Lorraine Kennedy

Lorraine Kennedy

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Dreamscape Seduction Book Excerpt

Dreamscape Seduction an Erotic Vampire Romance



CHAPTER ONE


Early evening light filtered through the canvas of ancient trees. A sudden gust of wind sent the autumn leaves into a macabre dance around the old - gothic headstones.
The mourners were long gone, only Madison remained. She fixed her gaze on the large mahogany casket and its shroud of white and pink roses.
Abruptly she was pulled from her grief when a prickling sensation made her feel as if an unseen hand had touched her. Scanning the tree line, Madison was certain that someone was watching her, covertly hiding from view in the lengthening shadows.
The contrast between sunlight and shadow made it difficult to see, but just then a cloud covered the sun and she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Deep in the shadows of the trees ... near a large - intricately carved headstone, someone was watched her. The wind sent his long golden -brown hair in all directions, but he seemed not to notice. His gaze was on her and it did not waver, even when it became evident that she had noticed him.
Their eyes met, and for a fraction of a moment she felt as if she could not breathe. The intensity of those dark eyes held her captive, as if they were pulling at her life essence. Suddenly the world began to spin and the ground was rushing up at her.
He was standing over her ... but she was no longer in the graveyard but her own bed. His eyes were a mixture of fire and ice ... so cold but yet his gaze felt as if it burned her skin. Cold hands caressed the skin on her legs, but then she felt stinging pain. Lifting her head she saw that he was between her legs, piercing this skin of her inner thighs with his teeth.
Terrified, she wanted to run, but at the same time she could not get enough of the tantalizing feeling of his teeth, scraping against her tender skin.
* * * *
She could hear a voice ... it sounded as if it was coming from some place far away. It pulled at her, coaxing her into the light of consciousness.
“Girl! What ya doing lying around an old bone yard. Don’t’ ya know this aint no place for the livin?”
Madison opened her eyes, shocked to find herself on the ground, staring up at the darkening sky. A weathered face came into view. The old man stared at her with milky blue eyes, set in a deeply lined face. His tattered blue overalls were covered in dirt.
“Who are you?” Madison finally found her voice, still reeling from the odd dream she'd had while she was out.
“I’m the caretaker here,” he said as he held out his hand to help her to her feet. She grasped the hand he offered, but quickly let go when the chill of his touch sent shivers up her arm. She quickly got to her feet on her own, and took a moment to smooth her grass stained skirt.
“I’m sorry, I guess I blacked out,” she tried to explain.
“Must have seen a ghost … hah miss.” His words were laced with laughter.
Madison smiled. “No, but I did see a man standing over there,” she said, pointing in the direction of where the stranger had been standing. “Have you seen a tall guy in a long black coat by any chance?’
The old man shook his head. “Nope, just you. Could a been you had a visitor from the other side.” He gave her smile, revealing many missing teeth. “The dead don’t rest quite as soundly as you might hope.”
“Well, thanks Mr…, “ Madison realized that she did not know the man’s name.
“Name’s Hugh.”
“Well thanks Mr. Hugh. I won’t take up more of your time.” Madison started for her car, but remembered she’d left her purse hanging on one of the folding chairs that had been set up for the funeral.
When she turned back, Mr. Hughes was nowhere in sight. It had only been a moment ... how could he have left so fast?
Unnerved, she retrieved her purse and made her way quickly to her car. She was only too happy to get home. All she wanted was to curl up in her bed and try to forget the grief that tore at her heart. Would she ever be able to get the image of the strange - surreal funeral of her best friend out of her head?

Friday, February 25, 2011

Realm of the Wolf: Moon Calling



Realm of the Wolf: Moon Calling
Paranormal Romance




Rating: Spicy – Contains some violence, graphic sex with scenes that include sex with werewolves in human form and transformation.

In the second book of the Realm of the Wolf saga, a new danger is lurking.
Five years ago, Kayla Chandler fell in love with the mysterious and handsome Jace, but just as they were ready to start their lives together, he disappeared into thin air. The only clues left behind are a puddle of blood, and a wolf figurine carved out of crystal. Looking for clues to her lover’s disappearance, Kayla is drawn back to Wyoming and the land of the Sungmanitu.

