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Welcome to my blog! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and read what's on my mind. I've a vicious sense of humor, an apprecation for romance and a mad addiction to writing.

Monday, January 30, 2017

Born to be Guardians. Destined to be Mates. Ancient Ties by Marie Johnston. #paranormalromance



Today it’s my pleasure to welcome Marie Johnston, author of Ancient Ties, Book two in the Pale Moonlight series.

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: 1/27/17

ISBN: 9781370775347
ASIN: B01MFEATE2

Number of pages: 220
Word Count: 59000

Cover Artist: P and N Graphics

Book Description


Born to be Guardians…

Chayton Eagle comes from a strong line of wolf shifters, his father an ancient in their pack. Chayton proudly acts as a Guardian, defending the colonies from danger—both from outsiders and from threats inside the pack. The one thing he doesn’t need is a human-raised female on his team—especially not one who passes out each time she shifts! Never mind that she was trained by elite Guardians, Chayton doesn’t need the distraction of a tall, sexy-as-hell redhead when he’s working. He has to focus. And he has to remember he’s scheduled to take the blood oath with a female, a long-ago pairing arranged by her parents. It doesn’t matter he and Kaitlyn are fated mates.

She can’t be his. Not now. Not ever.

Destined to be Mates.

Kaitlyn Savoy knows Chayton is supposed to be her mate. Too bad he’s such an ass about her human upbringing making her weak. Too bad she’s been assigned as his partner to take down the feral shifters threatening one of the colonies. Too bad she’s so damn attracted to him. As the mission continues, Chayton is captured by the ferals, and Kaitlyn proves her worth as a Guardian. During the rescue, she uncovers the secrets of her past, secrets that will affect her future. Despite his best efforts, Chayton’s opinion of her begins to change, his respect growing—along with feelings he can’t deny. She’s become part of his life, part of his heart. A fact his soon-to-be inlaws notice—and they intend to put an end to the temptation Kaitlyn poses to Chayton.

No matter what.

Amazon        BN         Kobo

Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win an autographed print copy of Book One for US winner (ebook for international winner).

Let’s Interview!


How did you come up with the title?

Easiest title ever. Sometimes, the books name themselves and that’s what happened. When it came time to think of a title, I thought I’d try to use ancient since ancients are pivotal in the story and boom! Ancient Ties popped to mind. Love it when that happens.

Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story.

They’re both shifters, but they were raised completely different. Chayton was raised with a father who’s an ancient, the oldest and purest of their kind. His colony was isolated and full of shifters who took immense pride in the strength of their bloodlines. Then there’s Kaitlyn, who was raised human and didn’t know she was a shifter until her twenties. Not only that, she has the misfortune of passing out after every shift. Chayton uses it all as a reason to keep his distance from her because while she’s his destined mate, he’s already sworn to someone else. But! The bonding hasn’t taken place yet, so there might still be time for Chayton and Kaitlyn to work it out. 

Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.

I’m having so much fun with Bishop! It’s the third in my vampire spin-off, set in the same world as Ancient Ties. Bishop was tricked into bonding with a mischievous fire demon, but it backfired on her and she’s on the run from him and the rest of the underworld. Only, it’s too easy to track her because has trouble controlling her fire when she gets emotional. I think the beginning of this book was the most fun I had writing any of my books. 

Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.

Since my main job is still a stay-at-home mom, I’ve written anywhere and everywhere, and at all times of the day. So I love, love, love preschool days when I can drop my youngest off and head to the coffee shop. Only it’s not your normal coffee shop. It has the atmosphere of a bar and grill: dim, loud music, and (my favorite) booths. I order a mocha, or go wild and try a seasonal special, and I do nothing but write for two solid hours. The only downside is that it makes it harder to park in a corner of the house and write amidst all of the chaos and noise like I used to.

How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?

It’s about the same time frame for each and I’ll be the first to admit I shouldn’t have done that. I had a bad case of “I didn’t know what I didn’t know.” I had wanted to write for forever, but had only done scientific and technical writing and talked about writing a book one day. The day I decided to self-publish, I started writing. The only thing is…writing well takes years. Telling stories well can take years. For some, it all comes naturally. For me, I needed to learn and I hadn’t realized it. But honestly, I’m confident there’ll always be something to learn no matter how long I write.

