Saturday, March 29, 2014

Hot Historical Romance MISTRESS OF MERRIVALE by @ShelleyMunro #Gothic #Giveaway!

I'm delighted to welcome my good friend Shelley Munro to my blog today to highlight her new release from Samhain Publishing, Mistress of Merrivale. Shelley first invited me to do my very first guest post on her blog before my debut came out and I remember being both thrilled and terrified!

As part of the book tour Shelley is offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader! Just fill in the rafflecopter below to be in with a chance :-) Good luck!




Mistress of Merrivale
Shelley Munro

Genre: Historical romance

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Date of Publication: 25 March 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61922-060-7
ASIN: B00GPOWVES

Number of pages: 281
Word Count: 86,000

Cover Artist: Kim Killion

Samhain      Amazon      BN      Kobo


Book Description:

A marriage of convenience…full of inconvenient secrets.

Jocelyn Townsend’s life as a courtesan bears no resemblance to the life she envisioned in girlish dreams. But it allows her and her eccentric mother to live in relative security—until her protector marries and no longer requires her services.

Desperate to find a new benefactor, one kind enough to accept her mother’s increasingly mad flights of fancy, Jocelyn is nearly overwhelmed with uncertainty when a lifeline comes from an unexpected source.

Leo Sherbourne’s requirements for a wife are few. She must mother his young daughter, run his household, and warm his bed. All in a calm, dignified manner with a full measure of common sense. After his late wife’s histrionics and infidelity, he craves a simpler, quieter life.

As they embark on their arrangement, Leo and Jocelyn discover an attraction that heats their bedroom and a mutual admiration that warms their days. But it isn’t long before gossip regarding the fate of Leo’s first wife, and his frequent, unexplained absences, make Jocelyn wonder if the secrets of Merrivale Manor are rooted in murder…

Warning: Contains mysterious incidents, a mad mother who screeches without provocation, scheming relatives, and a captivating husband who blows scorching hot and suspiciously cold. All is not as it seems…and isn’t that delicious?


Excerpt

“Thank you.” Leo wanted to place his faith in her words but intended to reserve judgment. Time would tell. At least Jocelyn’s presence would stop Hannah’s constant attention. His new wife brought hope to Merrivale Manor, something he hadn’t felt for a long time. He shot her a quick glance. Lust too. The instant he’d stepped into her chamber tonight, he’d wanted to strip off her green gown and explore her luscious body. He’d badly wanted to discover if freckles, like the ones on her face, covered other parts of her torso. Even now, he fought the urge to drag her to a private spot, to ravish her until her beautiful blue eyes darkened with passion.

The waiting since their nuptials had been difficult, yet he didn’t regret the lost opportunity. She deserved time to become used to him. Her light floral scent teased him, and he sent her a grin. “I’m having trouble keeping my hands off you.”

“Oh.” She paused, the subdued lighting not hiding her expressive face. Her lips curved upward. “Good.”

A bark of laughter escaped him, and he hugged her, enjoying the way she relaxed in his embrace. “Not many women would react that way.”

“Which is why men seek out mistresses, I presume. I’d much rather you wanted me than another woman.”

“I don’t have a mistress.” Melburn had mentioned her no-nonsense nature. Leo found her practicality intriguing, and when he compared her with Ursula—
He broke off the thought abruptly, angry at himself for letting his first wife soil what should be a special evening. “I’ve no intention of taking another woman to my bed.”

“Other men do it.”

“My first wife took many lovers during the course of our marriage. I didn’t like it and won’t accept disloyalty of that nature in you or myself.” Leo resumed their walk, requiring motion to rid himself of painful memories and betrayal.

“I’m sorry.”

“I want you to feel free to make changes in the manor. I believe there is more furniture in the attic. Mrs. Green will know.” The shift of subject wasn’t exactly adroit, but recollections of Ursula brought fury and regret for allowing his heart—lust—to rule his mind. One mistake and he was still paying. He wouldn’t make the same errors with this marriage.

Jocelyn nodded with enthusiasm, dragging his focus back to the present. “I thought I’d give the rooms themes. What do you think of cherubs for the main reception room? Maybe rename it the Greek room.”

“Cherubs?” Leo barely restrained his shudder of horror. The ones Ursula had placed in her chamber gave him nightmares. “Ah, if that’s what you’d like.”

Her throaty chuckle brought him to a halt. “I wish I could see your face more clearly. Your voice…” She trailed off, laughing without restraint.

Leo’s brows rose, and he found himself smiling at the joyful sound. “I can see I’ll have to watch you.”

“Yes, Leo.”

With a lighter heart, he guided her past the maze.

She glanced at the opening between the hedges. “I heard there was a murder.”

“Yes.” Damn, he should’ve guessed the staff would gossip.

“I thought the maze was difficult to navigate?”

“It is. I’d rather not talk about murder. Not tonight.” The challenge of the labyrinth pointed the finger squarely at him. The local authorities had already mentioned this fact. He’d have to be careful or he’d find himself implicated again.
She heeded his strong suggestion, and they strolled in silence, the bubble of the stream and the croak of a frog providing background music. Leo guided her along the loop path and soon they found themselves back on the terrace. “I find myself longing for privacy.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve half a mind to spank you, just to draw a line, you understand. I can’t have you teasing me about cherubs.”

“No, Leo.”

“No, you’re agreeing or no to spanking?” Damn, he found he liked the coquette in her manner. A spear of lust struck his loins. He wanted her naked, under him, over him. He cast her a considering glance while wondering if she’d take his cock in her mouth.

“I’ve heard rumors of men and women who enjoy giving and receiving a spanking.” Moonlight highlighted the mischief dancing in her eyes.

“And what conclusions have you drawn regarding the reports?”

“I think I’d like you touching my bottom.” A tiny smile played on her lips, impish in nature and one he found intriguing.

The more he came to know this woman the better he liked her. It meant he could let his guard down and simply enjoy the evening instead of feeling as if he’d wandered into a Dartmoor quagmire. His strides lengthened, his pace quickening until she was trotting at his side.

“Leo! Could you slow down?” Her breath came in rushed pants, her chest rising and falling rapidly, drawing attention to the plump curves of her breasts and a cinnamon freckle that sat a scant distance above the fabric of her bodice. “You don’t want to fatigue me this early in the night.”


Tour giveaway details

$25 Amazon Gift Certificate

Rafflecopter code








About the Author:

Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.

Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres for publishers Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com.




GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/ShelleyMunro 







Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Erotic Dystopian Romance SEDUCING THE HUNTRESS by @melteshco #shapeshifters

It's my great pleasure today to have my good friend Mel Teshco on the blog with her latest release from Ellora's Cave, Seducing the Huntress, the third book in her dystopian Nightmix series.




Blurb

She wants to kill him. He wants to possess her body and give her ultimate pleasure.
 
Isabella suffered an unimaginable loss at the teeth and claws of a vicious nightmix. She grew up wanting nothing more than to hunt and kill every last shape shifting black panther in the kingdom.
What she doesn’t expect is to go from hunter to hunted. Never expects to be captured by the nightmix monster, Reuben, and taken to his cabin, where he plays her body like a finely tuned instrument. Their erotic connection is explosive, but Reuben is the enemy.
Or is he…

 
 Akeisha is on a mission to be chosen as part of a harem for the desert king, Judas. She’ll use her body to entice and beguile, do anything it takes to save the near-extinct larakytes, her shape-shifting silver panther tribe, from Judas’ human subjects, who are trying to eradicate them.

She never expects to succumb to the wild ecstasy in his arms, a pleasure that threatens to expose her inner cat even as it transcends anything she’s ever felt from one of her own kind.

Falling in love with a human enemy was never part of the plan, but maybe there’s more to Judas than meets the eye.
 Princess Mira Mahskam is everything Mahaya wants in a woman and a shape shifter, but he's a nobody brought up by adopted parents who never really wanted him. Even worse, he's a nightmix, a human and larakyte offspring whose ever present inner darkness keeps those around him in fear.

