Katie Reus, Cravings, and a Gift Card! Back to Blog
Update: Thanks for all the great comments!! The winner of DESTINED MATE is…Monique, and the $10 Amazon gift card winner is…Eva/ TXBookjunkie. Congrats!
Do you like sexy paranormal romances? (I do, I do!) If you do, too, then Katie Reus is an author I highly recommend. She’s here today, offering a giveaway of DESTINED MATE, her recent release from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings. (Thanks, Katie!) And, for extra blog release day fun, one commenter to this post will also win a $10 Amazon.com gift card. So–you can get a great read and a gift card to use as you want.
Thank you so much to Cynthia for having me here today! I’ve been anxiously awaiting her new release, Angel of Darkness, and it’s finally here!! Since she’s been awesome enough to let me join in her blog party, I’d like to offer a copy of Destined Mate, my recent release from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings to one commenter. As a teaser, here’s an excerpt. Just leave a comment telling me what you like about the holiday season and you’ll be entered to win.
Official Excerpt:
Angela inhaled the various forest scents and tried to steady her breathing. She knew she was insane to sneak onto the land of the most powerful werewolf in the United States. But she had no choice.
Her best friend had been taken by these animals and she planned to get her back. She didn’t care what her tribe leader, Titus, said. She’d been stuck living with his coven for the past fifty years and while she normally didn’t mind his Draconian rules, she’d gladly suffer the consequences to get Natalia back. If she was still alive. Who knew what those animals had done to her by now? Natalia had only been gone about a week but the animosity between vampires and werewolves went back thousands of years. It didn’t matter that in a few months their two species would be signing a peace treaty. Right now nothing had been signed and her friend was fair game.
The icy wind whistled through the leaves of the giant red oak trees. Even though it was January, a lot of the foliage was still thick and would help block her scent.
She peered around the giant tree she’d been using as cover. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted the outline of a huge male by another tree about forty yards away. Even though he was in human form, she knew he was a shifter. Of the wolf variety if she scented right.
Luck was on her side since she was downwind of him. Withdrawing her gun, she glanced around the rest of the forest but didn’t see or smell anything else unusual. Since his back was to her, she darted twenty yards closer until she hid behind another large tree.
She wasn’t sure if she could take on a trained, warrior wolf by herself so she knew she couldn’t miss this first shot. Raising her weapon, she held her breath and aimed directly for the spot below his skull.
The small puff of noise the tranquilizer dart made as it shot through her suppresser was enough for him to notice.
He stiffened but it was too late.
By the time he turned toward her, the tranq was already embedded deep in his skin. The giant shifter stumbled once, twisted in her direction then narrowed his gaze at her before he fell face-first in the dirt and grass.
Her friend Mick had been right. Those sedatives did their job fast. Unfortunately it wouldn’t last long on a shifter his size. She quickly secured his hands behind his back with silver bindings, took his weapons and his radio.
If others found out about her presence, she’d know about it soon enough. She hooked the radio on her belt and tossed his guns and blades behind a nearby tree before continuing north. She’d been traveling on foot for miles so she knew it wouldn’t be long until she reached her destination.
The sound of nearby male voices made her freeze in her tracks. Instead of trying to hide, she crouched down where she was. Until she figured out where the voices were coming from, she didn’t want to make any sudden movements or risk anyone scenting her.
“I’ve been trying to get King on his radio but he won’t pick up,” one of them said.
Another male chuckled. “He’s probably getting a piece of tail… Hey, what the…”
Crap. They’d spotted her. With her heightened night vision she could finally see the two outlines of male figures near a tree line. Judging by their stiff and alert posture, they’d seen her, too. It didn’t matter that she wore all dark camouflage, blended in with her surroundings and had a much lower heat signature than they did. All they’d have to do was see something about her that didn’t blend in with nature. Like her eyes. They likely looked like freaking Christmas lights to them.
She had two options. One was running. Even if she escaped it wouldn’t matter. Her friend would still be captive.
She’d have to take the other option—go on the offensive.
Wordlessly she jumped from her position and sprinted at them. From what she could scent, there were only two of them and they hadn’t made a move to notify anyone of her presence. Probably because they thought they could take her on their own. And maybe they could.
As she ran, they silently spread out to her right and left. Despite her keen awareness she couldn’t read their expressions in the dark. Knowing she’d only be able to bring one of them down at a time, she raised her gun and fired at the one on her right.
The soft thud of the tranq hitting flesh was music to her ears.
“Oh, shit…” He hit the ground faster than the first guy.
Before she could even think about swinging her arm around to take a second shot, a heavy weight rammed into her. Damn wolves were just as fast as she was. She flew through the air and landed on her side.
All the air rushed from her lungs but she quickly jumped to her feet to square off with the werewolf. To her surprise, the male hadn’t shifted form. He still wore black cargo pants and a long-sleeved black shirt.
“What are you doing on our land, little vampire?” His voice was almost mocking.
Little? Baring her teeth, she lunged at him, fist raised.
He dodged her punch but she was ready for him. She might be one of the youngest of her species but she was agile and she trained every day. As he moved his head to the left, she kicked out, high and hard.
When her booted foot made contact with the other side of his head, he grunted a string of curses. He hit the ground with a thud and she heard the unmistakable growl of the beast within him.
He’d be shifting soon. And while he did, she’d be hauling ass away from him. Werewolves were weakest when they shifted form and she knew it would give her time to run. She could stick around and try to tranq him, too, but knocking out a wolf in shifted form was a lot harder. As his body started to change form, she turned and ran.
Behind her, she heard the breaking and snapping of his bones. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Wouldn’t be much longer now before she was being hunted. Her legs pumped hard and her palms dampened.
Now wasn’t the time to freak out. She had to keep a level head. As she breached the clearing of trees, her heart jumped into her throat.
A brick house—a freaking mansion—lay on a giant spread of land surrounded by the forest. She didn’t know how many rooms it had but the mansion had to be as big, if not bigger, than the one she lived in with thirty other vampires.
There were at least a dozen males patrolling the grounds and judging from their outlines, they were all armed to the teeth.
Flipping on the radio she’d taken, she kept the volume low. As she listened to the chatter, she realized she’d been discovered. It was only a matter of time before everyone knew of her presence. Her instinct to fight kicked in with a rush of raw rage she’d never experienced before. She might be outnumbered but she’d come this far. No turning back now.
Using one of her main advantages—lightning fast speed—she rushed toward the house. Her boots barely touched the earth as she sprinted right into the den of wolves.
*End excerpt*
Thanks for reading! Remember, all you have to do is tell me what you like about this awesome holiday season to be entered to win a digital copy of Destined Mate (and that Amazon gift card!). If you want the official blurb for Destined Mate, here it is:
Almost a century ago Angela was turned into a vampire against her will so she ran from her werewolf lover rather than face his disdain for her kind. After her best friend turns up missing, she has no choice but to follow the trail straight into a den of wolves and the arms of the man she fears most.
The last person Knox expected to invade his land was Angela. For so many years he’s thought about what he’d do to her when he finally got her where he wanted. When her tribe leader comes searching for her, determined to drag her home, Knox risks everything to finally claim her.
Warning: You can expect a red-hot shower scene, a smartass heroine who isn’t afraid to use her teeth and an alpha wolf who’s willing to fight anyone and anything to keep his vampire lover by his side.
A little about me: I’ve been reading romance since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash at a young age and the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and in early 2012 the first book in my paranormal series will release from NAL/Signet Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or find me on twitter @katiereus.
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I love the holiday music, shopping for gifts/deal and sitting down with family and friends for the big meal.
I love that it is a holiday season, meaning no more work/school. And Christmas trees/decorations. I don’t usually go all out, but they’re still heaps of fun.
I love buying gifts, watching Christmas shows, and spending time with family.
I love being able to spend even more time with my love ones. We like to avoid the chaos of the season and stay indoors where we have tons of food, games, movies and books to entertain.
Hi Katie! I pretty much love everything about Christmas! The lights, parties, presents, food, music, but most of all spending quality time with friends and family! I have not yet had a chance to read any of your books, but would love to. Count me in! bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net
Well this season will be the first in our new house, so Im really looking forward to decorating the mantel and picking out a place for a tree. We are getting a live one this year…another first. 🙂
I like looking at houses decorated and lit up.
I just love all the awesome decorations, the great music and spending time with the people I love 🙂
I love the decorations – though we don’t have much in our new place yet.
My favorite thing about the holiday season is getting a few extra days off work to spend with my family. I work way to much!
Awesome excerpt. I love the holiday season, its that one time of year all family tries to get together and relax. It also seems like a lot of people become just a bit nicer around that time of year.
I love x’mas. 🙂 Love the way everyone gets together and spend time with each other. :O The gift is just a bonus.
Love decorating… enjoying hot chocolate and homemade cookies…
I love spending time with my kids and all the holiday sales!!!
Great excerpt! I love the decorations. All the lights are just beautiful.
i love picking out that perfect present for someone.. previously i loved decorating the tree, but i forgot all my pretty ornaments back home.. oh well maybe next year! this will be my first christmas with my bf and his family
I love watching my kids open their presents on Christmas morning! This sounds like such a great read!
The top two things I love about the holiday season – pumpkin pie and holiday music. Can’t get enough of either one.
I love the family time. Lots of good food and laughter is my favorite Christmas gift.
What I love about the holidays is getting together with my relatives that I don’t see very often. They are all important to me in different ways.
rockchick531@gmail.com
I love the family feel to it & making my kids smile. The innocence and magic of them believing in Santa, what’s not to love? 🙂
I love the decorating with all the lights and then the never ending baking. I have been told by the family that one of these years I just need to open my own bakery with how much baking I do. Happy Holidays!!!
can’t wait for the holiday season, seeing people celebrate it, decorating christmas tree, going to church and other things 😉
nocture is a new genre for me 😉
Hi Katie!! Great exerpt!! I love that my birthday is on Christmas Eve & I get extra presents!!!!! I have never had to complain about getting cheated on gifts, ever!!! I don’t need the extra gifts, but don’t tell my family!!! Thank you for the offers!!
What I like about this season is the Christmas movies! Definitely the Christmas movies!
Book sounds great. l can’t wait to get a copy of it. I gotta say the best part of the holiday season is the giving. I love to give gifts and to bake for people. even if it’s a little homemade gift i love to give gifts. especially o people who appreciate all the hard work.
i love looking at christmas lights and spending time with family
I love the magic of Christmas especially sharing this experience with my son. We have started a family tradition with him, we drive to the tree farm, find the perfect tree, DH cuts it down and we get a family picture. It is always my favorite picture of us.
The story sounds great! Thanks.
I love the time with my family and just the happy atmosphere around. Even though its a busy time of year the Christmas spirit makes everything better.
I love Christmas time because I love to spend time with my family and I love to drive around and see all the Christmas lights.
I love spending time with my family.
I love the Christmas lights–and the music (and all those combinations of the same, like here)
But I also really like it when people actually stop for a few minutes and think of giving to someone who doesn’t enjoy the same privileges as they do.
It may be a dollar–or a moment–but isn’t that what the whole thing is about?
Walking around the neighborhood and seeing everyone’s houses all light up; talking to the neighbors, it’s such a loving time of year.
I love watching my kids get excited waiting for santa and being super thoughtful cause they have a year full of the little things to make-up for lol. If you even mention the word naughty to my 5 year old she runs off to clean her room mwhahahah( yeah i have said it a few times just to watch her bolt down the hall )
meandi09@yahoo.com
spending time with my family and friends. that warning cracked me up
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
I really enjoy seeing all the lights and decorations in my neighborhood. Thank you for the giveaway.
I love, love paranormals. Congrats on your up coming release that is so great. 🙂
I love given out gifts, especially to kids. I love the excitement, the suspense, the glee and the light in their eyes as it lighten up when they open the gifts that wanted. I love spent the warm, loving moments with my family and friends.
I love to give gifts to my family and friends.
I like all the decorations and the delicious food.
I love all the holiday events. There’s the delicious food and time to spend with family and friends.
Congrats on the new release.
The holiday season is all about the goodies to me. Presents are usually disappointing and we gave that up years ago, but we still have goodies around.
I love Christmas time because I get to see my extended family. I don’t get to usually see them that much. I have a large family and we don’t always get together all the time. I hate to say that the only time we all get together is Christmas or when there is a death in the family.
I love Christmas because of my kids mostly. I love to give them presents, they still love santa and can’t wait for him to come. We just wrote letters to santa and put up the Christmas tree.
I would love to win and read your book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Decorating the house with lights. Hubs does the outside and the kids and I work on the inside. Lights go everywhere! Literally. Every window, around the banister poles, the fireplace, you name it. I kinda don’t like taking it all down, but I guess that’s the price I pay, yeah? lol
I think what I love most about the holidays is that people are in a more generous and giving mood. It’s too bad that doesn’t last all year, though. We should start a Christmas in July movement to remind everyone.
I love watching the look of joy on our granddaughters faces as they open their presents from Santa.
This book sounds smokin hawt!!!! Would love to read it.