammed into
the opposite wall, keeping my eyes on the head.
Find Karen on Facebook
Author Lucian Barnes
City of The Dead
Spooky Excerpt:
Confusion swirled through his
consciousness. The last thing he remembered was being lashed to a tree as the
main course for an army of bugs. Had they detoured around him and gone after an
alternate food source? He didn't think so, but why else would he still be here?
Just
thinking about it made him itch, like the massive column of insects was
crawling over his skin at this very moment. Realizing he could move now, George
reached with one hand for his other arm to dig his fingernails into his flesh
and peel it from his bones if he had to in order to quell the maddening
sensation.
"No!"
he screamed into the still dusk air as he watched his fingertips pass right
through his arm. "This can't be!" Spinning around he came face to
face with what was left of his body. Most of his flesh was gone, but there were
still tiny fragments of tissue clinging to the skeletal frame which was bound
tightly to the enormous oak. Tilting his head toward the sky George bellowed
out in rage, vowing to pay the Black Knight back for what he had done to him.
It was now just a matter of how and when he would exact his revenge upon his
former master.
Author Elizabeth Kirke
More Than Magic Series
Spooky Excerpt:
It was dark, truly dark. I had thought that it was dark in
the desert, but I had been able to look up and see stars. The canopy of leaves
above us was so thick that I couldn't see a single star. I wasn't sure if I had
ever been somewhere with literally no light anywhere in sight. The fact that I
was moving made things even eerier.
"How well can you see in the dark?" I had to ask.
TS hadn't stumbled once, even though I could feel him hopping and stepping over
obstacles.
We probably walked for another five minutes when TS stopped.
"You smell that?"
"Yeah," Thomas said. "Been hearing it,
too."
"What?" I asked.
"We're being watched," Thomas whispered.
"Why do you come here?" an unfamiliar voice asked.
I nearly jumped out of my skin. Suddenly a horrible snarling hiss came from
way, way too close to me. TS tensed and growled.
Find Elizabeth on Facebook
Author Christy Sloat
The Visitors Series
Spooky Excerpt:
Ephraim kissed me in an attempt
to distract me,
and for
a moment it worked. I got lost in his arms as he held me gently. The kiss
deepened a bit more, and then I opened my eyes. That’s when things went all
wrong. I saw a misty cloud coming toward us. At first I thought it had to be
low lying fog, until I started to see the eyes forming in the mist. I pulled
myself away from Ephraim and he turned around to see what I was seeing. There
was no way he would be able to see it, because he didn’t see the dead. But they
say those who are close to death can see death. It’s completely true because he
saw them. At first he was frozen as they walked closer to us. Then he got up
and backed away, scared. He wasn’t used to seeing them like I was. Scratch
that! I was never going to get used to this, but I had to try if this was my
life now. I went toward the mist as the dead started to surround me, locking me
inside a circle of their bodies. Their eyes were glassy and their faces veiny
and gruesome. They didn’t look like their former selves, unless they were zombies in their life. A woman put her
hand on my arm. I froze as her clammy palm rested on my skin. It felt cold at
first, and then wet.
“Who are you?” I asked with a
shaky voice. She tried to talk,
but her
mouth was sewn shut. Her lips were moving so fast; she was desperately trying
to tell me something. Only murmuring came out.
“Brylee, get away from them,”
Ephraim called.
I didn’t try to get away, like an
idiot stayed there. A man, whose lips were not sealed,
came
forward. “You surround yourself with the dead?” he asked as he pointed to
Ephraim.
“He isn’t dead. He is alive. Why
are you here?” I snapped.
“He isn’t dead yet, but he will be soon.” I shivered at his words. The woman
pointed to a spot in the grass and led me to it. I was being shoved toward a
place I had no clue of what it was. Once I was on top of it, I saw them …
graves. The headstones bore the names of the dead that now
surrounded me.
Author Amy Richie
Sapphire City
Spooky
Excerpt:
“There’s nothing
to be afraid of,” I whispered to myself. Just a mysterious light in the ocean. Probably
happens all the time.
I reached the dock and hesitated again. I would just have a quick look and then leave. No big deal. I took a deep breath and walked all the way to the edge of the dock.
“Stella.”
