Consumed by Love - A Short Story (4 page)

From the Editor of
Consumed by Love
:

FORGIVE ME, ALEX

by Lane Diamond

This Psychological Thriller novel is now available. For
more information on this book, please visit the
Evolved
Publishing
website.

~~~~~

~~~~~

Tony Hooper stands in shadow across the street, one
amongst many in the crowd of curiosity-hounds gathered to watch a monster’s release.
Seventeen years after Mitchell Norton, 
the devil
, terrorized
Algonquin, Illinois on a spree of kidnapping, torture and murder, the
authorities release the butcher from psychiatric prison.

Tony longs to charge across the street to destroy
Norton—no remorse—as if stepping on a cockroach. Only sheer force of will
prevents his doing so.

The devil
 walks the world again. What shall Tony
do about it? Aye, what indeed.

After all, this is what Tony does. It’s who
he is. 
The devil
 himself long ago made Tony into
this hunter of monsters. What a sweet twist of fate this is, that he may
still, finally, administer justice.

Will FBI Special Agent Linda Monroe stop him? She owes him
her life, so how can she possibly put an end to his?

Tony Hooper and Mitchell Norton battle for supremacy,
with law enforcement always a step away, in this story of justice and
vengeance, evil and redemption, fear and courage, love and loss.

~~~~~

Praise for
Forgive Me, Alex
:

“Lane gets you into the head of the characters and you feel
this bond with them urging you to read faster to find out what happens next.
You know you are reading a great book when you need to stop reading but keep
telling yourself just one more chapter, then one more leads to half the book. I
felt so bad for Tony and all his loss. I wanted to murder Mitchell Norton
myself. I wish I knew old Frank personally. I was caught off guard by the
ending and can’t wait for the next book! Well done!” – Jennifer @ Can’t Put It
Down Reviews

“...Lane’s writing makes you really care about these people
and what’s going on. Lane excels in this area of sympathetic characters.” –
Tim
C. Ward, Book Blogger & Podcaster

“I have actually read this story twice, yes twice! There are
new things to discover each time you read it and I would encourage you to pick
it up again, see what you can discover about Tony Hooper the second time around
... and see what you can maybe discover about yourself. I was able to understand
my sick fascination with serial killers and horror gore a little better with
the aide of “Forgive Me, Alex” - it is the only media representation of such a
horrific character type that effectively goes beyond the curtain.” –
Marie
Borthwick

“With a deeply attuned attention to the nature of humanity
and psychosis, Diamond delves into the darkest corners of the human mind and
pulls out nuggets of horror and absolution that will leave you wanting more. I
look forward to more books from this amazing author. This is a book to rival
any of the great thrillers you’ve ever read and is a definite must read!” –
Kimberly
Kinrade, Author of
The Forbidden Trilogy

“I think what struck me the most about the story, and what I
really enjoyed, was the way Diamond explored the depths of the main characters,
Tony Hooper and Mitchell Norton. It would be easy in this type of story to get
caught up in the action. But correctly, I think, Diamond recognizes that the
strength of the book lies in the characters, and he does an excellent job of
helping the reader understand the inner workings of their minds. ... That is
not to say that the “action” scenes were not well done. In fact, I found myself
drawn to the most disturbing scenes, which I think is a real compliment to the
manner in which they were presented.” –
Rich V.
at Amazon

THE TWISTED MOSAIC – SPECIAL OMNIBUS EDITION

by Amelia James

This award-winning, steamy set of 3 mosaic novels in one
volume tells the story of the love triangle that is Talia, Will, and Alex. And
oh... what a twisted triangle it is. Includes exclusive bonus content only
available in this special edition: a deleted scene, and three exclusive bonus
stories! For more information on this book, please visit the
Evolved Publishing
website.

