This is the place to be for all new book releases. Welcome to the Book Blitz page -
It is a Book Barrage for authors wanting to get their books out and recognised.
It is a Book Barrage for authors wanting to get their books out and recognised.
DEBT -
By Rachel Dunning
99c Pre-Order Sale!!!
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
New-Adult Romance / Sports Romance
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
New-Adult Romance / Sports Romance
What’s it about?
The Debt Collector
I pay my debts, and I expect others to.
I was raised in the slums of London, I knew nothing of privilege. My father was murdered when I was seventeen. Morty figured my father's passing meant I would automatically take on dad's debts. I refused.
And I paid for that refusal.
So did my sister.
So now I fight. All I know how to do is fight. The best cash is in the states, so that's where I am now. A big fish called Vito came along offering me a "favuor" when I arrived.
Another debt.
I paid for that one too.
I knew Kyla Hensley would be trouble when I met her. But I wanted her. I could see through the falsehood of her wannabe-slutty clothes and her sexy legs. So I chased her.
Besides, trouble is my middle name.
Kyla Hensley
I was brought up in privilege, but I lacked everything else. My father is a business tycoon who buys and sells and doesn't care who gets rolled over in the process.
I never knew my mother, and all I have of her is a photo with a note scrawled on the back in French saying "I'm sorry." The only Female Figure I had growing up is my dad's wife who is a bleach blond with seven boob jobs. We never bonded.
I drink. I party. I meet guys.
But I wasn't always like that.
I've had a string of lovers in the last few years, the worst and most recent of which was Vince Somerset. My best friend Vera was dating a guy called Rory Cansoom who is the opposite of Vince in so many ways, and yet so the same.
She and I hit the road for the summer, getting away from the two college psychos and just trying to have some fun.
But there's a funny thing about trouble, the more you run from it, the more it finds you.
Which is when I met the Debt Collector.
It was only supposed to be sex. He made that clear. I made that clear.
That's all it was supposed to be.
I never expected to fall in love. I never expected to fall so deeply, madly, uncomfortably in love with a man who is wrong, so wrong for me.
And yet...so unbelievably right.
What’s it about?
The Debt Collector
I pay my debts, and I expect others to.
I was raised in the slums of London, I knew nothing of privilege. My father was murdered when I was seventeen. Morty figured my father's passing meant I would automatically take on dad's debts. I refused.
And I paid for that refusal.
So did my sister.
So now I fight. All I know how to do is fight. The best cash is in the states, so that's where I am now. A big fish called Vito came along offering me a "favuor" when I arrived.
Another debt.
I paid for that one too.
I knew Kyla Hensley would be trouble when I met her. But I wanted her. I could see through the falsehood of her wannabe-slutty clothes and her sexy legs. So I chased her.
Besides, trouble is my middle name.
Kyla Hensley
I was brought up in privilege, but I lacked everything else. My father is a business tycoon who buys and sells and doesn't care who gets rolled over in the process.
I never knew my mother, and all I have of her is a photo with a note scrawled on the back in French saying "I'm sorry." The only Female Figure I had growing up is my dad's wife who is a bleach blond with seven boob jobs. We never bonded.
I drink. I party. I meet guys.
But I wasn't always like that.
I've had a string of lovers in the last few years, the worst and most recent of which was Vince Somerset. My best friend Vera was dating a guy called Rory Cansoom who is the opposite of Vince in so many ways, and yet so the same.
She and I hit the road for the summer, getting away from the two college psychos and just trying to have some fun.
But there's a funny thing about trouble, the more you run from it, the more it finds you.
Which is when I met the Debt Collector.
It was only supposed to be sex. He made that clear. I made that clear.
That's all it was supposed to be.
I never expected to fall in love. I never expected to fall so deeply, madly, uncomfortably in love with a man who is wrong, so wrong for me.
And yet...so unbelievably right.
Important Information about Debt by Rachel Dunning
Content Warning!!! - Not intended for readers under the age of seventeen.
Book Details:
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
Genres:
New - Adult Romance
Sports Romance
"Debt" is currently 99c in a pre-order sale. Check out the various websites below for more information and pre-order your copy now!
Content Warning!!! - Not intended for readers under the age of seventeen.
Book Details:
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
Genres:
New - Adult Romance
Sports Romance
"Debt" is currently 99c in a pre-order sale. Check out the various websites below for more information and pre-order your copy now!
Author's Bio
About Rachel
Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.
A prolific writer, she sticks to stories where Alpha Males aren’t pricks and where women have guts.
She’s lived on two different continents, speaks three different languages, and met the love of her life on the internet. In other words, romance is in her blood.
Get Rachel’s NewsletterSign up for Rachel’s Newsletter and never miss a release or a special.
You can sign up here:
http://www.rdunning.com/p/non-spammy-news.html
Author's Bio
About Rachel
Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.
A prolific writer, she sticks to stories where Alpha Males aren’t pricks and where women have guts.
She’s lived on two different continents, speaks three different languages, and met the love of her life on the internet. In other words, romance is in her blood.
Get Rachel’s NewsletterSign up for Rachel’s Newsletter and never miss a release or a special.
You can sign up here:
http://www.rdunning.com/p/non-spammy-news.html
Legally Undead -
By Margo Bond Collins
A reluctant vampire hunter, stalking New York City as only a scorned bride can.
Elle Dupree has her life all figured out: first a wedding, then her Ph.D., then swank faculty parties where she’ll serve wine and cheese and introduce people to her husband the lawyer.
But those plans disintegrate when she walks in on a vampire draining the blood from her fiancé Greg. Horrified, she screams and runs--not away from the vampire, but toward it, brandishing a wooden letter opener.
As she slams the improvised stake into the vampire’s heart, a team of black-clad men bursts into the apartment. Turning around to face them, Elle discovers that Greg’s body is gone—and her perfect life falls apart.
$.99 for One Week Only
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Legally-Undead-Vampirarchy-Margo-Collins-ebook/dp/B00KKV44BK/
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legally-undead-margo-bond-collins/1119607989?ean=2940149615803
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/legally-undead
Universal Kindle Link: http://bookShow.me/B00KKV44BK
A Top-10 Preditors and Editors Readers' Poll Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel
Elle Dupree has her life all figured out: first a wedding, then her Ph.D., then swank faculty parties where she’ll serve wine and cheese and introduce people to her husband the lawyer.
But those plans disintegrate when she walks in on a vampire draining the blood from her fiancé Greg. Horrified, she screams and runs--not away from the vampire, but toward it, brandishing a wooden letter opener.
As she slams the improvised stake into the vampire’s heart, a team of black-clad men bursts into the apartment. Turning around to face them, Elle discovers that Greg’s body is gone—and her perfect life falls apart.
$.99 for One Week Only
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Legally-Undead-Vampirarchy-Margo-Collins-ebook/dp/B00KKV44BK/
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legally-undead-margo-bond-collins/1119607989?ean=2940149615803
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/legally-undead
Universal Kindle Link: http://bookShow.me/B00KKV44BK
A Top-10 Preditors and Editors Readers' Poll Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel
Excerpt
The worst thing about vampires is that they're dead. That whole wanting to suck your blood business runs a close second, but for sheer creepiness, it's the dead bit that gets me every time. They're up and walking around and talking and sucking blood, but they're dead. And then there's the whole terminology problem--how can you kill something that's already dead? It's just wrong.
I was twenty-four the first time I . . . destroyed? dispatched? . . . a vampire. That's when I found out that all the books and movies are wrong. When you stick a wooden stake into their hearts, vampires don't disintegrate into dust. They don't explode. They don't spew blood everywhere. They just look surprised, groan, and collapse into a pile of corpse. But at least they lie still then, like corpses are supposed to.
Since that first kill (I might as well use the word--there really isn’t a better one), I've discovered that only if you're lucky do vampires look surprised before they groan and fall down. If you're unlucky and miss the heart, they look angry. And then they fight.
There are the other usual ways to kill vampires, of course, but these other ways can get a bit complicated. Vampires are notoriously difficult to trick into sunlight. They have an uncanny ability to sense when there's any sunlight within miles of them, and they're awfully good at hiding from it. Holy water doesn't kill them; it just distracts them for a while, and then they get that angry look again. And it takes a pretty big blade to cut off someone's head--even an already dead someone--and carrying a great big knife around New York City, even the Bronx, is a sure way to get arrested. Nope, pointy sticks are the best way to go, all the way around.
My own pointy stick is actually more of a little knife with wood inlay on the blade--the metal makes it slide in easier. I had the knife specially made by an old Italian guy in just about the only ratty part of Westchester, north of the city. I tried to order one off the internet, but it turns out that while it’s easy to find wood-inlay handles, the blades themselves tend to be metal. Fat lot those people know.
But I wasn’t thinking any of this when I pulled the knife out of the body on the ground. I was thinking something more along the lines of “Oh, bloody hell. Not again.”
The worst thing about vampires is that they're dead. That whole wanting to suck your blood business runs a close second, but for sheer creepiness, it's the dead bit that gets me every time. They're up and walking around and talking and sucking blood, but they're dead. And then there's the whole terminology problem--how can you kill something that's already dead? It's just wrong.
I was twenty-four the first time I . . . destroyed? dispatched? . . . a vampire. That's when I found out that all the books and movies are wrong. When you stick a wooden stake into their hearts, vampires don't disintegrate into dust. They don't explode. They don't spew blood everywhere. They just look surprised, groan, and collapse into a pile of corpse. But at least they lie still then, like corpses are supposed to.
Since that first kill (I might as well use the word--there really isn’t a better one), I've discovered that only if you're lucky do vampires look surprised before they groan and fall down. If you're unlucky and miss the heart, they look angry. And then they fight.
There are the other usual ways to kill vampires, of course, but these other ways can get a bit complicated. Vampires are notoriously difficult to trick into sunlight. They have an uncanny ability to sense when there's any sunlight within miles of them, and they're awfully good at hiding from it. Holy water doesn't kill them; it just distracts them for a while, and then they get that angry look again. And it takes a pretty big blade to cut off someone's head--even an already dead someone--and carrying a great big knife around New York City, even the Bronx, is a sure way to get arrested. Nope, pointy sticks are the best way to go, all the way around.
My own pointy stick is actually more of a little knife with wood inlay on the blade--the metal makes it slide in easier. I had the knife specially made by an old Italian guy in just about the only ratty part of Westchester, north of the city. I tried to order one off the internet, but it turns out that while it’s easy to find wood-inlay handles, the blades themselves tend to be metal. Fat lot those people know.
But I wasn’t thinking any of this when I pulled the knife out of the body on the ground. I was thinking something more along the lines of “Oh, bloody hell. Not again.”
Author Bio
Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.
Below buttons are where you can follow Margo and find out more about her books by visiting the following:
Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.
Below buttons are where you can follow Margo and find out more about her books by visiting the following:
Alpha Rockstar: Book One -
By Emma Rose
For a list of my Rating Scales please visit the Intro page.
Blurb
She's reaching for a lifelong dream.
Penelope has made a living taking concert photos for the newspaper entertainment section, but her dreams are much bigger.
She dreams of getting close with a rock and roll band and taking pictures of everything, immersing herself in the rock and roll lifestyle.
He's searching for a life beyond the stage.
She gets her chance when a band on tour invites her to join them for a few weeks, but Penelope has reservations... Is she being invited along because they want a photographer, or because Marcus (the quiet yet attractive lead singer) wants to sleep with her?
And what would she say if he tried?
My Thoughts
This is a feel good, sexy short read. Penelope is a 'normal, run of the mill' young woman who happens to be curvy with a witty persona.
For years, Penelope has been ridiculed for her weight issues ever since school and in my opinion it is why she chose photography, so she could enjoy life without actually 'being apart of it'.
This is a great story that was easy to follow and was a great little quick read. I couldn't help be like the characters throughout the story even though there were the typical 'judgemental' people who couldn't work out why the lead singer from a band would like 'someone' like Penelope.
It showed that no matter what you look like, love can happen anywhere, at any time.
Penelope has been given an amazing opportunity to both fill a life long dream of following and photographing a band while on tour and is also the 'main attraction' for singer.
If you like a short story set outs (this is a story over three books, in my opinion similar to the 'novella' style) a perfect plot/storyline, that is both easy to follow and enjoy, then this is something for you.
I will however, inform you that it would not be suitable for anyone under 18 as there is a lot of sexual content involved. I say get in the 'valentine-kink-romance' fever by reading this. There's nothing in relation to BDSM in this book, so if you want to try a 'erotic' style book with an actual plot then this is the one for you!
Enjoy! And here's hoping you have had a great Valentines Day.
She's reaching for a lifelong dream.
Penelope has made a living taking concert photos for the newspaper entertainment section, but her dreams are much bigger.
She dreams of getting close with a rock and roll band and taking pictures of everything, immersing herself in the rock and roll lifestyle.
He's searching for a life beyond the stage.
She gets her chance when a band on tour invites her to join them for a few weeks, but Penelope has reservations... Is she being invited along because they want a photographer, or because Marcus (the quiet yet attractive lead singer) wants to sleep with her?
And what would she say if he tried?
My Thoughts
This is a feel good, sexy short read. Penelope is a 'normal, run of the mill' young woman who happens to be curvy with a witty persona.
For years, Penelope has been ridiculed for her weight issues ever since school and in my opinion it is why she chose photography, so she could enjoy life without actually 'being apart of it'.
This is a great story that was easy to follow and was a great little quick read. I couldn't help be like the characters throughout the story even though there were the typical 'judgemental' people who couldn't work out why the lead singer from a band would like 'someone' like Penelope.
It showed that no matter what you look like, love can happen anywhere, at any time.
Penelope has been given an amazing opportunity to both fill a life long dream of following and photographing a band while on tour and is also the 'main attraction' for singer.
If you like a short story set outs (this is a story over three books, in my opinion similar to the 'novella' style) a perfect plot/storyline, that is both easy to follow and enjoy, then this is something for you.
I will however, inform you that it would not be suitable for anyone under 18 as there is a lot of sexual content involved. I say get in the 'valentine-kink-romance' fever by reading this. There's nothing in relation to BDSM in this book, so if you want to try a 'erotic' style book with an actual plot then this is the one for you!
Enjoy! And here's hoping you have had a great Valentines Day.
My Rating
I rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was an amazing book but I am unwilling to give the full 5 out of 5 mark as I
was only given the opportunity to review the first book to the 'Alpha Rock star' series.
I would most definitely be happy to read the whole series to see how the story and the characters develop.
I rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was an amazing book but I am unwilling to give the full 5 out of 5 mark as I
was only given the opportunity to review the first book to the 'Alpha Rock star' series.
I would most definitely be happy to read the whole series to see how the story and the characters develop.
Authors Bio
Emma Rose is quickly rising as a new author with a lot to offer. She specialises in the steamy romance genre with the popular series 'The Billionaire's Proposal', 'Taking stage', 'Three', and 'Stripped'. She self-published her first book in 2011, and has since risen to a top 100 author in Amazon's Erotica category, among others.
