Bianca D'Arc's Blog, page 9
July 17, 2013
Guarded Desires by Lexxie Couper
My friend, Lexxie Couper, has a new book out! Check it out:
Heart of Fame, Book 3
Small-screen sex symbol Chris Huntley is on the fast track to becoming the next big action-blockbuster movie star. When his latest movie takes him to Australia for a red-carpet premiere, he thinks he’s ready for anything.
But nothing could have prepared him for his raw, carnal response to his Aussie bodyguard. Sexual attraction to a man is a first for Chris. Now he realizes why his relationships with women have never felt quite…complete.
Liev Reynolds is comfortable with his bisexuality, but his attraction to Chris is an inconvenience he must ignore. For starters, there’s his professional ethics. Then there’s the long trail of female broken hearts in Chris’s wake.
Hard as they both try to keep their minds on their jobs, desire and a little matchmaking tip them over the edge. But Hollywood endings aren’t real life. And when the truth leaks out, their careers aren’t the only collateral damage.
Warning: A hunky Hollywood sex symbol. A smoldering, stubborn Australian. A desire so powerful it cannot be denied. A kiss. And a photograph. This isn’t your normal boy-meets-boy story.
Buy now from: Samhain – Amazon – B&N – and wherever ebooks are sold!
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July 16, 2013
Cover Reveal: Magnus
This cover is for a book that is scheduled for November of this year. It’s the third in the Redstone Clan sub-series, called MAGNUS. What do you think?
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July 15, 2013
Cover Reveal: Red
I’ve gotten some great new covers recently. I showed off the cover for my December release from Samhain Publishing – WOLF QUEST – on Friday. Today, something that comes out a little sooner…
The second of my sub-series of Redstone Clan books, simply called RED, comes out in September. What do you think of this awesome cover by Tibbs Design?
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July 11, 2013
Cover for Wolf Quest
Here’s the awesome cover for Brotherhood of Blood: Wolf Quest – coming out in December 2013! Isn’t it gorgeous?
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July 3, 2013
The Dragon Healer is NOT “Book 8″!!!
To Whom It May Concern: It appears Samhain Publishing has blundered a bit and listed my new novella, THE DRAGON HEALER as “Book 8″ on some sites. This is WRONG. This book is a novella and fits in right around the time of MAIDEN FLIGHT. I’ve been calling THE DRAGON HEALER “Book 1.5″, though it might even be more properly known as “Book 0.5″. I didn’t call it that though, because I don’t like the zero in there. 
As a result of this incorrect labeling, I’ve gotten A LOT of questions about where this book fits, why it’s so “short”, etc… I’ve got an email in to my editor about fixing the labeling, but I thought I’d just give you all the scoop while we’re waiting for the wheels of progress to turn. *still waiting*
I wrote THE DRAGON HEALER and the other new novella, MASTER AT ARMS, which is coming out on 8/20/13, at the request of my editor. She wanted me to write two short stories originally, but I wanted them to be longer so the readers would have a little more “meat” from the story, so to speak.
The reason for this… as some of you may recall… Originally, both MAIDEN FLIGHT and BORDER LAIR were squished together into a single print volume. This caused no end of confusion among readers because “book 1″ in print was technically “books 1 & 2″ and it wasn’t labeled as such on the cover, though the next books all had “book 3″, “book 4″, etc…
When they decided to do the reissues, new print books would also be reissued. (They start hitting shelves this September.) We had a chance to go back and separate MAIDEN FLIGHT and BORDER LAIR into two new, separate print volumes. But those two books were always a little shorter than the others in the series, so my editor at the time came up with the idea of adding short stories to add as bonus material so that those first two books could have their own print volumes.
I knew we had more room than just a 10,000 word short story, so I started writing and stopped somewhere around 35,000 words. My editor was cool with it and we proceeded to do edits, etc. In all the paperwork I ever did for these two novellas, I’ve ALWAYS labelled them “Book 1.5″ and “Book 2.5″ respectively.
For some unknown reason, when the switch was hit for THE DRAGON HEALER to go on sale yesterday, it suddenly was being called “Book 8″. I didn’t catch it until people started asking questions and a number of negative reviews had been posted on Amazon.
Needless to say, I’m very upset by all of this and I hope you will understand that there was never any attempt or intent to “fool” readers into thinking this was some kind of full-length novel. It’s always been a novella and I’ve stated multiple times in many different formats that this book is a novella that is set right around the time of MAIDEN FLIGHT. It’s a companion piece, if you will. I never intended for anyone to think that this was the novel that would naturally follow KEEPER OF THE FLAME.
I hope you all understand that sometimes things happen. I don’t know how or why Samhain decided to call it Book 8 all of a sudden and I’m doing all I can on my end to fix it. I hope I haven’t disappointed anyone who might’ve been confused by all of this. For what it’s worth, I’m really sorry.
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The Dragon Healer – Excerpt
Excerpt: The Dragon Healer by Bianca D’Arc
Copyright 2013 Bianca D’Arc. All Rights Reserved.
CHAPTER ONE
Silla was a healer. Not the magical kind from fairy stories, but an accomplished apothecary who had trained at the High Temple of Our Lady of Light for many years before being sent out on her journeyman adventure. All healers of the Temple were sent out among the people of various lands for years at a time, to apply their skills in a real world setting. Only after a decade – or sometimes more – as a journeyman would they be invited to return to the Temple and awarded the title of Master.
Silla had at least five more years to go as a journeyman, but she didn’t mind. She quite enjoyed traveling the countryside of Draconia, even if she had been given a route on the border with Skithdron. That nation had been causing more trouble of late, and Silla had seen far too many venom burns on people who had been attacked by skiths. Those evil creatures, born of magic during the Wizard Wars centuries ago, were hunters who didn’t discriminate in their prey. Anything that moved was in danger around a skith.
They were huge and snake-like, with gaping maws that spit acidic venom. If the venom didn’t get you, their multiple rows of serrated teeth would, snapping your head off in one fast chomp.
Luckily, skiths mostly stayed to their side of the border. The flat, rocky terrain in Skithdron was more favorable to their kind. The green, forested mountains of the Draconian border seldom saw a skith incursion – unless they were deliberately herded in that direction. It had been done during the Wizard Wars and a few times since then, but Silla had not been here then.
This new incursion was bad enough that the Draconian King had ordered the creation of a new Lair where fighting dragons and knights would live, train and protect the border. It seemed the skiths’ only natural enemies were dragons. Those magical, flying creatures who could breathe fire could also – she had heard – fry a skith in its tracks. It wasn’t easy, but they could do it.
Bayberry Heath was one of the small towns on Silla’s route. It lay in a protected valley that was as idyllic as it was serene. The town flourished and had a lovely inn as well as several other businesses and shops. Silla always looked forward to the part of her circuit that would bring her to Bayberry Heath, and as she crested the final hill and looked down at the fertile valley, she felt a sense of joy that seldom came to her.
“See that, Hero?” She talked to her horse as if he could actually understand what she said. “We’ll sleep well tonight. A bed at the inn for me and a nice stall full of fresh hay for you.”
The horse snorted and plodded onward. Perhaps she only imagined that he stepped up his pace when he saw the village in the distance… or perhaps not. She’d come to respect animals and their senses much more since she’d been on the road. The animals of the forest always knew when danger was near or a storm was imminent. By learning to read their signs, she had learned how to protect herself as well.
Her horse, Hero, was old but sturdy, and they’d made a good partnership these past few years. Of course, the Temple had sent her out with little more than the clothes on her back. Part of being a journeyman was learning how to be resourceful. She had earned Hero by healing a wealthy man’s wife after a dangerous childbirth. Both the child and the mother had thrived under her care and the man had been so grateful, he’d given her the horse in payment. Silla had wanted to turn him down, but she was frankly tired of all that walking between her assigned villages and farms.
A few months later, another grateful town had given her the cart after she diagnosed the reason behind an outbreak of stomach sickness. The local well had been infested with a particular kind of snail that polluted the water in such a way as to make it seem fine, but sent everyone running for the privy a few hours after drinking. Such a thing could kill the old and the young, but luckily the levels of pollution hadn’t reached that critical stage before she had discovered the problem.
Again, she had tried to refuse the cart, but with it, she could make her rounds much faster. That argument, made by one of the villagers, had finally won her over. The headman of the village had spent a few days teaching Hero and Silla how to handle the cart and then they were off to the next village on their rounds.
Silla had soon discovered that the cart made an excellent bed for those nights when she could not find better shelter. She traded for some cloth in the next village and made a pallet of sorts by stuffing the sewn cloth with soft plant fibers and herbs. The herbs kept the summer bugs at bay and made a lovely, fragrant place for her to rest after a long day on the road.
The cart was more than big enough for her and her few things. A short time later, she decided she had space for other wares that she could trade in the villages for better meals and the occasional night at an inn. Silla made many kinds of medicinal potions and even potted a few rare and useful plants that she could barter or give to her patients when needed. Over the past few years, she’d built up a very nice apothecary shop from which the residents of each village could obtain herbal preparations made by an expert hand or even the plants from which they could make their own remedies, depending on the season. But she never charged for medicines or plants when her patients truly needed them. That was the creed by which her Temple lived. Still, she was able to make a few coins from those who were not ailing and traded more often than not for foodstuffs and other items that would help her do her job in more comfort.
Her route overlapped with another, more senior member of her Temple now and again. He would check on her progress in person, in addition to the written reports she sent back every season to the main Temple. Someone there kept track of the spread of illnesses based on journeymen reports and also kept an eye on the journeymen themselves. The accumulation of wealth was not encouraged. Their order was to live simply, but those who were industrious in bringing remedies to the people along their routes even before the medicines were needed were often rewarded with higher positions in the Temple when they returned to become Masters.
Silla was about halfway there now. According to the older healer she’d spent a companionable afternoon with a fortnight ago, she was progressing well. Another five years or so, and she’d be able to return to the Temple with her head held high.
She almost regretted the fact that she’d have to go back. Silla had found that she enjoyed the freedom to travel where she willed. Actually being at the Temple was much more restrictive. Of course, it was better than what her life had been before.
