December Update

I would like to sincerely apologize to all of you. I had every intention of being more active on here but life got in the way. I won't be able to be very active on here or with my writing. I am going to get my current project out and then it may take a while before my next book comes out.

I got sick the week before Thanksgiving and it never went away. I have been in constant pain and just recently the nausea went away. I found out this last week after many tests, x-rays, and ultrasounds, that I have to talk to a specialist about my gallbladder and I also have to go in for a CT scan for a spot they found on my kidney. 

During this entire time I have been heavily medicated and off of work. But you could have used this time to write! Not really. Several of my medications cause drowsiness, so in turn I ended up sleeping all day long. I have every intention of keeping all of you updated on what happens. 

Now for the real update! During the next month or so I will be updating Triple Threat and Taming an Alpha for the upcoming release of the Millersburg Shifters Volume 1. It contains the first three volumes of the Millersburg series. It will be releasing on January 31st for $4.99 It can be found here.

I already have an outline for Millersburg Shifters #4. But I know several of you are awaiting the next Trinity Mates book. Depending on what happens with my health I will try to have Millersburg Shifters #4 out by mid 2018 and Trinity Mates #2 out by the end of 2018.

Thank you all for your support and understanding. I hope all of you have a happy holiday

Sneak Peek #3

So I have another sneak peek for you all. Spy's Temptation is available for pre-order on Amazon for $3.99 https://goo.gl/WdzsxA Grab your copy today. Also no one has found my hidden sneak peek yet so you still have a chance to win a free copy of Spy's Temptation and a mystery gift.

“Hey, sexy, can I help you with something?”

She looked at the man that had spoken. He was slightly overweight, had started balding, and reeked of alcohol; it was 11 am. “Yeah, can you tell Jaxon and Jason that I’m here?”

He stepped closer and invaded her personal space. “Why do you want them, sweet thang? Don’t you want a real man?”

“I already have two real men in my life. Why would I want you?” She growled softly.

The man’s face turned red and he crowded her even more. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

“Obviously I’m talking to a womanizing bastard,” she snarled.

“Scott! What the fucking hell are you doing?” shouted a man that walked up.

“This bitch is looking for Jax and Jase,” Scott said.

“I suggest you apologize and get the hell away from her,” the man said.

“What’s she gonna do if I don’t?” Scott asked snidely.

“She’s not going to do anything but the two angry men headed this way might just kill you for insulting their girl,” the man replied.

Scott looked over his shoulder and saw Jaxon and Jason headed towards them and sneered. He looked back at Carman. “Don’t worry, bitch, we’ll finish this later.” He walked off before the twins reached them.

“Everything okay, Arius?” Jaxon asked as he walked up. Jason was staring at Scott’s retreating back with a look of barely controlled fury.

“Just Scott’s drunk ass being his usual.” Arius held out his hand. “It’s nice meeting you. I’m just sad it was under these circumstances.”

Carman shook his hand. “It’s nice meeting you too. My name’s Carman.”

He smiled at her. “I know. These two talk about you nonstop. Personally, it drives us unmated males insane.” He turned as someone called his name. “Well, I have to get back to the grindstone. Once again, it was very nice meeting you, Carman.” He turned and walked away.

“What brings you out here?” Jaxon asked.

“I found your lunch boxes on the kitchen counter and figured I’d just come have lunch with you. If that’s okay with you two,” she said smiling.

They grinned at her. “Aren’t you just sweet?” Jason said, pulling her into a hug.

She cuddled into him. “I could always go back home and have lunch with someone else.”

Jaxon pulled her from Jason’s embrace and hugged her. “We could go eat at Bixby’s.”

“We could do that.” She kissed him on the chin and cuddled into him.

“Why does he get kisses and I don’t?” Jason huffed.

“Because I’m not nice,” she said chuckling.

“No, she’s sweet,” Jaxon said, grinning.

“No I’m not.”

He chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure you honey pot is very sweet.”

She pulled away and hit him in the chest. “Perv.”

Sneak Peek of Spy's Temptation #1

As some of you know Spy's Temptation is available for pre-order. If you haven't ordered your copy yet you can find it here: https://goo.gl/WdzsxA

Now for what you really came for. A sneak peak of the newest chapter of the Millersburg Shifters series.

Spy's Temptation Sneak Peak:

Carman sighed as she stuffed her phone in her bag. She frowned as she remembered the phone call she had gotten from her father begging her to come and work as a stand in until this clan could find a permanent healer.

Healer… huh… Why they were called that she had no clue. All she did was become a RN specializing in shifters. It wasn’t like she used some magical powers to heal anyone. She knew about natural medicines and what manufactured medicines cause adverse effects in shifters.

Why did she agree to come here? The weather changed faster than she changed her panties, well if she wore any. It didn’t help that the constant weather fluctuations were wreaking havoc on her mood. If only there was someone to put a smile on her face.

She looked out the window and saw three men standing together. Hello, sexy duo. She wouldn’t mind being the filling to their smexy sandwich. She shifted in her seat as heat flooded her nether regions.

She didn’t usually go for the buff, rugged type but they drew her like a moth to a flame. They dwarfed the man they were talking to by at least six inches and were almost as twice as wide. Their features and size were identical but that’s where the similarities ended. One had a full sleeve tat while the other didn’t have any visible ones.

If only the man she was meeting would hurry the hell up and she could go out and grab their digits and maybe get a couple handfuls later tonight. She would rather spend her time here nibbling on them than catering to an overbearing alpha.

She watched as the three men parted and the shorter man walked into Cutie’s Cupcakes. He waved to the woman behind the counter before walking over to her.

“Carman Carter?” he asked. His voice was deep and gruff, reminding her of her father. His features were masculine but didn’t draw her like the two men that had been outside with him.

She held out her hand. “Yes. You must be the Beta, Grant.”

He grasped her hand and gave it a quick shake before sitting down across from her. “I’m sorry that the Alphas couldn’t come with me to meet you. They had something come up that needed their attention.”

“Alphas? I didn’t realize that this clan’s leader was mated,” she said. Her father hadn’t really told her a whole lot about this clan and now she wished she had asked more questions.

He chuckled. “No. The Northern Clan is ruled by a pair of twins. Jason and Jaxon have been our Alphas for a few years now. That was them with me outside.”

Holy shit… The men that were lickably delicious were the alphas and she had to work for them. Thank gawd she didn’t have to worry about workplace integrity because she would fail. Miserably.

Millersburg Book 3

This year has been a major trial. I'm sure some of you can agree with me. I am sad to say that my next book will not make it into the world while it is still 2016 but 2017 will be seeing a few changes and hopefully a few more releases. I wish you all the best and onto what I'm sure all of you have been coming back to find out about. Unless you only come for the prompt story then I'm sorry to disappoint you.

I have a sneak peek for you all at what is coming out. I can't really say it's a sneak peek, more like a teaser. Once again my cover artist did an amazing job.

Release Date: TBA

Blurb:
Carmen Carter never intended to come to Millersburg much less Indiana but when he father asks a favor of her, she's there. Though once she gets a view of Jason and Jaxon Miller she doesn't have a problem being there. She wouldn't mind spending some time with them as the filling to their sandwich. She soon learns that the twin hunks of alphaness are her mates but when she's threatened by a rival alpha things change.

As they begin to learn about each other, threats continue to try and pull them apart. The evil lurking in the shadows of Millersburg becomes more apparent. When the twins nearly lose their mate to the evil, a pair of rampaging bears are determined to keep her safe.

Quick Update

Sorry I haven't updated with the next prompt challenge (on either blog) but I became engrossed in my work. I have been working on the third installment of the Millersburg Shifters series, Spy's Temptation. I do not know how long this book will be seeing as there is a lot I want to see go into this one. So I have a very shaky release date. It's more like 'I hope I'm done by this date'.

I have been asked if I will release all three books in a bundle pack and I will be. But before I do I am going to be going through the first two and fine tuning them just a bit before putting them in the bundle. Nothing major (I think).

I do have a couple of stories I would like to see make it onto your electronic devices but that all depends on my schedule and work *cough* procrastination *cough* level. Though I do have a bonus coming this week. My son is starting school which means I have my days off to do whatever I need to to get done with my work load.

Also, I am wishing my momma a Happy Birthday today. She turned another year older and had a great day of just relaxing. I can't wait for next month when I get a weekend of just relaxing on my birthday, no child, no work (main job), and just me and my computer. Ah, fun times to come.

Write drunk; edit sober.

- Ernest Hemingway

I hope you all have an awesome week. Since this is my Friday I'll be sleeping in for the next two days for the last time until school break. *cries* But as a single mom I am rejoicing at the fact that it is back to school time.

Species Compilation of Trinity Mates

This is my compile of all the different species we come across in Book 1 of the Trinity Mates.

Freorian, Hydrakian, Draconian - Human in appearance, the closer to the original blood line they are the more dragon like abilities they possess. Their height can range anywhere from 5' to 7' tall, mainly between 5' and 6' 6'' tall. Their life expectancy can span centuries. All three species are at war with each other.

Terran - Terrans are human in appearance and physiology. The main difference between the two are that Terrans live much longer than humans. They normally extend their lives even more by exchanging biological body parts for cybernetic ones.

Criptian - Small mammalian beings who are very intelligent. Their features can range from those of a mouse to those of a raccoon. All are no taller than 4' and they are the natural prey to the Kartorians.

Kartorian - Lizard like beings that stand anywhere from 6' tall to 9' tall depending on age and gender. The smaller the Kartorian to weaker they are considered. Most leave their home planet due to the harassment of the larger Kartorian. They are a hostile and violent race known to cause mayhem where ever they go. Males are usually smaller than the females. An off world male Kartorian never breeds with a female of his own race. He usually kidnaps a female from any human like race.

Grenicks - Small amphibious beings known to be cannibalistic. They are very resilient and are known to travel in large groups. Kartorians are known to use them in battle as their first wave of attack.

Credorian - They are a small humanoid race that stand no taller than 4'. Even though they are highly advanced and intelligent they are very trusting and naive. Most become historians for cities, countries, or even entire worlds. A select few become accountants and investors.

Arachni - Spider-like beings. They are a horrible combination of human and spider. They have the ability to shift between the two forms and even shift into a hybrid of the two. They are mostly female. Females are exceedingly attractive and 'marry' men, use them to breed the next generation and then devour them. Males, who are also highly attractive, can only be found on their home planet. Males are much larger than females and are known to breed several females at once. If a female attempts to attack the male he tears her apart and leaves her for the other females.

If you haven't gotten your copy of Galaxing Around then you can pick one up right here: http://goo.gl/TP2Wpe It is also available in paperback here: http://goo.gl/8mkeiz

Writing Fantasy

I love writing fantasy and science fiction stories. But the one thing that I hate doing is research. Why would I need to research anything for a fantasy story? A lot of stuff. It may not be apparent when you write your story but later on you might see that things don't quite connect. Some authors are ok with things not quite connecting but not everyone is. I am one such person.

1. What Is Your Story About?

This is normally called the plot but I'm a little different. So what is happening in this story? Is your characters going on an epic quest or are we just going to see a small snippet of your fantasy world? Is this a big enough story to have a map and even languages?

J.R.R. Tolkien had not only maps of his world but even created a language for the Lord of the Rings series and The Hobbit. You may not think these things matter but you may have a reader that wants these things.

2. Types of Fantasy

You may think that this should have been first but as I've stated before I do things a little bit different. There is a WIDE variety of fantasy out there and you can mix them as much as you want as long as you make it sound plausible. So you could have androids with unicorns as long as it is plausible then have fun with it.

Cyborg leprechauns, FYI.

They can be a thing. Anyway once you have decided what your story is about then you can decide just how fantastical you want to be. But what about my characters? Just hang on we are getting there.

3. Characters

I already have a blog post about making believable characters. So basically you just have to do the normal routine on your character and if you find something new to add into your fantasy world then go ahead and do it. You may even find out that your plot/story line whatever changes, even expands. Yea, yea whatever. But sometimes a change in the plot line is fine.

4. Writing The Story

Now the hard part begins, writing the story. Don't stop writing until you have finished. Just remember to let yourself be creative (it's part of writing). Yes I know this is a short redundant tutorial but hey I like writing these.

What are you still doing reading this? Go. Go write your story. It's never going to be read if you never write it.

NOTE: I originally wrote this on my Wordpress blog. I have decided to copy the posts over to here cuz you guys need some lovin' too.

Character Development

Coming up with characters is as easy as pie, but coming up with BELIEVABLE characters is a whole different piece of pie. I know each writer has a different process of how they write their characters. Now I will be giving you a tour of how I do this process.

1. Motivation - I start with what motivates my character. Is my character doing this because of x, y, or z? This brings me a clear view of how their personality will be. So if my character had to rob a bank then I want to know WHY he had to.

Example: Joe Bob needed to rob the bank to pay off the mafia boss that he had borrowed money from so they don't take their payment out of his flesh.

Once you have figured out the WHY then we can move onto the next step.

2. Background - I have had some writers tell me that they don't do a background on their characters but I feel that having one makes my characters a little more believable and relatable (at least to me). When we have our motives then we need to know why our character feels they need to go about it that particular way.

Example: Joe Bob grew up in a bad part of town, raised by a single mom who worked as a prostitute for the mafia. He wasn't a good student and never graduated from high school and the only job he has ever had was with the mafia. He slowly developed a drug habit and began borrowing more and more money to supply his habit.

Ok so now we know that Joe Bob hasn't had a great life. He might have had small moments of happiness but that all depends on how much background you want to put into your characters.

3. Personality - Personality is a tough one for me. I have a tendency to give my characters snarky personalities in the beginning. But not all characters stay that way. As with each person, each character has a unique personality and quirks.

Example: Joe Bob has a Napoleon complex. He is very domineering and aggressive which was only made worse by his drug habit.

4. Description - Describing a character can be really easy or it can be extremely hard. I always look at my characters background and their motivations before I start putting their description together. To make your character more believable their physical description needs to 'fit' their personality.

Example: Joe Bob is very short and underweight. His hair is unwashed and a dull brown color. His eyes are a bloodshot brown color. He has track marks covering his arms.

5. Naming Your Character - Obviously Joe Bob was given a name but lets give him an official name. Now poor Joe Bob has a bad history and isn't the greatest looking guy.

Honestly, he is completely forgettable but that's how I want him to be. Now if we look at my poor character we know he didn't grow up in a great neighborhood and has ties to the mafia. Joe Bob is not what his name should be. Why? Because it doesn't fit him.

What would be a good name for my unimpressive character? A name that is equally unimpressive. I think I will call him Keith. Now that we have a name for him it is time to write his story. Either way the end for Keith is always the same, death.

If he succeeds in robbing the bank the cops shoot and kill him before he gets away. If he doesn't succeed then the mafia makes him an example. He newspaper article never makes it to the front page, he's relegated to page 8.

Yes poor Keith's story is a dark path of misery but that is how I wrote him. When writing characters every piece influences the character you create. Now Keith could have had to steal the money to get his mother off the streets as a prostitute. His story all depends on you and what you make it to be.

NOTE: This was originally written on my Wordpress. I am slowly copying posts from there to here cuz you all need lovin' too.

Galaxing Around!

Galaxing Around is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Get it here!

Blurb:

Infamous space pirate Kria has problems and not just being a wanted fugitive. Or mental ones. No, these problems can mostly be place on the shoulders of two arrogant males. And yes she was blaming them for her family problems even if they had nothing to do with it.

Verdal and Fyre were never ones to be friendly, much less share. Being on rivaling sides of an ancient planetary feud, can they bring themselves to share their feisty mate? Can they accept that their mate is from one of the planets that theirs is fighting against? Either way they may have to spank her rear-end for driving them insane.

When old enemies and ever present danger comes closer, Kria must trust not only her mates but a member of her family that she never knew about. The only way they can survive is to overcome eons old hatred and learn to trust in each other. But can they and their friends stay alive long enough to accomplish this?

Surprise!

Taming An Alpha is now .99 cents! Get it while you can! 

Here are the links to my social media:

Facebook: https://goo.gl/1dGxyK

Twitter: https://goo.gl/oiFkHS

Amazon: http://goo.gl/5hz1ep

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/1WxuI4

My Books:
Triple Threat - http://goo.gl/P0cLGF
Taming An Alpha - http://goo.gl/USvAzw

New Years Deal!

I am doing a New Years sale for Taming An Alpha. This sale will start on Dec. 31 and end on Jan. 1 at 11 PM. Taming An Alpha will only be $.99 during this time!

On a side not I am almost done with my current project and will be starting on the next book of Millersburg. I am hoping to have another update for Millersburg by the end of January.

The Next Book

I have started on my next book and will have my first draft done soon. But I am finding that the book I am working on isn't the next book in my Millersburg Shifters series. So! I will be starting on that rough draft this coming week and somehow juggle writing both books, work, and the holidays.

I am hoping to have my next book published by next year. *snicker* Yes I know a whole 20 days until January. I am still unsure which book will be done by then but one of them will be. I will have a short excerpt for you in the coming days.

If you haven't gotten your copy of Triple Threat or Taming An Alpha please check out my author page on Amazon. If you have gotten your copy please leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon! Thanks a lot and I'll see you all soon!

Here are the links to my social media:

Facebook: https://goo.gl/1dGxyK

Twitter: https://goo.gl/oiFkHS

Amazon: http://goo.gl/5hz1ep

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/1WxuI4

Tired

Omg... I am so tired. But I can say that after the release of Taming an Alpha I will be working on a few different things. I can't so for sure what will be released after Taming an Alpha but there will definitely be something. I did an outline for a scifi story that I have been adding notes to. At the moment it should be a stand alone but I don't know for sure.

Anyway I hope all of you have enjoyed Triple Threat. If you haven't read it yet then check it out on Amazon. If you like it then please check out book 2 which is up for preorder.

Triple Threat - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013Z0FBRI
Taming an Alpha - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015DCH6XI

One of Them Days

You ever have those moments when you wonder why you even bother? I have had several of those today. First at work and now that I have gotten home and looked at both Goodreads and Amazon I just wonder why. I know that people like my work but at the same time I want to know why the people that didn't like it didn't.

Usually I don't care one way or the other but today just seems to be one of those days. I can't seem to get anything accomplished. I'm exhausted and frustrated. Hell, maybe I should just start writing horror stories and see how that helps my agitation.

But I know that I will continue on with my stories. I don't write them for my readers I write them for me. I'm just going through one of those writer slumps where I think all I write is crap. To some of you maybe I do but to others they actually like my work.

The New Cover

I just received the new cover for Triple Threat! It is absolutely amazing! Thank you jessicaecovers from Fiverr! She did a simply amazing job!

If you haven't gotten your copy of Triple Threat yet then get it now on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Threat-Millersburg-Shifters-Book-ebook/dp/B013Z0FBRI

No Book Is Perfect

A few days ago I wrote a post about publishing. I'm sure that you will see it if you keep scrolling. But as I was *cough* procrastinating *cough* I came across a post on DeviantArt that was very true. The journal was titled Is Your Skin Too Thin? ( http://neurotype.deviantart.com/journal/Is-Your-Skin-Too-Thin-355303762 ) and it was very true.

Being an author isn't easy. Yes I talk about being a new author but I'm not, I have published before and it didn't go very well. People didn't like my work or didn't understand it. Some down right hated it. But guess what? That is ok. It made me take a look at my writing and decide how I am going to change for the better. I love the stories I write but I also have to remember that I am not going to please everyone and that just because no one bought a copy today doesn't mean that they hate it. Sometimes it is hard to remember that being a bestselling author takes a lot of hard work and time.

Yes it takes time. Time and continual learning. Even Stephen King's writing has changed since his very first book. Because authors are continually learning and changing. Things they wrote about two years ago may no longer be popular or the slang they used may not be used anymore. If you read a book from the 70s or 80s it is going to be different from how things are written now.

Now there are plenty of books, articles, blogs, whatever out there that tell you how to write the PERFECT book. FYI no book is perfect. I still find bloopers or misspelling or grammar mishaps even in a bestselling authors books. Is it in all of them? No. Is it their fault? Not always sometimes during the editing process things don't get fixed or the fixed area doesn't make it to the printing press/ebook. But not every book is perfect and not everyone is going to love your book. But as long as YOU love your book who cares.

Think of your book as your kid. Would you love your child less if he/she had flaws? I hope you said no there. No one is perfect. Except deities and sometimes they have flaws too. So please remember that just because you got a bad review or you go a couple days without any sales it doesn't mean the end of the world.

Now if you are getting bad reviews because you sent your 'finished' product to Amazon/other ebook platforms before editing for spelling, grammar, etc then you need to take it as constructive criticism and seriously take another look at your manuscript. Editing is an essential part of the writing process. "But I don't want to edit it. It is fine." Guess what buttercup you better suck it up and double check because you may think it is fine but you need to check to make sure. Take a green/purple pen to your printed copy and start fixing. Triple Threat had hardly any edits at the beginning of it but by the time I came to the end I was slaughtering it. I even back over the beginning in a different color.

So I will end my blog here and say that if you plan on publishing your book just remember that a lot of hard work goes into it, even if you have to research some of the steps to edit and revise. It is ok if you don't know every step. Research is your friend and your friends are sometimes even willing to give you a look at it and critique it.

Alice Frost on Publishing

I can tell you that as a single mother with a full time job and a passion to become an established author that it isn't easy. Sometimes there just isn't time to write much less think. But as a new author myself the biggest piece of advice I can give any budding author out there is: Make time. Even if it is just a few minutes while the kid is in the bath and dinner is in the oven cooking. Just jot down the idea you had and slowly expand on this. I have QuickMemo on my phone and Nooote Free on my tablet, which come in handy when I'm at work. Having a voice recorder also works.

Another thing that as a new author that takes time and unfortunately money is finding a cover that fits your story, especially if you are self-publishing. Most readers, myself included, are cover shoppers. If the cover looks good then they will buy it. If you have the money to buy a professional cover then you can move forward a little faster in publishing. If you don't have the money you can save up for the one you have your eye on but you risk the chance of someone else buying before you. Or you can find a temporary cover that kind of fits your story but then you risk the chances of no one buying your book. Now there are several sites where you can get premade covers and I suggest looking through those sites like you were buying a new house. Yes, that one is what you WANT but does it fit the story? Does it have everything you NEED to express? Will it draw your potential buyer it?

Yes yes I know I am a new author myself how do I know what I'm talking about. I do a lot of research. I read a lot of reviews, about writing, and different types of writing. Do I know everything? No. But I know what steps I have taken to get my book self-published. Trial and error is ok. If you make a mistake learn from it and move on. Just don't let that mistake get you down and stop writing, editing, or publishing. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from obtaining your goals. (Unless you are a murderer/serial killer then just don't do it.)

AF out!

Gawd I need a tagline....

Three Days!

I'm almost done with the rough draft of book 2. I have been working a lot faster now that I have gotten past my reservations. I know that I want people to like my books but there is that fear that no one will like my writing style that stops me cold in my tracks.

I'm hoping to have BK 2 done by the end of the year but I also have a couple of personal projects that I want to accomplish too. Like finishing the blanket I started crocheting for my brother and my winter hats. Also I am on the lookout for the cover for book 2. I haven't found anything yet but I am determined to be successful!

So keep a lookout for updates and possible sneak peaks!

Bk 2

Working on Millersburg Shifters book 2 and am almost done with the rough draft. I am happy to say that I have to outline for the next couple of books done too. I made a minor price adjustment to Triple Threat. It is now .99 instead of 2.99! With just 6 more days until the release of Triple Threat I can say I am excited! I hope you all enjoy the first volume of the Millersburg Shifters series!

Eve Langlais Shoutout

I LOVE Eve Langlais! Yes I am an EveL Minion and proud of it! I can't tell you how much I adore her books. So I am pimping her out and telling everyone about her new book that is coming out on September 15. Here is a few short snippets and then an awesome excerpt from book 4! I hope you enjoy I know I did!

Title: A Tiger’s Bride

Series: #4 A Lion’s Pride

Author: Eve Langlais

Pretty Links:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/zontiger
All Links/Excerpt: http://bit.ly/tigerbride
Nook: http://bit.ly/tigernook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/kobotiger
iBook: http://bit.ly/iamtiger
Google: http://bit.ly/tigergoo

Description:

When at first you don’t succeed–turn to abduction.
It’s all in a day’s work when this Russian Siberian tiger meets the woman he wants.
An accidental kidnapping? Check.
A forced marriage? Check.
A virgin bride? Damn. There go his plans for seduction and here comes the pressure into making her first time perfect. Because everyone knows that’s the one she’ll remember, forever. Gulp.
Add in a plane crash as well as hunters out to capture them and the heat is truly on.
Can this suave Russian mobster meet the challenge?

Short snippets:

#1:

A murmur went through the crowd, and he caught the phrase, repeated more than once by a few people present, “Here comes trouble.”

Surely they didn’t speak of the goddess he currently undressed with his eyes.

Riveted, he couldn’t help but stare at the statuesque blonde as she walked the aisle with grace, head held high, long neck tempting, hips swishing. The picture of elegance. At least she was until her heel caught on a wrinkle in the red carpet and she squeaked as she went flying.

#2:  

She tried one last protest. “You really don’t want to do this.”

He didn’t think she tread on his foot on purpose. “We are dancing, little kitten, so you might as well hush and enjoy it.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” was her ominous reply.

While her words promised one thing, her actual reaction proved the opposite. As they moved in a four step, her body lost its rigid tenseness, limbs loosening, her movements falling in line with his. Their tempo matched, their bodies synchronized.

Dmitri added some flair to their steps, and to his delight, she adapted, her hips swiveling, her feet stepping, and her smile beaming while her eyes lit with enjoyment.

He chose to ignore that their wild movements caused some people to dart out of the way. That was their own fault for dancing too close to a pair of suns because, yes, in his mind, they were both quite brilliant.

Again, not arrogance, just plain fact.

#3:

Now some would probably say, if he knew he was being chased, and if he valued his hide, then all he had to do was give Teena up. Leave her behind and go home.

To that, the man, not the beast, growled, “Hell no.”

But escaping with her was only part of the steps to ensure their future. Once he reached his homeland, he’d have only a little time to convince her to keep him before the council became involved. They tended to frown on shifters, even practically royal ones, abducting women.

Apparently it was so eighteen hundreds.

Long Excerpt:

Awareness came with the speed of cold honey spooling from a dangling spoon. Slowly. So slowly, and that was why it took the third time for her to grasp someone spoke.

“Say I do.”

“Hunh?” Eyes closed, and the lids too heavy to lift, her mouth a fuzzy peach in need of water, Teena’s mind struggled to wake from the most molasses sleep ever.

“Say I do,” hissed an accented voice, a voice that seemed familiar. But it was the scent that made her smile. Manly musk intermixed with a spicy cologne. It seemed her Russian admirer was still at her side. Had she fallen asleep on him at the party?

It was so hard to remember.

“Repeat after me. I. Do.”

What did she do? Forcing her brain into gear, she strove to recall events. Last she remembered, she was weaving back to the house after her sister’s wedding—drunk as hell because she was so mad at her interfering family—when Dmitri, that sexy Russian, waylaid her. He’d made sure the ground didn’t get fresh with her body parts. Instead, he let them get fresh with his solid frame.

He held her in his arms. Said stuff. Nice stuff. But forget that and fast forward to the exciting part where he kissed her.

Oh my. Upon her he bestowed a masterful kiss that melted her. She remembered the sense of weakness in her limbs. The roam of his hands, then…?

Her brow wrinkled. She couldn’t recollect anything past the amazing kiss.

Nothing. At all.

Had she seriously fallen asleep during the most intense embrace of her life?

Was this why Dmitri held her in his arms, his musky scent surrounding her? “Wake, little kitten. Just for a moment. I need you to say I do.”

“I do?” Do what? Surely he didn’t demand permission to kiss her again? Was he after something else? Blerg. She wished her brain wasn’t such a sluggish mess.

Giving her cobwebbed thoughts a mental shake, she pried her eyes open in time to see Dmitri’s handsome face hovering close to hers. She also heard the words, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

What!

Before she could grasp what had happened, lips pressed against hers in a molten touch that melted her questions and awakened a fire. The kiss didn’t help her regain her senses. On the contrary, she slipped into a pleasurable state with only one real thought in mind—more.

More kisses. More heat. More Dmitri.

The arms wrapped around her body held her upright and a good thing, too, seeing as how her legs had the consistency of soft rubber. A tiny part of her remarked she should protest, or at least make an effort to assert some kind of control.

She wasn’t firing on all cylinders. A sluggishness still held her. It occurred to her she should cry and be frightened, and yet…

She truly was enjoying the soft mesh of lips and the warmth of his breath. Or she was until she found herself deposited in a chair. Talk about a rude awakening.

Her body lamented the loss of the warmth from his while her inner lioness meowed in frustration. A frustration she understood all too well, given the ardor he woke refused to settle so easily.

Struggling against the lassitude in her body, she managed to flutter her eyes open, not that it helped her comprehension much. She didn’t recognize her surroundings.

A pen was pushed into her hands. “Sign here,” Dmitri’s accented voice purred in her ear.

“What is it?” she muttered through numb lips as she struggled to remain awake. She peered blearily at the white sheet in front of her, to no avail. The words on the paper wavered.

“It is what you want.”

Truly? Because…I want him.

Without giving it a second thought, she signed.

Then he did too, using the same pen she had, his bold signature alongside hers on the marriage certificate.

Blink.

Re-read.

Nope, the words on the paper hadn’t change.

She stabbed a finger at the paper, not trusting herself to speak. But if she had, it might have sounded a lot like her father, but with fewer swear words. What the fuck just happened?

He answered her unspoken question. “We are husband and wife, little kitten.”

Oh my. How unexpected.

Married. She was married. To Dmitri. I am married to the tiger.

Hunh, a coerced wedding, a first for the family and certainly never a disaster her sister had ever managed.

Point for me?

No, because Meena evaded Dmitri’s plans.

I, on the other hand, fell like a domino. Worse, I didn’t see it coming. I really thought he liked me. Thought he’d meant it when he said he would woo her and prove his intent.

What a jerk, kidnapping her like this and marrying her on the sly. Making her his wife.

His wife?

Could a lioness giggle? Her inner feline certainly seemed a tad too pleased.

His mate. The mental rumble vibrated through her body like a ghostly purr, one that left her senses alive.

Are you going to stand up and assert your rights?

“You can’t force me to marry you. Tell him.” She addressed the latter to the man dressed in a suit with a clerical collar of black and white, some kind of religious guy.  Surely he wouldn’t condone this farce. “Tell him it doesn’t count because I didn’t agree.”

“You said I do,” Dmitri reminded her.

“Because you told me to while I wasn’t even awake. It doesn’t count. And why is that priest ignoring me?”

“Little kitten, if you calm down, we can—”

“I will not calm down.” She lunged from the chair, only belatedly realizing the flimsiness of it.

The plastic bucket chair with its metal legs, a relic from the seventies, cracked. The hand she’d used to push off slid as the plastic snapped, and she lost her balance. Tipping sideways, she threw out her hand, but her reflexes were still kind of woozy and she missed, hitting the floor with her shoulder then a ricochet of her head. Damned industrial marble floor.She lay there, at an angle, stunned, and also exposing a lot more leg than she should. Through squinted eyes, she noted her skirt riding high on her hip.

Dmitri noticed too. Interest smoldered in his gaze, a gaze stolen by the collared man, who cleared his throat.

How dare he steal Dmitri’s attention?

Grrrr.

Who growled?

“Now, now, little kitten, give me a moment to deal with this obviously brave man, daring your vicious rage.”

“I am not vicious.” Vicious was her sister.

“I think you’re tougher than you know.”