What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?

Two reasons why I like writing romance: One, weaving in chemistry is a fun challenge. Not too much, not too little, and don’t forget halfway through the story. Two, happily-ever-afters are what it’s all about. I want all my characters to have one and I want my stories to have one.

Paranormal romance is a riot. There are few limits and so many choices. But the more I write contemporary, the more I’m getting into it. I’m happy in these two sub-genres for a while.

Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?

I write very short stories each quarter for my newsletter subscribers. They hover between two and three thousand words and it’s so nice to jump in and get ’er done. I love writing novels, but the word count can be intimidating where it’s not as much of a concern with novellas. The more experience I have telling stories, the more comfortable I become spending time with my characters and not rushing them through the process. But how writers can crank out a hundred thousand word books amazes me. I have word count envy.

Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.

I can’t write a onefer. I just run into so many characters with interesting backstories and promising futures. All of my paranormal books are in the same world. The first series, The Sigma Menace, resolves its main conflict and opens up a new path for the paranormal creatures. But I didn’t know how to blend them. I wanted to write vampires, but I’d committed to more shifters. So, I did two spin-offs and I’m really happy with the decision. The shifter series, Pale Moonlight, can be read as standalone stories. But the vampire series, New Vampire Disorder, has an overall series storyline.

I also dabbled in the contemporary world with my Fleet Week romance series. It’s a series of standalone novellas about sailors meeting their love during Fleet Week, then trying to keep the fire going during the long separations that are experienced in Navy life.

Soon, I’m rolling out the first in my Fanboys series, Unmistaken Identity. It combines the sleek lifestyle of the rich and powerful with geek subculture. Instead of the starry eyed young girl being introduced into the high class world, I take the rich guy down to the realm of dollar stores and bar and grills.      
  

Excerpt


Chayton stormed to his cabin.

A four hour drive. With Kaitlyn.

Spending the night. With Kaitlyn.

Roaming the woods. With Kaitlyn.

His heart pounded, his nostrils flared, and he huffed like a bear after a marathon. Slamming his front door open, he charged through and kicked it shut behind him.

Only then did he double over, hands on his knees, sagging to catch his breath.

Kaitlyn Savoy.

The sexiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

The shifter he was never supposed to meet. His mate.

And she was oblivious to it.

He stomped through his cabin. Her lack of mating insight was for the best. If he had his pick of shifters, she’d be the last on the list. Besides, he was promised to another. Kaitlyn was young yet, and based on her blasé to distasteful reaction to him, she’d have no trouble moving on. Or not. Her sanity may last longer than most who don’t anchor their souls with a mate. But if she needed to bond, she wouldn’t have a problem finding someone. Like that bartender at Pale Moonlight.

His fangs bared and a growl escaped before he stopped himself. He’d never caught her with him, but stories had it the bartender helped her assuage the physical needs shifters of their caliber experienced. She hadn’t been with the guy since Chayton had been around. That decision had increased the bartender’s life expectancy considerably.

No. No. It shouldn’t matter. She needed to move on and he had no say with who. Chayton straightened and wiped his brow, which had dotted with sweat. It was always an effort to contain his reaction around that female.

Why her?

Ancient blood—pure, undiluted shifter blood—ran through his veins, thanks to his father. His Sioux mother would roll over in her grave. Chayton’s bloodlines were rich with history and honor.

The female he’d sworn himself to, Tika, would make a lovely mate instead. Soft brown eyes, feminine curves, and ancestry as strong as his. In fact, she was coming of age soon. For him, that was twenty-five. Her parents had pushed for their union when she turned eighteen, but that had seemed too pervy for him. At two-hundred and twenty-nine, he wasn’t about to jump a girl the second she was legal. If it was up to him, he’d wait even longer, but even Tika had pushed for their binding.

His stomach rumbled, alerting him that he’d missed dinner. Not that he’d eat at the main lodge anyway; it was a tactic he used to avoid Kaitlyn.
  

About the Author



Marie Johnston lives in the upper-Midwest with her husband, four kids, and an old cat. Deciding to trade in her lab coat for a laptop, she’s writing down all the tales she’s been making up in her head for years. An avid reader of paranormal romance, these are the stories hanging out and waiting to be told, between the demands of work, home, and the endless chauffeuring that comes with children.







  
  

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Love Does Not Come Easily to the Cursed. Soul of a Viking. #timetravelromance



Hello all! It's finally time for Tait and Lauren to have their tale told. She was an especially interesting character to write about considering how uptight she is. But Tait was a great counterpart and several moments had me chuckling. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Happy reading!  

Description


Lauren refuses to believe that her sisters traveled back in time to tenth-century Scandinavia. Cybil must be off doing one thing or another. And what of Samantha? She returned then vanished again with a bunch of uncivilized ruffians who called themselves Vikings. While thankful the crude men finally left, she’s now caught in an unusual situation. No matter how hard she tries, she cannot step foot outside her Winter Harbor chalet.

Desperate to return to the twenty-first century and figure out why he and Lauren were cursed by a Nidstang, Tait Sigdir struggles with what feels like half a soul. But that’s not all. When he finally returns to the future, he realizes how troubling things really are. Though drawn to Shannon, he can’t seem to stay away from her sister, Lauren. Hard to believe considering how difficult she is to be around. Even for a flirt like him. Yet if he’s not near her, he becomes uncharacteristically sullen.

Caught in an unraveling hex that steers them closer to the enemy, Tait and Lauren are forced on an adventure that tests them in more ways than one. Friendship emerges. Passion ignites. Even so, love does not come so easily to those who are cursed. As it turns out, they must manage through a whirlwind of unfortunate events that will either bring them together or drive them further apart.



Excerpt


“Who goes there?” came an all-too-familiar voice from the door.

Lauren sighed and called out. “It is none of your concern, Tait.”

Evidently, he thought differently because seconds later he entered, a frown on his face as his eyes swept around the lodge. “I heard a man in here.”

“It was just Einar,” she began, her words trailing off as she gestured towards him only to find he’d vanished.

Tait’s brows slammed together. “Einar? I do not know that name.”

“He was just right here,” she murmured, glancing at the rear door. “He must have slipped out the back.”

“Nobody has come or gone since your sisters left,” Tait said, troubled.

“I can assure you they did. A woman then a man. Einar.” She folded her hands in front of her and focused on the bigger problem. “You had no right to barge in here. Please leave.”

“Actually I had every right.” He continued eying the place looking for Einar. “This is my lodge, woman.”

His lodge? How unfortunate. “My name is Lauren.”

Tait shrugged as an annoying grin tugged at his lips. Apparently, he was done searching out another man. He gestured at the water.  “You will bathe then join your sisters in the main lodge, yes?”

“That was the plan, yes,” she allowed.

“Then please,” he headed for the corner table, “do not let me disturb you.”

She frowned as he filled a mug with what appeared to be ale.  “What are you doing?”

He gave the mug a pointed look. “Drinking.”

“Then please do so outside.”

“But this is my lodge.”

“Then I will need another lodge.”

“No.” Tait shook his head. “I can only be so far away from you and will sleep nowhere but here.”

Her eyes widened. “We are not sleeping in the same room.”

“We will if we have to.” He gestured at the tub again. “Right now you do not need to worry about sleeping but bathing.”

Lauren inhaled deeply and remained calm. “As much as you would probably enjoy it, I am not bathing with you here.”

“Well, I am not leaving because whether or not I saw anyone enter, I heard a man in here. So I will not leave you alone.” He considered her before he murmured something and a tall screen appeared in front of the tub. “There. Now I will not be tempted by you, woman.” He removed his fur, plunked down and narrowed his eyes at her when she narrowed her eyes on him. “Now I can focus my thoughts on Shannon.”

Lauren ignored her strong reaction to his words and smoothed her expression. Regardless, there was no controlling the flare of defiance that screamed inside her. A defiance that had her doing the last thing she intended. Something she found extremely appalling and would never normally do. Something she would judge harshly if she saw another woman do it. Especially one who was married.

She tested his resolve about Shannon as she held his eyes and took her time stripping down before she sauntered around the screen and got into the tub.



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Thursday, January 19, 2017

Passion. Adventure. Even Hel Herself. Fury of a Viking. #timetravel



Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2017 is starting off well. As usual, I’m keeping busy. Lots of exciting things happening. Several of my titles will be available in audio this year. Also, a family tree is now available for not only the MacLomain Clan but their Viking Ancestors. Soon I’ll be adding description links to the characters so that you can learn more about them.

I wanted to take a moment to thank all my devoted readers for continuing to follow my MacLomain adventures. You’re the reason I continue to write, and my characters are brought to life. To show my appreciation, I’ll be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to a random subscriber every time I release a newsletter. So if you haven’t had a chance to sign up yet, be sure to join my mailing list.

I have another release coming April 17th. Available for pre-order now. So be sure to scoop up your copy of Fury of a Viking, Book Four in The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors’ Kin.

Here’s what you can expect…


Shannon usually prefers the dead to the living. But then running a funeral parlor offers a different perspective. Peace and escape. Or at least it did until the day she’s summoned by her sister to their Winter Harbor Chalet in Maine. Now she knows the truth. The veil between worlds is far thinner than she thought. In fact, it’s so thin she can’t prevent her and her daughter, Emily, from slipping back in time.

Of dragon blood, Matthew Sigdir has suffered more loss than most. A wife. Sister. Now, because of a vicious enemy, possibly his son, HÃ¥kon. Infuriated, determined to find his child, he heads north over unforgiving land. What he doesn’t expect is a twenty-first century little girl and her beautiful mother, Shannon, to join him on his quest. Nor does he expect Hel to show them favor. And there’s no turning away Loki’s daughter when she offers help. Now they have to navigate not only through the elements of a wicked Scandinavian winter but Helheim itself, the underworld of the dead.

While they travel, Matthew and Shannon are forced to face their pasts. What they left behind and all that haunts them. As they do, old wounds heal. Hope grows. Love sparks. Through it all, Emily leads them ever closer to HÃ¥kon. She’s the key. But is it already too late? Will they make it in time to save Matthew's son? Or is the enemy already one step ahead of them? 



Saturday, January 7, 2017

New Viking Romance Boxed Set! Warriors of Odin. #readwarriorsofodin




Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2017 has treated you well so far. If you love Vikings and are looking for some new reading material, look no further. Warriors of Odin Boxed Set is now available. Only .99 cents and FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited!

Five Viking Romances that promise passion, adventure, and all things Viking. Welcome to Warriors of Odin, a collection of five fabulous Viking tales from some of the top authors in historical romance. Visit a world where the men from the north ride the waves in search of conquest, passion, and power. This bundle includes:

Kingdom by the Sea by Kathryn Le Veque: A Viking raider and a warrior maiden square off in this exciting novella of king's gold, tall tales, romance, and reincarnation.

The Rover Defiant by Anna Markland: Torstein's bravery has earned him his freedom, but the Viking nobility will never forgive or forget he was once a slave. The high-born woman he loves has too much pride to give herself to a former thrall.

Shieldmaiden's Revenge by Emma Prince: Madrena burns hot for revenge against the man who attacked her village and shattered her life five years ago. When a dark-haired stranger named Rúnin washes ashore in her village, he promises to be her guide in exchange for his freedom, but when the fires of desire rival those for vengeance, will the fierce shieldmaiden choose love over war?

Love's Fury by Violetta Rand: Duty, passion, revenge, and seduction create the spellbinding tale of Konal the Red and his conquest, Silvia.

Rise of a Viking by Sky Purington: Hearts are tested and lives forever changed when a modern-day woman is swept back in time to tenth-century Scandinavia. Now a Viking set to inherit the throne must battle a powerful enemy to protect not only her but his people. 

Limited time offer so be sure to scoop up your copy at Amazon