Paige Tyler - Guest Blog and Contest

It's so wonderful to have Paige Tyler as guest blogger once again! She always has the sexiest, paranormal stories to share with us. Paige is also offering a copy of her ebook Good Cop Bad Girl [See details at the end of the post.]

Welcome back, Paige!

Paige Tyler Presents

I'm so excited to announce I have a new book out with Ellora's Cave!  It's a paranormal romance called GHOST HUNTER, and it's got a hunky hero, a kick-ass heroine and a serial killing ghost that's scary as hell!  Not to mention a smokin' hot cover!

I love when I come up with an idea for a book out of the blue, which is what happened with GHOST HUNTER. When I heard my local RWA chapter set up a lecture with a team of paranormal investigators, it got me thinking right away about writing a book about a ghost hunter. Because the chapter is far from where we live, though, we didn't actually go to the lecture. I was a little bummed about that, especially since they were giving out EMF detectors. On second thought, maybe it was better we didn't go. Ghosts freak me out, so having something that can detect them probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Enough about me, back to the story behind the story. While I knew the hero was a ghost hunter named Trace, I wasn't quite sure how the heroine fit into the story, or even who she was. So, my hubby and I played around with a few ideas at our local PF Chang's (we come up with a lot of story ideas there!) We both decided that having the heroine Cassidy need the hero's help because her house was haunted or something like that didn't seem original enough, so we made her a budding romance writer who tags along with the hero and his team to do some research. Like any good story, though, it had to have some conflict, which is why Trace and Cassidy completely rub each other the wrong way right from the beginning. Actually, he thinks he's a jerk. But don't worry, Cassidy discovers underneath that rough ghost hunter exterior, Trace is just the man she's been looking for. It doesn't hurt that he's hot!

Okay, so we had our hero and heroine. Now we needed a bad guy. That's where the ghost comes in. He's not your standard, everyday ghost, though. He's a serial killer who attacked Cassidy that comes back from the grave to continue his string of grisly murders, and she's at the top of his list. To make things even more interesting, not only can he do all the regular ghostly stuff like walk through walls and materialize out of thin air, he can also take solid form.

I'm not going to tell you any more than that, though. Don't want to give too much away, you know.  I will add that my editor at Ellora's Cave told me she got so caught up in the story, she completely forgot she was reading a submission!

Now that you know the story behind the story, I think I'll tease you with an excerpt.  Enjoy!


BLURB:

Almost getting murdered by a serial killer gives Cassidy Kincaide a new lease on life and convinces her to go ahead and tackle that ghost-hunter novel she's always wanted to write. So, she hooks up with a gorgeous paranormal investigator named Trace McCord to do some research.

Cassidy and Trace rub each other the wrong way right from the beginning, but they have to put aside their differences when the serial killer who attacked her comes back from the grave to continue his string of grisly murders, with her at the top of his list.

Trace has to keep Cassidy close to keep her safe, and as they try to stay one step ahead of the ghost while figuring out how to stop it, he and Cassidy end up in each other’s arms. While Trace has a whole list of reasons why he shouldn’t get involved with her, he finds himself falling in love with the beautiful blonde anyway. And even though Cassidy started out thinking he was a jerk, she learns that underneath the rough ghost hunter exterior, he’s just the man she’s always been looking for. Now, all they have to do, is live long enough to be together.


EXCERPT:

Trace was only a few miles from the address Robert had given him for Cassidy when his cell phone rang. At first he wasn’t going to answer it, but some sixth sense made him change his mind. Now he was glad he had.

He was about to disconnect the call when he heard a muffled scream on the other end of the line. It was quickly followed by a loud clatter, then nothing.

“Cassidy!”

No answer.

Trace felt his chest tighten. Swearing under his breath, he shoved his cell phone in the pocket of his jeans and floored the pedal on the Hummer, running a red light to get through the intersection. The other drivers honked their horns as they squealed to a stop, but he ignored them. There was no way he was going to let Cassidy die.

Five minutes later, he slid into the parking lot outside her apartment, running over an ornamental fence and a flower bed to come to a screeching halt a few feet from the front door. Jumping out of the Hummer, he ran around to the back and grabbed his duffel bag full of gear. Throwing it over his shoulder, he raced up the steps and charged through the door into the building, scaring the hell out of two women carrying laundry baskets.

“Where the hell are the stairs?” he demanded, not wanting to waste time with the elevator.

The women timidly pointed around the corner.

Trace didn’t thank them as he ran in that direction. He hit the steps hard, taking them hree at a time. Once on the fourth floor, he ran down the hall, checking the room numbers on he doors. When he came to the right one, he didn’t even bother to slow down. Instead, he icked the door in as hard as he could, reaching into his bag for his shotgun as the frame plintered and the door flew open.

He looked left and right as he entered the apartment, but there was no sign of Cassidy or el Vecchio. Trace’s blood ran cold at the scene that met his eyes. The living room looked s if a cyclone hit it. The couch and throw pillows were sliced to shreds, stuffing still floating hrough the air. The coffee table was lying on its side, as were the two end tables, and the amps that had been on them were smashed to pieces along with practically everything ele in the place. Even the walls had been slashed.

“Cassidy?” Trace called.

“In here.”       

Trace followed the sound of her voice until he came to the kitchen. Cassidy was standing in the center of the room inside a wobbly drawn circle of salt, ready to throw a handful of something in his face. She sagged with relief at the sight of him, letting the stuff in her hand trickle out onto the floor. That was when he realized she was holding a big container of oregano.

“Is he gone?” she whispered.

Trace nodded. “Yeah, he’s gone. But I’m getting you the hell out of here anyway.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, but simply slung the shotgun over his shoulder by the strap, then walked into the kitchen and swung Cassidy up in his arms.

She put one of her own around his neck. “Is it safe for me to leave the circle?”

“Yes. I’ll keep you safe. Trust me.”

Apparently she must have believed him because she didn’t resist. She cuddled the container of oregano close to her body and leaned against his chest.

He frowned.  “Cassidy, you did great with the salt circle. It saved your life without a doubt. But what are you doing with the oregano?”

She looked up at him with big, blue eyes. “Isn’t it what you used to get rid of ghosts?”

His mouth twitched. “That’s sage and garlic. You can ditch the spaghetti spice.”

“Oh,” was all she said. Resting her head on his shoulder, she let the container of oregano tumble to the floor, then put that arm around his neck, too.

Giving the place one more look to make sure Del Vecchio hadn’t come back, Trace carried her out of the apartment and right passed the alarmed neighbors who had come out into the hallway to see what the ruckus was all about. Trace imagined they got their money’s worth seeing a big guy with a shotgun and a duffel bag slung over his shoulder carrying a beautiful half-naked woman in his arms. He abruptly realized he probably should have taken a few minutes to let Cassidy grab some clothes. But then the lights in the hallway flickered and he decided he could get her clothes later. They were getting the hell out of there.

“Is she being kidnapped?” one elderly woman asked another in a low voice as he and Cassidy passed them.

“If she is,” said the other old woman, “then I want to want to be kidnapped next.”

Any other time, Trace would have laughed, but right now all he wanted to do was get Cassidy someplace safe. Fortunately, he knew exactly where to take her.

Get your copy of GHOST HUNTER at Ellora's Cave!

Watch the trailer below



*hugs*
Paige

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com
Coming Soon http://www.jasminejade.com/m-615-paige-tyler.aspx

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

CONTEST

*One lucky winner will receive a copy of Epic Award finalist ebook Good Cop Bad Girl

*Leave a comment and be sure to include contact information.

*You must be 18 years or older to enter this contest.

Contest is international and ends March 24.

Mary Abshire - Guest Blog and Contest

Please welcome Mary Abshire who is here to discuss the nature of the vampires who inhabit the fascinating,  erotic world she has created. Mary is also offering an ecopy of her new book Claiming the Evil Dead to one lucky reader.

Take it away Mary!

Hello Everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog post.

I must confess, I'm a bit of a newbie writer. When the first paranormal romance, Claiming the Evil Dead, got picked up last year I was elated. Then Noble Romance liked the second and was interested in a third. I was overwhelmed…speechless. I never thought my books would be released so fast. God bless e-publishing and the Internet!

Going back to a year ago, I wanted to write something that could turn into a series and possibly last. Too many vampire books are on the shelves so I needed my vampire book to stand out. How could I do it?

I thought and prayed. Yes, prayed. I decided not to write solely about a vampire, but one would be a main character. So what kind of heroine did I want? She couldn't be normal. But she could want to be normal. What did I want her to do? What hadn't been done before? I came up with a half-demon who catches souls and sends them to hell. It seemed original to me. And since I have a vamp as main character, one question became, do vampires have souls?

It's my perception vampires are portrayed as dead creatures with cold blood, no beating heart, no need to breath, no bodily fluids, and no need to eat (sucking blood doesn't count). No one talks about vampires having a soul. Perhaps it is assumed the soul left the body at death. Makes sense. They should go somewhere, right? Is it because the body becomes dead the assumption is made?

In my books, vampires have souls. Why? I ask, why not? In my opinion, every creature created has a soul. Now, creation can take place in different forms. Birth is one form. Creation into another entity is another form. Bare with me—this is fiction. I can make up whatever I want.  LOL.

In the world I created, a person dies, but souls don't necessarily leave the body. Souls can have unfinished business. Souls can go to heaven, if called upon. Souls who are strong/powerful can stay behind, walk the earth, and do whatever they want. They can torment humans, possess bodies, and wreak havoc on mankind. Most bad souls don't want to go to hell so they stick around and walk the earth. The devil can call souls to hell whenever he wants and send them back in different bodies. Isn't that peachy? (Hey- it makes for a series.)

In terms of vampires, the person's body dies, but is reborn with vampire blood. Creation once again takes place. Thus, the soul stays with the body. That's my story in my fictional world and I'm sticking to it.

So, I ask, why do souls have to leave the body? Who made the rule—oh, your dead so the soul says good-bye to the body? Am I the only one who thinks about these little details? It's okay to say yes and call me a freak. LOL. I take no offense.

 CONTEST

Leave a comment with your thoughts and you're entered for a chance to win an electronic copy of Claiming the Evil Dead.

Be sure to leave contact information with your comment.

Contest is international.

Contest ends March 22, 2011

Cecilia - Guest Blog and Contest - Vampire Anthology

Welcome back, Cecilia Tan! Today Cecilia writes about her newest anthology, Bites of Passion (Sept. 2010), which centers on erotic tales of VAMPIRES. What a treat! Cecilia is generously offering a copy of this book to one lucky reader.

[see details at end of post]

It's Got A Little Bite to It
by Cecilia Tan

I've edited a lot of anthologies of erotic fantasy in my career, including erotic fairy tales, erotic cyberpunk, erotic steampunk, and more. In all of those I invariably end up having to explain to numerous people what's erotic about the topic.

But that never happens when I say I'm editing an erotic vampire book. In fact, I can usually just say "vampire book" and people make the assumption it will be erotic. The vampire is a sexual figure and an erotic icon in our society and has been since long before Anne Rice put Lestat and Louis in a coffin together or Stephenie Meyer added high school dating angst to the mix.

The great Victorian vampire novels, like Bram Stoker's Dracula and Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla can be interpreted as being about fear of sex, especially fear of sexual power and female sexuality in the Victorian age. The allure of the vampire in those days was partly about fearing erotic surrender, and the transformation it could bring to a highly repressed society. A vampire's hunger or lust was a supernatural force that mere mortals could not resist. That meant, however, that succumbing to a vampire's seduction was not the fault of the victim. Guilt-free ravishment.

Thankfully, we're not so repressed now. What was terrifying and yet titillating to an earlier age is merely sensual and thrilling in ours. But in this era of erotica by women for women and the celebration of eroticism for all genders and sexes, the vampire is still a vehicle for our desires. When I put together the anthology BITES OF PASSION (just released in trade paperback by Red Silk Editions), I wanted to look beyond the old formula of "vampire as sexual conqueror."

Yes, the stories feature passion and lust that reach supernatural heights, but the vampire also represents immortality. What could be more romantic than undying love? Of course, immortality also means that it's more difficult to forget an ex. Vampires allow a writer to take all the usual emotions in the romance pallet and punch them up even more. In BITES OF PASSION the settings range from the Western range to Victorian drawing rooms. There are detectives solving mysteries, and vampires waking for the first time from the long sleep. They've got love and lust and more to deal with.

Because here's the ultimate secret about what makes the vampire one of the most compelling "monsters." Like the werewolf and the zombie, every vampire was once human. And being undead doesn't take away the pains or passions of the human heart; it magnifies them. That's why I like my erotic romance with a bite.


For more info:
Amazon link:

Cecilia Tan's blog

 CONTEST

One lucky reader will win a copy of Bites of Passion

To enter simply comment on Cecilia's post OR ask her a question.

[Contest for paper copy of book is open to US/Canada residents only. International readers are eligible to win an ebook copy. 

Contest ends November 2, 2010

Faith V Smith - Guest Blog and Contest

Many thanks to author Faith V Smith, such a sweetie, for visiting PVN and making me blush with her kind words.

A note from Faith V. Smith on her vampire heroes and what makes them tick.

[see contest details at end of post]

A dear friend of mine, Jen Akers, introduced me to Patricia Altner by email one night. She said she’d found Patricia’s website and I should check it out. That she’d emailed the author and thought I would enjoy talking to her. Well, guess what, I did. After talking with Patricia one night by phone, I felt like she too had become a dear friend. She asked me if I would be willing to talk a bit about my vampires in the first two books in my Bound By Blood, The Legends series on her blog, and I jumped at the chance!

In Kensington’s Soul, the first book, readers meet dark and brooding Zacke Kensington who is a detective in the Savannah Police Department, as well as a being a four hundred year old vampire. Zacke is not happy with his vampire heritage and seeks nothing more than to find a way to become mortal again. While he is exploring avenues to do just that, he meets the love of his life, Miranda James, a physician who moves his heart and soul. I think what makes Zacke different than a lot of the vampire heroes is that he really believes there is a God in Heaven, and is actively seeking a way to redeem his soul. Of course, I can’t divulge whether he succeeds or not…lol.

Now, Miles Dunbar in the second book, Dunbar’s Curse is a bit more relaxed about having fangs, but he is in a lot of ways like Zacke. They both served under an English King, fought side by side, and both were turned by the same vampiress.  Miles has the good boy, bad boy scenario down pat. He is good at making love to women, but when it comes to owning up to being a vampire to the woman he loves, he has a very strong case of cold fangs. I loved writing both Zacke and Miles stories. However, Miles was such a character I just had to let him do his own thing in Dunbar’s Curse

Now, where do I get my ideas? I’d have to say from various avenues. Kensington’s Soul came to me or at least the character did in a dream. The story of Miles was like a blast of imagination hitting me right in the face when I was at an RT convention several years ago. I think as an author I manage to see everyday things and turn them into something that is not so ordinary or at least I try.

The one thing I like about my vampire heroes is that they are truly not evil. They will fight to the death if need be to protect their loved ones, but they would prefer to live a good life and do what they can to stop evil in the world.

I love to write! It’s great to be able to move characters around on paper or screen and get them to do the right thing, or in some cases their own thing. It’s like opening a present one bow or piece of wrapping paper at a time. You never know what’s going to be in the box. I know I can start off with an outline and end up with an ending, I didn’t know was coming. I know that makes no sense but then again we are talking romance and when it comes to the heart, anything is possible.

CONTEST

One lucky commenter will win a pdf copy of Dunbar's Curse.

*To enter: Name an actor (just one) you would like to see play Zacke or Miles
 
You may also:

*Link to this contest on any of the social network sites, including Twitter, or your own web page. Let me know the url:  One chance for each link.
 
*If you are a Google follower (see sidebar on right): One chance
 
*If you are a member of the PVN Facebook page (see badge on right sidebar): One chance
 
*If you are an email subscriber: One chance

*If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

This contest closes May 19. Contest is international!

Brigit Zahara - Guest Blog and Contest

Want to know more about a hot, brawny, gladiator/vampire then read on. Today PVN welcomes Brigit Zahara who has created such a character in her new ebook The Turning! She is also offering a copy of her book to one lucky reader. See contest details at the end of the post.

BRAWN WITH BITE
How THE TURNING Came to Be

I’ve never written a paranormal historical before. A hotsy-totsy, steam-up-your-glasses and make-your-mouth-water contemporary bloodsucker tale, yes. But one that takes the reader back to another time? No. The closest I ever came was in the recollected background of my Native hero Huritt in the vampire ménage CREAMY DELIGHTS. Apart from that, the rest of my characters have both feet firmly planted in the present day.

Now this may seem odd to some considering the fact that the vast majority of my books deal with vampires who were created decades, sometimes even centuries, before the story takes place. Mind you I think my tendency to write about ancient beings and their experiences in the right here, right now could simply be a latent reflection of my own personal motto: Live in the present moment.
So what possessed me to reach back to Ancient Rome and the time of gladiators in THE TURNING?
 
The story took me there.
 
When I was writing the opening scene, which has Galeria sandwiched between her two vampire lovers and waking up in their cozy coffin for three, it was modern day. But as her fingers traced the “numerous raised scars” on Cassian’s muscular chest, the tale behind the marks swiftly emerged. I mean in a flash it was there. Who would have scars on their chest? Why gladiators of course!
 
Without hesitation, I dove into research of the time period, quickly solidifying each of the characters’ roles and uncovering the sometimes finicky details required to accurately depict Roman culture and lifestyle back in the day. What then unfolded was a passionate love triangle complicated by deception, death and immortality.
 
I love THE TURNING and the route it ultimately took but it begs the question:
 
How do you like your vampire stories — contemporary, historical or a bit of both?


Read about The Turning


Read an excerpt

CONTEST


[this contest has ended]

ONE lucky readers will win an ecopy of The Turning The contest is international!

*To enter:  Answer Brigit's question: How do you like your vampire stories — contemporary, historical or a bit of both?

You may also:

*Link to this contest on any of the social network sites, including Twitter, or your own web page. Let me know the url:  One chance for each link.
 
*If you are a Google follower (see sidebar on right): One chance
 
*If you are a member of the PVN Facebook page: One chance
 
*If you are an email subscriber: One chance

*If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.



*The contest is international!

This contest closes May 13, 2010.

Calen - Paranormal Book Review

Calen: My Soul to Keep
by Rie McGaha
Noble Romance Publishing, 2009.

From the publisher: "When Calen MacLeod begins having dreams of an ethereal beauty who beckons to him, he passes it off as just having an itch he hasn't scratched in a long time. But when he leaves on a journey to find her, following the directions she's given him in his dreams, he begins to doubt his sanity. And when he finds himself high in the Mackinaw Mountains in a secret fortress with unicorns and a pink and white castle, surrounded by women, each one more beautiful than the next, it's a fantasy no man would want to wake up from. Calen’s life would be perfect, but there’s just one thing standing in his way: a 500-year-old demon intent upon destroying Arianna, Calen’s new-found love, and her entire world."

PVN: The story begins with a young boy hiding and terrified while a band of angry men destroyed the family's encampment and murdered his parents. Days passed before he was found by the brothers Caleb and Calen who take him to the castle of their father Lord William. It is a mystery why this child's parents were singled out. About this same time Calen begins to dream about the beautiful Arianna. She calls out to him to find her. It's then that he discovers the danger to Arianna's mystical world and how it ties together with the orphaned boy.

Calen has a well thought out plot with plenty of action and lots of sizzling sex, but it also includes a few disturbing scenes of rape. Not enough to deter most readers just a cautionary note that it's there. This is book one in a planned trilogy.

Read an excerpt

Jessica Lee - Guest Blog and Contest

 Music for Writing

by Jessica Lee

Please welcome author Jessica Lee who visited PVN last September  to tell us about her sensual tale Desire to Die For (Warriors of the Enclave Book 1). Today she introduces us to her newest release, book 2 in the Warriors of the Enclave series.


Thanks, Patricia, for having me back to your wonderful blog to talk about my recent release, Dark Desires at Midnight. I really appreciate your hospitality.


Since several of the scenes in Dark Desires center around a Goth club, I thought it would be fun to discuss a few of the songs I selected to either listen to while writing or incorporated into the book.

I've heard several authors talk about how certain songs impacted or influenced them while writing. For me, that is true as well. When I was writing book one, Desire to Die For, I often listened to Daughtry's debut CD. You'll even note that I mention the song "Crashed" in chapter three when I'm introducing Emily's character. That particular song really spoke to me about Kenric's character, and slipping it into her scene was meant as a bit of foreshadowing as to what was about to happen to those two.

Below I've listed the top five songs that were in my playlist as I created Dark Desires at Midnight. Beneath each title is a link to either a video or to a url regarding the song, and then under that, I give a quick line about where it fit within the story.

    •    "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8F_KaILW6g&feature=related

Love that song.  I could just hear it playing inside my head the first time Gabrielle and Arran saw each other again.

    •    "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA

Love this song! I heard this and knew right away this had to be for Guerin, the Enclave's second in command and resident playboy.

    •    "BloodRush" by Neil Dover
http://www.karenmoning.com/store

I'm a huge KMM fan, and I love the CD her husband wrote for her Fever series. The title song, "BloodRush" when I heard it was so perfect for later in the story when Gabrielle and Arran back in the club. The lyrics could have easily been penned by a vampire.

    •    "If I Was Your Vampire" by Marilyn Manson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeT8zcpaKzs&feature=related

    The first time we see Markus at the Goth club. This song, to me, reflects his relationship with Marguerite very well.

    •    "Cry Little Sister" from the Lost Boys Soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o375ke8Csio

I'm such a huge fan of the Lost Boys. And if you've ever seen the movie, this song leaves a lasting impression. Very haunting, and for me, perfect for the first time Gabrielle and Arran made love.

 Dark Desires at Midnight

Here's a blurb and excerpt that'll give you an idea of the story that generated the above playlist:

Arran MacLain is a vampire on a suicide mission, driven to kill his former partner who betrayed him and the Enclave they served. But two things stand in his way: Gabrielle, the human female who holds his heart, and the past that won’t let him go. If only death was enough to cleanse his soul.

Gabrielle Steven’s sister is missing. Her hunt for clues brings her face to face with the one vampire she can’t forget. Their missions combine and thrust them into the heart of evil. Will their passion be enough to overcome the pain from their past, or will their dark desires destroy them both?

    
Excerpt (intended for 18 years or older):

Arran rolled his Ninja into the parking lot beside Gabrielle’s car and killed the engine. She’d taken the newsflash about Markus and Marguerite pretty much like he’d expected. She’d mumbled an oath of determination right before she’d kicked him out of the car. Gabrielle wasn’t a member of the Enclave in name only. It didn’t matter that she didn’t work patrol. Gabrielle was as much a warrior as any of the males. Life hadn’t dealt her any favors. And she wasn’t one to lie down and let it bulldoze over her. She stood and fought for every inch of ground gained.

He waited for her to get out of the car, then removed his helmet.

“You didn’t need to follow me home,” she said over her shoulder, heading for the front door of her sister’s townhouse. He was surprised when she’d led him here instead of a hotel. The place must have belonged to her sister. He palmed his keys, slid off his bike, and shoved the keys in his pocket.

“I wasn’t going to let you leave alone after the info I just dumped on you,” he said as he came up behind her while she unlocked the door. “I wanted to make sure you got home safe. And I wanted to be sure you actually went home.”

“Oh my God, you can be such an ass sometimes.” Her back was to him, but Arran could almost hear her eyes roll with that statement. She was right. He was an ass. But while he was here, he would be taking care of hers.

Gabrielle flipped on the lights, and he followed her inside. The heels of her boots clicked on the hardwood floor of the foyer, echoing in the open stairwell of the two-story apartment. She couldn’t have been in town long, but the air in the place already carried her scent. He pulled in another slow, deep breath through his nostrils. His heart rate quickened. Honeysuckle. Arran wanted to smile but repressed the grin. Ironic that such a delicate and sweet fragrance emanated from the hellcat with whom he’d just been reacquainted.

Her keys clinked as she dropped them in a bowl on a table near the staircase. Arran’s gaze devoured her provocative profile. He’d never seen her dressed like she was tonight. Living with five male vampires within the Enclave walls, she usually dressed a bit more conservatively. Not matronly, but definitely not this revealing. A short black leather skirt barely covered the lush curves of her ass, and a shirt that couldn’t have been more than a decked-out bra did its best to contain her full breasts. Shiny black leather boots wrapped her legs, highlighting the toned sweep of her calves. This couldn’t happen again. Arran slowly shook his head. He would end up killing someone if she dressed like this again.

She turned her head to the side, facing him. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.” She shifted and faced him head-on. “You’ve been gone a long time, Arran. Things have changed. I’ve changed.”

“Maybe so. But you’re not taking on that colony alone. I can’t believe Logan let you come here without him.” Gabrielle turned her back, rearranging her purse on the table. Shit. He recognized the body language. “You didn’t tell him, did you?” Arran closed the distance between them.

“No. I didn’t need him here.” Gabrielle looked up, fierce determination written on her face. “I can handle this. Alex needed me. And I’m going to be there for her.” She shifted to face him again, leaning her hip against the table. “I’m smart enough to know if -- and when -- I need help.”

Arran closed in, crowding her personal space, wanting a reaction. Aching for it, actually. Gabrielle straightened and took one step back but stopped and lifted her chin, refusing to cower and give him the reaction he itched for. She caught on quick.

“You think you have it all handled, lass?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“You got it all under control?”

The amber color of her irises had grown near molten. He allowed a small smile to pull at the corner of his mouth, loving the way she got all hot and bothered when he pushed her.

“Yes. I do.” The words had barely left her lips when she attacked, one leg coming out to catch the back of his ankle. Caught off guard, he stumbled.

Before he could regain his balance, she had his wrist locked in her grip. Swinging his arm up, she spun underneath, twisted, and wrenched his arm up the middle of his back, then shoved him face-first into the dank-smelling wall.

Well, damn. Not bad. “You’ve been training,” he mumbled against the Sheetrock.
“A little.” She sounded quite proud of herself. She was good. He’d give her that. But her heavy breathing told him it was all she could do to contain him, and he hadn’t even come close to tapping into his full abilities. She’d caught him by surprise, but she was human, a woman, and no match for a mature vampire. Especially in a multiple attack.

With a burst of speed, Arran pushed back, forcing Gabrielle to release him instead of falling on her rear. He whirled, catching her before she hit the floor. In less than a second, their positions reversed. Except this time, he’d pinned her back against the wall, her hands imprisoned by his, over her head.

The position pushed her full breasts up, almost spilling them from her top. Nice. He lifted his gaze, prepared for a hard glare. If her eyes were molten earlier, they were near boiling now. He couldn’t have stopped the next words that spilled from his lips if he’d tried.

“I win.”

“You ass!” She squirmed and bucked against him like a feral cat. Instead of gaining her freedom, though, each maneuver jammed her tighter into his hold. Her every inhale shoved her breasts into his chest. Heat radiated off her body, threatening to scramble his brain. Before he knew he’d even moved, his lips hovered over hers. What made him stop, God only knew. Maybe it was the way she’d suddenly grown still? Or maybe it was the moment she’d parted her lips, releasing warm, peppermint-scented bursts of air that seduced his mind. So damn enticing. All he had to do was lean in one more inch, and he’d --

Fire shot up his arm. “Son of a…” Releasing her, he jumped back and flung his gaze to the offending limb. Blood.

A thin line of crimson blossomed along the outside of his bicep. She’d played him. Purposefully distracted him, so she could pull her hand free and reach for a blade that must have been hidden under her skirt and against her thigh. The little minx.
He swiveled his head back in Gabrielle’s direction. Air punched from his lungs. Christ. Blood surged to his cock. The overwhelming urge to stroke the rock-hard length at the sight of her was short-circuiting his brain. Gabrielle stood, one boot in front of the other, palming a short dagger. She was ready to fight.

He was ready to fuck.

Arran rocked from one foot to the other, searching within for the strength not to take what was his. Mentally, he shook his head. No. She’s not yours, asshole. But damn if his cock had the sense to listen.

“I know you weren’t about to kiss me, warrior. Were you?” She raised a delicate brow and tilted her head. “Because last I heard, my kiss was ‘forgettable.’”
Ouch. He’d had a feeling if he ever saw her again, that asinine comment would come back to bite him in the ass.

“Give me the blade, Gabrielle.”

“This?” She twirled the dagger, then palmed the hilt and held it up for display. “You want it?” A devious smile lit her face. With her other hand, she beckoned him with her fingers. “Come and take it.”

Bad, bad challenge, kitten. A tremor started in his gut and worked its way up, until it was a buzz inside his brain. Every cell in his body wanted to take.

Mark.

Claim.

A gasp of air in his ear was the only indicator that he’d grabbed her. He didn’t remember the trip. Arran lifted her feet from the floor, whirled, and gently laid her on the stairs, pressing his hips, his chest into hers. He had to get his body next to hers. Everywhere. The dagger fell from her hand, rolling and thumping its way down the steps, each tumble a hollow thud.

The loud percussions bypassed the noise inside his head and brought him to a dead halt. He lay with his hips between her legs, his groin pressed to hers. His mouth suspended above her lips. He dropped his gaze to her mouth. God, how he loved the delicate line of her lips, a perfect bow. So full and pink. Her tongue darted out and moistened the lower one. He couldn’t stifle the groan that rolled from the back of his throat.

He dragged his gaze back to her eyes. Passion mixed with doubt and fear stared back at him. “I’m sorry.” The whispered words tumbled from his heart.

She blinked, then swallowed. “Why?”

“For hurting you.”

Her eyelids shuttered, and her breath hitched. Did she believe him? Was an apology enough for what he’d done? He’d walked away, leaving her to think he’d never wanted her, when the truth was, he wanted her more than his next breath. Sorry sounded so insignificant, compared to how much damage he’d done to her heart.
“Gabrielle.” Long, dark eyelashes lifted. Beautiful, near gold eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Please don’t cry. If only he had the power to bring her tears of joy. Instead of the pain he was so damn good at. He wanted to kiss the hurt away.

“Remind me.”

Her lips parted first in silence before she asked, “Of what?”

Arran released her arms and cupped her face with his palms. He caressed her lips with his gaze before lifting it back to hers. “What I walked away from.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you have a special playlist for your favorite books? 
Or as an author, is this something you do as well when you need that extra kick to get your muse in gear for a scene?

Thanks again, Patricia for the opportunity to stop by your blog. It was fun getting to share a few of the songs from behind the scenes of Dark Desires at Midnight.'s creation.

PVN: Jessica, it's always a pleasure to have you here, and thank you so much for the generous contest!


CONTEST

Jessica is offering a $10 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of Dark Desires to one commenter.  Contest is international!

*Answer one of Jessica's questions: One chance

You may also:

*Link to this contest on any of the social network sites, including Twitter, or your own web page. Let me know the url:  One chance for each link.

*If you are a Google follower (see sidebar on right): One chance

*If you are a member of the PVN Facebook page: One chance

*If you are an email subscriber: One chance

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest ends April 16

Author Molly Maddox on Werewolves

Please welcome Molly Maddox author of Alpha (Circlet Press, 2010). She writes about the werewolf myth and how it is encompassed into her own steamy, erotic story. 

"Alpha tells the tale of the tempestuous alliance between humans and werewolves fighting to survive after the zombie apocalypse has come to Manhattan. Romance is no fun without some obstacles to overcome, and Janey and Seamus--the leaders of the human resistance and the werewolf pack--have plenty of them in their way, including their groups' mutual distrust, not to mention zombie attacks."

Alpha Dog

by Molly Maddox

There’s something about it.  Fur, talons, teeth, the surge of hunting hormones through impossibly strong flesh.  Obviously, we’ve all thought about what it would be like to have a beastly lover, insatiable, savage, and driven by the basest instincts, but still enfolded in the supple form of humanity, and as writers our beasts are as individual as we are.

My first encounter with werewolf lit was Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate, which, thereafter, was promptly removed from the school library due to “unseemly content.”  I immediately bought my own copy.  The sensual, liberated world of Klause’s teengaged loup garou drew me in, made me want more.  I flipped the pages of dozens like it, and unlike it.

Wolves easily slot into paranormal romance for two reasons.   Foremost, wolves are seen as loyal mates.  Wolves in the romance genre mate and traditional roles of alpha-male and –female are established.  In reality, the male and female alphas of a wolf pack can be mates or nonsexual close relatives, like brother and sister, but the idea of an eternally mated pair is an admittedly strong draw that I’m sure none of us can argue with.

Secondly, in many cultures, wolves are the guards between man’s world and the spirit world, and abound in mythology: Odin is prophesied to be murdered by half-wolf Fenrir at Ragnorak, for example, and Norse berzerkers were known for wearing wolf pelts to channel the animal’s viciousness in battle.  And as a nerd, I can’t fail to mention the White Wolf interpretation, in which werewolves are warriors in service of the earth itself, charged with the defeat of the Wyrm.
 
Furthermore, lycanthropy isn’t the curse it was considered in Lon Chaney Jr.’s day.  Werewolves are generally born that way, and not “cursed,”  but “gifted,” which can be seen as a modern-day reconciliation with humanity’s place in the natural world, as well as a comfort with the sexual liberation a beast-side allows us.  When dealing with a pair in paranormal romance, only one is usually the werewolf.  It creates conflict, angst, and lots of sexy, fun scenes of misunderstanding, of course, but also illuminates the qualities outlined above. 

When creating my wolfpeople, I first looked at the root of the myth.  Usually, it was magic, spell, curse.  I decided to take that and twist it.  I always loved alternative histories of the 21st century, so I developed that the wolfperson genes—as well as other, more sinister mutations—popped up shortly after World War II.  Additionally, my werewolves weren’t were-anything: they couldn’t transform between worlds, but were stuck in their furry, hulking bodies.  I could say all types of noble things about that choice—the intimation of early werewolf films, Lon Chaney, Jr.’s role in The Wolf Man in particular, about racial stereotypes and roles—but truly, that just came from my love of big, hairy men.

My leading male is a wolfman with a slicked quiff, a beer belly, and a patient, intelligent sense of violence.  His lover, our protagonist, is a petite, uncertain, and boldly loyal human scootergirl named Janey.  I like shoving inappropriate roles into certain situations—these nerdy misfits run contrasting rebel groups in post-apocalyptic New York—and honestly every writer can tell you about the power of their own characters.  Their quirks and complexes took over.  They delight in BDSM, drinking beer, and chatting about old comics.  Janey loves Sea’s bulk, his savagery, and Sea loves Janey’s pointed, and prurient, submission.
Submission and domination is a recurring theme.

Alpha dogs demand obedience from betas and omegas, keeping them in line with force if necessary, and the same is true of Seamus.  In werewolf fiction, the order of the pack, the cohesion of the larger family unit, reflects our own wants for a stable society.  Seamus battles forces from within his group that want to usurp him and turn the world he’s worked hard for into chaos; Janey, at the same time, fights with the bias of her own people to work together with the wolfpeople to survive.
From the get-go, it was clear to me that the werewolf mythologies were as varied as the writers creating them, and I can’t wait to see the diversity brought by the writers to come.

PVN: Thanksfor stopping by, Molly. Alpha sounds like a fun, wicked book!
What do you readers think?

Cecilia Tan on the Magic of Tarot (includes contest)

Today PVN welcomes author Cecilia Tan. She discusses the role of Tarot cards and magic in her recent works.

[See contest details at the end of the post]

Real Magic In Fantasy

by Cecilia Tan

In the Magic University books, which are my version of a grown-up, erotic "Harry Potter" type of story, I've invented a lot of magic, in particular the so-called "Esoteric Arts," which is the polite term in the books for sexual magic. But I also draw a lot on "real world" magic in various ways.

Whether you believe in magic or not doesn't matter. There are figures in our history, for example, from Pythagoras to Torralba to Mother Shipton who were ascribed magical powers by their contemporaries. As such, in Magic University, I proceed from the idea of what if Torralba really did possess magical healing powers? Would there now be a whole field of Healing Arts that young magic users would learn and study?

Another element I use is Tarot cards. Tarot cards are basically archetypal symbolism. They reflect the common elements of human nature and human emotions through various archetypal figures and a variety of symbols. The "magic" in both the real world and the way I use them in Magic U. comes in their use as a fortunetelling device.

I've used the Tarot in many ways throughout the books. At the magical university known as Veritas, which is hidden inside Harvard, the students are divided into houses, just like real Harvard students are. In a nod to the four houses of Hogwarts, though, I have made them four, one for each of the Tarot suits, and the "sorting" is done by simply drawing a card. The house of wands are the studious ones, the coins are the industrious ones, the swords are the domineering ones, and the cups are the party animals.

Our main character, Kyle Wadsworth, draws the Ace of Swords on his first day at school, and the symbolism of the Ace follows him throughout the books. In Tarot lore, the Ace of Swords stands for a hero-type on a quest, so it's a very appropriate card for him as the main character of a fantasy series. What's funny is I didn't plan that based on the symbolism, but I drew a card at random from a deck to see what I would get.

In each book Kyle gets his cards read by someone and the reading turns out to be prophetic for him. Again, I do a real reading where I draw cards at random and see what I get. Each time the cards drawn have fit perfectly with the plot I have sketched out. Coincidence? Perhaps that's the real magic of storytelling, that everything will always end up coming together in the end.


Bio: Cecilia Tan has been writing professionally since she was a teenager, which she definitely isn't, anymore. She is the author of several romances for Ravenous Romance, including her "Harry Potter for adults" the Magic University series and Mind Games, as well as the BDSM sci-fi adventure Royal Treatment just released from Torquere Press.

Her literary erotica has been published nearly everywhere. She loves tea, baseball, cats, and books, and more of her thoughts on these and other subjects can be found at her blog: http://blog.ceciliatan.com/.

Read Cecilia's full essay on Tarot 


NOW FOR THE CONTEST

Cecilia is offering an ebook copy of Magic University Book Two: The Tower and the Tears or  Magic University Book One: The Siren and the Sword. Winners choice.


CONTEST IS INTERNATIONAL

*Ask Cecilia a question: One chance

*Make a pertinent comment: One chance

You may also:

*Link to this contest on any of the social network sites or your own web page. Let me know the url:  One chance for each link.

*If you are a follower: One chance

*If you are an email subscriber: One chance

*If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest ends March 30, 2010

Susan Blexrud - Interview and Contest

Please welcome Susan Blexrud author of the humorous vampire romance series Love Fang. Now all the short stories of the series can be found in print from DLC. She has kindly offered signed copies to two winners. See more information at the end of the interview.


PVN: What are the characteristics of your vampires?

SB: My vamps do not fall into the “we’re so bad, baby” category of vampire romances.  They’d never call their significant others “baby,” and they don’t suffer from teenage angst.  They’re grownups.

I took my vampire cues from Bram Stoker's original story because I wanted my hero to be in a time warp.  When he is first introduced, he still sleeps in a coffin.  To avoid the temptation of love, he's kept himself alienated from modern society—for 500 years.  It's only when he meets Dr. Lauren Marsh that he decides to adapt to the 21st Century.  Also, once he stops sleeping in a coffin, his pesky respiratory allergies begin to clear up.

PVN: Have you introduced any other paranormal characters in your stories or have plans to do so?

SB: I've begun writing a fifth story in my fang series about a bat fungus that is killing bat colonies in the Northeast (this is really happening), and I'll be introducing werewolves in that story.  They won't be the good guys.

PVN: In my review of the short story Love Fang I called this story a sweet romance. Do you agree (or not) Why?

SB: Unlike many vampire tomes, my stories don’t read like my vamps are on crack.  Yes, Love Fang truly is a sweet romance, except (as you aptly noted) for the torrid sex scenes.  My vamps are definitely alpha males, and they're also very emotionally human.  I’d never attempt to pigeonhole my readers, but if I had to describe a typical Susan Blexrud reader, I’d say that she’s someone who loves a sexy romance with endearing characters.  I’ve had numerous readers tell me they didn’t like vampires until they read mine.

PVN: Are there any current or past TV series featuring vampires that you have enjoyed?

SB: Well, I'm a True Blood devotee, though I like the books much more than the TV series.  I'm a huge Eric Northman fan, and Alexander Skarsgard is a perfect Eric.  He makes it worth watching.  Wish there was more of Charlaine Harris’s wonderful comic voice in the TV show, and less emphasis on blood.  Not that I don’t like a good bloody tale.  I’m hooked on Dexter, for Pete’s sake.  But the blood in the True Blood series is just too thick, stringy and gooey.


PVN: What do you most like about the writing life?

SB: Even though my life work has largely been in the public eye (I was director of communications for the City of Orlando and functioned as the mayor's spokesperson), I'm a solitary worker at heart.  So, spending hours at the computer by my lonesome is gratifying for me.  I also love working with my critique group, the Pink Fire Writers.  We're four gals who write in very different genres, and we're good friends as well as being brutal (sometimes) critics.  The real icing on the cake is when I hear from fans.  There’s not much money to be made in this business (at least I haven’t experienced that, so far), so the gratification is in a job well done.  Good reviews are always nice, too, and I love doing guest blogs on sites like PVN.


PVN: Where and when do you write? Describe the ambience.

SB: I usually write first thing in the morning, with a cup of high-octane java at my side. I should send you a video of my desk so you could see all the muses that surround me.  I have empty bottles of Kahlua (in the shape of a Mayan statue) and Vampire Vineyards' Cabernet Sauvignon on the shelf above my desk.  My daughter was worried that I was drinking on the job, but I assured her that the bottles were empty, and though I’d savored the wine, the Kahlua spent its life in my Chocolate Kahlua Pound Cake.  (If you'd like the recipe, please let me know.)  I have a photo that I took in the London Zoo of a toucan, a family photo of my son's high school graduation, about 20 "how to" books on writing that range from a good thesaurus to The Book of Useless Information.  I also have a crucifix with St. Francis's prayer inscribed on it, a portrait of The Blue Dog that I picked up the last time I was in New Orleans (pre-Katrina), an old globe (don't let anyone tell you no one uses globes anymore), and a few writing awards to remind me on the days when nothing flows that I AM capable of stringing a group of words together...logically.

PVN: What books or authors most influenced you?

SB: I love Barbara Kingsolver.  She manages to impart moral lessons without being preachy, and her dialogue is spot on.  I admire the humor of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jennifer Cruisie.  I like Sophie Kinsella’s single titles (The Undomesticated Goddess and Remember Me).  I’m a total sucker for Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.  I drool over Charlaine Harris's Southern vampire books.  I marvel at The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. 

PVN: What works are in the future?

SB: In addition to the fifth story in my vampire series that I mentioned earlier, tentatively titled Black Fang, I’m going to finish the sequel to my Mayan time travel, Delora’s Necklace, and I’m working on a young adult book about a mouse detective entitled Minerva Greensleeves, House Mouse.


PVN: When reading for pleasure what do you like to read?

SB: For a fun, light read, I enjoy Barbara Bretton’s knitting/magic books.  I’m in a book club, so much of my reading focuses on the monthly book I read for the club.  These books run the gamut from non-fiction (memoirs like The Glass Castle) to literary fiction like Ahab’s Wife.  About the lightest thing we’ve got going this year is Dan Brown’s latest, The Lost Symbol.  Since I write paranormal, I’ve always got a book or two going in my genre.  I just finished Gail Carriger’s Soulless, which was great fun.  Currently, I’m devouring The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, which is so good it makes my teeth itch, by Katherine Howe.


PVN: How can readers find you on the Internet?

SB: I'm on Facebook, and I just joined Twitter, but the best source is probably my website, www.susanblexrud.com.

Contest information

Two lucky readers will each win a  copy of Susan's new book  Love Fang.
US residents only

To be eligible do one or more of the following:
* Leave a comment -   1 point
* Ask Susan a question - 1 point
* Link this interview to your own site or a social network site, and be sure to let me know the URL -  1 point for each site

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest ends Feb. 22 at 11:59 PM PST

J A Saare - Interview and Contest

PVN is delighted to welcome J. A. (Jaime) Saare as she tours throughout the blogosphere to introduce readers to her sexy vampire romances. I have asked her a few questions about vampires and their place in her works, as well as some of the joys and difficulties of the writing life.

Please note that at the end of her tour there will be a drawing with prizes for commenters and tour hosts. More detailed information follows the interview.

PVN:  What attracts you to vampires?

J A Saare:  That’s a loaded question. *smile* I know that it’s bad form to answer a question with a question, but…what’s not to like?  If it isn’t enough that vampires have all the physical traits that make heroes appealing–increased strength, reflexes, and senses–it certainly doesn’t hurt that they are breathtakingly beautiful immortals that will be forever young.  There is so much writing potential as well.  Someone that’s lived a thousand years is bound to have one whopper of a story to share.

Or perhaps it’s mortal vanity that draws me to them.  There is nothing better, in my opinion, than crafting (or reading) a story in which my hero and heroine will exist together for an eternity. That is the ultimate happily ever after.

PVN: What are the characteristics of the vampires you have created?

J A Saare: This is going to sound completely silly, considering the subject matter, but I want to keep my paranormal stories as believable as possible.  Certain fantastical elements won’t draw a reader from the world you’ve created, while others will.  It all depends on what you’re writing.  So by vampire standards, I’m fairly tame when it comes to abilities. In A Kiss Before Dying, Sebastian Arsov is faster, stronger, and more beautiful than a human. But he can’t phase or dematerialize.  In my urban fantasy, the vampires are much the same, but have unique talents they discover upon transformation.

One common trait all of my vampires share is a desire cling to their lost mortality, or if they’re born into the condition, the desire to connect to the mortals around them.  They are not perfect, and they certainly are not infallible. I suppose, for me, immortality must come with a price. I don’t do the tortured thing too heavily, as it’s a worn path to follow. But a person, be it a mortal or immortal, is doomed to repeat the past if they forget it.  I try to keep that in mind when I work.

PVN: Describe Adam Trevlian for us. 

J A Saare: Admirable, loyal, and protective…that’s Adam in a nutshell. *smile* He’s six-feet, five inches of Alpha Lycae male that has served his pack for centuries.

One night in the French Quarter, he meets his mate.  Trouble is Kassia is only eighteen at the time, and due to pack law, he can’t claim her until she’s twenty-one.  Turning away from her was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do.  He’s a man that comes from a race that mates for life, and has the intense yearning to raise and nurture a family.  But above all, he wants the one woman intended for him.  Moon Kissed is his story, but he makes an appearance in Soft as Moonlight.  He’s got a very dark sense of humor, and he’s not the nicest Lycae you’re likely to meet.  But when it comes to family, he’ll die to protect them.

PVN: Which authors have inspired you? 

J A Saare: Boy, oh boy.  That’s a tough one.  I read so much, and the material really varies.

For romance, it’s Joey W. Hill, Kresley Cole, J.R. Ward, Elizabeth Lowell, Catherine Coulter, and Heather Graham (to name a few).
 
For urban fantasy, it’s Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, J.F. Lewis, and Jim Butcher. 

I do enjoy horror and the classics, namely Stephen King and John Steinbeck.

PVN:  Please describe your writing environment and your writing day. 

J A Saare: With four children, the answer is simple–chaotic! I start out my morning at 6am, making lunches for my oldest two while feeding them all breakfast.  Around 7:30, it’s time to check the email, take a gander at the calendar, and take care of the small things (loops, blogs, returning emails).
I once tried to write between the hours of 9-5pm, and then again when the kids were snug in bed, but gave it up a few months back.  It’s too difficult to finish a scene when you’re being pulled away from it constantly. Not to mention that little monster called networking.

I now accomplish my writing from 7:30pm-1:00am, starting after my children are in bed. When the magic hour arrives, I huddle down in my office.  It’s quiet, dark, and more importantly, totally mine.  I select a list from my iTunes (or let it go on random), get something to drink, and barricade myself in the room.
 
On Saturday and Sunday I write a majority of the day, unless we have plans with the children.  I’m very fortunate in that my husband is fantastic about taking care of things and allowing me to work.  I wouldn’t get anything done without him!

PVN: Do you have any favorite paranormal TV series or movies? 

J A Saare: Back in the day, there was a vampire show I loved called, Kindred: The Embraced.  I was devastated when it was canceled. After that, I fell in love with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and watched it all the way through the end. I also adored the now canceled show Moonlight, and was really sad to see it go. 

I’m sure I’m among the majority when I say I’m a True Blood fan.  I also watch Sons of Anarchy and Heroes. I enjoyed the first couple of episodes of The Vampire Diaries.

As for movies, another good question!  I’m a horror movie fanatic and paranormal and horror go together like peas and carrots!  Most of my favorites are classics: An American Werewolf in London, Cat People, Company of Wolves, Fright Night, Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, To Sleep With A Vampire, Night Breed, Vamp… the list goes on and on. 
More modern movies I loved were 30 days of Night and The Underworld series.

PVN: What do you do to relax?

J A Saare: I leave the keyboard, phone, and responsibility behind, and take a long, uninterrupted bath.  Even if it’s twenty minutes, it helps me get centered and find focus.  I wish it were something more profound, but right now I’ll take what I can get! *smile*

PVN: Tell us about some of your current works.

J A Saare: Moon Kissed is about Adam Trevlian, Soft as Moonlight is about Wolfe Trevlian (Adam’s cousin), and Lick of Frost is about Luke Trevlian (Adam’s brother).  The timeline is continuous as well.  Soft as Moonlight picks up a couple of months after Moon Kissed and Lick of Frost picks up directly following Soft as Moonlight.

They can be read individually, but they do go in order.  From Moon Kissed, to Soft as Moonlight, to Lick of Frost. 

PVN: Do you have a publication date for Soft as Moonlight and Lick of Frost.

J A Saare: Final edits are scheduled for Oct 9th.  I’m not positive, but I believe they will be released before Halloween.  Lick of Frost was submitted when Amira had a call for Halloween stories (it takes place on Samhain). 

