Saturday Scribbling Challenge #2

This is a fun little writing challenge that Blodeuedd and I have come up with! We each challenge each other with the selected theme. 

The second challenge is a mix of a photo and a quote. Of course, feel free to join in and share your own stories with the selected theme of the month! 

First....my challenge to Blodeuedd:

My Tree by Blodeuedd

I'd like to tell you a story of a girl I used to know. She had hair fair as sunshine, she had eyes sparkling like emeralds. She had a tongue that could suck the life out of you.


I met her one rainy night on the Brooklyn Bridge.

"What are you doing good Sir?" She asked as she strolled by, as if the sun had been shining and the weather warm.

I was sitting on the rail looking at the water. Down on my luck. Not a dime to spare, not a thought of others in my mind.

"What do you think," I said as she came to sat next to me. Dangling her legs and laughing in the rain. Looking down and grinning right back at me. And I stared, how I stared. She was beautiful. Then rain did not even seem to touch her and her smile it brightened the darkest night.

"Come on, let me buy you pie." She said and gave me her hand.

I took it and together we find a diner. It was the best pie I had ever had, and I was a goner. She was all I could think of, all I could dream of, all I could imagine having. We spent a few glorious days together, making love and laughing. I did not even notice how I seem to shrink into myself. Like the air itself was sucked from my lungs.

It ended a sunny afternoon. She took me to the woods, she said she wanted to get out of the city. I had a ring in my pocket, a ring I had stolen the night before. It was a work of air with a sapphire on it that would had cost me a fortune to earn. It seemed to burn a hole through the pocked, and I could not wait to give her it.


She took me to a tree, a tree sporting fall colors and she dreamily looked up.

"This is my tree, "she told me with her silken voice. A knowing smile on her face.

"Ok," I said and she leaned in to kiss me.

"My tree, " she whispered and sucked the last life out of me.


And this is now where I am, a ghost tied to a tree with so many more. But I still get to see her when she brings men to us. Men to die, Men to be buried under the roots. We all long to see her one last time.....

Now, Blodeuedd's challenge to me:

The Transformation by Carole Rae

The only word they allow me to say is yes. I have no choices. I was born into this and I cannot escape my fate. Tomorrow is the day and it is eating me alive…..

Gently, I close my diary. The ring of my pack sparkles under the candle light. It just lies there so solid and so unescapable. A sigh leaves my lips as I roll back over. I force my eyes close. I might as well get some sleep before the day of my first change happens.

I am lightly shaken away, “Daughter, daughter.” I peel my eyes open and my lovely mother is leaning over me with a soft smile, “Let us get you ready. There is some breakfast for you.” As I sit up, I grab the golden ring with a green emerald center. There is a serpent intertwined with the diamonds and emerald. In the mouth there is a diamond. Its eyes seem to be boring into my soul every time I look it.

Mother leads me to a seat in front of the mirror. I refuse to look at myself in the mirror. Mother gently brushes my dark black hair and she goes on and on about the ceremony and the transformation. She tries to comfort me and encourage me to eat the food before me. I only nod and do not take any food.

Once mother is done with brushing my hair and make-up, she lightly places my golden band on my head. The pearls lay coldly on my forehead, “You are the most beautiful, my dear. Look at yourself.” I do as she says and look up. I stare into my eyes and I can see the fear there.

~*~

The doors are opened and I stand by the opening. Our pack file out one by one. Each person congratulates me and offers me a hug and some offer me some words of advice. Finally everyone is gone except my parents and me. They each hug me and kiss my forehead. Before mother leaves she touches my cheek, “My dear girl. Do not be scared. It will hurt since it is your first. I love you very much and…..I am sorry, but the pack is your family and this….this IS a gift. You will see.” I say nothing as they leave.

The sun is setting and I just stand at the door. I pull my cloak over my head and stare down at my ring. The serpent’s white eyes glitter and stare at me. I touch the diamond and let out a huge sigh.

