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Jess's Book Blog--Heroes and Anti-heroes

I'm over at JESS'S BOOK BLOG today talking about heroes, anti-heroes, and my latest release--Embracing Silence.

 

GO TO GUEST POST

Cover Reveal: DRAKON'S PROMISE

Here is the cover for Drakon's Promise, the first book in my new Blood of the Drakon series. It will be released on December 5th by Entangled Publishing.

 

I absolutely LOVE it!

Writer Wednesday--Juliette Cross

Please welcome Juliette Cross to Writer Wednesday! She's sharing an excerpt from her new book. ~NJW

NEW RELEASE: DRAGON HEARTSTRING

For all paranormal romance lovers, Juliette Cross has a thrilling new addition to her VALE OF STARS series. Join the journey inside the Morgon world where humans live alongside sexy dragon hybrids…

Dragon Heartstring

A Vale of Stars Prequel

Juliette Cross
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Date of Publication: October 25, 2016
ASIN: B01L7TN2BG

Word Count: 42K

Cover Artist: Kanaxa

Book Description:

Demetrius Cade has long since let go of his prejudice against Morgonkind, the dragon hybrid race his father taught him to hate. But what he never saw coming was the Morgon woman who would finally teach him to love.

Shakara Icewing has watched Demetrius Cade from afar for years. Known as the most eligible bachelor and emotionally unavailable in all of Gladium Province, she sees him as the aloof, arrogant brother of her dear friend. But when they finally meet, she isn’t sure she can handle how deep and how fast they both fall.

An old enemy resurfaces and once more threatens those Demetrius loves. When Shakara plans to speak before Parliament against business tycoon Aron Grayson, she puts her own life in the line of fire. Demetrius will stop at nothing to protect the woman he can no longer live without.

Amazon

Excerpt:

There were already a few couples taking advantage of the private rooftop. We stopped at the corner and looked out over downtown Gladium. Glittering like stars, the city lights lit up the night.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” I asked, leaning on the railing, the warm summer breeze lifting my hair.

“Yes. Quite.”

I glanced over to find him staring at me, not the city. I smiled. “Do you know it’s rude to stare like that?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t help it. You are quite beautiful,” he said with sincerity.

I arched a brow. “Even with the wings?”

“Especially with the wings.” His gaze flicked to them. “You know, Shakara. You seem to have a misguided notion that I dislike Morgons, but the truth is far from it.”

“Well, if I may be so frank, your past proves you’ve had—I don’t know how to say it—issues with Morgonkind.”

His heavy gaze never left me. “Some of us learn from our past mistakes. And we change. At least we should anyway.”

His intense expression and bold statement were a challenge. One I wasn’t sure I was ready to explore. The conversation had turned from casual to serious in a heartbeat. And I realized in this, he was right and I was wrong. We should learn from our mistakes.

Changing the subject was my only escape. “So. What were you talking to Lucius about?”

He loosened his tie and pulled it off, folded it end over end then stuffed it into his inside jacket pocket. “You were watching me?”

“Yes.”

“So you lied,” he said, leaning forward with both forearms on the balcony wall, his left arm brushing mine.

“Did I?” I focused on steadying my voice.

“You said you didn’t know I was here at the party when I walked up to your table.”

“Oh, yes. I did lie.” I felt him staring but continued to gaze out at the city. “I didn’t want you to think I was stalking you or something.”

He laughed, leaning left, his shoulder grazing mine. On purpose, for sure.

My senses amped up. “You’re avoiding my question.”

“Am I?”

“Yes, tell me. I want to know what Demetrius Cade, who never speaks to his brother-in-law even at his nephew’s birthday party, could possibly have to say in a little one-on-one conversation.”

“You have been stalking me.” He smirked and pressed closer.

I arched a brow at him and whispered, “Tell me.”

“It was about you actually.”

“Me?”

“The hearing coming up.”

“Oh.” The wind lifted my hair in the night air. I tucked a strand behind one ear. “What about it?”

“As I mentioned at lunch yesterday, I’m afraid this hearing may bring some negative attention your way. Perhaps, even danger.” His frown was back. His lips tightened into a line as he studied me.

“I think you might be worrying too much.”

“No, I’m not. Which is why you might notice someone from Nightwing Security watching out for you at the clinic. And maybe elsewhere.”

“Wait. I’m going to have a bodyguard?”

“Yes. And don’t say you don’t want one. It’s necessary to be cautious about this. At least until the hearing is over.”

I couldn’t help but be a little surprised that Demetrius of all people would take the initiative to protect me. My father and aunt were bringing up clan members for the hearing itself, but they hadn’t prepared for any threats beforehand.

Before Demetrius’s scowl could deepen further, I made a bold declaration. “So what you’re saying is you’re worried about me.”

Just like that, his stiff shoulders rolled forward as if a weight had been dropped. He angled his body toward me, leaning one elbow on the banister and answered my teasing question more directly than I’d anticipated. “Yes. I certainly am.”

My nerves rattled inside me like marbles in a jar. It was all because of Demetrius. I was fine with him in crowds and loud clubs and chatty birthday parties. But alone with the heady mix of his cologne and his masculine scent swirling around me and with those dark eyes tracking my every move, my dragon wanted to stretch out for him and purr. The woman, the part of me who was confident in the clinic but shy in the bedroom, wanted to retreat and hide. As soon as I’d thought it, my wings twitched, brushing against him.

I gasped and pulled them tight again, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

The air shifted, and I felt like I did that day in the elevator—breathless and trapped and extremely aroused at his nearness.

“Shakara,” he said softly.

“Yes?”

“May I take a closer look at your wings?”

“Yes.”

I turned for him, inhaling a deep breath, and opened them partway, keeping one hand on the banister.

“May I touch them?” he asked softly.

“Yes.”

I didn’t want to tell him how sensitive I was to touch on my wings. Some Morgons weren’t at all. But when Demetrius’s hands slid up the arches, sending a sensual shiver through my body, I thought I might come undone. When his fingers caressed along the side edge and back down, I gripped the banister tight.

“They’re quite beautiful,” he said. He had to notice my tremulous state. If he did, he made no note of it.

“Thank you.”

“You’re quite beautiful.”

When he moved his body closer, I could feel the heat of him at my back. He trailed his fingers along the underside of my wings where they were especially soft. He nuzzled his mouth close to my ear. “I want to touch you.”

Needing to hold onto something, I gripped the banister with both hands. I couldn’t breathe. I shouldn’t be behaving this way with him of all men. I felt as if I were stepping into enemy territory, venturing into places I wasn’t meant to go. And yet, he turned me on beyond reason.

“May I?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered, unable to resist him.

He swept my hair over one shoulder then proceeded to kiss his way up one side of my neck. One hand spanned my waist. He glided the other hand over the curve of my shoulder and down my arm, then laced his fingers through mine atop the banister. Yearning for his lips on my skin, I dropped my head back so he could have better access. He took full advantage, brushing feather-light kisses down the column of my throat.

“You know, there are many who would object to this kind of behavior.” He pressed an open-mouthed kiss to that tender spot between my neck and shoulder.

“What, what kind of behavior? There are others doing the same in their own corner of the rooftop.”

“No, couples like us.”

“You mean a Morgon and a human?” I asked, trying not to sound as breathless as I was.

“Yes.” He nipped up my neck with teeth. The sensation flushed me with heat.

“Do you care if people object?”

He stopped and turned me around by the waist.

“Does it bother you?” I repeated.

His voice dropped lower with an edge of strain. “I don’t know.” His fingers banded tighter at my waist. “But not enough for me to stop.”

Before I could form another thought, his lips were hard and determined on mine. The world be damned, for there could be no misunderstanding what he wanted now.

 

About the Author:

Juliette lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona. Multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance, she loves reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

For FREE SHORTS, go to Juliette’s website and get a taste of the Morgon world. You can discover more of Juliette and her books on her website.

Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Juliette-Cross/e/B00MQ18Z1W/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecrossauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/crossjuliette/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7795664.Juliette_Cross
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn
 

Anniversary Giveaway #2

ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY #2!

 

 

This October marks my 12th anniversary as a published writer. It's hard to believe it's been that long. To thank all my readers, I'll be celebrating with giveaways.

 

The second giveaway is posted to my FB Author Page. (It's the pinned post at the top.) So be sure to stop by to enter for a chance to win! (Enter before October 27th)

 

https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor/

 

If you haven't already "Liked" my Author Page, now is the time.

Writer Wednesday--Natasha Moore

Welcome to Writer Wednesday. I'm very happy to welcome Natasha Moore here today! ~NJ

It was only supposed to be a wedding date.

In Choose Me, the first book in my new Silver Fox Romance series, Rick and Eve have known each other for over twenty-five years. Their families had lived next door to each other all that time but now they both find themselves single. Who else would Eve ask to be her date to her daughter’s wedding but a friend who understood it was just a one-time thing?

But things don’t always work out the way they’re planned.

 

 

 

Excerpt:

The Best Bar and Grill was a quick walk down Main from Eve’s building. Rick had never understood how women could walk in those high-heeled shoes, but as they walked together down the sidewalk, he couldn’t help but appreciate how fantastic they made Eve’s long legs look. She wore a classy yellow dress that skimmed her body and matched the color of her strappy sandals. His hand kept wanting to reach out and take hers as they strolled down the block.

The BB&G was owned by Rick’s cousin Jimmy. He waved from behind the bar as Rick and Eve headed for the dining room. “Hey, Ricky!” Jimmy called out. “Two drafts?”

Rick sent him a thumbs-up after Eve nodded, then led her over to a small table in the middle of the dining room. The place was a comfortable mix of homespun diner and sports bar. Sports memorabilia and photographs of local sights shared space on the dark-stained shiplap walls. He shoved the clipboard under his chair and grabbed the menu. Not that he needed it.

He’d felt like an eavesdropper back at Eve’s apartment. He could understand Amy’s confusion and surprise, though. Eve had moved quickly with big changes. But then, her marriage had been over for a while and those thoughts of change might have been hanging around the fringes of her mind since then.

“Hey, guys.” Diane, a long-time waitress, set the chilled mugs in front of them. Her curious gaze bounced back and forth between him and Eve. “You know what you want?” she asked. They ordered the BB&G’s signature burgers and fries to go with the beer.

Anyone who didn’t know Eve would take one look at the elegant persona and assume she only ate lobster and drank champagne. But Eve had sat at a picnic table in their back yard plenty of times. Had downed pitchers of beer with the best of them and polished off burgers and ribs and hot dogs.

He loved how many layers she had. Only her friends knew that the classy woman who sold expensive china and crystal, silver candlesticks and elegant stationary, loved to shop yard sales and flea markets. That the woman who enjoyed entertaining the upper crust when her husband wanted to network, was just as happy cooking marshmallows in the living room fireplace to make s’mores.

But even her friends might be surprised to know that after living in a five-bedroom, four-bath home with landscaped grounds, Eve would be happy moving to a one-bedroom walk-up above her business in the heart of the village.

Of course, she still wanted her steam shower. Rick chuckled at her excitement when he told her he could make it work.

Eve looked up from the menu. “What?”

“Nothing. Sorry. Just thinking about the changes you asked for.”

“Not what you expected?”

He shrugged. “You knew what you wanted. Most people don’t.”

“Do you know this apartment will be the first place I’ve lived on my own? Ever. In my whole life.”

“Really?”

“I moved from home where my dad ruled with an iron fist to a college dormitory with roommates and then married Don as soon as I graduated.” She flashed Rick a cocky grin. It was sexy as hell. “I’m independent for the first time in my life. So yeah, I’m going to ask for what I want this time.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

She nodded and glanced around the dining room. Most of the tables were occupied and more than a few pairs of eyes were trained on them. There was an awkward tension in the air between them and Rick realized he should have thought twice about inviting her to eat in a busy restaurant filled with nosy neighbors.

“The rumors will be starting,” she murmured.

He shrugged, surprised he didn’t care. “I could pick up my clipboard and wave it in the air. We could talk about windows and showers at the top of our lungs.”

She laughed. “Not necessary.” She dropped her voice. “Um…I’ve been wanting to ask you something and now’s as good a time as any.”

“That sounds serious.”

“No. Awkward. Embarrassing.”

She’d made him curious, but at least she hadn’t lost her smile. “Okay? What is it?”

Eve took a deep breath. “The wedding. Amy’s wedding. Do you have a date? Because I don’t. And Don’s going to be there with his cute young wife and—”

She broke off as the door to the restaurant opened and a familiar booming laugh proceeded a fifty-something lawyer and his new twenty-something wife into the place. Eve’s eyes met Rick’s and her hand tightened on her beer mug. Speak of the devil. And of course, Don Corcoran headed straight for their table as soon as he spotted them.

“And I was having such a good time,” Eve murmured. Seeing her ex-husband made her lose the smile and that pissed off Rick more than anything.

He plastered a big grin on his face and grabbed her hand as Don and Tiffany approached. Eve’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say a word. When her ex stopped at their table, Rick looked up, acting surprised. “Oh, hi, Don. How are you?”

Don frowned as his eyes bounced from Eve’s face to her hand in Rick’s. “I never pictured you two as a couple.” His voice was one of those that carried across a crowded room. Probably good for a lawyer in a courtroom, not so good for a jerk in the middle of a restaurant.

Rick shrugged. “Probably some people thought the same about you and Tiff.”

Don’s expression darkened. Tiffany hung back, her hands twisting the strap of her tiny pink purse.

“Did you want something, Don?” Eve asked.

“We need to talk about the wedding.” As if it was obvious.

“Amy’s wedding?”

“Of course, Amy’s wedding.” Don narrowed his eyes. “Is there another wedding I don’t know about?”

Eve’s mouth quirked. She glanced at Rick before she looked back at her ex-husband. “What do we need to talk about?”

“Things,” Donald said dryly.

“Okay, but not now, for heaven’s sake. Call me later and I’ll see when I can fit you in.”

Rick felt her trembling. He squeezed her hand. Diane was heading their way. “Here’s our food.”

Tiffany’s eyes bounced back and forth between them. Her expression looked almost apologetic. “Donny, I’m hungry. Let’s get a table.”

Diane came up with a plate in each hand. “There’s a table free over there by the wall,” she told Tiffany, nodding to the other side of the room. “We’re filling up fast. You might want to grab it.”

Don huffed. “I’ll talk to you later,” he said to Eve. He turned away when Tiffany tugged at his arm.

“Good to see you,” Rick tossed off.

He watched them cross the room, then looked up at Diane. “Thanks.”

Diane smiled as she set down the plates in front of them. “You need anything else?”

Eve shook her head. “Thanks.”

“You guys look good together,” Diane said with a wink. Her silver ponytail bounced as she nodded.

“Oh, we’re not—”

Rick cut Eve off by lifting their still-entwined hands and kissing her knuckles. “Thanks, Di, but this is all still very new. We didn’t expect to get all this attention.”

She rolled her eyes as if to say he should have known better. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Eve tugged her hand free. “Why did you let her think we’re a couple?”

“Eve, everyone in here thinks we’re a couple now. Especially after Don announced it to the world. And you didn’t tell him any different.”

“I know.” She doused her fries with ketchup and vinegar. “What are we going to do now?”

“Nothing unless you want to. I did get the impression you wanted me to ask you to be my date for Amy’s wedding, though.”

And there was that smile again. “I thought I asked you to be my date.”

“That worked out then, didn’t it?” Rick hadn’t expected that rush of…pleasure?...when he thought about it.

“Yeah. I guess.”

“So we’ll just play it casually until the wedding. It’s only a few weeks away, right?” Rick hadn’t realized until now how much he liked the idea of dating Eve. “Then afterward we can say we broke up, if that’s what you want.”

“Of course, we’ll have to break up. We’re not really together.” Her voice had dropped to a loud whisper. “I just got my independence for the first time in my life, Rick. I’m not going to get wrapped up with another guy.”

Rick signaled to Diane to bring him another beer. Maybe he should have gone for the whiskey. “Glad to know I’m just another guy to you.”

“That didn’t come out right, but you know what I mean. This isn’t a real date. We’re not really a couple.”

He downed the rest of his first beer. “Pity.”

 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNH56I
B&N: http://bit.ly/2dBQuP1
Apple: http://apple.co/2dyaS7a
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dKWPMO

Natasha

www.natashamoore.com

 

I'm at Kate Hill's Compelling Beasts Blog and her Halloween Page!

I'm over at KATE HILL'S COMPELLING BEASTS BLOG today. Stop by and check out the Story Sample for EMBRACING SILENCE!

I'm also participating in KATE HILL'S 12TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PAGE. Drop by to find out what my favorite Halloween movie is.

Writer Wednesday--Jody Wallace

I'm happy to welcome Jody Wallace to Writer Wednesday! ~NJ

 

So, PRODIGAL, the third book of my science fiction romance Maelstrom trilogy, is my twenty-somethingth book, depending on how you count. But every book an author writes is the first something. I was reflecting the other day about PRODIGAL and what its firsts are.

 

PRODIGAL IS MY FIRST:

 

1) Amnesia story. The hero, Adam Alsing, was such an idiot prior to book 1 of the trilogy that he almost destroyed the world. In book 3, he doesn’t remember a bit of it.

 

2) African American heroine. I’ve written protagonists of various types before, from alien to human, but PRODIGAL’s heroine, Claire Lawson, is an African American former army brat who kicks so much ass that right now she’s my favorite heroine ever. She cusses a lot, too, which is what she and I have the most in common.

 

3) Protagonist with a kid. Claire again. Technically, in book 2, I wrote about the father of Claire’s daughter, Nikolas, but the baby hadn’t been born yet. In PRODIGAL I got to tackle how a character involved in a dangerous adventure romance handles motherhood. I have to say I kinda chickened out on this one. I had Claire wisely send her daughter to Nikolas, who was in a safer place, for most of the book. As someone who found parenting small children supremely unromantic (LOL), it may still be awhile before I can suspend my own disbelief enough to write a romance about a parent or parents of young children in which the kids are in the book all the time.

4) End to a trilogy. I’ve written series books before, but PRODIGAL definitely wraps up the trilogy arc that began in ANGELI. Some series are kind of ongoing stories that take place in the same world but sort of stand alone. Others are neverending epics that require you read every single book in order. The Maelstrom trilogy falls in between those – you can pick up the books in any order, but there are narrative arcs that begin in ANGELI and get finished in PRODIGAL. Very satisfying!

 

 

 

Now for a little more information about the book:

 

He nearly destroyed the world, but with her help, he can save it.

 

Sheriff Claire Lawson has all the trouble she can handle keeping the peace in her post-apocalyptic town. When the one guy who could have prevented the apocalypse interrupts her supply run, naked and bereft of memories, she tries to convince the Shipborn aliens to shelter the former Chosen One. But there are too many unanswered questions about his survival, so it’s not safe for him to leave the planet.

 

Adam Alsing—at least that’s what they tell him his name is—just knows he wants to stay with Claire. Yeah, he doesn’t remember being a global failure, but Claire’s the one thing he encounters that makes him feel grounded. Grounded and kind of turned on, but these are serious times. He’ll help her protect her town since he couldn’t save the world, but first he’s got to appease a suspicious government, a prying sentient Ship, and every human who hates him for being the man he can’t remember being.

 

Book page at my website with excerpt: http://jodywallace.com/books/prodigal/

 

Buy links if needed:

https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Maelstrom-Chronicles-Jody-Wallace-ebook/dp/B01KFX62HQ

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prodigal-jody-wallace/1124359525?ean=9781633757448

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/prodigal/id1144094414

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/prodigal/id1144094414

 

For fans of: 

INDEPENDENCE DAY

PACIFIC RIM

REVOLUTION

DEFIANCE

WALKING DEAD

 

 

Short Bio:

Jody Wallace grew up in the South in a very rural area. She went to school a long time and ended up with a Master's Degree in Creative Writing. Her resume includes college English instructor, technical documents editor, market analyst, web designer, and all around pain in the butt. She resides in Tennessee with one husband, two children, one Grandma, six cats, and a lot of junk.

 

Social Media Links: 

Website: http://www.jodywallace.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodywallace      
FB Author: https://www.facebook.com/JodyWallaceAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/realmeankitty/
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/jodywallace 

Newsletter: https://madmimi.com/signups/104974/join

Tip Tuesday!

My Tip for Carina Press Tip Tuesday.

Embracing Silence is out TODAY!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the rerelease of Embracing Silence, the first book in the Project Alpha series. Thank you to Carina Press for making this possible!

Watch for Assassin's Awakening (formerly Have Mercy) on November 28th and Alpha's Revenge (formerly Sweet Charity) on December 19th!

EMBRACING SILENCE

 

In the erotic first installment of the Project Alpha trilogy, a violent wasteland becomes the backdrop for two assassins who arouse in each other much more than fear and suspicion

Earth 2133

The hunter becomes the hunted

Tienan is Alpha One, created by the privileged few who live shielded from a lawless land. He's been honed into the perfect involuntary weapon—vengeful, adaptable and ruthless. Finally free of the evil organization that created him, he's on the run with one option to survive outside the Gate: avoid recapture, even if that means killing again. But the sexy little stalker following him is too delicious to take out. 

The captive becomes the captor

Silence is a tracker with the Resistance, a rebel force amassed to end the reign of terror. For Silence to trust Tienan is a risk, but to resist his brutal prowess is impossible.

Enemies become lovers

As raw sexual need takes over, alliances will shift and treachery could become as potent—and as lethal—as desire.

Previously published, newly revised by author

 

 BUY LINKS:

Carina: http://www.carinapress.com/shop/books/9781488024559_embracing-silence.html

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01JBLHC04

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/gl9y2qw

All Romance ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-embracingsilence-2095788-340.html

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/embracing-silence-2