Interview - #PNR #Author Allie Ritch (@AllieRitch) chats about her new #Vampire #Romance

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After being a frequent participant in Allie’s multi-author posts, the most recent of which was about Wintertime Redefined Texts, I was delighted when she asked to stop by my place for an interview. A happy dance followed once I discovered she’s here to promote a vampire romance. As a devout Christine Feehan fan, I suffer from vampire withdrawal between releases of the Dark series, which usually leads to a frantic search for alternatives.

Let’s find out more about Drinking Partners (which comes out … *drum roll* … tomorrow!). 

1. Hi Allie, and welcome. I’m more acquainted with your (smoking hot) science fiction works. What made you opt for a paranormal this time? What are some similarities (or differences) between the two subgenres?

Hi, Tara. Thanks for having me here! Like you, I’m a huge fan of Christine Feehan’s Dark series, as well as several other PNR series by today’s authors. When I was first getting started as a writer, though, it was Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles that got me hooked on sexy men with fangs. The first novel I ever wrote was a vampire romance. While my writing technique has come a long way since then, I’ve still held on to my love for the paranormal. For me, there are a lot of similarities between PNR and my other favorite subgenre, sci-fi romance. Both allow for superhuman powers, fantasy worlds, and plots with elements that are usually impossible in the real world.  My favorite part of both subgenres is the freedom they give my imagination. In Drinking Partners, this means I could give my heroine extra strength and speed and could create an alternate history to explain the world she lives in.

2. How cool! So what, in your opinion, makes vampires so sexy?

Ever think to yourself, “That guy is so hot, I could sink my teeth into him”? Vampires take love bites to a whole new level. They’re also powerful, attractive, and mysterious, not to mention a guy is going to pick up some serious skills in the bedroom over the centuries.

3. You had me at 'love bites,' to be honest. Okay, In your world, are vampires “out of the closet” (à la True Blood), or is their existence still a secret?

The vampires in my series are not only out of the closet; they’re in charge. Each master vampire rules his or her own territory. In my hero’s case, that’s the Mid-Atlantic United States, which happens to abut the heroine’s domain. While the humans in the area can go about their daily lives pretty much as usual during the day, the nights are a different story. Think more à la Anita Blake series as far as some of the vampires being scary. Hardly any humans dare venture out after dark, and their weaponry and transportation are restricted so that they can’t turn against the vampires or try to flee the area. There are actually some vampire-free states, which have given rise to the Human Rebellion—a group dedicated to the overthrow and extermination of all bloodsuckers. One of the main characters in Drinking Partners has an interesting relationship with the Rebels, but I won’t spoil the surprise.

4. *Sigh* I've got a weakness for powerful supernaturals, so now I’m dying to learn more about your master vampire, Lucas. Would you mind sharing a snippet to get my very active imagination going?

I’d be happy to. I’m as in love with Lucas as my heroine is, and I hope readers will fall for him, too. He’s cunning and ruthless, and Alex has to stay on her toes with him, but he’s also fiercely passionate and protects those he loves.
Here’s an excerpt:

“We need to get these bloody clothes off you and stanch your wounds until they have time to heal. Since you fed tonight, they should close up quickly, as long as you don’t move around too much.”

She jerked her head up to glare at him nose to nose. “I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you. And how do you know I fed?”

Lucas was tempted to lie, but he’d pay for it later if she learned the truth. “Zander and I followed you to the blood bar tonight. I was curious what errand you intended to run.”

“It sounds like you were stalking me.”

“Nobody stalks better than a vampire,” he teased her. “You should be glad. If I hadn’t followed you, I wouldn’t have arrived in time to rescue you.”

“You didn’t rescue me. I would have killed them all eventually.”

Her confidence acted as an aphrodisiac on him. He’d always liked and respected fierce women, and this woman in particular drew him. The blood coating her skin also excited his vampire nature, though pain had never turned him on. At the moment, the knowledge that she was hurting was the only thing that kept his cock from growing fully erect.

“I expedited, then.”

She growled low in her throat but returned a shallow nod. “Yes, you did. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.” Without thought, he planted a light kiss on her forehead.

Alex didn’t jerk back like he thought she would. Instead, she gave him a look so vulnerable he tightened his hold on her out of reflex.

“Now, let’s see about getting you out of these dirty clothes and patched up.”

The vulnerable look evaporated. “No.”

“You’d rather get blood on your couch, then? Because I plan to sit down with you.”

She may have been the most unique woman he’d ever met, but she was still a woman. He knew stains drove females crazy.

5. Before I let you go, I have to ask: Will this book be the first of many vampire romances? How many are we talking? And since I’m acquainted with your other works, I can’t help but inquire over the possibility of a ménage vampire romance by Allie Ritch.

Drinking Partners is the first book in my new Vampire Territory series. As of right now, it’s looking like there will be six books in total. I just finished the rough draft of book four, so there’s still a lot of work for me to do. LOL, it’s funny that you should mention a ménage. I’m tentatively planning to have a ménage in book five, but I’ll have to see if the characters cooperate. Even if I do go with a ménage, all the books in the series will take after Drinking Partners in that they’ll be more story-driven than sex-driven. That doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of hot love scenes, but readers will also get lots of action, intrigue, and dark humor, as well.

Since Allie’s book comes out tomorrow (let me bold and repeat—Tomorrow, January 13) she’s got lots of things to do and people to see. [You have no idea how hard I resisted switching the do and see around].

Continue reading to learn more about the book and author!

Drinking Partners by Allie Ritch

Being the master vampire for the Mid-Atlantic Territory is a tough job. Between the Human Rebellion trying to kill him with poisonous suicide donors and snobby born vampires bucking his authority, Lucas Thane has his hands full. What he needs is a regular drinking partner to feed from and a bigger power block. He finds both in the form of Alexandra Gage, the master of the territory south of his.

Alex could use a little help herself, but she has no intention of letting Lucas take over. Turned into a vampire against her will, she has had enough control taken from her. She’ll never let Lucas usurp her right to rule, but will she let him steal her heart? Passion ignites between them, and it’s amazing what vampire bodies can do.

Buy Links: Loose ID

About Allie Ritch

Allie Ritch is a multi­published author of sizzling sci­fi and paranormal romance. She has an active imagination and enjoys entertaining others through storytelling. Allie lives in her own little world in the Southeastern United States, where she spends time appreciating the ocean and sunshine.

Website/Blog | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | GoodReads​

#CoverReveal - Black Hills Desperado by D.L. Jackson (@Dlaree69), a @DecadentPub #Shifter #PNR

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When I featured Taryn Kincaid's Wolf Song last week, I'd mentioned it's one of the 4 launch titles for Decadent Publishing's new Black Hills Wolves series. Today, I've got an extended excerpt from D.L. Jackson's Black Hills Desperado. It hits the shelves a little later this month, but you can pre-order it now! 

Black Hills Desperado

by D.L. Jackson

She’s a bad girlfriend.

Nothing Xio Davis does is right. When she abandons her pack, riding out of town on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle, she finds she’s bitten off more than she can chew. First, it’s small-time crimes, then bank robbery. As Xio sinks into the criminal underworld, the FBI catches up with her. Now, she’s got one way out: snitch.

When Xio turns state's evidence against a Mexican drug lord, Agent Marcus Cazador steps up to take her home, giving up his career, his place in the El Paso pack, and all he knows to protect her.

Xio claims she’s not the same wolf who left ten years before, but can she convince Marcus she’s changed her wicked ways? Or will the Black Hills be the end of the road on her long journey to redemption?

Excerpt

“A bank that’s never been robbed. There’s a first time for everything.”

State-of-the-art security. Armed rent-a-cops stationed on either side of the double doors. A busy street making a speedy getaway difficult. A lot of excellent reasons for Xio Davis get back in her Beemer and get out of Dodge.

None good enough to deter her from a challenge.

The two men who’d ridden with her climbed out. The bigger of the pair, Juan, rolled his shoulders before reaching into the cab for a ski mask and weapon, then passing it off to Miguel. “Catch.” He grabbed another and tossed it over the roof to her.

She caught it, slammed a full magazine home, and tucked it under her duster. With a wink, she retrieved her Day of the Dead mask from a recent celebration. “Okay, boys. Let’s break their lucky streak.”

Diego gave her the freedom to do whatever she wanted these days, as long as she kept his bed warm, and whenever she left his hacienda, she remembered to take her escorts with her. Maybe it was his way of keeping his eye on her—or on his money. Whatever the reason, she didn’t like it, so Xio kept the boys too busy to stick their noses in her personal business. Too busy to get close to the truth.

He didn’t smack her around or pass her among his friends and associates. And his men had long ago learned to respect her personal space. After one of his new hires had groped her, the man had lost a couple fingers and ended up in a body cast. Diego didn’t have to say a word or do anything to intervene. She’d policed her own problems.

Her boyfriend had grown busy with cartel business and that suited her fine. Never present, all the better. They didn’t love each other, but had an understanding. He provided for her, protected her when she needed it. She scratched his itch and spent his money.

But life had grown dull. Triggered by a botched bank robbery in El Paso, a restlessness had begun to swell inside her. Why, after all these years, she didn’t know, but it was there, a constant reminder she’d shackled her true nature in her quest to be free.

Her wolf constantly paced in her consciousness. Xio found herself unable to settle, shift, or run in the wilds as her inner beast demanded. Not because she physically couldn’t but because outside forces conspired against her. That was what happened when you lived with humans.

Wolf—dog—it didn’t matter. All made great sausage for hungry families in the villages surrounding the Sanchez ranch, and it was a risk she hadn’t taken in the ten years’ time since she’d almost ended up in a taco on some family’s dinner table.

She didn’t want to be in Mexico, and she didn’t want to be with Diego anymore, but she really didn’t have a choice or anywhere else to go. Hence, the reason she’d crossed the border for this small amusement. Perhaps she could get some of the pent-up energy out. Open a valve and vent.

Speaking of which….

Xio pulled the mask over her eyes and strode through the front doors of the bank. Her two team members flanked her.

No one seemed to notice them yet. Not very observant for a bank that claimed to have a robbery-free record. Deciding to wake them all up, she yanked an AKS-762 assault rifle—with a custom stock and barrel that catered to her size—from under her canvas duster and fired several rounds into the ceiling. Chunks of plaster rained down on the patrons in the lobby. Multiple people screamed and several of the customers hit the floor before she needed to provide them with instruction. Conversely, not everyone appeared to be a rocket scientist. Not a problem. She had great communication skills and hearing protection in her ears.

Xio fired a second time, bringing down more of the ceiling. She pointed at the floor. “On your bellies, ladies and gentlemen.” As though doing the “wave” at a sporting event, they dropped.

She strolled to the front of bank, kicked over one of the posts holding a velvet rope, and stepped over it. She’d never been patient enough to wait in line and wasn’t about to run their little maze now. Xio removed her earplugs and tuned in with her wolf hearing, listening for anyone who might want to be a hero. Not a peep—some crying, but that was par for the course.

Not a daredevil in the bunch.

She eyed the staff on the floor. The one thing all bankers feared was a robber who jumped the teller line, and she was about to become their worst nightmare. They’d taken classes, trained for robberies, all bank staff did—and what did their security specialists warn them about? Her—joining them behind the counter, up close and personal, with a loaded weapon.

“Palms on the floor and your ankles crossed. I haven’t got all day.”

She stopped at one of the windows and without the use of her hands, jumped up on the marble countertop. At five feet two, the feat should have been impossible for a human female of her stature, but she wasn’t completely human—and impossible wasn’t in her vocabulary. In fact, that was why she’d come here, chosen this robbery-proof bank. It was a matter of honor, and a little about her ego. The branch had never been successfully robbed, and she’d decided to change that.

It was Wednesday, the day after their big shipment came in, and the third of the month, when a large majority of seniors got their Social Security checks. Prime for the picking. The setup couldn’t be any sweeter.

She cocked her head and listened for sirens in the distance. Five minutes out, if her hearing served correct. “Here’s how we are going to do this. When I tap you on the shoulder, you get up and fill the backpack with cash. No bait bills. I can tell what they are, so don’t fuck with me.” She hopped off the counter and behind the teller line, nudging the first person there with the flash suppressor on the end of her weapon. “Move.”

With tears in her eyes, the teller staggered to her feet, blubbering something about children at home. Over the last ten years, Xio had heard every story imaginable, and the young woman’s tale did little to change what she planned to do. No, she’d never killed anyone, nor did she intend to start today, but they didn’t know that.

“Save the speech and stuff the bag.” She shoved the backpack into the blonde’s hands. “Now.”

The young woman pulled the drawer open and grabbed handfuls of cash, leaving the bait bill in the till as instructed. Xio didn’t need to see the special ultraviolet ink on it to know what it was. Her wolf could smell that it had been handled a multitude of times by the same person. Once the teller finished, Xio shoved her back to the floor and nudged the next. “Your turn.”

All followed instruction, until she reached the last person, a man. Something about him raised her hackles. She should have listened to the warning, but there were still two minutes left and she’d yet to empty the commercial drawer, where they kept the big money. Greed won over instinct, and Xio toed him with her combat boot. “Up, big boy.”

And wasn’t that understatement of the year? As he stood, she realized he had to be at least six feet four, dwarfing her tiny frame. He didn’t look like your typical banker, at least not any she’d dealt with in the past, and he sure as hell didn’t smell like a banker.

Wolf. Shit.

He looked her in the eyes, holding her gaze for a few seconds, making her trigger-finger itch. She wore a mask from a recent Day of the Dead celebration and had salted her words with a Spanish accent, so unless he could pick out her eyes in a lineup, he wouldn’t be able to identify her.

Regardless, she found his action brazen, considering she’d already fired several rounds, though not enough he’d think her magazine empty. None of the others so much as looked at her. This one had the balls to take a mental snapshot that would help a sketch artist. The last thing she needed. There was also one other thing missing. Fear.

The feeling prodding her before roared to life. Cop. Ah, that’s the reason his scent had seemed so familiar. Double shit. Not only was he a cop, but they’d crossed paths before. This was the man, or should she say wolf, who had been on her trail for months, since her gang had slipped up in El Paso. Lord knew she’d tried to ditch him. Once a wolf got a scent of his prey, he didn’t back down. Things had just gone from bad to worse. She wasn’t sure what pack he was from. More than likely the El Paso Cazador in Southern Texas. Wolves didn’t tend to stray too far from their territories, not higher-ranking pack members, anyway. Something told her he was up there in the group, a Beta, if not an Alpha. The stench of authority clung to him.

Wolf or not, one thing was for certain. He wasn’t here to administer pack law. Suddenly nervous—something that never happened to her—Xio stepped back to put space between them.

She’d walked them into a trap, and if what she saw in the man’s eyes was correct, a carefully orchestrated one. Her only advantage was that she still had a loaded assault rifle. “We need to leave. Now,” she called out to her crew, who were supposed to be watching the customers in the lobby.

No sound. No confirmation they’d heard her. Not good. She couldn’t smell them, but that didn’t mean anything. They could be near an air-conditioning vent or fresh-air exchange. Wouldn’t be the first time it’d happened. She chanced a glance back to see what they were doing, and saw no sign of them. Shit! They’d either bailed, left her to take the fall, or they’d already been apprehended while she’d been preoccupied with cleaning out the teller stations.

As she turned to address the cop, her weapon was wrenched away and the butt caught her in the jaw. Xio dropped like a bag of rocks. Her wolf wasn’t helping her out of this one. That was what she got for letting her ego get involved.

“Good morning, Miss Davis. Let me introduce myself. I’m Special Agent Marcus Cazador of the FBI. Didn’t anyone ever tell you banks are most often robbed within the first few minutes of opening? We figured you’d be here, after the invitation we’d extended. Safest bank in Texas. I can see you liked the billboard at the port of entry. You and I have a lot to talk about, but business first.”

He’d used her real name, one she hadn’t heard in ten years. It sounded strange coming from his mouth, but also right, as though he’d been born to say it. Not good. This man was dangerous in so many ways. “Bite me.”

About D.L. Jackson

D. L. Jackson is an award-winning author of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers. www.authordljackson.com

#WriteTip - Location, Location, Location by Christy Gissendaner (@ChristyGis), an @EtopiaPress #PNR Author

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The remarkably prolific Christy Gissendaner just polished off a brand new paranormal romance. In addition to snagging an excerpt and her gorgeous wolfy cover (by the way, purple is my official favorite color--regardless of the pinkification of my laptop and phone), I also pried her for a writing tip. Here's the skinny on how Christy came up with the gorgeous setting for her Tybee Island Shifters series. 

Location, Location, Location

by Christy Gissendaner

Like they say in retail…location is everything. Which is why for my latest series, I chose Tybee Island, Georgia as my setting and home to the fabulously wealthy Randolphs. I’ve never visited Tybee, so I drew on the internet and my experiences with other islands to create the playground for the rich and beautiful.

Tybee Island is located off the coast of Savannah, a city with elegance and Southern charm. Creating the Randolphs’ beach house was the stuff dreams are made of. For a beach lover like me, who would like nothing better than to live by the ocean, I poured over pictures found inside real estate brochures. I created a white, two-story mansion with large porches, an Olympic-sized pool, and a cute stone archway near the kitchens. (Just to give it character.)

That’s the joy of writing. I can take a simple idea and transform it into sheer perfection. And speaking of ideal, what could be better than a sexy alpha male with money to spare, unsurpassable good looks, and devotion to his family? The Tybee Island Shifters series began with Drake Randolph, who personifies perfection and Emma Anderson falls for him instantly. But Emma is more than human…possibly even a mermaid. Check out In Too Deep, book 1, to learn more about Drake and Emma.

Summer in Tybee Island heats up again in In Deeper, book 2. Micah Randolph and Celeste Proctor (Drake’s beta and ex-girlfriend) fight to keep from denying their shared attraction, while searching for the person threatening Celeste’s company. I once again returned to Tybee Island and the Randolphs’ beach house for Micah and Celeste’s tale. And the heat is off the charts. Trust me, you don’t want to miss the antics of these two!

Thanks for having me today, Tara, and I hope ya’ll enjoy the excerpt! And check out that cover. Isn’t Micah one hot commodity? [Tara: *Fans face* Hot commodity might be an understatement...]

In Deeper (Tybee Island Shifters 2)

by Christy Gissendaner

The alpha’s brother has met his match.

Celeste Proctor always had the best of everything—expensive homes, fashionable clothing, and the coveted position of beta to the most powerful of all lycans, Drake Randolph. But after the alpha chose another to be his bride, Celeste is left without a mate. She needs one, and fast—the stronger, the better–to maintain her carefully cultivated position. One of the alpha’s brothers will have to do, but which one?

Micah Randolph has always lived in the shadow of his oldest brother. With his country music career heating up, Micah is looking forward to a whirlwind tour and achieving his own success, separate from his position within the powerful Randolph family. When the beautiful yet untouchable Celeste Proctor shows up, determined to mate with him or his twin brother, he has a choice to make: pursue the dream he’s worked so hard to achieve, or be drawn back into pack politics as the mate of a woman looking only to secure her rank in the pack? But the way she makes him feel when she looks at him…can he make her want him for more than his strong, lycan blood?

Buy Links: Amazon

Excerpt

How in the hell had it happened? One moment he was blinded by rage. The next he was consumed by lust strong enough to knock him on his ass.

Celeste didn’t know what she did to him. If she did, she’d turn and run. He didn’t want to only mate with her. He wanted to mark her, brand her as his own for the entire world to see. It wasn’t a case of wanting something of his brother’s. Drake’s claim on her was merely as the alpha to her beta. They were friends now. Nothing more.

Micah’s mind suspected the truth even if his heart didn’t. He’d never thought of her as Drake’s. He’d been unable to, no matter how much he tried.

He slid his hands lower and caressed the slope of her ass. The heat of her skin radiated through the leather and warmed his palms. What he wouldn’t give to peel the tight pants off and reveal the lush curves he’d only glimpsed once.

He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck. “Tell me to go.”

She wriggled her ass closer. “I don’t want you to.”

He groaned. “This is madness.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” She leaned backward and met his gaze. “I’m tired of being on my own. I want something that’s mine.”

“I’m not a piece of property you can add to your collection.”

She gave him a fierce frown. “I’m more than a spoiled rich girl.”

Let her go and walk away. He didn’t heed his subconscious’s advice. She was there, in his arms, and his cock took over thinking for him. There were very few things in life he was unable to resist, but she topped the short list.

Celeste ran her hands up his chest and cupped his shoulders. Her fingers curled into his skin, holding him in place even though he wasn’t thinking of running. “I’m tired of being the girl everyone thinks has everything. You don’t know what it’s like to be alone.”

“Sure, I do.” He lowered his head. The taste of her kiss would be a memory no longer, no more a dream that replayed over and over in his head at night. “Everyone is alone eventually.”

He moved his mouth closer, already imagining the sweet taste of her. He would’ve experienced the sweet joy of having her again had his phone not chosen that moment to ring.

He closed his eyes and cursed at the sound of the familiar ringtone. “It’s Drake.”

ABOUT CHRISTY GISSENDANER

Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes that laughter and love should go hand in hand.

Christy lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!

To find out more, check out her website!

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