Tag Archives: New Novel

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ He Couldn’t Say No

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Welcome to another round of Weekend Writing Warriors. This has been quite the week for me; new book, new job, new allergies in full bloom. WWW has become my little comfort zone where I get to catch up with the characters I’ve become so involved with, discover new stories and new authors, and chat with my virtual buddies.  Glad you joined me!

This week I thought I’d go all wacky and actually post the  8 opening lines from my new m/m fantasy, Blood of Salar.

***

Breaking one of the new rules he’d imposed as headmaster of the Order of Ka’alar, M’lan slipped out of his monk’s cell well before dawn and made for the edge of the temple grounds alone. Black shadows striped the moonlit path. Though trying to be quiet, he tripped often over gnarled roots and loose stones.

He knew perfectly well it was no longer safe to stray far from the protective eye of Ka’alar, and that was why he’d imposed the rule that no monk should wander in the forest without a companion. The rebellion that had started in the south of Rakkan now encroached on the local provinces, and instability eroded the control of the authorities. But M’lan’s calling to heal was stronger than his concern for his safety. When messages reached him pleading for medicine, he couldn’t say no.

If the king’s men discovered that the monks of Ka’alar Temple smuggled herbs and elixirs to the peasants, they might shut the temple down.

***

BloodOfSalar

 

FYI, if you haven’t read Touch of Salar, Book 1 in the Masters and Mages series, I’ll be doing a book blast next Tuesday where I’ll be giving away a copy of Touch, plus a Loose Id GC so you can immediately buy Blood (or whatever your heart desires).

Blood of Salar blurb:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, knowing that only his love can master the mage.

Info:

***

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

My Sexy Saturday ~ Stay With Me

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Welcome to My Sexy Saturday.  This week’s theme is “Sexy Me Once”, inspired by the lyrics “Kiss me once and kiss me twice and kiss me once again, it’s been a long, long time”.  Interpretation is open, and to me the line speaks of lovers separated, coming together briefly, knowing they’ll soon be apart.  This is what’s happening in this scene between Jamil and M’lan from Blood of Salar, my newly released m/m fantasy.  The assassin and the monk are finding that their lifestyles are not exactly compatible, but they’re determined to make it work.

***

Jamil slid his hand down to M’lan’s buttocks and cupped a cheek, fingers exploring the crease. “I was mad to come here,” he said, voice husky.

M’lan met Jamil’s hard stare straight on, even though the pressure of Jamil’s thigh against his stiffening cock was intensely distracting. “You were mad to think I’d go sit in a palace while everyone I care about, including you, is tossed about in this war.”

Jamil looked like he might argue further, but his expression softened, and for a brief moment he looked youthful and unsure, almost like a normal person. “I’m obsessed with you. I can’t think clearly, knowing you might be in danger.”

“Stay with me, then. Here.”

“And become a monk?” Jamil chuckled.

“Why not?” M’lan tried to imagine the warrior Jamil spending his days praying, fasting, and chanting and admitted to himself the image didn’t come easily.

“You and Ka’alar won’t rest until you enslave me entirely,” Jamil complained as he massaged M’lan’s ass.

***

Don’t forget to click to the link above to check out the other steamy snippets on My Sexy Saturday (in segments of seven words, seven lines or seven paragraphs).

***

BloodOfSalar

Blood of Salar blurb:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, knowing that only his love can master the mage.

Info:

Winner Announced and oh, by the way…

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Good morning!  This is a quick post to announce the winner of my Cold Nights…Hot Reads Giveaway.

Shadowluvs2read is the winner of a copy of Touch of Salar!  Touch of Salar is Book 1 in the Masters and Mages series, which brings me to my second announcement-

Today is release day for Blood of Salar, Masters and Mages Book 2!  Yipee! Confetti and stuff.

BloodOfSalar

 

Here’s the blurb:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, knowing that only his love can master the mage.

Info:

Not up at Amazon yet, but should be any time now. Leave a comment if you’d like me to send you the link when it shows up, or contact me via twitter or FB.

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My Sexy Saturday ~ This Sea of Magic

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This week on My Sexy Saturday, we’re exploring the theme “My Sexy Addiction”, with these lines from the song “Addicted to Love” for inspiration ~ Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love.  Doesn’t that apply to all of us who love romance?  It certainly applies to the main characters in my new m/m fantasy novel, Blood of Salar (release date March 3).  In the case of this fantasy world, their love for each other is not only entrancing, consuming and dangerous, but it is necessary for their survival.  My sexy seven is from a scene where they finally begin to accept this truth.

***

“You are my anchor in this sea of magic,” M’lan said.

“So it appears.” Jamil sat up, straightened his clothing, and looked around for M’lan’s. “Maybe that’s what the mages of old were missing.”

“Love?” M’lan whispered. He appeared so fascinated by this theory, eyes wide, that Jamil’s heart clenched.

“Someone to put them in their place,” he said gruffly.

M’lan got up on his knees, took Jamil’s face in his hands, and kissed him—a deep, warm kiss rough with the force of ownership. He pulled back.

“You must never leave me,” he commanded.

Again, Jamil thought of his dream, of the imprisonment he feared. But this, this bondage he could endure. Gladly.

***

BloodOfSalar

 

Here’s the blurb for Blood of Salar, Release date March 3:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, knowing that only his love can master the mage.

Info:

FYI, I’m participating in the Cold Nights…Hot Reads Blog Hop.  There are a bunch of chances to win cool giveaways, including the grand prize of $125 Gift Card!  I’m giving away a copy of the first book in the Masters and Mages series, Touch of Salar. Check it out, warm up your tootsies by the heat of some steamy reads, and win stuff. What’s not to like?

Cold Nights, Hot Reads Blog Hop

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Got hot chocolate, a snuggly afghan, a cat or two, and a hot romance novel?  Bring it on, Winter, we are ready here at Cold Nights…Hot Reads.

I’m taking the opportunity to introduce my new m/m fantasy, Blood of Salar, which will be released on March 3.  Blood of Salar is the second in the Masters and Mages series, but it can be read as a stand alone. Naturally, I  recommend you read Touch of Salar, Book 1 first, to enrich the experience, so I’m giving away a copy of Touch of Salar to one lucky visitor. Just leave a comment at the end of this post to enter. And don’t forget to continue the hop for chances to win at every stop, plus a grand prize giveaway!

BloodOfSalar

And now for a steamy excerpt to fog up those cute reading glasses. I thought a  dip in the  thermal pools of Ka’alar Temple might give us a nice break from the sleet and snow.  Warning: contains a naughty word or two.

***

Alone in Ka’alar’s element of water, M’lan sensed the serpent energy creeping along his skin, seeping into his core, invigorating him in a way entirely different from Salar’s soothing light. This transfer of energy felt exquisitely selfish. His thoughts of Jamil returned, and his hands traveled unbidden down his belly. His breathing became shallow. Although the feel of his hand on his cock released a tremor of excitement, he stopped shy of pleasuring himself. Immersing himself completely in Ka’alar’s embrace seemed risky. The serpent god’s powers came with a price, or so he’d been warned.

The last sliver of moon had dipped behind the jagged horizon. Shadows and light melded into a dim gray. A bell chimed in the temple. Time to go.

He emerged dripping and retrieved his clothes from the burn bush he’d draped them over. When he pressed the cloth to his face to wipe the water from his eyes, all the fine hair on his bare skin stood on end. He sensed a presence, and it was not Amara. He took a step forward to flee via the pool, but iron fingers gripped both his arms and pulled him back.

“Your senses are improving,” Jamil whispered in his ear. “You actually detected me before I touched you.”

M’lan shuddered as relief and anger rolled through him in alternating waves. He gritted his teeth against an onslaught of curses that leaped to his tongue. When his heartbeat softened, he said as calmly as possible, “You…startled me.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll act more sensibly.” Jamil enfolded M’lan in his arms, and his warm, rich voice tickled M’lan’s ear. “Lolling about nude, alone, while rebel troops swarm around the mountain in droves. My god, M’lan, even someone more honorable and upright than myself would be tempted by the sight of you.” Jamil continued to crush him against his broad chest, and M’lan struggled halfheartedly to escape, still angry at being taken by surprise. He knew he was angrier with himself than Jamil.

“You’re exaggerating about the troops,” he said, finally allowing himself to relax into the embrace. The heat and tantalizing scent of Jamil enveloped him.

“I’m not. That’s why I’m here. To take you away.”

“Really?” The last of M’lan’s resistance faded at the thought of beginning his life with Jamil, even as his responsibilities whispered to him he could not. He leaned back, and Jamil kissed his neck and shoulder. The man’s strong, calloused hands slid down and jerked the shirt out of M’lan’s grasp, flinging it aside. Jamil rested his palm on M’lan’s belly, fingertips teasingly close to M’lan’s cock, taking over where M’lan had left off only moments before.

“Really.” Conversation stopped as Jamil held and stroked him. M’lan arched, immediately hard and breathless. Soon he’d lose all control and follow Jamil anywhere. He grabbed Jamil’s wrist, stopping the motion, and took a deep breath.

“Let me go.”

 

***

Here’s the blurb:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, knowing that only his love can master the mage.

Info:

 

To Enter the Grand Prize Giveaway, visit the Rafflecopter Entry Form Here

•    1st Prize:  $125 Paypal Cash or Gift Card
•    2nd Prize: $50 Paypal Cash or Gift Card
•    3rd Prize:  $35 Paypal Cash or Gift Card
•    4th Prize   $20 Gift Certificate for Phaze Books

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Click here to Continue the Cold Nights…Hot Reads Blog Hop… Chances to win cool stuff at every stop!

So, do you love fantasy as much as I do? If not fantasy, what is your favorite genre? Leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win a copy of Touch of Salar, first in the Masters and Mages series.

Touch of Salar3

From The Nightstand ~ Hitting Black Ice

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Today I’m excited to have Heloise West here to talk about her new release, Hitting Black Ice.  I’ve been looking forward to reading a novel by Heloise, having been a fan of the fiction excerpts she posts on her blog, Velvet Panic.  When the excerpt is never long enough, you know you’ve found your next favorite writer!

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Heloise tells us about her inspiration for the book, followed by a delightful, much too short excerpt:

***

Alexis asked me what inspired my story “Hitting Black Ice.” Here’s my attempt at an answer 😀

I love mysteries and suspense, romantic or otherwise, and I knew I needed to work on a contemporary story to offset the historical mystery romance I was struggling with at the time.

It’s a little like putting a soup or stew together at first. Or a sketch that needs to be developed because you’ve fallen in love with a line or a shape, a color. I honestly can’t remember who said a story is a juxtaposition of two ideas, but I find that very true. I have to fall in love with that place of juxtaposition first in order to be inspired. I had a winter setting in mind and a character who was trying to talk another out of suicide. I like darker stories, and stories of redemption, so their journey together became important. One of them was on the run from something and living in terror of discovery. The other character had resources. But I needed another layer, the juxtaposition, and that became Nick, the evil FBI agent. I really liked the idea of turning the Romance trope of the enigmatic law enforcement alpha male character on its head.

The story gave me fits, and I abandoned it once or twice, and worked on the historical until that story needed me to step away from it. A glimmer of potential always remains beneath that stagnant pond when the words dry up or I’ve written myself into a corner.

It’s funny how after awhile, the story itself becomes the inspiration to continue writing it.

***

Excerpt:

Hunter opened red wine instead of whiskey and was savoring the first sip when the cell phone dinged with a text message.

Hunter? It’s Shawn.

His heart leaped into his throat. Ok.

“You brilliant asshole,” he told himself, thumbs twitching over the keypad.

U home?

Y. wru?

*$.

The Starbucks across the damn street? U ok?

Y. U want anything? Biscotti? Muffin?

Get up here, muffin man.

He waited a heartbeat.

OK!

Fuck, the bed still needed making. Hunter raced into the bedroom, threw sheets and blankets back together, and shoved the body pillow in the space between the bed and the wall. The building buzzer went off. He ran into the living room to answer it and slid in his socks on the hardwood, nearly going down. He limped to the bathroom, combed his hair, washed his face, and sniffed his armpits. He swished cinnamon mouthwash around and managed to spit it out without dribbling on himself. Off came the pajama bottoms. He jumped into the tightest jeans he owned and changed the rumpled sleep T-shirt for a fresh one.

“Get hold of yourself, boy,” he said to the man in the mirror. “It’s not effing prom night.”

He tucked the T-shirt in, trying not to catch his swooning cock in the zipper as the door buzzer went off. He stood in front of the door, counted to three, and jumped when it buzzed again with his hand still on the knob. He yanked the door open.

Shawn stood on the threshold in a black leather jacket, holding a cardboard box with two coffees and a bag of cookies or muffins or damn biscotti perched on top. His eyes were light with hope, though his smile was tentative and sweetly unsure.

***

Blurb:

ER physician’s assistant Hunter guards his heart carefully, but that doesn’t stop him from falling for Shawn, the front desk clerk. He keeps his distance from relationships for a reason, but just can’t help himself when it comes to Shawn.

Shawn is on the run from the law and love to protect himself and anyone else involved. One man is dead because of him, and his life now is simple and easily thrown into a bag at any hint of danger. Until he meets Hunter, and he no longer wants to run.

Forced into a hostage situation, buried passion explodes in the aftermath, and sex in the supply closet brings their hearts back to life. Tentatively, step by step, they begin to explore a relationship together until the past catches up with Shawn.

FBI agent Nick Truman has finally found his man, but when Shawn escapes, he focuses his attention on Hunter. Shawn returns, even though it means sacrificing himself to save Hunter from the man who framed him for murder.

Title: Hitting Black Ice

Author: Heloise West

Publisher:  Loose Id

Publication date: December 2, 2014

Word count: 75,000

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23644828-hitting-black-ice

Bio:

Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.

Social Media:

heloisewest@hotmail.com

https://twitter.com/velvetpanic

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23644828-hitting-black-ice

https://www.facebook.com/heloise.west.1

http://velvetpanic2.wordpress.com/

 

Buy Links:

http://www.loose-id.com/hitting-black-ice.html

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hittingblackice-1689874-340.html