The moment the sun has set a huge pain strikes my body and heat takes over my body. I fall to my knees. I rip my black cloak off and begin to crawl away from the black doors. The moon is hidden behind the clouds and rain begins to pour down. It feels good on my burning skin.

It feels like the skin from my body is being torn away. I can barely breathe! I had made a promise to transform with dignity, but a scream rips from my throat and tears pour as hard as the rain around me. I fall to my side and cry out curses to my pack and this “gift”. The pain grows and grows and I want this to end. I scream to the point that my throat is raw.

I black-out for just a moment.

The rain stops as I open up my eyes. My view is weird and everything is sharper and clearer. Standing up, I go over to a puddle. My reflection is no longer of me, but a black and white wolf. I want to cry, but all I do is howl to the now shining moon. 

Book Review: Wild Irish Heart by Tricia O'Malley

Author: Tricia O'Malley
Titles: Wild Irish Heart (Mystic Cove #1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, & Chick Lit
Pages: ebook
First Published: September 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

It is time… 

An ancient book, a power untouched, and a heart unloved lead Keelin O'Brien from her graduate studies in Boston to a small village on the coast of Southern Ireland. Determined to unearth the secrets lying hidden in the enchanted waters of the cove, Keelin has little time for a surly Irishman who infuriates her during the day and haunts her fantasies at night. 

Inexplicably drawn to the woman who has stepped from his dreams and into his world, Flynn fights a stubborn battle against his increasing attraction for Keelin. Forces unknown have better plans for the two. 

Only the secrets of the cove can show Keelin who she really is, the beauty of her mysterious power, and a love that will break the bounds of what she knows. 

Been a while since I was so invested in a book. It feels really good. I could hardly put this book down. It caused a lot of emotion and I am dying to continue on with the series. Such an odd feeling….I’ve missed it.

Well, Miss Keelin has some unexplained powers and she has felt like a freak her whole life. One day, she receives a strange book and a letter from her grandmother she never knew. Dear old Mom has been keeping many secrets from Keelin. Yes, she had reason. Was it right to keep all these secrets and make your daughter feel like a freak, not have any contact with her dad or grandma? NO. GAH. I wanted to kick dear old Mom. 

Anyways….dear old Mom tells her the truth about and begs her not to go back to Ireland, but she understands if she has to. So Keelin does go back to Ireland to meet Grandma and learn about her powers. Along the way she meets a hottie, who is kind of a jerk, but she can’t stop thinking about.

I’m so glad that the romance aspect of the story didn’t completely take over the story like it does in many other books. The romance was nice, but I’m glad this was also a story about Keelin learning about herself, her family, and her powers. It was nice and it made me happy. However…I wish that the book played a bigger part in her training and the story. The book sent to her was mentioned a couple of times and then forgotten. I wanted to know more of what was in that book!!!!!

SO many secrets her mom kept from her. I can’t disclose ALL the secrets, but there were so many. And Keelin was angry, yes, but did she confront her mom? NO. WHAT? WHY? GAH. I would be POed! I can see her mom wanting to protect her and whatnot, but seriously? So dumb. 

I loved the whole backstory of the cove and the reasons why Keelin and others have powers. It was pretty unique and I want to read more. I adored Cait and I can’t wait to read her story. I think it is next. Hmmmm. 


In the end, this book evoked a lot of feelings and I was utterly hooked. There is romance mixed in, but I was happy that it wasn’t insta-love and it take over the story. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something quick and sweet. Now the rating? Ummmmm I shall stamp it with 5. 

B's Monday Review: We Don't Need Another Hero by Sierra Dean

The city of Gold Bay once had a great champion in local superhero Apollo. But after his brutal defeat at the hands of The Scourge, the citizens have been left to the villainous whims of a madman. 

When young reporter Rebecca “Bex” Beckett returns home to care for her sick father, the last thing she expects is his request that she play caretaker to his shut-in employer, Camden Nash. Cam is not the same man Bex remembers from ten years earlier. Once a pinnacle of society, he is now a broken shell of his former self. Yet something is simmering between them. 

As Bex becomes interested in the elusive mayor of Gold Bay, Simon Nerezza, Cam must rally to become the hero he once was in order to protect Bex from Nerezza’s dark past. But Bex is no damsel in distress. She has a trick or two up her own sleeve, and things in the city on the bay around about to get super hot. 

Contains a grumpy has-been hero, a fiery heroine who is too hot to handle, and a villain who’d love nothing more than to have them both in the palm of his hand. 

My thoughts:

This is a novella, it does have a solid ending. It never felt too short, but still, I do hope there will be more books in this world. It's interesting. 

This is a world with superheroes, and villains. Some have taken over cities. Some protect cities. And in one The Scorch rule.

Bex was pretty cool, and since this is the 50s (aye set in those olden days), she has it tough making it as a journalist. Men are so stupid!

Cam, oh he was grumpy!...and I fell for him cos he was so grumpy! He was also very obvious *lallalala*

They dance around each other, but that is not really what the story is about. No, Bex wants to tell the world that this city is rotten. Cam needs to face his demon. And I enjoyed the ride. 

Conclusion:

Short, but nice.

Kindle Edition, 140 pages
Expected publication: April 5th 2016 by Sierra Dean
Urban fantasy
For review

Book Review: Demon Within by Julie Nicholls

Author: Julie Nicholls
Titles: Demon Within (Fallen Angels #1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance & Fantasy
Pages: ebook
First Published: November 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

When Angels ruled the heavens and mortals...one dared to risk everything for the love of a human and paid the price of eternal damnation.

Kai, sold into slavery at a young age, fought in the fighting pits of Darkmide, struggles with a violent, uncontrollable force that feeds on his anger. Coerced into an alliance with a King, Kai is offered his daughter Eloise, as a wife. In a twist of fate, she’s the only person able to bring Kai back from the edge when the demon within takes control.

When an act of betrayal causes the alliance to break, he rejects Eloise, bringing forth all his fears of being alone. Stubborn and running away from confrontation, Kai is about to lose the only person who isn't afraid of him.

A connection between Kai and a fallen angel is discovered, as the angel systematically destroys all towns he’s connected with, bringing the two together in a fight for dominance. Only time would tell who would prevail.

When I seen it was a freebie I snatched it up and couldn't wait to read it, since there were SO many good reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. I was super giddy. :D  Which turned into a slight panic....would I like this as much as anyone else? So I put this on hold for a hair. 

I am filled with mixed emotions. 

I liked it, but then I didn't like it. Gah. The book, at least for me, had three different sections. 

Section 1 (aka the beginning): Interesting. The world-building was decent, even though I wanted more, and the characters being introduced intrigued me. There are SO many characters and SO many POVs. It was overwhelming at times, but I was interested to see how all these characters were related and connected.

Section 2 (aka the middle): There was some major drama. Old secrets coming to life, magic, Kai's backstory, and so forth. However, all of this was a total meh. I rolled my eyes SO much that I thought my eyes would would roll away (sorry - I am super tired). I wanted to care, but I simply didn't. The old secrets seemed stretched and just meh. I wanted more angels and demons!!

Section 3 (aka the end): I was glued. I had to know what was going to happen. Something interesting was actually taking place and everything was connecting together nicely. I'm glad I stuck it through the middle, because I adored the ending.

As you can now see....I am stuck. I liked it, but I also regret it. The middle really sucked away my interest, but I skimmed and the ending had me hooked. Honestly, I felt the romance aspect took away a lot of the story. Yes, yes, have the romance I did like Eloise and Kai together, BUT the world-building needed more depth. Also, I wanted more angels and demons darnit! The fantasy/paranormal aspect felt flat sometimes. Kai's "inner demon" was a bore too. He should have been angrier and less sorry for his "demon" and his outbursts. It was annoying and hard to explain.

Overall.... I just wanted more from this. If the rest of the book was like the ending I would I have been in love. There are other books in the series, maybe I can check out the next one. 

Out of five stars, I stamp this with.......2. Nearly a 3...but yea.