Shadows in Savannah Book Tour and Review

Shadows in Savannah

Lissa Matthews

A Wicked Tale

ARe Books

Genre: M/M, Vampires, PNR

About the Book

Is the prospect of love worth dying for?

Vampires exist, and travel through space and time. Immortal, beautiful creatures. Neither dead, nor living.

Dane has no memory of being human. He only remembers waking after being unwillingly turned. He is left with a parchment with one single line written upon it: his human birthday. For this one day a year, he can live and die as a human. He is ready. It is time. 126 years after becoming a vampire, he is ready to die.

When he meets Jorge, with his dark good looks and brilliant blue eyes, Dane reconsiders his choice. Can he take back the life that was stolen from him by dying? Or can he make a life with a soulmate he never imagined having?

Available at ARe

Excerpt:

There was an unusual chill in the early evening air for Savannah in October. It wasn’t quite mid-month, yet. Dane could feel it, even with his...condition. He smiled, a wry twist to his lips. His condition. Right.

That’s what it was. Like something he could wake up from one day.

Only he never woke up from it. It was there, this nightmare he called living, this never ending existence. He was neither dead, nor alive. He survived on blood and very rare cooked meats. He had money, more than he knew what to do with, more than he could spend in three lifetimes. He could walk in the evenings and in the pre-dawn hours. He could even be out in midday, so long as he never stepped foot in direct sunlight. And with the advances in science, he could appear to have a light tan with a regular application of self-tanning lotion.

He wasn’t like the fabled and fictional vampires in books and movies. Well, not entirely. He could feel, taste, smell, though most things felt odd against his fingertips, tasted bitter or overly sweet on his tongue, smelled like...? He didn’t have a word to describe the smells. Neither acrid nor lovely. Things just...smelled.

A burst of raucous laughter reached his ears and he turned from where he stood against the edge of the walkway, mere feet above the water. His restaurant and pub was in fine form tonight. It was one of several businesses he owned under a parent corporation he’d formed some years ago. Everyone was owned by someone else, so it didn’t look odd to anyone that his corporation owned a bar, a hotel, and a bookstore. There were several other small companies he owned or invested in, but those first three were his money makers.

The bookstore had been a surprise. He loved to read, especially historical thrillers, Victorian erotica, and letters from soldiers who’d died on battlefields. He hadn’t expected the place to make any money, but then he hadn’t counted on the number of people who loved the same type books he did. He also had a section from local Savannah families who’d loaned parts of their personal libraries out to him for display. They were much like museum pieces. Priceless, fragile, exquisite.

The bookstore was where he spent the majority of his time, talking of books and places he’d traveled, showing off the volumes he brought back from various parts of the world. The bookstore was his passion. It was the only thing he had that kept him from taking the step that was closing in on him once more.

Death.

His human birthday was the one day a year he and all other turned vampires became fully human. They could do anything any other flesh and blood and beating heart person could do. Even die.

Oh, he could die any other time, as well. All he had to do was walk into a stream of midday sunlight and the life force which held him together would disintegrate and he’d be nothing more than vapor. He wouldn’t sizzle and burn. He’d been told he’d barely feel a thing. Whether that was true or not, he didn’t know. But he was tired, felt as though his soul, what was left of it, was stretched thin and to the point of completely unraveling. Vampires could go mad and there were days, hours, where he thought he just might.

Then, he’d lose himself in a book and the feeling would pass, calm would settle in, and he’d be all right. Those times were passing more quickly than they used to and something told him the end was near. Vampires were immortal, but those made against their will felt the call of death in ways those who were made willingly, never did.

It was calling to him.

Review:

Lissa Matthews is becoming one of my favorite new author finds. She takes what could be an old trope and really spins it into something special. This m/m vampire tale is such an example. Vampires are moody creatures-as they should be. Watching everything around you die? Not so much fun. But what happens when someone challenges that? You have a great conflict. Awesome read and great addition to the Wicked collection.

5/5

About the Author

Lissa Matthews has many loves in her life: Family, friends, NASCAR, football, music of all kinds, cooking, BDSM, and last, but not least, coffee. She loves it so much she and those who know her are surprised she hasn’t floated away on a caffeine-induced cloud while giving life to feisty heroines and hunky heroes.

Lissa’s love of romance came from every book she has ever picked up. No matter what she read, she fell in love with the written word. The promise of escape, the deep, intriguing characters, and the winding journey from beginning to end, constantly drew her into bookstores and libraries as she was growing up.

Her first stories were written in junior high and she kept it up through college. She would stay up late at night when her kids were little reading romance and still penning her own stories. In 2007, when she and her family moved to North Carolina from Florida, she began pursuing writing as a profession and she couldn’t imagine doing anything else… Well, except maybe writing in her own cupcake bakery/coffee shop. But that dream is a ways down the road… Lucky for Lissa, she believes in dreams coming true.

Lissa is married with two children and seven, yes, seven cats. She blames her oldest child for the cats.

For more information on other books by Lissa, visit her website: www.lissamatthews.com

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Between Him and a Hard Place Blog Tour and Review

Between Him and a Hard Place

Kelex

A Wicked Tale

ARe Books

Genre: M/M, Dystopian, Vampires, PNR

About the Book:

They survived catastrophe, but can they live on together?

Archer survived the zombie virus that brought down the world by doing things he didn’t know he was capable of.  When his traveling companion is murdered by dead ones, he knows his time has come.  Seconds before he’s slaughtered, a combat vehicle crashes through the scene and a masked man saves the day—a man he feels inexplicably drawn to.

Only the man isn’t a man, but a vampire.

Syn is a tracker, sent out by his kind to find and protect the last of the humans and the precious blood in their veins. Archer isn’t like the others he’s found.  He feels tied to the human in a way he can’t explain.  The two come together explosively, both fighting the intense emotion they feel before running to escape their burning lust.

Can they find a way back to one another?

Available at ARe

Excerpt:

Archer heard an engine rev out of nowhere, and a huge vehicle ran through the crowd of dead ones, mowing them down with ease. The passenger door was flung open before him. A masked man stared at him, hiding who his potential savior was. Or if he could trust whomever was behind it.

“Get in!” a tinny voice cried out.

Without much more consideration, as the inside of that truck was better than the death surrounding him, he jumped in. The man stepped on the gas before Archer could barely even attempt to slam the door closed, not that he could’ve had he wanted to.

“Get the door shut and fast!”

“I’m trying,” Archer screamed, stabbing his hunting knife into the head of a dead one clinging to the door. As soon as he kicked that one off, he jammed his knife into another, slamming the door on another set of decaying fingers and slicing them off. They fell in his lap, still wiggling.

A dozen dead ones hung on to the hood of the truck, which was being spun from side to side, trying to fling the creatures off. Archer reached for a non-existent seatbelt and then held on for dear life.

“Hold on to the wheel,” the guy screamed, rolling down his window.

The driver lifted a pistol as Archer grabbed the huge wheel and leaned out. One by one, he got the dead ones between the eyes, and they fell under the moving vehicle. Bouncing as they rumbled over the bodies, Archer tried to keep the thing on the road. He wasn’t even sure what it was. It was something between a truck and a tank, with an Army vibe. The tech surrounding the wheel was anything but Army-issued, though. Whatever it was, he’d never seen anything like it, and was more than happy to have seen it when he did.

Finally, the driver dropped back into his seat, the dead ones gone from the hood. Just as he began to roll up his window, a hand reached in. Lightning quick, the guy sliced the hand off with a scary-looking blade, then proceeded to roll his window up.

Archer leaned back into his seat and stared at the road ahead, stunned as hell he’d made it out alive. His heart continued to thump hard in his chest as he stared at the masked driver.

“Syn,” the guy said with that robotic-sounding voice. He held out his gloved hand.

Archer really took in the guy’s appearance for the first time. He wore some weird gas mask-like thing with goggles. Here it was, the middle of the summer, and he was covered from head to toe in black leather, from his neck to his gloved fingers and shitkickers.

“Syn’s short for Synclair,” the guy said again, still offering his hand. “As in my name. You’ve got one, right?”

“Archer,” he answered, finally taking the extended hand. “I can’t thank you enough,” he added as he shook it.

