The Ancient Order by JB Michaels Book Tour and Giveaway :)


The Ancient Order
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 1
by JB Michaels
Genre: Supernatural Suspense, Urban Fantasy 

Who protects you and the world from supernatural destruction?

This prequel novella will give you the answer in the most exhilarating and unexpected way.

Highly-skilled soldiers of the world's most powerful army are slaughtered.

A battle-hardened centurion is sent on a special mission to the wilds of Roman Britain to investigate the strange and ghastly murders of his brothers-in-arms. With the help of a warrior Queen, Magnus will encounter deathly forces, battle rival clans, and transform, not only himself but an entire nation.
The Order of St. Michael forms in tenuous times, under dour circumstances, and stands as the world's foremost defense against darkness.

**Only .99cents!!**

Stand together, men!”  The battle-hardened legionary barked a desperate order. The devastation surrounding the few soldiers struck fear into their brave hearts. Their brothers-in-arms once full of life and vigor, now lay dead in a most peculiar, inexplicable fashion. Shields at the ready! Let it come. We’ll push it back together. Togeth—” A thumping bass sounded once again. Though the sky painted a gloomy gray over the land, the source of this thunder was no storm. Sweat poured from their helmets. Heavy gasps gave way to controlled breaths. The soldiers packed themselves into a square. Calloused hands gripped hilts of the devastatingly effective short sword—the gladius. Their visibility low, only the small space between their shields showed the danger that charged them. The force that killed their friends. Their fellow men of the mightiest empire the world had ever known—the toughest men born from the blood of their ancestors with the mission to spread the glory of Rome fell in great numbers this day. The remaining thoughts of their homes, their families, their futures, fell to the wayside as the need to survive prevailed. The rumble of a beast’s massive feet moved closer and closer. Stand ready, men! Get ready to push it back!” The loud, guttural roar of the monster muted the centurion’s commands and words of encouragement. Hold! Iehova be with us!”

CHAPTER 1

Magnus Vicillius looked out onto the shoreline from the small rowboat powered by men in his charge. The gray sky and the cool temperature did little to welcome the warrior to Britannia. The temperature of the air served as harsh reminder of the wear on his body serving twenty years for SPQR. The Senate and the People of Rome relied on his service to maintain and strengthen the empire. The neck of the muscular centurion ached. He hurt it pushing a battering ram into the walls of a Germanic fort. There were many other scars that riddled his back. The barbarians sent out their women in the night to assassinate him and the other officers. He woke upon the first slash of many. Her wild demeanor nearly killed him. Magnus gained the advantage quickly, but his sleepy state caused him much grief. He rarely slept from that night forward. The incident proved his closest brush with death. No battle or bloody skirmishes with men bigger and stronger than he were as dangerous. 
Still, Magnus neared the end of his term. In just five short years, he would receive the land promised to him and be able to live peacefully. Away from the frontiers filled with uncertainty and danger. His reputation preceded him. A greeting party waited for him. His men jumped from the rowboat into the shallows and pushed the boat up to the beach. Greetings, Magnus. Governor Gricola requests your presence immediately.” A man dressed in gray robes surrounded by four soldiers looked deadly serious. Take me to him.” Magnus, in full centurion regalia—full metal breastplate, his large belt which held Marius’s mule, his centurion-class helmet with the crimson crest of hair— stepped onto the beach of dismal Britannia. His sandal-boots sank into the wet sand. 
Governor Gricola rubbed his hands on the robe covering his knees. “I sent them past the wall to attempt a peaceful conversion. They have yet to return. I sent for you to investigate and retrieve these men. I assure you I gave them orders to escort the missionary and march on peace and not conquest.” 
Magnus stood in front of the governor with his helmet under his arm. “The tribes in Caledonia historically don’t take kindly to Roman legions marching onto their land no matter the mission.” 
Of course, Vicillius. I wouldn’t have sent them had I not sent scouts to procure a meeting with a tribal leader who sought knowledge of Iehova or Yeshua or whichever nomenclature they use. Of course, it would be in my best interest to bring Constantine’s god to the frontier.” I shall march with my men upon first light.” No more time should be wasted. I’d hoped they would return in the time it took for the message to reach Rome. Alas, they have yet to return.” I assure you, my men will find out what happened to them, Governor.” Magnus stood tall in the lavish, intricate, wood-carved sitting room of the governor’s villa. That is why I requested you, Magnus. You shall have the full complement of my local auxiliaries manning Hadrian’s wall, if you please.” Though I appreciate the gesture, we’d better not stir up the tribes with another larger force beyond the walls. If we need the might of your forces, I shall send my best messenger for their assistance.” Remember, Magnus. There is a reason we built the wall. Please come back.” The governor stood from his chair and nodded to Magnus. The centurion didn’t know if Gricola’s plea was genuine. He’d just admitted that he sent the troop to help convert the pagans of the North to gain favor with the emperor. Over the years, Magnus realized that rarely were the intentions of the patricians in power purely selfless. 
I appreciate your concern for the finest soldiers of the empire. We will be back, Governor.”

The Order of St. Michael
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 2

What do you get when you pair a smart-mouthed geek with a fake English accent and a disciplined, headstrong woman with incredible powers?

Meet Bud Hutchins, a socially awkward super genius who talks too much and can’t get out of his own way. Will he heed the call to join the Order and save humanity?
Eh, maybe.
Meet Maeve, a beautiful young woman who happens to be a monk of an ancient Order tasked with keeping evil spirits at bay and saving Bud Hutchins from himself.
She rolls her eyes. Alot.
In this globe-trotting, action-packed supernatural thriller, our heroes fight to contain an ancient evil that calls from beyond.

It’s time for you to join the Order. Battle monsters. Avenge the dead and save the natural world from supernatural destruction.

**On Sale for $2.99 now!!**


"Check the desk for more shells." Bud walked to the mahogany desk. On the floor behind the desk was a dead man with a box of shotgun shells spilled next to him. The man looked emaciated not from decay but from starvation. Bud collected the shotgun shells, placed them in the box, and stood ready to provide ammo. "Don't just stand there. Let's move the desk to the door so we can slow them some more!" Maeve grabbed an end of the desk. Bud shut the door and grabbed the other side of the desk. "How long do you think this desk will hold them off?" "Not very long at all. That is why I have the shotgun." Bud handed her two shells when the first thump on the door rattled the bookshelves of the old library. Bud's heartbeat quickened. THUMP. The second pound knocked some books off the shelves. The dust billowed as the books hit the hardwood floor. "Is the gun even operational?" Maeve loaded two shells into the double barrel and waited. THUMP. The third impact showed a crack in the door. "How, might I inquire, did you learn how to load, handle, and presumably shoot a gun that size?" Bud asked. "My uncle took me hunting." Maeve lifted the shotgun to shoulder height. A crack in the door grew larger with each successive pounding. The undead soldiers were relentless. Bud and Maeve couldn't tell if the audible cracking was wood or frail bones. The space in the door spread into a fissure. A deathly arm burst through. Another arm pulled at the opening and the fissure grew into a chasm. Maeve readied the shotgun. "You are planning to use the shotgun?" Bud asked. BOOM. Maeve squeezed off the first shot. Three undead soldier's heads blew off their shoulders. Bone splinters and rotted flesh sprayed the doorway. The second line moved forward with many more intact heads and shoulders. One soldier's eye dangled from his skull. Another's jaw detached and fell to the ground. BOOM. Another shot rattled Bud's ears. Maeve stood three feet behind the blockade desk calm as can be. She put her hand toward Bud for more shells which he happily provided. The second shell had blown back three more soldiers.

The Elixir
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 3

How far would you go to save a friend?

From award-winning author JB Michaels, author of The Order of St. Michael and the award-winning Tannenbaum Tailors series

Join Bud Hutchins in an action-packed urban fantasy set in Chicago, home to the world's most notorious urban legends. A murder rocks Chicago Metro University. Maeve, a monk of the Order of St. Michael, faces possible annihilation. A poltergeist wreaks havoc across the city. With the help of the brilliant Ivy, a doctoral candidate, Bud will need to employ science and the supernatural in his most harrowing adventure yet, The Elixir: A Bud Hutchins Thriller.
The Ghost of Capone
Mt. Olivet Cemetery, the original resting place of gangster Al Capone, is disturbed by an ungodly menace.
Resurrection Mary strikes
The forested roads of Archer Avenue are once again stalked by the deathly and cunning Resurrection Mary.
Murder, Mayhem, and the Elixir
A beautiful, young teacher's assistant is murdered over a mysterious elixir: an ancient concoction that could change history!
From Wrigleyville to the Willis Tower, the Museum of Science and Industry to Beverly...
...join Bud Hutchins on an epic adventure through Chicago!

The Elixir is ready. Scroll up and grab a copy today.



Maeve moved further into the cemetery and ascended the hilltop towards the mausoleums at the crest. There were trees up there. The scent grew stronger. She reached the top of the hill and down the path saw a police squad car. Parked. No lights were on. Maeve quickly dropped on all fours, bounded off the path and used the tombstones for cover as she approached. The squad car’s passenger door and rear passenger side door were open. Maeve stood back up and examined the car closely. There was an unconscious police officer inside, leaning on the passenger door. Another officer’s head rested on the steering wheel. Maeve noticed their sidearms were missing. Normal chatter and codes burst forth from the radio. The rack that usually held a bigger weapon was bent and broken. The shotgun missing. The source of the odor had to have been here. It was strongest in this area. A piercing, booming, sound resonated in the cemetery and rattled Maeve’s sensitive ear drums. A bullet smacked up against the front passenger door, which Maeve stood behind. Another shot hit the window. It cracked. Maeve ducked behind the cover of the door. She waited to see if another shot would ring out. Nothing. She surmised that the gunman was near the mausoleum closer to the entrance. She bounded back to the tombstones for cover. Then she saw him--a man dressed in a cream trench coat and a suit that matched the jacket. He wore a fedora cocked to the left. The man’s face bore a large scar. Al Capone had risen from the dead. The notorious world-famous gangster and king of Prohibition lived again.

The Castle
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 4

No rest for the wicked they say.

Barely catching their breath, Bud, Ivy, and Maeve find themselves pitted against the Chicago police, the FBI, and the world’s most powerful vampire. Will they escape injury-free or will the fangs of doom pierce their jugular veins?

The answers can only be found in The Castle: A Bud Hutchins Thriller.

The three slayers of the supernatural will face their most formidable threats, seek solutions to their most important problems, and be forever changed.

The threats are plenty. The stakes are higher. The tasks nigh impossible.

Time to grab your favorite monster-slaying weapon, raise your torch, and storm the Castle walls.

The candlelight flickered. The soft glow accentuated his finely drawn cheekbones and strong jawline. His blue eyes bore a look of joy in the laughter he shared with his female companion. The brunette with the green eyes and ruby-red lipstick closed her eyes and laughed, nearly spilling the wine from her medieval goblet. Before she stopped giggling and her eyes reopened in recovery of her jovial fit, his brow furrowed. His eyes showed his true condition—a menacing yet brief look, one of lust and of hunger in full and equitable measure. The look vanished. His courtly composure retained. “Oh, my dear Vincentas, who knew you could be so amusing?” “Shall I take umbrage with your last statement and just kill you right now?” Vincentas grinned. Another loud burst of laughter. The Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t have a higher level of spirits than any other wine he usually picked from his cellar. Still, Vincentas poured more into her goblet. His attempts at humor could land, but usually with a casual, rather weak effect. She acted as if he’d performed a comedy routine for years and had earned his own television show. “That is enough wine for me, Vincentas. What are you trying to do me?” She leaned over the small table, giving him full view of her cleavage. “I do nothing that one does not allow amicably.” He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed both of her cheeks then pulled back to survey her reaction. She stood up from her chair, took another swig from her goblet, walked to his side of the table, and pulled him off his chair. She grasped his shirt collar with both hands and kissed him like a lioness devoured a fresh kill. Her aggression took Vincentas by surprise. She wasn’t the real monster though. The candlelight moved violently, then the flames extinguished, and darkness overtook the room. Vincentas didn’t need the light. His hands caressed her where they had touched many other women in his long life. He loved discovering the slight variations of the female physique. The curves, the hips, the muscles both hard and soft, the flesh. His particular favorite: the length of the neck. She moaned. The sensual and soft sounds of sexual assurance turned to a panicked scream. A loud crash filled the dark room. In the struggle to free herself, she kicked over the dinner table. “No! No! Please! Plea—” Her voice gargled with blood.The candlelight flickered. The soft glow accentuated his finely drawn cheekbones and strong jawline. His blue eyes bore a look of joy in the laughter he shared with his female companion. The brunette with the green eyes and ruby-red lipstick closed her eyes and laughed, nearly spilling the wine from her medieval goblet. Before she stopped giggling and her eyes reopened in recovery of her jovial fit, his brow furrowed. His eyes showed his true condition—a menacing yet brief look, one of lust and of hunger in full and equitable measure. The look vanished. His courtly composure retained. “Oh, my dear Vincentas, who knew you could be so amusing?” “Shall I take umbrage with your last statement and just kill you right now?” Vincentas grinned. Another loud burst of laughter. The Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t have a higher level of spirits than any other wine he usually picked from his cellar. Still, Vincentas poured more into her goblet. His attempts at humor could land, but usually with a casual, rather weak effect. She acted as if he’d performed a comedy routine for years and had earned his own television show. “That is enough wine for me, Vincentas. What are you trying to do me?” She leaned over the small table, giving him full view of her cleavage. “I do nothing that one does not allow amicably.” He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed both of her cheeks then pulled back to survey her reaction. She stood up from her chair, took another swig from her goblet, walked to his side of the table, and pulled him off his chair. She grasped his shirt collar with both hands and kissed him like a lioness devoured a fresh kill. Her aggression took Vincentas by surprise. She wasn’t the real monster though. The candlelight moved violently, then the flames extinguished, and darkness overtook the room. Vincentas didn’t need the light. His hands caressed her where they had touched many other women in his long life. He loved discovering the slight variations of the female physique. The curves, the hips, the muscles both hard and soft, the flesh. His particular favorite: the length of the neck. She moaned. The sensual and soft sounds of sexual assurance turned to a panicked scream. A loud crash filled the dark room. In the struggle to free herself, she kicked over the dinner table. “No! No! Please! Plea—” Her voice gargled with blood.


Greetings! For the official site of JB Michaels head on over to http://mistermichaels.com/for two free books!
J. B. Michaels, multi-award winning author and member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, has written stories since he was in fourth grade. He is a history teacher who loves his job.

Married and with a son, Michaels has a great love of family. He has two series: the Gold and Bronze medal-winning Tannenbaum Tailors and Bud Hutchins Thrillers.

Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!

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