Denise K. Rago's Blog, page 3

A taste of 'All That Remains' Book IV

As I muddle through the first draft of my fourth novel I thought I would share a bit of it with you. In the Prologue, Julien asks many questions that ironically my readers keep asking me and so I thought I would drop a bit of book IV here for you. Enjoy, oh but spoiler alerts abound so if you have not finished Eternal Hunger, hurry up and do so and then enjoy this bit of the future.

Prologue

Dear Michel, Dad, Michel,

Something inside of me refuses to address you as “dad.” It’s not that when I look in the mirror I don’t see you staring back at me. Physically, I am definitely your son, yet there is nothing maternal about you. Yes, we have spent the last ten years together, and yes, you saved my life, and yes, you are a vampire! We share an incredible bond as well as a town house – dare I say, a mansion, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I know you have had me followed, all for my own good, as I travel the world, but calling you “dad” – no. You are simply “Michel.”

I profess, I never have had a normal life – not a complaint, just an observation. The circumstances of my miraculous birth and my life in France with you and my mother is the stuff of novels. I have led a very privileged life, yet I was always extremely lonely and although I understand all the reasons why, there is more I need to know; especially about my mother, who was both your lover, Christian’s lover and no, let’s not forget Victor.

I still miss her – shrouded in all of her mystery; wondering if her myriad of vampire lovers are still out there, waiting to seek me out, or if her true love, Christian Du Mauré is alive somewhere? Is the monstrous Josette Delacore roaming the French countryside, waiting for us both? All of these questions swirl around my head and beg answers.

The one I dwell on the most, is my mysterious “grandfather” whom you will not speak of. Is this why you have forbidden me from ever setting foot on French soil? Is he truly that dangerous?

When you receive this letter I will have already landed at Charles De Gaulle airport, rented a car and headed back to La Maison des Rêves, my childhood home. There is so much I need to understand and I feel it is time for me to uncover my family history in France.

I’m not sorry for disobeying you but I am sorry for being such a coward and not telling you of my plans to your face. I can wait no longer……I love you,

Julien

Chapter I

Amanda ~ Salem Massachusetts, Halloween Night

It was time.

Ten years had passed and although to a vampire, it was a blink or a slight nod of ones’ head, every one of those days had been painful for me. Fraught with sadness, guilt and anger, I lived hidden away, waiting for the moment, for a sign that it was time to return home. Home was not France where I had lived for the last thirty years, or Salem where I have lived for the last ten years, but New York City, where I had lived and worked as a mortal woman and where this story began. As far as I knew, Michel Baptiste, my vampire lover and protector was living there along with my grown son Julien, now a thirty year old journalist for the New York Times; and as far as they knew, I was dead.

It’s really complicated for you see I had yet another vampire lover, one Christian Du Mauré, who had survived a fire that destroyed his home, the Chateau de Singes on the outskirts of Paris, ten years ago on a Halloween night, hmmm. Sporadically, yet another vampire named Victor would visit me, sharing what he could ascertain about Christian’s whereabouts, for you see, Christian had been whisked away after the fire by his immortal father, who by the way had started the fire, after he thought he had destroyed me.

Like I said, it’s complicated. Victor had the brilliant idea of both making me immortal and then faking my death, therefore allowing me to leave France in order to avoid the wrath of Ghislain; Christian’s immortal father, someone I hope never to cross paths with again. I am not sure why I am still alive, quite frankly, perhaps Victor, who by the way was another of my vampire lover’s has been able to keep him at bay. All I know is that I have had a relatively peaceful existence, until now.

Friendship Day

August 2nd is friendship day and I cannot think of two friends who have shared such a history as vampires Christian Du Maure and Michel Baptiste. For those of you who are new to my novels here is an excerpt from Immortal Obsession. On a March night in 1757 two twenty year old men made decisions that would change their lives forever. The seductive vampire Gabrielle had already turned Michel and the innocent Christian was about to lose his friend and so he impulsively chose life with his friend, no matter the cost, rather than losing him. Ah, the price of friendship.

Enjoy

Christian was out in the stables with his prized black mare, Starlight. He generally did his best thinking while working. Despite the cold, he found himself in the stables bailing hay and cleaning out Starlight’s stall. He was humming to himself when something made him turn around. Michel and Gabrielle stood framed in the doorway. Something about their posture, their hesitancy, alarmed Christian. He grabbed a lantern and slowly came toward them, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“What are you doing here? I told you not to come back until—” He began, staring into the dark eyes of his best friend. Gabrielle remained expressionless; her face flushed as it usually was after the three of them made love together. Michel spoke, but his voice seemed distant, as if his lips were not moving. The sound was coming from somewhere far away. “I came to say goodbye my friend.”