~~~~~

Her Twisted Pleasures (The Twisted Mosaic – Book
1)

Award-Winning Finalist, USA Book News 2012:
Fiction-Erotica

~~~~~

Dirty little secrets.

Talia indulges her sexual pleasures, turning her life into a
twisted mess. Sleeping with Alex is dangerous and reckless, and she craves that
excitement. Loving Will is comforting and safe, and she needs that stability.
Why can’t she get everything she wants from one man?

All the wrong reasons.

Alex has everything he wants. He loves the power that comes
with his job, and fooling around with his boss provides the illicit kink he
needs. He’s in charge and trusts no one.

When Alex’s case forces them back together, Talia discovers
she still craves both her former lovers. Can only one love her enough to
satisfy her twisted desires and provide the stability she needs?

Love takes an unexpected twist.

Will loves Talia, and he’s willing to give up everything to
be with her. Their future hinges on her answer to one simple question. But when
he leaves his life behind to pursue her, he’s confronted with choices he didn’t
expect.

No more secrets. No more lies. Old love? New love? Or do
they have a third option?

Praise for
The Twisted Mosaic
:

“It’s no secret that I love the Twisted Mosaic series, but
Amelia James has made it even better! Is that possible? I previously read all
three books individually and loved them but the new short stories really bring
it all together! I loved getting to see different aspects to the character’s
lives. Not that the characters were one dimensional before, but it deepened my
connection with them. A good short story will give you a beginning, a middle
and an end but leave you wanting more. And boy do I want more. I sincerely hope
James will give it to us. I would love to read more about Will, Alex and even
Talia before they became “Twisted” together. Another aspect I loved was the
interview with the characters. I could picture them all sitting there answering
these questions. A job magnificently done! Even if you have read the books
individually, you MUST get this book for all the extras. It’s a must have!” –
Red
Headed Book Worm

EULOGY

by D.T. Conklin

This dark, epic fantasy novel is now available. For more
information on this book, please visit the
Evolved Publishing
website.

~~~~~

“They’ll stand amongst the corpses of the beloved.” That’s
what he said at the end, though I never considered myself one of the beloved, not
at the beginning. I was simply a terrified woman then, but now... now I understand.
Maybe I wish I didn’t.

Void take me, this is so demon-damned hard.

In the beginning, he loved me. Irony, it twists and twirls
like a lover’s song, but this is hardly a lover’s tale. It’s one of blades and blood.
I wish I could’ve seen it sooner, but that would’ve been too easy. I wouldn’t have
learned to love him.

~~~~~

Praise for
Eulogy
:

“Conklin writes with a poet’s flair, using minimal words to deliver
maximum dramatic impact. Visceral, shocking, and deeply imaginative,
Eulogy
pushes to the edge . . . and then dives right over it. An unapologetic, no-holds-barred
descent into madness--yet there is method in it. Readers with the fortitude to take
the plunge stand to be rewarded with what may go down as one of the most ambitious,
redefining forays into epic fantasy of all time.” –
Eldon Thompson, Author
of
The Divine Talisman

“Some epic fantasies are straightforward tales of magic and adventure,
where a band of heroes fights and defeats an evil overlord.
Eulogy
is not
such a tale. Conklin’s book overflows with magic and adventure, but the book is
a puzzle -- a maze of secrets and wonders, implications and hidden meanings. A treat
for readers who love a challenge!” –
Tom Crosshill, Nebula-nominated Author

“Conklin manages to write a book that is at once recognizable
as fantasy but at the same time wholly his own. There are the escapists conventions:
swords, battles, beautiful women, and magic, but it’s this last one, magic, where
the genre is subverted in the best way possible. In the world of
Eulogy
,
the system of magic is reality-bending, and as such functions on a philosophical
and psychological level, posing existential questions while swords flash in the
foreground. I don’t want to scare away readers who are in it for the adventure.
There is always that, too, from personal quests to wars that sweep across the whole
landscape. I just want to point out that there is something beyond the surface,
and for readers like myself, who come to the fantasy genre only rarely, it’s pleasant
to find a book that successfully explores the deeper side of things while remaining
thoroughly entertaining.” –
Zach Powers “wordist”

“Conklin has written one of those books that gets in to your
brain and whispers to you anytime you aren’t reading it. The adventure is very much
your own for with his characters, Conklin draws from the reader the magic they didn’t
realize they were bringing with them. Like most stories the overarching battle is
good against evil, the characters each must face the darkness and demons that lie
inside the soul of anyone who loves, hates, strives, and suffers. Some win. Some
lose.” –
MJ Kaufmann “~MAJK~”