Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Guest Post & Giveaway: Undying Embrace by Jessica Lee

Today, I'm happy to have Author Jessica Lee with us! 
Let me tell you about her latest novel, Undying Embrace!
 (Get ready ladies to wipe up the drool - the cover is fabulous!)



Undying Embrace
The Enclave Series
by Jessica Lee
Adult PNR
Released October 21, 2013
Entangled Publishing

Synopsis:

Arran MacLain is a vampire on a suicide mission, driven to kill his former partner who betrayed him and the Enclave they served. But two things stand in his way: Gabrielle, the human female who holds his heart, and the past that won’t let him go. If only death was enough to cleanse his soul.



Gabrielle Steven’s sister is missing. Her hunt for clues brings her face to face with the one vampire she can’t forget. Their missions combine and thrust them into the heart of evil. Will their passion be enough to overcome the pain from their past, or will their dark desires destroy them both?





Almost every author's bio states they've been writing since they learned how to read. It's what they've always wanted to do. Well, my journey wasn't so straight and narrow. I was a nurse for over twenty years and hold a bachelor's degree in science with a major in biology. So as you can see, my career path had originally gone in the opposite direction. I didn't discover my passion for the craft until after I'd had my son and decided to work part-time.


I've always loved to read but had never read a paranormal romance. Then one night at work on break, I began reading Karen Marie Moning's Spell of the Highlander. I couldn't believe what I'd been missing, and I immediately fell in love with the genre.


I wanted to write like that. I wanted to create worlds where others could find the same escape and fascination I did when I read my first sensual paranormal romance.


And I hope that's what I've accomplished in my work. Please dive in, hold on tight, and enjoy the adventure. Just be careful in the dark—you might find more than you expected waiting for you there.


Jessica Lee lives in the southeastern United States with her husband and son. She loves writing and can't wait for that quiet time each day when her son is in school, and she can get lost in another place and world with the fantastical, sexy creatures in her head.



She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, FF&P, and Carolina Romance Writers.




 


Courageous Heroines

Nothing is more empowering than writing a strong heroine. One who has been beaten down in her past and has risen from her pain stronger than she was before. This is who I hope you see and find in Gabrielle Stevens. Gabrielle is a woman with scars, physical and mental ones from her past. Yet she's a female who is fighting with all her might not to allow them to hold her hostage. 

In this scene, you see a glimpse of that spunky female. Every time I read this passage the exchange between Arran and Gabrielle never fails to make me grin. I love her! But I guess I am a little partial.
The snippet below is in Arran's point of view. Through his eyes, you discover along with Arran, Gabrielle isn't the same helpless female he'd walked away from months ago.


“You've been gone a long time, Arran. Things have changed. I've changed.”
“Maybe so. But you're not taking on that colony alone. I can't believe Logan let you come here without him.” Gabrielle turned her back, rearranging her purse on the table. Shit. He recognized that body language. “You didn't tell him, did you?” Arran closed the distance between them.
“No. I didn't need him here.” She looked up, fierce determination written on her face. “I can handle this. Alex needs me. And I'm going to be there for her.” She shifted to face him again, leaning her hip against the table. “I'm smart enough to know if—and when—I need help.”
Arran closed in, crowding her personal space, wanting a reaction. Aching for it, actually. Gabrielle straightened and took one step back but stopped and lifted her chin, refusing to cower and give him the reaction he itched for. She caught on quick.
“You think you have it all handled, lass?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“You got it all under control?”
The amber color of her irises had grown molten. He allowed a small smile to pull at the corner of his mouth, loving the way she got all hot and bothered when he pushed her.
“Yes. I do.” The words had barely left her lips when she attacked, one leg coming out to catch the back of his ankle. Caught off guard, he stumbled.
Before Arran could regain his balance, Gabrielle had his wrist locked in her grip. Swinging his arm up, she spun underneath, twisted, and wrenched his arm up the middle of his back, then shoved him face-first into the wall.
Well, damn. Not bad. “You've been training,” he mumbled against the Sheetrock.
“A little.” She sounded quite proud of herself. Gabrielle was good. She'd caught him by surprise. But she was human. A woman. And no match for a mature vampire. Especially more than one.
With a burst of speed, Arran pushed back, forcing her to release him instead of falling on her rear. He whirled, catching her before she hit the floor. In less than a second, their positions reversed. Except this time, he'd pinned her back against the wall, her hands imprisoned by his, over her head.
The position pushed her full breasts up, almost spilling them from her top. Nice. He lifted his gaze, prepared for a hard glare. If her eyes were molten earlier, they were near boiling now. Arran couldn't have stopped the next words that spilled from his lips if he'd tried.
“I win.”
“You asshole!” Gabrielle squirmed and bucked against him like a feral cat. Instead of gaining her freedom, though, each maneuver jammed her tighter into his hold. Her every inhale shoved her breasts into his chest. Heat radiated off her body, threatening to scramble his brain. Before he knew he'd even moved, his lips hovered over hers. What made him stop, God only knew. Maybe it was the way she'd suddenly grown still? Or maybe it was the moment she'd parted her lips, releasing warm, peppermint-scented bursts of air that seduced his mind. So damn enticing. All he had to do was lean in one more inch, and he'd—
Fire shot up his arm. “Son of a…” Releasing her, he jumped back and flung his gaze to the offending limb. Blood.
A thin line of crimson blossomed along the outside of his bicep. She'd played him. Purposefully distracted him, so she could pull her hand free and reach for a blade that must have been hidden under her skirt and against her thigh. The little minx.



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10 comments:

  1. I will be honest and say that I have not had the pleasure of reading any of your work. But I love to read anything and everything that has to do with romance and I can't wait to get to know your characters and their stories.

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  2. I've read everything Jessica's written, I think... I'm really enjoying this book so far.

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  3. Loved the excerpt! I grinned, too. ;-D Gabrielle is one of my favorite heroes--she definitely doesn't back down to him or anyone. I love her!! Undying Embrace is the perfect follow-up to Undying Destiny! Congratulations on your release!

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  4. Thank you, Naima! That was so kind of you to say. Yay! You ROCK, lady. :)

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  5. I love the cover...did you get a say in it, Jessica?

    Barrie

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    1. Hi Barrie, I was able to voice what I wouldn't want on my cover and some things that I do like, but the concept I have to give props to Kim Killion. It's all hers, and she's awesome!

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  6. I can't wait to read this one. Sounds great.

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  7. I had the pleasure of reading Undying Embrace, and I'm working on my review. It's certainly a stand alone, but if have to read the first to find out about the previous story, it sounded equally intriguing! Thanks for the giveaway.

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed Undying Embrace, Pat, and you liked the sound of Undying Destiny! Yay! Thank you for reading. Book three, Undying Desire I'm hoping will be available sometime in early 2014. :)

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