As a thank you to all my fans I've lowered the price of the Paranormal Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Case Files bundle from $4.99 to $2.99 for the month of December. This bundle features the first four episodes of this paranormal mystery and romantic suspense series.
As part of the Jingle Book Blog Hop I'm also giving away a FREEBIE read to everyone who signs up for my newsletter (details below) and one lucky person who comments on this blog post will win one of my many available audiobooks (winner's choice) the only requirement is winner must be 18 years or older.
In addition to all of that there is also a blog hop raffle which can be found below. All of these giveaways are open world wide.
For a chance to win an audio book check out the novellas in the PBI Case Files below and let me know in the comment section which one sounds the most interesting.
The Beginning: After a drunken night of mishaps two human sisters wind up with a job offer for the Paranormal Bureau of Investigation they can't refuse.
Outbreak: The team is called in to investigate a case in Florida where a man was caught snacking on a live human. The cover story? Bath Salts. The real story? A supernaturally mutated strain of the Ebola virus has deadly impact.
Lost Plane: A commercial airliner disappears over the Pacific Ocean without a trace. The team is called in to see if they can find the passengers and crew. The truth of where they have vanished to is connected to the survival of the human race.
Justice Driven: The Amazons interrupt a dinner date to carry out vengeance that is sanctioned by the gods.
Remote Paranoia is the fifth case file in this series, it is not included in the bundle but it is on sale for the month of December for only $0.99. The team is called in to investigate strange murders of supernatural creatures and they stumble upon a secret government agency that uses psychics as assassins.
Again, to be entered in the drawing for a chance to win an audiobook let me know in the comment section which case file above you find the most intriguing and why.
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a FREE copy of Rayne's Thunder (part one) Master Chef from the Rayne's Thunder shifter romantic serial of Dating a Werewolf Series.Here is the link. Series contains mature subject matter.
For the month of December, the entire Rayne's Thunder romantic serial bundle is also on sale from $4.99 to $2.99. If you like the first installment pick up the rest of the serial on Amazon kindle here. Also FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Enter the Raffle for a chance to win one of two $25 Amazon Gift Cards. Click the link below.
Rayne's Thunder (part five) The Battle Begins and the Games Continue is now live on Amazon. This is the fifth installment of a six part romantic serial from the Dating a Werewolf Series. All installments in this serial are priced at 0.99 or Free with Kindle Unlimited and each serves up romance, action, adventure, suspense, and danger as the Manchester siblings race against the clock to find a mate and marry by the one year anniversary of their father's death.
Introduction of this installment:
Things are looking bleak for the Manchester family and their allies. Death surrounds them as the rogues move in for the kill. In the midst of all the chaos the Mating Games continue. Rayne is on a time table and so are the rest of the siblings. In the Battle Beings and the Games Continue Rayne finally chooses her mate. She also uncovers a conspiracy perpetrated by some of the contestants for her hand in marriage. Despite everything, happily ever after is within her grasp if she can just survive the rogue attack.
Despite the haze
of sadness that covered us like a blanket of snow, I was happy to see that
River was going to fight for his alpha seat. He’d been somewhat hesitant the
last few times we spoke, always the compassionate one, caring about how his
actions would affect others, how his ascension would impact our lives, never
really seeking the power. But that was River, he was never a power hungry fool.
He cared more for those in his life than status. It was father who pushed him
into the alpha position and expected him to take the proverbial throne. Now
that another had died fighting his war, he took it as a personal debt he needed
to repay. He’d make sure Sylvie’s death was not in vain.
River and I were
in the room when she stopped breathing. We were exchanging shifts. I was coming
on and he was going to bed. She’d survived a week, but was still in critical
condition. Dr. Jacobson and his colleague, Dr. Jericho, had done everything
medically possible, but the magical infection that was attacking her system was
powerful, and being a supernatural wound, we couldn’t take her to the emergency
room. Ericka had called in the best healers available from multiple states, but
with the witches divided the political red tape between those that could help
and those that wouldn’t was thick.
Despite the odds,
we truly believed she’d survive. Isaac was so convinced she’d pull through that
he had relented and allowed us to watch over her in shifts so he could get some
sleep. It was the third day of our shifts when I walked into Sylvie’s room. The
memory of the moment still shook me to the core.
River was holding Sylvie’s hand. He was pleading with
her to fight, tears streaming down his face. “Where the hell is the doctor?” He
growled.
Sylvie’s body convulsed as River held her, his touch offering
any possible comfort his presence would allow. He looked right past me. It all
happened so fast that I barely processed what was happening before Dr. Jacobson
ran into the room, pushing me aside as he went to work trying to save her. When
he started chest compressions, realization hit me. She was dying.
I’d seen death before. I planned to be a doctor. My
father forced me to hunt. I was a she-wolf. It didn’t numb me. I respected the
loss of life. But no amount of familiarity would change the reaction I had when
I witnessed the actual act of a human dying, it was terrifying. A cold, hard reality
that we all face some day. It only made matters worse that she was so young.
Cut down in the prime of life for what? Power?
“Did you hear me, Rayne?” River asked as he pumped the
air bag over Sylvie’s body. His voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Call Isaac!
He needs to be here.”
I nodded, pulled the phone out of my pocket and dialed
Isaac’s number, never taking my eyes off the frantic scene in front of me. When
I knew he was on his way I took River’s spot at Sylvie’s side. It became a
rhythmic dance between me and Dr. Jacobson. He’d compress her chest, pump pump,
and I’d force air through the air bag over Sylvie’s mouth, squeeze. Pump, pump,
squeeze. Pump, pump, squeeze.
We kept that dance going until Isaac arrived. By then,
it’d been at least five minutes. He arrived to a corpse. The heartbreak on his
face made my chest heavy. I struggled to swallow as he collapsed to his knees.
“No!” It was the most heart rendering sound I’d ever heard. We both stopped the
pump, pump, squeeze tango. Dr. Jacobson shook his head sadly. River turned and
punched a hole in the wall as he let out a deafening howl.
There was nothing
any of us could do. She was gone. Death claimed its first victim in this war.
People started filing into the room. Everyone was there to pay respects. Ericka
and Matthew were the next to let out wails of grief. I just stood there, unsure
what to do. I’d only spoken to Sylvie a few times over the last couple of weeks,
but in that time I realized I liked her. I wanted her to survive. I liked Isaac
with her. They were a good pairing.
“Vengeance will be ours, my friends,” I heard River say. From that moment on, we prepared
for war.
***
The next few days
a rain cloud followed all of us. The Mating Games were put on hold while we
mourned the loss. The men were told they could return home for a week while we
made preparations for the memorial service, but they all stayed which surprised
me. I guess they wanted to show their support. Some even stepped up to help
River with planning the retaliation while Rhyme, Chloe, and I secretly planned
the alpha ascension ritual. Rhyme was Isaac’s strength through the whole ordeal
so it left the majority of the planning for Chloe and I to complete. It was
nice spending quality time with my best friend, especially in a time of sorrow.
We’d both lost our mothers when we were young, it was what bonded us together,
and now we were able to handle the heartbreak that surrounded us because of
those same coping techniques we learned in childhood.
Not that we ever
forgot the pain of losing our parents, but life has a funny way of helping you
get lost in the moment and pushing the pain aside. In the werewolf world, we
knew danger lurked around every corner, more so lately than usual, but it was
there, waiting to sneak up and bite you if you’re not careful. Losing Sylvie,
watching Isaac and the other witches go through the sorrow only served as a
bitter reminder that life was short and there were no guarantees. I could have
lost Chloe a couple times since returning home from college. The night of my
father’s wake when she mixed prescription pills with alcohol, and the
kidnapping where Brick’s sisters, Britain and Jewel, stole her away from us. It
only made me hold on to her tighter. What happened to Sylvie could happen to
any of us, and with the battle on the horizon, there would undoubtedly be more
casualties. I wasn’t going to waste any more time. As soon as River got his
official ascension ceremony out of the way I was going to choose my mate and
start my life.
River had been derailed
too many times at this point not to make it happen this month. I figured if we
waited until it was the right time, the ‘right time’ would never come. Kind of
like that old adage about a watched pot.
The cloud of gloom
that followed many of us around like a lost puppy lifted the day after the
memorial service. The witches had practically moved into the compound which
made us assign the wolves attending the hunt to the bunk houses. We were
running out of room when Lincoln suggested we use the barn as an alternative
for beds.
“They’ll
understand. We’re at war now.” Lincoln ran a hand through his blond curls. I’d
come to know him pretty well. It was one of his tells indicating he was
frustrated that he needed to argue the point.
I didn’t care. These
were our pack mates and placing them in the horse barn seemed tacky, no pun
intended.
“Lincoln’s right,”
Storm offered his two cents as he pulled his long, dark, waves into a pony tail
at the nape of his neck after closing the fridge. Just hearing his voice made
my heart skip a beat. Why did someone so infuriating get to make my pulse race?
“It just seems
wrong.” I argued. Being ganged up on by the two men that were in the running
for my heart was uncomfortable, but seeing how they both responded to pressure
in extreme circumstances was actually beneficial.
“We housed the
infirmary in the barn when Chloe was kidnapped as a precaution in case we had
injured wolves on the hunt. Why would this be any different?” Lincoln asked as
he tapped his thumb on his lower lip while his index finger ran over the
stubble on his chin to indicate he was speaking his thoughts.
He’d actually
become a solid confidant over the last few months. I’d had enough interactions
with him at this point to know he wasn’t my mate, but he was becoming a good
friend and my back up just in case I didn’t find a mate from the contenders.
He’d become important enough to me that I worried about losing him if I had to
eliminate him from the running.
“Why not put them
up at the Myriad Springs Lodge?” Chloe suggested as she drank her tea. She
looked brilliant as she stood in the doorway, sun shining off her blonde curls
giving an illusion of a halo.
“Because they are
our pack and that makes them family.” Storm grumbled as he went to refill his
coffee.
I looked out the
window at the setting sun. How did we get here? How did I become a decision
maker in the pack? When father was alive he had his own council of trusted
wolves all outside of the family, aside from my brother. River chose to keep
his inner circle close to the belt which meant, Storm, Rhyme, myself, even
Chloe were the people who advised him and made decisions for the pack. It was
so odd, also an honor, and really made me grow up fast. I smiled. “You’re
right, Lincoln. Let’s get started on adding beds to the barn just in case.”
“If you’d like, I
can get the other Mating Game contenders to help.” Lincoln offered.
“That would be
wonderful.” I hadn’t used the contenders as much as I should in regards to pack
matters, Lincoln wormed his way into my inner circle because he had become a
pack ally and close friend. He and his pack were ready to help if needed which
was a great card to have in the back pocket.
He kissed me on
the cheek and left the kitchen. Storm growled low in his chest. They all knew
the rules. Eva was a stickler for them. No unnecessary contact with me unless
sanctioned by the games. A kiss on the cheek, no matter how chaste it was, was
completely unauthorized.
I sighed as I
watched Lincoln leave. The man had a body that was made for looking at and his
backside was probably the best part. The problem was my feelings for him had
developed into friendship, not sexual. He was too controlling. My wolf didn’t
like being restrained. “Behave, Storm.” I turned my attention back to him.
“What would Eva
say if she knew how much time you were spending with him?”
My eyebrow rose. “Probably
the same thing she’d say about the time I spend with you.” I told him
pointedly.
“I don’t sneak
kisses.” He took a drink from his mug.
“You probably
should.” Chloe grinned, then bolted out the door laughing.
We both watched
her leave. Her exit left us alone which was rare lately. When I turned back to
look at him he was staring straight at me. The tension was thick like an early
morning fog, and the silence stretched between us for what seemed like hours,
but was only moments. He was waiting for something, but I didn’t know what it
could be. “What?”
After another
momentary pause he shook his head, “I don’t know why I’m doing this.”
I smashed my hand
against my forehead. “Where is this coming from, Storm? Because Lincoln, who is
my friend, kissed me on the cheek outside of sanctioned game activities?
Because--”
“He broke the
rules and you allowed him.” A tick appeared on his left cheek telling me he was
holding in his anger by biting the inside of his mouth. That was a ‘Storm’ tell.
He was always good at holding his emotions in.
“…because plenty
of other men in this house have kissed me far more scandalously than that.” I
shouldn’t have said it, knew I let my irritation get the best of me, wanted to
take it back the moment the words spilled out of my lips, but he had a way of
lighting my fuse.
He rushed up on
me, his face inches from mine. I could feel his breath on my skin and I found
myself wishing he’d kiss me. Despite his furious look, his warmth wrapped me up
like a blanket on a cold evening. I hated how my body betrayed me around him. I
wouldn’t back down and I knew better than to back away or he’d give chase. His
nostrils flared. He scented my interest in him. Heat colored my cheeks, but I
could also see how that calmed his wolf. “None of them will kiss you the way I
do.” He grabbed my shoulders and held me there, staring at me. Both of us knew
what we wanted, but neither willing to make the first move. It was agonizing
moments of silence, both daring the other to tempt them, neither willing to
give in.
“How am I to know
that? You haven’t won any challenges so I can experience your kiss firsthand.” Why, oh why did I let my emotions speak?
‘Because we want to taste his kiss again,’ my wolf responded in my mind eagerly. ‘Kiss him.’ She urged.
A growl rumbled in
his chest, and my hand went up to feel the vibration. My instinct took over.
Being this close to this man held a level of intensity I’ve never felt with
anyone else in my life. Every nerve in my body was on fire, every fiber urged
me to claim him as my own. The past simply melted away in his arms and the
future looked bright. I knew why he was the front runner in this competition. I
understood the sheer, bittersweet attraction. The feel of his granite chest
beneath my fingers, heating my hand through his shirt, had me biting my lower
lip as I imagined how the muscles would ripple under his smooth skin. My
breathing quickened and I silently cursed my attraction to the man.
“I haven’t won any
challenges because I care about you.”
That got my
attention. I shook my head, golden-brown hair bouncing around my shoulders.
“That makes no sense.”
“If you’re meant
to be with another one of these men you need to find out. I’m not stupid,
Rayne. I can tell you want me as much as I want you, but I need to know you
know it is right.”
His words
surprised me. “So you threw the competition?”
He nodded. “The
first one I did. The second we lost because of your ‘friend’.”
“How did you know
I wouldn’t eliminate you?”
“Because.”
“Because what?” I
was losing patience. It didn’t help that he was still violating my personal
space. His hands had slipped from my shoulders to my upper arms. The air around
us sizzled. I swear the lightbulb above us sparked and burned out from the
electrical field our energies were creating. “Seriously, Storm, I--”
He claimed my lips
and all sense was lost. It flew out the window. Fireworks exploded in my body
starting with my gut and reaching every inch of my being. He poured every ounce
of emotion into that kiss and I received it. His tongue slid across my lips and
I opened to receive him. Something primal moved inside me. I felt myself
melting into his strong, capable arms as desire pooled in my core.
His hand cupped my
ass and my insides turned to jelly. He pressed me against him and I felt his
need for me as much as I wanted him. Gods
help me, but I was, in that moment, lost. Something clicked between us. It
was like a key had found the lock and opened my heart.
“What the hell is
going on in here?” Eva’s shrill voice cut through the passionate fog that
wrapped around us like a comforting blanket. We fell apart, guilt on both of
our faces.
“I was… he was
just…” I closed my eyes and sighed heavily. “I’m--”
“It was my fault.”
Storm interjected before I could apologize.
“That’s not really--”
“I take full
responsibility for my actions.” He interrupted again.
“Damnit! It takes
two to kiss, Storm! Quit trying to save me. I kissed you back.” I snapped. Gah! He was the only man that could make me
go from passion to furious in two seconds flat.
Eva’s eyes bounced
from me to Storm and back again like a ping pong ball in volley. “Who initiated
the kiss?”
“I did.” We spoke
in unison.
I glared at him
and I swear I saw the beginnings of a smirk on his face which only fueled the
furious train. This is why we were not good together. “Look--”
Eva held up her
hand to silence me. Why was everyone
shushing me?
“Storm will not be
allowed to compete in the first set of games.”
“That’s totally un-”
“Unfair? Life is
unfair, child. Get used to it.” She signaled for me to leave the room.
I shook my head
and left. Forcing my temper down as I headed to my room. I needed to get it
under control before I said something stupid and caused more drama. I was so
done with being called a child and treated like a princess. I am an adult, and
it was high time everyone started to see that, and part of making that image
happen was acting like one.
One of the best things about writing romance is that you can create amazing romantically infused interactions between the characters. The build up to me is far more important than the actual act of getting together. I love those sultry looks, the build up of desire, the need to touch, the electricity that comes from contact, the 'does he or doesn't he like me' anticipation. It's one of the reasons why I started writing the Dating a Werewolf Series with the romantic serials of Rayne's Thunder, Rhyme's Reason, and River's Fire. I mean ten guys, or girls in River's case, all vying for the attention of a potential mate and pulling out all the stops to win the object of their affection is intoxicating. It's the chase.
The challenge, though in taking on a series like this, is coming up with variety. There is only one picnic in the park or a date that ends with the couple dancing in the rain. Readers don't want to read the same experience with different people it suspends the escape the writer has created for reader and takes away from the overall experience. It's why the kisses must be different from one guy to the next or the touches and scents need to have different stimulating impact on characters.
So in the next installment in Rayne's Thunder (Part Four) The Mating Game six men are required to create six different dating experiences. I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised with some of the interactions and delighted with the ideas the men came up with but I can already see I'm going to need new ideas for future installments so here is the question.
What would be your dream date? Leave it in the comments below. I'll giveaway an audiobook from one of my already published titles here to one lucky poster (winner's choice). Winner must be over 18. I'll choose one winner for the comments below 8/30/15
If you're here for the book boyfriend scavenger hunt you came to the right place. A good book usually has one of two components that knock your socks off; a great plot or great characters and the really awesome books usually have both. I try hard to create stories that have both of these components and are fast paced reads that blend in mystery, suspense, and romance. I'd like to introduce you to some of the book boyfriends I've created in different series.
Storm Carter from the Rayne's Thunder romantic serial.
When this guy is in the room the temperature rises. He's the man that is astute, observant, loyal, and watches over those he loves like a guard dog... er wolf. Not only does he set fire to the pages of the story but he's also honest and tells it like it is. This quality can hurt him as he is competing against nine other men to win the heart and hand of Rayne.
Here is an sneak peek excerpt from Rayne's Thunder (Part Four) The Mating Games which will be coming out in a few weeks.
The next arrival took me by Storm, literally, he was my
Storm. His long, dark hair was tied back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
His familiar scent beckoned me and I found myself lost in the turmoil of
emotions that came with the irritatingly observant, hard headed ass who always
managed to keep me on my toes. For some peculiar reason I cared what he
thought of me. Dislike, tainted with trust and interest was not a healthy
concoction but every time he turned those soul searing eyes on me I lost all
control of my senses, logic flew out the window, and my body responded to his
with a dance of desire that burned me from the core to my skin. They say there
is a fine line between love and hate and I experienced that every time I was
around this man. My mind screamed danger and my body yelled, ‘come closer’. It
was the kind of relationship that never lasted but I couldn’t help but wonder,
‘what if it could’ and I supposed that was why he was here. He walked up the
steps and offered me a cup of coffee and in that moment I realized he wasn’t
there to compete he was there to take care of me like he did with the rest of
the family. Evidence of this was clear when he handed Chloe, River, and Rhyme their
own drinks. The man was infuriating.
I turned toward him. “Does that mean you’re not competing in
the games?”
Storm sipped his drink, “I don’t play games.”
His green eyes
watched me over the brim of the cup. I wanted to scream, ‘No!’ to asked him
‘why?’ but I refused to stoop to his level. Instead I turned away. I didn’t
expect the next chain of events to happen. He whipped me around and pulled me
into his strong arms. “I don’t play games, but for you, I’m willing to let that
rule slide.”
“Meaning what, exactly?” For some reason I needed to hear
the words. I needed to know he felt an inkling of what I was starting to feel
for him. I wasn’t about to put myself out there to get burned if he didn’t feel
remotely the same.
“Are you ready for a real relationship with real
responsibilities?”
“Are you ready to stop treating me like a child?”
“Perhaps.” He grinned.
“Then perhaps I am, we’ll have to see, if you’re still
standing at the end of the Games.”
“I’ll only be standing at the end of the games if you show
me you’re a worthy mate.” He caressed my cheek and I felt my legs go weak. How
someone could be so strong and yet gentle was beyond me. “For now, I choose to
compete.” His words made my heart skip a beat before he released me.
Another great book boyfriend is Fang aka Levi in the PBI Case Files. This were-bear takes sacrifice to a whole new level. He's also more primal than human which can help on the battlefield, it makes him a superb secret agent, but a failure in social situations, especially where his mate is concerned. He's a strong alpha that isn't afraid to take what he wants, handle situations with a firm hand, but shows the utmost respect for the ones he loves. He's not good with words but his Viking God good looks and solid, muscular physique helps to soften the blow.
In the PBI Case Files he makes mistakes and learns to pay for those. He puts in the time and will hopefully win over the heart of the woman he loves. In Outbreak, the second adventure of this series he saved Francesca's life by binding his life force with hers which began the mating process between them. The problem was, he made this decision while she was comatose, literally dying. There was no way she was going to make it through the night and he wasn't going to lose her so he bound their life forces together forever attaching him to her even if she refused him and moved on to another man.
Check out this excerpt from PBI Case Files as Fang tries to explain to Francesca (Frankie) about what happened the night she almost died.
Fang didn’t hesitate,
he was a bit of a brute when it came to her. Hetook
her arm in his hand and pulled her toward him forcibly. “We need to talk.” His
hands and voice were harsher than he intended as he pulled the despondent
Frankie down the hall.
Once
again she was being man handled by the overbearing, were-bear. One part of her
wanted his attention, she couldn’t fight off the chemical attraction but the
intelligent part of her knew better. Being drug away was the wake-up call she
needed. Frankie dug her heels into the ground, but it did little good since the
floors were grey concrete. “Let go of me!” She hissed, and when she started
fighting back, he tossed her over his shoulder with minimal effort. When she
started slamming her fists into his solid back, he spanked her. That made her
pause for a moment as she processed his actions. “Did you just...spank me?”
He
slipped into an abandoned office, dropped her unceremoniously on the couch, and
then locked the door so they wouldn’t be disturbed. He was so angry, she could
feel the boiling heat radiating off his body. His glare cut her to the bone as
he tried to put his emotions in check. She didn’t like seeing him this way,
something in her subconscious warned her he was dangerous when he was upset.
The
warning voice in her head did little to calm her, instead, she saw red. He kept
pushing and he’d pushed too far this time. She stood up, “how dare you?” Her
fist aimed for his face, but he stopped her first punch and managed to stop her
second as well.
“You
may be well trained, Francesca, but I trained you.” The bitterness in his voice
cut her open like a fish gutted and forced her to settle down. She’d never
heard him speak to her with such anger, and knowing what he was, she knew
better than to poke the bear more than necessary. The saying you catch more
bears with honey rang true to her in that moment.
His
voice and words softened when he saw fear in her green eyes. “Please, Frankie,
I just want to talk.” He released her fisted hands.
“I
don’t want to talk to you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step
back. They were alone and he was too close for comfort. “You really need to
take a socializing class. Your actions are inexcusable.”
He
offered a shy, mischievous grin, “Social etiquette has never been a strong
point for me.”
“Ya,
think?”
“Why
do you hate me so much?” He gave her a sincere, hurtful look, one that almost
shook her to the core.
“I…I
don’t hate you. I just hate the things you do sometimes.” The sadness in his
eyes made her attitude soften. For some reason, despite her annoyance at the
man, she took pity on him.
“My
mother told me that hate is probably one of the worst words a person can use to
describe something.”
“Your
mother is right.” Frankie unfolded her arms. “Maybe I should say I dislike the
things you do, but I really don’t appreciate being thrown over your shoulder
like a sack of potatoes, and I won’t tolerate being spanked. I’m in my
mid-twenties, not a child.”
“Asking
for a new partner without trying to work things out with your current partner
is slightly childish.”
“You
heard that? It’s not polite to eavesdrop.” She balked.
He
shrugged, “I’m not polite, according to you.” He mumbled the last part.
He
moved forward a few steps so he was invading her personal space. She took a
step back, and he clamped his hand around her forearms and pulled her back
toward him. “Please don’t do that.”
“What?
Let me go, Fang.”
“Not
until I tell you what happened to you in the hospital.”
Frankie’s
eyes grew wide, “okay, what happened?” It was the secret she’d been trying to
uncover since she woke up. She didn’t know why, but she needed to know what
they did to her.
“First
you need to understand why. You were going to die, and I couldn’t let that
happen to you. I don’t know if you realize this, but there is chemistry between
us.”
Frankie
laughed, “uh no, there isn’t.”
He
tilted his head and looked deep into her eyes, like he was examining her soul. “Do
I need to kiss you again to prove it?”
“Keep
those lips away from me.”
He
moved closer, his lips inches from hers. “Why do you deny yourself the
pleasures I can show you?”
“I
don’t know how else I can make it any clearer. I’m. Not. Interested.” She did
it, she dared to poke the bear’s chest.
“When
you stop lying to me, and perhaps to yourself, things will be a lot better
between us. Even now, your heart speeds up as my lips inch closer to yours.
Your green eyes grow dark with desire. You moisten your lips in anticipation
and your scent is honey mixed with musk. The words you speak do not match your
body’s response.”
“You’re
also describing fear.” Frankie pointed out.
His
face fell and he dropped his grip on her arms. “I don’t wish to make you afraid
me.” He took a step back and Frankie felt guilt over her words. He was so
literal and blunt, and he put her on the defense. It was hard to believe that
her words could cut him, but they did.
“I’m
sorry, Fang. I’m not afraid of you.”
His
brown eyes lit up with hope. “Good, because what I need to tell you could
change everything between us.”
“Okay?”
her voice was guarded.
“You
were about to die.”
“I
know.” The mutated strain of the Ebola virus had caused complete organ failure,
the only way to survive was to eat human organs to replace those that had shut
down and she was not going to do that. The memory made her shudder.
“And
it was my fault.”
“No,
it wasn’t.” Not entirely his fault. The brute was constantly arguing with her
about her safety in the field, and he was too preoccupied with his anger that
he hadn’t put the child infected with the virus in the car before laying into
her with his words. The girl was hungry and started gnawing on Frankie’s hand.
She clamped down so tightly that the only way to get her to release was to kill
her.
Frankie closed her eyes against the memory of Fang breaking the girl’s
neck. She’d never seen someone die in front of her like that, and she was still
a bit traumatized by the tragedy. Fang had been suspended for a week while they
investigated his actions, and he was returned to duty once they determined he was
protecting his team in the line of duty. It didn’t make the picture of the
girl’s death any easier.
“We
all knew you weren’t ready for field work, but we needed you because of…”
Just
being near him made her emotions go haywire. She needed to get away, and didn’t
want to hear it anymore. “Look, Fang, I get it. You all injected me with some
sort of paranormal healing serum.
What I really want to know is if it’s going
to fade.”
“The
strength?” Fang tried to catch up to her questioning. Changing gears mid conversation
wasn’t always easy.
Frankie
nodded. “And the enhanced senses.”
“No,
you’ll always have those things no matter what you do.”
Frankie
took a deep breath, “I’ve thought a lot about this and assuming that is what
you all did to me I’m… okay with it.”
“You
are?”
She
didn’t know it then but there was far more to it. “Well, kind of, as long as I
know what is happening to me and understand all the things connected to it. I
mean it makes me a stronger agent. I just hate being kept in the dark with
people I’m supposed to trust keeping secrets from me. Are there any nasty side
effects?”
Joshua Parker from the Magical Secrets Series is not an in your face kind of book boyfriend, he is the scholarly man whose loyalty and compassion to his family and friends wins you over slowly. He's the kind of guy that grows on you and sticks with you for the long haul which is sexy in itself but his devotion to the ones he loves and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them safe makes him a slow burning superstar.
In the Magical Secrets Series, he and his sister hunt antiques for their shop and determine if the antiques are imbued with magic or not and lock the dangerous ones away from the public because they refused to see others suffer at the hands of magic like they did when they lost their parents.
Here is an excerpt from Genie's Treasure, the first adventure of this series.
He ran his fingers over the surface, something he’d done a hundred times
before. Rubbing the surface didn’t conjure the Jinn, contrary to popular myth.
They’d tried that multiple times, out of curiosity. He opened the lamp and
peered inside. This time as he ran his calloused hands over the metal his
fingers caught on a tiny latch hidden in the dark recesses of a tiny crevice,
he could’ve sworn the latch hadn’t been there before. It was so tiny it could’ve
been easily overlooked, his eyes never caught it.
His voice caught in his throat as he snapped the latch down and felt a
prick against his finger. He pulled back his hand and saw a bead of blood
forming on his finger. “What the hell?”
He dropped the lamp when a woman with cinnamon colored skin, dark hair
and, brown, soulful eyes appeared in front of him. “How may I serve you,
master?” Her voice had a slight Persian accent. She barely looked his direction
as she spoke, careful not to look him in the eyes.
Surprise had him scrambling over the back of the luxurious cream colored
chair. “Who? What? Where? Am I losing my mind?”
“I am the Jinn Amani, I come from Persia, and no you’re not losing your
mind. You have three wishes. Please tell me what is your greatest desire?”
Joshua stared at Amani for a moment, and then he burst out laughing. “Did
Josie set you up to this?”
Amani shook her head, “I know no, Josie.”
Joshua took his glasses off and rubbed his green eyes pressing hard at
the bridge of his nose to push down the building tension. His brain tried to
focus on the logic of the situation but there was none. Perhaps he was
dreaming, that made the most sense. He fell asleep while Josie went to take a
shower. “I’m dreaming.” He smiled as he slipped out from behind the chair. “So
now I just need to figure out how to wake up.”
“You are not dreaming,” Amani stated.
“You would say that.” He walked over to the lamp he had previously tossed
across the room and picked up it. “It’s not physically possible for a woman to
fit inside this tiny lamp.” For emphasis he looked in the tiny lantern bottom.
“I’m not in the lamp, master, I’m in an alternate dimension. I’m just
linked to the lamp and when it’s triggered I appear to grant you three wishes.”
“Impossible.” But even as he said the word he knew it was not impossible.
He’d seen amazing things in the world of magic. Seeing an elusive genie,
however, was not something that happened every day.
“Do you not see me?”
“I do.” He grudgingly agreed.
“Did I not appear when you triggered the lamp?”
“I guess.”
“So how is this impossible?”
He rubbed his hands over his trimmed goatee. “And you’re going to grant
me three wishes?”
“Yes, master.”
“And if I don’t use them?” He knew better than to use magic, even wishes.
“I won’t leave until you make your wishes.”
An idea occurred to him. “How about I wish you to be free?”
Zachariah in the Demon Ascension Series is not only sexy, kind, and angelic (yep, he's a warrior nephilim) but he's funny and a bit of a diamond in the rough. Underneath his tough guy exterior that insists on doing the right things no matter the consequences he is a softy. Check out this fun little teaser that shows his empathy and understanding along with his sense of humor from Father Made Me Do It.
Having fun reading these little excerpts and getting to know the book boyfriends from my different series? I hope so, they are all lovable in their own way. If you're looking for the secret word for the raffle here it is... FLIRTY. Want to get to know a few more? Scroll down further to meet the royals from the Shifter Love Tales Series and the Mystery Springs Series.
Giovanni Mancuso from The Witch's Vampire, the first in the Mystery Springs Series is the vampire prince of the small Colorado Town and he knows how to get what he wants without sacrificing those he cares about. Gio, is damaged from an experience he had as a human, an experience that cost him his soulmate. When he is gifted a connection to his soulmate from Thanatos he grabs hold tightly (almost obsessively) and has to learn to let his mate live her life despite his need to shelter and protect her.
Here is an excerpt from The Witch's Vampire showcasing Gio.
He’d built
quite a reputation to make sure terror kept the people in line. It also helped
that he hailed from royalty. The Mancuso vampires were powerful and very few
challenged that power. Those that did faced the wrath of the council which had
solid treaties in place with the humans, werewolves, witches, Amazons, fairies,
elves, skin walkers, Jinn and Mancuso vampires for decades. It was an important
part of their world and helped them keep their supernatural identities hidden
from the humans. This kept all supernatural and human beings safe.
One person who
didn't feel apprehension around him was his consort and he loved that she
wasn't afraid of his company. Her loyalty was unmatched and her devotion was
that of a protective mother cub. She slithered up to his side, her
strawberry and cream scent had been a constant comfort to him ever since he
claimed her as his consort. She was technically a child of a human and fairy union.
Something frowned upon in Mystery. Mixing supernaturals with humans was
expressly forbidden. However, Marissa was the product of a rape. A dark fairy
attacked her human mother. The attending elf physician at the hospital the
night of the attack and the werewolf detective who was brought in to
investigate recognized the situation for what it was. Jacob, the elf, kept a
close eye on Marissa’s mother and when her pregnancy proved their suspicions
she was brought into the supernatural world for protection. Marissa’s mother
died in childbirth, a common, unfortunate side effect to breeding with
supernaturals.
There had been
rare cases where the human mother survives, but it wasn’t pleasant or
advisable. Wendy, Marissa's mother, knew the risk and begged Gregor, Gio's
father to take her in if she didn't make it.
Wendy's case
wasn't rare and the inevitable happened. Marissa was taken into the
Mancuso family and raised with the expectation that she would someday become a
member of the vampire clan-an honor typically bestowed upon only a few every
generation. When she turned eighteen she became the rare exception and refused
the offer - she wanted to live as a human. Knowing Marissa intimately, and now
loving her as a sister, Gio suspected she wanted to have a human child before
she was changed.
Gregor
sentenced Marissa to death. She'd be in the underworld right now, but Gio spoke
for her and requested her as his consort. Now she stood at his side, loyal to
the end. She was his friendly companion, fed him when he was hungry, and
protected him from humans during the day. In return he kept her young, strong,
healthy and safe from other predators without changing her DNA by making her a
vampire. Over time they’d grown to be best of friends. That was twenty years
ago and neither one of them looked a day over 25.
“Are you
hungry, Gio?” she purred as she ran her fingers down his arm. She was always
willing and so remarkably giving but he wasn’t in the mood at the moment.
He shrugged
her hand off his arm and continued to watch the dance floor. Someone caught his
attention and he wasn’t sure what to make of the girl with long black hair as
dark as night. “Not now, Marissa. Perhaps you’d like to go dance.” He
suggested.
“I’d love to
dance. Come with me.” She urged by pulling his hand toward her.
“In a minute.
Go start without me and I’ll join you later.” He didn’t need to look at her to
know she was sulking as she sauntered away. He could smell the hurt and knew
she would be a great temptation on the dance floor. Hurt and pain fed so many supernatural.
“Jeremiah, go
with her to keep her company.” He instructed his second in command who eased
out of the shadows without a word and followed Marissa down the stairs. Happy
his consort was safe he refocused on the captivating girl. He was drawn to her
but had no earthly idea why. She was far from his type.
He’d never seen her before, but there was something familiar about her. Something
that took his breath away, if he needed to breath, which he didn’t, other than
to make humans think he was one of them. It was an automatic response he did to
blend in and in that moment he realized his automatic response had failed him.
He’d stopped breathing as he watched the slender but curvy petite girl weave
within the crowd. She called to him like a beacon on a foggy night in a
storm-tossed ocean. It was the oddest feeling.
She had a
drink in her hand, but was barely touching it, almost like she ordered it for
show and had no intentions of finishing it. He found himself thankful that was
the case. He'd seen so many lost souls travel further down the rabbit hole with
mind altering substances liked alcohol and narcotics. It was a hazard of the
job, lifestyle, and unfortunately, the dark world he lived in.
The final book boyfriend I'd like to introduce you to is Malick Pendragon from To Love a Dragon, book one of the Shifter Love Tales.
Malick is a dragon shifter prince. He's tough, a guy's guy, and completely uninterested in finding a mate. He is the guy that seems like he'll perpetually be single. When he met his mate (a detective who is a witch) he let her walk out of his bar and his life without a second thought... until he found her poisoned and on the verge of dying... then his desire for her blossomed. It's super sexy being the one woman that can tame a playboy and this player meets his match in this stand alone romance.
Malick
couldn’t believe he’d found his mate. The other half of his soul, his gift from
the gods, in an impetuous witch cop. One who suspected him of murder. He’d been
searching for her for so long he’d given up on the idea of finding her, and
then she strolled into his bar and sauntered right up to him. Her scent was the
first clue. Peppermint and vanilla. So sweet and icy, it matched her
personality to perfection.
The scent of her arousal when he
touched her was his second clue. He took every opportunity in that first
meeting to touch and smell her. With every touch he gave her he put his own
scent on her, which made him feel strong and protective. He wasn’t thrilled his
mate was a Wiccan cop, but he’d make it work, somehow. Now that he found her,
he’d claim her and keep her at his side.
His third clue was the telepathic
connection he felt between them. It was that connection that alerted him to the
danger she faced outside. It was because of that link that he was able to save
her from the scorpion shifter that waited outside. Unfortunately, he hadn’t
reached her before she was stung with his venom and now he was in charge of
nursing her back to health.
He called a witch doctor to help
extract the poison. All they could do now was wait. It was up to her. He was
doing all he could to coax her out of the poison induced sleep. She’d get
better. She had to get better. Dragon shifters only had one mate. She was it for him. He needed to make her accept
him and claim her. There was little that would get in the way of that
happening.
His
phone continued to vibrate beside him, another sign that his mate showed up at
the worst possible time. Joanna’s murder wasn’t the first and definitely not
the last in a series of murders the hunters were committing. The shifters had
to usurp the human authorities at this point. The survival of their race
depended on it.
Malick
was trying to help. He had men out around town delving into the murders and
turning up rocks that may be hiding the hunters. So far they had no luck. But
it had been only two days since Charity had approached them and the dead bodies
were piling up faster than they could cover them up.
Which one do you find the most interesting?
If you came to this site from the scavenger hunt the word is above on this page. If you are a subscriber to this blog or found this outside of the scavenger hunt click on the raffle link below to get your entries into this great giveaway.
