Saturday, February 2, 2008

The Long Way Home now available at Amazon

Completely by accident, I've discovered that ShadowsForge 4: the Long Way Home is now available at Amazon.com. How exciting is that!

Currently reading :
The Long Way Home (Shadows Forge, Book 4)
By Jena’ Galifany
Release date: 2007


Blurb:

Brian Cummings has come a long way from Leicestershire, England. Miles of hard road lay between then and now – hard road he's kept hidden—until the nightmares began again.

Diane Starling loves Brian. If she were not carrying his child, she'd still do anything to make him happy—even letting him go to someone else. Who is the woman in his nightly dreams? Why does she make him scream?

Valerie Leonard, journalist, dredges up history that should remain buried; history that could ruin Brian and hurt the people he loves most. Should Val keep his dangerous past to herself? Doesn't Diane have the right to know the truth about the father of her child?

Brian and Diane fight to overcome the past, embrace the present, and build a future as they travel with ShadowsForge on THE LONG WAY HOME.

Check out excerpts and review links HERE

Purchase The Long Way Home at Amazon.com HERE
or at Whiskey Creek Press HERE


Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Brian Cummings' Birthday - Celebrate with Chocolate

January 8th is the birthday of Brian Cummings, percussionist for ShadowsForge. To celebrate, we are having a drawing for a 3.5 ounce bar of Ghirardelli Intense Dark Espresso Escape Chocolate.

To enter, all you have to do is send a birthday wish to Brian at his email addy: brian.cummings23 AT yahoo.co.uk (you know how to make it work) Tell him happy birthday, or what a great guy he is... anything at all. He'll be thrilled to hear from you.

Winner will be drawn Wednesday afternoon and will be notified on my newsletter list JenaGalifany and directly. If you are not a member of my list, come on over and join. I promise to not flood you with emails.

Don't forget to check out Brian's story, The Long Way Home, the fourth book in the ShadowsForge series.

Blurb:

Brian Cummings has come a long way from Leicestershire, England. Miles of hard road lay between then and now—hard road he's kept hidden—until the nightmares begin again.

Diane Starling loves Brian. If she were not carrying his child, she'd still do anything to make him happy—even letting him go to someone else. Who is the woman in his nightly dreams? Why does she make him scream?

Valerie Leonard, journalist, dredges up history that should remain buried; history that could ruin Brian and hurt the people he loves most. Should Val keep his dangerous past to herself? Doesn't Diane have the right to know the truth about the father of her child?

Brian and Diane fight to overcome the past, embrace the present, and build a future as they travel with ShadowsForge on "THE LONG WAY HOME."

Review:

"ShadowsForge 4: The Long Way Home is a reader's dream. The tug of emotions I felt while reading Brian's story are a credit to Ms. Galifany as a writer. I was moved to tears on more than one occasion and besieged by frustration as life worked against Brian, Mia and Diane. Page after page I was drawn further into the lives of the characters, wanting to know what would happen next, hoping that somehow Brian's life would finally end in happiness.

Ms. Galifany has woven a tale of tragedy and love that is more genuine than any I have read in a long time. I wasn't expecting such a deeply moving story from a series devoted to a popular British rock band, but ShadowsForge 4: The Long Way Home is just such a story.If you have not read the rest of the ShadowsForge series, do not hesitate to start with The Long Way Home. Ms. Galifany has woven enough history into the story that you will quickly learn about the other members of the band and some of the interesting adventures they have had.

If you are a devout ShadowsForge follower, I think you will be intrigued by the in-depth look into the past of their drummer and the secrets he's been carrying within him all this time. As for me, I'm off to find the first three volumes of the ShadowsForge series so I can hear about all those amazing adventures these bad boys of rock have had a part in." - Reviewed By Sabine Maurier, Novelspot

Excerpt:

Brian lay on the bed in a towel and watched a movie. When he heard a light rap at the door he snapped off the television. He opened the door and stifled a smile.

Mia shivered, cold and wet. "My car's stuck."

Brian stepped back and allowed her entrance. He locked the door, walked around her and stretched out on the bed on his side, his head supported on his hand. "I told you to stay. You should have listened." He caressed her with his eyes. "You should get out of those wet clothes." His brown eyes sparkled.

Mia dropped her bag on the chair. She shivered under his visual assault and looked very much like a lost schoolgirl. Her stockings had slipped again to reveal the soft skin Brian had thought about since she'd left.

When she didn't continue he commented, "You're new at this." Brian sat up. "Come here." Mia moved toward him, her vision fixed on his face. Her hands nervously clutched her sweater. She moved cautiously—out of cold or perhaps fear. Brian held his hand out to her and motioned her closer. "Come on. I'm not going to hurt you, you know."

"No, I don't know." She took a deep breath. "I had to come back. Home is too far away to walk."

"Turn round." When she didn't respond, he took her firmly by the hips and turned her. He raised her foot and removed her boot. She surrendered her other foot for him to repeat the act. Her eyes were tightly closed when she turned to face him.

"You need to get warm," Brian suggested.

She nodded in agreement but kept her eyes closed. He shook his head. She was no prostitute—and never would be. The way she responded Brian suspected she was virgin. He wondered how to confirm it without scaring the hell out of her.

"How old are you?" Brian placed his hands lightly on her waist and hoped she would open her eyes.

"Eighteen."

"Yeah, me too." He lied. "Life sucks at eighteen." He slipped his hands around her thigh and pushed each stocking slowly down. He allowed his palms to glide along her skin down to her knee, and enjoyed her halted breath each time his warm hands connected with flesh. His attention fell on a tattoo high on her right thigh. Brian stroked the mark with the side of his hand as if to dust the cold from her flesh. "What's this?"

"My family's crest. I thought it looked interesting."

"It does. I'll have to give it a closer look later."

Brian sat back on the bed and pulled her on to his lap. Her wet hair felt like icy fingers on his skin. He pulled her leg up to push her stocking off. He ran his hands from her ankle up as she lowered her foot. He repeated the ritual and the second stocking joined the first. If he took his time, he could have his hands on every inch of her by morning. What an interesting challenge.

He waited, allowed her time to relax before he continued. She was surrendered but nervous, and allowed him to do as he pleased. He took his time, careful not to frighten her. If she ran again he feared she'd freeze to death before she'd submit herself to him. Brian moved his hands from her hips slowly upward as he lifted the sweater. She willingly raised her arms and allowed him to pull it over her head. She wrapped her arms around her body and covered her bra. Brian wrapped his arms around her and held her cold body to his warm chest. She stiffened in his embrace.

He whispered in her ear. The softness of her hair brushed his face. "I'm trying to share my body heat. I want to help you get warm."

"Thank you."

He smiled at her whispered response. She relaxed against him; the tension melted from her shoulders as she leaned her head back. Brian stroked her arms slowly before he moved his hands over her shoulders. He stroked her throat, moved his hands cautiously downward in a circular motion to caress the chilled flesh of her chest. He was hindered from going further by her arms.

"You need to get that wet skirt off—get under the blankets." He gently prompted her to stand. He stood with her, and collected her wet clothes. "Get in the bed." He busied himself as he hung her clothes in the bath. Leaving the bathroom light on, he turned the lights off in the bedroom. The indirect glow was sufficient for his plans.

By the time Brian returned to the bedside, Mia lay in the bed curled on her side. She watched Brian as he sat on the bed.

"Is there enough light for you?" He kept a low, smooth tone.

"Yes."

"Can I do anything for you? Get you anything?" Brian stalled. He gave her time—let her get comfortable with him.

"No."

"All right." Brian turned the covers back and slid into the bed. He pulled the towel from his body and dropped it on the floor. He pulled the blankets up to his waist and folded his pillow under his head. "Closer." He waited.

To his satisfaction, Mia positioned herself along side of him. He wrapped his arm around her. Her head rested on his shoulder, her hand moved to his chest. He enjoyed the contrast of her cool body and legs along side his warmth. She pressed close to him. He stroked his hand down her side to her thigh to confirm there were no barriers between them. A slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She was his.


_______________

Have a great day!
Jena
ShadowsForge Series


Currently reading :
ShadowsForge 3: Retaking America
By Jena’ Galifany
Release date: April 2007