So what's a man to do but abduct the princess and save her from the larakyte haters who'd do anything to kill Mira and bring back power to ordinary mortals. Only time will tell if Mahaya can turn the princess' hatred around and make her see past his birthright to the real man beneath.


About Mel

Mel Teshco presently lives in the suburbs of Queensland, Australia,  residing in an over-priced rental with her family. She'll often be found dreaming of the mountainous, open spaces of her acreage, fondly called 'the block', where one fat black thoroughbred and  a grey welsh mountain pony are presently enjoying their freedom. In the meantime, four cats and one overwrought Belgian shepherd put up with a handkerchief backyard and no doubt wait longingly for their next big move back to the country.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Dark Erotic Regency BLOODLUST DENIED #HornyHDay PNR Vampire

Welcome to Horny Hump Day! This is the hop where we share three steamy sentences from one of our books. This week I'm sharing a snippet from the beginning my dark vampire romance, Bloodlust Denied.

In this scene the hero, Alexius, has caught the elusive scent of a woman he is determined to make his own :-)




He turned into another dark alley, the stink of decay and despair wrapping around him in an unwelcome caress of death. But threaded through every beat of this misbegotten city her scent throbbed, rich, vibrant. Closer.


“Phillips takes on a tricky trope in this steamy paranormal novella but navigates it with skill, keeping her characters and readers in the dark for as long as possible and captivating them with the heady sensuality and visceral desire of each scene. The dangerous, addictive passion that singes the main characters is all-encompassing and surprisingly revealing. Though there isn’t room to delve into all the plot twists and characters histories fully, the power and complexity... will leave fans begging for more." 

 
 
Check out the other authors in this week's Horny Hump Day Hop!
 

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Erotic Historical Romance TAINTED #MySexySaturday Enemies to Lovers


This week I'm sharing seven paragraphs of my erotic historical romance, Tainted. The hero Gawain is a Celt warrior and against everything he believes in he's fallen hard for Antonia, a Roman patrician. In this scene Gawain is expecting a friend - but it's Antonia who's come to him. And he knows that now he will never be able to let her go...

A dangerous love Rome will never allow…


  Tainted~ a 2013 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Erotic Romance

"Enter,” he growled when it became apparent she had no intention of opening the door until he invited her to do so. How unlike her normal disregard for his privacy. The door slowly opened and his heart jackknifed against his ribs at the familiar silhouette.
 
Antonia.


She stood at the threshold. In the distance behind her was the newly constructed villa that encompassed her Roman world. And if she took a single step forward it would bring her into his.


Time slowed and his breath tangled in his chest. She was a vision in her pale blue gown with her blonde ringlets framing her face and dusting the elegant curve of her shoulders. Beyond the door, sunlight cast a golden glow and dark shadows across the wild grasses and ancient trees, somehow enhancing the absolute stillness of the woman caught between two opposing cultures.


He couldn’t drag his mesmerized gaze from her. And yet with every thud of his heart the sordid baseness of this wattle and daub roundhouse—his hut—dug deeper into his heart.


No matter how noble his heritage or that the blood of the gods ran through his veins. He could never offer her the kind of lifestyle she was accustomed to. Even with slaves or servants to undertake the menial tasks of living, they would never possess the type of wealth patricians took for granted.


For a moment, his conviction wavered. But only for a moment. Antonia was his light in a world of dark and he would not leave her behind.





“Phillips’ ability to spark utterly irresistible tension between her characters is showcased in full force in her fourth Forbidden novel.” 4 Stars  Romantic Times Book Reviews






Ellora’s Cave      Amazon      Amazon UK    Nook     ARe      Kobo



 Don't forget to enjoy the rest of the My Sexy Saturday Hop!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Enemies to Lovers with BETRAYED, Erotic Historical Romance #HornyHDay


Welcome to Horny Hump Day! This is the hop where we share three steamy sentences from one of our books. This week I have a snippet from my erotic historical romance, Betrayed.

A druid priestess is captured and enslaved to a Roman tribune who must decide whether his loyalty lies with his heritage or the woman he suspects may be Rome’s deadliest enemy…





She wound her hand around the nape of his neck. Her fingers speared through his hair, scraping across the base of his skull. Desire spiked through his groin, her touch as potent as if she had grasped his cock, and restraint splintered.




   Betrayed ~ a 2013 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Erotic Romance

“I hungered desperately for them to come to an understanding, to bridge the divide between their cultures but I must admit for a few moments I wasn’t even sure if it was going to happen, leaving me biting my nails for quite a few pages!

Definitely recommended for lovers of great writing, well fleshed out characters and hot, beautiful romance.” 5 Stars Love Lust and Lipstick Stains



 
Don't forget to follow the hop and check out all the other fabulous authors participating in this week's Horny Hump Day!

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Romantic Comedy - THE JUNIOR BRIDESMAID Release Blitz by Amy Baker @StarAnge13 + Giveaway!

The Junior Bridesmaid
by Amy Baker
Release: March 7, 2014
Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Delilah Welling never understood why Darcy Strong despised her so much. Especially since their mothers had been friends for a lifetime. So when Delilah is asked to be The Junior Bridesmaid in Darcy's wedding, Delilah is understandably surprised and reluctant to say yes. Upon her mother's insistence, Delilah finally agrees determined to look at the bright side.  And there couldn’t be a brighter side than Hugh Rowen, a.k.a. the groom. Delilah has always been in love with Hugh and could never understand what a nice guy like Hugh was doing with a wench like Darcy. Before the wedding, Delilah discovers that the bride-to-be is keeping a torrid secret. Fearful that she will hurt Hugh, she remains silent, going about her Junior Bridesmaid duties as planned. Until... All hell breaks loose during the wedding ceremony. Embarrassed and devastated, Delilah flees the wedding. But not before hurting the love of her life. Twelve years later, Delilah is 28 and living a happy existence in New York. Until one day when she receives a message addressed to JUNIOR? Has Hugh hunted her down twelve years later to exact revenge or is he in New York for a different reason entirely? Either way, twelve years is a long time to wait to find out!

 ***This is a stand alone novel meant for mature readers over the age of 18 due to mature content and language.***

 

Excerpt

I watched in the mirror as Angela emerged from the back room waddling in my direction holding a hideous purple cap in her clutches. My eyes squinted unable to believe what I was seeing. It looked like it belonged on a circus monkey.


“Holy shit, is that a parrot?” I breathed as I was figuring the entire saga was about to take a turn for the unbelievably god-awful. That dreadful hat was about to find a home on the top of my head. Parrot and all.


“It’s a blue bird,” the woman answered still coming toward me.

Junior bridesmaid, my ass. I was slowly being turned into a chump. Or maybe it was a chimp.

“God help me,” I closed my eyes and prayed.


This wedding was going to be the death of me.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Author Bio

Born and raised in NJ, Amy Baker has always lived close enough to experience all that NYC has to offer. She is married to her best friend, has two wonderful kids, and two big dogs. A self-described procrastinator, writing a book is one of the few projects she can’t wait to start and clamors excitedly to see to the end. It’s a rewarding endeavor, which she hopes her readers can enjoy along with her.

Author Links

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6969770.Amy_Baker

Saturday, March 08, 2014

Erotic Historical Romance BETRAYED #MySexySaturday Hot Roman Warriors


Welcome to this week's My Sexy Saturday!

For this hop we share 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs of a published book or a work in progress. And this week's it's all about the steam :-)


A druid priestess is captured and enslaved to a Roman tribune who must decide whether his loyalty lies with his heritage or the woman he suspects may be Rome’s deadliest enemy…

This week for My Sexy Saturday I'm sharing seven sentences from my erotic historical romance, Betrayed. The hero, Tacitus, has been fighting his lust for the beautiful Celt Nimue, as his honor won't allow him to take advantage of an injured woman. But in this scene, his rigid self-control is failing him :-)


She dragged his hand between her thighs and pressed him against her slick core. Air hissed between his clenched teeth as her feminine dampness caressed his fingers, as she rolled her hips and a breathy sigh escaped her lips.

“Don’t you want me, Roman?” She increased pressure on his hand and of their own volition his fingers pushed against her soft gown, seeking and finding the wet opening of her welcoming pussy.

Primal need thudded through his veins, tightened his rock-hard balls. This was madness. Feverishly his fingers bunched up her gown, exposing her thighs, until he gripped the material and wrenched it up to her waist.


 Betrayed ~ a 2013 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Erotic Romance






"Tacitus is a wonderful hero, masterful and passionate…  I recommend this novel to all lovers of erotic romance, especially those who like a historical theme and a strong heroine and a leading man who is the embodiment of male sexuality and virtue. ” 5 Stars  A Readers Review


Check out all the other smexilicious My Sexy Saturday Sevens!

Friday, March 07, 2014

Historical Romances - Once upon a Hero @MyFamHrtBookRvw + Giveaways!



TOUR-ABOUTBOOK

Title – Once Upon a Hero  

Author – C.N. Bird, Samantha Holt, Lily Magee, Em Taylor  

Genre – Historical Romance  

Publication Date – 1st February 2014  

Length (Pages/# Words) – 50,000 words  

Publisher – Indie  

Cover Artist – Samantha Holt

Once upon a hero boxset 


      TOUR-BOOKSYNOPSIS

Four tales of love throughout history.

Pompeii by C.N. Bird 69 A.D. Following the loss of her father and her mother years later, Hadriana is saved from a life of prostitution by her closest friend Victus. Through rebuilding and many loves, one night finds them unable to resist their feelings for one another any longer. With their new found affection and moving forward in their lives, the city of Pompeii seemingly doesn’t have a happy ending in store.

Hunting His Highland Lass by Samantha Holt Scotland, 1292 Rory MacPherson has returned home to find his castle overrun by the English and his timid wife missing. So when he hears of her tales of bravery, he’s just a little surprised. But his main concern is whether she is still alive or has been captured. Upon discovering her intention to run to her father’s and to leave their affectionless marriage for good, Rory realises just how much sweet Isla means to him. Can the warrior get past his fears of being too rough for her?

Though fear of capture drove Isla out, it’s the fear of returning to her marriage that keeps her travelling across the unforgiving Highlands. Not that doesn’t care for her husband, but she can no longer bear desiring a man who clearly doesn’t want her. Believing that he must be sharing his bed with another lass, Isla plans to beg her father for refuge from the English…and her husband. But the journey is dangerous and Rory is a determined man. Will he even let her go?

A Love Remembered by Em Taylor England, 1811 When Lord Benedict Mallory is lost at sea while fighting in His Majesty's Navy, Lady Cassandra Strong knows her happy ever after with the handsome duke's son will never be. That is until she spots her friend's footman. He bears a striking resemblance to the Lord who was presumed drowned.

A chance encounter with the newly restored Earl leaves Cassy with no option but to marry Lord Benedict. Can they overcome his loss of memory and forge a marriage for themselves?

An Honourable Enemy by Lily Magee Russia, 1812 War has been kind to Capitaine Amaury de Poitiers. With every victory over the Russians, Napoleon’s Grande Army brings ever greater glory to France. Highly regarded by both his superiors and his men, his career looks set to soar.

When he is tasked with guarding a prisoner of war critical to the war effort, an archduchess no less, Amaury finds himself enchanted by her. The only surviving member of her family, the proud Katinka of Viasma is overwhelmed by grief and the desire for revenge upon the French for her family’s death. Despite her initial hostility, Amaury finds himself becoming ever more drawn to this feisty, angry yet fragile young woman and is overcome by the need to protect her. Katinka in turn finds herself confused by her increasing attraction to the witty, chivalrous capitaine who refuses to give up on her despite her temper.

Their longing for each other is undeniable but both of them know that the barriers between them are great. Amaury finds himself torn between his mission, his love and his honour. Katinka is a noblewoman and he is but a common soldier. To be together could cost Katinka everything.

Can Amaury and Katinka ever overcome the barriers of war and class that separate them?

TOUR-BUYTBRLINK

Amazon Kindle Link

TOUR-GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon GC 2 x ecopies of Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor 2 x ecopies of To Steal a Highlander’s Heart by Samantha Holt

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tour Organized By:
myfamilyheartbutton

Thursday, March 06, 2014

STOLEN DESIRE - Erotic PNR @tinadonahue + Win 1 of 13 Erotic Romances!

The lovely Tina Donahue has another scorching release this week! Check out the intriguing excerpt below from Stolen Desire and don't forget to enter Tina's contest!




STOLEN DESIRE
BOOK FOUR – OUTLAWED REALM SERIES

EROTIC PARANORMAL





Blurb:

Her freedom depends on one man. A criminal to his realm…

Outlawed Realm, Book 4

One minute, Paige Ross is outside a Seattle bar, grieving a failed engagement. The next, she jerks awake in a weird, candlelit room with velvet walls, black silk sheets, and a man who motions for silence.

Paige has little choice but to trust the powerful stranger who promises a way out of what looks like Satan’s brothel. And pray his promise to keep her safe is as real as the heat burning in his eyes. 

Banished from E2’s ruling elite for supposed crimes against the realm, Zekin risks everything to rescue those brought to E5 for the guards’ carnal pleasure. Paige will be leaving this inhospitable realm of fire and ice—if he can somehow forget the way her trembling body melts in his arms.

Safe—temporarily—in an underwater world populated by strange creatures, Paige’s sexual awakening explodes into an unquenchable need that consumes them both. But the guards will be looking for her. And Zekin’s plan to send her home is a dangerous journey she cannot—will not—take without him.

Warning: Scorching-hot sex and loads of aching tenderness between a drool-worthy hunk who’s determined to do the right thing and a woman who’s not about to give him up.


Excerpt:

Thick gray clouds rolled above them, heavy with more snow. A sliver of bluish-white light poured through a gap in the cloud cover, as though the moon were trying to bleed through. Its rays swept across the land, which shimmered in the frail glow, sparkling like thousands of diamonds. The effect lasted only a moment, and then the light receded, with shadows once again taking over the hostile terrain.
As though that worried him, Zekin increased his already fast pace, pausing only once to shove her clothing into a snowdrift, burying it.
Why?
Paige wasn’t able to ask. She struggled to keep up, gulping air. It should have been icy, hurting her throat, but wasn’t. The transparent mask no doubt heated it. How was that possible? Desperate for answers, she cried out, “Where are we going?”
Zekin looked over. “A colony where you’ll be safe.”
Paige dug her fingers into his hand. “Where are we? What is this place?”
“E5.”
What in the hell was that? A government installation where scientists conducted classified studies and had pleasure slaves on the side? That made absolutely no—
Wait a sec. Suddenly, Paige recalled Zekin mentioning E1 when he’d first come into her room.
“I’ll do all I can to bring you back to E1,” he’d promised her then.
Instinctively, she held back. Just as quickly, Zekin yanked her forward.
“Don’t fight me,” he warned, “or you’ll end up like the others you saw outside the guards’ outpost.”
Paige shivered so badly, her voice shook. “Did those bastards throw the bodies out there after they murdered those people?”
“Only some. The others they pushed out there to die.”
Why?
“They weren’t useful any longer.” Again, he glanced over. “When one of the guards found you and brought you here, they got rid of the other woman. That’s what they do when they tire of females from your realm, or the pleasure slaves they haven’t already killed.”
Paige was about to pepper him with more questions. Instead, her mind snagged on one word—realm.
“You mean country?” Maybe she’d been wrong about his nationality. It wasn’t Greek or Middle-Eastern but Russian. Could be this was Siberia. In a weird sort of way, that made sense. “Is that what you meant—my country? The USA? America?”
He regarded the landscape past her. “We have to hurry before the other guards return and see us.”
Paige couldn’t imagine how that was possible. The material covering them was the same tint as their surroundings, making them virtually invisible…unless the guards had some kind of special eyewear, like night-vision goggles, that allowed them to see what the naked eye couldn’t. “How far is the colony?”
“Past that body of water.” He gestured toward what appeared to be an enormous frozen lake ringed by drifts.
As Paige scanned the area beyond it, searching for some sort of building, a flock of birds flew over the lake. At least she thought they were birds. Their thick feathers were an ashy white, their wingspans enormous, like nothing she’d ever seen.
They flew in an odd formation, not the usual V pattern, but in a perfect circle. Paige couldn’t help but stare at the phenomenon. How in the world did they do—
A thunderous crackling sound interrupted her thoughts, and the again screeching wind.
She flinched. Zekin released her hand and moved in front, his body pushing hers back, shielding Paige as something shattered the ice from beneath the center of the lake. Within seconds, a creature pushed through, hurling its milky body upward. The waves that followed it froze instantly in the raw air, the ends of the water curled over like a fine crystal sculpture. As massive as a blue whale, the creature surged from the lake, a horn protruding from its snout, no doubt what pierced the ice. With blinding speed, it penetrated the circle made by the birdlike creatures.
Shrieking wildly, they scattered, but it did no good. The whale-like thing swung its monstrous head back and forth, gulping several of the creatures before gravity pulled it back down to the water. A thin sheet of ice formed instantly, hiding its exit. Harsh winds toppled the frozen waves as easily as if they’d been a house of cards, then pushed them against the snowdrifts, returning the scene to the relative calm of a few minutes before as though none of the carnage had occurred.
Paige continued to hyperventilate. What kind of fucking nightmare had she stumbled into? Was it possible she’d been drugged and was hallucinating? If not… Aw crap, she didn’t want to think about that.
“There’s nothing to fear,” Zekin assured. “The thing has had its fill for the moment. It won’t harm—”
Her embrace stopped him. She clung to Zekin, her face pressed against his back, praying he wouldn’t push her away. “Don’t leave me, please,” she begged.
Her fiancé, Johnny, had done that, calling off their wedding after she’d worked so hard on the plans and getting him to want her. He never apologized. He’d just told her the score, saying they could still live together. As if she’d want that. Before he’d bugged out on her, her mother and then eventually her father had also left. She’d had no one for too long and by God, right now, Paige needed the warmth of Zekin’s body, the security and comfort of his size to preserve her sanity. To give her hope that they’d both get through this.
“Please,” she repeated.
“I won’t,” he murmured. “It’s all right.” With his hands on her wrists, Zekin gently pulled her arms from him but didn’t step away.
If he had, Paige would have followed. Out here, she had no shame, no pride, just an unbearable need to be close.
He turned to face her, then hesitated only a moment before wrapping his arms around her in a sheltering caress. She couldn’t stop shaking. As he ran his hand down her back, he whispered, “You’re safe.”
No, she wasn’t. Neither was he. Not out here in arctic-land. Deep inside, Paige was terrified they weren’t on Earth any longer. It was crazy to even consider that, but how else to explain all of this? How could either of them survive? Why had he even risked his life to rescue her? Who was he? Where had he come from?
She pressed her cheek against his shoulder. The transparent material covering her face was exactly like skin, letting her feel his solid frame, his heat. She snuggled, unable to stop herself, indulging in this small, welcome intimacy as the world went crazy around them.
The wind died for a moment, then picked up again, slamming against her body as it screamed past. Clouds continued to sink, weighted with snow.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
His hand stalled on her back. “For what?”
Being scared and being a burden, asking too many questions, not knowing how to make this better. All her life, Paige had done whatever she could so people wouldn’t leave her. Didn’t work. They always had.
“Getting you into this,” she finally said.
If she hadn’t had those stupid drinks at Rozie’s, if she hadn’t gotten involved with Johnny—a damn fool who couldn’t commit to marriage much less save her ass out here—none of this would have happened.
“You had nothing to do with this,” Zekin said. “It was my choice to come.”

Available for preorder from: Samhain - Amazon - B&N  
Release: March 11

Other books in the Outlawed Realm series:

Unending Desire – Book One
Illicit Desire – Book Two
Shameless Desire – Book Three

 

About Tina:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.



CONTEST DETAILS:

Tina will choose one commenter as her winner. Winner gets her choice of one of Tina’s award-winning, bestselling ebooks from this list:

1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit
3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award
4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT
5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT
6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller
7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books
8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR
9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR
10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book
11.  Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR
12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times
13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures