New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt: A Splash of Vanilla by Bethany Lopez

Posted on 11/06/2018 by cafemamanc7

Today we are celebrating the release of A SPLASH OF VANILLA by Bethany Lopez. A Splash of Vanilla is the third book in the contemporary romance series, Three Sisters Catering. Check out the buy links for the book below, along with an excerpt from the book.

A Splash of Vanilla by Bethany Lopez

**(Three Sisters Catering, #3)**

Purchase it Now

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

Add the book to Goodreads

Synopsis:

For the past year, Dru has put everything she has into building a catering business with her sisters. She’s so used to working until all hours of the night with them by her side, that when they both find love and move out, Dru decides to focus on something that has always weighed on her… finding the father who’d abandoned them.

For the past year, Mick has been living the good life. A content bachelor with his own business as a private investigator, he enjoys making his own decisions and answering to no one. When a couple of clients-turned-friends bring him in contact with Dru, his first thought is that he wouldn’t mind getting her alone for a night, but when she hires him, that spark is extinguished. Mick doesn’t mix business with pleasure.

When their lives become constantly entwined, Dru becomes more and more determined to get Mick to break his rules. Will they discover that even a seemingly perfect dish, can be made better with the right amount of spice, or are they too set in their ways?

EXCERPT:

I shot a couple longing looks at Mick, who managed to make that suit look incredible, even though I’d just seen him in it at Tasha’s wedding. How come men could do that? Buy one suit to wear to every event, and get no flack, while if women got caught wearing the same dress repeatedly, it was like there was something wrong with her?

Why couldn’t I find the perfect dress … one that made me feel sexy, comfortable, and confident, and wear it to everything?

Stupid double standards.

I walked straight to the bar and ordered a Lemon Drop with the sole intention of getting drunk, and made a list of rules for myself.

You will not fawn over Mick.

You will not get so drunk that you throw up.

You will be the funny, fun, party sister, not the green with envy, bitter, crying in the corner sister.

And, again, you will not fawn over Mick. He made his policy clear, and I had too much pride to go after a man who didn’t want me.

Purchase it Now

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

Add the book to Goodreads

Purchase the other titles in the series…

Purchase A PINCH OF SALT Now:

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords

Check out the A Pinch of Salt Pinterest Board!

Purchase A TOUCH OF CINNAMON Now:

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords

———————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She’s a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn’t reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.

AUTHOR LINKS:

New Release + Release Blitz + Excerpt: Siren In Bloom by Lexi Blake

Posted on 11/06/2018 by cafemamanc7

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

For psychologist Leo Meyer, peace and comfort come through strict discipline and order. It’s one of the reasons he was chosen by Julian Lodge to be the Dom in residence at his club. His time there has been a near-perfect existence filled with a daily routine free from the chaos of emotional attachment. With the exception of his brief relationship with Shelley McNamara, that is. She may have been the only woman he ever truly loved, but he was confident he had put her out of his mind until she walked into his club on the arm of another man.

Shelley McNamara is tired of waiting for her new life to begin. After finally finding freedom from an abusive marriage, she is eager to discover who she really is. After her encounter with Leo Meyer, she knows that the first thing she wants to explore is the lifestyle he exposed her to during their brief time together. She’s been promised her new Dom will be an excellent fit, but she can’t imagine anyone could fill the hole left by Leo. Until she sees Master Wolf.

After a devastating injury forced his retirement from the Navy SEALs, Wolf has been restless and lost. Hoping to reconnect with his estranged family in Dallas, Wolf accepted a new job working for Julian Lodge. His first assignment is training a beautiful woman named Shelley. Her fiery nature unlocks feelings he didn’t know he was capable of after a life spent in combat. The closer they become, the more certain he is that she is his ideal mate. The only catch is that her relationship with Leo may not be as resolved as they both believed.

Just when Shelley believes the looming shadow of her deceased husband has finally cleared away, a dangerous killer arrives at her door seeking retribution. Leo and Wolf will have to put their grievances aside, leverage all their training, and work together to keep her safe and claim her heart.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | GooglePlay | Kobo | Smashwords | Print

Shelley watched as Julian Lodge’s perfectly formed body wielded the whip. There was a crack through the air and a snap back, and then a thin, red line welled on the white flesh of Finn’s back.

Shelley took an unconscious step away from the stage and right into Wolf’s chest.

“Shhh, it’s all right, sweetheart,” Wolf whispered against her ear. “Finn loves this. From what I understand, Finn has been Julian’s submissive for years. They know what they’re doing and what it takes for Finn to find his subspace.”

She gasped as the whip cracked again, the sound violent, like a snake striking from nowhere. She kept her voice low. “I don’t see how Finn isn’t screaming.”

“It sounds worse than it is.”

She looked over and Leo was standing right beside them. She thought he’d walked away, felt more comfortable with him walking away. But he was standing right there beside his brother, dressed almost identically. Two amazingly gorgeous men.

Yeah, if she hadn’t had ménage fantasies before, she sure as hell had them now. Why had she ever put that down on the questionnaire?

Because there was a part of her that wanted what Trev had found. Because there was a part of her that wanted the balance of two men just in case one of them turned out to be a criminally minded douchebag. Because she didn’t trust herself anymore.

And because the whole month she’d spent talking to Wolf, she’d had fantasies about Leo suddenly turning around and both men wanting her. But that was all it was, a fantasy.

“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart,” Wolf said, his arms encircling her. He was so protective, but could she trust him?

“She isn’t afraid. She’s worried. That’s her worried face. Her brows wrinkle, and she gets this deep line right in the middle of her forehead.”

Trust Leo to have noticed that.

“Sweetheart, we don’t have to play with the whip if you don’t want to,” Wolf assured her. “But you should know that what you hear, that cracking sound is something Julian controls with the flick of his wrist. Really look at Finn’s back. Julian is in complete control. That whip can be horrible if he handles it wrong. Or it can whisper across Finn’s skin. It can bite on the right side of pain. It can be what Finn needs it to be. Do you see any blood?”

She didn’t. There were several pink lines on Finn’s flesh, and now she could see the way he’d relaxed, his shoulders slumping and head lolling back. Finn seemed to be getting what he needed.

“He feels like you did when I spanked you.” Wolf’s voice was a deep rumble over her skin.

“You spanked her?” Leo sounded like Wolf had said he’d beaten the crap out of her.

Julian turned and stared back because Leo’s voice had carried through the dungeon.

“Sorry,” Leo said, holding a hand up.

She felt Wolf move behind her as Julian turned back to his task. That crack split the air again, but she saw it differently now. The spanking Wolf had given her had been so different. It had changed her world.

Wolf leaned over behind her, speaking to Leo. “She ignored certain key parts of our contract. She was assaulted, and she didn’t call me. I went to her place, and she was there with some fucking former SEAL mercenary shit.”

“Holder?” Leo asked the one-word question with a sort of hushed awe.

“Yeah, how did you know?” Wolf asked. “Wait. He called you, right?”

“Yes,” Leo replied. “Did you say she was assaulted? Get back here. We can’t talk up here.”

She was pulled back, two arms on either of hers. She almost stumbled, but Wolf held her up. He finally cursed and shoved a bulky arm under her knees, hauling her against his chest. He followed his brother as Leo made his way through to the back of the crowd. She could hear the whip crack again and again, Finn’s soft moans filling the air, making her believe he was enjoying the experience.

What would it be like to trust someone the way Finn trusted Julian?

“Explain.” One word, but Leo made it sound like a long Shakespearian speech.

“She had her laptop stolen on the train,” Wolf replied before she could get the words out. She was rapidly figuring out her response was not required.

“She was robbed?” Leo asked like he gave a damn. Logan had followed him, staying behind Leo like a properly trained lackey.

“Yes, I was,” she managed, keeping her voice down because even she knew not to disrupt a scene. “Though the thief was an idiot because I bought that laptop bag at Target, and he had full access to a handmade Versace. I know which one I would have stolen.”

Wolf turned her toward him. “Are you sure about that? He could see it? He had obvious access to something that was more valuable?”

She nodded. “Yes, he stared at it. There’s no way he could mistake my bag as the more expensive one. That Versace was beautiful. Mine was beaten up. I shoved it on the floor. The leather is warped. It got wet. I was stupid and set it down in the rain when I was trying to unlock my car. I can’t replace it so it looks like hell.”

“So the only thing valuable was the laptop, and it was visible?” Leo asked.

“No,” Shelley said quietly, well aware she was still in the middle of a scene. This couldn’t wait until later? “My laptop bag was big enough that I could close it.”

Wolf and Leo shared a long look.

“I’ll check into it,” Wolf said, his words sounding like a promise.

“Have you read her file?” Leo asked.

“I have a file?” She wasn’t aware of it. Crap. She should have been. Julian Lodge looked like the kind of man who kept a lot of files.

“Of course,” Wolf replied. He turned back to Leo. “You think this is about her ex? I can go talk to Tag right now.”

Shelley’s skin went cold. What about her ex?

“No idea,” Leo answered. “But if someone is coming after her, I want to know what it’s about.”

“I’ll look into it,” Wolf promised.

Leo nodded. “I’ll let Tag know, but he’s the one who trained Ben and Chase. They’re specifically here to handle things like this. We’ll meet tomorrow at noon. Chase is one of the best hackers in the world. If someone has said anything about her on the net, Chase can find it. If some asshole wrote an e-mail about her, Chase can give it to you.”

“We’ll be there,” Wolf promised.

“I will?” Shelley asked.

“You will.” Wolf and Leo said the words at the same time, with the same deep inflection.

“Fine.” She couldn’t fight both of them.

There was a long pause. She stared at the scene in front of her. She thought they were being overly protective, but then she hadn’t had anyone who was protective of her besides her brother in years. Maybe never since her father died. Bryce had married her for specific reasons, and when those dried up, he’d ignored her.

“Did he hurt you?” Leo asked, putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her around.

“No.” She looked into his face, stark and lovely. God, he was a beautiful man. “He didn’t touch me. He just took my bag.”

The whip cracked again. She turned her face back, but now she was flustered. Her heart was racing. Why had that man taken her bag when there was something much more valuable in his grasp?

Had it been random? Why wouldn’t it be random? What could she have that someone really wanted? She was living hand to mouth. She’d lost all of the property she’d owned with Bryce.

“Hey, calm down,” Wolf ordered, his voice commanding her. “We’re going to handle it.”

Leo watched her for a moment. “She sometimes has anxiety attacks, nothing serious, but she can get herself worked up. If you don’t talk her down, she’ll be anxious for hours. Shelley, why don’t we all go up to my office and we can talk about what’s making you nervous?”

Now Leo was making her nervous. God, the last thing she wanted was to become one of Leo’s patients.

“I think I can handle this, brother,” Wolf said, taking her hands in his.

Leo’s eyes narrowed. “And I think I’m the one with the degree in psychology. If she doesn’t want to talk to me, I’ll go get Janine. Honestly, I should have thought about putting her in Janine’s group in the first place.”

Wolf squared off with his brother. “She’s my sub, Leo. I have zero problem with her getting into Janine’s group, but for now let me handle her in the way I see fit.”

She wasn’t sure what group they were talking about, but it didn’t seem like the time to argue. Leo stood, his arms across his chest, and she worried for a moment that he was going to argue with Wolf.

“I want to stay with Wolf.” She looked up at Leo. This was the longest conversation they’d had in fifteen months, and instead of being her friend, he wanted to be her shrink. She didn’t want that. She wanted what Wolf could give her.

Leo took a step back, his disengagement clear. “Of course. Come along, Logan. We still have work to do.”

The two men walked away, losing themselves in the crowd.

“Come on.” Wolf pulled her back toward a corner of the room. She could still see the stage, but it was slightly darker away from the lights. Wolf settled his big body on a chair that had been shoved into the corner. “Sit down. We’re going to talk for a minute. What’s your safe word?”

She needed a safe word to talk? “Gucci. I have to find a chair. Hold on.”

His hand came out to tug her to him, settling her on his lap. She was surrounded by him, his arms encircling her waist, the warmth of his chest touching her skin. “Did you do as I asked?”

“What did you ask?” She had to put her arms around his neck for balance.

Wolf’s hand was on her knee. “I gave you some specific grooming instructions.”

Oh, god. She shivered. He was talking about her pussy. She’d thought about him the whole time she’d been in the shower. She hadn’t been able to think about anything else. She’d carefully shaved her mound, pulling the lips of her pussy apart and gingerly running the razor over her flesh. Every stroke of the razor had sensitized her skin. “Yes, Sir.”

“Let me feel. Spread your legs.”

She swallowed, hesitating. “But there are people here.”

The Dawson twins were close, Kitten at their side. And Ian and Charlotte Taggart were cuddled together, not far away. She could see the big, sarcastic dude whispering to his wife.

Wolf’s voice came out in a hard grind. “I don’t care. And neither will they. Now spread your legs and let me feel your pussy or use your safe word.”

It didn’t exactly seem fair, but she’d known it would be this way going in. She could choose to obey or this particular portion of her evening would be over. And she wasn’t sure she wanted it to be over.

Shelley took a deep breath. She was either in and willing to explore or she should walk away. She’d been so passive when it came to Bryce because she hadn’t been willing to fight. She wanted to be done with waiting for something to happen to her. Wolf was giving her a choice. This wasn’t some passive activity. She had to make the decision.

She spread her knees. She looked around, trying to see if anyone was watching.

“Stop it,” Wolf said, his hands tightening. “You’re not to worry about them. You’re going to focus on me. Now, I gave you instructions, and I intend to find out if you followed them or if you’re going to get another spanking.”

She wouldn’t mind the spanking, but in this case, she’d been a good girl. And despite the fact that it had made her uncomfortable, she’d only put on the clothes Wolf had given her. And he hadn’t given her a pair of underwear.

He kept one arm wrapped around her waist, and the other found her knee. He forced her to open further. She could feel the cool air on her flesh. A thrill went through her. She’d never done anything like this, but she’d dreamed of it. In her darker fantasies, she’d been placed on display and touched and admired. Bryce had told her she was a freak when she’d mentioned her desires to him.

But she didn’t want to think about Bryce. She wanted to think about Wolf’s hand on her thigh.

“Tell me something, sweetheart.” Wolf’s voice was thick and dark, his lips tickling her ear. “Are you thinking about what happened on the train now?”

So this was Wolf’s version of therapy. She had to admit, she preferred Wolf’s hands on her to sitting in Leo’s office.

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

New Release + Release Blitz + Excerpt: A Splash of Vanilla by Bethany Lopez

Posted on 11/05/2018 by cafemamanc7

Today we are celebrating the release of A SPLASH OF VANILLA by Bethany Lopez. A Splash of Vanilla is the third book in the contemporary romance series, Three Sisters Catering. Check out the buy links for the book below, along with an excerpt from the book.

A Splash of Vanilla by Bethany Lopez

**(Three Sisters Catering, #3)**

Purchase it Now

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

Add the book to Goodreads

Synopsis:

EXCERPT:

Why couldn’t I find the perfect dress … one that made me feel sexy, comfortable, and confident, and wear it to everything?

Stupid double standards.

I walked straight to the bar and ordered a Lemon Drop with the sole intention of getting drunk, and made a list of rules for myself.

You will not fawn over Mick.

You will not get so drunk that you throw up.

You will be the funny, fun, party sister, not the green with envy, bitter, crying in the corner sister.

And, again, you will not fawn over Mick. He made his policy clear, and I had too much pride to go after a man who didn’t want me.

Purchase it Now

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

Add the book to Goodreads

Purchase the other titles in the series…

Purchase A PINCH OF SALT Now:

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords

Check out the A Pinch of Salt Pinterest Board!

Purchase A TOUCH OF CINNAMON Now:

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords

———————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

AUTHOR LINKS:

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway + 4-Star Review: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

Posted on 11/03/2018 by cafemamanc7

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it. For fans of The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman, A Secret of Witches by Louisa Morgan and The Haunting of Maddie Clare by Simone St. James comes an addictive historical debut about strange power, fierce love, family secrets, and how the past haunts us in ways that demand to be seen.

Title: The Witch of Willow Hall

Author: Hester Fox

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 2nd, 2018

Synopsis:

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences, but those around you, as well.

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall.

The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…

Add to your TBR list: Goodreads

Available at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Excerpt:

Hester Fox

Hello readers, I’m so excited to share an excerpt with you from my debut novel, THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL (on-sale October 2, 2018). My name is Hester Fox, and hailing from Boston, I’ve always been fascinated with the rich and oftentimes dark history of this period. My novel takes place in a small New England town over 130 years after the infamous Salem Witch trials, and features a Gothic, melancholy atmosphere, restless spirits, and of course, resilient women. I hope you enjoy this excerpt I’ve pulled for you.

~*~

Gingerly, I get up, my legs full of pins and needles from sitting on the floor so long. Just like the night of the woman in the garden, I can’t stay in the library knowing that someone might be there. I must go and look for myself.

Even with the sun coming through the windows, illuminating the wood floors and catching the light of the crystal lamps, I feel as if I’m making my way through a dark, murky passage. My feet are heavy, as if they know something that my mind does not.

The door to the dining room is closed. It beckons me, yet repels me, exuding a sense of silent occupation. My ears buzz. A singsong chorus of whispers grows as I approach.

Are you ready?

I am here.

You attract them.

Are you ready?

Prepare for what lies ahead.

Prepare.

They mount and mount into a dizzying jumble of sound and I run the rest of the way to the door, my heart in my chest, my eyes squeezed shut. Grasping the knob, I fling open the door. The voices die away.

I knew it would be there. But it doesn’t stop me from gasping as every part of me curls back in on itself in horror. My blood turns to ice.

Seated at the table is a woman, or what used to be a woman. She sits as if she has every right to be there, as if she has always been there. A veil covers her face, but it is gauzy and threadbare, and I can see the contours of the features beneath. Her dress is old, black as night yet opalescent as the moon through a cobweb. Paralyzed with fear, I watch as it moves about her of its own accord, a soft undulation as if she were underwater. And though I can see her as clear as day, the veiled woman in our dining room, there’s a translucence to her, and the panoramic wallpaper is just visible behind her. She is like nothing and no one I have ever seen before, and yet she is familiar, as if I have always known her.

“Come, child.” Her voice comes from everywhere and nowhere, and when her words are finished, I have the unnerving feeling that they weren’t spoken aloud at all, but came from within my head.

She beckons me with a knobby finger, more bone than flesh.

I can’t drag my gaze away from her face, the sunken holes where there ought to be eyes, the lipless mouth, all teeth and blackness. The cold pie that I just enjoyed churns in my stomach and threatens to come up. She beckons me again, and I imagine those long, terrible fingers closing around my neck and choking the life out of me. I imagine them raking me across the face until ribbons of skin flutter from my skull. I stand my ground, unwilling to deliver myself up to her. She is the stuff of my novels, a grotesque horror that titillates on the page, but sends terror into my heart when in the same room as me.

She gives something like a grunt, and as if able to read my thoughts, says, “One hundred and thirty years of death is not gentle on a body. Come, do not gawk.” I dare not disobey her, so I force my leaden feet to move a few steps closer.

The smell of decay and death fills the room, sickly sweet and putrid at the same time. My stomach clenches at the memories the odor brings back of Emeline in her coffin. My throat is tight, my mouth cotton, but somehow I’m able to gasp out, “W-who are you?”

She makes a noise, something between a snort and a laugh, a scraping, rattling sound, though it’s devoid of humor. “Do you not know your own forebear?”

The blackness of her dress curls around her like a snake, but she sits as motionless as if she were carved of stone. Her stillness is suffocating, it dares the house to be silent, and punishes the sunlight for filtering in through the window.

Warily, I come to a halt at the edge of the dining room table. I don’t know what she’s talking about. “Forebear?”

“Have you not looked upon me since you were a babe? Do you not recognize in me what flows through you?”

“I…” But then it comes to me. The lace collar, though tattered and black as her dress, is unmistakable around her neck. “You’re the woman in the painting. Mother’s ancestor.”

The inclination of her head is small, barely perceptible.

Tracey’s Review

It has been a while since I picked up any historical fiction, and I always forget just how much I like it. When I read the blurb for THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL, I was intrigued enough to add it to my TBR, although I did not really know what to expect. I mean, it was coming out around Halloween, it’s a historical piece, and there is some romance in there, so, why not?

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. Author Hester Fox did a great job with developing these characters, giving them depth and writing them so that I became completely invested in their stories. The story was engrossing, and I found it hard to put down, drawn in by the hint of darkness and the gothic feel of it.

This book was extremely well done, and I really feel like, for a new author, Hester Fox is well on her way to making a name for herself. If her follow-ups are nearly as good as this book, I will happily read each of them, and recommend them as well. As it stands, THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL is an easy 4 stars for me, and no, it’s not just for Halloween time. If Gothic romance, with all of the requisite mystery and creepy edge to it, is your gig, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.

Rafflecopter for The Witch of Willow Hall Blog Tour Giveaway:

Harlequin’s Graydon House Books is offering one lucky Grand Prize winner a fun witch themed prize pack containing a paperback copy of The Witch of Willow Hall, a pumpkin spice scented candle, a Witch’s Brew coffee cup, a witch’s hat, a witch’s wand, and a bottle of black nail polish! Four (4) Runners-up will receive an eCopy of The Witch of Willow Hall. To enter for your chance to win one these great prizes, please fill out the Rafflecopter link below:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29582/

Hester Fox has a background in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician. This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has cleaned and cared for collections that range from paintings by old masters to ancient artifacts to early American furniture. She is a keen painter and has a Master’s in historical archaeology, as well as a background in medieval studies and art history. Hester lives outside of Boston with her husband and their two cats.

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt: Dragonfire by Donna Grant

Posted on 11/01/2018 by cafemamanc7

We are beyond excited to be celebrating the release of Donna Grant’s DRAGONFIRE with you today! DRAGONFIRE is #14 in the Dark Kings series. Purchase your copy now, and check out some teasers for the book below.

——————–

Purchase your copy of DRAGONFIRE today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

BAM | B&N | IndieBound | Powells

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

Audio: Tantor

About DRAGONFIRE:

Passion burns hot in Dragonfire, the next Dark Kings novel from New York Times bestseller Donna Grant.

It was a soul-deep longing, one that got into his bones and settled there, sending whispers of desire through him. The need, the hunger, grew tenfold with every breath. . . .

As a Dragon King, Roman is sworn to protect all mortals—even though they no longer believe in dragons. But deep in the Carpathian Mountains, he discovers a beautiful and mysterious gypsy who possesses the power to see into his very soul. To reignite the fire in his heart. And to help him find the long-lost sword that could save the dragons forever…

Sabina remembers the stories her grandmother told her. Legends of dragons and kings, fire and ice. And she’s never forgotten the dark prophecy that filled her ancestors with fear—a fate they tried to prevent by stealing a Dragon King’s sword. Sabina knows that helping Roman is dangerous. He is a dragon betrayed, and more powerful than any man. He could destroy her in a single fiery embrace. But how can she resist the longing in his eyes—or the feelings in her heart—when their destinies are bound by desire?

Add DRAGONFIRE to your Goodreads TBR here!

Purchase your copy of DRAGONFIRE today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

BAM | B&N | IndieBound | Powells

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

Audio: Tantor

————

Praise for the Dark Kings series:

“Provocative [and] sizzling.” —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

“A must-read.” —Night Owl Reviews

Excerpt:

The sun blazed fiercely as it crested the mountains and poured its light into the valley and straight into Roman’s workshop.

He paused and closed his eyes as he soaked up the rays. In his mind, he was flying high in the sky, his wings slicing through clouds as the warmth of the sun wrapped around his body.

Roman allowed himself just a few more minutes of the memory before he opened his eyes and took a deep breath. Then his gaze returned to the two-foot-tall metal dragon he’d made. He ran his hands over the silver scales. It was to be a gift for Ulrik.

Now that the King of Silvers had returned to Dreagan where he belonged, it was time the Dragon Kings got down to business. First up was V. His friend had suffered long enough.

Roman placed the sculpture in a box filled with tissue paper and closed the lid before taking it and striding toward the manor. On his way to the great house, Roman saw V standing outside, his gaze directed eastward.

Roman placed the gift outside of Ulrik and Eilish’s room before he made his way to V. They stood side by side for several quiet moments, each lost in thought.

While every Dragon King had suffered in some way, the betrayal V bore hit Roman hard. None knew why someone had taken V’s sword and hidden it. Sadly, they hadn’t had much time to search for it after the theft because they were at war with the humans and then they sent the dragons away.

After that, each of the Kings found their mountains and slept away centuries. They woke in turns, but Roman knew Constantine, the King of Dragon Kings, had always kept a lookout for any weapon that even came close to matching the description of V’s sword. Many of those were in the armory because Con sent the Dragon Kings to retrieve the weapons—either by buying, bargaining, or stealing—to see if any were V’s.

All the while, V remained asleep in his mountain on Dreagan. The few times V woke, his need to search for his weapon overruled everything else. And the outcome was always disastrous for mortals. Which was why Con made sure that V remained asleep.

Until there was no choice but to wake all the Kings to fight a foe bent on revealing them to the humans.

“You doona have to do this,” V stated without looking at him.

Roman shook his head. “Same old V.”

Piercing blue eyes swung to him. V’s gaze narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you still doona understand. All these thousands of eons, and you still believe that you have to do this on your own.”

“It’s my sword.”

Roman glanced at the ground and tried again. “Aye, old friend. It was your weapon that was taken, but how many times have you gone searching alone?”

A muscle ticked in V’s jaw.

“How many of those times resulted in catastrophic events?”

“I didna set the fire in Rome,” V argued.

Roman held up his hands. “No one said you did.”

“Nor did I cause the Black Plague. Or—”

“None of it happened until after you woke and went looking for your sword,” Roman interrupted. “I’m no’ blaming you. I’m simply stating facts.”

V stared at him for a long moment. “I lost my sword. I should be the one to find it.”

“I agree, but there’s no harm in having help.”

“You control metal, Roman. It’s Kellan who can find it. If any King can help, it would be Kellan.”

Roman cocked a brow. “I’ll try no’ to be offended.”

V ran a hand down his face. “That wasna my intention.”

“You’ve spent most of our countless centuries asleep. You’ve no’ interacted with the humans. Or anyone, for that matter.”

“So you doona trust me alone?”

“We all want you to find your sword. It’s time. And I’m going to make sure that happens.”

V looked off into the distance once more. “I can no’ remember where I lost it.”

“That doesna matter. It’s probably long gone from there anyway.”

His head jerked to Roman. “You know where I lost it.”

Roman held his gaze for a long moment, hesitating just a heartbeat before nodding. “Aye.”

“Do the others?”

Fuck. This was so not how Roman wanted this conversation to go. V was unpredictable without his sword, and each time he had gone searching for it, horrible things happened to everyone around him.

“Roman,” V growled dangerously.

“After the last time you woke from the dragon sleep, I went looking.”

V’s eyes blazed with fury as he faced him. “You’ve known.”

“I told Con the next time you woke, that I was going to help you. We would’ve left sooner if no’ for the whole Mikkel issue. I know you’re angry, and I’m sorry for that. But let me help.”

“I can no’ remember anything of that day. I had my sword, then I woke and I didna. Only because I refuse to go any longer without it will I accept your help.”

“Good. No’ that you could’ve stopped me from going,” Roman said with a grin. “I’ll let Lily know so she can get the helicopter ready.”

V let out a loud snort. “Nay. We’re going ourselves.”

Roman opened his mouth to argue the danger, but no words came out.

One side of V’s mouth lifted in a smile. “I didna think you’d mind. I’ve already asked Arian for some help.”

Roman looked up at the clear, blue sky but dark clouds were fast approaching Dreagan from off in the distance. “Con’s no’ going to be happy.”

“No human will see us,” V stated. “Arian will make sure of that.”

After a brief period where no dragon was allowed to fly around the sixty thousand acres of Dreagan, Con had finally lifted the ban. The magic barrier around Dreagan kept most mortals away, and anytime someone crossed it, the Kings were immediately alerted.

Years of being private had been shattered in one night when the Dark Fae released a video showing the Dragon Kings in battle, shifting in and out of dragon form while battling the Dark. Now, everyone wanted to know if real dragons existed on Dreagan.

A part of Roman wanted the humans to know the truth. Though there was little doubt that history would repeat itself and there would be another war between humans and dragons. Except this time, the Kings wouldn’t turn the other cheek. If there were another war, the outcome wouldn’t be the Dragon Kings hiding in their mountains for centuries.

A whistle above them had Roman and V turning toward the manor to see Arian leaning out the window of his chamber with his mate, Grace, by his side.

“Well?” Arian asked.

V gave a nod. But Roman watched as Arian’s champagne-colored gaze shifted to him. After a brief hesitation, Roman also gave a nod.

“Where are you two headed?” Arian asked.

V swiveled his head to Roman and waited.

Roman looked at the sky, already itching to shift and spread his wings to fly. “Romania.”

His advanced hearing caught the sound of Grace’s gasp, but he paid no attention. Arian would fill her in on all the details.

“We own homes in every major city around the world,” Roman told V. “There’s one in Bucharest, but we also have another in Timisoara, which is nearer the mountains.”

“Of course you do,” V said with a shake of his head while wearing a smile. “And I suppose there is a closet full of clothes for each of us.”

Roman grinned. “Con doesna do anything halfway.”

“He has always looked out for us, thinking of details few of us ever would.”

The clouds were nearly upon them, rolling into each other and growing darker by the second. Excitement rushed through Roman. He wanted to fly, yes, but it was more than that. Almost as if he awaited something.

Or something awaited him.

With every second the clouds took to reach them, Roman’s skin grew tighter. He yearned to be in his true form, to inhale and feel the fire rumbling in his chest.

To soar into the sky until the ground below was nothing more than a speck.

“And I thought I was the one with secrets.”

V’s words caused Roman to look his way. But he didn’t deny anything. What good would it do?

With a sad smile, V nodded and took off his black boots. Roman waited for him to remove the rest of his clothes, but V casually set the boots aside away from him.

Roman raised a brow. “Just the boots?”

“I like them. Shara bought them for me,” V explained.

Roman hid his smile. Shara was not only a Light Fae, but also mated to Kiril. She’d been one of the first mates to approach V, and she did it with the designer boots.

“What about you?” V asked.

Roman looked down at his clothes. He shrugged and quickly removed them. Unlike V, he tossed his boots toward the manor before wadding up his jeans and shirt and lobbing them near his shoes.

V rolled his eyes with an irritated shake of his head. “You couldna fold them?”

“Why?” Roman asked as a crack of thunder pierced the air.

Roman shot V a smile before he shifted and immediately launched himself into the air. The moment his wings spread and he caught a current, he drew in an easy breath. This was where he was meant to be, not stuck on the ground in a form not his own.

Shifting had made it easy to talk to the humans when they arrived, but he would always prefer being in dragon form. Everything felt … right.

The air smelled sweeter. He could feel the electricity from the lightning crackling in the atmosphere. And the rain … ah, the scent was divine. He loved how the drops hit his scales and rolled down his body toward his tail.

He glanced down as V came alongside him and spotted Con standing at the backside of Dreagan Mountain.

“Well,” V said via the mental link all dragons shared. “He’s no’ yelling at us.”

Roman studied Constantine for a long minute. “He’s different now that Ulrik is back.”

“Ulrik is where he was always meant to be,” V said. “Everyone knew that. Even Con.”

Roman flew higher into the clouds and shifted his direction southeast toward Romania. He glanced over and caught the sight of copper scales meandering through the clouds.

They might be on an important mission, but V was enjoying himself. It was such a change from the other instances when V had woken from sleep and left his mountain. Perhaps this time would end differently than the others, as well.

Maybe this time when V returned to Dreagan, he would have his sword with him.

Roman glided upon the air currents and, for just a moment, he allowed himself to believe that the mortals had never come to the realm to settle. That at any moment, his pale blue dragons would join him.

It was a dream he only allowed himself once every few days. And, frankly, it was getting harder and harder to remember what his old life had been like.

“Perhaps you should’ve slept more,” V said.

Roman glanced to his right to find his friend. “Meaning?”

“I see the far-off look in your gaze, but more than that, I see the misery.”

“I feel like memories of our other life are fading. I can no’ hold onto something I can no’ remember.”

“Maybe it’s better if you doona,” V said.

Roman’s head snapped to him. “You doona think the dragons will ever return.”

“Nay.”

Roman searched his mind and realized that he didn’t either. “We will be hiding for eternity.”

“Give the humans long enough, and they’ll destroy themselves. Look what they’re doing to this planet. I give them another two hundred years.”

“Before they die out?”

V chuckled. “Before they leave. They’re looking for another planet. I’m ready to point them in the right direction to hasten their departure.”

“No’ all will leave.”

V’s lips peeled back to show his long teeth. “Then we help them.”

Roman had to admit, he liked the idea. If only the Dragon Kings hadn’t sworn to protect the mortals. On a realm filled with magic, the humans didn’t fit in.

The Kings had felt sorry for them and gave them a place to live. After a couple of generations, a select few mortals were born with magic. They weren’t nearly as powerful as the dragons or even the Fae, but they could still do magic.

There was a time when some humans revered the Druids, but those without magic, who wanted a taste of that kind of power, grew jealous and soured the others until the Druids finally gathered in a safe place.

Roman hadn’t been to the Isle of Skye in ages, but the Druids survived there even now. Their numbers were dwindling, but they clung to the old ways and their magic.

Just as the Dragon Kings did.

———————

About DONNA GRANT

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas.

Follow Donna Grant:
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt: Shadow and Ice by Gena Showalter

Posted on 11/01/2018 by cafemamanc7

The Queen of Paranormal Romance, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter, stuns with SHADOW AND ICE, the first title in her scorching new paranormal romance Gods of War Series. Check out the tour stop below and get your copy of SHADOW AND ICE today!

Gena Showalter, the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld, introduces a scorching new paranormal romance series… Gods of War.

Knox of Iviland has spent his life competing in the All Wars, where vicious warriors with supernatural powers fight to the death to claim new realms. One winner takes everything—and all losers die. Enslaved as a child for his ability to control shadows, the most ruthless champion in history will stop at nothing to kill his king. But first he must win the battle for Earth. When a fearsome weapon imprisons every combatant in ice, centuries pass without progress…until she walks in.

Vale London craves a fun arctic getaway with her foster sister before settling down to open a bakery. Street-tough but vulnerable, she is unprepared to find ancient gods escaping a frozen cave—merciless beings who target her when she inadvertently enters their war.

Though Vale is now his enemy, Knox is consumed with lust and a fierce need to protect her. But only one combatant can prove victorious, and he will have to choose: live for freedom, or die for love.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books

Add to Goodreads

“I love this world…this is Gena Showalter at her best!”—J.R. Ward, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The Gods of War series is my new obsession.”—Christine Feehan, #1 New York Times bestselling author

EXCERPT: