TITLE – Storm Mistress SERIES – Others of Seattle: Book 2 (stands alone) AUTHOR – Brandy L Rivers GENRE – Adult Paranormal Romance PUBLICATION DATE – 9-15-2015 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 108k PUBLISHER – Brandy L Rivers COVER ARTIST – Brandy L Rivers
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Nothing is as it seems…
Everything Isadora Starling wants is right there in front of her, but Toryn is off limits. He’s her best friend. She’s been denying her heart all these years, afraid to lose him.
Toryn Flame has a long past full of secrets. None of which he can share with Isadora, the only person who truly matters to him. She’s the one woman who has never shown a hint of lust toward him, but even if she did, pursuing her is forbidden.
That all changes when the family Isa doesn’t know decides it’s time to reveal who and what she is. After Isa’s recent attack, their motives are unclear.
His only goal is protecting Isa. Toryn will do everything in his power to keep her safe, including going against orders from his king.
Toryn’s only fear is losing Isa’s trust. Once the truth is revealed, can she forgive him for years of misdirection and omissions? Can she come to terms with a world she doesn’t want or know?
Pounding music flowed over Isadora Starling as she walked into her bar, Shenanigans. Only one thing was on her mind, finding someone who would take her home and rock her world. She was smoking hot and she knew it. Taking note of every man whose head turned in her direction, she emphasized the already-seductive sway of her hips as she sashayed to the bar with purpose. As usual, her eyes kept drifting back to the only man in the place who made her mouth water. Unfortunately, her best friend was not on the menu. She slid into a booth and turned toward her business partner, Lana, one of the few women she truly trusted. Lana’s molten silver eyes landed on her. A smirk twisted her lips. “Back so soon?” Isa lifted a shoulder in a shrug before stating, “I’m on a mission.” Perusing the sultry make-up and her come-ravish-me outfit, Lana snorted. “I can see that. What are you drinking?” “Double Grey Goose, straight up.” “One of those nights?” There was a grimace on her face. Isa responded with a one fingered salute before turning back to the crowd with the intention of finding a man. Lana cut in with, “I still think you should drag him home and get each other out of your systems.” By him, she meant Isa’s best friend, Toryn Flame. More than gorgeous, he was fucking beautiful, masculine perfection. His dazzling blue topaz eyes were lined in guyliner, not that his eyes needed any help attracting attention with his ten-mile long lashes. Silky black hair was teased up in a sexy tousle calling to her fingers. The man was a sex god, in snug leather pants and half-buttoned black silk shirt open far enough to display his sculpted chest and the beginning of washboard abs. Forbidden, though she had a never-ending supply of fantasies starring Toryn. The current was her craving to lick every ridge of muscle on her way down to the golden zipper straining over an impressive bulge she wished she could ignore. They were firmly stuck in the friend zone. He didn’t see her that way, and despite the fact he was sensuality walking, she wasn’t supposed to want him. Frustrated, she turned back to Lana with a cold stare. “Have you forgotten he prefers men? Last time I checked,” she looked down and shook her tits for emphasis, “I have all the wrong parts. Besides, he’s my friend, my best friend and he,” she glanced back to watch Toryn tongue-fuck his boytoy, “is all over his man, Leon.” One scarlet brow rose in challenge. “Bullshit, I’ve seen him take women home.” “Please, when was the last time? Tiffany? And that rare occurrence was over a year ago.” Lana’s mouth dropped open, “Oh my god, you are fucking blind, Isadora. He’s only with Leon to distract himself from you.” With a glare, Lana slid the vodka to her. Isa would give anything for that to be the truth. Forcing the desperate sentiment from her mind, she took the shot in a single gulp, causing Lana to grimace. Driving her point home, Isa nodded back to the two hottest men in the place. “Toryn is with Leon. Has been for nearly two months, which is some kind of record for him.” Actually, they had been dating exactly seven weeks, which was damn near a miracle. Aside from Leon, he hadn’t been with a single person more than twice since she’d met him nearly ten years ago. Somehow his lack of commitment made her want him all the more. She always loved a challenge, and secretly wished she could be the one to snare him permanently. Of course, if she told Lana she was counting the days Toryn stayed with Leon, it would prove her point. A point Isa was going to deny until her desire finally died. With a devilish smirk, Lana shrugged. “He’d dump him for you in a heartbeat.” A glance back at Toryn easily reminded her how wrong Lana was. Toryn was grinding his hips into Leon who was hungrily kissing down Toryn’s throat. They were too hot and heavy for their public display of sexual chemistry to merely be a distraction. “Then why is he taking Leon home tonight? And don’t tell me he’s not. Do you see them?” Isadora pointed back at them with a wicked grin. It was a gorgeous sight. Licking her lips and watching like every other woman, and most of the men, in the nearly