Vance is a Sungmanitu, and a member of the elite warrior society known as the Zen, guardians of Outerlands. He is sent to kill Kayla and eliminate the threat of her discovering the truth of the Sungmanitu legends, but he has his own reasons for wanting vengeance on the luscious blond doctor … he believes that she is responsible for the death of his best friend, Jace.

When the wolf and his prey come together, nothing matters but an all-consuming passion that threatens to destroy them both.


© copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, December 2010

Cover Art by Jenny Dixon, December 2010

ISBN 978-1-60394-475-5

Chapter One



Ten years after the Jaguar Wars



He’d know her scent anywhere, it was forever engraved in his memory. Being this close to his prey was driving him to madness. His fury erupting, he let out a low--angry growl as he watched her through his wolf’s eyes. In the fading light he could see her leaning against the hood of the car, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

The rest stop was miles from civilization, on a desolate and rarely traveled highway. Now would be the time, but he remained hidden in the thick brush--watching his prey.

He had been sent to eliminate her. The female was a danger. They thought she knew too much.

The persistent wind played havoc with her blond tresses. It was easy to see that she’d been out in the sun far too long, as her cheeks were flushed red. Even from this distance he could sense her fatigue, but still he waited.

With her legs spread slightly, she leaned over to reach into her car to grab something. When she did this, he got a good look at her inner thighs, and the way that her tight--white shorts highlighted her slight--feminine physique.

Lust tore through his body, confusing and enraging him. He howled in protest. Human thought could easily intrude--even while he was in his animal form, but it battled with the instinct of the beast.

Pulling out a sandwich, she started to eat as the last rays of sunshine vanished and the moon began its ascent. The wide-open expanse of the Wyoming desert provided a view of the darkening sky for miles, the brightness of the twinkling stars, drowned out by the bright moonlight. A cloud passed--obscuring the moon, casting the night in deeper shadows.

Painful hunger gnawed at his loins, and again he howled. The human female froze, her senses picking up on the danger that lurked in the darkness, beyond the glow of the lit parking lot. Her hand strayed to the handgun that she’d stuck in the waistband of her shorts, as if the feel of the cold--hard steel was comforting to her.

Far off in the distance, the mist was gathering around the Shadow Mountains.

Still he watched and waited.

* * * *

Kayla pulled out her phone and looked at the time, it had been over an hour and still there was not a soul in sight. Nervously, she directed her gaze to the mountain range in the distance. The peaks rose up from the desert floor--imposing--ominous. Fingers of mist gathered around the base of the mountains, reaching up toward its peaks, glowing eerily in the silver light of the full moon. The thick mist hid the mountain’s secrets--secrets that she could sense, though they somehow seemed to stay just out of reach.

Shaking off her strange thoughts, Kayla decided she might as well have a bite to eat while she waited. Unwrapping the baloney and cheese sandwich, she nibbled at the food without really tasting it. It had been foolish to come all the way out here in the hopes that she’d finally get some information about Jace.

Her parents were expecting her back in Denver by the end of the week, and this little side trip had really put her off schedule.

Kayla’s hand strayed to the carved crystal wolf that hung on a silver chain around her neck. She would never have believed the caller knew anything about Jace … if they hadn’t have mentioned the crystal. No one could have known how she’d gotten it. She’d never mentioned the details to anyone.

A brown lizard scurried across the blacktop near her feet, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. Though the night was cooling, she could still fell warmth radiating from the dark surface of the parking lot.

The howling of a lone wolf caught her attention and she stopped to peer out into the distance. Unconsciously … her hand rested on the small, 25-caliber handgun at her waist. It had been a last minute decision to bring it along.

Normally she didn’t condone gun violence, but she had no intention of stupidly walking into a trap laid out for her by Jace’s killer. The police would do nothing so it was up to her to find out what happened to him.

