Liviania’s review of Red Wolf (Wolf Moons, Book 3) by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Paranormal Romance published Silhouette Nocturne 01 Feb 10

When I read Moon Marked, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom confused me and created a world in which I wanted to spend more time.  Fortunately, Red Wolf was far less confusing.  Thomas-Sundstrom had much more space to explore the different factions of her world, although there may be less world-building in the novel than the novella.

Adam Scott is a policeman who accidentally stumbles upon the activities of crime lord Chavez.  Tory McKidd is the sister of one of his victims, as well as a genetic werewolf.  She’s out for revenge and doesn’t have time to protect a human caught up in the world of monsters.  She doesn’t have much choice when she imprints on him.  I don’t really mind the destined mate plot, but Thomas-Sundstrom fails to provide much chemistry aside from the imprinting.

There’s also a flaw in how the series is structured.  Chavez is the big bad to all the heroes and heroines, with no minor bosses for distraction.  So the book ends with the hero and heroine going against Chavez and losing.  (They do win in the sense that neither of them dies.)  The climatic battle goes by quickly, perhaps to distract from the fact it’s a disappointing ending.

Red Wolf also contains Blackout, Thomas-Sundstrom’s first Wolf Moons Nocturne Bite.  The heroine is Dana Delmonico, Adam’s surprisingly competent rookie partner.  I think I would like Blackout better if I had read it before Red Wolf.  Instead, I’m confused by how it relates to the main story line.  Dana is apparently infected awhile before the full moon.  Does she no longer have any contact with Adam?  It seems like he would notice and help her.

The hero, Dylan Landau, is a genetic werewolf like Tory.  His approach to the change does not match hers.  He considers himself and monster and avoids the moonlight.  How does his family remain separate from the other werewolves in Miami?  It seems like two groups with opposite ideology would clash.  Miami may be a big city, but two good wolf packs and one bad one seems unsustainable.

I’m not sure if I’ll read the next Wolf Moons novel.  The series has potential, but there’s something lacking in the execution.  Red Wolf was fun to read, but its flaws are distracting.

Grade: C-

See Sandy M’s review here.

Summary:

Tory McKidd understands exactly what kind of monster is stalking the moonlit streets. She, too, is a werewolf and is ready to bring the rogue shifter to justice. What she isn’t prepared for is Adam Scott, the sexy detective whose investigation crosses paths with her own–a human who inexplicably stirs her senses.

Adam Scott is searching for a killer, not a lover, but with one look at the flame-haired beauty, he is ensnared. When one steamy night ignites their animal passion, there is no denying their fate. But when werewolf meets human, danger lurks–and the one they hunt may be the one hunting them….

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s reviews of Books 4 (Dark Crusade) and 5 (The Hellhound King) of the Unbound Series by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne

I first learned about Lori Devoti through a contest right here on TGTBTU, before I was a duckie.  When I saw there was a new book in her Unbound series, I quickly snatched it up.  Just as quickly I realized that I hadn’t read the book before it, so I snatched that one up too.  Reading the books together worked well, since the character Marina plays a big part in both.

Dark Crusade (Book 4)
Released 1 Apr 09

Dark Crusade follows immediately after the events of the second Unbound novel, Guardian’s Keep, and tells the story of Kerr, the leader of the exiled garm.  (The third book, Wild Hunt, continued the hellhound storyline and left the fate of the garm-in-exile unknown.)  Unfortunately, I read Guardian’s Keep in June 2008 and couldn’t remember a thing about the book.  (My mind, she ain’t what she used to be.)

This one didn’t work as well for me as The Hellhound King.  Kerr, the hero, is a good enough guy.  He’s loyal to his men, who have been imprisoned by the elves.  He’s also loyal to Heather, once he falls for her.  But Heather is a witch, and the elves kill witches, and Kerr is pretending to be loyal to the elves so that he can find his men and get them out of prison.  While Kerr may be the leader, his plans never work. It’s surprising that people continue to let him be in charge.

Heather lacked Kerr’s affability, to me.  I understand that she’s worried about dying and would like to get out of the dimension where a lot of people want to kill her.  Who wouldn’t?  At the same time, she never seems to get why Kerr is torn between helping his men and helping her.  Apparently compassion and loyalty are difficult concepts instead of things you should look for in a man.

Overall, both the plot and romance take awhile to move.  Heather is clearly special, but Devoti waits until the book is almost over to reveal why.  Dark Crusade isn’t bad, but it is average.  I like Devoti, but she has trouble with consistency.

Grade: C-

Summary:
Exiled rogue shapeshifter Kerr Vik once saw being transported to Gunngar as a fresh start. Until the one person he most regretted leaving behindcaptivating witch Heather Moorestumbles through the portal…and finds herself right in the middle of a witch hunt. Heather has courageously come to Gunngar to redeem herself. But Kerr knows that if she braves it alone…she will die. He must somehow send her back through the portal. And it’s not long before a collision of truth, love and duty complicates Kerr’s mission by forcing him to choose sides: should he save this forbidden love or protect his honor?
Read an excerpt here.

The Hellhound King (Book 4)
Released 1 Feb 10

In Dark Crusade, Marina was the leader of the elves who go around killing witches.  In The Hellhound King, she’s the heroine.  I don’t want to give anything away, but Devoti does an excellent job of redeeming Marina and turning a crazy villain into a compelling heroine.

When Marina goes home to the unexiled elves, she is followed by Raf, a garm.  She also discovers that the political situation in Alfheim is unstable, to say the least, and she’s the heir to the throne.  An heir who must factions would prefer to keep as a puppet.  Marina has to keep herself alive and protect her little sister.

I liked the balance Devoti played with in Raf and Marina’s relationship.  Both of them are competent and strong and both of them quickly learn to trust each other, but only in the most simple ways.  In practice, they don’t respect each other’s ability to handle difficult situations.  They have to learn to deepen their trust, or the relationship won’t survive.

I love reading about political maneuvering, and The Hellhound King has just enough to be interesting without taking away from the hero and heroine. There are also a few subplots that I hope will return in future Unbound novels – namely, the bounty hunter and Amma the super-witch.  The Hellhound King is Devoti working on all cylinders.

Grade: B+

Summary:
All Raf Dolg wanted was revenge. Marina Adal–part witch, part elf princess–had betrayed him once, condemning the handsome hellhound to an elfin dungeon. But once the lithe and seductive Marina is in his hands, Raf realizes that the long-haired beauty is also a victim of betrayal–a pawn in the plans of a cruel elf lord and of the destiny tying her to the throne of Alfheim. Together they face the treachery that nearly tore them apart as well as their own divided souls. Bound by their love, the two outcasts must band together if their passion is to stand a chance….
No excerpt found.

I think this series still has legs.  My opinions of the individual books may be varied, but overall I like the world and the Norse-based mythology.  I look forward to seeing what Devoti will do next with the Unbound cast.

Liviania’s review of Unbound (Unbound, Book 1)

Liviania’s review of Guardian’s Keep (Unbound, Book 2)

Sandy M’s review of Red Wolf (Wolf Moons, Book 3) by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Paranormal Romance published by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Feb 10

When I picked up this book I knew I’d like it. It’s werewolves after all. My favorite paranormal read. What I wasn’t expecting is the different take on wolf mates that Ms. Thomas-Sundstrom uses. Its just enough to make the story unique from other shifter reads.

Tory is after her brother’s killer. She knows there’s a gang of wolves that roam the local park at night, all led by a rogue who is experimenting on humans to create himself an unstoppable army. Tory is from a long line of royalty and she embodies their gifts from ages past. She knows she can bring this evil down. Finding it is the problem.

Chasing a suspect through the park, Adam Scott is on a collision course with his destiny. With his suspect lying dead in the street, it takes only a second for Adam’s life to change when he meets the gaze of a beautiful redhead standing to the side of a crowd of onlookers. Having no idea what’s happened, he continues with his duty, but as each minute goes on, Adam begins to want, to crave something, someone. Someone he has to have now.

Not caring what it will do to his job, Adam searches for the woman from the park, coming to the conclusion she’s the source of his new restlessness. Finding her makes things better for him, and worse.

Surprised to find Adam in the park again, Tory isn’t able to keep her distance from her mate. One look between them and imprinting has connected them for life. Now they both need each other, even though Tory tries to keep herself focused on finding her brother’s murderer.

I really like the imprinting concept in this book. For Adam, it’s an unknown hell as he searches for Tory. Every part of him, his body, his mind, his heart, needs her, and I felt every itch, burn, pain, poke, and prod he went through in the description the author gives of his dilemma. Adam is single minded in his focus to find Tory and then learns she truly is the solution to his needs.

And when these two come together, it’s relief but it’s not. Relief to finally have that need fulfilled, but then a whole new need takes over, and they sizzle with it. You can feel it explode just as they do when they barely make it inside Tory’s front door before the fireworks break loose.

Adam’s partner, Dana Delmonico, is a terrific character, tries to keep Adam in line, though she’s the rookie to his veteran status. I enjoyed their interaction. She’s a tough and smart cookie. They all do find the rogue they’re looking for in the end, and what they find is horrible and incredible. Their lives will never the same.

Grade: B

Summary:

Tory McKidd understands exactly what kind of monster is stalking the moonlit streets. She, too, is a werewolf and is ready to bring the rogue shifter to justice. What she isn’t prepared for is Adam Scott, the sexy detective whose investigation crosses paths with her own–a human who inexplicably stirs her senses.

Adam Scott is searching for a killer, not a lover, but with one look at the flame-haired beauty, he is ensnared. When one steamy night ignites their animal passion, there is no denying their fate. But when werewolf meets human, danger lurks–and the one they hunt may be the one hunting them….

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Immortal Bride by Lisa Childs
Paranormal Romance published by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Mar 09

I’ve not read Lisa Childs before and because she writes Nocturnes, which is my favorite Silhouette line, and I have several of her books in the TBR pile, I opted for this one first since I haven’t read a ghost story in a while. I’m very pleasantly surprised. We get two ghosts, a love of a lifetime, and a twist at the end that keeps you guessing. Just my kind of book.

Damien is still grieving over the loss of his wife during their honeymoon. Her body has never been found, for she rests at the bottom of the Lake of Tears. He doesn’t come back to their lakeside home that often, but when he does he’s drawn to the shore where Olivia died.

And that is where his loving wife is waiting for him, waiting to make him pay for taking her life. Confused as to why her husband would want her dead, she makes her way into their home to take care of her unfinished business, but what she sees and hears makes her question Damien’s guilt.

As these two become aware of each other again, Damien finally seeing his ghostly wife and Olivia seeing Damien as a wife should, they have a very different spirit working against them. An angry, ancient shaman of Damien’s people is out for his own revenge for what he believes he lost to Damien’s ancestor. They must work together to defeat the specter’s evil and finally let Olivia rest in peace.

I like how Ms. Childs slowly works Olivia back into Damien’s life, a flash here, a movement there, a feeling once or twice, until he finally convinces himself she truly is with him. And then his disbelief when he learns Olivia blames him for her demise is also well done. Though Olivia does come close to exacting her revenge, once she spends more time with Damien she realizes he really did and does love her. I think she’s able to see it so clearly so quickly because she always believed it, death just got in the way for a while.

The ending came as a surprise, but when all is said and done, not much else could have happened in unraveling the mystery surrounding the Lake of Tears and the shaman. And there’s also an extra surprise just because this is a paranormal story and romance at its best when it comes to HEA. A solid, enjoyable read, and I’m ready to find the rest of Ms. Childs’ books in that old TBR pile.

Grade: B

Summary:

For generations, local residents have whispered about an evil menace lurking near the shore of the Lake of Tears. The recent murder of landowner Damien Gray’s bride, Olivia, confirms the worst. Now, confused and heartbroken, Olivia’s spirit survives death and seeks vengeance upon the man she desired more than life itself, the man she now suspects was her killer—Damien.

But an angry shaman has his own vicious agenda, one that will bring Damien to understand his Native ancestry. Steamy passion and ancient vendettas will draw them ever deeper into a drama of a family’s legacy, murder and a love so strong it can withstand even death.

Read an excerpt.

Liviania’s review of Dream Stalker by Jenna Kernan
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Dec 09

Jenna Kernan gets bonus points for using Lakota mythology. As urban fantasy and paranormal romance have become more popular, authors have diversified their interests from vampires.  But Native American myths remain sadly underused, possibly because many of their legends are lost to us.  Nowadays folklorists work to preserve those myths, but nothing helps more to preserve a culture than getting people interested in it.

That is not to say that Dream Stalker is a cultural artifact.  It’s a likeable story, but predictable.  Kernan’s system of Halflings is intriguing, and I hope to see her do more world-building in this Lakota influenced setting in later books.  Dream Stalker is the story of Michaela Proud, a woman who can see spirits and is on the run from the Ruler of all Ghosts, Nagi.  Her attempts to escape him attract the attention of Sebastian, who can turn into a bear.

Michaela, of course, is not just an ordinary human.  She’s a little passive for my taste, spending most of the novel following Sebastian and letting him protect her.  In the end, I can’t fault her much for that since there wasn’t a better action she could take.  She isn’t weak.  She decides what she wants and pursues it, not allowing other characters to decide what they think is best for her.  But until she began making those decisions, she felt somewhat blank to me.

Sebastian is better realized.  He wants love and acceptance, but has been burned by humans before.  A previous girlfriend took issue with the fact he could turn into a bear, increasing his wariness to become involved with a non-skinwalker.  Of course, as Michaela becomes easier to understand he tends toward silliness as he refuses to trust her.  At the point where she finally convinces him of her love, I’d understand it if she smacked him and informed him that if she didn’t love him she’s have left him five chapters ago.  (At which point every other character in the book would say, “Duh.”)

Nagi is an intense bad guy.  How do you escape someone who can track your soul?  How do you fight a spirit?  Kernan leaves Dream Stalker open ended, with Nagi plotting another way to gain power.  (In fact, it sounded like she might write a story where Nagi gets redeemed by love.  I could be wrong.)  As I said before, if she continues writing in this setting I would be happy to read more, but I’m not sure that I like the brief passage about Nagi that keeps the story from being totally resolved.

The writing and romance in Dream Stalker are slightly above average.  I wouldn’t say there was anything unusual, but the setting was fresh and there weren’t any major flaws.  Dream Stalker was pleasant, if not earth-shattering.  I hope Kernan aims higher next time, because it feels like she could write a memorable paranormal romance as opposed to a serviceable one.

Grade: B+

Summary:
Native American Michaela Proud thinks her escalating nightmares signal madness. But the truth is far worse. For she is being stalked by the god of death. And when she suffers a brutal attack at his hands, she awakens to find a devastatingly handsome stranger kneeling before her. Whose gentle touch eases her pain…and makes her feel safe.
An Inanoka shape-shifter and healer, Sebastian doesn’t want to feel anything for the beautiful woman he’s rescued. But he can’t abandon her once he discovers she has a spirit wound. As he cares for Michaela, he realizes that he can read her thoughts, emotions… and desire. Sebastian realizes that he’s found his true mate. But will she accept him once she learns his darkest secret?
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania‘s Quick Quack Reviews of A Bunch of Category Romances by a Bunch of Authors
Paranormal and contemporary romances released Jun-Jul 2009

That’s right, I’m back in the US and all moved into my apartment.  But . . . I’ve got a lot to catch up on.  So here’s some short reviews of various Harlequins I read on vacation.  That’s the lovely thing about eBooks – you can take them anywhere without affecting the weight of your baggage.  [Gwen ed.: we made her save room in her luggage for booze and chocolate souvenirs for us ducks.] 

The Highwayman (Wicked Games, Book 1) by Michele Hauf
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Jul 09

This is my second exposure to Michele Hauf, the first being a Nocturne Bite.  I enjoyed the short story, but found it a bit thin.  It can be hard to develop two characters in a very limited page count.  Luckily, the hero and heroine of The Highwayman get more development, though part of the hero’s reasoning still remains opaque to me.

Aby is a familiar – in the case, a familiar is someone who brings demons into the world through having sex.  Max has a deprivation demon trapped inside of him, making him unable to sleep, orgasm, or feel full.  This has made him a little testy.  But he’s found a way to escape his fate with Aby’s help – but he still plans to kill her afterwards, even after he gets to know her.  I prefer my heroes to be less intent on spilling the heroine’s blood.  Especially when they’re an otherwise reasonable person and the heroine has given them no reason.

Max’s stubborn homicidal tendencies would annoy me more if the plot didn’t work so well.  It moves right along, building the mythology of familiars, revealing Max’s past, and moving the characters to France for the final showdown.  It’s quick and fun, just like a category should be. I look forward to the second book in the miniseries, Moon Kissed, available September 1.

Grade: B

Summary:
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Max Fitzroy, the legendary Highwayman, had slain scores of demons with a razorlike whip and a burning need for revenge. Now, to rid himself of the demon inside him—who’d cursed him with immortality and stolen all sensual pleasures—Max needed a witch’s familiar, the one creature he’d made a career of killing.
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But the Highwayman wasn’t prepared for the familiar named Aby. The sleek and sexy conduit to the demon world saw past his swirling shadow as easily as he scaled the walls she’d erected to protect herself. Max needed Aby to grant him his freedom, and then he needed to slay her. But how could he destroy the only creature he’d desired in centuries?
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Read an excerpt here.

Wild Wolf (The Pack) by Karen Whiddon
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Jul 09

I haven’t read any of Karen Whiddon’s other Pack books, but she quickly sketches out the important parts of her world and moves onto the relationship and plot. Simon is a member of the Pack, charged with finding feral werewolves and deciding whether they can be rehabilitated or need to be put down. Raven is a feral werewolf, living along after a traumatic experience with a mad scientist.

I can buy that feral werewolves are dangerous. Raven manages to fit into wolf society because she is sane – she just doesn’t want to live among humans because of her past. Since she is reasonable and Simon can see it, things have to go terribly awry in order for the plot to have enough excitement. And go awry they do.

Seeing how corrupt this segment of the Pack has become really makes me wonder how Whiddon set this up in the previous novels. It seems like something that was probably building. I love that Wild Wolf gives a sense of the larger world while standing fine on its own. The leads work well together. Both of them are strong, neither deferring to the other. Raven’s got as much alpha instinct as Simon does. It’s a nice change.

