🌟 BOOK BLITZ 🌟 A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair

Release Date: September 18th 2020

Series: Hades & Persephone #1.5

Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

Hades, God of the Underworld, is known for his inflexible rule, luxurious night clubs, and impossible bargains. Used to control, he is not prepared to discover the Fates have chosen his future wife and Queen—Persephone, Goddess of Spring.

Despite her attraction to the god, Persephone, an ambitious journalism student, is determined to expose Hades for his cruel and ruthless ways.

Hades finds himself faced with the impossible—proving his future bride wrong. Regardless of his efforts, there are forces who wish to keep the two apart and Hades comes to realize he will do anything for his forbidden love, even defy Fate.

Amazon

{EXCERPT}

It’s time for terms, Hades.”

He scowled and sat back in his chair, glaring. Aphrodite threw her head back in laughter.

“Someone does not like to lose.”

Her words were like a poker in his side. Hades did not actually mind losing. He lost all the time when he bargained with mortals, but he had not wanted to lose to Aphrodite.

The goddess pressed a finger to her chin and offered a soft hum, as if she did not know what to ask of him. She was wasting his time. She knew what she wanted, but just as he was about to bark at her, she spoke.

“Fall in love, Hades. Better yet, find a girl who will fall in love with you.” Then Aphrodite clapped and exclaimed, “That’s it! Make someone fall in love with you!”

Hades’ jaw tightened, and Aphrodite stared back as if she wished to see to his soul in turn. Her terms were insulting. If it were that easy to fall in love, he would not be alone now.

“Is this your idea of a joke?” he asked, his voice quiet and calm, despite the anger twisting his insides. He was going to have to torture someone just to release the tension in his body.

“Not a joke,” she said, raising a thin blonde brow. “You’ve offered love advice. Follow it.”

Not a joke then, but retribution. She was frustrated with him for offering his opinion on her marriage.

“And if I can’t meet those terms?”

Her smile cut across her face wickedly.

“Then you will release Basil from the Underworld.”

“Your lover?” Hades could not keep the disgust from his voice. They’d just spent the last few minutes discussing her love for Hephaestus, and here she was asking for a man—her hero, to be exact. Basil had fought and died for her in The Great War. “Why? Don’t you want Hephaestus to admit that he loves you?”

She glared at him. “Hephaestus is a lost cause.”

“You haven’t even tried!”

“Basil, Hades. He is who I want.”

“Because you imagine yourself in love with him?”

“What do you know of love? You’ve never loved in your lifetime.”

Those words did not hurt, so much as embarrass him. He leaned toward the goddess.

“Basil loves you, that is true, but if you don’t love him in return, it is meaningless.”

“Better to be loved than not at all,” she countered.

You are a fool, Hades wanted to say. Instead, he asked, “Are you sure this is what you want? You have already petitioned Zeus for a divorce, now you have asked me to resurrect your lover in the event I cannot meet the terms of your contract. Hephaestus will know.”

Aphrodite was quiet, and he recognized her uncertainty in the way she toyed with her lip.

Finally, she answered.

“Yes. It is what I want.” She took a deep breath then and managed a smile. “Six months, Hades. That should be enough time. Thank you for the entertainment. It was…invigorating.”

With that, the Goddess of Love vanished.

AUTHOR BIO:

Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies and spends a lot of time researching reincarnation, unsolved murders and Greek mythology-all of which made it into her debut novel, When Stars Come Out.

Website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

{GIVEAWAY!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! 📚

🌟 BOOK BLITZ 🌟 A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

Release Date: April 23rd 2020

Series: Hades & Persephone #2

Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Persephone’s relationship with Hades has gone public and the resulting media storm disrupts her normal life and threatens to expose her as the Goddess of Spring.

Hades, God of the Dead, is burdened by a hellish past that everyone’s eager to expose in an effort to warn Persephone away.

Things only get worse when a horrible tragedy leaves Persephone’s heart in ruin and Hades refusing to help. Desperate, she takes matters into her own hands, striking bargains with severe consequences.

Faced with a side of Hades she never knew and crushing loss, Persephone wonders if she can truly become Hades’ queen.

Amazon

{EXCERPT}

Persephone took her wine and purse into the bedroom. Dropping her bag on the bed, she moved into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As the water heated, she sipped on her wine before setting the glass aside so she could unzip her dress.

She paused when she felt Hades’ magic surround her. It was a distinct feeling—a tinge of winter on the air. She closed her eyes and prepared to vanish. It wouldn’t be the first time Hades had taken her to the Underworld without any notice, but instead, a hand touched beneath her chin and lips closed over hers. He kissed her like they hadn’t made love into the early hours of the morning, and when he pulled away, Persephone was breathless, the stress of her day forgotten.

