Bewitching Book Tour Release Day Blitz! Caressed by Night by Amanda J. Greene

It's the RELEASE DAY BLITZ for Carressed by Night by Amanda J. Greene!  And what better way to celebrate than to tempt you all with book excerpts!

Caressed by Night

By Amanda J Greene

Book 2 Rulers of Darkness Series

Description:

Dimitri Arsov, the last remaining pure vampire, was thought to be dead for the past four hundreds years. Now, he is back and has a score to settle with the traitor that had tried to kill him centuries ago. But as he waits for his prey to blindly step into his carefully laid trap, his overwhelming hunger for blood is triggered when he saves a beautiful art historian. 

Kerstyn Ingmar’s life was normal and straight up boring until the night she is rescued by the dangerously sexy, powerfully mesmerizing, Dimitri. Unable to resist his diamond blue eyes and intense kisses, she is drawn into his world of darkness and closer to her impending doom. 

While their desire consumes them, Dimitri is haunted by images of a bloody and deadly future. As his enemies draw near, he must find a way to save his mate from her destiny before fate destroys them both.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/YsLOaeQQX24

And if you liked the sound of that... 

Try the first book:

Caressed by Moonlight

By Amanda J Greene

Book 1 Rulers of Darkness Series

Description:

Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary aristocrat. He is a vampire king, who will do anything to save his clan from complete annihilation, before an ancient curse can claim his immortal life.
Penniless and orphaned, Victoria Kingston has nothing to bring to a marriage, yet she must shackle an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage by the end of the month or forfeit her rights as guardian of her younger sister. With the help of her dearest friend, Victoria begins her hunt, and vows to stay far away from the dark, mysterious, Dorian Vlakhos.
After meeting the beautifully innocent Miss Kingston, Dorian had to have her. He would do absolutely anything to make Victoria his. One sweet stolen kiss would bring them together while a force, more powerful than any vampire would bind them for all eternity. But treachery, war, and death rule Dorian’s dark world and Victoria would be fortunate to survive.

Get it at: Amazon
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caressed-by-moonlight-amanda-j-greene/1100977594
ARe http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-caressedbymoonlight-529040-139.html

And if ALL OF THIS WASN'T ENOUGH... Check out the excerpts from Caressed by Night below.

Excerpt #1 Caressed by Night

“Are you all right?” a man asked from behind her.

