The Hellcat Series by Sharon Hannaford is on virtual book tour. The urban fantasies stop at Readeropolis with an excerpt.
Be sure to enter for a chance to win the giveaway and follow the Silver Dagger book tour (for other dates see the link at the bottom of the post).
Sharon has been calling herself a writer since she was eight years old. She wrote her first auto-biography at age ten. As a teenager, she was teased about being a witch, because she wore lots of black and walked around with her black, Oriental cat on a lead. She never disagreed too loudly, after all, that may have drawn attention to the herd of unicorns that lived in her back garden.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Be sure to enter for a chance to win the giveaway and follow the Silver Dagger book tour (for other dates see the link at the bottom of the post).
A
Cat's Chance in Hell
Hellcat
Series Book 1
by
Sharon Hannaford
Genre:
Urban Fantasy
If
the Demon Master gets his way the City is about to become Hell on
Earth.
Gabi
has some extraordinary talents. Some might call them supernatural,
but for her they’re just part of everyday life. What she knows
about the supernatural would give most humans nightmares forever.
Ridding the streets of bad-ass creatures of the night is Gabi’s
other job. Taking up the mantle of her father’s legacy, she is a
Hunter for the Societas Malus Venatori. The first female ever
bestowed the title. Her day job is a little less dangerous. Most of
the time.
Being
ambushed and kidnapped by the sinfully sexy Master Vampire of the
City should have been just another night on the job, except for the
fact that Julius has other plans for her. When he reveals that his
nemesis wants control of the City and has plans to fill it with
Demons from the Etherworld, creating an army of Ghouls and turning
humans into nothing more than cattle to feed his Clan, Gabi must
choose her path. She must decide whether to join with Julius in a
stand against the Demon Master or flee the City with her friends and
family, leaving the Vampires to wage their own war and the rest of
the residents to their fate.
But
it’s not in Gabi’s nature to back down from a fight, no matter
how impossible the odds. As the Malus Venatori prepare for war, Gabi
finds herself pulled deeper into Julius’s world and she makes some
disturbing discoveries about her unusual supernatural abilities. Her
existence might just be the answer to a mystery as old as the Vampire
race. Even more unsettling than that is her undeniable attraction to
Julius and the taste of his blood. But before she can come to terms
with her conflicting desires they must all survive the Demon
onslaught and find a way to safeguard the truth of her
heritage.
While
the supernatural bad guys know her as Angeli Morte, her friends call
her Hellcat!
If
you like your heroine smart, sassy and absolutely kick-ass and your
Vampire hero sexy as sin and twice as dangerous you’re going to
love the Hellcat Series.
Contains
adult content.
All
Hell Breaks Loose
Hellcat
Series Book 2
In
the City, the Werewolves are restless.
Gabi
is striving to get back to life as usual. Dealing with the aftermath
of being kidnapped and tortured by Dantè, wrapping her head around
being a Dhampir, and trying to figure out Julius’s unexpected
attitude as he withdraws from her and becomes cool and distant. As if
that isn’t enough to cope with, she receives the disturbing news
that someone she cares about has been dragged unwillingly into her
world after a brutal and calculated Werewolf attack.
As
rogue Werewolves run rampant through the City, it becomes clear there
will be no gentle reintroduction to Gabi's duties as Hunter for the
Societas Malus Venatori. Once again the Vampires join forces with the
SMV to contain the threat, but the odds seem stacked against them and
the casualties keep mounting. Tensions run high as the perpetrators
manage to stay one step ahead of the Hunters and the senseless
violence continues. No one suspects betrayal from within, until
Gabi’s pets unmask a traitor. But the traitor isn’t the real
threat and the war has only just begun.
This
time their nemesis isn’t playing by any rules and no one is safe in
this deadly, new game. Not even the Master Vampire of the City. As
the undeniable chemistry between Gabi and Julius reignites, they
realise the danger isn’t only to the human population of the City,
but threatens to overwhelm them all. What they finally uncover brings
Gabi into very real conflict with the SMV Council and leaves her
questioning her life-long allegiances.