With my heart hammering fast enough to make me dizzy, I looked down into the calm water. I didn’t really expect to see anything, but there it was … a small circle of beautiful orange light. My breath caught.
I reached the dock and hesitated again. I would just have a quick look and then leave. No big deal. I took a deep breath and walked all the way to the edge of the dock.
“Stella.”
With my heart hammering fast enough to make me dizzy, I looked down into the calm water. I didn’t really expect to see anything, but there it was … a small circle of beautiful orange light. My breath caught.
Find Amy on Facebook
Author H.J Daly
Awaken
Spooky Excerpt:
As they fought with the tangled branches and thick undergrowth
it took them a while to reach their friend. They could already see the blood
pouring down his cheek, his pupils blacker than the night. He stood motionless,
caught in some sick game between two creatures who were circling him in the
small clearing. The creatures had no need for weapons, their claw like hands
were tipped with razor sharp talons, each tip delivering a small dose of
poison. One ran up to Bendrin, its thick serpent tongue lashed out, licked the
blood from his face and sighed in ecstasy.
The boys had seen enough and managed to angle a bow in the small
space to hit one of the creatures in the neck. It shrieked out and fell to the
floor, seeing its opportunity, the other dived on top of its fellow creature
and started to devour the flesh before it had even stopped struggling. Quickly,
they reached Bendrin and between them, began to drag him back through the
trees. It was a wasted effort, the cries from the dying creature had brought
others and they all wanted to play.
Find H.J on her Blog
Author Katherine Polillo
The Watchers Trilogy
Spooky
Excerpt:
I shot down a side street, thinking it was probably no one, just
my mind playing tricks on me, but why not try to lose them anyway. As soon as I
turned the corner, I felt better. I let a sigh escape my lips as I tried to
determine how to get where I needed to go from my new location. Suddenly, the
sound of footsteps echoed through the dark alley and a distinct panting noise
rose along the quiet night. I lost all control and broke into a desperate run
for the opposite end of the alley, where I would again be shot off onto a
street with hopefully someone in screaming range, or at least a streetlight. I
really didn’t want to face my attacker in the dark. I could face the minions of
Hell, just not in the dark. I hit the end of the alley at a dead run and
promptly dove into a large hydrangea bush meant to mark the property line of
someone’s front yard. I clamped a hand over my mouth and attempted to slow my
racing heartbeat. Crouching down, I attempted to make myself as small as
possible while I waited to see who my assailant was.
I didn’t have to wait long. From the alley emerged a large
chocolate lab, its owner not far behind. The dog’s leash grasped firmly in his
hand as he jogged out of the alley and made a left onto the main street. The
adrenaline slowly began to dissipate, leaving me feeling euphoric and foolish
all at once. I sat back on my backside, relief and chagrin mixing as a giggle
escaped my lips. I had surely brought paranoia to a new level. Standing, I
started attempting to free myself from my hiding spot, realizing the poor bush
was never going to be the same. I caught a reflection out of the corner of my
eye and I froze in place. It was as if the sun had glinted off something metallic,
only there was no sun … it was midnight. I stood, still half in the bush,
waiting for the reflection to happen again. I glanced around the seemingly
empty street, waiting, but it didn’t reoccur. Jerking my purse free of the
branches that entwined it, I hurried off for home. I couldn’t quite shake the
feeling that I was being watched .
Find Katherine on Facebook
Author Stacey
Rourke
The Gryphon Series
Spooky
Excerpt:
Somewhere between sleep and awake he came to me. The mattress shifted under
his weight as he settled in beside me. Warm breath teased against my ear. “I
could ne’er leave you, lovey.” His wandering hands gripped my waist and rolled
me to face him. This warbled land governed by sleep couldn’t conjure his whole
essence—too much time had passed for that. Instead it teased me with glimpses
of what I’d been missing; silky hair caressing my cheek. Hot kisses traveling
down my neck. Emerald eyes filled with an insatiable hunger. The sensual awakening
that jolted
through me when his mouth found mine. “I’m always with you,” Caleb
whispered against my lips. I twined my arms around his neck and pulled him
closer—a move that garnered a low groan of appreciation. His hands roamed up my
arms and encircled my wrists. In a sudden, shockingly violent, move he forced
them down against the mattress and pinned me there. I gaped in confusion as
green eyes blinked to sapphire blue. His seductive stare twisted into visible
disgust and hatred. Like ink dumped from a bottle, the black drained from Caleb’s
hair. The dripping color leaked away to reveal long strawberry blond hair
ponytailed at the nape of his neck. Alec. But not the latest version of him
currently possessed by a three hundred year old demon. This was the Alec I first met whilst rolling a tire. The carefree boy I had started to fall for before fate intervened. Yet the look that darkened his gaze was more murderous then welcoming. I thrashed and bucked beneath him but couldn’t seem to summon one iota of strength. His grip on my wrists tightened to the point of pain. “Is he worth it?” He hissed in my face, “Is he worth the blood on your hands?” Crimson red blood bubbled up Alec’s throat. It seeped between his teeth and dribbled down his chin. “Will he still want you when he knows what you’ve done and what it cost?” Squeezing my eyes shut, I cringed further into the mattress as blood rained down. The warm stickiness, with its pungent rusty smell, dripped on my face and soaked my shirt. I risked a glance up to see Alec’s lips curl in an evil grin. “Now, how ‘bout a kiss?” He bowed his head and crammed his blood soaked lips to mine. My muffled scream quickly turned into a gurgled gasp for air as I fought not to drown in this crimson hell. -Excerpt from Ascension, Gryphon Series Book 4 releasing in November
Find Stacey on Facebook
Author Alicia
Michaels
Lost Kingdom of Fallada Series
“Such anger,” she said with a ‘tsk’. “I can see that you have
much passion, Elf. I shall enjoy your company greatly before I kill you.
Perhaps watching your beloved die will take the wind out of your sails.”
Kai simply glared at her, his eyes cold, blue slits of rage. His
chest heaved with the force of his anger. Eranna shrugged and turned back to
Zara, approaching the stone slab again, her lips parted in a gruesome grin.
When she reached the altar, she plucked a lock of Zara’s hair from the ground
and inspected it with interest.
“Such beauty,” she murmured. “Such freshness and youth, wasted
on a mere human. I know of your father’s treachery, girl. He stole from
Fallada what was rightfully mine, and I intend to have it back.”
“Please,” Zara pleaded, hoping to appeal to the woman’s sense of
right and wrong—if she possessed any at all. “Why are you doing this? What did I
ever do to you?”
Eranna laughed. The sound was
bitter and raw. “Do to me? Why, nothing, child. You are my enemy simply by
circumstance of your birth. You are an abomination, an anomaly; you have no
right to exist. What right do you have to such power? You do not even know how
to control it! You are weak, a simpering little girl with no idea the kind of
might she possesses within her bones! And why should you possess it when I am
so much more worthy? Why should you experience the joys of a lover’s embrace and
his child in your belly while I …” she trailed off, her expression crestfallen
as she turned her back on Zara. For a moment, Zara thought she detected the
glisten of tears in the queen’s eyes. “It is no matter,” she continued, her
voice gruff and choked. “I will amass so much power unto myself, that no one
will stand in the way of what I want. I shall have it all; beauty, youth,
power, eternal life.” She turned back to Zara, her knife glistening in the
candlelight. “And I shall begin by taking from you what I so rightfully
deserve.”
Zara could only stare, hypnotized by the madness in Eranna’s
eyes as she advanced on her knife raised. Through the roaring in her ears, she
faintly heard Kai’s roars of anger, his voice growing hoarse, soon smothered by
the rattling of his chains as he fought against them to no avail. The glint of
the knife caught her eye as Eranna lifted it high over her head.
Her smile was sad as she turned for one last look at the love of
her life. He’d ceased struggling and stared back at her with tears in his eyes,
silent sobs shaking him from the inside.
“Zara,” he whispered as he realized then that the fight was
over.
“I love you,” she whispered, closing her eyes as a swift current
of air warned her of the knife’s descent.
From Beyond
the Iron Gate: Zara’s Journey
A FREE read, and
prequel novella to the Lost Kingdom of Fallada Series
Find Alicia on Facebook
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!!!!!
I am still to come across an Anchor Group title I didn't love x
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