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Excerpt

The Southlands End. The orange, neon words hung high above the doorway, glowing brightly in the nighttime sky. The loud music playing inside could be heard clearly from the crowded parking lot. This place was meant to serve as a safe haven for the shifter kind who resided in Southlands, Montana, but to Karson Maddox, it only served as a reminder of the life that had been stolen from him.

He took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of the familiar rugged landscape. Montana had been the place he’d called home for many years, until that fateful night had changed his life forever. After five years, Karson had finally made it back home, but now, he was uncertain of what awaited him on the other side of those metal doors, and frankly, he didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was finding Marcus.

Reaching out with a shaky hand, he opened the door and stepped inside. He was instantly greeted by the bouncers, set in place to keep wandering mundanes—a shifter term for the majority of the human population—out.

“Passcode,” the large one on the left requested in a less than pleasant manner. His voice was deep and his intimidating stare was enough to stop any sensible person from advancing.

Karson ran a nervous hand through his shaggy hair. “I don’t know it, but—”

Before he could even get the rest of his sentence out, the other bouncer, who had yet to speak, grabbed ahold of his arm and pushed him back outside.

“Hey, wait a minute. Lemme go!” Karson struggled against the painful grip. “I’m here to see Marcus.”

His words did nothing to stop the two shifters from removing him from the building. They tossed him to the ground like a ragdoll, and the sting from the gravel scraping against his exposed flesh burned like a son of a bitch. 

He glared up at the two men, his temper flaring from their harsh handlings as his mind was taken back to the past five years of abuse he’d endured in one moment. He could feel the animal inside him rise to the surface, itching for a release that couldn’t be sated. His inability to shift only fueled his desire to defend himself as he lunged at the taller man His fist collided with the bouncer’s jaw, but despite the pain that radiated up his arm, his target appeared to be unfazed by the blow.

“Fuck,” he cursed as he shook his hand in an attempt to free it from the ache that emanated from his knuckles.

“Is there a problem here?”

His heart caught at the sound of the slight southern drawl. He knew the man who had spoken those words even before he turned around and his rage was instantly calmed by the familiar voice. A wave of nervousness washed over him as his hands began to tremble. Turning slowly, he met Marcus’s eyes for the first time in five years and the world around him seemed to fade away. 

Marcus Deveraux stood in front of him, dressed in a pair of dark-wash Wranglers and his favorite pair of cowboy boots. His white shirt was left partially unbuttoned, no doubt to showcase his well-muscled chest. Strands of his blond hair fell in front of his ice blue eyes as he stared down at Karson. The soft features of his face had hardened with the years, but everything else was just as he remembered.

Karson’s mouth went dry. He tried to find the words he’d rehearsed earlier in the day, but nothing came to him. Instead, all he could do was stand there like a deer caught in headlights.

“Karson?” Marcus whispered as recognition finally kicked in. A look of shock and confusion fell upon his face as the pain and agony of the past few years shimmered inside the depths of Marcus’s piercing eyes. 

The desire to reach out to him was overwhelming. It was an impulse that had surprised Karson given that he’d changed so much in the past few years. Something shifted inside him, awakening a mixture of emotions he hadn’t felt since the day he was taken from Marcus. Tears pooled in his eyes and he tried desperately to hold them back. He wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.

“Sir, you know this man?” the large shifter Karson had punched questioned Marcus.

Marcus gave a slow nod, his eyes never leaving Karson. “Yes… he’s my mate.”

Announcements, Contests, and Teaser!


So it is a bit later in the afternoon than what I'd planned on but here's the post I've been promising for Last Kiss Goodbye! There's also a contest over on Fantasy Promotions' blog offering a chance to win a free copy of Last Kiss Goodbye so be sure to head over there and comment below the post. The contest ends on January 8th!

Contest Link: http://www.xfantasycreationsx.com/2014/01/ringing-in-new-year-with-lexi-dehalo.html

I hope you enjoy the never before seen sneak peak and don't forget to enter the contest (yes, I might be plugging my contest a bit, but who doesn't like free books?)

Enjoy :)




Sneak Peak

“You ready?” Karson’s deep green eyes stared back at Marcus as he finished buttoning up his shirt. He gave a short nod before approaching his scrumptious mate. Dressed in a pair of ripped, dark-washed blue jeans and a tank top, Karson looked good. Marcus’s mouth watered for a taste, and he bent down to claim his lover’s lips.
His tongue invaded Karson’s mouth as he inhaled his earthy scent. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he couldn’t help the moan that escaped his lips. A shiver of desire ran down his spine as he remembered their love-making from the night before. One taste was never enough for him. Marcus wound his arm around Karson’s waist, pulling him closer. The hard cock between his legs was aching for release, and he seriously contemplated skipping tonight’s agenda.
Karson pushed at his shoulders. “Come on, Marcus. Don’t start that again or we’ll never get there.”
Marcus met Karson’s gaze. A small mischievous grin spread across his face. “So? I wouldn’t mind skipping our outing.”
Karson sighed and stuck his bottom lip out, pouting like a small child who wanted his way. “I really want to get out of the house. It’ll be the first time I’ve been out since I came back here. I want to see everyone.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow at Karson’s protests. “You know I’d much rather stay in with you and continue where we left off last night.”
Karson rolled his eyes. “We have plenty of time for that later, mate. You promised you’d take me out.”
Marcus grinned as he slung an arm over Karson’s shoulder. “So I did. Let’s go have some fun tonight and then we can have sex.”
Karson shook his head, but offered no more protests.
Marcus grabbed his wallet and keys, and they headed for his mustang. The chirping sound of the crickets filled the silence that hung between them as they made their way to the faintly outlined car. The stars sparkled in the sky overhead, providing all the light they needed to navigate their way down the path. They reached the vehicle, and Marcus opened the door for his mate. He waited until Karson was safe inside before he ran to the other side and plopped down into the leather seat.
Marcus shoved the key in the ignition and with a turn of his wrist, the engine roared to life. He could feel the car’s vibrations even as he backed down the driveway and headed for his bar. Karson was quiet the whole way there, barley speaking more than a handful of sentences. He was nervous and Marcus could tell. It was kind of cute. He reached for his lover’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“Relax, Kar. Everything’s going to be just fine.”
“I know,” Karson sighed. “I’m just anxious to see the rest of your brothers. I’m not sure how they’ll take to my coming back.”
Marcus shrugged. “Who cares? All that matters is that we’re good. We are good, aren’t we?”
“Of course.” A warm smile spread across Karson’s face for the first time since he’d returned, and Marcus was glad to see him finally getting back to his old self.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about. I promise you, my brothers will be on their best behavior.” At least he hoped they would. Ever since Karson’s little episode in front of Lex, Lex had done damage control, ensuring that everyone knew not to give Karson a hard time. His brother had gone above and beyond to help Marcus in his search for whoever had done this to Karson and to ensure that both he and his mate were safe. He owed Lex a big thank you once this was all said and done.
The car came to a screeching halt as Marcus whipped the car into his usually parking space. Karson fell forward and glared at him.
“Do you always have to drive like a bat out of hell?”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Marcus’s mouth as he leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on his mate’s lips. “I’ll try to be more careful next time.”
Karson snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“I just can’t win with you, can I?” Marcus raised his eyebrows and studied Karson’s reaction.
“It would be different, but I know you just can’t help yourself. Bad driving is in your nature.” Karson flashed him a playful grin before stepping out of the car. “Now, come on. They’ve already started the music.”
Marcus shook his head and followed his mate to the main entrance. He was way too excited about this, but it was kind of cute. He entwined their fingers when they reached the door and they entered together.
Immediately, Marcus spotted his brothers. Sky was sulking in the corner, Blaze and Axel had already started a round of some drinking game, and Gage and Ryland were in the midst of a brawl that Lex was trying to break up. Yup, just another typical night at the Southlands End.
“Thank god you’re here. Now you can deal with these crazy sons of bitches.” Lex motioned to Gage and Ryland who seemed to of come to some temporary truce long enough to finish the drinks the waiter had brought.
“Ah, you know they’ve always been like that. One minute they’re best friends and the next they’re at each other’s throats.” Marcus grinned as he greeted his aggravated brother. Lex never really cared for places like this. He didn’t get the appeal and always seemed stressed when Marcus asked him to come.
“Here.” Marcus grabbed a shot of some dark liquid off the table and handed it to Lex. “This’ll take the edge off.”
Lex raised an eyebrow at him. “It’s going to take a lot more than that.”
Blaze passed him another shot with enthusiasm. “Don’t worry about it, bro. We got plenty more where that came from.”
“Oh, yeah?” Marcus cocked his head to the side to get a better look at his younger brother. “And just who do you think is going to pay for all this?”
“You, of course.” Blaze batted his eyelashes in false innocence as Axel snickered behind him. They were already three sheets to the wind, and it wasn’t even midnight.
“Oh, Karson, you came.” Blaze finally noticed, and excitement lit up his whole face. “Come sit next to me and we’ll show you how to play the drinking game me and Axel made up.”

Karson eyed them suspiciously, and Marcus gave a gentle squeeze to his hand, letting him know it was all right. He joined the two rambunctious siblings, and it wasn’t long before they fell back into their usual groove, joking and laughing as though nothing had ever happened. Marcus was glad they wouldn’t be giving him the third degree tonight and everything seemed much like it always had before. Ryland and Gage were still trying to best each other while Marcus and Lex sat around and talked about their plans for the future. To an outsider, they were an odd bunch, but they were family and more importantly, they were his pack. Marcus just hoped that one day Karson could officially join their ranks and stand by his side as his official mate.


Last Kiss Goodbye - Now Available

Well, it's finally here and I'm happy to finally share Karson and Marcus with the rest of the world! I'll be giving away some prizes tomorrow and some more juicy details on Last Kiss Goodbye so be sure to check back for more information on "The Ringing in the New Year" Blog Party.

That's all the announcements for today lovelies! I hope you've had a wonderful New Year thus far.

Buy link for Last Kiss Goodbye (The Southlands Book One)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HNTQCCG

Guest Author: Olivia Black


OLIVIA BLACK

OliviaBlackBooks@gmail.com

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST

I fell in love with romance novels years ago and read everything I could get my hands on, from contemporary to paranormal. Thousands of books later, I'm still an avid reader. 
I started writing ménage romance a couple of years ago with Siren Publishing under the name, Alicia White. Recently, I decided that I wanted to branch out and with the support of my publisher, I started writing Man Love under, Olivia Black. This is my first series, Silver Bullet.  
I love waking up in the morning, getting my iced coffee and sitting down in front of my laptop. Going on adventures with my characters, makes writing the best job on the planet. My hope is that readers will find something positive in every book I write and that they will enjoy the journey along the way. Happy reading!

The Alpha’s Mate: Silver Bullet, Book 1

Now Available from BookStrand!

Alpha Gideon Channing isn’t just the leader of his pack in New Orleans. He’s also the owner of Silver Bullet, a gay club that offers everything from a dance floor to a dungeon. The club caters to all of its customers from shifters to vampires and even humans.
Josh Gordon is human. He’s just graduated college and is ready to party.  He knows that paranormal’s exist. In fact, everyone does, it’s not a secret. After drinking and dancing with his friends, large arms wrap around him and he’s instantly blown away that a huge wolf shifter would be interested in him.
The two men spend a wild night together, but when Josh wakes up, he’s scared of the awkward morning after. He can’t understand why his heart hurts with each step he takes toward the door. Before he can sneak out, Gideon stops him and convinces him that he needs more than just one night.



      Gideon Channing scanned the crowd through the monitors, looking for any signs of trouble.  It was his job to make sure that all the shifters, humans, and vampires mingled well together. No one had ever been injured or forced to do anything since the opening of his place, Silver Bullet, and as owner and pack Alpha, he planned on keeping it that way. From his office, located above the club, Gideon couldn’t hear the pounding music, but he could enjoy the view. Sitting back, Gideon watched gorgeous, half-naked men gyrating across the dance floor rubbing against each other, creating a sea of delicious, sweaty flesh. 
      His pack of red wolves had changed so much over the years and he was content with the way things were. Before his father became the Alpha, the wolves had been ruled with an iron fist. Members of the pack were punished and put to death for whatever infraction the tyrant of an Alpha considered to be disgraceful or wrong. Families were broken a part, children slaughtered for stepping out of line, and men and women were held to different standards.
      He could still remember the night when he came clean and told his father he preferred men. He didn’t expect the man to accept him as easily as he had, with open arms.  That same night, his father told him a heart breaking story about an uncle he never knew existed. The man had been killed for his sexual preferences, murdered, before his father was old enough and strong enough to step in and fight.  Since then, his father felt guilty over the loss of his older brother. A man that, from what Gideon heard, he resembled in a lot of ways.
      When he took the reins from his father, the few families that remained went with his parents to Europe. Now, his pack consisted of gay men, a haven for anyone that needed a safe place in honor of the uncle he never knew. Some of the men he’d grown up with and others found and joined them over the years. Their numbers were growing and he always welcomed anyone who needed a place to call home.
      The clubs success could be attributed to the entire pack and their hard work. The Silver Bullet had become well known for catering to everyone and their tastes whether conservative or wildly kinky. The large profits not only helped them all live a life of luxury, it also paid the way for the younger members to further their education. College and traveling were important elements in a young pup’s life and he didn’t want any mistakes closing this place down.
      Ever since the paranormal world had been exposed to human kind, years ago, they’d lived in relatively peaceful conditions. There were rogues, but they were policed closely by a group called, F.P.A. or Federal Paranormal Agency. The paranormals couldn’t be blamed for everything though. Humans committed crimes and killed all the time. There were radical groups also known as PARA-haters out there, but their numbers were small and Gideon’s pack hadn’t had any problems with them for a while. Where ever those trouble makers were, he was glad they weren’t in New Orleans, harassing his pack.
      After human-kind got over the shock that shifters and vampires were real and not a myth, most humans became curious about paranormals. Over time humans started trusting that they weren’t in any danger. Gideon named the club, Silver Bullet, as a little joke since many human’s believed that shifters or werewolves could only be killed with silver. He wouldn’t confirm or deny that rumor.  
      Gideon’s hope was that the Silver Bullet would bring everyone together, paranormals and humans alike.
Having a club was also a good excuse to help his pack find their mates.  He’d been searching for his own far too long in his opinion. At thirty-five, he was ready to settle down with a good man by his side.
      Scanning each screen, he watched his employees for a few minutes before checking each dark corner, the dance floors, and even the private rooms. Security and safety would always be his top priority. Everyone coming inside his club knew that, and all the players agreed to the discreet surveillance. It was one of the reasons they were always busy. The other was due to the fact that they were the hottest gay club in the state, and quite possibly the country.
      The Silver Bullet was a sprawling building almost a block long in the warehouse district in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a well-known hang out and attracted lots of different clientele. Luckily, they could accommodate everyone’s tastes. From quiet relaxing atmospheres to extreme forms of BDSM, the club had it all.
      Gideon made sure to do his homework before opening. He wanted this place to be the go-to for paranormals and humans alike. The sprawling club was cut up into different mini-clubs, some more private and exclusive than others. In fact, in order to get into the dungeon, each member needed a background check and a psych evaluation. If they passed, then they were given their own four digit code.
      He loved New Orleans. It had it all. The big city, music, food, swamps, and open spaces that allowed him to shift and run freely. To him, Louisiana wasn’t like any other place in the world. There was a certain magic that hung in the thick air and clung to a person.
      After a few minutes of watching the sexy men on the screen, he heard a knock before the door opened. Gideon swiveled his chair around and grinned as his Beta, Sean Griffin, strolled in. His best friend could easily be mistaken for his brother. They looked similar in a lot of ways.
      “Enjoying the view I see. You should come down and see it up close and personal.” Sean winked.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH OLIVIA BLACK


Q: Do you write full-time or part-time?

I write full time right now, but that will be changing very soon. I’m going back to school to continue my education. I’ll always write, but my schedule will be different.

Q: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

I get my daughter off to school, hit the gym, grab my iced coffee, and then, its writing time. I spend the morning getting as many words in as I can. Some days are better than others.

Q: Do you write every day?

Yes, I spend at least a couple of hours writing each day. On the weekends, I usually spend the day with family, but in the evening, I open my laptop.

Q: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

My daily goal is between three to five thousand words. Sometimes that varies depending on how motivated I am. J

Q: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

For this series, Silver Bullet, I did a lot of plotting. I wanted to make sure that each story was unique along with the characters. I also looked through pictures of hunky men and used them as inspiration for the characters. It makes describing them a lot easier. 

Q: How long on average does it take you to write a book?

The time varies and depends on how inspired I’m feelings. Some days, my fingers glide across the keyboard and others, I stare at the screen.

Q: Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

I move to a different WIP (work in progress). If I’m staring at the screen and the words aren’t coming to me, I close the document, and open a different book I’m working on.

Q: For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

I have a nook and a full shelf of traditional paperback books. I’m a huge reader and have been for many years. Reading is an important part of my life.

Q: What books are you reading at present?

There are so many books. I read constantly…anything romance. 

Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

Honestly, I don’t know a lot about self-publishing to really weigh in. I enjoy writing for Siren, they are a great company. The folks there are always willing to work with me and they are very supportive. I write ménage under Alicia White and now, I’m writing Man Love with a brand new pen name, Olivia Black. I feel very lucky to be a part of the Siren family. 

Q: Which social network worked best for you?

I’ve never been a big social networking person, but since writing, all that changed. I love connecting with the readers and other writers. Facebook has been the big one, but I’m also on Twitter.