Cecelia Mecca's Blog, page 14

The Hunter’s Affection: Sneak Peek

 

Stone Haven, Pennsylvania

“We need to talk.”

When his older brother used that tone, Torr Derrickson knew he should do one of two things. Listen patiently, preferably with a drink in hand, or walk away.

Regrettably, over the course of their long, long lives, he’d usually gravitated toward a third option: fight. He and Lawrence had butted heads about any number of things in any number of places—from where to live when they weren’t hunting Cheld to how they invested their vast wealth—and if he’d learned anything, it was that he couldn’t go up against Lawrence, who had, after all, been his clan chief centuries before, without one of them ending up bloody.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

They were vampires, yes, but they were brothers first and foremost.

“Something tells me I’d like a refill first,” he told Lawrence, who pulled Torr’s empty glass toward him from across the mahogany bar.

Although his brother had not yet finished transforming the old bank he’d bought into the bar he planned to open, his liquor license had been granted, making it legal for him to serve alcohol, a fact their small group had been celebrating for the past few hours. They sat around the circular bar in the middle of the room. Lawrence stood behind it, as usual.

After refilling Torr’s Ardbeg, the only whiskey he’d drink if given the choice, Lawrence leaned against the bar, crossing his arms as if settling in for a long lecture.

Fantastic. At least he’d asked for the drink first.

“You said ‘we’ needed to talk,” he lifted an eyebrow, “so why do I have a feeling you’ll be doing most of the talking?”

“I’m serious, Torr—”

“That’s what worries me.”

Savoring the rich liquid he sipped, waiting.

“You’ve been back for less than three weeks, and people are starting to tal—”

“You mean, they’ve already grown tired of discussing the apple festival? You would think all that fuss over the festival queen would have them—”

“That’s enough.”

Perhaps. Still, he wasn’t wrong, and they both knew it. The people in Stone Haven had a tendency to gossip about the most trivial of matters, including the tie vote for their festival queen and the ensuing brouhaha it had caused. Imagine, four vampires currently resided in the tourist-laden Pennsylvania town where his brother had decided to settle, and the townsfolk worried about offending a poor little rich girl whose daddy had just donated enough money to remodel the visitor’s center.

The Derrickson siblings and Kenton Morley could each buy and sell the small-time businessman fifty times over.

But no one here knew it.

The townspeople realized the Derrickson and Morley families had money, of course. After all, they had purchased the only two mansions in the town, neither of which had been up for sale. But no one could possibly fathom how much wealth an individual could accumulate after hundreds of years of existence.

“All I’m saying is that if you plan to stay awhile—”

“Which you obviously think is a bad idea.”

Lawrence’s frown made him look older than thirty, the age he’d been when they were cursed to live as immortals. The aging process had stopped at twenty-eight for Torr, leaving him perpetually the younger brother.

“I think it would be a fine idea if you weren’t making your string of bedmates so obvious.”

Torr took a sip of his whiskey and tried not to smile. It would only further infuriate his brother, and he really didn’t want to fight with him today, especially not in front of Lawrence’s girlfriend, Toni, whom he quite liked.

“If you’re asking me to be more discreet—”

Lawrence scoffed. “It shouldn’t be difficult given the way you’ve been flaunting your exploits around town.”

“I don’t flaunt.”

When someone tousled his hair from behind, Torr placed his drink on the bar so quickly the motion would have given most humans pause. Luckily, Toni, the only non-vampire present, already knew their secret.

Reaching back without looking, he snagged his sister’s hand.

“Watch the hair,” he said.

“It’s almost too easy to get to you,” she said, sitting next to him. He’d tried for a menacing tone, but she seemed completely unrepentant.

She glanced from him to Lawrence. “What’s wrong?”

Torr shrugged. “Nothing at all.” From his perspective, it was true.

“Other than the fact that we’re preparing to open a business in a town too small to tolerate Torr’s antics,” Lawrence said.

Refusing to make eye contact with his sister, Torr concentrated on the liquid gold in his glass. But he could feel her piercing green eyes, the same shade as his own, on him anyway. Laria had always been able to get to him in a way Lawrence could not. She was his elder too, although only by a year, and he felt a combination of admiration and protectiveness for her. He’d do anything to insulate her from wicked men.

Himself included.

“Now what have you done?”

Hating the censure in her voice, he ignored the question.

“Torr . . .”

“I’ve done nothing an uninhibited, virile—”

“What has he done?” she asked Lawrence instead, her tone dangerous.

“The mayor stopped me earlier today in The Witch’s Brew—”

“A rather droll name for a coffee shop if you ask me,” Torr offered, darting a glance at his siblings, both of whom ignored him. They were conversing with each other now, about him, no less.

“Apparently, there was some commotion at the inn the other night—”

Ah, so that’s what had Lawrence all worked up.

“About that,” he interrupted. “I don’t make a habit of attending bachelorette parties, but—”

He stopped when Lawrence shifted his gaze to the other end of the bar, where Toni sat with her best friend and . . . him. The bastard was grinning at his brother as if the two of them shared a private joke.

Kenton fucking Morley.

For centuries the man had been their enemy, and now he and Lawrence were acting like best buds.

Lawrence may have forgiven, if not forgotten, Morley’s former crusade against the Cheld, which he’d forsaken for Alessandra, but Torr certainly hadn’t. As far as he was concerned, the other vampire was still their enemy.

He wasn’t about to pretend otherwise.

“It won’t happen again,” he ground out, ending the conversation. “If you want me to leave—”

“He doesn’t want you to leave,” his sister, the peacemaker, cut in. “Just try to remember this is Lawrence’s town, and he means to stay here.”

“For now,” he muttered under his breath, earning himself a couple of dark looks from Lawrence and Laria. “Fine. I hear you. Best behavior.”

He grinned, wishing—not for the first time—his charm had more of an effect on his siblings. They knew him too well to fall for it.

“I appreciate it,” Lawrence said. “Now give me your glass.”

“And stop glaring at Kenton,” Laria added.

Taking yet another refill from Lawrence, he lifted his glass in the air. “That may be asking a wee bit too much, lassie,” he said, knowing his sister had a soft spot for the accent of their homeland, which they’d dropped over the years. “To Lawrence.”

Joining him in a toast, his siblings raised their own drinks, their differences momentarily forgotten as they celebrated Lawrence and Toni’s forthcoming business venture.

His brother deserved to be happy, so he would try to behave.

For tonight, at least

Start the series with the FREE prequel or jump right into The Hunter's Affection, also available in Kindle Unlimited.

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The Immortal’s Salvation: First Look

 

Chapter 1

Stone Haven, Pennsylvania

Weddings sucked.

Scratch that.

Attending a wedding solo sucked. Toni actually liked them otherwise, mostly because they were an excuse to dance. And in the itty-bitty town of Stone Haven, Pennsylvania, the only place to dance was the Jazz Hall, but good dance music was not regularly on their schedule. Although her kitchen made a perfect dance floor, it lacked a certain something in the ambiance department.

As she waited for the best man to finish his toast, which had turned into a rambling story about his drunken escapades with the groom, Toni spun her wine glass around and around by its stem. Finally, someone had the sense to take the microphone away from him, and the emcee announced the couple’s first dance. Toni snuck a glance across the table at Birdie and Uncle Jim, who were watching the bride make her way to the stage with a good deal more interest than she felt. Birdie’s smile was so genuine, Toni vowed to at least pretend to enjoy herself. The mother of the bride, an old friend of her aunt’s, cried as the couple began swaying to a top ten pop song.

A cute couple. And a fine venue for a wedding. The Lakehouse was a highly rated restaurant along the second-largest man-made lake in the state. Decked out in white fairy lights, inside and out, the restaurant looked especially charming that evening. How much must it have cost to rent the place for a night?

Likely more than she made at the shop in a year. But whose fault was it that, even working two jobs, she likely couldn’t afford a wedding here?

No one’s but hers.

“I’m grabbing a drink,” she whispered to her aunt. “Want anything?”

Birdie shook her head, still enthralled by the dance. Her uncle’s drink, a soda, sat full in front of him. Might as well make use of the designated driver. Toni stood, pulling down the black and gold lace dress that had ridden up her legs, and downed the last of her wine.

The indoor bar was closer, but she found herself walking toward the pop-up one on the deck. Toni pushed open the door and breathed in the fresh mountain air. She really should get away from town more often. While The Lakehouse was only twenty minutes away, it was nestled between the State Game Lands on one side and residences on the other, providing an ideal view. During the day. The same mountain range that graced the outskirts of Main Street back home rose high into the night sky, though only shadows were visible in the dark.

“Pinot Noir, please.”

While the bartender refilled her glass, Toni looked down to the docks below and watched the pontoons and speeders sway each time a wave made its way toward shore. Despite the hour, boats continued to roam the lake. During the summer months, Stone Haven and the surrounding areas were popular with tourists, something townspeople bemoaned but were secretly proud of.

“Thank you,” she said, taking her newly filled glass.

“You work at Ye Old Curiosities,” said a woman next to her.

Toni tried to place her.

Nothing.

Remembering people was not one of her finest qualities.

“I do,” she said, her tone polite. “I’m assuming you’ve been there before?”

“Once. It’s a cute shop.”

“Thanks,” she said, accepting the compliment on behalf of her aunt and uncle. Although she’d worked at the shop for years, she was only an employee. Birdie and Uncle Jim were the ones who’d made it their life’s work, selling everything from antiquities to novelties, the more eccentric the better.

“You can practically believe vampires are real when you go in there,” the woman added with a smile.

Toni couldn’t help but smile back. Part of her wanted to shock the woman by revealing the truth—vampires were real, and two of the originals had just moved to Stone Haven.

“Nice wedding,” she commented instead.

“Extremely,” the woman said as she waited for her companion to get his drink. “Do you know the bride or groom?”

Neither, actually.

“My aunt is good friends with the bride’s mom.”

Toni knew the mother well enough, but the daughter had been sent away to boarding school as a young girl. She’d only come home for holidays and summer vacations, so their paths hadn’t crossed often.

An odd thing, sending your kid away. Her parents had both been career-driven and ambitious, but they never would have considered such a thing. Shaking away the thought, she smiled at the quirky woman and stepped away.

Toni sipped her wine, not a bad Pinot Noir for a wedding, and watched as white dots bobbed and weaved in the distance, the water below nothing more than a mass of black from this distance. Mesmerizing. Even though she couldn’t see the water, just knowing it was there brought her a sense of peace as it always did.

In a former life, Toni must have been a mermaid. Or a pirate. Or something having to do with the water. Did everyone love it as much as she?

Her train of thought was broken by a prickling awareness. Someone was watching her.

She didn’t have a sixth sense like her best friend, Alessandra, did. She wasn’t one of the Cheld—a line of superhuman beings created to counterbalance vampires. She wasn’t the one who’d led the vampires to Stone Haven, and yet she could tell one of them was currently watching her.

Toni turned to look at him, her heart lurching as it did every damn time he was near.

What in blazes was Lawrence Derrickson doing at her wedding?

Well, not precisely her wedding, but she hadn’t seen him at the ceremony earlier or any time before now. She was pretty sure she would have noticed. When it came to Lawrence, she couldn’t help but notice. He was a six-foot-plus, sandy-haired, green-eyed vampire, for heaven’s sake. And sure, it turned out vampires weren’t the gothic, garlic- and daylight-phobic creatures popular culture set them out to be, but they were still practically demigods. They were immortal, and they drank blood, for God’s sake.

Pretending she hadn’t seen him wasn’t an option. There were no more than ten people out here on the deck, the bartender included, and Lawrence was staring straight at her. She couldn’t see his eyes from here, but Toni knew their piercing green color. He was Alessandra’s friend and trainer, an ever-present part of their circle. Avoiding him was difficult, but that hadn’t stopped her from trying. She’d gotten quite good at it in the past two months.

Breathe, Toni, breathe. He’s just a man.

Well, not quite a man, actually. He was so much more.

But it couldn’t matter. Even if Tyler wasn’t the best boyfriend in the world, he was hers. And at least she was committed to something in her life. Being with him felt safe, a word she’d never use to describe how she felt with Lawrence.

The thought of Tyler made it easier to ignore Lawrence and the sidelong glances he always gave her. It made it easier to pretend she didn’t wish there was some admiration or affection in his eyes. Truth was, Alessandra’s friend looked at her as if she’d just stolen a treat from his dog. No, not that. It was like he could see something in her she didn’t even know was there. Like a bit of icing on her nose. If she hadn’t been thinking about that three-tier wedding cake all night, she’d probably have been able to think of a more profound comparison.

As it was, cake seemed as good an excuse as any to dart inside. Avoiding Lawrence. And maybe herself a bit too.

* * *

“Hi, I’m Kat.”

Attractive. Same age he’d been before the change, just over thirty. No ring.

Alas, she lacked long red hair and amber eyes that shot arrows through his soul.

“Pleasure to meet you, Kat,” Lawrence said, watching Toni retreat back into the restaurant. His feet itched to follow her. Instead, he smiled at the pretty blonde guest and took his drink from the bartender.

“When I first moved to Pennsylvania,” he told Kat, “I couldn’t get away from this stuff.” He lifted his Yuengling, remembering. He’d asked for a lager, and the bartender had handed him one of these—a beer with a label he couldn’t even pronounce.

He’d lived in nearly every country around the world, had been alive for over seven hundred years, and still there was so much to discover. A beautiful side to the curse that had created so much ugliness. Despite that, he was more than ready to stay in one place for the foreseeable future. Lawrence was ready to settle down.

“So,” she said, her honeyed tone leaving no doubt as to her intentions. “Do you know the bride or groom?”

Actually, he had become close to the bride’s father, Stone Haven’s mayor, over a business deal, but telling her that would prolong a conversation that he was ready to end.

The floor-to-ceiling windows that gave guests a view of the dark lake behind him also gave him a clear view of Toni. She stood alone, her profile effortlessly elegant, her gold and black gown eye-catching. “Pardon me,” he said to the woman at the bar. “I just got here and want to greet the new couple.”

Lawrence itched to go to Toni, to take her shoulders in his hands, but she wouldn’t welcome it. He forced himself to make a wide berth around her. Trying to distract himself, he found the bride’s father at the table closest to the dance floor. Murmuring apologies for his late arrival, he made up for his tardiness by fawning over the couple as if he were a subject in their court, a role he’d played more than once before over several hundred years.

In England. In France. Though not in his homeland. He’d not seen Scotland for centuries, and though he still dreamed of his homeland, he knew he could never return.

Later, as he made his way to the inner bar, Lawrence’s eyes found Toni once again. He allowed himself to study her for a second—the strands of hair that had escaped her updo, the curve of her neck. What was she doing here? And where was Tyler?

As if you give a shit about that condescending asshole.

“There you are.”

Dammit.

“Caught you!”

Lawrence turned to face his admirer from the deck bar. The time for subtlety had passed.

“You did indeed,” he said. “But you should know, before we take this any farther, I haven’t eaten in nearly two weeks.”

“Oh.” She frowned in confusion. “Are you on some kind of a cleanse? There’s plenty of food here—”

He leaned down, her perfume as overpowering as her personality, and said, “I don’t mean food. Men like me, we need something very different to sustain us. But do not fear. It won’t hurt . . . too much.”

Poor Kat, properly appalled by his innuendo, could only stare. Good. One time he’d used this same trick to ill effect—the woman had smiled coquettishly and put her hand somewhere it didn’t belong.

His sister didn’t like it when he hinted at his true nature. Few knew of their existence, and the only unwritten code of their community demanded it stay that way. All well and good, but they were cursed for eternity. Surely they deserved a bit of fun.

“Hurt?” she muttered. “Uh, yeah. It was nice to meet you.”

She fled without offering a proper excuse for doing so. A pang of guilt nearly made him regret his methods, but the blonde woman immediately sidled up to another man at the bar. A slight grin lifted his lips. No damage done.

He would finish his drink and then leave. At least he’d stayed long enough to pay his respects to the mayor of Stone Haven. If he were to stay in the area, and Lawrence had every intention of settling in the quaint Pennsylvania town for as long as a man who didn’t age could, he would weave himself into the fabric of the place as necessary.

Staring at the bottle of half-drunk lager in his hand, Lawrence heard the music change to a song with a faster beat. Most of the guests would be dancing, he guessed, although he couldn’t bear to turn around and look for her. At least her foolish boyfriend didn’t appear to be in attendance. It killed him to see a woman so beautiful and intelligent waste her time with a man so unworthy of her. A man who disrespected her with his roving eye. But it was her choice, and it didn’t matter in the least to him.

A bald-faced lie.

Toni tugged at him. She always had, right from the first time he’d seen her at Murphy’s Pub, her hair swept up in an effortless bun, her amber eyes sparkling with life. That passion she felt for life, for her friends, and for everything she loved was infectious. It made him feel almost human again. Like he was the man he’d been before his brother died.

The way he felt about her was dangerous. For him and for her.

He drank the remainder of his beer in one long, deep swallow.

“You’re unusually broody this evening.”

He’d sensed her coming. Although she wasn’t a Cheld like Alessandra, Toni had an almost supernatural draw. Maybe it was her perfume, part coconut and part amber and spice. A scent that reminded him of the sun-kissed beaches of Brazil, combined with the sophistication of a Parisian boutique. Though not nearly as pretentious.

This interaction diverted from their usual pattern. Toni typically avoided him—rather, they typically avoided each other.

He turned slowly, careful not to lean too close or appear otherwise interested.

“And you are unusually . . .”

Sexy. Radiant. Desirable.

“Talkative.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked, cocking her head.

“I could ask you the same.”

Toni took a bold step toward him, the proximity making his skin prickle with awareness, and leaned over the bar.

“I’m here,” she announced, “for another drink.” The raven-haired bartender, who was mixing a drink at the other end of the bar, ignored her. Had a man been tending bar, he would have immediately abandoned his other customers to serve her.

“I see,” Lawrence said, leaning back and crossing his arms. He did not respond to the obvious dismissal.

She refused to look at him. He refused to move. One minute passed. Two. Finally, he made eye contact with the bartender, who had been eyeing him as if he were a dessert martini that she intended to drink rather than make. The young woman smiled and glided toward him.

“What can I get you?”

He lifted his bottle in response and added, “And a Pinot Noir for . . .” Struggling, he landed on, “. . . the young lady.”

He’d said it on purpose, knowing it bothered Toni that she was approaching thirty. Though the milestone was still a year off, she’d told Alessandra it made her uneasy.

She gave him a look that said, Go to hell, even as she smiled.

A grin twitched on his mouth. He should back off. Stop provoking her. And he definitely should not say what he was thinking at this moment.

But Lawrence Derrickson had never been a cautious man.

Pre-order your copy of THE IMMORTAL'S SALVATION here.

Read the origin story for FREE here.

Buy the first book in the series, THE VAMPIRE'S TEMPTATION, here.

The post The Immortal’s Salvation: First Look appeared first on Cecelia Mecca.

Paranormal Romance Just 99¢

Looks like The Vampire’s Temptation isn’t the only PNR book on Amazon for just 99 pennies right now. I found a few others, and although I haven’t read them myself, a buck is hard to beat. Check out these paranormal romance novels for just under a dollar for a limited time. ~Enjoy, Cecelia

 

               

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The Vampire’s Temptation is LIVE for just 99¢ this week!

Finally, after nearly a year of plotting, planning, researching and reading, I’m now both a historical and paranormal romance reader. Start a new paranormal romance series with The Vampire’s Temptation, the first book in the Bloodwite series already receiving rave reviews:

“Cecelia has found her true voice in paranormal romance. Her story kicks the doors down, and delivers characters and depth that readers have been begging for. Bloodwite is everything the Twilight Saga should have been.” –Shayne Silvers, Amazon bestselling author 

“The Vampire’s Temptation by Cecelia Mecca is hands down one of the best paranormal romances I have read in years.”

https://ceceliamecca.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/51263918_735459440170127_8469665229503398079_n.mp4

 

Although this book is a departure from my historical romance, one of the two main vampires did first make an appearance in The Guardian’s Favor and more than one historical reader has said they were surprised how easy they jumped into a new genre. So even if vampire romance isn’t your typical read, give it a shot! The special 99¢ release week price gives new paranormal romance readers and historical readers new to the genre a chance to test it out.

So what’s The Vampire’s Temptation about? Check out the blurb below and buy it on Amazon for just 99¢ for a limited time.

 

Even cursed blood can fall prey to love’s bite.

Kenton Morley and Lawrence Derrickson have hated each other ever since they were feuding border lords in medieval England and Scotland…seven hundred years ago.

When their bloodlines were cursed, birthing the world’s first vampires.

Their feud has since carried through the centuries based on a new argument: Kenton seeks to destroy the Cheld—the only line of humans capable of killing their kind—while Lawrence seeks tosavethem.

It’s said that men can forget, but never forgive. It’s also said that true love knows no bounds. When the vampires move to Stone Haven, Pennsylvania, Alessandra Fiore will find out firsthand which of those old adages is true.

It doesn’t matter whether she believes in vampires or not…

Because they believe inher. And she’s on the very cusp of discovering her dormant powers as a Cheld—a potential vampire hunter.

And with both of these strangely wealthy newcomers’ storming into her sleepy, peaceful town, warning her to stay away from the other, what is a girl to do? Especially when Kenton—the one that supposedly wants to kill her—has a devilish twinkle in his eyes that she just can’t saynoto?

No matter how dangerous she instinctively knows both men to be, strengths and powers of her own are beginning to bubble to the surface, encouraging her that she can take care of herself, thank you very much.

Love and Hate—two sides of the same coin. Literally.

The only thing left to do is flip that coin and hope for the best…to see which old saying is true. And how many innocents bet the wrong way.

The post The Vampire’s Temptation is LIVE for just 99¢ this week! appeared first on Cecelia Mecca.

10 Exciting New Paranormal Romance Books Releasing in 2019

Curses and Crowns by L. Danvers
Release Date: February 12, 2019

A cut-throat competition. 

A romance to die for.

Danielle Parker’s life was a dream. Until it became a living nightmare.

Ripped of her memories of how she was kidnapped from her family, Danielle is whisked away to the mystical Crescent Cape—a kingdom ruled by vampires, where she is to live out her human life as a blood slave.

She’s not going down without a fight.

But her plans are thwarted when she’s selected to compete for the prince’s heart.

The winner will be turned into a vampire and taken as his bride. And the losers’ blood will be fed to the princess-to-be to complete her transition.

As much as she’s disgusted by the idea of the competition, and as dangerous as Prince Aiden is, she can’t deny her attraction to him—or to his troubled brother, Julian.

Will she be able to resist the brothers’ charms? Or will she find herself pulled into the dangerous world of the vampires of Crescent Cape?

A romantic and thrilling new series that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and The Selection.

Grab your copy today by clicking  here . And don’t forget to grab the free prequel, Blood Heirs, by joining my Readers’ Group at www.ldanvers.com/subscribe .

 

Reaper of Flames (The Artifact Reaper Sage Book 3) by Jen L. Grey
Release Date: March 14, 2019

Unstable powers, a uncertain future, and one overwhelmed girl.

