Aiden's Angels

Between 4 Title and Cover Reveal

2015-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for.

The title and cover of the 4th and final installment of the Between Series.

I present to you:

Three in one, forward and back

Here and gone, to deepest black

Silver blooms, swollen with child

Birth crimson globes, untethered wild

Life meets death where the sun meets the sea

Blood sacrifice, for you and for me.

It has all come down to this.

A prophecy, passed down through generations of MacRaes, tells of a blood sacrifice. A simple stone placed in an ancient dagger unleashes an army of hell transporters with glowing red eyes who have now come to exact that price.

In the epic finale of the Between series, Aiden and Lindsey will be tested in ways they could never have imagined. Visions of the past, from thousands of years ago when the Broch of Gurness in Orkney was whole, provide more questions than answers. But every secret will be revealed as the MacKinnons and MacRaes join forces to fight a battle they cannot hope to win.

Who's Excited?

Teaser #7

2014-09-25T16:07:00.001-07:00

We get another teaser, Angels.

Are you ready?

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ EVEN IN DARKNESS

#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!# !#!#!#!#

Deep in the night, my bladder screamed at me, demanding that I get out of bed, even though it felt like I’d done the same thing ten minutes before. Blearily, I pulled off the covers and padded down the hall to our tiny bathroom. The cottage where we lived was originally Sarah MacKinnon’s mother’s home and it was a great size for one person. But the bathroom was minuscule, and felt even smaller now that I had a huge belly. With my eyes still closed, I wedged myself between the sink and the toilet and emptied the thimble that had become my bladder.

The baby shifted and I placed my hand over my stomach instinctively, feeling a bony knee or elbow move underneath my palm. A moment later, a swift kick underneath my ribs had me gasping for air. Damn, that hurt. Groaning, I hurried to finish up, thinking that maybe the baby would settle down if I got back into bed. When I stood to pull on my panties, I felt a pop and then a gush of fluid running down my legs. It felt like I was peeing all over myself, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. I knew what was happening, but I had no idea what to do. Should I stay in the bathroom? Should I call for Aiden?

This is it. Oh my goodness.

My heart rate kicked up with excitement and panic while I waddled sideways, then turned and tried to bend down to get a pad out of the cabinet under the sink. It was impossible. I simply couldn’t bend like that, especially not while I was streaming a river around my feet. I wanted to be self-sufficient and I didn’t want to wake Aiden because it could be hours before labor started, but I couldn’t go back to bed now. Hell, I couldn’t even leave the bathroom. Tears of frustration started to well up and I swallowed hard to keep it together.

“Aiden?” I called softly. His gentle snore told me he was completely out of it. I tried again, with more volume. “Aiden, honey?”

Two heavy footsteps echoed down the hall and then he was there: naked, tousled, his eyes wild and afraid. “What’s happened? Are ye hurt?” He swept his gaze over my body until he saw the puddle on the floor.

“My water broke,” I explained, like that wasn’t obvious.

His eyes snapped up and held mine. Deer in the headlights doesn’t begin to explain it. My confident, assured, strong, and resourceful husband simply stared at me.
All that childbirth preparation we’d done flew out the window as his brain clawed its way back from a dead sleep.

“Um, could you get a pad out for me? I can’t bend down to reach it,” I said, wondering how it was that, even dripping all over the floor, I was the voice of calm here. “And I need some new panties.”

“Right,” he said, then hovered in place for a second, trying to decide which to do first: head to the dresser or squeeze past me to dig through the bathroom cabinet. Before he made up his mind, I put my hand on his arm and gave a shaky laugh.

“Aiden, it’s happening. We’re having a baby.”

His eyes glistened with tears and he grabbed me in a hug. I clung to him, feeling my own eyes water. When he pulled away, he seemed to have come back to himself. He cupped my cheeks in his hands and kissed me lightly.

“I love you,” he said. “Dinna fash. I’m here.”

Grinning, I let the moment linger before I reminded him, “Still need those panties.”

And then he was off, streaking down the hall like he’d been shot out of a cannon

Teaser #6

2014-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

He sucked my earlobe into his mouth, then nibbled it with his teeth.
“Did I hear something about a shower?” he said, his voice like melted wax. The hand that was wrapped around my waist ventured lower, eliciting a moan from me, but a knock at the door cut off any hopes of following through on Aiden’s suggestion. “We should have told them to come at noon,” he said.

“Too late now,” I said, disentangling myself from him with regret. His eyes roamed over my body for a moment and he groaned with desire.

“You’re so beautiful, Lindsey. I want to spend the whole day in bed with ye, just touching your skin, tasting your lips, feeling your body against mine.”

Warmth rushed over me at the longing in his words. I wanted that, too. It had been forever since we’d just held each other.

“Yes. Yes. More yes. Tomorrow, maybe. But right now, we have guests.”

“Aye,” he said, his voice laced with disappointment that tugged at my heart. I wanted to grab on to him and never let go, but there simply wasn’t time. Instead, I turned to the dresser to pull out a pair of jeans and he left to answer the door.

Happy Third Birthday!

2014-04-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special day. Today marks the third anniversary of the publication of Between. Three years ago today, Between was published.

No matter how many ways I say it, it still makes me smile.

While we do some celebrating on twitter (#BetweenLove) I just wanted to take some time to say THANK YOU!

Thank you to Cyndi Tefft for writing this series. We may be a small group of fans but we love you so much and are so grateful to you.

