If you liked the Growl collection...

If you liked the Growl collection, lucky for you, it's not the first time there's been an m/m werewolf pax at Amber Allure.

Howling at the Moon came out in 2011 and features some of your favorite authors. Stories include:

Conway by D.J. Manly

Love's Baggage by T.A. Chase

Moon-Touched by Vivien Dean

Nathan's Angel by Melissa Bradley

Tame by A.J. Llewellyn

The collection is currently 25% off, which means you can get all five stories for only $19.50. What a deal!

Giveaway winner

What a great week from everyone! Since it's Saturday, that can only mean one thing. Time to pick the winner for the Growl pax!

And the winner is...

Beth!

We have your email address, so expect to hear from us very soon!

Don't forget to check back with us in February for our next pax, Tasty Treats. Five stories all with a food-centered theme from some of your favorite authors, and a chance to win the whole collection. See you then!

Temptation Eyes by A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly

DJ: What is the fascination we have with werewolves? It's an intriguing question. It seems more straight forward when discussing the vampire lore. We are attracted to the vampire because mortal beings are concerned with aging and death. The vampire cannot die. They don't age either. Who needs beauty products?

  

AJ: I need beauty products. I don't like scaring people much. But I digress. I agree that vampires always seemed sexier than weres.

DJ: But the werewolf, um? There seems to be something else at play here. Would you say werewolves are just as popular as vampires? The jury is still out on that one.

  

AJ: Sorry, got distracted playing with my beauty products for a moment. Until I started reading werewolf fiction and then wrote some, I didn't think weres were sexy. I saw a photo that was really hot and it changed everything for me!

DJ: The idea that a seemingly ordinary human being can transform into that of an animal at the sight of the moon is quite phenomenal. It begs the question that with all our striving to be "cultured" and "civilized" is there still vestiges of the old prehistoric hunter, lurking deep inside our psyche. The thought of that makes us cringe and yet somehow is appealing. 

  

AJ: I agree. When I realized what a phenomenon shifter fiction was, I wondered, does making them animals make M/M more palatable for some readers? I mean we have were penguins and ducks now! But then I realized sex on the page when the characters are in animal form is not common. Still, I do wonder about the fluffy aspects to some shifter fiction. There is nothing fluffy about our weres, DJ!

             

DJ: The dichotomy of the civilized human and the wild animal shows us quite plainly that underneath all of us is the beast, waiting to be unleashed from convention and custom, ready to rip off our clothes and go running through the forest, free and without constraints that are put on us by society.

AJ: I think that's true. Also, it's that aspect of "the devil made me do it" - a mainstay of erotic fantasies.

DJ: Spurred by nature, the werewolf is not responsible for what he/she does when in the  form of the wolf.  All acts are beyond our control. Perhaps with our busy lives filled with multi  tasking and a zillion responsibilities, the lore of the werewolf will continue to grow in popularity. And who knows, soon you too could be outside howling at the moon!

  

AJ: Absolutely. I keep discovering new - well to me, anyway - werewolf legends, such as the one I used in my 'Tame' series for Amber Allure. There is a certain river that if people swim across allegedly turns them into werewolves. Also, in some parts of Argentina, people believe their seventh child is a werewolf. A century ago, people kept killing their kids so the mayor of each town became those children's godparents, in order to give them prestige and protection. That tradition still holds to this day - especially around election time!

             

DJ: Temptation Eyes by A.J. Llewellyn and myself, presents a different yet familiar slant on the popular werewolf genre. We hope you like it.

  

AJ: Here is the synopsis: 

Owen was born into a Were family, and like those before him, he is expected to turn on the full moon of his twenty-first birthday. And there are especially high expectations concerning Owen’s shift from boy to wolf, given that his birthday falls on the night of the full moon itself.

But when the full moon rises on that fated night, nothing happens. While others around him change, he stays the same, forced to run for his life from the angry pack. Needless to say, Owen is a disappointment to his family.

But then a mysterious and sexy stranger with wickedly tempting eyes comes to stay at Owen’s mother’s boardinghouse, a stranger regarded as suspicious by the clan, who apparently knows that there is far more to Owen than his failure to shift... 

DJ: The title Temptation Eyes comes from the song, Temptation Eyes by the Grassroots and is dedicated to the memory of their lead singer, Rob Grill. 

  

AJ: DJ loves Rob Grill. Not more than me, I hope!

             

DJ: The Grassroots was one of my favorite groups as a very young child. It was the first album I ever owned. I was totally in love with Rob and his wonderful voice. I dedicated this book to his memory.

  

AJ: You just made me all misty-eyed.

             

DJ:  I hope you enjoy the story as much as we enjoyed writing it.  And be careful going out under the full moon. It does crazy things to people.

Xx

D.J.

AJ: We really have found some new twists on old myths here. We hope you enjoy Temptation Eyes, part of the GROWL! Pax. For more information, please click this link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/TemptationEyes.html

Aloha oe,

A.J.

*_*_*_*

Temptation Eyes by A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

Scars and Baggage and Small Towns by Darcy Abriel

Ternekill is a small sleepy town in the Catskill Mountains of New York, with a lot of secrets and I love writing about small towns. Having grown up in a small upstate New York kind of town I know what’s it like living there. I am intimately familiar with small towns and with a writer’s imagination, I take this fictional small town of Ternekill and expose just a few of the secrets riding my two favorite guys from “My Soul He Seeks,” Ravol Nova and Byron Shepley. “My Fate, My Destiny” takes you a little further into their relationship and the depth of their commitment, one to the other. They do face challenges. But then again, it would be a pretty boring story if they didn’t.

Ravol is a werewolf, no secret there. He’s been very up front with Byron about that part of his background. But up to this point Ravol has refused to allow Byron to witness his change from human to werewolf. Nor will Ravol agree to change Byron into a werewolf. Just one bone of contention between the two lovers.

Ravol carries a lot of baggage, including the death of his first love, Francesco. He’s a secretive man who tries to keep his life compartmentalized, but Byron is making that harder and harder to maintain. Notwithstanding, Ravol has a lot of baggage because of who he is - a part of the ancient Zhalazti tribe nobility that carries with it a great deal of responsibility and tradition.

Byron may be human, but he has his own set of secrets and full load of baggage he carries around with him, not the least of which is that he can communicate with the Ternekill House ghostly ancestors. Ghosts that are a sure part of his heritage and tie him quite closely to the town of Ternekill. More so than either Byron or Ravol knows.

But soon, some of those dark secrets for both Byron and for Ravol are about to be revealed Some revelations are expected, others not quite so much. Ravol’s past is about to meet his present with a life-altering, perhaps murderous climax. Secrets, if left to fester can kill. Secrets if finally revealed and faced can ultimately heal.

I love genealogy and dabble in it regarding my own family. Digging into the families of Ravol and Bryon and doing the research, fictional and not-so fictional is always exciting. And Ternekill reminds me of some of those smaller town in New York that were lost in the aftermath of flooding from Hurricane Sandy that destroyed forever certain quint towns where I picnicked, and did some steamy parking too.

Oh, yes, there are secrets among those back roads and small towns. And in “My Fate, My Destiny,” a few more of Ravol’s and Byron’s dangerous secrets will be revealed as the past merges with the present.

Here’s an excerpt from “My Fate, My Destiny.”

*_*_*_*

I awoke late. Ravol was still asleep and, as quietly as possible, I slipped out of bed. Technically, I marched to the tune of two masters.

Terne House owned my soul as much as Ravol Nova did. I had come to terms with that understanding early on in my relationship with Ravol. I think it's a blood thing. My ancestors are tied to this house. The ghosts reasserted their hold on me that they'd instigated when I was sixteen. Bits and pieces of that night so long ago have started to return the longer I stay in the house.

I no longer fear the ghosts; they are a part of me. They are my heritage. It's taken some effort, several discussions with Heinrich, and working with a friend of his who delves into paranormal investigations, and I see the spirits now, not just hear them. I don't try to second guess myself. With their help I have learned to accept. I think when I made that visit to Terne House so long ago, that's when I had my first encounter with the spirits. And it scared the shit out of me. I didn't just sense them, I saw them, and I blocked the episode out of my mind.

Crazy blood. That's what folks in town said about the Ternes. Crazy blood ran through their veins. And I was one of their descendants, though one might say it's through the wrong side of the blanket.

I hear the ghosts whispering now.

Not long ago I learned the truth about the incestuous relationship between Nelda and Simon Terne, long dead now. I heard the echoes of the crying baby that Nelda bore--the one she smothered and Simon buried in a corner of the dirt floor basement. Ramon helped me dig up the bones one evening when Ravol was out of town, and the child is now buried in the Terne Cemetery with a simple white wooden cross marking the grave. The poor child never had a name, so Ramon and I agreed she should be called Mary. And that's the name on the cross. I don't hear her crying anymore, so perhaps her soul has moved on. I like to think so.

But because Horace's son, Luke, my ancestor, couldn't keep his cock in his pants on even his good days is the reason I'm blood-tied to the Terne family by bastard blood. And even today, he has to have his own way. His ghost is the one that demands my attention more than the others. His presence is the strongest. He doesn't seem to want anything. But he uses me as an interpreter. He seems very interested in Ravol's background, in what sort of blood he has running through his veins. The werewolf blood. Luke asks a lot of questions.

Wild Luke Terne was the one who had the affair with Lucy Day. Lucy Day, who bore a bastard girl-child, who grew up and eventually married Farmer Shepley's son. They had a son, but the poor girl died. Luke's wild blood lived on, tied now to the Shepley line. And so here we are full circle, and the Terne ghosts, because well, hell, there weren't any other descendants, legal, bastard, or otherwise, see me as the rightful resident of Terne House in some strange and skewed way. I don't know what they'll do if Ravol ever chooses to leave Terne House for good. For now they're pretty benign. I try not to think about the consequences of such an action. So instead, I try to maintain some level of peaceful coexistence between the Zhalazti and the spirits of my ancestors.

I stared up at the portrait in the third floor bedroom where I went after slipping out of the bedroom I share with Ravol. I jumped when Ravol place a hand on my shoulder. "Why are you up here?" Ravol asked.

"Luke summoned me," I answered. Ravol glanced up at the portrait. I closed my eyes, enjoying Ravol's nearness. I have to leave for the auction house soon and it will be hard to tear myself away from him.

"What does he say?" Ravol asked, then nipped my earlobe, completely distracting me from my train of thought. A cold breeze kicked up dust in the room. Ravol laughed. "He's jealous because he has no lover to warm him these days."

I leaned back and Ravol nipped at my nape. I knew there would be bruises when he finished playing. He nipped again. It was a sharper pinch that left me gasping.

"H-he'd probably be less volatile if you brought him a woman," I said, as I stretched my neck longer, giving him even more access.

"A woman?"

"No." The dust roiled higher. "That isn't want he wants. He would need to choose."

"He can forget it. He's gone two hundred years without a woman. I'm not bringing some sacrifice here for him to play havoc with." Ravol nipped at my shoulder. I lost interest in Luke. Luke might be a nuisance but he hadn't caused any real damage. Just a bit of petulance. I turned in Ravol's arms. He kissed me.

"Forget about Luke," I said. I'd learned to tolerate Luke's presence and to ignore it as much as possible. Just part of the charm of Terne House, I guess. Every old house has its quirks. Terne House certainly had its share.

"How long will you be gone?" Ravol asked, then kissed me more thoroughly. I started to lose focus. The man's charisma was too overpowering. But I'd know that the first night I walked into Terne House and met him for the first time. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. "I want you."

I chuckled. "You had me. And had me some more." He grabbed my ass and yanked me closer. I felt the ridge of his cock brush against my own hard-on.

*_*_*_*

My Fate, My Destiny by Darcy Abriel is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

Try Another Bite of Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf by Sean Michael

So I signed up to participate in the Growl PAX, and I was kicking around the old brain, looking for boys who were appropriately werewolfy to participate. And suddenly, the title Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf popped into my head.

Now, you have to understand, me and titles, we’re usually not friends. I’ll save a document with a working title and that’s what it’ll be called until it’s finished. Stuff like: werewolf or dragons or dildo, etc. You get the idea. And then, once I’ve polished the story up and I’m all ready to hand it in, that’s when I start fighting the story for the title. I come up with a lot of stuff that doesn’t work until finally the right one comes to mind. Sometimes it’s not even the right one, just one I can live with.

So I couldn’t waste this title that just came to me, now could I? No, I could not. So I had my title, and in short order, I had Dark, who was terribly offended by the thought of a vegan werewolf, Erik, who was a vegan werewolf and this story and I, we were off to the races!

It was a lot of fun to write. Especially the first part, which I’ve excerpted for you below.

New to town, werewolf Dark can’t believe there’s a restaurant called The Vegan Werewolf. Even harder to swallow is the fact that the place smells amazing. The food, however, is easy to get down—it’s some of the best he’s ever had, and that’s saying a lot as it’s, unbelievably, vegan. What’s also not hard to swallow is Erik, the restaurant’s sweet chef, and Dark picks him up after the place closes. 

Erik’s got a secret, though, one he keeps hidden deep down inside, and Dark threatens to bring all the things Erik has buried to the surface. 

Can Dark convince Erik that there’s more to life than being a vegan? And that, just maybe, wolves mate for life?

It’s available here: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CrouchingVegan.html

Excerpt:

Dark was new to town and he was doing what he always did when he first arrived somewhere. He was wandering the streets, leaning the sights and smells and sounds. There was a lot of green space here and he liked that. It appealed to the animal side of him. He also liked that this town was surrounded on three sides by woods. It would give him a lot of choices.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been wandering, but his stomach started growling, warning him that food would be a good thing. Something caught his nose, the scent of spices making his mouth water. Following those smells, he turned a corner and saw the word “Werewolf” out of the corner of his eyes. No way. There was not a restaurant called Werewolf. It had to be a sign.

He headed for the place, the rest of the name slowly coming into view. He stopped cold, not quite able to believe his eyes.

The Vegan Werewolf.

No way. No fucking way. Werewolves were a lot of things, but vegan was definitely not one of them. Growling under his breath, Dark headed for the front door. This just wasn’t right.

He walked in and was assaulted by the best smells ever. Like really, truly the best ever. How was that even possible?

The tiny place was packed, waiters bringing out plates of amazing looking and even better smelling food. Glasses clinked, silverware clattered and the chatter was low and pleasant.

He went back out and checked the name on the sign. It still said The Vegan Werewolf. Unbelievable.

He went in again.

A pretty little twink beamed at him. “Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?”

“No, I do not. Is this really a vegan restaurant?” There was no way those fabulous smells came from anything vegan. It was impossible.

The waiter’s smile never faltered. “It is. Would you like a table, sir? I do have one.”

Dark frowned. “Yes.” He was starving and whatever it was that had just walked by smelled amazing. Besides, there was no law saying that he had to like the food he ate. Because if it was vegan, he wasn’t going to like it. No matter how good it smelled.

“Excellent, please follow me.” He was led to a table for two. The tablecloth was clean, the flowers were fresh. He wanted to be able to growl, but it was nice. He couldn’t find a single reason to complain. Apart from the vegan-ness and that had been advertised up front.

“Would you like to hear the specials of the day?”

Did he? He took in a deep breath and pointed to a table catty-corner from his. “I want that.” It was the best smelling thing in the place and that was saying something, given how good everything smelled.

“Ah. The navrattan korma with pakoras. Excellent choice. One of our best sellers.”

His eyes narrowed. “What’s a navrattan when it’s at home?”

The twink chuckled. “Cauliflower, potatoes, and seven other vegetables in a cashew and tomato and cream sauce.”

There wasn’t any meat in that. Like even remotely. Yeah, yeah, he’d been told vegan, he’d read it on the sign, he knew the definition of the word. Still. Who didn’t eat meat, like ever? “And the pak…pakka…other thing?”

“Vegetables coated in chickpea flour and fried. They’re amazing.”

Well, they smelled good. Which was a neat trick, given they were fucking vegetables. “Okay. That.” He could go out for a steak later. He’d passed lots of places that served it.

“Yes, sir. Would you like a wine and beer list?”

“Just give me whatever dark ale you’ve got on tap.” He started at waiter, daring the little twink to tell him they didn’t have beer on tap. It would figure that a frou-frou vegan place like this probably didn’t.

“Yes, sir. Would you like water as well?”

Huh, color him surprised. “Sure.” Fuck him if the smells weren’t making him fucking drool. “You got breadsticks or something?”

“Absolutely! I’ll grab a bread basket.”

Man, did they only hire perpetually happy twinks here? Maybe what he really needed was whatever this guy was on.

The bread basket was placed on his table—no butter, of course—and he had to admit, it was tasty, especially with the dipping oil. There were little green things floating in it. Herbs, he guessed.

He felt a little bit better for the food, and when a beer was put in front of him that took the edge off even more. Maybe he’d just been hungry. Still. There was no such thing as a vegan werewolf. That had nothing to do with whether or not his tummy was growling. They just didn’t exist.

The main course arrived in short order and he dug in, the flavors amazing—creamy and spicy and rich and crispy and filling. The food was rather stunning, in fact.

There was no way this was vegan, no way.

Except for the fact that he couldn’t find any meat in it. He knew there wasn’t any. He’d looked, quite thoroughly.

Shit, it was good without the meat. Probably one of the best meals he’d ever eaten. He couldn’t quite believe his own taste buds.

When he was done, he sat back with a satisfied sigh. That had been amazing. Damn it.

His beer was refilled, a dessert menu and coffee offered. The service was impeccable. The food was out of this world.

“I’ll have the flourless chocolate cake.” This he had to try. No flour either? What was left?

“Absolutely. Coffee?”

“No, thanks.” The stuff made him crazy. He figured it was the caffeine. Didn’t mean he didn’t drink it, but he was already feeling like he’d entered crazy-town and he didn’t need to add to it.

Another man, a beautiful, lean redhead, brought him his dessert. “Good evening, sir. Did you enjoy your meal?”

Now this man he could make a meal of. He licked his lips. “Surprisingly, yes.”

“Your first vegan restaurant? It’s been very popular since I opened it.”

His eyes narrowed. So this was the head vegan. “So you’re the one responsible for the ridiculous name then, are you?”

Bright green eyes met his, surprise sliding into icy arrogance. “I suppose I am to blame, yes.”

“You do know that werewolves are carnivores, right? Big time meat eaters.” He was proof of that.

“I’ve heard that. Ironic, hmm? I do hope you enjoyed your food.”

“It was good,” Dark offered grudgingly. “Ironic, huh?” People did that? Named things ironically?

“Indeed. It’s clever, memorable, and my food is good enough for a carnivore to eat.”

That surprised a laugh out of him.

One eyebrow lifted, and he got a wink, then the man was off, touching tables, making conversation as the place emptied.

Dark tried the cake and he’d be damned if it wasn’t as amazing as the rest of his meal.

Of course, now that his stomach was full, other hungers were making themselves known and he had his eye on Mr. Ironic. The man was sex on a stick, even if he was a little skinny, a little lean. Probably from all that veganism. Dark gave a rough chuckle at that.

Those bright eyes glanced back at him, then ignored him.

He could totally tag that ass. He took his time with his dessert as the place began to clear out, anticipating doing exactly that. He just needed a little less…veganism around to make his play.

He was given the bill, offered a warm smile by his little cheery server. “Can we get you anything else, sir?”

“I’ll have another beer, please.” He could make that last until the place shut down.

“Absolutely.” The sounds of cleaning were beginning to sound in the kitchen, along with laughter and reggae music.

He paid his bill when it was brought with his beer and sat back, relaxing, letting the various smells wash over him. The place was clean, cherry. It was a little surreal, really.

Mr. Hot Owner came out, wearing a pair of jeans and a heavy sweater. “I’m going to grab a cup of coffee down on Washington and work on paperwork, guys. See you tomorrow.”

“See you, Erik!”

Erik. He had a name now.

Dark downed the rest of his beer and got up, slipping out of the restaurant to follow his prey down the street.

Sean Michael
Smut fixes everything
www.seanmichaelwrites.com

*_*_*_*

Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf by Sean Michael is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

The Birth of the Bay Wolves by Vivien Dean

It's been a couple years since I've written a series, but that's because I hadn't found the right stories to tell that demanded starting another one. Oh, sure, I met secondary characters in some of my stories that begged me to give them their own romance--and they probably will get them at some point--but it wasn't until I started working on my story for the Growl Pax that I discovered a world that begged me to explore it further. That's how the Bay Wolves series was born.

Boundless began with the idea of reuniting high school lovers, one of which had since become a werewolf. As I was figuring out just why these two had been separated, the politics of the world they inhabited started to deepen and grow darker. It became a world where werewolves are known to all of society, but not being entirely human, they're devoid of any real rights. Questions started to arise almost immediately. How are werewolves treated if they're not seen as equal? What would be the repercussions of being a werewolf in this kind of society? How far would humans go in their treatment of werewolves?

These are the questions my two lovers face. Denny is a San Francisco cop, whose brother secretly fights for wolf rights. He's been separated from his high school boyfriend, Elijah, since the summer after they graduated, but he's never known why Elijah disappeared until the night he helps his brother rescue a group of captive wolves. Elijah is one of them, and together, they have to figure out how to go on from there.

While Boundless is Denny and Elijah's love story, it's just the first of more to come. The world they live in can be a dark and dangerous place, especially if you're a werewolf. Seeing how other couples learn to exist within its constraints, and maybe fight back like Denny does, is the whole point of the Bay Wolves stories to come.

*_*_*_*

Boundless by Vivien Dean is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

First Brush Strokes on the Canvas by Carolina Valdez

I love what I do. In fact, I retired to devote more time to it. Still, like a terrified artist facing a blank canvas, I begin new stories afraid readers might not enjoy the new one. Will my characters capture hearts, will the setting fit them, and will readers keep turning the page as their romance unfolds? Those are always the challenges.

My latest assignment was for a werewolf fantasy but, although I wasn’t ready to let go of the Navy SEALs after Make Mine A Bad Boy, you can’t write a fantasy sequel to a contemporary story.

In the US, if you enter the Armed Forces at eighteen, you can retire at thirty-eight. Then what do you do?  I mentioned possibilities in the above story, and when Blaze Canis came to me for Awaking The Alpha, he had retired and was using SEAL-developed skills in a new job.  

An author can place werewolves anywhere, but in my head Blaze needed to be near a forest. I chose an incredible national park and town I’ve vacationed in. I’ve ridden half a sixty-five-mile round trip bike tour offered there. My group rode from West Yellowstone to the Old Faithful geyser, toured on our bikes with a biking ranger, then, happily exhausted, were bused back to town. You’ll recognize in my story much of what I learned and saw on this trip.  

I’m part Cherokee, and Native lore interests me. As I researched the history of the park, it was a natural thing that an American Native would become Blaze’s lover. Logan isn’t Cherokee, he’s from a tribe with deep roots in The Yellowstone.

As a romance writer, I know a connection between your lovers has to come fast in a shorter work. In the case of Logan and Blaze, I hope I’ve squelched criticisms I’ve seen of stories by other authors that “you can’t fall in love that fast.”  

Happy reading!
Carolina Valdez
http://www.CarolinaValdez
http://www.twitter.com/carolina_valdez
http://fingerstothekeys.wordpress.com

If you enjoy Awaking The Alpha, I invite you to write a brief review and post it to Amazon, Goodreads, and Amber Quill Press.

THE STORY

As a shooting range instructor just outside Yellowstone National Park, former Navy SEAL sniper Blaze is still handling the firearms he loves. When Shoshoni native Logan Rider walks into his class one morning, the attraction each feels for the other is sudden, almost mystical. In the twenty years he was in the navy, Blaze’s teammates had never known he was gay or a werewolf, and he’s confident in hiding his wolf nature from Logan, too.

Will keeping this secret work…or will it blow up in his face as his relationship with Logan deepens?

*_*_*_*

Coming soon from Amber Allure - The Siberian by Carolina Valdez

A shapeshifter fantasy set in Siberia, in the forest where tigers are endangered.

*_*_*_*

Awaking the Alpha by Carolina Valdez is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

LATEST PAX RELEASE - Growl

Visit the links to take advantage of our

Growl An AmberPax™ Collection of Werewolf Romance by Various Authors  Genre: Gay (M/M) Werewolf Romance  Cover Copyright ©2012 by Trace Edward Zaber

Included in this collection of erotic romance...
(For more information on each title, or to purchase separately, click on the book covers below!)

Awaking the Alpha by Carolina Valdez Extended Novella (Gay)

Boundless by Vivien Dean Novella (Gay)

Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf by Sean Michael Extended Amber Kiss (Gay)

My Fate, My Destiny by Darcy Abriel Extended Amber Kiss (Gay)

Temptation Eyes by A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly Extended Novella (Gay)

  In conjunction with our newest release, we will be having a giveaway! Any comment made from today throughout the week (1/19-1/24) will be eligible to win the entire pax collection. A winner will be picked at random on Saturday from all comments received.

Temptation Eyes by A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly

Owen was born into a Were family, and like those before him, he is expected to turn on the full moon of his twenty-first birthday. And there are especially high expectations concerning Owen’s shift from boy to wolf, given that his birthday falls on the night of the full moon itself.

But when the full moon rises on that fated night, nothing happens. While others around him change, he stays the same, forced to run for his life from the angry pack. Needless to say, Owen is a disappointment to his family.

But then a mysterious and sexy stranger with wickedly tempting eyes comes to stay at Owen’s mother’s boardinghouse, a stranger regarded as suspicious by the clan, who apparently knows that there is far more to Owen than his failure to shift... 

Genres: Gay/Dark Fantasy/Werewolf/Shapeshifter/

Heat Level: 3

Length: Extended Novella (30k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...“Don’t play games with me. I want to know why you brought me here. You’re a hunter…but you’re also a wolf, perhaps even an Alpha. How can that be?”

He lifted his broad shoulders once and let them fall.

“What am I? Am I the bait? You bring me here so that my pack will follow? Then what, you kill them all?” I waited, scarcely daring to breath.

He didn’t answer and all of a sudden the tone of his voice changed. He didn’t ask me to get into the bed. He told me to. “Enough, Owen! Get into the bed now.”

I inched toward the bed. “I’m not undressing.”

“A shame,” he said softly. His voice returned to being quite pleasant. “Do as you will. Please remove your shoes without fear. Feet are not normally sexually stimulating for me. I think I can control myself.”

I glared at him, tipped off one shoe, then the other and lay down on the bed, remaining in a stiff and unnatural position. I heard some noise and raised my head. November took off his long coat and something inside the long pockets clanged together.

“What is that?” I asked.

“Wanna see?” His voice sounded seductive but there was a definite threat attached.

“Never mind.”

I was surprised to hear him laugh.

When he walked around to my side of the bed and looked down at me, my breath caught as I looked into those eyes. Beautiful. He was heartbreakingly beautiful and I was suddenly paralyzed with fear and something else. Desire. It filled my mouth and woke up my cock. And I bitterly chastised my body for its betrayal. His hand came down on mine and he lifted it. For a moment I was sure he would kiss it. My chest heaved and my pulse raced and he leaned down over me, his mouth so close to mine and I heard something click like iron on iron. I suddenly realized my wrist was cuffed to the headboard.

“You…you…bastard!” I started to struggle and within seconds, my other wrist was caught as well.

“I can’t risk you trying to escape,” he said. “And I haven’t slept for days.”

I was spitting mad, calling him every name I could think of. He left the room. “Great, fine! Just walk out, leave me like this, November, you son of a…” I stopped as I heard the shower running. I sighed and closed my eyes. I stayed quiet until I heard him come back in. “And at least,” I began, “you could…” I stopped, blinked. November stood there stark naked, toweling himself off.

“Go on,” he said.

Pure muscle, hills and valleys and ye…Gods…he was one beautiful man. He pushed back his wet hair and wrapped the towel around his waist. Those eyes met mine and he came and perched on the bed. “I’m sorry if you’re uncomfortable.”

I swallowed. “Can I have a drink of water please?”

He nodded and left the room. He was back shortly, standing over me. He lifted my head and put the glass to my lips. I drank. He put the glass on the table beside me. “Can’t you give me some answers?” I asked him, keeping my voice calm. “I deserve to know what game you’re playing and why I’m a part of this, don’t you think?”

He nodded again, then walked around to the other side of the bed. I sucked in some air when I felt his weight settle beside me. I turned my head and was a little startled to see his gaze turned toward me. “You called me an Alpha.”

“Yes. You…act like one…but you’re a hunter. How can you be both?”

“I can only be an Alpha in theory, without a pack, Owen.”

“Then you’re a…a lone wolf?”

“Not by choice...” 

My Fate, My Destiny by Darcy Abriel

Sequel to the Amber Allure best-seller My Soul He Seeks...

After their first introduction in Ternekill, and through the sharing of an amazingly emotional paranormal experience, Byron Shepley and Ravol Nova have remained lovers for two years. Finally, Byron has come to terms with his relationship with the mysterious Terne House and his unusual ability to connect with spirits of the past.

But circumstances change when Byron is abducted by Ravol’s fierce enemy, who will use Bryon to bring Ravol to his knees. On a night lit by a full moon, Byron may finally get his wish to witness Ravol transform from human to beast—but it may be his last wish, as two beasts clash in a life-or-death struggle. Byron may be in for more than one surprise before the night is over.

Yet, revelations may not just be about Ravol, but about Byron, too, as he comes face-to-face with what may be not only his fate, but his destiny. Can love save them, or will his fate destroy them both? 

Genres: Gay/Dark Fantasy/Werewolf/Shapeshifter/Gothic/The Arts/Paranormal/Ghosts/ Hauntings/BDSM (Light)/Series

Heat Level: 3

Length: Extended Amber Kiss (11k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...“Byron, are you awake?” Ravol’s voice is still growly and hoarse. It’s a remnant from his change, is what he tells me. “I’ve missed you—I need you now.”

The chains affixing me to the bed jangle as I roll onto my back, opening myself to him.

“I’m here, Ravol. I need you, too.”

His moist heat curls around me, coating me with his presence. I can smell his sweat. I worry about him when he goes out prowling on nights like this. If something did happen I’d be locked to the bed, and Ramon’s not going to interfere with Ravol’s order. I could never get to him fast enough if he needed me. Ravol says he’s simply making sure I’m safe. His enemies track him persistently. They’ll use me to get to him if they can. Ravol is always vigilant. He does some sort of spell around the house, some scent thing or other that he calls a Zhalazti safety net. Once a month he’s out there at the dark of the moon chanting, calling upon the Zhalazti goddess. I don’t understand it, but it’s apparently some charm thing that his tribe used to keep their wagons safe from marauders in olden times.

Beneath my shirt I even have to wear a bag of herbs that he puts together. He makes it stronger when he’s out of town. Heinrich can always tell when I’m wearing the stronger charm. He always jokes about me stinking up the place. I usually confine myself to my office when I have to wear that one. I hate answering questions about it and then needing to make up some story or other.

My attention is all on Ravol now. He comes over me, his body presses me deeper into the bed. His kiss, deep and hungry, transports me, sends the familiar zing of recognition throughout my body. As he lifts my hand, the gold cuff with the strange markings on my wrist rattles because the chain is still attached. He kisses my palm, nips at the heel with sharp teeth. His lips are slippery against mine. Blood of his prey?

“You could make me like you,” I say, just as I’ve said a hundred times before. “I’m ready. It would be easier.”

“No,” he answered sharply. “You will never be like me. You know what you would be. Just like that pelt that’s spread before the fireplace in the music room. Is that what you want?”

“But I’d be with you. You’d teach me to control the instincts. I’ve read the stories. There were some who survived and who controlled the madness.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” He leaned down and kissed me fiercely, stifling my words, and at the same time drawing blood as his sharp tooth razed my lower lip. Ravol licked it clean and then he grabbed the tube of lube from the nightstand and squirted the gel into my ass. This was about urgency, as I knew his blood was still running high and hot. His lust was always so intense when he returned to me. Ravol used his fingers to stretch me, to get me ready to take his big prick. Firm, long fingers that reached deep inside me. And then he was over me, dragging my legs wider, lifting me as though I weighed nothing at all. My arms dragged against the chains binding me. The gold cuffs scraped my wrists, the familiar tendrils of pain clawing up and into each digit of my finger, each hand wrapped around the length of chain binding me to the headboard.

And then my attention was diverted as Ravol pressed his big prick into me, stretching me even more. Pain screwed up my arms, shoulder joint to wrist, as I twisted and writhed beneath him. He stretched my ass as the head popped past the ring, fitting so sweet and familiar inside my channel. Coming home, and I couldn’t help smiling at the stupid thought... 

Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf by Sean Michael

New to town, werewolf Dark can’t believe there’s a restaurant called The Vegan Werewolf. Even harder to swallow is the fact that the place smells amazing. The food, however, is easy to get down—it’s some of the best he’s ever had, and that’s saying a lot as it’s, unbelievably, vegan. What’s also not hard to swallow is Erik, the restaurant’s sweet chef, and Dark picks him up after the place closes.

Erik’s got a secret, though, one he keeps hidden deep down inside, and Dark threatens to bring all the things Erik has buried to the surface.

Can Dark convince Erik that there’s more to life than being a vegan? And that, just maybe, wolves mate for life? 

Genres: Gay/Dark Fantasy/Werewolf/Shapeshifter

Heat Level: 3

Length: Extended Amber Kiss (12k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...“So, what do you do, Dark?”

“Private security.” He could work anywhere, pick up and move whenever he wanted—like he’d just done. It left him open for anything and kept him from getting into too much trouble.

“Oh, I imagine that’s exciting.”

“It has its moments. None like this, mind you.” He licked his lips and grinned.

A corner of Erik’s lips quirked. “Flirt.”

Finally, he was doing it right. “So take me home.” He grinned even wider. “After all, you’ve already fed me dinner.”

“What if you’re an axe murderer?”

“No way an axe murderer would eat vegan.” Of course just a few hours ago he would have said no way a werewolf would eat vegan and yet here he was, stomach full of vegan food.

“Then I guess you’re safe from me, too.” Erik’s laugh warmed and one toe nudged his foot.

He chuckled, played footsie with Erik.

Erik relaxed, beginning to flirt back. “So, be honest, why did you come to the restaurant tonight?”

“The food smelled incredible.” He could be honest.

The look he got from Erik proved that it was the perfect thing to say. “Thank you.”

“It lived up to the smell, too. Even if it was vegan.” He winked at the chef.

“Veganism is the way to go. It’s a whole lifestyle. I’ve been vegan for ten years.” The words were so fucking self-righteous, but the tone wasn’t, the expression wasn’t.

“I need meat.” He was a werewolf, after all. He leaned in, gave Erik another smile, deliberately letting his teeth show a little in this one. “I want your meat.”

The air crackled with electricity again, buzzing and burning between them.

Making the first move, Dark stood, staring at Erik the entire time. He could smell the need between them, hot and heavy and all fucking male. Erik followed him, gaze caught, watching closely.

They got out onto the street and Dark wasn’t quite sure how they’d managed not to leave the coffee shop burned to a crisp behind them.

“Take me home.” The words growled out of him, part order, part plea.

“I’m just up the street.” Erik started moving and Dark followed that tight little ass like he was attached to it by a leash.

It was nighttime, but that didn’t bother him. He could deal with anything that might bother them on the street. It was all he could do to keep from pouncing Erik here and now, though. Just a little farther, he kept telling himself.

They made it to a small apartment building with a courtyard. Erik jogged up the stairs, giving Dark a look at that fine ass.

Mine. The thought was sure, pure, and right there... 

Boundless by Vivien Dean

Helping people is what Denny Patton does. Most of the time, it’s through his duties as a cop in San Francisco, but every once in a while, he steps in and aids his brother in an underground battle for those without any rights under the law—werewolves. Their latest mission is to rescue a group of wolves held captive and forced to do the unspeakable. The task will put Denny’s career at risk, but in his heart, he believes it’s the right thing to do.

Especially when one of the wolves turns out to be Elijah Garber, the man who disappeared from Denny’s life seven years ago.

Elijah and Denny were high school sweethearts until Elijah disappeared from the Bay Area the summer after they graduated. The note he left behind told Denny and his family to move on without him, but Denny has never forgotten his first love. Now, he wants answers as to why Elijah left all those years earlier. But more importantly, he wants the future they were always meant to have...

NOTE: This book is part of the Bay Wolves series. 

Genres: Gay/Dark Fantasy/Werewolf/Shapeshifter/Suspense/Thriller/Series

Heat Level: 3

Length: Novella (19k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...“How much time do you think we have?”

“They’re not due back for at least another three hours. More than enough time to get everyone out and cover up your scents once you’ve gone.” She stopped in front of the last stall on the right. Her hand rested on the door’s latch, but she hesitated instead of opening it. “Like I said, this one’s a fighter. Has been from the moment they brought him in. But I don’t want you to think it’s because he’s the monster they all claim he is. None of these people asked to be what they are.”

“Then why did he attack someone this morning?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Did that brother of yours explain what you’re getting these people away from?”

“No.” It hadn’t mattered. People plus cages was wrong, no matter who they were.

“They rent them out to anyone willing to pay. For fighting, for sex, for sport…you name it. This one’s been here for almost six years, and they still haven’t been able to break him. He fought back this morning because that’s what he does.”

“But you’re sure he won’t fight back against me. How is he going to know I’m not one of them?”

“He’s still wolf. He’ll be able to smell it.”

She thumbed the latch and stepped out of the way when she swung it open. I waited for her to go in first, but when seconds passed and she didn’t move, I realized she meant for me to go in after him instead.

My stomach churned. I didn’t want to be nervous, but I was. A hurt werewolf? Asking for trouble under any other circumstances.

She cocked a brow. Her opinion of how ridiculous I was being was obvious.

If she wasn’t afraid, I wouldn’t be either.

I had to duck to enter the stall. The floor inside was packed dirt, with a bucket in the corner that was obviously meant to be used as a toilet. Though the cell was clean, the lingering scent of shit and piss hit the back of my nose strong enough to make me wonder how a creature with a super-sensitive nose managed to survive in it. A pile of blankets along the outside wall served as a bed, but its owner wasn’t on it. He was curled up in the corner, his back to the door. His head was tucked into his arms, but the shaggy ends of his dirty blond hair fell over his thin neck. The threadbare T-shirt he wore was ripped over his shoulder blades, like someone had tried to grab onto him and he’d wrenched away. Through the tears, burn marks in varying healing stages peeked through the gray fabric.

“Jesus,” I muttered.

At the sound of my voice, his muscles visibly hitched, like he’d caught his breath. Was he awake? Alert? In the long run, did it matter?

“Hey,” I said softly, testing the water. I inched forward, keeping it slow, just in case he turned and lashed out. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

A sound that was undoubtedly a whimper emanated from the man. The only word to describe it was pathetic.

My heart broke a little. “I know you must be in pain.” Crouching down, I closed more of the distance, more confident than I’d been when I’d entered. “I’m here to make sure that stops.” I paused. I was within reach of him now, but I wasn’t sure if it was safe to touch him yet. Though he was conscious, he was too accustomed to punishment. I didn’t want to scare him further. “I’m Denny, by the way. What’s your name?”

I heard his exhalation, and his shoulders sagged. A pale hand braced against the floor, the nails caked with dirt, the cuticles filled with dried blood. The muscles in his forearm trembled as he tried to lift himself up.

My instincts took over. I slid an arm around his chest to give him more leverage.

“It’s okay.” I wondered if saying it actually made a difference. It did to me, but my well being didn’t matter here. “I’ve got you.”

Another whimper vibrated through his frame. He was whipcord thin, but displayed surprising strength as he finally lifted his head.

The hair fell away to reveal a familiar set of blue eyes. I hadn’t seen them in over seven years, except in dreams, and those paled in the face of the real thing.

It was my turn to be afraid to breathe.

“Oh, my God. Elijah...” 

Awaking the Alpha by Carolina Valdez

Can men who each bridge two worlds make a life together?

Blaze Canis is doing what he loves best. As a shooting range instructor just outside Yellowstone National Park, the former Navy SEAL sniper is still handling firearms. When Shoshoni native Logan Rider walks into his class one morning, the attraction each man feels for the other is sudden, almost mystical. Since Blaze’s teammates never knew he was gay, let alone a werewolf, he’s confident in hiding his wolf nature from Logan, too.

But will keeping his secret work, or will it blow up in Blaze’s face as his relationship with the American native deepens? 

Genres: Gay/Dark Fantasy/Werewolf/Shapeshifter/Action/Adventure/Interracial/Multicultural/ Exhibitionism/Public Places

Heat Level: 3

Length: Extended Novella (31k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...Blaze arrived for work dressed in a green muscle shirt because of the day’s warmth. His Wranglers weren’t quite as faded as those he’d worn for the class where he’d met Logan, but he wore the same boots because they were broken in and comfortable. His black leather belt was one of several he’d won in rifle competitions. His gold-plated buckle with a rifle embossed on it indicated he was an expert sharpshooter.

Blaze had always looked forward to the competitions or requalifying in the Navy. You shot at pop-up targets, first prone with your rifle supported, prone without support, kneeling and standing. In twenty years, his scores hadn’t changed much. A marksman score barely qualified you as a rifleman. Sharpshooter scores were next, and expert sharpshooters scored highest. The saying was that a marksman brushed an enemy, sharpshooters injured them, but the experts killed them.

In the SEALs, those experts were called snipers. He’d been one of them.

He was at the counter chatting with Gary Johansen, the young man working the front desk, when Logan arrived in the late afternoon. One look at him and Blaze’s wolf swirled and pranced in his chest. He looked good to Blaze…too good. He wanted in the worst way to touch him in a far more significant way than a handshake.

God, what if he isn’t gay?

Logan had dressed more casually today in jeans, boots, and a tight, short sleeve shirt imprinted with a black-on-white drawing of a Native warrior on horseback. His broad chest and firm abs allowed the shirt design to display completely. He’d pulled his hair back again, but this afternoon it ended in a single braid following the line of his neck and spine. Despite his normal clothing, his appearance screamed Native all the way. His shirt suited him.

He was tall, he was big, and a man through and through. This was the way Blaze liked his lovers.

Blaze straightened and smiled at Logan. “Glad you could make it.” They shook hands, and the anticipation of something great spread through him at their touch.

He avoided looking directly in Logan’s eyes. He wasn’t ready for another glimpse of his heart. Please, not yet. It was too unnerving...