Lia Davis's Blog, page 44

War’s Passion #4

I’m so excited and very nervous to finally be able to share Son’s of War with you. The idea for the series came to me at the beginning of last year and has gone through a couple of changes.

Here’s quote 4. Enjoy!

“Do you always crowd people?”

The twitch in his mouth turned into a grin. “No. Only you.”

“Lucky me…” She stopped talking because his black eyes shimmered with flecks of blue, then his pupils lengthened until they looked like a cat’s. Her pulse hammered under her skin and her breaths came in short gasps.

No. Those were not cat eyes.

“Dragon,” she managed to whisper right before she bolted for the door.

War’s Passion Quote #3

My love for Greek Mythology is as long lived as my love for dragons. I love the different gods and the mystical creatures.

Here’s quote 3. Enjoy!

When he walked toward her, her heart sped up and a wave of hot desire rushed through her. Without realizing it, she crossed the room until they met in the middle. She blinked as he raised his hand and ran his knuckles down her cheek.

“Impossible.” He whispered, but it didn’t quite register.

Breaking eye contact, he took her hand and spoke with a smooth, but husky voice. “I’m Markus.”

War’s Passion Quote #2

I’ve always loved dragons. There is just something magical, dangerous, and mysterious about them. Dragon shifters are all those things plus sexy and powerful in their human form. You throw in Greek gods…and wow.

Here’s quote 2 of War’s Passion. Enjoy!

Gwen fidgeted with the hem of her blouse while she waited with Elle in the stone entry of her new neighbors’ home—the five men lived in a large castle-like mansion on a high cliff over the Atlantic Ocean. The mansion towered over her, dominating the landscape as she emerged from the car moments ago, but being this close to it gave her chills and made her stomach roll into knots. Scanning the stone facing around her, she spied a gargoyle perched in one of the corners a few feet to the right of the large wood double door. After staring at the thing, she wondered if it was real or just a statue.

The gray stone exterior reminded her of something out of a horror movie, or at least a paranormal thriller. Perfect place to dump the bodies.

Elle covered her hand, drawing Gwen’s attention to her best friend. “It’ll be fine. You can trust them.”

War’s Passion Quote #1

Hi! Are you as excited as I am about the release of War’s Passion? From today through release day (3/4), I’ll post a small quote from the book each day. Thank you for coming by and feel free to share this post.

Here’s quote #1. Enjoy!

Markus closed his eyes as he stroked his fingers over the keys of the baby grand piano in the great room. The music flowed and filled the air around him, and twined in his soul. He loved the peace it offered. Each note calmed his inner beast in a way nothing else did.

A shift of energy made him opened his eyes. Releasing a low annoyed groan, he stared into Aphrodite’s sky blue gaze. She wore a white pants suit and her blond hair hung in thick waves around her shoulders. He stopped playing and slammed the cover over the keys.

Best Shifter Menage Nominee

Happy February! I have exciting news. My menage story, A Mating Dance (Ashwood Falls #2), is up for best shifter menage of 2013! I want to thank my readers and everyone who nominated Cameron, Blaine, and Graham. Thank you!!

The voting is open until February 8th and you can vote multiple times. The Ashwood Falls triad sure could use your votes. The link is below. Thanks so much!!

Click here to vote

 

A Mating Dance, Ashwood Falls #2

By Lia Davis

Tagline:  She’d fought fate against one, but she’s no match for two.

Blurb:

Senior enforcer, Cameron Nickels has found her perfect mate. Blaine Andrews, leopard Pack Marshal, is strong, dominate, loyal, and passionate. He knows all her strengths and weaknesses—not to mention her pleasure points. Cam’s known Blaine most her life, but she’s always felt like something was missing and her jaguar refuses to fully accept him. Yet, she can’t walk away from him. When architect and sexy mountain lion shifter, Graham Griffin, comes to town to design the new den nursery and school, Cameron finds herself in a mating dance that throws her and her jaguar into flight mode while Blaine must decide if he cannot only share his mate, but welcome another.

After his lover walked out on him a year ago, Graham has no intentions of entering another relationship any time soon. But he realizes that the fates have other plans for him when he meets Blaine and Cameron. When his ex-lover’s children are chased into Ashwood territory by a group of rogues, he discovers the male he shared a life with had died freeing the kids from the Onyx Pack. Graham must work side-by-side with the two enforcers to uncover lies from the past while his heart opens to his true mates.

Warning: Contains one-hot headed leopard, a man who thought he’d lost it all, and a woman who is about to rub up against both in the best possible ways.

 

Shortened Buy Links:

 

Digital:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZEGk5t

B&N: http://bit.ly/ZEGvhl

ARe: http://bit.ly/ZEGyts

 

Print:

CreateSpace: http://bit.ly/13Rukxd

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/11QNxMh

Hayden and Christa’s Top Ten List

This was part of the Divided Loyalties tour, but I thought I’d repost it here as a free read. Enjoy!

 

Hayden lifted his gaze from his tablet and watched Christa stalk toward him. The jeans she wore hugged her modest curves perfectly. Her blond hair framed her face, accenting the mischief in her blue eyes. When she stopped to stand in front of him, he turned off the hand held and set it on the small round table next to him. Then, with quick, efficient motion he launched forward, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap.

“What are you up to?” he growled into her ear and felt a shiver pass over her body.

“Lia wants to know what our top ten favorite things are.”

He raised a brow. “Favorite what?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. My top three are Brenna, Bryce, and you.”

He nipped at her lower lip and took to opportunity to tease her. “Yeah, the twins have warmed their way into my heart.”

She scowled. “Oh, just the twins? You just got booted off my list.”

He leaned in and bit down on her neck, drawing a moan from her. “Take it back.”

“No.” She tried to sound firm, but he sensed the laughter through their mating bond. He loved playing with his mate.

“Number one. Your stubbornness,” he said and kissed the spot he bit a moment ago.

She sighed. “I like your protectiveness.”

He drew back and studied her. “I thought you hated that.”

Shrugging, she traced his bottom lip with her index finger. “It’s grown on me.”

His wolf growled in approval and the man agreed. “Number two. The light in your eyes when you’re happy.”

Christa smiled. “Your wolf.”

“What about him?”

“He’s playful and all alpha.”

He let out a soft chuckle and unbuttoned the first two buttons of her blouse. “Three. You’re strength pleases the wolf.” He kissed her collar bone. “As well as the man.”

“Your touch. It’s soothing and comforting.”

He growled out a moan. “Four. Your maternal instincts. I can’t wait to see you grow round with my pups.”

She crinkled her nose. “That’s a discussion for another time. Yet, I love the paternal side the twins have brought out in you.”

He yanked her shirt open, popping off the remaining buttons, then pressed his lips to the top of her right breast. “Five. The taste of your skin.”

She sucked in a breath. “The feel of your mouth on me.”

Gliding his hands up her arms, he slide one into her hair and gentle tugged a handful. “Six. The way you growl when you show your dominance over the twins.”

She rotated her hips against him. “Your scent.”

“Seven. Your scent on me.”

She tugged his shirt off and petted his chest. If he was a damn cat, he swore he’d be purring by now. Her gaze meet his and a wickedness flashed in her eyes. “I love the feel of your skin.”

His cock pressed painfully against the zipper of his jeans. He released her hair to slide her blouse off her shoulders. “Eight. I love the sounds you make when you’re being petted.”

“I love your teeth on my skin.”

Damn the female was trying to kill him. “Nine. Your hands.”

She wrinkled up her forehead and frowned. “Why?”

He bought one to his mouth and pressed a kissed on her palm. “Because they do amazing things.”

She laughed and gripped his cock through his jeans with her free hand. “I know something else that does amazing things too.”

He groaned. “Ten. I love being mated to you.”

She smiled. “Me too. Even though you’re a hardheaded wolf.”

A playful growl rumbled up from his chest. “I’ll have to hold you hostage, naked and in my bed for the next twenty-four hours for that remark.”

“That is my all-time favorite type of punishment.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed.

 

 

A new contemporary series and a pretty cover reveal

If you follow my newsletter you know I’ve been working on a new contemporary series as well as Sons of War (the dragons).  Okay, don’t let the dragons distract you. Let’s get back to the contemporary.

The new series is titled Pleasures of the Heart. It’ll be an open-ended series (meaning there is not an end in sight right now). Each book will be a novella around 20-30K words. They will go out as single eBooks and the paperbacks will be released in volumes.

There will not be a continuing backstory, so each book could stand alone. But there will be a common connection between the characters. This way you get the best of both and get to revisit old characters.

The first book is Business Pleasures. Here’s the blurb and cover!

 

Business Pleasures

 

Aimee Monroe never considered dating her boss. She needs a new beginning, not a big mistake. However, when the handsome, business lawyer, Kenton McDonnell, ask her to a dinner date with a new client and his wife, she finds it hard to say no. After one incredible night with Kenton, her attempt for a fresh start is ripped away when she returns home to find her abusive ex-husband waiting for her.

Kenton has wanted Aimee since the day she walked into the interview. Now he has the chance to make her his and nothing or no one is going to stand in his way. Especially not the ex-husband newly released from prison who has revenge in his sights.

 

 

New cover and release date announcement

For all you bundle and series volume fans, I’m pleased to announce that Ashwood Falls will be coming out in volumes. If you follow my newsletter, you may had read this little tidbit in my January issue.  But I have a confirmed date and cover! Hope, my assistant is currently working on a release day blitz for it so stay turned.

 

Ashwood Falls Vol. One

Includes Winter Eve, A Tiger’s Claim, and A Mating Dance

Release day: March 18, 2014!

 

 

 

Interview with Virginia Nelson

Welcome, Virginia! Please start off by telling us a little about yourself.

 

As it says in my bio, I believed them when they said, “Write what you know.” I’m just a small town girl writing small town romance. When I’m not writing or plotting to take over the world, I like to hang out with the greatest kids in history, play in the mud, drive far too fast, and scream at inanimate objects. I prefer knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can’t remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. I live on the mostly frozen banks of Lake Erie with my three darling children, two poisonous frogs, a copious amount of fish, and one evilkitteh, all cluttered into one almost two hundred year old barn in the middle of nowhere.

 

Tell us about your new release.

Inspired by my small town, I intended this to be a short story, but my crit partner sat me down and asked for more. So, we now have this: 

The groom is back in town.

Abigail lost her best friend years ago when he ditched her at the altar like a loaf of stale bread. Now he’s back and determined to do whatever he has to—even lie, apparently—to get under her skin. Although he makes her hormones rev to life in a way that no one has since he left, she is equally determined not to fall for his boy-next-door charm.

 

His bride-to-be is somewhat reluctant.

Braxton Dean was too young and stupid to know better when he walked away. Years of trying to fill the Abby-shaped hole in his heart have left him empty, and now he’s going to win back his girl—or get over her. But first he needs answers. Particularly why she never responded to any of his letters.

It might take a whole town to make this wedding happen.

With the help of their friends, the two battle it out. The army? An entire town of busybodies. The prize? Happily ever after.

 

Warning: Contains indignant old ladies, steamy sex (but not with indignant old ladies), condom bouquets, seduction cake, and condom bouquets. Yes, we went there.

 

 

Is Runaway Groom a single title, or part of a series?

Runaway Groom is the first book of my Watkin’s Pond series. The second is slated for October 2014 release and is called While You Were Writing.

 

What were your inspirations for the story?

As I said, I live in a small town. People love me here, regardless of my flaws or accomplishments, and call me when I’m sick just to see if I’m okay.

While this can be smothering at times—everyone knowing you are going to get a divorce before you have come to terms with that reality is painful, for example—most of the time it lifts the members of this community up. Threads unite us to the people around us, to our circle of intimates and to those just outside that circle, and make others feel like they can—and should—interfere, meddle, whisper, and comfort. If someone dies, we take it as a loss to the group and everyone mourns. If someone succeeds, it becomes a group accomplishment. There’s something really beautiful about that, so this whole series is dedicated to the very real, very nosy, people I’ve grown to love.

 

Please share your setting for Runaway Groom. Have you ever lived or visited there? If so, what did you like most?   

I live there every day. Jefferson is a real small town, although I tend to change things as they suit me for the purpose of the story. You can actually visit and tour the covered bridges during our local covered bridge festival. You can head over to Geneva for the Grape Jamboree in our little micro environment of a wine country. You can sit in a corn field and look out at the bucolic beauty of a cow chewing its cud. You can also skinny dip in a lot of farmer’s ponds out at the end of oil well driveways…although I don’t recommend this if you’ve a fear of shotguns.

I think the thing I like most is the people. They’re real, not always appropriate, and sometimes opinionated…but they’re kind and they’ll do anything for someone who is in need.

 

When did the writing bug first bite?

I wrote my first story when I was nine years old and it was simply awful, looking back. Then for years I wrote more books in Damar because Robin McKinley built such stunning worlds and I never wanted to leave them. Eventually, I went back to telling my own stories. A friend of mine, Trishie, used to share a notebook with me. We’d swap it back and forth in the halls between classes in high school…and each of us would write a chapter. This, by the way, was a FANTASTIC writing exercise because when you think you know what should happen next and it doesn’t? Well, you learn to get really creative! LOL

It wasn’t until much later, after I’d had my kids and pretty much determined I’d just be an avid reader for the rest of my life, that I had two strokes. Even though I still wrote (I’ve never been able to stop reading or writing, not really), I’d never submitted. Coming near death? Well, let’s just say that the fear of rejection was overwhelmed by my determination to have my stories read.

 

Who are you favorite authors, book/series?

Man, I could write a whole blog on just this. Most recently, Heather Long got me addicted to Nalini Singh. Oh, and of course I love Heather Long’s books and Saranna DeWylde’s. They are so creative and inspirational. Robin McKinley, as I mentioned, and I reread her at least a few times a year…Nora Roberts, Suzanne Collins, Alexandra Hawkins, Eloisa James…Oh, Kristan Higgins! I preorder everything Higgins. Her characters are so identifiable. Madeline Hunter and…oh, I just love books!

 

What is your most favorite childhood memory?

I don’t know about most favorite…but here’s a funny one. My Aunt Lee’s house seemed a temple built and designated to the gods of cleanliness. We were allowed in the dining room slash kitchen area, actually encouraged to be there. Where the kitchen tiles ended and the green carpet began, an invisible force field protected the remainder of the house.

I remember peering into the room, to try to see what we weren’t allowed to see. I’d even shove my little sister past the invisible bubble of impenetrable doom on more than one occasion, just to see what would happen. More often than not, the only thing that happened was that she’d fall on her face on green carpet and wail, but I was a curious kid and figured I’d keep trying to see if that changed.

My uncle, seeking to cull my unwillingness to bow to the rules, once hid in the room, waiting for me to come creeping in on bare feet. I remember that day well—hands sticky with melted creamsicle and a bit of dirt I’d picked up in the yard, I wandered in with all the bravado of a crusader seeking to find the Holy Grail. I didn’t see him, my Uncle Ronnie, hiding behind the couch. The family still laughs to this day about my reaction. When he flicked on the vacuum, flooding the room with both light and sound, I shot right into the air, screaming like a siren. I pissed down my leg and fled in terror from the one eyed glowing monster hiding behind the couch that attacked me when I’d gone where I wasn’t supposed to be.

 

Do you have any hobbies or special things you like to do in your spare time?

I’m a bit of an artist. Most recently, I turn this skill to graphics, but I love to paint, sculpt, sketch…

 

Boxers, brief or commando?

Commando. I’m a lazy girl and I like easy access.

 

Favorite eye color?

I have this thing for blue eyes…but I’m a sucker for brown eyes, as my adopted daughter will tell everyone. All she has to do is bat her eyes at me and BAM, kid gets what she wants. I’m a marshmallow, I own it.

 

He’s ready and waiting. She’s wanting…but wary.

 

Runaway Groom

Watkin’s Pond, Book 1

Links

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

 

The groom is back in town.

Abigail lost her best friend years ago when he ditched her at the altar like a loaf of stale bread. Now he’s back and determined to do whatever he has to—even lie, apparently—to get under her skin. Although he makes her hormones rev to life in a way that no one has since he left, she is equally determined not to fall for his boy-next-door charm.

His bride-to-be is somewhat reluctant.

Braxton Dean was too young and stupid to know better when he walked away. Years of trying to fill the Abby-shaped hole in his heart have left him empty, and now he’s going to win back his girl—or get over her. But first he needs answers. Particularly why she never responded to any of his letters.

It might take a whole town to make this wedding happen.

With the help of their friends, the two battle it out. The army? An entire town of busybodies. The prize? Happily ever after.

 

Warning: Contains indignant old ladies, steamy sex (but not with indignant old ladies), seduction cake, and condom bouquets. Yes, we went there.

 

Enjoy the following excerpt for Runaway Groom:

 

July 7, 2005

Abby,

I’m sitting in a diner in the desert. The sun peeking over the mountain lights up everything in these reds so bright they almost hurt the eyes. You’ve never felt a hot like this, all dry, nothing like the days that we went swimming over at Watkin’s pond…

I don’t really know why I’m writing you. I don’t have answers and right now you probably want them. I just know I couldn’t do it.

I miss you though.

Love, B

 

Knuckles white, Abigail put her beat-up Ford Focus in Park, and glanced at her best friend. “I can’t do this.”

“Pussy.” Applying a coat of lipstick to her lush red lips in the mirror, Carnie shot her a glance. “You can do this. It isn’t like you’re about to face a firing squad. It’s just a bonfire.”

Shoving her hand through her short, pixie-cut brown hair, Abigail blew out a frustrated breath. “I would rather face a firing squad. If you ditch me to go running off with the new boyfriend…”

Carnie gave her a dirty look, tucking her red hair behind her shoulder. “I would never do that. I know how bent out of shape you get every time we go anywhere that Braxton might be. Really, though, it will be fine. The crap happened a thousand years ago. You’re adults now.”

Abigail didn’t feel like an adult. She felt like the rejected teenager even thinking of Braxton Dean.

It didn’t help that he’d become sexier with age. Heartbreakingly handsome, Braxton made her thighs clench with just a glance. She needed to remember the pain and humiliation rather than how it felt to be pushed into a bed by him. Better to remember the chest-constricting, blinding terror when he’d ditched her and vanished rather than remember his face a mask of unleashed passion and his green eyes wild with need. The former would keep her knees together.

The terror of that time—it wasn’t something she shared with anyone, not even Carnie.

Remembering gave her the strength she needed to peel her fingers from the wheel. “You’re right, of course. I can do this. No big deal. We’re both more mature now. He probably won’t even say a word to me.” The last came out a bit hopeful, even to her own ears.

“Yeah, at his birthday bonfire, he isn’t going to say a word to the woman he dated for years and ditched at the altar like a loaf of stale bread. Really, Abs, you need to get pissed off rather than feeling pissed on. You’re totally the injured party here.”

“He had his reasons. I’m sure he did.” Why was she defending his dumb ass?

“What reason could be good enough for that grand act of douchebaggery?” Carnie raised one well-plucked brow at her. “Besides, these are our friends. You need to remember why we’re here. He took off. He stayed gone. This is our town. You’re going to walk in there and show him what he is missing. Rub in his face what he can’t have.”

“I don’t know. He really wasn’t a jerk…not most of the time.”

“Let’s just go find Mike and the crew, and have a good time. All of our friends from high school are here and it’ll be good to catch up with them.”

Nodding, stomach still a bit of a knot, Abigail opened her door and stepped out into the muggy Ohio night. Stars hung like tiny lanterns above the recently mowed field and the sound of laughter carried on the breeze. The bonfire, a huge conflagration, was surrounded by what looked like hundreds of folding chairs, coolers and other party miscellany that beckoned Abigail onwards. Who knew? Maybe she would meet someone new and end up being really happy she wasted the extra five minutes to make sure everything was shaved and neat?

Carnie strode with her usual impulsive bravery into the melee. Abigail stuffed her hands in her jeans and resisted casting her head down to avoid any stares that might be coming her way. Instead she held her head high, but refused to meet anyone’s eyes. In small-town Ohio, everyone knew she hadn’t seen Braxton since that fateful day when he left her standing, flowers in hand, waiting for a runaway groom. Everyone knew that instead of marrying her, Braxton—golden boy and football hero—ran off to parts unknown, and she’d neither heard from him nor caught a glimpse of him when he’d come to town until a few weeks ago. He only returned home now to help his father with his tool store after his father’s stroke made it hard for the old man to get around like he used to.

Everyone watched to see how she’d handle it.

She wouldn’t give them a show to chew over for the next decade. She’d act like it was ancient history, like she hadn’t spent years wondering how a man could go from saying he loves her to leaving her to stand alone against a whole swarm of gossips with nothing better to do than tear her to shreds for being moronic enough to think he would stay.

She concentrated so hard on what she wouldn’t do, she slammed to an abrupt halt against a firm chest. His firm chest. Braxton. He smelled the same, damn him.

Even over the scent of wood burning, the ripeness of summer and the bitter tang of someone’s spilled beer, she inhaled his soap, familiar cologne and under it all, simply Braxton.

Her stomach clenched. Part of her wanted to smack him and demand answers. Part of her wanted to run away. Part of her wanted to pull his face down and kiss him because she’d missed him so much.

Instead she hid behind an armor of polite civility and gave a short, sharp nod. “Braxton.”

“Abby.” The word came out almost a plea. His eyes held a sad look she quickly identified. He pitied her.

Double damn him. “Happy birthday.”

And even though she promised herself she wasn’t going to give everyone a show, promised herself she wouldn’t feed the rumor mills…

The sound of her slap rang out across the field. Even in the flickering light from the bonfire, her handprint marked his strong jaw and she couldn’t ignore the pleasure it gave her. Silence seemed to spread across the night as he touched his cheek. Her mouth hung open, shock rippling through her as his gaze locked on hers.

“I deserved that.” The timbre of his voice seemed to stroke across her skin, stirring up a potent cocktail of emotions—lust, love, fury and pain. The worst part was disgust at herself for feeling anything.

“You deserve worse.”

Instead of arguing with her, which almost would have made her feel better, like it meant something to him, he simply nodded. “Wanna go somewhere to talk?”

 

About the Author

Virginia Nelson believed them when they said, “Write what you know.” Small town girl writing small town romance, her characters are as full of flaws, misunderstandings, and flat out mistakes as Virginia herself. When she’s is not writing or plotting to take over the world, she likes to hang out with the greatest kids in history, play in the mud, drive far too fast, and scream at inanimate objects. Virginia likes knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can’t remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. Her books are full of snark, sex, and random acts of ineptitude—not always in that order.

Links

Website | Blog | Facebook | FB Author | Amazon | Pinterest | Tumblr

Divided Loyalties Tour Stop #4

Happy Sunday! Today’s stop on the Divided Loyalties’ tour I’m talking with Blaine, Hayden and Kieran.

Here’s the link: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/2014/01/divided-loyalties-by-lia-davis-guest.html