Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 380

Interview with Grey Francis Author of Bound to A Vampire

  

1. Bound to a Vampire is an erotic paranormal romance that takes place in both modern-day New York and 17th century Europe. What inspired you to write a vampire novel set in those times and places?
I wanted to set my novel in the present and in the 17thcentury, going back in forth through memories, in order to show how the past shapes a vampire after centuries of living. This time-shifting allowed me to show vampires not only living, but being hunted, having love affairs and experiencing great tragedy.  I also wanted to take my readers deeper into my characters’ histories, exploring how they became vampires, how they found each other, how they lived, and ultimately how they lost one another. Since the 17th century is one of my favorite time periods, and a dramatic contrast to the times we currently live in, setting the book during that time allows us to understand the past, so we can sympathize with a particular vampire’s motivations and desires.
2. Bound to a Vampire features the female healer, Cassandra, who is turned into a vampire by the mysterious and powerful Master Vampire, Killian, and who becomes the member of a sexual triad that includes the dark and brooding Protector, Alastair. What’s special about Cassandra and how did you come to choose her as the main character for your first Into the Dark Woods novel?
This genre is dominated by male vampire protagonists. What I wanted to see was a strong female vampire, who is driven by ambition, passion and romance and willing to fight for those she loves. As a 17thcentury human midwife, Cassandra’s talents were misunderstood and feared, and ultimately she is persecuted as a witch. As a vampire, her former talents are transformed, giving her ability to heal and create life, making her very powerful. She goes from a simple peasant to vampire royalty. Flame haired with an exquisite kind of delicate beauty, Cassandra is spirited, strong-willed, and nurturing. She quickly finds herself in a passionate love triangle with her Sire and her Protector. Cassandra is the perfect compliment to each of them, but her true gift is her ability to bridge the gap between these two powerful males, whose love for one another is dark, tangled and complicated.
3. There are strong erotic elements, including passages that describe submission and bondage, in Bound to a Vampire. What made you decide to pursue these thematic issues in your Into the Dark Woods series and in this new novel?
When I envisioned my vampires, I saw them as highly sexual creatures. But I didn’t think that vampires would express their sexuality the way most typical humans do. BDSM and the power exchange between a dominant and a submissive rang true to me in terms of the vampires’ natures and their ability to attain nourishment from that exchange. I also think there is a connection between pain and pleasure with vampires. The vampire bite, at least in my books, is both painful and euphoric. The pain some submissives crave, as Alastair does, is a component of that particular crossover. There is also a strong psychological component to BDSM that parallels the emotional bonds within my vampire world. Some vampires, like Killian, are Masters and demand ultimate trust and surrender from their mates. In return, their submissive mates feel protected and ultimately loved.  This dynamic felt so organic to me, I believe it was the perfect way to structure the sexual relationships of my vampires.
4. What do you find the most fascinating about the paranormal romance genre?
There are interesting fluctuations in what creatures are capturing the interests of readers. Recently, I’ve seen a popular rise in books about shape shifters, dragons, sexy demons and angelic warriors. A few years ago, the Fae world was popular.  Before that, it was witches. Many writers have been combining a number of different supernatural creatures in their books for years, creating very developed and complex worlds where vampires, shifters, Fae, and others creatures, co-existed to varying degrees of animosity and peace. I find many of them fascinating, and I faithfully follow a number of writers.  And yet, I see vampire stories enduring, being recreated, the rules of their worlds ever changing and expanding. For me, the vampire remains as intriguing and sexually charged as he was 30 years ago when I picked up Interview with a Vampire.
5. What would you like readers to remember most about you and your books?
The characters. They get under our skin and we can’t shake them.  What I would like people to remember are the emotional layers that exist between my characters as they develop and evolve. All three main characters go through transformations, be it with through love, sex, power, loss, or reconciliation. Their pain haunts us. Their love grips us. It is these emotional resonances that I hope stay with my readers. 
6. Are you working on a new Into the Dark Woods novel and, if so, what can you tell us about it?

Yes. The second book in the Into the Dark Woods series is called A King in Chains, and it focuses on Alastair and his dynamic yet tumultuous history with Killian. The story also explores Alastair’s present day struggle to move forward as king without Killian by his side, while battling a powerful and malevolent vampire from his past who threatens everything he holds dear. In order to save his kingdom, Alastair must make the ultimate sacrifice for those he loves. That’s all I can say for now!

Bound to a Vampire Into the Dark Woods Volume 1by Grey FrancisISBN 978-1-5023-3800-6
January 29, 2015$19.99
Cassandra Montclaire is a three-hundred-and-sixty-year-old vampire living in modern-day New York. Her human life ended three centuries earlier when, condemned as a witch, she was rescued and turned by a Master Vampire named Killian. Bonded in a passionate trio with their Protector, the three lived an exciting and dangerous life full of love, decadence, and dark passion. But then Killian vanished without a trace. Until now.
A human ally of Cassandra’s has proof Killian is alive and is killing off members of his organization. Killian is now a marked man, and Cassandra must find him before time runs out and he is eliminated.
But Cassandra must first journey into her torrid past and face her demons before she can fight for what was lost.
Filled with erotic passion, great tragedy, and dark mystery, Bound to a Vampire is a turbulent thriller that delves into the history of vampires and the dramatic events that shaped them into who they are. For fans of Vampire Mistress by Joey Hill, author Grey Francis creates a vibrant world where secrets abound and the BDSM power exchange between mates is as essential to their survival as the blood they drink.
Available at Amazon
About the Author:
I have always written -- first as a journalist, later as a screenwriter, then finally as an author, discovering my true passion lay in writing books. I have always worked within the paranormal genre, writing about reincarnation, witches, magicians, and ghosts. But Love was always the common thread running through all of my work.
I took a break from writing after the birth of my two children. However, the ideas never stopped coming to me and Cassandra was born in my mind while driving around on a cloudy Halloween afternoon. My daughter’s first day of preschool was the day I set up a laptop and worked in a coffee shop next door to the school. I have never looked back, even if it meant working long into the night. Which it usually still does.
As a writer, I feel my best teachers are other writers. I have always been drawn to vampires, my early years filled with books by Anne Rice. But I didn’t truly fall in love with vampires until I read J.R. Ward’s The Blackdagger Brotherhood series. What I found in her books was a world I had never seen in vampire fiction. You could say I was officially inspired.
Over the years, I started noticing certain patterns in my writing, certain books or characters that affected me on a deeper level. It all finally came together in my mind when I read the magnificently erotic and compelling works of Joey Hill. Her vampire’s sexual expression through BDSM spoke to that deeper level. To say a lightbulb went on in my brain would be a vast understatement.  Her characters and stories emboldened me to take my own unique path as a writer and create a vampire world all my own.
Other than my two wonderful children, nothing has been more exciting and rewarding than giving life to these characters. My greatest aspiration is for them to move beyond my own alternate reality and into yours.
www.greyfrancis.com

Feast of Fates Guest Blog with Christian A. Brown

What challenges do you face being a male fantasy romance author?
An interesting question, and one that I’ve never thought about to be honest! I actually considered myself a “fantasy/ fiction” author, long before I ever thought of including elements of romance in my books. But I could never quite get those stories right. They were always missing a certain ingredient. Now, I’m sure you’re all familiar with the saying that: “life mirrors art”. Or vice-versa. And I agree with that from personal experience. Until I was given the gift of being loved—deeply and truly—and until I experienced the tragic and beautiful passing of my mother, I did not have the capacity or wisdom from which to draw a convincing enough narrative. I would say then, that ‘lack of life experience’ was a challenge in writing Feast of Fates. All in all, these two experiences, touching true love and knowing death, changed me incomparably as a person and as a writer. 
After these events, when I sat down to hammer out the 2nd draft of my manuscript, I ended up throwing the whole thing out. Something wasn’t working. The dialog seemed stilted, the plot clichéd Evil Empire shtick, the characters weren’t working. Everything felt so cardboard and stale to what I now understood. I gave up for a while, and went back to books, reading and light poetry. During this break, I dug up some old work of mine. I’d written a short story many years back, called Aadore and the Wolf. A story about a strong willed, stereotype-spurning maiden, and a lonely, honorable changeling who meet through extraordinary—and dark—circumstances and find love, redemption and family. A great story, when I went back and read it, but a short story. Those always tend to end just as we’re getting into them, and this one was no exception! That’s when I knew that I wanted to tell that story again, to give it proper room to grow and breathe and see where the characters led me. Instead, Morigan and Caenith (the Wolf) led me to many strange and wonderful places. I think that Morigan and the Wolf share a bond that defines the meaning of need, sacrifice and commitment. Their love is adult, encompassing and legendary. I adore the way he speaks to her—his poetry and tempered edge—and how strongly she carries herself as his equal and mate. I love the underlying and pure sensuality between them. 
I do not express much, or well, in terms of emotion. In the household, we jokingly refer to me by a variety of monikers: Tin Man, android, Borg. All of which are loving, teasing explanations for my apparent aloofness. I only express myself well through writing, which is why I do it. Anyway, much without realizing it, you see, I became a romance novelist. I don’t find it a challenge to write Morigan and the Wolf’s tale, because it brings me so much joy and heartache. Aside from the influences I mentioned, the fault for the change in genre really falls upon Morigan and the Wolf. Two beings, who, to paraphrase one very satisfied reader: “made me fall in love with love”.
I hope they do the same for you as well. 
All the best,-Christian 

Feast of FatesFour Feasts Till DarknessBook OneChristian A. Brown
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Date of Publication: September 9, 2014
ISBN: 978-1495907586Number of pages: 540
Word Count: 212K
Book Description:

"Love is what binds us in brotherhood, blinds us from hate, and makes us soar with desire.”
Morigan lives a quiet life as the handmaiden to a fatherly old sorcerer named Thackery. But when she crosses paths with Caenith, a not wholly mortal man, her world changes forever. Their meeting sparks long buried magical powers deep within Morigan. As she attempts to understand her newfound abilities, unbidden visions begin to plague her--visions that show a devastating madness descending on one of the Immortal Kings who rules the land.

With Morigan growing more powerful each day, the leaders of the realm soon realize that this young woman could hold the key to their destruction. Suddenly, Morigan finds herself beset by enemies, and she must master her mysterious gifts if she is to survive.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/8E_RVXgpqB8

Available at Amazon and Createspace
About the Author:

Christian A. Brown has written creatively since the age of six. After spending most of his career in the health and fitness industry, Brown quit his job to care for his mother when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2010.
Having dabbled with the novel that would eventually become Feast of Fates for over a decade, Brown was finally able to finish the project. His mother, who was able to read a beginning version of the novel before she passed away, has since imbued the story with deeper sentiments of loss, love, and meaning. He is proud to now share the finished product with the world.

http://christianadrianbrown.com
https://twitter.com/AuthorChrisAB
https://www.facebook.com/ChristianAdrianBrown
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8422242.Christian_A_Brown
https://plus.google.com/u/0/105782095673393074893/about



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My Favorite Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Series with LA Hendricks

Hi Fang-tastic followers, I’m LA Hendricks, author of the YA/fantasy novel HALF BREED QUEEN. For my guest post today, I tried to compile a listing of my favorite fantasy/paranormal romance book series. This list was both easy and difficult to put together. I love so many books and authors in this genre that it was hard to whittle it down to such a short list. However, I think I’ve done my book collection and my local library borrowing record justice here. Maybe. But I know I have some book to re-read! 
I must add one caveat – I tried putting these in order of my adoration for the books, characters and authors, but found myself going nuts. So I present my listing, in no particular order:
1. The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. I’ve read this so many times I’ve lost count. The story, the characters, the setting, the background – I love all of it!
2. The Sanctum Trilogy by Madhuri Blaylock. This series is by an indie author I met on Twitter. The alternate world she built has creatures of all types (vampires, trolls, fae, etc.) and superhuman warriors at war with each other. And the romance!?! Ugh, so many feels.
3. The DarkGlass Mountain series by Sara Douglass. This was one of the first series I read when I discovered the fantasy genre. Love, love love.  It’s at the top of my re-read list.
4. The Dark-Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Unlike some other long running book series, I never get tired of the sexy dark-hunters and the women who tame them. Each has such a unique backstory and storyline that these are books I tend to read in one sitting.
5. The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. This series has me twisted in knots. So much action and sexual tension. Whew. Just … whew.
6. The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh. Angels and vampires fascinate me, and this series has both. Plus a lot of badass women in action. Who wouldn’t love that?
7. The Obsidian Universe series by Mercedes Lackey. Ok, I kinda cheated with this entry. The Obsidian Universe is actually a collection of three trilogies; each of them building on the one before. The world building in this one is phenomenal – you’d never know from reading them that elves and demons don’t really exist!

So that’s my shortened list of seven (odd number, but I tried) fantasy/paranormal romance book series. I want to thank Fang-Tastic Books playing host during my Bewitching Book Tour! 
I’m always looking for new additions to my collection. Any suggestions?

