Sky Purington's Blog, page 16

Young Adult Romance. Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking by Kimbra Kasch.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Kimbra Kasch, author of Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking, Book One in The Viking  Series.
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Publisher: Crimson Frost
Date of Publication:  August 26, 2016
Number of pages: 274Word Count: 65,000
Cover Artist: Gin Kiser
Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Book Description
Travel across oceans, continents and countries to discover the story of legendary Viking hero, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with King Arthur’s half-sister in Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking.
This is the story of two warriors who never thought they’d find love, especially on the battlefield, yet standing poised against each other Morgaine and Holger face an attraction more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than all the powers of Merlin.
Amazon
EXCERPT OF MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKINGFOREWORD
This is an old story told from a totally different perspective. This is a Viking’s tale.
MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is a legendary romance filled with honorable Knights from King Arthur’s Round Table, Salacious Pirates, and Brutal Vikings. This is the retelling of the romance between King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine Le Fay, and her epic lover, the Viking Prince of Denmark and heir to King Geoffrey’s throne, Holger Danske. And though you might think you know these characters from the British stories, this tale comes from an entirely different point of view. The Viking perspective.
Everyone knows of Excalibur and King Arthur but few know of his brother-in-law, the Danish Viking Prince and warrior Holger Danske or his sword Cortana. MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is a mature Young Adult retelling of folk-lore legend and Danish leader, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with the sorceress Princess Morgaine Le Fay.
They met on a battlefield, poised against each other, but their attraction was more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than Merlin, yet theirs is a tale more tragic than Romeo and Juliet.
Weaving the stories from English, French and Danish together this is one slice from the rich tapestry of tales that have come together throughout time and history.
While most everyone who searches for tales of the middle ages and seeks out stories of Knights and battles, castles and magical swords, they will only find the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Yet, it is only with the help of the Viking warrior Holger Danske of Denmark and Charles the Great (a.k.a Charlemagne of France) that King Arthur beat back the Saxons and retained leadership of Camelot.
Amidst these battles and legends, Morgaine Le Fay is worthy of her own stand-alone stories for she was such a strong woman everyone believed her to be a sorceress or more than human. Some said she was half fairy because she rode with the men in battle and was more than willing to take enormous risks for the men she loved.
Some believe she was the most powerful sorceress in all of history, having tutored under the guidance of Merlin and quickly surpassing his abilities. But it is her tragic love story with the Danish Prince that forms this first story in the Viking Series: MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING.
Morgaine’s true love, the Viking Norse leader and legendary warrior, is immortalized in stone in the dungeons of Hamlet’s Castle on the shore that sits between the sound of Denmark and Sweden.But there is much more to this tale than a simple love story.
King Arthur received his magical sword, Excalibur, from the Norse Goddess, also known as The Lady of the Lake but Excalibur was not the only magical sword she ever relinquished to mortal hands. She gave just such a magical sword to the Danish Prince, Holger, and one to the French King, Charlemagne. Together these three heroic men joined forces to fight side by side. Britain, France and Scandinavia battled back the invading Saxons.
I am married to a Dane who was born and raised in Denmark, and have visited the Castle of Kronborg in Helsingør, Denmark and viewed the statue Holger Danske in the casemates. I have also visited both England and France and tried to stay true to the themes of all three legends, (from Denmark-Holger Danske, England-King Arthur, and France-Charlemagne), while weaving them together. However, I have taken artistic liberties with language and in dramatizing the tale of The Viking Princess.
There is an entire world full of rich stories about epic battles that go far beyond King Arthur’s realm and other countries hold their legendary heroes in this same high regard. This is one such story.

