Wacky Wednesday: Coffee Break With Jaye Shields at Tera's Coffee Shop in SECRETS OF THE FOG

A while back, I reviewed the fabulous new paranormal romance novel, SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields. It is book one in the Immortals in Alameda Trilogy and an absolutely wonderful read whether you're into paranormal or not. Think Clash of the Titans or Thor - if you enjoyed those, you're going to love this one! Before we get started on our adventure with Jaye Shields today, if you haven't read my review of SECRETS OF THE FOG, please feel free to click on the title but hurry back, we're going on a journey and when we return, you'll have a chance at winning a copy of this exciting new book!

Blurb for SECRETS OF THE FOG:

When the dryad Tera’s friends inform her that the portal on Alcatraz Island is buzzing with an arrival, she thinks her goddess mother has come to visit. When Tera arrives at the portal to welcome her, she doesn’t find her mother, she finds a gigantic otherworldly warrior causing mass destruction among the San Francisco tourists. Being a forest dryad born from the Goddess of the Hunt has its perks, and kicking ass is one of them.

Sabin is six-feet-six of hard-bodied soldier, used to subduing demons twice his size. One day after chasing an elusive smoke demon through a portal into the human realm, Sabin is brought to his knees by a beautiful woman, literally. After arriving at a pier full of dead bodies, Tera issues a passionate smack-down before Sabin can explain that he’s the good guy.

He’s just in time: an ancient grudge has come to life. Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, has held a bitter hatred for Tera’s mother, Artemis, for over 400 years – and now she’s ready to destroy all dryads – including Tera.

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***The following passage has been created with the permission and approval of the author, Jaye Shields, using an excerpt from SECRETS OF THE FOG. Everything in italics is taken directly from the book and the rest I created. Enjoy!


Jaye Shields and I sat quietly at a table in the coffee shop owned by Tera, whose real name is Agrotera. She is a Dryad of the Muir Woods. We're quietly nursed our drinks, Jaye with her latte, a heart drawn in the foam, and me with my unsweetened iced tea. We watched the goings on in the busy café while enjoying our quiet coffee break.

Two women were working behind the counter. We've learned from listening in that their names are Morgana and Melissandra Reed. They are the aunts of the barista who usually takes over the café when the owner is MIA, as she was now.

Speaking of their niece, her name is Sparrow Reed and she had just arrived for her shift. She was a tiny little bird-like woman befitting her name. We watched as she tied on one of the many homemade, colorful aprons as she pushed past her aunts at the front counter and disappears into the kitchen.

Jaye and I exchange dglances when we heard the aunts, both of them, trying to convince a gentleman at the counter to try one of their delicious biscotti. We've been nibbling on some of our own that we ordered so we know they are delicious. They just seemed so insistent.

Sparrow hurried back into the customer area and approached us when we heard the man at the counter speak up.

“No, thank you.” The voice was deep and masculine, and utterly sexy. “I’m not hungry.”

Sparrow groaned.

"Obviously, my aunts have been trying to trick Duncan, the local vampire, into a mystically enhanced treat. I keep telling them, he doesn't eat." Sparrow told us with a shrug of her shoulders. "Can I get you folks anything else?"

Before we could answer, we heard one of the aunts say to the other, “I told you, Melissandra, he’d never take food. It’s always the same, black coffee, untouched.”

“Well, excuse me, sister, if I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try to get him to taste a hexed

biscotti,” Melissandra frowned at her older sister.

Heaving a long sigh, Sparrow tossed a towel over her shoulder. "They strong arm me into an absinthe binge, and then don’t even bother with a measly levitation to put me in my bed?”

Morgana, who has wandered nearby, smiled sweetly. and patted Sparrow’s head while Melissandra explained from behind her. “Well, Tera said the vamp was harmless, so I didn’t think it’d be a problem to charm the guy’s biscotti with an anti-shirt incantation—oh, and it wasn’t an absinthe binge. You’re just a lightweight, darling.”

“Don’t be such a cougar, Melissandra.”

“I resent that label.” Dropping her jaw as if to imply scandal, the fifty-something-year-old

toyed with her long silver and blond-streaked hair. “Besides, he is decades older than I am, I’m sure.”

“I am not a lightweight. You guys just drink too much.” Sparrow threw up her hands in

exasperation before pointing a finger at Melissandra. “And you. He looks like he’s my age for crying out loud, so please don’t sign up for Blood Banks Anonymous.”

The three Reeds glanced over their shoulders to drink in the sight of the vampire and we joined them.

He was stretched out comfortably on one of the armchairs, with faded blue jeans and a Green River band tee. Sparrow commented her appreciation for his musical taste but still didn't trust him as far as she could throw him.

Jaye remarked quietly to me that judging from the ropes of lean muscle under the grunge band shirt, she wouldn’t be throwing him at all.

Sparrow disclosed to us in a low voice that after much sleuthing though, Tera had deemed him harmless, and she had deemed him a good tipper. Melissandra had deemed him eye candy. And Morgana liked to watch her sister make a fool out of herself around the gorgeous vampire.

“So, elephant in the room...” Sparrow finally tried to turn the conversation to the ritual from the prior evening.

“You really think he’s too old for me?”

“No, you’re too old for him.” Morgana slapped her sister over the head playfully.

“I meant the chaos we saw last night in the looking glass.” Sparrow rolled her eyes dramatically, which only earned her a whack on the head from both her aunts.

The bells on the front door jingled and a customer walked in. All of us looked to see who it was.

"Uh oh," Sparrow murmured. "Something unusual yet familiar about this one."

We all watched the young woman approach. The girl was exotic-looking, definitely new in town. Her tan, olive-tone skin peeked out of a bright blue pea coat, and long, raven-colored hair framed electric blue eyes. Eyes that apparently couldn’t be pried away from the vampire lounging on one of the couches. Not that any of us could blame her.

"There is something," Sparrow began to say. "Shape shifter." We watched as Sparrow shot a glance at her aunts. She received nods of agreement; they had sensed the same thing.

Smiling, Sparrow greeted the young woman as if she was none the wiser. “Hi, what can I get for you today?”

“Oh, hi. Actually, I was hoping to see if you guys needed any help. I just moved to the area.

Back home I was a barista and I smelled coffee so I thought this might be a good place to start.”

We watched carefully as Sparrow surveyed the girl’s hopeful, shy face.

“Well, you’ve got a great nose and perfect timing.” Smiling mischievously, she paid attention to see if the girl reacted to the subtle compliment on her sense of smell. Generally, animals did have a superior sense of smell. “One of our girls is having a baby soon, so she’ll hang up her barista apron shortly. Let me give you an application and I’ll give it to Tera when she comes in.”

Sparrow returned to where her aunts were standing just off to the side of us. Thankfully, we were able to listen in.

“I sense a feline in that woman,” Morgana voted.

“No, she’s far more exotic. I bet she’s a wolf,” Melissandra quipped.

“I think Morgana is right this time. Feline, definitely. I sensed it. Just say it’s the bird in me

looking out for my feathers.”

After Sparrow gave the stranger an application, we all watched the shifter make her way back through the coffee shop. On her way out, the vampire stopped her.

"What’s going on? I thought you said Duncan was harmless?” Morgana whispered.

“Here, child.” Melissandra swatted Sparrow with a damp cloth. “Go clean that table over

there and keep an ear out for what he’s saying.”

 I leaned toward Jaye so that only she could hear my question.

"So what do you think? Is the vampire interested in the shape shifter?"

“As a matter of fact,” Jaye tossed her blonde locks behind her and eyed the handsome vampire, “I’d bet a book contract on it.”

 

Amy:  Folks, Jaye Shields won that bet!!  I hope you all enjoyed our little visit to Tera's coffee shop as featured in SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields. Jaye and I certainly did!

Jaye:  Amy, thank you for having me today on Unwrapping Romance. I’m honored to have gotten to know you after I submitted my first release, CONFESSIONS OF A SEX DEMON for review. I had so much fun back in September and love that I’ve gotten to read a bit from you as well, you talented woman, you!

Amy:  Jaye, accepting COASD for a read and review was one of the best things I ever did. Not only did I get introduced to an extraordinary new talent and some wonderful reads but made a good friend in the process. Thank you, sweetie!

My dear readers, if you missed my review of CONFESSIONS OF A SEX DEMON, feel free to click on the title to go there but do come back, we've got more fun coming! 

 

Jaye:  I love that you chose this excerpt because I was hoping that readers would enjoy all these characters as much as I do. SECRETS OF THE FOG is the first release in the Immortals in Alameda series, but the first book I actually wrote was SECRETS OF THE JAGUAR, Michelle and Duncan’s story. The next book set to release is SECRETS OF THE SKY,  Sparrow and Rowan’s book. I’m glad you’ve had a chance to meet Sparrow here today. Look forward to more antics between her and her aunts. Oh, and a studly half-naked, immortal warrior - of course. *cough* Anyone want a piece of Rowen, our Knight of the Fog? He and Sparrow will be hitting book shelves in February!

 

Amy:  How exciting! I know I'm looking forward to both of these stories very much and definitely want a piece of Rowan! These Immortals are super hot and the action is non-stop with these guys - all kinds of action, if you know what I mean. *wink*

 

Speaking of action - how about we give away a digital copy of this fabulous first book in a series destined to become must reads for anyone who reads SECRETS OF THE FOG? I'm going to ask my dear friend and wonderful guest, Jaye Shields, to ask the question to give you a reason to comment for a chance to win! Jaye?

 

Jaye:  I’m so excited that Unwrapping Romance is hosting a giveaway for a copy of SECRETS OF THE FOG. My question for the Giveaway is:

 

Who’s your fave character from the excerpt shared? Who do you want to hear more from?

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! Hope you read and fall in love with SECRETS OF THE FOG and the Immortals In Alameda trilogy!

 

Amy: Thanks for coming by, Jaye. As always it's a delight when you stop by and we all wish you the greatest luck with both of your series. By the way, if you enjoyed CONFESSIONS OF A SEX DEMON by Jaye Shields, keep a watch out for her next one, CLAIMING OF A SEX DEMON, to be released December 17th, 2012 from Beachwalk Press - I know I'm looking forward to it!

 

Happy Reading Everyone!

 

Now on to the Giveaway!

 

Prize:   One Digital Copy of SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields

 

One lucky commenter will win a digital copy of SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields merely by leaving a comment with a valid email address. 

 

This Giveaway is OPEN TO EVERYONE!  (void where prohibited)

 

Remember the magic formula for entry - it must be like this or you will not qualify for entry in the Giveaway and that would be a real shame.

 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

 

THIS GIVEAWAY WILL RUN UNTIL 11:30PM EST, Friday, November 30, 2012 at which time one lucky comment will be chosen at random to win. The winner will be notified by email and then announced in a special post on Saturday.

 

GOOD LUCK!!

 

SECRETS OF THE FOG, an Immortals in Alameda novel by Jaye Shields, Crimson Romance, available now in ebook formats.

 

CONFESSIONS OF A SEX DEMON, a Sex Demon Trilogy novella by Jaye Shields, Beachwalk Press, available now in ebook formats.

 

CLAIMING OF A SEX DEMON, a Sex Demon Trilogy novella by Jaye Shields, Beachwalk Press, release date - December 17, 2012 in ebook formats.

 

For more information about Jaye and her fabulous books, please visit her website.