anything goes bar, she nodded. “Oh, I do, but you don’t see the way he looks at you. Like he’s making love to you with his eyes. When you aren’t watching Toryn, he always stares at you.” Lana filled the shot glass. In all the years they’d been friends, Toryn had never made a move, so Lana was wrong, very depressingly wrong. Isa slammed back the second dose and glared back at Lana. “You’re full of shit. Pour me another.” “I’m not. I still say you’re fucking blind,” Lana taunted as she refilled the glass. “If he wasn’t so hung up on you, I would make a move on him.” That hurt. Wait… what? Hung up on me? Yeah, might need to have her committed. Isa took another glance at Toryn and Leon, then grinned at Lana. “If you can pry him from Leon, he’s all yours.” Thankfully, Lana changed the subject. “Where’s Mike?” Well-intentioned, maybe, but her new topic wasn’t much better. Isa downed the third shot before answering, “Don’t know. Don’t care. Of course it would be a hell of a lot easier to get laid if he were around.” He was her favorite fallback romp in the sack. “You torture that poor man. If you’d let him, he’d fall in love with you.” Which was exactly the reason she hadn’t called and was attempting to avoid him… though in desperate times… Mentally shaking herself, she quipped, “We don’t work as a couple. Sure, explosive in bed, awesome on the dance floor, but that is where our good chemistry ends. We would drive each other batshit crazy—and I’m not talking about the scorch the sheets way—in a matter of days. Not to mention the fact Roxy hates my fucking guts.” “Only because you’re stringing her brother along. Plus, she has a valid point. I’m still convinced you fell for Toryn years ago. Like two seconds after you met him.” She was right, but Isa wasn’t going there. “Go to hell.” “Only when you join me.” Isa slid the empty glass at Lana and batted her lashes. “Anyone I should consider?” With an accusatory glare, she answered, “Plenty of them. Except, don’t take the hot blond home.” She glanced down at the end of the bar for about the hundredth time since Isa sat down. All Isa saw was the healthy fall of shiny blond hair, way too long and perfect to be on any man’s head. “I don’t go for blonds.” Isa smirked before turning toward the crowd. Of its own accord, her gaze landed on Toryn, who winked at her. Lana pulled her back to reality with bite in her tone. “Knowing you, you’ll take him home to spite me.” Isa spun back around, her hands landing on the counter as her eyes narrowed. “I would not. When was the last time?” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Last week, when you took Reese home.” “Oh,” she shrugged sheepishly, “that hardly counts. You didn’t warn me beforehand. If you had simply told me, I would have found someone else.” It was the truth, Isa never meant to hurt anyone, and especially not her friends. There had been plenty of other options. She honestly hadn’t realized Lana was interested. “Why don’t I believe you?” she muttered. The question stung. Of course, her payback sucked. Lana turned around and hired the guy the very next day, even after Isa begged her not to. “I’m not selfish, Lana. I wouldn’t do that to you,” she whined. “Hmph,” Lana didn’t look convinced, but a smirk formed as she looked over Isa’s shoulder. Isa fought back a smile as she felt Toryn’s approach. He had a presence she could feel and as much as she hated her weakness, it felt good to have him close. Toryn leaned his long hard body against hers. Lana grinned as if her point was made. One corner of Isa’s mouth lifted. “I would be more worried about Toryn taking Blondy home.” “Bitch,” she gasped. “Grey Goose?” Toryn licked his full lips as his brow cocked. “One of those nights, Isa?” Her eyes nearly rolled out of her head, “Okay, everyone stop! I had a long day, and I’m horny as hell. It’s not like I’m driving home. No more judging. Just let me find a man for the night.” The guy sitting next to her turned with a smile that chilled her blood. His deep blue eyes seemed wrong, his skin too pale, almost blue. She’d seen him before, but couldn’t place where. Isa glared back. “Not you.” Amusement danced through his eyes as they dropped to his drink with a chuckle. Toryn grinned at Lana. “Two Loves and one is for my sweet Isadora.” His eyes held a mischievous sparkle. Isa snorted. “Is that so?” “Don’t argue,” he purred in a way that made her want to scratch her nails down his back while riding him into the night. With a groan, she smiled back at Lana and tossed down enough cash to cover her vodka and the Loves, plus a generous tip. “Where’s Leon?” Avoiding answering, Toryn quickly finished the drink and placed his empty glass with a purposeful thunk on the counter. “Let’s dance.” She let the question slide and followed his lead after finishing her cocktail. Maybe she had a bit too much, too fast, because the world tilted. Still, she managed to walk straight. “Leon won’t be jealous?” “Nope, he plans to join us soon.” She could feel his eyes caress down her body and back up. “He told me to tell you that you’re on fire tonight.” “He always says that.” He pulled her close and his lips grazed over her ear. “Only because it’s true.” The warmth of his breath and rumble of his voice only heightened the ache between her legs. Such a damned tease. And if he didn’t do it with everyone, she might think he really felt something for her.