Chaos doesn’t even begin to explain my life. Now that the first two artifacts are a part of me the third haunts my dreams. It calls to me, overwhelming my senses. Between that, the council, the demon, and everthing else, I did the only thing that I could think of, I took off. Hopefully, Charlie can forgive me for leaving without a word.

Disappearing seemed like my best option, until the demon found me, forcing my hand. Needing to save Becca and find the third artifact before him, I’m left with no other choice but to return and finish what I started.

To find the artifact in Hell, I must turn to the council for assistance which reveals even more corrupted their true motives are. Now, I have to determine the right course for not just myself, but the world too.

Click here  to grab your copy today. And you can stay up to date on all of Grey’s new releases by joining the newsletter  here .

 

Shifted Into Love: Love Changes Everything Valentine’s Anthology (Including a Story by Shai August)
Release Date: January 2019

This anthology releases in January 2019 and will be available exclusively on Amazon!

 

Ruthless Misfit by Liza Street
Release Date: January 16, 2019

One kiss. One lie. One dangerously sinful affair.

After making one bad decision after another, fox shifter Erena is back at the Rock Creek Clan with her tail between her legs. Her past mistakes seem to be forgiven, but her position feels tenuous—and more tenuous still, with the arrival of a sexy misfit who gets under her skin.

Matt, a mountain lion shifter, returns home to the RCC with a giant secret only to meet the woman of his dreams. Too bad Erena has a chip on her shoulder. How the hell is he supposed to prove himself to a woman who has trust issues? He’ll have to figure something out, because between his smooth talking and his ulterior motives, he’s in danger of losing his mate before he ever gets a chance with her.

Get your copy today by  clicking here . You can also snag a free copy of Fierce Heartbreaker by joining Street’s newsletter at https://lizastreetauthor.com/free-book .

 

Shadow Walker by Anya J Cosgrove
Release Date: January 17, 2019

A newborn witch is hunted for her blood. Two smoking-hot brothers teach her how to survive. Can she unravel their dark secrets?

Demons. Magic. Fear.

I never believed in witches until I became one. I thought monsters existed only on television screens. I was wrong. And naïve.

Thom Walker saved me, but I don’t trust him. His brother Liam is one of them. A demon. He almost devoured me.

Desire. Secrets. Forbidden love.

Witchcraft isn’t easy, and my sparring sessions with my two saviors/jailers are distracting as hell. My feelings must be laid on ice before I end up dead. And I need to find out if I can actually lose my soul, or if it’s a weird metaphor.

Liam says I should embrace the darkness. And the darkness is coming…

A love triangle to die for! Heart-pounding suspense, two sexy, mysterious men, and a strong-willed, snarky heroine. Nothing stays black and white in a world full of shadows.

Click here  to grab your copy today. And don’t forget to  join Cosgrove’s newsletter  – and snag your free copy of Bloody Hearts.

 

Trust the Wolf by Zoe Ashwood
Release Date: January 24, 2019

You never forget your first wolf.

Emilia’s first encounter with Jason is memorable: it’s not every day you see a stranger change into a wolf. Her attraction to him is undeniable, but the secret he shares shakes the foundations of her life.

Jason’s need for Emilia unnerves him. It’s his job to report shifters without proper ID, yet he can’t make himself do it this time. The decision bites him in the tail when he discovers exactly who she is. He must keep his distance—or there will be hell to pay.

Their fates entwine when rogue shifters learn of Emilia’s identity and will stop at nothing to get to her. Emilia and Jason will have to fight together or risk losing everything.

But most of all? Emilia must learn to trust the wolf.

Click here  to get your copy of Trust the Wolf today! And be sure to join Ashwood’s newsletter to get a free copy of Bearly Married – just  click here .

 

The Vampire’s Temptation by Cecelia Mecca
Release Date: January 24, 2019

Even cursed blood can fall prey to love’s bite.

Kenton Morley and Lawrence Derrickson have hated each other since they were feuding border lords in medieval England and Scotland…seven hundred years ago.

When their bloodlines were cursed, birthing the world’s first vampires.

Their feud has carried through the centuries based on an old argument: Kenton seeks to destroy the Cheld—the only line of humans capable of killing their kind—while Lawrence seeks to save them.

It’s said that men can forget, but never forgive. It’s also said that true love knows no bounds.

When the vampires move to Stone Haven, Pennsylvania, Alessandra Fiore will find out firsthand which of those old adages is true.

It doesn’t matter whether she believes in vampires or not…

Because they believe in her. And she’s on the very cusp of discovering her dormant powers as a Cheld—a potential vampire hunter.

With both of these strangely wealthy newcomers’ storming into her sleepy, peaceful town, warning her to stay away from the other, what is a girl to do? Especially when Kenton—the one that supposedly wants to kill her—has a devilish twinkle in his eyes that she just can’t say no to?

No matter how dangerous she instinctively knows both men to be, strengths and powers of her own are beginning to bubble to the surface, encouraging her that she can take care of herself, thank you very much.

Love and Hate—two sides of the same coin. Literally.

The only thing left to do is flip that coin and hope for the best…to see which old saying is true. And how many innocents bet the wrong way.

Click here to grab your copy! Plus, get your free origin story, The Healer’s Curse, by  clicking here .

 

The Wolf’s Succubus by Erin St. Charles 
Release Date: February 2019

He loves her…he just can’t remember.

Eric

Life hasn’t been the same since the injury that ended my football dreams — and could have ended my life. The last glimpse I had of my hometown of Perdition was in my truck’s rear-view mirror years ago. I hadn’t planned to come back at all — even ten years feels too soon — but I came back for Homecoming and the longer I stayed in town, the more I fell under the spell of the Jane Guzmán, the shy, bookish innkeeper who sets my blood boiling.

Now I can’t walk away from the need to claim her. She intrigues me like no other woman—not even the mysterious seductress who has haunted my dreams since the night of my devastating accident.

