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Tuesday, August 09, 2011

FF–Sleeping Beauty by Jeannie Holmes

** Today on Dark Faerie Tales, read Lia Habel’s take on The Cage fable and you could win a copy of Dearly Departed**

RRHfinalsmall

The following story is down right amazing, I probably shouldn’t mention it, but it’s my favorite of the event ^^ I can’t help it, I’m a romantic! This scene was hinted at in Blood Law, but Jeannie expended it for us – it’s when Varik proposes to Alex!

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Sleeping Beauty, Varik Baudelaire thought as he watched his protégé and live-in girlfriend, Alexandra Sabian, sigh in her sleep. He hadn’t thought of the Charles Perrault fairy tale in years, but as new morning light filtered into the room around the edges of the blackout curtains, he couldn’t keep the comparison from forming in his mind.

Like the Prince in the tale, he was helpless before Alex’s beauty. She’d captivated him the first time they met nearly ten years ago at the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation’s Academy. She was still a student, and he’d been a visiting instructor. She was daughter of Bernard Sabian, Varik’s former partner in a covert operations unit of the FBPI, and Varik had resisted his attraction for the sake of honoring Bernard’s memory.

Varik requested Alex be assigned to him for field training when she graduated. At the time, he thought it was a good idea to keep Bernard’s daughter close so he could protect her.

He shifted in his chair beside the window and brushed a corner of the curtains aside so he could see the sun rising over the Louisville skyline. Holding up the ring he’d had specially made from a teardrop-shaped pink diamond that had been in the Baudelaire family for generations, he knew he’d been deluding himself for years. His request to have Alex assigned to him wasn’t out of some sense of duty to his deceased partner. He’d made the request because he was a man smitten.

Alex stirred and mumbled in her sleep.

Varik eased the curtains closed and clutched the ring. A knot formed in his stomach, twisting his insides and making his heart race.

She settled into her dream once more.

He rose and approached the bed. If he was going to do this, he needed to do it before he lost his nerve.

Alex lay on her stomach with her left hand resting on the pillow beside her head. A hint of the delicate points of her fangs peeked out from her slightly parted lips. Her deep auburn hair covered her bare shoulders but couldn’t hide the small square of white gauze over her right shoulder blade.

His anger flared. Three days ago, they’d been attempting to apprehend a suspect accused of selling Midnight, a deadly drug that was linked to a rash of brutal vampire-related killings in the Louisville area.

While Varik wrestled with the enraged suspect, Alex had tried to keep the vampire’s family at bay. The suspect’s sister rushed Alex as a distraction and the mother stabbed Alex in the back with a knitting needle. The injury wasn’t severe but it did require Alex to take a few days off, which she’d used as an excuse to catch up on her sleep.

Varik pushed his anger aside and took a deep breath to steady his nerves and his hand. He slipped the two-carat pink diamond ring onto her finger. Stroking her hair, he kissed her cheek and whispered, “Marry me.”

She mumbled something in her sleep and her hand closed, clenching the pillow, but she didn’t wake up.

He snuck out of the bedroom and walked down the hall to the kitchen. The knot in his stomach refused to go away as he began cooking bacon and brewing coffee. Questions ran through his mind. Would she say yes? Would she say no? Would she want scrambled or fried eggs for breakfast?

Several minutes passed before he heard the floorboards in the bedroom creak. His hands shook as he tried to pour the coffee. He splashed hot coffee onto his hand and hissed. Blotting the liquid with a towel, he tried to pull himself together. He’d been a Hunter charged with policing his fellow enforcers of vampiric law and capable of killing someone without batting an eye. He’d faced death countless times without fear. Why was proposing marriage so bloody hard?

Quick footsteps in the hall announced Alex’s approach. She entered the kitchen wearing a faded red terry-cloth bathrobe and holding her left hand in her right. The diamond sparkled as brightly as the captured tears on her lashes, but she was smiling.

“I made coffee,” he said, offering the mug with the most liquid. He was pleased that both his voice and the mug were steady despite the turmoil ranging within him.

Alex took the cup and set it aside before she jumped into his arms. She wrapped her own arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Varik stumbled back with the force of her attack and crashed into the counter, knocking jars from the spice rack beside the stove. Her breath was warm on his ear as she spoke. “It’s beautiful.”

The knobby terry cloth felt rough against the palms of his hands as they cupped her bottom, supporting her weight. “The coffee?”

“The ring, you jackass.”

