Maddy Barone's Blog, page 10
June 30, 2018
Tuesday Teaser Gina’s Wolf Part 16–LATE!
Aaack! I don’t know how, but I completely forgot to post the teaser this week. Please forgive me. I am so sorry! My only excuse is that I got horribly sick on Friday. My temp went as high as 102.1 and I slept pretty much the entire weekend. I did make it into the office on Monday, but I was still exhausted. Then on Tuesday my mom came down with it. My brother was out of town for the week, so I was trying to take care of mom while I was still sick myself. Let me just say that I have a whole new appreciation for moms who take care of their sick families while they are sick themselves. Don’t know how you do it!And hey, I have a question for you. I have brought 7 members of the Pack/Clan to Omaha, but I haven’t decided who yet. Taye is there, of course, to find his son. Who else would you like to see have a role in this story? Let me know and maybe you’ll see your choice in an upcoming snip.
June 24, 2018
After the Crash on sale now!
I thought others might like to read some of my books, but maybe their book budget is low too so…
For a limited time I have put all of my books on sale for $0.99 everywhere!
https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B004GSVMGI
June 19, 2018
Tuesday Teaser 6/19/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 15
Ready to get back to the usual weekly snips from Gina’s Wolf? As always, these aren’t edited or even proof read, so please overlook any booboos. Oh, and speaking of booboos, have you see BooBoo Stewart? He’s very young, only twenty-four. I imagine lots of the next generation of the Pack and Clan look like him. Just had to share!
Enjoy the image and the snip!
Chapter Six
The sound of barely controlled terror in his mate’s voice forced more speed from his weary legs. Cole knew his boast that he could take twelve men was an empty one. Deep inside, his wolf cringed at the memory of the pain and confusion that followed the bullet slamming through his head. Omaha was only a mile and a half away, a mere five minute sprint for him if he were rested and not carrying a burden. No, never a burden. Gina was his one chance at love and a family. He would save her. He had to save her. He made his legs to stretch farther and faster. His head throbbed in time with his steps.
The outline of Omaha’s wall was a murky shadow in the dark ahead. So close. Not close enough. The shine of the motorcycle lights gleamed on the road beneath his feet. So close. Too close. He was running, but it was a terrible effort now. His lungs were on fire, his ankles threatened to turn with every step, his arms were clenched around his mate in death grip.
“Drop me,” Gina screamed in his ear. “They won’t hurt me. You can run faster without me.”
He’d already said he would never leave her. He didn’t have enough wind to repeat himself. “No,” he grunted between pants.
The roar of one motorcycle was bare yards behind him now, the others close behind it. His speed was failing. His strength was almost gone. Defeat rose in a bitter wave to crash over his heart. But his mate was clinging to him, breathing in almost silent sobs against his neck, so he spit on defeat and kept running. His legs didn’t want to obey. His feet and thighs screamed with every step. The thought of his mate―his mate!—being forced to marry someone else kept him going. I won’t let them have you, Gina, he swore silently. I will save you or die trying.
It would be better to live, but with Omaha silent in the dark ahead and her stepfather’s army nipping at their heels, death looked more likely.
I failed you, mate. His footsteps were wavering now, his heart close to bursting with exhaustion. I’m sorry. So sorry.
“Put me down,” she begged.
For one moment he considered it. The motorcycles were right on his heels. They would shoot him as soon as they got a clear shot that wouldn’t hurt Gina. If he left her, he could run to Omaha and get help. Or, he thought with disgust, they’ll pick Gina up and shoot me in the back while I run away. He clenched his teeth. No, if I die, I’ll do it facing my enemy and defending my mate.
New strength rose in him from some deep well he hadn’t known he had. From the corner of his eye he saw the front wheel of a motorcycle drop behind him as he poured on more speed. There was a lone tree by the road a few yards ahead. If he could get there, he could drop Gina to her feet and put her between him and the tree to make a last stand.
