KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

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BLOOD WHITE
Possessed by Passion Collection
BY STEPHANIE AYERS ETAL

Crazy Ink Publishing, LLC is pleased to present a USA Today bestseller list-aiming dark romance and paranormal romance collection boxset for release on March 16, 2021. Featuring stories from USA Today and International Bestselling authors, this set includes more than twenty romantic novels and novellas aimed to ignite your passions and make you fall in love with the characters. Pre order your copy today!

Collection Blurb

Passions pulsate.
Destinies collide.
Humans, angels, and demons alike are possessed with a common bind—desire.

Experience exquisite and sultry seraphs, demonic witches, a hellfire phoenix, a vengeful gargoyle, ordinary humans with dark sides, vampires, werewolves, ghostly spirits, and other creatures of the night, who will whet your desire for romance and seduction. Travel with them into their worlds as they lust for love, romance, and pleasure.

Will they find what they are searching for? Will you?
Find out in this twenty-plus, limited time paranormal and dark romance collection by USA Today, international bestselling, and award-winning authors.

Experience the passion.

Readers of Anne Rice, Debbie Paterson, Linda Howard, Dean Koontz, Kristen Ashley, and Paul Tremblay will love this dark collection! One click now to become POSSESSED…

Featuring the works of USA Today and International Bestselling Authors:

Bella Emy – USA Today Bestseller – For Better or For Cursed

Alyssa Drake – USA Today Bestseller – For Better or For Cursed

Cora Kenborn – USA Today Bestseller – Cast Stones

Catherine Wiltcher – Amazon All Star – Cast Stones

Erin Lee – USA Today Bestseller – Blank Slate

Olivia Marie –USA Today Bestseller– Blood Bound

Lorah Jaiyn – USA Today Bestseller – The Immortal Stone

Murphy Wallace – International Bestseller – Death in the Flames

N Isabelle Blanco – International Bestseller – Malice

Rena Marin – International Bestseller – The Arisen

Rita Delude – International Bestseller – Driven by Desire

M W Brown – International Bestseller – Under the Moonlight

Diana Register – International Bestseller – Electric Man

Stephanie Ayers – International Bestseller – Blood White

Yolanda Allard – International Bestseller – Gargoyles: Stone Curse

Sian B. Claven – International Bestseller – Neutral Ground

LJC Fynn – International Bestseller – Blank Slate

John Watson – International Bestseller – The Hollow-Eyed Girl

Tiffany Carby – International Bestseller – Meet Cut(e)

Michelle Edwards – International Bestseller – Demonic Destiny

Tracy A. Ball – International Bestseller – Blood Like Rain

Eve Corso – International Bestseller – Spellbound

Marie Ahls – International Bestseller – Villainous

Rheanon Nicole – International Bestseller – His Soul to Keep

Cloud S Riser – International Bestseller – Queen of Stone

Editor’s Note: Look for **Spring Madness** spotlights through March and April for authors included in this collection, a deeper look at the individual authors and their books, including Excerpts, Author Interviews, and Character Interviews!

BLOOD WHITE
Possessed by Passion Collection
BY STEPHANIE AYERS ETAL

Included in Possessed by Passion Collection

Blurb

Not all those who wander are truly lost. Some only want to hurt you.

Every thirty years on the anniversary of Mae White’s suicide, the young men of Rickdale succumb to grisly deaths. Tales circulate of a beautiful hitchhiker in a white dress wandering up and down the road by Rickers Creek, crying for her babies and looking for a ride home. Those who pick her up are never heard from again. 

The last time Mae showed up, Jennifer Archer’s high school sweetheart disappeared. Now, she fears her son will meet the same fate. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep him safe, even sacrifice herself, but it’s not Jennifer the White Lady wants. 

Thirty years have passed, and the anniversary falls on a full moon. The Lady in White wanders again, and this time, she brought reinforcements. All the young men Mae collected over the years roam the night, and Jennifer must face her long lost lover. Can she save them both before they disappear for good?

BLOOD WHITE
Possessed by Passion Collection
BY STEPHANIE AYERS ETAL

Included in Possessed by Passion Collection

Excerpt

Flaming Rating: 1

“Your mom?” Everly Grant had worked at the diner across the street from the auto repair shop for as long as Caleb could remember.  Despite Everly’s breathtaking beauty, they were nothing more than friends. Supposedly, she’d dated the same guy from out of town for about as long as she’s worked at the diner, and though no one ever saw him, they never questioned, either, she was just too sweet. She went to refill Caleb’s coffee mug, but he covered the top with his hand.

“No, thanks,” he said.

Everly’s eyebrows shot up into her forehead. “Caleb Asher is refusing a second cup? Are you sure you aren’t some alien in Caleb clothing?” she teased.

Caleb grunted. “Ma does that to me. Every single year. Over and over.”

“What’s her problem?” She set the coffeepot back on the burner and joined him.

“She doesn’t want me to leave Rickdale. Like ever.”

Everly laughed. It was a soft sound, a petite laugh that suited her appearance. Rumors swirled that she had practiced it in front of the mirror until it came out just right, but knowing Everly the way he did, he refused to believe it. She was as natural as a sunflower. Her laugh came too easy to be practiced. Whoever started the rumor was probably just a miserable son-of-a-bitch with nothing better to do.

“Why? I mean, Rickdale isn’t so bad, but I’ve seen what lies beyond the bridge. For someone who’s entire existence is this town, I can see the appeal. So, why is she stopping you?”

Caleb’s face wrinkled with disgust. “Some stupid urban legend. I’m sure you’ve heard it.”

“Rickdale has an urban legend?”

Caleb covered his face with his hand and exhaled. “I can’t believe you don’t know. Mae White died by suicide sixty years ago, came back thirty years ago and took all the young men with her.”

Everly shook her head. “Nope, that’s a new one for me. Took all the young men away? That’s something. Do I need to lock Brayden up?” She laughed again.

“If you asked Ma, she’d say yes. Ask any old timer, and they’ll tell you the same thing. Mae White is to Rickdale what Bloody Mary is to the rest of the world. Nothing happens. But get this.” He leaned in closer and checked his surroundings. “Ma says the thirtieth anniversary of Mae’s suicide is coming up, and it falls on a full moon.” Caleb’s eyes rolled, and he laughed. “You’d think she expected Mae White to turn into a werewolf or something.”

“That’s quite a story,” Everly said, waving to the new customers just entering the store. “You’ll have to tell me more about it. There’s got to be a reason behind your mom’s paranoia.”

“There is. Supposedly, Mae White took my dad when she appeared the last time. Now, she’s afraid she’ll lose me, too.” He rolled his eyes again and stuck a cigarette between his lips. “My theory? Dad was a coward and took off while he had an excuse. Has it bothered me growing up? Hell, yeah. Ma works hard, for what? A tiny shack on the edge of Ricker’s Creek that gets flooded anytime the wind blows south?” He scoffed. “There’s got to be more than what’s here. Why didn’t she ever pack up the car and get out? She used to be a pageant queen. Look at her now.”