Varik smiled and the knot in his stomach eased. “So can I take this as a ‘yes’?”

She kissed him and his knees threatened to buckle. Pulling away, Alex tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and grinned.

“That doesn’t really answer my question,” he teased.

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re totally spoiling the moment.”

“And your eggs are burning.”

“What?”

Keeping one hand under Alex for support, Varik turned off the stove top and moved the smoking pan of blackened eggs to the sink. The stench of sulfur and charcoal filled the kitchen.

“Ugh,” Alex muttered, burying her face against his neck. “That turns my stomach.”

Varik grunted and then gasped as she teased his earlobe with her fangs.

“I think the air is much better in the bedroom,” she whispered.

Easily supporting her weight, he headed for their shared bedroom. “You still haven’t answered my question,” he said as they crossed the threshold.

Alex met his gaze. “Are you really that dense?”

“I want to hear you say it.” He dangled her above the bed. “Will you, Alexandra Marie Sabian, marry me?”

She kissed his forehead, then each cheek, and brushed his lips with hers as she murmured, “Yes, Varik René Baudelaire, I will marry you.”

Varik eased her onto the bed and covered her body with his. He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles above the ring. “And we’ll live happily ever after,” he whispered as she smiled and pulled him closer.

----------------------

Awww… *sigh*

giveaway

Jeannie also wish to offer a signed copy of the second book in the series, Blood Secrets, to one (1) lucky winner!

WHEN ALEXANDRA SABIAN SINKS HER TEETH INTO AN INVESTIGATION, SHE DOESN’T LET GO.
Alex allowed a case involving murdered vamps to get personal and is suspended from the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation. Now she’s facing an official inquiry but has a chance to redeem herself. The catch: She must once again work with Varik Baudelaire, her former mentor and ex-fiancé, as he spearheads a search for a missing college student. But Varik has been keeping secrets from Alex, and his mysterious past is on a collision course with his present.

When Alex and Varik discover a carefully handcrafted doll at a crime scene, neither of them can see how close the danger really is or that a killer known as the Dollmaker has made Alex the object of his horrific desire. Now the only way out of the Dollmaker’s lair is through the twilight realm of the Shadowlands, where all secrets—for better or worse—will be revealed.


Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Giveaway details:

Prize: 1 signed copy of Blood Secrets by Jeannie Holmes

  • Open INTERNATIONALY
  • to enter, Leave a comment letting me know what you think of the story.
  • You can earn one (1) extra entry for spreading the word, please provide a link in a second comment

Tweet: #FantasticFables Read @JeannieHolmes 's take on Sleeping Beauty | Win Blood Secrets http://www.tyngasreviews.com/2011/08/ffsleeping-beauty-by-jeannie-holmes.html | #giveaway PLZ RT

Ends September 7th, 2011.

---------------

Jeannie Holmes

 

Jeannie Holmes is the author of the Alexandra Sabian series, and fears spiders, large bodies of water, and bad weather. She moved from the backwoods of southwestern Mississippi to the Alabama Gulf Coast where she now lives with her husband and four neurotic cats. She enjoys art, exploring old cemeteries, traveling, and when she isn’t writing or has her nose stuck in a book, she spends her time searching for a really good cup of coffee.

Visit Jeannie

 

More books by Jeannie Holmes

 Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance

tyngasig

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

88 People left their mark' :

  1. Total 'awwww' moment. These books sound good!

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  2. Hi Jeannie!

    Thank you for the excellent short story. It's a great addition to the series. I wish I could add it to the end of Book One as a sort of DVD Extra.

    All the best,
    Rob

    PS - I RT'd your announcement & I also found you on G+ & posted about it there (https://plus.google.com/102725257038855689557/posts/C8N89BCJJf4)

    :)

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  3. *Sigh*, that was an awesome way to start the morning. Thanks so much for the delicious story Jeannie it was truly a treat. I love Alex and Varik :)

    eckstein99@comcast.net

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  4. Awww, I like the sound of his name Varik... it's so unique :) And I loved the expert - I could imagine a propose like that for myself :P In the end, I sighed, too :P

    Thanks for the giveaway,
    mikki-mano@hotmail.com

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  5. Wow. That was a really sweet scene. It was such a romantic proposal and the humor thrown it added to it I think. I admit, I haven't read any of the books in this series yet, but I'm thinking I may have to now. just to see how this couple get to this point!
    Thanks for such an adorable chapter =)

    rachybee101@live.com.au

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  6. Great story! It was just want I needed this morning.

    jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  7. OMG! Awesome, awesome, awesome. I haven't read the 2 books yet, but I'm chomping at the bit to get to them! Thanks for such a wonderful story and giveaway!

    P.S. I already have this book, but I'd love a signed copy... If I win, I'd swap you copies :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I loved the story. I could just picture her face when he said, "Your eggs are burning." That was great.
    Thank you so much for the giveaway.

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. So sweet....Love it...i want to read it now...

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

    gfc follower

    vidishamun at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I enjoyed the story.

    gfc follower

    sgiden at verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awesome story! :)) I've got your 2 books on my wishlist and can't wait to read them!
    Gfc follower
    impy80 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. shared
    http://nocturnalbookreviews.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html
    impy80 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Varik and Alex work well together. I also like their banter. I'm looking forward to meeting them.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Enjoyed the story, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com

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  15. Sounds fantastic!! Thanks :)

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. +1 spread here
    http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/127501-ff-sleeping-beauty-by-jeannie-holmes

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a sweet tale. I have yet to start this series. Thank you for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awww the marriage proposal was so sweet! I'd marry him too LOL. I would love to read Blood Secrets.

    angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Awwww, such a sweet and cute story. I liked how it tied with the Sleeping Beauty theme. ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    catarina_romeira(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great story! I always loved fairy tales, and Sleeping Beauty was definitely a top fave!

    jessica(DOT)agreatread(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  21. HEA's are an absolute must for me! Thank you :-). I loved him comparing her to Sleeping Beauty. He's so smitten. This sounds like my kind of series, a can do heroine and a hero who knows he shouldn't but can't resist. The story is also police/spy/black ops type that I like with the paranormal twist - yum. Thanks for the taste.

    glittergirl54[at]ymail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gosh..I loved that little clipping. So sweet...sigh Than ks for sharing. I'd love a chance to win your book. Please count me in .
    Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Awww what a sweet HEA story love the "The Ring you Jackass" LOL.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I loved it! i alwats wanted to know how he asked!
    blubear12@gmail.com

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  25. tweeeted
    https://twitter.com/#!/chieu12/status/101053735131824129
    blubear12@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I loved the short story. It adds to the books. I liked the way he slipped the ring on her finger then went to make her eggs.

    rachaelmccully@yahoo.com

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  27. What a lovely, little story. I'm glad I got to read it. Although the end, his plans for "happy ever after" did kind of hurt a bit, knowing how things are going to go. Still, the chance is still there.

    kerryATcreationsDOTcoDOTnz

    ReplyDelete
  28. That was really sweet. Aww!!


    moirethefates(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  29. That was a delightful story and I'm so looking forward to reading Blood Secrets.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. haha thanks for the story - loved it and the picture. Favorite part: "would she say yes, would she say no? Would she want scrambled or fried eggs for breakfast?"
    tlabunski (at) gmail

    ReplyDelete
  31. I tweet!
    http://twitter.com/#!/Pabkins/status/101093459267567616

    ReplyDelete
  32. I loved the blurb though I;m sorry to say I hadn't heard about your books before.

    dsadler53 at yahoo dot ca

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  33. Love the snippet, have always been a fan of Sleeping Beauty! A new author for me, must add to my TBR list!!
    Tanks for the chance to win!

    GFC follower
    USA is my home
    eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) con

    ReplyDelete
  34. That was just the perfect way to wake up in the morning. A better ending than the real Sleeping Beauty. :)


    heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love that this story actually provides a bit of extra info about the books!!

    macmahon.erin [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I also tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/erinmacmahon/status/101137679135154176

    macmahon.erin [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I loved that story. I always love to read scenes of things that happen after the story is over with.

    jen at delux dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. That was awesome! Thanks so much for sharing that.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow, you really gave us a lot in the way of sneak preview! I want more, very intriguing!!! Thank you for sharing and the chance to enter!

    Shared thru FB!

    saribonita76(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. wow it's this book for real?it would be awesome to read it :D
    ioana_raluk95@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sounds like a book with a lot of twists and turns in the plot and a decent sub-plot about the tension between the two.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  42. This is so sweet. Love it!!! Thanks for awesome scene.

    kapranova.sofija@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. After reading the excerpt I definitely have to read this book! It was so, so good! Thanks for the chance to win a copy:)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/jwitt33/status/101295656773234688

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. It was a nice little short which I could appreciate since I've read the first book.