Not
all monsters come in obvious monster packages and sometimes what
you’re fighting to protect is what you should be fighting
against.
Not
everyone will walk away from this fight intact.
Strap
in, hang on and grab a breath while you can. All hell is about to
break loose!
"The
Hellcat series is one wild ride ... one of the best new series to hit
the dark urban fantasy world, ever! Two words: more, please."
Diane Nelson (Sand in my Shoes Reviews)
A
Cold Day in Hell
Hellcat
Series Book 3
The
City may be calm, but is the Hunter about to become the hunted?
For
the first time in months the City is peaceful, so peaceful that
Gabi’s suspension from the Societas Malus Venatori doesn’t feel
like a punishment. Her relationship with Julius is stronger than ever
and Kyle has finally found his soul mate, even if he seems to need
some convincing. Gabi thinks boredom is her most serious problem. She
couldn’t be more wrong.
The
visitor Julius has been both expecting and dreading arrives, bringing
with him dire news. An old enemy, out to destroy them, has revealed
to the Masters of the Vampire race that Gabi is a Dhampir. The
visitor’s presence also answers the question that’s been
simmering in Gabi’s head for years; the truth of her origins. This
truth brings with it a deeper understanding of the implications of
her very existence, and she doesn’t like what she discovers. But
it’s too late to change what’s been done and Julius must now
answer to the Princeps’ Court.
As
Gabi makes plans to leave the City, drawing danger away from friends
and family, a dark prophesy by the Magi Oracles forces her to change
course. She will not be leaving the City alone, and she will not be
running from the threat. She, Julius and a handful of others will be
heading straight into the mouth of the beast. They must present
themselves at Court before the Princeps travel to the City and
inadvertently uncover one of the most closely guarded secrets of the
Magi world.
While
the Princeps wear a face of impartiality and civility, what boils
beneath the surface is a storm of selfishness, greed, lust and
perversion. Danger lurks in every corner and it soon becomes clear
that someone is determined to ensure that Gabi will never get the
chance of a fair hearing.
Old
friends and old enemies do what they have always done best, while new
friends and new enemies emerge at every turn. Only one thing is sure;
it’ll be a cold day in Hell before Hellcat goes down without a
fight.
Put
the coffee on and warm up your page-turning finger, it’s going to
be a long night.
This
is a full length novel.
Please
note this novel is written in UK English and contains some adult
content.
To
Hell and Back
Hellcat
Series Book 4
SOME
SECRETS ARE WORTH DYING TO PROTECT
When
Werewolves start turning up dead, drained of blood, the City’s
Alphas turn accusing eyes on the Vampires. It doesn’t take much to
get the newly-formed Werewolf Alliance riled up. But once Vampires
start dying the same way it becomes clear they have a mutual
enemy.
An
unexpected visitor brings news that vulnerable supernaturals from
neighbouring towns are also being kidnapped and murdered, and that
the City seems to be the focus of the violence. With no idea of the
motives behind the attacks, Gabi and the rest of the City’s
defenders immediately commit to eliminating whoever, or whatever, is
behind the bizarre and gruesome acts.
Adding
to the chaos, demons suddenly attack in unprecedented numbers,
stretching the City’s supernatural resources thin. The reappearance
of an old foe from the Etherworld sparks fears that Mariska is back
and still seeking revenge. And that once again, she’s made
powerful, dark alliances. When all fingers point to something
hellbent on uncovering whatever secrets the City hides, eyes finally
turn to the Magi.
A
war will be waged for the greatest supernatural prize of them all,
and the outcome is impossible to predict. Not even the presence of a
powerful Princep and the shocking revelation of Julius’s true
potential can assure victory for the pure of heart.
This
time Gabi is determined to get Mariska in her crosshairs, and she’s
ready and willing to even the score. But there is no guarantee that
everyone will survive this trip to Hell and back!
Come
Hell or High Water
Hellcat
Series Book 5
IS
IT WRONG TO FEAR SHADOWS WHEN THOSE SHADOWS HAVE THE POWER TO DESTROY
YOU?
The
City’s supernatural community is still in mourning, but there’s
no time to spend licking their wounds. The face of the City has
changed forever and now her citizens must keep up or risk succumbing
to the darkness.
As
the Magi withdraw to protect themselves and their vulnerable power
source, it falls to the Werewolves to step into the void left by a
crippled SMV. The Vampires are more than willing to help, but things
are moving in the shadows; bad things that threaten to destroy
everything Julius has worked for. Princep scheming seems suspicious,
but in truth the greater danger lurks much closer to home.
When
one of Gabi’s Werewolf friends is kidnapped by tech-savvy
vigilantes it seems like an open and shut case of humans fearing what
they do not understand. But as Julius travels from the City to answer
the Princeps’ summons, leaving Gabi in the relative safety of the
Clan, it soon becomes clear that they’ve misjudged the real
enemy.
Left
confused and floundering, it’s the Princep Benedict who finally
provides the information they desperately seek. But his answers do
not come without a price.
Defending
their beloved City may seem overwhelming, but, come Hell or high
water, Hellcat and Co will do whatever it takes.
Batten
down the hatches, a tempest is imminent.
There'll
Be Hell to Pay
Hellcat
Series Book 6
THIS
TIME IT’S PERSONAL
Just
a few months ago Gabi thought her life was damn near perfect. She
could never have imagined that meeting one man would spark a chain of
events that would change everything. The only resemblance to her
previous life is her relentless hunt for supernatural criminals.
Right now, her world has narrowed to two points of focus; co-leading
the newly formed Special Investigations Department alongside Julius,
her Master Vampire Consort, and searching for the traitorous Vampire
Caspian and his pregnant Dark Magus cohort, Mariska. Catching up with
friends and making peace with her mother are also on her agenda for
the week, but life may just have other plans.
Even
the most rookie supernatural investigator would figure out that
things aren’t going well for the Magi of the City, but the High
Council is maintaining its silence and remaining distant from the
other races. The safety and security of the City’s population is
falling ever more heavily on the shoulders of the fledgling Werewolf
Alliance, leaving Kyle, Trish and the other Pack Alphas to handle a
rising influx of demons committed to infiltrating the City and
wreaking havoc.
There
are many scenarios that keep Gabi from her sleep, and when one of
those concerns becomes a sickening reality, it rocks her to the core.
Taking one of those most dear to her is a dangerous game, one that
few would play, knowing what she and Julius are capable of. The list
of suspects is short and the guilty party soon shows their hand, but
is this all just a ruse and what could they hope to accomplish by
riling up such powerful enemies?
There
is no rest for the team as, with one emergency over, they are handed
a scrap of information that will ultimately lead them straight to
Caspian and Mariska. But are they truly ready for the final
standoff?
Who
will make the ultimate sacrifice and how will the rest deal with the
repercussions of an ancient prophesy that culminates in the birth of
Mariska’s twin children?
This
is the nail-biting conclusion to the Hellcat Series.
Buckle
up boys and girls - there’s turbulence ahead.
Raising
Hell
A
Hellcat World Novel
The
rest period is over and the ultimate endgame round has just
begun.
The
City has seen a peaceful lull for the past three years. The Werewolf
Alliance has settled into their role as peacekeepers, stamping out
threats the moment they rear their heads. The Magi have recovered
from their losses both in numbers and strength and the Veil is more
solid than ever. The Vampires never rest; the desire to create
Dhampirs grows despite the law and the deadly consequences, but even
their weapons are gathering dust.
And
yet all of them know this peace is an illusion; a small space in time
to rest and regroup. Because the Decuria still exist in the shadows
and the Prophesy calls to all sides. The battle of the millennium is
looming and only one side can win.
A
new player has joined the game as old foes prepare to once more roll
the dice. The board pieces are set, the gameplan is decided and the
protectors of the City are the only ones who don’t know the
rules.
Kyle
and Trish have the family they never dared to wish for. Not only two
daughters but an ever-growing, ever-strengthening Werewolf Pack. The
love and security of family is everything they desired, but the
weight of responsibility is burdensome and they can never let down
their guard. Just when they thought everything was black and white,
they are faced with a new choice; one that is all shades of grey, one
that could change the Werewolf world forever.
Still
reeling from the shock of the decision they must make, the fragile
peace is inevitably broken, leaving the Pack blind-sided and chasing
their tails. It will take everything they have to keep their family
and friends safe. They will have to find strength in their weaknesses
and vulnerability in their strengths if they are to survive this
assault. Can they ever be prepared for the consequences of that which
has been prophesied?
Fasten
that safety belt and grab a handhold, this will not be a quiet Sunday
afternoon drive.
Sharon has been calling herself a writer since she was eight years old. She wrote her first auto-biography at age ten. As a teenager, she was teased about being a witch, because she wore lots of black and walked around with her black, Oriental cat on a lead. She never disagreed too loudly, after all, that may have drawn attention to the herd of unicorns that lived in her back garden.
Born
and raised in South Africa, she has called New Zealand home since
2008. Her life consists largely of looking after her husband, two
kids, three cats, a dog, a pony and a horse, but her working day is
spent writing, and her occasional hours off usually include books,
horses or a glass of good red wine.
Though
she has had many jobs over the years, her favourite is, without
doubt, being paid to write about the characters who take up residence
in her head. After an early foray into writing for children, Sharon
discovered Urban Fantasy; the genre that felt as though it had been
created with her in mind. She loves nothing more than to create
strong-willed, female lead characters, who challenge those around
them almost as much as they challenge themselves.
Sharon
also loves animals of all shapes and sizes. She has owned all the
usual suspects one would keep as a pet, and a few more exotic ones
thrown in for good measure. She spent her teens working at a tourist
farm and animal park, and as a result has handled everything from
porcupines and warthogs, to ferrets and hedgehogs. She has been
surrogate mom to many orphans including; kittens, lambs and an eagle
owl. No matter how hard she tries, animals always seem to steal the
limelight in her novels.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Come Hell or High Water:
Gabi had thought they were ready for just about anything. She had been wrong. There was indeed a trap inside, but not the kind they’d been expecting. As Gabi followed Rory, Ross and Butch through the double doors at the back of the building, she, along with all the other rescuers, came to a screeching halt, and the Vampires paused on the ledges of the windows they’d broken through.
The entire inside of the old church had been stripped bare, and in its centre a large metal cage huddled, cemented into the ground and reinforced with thick cables lashed to the very foundations of the building. A dozen spotlights, dark but ready, surrounded the cage, and on a pallet in the middle of the cage lay Adriana. She sat up in alarm, her blonde curls tangled and dirty, her face streaked with blood and grime and tears, her clothing in tatters, barely covering her body.
“Adriana,” Gabi gasped, rushing forward and tucking the MacDart gun into its holster on her hip.
The girl’s eyes widened with recognition and then relief. And then fear. In the dim lighting Gabi could see dark red welts covering much of her friend’s exposed skin, her eyes were round with terror, and the scent of her wolf was dangerously strong.
“Down, down, the cellar,” she said in a hoarse whisper.
****************
“What time is it there?” Gabi asked Julius’s visage on the laptop screen, realising she had no idea and utterly lacked the required mental capacity to work it out.
“It’s a little after midday,” he said. “I’ll get some sleep soon. I’m just waiting for Xavier to stop by. I need to find out what he knows before my meeting with the Princeps tonight.”
“I miss you,” she blurted, unable to keep the words contained a second longer. The moment she said it, she felt the blush threatening. The sexy smile that slowly lit his face made it all worthwhile.
