Laurel O'Donnell's Blog, page 81
October 30, 2012
Top 200 in Paranormal Romance
Immortal Death cracks the top 200 in the paranormal romance category on Kobo!
Thanks everyone for your interest and support!
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 28, 2012
Inspirational Quote Monday! #40 of 2012
It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week – “‘Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world.” – William Shakespeare
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 25, 2012
First Kiss Friday – Rescued by Arlene Lam
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Arlene Lam, author of historical romance Rescued. Welcome Arlene! Here’s the first kiss between Amelia Marriott and Jordan Bradford.
He hadn’t acknowledged it before, but now he had to admit she was more than a pretty girl, she was a gorgeous woman. “Well that is a pity, you not knowing how to dance I mean. Every woman knows but you. I could teach you right now if you want.” Reaching his hand out to her Jordan pulled her closer to him. “Would you like to dance?”
Smiling Amelia softly swatted his hand away. “Stop it Mr. Bradford.” Amelia backed away slightly, he was serious. “I don’t know how.”
“No time like the present to learn.” Grinning, Jordan took her hand in his. The moment his hand touched hers, her pulse quickened and her breathing became sharp. That heavenly feeling was back and she reveled in it. When he pulled her closer it felt so good she could scarcely believe it. “This is silly; you shouldn’t be out here with me dancing.”
“It’s a cotillion isn’t it? “Jordan countered but peering down at Amelia let her go. “I never liked dancing anyway.” Spotting the bench behind him Jordan took a seat in it.
“Well I don’t think I would either.” Amelia blushed.
Flicking the butt of his cigar to the floor Jordan stepped on it making sure the heated tip was out. “You should say that to whatever man you marry, you’ll make him happy.”
Amelia’s smile vanished quickly from her face. She didn’t want to think of marriage anymore than she had to.
Her actions didn’t go undetected but Jordan didn’t ask why she was now frowning he needed to get back inside anyway. “If you would excuse me,” he started and then stopped noting again just how striking Amelia was. Leaning closer to her he knew he was to close but could not help himself leaning down on impulse he kissed her forehead as he would Margaret’s or Georgia’s but somehow the meaning was different.
Pulling away Jordan looked down at her as her eyes seemed to be drifting closed, tilting her head up Jordan said her name which caused her to open them.
Amelia knew she must have looked like a spooked deer and felt her mouth slightly drop open to form some words to explain herself but heard nothing come out. All she could do was stare up into those eyes of his.
Jordan told himself no but felt himself leaning in and pulling her closer to him, lifting her up slightly, his body seemingly took on a will of its own and before he could stop it his lips crashed down upon hers.
He was gentle at first leaving a few feathery soft pecks here and there. And amazingly enough she let him, not pulling back as he had expected. He let his arms circle around her waist to aid him in lifting her for better access.
Amelia felt her feet now barely touching the ground and knew that at any moment her heart would leap out from her chest or she would fall out in a dead faint, and that’s when it happened. Her legs nearly gave out on her; surely it had to be a sin for anything to feel so good.
Jordan tightened his grip on her not wanting her to slip, but didn’t stop his sweet assault—he had barely begun! Gently he tried prodding her mouth open but she kept it shut firmly, there were ways around that, slowly Jordan sucked and pulled at her bottom lip and by and by she let herself forget, clenching her teeth together.
Dipping his tongue in slowly he proceeded with his intoxicating torture coaxing her to try her own exploration and little by little she did.
Amelia felt herself control start to fade and let a soft moan she had been trying desperately to stifle escape her body. Morgan’s slovenly attempts at kisses were nothing like this.
Jordan was the first to pull away breathless. What the hell was he doing? Looking down at her in the moonlight he had to stop himself from kissing her again her soft lips now swollen.
Amelia nearly gasped, the whole world seemed to be spinning, who knew a kiss could be so good?
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 24, 2012
Winners of the Alpha Male Blog Hop!
Congrats to the winners of the Alpha Male Blog Hop!
My $20 Amazon Gift Card
Jennifer Mathis
Grand Prize Winners:
Kindle Fire Winner:
Marie Hahn
$130 Amazon Gift Card:
Jessica Mange
Swag Pack:
Natasha Donohoo
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 21, 2012
Inspirational Quote Monday! #39 of 2012
It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week – “Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.” – Steve Almond
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 19, 2012
Fierce Romance
I’m visiting at Fierce Romance today! Drop by and read about Angel’s Assassin!
Angel’s Assassin at Fierce Romance
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 18, 2012
Alpha Male Blog Hop!
The tag of alpha comes from the animal world. Like an alpha wolf. He is the leader of the pack. In romance novels, the Alpha Males are also leaders, they are dominant and strong. Alpha males stand apart from other men. They are more capable and more successful. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t flawed…
Damien From Angel’s Assassin
An Alpha Male Blog Hop? I laughed at this. I guess you could consider me an alpha male. I’ve lived my life alone, depending on no one but myself.
I’m Damien from Laurel O’Donnell’s Angel’s Assassin. I’m an assassin. I’ve killed without remorse, because my master ordered me to. Men, women, children. I lived life in darkness. Alone. Unworthy and unwanting of love. Nothing mattered to me. You can’t understand how dark I was, how lost. No one was safe from my blade. Until my master ordered me to kill Aurora of Acquitaine. She was so beautiful and so good. She was kind to everyone, even me. And she saw things in me, honor, loyalty… Qualities I possessed only when she was around.
I know you can’t understand how life was for me before Aurora came into my life. But maybe this scene from Angel’s Assassin can give you a glimpse. Prologue from Angel’s Assassin
I don’t ask for your forgiveness. I just want you to realize that I’m changed now. I love Aurora. And, in loving her, I’ve found my redemption.
Check out my journey in the book Angel’s Assassin.
If you like urban fantasy, try the Lost Souls series! Only 99 cents each!
“This series is a completely new take on death and the afterlife, with plenty of information so the reader isn’t confused, and tons of action to keep you engaged. Definitely worth checking out.” – Cat’s Thoughts
Don’t forget to leave a comment and your email to be entered into the drawing for the prizes. I’m giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
First Kiss Friday – Immortal Death
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured book is my paranormal romance Immortal Death. Here’s the first kiss between Demetrius Mercer and Jade Smith. Enjoy!
“I don’t want my story to end that way,” Jade said, her voice thick. “My Demetrius would be…destroyed. He would…”
Demetrius looked at her and was shocked to find glistening tears ringing her eyes.
“…be devastated.” Jade looked at him, her eyes tormented with anguish.
He reached out to her, taking her face in his hands. His fingers stroked soothing circles over her temples. “He would not have wanted to go on,” he said gently. He didn’t like to see her tears. He didn’t like her sadness. It made his own anguish worse. He pulled her close to him, holding her. “Don’t be sad. It happened a long time ago.”
“But he’s my Demetrius. If I can’t make him happy, who can?”
Her words shocked him, confused him. His gaze dropped to her lips. She was so beautiful. So very mesmerizing. It was so dangerous to be this close to any mortal, yet alone Jade. So dangerous. He couldn’t help how he was leaning in toward her. Just one taste. Just one touch of her warm skin. He had been so cold since Rosaline’s death.
“Rosaline would have wanted him to be happy,” Jade said softly.
Her words halted him a mere inch from her lips. “Happy?” he whispered bitterly. “Without her? It wasn’t possible. She was so vibrant and so full of life. When she died, she took his life with her. His heart died when that dagger was plunged through hers.” He stopped cold, but did not pull away from her. Her eyes were like a sea of blue, consuming, compassionate. And he needed that retribution. Absolution for not being able to protect Rosaline.
“She couldn’t help it,” Jade whispered. “She would have stayed with him if she could. She would never have left him. But there was betrayal. And–”
“Betrayal?” Demetrius demanded, his gaze sweeping her face. “What do you mean by betrayal?”
“Didn’t you tell me that? Someone close to her…” Her hand brushed across his arm. “I don’t know. I feel like it was someone she trusted.”
“Trusted?” he echoed, disbelievingly. It had been a Malachite. There was no way Rosaline would have trusted one of those monsters. No way. Maybe Jade didn’t know the story as well as he thought she did, as well as she pretended. Her hot breath fanned over his face and the story became less and less important. All that was important was the feel of her in his arms, the need to have her lips against his.
“Sometimes, I feel the story,” she whispered. “Not the way I want it to be, but the way that feels right.”
Demetrius stared down into her eyes and then moved his gaze languorously to her lips. She was so lovely. So enticing. A longing and need rose in him like he hadn’t felt in all the years since Rosaline.
The first touch of their lips was tentative, testing, as if he were giving her a chance to escape. But she didn’t pull back. A taste, he reminded himself. Her lips were hot, not just warm. It wasn’t enough. He wanted a larger taste. More. Demetrius pressed his lips to hers, fully. With a gentle stroke of his tongue across her mouth, her lips parted. And he couldn’t help himself. He was lost. He swept his tongue into her mouth, pulling her against him.
For the first time in centuries, he hardened. It was sweet, sweet ecstasy to feel her against him, to touch her face, her lips. Lord, he’d forgotten how absolutely breathtaking it was. She pressed her tongue to his and he almost exploded. He wanted her. He leaned into her, pushing her back against the bed. She was so small beneath him and he felt a sudden need to protect her. His emotions…yes, emotions, churned. He had been dead for so long he barely recognized the passion. But now, now it was as if he were given a second chance, a bolt of powerful desire shot through him and he crushed her to him.
She tasted of coffee and strawberry ice cream. Demetrius knew this was wrong. She was a mortal! She was not like him. And yet, he could not stop. He didn’t want to. He wanted to feel her. All of her. He wanted to touch her. She warmed him, touched him inside, made him feel alive again.
*****
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Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
Alpha Male Blog Hop starting tomorrow!
What is your favorite thing about Alpha Heroes? Well, we authors are ready to share our favorite Alpha Males, our favorite things about them, and everything sexy and heated about those Alpha Males you can think of. *wink* Starting on Friday and ending on Oct 22nd, over 200 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about those sexy men we know and love.
And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.
But that’s not all….
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 17, 2012
Another Great Review for Lost Souls!
“I highly recommend this exciting paranormal thriller! A great read for this haunting season.” – Curse of the Bibliophile. Stop by and read the entire review of Lost Souls: Resurrection. Lost Souls review on Curse of the Bibliophile
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
Laurel O'Donnell's Blog
“What do you want from me?”
Perhaps it was ridiculous, Ryen thought. Men never seemed to have a problem with taking what, ...more
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