      She relaxed when she realized the voice sounded nothing like her attackers; it was warm, deep, and comforting.
      “Miss?”
      “Y-Yes.”
       Slowly turning toward the voice, relief flooded her body, her breathing began to slow, and her limbs went limp. She stumbled and prepared to meet the pavement again, but her rescuer caught her. He tenderly held her to him, supporting her. Kerstyn knew she ought to protest and shove him away, he was a stranger after all, but his touch was soothing and reassuring. She had never felt so safe and calm in her life.
      Calm was the furthest thing from her savior’s mind.
      Dimitri had heard the vampires’ thoughts as they followed the woman from Dark. He knew he had to protect her from the depraved creatures who intended to make a meal out of her. When he materialized in the alley, the weaker vampires caught his scent and fled, leaving him alone with the woman. Instead of feeling anger as he expected, an entirely different emotion settled over him.
      Lust. It was no ordinary lust, but a heart racing, blood raging, sexual yearning and it turned his body into a blazing inferno of need. Then hunger like he had never known slammed into him. It gnawed at him relentlessly as it mixed with his unmerciful lust. The torturous combination attacked both his body and his mind. He had never wanted any woman with this kind of intensity.
      His body had been dead for so long, no longer responding to sexual stimulus or blood-thirst. Thousands of years had passed since the last time he had fed. The desire and necessity for blood had abandoned him. None of that seemed to matter now. His fangs sprang free as his pants grew tighter about his throbbing shaft. This woman’s blood sang to him, beckoned him to have a taste.
      Dimitri ruthlessly fought the temptation to seize her mind and take what he wanted. The dread of not being able to pull away terrified him. Realizing what precious little control he had, he shut down his senses, driving away her intoxicating scent and the warmth of her soft body against his. He forced the color from his sight, only seeing in black and white with shades of gray. Though he knew he would never forget the light fragrance of her strawberry blonde hair, the feel of her in his arms, and the sapphire color of her eyes.
     He took in deep breaths and focused on the cool bite of the air. It washed over his body, rinsing away his desire leaving him as always, cold and unfeeling, like death. He was death: a true, pureblood vampire.
     “What were you running from?” he asked, his tone controlled.
     “I was being followed.”
     He peered over her head, his eyes scanning the alley. “I see no one.”
     Nausea twisted her insides as she thought of what almost happened. Thank God, this man was here. If it weren’t for him–
     “Do not think about it,” he said, his arms tightening about her. “You are safe now.”
     She nodded, rubbing her cheek against his chest. He smelled absolutely wonderful, like dark spices. His voice felt like velvet brushing along her skin. She shivered and sighed in contentment.
    “Do you need help with anything?”
     His last question snapped her back into action. She stepped back, breaking the circle of his arms.
     “I need a taxi.”
     “A simple enough task,” he said with a shrug.
      She scoffed. If it were simple, she would have been half way home by now. She turned her head up intending to face him and a broad chest greeted her eyes. She was forced to take another step back in order to get a proper look at him.
     He was huge. Thick. Stacked.
     He must be close to seven feet, she thought as her eyes traveled up his torso, over his wide chest, to his face.
     Her heart stopped when their eyes met. They were a near colorless shade of blue. Like diamonds. His gaze was sharp, hard, filled with wisdom and strength. Intense. Warrior eyes. Yet, he could not be much older than her, around twenty-six. His golden hair glittered from the light of the neon signs and floated about his shoulders. His face was chiseled and impossibly perfect. His lips were full and Kerstyn wanted nothing more than to feel them against hers. Her eyes traveled back down his hard, honed body.
     She stood, rooted to the cement, captivated by the Norse god before her.
     Damn, he’s incredibly yummy.
     Dimitri forced himself to remain still while she studied him. Again, he struggled against his urges, his heart thundering from the force of the shock of desire that still echoed in his mind.
     He knew one day he would meet his mate, but he had underestimated the force of her seductiveness. He never expected she would spark such yearning deep within his soul. He wondered how Dorian had dealt with such overwhelming need when he had found his intended. Dorian had been the first and, until now, only vampire king to find his other half.
     Dimitri’s breath caught as her small, pink tongue wet her lips and her sensual thoughts invaded his mind.
     She had to go.

Excerpt # 2 Caressed by Night

      “You’ve healed,” she whispered. Her voice was rough and her throat ached from her screams. “Your wounds are gone. That…that is impossible.”

“Not for me,” he grated.

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you?”

He dropped his head. Why now? Why did it have to happen this way? He cursed, damning Fate for the tricks she played. He hadn’t wanted it to happen this way. He wanted them to take their time, to get to know one another before he shared his secret with her. Now he was cornered. He had to tell her or―no. He would not erase her memory; he could not disrespect her that way. He would not take the coward’s way out. He had to tell her.

His heart clenched. What if she rejected him? What if she hated him? What if he repulsed her? She was his mate, but that was no guarantee that she would understand, that she would stay with him or that she would love him.

“What are you?” she demanded again, her voice shaking.

Her thoughts screamed at him. Vampire. Vampire. Vampire! He forced his gift aside, shoving it back into the darkness of his mind.

“I think you already know,” he said before pulling his shirt closed. 

About the Author:

Amanda J. Greene is an erotic paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a full time university student, who works part time.

She lives in Southern California with her very supportive military husband and their sweet cocker spaniel.

For more information about her upcoming books, visit www.amandajgreene.com

Blog: www.amandajgreene.blogspot.com

You can also find her at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-J-Greene/162646687109294

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4503428.Amanda_J_Greene

http://twitter.com/#!/AmandaJGreene1

Google pages: http://plus.google.com/117800803105791003658#117800803105791003658/posts

Happy Reading!

Cana

What Are You Reading Monday.

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by Book Journey . Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

What I read this week

What I'm currently reading

 

(actually, almost finished!)

What Will I be Reading? 

