Saturday Book News

 

The Lovers: Destiny's Prerogative

By: Karen Michelle Nutt

Website: http://www.kmnbooks.com

Published By: Tease Publishing LLC

ISBN # 978-1-934678-62-2

Word Count: 32,000

All Romance E-books:

http://allromanceebooks.com/product-theloversdestinysprerogative-8279-140.html

Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook69968.htm

Destiny's Prerogative by Karen Michelle Nutt

When Dr. Shay McCormick died, there was no white light, no loved one to comfort her.  There was a half-man, half-jaguar there to greet her.  He's a decedent of the nagual, a spirit guide.  It isn't her time and he leads her to safety.  Shay wants proof shapeshifters exist.  Her curiosity leads her into a world of danger and to Gabriel Cruzado.  Fate threw them together, but despite their differences, they work together, eliminating a threat to their future. Destined to be lovers long before he touched her soul and she saved his life.

Chapter One

Demetrius Cruzado loosened his tie as he thought about his visit earlier today from Antonio Vertiz. 

Vertiz ran the local pub in town where most of the preternatural beings hung out.  He asked Demetrius to look into the disappearance of his son, Tony, a sixteen year-old werejaguar, who went missing two months ago.  Demetrius practiced law; he didn't run a detective agency.  Because Vertiz and his father went way back, he made a few calls.  To his chagrin, he discovered a rash of missing person reports had been filed in the Los Angeles region alone.  At first the cops assumed the gangs were retaliating against each other, but now the faction targeted teenage weres--good kids with no history of trouble.  

A few years back, his cousin at the San Francisco PD told him they experienced a similar problem.  The police ferreted out a cult--humans whose motto stated: Eliminate shapeshifters from existence.  Demetrius knew it had been too quiet.      

Before he left the office, he put out a bulletin alerting the nearby were community to watch for suspicious behavior.  How he detested humans who acted out of fear and not facts.  Weres in general didn't threaten mankind.  Sure, an occasional rogue shapeshifter reared his ugly head, but statistically speaking, humans murdered in greater numbers.

Demetrius headed down the long hall of the family estate glancing at the portraits Gabriel had painted of jaguars, large, strong and determined.  Demetrius had to admit his brother's talent surpassed the conventional in the way he blended the colors triggering the painting to life.  At first glance, one would only see the scenery until the optical illusion revealed the animal, as if it could leap from the foliage. 

Gabriel finished a painting yesterday for the preserve's auction.  Demetrius hoped his brother remembered to deliver it.  With Gabriel's change nearing its peak, he'd been unpredictable.

Demetrius opened the mahogany wood door to the study, flipping on the lights as he walked in.  He dropped his briefcase by his recliner before heading to the sidebar to pour himself a glass of wine.  He sipped, the dark liquid held the aroma of mint and black currant.  He let the silky texture linger in his mouth before he swallowed.  “Aah, exactly what I needed.” 

He intended to indulge again, but a sound pricked his ears.  His face tightened, his adrenaline level spiked as he scanned the room for the intruder.  Spotting a whispery movement near his desk, he placed his glass down, keeping his gaze locked on his prey.  He moved with swiftness born to his kind and lunged.  He grabbed the intruder by the scuff of his shirt and hauled him up, eager to do damage.   

“Holy …” Demetrius bit back a curse. “Gabriel, what are you doing?  I almost drove my fists into your skull.”  Demetrius let go of his brother, shoving him aside.

Gabriel slumped forward. 

“What in the world?”  Demetrius' hand snaked out once more and steadied him.  He pulled out the desk chair, letting his brother fall into the seat.  “What's happened to you?  Are you hurt?”  He scanned for injuries.

“I'm spent,” Gabriel rasped out, his massive shoulders heaving with each breath he took. 

Demetrius took in his brother's appearance and frowned.  T-shirt halfway tucked into his jeans; his thick dark hair matted to his head, while trickles of sweat dripped down his face.  His normally bronzed skin appeared pasty and blotchy.  Demetrius' eyes narrowed to slits as he realized what caused his brother's rapid deterioration.  “You channeled, didn't you?”

Gabriel met his gaze.  “I had to.  A lost soul wandered between life and death.  I couldn't ignore the plea.”

“You know it's too risky for you right now.  It's near your time.  You could have been lost.”

“Better me than the woman I guided back.”

Demetrius' right eyebrow rose.  “A woman?  Your grandness of honor staggers me.”

Gabriel breathed an exaggerated sigh.  “How do you live with yourself, Demetrius?  How do you pretend the souls aren't out there?  We're the descendants of the nagual.  The Jaguar is our brother and we are one.”

“I accept we are shapeshifters.  No, correction.”  His voice had risen.  “I embrace it, but I do not risk my life to save a human who would rather see us dead.  I will do business with them, I will live among them, but I will not risk my neck by playing hero in the astral plane.”  His cold eyes sniped at him.

“You need a human to mate,” he reminded his brother.

“Need?  The statement is a perverse joke in itself.  We're ordered to take one and change them so we may strengthen our numbers.  They're hybrids, Gabriel.  I can smell them a mile away.  They aren't born weres and you would be wise to remember the difference.”

They stared at each other with eyes the same color of golden brown.  Gabriel took a ragged breath as he spoke.  “The woman, this lost soul, accepted me in my were state.”

Horrified, Demetrius snarled.  “You appeared to her as a jaguar?  Even if she couldn't project her own illusion, you should have.”

“I couldn't help it.  The changes in my body interfered with my shifting.”  His tongue moistened his lips.  “She didn't fear me.  In fact she seemed more comfortable with my animal side.”

Demetrius rolled his eyes heavenward. “All fine and interesting, but where was Sandra when you were risking your life on the astral plane?  She should have stopped you.  Until you bond, you shouldn't shapeshift or channel.  Did you forget what we were taught?  I don't understand why the two of you are prolonging the mating ritual.  Do it already or does Sandra find some perverted pleasure from your suffering?”

“She's gone,” Gabriel stated.  He clutched the chair and squeezed his eyes shut. 

Demetrius pierced his lips together as he noticed Gabriel's pallor turn a nice shade of green.  “What do you mean gone?” 

Gabriel opened his eyes, the unspoken pain illuminating them.  “She left me.”   He swallowed hard.

Demetrius remained silent until the information hit home.  “She can't leave you.  You marked her.  She let you.”

“I didn't initiate the final bite.  She couldn't deal with becoming what we are.”

“Now,” Demetrius threw up his hands.  “She decides this now.  Dammit Gabriel, you should have taken her anyway.”

“Not against her will.  I don't want a mate who will despise me for changing her.”

Demetrius heard the slight warning in his brother's voice, but he chose to ignore it. “You only have to mate once every year.  She could stand you for that long.”

Gabriel slammed his fist down.  The sudden movement cost him.  He swayed and he gripped the side of the desk.  Demetrius cringed as he witnessed his brother swallow back the bile threatening to come up.  After a few seconds, he gained control again.  “I want someone willing to take the bite, be my partner for life,” Gabriel insisted.

Disgusted with his brother, Demetrius couldn't stop the heavy dose of sarcasm from dripping into his words.  “Well fool, I can see how splendidly true love has worked out for you so far.  You've run out of options, haven't you?”

“I'll deal with it.”  Gabriel leaned back in the chair.

“How are you planning to do this?  If you haven't looked in a mirror lately, you look like shit.  You're body is already giving into the changes and in little over two weeks it will be the full moon and too late to help you.”

Gabriel clamped his mouth shut.  The ringing silence drew out. 

Then it dawned on Demetrius how his brother planned on dealing with the situation.  He wouldn't mate.  “You're insane.”  He threw up his hands and backed away from the desk.  “No one has ever survived, Gabriel.  Don't let Sandra's rejection guide you in your decision.  Choose someone else.”

Gabriel rubbed his hands over his face.  “It must be my mate's prerogative.”

“Oh stop being a martyr.  So what if Sandra didn't want to be a werejaguar.  If you aren't aware of the options, it's also your choice to live or die.”

“You are being overly dramatic, Demetrius.  I may survive the change.”

“And be what?  If you survive, you won't blend in with the humans.  Your animal side will become dominant.”

“Then put me in the Feline Wildlife Preserve.  The Cruzados donate enough money to them?  I'll live out my days there.”

“Fine stupid ass.  If you survive, I'll see you're placed in a nice cell for the rest of your life.”

“Hey, look at the bright side, I may combust eliminating your worries.”

“Fabulous,” he scorned.  “I'll let our parent's know their eldest son decided to take a cosmic nap instead of taking a mate.  If you were so bent on finding your soul mate, you shouldn't have wasted your time with a human who didn't give a damn.” 

“She cared,” Gabriel defended Sandra. 

Demetrius' gazed pinned him down.  Everyone knew Sandra Tupac's father suffocated her with his perverse shaman rules.  The woman jumped at the sight of her own shadow, but Gabriel loved lost souls.  No one could deny he hadn't tried, but Sandra's fears were more than Gabriel could handle.  “Love is not what it's cracked up to be,” Demetrius said.  “When my time comes, I'll pay for a woman.  We have the money.  That's the advantage of being a Cruzado.”

“I think your plan constitutes as prostitution.”

“I'll marry her.  The Cruzado name alone is worth its weight in gold.  She'll have prestige in the were community and the money to go with it.  All she'll have to do is sleep with me once a year.  Frankly, I don't see how that's a bad trade off.”

“It sounds cold and lonely.”

“And your way sounds so much better.  Now tell me where Sandra is holed up.  I'll drag her ass back here and you'll deliver the mating bite.”

“I won't do it.  I gave her my word that she would be safe.  Don't you dare give her another reason to fear us.”

“The surprises keep on coming.  You knew she feared us, yet you stayed with her.  I don't care how good-looking the woman is the grief she's given you isn't worth it.  Now you'll die for her so you can prove your human side of compassion is the dominant.  Get over yourself.  This is survival of the fittest.”

“I said leave it.  It's my choice.”

Demetrius' nostrils flared as he scrambled for another argument to sway his brother.  At a loss for words, he slammed his fists on the desk and left the room.

***

“I should handle this on my own.”  Demetrius played with the idea before he vetoed it.  He might need help.  “Lucas could lend a hand.”  He played with the idea and cringed. 

Demetrius preferred control and insisted on order.  The laid back youngest Cruzado, by two years, knew nothing of organization.  He preferred to spend his time at the beach, lounging in the sun without a care in the world.  All werejaguars loved the water, but Lucas took it to a new level.  Beach bum status fit him to a tee.  Dark hair streaked lighter by the sun, and his skin held a tropical glow all year round.  His wardrobe consisted of t-shirts, board shorts and flip-flops.  Demetrius didn't mind the casual look, but the guy didn't own anything else.     

Lucas was here now.  Demetrius convinced him to stay until the special dedication dinner at the Feline Wildlife Preserve.  So he'd be here for at least a couple of more weeks.  That reminded Demetrius, he needed to find something in his closet for Lucas to borrow.  Being about the same size, it shouldn't be difficult.  

He didn't knock, but burst into his brother's room.

Lucas leaned over his surfboard, probably examining it for dings.  He looked up with an upward jerk of his head in greeting.  “Hey.”

“We have a problem,” Demetrius announced.

“Yeah?  What kind of problem?”  Lucas continued to work on his surfboard.

“Sandra left Gabriel out to dry.”

“Man, that sucks.”

Demetrius rolled his eyes.  “It will if we don't find someone to take Sandra's place.”

“Us?”  Lucas' attention riveted to him.  He put his board down and focused.   “Don't you think Gabriel should choose?”

“He won't.  He doesn't want to jeopardize the woman.  He's afraid he might harm her.  She might be allergic to the were gene.  She might die.  Blah, blah, blah,” his sarcasm dripped nastily.

Lucas' brow furrowed.  “Sure it might be risky, but he has to take someone.  Granted a soul mate would be preferred, but he can't be choosy now.”

“Exactly.” Demetrius threw up his hands relieved Lucas joined him on the same page.  “However, sainted Gabriel will have nothing to do with it.”

“So what can we do?”  Lucas shrugged.

A slow smile spread across Demetrius' face as a plan formed in his mind.   “We bring a woman to him.”

Lucas chuckled joining in on the joke until he met Demetrius' somber expression.  “Oh come on.  What are you going to do?  Hold Gabriel down and hope the woman takes advantage of him.  Besides, Gabriel will never forgive us if the girl dies.”

Demetrius harrumphed.  “I didn't say I had all the details worked out.”

“What do you have worked out?”

“Uh …” Demetrius rubbed his chin.  Then he remembered something Gabriel told him.  He looked at Lucas with a smug smile.  “Gabriel channeled.”

“So?”

“He made a connection with a human, revealing his jaguar form.  He marked her soul.”

Lucas nodded.  “It could work.  The were DNA won't be such a shock to her system.”

“Exactly,” Demetrius said.  “All we have to do is find out who she is.”

“How do you plan on accomplishing that feat, calling every hospital to find out who had a near death experience?”

“No.”  He smiled.  “You are.”  He turned and headed for the door.   

“Oh come on, Demetrius,” Lucas whined. 

“And,” Demetrius looked back at his brother, his gaze taking in his brown board shorts and t-shirt.  “I'll have a suit ready for you.”

“Suit?  What for?”

“For the fundraiser at the Feline Wildlife Preserve.”  He grinned as he continued on his way.   

“Fine, but I'm not wearing shoes,” Lucas called after his brother.

Saturday Book News

HeartFast
An erotic sci-fi romance
by Linda Mooney
Author’s website: www.LindaMooney.com
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Buy Link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=340
Size: 102.5K (super novel)
Heat rating: sensuous/explicit
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACNvsDw9nFc
And Right Now at 10% Off!
Blurb:
They were the Guardians, sixteen special men and women with incredible powers. They lived on a world that, eons ago, had suffered a devastating plague that had rendered more than half its population unable to reproduce. In order to assure the survival of their species, the HandFast law was enacted. Every month, twenty couples, complete strangers, were drawn by lottery—couples whose sole purpose would be to procreate.

It was a cold and impersonal law, but it worked.When StarLight and Master Hunter heard their names called out to be HandFasted, their neat, orderly lives were turned upside-down. Gone was the comfortable companionship and brother-sister working relationship. Now they were forced into an intimacy neither had wanted, nor expected.
Neither were they prepared for the overwhelming passion they would find in each other's bodies, as well as in their hearts. But things would only get more complicated and dangerous, because someone had deliberately placed their names in the lottery as the first step in destroying their world and every Guardian living.
Excerpt:
Two nights. They had shared two nights, and she’d become like his own blood.
The netherworld protected him during his flight past a hundred moons and planets. Its only drawback was that it wasn’t oxygen rich, which meant he had to find worlds where he could breathe and re-stock that thin bubble around him. As he slipped effortlessly into gray, mist-like non-existence, his body reached out, calling to her.
Terrin.
Time Merchant and Deceiver had stared at him when he had told them he had to convince Star he loved her. Oddly, though, they didn’t seemed surprised, other than hearing him declare it. A tiny smile creased the corners of his mouth. How many of them already suspected the truth?
A tiny shimmering of color rainbowed from behind an asteroid belt circling an uninhabited planet below. The phenomena should not have been there, as the coloring faced away from any light source. Hunter felt a tug in his bones, and he dropped to check it out.
When he finally spotted her, for the span of several heartbeats he almost allowed his terror to swallow him whole. She was lying sprawled inside one of the million craters spotting the back of the largest asteroid. Motionless, there was no sign of breathing, no sign of life coming from her.
Hunter drew closer. The asteroid had no atmosphere. If he left the void, he would die almost instantly, but definitely, and with extreme agony in the airlessness of space.
A tremor ran through her, and her eyes flew open. Her mouth formed a single word.
No!
He watched as she painfully got to her feet, and at that moment it hit him. She could feel him. She could tell he was there, as surely as he could sense her. How, he couldn’t begin to understand, but the knowledge gave him both a sense of security while at the same time it also posed a problem. How would he be able to approach her if she could "see" him coming?
Star was weak. The star-like pattern on her body suit barely moved. Her face was pale. Wane. Her violet eyes were enormous saucers.
Taking the risk, Hunter coalesced for less than a fraction of a second before retreating back into the void. But it was enough time to drop the earpiece in front of her.
Star saw the tiny communications device materialize near the toe of her boot, as if by magic. Long moments passed as she stared at it, warring with her emotions. Fighting with her need to hear his voice, even though she knew that if she relented and put it on, all that she had accomplished thus far would not matter anymore.
Hunter watched her body tremble as he softly urged her to "-pick it up, my love. Please. Please. Take it and put it on. Let me talk to you. Let me tell you how this flight is going to kill us, but I don’t care. I don’t care anymore, not as long as I’m with you. Not as long as the last thing I ever see is your beautiful face. Pick up the earpiece, Terrin. Please."
She bent to retrieve the earpiece, and Hunter finally knew her love for him was greater than her worse fears and despair. He waited for her to slip it on. Waited for her to speak first.
"I know you’re there. I can feel you. You’re so damn close." Her voice was a ghost. She was past exhaustion, as was he.
"Terrin."
At the sound of her name, Star almost convulsed, tightly shutting her eyes as she clenched her fists in front of her.
"I can’t ... I can’t take any more, Udo," she told him. Her confession sounded thin and far away in the vacuum of space. "Why won’t you let me go?"
"Because if I do, I will lose what’s left of my sanity. I love you, Terrin. So much, that if I have to follow you for the rest of my days, I’ll do so without any reservation. I can’t let you go. I never will."
****
An OUTSTANDING READ from Simply Romance Reviews
HeartFast was not just a satisfying romance, it was also a mind-teasing mystery and science fiction read as well. Visual imagery was well written, and the mystery surrounding the unsanctioned handfast skillfully told. While I can usually figure out what's coming, this story kept me guessing to the end.
Emotionally conveyed, StarLight and Master Hunter's story was equally touching, painful and poignant to read. I look forward to further stories in this new series.
-- Christine, Simply Romance Reviews

The Eternal Kiss is on Fictionwise!!!

 

 

Oh my god!! It's there! It's finally there!!! Wooohoooo! And it's on sale!!!

 

Diego Viteri has lived for centuries with only one real goal, to avenge himself against the one who destroyed the man that he was and created the creature he is now. He is suffering a growing loneliness that is becoming impossible to ignore. His only reason for not ending his life is to see that Brakka is served his justice and then, Diego can rest.

The last thing he is expecting is to have an encounter with a human woman who is willing to jump between himself and Brakka during a harsh and bloody battle. Their one meeting changes everything for Diego, bringing to life emotions and wants that he has long believed to be as dead as he is.

As he follows Titania and her band, his needs reshape into something that he can’t ignore. Before he knows what he has done, he bonds with her and sets into motion the very thing he swore he would never do to another person. He has shared his curse and in the process may have very well killed her. And there is only one choice to be made to try to save her.

 

 

Go check it out here!!

 

Pssst.. I'll be posting a contest soon for the print release so check back often.

*sigh* I'm waffling

Badly, at that.

See, I have a dilemma. I have two books that I want to finish out of a pile of about six that I could finish. One is a fantasy, a full length, lush fantasy romance. Dragon guadians, planes (worlds, not the flying kind), sarcastic unicorns. The list could go on.

Then I have my *In a deep male voice-over affect* AGENT BOOK. Yeah, the one I've only been working on for the last two years. A shifter story that is intricate, and likely only the first to a strong series if I can ever get it done, and done well. It could be my ticket to an agent, and a NY publisher. Could be because even though I feel good about the book and the premise, I'm still realistic.

The thing is, there's a cover I wantwantwant for the fantasy. It's gorgeous. I want it. I mean I WANT IT! And he has to be done by October if I plan to get it. It is a work of art, simply stunning.

But then there's the agent book.

But then there's the fantasy.

They both have qualities to say which one should be first. Let's not even toss the edits I have into the barrel, but I guess in all fairness, we must. I have three books in different stages of edits right now. So they're distracting me. And the books I want to write are distracting me from the editing I need to do.

So I'm waffling. And I don't even get to play in the syrup. :(

What would you guys like to see? A fantasy romance with a sexy dragon guardian, or a shifter paranormal with certain twists that are NOT the norm?

What I'm reading

Since the man has been home on vacation again I've been reading rather than writing a whole lot. So far, I've read ,  , . and I'm currently reading . It's not something I usually can indulge in exclusively, but when I do, I tear through books like a kid (or me LOL) goes through chocolate.

He actually goes back to work tomorrow so I'm hoping to get back to my writing again. I've discovered Olivia, my muse, really doesn't like being around when the man is. So to compensate for her splitting while he's around, I read. I have several more on the To Be Read list, as well as a mile long To Be Bought list. That seems to grow no matter how fast I read. Just a lot of good writers out there.

We've also spent some family time watching the entire Star Wars Saga, one movie a day. Man those were good to watch again. Today it was . 

I will admit we don't usually spend a lot of family time just hanging out watching movies. I really have to be willing to sit still for the duration. I just have a hard time sitting still for that long. Books on the other hand, I can loll around on the bed or sit still to read for hours on end. I don't know what it is, the difference between watching a movie and reading a book. Movies are rarely longer then two hours. I think it's how I interpret them. I'm more involved when reading a book, it evokes emotions. More then a movie can, although it doesn't take much to make me cry it seems. I'm an easy sap when it comes to either.

So what have you guys been reading or watching for the summer?

I'm in Fredericksburg today!

Which means I'm really not here today. I know. What a drag. I should be here. I have so much work to do, books to write, a workshop to figure out. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm going to be spending the day with the man and the boy, so it should be fun. It'll probably be exhausting too. It's going to be a LOT of walking.

Fredericksburg is close to Enchanted Rock. From the website: "It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States." I don't know honestly if we're going to make it there or not tomorrow. I haven't been since I was a kid, at least 15 years. Yeah, I'm really that freakin' old. I feel it most days too.

Anyway, so we're going to take a day trip down there to cruise the town, check out the Nimitz Museum, some of the shops and some recommended restaurants. Well, probably only one. Can only eat so much in one day.

Aside from that, I have one more winner to announce! Yep, I sure do. I'm going to give away any book of my backlist or if the winner is willing to wait, either of my pending releases, HIS MASTER PLAN or TRUSTING DELILAH. I would just hold onto your email and once I have the book in my hot little hands, I'd forward it to you.

So, with all of that said and done, and after a really fun and wonderful week, everyone's comments went into the hat and the winner for the freebie pick is.....

 

.........

 

 

 

*cracks the envelope*

 

 

 

.........

 

 

 

Karen!!!!

Wooohooooo!!!!!

Email me Karen and let me know which book you prefer.

 

I will be doing this again soon! This was a wonderful experience and I really appreciate everyone's comments.

Friday's here. That means...

My last excerpt.... Ahhh. Don't cry! Really... I'm sure I'll be doing this again, and even so, there's always free reading and excerpts on my sites. Sites? Yes. I said sites.

Lemme 'splainz. hehehe

I recently sold a book to Liquid Silver Books. The catch? It ain't sweet mainstream. So... I went with a nom de plume, a pen name to separate the works. It's still me, still romance through and through, but... Well, you knew there had to be one. *wink*

The difference is these works are steamy and as much as I'd love to give you the full details of this newest and latest trip I seem to be taking, I can't. Not here. So I have a new site for this new name that is a new me.

Please look for the hotter side of moi at Diana DeRicci's new pad. http://www.dianadericci.com Trust me, you can't miss the place. It's sultry and just sparkly enough to make you smile that knowing smile and nod, because you know, you get it.I'll be posting excerpts, covers and news for that work on that site, and if you ever lose the link, it's in my side bar, right over there. --->

 

A few have asked the question: To hide or not to hide?

Honestly, I don't feel I need to hide that it's me. I want people to find all of my works, but I don't want people to mistake one kind for the other, thus the two names. if anyone ever has a question about this, I'm only an email away. (No, that doesn't mean I want to hear about how Jesus can save me [I am Christian, thank you] or how writing about it will rot my brain. That train has already left the station, folks.)

So with this "unveiling" of my alter-ego (really it's just doubling the workload for my muse.Trust me on this one. LOL) I am sharing my new site information with all of you. I hope if you've enjoyed this week, my writing, and my stories, that you'll check out my other site. Even if steamier work doesn't "do it" for you, that's totally fine with me. I'm glad to have this chance to share my news and my books with you.

 

So without further delay... Friday's Excerpt!

 

ICE CREAM IN THE SNOW

The first one is always one we remember.... *wipes up a nostalgic tear*

 

She was cleaning the ice cream scoops and wiping down the counter when they entered nearly an hour later. She was even more confused to see them both smiling.

“Mom, I’m going to go see Mr. Tipple. I’ll see you in a bit,” Jacob called out, not waiting for her response. She waved as he bounded back out the door.

Brick leaned against the counter with a bemused expression as she worked. His prolonged silence began to grate on her already stretched nerves. Finally, she threw the towel onto the counter, unable to take it any longer. “What do you want? Don’t you have someone’s arms to twist somewhere?”

“No.”

She huffed at him. “So you’re just going to stand there and watch me, is that it?”

“Mostly.”

“You have absolutely nothing better to do with your day?”

“Actually, I do, but it involves you anyway.”

“What are you talking about?” Agitated, she ran her hand down the front of her smock.

“I think your son, the man, has just given me permission to date his mother.” His eyes twinkled, making the deep blue sparkle like a midnight sky.

She startled visibly at that. “Excuse me? Sorry, but I don’t date.” She wiped at the counter in wide, vicious circles. She was going to have to talk to Jacob. Again. What she'd told him did not give him express permission to set her up.

Brick shrugged. “That’s what he said.”

Jessie fisted her hands on her hips. “Oh, really? Just a fountain of information about his dear old mom, I guess.” She wasn’t sure what irritated her more—the fact they'd discussed her social life, or the fact that the conversation had been between her son and the one arrogant man she found herself completely attracted to.

“Will you come out from behind there?” Her head snapped up in confusion at the silky, velvet tone he used. She hesitated, battling her indecision. His look was concerned when he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lifting the back of her hand to her forehead to push away stray hair, she eyed him carefully. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Why?” He reached over and pushed the stubborn lock of hair back for her a second time. Tingles shot down her spine when his fingers slowly brushed her skin.

“Bad dreams. Nothing, really.” But she couldn’t look up at him.

He lifted his hand to grip her chin and bring it gently upward to meet his gaze. “What kind of dreams?” His voice had dropped to a husky whisper that caressed her, making her heart skip.

“Nothing,” she insisted, but her tongue almost tripped on the word.

“It must have been something if you lost sleep over it.” His thumb stroked her cheek as he cradled her face in his palm. His comforting touch only confused her more.

“I can’t go out with you,” she blurted. Her eyes widened, shocked at her own words.

His lips curved in gentle understanding at her outburst. “I haven’t asked you to. Not yet, anyway.” He angled his head, looking into her eyes. “You were hurt by the way Arthur treated you, weren’t you?”

She jerked herself out of his hypnotic hold. “What happened doesn’t matter.” Taking a deep breath, Jessie stepped back, putting space between them. “I don’t date because I choose not to, and to protect Jacob. I will not give him an amoral picture of relationships.” She decided to let her prickly attitude speak for itself, but he didn’t seem to even notice.

Brick crossed his arms in front of his chest, leaning his hip against the counter again. “I believe you. He knows he’s partly responsible, but he doesn’t want to be the only reason, if, in fact, he is.” She stood, unblinking, for several breaths before he continued. “I want to kiss you again.”

 

Available here: http://tinyurl.com/3hjh4c .

 

 

Thank you again for hanging out with me this week! I've really enjoyed everyone stopping by, and as a final thank you, I'm drawing a lucky winner from ALL of the posts for the week to win a  book of their choice from my current list! I'll be drawing that person tomorrow (give or take a few hours)

 

Thanks for sharing this week with me!

My December Release: His Master Plan

Congratulations to: Phoebe Jordan!

Please email me at Diana.castilleja @ Gmail.com for your PDF copy.

 

Okay, so here it is Thursday... Wow... Where did this week get to? It's been a lot of fun but we're not done! Heh, look ma, I rhymed! LOL Today, I'm giving you a taste of my first contemporary release with Whiskey Creek Press, HIS MASTER PLAN.

 

Here's the skinny on it:

Elizabeth Whitten has a few problems with men. She has learned from experience they are untrustworthy and unable to commit to just one woman. Her father was a prime example. Her just dumped boyfriend was another. She refuses to be taken for a ride any longer. Being alone is better than being used and cheated on.

When Dan Masters returns to Somerset, the memories of his flirtatious innuendoes at their first meeting and the interruption of his wife have already labeled him in Elizabeth's book. But Dan isn't quite ready to let her slip passed his radar. Life has taken a downhill turn for Dan, and when the last thing he was looking for winds up being the best thing he's ever found, he goes after Elizabeth with the tenacious personality that marked his career and makes him the man he is.

~~~~~

EXCERPT:

 

(unedited)

Friday morning, El was sitting at her desk, frowning at the returned proposal. Some people had no sense of class or taste when it came to decorating. Shabby chic if not done well, was just, well…trashy. She shuddered at the images her clients had returned with the proposal.

She personally didn’t have a problem seeing a job she didn’t agree with completed. It wasn’t her job to agree with every desire and wish, but she refused to attach her name to something this God-awful. She would meet with them again and try to change their direction. Otherwise they could shop at the huge discount store and accomplish the exact same look and save thousands of dollars and her effort.

“El, Sharon is on the phone. Are you going to the open house tomorrow night?” Alicia called.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” she shouted without looking up. She ignored the shadow that fell over her door, thinking it was Alicia. But her head snapped up with shock when his voice penetrated her thoughts of the proposal from Hell.

“Let Sharon know I’ll be there too. I need to talk to some of her guests.” His voice was whiskey smooth and deep. And it sent a shiver clear down to her toes.

“Will do,” she heard Alicia say. But she couldn’t pick up anything else as he sauntered into her office and hunkered down in one of her leather chairs. He sat and smiled like he had every right to be there. And technically, she guessed, he did. He was a client.

“Hi,” he said, a soft sound that vibrated through her.

She swallowed. “Hello.”

He held his hands in front of him as he crossed his legs at the ankle. She admired his lean legs with quick glances as he settled himself deeper, as if for a long stay. At least it didn’t seem his knee was bothering him. His lips curved up when he caught her wandering gaze, a sexy twist that made her stomach clench.

She picked up the pages before her, purposely keeping space between them as she returned them to the client folder. When he didn’t seem predisposed to enlighten her, she asked, “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Always,” he whispered, a soft glow in his gaze. “But for now, I need your professional expertise.”

“I haven’t been fired?” She stilled, surprised as his voice swam over her.

“No. And you can’t quit.” He pulled a slip of paper from his hip pocket. “My mother has asked a favor. I told her what an incredible knack you have and she wants this.”

She reached for the scrap, trying to avoid his touch but couldn’t. His heat arced through her like a lightning bolt. She forced her gaze to focus on the writing while she waited for her heart to quiet, but it didn’t get the chance. She swallowed as the painting and artist hit her. “But it’s impossible to find this artist! It’ll cost a fortune.”

His brow lifted. “If you don’t think you can do it…” He reached for the paper.

She sat back quickly, yanking her hand away from his grasping fingers. “I didn’t say I couldn’t do it,” she huffed. “But it isn’t going to be cheap, and it will take some time.” She found her bottom lip and held it between her teeth.

“Mom asked for it for her birthday. I told her someday I would. Now I can.” He gave her a meaningful stare. “I have you, my genie, to help me.”

She chewed on her lip again. “How long do I have?”

He waved a hand. “As long as it takes. She won’t be disappointed if it isn’t found. She knows the value of the painting. The artist is among her favorites. Mom has a lot of her work.”

“She’s not alone on that,” Elizabeth said, distracted. She racked her brain. Where to start? Who might have it? “How much?” she asked absently.

“As much as is reasonable for the value of the painting. I trust your judgment,” he told her calmly.

She gaped at him. “Including the appraisal and insurance, you’re looking at well over a hundred grand.” She’d had requests before, but not for something as obscure as this painting. They were flourishes of color; the animals—horses, tigers, griffons, and dragons were stunning if memory could be trusted.

He nodded once. “I figured that.” When she caught his grin, he appeared surprisingly pleased. His eyes glittered with a secret light as he told her, “So now you can’t quit. And my mother would hang me if I fired you.” His grin deepened as he kept her gaze captive. He stood with fluid grace, his parting shot seductive on his lips. He leaned over her desk, arms spread wide, giving her a great view of his chest. “Now I get to see you tomorrow night. And I can’t wait,” he whispered before he strode back out her door.

~~~~~

 

Watch for my first WCP release in December!

The Eternal Kiss and a new excerpt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hanged Man: The Eternal Kiss * Book one: Shadowed Souls It's been almost a year since my vampire Diego has seen the light of ...er... night.... LOL But I'm very happy say that he and his story is out by Tease Publishing as part of the Dark Tarot Imprint!

I'm very happy to see this book be available once more! It is available NOW! Woot!

As part of the imprint series, the covers are representations of a true Tarot deck, and Diego's story is of the Hanged Man. The card reveals sacrifice, selflessness, and solutions to problems that then weren't obvious through his travels. These solutions becomes clear as he acts and reacts to his world. This card lends its meaning to both Diego and Titania.

Welcome to their world.........

Diego Viteri has lived for centuries with only one real goal, to avenge himself against the one who destroyed the man that he was and created the creature he is now. He is suffering a growing loneliness that is becoming impossible to ignore. His only reason for not ending his life is to see that Brakka is served his justice and then, Diego can rest.

The last thing he is expecting is to have an encounter with a human woman who is willing to jump between himself and Brakka during a harsh and bloody battle. Their one meeting changes everything for Diego, bringing to life emotions and wants that he has long believed to be as dead as he is.

As he follows Titania and her band, his needs reshape into something that he can't ignore. Before he knows what he has done, he bonds with her and sets into motion the very thing he swore he would never do to another person. He has shared his curse and in the process may have very well killed her. And there is only one choice to be made to try to save her.

~~~~~

EXCERPT:

 

Her hand skimmed over his shoulder to wrap into his hair. She pulled him closer, and he lay down with her, his full length eclipsing her.

He could not help himself. He leaned forward and found the hardened peak of one, sucking gently. She arched and let out a shriek, her arms capturing his head and holding him in her pleasure. Hunger flared, seared him as he caressed and laved at that hard nub.

Kiss me.

He rose instantly to those luscious lips, answering the plea in her voice, in his thoughts. Her desire ignited his to a new level, a hunger for her completion, for her body, searing his brain.

Diego drew her bottom lip into his mouth, swirling his tongue over the sensitive skin inside, and his body clenched at her whimpers. He thrust within, his tongue meeting hers, mating, stroking at the sweet temptation of her mouth.

He found the corner of her lips, caressing it tenderly as he glided along her jaw, her head tipped back to his hungry exploration. His heart thundered as he tasted her, sipped at the delicate texture beneath her ear.

He inhaled her sweet essence, the steady beat of her blood through her body. He snapped his head back sharply, blinking.

“What’s wrong?” Titania asked, staring up at him, frozen, immediately catching his confusion.

“Nothing. I think.” He lowered to her neck, right over his claiming mark, and inhaled. His fangs exploded with a raging hunger, striking him hard and deep. He whipped his head away before she could see the flames in his gaze, the telltale fangs.

Her hand fell to her neck. “Intense,” she said, watching him carefully.

“It will pass.”

“Is it because you need to eat?” she asked. Caution tinged her words.

He almost smiled at her wild thoughts. He remained faced away from her instead. “I am not thinking of snacking, cara.”

“What happened?” She cradled his chin with her fingertips, applying a subtle pressure, turning him.

Dark lashes hid his worst thoughts. “It is stronger, sweeter.” He drew a deep breath and released it slowly. “I can control this.”

“Would it be bad? Because I am now like you?”

“Honestly, I do not know.”

Big, blue eyes shimmered up at him, her mouth growing supple. She tilted her head, exposing her throat. “I trust you.”

He sucked in air, stunned at her gift. “Cara, I do not know if it will harm you.”

She blinked up at him. “Why would you feel so strongly for it then? Has it been like this before?”

He thought back and had to shake his head. “No. Not like this.” Never like this.

Fingers danced across his chin, trailed down his own neck, and muscles clenched from him jaw to his toes. “Diego, I feel it, too. I want to share with you. I want to know how it feels for you. I want to know it is only me you feel this way for.”

He buried his face into her shoulder. “Titania. It is only you. Do you not know that?”

She tilted once more. “Then show me.”

Diego did not know if he should pray or cry in gratitude. Titania was the most unselfish being in his entire world. This was from her, to him. Simply because he wanted it.

~~~~~

 

 

For the full first chapter, please visit my site.

 

Watch the book video. ---->

 

 

This book is available now in Ebook here!! Want it in print? It will be out in September! Woohooo!

 

Want a free download? It's really pretty easy.  Go to my site, and tell me the title of one of the free reads I have available. Download it while you're there. They're short and sweet. You can put the answer in comments. Look for the winner tomorrow!

New Excerpt: Trusting Delilah

Yesterday's winner is: lainey bancroft

Congratulations! Email me for your PDF at

diana.castilleja @ gmail.com (You know the routine-no space. LOL)

 

So today, I'm going to treat you guys with a peek at a story that is primed for '09. TRUSTING DELILAH is the first book of my quadruplets series. I even have a little inspiration for you.

  (graphic by Linda Mooney)

This will be released early next year, January or February I believe, with Tease Publishing.

 

Roman Aiza is the second born son of the Aiza clan. He also owns and operates a private security company and has an ongoing contract with one of Florida's most influential residents. He is patrolling at a party when he encounters a woman who will haunt him. A woman who at their first meeting, manages to walk right out of his hands when he follows her for trespassing. She manages to do this without giving Roman a single reason why she is in the depths of the house he is protecting. When he does finally locate her days later, his goal is to prove that his instincts are wrong. She is not the woman that all of his senses are clamoring for.

Yet when the daughter of Roman's largest and closest account is kidnapped and held for ransom, will they be able to build a trust between them? Or will their own secrets keep them apart?

 

EXCERPT:

(unedited. I claim all screw-ups. :) )

Roman hadn’t wanted to come back, not after their last meeting. He knew she was a hard ass. The hardest damn rock of a sharp shooter he’d ever met, but it was becoming impossible to ignore her. Impossible to forget her. She’d begun to infiltrate his dreams, and he didn’t like it. He did not want to be interested in this woman.

His father had warned him, had warned all of the children their time would come, and when it did there was nothing to be done about it.

Roman was the second born, second son in a group of non-identical quadruplets. The rarity of multiple siblings in a single birth was astronomical. And yet, there had never been an explanation for it either. His mother had never admitted to doing anything to encourage the quadruplet birth, and Roman would be the last person to ask if she had manipulated it.

Still, he was thankful for his family. He loved his brother and his sisters. He adored his parents—they knew how to stay out of his life. But for once, just in this instance, he wished this was something he didn’t have to face alone.

It sucked that this was happening to him first. He felt like a damn guinea pig, because now he knew why he was drawn to the raven-haired woman when so many others could be dismissed like yesterday’s paper.

This woman, the one he still didn’t have a real name for after more fruitless searching, was by all of his senses, his mate. The only information he’d found on her was more names and addresses than any one person should be born with. She was a chameleon on paper, but a hot-blooded woman in person.

He swallowed as he leaned his motorcycle to rest, and tossed his leg across with an easy movement as he stared at the warehouse yet again. Maybe this time she wouldn’t be here. He could only hope.

He pushed the door open and heard the grating sound again. He held his jaw tight waiting for the expected shout to leave. It never came. His head snapped up instead when he heard a guttural cry in the depths of the building. Instinctively, he pulled his weapon from its holster, searching in all directions, sliding into the shadows as the cry repeated followed by a sharp cracking sound. Every nerve he had went on alert as he followed the sound, nearing a step at a time. He rolled his body soundlessly around a corner, his vision trying to adjust to the flickering light from the overhead windows in the cavernous area of the warehouse.

He drew a breath. She was there. Even as he inched further down the wall making his assessment, the relieved fact that she was alone registered at the same unstoppable instant his wrists were whacked with a rod. Less than three seconds later he was flat on his back—again—staring up at her wide eyed and annoyed expression.

 

Watch my site for more information and excerpts about this release!

Okay, I'm doing it

I'm finally culling the book herd.

The man has really been wanting me to do this for some time, and honestly with somewhere close to 800 books all over, I guess I can't blame him. I've pulled about 30 or so from the current R&D box (Read & Dead). I have several more boxes I can go through and I guess over the next day or two, I will.

There's some books I won't part with. Mostly books in series, or books that I really, really loved. If I can't remember it well enough then it can go. Some books will go because I hated them, or didn't like the storyline at all, but that's really a limited few. I'm a very lenient reader. I'm sure authors love that in a reader. Just make me happy.

I want to enjoy a good read. I enjoy it so much, I have a strong penchant for books. Better that than a really bad kind of addiction, don't you agree?

So far, a lot are category books, but several single title books that I've had for at least five years are getting tossed in the bag. I'm sure there will be more. This is the first time I've ever tried to thin the book herd so to speak. Don't worry Kathy, none of yours are in here. :)

I never really wanted to, but I can see his point. I'm over flowing at the gills with books. So they have to go. The good side of that coin: Trade them in at the UBS and get credit for more books! But I won't tell him that. LOL

How long do you wait to thin out the library? Do you?

ETA: I've pulled roughly 130 books (four bags worth) to go to the UBS. What's sad? I found three more boxes of books. :( So... I'm easily over a thousand books now. Just wowza.

Author Diana Castilleja Newsletter - Subscribers Wanted!

Hey all!

I'm relaunching my Newsletter! After almost a year, I'm getting it back up and running. It will be a once a month update on what's going on, my latest news, contests and other weirdness. Lots of weirdness

All you have to is sign onto my Yahoo News Group. Yep that's it! No tricks, and no spam. I have it set up as a newsletter distribution file on one of my email accounts, so after you sign up, that's it. But if you want to catch the occasional info and spontaneous announcments, you won't miss any of it!

So come and hang out with me for the latest!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DianaCastilleja/