#MFRWHooks - 4/13/16 - Deadly Enchantment - Trapped with a white leopard #Shapeshifters #Paranormal

Fair Warning: Wizards don't always play fair.

Welcome to MFRW Book Hooks, a regular Wednesday feature! Today, I'm sharing a snippet from my second book, Deadly Enchantment, a Victorian paranormal romance concerning the deadly rivalry between two shape-shifting wizard brothers.  The legitimate heir, Terrence, received his father's money and title, but his illegitimate half-brother, Dominic, received all their father's affection and love, earning all of Terrence's resentment.

Published by New Concepts Publishing, the story revolves around a young psychic woman unwittingly drawn into the brotherly conflict when she faces off with the dark wizard of Ravenscroft, whom she is convinced has brutally slaughtered her sister in a fit of jealous rage on their wedding night.

In this segment from Chapter Four, Serena decides to confront Westcroft directly by marching into his study and insisting he admit his true goal is to purposely frighten the other women, who'd been selected by his sister as his potential brides, into leaving. Though Serena knows Westcroft possesses magical powers, she's just not sure what form they take other than parlor tricks, so she decides to see for herself just how far he is willing to go, but changes her mind when she recognizes the danger in provoking the beast.  Except she's too late. When she reaches for the door handle she discovers he'd locked her in with him. Magically. However, rather than attack as she expected it would, the cat gently grasped her wrist and led her over to the divan, then nudged her to take a seat.

            When Serena slid her fingers through its soft, plush fur, the cat closed its eyes and made that growl-like purring sound again as it rubbed its head against her thigh as though seeking attention near the sensitive area around its ears.  The moment Serena obliged, the cat’s deep reverberating purr of appreciation vibrated through the room and her.  It sounded loud enough that she imagined everyone in the manor would have heard it, yet no knock of inquiry sounded at the door.  But then no one had answered her cries, either.  Wondering if Dominic was muffling their sounds in a way that prevented others from hearing them, she drew her hand back.  The cat lifted its head and regarded her intently for a moment, then placed a large paw across her lap as though it sought to remind her of its presence.

            Serena hardly needed reminding, however, for the cat weighed at least fourteen stone more than she did.  She had little doubt it could easily rend her to shreds if it chose, yet, at the moment it seemed much more like a large, sleek pet cat.  It had done nothing to frighten or harm her, and none of its actions had been even vaguely threatening.  Rather than bully or terrify her into compliance, it had sought her attentions freely given.

            She met the animal’s gaze evenly and within its azure blue eyes she saw intelligence, awareness and an almost yearning for understanding.  Satisfied by what it saw in her return gaze, it laid its head in her lap and tilted it to one side to give her better access to the vulnerable and tender area beneath its chin.

Though Dominic Westcroft has done nothing to hurt Serena or her cousin, yet, the potential remains ever-present, and Serena still suspects the wizard is responsible for the brutal murder of her sister. Now, her suspicions may have taken an ugly reality.

M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

I hope you enjoyed this nibble. Your comments are encouraged. Thanks for stopping by.  Now go visit the other authors participating in Book Hooks.

Frisky Friday - 1/15/16 - Deadly Enchantment - Delving into the soul #Paranormal #Shifters

An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....

It's Frisky Friday, and for A Writer's Naughty Thoughts, Fridays are also anything can happen days.

My excerpt for this week is from my 2nd book, Deadly Enchantment.  A shapeshifting wizard romance set in Victorian England published by New Concepts Publishing, 

In this snippet, which occurs at the beginning of the third chapter, Dominic Westcroft has reason to suspect Serena Blanford, one of the guests his sister has invited for him to consider as a potential bride, possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden.  Believing she may actually be a plant placed in his home by his treacherous brother, he decides to give her a purity validation test.

Serena has no idea what this "test" actually entails, but given the reaction of the other women who went through it, she knew it wasn't anything she wanted to experience.  Up until this point, she has successfully managed to keep both her and her cousin safe from having to undergo the ordeal, but now Westcroft is adamant they both submit.  When Serena declines, he advises his servant she will be leaving first thing in the morning. Knowing if she's sent away that she'll never be able to solve the mystery surrounding her sister's death, Serena agrees to have her purity "validated".  However, as they approach the room where the testing is taking place, Serena hears her cousin crying. She rushes in to comfort Allison only to learn a man had forced her cousin to drink a potion, which was in effect a truth serum for the spirit intended to expose those who intend harm through deceit. When Serena discovers the gentleman who attended Allison was not only Westcroft's brother-in-law, but a physician as well, she isn't the least bit reassured.

            Dominic kept his gaze fixed on Serena while Regina spoke encouragingly to the cousin and led her from the room.  He had no idea what he would have done if Serena had asked him to send for Frederick.  Though he had made the offer, a part of him firmly rejected the notion of another man touching her so intimately.  The strength of his reaction thoroughly puzzled him.  Frederick was a doctor, and a good one at that, but that knowledge did nothing to ease the knot that had formed in Dominic’s stomach.

            Needing to distance himself from Serena for a moment, he stepped over to a basin and washed his hands.  “Why don’t you recline back on the divan and try to relax,” he suggested without facing her.

            Serena wanted to ask him if he’d be able to relax had their positions been reversed, but her lips and tongue were too dry to form the words.  Instead, she sat on the sofa-like chair Allison had occupied just moments before, and asked, “Which trial do you perform first?  The drink or the physical examination?”

            He turned back to look at her.  “Does that matter?” he inquired evenly.

            “I suppose not,” she answered in a small voice, certain she would fail one if not the other.

            Grabbing a towel from a nearby rack, he regarded her carefully.  “Though Dr. Sinclair is one of the best physicians in England, he has no magical talents.”

            Serena stared down at her tightly clasped hands.  “What difference would that make to your validation process?”

            “Not much, I suppose,” he replied, rubbing his hands dry.  “Except that I do not need an herb to see into a person’s soul.”

            “Oh,” she answered, not sure if that revelation reassured or unsettled her even more.

            “I do not intend to hurt you, Serena,” he vowed quietly as he put the towel back on the rack.  When she didn’t reply, he firmed his tone and commanded, “Look at me.”

            She hesitated, then slowly lifted her chin until she evenly met his unblinking stare.  His blue eyes examined her so intently that his spirit seemed to traverse the space that separated them and delve into her mind through her eyes.  She wanted to draw back and hide, but she was pinned in place by nothing more than the strength of his gaze.  She felt trapped and comforted at the same time.  Jittery and calm.  Scared and reassured.  Then he closed his eyes, releasing her from his thrall.

Dominic Westcroft is determined to uncover his young guest's secrets even if it means "testing" Serena himself. He views her cousin merely as a means to his end.

M/F, Shape shifting  wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday. 

#6BestHop - 1/3/16 - Deadly Enchantment - Captured by their host #Shifters #Paranormal

An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....

For Sunday's Six of the Best authors share six paragraphs from a published work or a WIP (work in progress). Though it appears I'm the only one sharing this week (everyone else is too full of turkey, I guess), I don't mind. I love sharing excerpts and will continue to do so until I decide my time would be better spent elsewhere.

That said, my excerpt for this week is from my 2nd book, Deadly Enchantment.  A shapeshifting wizard romance set in Victorian England published by New Concepts Publishing, 

In this snippet, which occurs in the middle of the second chapter, Dominic Westcroft has returned from London to discover his sister has invited several young women to his home, so he can select a new bride.  What neither he nor his sister suspects, however, is that one of the women is actually his deceased bride's sister.  Tormented by guilt over his wife's tragic and brutal death, Dominic has no intention of ever marrying again.  However, when his show of temper accidentally reveals one of their guests possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden, he invites the ladies join him for dinner, so he can rout her out.