“No problem. I’ve been following you for weeks,” the masked man said, returning his hand to the wheel and looking ahead. “I’ve been just a day or so behind you for the last week. Good thing I caught up when I did.”

Archer frowned, his hackles rising. “Why were you following me?”

“I find humans to take to the Southern Citadel.”

The Southern Citadel? “Wait, what?”

“You haven’t heard of the Citadels?” he asked, glancing over at Archer.

Archer shook his head.

“There are three human cities. They’re walled and protected and already teeming with people. It’s my job to help find the last of the humans to take there so some sort of civilization can start again.”

Human cities? Walled and protected? It sounded too good to be true. And he’d learned anything that sounded too good to be true likely was. Even with his doubt, only one question truly came to mind. “You guys got food and water there?”

The masked man chuckled. “All you could ever want.”

“Then what are we waiting on?” Archer knew he might be walking into a trap, but the promise of hot food and a hot shower was too good to ignore. He was running on empty. He needed to regroup.

He glanced at the man driving, again wondering about the weird get-up, but weird was now the norm in their fucked up world.

Review:

This was an interesting spin on the zombie apocalypse story line and I found myself gripped by it from the start. Fast zombies, a tank wielding vampire savior and more...I think there could be a new series lurking here and that might just be a one click...


Great read. Wonderful addition to the Wicked line from ARe.

4/5

About the Author:

Kelex is a bestselling gay erotica author, writing contemporary to fantasy to sci-fi and everything between.

Living in the south, Kelex swelters at the laptop, writing spicy tales to the sound of soulful jazz music in the background.

For more information on Kelex’s books, please visit http://kelexerotica.blogspot.com/

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Wicked Odd Book Tour and Giveaway

Wicked Odd

Virginia Nelson

A Wicked Tale

ARe Books

Genre: M/F, Werewolves, PNR

About the Book

Best way to tame a bad wolf? Be a little wicked yourself…

Carmen finds it hard to trust—then again, her father went mad and had to be put down by her current Alpha. Carmen might hold a position of power within the pack, but part of her always wonders if they could turn on her as quickly as they did him. When she finds a man who she’s pretty sure the current Alpha failed on a lot of levels, she decides to take matters into her own hands and prove Dara isn’t as perfect of an Alpha as everyone thinks.

Seth lost his mate, but he survived. He can’t stand to watch other wolves happily carrying on with their lives and mates after he’d failed to protect his own. Dara allows him his privacy and ensures that he survives, even if there are days when he wishes otherwise. When one headstrong and opinionated she-wolf decides she’s going to end the unique hell of his isolation, Seth has to make a choice…

Kick her butt to the curb or answer the call to claim her. But can he dare claim another mate when he knows he failed once to be the man his mate needed?

Available at ARe

Excerpt:

The stink of humans slathered in too much cologne and perfume competed with the smell of open beers and possible promiscuity in a cloud of inevitable shame—at least to Seth. He wasn’t sure why he still bothered to come down from his hill to visit the dance hall, but it was a ritual he practiced on one specific night of every year.

“Seth!” called Alex Jewel. “Good to see you, man.”

Seth grunted and nodded as he passed over the cover charge. “’Sup, buddy?”

“Not much. Haven’t seen you in ages. How the hell have you been?”

With a shrug, Seth headed past him and down the hall that led to the bar and dance floor. The ritual must be completed exactly for him to feel satisfied, which meant one beer on the outside patio, one inside, then he could go home.

Not that fulfilling the pattern actually made him feel any better at the end of the day. Still...

He ordered the first beer and headed outside with it. Few were out on the patio, but then again that was typical, too, for this time of year. Only the really dedicated smokers or secret lovers looking for a quiet dark spot would bother to brave the humid, still summer air—filled with tiny and annoying biting bugs—to sit outside.

Watching a single large-wing katydid perched on the fence helped him pass the time. He ignored the humans with their clouds of smoke and lust. The katydid busily cleaned his wings while Seth sipped the beer. It wasn’t as cold as he preferred, and he never drank this brand any other time of the year, but that, too, was part of the tradition.

Soon, his beer had been emptied and the katydid had flown to do whatever important insect tasks awaited him in the darkness.

Heading back inside, Seth caught the scent of a wolf and scanned the dance floor to see if he recognized whoever it might be.

He pinpointed the direction of the aroma to be near the stage, which meant the smell must be coming from one of two women dancing near the speakers. He couldn’t help the half smile the sight brought him. One of the women wore silver leg braces, yet danced with carefree abandon and a smile. Her movements might be restricted by her obviously weak legs, yet her joy flowed as effervescent as anyone else’s in the room, if not more. Next to her dark haired beauty, her dance partner looked particularly mundane. The other woman had boy-short blonde hair and seemed just as happy. Something about the pair caught his wolf’s attention, but he wasn’t sure what other than the fact it was good to see an obviously crippled woman having a good time with a friend.

Shrugging off the oddity, he moved to the bar to order the second ritual beer. Once he had it in hand, he headed for the small booth at the back of the dance hall as per routine. From there, however, he broke the pattern a bit. Instead of staring at the Elvis cut-out hanging on the wall below a clock with only fives—because it was always five o’clock somewhere—he watched the girls dancing.

At one point, the blonde went and got them both drinks, so they backed away from the dance floor to cool off then went right back to dancing. His wolf stirred again, but he disregarded it. But then the blonde looked in his direction, a flash of yellow in her eyes. His wolf more than stirred at the glance, practically clawing him from the inside. Unsettled, he stood to leave. He’d finished the beer and therefore the dance hall portion of the ritual.

At the door, someone caught his arm. “Hey, do I know you?”

Review:

I love werewolf books and this addition to the Wicked line is awesome. Snarky heroine meets cranky angst ridden hero. Let the sparks fly. Oh yeah-and boy do they!

This is a great read for anyone who enjoys a good PNR book fling.

4/5

About the Author:

Virginia Nelson, USA Today bestselling author, likes knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can’t remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. Her books are full of snark, sex, and random acts of ineptitude—not always in that order.

For more information on other books by Virginia, visit her website: www.virg-nelson.com

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The Guardian of Blackbird Inn Blog Tour and Review

The Guardian of Blackbird Inn

Kerry Adrienne

A Wicked Tale

ARe Books

Genre: M/F, Horror/Suspense

About the Book:

Saving the inn might mean losing her life.

Sophia Yates travels to the famed and haunted Blackbird Inn to help its mysterious owner, Garren Amsel, research its history. The state wants to claim eminent domain and take the property, but the historical inn has been in Garren’s family for generations and he can’t bear to lose it.

After learning the truth behind the inn’s biggest mystery, and why Garren stays, saving Blackbird Inn may cost Sophia her life. How far will she go to protect him?

Available at ARe

 Excerpt:

“Welcome to Blackbird Inn, Miss…”

Sophia pushed her rain-soaked hair behind her ears and studied the tall man a moment before replying. He stared, probably at the frizz her red hair took on when wet. Either he hadn’t been expecting her, or he wasn’t used to guests at all. Being that this was a popular tourist inn, she assumed the former.

With his good looks, he didn’t appear to be the desk clerk type, and he seemed really uncomfortable, picking at pages on the desk and fidgeting as he talked. A chill rolled through her and she stepped up to the small registration desk and stuck her hand out. “Sophia Yates. I’m here to help with the research. Oh, and I have a reservation.”

“Ah, yes.” He grasped her hand and squeezed, his gaze lingering on hers a moment. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating him in blue and searing his image in her mind. Tall, dark, and mysterious didn’t even begin to cover it. Handsome was too common a word. The man was divine, his features aquiline and his hair jet black.

She licked her lips and pulled her hand from his, certain he’d felt her palms dampen. “And you?” She fidgeted with the handle of her wheeled suitcase, noting the trail of water she’d brought in with her.

The storm hadn’t let up since her bumpy landing in Philly a few hours ago. Good thing the rental car had fog lights because the remote inn had been difficult to find, even after stopping for directions in the tiny town nearby.

She looked back at the man behind the desk. Why wasn’t he answering? He smiled, the sort of crooked smile a man might give you before he tied you up and…

“Garren.” Thunder boomed outside, and the vibration traveled through the inn, rattling the foyer windows. “Garren Amsel. I’m the owner of the inn, but you probably know that by my name.” He paused. “And I’m the desk clerk, occasionally.” He pushed his hair out of his eyes.

She shivered. You’ve been reading too many scary stories. Driving through a thunderstorm to the rocky inn on the side of a mountain in remote Pennsylvania didn’t help. The place looked like something straight out of a horror movie, with its stone façade and overgrown hedges. A movie where the girl dies. “Nice to meet you.” I think.

“Likewise. I hope we can get this issue taken care of quickly.” He shuffled a stack of papers then set them aside. “But I can see you’re cold, and probably exhausted from travel. Let me show you to a room. If you want some hot tea, I can have it brought up to you.”

She nodded. Cold and tired explained her nervousness. That, and a day of traveling. Her unease had nothing to do with all the research she’d done about how Blackbird Inn was haunted, or about the disappearance of a young woman almost a hundred years ago. All stories to drive in business to the isolated inn, she was sure of it. She was here now on business, nothing more. Not to solve a mystery or be afraid of a ghost.

It didn’t matter that Halloween was in two days. The only sign of decorating she’d seen was a pumpkin and haystack arrangement on the front lawn. The inn didn’t need anything added to be spooky.

“Arturo Beck will be in tomorrow night.” She gazed around the small foyer, taking in the dark woodwork and high ceiling. “I hope we can find something useful before he gets here.” The inn was over a hundred-fifty years old, but seemed to have been well maintained. Ancient navy blue silk wallpaper lined the foyer, making it appear smaller than it actually was, and an antique clock rested against one wall. In the center of the tall ceiling, a chandelier draped in small crystals dangled on a lone cord. One bulb was out, and dust concealed the refraction of the prisms.

“He told me you’d be here first.”

About the Author:

Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals. Her husband says she’s a marketer’s dream, as she often believes everything she hears—at least initially. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.

Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures.

Repped by the fabulous Marisa Corvisiero with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. http://www.corvisieroagency.com/

 Review:

This book reads like a classic horror tale. The kind I used to read like Victoria Holt or Barbara Michaels. When Sophia checks into the Blackbird Inn, she has no way of knowing she is stepping into a nightmare. Ghosts, bad dreams and mysterious things that go bump in the night are woven throughout this tale. Perfect for a cup of tea and a warm blanket. Just don't forget your flashlight.

The spicy tension between the two main characters is great. Love this new line by ARe. Bring on more spooky tales!

4/5

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Bounty's Flame Blog Tour and Review

Bounty’s Flame

Lia Davis

A Wicked Tale

ARe Books

Genre: M/F, Shifters, PNR

About the Book:

His claim on the Phoenix and her host will finally unite them…or destroy them all.

Amelia Carter has one goal: to stay alive and keep the Phoenix within from falling victim to the evil that has kept them on the run for the past year. With the Phoenix’s power of sight, they are able to stay one step ahead, until Caleb Reed catches up with them, sparking desires beyond her wildest fantasies.

A shapeshifting hellhound and paranormal bounty hunter, Caleb finally ends his century-long search for his runaway mate. When he discovers his charge is the Phoenix who fled his bed over a hundred years ago, he turns the tables on the crime lord who seeks to capture her for her powers. Keeping his mate safe becomes his priority, because he won’t fail her again.

Available at ARe

Excerpt:

Amelia never knew if she was stuck in a dream or one of the Phoenix’s visions. Nor did she care as long as she got to see the sexy, dark demon that brought her pleasure beyond anything she’d ever experienced. The scene was the same. A dimly lit room with a large-ass bed dressed in black satin sheets, taking up most of the space. Straight out of an erotic romance novel, right down to the hero, who stood beside the bed, waiting for her.

Dark hair framed a masculine face. Even though she couldn’t see his eyes, she knew they watched her. She felt it like a physical touch. Sexual heat rolled off of him in thick waves. She found it impossible to turn away, not that she could anyway. He captivated her.

“Come here, Nix.”

She shivered at his soft, husky command. The one thing Amelia didn’t understand was the nickname. The man—no, demon—had always called her that. Or was it the Phoenix’s nickname? The bird within her wouldn’t talk about it, and she remained silent while they’d relived the erotic dream over and over for the past couple of months.

As if she had no control over her body, Amelia walked farther into the room, not stopping until she reached the bed. Then she climbed onto it and kneeled, facing him. Leaning into her, the demon smiled before reaching out to stroke her cheek. A soft moan escaped her. Electrifying energy flowed between them, sending tingles skittering all over her.

When his lips touched hers, she melted. A sense of belonging and security filled her. With this male, no one would ever hurt her. She knew that down to the bone.

The internal flame that belonged to the Phoenix raced through her veins. The male hissed out a groan and pressed his hard cock into her thigh. Her pussy ached for his touch. Gripping his large shoulders, she scored his skin with her nails and moved her hips against him.

No matter how many times she’d lived the dream-memory-vision, the intense spark of heat and raw passion ignited like it was their first time.

He broke the kiss and trailed his lips along her jaw to her neck. Sucking in a breath, she whimpered when he bit down gently on the sensitive part of her throat. Damn, he was going to kill her with the teasing.

One rough hand slid down her side, which was bare to him. She didn’t remember undressing. Then again, she never did.

It’s just a dream. Go with it.

A squeeze of her hip jerked her attention to his features. His dark brown gaze held hers. A flash of silver rippled through his irises right before a primal growl rumbled from his chest. Wolf was the first word that came to mind, but that didn’t seem correct.

“What kind of demon are you?”

He didn’t answer. He never did. It was as if he couldn’t hear her. Was it even her dream? But there was no doubt it was her body he pleasured.

Gliding his hand across her belly, he captured her mouth in another hard, demanding kiss. His tongue dipped inside, searching for hers. Just as their tongues twined, he slipped two fingers inside her. Desire burst within her and built with each thrust of his fingers, pushing her over the edge.

“We have to go! Amelia! Wake up!”

~
Reveiew:


This is a kick butt novella about a Phoenix, her host Amelia and her mate, Caleb. Hunting demons, hawt dreams and between the covers scenes and a sassy connection all play a part in making this addition to the Wicked line a sassy and fun read. I loved the way this author crafted her story of the Phoenix and the mate potential with Caleb. Great read!

4/5

About the Author:

Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.

 While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.

Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it! Sign up for her newsletter, become a member of her fan club, and follow her on Twitter @NovelsByLia

For more information on other books by Lia, visit her official website: www.authorliadavis.com

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Beast: The Untold Legend Book Tour and Review

Beast The Untold Legend

Shoshanna Evers

A Wicked Tale

ARe Books

Genre: M/F, Fairy Tale, PNR

About the Book:

Deflowering the princess may just save her life.

Princess Justine found an unlikely ally when she stormed into the stables and found an angry, devastatingly handsome young man tending to her mare. Victor belonged to her soon-to-be Queen mother-in-law, and he had the whip marks on his muscled back to prove it.

The Queen, an enchantress well-accomplished in the art of black magic, turns Victor into a creature like no other.  He’s a ten foot tall beastly wall of muscle, animalistic sinew and savagery ready to unleash every primal urge coiled within him. At the Queen’s command, he kidnaps Justine on her wedding day to the prince — but refuses to kill her. Instead, he keeps her safe by turning her from a threat to the Queen’s power, into a ruined woman who will never ascend the throne.

Now the Beast holds his princess captive in the woods, his focus on only one mission: deflower her and get her with child before the queen comes back to kill Justine herself.

He wasn’t expecting Justine to see past his terrifying form and straight into his heart. Setting her free is no more of an option than keeping her. But as their tentative alliance forms, both Victor and Justine can’t help but wonder— what if being together is their chance for true love?

Available at ARe

Excerpt:

"Beast," she said, trying to steady the tremble in her voice. "I have no quarrel with you, sir. Please don't hurt me."

To her surprise, the beast dropped down on all fours to be closer to her, and shook his massive head. A lock from his dark mane fell over his blue-gray eyes, and Justine paused. It made no sense for him to remind her of... Victor.

Maybe it was just that feeling they inspired in her that drew the comparison in her mind. That feeling she got when she stood on the edge of a cliff and stared down, and wondered what it would feel like to jump if only she had wings to keep her from crashing. Staring at the beast now, he felt like both the cliff... and the wings.

"I had no choice but to take you, Princess," he said, his voice gravelly and deep. "Do not run from me."

The cadence of his low voice sounded familiar, but that didn't make sense.

"You're not real," Justine said. "I fainted at my wedding and hit my head; I'm sure of it."

The beast loomed over her, covering her with his body, so there would be no escape. "I am real."

"Please, do not harm me, Beast, I beg you."

"I will not harm you," he said. "Look at me, Princess. *You know me.*"

No. This wasn't real. "You are a figment of my imagination. There is no beast like you in nature. "

His face was millimeters from her own. He pressed his cheek to hers, his rough whiskers prickling her own delicate skin.

Goosebumps raised along her arms. If it were a dream, would she be feeling that?

"I am real," he growled. "But you are right about one thing, Princess. I am not natural."

"Please wake up," she shouted, hoping it would jolt her out of her nightmare.

With a dangerous smile that bared his fangs, the beast gripped her arm. "This is no dream. Shall I pinch you, and prove it?"

"Yes," she said, with a boldness she didn’t feel. This nightmare was going on too long—

The beast raised one thick eyebrow... though the eyebrow blended in on his face, which was covered in smooth short hairs that did nothing to hide his strong jaw and high cheekbones.

He picked her up off the ground, his large hands so human if not for the claws that adorned them. Yet they weren't paws. He definitely had fingers, holding her firmly under her buttocks. Each one sent a line of heat through her chilled flesh.

The claws that had torn her gown earlier didn't touch her now. Had he... retracted them? Like a cat?

With a groan that sounded too much like raw satisfaction for her sensibilities, he pinched a handful of the flesh on her bottom.

The jolt of pain made her yelp in surprise. *Pinches in a dream shouldn’t hurt.*

He dropped his mouth to her neck, his whiskers scratching her delicate skin, and nibbled her ear. It didn't hurt, despite his sharp fangs. He wasn't tasting her... he was toying with her.

His tongue was soft sandpaper against her fragile skin, like a cat tongue. It tickled and made her restless, unable to keep still his arms.

He pulled away from her ear to stare into her eyes. She couldn't look away as he growled softly and pinched each handful of her ass cheeks again, holding her flesh hostage even as she squirmed against him.

*This is not a dream.*

"Stop!" she gasped, struggling to be free of his iron grip.

Her attempts to move her bottom away from his hands only served to press her mound against torso. Quick as could be, the beast adjusted one hand to grab the junction of her thighs, forcing a moan from her mouth.

"Am I real to you now, Justine?"

He knew her name. He used her name as if he knew *her.*

~

Review:

This tale is a twist of Snow White and Beauty and the Beast and I loved it. A stable hand is changed into a beast and must ruin a princess to save her life from the evil queen. A pure fairy tale fantasy complete with a cabin in the forest and some super smexy shifter type action.

Great read for the fairy tale enthusiast!

4/5

About the Author:

Shoshanna Evers, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, has written dozens of sexy stories since her debut in 2010, including Beauty and the Beast (an erotic re-imagining), The Man Who Holds the Whip, and  I Am Not Your Melody, all of which hit the bestseller lists in box sets. Among her most popular books are The Tycoon’s Convenient Bride…and Baby, Overheated, The Enslaved Trilogy, How to Write Hot Sex, and the controversial novella Held Captive by the Cavemen.

Shoshanna Evers has been listed on Amazon as one of the “Most Popular Authors in Romance,” as well as on the Contemporary Romance, and Erotica “Most Popular Authors” lists.

Reviewers have called Shoshanna’s writing “fast paced, intense, and sexual…every naughty fantasy come to life for the reader” with stories where “the plot is fresh and the pacing excellent, the emotions…real and poignant.”

Ms. Evers is also the cofounder of SelfPubBookCovers.com, the largest selection of instantly customizable, one-of-a-kind, premade book covers in the world.

Shoshanna used to work as a syndicated advice columnist and a registered nurse, but now she’s a full-time smut writer and a home-schooling mom. She lives in the mountains of north Idaho with her family and three big dogs, and loves to connect with readers on Twitter @ShoshannaEvers, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/shoshanna.evers

For more information on other books by Shoshanna, visit her official website: www.ShoshannaEvers.com

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