Merry Christmas Eve! It’s getting late, and parents everywhere are likely tucking little ones into bed. I’ll be doing the same shortly. In the meantime, I’ve got lots of goodies for you tonight. First, I want to share a bit of my next Doomsday Brethren novel with you.

SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW  (completely made up, unedited blurb)

Caden MacTavish reluctantly comes to the UK to care for his older brother, Lucan, who’s suffering acute mate mourning. All he needs to get his life back is track down Lucan’s missing female and reunite the divided lovers. Except…a pesky human reporter learns some critical information about magickind’s class war and publishes it in one of London’s rags focused on the supernatural. The Doomsday Brethren already have their hands full fighting Mathias and the Anarki. The last thing they need is human curiority or, God forbid, a witch hunt. Caden, being firmly rooted in the human world, is the most equipped to put a stop to the reporter. But he never expects her to be a sexy redhead with the kind of moxie that turns him unbearably hard–and sets off all the magical instincts he’s trying to suppress. But he soon learns that neither magic nor love can be denied.

SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW (unedited excerpt)
Caden rang off with Bram just before Sydney’s door burst open. In walked the source of his frustrations and fantasies, carrying the little red book.

A fresh wave of lust blazed across his senses. An electrical pulse revved down his spine, then shuddered across his skin. He twitched with the need to touch her. What the devil was wrong with him? Lately, he’d felt…off. Tired one minute, wired the next. His eyes burned, his fingertips tingled. The odd sweating out of nowhere…bloody awful, but it fit with his libido being ever ready.

He had no idea what ailed him. A frustrating mission, courtesy of a crafty wizard, coupled with a red-headed dynamo, was driving him beyond sanity, yes. But it was magic. Was his transition coming? Maybe it was stress. Hoped it was, in fact. He certainly had enough of it. The pressure to right Lucan’s life loomed large. He had to get back to his adopted home in Dallas, away from all this hocus-pocus, before it swallowed him up.

“What is it, MacTavish?” She thrust one hand on her hip. The other held the Doomsday Diary casually. God, if she had any idea what that book could do… He had to wrest it from her as quickly as possible.

Surreptitiously, he withdrew his mobile phone from his belt, pretending to sort through the menus. Quickly, he snapped a picture of the book.

“Hey!” she protested. “You wanted to talk to me or take pictures?”

“Sorry. New phone. Was trying to silence it. Still learning.”

She paused. “What did you want? If you’ve no need to talk, I have a pub stool and an ale waiting for me.”

She was in a snit. Caden hoped she wasn’t angry that he’d dismissed Jamie. The thought that she might have any interest in that knuckle-dragger made him want to grind his teeth.

“Right, then. I have some questions.”

“Don’t you always?” She crossed the room, slim hips swaying.

A caustic Sydney was a dazzling sight. He shouldn’t stare, but instead get down to business, but with her fair face tinged pink and her auburn hair tumbling across her shoulders, brown eyes flashing…wow! Did she look like that when she came?

Don’t think that. Think smart. Think mission.

He’d rather think about having her naked underneath him.

“I’ll get to the point.”

“Lovely.”

Despite her five foot, three inch frame, Sydney stood her ground and stared back with admirable moxie. She defended her stories with all her passion and wit, fighting back when things got rough. The fact she was also smart and sexy made her damn near impossible to resist.

“But let me first say,” she went on. “If you’re going to warn me about the evils of Jamie, I’m a big girl.”

He hadn’t planned on bringing it up, but since she had… “Are you actually interested in him?”

She shrugged defensively. “Why do you care?

The possibility drove him mad. He’d never been jealous of such a wanker. He’d never been jealous, period. Splendid, a new low for him. And if the truth slipped free, she would know how seriously he wanted her in his bed, her nails in his back, screaming his name. He must have latent masochistic tendencies because he could think of nothing but telling Sydney in excruciating detail exactly how he wanted her. But if he let himself be distracted, he may never find Anka. His brother could pass to his nextlife.

There were other unpalatable magical possibilities he wanted to ignore.

“It’s none of my business, I grant you. We’ve been working together just a few days, and it’s not as if I know you well. But I think you can do better.”

Sydney cocked her head. “Are you offering?”

Caden’s heart skipped a beat before beginning a furious rhythm. Though every muscle in his body tensed at her suggestion, he doubted Sydney had any clue how close she was to learning how her desk felt against her back.

“I’m merely saying that you’re a beautiful, talented woman. You deserve more.”

Sydney looked at him from beneath the veil of her ginger-shaded lashes. Cunning shone those brown eyes. And desire. The seductive sight was a blow to his gut. Bloody hell, that was the kind of look that made him stiff and aching to give her everything she desired.

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Today’s feature is from hot historical author Monica Burns. She’ll be giving away a copy of FORBIDDEN PLEASURE and OBSESSION, along with some other goodies, plus an ARC of…

MIRAGE
Samhain Publishing
ISBN-10: 1599988313
ISBN-13: 978-1599988313
Genre: Historical romance
Format: Trade paperback
Buy from Amazon | Borders

A man without a country…
Half Bedouin, half English, the Viscount Blakeney has always been Sheikh Altair Mazir in his heart. A victim of prejudice from both cultures, he’s learned to trust no one. But a feisty American archeologist and the heat she ignites in him is about to change all that. And more.

An independent woman hunting for a Pharaoh’s treasure…
Alexandra Talbot is used to men questioning her intelligence simply because of her sex. But the mysterious Viscount isn’t like other men. He never questions her ability to find the lost city of Ramesses II, only her resistance to the sinful pleasure of his touch.

An ancient prophecy…
Bound by a Pharaoh’s prophecy, desire flares between them beneath the desert stars. But murder and betrayal turn their quest into a deadly game, pushing their fragile trust to the breaking point. Their survival hinges on rebuilding that trust.

Reviews
Top Pick — 4.5 Stars! “A strong storyline, engaging characters and seductive love scenes make this a must-read.” — Romantic Times BOOKreviews

Excerpt
She’d just finished dressing when an authoritarian knock sounded on her door. Startled, she jerked her head toward the noise. Her heart instantly skipped a beat. It was a distinctive knock. She visualized Altair on the other side of the wooden barrier. When she hesitated, the knock came again. Insistent and impatient. It was him.

Crossing the room, she threw open the door to see his tall figure filling the doorway. She fought to keep breathing. There was only one word to describe him. Magnificent. Unable to take her eyes off him, she struggled to calm her erratic heart beat. Somewhere in the back of her mind, curiosity made her question why he was dressed like one of the natives. The thought was a fleeting one as she fought to keep her senses from responding to his commanding presence.

Dressed in the dark blue, flowing garment of the Mazir, he looked as if he had been born to wear the desert clothing. No longer the English lord, he was as lean and predatory as a leopard. A utility belt filled with rifle cartridges crossed his chest, while a pistol was tucked into a belt around his waist.

His entire appearance emanated a sense of danger and excitement. Beneath his eyes, Mazir tribal symbols stained his brown cheeks. His wavy brown hair, no longer restrained by a ribbon, tumbled down over his shoulders. The image of spiking her fingers through the dark, glossy curls sent a stream of liquid fire through her.

Good lord, she barely knew the man, and yet here she was ready to offer herself to him. She drew in a sharp breath, as she looked up into the warmth of his brown eyes.

“Good morning,” he murmured. The deep notes danced across her skin with a potency that set off alarm bells in her head. If she were to open her mouth, she was certain more than a dozen butterflies would flee their captivity in her stomach.

“Good…morning.” The breathless quality of her voice dismayed her. Oh God, she sounded as flustered as she felt. The sudden glint of satisfaction in his eyes made the fluttering wings in her stomach stir restlessly. Her voice had revealed far too much about the effect he had on her. Desperate to regain control of her senses, she swallowed the sensual urges threatening to take control.

“I…you…you look so different. Not like yourself at all.”

“And how do you think I should look, Alex?” His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her intently.

The dark, disturbing expression in his gaze sent her heart slamming into her chest. Tiny frissons caressed her skin as his gaze slid over her. Aroused by the mysteriously hungry look in his eyes, she shook her head as if doing so would help clear her thoughts as well as the desire curling inside her.

“It’s just that you surprised me. I wasn’t expecting to see you dressed like a Mazir.”

“I find the gambaz cooler and more comfortable than my English clothes.”

She nodded at his explanation. Oddly enough, he did look comfortable. Far more so than when he was wearing the starched shirt and tie he usually wore. Relaxed and at ease in the gambaz, the flowing garment enhanced the dangerous edge of his darkly handsome features.

Did the man have any idea how devastating he was dressed like a Bedouin? There was a wicked savagery about him that tantalized her senses and made her breath hitch. Trying to suppress the urge to reach out and touch him, she inhaled a deep breath.

“Is something wrong, Alex?” The gleam in his eye made the palms of her hands damp.

“No, not all,” she forced the words past her lips, alarmed by the need building inside her.

A brown finger traced the outline of her lips as he leaned toward her. Cedarwood and sweet fennel tempted her senses. “Liar,” he whispered, as a smile of satisfaction curved his mouth. “Your heart is beating like you were a jerboa caught in the claws of a leopard.”

The similarity to her earlier impression of him as a leopard was ironic given how she was feeling just like a mouse trapped beneath his masterful gaze. The dark brown eyes holding her gaze hostage glittered with a dangerous light. Drinking in the masculine scent of him, her lungs tugged in a sharp breath of need. She wanted him to kiss her. Appalled she tried to find a footing on the slippery path she was treading. Diversion. That’s what was called for—a diversion.

“I…I…why do you wear the Mazir marks on your cheeks?” She almost blew out a whoosh of air as she asked the question with great relief. That would help lessen this tension between them.

“They reflect the sunlight and protect my eyes. But they’re also a sign of my respect for the Mazir.” He arched an eyebrow at her as his finger trailed along the edge of her jaw in a slow, seductive stroke. The touch singed every nerve in his path. “But that’s not what you really wanted to ask me, is it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She took a quick step back from him.

“Ah, so you didn’t want to ask when we were to visit the Pyramids. As you wish.” As he turned away from her, she sprang forward. The man was tormenting her by making her think he wouldn’t take her to the Pyramids. Determined to halt his departure, her hand clutched at his arm. How soft the material of his robe was beneath her fingers.

“Don’t you dare tease me like that!”

A quick flame came to life in his dark eyes as he turned and looked down into her face. The slight curl tilting his firm lips upward made her heart slam into her chest wall, and her breathing hitched. The man was far too attractive for his own good.

“How would you like me tease you, Alex?”

She took a quick step backward at the surprising question. With an abrupt shake of her head, she pressed her hand against his chest as he followed her.

“I don’t…I meant… I want to visit the Pyramids.”

“I see. So you weren’t hoping I’d find some other way to tease you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she spluttered.

His dark hand reached out to caress her cheek. No. If he kissed her again, she wouldn’t be able to control the desire shooting through every part of her body. She took another step back. Once again, he followed her. Now the space between them was almost nonexistent. He lowered his head. The heady aroma of cedarwood and sweet fennel smelled so good. It tormented her senses. A shiver pulsed through her as the warmth of his breath stirred the wisps of hair at her ear.

“Don’t you? That’s disappointing because I’m finding it increasingly difficult to get the image of your full, lush body out of my head.”

She gasped at the seductive heat of his words. He nipped at her ear lobe and reason slipped out of her head.

“Do you know what I dreamed about last night, Alex? I dreamed I was sucking on those beautiful, dusky nipples of yours.”

“Oh, God,” she whispered, unable to say anything else.

“Can you imagine what else I dreamed about? Shall I tell you?”

Don’t moan, Alex. Whatever you do, don’t moan. She swayed into him, her fingers splayed across the upper part of his chest.

No.

No. This wasn’t good at all. Looking up at him, she knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to. The shivers of delight skimming through her told her just how eager her body really was for him to kiss her. She should have been shocked. Instead, she simply offered her mouth for the taking.

*     *     *     *     *

In addition to today’s feature book, MIRAGE, you’ll get a signed copy of TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS, a copy of Victoria Alexander’s WHAT A LADY WANTS, a $10 iTunes gift card AND a 3 chapter sneak peek of SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW. All you have to do is comment.

Tomorrow is the last day of the contest…and I’ve got some special goodies and another new excerpt.

Merry Christmas and/or happy holidays! I’m so grateful to everyone who visits here and supports me by buying, reading, and spreading the word about my books. Thank you so much. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday!