When mortals war, gods might watch. When gods war, mortals bleed. Delilah Cats believes that when a god demands something, it's usually best to give him what he wants. So when Lord Psyche brings a few New Orleans courtesans to the rooftop of his mansion, she sees no reason not to entertain them with a rainbow. Besides, the storm god promised he'd help her find Jesse. Her brother is overprotective, but she does miss his voice. Will her offering assuage the dragon? Sassafras Cats has never felt a wind as hot and dry as the one brushing her face. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, she becomes of aware of a native American medicine woman and a white-haired man who shares his sad amber eyes with a coyote, a hawk, and a rattlesnake. When he touches her, she feels something she has never felt before -- feverish and joyful both at once. Is it the spider's venom in her veins or something else? In the swamp, the earthbound goddess Agatha wakes to an agonizing headache. She finds her nymphs unresponsive, but alive -- all except one. Nymeria is missing. Where is she and what is wrong with the rest of the nymphs? The Desert Rose is the second book in the Mama Cats story arc of the Dime Store Novel series, an urban fantasy novella about a world that appears normal unless you look close enough to see the fairies and the goblins. It is the sequel to Rips in the Weave.
About the Author: Rachelle Reese has been making up stories for over 40 years. Her earliest stories were acted out by Barbie, Skipper, and Ken. Now her stories are acted out by the voices in her head. She has an MA in English from San Jose State University, where she wrote poetry and fiction. She ran the Art @ 8 open poetry readings and performed frequently at galleries and other venues. She is a self-taught programmer and was the first student at SJSU to complete her thesis as an interactive work of fiction. After meeting her husband and frequent co-author, John E. Miller, she began role-playing. Many of their story ideas and characters emerge during a game of Dungeons and Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, or World of Darkness. However, the mythos of their world is their own. Rachelle writes fantasy, paranormal urban fantasy, and a bit of horror. She and John are the authors of two short story collections: Bones of the Woods and Mind of a Mad Man. They are also the authors of the Dime Store Novel urban fantasy series. Rachelle has published several short stories in anthologies. Her latest was "The Rescue," published in The Bitter End: Tales of Nautical Terror. Rachelle also writes training courses and certification prep materials for programmers, network administrators, and computer support professionals. Rachelle lives with her husband in rural Missouri. They raise cattle and donkeys. They are devoted to their dogs...who pretty much run the household. She enjoys a good dry wine, immersing herself in a book, dancing, and long walks in the woods. She has recently taken up quilting. She blogs at http: //rachelleandjohn.blogspot.com. The Dime Store Novel characters blog at http: //dimestorenovel.blogspot.com.