Kayla checked the time once more and decided she’d wait five more minutes and that was it. She didn’t relish the idea of having to drive through the Shadow Mountains after dark, and the sooner she got it over with, the better.

When she’d been here five years ago, she’d heard rumors from the locals. They swore that unearthly creatures roamed those mountains under the cover of darkness. Not that she believed such ridiculous nonsense, but … Jace had disappeared in those mountains--leaving behind only scarlet bloodstains, and the crystal. Kayla didn’t believe there was anything supernatural about Jace’s disappearance, though she was confident that the strange people he’d been involved with were responsible for whatever had happened to him.

Subconsciously … Kayla reached for the crystal again, feeling comforted by its warmth.

The caller had promised to reveal information about what happened to Jace, but as she looked around for any sign of life, Kayla became convinced that the call had been nothing more than a cruel joke. But cruel joke or not … whoever had called her knew something.

She’d hoped that her caller ID recorded the number of the caller, but it was only zeros, no number at all.

Maybe the police could use her cell phone records to track the caller? She’d contact them and give them this bit of information. Not that it would do much good … nothing had so far.

With a forlorn sigh, Kayla scanned the area one last time and got back in her car. She had to be at the Tribal Clinic in the morning, and then there would be one more stop in Montana before she could go home to Denver. Strangely enough … the flu season had started in midsummer this year, and it was ravishing the children on the reservation. Kayla was sure there would be a lot of cases to see in the morning, she’d need a decent night’s sleep.

Her heart heavy with regret, Kayla decided it was time to leave … not just the rest stop, but maybe it was time to leave that whole episode behind her. Easing the blue rental car back onto the narrow state highway, she headed straight for the Shadow Mountains. She would confront their dark secrets one last time, but on this occasion when she left them behind … maybe she would be leaving behind any hope of ever finding out what happened to the man she had loved all those years ago.

For five years she had searched for answers, but she was no closer to those answers now than she was the day she’d discovered Jace missing.

As the mountain loomed closer, the mist began to gather around her car, obscuring the details of the road. Even the light of the moon could do little to penetrate the thick--almost radiant fog that had settled around the mountain. The road was barely visible within the beam of the headlights. Kayla let off the gas, slowing the car to a crawl.

The mist that encircled the Shadow Mountains was not unusual. Even in the best of weather, the majestic peaks were often hidden with fog. Going through the mountains was the shortest route to the Shoshone reservation, but now she wondered if it wouldn’t have been better to go around them.

To soothe her nerves, Kayla forced herself to think of something else, but the direction her thoughts took wasn’t much better.

She’d been offered a resident position at a hospital in California, and there was no doubt that it would pay so much better than what she was making now, but was it what she really wanted?

Since the summer she’d met Jace, she’d worked for Outreach Medical Assistance, a nonprofit program that sent doctors into impoverished communities to administer medical treatment. Helping people had been her life, and moving her allegiance to an establishment that cared more about money than people … left a sour taste in her mouth.

But it’s what Travis wanted. He was accustomed to big cities and luxury. He’d made it clear that he wanted her to take that job if they were to get married. Kayla frowned at the thought of marriage. She’d grown to like Travis, but she wasn’t so sure she wanted to marry him, though he’d been turning up the heat. He wanted them to be married so they could settle down to a nice--middleclass existence.

Isn’t that what most women wanted?

Leaning closer to the steering wheel, Kayla struggled to see through the whirling night mist.

She wondered if there was something wrong with her for not looking forward to marriage with Travis. Of course she missed Jace terribly, and it had taken her years to even start dating again … but was she ready to tie the knot?

Maybe … but in her heart she knew it would not be with Travis. Even if she took the new job, it would be to get away from her past--not so that they could get married. There was something about him that bothered her. She had lately noticed a mean streak in Travis that he could not always keep hidden.

Jace had been different--so primal, but yet so gentle. It had been a whirlwind romance, but he’d swept her off her feet just like a Texas twister. She’d never known a man like Jace, and when he disappeared, he’d left her hungering for more of that primitive passion his lovemaking had stirred within her.

