In
spite of the carefree face he was showing the world, Valentin Alekseev felt
bone tired. Cold and hurting, but above all tired. Too many nights out in the
rain, each of them a year’s worth of pain and misery. The exhaustion, the blood
loss, and the hunger had taken their toll on him and he was already running on
fumes, his strength and will to live almost gone. He was still fleeing, still
fighting for his life, but the moment when he would no longer care what
happened to him was closing in.
So
many towns and faces had passed before his eyes in the last few weeks, he’d
lost track of them. They all mingled, becoming but a blur in his mind. None of
them mattered anyway. Humans, all weak and fragile and oh-so-shallow, nothing
more than a meal or a quick fuck, simply means to pass the long hours of
eternity.
Once,
he would have taken his time indulging in all the pleasures mankind had to
offer. Vice, in all its sizes and shapes, was no stranger to him, and while his
tastes leaned toward pretty boys with tight asses, in his three hundred years
he learned to take pleasure everywhere.
Yuri
Sergheev, his sire, had taught him well. He’d given him eternity. He showed him
the beauty of the night and introduced him to the joy of the hunt. In the hands
of Yuri, he had learned the ways of their world, how to conduct himself in
order to survive, how to give pain and pleasure and how to revel in them. He’d
been his sire, his mentor, his lifeline for so long. And now Yuri was gone and
Valentin was alone, running for his life.
My stomach tightened to
knots. My mind blanked. No. I couldn't do this.
"There's someone
here to see you."
I didn't see that coming.
"Huh?"
"There are two men
downstairs."
"The police?"
"No."
Slowly, the fuzziness
cleaned out, though the tiredness remained. I heard the hesitation in his
voice, felt the tension in his body.
"I don't
understand." I tried to drag myself to a sitting position. A thousand
needles stabbed my flesh. My breath caught in my chest. Tears pooled at the
corners of my eyes.
"Easy. Take it
easy."
"What's going
on?"
"I told you, we have
company."
"Where is Sari?
Stefan?"
Chris hesitated and the
caressing halted for a second.
"Sari is not here.
Stefan...is not happy about the visitors."
And then I heard it. The
low growling of werewolves coming from downstairs, muted by the hardwood floors
between us. Oh crap.
Seeing how I have somehow neglected the blog in the past several months, I'm launching Excerpt Sunday, when you will get exclusive excerpts of my work in progress and all sorts of updates about my writing. So, without further ado, here is an exclusive, unedited excerpt of my new WIP, Dom for Hire.
Drawn by the sound of the sounds of
the play, Wes wandered closer to the edge of the landing, from where he could see
the show below. The crowd was gathered around the central area of the floor,
leaving a lot of space for the two protagonists to get their kink on. It wasn’t
often that a pair of players attracted so much attention. Seeing the scene, the
beauty of the sub lying on the table, Wes could understand why.
The sub, in his twenties from what
Wes could tell, was lying on his back on a wooden table. His wrists were bound
above his head and secured with a chain by one of the multitude of metal hoops adorning
the walls that served more than decoration purposes. His legs, clad in loose
black pants, were spread and tied by the feet of the table. His back was arched
and even from a distance, Wes noticed the play of muscle, the tension in his
torso as more hot wax was poured on his chest. It burned and dried up in a random
pattern across the skin, only to be removed by a swift flick of a flogger. The
sub trashed against the bonds, and, though Wes couldn’t be sure, he thought he
heard him gasp. More wax was poured, followed immediately by another sweep of
the leather.
Roan
has pretended to be a human for long enough. He needs to get out of town and
roam the land, as any proper werecat should.
The
last thing he wants is his conscience insisting he should save an abused
werewolf from a traveling circus first. The very last thing he expects is the
local sheriff’s daughter having the exact same idea – and beating him to the
punch.
Their
rescue goes spectacularly wrong, and suddenly Roan, Betsy and their crippled
wolf find themselves fleeing across the US for the Mexican border, chased by
the police and vengeful circus fey alike.
Sunchaser
is a non-romance, road-movie-ish urban fantasy adventure novel about a werecat
drifter, a wide-eyed human girl and a defective werewolf learning that
sometimes, family really is the ones you didn’t pick.
Excerpt
Roan cautiously edged around a trailer until he could get a look at what
was going on.
The side of the truck facing the camp was folded up and revealed that
the inside was actually a cage with sturdy steel bars. The floor was sparsely
covered with filthy straw. A tall man in a faded tuxedo, with an equally faded
top hat over a stark white ponytail stood inside the cage, brandishing an
electrical cattle prod. He made all of Roan's senses light up in alarm. The man
felt cold to him, like a chilly breeze. Roan had no idea what he was, but he
definitely wasn't human. It took him several seconds to notice there was
someone else in the cage, too.
A huge wolf cowered in the furthest corner, pressed flat to the ground,
his snout and most of his face hidden under his front paws. His fur was matted
with dirt.
"Do it!" the man hissed again. "Change!" The cattle
prod descended and was pressed against the wolf's neck, who whined in pain but
didn't move.
The scent of burning flesh made bile rise in Roan's throat. He stared in
shock. That couldn't be a werewolf. He didn't have much respect for the
doggies, but he refused to believe that any of them would have allowed anyone
to treat them like this. A lone werewolf was a rare thing in itself. They lived
in packs, protecting each other and their young. Where there was one, there
were always more, which was why one never tangled with them. And yet, the faint
scent of something more than mere wolf was unmistakable.
"Fuck!" the man growled and kicked the wolf's side hard, his
only reaction was to try and make himself even smaller. "You can't be used
up already! Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
Roan had no idea what the guy was so angry about, but he was sure it
would be bad for the wolf. He breathed deeply and soundlessly. He had to get
out before the man noticed him. That he had captured a werewolf didn't mean he
would be able to capture a werepanther as well, but it definitely would mean a
lot of trouble. He had absolutely no reason to risk that.
The man inside the cage straightened up and visibly fought to regain his
calm, pulling his tuxedo jacket back into place. Then, he crouched down beside
the trembling werewolf and gently stroked his neck.
"There, there. I know you are so tired,” he said, his voice a soft
singsong now. “But you have to do it. One more time. For me. Be a good boy for
me."
Start
your journey with Book One in the Smilodon Pride
series:
Softpaw
Connor’s
life used to be the dream of any cultured werecat. He spent his days in Paris’
gay quarter with comfortably little real work, playing the piano, surrounded by
art, fine food and good friends. Now, a feral vampire preys on the prostitutes
of ‘his’ quarter, killing the boys of the Marais one by one.
When
Connor invites a newly arrived hooker to stay on his houseboat, the last thing
he expects is Michel to be a member of the Brigade Criminelle – a troubled,
hunky rookie cop sent undercover to explore Connor’s connection to the murders,
picked mostly because he had been a boy of the Marais himself, not so long
ago.
Hiding
their true natures becomes a problem for both when their initial attraction
becomes much more than they ever thought possible. But in order to bring down
the serial killer and maybe have a chance at making their relationship work
out, one of them will have to take the first, critical leap…
Beryll
and Osiris Brackhaus are a couple currently living their happily ever after in
the very heart of Germany, under the stern but loving surveillance of their
cat.
Both of them
are voracious but picky readers, they love telling stories and drinking tea,
good food and the occasional violent movie. Together, they write novels of
adventure and romance, hoping to share a little of their happiness with their
readers.
Beryll
An artist by
heart, Beryll wrote stories even before she knew what letters were. As easily
inspired as she is frustrated, her own work is never good enough (in her eyes).
A perfectionist in the best and worst sense of the word and the driving
creative force of the duo.
Osiris
An
entertainer and craftsman in his approach to writing, Osiris is the
down-to-earth, practical part of the team. Broadly interested in almost every
subject and skill, with a sunny mood and caring personality, he strives to
bring the human nature into focus of each of his stories.
Title: Good Boys Series: The Solomon Series, Book One Author: Keelan Ellis Genre: Gay Fiction, Detective, Mystery Length: Novel Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Synopsis
Paul Solomon is a homicide detective in Baltimore, a city with a high murder rate and a complicated relationship between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
He’s also a gay man who has been out on the job since he first joined. Being out on a tough police force hasn’t always been easy, but living with integrity is important to him.
Paul’s love life becomes as tumultuous as his job with the demise of his relationship of eight years. While dealing with the emotional and physical upheaval in his personal life, a case comes across his desk that hits a little too close to home—the murder of two gay teenagers.
Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, must solve the double homicide, and Paul has to find a way to move on from his failed relationship.
Review: 5*
I loved this one! I'm head over heals in love with this story and I can't wait to read more of Paul and Owen, especially because of the way the book ended.
This is not a romance per se, the focus being on the case Paul and his partner are investigation, but the presence of Owen and David change this to some extent.
Paul Solomon is a well rounded character, sometimes a jerk, but he truly cares for people. Despite having break up with his former bf a year ago, they still lived together and managed to maintain a decent friendship, and not only that, but we get to like Andy, his ex. I hope we will get Andy's story sometime in the future.
KEELAN ELLIS is an east coast girl for life, a progressive, a lover of music and musicians, a mother of two very challenging girls, a loyal though sometimes thoughtless friend, a slacker, a dreamer and a bad influence. She likes true crime podcasts, great television and expensive craft cocktails made by hipsters in silly vests. KEELAN ELLIS can be found at:
Website: keelanellis.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004482857209
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeelanEllisAuth
Quite interesting approach with well developed back story. It starts away a bit slow, but once it started, it kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. As a non native English speaker, I did struggled with the Scottish brogue at times which pulled me from the story and made it hard for me to connect with the characters, however it did bring an air of freshness to the book.
Angus and Daniel make for an interesting pair, with a lot of background for them. Ghost story lovers will certainly appreciate the book.
Synopsis
Angus Macgregor has endured a lot in life. Mother passing
when he was a small child, he also nursed an ill father to his last breath. But
when he loses his one remaining relative, an uncle he’s never met, his
existence is turned on its head forever. Bequeathed Clan Gregor Castle in the
Scottish Highlands, Angus leaves Australia behind to take on the family
business. It’s there he finds more waiting for him than he ever dreamed
possible.
Daniel Ramsey is a man with secrets, none more dangerous
than the fact that he can see what others can't. When he meets one particularly
handsome Australian, the attraction is immediate. Hesitant to let down his
guard, his hand is forced when a former guest of the castle comes calling and
attempts to stake a claim on the very man Daniel wants.
L. J. HARRIS
is a mother, wife, an introvert and author. Her family is her life, her soul,
and the very reason she gets out of bed every day. Coming a close second is her
writing.
She discovered a passion for putting pen to paper in her later years, jotting
down poems in birthday cards for family members.
It was then a spark was lit, and ever since, she hasn't been unable to switch
off the urge to share her stories.
L.J. Harris discovered that as much as experiencing pain, loss and betrayal can
be devastating, capturing the feelings of anguish and loss that some of her
characters have had to endure without firsthand knowledge would have proved
difficult.
L.J. has been previously published and has shared several online stories and
looks forward to continuing to share her work.
The
laws of physics are about to wreak havoc on Walt and Michael’s May-December
love.
ALL
ROADS LEAD WITHIN
Layla
Dorine
When
James spotted Rogue, a young man for whom wandering is like breathing,
half-dozing on the hood of his car, he never expected that warning him about
the dangers of sleeping out in the open would lead to a weekly visitor at his
door.
NORTH
PASTURE
Lily
Velden
Upon
the death of his grandfather, up and coming Fantasy author, Thomas, returns
home.
A
place he left four years earlier to get over his unrequited love for Sam
Fletcher, his older, straight, and very much married
neighbor.
Thomas
soon discovers, however, that things are much changed with
Sam…
AMERICAN
MASTER BAKER
Dale
Cameron Lowry
Baking
is a way of life for Joey, a young pastry chef vying for first place in the
popular reality show American Master Bakers.
But
the judges have been showing favoritism to Terence, an aggravatingly attractive
older man with more experience under his belt.
When
the competition gets hot, so do the two men. Can a relationship that started in
hatred end in love?
ALPHA
AND OMEGA: THE CLAIMING
Eddy
LeFey
A
young Omega shifter meets a much older Alpha.
Will
Elliot let Issac help him be who he is too afraid to be?
STAND
AND DELIVER
Asta
Idonea
Necessity
has forced former soldier Captain Keen to assume the occupation of gentleman
highwayman. His fortunes take a turn, however, the night he stops the Marquis
de Beaumont’s coach and gets more than he bargained for when he utters the
words “Stand and deliver!”
LOST
AND FOUND
Louise
Lyons
The
loss of his best friend leads Phil to find love.
TRAIL
TO LOVE
Kassandra
Lea
There’s
only one thing Kit Conley likes more than horses and that’s Roman Meadery.
But
will the elite rider ever notice him?
CRUISING
WITH LOVE
Carol
Pedroso
Gus
is under the thumb of a controlling father. Can meeting his mate give him a
reason to make a break for freedom?
Nelson
is twice Gus’ age, and very protective of what is his.
What
will happen when Gus’ father tries to split them up? And what surprises does
Nelson have up his sleeve?
NEAR
MISS
Aimee
Brissay
A
few seconds, that’s all it takes to make a difference between life and
death.
Between
killing someone and stopping on time.
But
is it enough to turn yourself around when you’ve hit bottom?
Or
to make you recognize something good when you have it?