As dusk settled over the valley of Bayberry Heath, Silla topped the last small rise that led down into the village. The innkeeper was already lighting his lanterns to welcome strangers in the night. She could see the little dot of flame dance and bounce as he walked along the gate, lighting the two lanterns on either side of the entrance to his yard that would burn through the night to welcome weary travelers.
It was a sight for sore eyes. And this time, she didn’t have to imagine Hero’s pace picking up as he probably scented other horses in the stable not too far away. A few more minutes and they’d be there in time for a nice dinner of fresh fodder for Hero and good, hot food she didn’t have to prepare for herself. She could almost taste the inn’s savory stew. She closed her eyes for just a moment, imagining how good it was going to taste.
Suddenly, an inhuman bellow of unmistakable pain shattered the night. Silla’s eyes flew open as she searched for the source of the sound. It had come from up ahead and frightened Hero into a near standstill.
She got him going again, even as she searched the night for whatever had made that tone of pure anguish. If there was any way she could help, she would, but she had no idea what kind of creature could have made such a noise. It wasn’t any of the domesticated animals she knew. She’d been called upon to heal a cow or horse more than once and hadn’t minded in the least. Her skills were for all things living – person, animal or plant.
Hero balked only once more as they entered the inn yard, and his reasons became clear at once. Next to the inn, on the side away from the horse stables, was an open area filled with sand that Silla had seen before but never questioned. Now she understood why it was there. It was an area set aside for dragons. There was one there now.
It was the dragon that had howled in pain as a big man poured bucket after bucket of water on what looked like deep, acidic burns around the joint where wing met body. Silla winced in sympathy as the creature writhed in pain. Smoke puffed out of his nostrils, but he seemed to be making an effort to contain his agony as the man scurried with the help of what looked to be every able-bodied person from the village.
The innkeeper saw her and came right over, grabbing on to Hero’s halter.
“Thank the Mother of All you’ve come, Healer Silla. If ever there was a need for your medicines, it is now. Can you help yon dragon? We would all count it as a favor. He went down protecting us from a rogue skith and is badly burned.”
Silla jumped down from her cart and grabbed her satchel. “I will see what I can do. Will you take Hero to the stables? Leave the cart in easy reach. There are some plants in back that I may need for the dragon’s treatment, if his knight will allow.”
“Sure thing, mistress. And thank ye.” The innkeeper took charge of her horse and cart while Silla approached the dragon and all the people trying to help him.
To read more, get your copy from: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Samhain – or wherever ebooks are sold.
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July 2, 2013
The Dragon Healer – Out Today!
The Dragon Healer
What’s better than a knight sweeping you off your feet? Two knights.
Silla is a healer riding circuit on the border, helping those in need. When she hears the pained cries of a dragon in distress, she comes to his aid, using most of her precious supplies to help the badly injured creature.
The dragon’s knight, Brodie, is fascinated by the woman – the miracle worker – who has come to help his friend. She is both beautiful and kind hearted and he quickly realizes she is his destined mate. And if she is Brodie’s mate, she is Geoff’s as well, for Brodie’s dragon was mated to Geoff’s dragon many years ago.
Geoff doesn’t believe in the tales of love at first sight among knights, but he knows that when either he or Brodie finds a wife, they will share her. Hearing about the dragon’s injury, Geoff and his dragon race to help, only to find the dragon on the mend and Brodie in bed with the most stunning woman Geoff has ever seen.
Love at first sight turns out to be real and it strikes them all as they come together and realize that no matter what the obstacles, they are meant to be together. Silla is the missing link that will join their lives and make them a true Lair family.
Warning: Knights like to get frisky and these two are no exception. Beware the passion, playfulness, a bit of bondage and a whole lot of three-way loving with a tiny bit of exhibitionism thrown in for good measure.
Buy Now from: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Samhain – and wherever ebooks are sold.
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July 1, 2013
New Home for International Heat
Get your passport for romance! Join us on a sensual adventure!
International Heat has a new look and a new site. And to celebrate, we’re running a Passport to Red Hot Romance contest! I hope you’ll pop over to check it out! Lila Dubois and Lexxie Couper are organizing the kick-off, so you know comedy will ensue!
In the coming months, there will be lots happening at IntlHeat including very exciting guest bloggers, awesome contests, RED HOT releases, a newsletter, Twitter and Facebook fun and much, much more! Be sure to subscribe to the site to receive emails because (like Aerosmith) you won’t want to miss a thing.
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June 26, 2013
The Dragon Healer – Video
Have you all seen this great video for The Dragon Healer?
Pre-Order Today!
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Samhain
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June 25, 2013
The Dragon Healer – 1 Week From Today!
The Dragon Healer is a novella that fits into my Dragon Knights series near the beginning of the saga. I’m calling it Book 1.5, but I guess it really is a bit of a prequel. It explains how Silla, the Border Lair’s healer, ended up there and who her mates are. It’s a ménage with two knights, two dragons and one very special woman.
Pre-order it today and get it as soon as it’s released! Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Samhain
And don’t forget – Maiden Flight is still available FREE for the next week or so. Get it while it’s hot! Amazon - Barnes & Noble
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