Let's Interview... 
What inspired you to write this book? 
My first trip to Hamlet’s Castle in Elsinore, Denmark. My husband was born and raised in Denmark so when he took me to meet his Danish family, he took me to visit one of his country’s most fantastic sites. It was there that I first learned of the legend of Holger Danske, a Viking Warrior and heir to the throne. But that wasn’t even the most fascinating thing to me. I found out Holger was married to King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine Le Fay. And the legend got more interesting with every word.
King Arthur was given Excalibur by The Lady of the Lake (a Norse Goddess) but he wasn’t the first or the last to be given such a gift…
Holger was given the sister sword to Excalibur – “CORTANA”.
I couldn’t forget about this Viking. When I went home I read all I could find about him…and Morgaine. The legends cross countries: France, Denmark, England, Ireland… I was mesmerized. 
How did you come up with the title? 
Morgaine (who is found in many legends, under many different names in many different countries: (e.g. Morgaine Le Fay, Morgan le Fay, Morgaine le Fey, Morgen, Morgain, Morganna, Morgant, Morgane, Morgne, Morge, and more) fascinated me most of all. In some legends she was a shield maiden who rode out in the front of King Arthur’s army. In other legends she was a sorceress and in some a Fairy. I had to read more about her. But when you put the legends of Morgaine together with the legends of Holger…I felt their story had to be told.  It seemed so strange that people in America had only heard the portion of the tale that included King Arthur…maybe because that part of the story was all in English. But, if you could read French, Danish and English, you could hear the rest of the story.
What made you choose the main setting for your book? 
My story travels from Britain to Denmark to France and back again. I couldn’t choose only one location when the story travels across continents, countries and an ocean. ;D
 If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
I think I would want to talk with Morgaine the most. I would like to see why people thought she was a Fairy and a sorceress but mostly I would like to hear about her life as a shield maiden. For a woman to ride into battle and actually defend the men she loved is fascinating to me, a woman who sits behind a desk and types… ;D I mean, the worst thing that could happen to me is a hangnail or maybe a paper cut ;D
Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story.
The conflict in my story involves Holger and Morgaine riding into battle against each other. The Vikings were not a friend to the Brits. Yet, somehow these two epic characters fell in love. It was not an easy journey or path to choose. King Arthur did not welcome a Viking to his table.
Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story. 
I wanted my cover to show the love between these two characters but to also show strength and courage. I think Gin Kiser did a great job.
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.
I am working on the third book in the Viking Series, which tells the true tale of Mordred, Morgaine’s son. Or at least the Viking perspective ;D
What sort of personality does your hero have? 
Both characters Morgaine and Holger are strong personalities, warriors and royalty…a strange mixture.
What sort of personality does your heroine have? 
Above all else she is loyal to the men she loves and willing to sacrifice everything for them.
Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
I write upstairs in my bedroom…a romantic setting ;D
What sources do you use for research? 
I gathered all the information I could about my story, including visiting many of the sites in my story. I traveled from Denmark to France to England and Ireland. I also pulled from the library and grabbed everything I could when I was in Denmark.
It’s time to promo. What is your favorite marketing tool?
I am horrible at marketing. I am an introvert at heart…as many writers are. But I enjoy Pinterest, I have a Viking board where I pin pictures. Plus I love to post pictures to Instagram too.
Are your book/books available in audio? In other languages? If so, give us more details about where we can get them and what languages they’re in.
I have an audio chapter and am working on getting this story put into audio format.
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
I have been writing since I was a little girl. I was a page editor for my high school paper and then I wrote magazine articles for years. Finally, I couldn’t forget these two characters and had to write an entire book.
 Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?
I just love to write. I write short stories, novels and even articles for magazines. If I hear a story I can’t forget about or something about a character I fall in love with, I can’t let it go.
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.
I hate to say goodbye to characters I love. I keep thinking about them and writing about them.
This is the first book in a series of three… It starts with Morgaine and travels through time to tell more of the story. 
 FIRST SIGHT
Morgaine’s head was held high, her back straight, with her chin jutted forward, as she rode like a warrior into battle. Covered in shiny mail, she sat upon her lively white steed, much like a nobleman, but no one could be mistaken. One glance and anyone could see simply by looking at her, this was a fine lady, with skin as smooth as silk and clear as a summer day, her russet curls plaited and twined around her head, forming a crown of braids befitting a high-born princess.
Raising her hand to shield her eyes from the harsh morning light, she turned toward the mountains, searching for a sign. Something. Anything.
Nothing was there. Still she sat, waiting.
It was after sunset when the shadows finally shifted across the horizon. That’s when she noticed the dark silhouettes of men. Not peasants. These were broad-backed warriors on horseback, sitting outlined against the blood-red moon. They were moving closer, nearer to battle.
Arthur did not want his sister on the front lines. “You should be in the background working your magic,” he insisted, hoping she would heed his pleas.
She threw her head up in defiance and gave a little snort. “Never,” she insisted.
His voice took on an authoritative tone. “I am the King,” he reminded her with a frown etched over his face. She turned to grin at him, “Did you think I could forget?”
With a heavy sigh, he went on, “It is not as a King that I am asking, but as your brother. I cannot bear the thought of you being hurt for me. I want you in the background, not on the forefront of battle.”
She shook her head, and then reached across the gap between them. She ran her palm over his cheek. “Do not waste your worry. You know, death holds no fear for me.”
“Perhaps,” he nodded. “But there are worse things than death. Please sister, if only for my sake, move to the back and do not separate yourself from us—I beg of you.” He tried to convince her not to ride forward from the front lines, but she wouldn’t listen.
“Do not even think of it,” she said, with that familiar look of determination in her eyes and the stubborn tone Arthur had become so acquainted with. Pulling back on her reins, she danced her horse around him. “I am a symbol for the men to look upon. I must move about for all to see.”
And no matter how much he wanted to deny it, they both knew she was right. Sitting out in front of the knights, she made an unforgettable impression.
“But you can inspire from anywhere, it need not be the frontline,” he insisted.
She shook her head, disregarding his warning as she rode ahead to act as the King’s guard over her brother. Sitting proud and tall, she fully intended to protect him from the onslaught that was about to begin. Arthur was transfixed. She was more beautiful than ever. An angel blanketed in shadows but edged in starlight, no man on the battlefield would ever forget her face.
She felt the fire burning inside her belly. The cry of war rising up into her heart, she wanted nothing more than to ride.
As the men moved nearer, she raised her hand, stopping Arthur’s men—holding them back, “Wait for my signal,” she called out, “Steady!” Finally reaching up over her head, she dropped her sword across her body as the moonlight glistened on the shiny steel, blinding the men riding toward them into battle.
Morgaine let out a laugh that echoed over the field as she galloped forward, and then immediately she swung her mare away from the men. Standing out alone and off to the side, she was a vision…
Suddenly time stood still. She was frozen, as a warrior on their frontline came into view. His arm raised up over his head, sword in hand, he led the charge against her, against Arthur, and against all the people of Camelot. He was a brute of a man and her attention was riveted.
There was no turning away; he was all she saw, all she noticed. Opening his mouth, he let out a roar as he rode straight toward her, this man with the golden mane.
The moonlight shimmered down on him. His browned skin glistened and his hair gleamed like an autumn jewel beneath the starlight. Suddenly she was reminded of hot summer days and amber pebbles washed up on the white sandy shores. Fascinated, she was spellbound by his glowing skin beneath the fading evening sun.
She was mesmerized.
Shaking her head to clear the fog inside her mind, she readied herself for his blow. Raising her shield, she steeled herself.
He was a giant among men, with ten times the form of any god she could imagine.
Was it possible? Was this an illusion? Could he be real?
His sapphire eyes found hers, locking on her lilac orbs, and a blinding heat struck her like a bolt of lightning. She could not turn away. His sword raised high in the air, his shield barely covering his broad chest, she stared at his form. A rush of fire raced through her, as she sat still watching this man ride with such a majestic carriage.
Giddy and out of breath, her heart beat faster than she could ever recall.
What was happening here? What magic was this? She wondered at her own body, feeling dizzy as a young maiden at her first games. Someone must have cast a spell. She turned her head, searching for the Viking sorcerer performing this magic.
There was none.
She had never had this reaction to any man. No. Morgaine had never had this reaction to anyone.Her breath caught in her chest, and she could barely breathe. The air was trapped inside her throat, choking her. She had to cough to force the air back into her lungs.
This man could not be human. He was either a devil or a demon, she was sure of it and yet he had signaled his men into the battle before he veered off to the side, riding straight toward the sorceress with the flaming locks. His mouth was open as he let out a warrior chant she had never heard before.
Another spell, she told herself, an incantation—perhaps the same one he cast upon the knights and warriors.
She turned to her side, to see how her men were holding up under this magic.
It could not be.
His words had no effect on them. They were not under his spell. Their swords were unsheathed, raised, and ready to do battle. The knight beside her let out a thunderous cry, spurring his horse faster, as they rode past her into the throng of bare-chested men with the horns upon their heads.Her steed moved forward, but she did nothing more than hold on to the reins as her mare carried her into the field of battle and straight toward the magic man. She was unprepared, mesmerized, and out of control…
Opposite each other they rode, one toward the other. She saw him motion to his men to continue riding forward as he veered further off to the side…to make his way straight toward her.
In a matter of moments, he was upon her. Sweeping up beside her like the blast of a storm, he stole her breath away. His thickly muscled arm snaked out away from his body, striking before she could do a thing or even before she realized what had happened. But there was no pain. It was not with a thrust of his sword that he struck, it was only his arm. Quickly twisting, he shifted his weight to make room for her. His powerful arm wrapped around her waist, grabbing her with the strength of the ocean’s tide, he pulled her toward him.
Morgaine sat motionless as a statue in the garden; she offered no resistance. Instead, she simply slid sideways from her horse onto his. It happened in one swift motion.
Pressing his palm flat against her belly, he held her in place, tightly nestled in front of him. She felt the warmth of his breath on her neck, caressing her face. Her hands fell limp to her side, accidently brushing against the hot flesh of his thigh. His skin burned beneath her fingertips.
The heat rose from her hands to her chest, and a small gasp escaped her lips as she let her hands rest upon his thickly muscled leg. He chuckled low in his throat and she knew he understood the effect he was having on her senses.
Pressing his firm rippled chest into her back, she felt something she had never felt before…lust.She could do nothing to resist him. Leaning back, she drank in the strong, musky scent of him and felt her head spin. He held her steady and still.
Another mesmerizing potion, she thought, his spicy scent must be the mixture of a wizard’s tonic, worn to hypnotize his enemies.
Unable to fight the strength of his powerful magic, she succumbed. His tantalizing aroma made her want nothing more than to be with him, alone
THREE reasons to read a Viking Romance:1)  Ragnar;2) Lagertha; and,3) Rollo
But seriously, during the dark ages, the Vikings were more than merely heathen marauders. In truth, they were brave explorers. Men and women who took the original Captain’s Oath, vowing to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man (or woman) had gone before.
They were not the pillagers that the British portrayed them to be but people searching for new lands and new civilizations and along the way, they faced gripping family sagas that questioned more than their strength, agility and patience. These journeys brought into question alliances and loyal friendships, while testing their faith. And, there was nothing more important than family relationships. If a Viking couldn’t count on his family to help him survive, he perished.
But it wasn’t only the men, these warriors were women as well as men, who stood side by side on the battlefield. Perhaps that is the reason and the truth behind the tales of the Valkyrie and Valhalla, which still haunt the stories of the Vikings.
MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is one such tale of the extraordinary lives and epic adventures of two people: Holger Danske and Morgaine LeFey.
And Holger Danske was not the first Danish Prince to appear on the printed page or to share a well-known castle as his home. Hamlet’s story is set in the same structure that stands on the sound between Denmark and Sweden. Holger’s home is in Kronborg Castle, known to most English speaking people as Hamlet’s Castle.
It was there, inside this Castle that I first was introduced to Holger Danske and the legends surrounding his iconic life. He was a warrior, a Prince destined to become King of all the Norse lands during the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table.
I found it odd that everyone had heard of King Arthur and his magical sword, Excalibur, which he received from the Lade of the Lake (a Norse Goddess) who had also given such a sword to Holger Danske. Holger’s sword was named “Cortana”, and was made from the same metal and magic as Excalibur. Yet no one I talked to outside of Denmark had ever heard of Holger or his sword.
And, even more interesting was the fact that Holger and the Vikings invaded England, yet somehow, even as enemies, Holger and King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine LeFey, were able to share a forbidden love.
Theirs was a romance that threatened two kingdoms.
MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is the secret Denmark never shares...until now. Morgaine and Holger faced an attraction more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than all the powers of Merlin.About the Author
 Kimbra Kasch is a romance writer who grew up in a family with 9 kids and only 1 t.v. So instead of fighting with her brothers and sisters about which shows to watch, she’d spend her days reading and, later, writing, which explains why she love books so much.
Kimbra’s favorite romance novels are The Hunger Games, the Divergent Series and, yes, even the Twilight books. She loves something with a hint of danger and/or paranormal.
You can find her pinning on pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimkasch/
Or tweeting: https://twitter.com/kimkasch
And sharing photos on Instagram: @kaschkim
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15278287-kimbra-kasch
And read more about her here: http://kimbrakasch.com/
You can friend her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimKaschAuthor/
Or stop by Amazon and check out a few of her other books:https://www.amazon.com/Kim-Kasch/e/B00ZOAUKMO/
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Light Paranormal. Damned If He Does by Marcella Burnard.

Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Marcella Burnard, author of Damned If He Does.
Genre: Light Paranormal
Date of Publication: 7/19/2016
ISBN: 978-0-9977244-0-0ASIN: B01HR5R2DI
Number of pages: 333Word Count: 98k
Cover Artist: Danielle Fine
Book Description
Rejected by heaven, twisted by hell, what’s a damned dead man to do when he stumbles upon a life and love worth fighting for?
Though damned for his earthly sins, Darsorin Incarri likes being an incubus. Prowling women’s dreams to siphon off their sexual energy for Satan's consumption has its perks: an array of infernal power and a modicum of freedom. Sure, Ole Scratch holds Dar’s soul in thrall, and Dar has to spend a few hours recharging in Hell every day, but it could be much worse. All he has to do is hold up his end of his damnation contract – five women seduced, satisfied and siphoned per night for eternity. So when he encounters gorgeous, bright, and funny Fiona Renee, it’s business as usual. Deploy the infernal charm and rack up another score. Except it doesn’t work. She’s immune. He has to find out what’s gone wrong or face Lucifer's wrath.
Fiona Renee has the life she’d always wanted: a career, a home, a cat with a bad attitude, and peace. Fiona’s dated. Had boyfriends. And hated every minute of it. She’s reconciled to being lonely. So when a man shows up in her bedroom in the middle of the night demanding to know why her dreams turn to nightmares every time he tries to seduce her from within them, Fiona winds up negotiating a contract with a demon that allows him access to her life. She never anticipated that it would also give him access to her heart. If she's going to fall in love at all, something she never thought would happen, shouldn’t it be with someone who’s alive? If Fiona wants to hang on to Darsorin, she has to find his true name—the one he’d been given at his birth over a thousand years ago. But Satan, himself, stands in her way. Even if Fiona can dodge Lucifer, she and Darsorin have to face the question neither of them can answer: What happens to a dead man if you manage to wrest his soul from the Devil?
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Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of three copies of Damned If He Does.
Let's Interview!
If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?

Oh, that's easy. It's Darsorin's line to the heroine, Fiona: “In all my short life and in the eternity of my cursed unlife, I have never before been a woman's nightmare. Why am I yours?"
Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
Is that cover not super pretty? The amazing Danielle Fine did the cover art and worked REALLY hard to capture exactly the right feel for Darsorin and Fiona. We went through several cover mockups and had settled on one I thought was good, but she wasn't happy, went back to the drawing board and came back with awesome. The gal on the cover really does look like Fiona - I was very specific about her. I could see her clearly. Darsorin was harder - I mean, sure. Tall, dark, handsome and undead. But that leaves a lot of wiggle room. I feel like this cover really captured him well. The city in the background is Seattle, where the book is set. The flames - ah, the flames. This is where I had a moment's hesitation, because I feared that they would suggest this is a hot read. And it isn't. Fiona is asexual, so it can't be a hot book. But. Darsorin IS a demon. In order to heal, in order to restore his powers and his energy, he has to recharge in Hell every day. When the Devil gets mad at him, Darsorin ends up being lit on fire. So the whole flame motif is really important to the story. It really is a question of whether or not the flames of Hell can reach up and swallow Fiona the way they have Darsorin.
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.
Always working on another story. The current WIP is an odd sort of historical fantasy. I think. It's set right at the beginning of the Civil War. Ariana Bissett is a Union spy tasked with acquiring a certain set of cursed gold artifacts. Legend has it that these relics are powerful and whoever possesses them can tip the balance of the war in their preferred direction. So she'll have to steal a few of them. Not a problem, until the Confederates send a dispossessed British lord after the same artifacts. If I'm doing my job correctly, there's a hint of creepy in this story to go along with the supernatural bleeding through into Victorian and Civil War Era New Orleans.
Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
My favorite place to write is at a local tea shop called Miro. It's in Old Ballard where the sidewalks are cracked and heaved by tree roots and part of the streets are paved, part are cobble stone. They have a nook tucked into a corner that looks out onto the street. The staff bring me tea and the occasional goody and don't at all mind that I camp out for three or four hours. (That's two pots of tea for those keeping track.)
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
The writing bug bit when I was a kid and the tiny library in the town I lived in ran out of stories I wanted to read. I got bored and it finally occurred to me to make up a story I wanted to read. Then a movie when I was 12 ended so badly and made me so mad, I spent my entire summer rewriting the ending for myself on my mother's typewriter. No correction ribbon. There are a lot of xxxxxxx'd out lines on those pages. (Yes, I do still have them. In storage. If the mice haven't made them into nesting material by now. The story was terrible. I hope mice can't read.) Anyway, that was the summer I think I offically became lost to writing. I got caught up in it and just never quit. Even if I was making up stories when I should have been taking notes in math class. I didn't actually attempt to get anything published, however, until the mid to late 90s. That was when I quickly found out how much I didn't know. I joined RWA and began learning. I tried romantic suspense, contemporary and fantasy. It wasn't until I went to my first love - science fiction - that I had any success. Enemy Within was picked up by an agent in early 2009 and sold to Berkley in September of that same year. Easy The Call day - it was 9/9/09.
Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?
If we go by what I have out in the world, novels clearly win. I'm terrible about 'and then'. Complication (in fiction) delights me. Drama and complication in the real world expose me for the introverted geek I am and I just pull the bed covers up over my head. But on paper, it's kind of fun. For that reason, though, I do force myself to write shorter forms once in awhile. It's a really useful exercise to make myself strip a story down to its most basic, most compact bits. That way, when I go back to novels, there's some hope that they're cleaner. Tighter, maybe. That's the illusion I carry around with me, anyway.
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.
I do write in series, though, I will say that was not my natural state when I began. I wanted to write stand alone novels. But when my first book was sold in 2009, the very first question the publisher asked was 'can you make this a series?' I scrambled. Did. And now, everything is a series. The first series is SFR - Enemy Within and Enemy Games - the publisher shut the series down unfinished. I'm working on that part. There are three more books coming to finish that series out. The second is The Living Ink series, Nightmare Ink and Bound By Ink. Those are Urban Fantasy. I'm in the middle of drafting book one of a vaguely steampunky historical fantasy called The Artifacts of the Aegean. The genereal premise is that a set of mysterious, and some say cursed, gold tiles could tip the balance of the US Civil War should one side manage too accummulate them. Something Union spy Ariana Bissett is tasked with achieving. She hadn't counted on the Confederates sending a British lord to fight her for them.
If you could make changes to a story you’ve already written, which would it be and why?
I would change the ending of ENEMY GAMES. Right now, that book ends on a cliffhanger. You do not know if a major character is alive or dead. That was supposed to have been a hook into book three. Which might have worked had the publisher not folded the series at the end of book two. Readers were left disappointed. I was left disappointed and the heroine of book three in that series was left disappointed. She's a demolitions expert. This is not someone you want hanging out in your head expressing her discontent over the situation. Yeah. I'd change that ending.