Kayla’s thoughts drifted to that moment she’d gone looking for him. There was no way she could handle thinking of that horrible night right now … her mind searched for something else.

From the side of the road she’d caught movement--no more than a shadow within the thick haze. Kayla was torn between slowing the vehicle even more, or speeding up to avoid whatever was moving in the fog.

A nagging fear began to gnaw at her insides.

What if the stories were true?

After all, people around the Shadow Mountains did have a tendency to disappear at a higher rate than in other rural areas. At least that’s what she’d been told.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw something moving in the middle of the road … just beyond the headlights.

Kayla instinctively hit the brakes. The rear-end of the car fishtailed, and the wheel slipped from her grasp. The next seconds were a haze of movement before the car came to an abrupt stop against a large pine tree.

Kayla’s vision blurred as her head fragmented into a million points of pain, and a cloak of darkness enveloped her in comforting numbness.

Gradually the darkness retreated to be filled with dancing firelight. There were creatures all around her, no matter where she looked. Their eyes glowing, emanating rage, the bloodlust in those eyes was so strong that she could actually feel their hunger.

“They will devour you.” The words were muffled and barely audible.

Kayla tried to force words from her mouth but she had no mouth, she had no body … she just was, with no physical existence.

Consciousness exploded within her mind, bringing with it--excruciating agony. The world was a contrast of light and shadow. The mist had taken on an ethereal glow, as if the light came from within the fog, and not from the moon. If it were not for the pain, Kayla would have believed she was dead.

She could hear snarling growls from outside the car, compelling her eyes into focus.

Within the mist, there was movement--and eyes that radiated an eerie, unnatural light. She bit her tongue to keep from screaming--hoping that if she played dead, whatever was outside the car would lose interest and go away.

The car shook violently, and she became aware of the sound of tearing metal as the door was ripped from its hinges. Screaming, Kayla was no longer able to control her terror, she scrambled away from the gaping hole where the car door had been just an instant before. Reaching for her gun, Kayla aimed for her unseen attacker and fired blindly, hoping that she would hit something. The mist was too thick to see, but the livid snarling grew louder.

From the mist came an anguished howl, and then nothing but silence--a silence so complete that Kayla could hear the pounding of her heart. Frozen in place, she barely breathed for fear of attracting attention to herself.

Hands were reaching into the car, grasping at her arm--they pulled her from where she was huddled against the passenger door. Her whole body quivering with fear, she pulled the trigger and fired again, but the bullet went astray. She heard it ping off of metal.

The gun was ripped from her grasp.

With flailing arms and legs, she tried to fight off the intruder, but the blows she delivered were easily pushed aside. Through her terror, Kayla realized that the arms that held her were human arms, and she calmed slightly.

He was at least a full head taller than she was, and the arms that held her up were huge, she could feel the rock hard muscle beneath the skin. Though it was difficult to take in much detail through the misty darkness, she could not miss his eyes. They were the eyes of an animal … a wolf. It was then that she realized his chest was bare, and in fact--he wore no clothing at all.

Silently he studied her with those strange, radiant eyes--eyes that she’d seen before.

The memories burst through her mind as her pulse quickened. The first time had been in a crowd. She and Susan had just stepped from the theater out onto the sidewalk. It was dusk and the Denver nightlife was starting to buzz.

The orange sunset was marred by the glow of the neon lights lining the road. Across the narrow street from where they stood, was an alley. The decaying alley was an ever-present reminder of the neglect and poverty that plagued cities everywhere. On both sides of the alley were old, red brick buildings that had seen their better days long ago. Here and there, piles of garbage provided cozy hiding for rodents. Though the city streets were still lit in fading light, the ally was already darkened by shadows.

An odd feeling crept over her, like when you know you are alone but could not shake the overwhelming sensation of being watched. She’d stopped suddenly--frozen by that feeling. She was not just being watched … she was being hunted. She’d come to a stop so quickly that Susan had nearly run over the top of her.

Kayla scanned the crowd, searching for the source. From the alleyway, he emerged from the shadows. Their eyes met and he’d held her gaze, pulling her into his fiery golden eyes.

He had been hunting her--watching her. She was sure of it, and just as sure that he was aware of her knowledge of it.

His eyes were magical--compelling and dangerous. If she had to describe the feeling with a single word--the word that came to mind was heat. Looking into the stranger’s eyes made her feel as if fire were licking at her skin.

In that single moment that she’d stood transfixed by those burning eyes, she’d taken in every detail of his appearance. He was taller than average and appeared to be of Native American descent. His black hair cascaded down below his wide shoulders, framing a face that could have been a masterpiece of art--giving him the look of untamed sensuality.

There was nothing especially different about the clothes he wore, simple blue jeans and a flannel shirt, but the way in which those clothes highlighted his exquisite male body made her want to see more.

Susan had stepped up and was waving a hand in front of her face to divert her attention from the stranger. “Girlfriend, he’s hot, but wouldn’t it be better to go ask him for his number … instead of just staring like a scared schoolgirl?”

Blushing, Kayla had looked away. If Susan had been in her shoes she would have done just what she’d suggested. She was risky and adventurous, while Kayla played it safe.

Though she’d turned away and went about her business that night, she’d never forgotten those eyes, or the erotic feeling that had flooded her senses as their gaze locked across the swarm of people between them. There had been something familiar about him, though she’d been sure she didn’t know him. Some element that pulled at her primitive instinct to be close to him--touch him.

Then she’d woken one night to see him standing over her bed, but as she’d become aware of his presence, a haze had come over her and in the morning she’d believed it to be nothing more than a dream … but here he was.

Or was she dreaming again?

Loosening his grip on her, she was forced to put weight on her feet, but her knees buckled. Only his arms around her waist kept her from hitting the ground. Before Kayla could protest, he lifted her--cradling her body against his chest.

Again her vision blurred and she welcomed the darkness.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Realm of the Wolf: Wolf Dance Book Excerpt





Realm of the Wolf: Wolf Dance


Rating: Carnal – contains violence and graphic sexual encounters, sex with werewolves in human form. Previously published by NCP in 2004, this work has been revamped to be longer and sexier.


Dark, erotic dreams and eerie phantoms warn of forbidden passions. Long ago, the Sungmanitu Indians withdrew into isolation; what dark secrets were they hiding?

Laura Ellison was soon to find out. The company she works for is planning to send her to Wyoming, where they are preparing to clear-cut the land of the Sungmanitu. A fellow employee has mysteriously disappeared, and the local police are baffled by a string of strange murders.



The land of the Sungmanitu: a place of breathtaking beauty and menacing evil, where Laura will discover the demon who haunts her nightmares, and the dark truth of who she really is. Laura Ellison will defy all warnings and fall in-love with Justin Gray Eagle, the sinister leader of the Wolf People.

© copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, October 2004

Reissued October 2010

Cover Art by Jenny Dixon, October 2010

ISBN 1-58608-252-3

Chapter One


Surrounded by darkness, her heightened senses picked up the scent of damp earth, and blood--so tangy--so sweet. It drove her into a mindless frenzy that threatened to rip away her shell of sanity. Her nails tore at her flesh in a desperate attempt to free herself of her prison of flesh.

The beast was close--she could feel his hunger, his lust. Instinct coursed through her, screaming at her to run, but a dark part of her soul kept her rooted in the midst of the inky darkness.

Though she could not see him, she could sense his nearness, and his hunger--a hunger so powerful, so overwhelming that it seemed to seep through her skin, penetrating into the core of her very being.

Large, powerful hands grasped her legs--spreading them against her will. Her struggles were fruitless against the brute strength that assaulted her. Sharp teeth nipped at the tender skin of her inner thighs, and savage hunger flooded her body as sweet, erotic pain.

The next moment she felt the sensation of a soothing wet tongue licking at her wounds, moving gradually toward that furiously burning need that she could not sate.

A woman's harsh voice came at her from the darkness. "Puta! Run you stupid girl!" the voice hissed.

She could feel his hot breath close to her ear. "Stay with me," he pleaded. Though his voice was soft, there was also an underlying, animal like growl emanating from him.

Thick mist whirled around her, reaching into her nostrils to suck at her life force. In desperation, she clutched at her throat and labored to breathe. A hand grasped her shoulder and gently shook her.

Gradually the fog cleared and she forced her eyes open. The purple hues of dawn were creeping into the small dingy windows of her grandfather's trailer.

"Laura, you are being haunted in your dreams." Grandpa Busby's hoarse voice pulled her further into the waking world. "You should not go on this trip."

Laura sat up, rubbing her sleep-swollen eyes. Getting to her feet, she walked the few steps to the small kitchen of the cramped trailer.

The coffee was fresh, as she knew it would be. Laura poured herself a large cup.

Sipping the soothing liquid, she studied her grandfather through the dim light. He still sat on the edge of the couch where she had slept.

Once again worry gnawed at her. He was old and so frail. The right side of his body no longer worked as well as it once had. This was the result of a stroke that had cut him down only a few years ago. Since that time he used a cane to help him get around.

Each and every day since his illness had struck, Laura had thanked God that he had been spared to walk the path of life with her for just a little while longer.

Long, thin wisps of gray hair framed the old man's deeply lined face. At times his eyes gave the impression of staring off into space, as they were at this very moment. Laura thought it possible that he might be losing his sight, but Grandpa would never admit it. She had tried on many occasions to convince him to move to Santa Fe where he would be near her, but she had received the same answer each time.

"I am Busby, born to the Bitter River People for the Deer Clan. I am Dineh and will die in my own country."

She understood him of course. He had raised her in the tradition of the Navajo and she knew that his homeland was very important to him. Nevertheless, the thought of him out here--all alone--troubled her. If something was to happen and she lost her grandfather--the thought was devastating. He was her only living relative, unless she counted the distant relation of her clansmen.

Laura quietly sipped her coffee, letting the hot liquid soothe her dry throat. Her grandfather's dark eyes seemed to be analyzing her, dissecting her from the inside out.

"Grandpa, you know I have to go to Wyoming. I stopped here to let you know where I'd be." She tried to soothe him.

His old bones burned with age and he grunted with the effort of getting to his feet.

"Don't know why you'd have a hand in that kind of work," he muttered.

Once again, Laura attempted to explain her motives. "It's my life, Grandpa, and I cannot live my life in poverty on this reservation."

"I warned your mother of the consequences of getting mixed up with a Belagana and now your father's ways are bleeding into your spirit." Busby painfully lowered himself to the hard kitchen chair.

"I don't cut the trees, I just work for them." Laura pleaded with him to understand.

"That is enough." Busby's voice contained the stern quality she knew meant he was deeply concerned about something. "If you destroy the earth, bad things will come of it. Already the darkness enters your dreams."

The sun had finally made its majestic appearance and Laura opened the aluminum door to let some light into the trailer. She breathed in the dry desert air. The tangy scent never failed to bring back childhood memories. Most of her memories were good, but the constant lack of food and water cast shadows on some of those memories.

"I don't agree with what they do Grandpa, but I just can't stay here and marry one of my mother's people. Life is too hard here and when I have children of my own, I do not want them to live through the ugliness of poverty. Not if I can prevent it." She tried to explain her reasons, like she had many times before.

The old man got to his feet and walked to the doorway where she stood. "You mean you want to hide your children from the truth of what remains of the Dineh." He brushed past her and slowly descended the steps of the trailer. A few moments later he disappeared into the junipers of the nearby hills where each morning he went to pray.

Maybe her grandfather was right?

Laura was not ashamed of her Navajo blood--she was just not sure that she wanted to share in their destiny, not when there was a life out there free of the dark clouds that existed within the boundaries of the Navajo reservation.

Her strange dream crept back into her thoughts. For two nights now, she had been plagued with the same nightmare. Heat flooded her cheeks as she recalled the details of the dream, and how it left her feeling, but even more troubling than the desire the dream stirred within her, was the fact that she was left with the vague feeling that she was being torn in two different directions.

In the brightness of day the dream seemed too ridiculous to worry about, but she had been brought up in a superstitious world, and doubt nagged at her.

The woman in the dream called her a whore--why? Why would she dream something like that?

Possibly she was feeling guilty? Her grandfather had been needling her since she'd started working for Duccini, and maybe it was finally starting to get to her.

Laura tried to shake the dark dream from her thoughts as she stepped into the small bathroom. She hurriedly changed into a T-shirt and blue jeans, and then ran a brush through her long, golden brown hair. As a result of inheriting her father's coloring and amber eyes, Laura appeared to be more white than Indian. She wasn't entirely sure she was pleased with that fact or not. When she was a child, there were times she'd felt out of place among the Dineh, and it had made her self-conscious.

Returning to the kitchen, Laura prepared the breakfast food that she'd brought with her on the small, propane stove. Once she'd finished, she waited on the steps for her grandfather to return. It was not long before he emerged from the brush, and Laura watched his slow progress across the desert floor.

She felt her throat constrict with emotion and unwelcome tears stung her eyes. The old man had made many sacrifices for her over the years and no matter how she might disagree with him, her heart would never forget that. Laura recalled the times he had pretended not to be hungry so that she would have enough to fill her aching stomach.

Laura set the food on the small wooden table and they settled down to eat. There were no further words between them.

Her eyes scanned the tabletop, taking note of the deep gouges and scars in the wood. Laura's gaze came to rest on some carved letters. Deeper than the rest of the marks on the table, the letters L.E & K.B stood out.

Remembering the day she'd carved them into the wood with her little pocketknife brought back fond memories of her childhood sweetheart. The days of innocence, childish laughter, and Kenny Begay seemed worlds away from her life now.

Finished with breakfast, Busby sat at the table and nursed his coffee while Laura tidied up the kitchen. When the kitchen was clean, Laura knelt beside her grandfather.

"I'll have to be leaving now. I'm due at the field office the day after tomorrow, but I'll be back soon, a couple of weeks ... maybe." She made a feeble attempt to put some cheer into her voice.

"The Indians up there, they have given your boss the rights to cut?" His voice betrayed his doubt.

"Yes, we received the release just a few days ago. It clearly states they have signed off cutting rights to the land surrounding Beaver Creek."

"I find it a hard thing to believe that the Shoshone would hand over their land to butchers of the earth." He was clearly skeptical.

"They are not Shoshone." Laura paused, trying to remember the name of the tribe that had laid claim to the area. "I believe they call themselves, Sungmanitu. From what I have been able to gather, they broke off from their main band years ago and settled a small part of the land in the area--forming their own community."

Laura was busy packing and failed to notice the way her grandfather's face had drained of color or the way his features distorted with fear.

"It's better if you do not go there, something's wrong about this. Why do they need you there?"

Snapping her suitcase shut, Laura took a deep breath and patiently tried to explain the situation. "The people there are not real happy about the situation and they need a

P.R. specialist to try and smooth the way for a while."

She felt it would be better not to add the fact that Dan Mitchell had disappeared shortly after forwarding the release documents. In addition to her other duties, she had been instructed to find out what she could about Dan too.

Franklin Duccini was a shrewd businessman, and smart enough to know that without Dan, there could be a problem. The Sungmanitu could contest the legality of the release documents, and without Dan as a witness, things could get messy.

"Grandpa, I have to go now." She stood next to him, holding her bags.

Busby took hold of her arm. "Be careful," he whispered in a raspy voice.

Laura's eyes widened in shock--a sudden rush of fear caught in her throat. "Grandpa, are you feeling well?"

Putting down her bags, Laura kneeled beside him, putting her arm around his shoulders. Never before had he been so adamantly against her work.

He gazed at her with a wisdom that one can only obtain with the passing of many years. "You must promise me something, Laura."

"If I can, Grandpa."

"Stay far away from the Sungmanitu ... they are dangerous."

"What do you know of them?" Laura's curiosity was peaked.

The old man shook his head. "Stay away from them, Laura."

* * * *

The summer sun was climbing high in the turquoise sky and the surrounding desert shimmered with the rising heat. Laura drove west toward Arizona--she felt a slight sense of dread as she left New Mexico behind her.

Laura took her eyes from the road for only a split second to fiddle with the knobs on the stereo. When she looked back up her heart jumped into her throat. In the middle of the road stood an old woman--her bulkiness covered with a thin cotton blouse and blue skirt. Streaks of gray ran through the black hair that was neatly bound in a tight bun at the back of her head.

Her panicked consciousness took all this in as she was instinctively slamming on the breaks. The tires squealed and her red Bronco slid off the road, missing the woman by mere inches.

Still dazed, Laura scrambled out of the vehicle. The woman stood in the same spot, as if the near miss had not affected her in the least. The old lady just stood there-- staring with piercing black eyes that seemed to cut through Laura's soul.

Raising her hand, the woman pointed in the direction from which Laura had come. "Go back, Puta! The way you go leads only to darkness. Go back before it's too late."

Laura felt faint. It was the same voice she heard in her dreams. Shards of light burst forth in her head and Laura squeezed her eyes shut in an effort to block out the sudden ball of pain. When the throbbing finally subsided and she was able to pry her eyes open, the woman was gone. Laura quickly scanned the area but the specter was nowhere to be seen.

With her stomach twisting into knots, a wave of nausea overtook her. Laura leaned against the Bronco until the feeling began to pass.

Reaching inside, she grabbed a canteen of water. Taking the cap off, she brought the water up to her dry, parched lips. Laura took several swallows before capping the canteen and putting it back in its place on the floorboard.

Circling the car, Laura checked for damage. Fortunately everything seemed to be in order. Still too shaken to drive, Laura sat in the driver's seat and rested while trying to gather her wits. It must be heat sickness, she concluded. The woman could not have vanished into thin air.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Dreamscape Seduction - A Vampire Romance




My newest release is for those of you that like vampire romances. And just a hint for those that are following the Realm of the Wolf series … I have plans for my werewolf romances to lead into a vampire romance series.

Now Available




Dreamscape Seduction

A night out gets Madison more than she bargained for ... like danger, intrigue and the sexiest man she's ever seen. Too bad he's a vampire.

Madison's best friend has been murdered. She knows there's a connection to the Dreamscape nightclub and the club's mysterious owner, Damon Vaughan. This doesn't surprise Madison, considering the naughty reputation of Dreamscape. Determined to find the serial killer stalking her town, Madison goes to Dreamscape under the guise of writing a review on the club, but she is immediately pulled into the erotic atmosphere, and Damon's dark embrace.






Coming Soon
Indian Outlaw




Bondage can be a lot of fun when your captor is an irresistible - drop dead gorgeous outlaw.

Sadie has a gift … she can see pictures of the future. When she has a vision of some men robbing a bank, she realizes that one of those men is the handsome stranger she’s just met. Unfortunately, she lets it slip that she knows what the stranger has planned and ends up becoming his captive. Thankfully she finds that being tied up in his bed isn’t such a bad thing.

Coleman Wells has no choice but to kidnap the woman and keep her tied up in his cabin, deep in the mountains. If only he didn’t want to tear the woman’s clothes off and taste every inch of her body … he just might get them both out of the situation unscathed

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

My Favorite Things About Paranormal Romance Ebooks

Many people probably remember a time when book lovers had to have shelves and shelves of books. With ebook readers your reading material doesn’t have to take up so much room, and you can carry your paranormal romance books with you when you are away from home. I love not having to find room to put all of my books, and buying new books doesn’t require a trip to the local bookstore or waiting days or weeks to get your books in the mail. I just wish more of the older titles would be released as ebooks.