Gabrielle Evans's Blog, page 3

Random Contest Time!

Yes, it's completely random and for no other reason than, huzzah, that's why!

So, you're probably thinking to yourself, "What can I win?" Well, I'm not telling. *sticks tongue out* It's a mystery, a surprise, an enigma even! I promise this, though: It will come in a large box and be ridiculously awesome!



And because I'm super excited about my new project with +Jana Downs I'm even going to share with you the opening legend from our new series, The Forgotten, coming this Spring!!


The Legend
The laws of the paranormal world are few and simple, but they are absolute. The most sacred of these directives is also the simplest—no human shall come to perish by the actions of a Nightkin.
For centuries, the Nightkins lived in secrecy and peace amongst the humans, but not all were content with their blessed life. In their arrogant, misguided hatred of the mortals, four tribes of shifter Nightkins—pumas, bears, wolves, and eagles—banded together and fought against the humans, killing and burning everything in their path.
Saddened by the savageness of their children, the great Ancestors sought to not only punish them, but to teach them compassion, tolerance, and love. Cursing the four tribes, the Ancestors decreed that no longer would the shifters have control over their beasts, but that their beasts would control them. Each member of the tribes would live as their animal counterpart, sentient, but unable to change between forms.
Every twenty-five years, on the night of the summer solstice, the shifters would be granted their human skins. During their reprieve they would seek out their mates, because only the gift of love—both given and received—could break their curse. If a Nightkin could not find his mate by midnight on the winter solstice, however, he would become a beast one more, alone and forgotten.
The curse is theirs forever, and as immortals, forever is a very long time. 



So comment below and tell me what your favorite type of M/M books are all about. Do you like friends to lovers? Gay for you? Contemporary? Maybe you like spies or men in uniform? Do you love paranormal romance? Are vampires your thing or do shifters get you going?

Whatever you love, tell me all about it for a chance to win! Don't forget to leave a valid email address!



** Contest Ends Friday, February 28th at Midnight EST **

Cupid Inc Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cupid Inc: The Angel Wears PradaM/M Light Paranormal Erotic RomanceBy Cheryl Dragon

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog
Now Available From:AMAZON 
It’s hard to find a soul mate when you have no soul. Kaden may have to settle for a Valentine’s Day date instead. Born human and forced to go evil, he has turned his back on the demonic ways. Despite demons trying to lure him back, he wants to make up for what he’s done and find love. But who will believe in him? Cupid Inc. will do its best to find him a match! A fallen angel who adores the finer things in the human world is also looking for a Valentine’s date. Lonal longed for romance and human sexuality so much that he fell to Earth to experience love. He just can’t find it. Sex and lust are easy to enjoy but he wants a soul mate. It’s a good thing Lonal has a few tricks up his wings!





Cupid Inc: Letters to JulianM/M Paranormal Erotic RomanceBy Zayne Michaels

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
Now Available From:AMAZON | ARe 
Despite being a dragon shifter, Ridley Dragos doesn’t lead a life of adventure or excitement. Instead, he prefers the quiet solitude of his bookstore and the brief interaction with his customers. He has no aspirations of falling in love or living happily ever after, but all of that is about to change.
When he walked into The Book Attic that morning, Julian Haell harbored no expectations other than finding a new book for his ever-growing collection. Ridley intrigues him, though, and challenges everything he thought he knew about friendship and desire. A simple chat over tea turns into a comfortable, weekly routine, but as the months pass, Julian can’t help but want more.
It’s not every day a guy realizes he’s fallen for his best friend, but unfortunately, Ridley’s window of opportunity is closing fast. When Julian visits the mysterious Cupid Inc in search of a date for Valentine’s Day, Ridley finds himself facing an impossible decision—either seize the moment and confess his feelings, or let the love of a lifetime disappear forever.
READ THE FULL FIRST CHAPTER


Cupid Inc: Silver Lamp PlaylistM/M Paranormal Erotic RomanceBy Skye Dragen


Website | Facebook | Blog
Hektor is a four hundred year old vampire with an interfering family and an antique shop. Bullied into a blind date by his sister, he signs up at Cupid Inc expecting little considering his questionnaire included deep questions like “if you were a nursery rhyme which would you be and why?”. At least he’ll get the women of his family off his back if he can get a complete stranger to stick around long enough to go to his mom’s birthday party. Finding out that his date is a genie might be the answer to his wishes if he can get past how very weird Vedran is.
Getting picked up by a gorgeous vampire was just what Vedran needed after several hundred years trapped in a magic lamp. From the second Hektor polished his teapot he’s been having fun being in the real world again. Maybe he’ll even have the chance to experience romance this time around if he helps Hektor out with his little family problem. When a thief snatches Vedran’s lamp, they’ll both see how far Hektor will go to make sure Vedran remains his.


Cupid Inc: Practically Magic
M/M Paranormal Erotic Romance
By Kalista Kyle


Coming Soon!

Welcome Honor James!

Finding the Blood AssassinLords of the Expanse, Book ThreeSiren Allure: Erotic Futuristic Sci-Fi Romance, vampires, HEAAvailable From BookStrand - 15% off until January 14, 2014
Raven Kato takes the assignments no one else will, the suicide missions, the ones with a low probability of success. He doesn’t care about the risks or the chances of survival. He’s all for going out in a blaze of glory. As long as it helps his people and keeps the Vampire race at the top of the food chain, he’s all for it.
Jamison Montague is tired of being called upon to find people. Some folks just don’t want to be found. Her newest assignment is a prime example of that. Unfortunately she doesn’t have a lot of choice in the matter once she gets a read on her target. But what she ends up being pulled into may very well end not only her career, but her life.
Together this unlikely pair will have to find a way to get along, for they will all too soon have to depend on one another for everything. Not only their survival in a deadly game to which they don’t know the rules, but for their very future and happiness. As danger starts to close in, as their opponents are revealed, and as their hearts become involved, they will have to make the hardest choice of all. Fight for what they want, or give in and give up.
Excerpt
She was moving with the shadows and light. Something big was going down on the ship, she just didn’t know what. She looked around and mused, no, not a ship so much as a planetary vessel. The ship was massive. The outside of the ship was as large as her father’s estate on her homeworld, but it was also heavily armored and looked ready to start a war. She had slipped into the vessel on a ruse, her ship cloaked and attached to the outer hull where she was able to gain access via a little used junction tube. She wondered only briefly why someone would steal the man from his home and then realized that it was because of knowledge. Somehow that came quickly to her even as she rounded another corner on silent feet and weapon drawn. It had to be because the Lord Kato was a Vampire Lord of high ranking within the Vampire Alliance. He was also a Warlord, one who went into battle and therefore knew Alliance secrets.
She paused as she walked and opened all her senses. Frowning, she felt him more than heard him. She felt his anger, and beyond that, his pain. She was about to pull back and fall back to her ship when a large hand, his large hand, snaked out and wrapped around her. She fought all urges to scream, kick, and bite, but instead melted against him.
He was a wounded animal, feral, and she could feel that from him. When he asked her the question of who she was, she spoke quietly and honestly. “I am Jamison Montague. I was sent by your Lady Mother to find you.” She touched the ring which lay between her breasts on a golden chain and added, “You know my father, but this is not the time or place. Would you mind terribly removing your hand from my neck so that we can get out of this hellhole before the alarms I bypassed are found and tripped?”
He looked down at the ring she touched for the briefest of moments before snarling softly. Despite, or perhaps because of the pounding of hunger she could feel rushing through him, he loosened his grip. “One mistake, one wrong move, and I swear on all that I believe in, you won’t know what hit you. And,” he spoke, his voice low and harsh as if from long disuse, “you ever mention my mother again—and I don’t care if you are the ruler of the universe—I will kill you,” he said, sneering.
She didn’t have to be empathic to be able to see the anger in his words so she wisely and simply nodded. The anger that all but poured off of him touching that emotional part of her that housed the fight or flight desire. “All right, we move with the shadows toward my ship. It is hidden right now from the radar and view thanks to a very nice experimental cloak that will be placed on the Warships soon.” How she got such technology was her secret of course. “No mistakes, no wrong moves. I was sent by her, but as soon as I touched your ring I knew I needed to come for you.” It was the truth. She felt it in the very core of her body when she touched that ring that she had to save him not for his house, but for his sanity.
“Come on.” Again in a whispered sound, she went to move from him and looked down at the hand he still held to her arm. “You need to let me go, my lord.”
Staring at her a moment longer, he let his hand drop. “I’m not a lord,” he muttered. Moved away from her, he began pulling the shadows in deeper around him as he headed for her ship. He wasn’t very happy about her news that his mother had sent her to find him. Of all people, he couldn’t believe the gall of that woman. She couldn’t just be happy fucking with his formative years, now she had the need to stick her bloody nose where it was definitely not wanted.
A soft sound had him stopping and waiting until the guard came by, and in one motion, Raven slit his throat. Catching the body hefted him up onto a crate, folding him in such a manner to avoid detection for a time. Glancing back, he glared at the female, a female that shouldn’t be there. No one should be there for him, as it was against the laws of conduct of the Alliance if they found out. Well, thankfully, it wouldn’t be his head on the block.
She understood his anger, the need to kill. Hell, she was in a killing rage after touching his signet ring and feeling only the smallest measure of the torture he was put through. It was only two more turns before they were on her small vessel. Moving quickly, she pointed to the guest room. “You can bunk in there.” She wasn’t going to tell him he had to leave her because she damn well knew better, so instead she pulled the pillow from the copilot’s chair. “Or have a seat. This might be a bumpy ride.” Because she had to drop the cloak in order to activate the faster-than-light engines and in that few minutes, they would be blazingly visible and vulnerable.
He eased into the copilot’s seat and settled down gingerly. “Do what needs to be done,” he snapped at her softly, barely keeping a leash on his temper. They would be stuck in the small craft for a time together, and she was glad to see him reining it in. While he could undoubtedly fly it easily, she knew that he was exhausted, beyond exhausted given the glimpse she’d had into the hell he’d lived.
She didn’t even think about what she was doing but tugged out the small cooler drawer and pointed. “I stocked up. Feed before you pass out,” she said without even looking at him. All her attention was on getting them ready and out of there. Using the maneuvering thrusters only, she pulled them away from the massive ship and toward open space. When she saw he hadn’t touched the blood, she simply held out her arm. “I didn’t poison the blood, but if you would feel better, drink from the vein.” While she waited on the countdown before disengaging the cloak, she grabbed a bag of blood herself and snapped it on her teeth while she waited for him to make his choice.
“Thank you, no,” he murmured, seeming to keep one eye on her and the other where they were going. Sitting back farther in the chair, he shifted slightly but stiffly. “Just concentrate on where you are going. I’d really prefer not to die in a horrifyingly fiery accident.”
Paranormal Romance Author Honor James My Website My Blog Facebook Fan Page Come Tweet with me
My Romance Wiki a

Welcome Lexi DeHalo!

Lexi.dehalo@gmail.comWebsite | Blog | Facebook
Lexi DeHalo lived in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina until she left for college to study Chemistry and Forensic Science. After graduation, Lexi decided to pursue her love of the arts by writing erotic romance. When she’s not too busy in the lab, you can find her working on her latest inspiration or playing with her fur-babies.




Last Kiss GoodbyeThe SouthlandsAvailable on Amazon!



Haunting memories and shattered dreams of a life he left behind lead Karson Maddox back to Southlands, Montana and the one man he can’t forget, Marcus Deveraux. But Karson is a changed man, scarred by the chains of his past that are unwilling to let him go, and he doesn’t know if he can be the man Marcus once loved or if he will be forever bound to the horrors that plague him.
With his lover’s disappearance, Marcus repressed his pain and heartache by devoting his time to his family’s ranch. When Karson shows up on his doorstep five years later, battered and bruised, Marcus is torn between protecting the one man who stole his heart and the fear of betrayal.
As desire and passion reignite, the secrets surrounding Karson’s past threaten to tear them apart once again, and Marcus will learn just how far he’s willing to go to keep Karson safe from the demons that threaten both of their lives.
Excerpt
The Southlands End. The orange, neon words hung high above the doorway, glowing brightly in the nighttime sky. The loud music playing inside could be heard clearly from the crowded parking lot. This place was meant to serve as a safe haven for the shifter kind who resided in Southlands, Montana, but to Karson Maddox, it only served as a reminder of the life that had been stolen from him.
He took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of the familiar rugged landscape. Montana had been the place he’d called home for many years, until that fateful night had changed his life forever. After five years, Karson had finally made it back home, but now, he was uncertain of what awaited him on the other side of those metal doors, and frankly, he didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was finding Marcus.
Reaching out with a shaky hand, he opened the door and stepped inside. He was instantly greeted by the bouncers, set in place to keep wandering mundanes—a shifter term for the majority of the human population—out.
“Passcode,” the large one on the left requested in a less than pleasant manner. His voice was deep and his intimidating stare was enough to stop any sensible person from advancing.
Karson ran a nervous hand through his shaggy hair. “I don’t know it, but—”
Before he could even get the rest of his sentence out, the other bouncer, who had yet to speak, grabbed ahold of his arm and pushed him back outside.
“Hey, wait a minute. Lemme go!” Karson struggled against the painful grip. “I’m here to see Marcus.”
His words did nothing to stop the two shifters from removing him from the building. They tossed him to the ground like a ragdoll, and the sting from the gravel scraping against his exposed flesh burned like a son of a bitch.
He glared up at the two men, his temper flaring from their harsh handlings as his mind was taken back to the past five years of abuse he’d endured in one moment. He could feel the animal inside him rise to the surface, itching for a release that couldn’t be sated. His inability to shift only fueled his desire to defend himself as he lunged at the taller man His fist collided with the bouncer’s jaw, but despite the pain that radiated up his arm, his target appeared to be unfazed by the blow.
“Fuck,” he cursed as he shook his hand in an attempt to free it from the ache that emanated from his knuckles.
“Is there a problem here?”
His heart caught at the sound of the slight southern drawl. He knew the man who had spoken those words even before he turned around and his rage was instantly calmed by the familiar voice. A wave of nervousness washed over him as his hands began to tremble. 
Turning slowly, he met Marcus’s eyes for the first time in five years and the world around him seemed to fade away.
Marcus Deveraux stood in front of him, dressed in a pair of dark-wash Wranglers and his favorite pair of cowboy boots. His white shirt was left partially unbuttoned, no doubt to showcase his well-muscled chest. Strands of his blond hair fell in front of his ice blue eyes as he stared down at Karson. The soft features of his face had hardened with the years, but everything else was just as he remembered.
Karson’s mouth went dry. He tried to find the words he’d rehearsed earlier in the day, but nothing came to him. Instead, all he could do was stand there like a deer caught in headlights.
“Karson?” Marcus whispered as recognition finally kicked in. A look of shock and confusion fell upon his face as the pain and agony of the past few years shimmered inside the depths of Marcus’s piercing eyes.
The desire to reach out to him was overwhelming. It was an impulse that had surprised Karson given that he’d changed so much in the past few years. Something shifted inside him, awakening a mixture of emotions he hadn’t felt since the day he was taken from Marcus. Tears pooled in his eyes and he tried desperately to hold them back. He wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.
“Sir, you know this man?” the large shifter Karson had punched questioned Marcus.Marcus gave a slow nod, his eyes never leaving Karson. “Yes… he’s my mate.”

Behind the Scenes

What are your current projects?
My current projects include starting a new pen name for a M/F BDSM piece I’ve been working on entitled, Beautifully Broken [A Limitless Novel] and supernatural suspense novel that has yet to be titled.
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
Hmm. An interesting question. I think I have come a long way since my first book was released a year ago. I have found my own voice, so to speak, and I’ve quite enjoyed experimenting with different genres. I’m excited about my upcoming works in progress J
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
The edits. I switched editors with my latest book and while I was extremely happy with the feedback I got, I also spent many hours working on their suggestions. It really pushed me as a writer and helped shape the book to be what it is today.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Yes, I do. The cover is the first impression that a buyer sees and it needs to reflect the quality of writing, the reader can expect. A cover doesn’t need to be flashy or over the top, but it does need to be professional.
What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

Being published is great route for a writer so long as it is a reputable publisher that does their share of the work. Realistically, I don’t want to do business with a publisher if their editing, cover art, and promotions are not worth 50-60% of my royalties. If I’m doing most of the work and even having to correct their edits, then I don’t feel like the publisher is holding up their end of the contract. In that case, self-publishing would be an ideal situation, especially with today’s technology. Hiring you own editor and cover artist can be an up front, out of pocket cost, though and if an author doesn’t earn back enough from their self-published title to cover those costs, it will be a direct loss that they have to take. For new authors, I feel that being published is a great introduction into the industry. It gives the author a feel for the expectations of the industry and is a good place to start. For more experienced authors who feel like they aren’t getting what they need from their publisher, they may want to try their hand at self-publishing.

Welcome to Purgatory Giveaway!

www.camppurgatory.com
Welcome to Purgatory: Beginning of the End
Amazon | ARe| B&N

After losing his best friend in a meteor storm that wiped out entire cities, Brady Dane finds himself alone and
scared, simply trying to make it from one day to the next. Surrounded by chaos, desperation, and death, he turns his compass toward Georgia and the refuge rumored to be established in the military base there. Forming emotional attachments will only make him vulnerable, so he keeps himself guarded, choosing to travel alone, but that all changes when he crosses paths with a stranger on a lonely stretch of highway.
Anthony Grimel—Grim to his friends—is having a really bad day. Collapsing on the side of the road after being robbed and beaten by a band of raiders, he’s ready to give up. He never expected to be saved by an angel with golden hair and a smile to rival the sun. Finding purpose once again in being Brady’s guardian, his protector, Grim vows to get his new companion safely to the refuge, but he never expected to lose his heart in the process.
Love isn’t always easy, though, a fact Brady quickly discovers. Wading through a new, complicated relationship is hard enough, but now, he’s not sure who to trust—who is friend and who is foe. One hard truth becomes glaringly obvious not long after his arrival. Within these walls, there is no life or death, there is only survival.
Welcome to Purgatory.
Read the Full First Chapter!
Website| blog | facebook | twitter




Welcome to Purgatory: Journey to NowhereAmazon | ARe| B&N

Forest has been on his own since the world came crashing down months ago. Trusting someone was never on his list of things to-do but finding his sister definitely is. His trip to New Orleans is filled with peril but it’s about to get even more interesting when he meets a new friend and protector on the causeway.
Manny never expected to play bodyguard to a beautiful blond with more than a few submissive tendencies. With demons of his own to battle, it’s been hard fighting off Forest’s as well. However, he hears about a place where they might finally be safe enough to deal with their issues.
Camp Purgatory offers security and a new way of life. However, it is not what is in the brochure that they really have to worry about.
Read the Full First Chapter!
Website | Blog | Facebook


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome Olivia Black!

OLIVIA BLACKOliviaBlackBooks@gmail.comWEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTERESTI fell in love with romance novels years ago and read everything I could get my hands on, from contemporary to paranormal. Thousands of books later, I'm still an avid reader. I started writing ménage romance a couple of years ago with Siren Publishing under the name, Alicia White. Recently, I decided that I wanted to branch out and with the support of my publisher, I started writing Man Love under, Olivia Black. This is my first series, Silver Bullet.  I love waking up in the morning, getting my iced coffee and sitting down in front of my laptop. Going on adventures with my characters, makes writing the best job on the planet. My hope is that readers will find something positive in every book I write and that they will enjoy the journey along the way. Happy reading! The Alpha’s Mate: Silver Bullet, Book 1Now Available from BookStrand! Alpha Gideon Channing isn’t just the leader of his pack in New Orleans. He’s also the owner of Silver Bullet, a gay club that offers everything from a dance floor to a dungeon. The club caters to all of its customers from shifters to vampires and even humans. Josh Gordon is human. He’s just graduated college and is ready to party.  He knows that paranormal’s exist. In fact, everyone does, it’s not a secret. After drinking and dancing with his friends, large arms wrap around him and he’s instantly blown away that a huge wolf shifter would be interested in him.The two men spend a wild night together, but when Josh wakes up, he’s scared of the awkward morning after. He can’t understand why his heart hurts with each step he takes toward the door. Before he can sneak out, Gideon stops him and convinces him that he needs more than just one night.



      Gideon Channing scanned the crowd through the monitors, looking for any signs of trouble.  It was his job to make sure that all the shifters, humans, and vampires mingled well together. No one had ever been injured or forced to do anything since the opening of his place, Silver Bullet, and as owner and pack Alpha, he planned on keeping it that way. From his office, located above the club, Gideon couldn’t hear the pounding music, but he could enjoy the view. Sitting back, Gideon watched gorgeous, half-naked men gyrating across the dance floor rubbing against each other, creating a sea of delicious, sweaty flesh.        His pack of red wolves had changed so much over the years and he was content with the way things were. Before his father became the Alpha, the wolves had been ruled with an iron fist. Members of the pack were punished and put to death for whatever infraction the tyrant of an Alpha considered to be disgraceful or wrong. Families were broken a part, children slaughtered for stepping out of line, and men and women were held to different standards.       He could still remember the night when he came clean and told his father he preferred men. He didn’t expect the man to accept him as easily as he had, with open arms.  That same night, his father told him a heart breaking story about an uncle he never knew existed. The man had been killed for his sexual preferences, murdered, before his father was old enough and strong enough to step in and fight.  Since then, his father felt guilty over the loss of his older brother. A man that, from what Gideon heard, he resembled in a lot of ways.       When he took the reins from his father, the few families that remained went with his parents to Europe. Now, his pack consisted of gay men, a haven for anyone that needed a safe place in honor of the uncle he never knew. Some of the men he’d grown up with and others found and joined them over the years. Their numbers were growing and he always welcomed anyone who needed a place to call home.       The clubs success could be attributed to the entire pack and their hard work. The Silver Bullet had become well known for catering to everyone and their tastes whether conservative or wildly kinky. The large profits not only helped them all live a life of luxury, it also paid the way for the younger members to further their education. College and traveling were important elements in a young pup’s life and he didn’t want any mistakes closing this place down.       Ever since the paranormal world had been exposed to human kind, years ago, they’d lived in relatively peaceful conditions. There were rogues, but they were policed closely by a group called, F.P.A. or Federal Paranormal Agency. The paranormals couldn’t be blamed for everything though. Humans committed crimes and killed all the time. There were radical groups also known as PARA-haters out there, but their numbers were small and Gideon’s pack hadn’t had any problems with them for a while. Where ever those trouble makers were, he was glad they weren’t in New Orleans, harassing his pack.       After human-kind got over the shock that shifters and vampires were real and not a myth, most humans became curious about paranormals. Over time humans started trusting that they weren’t in any danger. Gideon named the club, Silver Bullet, as a little joke since many human’s believed that shifters or werewolves could only be killed with silver. He wouldn’t confirm or deny that rumor.        Gideon’s hope was that the Silver Bullet would bring everyone together, paranormals and humans alike. Having a club was also a good excuse to help his pack find their mates.  He’d been searching for his own far too long in his opinion. At thirty-five, he was ready to settle down with a good man by his side.       Scanning each screen, he watched his employees for a few minutes before checking each dark corner, the dance floors, and even the private rooms. Security and safety would always be his top priority. Everyone coming inside his club knew that, and all the players agreed to the discreet surveillance. It was one of the reasons they were always busy. The other was due to the fact that they were the hottest gay club in the state, and quite possibly the country.       The Silver Bullet was a sprawling building almost a block long in the warehouse district in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a well-known hang out and attracted lots of different clientele. Luckily, they could accommodate everyone’s tastes. From quiet relaxing atmospheres to extreme forms of BDSM, the club had it all.       Gideon made sure to do his homework before opening. He wanted this place to be the go-to for paranormals and humans alike. The sprawling club was cut up into different mini-clubs, some more private and exclusive than others. In fact, in order to get into the dungeon, each member needed a background check and a psych evaluation. If they passed, then they were given their own four digit code.       He loved New Orleans. It had it all. The big city, music, food, swamps, and open spaces that allowed him to shift and run freely. To him, Louisiana wasn’t like any other place in the world. There was a certain magic that hung in the thick air and clung to a person.       After a few minutes of watching the sexy men on the screen, he heard a knock before the door opened. Gideon swiveled his chair around and grinned as his Beta, Sean Griffin, strolled in. His best friend could easily be mistaken for his brother. They looked similar in a lot of ways.      “Enjoying the view I see. You should come down and see it up close and personal.” Sean winked.
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH OLIVIA BLACK
Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? I write full time right now, but that will be changing very soon. I’m going back to school to continue my education. I’ll always write, but my schedule will be different. Q: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured? I get my daughter off to school, hit the gym, grab my iced coffee, and then, its writing time. I spend the morning getting as many words in as I can. Some days are better than others. Q: Do you write every day?Yes, I spend at least a couple of hours writing each day. On the weekends, I usually spend the day with family, but in the evening, I open my laptop. Q: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?My daily goal is between three to five thousand words. Sometimes that varies depending on how motivated I am. J Q: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?For this series, Silver Bullet, I did a lot of plotting. I wanted to make sure that each story was unique along with the characters. I also looked through pictures of hunky men and used them as inspiration for the characters. It makes describing them a lot easier.  Q: How long on average does it take you to write a book?The time varies and depends on how inspired I’m feelings. Some days, my fingers glide across the keyboard and others, I stare at the screen. Q: Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?I move to a different WIP (work in progress). If I’m staring at the screen and the words aren’t coming to me, I close the document, and open a different book I’m working on. Q: For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?I have a nook and a full shelf of traditional paperback books. I’m a huge reader and have been for many years. Reading is an important part of my life. Q: What books are you reading at present?There are so many books. I read constantly…anything romance.  Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?Honestly, I don’t know a lot about self-publishing to really weigh in. I enjoy writing for Siren, they are a great company. The folks there are always willing to work with me and they are very supportive. I write ménage under Alicia White and now, I’m writing Man Love with a brand new pen name, Olivia Black. I feel very lucky to be a part of the Siren family.  Q: Which social network worked best for you?I’ve never been a big social networking person, but since writing, all that changed. I love connecting with the readers and other writers. Facebook has been the big one, but I’m also on Twitter.  

Divine Creek Ranch Giveaway by Heather Rainier!

Awakening VeronicaComing December 20thPre-Order Now Available!
[Siren Ménage Everlasting: Erotic Cowboy Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, light consensual BDSM, spanking, flogging, capture role play, sex toys, HEA]
Bullied all her life, Veronica Benedict has learned to withdraw rather than risk being hurt by those closest to her—but that’s not the only type of bully she has to deal with.
On a research trip, a fellow author introduces her to two Doms at a wedding. Travis McDaniel is disillusioned by life in Washington, D.C., and is back home in Divine, examining his future.
Driven by the need to keep the citizens of Divine safe, Hank Stinson has put his loneliness and his secret desires aside—until he meets Veronica. Hank and Travis are captivated by the introverted author. Hank must decide if he needs this special kind of love more than he needs to be elected sheriff again, and Travis must choose between life in Divine and an opportunity to make a difference in the world. When they discover the bullying Veronica is enduring, their protective instincts come roaring to the surface.
ADULT EXCERPT
Travis laid warm kisses on her abdomen before working his way back up, nuzzling between her breasts. 
“You smell so sexy, Nika. You make me hard just with your scent.”
“True,” Hank murmured.
As they touched her and warmed her, she relaxed, letting them do as they willed, until she was lying with arms and legs spread, willing to take whatever they offered. Her cunt throbbed with need as she hoped they’d touch her there. They came close too many times to count as they touched and teased. The tension built in slow waves flowing and ebbing like a tide as these two men aroused her to a point that she thought she was running a fever.
Hank must’ve moved around the bed because he was suddenly on her other side, paying the same attention to her hands and legs on that side. She arched her back and stretched and heard him growl softly. “Perfect.”She smiled and opened her eyes. A tugging at her wrists drew her attention as he loomed over her, tying something off on her headboard. Both men smiled at her when she looked from side to side and saw that it wasn’t just a fantasy. She was tied down to the bed at both wrists.
Tugging with her legs, she realized Travis had been busily working at distracting her while Hank had restrained her legs, too. Her cunt pulsed and she gloried in the sensation as she tugged and couldn’t get free.Hank laid his hand on her abdomen. “You’re ours to play with now, Nika.” Lust burned in his eyes. “We can do whatever we want to you.”
Intelligible speech fled as she embraced her predicament. She should probably play along and pretend to be concerned but all she could do was giggle as she arched her back, dying for whatever they chose to do next.
 “Do your worst.”
With an evil laugh, Travis leaned down until his mouth was inches from her cunt. “I’ve been looking forward to tasting your pussy ever since Hank told me about this afternoon.”
“Did he tell you all about it?” she asked as she lifted her hips.
“Yes, in great detail, little vixen.” He growled as he finally looked his fill. “So tempting and pink. And wet. You need me to touch you here?” he asked, lifting a fingertip and nearly touching her with it, until she panted and whimpered, tilting toward him. Her pussy clenched around nothing, aching for a cock to fill her, a finger, anything.
She scooted closer to him until the silky bindings at her wrists halted her movements and all she could do was watch. Travis tilted his head and flicked his gaze to hers as he brushed his lower lip against her labia. Her body jerked as his hot breath streamed over her exposed clit and she wondered if she’d come just from his teasing and the way looked at her.
She glanced up and saw Hank kneeling on the bed, watching the two of them, his enormous cock jutting up from the nest of black hair between his spread legs. She wanted to reach out and touch him but couldn’t. Remembering their encounter earlier made her mouth water.
Hot breath at her cunt drew her attention and she looked back at Travis and he grinned at her. “You were about a split second away from getting your pussy slapped for not paying attention, Nika. Focus.” The thought of either of them doing that made her cunt clench tight as a vise and her juices dripped from her and slid between her ass cheeks.
Travis smiled as he saw her reaction and the knowledge in his eyes didn’t shame her. No, it turned her on even more. It made her bold. “You’d slap my poor little pussy?” She even managed to slide her lower lip out in a pout, a totally foreign motion.
He leaned closer, and she felt like she been touched with a hot poker as his breath streaked over her a second before his teeth slid smoothly on either side of her clit.
“Oh!” she screamed as her back bowed and the orgasm blindsided her. He sucked her clit, setting off a flurry of explosions that rocked her. His hot mouth lapping at her wouldn’t allow her to come down and the tension soared within her again. He seemed content to tease her, sucking at her clit and licking her opening until she was swollen and so aroused she wanted to scream for them to take her. She opened her eyes to find them both watching her and realized what they waited for.
“Fuck me, please! Please!” she begged.
Travis’s face broke into a smile and he said, “She’s a quick one.”
Hank chuckled in reply, and instead of being offended Veronica laughed, too, and yelled, “Shut up and fuck me!”
The room echoed with Hank’s laughter and the shock on Travis’s face lasted for a split second before the flat of his fingertips landed right over her clit. More shocking than painful, the tap drew a startled scream from her.
Travis gaped at Hank, a devilish gleam lighting his brown eyes. “Such sassiness from our sub! Did you hear her?”
“I did, Trav. She just earned herself a spanking.”
Travis grinned and soothed her pussy with broad strokes from his tongue until she pleaded, “Please fuck me, Travis? Pretty, pretty, please? With sugar on top?”

“What pretty begging,” Travis said as he sheathed his cock. Hank had a condom in his hand as well, and a hungry look in his eyes as he watched them.
I get two cocks. Holy Moses!
Feeling ravenous for them both, she squirmed and writhed as she watched Travis stroke his hand down his thick shaft. I want that so much!
She realized she’d spoken out loud when Travis chuckled and said, “I’m about to give it to you, impatient Nika.”
ENTER TO WIN A KINDLE PAPERWHITE OR A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


MEET THE CASTName: Hank StinsonDOB: 1969Height: 6’Eye Color: Light GrayOccupation: Sheriff of Divine County
Bio: I’m a native of Divine. I love it here and never plan to leave.
Favorites Food: Nice big rib-eye from O’Reilley’sColor: RedBook: Band of Brothers by Stephen E. AmbroseMovie: The Quiet Man and McClintock with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara (There’s just something about a feisty redhead that gets my blood going.) Band: (Musician) George StraitSong: You Look so Good in Love by George StraitQuote: “Courage is being scared to death…and saddling up anyway.” –John WayneTV Show: CastleHoliday: ChristmasSport: Football
Lightning RoundPepsi or Coke: CokeBoxers or Briefs: BoxersDie Hard or Terminator: Die Hard Ford or Chevy: ChevySteak or Chicken: SteakStar Wars or Star Trek: Star Trek (The original)Beer or Wine: Beer—Dos Equis
In DepthWhat is your most cherished possession? I don’t get real hung up on possessions but my mom loved collecting Christmas decorations and nativity scenes. When she passed on a few years back all that came to me. It’s just sitting in boxes in storage now but it means something to me. Someday maybe I’ll have a woman in my life who likes stuff like that, too.How do you feel about being the center of attention?It’s part of the job on lots of occasions. I see it as a necessary evil but it doesn’t bother me. Where public safety in my county is concerned, the buck stops here.What makes you blush? Not much, these days. In my line of work I’ve seen just about anything and everything. The last time I blushed was when little Rose Marie Warner gave me a kiss on the cheek.How do you feel, generally, about the opposite sex?Protective. Very protective. I don’t have a woman in my life right now but I hope wherever she is that someone is looking out for her, too.What is your worst habit? Not being able to say no to the women of this community. You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff they’ve talked me into doing for charities and worthy causes.Do you have any irrational fears or phobias? Closest that I come is the fear I feel for someone else when they are in harm’s way. The job requires keeping a level head but that doesn’t mean I don’t have fear. I just don’t let it immobilize me.How do you think your exes would describe you? Bossy. Dominating. I’m willing to bet they smile when they say it, too.How deeply does your job / social role define you as a person? I’ve known that I wanted to be in law enforcement nearly my whole life. I think that having a tendency toward domination and wanting to keep the people I care about safe translated into a way of life when I took on the badge.What are you the most hopeless at? As I mentioned before, saying no to the women of Divine is nearly impossible.What would you never do, no matter the price?Cheat on the woman I love.
MORE FROM HEATHER…Special holiday traditions?
The weekend after Thanksgiving, we always set up our Christmas tree and let our kids decorate it. This started when our eldest was a toddler and did it all by herself. The tree leaned to the left a little that first year because the ornaments were all hanging on just a few low branches on one side of the tree but she had fun. When our son came along, it got to be a bit of a competition. Now that they are both middleschoolers, the ornaments landed higher and higher on the tree. It’s not always neatly proportioned or color coordinated but it’s definitely their creation. Growing up, my mom was a Nazi about the Christmas tree being decorated a certain way. I have more fun watching them decorate it than I ever had decorating one when I was growing up.
Favorite holiday memory?
On Christmas of 2010, Mister Rainier, also known as “Mister Practicality”, did something that totally blew me away. I’d been a published author for just a little over a month at the time. A few days before Christmas, he lured me outside and I was surprised to find a ruby red 2011 Chevy Camaro sitting in our front yard. I’d been lusting after one of these vehicles for at least three years. I was convinced it was a rental. Then he blew me away when he handed me the keys and said, “Merry Christmas!” He went on to say that for once in his life he wanted to do something that was completely impractical. That car is my pride and joy.
Tis the Season for Giving…
For those who like to give donations to charity in lieu of Christmas gifts, I’d always recommend visiting the American Red Cross website.
http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations

ENTER TO WIN A KINDLE PAPERWHITE OR A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome Alanea Alder! Gifts of Fate Giveaway!

Alanea Alderalaneaalder@yahoo.comWEBSITE| FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLOG
KINDRED OF ARKADIA 7: GIFTS OF FATEwww.bookstrand.com/gifts-of-fate  
It’s Christmas in Arkadia. Which could only mean one thing. Chaos!The babies are due any minute and Rian is on a rampage trying to get the Pride House ready to be featured in the Council newsletter.Even though it’s supposed to be the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ the newly mated couples are finding it hard to get into the spirit. Tempers are running high and nerves are frayed.Fear and doubt linger throughout the town like an oppressive, dark cloud. Will the mated couples be saying Merry Christmas or goodbye to the ones they love? Can the town avoid death and tragedy?Will Fate bless these couplesStory Excerpt“Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful.” Rebecca sang cheerfully as she hung fresh garland and wreaths up in the diner. She loved Christmas. The snow outside reminded her of the magical day when she first came to Arkadia. So much had happened in the past year, it felt like she had lived here all her life.The diner smelled like Ma’s beef stew, homemade bread and cinnamon from the desserts baking in the oven. She was about to get on the step ladder when she heard a low growl from her mate. She looked behind her to see Liam already standing from where he sat with his mates to come over and assist. He winked at her and took the garland from her hands. She turned to Aleks.“You don’t have to be so growly.”“You should know better than to be climbing around on a step ladder. You’re due any day now. You’re so big you’d probably topple off to one side.” Rebecca gasped and looked down at her stomach. She secretly complained to Ashby and Sebastian about how big she was because she didn’t want to worry Aleks, but damn the man for calling her out on it in the diner.“I’m not that big. I’m perfectly healthy.” She sniffed. Liam leaned down and whispered, “You know he’s just worried. We all are. You’re just so tiny and let’s face it, your tummy is not.” He kissed the top of her head, arranged the last section of garland, and stepped down. “I’m fine. We both are. Drill sergeant over there has been keeping track of how many steps I take from the den to the bathroom, how many ounces of water I drink and all my pre-natal vitamins.” She smiled sweetly at Aleks before sticking her tongue out at him and rubbing her tummy.“Have you picked out a name yet?” Ashby asked, grinning. Rebecca could kiss the man. He always seemed to know exactly what she was feeling and what to do to make her feel better. Bringing up choosing a baby name would be a fun way to bring her overbearing bear down a notch or two. He had been dogging her every step for the past month and restricted her visits to the diner. Torturing him was her only form of entertainment.“I think I have.”“It has to be an ‘A’ name.” Aleks jumped in. She had been teasing him about naming the baby Gabriel for weeks. “I found the perfect name. Aloisius. It’s Liam’s middle name and I think it will suit my baby right down to his little purr,” Rebecca said, taking a seat across from Ashby who had his back to Aleks. He caught her eye and winked.“That’s a fine name,” Liam exclaimed, jumping on the bandwagon.“Like hell! We are not naming my son Aloisius! And he does not purr, he growls!” Aleks rumbled.“Hmmm I don’t know, it feels like a purr to me,” Rebecca said innocently.“It’s a growl.”“A purr could sound like a growl,” Kaden added.“Especially from her tummy like that,” Rex chimed in with a straight face.Rebecca looked around and realized most of the pride was in the diner.“It’s a growl, dammit!”“It’s okay, Aloisius, daddy loves you no matter what, even if you purr.” Rebecca made kissy noises to her stomach.“He is not going to be Aloisius!” Aleks roared.“You said I got to pick the first name since you picked the middle name,” Rebecca reminded him.“That was because of a family tradition,” Aleks protested.“Not my problem. Oh!” Rebecca rubbed her stomach and looked over to Sebastian who had also grabbed his midsection.Liam, Kent, and Aleks both jumped up and went to their mates.“What is it?” Aleks ran a gentle hand over Rebecca’s stomach.“Are you okay, kitten?” Liam asked.“That felt funny,” Sebastian said, frowning.“I feel fine now,” Rebecca said, tilting her head back for a kiss. No matter what was going on Aleks had a way of making time stop every time their lips touched. He didn’t disappoint. He delved into her mouth and nibbled on her lips. When they broke apart she sighed happily. Aleks didn’t return to the barstool, he grabbed a chair and sat close to her, taking her hand in his.
Adult Excerpt
“What time do we need to leave to head to the diner?”“About eleven.”She looked over at the clock and turned back to him, licking her lips.“Let’s try. If it happens it happens. But I want you to know, I’m not against it.” Madison ran her hands down his chest.“Wildcat, you have me so hard thinking about getting you pregnant.” Connor groaned when she reached between them to cup his hardening dick.“Then it’s a good thing I’m not wearing any panties under my nightgown and my pussy is dripping wet,” she said, leaning forward to bite his earlobe. That was all it took. Growling, he yanked the garment up over her head and attacked her hardening nipples like a starving man. She arched her back, thrusting her breast further into his mouth.He stood wrapping her legs around his waist and then ran for the stairs. Through his T-shirt he could feel her damp, scorching hot pussy grind against his abdomen. He felt his eyes shift as he growled low and long. Tossing his mate on the bed he ripped his clothes from his body and descended on her.She took one look at his advancing form and her eyes shifted to a light blue. She got on her hands and knees and looked at him from over one shoulder. Catlike, she arched her back before lowering her upper body to the bed, offering up her ass to him. He could see the moist, pink folds of her pussy beckoning to him. He had to grab the base of his cock to prevent himself from coming.“I’m sorry, wildcat, I don’t think I can go slow,” he rumbled, climbing on the bed and taking up a position behind her. He slowly stroked his cock, looking down at her body.“I don’t need slow right now, just you.” She wiggled her ass. Connor ran both hands over her perfect ass cheeks and pulled them apart. He could see her dark hole teasing him as her pussy dripped liquid down her thighs. He ran his thumb up her slit, sliding her juices to her sweet hole. He didn’t know what he wanted more, her dew-soaked pussy or her tight ass. Grinning, he decided to have both.With his other hand he grabbed his shaft and began to push himself inside her slick folds. He waited until he was about halfway in and then slammed inside his mate to the hilt. She went wild beneath him the way he knew she would. She loved to have her cervix bumped. He hammered into her over and over again. He loved the way her body stretched to take his cock.He knew he wouldn’t have long, his body was already primed. He reached forward and wrapped his fingers in her hair. He pulled backward until her back was bowed. She was keening her pleasure. Snapping his hips again and again he pushed his thumb into her dark star and she screamed and her pussy clamped down on his cock. He saw stars explode behind his eyelids, he roared and pulled her hair until she was up and kneeling on her knees in front of him. He was still coming when he leaned forward and buried his canines deep into her shoulder. Her arms came up to hold his head. He impaled her with his thick cock one last time and was spent.
CONTEST: Enter the Rafflecopter Drawing to win special holiday prizes from the Arkadian Court!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release and Contest from Zayne Michaels!

zayemichaels@gmail.com
WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PURGATORY


Moving to Shadow Hills was supposed to be the start of a new life for Lachlan MacAuley, and for a while, the sleepy little town provided exactly what he’d been seeking. His debut novel had soared to the top of the bestseller charts, and each subsequent book only boosted his popularity. Though he had more imaginary friends than real ones, he was happy, finally living his dream as a published author.
Then, in one tragic moment, everything changed.
Xeno knows the rules. He knows the risks of bringing a human into his world, but when he meets Lachlan at the local coffeehouse, he can’t deny there’s something between them. The connection goes deeper than mere physical attraction, though, and more than anything, he wants to mend the broken author and help to pick up the shattered remains of his life.
So many obstacles stand between them and their happy ending, but if they can learn to lean on one another, believe they can trust again, it may just be a holiday they’ll never forget.
Buy Now From: 
Amazon | ARe | B&N



"Ms Michaels does an amazing job of bringing me, the reader, into this story making me feel so connected that I never wanted it to end. I love the emotional connection I had to the characters, the love I felt jumping off the pages and the hotter than sin sex that is the icing on a story I will not soon forget. This book is going on my keeper shelf."




Chapter One
The alluring scent of brewed coffee and freshly baked cinnamon buns wafted through the small corner café. Coffeehouses of all sizes and varying degrees of popularity littered the art district in Shadow Hills, but Brew Ha Ha offered a very inspirational environment. The free wireless internet, the dim, intimate lighting, and the secluded corners with large, squashy chairs provided the perfect writer’s paradise.
Every morning for nearly two years, Lachlan MacAuley had packed his laptop, his notebooks, and his hopes and dreams in a battered messenger bag. Then he’d walk the three blocks to Brew Ha Ha, order a non-fat, no foam salted caramel macchiato, and commandeer his favorite armchair in the back of the café. And every morning for the past six months, he’d sat in that chair and stared at the blinking curser on his screen while crickets chirped inside his head.
That first year had been phenomenal, like walking on a cloud. His debut novel, Public Affair, had soared to the top of the bestseller charts, and from there, Lachlan had been unstoppable. If he wasn’t writing, he was thinking about writing. His entire life, he’d dreamed of being a published author, and living the dream proved to be better than anything he could have imagined.
Then everything changed.
The night had started like any other. Lachlan had retreated into his own mind, frantically pounding away at the keyboard and feeling almost giddy as his latest story unfolded right before his eyes. The café had been deserted by the time he’d come up for air, and the baristas had already started their nightly cleanup.
After packing away his portable office and paying the tab for the endless amounts of coffee he’d consumed during his marathon writing session, he’d set out for home, eager to reach his apartment so he could return to his fantasyland. Contemplating his hero’s current predicament and spinning out scenarios of how Sargent Dwayne Moore could swoop in and save the day, Lachlan hadn’t even seen the headlights or heard the blare of the horn from the car that hit him.
The doctors had told him he’d been lucky to survive. The nurses who’d tended to him during his two month hospital stay had commented more than once about his miraculous recovery. His physical therapist had told him not to be surprised if he always needed a cane to walk, but in the same breath, he’d applauded how quickly Lachlan had pulled himself up out of his wheelchair.
Since then, however, he hadn’t been able to write anything, and the longer the words refused to flow, the deeper he sank into depression. Maybe he’d lost the spark. He’d certainly lost the passion of being an author. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to be anything else.
He had to figure out something soon, though, because writer’s block didn’t pay the rent. The last quarter’s royalties would carry him for a little while, but the money wouldn’t last forever. So, he’d given himself a personal deadline—three weeks, right up to Christmas day—and if he still wasn’t writing by then, he’d start looking for a new job.
“More coffee?”
Dragging himself out of his pity party, Lachlan looked up at the hottie in the apron and grinned. “I could go for another macchiato.”
“You got it.” The barista winked before taking Lachlan’s cup and hustling back behind the counter.
“Hello, inspiration,” Lachlan mumbled to himself as he watched the sexy blond walk away. The baggy denim hid what was most likely a fantastic ass, but the too-tight T-shirt more than made up for it. The gray cotton encased his torso, molding to him like a second skin that hugged every dip, curve, and lean muscle.
A twinge in his left hip reminded Lachlan why he could look, but he’d never get any farther. Men as beautiful as that didn’t go for broken, socially awkward nerds who had more imaginary friends than real ones.
“Here ya are, handsome.” The server returned with an extra-large mug of steamy, creamy goodness. “You’ve been here for a couple of hours, and I noticed you haven’t eaten anything. I asked around, and one of the girls said you like the banana bread.” He flashed a genuine smile as he placed the coffee and bread down on the side table. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Thank you.” A wave of shyness overwhelmed Lachlan, and he had a hard time not ducking his head and averting his eyes. No one paid attention to him anymore, not unless they were gawking at his limp, but this guy had watched him long enough to know he hadn’t eaten. He should probably be creeped out by the stalkerish behavior, but strangely, he found it kind of sweet. “Are you new here? I haven’t seen you around before.”
“I’ve worked here for a couple of months, but I just switched to second shift yesterday.” He wiped his right hand on the towel slung over his shoulder and offered it to Lachlan. “I’m Xeno.”
“Now that needs to go in a book.” Lachlan took Xeno’s hand and squeezed, but he let go quickly, placing his hand back in his lap to hide its shaking.
“You’re an author?” Xeno’s eyes lit up, and he looked like he might wet himself with excitement. “Can I ask what you write? Or is that rude?”
A quiet chuckle, the first real one he’d uttered in months, rolled through Lachlan’s chest and up through his lips. “I don’t mind. I’m Lachlan, by the way.” While he didn’t advertise what he wrote, he’d never been ashamed of it, either. “I write gay erotic romance.” Then he sat back and waited for Xeno’s reaction.
“Really? I mean, you’re published and everything?”
“And everything,” Lachlan confirmed around more laughter. “So I guess this means you’re not going to kick me out on my ass.”
“Are you kidding? That is so cool.” His bright green eyes practically glowed, and he danced from foot to foot, clearly wanting to interrogate Lachlan further. “Hey, I have a break in ten minutes. Would you mind some company?”
“Not at all. I’ll be right here.” His heart pounded too fast, and the tension in his muscles made his hip hurt like the ten shades of hell. To pass up an opportunity like this, even if the guy was only interested in him for his books, would be stupid, though. Lachlan had been accused of a lot of things, but never of stupidity.
“Awesome.” Xeno started to leave, but he paused and glanced back over his shoulder. “Oh, um, out of curiosity. What’s your last name?”
“MacAuley. Lachlan MacAuley.”
* * * *
“Okay, don’t freak out. Don’t be lame.” Gripping the porcelain edges of the small sink in the employee bathroom, Xeno stared into the mirror and tried not to giggle like a damn schoolgirl. “Holy fuck, it’s really him.” He squeezed his eyes closed and shook his head. “Stop it. Just be cool.”
Though he’d read thousands of gay romance novels over the years, something about Public Affair, had spoken to him. It wasn’t just that he connected with the characters. He became the characters. Every heartbreak, disappointment, victory, and celebration the men in that book experienced, Xeno lived it right along with them.
After that, he’d snatched up every Lachlan MacAuley title he could get his hands on. He stalked Lachlan’s website, always checking to see what the man had coming up next and what he’d be working on in the months to come. Every new release felt like Christmas morning, and Xeno devoured every chapter, every scene, and every sentence with inappropriate enthusiasm.
Now, the man had just agreed to a date with him. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a date date, but that didn’t make him any less nervous. And good gods, did the man have to be just as handsome and charming as the heroes in his books?  With high cheekbones, dazzling blue eyes, and a gorgeous head of thick, brown hair, Lachlan looked more suited to the Hollywood limelight than hiding behind a keyboard.
“Okay, you can do this. He’s just like any other guy, right?” Xeno nodded to his reflection, took a deep breath, and pasted a smile on his face. “Right.”
Not wanting to appear too eager, however, he washed his hands and face, tamed his unruly spikes, and smoothed the front of his T-shirt. Then he stopped by the counter before returning to Lachlan’s corner of the café to order two more coffees and a few more slices of banana bread.
“It’s good to see him smiling again.” Myah pushed the tray toward him as she tilted her head in Lachlan’s direction. “Just don’t ask about his cane, okay? He’s kind of sensitive about it.”
“What cane?”
“Exactly.” She leveled a pointed glare on him before waving him away. “Go have fun and behave yourself.”
Xeno lifted the serving tray as he wiggled his eyebrows. “I always do.”
“You’re back.” Lachlan’s eyes widened, and he nearly knocked over his coffee mug when Xeno approached him.
“You sound surprised. Did you doubt me?”
“Honestly?” Ducking his head, he peeked up at Xeno through long, dark lashes and shrugged. “Yes.”
“Well, shame on you.” Flashing a bright grin to soften the chastisement, Xeno sat the tray down on the round table beside Lachlan and settled into the unoccupied chair on the other side. “I’m not disturbing you, am I? I mean, if you’re working, I can get lost.”
“No, no, you’re not bothering me.” Leaning back against the cushions, Lachlan crossed one leg over the other and folded his hands in his lap. “So are you an aspiring author? Is that why you wanted to talk to me? I’m no expert, but I can give you some tips.”
“An aspiring…” Trailing off into laughter, Xeno didn’t think he’d ever heard anything so absurd. “No, no, I’m not creative enough to be a writer.”
“Oh.” Lachlan’s brow furrowed, and his lips thinned into a straight line. “I–I’m sorry. I guess I don’t understand.”
Bless his heart, he really was adorable. “Lachlan, I’m a huge fan of your work. I just wanted a chance to talk to my favorite author. No ulterior motive, I promise.” Part of him did want to question the man about his lack of new books in the past several months, but he tempered his curiosity. The creative process was a fickle thing, or so he’d heard.
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed you, well, you know.”
“What? Know how to read?”
“No, of course not, that’s not what I meant.” Lachlan covered his face with both hands, but the act didn’t completely hide the blush that crept into his cheeks. Dropping his hands, he breathed in deeply through his nose and attempted a wobbly smile. “I wouldn’t have guessed you were gay.”
“You mean until I open my mouth and my stilettos fall out?”
Gods, the guy had a great laugh, and his smile brightened the entire room. It sounded rusty and a little unused, but it still caused Xeno’s heart to flutter. It didn’t, however, mask the squint in his eyes or the way his lips twisted into subtle grimace.
Sitting up straighter, Lachlan repositioned in his seat so that he could straighten out his right leg. “Tell me, Xeno, do you have a last name?”
“Shadowhill.”
“Like the name of the town.” Lachlan nodded as though this made perfect sense. “Any relation to the first settlers?”
He and his family had been the first to settle in Shadow Hills, but he couldn’t tell Lachlan that. The guy would never believe him, and besides, telling him would break the golden rule set forth by the Elders of their race. Under no circumstances were humans allowed to know about their world. Things had been that way for two thousand years, and Xeno imagined they’d continue to be that way for two thousand more.
“Um, you know, I’m not sure. I’ve never really been a history buff.” Damn, he hated lying, but he couldn’t change the rules. “What about you? How long have you lived here?”
“I grew up in Virginia, have lived here all my life, but I just moved to Shadow Hills three years ago. My mom remarried and moved to California.” Lachlan grimaced again and rubbed at his right thigh. “I don’t have any other family, nothing tying me to Norfolk. I wanted a nice quiet place to write, and Shadow Hills fit that bill.”“Norfolk? Military family?”
“Yeah, my dad was Navy. After he died, we just kind of stayed there, ya know?” Lachlan bent his knee and turned in his seat, but he seemed to be having a hard time getting comfortable. “Enough about me, though. Tell me something about you, something unique.”
I’m a dreamwalking werewolf. It didn’t get much more unique than that, but Lachlan would either think him insane or laugh right in his face. “My favorite color is hot pink.”
“Boring.” Lachlan tapped his lips and pretended to yawn. “My favorite color is purple. Tell me something else.”
“Last year, I went to a Halloween party as Cinderella.”
“College jocks do that for fun. Try again.”
Leaning forward in his chair, Xeno propped his chin up in his hand and smirked. “You’re a tough sale, Mr. MacAuley. I don’t know. Maybe I’m not unique.”
“I doubt that. I think you’re pretty damn special.” It didn’t take Lachlan long to realize what he’d said, and when he did, his cheeks reddened once again. Clearing his throat, he hastened to change the subject. “Tell me something you haven’t told anyone else.”
“Okay, okay, I got one for you.” Leaning even closer, he glanced around to make sure no one would overhear him. “I got this job because I slept with the manager.”
“You little slut.” Lachlan’s eyes crinkled in the corners and his nose scrunched when he smiled.
“In my defense, I didn’t sleep with him just to get the job.” Hell, he hadn’t even been looking for a job at the time. However, when the opportunity presented itself one night when they were both naked, sweating, and panting, Xeno hadn’t hesitated to jump at it. “Okay, you’re turn. Tell me something you haven’t told anyone else.”
Several seconds passed in silence while Lachlan fidgeted with the strap on his messenger bag. “I don’t really sleep anymore.” He spoke in quiet monotones, and he wouldn’t look Xeno in the eyes. “I don’t like the dark.” Turning his head to the side, his gaze flickered toward the window and his shoulders tensed. “I need to go.”
Xeno didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing, but his chest constricted at the hollow look in the man’s eyes. What happened to you? “Okay, well, I work second shift again tomorrow. Will I see you then?”“Maybe,” Lachlan answered while he tucked his laptop into his bag and slung the strap over his shoulder. “I have an appointment tomorrow.”
Curiosity ate away at him, but Xeno didn’t know the man well enough to pry into his personal life. “I should get back to work, but I hope I see you again. Take care, Lachlan.”
“Yes. No. I mean, I…I don’t know.” The sweet, shy man Xeno had shared coffee with just a moment before had turned into a distracted, frantic mess. Pulling a long black walking stick out from behind the chair, he curled his fingers around the silver knob at the end and leaned heavily against it. “I have to go.” Without further comment, without even looking in Xeno’s direction, Lachlan hurried toward the exit as fast as his limp would allow.
Gathering the dishes and trash from the table, Xeno carried the tray back to the front counter while he contemplated the odd behavior. “Is he always like that?”
“Like what?” Myah propped one hip on the counter and cocked her head to the side, causing her blond ponytail to bounce.
“I thought things were going well, but then he started acting all weird. Next thing I know, he’s practically running out of the door.”
“Lachlan doesn’t go out after dark, not since the accident.” Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, Myah’s expression clouded as she stared through the door to the darkening sky beyond. “I hope he’ll be okay.”
“Wait, back up. What accident?”
“It happened at the beginning of the year. He was crossing the street and this car just came out of nowhere. Everyone says he’s lucky to be alive, but Lachlan hasn’t been the same since it happened.”
The constant shifting, the pained grimaces, the cane, the fear of the dark—it all made sense now. “Myah, will you cover for me? I have something I need to do.”

CONTEST: Comment below and include your email address for a chance to win a PDF copy of Ghostwriter and a Moon Alchemy Gothic Necklace with genuine moonstones! 

Contest Ends Friday, December 13th at Midnight EST. 

Special Announcement and Mega Holiday Giveaway!

First, let me start by wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope this finds you all well, happy, healthy, and surrounded by loved ones!


2013 has been a rough year for me, as many of you know. While I won’t share too many details about my personal life, after the numerous emails essentially asking “What the hell happened to you?!” I feel I need to say something.

I should have known that the cosmos had it out for me when the year started with a computer crash that virtually wiped everything from my hard drive. I lost two completed manuscripts, numerous works in progress, and pages and pages of notes. Then, while all this is going on, the universe slapped me down further by giving me the plague and excruciating pain while I was supposed to be on vacation in the Ozark Mountains. I blogged all about it in Welcome to Hell, Population: Me back in February.

Now, losing that amount of work was devastating, and I’ll admit I didn’t handle it well. I did eventually re-write Four-Letter Words, but it took weeks after that before I felt like writing again. Then in April, the headaches started, blinding, nausea-inducing headaches that left me curled in bed for days. If any of you suffer from migraines, you know what I mean. Almost every day for months, I suffered from these headaches, and on the days I was blessed to not be in agonizing pain, I was too exhausted to do anything. After numerous trips to the doctor, medication that didn’t work, and having my life completely disrupted, I began thinking the real problem was with my eyes, not my head. A couple of different visits with the optometrist, 3 different prescriptions, and a whole lot of frustration, I found an amazing doctor who finally got it right. With my new glasses, the headaches went away, and things began to get a lot better. By this point, though, it was already August and almost three-quarters of the year had passed me by.

August and September brought a lot of stress and emotional upheaval in my personal life. I won’t say more than that, but once again, I couldn’t focus, which meant no words were being written. I did manage to finish and submit Speakin’ of the Devil (which is now available for pre-order) and when October rolled around, I began working on Raven’s story.

I know I said I would have Raven’s book finished weeks ago, but unfortunately, that didn’t really work out. A lot of distractions popped up in October, family things that I couldn’t ignore, but that wasn’t the problem. I was more than halfway through the story, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Something was missing. It happens. Every now and then, the story gets away from me, gets off track, and it’s hard to find that place where everything went to hell.

In this case, it took a little longer to figure out, but I eventually realized the problem. My characters weren’t talking to me. They weren’t telling me their story. I was talking for them, putting words in their mouth, so to speak, and apparently, they got fed up with that shit, because I haven’t heard a peep from Raven in weeks. I probably should have anticipated that he’d be a stubborn, uncooperative little bastard.

So, regrettably, it’s going to be a while longer before Raven’s book will be available for reader consumption. I apologize to everyone who will be disappointed by this news, but I promise I’m not abandoning Raven completely. Or I guess I should say that hehasn’t abandoned me completely. We’ve decided to…take a break…see other people as it were. After the holidays, we’ll reconvene to discuss the future of our relationship, but don’t worry, I can be very persuasive. *evil grin*

So, in conclusion, I didn’t die, retire, or have a nervous breakdown. I wasn’t abducted by aliens or a traditional Amish community. What did happen? Life. Life happened hard. Again, I’m sorry for any disappointment, but I hope everyone can understand where I’m coming from and be patient with me for just a bit longer, because I’m still here.

2014 is a new year, with new possibilities, and hopefully, a lot of new stories. And as a special thank you for the continued support from my amazing readers, I’m offering a mega holiday giveaway. For more details on how to enter, please visit the Holiday Giveawaypage on my website.
In honor of my recent movie date night with my oldest son, I’d like to say good luck and “may the odds be ever in your favor.”