Excerpt
The problem with being damned was that no one would meet your eye.
Darsorin Incarri squared his shoulders and glanced into the faces of the people passing him on the sidewalk. They'd look one another in the eye. Smile. Say, 'good morning.' But for someone whose soul had been claimed by the Devil? Nothing.
People would try. There’d be a split second of eye contact, then, as if the varied torments of Hell were somehow reflected in his eyes, their gazes would run away. Every time.
Shivering in the May sunshine, he shoved his clenched fists into the pockets of his black leather jacket. A single crumb of human warmth that wasn't infernally compelled, surely that shouldn’t be too much to ask. Even for a damned soul.
He pushed through the door of a tiny drug store around the corner from his office and trudged to the pharmacy in the back.
“May I help you?” The pharmacist wore her strawberry blonde hair pulled into a swinging ponytail. Her name tag said ‘Fiona.’ Glasses, thick jade frames and barely-there lenses, heightened the olive of her eyes and magnified the smoky eyeliner and shadow she wore. Lush, full lips, painted clear pink smiled at him.
She met his gaze firmly.
No flinching.
No hint of nervous energy.
He pulled in a slow breath. The woman of his dreams–dreams he didn’t know he had, because Hell has a way of grinding those right out of a damned soul–and here he was picking up itch cream for his boss.“Prescription for Louis Sieffer.”
She turned away to leaf through the white prescription bags before turning back armed with one of them. “Here we go. Have you used this medication before?”
Her white coat washed out her pale complexion, but the lavender silk collar of her blouse, peeking from beneath the coat, caught his imagination. The silk must be worshipping the curves her abomination of a coat all but eradicated.
He sucked a breath in between clenched teeth as his body hardened. Game on. Another soul to seduce for Ole Scratch.
Without conscious thought, he hit her with sex magic. Marking her. Warning off rivals, and maybe, tipping her off, too, so they could both revel in the anticipation. Lust spiked all around him in the cramped, back corner of the drug store where three other women and one man, thin enough to blow away in a breeze, perched on hard plastic chairs, waiting for their prescriptions. He breathed it in, tasting, confused. None of it seemed to emanate from the young woman he held in his predatory crosshairs. She radiated friendly warmth, not insatiable desire like the rest of the females within ten feet of him–like she should.
He latched onto the desire surging around him. Three women. Three separate threads of want. All for the taking. Their want fed him, spilling into the empty space where his forfeited soul should have been. While he wanted the pharmacist, he’d been presented with a buffet of feminine sexual drive, he sampled the offerings. Longing was heady, addicting stuff. The unfulfilled yearning plunked into the dark well of him, tantalizing him with the sensation that he could be filled up, that he could feel almost human again.
Briefly.
He smiled and sucked harder on the women’s dissatisfaction and burgeoning appetite.
“Mr. Sieffer? Sir, have you used this medication before?” the pharmacist repeated, her voice clear and alluring as a shot of the smoothest whiskey.
“For eternity,” he said. Why wasn’t she inarticulate with need?
Her smile fell and she leaned closer, lowering her voice. Captivated, he mirrored her until he could have pretended to lose his balance and have their lips meet over the middle of the counter. He caught the faintest hint of perfume. Rose and jasmine. Hunger he hadn’t experienced in centuries spiked his blood–different from his soul-bound compulsion to service as many women as possible in the name of Hell. This delectable morsel kindled the lecherous nature that had damned him in the first place. He could consume her. His mouth watered. He would.
Drunk with wanting her, he downed another shot of the unrequited desire he’d tapped from the other women.
“Certain STDs can be difficult to control, but this ointment should give you some relief from the pain and itch . . .”
Sympathy, cool, blessed sympathy, smacked him in the face like a dead fish. What she’d said–what she thought–registered. He jerked upright.
“It’s not for me!” he said. “I’m picking this up for a–friend.”
Her pink lips twitched.
Adorable. Kissable. Bitable.
“Believe me,” he said, vitally aware that his voice had dropped just like every ounce of blood in his body had. “This is better than the snake oil and wormwood he’s been using for the past thousand years.”
Oh, that didn’t sound weird. Or like he had a gay lover. He closed his eyes. Smooth, Incubus. Real smooth. What the hell had happened to his ironclad contract that assured he’d always be supernaturally sexy? Every woman’s dream? 
About the Author 


Marcella Burnard graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a degree in acting. She writes science fiction romance for Berkley Sensation. Her first book, Enemy Within won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award for Best Futuristic of 2010. The second book in the series, Enemy Games, released on May 3, 2011. An erotica novella, Enemy Mine, set in the same world as the novels was released as an e-special edition by Berkley in April 2012. Emissary, a sword and sorcery short story released in the two volume Thunder on the Battlefield Anthology in the second half of 2013. Nightmare Ink, an Urban Fantasy novel from Intermix came out in April of 2014 and the second in that Living Ink series, Bound by Ink, came out in November 2014. Damned If He Does, a light paranormal romance came out in July 2016.
She lives aboard a sailboat in Seattle where she and her husband are outnumbered by cats.

Web: http:///www.marcellaburnard.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Marcella-Burnard-312302197270/
Twitter: @marcellaburnard
Instagram: @marcellaburnard
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3409619.Marcella_Burnard

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Some Cravings Can't Be Denied. Vice by Genevieve Jack. Fireborn Wolves.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Genevieve Jack, author of Vice, Book One in Fireborn Wolves.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Carpe Luna Publishing
Date of Publication: 9/13/2016
ISBN: 978-1-940675-25-1
Word Count:  65000
Cover Artist: Steven Novak
Book Description
Some cravings can’t be denied.
Werewolf Laina Flynn longs to break from the patriarchal expectations of Fireborn pack. A successful entrepreneur, she doesn’t have time to be bossed around by her alpha brother, Silas, let alone to act as a proper werewolf princess.
But when a wolf is found murdered on Fireborn shifting grounds, Laina will do anything to protect her pack, even if it means posing as a waitress at a club that flies in the face of her feminist ideals. Unfortunately, her inner wolf marks the club’s owner, Kyle “The King” Kingsley, as her vice—her metaphysical addiction. He becomes a hunger she can’t ignore…one that could threaten her life, her family, and her pack.
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Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one complete autographed print set of the Knight Games Series, Books 1-4 plus assorted swag.
Let’s Interview…
What inspired you to write this book?
I was thinking about where we are as a society in terms of the role of women. We have, in some ways, the most opportunities in the history of my gender. But yet there are still businesses that profit on the simple physical allure of women to men, who exploit that allure. So, love is complicated by shifting gender roles, shifting priorities for the people involved, and this fascinated me.
Vice is all about the dichotomy between being a strong, independent woman and the deep, almost animal need we have to enter into relationship with the opposite sex, a relationship that often leaves us vulnerable. As an author, I like to explore the human condition, our idealistic worldviews and how they clash with reality, and the attitudes that make us who we are. That’s what inspired Vice.
How did you come up with the title?
In my supernatural world, when a werewolf’s inner beast attaches to something in the human realm, becomes addicted to it, it’s called a vice.  This book deals with Laina’s vice.
If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
I feel like I do spend time with my characters. We talk. We have tea. But if one could materialize next to me, I think I’d enjoy some time with Laina. She’s intelligent, talented and a loyal friend.
Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story.
Vice is about a strong, independent woman, Laina Flynn, who also happens to be a werewolf princess. Werewolf society is a patriarchy, so Laina’s brother, Silas, has power over her as the alpha of the Fireborn pack. Although she is a DVM and owns her own veterinary hospital, her veins fill with acid every time she attempts to disobey her brother. Her deepest desire is to be her own alpha, free to make her own decisions.
But when an enemy of the Fireborn pack murders a wolf on Fireborn shifting grounds, Laina chooses to go into hiding to help protect her pack. Unfortunately, Kyle Kingsley, a former client, recognizes her and requires her to work for him in exchange for keeping her secret. Kyle owns Hunt Club, a place that flies in the face of Laina’s feminist ideals. But her self-righteousness doesn’t stand a chance when her inner wolf responds to Kyle as if he carries the moon in his pants. Turns out he’s her vice, her metaphysical addiction. Giving into her desires means vulnerability for herself, her family, and her pack. But she just can’t help herself.

Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.
I’m currently writing Virtue, Fireborn Wolves Book 2. Virtue tells the story of Jason Flynn, Laina’s brother, who is struggling to break his vice in an effort to protect his pack. His addiction to sex is strong, however, and it’s going to take the help of the goddess in the form of a pack acolyte named Selena to help him find the virtue within.
Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.
There’s a scene near the beginning of the book when Laina arrives at her animal hospital and finds that the murderer has already been there. Her bare feet stick to the blood on the floor, her assistant is incapacitated, the front desk has been wrecked, and there is a dark surprise waiting for her on her operating table. While I loved all of the romantic parts of this book, for some reason I particularly loved writing that scene. Maybe because I’m a total wuss and would never have been brave enough to do what Laina does.
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
I’ve been writing and publishing full-length novels full time since 2012 under two aliases.  Before that, I was first an accountant and then a nurse who wrote and published the occasional short story and read like the library was on fire. After five books, I recently took some time off to spend with a family member suffering from a long-term illness. I’m happy to report a full recovery means I’m back in full-time author mode with several titles in the works for Genevieve Jack fans.