Thank you to Lindsey and Aiden for showing us how strong the love between two people can be. It literally defied death again and again.

Thank you to Lindsay Cox for being an incredibly creative fan and taking charge when I can't. I am eternally grateful to you.

Thank you to Theresa Largusa for being a very organized Angel. Not only has she helped put this little project together but she's also had so many amazing ideas, been insanely supportive and encouraged everyone around her.

And finally THANK YOU, to you, the Aiden's Angels. You have been crazy, and quiet, supportive, and sweet - hell you're helping to send me to New Orleans to meet Cyndi, but mostly you've been there to share the love we all have for this incredible series.

This blog has only been around for a year and a half but you guys have kept her running and for that I can't thank you enough.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for getting us here. Three years later, and we're still in love with Aiden and Lindsey MacRae.

We asked you what your favourite thing about Aiden and Lindsey were and these were just some of your answers:

Post by Aiden MacRae.

Is there anything else you want to add to the list?

And because it's Between's birthday we've got some bonus content in the shop coming soon.

Guess The Quote Rules

2014-04-04T06:33:00.002-07:00

Good morning, Angels. We're going to play a little game called: Guess the Quote.

All weekend (Friday April 4-Sunday April 6 at 11:59 MT) follow #BetweenLove AND @TheresaLargusa, @vatrask, as well as @cyndtefft on twitter. Throughout the weekend we'll be posting quotes from the first three Between books. Your job is to (you guessed it): GUESS THE QUOTE. Tweet one of us back telling us which book it's from and you'll get one point for each correct answer. At the end of the weekend the person with the most posts will win an epic prize.

There are more details to come on the prizes but I can tell you part of it involves the fourth book, the shop and a bunch of other things. Stay Tuned.

If you don't have twitter the quotes will also be on the Aiden MacRae Facebook Page (note: if you answer on twitter AND FB only one of your answers will count).

Happy Guessing, Angels!

Teaser #5

2014-03-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Cyndi posted this teaser on her FB page. Enjoy!
A swift ride through the countryside is what I need, I thought.
Frustration sprang up like a geyser in my chest as the buckle on ...the saddle resisted my manipulations. A vicious Gaelic curse shot from my lips, and though I knew no one was around to hear, and even if they had been, no one in our group understood the language. My language, my native tongue. The thought made me pause, breathing hard, my hand coming to rest on the underbelly of the horse.

Three hundred years. So much had changed from those days on the misty moor of the loch surrounding Eilean Donan Castle. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply and let myself pretend I was back in the stables at home, that the sharp tang of the horseflesh in front of me belonged to Eachann, the brown stallion I’d grown up with. He’d been a spitfire and no doubt. I’d loved him fiercely from the time I was no taller than his breast, barely more than a bairn myself. The summer before Da fell ill, he’d placed me atop the stallion.

"Steady, lad," he’d said firmly as I’d wiggled into place. With one hand on my knee to keep me still and another wound loosely in the reins, he’d made clicking sounds to the horse, who began a slow walk out toward the road. The warm summer breeze seemed fresher atop the great beast and I sucked in great lungfuls of it, pride at my new station streaming within me like a sunbeam through the forest.

"Can we go faster, Da?" I’d pleaded, ready to push the boundaries and feel the earth pass swiftly beneath me. My father had taken me on rides before, tucked up tight against the wall of his chest, but this was the first time I’d been atop Eachann myself.

To my disappointment, my father chuckled. "Nae, Aiden. Not today."

"But—" I started to protest, but he cut me a sharp glance that stilled my tongue.

"Nae," he said again, with a decisive shake of his head. "I’ve answered ye and should box your ears for asking again, but I won’t this time. Still, ye need to learn that nae means nae, and good reason for it, too."

"Sorry, Da," I said, dropping my eyes to the soft brown fur underneath my hands.

"There is a time and place for everything, my son. Someday, ye’ll be a grown man and riding Eachann will be tame compared to the other delights—and challenges—that lie before you. But there’s plenty of time for that, so take this day for what it is, and enjoy what the good Lord’s given ye, aye?" His smile shone through a thick, red beard, causing my heart to leap in my chest.

"Aye, Da," I’d replied, my cheeks stretched to their limits from the sheer joy of being with him.

Longing for what I’d lost surged within me—my father and his larger-than-life persona, my mother and her tender touch, my brother Duncan whose fists were always at the ready, and wee Willie who worried over his elder brothers’ brawling. Thinking of my family back then brought to mind the family I had now.

Angels Feature: Catherine Peace

2014-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Catherine Peace

Name - Catherine Peace

Location - Harlan, KY (Go Justified....)

Age - 27

Occupation/Grade - Assistant Pharmacy Tech.

Favourite genre - Science fiction/fantasy/paranormal

Favourite author - Oh this is unfair :P I have several. Patrick Rothfuss, Tiffany Reisz, Anne Rice, HG Wells

Favourite book - ....Again....several. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, The Angel by Tiffany Reisz, The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure) - Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It sticks out because it's the first book I ever read cover to cover in one sitting, and I thought that was awesome.

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so? - Avid. Definitely. Books are my life. Besides writing them, I also co-founded an indie review blog with my friend Landra, and we added a third reviewer at the beginning of the year. Indie Books R Us actually reviewed Cyndi's first book, Between, which is how I learned about Aidan in the first place. And I try to review as much as I can on my personal blog.

Most recent read - For pleasure? The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz. OMG SO GOOD. Currently I'm reading The Path of the Fallen by Dan O'Brien for the Indies blog

Next read - Cameron's Law for the Welcome to Adelheid blog hop.

Favourite place to read - Anywhere I can

Dream vacation - I'd love to go backpacking through Europe. It's been a dream. Also, I need to go to Australia to visit a good friend. Drop bears be darned!

Favourite drink while reading - A nice cool glass of white wine

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be? - Listening to Alan Rickman, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tom Hiddleston take turns reading my favorite book while getting a massage from Jared Padalecki. I mean, what?

How do you choose your books? - We have a submission process for Indies. For pleasure, I go a lot on recommendations, and I'm highly supportive of my author friends.

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random) - It goes alphabetically by Author, starting with the ones I'm friends with. Then It starts with those I don't in alphabetical order. So m ytop shelf runs from Leah Clifford to Tiffany Reisz, and then starts the A's again with people I don't know lol

When was the last time you went to a bookstore? - About a month ago. I tried to by all the things in Half Price Books.

What drew you to Between/Aiden? - Between is a fantastic story about life after death and how you can find love and acceptance in any situation. With Aiden, I just loved how kind and patient he is with Lindsey, how he endeavors to make her dreams and wishes reality in order to help her cope with her new afterlife. He's sweet, he's tender, and he loves her so freaking much. It's really a beautiful story, and he's the icing on the cake. Plus, he's Scottish. Who doesn't love that?

One cool fact about you? - I'm also a published author (recently). My short story "Lured" was accepted for the Crimson Melodies' Nocturnal Embers anthology and my paranormal erotic romance This Time Next Year was published by Decadent Publishing as part of their 1Night Stand line. I'm also currently working (well, reworking) a science fiction horror novel.

How can Angels connect with you? - I am EVERYWHERE. Sort of. Mostly I live on Facebook (I have an author page too!) and Twitter. I also contribute to the Pen Punks blog, and of course I'm still reviewing with Indie Books R Us.

Updates

2014-03-08T07:00:00.001-08:00

Oh my Angels, it has been too long since we've last spoken. So much has happened that I'm so excited to share with you.

First and foremost: THANK YOU to everyone who donated and spread the word about the VTtoRT campaign. It worked! You guys helped raise enough money to pay for my registration into the RT Booklovers Convention and in May, Cyndi and I are going down there to meet in person. I'm trying to convince her to vlog while we're down there so if that's something you want to see us do, tweet her to let her know.

I am so excited to be able to go, I can't thank you all enough.

Secondly, I've started updating the site again. If you look at the tab bar, you'll notice I've (finally) added the teasers for Book 4, and added a tab for all of your fabulous Interviews and Reviews. Also, if you look under the "Follow Cyndi" tab you'll find more of her writing from her Goodreads account.

I'm getting around to adding more of the fan art and that you guys have been sending in over the last few months. Art like this:

Pau Castillo

If any of you review any of the books or create fan art or write fan fiction I encourage you to email me or tweet me with the link so we can share it with everyone.

As I said back in December, we're trying to come up with a "shipper" name for Aiden and Lindsey so please tweet your ideas to Cyndi (@cynditefft) and myself (@vatrask)

Guest Posts and Interviews

2014-03-06T08:07:00.002-08:00

These are just some of the places you can find Cyndi on other blogs through guest posts and interviews. Please keep sending me links as you find them. Either tweet me (@vatrask) or email me (vicki.trask@gmail.com)

Writer of Wrongs #1 (Interview)
Pinky Pollock (Interview)
Just a Booklover (Interview)
Writer of Wrongs #2 (Interview)
The Reading Fish (Interview)

Carrie Secor (Guest Post)
Linda Rae Blair (Guest Post)
Confessions of a Book Addict (Guest Post)

Reviews

2014-03-06T08:03:00.002-08:00

These are the reviews that have accumulated on the Aiden's Angels site in the last few years. If you'd like to add your name to the list tweet me (@vatrask) or email me (vicki.trask@gmail.com) with the link.

Ceann Bliadhna Sona

2013-12-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

Today is December 20th which means...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LINDSEY AND AIDEN!

Though we may not see it in Book Four (more details coming as soon as I hear something) today is the first (official) anniversary of Lindsey and Aiden MacRae. And what better way to celebrate with you than to check in briefly with our favourite couple before we leave them to celebrate privately.

I should warn you that this does contain spoilers from the series so far so read at your discretion.

Be sure to send @cynditefft and @AidenMacRae your love on twitter so they can pass it on to Lindsey and their child. And of course if you comment below I'll make sure they get the message. Spread the love, my lovelies.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

How has your first year as a married couple been?

Lindsey: Crazy! Of course, it’s always hard counting anniversaries with us, isn’t it? We don’t do anything the easy way, I’ve learned. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe I’d change being hunted down by one psychotic hell transporter after another, but the rest is good.

Aiden: More than good. *pinches Lindsey on the bum*

Lindsey: *grins and smacks him* Brat.

What are some new quirks you've learned about each other?

Aiden: Ah, I have one! She won’t go to bed without flossing her teeth.

Lindsey: Good dental hygiene is important. You don’t want gingivitis.

Aiden: Ginger what? We didna have such things in my day. Seems… a wee bit frivolous, aye?

Lindsey: Yeah, and how many teeth were your clansmen missing?

Aiden: *considers* Point taken.

What has been the biggest challenge (apart from the obvious)?

Aiden: Well, ye might say we haven’t been sleeping so well of late.

Lindsey: *yawns* You can say that again. I don’t remember the last time I slept more than a few hours at a time. This gets better, right? Please say it gets better.

Aiden: Well, Joanne did say the twins didna sleep through the night for six months…

Lindsey: I don’t know how she did it. Wonder woman, seriously. Thank God we don’t have twins. *shudders*

Do you have a couple name?

Lindsey: Like Bradjelina or Bennifer? *starts cracking up* Aidsey? Linden? Hey, that’s a tree, isn’t it?

Aiden: What are ye on about?

Lindsey: *blinks eyes innocently* Nothing, honey. Just saying how you’re strong and mighty like a tree.

Aiden: I know you’re up to no good when ye look at me that way.

Lindsey: Who, me?

Please tell me you have cute pet names for each other.

Lindsey: No, not really, aside from him calling me “lass” now and then. He does have a pet name for the baby, but I won’t tell you what it is. Don’t want to spoil anything! ;)

How will you be spending your Christmas together? Any new traditions?

Aiden: ‘Tis lovely having family in Ian and Sarah. They’ve welcomed us like kin, so we are not alone. Sarah cooks enough to feed an entire castle of Scotsmen though we’ve only the small group of us. *laughs* Och, but her cooking… Mmm, she is an angel straight from heaven, that one.

Lindsey: True. I’m glad I’m not on my own to figure out how to cook meals for the holidays. It’s not like my mom taught me any of that. Though I could probably have gone without learning how to cook haggis. Yuck!

Okay last one: How will you be spending your first anniversary?

Aiden: *grins*

Lindsey: I think she means besides that.

Aiden: Sorry. ‘Tis just with the babe, I’m rather looking forward to that, as ye call it.

Lindsey: Me, too. Believe me.

*insert break in the interview while they convince each other just how much they’ve missed that*

Alright I lied: How do you say "Happy Anniversary" in Gaelic?

Aiden: “Ceann Bliadhna Sona”, though a bottle of whisky works just as well. ;)

One last thing, my Angels. If you have suggestions for Lindsey and Aiden's couple name. Submit them to me on twitter (@vatrask) with the hashtag #TeamMacRae

Angels Feature: Lori Ness

2013-12-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Meet Lori Ness

On the Right

Name: Lori Ness

Location: Seattle Area, WA

Age: 40's

Favourite genre: Romance/Happy Endings

Favourite author: Sofie's here....hard to pick There has never been a better time to be an author and the talent pool is deep

Favourite book: Fifty Shades of Grey

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): Dr. Seuss books, I loved to memorize them

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: Casual moving towards avid

Most recent read: "Animated Me" by Ruth Clampett

Next read: "If I were You" Lisa Rene Jones

Favourite place to read: On the couch in front of the fire in winter

Dream vacation: I would like to tour the European countries for the summer at leisure

Favourite drink while reading: Red Wine, Walla Walla Vintners Sangiovese but I'm not picky any red wine always works!

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: Locked in a beach house in the winter, fire going, stormy weather, glass of wine, quiet

How do you choose your books: Recommendations

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): Mosly in eBook but hard copies by height and genre

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: I actually ran into a bookstore a couple days ago down at Pike Market to buy a FSoG book to use as a prop for a video we were filming down there. The bookstore had 1 book left "Freed" and I took it. It is a great, old bookstore, probably 60 years old, never been remodeled. A real cool vibe, wish I could have stayed longer but intend to go back and take my time.

What drew you to Between/Aiden? My husband is 1st generation American, his family is from Scotland, so it was a natural fit. Loved Aiden from the beginning, he was a loving soul.

One cool fact about you?: Just one?!?!?! I will give you two...I play guitar and hate eggs!

How can Angels connect with you?: www.northwestprime.com

Lindsey MacRae Book Four Exclusive

2013-11-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

It's Lindsey MacRae's Birthday Today!! Hooray!

As a special treat for all of you I have an exclusive sneak preview of Between 4 (holy crap). See it here first!

“What can I get for ye?"

“Whisky, neat.”

The man had the audacity to laugh. “You’ll have to be more specific, I’m afraid. We’ve dozens to choose from.”

Torag studied him for a moment, then came to a decision. “What’s your name?”

The bartender looked momentarily taken aback, but then shrugged. “Kevin. Why?”

“Well, Kevin, I’m new to whisky,” Torag lied. “What would you recommend?” And just like that, Kevin’s round face broke into a joyous grin and he launched into an impressive dissertation on the many nuances of whisky. Torag responded in all the right places, inserting a “Really?” and “Wow, I had no idea” from time to time, just to keep him talking. Kevin set up four shot glasses on the bar in front of him, then plied him with tasters of whisky from the four regions of Scotland, having scorned blends in favor of the more patriotic single malt scotch. Torag dutifully sipped from each, proclaiming that Kevin was right about the differences in each.

“You sure know a lot about whisky,” Torag said, trying to sound delightfully dim. “Have you lived in Orkney long?”

“All my life,” Kevin declared with pride. “Only been to the mainland once. Wife’s never even been that far.”

“Incredible,” Torag replied, then asked for a glass of the 12 year GlenMorangie. As Kevin poured, Torag’s heart pounded heavy in his chest, but he forced his voice into a casual tone. “So you must have been around during that power surge a while back, right?”

