Guest Post & Giveaway: Annie Nicholas - OMEGAS IN LOVE

Hi Everyone. Please help me welcome Annie Nicholas to AsianCocoa's Secret Garden today! Annie's new novel Omegas In Love which is book 4 in her Vanguards series was released this month.

Asian Shifter Culture

In this book, I’ve introduced a new element to my shifter world. The pure bred shifter.  Katrina, my Asian heroine, was born in rural China. Life in the mountains was hard even for shifters. They stayed isolated from humans, in small villages, so they could keep the bloodlines pure. Shifter babies were born human, but they all got turned in their adolescence. She’d never even considered staying human--that option wasn’t available to anyone born in a pack. 

She recalled the day her parents sold her to Chen’s father all those years ago. Most shifters in America were those who either changed by choice or by an attack. Just like her Tyler.

Pressed against the wall, she curled in a corner of the bedroom. Nothing could jump her from behind and she had a good view of the door. A thick rug lay under her knees, softening the cold, wooden floor. She ran her fingertips over it. Silky and thick. Her birth pack couldn’t afford such luxuries. She’d never even seen a rug until today.

A large futon lay on the floor at her right. She didn’t hold any false pretenses of her role. Her pack had sold her for breeding. Whoever said beauty was a gift wasn’t born a shifter. It had only given her grief.

Her parents had delivered her to this strange pack. She knew they weren’t given a choice, but that didn’t ease the betrayal.

Pack came first.

She’d be mated to the alpha’s oldest son, Yul. As a child, her friends would whisper stories of soulmates. A shifter tale they wanted to believe. Katrina knew the truth, though. Daughters of pure bloodlines made babies for the highest bidder.

They provided her with a nice bedroom, a small writing desk and a chair. This was more than she’d had with her pack. Her mate could be a nice man. She didn’t even care about him being handsome. She’d give him babies and maybe he’d fall in love with her. Was this too much to ask?

The sliding door to her room cracked open.

She stiffened, unsure what to do next.

A pair of dark, cold eyes met hers. The hungry stare punctured her soul.

He slinked into the room. “You’re more beautiful than I expected.”

“Yul?” She knelt and bowed her head to the floor in submission, as she’d been taught since birth.

“No, that is my brother.” He whispered as he slid the door closed behind him and locked it. “I am here to save you by making you mine.”

Omegas In Love
by Annie Nicholas
Release Date: March 19, 2012

Some things are best to forget. But what if the past won't be forgotten?

Born in China of a pure shifter bloodline, Katrina was raised with only one purpose--to breed. Abused by her alpha, she runs away to America as soon as she can. With a new pack and her true mate, she thinks the nightmare is behind her, but when she is abducted on the streets of Chinatown, Katrina must face her past and fight for her freedom. 

It took Tyler a year to earn Katrina's love, another to build her confidence and pride, and only a moment to lose her. Broken-hearted, Tyler won't give up his search for Katrina. But he never trained as a warrior like the other shifters. What chance does a real estate agent have in the fight for his mate? 

WARNING: Explicit shifter sex, heartbroken torment, and an unstoppable shifter in love.

Excerpt

The Asian stranger grabbed Katrina’s arm and yanked her into his embrace.

“Hey!” It took every ounce of Tyler’s control to keep his beast from busting out on the tourist filled streets of China Town. He shoved the stranger from behind, knocking Katrina from his arms.

She stumbled and landed hard on the ground. Tears stained her cheeks. The cold wind blew strands of long, black hair across her face.

“Get your hands off her.” He bent to help her, but the stranger blocked him.

Straightening, Tyler glared at Katrina’s assailant and met a cold, dark stare.

His beast rose closer to the surface and clouded his thoughts. She belonged to him and this male thought to block his way. The only solution was to tear this asshole limb from limb. “Get out of my way.” He spoke each word separately and clearly to get his point across.

“This is none of your concern.” The stranger spoke with a thick accent like Katrina’s.

“You’re on Vasi territory. Anything that happens here is my concern. And she belongs to me.” Tyler pointed to Katrina, then back to himself.

“Chinatown is not Vasi territory. Never has been and never will be. And this female mated me before she ran away.” Crossing his arms, the stranger planted himself in front of Tyler. “She still belongs to me and has never been yours to take.”

Tyler’s jaw hung as if on broken hinges. He shot her a questioning look, but she stared at the ground, not meeting his gaze. Katrina hated to speak about her past. Now, he knew why.

She wiped her face, huddled on the ground, and didn’t deny a thing.

Every bit of joy in his life lay with Katrina, but truth’s claws dug into his heart. He didn’t know which hurt more, the lies or the way she hunched on the ground, submitting to this stranger like an omega all over again.

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas hibernates in the rural, green mountains of Vermont, where she dreams of different worlds, heroes, and heroines. When spring arrives the stories pour from her, in hopes to share them with the masses one day.

Mother, daughter, wife are some of the hats she happily wears while trudging after her cubs through the hills and dales. The four seasons an inspiration and muse.

Website: www.annienicholas.com

Blog: www.annienicholas.blogspot.com

Group Blog: www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com

Twitter: @annienicholas

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Annie-Nicholas/162716537103705

Giveaway:

Annie will be giving away signed copies of the first 3 books in the Vanguard series, and a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more comments you leave the better your chances of winning.

Annie will also be giving away an e-copy of one of her books from her back list to one commenter at ever stop on her tour 

**BookAttict won the daily prize of an e-copy from Annie's back list. Congratulations!**

 

To Enter:

Please leave a comment or question for Annie and include your email address. Good luck!

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this wonderful tour. Click on the tour button below for a list of participating blogs.

Review: CURIO by Cara McKenna

Curio
by Cara McKenna
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Release Date: September 28, 2011

Caroly Evardt never expected to find herself patronizing a male prostitute. Then again, she never expected to be weeks from her thirtieth birthday and still a virgin.

When a friend mentions that a gorgeous male model in Paris sells his body as well as his image, Caroly's intrigued. Finally, a chance to sample the gifts of a beautiful man—no strings, no stakes, no fear of rejection.

But she soon discovers that Didier Pedra amounts to more than a striking face and talented body. He's a kind, charming, damaged man, and after a few evenings of pleasurable education, Caroly's interest blossoms into something far deeper than mere lust. Her simple arrangement is suddenly feeling downright dangerous . .

I originally bought Curio thinking it would be a quick raunchy read with a kinky gigolo. I was pleasantly surprised to be reading a very deep emotional book about a gorgeous but broken male model who moonlights as a male prostitute. Caroly was the caring woman who unwittingly helps Didier to overcome his fears.

Caroly has decided that it’s time to let go of her virginity. She has concluded that she is never going to find the perfect man to fall in love with. She sees a portrait of Didier at the museum she works at she is intrigued after learning that he sells his body not only for modeling but also for pleasure. Caroly makes an appointment with Didier and meets him at his apartment. He is completely not what she expected. Instead of a smooth operator he seems quite down to earth and normal. I was expecting a suave player type but he is actually a really nice guy who seems to genuinely care about Caroly’s needs. 

The two spend a lot of time talking about their childhoods and families. They seemed to be growing into friends more so than lovers. Didier finally does divest Caroly of her virginity. The love scenes were beautiful and full of emotion. After a couple more meetings Caroly informs Didier that she can’t see him as often as she would like as she simply cannot afford him. I thought that would be the end of their story but then I was so surprised with the ending. 

I truly enjoyed this emotional story. It was beautifully written and heartfelt. Cara McKenna is a new to me author and I am definitely a new fan. Curiowas an incredible read. 

Review: THE FIFTH WOMAN by G. William Parker

The Fifth Woman: A Rick Morgan Mystery
by G. William Parker
Publisher: Authorhouse
Release Date: May 25, 2011
Source: Review copy from Publisher

Naked and dead, the body of a high roller was found in a Vegas hotel suite. He was insured for twenty million dollars.Ten years later during an ordinary audit, Rick Morgan, Chief Audit Executive for the insurance company learns of the extra ordinary death benefit. At first he's curious, but with facts being cold, vague or missing, his gut tells him there is more. Digging into the past with the help of Vince, a former homicide detective, a bizarre puzzle emerges. Which piece is the mysterious disappearance of the former United States Congressman, the fatal car wreck that left three little girls orphaned or the FBI who wants the investigation dropped? Gathering the pieces, someone is always a step a head. But who? The elegant, conservative Human Resources VP? The playful, sexually starved Branch Manager? The gorgeous woman with a secret past? The stunning but shrewd corporate attorney? Or the mystery woman in San Francisco?"Not everything is as it appears to be"-a motto Rick must remember when putting the pieces together ... all twenty million.

In The Fifth Woman, Rick Morgan is the chief audit executive of an insurance company. It comes to his attention that there were two 20 millilon dollar death benefits paid and when he starts to investigate for possible fraud he finds more questions than answers. The book unfolds amongst a back drop of cover ups and payoffs involving government officials starting 35 years prior. And Rick soon discovers that events and people are not always what they seem. 

I did like the overall story line and the cast of characters. The investigation took place in Seattle, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. I wasn’t too fond of the main protagonist Rick. He seemed like a nice guy but the whole magnetic persona wore on me after awhile. It seemed every woman he came in contact with wanted to jump in bed with him. And he was happy to oblige all of them. I thought that this was a mildly suspenseful novel. I enjoyed the requisite twists and turns that occurred in the story. Some of the dialogue was a little off but the pacing and flow of the story was good. The Fifth Woman is the first novel in a planned series.  

Review - RETRIBUTION: THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE: PART SIX

Retribution: The Rake and The Recluse: Part Six
by Jenn LeBlanc
Publisher: Iris Photo
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Source: Review copy from Author

A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.

How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?

THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part Six. Perry must find the woman who has managed to capture his heart, then he must find a way to keep her. Someone else is on the hunt, someone from her past who doesn’t appreciate that she still lives and breaths.


Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely

**This serial novel needs to read in order. This review may contain spoilers.**

Retribution is the final book in this unique serial novel. Perry and Lilly continue to fall in love with one another but the class difference may make it difficult for the two to find happiness. Perry continues to give fantastic instructions on love making and is also teaching Lilly how to read and write. But the evil antagonist, Hepplewort has come back to London to find a wife and Perry and his cousins will not stop until they thwart his plans. Soon the vengeful and hard headed, Hepplewort decides to steal Lilly away from Perry. Will Lilly be able to rise above the fear of her rapist? Will Hepplewort finally get what he deserves? Retribution is full of tension and you will have to read this incredible last part to find out. The ending was spectacular and I loved how Jenn LeBlanc brought the story around full circle.

Final Thoughts -

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I agreed to read and review this illustrated, six part serial novel. The last book I read that had pictures in it was Last Tango in Paris. It had pictures of scenes from the movie. That was a very erotic read and the pictures definitely brought the book to life. With this novel though, the pictures were very tastefully done and added to the experience of reading this love story. It took me awhile to get used to the photos but I thought it was a lovely addition and I hope that Jenn LeBlanc continues with this theme. The writing was well done and the story was captivating. As I said in my review of Freedom, the pictures made it feel like I was watching/reading a television drama series. I do think that it would be worthwhile to place all six parts into one single book. The Rake and The Recluse was an enchanting time travel romance with a very unique story telling approach. I am rating the complete serial novel 4 stars.

Here are my reviews of the first five parts of this serial novel. The books need to be read in order - 

Freedom: The Rake and the Recluse: Part One

Found: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Two 

Taken: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Three 

Ruination: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Four 

Submission: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Five

Review - SUBMISSION: THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE: PART FIVE by Jenn LeBlanc

Submission: The Rake and The Recluse: Part Five
by Jenn LeBlanc
Publisher: Iris Photo
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Source: Review copy from Author

A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.

How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?

THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part Five Perry leaves Roxleigh House without a backward glance only to be tossed headlong into one of the most difficult trials of his life. How will he protect the very thing he is dedicated to pursuing? How will a man dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure survive a woman who refuses to relent, when he knows he cannot have her.

Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.

**This serial novel needs to read in order. This review may contain spoilers.**

Submission is the beginning of Perry Trumbull, Viscount Roxeleigh’s (The Rake) story. He has just left Roxleigh House on his way back to London. Partway through his travels he discovers a stowaway in his carriage. Hidden beneath the seats is Lilly Steele . She was one Hepplewort’s victims and miraculously lived to tell about it. But she is now damaged in body and spirit. She has decided to leave her family behind as she cannot bear to have them pity her. At first Perry is angry with her for running away but then slowly starts to feel an attraction and need to protect her. Lily wants nothing more than to be made whole again. She has dreams of one day marrying and having children. Because of her violent ordeal with Hepplewort, she cannot stand the touch of another man. As he is a well known rake, Lilly feels that Perry is the best chance she has to begin to heal from her traumatic experience. She implores Perry to make love to her and teach her how a real man treats a woman. At first Perry balks at the idea but eventually gives in and that sets the stage for the most love scenes in this serial to date. 

Wow – this was a super steamy read. Perry does not disappointment in his sexual instructions with Lilly. I think they are all over each other almost every waking moment. And the slow way that the two began to fall in love with one another was intense. There were some bumps along the way and misunderstandings but I loved how these two interacted with one another. One of these misunderstandings leads to Perry almost losing the one woman who could make him change his rakish ways. Will Perry find Lilly in time?

Part five is strictly focused on Perry and Lilly’s story. I really enjoyed finally getting to know “The Rake” in this serial novel. Perry was really yummy and I totally bought into the photos depicting Perry. So the hot photos in Submission: The Rake and The Recluse: Part Five are some of my favorites. I really need to move on to reading part six right now!

Here are my reviews of the first four parts of this serial novel. The books need to be read in order - 

Freedom: The Rake and the Recluse: Part One

Found: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Two 

Taken: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Three 

Ruination: The Rake and the Recluse: Part Four 

Giveaway: THE TAKER by Alma Katsu

Hi everyone! I'm excited to be a part of Alma Katsu's giveaway of The Taker. I read and reviewed it last year and this awesome novel is finally set to release in trade paperback on March 27^th. It will include a reader’s guide and a chapter from the second book in the trilogy, The Reckoning (coming June 19^th).

The Taker
by Alma Katsu
Publisher: Gallery/Simon & Schuster
Release Date: September 6, 2011
(Trade Paperback Release Date: March 27, 2012)

Author Website

True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. . . .

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.

Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.

Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.

(You can read my review of The Taker here.)

Also, releasing today is, The Devil’s Scribe a short story that’s part of The Taker Saga. In it, Lanny travels back to America to check on the house in Boston and meets Edgar Allan Poe, who figures out that this woman has a secret which he must learn. The Devil’s Scribe is only being published electronically, and will be available for all ereader devices. You can find out more about the short story (which will include the first chapter of The Taker) here.

Giveaway Time:

In honor of the paperback release of The Taker, Alma Katsu is generously gifting a prize pack which includes:

• Copy of The Taker
• Proof of the trade paperback cover
• A spoofy wine label made for The Reckoning
• Bookmarks
• Post-it notes
• A Reckoning pen

This giveaway is open to residents of U.S. and Canada only.

To Enter:

Leave a comment with your email address.

Contest ends on March 20th, 2012. One winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified by email. They will have 48 hours to reply otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

The winner of The Taker prize pack is CaroleRae. Congratulations!

Guest Post & Giveaway: Louisa Kelley - DAUGHTERS OF DRACA

Hi Everyone. Please help me welcome Louisa Kelley to the blog today! She is here to promote her novels, Lydia and the Draca and Cara and the Draca. Today she s going to talk about her dragon shape-shifters.

Louisa Kelley Dishes About Dragon Shape-Shifters

Once upon a time, in an alternate reality that looks very much like our own, a race of dragon shape-shifters lived in a magical sanctuary.

They still live there today.

They call themselves the Draca. They are a sexy, beautiful, proud race, with ancient roots in the Emerald Isles they trace from time beyond mind.

Long ago, before the Draca found a place of safety, humans feared the Draca and the power of their flames and magical strength. There was to be no peace between the races and the Draca fought back. Yet human weapons increased in cunning and effectiveness and many Draca perished in bloody battles. By the middle ages, the Draca desperately needed sanctuary from the threat of annihilation by humans.

Nareen, de facto Queen of the Draca, cast a great spell with the help of Taranis and Alwen, the Gods of Draca. She created the sanctuary called Dracan, to where all of them fled, hoping to rebuild and replenish what they had lost.

Instead of replenishing, they made tragic mistakes. They inbreeded, family within family, in their desperation thinking the rules of genetics would not apply-- but they did. Babies were born deformed, or died very young. Dracan women felt so much sorrow it was as if they were dying themselves. Something twisted, like magic gone wrong, in the very cells of the entire race. Fortune and the Gods had seemingly deserted them. Eventually, consumed with sorrow, the collective libido of the once lusty Draca had faded to a near tragic halt.

Nareen had not forgotten they all carried human blood along with dragon. In the past long ago, the Draca had mated with human women. There was a chance women lived in the present time carrying Draca DNA, a potential source of life force infusion. If Nareen could find one, she’d have in her hands a true Daughter of Draca-- precious and rare, carrying powers Nareen was determined use.

The Draca had made it to the twenty first century but time was running out. Nareen schemed and plotted and cast another great spell, this time over the Pacific Northwest. The Gods had whispered a most unlikely place for her to go searching – Portland, Oregon.

In book one, Lydia and the Draca, Nareen discovers our heroine, Lydia living in Portland. Lydia is indeed a carrier of a potent, ancient strain of Draca—a true Daughter of Draca. They literally kidnap Lydia and the story goes from there…She meets Eremon, the brother of Nareen, and sparks fly fast and hot. There’s a lot of spicy sex, some rather unusual interspecies sensuality and of course, Lydia’s own emotional and transformative journey that changes her life forever. Not to mention finding out she has the power to rejuvenate the sexual life force of the entire Dracan clan!

In the second book, Cara and the Draca, Nareen is still hungry for more ways to increase population. She comes up with another powerful spell and directs it once again towards the Pacific Northwest. She sends her other brother, Aedhan, to Portland on a secret and dangerous mission. He lives among the humans in a magically hidden tattoo shop, working powerful magic into tattoos that have the potential to activate dormant Dracan genes. Aedhan, with his history as a ‘bad boy’ Draca, wants to redeem his reputation with his family and along the way, find himself his own Daughter of Draca. But that’s not what he’s supposed to be doing there. Yet. Then he meets Cara, when the magic pulls her to his shop and the rules that govern Aedhan’s behavior in the human world are recklessly abandoned with unforeseen results. This book is as hot as the first.

In Portland, the Draca unexpectedly found the writer Louisa Kelley, (born in the year of the Dragon of course), and insisted she record their stories of sexual transformation, redemption, and love. They want to make it right with humans again and so Louisa is doing her best to comply. After all, how do you say no to a gorgeous dragon shape-shifter? Thus was born her series titled, “Daughters of Draca.” She is hard at work on book three.

Lydia and the Draca, Daughters of Draca Book One
by Louisa Kelley

Lydia has no idea why an entire race of shape-shifters is lusting after her. They tell her there's something special about her blood and they want it for themselves... but they don't actually want her blood. No, they want much, much more. And they want it delivered fresh, hot and as fast as possible.

Science fiction geek Lydia Neal is just recovering from her latest relationship burnout. When she wakes up in a glowing cave surrounded by enormous dragons she's pretty sure she's having a sci-fi themed nightmare. Then she meets the smoking hot Draca Eremon and suddenly things aren't quite so scary. Especially when Eremon shows her the very special kind of ecstasy a Draca male can offer her...whether on the ground or in the skies.

Something powerful is waking up inside Lydia, something triggered during her capture by these primal, gorgeous creatures. Whatever the sexy, obsessed Draca want from her, she's ready to find out... She agrees to go along with a series of fantastical and erotic "tests" and discovers she's signed on for the wildest, hottest ride of her life.

Cara and the Draca, Daughters of Draca Book Two

by Louisa Kelley

Cara is haunted by recent memories of a warehouse explosion that took the life of her best friend and caught her in the blast. Desperate for a way to cover the burns scars on her shoulder, Cara heads for the mysterious tattoo shop in Portland everyone is talking about.

Aedhan, the gorgeous tattoo master, leaves her senses reeling and her knees weak. Just the touch of his talented hands brings welcome relief and a sense of release from her emotional pain. His charming, eccentric ways combined with his tangerine hair and odd accent create an intoxicating mix. To her delight, the incredible tattoo he expertly lays over her scar hides everything-- and makes her long for more of his healing touch.

Soon Cara is pulled into an erotic journey of unimagined delight, terror and transformation. Dragons? In Portland? Magical and sexy beyond belief? Yet, something isn’t quite adding up. Is Aedhan really telling her the truth about what he’s doing in that shop? But she's so crazy in lust and wonder, it's hard to care.

Dragon shape-shifter Aedhan fully intends to follow the rules of his secret mission, number one being no sex with the human women in Portland. Then Cara shows up at his shop and her sweetness and delightful freckles almost stops his heart. When he perceives the sorrow in her life, he is consumed with the need to know more. Who has hurt her? After he gets a taste of her blood on his tattoo needles and discovers the extra special something in her fluids, he decides he must see Cara again, even if it means breaking the rules. And that's when things start to go terribly wrong...or perfectly right.

Excerpt:

Cara gripped the ridges of his back, her knuckles white. When she didn’t fall off, she realized she was balanced. Perfectly, impeccably balanced. The thick muscles of his hide worked and contracted beneath her, hundreds of subtle adjustments that kept her upright. Her hair and clothes blew in the cool wind as he flew them into the clouds, surrounding them in a cloak of wet grayness. All sound seemed muffled; only the rhythmic noise of his hoarse breath and the huff of gigantic wings penetrated the fog. She relaxed her grip a little and tried to catch her breath….

They flew for what seemed like hours until Aedhan aimed down toward a green meadow next to a small lake. Slowing his approach in the manner of an airplane, he glided into a smooth descent and hit the ground in a few powerful steps. With immense grace, he lowered his great body to the soft wildflowers of the meadow.

Cara tumbled bonelessly down his side, laughing when she tried to stand and failed. Dizzy, she lay on her back and looked up at her Draca huffing above her and giving her what could only be a Draca grin. The high afternoon sun blazed, but nothing felt hotter than the look in her Draca’s eyes.

He moved his great bulk partly over her, pinning her in place. She grinned at him, fearless now, still laughing and out of breath. “What a ride, you fantastic beast! Can we do it again?”

In response he nudged her blouse with his big head, and his long red tongue edged out and, with an extraordinary soft touch, laid a delicate Draca lick on her neck. Shock -- and something hot and liquid in her core -- kept her motionless. A cascade of warring emotions shifted through every cell of her body -- erotic tension coupled with a sense of taboo she didn’t even want to acknowledge.

Author Bio:

Romance and science fiction took hold of Louisa Kelley at age nine, when she read Little Women and the Narnia series.  She is convinced that the genre paranormal romance, which developed years later, was purely for her benefit.  After all, it’s what’s been in her heart all these years. She resides in Portland Oregon where, in a strangely perfect combination of rainy winters and urban skyline, her writing inspiration abounds.

Meet the sexy world that’s been evolving in her fevered brain…she’d love you to join her in some over the top erotic adventures with the Draca; dragon shape-shifters of a very different kind.

www.louisakelley.com

http://www.loose-id.com/

Louisa Kelley Author@ Facebook

Member of Romance Writers of America

Member of Rose City Romance Writers

Giveaway:

Louisa will be awarding a $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more comments you leave the better your chances of winning.

To Enter:

Leave a comment or question for Louisa and include your email address.

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this tour. Click on the tour button below for a list of participating blogs. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.

Review: DARK MERCY by Zoe Winters

Dark Mercy
by Zoe Winters
Publisher: IncubuBooks
Release Date: March 3, 2012

1955, Las Vegas, Nevada

Angeline has been on the run from her sire, Linus, for centuries. She’s tired, and she’s lonely. High from mescaline-induced blood, she sees a sign—a church that seems to glow in the distance—and she knows. Her future mate is in that building.

Important Author’s Note:

Dark Mercy is the beginning of Hadrian and Angeline’s story, not the end. Their HEA will happen later in their own full-length novel. This story is important both for the overall series and for this couple, but it’s not their HEA. Just a mild disclaimer so no one goes in with false expectations for this story.

Dark Mercy was an incredibly engaging story with a noble sexy priest, and an evil bitchy vampire. Even though this was only76 pages long it was so full of events and details that it didn’t really read like a novella. 

Father Hadrian is the priest that Angeline has decided to turn into her mate. There’s a sense of darkness to Hadrian that Angeline finds intriguing. She has been alone for years and when she meets Hadrian she feels a kinship towards him. This story was heavy with Catholicism which added rich details to the characters’ story line. There’s a brilliant cliff-hanger ending that was cruel for the character as well as the reader. I enjoyed the twists that occurred in Dark Mercy and am looking forward to reading the rest of Hadrian and Angeline’s story.