Jane

I work hard to make everyone in Perdition see me as a quiet, shy innkeeper, not the sex demon I really am. It’s better that I keep my urges under wraps — no telling what would happen if I lost control. I spend my days renovating the bed and breakfast my late father left me as his legacy. My nights are another story.

As a result, I’m probably the oldest virgin succubus in North America. Well, maybe the oldest one in Texas. But trust me, it’s better this way. If I keep to myself, I can’t hurt anyone with my out-of-control powers. This worked for the past ten years…until he showed up.

Eric Andrews. Formerly Perdition’s star high school football player. The boy who triggered my first succubus dreams. The boy I used to love. Except he’s not a boy anymore.

Eric Andrews is back in Perdition, and he’s all grown up.

He’s coming for me.

He just doesn’t know it yet.

To be the first to hear about St. Charles’ latest release, click here to join the newsletter.

 

Queen’s Blood Claim by Nicki Ruth
Release Date: April 2019

 

The cover for Queen’s Blood Claim is yet to be revealed, but join Nicki Ruth’s newsletter to snag your free copy of A Vampire Loves Forever – and be the first to know when Queen’s Blood Claim is available!

 

The Queen’s Alliance, Kingdoms of the Ocean Book One by Jessica Gleave
Release Date: April 2, 2019

Her kingdom on the brink of war.

His kingdom can give her the army she needs.

The price—her hand in marriage.

But her sister’s action may cost them.

Evelda has not shown emotion since the death of her parents, only Charisa her younger sister, has seen any of the true Evelda. Forced to become a queen at a young age, Evelda believes she needs to be strong, fearless, and as impassive as stone.

When the threat of war looms, Evelda turns to her neighboring kingdom, to forge a marital alliance with Thaine the Son of the Pacific Ocean.

The plan—to marry for the sake of her kingdom.

But what if she could marry for love instead.

Charisa hates being a Daughter of the Sea. She would much rather be a normal mermaid, but she does her duty for her kingdom. Charisa will do what’s best even if it means sacrificing her own mermaid’s kiss, but what if that’s not enough.

Join Gleave’s newsletter  to be the first to know about her latest release.

 

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Paranormal and Historical Romance New Releases

So many new releases in the last two weeks! Head over to my Facebook page for a chance to win your choice of these six books.

 

 

 

 

 

The post Paranormal and Historical Romance New Releases appeared first on Cecelia Mecca.

The Vampire’s Temptation: Exclusive Sneak Peek

 

Enjoy this exclusive excerpt from The Vampire’s Temptation: Bloodwite Book One, coming February 24th and on preorder February 10th. Cover reveal is on February 8th so be sure to join the private reader group for special giveaways that day! And if you haven’t read the free origin story, download The Healer’s Curse now.

……………………….

Stone Haven, Pennsylvania

“I don’t do shots.”

Everyone began protesting at once—well, everyone other than Tom, who simply ignored her protest and ordered six Slippery Nipples from the bartender.

“Take it, Alessandra. It’s not every day you celebrate a new job—”

“Or abandon your colleagues.” Charlotte scrunched up her nose in mock anger. Everyone laughed, but Alessandra knew there was a bit of truth to her friend’s allegation. She was leaving them, after all. Who was she to deny her boss—ex-boss now—if he wanted to buy his teachers shots after their last day of in-service?

“Besides, this is more of a cordial than a shot,” Charlotte said as the bartender lined the drinks up on the bar.

The group looked at Charlotte as if she’d gone daft.

“It’s all semantics,” Charlotte said, “but Alessandra will only drink cordials, so . . .”

“Leave it to the English teacher,” Tom murmured. “Cordial. Shot. Call it what you will,” he said, lifting his glass. “To a successful school year, to the best teachers in the district, and to Alessandra Fiore—an excellent history teacher and soon-to-be excellent college professor.”

“Cheers,” her friends said one by one, lifting their glasses in a toast. Accepting defeat, she did the same, then drank down the guaranteed headache. As she swapped the empty shot glass for the beer someone else had bought her, Tom clapped her on the shoulder and turned to the new gym teacher, who’d barely made it out alive this year. The poor guy had fallen prey to so many first-year pranks, it was a wonder he’d still shown up to drink with them this afternoon. Or maybe it wasn’t so much of a surprise. She wondered how he’d fare next year, then realized again she wouldn’t be around to find out.

She looked at the familiar dark oak of the bar that had witnessed more teacher happy hours than she could count and wondered what her new colleagues would be like. There were only a handful of young professors at Stone Haven University, and none of the others would be in the history department with her. But if an inferior social life at work was the price to pay for her dream job, so be it. Plus, her friends would still be here, at Murphy’s Pub, every Friday like clockwork.

“Everything OK?”

She jumped a little at the sound of Toni’s voice. Her roommate worked at a shop down the street and typically closed the place down on Fridays. Alessandra hadn’t expected her for at least another hour.

“What are you doing here so early?”

Toni took the ever-present hair tie from her wrist and, in one swift movement, drew her hair into a perfect messy bun. Red hair stuck out in more places than it didn’t, the bright color attracting as much attention as her welcoming smile. Toni’s hair was impossible to look away from. Unbelievably, it was entirely natural too.

“Birdie came down to close. I couldn’t miss your grand celebr—”

Her eyes suddenly went comically wide, focused on something over Alessandra’s shoulder. Alessandra started to turn in that direction, but Toni grabbed her arm.

“No! Don’t look.”

Rolling her eyes, she humored her friend.

“Holy hotness,” Toni whispered just loud enough for her to hear. “And he’s looking at us.”

Alessandra lifted her Corona Light to her mouth, and got a mouthful of lime. She’d forgotten to shove it down the neck. Grabbing a bar napkin, she caught a glimpse of Toni’s worshipful expression. Man, the girl had it bad.

“Is now a bad time to remind you of your boyfriend?”

“Be cool,” Toni said.