Actually, I have NO IDEA what I'm going to read after this.... I'm open to some suggestions :)

And probably some more... 

What are you reading?


Happy Reading!


Cana

Virtual Book Tour: Witch Woman by Jeanette Baker

Description:

In two different centuries, four hundred years apart, the lives of Abigail March and her daughter, Maggie, play out along parallel lines, both women blessed and cursed by a selective birthright and marked with a startling mutation, heterochromia iridium, one brown eye, the other blue. 

In 1692 Abigail and three-year-old Maggie, are accused of witchcraft. Most women who found themselves facing the hangman’s noose during this shameful time are innocent. Abigail is not. Summoning her powers, she sends her child through a time portal into twentieth century Salem. 


Maggie grows to maturity knowing nothing of her birthright until her foster mother’s death bed confession. Using her clairvoyant abilities and the medium of an ancient spinning wheel, she resurrects her past through a series of troubling dreams. 
Meanwhile Abigail locates the time portal and slips through, changing her identity, hoping to find her child and bring her home through the narrowing portal. 


Unknown to both women are the dangers of the old world’s dark forces, a swiftly narrowing time portal, and a missing child who desperately needs Maggie’s “sight” a sight that continues to blur as her ties to old Salem strengthen.

My Review:

Witch Woman by Jeanette Baker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maggie just one day appeared in the oldest grave yard in Salem.  Annie McBride takes on the mantle of taking care of her, knowing that there is something special about Maggie.  Unfortunately, Maggie doesn’t learn what that is until a deathbed confession sends her back to the town where she was found.  Struggling through the past of 400 years ago, she realizes that it is affecting her present in more ways than one.  Will she be able to solve the mysteries of the past in time to save her future and the future of a little girl?

This book was good, but it was confusing.  And let me explain why.  First of all, the first several chapters were very slow, and a bit confusing.  Annie is an interesting character that seems very predictable.  When she suddenly has a dream and packs her and Maggie up, it makes no sense to me.  There is no back story to explain why she is suddenly packing up and leaving. 

Then there is the issue with the time line.  The times kept flipping back and forth from the 17^th century to 21^st century, and if you weren’t paying attention, it got confusing.  Also another issue with this is the chapters/sections written in the 17^th century didn’t go in a true timeline.  It was all out of whack, which also made it hard to keep track with what had happen or what was going to happen.  In the wonderful words of the Doctor, it was all “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, big ball of stuff”. 

I did find the characters enjoyable, especially Maggie.  Though, Maggie’s catch phrase of “I don’t understand” did get irritating as she kept repeating it, even what was explained seemed pretty straightforward.  Scott was the wonderful realist in the midst of a supernatural story.  Think of him as the cornerstone that kept all the fantastical firmly rooted to the ground.  And his skepticism was welcomed, since it is possible that we would also find it hard to understand such ideas as time travel and magic.

Overall, it was a good book, and interesting read.  But it could have been a bit easier to read if there had been some semblance of a flow.  I do recommend this book. 

Happy Reading!


Cana

Lover Enshrined by J. R. Ward

Description:


Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is obligated to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive, and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished. 


As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body, but his heart for herself. She is drawn to the noble responsibility behind the emotionally scarred male. But Phury has never allowed himself to know pleasure or joy. As the war with the Lessening Society grows grim, tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, and Phury must decide between duty and love....


My Review:

Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phury has become the Primale for the Chosen, the father for all the newest generation of the Chosen and the Brotherhood.  Filled with guilt over things he had no control over and his attraction to his brother’s mate, he has let his addictions to drugs get the better of him.  To the point where his Chosen first wife, Cormia, is unsure about where she stands.  Cormia knows that Phury has feelings for his brother’s mate, but she doesn’t care.  She desires him, to the point where she wishes that he was only her husband, not the Primale to all the Chosen. 

With choices to be made, will Phury and Cormia survive the results, or will they loose each other forever.

I’m still not sure if I liked this book or not, and let me explain why. 

First, I think Phury is a whinny ass who can’t seem to understand that the world DOES NOT revolve around him.  It isn’t because of his birth as the 2^nd born twin that his brother was kidnapped.  It wasn’t his fault that his brother was scarred and tortured.  Also, his deep desire for Bella, his brother’s mate, is a little to the point of stalker-ish. 

