Thursday, February 28, 2013

Blog Tour: Interview with Erica Hayes + Giveaway!


WELCOME TO THE BLOG, ERICA! :)


 Erica Hayes was a law student, an air force officer, an editorial assistant and a musician, before finally landing her dream job: fantasy and romance writer.


 
She writes dark paranormal and urban fantasy romance, and her books feature tough, smart heroines and colourful heroes with dark secrets.

She hails from Australia, where she drifts from city to city, leaving a trail of chaos behind her. Currently, she's terrorizing the wilds of Northumberland.



Where to Find Erica:
 
 
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The_Book_Queen: Hi Erica! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 
Erica: Thanks for inviting me to visit with you!

I write paranormal romance, urban fantasy and science fiction, and I drink caramel lattes, quite often at the same time. I am owned by a fat orange cat. And I'm an Australian living in the UK for a couple of years. So I'm cold, mostly.

 

TBQ: Those cats truly do own us, don't they? Very different from owning a dog.... Other than writing, do you (or did you) have any other dream jobs? :)

 
E: Apart from astronaut, superhero or the Doctor's companion? When I was at high school, I wanted to be an astronomer, until I realised there'd be physics involved. I went through a vampire phase for a while, too, but that was mostly because I wanted to be Lestat's girlfriend.

 

TBQ: Revelation came out last fall, and starts your new Seven Signs series. Can you tell us a little bit about this book, and why readers are going to love it?

 
E: The short version? The Seven Signs is about a gang of fallen angels in near-future Manhattan, who must stop the Demon King from hijacking the signs of the apocalypse and bringing on the end of the world.

 

In REVELATION, the hero, Luniel, must team up with Morgan, a forensic pathologist who doesn't believe in angels, to stop demon-cursed zombies taking over New York.

 

It's sexy, action-packed and desperately romantic. I mean, look at that awesome man-midriff cover. It has its serious moments, sure – saving the world, one soul at a time – but it's wild, fantastic, over-the-top. I hope you love it as much as I do!

 
TBQ: Oooh, I cannot wait to read it! Are there other genres you would like to write about? Or, if you prefer to stick to fantasy/PNR, are there other ideas you'd like to try?

 

E: Well, I love futuristics and adventure stories with a fantasy streak, as well as full-on romance. I enjoy history, so I'd like to try an historical fantasy or a steampunk adventure. And I'm a sucker for a good historical epic – I'd love to write a big fat Tudor romance, or something set in ancient Rome…

 

TBQ: That. Would. Be. Awesome! :) I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike. :) But I have to ask: What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?

 

E: Oh, this is such a hard question! I honestly can't narrow it down to all-time favourites. Things change so quickly, there are always new books and authors coming to the fore. But some that I've re-read more than once recently are: Stephen King's Dark Tower books; The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe; the Feral Warriors series by Pamela Palmer.

 
TBQ: We've all fallen for a hero (or two, or three, or....ahem).  Tell us one hero that you've fallen for—who is he and what drew you to him?

 

E: Ah, book boyfriends…there are so many! But I admit I'm fickle. I do have a bit of a thing for Danaus from Jocelynn Drake's Dark Days urban fantasy series. Strong, sexy, a kick-ass fighter and a wounded heart of gold. And the author says he looks like the Prince of Persia, whom I shall one day marry.

 

TBQ: *sigh* I may have to fight you for him! What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?

 

E: Book 2 of the Seven Signs is called REDEMPTION, and it comes out in March. I've got a short sexy vampire/demon romance coming out soon called HUNTER'S HEART. And I have a few new things in the works.

 

 

SPEED ROUND:

 

A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa?
Can I have the spa, on a secluded island? No? Just one? Probably the secluded island. So long as it's a tropical one. (There's nothing wrong with picking the "greedy" answer. Nothing at all! :D)

 
Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet “my-heart-skips-a-beat” one?
Spicy. Unless it's 'Pride and Prejudice'. I think I'm jaded… (Somethings just shouldn't be messed with, right?)

 
Which would you rather have an affair with: a sexy highlander OR a devilishly handsome English lord?
Highlanders don't do it for me, I'm afraid. I'll take the devilish lord any day. (Ah well--more Highlanders for me!)

 
Hot summer days OR cold winter nights?
Hot. Summer. Crying now. See above on Australian in England… (I'll send warm weather wishes your way!)

 
Where would your dream house be: in the city, where all the action is OR nestled in the mountain where you can enjoy the quiet and the wilderness?
Hmm. That's a tough one. I think it'd have to be the city. So long as I can lock everyone out when I want to!

 
If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be?
I'd love to visit loads of time periods! Ancient Rome, Tudor England, Renaissance Italy… but I'm not sure I'd like to live in any of them. Too many horrible ways to die. Plague, execution, childbirth, invading armies, witch burning, homicidal doctors… (Yeah...Visiting would be nice, but only if we can return to modern day!)

 
Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?
Blurb. I like a sexy man on the cover, certainly, or an intriguing heroine. But I want a good story more! (Yep, I love my covers, but they won't make up for a lacking storyline.)

 
Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?)
Depends on the day. Sometimes I like the slow build, so long as it does build to something. Other days, I just want. It. Now!! (Hehe...I completely agree!)

 
 
And finally, tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about yourself:

Wackiness. Righto. Uhh… I’ll do my best…

 
  • My favorite non-alcoholic drink (in summer, at least) is iced coffee with raspberry syrup. Really. Try it. Your mouth will love you.
  • I can't get in bed until I've smoothed every crease from the sheets first. Perhaps I’m doing it wrong.
  • I love cricket. I know Americans generally don't get it – 'a bit like a five-day baseball game with only two bases!' I say, and get confused, horrified looks—and honestly, it's such a geeky game. But I adore it. I've been known to sit there for five full days in front of the TV.


Okay. Stopping now, before I expose myself as a complete nerd…

 

The_Book_Queen: Ooh--the coffee drink sounds yummy, I must try it! :DThanks so much for stopping by, Erica,  and please know that you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)

 

Erica: What's your 'most anticipated' for 2013? Everyone waiting for Lover at Last? The new Psy-Changeling book from Nalini Singh? New episodes of Game of Thrones? Me, I can't wait for the new Star Trek movie…  and the next Hobbit!

 
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Revelation by Erica Hayes
Publisher: Berkley (October 2, 2012)
Series: The Seven Signs, 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance/UF
 
A fallen angel with a mission and a medical examiner who’s lost her faith are fighting for their souls in a glittering, near-future Manhattan…
 
Blind faith is for fools. That’s what Dr. Morgan Sterling believes. And she’s going to prove it by curing the zombie plague ravaging her city’s slums. She’s certain it’s not a sign of the End of Days, but a nasty disease—until an angel appears in her morgue in a flash of glory.

 
Luniel is not just a fallen angel. He’s a powerful warrior sworn to fight evil in hopes of a chance at redemption. He’s after the demon princes who are stealing the seven vials of holy wrath which, when perverted, will unleash eternal hell on earth.
 
To stop the plague, Luniel needs Morgan’s help, and her faith. But Morgan believes science is their salvation. If the zombie plague is a demonic curse—and if Luniel is true—he’ll have to prove it. Even if he loses his heart to true love or his soul to Hell…

 
 




 Where to Buy*:
More Info:
 

Revelation by Erica Hayes
Excerpt


Today, of all days. It was Thursday. The world couldn’t end on a Thursday.
Luniel, the fallen angel, crouched on the shore of Liberty Island in a hot August sunset with blood lapping at his feet. It licked the rocks beneath his boots, clotting. All the way across the bay, to the firelit Brooklyn shore and the gleaming blue arcs of the Narrows Bridge, what used to be water gleamed sick and scarlet.
The angel sniffed the air, and tasted copper. A dead fish bobbed belly-up, pale white flesh and fins. He poked the warm liquid with his finger, and licked. Yeah. Definitely blood. And human. There were seaweeds and algae that sported the same fleshy color. But Luniel had tasted enough blood in his three thousand years to know this wasn’t algae.
He straightened. No breeze flicked his long black hair back. In his human guise, he had no wings. He scanned the distant shore with sharp blue eyes, further than any human could see, and his nose twitched. Hunting. For something. Anything. A trick. A college prank. A fish slaughterhouse. Overflow from some industrial accident, one of the factories along the built-up Jersey waterfront spilling toxic chemicals.
Not a sign of the Apocalypse. Not God’s wrath.
Across the bloody bay, Babylon’s glittering towers razored the red sky, the decadent sprawl of skyscrapers and spires they once called Manhattan. The sunset flashed on steel and mirrored windows, glaring in competition with neon lights and rainbow columns of virtual advertising. Even from here, Lune’s preternatural ears detected buzzing electrics, the faint digital beep of comms towers, snatches of conversations, and in his magical angelsight, the city glowed, green with the living, pulsing energy of human souls.
Helicopters lasered their searchlights through smoke and heat haze, sweeping over burned-out housing projects and shining condominiums. Traffic noise hummed, the groaning subway, horns and engines and wailing sirens, police and fire and the ever-more-urgent ambulances. At the height of summer, plague had stolen into the Empire State like a homicidal houseguest, more frightening than California dengue and deadlier than arctic flu, and people were afraid.
But terror happened in Babylon, the world’s richest, rottenest city of sin. You only had to look at the shining glass spire piercing the sky, one hundred and ten stories high, built back in wiser days where a pair of ill-fated twin towers once stood. The world had turned ever more rapidly to shit since then, but Luniel still remembered that day well. That day, angels dived for earth, fiery wings flashing, but it was too late. Even the fallen, like Lune, were powerless. The people screamed and died and thought the world was ending.
Horrific? Yeah. But the monkeys had no idea what they were in for.
What the end of the world would really be like.
Luniel shivered. This wasn’t over yet. It couldn’t be.
He dug into his jeans pocket for his phone, and speed-dialed. Trendy SIM implants in your ears were all very well for humans, but fast-healing angelflesh rejected biotech. The irony was pleasing and bitter. “Come on, Ithiel,” he muttered. “Answer your rotted phone.”
Ithiel was still on heaven’s A-list, but he and Lune stayed in contact. If anything was going down, Ith would know. But voicemail kicked in, his brother’s laid-back laughter: I’m busy. Leave a message. If I give a shit, I’ll call back.
Luniel swore—even after centuries, defiance felt good—and waited for the beep. “Party never stops upstairs, huh. Call me, asshole,” he said, and ended the call.
A week. Ithiel hadn’t answered for a week. And now this.
It could be stupid luck. Coincidence. Random events colliding like flotsam.
But after two millennia spent dealing out heaven’s wrath, and going on another one walking the earth and seeing it all from the other side, Luniel was wearily certain that what goes around, comes around to kick you in the balls.
Coincidence was bullshit. Nothing was random. Everything happened for a reason, and fate was one dastardly, despicable motherfucker you just couldn’t avoid.
But inexorably­—inexplicably—the blood lapping at his feet made him angry.
Defiantly, recklessly, sinfully angry.


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Tour Wide Giveaway
 
1 $25 bookstore gift card (winner's choice of bookstore)
 
1 a signed set of the Shadowfae series (4 paperbacks)
 
2 Kindle copies of short vampire romance HUNTER’S BLOOD







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Thanks for stopping by today, Erica, I enjoyed reading your responses--I hope it gets warm, soon! Here in UT, our weather is always confused--warm, hot, freezing cold. I'm waiting for the warm weather to stay, too!
 
 
Don't forget Erica's question:
 
 
What's your 'most anticipated' for 2013? Everyone waiting for Lover at Last? The new Psy-Changeling book from Nalini Singh? New episodes of Game of Thrones? Me, I can't wait for the new Star Trek movie… and the next Hobbit!
 
 
 
I think you hit on every most anticipated for the year--I still need to see the first Hobbit though. :) And catch up on both book series (so many books, so little time!).
 
 
 
 

Enjoy!




Until Next Time,


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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Guest Post with Marquita Valentine + GIVEAWAY!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG,

MARQUITA! :)


 


Nationally Bestselling author, Marquita Valentine, writes small town romances that are anything but small. Lisa Kleypas, Carly Phillips and Rachel Gibson are her favorite contemporary authors. Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man -- and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.
You can find Marquita all over the internet, starting here: www.marquitavalentine.com


Where to Find Marquita:
 

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Reading an Excerpt at Lady Jane's


So tonight I’m reading an excerpt from Drive Me Crazy at Lady Jane’s reading salon. I had a pretty hard time narrowing it down to just one passage, mostly because I wanted to showcase my hero,  not putting his foot in his mouth for once. But that tends to be a driving (heh) force in what causes problems between the hero and heroine.

So without further ado, here’s a little snippet of the excerpt of Sexy NASCAR Racer, Carter Ambrose, not letting his mouth get in gear while his brain stalls:


Let me know what I can do to help,” he said. He meant it. Potential lover or not, he would always be there for Melanie. Whenever she needed him.

“I’m fine.”

He spun the chair around, bending at the knees to get level with her face. There was so much worry in her brown eyes, and all he wanted to do was make it go away. Permanently. “Hey. I mean it. Whatever you need.”

Her lower lip trembled before a smile formed on her mouth. “I know you do, but sometimes, a girl can’t be saved. Sometimes, a girl has to save herself.”

“By moving out.” She nodded and he leaned forward. “I know we’re on the clock right now, but I really need to kiss you.”

“I haven’t taken my afternoon break,” she said, inching closer.

“Off the clock,” he murmured right before he kissed her. Soft lips to his, tasting like sweet tea and the key lime pie he’d brought back from town just for her.

She sighed, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders, and he cupped her face, keeping his touch as light as his kisses. This wasn’t about lust, wasn’t about teasing her. This was about wanting to give without expecting anything in return. She wouldn’t take his money, she wouldn’t take his help, but his kisses…Yeah, he knew she’d take those. Because he would do the same.

 

 
Thanks for having me here today! Two lucky commentors will receive an e-copy of DRIVE ME CRAZY!
 
~Marquita Valentine
 
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Drive Me Crazy by Marquita Valentine
Publisher: Marquita Valentine (February 2, 2013)
Series: Going the Distance, 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance

NASCAR racer, Carter Ambrose, has finally decided to take his doctor’s advice and find a new occupation before another wreck on the track kills him. Only his doctor hadn’t counted on his little sister’s best friend, Melanie Ann Smith, crashing his weeks of solitude with her short skirts and platform heels. And that’s not the least of his problems. His mother has decided that she wants grandchildren and the only woman that's good enough for the job-his ex-fiance.

 
Twenty-four year old Troublemaker Extraordinaire, Melanie Ann Smith, isn’t asking for much out of life: a house without wheels, to travel further than her home state and her best friend’s older brother, Carter Ambrose. Only three things stand in her way: juggling all of her odd jobs, keeping her daddy from gambling away all of their money and getting Carter to see her as a woman.
 
Soon Melanie and Carter agree to a temporary relationship. One with benefits that is mutually satisfying in every way, or so each believes. And just when they are ready admit their feelings, family secrets are exposed, threatening Melanie and Carter's fragile relationship.
 
Will Carter risk it all for love, or will Melanie be left holding the trophy for second place?

 

 
Where to Buy*:
 
 
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Marquita's giving away TWO ecopies of Drive Me Crazy!
 
 
How to Enter:
 
  • Leave a comment below answering Marquita's question, or ask one of your own.
    • What's your favorite racing movie?
  • Please leave some way to contact you (email, Twitter handle, Facebook, or even GR--it makes it easier to contact the winners!)


Giveaway ends 3/6. Winners will be picked via Random.org within 2 days, announced on Twitter and Facebook, and contacted, if you leave a way to do so.


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Thank you so much for stopping by today, Marquita! As you already know, I'm a die-hard fan, and I CANNOT wait for your next book. Bring it! Sebastian, please, Sebastian next! :D Melody and I still have to finish our fight over him.... I'll win though, no worries.
Have you read any of Marquita's books yet? NO?! Well then hurry over to your favorite e-book retailer and buy them. NOW. I promise, you will not regret it!
Don't forget Marquita's question:
 
What's your favorite racing movie?






Enjoy!




Until Next Time,


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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Blog Tour: Character Interview with Nancy Gideon + Giveaway!

 
 
 
WELCOME TO THE BLOG, NANCY! :)




An author of over fifty novels since 1987, Nancy Gideon thrives on variety. Under her own name and several pseudonyms, she’s written award-winning series suspense, historical and paranormal bestsellers, earned a “Career Achievement for Historical Adventure”, and has had two original horror screenplays optioned for film. A Michigan native, she works full time as a legal administrative assistant and feeds a NetFlix addiction.

 
 
Where to Find Nancy:


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The_Book-Queen: Today I'm excited to introduce to you Giles and Brigit, from Betrayed by Shadows! Okay you  two, ready for a little Q&A? : )
Your road to a HEA wasn't exactly an easy one, for various reasons. But at what point did you realize that you were in love?

 

 
Giles:   I’m a sucker for a woman in trouble . . . even when she makes it so dang difficult to help her. I would have noticed what a grip she had on me sooner if I hadn’t been hip deep in my own problems. Watching her risk everything for the sake of my family . . . I was a goner.
 

 
Brigit:  He refused to give up on me. He wouldn’t let me push him away. When I saw him waiting outside that club to take me back with him, my heart stopped.  I knew right then I wanted him to be there to claim me for himself. Trusting a man enough to cry all over him . . . that was definitely a sign that he was no passing thing. Even if he is just a human.

 

 
 
 
TBQ: Really, can any man resist a woman in trouble? ;) *sigh* So very true, Brigit!
 
Although I'm sure things have been crazy, what with trying to appease the various clans and what not, have you two had much time to spend together? * sees the look they give each other * And not just in the bedroom! We already know you both, ahem, get along great there!

 

Giles:   We’ve got all the time in the world now. But something tells me the rollercoaster ride is just beginning.

 

TBQ: *sigh* Isn't that the truth? I hope that things eventually calm down for you two!
 
Brigit, what can you tell us about Giles that we didn't learn during the book? Even if it's something simple.

 

Brigit:  He’s something of a clotheshorse.  Seriously, the man knows his way around a designer rack. Amazing the things a little tailoring can do for a basic white dress shirt. I’d have thrown myself at him sooner if I’d known he liked to shop.

Giles:   You like me to carry the packages.  I like to help you with the zippers in the dressing room. It’s a win-win.

 

TBQ: *snort* Win-win, indeed! Giles, what about you? What new things have you learned about Brigit?

 

Giles:   Take her out of the stilettos and put her in a pair of Chuck Taylor high tops and she really makes you up your game of hoops. The fact that she can be such a tomboy is a nice surprise. We have a lot of fun together and we’re both competitive enough to make it a challenge.

Brigit:  On and off the court.

 

TBQ: May I just say I love how you two interact with each other? Fantastic!
 
Okay, I don't wish to spoil the book, so I'll leave this next comment kind of vague. Giles, I applaud you for loving Brigit, despite the...news towards the end of the book. Let's be honest—not every man would, even though I firmly believe, if they are the right man, that they should! And Brigit, I have to applaud you, as well, for being strong. That wasn't an easy situation. My question, to both of you, is this: Do you think that this particular situation helped to strengthen your bond to one another, realizing that you had the support and trust of the other?

 

Giles:   Coming from my background, it was a no-brainer decision for me. I was on board for the whole package. It explained a lot about her actions early on and helped me understand all she was going through. And it made my respect for her go off the charts.

Brigit:  I’d never had any kind of support outside my family. I never dreamed anyone would ever step up to that degree.  I never expected it, but knowing Giles the way I do now, I should have. He told me nothing could make him walk away. I won’t ever doubt that again. Being able to believe that put a different kind of spin on the future.

Giles:   So bright you have to wear shades?

Brigit:  Soon, I hope.

 

TBQ: Ah, Giles, I think I just melted a little bit more. You lucky girl, Brigit! :)
 
Giles, your family's past was difficult, to say the least, especially as you found out more and more about it. When the book ended, things were...a little better between you and most of your family. Have things improved more since then? Have you taken Brigit back, like your mama asked? : )

 

Giles:   Now that the door’s nudged open a bit, I mean to push it wider. We haven’t had time to go back yet, but it’s definitely gonna be soon. We’ve got lots of big news to share . . . the kind a mama can’t resist.

 

TBQ: Brigit, you've also had a few bumps with your family. How are things going now?

 

Brigit:  There’ll always be drama between me and my brother Silas. Truthfully, I look forward to it because there’s love behind it. We’ll always be there for each other.  What has me worried is my cousin Kendra all alone at the mercy of those beasts, the Terriots. I haven’t been able to get a hold of her and I don’t trust Cale or his motives. The fact that he tried to have me killed might have something to do with that. Maybe Silas can smooth over the trouble when he gets there. Or maybe I’ll just have to plan a trip to Lake Tahoe to take care of business myself.

Giles:   Just don’t make matters worse.

Brigit:  What do you mean by that?  I’m the soul of diplomacy.

 

TBQ: Family drama--it's lovely isn't it? *thinks of her own* Anyway...
 
One last thing, and then I'll let you two go. I love how, at different points in the book, you each had a chance to take command and show the other that, ah, begging can be a very powerful thing, for both people involved. Will this be a common thing from now on? Perhaps as a way to remind Brigit that she can let go sometimes, as well as a way to bring Giles to his knees once in a while? * notices the smirks and glances they give each other * I guess I'll just take that as a “yes”..... Maybe I'll just leave you two alone....

 

Giles:   I think we’re both happy with the give and take of the situation.

Brigit:  Mmmm.  Very happy.

 

TBQ: *smirks* Thanks so much for stopping by today! Is there anything you'd like to say to the readers before you leave? Or perhaps a question for them? (Psst—if you turn the tables and ask them a question, perhaps you can sneak out while they answer....)

 

Brigit:  Hopefully they’ll want to see more of us in future books.


TBQ: Yes!


Giles:   I don’t think they could see more of us.

Brigit:  Stop! 
 
 
TBQ: *glances at Giles* I'd say something, but I'm afraid Brigit might take me down... *turns to Brigit* I guess I'll leave all the fun peeking to you..but know that I'm jealous, very jealous!
 

Giles:   Maybe we should just ask.  What would you all like to see in upcoming “By Moonlight” books?

A homecoming and reunion for Max and Charlotte?  A reconciliation between Tina and her piece of  sh – her husband?  Louella coming to visit, making trouble?  Or more on those shady Guedry characters?  Think they’ll keep their promises? Somehow, I doubt it. Leave a comment. We know the author and can put in a word for you.

 
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Betrayed by Shadows by Nancy Gideon
Publisher:
Series: Moonlight, 7
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Balancing a criminal empire and a preternatural clan war, reluctant front man Giles St. Clair doesn’t need a problem like Brigit MacCreedy . . . How much trouble can the head-strong and manipulative Shifter beauty get into in two weeks? Plenty when her schemes range from kidnapping to fleeing the retribution of her dead lover’s relatives.

With her family’s lives on the line, Brigit is willing to do whatever it takes to save them. The only thing standing in her way is an immovable stone wall of a man she can’t bully or beguile . . . a human, no less, who has promised to protect her from the secrets and dangers she conceals.

Risking her own safety gets complicated when an honorable and annoyingly desirable man puts himself between her and her powerful enemies in a battle he can’t win in this Taming of the Shrew meets Shifter Goodfellas on the bayou tale of consequences, redemption and finding love in all the wrong places.

 

 
 Where to Buy*:
Amazon | Kindle | BN | NOOK | ARe
More Info:


Betrayed by Shadows by Nancy Gideon
Excerpt


Music?

Brigit slit her eyes open to the brightness of midmorning. She was alone in the bunk. Harsh-smelling coffee warmed on the hot plate, and Giles was nowhere in sight. Then she heard the unmistakable crack of ax into wood.

Feeling tired and sticky and . . . fabulous, she stretched and reached for the crimson-colored sweatshirt Giles had left folded on the edge of the mattress. Harvard? She slipped it over her head to swim in generous folds that came almost to her knees. Rolling back the cuffs, she found the shoe she’d tucked Boyd’s cell phone into, discouraged to see no message from Silas. She tucked it under the sleeping bag on the top bunk, pushed bare feet into her shoes, and went to pour coffee. Her whole body ached gloriously, making her smile as she stepped out onto the tiny back porch.

Because she could still hear his voice, rough with passion.

Bree.

Giles had his back to her, splitting wood in the glare of morning light, a beautiful sight in his revealing muscle shirt. Strong, sexy. A light sweat had broken out on his shoulders, gleaming amid scores of scratches, some nearly healed from their passionate tussle in New Orleans and some raw stripes from hours ago. Chagrined, she put a nail trim and manicure on her agenda for the day.

He’d taken the batteries out of the flashlight to power an old cassette player and was timing his swings to the raucous beat of a late-eighties hip-hop tune that probably dated back to days spent here in male bonding. Something ridiculous about Humpty Dumpty dancing? Her gaze followed the suggestive rock and bump of his hips as the sassy backup singers crooned, “Do me, baby.”

Oh, yay. Good idea.

Time to whip up something for breakfast.

She’d taken a step forward, intending to initiate some moves of her own, when the music dialed down and muted as another sound reached her.

The cup fell from her hands, shattering on the wood planking, as all her senses trembled and went taut.

And a single cry ripped from her.

“Giles, behind you!”

Giles spun, continuing his momentum with the ax so it caught his assailant midleap in the upper chest, flinging him to the ground. Even as he wrestled the blade free, his attacker was gaining his feet, falling into a menacing crouch as his lips pulled back from a mouth full of dagger-like teeth.


Alarm became coldly dangerous intentions when he recognized the disfigured Shifter from Brigit’s description.

“Brigit, get inside!”

He didn’t look around to see if she obeyed. There was no time as the creature sprang.

Driven to the ground on his back, Giles couldn’t angle for another swing as he was forced to grip the ever thickening throat to keep those deadly teeth away from him. A battle he knew he wasn’t going to win as the beast completed its change of form into something monstrous and impossibly strong.

Run, Brigit! That was all he had time to think. Run!

All he had to do was stay alive long enough for her to get a head start.

There was a deafening report from the porch, and suddenly, the figure hunching over him was plucked off and sent rolling away.

Giles risked a glance toward the cabin to see Brigit with her feet planted wide, his pistol braced in both hands. The pistol he’d wisely loaded with silver rounds.

As he scrambled to his feet, his attacker was gaining his own, obviously struggling not to revert back into humanlike form from the effects of the silver. Brigit’s shot had taken him in the other side of the chest. Giles’s first blow from the ax had already healed. Making him no less lethal as he sprang a second time. No less quick.

And this time Giles didn’t respond fast enough.



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Thanks so much for stopping by, Nancy, and for brining Giles and Brigit with you. I had a blast with our interview, and I hope we see both of you again in future books! I'm anxious now to go back and read the previous books, I can't believe this is my first time reading this series!



Don't forget their question for you:

What would you all like to see in upcoming “By Moonlight” books? A homecoming and reunion for Max and Charlotte? A reconciliation between Tina and her piece of sh – her husband? Louella coming to visit, making trouble? Or more on those shady Guedry characters? Think they’ll keep their promises? Somehow, I doubt it. Leave a comment. We know the author and can put in a word for you.





Enjoy!   



Until Next Time,


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