Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Reviews: Under a Texas Star by Alison Bruce

Praise for UNDER A TEXAS STAR:
"A delightful Western tale that blends engaging adventure with spirited romance. Reminds me of Louis L'Amour novels...Bruce is a terrific story-teller...a complete joy to read. She immerses readers into a smoking Western that is also a spunky romance and reminiscent of the Texas Rangers television series." ―Christina Francine, Midwest Book Review
"Filled with realistic dialog and a good attention to period detail, Bruce manages to create a believable story that captures our imagination. Well written with a compelling plot, Under a Texas Star brings a delightfully new and strong heroine to the literary world. Highly recommended." ―Wendy Thomas, Allbook Reviews
"Alison Bruce's western tale of intrigue, murder, and love is a page-turning, action-packed, made-of-awesome read. UNDER A TEXAS STAR belongs on every reader's keeper shelf―it already has a place on mine! Love, love, loved it!" ―Michele Bardsley, national bestselling author of Never Again
"Romance as sweeping as the Texas sky." ―Gwyn Cready, Rita award-winning author of Seducing Mr. Darcy
"This is a rollicking adventure and Marly Landers is a girl with True Grit." ―Phyllis Smallman, Arthur Ellis award-winning author of Champagne for Buzzards
"L'amour in the style of Louis L'Amour…Pin a silver star on this thrilling tale of love and justice in the old west." ―Lou Allin, author of On the Surface Die 
"I loved the murder mystery…as well as the sense of humor which had me either chuckling or laughing out loud." ―Jacqueline Wilson, Deputy Sheriff for Publications of the Chicago Corral of the Westerners
UNDER A TEXAS STAR is available in ebook edition on Amazon, Smashwords (and more coming soon), and in June you'll find the trade paperback edition on Amazon and more.

Monday, May 30, 2011

New Release: The River by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

THE RIVER
a novel by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Second edition, updated cover
Publish date: June 2011 (trade paperback)

The South Nahanni River has a history of mysterious deaths, disappearances and headless corpses, but it may also hold the key to humanity’s survival―or its destruction.

Release date: May 30, 2011
Available at Createspace, Amazon and more

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Kindle Author: Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Read an excerpt of DIVINE JUSTICE by Cheryl Kaye Tardif


Kindle Price: $3.99

Available from Amazon and more

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Imajin Books raises print royalties for authors

After some careful consideration and discussion about the goals of Imajin Books, we’re about to do something that most publishers would never do—raise print royalties for our authors.

Since one of our goals is to be the publisher that pays authors above standard royalties, we’ve decided to change the more standard offer of 20% of collected sales (royalty totals collected from retailers/distributors) to 30%.

Why? Because we want to be anything but standard.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Imajin Books gives away 150 ebooks of Divine Intervention to LibraryThing members

Over the next 3 weeks, Imajin Books will be giving away 150 ebook copies of the bestselling psychic suspense, Divine Intervention, by Cheryl Kaye Tardif to LibraryThing members.

This special promotion is on until June 13, 2011, so reserve your free ebook now.

Go to LibraryThing's Giveaway list and scroll down until you see DIVINE INTERVENTION. Click on Request it!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Alison Bruce is interviewed at Kindle Author

David Wiseman at Kindle Author interviews Alison Bruce, author of the historical western romance UNDER A TEXAS STAR.

"Under A Texas Star is a historical-romance-mystery set in the old west," Alison says. "Marly Landers and Jase Strachan are on the trail of the same fugitive. For Jase, it's a job. He's a Texas Ranger. For Marly, it's personal."
David also asks about Alison's journey to publication and her marketing strategies. Her reply: "Imajin books has been wonderful providing a cool book trailer, press releases and promotional advice and opportunities."

Read the interview at Kindle Author.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Giveaway: UNDER A TEXAS STAR by Alison Bruce

We're giving away 10 free ebook copies of Alison Bruce's debut western romance, UNDER A TEXAS STAR.

The first 10 people to leave a comment here, including their email address, will receive a coupon code to be used on various file formats suitable for most major ereaders and reading via a computer.