Half Breed QueenThe Skatia NarrativesBook OneLA Hendricks
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Publisher: Illipsium Media
Date of Publication: March 2, 2015
ISBN: 978-09860984-1-3ASIN: B00U5945FW
Number of pages: 322Word Count: 72,000
Cover Artist: LA Hendricks
Book Description:
Devastating tragedy puts 14-year-old high school freshman Marla Owens, on a fast-paced journey of survival, revival and coming of age. Driven by a force she can't begin to understand and a burning need to find out the truth, she heads toward her mother’s home in North Dakota. She soon learns more about herself and her family than she could have ever imagined — her mother was royal heir to the powerful Skatian throne! And now the Skatian people need her to protect their world from those who wish to conquer it.
In a classic tale of good versus evil, set on Earth and beyond, a young girl fights to survive to become a young woman—and the reluctant queen of Skatia.  Who can she trust? Will she be able to control her own immense abilities and justified anger to do what’s right? One thing’s for sure: Marla’s not in Texas anymore!
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/oCnwVQ5b38M
Available at Amazon   BN   iTunes   Kobo
Excerpt #5
She was focusing on a rather complicated answer when the warning pain struck in her gut. It was as bad as the others, but her body seemed to adjust better to the pain. She closed her laptop and shoved it in her backpack, prepared to run if necessary. She grabbed her tote and set it next to her backpack, tossing the extra water bottle in as well. She looked out the window and saw that they were in the middle of a forest, not a city or town in sight. Not even a house. She tried to open the door to the compartment and found it was stuck. No matter how hard she pulled, it just wouldn't budge. As her fear and frustration grew, she could feel the change coming on. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down and keep from turning into that purple alien monster again.
Sitting in her seat, she continued the deep breathing to clear her mind. In her mind’s eye, an old police station and a man she'd never met appeared. He sat behind a large, old wooden desk; his sheriff's uniform was a bit too snug to be called comfortable. She saw him look up at her as though she were standing over him.
“Marla,” he said gently.
Marla opened her eyes and looked around her expecting to be in that same sleeper compartment.
“Marlaveenia,” he said again, with a little more force.
Marla began to blink her eyes and shake her head, anything to try to make sense of what had happened.
I couldn't possibly be here, she thought, apprehension and anxiety growing in her mind. This is impossible. I’ve lost my mind.Marla found herself becoming hysterical.
She felt the increasingly familiar and frightening rumblings of the body change coming over her and, unable to stop it, she turned to run out the door.
“Marla, wait. Stop!” The man’s voice sounded concerned, but Marla couldn’t worry about that. She needed to get someplace where she would be alone. She’d make sense of how she got here later. She ran down the street towards the woods on the edge of the little town. As she ran, she passed a sign that read “Edgemeadow, Pop. 231.” Marla stopped dead in her tracks, completely dazed by what she saw. As she turned to find the man in the sheriff’s uniform closing in on her, her legs buckled from underneath her, and she fell to the ground in a dead faint.

About the Author:
LA Hendricks is an IT project manager by day and science fiction/fantasy novelist by night. A longtime lover of words, she reads science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romance novels regularly (when there is time).
When not reading, writing or working, LA can most often be found watching football or basketball with her adorable cat, Mona.
www.loriahendricks.com
www.theskatianarratives.com
https://www.facebook.com/lahendricksSFFWriter
https://twitter.com/LAH_Author
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Interview and Giveaway: A New Day at Midnight by Michelle Hiscox

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
I’m fascinated by the paranormal, the fantasy of eternal life and circumventing the laws of reality. It’s a great escape and opens up so much unique creative opportunities for a writer.
What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve long been interested by the Romani culture and many of the myths and old stories that abounded. Between my love for romance, horror, writing, and culture, the outcome was inevitable.
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
Names for A New Day at Midnight, especially regarding the Romani characters in the novel, are names traditionally associated with Romani heritage. I chose all names for the book to be appropriate to the time period as well to ensure authenticity.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I don’t have a particular formula, but when I start writing I have a general sense of the character, of who I want them to be, and the specifics develop as I write. After I’ve done a good amount of story development, I create a loose character sketch for the main characters to ensure they remain complex and credible, including paranormal gifts or attributes, family history, motivations, significant life shaping events. It helps to create layered characters and keeps me true to who they are.
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
Does staying up until 1am most nights count? Cramming in research between making supper and driving to dance class? Those are more mentally than physically challenging, but I feel it!
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
There is a strong focus on blood drinking demons and Romani myth within the story. It includes Bifrons, ruler of hell below, and his captive wife, Queen Ana of the Keshalyi, a woman once full of magic from above on earth, as the originators of the Hearne family. World building consisted of a lot of research into Romani history and myths, and the creation of a ‘master sheet’ to maintain the integrity of supernatural continuity, realistic time line, and cultural elements.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
Sure do. Sometimes I stare at my computer screen for a good hour before I actually write a single line. Or if I’m stuck I’ll find distractions like gmail and facebook. Most of the time I try to steer myself in a constructive direction when I’m struggling to write, like researching on the internet or learning about marketing.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
That question still makes me chuckle. I suppose I consider myself a writer now, but it’s really my part time passion. I squeeze it in whenever, wherever I can, and it’s always on my mind. I think that, more than anything, makes me a writer.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Trashy romance novels, B rated horror movies, and a considerable affinity for my pug, Odie.
What was the last amazing book you read?
That is such a difficult question. Lover Awakened is the best paranormal romance I’ve ever read. The Stand is the best horror novel, and I am Legend the best short story. There’s no possibility that I could pick one, they all resonate for different reasons.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
Any spot is special when it comes to me and reading. I’ll read on the stairs at work on my break, lying on the couch with the television blared, in bed before I go to sleep at night.
What can readers expect next from you?
By the end of this year they can expect the second installment in the Hearne Family Saga, tentatively titled Chasing Dawn.
Where can readers find you on the web?
www.michellehiscox.com
The website includes blog posts on writing, sales information, and book excerpts. I also plan to post excerpts from Chasing Dawn to give readers a sample of upcoming work.
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Absolutely, here’s an excerpt that exposes some of Merik’s struggle as a conflicted man playing host to a demon:What troubles you so? What troubles you so? Her proximity jarred him, brought back memories Merik fooled himself into believing long forgotten. Images once misplaced in his mind blazed to life with brilliant colour and warmth. His body ached.
Her smell was the very same as in the dreams haunting him. It was the scent of a seraph on the breeze, biting with a thousand razor edges over the course of a decade. Such beautiful suffering. If given a thousand years, he could not wash her from his memory.
The very essence of her life called to him. The steady thrum of her heart, the warmth radiating from her, he could scarcely tolerate it. She touched him with a hand like a butterfly wing and his cock hardened, his body straining to change in ways that would horrify the traitorous woman standing before him.
He hardly took a step yet felt as if he lost some of his footing. For many years, he existed alone with his burden, carrying the weight only because his fevered purpose allowed him to. Blind devotion to his self-appointed task served to keep his hunger at bay, calming the cravings threatening to drive him to madness. Now he could not help but think the poison might actually be the cure.




A New Day at MidnightThe Hearne Family SagaBook 1Michelle Hiscox
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Bookkus Publishing
Date of Publication: February 14, 2015
ISBN: 0991709497ASIN: B00TGOODU4
Page Count Print – 264       Page Count Electronic – 268Word Count: 92,691
Cover Artist: Bookkus Publishing
Book Description:
When Merik Hearne finally lays claim to the woman that betrayed him, she inspires much more than his need for revenge—but is her love worth dying for again?
Condemned to play host to a demon, the scarred Romani leader has amassed a fortune with only one goal in mind—to possess Hannah Worthington, the traitorous beauty that has eluded him for over a decade. With an exchange of coin, everything he has been striving for is within reach but nothing is as he imagined. The tender, sharp-tongued woman he encounters tests the bounds of his convictions and he is torn between the promise of reckoning and longing for a love that once destroyed him.
Exchanged for a purse of gold and informed she is to be a slave, Hannah vows she has not survived a lifetime of loss only to wither under the likes of Merik Hearne. And she will do everything she can to make sure he knows it. Despite his overbearing manner, his fierce scars, and her own determination to escape him, she begins to see that something beautiful might lie beneath…something that belongs only to her. She must discover the angle from which the great lord plays before his dark desires consume them both. 
As they struggle to find truth amid pasts marred by sorrow and secrecy, they are unaware that a vengeful apostle orchestrates the rise of a forgotten god—and the end of their chance at a life together.

Available at  Amazon   Amazon.ca   Amazon.co.uk  BN
Excerpt 2
Hannah realized Merik had left her doors unlocked. Again. Did he believe she would stay now that she knew his true name and nature? She dare not utter the real question plaguing her, but it invaded her mind nonetheless. Is he right? A large ember escaped from the iron latticework in front of the fire, landing on the rug at her feet. She watched it smoulder.Smoke curled up in delicate tendrils, disappearing before reaching the high ceiling. She stared for several long moments, willing the flame to grow, to consume her. It held the colour of Merik’s eyes, burning gold and crimson. A small flame flickered to life, hungry for progress until she stamped it out with the heel of her foot.Rising from the fire to flop on her bed, she stopped short as an echo rang through the hall. Certain her battered senses played tricks on her, she pulled back her covers to lay down but heard it again.Whether it was a call of rage, grief, or agony she could not distinguish. It came from Merik’s quarters, echoing deep within the shadows of the hall. Padding to her door, she warred between anger over his treatment of her and the desire to ease his pain.She could not ignore the fact he’d told her the truth. Pulling a robe about her shoulders, she kicked off her charred slipper. Without consulting her mind, she made the decision with her heart. She rested her hand on the door, opening the barrier between her and the unknown.“Shit. Shit, shit, shit. What am I doing? I can stay in my rooms. There is hardly any need to go out there.”Another tortured cry rose in the air, strengthening her resolve to help Merik.Lighting a candle, she forced herself to go into the hall. Another cry rang through the air, and as she got closer to Merik’s chamber, she finally understood what he was saying. Her name.“I’m coming, Merik.” Running to his room, she entered through the open door to see an empty chamber. Desperation overrode the fear hammering her heart against her chest. The room smelled of blood, of sickness. Could Vetala even get sick? Could they die?“No, please no, not again. Merik? Merik, please call my name.”He groaned. As she followed the source of the noise, the candle shook in her hand. The hot wax stung her flesh when she stopped several steps in front of a half-open door set in the wall.“Merik?” The smell of death clung to the entrance and she gagged. The candle wobbled in her hand. She steadied it, saying a quick thanks to God it did not go out. She could not bear to go forth in the darkness without light. Setting the candle on the floor, she swung the door wide. The candle flickered as she picked it up. Fear twisted her guts and no matter how she tried, she could not stop her hands from shaking. She took another step.“Merik?” It took her eyes several moments to see more than a foot from her face. When she saw him in the dim light, she gasped. He now stood in front of her. It took her several more moments to realize he was not standing of his own volition, but rather restrained by chains embedded in the stone wall. When he lifted his head, she covered her mouth to stifle a scream.Eyes of molten gold and crimson stared back at her. His jaw and facial bones were distended, his hands curled into claws. The changes were much more severe than the few instances she attributed to the loss of her mind.“I…I…” Stepping back toward the entrance, her gaze never left Merik’s. She turned her back on him to commence a rather spineless retreat, but could not get her feet to cooperate.“Hannah?” The voice held much more than pain. What? Desperation? Hope? She could not move as her heart and mind waged war. Despite his appearance, she knew beneath the angled bone protruding from his flesh, his distorted face, and the fangs visible in his mouth, Merik stood in front of her. The man she met a decade before. The man looking at her with the same single focused intensity with which he always did. The man she loved.Taking another step and hearing nothing but her own harsh breathing, she took one more.







About the Author:
Michelle Hiscox is a Paranormal Romance fan and author who hails from Drumheller, Alberta. The dinosaur bones buried in the hills of her hometown inspired the first stories she ever wrote, and she feels blessed to walk those same hills with her daughter today. Crocus flowers and dust bowls full of cactus never fail to inspire.
While her little girl and husband provides many welcome distractions to writing, it's something she always finds her way back to. Michelle is the proud, and slightly crazy, owner of two dogs and three cats, all animals she loves more than she reasonably should. She's been reading voraciously since she was a child and, one night, pulled her nose from a book to start writing her own.
Website  – http://www.michellehiscox.com
Blog – http://www.michellehiscox.com/#!blog/c112v
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009234082124
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13508742.Michelle_Hiscox
Amazon Author Page –http://www.amazon.com/l/B00VO2K990
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Cover Reveals: DARK EMBRACE and DARK PARADISE by Angie Sandro

About Dark Embrace

Reader favorite Angie Sandro returns to the bayou with a bewitching paranormal romance…

Rescued from the brink of death by her cousin Mala, Dena Acker returns to the land of the living with a terrifying gift. Still connected to the darkness that almost claimed her, she can tell when someone’s about to die—but there’s nothing she can do to save them. Desperate to rid herself of this cursed ability, Dena has only one chance at peace . . . and it comes from an otherworldly stranger.  

For centuries, Ashmael has seen more souls than he can count but he’s never been drawn to anyone the way he is to fragile, beautiful Dena. She fills the dark void of his days with light, and he would do anything to ease her suffering. Even if it means sacrificing his only chance at a flesh-and-blood existence to truly be with her.



BN  Kobo  Amazon
About Dark Paradise

Is this love affair their destiny? Or is it doomed?

Paradise, Louisiana, is far from idyllic for Mala LaCroix and Landry Prince. Haunted by strange visions, the pair are drawn together by a mystery concealed beneath the polite facades and the murky swamps of the Deep South.   Landry had a crush on Mala all through high school and was her greatest defender, but now-up close and personal-he is starting to suspect that the rumors of witchcraft and voodoo are true.  

But he can't let his doubts tear them apart because a day of reckoning is coming. As Mala struggles to conceal her powers and avoid the curse that has struck generations of LaCroix women, Landry will have no choice but to face his own demons. Both of them will soon be caught up in a web of deceit that reveals the dark side of Paradise.

BN    Kobo  iTunes   Amazon




About Angie Sandro

Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.   Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. 

Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired this story.  Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador.





Connect with Angie online:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7768076.Angie_Sandro


http://facebook.com/pages/Angie-Sandro/253044268078356 


http://anjeasandro.blogspot.com/


@AngieSandro 

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Release Day Blitz Summer Fire: Love When It’s Hot

Summer Fire: Love When It’s Hot
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: dba 7th House Publishing, Imprint of Andromeda LLC
Date of Publication: May 26, 2015
ISBN: 9781507060469ASIN: B00U1DZH7C
Number of pages: 1,610Word Count: 483,000
Cover Artist: Victoria Danann
Description:
20 ALL NEW summer romances by New York Times, USA Today, and National Bestselling authors.
Love when it’s hot? So do we. Especially when we’re writing about gritty alphas, angsty bad boys, sizzling attraction, and unrequited passion. Military, cowboy, biker, humor, second chance love, and more.
SO LOOSEN YOUR BUTTONS, TURN THE FAN TO OSCILLATE, AND JOIN US FOR THIS STEAMY, GROUNDBREAKING BUNDLE OF SUMMER TALES THAT ARE HOT HOT HOT.
1. Gennita Low Sizzle Spies, Lola and Jake, fall hard for each other. Is their love strong enough for one assignment that would risk everything?
2. R.J. Lewis Sinful Two different people from two different worlds find their lives colliding in the most sinful way.
3. L. Wilder Summer Storm VP Guardrail’s life has always been his MC club. It’s up to him to fix a wrong, but he wasn’t expecting Allie to take him by storm.
4. Victoria Danann A Season in Gemini The first time sexy biker, Brant Fornight, saw Garland St. Germaine, he knew she was going to turn him inside out. And she did.
5. Kym Grosso Solstice Burn Love and temptation flare in a tropical paradise. When Chase rescues Penny, she learns to embrace her inner fantasies.
6. Cat Miller Sun Burnt Kesslyn inherits a ranch, but the city girl is unsure she’s up for the challenge. Can her sexy foreman rope her into staying forever?
7. Mimi Barbour Big Girls Don’t Cry He’s everything she’s ever wanted in a man. And she’s nothing like the girl she wants to be. Something’s gotta change…
8. Clarissa Wild Killer Secrets could kill you. He murdered her husband. She’s the prime suspect seeking justice. Only one of them can win.
9. Teresa Gabelman Rodeo Romance Jake McCabe had one rule. Never date a client. Trisha Summers had a new rule. Never date a man again. Rules were meant to be broken.
10. Helen Scott Taylor Irish Kisses Ten years ago he said he loved her, then he left and broke her heart. Now he’s back, and he wants her again, but can she trust him?
11. Victoria James Sweet Surrender Cade showing up on her doorstep is not what Julia wants-but this bad-boy is back and ready to convince her that this time is forever…
12. Mona Risk Husband for a Week A Sicilian vendetta, a fake husband, and a matchmaking grandmother complicate Jonathan and Isabella’s lives. Can love conquer all?
13. Patrice Wilton A Man for Hire Jordon’s ex-boyfriend is bringing home a bride. To save face she hires a hot guy for the weekend. Sparks fly–can this be love?
14. Linda Barlow My Mile-High Mistake Six years ago, she yearned for her sexy, forbidden high school teacher. Now she can’t resist his temptation at 35,000 feet.
15. Joan Reeves Heat Lightning Her husband found her, claimed her, rescued her. His touch makes her throb. Her body knows him, but she remembers nothing about him.
16. Danielle Jamie Tan Lines and Salty Kisses Becca and Parker have a second chance at summer romance. The spark is hotter than a Georgia July. Can it withstand news of his secret?
17. Terri Marie Someone Exactly Like You Cameron Barron’s plan was solid. A few lies, a disguise, and an apology to Chastity Newberry… What could possibly go wrong?
18. Lorhainne Eckhart His Promise A love they thought would last forever. A promise forgotten. Until one summer night.
19. Brandy L Rivers Summer Rhythm Doug never could resist Chloe. She always runs. Will this time be different or is their summer rhythm destined to repeat.
20. Nicole Blanchard Anchor I thought it was a weekend from hell, until he showed me a little piece of heaven.

Available at Amazon   Apple   BN   Kobo

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Guest Blog and $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: The Celtic Wolves Series by Jan DeLima

Think of songs with rockin’ angst and epic love, and they will fit well with my Celtic Wolves Series.  

However, this playlist isn’t about my series, but some favorites I enjoy relaxing to.  

After a long day of writing, I’ll turn on my Wine Time playlist, pour a glass of wine, gather herbs from the garden for dinner, and wind down to the soulful sounds of these amazing artists!  

Enjoy and have a glass of wine for me!
Jan  


I PUT A SPELL ON YOU by Jeff Beck, featuring Joss Stone
RIGHT TO BE WRONG by Joss Stone
SET FIRE TO THE RAIN by Adele
COME ALONG by Vicci Martinez and CeeLo Green
HOLD ME DARLIN’ by Vicci Martinez
ALL OF ME by John Legend
ORDINARY PEOPLE by John Legend
WICKED GAME by Phillip Phillips
WANTED IS LOVE by Phillip Phillips
365 DAYS by ZZ Ward
CRYIN’ WOLF by ZZ Ward
I CHOOSE YOU by Sara Bareilles
MY OH MY by Tristan Prettyman
THAT GIRL by Jennifer Nettles
BROTHER by NEEDTOBREATHE, featuring Gavin DeGraw
FIRE by Gavin DeGraw
COLLIDE by Howie Day
READY FOR LOVE by India.Arie
BRIGHT LIGHTS by Matchbox Twenty
TELL HER YOU BELONG TO ME by Beth Hart

Celtic MoonThe Celtic Wolves SeriesBook 1Sophie and Dylan’s StoryJan DeLima
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: ACE
Date of Publication: September 24, 2013
ISBN: 978-0425266205ASIN: B00BF08AOM
Number of pages: 304Word Count:  84,000 approx
Book Description:
Like father, like son...
Sophie Thibodeau has been on the run from the father of her son for more than fifteen years.  Now her son, Joshua, is changing, and her greatest fears are about to be realized.  He's going to end up being just like his father----a man who can change into a wolf.
Dylan Black has been hunting for Sophie since the night she ran from him----an obsession he cannot afford in the midst of an impending war.  Dylan controls Rhuddin Village, an isolated town in Maine where he lives with an ancient Celtic tribe.  One of the few of his clan who can still shift into a wolf, he must protect his people from the Guardians, vicious warriors who seek to destroy them.
When Sophie and Dylan come together for the sake of their son, their reunion reignites the fierce passion they once shared.  For the first time in years, Dylan's lost family is within his grasp.  But will he lose them all over again? Are Joshua and Sophie strong enough to fight alongside Dylan in battle? Nothing less than the fate of his tribe depends on it...

Available at  Amazon and  BN
Teaser Excerpt from Celtic Moon:
“I’m going for a run,” Dylan said dryly, taking off toward the woods.  His people had wronged Sophie.  He was convinced of that now.  And still she had come home to him, of her own free will—for their son.  
His wolf clawed at his spine for release.  Its fury, its need—its desire for the woman who’d had the courage to return for their child was no longer controllable.
The wolf wanted out.
Having her near and within reach was akin to pain. 
Perhaps it was a good thing Sophie hadn’t invited him to stay, Dylan thought as he entered the forest, ripping off clothes as he walked.  For if she had, he wasn’t sure if he could have controlled his hunger.
It had been too long.
Celtic Moon’s first chapter:
http://jandelima.com/CelticMoon_Chapter1.html

Summer MoonThe Celtic Wolves SeriesBook 2Rosa and Luc’s storyJan DeLima
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: ACE
Date of Publication: September 30, 2014
ISBN: 978-0425266212ASIN: B00ISEOKPG
Number of pages: 305Word Count:  84,000
Book Description:
She won't be ruled again...
Rosa Alban has been obedient her entire life. But when her alpha husband dies, she seizes the opportunity to flee the oppressive Guardians—the rulers of the secret shapeshifter world. Her flight instantly brands her as a pack traitor, and she has no choice but to seek protection from a neighboring tribe by marrying one of their sons.   
Known as the Beast of Merin, Luc Black loyally plays the part of unwanted son and devoted brother. He realizes marrying Rosa will strengthen his tribe’s territory, but he has no intention of loving ever again. Still, he’s unprepared for the intense physical need the wild she-wolf awakens in him.   
When the Guardians hone in on Rosa, Luc must fight to protect his new bride. And as war descends, the unlikely allies discover their destinies are irrevocably entwined… 
Available at  Amazon and  BN



Excerpt from Summer Moon:
Luc wrapped the knitted blanket around Rosa and draped it like a shawl. Fisting his hands around the corners, he pulled her forward, like a fish caught in a weir. Before she could guess his intent, she found herself on his lap, cocooned in heat and hot male skin, with her legs dangled over his knees.
“Now, is this so bad?” he taunted while tucking her head under his chin.
“I suppose not.” Pondering where to place her hands, she ended up curling them in her lap, while her shoulder rested in the crook between his arm and chest.
In truth, it was hypnotic setting on him like this—dangerously so, like the hush before a storm. The rise and fall of his torso as he breathed lulled like a male siren, along with the weight of his arms and the lure of his skin against her cheek. The most exquisite scent of forest and man wove around her senses. More tempting, underneath it all lay the hint of musk, of potent wolf waiting in the shadows to protect her if the human failed.
All her tension ebbed like a babe in caring arms. Away from Guardians and wrapped in strength; she’d not felt this safe since childhood. How sad that she’d found peace with a virtual stranger. And how easily she could become addicted.
Oh, yes . . . this was dangerous. “How long do we have to stay like this?”
“Shhhh . . .” His throat moved as he swallowed while his hands trailed up her thighs and under her sweater, but only to knead the muscles of her lower back.
As if she weren’t becoming a puddle of goo already.
Before long, her eyes grew heavy, drifted closed. Had he been waiting for this moment of surrender, she wondered drowsily, when her guard had dissolved enough to welcome his gentle game? And did she care? For this was far more pleasant than any others she’d been forced to play.
He shifted to the side and moved his shoulder, leaned a bit, and her head rolled back, only to be caught by the soft pressure of his mouth on hers. So tender she didn’t even open her eyes. Were a man’s lips supposed to be this soft? Like with other carnal acts, she had little experience with kissing, sadly enough.
Having known only violence or indifference, her perceptions reeled. Indeed, if this was passion, then she didn’t know how to respond. But she was curious enough to try. She would admit that to herself, and even to him if he asked . . . She was so hungry to know what others whispered about in giggly tones. How many stories had she heard, from Tesni and others, of their forbidden trysts and naughty secrets, only to feel like a bystander to their private joy?
“Open your mouth, Rosa.” The order came on a husky whisper against her lips.
Summer Moon’s first chapter:
http://jandelima.com/SummerMoon_Chapter1.html
Autumn MoonThe Celtic Wolves SeriesBook 3Elen and Cormack’s storyJan DeLima
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: ACE
Date of Publication: September 29, 2015
ISBN: 978-0425266229ASIN: B00SI0B9DQ
Number of pages:Word Count: 
Book Description:
The heart of a warrior, the soul of a wolf, and the desires of a man…
For centuries, Cormack has lived between worlds—a man trapped in the body of a wolf, shunned by humans and shifters alike. Only one person has ever welcomed his company: Elen, a kindred outcast who is feared by others of her ancient Celtic race for her strange healing abilities.
Cormack has always valued Elen’s kindness and understanding, but after a desperate act of friendship causes Elen to free him from his curse, he realizes he wants more. He wants all of her—completely and forever.Except before Cormack can win Elen’s heart, Pendaran, the evil leader of the Guardians, captures her, determined to manipulate her incredible power to aid him in his twisted war against the shapeshifting tribes.
Now Cormack must use all of his skills as a warrior and a wolf to save the woman he loves—before Pendaran’s vile schemes destroy them all…
Available at Amazon  and   BN

Excerpt from Autumn Moon
Too wired to sleep, Elen opened the wine and poured a glass, sipping quietly as she walked over to the bed.  Cormack slept above the coverlet and on his back, with one arm raised over his head, while the other rested by his side.  His hair was still damp from his shower, and he wore jeans but no shirt, as if he’d just rested his head and sleep claimed him first.
His chest rose and fell with even breaths.  She was not one to marvel over physical attributes, but this was Cormack, and his body was meant for pleasure, like a goddess had molded him for her personal divine gratification.  His frame was large, and toned, with wide shoulders and a firm chest that tapered down to his hips.  His hardened stomach would provide the perfect friction were she to ride him just like this.
And as that image flooded her mind, another, more wicked one, followed.  It was greedy, and selfish, but all her niceness had been used up for the day.  He looked peaceful, and innocent, but the man was practically immortal after all.  Their kind did not die from lack of sleep.  They might go mad, of course, but that took a few weeks.  And had he not said, do with me as you will?
She needed to touch him.  That was all.  Well, no, she wanted more, but for now that would do.  Taking a sip of her wine, she gently set the glass on an end table by the bed, and gave into temptation.  Starting by his heart, she brushed lightly across his chest, tracing down the indent between, and lingering on the valleys and curves of his muscles.  Flattening her hand over his stomach, she felt the soft hair that began just above the waistband of his jeans and disappeared below.  She had never seen him in this restful state, at least not in his human form, and took in her ravenous fill.
Her hand lingered over the button of his jeans.  She swallowed, wanting… Oh, how she wanted.  It burned like molten earth, fed by a need that had been denied for too long.  Even now she felt her body moisten and swell just from imagining what waited beyond that closure, and how it would feel inside her.
Or how it would taste.
She thumbed the button.  A quick flick was all it would take.
A sound made her jolt, an intake of breath perhaps, followed by a sudden rise under her hands.  She snapped her eyes to his face.
Cormack was awake.
And watching her.
A fire raged within his cerulean gaze.  “Kill me now if you stop, Elen, because then I’ll know I’m well and truly cursed and I cannot be tortured anymore.”
Prequel for Autumn Moon:
http://jandelima.com/mshafwen_excerpt.html

About the Author:
Jan DeLima is the author of the Celtic Wolves novels, including Summer Moon and Celtic Moon. She lives in Maine with her husband and their two sons. Unlike many authors, Jan didn’t pen stories at an early age, but she has always been a dedicated reader. She loves stories and storytelling. It wasn’t until after her children entered school that she began writing. Raised in a military family, she lived in different countries such as Thailand and Germany, but home base has always been Maine.
Website: http://www.jandelima.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/delimajan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delimajan
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6928196.Jan_DeLima



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One Day Blitz: Stricken by Marcia Colette

The End? Really?
Many authors look forward to typing those words "The End" at the end of their manuscript. The story is over, all loose ends (for the most part) are resolved, and the hero and/or heroine are happy for now. I've always imagined my favorite authors sitting back with a huge smile on their faces and thankful that Fate is on their side, as they've met their ferocious deadline. 
The end has never been "The End" for me. That doesn't mean I don't so things like celebrate my accomplishments in some minor way. I always treat myself to a few days of rest before I start that next story or I have that dessert I normally don't eat. After slaving over a book that has most likely taken me from an emotional high to an emotional low and back to that high again, I deserve something to regain my sanity, right?
For me, even though "The End" has come, it doesn't mean I stop thinking about a story. Thousands of questions bombard me. Do I want a sequel? Do I want to make this a series? Do I want to leave it at one book and explore a spin-off world? Stricken, though you might think it’s a first book, is actually a second book in my Alexa York world. Stripped was published by a different publisher back in 2009 (I think), so this second book is a long-time in the making. That wasn't planned—I swear. And if you're really curious, there was another book that featured Alexa York that was released back in 2006, which was my very first contracted book. That one is in the process of being rewritten for submission to my publisher for a re-release (fingers crossed my editor likes it). Let's face it. I'm Alexa York's biggest fan girl. If all goes well, there will be a fourth book, too. In fact, I'm in the process of writing a story for Alexa's sister Genevieve that will also be an urban fantasy with romantic elements. And thanks to Stricken, I'm toying with the idea of a spin-off series. 
You see? There's really no true "The End", as I suspect is true with other writers, too. Ideas are always churning and molding in our brains until we finally have a chance to put fingers to the keyboard. Series like Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong took thirteen books. Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series is another one. Kim Harrison is still forging ahead with The Hollows, thank goodness, though I'm a few books behind and desperately need to catch up. How long has Harry Dresden been around? Woohoo!
Sure, there comes a time when an author has to put "The End" on a series. But as long as readers keep reading, it'll be a while before we authors truly stamp "The End" on our books. As a reader, too, I’m extremely grateful for that.
Thanks for indulging me!

StrickenAlexa YorkBook 2Marcia Colette
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Purple Sword Publications
Date of Publication: 5/6/2015
ISBN:ASIN:
Number of pages: 167Word Count: 66,020
Cover Artist: Traci Markou
Book Description:
Personal tragedy convinces half-werewolf Alexa York to get away to the town of McCormick, Pennsylvania where she's charged with protecting Dr. Aiden Joss, physician to the supernatural community. Not only does she need the money, she needs the distraction. Unfortunately, she gets it in spades when Joss's personal issues and a myriad of dangerously sick patients make her new job nearly impossible.
A mysterious disease is running its way through the New York Order of the Amazons and leaving bodies in its wake. The same warrior who had chosen her clan over Joss has asked for him help. Even though the disease is real, Alexa has reason to believe his ex's sincerity is not.
Given the other numerous problems she has to deal with that are outside of her job description, Dr. Joss might be the biggest threat to his own safety. But, protecting him comes first. That’s difficult to do when his efforts to find an antidote put everyone in his remote clinic in danger, including Alexa.
Available at Purple Sword

Excerpt: Chapter One
Present day.
I stood on the porch of Dr. Aiden Joss’s luxurious home irate as hell. Someone was supposed to meet me at the airport in Philadelphia. I ended up having to take a cab because all of the rentals were booked from the only airport about twenty-five miles from the small town of McCormick, Pennsylvania. The taxi driver must have mistaken me for an oil baron with the fare he charged. He ended up having to leave me at the front gate because the intercom was busted. Thankfully, being a human hybrid had its advantages. After tossing my duffle over the ten-foot wall, I followed by leaping over. Some security. The downpour turned my black, wavy hair into thick tresses snaking down my neck and upper back. Sadly, my duffle bag was just as pitiful as I looked, since it wasn’t waterproof. I’d exercised more care when picking out my purse and laptop bag. The front door opened. A tall, bulky man who looked like he missed his calling as an NFL linebacker stood against the golden glow of the interior. His face was criminal-hard, though something in his dark eyes said otherwise. He wore a white shirt and jeans with a brace around his left knee. He blinked. “Oh, boy.” He hurried to unlock the storm door and let me inside. “You must be Ms. Alexa York.” I struggled getting past him with my wet duffle, carry-on and my drenched clothes clinging to my cold body. “I am. I take it the phones don’t work around here.” He took my stuff and set it aside. “The power has been flickering all night. They just got the lights back on about three minutes ago. The phone is Internet, so when the power goes out, everything goes out.” I unzipped my sodden jacket. “I get it. No phone, no phone calls. Which is why I was stuck at the airport.” He sighed. “Again, my apologies, ma’am. With so much going on, I only had a chance to worry about one thing at a time.” I glanced at him before answering. So much going on? The house was quiet and not a soul in sight. What could’ve possibly had him too busy to pick me up when he knew I was coming? Heck, I was here to be his replacement while he was on the mend. If he didn’t want me here, forgetting me at the airport or not sending a car to pick me up worked in his favor. He offered his hand to me. “My name’s Sammy. I’m Dr. Joss’s med tech and assistant.” “Med tech?” I looked him up and down. “But I thought you were his—” He chuckled. “I’m really his assistant. I’m only his bodyguard when I have to be. And given the kind of world that lies beyond those gates, I find myself playing the latter more often.” I closed my eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry if I sounded a little crotchety, but—” Sammy waved a large hand. “No need to apologize. I’d be a lot more than pissed had I been in your shoes. Speaking of which, let me show you to your room so you can get some dry clothes on.” Snorting, I glanced at the puddle forming around my duffle. “Dry clothes, huh. That would be nice.” “No worries, Ms. York. I’ll find you something.” “It’s Alexa, by the way.” Those close to me called me Lex. We weren’t there yet. “Alexa, then.” My room was upstairs on the second floor along with five other bedrooms. Every piece of furniture was stained pine and sitting against light blue walls. Thankfully, I had my own private bathroom. When I looked out the bathroom window, light was coming from the woods somewhere behind the trees where it shouldn’t be. I sure hoped Dane had told me everything I needed to know about this so-called mission. I would hate to learn something the hard—painful—way. Though that would never be his intention, I also knew his idea of what information was important to know was different from mine. Had it not been for Wesley Dane, a full-blooded werewolf friend of my family, I wouldn’t be here to play bodyguard for one of his closest friends. It wasn’t the thousand dollars a day, tax-free money for my services that had brought me here. I needed the distraction more than anything. “So, how much do you know about me?” After snuggling into a thick, warm robe I found hanging on a hook, I dried off my hair with a towel and opened the bathroom door. Sammy was still there, though keeping his distance by waiting in the hall. I thought it was weird, but whatever, seeing as this was more his house than mine. “Enough,” he replied. “You’re half-werewolf, which is extremely rare. You’re also married, which means either your husband, who’s a full-blood, or Dane is going to tear Dr. Joss apart if anything bad happens to you. Although, that sort of defeats the purpose of you being the doctor’s bodyguard.” He half-smiled. “Are you expecting me to be torn apart?” “No.” He chuckled. “But I expect you’ll be put through the wringer.”



About the Author:
Author Marcia Colette didn’t discover her love for reading until her late teens when she started reading John Saul and progressed to works by Bentley Little, Stephen King and Laurell K. Hamilton. Her reading tastes convinced her to write paranormals where curses cause people to shift into spiders, psychotic and telekinetic mothers are locked away in attics, and murderous doppelgangers are on a rampage. Let's not forget about the hunky werecheetah coalitions who live throughout North Carolina. As long as she can make it believable, that's all that matters.
Born and raised in upstate New York, Marcia now lives in North Carolina with her mom and beautiful daughter. They’re not raising zombies in the backyard. There aren’t any hellhounds living in the den, only a rabbit and a cockatiel. So where she gets her ideas is as much a mystery to her as anyone else.
The best place to find her--when she's not stirring up trouble--is on her blog where she loves connecting with readers.
www.marciacolette.com
http://marciacolette.wordpress.com/
http://twitter.com/MarciaColette
https://www.facebook.com/marciacolette
http://www.goodreads.com/marcia_colette

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Review: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Patricia Briggs can grab a reader and pull them into her world completely. The story telling and world building are top notch.

And she can really elicit emotion from a reader. Wow. This was one I couldn't put down until the book was done, and then I wanted more.

I love diving deeper into Charles's background and seeing the man underneath the enforcer, underneath the Alpha wolf that has to keep it all together and keep everyone else in line. Anna softens his rough edges but we get to see more of Charles as she does, glimpse his history and see the whole picture.

In Dead Heat Anna and Charles are visiting an old friend of his because Charles wishes to buy Anna a horse. The trip starts out as a personal vacation, an escape from their normal day to day world but they are quickly sucked into a dangerous mystery that touches Charles personally when someone within his circle of friends and family is attacked. They start investigating on their own and end up helping the FBI and local law agencies. They find out the Fae are up to something and it is not good at all.

Charles is such a deep character and we see so much character development for both he and Anna throughout these stories. Not only does the world building become more complex but the characters become so real, so deep.

I LOVE both this series and the Mercy Thompson series, enjoying the multiple views of this world Briggs has built. But I really love the romance and the character building that goes on in the Alpha and Omega series.

I can't wait for more books featuring Charles and Anna.


View all my reviews

Review: A Fright to the Death by Dawn Eastman

A Fright to the Death by Dawn Eastman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eastman's Family Fortune Mysteries are fun and full of Fortune family craziness. I love the hint of paranormal elements and the family psychic gifts. I also love that they are set in my home state, Michigan.

In A Fright to the Death, Book Three of The Family Fortune Mystery Series, Clyde and Mac are on their way to a tropical getaway when a blizzard leaves them Michigan bound in the Kalamazoo Area.

They end up at Carlisle Castle, a bed and breakfast (loosely based on Kalamazoo's very real Henderson Castle which is also a B&B). Surprise, Clyde's mother and aunt along with Mac's mother are at the Castle for their knitting convention. So everyone gets snowed in together at the Castle. And of course, a murder happens. Cell phone towers are down, the land line is not working and they are completely snowed in and cut off from the rest of the world.

Mac being a detective and Clyde being an officer on leave, they step in to secure the scene and investigate the murder. Clyde's family is determined to help. Once again the entire family is embroiled in mystery and hijinks's to try and solve a murder with Clyde's Aunt and Mother ready to help with pet psychic readings, pendulums and tarot card readings.

Twists, turns, and surprises abound in an old castle full of secrets...and the guests may have more secrets than the castle.

If you love cozy mysteries, this series is must read.

View all my reviews