Tish Thawer ❖ Award Winning Paranormal Romance Author: Raven in the Grave Blog Tour

Thank you for joining me for my stop on the Raven in the Grave Blog Tour.

I can't tell you how much I love this author and the tales she spins. Raven in the Grave is the third part of a quartet that makes up the Pretty in Black series by Rae Hachton.

On today's stop we get to take a peek at the delicious Marcus Marble through some awesome excerpts, as well as a glimpse at a couple songs from the RITG soundtrack.

Let's begin, shall we?

The Tomb—Mad Rush from Raven in the Grave

A week or so had passed before I'd gotten another chance to spend quality time with Eleanor. I had only been able to pick her up from school and take her home, having to leave right after. It was now February 18th—Coldest night on Earth. Snow covered ground. I wanted to just lay in the frost, and die for a while there. What was left to fight for wasn't the question. The question was—how was I to fight this? Ellie and I could be ripped apart. And tonight, this was all I could think of. We were supposed to get married, make love, be together for all of Eternity.

There would be no Eternity. Only Death. Either I would be forced to kill the one I love, or allow Zarfe to condemn me. I was already set on which. My damnation would be worth the price, of saving my beloved. But how was I to save her, even if I refused to kill her, and be condemned? I'm sure, that after Zarfe cast me into eternal hellfire, he would then go after Ellie.

Destroy? Or be destroyed?

Before I let that happen, I would take down everyone in Nevermore, myself included. There wasn't a second thought about it.

I was determined to destroy the hunters, destroy Nevermore, and then destroy myself, if I had to. One thing was for certain—no matter what, I wouldn't leave Eleanor again, or give up on her, or us being together.

I passed Lovers Cemetery. The green Hill, and the tree, where Ellie and I had sat together for the first time, was now covered in white. Lovers.

We may never get a chance to be lovers. I couldn't shake the thought from my mind.

The snow was so cold, it almost numbed me. Thought I'd be used to it now, an evermore, a creature of the night, alone in the quiet, the dark, the snow. I would never be used to this, not since I’d found what I'd lacked. I wouldn't let them tear her away from me. I would tear myself apart, and take them down with me first. But not before I spent every moment I could with Ellie. These would be the last few times we would ever have together.

I walked for miles, all the way to Ellie's house, and stood gazing at her bedroom window. Inside, she was warm, asleep, and dreaming.

Down here, I was aching for her. Unable to shake it away, I transported myself into her bedroom, stood at the foot of her bed. Her chest rose and fell, rose and fell. I removed my coat and my shoes, left them at the foot of the bed, as I crawled across, hovering atop her. My hair fell down in my face, blocking my view of anything but her lips, and her beating pulse. I steadied myself by making fists, and pressing them into the mattress on either side of her. Then, I lowered my lips, closer to hers. I could smell her, I could taste her in my mouth, already. Exhaling a trembling breath, I crushed my lips against hers, kissing her with a burning fire. Without even opening her eyes, her lips moved beneath mine, kissing me back. I shut my lids, imagining us, doing other things. Going further than this. I pressed my fists deeper into the mattress. My hands must've been white now, all blood drained from them as they held me in place, as I tried to restrain myself. She moaned against my lips, her hands tangled in my hair, and she pulled me down, closer to her, our bodies pressing together. At the first touch of our flesh, I groaned. Her eyes opened, as did mine, as I drew back to look at her. I couldn't hold myself together any longer. I leaned back down and kissed her, more passionately. Her hips arched against mine. I almost passed out. But when her hands slid under my shirt, her warm fingers grazing over my chest, my hands shot from the mattress, to the headboard, and I held onto it, tightly. My lips moved from hers, to her neck. I brought her skin into my mouth, sucking and biting, unable to stop. She cried out, in pleasure, making me bite harder. Her hips moved beneath me, grinding against mine.

My hands let go of the headboard, wrapping around Ellie, instead. I pulled her forward, sitting her against me, in my lap. Her legs wrapped around my waist. My eyes searched hers. “I want you.”

Dark Fairytale: Glass Coffin from Raven in the Grave

The woman spoke. “I am Lady Gretta.”

“I don't care who you are.” My voice rose with anger.

She shook a bony finger at me. “Now, now, now. Don't you want to know where your Lover is?”

“Where is she?!”

“She's been given a cold kiss, my dearest. Awaken her—only her Prince Charming can do. You must exchange your life for hers, if Prince Charming beith you. Come kiss her now, if you want her to live. Or else, her blood and bones, to us, you give.” The woman breathed onto the withering rose, turning it red. Then she ate the rose. Red tainted her lips. I watched as her eyes grew brighter, her hair changed from fluffy white to perfect bouncy blonde. Her pale white skin, turned smooth and tan. She was becoming younger, healthier.

“Go on. Step through the mirror, Romeo,” Grottos's voice, deep and dark, commanded from behind me.

I turned to glare at Grottos. “I am going to kill you.” I saw his facial features...his sunken skin slowly began to fill out, covering his bones, making him appear younger, too. Lady Gretta and Grottos were connected by the Rose she had eaten. It was somehow making them younger.

I looked back into the mirror. The Lady had disappeared, and a glass coffin was now in sight. Looking closer, I noticed Ellie was inside. Her skin was pale, her lips ruby red. Her hair the color of fire, in perfect curls.

“Ellie,” I choked up.

“Morrigan has awakened. The Vampire Goddess thought she could cross me. Now, either you give me Ellie—her bones and her blood—or you sacrifice yourself for the greater good of all of us.”

I spun around, and flew across the room, inches from his face. I jerked him up. “I am going to rip you, limb by limb!”

“No you won't,” he grinned.

“I will...”

I heard a shattering crack behind me. I spun around to see the mirror breaking.

“If I break that mirror, she will be trapped behind that glass forever.”

I let him go. He dropped back into his chair.

“I'm not done with you,” I warned him. I spun from the madman, marching across the floor to the mirror that held my beloved captive. I stopped, looking at Ellie in the sleeping glass coffin. I pressed my hand to the glass and it shot through to the otherside. Realizing this, I stepped through the mirror, entering another world, a different place. Snow covered everything. Gravestones rose out of the ground. The trees stripped of all their leaves, now just dangling twigs. The snow was so thick it was hard to walk through. I made my way over to Ellie in the sleeping coffin. I knelt down beside her, running my hand across the top. I glanced around the area, to see if anyone was watching. The mirror which I'd stepped through had now disappeared. Grottos nor Gretta were watching. At least I didn't think.

I lifted the lid of the glass coffin and touched her skin. She was still warm. I placed my fingertips at the base of her throat. Her pulse was almost indiscernible, but there was a slight thump, thump. “Ellie,” I whispered. Her eyelids lightly fluttered at the sound of my voice. “It's going to be okay. I'm here to free you. Don't worry.” I kissed her forehead, running my fingers through her hair. Her fingers clasped around the red rose she held.

I wasn't sure how to free her. Exchange her life for yours. If I kissed her lips, would I die? What would happen? I trembled, trying to decide what to do. But after minutes of deliberation, I knew I had to awaken her. I couldn't let her sleep like this in the coffin forever. I placed my lips atop hers, giving her a deep kiss to awaken her. My veins tingled. I shivered. If this is what it took to save her, I would gladly give my life for hers.

My Review:

I literally couldn't wait for this book to come out, so I talked Rae into giving me an ARC, and all I can say is...THANK YOU!!

This story moves at a slightly slower pace than the previous two books, Pretty in Black, and Black Satin, but don't let that dissuade you. It is perfectly paced for the amount of action and emotion that flows through this amazingly written love story.

You feel the feelings, you see the scenery...Ms. Hachton you certainly have a way with words; haunting words, poetic words, words that make me want to cry and force me to turn the page.

Nevermore is unlike any other world that I've ever read about, and the spin Rae puts on classic characters somehow makes them new again. Also, one of my favorite things about these books is how the author purposely puts in scenes that remind you of others. The most noticeable for me in this one was the reference to Snow White. It's so subtle, but the fact that it's woven in on purpose makes me so happy when I find them. It's like a treasure hunt inside the story. ;)

Raven in the Grave finds Marcus Marble battling not only himself, but a new mysterious enemy. The discoveries that are made help to open the eyes of not only Marcus, but the entire court of Nevermore and The Land of Naught. And can I just say...Marcus Marble is H-O-T. The tomb scene, *sigh*. He's a hero with a loving heart but who's bad-ass dark side gets to come out and play and I loved it. I simply can't get enough of Marcus!

To say that I love this series would be an understatement. It's dark and edgy, and Hachton's writing style is so unique, that once again I'm left waiting with bated breath for the next one.

Five stars!!

Now for an extra surprise...click on the giveaway image below to enter for your chance at some epic PIB swag!

I'd like to thank Rae for letting me a part of this blog tour - I truly LOVE the PIB series!! And now I leave you with some music to enjoy from the Raven in the Grave Soundtrack.