Cross Keys

Thank you so much for hosting me and my new urban fantasy release! I'm thrilled for the opportunity to tell you a little about my book and to share a Cajun recipe, one of several I brought back from New Orleans while researching the book. (If you look around the blogs listed at the end, you'll find eight more recipes!)

Happy reading...and sampling of the Cajun cuisine. :)

Cross Keys (An Elvenrude Novel) by Ally Shields

Genre: Urban fantasy/Paranormal romance

Rating: PG-13

Book Blurb:

Conspiracy, murder, and magic…and the death of all they hold dear.

When the first wanderer—a common elf who isn’t authorized to use the portal—is spotted on the streets of New Orleans, the king assigns Kameo Ryndel to assist in the elf’s capture. But before she can intervene, humans with guns shoot the wanderer and steal his body. When Seth Lormarc, an Elite elf from a rival guild, appears at the scene, Kam suspects he is involved.

Seth Lormarc is in New Orleans to find out who was behind the portal breach, and his best lead is the intriguing Kam Ryndel. When he stakes out her apartment and finds her sneaking out in the middle of the night, dressed in black and leaping to the top of the nearest building, he knows there’s something unique about the beautiful elf. That kind of feat requires magic. Ancient magic.

As their paths cross during their investigations, they develop an irresistible attraction, although there’s little time for romance. The portal breach is tied to an illegal smuggling operation that has come to the attention of the human CIA. But the stakes are raised when Kam and Seth discover a band of conspirators and a rebellion deep in Elvenrude that promises nothing except destruction of their world.

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Keys-Ally-Shields-ebook/dp/B00NSR0OT4/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cross-keys-ally-shields/1120425394?ean=2940150347144
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/cross-keys/
Book Trailer on Youtube: http://youtu.be/2GgI4-50QfA

Recipe:

One of my favorites was -

New Orleans Sweet Tea
1 quart boiling water
1 quart room temperature water
1 oz black tea (for loose tea, try an infuser ball) or 3-4 tea bags
1/2 - 3/4 C sugar

Add tea to boiling water, boil one minute, remove from heat and steep for 5-7 minutes. Add sugar and stir. Pour into pitcher and add second quart of water. Refrigerate or serve over ice. Serve with lemon wedges or mint sprigs for garnish.

Terrific with dinner, sandwiches or just a quick pick me up!

About the Author:

Ally Shields was born and raised in the Midwest, along the Mississippi River, and considers herself a "river rat." The setting and folklore of the river regions are often incorporated into her urban fantasy books. After a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time writing in 2009, and Awakening the Fire, the debut novel in her Guardian Witch series, was released by Etopia Press in September 2012. There are now six published books in that series. Cross Keys is the first novel with all new characters.

When not writing, reading or spending time with family, she loves to travel in the US and abroad. Way too often she can be found on Twitter.

Contact the Author:
Website: http://allyshields.com
Blog: http://allyshields.com/blog.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShieldsAlly
Facebook: http://facebook.com/AllyShieldsAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527209.Ally_Shields
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Ally-Shields/e/B009AKNDZU

Special Thanks to the following bloggers who are spotlighting this release during the next few days (eight more Cajun recipes on their blogs!)(dates of post may vary due to time periods, etc.):

Oct. 3: AJ Locke, Kirstin Pulioff, Linda McLaughlin, Margay Roberge, Marie Carhart, Shannon McRoberts, Stephanie Stamm, EE Carter, Susan Taylor, Anne Lange, Kath Boyd Marsh, Dan Levinson, Michelle Browne, Sue Roebuck, Chris Redding, Theresa DaLayne, Anita Philmar, Melanie Robertson-King
Oct. 4: Carmen Stefanescu, Stacy Juba, Lindsey Loucks
Oct. 6: Rebekah Ganiere
Oct. 7: Antonia van Zandt
Oct. 8: Dani-Lyn Alexander