Book Spotlight: Hunter's Watch Brigade: Initiation by Paula Millhouse
Hunters’ Watch Brigade: Initiation by Paula Millhouse
Urban Fantasy with strong Paranormal Romance elements
72,000 words
Print Length: 226 pages
Publisher: ImaJinn Books, an Imprint of BelleBooks/BellBridgeBooks
Publication Date: March 9, 2018
It’s never just another day at the office…
Demigod Samantha Silverton, a full-time monster hunter in the Hunters’ Watch Brigade, is on a mission to hunt down a scorned mermaid with her familiar Max when she finds out she has bigger fish to fry. Her mother—a powerful witch—has been abducted. And the most likely villain is her mother’s enemy, Francesca Rosencratz.
Being a familiar to a sexy monster hunter has its perks, but Max wants more. He might look like a cat, but he’s also Sam’s best friend…and the man who loves her. But in order to defeat Francesca, he’ll have to shift into his human form, something he’s avoided. Because once he’s officially a shifter, he’ll have to join the Brigade. And that could take him away from Sam for good.
But Francesca’s becoming more and more dangerous. She and a mysterious ally are working to take down the Brigade, and take over the paranormal community. Sam will have to dig deep if she’s going to save her mom. But Max will have to risk even more…to save Sam.
When supernatural creatures go rogue, who are you going to call?
The Hunters’ Watch Brigade!
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Excerpt:
Hunters’ Watch Brigade: Initiation by Paula Millhouse
Chapter 1
Sam
“JUST MY DAMN LUCK!” I pointed into the blue-green waves of the Gulf of Mexico, held on tight to the side of the Fish & Get-’Em, and peered into the crystal clear water for my prey. A deep-sea fishing rod whirred right next to me, and yards of translucent fishing line screamed out behind the charter boat, arching the rod tip over until it disappeared into the ocean. “I think we foul-hooked the mermaid!”
Hunting mermaids is not for the faint of heart. I flung off my Aviator Ray Bans, and peered over the side of the sixty-foot charter boat, searching the churning turquoise waves for my catch. She darted off behind the boat. Looked like I was gonna have to go in after her. I wasn’t about to let her get away.
This was a different way to spend a day in always-sunny Key West. Hey, at least I wasn’t dodging drunken crowds of tourists down on Duvall Street. Five miles off the coast of the Southernmost Point in the middle of the ocean was definitely more my speed.
One glance back at the captain’s face revealed a grim expression, his weathered old face pinched tight, his eyes wide. He wasn’t the first old salt on Charter Boat Row out of Garrison Bight Marina who’d lost a boat to the mad mermaid in the past three months. We’d barely convinced him to help us go out this far and fish for the creature—and that had taken a lot of cash.
My bare feet slipped and slid across the white fiberglass floorboard when the stern of the mighty Fish & Get ’Em groaned, and dipped dangerously close to the water’s edge.
“That little bitch. Watch out, Max! She’s got the anchor line, and she’s coming around for the kill.”
Rumor had it this particular muse from the deep, whose name was Moriah, had it in for the sailors of Key West, but no one knew why. I didn’t really care. I’d volunteered for the assignment when the Hunters’ Watch Brigade posted it on the mission board.
Legend has it my boss, Shade Vermillion, organized the Hunters’ Watch Brigade after some asshole turned him from a human into a vampire against his will about two hundred years ago. We’re a tight-knit group of paranormal peacekeepers who protect humans from things that go bump in the night.
My official badge reads Samantha Silverton, Water Elements Specialist, Lieutenant Hunter. I’ve worked on the team of supernaturals who police activities of other supernaturals for ten years now.
Okay, so I’m a monster-hunter.
Our mission statement is simple. When creatures like vampires, werewolves, or even innocent-looking fairies go rogue and endanger human lives, we show up and stop them.
I don’t get involved in the whys of my missions. I just get the job done.
My job here today was to round up the frisky mermaid, then turn her over to my superiors at the Hunters’ Watch Brigade, or the HWB as I called it, for questioning and possible reform. To do that, I’d brought along my trusty sidekick, Max. I turned and yelled at him over the chaos of the lurching, and soon-to-be listing, charter. “Cut her loose before she sinks the damn boat!”
Max, my thirty-five pound, black-tabby Maine Coon cat had skills. He leapt up, extended razor-sharp claws, and slashed the fishing line. The rod sprung free. Max bounded up to the back of the fish-fighting chair, and yelled, “Cut that anchor loose, Captain Tom. Now! If you don’t, we’re all going down to meet Poseidon.”
Captain Tom’s expression fell, and his jaw went slack. Yeah, poor guy. It was hard for humans to comprehend a talking cat. To his credit, he moved into action and obeyed the cat’s commands. The back of the boat lurched free from the threat of the deep.
REVIEWS:
“This book is different from the thrillers and angsty romance novels I usually read, and is pure delightful entertainment. Paula Millhouse built a world of supernatural beings with a strong sense of world order in the Hunters' Watch Brigade, and the snarky lighthearted fun continues throughout the novel. Written in chatty first person, this Urban Fantasy will satisfy those looking for something a bit different from the usual fare. Five stars for the relaxation and enjoyment this book offered.”
“Holy cow! I loved everything about this book. I couldn’t put it down. The story opens with Samantha, who is Poseidon’s daughter, fighting a man-killing mermaid. Her weapon is a badass trident. It’s super cool. Max is a talking Maine Coon cat and also her familiar. He tries to keep her out of trouble but it doesn’t work. He eventually shifts into a hot guy, and Sam falls for him. The romance is sweet and the love scenes are hot. Max also has a cool superpower to help Sam. I loved the relationship between Sam and her mother. I loved the building romance between Sam and Max. I loved Sam’s courage when she goes after the evil witches. The action is fast paced and there’s plenty of surprises. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance or urban fantasies.”
Bio:
Paula Millhouse was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, where Spanish moss whispers tales in breezes from the Atlantic Ocean to her soul. As a child, she soaked in the sunshine and heritage of cobblestones, pirate lore, and stories steeped in savory mysteries of the South. She lives in the mountains now, but honors her Southern heritage as a story teller by sharing high-heat adventures with her readers. Escape your daily routine with books where justice does exist, true love is worth fighting for, and happily ever afters are expected.
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