Michel’s words made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Something in his beautiful face terrified Christian. His skin looked like alabaster and his light green eyes were dark and vacuous.

“So, you have chosen her I see.” Christian fought tears. “I suppose years of friendship means nothing to you.”

He studied Michel’s eyes for some response and found none.

“We can have each other, Christian, and Gabrielle too. We three can be together forever.”

“What have you done to him?” Christian shone the lantern close to her face. Rage filled him at the thought of this woman taking control of his closest companion. As if sensing his anger, Gabrielle stepped behind Michel.

“Tell him, Michel. Tell him what I am and what you have chosen to become.” She pulled him closer.

“What have you done, Michel?” He tried to shake his friend, but Michel felt like a rock and would not budge. He smelled of blood and dirt, as if he had been sleeping on the forest floor.

“Gabrielle is a vampire, Christian,” Michel explained in a voice barely above a whisper. “And I have chosen to . . . join her.”

For a moment, no one spoke or moved.

“You are what?” Christian asked, backing away and making the sign of the cross as he mumbled prayers.

“I have chosen eternity. I will live beyond this stinking, dirty place.”

He reached out for Christian, who fell backwards and almost dropped the lantern.

“We can barely survive the taxes the king levees on us. Look at you, Christian, so young and handsome, but soon you will die and for what? I have chosen the God of immortality.”

“You are talking crazy, Michel. Louis is our king. This is our home.”

“I love you dearly, my friend. You too can have the gift Gabrielle has given me. Think of it, Christian. We can live beyond this place. I am free, my friend, free through a gift beyond our imagination. We can be time travelers, together forever!”

Michel reached into his jacket and pulled out a gleaming dagger. He sliced his arm, and Christian watched as his blood welled up and then stopped oozing. The cut closed up as if it had never been there at all. Christian crossed himself again.

“And what if I say no, will you kill me?” Christian asked, unable to comprehend the reality of the situation.

“We go to Paris to meet up with more of our kind,” Gabrielle interjected. “We say good-bye tonight after I erase you memory of us. It is better this way.”

“No, Michel,” Christian cried out. “Please, do not leave me here.”

Hot tears ran down his face. He was embarrassed to be weeping like a woman in front of Gabrielle, yet unable to imagine his life without Michel. How could he have no memory of his best friend? Christian could not bear it. He surrendered the lantern to Gabrielle as she gestured for him to lie down in the hay. Christian closed his eyes as the cold lips of his best friend brushed his cheek and Michel touched his face.

“Come with me.” He whispered, and Christian could no more resist his words than he could resist the life Michel promised him.

Peaking out from the "Pause"

The part of the country where I live has been sheltering in place since March 17th, 2020. I never thought I could work from home, instead of driving daily to the non-profit, private school where I have worked for many years but suddenly I was faced with... working alone.

Much of my life during this time can only be described as a "dream-like," "nightmarish", "surreal," "lonely" and by turn, quiet, peaceful, grateful and very happy to be alive and well.

Suddenly we are no longer in the "pause" we have lived with for the past 100 days. We are able to dine outdoors, get our hair cut and our nails done, swim in our town pools and visit our beaches. Many folks I know start conversations with "I just had my hair cut" or "I went out to lunch today." Daily life tasks we so took for granted are suddenly a joy. Speaking with staff at work has taken on a new meaning yet we all look a bit shell-shocked, tired and lost. Myself included.

I had a friend come over for dinner tonight; I am going to the beach on Friday, then to a friends house for dinner [outdoors, of course] on Saturday night. Suddenly I have a social life. My husband and I are planning a mini-vacation, my girlfriends and I are planning on dining outdoors. Miraculous indeed.

As I peak out from the "pause" I have to ask myself "okay, look at all that you are gaining back, but what have you lost? I had to think long and hard about it but I do know I have temporarily lost my obsession with reading. I cannot explain why, I just know what I am not too interested in the 50 books I have on my tablet awaiting me. I hope my love of the written word returns, but until then....

I have lost my patience for less than healthy relationships or the people in my life that I tolerate. Why do I do this? I have no time for them now and I am relieved to be able to say this honestly. I have lost my need to rush from event to event without thinking "do I really want to do this?" I ask myself more questions about how do I want to live my life going forward. What do I want and need from life now?

I love my husband and my immediate family. I love writing and hope to continue working on my fourth novel over the summer. I love the fact that there is less vehicular traffic, fewer airplanes in the sky, less people around. I am reminded of my childhood ~ quiet, serene and in a strange way, safer. I like that friends come by and we sit out in front of my apartment and talk for hours because we have no where else to go and this is a good thing. I am more present in the moment than I have ever been. Life is harder, more complicated yet simpler too.

