Read an #Excerpt from Into the Dark #ParanormalRomance #PortalFantasy #Witches #Zombies #KindleVella

  

Have You Fallen Into the Dark?

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

People in a small town are disappearing. Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, makes it her mission to find them. A mysterious tip sends her searching a wealthy family's secluded mansion where she discovers more than she ever thought possible.

Witches are real.

And as punishment for her intrusion, they cast her into a world where magic feeds from the living.

Oh, and zombies are real, too.

With the help of a handsome stranger, Allison fights for a way home. While she learns what it takes to survive in this nightmarish world, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious man who saves her time and again from the monsters who roam the forest.

Can they find a way home together?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

 

Excerpt:

The footsteps echoed closer.

She scanned the area, searching for an object she might use as a weapon. There was nothing except some debris in the far corner, what looked like leaves and old rags. Nothing she could use to defend herself. 

Allison’s heart thumped so loudly it became difficult to listen to the footsteps as they drew closer. All she heard was the drumming of blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t see anything beyond the archway leading to this room. The source of the dim light originated from somewhere to the left of the opening, but beyond that, she didn’t know what might be out there.

Fear made her feet scurry until her back hit the stone wall beside the wooden ladder. She didn’t know what to do. Whatever was down here had been put here for a purpose. 

Some animal? A bear, wolf or lion? Starved until the sisters fed him. Was she supposed to be sacrificed as dinner? 

Was that why they said they hadn’t killed any of their victims? They’d thrown them into a hole in the ground and let an animal finish their dirty work. Semantics, but maybe that’s how they viewed it.

Allison wasn’t ready to die, but she didn’t know how to defend herself against an animal without a weapon either. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of in a situation such as this. 

She hid.

Allison crawled beneath the wooden ladder, curling her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She wanted to tuck her face into her knees to hide, but she couldn’t take her gaze off the archway. She needed to see what animal approached.

If she kept still, perhaps whatever walked in this direction would pass the opening, not noticing her presence.

She waited, heart thundering as she clutched her arms around her knees. The footsteps got closer. They weren’t hurried. The steps sounded slow. Sluggish. Cautious.

Stalking? Hunting?

Allison wished to close her eyes.

I’m invisible. I’m invisible. 

If she kept repeating the words in her mind, they might come true. 

It will walk by. It won’t see me. I’m invisible.

A tall shadow appeared in the opening. As it stepped into the chamber, she recognized a human shape, not an animal as she’d expected. 

A man.

He stepped cautiously, his feet shuffling forward. He was tall. Well over 6 feet.

As he approached, he turned enough to allow the low light to illuminate his face. He had shaggy brown hair and a long, thin, narrow face covered with an unkempt beard. His blank expression sent a shiver of apprehension racing through her.

Something about his stance, the way he approached the chamber made her uneasy. He walked slowly into the room, aimlessly stepping from left to right and left again with no obvious direction. 

Perhaps, if she remained hidden in the poor light, he’d turn and leave. 

Although, how could he not see her? The ladder was not solid wood. There were open slats. She curled beneath, searching for protection, but the low light from the doorway must be enough to illuminate the area. She was sure there wasn’t much shadow beneath the ladder to keep her hidden. 

Yet, he didn’t see her. And why didn’t he move his gaze to search the room? He stared straight ahead, neither looking left nor right, up nor down. Simply straight in front of him.

He held a long, sturdy stick in his hand. As he shuffled near, she realized the point of it was sharpened. Like a makeshift spear. 

A weapon. 

He was armed.

Had this man killed those victims? Would she be next?

Allison wanted to duck her head and cry, but she was too frightened. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on the man as he walked across the room. The space wasn’t large, perhaps 15 feet at its widest. And he was only a few steps away. It wouldn’t take much for him to turn in her direction and use the spear to attack her. 

As he walked past her hidden spot, she noticed his clothing. Faded blue t-shirt and tan trousers, badly torn and filthy. Not only dirt stained his clothes, but something else, too.

Was it mud? 

Or was it… blood?

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

Love Never Dies... or does it? #NewRelease #Excerpt #pnr #ParanormalRomance #UrbanFantasy #ReincarnationRomance

 

Love never dies ... or does it?

Enter worlds where death is not the end, and love is so strong it brings you back over and over again until you get it right.

Vampires, magic, twists and turns, these limited edition stories have everything your heart desires.

Included in this set is my steamy vampire romance, A Whisper from the Grave.

A Whisper from the Grave

Josie Drummond breathes life onto canvas as she paints compelling portraits and scenes of people who lived and died long ago. The images are inspired by the brief flashes she witnesses during intensely painful migraine episodes. She thinks it’s just her creativity at work until the man in her paintings walks into her life one Christmas Eve. And if what she sees in her imagination is true then… Antonio is no ordinary man.

He’s a vampire.

Antonio is shocked to discover his undead life portrayed on canvases hanging along Jackson Square. Even more mysterious is the woman who paints them. How can a woman from the 21st century know of his dark past in a life he lived hundreds of years ago?

Excerpt:

His image was much more discernable on these canvases. Josie had several scenes of his unobstructed face as he gazed adoringly at the woman beneath him.

Comparing them now… there was no mistake.

The man standing in her room was the same man in her dreams. The same man portrayed in her paintings.

He stood frozen as he gazed upon them. She didn’t even think he breathed. She couldn’t tell what he was feeling for his face had become a mask set in stone.

Yet, his eyes…

Dark, fathomless eyes that almost appeared black. Josie knew from the time spent painting those eyes that they were indeed the color of slate. A deep, dark blue gray that held passion and pain. Hope and regret.

“Your name is Antonio, isn’t it?” Her timid voice sounded squeaky to her own ears. She coughed gently to clear her throat. “I know who… what you are.”

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New Chapters for Into the Dark! #Excerpt #PNR #suspense #witches #zombies #strangerstolovers #KindleVella #Vella #VellaRomance

 

Into the Dark has new chapters to read! Episodes #48 and #49 are now available and #50 will be published later this week. We're nearing the end of this story, so I hope you've been enjoying the ride!

Here's a quick, sneak peek at the newest installment:

Excerpt:

“I’m going with you.” Her hair muffled Brian’s voice as he spoke into the crook of her neck.

She licked her lips, baffled by his statement.

“What?”

Brian rolled onto his side, leaving a chill of empty air above her. She grasped at the only blanket they had, but since they both lay atop it, she could only use the edge to cover herself. Not that it mattered, she reminded herself and felt foolish for feeling so exposed. Brian couldn’t see her nakedness. Not without his hands.

She had the sudden urge to take his hands and place them on her body again.

“When you leave,” Brian clarified with a relaxed sigh. “I’m going with you.”

Allison blinked, then moved, lifting herself onto her elbow so she could face him.

“You can’t.”

He grunted an unamused laugh. “Who says?”

“I say. They need you here.”

“They need more than I can give them, Ally.”

“You’re all they have.”

Brian sighed, and the sadness he carried within started to chip away at his relaxed and sated state.

“They don’t need me. Ally, they need medicines we don’t have. They need hospitals and doctors who can heal them. People who can see them.” He scowled and the serene expression from a moment ago faded completely. “And I don’t want to leave you alone with Donovan.”

She huffed. “You don’t trust me?”

“I don’t trust Donovan,” he amended. “And I can’t stand the thought of not hearing your voice. Even for a day.”

Emotion swelled within her, striking her silent. Her throat clenched tight. She couldn’t speak for fear of having him hear her tears in her voice.

A loud knock sounded at the door.

“Break’s over,” Brian sighed, turning his face from her. Dismay and heartache settled once again into his expression as he got out of bed, searched the floor for his clothes with his hands and began dressing. 

Allison’s lips parted, wanting still to say the words, but the moment was gone. She shut her mouth, frowning.

Later.

Maybe tomorrow.

Then she'd tell him.

First 3 chapters are FREE to read!

Tis the Season for Romance #HolidayRomance #PNR #Excerpt

  

My short holiday romance, A Haunting for Christmas, is included in Tis the Season for Romance Anthology.

This collection is filled with over 20 heartfelt romance novellas with guaranteed happily-ever-afters!

I posted an excerpt for you to read over at Sweet 'N Sexy Divas!

Happy Holidays!

READ NOW

The Witch and the Wolf #Excerpt ~ The Merriweather Witches #pnr #witchromance #shifter #shifterlovers

It's Halloween season! One of my favorite times of year! And a perfect time for sharing excerpts of The Merriweather Witches.

This is a romance series that combines two of my favorite genres, historical and paranormal. This series follows a family of witches in Regency-era England as they discover romance and love, as well as some otherworldly complications to their lives. I hope you enjoy!

Lord Jeremy North's curse is to become a werewolf during every full moon, turning into a bloodthirsty monster that kills with no remorse. When he finds a woman nearly frozen upon his doorstep, his sense of honor compels him to help her, even at the risk he might kill her himself.

Lillian Merriweather hadn't planned to get caught in a blizzard while traveling the English countryside. Nor had she planned on finding refuge in a house full of secrets. But Lillian has secrets of her own. And what she's running from is not far behind...

Excerpt:

"You have need to remove those clothes," he said, hesitantly.

Lillian watched him warily as he took another step toward the door. "If you can manage to undress yourself, I'll fetch you something you can wear." Without another word, he disappeared.

She stared after him, wondering why he had not summoned a maid to assist her. She looked at her hands which remained numb. It would be impossible for her to unbutton anything with her fingers motionless from the cold.

