The Griffin's Secret: Reimagined fairy tale with magical, rock and roll twist

The Griffin’s Secret

In this contemporary re-telling of Grimm’s classic fairy tale The Griffin, two people must risk everything to free themselves from the invisible prisons that keep them from love… 

Jackson Grant had it all—the girl he loved, his Harley, and his guitar. Until a tragic accident stole it all away. Now, more than scars and a tattoo remain. Jackson has a secret. Cursed by his dead girlfriend’s mother, he can never fall in love again or his beloved will die. With his heart on lockdown, he keeps to himself—until a roadie gig with Malcontent, the world’s most popular band, entwines his fate with sweet, wounded Layla’s…

Music is what Layla lives for. She has no choice. She’s bound by magic to serve Malcontent, cursed to propel them to stardom with her musical powers. Then Jackson appears and gives her hope that he’s the hero who will save her. A reluctant hero, yet one she can’t resist. But freedom will come at price—and who will pay?

The Griffin’s Secret
Reimagined fairy tale/fantasy romance novella
Released: 5/12/2015
About 33,000 words 
Amazon  | Barnes and Noble  | Kensington

Reviews

I loved this one! I liked how the author, Cate Masters, was able to present this well written story to the reader. The Griffin’s Secret is a re-telling of Grimm's classic fairy tale. You will be hooked into this story from the very start.
The author did an excellent job of fitting this Grimm's Tale into a rock music world.
Readers will be intrigued and pulled into the story quickly. 
Night Owl Reviews - 5-star Top Pick   

Now this is a different kind of book! Cate sure came up with a wild and crazy story line plus a crazy bunch of musicians. Jackson was driving a motorcycle with his girl and they were hit by a semi. She died and her mother cursed him to never love again. Fast forward and Jackson gets a tattoo from a stranger and sends him off. He plays guitar and joins Malcontent, a rock band. He meets Mal,gets a roadie job and then he sees Layla. She is part of the band but wants to get away. Big Spoiler. Then this story gets to turn dangerous. Jackson tries to help Layla get away. Major Magical Spoilers. If you choose to read this you will hear of Jimi Herxrix and other bands. If you enjoy music you should like this story. If you aren't a music lover then maybe you will like the Magic. Give this a chance. Enjoy this story!
CelticMaggie - 4 stars 

I loved the paranormal aspect of this book and it does get a bit dark, but never got too dark. The plot  was intriguing enough to keep me reading. It was entertaining and very creative. The plot twists and turns, and just like fairy tales, good conquers evil.
The Jeep Diva - 4 stars

From the very beginning with the motorcycle wreck, voices and the strange Gundy in the old truck I was hooked in reading The Griffin's Secret by Cate Masters. I would never have thought of it myself but the dark moody retelling of the Grimm tale fits perfectly within the rock music world. Creatively, uniquely written.
PW Reader - 4 stars

From the very beginning with the motorcycle wreck, voices and the strange Gundy in the old truck I was hooked in reading The Griffin's Secret by Cate Masters. I would never have thought of it myself but the dark moody retelling of the Grimm tale fits perfectly within the rock music world. Creatively, uniquely written. While I don’t remember reading any other books by this author, I will certainly be on the lookout for her work from now on out.
PW Reader - 4 stars

I loved the magical aspect of this book. It was entertaining. Two cursed souls, destined to be with each other and just like in those fairy-tales. In the end good overcomes evil and love truly does conquer all. Overall the characters were good, the story flowed. It was an easy read.

KK’s Reviews – 4 Stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1240796459?book_show_action=true&page=1

The premise was interesting and unique.

Angela Street’s Review – 4 Stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1249483226?book_show_action=true&page=1

Casting Call

Who did Cate imagine in these roles? Find out here.

Excerpt

The faint scent of an exotic flower on an ocean breeze hit him the second the girl walked in. Every part of his body stood at attention, taking in the way she moved. The curve of her slender hips. Those long legs…they’d wrap around the back seat of his Harley perfectly. Wrap around him perfectly, too.

A flip of her onyx-silk hair sent it behind her shoulder as she sat opposite. “Who are you?”

Good question. He’d been seeking the same answer for too long. “Jackson Grant.”

Her eyes darkened, deep brown to charcoal diamonds. “Why are you here?”

“For the roadie job.” Was she the first gatekeeper? A gate she kept locked, he’d bet. Or maybe she was another test. Kev had warned him there’d be tricky questions and to answer straight. Something told him she asked out of curiosity.

“You think you’re up for such a demanding job?”

Again, the impression hit him she was making these questions up as she went along, ad-libbing off his replies.

He’d play. “I’m strong. Dependable. I follow orders, keep my head down, and stay out of trouble.” And he liked his privacy.

Her features smoothed, hard as porcelain. “Do you.” Not a question.

He’d answer anyway. “Yes.”

Did disappointment curl her lip? Or boredom? Why did he care? If he could, he’d blast out of there before his own curiosity got the better of him. Already, she’d gotten under his skin. Crazy how the tat no longer singed him, but now twisted like a trapped animal.

With a plastic smile, she batted her eyes, and the false flirtation didn’t suit her. “So. You’re a yes-man.”

The way she said it, he’d be no different than any other roadie serving the great rock star, Malcolm Fetterman. Fine by Jackson. The less he stood out, the better. Except for her. He hated to think of her glossing over his presence, but that would be better, too.

He drummed his fingers on the table. “I need the job.” Where the hell was Malcolm anyway? The longer he stayed with her, the more he wanted to. Definitely couldn’t afford that kind of trouble. He glanced at the open door, hoping he wouldn’t have to go through the same interrogation again.

She tapped the table. “You’d have to travel constantly.”

“Perfect.” No different than his usual way of life. Except this time, his paycheck would remain steady.

“You wouldn’t miss your family?” She dipped her head. “Your girlfriend?”

He curled his lip this time. No one’s business but his. He shifted in his seat. “They’re better off.”

Her brows knit, and then her expression became unreadable as the Sphinx. “The hours are long, and the equipment’s heavy. Everything has to be exactly as Mal orders.”

Did he imagine it, or had she winced at her own words?

He shrugged. “It’s his show.” Someday, Jackson would have his own roadies. And would treat them much better than Malcolm Fetterman did, if the stories proved true.

Her steely focus cut into him. “Mal doesn’t hire musicians except for those in the band. And there aren’t any openings in Malcontent.”

He didn’t allow himself to blink. “No problem.”

“But you play, don’t you?” Her gaze dropped to his callused fingertips drumming the tabletop.

He drew his hand down. “No.” A necessary lie. She might suspect, but couldn’t possibly know the truth. Almost like leaving one of his limbs behind, he’d locked his Fender in storage in New Jersey with his paltry possessions for six months. By then, he’d know whether this gig worked out.

Rock My World, contemporary novella

Rock My World

Contemporary romance

Sensual heat level

22,000 words

ISBN: 9781310826160

Available from

Smashwords

Amazon

Barnes and Noble (soon)

Read the first chapters on Wattpad

At 37, Cynthia Winterspoon is a self-made millionaire, more popular than Martha Stewart. Women love her decorating and recipe ideas for every season, geared toward shabby chic, affordable for the middle class. Cynthia lives by her motto: Make your life enjoyable. Except that her husband just left her for a woman barely out of high school, and is suing her for everything she has. The scandal’s rocked her world, but nothing compared to the shakeup after she meets rock star Rex Reynolds.

Rex Reynolds, rock god and general mess, has everything he could possibly need—except love. The real kind, that inspires the greatest love songs. An appearance on a late night talk show seems just another gig until he meets Cyn, the sweetest, kindest woman whose thoughtfulness touches his soul. When a motorcycle accident robs him of his memory, one image blazes bright in his mind: Cyn. He’s convinced she’s his fiancee. Now all that stands between him and true happiness is her hesitancy.

Can his amnesia help them both remember what’s most important?

Casting Call (coming soon)

Reviews (coming soon)

Excerpt

If only he’d take off those damn sunglasses, she’d have a better idea of what he was thinking. Maybe.

“They were right.” He jutted out his chin.

“Who?” Had he heard something? Known all along about her husband? Maybe he was the real tabloid spy. She released an inward groan.

“Whoever said you were a good listener. I’ve never bared my thoughts to anyone else.”

She practically melted with relief. “You are, too. I feel better having let it all out.” To a complete stranger. Not her smartest move.

“So do I. I actually feel as if a weight’s been lifted from me.” He tore off the Ray Bans and leaned toward her. “Don’t let any man treat you less than a princess.”

She ducked her head. Not even as a girl had she dreamed of being royalty. Frilly dresses? Too hard to climb trees wearing them. Nor were palaces her style, debutante balls or any of the other nonsense. None of it seemed much fun.

“I’m not very good with pedestals. Unless I’m giving it a makeover.” But she could imagine him a prince, easily. Light blue flecked his dark blue eyes, the effect mesmerizing. “You have lovely eyes.”

A slow smile crept over his face. “Too much mascara and liner, I’m told.”

“A little.” Way more than her. “But I imagine you need the look to maintain your image. And you wear it well.”

Brows furrowed, he leaned even closer. “Who are you?”

Warmth flushed her face. “Should have introduced myself earlier, sorry.” After recovering from the near-faint, perhaps? Or should she have waited until after insulting him? “Cynthia Winterspoon.” She extended her hand.

“A princess name if I ever heard one.” He bent his head to touch his lips to her fingers, cradled gently in his hand.

Excitement tiptoed across her skin. She forgot to argue against the royal title.

“Well, Cyn.” He made it sound so sexy and slightly devilish. “You have lovely eyes, too.” His gaze swept down to her lips, her cleavage. “Lovely… everything. But your eyes, they’re captivating. The term ‘doelike’ comes to mind. I haven’t seen any woman pull off such an innocent-sexy combo since Marilyn Monroe. I bet you’re a real man eater, aren’t you?”

No, but she’d be willing to learn. She almost forgot to breathe. And something even more important. “What’s your name?”

Surprise flickered across his face. “Rex Reynolds.”

“And you’re in a band? What do you do, play guitar?” Up close, he lost some of the bad boy mystique. His scruffy look had been carefully cultivated—too much hair product gave the stringy effect. His clothes were rumpled, but clean. The scent of coconut and lime teased her senses. The stubble on his chin couldn’t be more than a day old.

“Not a fan, eh?” He shot a dubious glance at her boots. “Let me guess. Country music?”

She tilted her chin. “Classical.”

“Wagner, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven? That sort?” He knit his brow. “Nothing contemporary?”

She repressed the urge to apologize. “My parents forbade it.”

Another full body scan, ripe with appreciation, left her feeling more naked than she could remember.

He took her hands in his. “You’re all grown up now, Cyn. Take a walk on the wild side.” Spoken like a flirty tease, and a challenge that invited her somewhere soft and warm, where her wildest, most decadent dreams could come true.

Her heart did a fluttery flip. When?