Hades palm was warm against her cheek, and he brushed her lips with his thumb, dark eyes searching.

“Troubled, darling?”

She narrowed her gaze, suspicious.

“You followed me today, didn’t you?”

Hades didn’t even blink. “Why would you think that?”

“You insisted Antoni take me to work this morning, most likely because you already knew what the media was reporting.”

Hades shrugged. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“So you let me walk into a mob?”

He raised a knowing brow. “Did you walk into that mob?”

“You were there!” She accused. “I thought we agreed. No invisibility.”

“I wasn’t,” he answered. “Hermes was.”

Damn you, Hermes.

She’d forgotten to extract a promise from the God of Mischief not to tell Hades about the crowd. He’d probably waltzed into Nevernight with a smile on his face to report what happened.

“You could always teleport,” Hades offered. “Or I can provide an Aeg—”

“I don’t want an Aegis,” she stopped him. “And I’d rather not use magic not...in the Upperworld.”

“Unless you’re exacting revenge?”

“That’s not fair. You know my magic has become more and more unpredictable. And I’m not eager to be exposed as a goddess.”

“Goddess or not, you are my lover.”

She didn’t mean to, but she wasn’t a fan of that word. She stiffened, and she knew by the way Hades’ eyes narrowed, he had noticed.

He continued, “It is only a matter of time before someone with a vendetta against me tries to harm you. I will keep you safe.”

Persephone shivered. She hadn’t thought about that.

“You really think someone would try to harm me?”

“Darling, I have judged human nature for a millennium. Yes.”

“Can’t you…I don’t know…erase people’s memories? Make them forget about all of this.” She waved her hand between them.

“It is too late for that,” he paused a moment and then asked, “What is so terrible about being known as my lover?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It’s just...that word.”

“What’s wrong with lover?”

“It sounds so…fleeting. Like I am nothing but your sex slave.”

One corner of his lips curled. “What am I to call you, then? You have forbidden the use of my queen and my lady.”

“Titles make me…uncomfortable,” she said.

She wasn’t sure how else to explain why she’d asked him not to call her my queen or my lady, but it added up to the fact that they were two labels she could get used to, and that meant she was setting herself up for potential disappointment. The thoughts made her guilty, but the echoes of the heartbreak she’d experienced while they were separated made her cautious.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be known as your lover…but there has to be a better word.”

“Girlfriend?” Hades supplied.

She couldn’t suppress the laugh that tore from her throat.

“What’s wrong with girlfriend?” He asked, glowering.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It just seems so…insignificant.”

Their relationship was too intense, too passionate, too ancient for her to merely be his girlfriend.

But maybe that was just how she felt.

The tension eased from Hades’ features, and he drew his finger under her chin.

“Nothing is ever insignificant when it comes to you,” he said.

They stared at each other, and the air was heavy. Persephone itched to reach for him—to bring his lips to hers, to taste him. All she had to do was close the gap between them and they would ignite—fall so deep in their passion, nothing would exist beyond their skin.

AUTHOR BIO:

Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies and spends a lot of time researching reincarnation, unsolved murders and Greek mythology-all of which made it into her debut novel, When Stars Come Out.

Website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Newsletter

{GIVEAWAY!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! 📚

🌟BOOK BLITZ:🌟 When Stars Come Out by Scarlett St. Clair {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

When Stars Come Out by Scarlett St. Clair

Release Date: October 31st 2018

Series: When Stars Come Out #1

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Anora Silby can see the dead and turn spirits into gold coins, two things she would prefer to keep secret as she tries to lead a normal life at her new school. After all, she didn’t change her identity for nothing. 

As it turns out, hiding her weirdness is just one of many challenges. By the end of her first day, she’s claimed the soul of a dead girl on campus and lost the coin. Turns out, the coin gives others the ability to steal souls, and when a classmate ends up dead, there’s no mistaking the murder weapon. 

Navigating the loss of her Poppa, her mother’s mistrust, and Roundtable, an anonymous student gossip app threatening to expose her, are hard enough. Now she must find the person who stole her coin before more lives are lost, but that means making herself a target for the Order, an organization that governs the dead on Earth--and they want Anora and her powers for themselves.

Amazon

{EXCERPT}

CHAPTER ONE – ANORA & THE DEAD GIRL 

A woman with blond hair and a pink blazer smiles at me.

“Can I help you?” Her voice sounds robotic, filtered through the round metal intercom.
“I’m new. I don’t have my schedule—” 

“Oh! You must be Anora Silby!” She retrieves a folder from her desk and hands it to me via a small opening at the bottom of the glass barrier. “Inside you will find your schedule and your student handbook.”

I open the folder and stare at the materials. My schedule sits on top. I have already zoned in on my first hour: trigonometry...a.k.a. Hell.

