Happy Friday, folks! With LICH QUEENout in the wild, I thought I'd do something different for this week's flashback and take a look at one of my own books. And why not make it the book that started the Blood Canticles series, BLOOD WITCH? Why not indeed.
The early draft of BLOOD WITCH was a little different from the finished product, but the basics were the same - it started with a witch being questioned about a murder she didn't commit by two police officers who were sure she was guilty. But Lola was called Lilah, and Rowan was called Rosa, and neither of those police officers were Dawn.
Lilah became Lola because at the time I was seeing an absolute glut of urban fantasy and paranormal romance books where the heroines were called Lily or something similar, and I wanted to avoid having another Lily/Lilah/Lillian. Rosa became Rowan because, after I changed Lola's name, I didn't want two main characters whose names ended in that "ah" sound.
As for Dawn Hardy, she was originally destined to star in a book I never wrote, in a world where vampires had tried living as legal citizens and been forced back into the shadows when they just couldn't stop massacring people. Dawn was going to be a cop-turned-vampire hunter working for the government. I never got past the first few hundred words, and now I'm glad I didn't!
Lola Guntram is used to being an outcast. She's the only blood witch in Fort Rosser, mistrusted by other witches and happier working solo. But when her dark practices make her the prime suspect in a brutal murder investigation, she's forced to turn to others for help. Not that she has many allies—her ex-girlfriend thinks Lola is the killer, and the local coven leader thinks Lola will corrupt them all if she gets too close. Help comes in an expected—and alluring—form. Tristesse is a demon on the run, beautiful, enigmatic, and suspiciously keen to assist Lola while she chases down the real killer. How can Lola refuse? With the police breathing down her neck, accusations flying, and inhuman monsters on the streets, Lola needs all the help she can get. The killer is angry, desperate, and determined. But so is Lola Guntram. And she doesn't care how dark or bloody the magic has to get—she's going to stop them.
Available now from Evernight/Amazon US/Amazon UK Read on for an excerpt!
Today's the day, Blood Canticles fans! LICH QUEEN is out! Dawn Hardy's first solo adventure (barring interference from Imani, Caleb, Rowan, and a couple of new friends) is unleashed and I couldn't be more excited.
This book means a lot to me. Not just because I love this series, but because Dawn is a character I'm proud of. If you've followed her since BLOOD WITCH, you know she's had a hell of a ride, from discovering magic, demons, and vampires are real, through experiencing profound loss and grief, to having her whole world turned inside out. Now, in LICH QUEEN, she's at her lowest ebb, depressed and struggling to function.
But she fights. And sometimes she needs some help fighting. I think a lot of us have been there, and while we don't have to deal with demons and ghosts along the way, we still have our battles. Hopefully you're going to love reading Dawn's story and seeing how she handles her battles.
You can pick your copy up right this very second from Evernight (where it's reduced for launch!), Amazon US, Amazon UK, and probably wherever else you buy your ebooks.
And you can read the first chapter right this very second on the blog! Enjoy!
Happy Friday! Don't know what the weather's like where you are, but here on the blog it's a scorcher, thanks to Lea Bronsen and her dark romantic suspense, FIERY 10-16, If you're looking for something edgy and intense, Lea's the author for you. So come and take a closer look!
Hi, and thank you for hosting my new dark romantic suspense!
Fiery 10-16 is a scorching firefighter story of desire, abuse, and bravery.
Runo Wiggins is a scarred man, the wounds etched into his psyche deeper than those on his skin. But he loves his job: fighting fires helps reenact his survival of a house fire as a teen, one that killed his mother and brutal stepfather. Dawn Caravello is married to a psychotic drunk. She can take his beatings as long as he doesn't touch their children, and she'll do anything to put food on the table, even if it means stealing from the town hero. When Runo meets the fiery Dawn, sparks fly. But he suspects she is victim of the same abuse as his mother was. As day turns to night, the past and the present blend in an exhausting, nerve-wrecking chase to prevent another death.
Excerpt:
Dawn's eyes shimmered with a mix of stubborn pride and extreme sadness. They seemed to be made of molten brown stone. Runo had never seen eyes like these. So vibrant, saying so many things. They revealed her life, her endurance, her dreams, her combats, her despair. And she was still so young.
While he stared, she leaned forward and kissed him, an act a whole lot more intimate than he was comfortable with. A short, hard peck, a statement. Not the tender gesture a kiss was supposed to be, but one telling him her gratitude as well as her dignity. She thanked him, but was going to go back to her life and continue fighting.
He stood shocked, his whole body rigid, didn’t know what to do. She, such a small woman thing a whole head shorter, shook him, a giant of muscle and stupid testosterones inside a hard shell.
He would definitely take care of Dawn and her kids. Any way possible. Alert the authorities and make sure they got the protection they desperately needed.
She stepped backward, her features softening, and turned on her heel. Not so fast.
He cleared his throat and called, lifting a weak hand. “Hey, wait!” His heart hammered in his chest, blood pulsed in his ears.
She turned. “What?”
“Promise to be good. Promise it’s the last time you do it.”
“Do what?” Her eyes gleamed with humor. “Kiss you?” In the midst of this emotional turmoil, she found the strength to tease.
“Steal.” And lie.
She pursed her lips, looking like a disappointed little girl. Maybe she still was a child inside. A child taking care of children. A child beaten savagely.
He swallowed. “Promise.”
After several long seconds, she nodded. But her gaze told a different truth.
Liar.
I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and erotic dark/contemporary romance.
Welcome one and all to an author interview and a spanking. Kind of. Ravenna Tate is here to tell us about her newest release, book three in her popular The Spanking Experiments series. A FLOGGING FANTASY follows PADDLED BY THE TEACHER and SPANKED INTO SUBMISSION. Check those reviews and see what readers are loving about this series! And then come back and read Ravenna's interview to find out a bit more!
Hi, Ravenna! Tell
us a little bit about your newest release.
A
FLOGGING FANTASY is the third book in The Spanking Experiments
series, and features a heroine who has had serious fantasies of plain
mixed with pleasure.
Is
there any part of this story you absolutely love, and why?
I
love the chemistry between Asa and Glynis. These were two characters
who made it easy for me to write hot sex scenes for them.
Do
you have a favourite genre to write in?
I
love writing darker romance.
Right! And readers who love reading it should check out your Tortured Love series, too. Are
there any genres you haven't tried yet that you really want to?
I
just wrote and submitted my first MC romance!
Perfect! MC romance is one of my favourites, as a reader and a writer. Looking forward to learning more about that one. If
you could have dinner with any three writers, living or dead, who
would they be?
Harper
Lee, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling
Are
there any books you can just read over and over again and never get
sick of?
To
Kill A Mockingbird, Mansfield Park, The Other Side of Midnight, and A
Wrinkle In Time
Confession: I haven't read any of those! Clearly time to add them to my TBR pile. If
you could recommend any book (beside your own) to everyone reading
this, what would it be?
Anything
Evernight Publishing has released!
Excellent answer ;) Now, the hardball question: tea
or coffee?
Coffee
I always say I'm not a coffee drinker, but recently I've been loving iced coffee, so I guess I can allow your answer to pass. Apart
from writing, what are your great passions in life?
Living
it to the fullest, every single day
And finally, what
else are you working on right now? What's up next from you? You're pretty prolific!
I’ve
just submitted my first MC romance, and have six planned in that
series. I also have a six-book spin-off series planned, and there
will be seven more books in The Spanking Experiments
Awesome! Good luck with the MC romance, and I can't wait to see what's next from The Spanking Experiments. Hopefully this has whetted people's appetites for your work, but in case anyone needs more convincing, keep reading for a closer look at A FLOGGING FANTASY!
So LICH QUEEN was in Evernight's newsletter this week, which means I can now officially share this gorgeous, perfect, perfectly gorgeous cover with you! I have been gazing adoringly at it since I saw the mock-up earlier in the week - now it's time for you guys to do the same.
Happy Friday! Hope you've got grand plans for the weekend ahead. And if you don't, don't worry! You can always check out Allyson Young and Lydia Michaels' trilogy, Degrees of Separation. Here's a quick look at Book 3, ATONEMENT, but don't forget to look up the first two, FORFEIT and LOST TOGETHER, as well.
Atonement
(#DoS Part Three)
Release Date: April 4,
2017
Through
passion and betrayal, forfeit and loss, Austin, Ember and Cord are finally
ready to face reality and atone for their sins in the conclusion of this
emotionally charged, erotic trilogy, Degrees of Separation…
Beaten but not defeated, Austin faces his demons, encouraged by
the return of his wife, December, and his best friend Cord’s constant presence.
While accepting December’s feelings for Cord, Austin discovers some
unprecedented emotions of his own… Pandora’s Box doesn’t close as easily as it
opens.
Cord has kept a lifelong secret. But as his non-traditional love
for Austin is exposed, he’s unprepared to trust his friends’ affection.
Released from a self-imposed, emotional prison, he’s rewarded with both the man
and woman of his dreams—yet he still harbors reservations.
December attempts to find a balance in her departure from
conventional life and discovers new degrees of happiness intimacy in the
non-traditional. With two men to love, her every need is met. But is she woman
enough to satisfy their demanding hearts?
I joke that I'm something of a cannibal when it comes to my writing. I like to keep hold of all my ideas, even the ones that end up going nowhere, because somewhere down the line, something will snap into place and I'll have the perfect pieces for a whole new story - I'll cannibalise the old writing and make something new.
In the past I've talked about how Aisling from IN COLD BLOOD started out as the heroine in an idea I had for a post-apocalyptic werewolf novel. I never wrote that story. But there's one I did write, a piece of flash fiction that became the backbone of Aisling's own story. A man who became a wolf, then became a man again.
I unearthed it recently almost by accident and figured you might like to read it. Enjoy!
It's time once again to welcome both Friday, and a guest author! Say hello to Elyzabeth M Valey, who I'm always happy to see here on the blog. You know I love her recent release, BREAK ME, so I'm excited to look at another series of hers today. Get ready for the Alpha Protectors!
Alpha Protectors, 2
Kaila is His. His Mate. Forever.
When Seamus discovers Kaila is in
danger he sets out to save her. He couldn’t care less that she doesn’t want him
there. His objective in life is to love and protect her. Besides, she might
refuse to be with him, but her body knows better. With both their lives on the
line, she can’t say no to his aid, can she?
For years, she has ignored her
feelings. Kaila’s mission was supposed to be easy: enter the demon’s lair and
save her sister. Then, he came along. For close to twenty years she has been
fighting against the mating pull. She has avoided Seamus at all costs, but now
they’re both trapped in hell and she has nowhere to run, except, maybe, into
his arms.
She didn’t acknowledge him, and he
rushed to catch up with her. He grasped her wrist, spinning her around with
force.
“Didn’t you hear me?” he asked.
Kaila’s gaze narrowed. Her lips
pursed into an ugly grimace.
“Let go of me, Seamus. Why don’t you
let this weak human die already?” She poked him
in the chest with her index
finger. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
Seamus scrubbed a hand over his
face. “What is wrong with you? You’re not making any sense. I know you didn’t
ask for my help. I gave it freely, but you aren’t going to deny that we are
different, are you?”
“Fuck you.”
Blinding rage took over him. Seamus
dug his fingers into her arm. He was tired of all this nonsense. He pulled her
closer. Her arm shot out to keep him away, but not fast enough. He swooped down
and claimed her lips. She gasped, and he seized the chance to push his tongue
into her warm recess. He groaned. She tasted better than he remembered. For a
brief moment, she grappled with him, attempting to break lose, but he grabbed
her arms with ease and held them behind her back.
He twisted his tongue around hers,
drawing it out from its reluctance and forcing it to battle with his. Something
in his chest tightened as she responded. Yes. He sucked and tugged and
demanded more. She gave it to him. Her body arched against his, her mouth
seeking his with almost as much desperation as he possessed. His hold on her
slackened.
He wanted to touch her everywhere. To press his lips to her body and
taste every inch of her. His hand trailed to the curve of her ass, then to her
waist. Then, bang! Her knee slammed against his leg. He released her, cursing.
He’d probably be incapacitated for life if she’d hit her mark.
“Fuck you, Seamus.”
“Whenever you want, babe. I know
you’ve got the hots for me, even if you just tried to castrate me and failed
miserably.” He laughed.
Kaila spun and walked away from him
again. She was probably not trying to be sultry, but her hips swayed in that
way that drove a man to stare. She lifted her arm and gave him the finger. He
grinned. She was pissed and sexy. He loved it.
Seamus took in a shaky breath.
Watching her back on her feet, her spirit alive and surging, was soothing. He
rubbed at the spot where she’d kneed him. It hurt, but it was proof that she
was herself again, not lying in a puddle of blood, shredded to pieces by a monster.
He glanced at the Dream Catcher’s skeleton out of the corner of his eye. He
hadn’t told Kaila the details of what he’d suffered inside the beast. The
images of her dead body, broken, destroyed. He didn’t wish his worst enemy a
fate like that.
He stretched his wings and snapped
them back into place. Even they ached. He adjusted his now-flaccid cock and
shuddered. He hurried after Kaila. The place appeared deserted. There were no
scones in the wall giving off light. Instead, the walls themselves seemed to
pulse with energy. They glowed from the inside as if behind them a relentless
flame burned. He frowned. He extended his arm and placed his pinkie on the
rock. It burned.
“Damn it.” He put the digit in his
mouth, hoping to sooth the sting. “Don’t touch the walls, babe. They’re hot.”
Kaila didn’t reply, but she moved a
little closer to the center of the path.
About Elyzabeth M. VaLey
Elyzabeth M. VaLey is a writer of sizzling, sexy romance who firmly believes in happy ever after. From paranormal to contemporary, fantasy, or historical, she enjoys exploring her characters' darker side and writing stories about tortured heroes, strong heroines, and all that comes between them and their love.
When she's not writing, she can be found walking in the Spanish countryside with her black Lab, exploring castles, or enjoying some tapas with her friends.
Happy July! I am pleased and proud and tired to announce that the first draft of Imperial Demons is officially done!
Powered by Beastly Beverages' Death Walks Among You tea and many, many peanut butter Magnums, I finally wrapped the monster manuscript up on Monday. Huzzahs! It clocked in at just over 85,000 words and will get longer when I hit the second draft, because I already know there's stuff I need to add.
But I'm not thinking about that just yet, because the first round edits for LICH QUEEN are sitting in my inbox, which means it's time to dive back into Dawn's world. I haven't looked at them yet, but the editor is one I really enjoy working with, so I'm looking forward to digging in and bringing Blood Canticles 3 one step closer to you guys.
So! Where does that leave the to-do list? As you may remember, my resolution for 2017 was not to start any new stories, which I broke when I wrote ON A DARK TIDE, but there we go. I'm not in bad shape despite that little slip-up. Through Fire (Blood Canticles 3) Lich Queen (Blood Canticles 3.5) Mercy's Gate (Southern Gothic urban fantasy book of my heart) Black Dog (Urban Wolf 6) Crow Called (Standalone novella) Flesh and Bone (The Deva Chronicles 2) My next project is actually going to be an Amber Morgan one, and after that I'd like to crack on with Black Dog. I miss my werewolf girls! I don't really know how long the Amber Morgan book will be, but I imagine it'll take me through the summer and into autumn. I will keep checking in here as I get news on LICH QUEEN, ON A DARK TIDE, and Imperial Demons, which I'm aiming to submit in the very near future. So stay tuned!
Happy Tuesday! I hope you're all feeling good and ready to discover a new author, because that's what's about to happen. I've got Magali A Frechette here today with her new release, MY SOUL TO GIVE. If you want demons, deception, and some damn hot romance, read on!
BLURB:
When Celina Leviet escapes the brutal home invasion that kills her husband, she’s left with a bullet in her gut and vengeance in her heart. An alluring demon, Mekaisto, offers an irresistible deal—in exchange for her soul, he’ll let her live long enough to get her revenge, but she must hunt and kill the murderers herself.
After sealing the contract, Celina digs into her husband’s past for clues about his murder, and what she uncovers makes her question everything she thought she knew about him.
His company never existed.
His family history was a lie.
And he was involved with The Lumen, a shadowy religious order whose members know too much about demons. As the life she thought she knew crumbles around her, Mekaisto's charms become harder to resist. Forced to face a horrible truth, Celina struggles against her late husband’s betrayal and the dark seduction of the devil she knows.
I’m passionate about writing, reading, photo manipulation artwork, animals, anime/manga, video games, the fandom world of TV shows and movies, and stuff like that. I’m a proud Ravenclaw: I’ve always been sorted into this house, but the recent Pottermore sorting placed me in Gryffindor―I don’t care since the Sorting Hat couldn’t consider my choice, so I identify with Ravenclaw, and that’s where I’ll remain!
I have two main hobbies: writing and creating book covers. I’m also a gamer (Diablo, Zelda, Final Fantasy), enjoy listening to music (and always singing along to Disney), have a passion for Japanese culture, and adore reading. I love anime/manga, Japanese Dramas and consider myself a proud fan of many different TV shows including Buffy, Supernatural, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Merlin, Game of Thrones, Outlander, etc.
I wrote my first story when I was 12 years old (and we’ll never talk about that story), but started writing three years later. Since then, I always write, and this particular novel is my 19th story. It’s always been a dream to be a published author, and I can happily say I’ve reached that goal―I plan on continuing writing and publishing for the rest of my days.
“I am a demon, Celina, and above all else, demons love the hunt.” He smirked when her eyes widened.
“So, you see having sex with someone as a hunt?”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “By your expression, I would say you still do not quite understand.”
“It’s your twisted logic.” Interesting…
“I take my time, stalk my prey first, count the number of breaths she takes, imagine her screams…”
She arched an eyebrow. “That’s not at all creepy.”
Kai ignored her. “I am a creature of infinite time; the world creeps by, yet an intimate moment is so fleeting, it feels as though it is gone in less than a second.” He stopped, expecting an interruption again, but she stayed silent. “The pleasure is heightened by the danger, and in the throes of passion, I could lose my control and revert to the form least likely to be found pleasurable by my … partner?” He lost himself in the images in his mind, pinning down Celina’s body, taking her in a way she would never be able to recreate with a mere mortal man. “Hunting is simple. There is always one in the crowd that stands out—rarely is it the one searching for the one-night stand—no…” Kai locked his eyes with hers and goose bumps rose on her arms and legs. “No, the one unsure of what society wants her to be, the one who is desperate to be loved and appreciated. She is the one I seek.”
“So, social outcasts are your type?”
His eyes pierced her until he could see through her mind again, to all those curious little fantasies.
He smiled. “It’s about finesse, Celina. I listen to her, and as she speaks more confidently, I brush a hand over her skin”—his hand skimmed Celina’s neck as he brushed her back—“just enough so she shivers with anticipation of what my lips would feel like in the same spot.” He delved into Celina’s mind as his words worked against her disdain for him. “Then I caress her in a way she won’t notice, but her subconscious will let her lean into, let her mind take over and her body will beg for more.”
“She’d notice if…” She followed his gaze to his hand on her knee.
“Are you certain?” He’d worked his own body into a sensual frenzy as he’d drawn her into his web.
She stared at him, her cheeks flushing. “I—”
“Eventually, I suggest a night filled with pleasure.” He couldn’t contain his smile as he moved closer. “I keep touching her in small ways—maintaining physical contact at all times.” His hand inched up her side, until he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She sucked in a breath and he cupped her cheek.
He sat close to her and her scent calmed and excited him at the same time.
“Kai?” Her voice wavered.
“Sex is fleeting.” He took her chin and drew her close. “But intimacy is endless, a continuous moment of gentle touches”—his hand dropped back to her knee, and then made its way up her thigh until she let out a small gasp—“personal boundaries broken, and pleasures that go beyond sex.”
She sat as if frozen. “It’s still a one-night stand.”
“Mine last longer—and you reveal not only your body.” His hand moved to the middle of her chest. “When you are intimate with a demon, you reveal your soul. You make yourself vulnerable and open.”
“Considering you’ll have my soul sometime soon, I’m not giving you a free sample.” She drew away from him and stood. “I won’t be your prey tonight.”
Another surge of heat rushed through him, but he pushed it down with a long, deep breath. “You would set me loose on another human?”
She glared at him. “I wasn’t aware I had a choice about what you do outside of our deal. This would be on you, not me.”
“You think you control what I do within our deal?”
She rubbed her arms when he stood. “Not when you say it like that.”
“Celina…” He stopped in front of her and leaned into her personal space, drawing a lungful of a scent he would only ever associate with her.
He wrapped his arms around her, swallowing the shiver that shook her body. “What are you—?”
“Let’s play, Celina. I can assure you, you will not regret a night in my arms.” I want you… Against all my instincts, I need you close.
Celina pushed him as hard as she could, and he withdrew as disappointment withered his gaze.
“Let me go, Mekaisto.” You are trembling again, my dove… Is it because you are scared you will give in? How far can I push you until you bend?
“What if I say no?”
She glared at him, but Kai’s smile widened. He could feel, even smell, the pulsing between her legs begging him to take her.
“Isn’t it enough you’re getting my life and my soul? Now you need my body, too?” She pushed against him again, but he only held tighter, unable to let her go. “Why are you doing this? I just lost my husband, found out things that break my heart. I can’t sit and flirt with you.”
“I am offering you the chance to forget.”
“No!” Her hands clenched to fists as she shoved even harder against his chest. “No! You want to take everything I have left.”
He grabbed her wrists, pushed her back on the sofa, and pinned her down, his body hovering over her. “What is your life without your body?” He tilted his head and flicked his tongue across his lips. “You never asked what selling your life and soul meant specifically. Allow me to enlighten you now.” He moved until his face loomed only an inch or so from her face and her breath caught. He let go of her wrists, but his gaze pinned her to the spot.
“What?” Her voice ached just above a whisper.
“I own every inch of you … body and soul.”
Her face flushed and her lips trembled. “I never agreed to that!”
“You agreed to living. The details did not matter to you.”
“I was dying! You told me I didn’t have much time left, so it—”
His smile widened. “Even if you had all the time in the world, it would not have made a difference.
Humans never read the fine print.”
