Maddy Barone's Blog, page 32
May 5, 2014
Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler
He’s a High-Octane Special Ops Pro
When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is chosen for an assignment with the Department of Covert Operations, he’s
stunned to find his new partner is a beautiful woman who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly, much less take down a terrorist.
She’s No Kitten
Ivy Halliwell isn’t your average covert op. Her feline DNA means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. She isn’t thrilled to be paired with yet another military grunt, but Landon is different. He doesn’t think she’s a freak-and he’s smokin’
hot. Soon they’re facing a threat even greater than anyone imagines…and an animal magnetism impossible to ignore.
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To finish, the snip from Sand and Amanda’s story won’t be posted until later tomorrow night. But hang in there. It’s a little on the juicy side, a little on the tender side. I hope you’ll think it’s worth the wait. ;)
May 4, 2014
Wolf’s Vengeance is Up for Pre-Order
discount of 20%, and the file will be sent automatically to your ereader the minute it releases. Take a look! http://www.lsbooks.com/pre-order-coming-soon-romance-books-c322.php
In a future world where modern technology is unknown and women are rare, werewolf Snake Wolfe claimed Melissa Dirk as his mate the moment he laid eyes on her. All he wants is her to love him as much as he loves her. Mel will do anything to save her stolen mother, even marry the fierce werewolf who promises to help with the rescue. Love? Well … maybe she’ll love him someday.
When trouble from Mel’s past threatens her very life, Snake swears anyone who wants to hurt her will have to go through him, and he will avenge every insult dealt her. Can love be born in blood? Or will Snake have to settle for merely his wife’s gratitude?
May 1, 2014
Happy May Day!!
Wolf’s VengeanceAfter the Crash 6
May is finally here! It’s less than a month until the release of Wolf’s Vengeance and boy, am I excited! How about you? Would you like to read it before it’s released? I will be sending out a newlsetter on Monday with directions on how to enter to win an ARC of the book. If you don’t get my newsletter but would like to, there is a sign up form on the right.
Happy May Day!
April 29, 2014
Laura London is BACK!!
Back when I was in high school and college I read like a fiend. Sometimes I would read all night, and still get to class the next day. Anyone else do that? Please don’t let me be the only one to confess that! At that time there wasn’t a really a “paranormal romance” genre, but historical romances were huge, and I loved them. One of the authors (or authors) that I adored above all others was Laura London. I said “authors” because Laura London is actually the husband and wife writing team of Tom and Sharon Curtis. They wrote back in the late 70s through the 90s, and then they sort of disappeared. They wrote such wonderful characters that I feel like I actually knew them. And not just the hero and heroine. Their secondary characters were marvelous too. Many of their characters are still fresh in my mind, decades later. When I grow up I want to write characters like they did.
Or do? Tom and Sharon Curtis are back! Their backlist is being re-released. And best all all *insert wild happy dance* they are writing again! If you haven’t had a chance to read any of their work, I suggest you start with the Windflower. I have enjoyed every book they ever wrote (even their novella, The Natural Child in the When You Wish anthology is outstanding), but The Windflower is arguably their best book. It jsut came out today. Why not take a look and see if you might like it. Then come back and tell me what you thought of Cat. And Cook. And Raven. In fact, all of it!
April 28, 2014
Tuesday Teaser 4/29/14 Wolf’s Lady Part 17
Here we go! This section in Sand and Amanda’s story is meant to build tension and drama. We’re about two thirds to the end of the story. Enjoy!
Amanda left him at the door to Sky’s House, saying she had girl things to do until supper. He watched her go up the stairs with sadness. He wanted to spend all his time with her. With a sigh, he turned to go to the kitchen.
Paint was standing in the kitchen door. “There you are!” he said. “I could use another hand with the lawn.”
Sand followed willingly. Two of Sky’s men he didn’t know well worked on the lawn in the front of the house while he and Paint worked on the back lawn. He rolled the push mower over the grass, wondering why anyone needed to cut grass. All that did was make it fall in untidy heaps that Paint had to rake into piles and load onto a wagon to be taken away. The scent of freshly cut grass was so strong in his nostrils Sand couldn’t smell anything else.
They took a break on a low stone wall to eat the sandwiches Denise brought out for them. “Why are you still here?” Sand asked. “Aren’t you going home?”
Paint shrugged, swallowing half a sandwich whole. “I guess I’ll leave pretty soon. Snow wanted a few days to play tourist.”
“And you didn’t want to leave Sky short-handed. Where is Snow, anyway?”
One of Paint’s rare smiles flitted over his face. “Riding the bus, I bet. He’s fascinated with it.”
Sand made a face. He remembered the loud, smelly vehicle with distaste. “I wouldn’t ride that thing if you paid me.”
“Amanda likes to ride it.”
Gentle warmth curled around his heart. He had first seen his mate when she mounted the bus. “If Amanda asked me to, I’d ride the bus with her.”
Paint adjusted the patch over his missing eye. “How is your courtship going?”
“I don’t know.” Sand looked down at his sandwich. “I think it’s going okay. She hasn’t accepted my mate claim, but she says I’m still in the running. She wants me to give her something before she’ll be my mate.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.” He spread his hands. “She wouldn’t tell me what it is, only that without it she won’t marry anyone. She said I had to figure it out myself.”
“Hm. That’s not fair. Maybe you could ask Sky. He’s learned a lot about women since he came here.”
“Yeah,” Sand agreed. “I’ll ask him.”
After they finished the lawn work, Sand went back into the house in search of Sky and found him in his office seated behind his desk. He wasn’t alone. A slender man in a black suit was in the plush visitor chair. Sand thought he looked familiar.
“Sand,” said Sky. “Just the man we needed to see. Peter, this is my cousin Sand Wolfe. Sand, Peter Vann, Vice Mayor of Omaha.”
Since the little man stuck his hand out, Sand shook it before folding his arms over his chest. Maybe he should have some said one of those polite, meaningless phrases that townsmen used when meeting a stranger, but Sand didn’t see the point in wasting words. He waited, saying nothing.
He didn’t have to wait long. Vann spoke in a quiet finicky voice, fussing with the cuffs of his suit rather than looking at Sand. “A complaint has been lodged against Sky and his House.”
Sand almost spat on the floor. “Askup,” he growled.
“Yes, indeed.” Vann did look up now, face cool. “Normally, the Mayor’s office wouldn’t concern itself. Sky has proven himself a savvy and supportive businessman. However, a formal complaint can’t be dismissed out of hand. An investigation must take place.”
Sky lounged in his chair, looking supremely relaxed. Sand wondered if the Vice Mayor knew how false that appearance was. Even with the scent of cut grass lingering in his nose Sand could smell Sky’s rage. Sky inclined his head with a lazy smile. “Of course.”
“Excellent.” Vann got to his feet and stretched a hand to Sky, who rose to shake it. “We will see both of you in the Mayor’s office at nine tomorrow morning.”
“Certainly,” Sky agreed. “Let me show you out. Sand, wait here for me, will you?”
It wasn’t a request. Sand watched Sky walk out of the office with the Vice Mayor, then took the visitor chair to wait for Sky to return. He should have done what he’d wanted last night and kicked Askup down the stairs instead of just taking him down them with one hand hooked under his arm.
Sky came back and closed the door so they were private. He slumped down on the corner of his desk and dropped his head into his hands. “Oh, lord, what a mess.”
“Askup already harassed me and Amanda in the garden this morning. The City Guard dismissed his complaint. Is this something else?”
Sky looked up. “Yeah. Looks like Askup doesn’t like to hear no. Did Amanda tell you she refused his marriage proposal?”
Sand nodded. “She said she refused him in two seconds.”
“I’ll bet he thought he could still get her to say yes. He was willing to keep trying. But she’s considering you, so that makes his chances of winning her darned slim.” He stood straight with a growl. “You have to stop hurting our clients.”
“I didn’t hurt that weasel! I was polite. I told him his appointment was cancelled, and when he tried to push past me to go to Amanda’s room I tried to be nice. All I did was block his way. Even when he tried to punch me, I only lifted him by his arm and walked downstairs with him. I could have thrown him down the steps.”
Sky rubbed a hand through his thick hair, dragging the locks that fell over his forehead back. “I can’t fault you. That seems reasonable enough. Normally, this kind of a complaint would blow over with no harm down. But Askup is one of the mayor’s best friends. This isn’t going to blow over.”
Sand lifted his lip in a derisive snarl. “What can they do about it?”
“At best, we’ll be let off with a fine.” Sky looked at Sand soberly. “At worst, we could both be condemned to death.”
Sand choked on horror. “What? I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“I know that.” Sky’s voice was grim. “The mayor will know it too, but Askup is one of his cronies, and one of his most generous supporters.” An ironic smile quirked the corner of his mouth. “Justice in Omaha is different than in Kearney.”
“Justice is justice,” Sand protested with a scowl.
“At the den, sure. Taye decides for us at the den, and he doesn’t play favorites. Even Mayor Madison in Kearney is hard but fair. But here, the mayor decides.”
Disgust climbed up Sand’s spine.“And he has favorites?”
His cousin nodded. “And guess who his top favorite is?”
“Terry Askup.”
“That’s right.” Sky strode to the door, pausing to glance back. “You’re a little thinner, but one of my suits will fit you well enough. I’ll have it sent to the bunkhouse for you.”
A suit? He had to wear a suit? “I’ll be with my mate.”
Sky nodded slowly. “Alright, I’ll send it to her room. Be ready to leave tomorrow morning by 8:00.”
April 21, 2014
Tuesday Teaser 4/22/14: Wolf’s Lady Part 16
I can’t believe I’ve been putting this serial out for almost 4 months now! After this there will be more action than emotions. I feel like we’ve gotten to know Amanda and Sand a bit more now, so we can get to the “good stuff”. What would make Amanda be willing to accept Sand? Does Sand love Amanda. or only want a mate? I need to bring them both to the point where they know their feelings are real and deep.
As always, this is rough and unedited. Hope you enjoy it!
Sand watched Askup and the Guardsman until they were out of sight and hearing. When he was sure they were away, he pulled Amanda back to the bench to sit. “That fat slug asked you to marry him?”
Her beautiful smile, the one that showed only amusement, curved her mouth. “Yes, he did. He’s rich, he’s close friends with the mayor, and he has a large mansion, so his wife would have a life of ease.”
He didn’t like that. “So why did you refuse him?”
She leaned close to speak in a voice hardly louder than a whisper. Her scent overwhelmed him. He breathed deeply of that precious scent. “He’s also petty, controlling, and mean in bed. Did you hear his threat? I won’t marry a man who won’t accept defeat gracefully.”
The threat didn’t bother him. The image of Askup in bed with Amanda lifted his lip in a snarl. When Amanda dropped his arm and stepped back he realized his mistake. He sniffed. Her scent had changed. “You’re nervous?”
“Of course not.”
Her scent said different, but her face lifted to his with a calm expression. Amanda was not only beautiful beyond his dreams, she was also strong and self-controlled. His wolf had chosen a superb woman for his mate.
“Sand, does my career bother you?”
“We already talked about this.” It took a little effort, but he kept his voice mild. “What you did before we even met is none of my business.”
“Hmmm,” she murmured in a doubting tone.
He clenched his teeth. “I’m jealous of the men who have been in your life before me,” he admitted. “I can’t help that, but I know I have no right to expect you to deny loving other men in your life.”
“They were in my bed, not my life!” she clarified, with a bit of a snap. “The only men in my life that I care about are my dad and Sky. I love Sky like my brother. And I’ve never brought Sky here.” She waved an arm around the clearing with the dead fountain. “Only you.”
Only him. Relief, and something close to wonder, melted his heart within him. “Will you accept my mate claim?”
She smiled and lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. “I don’t know yet.”
Relief dissolved in disappointment. “Oh.”
Her smile grew to a laugh. “Don’t give up, Sand. It took me two seconds to refuse Terry. It’s been twelve hours and you’re still in the running.” She took his arm. “Let’s go back to Sky’s.”
She hadn’t denied him yet, at least. He just needed to figure out what would make her accept him. As they strolled through the gardens he noticed her pleasure in the flowers. “If you accept my mate claim I’ll plant all the flowers you like around our house. I’ll make you a garden, with a fountain, and a bench and anything else you like.”
She flashed him a quick glance. “That would be nice. But if I marry you, it won’t be for a house, or flowers or anything like that.”
He stopped and looked down at her, forcing desperation back. “Then for what? What can I give you to convince you to accept me?”
She stopped too, staring up at him with an unusually sober face. “What I want from my husband can’t be touched or put into a gift bag, and the price could be very high. But I won’t marry without it.”
“Name it.” Determination rose in him. “I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Amanda’s smile this time was misty, as if she were holding back tears. “It’s not that easy, Sand. I’ll be cheating if I tell you. You have to figure it out for yourself.”
A challenge! There was nothing a wolf liked better. His smiled fiercely at her, savoring the lovely lines of her face. “I will figure it out. Give me a hint.”
She bit her lower lip. “It’s only what most women want.”
If the Lupa were here he could ask her. Maybe he could write her a letter. “I’ll find out and I will give it to you.”
Her hand was soft and gentle when she touched his cheek. “I hope so,” she murmured. “Let’s go home.”
Paperback Giveaway!
Just thought I’d let you know I am running a giveaway for 3 copies of Tales of the Wolf Clan on GoodReads! Why not toss your hat in the ring?
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Tales of the Wolf Clan
by Maddy Barone
Giveaway ends May 08, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
April 20, 2014
Tales of the Wolf Clan Paperback
I have two of my books (Sleeping With the Wolf and Wolf’s Glory) out in paperback and I am attempting to put the rest out too. In fact, Tales of the Wolf Clan is available now from Create Space, and it should be up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in a week or so. This is Wolf’s Oath and Sherry’s Wolf together in one volume. Interior layout and formatting was done by Nadia Lee in exchange for a beta read of Forever in Love. (I loved that book. Had to go get the rest. If you enjoy contemporary romance in the world of the rich and the famous you might want to try Vengeful in Love, the first book in the series. It’s free on Amazon!)I did the cover art for this one myself, using images purchased from Fotolia for the background, and the CreateSpace template for the title/spine and back matter. It’s not perfect, but considering how badly I suck at figuring out graphic art programs, I’m pretty darned proud of it.
Tales of the Wolf Clan, available now at Create Space
April 19, 2014
Wolf’s Vengeance Cover Reveal!
It’s here! I can now show off the cover of Mel and Snake’s story, which releases from Liquid Silver Books on Monday May 26. See? What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?Mel is one of my favorite heroines. She’s tough, but there is grief and trouble behind her calm, stoic face. It takes a guy like Snake to break through the hard crust to the tenderness she guards deep inside.
This is another of Lyn Taylor’s covers. She does such amazing work. I haven’t seen a single cover by Lyn that isn’t beautiful.
April 14, 2014
Tuesday Truth 4/15/14 Wolf’s Lady part 15
Sand stood in front of his mate, using his own body to shield her from whoever was coming. He tasted a familiar scent on the warming morning air. He identified it only a moment before two men came around the shrubs into the fountain area. One was a tall skinny man in the uniform of the City Guard. The other was Terry Askup, his mate’s appointment from last night.
“See?” said Askup loudly. “There he is!”
Sand heard the brush of Amanda’s jeans over stone when she stood and forced his immediate desire to push her behind him away. She stood beside him and smiled at the Guardsman.
“Good morning, Joe!” she said brightly. “How’s Leanne?”
The Guardsman gave her a small smile in return. “She’s doing fine. Not here to chat, though, Miss Amanda. Mr. Askup wants to file a complaint against your companion.”
Sand tensed, but Amanda just blinked at the men with an expression of confused innocence. If Sand hadn’t smelled her anger, he would have accepted it as genuine.
“Really? What on earth for?”
Askup stabbed a finger in Sand’s direction. “He refused to allow me to keep my appointment with you last night!”
When Sand began to growl Amanda looped an arm around his. The warmth of her skin pressed to his eased the growl to a hum so low human ears probably couldn’t hear it.
“That’s right. I’ve cancelled all my appointments for the rest of the month.” Her voice dripped honey that Sand could almost taste. “I’m so terribly sorry for the short notice but it couldn’t be helped.”
Askup had a mean nature. Sand didn’t have the best nose in the pack, but he could smell the sour stink of it. The thought of this man laying his hands on Sand’s mate brought the growl back.
Askup’s eyes were narrowed in rage and narrowed further when the Guardsman said, “Mr. Askup, I see no grounds for a complaint.”
“He laid his hands on me! My shoulders are bruised! I want him arrested for assault.”
The Guardsman turned slightly away from Askup to face Sand more fully and said politely, “I am Sergeant Joseph Rush of the Omaha City Guard. May I see your Visitor Permit, sir?”
Sand dug the paper out of his pocket and handed it over. The Sergeant took the time to read it thoroughly before handing it back. “Thank you, Mr. Wolfe. Would you care to comment on Mr. Askup’s accusation?”
“I didn’t assault him. I told him his appointment was cancelled, and when he wouldn’t leave I picked him up and carried him down the stairs.”
Sergeant Rush glanced from Sand to Askup and Sand knew he was wondering how he could carry the much larger man down the stairs. “Did you strike him or kick him?”
“No.” Sand remembered wanting to, but he hadn’t needed to.
“Mr. Askup, in what way did Mr. Wolfe assault you?”
Askup curled a lip. “He touched me. He forced me out.”
Amanda spoke up. “Of course he did.” She directed that same innocent smile at the Guardsman. “He is employed by Sky Wolfe to keep the peace in his house. As I wasn’t taking appointments, Sand escorted Terry out. He is allowed to use necessary force if an appointment becomes unruly.”
“I asked you to marry me!” Askup yelled.
“You did, and I declined.”
“Why?” Askup spat. “So you can slither all over this .. this …”
Showing his teeth in a snarl that couldn’t possibly be called a smile, Sand took one step forward. Only the weight of his mate hanging fiercely onto his arm kept him from invading Askup’s personal space.
“I refused you before I ever met Sand. Who I choose to … slither over is my concern, not yours. Sergeant, it seems clear to me that Mr. Askup is trying to cause trouble, not file a legitimate complaint.”
“I agree.” The Guardsman frowned at Askup. “Unless you have some evidence that Mr. Wolfe caused you unnecessary harm, I am dismissing your complaint.”
Sand wondered if the scum would lie, but he didn’t. His round cheeks were red with rage, a muscle at the corner of his jaw bunched. “Fine.” He leaned toward Sand. “But don’t expect me to forget this. I won’t. I will make you pay.”
Hey, today is Tax Day in the US. Have you filed? I dropped off my return tonight, a whole day early. LOL
Here is the next bit in Sand and Amanda’s story. Did you think Sand and Amanda had seen the last of her appointment with the taste of roughness? Enter the bad guy!