All we ask in return is that you post a short review of UNDER A TEXAS STAR on Amazon.com, and anywhere else you'd like.

Remember, the first 10 people to comment with their email address will receive this exciting western romance.

“A delightful Western tale that blends engaging adventure with spirited romance. Reminds me of Louis L’Amour novels...Bruce is a terrific story-teller...a complete joy to read. She immerses readers into a smoking Western that is also a spunky romance and reminiscent of the Texas Rangers television series.” --Midwest Book Review

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Divine Justice - book trailer video



DIVINE JUSTICE is available in ebook edition from Amazon (Kindle), Smashwords and soon to be available at more ebook retailers.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Press release: Imajin Books Releases 'Under a Texas Star', a Historical Western Romance by Alison Bruce

EDMONTON, AB, May 14, 2011 - Imajin Books is pleased to announce the release of Under a Texas Star, a historical western romance by Alison Bruce that is already receiving rave reviews. Midwest Book Review calls it, "A delightful Western tale that blends engaging adventure with spirited romance. Reminds me of Louis L'Amour novels." Award-winning author Phyllis Smallman says, "This is a rollicking adventure and Marly Landers is a girl with True Grit."

So what's Under a Texas Star about?

Disguised as a boy, Marly joins a handsome Texas Ranger in the hunt for a con man and they must bring the fugitive to justice before giving up the masquerade and giving in to their passion.

When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice―even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him.

Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.

Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle’s suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.

Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man? 

"Alison Bruce's western tale of intrigue, murder, and love is a page-turning, action-packed, made-of-awesome read. UNDER A TEXAS STAR belongs on every reader's keeper shelf―it already has a place on mine! Love, love, loved it!" ―Michele Bardsley, national bestselling author of Never Again

"Filled with realistic dialog and a good attention to period detail, Bruce manages to create a believable story that captures our imagination. Well written with a compelling plot, Under a Texas Star brings a delightfully new and strong heroine to the literary world. Highly recommended."Allbook Reviews

Under a Texas Star is available in ebook edition via Amazon and Smashwords. It will soon be available at other ebook retailers and a trade paperback edition will be released this summer.

Alison Bruce is a Canadian author and this is her first published novel. Bruce writes mysteries, romance, westerns and fantasy. Her protagonists are marked by their strength of character, the ability to adapt (sooner or later) to new situations and to learn from adversity. "Getting a publisher was the beginning of a new set of adventures," she says. "Fortunately, everyone at Imajin Books has been a joy to work with."


Imajin Books is an innovative, unique Canadian publisher with an eye on exciting, ever-changing trends and opportunities in publishing that opened its 'doors' to authors worldwide in late February 2011. They promise great reads by wonderful authors, with ebooks priced under $5 and trade paperbacks under $16.

From ImajinBooks.com: The future of reading is ebooks, and the future is NOW!


Disclaimer: Imajin Books is not associated in any way to the US company ImaJinn Books.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Press release: Imajin Books - An Innovative Publisher of 'Quality Fiction'

EDMONTON, AB, May 12, 2011 - In February 2011, an innovative, unique Canadian publisher with an eye on exciting, ever-changing trends and opportunities in publishing, opened its 'doors' to authors worldwide. Owned by bestselling suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Imajin Books has been in business since 2005, publishing only the author's books up. But now it has a list of debut and established authors who are about to release some sensational reads starting this May.

"Other writers asked me if I'd consider publishing their works and I always said no," Tardif says. "But just over a year ago, I researched the possibilities. With the number of publishing companies that have closed their doors or amalgamated their imprints under one roof, it's a bit risky to start a new publishing venture. But I am a risk taker and I knew I could make this work."

Tardif's goals were simple: fulfill a need and publish what was selling. This led her to do something few publishers are doing―offer ebook contracts as a primary right and paperback contracts as a subsidiary right. This is backwards from the antiquated system that has been in place for decades.

"Ebooks are where the money is," Tardif states. "Print sales have decreased and ebook sales have increased to the point of outselling print. As ereaders come down in price, which has recently been seen with the $114 Kindle with wi-fi offer, more readers will be tempted to test one out. And once they do, they'll be hooked. We want to provide readers with affordable, stimulating, unique books that they can't put down."

Imajin Books promises great reads by wonderful authors, with ebooks priced under $5 and trade paperbacks under $16. Throughout the year, various ebooks will be on sale for even less, some even priced at $0.99. You can also expect contests and other specials, like ebook bundles.

Imajin Books promises its authors a unique experience in publishing, where authors don't take a back seat as with most traditional-type publishers. Authors published with Imajin Books will have more say in the content of their book, their book titles, the creation of book covers and trailers. "We treat our authors like the partners they are," Tardif says. "We respect their creative intelligence and want them to be happy and proud of their book."

Debut novelist Alison Bruce is awaiting the May release of her western romance, Under a Texas Star. "Working with Imajin is going to spoil me," Bruce says. "I'll be expecting personal attention, excellent work and sound advice from everyone. The creative, editorial and marketing skills I've found at Imajin have made the launch of my first novel a joy."

Awaiting the June release of her debut romantic fantasy, Rowena Through the Wall, author Melodie Campbell says, "What makes Imajin outstanding is the personal attention they give to the author and project every step of the way. This is evident in the care they take to solicit author input…The marketing people at Imajin are first rate…And the best part―the people are so darn nice, I want them as friends."

Other than Cheryl Kaye Tardif, who has a reputation as a skilled book marketer, Imajin Books has brought in a number of freelance professionals, including book cover designers, editors, a book video designer, a production manager, and a research and marketing assistant.

Jennifer Johnson, from Sapphire Designs, is the senior book cover designer for Imajin Books. "Working with Imajin Books has been a dream come true for me. It has allowed me to fulfil one of my biggest dreams in being a cover artist and for that I can't thank them enough. The people at Imajin Books are a true pleasure to work with in every way; I can't say enough good things about them!"

Canadian fantasy author and book video designer, Kelly Komm, has this to say: "Imajin Books puts out excellent novels and the same can be said for their authors. They are always eager to work with me toward a common goal: creating an effective, intriguing, and entertaining book trailer."

From ImajinBooks.com: The future of reading is ebooks, and the future is NOW!

Writers interested in querying Imajin Books should check the submission guidelines at http://www.imajinbooks.com. Submissions are currently open until June 30, 2011.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Read an excerpt from UNDER A TEXAS STAR, a western romance by Alison Bruce

Chapter 1

Trailing from one dusty town to another in pursuit of a criminal fugitive was a job for a bounty hunter with a good horse and a small arsenal. It was tough work for a slim boy of small build, few means and fewer possessions―tougher still when the boy wasn't a boy at all, but a girl.
It wasn't the walking. Marly was used to spending most of her day on her feet in the yard of the schoolhouse her aunt taught in, tending the kitchen garden, feeding the chickens, hanging the laundry or walking the mile to town for whatever errand Aunt Adele required.
It wasn't the weight of the oversized oilskin coat or the bedroll slung across her back. They were nothing to hefting a crate of books or a basket of surplus eggs and vegetables into town to trade for flour and sugar.
It was the solitude.
Once upon a time, Marly would have reveled in the opportunity to get away from her aunt's incessant homilies, the critical stares of her aunt's cronies and even the kinder yet oppressive expectations of her friends. Now she realized that the outside clamor would be preferable to her own self-critical reflections. The long walks as she travelled from one town to another, gave her too much time to dwell on the events that put her on this solitary trail.
"As ye sow, so shall ye reap," her Aunt Adele would say.
"No good turn goes unpunished," was more like it.