Excerpt
By the time she’d finished her first round and returned to the kitchen to replenish her tray, she’d forgotten there wasn’t a thing between her and the night besides a thin stretch of latex. With so many beautiful women serving Hunt Club, maybe she blended in with the scenery, no different than a beautiful blooming plant or a piece of artwork. She picked up another tray and melded back into the crowd, thinking the evening might be easier than she expected. In a few short hours, she’d discreetly drop the fairy box in the kitchen on her way out and put the entire experience behind her.
As the night wore on, she forayed deeper into the crowd, taking an interest in the variety of males drawn to such a place. There was a bachelor party, a job interview, and a politician and his protégé. The bits and pieces of conversation that flitted past her ears kept the work from becoming boring.
She was on her fourth tray when she found herself at the farthest corner of the room, slightly cut off from the crowd, in an area thick with flowers and trees.
“Over here.” A burly man in a brown suit called to her from deep within the burrow of vegetation. The bear mask he wore was designed to look grumpy but the man’s tone made her believe it was a reasonable reflection of his human countenance.
“Canapé?” She lowered her tray from her shoulder so he could take a better look.
“How long have you been working here?” he asked, as he perused the selection.
“Not long.” A meaty hand cupped her ass, making her jump. She tried to step away from him but he gripped her butt cheek harder and grabbed her tray with his other hand.
“Five hundred. Come upstairs with me.”
“No. I’m not for sale.” She squirmed against his grip. Although she was capable of tearing his arm off, she tempered her reaction, afraid she might drop the tray or fall off her stilettos. The damn shoes were the problem. As strong as she was, they set her off-balance.
Playing tug-of-war with her tray, the bear didn’t take no for an answer. “You could be making ten times what you’re making now. I’m good, honey. You’ll enjoy me as much as the cash.” While she was concentrating on extracting her tray from his grip without the canapés ending up on the floor, his hand moved from her ass, over her hip, and, to her great surprise, directly between her legs.
The wolf inside boiled to the surface. Dropping the tray on the table, she grabbed the wrist of the hand between her thighs and squeezed. “Keep your hands to yourself.” She felt his bones compress within her grip. A little harder and he’d need a cast. A lot harder and she’d crush the carpal bones, an injury requiring surgery. She hoped she could restrain herself.
“Fuck. Let me go, bitch.”
She squeezed harder.
“Aah!” His free hand balled into a fist and connected with the side of her face, all his body weight behind it. A blast of pain radiated through her jaw and into her skull. The blow knocked her off her feet and she fell hard, her hip slapping the floor. She recovered quickly, intending to return the blow. But before she could wrestle the damn stilettos back under her, Nate and a man in a lion mask appeared above her.
“That’s enough, Bradley,” the lion said. “You’re out of here.”
Nate grabbed the man by the elbow and steered him toward an exit.
“I have a right to be here,” the bear shouted. “I paid my dues. Are you going to lose a premium member over a fucking waitress?”
“No, over you being a fucking asshole,” the lion said under his breath. Nate had the bear through the door before the man could call any more attention to the situation. The few people who had noticed the skirmish returned to their conversations.
“Are you all right?” the lion asked, holding out a hand to help Laina up.
She rubbed her jaw. “I think so. Thank you. Usually, I can handle guys like that, but he caught me off guard.”
“Even if you can, you shouldn’t have to. You’re serving, not being served.”
“Right. Not on the menu.”
“Do you mind if I…” Still holding her hand from when he helped her up, he reached out with his opposite knuckle to brush her cheek, warm and gentle, a touch that at any other time she might appreciate. But the punch had hurt more than she’d expected; she jerked away in pain.
“I’m sorry.” The lion winced. “He tore your makeup. I thought I could fix it.”
“I’ll find Wesley,” she said.
“He left for the night. Do you need to see a doctor?” The band began another number, and he stepped in closer as he spoke.
“No. I’m fine.” She met his eyes and her inner wolf stirred from her slumber. Through the eyeholes of the mask, she made out hazel eyes, the color of ripe wheat. She traced the heavy bones of the jaw that protruded from beneath the mask and the tightly controlled lips that seemed to war between wanting to smile at her and his obvious concern for her well-being.
“Do you work here?” she asked bringing her lips to his ear. She inhaled deeply. Human, a spicy cologne, and the slightest hint of deep forest. Her eyes widened. It couldn’t be.
He stroked his thumb along hers. “Something like that.” Focused on her lips, he licked his own. His gaze flicked to her breasts. The latex around her nipples had puckered from her body’s response to him. Embarrassed, she turned toward the table to gather her tray.
What was different about this man than any other? She’d served over a hundred men that night, of all different heights, weights, and colors, but none had warranted the slightest bit of interest from her or her wolf. He was slightly taller than she was and big, with hard muscles that seemed intractable beneath his shirt and suit jacket, but nothing about his size or physique was alarmingly different. Only her response was exceptional. Her inner wolf was bent over with her tail in the air, begging to be mounted. And although Laina still had control of her body and mind despite the coming moon, the wetness between her legs was instinctual, primal, and completely beyond her control.
“I should get back to work,” she said, her back to him. “Maybe I can find someone to touch up my face.”
“You’re absolutely stunning,” he said. “What’s your name?” He stepped toward her again, so that the front of his suit just barely grazed her back, his face inches from her shoulder. Her wolf begged her to turn, to plant her lips on his and hitch her leg over his hip. An image of herself arched over the cocktail table with his mouth between her legs filled her mind.
Biting her lip hard, she snapped herself out of it. “I have to go.” 

About the Author

Genevieve Jack is a registered nurse turned author of weird, witty, and wicked-hot paranormal romance. Coffee and wine are her biofuel: the love lives of vampires, shifters, and witches her favorite topic of conversation. She harbors a passion for old cemeteries and ghost tours thanks to her years at a high school rumored to be haunted. Although she calls the Midwest home, her heart belongs to the beaches of the southeast, where she spends her days with her laptop and one lazy dog.
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Alpha Beta Omega: A Shifter Box Set.

Today it’s my pleasure to feature Alpha Beta Omega: A Shifter Box Set including a fabulous line-up of talented authors…
Lia Davis, K.N. Lee, Marissa Dobson, Beth Caudill, Misha Carver, Xandra James, Laxmi Hariharan, Bethany Shaw, Nicole Morgan, and Lily Marie
From today’s hottest USA Today and Bestselling authors comes a collection of 10 novellas, featuring hot alpha, beta, and omega shifters. If you like tigers, bears, wolves, and more you’ll love this box set. Each story is either a first in a series or a stand-alone novella.
AND it’s only on sale for a limited time so be sure to grab while it’s available. #99cents
Available at
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What’s inside:
A Tiger’s Claim by Lia Davis
As the Alpha’s only daughter Shayna Andrews has always been treated like a rare gem, protected like royalty, and she’s suffocating. Her longing to be independent has driven her to sneak out one evening after dinner. After relishing in being able to run free without an escort, she finds herself face-to-face with the enemy, miles from home, and nearly loses her life until a lone wolf comes to her aid. But when he discovers she wears the enemy’s brand, things will go from bad to worse.
The Scarlett Legacy by K.N. Lee
Wizards. Shifters. Sexy mobsters with magic.
The arrival of Avalon Prince brings a century-old feud to a dangerous climax. Scottish Old-World magic, mixed with a dangerous obsession with Evie and a sinister plot for revenge threatens to bring the Scarlett family to its demise. 
Tiger Time by Marissa Dobson
Tabitha Leigh has no idea her mundane life is about to change or that danger stalks her every step. Now as the Queen of the Tigers with a bounty on her head, she must embrace her future and her mate. If she doesn’t, it will mean the end of everything she’s come to know and never realized she needed.
Healer’s Fate by Beth Caudill
Corliss Rumdone’s the healer of her werewolf clan, destined to save lives and live in the shadows. He's the alpha's son, destined to mate to cement his status at the top of the pack. What happens when he chooses her instead?
Bearly Smitten (The Alpha’s Bride Book 1) by Misha Carver
When bear shifter Jed Barton’s keynote speaker engagement and his role as pack alpha require him to  have a wife, he does what any other tycoon would do – he hires one – the  last thing he wanted to do was fall in love with her. 
Reluctant Revenge - Under the Demon’s Skin by Xandra James
Demon-hybrid Nash is hungry for revenge. Promising to protect the daughter of his sworn enemy, he's torn between his duty as an Alpha Enforcer and his desire to avenge his murdered fiancée. Can Nash forgive the past? Or will losing Sienna be the only way to heal his dark heart?
Feral - A Many Lives Story by Laxmi Hariharan
He was her destination. She just didn't know it. When Maya leaves Luke to go in search of her blood family, nothing prepares her for the secrets she uncovers about herself.  An intense, shifter romance, set in a Bombay of the future.
The Beta’s Mate by Bethany Shaw
Nina’s tired of the lies and disappearances. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, but fate has other ideas. Now if she could only get in touch with her soon-to-be ex. Logan hates that his wife filed for divorce, even though everyone tells him it’s for the best. He’s the beta of the pack—second in command—and she’s human. When he discovers he’s going to be a father, he’ll do anything to keep Nina and the baby safe. But will she let him back in when she finds out he’s been lying to her for years about turning into a giant wolf? 
Night Falls by Nicole Morgan
When Paul, the leader of the Racinitine Pack crosses paths with Kinzey, a tencacious reporter, he knows he’s in trouble. Not only can he see the fire in her, but he can feel it as well. When Kinzey gets too close to his secrets, it may change the only way of life his pack has ever known.
Wounds to Bear (Heart of The Bear Book One) by Lily Marie
A wounded shifter, and a beautiful, curvy woman. Two hearts, with one goal – to save the children taken by an old enemy. 

Roman Black’s past has finally caught up with him – and he isn’t the only one paying for his mistakes. Dr. Jenna Morgan is running from her own past – and hopes to find her place in the small town of Pine Heart. When a wounded bear shows up at her door, she discovers that the rumors about this small town are true, and that one of those shifters is bleeding all over her front porch. She treats him, and learns that he was shot protecting a group of shifter and human kids – who are now being held by an old enemy bent on revenge.

New Adult Paranormal. Beyond Your Touch by Pat Esden.

Today it’s my pleasure to feature Beyond Your Touch, Book Two in the Dark Heart Series by Pat Esden.
Genre: new adult paranormal
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: August 30, 2016            ASIN:  B0190HGU52ISBN: 9781496700070ISBN-10: 1496700074
Number of pages: 320Word Count: 85k
Book Description
She wants more than he can promise.
His desires could lead to betrayal.
But without each other, neither can survive the dangers ahead.
Annie Freemont knows this isn’t the right time to get involved with a man like Chase. After years of distrust, she’s finally drawing close to her estranged family, and he’s an employee on their estate in Maine. Though she never intended to stay on the estate for long, her father’s illness and the mysteries surrounding her family made leaving impossible. And now with the newfound hope of rescuing her long-missing mother, Annie’s determined to be involved with the family’s plans one way or another.
If only she could keep her mind off Chase and focus on the impending rescue. But there’s something about the enigmatic Chase that she can’t resist. And she’s not the only woman. Annie fears a seductive stranger who is key to safely freeing her mother is also obsessed with him. As plans transform into action and time for a treacherous journey into a strange world draws near, every move Annie makes will test the one bond she’s trusted with her secrets, her desires—and her heart.
Amazon     BN     BAM     Indiebound
Target    Hudson Booksellers
About the Author

PAT ESDEN is an antique-dealing florist by trade. She’s also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the League of Vermont Writers. Her short stories have appeared in a number of publications, including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, the Mythopoeic Society’s Mythic Circle literary magazine, and George H. Scither’s anthology Cat Tales. 
Her new adult paranormal novel, A HOLD ON ME (book #1 in the Dark Heart series) is available from Kensington Books. BEYOND YOUR TOUCH (book #2 Dark Heart series) will be released August 30th. 

Website: http://patesden.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28109696-beyond-your-touch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatEsdenAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patesden   
Blog: http://patesden.blogspot.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/patesden/

Fierce Vikings. Powerful Romance. Rise of a Viking: The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors' Kin #timetravel #dragons #shifters

Hello, all! I hope you’re enjoying a fabulous summer so far. Mine’s been extra busy between writing and moving. I’ve been in Virginia Beach for over a month now, and though I miss New Hampshire on occasion, I really like it here. It's a beautiful state. I'm still trying to get used to the heat (and traffic!) but I can confirm that ‘Southern hospitality’ exists because everyone’s incredibly nice.  
Now that I’m settled in, I'm once again focused on Vikings. I know many of you have been waiting for Heidrek’s story, so I’m thrilled it’s finally ready to be shared. He warmed readers’ hearts when he was a young boy in the The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors. After that, he went through his teenage years in The MacLomain Series: Next Generation. Then he was a full grown man and part of a love triangle in Passion of a Scottish Warrior. Well, now it's his turn to find true love.
I hope you enjoy spending time with Heidrek and Cybil in tenth-century Scandinavia. If you were always fond of these sexy dragon-shifter Vikings, then enjoy the ride in The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors’ Kin.
Rise of a Viking
Cybil is thrilled when she and her family inherit a million dollar ocean-side house in Winter Harbor, Maine. It’s a chance to finally bring her sisters back together and right old wrongs. But problems arise. Her gift of prophecy grows stronger. A Viking from the past haunts her. And that old ash tree in the front yard? It has taken on the otherworldly qualities of Yggdrasill, a tree that connects the nine worlds in Norse mythology. Soon caught in its power, she’s whisked back in time to tenth-century Scandinavia.
Of dragon blood and set to inherit the throne, Heidrek Sigdir tries to keep Cybil away, but the gods have other plans. A fate designed to make him pay for past grievances. Yet when he finally lays eyes on her, he wants nothing else. They share a connection unlike any other. Poignant desire. Incomparable need. Tempting change. Even so, he must let her go. She should be with his brother. Still, nothing is what it seems. A new enemy is determined to destroy all and Cybil is special to him and his people in ways nobody anticipated.  
Many revelations come to light when Heidrek and Cybil are forced to journey through the rugged lands of Norway to reach the home of the seers at the peak of Mt. Galdhøpiggen. Hearts will be tested and lives forever changed. Will a new Viking King rise up and keep his people safe? Or will his endless draw to a modern day woman be his ultimate ruin?
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Excerpt
Their eyes held for a long moment before a heavy drop of icy rain hit her cheek. He wiped it away gently then took her hand. “Let us find shelter.”
They didn’t go far before he pushed aside a heavy swath of roots and led her into an alcove about the size of a large walk-in closet. Plush green moss crawled along the walls and floor. Stones created a semi-circle at the rear with a small bushel of roots and sticks at its center. When Heidrek’s eyes glowed pale blue, sparks hissed then ignited a fire.
“Won’t it get smoky in here,” she started before she realized a fist-sized hole was above it, effectively sucking the smoke away. Cybil peered up. “That goes all the way to the top? This mountain is easily hundreds of feet tall.”
“Yes, it goes to the top and is one of many. All of the mountains in the Place of Seers house sanctuaries like this,” he explained as he removed his fur and laid it on the ground. “They come here not only to worship but to mate.”
“Mate?” She perked her brows and couldn’t stop a small grin. “Where they worship?”
“They are Viking.” A rare twinkle lit his eyes. “Our mating and religion go hand in hand. Both are afforded equal devotion.” The corner of his mouth inched up. “And of course, a fair amount of worship is applied whether communing with the gods or mating.”
“So no churches or sex behind closed doors.” She chuckled as she removed her fur and laid it beside his. “Interesting.”
“Many of my people prefer mating in the open.” He returned to the entrance. “Sex is something to be enjoyed wherever and whenever the urge comes upon us.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes when they slid over her. “Have you mated in front of others, Cybil?”
“Not that I know of.” She met his blossoming grin and held her forefinger within centimeters of her thumb. “Though I always had a little thing for leaving the light on at night and the curtains open during sex. Does that count?”
The flash of desire in his eyes as he envisioned such a thing spoke volumes. “My lodging at the fortress has plenty of torchlight and firelight as well as windows.” He shot her a predatory look. “And I will make more windows if you wish. Many more.”
“It might get pretty cold,” she murmured.
“No.” His eyes were full of promise. “If anything, it will likely get too hot.”
It occurred to her that this was the first time she and Heidrek had come close to flirting, and she liked it. There was more to him than what he showed the world. A playful side she would enjoy exploring for years to come.
She tore her eyes from his at the thought, surprised by how easily she had fallen into seeing a future for them.
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Vengeance of a VikingThe MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors’ KinBook Two
Coming November 1, 2016Available now for pre-order
Recently divorced, Samantha is all about new beginnings. Her own company. A beautiful seaside house in Winter Harbor, Maine. A chance to reconnect with her sisters. But fate has something else in store. Tenth-century Scandinavia and a reality she never could have anticipated. After being whisked back in time not once but twice, she ends up in a situation she didn’t see coming. Kidnapped by a Viking.
Of dragon blood, Bjorn Sigdir knew the moment he met Samantha that she was nothing but trouble. How else could it be? She bears the mark of Gungnir, the sword given to Odin by Loki. A blade he is convinced will ruin his people and all affiliated with them. Determined to keep his kin safe, he concocts a plan that will keep Samantha and her unfortunate tattoo far away from trouble. Or so he thinks when he yanks her back in time.
One a captor, one a prisoner, Bjorn and Samantha embark on a journey full of unending strife. Feisty and independent, she has her own mind. Headstrong and stubborn, he does too. However, they soon have bigger problems than their mutual dislike of each other. Secrets. Ones that force them closer and forge something unexpected. Respect. Attraction. Desire. Yet they face a huge obstacle. If they give into love, all could be lost, including everyone they care about.
Follow the turbulent, heart-wrenching journey of Bjorn and Samantha in Vengeance of a Viking.