Alessandra had to laugh at that. “If anyone here is not being cool, it’s you. Seriously, what’s up with you? Let me get you a—”

She’d brushed off Toni’s hand and finally managed to get a look at the man who’d turned her friend into a bumbling mess. And Alessandra could certainly see what all the fuss was about.

He was looking at them. And not even attempting to hide it. Undeniably good-looking, his dirty blond hair and musician vibe were less intriguing than the way he was staring at Toni. That stare was intense and probing, as if he knew her, but Alessandra was certain she’d never seen him before.

“Her usual,” Alessandra said to the bartender, forcing herself to look away from the newcomer.

“You’re not buying me a drink,” Toni said, trying to push her aside. “This is your night.”

Before Alessandra could take another glance at the stranger, Tom stepped away from the stretch of bar they’d taken over. As their principal, he rarely stayed out for more than an hour or so.

“Good luck,” he said, hugging her as if this were goodbye for real. Stone Haven was as small a town as it got, however, and there was no doubt she’d run into him at least once a week. Here at Murphy’s or walking down their only Main Street. But the employer-employee bond they’d had was now over, and for that she felt a pang of sadness.

“Thank you,” she replied. “For everything.”

He smiled, saluted to the rest of the group, and left.

“Another round of shots,” someone called out. “To summer . . .”

She was so not doing another one. They gave her a pounding headache, and Alessandra had promised herself she would run in the morning. Or at some point tomorrow. She’d been putting it off for a week, and a day after indulging in bar food and too many drinks was the perfect time to get her butt in gear.

“They’re just getting started,” Toni said with a grin, lifting her glass in the air. “To new beginnings,” she said with a not-so-sly glance at the other end of the bar.

Alessandra followed her gaze.

He was gone.

Shrugging, she lifted up her bottle and clinked glasses, grateful for good friends and a summer with nothing to do but prep for her classes in the fall.

“To new beginnings.”

* * *

Lawrence was here.

Taking a sip of a gin and tonic, Kenton stared out into the distance from the second-floor balcony of his new home. A train’s whistle broke the blessed silence, though “silence” wasn’t truly silent for him, and hadn’t been for some time. In still moments, he could hear shop owners in town putting out their trash and preparing to close for the evening.

Even so, the view was relaxing—the line of trees across from him was broken by only one discernible building, the courthouse that stood guard on Main Street. The downtown area of Stone Haven was lined with brightly colored Victorian homes and townhouses. He’d considered purchasing one of the latter, only to dismiss the idea.

Too confining.

Now, it would seem, the decision had been a good one. If his senses were accurate, and they always were, his temporary lodgings were located just next door to his nemesis. Purchasing the mansion had attracted attention, but no matter. He would be long gone as soon as the deed was done.

He sat, making a mental note to request that his maidservant purchase cushions. Apparently the previous owner had not found wrought iron as uncomfortable as he did.

Kenton took another sip of his drink as darkness fell. The maid he’d hired from the previous staff—the mansion had been a bed and breakfast when he purchased it—appeared around the balcony to his right. She’d not spoken yet, but Kenton could hear her breathing.

“Send him up,” he said without turning toward her. “But from the outside entrance,” he added. “He may not go inside. Ever.”

Whether the woman was startled by his knowledge of her presence—because he already knew a guest waited below—or because of the vehemence of his request, Kenton wasn’t sure. Nor did it matter. What did matter was the man who even now made his way up the winding outside staircase.

As Lawrence entered the room connected to the balcony, it struck Kenton that he’d made a critical error. He should have killed the girl—woman, more precisely—before Lawrence had arrived. Now his purpose in Stone Haven would be more difficult to fulfill.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Lawrence asked, walking around to stand just next to him. He didn’t need to ask who. The man wasn’t talking about his elderly maid.

“I’d offer you a drink, but regrettably, you’re not staying.”

“How long have you known about her?” Lawrence Derrickson had the sole honor of being the only person to almost make him lose his temper in over seven hundred years, and it would seem he still had the ability to get a rise out of him.

“Longer than you, apparently.”

He knew the barb would hit its mark, and it did.

“Yet you haven’t killed her?”

“Regrettably not.”

“Why?”

Knowing it would anger Lawrence, Kenton took a slow sip of his drink and looked down at the town below them.

“A quaint little place. Didn’t expect as much, although I must admit, the only other time I’ve been to Pennsylvania, when—”

“I don’t give a shit when you were here last or what you think of the town that you plan to terrorize, Kenton.”

“Terrorize? A bit harsh, don’t you think?”

He didn’t give Lawrence a chance to answer. “Nice of you to move so close to me, though I wouldn’t have expected you to splurge on such a luxury.”

Two mansions sitting side by side in a town of this size. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

“I won’t let you kill her,” Lawrence insisted.

He laughed, not to taunt the other man, but it did have that added benefit. “I will enjoy watching you attempt to stop me.”

“She may not pose a threat. Will you for once listen to reason?”

Kenton shot to his feet in an instant, so close to Lawrence he could stun him into silence if he so chose. Centuries of fighting this very same man had taught him not to attempt to kill the Scot. It couldn’t be done. But he certainly enjoyed trying.

“She is a Cheld,” Kent

on said.

For Lawrence, that wasn’t enough. For him, it always would be.

“She is,” the Scot agreed. “But you don’t know—”

He rolled his eyes, annoyed by the tedious predictability of the argument. “Nor do I care.”

Lawrence narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, telegraphing his intentions as clearly as if he’d punched him. “Are you alone?”

He could lie, but Lawrence would learn the truth soon enough—that his siblings were far away from this quaint little Pennsylvania town. Their kind could sense one another, an ability Kenton had more than most, so he did not need to ask the same question about Lawrence’s kin.

Clan Karyn consisted only of one man, for now. Odd, since Lawrence usually traveled with at least one member of his precious clan, although a four-person family could hardly be called a clan, truth be told.

Nothing like the hu

ndred men Lawrence once led.

“I am,” he said. “And so it seems we will have a bit of fun here in”—he waved his arms around him—“Stone Haven.”

Lawrence ground his teeth. “Fun? If you call the murder of an innocent woman—”

“Innocent?” Kenton lifted his chin. “She is a Cheld,” he repeated. “And for that, she cannot be allowed to live.” He lifted his glass. “A toast to our little secret. And to Alessandra Fiore’s last days on earth, poor thing.”

He downed the remainder of his drink in one gulp, then set the empty glass on the table. Droplets of red remained. Mary was none the wiser about the real contents of his favorite bottle of sloe gin. Stepping around Lawrence, he gripped the railing of the balcony and looked down below.

“Have fun attempting to save her,” he said over his shoulder.

Just as Lawrence turned to walk away, muttering a curse under his breath, Kenton added, “I hope you have better luck than you did in Caltabellotta.”

He wasn’t surprised when Lawrence pushed him from the balcony. Indeed, he allowed it. And laughed the whole way down to the ground despite the risk of discovery.

Taunting him had been worth it.

………………

Add The Vampire’s Temptation to your Goodreads TBR list and get ready for February 24th!

The post The Vampire’s Temptation: Exclusive Sneak Peek appeared first on Cecelia Mecca.

Historical Romance New Releases

So many new releases as we head into the holidays. Which ones are you most likely to pick up to read over the break?

 

 

 

 

 

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The Best Paranormal Books You Need to Know About

I’ve teamed up with some amazing paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors to share the best paranormal books you need to know about.

These are personalized recommendations of our all-time favorite paranormal reads.

 

I know this will come as a shocker that my favorite one isn’t about vampires, but I absolutely loved Elementals by Michelle Madow. I don’t think I’ve ever read through a series so quickly. Normally, I’m a slow reader. But I couldn’t put it down.

It’s about the teenage descendants of Greek gods who also have elemental magic. They have to team up to unravel an ancient prophecy and save the world.

It’s fast-paced and filled with action and romance – everything I could want in a series. It’s a really fun read!

Submitted by  L. Danvers ,  Author of Blood Heirs

 

I adore the Covencraft series by Margarita Gakis. In her world, witches are ruled by covens and not allowed to be independent of them. Most are reared within the system and have their magic honed and guided. Her MC, Jade, was born outside the system and discovers her magic as an adult. She’s forced to join the local coven, and as an independent person who has survived some pretty dark stuff, she resists this tooth and nail. But her powers are immense and she is a danger to herself and others if she doesn’t learn how to control them. Fabulous series that neatly balances dramatic action with humor. (Huh, I should go leave a review somewhere…)McKenna Dean,Author of Snowfall

 

The Fever Series. It’s not only dark and sexy, it has a murder to elucidate, and the heroine changes so much along the way that she becomes almost unrecognizable. And the romance is deliciously slow-burn, which I love.

Anya J Cosgrove,Author of Lost Boy

 

I love the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian. It was my first taste of paranormal romance, and I devoured them!

Carrie Pulkinen,Author of Sweet Release

 

I enjoyed this PNR series: Afterlight: The Dark Ink Chronicles by author Elle Jasper.

Sherry Soule,Author of Witchy Wickedness

My favorite is my first. I came to paranormal romance through True Blood, and while not a pure PNR, I went back to read Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris and my love of vampires was born!

Cecelia Mecca,Author of The Healer’s Curse 

Want to check out these books for yourself?

Here is a gallery of the books recommended above:

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According to Authors: Vampires vs. Werewolves

It’s an age-old question any paranormal romance or urban fantasy fan has probably spent a disproportionate amount of time thinking about…

Which is better: vampires or werewolves?

A brave team of authors is battling it out this week making their arguments for which supernatural being is the most powerful – and the most fun!

Who will win? Keep reading to find out!

Here we go…

I’m team vampire all the way. Yeah, the whole drinking blood and being dead thing is kind of a downer, but they’re incredibly strong and fast. They never age. And then there’s the power of compulsion…

Meanwhile, while werewolves have their perks, they typically only change during a full moon, leaving them vulnerable when in human form.

L. Danvers ,  Author of Blood Heirs

Vampires, totally. They tend to be loner symbols, living centuries without being fully a part of the eras they live through. Also they tend to be aristocratic and I like the trappings of that (elegance, beautiful old-fashioned clothes, castles). It’s kinda funny: my best friend is firmly Team Werewolf. We have an agreement: if I get bitten by a vampire, I’ll ask if she wants to be bitten, but if I get bitten by a werewolf, she *definitely* wants me to bite her, and her biting me is exactly the reverse!

Ironically, the works I currently have available are about werewolves. It could’ve been any paranormal being, but frankly I liked the title I came up with for the first one. I plan to introduce vampires to the series later, and other creatures as well.

Lilith Rosetti ,  Author of Werewolf Proof Fence

I love both! But hey, if a girl has got to choose, I’m team vampire. If I ended up with a vampire boyfriend, I’d rather have one that can go in the sunlight, though. A vampire’s bite is way sexier than being bitten by a wolf. And if I were a vampire, one thing I definitely wouldn’t do is go to high school! I’d travel the world.

Anya J Cosgrove ,  Author of Lost Boy

I’m team shifter all the way. The idea of an undead lover gives me the creeps. Give me the hot blooded primal male. I follow the shifter lore where they are born that way with the ability to shift whenever they want. It is as normal as breathing to them. I really like the wolves, but the cats have their charms. The bears are pretty cool, too. And lately I’ve discovered honey badgers. Talk about your anti-hero!

Julye Evans ,  Author of Tiger’s Heart: Nightfair Shifters Series

Woot, team VAMPIRE all the way!!

Cecelia Mecca ,  Author of The Healer’s Curse

 

That’s four votes for vampires and one vote for werewolves. Vampires it is!

What would YOU choose? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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