Though Serena is routed out during dinner, she manages to keep her true identity a secret. After her close call with their host, however, she returns upstairs to speak with her cousin, while Dominic retreats to his study to send for his sister. As he waits, he recalls his former mentor's prophecy stating both Dominic and Terrence would need to mate with a woman pure of spirit and body prior to their thirtieth birthday.  Failure to do so would mean slipping into a steady decline that would result in them not only losing their powers, but their minds as well. Since marriage wasn't a requirement, Terrence fulfilled his end of the prophecy many years, while Dominic waited until his wedding night when his bride was brutally slaughtered before they could consummate their marriage. All the same, when you considered his tenants paid only 75 GBP a year in rent, the fact that his sister was offering each of the women 100 GBP of his money, rankled. He wasn't that difficult to be around. Besides, Serena Blanford was clearly attempting to hide something from him and he intended to get to the bottom of it.

            Serena awoke the next morning with a feeling of unspecified dread.  The day was bright and clear, and she’d slept well, yet she couldn’t seem to put aside her premonition that something very bad was about to happen.  Serena didn’t particularly care for these unpleasant intuitions, since they were usually right.

            Preferring not to appear conspicuous, she selected a conservative navy blue silk skirt with a pleated panel and its matching jacket complete with a high standing collar and a stiff leather belt.  After dressing quickly, she crossed the hall and knocked at Allison’s door.  Allison opened it with a bright smile that complimented her sunny yellow day dress.  So, whatever bothered Serena clearly hadn’t affected Allison.

            Not wanting to upset her cousin, Serena said nothing about her premonition as they headed down to breakfast.  But at the top of the stairs she could see Westcroft and his sister waiting for them at the bottom.  She wanted to tug Allison back upstairs, but feared it would appear both cowardly and suspicious.  Rather than alert her hosts that she suspected anything was amiss, she continued down the stairs without a pause.

            When she reached the foot, Westcroft extended a hand and caught her arm.  “I need to talk to you,” he advised firmly.

            “But my cousin and I were just about to go to breakfast.”

            “Your cousin can go with my sister.  You will come with me.”

            “But….”

Though Dominic Westcroft suspects Serena has secrets she's not willing to share, he is determined to uncover the truth behind his young guest's deception, even if it means keeping the other women around as a ruse.

M/F, Shape shifting  wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and want more. Please click the link below to continue your hop Sunday's Six of the Best. Wishing you a wonderful journey.

#MFRWHooks - 12/23/15 - Deadly Enchantment - All cats like to be scratched #Paranormal #Shifter

Fair Warning: Wizards don't always play fair.

Welcome to MFRW Book Hooks, a regular Wednesday feature! Today, I'm sharing a snippet from my second book, Deadly Enchantment, a Victorian paranormal romance concerning the deadly rivalry between two shape-shifting wizard brothers.  The legitimate heir, Terrence, received his father's money and title, but his illegitimate half-brother, Dominic, received all their father's affection and love, earning all of Terrence's resentment.

Published by New Concepts Publishing, the story revolves around a young psychic woman unwittingly drawn into the brotherly conflict when she faces off with the dark wizard of Ravenscroft, whom she is convinced has brutally slaughtered her sister in a fit of jealous rage on their wedding night.

In this segment from Chapter Four, Serena decides to confront Westcroft directly by marching into his study and insisting he admit his true goal is to purposely frighten the other women, who'd been selected by his sister as his potential brides, into leaving. Though Serena knows Westcroft possesses magical powers, she's just not sure what form they take other than parlor tricks, so she decides to see for herself just how far he is willing to go, but changes her mind when she recognizes the danger in provoking the beast.  Except she's too late. When she reaches for the door handle she discovers he'd locked her in with him. Magically.

             Lifting a shaking hand to the top of its head, Serena rubbed her fingers against the silky white fur and heard a low rumbling purr that sounded almost like a growl.

            When she dropped her hand, it wrapped its massive jaws around her wrist and gave a gentle tug.  The moment she tried to pull away, it released her, but when she didn’t move from the door, it mouthed her wrist again and gave another tug.  Realizing it wanted her to follow, she obeyed uncertainly.  So far the animal hadn’t hurt her, but she wasn’t sure how much of the beast before her was leopard, and how much was Dominic Westcroft.

            It led her over to the couch, then nudged her hip firmly with its nose.  That push was strong enough to cause Serena to briefly lose her balance, but she steadied herself by grabbing the arm of the couch.  The large white cat regarded her unblinkingly, but made no further move toward her.  Wondering if she’d taken leave of her senses or if they had only temporarily deserted her, Serena sat on the green velvet divan, as it clearly wanted her to.  Once she was seated, the large feline pressed its furry head against her hand again in a plea for more scratches.

Though Dominic Westcroft has done nothing to hurt Serena or her cousin, yet, the potential remains ever-present, and Serena still suspects the wizard is responsible for the brutal murder of her sister. Now, her suspicions may have taken an ugly reality.

M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

I hope you enjoyed this nibble. Your comments are encouraged. Thanks for stopping by.  Now go visit the other authors participating in Book Hooks.

#6BestHop - 11/29/15 - Deadly Enchantment - A possible spy among us #Victorian #Shifters

An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....

For Sunday's Six of the Best authors share six paragraphs from a published work or a WIP (work in progress). Though it appears I'm the only one sharing this week (everyone else is too full of turkey, I guess), I don't mind. I love sharing excerpts and will continue to do so until I decide my time would be better spent elsewhere.

That said, my excerpt for this week is from my 2nd book, Deadly Enchantment.  A shapeshifting wizard romance set in Victorian England published by New Concepts Publishing, 

In this snippet, which occurs in the middle of the second chapter, Dominic Westcroft has returned from London to discover his sister has invited several young women to his home, so he can select a new bride.  What neither he nor his sister suspects, however, is that one of the women is actually his deceased bride's sister.  Tormented by guilt over his wife's tragic and brutal death, Dominic has no intention of ever marrying again.  However, when his show of temper accidentally reveals one of their guests possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden, he invites the ladies join him for dinner, so he can rout her out.

Though Serena is routed out during dinner, she manages to keep her true identity a secret. After her close call with their host, however, she returns upstairs to speak with her cousin, while Dominic retreats to his study to send for his sister. As he waits, he recalls his former mentor's prophecy stating both Dominic and Terrence would need to mate with a woman pure of spirit and body prior to their thirtieth birthday.  Failure to do so would mean slipping into a steady decline that would result in them not only losing their powers, but their minds as well. Since marriage wasn't a requirement, Terrence fulfilled his end of the prophecy many years, while Dominic waited until his wedding night when his bride was brutally slaughtered before they could consummate their marriage. All the same, when you considered his tenants paid only 75 GBP a year in rent, the fact that his sister was offering each of the women 100 GBP of his money, rankled. He wasn't that difficult to be around.

            “Serena didn’t see the point in either herself or her cousin, Allison, being validated since they have yet to decide if they wish to accept you,” Regina informed him rather pertly.

             Dominic’s brow rose and he grinned.  “Somehow that seems fitting.  Make arrangements to test the cousin tomorrow.  I’ll see to Serena Blanford myself.”

            This time Regina was the one to raise an eyebrow.  “Have you made your choice already?”

            “No, and I shan’t be, despite your grand machination.  The prospect of taking another bride is not why I'm hesitating to send them all packing tomorrow.  I get the feeling that Miss Blanford is hiding something.  Her powers are strong, yet she claims not to have any.  I wouldn’t put it past our brother to plant an informant in my home.”

            “What?” Regina asked, her pallor revealing her dismay more eloquently than her words.  “You can’t seriously believe that Serena Blanford is here as some sort of agent for Terrence?”

            “I only say that it’s a possibility, not a certainty.  I suspect I shall be able to get to the truth one way or another very quickly.”  He settled back in his chair.  “Now tell me all you know about these Blanford women.”

Though Dominic Westcroft suspects Serena has secrets she's not willing to share, he is determined to uncover the truth behind his young guest's deception, even if it means keeping the other women around as a ruse.

M/F, Shape shifting  wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and want more. Please click the link below to continue your hop Sunday's Six of the Best. Wishing you a wonderful journey.

#MFRWHooks - 11/18/15 - Deadly Enchantment - Facing the beast. Literally #Shapeshifters #ParanormalRomance

Fair Warning: Wizards don't always play fair.

Welcome to MFRW Book Hooks, a regular Wednesday feature! Today, I'm sharing a snippet from my second book, Deadly Enchantment, a Victorian paranormal romance concerning the deadly rivalry between two shape-shifting wizard brothers.  The legitimate heir, Terrence, received his father's money and title, but his illegitimate half-brother, Dominic, received all their father's affection and love, earning all of Terrence's resentment.

Published by New Concepts Publishing, the story revolves around a young psychic woman unwittingly drawn into the brotherly conflict when she faces off with the dark wizard of Ravenscroft, whom she is convinced has brutally slaughtered her sister in a fit of jealous rage on their wedding night.

In this segment from Chapter Four, Serena decides to confront Westcroft directly by marching into his study and insisting he admit his true goal is to purposely frighten the other women, who'd been selected by his sister as his potential brides, into leaving. Though Serena knows Westcroft possesses magical powers, she's just not sure what form they take other than parlor tricks, so she decides to see for herself just how far he is willing to go, but changes her mind when she recognizes the danger in provoking the beast.  Except she's too late. When she reaches for the door handle she discovers he'd locked her in with him. Magically.

            Bravado stiffening her spine, Serena turned back to face Westcroft.

            “I believe, my dear, that like me, you already are damned.”

            Then, before her eyes, his form blurred and he shifted into the shape of the white leopard in her dreams.  Terrified beyond reason, Serena rushed to the door and cried out as she clawed at its handle, desperate for the portal to open.  But the house and household, like the approaching predator, appeared deaf to her pleas.  With nowhere else to turn, she pressed her back and against the door and straightened her spine to face her death as bravely as she could muster.  But instead of attacking, the animal stopped just three feet away and stared at her through unblinking blue eyes that seemed vaguely human.

            “What do you want?” she asked, her voice sounding hoarse and strange to her ears.

            In response, the leopard tilted its head to one side.

            When it took another step forward, she closed her eyes, unable to look any longer.  She fully expected to feel the cat’s sharp teeth rip into the flesh of her throat, instead she felt hot breath caress her fingers and a warm, wet tongue lick her already moist palm.  Then a hard nose gave her fingers a nudge in an obvious request to be petted.

Though Dominic Westcroft has done nothing to hurt Serena or her cousin, yet, the potential remains ever-present, and Serena still suspects the wizard is responsible for the brutal murder of her sister. Now, her suspicions may have taken an ugly reality.

M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

I hope you enjoyed this nibble. Your comments are encouraged. Thanks for stopping by.  Now go visit the other authors participating in Book Hooks.

#MFRWHooks - 10/14/15 - Deadly Enchantment - Locked in with no escape #Wizards #Shifters

Fair Warning: Wizards don't always play fair.

Welcome to MFRW Book Hooks, a regular Wednesday feature! Today, I'm sharing a snippet from my second book, Deadly Enchantment, a Victorian paranormal romance concerning the deadly rivalry between two shape-shifting wizard brothers.  The legitimate heir, Terrence, received his father's money and title, but his illegitimate half-brother, Dominic, received all their father's affection and love, earning all of Terrence's resentment.

Published by New Concepts Publishing, the story revolves around a young psychic woman unwittingly drawn into the brotherly conflict when she faces off with the dark wizard of Ravenscroft, whom she is convinced has brutally slaughtered her sister in a fit of jealous rage on their wedding night.

In this segment from Chapter Four, Serena decides to confront Westcroft directly by marching into his study and insisting he admit his true goal is to purposely frighten the other women, who'd been selected by his sister as his potential brides, into leaving. Though Serena knows Westcroft possesses magical powers, she's just not sure what form they take other than parlor tricks, so she decides to see for herself just how far he is willing to go, but changes her mind when she recognizes the danger in provoking the beast. 

             Unnerved by the gleam of pure pleasure shining in Westcroft's eyes, Serena decided the stakes were higher than she was willing to pay.  “You are a devil hiding behind an angel’s smile, but I see through your parlor tricks.  I know exactly what sort of monster you are, and I won’t let you terrorize my cousin in this way.  We’re leaving, too.”

            He took a step toward her, and she instinctively took a step back.  His expression was lethal, but his voice was whisper soft.

            “And you, my sweet, are a fool.  If you truly had any concept as to the exact sort of monster I am, you wouldn’t dream of challenging me directly.”

            Anger and fear loosening her tongue, she said, “I know that you’re capable of murdering your own wife, and I’ll be damned before I’d let Allison fall prey to a similar fate.”  Serena whirled to leave, stopping just short of her destination when the door slammed before her.  Her fingers tentatively grasped the handle, but it refused to move.  He was right.  She was a fool.

Though Dominic Westcroft has done nothing to hurt Serena or her cousin, yet, the potential remains everpresent, and Serena still suspects the wizard is responsible for the brutal murder of her sister.

M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

I hope you enjoyed this nibble. Your comments are encouraged. Thanks for stopping by.  Now go visit the other authors participating in Book Hooks.

Frisky Friday - 10/2/15 - Deadly Enchantment - Undergoing a purity evaluation #Paranormal #Shifters

An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....

It's Frisky Friday, and for A Writer's Naughty Thoughts, Fridays are also anything can happen days.

My excerpt for this week is from my 2nd book, Deadly Enchantment.  A shapeshifting wizard romance set in Victorian England published by New Concepts Publishing, 

In this snippet, which occurs at the beginning of the third chapter, Dominic Westcroft has reason to suspect Serena Blanford, one of the guests his sister has invited for him to consider as a potential bride, possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden.  Believing she may actually be a plant placed in his home by his treacherous brother, he decides to give her a purity validation test.

Serena has no idea what this "test" actually entails, but given the reaction of the other women who went through it, she knew it wasn't anything she wanted to experience.  Up until this point, she has successfully managed to keep both her and her cousin safe from having to undergo the ordeal, but now Westcroft is adamant they both submit.  When Serena declines, he advises his servant she will be leaving first thing in the morning. Knowing if she's sent away that she'll never be able to solve the mystery surrounding her sister's death, Serena agrees to have her purity "validated".  However, as they approach the room where the testing is taking place, Serena hears her cousin crying. She rushes in to comfort Allison only to learn a man had forced her cousin to drink a potion, which was in effect a truth serum for the spirit intended to expose those who intend harm through deceit. When Serena discovers the gentleman who attended Allison was not only Westcroft's brother-in-law, but a physician as well, she isn't the least bit reassured.

            Dominic seemed to sense her unease.  “Would you prefer I send for Dr. Sinclair instead?” he inquired politely.

            Serena hesitated, then shook her head.  She didn’t like the thought of having to undergo this trial at all, but having someone she’d never met before perform such a personal examination of her held even less appeal.  And yet the notion that she would prefer to have her innocence validated by a man she’d suspected was guilty of murder over a certified physician made her question her sanity.  Not a moment ago, she believed him capable of ripping her sister’s body to shreds, yet here she was basically telling him she would prefer to be alone with him than have someone else validate the purity of her body and soul.  The plain truth was that Serena was afraid of what might happen.  Never one to give into her fears, she tried to convince herself, along with Mr. Westcroft, that the true reason she didn’t wish to remain alone with him was because it would mean she’d be abandoning Allison again.

            However, the matter was firmly settled when Regina stepped forward and put her arm about Allison’s shoulders.  “Come along, dear.  We’ll have a nice, hot cup of tea together, and by tomorrow this will all be a forgotten memory."

Dominic Westcroft is determined to uncover his young guest's secrets even if it means "testing" Serena himself. He views her cousin merely as a means to his end.

M/F, Shape shifting  wizards in Victorian England.

Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment

Available at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday.