Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 56

Nancy Lee Badger-Positive Quote of the Week

Evil often triumphs, but never conquers –Joseph Roux
I am posting this because I just finished working through an important moment in my latest novel. My heroine is nearly drowned by a man who got a little too friendly. It was an accident, but two handsome men come to her rescue. It works, and there is enough conflict to keep the story moving forward. 

Evil is necessary, even in a romance, novel, and I firmly believe we do not know what is important until it has been yanked from our hands. A writer of romance works hard to make the story flow with ups and downs, but always gives their readers a happy-ever-after ending. 

Have a great week!
Nancy Lee

It is Flip a Coin Day!

June 1st isFLIP A COIN DAY
If you flipped a coin, what would you wish for?
More money?
A fabulous new home?
What about world peace?



A better job?
I have the best job in the world...I am an author.
And if you like those coins sporting dragons, here are the blurbs of the three stories included in my bookDRAGON Bites
DRAGON'S CURSE , set on the Scottish island of Staffa in the late 16th century, features a young man cursed to transform into a dragon at inopportune times. SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON pairs a Scottish dragon-turned-woman and a federal soldier at Ft. Sumter on the eve of Civil War. DRAGON IN THE MIST is a contemporary love story on the shores of Loch Ness. This short story won 1st Place in its category in the 2012 Self-Published Stars Contest.

DRAGON Bites is available in ebook and trade-size paperback.
AmazonEbook    Amazon PRINT              
NOOK Ebook  B and N PRINT
   AllRomanceEbooks   KOBO                                                         iTunes    Smashwords                    
Books-A-MillionPRINT 
Book Depository PRINT  
Powell’sBooks PRINT   

What denotes a Hero? - by Nancy Lee Badger

A hero or heroine (or a novel's hero/shero) 
refers to a fictional or historical character that displays courage and sometimes self sacrifice. Heroism is performed for the greater good, but in a romance novel things can heat up fast.

Stories of heroism may serve as moral examples. Hero worship can be a good thing or a bad thing. Many romance novels draw the reader in with descriptive paragraphs filled with the virtues of the hero, but some heroes are close to the edge of evil…until they meet the woman of their dreams.

Today’s romance novels are filled with action, adventure, intimacy, family, intrigue and a lot more. Happy Ever After is a must, yet the hero and heroine’s journey to get to that point takes twists and turns. Some we call black moments . Others are simple heartache. Through it all, the hero and heroine comes through thriving.

My dad is my hero. 
Raising three little girls could drive any sane man nuts. We traveled cross country, had adventures which included traipsing about national parks and swimming in the ocean, learning new things, and witnessing him living his life loving our mom. 

I am thankful for my Dad.


He served in the Navy during WW2. I am thankful that, at 88 years young, he is alive and enjoying life. However, we must remember those who have fallen in service to their country. 

This Memorial Day, fly the flag and remember.

Here are a few of my family and my husband's family who served, but are no longer with us:
Lt.Col. Paul R Badger      Survived Vietnam/Korea/WW2
Cpt. Lester Bean Badger  Survived WW2 and WW1
Lt. Dorothea E. Sawyer    Survived WW2
Sp4 Bruce Lyle Badger    died in Vietnam
Lt. David Lee Johnson     died in WW2
David Ryder Johnson       Survived WW2
Sgt. Richard Ayers            died in WW2
Pvt. Gerald Ayers             died in WW2
Cpl. Enoch H. Lee            died in the Civil War
Pvt. Brownell W. Lee       wounded in the Civil War
Pvt. Joseph A. Bean         died in the Civil War

Nancy Lee










Check out all my books  HERE

Ally Broadfield Shares Just A Kiss

My guest is author Ally Broadfield, who stopped by to share some insights about her writing career with my readers. 
Nancy Lee: Welcome! Tell us about how you became a writer.
Ally: When I first started writing, I was a total pantser, and I made all the classic newbie mistakes. Though I had a black moment and a beginning, middle, and end, I started the story in the wrong place, there was too much backstory, and most of the scenes were full of fun, witty dialogue and very little conflict. I knew just enough to know my manuscript was a mess, but I didn’t know enough to fix it myself. So I took lots of online classes, read many craft books, and most importantly, keep writing. When I finally sold my first book and was able to submit future projects on proposal, I realized I had to start plotting.
Nancy Lee: I have always had an issue with plotting. What did you learn?
Ally: The first part of a story that comes to me is always the characters. As soon as they’ve taken shape in my mind, I start to think about conflict. I determine the internal and external goals, motivations, and conflicts for the hero and heroine, and make sure their goals are in conflict with one another.
Once those steps are complete, I use the information to help me complete a beat sheet based on the examples in Blake Snyder’s book, Save the Cat. This helps me determine the correct place to start the story, the inciting incident, turning points, and resolution. If you’re not familiar with it, Save the Cat is written in an entertaining, easy to understand style that makes the information easily accessible, even to those unfamiliar with screenwriting techniques. (For more information about beat sheets, see Pat Haggerty’s excellent post about Using Scrivener to Save the Cat)
Nancy Lee: I recently purchased the book First Draft in 30 Days by Karen S. Wiesner, and it has helped me get the character names, descriptions, and goals set in an outline of the story. Tell us more.
Ally: Once the beat sheet is complete, it’s easy to create a synopsis if needed for a submission package or pitch. I’ve also found that I write a lot faster after completing a beat sheet, but still have the freedom to make changes as I go.
Nancy Lee: What’s next for you?
Ally: I’m currently working on the first round of edits for a Regency-set romantic suspense that is the second book of a continuity series with four other authors. It will release in early 2015. I’m also writing the first draft of a Regency romance with a dash of mystery that will release this fall. After that I will be revising the first draft of a single title Regency that is the sequel to Just a Kiss and will tell Anna’s story. It should also be released in early 2015.
BOOK BLURBCharlotte Lightwood has one season to find a husband or she’ll be forced to marry her guardian’s loathsome cousin. With no title or dowry, she doesn’t have much hope of making a good match. Sebastian Wilkinson, the Earl of Marley, has been the most eligible bachelor on the marriage mart for more years than he cares to count and is very aware of his duty to marry a woman who will add to the wealth and stature of his title. Sebastian makes Charlotte an offer she can’t refuse: he will pretend to court her to help her attract more suitors in exchange for her advice about which ladies he should pursue. As they work together, their mutual attraction grows. When they realize they just might be perfect for one another, they must decide whether to bow to the dictates of society or follow their hear
EXCERPT from Just A Kiss“You should also consider Lady Hoskins. Though she appears quiet initially, you’ll discover she’s quite intelligent upon closer association. As the daughter of a duke, she exceeds your requirements.”He seemed overly interested in the pattern of the parquet floor and didn’t answer immediately. “I’ll take your suggestion under consideration.”Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “Have you spent any time with her this week?”“I’m afraid she’s too…perfectish.”She stopped and turned toward him. “Perfectish?”He lowered his head and gazed into her eyes. “Yes, perfectish. It’s a clear indication that some horrible fault will come to the surface the moment you’ve irrevocably declared your intentions.”She allowed one corner of her mouth to curve upward. “Well, then. I guess it’s a good thing I could never be considered perfectish.”His eyes darkened as he leaned closer. “No, you are certainly not too perfectish.”She struggled to catch her breath and turned away from his intense gaze. “Where are we?” They had been walking much longer than should have been necessary. Marley Hall was exceptionally large, but surely they should have reached the main stairwell by now.“In the east wing.”“I thought you were concerned about leaving the duke and duchess waiting. Have you lost your way in your own home?”Sebastian shot her a sheepish smile. “They’re not actually waiting. I was the one impatient to get started, but now that you’re entertaining me, I feel no particular need to hurry.”“Odious man,” Charlotte mumbled under her breath, turning away to hide her smile from him.
Nancy Lee: How can my readers buy your book?Ally: Readers can go to the Entangled Publishing page for Just a Kiss to see all of the purchase options: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/just-a-kiss/
Ally BroadfieldMore About the AuthorAlly has worked as a horse trainer, director of marketing and development, freelance proofreader, and a children's librarian, among other things. None of them were as awesome as writing romance novels (though the librarian gig came closest). She lives in Texas and is convinced her house is shrinking, possibly because she shares it with three kids, five dogs, a cat, a rabbit, and assorted reptiles. Oh, and her husband. Ally likes to curse in Russian because very few people know what she's saying, and spends most of what would be her spare time letting dogs in and out of the house and shuttling kids around. She has many stories in her head looking for an opportunity to escape onto paper. She writes historical romance set in Regency England and Imperial Russia.You can find more information about Ally Broadfield at: Website     Twitter Facebook       Goodreads   
And check out her BOOK TRAILER

Rainy Day EBook Winner is...

Yes, it's raining again. Severe storm warnings, and flood alerts, just rocketed through central North Carolina.

"Spring showers bring May flowers", so the tune goes. Well, my yard looks more drowned then flower-filled. At least we are not in a drought. No fire danger here! I think its time to snuggle with my hubby and my cat, and read a romance novel.

What do you do when the weather outside is less than perfect? 


MY LADY HIGHLANDER

Amazon

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Ant the winner of the 
EBOOK copy of 
MY LADY HIGHLANDER 
is
Reese Ryan!

Rainy Day EBook GIVEAWAY by Nancy Lee Badger

Yes, it's raining again. Severe storm warnings, and flood alerts, just rocketed through central North Carolina.

"Spring showers bring May flowers", so the tune goes. Well, my yard looks more drowned then flower-filled. At least we are not in a drought. No fire danger here! I think its time to snuggle with my hubby and my cat, and read a romance novel.

What do you do when the weather outside is less than perfect? 

Share your comment here, and I will choose one person to receive a FREE E-BOOK of my latest release...

MY LADY HIGHLANDER

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NOOK   

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**please leave contact info and format choice**

Questions and a Cover Re-reveal by RS Novelle

Author R. S. Novelle stopped by to answer a few questions while explaining her new cover reveal. Please welcome her, and do not be too shy to leave a comment!
RS Novelle: Thank you for having me, Nancy
You are very welcome. You mentioned that you decided to remake a few covers. That is a bold step. Please explain, plus tell my readers 3 things they might not know about you.
I began to understand that the previous version of the cover was not giving readers the correct impression of the type of stories Calculated and Driven were. I wanted something that was fresh, more streamlined and modern. I think the new covers are a nice compliment to the writing style now. 
1. I'm a total lipgloss addict!
2. I love to travel and am always plotting adventures. 
3. I tend to get a lot of satisfaction from life's little ironies. 

BOOK BLURB for Calculated, a psychological thriller:
An investigative journalist gets an unlikely tip from a mysterious informant. Dismissing it as impossible, she disregards the information and drops the story. Until the informant turns up dead, as predicted.
Plunged into the murky waters of a seedy underground prostitution ring, this psychological thriller provides twist upon dark twist in a story that would ultimately pin the church and several government officials in the largest murder cover-up the city has ever witnessed.
But is it true, or has the journalist merely been used as a pawn in a greater scheme? And how many people is she willing to sacrifice trying to figure it out?
More About the Author
Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.
In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.
Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you’re meant to be. Find her at:
Website    Facebook    Twitter         
Instagram    Goodreads              BUY LINKS for Calculated
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Preview of The Melting, Book One - The Infection by Donna Steele

Please welcome author Donna Steele, who shares some exciting news! 
Thanks so much, Nancy for having me here today! I am so excited. The first book in my Melting series – The Infection – is coming out June 3. This is a story very close to my heart and I've loved writing it. The first book would be considered science fiction but the story morphs into paranormal as the series progresses. I've played with this idea for ages, years even and getting to share it finally is a dream come true. 
A little morbid maybe, but I've always loved those stories of the end of the world and the day after – The Hammer of God by Larry Niven, On the Beach by Nevil Shute and of course The Stand by Stephen King. I love the way the characters cope and move on (or don't as the case may be). I also love to incorporate green and sustainability into my stories, and I was able to do both here.I'll be giving an ARC to one lucky commenter today.David and Amanda feel like old friends now and I enjoy visiting with them. Book two is completed and will be sent off shortly, and three is well underway. Thought I'd share an excerpt with you today –
Book 1 -       Amanda was late again. She really needed to work on her time management skills. She slipped her key into David's door to let herself in. His car sat out front but he was often in the shower when she arrived, which saved them both a lot of time in getting naked. She wanted to laugh at the wicked grin she could feel on her face.       He was at the door before she could open it fully and he did not look happy. In fact, he looked upset and could there be a little fear? "David?"      "Could I meet you—" David began but a female voice interrupted.      "You're not going to let your little friend in?"      Amanda heard the uber-confident female voice. Was this the famous Phyllis? It had to be for him to look this uncomfortable. She and David had not talked about Phyllis after the first time they'd been together. David had obviously not wanted to discuss her. Amanda knew instinctively this was the woman she had not sent any thank you note.      David closed his eyes, but opened them at the feel on her hand on his. "It's okay. I want to meet her."      He seemed to attempt to relax and took a deep look into her eyes, then he stepped back.      Amanda moved forward before the other woman could, her hand out. "Hello, I'm Amanda Sutton." Ah, it was the brunette from the cocktail party.      "Phyllis Lawrence, an old friend of David's." She shook Amanda's hand firmly, eyeing her. There seemed to be a look of recognition in her eyes. She obviously noted when Amanda lay her purse casually on the table in a familiar manner.      "Please, why don't we all sit down?" Amanda moved to the couch, acting as hostess and saw David quickly assume a bland expression, though his eyes were smiling. "Would you like something to drink?" She offered to Phyllis.      The woman seemed unhappy with her. Amanda was a little surprised herself at her chutzpah. But it felt good and right. She and David were together, more together than anyone had ever been in her life. David had her back and Phyllis seemed more than a little uncertain at the way things were moving.      Reluctantly Phyllis took a seat in the chair as David perched on the arm of the couch, beside and above Amanda. Phyllis's eyes narrowed.      Amanda waited. One thing she had learned from her father was the power of silence. Women didn't like it and tried to fill it up. As his "son" she had done her best to emulate that kind of thing.  It seemed to be working.      Phyllis finally spoke, though her annoyance at being the one to break the silence obviously bothered her. "How long have you two been seeing each other? I haven't heard David mention you."      "A little while. We met at some dull function on campus and escaped together." She smiled up at him and his hand lightly squeezed her shoulder.      "Have you known David long?" One of thoseconversations, so Amanda might as well jump on in. She already knew the answer.      "Yes. We've been friends for years. He was only a lecturer when we met."      Amanda smiled. "A lot of things have changed. Tenure and full professorship."      Phyllis's smile diminished, she'd heard what had really been said. "Well, I guess I need to be on my way. I only stopped by to see if David was free for an art show tonight."      David, already rising to get the door, spoke. "Sorry. I'm sure it would have been fun, but we do have plans," Amanda smiled and allowed the other woman to stand above her. The looming didn't bother Amanda at all. She saw clearly when Phyllis noted her easy confidence.       "Well, it was good seeing you." Phyllis gave David's cheek a quick kiss and she left the apartment.      With what looked like disgust on his face, David shut the door and joined her on the couch, his head hanging. Amanda wiped the bright red lipstick from his cheek and he followed suit, to ensure every bit of the color was totally obliterated.
Even though Donna's book isn't coming out until June, you can get a taste of her wonderful writing by downloading her other books. i just finished reading Wraith's Heart. I didn't think a ghost story could bring me to tears, but this was awesome!-Nancy Lee 

More about Donna Steele 
Women strong enough for love. I write science fiction , paranormal and women’s fiction romance eBooks about women coming into their strength and having the courage to find and accept love. As an empty nester with my beloved best friend and husband (who actually encourages this mad passion of mine) I write all the time – whether or not I have a pen or keyboard handy.

Ever since I learned to read—from Superman Comics, Dick, Jane and Sally held no appeal—I’ve wanted to write. The possibilities of science fiction have always drawn me and I’ve read them all.  There just needed to be a little more romance in them. I finally got up the courage and I’m delighted that I’m able to share these stories with you.
My premiere novel, a science fiction romance – Rth Rising – was released on March 3, 2012 through Rebel Ink Press. My paranormal romance eBooks Learning Trust , and Wraith’s Heart  are now available at all eBook sellers. Wraith’s Heart  and Learning Trust are now also available in paperback through Amazon.
My small town romance novels – Homecoming , Welcome Home, Red Shoes , Nowhere for Christmas and Dance Partner  are available at all eBook vendors. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.
You can find a listing of all my books HERE
Keep in touch with Donna:Website     Facebook     Amazon Author Page **Remember to leave a comment in order to win an Advanced reading Copy of Donna's new book!

Fiction Editing: How to Save Time Without Sacrificing Quality

By Nikolas BaronThere are Not Enough Hours in the Day            We’ve all heard it before…there are not enough hours in the day. You feel as if your time is fleeting and there’s not enough time for you to complete your writing and editing in time for your publisher’s deadline. And what if you’re a self-publisher. You drive your own deadlines but at the same time you don’t Nikolas Baronwant to be spinning your wheels. Whether you’re a self-publisher or working with professional editors and publishers, time is of the essence. So how do you save some of that time without sacrificing the quality of your work?

 Online Editing With Grammarly            Thankfully, we have the resources of the Internet and all the online editing resources it can offer. While we try to cram as much work as possible into one day, we can be happy that there are helpful and reliable resources available. The only caveat is finding the resources that are truly what they say they are. I’ve wandered through many websites that claim they’re free or that they have the best proofreader. They have the most boards, the most synonyms, the most people talking about their website. But it’s one thing to claim all these things and cram social media inboxes with tweets and posts about your website; it’s another for the website to be useful to writers.            One of the best resources I’ve found amongst all the Internet garbage is Grammarly. Grammarly offers a fast grammar check that finds errors Microsoft Word misses, a proofreading tool that adapts to your style, and an online help community second to none. I love that their website and tool is extremely comprehensive and covers every facet of writing I need help with. The grammar check makes sure my work is clean if I want to send a cover letter. I can be confident that my letter, manuscript, or short story is error-free because of the in-depth way Grammarly proofreads material.            Grammarly learned my style and helped me correct my most common errors. That’s one of the most frustrating things for me when it comes to writing: making the same errors over and over again. Everyone has certain ticks when they write but we all have to overcome them to make publishable material. Grammarly constantly makes me aware of my most common errors and teaches me how to fix them and avoid them in the future; therefore, saving me time. Especially when you’re trying to save time editing, going over the same errors a million times can waste hours you would have spent improving your work. With Grammarly, you don’t have to worry about wasted hours because they teach you to avoid errors that cost you extra time. Quality Over Quantity            Grammarly’s quality outweighs many other writing help sources that provide similar services. There may be websites that claim they offer more way more help options than a site like Grammarly, but are they devoting equal time to all the things they offer? Or are they just trying to boost their resume? Do they really care about helping the user become a better writer and editor? Or are they more concerned with money, SEO, and grabbing more visitors?            Grammarly is able to save you more time by providing you with quality services. They don’t waste your time with ads and more “helpful tools” than you could ever use. An excellent proofreading/grammar check tool, teaching resources, context-optimized synonym generator, an adaptive style tool, and extensive help/question and answer boards make Grammarly a truly outstanding tool. By allowing you to clean up things quickly and accurately, Grammarly makes editing easier and saves you time.---------------------------------------*A little bit about the author:Nikolas discovered his love for the written word in Elementary School, where he started spending his afternoons sprawled across the living room floor devouring one Marc Brown children’s novel after the other and writing short stories about daring pirate adventures. After acquiring some experience in various marketing, business development, and hiring roles at internet startups in a few different countries, he decided to re-unite his professional life with his childhood passions by joining Grammarly’s marketing team in San Francisco. He has the pleasure of being tasked with talking to writers, bloggers, teachers, and others about how they use Grammarly’s online proofreading application to improve their writing. His free time is spent biking, traveling, and reading.You can find more information about Grammarly at Website      Blog                Twitter      Facebook             

Go sailing with ‘Sea Panther’ by Dawn Marie Hamilton

I am happy to announce that fellow author, Dawn Marie Hamilton, has released a book I was able to read in its infancy. We were members of a critique group, and we enjoyed the opportunity to read other authors' ideas. To see Sea Panther published, is great!
Thanks, Nancy, for having me as a guest today.
Inspiration comes to writers in unexpected ways. We must always be open to the stimulus around us. The musings for Sea Panther began while I was sailboat shopping with my husband.
What does sailing have to do with a Scottish inspired paranormal romance?
Kimberly, the heroine in Sea Panther , swore never to sail again, feeling responsible for her father’s death in a sailing accident. But after losing everything, and learning she might be pursued by a hit man, she answers a crew wanted ad placed by the captain of Sea Panther, a ninety foot yacht sailing south to Florida and the Caribbean.
What she doesn’t know is that the sexy Scottish captain, who she can’t help being attracted to, is a cursed, three-hundred year old vampire that shifts into a Florida panther.
The adventure takes Kimberly and Robert to many port-of-calls while sparks of desire fly between them. From Cape May to Chesapeake City to Annapolis to New Bern to Charleston to Florida. Kimberly desperate to escape a hit man. Robert desperate to find a cure for the curse. Both desperately falling in love. Then they set sail for a trip into the Bermuda Triangle and through time to Jamaica 1715, where they face Robert’s past—pirates and a voodoo priestess—before finding their happily-ever-after.
It was such a blast doing the research for the sailing portions of the book, which paralleled my husband’s quest to find a sailboat. Going to boat shows was great fun, especially the sailboat show in Annapolis.