What has helped you through this pandemic, this pause? What do you take with you and what will you discard? As time goes by I know there is more, that my life has been forever touched in ways I do not as yet understand; but I will and I can thank the "pause" for helping me to set my course forward and live a happier life.

In Praise of The Enchanted Bloodline Series

,Immortal Obsession

,Immortal Obsession is a must-read for all paranormal romance fans! While very reminiscent of Anne Rice’s vampire novels, make no mistake, it is all very different and very much original. Rago takes vampire lore and turns it on its head. I was entranced from the very first page. ~Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews~

,Immortal Obsession is a great vampire book. The author's writing style reminded me a lot of Anne Rice's. The plot had me turning pages late into the night wondering what was going to happen next.  I can't wait for the next book in the series. I recommend it for fans of paranormal romance. I also recommend it for Anne Rice fans. ~Kayla’s Reads and Reviews 5 Stars~

,Immortal Obsession is a book with so many layers of history and emotion you simply cannot stop turning pages to see what happens next. ~Vampire Romance Books~

,Ms. Rago’s debut book really shines with great writing, a plot that moves smoothly, with twists and turns, and great characterization. This is a great mix of paranormal and intrigue and I cannot wait to see what else comes out from this author. ~Storm Goddess Book Reviews ~ 4 Lightning Bolts~

,Immortal Obsession seamlessly takes the reader into the world of vampires from 18th century France to present-day Manhattan. The vivid imagery in her writing made me feel as though I was walking the streets of Paris with the French Revolution raging around me. ~Vampire Romance Books~

Blood Tears

,Blood Tears is a hauntingly beautiful story-line with passion, love, betrayal, friendship, obsession, and secrets. ~Kat Valentine~

,Blood Tears is a beautifully written and at times a melancholic paranormal romance. ~Paranormal Book Lovers~

One of the things that draws me to these books is the settings. Denise’s love of the French Revolution and art shine through her work. The way she describes Paris, New York, and these immortals, with vivid and rich descriptions, is enjoyable to read. ~Bookworm Reviews~

There are so many twists and turns that I was hooked! ~Totally Bookalicious~

Blood Tears is rich in historical detail and meticulous in establishing the connections between characters.  Even as answers are revealed, the mysterious deepen. ~Bitten By Books~

An admirable second offering by an author who clearly loves her closely researched French Revolution and the paranormals she has chosen to populate her stories. ~Engraved: All Things Writing~

This book is full of emotion, conflict, and vivid images of Paris, both past and present. It is a quiet unassuming love story that grows on a reader, page after page. ~Paranormal Romance Guild~

Eternal Hunger

,I have not read a historical vampire series this well written since the great Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. ~Kat Valentine~

,It’s been a while since I had read a paranormal romance with a story that could capture my attention as this one did. Every so often you get an author’s great touch or spin on the vampires they create. ~Paranormal Romance Guild~

,The author has a passion for art and the French Revolution and her descriptive passages about France and its museums are nice to read about.  I like that the plot has many layers that are revealed bit by bit and the writing is dramatic. ~Book worm Reviews~

,This series is a great one and I could definitely see it being made into a television show. ~Danielle’s Domain~

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,Rago weaves a complex web of a storyline with a full ensemble cast of really deeply defined characters. ~Danielle’s Domain~

The Birth of a Series

Where have the last ten years gone?

This September marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of my first novel, Immortal Obsession. Actually, this journey began 15 years ago when a supernatural experience altered the course of my life, thrusting me on a journey that culminated in the three books you see here.  

Supernatural you say?

The dictionary defines supernatural in the following: “Of, relating to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal. Of, or relating to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult.  

Yes, that about explains it.

I often say I do not write these novels, I “channel” them. My role is to bring the mortals and vampires to life for you my reader.  Their faults, foibles, fears, and fantasies are put to the page by me, yes, but they are theirs alone as these characters time travel from Revolution-era Paris to Modern day Manhattan.

Vampire Christian Du Mauré has changed my life. I hope you find him likable despite his troubled soul and enjoy his plight from his birth in eighteenth-century France to his present life in modern-day New York City.

His journey has become The Enchanted Blood Line Series.  

I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Steve Novak Illustration to recreate all of the book covers in this series. He is a pleasure to work with and was able to capture the mood of my novels.

Thank you reader for joining me on this journey.  I could not do it without you!

Strange Times

To say we are living in strange times is an understatement.  Educating our children from the comfort of our homes, arming ourselves with masks and gloves to venture into our local supermarkets, staying apart when we want to be with our loved ones, sanitizing our shoes and washing our hands like our lives depend on it, because they do.

I am presently working from home which is not my norm, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I am also relaunching all of my novels with beautiful book covers, plus working on book four yet despite the quiet, the lack of traffic, the cleaner air, daily life seems much harder to navigate right now.  Grocery shopping is so stressful and dangerous. I worry about my loved ones every day. 

There is an underlying fear and stress to my day to day life and to get through each day I am reminded of a beautiful quote from St. Francis of Assisi. 

"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible." 

Stay safe, be well, spread kindness and love wherever possible.  We will get through this together despite how alone we might feel today. 

We had a beautiful dream and that was all. ~ Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution are synonymous. I often wonder what would have happened to both she and Louis XVI if they had been allowed to leave France. Though I understand the rational behind their execution I would like to believe that if allowed to escape with their family they would have lived out the rest of their days in a quiet corner of Germany.  

Only criminals and mad men walk in Central Park at night~ Jane Dentiner, American Writer

Christian loved walking in the falling snow.  It was too early to head down to the Grey Wolf and he needed to clear his head so he crossed the Great Lawn and headed to his favorite spot, Bethesda Terrace.  Central Park has been a popular hunting ground for his kind since the turn of the century.  Derelicts, drug addicts, runaways and other assorted misfits were easy prey and never missed.

He stopped on the steps of the terrace overlooking Bethesda Fountain and the boathouse. The solitude was comforting, the view forever breathtaking, especially in the almost full moonlight.  ~ Immortal Obsession

The ethereal Christian Du Maure

Many readers fall in love with my vampire, Christian Du Maure and though he prefers to be alone among his books and his priceless antiques, sometimes he lets us into his world.........

            My name is Christian Du Mauré. I am a phantom who peregrinates from place to place: Paris, London, New York, and the American West. I live in New York now. We never stay in one place for too long. The we you ask? Michel Baptiste and I. My dearest friend since childhood. The man I followed into darkness in the year of our Lord 1757. I was twenty years old then. What did I know of consequences? I simply feared losing my best friend to the seductive world of the vampire. Neither of us could comprehend the repercussions of our choices. All we knew was the beautiful and sensual Gabrielle, our lover and our maker. She was our guide who led us on a journey of lust and blood as we wove our way into the fabric of French upper class society. Robbing their lifeblood, bit by bit, just as they did among themselves, little by little.

          How can I impress what it is like to dwell forever in twilight, both man and monster, seducer and slayer? The beautiful Gabrielle ruled over the Parisian vampires with her second in command Gaétan. What they could not control with their beauty, they destroyed. All succumbed to their demands of loyalty and subservience or died. I have never been good at either loyalty or subservience, except to Michel but as always, things change. Her name was Josette and it was the summer of 1787. She was a mortal woman, married to a minor aristocrat name Luc Delacore.  We had all heard the rumors of her beauty and kindness, but nothing prepared me for our introduction.

          Michel and I met them one night, strolling arm in arm on the Pont Neuf for she had become the mistress of the handsome Gaétan. He reluctantly introduced us and as she extended her lily white hand for my kiss I gazed into her emerald eyes and realized how lost I had been and how lonely I had become. I was barely able to speak, saying not much more than hello to her. She was all I wanted, the exotic Josette Delacore and not long after that night she came to me. Both of us forsaking our vampire lovers for one another. Gaétan grew to hate me even more and Gabrielle became angry with me for abandoning her bed for that of a mortal and Michel. Even then he was my protector, forever watching the others who grew more powerful yet jealous of me. 

          The wars of the mortals affected even the undead, dividing us and straining the tenuous bloody bonds that held us together. I had always hated politics and avoided the wars of men just as Michel and I ignored the feuding of our own kind, until the wars took my Josette. Then, life as I knew it was over.

         She had a child, Solange. A beautiful little girl with dark wavy hair and green eyes. Fearing their arrest she asked me to take Solange and give her to a family that could provide for her. Reluctantly I took the screaming child from her mother’s arms. I knew of many French families fleeing to England.  I would have no difficulty finding one to take the beautiful child. Many nights I thought about turning Josette into one of us, of giving her the curse of eternal life and having her by my side forever. And yes, I thought that being immortal was a curse and one I could never bestow upon another. I promised myself I would never interfere in the world of mortals. Great power is great responsibility.  I had to use it wisely. 

And So This is Christmas

As the year winds down, along with this decade, I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays as well as a safe and happy New Year filled with only good things! No matter your beliefs, enjoy the season and all the beauty it holds for each of us.