Thanks for having me on your blog, I really appreciate it!
Jaime

PVN: It was a pleasure having you here!

 Contest information

J. A. will be giving away a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour and a $25 Amazon.com GC to the tour host with the most comments, excluding duplicates or J. A.’s responses.

Tour Stops:

October 5: Anne Kane
October 6: Shelley Munro
October 7: Love Romance Passion
October 8: Fang-tastic Books
October 9: Hey! Lady Jane!
October 10: Amber Scott Project
October 11: Wendi Zwaduk
October 12: Patricia's Vampire Notes
October 12: (second stop) Long and Short Reviews Author Spotlight
October 13: Long and Short Reviews Author Spotlight
October 14: Long and Short Reviews Author Spotlight
October 14: (second stop) Jacqueline Paige
October 15: Long and Short Reviews Author Spotlight
October 16: Razlover's Book Blog
October 16: (second stop) Long and Short Reviews Author Spotlight
October 17: Book Junkie
October 18: Geek Girl Reviews
October 19: J. K. Coi
October 20: Readaholic

Jessica Lee - Guest Blog and Contest

Please welcome Jessica Lee author of the erotic vampire novel Desire to Die For (Loose-Id, 2009).

Interview with Desire to Die For’s Master of the Enclave : Kenric St. James
by Jessica Lee

I have the special privilege today to be allowed access to the compound where the Master of the Enclave, Kenric St. James has granted me a private interview.

Surprisingly, this larger-than-life warrior is very laid back and has shown me to the kitchen at his home, which also serves as the headquarters for his Enclave of vampires. The over six-foot warrior claims the head of the table, and then motions for me to take the seat beside him. I’m by no means a small woman, but the all-consuming presence of this man --er, vampire is quite intimidating. And at the same time, exhilarating.

JL “Would you like to get right down to business, Mr. St. James?”

KSJ “You sound like my kind of woman, Ms. Lee”

JL The deep rumble of his voice and the implication of his words, jerks my head in his direction. He smiles, and I can’t help but smile back. An instant blast of heat rushes to my cheeks, and I drop my gaze back to my notes. I have to keep this professional. Flirting with a vampire…not ever a good idea. Especially with one that oozed power and felt as lethal as the one sitting next to me. “So, I take it that’s a yes,” I finally manage to say.

KSJ “Yes, what’s your first question for me?”

JL “Well, since you opened the door with that last statement. Exactly what kind of woman is your type, Mr. St. James? You’re over three-hundred-years old, I assume you’ve met more than your fair share. Is there a type woman left on the planet that can captivate you?” He straightens in his chair, and the smile dies on his face. In its place, a hardened, cold expression forms that makes me immediately sorry I’d brought the subject back up.

KSJ “Irrelevant, Ms. Lee”

JL “Irrelevant? I don’t understand. You may be a vampire, but from what I know about vampires, you’re still a…functioning man, right?” His head swivels in my direction, and the dark lines that form his brows lower.

KSJ “I was not implying that I was impotent, Jessica.” He leans over the table, bringing his face a little closer to mine. “I can assure you that’s not the problem.” Kenric eases back in his chair and pulls a blade from his thigh, rolling it in his palm.

JL “Oh…okay.” A shiver runs down my spine. If I’d had any doubts, the amount of testosterone that had just hovered over the table blew them all away. “Can you tell me what you did mean then? Why doesn’t it matter what kind of woman is your type?”

KSJ What sounds like a low growl rumbles from his side of the table then his eyes lift to mine. “One name: Marguerite Devonshire. My sire.” He slams the blade into the table. Almost launching me from seat with his suddenness move. The sharp edge wedges into the wood and the dagger stands on its nose. Kenric tosses a look my way that sucks the air from my lungs. Fire swirls around his pupils. And it’s a sight I’ll never forget. Quickly, I divert my gaze. “She’s obsessed with me.” He continues as if nothing had happened. “As long as I refuse her as my mate, she’s determined to destroy any woman who holds a place in my bed. Until I can hunt her down and destroy her, I can’t take that risk. Besides, my existence as head of the Enclave brings nothing but danger and death at my door. What woman in her right mind would want to be a part of my life? It’s better this way. This is what I know. What I can control.”

JL I rub my hands briskly over my upper arms. The room has suddenly turned as cold as a tomb.

KSJ “Cold, Ms. Lee?”

JL My gaze darts to his, the fire was gone now, leaving only the most beautiful clear blue eyes. With his black-as-sin wavy hair and thick eyelashes that hovered over eyes the color of tropical waters, Kenric St. James was a woman’s wet dream come to life.

KSJ “Are you cold, Jessica?”

JL “Oh.” I guess I’d never responded the first time. I nod my head. “A little.”

KSJ “Sorry about that. A drop in temperature can sometimes be a side effect when a vampire, at least of my years, experiences strong emotion. That’s why control is a coveted discipline in this Enclave. It should feel warmer soon.”

JL “I see. You mentioned the Enclave, can you tell me a little bit about what you do?”

KSJ “My warriors and I defend the human population from the Death Euphoria addicted vampires who roam the streets, looking for their next fix. Their next kill.”

JL “Why don’t more people know about this threat to our existence?”

KSJ “Because we’re doing our job.” He leaned forward once more. “And pray that they never have to find out.”

JL I open my mouth to respond but another warrior, looking as dark and lethal as Kenric comes through the door. He steps to Kenric’s side, leans in, and whispers in his ear. The warrior glances my way while and quirks his lip in my direction. He winks. My pen slips from my hand and pings off the floor. Oh my God. I reach over to retrieve my Bic from the floor, but another hand beats me to it. Kenric is on his feet, and I never even heard him move. Slowly, as I lift my head, my eyes follow the hard muscles of his thighs up past flat abs that surely held an eight pack to the handsome planes of his face. From this new angle, I notice a pale scar bisecting his right cheek. It makes me wonder what other atrocities this Master of the Enclave has lived through in his past. I take my pen from his hand. “Thank you.”

KSJ “My second in command, Guerin--“ He indicates the exotic looking warrior at his side -- “has informed me of something I have to personally take care of. I’m sorry, but our interview is over.”

JL “Of course, I understand.” I grab my notepad and rise from the table.

KSJ “My assistant, Michael, will show you out.” He pivots to leave then stops, turning partially back to face me. A smile warms his face for a brief moment, but long enough to make my toes curl before it vanishes. “It was a pleasure meeting you in person, Jessica.”

JL I can’t stop the grin I know is beaming on my face. “I feel the same way, Kenric.”


I hope you enjoyed getting to know a little about the mysterious Master of the Enclave, Kenric St. James. I had a blast!


Here’s a little bit about Kenric and Emily’s story:

Kenric St. James wants revenge. After two centuries of denying his body’s needs and with vengeance finally at hand, the last thing he expected to find was the one woman he burns to claim as his own. If only giving her his love wouldn’t surely mean her death.

All Emily Ross desires is time alone to learn who she is without a man and to save the home that holds her heart. The last thing she wants is another controlling, dominant male calling all the shots, in bed and out. Never would she have thought stopping her car one night to save a dying man might change her mind, and her life, forever. But is what they have, their desire, worth dying for?

Contest
What great Alpha Male characters have you been wishing that they too would grant you a very special private interview?
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The contest will run until Friday September 11 at 11:59 PM.



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