Shivering, she knew she needed to make the attempt. If he refused to send anyone to help her, which Lillian considered rude, then she would just have to resort to helping herself. In normal circumstances, she would be quite capable. Circumstances being what they were, however...

She let the blanket fall from her shoulders as she fumbled with the buttons on the front of her frock. Good thing they were in the front, for if they had been in the back as some of her other dresses, it would have been an impossibility to disrobe. Though, try as she might, her fingers refused the simple commands she gave them. It seemed an inordinate amount of time before she saw a shadow fall across her lap.

Lillian looked up to see him watching her. He had changed his robe into breeches and a hastily buttoned shirt. His feet, though, were bare.

"Forgive my dishabille," he said. "It is not often we receive visitors at these hours."

"I cannot expect you would," she said, smiling regretfully. She lifted her hands to him by way of explanation. "I am having a bit of difficulty. I'm afraid my hands are quite useless at the moment."

He stared intensely and she felt she had inconvenienced him in some way.

"If you might send a maid to assist me..."

"There is none."

"What?"

"We have no maid at the moment, miss. In fact, there is no one at present save Amery and myself." He grimaced as he spoke, and she realized the quandary she had placed upon them.

"Oh," she muttered, truly at a loss for words of any kind. How unusual that he should be derelict of staff. She had noticed no neglect. The rooms she had occupied seemed well tended, and she could not imagine he and the man named Amery would do all the housework themselves.

He seemed to read her thoughts because he continued, "Once a month, I give my staff a paid holiday, and they return to their families or visit friends in the village. Amery is the only one who remains here to assist me. So you see, we are quite uncertain as to what to do with you."

Lillian nodded her understanding, looking again at the dreaded buttons that now appeared as steel manacles.

“You cannot remain in those wet clothes,” he added as an unnecessary reminder.

Her breath caught in her throat as the only possibility for their situation tumbled into her head. She glanced speculatively at him to see if he had come upon the same conclusion.

“You will catch your death of cold if we wait for your hands to thaw,” he added, as if he needed to convince himself. His face and tone became serious as he continued, “I offer you my assistance. I promise I am a gentleman above reproach. What occurs here will stay within this room and no further. No one ever need know how I helped you. Do you understand?”

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

Then Lillian gave a solemn nod, casting her gaze to the floor. She felt beyond compromised, but what did that matter in her situation? In fact, it might improve her situation if she dealt with her problems in the correct manner. Her current dilemma needed to be seen to at once. The snow had crept through her cloak and soaked her dress. It clung cold and uncomfortable around her every curve. She knew, as did he, the thing must be removed.

He moved forward, closing the gap between them until he stood directly before her. Keeping her gaze lowered did nothing to benefit her. She saw his feet first, and she shivered. Other than her father, she had never seen a man’s bare feet before. She would have never considered such appendages appealing, but she had to admit she felt her breath hitch in her throat as she watched those strong, masculine feet step closer to her.

Then his hands filled her vision. Large hands, the backs, of which, lightly sprinkled with dark hair. He reached toward her chest, and she inhaled sharply as he began unclasping the buttons.

She shut her eyes at the sight of the man, a stranger no less, undressing her. Her body tensed, and Lillian held her breath determined not to notice his every movement. Tried to ignore the touch of his knuckles brushing against her breasts. However innocent his actions may be, she could not stop her nipples from tightening nor could she stop the sudden yearning that his hands might wander farther.

Her face flamed at her secret thoughts. Her body warmed, hotter than any fire. It felt as if her blood might boil at her sudden wanton wishes. She felt his breath on her face and inhaled softly, breathing in that intoxicating mixture of tobacco, brandy and pine.

She began to tremble but could not determine whether the cold affected her or his present actions.

"I find that I have never had the need of introductions with a lady while I disrobed her," he said, his voice soft and slightly amused. "Might I take the opportunity now? I am Lord Jeremy North."

Amazon | Universal

The Merriweather Witches series:

The Witch and the Wolf (Book 1)

The Witch and the Vampire (Book 2)

The Witch's Thief (Book 3)

The Witch's Kiss (Book 4)

Warrior in Chains by Luna Jade ~ #AlienEmbrace Collection #Excerpt #SciFiRomance

Warrior in Chains by Luna Jade

I've seen him on my trips to the wasteland. The chained warrior is a prisoner to a faction of militants who have claimed power and dominion over Mazian.

He's not one of them but a half-breed warrior from another planet. I can't escape his gaze when he catches me stealing from the guard's stores. He could have raised the alarm, taken me to trade for a favor, or probably killed me with his bare hands. He is that undeniably fierce and strong. But he did the unexpected. He hid me when the guards came, and took the blame for the trespass sirens I'd set off.

So, I'm doing the only humane thing in return. I'm freeing the chained warrior...

Excerpt:

Drip-drop…stringy tendrils of wetness slid down my forehead. Wiping the goo away, I brought my hand into view to see it was...blood. Bile instantly bubbled up from my stomach. The sound of snapping jaws above me, known to be more powerful than a dragon's jaw, had my heart in my throat along with the bile. Suddenly, my whole body tensed up, a burning sensation of something sharp skittered across the back of my neck. 

A claw.  

I reacted to the pain by jolting to the side and stepped into a slimy puddle of guts, doing exactly what I didn't want to do. No, no, no! 

Quickly, I grabbed the edge, digging my long nails into the rough terrain. This is not how I planned it to go. I had to come up with a backup plan and fast. My grip on the edge was slipping, causing an idea to pop into my head; if you wanted to outsmart a wild creature, you had to think like one. What did a Feral want more than anything? 

 Fresh blood.  

The Mazian cliffs had serrated edges, so I slid my wrist across the jagged rock, gritting my teeth and lacerating my skin in between my scales deep enough to draw blood. I held my wrist over the darkness below, praying to the star Gods my plan would work. "Do you want it?" I beamed up, looking the red-eyed beast square in the eyes. It reared back on all fours, answering with an ear-shattering roar. Still, it was do or die. "Then come and get it." I gave my wrist a shake, sending drops of my blood into the black hole. 

GRRR! 

The enormous creature leaped down into the depths below following the trail of blood to its impending doom. I didn't waste another minute, pulling up the side of the cliff, breaking my nails in the process. I leaned against the wall of the cliff, unable to reel in air. The cracking of his bones hitting the ground below echoed all

Aliens move among us—warriors, soldiers, explorers, and more—testing fate and finding love with their true mates. And they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure their human mates remain forever caught in their Alien Embrace.

This hot new collection brings you all the best in science fiction alien romances from New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors.

Our heroes and heroines will satisfy your cravings for every kind of alien romance, whether you prefer slow-burn or fast, one hot hero or two…or more.

Get this steamy new collection of alien romances from the best, new, and up-and-coming voices in sci-fi romance.

https://books2read.com/alienembrace

Find out more about the authors of Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances.

Read teasers, chapters, excerpts and more from the authors in this collection!

Get bonus content and a free gift!

https://www.alienembrace.net

FREE BOOK

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ENTER THE ALIEN EMBRACE GIVEAWAY

Seized by the Alien Berserker by Lucee Joie ~ #AlienEmbrace #Excerpt #scifiromance

Seized by the Alien Berserker by Lucee Joie

Enter the barbaric world of the Vikingr Berserkers.

With their rage jacked up to brutal levels, they are either shipped off to a remote island to fight among themselves or pitted against other deadly creatures in exhibition short events.

Yet, Grim is different.

Sure, he can feel the all-encompassing rage, but he knows there is more to him than just his compulsion to kill.

Plus, that human hottie that just entered the arena - the one he is supposed to kill - well, she's just straight-up gorgeous.

She's feisty too and that somehow speaks to the part of him that doesn't want to be the monster he was born as.

Can Erica change Grim? Can she help him to become the man he always knew he could be?

If you desire a happily ever after with unbelievably hot alien Vikings, no cheating, and steamy sex scenes then grab your copy today! 

Chapter One: Erica

I am running. Running so fast that it feels like I am flying and the feeling is exhilarating.

Yet, at the same time, I am desperate to pull up, to stop my frenetic dash toward the woman in front of me. I want her. I want her so badly that I can taste it in my mouth along with the dry dust that is kicked up and swallowed as I hurl myself across the arena.

But I also don’t want her. Well, not in the way that I should want her during this exhibition. No, I desire her in a way that I can’t explain. Maybe when the drug fog clears my rage, I will be able to set the feeling into words. But, for now, I simply indescribably need her.

As I approach, I can see a ray of sunlight as it highlights her milky skin and her black as coal hair. It is pulled back severely into a bun, parted harshly in the middle, making her look like some sort of fierce warrior. She stares me down, her icy blue eyes cutting me with her piercing gaze.

I falter.

The drug in my system forces me to keep running even though I stumble blindly against it. I want to turn away and not rip her apart in the most gruesome manner.

Also, behind me, somewhere, is a lindworm.

It is the only thing that doesn’t allow me to stop completely, to fight against the rage that courses through my veins. If I slow down or deviate, it will pass me.

It will kill her.

I want to kill her too but that is the drug needling its way into my mind. I roar out against the notion and the woman doesn’t even flinch at my display.

Aliens move among us—warriors, soldiers, explorers, and more—testing fate and finding love with their true mates. And they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure their human mates remain forever caught in their Alien Embrace.

This hot new collection brings you all the best in science fiction alien romances from New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors.

Our heroes and heroines will satisfy your cravings for every kind of alien romance, whether you prefer slow-burn or fast, one hot hero or two…or more.

Get this steamy new collection of alien romances from the best, new, and up-and-coming voices in sci-fi romance.

https://books2read.com/alienembrace

Find out more about the authors of Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances.

Read teasers, chapters, excerpts and more from the authors in this collection!

Get bonus content and a free gift!

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ENTER THE ALIEN EMBRACE GIVEAWAY

Her Alien Warrior ~ #AlienEmbrace Collection #Excerpt #scifiromance

 

Her Alien Warrior by Tricia Schneider

When Zarick’s spaceship crashes on an abandoned planet, the last thing he expects to find is a human woman and her son. As she nurses him back to health, he vows to protect the family who has taken him in, never believing he might lose his heart.

 

With the translator broken, Thalassa struggles to communicate with the sexy alien. Is he friend or foe? As war rages in the skies above, she begins to dream of a new life filled with tender love and possibility.

 

But when the battle in space threatens their lives, Thalassa must do all she can to save her alien warrior.

Excerpt:

She stepped into the tub, careful not to slosh the water over the sides and disrupt her candles. Then she slowly sank into the heated water.

Soapy bubbles encased her body, rising to her chin. Once she fully submerged, she leaned against the rim, closing her eyes, allowing her body to relax in the warm, scented water.

She lost track of how long she stayed in her bath. Eventually, she cleansed her body and hair. But after all that work was complete, she was reluctant to part from the water.

In the distance, she heard the beginnings of a thunderstorm approaching, yet still she remained in her reclined pose. She didn’t want to let go of this rare moment of tranquility.

That was how Zarick found her.

The door swung open, bringing a breeze to disrupt the flames of the candles. The cool air touched the wet flesh of her upper body. Goose pimples erupted.

Thalassa’s eyes flew open, a startled gasp escaping as she surged upright. Water sloshed over the sides of the bathtub from her abrupt movement, and she locked eyes with Zarick.

She didn’t know what he had expected when he entered, but his eyes widened at the sight of her. His mouth opened, then closed as his gaze traveled from her face and then lower to the twin peaks of her breasts just above the soapy bubbles.

Her nipples hardened. Whether in response to the cool air or the sudden heat flaring within his eyes, she couldn’t be sure.

“What are you doing?” Thalassa let out a wispy breath as she moved her arms to cover her exposed breasts.

For a split second, she regretted her rash movement. A sudden flash of an erotic fantasy enraptured her mind. The thought of Zarick joining her in the bath made her body warm and tingly.

A reaction that had nothing to do with the water.

Zarick’s mouth moved. For a moment, he struggled to force the words out. 

At last, he said, “Ryon.”

Just one word. Her son’s name. But with his worried tone of voice came the meaning Zarick couldn’t convey with words alone.

Ryon wasn’t home.

Thalassa frowned, her gaze dipping to the bubbly water surrounding the tops of her knees.

How long had she been in here? Hours, it seemed. Long enough that Ryon should have returned home by now.

Something must be wrong.

She met Zarick’s troubled gaze and knew he had concluded the same.

She lifted her hand, pointing at the counter by the sink.

“Hand me that towel.”

Zarick grabbed the towel, opening it for her. She stood, letting the water cascade from her body as she wrapped the towel around her, hiding from his view.

“I need to get dressed.” She waved her hand for him to leave the room. He nodded but seemed to hesitate, his gaze still traveling her body, even covered with a towel. He stared for a moment at her exposed feet, and again that erotic warmth cocooned her.

Then he blinked. He turned, clutched his one crutch and cloed the door behind him.

Thalassa breathed heavily, focusing on getting air into her lungs.

Worry for Ryon overtook her desire to continue whatever had happened in this room with Zarick.

Because something had happened. Something unspoken had passed between them. She didn’t know what or how, but she felt it deep within.

It was a sensation she yearned to explore at another time. After she knew Ryon was well and safe.

Aliens move among us—warriors, soldiers, explorers, and more—testing fate and finding love with their true mates. And they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure their human mates remain forever caught in their Alien Embrace.

This hot new collection brings you all the best in science fiction alien romances from New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors.

Our heroes and heroines will satisfy your cravings for every kind of alien romance, whether you prefer slow-burn or fast, one hot hero or two…or more.

Get this steamy new collection of alien romances from the best, new, and up-and-coming voices in sci-fi romance.

https://books2read.com/alienembrace

Find out more about the authors of Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances.

Read teasers, chapters, excerpts and more from the authors in this collection!

Get bonus content and a free gift!

https://www.alienembrace.net

FREE BOOK

FREE GIFT

ENTER THE ALIEN EMBRACE GIVEAWAY

The Witch and the Wolf #Excerpt #pnr #paranormalromance

For the next few weeks, I'll be adding excerpts to my blog for readers to enjoy. The Merriweather Witches is a series that combines two of my favorite genres, historical and paranormal romance. This series follows a family of witches in Regency-era England as they discover romance and love, as well as some otherworldly complications to their lives. The Witch and the Wolf is the first book in the series. It's a novella-sized romance and remains one of my most favorite stories.

Lord Jeremy North's curse is to become a werewolf during every full moon, turning into a bloodthirsty monster that kills with no remorse. When he finds a woman nearly frozen upon his doorstep, his sense of honor compels him to help her, even at the risk he might kill her himself.

Lillian Merriweather hadn't planned to get caught in a blizzard while traveling the English countryside. Nor had she planned on finding refuge in a house full of secrets. But Lillian has secrets of her own. And what she's running from is not far behind...

Excerpt:

"You have need to remove those clothes," he said, hesitantly.

Lillian watched him warily as he took another step toward the door. "If you can manage to undress yourself, I'll fetch you something you can wear." Without another word, he disappeared.

She stared after him, wondering why he had not summoned a maid to assist her. She looked at her hands which remained numb. It would be impossible for her to unbutton anything with her fingers motionless from the cold.

Shivering, she knew she needed to make the attempt. If he refused to send anyone to help her, which Lillian considered rude, then she would just have to resort to helping herself. In normal circumstances, she would be quite capable. Circumstances being what they were, however...

She let the blanket fall from her shoulders as she fumbled with the buttons on the front of her frock. Good thing they were in the front, for if they had been in the back as some of her other dresses, it would have been an impossibility to disrobe. Though, try as she might, her fingers refused the simple commands she gave them. It seemed an inordinate amount of time before she saw a shadow fall across her lap.

Lillian looked up to see him watching her. He had changed his robe into breeches and a hastily buttoned shirt. His feet, though, were bare.

"Forgive my dishabille," he said. "It is not often we receive visitors at these hours."

"I cannot expect you would," she said, smiling regretfully. She lifted her hands to him by way of explanation. "I am having a bit of difficulty. I'm afraid my hands are quite useless at the moment."

He stared intensely and she felt she had inconvenienced him in some way.

"If you might send a maid to assist me..."

"There is none."

"What?"

"We have no maid at the moment, miss. In fact, there is no one at present save Amery and myself." He grimaced as he spoke, and she realized the quandary she had placed upon them.

"Oh," she muttered, truly at a loss for words of any kind. How unusual that he should be derelict of staff. She had noticed no neglect. The rooms she had occupied seemed well tended, and she could not imagine he and the man named Amery would do all the housework themselves.

He seemed to read her thoughts because he continued, "Once a month, I give my staff a paid holiday, and they return to their families or visit friends in the village. Amery is the only one who remains here to assist me. So you see, we are quite uncertain as to what to do with you."

Lillian nodded her understanding, looking again at the dreaded buttons that now appeared as steel manacles.

“You cannot remain in those wet clothes,” he added as an unnecessary reminder.

Her breath caught in her throat as the only possibility for their situation tumbled into her head. She glanced speculatively at him to see if he had come upon the same conclusion.

“You will catch your death of cold if we wait for your hands to thaw,” he added, as if he needed to convince himself. His face and tone became serious as he continued, “I offer you my assistance. I promise I am a gentleman above reproach. What occurs here will stay within this room and no further. No one ever need know how I helped you. Do you understand?”

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

Then Lillian gave a solemn nod, casting her gaze to the floor. She felt beyond compromised, but what did that matter in her situation? In fact, it might improve her situation if she dealt with her problems in the correct manner. Her current dilemma needed to be seen to at once. The snow had crept through her cloak and soaked her dress. It clung cold and uncomfortable around her every curve. She knew, as did he, the thing must be removed.

He moved forward, closing the gap between them until he stood directly before her. Keeping her gaze lowered did nothing to benefit her. She saw his feet first, and she shivered. Other than her father, she had never seen a man’s bare feet before. She would have never considered such appendages appealing, but she had to admit she felt her breath hitch in her throat as she watched those strong, masculine feet step closer to her.

Then his hands filled her vision. Large hands, the backs, of which, lightly sprinkled with dark hair. He reached toward her chest, and she inhaled sharply as he began unclasping the buttons.

She shut her eyes at the sight of the man, a stranger no less, undressing her. Her body tensed, and Lillian held her breath determined not to notice his every movement. Tried to ignore the touch of his knuckles brushing against her breasts. However innocent his actions may be, she could not stop her nipples from tightening nor could she stop the sudden yearning that his hands might wander farther.

Her face flamed at her secret thoughts. Her body warmed, hotter than any fire. It felt as if her blood might boil at her sudden wanton wishes. She felt his breath on her face and inhaled softly, breathing in that intoxicating mixture of tobacco, brandy and pine.

She began to tremble but could not determine whether the cold affected her or his present actions.

"I find that I have never had the need of introductions with a lady while I disrobed her," he said, his voice soft and slightly amused. "Might I take the opportunity now? I am Lord Jeremy North."

https://books2read.com/TheWitchandtheWolf

The Merriweather Witches series:

The Witch and the Wolf (Book 1)

The Witch and the Vampire (Book 2)

The Witch's Thief (Book 3)

The Witch's Kiss (Book 4)

MFRW Book Hooks: Loving Boone #MFRWHooks #MFRWAuthor #ParanormalRomance

I'm joining the Marketing For Romance Writers Book Hooks this week! Today, I'm going to share an excerpt from my paranormal shifter romance, Loving Boone. This is the first book in the Cougar Shifters series.

Blurb:

Beth-Ann Miller returns to her Tennessee mountain home to find chaos erupting between her survivalist family and their shape-shifting neighbors. Her father is convinced the were-cougar clan is responsible for the murders occurring in their area and interrogates one of the shifters, Boone Evans, her childhood sweetheart. When Boone declares several members of his shifter family have gone missing including his little brother, Beth-Ann suspects someone else is behind both the murders and abductions.

Boone never expected to see Beth-Ann again. When she frees him from her father's cabin and promises to help him find his brother, Boone doesn't plan on rekindling their passionate love affair or facing the pain of past mistakes. Nor does he plan on coming face to face with the man responsible for altering his family's life forever.

With men hunting the were-cougars, can Beth-Ann and Boone risk all to have a future together? Or is loving Boone too high a price to pay?

Excerpt:

          Boone returned her stare, his green-eyed gaze boring fiercely into her heart, her father's rage reflected there. It wounded her to see him look at her with such fury.
          Although they hadn't parted on the best of terms when she left for college, she had done nothing to hurt his people. And she didn't believe her father would either.
          But Boone stared with such accusation, he didn't need to verbalize his thoughts.
          She was one of them.
          Beth-Ann parted her lips, trying to think of something appropriate to say. Nothing seemed right. What words could she say to fix this? To fix what happened between them.
          There was nothing.
          So, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.
          When she opened her eyes, he remained straining against his bonds and staring as if he wanted to cut her apart.
          But this was Boone.
          He'd never hurt her.
          She stepped forward. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her Uncle Travis about to protest, but she raised her hand to silence him. She stopped when she was an arm's length away from Boone.
          He kept his gaze fastened with hers, not even blinking as she approached.
          Beth-Ann gently pushed a few sweat-soaked strands of hair out of his face so she could view his injuries better.
          She gasped at the blood seeping from several cuts on his cheeks and around his eyes. Redness discolored his cheekbones from the impact of her father's fists and swelling was not far behind.
          His face was going to be one big bruise.
          Even as she stared, the flesh around his left eye was growing puffy.
          "You're going to need ice," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
          "I'm going to need that knife," he answered, nodding to the dagger still sunk into the floorboards.
          "Not here," she said with a shake of her head. Her father wouldn't kill him. It wasn't in his nature. "No one will hurt you here."
          "Not anymore?"
          She flinched.
          This wasn't the Boone she left behind. It was as if she gazed into a stranger's face expecting to see the boy she remembered. He might look the same, but his eyes had changed. His soul had changed. He'd been wounded in ways she couldn't comprehend.
          And, he had it right. Despite her beliefs, he'd been hurt by her father's hand. Geoffrey already inflicted injuries on him that might have killed a normal human.
          But Boone wasn't human, was he?
   

AMAZON

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

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Be sure to check out the other Book Hooks!

Happy Reading! 

~Tricia

Ice Princess #Excerpt #FantasyRomance #FairytaleRomance

Ice magic and a passion that burns...

Princess Lily is determined to save her kingdom from the evil influence of the sorcerer in their midst. When she makes a stand, he curses her beloved to turn into a dragon and casts a spell that seals her in a block of ice where she sleeps for all eternity.

Eternity arrives earlier than expected when Rick Stamos tears down a wall to the tavern he's renovating. He never expects to find a woman encased in ice hidden in his basement. After melting the ice, he's more surprised when the woman wakes and claims he is her beloved.

Did the spell that kept Lily frozen for so long also curse Rick? Is he really her beloved or a stranger with the same face?

Excerpt:

He stretched his right arm toward the ice, his fingers splayed wide. He forced his tense muscles to relax, closed his eyes and concentrated on the warmth deep within. A flame flickered there, light in color, hidden deep inside him. Once he located the flame, he stoked it, encouraging it to grow, expand, fueled by his desire to bring the heat to surface. The fire sparked and lengthened, grew until the warmth spread to his chest. 

He focused the heat to travel through his arm to his right hand where his fingers spread open.

He placed his hand on the ice, closed his eyes and concentrated on heating his hand until he felt the solid block beneath his fingers soften. The ice melted beneath his touch. He blinked his eyes to watch the solid turn to liquid.

“Hey,” Pete said, smiling. “That fire-breathing stuff comes in handy sometimes.”

“Shut up.” Rick forced his concentration back to the heat he controlled with his hands. It was a trick he had discovered when he was a teenager. He’d accidentally burned down the shed in their backyard because Rick’s temper flared when he found out that Pete had ‘borrowed’ his bike and returned it with two flat tires.

Since then, he tried to keep his power under wraps, but on occasion and with no one other than Pete or Steph around, Rick tested it. It was like a muscle. To keep it under control, he had to use it from time to time, to maintain his discipline so it wouldn’t flare to the surface without warning one day.

It would be more than embarrassing if he burned someone’s car on the highway if they cut him off. Road rage sent to a whole new level with a guy who could spark flame from his fingertips.

It took some time to melt the ice. There was an entire casket full, but after a while the clothing on the woman’s body became visible.

She wore a long white, velvet gown trimmed with lace and satin. Her hands were folded over her chest with a single rose clasped between her bejeweled fingers. She was elegantly dressed as a woman of nobility and placed with great care before her body was in some way submerged in water and frozen.

Rick wondered if she was someone of importance. A woman lost within the pages of history and time.

The ice near her head melted away revealing a face of rare beauty. Perfect, pale skin with red-rose colored lips. Her midnight black hair cascaded in waves around her face and shoulders, dampened by the melting ice. Matching black eyelashes swept down over her cheeks.

Rick wished he’d known the color of her eyes. As he stared at the woman, a humming began in his blood, a strange sense of familiarity itched in his brain.

Had he seen this woman before?

It was obviously not possible. Perhaps he’d seen a woman with her likeness somewhere. An actress on television or a movie. Or someone in the tabloids.

Pete whistled with appreciation from his elbow.

“I have to admit,” Pete said. “She’s hot for a dead girl.”

Rick rolled his eyes.

“What?” Pete said as if seeing his brother’s reaction. “You don’t think?”

“No,” Rick said. “I admit it. She’s beautiful.”

“More than beautiful. She’s exquisite. Like a porcelain doll. And the way she’s posed in the block of ice.” Pete paused and leaned over her for a closer look. “She reminds me of someone.”

“You, too?” Relief swamped Rick. He wasn’t the only one with this nagging sense of familiarity. “She reminds me of someone, too, but I just can’t place her face.”

“Snow White.”

“What?”

“You know,” Pete sighed. “The fairy tale. Snow White and those dwarfs. Or maybe Sleeping Beauty. I get those two mixed up. There’s a lot of comatose gals in fairy tales.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Rick said, shaking his head. “I meant a real person. Not some imaginary fairy tale girl.”

“Maybe she’s not so imaginary.” Pete waved his head. “Maybe one of us should kiss her.”

“What?”

“Kiss her to break the spell.”

“You’re insane.”

“You never know.”

“Yeah, you’re right. You never know anything. Ever.”

Rick continued to stare at the woman as the ice melted into puddles of water on the stone floor. He eased back the heat in his hands and then folded his arms across his chest.

“I wonder who she was.”

“A princess. Maybe a queen.”

Rick glanced at Pete with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, she must be someone important. Look at the way she’s dressed.” An exact echo of Rick’s earlier thoughts.

Rick bent over the woman, taking in her beauty once more and the deep suspicion he knew her. His gaze swept over her face and form, then fell to the rose. It was a rose in full bloom. Not wilted with age, neglect or natural decay. A rose with full, blood-red petals on a stem laced with sharp thorns.

How could a flower remain in such perfect condition in these types of circumstances?The whole situation seemed incredulous. If Rick hadn’t known better, he’d say this whole thing had been set up as some prank.

He pried the rose away from her cold fingers, taking the flower in his hands to inspect more closely.

“I guess she could be nobility,” Rick said. “But she—”

A gasp stopped him from speaking. The sound came from the woman.

Both Rick and his brother stumbled back a few feet, stopping to stare at the now breathing woman on the remaining block of cracked and melting ice.

“Did she?”

“Yeah, I think.”

Rick tilted his head, staring at the woman’s ample bosom rising and falling with each breath.

Then her black eyelashes flickered across her cheeks, sweeping up to reveal the greenest eyes Rick had ever seen on another human being. They were a deep, vibrant emerald color that appeared almost inhuman and yet so beautiful he couldn’t compare them to anything else.

The woman blinked and took another deep, gasping breath.

The rose fell, forgotten from his fingertips as Rick returned to the woman’s side and knelt beside her.

As soon as her gaze met his, she smiled. Her lips curved and her face brightened with love and warmth and radiance. An electric shock zipped through his arms and legs, settling deep in his chest. Rick knew at that moment he was lost.

“Ashford.” The woman’s voice was like a song of spring. Light, full of hope, happiness and renewal. “You found me.”

AMAZON