Thursday, June 5, 2014

Guest Author Elaina M. Roberts and The Fox's Mate!

Hey all!

Most of you have been following us every week for Flash Fiction Friday and will recognize my fellow blogger Elaina M. Roberts.  Today she’s taking over the blog to share with us her latest release The Fox’s Mate.  And while this is a M/F tale I am sure, like myself, you will appreciate Elaina’s wicked style of writing, juicy characters and overall amazing talent no matter the genre.  So be sure to read all about it and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below!



Blurb:

Alpha Draike Weatherby has enjoyed many years of peace in his districts. He’s made agreements with the various shifter races as well as the Vampire Lord of London to keep crime down and their existence safe from human knowledge. Until now. A loyal gang of nonhuman runaways are systematically losing members. Rat shifters have grown bold, increasing crime in his area and risking their secret. Then there’s Olivia. Naked, bleeding, and fleeing a trio of unsavory characters, she runs straight into his arms…and stirs his most protective instincts.

As he digs deeper, he discovers an interconnecting web with a single common thread: Olivia. To uncover the truth, he must gain the trust of the terrified woman who entices his fox. But she guards a secret that could destroy or save her.

Excerpt:

“I fucking hate you sometimes.”

“I’m wounded. Stop complaining, Franklin.” Draike grinned and slung his arm over his young friend’s shoulder as they approached the doorman of The Phoenix nightclub. He reached over and ruffled Franklin’s hair with his free hand, laughing when the boy elbowed him in the ribs. “Ooof! Come now, Benson is always pushing us to do more together.”

“Somehow I doubt that being your date at a gay bar is what your housekeeper had in mind, sir.” Franklin ducked his head so his long brown hair covered his eyes, and his growing blush. “If any of my mates are here, I’ll catch a rash of shite.”

“If any of your friends are here, Franklin, and you didn’t know of their proclivities, then I’m certain they’ll be equally reluctant to draw your attention. Otherwise, feel free to blame it on losing a bet.”

“Damn straight, I will.”

The pair nodded to the doorman and squeezed past him into the darkened building. The thumping techno beat and kaleidoscope of light from the glitter ball collided with the scents of cologned, perfumed, or unwashed bodies to create a veritable hell for the shifter. Draike gripped Franklin’s arm until he found some measure of equilibrium. He kept it there to lend truth to their charade. They pushed their way through the press of half-naked men to the bar to order a round of drinks and make initial, discreet inquiries.

The large, flat-screen monitor above the narrow bar played the best in gay pornography in vivid Technicolor. The four men on the screen were enjoying an adult version of naked Twister on an oiled mat. Hands slipped and slid along the mat to land on various parts of the other players’ bodies, much to the delight of the watching crowd, until they dispensed with all pretense of the game. A shout went up from the crowd when the game on the screen grew more explicit, and moaning joined the loud music. Franklin watched with shocked fascination until Draike pulled him from the bar and along the edge of the dance floor.

The fox looked for seats closer to the kitchen where the furniture, equipment, and architecture buffered some of the noise. A pair of young vampires caught Draike’s eye and slid from their booth. The youngest of the pair looked Franklin up and down as if he was a scrumptious treat in a candy shop. He even licked his lips.

“What the fuck?” Franklin jerked his vest closed and turned to the side. “Back off, mate. I’m not on the menu. Any menu.”

“Such a pity.” The young vampire walked his fingers up Franklin’s bicep. He leaned forward with an appreciative sniff. “You should be on everyone’s menu, beautiful. Whaddya say you and me do our…business…on the dance floor?”

“Think with the big head, fang-face, before you’re drinking through a straw.”

Draike plucked the pliers from the young man’s hand with a chuckle. He caught Franklin around the waist and pulled him against his chest. “How the hell did you get that past security?”

“Feisty.” Franklin’s admirer hissed. “I like that.” At Draike’s low growl, he raised his hands. “’S cool, mate. But if you’re ever in the mood to share…”

The older vampire smacked his associate on the head. He turned to Draike and gestured to the table. “Courtesy of Lord Maximus, Mr. Weatherby. He’ll join you later this evening.”

Draike murmured his thanks as they left, certain they would hear above the thumping bass. The pair nodded as they left, passing on either side of his companion.

Franklin jumped as they brushed against him on their way into the sinuous slide of male chests and leather-clad rears on the dance floor. Reaching behind him, he pulled a business card from his pocket. “Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Crumpling the card, he threw it at Draike’s head.

The fox shifter caught it, flattened it on the table, and burst out laughing. The card contained the young vampire’s name and telephone number.

“If one more bloke grabs my arse, I’m going to start the mother of all bar brawls.” Franklin flopped into the booth and glared at his chuckling mentor. He turned in the booth, stretching his legs along the cracked and patched seat. “I hate having my back to the room.”

“I know you do, and you’ve been a fine sport to play along. If we discover nothing tonight, at least you’ll have a date.” Draike held the crumpled paper between his fingers. Though his voice was teasing and his smile genuine, he scanned the packed dance floor.

“If I get a call from that guy, I swear I will smother you in your sleep,” Franklin grumbled as he slouched deeper into the seat.

Book Info:
Title - The Fox's Mate
Series - Children of Jarilo, Book One
genre - romantic Urban Fantasy
release date - June 5th
publisher - Taliesin Publishing - http://www.taliesinpublishing.com/
length - novel (87K+ words)
cover art - attached

Author Links:
Goodreads

Purchase Links:
Taliesin Publishing
Smashwords (all file formats)


The Fox's Mate - a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting. I love a good ahifter story.

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  2. I do so love Elaina's feisty shifters! Count me in =)

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  3. Thank you Night! This hero isn't sparkling with goodness, which makes me like him even more. And Max, the above mentioned Lord Maximus, is one of my favorite self-created characters (behind Sapphire, because that pixie just rocks, and possibly Petri because....Petri).

    Good luck to everyone and thank you again!

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  4. If you love this character as much as you love Sapphire I can't wait to get started. I can already guess im going to like this "Bad Boy" who is the hero.

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  5. I loved your books before and this one sounds like it will be as amazing as the others. I can't wait to get started!

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  6. Love the idea of a fox shifter. Thanks for the chance.

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    1. Congratulations! Your email is winging its way along the ether to get to you. Enjoy! :D

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  7. I'm definitely interested! Count me in!
    Kym

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  8. yay elaine! cant wait to read it

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    1. Thank you Rachel! :) It was a joy to write, editing...not so much lol but that's the nature of the beast.

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  9. Thank you to everyone who participated. The Raffle-beast chose its winner in the dark of the night and I am but its messenger. Kathy Osborn, check your email and get back to me on format :)

    Night, you're a champ for hosting me. You know I love ya! *mwah*

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