Have you uncorked the bottle yet?

Addicted to Toxic Love, Romance and Relationships? Remember Reality!

Article by C.L. Riley

Like most authors of dark fantasy and paranormal romance, I like the idea of love and romance with a paranormal twist or two that spices things up for the couple. I’m also a fan of love that is intense, at times irrational, and even impulsive. It makes for great reading. However, because of the hot topics we write and/or read about, we might want to consider adding a warning label to our special brand of sexy, supernatural shenanigans.

Warning: Hot and Heavy Romance leading to heated hormones. Hellacious heartbreak may result from attempting to replicate the relationships in this book.

What I’m saying … we need to keep our feelings for steamy supernatural romances that have the potential to shred our hearts and maybe even our hope in check.

So, let me ask you, have your friends ever pointed out your relationship failures? Ever heard the word co-dependent and cringed? Do you excuse and tolerate behaviors that are unacceptable and hurtful in your mate, lover, or even a friend? For example: He makes me bleed because he can’t help himself. He is, after all, a vampire. Or … he only puts me down and bosses me around when the moon is full; remember he’s a werewolf.

If you can relate to questions like those, and you make excuses for someone's "bad" behavior, you just might be in an unhealthy relationship and possibly addicted to love, romance, or the idea of participating in a relationship despite the painful consequences and high emotional price tag.

I know the scenario all too well. It’s easy to fall for those alpha males we inhale like a breath of fresh air while devouring our favorite romances, paranormal or otherwise. The stories make dysfunctional, and dare I say, at times, abusive men appear so tantalizing. They also tempt us with the notion that we can’t live without a specific relationship/person … think Bella sitting in that darn chair following Edward’s departure in the Breaking Dawn, The Movie.

Why am I bringing up this depressing topic?
Because it’s important to remember the books we read, featuring men who ultimately bring danger and even disaster to our lives aren’t good for us in the real world. We don’t have super powers, (unless you’re hiding something super secret!) to combat the villains and vicious characters that seem to cling to these men like a pair of poured on leather pants. Nor are we equipped to handle all the chaos that accompanies them roaring down the main highway of our hearts.

But the main reason, friends, is because I care. I know what it’s like to search for love in the darkness while hoping it would light up my life. 

Unfortunately, I ended up with a blood thirsty vampire latched onto my neck unwilling to release his relentless and painful hold. What seemed so enticing and intoxicating in the beginning, became poison to my heart, soul, and life. When a vampire is attached to your throat, it’s hard to embrace life fully, let alone experience real, authentic love.

This special post is just a reminder for us to enjoy the lethal love in the books we read without allowing our desire for love and romance to overpower our commonsense.

Remember: Beware of TOXIC LOVE and RELATIONSHIPS.

The Clock is Ticking

Hey Everyone! I hope you're finding your own share of magic and mystery in your life. There is so much going on in mine, along with a bit of madness, making the above promo all the more pertinent. A couple of things to remember:

1. The Read to Review "contest" is happening. I can accept about seven more reviewers. Anyone who reads and reviews Bottle Banished and posts their review on Goodreads and Amazon by March 20, 2015 will be entered in "the hat" for an opportunity to WIN A $50.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD. ***The Drawing is Random. Not based on a positive review.*** This is just for fun to bless readers and bring attention to my new book. 

2. There is still another contest in play. No one has won the $5.00 GIFT CARD for AMAZON and a future copy of my book Firetrap. All you have to do is be the FIRST person to contact me with the answer to the following question:

What TV show is Agent, Brad Sanchez, obsessed with? Even to the point of committing murder? 

3. You have until March 11, 2015 to enter the Goodreads Giveaway. 

Click Here to enter the Goodreads contest OR Scroll to the bottom of this page. 

As you can see, there are plenty of chances to WIN! 

Now to amp up your interest in Genie and her supernatural shenanigans, here is another excerpt. Enjoy!

Genie's POV

The men sitting in the gray Suburban weren’t trying very hard to avoid detection. One was drinking a beer and the other was munching on a bag of Funyons, his fingers tapping out the beat to a familiar rock anthem on the steering wheel along with the radio.

Genie paused outside the driver’s window, considering her next move.

She’d bolted from Reid’s loft the minute everyone left, eager to secure the building’s perimeter. Had he known her intention, he would have convinced her to stay inside.

She needed to do this, to contribute.

After learning the rules were simply guidelines, better broken at times, she’d hopped into Reid’s head and discovered his concern about his father sending “his goons” to spy. Refusing to dig any deeper, she’d decided she would find a way to ensure their privacy and safety. It was the least she could do.

Being the always obedient genie, she had never once manipulated minds, but she intended to give it her best shot tonight.

Envisioning herself as a quarter inch version of herself, she dove into the driver’s left ear. He shook his head, attempting to dislodge what he thought was a gnat.

So how do I do this? I’m sure climbing into their actual heads isn’t necessary.
Realizing the idiocy of her attempt, she exited out his nose.

He swiped frantically, spilling his chips. “I think I bug flew in my ear and out my nose.”

His partnered scoffed. “Are you stoned again? I told you to stop that shit. You get paranoid.”

“No! I’m not stoned.”

“Stop arguing! Both of you!” Genie projected her voice through the car’s speaker system.

“Who is that?” Beer drinker asked, sounding panicked.

The driver dropped his Funyon bag on the seat between them, fiddling with the radio’s controls.

