Contest and Promo for Into the Darkness

Anna here~ I remember being a young girl, no older than 12 or 13, reading the V.C. Andrews classic, Flowers in the Attic, that horrific tale of small children locked in a room by their own mother, and what strikes me even now is the stark, raw emotions conveyed on each page. I cried for these characters, and I loved with them too. My mother bought me a complete set and I devoured them all, loving each one more then the last. Then I moved on to the Casteel series, and My Sweet Audrina. You could almost say that I grew up with these books. Admittedly, I didn't keep up with all the titles released, and I think my next big book crushes came with Kathleen Woodwiss and Lavyrle Spencer, deeper romances that were more complex, and adult. Then of course, my beloved, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and the sweeping adventures of Saint-Germain, which remains my favorite vampire romance of all time. 

But, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for V.C. Andrews and I'm thrilled to offer my blogging friends a chance to read Into the Darkness. Just leave a comment with your first romance title, your favorite V.C. Andrews book, or you could even let me know what you think of posthumously published books.

Bestselling author V.C. Andrews portrays her most romantic couple since Troy and Heaven in the Casteel series…in this twisting tale of desire and obsession, reality and dreams.

As lovely as one of the precious gems at her parents’ jewelry store, Amber Taylor is shy and introspective—qualities misread by others as being stuck-up and superior. Facing a long, lonely summer working at the family shop, Amber’s world lights up when the Matthews family suddenly moves into the house next door, a property that has stood neglected for the longest time. And when she meets Brayden Matthews, an only child just like her, Amber soon becomes infatuated with this handsome, quirky young man who seems to know her innermost feelings almost before she does, who takes her places she never knew existed in her small town. Their connection is electrifying, unlike anything Amber’s felt before. But as quickly as he appears, Brayden vanishes into the darkness. And finding out the truth about him will push Amber Taylor to the edge of madness….

An atmospheric journey of passion and suspense that builds to a jolting, unforgettable finale, Into the Darkness showcases V.C. Andrews at her best.

Become a Fan http://www.facebook.com/OfficialVCAndrews

Leave a comment for your chance to win! Open to US only. Good luck!

Blood Eternal by Marie Treanor

Mark your calendars!!! Marie Treanor will be stopping by (and giving away a copy of Blood Eternal) on October 26th as part of her Bewitching Book Tour. You won't want to miss out on your chance to win. See you there!

Blood Eternal
By Marie Treanor
Awakened by Blood, Book 3
Signet Eclipse
Mass Market Paperback
4th October 2011

Secrets don't disappear after seduction... Elizabeth Silk is struggling to reconcile her  passion for the vampire overlord Saloman and her allegiance to the vampire hunters. When a  shocking vampire revolt calls Saloman away  from her, she refuses to follow him.

To make matters worse, Saloman’s beloved  cousin Luk has been found and awakened by one of his greatest enemies. Frenzied  with bloodlust, Luk embarks on a killing spree and prepares to expose Saloman’s  biggest vulnerability: Elizabeth.

But under Saloman’s regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy,  no longer willing to hide their power. Rumors are swirling about attacks on  humans. After Saloman joins forces with the vampire hunters to consolidate his  power, Elizabeth begins to understand her role in the inevitable collision of the two worlds. She could bring resolution between vampires and humans—if she can manage to stay alive long enough to play both sides….

Excerpt from Blood Eternal:

Set up: An Ancient vampire, believed to be Saloman’s newly awakened cousin Luk, has gone on
the rampage in the Turkish hills. Elizabeth Silk is helping the hunters to track Luk and his
allies…

Luk began to run, and as his limbs stretched out, he remembered their strength and what they
could do. A surge of excitement urged him to speed up, to run around the entire world and never
stop. But her scent was close and sweet, and as he leapt down the final fifty feet to land right in
front of her, he grew dizzy.

Startled, the woman fell back, her dark hazel eyes huge in her beautiful face. Hair the color of a
long-forgotten sunrise whipped against her soft cheeks in the breeze. Blood pumped through her
delicate veins. The sound and smell of it drove him to new hunger, but this was one human he’d
never kill.