Part of her quick rise can be attributed to her small, but growing, group of fans who promote her work and offer her feedback as Beta Readers, an offer she extends to potential fans at the end of each of her works.
Interested fans can apply to her Beta Reader Program and receive one of her works free through her website:
Emma Rose is quickly rising as a new author with a lot to offer. She specialises in the steamy romance genre with the popular series 'The Billionaire's Proposal', 'Taking stage', 'Three', and 'Stripped'. She self-published her first book in 2011, and has since risen to a top 100 author in Amazon's Erotica category, among others.
Part of her quick rise can be attributed to her small, but growing, group of fans who promote her work and offer her feedback as Beta Readers, an offer she extends to potential fans at the end of each of her works.
Interested fans can apply to her Beta Reader Program and receive one of her works free through her website:
Rose says she is from 'lots of places', having lived in various parts of the United States, New Zealand, Italy and the United Kingdom. Below, Rose details how she became a write (from her website):
"One question that I'm frequently asked is how did I get into writing?"
"Looking back, it's hard to believe just how much has changed in the past few years. I never gave serious thought to being a full-time writer and chalked it up as just another unattainable 'dream job' right along with being an astronaut or a professional underwater basket weaver.
I started writing creatively at a very young age...Somewhere around age eleven or twelve. These early writings were nothing I'd ever share publicly (because, frankly, they are quite horrible). However, it was the beginning of what I like to refer to as the 'Itch'.
Just what is the itch? It starts out as a very dull, barely noticeable tickling in the back of my head and is usually sparked when I ask myself 'What If...' It is here that the itch grows a little stronger and is harder to resist. My fingers begin to twitch in anticipation at the prospect of taking the idea that's been bouncing around in my head and putting it into something coherent...making it able to be experienced by others.
While I never pursued writing in a serious manner, the 'itch' remained with me through to adulthood. In college, I had just enough space to squeeze in a creative writing class even though there was no benefit to my degree to do so (I blame the 'itch').
And wow.....For the first time in my life I had an excuse to use creative writing as an outlet again. Somewhere along the way I had fallen into the rut of settling for the practical and this one decision had me excited about life again.
Sadly, the creative writing class ended and I went back to completing my degree. After college, finding a steady job, even one that paid peanuts, was a difficult prospect. My diet consisted of peanut butter sandwiches and ramen noodles.
On a late night whim, I decided to join Amazon's self-publishing platform and submitted some of my creative writing pieces from college. These went on to be available for purchase in Amazon'd Kindle Store. I promptly forgot completely about it until one day, about three months later, I received a cheque in the mail from Amazon.
Now it wasn't that much, mind you, but when I realised that the money Amazon had sent me came from people who had purchased my work, I was ecstatic! In the little time I had off between my three part-time jobs, I wrote. And wrote some more.
Over the course of about six months, my self-published works went from earning me a meal out every month to making mire than all of my other jobs combined. It was then that I decided to make the leap to writing full-time.
This was a very big deal for me, because as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, being a writer just didn't seem like a reachable thing...It seemed so absurd (and still does) that I have moments where I sit back and think about just how amazing this journey has been.
Sure, there have been ups and downs, but I am forever grateful to my fans who continue to support my writing. It's because of them (and you too, since you're reading this post) that I can continue to scratch my 'itch' and create new stories for you to explore."
Why not check out the below links and visit Emma Rose through social media. You can find out more about her books and where you can follow her through various social media sites. Just click on the buttons below now! :
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Interested in finding out how the story goes?
Want to know if Penelope and Marcus can keep up a professional relationship while they work together?
Or will temptation and desire for one another be just too hard?
Well, look No further! check out the blurbs for the next two books in the Alpha Rock star series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interested in finding out how the story goes?
Want to know if Penelope and Marcus can keep up a professional relationship while they work together?
Or will temptation and desire for one another be just too hard?
Well, look No further! check out the blurbs for the next two books in the Alpha Rock star series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Book Two - Blurb
She's taking a chance.
Penelope is on tour with the metal band, 'Attack Ships on Fire', as the band's photographer. For the first time in her life, she's living her dream... But she never expected to fall for Marcus, the band's lead singer. She doesn't want to be seen as a groupie there for the band's pleasure, but maintaining a professional distance with Marcus is nearly impossible with his magnetic personality and killer looks. But is she just a sexual object to him? Or does he want more?
He's looking for an escape.
As the lead singer and manager for his band, Marcus is constantly inundated with the difficulties of the rock lifestyle, living on the road, and projecting a mask of energy representative of his persona within the band.
That all changed when he met Penelope, the first genuine person he's come across in a long time. And although he wishes for her to be treated professionally as the band's photographer, he can't resist her curvy figure and witty personality. Can he afford to take off his mask and let her see the person he really is?
She's taking a chance.
Penelope is on tour with the metal band, 'Attack Ships on Fire', as the band's photographer. For the first time in her life, she's living her dream... But she never expected to fall for Marcus, the band's lead singer. She doesn't want to be seen as a groupie there for the band's pleasure, but maintaining a professional distance with Marcus is nearly impossible with his magnetic personality and killer looks. But is she just a sexual object to him? Or does he want more?
He's looking for an escape.
As the lead singer and manager for his band, Marcus is constantly inundated with the difficulties of the rock lifestyle, living on the road, and projecting a mask of energy representative of his persona within the band.
That all changed when he met Penelope, the first genuine person he's come across in a long time. And although he wishes for her to be treated professionally as the band's photographer, he can't resist her curvy figure and witty personality. Can he afford to take off his mask and let her see the person he really is?
Book Three - Blurb
Penelope can sense genuine love developing between her and Marcus, but even as things heat up, there is a coldness on his part, a distance.
He won't speak of his past, and he won't make plans for the future - unless it's for his band.
What is going to happen when the tour ends? He lives in L.A. and she lives in Seattle.
Will she convince him to plan a future together, or will she be just another casualty of the rock and roll lifestyle?
As strong as her feelings might be, there is so far that a girl can be pushed...
Penelope can sense genuine love developing between her and Marcus, but even as things heat up, there is a coldness on his part, a distance.
He won't speak of his past, and he won't make plans for the future - unless it's for his band.
What is going to happen when the tour ends? He lives in L.A. and she lives in Seattle.
Will she convince him to plan a future together, or will she be just another casualty of the rock and roll lifestyle?
As strong as her feelings might be, there is so far that a girl can be pushed...
Want to find out more about these books? Interested in reading them or writing your own review on what you thought about them? Well, check out the websites below by clicking on the buttons:
Blogger's Note:
I just want to take this opportunity to thank both the author, Emma Rose and the Tour Organiser - 'Bit'N Book Tours' for this amazing chance to host a Book Blitz for Alpha Rockstar - Book One!
Hope you enjoyed my Blitz!
I just want to take this opportunity to thank both the author, Emma Rose and the Tour Organiser - 'Bit'N Book Tours' for this amazing chance to host a Book Blitz for Alpha Rockstar - Book One!
Hope you enjoyed my Blitz!
Hunted by a Jaguar -
By Felicity Heaton.
Blurb
New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Paranormal Romance Author Felicity Heaton presents:
Hunted by a Jaguar (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 4)
A jaguar shifter with a dark secret, Kyter has spent his entire life running from his demons. When a tragedy takes him back to his pride’s village, he is set on a path of vengeance that will see him collide with the terrible ghosts of his past and a beautiful vision of his future.
Iolanthe deals in finding artefacts for discerning clients, but this time her client is one of the deadliest men in Hell and her mission has the highest stakes imaginable. Failure is not an option when your life is on the line, but things take a dangerous turn when she crosses paths with a handsome and mysterious male on the hunt for the same artefact—a male who declares she is his eternal mate.
Can Iolanthe resist Kyter’s wicked allure and find the artefact before he does? Can Kyter face his demons and win the heart of his fated female? Or will this deadly game of cat and mouse claim both of their lives?
Find all the links, a fantastic 7 chapter downloadable sample of the book, and also how to enter the give-away and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website:
http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/hunted-by-a-jaguar-paranormal-romance-novel.php
Books in the Eternal Mates paranormal romance series: Click on the links below for further information on each book.
Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar - Review below
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha – Coming January 27th 2015
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat – Coming February 17th 2015 - Review coming soon!
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon – Coming March 10th 2015
Hunted by a Jaguar – Excerpt
Kyter smiled to himself, feeling a little smug as he snuck up on the female under the veil of darkness. He had made swift work of crossing the moonlit ruins of Herculaneum, not needing to follow her scent to know where he would find her.
He could hear her digging in the room she had been in before, her pick working overtime with strokes that sounded frantic and rushed when compared with the measured ones she had used yesterday. Why was she in a hurry? Because of him?
He stalked silently towards the open door.
When the sun had risen, he had concealed himself in an underground room in the ruins on the opposite side of Herculaneum, as far from her dig site as possible. He had passed the day there, allowing his scent to clear from the area so she would think he was gone. It hadn’t been difficult to remain in one spot all day. He had limitless patience when stalking his prey. He had once waited three days straight to ambush an enemy.
The female had fallen for his ruse and he had caught her scent just five minutes ago as it had drifted down into his makeshift den. She was already hard at work. Either she could conceal her scent, could move extremely quickly, or she had other methods of travelling at her disposal, because he had been on high alert since sunset. He should have picked up her scent the moment she had arrived back at the ruins.
She came into view as his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the room. She stood with her back to him, her pick coming down hard. Her black combats clung to her backside as she worked, cupping pure perfection and making him a little jealous. He wanted that job. Hell, he wanted to step up behind her, slide his hands around her waist, and play at being her bra by cupping her breasts through her silver-grey camisole.
It was hard, but he managed to resist that urge, knowing it would probably end with him intimately acquainted with the pick she wielded.
Instead of manhandling her, he opted to lean his right shoulder against the doorframe, cross his boots at his ankles and fold his arms across his bare chest, admiring her as she worked.
She had made swift progress with her hole. It was twice as deep as it had been last night and she stood knee-deep in it, her long black hair hanging down her back in tangled ribbons. She muttered to herself in an odd language, one that had a lyrical quality to it. He wasn’t familiar with it, but then that hardly surprised him. Besides fae, the common demon tongue of the seven realms and English, he spoke only broken Portuguese.
There were countless languages in this realm and in Hell that he didn’t know. Hers could be any one of them. He wished he knew what she was speaking though, because it might give him a clue as to her species. Guessing what she was had kept him awake most of the day and had become his favourite way of passing the time since sunset.
Well, guessing her species and replaying how she had sat crouched on his chest, one slender hand pressed against it, branding his skin with her touch as her beauty seared itself on his heart.
Kyter ran a steady gaze down her, slowly taking in her curves. If she turned to face him, would she be as beautiful as he remembered? Would she be as beautiful as she had been in the dreams he’d had whenever he had succumbed to sleep?
Just recalling the lustful visions of making love to her in the room where they had met last night, pinning her against the plastered column as she clung to him, kissing him fiercely as he took her hard and fast, a primal and violent mating, had him filling with need again. He palmed his length as it twitched to life, fighting to tamp down his rising hunger.
He silently drew her scent over his teeth and wanted to growl at her smell and what it did to him. He was instantly rock hard in his combats, straining against the button fly. He crushed the need to growl, unwilling to reveal what he was. He liked keeping her guessing, and almost couldn’t wait for her to notice him and ask him again what he was.
His mixed blood would keep throwing her off his scent.
He had a feeling that despite her age she hadn’t met a jaguar before.
“What do you expect to find in that hole?” he said.
She gasped and whirled to face him, sending her long black hair flaring outwards from her shoulders, her eyes enormous and dark in the low light creeping in from outside the room. The smudge of dirt on her left cheek would have made her look adorable if it weren’t for his gut-deep feeling she was dangerous.
Her green eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
She went back to her work, as if he wasn’t a threat to her. Nothing for her to worry about. Her acting ability was improving. He knew that he had startled her and he had caught the momentary flicker of self-castigation in her eyes before she had turned her back on him. She was ashamed that he had been able to sneak up on her.
“Go away,” she grumbled, hefted her pick and brought it down harder than before. Taking out her frustration on the ground now?
She could take it out on him if she wanted. He had a perfect way of releasing pent up frustration.
“Not going to happen.” His gaze drifted down her tall frame again, taking in every inch of her. His mate. He still couldn’t quite believe that he had one, or that this female was his. She struck the ground again and spat out something in her strange tongue. He smiled. “There’s nothing down there.”
She paused and glared over her shoulder at him.
His smile broadened. “I found an entrance in another building last night after you left. I figured that maybe you would have known about it… being so old and all.”
Her glare blackened into a scowl and her lips settled into a firm line.
“I know a guy who looks at people that way,” Kyter said and scrubbed a hand around the back of his neck. “It’s not very becoming of a lady though.”
Iolanthe ignored him, nimbly leaped out of the hole, and set her pick down. She leaned forwards and brushed down her black trousers, giving him a wonderful view down her top. Her head snapped up, her accusing glare pointless considering he hadn’t stopped looking at her breasts.
She straightened and stalked towards him, a sway to her hips that had his gaze dropping lower and a smile curving his lips again as he imagined claiming those hips and drawing her against him. She lightly pressed two fingers against his left shoulder.
The world whirled past in a blur of sombre night tones and pain exploded across his back as he slammed into something solid.
He dropped hard and crumpled into a heap, dazed and confused for a split-second before his head cleared and his vision stopped swimming. He grunted and frowned at the pavement beneath him. It wasn’t possible. She had tossed him across the street with only a touch, sending him crashing into the wall.
What the hell?
He bared his teeth at her and picked himself up, his bones aching from the blow. Bitch. He pressed his hand into his back and arched forwards, cracking his spine back into place, and almost growled when he saw she was already halfway along the narrow paved street.
Kyter stalked after her, swiftly closing in on her. He tamped down his fury with each long-legged stride, determined not to let her get to him and goad him into losing control. He had a plan and he meant to stick to it. Losing his shit was definitely not in the plan, no matter how much he wanted to fight her for what she had just done to him.
“Maybe we should work together.” He tossed her another smile as he came up beside her and she threw him a look that said she was considering tossing him across the road again.
She was more powerful than he had thought. It should have unsettled him, warning him away from her, but all it did was make him want her even more. The thought of fighting her had his blood burning, on fire with a need to tangle with his little kitty.
Of course, his hunger to fight her was probably due to the fact that every battle with her that ran through his head ended in a heated kiss that led to him getting between her legs and her screaming his name in pleasure.
The feel of her gaze on him intensified, ringing bells that warned a fight wouldn’t go the way of his fantasies and it was dangerous to drop his guard around her.
He sidestepped to place some distance between them but didn’t surrender his position beside her.
“I do not require a partner.” She turned her cheek to him and picked up her pace.
He huffed and doubled his, falling back into step with her.
She curled her lip at him and tipped her nose up.
She could pull all the faces she wanted, she was still beautiful to him. Moonlight stole all colour from her skin, threaded her long black hair with silver, and turned her eyes a strange shade of turquoise. She looked even more ethereal and otherworldly, captivating him and making him itch with a need to draw her into his arms and kiss her.
“Come on, we’d be great together.” Because he was her mate and he was sure that once she realised that, she would do as he asked and would hand over the artefact to him.
She was his woman after all.
A niggling voice at the back of his head chastised him for that thought and said that wasn’t how he should treat her, but a stronger voice crushed it, telling him that a jaguar’s female always obeyed her male.
It was tradition.
“I am not interested in working with you. Go away.” She turned cold eyes on him. “Stop playing at being a treasure hunter. This is my job.”
Kyter stopped dead, clenched his fists to stop himself from grabbing hold of her, and fixed his gaze on the back of her head. She slowed to a halt.
“Playing?” he barked, his voice echoing off the crumbling stone buildings around him, and she spun on her heel to face him in the middle of the ancient road. “This isn’t a goddamned game to me. What I’m after, I need. For me. Not for a fat pay off like you’re after.”
Her eyes widened and then narrowed on him and she took a single step towards him, her fingers flexing and eyebrows dipping low. “You know nothing about my business and my reasons for doing it.”
Kyter stepped up to her, towering over her despite her height, and snarled, “You know fuck all about mine.”
He had to admire her for standing her ground, even when he could smell the acrid scent of fear coming off her.
She breathed hard, her pulse beating fast in his ears, and looked torn between punching him and walking away.
And possibly kissing him.
The muscle in his jaw popped as he ground his teeth, holding her gaze and refusing to give an inch. Silence stretched between them, thick with a collision of desire and anger.
The breeze picked up, filling the tense silence with the soft sway of the cypress trees that surrounded the site. It stirred the dust, lifting it into the air, dampening the scents that swirled around him. Including hers. He wanted to breathe deeper to catch a stronger thread of it again and take her into him, making her a part of him.
Her lips parted and his eyes dropped to them, a fierce hunger to claim them sweeping through him, threatening to obliterate his anger and leave only desire behind. He clenched his jaw again, refusing to let that happen. She had overstepped the mark and he was damned well going to let her know it.
She lowered her head, stepped back, and whispered, “This is not a game to either of us.”
She turned away and he reached for her, coming close to catching her arm before his hand fell to his side and he let her walk away. It wasn’t a game to her either. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
She made it to the end of the street ten metres ahead of him before he could no longer resist the need to pursue her. He had to give chase. The more she walked away from him, the more fired up he became, driven by a need to hunt her. He couldn’t deny that primal instinct.
He stalked her through the dark moonlit streets, his thoughts caught on the words she had whispered. Whispered. She hadn’t spoken them with her usual confidence. Had the cause of the fear he had detected in her been because of something other than him?
Did she fear her client?
She had refused to speak of her client to the demon she had met. Kyter hadn’t thought anything of it at the time, but he did now.
He hurried after her and caught up with her as she reached an open area that had gone to patchy grass, lined by broken white columns.
“You need my help,” he said and she did something unexpected.
She laughed, mocking him with the rich sound. “You think you can waltz in and do what… exactly?”
My Thoughts
Kyter is a jaguar shifter halfbreed, who left his mother and their pride behind after they were both 'outcast' due to an incident that happened long ago.
While in his club - Underworld' (known by all 'supernatural beings' such as shifters, witches and more) Kyter soon receives a call that needs him to return to the one place he hoped he would never have to go back to ever again; he has to return back to his pride. There he finds out what has happened to members from his pride, including his mother, which enrages Kyter (especially since they will not show his mother the same respect as the other members lost in the tragedy).
Now Kyter is out for revenge for who attacked his pride and nothing is going to stop him (even when he finds out how close the person is to Kyter and his mother). One problem is, Kyter needs a special artifact to enable to fight and take out his revenge on the one person who has caused Kyter to seek revenge.
In walks Iolanthe. She is an elf and an independent woman and warrior as well as a mercenary/artifact hunter, who travels various dimensions in search of items of importance.
Kyter and Iolanthe meet and Kyter realises he is willing to anything he can to protect this woman.
Without giving away too much on the book (as I don't like spoilers) - This book is fantastic. As well as the occasional funny scenes, this book is fast-paced, full of adventure and amazing chemistry that is both sexy and sensual.
Hunted by a Jaguar is the fourth book in Felicity Heaton's 'Eternal Mates' series. If you are a fan of paranormal/fantasy/suspense/romance then this is most definitely a series that you MUST start.
I love to see how the story and the characters develop. Felicity has a special way of enveloping her readers into a special magical world that is full of action that never stops. This is extremely hard to put down.
Kyter is a jaguar shifter halfbreed, who left his mother and their pride behind after they were both 'outcast' due to an incident that happened long ago.
While in his club - Underworld' (known by all 'supernatural beings' such as shifters, witches and more) Kyter soon receives a call that needs him to return to the one place he hoped he would never have to go back to ever again; he has to return back to his pride. There he finds out what has happened to members from his pride, including his mother, which enrages Kyter (especially since they will not show his mother the same respect as the other members lost in the tragedy).
Now Kyter is out for revenge for who attacked his pride and nothing is going to stop him (even when he finds out how close the person is to Kyter and his mother). One problem is, Kyter needs a special artifact to enable to fight and take out his revenge on the one person who has caused Kyter to seek revenge.
In walks Iolanthe. She is an elf and an independent woman and warrior as well as a mercenary/artifact hunter, who travels various dimensions in search of items of importance.
Kyter and Iolanthe meet and Kyter realises he is willing to anything he can to protect this woman.
Without giving away too much on the book (as I don't like spoilers) - This book is fantastic. As well as the occasional funny scenes, this book is fast-paced, full of adventure and amazing chemistry that is both sexy and sensual.
Hunted by a Jaguar is the fourth book in Felicity Heaton's 'Eternal Mates' series. If you are a fan of paranormal/fantasy/suspense/romance then this is most definitely a series that you MUST start.
I love to see how the story and the characters develop. Felicity has a special way of enveloping her readers into a special magical world that is full of action that never stops. This is extremely hard to put down.
My Rating
What an amazing and beautifully written series. All those fans of creatures of the supernatural/
paranormal and fantasy, then please read this.
I could not rate this book anything but a 5 out of 5. Amazing!!
What an amazing and beautifully written series. All those fans of creatures of the supernatural/
paranormal and fantasy, then please read this.
I could not rate this book anything but a 5 out of 5. Amazing!!
Authors Bio
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!
If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!
If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
Blog Barrage and Give-away.
Hunted by a Jaguar, the fourth book in New York Times best-seller Felicity Heaton’s hot paranormal romance series, Eternal Mates, is now available in ebook and paperback. To celebrate the release, she’s holding a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY at her website and sharing sneak peeks of the book.
Find out how to enter the Hunted by a Jaguar international giveaway (ends January 18th) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download a 7 chapter sample of the novel: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/hunted-by-a-jaguar-paranormal-romance-novel.php
If you haven’t had a chance to step into this passionate and action-packed world of dark elves, fae, demons, vampires, shifters and hunters, then you can take the leap with the first book in the series, Kissed by a Dark Prince, which is only 99c / 99p until January 15th as part of her fantastic Winter Warmers special deals. Find all the deals and links to your favourite retailers at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/paranormal-romance-ebook-offers.php
Visit the Competitions/Giveaways page for Terms & Conditions and other competitions/giveaways available.
Hunted by a Jaguar, the fourth book in New York Times best-seller Felicity Heaton’s hot paranormal romance series, Eternal Mates, is now available in ebook and paperback. To celebrate the release, she’s holding a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY at her website and sharing sneak peeks of the book.
Find out how to enter the Hunted by a Jaguar international giveaway (ends January 18th) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download a 7 chapter sample of the novel: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/hunted-by-a-jaguar-paranormal-romance-novel.php
If you haven’t had a chance to step into this passionate and action-packed world of dark elves, fae, demons, vampires, shifters and hunters, then you can take the leap with the first book in the series, Kissed by a Dark Prince, which is only 99c / 99p until January 15th as part of her fantastic Winter Warmers special deals. Find all the deals and links to your favourite retailers at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/paranormal-romance-ebook-offers.php
Visit the Competitions/Giveaways page for Terms & Conditions and other competitions/giveaways available.
Book Purchase Details and Links
You can purchase this book and others from the series, can be purchased from the following websites:
You can purchase this book and others from the series, can be purchased from the following websites:
On behalf of 'Xpresso Book Tours', I am pleased to introduce you to my very first BOOK BLITZ :
Blood Chained - By Eden Ashley
Blurb
Sometimes great evil is necessary to keep what you love most.
After centuries on the run, Rhane can avoid justice no longer. Primes have called him home and now he must finally answer for the sins of his past. But the situation in Rhane’s homeland is far worse than anyone could have imagined, and the judgment Rhane faces is a brutal one. Even relying on the strength of the immortal Banewolf, the man he has become may not survive.
Kali and the other kin work tirelessly to secure Rhane’s freedom, but many obstacles stand in their way. Wesley offers a solution that hinges upon resuming a dangerous search for the Siren’s Heart. Trusting him, she and the kin set out once again to find the elusive artifact, believing Rhane and Warren’s freedom can be bartered in exchange for the statue. But other creatures are searching for the Heart. And with greater resources and a head start, their enemies may reach it first.
Sometimes great evil is necessary to keep what you love most.
After centuries on the run, Rhane can avoid justice no longer. Primes have called him home and now he must finally answer for the sins of his past. But the situation in Rhane’s homeland is far worse than anyone could have imagined, and the judgment Rhane faces is a brutal one. Even relying on the strength of the immortal Banewolf, the man he has become may not survive.
Kali and the other kin work tirelessly to secure Rhane’s freedom, but many obstacles stand in their way. Wesley offers a solution that hinges upon resuming a dangerous search for the Siren’s Heart. Trusting him, she and the kin set out once again to find the elusive artifact, believing Rhane and Warren’s freedom can be bartered in exchange for the statue. But other creatures are searching for the Heart. And with greater resources and a head start, their enemies may reach it first.
Excerpt from 'Blood Chained'
The Beginning...
The sound of her screams reached him as he neared the dorm. Pausing at the threshold, the man stepped inside. Death and the wind were at his back. Dozens of hollow-eyed students turned to observe his presence. Fear had twisted their youthful faces into horrific masks. A few of them wept. Others clung together as another scream echoed into the night. The man flinched. Then he steeled himself against all emotion. His kind was supposed to feel nothing.
He made his way through the crowd, students eagerly shuffling aside to let him pass. It was as if somehow they sensed in him the power to end her suffering. When a young man dressed only in boxers and a lettered shirt stepped forward from a cluster of solemn dorm mates, the man stopped. He recognized the boy.
“You are William. You are the one who called.”
“Yes, sir,” the young man said while nodding. His eyes were wide and frightened as he pointed ahead to a closed door painted prison grey. “She’s in there, sir.”
The man looked at the door, and then back at the boy. “Is she alone?”
William’s shoulders slumped with embarrassment. “I tried to stay with her but…” his voice trailed, dropping to a hoarse whisper. “She looks bad, sir. She wouldn’t stop screaming for me to get out. I got scared. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, son. You have done well.” The man laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder with an encouraging smile that reflected none of the sadness he felt. “She’s going to be okay.”
But her cries were becoming more tormented by the second. He quickly continued down the hall to the grey door. Behind it, he found her all alone. Her thin, pale body was curled on a beaten sofa in the center of the room. She was drenched in sweat. Dark hair plastered against her face, framing a beautiful canvas contorted with anguish. He placed a hand gently on her forehead.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Daddy?”
“I’m here, sweetheart. Everything is fine now.”
Sobbing in relief even as another surge of agony ransacked her strength, she gritted her teeth. “It hurts.”
Squeezing her hand, he spoke in a voice thick with regret. “I know. I’m sorry. Letting you come here was a mistake. I’ve waited too long.”
She was lost in the pain and didn’t seem to hear him. “I see horrible things. I did horrible things. There was so much blood.”
It hurt him terribly to see her in such distress. No matter what the others said, this girl had truly been his daughter. But right now, his love for her could not matter. He had a job to do. There were things he needed to know. There were questions he had to ask.
“What do you see?”
“Bodies, hundreds of bodies littering the ground…” The words broke off as she rolled with another wave of misery. “They’re burned…old and young, women and children.” She sobbed again. “I think I burned them.”
“I’m going to give you something to stop the pain. It will help you sleep.”
“Please hurry, Daddy. Make it stop.” Her body shuddered. “I can’t take any more of this.”
She lifted her head, giving him a good look at her face. Surging veins had crept like black spiders from the corners of her eyes, transforming the surrounding skin into dark pools. She was deteriorating rapidly. If the process wasn’t slowed, the human form would soon be lost. He kicked himself for making such a foolish mistake, for letting emotion get in the way of duty. It could have jeopardized everything. He hurried into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later carrying a red mug filled with steaming liquid. “Can you sit up?” She nodded and struggled upright. She took the mug. “Drink all of it,” he said and helped steady her hands.
The liquid smelled awful. But after the first sip, her violent trembles began to subside. She downed the rest without hesitation, draining the mug until the last drop was gone. The grey tint that had taken over receded as the color of her skin returned to normal. The girl peered at her hands. They no longer shook.
An uncertain smile spread across her face. “It’s over.”
He shook his head. “No. We must start over,” he said sadly.
“I don’t understand.”
He stood from the couch and held out a hand. “Come with me.”
“What?” She yawned sleepily. Everything about her was like a normal teenager again. “Dad, I can’t. I have finals tomorrow.”
“Come with me,” he repeated.
She took his hand and let the empty mug fall to the couch. He led her out into the hall where everyone waited anxiously, some visibly grateful to see the young woman leave. Averting her gaze to the floor, she avoided their eyes. “Everyone’s staring,” she muttered.
“They were worried about you.” He reached back and drew the girl forward to his side, planting a kiss atop her hair. As they reached the front door, he saw her try to stifle another yawn. Even the crisp night air couldn’t shake the veil of drowsiness that would lower over her mind.
“Dad, I’m really tired.”
“You can sleep on the way.” He smiled again. To him, the reassurance felt forced and painful because on the inside, his heart was breaking. He hoped his daughter wouldn’t know it.
Wrapping her arms about him, she hugged him tightly and buried her head into his shirt like she had when she was little. On this night, he couldn’t hug her back. Afraid that if he did, he wouldn’t be able to let go. What he had to do was cruel. He wished he didn’t have to. To have so much power and still be powerless was a wretched existence.
####
It was daylight when she awoke. The car wasn’t moving and the girl was alone inside. She recognized nothing of the surroundings, had no idea how far her father had driven. It wasn’t unusual for him to whisk her away on a spur-of-the-moment weekend getaway to the beach. Her father’s spontaneity was one of the things she loved most about him. But this wasn’t the beach. And the girl was positive she’d mentioned to him that she had a final to take—she glanced at her watch—in three hours. Sighing, she opened the door and slid out of the car. The sound of a child’s laughter came drifting through the trees. Joined with it was another voice she easily recognized.