STORM MISTRESS AUTHOR PLAYLIST
Spotify embed code –
Youtube embed code –
In no particular order, here is the list.
For Your Entertainment – Adam Lambert
Too Close – Alex Clare
Wherever You Will Go – CharleneSoraia
Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrith, Emeli Sande
Wanted is Love – Phillip Phillip
Addicted – Saving Abel
Possession – Sarah McLachlan
Save Me – Hinder
Rumour Has It – Adele
You Got It Bad – Phillip Phillips
Untouched – The Veronicas
Filthy/Gorgeous – Scissor Sisters
Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5
Come Undone – My Darkest Days
Just For – Nickelback
Bad Influence – Pink
Slut Like You – Pink
Oh My God – Pink featuring Peaches
Skin – Rihanna
The Waitress – Tori Amos
Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran
Sexy As Hell – Sarah Connor
Secrets – OneRepublic
Savin’ Me – Nickelback
LISTEN AS YOU READ-NOVEL SOUNDTRACK LIST
Sexy As Hell – Sarah Conor Secrets – OneRepublic Too Close – Alex Clare Untouched – The Veronicas Time After Time – Quiet Drive Just For – Nickelback Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth, Emil Sande Come Undone – My Darkest Days Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran Possession – Sarah McLachlan Wherever You Will Go – Charlene Soraia
CHARACTER BIO
Authors version of her Characters:
Isadora Starling
Dark hair, green eyes, beautiful.
Orphan
Owns the bar Shenanigans with her business partner Lana Solei
Sassy, full of fire, and loves life.
She’s madly in love with her best friend but denies it profusely.
Has an open relationship with Michael Nights.
Toryn Flame
Runs a security firm with friends Lonny and Scotty.
Black hair, blue topaz colored eyes.
Fiercely loyal, protective, but loves to have fun.
Lead singer of local band Revolt.
In love with Isadora, but can’t tell her for a list of reasons a hundred miles long.
Close friends with Leon.
Remus Arc
Works for Toryn’s security firm.
Drummer for Revolt
Can’t be trusted.
Leon
Old friend of Toryn’s.
Runs a gym in San Francisco, but opening one in Seattle.
Lana Solei
Red hair, gray eyes, has an attitude.
Isadora’s business partner
Morrigan
The oldest Storm Mistress and will teach Isadora what she knows.
Alenathos
Water dragon with his own goals.
AUTHOR BIO
Brandy L Rivers is the author of the Others of Edenton Series. There are more Others of Edenton in the works. She is also working on the Others of Seattle series.
As an avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. She has a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and put out there eventually.
She lives in Western Washington with her husband and three kids, where she is already working on future stories in the series.
If you are interested in receiving emails about future book releases, please sign up for her email distribution list by visiting her site.
In no particular order, and let’s hope hubby doesn’t see all these 😉 I don’t actually plan to go through with a couple, but no harm thinking about it 😉
Ménage trios
Tour Ireland, and the rest of the UK if we have time
Sex outside in a lightning storm
Own and renovate a castle
Own a big lakefront home and property
Sex on a private plane
Get lost in Europe
Make New York Times bestseller list, not expecting it, but that would rock.
Same with USA Today bestseller list
A week long retreat with some of my favorite author friends
RIVERS FAVORITE SERIES
Favorite Series (Or anything else you want really ❤
These aren’t in any order besides the order I thought of them
Semya Slotin Mystery by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba
House of Crimson and Clover by Sarah M Cradit
Immortal Heart Series by Magen McMinimy
Immortals of New Orleans by Kym Grosso
Forgiven series by Rebecca Brooke
Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward
Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter
Anita Blake by Laurel K Hamilton
(I’m going uber geek for a moment) Dune by Frank Herbert
Brown Family Siblings by Lauren Dane
BRANDY’S DREAM VACATION DESTINATIONS
1 – Ireland
2 – Scotland
3 – Jamaica
4 – Bahamas
5 – Italy
6 – England
7 – New Orleans
8 – France
9 – Transylvania
10 – Greece
THE AUTHOR AND HER MUSICAL MUSE
What kind of impact does music have on your writing?
Depends how much in the zone I am. I can get to a point where nothing, not even music penetrates the zone. However music can influence my mood, in turn influence my writing. Again, depends on how much I’m paying attention to what’s going on outside my head.
There are a few songs that have inspired whole scenes. For instance, Halestorm’s “I Get Off” is responsible for a scene or two involving Hayden and Amethyst in Shadows of the Past.
Certain songs make me think of certain characters.
I do usually have music going in the background. I just throw everything into a giant playlist and sometimes switch songs if a song isn’t’ working with where I’m going, sometimes I even tune it out. Really, it depends on what I’m working on though.
I am a big music nerd though, so having it on usually helps keep me focused.
GIVEAWAY PRIZES
2 paperbacks of Storm Mistress, one US one can be International 5 ebook copies of Storm Mistress with swagpacks 2 $10 amazon giftcards
Enjoyed the read. Isa and Toryn are ahead of the enemy, at least for a while. Will Isa have to go back to Faerie? Well I will just have to keep reading and see. All I can tell you know is that Isa and Toryn go from one big adventure to the next. By car, by plane, and by secret tunnel.
Their next stop will be…
4.0 Rosebuds of Writing Rave
The writing sweeps the reader into a land of enchantment from start to end. Time moves at a rapid pace. The characters are constantly on the move taking the reader deeper and deeper into the story and its plot. This novel is around 40 chapters long. So you get your monies worth with this novel. The characters are very interesting and have a lot of equally interesting background that makes its way little by little throughout the story-line.
4.0 Romance Bling
The best way to describe the chemistry between the hero and heroine in this read is ELECTRIC!
These two set the pages on fire..
It has been LOVE from afar for several years.
But when the next step is taken, the reader better read somewhere safe, because wherever you are it will be a Rockin’!
On vacation in the tropical paradise of St. Lucia…
Martin and Abby never intended to meet anyone while they were away. Circumstance, however, pushes them together in spite of their expectations. With an entire vacation week with nothing to do but spend time together, Martin and Abby forge a connection unlike anything either had felt before. With Abby’s conservative nature and Martin’s refusal to be the player he had once been, the couple keeps themselves physically apart…until they can’t.
They collide into a friction that sparks a blazing need to stay together. Keeping the heat alive from opposite ends of the country, though, may prove too difficult. Distance and circumstance become very ugly words in this couple’s vocabulary.
Excerpt one:
“Do I get to see what’s under your robe?” He grinned wickedly as he reached for the belt.
She giggled and turned away. “Not yet! I have to finish my wine first. You should have thought of that before you poured me a glass,” she said laughing wickedly at the look on his face.
Martin groaned and dropped his head back on the couch, but then he got an ornery look on his face. He sat up and guzzled the last of his wine. He took her glass from her and tipped back the remainder of hers, too, sounding a refreshed “ahh” through his smile.
“Hey!” she said, laughing with him.
“Ok. Wine’s not an issue,” he grinned at her. “Show me.”
Still laughing a bit, she stood up and walked across the room from him. He stayed in his spot on the couch and waited for her to drop the robe. Like the seductress that she was, she stood there for a long moment, her makeup subtle-sexy and her beautiful auburn hair in a messy, wavy up-sweep.
She did nothing but look at him with heated eyes. She too-slowly reached for the belt and then stopped. She toyed with the ends of the terry-cloth rope that held the fabric closed around her.
“You know you’re killing me over here, right?” he asked, loving her playful side.
“Well, we can’t have that,” she said, pulling the belt loose but leaving the robe firmly closed around her body. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“I did mention the death part, right?” he said, laughing. “I’m more than ready, Abby. Show me.”
“Can’t say I didn’t warn you…” and with that, she opened the robe and let it fall to the floor. Martin gaped at the sight in front of him. Never in his life, ever, had he seen anything so unbelievably sexy as what he saw in front of him in that moment. He must have inadvertently made a deal with the devil in order to have that in the room with him. She was absolutely, sinfully provocative.
His eyes raked down her body, pausing at every sexy, delicious curve. She wore a deep emerald corset with wickedly erotic black lace trim. The bodice hugged her ribs tightly and tucked her already tiny waist into a perfect hourglass center. The satin flared back out to accent her hips in a way that made him want to worship at her feet.
Then, as if that weren’t enough, the bottom rim of ribbon and lace held black garters that traced sexy lines down to black thigh-highs. Those alluring sheer hose hugged her legs with a lace border that nearly danced around the soft, creamy skin of her thighs. His eyes traveled back up to rest on her full breasts straining against the satin laced up to a bow between them.
The exaggerated curves were even more accented by a wisp of hair that waved down her neck and nestled in her substantial cleavage. He noticed one last detail around her hips. A scant strip of lace served as panties. She obviously put those on over the garters. He could strip them off and leave her in the corset and thigh-highs if he wanted to.
Oh. Sweet. God. He wanted to.
“Damn…” was the only word he could think to say as he walked the length of the room in about four long strides. His hands gripped around her ribs and he could feel the heat of their skin reacting through the satin and ribbings. He jerked her forward that way, her whole body following the constraints of the corset. She fell into him hard and let her hands rest at his chest.
He was no longer laughing with her playfully. Now he was so sexed-out he was ready to throw her down and take her hard. She looked at him with wide, expecting eyes, wanting the same thing. He hoped she was expecting the animal side of him, because that’s exactly where she took him the minute she dropped her robe.
He grabbed her by the hair as he searched her mouth with his desperate tongue. His other hand gripped at her back, bottom and shoulder with the full strength of his desire. She was the only woman to evoke this kind of passion from deep within, and he couldn’t turn it off. He jerked her hair back again to give himself access to her neck.
Excerpt two:
He walked down the steps and dropped his bag next to the couch. As always when upset, he walked to his keyboard, plugged his headphones to inject the music directly into his ears. He played deep, rhythmic pieces that spoke to the heavy feeling in his chest. He connected with the music and played whatever he needed to get some tension out of his shoulders. After a long while of playing piece after piece, he began to ease into a better mindset. Finally, he let himself think about Abby.
He focused on those lips of hers again. He loved to watch them speak. He loved her smile and that little focused bite of hers. He allowed himself to remember that study of her lips when she held herself still, simply so he could experience every millimeter of her beautiful mouth.
He had touched and explored and licked every warm surface of her while she laid beneath him so sweetly. He remembered exactly the pressure of her full bottom lip under his teeth, just as he imagined. As he let his mind wander through that exploration, a song started to form in his head.
He experienced that study of her lips again, but this time through his fingers on the keys. The notes started light and feathery, hesitantly, just like the kiss had. He let the song grow in intensity, moving up and down the scales. The melody played out the soft brushes of his lips and the deep moves of his tongue.
The rhythm moved slowly, then sometimes quickly. The crescendo and decrescendo matched the shifting intensity of his body’s response to her. The forte moments of the song mimicked every sensation when he was so lost in her. Then, much like that precise, beautiful moment with Abby, the song ended on a pianissimo, peaceful, soft chord.
He was in awe of the moment he just lived through. He remembered every note he played, and he played the melody again with his eyes closed. The music came from her memory, not from his creation. The music was her and for her.
I love a good love story. I reread the first kiss a few times before I read on…even in my own books. That moment gets me every time no matter how often I revisit that beautiful connection. I dive into every story to the point where I have so many fictional boyfriends that I can’t keep track of them all.
In the world of reality, I have a loving and tolerant husband who smiles and rolls his eyes every time I tell him about my latest fictional love affair. I have two autistic pre-teen boys who keep me on my toes. I have a psychotic Golden Retriever (I was told those don’t exist…) and a cat that rules our house. I used to be the queen. Our regal feline has usurped my throne and demoted me to Prime Minister.
I studied English/Journalism at Miami University in Ohio, have a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Dayton and I spent five years teaching even more personality-rich pre-teens. For some sick reason, I actually enjoyed teaching junior high. Now as a stay-at-home mom, I’m clinging to that status by throwing my hat in the author’s ring and hoping I get to keep it there.
4 out of 5 read-ologists recommend this WordPress.com site. ups and downs of writer's insanity and day to day life. I will write whatever makes the voices happy, for a writer that ignores her inner voices is merely a mental breakdown waiting to happen. Keeping the voices happy and creating new worlds for them to play in is my main goal.
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