Halloween Spooktacular: Day 10: Guest Post with Jillian Stone: Skeezicks, Reapers and Grubbers, Boo!

Please give a warm welcome to Jillian Stone, who is guest posting today at BLH. Thank you Jillian for stopping by .

Skeezicks, Reapers and Grubbers, Boo!

 The Moonstone and Miss Jones is my latest release and sequel to The Seduction of Phaeton Black, or as the tag line says: Phaeton and America Part Deux! Since this is a Happy Halloween guest blog, I thought I’d tell you about the meancing new monsters in The Moonstone and Miss Jones.

Skeezick: The Skeezick speaks in nonsensical Cockney Rhyme and is capable of disintegrating (unraveling) and reappearing almost instantaneously in another location some distance away. Hard to get a good look at but when America Jones is almost kidnapped, she manages to get this much: beady milk-grey eyes, a round mouth with hundreds of needle like teeth dripping saliva, incredibly skinny and strong. The Skeezick is used as an abductor of innocents from 1889 London to a strange, alternate London in The Moonstone an Miss Jones. 

Grubbers: These monsters spend most of their time in alleyways, digging about in dust bins. They also frequent cemeteries. Grubbers absorb energy, otherwise known as aether from organic matter, living or non-living. They can also “swarm” a person. They break up into sub-atomic particles, permeate a person’s body and dissolve them from the inside–out. Here’s what Tim Noggy (new character) an eccentric XXX-large sized inventor and scientist says about the Grubbers: “...the creepiest thing about them is...the person with the Grubber inside doesn’t know they’re being absorbed. They walk around––talk, eat, sleep, until they’re drained of all their aether...then splat! They’re a grease spot on the floor.”

Reapers: Snake headed patrols under the control of the maker--–a powerful tech wizard named Prospero, who wants control of the Moonstone at all costs. Prospero once mutilated and tortured one of the Nightshades--––good guy guardians of 1889 London. Reapers wear helmets covered in snake-like tentacles that hiss and whip, stunning and probing (any orifice will do). Yeesh! Horrid creatures that almost always travel in packs.

Awesomely bad for bad guys! And perfect for Halloween, wouldn’t you say? To fill you in on more of the plot, here’s a blurb:

The Moonstone and Miss Jones Phaeton and America, Part Deux: A Tale of Two Londons 

 When Phaeton is shanghaied in Shanghai, America Jones assumes the worst––that he has abandoned her in the Orient. An angry Miss Jones returns to London, where their spirited partnership takes an unexpected turn. Alarming attacks by strange creatures plague the city, setting the stage for a terrifying future. People and things–well–there's no other way to explain it, but things appear to be unraveling in a parallel, alternate London. With help from the Nightshades, Phaeton and Miss Jones venture into the Outremer to extract the Moonstone and close the rabbit hole between two worlds.

 BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON BOOK DEPOSITORY 

 Blurb for Book #1: 

The Seduction of Phaeton Black Paranormal Investigator Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks straight into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known, America Jones.

BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON BOOK DEPOSITORY 

A Question for Commenters: Share your favorite creepiest creature from film, novels or TV. How about those Gollum-like cave dwellers in the movie Descent? Or the Alien monster––maybe the all-time best transmogrifying monster ever! Good luck in the contest everyone! And thanks to Book Lover’s Hideaway for the guest post spot!

 Tour wide giveaway details

Win Phaeton’s most charming charm bracelet. And find clues to the Moonstone’s hiding place in this modern, edgy take on the traditional charm bracelet created by Ana Karolina, a 19-year-old Mexican born designer who made her debut at Nordstrom at the ripe old age of 17. This silver-plated chain bracelet makes skulls and bugs look oh-so cool! 

 Five copies of The Moonstone & Miss Jones (e-book or print- winner’s choice) Entries open October 15

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The Moonstone and Miss Jones 

Book Two in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator Series 

By Jillian Stone 

Genre: Paranormal romance with steampunk and erotic elements 

Publisher: Kensington Brava 

Date of Publication: September 26, 2012

ISBN-10: 075826898X 

ISBN-13: 978-0758268983

Number of pages: 300 

Amazon Barnes & Noble Indiebound The Book Depository 

Book Description: 

The Moonstone and Miss Jones is the dark and sexy sequel to The Seduction of Phaeton Black. Phaeton returns to England in time to help Doctor Exeter and the mysterious deadly Nightshades rescue London once again––this time from Professor Lovecraft's destructive tinkering.

As the threads of existence begin to unravel, the eccentric scientist attempts to save his son’s deteriorating condition by replacing body parts with mechanical apparatus. Ah, but how to power them? The near mad professor believes he has found a way to unleash the arcane energy inside the Moonstone and he needs Phaeton Black to help him do it.

When Phaeton is shanghaied in Shanghai, America Jones assumes the worst––that he has abandoned her in the Orient. An angry Miss Jones returns to London, where their spirited partnership takes an unexpected turn––a new business venture MOONSTONE INVESTIGATIONS. No uncommon psychical disturbance refused.

Well, why not mix business with pleasure?

 Short Excerpt: 

 A lone gaslight sputtered above the stair landing. America steadied herself and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness below. The hansom ride from the Docklands to the West End had been one of the most harrowing in her life––with the possible exception of a rickshaw pulled by Zulu in Durban, South Africa.

She squinted and a few details emerged from the flat below, including a shadowy figure in the overstuffed chair. A soft snore rumbled its way up the stair––it was Phaeton, all right. She ventured further into the room for a better look.

He lounged in the chair with his pelvis forward, legs spread. America angled her head, studying him. There was a rough of whiskers on his chin; could he look anymore dashing? She exhaled a sigh. Only if he opened those liquid brown eyes.

“A little lower, darling.” He mumbled, still asleep. It suddenly hit her. He was safe. He was healthy. The bilge rat.

“Darling, is it?” she whispered. Her gaze trailed down his open waistcoat to the buttons on his trousers. As if in answer to her own lascivious thoughts the buttons began to open.

She grinned at first––was this some new kind of power emerging? Something ancient and primal fueled by lust? She had noticed a marked increase in her abilities these last few months, there was no question they were getting stronger. She reached out and her hand was slapped away––by what she had no idea. She tried again and was flung across the flat onto the lumpy old chaise longue.

America sat up and stared. Something tugged at Phaeton’s trousers––something powerful enough to manipulate the physical world and yet remain unseen. Rising to her feet, she strode across the floor and slapped Phaeton hard across the face.

He groaned, still in a deep trace. “Just the tip, Georgiana.”

She slapped him again. “Snap out of it!”

Jarred awake, Phaeton pushed away from her and blinked––several times. She slapped him again. This time he rubbed his jaw and his eyes watered. “America?” Gradually, between squints and blinks, he came around.

Her fists landed on her hips. “Who is Georgiana?”

Phaeton eased back into his chair, though he regarded her with some wariness. “A rather persistent succubus. And you certainly aren’t one of those––thank God.” If it was possible for a man to have sultry eyes, Phaeton had them. He tilted his chin and studied at her. “Though, I must admit the nasty little vixen has me in some discomfort––would you mind?” He gave a nod to the bulge in his trousers.

“Stuff it, Phaeton.”

“Exactly.” A slow grin twitched on the devilish mouth. “I’m just asking.”

 “Goodness––separated for less than two months and I had already quite forgotten how exasperating you can be.”

“You followed me––rather sweet of you. I wasn’t sure you would. I thought you would think I jumped ship and sailed off––abandoned you.”

America’s eyes narrowed into cat slits. “According to your wire, which I received just yesterday, you were shanghaied––in Shanghai.”

Phaeton shrugged. “Old joke, not particularly amusing anymore.”

She stared at him. “You must trust me when I say, it was never comical––in the least.” America shook her head and moved to the pantry area of the flat. She braced herself against the table edge. “I chased you halfway round the world, Phaeton. I want the truth this time, and not a crafty as you please answer.” She swept an errant curl back into her top knot. “I believe I’ve known eels less slippery.”

 Phaeton wore that cajoling half smile. “You’re angry with me.”

“Mad at you? No Phaeton, I’m not angry with you. I’m...I’m furious.” America choked on her own words, or was it the painful and growing lump in her throat that stifled her breath? “I searched for you for in every opium den and every back alley of Shanghai. Only after a great deal of money changed hands was I able to find out you’d cut and run––aboard the Boomerang. Do you have any idea how I worried?”

“I’ve caused you great torment, but I swear to you none of it was my doing. Yes, I was on that ship––in leg irons for more than half the voyage. I was cracked over the head in Blood alley, stuffed in a sack and taken aboard ship. “Phaeton rolled his eyes a bit. “Turns out the captain was a regular chap, with a good supply of whiskey––nightly card play.”

America shook her head. “How lovely for you. I don’t suppose there was any chance to escape––or any way to get word to me?”

“But I did get word to you, love––darling––” Phaeton appeared rather stricken.

 The tears that had welled up, were streaming now. “And while we were separated did you…think of me?”

Phaeton rose from the chair. “Every minute.” He strode toward her slowly. “Of every hour.” He caught her up in his arms. “Of every bleeding day.” His gaze fell to her mouth, and her lips parted. Good God, what a hussy––she was sending him an invitation.

 “Have I ever told you I love you––outside of the throes of passion?”

 America shook her head.

“I love you.”

America pressed her hands to his chest. “Too late, we’re in the throes of passion.”

In 2010, Jillian won the RWA Golden Heart for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy and went from no agent or publisher to signing with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books. That summer, she also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the Ages contest for The Seduction of Phaeton Black and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless to say, she has been busy writing books this past year and a half! Jillian lives in Southern California and is currently working on the third book in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series, The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter. 

Author web links: (web, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads, etc)

 http://jillianstone.com 

http://www.facebook.com/JillianStoneBookshttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946569.Jillian_Stone 

 Twitter: @gJillianStone

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