“I have a message,” she proclaimed, making her voice boom through the vehicle. “Reid no longer lives here. He moved to India. Spread the word.”

Releasing a brain altering wave into their minds, she backed up her command with the magical equivalent of an insurance policy. If the first fix broke, she’d ensured the mental message would repeat until it stayed permanent. “Inform his father.”

They remained frozen for what had to be a minute or longer. The beer-drinking passenger responded first. “There’s no reason for us to be here. The kid moved. I think to India. We need to spread the word.”

Genie giggled. This was more fun than she’d expected.

The driver turned the key, starting the big SUV. “You’re right. What a waste of time.”

“Bye-e-e!” She waved as they pulled out and headed toward the city lights.

“Impressive.”

She spun, finding herself face-to-face with yet another unfamiliar jinn.

He extended his hand. “I need you to come with me.”

In the past she would have submitted. But now—fuck the rules. “I don’t think so.” She backed away.

Unexpected power hummed, starting at her toes and winding up her legs. By the time it reached her finger tips, blue sparks sizzled from her hands. Raising her palms, she zapped the newcomer, something she’d never done or witnessed before.

“I’m a priestess’ daughter,” she announced, pleased to see the jinn’s shocked expression as he somersaulted backwards and was swallowed by a spinning vortex that opened like a gaping maw in the atmosphere. The air wavered and then stilled. What sounded like a loud belch followed.

Scanning the area, she determined she was safe, for now, anyway.

She raised her hands, flipping them back and forth. The personal firework display was over. She’d almost expected to find her palms singed or a finger or two missing. Nothing was amiss, other than fact she’d just displayed abilities far beyond her power level.

Eager to tell Reid, she flashed to the penthouse. She found him pacing in front of the living room window.

“Fuck!” He took two extended strides and dragged her into his arms. “You need to stop doing that! You don’t understand…”

“Shsssh.” She pressed her mouth against his. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.”

He grasped her face between his hands, his gaze wild with worry and what she’d already come to recognize as lust. “I know you want to help. But, please. I just got you back. The thought of losing you all over again is more than I can deal with.”

His words set up home in her heart, wiping away any lingering doubt she had about his sincerity. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d stop me.”

He raised a brow. “Do I even want to know?”

She poured out the story. He listened with interest, waiting until she’d finished before asking a question.

“Why do you think it happened? The power surge?”

She sighed. “I don’t have a clue. My guess is it might have something to do with my mom’s priestess position. Since I’m her daughter, I may have inherited new abilities from her. I’m not sure how that would work, though.”

He brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “I appreciate you wanting to protect us, but next time, let me know before you blink into oblivion.”

“I will. I promise.” He had a right to know. They were together in all this now. Not as master and genie but as a couple. She shivered at the thought.

“Are you cold, baby?”

She shook her head. “Are we a couple?” She wanted to hear him say the words. More like needed to hear how he viewed their relationship.

He grinned. “Baby, we better be a fucking couple after all we’ve been through. Remember when I said I’d make you mine?”

She nodded, her womb clenching and her nipples hardening. When he talked about ‘making her his’ her body responded on some primal level, desperate for physical connection.

His nostrils flared. “Genie, are you turned on?”

“Uh…well…” Was it that obvious?

“You just released the most amazing scent. Vanilla, cinnamon, and something totally exotic that I don’t recognize. Spicy and sweet at the same time.”

Another genie or jinn could smell magical markers, pheromones, even strong emotions, but for a human, it should have been impossible. “That’s new, too,” she gulped. “I’m just full of surprises, aren’t I?”

“Good thing I love surprises. How would you like me to surprise you? I think we’ve talked enough, unless, of course, you have more you’d like to share.” He ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, goosebumps trailing where his hands brushed.

“Do you remember your safety words?” he said softly, his voice smooth.

She nodded, excitement bursting through her like the pyrotechnics that had flared from her hands. She couldn’t wait to see what he had in store for her.

“Come on, baby.” He lifted her, cradling her close.

She flung her arms around his neck, nuzzling his ear. She wondered if this was how it felt to be carried across the honeymoon-threshold.

The door to his bedroom was cracked. He kicked it open the rest of the way, and strode to the bed, where he tossed her on the soft mattress.

“Close your eyes, Genie,” he commanded, an edge to his voice. “Keep them closed and lay back.”

“Yes, Master,” she whispered.

He made a noise that sounded like a playful snarl. “You will do what I tell you to?”

“I will, Master,” she agreed, her anticipation increasing as he shuffled something under the bed.

Fighting the urge to peek, she kept her eyes squeezed shut.

After what felt like twenty minutes, but had been maybe two, he lifted her head and secured a thick scarf or sash over her eyes.

“Open your eyes. Tell me what you see.”

“What am I supposed to see?” She couldn’t see a thing.

Reid chuckled. “Oh, Genie.” He kissed her nose. “You’re not supposed to see beyond the blindfold.”

“I can’t. Everything is dark.”

“Exactly. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“No, Master.” She knew how much he liked her submission in the bedroom. She intended to let him have it, but she had a few ideas, too. Her new found power had provided the sexual confidence she’d always lacked.

When the time was right, she’d pounce. 

Well, that's it for now! Don't forget to enter the contests and giveaway, and please take a minute to say hello or leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you. If you've read my book, I'd be thrilled to hear what you thought. I will be revealing the cover for book two very soon. 

Happy Reading!