“Be sure you are aware of curfew.”

“Oh, I don’t live on campus.”

“Curfew is countywide,” she advises. “No one’s to be outside after midnight.”

“Why?”

It takes the lady a moment to realize I’ve asked her a question. She blinks. 

“It’s always been like that. Since the twenties. You know, after the murders.”

“No, actually...I don’t know,” I wave my folder around to remind her I’m the new girl.

“It’s nothing to be worried about,” the lady assures me. “There haven’t been any murders since then. The curfew’s just in place as...a precaution. It’s best if it’s obeyed.”

She says it like a warning, like she thinks I’m one to break the rules. I can understand curfew for campus, but why is it countywide? 

“Would you like a guide to help you find your classes?” Her voice brightens, her smile intensifies. It looks fake, and I get the sense I’m not welcome anymore. 

“Uh, sure.”

It’ll be nice to have a map of this place in case I get lost trying to avoid the dead. The lady disappears from view and I take a closer look at the pictures on the wall. I’m partly hopeful I’ll see a picture of the girl outside in one of the photos, but I don’t find her. The images are mostly of buildings on campus in their prime. Gold plates beneath the frames indicate the year they were built. My favorite is Rosewater—that sounds calming. 

I run my fingers over the cold metal, tracing the name.

“You must be Anora Silby.” The voice is energetic and warm, but it startles me. I tear my hand away from the plate as if I’ve been caught stealing and yelp, twisting to find a boy standing beside me. He has striking blue eyes and sharp features. My gaze drops to his lips, which are initially pulled into a smile until I face him, then it falters. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I study him for a moment—lively eyes, faint color in his cheeks, and...warmth. He’s definitely alive. I guess I stare too long because he clears his throat and says, “Can I help you find your classes?” 

“Oh…um…the lady was getting me a map.”

A smile stretches across his face again, brightening his expression. “I’m your map.” He extends his hand to me, keeping the other in his pocket. “Shy.” 

I stare at his hand, confused—did he just call me shy? 

“Excuse me?” 

He chuckles under his breath. “It’s my name—Shy Savior.”

“Oh.” My cheeks flame and I want to hide. I fumble as I cradle my folder in my arm and reach for his hand. “Anora Silby…er…I guess you knew that.”

“Yeah,” he breathes, and then quickly adds, “But that’s okay. You have a nice name.”

He doesn’t move his gaze from mine as he shakes my hand firmly, and it is a little unnerving, especially since the pigment of his eyes is so concentrated—seriously, he has to be wearing contacts. 

“Um, are you going to let go of my hand?” 

“Sorry.” He drops my hand and snakes his behind his neck. “It’s just…have we met?”
I laugh. “No. I think I would remember you, Blue Eyes.” 

Shy smiles and turns the faintest shade of pink. “You just feel so familiar.”

“I hope I’m familiar in a good way.”

God. I’d have to say that, wouldn’t I? 

I’m breaking my second rule: Absolutely no boys. 

“Yes.” He narrows those gorgeous eyes and my resolve weakens. “Yes, only in a good way.”
I inhale and hug myself, feeling self-conscious. 

“Mr. Savior, I think it’s about time Miss Silby made it to class,” the lady in the pink blazer advises from the counter.

Shy turns and smiles at her. “Yes. Sorry, Mrs. Cole.” He looks at me, clearing his throat. “So, what’s your first class?” 

I’m glad the distraction gives me a reason to look away from him because my cheeks are on fire. I open my folder to look at my schedule. I’d seen it a few minutes ago but now, I can’t remember anything. 

“Um, Mr. Val, trig … in Walcourt?”

Shy laughs.

“What?” I lean away to get a good look at his face, but he just shakes his head, eyes focused on my schedule. 

“Nothing—what’s your locker number?”

Forty-four.

Shy directs me out of the lobby, down a hallway flanked with a large trophy case and a couple bulletin boards covered with flyers for homecoming.

“The lockers, dorms, and cafeteria are all located here in Emerson,” he explains. “It’s a little inconvenient, but you just have to make sure you have everything you need for your first four classes before lunch,” he pauses and nods to my locker, then the one next to it. “That one’s mine.” 

I smile at him and it feels like I’m falling into a trap. “I guess I’ll see more of you, then?”
“Yeah.” He grins, showing his teeth, and runs a hand through his blond hair. I like the way his eyes crinkle at the sides when he smiles, all things I shouldn’t notice about him, considering my rules. “Yeah, you will.”

AUTHOR BIO:

Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies and spends a lot of time researching reincarnation, unsolved murders and Greek mythology-all of which made it into her debut novel, When Stars Come Out.

Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

{GIVEAWAY!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! :)