Counting Down Until the Release… Back to Blog
Update: The Kindle winner is…Bernadette! Congrats!
I’m back with more giveaway fun as we countdown to the August 28th release of HOWL FOR IT!
Today’s prize? A Kindle. This lovely one described right here.
To win the prize, you’ll have to comment on this post. I’ll let this contest run until noon on Saturday (so everyone who wants to do so will have a chance to enter–and that’s noon Central time).
The story of Little Red Riding Hood was the inspiration for “Wed or Dead” (my contribution to the HOWL FOR IT anthology). I’ve always had a thing for the big, bad wolf. Poor guy. To me, he got a bum deal in that tale. So I wanted to change things up for him…and for Little Red. I figured she deserved a harder edge, so I decided she needed to be a hunter in my take on the story. And my big, bad wolf? Of course, he had to be a werewolf.
But what happens when a hunter falls for that big, bad wolf? Well, she’ll find herself either wed or dead.
Now tell me…what do you think about the Little Red Riding Hood story? Did you love hearing the tale as a kid? Did you imagine a different ending for any of the characters?
And, in case you’re curious…here’s an excerpt from “Wed or Dead” to get you in the werewolf mood:
***
Kayla glanced at the knife. Was she really supposed to just shove it into his heart? Then walk away while he bled out?
You know what he is. Don’t be fooled. Gage’s kind was so good at deceit. She had to remember that. He’d been born to lie. To deceive.
She’d met others like him before. So many over the years. More than most people realized.
Her own family had been attacked by someone like Gage. A man, hiding a beast inside. One dark night, he’d killed her mother and father. Left her brother in a pool of blood, struggling to breathe. Attacked her.
Monsters lived and breathed in this world. Most folks didn’t know that truth. They thought the world was all happy and shiny and full of birthday parties, play dates, and football games.
She knew better. Monsters are real. And her handsome husband, with his slow smile and strong hands…he was a monster.
Kayla took a step forward. One foot in front of the other. The mantra was the same one she’d used when she walked down the aisle. Only no minister waited for her this time.
The robe she wore rustled around her feet as she took another slow step. Another.
And she felt something wet on her cheek. Kayla stopped. What the hell? Her left hand lifted and swiped across her face. Was she crying? She never cried. She hadn’t, not since they’d put her parents in the ground.
“Come back to bed,” Gage said, his voice rumbling out and making her jump. He faced the window, not her as he added, “I miss you.”
He wouldn’t miss her for long.
Kayla took a deep breath and forced herself to keep walking. A few more steps, and her legs brushed against the edge of the bed. “Th-there’s something you should know about me…” His back was still to her. Why did he have to make such an easy target?
This should be better for you. You don’t have to look him in the eyes when you attack.
But stabbing a man in the back had never been her style.
Liar. The insidious whisper came from deep within. Her secret shame.
Her hand clenched around the knife’s handle. Gage was supposed to be dangerous. Lethal. The strongest paranormal bad-ass to claim Vegas in years.
Because he was a paranormal. The supernaturals were real and breathing…and many were hiding in the shadows of Sin City.
He was the perfect target right then. Tousled hair. Sated male. Defenseless. It would be so easy. Just lift the knife. Drive the blade into his flesh.
“Oh, I think I already know all the secrets you have, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice a low and sexy rumble.
Kayla shook her head. Damn tears. “No, you don’t—”
In a flash, he rolled toward her. He leapt up and came at her with claws ripping from his fingers.
Not defenseless.
Claws…because Gage Riley wasn’t human.
Shifter.
His blue eyes shined at her with the light of the beast and he put those too-sharp and too-long claws of his right at her throat.
The move actually seemed only fair, considering that she had her knife pressed over his heart.
“Hello, hunter,” Gage whispered.
***
I’ll be back tomorrow with more giveaways!!
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I don’t really remember if I liked it as a kid, though one of my favorite movies is Red Riding Hood featuring Amanda Seyfried! I could watch that movie over and over again. I definitely like the more romantic endings. 😉
Loved the excerpt! I cannot wait to read it!
Loved all those fairy tales as a kid. But now I sometimes would love the wolf to win. Lol
I remember hearing the story when I was a child. Strangely I remember wondering why Granny wasn’t more into home defense.
I loved the Little Red Riding Hood story and I definitely like the modern twists some authors put on it where Red and the wolf actually fall in love.
I read it, it was ok, like the ending,great prize whoo thans,
I read all the fairy tales as a kid, including Red Riding Hood. What a very different perspective I have on that big bad wolf today, lol. There’s a show on ABC now, Once Upon a Time about fairytale characters, and their spin on this tale is Red turning into t the wolf if she takes off that red cape.
I love fairy tales, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve really gotten to like the adult versions, LOL! And wolves, yay!
As a little girl the wolf scared me and was very excited when Little Red Riding Hood saved the day. Now a days I like my wolves to be a little scary 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway Cynthia!!!
Always liked the story, but felt bad for the wolf at the end. And as I got older it always upset me that wolves were always the bad guy. Guess that’s why I like PNR, with them being the heroes.
Love to lose myself in your books! I am a widow so my nights are long and lonely so your books take me away! So THANK YOU!
So I would love to win a kindle!!!
I liked the story as a child, more so than other fairy tales with all sugar and spice. I even liked the bugs bunny version. 🙂 My favorite wolf stories are my paranormal romances though, can’t wait to read Howl For It…a combination of my two favorite authors!
As a kid, I remember reading Little Red Riding Hood in books about fairy tales in the library and found it amusing that in the illustrations, it was pretty obvious that it was a wolf in granny’s clothing yet Red still asked about his eyes, ears, teeth, etc. Never imagined that Red and the Wolf could get involved! I’m looking forward to reading your spin on it! 🙂
I did love Little Red Riding Hood when I was little. But since I lived a very sheltered life as a kid it wasn’t until just a few years back when I read my first paranormal story (and fell completely in love with shifters) that I started to look at all the fairy tales a bit differently. If the Big Bad Wolf was really a hotty werewolf…yeah that could be fun!
Thanks so much!
I’ve loved what I’ve read of yours so far, so I know this will be just as wonderful!
I did not like the little red riding hood story as a child … it was only told by a person bent on scaring the daylights out of me.
I can’t wait for this book. It sounds fantastic.
Me being me, I loved the Little Red Riding Hood story **Grin**!! I can’t wait to read Howl For It! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
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