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Nothing Can Stop Him From Making Her His. Destiny's Favor by Dariel Raye.

Today I'm thrilled to welcome back talented author, Dariel Raye, to celebrate her latest release, Destiny's Favor. Congratulations, Dariel!


Destiny’s Favor
(Orlosian Warriors Bk. 2)
His world shifted the moment she was born. Now, nothing can stop him from making her his.
Imagine meeting a man who looks like an angel, wings and all? What would you do if this man told you he existed with only one purpose – to claim you and only you?
Destiny Carter is a feisty, take charge, Rubinesque beauty with a tough façade, who finds herself in that age old quandary, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” A string of lackluster relationships leave her hopeless and ready to settle…Until she meets Japheth, the man her fiancé claims is his best friend! Japheth’s arrival is heralded by an attack on Destiny’s life, and instinctively, she knows this is just the beginning.
Born more than 200 years ago, Japheth looks like an angel but he’s far from it. In his world, the ratio of men to women is 500 to 1, and although he’s a superior being, he’s willing to break the most sacred law of his brothers, even drink human blood, to have one meant for him alone.
When he meets Destiny, he knows she’s the one he’s been searching for. To claim her, he will have to betray a friend, risk his life, and hardest of all, humble himself enough to win her love.
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Dariel Raye




Dariel is an animal lover who writes IR/MC (interracial/multi-cultural) paranormal and dark urban fantasy romance. She is presently writing a shifter series, “Dark Sentinels,” a reluctant hell-dweller series, “Kushiel’s Keep,” two Nephilim series with vampire-like heroes, “Orlosian Warriors” and “Cain’s Progeny,” “Lifegivers,” a paranormal romance series with a variety of beings, a crossover paranormal thriller shifter trilogy with romantic elements, “Gateway,” and an erotic fantasy newsletter serial. To learn more about Dariel and her books, visit her blog,  join her newsletter, and follow her on Amazon.


Dariel on the Web

Dariel’s Blog        Dariel’s WebsiteDariel’s Newsletter         Dariel on TwitterFacebook Page  Dariel’s Amazon Author PageDariel on Goodreads      Dariel on Tumblr    Dariel on Tsu  
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Erotic Paranormal Romance. Destiny's Chance by Cara Bristol.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome Cara Bristol, author of Destiny’s Chance. 
Genre: erotic paranormal romance 
Publisher: Cara Bristol 
Date of Publication: July 25, 2016 
ISBN: 978-0-9961452-9-9 
Number of pages: 116
Word Count: 31,000 
Book Description 
Fate gave her a gift.  Is she brave enough to accept it?  
Destiny Grable has loved Chance Everett for as long as she could remember, but he was never interested in her until a tragic act of fate grants her heart’s desire.  
Chance is all hers—body, mind, and soul. But once they’re together, she discovers he has a kinky side she never knew about. Is she ready for it? Can she handle it?  
And Chance isn’t the only one with a secret. If he discovers what Destiny is hiding, will he still want her? 
Giveaway!! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card. 

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Interview Time! 
What inspired you to write Destiny’s Chance? 
Unrequited love finally realized. What if you loved someone you couldn’t have, but when you finally got him he didn’t know it was you? He loved you back, but his love wasn’t really for you – it was for the person he thought you were. Would it be worth it?  
How did you come up with the title? 
“Destiny’s Chance” is an oxymoron, which is a figure of speech that is seemingly contradictory, like “jumbo shrimp” or “minor crisis.” How can something that is extra large be tiny? A crisis by definition is an emergency. So how can it be minor? Destinyis fate, an act that is predetermined. A chanceis a random occurrence or a gamble. Both are at play in the story. Fate hands Destiny what she’s always wanted, but it’s still a huge gamble . So the heroine and hero are named after those concepts: Destiny Grable and Chance Everett. 
If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?  
“Other than our shared kink, what did you like about me?” 
“Kink?” she squeaked. 
He narrowed his eyes. “Beyond that. There had to be something more.” 
“Do you believe in reincarnation?” she asked. 
“No.” 
“Not at all?” 
“No. Why?” 
She rubbed her neck. “Because…because maybe sometimes people aren't who you think they are.” 
Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc. 
I have my own office. My husband and I used to share an office and a computer until I started writing erotic romance. I now have my own office, with a lovely and large L-shaped desk and a view of the field across the street. I see deer and squirrels scampering outside.  I have my laptop and all my writing reference materials at hand. 
It’s time to promo. What is your favorite marketing tool? 
My favorite is probably my author newsletter because I can reach out to my readers and fans directly and let them know about new releases, sales and discounts, and contests. I have prize drawings just for newsletter subscribers. Readers can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/9aRJj 
Are your book/books available in audio? In other languages? If so, give us more details about where we can get them and what languages they’re in. 
Only in English. Two books are available in audio: Stranded with the Cyborg and Mated with the Cyborg. Both are standalone reads in the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series. They’re available on Amazon and Audible.com. 
What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?  
I write science fiction romance, paranormal romance, and contemporary spanking romance. I’ve also written one nonfiction book, a sex scene thesaurus for authors: Naughty Words for Nice Writers. I think I’m going to stick with these genres. It’s more than enough! 
Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?  
I write all three, but I prefer novellas. There’s less middle! The best part of writing a story is the beginning –starting a brand new story—and the end—wrapping it all up. A short story is too brief to develop the characters, and a long novel has a whole lot of middle. A novella is like baby bear’s bed – just right. My earlier works tended to be about 30,000 words. My sweet spot now is 45-55K. I should mention that Destiny’s Chance is a novella, a re-release of book that was previously published; it’s about 30K. 
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.  
Yes. I have three series. Thank you for asking. The Rod and Cane Society is a six-book spanking romance series. I may or may not write more in that series. Breeder is a completed science fiction romance trilogy (Breeder, Terran, Warrior). The Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series is ongoing. It’s about a covert organization of cyborgs. The series theme is “Saving the girl and the galaxy one mission at a time.” It’s romantic, humorous, and action-oriented. Book 4, Trapped with the Cyborg, was published in June. All the Cy-Ops books are standalone reads. Book 5 will probably come out in January. 
Thank you so much for having me today! 
Excerpt 
Destiny expelled her breath in a heavy sigh and reached for the phone to try her parents one more time. 
What the hell? She’d been too wrought by news of Zoe’s death to pay attention to much else, but now she noticed her arm looked…weird. Her wrist seemed thinner, her skin paler, the hair so fine it appeared almost nonexistent. And when had she gotten acrylic nails? 
Her pulse rate doubled. The arm, the hand, the silver infinity ring on the index finger weren’t hers, but she recognized them. She fixated on the ID bracelet encircling the skinny wrist. RICHARDS, ZOE. And her friend’s date of birth. 
They got the bodies mixed up. Gave you the wrong wristband. 
But they couldn’t have switched arms. She flipped her hands over. Destiny ripped back the covers and swore in frustration when the bed rail fought her frantic efforts to lower it. She forced it down, but her hospital gown caught in the metal. She tore it loose and scrambled for the bathroom. 
Bruised and battered, Zoe stared at her from the mirror over the sink. 
A nightmare. Wake up! Wake up! “No! No!” Slapping her face, Destiny searched for her plump cheeks, her ski-jump schnoz, and the mocha-brown eyes she considered one of her best features. The image mimicked her movements but presented high cheekbones loved by the camera, a perfect nose, and large blue eyes gone feral. 
She yanked up her hospital gown. Where were her hips? Her boobs! She stared at her flat chest. She dropped the gown and screamed. 
About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol has published more than twenty-five erotic romance titles, including contemporary, paranormal, and science fiction romance.  No matter what the subgenre, one thing remains constant: her emphasis on character-driven seriously hot erotic stories with sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. Cara has lived many places in the United States, but currently lives in Missouri with her husband. She has two grown stepkids. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading and traveling

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His World Shifted The Moment She Was Born. Destiny's Favor (Orlosian Warriors) by Dariel Raye.

Today it's my pleasure to feature talented author, Dariel Raye's latest release.

Destiny’s Favor 
(Orlosian Warriors Bk. 2) Destiny’s Favor synopsis

His world shifted the moment she was born. Now, nothing can stop him from making her his.
Imagine meeting a man who looks like an angel, wings and all? What would you do if this man told you he existed with only one purpose – to claim you and only you?

Destiny Carter is a feisty, take charge, Rubinesque beauty with a tough façade, who finds herself in that age old quandary, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” A string of lackluster relationships leave her hopeless and ready to settle…Until she meets Japheth, the man her fiancé claims is his best friend! Japheth’s arrival is heralded by an attack on Destiny’s life, and instinctively, she knows this is just the beginning.
Born more than 200 years ago, Japheth looks like an angel but he’s far from it. In his world, the ratio of men to women is 500 to 1, and although he’s a superior being, he’s willing to break the most sacred law of his brothers, even drink human blood, to have one meant for him alone.
When he meets Destiny, he knows she’s the one he’s been searching for. To claim her, he will have to betray a friend, risk his life, and hardest of all, humble himself enough to win her love.
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Get a FREE review copy of “Calm Assurance (Orlosian Warriors Bk. 1) to catch up on the series now! Enter the Rafflecopter below to find out how to get your free copy + win other prizes!



Calm Assurance
 (Orlosian Warriors Bk. 1) Calm Assurance synopsis

Two hearts, two different worlds, uncompromising love.A straight-laced Nephilim-descendant and a human trouble-magnet?
When Asriel - Orlosian Warrior, descendant of Nephilim, law enforcer – is sent to guard Malina, a human with a penchant for drawing trouble like a tornado, she becomes his obsession.
With no hope of finding love in his dimension, he breaks the cardinal rule, leaving his home to protect her, but she has also drawn the attention of his enemies, and he is forced to face demons from his past. If Asriel chooses to stay with Malina, not only does he risk forfeiting his right to ever return to his dimension, but he will need her blood to survive.
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Dariel Raye

Dariel is an animal lover who writes IR/MC (interracial/multi-cultural) paranormal and dark urban fantasy romance. She is presently writing a shifter series, “Dark Sentinels,” a reluctant hell-dweller series, “Kushiel’s Keep,” two Nephilim series with vampire-like heroes, “Orlosian Warriors” and “Cain’s Progeny,” “Lifegivers,” a paranormal romance series with a variety of beings, a crossover paranormal thriller shifter trilogy with romantic elements, “Gateway,” and an erotic fantasy newsletter serial. To learn more about Dariel and her books, visit her blog,  join her newsletter, and follow her on Amazon.
Dariel on the Web

Dariel’s Blog        Dariel’s WebsiteDariel’s Newsletter         Dariel on TwitterFacebook Page  Dariel’s Amazon Author PageDariel on Goodreads      Dariel on Tumblr    Dariel on Tsu  

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Sweeping Romance. Time Travel Adventure. Passion of a Scottish Warrior- The MacLomain Series: Later Years.

Greetings! I hope everyone’s enjoying a fabulous springtime. Things have been a little sad on my end. After all, I’ve been busy writing the last book in The MacLomain Series: Later Years. Not only that but in its own way, this novel wraps up all sixteen books on the Scottish side of The MacLomain Series. Or so we’ll see. There was a little twist at the end I never saw coming so we might just see more MacLomain Highlander books in the future. Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed writing this. There’s nothing quite like a love triangle! So at long last, I give you the final installment in the Later Years, Passion of a Scottish Warrior.  

Be sure to read everything so you can find out how to enter to win a $25 gift card and learn about a hot new release!

Description
Determined to protect Jackie from evil, Darach Hamilton flees MacLomain Castle without telling anyone his destination. As foretold by Celtic Goddess Brigit, that should have made the enemy pursue him. But nothing is as it seems. When he learns the dark demi-god went after Jackie instead, he races to her side only to discover something unexpected. Things have changed. There might be hope for them. Maybe he can finally be with her. After all, he’s been dreaming about her for years. The only problem? He already pushed her into another man’s arms. 
Over a month has passed since Jackie traveled back in time from modern day New Hampshire to medieval Scotland. Since then, it’s been a non-stop adventure. Now she’s in ninth-century Scandinavia with Heidrek, a Viking set to inherit the throne. A man that Darach is determined she be with despite the unforgettable kiss they shared. Then there’s the newfound Claddagh ring on her finger. It is foretold that its stone can only be ignited by the love of a MacLomain. Darach is by birth, the only remaining MacLomain not taken. Yet despite the power the ring’s glow could harness, she wants nothing to do with it. Not in light of her terrible secret. One she prays will keep any man from loving her because it will mean their ultimate ruin. 
Many revelations come to light when Jackie, Darach, and Heidrek travel through time to keep the future King, wee Robert the Bruce safe. Determined to spare them heartbreak, Jackie refuses both men. Yet one of them ends up invoking unavoidable passion. A timeless draw. One she tries to fight. But some things are meant to be and Fate has a plan for them all. Epic love. Ultimate war. Inescapable death. Twists nobody saw coming. An ending that will either see Scotland through to what it is today or rewrite history altogether. 
Find out how everything unfolds in Passion of a Scottish Warrior, the final installment in the MacLomain Series: Later Years. 
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 Excerpt
Jackie shook her head as she looked into Darach’s eyes. Being in his arms was the last place she needed to be. Yet the crowd pushed them closer and the man she had been dancing with vanished. She swallowed hard when his arm wrapped around her waist and twirled her away from a couple that stumbled by them laughing.
The pipes trilled.
The crowd was wild.
And she was tight against Darach.
Not a good place to be. Or was it? She swallowed again and kept her arms down because if she lifted them, what would she touch? The sides of his muscled torso…his strong forearms…his wide shoulders?
“You dinnae need to keep shaking your head no,” he murmured. “I willnae…”
When he trailed off, she realized that he had no idea what he would or would not do. Besides the arm that he wrapped around her waist, his other hand didn’t touch her at all.
His head was bent near hers, his lips so close to her ear that she could feel his hot breath down the side of her neck. Chills and heat raced over her simultaneously as she tried to sift through her feelings.
Push away. Touch his chest and push away.
But again, if she touched him…what then? Would pulling away still be an option?
The pipes seemed to trill louder, and the fire in the center of the room sparked higher as the celebrations became a boisterous background to the quiet she suddenly felt on the inside. A strange silence made up of her heartbeat and the indentation where his neck met his collarbone. She inhaled deeply and turned her face inward, chasing his scent and heat.
She barely felt the slight touch of his hand on the back of her head as she nuzzled in, desperate to get closer to…something. It almost felt like a memory. One just out of reach. Lips open, she flicked her tongue, eager to sample. Eager to capture his scent. Curious what it tasted like.
Only when he whispered, “Bloody hell, lass,” did her eyes snap open and she realized what she was doing. By that time, it was too late. He tightened his hold, dug his hand into her hair, tilted back her head and met her eyes. Their lips were inches apart when he whispered, “What are you doing to me?”
Jackie had no idea. What was she doing to him? What was he doing to her? She’d never felt anything like it. So much. Almost too much. Yet it felt like something not entirely real. As if she recalled snippets of a dream.
Their lips drifted closer, eager but tentative.Wanting but unsure.
His eyelids drifted down. So did hers.
There…almost there.


Rise of a Viking The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors’ Kin, Book One
Coming August 9, 2016Available now for pre-order
A successful photographer, Cybil is thrilled when she and her family inherit a million dollar ocean-side house in Winter Harbor, Maine. It’s a chance to finally bring her sisters back together and right old wrongs. But problems arise. Her gift of prophecy grows stronger. A Viking from the past haunts her. And that old ash tree in the front yard? It has taken on the otherworldly qualities of Yggdrasill, a tree that connects the nine worlds in Norse mythology. Soon caught in its power, she’s whisked back in time to tenth-century Scandinavia. 
Of dragon blood and set to inherit the throne, Heidrek Sigdir tries to keep Cybil away, but the gods have other plans. A fate designed to make him pay for past grievances. Yet when he finally lays eyes on her, he wants nothing else. They share a connection unlike any other. Poignant desire. Incomparable need. Tempting change. Even so, he must let her go. She should be with his brother. Still, nothing is what it seems. A new enemy is determined to destroy all and Cybil is special to him and his people in ways nobody anticipated.   
Many revelations come to light when Heidrek and Cybil are forced to journey through the rugged lands of Norway to reach the home of the seers at the peak of Mt. Galdhøpiggen. Hearts will be tested and lives forever changed. Will a new Viking King rise up and keep his people safe? Or will his endless draw to a modern day woman be his ultimate ruin?
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