Paranormal Romance Month- Isabel Roman

Welcome to Paranormal Romance Month! This week I have the pleasure of welcoming author, Isabel Roman. Isabel will be chatting about her latest release, Dark Desires of the Druids IV: Temptations and Treachery. As is the way at this blog, there’s a contest involved. What do you need to do to win a free copy of Dark Desires of the Druids IV: Temptations and Treachery and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press? Simple. Leave a comment!

Dark Desires of the Druids IV: Temptations and Treachery

Lady Isadore Harrington is a well-bred English lady. She’s traveled the world in search of magickal artifacts to help her people and has seen the best and worst of humanity. But she’s never taken time for herself—never done just for herself. Going to Philadelphia as the magicker emissary between England and the Americas, she intends to rectify that.

Then she meets James Blackthorne. Tall, handsome, witty, commanding, he brings out feelings in her she’s always wanted to experience but never has. He makes her want him, makes her forget all else but him. Virginal, but far from naïve, Isadore is tempted to experience everything James has to offer. Cautious by nature, she offers her body to him and discovers all her sexual desires fulfilled.

But the magicker world is far from safe, and Isadore is threatened from many who are jealous and distrustful. Temptations abound, but treachery is never far behind.

SKY: Welcome, Isabel. Thanks for joining me this week!

ISABEL: Thank you, Sky for inviting me! I’m thrilled to be here.

SKY: Dark Desires of the Druids IV: Temptations and Treachery sounds sensational. I’m a huge fan of series and know first hand they can be a little tricky to pen. Each story must somehow relate to the other yet remain unique. What common thread ties this series together? What made this story different from the others?

ISABEL: What ties the series together, my verse. Druids hide amongst society, but maintain their own network and connection around the world. Temptations and Treachery has one of the magickers traveling to Philadelphia from England with the sole purpose of establishing a stronger connection between the English and American magickers. Also, the heroine in this story, Lady Isadore Harrington, is a recurring secondary character in the previous three stories.

As for different, the stories follow how these Magickers search for their past, navigate upper crust society, fall in love, and try not to get killed. They know tidbits, little pieces of their past, but every day discover more—an artifact, the meaning of a rune, the location to their repository of knowledge.

SKY: Fascinating! I see you’re a history buff. That’s super! Dark Desires of the Druids: Temptations and Treachery takes place in late nineteenth century, Philadelphia. Tell me, what inspired you to choose this city in this time period? Could you take us inside the story a bit─let us see what it looked like? What it felt like to be there?

ISABEL: I’m from the east coast, and Philadelphia is one of the larger underused cities from the era. It’s a city of stark contrast. Unlike New York City, which was larger, but had more of a melting pot mentality, Philadelphia still retained a very narrow class distinction, pride in its colonial past, and yet slowly crawled toward the future. I wanted to use that to my advantage.

Temptations and Treachery takes place amongst the upper echelon of Philadelphia society, but my characters are hidden in plain sight. They socialize like any other normal rich Philadelphian, and yet conduct Magicker business with each other behind closed doors.

A metropolitan city of the time, all the modern conveniences of 1884 were available, from the telegraph to the telephone, to a new fangled thing to the department store. Strawbridge & Clothier was the first of its kind, offering a wide variety of ready-to-wear clothes at affordable prices in one location, 8th and Market streets.

“It’s a shame your arrival coincides with so many of our problems,” Terese said.

Isadore nodded as she shopped in a huge store called Strawbridge & Clothier. Located on Market Street, and the place to shop in Philadelphia, crowds lined the aisles. Isadore had to admit, for being pre-made, the store had exceptional quality.

“I hope I can be of help to James and the council while I’m here.” Isadore rubbed her forehead and hoped only a headache and not another vision bothered her. “Morgana,” she continued, “has become a great friend. I know these occurrences will disturb her.”

Something changed in Terese. So subtle and slow Isadore almost missed it, but there. Unable to pinpoint what changed, it nagged at the back of her mind. Morgana considered Terese a close acquaintance and valuable asset to magicker society. Did Terese not feel the same?

SKY: Lady Isadore Harrington strikes me as worldly and driven. Selfless, it’s never about her─until now. I’d love a bit more insight into her character. Is there a point in the story you feel she really lit up the pages?

ISABEL: Throughout the entire series, her character evolved, from a very proper young lady with a deep sense of duty to realize life is meant to be lived and not from the outside looking in. While retaining that sense of duty, she experiences events through the eyes of her friends as the series progresses, and those events mold and change her opinions.

As Isadore travels to Philadelphia, things have begun to happen to her. She’s unsure how to handle all of these experiences. Her hesitation changes into proactive behavior. I’d say her turning point, where she really comes into her own, is when she realizes not only love for the first time, but passion. She takes the initiative in that passion, to feel that, and evolves not only as a woman, but as a magicker and especially a member of her society, she rises to the occasion.

Realization─ she’s a hypocrite.

She wanted to run, wanted to leave this city whether or not they’d discovered the man behind the mayhem. She wanted to go back to England and her life there.

She didn’t do rash, she just didn’t. Hadn’t she said that? Hadn’t she known rushing into this affair, this engagement was a mistake.

Glancing at her ring, she watched it sparkle in the sunlight. Yanking it off, she crossed to the desk before she could change her mind, and tossed it onto the top. It landed on another letter to Raven.

Raven who did make rash decisions, who jumped into things without thinking them all the way through, without knowing what the end result would be, what all the consequences would be. Raven, who had an affair with a man she then fell in love with. It turned out well. For her. Everything turned out well for Raven, though they’d both hadn’t believed that when her affair with Malcolm surfaced.

“I’m such a hypocrite.”

The words were loud in the room, echoing back to her thunderously. She proclaimed to be a Druid, yet allowed British society to influence her. She knew what she was doing when she slept with James. Had done so on purpose to do the rash, the impulsive.

“I didn’t judge Raven when she slept with Malcolm,” she said to the ring as it sparkled at her. “I was afraid she’d get hurt, that things would go badly for she and Gareth, but I didn’t judge her. Not the way,” she continued, staring now at the closed door, “I did James.”

SKY: It’s hero time! James Blackthorne sounds delicious. Wet our appetites for him. Make us want him as much as Lady Isadore does!

ISABEL: I had a review for the second book, Sex & Subterfuge where she said she could usually pick out one character she really liked. This time she picked three, and James Blackthorne was among them. I admit, he threatened to take over the story with his sarcastic remarks and whitty thoughts, so when I realized poor Isadore needed her story told, I HAD to pair her up with James. It was all too perfect. The man left behind, who now had to take charge of both the family business and the magickers left behind in America. He has so much on his plate, there’s no room for anything or anyone else.

He has an on again off again relationship with a fellow magicker, but he keeps it going because it’s his only connection to an outside world. If not for her, his entire life would be work, magickers, work, magickers. But then Isadore enteres his life and nothing else matters but her. As any man in love is willing to do, he’ll give up everything for her.

He’s opiniatied and caustic, but he’s always the valiant protector of those he loves and that which he believes in. Oh, he has his missteps, but he soon sees the right path and corrects himself. He is, believe it or not, lol, a modern day action hero.

Excerpt...

“The soil symbolizes their journey back to the earth which bore them,” she whispered.

Takoda bowed to her and began his own chant. She didn’t understand the words, but knew they were his own way of sending them into the afterlife.

Isadore stepped away, leaving the shaman to his rite. James watched her, and now a different kind of magick rolled through her. Sexual, intense, need that blanked her mind from a single touch. She could feel the anger and frustration coming off him, but he said nothing as he led her into his study.

Only in the privacy of the study did he release her. Isadore felt the loss keenly, and tried not to show it. He’d straighten in here, picking papers off the floor, tossing broken chairs and torn cushions into the hallway. Again, the curtains hung straight and untouched on the windows, mute testimony to the planned destruction.

“You shouldn’t have been involved in that.” He nodded to the back where Takoda still watched over the fire. James shook his head, hands clenched at his sides.

“James,” she said, crossing the room to him. She cupped his check and smiled up at him. “It’s all right. I won’t tell you what I’ve already dealt with in England, but as a magicker, it needs to be done.”

He didn’t seem appeased. Nor did he retreat from her, and she took that as a good sign. He caught her hand, held it tight.

“You shouldn’t have had to do it again.”

He was a stubborn man, Isadore thought, but she liked that. With a small chuckle, she allowed him that. She’d ignore any attempt to limit her involvement in his world, but considering the night he’d had, for the moment, Isadore would allow him to think he could dictate to her.

“Don’t worry about it,” she whispered, and stepped closer.

Tugging his hand, she urged him down so she could kiss him. James resisted, held back, she could feel it, taste it. Winding her fingers through his short hair, Isadore pulled him to her, slipped her tongue between his lips.

The change in him was instant.

His hands tangled in her hair, holding her still as his lips plundered hers. Bruised her mouth, drew her even closer. A lone doubt echoed in her mind, but when he picked her up against him, all thought fled. Isadore acted on impulse, letting instinct take over.

She pushed back his vest, unbuttoned his shirt. With fingers that trembled only slightly, she touched his bare skin and an electric shock went through her. Gasping, she pulled back.

James held her steady as his lips trailed down her neck, skimmed across the tops of her breasts. Her dress this eve was daringly low cut, and his hands lifted her breasts from their corseted confines to kiss the heavy globes. Isadore forgot how to breathe.

SKY: Scrumptious excerpt! I won’t keep you too much longer. You already have quite a few stories published. Congratulations! What are you working on now? What can we expect next?

ISABEL: I’m anticipating good news regarding my Druids series come summer, but aside from that, I’m working on my first long contemporary in quite a while. It’s a paranormal contemporary romantic suspense with a ghost from 1773, a teacup, and a paranormal detective agency. I’m working on edits for that now before sending it out.

I have three more projects planned out, the first is a new paranormal historical series set in the 1860s amongst the espionage world. Second is a 1920s gritty detective romantic pulp. And third is a late 18th century historical where I’m toying with whether to add in a paranormal aspect or not. The jury is still out on that, however.

SKY: It sounds like you're keeping busy! It’s been fantastic having you visit, Isabel. Thanks so much for sharing with us!

ISABEL: Thank you, Sky! It’s been great being here, thanks for the invite. I’d like to return the favor and invite you to my blog one Friday to talk about The King’s Druidess. I love that story!

SKY: I’d love to, thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed, The King’s Druidess!

Reviews for Dark Desires of the Druids IV: Temptations and Treachery…

5 Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews

Excerpt: In this fourth book in the Druids series, Isabel Roman takes us back to Philadelphia of the late 1800’s. The characters are superb and complex. Isadore is a strong woman, much like all of the heroines in Ms. Roman’s Druid books. But unlike the others, Isadore is an innocent. Read the whole review here.

4 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs

Excerpt: Isabel Roman has done a wonderful job of telling of the treachery by the characters that felt they needed the control. There is a joint effort of the council to staunch the problems that arose so they could try to live peacefully. I am hopeful that this is not the last in this series, and I am looking forward to the other books written by this author. Read the whole review here.

4 Cups of Coffee from Coffee Time Romance

Excerpt: Passion, jealousy, greed, power and many more corruptible feelings are all present in this story. The bottom line of the story is that ultimate power corrupts and the author explored the idea that maybe no one person should hold the knowledge of such power. The storyline moves very well and drew me into the plot right away. Worth reading for someone who loves the mythical world of magic. Read the whole review here.

Visit Isabel’s Website.

Don’t forget to leave a comment by Friday, March 12th 12 PM EST for a chance to win a copy of Dark Desires of the Druids IV: Temptations and Treachery and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

~Sky