“Boy, was I! The whole island was blacked out, not a damn thing worked. Cracked a standing stone right in half, it did.”

“Is that right? Where was that?”

“The Barnhouse Stone, out near Malcolm’s place.”

Torag’s pulse raced wildly and he paused to take another sip to hide his interest. “Malcolm a friend of yours? What’s he think of the cracked stone?”

“We go way back—cut teeth at the same time, we did—but I wouldn’t say we’re mates. He goes his way and I go mine. So I can’t say as I’ve asked him what he thinks, but I wouldn’t put it past him to chalk it up to that damn prophecy.”

Everything inside Torag screamed for him to jump over the bar and shake this fat little man by the throat until he spilled every last detail he knew. Instead, he asked for a refill to keep Kevin occupied.

“Prophecy, huh? A prophecy about what?”

“Och, I dunno. Some such nonsense he got passed down from his Da and his Da before him. Started back at Culloden times, if I recall. Showed it to me when we were kids, though his Da would have been spitting mad if he’d known as only MacRaes were allowed to see it.” Kevin rolled his eyes and waved his towel over the bar like he was swatting a fly. “Says something about a blood sacrifice and crimson globes, whatever the hell that means. Freaked the hell out of me anyway.” With a rueful shake of his head, he schooled his expression into one of pity. “MacRaes never have had it easy, what with Malcolm raising those kids on his own now. Wife passed just last year. Cancer, it was. Poor man.”

Yes, poor man indeed, Torag thought to himself, and began formulating his plan.

Angels Feature: Alanna Powell

2013-10-26T06:51:00.002-07:00

Meet Alanna

Name: Alanna Diane Powell

Location: Timmins, Ontario, Canada

Age: In my mind, I'm still 25. I always feel younger than I really am. But I just turned 30 this year and I'm LOVING it so far. Great things have happened for me so far, so I shouldn't really complain - even though I so have days where I feel like a crotchety old woman.

Occupation/Grade: I'm an Administrative Assistant for a project management/consulting firm. It's still a very new position for me - it still has New Job smell.

Favourite genre: Oh boy, I love so many of them! But I think Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi-Fantasy, and HeebieJeebie have to my favorites.

Favourite author: Gah!!! I can only pick one!? You're killing me! I'll give you my Top 5 instead, and in no particular order of preference: Diana Gabaldon, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, J.K Rowling ... and as a bonus, I have to add Jacqueline Carey to this list

Favourite book: Again, I can only pick ONE?! Well, I've always really adored Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Pretty much anything Diana Gabaldon has put her hands on ends up on the favorite's list.

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): Well, I really got in to The Babysitter's Club when I was younger, and I loved the Ramona and Beezus novels. But my fondest memory of reading for leisure was either Charlette's Web or Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I tried to be like Veruca Salt one day, and stuck a wad of chewing gum behind my ear. I ended up cutting out a chunk of hair when I realized that this wasn't the place to stick gum. To this day, I have no idea how Veruca managed it.

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: Definitely avid. There is forever a book either in my hands, in my purse (they're quite large, my purses. More like big fabric pits), on my night stand, on the coffee table ... and they usually aren't an individual copy being trotted all around the house. There's at least two or three books I'm reading at any given time.

Most recent read: The Mortal Instruments has taken over my life!! I just finished reading Book 3, and bought Book 4 on Saturday. I'm also nearing the end of Full Dark, No Star by Stephen King, and I just started HORNS by Joe Hill. I've also got two other books on my Kindle that have temporarily been forgotten. The Night Walk Men by Jason McIntyre and The Haunted Hikikimori by Lawrence Pearce.

Next read: I just started HORNS. But once I finish Full Dark, No Star I'm probably going to either read Book 4 of the Mortal Instruments, or return to my Kindle.

Favourite place to read: It's a toss up between the couch, or in bed. You can pretty much bet on those two. Plus, I tend to do a lot of bathroom reading when I take a bath - as a result, my baths are quite long.

Dream vacation: I'm hopefully taking it in February! My partner's family are living in Dubai and we're hoping to go there to visit the, (and skip 3 weeks of winter in the process!)

Favourite drink while reading: If it's during the day, it's usually a good hot, steaming mug of coffee. Bathtub reading will sometimes be occupied by a glass of red wine, or a vodka cooler.

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: My perfect situation is usually cold and rainy Sundays. I love those kind of days. They remind me of home, where the rest of my family is (Newfoundland, Canada). Rain and fog and grey skies will forever feel like home. However, reading during thunderstorms is always delightful too.

How do you choose your books: Haphazardly, haha. I picked up the first book my Diana Gabaldon because the front cover art was interesting, and the notion of time travel intrigued me. I read Between based purely on advice from a stranger I met on Twitter who was also a fan of Cyndi Tefft and Diana Gabaldon. Generally speaking though, I read the fly-leaf where you can usually find some kind of synposis about the book. But sometimes though, if there's a book who's cover art always catches my eye and I'm constantly gawking at it ... then I'll usually pick it up. That's how I picked up The Sisters Brother's (which I read for the longest time as Sisters and Brothers, ha!). It was definitely an odd sort of read for me, and a good example that judging by cover art isn't always a good idea.

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): By series and author. Ideally. Right now, I have bits of one author on two different book shelves. My big book shelf is full, so I've resorted to the shelving built in to the divide between the living room and kitchen. I have authors and they're series together (most of them). Then I have a graphic novel section, an autobiographical section and a To Be Read section.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: Since I don't think the book section of Wal-Mart counts (which was on Saturday) it would have been last Friday when I picked up the newest offering from Margaret Atwood - MaddAdam, the third and final book in the triology (the first beign Oryx and Crake, and The Year of The Flood being the second) and a detective mystery novel by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling (the secret identity slipped out a little early, but by now the cat is long out of the bag)

What drew you to Between/Aiden?: Well, I heard through the Twitterverse that Aiden was based on one of Diana Gabaldon's characters - Jamie. For that reason mainly, I downloaded Between to my Kindle. Once I started reading though, I was pleased to find that despite similarities to Jamie, Aiden is very much his own person, unique and beautiful and very charming. His devotion to the woman he loves is really heartwarming. Once I got near the end of Between, the whole fire scene was really, really beautiful.

One cool fact about you?: I hardly think I qualify as cool, haha. But when I stretch my arms out, I can my touch my elbows together.

How can Angels connect with you?: I had an entirely different answer written for this - until I realized that I had read the question wrong! I'm on Twitter, mostly! @rebellion83 I am a part of other social media sites, but this is where you can find me pretty much all the time.

If you'd like to be featured on Aiden's Angels email Vicki at vicki.trask @gmail. com

Angels Feature: Theresa Largusa

2013-09-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Meet Theresa

Name: Theresa Lynn Largusa

Location: McKinney, Texas

Age: 48

Occupation: Telecommunications Project Manager - On Hiatus...indefinitely...or until my novel is finished.

Favourite genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy or, Speculative Fiction, if you prefer.

Favourite author: Virginia Woolf

Favourite book: "Orlando"

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): "The Story of Doctor Dolittle" by Hugh Lofting

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: I'm an avid slow reader. I average two good-sized novels per month. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. I tend to jump down many rabbit holes when I read, so I've always had trouble devouring a book in a day or weekend, no matter how much I'm engrossed in the story. My brain wanders off into "What If?" territory a lot.

Most recent read: "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman

Next read: "Crooked Moon" by Lisette Brodey

Favourite place to read: In my office, or The Clubhouse as my dogs like to call it.

Dream vacation: Ireland

Favourite drink while reading: Coffee

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: At an author event, where I got to read passages from my novel(s) for the lovely people who came out on a rainy evening to hear me speak.

How do you choose your books: Twitter buzz

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): Random, as long as the color, design, and size of each book looks good alongside its neighbor.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: Three weeks ago.

What drew you to Between/Aiden?: I find the mix of historical romance, the paranormal, coming-of-age, and spirituality appealing in The Between Series. Stories about first love are delicious, and sexy scenes seal the deal.

One cool fact about you?: Once when I was working in retail, Malcolm McDowell asked me where he could find AA batteries. So I told him.

How can Angels connect with you?: I'm on Twitter and I play with words on my blog.

#VTtoRT Campaign

2013-09-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

So for those of you who missed it last night, Cyndi has sort of started a campaign to get me to the RT Booklovers Convention. It's all a little overwhelming but I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who is helping me get to New Orleans. I am so excited to meet Cyndi and all the other Angels in May. If you are available anytime during May 14-19 I welcome you to come down to New Orleans so we can meet as many Angels as possible. It would be amazing to meet all of you in person. I really look forward to it.

If you would like to contribute (anything helps) please use the hashtag #VTtoRT and I will send you hugs (for now, we're coming up with prizes). I am just extremely honoured and no words can express my feelings right now.

This is just copied from the email. Please ask Cyndi if you have any questions.

If you haven't heard, I am going to the RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans in May 2014, and I am CRAZEEEE excited! I've never been to a major conference before and while part of me is completely terrified, the bigger part feels like a kid waiting for Christmas.

But, possibly the coolest thing about the trip is that I have made arrangements to room with Vicki Trask, president of the Aiden's Angels fan club! Even though Vicki and I email and tweet regularly with each other, we've never met in person.

Here's the deal, though. Vicki is a full-time student in Canada and she's going to have to scrounge up a pretty hefty chunk of change to make it to the conference. Even eating Top Ramen noodles and ketchup packets every day can only get you so far.

So I asked my incredible friends at koomkey.com to help us out, and they generously offered to match up to $300 in Koomkey donations to Vicki during the month of September.

How cool is that??? I love those guys!!

So let's show what an amazing, loving community we have here in Aiden's Angels and help Vicki get to the RT Conference!!

To contribute, all you have to do is go to koomkey.com and send @vatrask a koomkey (aka a kashkey). Use the hashtag #VTtoRT so we can keep track.

Even donations as small as 25 cents will be matched, so don't be shy. Every little bit counts toward making this Angel's dream come true!

The campaign will run through September 30th. Please help spread the word and let's see if we can't raise enough to blast through that match and get Vicki to New Orleans.

Many thanks to all of you for being such awesome readers and friends. I adore you.

Now, go, Angels, go!! Like fierce, kilted warriors, we declare IT IS ON!!

Even In Darkness Fan Fiction

2013-08-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

For the Even In Darkness Tour, Cyndi encouraged the fans to write a piece of fan fiction. This is my piece called "Drowning". It's a scene in the middle of the story so none of that bad, scary stuff has happened yet. I'd love to know what you think. Let me know in the comments below AND feel free to share your stories.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Water was filling up fast, faster than I could pour out of the little dingy I was floating on. All around me: nothing but water and it was rising and I was falling and suddenly a hand was reaching out to me, trying to pull me up but I just kept sinking. I had to grab that hand; that mysterious hand that promised to save me if I just trusted. I jumped.

I gasped, sitting up in bed. I wasn’t drowning but I was close. I was still on the ship. I was still in the captain’s bed while he slept across the room. I still wasn’t home. Outside thunder and lightning disturbed the darkness of the ocean, rocking the ship gently back and forth. In some ways I found it soothing but mostly it was a constant reminder that whether I was in Hell or Between, I wasn’t back home, with Aiden. This Aiden was trapped below while I slept here in luxury.

"What's wrong?" I jumped when I heard Eagan’s voice over the waves. He looked at me with such concern from his spot in the corner and in his rumpled clothes he looked so…

Stop it. I scolded myself. I looked down at the thin shift that felt absolutely see-through and instinctively drew up the covers. “Nothing, just…” I debated for one second on whether or not I should tell him about my dream and decided against it. “The storm. I’m not used to being at sea so long.”

I looked out the window, trying to ignore the way he was looking at me as he sat up fully in his make-shift bed. I curled my knees under me as I watched the storm. "How did you come to be here?"

I almost laughed, "You took me prisoner."

"I mean, who were you before you were married to Aiden?"

I looked at him then, the words tumbling from my mouth before I could stop them. "I'm American."

He cocked an eyebrow in amusement and my heart skipped a beat. "I figured that from your accent."

"I grew up on the coast.” I explained, getting lost in my own story. “I didn't expect to fall in love with Scotland but the moment I stepped foot I was in love.” I smiled to myself. “Or maybe it was just Aiden. We haven't been married long but...” My paused, all the sweet sentiment gone. If this story was real, I hated the ending that was planned for me. “I can't imagine my life without him."

"Well you're going to have to.” He snapped, startling me. “He'll be gone a long time and who knows what can happen on the high-seas." That hit my heart harder than I realized and I looked at him, trying desperately to hide it. From the panicked, regretful look on his face I figured it didn’t work. "Sorry."

I melted. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"One minute you're so cruel and the next you're...” Don’t say wonderful, don’t say wonderful “not?"

Was he smiling at me? Why was he smiling? "The storm didn't wake you did it?" His voice was so gentle; soothing almost. I had to tell him something.

"It...” I looked back out the window. Chicken “is it usually this bad?"

He shook his head, standing slowly and walking over to me like the earth wasn’t moving beneath us. "No. It's usually worse."

"I can't imagine living this life." Don’t look at him. I stared at the window.

"You get used to it." The bed dipped by my side and I just knew he was sitting beside me, staring at me with those eyes that would entrance any woman. Except you, right? Right?

"I guess."

I sensed his touch before he held my chin and turned my head away from the storm. "It wasn't the rain that woke you up is it?"

Who was I kidding? I surrendered. "I had a dream. I was...drowning. Water everywhere."

He nodded like he knew exactly what I was talking about. I didn’t even know what I was talking about. "That tends to happen out at sea. You should get some rest."

"I don't wanna sleep.” I confessed quietly and I knew it was true. “I don't wanna close my eyes. I just want this nightmare to be over."

"It will soon, lass."

He stared at me with a frightening intensity and my arms relaxed, letting the blanket fall just a little bit. He tilted my chin just a little higher and my heart pounded with it. He leaned in just a little more and maybe I did, too, because our lips were so close. Just an inch more and I could kiss him. Part of me was screaming What are you doing? Aiden is downstairs. But the rest of me whispered It’d be good. It’d be so good. Oh my god. I pulled away, my mouth open as I tried to breathe normally.

"Good night, Captain." Without looking, without breathing, without waiting for his response, I gathered the blanket and curled on my side, facing away from him. I stared at the wall until I felt the bed dip again as he stood. His eyes burnt a hole through my neck before he sighed and I bit my lip to keep from crying. What I had I just done? Almost done.

He returned to his bed and lay for a long time before his breathing evened out with the dying storm.

I couldn’t stop shaking. I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night.

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Read more fan fiction here: http://aidensangels.blogspot.ca/search/label/Fan%20Fiction

An Angels Update

2013-08-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

We've almost reached the end of August

Fascinating I know.

The Even In Darkness Tour was AWESOME! - thank you to everyone who came out - and in case you missed it:

THERE ARE NEW COVERS FOR THE BOOKS!!!!!

And in honour of the new covers, Lindsay Cox made a new Aiden's Angels logo just for you:

Isn't it gorgeous?

Well as summer comes to a close and we reveal the new covers I thought it was time for some Angels revamping. In addition to (slowly) renovating the Aiden's Angels Store (link at the top of the page), I thought I'd get your input on some site renovations.

In terms of posts I have some Features that I have and one or two articles that I'm eventually going to write. The rest is kind of up to you guys.

What do you want to see on the site?

Do you want something like the Fake Scotsmen Chat? Or a movie night? Giveaways? Are there any things about Scotland you want to learn more about? TELL ME!

As for the layout of the site, what would make it more accessible TO YOU?

Help me help you help me.

Help you.

Between Series New Cover Reveal

2013-08-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Gabrielle Prendergast of Cover Your Dreams the Between series by Cyndi Tefft has brand new covers. Check them out:

Sometimes death is just the beginning...

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

Between is available for purchase here:

Ebook only: Smashwords, Apple, Kobo

Print only: Createspace, My website (signed copy)

Print and ebook: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

The Between series continues...

Aiden MacRae has been given a new life after being stuck transporting souls to heaven for the last three hundred years. He doesn't know the culture, the times or the slang, but there is one thing he does know: he didn't come forward alone.

The master of hell has other plans for the Scottish Highlander and has sent a transporter of his own to get the deed done. Will Lindsey be able to save him or get caught in the crossfire?

Hell Transporter is available for purchase here:

Print and ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Print only: Createspace, My store (signed copy)

Ebook only: Smashwords, Apple, Kobo

I thought it was over, that all our troubles were behind us.

We had a fairytale castle wedding surrounded by family and friends. Aiden wore a dress kilt, looking so handsome it made my heart squeeze, and I floated on air in a white version of the ball gown he’d cast for me in Versailles. Flower girl, ring bearer, Scottish ceilidh afterward—check, check, and check. It was perfect.

We were supposed to live happily ever after.

But that was before I walked in to find another woman in his bed, a demon with blood red eyes who’d disguised herself as me in order to get what she wanted most: a child from a heaven transporter.

And it was in that moment—watching my entire world crumble to the ground—that I knew.

This was not over. Not by a long shot.

Even In Darkness is available for purchase here:

Print and ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Print only: Createspace, My store (signed copy)

Ebook only: Smashwords, Apple, Kobo

Love these smokin' hot new covers? Share them with everyone!

Even In Darkness Tour Day Six

2013-08-03T09:12:00.001-07:00

Well, my lovely Angels. We have reached the last day of our tour. There was so awesome stuff here and I hope you entered the giveaway. Thank you to everyone who came out and I'll see you all next week.

In the meantime check out the last of the links:

A Spotlight by Read Between the Lines
Review by A Rebel's Journey
Color Me GREYsessed

And don't forget to check out Cyndi Tefft on Nooner with Ness Seattle on the radio 1pm (PST)

@cynditefft Where in the World is Aiden MacRae? Somewhere fun without me :-( #AidensAngels pic.twitter.com/UuHAKU6oac
— Vicki Trask (@vatrask) August 3, 2013

Even In Darkness Tour Day Six

2013-08-02T08:29:00.002-07:00

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of the tour. A BIG thank you to everyone who participated and for everyone who stopped by and shared and tweet and just supported this tour. I know Cyndi is practically giddy. Check out today's links.

Reading Angel's Top Ten Reasons Why She Loves Aiden MacRae

A blurb from Paperback Cowgirl

A guest post by Cyndi Tefft on Carrie Secor's blog

Where in the World is Aiden MacRae?

@cynditefft where in the world is Aiden MacRae? Trying to blend in. Is it working? #AidensAngels pic.twitter.com/HolByeW2at
— Vicki Trask (@vatrask) August 2, 2013

Even In Darkness Tour Day Five

2013-08-01T06:37:00.002-07:00

Day Five. Holy Crap. Day Five!!!!

Enjoy:

Interview with Cyndi Tefft by Writer of Wrongs (me)
Review of Even In Darkness by I'd So Rather Be Reading
And a Review of Even In Darkness by Mermaid With a Book

Even In Darkness Tour Day Four

2013-07-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

Day Four, wow, I can't believe we're already on Day Four. Be sure to check out these awesome links below:

Interview with Aiden MacfreakingRae by Just a Booklover (it's awesome. You'll giggle and then melt)

A review of Even In Darkness by Molly Ringle (P.S. buy her book, What Scotland Taught me. Because duh)

A blurb from Book Groupies

Where In The World Is Aiden MacRae?

@cynditefft Where in the World is Aiden MacRae? Today, I'm sick so he's keeping me company #AidensAngels pic.twitter.com/HLHIEhKQHu
— Vicki Trask (@vatrask) July 31, 2013

Even In Darkness Tour Day Three

2013-07-30T09:25:00.001-07:00

Day Three brings more awesome posts.

We've got a 5-Star review from Jamie Canosa
An Interview with Cyndi Tefft by Pinky Pollock
And, a playlist from Kate's Tales of Books and Bands

@cynditefft Where in the world is Aiden MacRae? Certainly not my neighbour's backyard... #AidensAngels pic.twitter.com/TyaKmIfMdd
— Vicki Trask (@vatrask) July 30, 2013

In addition, you can keep track of all the Tour posts here

Even In Darkness Tour Day Two

2013-07-29T08:17:00.003-07:00

We've got three more awesome links for you to check out - and I'm not just saying they're awesome 'cause I'm one of them.

First we've got another blurb from What The Cat Read
Then we've got my review of Even In Darkness here on the Aiden's Angels blog
And finally we've got a guest post on writing process from Cyndi Tefft on Confessions of a Book Addict's page

And because I forgot this one in my review here's ANOTHER #evenindarkness tweet

@cynditefft "my soul would recognize him even in darkness" I'm melting, melting #evenindarkness
— Vicki Trask (@vatrask) July 26, 2013

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS AIDEN MACRAE?

@cynditefft Where in the world is Aiden MacRae? #lost #AidensAngels pic.twitter.com/1UpSL1UZgC
— Vicki Trask (@vatrask) July 29, 2013