I used this sailboat layout as the plan for the black-hulled Sea Panther. Night Thrill, the second, smaller sailboat in the story came from memory, from the many boats we looked at during boat shows. And the descriptions of the boats in 1715 came mostly from my imagination and the memory of restored historical boats I’ve toured over the years.
Have you found inspiration in an unexpected way? Do you have a favorite sailing romance? Leave a comment on this post for a chance at a gift e-copy of Sea Panther . Please leave an email addy so I can contact you if your name should be pulled from the sailor’s hat.
Nancy asked me to reveal three things you might not know about me…1.       I wanted to be a ballerina, but ended up in a corporate career instead.2.       I’ve traveled to every state in the US except Alaska and Hawaii.3.       I’m not sure how I’ll handle sailing—will I get seasick?--when my husband finally finds his dream boat.
Blurb for Sea Panther:
Can love mend a fractured soul?After evading arrest for Jacobite activities, Scottish nobleman Robert MacLachlan turns privateer. A Caribbean Voodoo priestess curses him to an eternal existence as a vampire shifter torn between the dual natures of a Florida panther and an immortal blood-thirsting man. For centuries, he seeks to reverse the black magic whilst maintaining his honor. Cruising the twenty-first century Atlantic, he becomes shorthanded to sail his 90-foot yacht, Sea Panther. The last thing he wants is a female crewmember and the call of her blood.
Although she swore never to sail again after her father died in a sailing accident, Kimberly Scot answers the captain's crew wanted ad to escape a hit man. She's lost everything, her fiancé, her job, and most of her money, along with money belonging to her ex-clients. A taste of Kimberly's blood convinces Robert she is the one woman who can claim the panther's heart. To break the curse, they travel back in time to where it all began—Jamaica 1715.
Excerpt from Sea Panther :
Her eyes glimmered with recognition, and she smiled. “Captain MacLachlan?”
“Aye.” Robert waved toward a chair. “Sit.”
He clenched his jaw. Was it his voice that sounded so gruff? Just as well, he didn’t want to give encouragement.
She dropped into the chair. A perplexed expression played on perfect features.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“I…I’m sorry.” She jumped up and reached out a hand. “Kimberly Scot.”
“Robert MacLachlan, Captain of Sea Panther.”
He hesitated before shaking her hand. Would her touch produce the same effect as on their last meeting? He tightened control on the vampire and the panther, and grasped the slender hand.
Zap.
Her eyes widened.
He yanked his arm away and extinguished the unwanted flame of lust. This woman meant trouble.
“Sit,” he barked.
Though her hands trembled, she did as directed.
He trembled too. Needing time to rein in the chaotic emotions, he poured wine into two goblets from the bottle on the wet bar. He handed her one, careful not to make physical contact again. “I own this establishment. The wine is excellent.”
“Thank you,” she said and accepted the glass.
He grunted. God, he was being rude.
He paced a few feet away. Far enough not to reach for her. The lingering sensation from their brief handshake made him edgy. The pulse at her neck called to the vampire. The panther, demanding his mate, fought against bonds to which Robert tethered the animal. Robert forced control. “You want to crew on Sea Panther?”
Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. Was she afraid?
Aye. He smelled trepidation. Although it was best she fear him, the thought didn’t sit well. A strong need to protect his mate blasted his frontal lobe. Damn panther.
She held his stare. Finally, she answered, “Yes.”
“Why do you want to crew for me?”
Sea Panther is available at: Amazon – Amazon UK – Barnes & Noble – Apple
Although I love writing about vampire shifters, I also enjoy writing about time traveling Highlanders and mischievous faeries. I’m currently working on Book 3 in the Highland Gardens series, Just Wait for Me. Look for it this fall.
More About the Author:
Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream. She is a 2013 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. Some of her tales are rife with mischief-making faeries, brownies, and other fae creatures. More tormented souls—shape shifters, vampires, and maybe a zombie or two—stalk across the pages of other stories. She is a member of The Golden Network, Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Celtic Hearts, and From the Heart chapters of RWA. When not writing, she’s cooking, gardening, or paddling the local creeks of Southern Maryland with her husband.You can find more information about Dawn Marie and Sea Panther at:

Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads