Welcome J. L. McCoy to my blog today.
J. L. McCoy resides in the
beautifully weird city of Austin, Texas with her opinionated Pekiweenie Isabel
and handsome husband Kenny. She has
always been a passionate reader and enjoys watching movies, traveling, listening
to heavy metal/classic rock/80s music, getting mani/pedis with her girls, and
singing karaoke. She loves body art and
is hopelessly addicted to Sonic’s ice and Route 44 un-sweet raspberry iced
tea.
If you’d like more
information about her or her upcoming books, please visit her at the following
links:
Author
Links:
(I
sell signed copies of my books in my store!)
THE BOOKS:
Blood of the Son, Sins of the Father, The Original Sin,
and Legacy of Blood
Skye Morrison Vampire
Series Book #1 - 4
J.L. McCoy
Genre: Urban
Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Links for the Books:
Amazon Kindle links
Barnes and noble Nook links:
Smashwords link:
My review of this Blood series. I give these books a four star review. The characters are well defined and at times there is too much detail. Just like Skye, I found myself lured in by the vampires. This series of books are filled with passion and lure. Thank you J. L. McCoy for a good vampire read. I really enjoyed these books.
BOOK ONE: Blood of the
Sun
Synopsis: After a shocking admission by Archer Rhys, Skye
Morrison and the rest of The Mausoleum's vampire crew have to deal with the
aftermath of Houston business owner and fellow vampire Greyson Mead's murder. A
gruesome discovery in Skye's driveway forces her out of her house and
temporarily into Archer's lakeside mansion with her co-workers Trey, Hunter,
Quinn, Seamus, Lochlan, Jameson, and of course the ever jealous Aoife. Skye
must now live under the same roof with the two men she wants most and things
are bound to get complicated. With a psychotic murderer on the loose hell bent
on killing vampires and the appointed army of The Faithful having no luck in
finding them, will Skye's new boss and co-workers live to see next week? Will
Skye make it out of Archer's mansion alive?
*Be advised: This book
contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*
Excerpt:
“With all those late hours,
doesn’t Mrs. Rhys miss you?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “No,” he
said with a slight smirk. “There is no Mrs. Rhys.”
“Oh, sorry” I replied, a
little embarrassed. “I just figured a guy like you would have been snatched up
long ago by some gorgeous girl.”
He smiled and chuckled a
little. “You’d think so, huh? I haven’t had much luck in that department...at
least long term.”
“Sorry if I seemed nosy,” I
said, looking down at my clasped hands. I felt like I had pried.
“Not at all, Skye. These are
things you’ll need to know if you work for me,” he said soothingly. “Let me ask
you a few general questions. Would that be alright?”
“Yes, please. Fire away,” I
said, eager to change the subject.
“What do you like to do for
fun?” he asked.
I looked up at him and
wondered if I should give him the safe answer or the true answer. I decided to
throw caution to the wind and let him see the real me. “Well, um, I enjoy
painting. Abstract mostly...on big canvases. There’s almost nothing better than
channeling your love, fear, pain, bad day, good day down into something and
seeing the beauty of those emotions emerge. It helps me realize that no matter
how bad my day was, or how hurt I felt...there’s always beauty in everything;
that every emotion I feel is important and helps make me who I am. I love it.
It’s freedom incarnate.” I smiled and remembered the last painting I did. It
was after Jesse and I broke up. I put all the anger, tears, frustration, and
ugliness down on the canvas. It turned into one of the most beautiful pieces
I’ve ever done.
“I love to read,” I said,
clearing my throat and continuing. “I’ve always preferred that over watching
television. There’s not much imagination to television in my opinion. Also,
dancing has always been in my blood. I love dancing whether it’s out at a dance
hall or around my house. If hear music, my body just kind of responds to it. I
like to catch Karaoke Night at the Blue Lagoon Lounge whenever I can. Their
Cult Movie Show Tunes night is to die for. Don’t laugh. I know it’s cheesy, but
I love it. And, I have to say, one of my absolute favorite things to do is go
to my weekly Krav Maga class that I take with my best friend, Nikki,” I said,
hoping that that wasn’t too long winded of an answer.
“Impressive, Miss Morrison,”
he said with a cock of his head and appraising eyes. “I like a strong woman.”
I blushed and looked down at
my hands. Small butterflies fluttered around in my stomach and I adjusted my
body uncomfortably in the seat. I was embarrassed but a little excited at the
look in his eye as he watched me talking. What is that...the way he’s looking
at me? He likes a strong woman...what does that mean? Is he coming on to me? I
laughed inwardly at the absurdity of my thoughts. Yeah right, Skye. He’s WAY
out of your league, girlfriend. But, nice try. I looked up, into his eyes, and
gave him a small smile and a shrug. “Me too. I grew up on Red Sonja comics. I
wanted to be just like her when I was a kid.”
His eyes sparkled with his
laughter and the butterflies in my stomach picked up again. Dammit, stop that!
I silently told myself. Out of your league! And, he just might be your boss
someday. Chill, hormones...
“What kinds of books do you
like to read?” he asked.
I was surprised by the
question. I guess when he said general, he really meant general. “I mainly read
paranormal fiction, though I do enjoy the occasional historical drama or
biography.”
“I’ve read up on
preternatural things myself,” he said with a knowing smile. “What are your
favorite subjects?”
“Well, I suppose it would be
vampires, werewolves, fae, and similar mythological creatures,” I said, hoping
that’s what he meant.
He laughed and nodded his
head. “I’m glad you enjoy those. I do, too,” he said.
I started wondering how these
questions pertained to the job I was interviewing for. But, I shouldn’t
complain, I guess. These questions were very easy to answer and it seemed like
he was genuinely interested in hearing my answers.
“Do you have any first-aid
knowledge?” he inquired next.
“Hm...well, yes. I took a
first-aid course in summer camp when I was 15. I still remember the basics,” I
said, a little confused as to where this was going.
“Good,” he said, and then
looked thoughtful. “Would you know how to...let’s say for example...dress
wounds and control bleeding?”
What the hell kind of
interview question was that?! I thought to myself. I’d expect that if I was
applying at a hospital or something, but... “Yes,” I said slowly, confused as
to why I would ever need to know something like that working in a nightclub.
“Excellent,” he said smiling.
“You never know when something like that will come in handy.”
BOOK TWO: Sins of the
Father
Synopsis:
After a shocking admission by
Archer Rhys, Skye Morrison and the rest of The Mausoleum's vampire crew have to
deal with the aftermath of Houston business owner and fellow vampire Greyson
Mead's murder. A gruesome discovery in
Skye's driveway forces her out of her North Central Austin, Texas townhome and
temporarily into Archer's lakeside mansion with her co-workers Trey, Hunter,
Quinn, Seamus, Lochlan, Jameson, and of course the ever jealous Aoife. Skye must now live under the same roof with
the two men she wants most and things are bound to get complicated. With a psychotic murder on the loose hell
bent on killing vampires and the appointed army of The Faithful having no luck
in finding them, will Skye's new boss and co-workers live to see next
week? Will Skye make it out of Archer's
mansion alive?
Excerpt:
“Did you need something?” I
asked.
Archer leaned forward in his
chair and took off his expensive charcoal gray sports coat. “I wanted to see
how you were handling all of this,”he said, throwing the coat onto the couch
and moving to take off his cufflinks. I watched him struggle for a second
before I intervened.
“Here, let me help you.” I
said as I got up from the chair and walked around his desk. He smiled tiredly,
sighed, and thanked me. I hopped up onto the desk, sat in the same place Aoife
had only moments ago occupied and pulled his hand onto my lap. I slowly took
off his left cufflink and sat it down on the dark desk beside me. I looked into
his ice blue eyes as I rolled the shirtsleeve up his muscular forearm.
“Honestly, Archer, I don’t know how I am handling this.”
He stared intensely into my
eyes and searched them for clues. “Are you scared?” I nodded my head and gave
him his arm back. I picked up his right one and began the same process again.
“You know I’ll never let anything happen to you, don’t you?”
I watched my hands work as I
thought about that for a few seconds.
“I know,” I said finally,
looking back up into his beautiful eyes. Neither of us said anything for a long
moment. “I’m worried about you...about all of you,” I admitted reluctantly, my
fingers finishing their work.
Archer took one of my hands
in his and leaned closer. “We’re going to be just fine,” he said, tucking a
stray hair behind my left ear and then lifting my chin. “We’re a lot stronger
than we look, Skye.”
I had a sudden flash of
Greyson’s mutilated body and I swallowed hard, shaking my head. My eyes
glistened with unshed tears. “But Greyson...,”
Archer shushed me with a
gentle finger to my full lips. “Don’t,” he whispered, looking deeply into my
eyes. “Don’t think about that.” He cupped my cheek and tenderly ran his thumb
over my mouth, tracing my bottom lip.
“I’m sorry for how I acted
earlier tonight,” he apologized gently, his eyes remorseful.
“I know,” I whispered. I
tilted my head into his cool hand and closed my eyes. His touch was so
comforting, his strong arms safe. I felt my body slowly start to relax for the
first time tonight.
“I want you to stay with me
tonight, Skye.” My eyes flew open in alarm and I sat up straight. “Us,” Archer
amended quickly. “I meant I want you to stay with us...at my house.”
BOOK THREE: The
Original Sin
Synopsis:
"Skye Morrison's life
lately has been anything but ordinary. Attempting to pull together the pieces
of her life that have been ripped to shreds after being kidnapped and tortured
by Amun- who happens to be the father of all vampires-her dreams are haunted by
memories of those recent fateful and horrific events. Skye struggles with her
split feelings and the raw sexual tension with her lover, Jameson Doyle and
boss Archer Rhys-the continuous object of her sexual fantasies. Residing at
Archer's lakeside mansion with the rest of the vampire clan, Skye attempts to
maintain a normal routine. With the vampire army, The Faithful, attempting
unsuccessfully to capture Amun, her nightmares take her down a twisted spiral
of entrapment and terror, taking its toll on her daily life. Haunted and hunted
by the psychotic and mind-twisting Amun, Skye goes through dark and violent
changes, revealing a side of herself she didn't know existed and ultimately
leading to a shocking conclusion. With a climax that will leave you breathless
and wanting more, don't miss the third chapter in the life of Skye
Morrison.
Excerpt:
“Stop,” I whispered as the
tears finally began to spill down my face. “I can’t bear to hear anymore.” My
heart constricted with the pain his words brought. “How can you do this to me?
How can you when you know I’m with Jameson.”
I roughly wiped the tears
from my cheeks, stood up, and stormed over to him. “What am I supposed to do
with this, Archer? Huh? Leave your brother and jump into your bed? What about
him? What about his feelings? How can you do this to me? Why couldn’t you have
just left it alone? Why did you have to tell me?”
“You deserve to know how I
feel,” he growled. “You were mine before you were his.”
“No,” I shook my head sadly.
“I wasn’t.”
“Why couldn’t you have just
talked to me, Skye?” Archer asked, his voice full of pain. “Why didn’t you give
me an opportunity to explain the kiss you saw between Aoife and me before you
ran into my brother’s arms?”
“I thought I knew what I
saw,” I whispered, losing my fight.
“You knew nothing,” he
whispered, matching my tone, as he closed the gap between us and pulled me into
his arms. He bent down and nuzzled my hair, taking a deep breath in.
I wrapped my arms around him
and clung to him tightly. I buried my face in his chest and succumbed to my
waterworks. “I knew nothing,” I finally admitted tearfully.
He held me for a long time,
neither of us saying anything. I think we were both just content to be in each
other’s arms. We had been denying ourselves for the longest time. Holding him
felt like coming home; like a cool drink of water after a long week in the
desert.
“I’m so sorry, Archer,” I
sniffed. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“I’m sorry, too,” he mumbled
into my hair as he placed light kisses about the top of my head. “I don’t know
what I’m supposed to do now. The girl I love is sleeping with my brother.”
BOOK FOUR: Legacy of
Blood
Synopsis:
"Skye Morrison begged
for death. Fortunately, someone didn't listen.
Skye awakens to discover she has been irrevocably changed and the unprecedented
circumstances of her rebirth have now created a new threat to her very
existence. Sired by both the monster Amun and the vampire Archer Rhys, Skye
must prove to the army of An Dilis (The Faithful) whose essence is most
dominant within her and that she is not a danger to them or society. The
Faithful soon discover that she is unlike any vampire ever created before as
she struggles to adjust to her new life and the changes that come with it.
Her recent brush with death has made Skye realize that life is precious and she
wastes no time telling the one she loves how she feels about him.
But, Amun finds out that someone interfered with Skye's transformation and the
intrusion makes him livid. He gives Skye 7 days to come to him or he
threatens to begin killing the ones she loves most.
Will Skye be able to survive long enough to enjoy her new life now that Amun is
hunting her and everyone she loves?
Excerpt:
As soon as my head hit my
pillow, and I fully relaxed, my eyes began to grow heavy. All of the excitement I had been through
today had taken its toll on me mentally.
I desperately needed to sleep and recharge. Before I knew it, I was out cold.
Images flashed behind my
eyes, interrupting hours of deep, sound sleep as I softly heard someone
whispering my name. Something was
pulling at my psyche, demanding entrance, and I finally gave in to the
request.
Amun was standing by large
body of water with his back to me. As
soon as I took a step toward him, he whirled around looking surprised but
relieved.
“What took you so long?” he
demanded, his black eyes taking on anger.
“I’ve been reaching out to you all day.
I could feel you but I didn’t have access to you…I couldn’t access your
mind. Something is interfering. HOW are you keeping me out?”
“Ha!” I laughed and sneered
at the small victory. “You mean to tell
me you can’t just come into my dreams whenever you want to?”
He flashed to me and grabbed
me by my throat. “You drank their
blood?!” he raged in my face as he glared back and forth between my now
colorless eyes. “But you are mine!”
“I am no one’s!” I yelled
back as I ripped his hand from my neck and pushed him away from me; the action
utterly shocking Amun. “No one owns
me! No one will EVER own me!”
“A piece of my very soul is inside
of you,” he growled, quickly recovering.
“You are mine and you will do as I say.
You will come to me this night! I
DEMAND IT!”
I put my hands on my hips and
smirked at him. “Demand away, Amun. I don’t know what you’re expecting, but I’m
not going to just come crawling to whatever hole you’re off hiding in. You have no control over me. Get used to it!”
“Oh, I have plenty of control
over you,” he sneered evilly as he took another step toward me. “All those disgusting feelings of love and
desire you felt for that Day Walker…Archer?
I put them there. I made you
dream of him, want him, make love to him…
I made you want to stay with him when you were so set on leaving. I couldn’t very well allow you to leave and
ruin all my plans! But in the end, you
betrayed me, Damu. There will be
a heavy price to pay for that. You were
supposed to stay, complete your change and then kill him and all his
children. Instead you drink his blood
and pollute yourself?! You could have
been something great, something beautifully fierce and exquisitely savage, but
now you are just another common, pathetic Day Walker!”
I felt my eyes flicker black
as anger consumed me. “I’m not your
fucking toy, Amun! If you think you can
force me to feel things and do things for you, you have another thing
coming. I’m going to kill you for what
you’ve done to me! As God is my witness,
you will DIE by MY hand!”
Amun chuckled as he looked me
up and down and then tsked. “Oh, my
sweet Nisiqtu…you are still so headstrong. I believe I was wrong about you. You carry my mark in your eyes. We are not so different after all, you and
I. You may be a Day Walker now, but the
potential for greatness is still there.
The possibilities are endless now.
There is so much we can do to them now that you are one of them. They will never suspect-”
“Fuck you!” I spat as I
turned and walked away. I didn’t have to
listen to his bullshit. He may have
pulled me into this dream but, come hell or high water, I was going to walk out
of it.
“You have one week to come to
me, Skye,” Amun yelled at my back. “If
you do not obey me, I will start killing your friends and family one by one and
I’ll start with that fiery girl who shares your home. I believe I’ll sew her colorful skin into a
new hat.”
I whirled around, my eyes
wide and fearful. “You lay one finger on
her and I’ll-”
“Silence!” Amun roared
angrily, his voice echoing loudly all around me. “Seven days, Skye. And you had better be wearing the presents I
left for you when you come to me.”