Grade: B+

Summary:
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Turning her back on humans because of her ability to shape-shift into a wolf, young and beautiful Raven doesn’t believe she needs anyone. Until the day a darkly handsome man appears near her remote cave…and she watches him turn into a wolf.
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Simon Caldwell has been sent to assess the threat of a new feral wolf prowling the Rockies. But he’s wholly unprepared for his intense attraction to Raven. His investigation is about to take a deadly turn as he and Raven become the hunted. Now their very survival depends on Simon’s ability to win what this wild wolf holds most dear!
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Read an excerpt here.

Return of the Wolf by Karen Whiddon
Paranormal romance novella released by Silhouette Nocturne Bites 1 Jun 09

After finishing White Wolf, I headed happily into this Bite by the same author. Three tries later and I still haven’t finished the sixty or so pages of this story, so I’m giving up. It begins slow, with the hero and heroine fishing together. They’re instantly attracted – Gideon knows she’s his wolf’s mate, and Memphis believes their reincarnated lovers.

I couldn’t sympathize with either of the characters. Memphis especially seems rather dippy. It takes quite a bit to make the destined lovers work, and I wasn’t buying. It didn’t help that I found the beginning boring. Fishing just doesn’t appeal to me.

This may work for others, but for me it’s a pass.

Grade: DNF

Summary:
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When Gideon Aronditis meets his new client Memphis Ayers for a fishing expedition, they both feel an instant attraction–and sense that they’ve met before. For shape-shifter Gideon, the explanation is clear: Memphis is his true mate and destined to be with him. Yet Gideon refuses to accept Memphis’s belief that knew each other in a past life, even though she has seen Gideon in her dreams for years. Can Memphis convince Gideon of the truth, or are they doomed to lose each other once again?
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No excerpt found.

The Illegitimate King (The Castaldini Crown, Book 3) by Olivia Gates
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 14 Jul 09

I liked the summary of this one, even though I’m not that familiar with the line. Clarissa and Ferruccio would have had love at first sight, if they hadn’t managed to deeply insult each other at first conversation. Ferruccio pursued Clarissa for years, and now has the leverage to make her romance him since she’s trying to convince him to accept the position of king of Castaldini. (Yes, the country name is ridiculous.)

This one had a few problems. Ferruccio could be kind of sleazy and their inability to communicate doesn’t bode well for a future relationship. (That doesn’t prevent a baby-filled epilogue since this is the end of a miniseries. If I were one of the wives, I’d insist on condoms. That many pregnancies takes a toll on the body.) Still, it was a perfect vacation book. It kept me interested and there was definitely sexual tension.

I might skip the first sex scene. It includes such awful descriptions as Ferruccio “feeling like a sword just out of the fire” to Clarissa. Not all of it is that painful, but none of it is sexy. It does get better, but that one scene is truly awful.

If you like family secrets or the other novels in this miniseries, you’ll probably like this one. The Illegitimate King made me want to try to the previous two novels, even with all of it’s problems.

Grade: C+

Summary:
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Once, she’d scorned him. And illegitimate secret prince Ferruccio Selvaggio had sworn he would make her pay. Now, Princess Clarissa D’Agostino was in his power. It was time to teach her a lesson…. The future of the kingdom rested on her. Clarissa knew she had to do whatever it took to convince Ferruccio to accept the crown and save them all. Even if it meant marrying a man who believed the worst of her. Even if it meant giving him her heart.
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Read an excerpt here (click “Read the prologue”).

Endless Summer by Julie Kenner, Karen Anders, and Jill Monroe
Contemporary romance anthology released by Harlequin Blaze 1 Jul 09

Normally I would separate all the novellas, but these are intertwined so I’ll do them as one. I picked up this anthology since I enjoy Julie Kenner’s paranormal books and wanted to try one of her contemporary offerings. It helped that Endless Summer, as the name implies, was a surfing collection. I enjoy surfing stories even though I’ve only been to a beach where you actually could surf once.

I’m not which of the stories was my favorite. I liked Drea, from Jill Monroe’s story, the best of the heroines because of her strong personality. I liked Zach, from Karen Anders’ story, the best of the heroes. Due to an injury, he became overly cautious. It’s a change from the take-charge hero. He’s also not afraid to design clothing. Now that’s a man. Kenner’s Laci and Taylor were a bit more bland. And Laci makes the classic mistake of not explaining why she’s angry. For some reason I want my romantic leads to communicate well even though I know miscommunication is a standard part of life.

But while each story had elements I liked, part of the reason I can’t pick a favorite is that nothing really stood out. While perfectly readable, each story was by-the-numbers – not what the risk-taking heroines deserve. I read these stories just yesterday and they’re already fading from my mind.

Grade: C+

Summary:
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Summer has never been sexier!
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Making Waves by Julie Kenner, Laci Montgomery is determined to be pro surfing’s Golden Girl. Does she need help from her ex—hottie sports promoter Taylor Dutton? No way! Well, not unless she’s on top…
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Surf’s Up by Karen Anders, After a crash meeting in the waves, surfer J. C. Wilcox and entrepreneur Zack Fanning practice daring moves that would make fish blush. But is it just sexy fun in the sun—or are they ready to risk their hearts?
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Read an excerpt here.
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Wet and Wild by Jill Monroe, Daredevil Rookie of the Year Andrea “Drea” Powell needs a sponsor. Superstar pro Kirk Murray needs a flashy new surfer to back. The explosive results heat up the competition…and the bedroom!

We’re back for another day of Duck Chat! Welcome!

Today we’re going to be talking to paranormal author Alexis Morgan.

Alexis Paladins series hit the shelves in 2006 with the first book in the series, Dark Protector, and was followed closely by Dark Defender and In Darkness Reborn. The series is now on its six book with the release of Defeat the Darkness next year. Alexis’ newest series is The Talions, which includes Dark Warrior Unleashed and the brand-spanking new Dark Warrior Unbroken that releases today. The third book in the series will be released late next year.

We’re going to talk about these books will Alexis and a whole lot more! Be sure to leave a meaningful comment to be in the running for a copy her latest release, Dark Warrior Unbroken. She will be in and out with us all day, so if you have questions or comments, go for it! Now, let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Alexis, your Paladins series has been warmly embraced by fans. Would you tell us about the series as a whole, how it came about and if it’s evolving as you envisioned when writing the first book?

ALEXIS MORGAN: Devlin Bane, the hero of the first book, Dark Protector, started moving around in the back of my mind at least a year before I ever started writing the first chapter of his book. I kept getting an image of a modern day warrior who fights at the edge of darkness with an ancient weapon, defending a woman who lives in the light. Although in many ways the series has remained true to my initial vision, the minute Barak crossed the barrier into our world at the end of the first book everything changed. I never expected him or anyone from his world to be both a warrior and man of honor.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

AM: I find it hard to come up with an answer to the question “Why do you write what you do?” I think all writers have specific themes that resonate with them as storytellers. The kind of book I write allows me to explore those themes.

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

AM: Yes, characters surprise me all the time. I already mentioned Barak. I expected him to be a crazed killer. Instead, he’s a man who holds honor and loyalty above all else. I never expected Jarvis Donahue to walk onto the “stage” in Dark Defender and demand a book of his own. Hunter Fitzsimon was just one of many Paladins who rushed into the cave to fight in the second book in the series, yet he stood out in my mind with such clarity. I knew from that moment that he’d get his own book.

DC: The latest Paladins book is Darkness Unknown, number five in the series. Would you tell our readers about Jarvis and Gwen?

AM: Jarvis is a natural born leader among the Paladins. He has sacrificed a great deal of his life trying to make things better for his men. When he meets Gwen, he realizes that he wants more in his life than just duty and honor. Gwen put her own life on hold to raise her younger brother. From the minute she first encounters Jarvis, she realizes that she’s not just a farmer and a big sister; she’s a woman with a woman’s needs. Their love is strong enough to overcome all the odds stacked against them.

Short excerpt from Darkness Unknown:

Chapter 1

Dust motes and humidity combined to make the air too heavy to breathe. Jarvis Donahue leaned against a convenient tree and rested his weary body for a few seconds. Sweat stung his eyes, making it impossible to see clearly. When he used the hem of his T-shirt to wipe off his face, the shirt came away stained with dirt, sweat, and old blood. Some of it was his, some of it not.

This exercise in futility wasn’t getting him anywhere but farther away from his bed. One more Other to track down and kill before he could think about some serious sack time. He was in no condition to fight, but there hadn’t been anyone else left to send. Cocking his head to the side, he reached out with his senses on full alert, listening for the presence of his enemy.

Pushing away from the tree, he picked up his sword. At least he was still upright and functioning. That was more than he could say about Jake and several more of his fellow Paladins. The Handlers were scrambling to piece wounded Paladins back together and shoving the walking wounded back out the door as fast as they could. The dead were the only ones given a chance to rest, but even they would be sent right back into the fight as soon as they had a regular pulse.

For the past two weeks, the barrier had been down more than it was up, resulting in anyone strong enough to hold a sword being ordered to hold the line against the invasion. If those bastard Regents didn’t bring in some replacements pretty damn quick, the whole state would be overrun with murderous Others on a killing spree.

He started down the slope toward the narrow river that ran along the valley floor. A drink of cool water would help bolster his energy, and maybe the going would be easier down where the ground was flatter. Slipping and sliding, he hauled his weary ass down to the water’s edge, not caring if the noise he made carried to his enemy’s ears.

The bastard should know that death was on his trail. As long as the Other concentrated on avoiding the sharp end of Jarvis’s sword, he’d be too busy to look for innocent victims along the way. Right now, Jarvis had the advantage because the bright daylight would leave the Other all but blind. But once the sun dropped behind the hills to the west, all bets were off.

He and his mortal enemy would be stalking each other in the darkness.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

AM: They do, no question about it. If they are refusing to go in the direction I’m telling them to go, there’s a reason for it. I find that if I give in and let them show me the way to tell the story, we’re both happier with the outcome.

DC: Defeat the Darkness is the sixth book in the series and will be released March 2010. Would you give just a little sneak peek? Please?

AM: Hunter Fitzsimon appeared briefly in Dark Defender, and then more extensively in Darkness Unknown, where he was tortured to death by the Others. In Defeat the Darkness, he’s trying to come to terms with the effects of his injuries. He’s been assigned to protect a segment of the barrier near a small community in northwest Washington state. His landlady is a budding romance writer and tea shop owner. Despite Hunter’s desire to be left alone, he finds himself drawn to Tate, and the attraction is mutual. Things heat up between them even as they face an increasing threat from enemies from two different worlds.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

AM: I can get lost in a good book, especially by one of my favorite authors. Once I open the cover, it can be hours before I can force myself to put it back down again.

DC: Your newest series is the Talions. Can you give us an overview of the series?
AM: The Talions are the warrior class of a humanoid species called the Kyth. This group developed the ability to absorb life energy from the ordinary humans around them, most of the time without harming them. Unfortunately, there are always a few renegades who have a taste for the dark energy generated by pain and death. It is the Talions who hunt down the renegades and destroy them.

DC: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

AM: Gosh, that’s a hard one because I’ve had some really great covers in both my westerns and my paranormals. I’d say my all time favorite is the one on Darkness Unknown—something about that muscular back with the sword resting on his shoulders is just wonderful.

DC: How about your least favorite? Why?

AM: Seriously, on the whole, I’ve had very little to complain about when it comes to the art on my books. The cover gods have been most kind to me.

DC: There’s two Talions books out so far, Dark Warrior Unleashed and Dark Warrior Unbroken. Would you give us a quick look inside each book?

AM: Dark Warrior Unleashed introduces the reader to the world of the Talions. Ranulf Thorsen has been the most powerful of the Talion warriors for a thousand years. The dark energy he has absorbed from all the renegades he’s hunted over the centuries has left him feeling isolated and cold. That all changes when he meets Kerry, a young woman who is being hunted by a renegade.

In Dark Warrior Unbroken, Sandor Kearn comes to terms with his own capacity for darkness that he discovered in the first book. As he hunts the streets of Seattle for another Kyth renegade, he’s being hunted himself by Lena Wilson. She’s looking for the man who murdered her friend and mentor. Despite the fierce attraction she feels for Sandor, she’s suspicious that he knows far more about her friend’s death than he’s willing to admit.

Excerpt from Dark Warrior Unbroken:

Lena Wilson was a woman with regrets. Her shoulders sagged as the day’s heat and her high heels made the short walk even harder than expected. She’d worn dress clothes out of respect, but her usual jeans and boots might have been a smarter choice. Lord knows, the person she was going to see wouldn’t have cared.

Pausing at the top of a rise, she pulled out the simple map the caretaker had given her. She was almost there.

“One, two, three…”

She counted off the headstones to alleviate the oppressive silence, her footsteps slowing as she approached the end of the row, her goal but a few feet away. She crossed that last painful distance and sank to her knees on the cool grass.

Her hand reached out to trace the inscription on the polished granite marker: a name, a couple of dates, a Bible verse, a fireman’s badge. Not nearly enough to define the man who was buried there. Maynard Cooper had been her friend, her father figure, her conscience.

At long last the tears came, flowing down her cheeks in hot streaks.

“Coop, I’m so sorry.”

Her throat closed, damming up the flood of apologies she owed to the man who’d been laid to rest on the pastoral hillside overlooking his beloved city. As the tears tapered off and her breathing eased, peace slowly stole over her. Coop had never judged her as harshly as she judged herself, but the self-forgiveness she needed would have to be earned.

That she’d missed his funeral hadn’t been her fault, but missing out on the chance to heal the breach between them was. She placed her palm over his name, needing that small connection as she contemplated her next step.

If she couldn’t make peace with her old friend, she would do the one thing no one else had been able to: avenge his death.

With a new sense of purpose, Lena rose to her feet and walked away, making plans. Somewhere in this city there was a killer with Maynard Cooper’s blood on his hands. She wouldn’t rest until the bastard was brought to justice.

The shrill ringing of a phone was Sandor Kearn’s least favorite way to wake up, especially when he’d been up late. He didn’t know which half of his job he hated more: the frustrating search for the Grand Dame’s lost relatives, or his new role as chief enforcer for the Talion warriors Kerry commanded. He covered his eyes with his forearm to block out the sunshine and groped for the phone with his other hand.

When he finally found it, he growled “What?” into the receiver.

Kerry’s voice was a mixture of good humor and business. “Sorry, Sandor, did I wake you up?”

“Yeah, you did. Put your husband on the line so I can take my bad mood out on him. When I’m able to be civil, Ranulf can give the phone back to you.”

His Dame giggled. He was tempted to point out how undignified that was for the ruler of their people, but that would only encourage her.

“If it’s not an emergency, can I call you back in a few?” he said instead. “Right now I won’t remember anything you tell me.”

“Please tell me you weren’t up half the night working again. We’ve talked about that before, Sandor. You’re my Talion, not my slave.” She sounded reproachful.

“All right, I won’t tell you.”

She sighed. “Get up and eat breakfast. Make that lunch — it’s almost noon. When you’re feeling human again, come see me.”

“Okay. See you in an hour or so.” He yawned loudly. “And by the way, I’m not human, and neither are you.”

“I’ll try to remember that. And an hour will be fine.”

When she disconnected the call, he tossed his phone at the table. As it bounced onto the floor, he threw back the covers, then went into the bathroom and cranked the shower on hot. Leaning against the cool tile wall, he let the water pour over him, clearing out the cobwebs better than a cup of coffee.

Kerry knew that he already had a lot on his plate, so whatever was worrying her had to be serious. Well, he’d find out soon enough what it was.

He pulled on jeans and a casual sports shirt, then threw together a sandwich and grabbed a cola to drink on the way. After tossing his briefcase onto the passenger seat, he reached for his sunglasses.

Traffic was light, and he soon reached the gates to her driveway. He punched in his security number, waited as they swung open, then pulled into his usual parking space, alongside an unfamiliar car. Hughes, the butler, opened the front door before Sandor reached the top step. Inside, he headed for the living room, then stopped. Kerry hadn’t mentioned the fact that anyone else would be there, so the unfamiliar woman was probably another Kyth who had dropped in to meet the new Dame.

Sandor waited impatiently in the foyer for the visitor to leave. Who was she anyway? He would have remembered meeting someone built like that — honey blond hair, long legs, narrow waist, and all the right curves. If she was anywhere near as stunning from the front, he might just start drooling. When she finally turned to leave, her piercing blue eyes swept past him, then snapped back to stare into his.

And time stood still.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

AM: I think all of my characters have more emotional depth now than they did at the beginning of my career. Certainly I feel that I do a much better job of making them seem real to the reader. Early on, I looked for a single internal conflict for each major character to drive the story; now I feel there are far more layers to my heroes and heroines.

DC: You have the third Talions book scheduled for late next year. Is there a title for that one yet? May we get a sneak peak on what to expect?

AM: I don’t have an official title yet for the book, although my working title is Dark Warrior Undefeated. The hero has come from Europe to meet the new Grand Dame and replaces Sandor as the Chief Talion. It is Grey’s job to ward off any threats against his ruler. From the minute he meets Piper, the heroine, he makes it his business to discover all of her secrets. He tells himself he’s just doing his job, but his heart knows otherwise.

DC: How many books are slated for both the Paladins and the Talions series?

AM: As of right now, I’ve contracted to write three more Paladin books. We’ll see where we go with the series after those are done. I’m working on the third Talion book now, and have at least two more in mind that I hope to be able to write in the future. It’s important to keep a series fresh and interesting. So far, I think I’ve been able to maintain my own enthusiasm for the Paladins and Talions, which I hope carries over to the readers.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

AM: I’d like to write a fantasy romance at some point. I’ve been toying with an idea for one, but right now it’s on the back burner.

DC: You’re also trying your hand at a Silhouette Nocturne, a vampire story due out in May 2010. Tell us about that!

AM: Last year I had a short story in the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. I had so much fun writing it, that I just had to set a book in the world I had created. In Vampire’s Vendetta, Seamus Fitzhugh is on a mission to avenge his family’s honor. He doesn’t expect to survive the confrontation with a much older and more powerful vampire, but he’s even more surprised to find love along the way.

DC: And then tell us about the Nocturne Bite that’s coming up.

AM: The Vampire’s Desire is another story set in the world of the North American Coalition. Ambrose is a Chancellor, a human/vampire hybrid. His job is to administer justice to all three species that make up the Coalition. Miranda, a pureblood vampire, gives him a run for his money from the moment they meet across the negotiating table.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

AM: To start writing much sooner than I did and to pay more attention to the rules about commas that I learned way back when.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

AM: “Alexis Morgan celebrates as she hits her stride as a romance writer. Sharing the adventure with her friends and loving family just makes the ride that much more fun.”