“Tsigana,” he whispered.

The name held Elizabeth frozen. She’d had an instant’s warning from the Ancient detector,
which suddenly, after indicating his slow plod away from her, went nuts, the readings obviously
failing to keep up with the speed of the vampire who leapt out in front of her a bare instant after
she’d known he would.

She’d had time to press her buzzer, at the same moment it had gone off in warning. The others
knew. So she backed off, giving them time to get here, holding the stake poised for the vampire’s
attack that didn’t come. He stood unmoving, staring at her.

The ordinary vampire detector in her pocket was still and silent. So the Ancient was alone. She
prepared to attack, targeting the spot in his chest that she needed, but before she could fly at him,
he said, “Tsigana.”

If he’d said her own name, if he’d called her Jane or Esmeralda or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she
wouldn’t have hesitated in the slightest. But he said Tsigana, as if he’d seen straight to her one
weakness, a jealousy that amounted almost to fear of the long-dead human woman who had once
held Saloman’s heart.

Her fingers curled convulsively on the stake, altering its aim by accident, and she had to readjust
it. The Ancient who was Saloman’s cousin, his onetime friend and his betrayer, one of Tsigana’s
three vampire lovers, continued to stare at her. She had the impression that if he breathed he’d
have been panting, but weirdly, she sensed no threat from him. He lifted his arms slowly, reaching out to her with intense, weirdly unfocused longing. Understanding slammed into her
like a blow.

“I’m not Tsigana,” she said between her teeth. “I’m Elizabeth, the Awakener.” And she flew at
him, aware her aim was true. She summoned every ounce of strength, every ounce of power she
believed in. Because she didn’t know how long the hunters would take to get here, she had to try
to do it alone, as she’d once tried to kill Saloman alone. She still believed she could have slain
him, using her power as his Awakener, but she’d never found out for sure, because her heart, not
her body, had prevented it. There was no such prevention here; Luk was the cause of most of the
unbearable pain  that had haunted Saloman for centuries. He was as good as dead, and she
couldn’t even regret her lack of compassion.

But he didn’t wait for her. He leapt back so fast she didn’t even see him move. Her stake sliced
through air, almost overbalancing her.

“Not Tsigana,” Luk repeated. He sniffed the air.

“Tsigana is dead.” Again she leapt, this time before she finished speaking, but again he evaded
her. A howl rent the air, like a dog or a wolf in agony. It had to be coming from Luk, as his
distant figure leapt back up the hillside at impossible speed, the bloodcurdling wail fading with
him into the night. Not because he’d stopped crying, but because he was too far away to be
heard.

“Shit,” Elizabeth whispered. With shaking hand she retrieved the Ancient detector from her
pocket. The pointer indicated the hill up which Luk had vanished, the display counting madly as
the distance increased. Then it went dead. Elizabeth delved for her phone, just as the needle
swung rapidly several degrees to the west, and the display galloped forward.

Oh, hell, he’s doubling back. He’s gotten over Tsigana and now I’m dinner.

Blood Sin
Awakened by Blood, Book 2

Even if you walk in the light, you can dwell in
the dark.

Months after her dangerous encounter with  vampire overlord Saloman, Scottish academic
Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both  the demands of her ancestral bloodline—which
marks her as a vampire hunter — and the  overpowering desire she feels for the immortal
she brought back from the grave. But she is not  alone in her fascination with Saloman.

When Elizabeth tracks down a distant cousin  from America, she learns he possesses an
antique sword that has caught the interest of the Grand Master of the American hunters. It is the ancient and mystical sword of  Saloman — a treasure of vast occult powers and a prize beyond measure to both  vampires and humans. Now the race is on for possession of the sword. Even as her enemies and allies shift their allegiances and battle for supremacy, Elizabeth must decide which will rule her own perilous fate: unwanted loyalty or unholy love.

Reviews:

"An action-packed sensual read, filled with danger, romance, vampires, humor and seduction,
BLOOD SIN is an unforgettable story... a delightful read and a welcome addition to the keeper
shelf... this amazing series..." - 4.5 Blue Ribbons, Dottie, Romance Junkies

"Beautifully worded... Unique plot twists... Steamy chemistry and passion-filled romance... an
altogether spicy read." - 4 cups. Virginia, Coffee Time Romance

"The fantastic sequel to Blood on Silk... delicious... I truly cannot get enough of...Saloman... a
fascinating character, free from cliche... truly an amazing series..." - 5 Tombstones, Jennifer, Bitten by Books

Blood on Silk
Awakened by Blood, Book 1

The debut of a seductive new series of  vampires, lust, and revenge. Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is spending  the summer in Romania researching  historical superstitions for her PhD. While she is tracing local folktales, one subject in  particular sparks her imagination. His name
is Saloman, legend's most powerful vampire,  a seductive prince staked centuries ago.

Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth  discovers the legends are real. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than
Saloman's hunger.

An army of vampire hunters has amassed to send Saloman back to hell. Sworn to  help - yet fearing Saloman's deadly blood lust - Elizabeth seeks to entrap him, offering her body as bait. But something stronger than dread, more powerful than revenge, is uniting Elizabeth to her prey. Caught between desire and rage, Elizabeth must decide where her loyalties lie...and what the limits are to a yearning
she can no longer control.

Reviews:

"BLOOD ON SILK is sensual and thrilling, a wonderful combination of vampire myths old and
new. Saloman and Elizabeth's relationship is both amazingly hot and terrifyingly complicated.
Readers will fall instantly in love with the world that Marie Treanor has created. You cannot
miss this novel!" --Michele Bardsley, national bestselling author of the Broken Heart series.

"A provocative read... witty, sensual and, sometimes, dark... Brimming with complex and
compelling characters, sexual tension, danger, betrayal, emotional turmoil, witty banter, a
thrilling plot, an enigmatic hero who is at times an anti-hero, a captivating heroine and plenty of
vampires, this erotic, gothic story grabs your attention and holds it right up to the very last page."
~Dottie, Romance Junkies, 4.5 Blue Ribbons

"Praises for Marie Treanor; this book has found a permanent place alongside the likes of Anne
Rice and Laurell K Hamilton." - Rating 5, Jillean, Once Upon a Romance.


Author website:
http://www.marietreanor.com/

Out in Blue guest post and contest

I'm so happy to welcome Sarah Gilman to the blog today and at the end of this post we are giving away one e-copy of Out in Blue. So leave a comment relating to fangs, nothing too dirty, and I will draw a winner this weekend.

Fangs

A big thanks to the Bite Club for hosting today! I thought it would be appropriate to talk about fangs for my guest post.

Fangs are usually associated with vampire characters for the obvious purpose of bloodsucking. Romance writers have taken vampires and their dark eating habits and have spun many delicious, unforgettable romances. Vampires have a long history in literature and stories often had sexual overtones, though in ways that served the era. I love how vampires in literature have evolved, and I doubt I’ll ever tire of them.

Sometimes a character’s fangs are fixed in place, sometimes they retract. Personally, I prefer the fixed fangs. When I write or read paranormal stories, I like to see the characters deal with the mixed blessing of their features. This is why, in my debut novel Out in Blue, I chose to give my archangel characters wings that did not disappear at convenient times. Same goes for my demon characters, who have an upper and lower set of fixed fangs, like cats.

These demons aren’t bloodsuckers. The fangs deliver venom in a bite deadly to humans. My demon characters are immune to their own venom, so death won’t result if they bite their tongues…or each other! The second book in the series will feature two demon protagonists. The story will explore additional characteristics of my demons, their venom, and the ways a bite might not be such as bad thing.

About the book:

Title: Out In Blue
Author: Sarah Gilman
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel – 250 pages
Release Date: September 6, 2011
ePub ISBN: 978‐1‐937044‐26‐8
Print ISBN: 978‐1‐937044‐27‐5  

RETURN TO SANCTUARY - Book One 

In a violent world where fallen archangels are hunted for their valuable
plumage, Wren knows one thing for certain: the human woman who
saved him from a poacher attack will die if she stays with him. The de‐
mon responsible for his parents’ gruesome deaths two decades ago
pines for the chance to rip apart any woman who stands under Wren’s
wing.

