The Dark Side: Aline Hunter

The Dark Side aims to shed light on that deep, dark, mysterious side of an author, a face that she rarely, if ever, shows to the public. What secret is she hiding behind that enigmatic smile on her official photo (if any)? what juicy tidbit is she keeping from the world? What are some of the things that she liked, things we would never know, because it's not part of her bio?

Today, we have with us ALINE HUNTER, author of ETERNITY AND A DAY, who regaled us in a previous post with some fun facts about her book and an exclusive excerpt.

Remember, think dark, dark, dark...

Do you believe in ghosts and supernatural phenomenon? Have you ever had a close encounter? Do tell us about it.
I live in Alabama, near Huntsville, and the historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a place I visit often. The entire area is steeped in ghost stories. Since I was a child, I’ve been told about the ghosts and legends of the area, and I’d have to say that I believe many of them.

As for a ghostly encounter -- when I was nine or ten years old, my cousin’s grandfather passed away. We went to the funeral, came back to house where the family had gathered, and as the children waited on the porch a balloon floated into the yard and got stuck in the bushes. Of course, we all ran over since there was nothing to do. It wasn’t until we flipped the balloon over and saw “I Miss You” on the front that we freaked out and went looking for an adult.

Was it a coincidence? Perhaps. But I’ve never forgotten it.

What is the most romantic thing your husband/SO/date has done under the cover of darkness?
He always lets me hold the light source in a blackout -- be it a candle or a flash light. I can’t tell you how much trust that implies. At any time I could shut it off, take off running, and leave him to fend off whatever it is that exists in the dark. Because we all know that the person with the light always makes it out alive, right? *grin*

What movie featuring dark themes did you enjoy the most? Why?
The Crow with Brandon Lee. The idea of loss, revenge, redemption, and finding peace is something I’m incredibly drawn to.

What television series featuring dark themes did you enjoy the most? Why?

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It was dark in that the themes were ones that people could relate to. After all, the things that can hurt us most are not necessarily monsters under the bed or inside our closets.

What dark-themed books do you enjoy and would recommend? Why?
Anything by the master of horror, Stephen King. I can’t think of a single book of his I haven’t enjoyed in some way, even if I didn’t “love” the story. He knows how to tap into those deep, dark recesses of the mind.


Lightning Round.

white or dark chocolate : White
milk or coffee : Coffee
night or day : Night
coke or 7-up : Coke
New York cheesecake or black forest cake : New York Cheesecake
vampire or werewolf : Werewolf
football game or candlelit dinner : Football Game
ebook or print : Ebook
spring or autumn : Autumn
sweet or salty : Salty
kitten or puppy : Puppy
cook or take-out : Cook

Aline Hunter's ETERNITY AND A DAY is now available at Loose Id (ebook). This title is also included in the list of giveaways for our ongoing contest.

Aline Hunter's other titles (under her other pseudonym, J.A. Saare):

Crimson Moon
Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between

Exclusive Peek: Julian's Jeopardy by Marie Harte

From Marie Harte:

Julian’s Jeopardy was a book that never should have been. The original Circe’s Recruits books were about four Marines who volunteered for a government project to turn them into super soldiers. They became men who could shapeshift into creatures not human and became something else entirely--Circs. I wrote four books, and that was going to be that. But in the fourth book, another group of Circs appeared. Four Navy SEALs needing to get out of a bad situation helped one of my heroes. Julian Hawkins led that group, the team of Dawn Endeavor, and I had a feeling then that he’d need his own story.

Sure enough, readers started asking when I was going to write about the next batch of Circs. And Jules wouldn’t shut the heck up. He demanded that his four-man team find some happiness, considering all the hell they’d been through. They were SEALs and now men who turned into warriors with claws, fangs, and armored skin. Their senses became super acute, and they developed mating heats—a need to procreate with anyone Circ.

Jules watched his teammates eventually find mates. Fallon found Olivia. Hayashi found his match in the aggressive—and male--Morgan Reynolds. Tersch continued to swear up and down that he didn’t need a wife, girlfriend or partner. But Jules wanted someone special in his life. He never intended to find her while being tortured in a cave, chained up like an animal. Heck, for that matter, I was surprised myself when he and Sheridan hit it off after that introduction.