Second, the constant appearance of the wizard was a pain in the ass.  I understand what the wizard was suppose to represent, and how it tortured Phury, but really?  Was it necessary to bring it up so much?  I could honestly have not dealt with it at all.  I might have even rather have had Phury not have the wizard as his tortured mind’s perverse personification.

Overall, Phury’s character just plain pissed me off.  I mean, come on, there is only so much angst that can exist in a person before you begin to hate them.  No wonder Zsadist goes after him!  No wonder a lot of other shitty stuff happens to him! Ugh, did not like him.

Third reason that I’m just not sure I liked this book was because of the whole lesser issue PLUS what the Omega started 25 years prior to the actual happenings in the book.  Seems a bit far fetched compared to the rest of this book.  Actually a whole lot of far fetched.  I can’t say much without giving it away, but REALLY? 

Now, what I did like about the book is a better understanding of the Chosen, getting to know Cormia better, and a great area of growth for John Matthew. 

The Chosen remind me so much of isolated nuns who are allowed to have sex.  But in so many ways their isolation has perverted the purpose of being separated from the general populace.  Their innocence is just one more thing that sets them up for vulnerability and you can’t help but want to shake some sense into their heads.  But then we get to see how the Scribe Virgin works within the Chosen, how things work on that side of reality, and a little surprise kept within the Scribe Virgin’s chambers. 

I think I loved Cormia the best, as she was such a strong character.  I mean, she is bright, but still full of innocence, and that just made it better to see how great a character she was.  I think that her character was one of the main reasons I kept reading this book. 

John Matthew, the supposed son of Darrius, is a great character.  Because of his past of living among humans as an orphan/foster child, he has a lot of baggage to deal with, especially the sexual abuse he has endured.  His reasons for wanting to ignore it is understandable, but the way he finds the strength to finally admit it to others (other than the doctor and those who read his files) makes him a better person. 

Overall, I do recommend this book, if only to get a better of idea of the upcoming books (and to see if you like the same characters as I did :P)

Happy Reading!


Cana

Follow Friday: 25

Welcome to Follow Friday Hosted 

By Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com

Q: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most...

Hmmm, I read every where!  I mean, my bed, my car, both jobs, parking lots, and the list goes on and on and on.  The only reason I won't be reading is because I have to actually work, OR I am having to communicate or pay attention to people.  Or I forgot my book or e-reader :P


So where do you read?


Happy Reading!


Cana

Lover Unbound by J. R. Ward

Description:


Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous, son of the Bloodletter, possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her...


My Review:

Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vishous was the son of a horrible man, one only known as the Bloodletter.  He never knew his mother, but suddenly she appears in time for his 303^rd birthday, claiming he must take up the mantle for the Brotherhood by procreating with the Chosen.  He accepts his responsibilities, but not willingly.  After being mortally injured, he finds himself in the care of Dr. Jane Whitcomb, and he can’t help but want her over responsibility.  But will the future visions that have been torturing him and the destiny of his responsibilities prevent him from having the life he never expected to want.

So, this was better than the 4^th book in this series, but still not as good as the first 3 books in the series.  Vishous has always seemed a bit of a loner in the other books, but here, we get a front row seat on how his life hasn’t been a bed of roses.  Full of his present, the visions of the future, and his tortured past of living in his father’s camp, you can’t help but get a picture of a man who has buried all his emotions.  Even his physical scars and tattoos just more reminders of what he has been through.

It is because of his past and present that seems to be why Jane is such a good match for him.  After the loss of her sister, and even the loss of her parents, she has learned to only depend upon herself.  Though none of her scars are physical, she carries a lot of hurt from what her parents did, or didn’t, do. 

I think one of the best parts of this book is getting a real beginning look into the Chosen community.  These women set apart from birth and by genetics keeps the Brotherhood/Chosen bloodline going, are extremely sheltered and separated from the world they are suppose to be helping.  You can’t help but wonder how they have survived this long with such isolation. 

I did like the pacing of this book.  It had a good even flow, with the exception of the first 4 or 5 chapters.  Those chapters seemed to drag out, I guess primarily because of the disconnected feeling Vishous seemed to be showing. It honestly only started to particularly pick up during the hospital escape (not a spoiler exactly, but definitely worth looking forward to if you haven’t read it…).  Also, very nice twist on who the actual villain is.  I didn’t catch it, until after he/she/it was caught, and that was a pleasant surprise. 

Overall, I think this was a good book, and I do recommend this book.  

Happy Reading!


Cana

Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward

Description:

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers. 

But fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.

My Review:

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Butch is the only human actually with the Brotherhood, but he can’t help but feel like more of a mascot than an actual participating member of the team.  After he kidnapped and tortured, he tries to heal, but something more is going on.  Something that will change the war

Marissa has always felt different from the rest of the aristocrats.  Try as she might to rise above it, she can’t help but long for the difference that Butch provides.  But will the choices that were laid in motion before they came together come between them, or will they finally get to be together?

Okay, this book… Not my favorite.  I didn’t really like Butch’s character through the other books, so I wasn’t too excited about this book.  For me, this book was primarily giving up assumptions and fear of loss.  Butch had lost his sister to death, and his whole family because he was different.  He longs for a family, but doesn’t believe that he can have that.  Marissa has been an outcast for so long, that when she finally realizes that she only wants to be with Butch, she is frightened of loosing him. 

I did like Marissa’s character a lot.  Dealing with her past, she had to learn to stand up for not only herself, but in the end, she was standing with the women and young whose males were beating them.  She starts a safe house, and even stands up to her brother (who seems a bit of a pansy ass to me…. But that is just my opinion.). 

There are a lot of chapters that are lesser focused, which I’m not a big fan of.  So I will admit, I didn’t really “read”, but rather skimmed through those parts.  Honestly, the lesser chapters seemed to move so much slower than everything else, it just plain drove me nuts.

I will say that it was a surprisingly better book than I was expecting, and I did like the twist of events (both past and present) that allowed Butch to fully join the Brotherhood.  Though, I think the glossary needs to be fixed… Can’t say why, it is a spoiler!

Overall, I think this was a good book, and I do recommend this book. 

Happy Reading!


Cana

What Are You Reading Monday?

So I've be gone for a while, but I'm back!  Here are all the books I've read since I've been gone, what I'm reading now and what I will be reading very soon!

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by Book Journey . Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

What I read the past few weeks

What I'm currently reading

What Will I be Reading? 

Actually, I have NO IDEA what I'm going to read after this.... I'm open to some suggestions :)

And probably some more... 

What are you reading?




Happy Reading!


Cana

Virtual Book Tour: Pride's Run by Cat Kalen

Pride’s Run

By Cat Kalen

Genre: Paranormal YA

Blurb:

Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine.

Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price.

When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run.

But Pride soon learns that if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt.

With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers.

Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first?

Buy Links:

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Prides-Run-ebook/dp/B0062O0B3E/

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101322

Barnes and Noble:  Coming Soon. 

All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pride039srun-625540-176.html

Excerpt:

California Wine Country

August 23rd, six days until full moon

The click of the lock at the top of the stairwell is my only indication that morning is upon me. My ears perk up and I listen for the coming footfalls. The weight on the stairs combined with the creaking of each wooden step will let me know which handler has come for us this time, which unlucky puppet has drawn the short end of the straw and is stuck with letting the dogs out, or in this case, the werewolves.

Sure, he’ll come sauntering down the stairs sporting a brave face and looking at me with cold, dark eyes meant to intimidate. But the wolf inside me can smell his inner fear. Despite the fact that I’m the one caged, underneath the handler’s cool, superficial shell he’s the one who’s truly afraid.

A long column of light filters down the stairs and I blink my eyes into focus as the bright rays infiltrate the pitch black cellar. I don’t really need to blink. Not with my exceptional vision. But I do it anyway because sometimes I simply like to pretend I’m a normal seventeen year old girl, one who can’t see in the dark. It’s nonsense, I know. I’m not fooling anyone. Least of all myself.

The door yawns wider and before the first heavy boot, soiled with old blood that he’ll pass off as wine stains, hits the top step, my senses go on high alert. I never know what morning will bring—or who will bring it.

A breeze rushes down the stairs ahead of the handler, carrying the aroma of the grand estate with it. I push past the metallic scent of dried blood to catch traces of grape juice in the air, a common smell on the majestic vineyard—that and illegal drugs, the estate’s real source of income. Going beyond those familiar fragrances, I breathe deeper and get hints of fresh bread baking in the upstairs kitchen. It must be Thursday. Mica, the estate’s cook, always bakes on Thursday.

In my human form I roll onto my side and lean toward the smell. Wistfully, my tongue darts out and brushes over my bottom lip. There is something about that scent that always entices me and before I can help it I envision myself eating a warm slice covered in rich creamy butter, crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside.

My nostrils widen, but I know the bread isn’t meant for me and not even one delicious crumb will pass over my dry lips. Not unless Mica sneaks it to me. As much as I’d love to taste her offerings I don’t like it when she takes chances for me. Disobedience is far too risky for the aging housekeeper. Despite that, my stomach growls in response to the aroma and I fight off the cravings. I can’t hope for bread when it’s unlikely that I’ll even be given a scrap of food today, especially if I can’t please him.

My master.

A boot hits the second step—the handlers always descend slowly—and as I stretch my legs out on my dusty mattress I hear the waking groans of Jace and Clover stirring in their own cages beside me. I glance their way, and that’s when my attention falls on the one empty cage in the cellar. My mother’s den. I breathe deep and fight off a pang of sadness that I cannot afford to feel.

I turn away from the empty cage and stare at the gray cement walls. I can’t bear to look at her den any longer. It only reminds me of how they killed her and how all the pups were forced to watch—to learn that disobedience comes with a price. Guilt and sorrow eat at me to think that she’d died trying to free me.

When step number five creaks, I diligently try to shake off the memories. The handler is close which means I can’t think about my mother right now. I push all thoughts of her aside, knowing that right now I have to think about my father and what he taught me before the master killed him. Never let them see your fear.

I harden myself.

Prepare.

Before my master’s puppet even reaches the bottom step, I know it’s the one they call Lawrence, the handler I hate the most. The one with a weak mind, strong back, teeth like baked beans and beady eyes that fit his ugly rat face.

He likes to call me kitten. I have a few choice names that I’d like to call him in return, but I always bite the inside of my cheek to resist the urge. Partly because I’d be whipped and partly because Miss Kara educated me and taught me all about manners. I realize that an educated wolf with manners might sound laughable. In my line of work, however, education and manners are as lethal as a bear trap to those I hunt. That’s how I lure my marks, how I bait my prey. A pretty face and good grace go a long way for a trained killer like me.

My glance wanders to my leg, the one peeking out from beneath my ratty blanket, and my eyes are drawn to the long jagged scar tracking the length of my calf. I grimace. Even with my education and manners, I never forget what I really am. I’m never allowed to.

“Hey kitten,” Lawrence says. Most would think the nickname is a play on my birth name, Pride. But I know it’s the handler’s way of cutting me down, to find control where he feels none. My parents called me Pride because I was their pride and joy. Lions live in a pride and since lions are cats…

He tosses a collar and chain into my cage. “Leash up.”

I take note of the gun in his holster before my glance locks on his. As I give him a good hard stare, he flinches. The movement is slight, but I notice it. Dressed in my knee length nightgown, long hair loose around my shoulders, I might look like an average seventeen year old girl—harmless and innocent—but we all know I’m not.

Even though Lawrence keeps his face blank and stares down at me with those dark eyes of his, he reeks of terror. The scent is like a mixture of hot sweat and rotting compost. Oh, it’s not pretty by any means. Nevertheless, the werewolf slumbering restlessly inside me feeds off his fear, thrives on it, so I inhale and draw it deep into my lungs.

Without taking my eyes off his, I take my time to leash up. My movements are slow and deliberate as I position the collar. Metal grinds metal and the sound cuts the silence as I secure it around my neck. The handler winces. So do the older, more obedient wolves that I bunk with.

Jace cuts me a glance, chocolate eyes now milky from old age warn me to behave. I realize he’s doing it for my own good, but this morning I’m cold and hungry and in no mood for Lawrence’s insults. Clover makes a noise to draw the handler’s attention away from me, and all sets of eyes shift to her.

As Clover tries to pacify Lawrence, averting her gaze in a show of respect and making small talk about the weather, Lawrence opens my mother’s former cage and pulls out her cot. He gives it a good hard shake and the breeze stirs the dust on the unfinished boards masquerading as our ceiling. The particles dance in the stairwell light before falling to the cold, cement floor.

When Lawrence tosses the cot into a corner I stiffen. It can only mean one thing. My mother has been gone for a little over a year now, and I know the master rarely keeps a cell empty for long, which makes me wonder when and how he’s going to fill it?

Who will he breed?

I cringe at the thought of bringing puppies into this world, but know it’s not something I have to worry about. The master would never breed a wolf like me. My mother always said I was a survivor, the only pup in a litter of three to make it, but hey, a runt is a runt. Thanks to Darwin and his theory of ‘natural selection’ a runt is a heritable trait that a pack can do without. When it comes to canine reproduction, only one motto dictates: runts need not apply.

Deep in the bowels of the estate’s basement, the master keeps other wolves, separating the strong and young from one another. I’m smart enough to understand that he distances us so we can’t conspire against him or speak telepathically. Wolves can only use telepathy when in animal form, however. Well, most wolves that is. Oddly enough, I along with Stone, an alpha wolf two years my senior are able to communicate while in our human forms.

Sometimes the master does in-house breeding, sometimes he sends us out to one of his associates—other drug-lords who also harbor werewolves. It’s like he’s running a regular old puppy mill in here. Except his puppies kill for him. Which begs the question, what does my master have in store for me today?

Author Bio:

Cat Kalen is a multi published author in the romance genre under two pen names, Cat is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and watermelon. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cat can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.

A maritime native and former financial officer, Cat has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family.

Links:

www.catkalen.com

www.yabeyond.com

Twitter: @catkalen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002600082432

Review:


Pride's Run by Cat Kalen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pride has never known freedom.  A slave since birth, her only purpose to her master is her tracking skills and her bloodlust that takes over when she releases her inner wolf.  But all of that changes when she is forced into a mission to capture a boy not much older than herself.  When he offers her rescue from her slave’s life, she is unsure to trust him or not.  Why should she trust a total stranger? But as they run away together, she can’t help but to feel drawn to him.  Will they both make it to safety or will she end up in a worse situation than she first started with?

I loved this story.  Pride is a beautiful character that has always underestimated herself.  As the runt and only survivor of her litter, she doesn’t understand that she is so important, so strong and creative that she is a threat to those who consider themselves her masters and superiors.  She has been wounded, she feels lonely, and when placed in this new situation, she does what anyone else would do, she follows along but with loads of suspicion and anger. 

I personally loved Logan.  He is a cute, powerful alpha male who does what any alpha male does: protect those under his care.  He is that wonderful mystery to Pride, and she really doesn’t know what to do with him.  Logan is constantly showing that he is trustworthy, though you do wonder what secrets he is hiding.  But what makes him such an appealing character is his patience.  He literally lets Pride comes to these realizations without forcing them on her. 

Then to make it all really interesting, the interplay of a romantic spark between Logan and Pride is interesting.  You literally want them to get together and in some ways it is Pride’s pride and mistrust of everyone that makes it the most interesting.  It definitely has the “first love” aspect going for it, and at some points you wonder if it is even going to work out.  Then you throw in Stone, another alpha male that you really don’t want to trust, but in the end you can’t help but liking him.  It creates a slight love triangle, though it seems more one sided when it comes to Stone and Pride. 

Ms. Kalen does a wonderful job in showing the life of a werewolf teenager who has been in captivity all her life and is released into the “wild” both literally and figuratively.  Also the teenage angst and just plain confusion of relationships make for a realistic reading experience.

Overall, this is an amazing book, and I highly recommend it.

And because this book is so amazing, here is your chance to win it!

Happy Reading!


Cana