Wren doesn’t expect Ginger to stay by his side once she discovers his
ability to drain life with a mere touch, yet she lingers. When an unusual
talent of her own reveals the location of Wren’s father, Wren’s isolated
world implodes. 

With the help of the demon protectors he’s sworn never to trust again,
Wren risks everything to rescue his father, confront the demon who
stalks his and Ginger’s every step, and claim his eternity with the most
courageous woman he’s ever known.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

About the author:

Sarah Gilman started her first novel in third grade. She never finished that story,
but never gave up the dream. Her fascination with wings also began at that age,
when images of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis captured her imagination and
never let go. 

Now a paranormal romance writer, she employs her love of writing to bring the
allure of winged creatures to the pages of her novels. Sarah lives in Vermont with
her supportive husband and two spoiled cats.

About the publisher:

Entangled Publishing is an exclusive, boutique publisher of romantic fiction. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Entangled's goal is to bridge the gap between traditional and indie publishing, giving both readers and authors the best of both worlds.

Want to win a copy of Out in Blue? Then leave a comment and an email (if one isn't easily located in your profile). Good Luck!

Guest post with Arron Fenton and her web-based series Blood Lies

Web shows seem to be picking up steam, much like self publishing is appealing to more and more authors, and the same can be said for actresses and screenwriters. Inspired by the writer's strike a couple of years ago, actress Arron Fenton chose to write her own series and found a home on the internet. My review of Blood Lies will follow the guest post so for now please welcome special guest, Arron Fenton, who is sharing her inspirations and explaining how the web series came to be.

Guest post:

Blood Lies sets up a whole new level of web-series and leaves you wondering "in a world where there are no good guys, who do you trust?". The show is about a girl named Elise who unknowingly saves a vampire from death and soon finds herself running from a secret that could threaten her life, and even the lives of the people she loves.

I started writing this script because I needed something to act in. Hollywood writers were on strike at the time and work was slow. My boyfriend Mike Darling (who is the director of "Blood Lies" ) read the script and loved it. We knew we wanted the look and feel of Blood Lies to be completely different from that of our other web-series Alpha Planet.  So he bought the Canon 7D to replace the Sony FX1 we used for the SciFi Alpha Planet, and the result was amazing! We are very proud of the look we achieved. 

I started falling in love with web-series when I first watched Neil Patrick Harris' show Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, which led me to watch amateur series such as The Legend Of Neil, and I said to Mike "We could do that."

As I was writing this vampire script I took inspirations from my favorite vamp shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, True Blood, and mini series I Heart Vampires. I'm proud of what came out of it. I think we chose the best actors for the roles, and being a low-budget film company, I think we are producing quality work that is lacking in many web-series out there now. We've had a few hiccups during the filming process, like losing our make-up artist the day before our huge fighting scene, forcing me to step up to the role. In between takes I would have to break character and rush for the fake blood and add extra bruises for our lead Bryson Kuan, who plays Cade in the script. During the scene I had to force myself to concentrate on the lines instead of worrying about how the blood wasn't flowing correctly on my co-star's face. There is always things that can be improved upon but what we hoped to achieve in Blood Lies was an interesting plot, intriguing characters, and a quality story that gets our audience "sucked" in. 

Series information:

Episode one   "Murder And Pizza"
There's been a series of strange murders in Elise's city. The only surviving victim is Elise's runaway mother, still in the hospital. While her father spends day and night by her side, Elise is left to fend for herself. Her best friend Skyler calls with some terrible news and Elise heads out for the night, unaware that someone may be following her.

Episode two "Best Friends Forever"
After accidentally falling asleep at Skyler's, Elise rushes to head home. But chance places her in the middle of a street fight and there's no getting out of it.

And coming soon: Episode three "Pretty Lies"
Elise ends up a little worse for wear and time is running short for her and the boy Cade. Matt and Bert seemed convinced Cade is a vampire and with options running out Elise chances fate at a daring escape... but can they out run bullets?

My review:


I had a chance to watch the first 2 episodes a couple nights ago and I was impressed with the quality. I guess I was expecting more of a homemade feel, like those ridiculous Blair Witch movies that everyone raved about, but Blood Lies has a more professional feel. 

Although the camera work was blurry in spots, as meant to be an artistic effect, it was far better than someone running around with a video camera, and overall very professional. The lighting was dark and brooding, something you would expect from a vampire movie, although not too dark that it prevented anything important from being seen. The script is short and sweet, each episode running no more than 10 minutes, but I didn't necessarily find the plot to suffer from the shorter format. It might have been beneficial to have more of the backstory laid out because at this point I'm still just guessing on a couple of things. So far vampires have only been hinted at and I'm anxious to see how they appear on film. That will, of course, be an important aspect of the show so it's crucial that the special effects be done properly. Both Flyboy and I found the acting to be moderately campy, especially with Elise's best friend, but to be honest, it seemed to fit the format and it wasn't bad by any stretch. And after watching the first episode we both felt compelled to watch the second, needing to know what would happen next. And you can definitely tell that everyone involved put a lot of effort into the project.


I'm trying to think of a comparison, or a frame of reference for you, but I don't have one. This is a new format for me so I am unfamiliar with other webisodes that might be comparable. I am interested in seeing how the story plays out, so I will tune in for episode 3.



Here are the web links so you can check the episodes out for yourself.


http://www.renrobot.com
www.renrobot.com/bloodlies

Quick promo for In the Shadows by Julieanne Lynch

Anna here~  Julieanne will be a guest here in September, so I thought I'd help spread the word on what looks to be a promising start to a new vampire trilogy. It seems like a YA style book so I will probably have a review from Jenny in the near future. If you've read it, share what you think. Or we can just discuss cover art and general ideas. Maybe we should all bounce over to her website and poke around to see what we can discover about this debut author. Click here to read an excerpt.

In the Shadows
By Julieanne Lynch

Published July 21st 2011
Strict Publishing International
ISBN 9780857791962

Book Description:

“In The Shadows”, the first of The Shadows trilogy, is an urban fantasy of vampires and the supernatural, and much, much more.

In the shadows you will find lust and passion, battles for power and for blood, and death and fear around every corner. In the shadows you are carried away to an unknown future. Your destiny awaits, and you are no longer who you thought you were. You have a thirst, for blood perhaps, but a thirst for very much more than that.

Giselle was a normal girl with an attitude common to most girls of her age. Her family might not have been perfect (whose is?) but she loved them, and her future looked bright. She had an awesome best friend and a steady boyfriend, but how could she possibly have been so wrong about someone she loved? And how could she have been prepared for the darkness and for what she was to become?

The buzz so far:

“In The Shadows is a must read for anyone who loves urban fantasy.” ~Review by Dawn and Wini Book Lovers

“ Julieanne writes so eloquently you can feel and picture everything Giselle is going through, with no question as to what role every character in the book plays.” ~Review by Ada McEwan

“Julieanne is a great story teller with a vivid imagination for the supernatural. I absolutely love everything about it.” ~Reviewed by Firefly and Wisp

About the Author:

Fiery Librian Julieanne Lynch is an author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Northern Ireland, Julieanne now lives in Ireland, where she works on her Shadows Trilogy and other series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths, a rock star being one of them. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at The Open University, and considered journalism as a career path. However, she decided writing was the way for her and believes all of her education and reading prepared her for it.

An avid reader, Julieanne has always had an encompassing fascination with folklore. When not writing, she enjoys crime series such as Criminal Minds, CSI, NCIS and Cold Case, and loves anything with Vampires, listening to metal, meeting new people, drinking lots of green tea, and sharing her dreams with her children. She is a self-professed goth wanna-be,and is happy when left to write into the early hours of the morning.

Find Julieanne online:

http://www.julieannelynch.co.uk/

http://www.julieannelynch.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julieanne-Lynch/147566121974789

The Embrace of Life and Death Contest and promo with Liz Strange

We've never really explored the M/M erotica angle here at Bite Club, primarily because I haven't come across many that have a decent paranormal theme, and secondly because I'm not sure I've read any. Of course, we all know and love the BDB and are anxiously awaiting the Quinn/Blay relationship to reach that next level, but that's the extent of my knowledge. But when author, and previous blog guest, Liz Strange emailed with her current book information I was happy to pass on the news, as well as play host for a contest. Liz is offering one reader a copy of The Embrace of Life and Death, A Dark Kiss Tale, and all you need to do is leave a meaningful comment. I will leave the contest open until 7/27 and will announce the winners the following weekend.

Book Description:

Kieran is a hundred-and-twenty-year-old immortal, originally hailing from the harsh, famine-stricken life of 1880s Ireland. He has surpassed death and thrived, gaining wealth, power and knowledge. Azrael is the angel of death, but his mission is far from ominous. He is the protector of the grief-stricken, and the champion of lost souls. The two are polar opposites in mission and nature, yet are inexplicably drawn to one another.

The Supreme One sees all, and when he discovers the truth about the relationship he is enraged. Their commitment to be together must be stronger than his determination to keep them apart.

Here's a link to an excerpt at the publisher's site: http://www.mlrbooks.com/AllExcerpts.php?name=excerpt/The_Embrace_of_Life_and_Death.inc

Promo and Contest: The Naked Werewolf books by Molly Harper

Let's start our week off with a bang! It's time for another cool giveaway! Thanks to the awesome folks at Simon & Schuster I have 2 copies of How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf and 2 copies of The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf. So leave a comment discussing what makes werewolves so dang appealing and you might just win a book. Personally, I groove on the complexities~loyalty, intense friendships, close knit communities, strong personalities that aren't always alpha, and a libido that is usually off the charts! 

Be sure that you leave an email address if one is not easily located in your profile. This contest is open to U.S. residents only, no PO boxes and will run until April 8th. Winners will be announced the following Saturday.

Description:

Northern Exposure

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it's unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo's ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble. For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it's love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he's worried that he might be the violent canine in question. If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he's not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . . 

 Description:

Baring It All 

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone's throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley's pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can't seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can't convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can't afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous. . . . 

 For information about Nice Girls Don't (vampire series) or the Naked Werewolves, just click here and I will send you on your way!

 

 

Might be magic: One Night in Scotland by Karen Hawkins

I got an email about the following book release and although I wouldn't classify this as a paranormal or supernatural romance it does have a curse and that involves magic...right? Okay, it might be a stretch but I have been hankering to read another historical romance anyway and Karen Hawkins writes such fun adventures that it seemed natural to include this book in my blog mentionings. That's my story and I'm sticking to it- curses take magic, magic is paranormal, and therefore it all works. Who knows, we might have an amulet that was jinxed by a bunch of angry witches, or a spell that cursed the artifact and anyone that owns it? Actually, it's a twist on Beauty and the Beast and who doesn't love that?

Aside from all that...One Night in Scotland hits store shelves today!!

 A mysterious abductor . . . Someone is holding her brother prisoner in exchange for a gold-and-onyx box covered in mysterious runes, so Mary Hurst boldly sets out from the family vicarage to find the priceless artifact. But the man who possesses it, Angus Hay, the Earl of Erroll, is less than sympathetic to her plight.

A forbidding stranger . . . Himself a prisoner of his dark past, Angus refuses to yield the box—or allow Mary to leave! Suspicious of the alluring lass’s mission, he vows to wrest a confession from her, but unearths a fiery temper and a will as strong as his own.

An unbreakable curse . . . Passion flares between them, but now there is more at stake: an unknown enemy is hunting down the precious box, and will stop at nothing. Risking all for love, Angus must solve the mystery behind the runes . . . and trust the only woman who can awaken his forgotten heart.

*Karen blogs regularly over at the Goddess Blogs and if you haven't been over to Mt. Oly, a visit is definitely in order. Those gals know how to throw a party (complete with cabana boys and fruity drinks). You should stop over and see her inspiration for Angus. Yum!