It had started with a trip to the Doc's house. The two Johnnys had been fighting again. The on-and-off best friends were trying out their fledgling boxing skills. Marly blocked a stray punch while grabbing hold of the smaller John Henry. John Thomas' wrist gave way.
Despite the pain, he was quite cheerful during the trek into town. Doc's chiding would be nothing compared to one of Miss Gumm's lectures, a fact he was quite comfortable sharing with Marly. She pointed out that her aunt wouldn't forget to punish him when he returned.
When they came in sight of the Doc's house and found Sheriff Langtree on the porch, Johnny's fear of trouble was so obvious, Marly almost laughed.
"I just sent a deputy to fetch you," the sheriff said by way of a greeting. "I brought Doc a wounded man. Victim of a hold-up. I think Doc could use your help. Rebecca's got her hands full and I've been ejected for being no help at all."
Marly gave him a quick smile and consigned John Thomas to the sheriff's care. Ever since she provided first-aid and brought John Henry's older brother Joe in―after he shot his toe off with his father's borrowed revolver―Marly had become the Doc's go-too person when he needed more help than his wife could provide.
"Just who we need," Doc said, looking up from his work. "Wash up, my girl. Take over for Becky so she can get back to Mrs. Applegate. She picked shopping day to go into labor. Silly first-timer mistake to make. "
"Babies come when babies come," said the childless Becky on her way out. "Except when they don't."
Marly spent the next hour assisting the removal of two slugs and the stitching of the wounds. This mostly consisted of handing implements to the doctor and the application of ether on a breathing cup when the patient started to rouse.
Doc saw to John Thomas. She cleaned up and held the basin for the man as the effects of the ether wore off and nausea settled in. She bathed his face with lavender water, known for its cleansing and calming powers.
When his hazel eyes cleared and he was fully conscious, his eyes lit with appreciation and genuine esteem.
"I must be dead," he croaked, his throat raw from the ether, "for you are certainly an angel."

Right, thought Marly, kicking a stone down the dusty road. Not an angel, but a naïve chit of a girl to be taken in by slick words and hazel eyes.
Maybe if she hadn't been taken in by Charlie Meese, neither would the townspeople of Cherryville, Kansas. She had opened the door to a trickster because he appealed to her latent vanity. That girl was left behind in Cherryville. The Marly Landers that was tracking Charlie and the money down was now a scruffy boy in oversized clothes and a droopy, weather-worn hat.

Chapter 2

"DO NOT ARREST―STOP―FOLLOW TO EL PASO AND MONEY―STOP..."
Texas Ranger Jason―Jase―Strachan reread the telegram, then stuffed it into one the copious pockets of his duster. Jase wasn't surprised by the order. He was on the trail of a confidence man, who had made the mistake of cheating some very powerful people in Austen. However, arresting him now wouldn't recover the half million dollars he had embezzled.
Dog Flats wasn't much. A couple of houses, a general store and a saloon. Blink and he'd ride right by. Most people―and more importantly, the stage―did just that. That was one of the reasons Jase chose the town. The other walked through the door just as he settled into the back corner of the saloon with his second beer.
The boy couldn't have been more than fourteen or fifteen, yet he marched up to the barkeep, bold as brass, and demanded a job.
"Don't need anyone," said the grizzle-haired man behind the bar.
"I can wait tables, wash dishes, cook, clean. I'm a hard worker and you don't have to pay me. All I want is room and board for the night."
Jase waited. The bartender stared down at the boy. The boy smiled back at the man.
"You can start by clearing tables. Put yer stuff at the back."
For three days, Jase had watched the same scene play out, afternoon or early evening. Arriving in town, the boy would talk himself into a job sweeping floors, washing dishes, mucking barns―all for supper, a packed lunch and a roof for the night. Then, at sunrise, he was on the road, walking or hitching a ride to the next town. Town by town, he advanced across Texas. The kid was patient and determined.
It wasn't just the boy's tenacity that caught Jase's notice. The kid was making his own inquiries as he travelled. He was asking after the same man Jase was tracking.
"You a Yank, boy?"
Jase's attention snapped to one of the part-of-the-furniture patrons that saloons like this attracted. The man looked like he hadn't moved from his table in years. Evidently, he still had some life in him because he had a vice grip on the boy's wrist.
"Leave the kid alone, Hayes," called another old geezer at the next table.
"I asked you a question." Hayes pulled the boy in close, breathing whiskey into his face. "Are you a Yankee?"
"Just say no," another patron advised.
"I'm from Kansas."
A hush fell over the room and Jase edged forward in his seat, ready to intervene if necessary.
"And my folks were from Massachusetts, not Missouri, so I guess that makes me a Yank."
"She-it," sighed the old geezer.
"A Yankee killed my boy," Hayes snapped.
"A Reb killed my father," the boy replied. "Another raped and killed my mother. Would have killed me too, if his sergeant hadn't found him and shot him first."
Hayes dropped the boy's wrist.
Jase sat back. Crisis averted.
"Bring me another bottle," said a subdued Hayes.
The boy stared at the man for several heartbeats, then turned toward the kitchen, not the bar. A few minutes later, he returned with a cup of coffee and a plate of cold beef and bread.
"Before you throw that plate in my face," the boy said, "let me just point out that I'm paying for this meal with my work and you would be grievously insulting my hospitality."
Hayes gave the boy a dismissive wave. For a long time, he stared at the plate as if the food might jump up and bite him. Finally, he took a sip of coffee. Then his appetite kicked in and he started picking at the plate.
Jase took his empty beer glass up to the bar for a refill and had a few words with the bartender.
Minutes later, the boy was sent over to his table. He was a scruffy lad in faded, dust-laden jeans that were a size too big and a work shirt that would have fit a man twice his size. He had hung his ground-scraping duster on a hook at the back with his bedroll―the only luggage he seemed to have. But he was still wearing his hat, which was an indeterminate brown and shapeless except for the turned up brim at the front. For all that, his face and neck were clean and his long red hair was neatly braided, Indian-style, down his back.
"You want me for something, mister?"
"I'd like to buy you a good meal. I thought steak and potatoes. If there's something else you would prefer―"
"I eat in the kitchen, sir."
"You just gave away your supper," Jase said in a dry tone. "I've arranged it with your boss. I'm taking care of your dinner and accommodations so you have the rest of the night off. You would be grievously insulting my hospitality to refuse."
The boy's mouth twitched. He didn't sit or leave. Head tipped slightly to one side, he gave Jase a speculative stare.
"You've been following me. Why?"
"Hardly following you. I generally make town several hours ahead of you. Why are you following me, Marly Landers?"
The boy's eyes narrowed. "What's your business, mister?"
Jase pulled his jacket aside to reveal a tin star. "I'm a Texas Ranger."
The kid was unimpressed.
Jase broke the stare-down and leaned back, running his fingers through his shaggy, sandy-brown hair.
"I reckon," he drawled, "that if I was to make inquiries in Kansas, I might just turn up something on you, Marly Landers. If I made inquiries."
Landers shrugged and sat.
Through dinner, they parried each other's questions. Landers admitted that he was headed in the general direction of El Paso.
"Personal business," the boy said. "Of no interest to a Texas Ranger."
"I'm probably gonna end up in El Paso," Jase admitted. But he didn't share the nature of his business. "What do you say to travelling together? I supply a horse and tack. You agree to work for me 'til we get to El Paso."
The boy was reluctant, so he added, "It's either that or I hog-tie you and carry you across my saddle."
The kid grinned and rocked back on his chair. "Okay. You'll have to teach me how to ride."
Jase held out a hand. "Deal."

UNDER A TEXAS STAR is now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Over the next week or so, it will become available at Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

New Release: Under a Texas Star by Alison Bruce

NEW RELEASE: Check out UNDER A TEXAS STAR, a historical western romance by debut author Alison Bruce.


Disguised as a boy, Marly joins a handsome Texas Ranger in the hunt for a con man and they must bring the fugitive to justice before giving up the masquerade and giving in to their passion. 

When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice―even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him.

Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.

Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle’s suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.

Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?

UNDER A TEXAS STAR is now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Over the next week or so, it will become available at Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Read an excerpt from DIVINE JUSTICE, a paranormal suspense by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Prologue

Jasi McLellan drifted in and out of consciousness, her thoughts like waves lapping restlessly against the shore. When she opened her eyes, distorted faces flashed past her and indistinct words assaulted her ears. She reached for the names that belonged to those faces, but they eluded her. She tried to swallow, but her mouth and tongue were sandpaper-dry. She inhaled slowly, trying to place the smell, a mix of antiseptic and sweat.
Where the hell am I? And why is it so dark, so cold?
She blinked once and everything changed.
Before her lay a long, murky corridor. At her feet, the bare hardwood floor was polished to a reflective shine. Her sandals clicked as she headed toward the door at the end of the hall. A crack of backlighting outlined the door's shape. As she moved toward it, the door appeared to drift further away.
She paused and leaned down to look at her reflection in the gleaming floor. A face she didn't recognize stared back at her. Amidst charred skin, blue eyes blinked at her.
I have green eyes.
She cried out in terror when the face became two.
The dead girl from her closet was coming for her.
Jasi faced the girl. "Why can't you leave me alone?"
"I can't leave. You need me, and I need you."
The girl's accent was soft―from South Carolina maybe―and the pink skipping rope noose cut deeply into her lolling neck with every word she spoke.
"He keeps callin' me," the dead girl whispered.
"Who?"
The girl began to sob and Jasi reached out to touch the child's blistered shoulder. She snatched her hand back when it encountered skin that was morgue cold.
"Who are you?"
"Emily," came the soft reply.
"What do you want, Emily?"
The girl's next words turned Jasi's blood to ice.
"I want you to find me."
Confused, Jasi shook her head and took a few steps backward. "What do you mean? You're right here."
The girl said nothing.
"I've seen you ever since I was a child," Jasi said. "You've never spoken to me before. Why now?"
Emily lowered her head. "You jes never heard me before. Now you're open-minded. Now you're hearin' me fine."
A light flickered at the end of the hall and Jasi glanced over her shoulder.
"It's okay, Jasmine." Emily smiled weakly. "Go."
The girl drifted backward toward the shadows.
"Emily, wait!" Jasi cried. "How do I find you?"
"When you're ready, I'll find you."
As Jasi drifted off into a peaceful, healing sleep, she made a solemn vow to the dead girl in her closet.
I'll find you, Emily. I promise.
The dead girl finally had a name―Emily.



1

Tuesday, July 3, 2012
~ Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Natassia Prushenko was scared―really scared.
She looked down at the woman lying motionless in the bed. She's so pale, so still. Like death.
The door opened behind her. Someone stepped into the room.
"Is Jasi awake yet?"
Natassia glanced over her shoulder. "No, she hasn't moved an inch. I'm worried about her, Ben."
Benjamin Roberts crossed the room, bringing with him an air of calm authority. When he reached Natassia, they stood side-by-side, keeping vigil over the woman in the hospital bed.
It had been nearly two weeks since their partner and team leader Jasmine McLellan had taken a bullet high on her left arm. She'd been doing well, was even out of Vancouver General Hospital for nearly a week, but then she'd taken an unexpected turn for the worse. Her arm had swelled painfully, the bullet wound festering. Without warning, a blood infection invaded Jasi's body, causing serious complications and a sudden trip back to the hospital. That's where they discovered she had a concussion and mild swelling of the brain, probably from when she hit the ground after an explosion during the last case.
Natassia stared down at Jasi. "I don't think she's getting any better, Ben. She looks like she's barely breathing." She reached out to touch Jasi's arm, but snatched back her hand as if she'd touched a hot flame.
Ben raised a brow. "Natassia…"
"You know what can happen if I touch her. After all she's been through, the last thing she needs is me poking around in her mind. Anyway, we already know what happened during the Gemini Murders. It's not as if we need to know any more."
She studied the woman in the bed, taking in the tangled mane of shoulder-length auburn hair and the sprinkle of cinnamon freckles that appeared much darker against the creamy whiteness of her face.
"It's up to Jasi now," Ben said quietly. "We both know how stubborn she is."
He turned away, but not before Natassia saw tears in his eyes. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"I want to check on her status. I'll get her doctor."
Natassia felt a void in the room as soon as he was gone. She couldn't help but feel a little better when he was around. If there was one thing she'd learned, Ben knew how to take care of things―especially the people he cared for.
She watched Jasi. "And he sure cares a lot for you, my new friend."
Although she'd only known Jasi for about three months, she'd grown fond of her. The slender redhead had a lot of spunk. That was something she could appreciate.
Natassia had spent a few years consulting with a Russian agency similar to the Canadian Federal Bureau of Investigation, which had been formed in 2003. As a Victim Empath capable of receiving cryptic flashes from the minds of victims, she was responsible for bringing down some notorious criminals. After a brief scandalous affair with a married field agent, Natassia was 'traded' to Canada's CFBI. Recently, she'd been assigned to the PSI Division and relocated to Vancouver, B.C.
"Remember when we first met, Jasi? You thought I was an escort hitting on Ben." She laughed. "The poor guy practically fell over in his chair when I sat down with you two."
It had been an awkward first meeting.
Natassia let out a sigh.
She still felt like the new kid on the block, having only been a Psychic Skills Investigator with the CFBI for the past three months. As a PSI, her gift of reading victims, live or dead ones, had helped crack the last case. But not before Jasi had been shot. Natassia hadn't been able to prevent that. Or Jasi's subsequent heartbreak.
She pulled the chair up to the side of the bed. "Get well, my friend. We've got cases to solve, murderers to catch and good-looking men to tease."
There was no answer.
She leaned closer. "Jasi? Can you hear me?"
No reply.
"Jasmine McLellan, it's time to wake up now."
The woman in the bed remained still.
Out in the hall, footsteps approached. Ben entered the room, followed by Jasi's father and Brady, her brother. Dr. Mohinder Habib entered the room after them and immediately picked up the chart at the end of Jasi's bed.
"So?" Natassia said impatiently.
When the doctor looked up from the file, his expression was guarded. That made her nervous.
"When is she going to wake up?" she blurted.
"We've been monitoring her stats closely," Dr. Habib said, his black eyes drifting to the bed. "Ms. McLellan has been only slightly responsive to antibiotics."
Natassia frowned. "But she's getting better, right?"
"Your friend is too exhausted to fight off the infection, and the swelling in her brain is impeding her recovery." Dr. Habib tried to smile. "She's in a very deep sleep."
"You mean she's in a coma," Ben stated.
The doctor nodded. "Yes, but she's still breathing on her own."
Jasi's father looked stunned. "When will she wake up?"
"I'm afraid we don't know when," Dr. Habib said gently. "The body often reacts this way when it's under attack. Some people wake up within days, once an infection is under control. Some remain in a coma for longer periods of time." He made a note on Jasi's chart and adjusted the IV drip.
"What's the worst case scenario?" Ben asked.
Natassia knew it was the one question everyone had on their minds.
"Well, worst case―and I mean very worst―would be that we can't control the swelling in her brain or the infection in her arm." He turned away from his patient. "And if the infection travels up her arm toward her heart, we might have to take more aggressive action."
"What kind of action?" Jasi's brother demanded.
"Brady," his father warned. "Let him finish."
Dr. Habib's expression darkened. "If the infection spreads upward, it could reach her heart or brain and that would complicate matters. There is a slim possibility that we might have to amputate her arm."
Natassia let out a soft cry. "No!"
"We might not have a choice," the doctor said quietly.
Natassia moved closer to the bed. As she gazed at Jasi, her mouth tightened. I won't let them take your arm.
"For now, her vitals are good," Dr. Habib said, moving toward the door. "We have every reason to believe she'll fight the infection and regain consciousness. When she's ready. I'll check in on her in a couple of hours, but I can assure you we're doing everything we can for her."
Brady and his father followed the doctor out into the hall, while Natassia sank into the chair by Jasi's bed.
"They might take her arm, Ben. Oh, God…"
Ben placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you heard the doctor. She's stable and she's a fighter. She'll wake up soon enough, and when she does, she'll be bossier than hell."
Natassia studied the woman in the bed, yearning for Jasi to open her green eyes. "Come on, Jasi. You've gotta fight this thing."
Behind her, Ben said, "She's probably dreaming about lying on a tropical beach somewhere, sipping mojitos and getting that tan she always wanted."

While her partners discussed tropical beaches and tanning, Jasi drifted on a turbulent river of unconsciousness, reliving flashes of conversations and glimpses of past murder scenes that all led her back to the one case that had hit close to home.
Too close.
 She'd let her guard down, opened herself to a personal connection instead of her ordinary measure of distance, something she always strived for.
In her drug-induced world, faces flashed before her.
Brandon…Ben…Natassia.
A burnt corpse floated past her on a cresting wave.
Monty Winkler.
The dream took her closer to the water. She saw her reflection. And something else just below the surface.
She scrunched her eyes. What is that?
Suddenly, a hand broke the surface. Fingers clawed at empty air, yet as quickly as it had appeared, the hand sank below, returning to its watery grave.
No!
A rush of emotions assaulted her. Death…loss…pain.
Jasi was suddenly transported to the day she had returned to Divine Operations, the covert location of the PSI Division. Divine Ops was cloaked within an isolated, heavily guarded complex in the Rocky Mountains. Not even the one hundred or so residents of Divine, BC, knew what went on inside the complex―or underground. They believed the signage that stated it was a company called Enviro-Safe Research Facility.
In her dream world, Jasi found herself standing in front of Matthew Divine, the mysterious creator of the PSI Division. With shoulder-length gray hair tied in a ponytail and old-fashioned tortoise-shell glasses, the man could be easily mistaken for an aging hippie or a computer geek.
The latter was true.
"Hi, Matthew," Jasi said.
She knew he wasn't pleased. Why should he be? She had another dead body on her hands, someone who could've been saved if she'd bothered to call for back up. Plus, she had a wounded friend who wouldn't have been shot if it wasn't for her stubborn refusal to follow protocol.
"I-I'm sorry," she told him.
A bright flash sent her muddled mind back to the case that still haunted her. The Parliament Murders. Memories flooded her mind. She couldn't fight them, or stop them. All she could do was remember.
As usual, everything had started with a dead body...

DIVINE JUSTICE is now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Over the next week or so, it will become available at Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

New Release: Divine Justice by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

NEW RELEASE: Check out DIVINE JUSTICE, book 2 in the Divine paranormal suspense series starring CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan, a woman who enters killers' minds at the scent of smoke.

CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan battles a serious infection that threatens to claim her life. Slipping in and out of consciousness, she remembers the Parliament Murders...

One by one, members of Ontario's Parliament are disappearing, only to be found days later, disoriented and drugged. Or worse―dead. Police are stumped and the CFBI brings in a covert PSI team, agents with special psychic abilities.

Accompanied by Psychometric Empath Ben Roberts and new team member Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko, Jasi heads for Ottawa and uncovers a plot so devious that Canada's national security is at risk. If that isn't enough to deal with, Jasi bumps into old flame, Zane Underhill, who wants to rekindle their relationship that ended three years earlier.

But the investigation takes precedent and Jasi is forced to place her feelings for Zane on hold in order to find a killer who has more than justice in mind for his victims, and in the end she makes a gut-wrenching decision―one that will cost the life of someone close to her.

DIVINE JUSTICE is now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Over the next week or so, it will become available at Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

Meet Alison Bruce, author of the May release, Under a Texas Star

Alison Bruce has an honors degree in history and philosophy, which has nothing to do with any regular job she's held since. A liberal arts education did prepare her to be a writer, however. She penned her first novel during lectures while pretending to take notes.

Alison writes mysteries, romance, westerns and fantasy. Her protagonists are marked by their strength of character, the ability to adapt (sooner or later) to new situations and to learn from adversity.

Copywriter and editor since 1992, Alison has also been a comic book store manager, small press publisher and web designer in the past. She currently manages publications for Crime Writers Canada and is a volunteer with Action Read Family Literacy Center. A single mother, she lives in Guelph, Ontario with her two children, Kate and Sam.


Watch for UNDER A TEXAS STAR, coming this month!

Books:
  • Under a Texas Star