A sound rose in the distance. It first it was only an undefined smudge in the dark, but it sharpened, piercing through the roar of motorcycle engines. Cole’s heart leaped. The sweet familiarity of wolf howls turned his desperate despair to fierce joy. He couldn’t spare the breath, but he howled back anyway.
Four footed black shadows flowed in great bounds over the road ahead. Cole doubted if the motorcyclists either saw or heard the wolf warriors coming their way. In the distance, a widening square of light opened in the wall around Omaha. The rumble of trucks joined the howling of the wolves. He laughed in fierce exaltation.
“Cole?” His mate sounded worried. “What?”
The headlights of the motorcycles swerved and swung away.
“We’re saved,” he shouted at her.
She twisted her head to look over his shoulder. “They’re giving up? Why?”
He allowed his speed to slow to a trot, then a walk. “My kin,” he said simply.
“Your…?” Gina twisted to look forward again. When she saw the bobbing lights of the trucks coming from Omaha she gasped. “Oh, my! You can put me down now.”
For a moment he held her closer, savoring her scent. The fear that gave it an acrid tinge was fading. He wasn’t as good with scents as some of the pack, but he detected a sharp edge of embarrassment and unease. The trucks were only half a mile away now, and his cousins were even closer. He dared to brush his lips lightly over her hair before he lowered her to the road.
His mate made futile attempts to smooth her hair. He smiled at her as he tried to control his breathing. She had nearly been captured by the enemy, but she fussed now about her appearance. It made his blood run cold when he thought of how close it had been. His legs trembled so badly from exhaustion he had to hobble to the tree and lean against it. He glanced back down the road they had travelled and saw the red taillights of the motorcycles growing smaller.
They were safe.
Her hat must have fallen off somewhere along their desperate flight. Gina did her best to tidy her hair. She didn’t want to meet her prospective in-laws looking frazzled or bedraggled. Gina could see the trucks were almost here, three of them, with deafeningly loud engines. Was his father driving one of the trucks? Or was it his cousins that she had met in Omaha that day in the coffee shop?
Two of the trucks sped up and went past them, probably in pursuit of the motorcycles. They wouldn’t catch up. The motorcyclists were her stepfather’s crack advance troops. They could go faster than heavy, lumbering trucks. The third truck slowed and rolled to a stop nearby. But her attention was pulled from the truck by the arrival of what seemed like a whole pack of dogs. The headlights of the truck showed the dogs were big, gray, and fierce. She took half a step back and froze when they … shimmered in the dark.
Her mouth gaping open, she stared at the naked men who appeared out of the shimmers. They were equally big and fierce. She closed her mouth and swallowed when the men went from embracing Cole to turning to stare at her.
June 12, 2018
Tuesday Truth 6/12/18: RAGT Rocked!
I got to see some of my favorite people like Paige Tyler. She is always kind enough to invite me to sit at her table for meals. Wendi Zwaduk, Cheryl Dragon and others allowed me to be part of their Sparkling Authors scavenger hunt, which was a ton of fun. I saw some wonderful friends again this year like Samantha H, Vanessa C, Jennifer K, Janet R and more. I went to a mini workshop on how to create Tea Favors (I love tea!) which was led by historical romance author Heather McCollum. She had a very full class. I sat on the floor with a few new friends and had a ball. I got to meet author Becca Jameson at last, and my table mate for the signing was none other than Stephanie Burke. I’ve had a bit of an author crush on her since around 2008. She had a few copies of her most recent book, a collections of novellas about “How not to Date…” an alien, a fae, a vampire, a werebear, etc. They all sound cute and fun and hot. Sadly, she sold out before I could get one. Luckily, there is Amazon for that! While I was setting up my table, author D. Renee Bagby came over to help me and gave me some great pointers on setting up. The best thing about RAGT are the people. I only wish I would have had more time to visit with everyone.
If you ever have a chance to go to RAGT, I highly recommend it! Great people, fun parties, time to hang around and chat with great people, all at an unbelievably low price. $50 for the entrance fee gives you all your meals paid, a free t-shirt, a $10 B&N gift card and a goody bag stuffed with books and swag!
Speaking of swag, I collected some extra and thought I’d share with one lucky reader. Below is a pic of some of what I will be sending out. There will be three of my books in paperback, and some others, plus swag from my stash and from some other authors. Good stuff!
Would you like to enter to win? I will be sending out the entry instructions in my next newsletter, which will come out Thursday night. I am doing away with my old newsletter since it is not GDPR compliant. That means anyone who signs up must check a box to tell me that I have permission (marketing permissions) to send them newsletters. If you’d like to sign up for my new newsletter you can find it HERE
Now it is time for me to relax and read. Ocean Light by Nalini Singh came out today and I DYING to start it! I hope you all have something wonderful to read too. Next Tuesday we get more of Cole and Gina. Until then, Happy Reading!
June 5, 2018
Tuesday Truth AND Teaser 6/5/18 RAGT and Gina’s Wolf
I look forward to this trip every year. If you are going please come find me. I’d love to meet you!
Today’s snip is quite short, but again, this is best stopping place. Well, maybe it’s a little mean to leave you with a bit of a cliffhanger, but I promise in the end Gina and Cole will get their happily ever after. As usual, this is not edited so you will probably find all sorts of typos. Hope you enjoy it anyway!
Cole swept her up in his arms like a baby and ran faster than before. “Hold on,” he ordered, and for once she obeyed without complaint.
He was warm, but she barely noticed it. His speed was astounding. This was why her stepfather and the vicious major wanted to cut him open. They wanted to know how he could do things like this. She wanted to hide her face against his neck, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from the lights behind them.
“How many, Gina?” he asked, and now she could hear strain in his voice.
She counted the lights bobbing behind them. One, two, four…
“Six,” she shouted. “That’s at least six men, but maybe twelve, if they all have a sidecar.” That wasn’t likely though, was it? Then again, even six was too many. They would all be armed. Even a wolf with magical speed and strength couldn’t defeat six armed men. The headlamps were growing. The roar of the motors was louder. They couldn’t be more than a mile behind them. “They are getting closer,” she moaned.
“I can take twelve,” he said. His breathing was heavier, a little bit ragged, but his pace stayed the same.
Not if you’re exhausted, she wanted to say. Not if the men on motorcycles had guns. These men wouldn’t hurt her, but they would kill him. “Put me down. You can move faster without me. Go ahead to Omaha and bring back help.”
“Huh.” Derision rang in the grunt. “I’ll never leave you behind. Hang on.”
Somehow, he increased his speed. Being carried by a man running at full speed wasn’t comfortable but she’d rather be squeezed, bruised, and bounced around then be taken back to President Todd and the Allersons. She looked once more over his shoulder. The motorcyclists were close enough now for her to see the round outline of their helmets.
“Hurry, Cole,” she screamed. “They’re right behind us.”
Chapter Six
The sound of barely controlled terror in his mate’s voice forced more speed from his weary legs. Cole knew his boast that he could take twelve men was an empty one. Deep inside, his wolf cringed at the memory of the pain and confusion that followed the bullet through his head. Omaha was only a mile and a half away, a mere five minute sprint for him if he were rested and not carrying a burden. No, never a burden. Gina was his one chance at love and a family. He would save her. He had to save her. He made his legs to stretch farther and faster.
The outline of Omaha’s wall was a murky shadow in the dark ahead. So close. Not close enough. The shine of the motorcycle lights gleamed on the road beneath his feet. So close. Too close. He was running, but it was a terrible effort now. His lungs were on fire, his ankles threatened to turn with every step, his arms were clenched around his mate in death grip.
“Drop me,” Gina screamed in his ear. “They won’t hurt me. You can run faster without me.”
He’d already said he would never leave her. He didn’t have enough wind to repeat himself. “No,” he grunted between pants.
The roar of one motorcycle was bare yards behind him now, the others close behind it. His speed was failing. His strength was almost gone. Defeat rose in a bitter wave to crash over his heart. But his mate was clinging to him, breathing in almost silent sobs against his neck, so he spit on defeat and kept running. His legs didn’t want to obey. His feet and thighs screamed with every step. The thought of his mate―his mate!—being forced to marry someone else kept him going. I won’t let them have you, Gina, he swore silently. I will save you or die trying.
It would be better to live, but with Omaha silent in the dark ahead and the stepfather’s army nipping at their heels, death looked more likely.
I failed you, mate. His footsteps were wavering now, his heart close to bursting with exhaustion. He forced himself to continue staggering forward, but he knew his race was lost. I’m sorry, Gina. So sorry.
May 29, 2018
Tuesday Teaser 5/29/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 13
Now, on to Gina and Cole. This is shorter than I wanted it to be because there just isn’t a good stopping place. This isn’t edited. I haven’t even re-read it to fix basic mistakes. Please overlook the boo-boos.
May 22, 2018
Tuesday Teaser 5/22/18: Gina’s Wolf Part 12
I spent hours (like nine!) on Saturday trying to set my newsletter up to be GDPR compliant, and adding a pop up form to the website so people could easily sign up. Grr. I broke my website banner. I’m not sure how, but after a couple of hours I slapped a few book covers up so there would be SOMETHING there. I need to email the woman who designed my website and see if she can fix it. Sheesh. I am a Luddite.
May 15, 2018
Tuesday Teaser 5/15/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 11
May 8, 2018
Tuesday Teaser 5/8/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 10
But you probably want to read more of Cole and Gina, not listen to me rant about trademarks and how some perfectly nice authors have been bullied into changing their book titles or have had some pulled or frozen on Amazon. At least I hope you want to read more of Gina and Cole. I considered changing the title to Gina’s Cocky Wolf, because IS cocky, but I guess I will stick with Gina’s Wolf. At least until someone trademarks “wolf” or “mate”. Ahem.
Here you go: the section in Gina and Cole’s story. Remember, this is only a the rough draft and it will probably change before it is published. Ready? Here you go:
His mate. She lay on her side with her cheek at the edge of a fat pillow, a thick layer of blankets and quilts tucked under her chin. Her face was slack with exhaustion, the bruise at her hairline horrifyingly obvious. That was his fault. Cole rubbed a hand over his chest to still the ache there. His stupid wolf had dragged her into the cold and she’d been forced to hurry behind him for miles without proper clothes to keep her warm. It wasn’t until she had fallen that he had managed to rouse and push his way past the wolf to take control again. He allowed his finger to glide lightly over his mate’s hair before curling his hands into fists and pulling back. He’d never thought of himself as weak, but only a weakling would stay buried behind the safety of the wolf, particularly when his mate was in peril.
Weariness dragged at him, magnifying the pain in his head. There was a sliver of empty space in the narrow bed. He could lie there with his mate pressed against him. The scent of her skin would sooth the headache. He reached for the blanket pulled up to her chin, but paused, his fist clenching again.
She wouldn’t like it. She hadn’t accepted his claim yet. Most of him wanted to brush that aside and lie with his body curved around hers, inhaling her delicious scent and feeling the warmth of her body sink into him. A very small part of him knew his mate would object to that. With a deep sigh, he surrendered to reason and lowered himself to sit on the floor, his back against the wall, one shoulder propped against the bed. If he slumped just a little his face was level with hers. Her breath drifted over his cheek. It was almost as good as lying beside her. With a faint smile on his lips, he folded his arms over his chest, let his head drop to rest on the mattress next to her pillow, and fell asleep.
The weak March sun filtered through the blue gingham curtain and painted a golden stripe over Gina’s eyelids. The warmth of it roused her from sleep. Without opening her eyes, she stretched her toes beneath the comforting weight of the quilts and wondered what time it was. She rolled to her side and reveled in the quiet joy of a warm bed. She punched the feather pillow into a more comfortable shape beneath her cheek and snuggled into it. Something on the pillow tickled her nose. She brushed her hair out of the way. Her nose still tickled. She opened her eyes a crack to get a better view of the offending hair.
It was black. Her eyes opened wider. Black? Her hair was mousy brown. The bleary confusion vanished with a jolt when she saw the black hair was attached to a head. Cole. He slumped with his cheek against the edge of the mattress, one side of his forehead pressed to the side of her pillow. His face was relaxed in deep sleep. She could look her fill without him knowing. She inched away and raised herself on one elbow to look down at him. She could see only half his face. It was dark against the white pillowcase and sheet. His nose was a straight blade, his eyebrow a dark slash. She’d always thought his mouth was hard, but now his lips looked soft. What would they feel like if she dipped her head right now and kissed him? When she remembered what had happened in the mudroom before he left to patrol, a strange warmth spread through her. He was asleep. He’d never know.
That thought was too tempting. She eased a few inches further away and went back to studying him. His eyelashes were unfairly thick and long. Men shouldn’t have such long eyelashes. With those lush lashes and soft mouth, he looked almost pretty. No, his chin was too square for that, his jaw too hard. She nibbled her lower lip, studying him. Not pretty. She angled her head to see more of him. He was handsome in both his face and his body. Strong and sleek. His father was a powerful man. Cole had probably had a bunch of other women friends. Had those women stroked along the line of his shoulder and down his arm? Had they pressed their cheeks to his heart? Had they skimmed their hands down his chest to his belt?
She paused to consider the small, jagged pain those thoughts pushed through her chest. Jealousy. Did she even have a right to be jealous? Yes. He said she was his mate. From he and Nikki had said, his community didn’t share their women like Brother Saul’s commune did. She they were married, she would darned well demand that he leave other women alone.
Married. She wasn’t sure if she wanted that or not. But she liked watching him sleep. He was wearing the borrowed jeans, but his torso was bare. Long, lean muscles showed in his shoulders and arms. She could barely see his belly past his folded arms. She leaned a little forward to get a better look. He certainly couldn’t be called girlish.
Her hair fell from behind her ear. She jerked back too late. A large brown hand shot out and gripped her shoulder. Cole blinked. Eyes the color of melted bitter chocolate fixed on her.
“Good morning,” she squeaked.
His hand dropped away. He lifted his head from the bed to glance at the window. “Not morning,” he said in a low, gravelly whisper.
“Um, no, I guess it’s late afternoon. Maybe.” She coughed and drew herself to a sitting position, excruciatingly aware that he could see her borrowed nightgown. She pulled the blankets high, which was stupid. The worn cotton flannel covered a lot more of her than her dinner dress had. “Sorry to wake you.”
His smile was disarmingly sleepy. “That’s alright. What are you thinking about?”
“You,” she blurted.
May 1, 2018
Tuesday Truth 5/1/18
I am very, very, very sorry indeed to not have a new bit from Cole and Gina for you again this week. I know it’s been a few weeks since you saw anything new. I have reasons…
The move is complete. That amazes me. About 2.5 weeks ago I think I got the flu again. My temp was 101.8 and I had the usual chills and body aches. But after a few days I felt a lot better. That was a huge relief, considering that I was packing for the move to the storage unit. But then the fever was back, and even higher, and my chest burned. Then when I drew a deep breath I felt like I was being stabbed in the back. I went to the doc and after a chest Xray and a blood test she told me I had pneumonia. Again? I asked. I just had that in December! Yes, again. But last time it was viral pneumonia and this was bacterial pneumonia. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and told me to rest.
Rest. When I still needed to pack and clean the old place? Right.
Somehow I did manage to get everything done. It wasn’t easy. I honestly don’t know how I did it. All that carrying things down three flights, and scrubbing, and trying to breathe? Amazing. I am still paying for it, but I did get through a full day of work yesterday and today. This weekend I am doing NOTHING. Nothing except sleep, knit and write. I promise a new snip next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I found new inspirations for Cole. I can’t decide which I like better. What do you think?