    There's something hot about fangs and earlobe nibbling.

    acm05atjuno.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. *Sigh*, that was an awesome way to start the morning. Thanks so much for the delicious story Jeannie it was truly a treat. I love Alex and Varik :)

    eckstein99@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  47. Great giveaway. Please enter me. I love Alex. Dorine White dorwh at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  48. For a bonus entry I tweeted - http://twitter.com/#!/DorineWhite/status/101329479057678336

    ReplyDelete
  49. What an adorable way to propose!

    brittanynoelle at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Great excerpt--- want to read it all
    audie@wickerness.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hmmm, I think if I had a knot in my stomach, I wouldn't cook bacon or brew coffee. That's just me. Great story, though!

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Beautiful fable!!! Loved it. Something wonderful and new with great characters--sleeping beauty for the modern age.

    Tweet here: http://twitter.com/#!/Rogue237/status/101450717990105088

    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  53. So sweet. I really want to read this now!
    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Sounds like a book I won't be able to put down ;). Nice excerpt, makes you swoon and hungry for more!

    Thanks for the contest, Pamela
    misslazylou@cox.net

    ReplyDelete
  55. Amazing, i dont think i would be able to put this book down till it was over. Thanks for the giveaway :)
    ang1549@ gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I've discovered your books per chance at the WHSmith in PARIS and i think that I'll be soon addicted to your books... Anyway I hope to be able to read more soon...

    ReplyDelete
  57. Aahhhh! Sweet story. Thanks for the giveaway.

    sariahwalters at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Great story. Thanks for sharing!!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/101820258209366016

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Really enjoyed the story, thank. (: (: (:

    I am a follower.

    http://twitter.com/?lang=en&logged_out=1#!/nat_isabel/status/101827219634143232

    nat_isabel(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  61. I liked that story, I want to read more of it.

    truebloodfan AT rock.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Vamper_Fan/status/102225177944924160

    truebloodfan AT rock.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Awww that story made my heart melt a little bit! ;)

    Poisnivyred AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. After that teaser I just have to have this book!!! It must be the best marrige proposal I have ever read, I loved it. Please please enter me in this giveaway!

    sarie101 at webmail dot co dot za

    ReplyDelete
  65. awww...the story sounds lovely!:)
    please count me in!

    GFC-Janhvi Jagtap

    justjanhvi at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  66. That's really sweet! :-)

    Books sound great - now I can't wait to read them!

    notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

    ReplyDelete
  67. awwwwwww... loved this short story... *__*

    kairiokayasu at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  68. I loved the short story. Thanks for the giveaway.

    sab5723 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  69. what a sweet short story. ;-) thanks for the giveaway.

    Terri

    oklahomamommy0306@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  70. That was so something I'd love to wake up to! How romantic ...fangs and all!
    Viajeradelmar @aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  71. The stabbing with the knitting needle: an excuse to catch up on some sleep - LOVED THIS!!! Great story.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  72. This story was so wonderfully romantic. I really enjoyed reading it.

    Thank you for the giveaway and the amazing story.

    twiztidsharkie@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Its a very cute Sleeping Beauty story.

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  74. It sounds really cool♥ I would love to read it!
    Thank you for the chance to win♥
    Rathouska(dot)jana(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  75. tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/JanaRathouska/status/104475547693875200
    Rathouska(dot)jana(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  76. I love the story! And I'm now even more anxious to get a hold of this book. Thanks for the giveaway!

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  77. My tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LadyVampire2u/status/104853793996423168

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  78. Makes me want the book now!

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  79. Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Maria_Smith_76/status/105012358698643456

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  80. i would love to read this book it sounds amazing

    jenny

    madsheepno1@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  81. I'm totally enamored by the story :D

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  82. Wow, I love the story! Swooning over here, lol!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  83. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
    I loved the short story!
    stephbarkerdrew(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  84. LOVE the short story! <3 can't wait to read this book
    vivianmah8(AT)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  85. That is an incredibly moving story. I love that it showed Varik's vulnerability.

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  86. The story is fantastic! I really want to read the book :)

    starlightgirl678 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  87. Loved the first book and would love to get this one!

    email:
    jazzwolf44(at)gmail(dot)com

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Gothical17/status/110228716008914944

    ReplyDelete
  88. I still remember to this day how the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty terrified me even though I wasn't that little. The evil fairy was really scary :-) But loved the songs and music :-D

    Thank you for the fantastic giveaway!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete