Little Flame Series Box Set Books 1 - 5
Melissa Lummis
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Peacepipe Productions
Date of Publication: September 30, 2014
ASIN: B00MY7IY00
Number of pages:495
Word Count: 155K
Cover Artist: Stephanie Nelson
Book Description:
Fiamette Jurato is on a mission: to fix her broken past. She’s teamed up with the world famous DJ, Maximillian, to search for the ex lover who can help her put all the pieces back together. There’s only one problem: he’s been dead for over two hundred years.
As a healer to the supernatural, she’s no stranger to navigating the impossible maze of magical complications. But getting lost in the magic isn’t the problem; finding her way back home is.
Book Trailers:
Nine30 https://youtu.be/Zqat7v5zIbs
Electric https://youtu.be/CgkuKV5MVWQ
StarLand https://youtu.be/t052wNfyth0
LimeLight https://youtu.be/og2lFXAp_8w
Excerpt:
The club lights blinked out, and in the humming dark an amplified voice yelled, “Give it up for Maximillian!”
Laser lights flashed around the smoky stage, revealing human-shaped shadows and a DJ setup.
“Make some noise,” the DJ yelled.
A spotlight strobed across the scene, then snapped back to the DJ. I stopped adjusting my white go-go boots and squinted, trying to get a good look at him. The crowd roared as he leaned over to a beanie-wearing guy on his right, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Beanie-guy cupped the end of the cig and flicked a lighter. Smoke obscured the DJ’s face and I sighed. I wanted to see him, dang it. I’d been running late tonight and missed the usual meet-and-greet. Story of my life.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the DJ mumbled into the mic as he twisted knobs and pushed buttons, puffing smoke and music into the air.
Even with the spotlights, the details of his face were buried under swirling smoke and pulsing laser beams looping the hazy club. The first high notes picked like an electric guitar sample, and words I couldn’t make out repeated in jittery bursts over a subdued bass. Black lights flipped on, turning teeth and all things white into glow-in-the-dark neon. The fog machines bellowed clouds of dry ice that burned my nose. Damn, shouldn’t I be immune to it after so many shows?
Rising up from my kneeling squat, boots finally tied, I dropped my hula hoops onto the platform, then set one thigh-high boot at a time inside the circles. Jutting a white-sequined hip, I waited for the music to build to that explosion of bass and high-pitched alarms that had been driving me deaf the past two months. Yet, I couldn’t say I hated the job. I’d tried different settings, but this was definitely the best fishing spot. The catch I was after liked the nightlife and large crowds.
And this club was packed to the gills. Good. Better pickins. I bent with deliberate flare, popping my ass into the air and giving it a shake as I scooped up one of the glowing hoops and spun it around my hips. I gyrated and dipped, swinging the hoop higher around my exposed midsection, my arms swaying to the music. I didn’t have to think about my next move. It poured out of me like the music from the DJ’s hands. I turned in lazy circles, taking in the jumping crowd as one living, breathing beast. Individual faces surfaced in rare glimpses.
When I completed a 360-degree turn, the bright eyes of the DJ arrested me. I sucked in a breath. He was the hottest thing in L.A. at the moment, exploding all over the music scene. His lips twisted in a sideways Popeye grin, and holding my gaze with penetrating eyes, he flipped black hair over his shoulder and winked. Damn! Heat flushed through me in a prickly flood, followed by a startling surge of disappointment when he returned his attention to the MIDI boards.
He bobbed up and down, one hand constantly flickering as it tweaked the boards in front of him. Everything about him moved to the music, even the occasional finger jabbing his black-rimmed glasses back.
The music decelerated as he pulled the cigarette from his mouth and raised it to the sky, granting the crowd a huge smile that said something mind-blowing was about to happen. The mass of bodies bayed in anticipation. He tucked his smoke back between his lips, and his shoulders rocked as he worked at bringing the music. He raised his palms to the crowd, encouraging them to take it up a notch, and they obliged with glee.
Suddenly, he lifted his euphoric face to the sky, swaying back and forth in focused ecstasy. One arm shot up, an index finger pointing the way to heaven, as he squeezed his eyes shut.
A synthesized female voice cried out, “OOOH MY GOD – god – god – god - god!”
Music burst in a sizzling shower over the DJ and crowd as they leaped together to its driving beat. It got to me. He got to me. I licked the heavy gloss I’d applied preshow before I realized what I was doing, and pressed my lips together trying to fix it. Things lower clenched. Too bad he’s so young. I sighed. And not a vampire.
A tingling on the back of my legs dragged my attention back to my goal for the evening. Peeking over my shoulder, I drove the hoop around my hips, the LEDs smearing white and seven-colored orbits over my mostly bare body. Turning toward a pair of crimson eyes, I dropped my Day-Glo-painted eyelids to half-mast as his burning gaze slid over my boy-shorted backside.
My white halter top glowed in the black light as the strobes made the sequins flash like Christmas lights. The music paused unexpectedly and the DJ mumbled into the mic, “I just finished this song half an hour ago on the tour bus.”
The horde screamed its ridiculous approval. When he turned the music back on, I kicked the second hoop into play. It was all improvised, of course. I had no idea what the DJ was going to do during the show, and he apparently hadn’t known either, considering I never got a playlist. So, to prepare, I’d practiced to all his music all week. This song sounded familiar, but if he’d just created it, I guess it had to do with absorbing his style.
The blipping sample of a laser blast penetrated my sternum, my heart tripping with it. As a quiet drum calmed the moment, I returned the hot stare of my quarry. I couldn’t make out the details of his features, but when I blurred my gaze and tapped into what most healers referred to as their “third eye”, I could see the subtle energy pulse of his aura: definitely vampire. Anticipation bubbled up my spine.
My review
Wow! This is a great little series! And all of the first 5 books together is awesome! The author has created a wonderful new world in the paranormal genre and I must say, it was a blast to see where it's going and where it's been.
Book 1 - NINE30 - Fia is not your typical girl. This story is more novella sized but sucks you right in and makes you want more! I definitely enjoyed her character and seeing all the different supernaturals the author created. Fia is a dancer but she's also a supernatural healer. And since the supers are out in the open, she's got a lot going on. She's trying to run from some vampires when she meets Max. He's a DJ and when he finds her, he needs her to heal his brother. But it quickly becomes more than that. They have a beautiful spark between them!
Book 2 - ELECTRIC -
Fia is ready for action again, and she has a ton on her plate. She is meeting new supers and she and Max continue their journey together. A lot of time is spent trying to stay one step ahead to stay alive.
Book #3 - STARLAND -
Well, Fia is back and her hands are so full! She's got so much going on, and we meet new supernaturals- gypsies are so cool- and we love the romance as well!
Book #4 - LIMELIGHT -
Well, this one is a harder one. Fia is stuck between a rock and a hard place and she needs to decide. One way or the other. And I must say, I felt a little heart broken for her in her decision making. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Book 5 - ECHO -
Wow! Now we all know what's happened- sorry I can't spoil- and we have a whole different set of problems. Sometimes dreams come true and sometimes nightmares are real. And she is constantly being batted around in between.
There's so many fun supernatural creatures this author created. And like humans, some are great and some aren't so great! And I love the kicker with Fia being what she is- maybe somewhat succubus maybe some what of a vamp, kinda on between. There's great romance, wonderful action, excellent character growth, and some seriously fun happenings all around. The author has an easy writing style and the stories will keep you wanting more! I enjoyed each story and look forward to the next book!! 5 PAWS!!
Author Interview
First, tell me a little about your book J….
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, today! The Little Flame Box Set contains the first 5 books in the series. Each book is a short read, which is one of the reasons I bundled them. The series is fast-paced, action-packed Urban Fantasy with a lot of heat. Our heroine is Fiamette Jurato, a magical healer who teams up with EDM DJ on a cross-country tour. She’s looking for someone, but finds herself derailed by magical mishaps and a budding attraction. It’s a lot of fun, but it also asks us questions about destiny, love, and whether we really know ourselves.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know?
I always loved books. My mom, of course, read to me every night and I was reading to some extent before I even started school. So I think my love of books and story naturally progressed into wanting to write stories. I’m a daydreamer. I’m always asking questions and wondering what if, what if. I think I drove my parents crazy. Lol! I literally wrote my first little story when I was 6 years old and never stopped. I got serious about writing a novel almost seventeen years ago, but I didn’t write my first published novel until 2012. It’s called Enlightened, and is the first book in my Love and Light series.
What inspired you to write your first book and what was it?
Well, my first book no one has ever seen. It’s still hiding in the bottom of a desk drawer, and I keep meaning to burn it so it never sees the light of the day. Lol! My inspiration was the Appalachian Trail, which I hiked in 1998 from Georgia to Maine. It’s a fantasy, in the spirit of Lord of the Rings and The Dark Tower series.
My first published novel was Enlightened and in a way it was also inspired my hike, but it’s storyline is a long way from where it started, which was that first book I just told you about. My love of fantasy, paranormal romance, and all things yoga came together in Englightened.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Well, I can’t say that there’s anyone one personal experience that is fully fleshed it out in any one scene or story line. I mean, I haven’t met any vampires…yet. But, yes, there are bits and pieces of my life experience in my books. For instance, the first book in the Little Flame Box Set is Nine30 and it takes place in Washington, D.C. I lived there for three years, so the locations and even a character or two where inspired by real-life places.
Some of my life experiences show up in part, like in another book one of the characters has a younger sister who died from a brain tumor. My sister had a brain tumor when she was young, but she didn’t die.
How do you choose when/which characters die in your books?
I can’t say I always get to choose. Sometimes, I’m as surprised as the readers when someone dies. I don’t just arbitrarily knock someone off, however. It has to fit with the story and move the characters and/or the action forward. It doesn’t have to be logically in the strictest sense, but in a way it needs to be, in retrospect, an inevitability. What I mean is, when you get to the end of the story and you look back, that character dying had to be integral part of how the story and characters get to the end. Does that make sense?
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I’m intrigued with Kristin Painter’s Nocturne Falls series. I don’t know how new you’d consider her, but she’s a relatively new author.
Who do you look up to as a writer?
Stephen King. He wrote what he loved and achieved very rare success. He knows people and has this uncanny ability to capture what makes us human: our idiosyncrasies, our fears, our selfishness and our selflessness. His characters are so believable, you get caught up in his world, which is why he is the master of scary.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?
Nope. The Little Flame series has played out much better than I imagined. It went places I wasn’t expecting, but in the end, I think it’s a better story for it. Now, that’s not to say I don’t see mistakes or things I could have done better. I can always improve, but as far as this story goes, the only thing I might go back and change is developing a few characters even more.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Sometimes the most challenging thing is just being consistent, a.k.a. putting my butt in the chair and doing the writing. I also find letting a manuscript go challenging. As my editing deadline approaches, I keep going over and over and over the manuscript, reluctant to hand it off. I keep thinking there’s one more thing I need to tweak, one more scene I need to rewrite. It’s actually maddening and I swear I’ve had to force myself to walk away. Besides, there’s always time to tweak again when I get it back from the editor.
What book are you reading now? Or what genre?
I’m reading the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Just finished Grave Peril and about to start book 4, Summer Knight.
Who designed the cover? And do you help with them?
Stephanie Nelson designed the cover for the Box Set, and yes, I do help. I tell the feel I’m looking for and might even show her some images, but one thing I’ve learned is I am NOT a graphic artist. She knows better about what makes a great cover than I do. Having said that, I did design the individual covers for the Little Flame series, but I kept it simple. The series is easily identifiable and the artwork is simple. I know my limits.
Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was it?
Oh wow! So much. I learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of. I learned that writing is like any other big goal in your life: You have to take things one step or day or word at a time. When you focus on the end result, you lose heart. It can be incredibly overwhelming to think about writing 100,000 words when you were only able to crank out 1,000 that day. I also learned that no great adventure is achieved in isolation. You need friends and professionals on your team, because you can’t do or know everything. So I guess I learned a lot about the craft, as well. I mean that goes without saying, right?
If you could be one of your characters, who would you chose?
Fiamette Jurato. She has fears, but she faces them. She may think she’s done some bad things, but the truth is she has almost always chosen the right thing, not the easy way. She’s brave, full of heart, and in some ways a very vulnerable woman. But she’s also bad-ass, fighting werewolves, hunting evil spirits, and even facing down trolls and vampires. Besides, who wouldn’t want to be on tour with Maximillian, hooping at the shows, partying afterwards?
Are there any books you think some of us should read, just because?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. You won’t regret it and you may see things a little differently when you’re done.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I want to say to my constant Little Flame fans, thank you for all your encouragement and enthusiasm. This has been a long journey and with #9 Music released just last week, it’s coming to a bitter sweet end. I’ve learned so much writing this series and I hope I can make you all proud with the last book, Head, due out the end of June. Thank you! <3
About the Author:
Melissa Lummis writes new age suspense in a fantasy setting, but her stories are also straight up, steamy adult romance. The Love and Light Series is currently available at Amazon exclusively, as well as the Little Flame Series, a spin off focusing on the character Fiamette from the Love and Light world.
Melissa considers herself a truth seeker and a peaceful warrior, in addition to a paranormal and fantasy author. With too many interests for her own good, she has rarely been content with one vocation. Her first professional life was as a high school English teacher, which led to another incarnation as a wife and an instructional designer /technical writer. After starting a family, she found herself reincarnated yet again as a mother, yoga instructor, and personal trainer.
While all her past lives have contributed to who she is today, yoga has become a part of how she gives back, maintaining her Registered Yoga Teacher status with Yoga Alliance so she can help people one-on-one to overcome physical limitations and heal themselves. But she has always been and always will be a writer. She’s authored dozens of wellness articles for various publications, as well as maintains a blog focusing on wellness, healing, and living a life on purpose.
A Yankee by birth and a Penn State graduate, she lives in rural Virginia with her husband, two children, an Alaskan Malamute, and a myriad of forest creatures. Melissa believes the universe conspires to help an adventurer, and if we live our lives as if it is a daring escapade (and it is!), then everything we need will find its way to us.
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Tour giveaway
3 signed paperback sets Little Flame Series: books 1 – 5
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