It should have been easy to write. But it wasn’t. What I wrote only mucked up matters. To say my first draft needed work is an understatement. I revised and reedited. Deleted a chapter, reshaped several plot points, and submitted. I thought I’d struck gold. Only I didn’t. My editor kindly informed me I had more revisions to make. A lot of wacked out plot lines that didn’t mesh, characters not acting to type, and more confusion than there needed to be. I restructured the beginning. I had the hero recognize the heroine when they do meet again, because heck, he knows her. And she started acting like the heroine I’d intended and not some bonehead too in lust with the hero to see straight.

It was a painful, lengthy process. The third book also had to be read as a standalone, so readers coming into the story at book three aren’t baffled at who’s who and what’s going on. But finally, my editor was happy, the line editors and final line editors liked it, and Jules had his happy ending.

I’ve included a short excerpt from Julian’s Jeopardy, and I hope you like it.

Exclusive Excerpt:

A low growl sounded, as if from a wounded animal. Chains rattled again, and she frowned.

“Hello?” she whispered.

No one answered, but as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she spied something -- someone -- held against the wall across from her.

Oh my God, Pedro was right! There’s a man trapped here in this cell. And he’s hurt. I can sense he’s truly injured. Her palms itched, the need to soothe, to heal so strong, she couldn’t ignore the compulsion. The intensity of her need should have shocked her -- she’d never felt so drawn to pain before -- but she couldn’t think past the overwhelming urge to heal.

She darted through the moonlight into the shadows against the wall, where he stood. Except he wasn’t so much standing as fighting to stand upright. The scent of blood and infection hit her hard, and tears filled her eyes.

“So much pain,” she whispered. She reached out to him and laid her hands on his slick chest. Moist from blood or sweat, she couldn’t tell.

He jerked, amazing her that someone who felt so much hurt could still be awake and aware. Then he straightened to an imposing height several inches taller than her.

“Don’t touch me,” he growled.

Light gray eyes so bright they looked white blazed down at her, almost glowing in the darkness. The preternatural shine should have scared her, but she couldn’t stop staring at the giant man bound to the wall. He was huge. He had large muscles, a well-conditioned body, and the headiest scent she’d ever smelled. Sheridan swayed closer, wanting to inhale him, and quickly stopped herself. Come on, Sheridan, focus. She wished she could see him better, but she’d take what she could get.

Unable to help herself, she ran her hands over his chest, trailing heat over his skin, allowing the healing to pour through her fingers into him. The faint scent of vanilla filled the air. Sheridan sniffed again. An earthy combination of grass and vanilla, as if nature had approved of this male and set him in wait just for her.

Slowly, the infection she’d sensed in the man faded, and the vanilla scent grew stronger.

She continued to caress him, lost in a haze of wonder. Always before when healing, she grew tired, as if giving away a piece of herself. But now, with him, that wasn’t the case. He -- she had no other word for it -- intoxicated her.

“Who are you?” he rumbled, his low voice quiet but burning with intensity.

“Sheridan,” she answered, lost in the feel of him. He needed so much, and she had so much to give.

“God, what are you doing to me?” he rasped. “Your hands are so hot. Or is that the drugs they pumped into me? Hell if I know up from down anymore,” he muttered.

“Shh, it’ll be all right. Let me help you. It’s okay,” she crooned and kissed the spot directly in front of her face, over his broad chest.

She couldn’t have said why she did it, but she had to put her mouth on him, to taste some part of him. It dawned on her then that he wore nothing at all. Stunned, she didn’t know what to think.

He froze, and the heat leaving her palms returned full force, centering in every pleasure point in her body.

“Don’t touch me.” His voice sounded stronger. “I won’t help you, no matter what you do to me.”

“Please, let me finish.” She tried to concentrate on him and not the unfamiliar lust coursing through her body, but she couldn’t. Especially when she moved closer and felt something firm prod her belly. Good Lord, the man was aroused. She glanced down. Aroused and naked and huge.


Summary from Publisher's Website:

Genetic manipulation has created the first super soldier, the Circ. The second generation of Circs, able to transform into hulking, inhuman beasts at will and psychically gifted is much more dangerous than the first. Under Project Dawn Endeavor, the secret four-man team belongs to the mysterious Mrs. Sharpe who is bent on cleaning up science gone wrong around the globe on behalf of the United States government. But there’s more to her agenda than patriotism. If only the team knew what she really had planned.

As leader of the Circs of Dawn Endeavor, Julian Hawkins takes his responsibilities seriously. With two of his Circs now mated, life for his team is evolving, slowly but surely, into something with which Jules is unfamiliar, and he's not sure what to do about it. As if personal strife wasn't enough, an old enemy has Jules in his sights.

Kidnapped and held prisoner in the remote Amazon jungle, Jules comes perilously close to dying when a woman made of light saves him. She has the purest aura he’s ever seen, a body made for loving, and a heart made just for him. Except she's not real. But months after his rescue, when Mrs. Sharpe introduces the woman as a new part of the team, can he trust what he sees? Or is the woman there for another reason entirely, one that will put his team, and his heart, in dire jeopardy?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage, voyeurism.

Available now at Loose Id (ebook).

Whittling the TBR & other memes

Due to my and Silver's currently unrelenting schedule, we're temporarily suspending participating in all memes until time became more manageable. Hopefully, we'll be back on track next week.

In the meantime, enjoy the excerpt and dark side posts. Plus the reviews! :)

Updates

Yay! We passed the 200 mark! Still a long way to go before we reach the 500 follower goal by end of August, but I'm sure we can do it! Yes, optimism will also take you a long way. *wink*

I've been travelling the past ten days for my DJ, so the time I could devote to blog hopping is limited. I'm sorry to miss the lovely posts that have gone up in the last week, but I'm hoping to have time to visit soon. :)

On that note, due to the amount of time parking my butt on the plane, I was able to get some reading done, so I have about...three reviews to write. Okay, strictly speaking, two, since I haven't finished reading the 3rd book yet, but let's not put too fine a point on it, shall we? LOL I thought I would finish it on the flight back, but I slept part of the time. Guess I was more tired than I realized.

Oh, and we have guest reviewers too! Plus Silver has another one or two reviews to write. So that's about...I don't know, eight or nine reviews (maybe) that's upcoming.

That's in addition to more excerpts and dark side posts. Hope y'all enjoyed getting know the authors and the books that we're featuring here. :)

REVIEW: The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne

ISBN 9780425235614

Genre: Historical Romance

(c) June 2010, Berkley Sensation

Joanna Bourne's website

Rating: 5 stars

Available at Book Depository (print).

"A great story of adventure, romance, passion and courage in one of the most dangerous times in history"

I've read Joanna Bourne's first book, The Spymaster's Lady, and loved it. She has a way of writing that is fresh and unique among all the historical romance novels out there. Not only that, but she has the ability to write strong, complex characters and a love story that is able to transcend difficulties and overcome obstacles that would have felled lesser men.

However, when I heard that she'd written about Maggie and Doyle in The Forbidden Rose, I wasn't inclined to read it, for these two had appeared in the first book and I wasn't too impressed with them. I mean, they didn't leave much of an impression, as I was too busy being impressed with Annique and Grey, the lead characters. As should be. But when reviews extolled this book's virtues, I decided, what the hell. I might as well give it a try.

I wasn't disappointed.

Ms. Bourne held me in her grip from the first page all the way through to the end. She has a way with words that held you spellbound, and I would've read the book in one sitting in one day if time had permitted.

Ever read an opening chapter where the heroine was having a conversation with a rabbit and be intrigued and hooked by it? No? Then you haven't read The Forbidden Rose.

Marguerite de Fleurignac leads a dangerous double life as a French noblewoman and as the Finch, the leader of an organization that smuggles people out of France to safety during the French Revolution. She came up against English spy William Doyle when he was hunting for her father in her burned down chateau. For his own purposes, he agreed to escort her to Paris, where she meant to flush out the mole who was betraying them.

From the start, both Maggie and Doyle lied about their identities to protect themselves, yet nobody was fooling anybody. I love this twist in the usual concept of hidden identities, yet their personalities shone through the facade they're employing, causing Doyle to decide he liked this woman. Very much. Thus did their romance start, not with lust for an appreciation of the other's physical attributes, although there is that, but much more, there's the appreciation of each other's intellectual capacities and abilities. Both of them were sly and cunning and masters in their field, and it was a joy to watch them gang up together to outdo the enemy and to see the silent rapport they had established as they bonded on the way to Paris.

I like Maggie. She's smart, really smart, not pretending-to-be-smart like some of the other heroines, but she was really clever and able to think on her feet, because well, how else could she devise strategies to bring so many "sparrows" out of France and get them out of so many jams? Only someone as sharp as William Doyle could match her cunning and her strength. He was described as a great lummox of a man, a "walking lump", yet there is kindness in him, something that also drew Maggie to him. Alone, they are capable of a great many things, but together, they were invinsible.

The humor is sly and subtle, much like the characters themselves, and the action is fast-paced and gripping. The characters intrigued and engaged me so much I didn't want their story to end. In fact, I'm going to pick up my copy of The Spymaster's Lady and browsed the parts that contained Maggie and Doyle.

The back cover summary is a tepid teaser to a great story of adventure, romance, passion and courage in one of the most dangerous times in history. Ms Bourne brought the situation and chaos of the French Revolution to life, making this book one that is steeped with the flavor of the time without overpowering Maggie and Doyle's story. Recommended for all lovers of romance.

The Dark Side: Shelley Munro

The Dark Side aims to shed light on that deep, dark, mysterious side of an author, a face that she rarely, if ever, shows to the public. What secret is she hiding behind that enigmatic smile on her official photo (if any)? what juicy tidbit is she keeping from the world? What are some of the things that she liked, things we would never know, because it's not part of her bio? 

Today, we have with us SHELLEY MUNRO, author of TIGER BY THE TAIL, who regaled us in a previous post with some fun facts about her book and an exclusive excerpt.

Remember, think dark, dark, dark...

Do you believe in ghosts and supernatural phenomenon? Have you ever had a close encounter? Do tell us about it. 

Yes, I believe in ghosts. My husband and I went on a working holiday in Britain. During our time there we worked in several old pubs. The last one we worked at was The Goat Tavern in Kensington. It was almost opposite Kensington Palace. We’re all convinced there were ghosts there. We didn’t hear strange noises, but some weird things happened. A couple of the guys sleepwalked in the early hours of the morning. They both did the same thing. They went to the upstairs bathroom, put the plug in the bath and ran the water. This happened on about three separate occasions. The funny thing was only the guys who sleep walked. The girls were wiser and stayed asleep in their beds! 

Imagine that for some reason, your lights suddenly went out! What would be the first thing you’d do or say? 

LOL – this one’s easy. I’d elbow my husband to fix the problem. If I was alone, I’d probably find the torch and think about investigating. No way am I going down to the basement on my own though! 

Are you afraid of the dark? Why or why not? 

I’m not usually too bad, although when my hubby isn’t at home, the noises all seem louder.  We used to have a little dog and I’d let her stay inside when I was on my own. I knew if she barked  the noise was worth investigating. Unfortunately, she died last year so I can’t count on her to protect me. 

It’s funny because we go for a walk after dinner every night. Since it’s winter here in New Zealand, it’s dark around 5.30pm. Recently the nights have been cold, but the skies clear and the moon full. The stars are just beautiful. People are missing out. 

What television series featuring dark themes did you enjoy the most? Why? 

I’m a big Supernatural fan mainly because Dean and Sam are so easy on the eye… LOL – no, that’s not the entire truth. I think they do really interesting storylines and the show features unusual supernatural creatures. The show’s writers obviously do a lot of research. Some of the episodes are plain spooky and I sit on the edge of my seat.

What dark-themed books do you enjoy and would recommend? Why?

 One of my favorite authors is Keri Arthur and her Riley Jenson series. Riley is half werewolf/half vampire and she grows a lot throughout the series. I have the ninth and final book in the series on my to-read pile. Keri Arthur has done a wonderful job and each book seems better than the last. If you haven’t read this series before I highly recommend it. 

Lightning Round.

white or dark chocolate : White

milk or coffee : Coffee – definitely. I need my coffee.
night or day : Day – I’m not a night person at all, but I enjoy getting up early and enjoying the peace of the morning.
coke or 7-up : Neither! I’m not a soda person.
New York cheesecake or black forest cake : Cheesecake
vampire or werewolf :  Werewolf – all that blood would have me fainting right away!
football game or candlelit dinner : Football game
ebook or print : ebook. I love the instant gratification.
spring or autumn : Spring. It’s my favorite time of the year and it’s almost here in New Zealand
sweet or salty : Sweet. I have a terrible sweet tooth
kitten or puppy : Puppy – I like to take a puppy for walks
cook or take-out : Cook – my hubby’s an awesome cook. 

Shelley Munro's TIGER BY THE TAIL is now available at Ellora's Cave (ebook). This title is also included in the list of giveaways for our ongoing contest.

Shelley Munro's other titles:

Sex Idol
The Bottom Line

REVIEW: Instant Attraction by Jil Shalvis

ISBN 9780758231239
Series: "Instant" series, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
(c) February 2009, Kensington Publishing
Jill Shalvis's website

Rating: 4 stars

Available at Book Depository (print)

"Sweet and romantic tale with unforgettable characters"

Instant Attraction, despite the frivolity of the title, is a sweet, romantic yet deep tale of two people who have been deeply hurt in their past, yet who inspired and encouraged each other to emerge victorious from the ashes. The resilience of the human spirit shone through in this story, how one may be beaten by life, but never defeated. There is no mystery to solve here or suspenseful moments with a murderer on the loose, and that in itself is refreshing. The attraction between the main characters itself is simple and honest.

Balls out. That's Katie Kramer's new motto in life. The quintessential good girl, she didn't really let herself live. However, after a devastating accident, she emerged a changed woman, one who is determined to live every second, having adventures and taking risks, doing the things she's never done before. You can see this in the way she always reminded herself, "Balls out", when she experienced hiccups in her situations. She left her safe, boring job as an accountant and she ended up in Wishful, California, where she worked in Wilder Adventures, not knowing she'd meet Cameron Wilder, who turned out to be her greatest adventure.

Cameron Wilder is a champion skier, a hunk and has no shortage of women. But a terrible accident left him adrift and lost and wandering the planet. Until he came back home to find a beautiful woman sleeping in his bed.

I found the pace slow at the start, but as more of Katie's character and personality were revealed, she won me over and the story flowed. I like her and her attitude toward life. Balls out. Seize the day, every moment, every opportunity. Even in her interaction with Cam, she told him up front that she wanted him and she left him in no doubt as to her feelings for him every step of the way. Sexually, that is. She pushed, but not overly so, when Cam seemed to retreat. I find this reversal a novelty to watch, as it is usually the guy who's more aggressive in pursuing physical intimacy than the woman. And Katie is just so adorable that I can understand how Cam couldn't help but be enchanted with her. She was just so open and expressive, the opposite of the Wilders who bottled up everything inside them.

And while both Katie and Cam may be happy to continue with their denials that it's just sex, their actions proved otherwise. It was there in the way they helped each other through the nightmares of their past, the way they comforted the other and gave each other the courage to push through the darkness into the freedom of light. "Weightless" and "lifted" were how Cam described those moments of freedom.

And lest I give you the impression that this is one serious book, I can assure you that it's not! Cam's and Katie's banter alone is fun to read, not to mention the scenes that involved the rest of the Wilder clan. The secondary plot involving Cam's aunt Annie's and her husband Nick's problem in marriage is both realistic and funny to read.

I also have to mention Serena, Cam's cheating ex-girlfriend. I like that there's no stereotype villainess here. No, Serena is gorgeous, as can be expected, and she's just a tad bitchy, but overall, she's nice. And she became Katie's friend. How does that grab you?

Despite the snow and the frigid air of winter in which this story is set, Instant Attraction will leave you imbued with warmth and a sigh of contentment as you reach the final pages of the book.

The Dark Side: Michelle M. Pillow

The Dark Side aims to shed light on that deep, dark, mysterious side of an author, a face that she rarely, if ever, shows to the public. What secret is she hiding behind that enigmatic smile on her official photo (if any)? what juicy tidbit is she keeping from the world? What are some of the things that she liked, things we would never know, because it's not part of her bio?

Today, we have with us MICHELLE M. PILLOW, author of ANIMAL INSTINCT, who regaled us in a previous post with some fun facts about her book and an exclusive excerpt.

Remember, think dark, dark, dark...

Do you believe in ghosts and supernatural phenomenon? Have you ever had a close encounter? Do tell us about it.
I am a skeptical believer. I believe in the possibilities, but I don't have any real solid personal experiences to share. I really wish I did. Though, once, I thought someone was crowding me from behind while I was standing in line at the cable company, breathing in my ear. I turned around to glare them back, but nothing was there. LOL

What can you say to someone who is experiencing his/her own dark time now?

Take one day at a time. We all hit rough patches but the best we can do is focus on those things we can control and do now. Don't borrow trouble from the future, but focus on today. When times get better, that's when you can look ahead.

What is the one thing fans wouldn’t know about you unless you tell them?
I can be bribed with chocolate. Or maybe my readers do know about that. Hum, a secret...

Who is your favorite dark character? Why?

In my Tribes of the Vampire (soon to be re-issued) the vampire Jiri is a favorite. I get a lot of emails for his story, but I know if I ever wrote it, we'd fight the entire time. Another would be Lucien, King of the Damned from the Realm Immortal series (now at Samhain Publishing). Readers beg me to redeem the unredeemable in those two characters.

What dark-themed books do you enjoy and would recommend? Why?

I adore Mandy Roth's Daughter of Darkness series and Immortal Ops series. She writes some hiney-kickin heroines and alpha males.

Lightning Round.

white or dark chocolate : Milk chocolate
milk or coffee : COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE
night or day : Night
coke or 7-up : Diet Coke
New York cheesecake or black forest cake : Omg, just cake. I'm so hungry now.
vampire or werewolf : Edward or Jacob?
football game or candlelit dinner : Feed me.
ebook or print : Yes, please.
spring or autumn : Autumn.
sweet or salty : Peanut M&Ms
kitten or puppy : Both.
cook or take-out : Take out is how I cook.

Michelle M. Pillow's ANIMAL INSTINCT is now available at Samhain Publishing (ebook). This title is also included in the list of giveaways for our ongoing contest.


Michelle M. Pillow's other titles:

Silk
Commanding the Tides

Exclusive Peek: Revenge by Jaycee Clark

From Jaycee Clark:

As it states on the Samhain site, this book was previously published elsewhere but it has been edited and has a new ending, or rather, a changed and expanded ending to the previous version and there were tweaks throughout. I'm thrilled with the final book and thank the patience of my editor for that.

This book was my first foray into paranormal and world building. Granted any book is its own world and they all must be created. Paranormal though, I learned through writing Revenge, is a different monster all together. I panicked when I was writing this book. I called my dearest friend Mandy, who often talked me down (er, maybe yelled at me a bit) from my hysteric heights. I worried about details, lots of details and if I was doing the whole ‘were’ world right. I still don’t really have an answer, but it’s my were world. This book taught me to think outside the box and I rather like my nice, tidy box. I can say that for me, writing this book was harder than any serial killer contemporary thriller, or historical romantic thriller my brain dreamed up. I greatly respect those who build these ‘other’ worlds so seamlessly and seemingly with such ease because I am not one of them. :)

The characters at times, gave me fits and starts, but over all they were easy to work with. As I stated before, it was the stupid details and the why’s that tangled my muse up in knots. Where the idea came from for this book? I honestly can’t remember. Oh wait! Yes I can, Mandy and Michelle told me we were doing it and the peer pressure was just so horrendous I finally caved.

Exclusive Excerpt:

She licked her full lips and he ran his gaze over her. No one had changed more, and yet changed less than Reya. She still favored long flowing lines of clothes, and they worked well on her willowy frame. Today she wore a dark blue sleeveless tunic pants suit that easily showcased the muscles of her arms. A long pendant hung down and glinted in the sunlight. The stone was dark and familiar.

He grinned as he stared at it, watched her fist it in her hand before he let his gaze run back up to meet her eyes and let her know he remembered exactly where she’d gotten the stone.

Her eyes narrowed.

Apparently, she remembered as well.

Always a contrary woman.

He chuckled. “Been awhile.”

“I’ve been here three years.” Her eyes flickered just a tad, as if she wished she hadn’t said that.

“So you have.” Each had steered the hell away from the other.

He frowned when he realized he was actually, on some level, happy to see the woman. The energy that always followed her—followed them—flowed around the room and over his skin. He took a deep breath and smelled the shampoo he knew she still made herself using rosemary, flowers and a hint of citrus. Some light-as-air perfume that was new. Yet under both was the smell that would always and forever be Reya to him. No other woman, or being, was like her. It was a smell as sultry as the night and just as elusive as moonlight.

Her stubborn jaw jutted out and he knew the frown between her brows would be next. That one there that caused a slight crinkle in the bridge of her nose.

Damn, but he’d missed her.

“Charles Carpenter, please meet an old…friend, Lorenzo Craigen.” Her voice could still melt the ice off the Sangre de Cristos or charm a single flake from the fallen snow. It was silky smooth, yet just a bit throaty.

His gut tightened and he took another deep breath.

She grinned, glanced down, then back up to meet his eyes. He didn’t miss the challenge in the pale depths of hers—a color somewhere between smoke and sky.

An image of what they had looked like clouded with passion jolted through his brain, and he slammed the door shut on that one.

You can read more at http://www.samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-revenge


Summary from Publisher's website:

They believed the evil was destroyed. They were wrong.

A Ghost Cats story.

It took Reya Lynx a long time to learn to live with her animal half, but now she’s perfectly content as a gallery owner in Taos. She’s lived longer, loved more, even died more than most. Enough to have ceased caring what anyone thinks of her, least of all the one man she’s managed to steer clear of—until now. Her mate.

Lorenzo Craigen, leader of the southwest mountain lions, is a cop, and a damn good one. A recent string of murders seems all too familiar, and it’s not something he can exactly share with his colleagues. The last time he faced a killer like this, it was a long time ago. As in centuries. And that’s why he has sought out Reya, whether she likes it or not.

Reya can’t believe the sadistic shaman who left her haunted with brutal memories—and tore her and Lo apart—has come back from the dead. There’s only one way to find out. Bite the bullet and work with him to solve the murders. And try to resist the re-ignited heat between them…while a killer waits for the perfect moment to serve up cold, cold revenge.

This book has been previously published.

Available now from Samhain Publishing (ebook).

Note: This title is included in the list of giveaways for the ongoing contest.

The Dark Side: Ann Bruce

The Dark Side aims to shed light on that deep, dark, mysterious side of an author, a face that she rarely, if ever, shows to the public. What secret is she hiding behind that enigmatic smile on her official photo (if any)? what juicy tidbit is she keeping from the world? What are some of the things that she liked, things we would never know, because it's not part of her bio?

Today, we have with us ANN BRUCE, author of DARK SIDE OF DREAMING, who regaled us in a previous post with some fun facts about her book and an exclusive excerpt.

Remember, think dark, dark, dark...

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Not realizing my phone was muted. I thought I'd have to brush up my resume for sure, but luckily my boss has a sense of humor.

Imagine that for some reason, your lights suddenly went out! What would be the first thing you’d do or say?
If I'm at work: "Yay! It's home time!" If I'm at home: "Let's hope my MBP is fully charged so I can watch Die Hard."

Are you afraid of the dark? Why or why not?
Of course not! Some of the best things happen under the cover of darkness.

Who is your favorite dark character? Why?
Sheriff of Nottingham as portrayed by Alan Rickman. (Does this one really need an explanation?)

What television series featuring dark themes did you enjoy the most? Why?
Dexter. The macabre humor is strangely captivating.


Lightning Round

white or dark chocolate : dark
milk or coffee : milk
night or day : night
coke or 7-up : water
New York cheesecake or black forest cake : black forest cake
vampire or werewolf : vampire or werewolf hunter
football game or candlelit dinner : dinner sans candles
ebook or print : e-book
spring or autumn : autumn
sweet or salty : salty
kitten or puppy : puppy
cook or take-out : cook

Ann Bruce's DARK SIDE OF DREAMING is now available at Ellora's Cave (ebook). This title is also included in the list of giveaways for our ongoing contest.

Ann Bruce's other title: Parker's Price