“Is that you or the pain meds talking?” he purred, his grin reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat.
“It’s the pain meds, definitely the pain meds,” she confirmed, returning his grin.
“Good, I’ll make sure Jonathon gives you some more,” he said. “I like Gabi on pain meds.” But his face darkened at his own words. “I felt your pain. Even here, on the other side of the world. I didn’t know what had happened, if you were alive or at death’s door, I just knew you were hurt. You’re going to be the death of me.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he leaned towards the camera.
*****************
“Wait, wait, wait,” Sally cried out, holding placating hands up towards Julius as he turned warning eyes on her. “I won’t say anyfing, I swear it.” She tugged a cotton handkerchief from the pocket of her apron to dab at her forehead, her heart was racing, but she was taking deep calming breaths. “Oh, sweet muver of God, I’m getting too old for excitement like this.”
“Why don’t you have a seat, Sally,” Julius said, pulling a chair away from the table. The woman’s blood pressure had spiked alarmingly. “You, eat.” He pointed to the seat on the opposite side of the table with a commanding glance at Kimberley. He remained standing; the woman was human, and an older one, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
Sally was staring with open-mouthed amazement at Kimberley, who was already buttering a warm muffin. “’Ow on God’s green earf did you find one to look exactly like ’er?” And then her open mouth curved into a wry smile, and she shook her head in wonder. “A Doppelganger,” she breathed. “Neva in all my years did I fink to see one. And one so gifted. You got some interesting cards up yor sleeve, Master Julius, that you hav’.” The woman’s reactions were consistent with the signals her body was giving off; unless she was a world-class actress, she was on the level. She was genuinely pleased, relieved and amazed. “I was so worried about that fekking hair. You know, I swear I cleaned that place from top to bottom, and everyone that ’elped was there because they themselves would’ve done the deed if they knew they ’ad even the tiniest chance of pullin’ it off.” She turned her gaze up to Julius. “That lady of yors, she’s a true gem, she is. The kind that restores my faith in this world. I ’ope you neva forget ’ow special she is.”
“Don’t worry,” Julius assured her, “she reminds me on a regular basis.”
Sally threw her head back and let out a raucous laugh.
“Now tell me how you knew this wasn’t Gabi.”
Sally sobered. “I’m good at noticing details, you know.” She looked over at Kimberley. “Your Doppelganger has the looks down exactly right, but I’m guessing she didn’t spend very much time wiv yor lady. It was mostly a collection of small fings, you see—the cat not bein’ ’ere; how easily you ’ad agreed to the testing of the hair, even though Xavier is sure it’s genuine—but two fings really gave it away. First was the way you looked at ’er when she came out the room. A man in luv wiv a lady has a certain look in ’is eye when he sees ’er; eiva you weren’t in luv with Lady ’Ellcat, or that wasn’t Lady ’Ellcat. And second, you can’t fake sass, a girl eiva ’as it or she doesn’t. This one ’as a good go, but she ain’t got nuffin’ on yor lady.”
Sally was right, Julius mused, she did have an excellent eye for details, luckily it was the kind of details most overlooked, but they’d have to tread more carefully over the next couple of days.
“You can drop the mask, Kimberley,” he told the younger woman. “You’ll be needing your strength later.”
The Shifter looked at him, checking he was sure, and then she put her coffee cup down and rolled her head across her shoulders, as though she was relieving a stiff neck, and when she looked at them again, she wore her own face. It took a few more seconds for her hair to return to its usual shade of light brown.
“Well, I’ll be…” Sally stared in absolute astonishment. And then Derek chose to join them, perhaps roused by the smell of breakfast. He was wearing a pair of boxer shorts and nothing else. “Well, I’ll be…” Sally repeated, this time taking in the Werewolf’s muscled body from head to toe.
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Best of luck with the book and book tour! I've included the tour in the Friday, Jul. 06, 2018 edition of The BookTube Your Shelf Daily Reader: https://paper.li/Readeropolis/1517059010#/
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