Wicked Haunt-o-ween with Cate Masters- Death is Coming!

KAREN: Cate Masters is a multi-published author of compelling stories from the heart. She's here to share what Halloween is all about with a glimpse at superstitions, legends and traditions. She's also sharing a sneak peek at her new release, Death Is A Bitch. This high-heel reaper is not be messed with in this dark-comedy paranormal. And for all trick or treaters: Cate is giving away an Ebook copy of The Magic of Lavender to all! Read on to see how you may add this fantastic prize to your goodie bag.

 

Now for your added treat. Cate Masters presents....

Mwahaha! Beware, Death is coming!

Skeletons are dancing with joy – Halloween’s on the way! One of the spookiest days of the year. The day when the veil between worlds opens up, allowing souls to pass through.

I love all the myths and superstitions surrounding this holiday, and love finding out how they began.

As the name All Souls Day suggests, so many of the traditions relate to those who have passed on. 
Not necessarily evil spirits, although in medieval times, people dressed in costumes so any spirit seeking to do them harm wouldn’t recognize them. I wonder how many spirits might be confused by the costumes of today? lol

In merry old England, children would “go a-souling” to beg for “soul cakes” to collect so others would pray for their deceased loved ones. People left food and drink outside to appease any disgruntled spirit.

Lighting candles and leaving them outside was a common practice to help loved ones who’d passed on find their way back home to share a meal, and people set extra places at the table for them.

So the afterlife is a huge part of Halloween, but poor Death has such a bad reputation! The Grim Reaper carrying a scythe to cut down humans, wearing black robes to cover the skeleton underneath.

Well, not my Death. :) She’s gorgeous! She’s like any girl – loves her stilettos, her butterfly tattoo, her silver jewelry and little black dress. Though she tries to avoid a workplace romance, she has a crush on her superior.

But if you look a little closer, you’ll notice stardust in her little black dress, real gold in her stilettos, and those charms on her bracelet are tools of her trade. Just don’t peer too long at her butterfly tattoo – if you see yourself in it, she’s come for you. Killer gorgeous? Hell, yeah. Because she’s Death.

Death Is A Bitch is a dark paranormal with humorous and romantic/erotic elements, available from Decadent Publishing

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Blurb for Death Is A Bitch:

Eternity can suck when it’s all work, work, work. Death harvests souls even when they stack up faster than pancakes in an all-you-can-eat-buffet. No wonder she can’t shed the Grim Reaper rep.

As the patron angel of death and dying, Azrael works closely with Death but is dying for true intimacy. She’s the only immortal who’s ever aroused such powerful emotions in him. One taste of her leaves him needing her like humans need air and food, but will a demon’s lies leave a bad taste?

No one escapes Death – except King Sisyphus. Twice. With the help of Damien the demon, Sisyphus tries again, and she’s determined to have justice. Some say Death’s a bitch, but only when she has to be. But will the price of justice be a broken heart?

Excerpt:

Damien narrowed his eyes and smirked. “Alan invoked his right to challenge the Decree.”

So tedious. Sure, he’d delayed the process. And her schedule. Oh, she hated to think about that. Her nails dug into her palm. “Damien….”

Her argument fell mute when the darkness shimmered blue and purple as if the Aurora borealis had descended to Earth. A column of dazzling white sparkles expanded within the colors. From inside the light, a stunning figure emerged, his immense wings folding behind him.

“Azrael,” she said. Thank goodness. The only one who could intercede in this mess, and yet the one immortal she cared not to see right now.

My, he looks more handsome in moonlight. If Damien was hot, Azrael was a wildfire engulfing the blue planet.

“Abso-freaking-lutely wonderful,” Damien muttered, then snapped his fingers in front of her rapturous face. “Hello? Focus, will you? We have a situation to resolve.”

If Alan minded being referred to as a situation he didn’t complain. His chin resting against the open car window, he looked like an abandoned puppy awaiting rescue. Nor did he ask who the players were in this bizarre little comedy. Perceptive guy.

“Don’t raise Alan’s hopes, Damien.” Though she knew full well that Alan could cede his soul to Damien, damning himself for eternity. Not a frequent occurrence, but enough to shake her job security ever so slightly.

Slow and graceful, Azrael strode to them, the essence of controlled power. “You have nothing to fear, Alan, unless you’ve already committed your eternal soul to the everlasting fires of damnation.”

Death added, “Then you’ll really be screwed.”

Damien winced, and moved in front of Alan to block his view. “Pay no attention to them. You’ll have everything you could ever desire.”

Azrael shot Damien a scowl and shoved him aside. “Except peace. If you disrupt the will of the Almighty I Am, you will exist in torment.”

Damien waved to dismiss the argument. “There’s balance in everything. For every up, there’s always a down. You learned that in the business world, Alan. It’s how you use them to your benefit that counts. Am I right? Huh?”

Oh, that final verbal nudge might’ve been too much. Death could feel the proverbial scales tipping as Alan studied Damien, then Azrael, then her.

Like Azrael beside her, she did her best to send him positive energies to help him find his way. When Alan turned back to Damien, his way wasn’t looking so promising.

“Your offer’s really tempting,” Alan wheezed out. “I guess a trial period’s out of the question before I make a final decision.”

Damien faced the archangel, hope distorting his face. “What do you say?”

Death waited silently. The decision was Azrael’s alone. She acted only as a vehicle for the departed, but right now she was tired of running on idle. Her tattoo tingled as a reminder that others awaited her.

With no hesitation, Azrael spoke. “You know it’s not allowed.”

Desperate as a snake oil salesman, Damien loomed in Azrael’s face. “Hey, if we can’t break the rules, who can? Come on, think outside the seven chambers for once.”

Standing at his full height, Azrael’s wings unfolded with a glorious whoosh. His feathers glimmered white as new fallen snow.

Magnificent. Death found herself breathless, and wishing those wings would wrap around her. She bit her lip, taking in his full glory, committing every resplendent detail to memory for later fantasizing.

***GIVEAWAY to all...

This weekend, I’m having a giveaway on my blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com – a free download of The Magic of Lavender, a reviewer’s top pick at Night Owl Reviews and Romancing the Book. The Magic of Lavender is book 1 of The Goddess Connection series, which says: Every woman should embrace her inner goddess! What’s your connection?

About the Author: 

Cate Masters loves romance with a dash of magic and mayhem! Multipublished in contemporary to historical, sweet to erotic, fantasy/dark fantasy to speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”

When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Cate loves to hear from readers! Friend her on Facebook or Goodreads  or email her at: cate.masters AT gmail.com