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

AM: I like the one I use on my website because it fits the kind of books I write: Alexis Morgan . . . Where heroes hold back the darkness.

DC: You’ve also written a number of western romances under the name of Pat Pritchard. For those folks who haven’t read your westerns and would like to, which book would you recommend?

AM: I would recommend any one of these three: The Outlaw Groom, Annie’s Christmas, or Come Home for Christmas. I loved writing all three of them, and the heroes are particular favorites of mine.

DC: Will there be any more westerns from you in the future?

AM: I loved writing my westerns and would like to write more at some point in the future. I have at least one that I started writing and would love to have the chance to finish it.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

AM: I think I would have finished getting my teaching certificate so I could teach elementary school. I worked as a para-educator for almost fifteen years and really enjoy kids that age.

DC: What else is on the horizon for Alexis Morgan?

AM: I want to continue telling my stories as long as people continue wanting to read them.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – Dark chocolate
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?    -  Chunky peanut butter
- heels or flats?     – Definitely flats
- coffee or tea?     – Tea
- summer or winter?      – Summer here in Seattle (where it doesn’t often get over 85 degrees)
- mountains or beach?    -  Mountains
- mustard or mayonnaise?     – Mayo
- flowers or candy?      – Flowers
- pockets or purse?     – Purse
- Pepsi or Coke?   – Pepsi
- ebook or print?   -  Print—I love the feel of a book in my hands.

And because we still have fun with them:

1. What is your favorite word?     – enigmatic
2. What is your least favorite word?     – Judgmental
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – A passage of beautifully written prose, poetry or a love song that resonates in my mind.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     -  Negativity in any form.
5. What sound or noise do you love?     – My parakeets chortling contentedly while I write.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?     – People arguing.
7. What is your favorite curse word?     – I pretty much stick with the classics!
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?   – I’d love to be a drummer in a rock ‘n roll band like that wonderful lady who plays drums for Kid Rock. Unfortunately, I have no sense of rhythm. Sigh.
9. What profession would you not like to do?   – I’d hate to be a window washer on high rise office buildings.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?     – ” Hey, I own every book you’ve ever written!”

DC: Thank you, Alexis, for a terrific day!

Thank you for stopping by Duck Chat today. Welcome!

Author Karen Whiddon has been keeping her fans happy the last ten plus years with a variety of romance genres from paranormal to contemporary to romantic suspense. Her first book, Desert Fire, was published in 1997 and now with more than twenty books to her credit, she’s celebrating her latest release, Wild Wolf, this month.

Growing up near the Catskill Mountains of New York and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Karen now lives in North Texas with her husband of twenty-two years. They have a daughter who is a kindergarten teacher. Some of her loves include animals, going on cruises and fishing trips, traveling to Las Vegas and just about anywhere else, and she just loves spending time with her husband.

Karen has graciously offered to give away two copies of the Midnight Cravings anthology in which her novella Mate of the Wolf is featured. So be sure to leave a meaningful comment or question for Karen to be in the running.  Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Karen, you’ve got a terrific backlist, but let’s start with your Silhouette Nocturne series, The Pack. First would you tell how the idea for the series came about?

KAREN WHIDDON: I was working on a proposal and rewriting and it popped into my head that the heroine was a shape-shifter. I wasn’t sure the book would even sell and certainly didn’t anticipate doing a series, but my agent submitted it to Leslie Wainger of Silhouette and she ended up offering for it and a second, blind book.

DC: There’s nine books in the series so far. Is it possible to tell how they’re related and give a little insight as to the series as a whole?

KW: The series centers on the idea that a sub-society (The Pack) of shape-shifters exists in tandem with our current human society. I usually set them either in The Catskills in New York, North Texas, or Boulder, Colorado (all places I’ve lived), though I have set one on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Occasionally a story will have a reappearance of characters from one of the previous books, and sometimes the hero or heroine of a book will have been a secondary character in a previous book, but other than that, each book is basically stand-alone. I continually introduce new elements into the stories, such as vampires. They’re a lot of fun.
DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

KW: A lot of people seem to think that I’m very odd, since I write paranormal stories. Believe me, I’m an ordinary person who also happens to be a writer. I’m a wife, mother, and insurance agent too. I don’t attend any weird, masked rituals except maybe in my dreams!

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

KW: Yes, my characters always surprise me. Though I’m required to submit a synopsis to my editor, even though they might have contracted for a “blind” book, I don’t like to write to outline. For me, the fun of writing is discovering what will happen next. It has to be new to me in order for me to write it fresh. Often I’ll be doing some minor household chore, like dusting or vacuuming, and I’ll realize something about one of the characters in whatever book I’m working on. Or a scene will occur to me and I’ll have to dash off and write it down.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

KW: No, I can’t say I’ve every really argued with them. Sometimes I might try to make them do something they wouldn’t really do and when the scene isn’t working, or I become stuck, that’s their gentle way of pointing this out to me.

DC: Your latest release is a book in The Pack series, Wild Wolf, which is Simon and Raven’s story. Can you give us a look into this book and their relationship?

KW: I began wondering about the possibility of a shape-shifter gone feral when I wrote Secrets of the Wolf. Several books later, I realized I had to write Raven’s story. She’s a Feral Shifter, or one who prefers to live as a wolf. This is because of a horrible, abusive past. Then I started thinking about the Pack Society and how true Ferals could endanger them, so I created the Society of Protectors. Their job is to assess and rehabilitate Ferals. They also, like trained military assassins, exterminate Ferals when necessary. Simon, the hero, is a Protector who has been sent to assess Raven.

Here’s a special treat – an excerpt from Wild Wolf:

“Another Feral shifter.” Hanging up the phone, Simon Caldwell dragged his hand across his face and tried to smile at his fellow Protector and friend, Anton Beckham, known as Beck. “There’s been a murder—a professor up at CU, in Boulder. They think a Feral killed him, so it’s another search and destroy. The Feral’s been located—living up on a nearby mountain. Your assignment, this time.” There was more—much more, but Beck would receive that info in the case file.

Beck frowned. “Doesn’t the Council realize how burned out I am? Hellhounds, I had to eliminate my last three.”

“Let me talk to Ross.” Simon should have seen this coming. Burnout. All the telltale signs were there. “I’ll take the job. You need a break.”

“You’ve killed your last seven,” Beck pointed out. “If anyone should have burnout, it’s you.”

“I don’t get burnout.”

“Right,” Beck said, grimacing. “You’re the Terminator.”

Grinning, Simon shrugged and poured himself another cup of coffee. Returning to his seat at the polished steel table, he took a long drink. “Unlike you, I don’t let emotions get in the way of what I have to do.”

“Emotions have nothing to do with it. One of those last three Ferals could have been rehabilitated. I know it.”

“You knew it, huh? When did you realize you might be wrong? When he attacked you and you nearly lost your arm?”

“The Council wouldn’t give me enough time,” Beck insisted. “Come on, man. Show a little compassion.”

Simon said nothing, knowing any further argument would be pointless. Beck knew The Protector’s Creed as well as he did. Drumming his fingers on the metal table that had always seemed more appropriate in a laboratory than a kitchen, he sipped his coffee and stared at nothing.

“You really don’t give a wolf’s ass, do you?” Beck sounded faintly accusatory.

“Of course I do. But let’s look at the stats.” Simon took a long drink from his chipped mug. “Out of the last forty-seven Ferals encountered in the past year, only six were able to be saved.”

“Grim statistics, true. But you know as well as I do that some of the Protectors are trigger-happy, particularly the European and Middle Eastern contingent.”

“First threatening move, you shoot.” Simon hated pointing out the obvious. As soon as his friend left the room, he was going to call in a recommendation that Beck be sent on enforced medical leave. An uncertain Protector was a dead Protector. He didn’t want that to happen to Beck.

“You have to give them more of a chance.”

When Simon didn’t comment, Beck pushed himself away from the table.

“You know what your problem is, Caldwell?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” Simon couldn’t keep the weariness from his voice. “Let me take a wild guess. I’m too hard. Unfeeling. Too old.”

“Nope,” Beck said, surprising him. “You’re not too old. You’re only thirty-four, a year older than me. I can tell you think I shouldn’t take this assignment, because you’re worried I’ll fail. But you’ve got a worse problem than I do. I think you identify too closely with the Ferals. ‘Grass is greener’ type of thing. That’s why you terminate them so quickly. Because they scare you.”

Simon snorted. “You’re wrong.”

“Maybe I am.” Beck sounded tired. “But honestly, Simon. Sometimes you seem dangerously close to Feral yourself.”

“The end result is all that matters.” Eyes narrowed, Simon slammed his mug on the drainboard. “I’ll ignore your insult. This time. Remember, I’m the one the Council always calls to clean up the mess guys like you make.”

Beck sighed, head in hands. “Sorry.”

“I’m going to take this case,” Simon told him. “Not only because you need a break, but because this seems particularly intriguing. The murdered professor is rumored to have been keeping two shifters captive for years. One of them is the Feral.”

“How’d we locate this one?”

Simon knew his grin looked savage. “How do we always? Rumors of a werewolf, sightings. Thefts, appearances. Humans talk. Then finally, a shifter reports to their local council.”

“What about the other Feral, the second one?”

“The Society hasn’t located her yet. She’s either very careful, or very lucky.”

“Her?” Beck looked even more troubled now.

Simon nodded. “Two females. One—or both of them—is likely the killer.”

“Kept captive? Hounds know, they had reason.”

“There you go again.” Shaking his head, Simon didn’t bother to hide his disgust. “I’m taking this case.”

“Go ahead.” Beck didn’t argue. Not about that. “But you know what? You’re cold. Hard. I think it’s time the Council should reconsider their training methods. Like taking us from our parents before we even start school.” He didn’t bother to hide the bitterness in his voice. “Most of us can’t even remember our birth family. There’s no reason.”

“First off, they don’t take us. We’re given. You know that. When we exhibit skills beyond those of others our age. Our parents are honored to send us. You know that.”

“Maybe.” Beck dropped his head. “But I still think we go to training too young.”

“Do you? Years of training hones our skills, inspires loyalty. In the end, none of that matters.” Simon crossed his arms, weary of the same old argument. “We’re born to be what we’re born to be. Forgetting that is what gets you in trouble.”

Pushing himself up, Beck flipped him the bird before dropping his cup in the sink. “I’m going upstairs. Do you want to make the call, or shall I?”

“I’ll do it.”

As soon as the other man left the room, Simon picked up the phone and dialed Ross, their unit commander. No way was he letting Beck go on this assignment. Until he got his head together, Beck was a disaster waiting to happen.

Blowing snow and biting wind made Raven shiver, despite the thick pelt gifted to her by the Old One when she died. Raven had cried when the old wolf went still, lifting her human face to howl into the night, exactly like her wolf-family did. The Old One had passed last winter, a season marked by death amid swirls of snow, ice and bitter, bitter cold.

She couldn’t stay wolf always, and in her human shape Raven hated the cold. The bone-numbing chill was the one thing that tempted her to rejoin the human world. When she became wolf, she felt warm enough. Human was another story. No matter how many layers of stolen clothes she wore, she couldn’t banish the cold from her skin.

After last winter, she’d nearly packed it in and given up. Only her pack of wild wolves had kept her in the cave, shivering when she was human, gritting her teeth and counting the hours until she could become wolf once more.

When spring had finally arrived, the pack had rejoiced. In summer and fall, every day had been a celebration of life, of living.

Until now. This day, winter started again. Early.

Shivering, she cursed her human form, hating the weakness of her olfactory senses, so sharp when she was wolf. Yet even as human, she sensed something was wrong, something more than the icy wind blowing over the mountains, more than the promise of snow in the air.

Beside her, Shadow whimpered.

“You sense it, too.” Absently, she stroked the thick pelt of the wolf at her side. Her pack knew her scent, whether human or like them, and one or two stayed with her always. As protection and for company.

Two more heavy-coated wolves glided closer. The animals had started growing their winter coats weeks ago, their internal clock telling them the time had come. As human, Raven had noted the change and stepped up her gathering and storing, remembering the long winter the prior year. This year she’d vowed none of her pack would starve.

Despite her preparations, she still felt unsettled. Something was definitely not right.

Later, she’d change to her wolf-self and scout out the area, but now she needed to gather more wood. She thought she’d beefed up her food rations—nuts, berries, whatever she could find—enough. Years ago, in her human time, she’d learned to cure meat, but now she had no way to obtain the salt to make the brine. Yet her pack, always generous with their kills, had not protested when she’d taken choice cuts of meat to try and freeze them, burying them in the crevice areas where her cave dipped deep into the earth.

She wanted to be ready. Yet she worried that despite her hurried preparations, winter had arrived too quickly. She needed human supplies—salt and matches, blankets and a newer thermal sleeping bag to replace the tattered one she’d stolen. A fire would be essential if she wanted to survive the subzero temperatures this high in the mountains. Even her pack liked the warmth, though she needed it. Unlike her furry pack, she couldn’t keep her wolf-form with its thick pelt indefinitely. Eventually, she went back to the form she’d been born in, which pained her.

In the summer, when the hikers and campers flooded the mountain, she’d taken what she could, trying her best not to inconvenience anyone. But now, with the icy north wind howling over the mountains, humans no longer came to the mountain. There’d be no choice for it—she’d have to make a quick trip down into civilization to steal what she needed, fast. As soon as the storm passed, she’d do so.

A movement on the horizon caught her attention. The animal beside her growled low in her throat. The other wolves moved up to flank her, circling her with their silent protection.

Raven stared—uncertain whether what she saw was real. If not a vision, she had a problem. Despite the blizzard, a human climbed the mountain, heading directly toward them. The furious wind and blowing snow had carried away his scent and he’d gotten way too close to her pack’s sanctuary.

Of course, he might be lost. A lost human and a blizzard usually equaled death, unless she led him to safety. She preferred to do the latter. Two winters ago another man had died on her mountain. The search teams had nearly found her cave and her pack before locating his body.

With the human here, she’d be better off as wolf.

She dropped low to the ground and stripped off her clothes. Then, muttering her usual prayer, began the change from human to wolf. Over time, she’d learned to shape-shift in seconds. Now she’d track the stranger…

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

KW: Oh my gosh, the internet. That, and Spider Solitare! Recently I’ve taken to handwriting in a lined notebook with a nice pen, then transferring to computer. That seems to help remove the distractions and free up my creativity.

DC: The Pack started out as Silhouette Intimate Moments and now they’re being published as Nocturnes. Has this made a difference in the way you write the stories?

KW: The only real difference might be that I am able to focus more on the impact the paranormal aspect has on the relationship. But writing for IM, I also had no real restrictions, as long as the love relationship was center stage. Everything else revolves around that.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

KW: Probably. I think my characters now are much more multi-faceted than they were when I wrote my first book back in 1997 for Kensington Precious Gems.

DC: You have several books with Magic in the title, Shadow Magic, Soul Magic, and Missing Magic, just to name a few. Do these books make up a series or are they all unrelated? Where did the idea come from for the books?

KW: The Magic books were all Fae Paranormals published by Dorchester for their Lovespell line. Most of them, with the exception of Lone Star Magic and Missing Magic, were historical paranormals and like my Pack stories, revolved around a loose premise of a society. In those stories it’s the Fae.

As far as the idea for those, I’d written five short contemporary romances for Kensington and wanted to do something different. So in 2001 I wrote a book for myself with a time traveling heroine and a half Fae, half human, Prince. I sent it to Chris Keeslar at Dorchester, who bought it. The book did very well and was reprinted in 2007. All of those Magic books feature a Fae character, usually the hero (except Shadow Magic, where it was the heroine).

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

KW: Hmmm. I’ve done contemporary, historical, paranormal, and suspense. I don’t know – maybe erotica?

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

KW: Patience is a much underrated virtue. I wanted to be a writer so badly that I’d often send material off without proofing it or re-editing it.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

KW: Wow, interesting question. As I grow older, I get more comfortable in my own skin. Yet I love to explore new areas (as in my recent foray into the world of physical fitness). Since more story isn’t yet completely written, I’d have to put a big question mark.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

KW: I’ve been told I have a “strong” voice, but am not quite sure what that means. I don’t like to write overly florid description or meandering prose, but like to cut to the chase.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

KW: LOL, my other job is running a commercial insurance agency. But, when I was young, I had some talent at art and my high school art teacher recommended me for a scholarship at an art school. I also love working with animals and showed horses and obedience dogs in the past. No matter what, I’d have to have some form of artistic outlet.

DC: What’s on the horizon for Karen Whiddon?

KW: I just turned in another Pack story and am working on the next book in The Cordasic Legacy for Silhouette Romantic Suspense. I’m contracted for two more Pack books after that and another SRS. Beyond that, time will tell. I’d like to do another single title, like my Magic books, but more of a contemporary romance.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – Definitely dark.
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?    -  Smooth
- heels or flats?    -  Both. I love me some high heels, but spend most of my time in flats.
- coffee or tea?    – Again both. I drink coffee every morning and tea every afternoon.
- summer or winter?    – Winter. I love snow and Christmas and bundling up with a nice fire in the fireplace and some hot cocoa. Hmmmm.
- mountains or beach?    – Mountains. I grew up in the Catskills and the Rockies and two of my other favorite places on earth are Alaska and British Columbia.
- mustard or mayonnaise?    -  Both. Depends on what kind of meat.
- flowers or candy?    – Flowers.
- pockets or purse?    – Oh, purse. I have quite a collection of purses.
- Pepsi or Coke?    – Diet Coke.
- ebook or print?    -  Print. I love the feel of paper and have a huge library. Not to say that I won’t even break down and get a Kindle/

Just for some extra fun:

1. What is your favorite word?    – Sleep.
2. What is your least favorite word?    – Deadline
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – Beautiful nature. Forest, lake, mountains, beach.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – Loud noises – TV or voices.
5. What sound or noise do you love?    – Cranes over the lake. Eagles over the ocean. Crows.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?    – Loud TV is the worst for me.
7. What is your favorite curse word?    – I can’t say it here
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?    -  Artist
9. What profession would you not like to do?    -  Accountant
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  -”Welcome. Let me show you the Hall of Records.”

DC: Karen, thank you so much for spending the day chatting with us!

Welcome once again to Duck Chat!

Today Lisa Renee Jones is here to give us the scoop on her latest releases in her Knights of White series and just to have some fun with y’all!  Lisa’s Silhouette Nocturne series started with The Beast Within back in 2007, followed by Beast of Desire and Beast of Darkness in 2008. May 1 saw the release of Captive of the Beast and Demon Seduction, which is a Nocturne Bite. And, of course, Lisa has a wonderful backlist of both print and ebooks published by Pocket, Berkley, Kensington, and Ellora’s Cave to choose for your reading pleasure. Lisa sold her staffing agency when she decided she wanted to follow her dream of becoming an author and she’s not looked back once. She currently lives in New York with her husband, who has had a big impact on her writing.

Be sure to ask Lisa a question or leave a meaningful comment – she’s going to be spending the day with us and she’s giving away five – FIVE! – copies of Captive of the Beast and one copy of Hard and Fast, a contemporary by Blaze.

Now without further adieu, let’s chat with Lisa!

DUCK CHAT: You have two releases in May, both part of your Knights of White series. Let’s talk about the series as a whole first. For our readers who aren’t familiar with the series, can you give us some background on it, where the idea came from and how it’s evolved since you started it?

LISA RENEE JONES: The entire Knights of White series is based upon the Texas Legend of Matamoros Monsters, aka Demons. You can find that legend at Knights of White website. I was taking a trip with my DH to Brownsville – he has a son in Mexico so we drove down to the border to pick him up. To get there we had to drive through King Ranch, which is miles and miles and miles long. This place is a small city. That ranch inspired the ranch that is the Knights’ home in the series. The legend, of course, is the Knights themselves. I’d already had a vague idea for the series but it was based on vampires. There were so many vampire stories out there, so when DH started telling me the story of the Matamoros Beasts/Monsters, I knew that was my series.

King Ranch is an amazing place with guided tours!

The main shift in this series since I began writing it has been in the growth of the heroes – they are gaining new powers and growing stronger. Which is a good thing because the main villain, Adrian, has decided rather than destroying humanity, he wants to take it over.

I won’t have any more Knight stories for quite some time because I’ve been writing the stories for my new Faith Winter pen name. But there will be more Knights!

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

LRJ: I don’t really have a question I want to retire. Of course, as a writer every time someone hears you are an author, they tell you they have always wanted to write book or they have tried. My DH and I just share a little smile at that. I hate the reaction to romance, though. Many times, men mostly, sneer at that. It’s very frustrating. I had a close male business associate from my corporate days that did this to me. Sometimes I wonder why sex and love are sneered at but murder and bloody brutality are thumbs up to these people.

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

LRJ: All the time. I just wrote a synopsis for my second Grand Central book and it was long and detailed. I believe the beginning will be exactly as planned. About halfway through. though, the characters led me places that impact plot and things shift. I find I go to bed at night and have no idea what is next and wake up knowing exactly where I am going.

DC: Captive of the Beast is the next Nocturne in the series, featuring Rhinehart and his heroine. Has it been difficult coming up with stories as you go along in the series? Tell us about Rhinehart’s story.

You know, amazingly with the Knights, it has not been difficult to come up with storylines. I think the reason for that is they are all ultimately about good vs evil. There is a message of faith in each story. The ideas themselves come easily because they feel like life to me. Life is all about an internal struggle with that concept. What is right and what is wrong? That is what each story ultimately comes down to. Will we be judged to have lived a good life? Forgiven our mistakes? Plotting to make the story interesting but tight enough to fit the Nocturne shorter word count has been a challenge. I absolutely loved writing my first Grand Central and having that extra 25k to work with.

The great thing about Captive is that Wolverine is out this month. I couldn’t believe the storyline when I went to the movie. It is SO like Captive! The similarities are amazing! An island. Mad military leader. Young kids with powers! WOW! Blew me away! Rinehart is my Wolverine in the book. Great movie too! Loved it! I can’t wait for Star Trek.

Yay! An excerpt from Captive of the Beast:

Dr. Laura Johnson had a secret. She was different, able to manipulate objects with her mind, able to read people’s emotions, and sense danger and tragedy before they became reality.

Her parents had always thought that hiding her abilities was for the best. They’d warned her that there were people who would be greedy and power hungry, people who would be enticed to misuse the power behind her secret. And now, fifteen years later, both her parents having passed on, she still remembered their words, understood them, lived the truth they held.

Hiding those abilities had become second nature. In fact, her research exposed her to others like herself, people with similar gifts, and still she remained silent. She knew it was the right choice. Pretending to be no different than everyone else around her was as much a part of each day as brushing her teeth and having morning coffee with her favorite vanilla creamer. Sometimes she even convinced herself it was true, that she was like everyone else.

Staring out the window of the government lab off the Texas coast where she’d been working the past two years, she watched the ocean crash against the rocks of the secluded island facility. It was eight in the morning, and she’d been up well before sunrise, unable to sleep. Every nerve ending in her body was raw, frazzled, and she didn’t know why. Her instincts screamed with warnings, with a promise of danger. With the promise of her secret exposed.

She struggled with why she was feeling such a thing. She had felt unease for a while now, ever since Captain Walch had taken over the island’s operations six months before. The man wasn’t a good person. Not even close. He’d use her patients for the wrong things with a snap of the fingers; in fact, several times now he’d hinted at the power that duplicating their skills could wield. But Walch wasn’t the cause of this uneasiness. Her instincts tingled with a warning like nothing she’d ever experienced before. The word malice leapt into her mind as if part of some warning system that her instincts had set off. And considering her instincts were uniquely accurate, she trusted them.

Behind her, the lab door opened and closed, and Laura turned to find her favorite patient, a firestarter named Kresley, walking toward her. With red hair several shades lighter than Laura’s dark auburn coloring, Kresley drew fast attention whenever she walked into a room. Her striking blue eyes and waiflike figure reminded Laura of a sea nymph from a fairy tale.

Kresley was the only patient Laura had brought with her to the island. Now a woman of twenty, the young girl had become close to Laura’s heart. After Kresley’s parents had turned away from her, treating her as if she were a freak, Laura had taken her into her home.

“What in the world are you doing up so early?” Laura asked, knowing how fitfully Kresley slept most nights.

Kresley smiled. “I had a bad dream last night.”

In her present state of unease, Laura wouldn’t have thought she could laugh, but she did. “Most people don’t smile over a bad dream, you know, but since the alarms in your room didn’t go off, I assume that can mean only one thing.”

“Yep,” Kresley said, nodding. “I had a nightmare and didn’t start a fire. I’m controlling my power even in my sleep.”

“Wonderful!” Laura said. She moved forward and hugged Kresley, pleased she’d called her firestarting ability a power rather than a curse, as she often did. Maybe it was hypocritical, considering how she felt about her own abilities, but Laura had grown up with something that had given her the confidence these kids didn’ t have— parents who loved her, parents who made sure she knew she mattered and, although she had to be secretive about her powers, she was special to them.

While working for the University of Texas, Laura had discovered the genetic marker that created certain people’s gifts, or powers. Once that discovery had been published, she’d been invited to the island to help a group of people with problems similar to Kresley’s— they couldn’t control their powers. And now, two years later, Laura had finally found the missing piece of the puzzle and created a retrovirus correction. Thankfully, it appeared to be working.

Laura had inherited four other patients when she’d come to the island, all kept locked away like animals. They were prisoners because they lacked control over their gifts. She suspected they would all love a little trip off the island.

She was starting to tell Kresley this wish when the door opened, and Captain Walch appeared in the entryway. Tall, with a muscular build and dark hair, Walch wore stiffly pressed, army-green dress pants and a white button-down shirt sturdy enough to display medals. His dark hair was cut short, his cheekbones were high and sharp, his nose long and pointed. As usual, his face was emotionless, even militant. Except for his eyes—they raked over Laura with a lusty inspection.

His gaze narrowed on Kresley and then refocused on Laura. “We need to talk,” he said.

Obviously he wasn’t keen on small talk on Kresley’s behalf. Not that he ever was. “Alone,” he added.

Laura turned to Kresley. “I’ll meet you in the coffee shop in a few minutes.”

Kresley hesitated, protectiveness flashing in her blue eyes. The two of them were close, and Kresley knew how much Laura hated being alone with Walch. “It’s okay,” Laura assured her. “I’ll only be a few minutes.” Kresley nodded and headed for the door, never glancing at Walch again.

Laura crossed her arms in front of her body, wishing for her lab coat—anything to cover her black dress. Not that the simple shell of a dress was anything but conservative, but Walch had a way of making her feel naked.

The door shut behind Kresley before either of them spoke. “You seem edgy, Laura,” Walch commented. “Something on your mind?”

Laura felt more than edgy—she felt defensive for no good reason. “Actually, yes,” she said, forcing herself to seize the opportunity. She knew Walch: he’d make whatever point he had come there to make and then dart away. She needed to be aggressive. “I think it’s time to test the patients’ control. A trip off the island would allow me to see how they respond to real-world stimulations.”

His response came fast—too fast, in fact. “You’re feeling good about your progress, then?”

Why did this feel like a trick question? “It’s moving along well,” she agreed cautiously, “but they still need regular injections to maintain the corrections I’ve made.”

“There won’t be a trip right now. Not anytime soon, for that matter. I have a team of researchers joining you later this week. They’ve shown me enough documentation to convince me they can clone your patients’ gifts in others. As I’ve mentioned on several occasions, the military finds this concept intriguing. More than intriguing—it’s an absolute necessity. This will happen. We expect it to happen.”

She drew in a surprised breath. Visitors? A research team? No wonder she was on edge. “I didn’t sign up for this. That’s not what I’m here for.”

He seemed unaffected by her response, in fact, was prepared for it. “If you want to continue receiving the funding and resources to complete your work, you’ll make this happen.”

“Is that a threat?” she demanded.

“Call it what you want, but we both know this is the next logical step in your work. We need to do this before someone else does. Our men must be the most deadly, the most well equipped.”

“By creating weapons of war,” she said. “I won’t do it. I came to help these people, not to fight wars. That’s your job, not mine.”

“You came here because you wanted our money and resources. You have all the resources you could dream of here and a chance to be a part of changing the world. Fix them while you help us. Think about what the next step in your research can mean to the future. It’s not about creating war—it’s about eliminating it.” His expression turned intense, emotion actually evident for once—emotion laced with hunger and greed. “When one opponent is the strongest, the others don’t fight. They don’t dare. You will be creating peace.”

She stared at him, swallowing hard. He was different from before. Darker. Evil seemed to cling to him, a second skin. She could feel it, primal, potent.

She had to get off this island. She would come back for her patients, but if she didn’t leave they might all be stuck here. Despite her fears, her voice was low but firm. “I’ve overstayed my welcome here. I want to go home.” He took a step toward her. Instinctively, she backed up. Already close to the window, her heels hit the baseboard. Her hands went to her sides, pressing against the ceiling-to-floor glass panels behind her.

“You have a job to do, and I suggest you accept that,” he said. He stood so close to her that the toes of his shoes were almost touching her sandals. “You will welcome your new research team with open arms, and you will eagerly aid their efforts.” He paused, his eyes lowering to her lips, lingering there before lifting. “And you will do so because it’s in the best interests of both you and your patients.”

“What does that mean?” she asked, fear fluttering in her stomach. It was fear for her patients, and fear because there was more going on here than she understood and she wished she knew what.

“It means that you are being monitored, Laura. You always have been. Anything you do that might interfere with our goals will be penalized. If you value the safety of your patients, then I’d stay on task.” He leaned in, his body far too near, his mouth brushing her earlobe. “And remember…I’ll be close.” He eased back and looked into her eyes. “And I’ll be watching.”

For the first time since she was a teen, Laura fought the rise of her powers, fought the desire to use them against this man. No… Beast. The word came to her clearly. He was a power-hungry Beast. Her adrenaline raged, her nerve endings stood on end. With effort she reined in the rush of energy, drew in a discreet, calming breath.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll do it. I’ll help clone the marker.”

He smiled, evil. “That’s my girl.” His finger ran down her cheek, and she shivered with repulsion. A second later, he stepped away from her, and Laura felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Your new research team will be here Friday morning,” he said. “I trust you’ll be ready for them.”

She glared at him, not agreeing, not daring to disagree. She couldn’t say or do anything until she knew what her next step would be. But as he exited the room, giving her one more lust-filled look over his shoulder, she knew one thing for certain. She had no intention of doing what he demanded. Somehow, some way, she was going to get off this island, and she was taking her patients with her. Their own powers were resources they themselves could put to use for escape if it came down to it. But she’d need to stockpile their medication first and plan carefully.

Then, they were out of here. One way or another, they were getting off this island.

Rinehart stepped onto the sandy beach of his island destination, after a long night on a boat spent, in part, blindfolded. Behind him several military police officers followed, one of them informing him their ride would be there shortly.

Only these soldiers weren’t men. Not anymore. They were Beasts in human disguises. Beasts that reeked of evil. The hardest part of the trip had been not killing them. No. That wasn’t true. The hardest part was thinking about his past, about the time he’d spent in the military and then the FBI. About the night he’d led his men on a mission deep into Mexico, his mind distracted by personal matters, by a woman, to be exact—a matter that should have been left at home. His team had fallen that night, ambushed by Beasts. He’d failed his men and his country. Why Salvador had saved him, converted him to a Knight of White, he didn’t know. Still didn’t. But when he’d finally pulled himself out of the self-hatred that day had created, he’d vowed to both himself and Salvador he would never fail the Knights.

Max, Rock, Des and their newest Knight, Lucan, joined him on the beachfront, reminding him of that vow. He had a damn good team who had worked miracles to get them here today. “My skin is crawling from being so near those bastards,” Des murmured under his breath, touching the arrowhead necklace he wore around his neck as a reminder of his Native American mother. Something he did often in troubled times.

“I hear ya, man,” Rinehart said. “We can’t get this job done fast enough to suit me.”

Rock came up on the other side of Rinehart. Like the rest of them, he wore khakis and a collar shirt. Gone was his standard attire of jeans, T-shirt and cowboy hat. But the more conservative clothing did nothing to contain his impetuous youth. “Remind me why I can’t take their heads right now,” he said.

Rinehart shook his head; that statement spoke worlds about why Rinehart kept Rock attached to his hip. If anyone were going to beat Rock’s ass, it would be him. “You gotta learn some patience, kid,” Max said, joining them, egging on Rock with the kid reference. They all knew he hated it.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

LRJ: No, but sometimes they seem to know more than me. I’ll hit a spot where they just won’t talk to me and I can’t make word count. I always know I am going the wrong direction and that is the hold up. It’s frustrating, but, once the words come again, I always understand why I was stalled.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

LRJ: A new DVD of Brothers and Sisters. I am currently obsessed with that show. I love Rob Lowe. I try to stick to only watching while on my exercise bike, but it’s better to think about my story than watch the DVD.

DC: You also have a Nocturne Bite, Demon Seduction, that released the same day as Captive of the Beast. This is also a Knights of White book. Please tell us about Marcus and his story.

LRJ: Marcus is a long lost, dark Knight who was born with magic. Without his mate he is fast turning into a demon. But his magic is needed to destroy a dangerous Sorcerer joining forces with the demon world. Black magic will tempt him, though. One woman will save him.

Blurb for Demon Seduction:

As a human, he was bitten by a demon, his soul stripped. As a demon, he was saved by an Angel, his soul returned to join the elite demon fighters, The Knights of White. Born into the gift of magic, Marcus Alexander is a rare breed of Knight of White, centuries old, the stain of that demon bite like acid eating away the good in his soul, leaving nothing but evil—his only salvation the elusive perfect soul mate. He is deadly to the demon world, able to kill them with far more than a sword, his magic immense, his ability growing stronger—and darker. Fearful of the day he will turn on his fellow Knights, he long ago sought solitude, vowing to destroy as many demons as he could before seeking death to save his soul. Now he is ‘The Destroyer’—alone—evil hunting evil.

Cathy Baker is a member of the Knights of White, a rare human, who like Marcus, is gifted with magic, and enlisted in the fight against the underworld. Bravely, she will face a powerful sorcerer intent on merging his magic with that of the master of the demons. But she is no match for the black magic she is facing and soon finds herself near death, in the care of the legendary ‘Destroyer’. Cathy soon learns that Marcus has a rare grasp and control over black magic, but he is so near the darkness, is susceptible to the black magic the enemy is using against him. Now, Cathy must pull him back into the light, save his soul and her own in the process—before the enemy destroys humanity.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

LRJ: I started out writing straight contemporary with a light voice. I have a Blaze coming out in December – a fun, light story that is back to my roots. I LOVED writing that story and hope to do more like it VERY soon. The story is Santa Baby and my heroine gets into a lot of mishaps despite being a well pulled together career woman. She is funny and down to earth. Her hero is a rich Clooney kind of guy who is swept off his feet quite unexpectedly. No demon lurking beneath his surface. Just a real man who learns to love. I enjoyed the departure from the dark side. I love the chance to switch between genres. It keeps things fresh for me.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

LRJ: I write across genres so no, not really. I do have an Urban Fantasy proposal (which is new to me) I am working on with a male lead that will be under a new pen name. I love this idea and can’t wait to get it ready to present. It’s been a time issue more than anything holding me back.

DC: Later this year you have a novella in the Wrapped in Seduction anthology that also features Cathryn Fox and Jodi Lynn Copeland. Can you give us a sneak peek in to your contribution to the book?

LRJ: This was such a fun story/book to write. It’s very Brothers and Sisters in tone. Yes, I’m obsessed with that show! The stories are linked by the family connection as everyone comes home for Christmas and craziness erupts, but there is a sexy romance for each novella as well. VERY SEXY. We also have a family story that starts with novella one, which is mine, and progresses with each novella. This family story impacts each character/story and ties each novella together. I think it’s very unique that way. I love my hero and his brothers in this story and my heroine is a lawyer turned best selling author with writer’s block.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

LRJ: To follow my dreams. I let years go by where I lived 80-hour weeks and high stress was the norm. Success convinced me my dreams were about success not substance.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

LRJ: I was a corporate executive. I owned a large staffing agency in three states. I am so much happier now.

DC: What’s your favorite book?

LRJ: Too many to list! I have so many I adore for so many different reasons and I read across genres. Loving the Moning Urban Fantasy series right now.

DC: What else is on the horizon for Lisa Renee Jones?

LRJ: I have a new pen name as Faith Winter for Grand Central – The series is the ‘RENEGADE’ series and the first two books are Sinful Pleasures and Sinful Desires. This is about a group of Super Soldiers created from Area 51 experiments and split between good and evil. The first book is May 2010. I will have a website up soon at faith-winter.com

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?  — Anything chocolate does me quite perfectly!
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?  –Chunky on a bagel
- heels or flats?   — I spent so many years in heels running through airports, so give me my flats!
- coffee or tea? — white mocha Starbucks – I’m addicted – I need intervention
- summer or winter?  — Having left Texas for New York, that is a debate I am still trying to work through. I love the beautiful snow but the cold is an adjustment. Still, I hated getting in my car in Texas and needing a towel to touch the steering wheel!
- mountains or beach? — Both! I love them both. And now I live by the beach. I laugh when I go to a store and there are seagulls in the parking lot. It reminds me I am minutes from the beach and need to get out of the house!
- mustard or mayonnaise? — Mustard – mayo is WAY too fattening. I save my calories for chocolate and white mochas. You know, stuff with substance.
- flowers or candy?  –  I can look out my window and see amazing flowers in Long Island—it’s beautiful. So I’ll take the chocolate.
- pockets or purse?   — Purse for sure! I’m very girly. I like purse and pink. I think I like pink because of my conservative work days where black was a staple.
- Pepsi or Coke?   — Green tea but I’d take Coke over Pepsi. I just don’t drink soda.
- ebook or print?  — Print or audio. Loving audio! So great for housework, jogging, driving!

Because we just like these questions:

1. What is your favorite word?   — Love
2. What is your least favorite word?    — Hate
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   — My family
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     — The internet distraction
5. What sound or noise do you love?    — Ocean waves
6. What sound or noise do you hate?     — The law people who always show up while I am in deep concentration like NOW!
7. What is your favorite curse word?    — You can’t live in New York without the word FOCK becoming familiar in a laughable way!
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?    — Been there, done that. Stick with where I am now.
9. What profession would you not like to do?    — What I already did – corporate executive
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?   — “Relax PLEASE!”

DC: Thank you, Lisa, for spending the day with us. It was a pleasure!

Sandy M’s review of Dragon’s Lair by Denise Lynn
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Feb 09

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Nocturne, and when I end up with a good one I always ask myself why I wait so long to read another. Never really get a good answer to that question other than the usual too many books, too little time. I’m determined to remedy that as far as these Nocturnes go, though. I’ve had great luck with them in getting good stories and terrific characters, and Dragon’s Lair is right up there with the best.

Alexia Drake is on the run, having narrowly escaped a kidnapping by men who want the ancient grimoire that has mysteriously dropped into her lap. When the evil after her destroys her home, she has nowhere else to turn but to her estranged husband at Dragon’s Lair in Tennessee. As hard as it will be to be near him again, Alexia has no choice since she’s the one who has unleashed renewed interest in the Drake family tome, causing more disastrous problems for the family. Perhaps returning the book to Braeden to keep it out of enemy hands will help make up for some of that trouble. But Alexia has no idea what’s in store for her in coming face to face with her husband again.

He can feel her the closer she gets to Dragon’s Lair. Braeden is determined to find out why Alexia has betrayed him and his family by making their secrets public, causing heartache to the people under his protection. What he isn’t ready for are the feelings that still flow through him for his wife, and also the knowledge that Nathan the Learned, the life-long nemesis of his family, is truly a real threat to them all. Now that she’s back, Braeden at first wants nothing more than to solve the mystery of the grimoire and have Alexia on her way out of his life again. But when it comes right down to it, he’s not sure if he can let her walk away from him like she did before.

I really liked this hero and heroine. Braeden is a wizard and the trust that Alexia gives him in their marriage is the crux of why they’re separated – she trusted him completely when he told her of his magic and his ancestry, but he couldn’t trust her when tragedy hit them hard and she couldn’t stay with a man who wouldn’t give his trust about something so important and heartbreaking to them both. I also liked the different way in which the author gives Alexia her powers throughout the book. Quite original. And the way Alexia unknowingly uses her new powers on her husband is a hoot. Braeden’s mettle is tested to the limit just by Alexia’s thoughts.

The villain in this book is one sick puppy. He’s one of those that you can’t wait until his end comes, you know it’s coming and it’s going to be good. Braeden’s brothers, his twin Cam and Sean, are just as dynamic as Braeden and I look forward to their books. The end of this book does leave everything wide open for further stories and I’m assuming those will include the brothers’; however, in checking the author’s web site there’s no information given that far ahead, much to my disappointment. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed because I look forward to visiting these characters again.

Grade: A-

Summary:
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DRUID SPELLS, DANGEROUS INTRUDERS, AND A MYSTERIOUS ESTRANGED HUSBAND…WAS HE FIEND OR SAVIOR?
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When his family’s nemesis tried to find a book of Druidic-elder spells. Druid Braeden Drake and his estranged wife, Alexia, must unite to prevent the evil force from unleashing a supreme reign of terror. But having Alexia return to Dragon’s Lair brings along another set of troubles. For not only does she make him senseless with desire, she’s also being followed by the enemy.
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Though tragedy once drove them apart, Alexia didn’t count on her return igniting so many powerful emotions. But as each dark night descends, revisiting the marriage bed is a temptation she finds more and more difficult to resist. All too soon Alexia realizes her heart is as much at risk as her life…
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Read an excerpt.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but that doesn’t mean the Harlequin Digital Team has any shortage of exciting news to share with TGTBTU readers!  What does the team have in store for the cold winter nights?  Well how about a special coupon code for TGTBTU readers, several e-book bundles and series announcements, welcoming new authors into the fold, and a chance to escape to sunny Mexico?  Wow!  Read on to get the inside scoop…

Series Spotlight on…Harlequin Romance!
Warm your heart with the ultimate feel-good Harlequin Romance tales, our Series Spotlight for the month of February! Whether in an exotic setting or somewhere a little closer to home, you can’t miss the best in romantic fiction. To celebrate, all six books out this month belong to the special Diamond Brides miniseries – which is also available as a convenient eBook Bundle!

Plus, and a special for the Good, Bad, and Unread readers out there, we have an exclusive coupon to get 10% off Harlequin Romance books this month! Just use the coupon code SPOTLIGHTROMANCE at www.ebooks.eharlequin.com at checkout to save.

We’re romancing the iPhone…again
As part of our Anniversary celebration, we’ve partnered with Stanza, an eBook reading application, to make our 16 free titles available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. You can find out more from http://www.lexcycle.com/content/60th_anniversary_harlequin on how to enjoy these eBooks wherever you go.

And don’t forget that the free ebooks are also available at www.HarlequinCelebrates.com!

Longing for Moonlight in Mexico?
If you just can’t keep a secret, then sand-covered beaches might in your future with this sweepstakes.. The more people you tell about Moonlight in Mexico, the closer you are to your own sun-filled adventure. Visit www.eHarlequin.com/moonlightinmexico and fill out an entry. Then, pull out your address book and invite as many friends to enter as you can. Why? For every friend that enters, you earn a point and the better your chances are of winning. So, dust off your contact list and start saving up for a brand-new bikini, you could be savoring some much-needed time in the sun.

Buzz Books for February
Released this month exclusively in eBook format, we’ve got the Forged in Steele Bundle by USA Today bestselling author Brenda Jackson. You can enjoy her complete Forged of Steele series in one convenient download. As a little something extra, we’ve included the free bonus novella Never Too Late that introduces all the Steeles!

Harlequin heats up the New York Times bestseller list with two big titles this month – Susan Wiggs hit #1 with Fireside (MIRA) and Linda Lael Miller is sitting at #2 with her latest Western romance for HQN Books, Montana Creeds: Logan! Montana Creeds: Logan is also available as a special enriched ebook with bonus photos of the three Creed brothers. The next other Creeds – Dylan and Tyler — get their own books (and enhanced ebooks) in March and April, too.

A few more titles getting the buzz this month:
- The Courtship Dance by Candace Camp (HQN Book), the latest in her Matchmakers series of Regency romances
- A new installment of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River miniseries: Second Chance Pass (MIRA)
- Get hooked on sexy historicals with Charlotte Featherstone’s Spice title Addicted and Jade Lee’s The Concubine, a historical Harlequin Blaze set in Imperial China
- Harlequin Presents launches the first of an eight book miniseries International Billionaires, part of a deal with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for rugby-related romances, with The Prince’s Waitress Wife by Sarah Morgan
- Caridad Pineiro adds a new story to her vampire miniseries The Calling! This time, it’s a Silhouette Nocturne Bite Honor Calls

Welcome another to the Harlequin Family!
Congratulations go out to Lucy King, who sold her first book to Mills & Boon Modern Heat! Her book won the Feel the Heat writing contest held though our blog, I Heart Presents. Lucy joins the ranks of fellow contest winner Lynn Raye Harris, who sold her first book to Harlequin after winning the Harlequin Presents Instant Seduction Contest last year.

From Harlequin, with Love
You didn’t think we’d do a February update without mentioning Valentine’s Day, did you?! As a little gift to our readers in honor of the most romantic day of year AND our 60th anniversary, we’ll be offering a FREE eBook A Valentine For Harlequin’s Anniversary at our eBook Store (www.ebooks.eharlequin.com), containing authors’ and readers’ cherished Harlequin memories and a short story An Evening to Remember by Catherine Mann.

If audibooks are your thing, we also have a FREE download of Stranded! by Lori Foster on Audible.com, too.

And be sure to pop by eHarlequin.com for more special offers over the Valentine’s Day weekend!

Happy Reading!

Welcome back to Duck Chat!

Today we’re talking to Bonnie Vanak, who is a very busy lady. As I put the finishing touches on her interview, she’s on her way to Haiti. Wow, what a way to spend a week!  Right?  That’s what I thought too. But it’s definitely not so.  Read on and you’ll find out why writing romance is a balm to her soul.

Bonnie lives with her family in sunny Florida. Well, at least it’s sunny when the hurricanes decide to hurtle in a different direction anyway. She has a journalism degree and worked as s journalist for a few years before she began writing for a large international charity.  After traveling to Nicaragua, Haiti and other poor countries, it was writing romance that helps her recover after encountering such horrific suffering.

Her first book was the beginning of her Egyptian novels, The Falcon and the Dove in 2001, followed by The Tiger and the Tomb in 2003, The Cobra and the Concubine in 2005, The Panther and the Pyramid in 2006, The Sword and the Sheath in 2007, and The Scorpion and the Seducer in 2008, and in April 2009 will be The Lady and the Libertine.  She’s also written several Silhouette Nocturnes that feature her Draicon shape-shifting wolves, The Empath, Enemy Lover, and Broken Souls, a Nocturne Bite, in the Midnight Cravings anthology. When in the world did she have time to sit down to talk with us?  Thank goodness she found a few spare minutes.

Bonnie will be in and out of the Pond today, so if you have questions or comments, let her know.  Now let’s chat!

Duck Chat:  You’re so busy writing both your Egyptian historicals for Dorchester and your werewolf books for Silhouette Nocturne! Do you have a set schedule you adhere to for writing each genre or do you just write one book until it’s done before going on to the next? Or something else?

Bonnie Vanak:  I usually have a schedule because I must space apart my deadlines due to the day job. But sometimes I’ll have something unexpected (a nice surprise!) to write, like with Unwrapped, the novella for Holiday with a Vampire III.

DC:  If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

BV:  Why do you write porn for women?

Honestly, someone asked that recently. I do get tired of the whole “romance is trash” attitude, always from those who never read romance or my books. I’ll share a story about this. A few years ago, I was in Haiti for the day job. After we finished work, I was in the hotel lobby reading Pamela Clare’s Ride the Fire while waiting for my co-workers so we could go to dinner. Great book. I’m chilling.

And along comes the newbie, the newest member of my department. We start talking, and he discovers that I write romance novels. The newbie looks at me and says, “Oh, those books are read by desperate women.”

The other co-worker joins us. This guy, who thinks it’s great that I write romance, tosses out some impressive stats about the industry that he heard on NPR, such as how Nora Roberts outsells the leading MALE fiction writer. Then I launch into the reason why I write the books. To balance my life after seeing the hunger and suffering in places like Haiti, because my romance novels always have happy endings.

The newbie wants to know if I write sex scenes. I tell him yes. Then he gets this goofy look and says, “Oh, and you use words like thrust. Romance novels are like PENTHOUSE.”

I ignore that and give an impressive little talk, woven in with stats about what percentage of American women buy romance novels, what kind of market share in publishing romance garners… how the books are character driven and the books are love stories about relationships, etc, etc.

When I finish, he says, “So it’s all about the thrust.” He pumps his fist forward. Some days, I just regret wasting my breath.

DC:  Your seventh historical is The Lady and the Libertine which is due out in April. Would you tell us a little about it?

In this book, a displaced English earl seduces a virginal beauty in order to steal the pharaoh’s treasure she guards in Egypt. I pitted Nigel, a thief, liar, and libertine, who was cheated out of his birthright as earl, against Anne/Karida, who has sworn to be upright and moral. Karida was born in England and taken to live with my Khamsin warriors of the wind in Egypt. They entrusted her with a ruby that unlocks the key to a fabulous treasure buried in the sands.

Nigel was fascinating to write and may be one of my favorite heroes because he’s so complex. He does the wrong things for the right reasons. He’s very naughty, and just when you think he’ll change, he turns around and does something wicked again.

I loosely based the pharaoh’s treasure tomb on the Valley of the Golden Mummies in the Bahariya Oasis, four tombs of about 105 mummies excavated by Dr. Zahi Hawass.

DC:  I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

BV:  Definitely. A good example of that are the gremlins in Unwrapped. They literally popped out of nowhere. I had this image of little grinning, green guys dressed like Santa singing off-key Christmas carols and waking up Adrian, the vampire hero. I set them loose in the story, and they provided good comic relief to the darkness. One of my favorite scenes with them is where the gremlins are using the heroine’s bra to launch coconuts at a dummy for “target practice.”

DC:  Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing?

BV:  Yes, but they usually win.

DC:  You’ve got several of your Draicon werewolf stories coming out over the next year. Broken Souls is a Nocturne Bite being also being released in April. Please tell us about that and then what’s in store for us next year in the series.

Broken Souls is a Bite that will be released in the anthology Midnight Cravings in April. It features Baylor and Katia from The Empath. Here’s the synopsis:

She was forbidden by the Draicon to cast the blood-to-blood spell. But Katia was determined to find her father, and the spell was her only option. The Draicon had taken her into their pack when her own family had been destroyed by the Morphs. But Katia had never given up hope that her father was still alive, and refused to mate for life with her beloved Baylor until she found him. Now Baylor had given her an ultimatum, and Katia was forced to take drastic measures.
But when Katia’s spell summoned a Morph claiming to be her father, nothing Baylor said could convince her of the danger. Baylor knew too well the cost of trusting a loved one who’d turned, and desperately wanted to save Katia the pain he’d lived with for so long. He also knew that if he spared the Morph, it would destroy Katia, but if he killed this evil being, he risked losing her love forever.

Immortal Wolf is Raphael’s story. The Draicon’s executioner is sent to ritually sacrifice Emily, a female Draicon who can kill with a single touch, but discovers she is his destined mate. That Nocturne is out this October.

Unwrapped will be a story in Holiday with a Vampire III this December and features a vampire who’s given a doll by gremlin carolers as a gift, a doll that shifts into a female Draicon he secretly loves.

And next up is another Bite, Gabriel’s story, which I’m temporarily calling The Shadow Wolf and which I still have to write!

DC:  What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

BV:  The day job, lol. I work as a writer for a large international charity, travel to impoverished countries like Haiti to get stories of poor people who need help, and then write fund-raising appeals to help them. [Ed. Bonnie just returned from Haiti and has posted her thoughs and some pics at her blog.  Do check it out.]

DC:  How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

BV:  I have noticed my writing has gotten considerably darker, more intense and emotional. That’s why I love writing the Nocturnes, which are dark paranormals. Raphael in Immortal Wolf is very dark, immortal, and the Draicon’s executioner. I also wanted him to be sexy, like a dark angel, so he’s a Harley-riding Cajun who has an earring and long hair. And he’s a lethal fighter as well.

With the Dorchester historicals, I’ve relished the freedom I had to experiment. That’s a huge asset to a writer’s creativity. My editor always let me write what I wanted, so I could have a hero who was sexually abused as a child (Graham in The Panther & the Pyramid) or a dark-skinned heroine who was subjected to racial bigotry (Jasmine in The Scorpion and the Seducer) or even an English earl who is a thief, liar, and seducer who has a ménage à trois in the fourth chapter (Nigel in The Lady and the Libertine).

DC:  Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

BV:  I always try to put a little mystery, and a twist, in my stories, and I’d like to try writing RS.

DC:  Is there a current work in progress you can give us sneak peek on?

BV:  Actually, I just got off deadline and I’m taking a very short break, but I can give you a glimpse of Immortal Wolf, Raphael’s story, which will be out this fall. Raphael is the Kallan, the only Draicon who can take life away without consequence. He is the Destroyer, who not only swiftly delivers a merciful death with his sacred Scian, his gold sword, but prepares the soul for the journey to the Other Realm. Emily, his “transition,” is believed to kill everyone she touches with her bare hands. Raphael is to ritually sacrifice Emily to prevent the spread of her curse to the entire Draicon race.

Excerpt from Immortal Wolf:

He was the Destroyer, the bringer of death.
Minutes later, he parked the bike in front of the Full Moon bar. Music poured down the street in an acoustic tidal wave; soft, cool jazz and hard, pounding rock. A few women lounging on the sidewalk and sipping hurricanes gave him the twice over. Wind teased the pure white streak of hair at his temple, played with the gold dagger earring dangling from his left ear.
A collective female sigh, soft as a Mississippi River breeze, drifted toward him. He angled his famous half smile at the staring threesome. “Evening ladies,” he drawled.
Three in one night. Nothing new. Hard, fast female company, the bliss of quick, anonymous sex and the energy it brought pushed back the loneliness a little. The tallest had a lush figure, with enough flesh on all the right places he loved to caress. He adored females. Even human women who were too frail to absorb the rough sex Draicon males sometimes relished.
But sex with anonymous strangers never touched the empty space inside him. Raphael gave the women a charming smile and walked away. Behind him, their murmurs of disappointment buzzed like mosquitoes in the bayou.
He headed toward the scratched wood bar and a last mug of beer before his ritual purification necessary to committing trasna. Male and female Draicon nursing drinks stared. “That’s him,” he heard one female whisper. “The Kallan. They say he was appointed because he killed 80 Morphs in one day when they were about to slay a pack in California.”
Sometimes the story boasted over 100 Morphs, and the pack of Draicon were from New England. It mattered not, for the legend shadowing him was far bigger than reality.
Too often he felt as if he were dancing atop a paper pedestal erected by his people. When would he fall off because his blood wasn’t pure enough? Only his family treated him normally.
He snorted. Normal? He was immortal. Normal wasn’t part of the package.
He had never dispatched a female before. Raphael hoped he’d have the strength and emotional detachment to execute the cursed Draicon. It could be worse, he thought grimly. She could be someone I know, even love.
Two of his brothers shouted a hearty hello. He was crossing the distance between them when a voice spoke in his head.
“Amant? Are you there?”
The whisper made him halt. It was her, the one he revered above all others. Raphael held up a hand in greeting to his brothers. He retreated to a solitary table.
“Erin. I’m here.” He reassured her.
Her voice sounded shaky, as if she tried disguising her fear. But something deeply worried her.
“I thought I’d lost you. You haven’t spoken to me since yesterday.”
“Hush, little one,” he soothed. “I’m right here, as I have been. What troubles you, chere?”
“I just missed you, that’s all.”
“I missed you too,” he admitted, pulling out a chair and propping one booted foot upon it.
One month ago, he had been preparing crayfish for the family barbecue when he’d heard her telepathically. His draicara, his destined mate, seeking him out. Raphael had gone still at the sweet purity of her voice, the low melodic tones. He felt bathed in serenity and yet sharpened by sexual need.
It was the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced, and yet she’d spoken but one sentence.
Since then, they’d talked nearly each day. He wisely did not press her, and allowed her to seek him out. He’d given her the nickname bestowed on him by his brothers. Amant, the French word for lover. He didn’t want to frighten her or have her overcome with awe at the legendary Raphael, the most feared and respected Draicon.
“Where are you now? What are you doing?” Erin asked.
“In a bar. Talking to you.”
“Oh. There must be many pretty women there.”
He heard the uncertainty and sadness. Raphael spotted his older brother Gabriel flirting with a blonde woman in a low cut dress. “No, just a few big, hairy males.”
“Hairy males. And it’s not even a full moon.”
Her dry joke made him laugh aloud. He leaned forward, placing both feet on the floor. “What’s wrong, Erin? You sound sad. Are you alone?”
A tiny sigh went through him like an arrow. “Where I am, I am always alone.”
Where was her pack? Her alpha?
“I must go. It isn’t safe here. I have to go to someplace safe.”
He picked up her anxiety, like little hairs brushing against the nape of his neck. Raphael frowned, wishing he could see her. “Your people, are they near? Do you feel threatened?”
“It’s just some males from my pack walking nearby. I can’t let them see me.”
His hackles rose at the suggestion of someone daring to touch his draicara. Automatically, he flexed his muscles, his protective instincts rising. “If they try anything with you, they will pay.”
“Don’t worry. They won’t come near me.”
“They’d better not. You’re mine and mine alone.” He couldn’t help rumbling.
She gave a light laugh, as sweet and airy as a songbird. “I can take care of myself. Trust me. I have for a while now.”
“It’s my job to take care of you.”
Her voice deepened. “You’re so good to me, even if you aren’t here. I cherish our times together these past weeks. When can I see you?”
Raphael blocked away thoughts of the task awaiting him. “Soon. I have an assignment, then I will come to you.”
“Promise?” Despair punctuated her voice. Troubled, he sent her waves of reassurance, soothing images of forest and glen, the deep quiet of the green woods. He felt her tension ease.
“How I wish you could kiss me now. Kiss me and tell me all is well.”
Her admission sent waves of erotic heat through him. He would kiss her, inch by sweet inch. His body tightened with need. He wondered what she looked like and wished she would allow him to see her reflection in a mirror.
“I am eager for us to meet. I can’t wait to touch you,” he admitted in a husky, sensual whisper.
“No!”
Her distress screamed in his mind. Raphael frowned and speculated. Even if she were a virgin and scared of her first time, such fear wasn’t normal.
“Has someone hurt you?” He didn’t mean to make his voice so sharp, and softened his tone. “Tell me, so I may help you, chere.”
“I will be fine.” Her wistfulness gave his heart a twist.
“Let me help you. I’m your dracairon. It’s my duty to care for you, and see to all your needs, be they large or small.”
“You sound as if I’m an invalid who needs assistance getting out of bed.” came the tart reply.
Raphael gave a small, amused laugh. It might come to that. He blocked the thought from her of the sexy image of Erin lying languid and flushed in bed, dazed by the pleasure he’d given her. “Of course not. But I am your mate, and it grieves me to know you are in such distress. Tell me what you need.”
“You.” She went silent a few heartbeats and added, “Do you want me?”
Her deep, sultry voice sent lust spiraling through him. Raphael gripped the chair’s armrests. Want her? “You have no idea how badly I want you.” Mentally he sent her an image of an enormous bed, two bodies tangled together between rumbled silk sheets. “All that and much more,” he said softly.
“Oh! Oh. I didn’t realize, I’ve never… um…”
Silent delight filled him at her charming, blushing innocence. “Don’t worry, chere. It’s your first time, and I will be gentle. You have nothing to fear from me.”
“I’m not afraid of you. I could never be afraid of you.”
Satisfaction poured through him. He would cherish her, and be mindful of her innocence at their first joining.
“I wish I could touch you.”
The absolute sorrow in her voice gave him pause. His heart twisted. “Soon,” he promised.

DC:  What advice would you give to your younger self?

BV:  I’d tell her, “Sweetie, disco is dead. Get over it already.” LOL!

DC:  If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

BV:  Time traveling back to the 19th century. I wish! Sometimes I think I’m an anachronist at heart. I love history, and that’s why I started writing the Victorian-era Egyptian historicals. Then again, I’d hate wearing a corset and couldn’t live without modern plumbing or Advil.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate? Milk chocolate, mmmmm
- smooth or chunky peanut butter? Smooth! (I’m getting hungry now)
- heels or flats? Flats
- coffee or tea? Coffee. Actually amaretto espresso from Nicaragua, yum, I get some each time I travel there
- summer or winter? Since I live in Florida, I like winter and the cooler temperatures and the fact I don’t have to fret over hurricane season
- mountains or beach? Mountains!
- mustard or mayonnaise? I’m a mayo girl
- flowers or candy? Red or pink roses
- pockets or purse? Purse. I have a collection from my travels
- Pepsi or Coke? Diet coke
- print or ebook? Print, only because I’m on a computer day and night, so my eyes get very tired of looking at a screen

Some more fun stuff:

What is your favorite word? Onomatopoeia. I love the sound of it.
[Ed. Okay, had to look that one up, Bonnie! Here’s the pronunciation: on-uh-mah-tuh-pee-uh and then the definition: the formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.]

What is your least favorite word? Cancer

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Free-thinking, independent, upbeat people who dare to reach for their dreams, who look beyond the ordinary and accept that we are all different and respect those differences.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Closed-minded, pessimistic people who disdain those who don’t think as they do and think only they are right.

What sound or noise do you love? A Baltimore Oriole (the bird, not the baseball team) breaking the hushed silence of a deep forest

What sound or noise do you hate? The alarm clock on Monday morning

What is your favorite curse word? &#*@#&@*&#. LOL!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? If I were better at science, and had a stronger stomach, I’d love to be a forensic anthropologist.

What profession would you not like to do? Accounting.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

I hope He says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
I hope He doesn’t say, “You were supposed to take the down escalator.”

As mentioned in the January 2009 Scoop column, the website celebrating Harlequin’s 60th birthday went live yesterday!  And to celebrate, Harlequin is offering sixteen titles for free!  Books can be downloaded in pdf, epub, lit or ereader.  And though it doesn’t seem o be up yet, soon the books will be available for the iPhone through Stanza.

The titles that can be downloaded are:

Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren (Harlequin American Romance)

Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly (Harlequin Blaze)             

His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls (Harlequin Historical)

Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels (Harlequin Intrigue)  

Price of Passion by Susan Napier (Harlequin Presents)        

The Bride’s Baby by Liz Fielding   (Harlequin Romance) 

Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson (Harlequin Superromance)

Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child (Silhouette Desire)  

Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf (Silhouette Nocturne)

Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace (Silhouette Romantic Suspense)

Dancing in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne (Silhouette Special Edition)

A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight (LoveL Inspired)

Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart (Love Inspired Historical)

Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry (Love Inspired Suspense)

Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson (Kimani Romance)

Speed Dating by Nancy Warren (Nascar)

So what are you waiting for? Go! This is a great opportunity for Harlequin newbies to try it out, or to try a line you wouldn’t normally read.

2009 looks to be a good one for Harlequin (and for Harlequin readers).  Lots of interesting upcoming releases, and free goodies too!  We begin with a 60th Anniversary Update:

Rich, powerful heroes… Scandalous family sagas… Powerful and provocative storylines…

…That’s what Silhouette Desire is all about! The Desire line is January’s series spotlight so visit www.eharlequin.com for some special offerings, including 20% off all Desire titles and the return of the Man of the Month series with An Officer and a Millionaire by Maureen Child. We’ll also be holding special events in the eHarlequin Commmunity, such as blogs from the Desire heroes, discussion of the Desire online read, and a visit by author Yvonne Lindsay.Also as part of our 60th anniversary, we’ll be offering 16 free ebooks from each Harlequin series starting on January 29th at our brand new anniversary site www.HarlequinCelebrates.com! Sign up now to be sent a reminder when the books are live. Plus, check other eBook retailers for other formats.

–Amy

Enriched eBooks

How do you make a Presents book even better – enrich it! This month we have a special eBook edition of Kate Hardy’s Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded that is enhanced with hyperlinks, photos, recipe, and a special author note. Want to see the place in Bath where the hero and heroine get married? Follow a link to see a picture. Intrigued by the hero and heroine’s archaeology jobs? We provide links to more information. With over 130 links added to the book, that’s just a taste of what you’ll find!

I just finished reading our enriched eBook Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded by Kate Hardy and it not only has me craving an Italian romance, but it’s given me several new locations on my “places to see” list, with the Blue Grotto in Capri topping the list. The best part of the enriched edition for me was the author involvement in the creation of this version. Kate Hardy provided pictures and recipes, adding a personal touch that spoke volumes about how much the story means to her. Best of all, I feel like I’ve had a European vacation and I never left my chair.

We’ll have more enriched eBooks throughout 2009, too. There will be more information in next month’s update but keep your eyes peeled for enhanced eBook versions of Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn and Montana Creeds: Logan by Linda Lael Miller.

–Aideen

Exciting New Releases

What’s getting the buzz at Harlequin for January? Take a look!

HQN has new reissues of your favourite bestselling authors – Falling for Gracie by Susan Mallery, Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter, Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie and Secret Fantasy by Carly Phillips.

Welcome two brand-new authors to Mills & Boon Modern! Kimberly Lang who makes her debut this month with The Secret Mistress Arrangement, which will be published in North America by Harlequin Presents in April. Sabrina Philips also published her first book, Valenti’s One-Month Mistress, with Mills & Boon Modern last month, making its way to Harlequin Presents this March.

There are two new Silhouette Nocturne miniseries starting this month. First is Linda Thomas-Sundstrom’s werewolf series “Transitions” that begins with her sexy, gritty Nocturne Bite story Blackout, continuing next month with another Bite called Wolf Bait. The series of five books, published by both Silhouette Nocturne and Nocturne Bites, features five sets of couples who come into contact with a criminal who is infecting people an ancient Lycan virus.

The second series is Linda O. Johnston’s Alpha Force series, about an undercover military force made up of shapeshifters. This series gets started with two books this month – Alpha Wolf (Nocturne) and Claws of the Lynx (Nocturne Bites).  More about both series can be found at our blog, www.paranormalromanceblog.com.

Some other books getting the buzz this month are:
- Megan Hart’s erotic novel from Spice, Stranger, which features the brother of Megan’s popular hero Dan, and scenes with Dan and Elle, the protagonists of Dirty and Reason Enough)
- Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl (HQN)
- an eBook exclusive collection of hot historicals in Bronwyn Scott’s Sexy Regency Bundle
- romance on the waves in 1500s Caribbean with High Seas Stowaway by Amanda McCabe (Harlequin Historical), the follow up to her Harlequin Historical Undone prequel Shipwrecked and Seduced
- The Stranger and Tessa Jones by Christine Rimmer (Silhouette Special Edition), the first in the Famous Family series about classic family-based miniseries. The Stranger and Tessa Jones combines Bravo Family Ties and The Jones Gang when a Bravo man meets a Jones woman!

Better late than never, I say.  Here is the first in a new series of columns.  All the latest and best news from Harlequin!  Read on to get the scoop….Harlequin Celebrates – December 2008

Hi everyone! We’re Amy, Aideen, and Malle from Harlequin, and we’re thrilled to be bringing you news through The Good, the Bad, the Unread – especially since 2009 is a big year for us. In 1949 Richard and Mary Bonnycastle of Winnipeg, Manitoba started up a little publishing company—Harlequin! That makes 2009 our 60^th anniversary, and we’ve got lots of special treats for our readers to celebrate. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect throughout 2009:

•  16 free ebooks

• New editions of bestselling authors’ very first romance novels (including Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Diana Palmer) with the “Famous Firsts Collection”

• An exhibit of 60 years of Harlequin cover art in New York City [Ed. Note: Yay NYC!  I'm goin']
  

• Man of the Month revs up again in Silhouette Desire, beginning with An Officer and a Millionaire by Maureen Child in January (we’ve included a “Browse the Book” widget so you can read the first chapter here, too)

• “Series Spotlight” on a different Harlequin imprint each month, with their own special events and products. Here’s an exclusive look at our spotlight schedule!

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But you’re probably wondering what’s new in December, right? Harlequin does have some new goodies from this month, too!

First, Harlequin Medical Romances are now available in eBooks for the first time—so if you have a thing for hot docs (and really, who doesn’t?), you can get these books (which aren’t available in stores) right away.

Here’s something we’re sure you’d be interested in—from Dec. 23-31^st, we’ll be having a FREE eBook a day in our eBook Store! Just a little holiday gift from Harlequin.  [Ed.note: Now I'm really sorry I didn't get this up sooner]

December also sees the publication of great new titles, including:

Olivia Gates – who writes sheikh books for Silhouette Desire – makes her paranormal debut with Mortal Enemy, Immortal Lover (Silhouette Nocturne Bites). It features an immortal half-vampire, half-demon hero who falls in love with an Eradicator, a breed of human with special powers trained from childhood to eliminate all demons. Gulp!

 Vampires also collide with the holidays in the Holiday with a Vampire II anthology by Merline Lovelace and Lori Devoti. Who says spooky heroes only come at Halloween?

 Some miniseries that are being wrapped up this month: A Holiday Mystery at Jenkins Cove gets tied up in Christmas Delivery by Patricia Rosemoor (Harlequin Intrigue) [Ed. Note: See my review]. The last of the Saxon heirs gets hitched (and a baby) in Tessa Radley’s Pregnancy Proposal (Silhouette Desire), the conclusion of her New Zealand-set series The Saxon Brides. The Billionaire in Penthouse B by Anna DePalo is the sixth and final book in the Silhouette Desire series Park Avenue Scandals, about the sexy secrets and adventures of the residents of a glamorous Manhattan building (and even if you missed the rest, the whole series is also available in the Park Avenue Scandals eBook Bundle). And yet another Desire series is concluding this month: Gifts from a Billionaire delivers its last surprise just in time for Christmas with The Tycoon’s Secret by bestselling author Kasey Michaels.

Need some—ahem—warming up this winter? We’ve collected twelve naughty holiday-themed novellas by authors like Jane Porter, Alison Kent, and Michelle Reid in the Red Hot Holiday Bundle.

Finally, with Christmas just around the corner, here’s a bit of inside scoop: eHarlequin’s top ten Christmas books of 2008…

1. All She Wants for Christmas by Stacy Connelly
2. Christmas Crime in Colorado by Cassie Miles
3. Who Needs Mistletoe? by Kate Hoffmann
4. One Magical Christmas by Carol Marinelli
5. Once Upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs
6. Holiday with a Vampire II by Merline Lovelace and Lori Devoti
7. The Duke’s New Year Resolution by Merline Lovelace
8. Mistletoe Reunion by Anna Schmidt
9. Yule Be Mine by Jennifer LaBrecque
10. Marry-Me Christmas by Shirley Jump

We hope you all have a fantastic holiday and happy new year! We’ll be back in January to give you more news about a new enriched eBook from Harlequin Presents, more sales and giveaways, and what’s going on for our first Series Spotlight on Silhouette Desire.

 Happy reading!

~Amy, Aideen, and Malle

Sandy M’s review of Enemy Lover by Bonnie Vanak
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Nov 08

I read and reviewed Ms. Vanak’s first werewolf Nocturne, The Empath, last year and absolutely loved it. That’s where we first meet Damian and Jamie, the hero and heroine of this book.  While I enjoyed most of Enemy Lover, it didn’t quite capture me the way The Empath did.

Jamie witnessed Damian and his men kill her brother, so she’s out for revenge.  She has no magick of her own, something she’s always wanted and now something she needs.  Contacting Kane, a Morph leader, he gifts her with dark magick so she can carry out her vendetta.  Thinking her plan worked and Damian is no more, she’s taken by surprise when he surfaces and claims her as his mate.  She’s now on the run from him but finds that nothing will keep him from her.  Nothing except death.

Time is working against Damian as he hunts for Jamie.  Kane exacted his own sense of justice and cast a death spell on Jamie, a slow and painful death, and Damian cast his own magick to bind her to him, but even that connection will not keep her death at bay forever.  He has to make her see they’re meant to be together, she’s meant to be by his side as alpha, but she’s running scared not just of him but something else in her past.  There’s also powerful magick within Jamie and as much as she wants to use it, it’s his nature to protect those he loves, especially when he’s failed in that once before.

As with Nicolas in The Empath, I really liked Damian’s character, alpha draicon, tortured by his past, needing family in his life and protecting them no matter what.  He’s sensitive when it comes to Jamie’s fears but refuses to give up his need to protect.  That’s just who he is.  What fell a little short for me is Jamie. I know at first she’s afraid what Damian will do to her if he catches up with her, plus issues from her past, but after he does find her and he does nothing further to make her fear him, I was disappointed that she kept pushing him away as long as she did.  I was well past three-quarters of the book before she finally thinks about trusting him and what she could have with him.  I wanted that so much sooner because there was nothing more Damian could have done to assure her of his feelings, of how he and his family would treat her.

Other than that, this is still a great read.  I enjoyed all the other characters, especially Damian’s brothers and his relationship with them.  The mystery of the Book of Magick, which held the answer to Jamie’s plight, was interesting, and even the twist at the end caught me off guard. This is a fun series and I hope Ms. Vanak is going to give us more stories of the characters we’ve met so far.

Grade: B

Summary:

After nearly being killed by his destined mate, Draicon Damian Marcel hunts her down in New Orleans and discovers she’s been infected with the lethal stone spell and her body is slowly turning into granite. She’ll be trapped forever inside stone, her spirit alive, but imprisoned for eternity.

Thinking he murdered her brother, Jamie Walsh hates and fears Damian, but must team up with the werewolf leader to find a missing book of magick that contains a cure to save her. As they search through the French Quarter for the book, they race against time and battle evil Morphs who will use the dark magick spells in the book to eliminate the Draicon for good.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Devon’s review of Son of the Shadows by Nancy Holder
Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Aug 08

I was intrigued and excited to see Nancy Holder’s name on a list of upcoming Nocturne releases. I was familiar with some of her horror short stories, and her novels for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Someone from such a different background could bring something really new and different to the genre, thought I. Well, this story of three magically gifted and conflicting families is different…but for this reader different did not mean good.

Son of the Shadows starts off with a bang (ha! not.) just after Isabella de Bouvard has performed sex magic with Jean-Marc de Devereaux’ soulless and presumably unconscious body. Yum. The mojo returns Jean-Marc’s soul to his body, but missing a few pieces, and it wipes out Isabella’s memory and her “gifts.” Not good. Did I mention that they are in the middle of a Louisiana forest, fighting, with bodies, lying around? Why? Well it takes awhile to find out. But we do, in an unsatisfactory way.

You see, I soon realized that this book must’ve picked up right after a prior one. I was growing increasingly frustrated, because we are told little tidbits about each and every character, but it’s info dropping, not woven into the story. We learn bits about Isabella, Jean-Marc, Isabella’s lover Pat Kitrell and others, but the reader has to fill in some major blanks. A bit of research shows that Holder wrote two Silhouette Bombshells, Daughter of the Blood and Daughter of the Flames. Of course, these books are no longer available, but from what I could gather from the Klausner reviews, these books tell Isabella and Jean-Marc’s story up to this point. Since I haven’t read them I felt awfully gypped. There’s nothing more annoying than being dropped into a developed story with little background.

Not to mention, this book did not work as a romance at all. Isabella is suffering from amnesia, and there is no connection between her and Jean-Marc, not even a new or growing one. All Isabella can remember is her feelings for her “Ungifted” lover, Pat. I wouldn’t have minded the interloper, but there was no chemistry between Isabella and Pat either. Jean-Marc didn’t seem like much of a catch anyway, with his eighties rock star ringlets and his French endearments and curses. Very Pepe LePew. At one moment he’s mad with love for Isabella, the next he’s going on about how the “Gifted” don’t love, they just have sex. I really felt as though I was being told a lot of things without being shown anything.

Everybody thinks lots of conflicting thoughts, but they don’t show each other any kind of emotion. I was completely uninvested in the characters, even finding them unsympathetic. Couldn’t tell how anyone was really feeling. Add to this one of the worst HEAs I’ve ever read in something that was supposed to be romance. Not to be spoilery, but Isabella appeared to be unconscious the entire time. It might have worked in a twisted horror story, but for a romance, we want the lovers awake.

The strength of this book was in the non-romance plot, the fight to defeat Isabella’s twin and get souls and gifts and memories back. The imagery was cartoony, and so was the evil Liliane, but these scenes were also interesting and vivid. I liked the demons and vampires as well. Ms. Holder can write good fighting/action scenes. I haven’t been more disappointed by a hero/heroine and their romance in a long time. I’d only try this if you’ve read and enjoyed the prior books. I might try the author again, but mostly out of curiosity.

Grade: D

Summary:

Jean-Marc de Devereaux, son of the magical House of the Shadows and its most powerful mage, loses a part of himself when a demon ravages his soul. Though an intense union with Isabelle De Bouvard—a powerful mage—enables Jean-Marc to recover his soul, the union costs his forbidden lover her powers. And the powers of darkness still call out to him. If Jean-Marc heeds that call and kills Isabelle, the world will fall to the evil unleashed by their worst enemy—Isabelle’s twin sister.

Somehow Jean-Marc must learn to control his deadly impulses and restore Isabelle’s memories. And the only way to do that might be impossible. For he must open himself to that most treacherous of all human emotions—love.…

Read an excerpt here.

Sandy M’s review of Return of the Beast (Knights of White, Book 3) by Lisa Renee Jones
Contemporary Paranormal ebook published by Silhouette Nocturne Bites 1 Jun 08

I’m really enjoying this series. I love the beasts inside these Knights they try to control but that they have to let go to claim their mate. I like the idea of each Knight, no matter how old, has a mate out there, someone to love them despite either who they were or who they are now. I, of course, thoroughly enjoy all the alphaness that goes along with each Knight, as well as his sensitivity that he didn’t know he had when it comes his woman until he meets her. Pure sexy, paranormal entertainment and right up my alley.

Ryder is a young Knight, turned only 25 years before. He’s come to the scene of the crime, so to speak, the place where he was attacked and turned into the beast he is today. It’s not until he meets up with Alexis that he knows why he’s been sent back to his former home. A part of it may be to face his inner demons, but the bigger part is to face the demons causing problems for Alexis and her ranch. The biggest part is Alexis herself. His mate. Something he thought he’d have to wait so much longer for, but now that he’s found her, tasted her, loved her, if she isn’t meant to be part of his life, he’ll at least make sure she’s happy in hers, no matter what he has to do.

Taking care of the ranch since her father’s death, Alexis is not having an easy time of it. In fact, things are pretty bad. Livestock is missing and money is tight. It’s taking everything she’s got not to let the men know there’s anything wrong. Then a miracle walks into her life. Ryder is the one that may be able to help her save the ranch. His knowledge and experience he’s gained from the Jaguar Ranch would go a long way in keeping her afloat, if she can afford it. On top of that, there’s something about the man himself that causes her to keep changing her mind and asking him to stay when she should be telling him to be on his way.

Harlequin’s and Silhouette’s short stories, the Spice Briefs and the Nocturne Bites, are turning out to be great reads. There’s no pussyfooting around with the back-and-forth, on-again/off-again relationship between the hero and heroine and the story moves right along, still introduces us to other characters, and even though we get a love scene or so less than the usual, I think it’s a good trade off to get that main relationship going and on track for the length of the book. Alexis did try very hard to fight her attraction to Ryder and he certainly didn’t fight it because she is his mate and he’s happy to have found her. The demons are vanquished to return another day and Ryder finds that all he has to do is ask to have the life he wants and never though he’d have.

I know some of you will argue it’s too short, not enough time to know the characters or have a good storyline. As long as you have a good storyteller, I believe it can be done. And Ms. Jones proves it beautifully with this Bite.

Grade: A

Summary:

Saved by an immortal after an attack by a Beast, Chris Avern is doomed to carry that beast within himself. It taints his soul with a darkness that can only be purged by finding his chosen mate. Now, as a Knight of White, a demon fighter caught up in an ancient war between good and evil, Chris must battle the soulless Darkland Beasts intent on reaking destruction upon humanity.

Sent to save the hometown he left twenty-five years ago from an onslaught of Beasts, Chris comes to the rescue of ranch owner Alexis Wright. He is drawn to Alexis with a demanding passion that nearly overwhelms him and he recognizes immediately that Alexis must be his chosen mate. But, while he knows Alexis can be his salvation, he is torn by conflict. For to draw her into his world, he must put her life…and her soul…in unimaginable danger.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Wild Hunt (Unbound, Book 3) by Lori Devoti
Contemporary paranormal romance published by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Jun 08

This was the book in this series I’ve been waiting for, probably like a lot of you. I was waiting for that reunion between father and son and I knew it would be bad before it would be good, and while I liked the book and the story, I’m slightly disappointed in the reunion.

Venge is still carrying around the hatred for his father, Risk, the hellhound who beat him in battle and then left Venge at the mercy of Lusse, who had held them in captivity for years. Now that he has been summoned by the call of the horn to start a new Wild Hunt with other hounds, his plan to destroy his father is closer than ever. Once he gets his hands on the horn he will lead the hunt straight to his father and revel in his revenge. Standing in his way, however, is Geysa, a woman who also calls to him, one he wants as he’s never wanted anything before in his miserable life. Only she and his desire to cut his father down makes his freedom worthwhile.

But Geysa is a Valkyrie, a sworn enemy of the hellhouds. She doesn’t want to be attracted to Venge, but there’s just something about him and about herself when she’s with him that doesn’t give her any choice in the matter. Learning to trust Venge is difficult, and even after being in his arms and his bed, he gives her reasons again and again why he can’t be trusted. So why keep trying? Especially when she finds out why he wants the horn. She can’t understand why he would want to destroy his father when her own experience with family is something she cherishes. But when things begin to go wrong and secrets come to light, she can only hope she’s not too late to let Venge know how she feels and it’s not too late to help him escape the clutches of the Erlking and the Wild Hunt.

The storyline of the hellhounds is still a great read and Ms. Devoti keeps you glued to the page with complexities of the Valkyrie/hellhound relationship, the search for the horn, the history of the hunt, and of course the growing love between Venge and Geysa that goes through so many different changes. What I wanted more of, more emotion from was the reunion between Risk and Venge. To me there should have been more than what we got because Venge’s hatred is so deep-seated, it’s been his one purpose for so long.

I felt a little shortchanged in those scenes between them. I mean, there wasn’t even a scene with just the two of them to talk to each other, to maybe shed a tear or two and give a couple of hearty back slaps. I know it’s a relationship that has to grow over time because of what they’d been through, but I was hoping for a tad more initial emotion from them. It’s just that their history is so fraught with a myriad of emotions that it would seem we’d still get more when they finally reunited. I was also surprised there wasn’t more emotion from Venge when seeing his infant brother for the first time.

However, as much as I wanted that and didn’t get it, it all didn’t take away from the book and the romance we did get. If there are any further books in the series, I will still anxiously await their release. It’s a series worth taking the time for.

Grade: B

Summary:

Natural enemies–hellhound and Valkyrie–their alliance made them more powerful than anyone could anticipate…
Alongside his hellhound brethren, Venge Leidolf was summoned to start the Wild Hunt anew. But in this dreaded pursuit of souls, Venge sought to free himself from his infernal bondage–by claiming the heart of a fierce Valkyrie…

Geysa never questioned the alluring gifts that set her apart from the other Valkyries, or her hatred of hellhounds–until Venge fell under her spell. Drawing the alpha hellhound so close made Geysa doubt her every instinct. To stop the Hunt, the two blood-born enemies would need to cast aside old vows and allegiances. Only then could no one question the strength of their union…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Liviania‘s review of Guardian’s Keep (Unbound, Book 2) by Lori Devoti
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne (Harlequin) 1 Jan 08

Kol Hildr, a garm (wolf shapeshifter of sorts), guards the portal located in the bar Guardian’s Keep. Based on the events of Unbound, the Garm Council feels Kol may no longer be the best guardian. The fact witch Kelly still snoops suspiciously around the bar, during a time of concentrated attacks, deepens their misgivings since Kol seems to do nothing about her presence. Kol will not act because he does not want to believe Kelly is his enemy due to his attraction.

Unsurprisingly, Kelly is not his enemy. She’s being manipulated by Aesa, a woman who claims her son went missing due to the activities at Guardian’s Keep. The rebel garm, who want portals of their own, quickly realize she is Kol’s weak spot. They easily manipulate the lovers because Kelly continues to be as dumb as she was in Unbound and Kol tends to descend to her level. It’s sad this is a romance focused on those two because there is some very interesting politics going on.

The most powerful garm, Fenrir, was long ago betrayed and trapped on Lyngvi. The gods feared his power and wanted him out of the way. It may just be that the Garm Council had a hand in his betrayal. After all, Fenrir does not seem like a menace. When he encounters Kelly and Kol, he helps them to survive. Fenrir and Aesa’s story caught my attention far more than that of Kol and Kelly. I wish the book could have given them more screentime. Aesa’s a strong female who sometimes makes bad choices due to her desperation. Many mysteries were left unsolved about the garm’s history and the future of Fenrir and his son, which left me disappointed. Those aspects of the book drew me in the most and I wish they were given more resolution. (That is not to say I did not love the bit of resolution they were given, which was quite sweet and showed Aesa’s determination.)

Another excellent aspect of the story is the relationship between the misfits that frequent the Guardian’s Keep portal and Kol. They show how good Kol is at his job and why he was assigned to such an important location. It’s an important part of his life for Devoti to illuminate since he tends to make rash decisions under the influence of Kelly. Actually, I did expect there to be more revelations based on the Garm Council’s efforts to keep Kol in their employ. The emphasis on his importance to them seemed like it would should go somewhere.

While Guardian’s Keep disappointed me, I am still going to read Wild Hunt. I hope the lack of Kelly will allow it to equal or surpass Unbound. I also hope to learn more about the hellhound society, even though the politics of the garm were interesting. Devoti has established an interesting world and writes entertaining action scenes. For now I will choose to consider Guardian’s Keep a fluke.

Grade: C

Kol Hildr had spent the last century battling hellhounds and warlocks who sought to usurp his portal’s magic. A mighty shape-shifter with the ability to change into wolf form, Kol made accessing the powerful gateway nearly impossible–unless you were a witch of Kelly Shane’s talents. She had a score to settle and would do anything to close the portal that led to her unearthly prison. Though an alliance with her compromised Kol’s purpose, something about the little witch overwhelmed his fierce, battle-worn soul. But when he learned Kelly’s life might be in jeopardy, could Kol put aside the one thing he thought he valued most–the portal–to journey to the other side and rescue her?
read an excerpt

Liviania‘s review of Unbound (Unbound, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocture 1 Jun 07

This was my first category, ever. Okay, I cracked a Suspense once but I didn’t make it farther than three pages. Therefore it does not count. This was my first category to finish. I really had a fun time with it. Kara is a young woman searching for her twin sister – even braving the strange bar known as the Guardian’s Keep. Outside she is attacked by a dog, which is in turn attacked by another dog . . . when she wakes up she is in the home of the attractive Risk Leidolf.

Hellhound Risk has been ordered to bring Kara back to his employer Lusse so she can steal Kara’s power. Kara does not know she is a witch, although her sister realized they were. He is reluctant to betray Kara after he captures her because he feels a connection. Risk holds onto his humanity rather than giving into his animalistic side. He desperately tries to find a way to save her and his son Venge, who is also under the control of Lusse. He’s the whole package: brains and brawn. Even Jormun, the exiled Norse god, respects his strategizing.

Did I mention the mythology of the story is based on the Norse tradition? Because it is. And that is sexy.

So is Venge. I wanted his story right after I finished, but alas I still have not bought Wild Hunt. (He’s a redhead. I have a weakness for red hair. He had other endearing qualities, but that gave him a foot in the door. He’s a kicked puppy, who wouldn’t like him?) I did buy Guardian’s Keep, which alas features Kelly. TSTL Kelly. She ignores the garm bartender’s warnings, gets a friend killed, and puts herself and her sister in mortal danger. She also tries to convince Kara not to trust Risk despite the fact he’s obviously twenty times smarter than she is. Kelly dragged a good book down.

Unbound was a good choice for my introduction to categories. It had two solid leads, a fast-paced plot, interesting world-building, and a few cool side characters who let the main characters have center stage. I bought Guardian’s Keep instantly because I enjoyed Unbound so much. Many a single title paranormal romance has satisfied me less. Yes, I could have done without Kelly, but she does not show up until the end. Until that point I breezed through the story. Once she appeared she managed to cause minimal trouble, mainly because Kara possessed common sense.

Grade: B-

Risk Leidolf is a hellhound—a legendary, otherworldly creature who is both man and beast. For centuries, he’s been bound to do the bidding of an immortal witch. But after being ordered to destroy novice witch Kara Shane, the man within him rebels. And the beast within him is held at bay—for now.

Fiercely drawn to each other, Risk and Kara soon form a passionate alliance as they set out to find her missing sister—and the key to his salvation. For the power unleashed by the twin witches could free him from the immortal witch’s bondage. But that freedom comes at a steep price. For the fierce battle will put more than one soul at stake…and two hearts on the line.

Click on the Unbound series tag for more reviews and information.

Devon’s review of Scions: Insurrection by Patrice Michelle
Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 May 08

Insurrection continues the story of three paranormal races spawned from a government experiment, enemies who are bound together by a prophecy. This sequel to Scions: Resurrection focuses on the Lupreda, or werewolves, who were created by vampires to be their prey. Like the first in the trilogy, this was a fast paced, action packed read, I but enjoyed it even more.

Insurrection was less focused on world building, and more focused on the characters, which made for a more involving romance. Landon was a appealing hero in the caring Alpha mode. He was strong, but not particularly overbearing. A shared tragedy has entwined his life with that of policewoman Kaitlyn McKinney. He has used his position of police consultant to look out for Kaitie, feeling responsible for her, but stopped in recent years due to his growing attraction to her. The attraction and romance was well done, and easy on the mate aspect.

Kaitlyn was a good heroine, intelligent and capable. Towards the end of the book, she got a bit sassy and know it all, in an annoying way. But I liked her for the first three quarters.

The secrets regarding their shared past was revealed at a good pace. There was some stuff with Kaitlyn that was hinted at just enough to make you wonder, but was not glaringly obvious. At the end there were several twists, which seemed sudden, and contrived to wrap the ending up neatly. Those scenes, along with some hilariously cartoony bad guys did weaken the book a bit.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, with plenty of character development, romance and action packed into its category length. I’m definitely still on board for the last installment in the series, which I’m assuming will have to do with the mysterious third race, the Velius.

Grade: B

     From the back cover:

     Humanity had reason to fear vampires.

     But they didn’t know about werewolves. Yet.

     When Detective Kaitlyn McKinney responded to a call about a strange, burned body, she discovers something far more complicated – and dangerous.

     Landon Rourke is a werewolf, exiled from his pack and dedicated to keeping a protective watch over Kaitlyn. A prophecy has said that his kind and vampires would one day come to a truce. But that day has yet to come.

     Landon has his own past to deal with, too, involving Kaitie herself. A dark truth that has kept them apart for years. When Kaitlyn gets caught up in the battle between vampires and werewolves, their long-simmering attraction ignites. And in that attraction, they find the secret that will bring them together…

     Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

We have the winners in our Nocturne Bites Contest!! Five people will receive a coupon for a free download of Racing the Moon by Michele Hauf. The coupon is good now through May 31.

Read an excerpt and a review. Now onto the Winners!

Sandy (Strlady)
Liviania
Ashley
Mulberry
Danny

Please email redwyne (at) gmail (dot) com (no spaces) with the email address you’d like the coupon sent to. Put “Nocturne Bites Coupon” in the subject line. Congratulations!

RACING THE MOON
Summary:
When the full moon rises, his urgent sexual desire becomes overpowering…and satisfying his demanding lust is the one way he can stop his transformation.

But now he’s stranded in the middle of nowhere, with a storm raging outside, and moonrise imminent. And only the beautiful stranger who rescued him can keep the wolf at bay. Only, she’s resisting his ardent seduction with all her might.

It’s not that she doesn’t ache for him every bit as hungrily as he does for her. Their mutual attraction is fierce and explosive. But they are very different species…and surrendering to her desire will call forth something much more terrifying than the wolf.

Devon’s review of Racing the Moon by Michele Hauf
Paranormal romance ebook released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 May 08

Racing the Moon is the debut offering from Silhouette Nocturne’s new Bites line, which consists of electronically published paranormal short stories. If you enjoy erotic romance novellas from epublishers like Ellora’s Cave or Samhain, you will likely enjoy this story. You will certainly know what to expect: lots of mental lusting, an isolated situation, a bit of “getting to know you” banter, and the good old horizontal tango.

The “getting to know you” banter was the best part of the story. I’ve read and enjoyed Ms. Hauf’s work before, and she writes good dialogue. It makes the characters seem more interesting, and moves along what is otherwise pretty standard fare. My interest was engaged, despite the fact that my eyes rolled quite a bit.

The beginning of Racing the Moon kept making me think of a commercial. Like a Coke commercial or a perfume commercial, something….Anyhoo, it’s a hot and dusty summer evening when mechanic Sunday Best pulls up her tow truck to a smoking hot backside bent over a broken-down Dodge. Owner of said backside, Dean Maverick, is equally enamored of Sunday’s hard nipples. Dean really needs his truck fixed, because he’s a werewolf, it’s going to be a full moon and he really needs some poontang if he’s going to control his wolf.

Once Sunday realizes that Dean is a werewolf, she wants him gone. Sunday is a “familiar”, a conduit between the human and demon realm who can shift into a cat. And cats and ‘dogs’, well, they don’t mix. Sunday also has some issues when it comes to sex. Tricky ones. So even though she thinks Dean is super duper hot, and he makes her nipples hard, Sunday’s going to pass on the sex. But it’s getting darker and darker out…

This definitely suffered from the usual sexed up short story issues. Way too much mental lusting. Yes, they’re warm for each other’s form, we get it. So tell-y. Show me. The relationship development, such as it was, felt rushed. I didn’t particularly believe there was any love connection between the two. But I enjoyed the two characters, particularly heroine Sunday. Overall, it was an enjoyable story for what it was. And you can try it out for 89 cents (that is, if you don’t win one of the coupon codes)! That ain’t bad at all!

Grade: C+

     Summary:

     When the full moon rises, his urgent sexual desire becomes overpowering…and satisfying his demanding lust is the one way he can stop his transformation.

     But now he’s stranded in the middle of nowhere, with a storm raging outside, and moonrise imminent. And only the beautiful stranger who rescued him can keep the wolf at bay. Only, she’s resisting his ardent seduction with all her might.

     It’s not that she doesn’t ache for him every bit as hungrily as he does for her. Their mutual attraction is fierce and explosive. But they are very different species…and surrendering to her desire will call forth something much more terrifying than the wolf.

     Read an excerpt here.

May 2008 marks the debut of Nocturne Bites, ebook short stories which give readers a taste of paranormal romance. The first Nocturne Bite is Racing the Moon by Michele Hauf. Michele has written several books for the Nocturne line: Familiar Stranger (fun book!), From the Dark, and Kiss Me Deadly. After the cut, Michele gives us some insight into the inspiration for the story. And an excerpt. And a contest!

Summary:RACING THE MOON
When the full moon rises, his urgent sexual desire becomes overpowering…and satisfying his demanding lust is the one way he can stop his transformation.

But now he’s stranded in the middle of nowhere, with a storm raging outside, and moonrise imminent. And only the beautiful stranger who rescued him can keep the wolf at bay. Only, she’s resisting his ardent seduction with all her might.

It’s not that she doesn’t ache for him every bit as hungrily as he does for her. Their mutual attraction is fierce and explosive. But they are very different species…and surrendering to her desire will call forth something much more terrifying than the wolf.

I’ve been writing about vampires and witches for a while now, and have always cringed whenever I think about werewolves. Sure, there’s a few werewolves who show up in Kiss Me Deadly, but that was to show they actually exist in the world I’d created. But write about them? I don’t think so.

Why? Up until a few months ago I’d never read a werewolf story. I always thought of them as the hairy, drooling guys with nasty jawlines and claws. And what really happens to their clothes when they shift from man to beast? Was there a pack of dazed naked men walking about after the full moon? (Okay, so the naked pack of men part isn’t unappealing. I’m just sayin’). Anyway, werewolves, as romantic heroes, didn’t appeal to me at all.

Then one day the idea of a werewolf being stranded with the one person who was his complete opposite–a cat-shifting familiar–struck. What if? Soon after, my editor called, wanting me to write the first story for the new Nocturne Bites short story line, Racing the Moon. I jumped at the chance. And the werewolf jumped with me.

Now, a few months later, with one werewolf story written, and another in the works, I admit it: I love the furry guys. They’re sexy and alpha. They don’t have that brooding aristocratic vibe I like in my vampires, and that’s a good thing. They’re actually a lot of fun to write about, and (don’t tell the vamps) I think I may like them more than vampires now. Wolves rock!

Interested in reading the first chapter of Racing the Moon? Check it out at my website.

Thanks, Michele! Now that you’ve had a taste, here’s your chance to take a BITE! To celebrate the line’s launch, we have been given five coupon codes for a free download of Racing the Moon. Of course, since I like to make y’all work for the free goodies, to enter you must tell me:

What do you love (or hate) about werewolves? Any favorite werewolf heroes or heroines?

Everyone’s got an opinion on this one. Contest ends on May 6 at noon according to the blog’s timestamp (US Central). [Contest Ended]

And for more things Nocturne, check out our February Spotlight.

…for some Reader/Reviewers!

Wild Hunt, the third book in the Unbound trilogy by Lori Devoti will be released by Silhouette Nocturne in June 2008. Read the blurb and excerpt, then read on to find out about the contest!

Natural enemies–hellhound and Valkyrie–their alliance made them more powerful than anyone could anticipate…

Alongside his hellhound brethren, Venge Leidolf was summoned to start the Wild Hunt anew. But in this dreaded pursuit of souls, Venge sought to free himself from his infernal bondage–by claiming the heart of a fierce Valkyrie…

Geysa never questioned the alluring gifts that set her apart from the other Valkyries, or her hatred of hellhounds–until Venge fell under her spell. Drawing the alpha hellhound so close made Geysa doubt her every instinct. To stop the Hunt, the two blood-born enemies would need to cast aside old vows and allegiances. Only then could no one question the strength of their union…
Read an excerpt here.

You can find find out more about the Unbound world here. The previous two books in the trilogy were reviewed and enjoyed by Sandy, and I’ve read numerous recommendations.

Book 1: Unbound Read the blurb and excerpt here Read Sandy’s review

Book 2: Guardian’s Keep Read the blurb and excerpt here Read Sandy’s review

Have we piqued your interest? I must admit to being interested in finding out more about the hellhounds. Don’t think I’ve read any hellhounds…that’s refreshing. Lori Devoti is giving away ten copies of Wild Hunt and ten copies of Unbound to twenty lucky readers residing in the US or Canada. But such a bounty does not come without a price. If you win, you are obligated to review, discuss or mention the book somewhere on the ‘Nets. On your blog, myspace page, website, where ever. Them’s the rules. Think about your karma.

Now, to enter the contest I want you to answer the following question:

What is the most unusual supernatural creature you’ve seen featured in a paranormal?

Contest will end on Saturday, May 3 at noon. Go, ponder, comment, and keep your fingers crossed!!  *Closed*

Shannon C‘s guest review of Last Wolf Standing (Bloodrunners, Book 1) by Rhyannon Byrd
Paranormal romance released by Harlequin Nocturne 1 Mar 08

Rhyannon Byrd’s Blood Runners series will not be new to anyone who’s read paranormal romances for any given amount of time. The series features fated mates, blood bonds, a group who needs to hunt down rogues, and plenty of sequel-baiting.

The book tells the story of Mason, who discovers his lifemate, Torrance, while he’s in a coffee shop. Almost immediately, Torrance finds herself embroiled in an adventure for which she is unprepared with a sexy man she can’t get out of her head. But she wants more from Mason than just his body, desiring a commitment he can’t give her. Soon Mason must decide how much he wants Tori, and the wrong decision could tear their bond apart permanently.

I liked the fact that Mason wasn’t entirely sure what he was supposed to do about Tori. As he says early on, her scent is complicated, and he doesn’t need or want complications in his life. This is because he’s a Blood Runner, a werewolf who hunts down rogue werewolves. A rogue, of course, enjoys snacking on people like you or me. And our chief rogue here is a werewolf named Simmons, who is kind of cute in his cartoony sadistic evilness.

Unfortunately, I didn’t pick up much that was complicated about Torrance. She was Blandy McBlanderson. She has a bland job and she even has a bland best friend who runs an occult shop. (Am I seriously the only person ever who has gone to an occult shop run by kindly elderly grandma types? Because according to romancelandia, occult shops are all run by quirky, inexplicably wealthy young women who act as best friends.)

Anyway, my major issue with this book was that I’ve read stories like it before. I suppose if a reader was new to paranormal romances, they might find this more entertaining than I did, but I saw just about every plot twist coming, and I can pretty much name the heroes in at least the next six books. For all that, though, it’s a pleasant enough story, and it’s a quick read.

Grade: C

Read Devon’s review here.

     Five seconds ago, Mason Dillinger would have sworn that it could never happen . . .

     That a woman who was his perfect match even existed. And that he’d find her in a bustling café. Yet just the scent of sweet, mortal Torrance Watson ignited a driving, explosive need to claim her that he knew his Pack would never sanction. . . . Worse, the rogue werewolf he’d been hunting had sensed that attraction and made Torry his prey. Forced to safeguard her from this ruthless assassin who already posed a threat to his Pack, Mason now faced the ultimate challenge. Does he have the courage to cross the line by sealing the blood bond that will make Torry his alone-a disloyalty few of his kind ever survived-or live an eternity without love?

     Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Read more from ShannonC at her personal blog Flight Into Fantasy.

March 2008′s SPOTLIGHT was Silhouette Nocturne at TGTBTU. Vampires, shapeshifters and demon abounded, as we took a close look at Harlequin’s paranormal line.

As the month draws to a close, I thought I’d gather all the posts together. On to the round up…

The Intro: Why Devon likes Silhouette Nocturnes


The Guests:

• Bonnie Vanak: The Healing Power of Werewolves
• Patrice Michelle: The Cool Idea…Then What?
• Merline Lovelace: How to Play Mind Games
• JennyB: Harlequin’s Paranormal Romance Blog

The Reviews:

	Guardian’s Keep by Lori Devoti–reviewed by Sandy M
	Beast of Desire by Lisa Renee Jones–reviewed by Sandy M
	From the Dark by Michele Hauf–reviewed by Sandy M
	The Empath by Bonnie Vanak–reviewed by Sandy M
	Mind Games by Merline Lovelace–reviewed by Alicia Thomas
	Night Mischief by Nina Bruhns–reviewed by Devon
	Dangerous Temptation by Kathleen Korbel–reviewed by Sandy M
	Last Wolf Standing by Rhyannon Byrd–reviewed by Devon

Stay tuned to see what we have planned for next month!

Devon’s review of Night Mischief (a Dark Enchantments novel) by Nina Bruhns
Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne on 1 Oct 2007

Night Mischief is part of the Dark Enchantments miniseries, released by Silhouette Nocturne last year. I read the first one, Familiar Stranger by Michele Hauf, and quite enjoyed it. The second book was a chore to finish, and I guess that’s why I let this third installment languish in the TBR milk crate. I’m glad I pulled it out, because Night Mischief was very entertaining, with a great hero and heroine, plenty of tension and a satisfying romance.

The world created for the miniseries is a bit different and interesting. The Cadre, a secret order that many of the characters are involved with, hunts down creatures and demons, true. But they take a neutral and academic approach, deciding very carefully whether or not a being is evil. A lot of their focus is on knowledge gathering. It’s kind of a refreshing change from hot headed, leather clad butt kickers. Those are there too, in the form of P-Cell, a covert division of British Intelligence who want to kill all paranormal beings. There’s a lot of tension between the two organizations. Combined with a veddy, veddy British setting, it makes for an intriguing backdrop.

The hero and heroine are both interesting characters. Dawn has always felt inferior to her twin sister, but she is an intelligent, strong and competent woman. Although at first I felt that Galen was falling for her a bit too fast, by the end I definitely believed in their relationship. Galen is one of the better done demon heroes I’ve read. He is overbearing, arrogant, and quite sexy. His increasing vulnerability to Dawn was well done, perhaps because he didn’t turn into a white knight all of a sudden. His sense of right and wrong, is that of a vengeance demon (definite shades of gray), and even though he cares about Dawn, he does some sketchy things throughout. It makes his ultimate redemption far more interesting, as he realizes what love really is.

Bruhns builds a nice tension between the two-a battle of wills punctuated by witty banter. There are some very sexy scenes as well (Galen looks human, but has a forked tongue. Nice!). I loved the Cadre’s mysterious home base, and the cast that resided within. Night Mischief is worth a try for those who are looking for a quick, satisfying paranormal read. One doesn’t have to have read the other books in order to follow the storyline (though I do recommend the Hauf as well). I will definitely be tracking down the final book, Saving Destiny by Pat White.

Grade: B

Daughter to the Earl of St. Yve, the beautiful Lady Dawn Maybank takes her responsibilities to the Cadre, the secret hermetic order of demon hunters her father heads, very seriously. But she is haunted by a fatal flaw she is desperate to hide from the world. One day a thoughtlessly spoken spell conjures Dawn’s worst nightmare…

Galen McManus is a demon of vengeance masquerading as an incubus. Handsome as the devil, he has a sinful body which he isn’t above using to weave his spell of cosmic justice. Those mortals he targets for ruin never suspect his purpose until it is far too late. Galen doesn’t believe in good or evil, in truth or lies, or in passions of any kind-other than for his job. He is all about balance.

But this demon is as cunning as he is wicked. To his newest victim Galen proposes a trade: the Demon Stone, a long-lost diamond for which her father has been searching his whole life, in exchange for Lady Dawn spending five nights in his bed. Of course, all this is just a ruse to hide his real objective: to teach Dawn the true meaning of vengeance in a lesson she’ll never forget.

But this time, Galen’s plans go awry and the sinister net the arrogant demon weaves traps his most unsuspecting victim yet…himself. And with the most unlikely of reasons – for love.

Read an excerpt here.

Alicia’s review of Mind Games by Merline Lovelace
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne on 1 Apr 08

If I’m going to read a paranormal romance, it’s probably about psychic ability. Not communicating with the dead or predicting the future, but telekinesis or telepathy. Though they aren’t as common as the witches, vamps, and weres in para romance. Happily for me, Merline Lovelace is releasing one in April, just in time for our Nocturne month!

Mind Games starts with Captain Taylor Chase approaching Dr. Mark Wolfson about helping her on a mission. He knows the person she needs to get in contact with, so he is the perfect person to help her. The problem is the affair they had almost 8 years earlier and the unfriendly way it ended.

Taylor drums up the nerve to approach Mark but immediately loses the upper hand. Mark isn’t some cool alpha hero, even if he keeps the power position in the negotiation. He’s not military, he’s a scientist, but he knows who he is and what he’s capable of and he doesn’t rattle easily.

I loved the power plays between these two. Mark gives Taylor a lot of ground out of a sense of fairness, which was refreshing. He didn’t seem to suffer too much from testosterone poisoning. Taylor gains a new, more mature perspective on their past together. The way the relationship played out was just right.

I really enjoyed reading a book where the author seemed to know what she was talking about. I’ve been around the military for 15 years. I’m not super picky about specifics – I won’t care if a rank is wrong or a bullet wouldn’t go that far. What bothers me is when an author doesn’t understand the mindset of a military character and portrays them all wrong. Merline gets the characters and it makes such a difference.

It’s not just with the military, either. The characters are what make this book so good.  Don’t get me wrong, the plot is great - there aren’t any cheap devices to make me groan – but the characters are vibrantly portrayed. You get perspective on Taylor’s past right along with her. You get Mark’s fear when something is more than he can handle. The bad guys are people you can understand, not just evil because they’re evil.

I like that Mark doesn’t suddenly have out-of-the-blue, secret professional military or law enforcement training – that really ruins a book for me. In fact, the best thing about this book is the total lack of all the things that usually mess up a story for me.

Mind Games is smoothly written, the plot is exciting, the romance is believable, and the sexual tension is perfect without being too explicit. Make that HOT… still without being too explicit. The end was sweet. I’ll be looking for more from Merline Lovelace.

Grade: A

     For Air Force special agent Taylor Chase, invading a billionaire’s island fortress was headache enough. But partnering with Dr. Mark Wolfson forced her to revisit the darkest chapter of her past. As his lab assistant, she’d been his lover—and turned into another one of his telekinetic experiments. He’d influenced her thoughts and dominated her very being, and she’d sworn off him forever.

     Yet when the sheer horror of the billionaire’s plan was revealed, Taylor and Mark realized only their telepathic bond could save them. But could they handle the deep-rooted extrasensory passion that had blown up in their faces years ago? Their very lives depended on the answer…of just who was controlling whom.…

Read an excerpt.