Bemused and Bedeviled Series

Book One – Terpsichore in Love.

Terpischore is one of nine Muses who advise and inspire humans for her Father (God). When she falls in
love with a special mortal named Dan Gordon, she stirs up hidden emotions of key players in the cosmos who wants them separated – immediately. While most of her sisters like him – Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Thalia, and Tory. Some of them don’t – Clio and Urania. Calliope hates Dan for dissing her advice in the past and enlists a demonic Siren friend to kill him. In the demonic underworld, Lucifer wonders what it is about the mortal that has so tipped the peaceful balance of the universe and compels his three Sirens to find out the truth about Dan.

Excerpt –

Dan looked around the Muses den while Terri and Butterfly compared notes about their level of participation in helping their Father landscape the Garden of Eden. The walls in the spacious loft apartment were filled with oil paintings of fairies, dragons, and unicorns drawn by Michelangelo and Vincent Van Gogh. They also had framed photos where they posed with a young Johnny Cash, Abraham Lincoln, and Al Jolson.

While Dan sat with Terri and Butterfly on their extra large sofa, Calliope paced silently between the dining room and kitchenette. He glanced at the fuming Muse from the corner of his eye and nudged his two companions. They glanced at their troubled sister and grimaced.

“So tell me,” Butterfly’s smile reappeared. “What’s on the agenda tonight, Cuties?”

“Well,” Terri’s reply sounded like a moan. “We’re thinking about going to a movie and totally ignore it while making out like hormonal teenagers.” She laughed and cuddled beside Dan. “Or we’re going out for a quick dinner – maybe in Dubai – before going to his apartment. Then we’ll make out like totally hormonal adults.”

Calliope released a loud, irritated grunt, stalked over to the balcony, and slammed the sliding glass door behind her. The Muses turned to each other and sighed. Dan shook his head, wondering what was wrong with the dark Muse.

“I really think she’s jealous of us, Terri.” Dan stared into her light-blue eyes. “Is it true what you told me – she hasn’t had a boyfriend in over eighty years?”

Terri winced. “Keep it down, Babe.” She glanced at the balcony. “Calliope had a bad experience in 1928 because of a guy and, while it wasn’t entirely her fault, it kinda sorta had tragic results.” She shrugged at Butterfly. “Since then, she’s been a bitter Betty.”

“Tragic?” Dan asked. “Did he die, or did they have a bad break-up?”

Butterfly leaned closer and slipped her hand through Dan’s arm. “It’s complicated.” Her smile wavered when she checked the balcony. “It’s something we never discuss around her anymore. Plus, I’m tired of being poofed into the bottom of the Marianas Trench anytime I try to talk to her about it.”

“She drops me into the middle of the Atlantic,” Terri said, shivering. She caressed his cheek. “Trust me, Dan. Calliope’s not jealous of us.” She sighed. “Well, I hope not.”

Buy Link – Terpsichore in Love. http://www.amazon.com/Terpsichore-Love-Bemused-Bedeviled-ebook/dp/B00DWWFFXA

Book Two – The Mark of Cain.
After breaking up with Dan to keep him safe from the powers who want him killed, Terpsichore negotiates with her Father and Lucifer. After a successful reunion with Dan, Calliope decides she wants to demote to the dark side and become a Siren. When the Siren called Chanteuse infiltrates Dan’s job to get closer to him, she takes advantage of Terpsichore’s universally known jealousy to bring Dan closer to the demonic realm that assumes he’s the Antichrist.

Buy Link – The Mark of Cain. http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Cain-Bemused-Bedeviled-ebook/dp/B00DX5TAP0

Excerpt –

Calliope materialized in the loft and held her breath while she searched for any sign of her sisters. Alone, she exhaled and hurried to her bedroom. She poofed in two opened suitcases onto the mattress and snapped her fingers at various items in the room. They vanished and reappeared inside her luggage. Her nightstand beckoned and forced her to look at a snapshot of her and Terri from earlier, happier days. She sent out a nervous breath, picked it up, and swallowed at her recollections of what happened less than two hours after it was taken. Their smiling faces and 1920’s flapper-style garb sent a wave of nostalgia coursing through her essence.

~~ A grim reminder of the good old days when Terri was my best friend, Polly was our third wheel, and I still loved being a Muse.~~ Calliope sighed. ~~I was reckless one time too many and look where I am now.~~ She choked out a bitter laugh. ~~Next stop…Siren City.~~

She grunted out her misery and threw the picture across the room. The glass and frame shattered against the wall. The pieces fell to the beige carpet in a way Calliope likened to her past and present life. A soft knock on her door caught her attention. When Terri walked in, uninvited, Calliope stiffened. Her sister stared at the mess and smirked.

“I’d like that picture…if you don’t want it anymore.”

“I’ll be done packing in a few minutes.” Calliope snapped her fingers at her wardrobe and watched the suitcases fill with her clothes – all neatly folded. “As for the photo, you can have it, Terpy. Just watch out for shards of glass.” She hissed, “I wouldn’t want you to get all Pontius Pilate on my account.”

Terri folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “I was extremely rude to you the other day,” she said without a shred of emotion. “I’m sorry.”

~~I can tell. Your tone tells me I’m already a damn Siren.~~ Calliope sneered. “I’ve been hateful to you for eighty years, so I guess we’re even now.”

She zipped up the luggage and pulled them down to the floor. Terri bent over and gingerly picked up the photograph. Calliope watched her sister wipe it on the waist of her white summer dress with embroidered roses.

“I remember when this was taken, just like it was yesterday.” Terri’s cold gaze made Calliope clench her fists. “If I knew what was going to happen, I never would have left you alone with Darren.”

“Stop talking about it!” Calliope screamed. “It’s done, it’s in the past, and it needs to stay there.”

Terri sniffed. “You’re making a mistake. It’s not too late to stop this.”

~~So says the haughty bitch who hates my very essence.~~ Calliope unfurled her hands and smiled. “Unless you’re gonna beg me to stay, it’s time to say goodbye, Sis.”

Terpsichore’s pale blue eyes narrowed. “Would it matter if I did?”

~~I can tell you want me to go off on you, so here it is. ~~ “You know. When you and Dan started your affair, the real reason I treated him so badly was because of my jealousy.” Calliope sneered. “I saw the same love that used to go to me, now directed at something as insignificant as a human.” She picked up the suitcases and chuckled. “It’s funny. I used to hate Dan because I thought he didn’t deserve someone like you…but I was dead wrong.” Calliope smirked. “If anything, he’s the one who’s out of your league.”

“Go to Hades,” Terri snarled.

Calliope laughed. “Thanks for the good advice, Muse. That sounds doable to me.”

John D. Tucker
Author bio –
A life-long Georgia native, John D. Tucker has burned through three wives, raised two sons, and has persevered despite being brought up in a wonderfully dysfunctional family. Following on the heels of his novels Divisive, The Little Girl You Kiss Goodnight, Romancing the Fox, Terpsichore in Love, The Fifth Game, and The Mark of Cain, he plans to release two more books over the course of the next few months – the morally raw Splits in the Skin, and the third book in the Bemused and Bedeviled series The Seventh Sign. He is a proud member of IWW (The Internet Writers Workshop) and Scribeslice, both of which he highly recommends to aspiring authors.

Link to Authors Page / Bio — http://www.amazon.com/John-Tucker/e/B005GQUH3I