Laurel Richards's Blog, page 6

January 16, 2018

Quick Book Browsing: Shifters and Shifter Romance

Shifters can be found in paranormal romance, science fiction, and fantasy. I enjoy shifters in a variety of genres and thought I’d share some of my own books and several recommended reads by other authors featuring these body-morphing characters.

In my fantasy novel Riding the Storm, Jeorek can shift into an electrically charged birdlike creature and fly across the sky at lightning speed, but only if he can find the right sorcerer as a power source.

In my sci-fi romance Fate’s Mission, the Bowriders are capable of shifting from human form to pure energy so they can fly among the stars.

In my paranormal romance, Wild Side, the heroine joins a pack of werewolves.

My Elementals series features a Water Elemental who can shift into a sea serpent in In Her Element and Passion Fire.

Fire Elementals shift into dragons in Passion Fire.

Books I Recommend:

Angela Knight’s Master of Dragons — dragon shifter in paranormal romance / fantasy

Christine Feehan’s Dark/Carpathian series — the Carpathians in this paranormal romance series can turn into wolves, dragons, and just about anything else you can think of

Janet Chapman’s Dragon Warrior — dragon shifter in paranormal romance

Kathy Love’s My Sister is a Werewolf – has great humor and fun

Marjorie M. Liu’s Dirk and Steele series – a paranormal romance series that features lots of psychic and shape-shifting abilities

Ashlyn Chase’s How to Date a Dragon — dragon shifter in paranormal romance

Jacquelyn Frank’s Elijah — paranormal romance featuring the queen of the Lyncanthropes

Jacquelyn Frank’s Damien — Syreena is a unique Lyncanthrope in this paranormal romance

Nulli Para Ora’s Dragon Revealed — dragon shifter in paranormal romance

Susan Krinard’s werewolf series

Macy Babineaux’s Dragon Blue: A Lie That's True — lots of shape-shifting action

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dragonswan — dragon shifter in paranormal romance

Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series – this series includes big, sexy Lycans, some nice humor, and paranormal romances

Dragon Lovers by Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Barbara Samuel, and Karen Harbaugh — dragon shifters in paranormal romance

Nina Bangs’s Eternal Craving – paranormal romance that includes men who can shape-shift into dinosaurs

J.R. Ward’s Blackdagger Brotherhood series — in addition to being a vampire, Rhage can turn into a dragon in this paranormal romance / urban fantasy series

Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon – has a hot romance between Bride and Were-Hunter Vane

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Published on January 16, 2018 12:09 • Tags: fantasy, laurel-richards, paranormal, quick-book-browsing, shifter-romance, shifters

January 3, 2018

Kayelle Allen's Bringer of Chaos Series

Today I’m happy to welcome Kayelle Allen to my blog. Kayelle is well known to sci-fi and romance writers and readers across the globe. She’s here today to share her Bringer of Chaos series, with snippets from the Origin of Pietas and Forged in Fire. Welcome, Kayelle!
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My hero, Pietas, tries to be perfect. It's so ingrained in him, most of the time, he's not aware he's doing it. Part of it is he was reared by a father who demanded nothing short of perfection, and punished him for even the smallest mistakes. Part of it is personal attention to detail. Pietas orders his world so he can order his mind. He forgets nothing, so when something is even a tiny bit out of place, he recognizes the change.

In the first book, Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas, there's a scene with his twin sister that exemplifies his almost obsessive need for order. She teases him about a collection of dragon statues he keeps on a shelf. Here's the excerpt, an annoy-your-sibling routine these two have perfected.

His sister selected an ornate turquoise dragon he'd displayed on a glass table and examined it. "Whatever you said to Father, he was still furious about it when I saw him at breakfast." She rolled the egg-sized sculpture between her hands. "He's all but accusing you of treason against the Council."

"I'm used to Father's baseless accusations."

She tossed the priceless carving into the air and then caught it. "Mother hasn't disagreed with him this time, but then she's been quiet lately."

This time, when she tossed up the dragon, he snatched it from the air and placed it on the table. "I don't need you to report on our parents."

"I'm sure you have your own spies." She trailed her fingers along a row of ceramic dragon statues on a glass shelf. The last, the largest of the set, portrayed him. He stood, arms folded, inside the protective wings of a massive silver dragon. "Really, Pietas, who keeps a statue of himself? And why all the dragons?"

She lifted it, looked at the bottom, and at him in surprise. "This is signed by--"

"Give me that." He seized it and put it back.

Dessy faced the dragon the other direction.

Pietas turned it back.

Dessy twisted to face him, her leather-clad body flush against his. "You've been working out. Trying to impress someone?"

He gripped her wrists, and moved her aside. "Nothing has changed about my person. My body is perfect."

"Mmm. Yes, it is."

"Why do you insist on annoying me?"

"Oh, am I annoying my big brother?" She smiled, her storm-sky gaze full of mirth. "I enjoy putting you off balance."

He reined in the tumult of emotions his sister always aroused. As teenagers, she had used his youthful adoration of her both to her advantage and against his.

What was wrong with him? Why did he still love her? Dessy had proven her disloyalty. She never protected him as he protected her, yet he still kept her close. Let her into his life. She failed him each time he trusted her. Was he doomed to love those who twisted his devotion?

In Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire, Pietas has been exiled to the planet Sempervia, a world whose name means Ever-living. Appropriate, for a race of immortals. He's not exactly alone, however. He has Six, an altered human who's a member of the Ghost Corps, his sister (to which Pietas did an annoyed mental "yay"), his parents, and other members of the Council. He's especially grateful to have Joss, a beautiful, warrior telepath he's adored for centuries. And he's obtained a new partner, Tiklaus, a ginormous, sentient panther who protects him, follows him everywhere, and just wants to be his "kitty."

In this scene, Pietas has been playing with Tiklaus, whose name means "Loyal Warrior." They're about to end their play when Tiklaus surprises him.

The panther knocked Pietas onto his back and then flipped itself down beside him. Tiklaus wrapped its front legs around his arm and gnawed at it in gentle play while the hind feet kicked him without injury. Claws flashed, but did no harm.

Now I know how a chew toy feels. Pietas blew out a breath.

When the panther draped itself over his chest, he struggled to slide out from under but could not get up. The animal weighed less than he did, but with no visible effort, it kept Pietas from rising.

"I concede, my friend. You win."

The panther ignored him.

"Tiklaus, off."

Nothing.

"Off, please."

The panther yawned, opening a huge maw. Fangs flashed.

Pietas tried a signal that worked with sparring partners and asked for release by double-tapping the panther's side.

The cat stood at once and stepped over him. It shook from nose to tail, then sat and groomed itself.

He stood and brushed himself off. Standing beside Tiklaus, who reached him mid-thigh, Pietas took pride in knowing this sweet, playful cat was also the snarling ball of animal rage that had nailed Mahikos to the ground.

Pietas ensured no one was on the path in either direction before he knelt and scratched the cat's ears. "Who's a good kitty?"

The animal sneaked in a lick of his hand and face and flopped down on its back.

"My Tiklaus, that's who. Tiklaus is a good kitty." He rubbed the smooth belly. "Yes, you are! Such a good, big kitty. You're my kitty, aren't you? Good, good kitty."

The panther accepted the attention, one paw twitching. After a moment, it stood and shook itself. A purring sound rumbled from its chest. It sat, licked one paw and added a lick of Pietas's face as well.

He chuckled. "Thank you for the bath." He hugged the panther's neck. "You have as soft a heart as I do but you don't show it either. Pact, my friend. I won't tell if you won't." He kissed Tiklaus on the nose.

The panther bumped its head against Pietas, then bounded to a tree and up it.

Book 1 - Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas

A captive of the people he loathes, the immortal Pietas is left for dead on the planet Sempervia. Six, a human soldier who is abandoned with him, offers food and water. Is this man worthy of friendship? Or is this another trap?
Either way, Pietas must do the one thing he detests. Trust a human...
Available free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/28QOTpb

Book 2 - Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire

When the immortal Pietas is marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, he knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that's the problem. He's not.
Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped in their pods and it's up to Pietas to save them. But before he can, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he's fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father. Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever...
Available free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: http://amzn.to/2ABIcCI

Thank you, Laurel, for letting me share these books with your readers. If any would like to review book 2, it's on NetGalley . I do hope readers will pop over and take a look at the Bringer of Chaos Pinterest board. It has over 300 pins, and is divided into a number of sections, including one for panthers and another for dragons. In a future book, Pietas will bond with a baby dragon. I can't wait to write that one!

Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's a US Navy veteran and has been married so long she's tenured.
https://kayelleallen.com
Join the Romance Lives Forever Reader Group. Download four free books and get news about books coming soon. You can unsubscribe at any time.

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For more about Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas, see Kayelle's previous guest post at https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

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Published on January 03, 2018 06:44 • Tags: bringer-of-chaos, guest-post, kayelle-allen, science-fiction

June 10, 2017

Quick Book Browsing: Sci-Fi Romance

In my sci-fi romance Fate’s Mission, warrior priest Reinn sets out on a mission to investigate a new historical finding that could shatter everything his religious order believes in. Along the way, Fate brings him his soul mate, and Isibel’s destiny is entwined with his own. They face bombings, attempted kidnappings, and assassination attempts, and the danger only increases the closer they get to the truth.

Books I Recommend:

Linnea Sinclair’s Games of Command — I absolutely love this book, with its rich details and interesting characters

E.M. Havens’s Fate War: Alliance — if you enjoy steampunk

Lizzy Ford’s Damian’s Oracle — war between good and evil

R. Garland Gray’s The Rebel Lord — fighting against the threat of annihilation

Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness — not romance, but interesting sci-fi

Linnea Sinclair’s Gabriel’s Ghost

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Published on June 10, 2017 07:43 • Tags: book-browsing, romance, sci-fi, science-fiction, sfr

June 5, 2017

Fate's Mission on Romance Lives Forever

Romance Lives Forever is showing my sci-fi romance novel Fate's Mission some cover love. https://rlfblog.com/laurel-richards-0...

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Published on June 05, 2017 04:47 • Tags: rlfblog, sci-fi-romance, sfr

June 1, 2017

Out Now! Fate's Mission

Out now! A sweeping sci-fi romance FATE'S MISSION.
https://author-laurelrichards.blogspo...

A love that was fated. A truth that can destroy a man’s faith. And a conflict generations in the making.

When a historical discovery threatens his religious Order, Brother Reinn jin Domarr is sent to investigate. What he finds is a hotbed of political intrigue, assassination attempts, and religious warfare. Someone doesn't want him to uncover the truth, and he or she is willing to kill to protect a terrible secret. In the midst of danger, he finds his soul mate. Isibel is a woman on a mission to save her people from enslavement, and she has her own enemies. Soon their fates collide, and they face a battle that has been brewing for centuries. Will love and faith be enough to save them?

https://author-laurelrichards.blogspo...

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Published on June 01, 2017 14:18 • Tags: fate-s-mission, laurel-richards, new-release, sci-fi-romance, sfr

May 20, 2017

Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance Series by Cara Bristol

My guest today is author Cara Bristol, who has an awesome cyborg romance series that definitely hooked me with book one. Welcome, Cara.

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Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance Series by Cara Bristol

After reading several cyborg sci-fi romances, I fell in love with them and had to write my own cyborg romance series. To me, cyborgs are the ultimate alpha males: rough, tough, and smart. A cyborg is a human being who has some computer modifications. To emphasize they are human and not robot, I gave all the heroes “man” names: Brock Mann, Kai Andros, Sonny Masters, Dale Homme, and March Fellows.

The cyborgs of the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series represent true heroism; they risk their lives to save others. They work for a covert military force called Cyber Operations whose mission is to defeat terrorism in the galaxy. During their missions, they meet their heroine and fall in love.

Each book in the Cy-Ops series can be read as a standalone. There are five novels so far with a sixth planned for January 2017. In addition to the novels, there are two Cy-Ops short stories: Married to the Cyborg, which everyone can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter, and Rescued by Cyborg, which will appear in Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 to be released in October. Claimed by the Cyborg is the latest novel, and is the most romantic one of the series; it’s a story about second chances and young love. It’s been compared to Romeo and Juliet.

Claimed by the Cyborg description

He lost her once, he won’t let it happen again…

March Fellows assumed he had all the time in the galaxy to pursue a relationship with Jules, an alien exchange student from Xenia, until she vanished without a trace. After years of searching, he finds his lost love on the eve of her arranged marriage.

The daughter of the Xenian emperor, Julietta never meant to fall in love with a Terran man while visiting Earth. Leaving to fulfill her responsibilities on her home planet opened up a hole in her heart that could never be filled. When March, now a cyborg, unexpectedly shows up just before she is to be bonded, she struggles to find the courage to turn him away a second time and follow through with her duty. Before she can act, the lovers are thrust into a political conspiracy that threatens the Xenian empire and their lives.

Buy Links
Amazon: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-Amz
iBooks: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-iBooks
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/clai...
Barnes & Noble: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-BN

Author links
Get a free cyborg romance: http://carabristol.com/get-your-free-...
Website: http://www.carabristol.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Cara-Bristol...
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cara-Bristol/e...
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cara-...

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Published on May 20, 2017 06:58 • Tags: cara-bristol, cy-ops, cyborgs, sci-fi-romance, sfr

May 7, 2017

The Great Road is on Cover Reveals

Learn more about my new fantasy novel, The Great Road, on Cover Reveals. This is a great blog to check out when you're trying to find something new to read. https://coverreveals.blogspot.com/201...

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Published on May 07, 2017 12:19 • Tags: cover-reveals, fantasy, laurel-richards, the-great-road

April 15, 2017

Out Now! The Great Road

Out now! The Great Road, a fantasy novel with sword fights, magic, clairvoyance, evil sorcery, and much more.

When Queen Adhira’s city is attacked and she’s captured by the winged sorcerer, Surtur Takkar, she calls to her twin brother for aid. As Arnon sets out on the Great Road to reach his sister, he is accompanied by a Seer prince, a stable boy with more bravery than brawn, and a reluctant hero who is the only one who can defeat the sorcerer. From warrior women to obnoxious tree-dwellers, they meet all sorts of friends and foes on their journey. Anything can happen on the open road, and loyalty and friendship are put to the test as they leave their homes behind to save the ones they love.

https://author-laurelrichards.blogspo...

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Published on April 15, 2017 12:41 • Tags: fantasy, laurel-richards, magic, new-release, quest, sorcery, the-great-road, twins

April 2, 2017

Preorder The Great Road

My fantasy novel The Great Road is now available for preorder. It will release in e-book and trade paperback on April 15, 2017.

When Queen Adhira’s city is attacked and she’s captured by the winged sorcerer, Surtur Takkar, she calls to her twin brother for aid. As Arnon sets out on the Great Road to reach his sister, he is accompanied by a Seer prince, a stable boy with more bravery than brawn, and a reluctant hero who is the only one who can defeat the sorcerer. From warrior women to obnoxious tree-dwellers, they meet all sorts of friends and foes on their journey. Anything can happen on the open road, and loyalty and friendship are put to the test as they leave their homes behind to save the ones they love.

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZRMX13
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XZRMX13
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XZRMX13
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id12...

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Published on April 02, 2017 13:42 • Tags: fantasy, laurel-richards, magic, new-release, preorder, quest, sorcery, the-great-road, twins

March 25, 2017

In the Spotlight by Charlie Cochrane

Today I have Charlie Cochrane guest blogging with me. She’s here to give some good advice to aspiring authors and let you know about her book In the Spotlight. Welcome, Charlie.

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Does anyone else have a problem with keeping their trap shut? The sort of problem that means you end up volunteering for stuff you didn’t quite intend volunteering for? That’s just happened to me. Yet again. And it all started so innocently.

You see, I was congratulating an acquaintance on her success with self-publishing a book of poetry via print on demand. Had she considered an e-book version, via Smashwords or Amazon, I enquired. No, she hadn’t, so we had a useful conversation about how easy it was to do produce such a product. At which point she asked me how I knew such things…and I had to confess.

It’s a fairly open secret locally that I’m published, not least because I often use my author social media accounts to communicate with family and friends, so I was slightly surprised this acquaintance didn’t know, although that wasn’t an issue. Her next question surprised me, though – would I come and talk to the local writers’ group? I’ve spoken to writers’ groups before, but never so close to home and, of course, I couldn’t refuse.

So wish me luck while they grill me and I try not to bore them. I shall, naturally, share the only bits of advice I ever give other writers. And you get a sneak preview…

First, there are only two rules. Number one is you must do what you said you’d do when you said you’d do it by and follow publishers’ submissions guidelines to the letter. Otherwise all the rules you see bandied about concerning how to write or edit or promo or whatever are just ideas. They may work for one person but may not work for you.

The second is that, if you want to be published, you can’t be unless you finish a book and submit it. You have no idea how many prospective authors fall at one of those two fences.

Blurb:
In the Spotlight: Two stories by Charlie Cochrane

All That Jazz
Francis Yardley may be the high kicking star of an all-male version of Chicago, but bitter, and on the booze after the breakdown of a relationship, he thinks that the chance for true love has passed him by. A handsome, shy rugby player called Tommy seems to be the answer to his problems, but Tommy doesn't like the lipstick and lace. Can they find a way forward and is there still a chance for happiness "nowadays"?

If Music Be
Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking it’ll help him get over the death of his partner. He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have revelled in. Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?

Links: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06X9FS84C
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9FS84C

Bio: Because Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, and the contemporary Lindenshaw Mysteries. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Riptide, Lethe and Bold Strokes, among others.

A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.

Social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlie.coch...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/charliecochrane
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Blogs: http://charlie-cochrane.dreamwidth.org/ and https://charliecochrane.wordpress.com/
Website: http://www.charliecochrane.co.uk

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Published on March 25, 2017 06:24 • Tags: charlie-cochrane, in-the-spotlight, romance, writing-advice