With growing curiosity, she started up the hill. Her feet sank into the moist carpet of undergrowth as she walked beneath trees of brightly changing foliage. Fallen heralds of orange, red, and yellow hues blanketed the ground. Not far away, on the other side of a patch of dense forest, the girl found her father. Oddly enough, he was entertaining a small child. The two of them sat in an amply filled sand box, busily constructing a castle with the aid of a small bucket and plastic shovel. The little girl’s hair was like her own, as black and shiny as a raven’s feathers. She was four years old at most.
Looking up, her father saw her. No emotion crossed his face. “Hello.”
She stopped a few yards short. “Hi.” After the mostly uphill hike, her reply was somewhat breathless.
“Hi,” the child greeted her happily. Deep brown eyes and a winning smile made her truly a rare beauty, even at such a young age.
The young woman turned to her father, her entire face a question. She waited for some sort of explanation.
His golden hair ruffled in the breeze as he nodded toward the child. “I found her for you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Where are we?”
“Please come and sit,” he said quietly.
Hesitant at first, her feet didn’t move until the little girl echoed the man’s words, “Please come and sit with us.”
She accepted the invitation and sat in the sandbox. Her legs automatically folded to mirror the child.
“Did you dream last night?”
“No.”
“Good. I’d hoped the tea would help.” He took her hand. His grasp was both tender and desperate. “I promise you, this will be the last time.”
“What’s going on?” Although she trusted her father with her very life, his behavior worried her.
As they conversed, the little girl had never paused at play. “And this is the tower for the princess,” she announced proudly, while molding a lopsided chunk of sand.
Her father gazed down at the child fondly. “Why does the princess need a tower? Shouldn’t princesses be allowed to be free?”
The child paused thoughtfully. Then she shook her head, sending a mass of radiant curls bouncing in the morning sun. “No. The prince can’t find her unless she’s in a tower.”
He smiled and turned to his daughter again. “Yes…it is time for the prince to find her.”
He took the child’s hand and pressed it into his daughter’s. The young woman stared in bewilderment as a warm glow filled her inside and out. Then, as if someone had flicked a switch, everything went dark. She slumped forward. The man caught her lifeless body, easing it down gently onto the sand. Then he leaned over and kissed the child’s forehead softly. “I will always be close.” Not moving, the child sat wide-eyed, staring blankly at nothing.
Hoisting the body of the young woman into his arms, he quietly strode away with tears streaming down his face. The trees hid him from view as the little girl blinked twice and resumed building the tower in the sandbox.
The Hunger.....
When another presence entered the locker room, Kali halted her pacing. “You’re late,” she said without turning around. He hadn’t made a sound, but somehow she felt him. That was happening a lot lately.
“Sorry. But I seem to have my own classes to attend. And they’re across town, at the university.” Callan’s blue eyes seemed happy to see her. His voice was light and teasing, a stark contrast to the sharpness in hers. Scowling, he glanced around the small space that smelled of female hormones and sweat. “Tell me again why you insist on meeting here.”
She folded her arms. “You know I can’t sneak away from the boys. It wouldn’t be fair to them. And it could be dangerous.”
“Okay. I accept that.” He took a step closer. “But you can at least stop being so uptight.” He fingered a stray curl, only making her heart ache even more for Rhane. “Everyone is working together to keep you safe.”
She didn’t move away. “I know.”
“It’s always good to see you.” He came even closer, invading her intimate space as if it were his to claim. She could tell he was hungry to touch her, to be touched. To be used.
She hated it when he got like this. He was a tool, an object of convenience. Nothing more could ever evolve of their situation. But sometimes, it was like Cal had forgotten the terms of their arrangement.
Taking a seat on the bench put more distance between them. She hoped the move would help remove some of the heat from Cal’s eyes. Unfortunately, it also meant he now towered over her. The position of dominance only elevated the tension.
She needed to change the subject. “Why are you attending classes? Surely, Gabriel the mastermind has better things to do than study English 101. Scheming for world conquest sounds more up his alley.”
Cal smiled. “Oh he’s scheming alright.” He took a seat next to her, watching her face earnestly. “I still have a life of my own.”
“No.” She closed her eyes. “You forfeited your life to Gabriel.”
“I’m here now.”
“And so is he. His fate is your fate. You can never be without him.” She didn’t understand how Cal failed to understand that.
“We’ll have to agree to disagree, babe.” He reached for her, stopping when she pulled away. His brow wrinkled. “Are we doing this or not?”
“You know I have to.”
“Then stop being so cold.”
“I don’t enjoy this.”
“I think you do, sometimes.”
A knife of pain stabbed into Kali’s chest and twisted. Was it guilt? Did Cal’s words hold some truth? She bit her lip. The hurt it brought grounded her thoughts to the task at hand. “Let’s get it over with.”
Cal rolled his eyes. “That’s better.”
She frowned. “This is strictly business.”
“Right,” he agreed, but didn’t sound convinced.
Kali didn’t care if he agreed. She only needed him for one thing. Still, his hands were eager as they beckoned her closer, held her so tenderly against him. His lips closed around her mouth, cool to the touch. He remembered well and sought to please her, stroking everywhere she liked. Her ears, the back of her neck, the swell of her breast—his gentle caresses found the most sensitive parts of her, coaxing Kali into heightened arousal. She had felt more with him than with any other before Rhane. But with Cal there was always darkness. Feeding from him left her with angry thoughts and violent urges almost too compelling to resist. Daily matches against the kin helped channel those powerful inclinations, giving her rage an outlet.
But when Kali reached for his spark…this time things were different.
Threads of light had woven into the darker pitch of his aura. Intense purples and royal blues replaced black and gray emptiness. Something had tempered the savage coldness, cultured his humanity.
Cal was different.
Nearly losing the moment when his hands slipped beneath her blouse, Kali redirected her focus. She had to take the necessary energy hard and fast. The more he touched her, the deeper he fell. The more things got confusing. She needed to get this over quickly for both their sakes.
Pressing her hands on either side of his face, Kali drank deeply, urgently. Cal’s lips grew colder. His fingers chilled against her skin. Still, she drank. His spark dimmed and darkened, almost recoiling from her touch. But she pulled it back, sating her thirst. His fingers tightened, dug painfully into her skin. A tremor rippled through his body. Cal shuddered, sagged against her. Then she released him.
Cal sat dazed for several long moments. Then his eyes cleared and he jerked as if suddenly emerging from deep sleep. He was panting as he stood up, wobbling unsteadily on his feet. “Shit, Kal.” He moved away from her, to the corner of the room. “Did you have to take so much?”
“Sorry. The hunger is getting worse.”
“I can’t say I haven’t noticed. What are we up to, twice a week now?”
“Sometimes three.” Her reply was absent. She straightened her clothes, busy considering something weighing on her mind for a while now. “I need to figure out how to do this without making out with you. I’ve fed without intimacy once before. I know it’s possible.”
“You don’t have to.” Though he still sounded a tad breathless, Cal moved close to her again. “I prefer things this way.”
“And you know I don’t.” Hurt written plainly in his expression, she regretted her words. There was no sign of the arrogant and selfish boy she dated a year ago.
“He left you, Kali.”
“He’s coming back.”
His fingers squeezed her wrist, and those piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. “But what if he doesn’t?”
“Callan, don’t.” Fearing what holding that gaze would to do him, she pulled away to gather her things. It was time to go.
But Cal wasn’t ready to leave yet. “If things were different…we could have a chance.” His face was hopeful, imploring for something Kali couldn’t give. “I can make you happy this time. I know it.”
“I appreciate all you’ve done for me…everything you keep doing.” She averted her eyes, unable to look at him. It seemed that she was destined to hurt him. Her very design made it unavoidable. “But Rhane is my soul mate. I will find him. And I will bring him home.”
Enjoy what you have read so far?
Then get over to Goodreads or Amazon now to purchase.
Links to all websites can be found with the Authors Bio.
Then get over to Goodreads or Amazon now to purchase.
Links to all websites can be found with the Authors Bio.
An Introduction of Eden Ashley - In her own words.
"I'm Eden Ashley and I was born and raised in a small, sunny town in South Carolina. However, it's the thunderstorms that inspire my best ideas. There are few things I love more than curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy day, (except maybe chocolate cake. I love cake.) often reading into the wee hours of morning when something really grabs me.
I pretty much love anything with supernatural elements, so writing paranormal romance and fantasy romance seems to be a natural fit.
My first novel, Dark Siren, is best described as paranormal romance artfully wrapped within a plot chock-full of action, adventure, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, while the series has evolved to become a journey of redemption and second chances as two characters understand that sometimes committing evil is necessary to protect what is loved most. I took the siren from Greek mythology (and borrowed a little from mermaid lore), creating an entirely different creature, with its own mythology, and one that Publisher's Weekly praised for its passion and complexity.
This is not just another werewolf/shape-shifter romance or vampire romance. I think this is a story that both adults and teens can enjoy, full of characters to fall in love with!"
I love getting feedback! For the latest news on upcoming sequels and other novels, find me on :
"I'm Eden Ashley and I was born and raised in a small, sunny town in South Carolina. However, it's the thunderstorms that inspire my best ideas. There are few things I love more than curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy day, (except maybe chocolate cake. I love cake.) often reading into the wee hours of morning when something really grabs me.
I pretty much love anything with supernatural elements, so writing paranormal romance and fantasy romance seems to be a natural fit.
My first novel, Dark Siren, is best described as paranormal romance artfully wrapped within a plot chock-full of action, adventure, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, while the series has evolved to become a journey of redemption and second chances as two characters understand that sometimes committing evil is necessary to protect what is loved most. I took the siren from Greek mythology (and borrowed a little from mermaid lore), creating an entirely different creature, with its own mythology, and one that Publisher's Weekly praised for its passion and complexity.
This is not just another werewolf/shape-shifter romance or vampire romance. I think this is a story that both adults and teens can enjoy, full of characters to fall in love with!"
I love getting feedback! For the latest news on upcoming sequels and other novels, find me on :
The Q & A Section with author Eden Ashley :
Q1) What inspired you to write your first book?
A1) I’ve always been a pretty imaginative kid and had this story (more of a daydream) circling in my head for several years that kept growing and developing into something bigger and more complex. But this was pre-Twilight. People weren’t devouring paranormal romance then as they are now. So, after the craze hit, I thought, hey, maybe I’m not so weird after all, and started putting those words on paper…well on screen!
Q2) What are your expectations for the book?
A2) I want people to walk away from this series feeling as if the characters are real to them and really caring about what happens next in their story.
Q3) While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
A3) Actually, yes. But oddly enough, it’s one of the male characters. York is the outlet for every sarcastic, wildly inappropriate, and snarky comment I’ve ever wanted to make. I put a lot of my own twisted sense of humour into writing his parts.
Q4) Do you have a specific writing style?
A4) From what I’ve been told, my style tends to be very simple but very descriptive at the same time. Readers have said reading my work is like watching a movie.
Q5) Do you have any advice for other writers?
A5) Plan your first book as a potential stand alone novel. Write every day. And don’t give up!
Q6) Is this your first book? How many books have you written?
A6) Blood Chained is not my first book. It’s actually the third book in a planned four-part series. Rhane and Kali’s journey begins in Dark Siren where they first find each other and try to figure the many secrets standing between them. Banewolf was released last year and continues their story. I’m extremely happy with how the second book turned out. It’s getting a lot of great reviews right now.
Q7) What does your writing process look like?
A7) It involves lots of post-its and scratch paper for random flashes of inspiration that I really, really, really don’t want to forget. With the Dark Siren series, as things got more complex, I had to make a reference chart of characters, their relationships and motivations—I also ended up crossing them off as they died, so they didn’t accidentally make it into future scenes!
Q8) Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others?
A8) Action scenes take the longest. And this series has a lot of action. I like to keep things interesting, so it’s worth the struggle.
Q9) What are you working on now? What is your next project?
A9) I’m currently finishing up the final book in the Dark Siren series. It’s tentatively titled Primed Son and will be released next year. At the same time, I’m working on another paranormal romance. It’s a separate book that follows entirely different characters. I’ve put some excerpts online and have gotten some really good feedback, so I’m pretty excited about it. Look for it next year as well.
Q10) If you had a super power, what would it be?
A10) I would have to say telekinesis, but on a Dark Phoenix level. Being able to move things with my mind would be invaluable during my morning commute to work.
Q1) What inspired you to write your first book?
A1) I’ve always been a pretty imaginative kid and had this story (more of a daydream) circling in my head for several years that kept growing and developing into something bigger and more complex. But this was pre-Twilight. People weren’t devouring paranormal romance then as they are now. So, after the craze hit, I thought, hey, maybe I’m not so weird after all, and started putting those words on paper…well on screen!
Q2) What are your expectations for the book?
A2) I want people to walk away from this series feeling as if the characters are real to them and really caring about what happens next in their story.
Q3) While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
A3) Actually, yes. But oddly enough, it’s one of the male characters. York is the outlet for every sarcastic, wildly inappropriate, and snarky comment I’ve ever wanted to make. I put a lot of my own twisted sense of humour into writing his parts.
Q4) Do you have a specific writing style?
A4) From what I’ve been told, my style tends to be very simple but very descriptive at the same time. Readers have said reading my work is like watching a movie.
Q5) Do you have any advice for other writers?
A5) Plan your first book as a potential stand alone novel. Write every day. And don’t give up!
Q6) Is this your first book? How many books have you written?
A6) Blood Chained is not my first book. It’s actually the third book in a planned four-part series. Rhane and Kali’s journey begins in Dark Siren where they first find each other and try to figure the many secrets standing between them. Banewolf was released last year and continues their story. I’m extremely happy with how the second book turned out. It’s getting a lot of great reviews right now.
Q7) What does your writing process look like?
A7) It involves lots of post-its and scratch paper for random flashes of inspiration that I really, really, really don’t want to forget. With the Dark Siren series, as things got more complex, I had to make a reference chart of characters, their relationships and motivations—I also ended up crossing them off as they died, so they didn’t accidentally make it into future scenes!
Q8) Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others?
A8) Action scenes take the longest. And this series has a lot of action. I like to keep things interesting, so it’s worth the struggle.
Q9) What are you working on now? What is your next project?
A9) I’m currently finishing up the final book in the Dark Siren series. It’s tentatively titled Primed Son and will be released next year. At the same time, I’m working on another paranormal romance. It’s a separate book that follows entirely different characters. I’ve put some excerpts online and have gotten some really good feedback, so I’m pretty excited about it. Look for it next year as well.
Q10) If you had a super power, what would it be?
A10) I would have to say telekinesis, but on a Dark Phoenix level. Being able to move things with my mind would be invaluable during my morning commute to work.
Blogger's Note: I want to take this opportunity to thank 'Xpresso Book Tours'. Eden Ashley and her fab team for helping me make my first ever blog blitz both informational and fun! I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this and I am truly grateful for being given the chance to take part in the 'Blood Chained' Book Blitz Tour!