Debut Romance Author Sharon Michalove

This month, debut author, Sharon Michalove, author of the Global Security Unlimited series tells her story. 

I create stories full of romance, suspense, and mystery. Seasoned romance where love has no age limit. Stories that prove second chances can happen, enemies can become friends, and friends can become lovers. Stories that show no two happy endings are the same. And at the core of every story is love.

I grew up in suburban Chicago. After spending most of my life in a medium-sized university town, I moved back to Chicago in 2017. I love hockey, reading, cooking, writing, and various less elevated activities like eating cookies and sampling gins and single malts. I will accomplish a lifetime goal by publishing my first novel this month, just in time for my seventieth birthday.

Advice to writers

If you have a story to tell, go for it. Whatever genre you choose, read, learn, practice. Don’t expect success overnight. Make friends in the writing community. Find other writers to talk to about writing. But most of all, start writing and keep writing.

 
Join a professional association or two. Take classes. I finally started to learn about how to put a plot together by taking a class. Even if you are a pantser, you need to be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t work when it’s time to revise.

Books

My Global Security Unlimited series is romantic suspense.

Book one, At First Sight (Global Security Unlimited 1), which is available for preorder on Amazon in both ebook and print editions, will be released on October 22, 2021. I’m writing book two now, with a projected publication date in May 2022. I am also planning a mystery that I hope will come out later in 2022. I also have a couple of other series in mind, one is hockey romance and the other is rare book mysteries that will take place in London.

 

Writing Process

When I get ideas for books or series, I make a note, even if I don’t plan to write the book immediately. It’s the only way to keep the ideas from getting lost. I’m more of a plotter than a pantser. I keep a scene-by-scene document to keep track of where I am. I refine everything in editing, then send it to beta readers and an editor.

 
I always want to know the end of the book so I know what I am writing toward. I have a lot of trouble with openings, so I might start the book several times before I have the right place.

Agents  

I don’t have an agent. I pitched a few times and was asked to send manuscripts, but I usually had no follow up from the agent.  Many of my romance writer friends have moved to self-publishing, even if they were traditionally published in the past. At my age, I really don’t want to wait years for my book to come out.

 
I decided to have my own imprint, Coffee and Eclair Books, although I am not planning on an LLC. I had both a developmental editor and a copy editor and both were great.

 

At First Sight (Global Security Unlimited 1) - Blurb

Oxford, England 1993. An awkward American grad student runs into a gorgeous English undergrad with her bicycle. She's embarrassed. He's intrigued. They go their separate ways, but neither forgets.

 
Chicago, Illinois 2013. When Cress Taylor starts receiving anonymous threats, the successful novelist feels her world crashing down. Max Grant turns up at a book signing and wants to renew their fleeting acquaintance. Is the timing coincidental or suspicious? Should she fall into his arms or run like hell? Then the plagiarism accusations start.

 
A former spy now working for a global security company, Max Grant has always steered clear of relationships-until now. When he sees Cress in a TV interview, his curiosity ignites. Will the spark he felt twenty years ago burst into flame? Cress is a magnet he can't resist. As threats escalate to physical danger, Max feels driven to protect Cress. They must learn to work together if they want to stop her nemesis and find their happy ending.

 

Excerpt

Chapter 1 Chicago, November 2013

I step off the private elevator on the fortieth floor of One Financial Plaza in my new shoes. New shoes—ridiculous, bright-red, three-inch stilettos. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, Everest. Maybe the best restaurant in Chicago. One of the thirty or forty best in the U.S. 

As I passed the store window, the shoes lured me in. My willpower collapsed like a condemned building. This is so not me. I’ve only had them a minute, and they’re cheese graters for feet.
A quick roll of my ankle on the slick granite floor reminds me why I don’t wear high heels. My arms splay and rotate like a windmill. The shopping bag that holds my serviceable flats and my small evening bag spins off my wrist. One shoe skids away. Crap, crap, crap. 

The brown kraft-paper bag is a missile that hurtles toward a man on his way to the restaurant entrance. My mouth opens in soundless warning as it speeds toward an invisible bullseye. 

Thunk. The bag bounces off his arm. 

My evening clutch pops out, wide open. Damn that broken clasp. Change rings against hard wood and granite, spraying in all directions. I drop to my knees and crawl after the quarters and pennies. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him spin. A frown twists lush lips. 

“You all right?” A foot in a brogue polished within an inch of its life rests a millimeter from my fingers as I reach for more coins. A shoe, a red shoe, is in his hand. 

“Lost something?” He holds it out to me. His rich British accent sends a prickle down my spine. I tip my head up to give him a quick once-over. 

A spark flashes through eyes that remind me of a walk on the beach in winter. A face bisected by a high-bridged aristocratic slash of a nose. My face tingles. The tips of my ears are warm. I grab the shoe, drop it on the floor, and hide my face in my hands. “Fine. Sorry. I lost my balance and the bag escaped.” My fingers muffle the sound. 

He starts to bend down. His hand brushes my ear. 

Zap. I scoot backward. 

He straightens up and shakes his hand. “Pins and needles.” 

With effort, I wrench my focus back to the coins. My good luck charm, a Victorian black opal pendant I bought when my first book sold, slides back and forth against the sanded silk of my shabby chic little black dress. Streaks of fire reflect off the granite floor as it swings. I brush stray discs into the pile. 

“Just trying to help.” 

“I can manage. Thanks, though.” 

A loud male voice calls out, “Hey, Max. Get in here.” 

“Half a mo’.” 

I wave him off. “Your friends want you.” 

“But…” 

“I’ve got this.” “Sure?” 

“Yeah. Go on.” 

He straightens, turns, walks into the restaurant. 

I stare at his back in the perfect gray suit. The color matches his eyes.

To learn more about SHaron, or to contact her, see:
Website: https://www.sharonmichalove.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdmlove22 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdmichaloveauthor 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdmichalove

 Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/sharonmichalove/

For her book, head to - 

 At First Sight (ebook): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097CJDZ9Q/

At First Sight (paperback, Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/At-First-Sight-Security-Unlimited/dp/1736918702/

At First Sight (paperback, Barnes and Noble): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-first-sight-sharon-d-michalove/1140047370?ean=9781736918708

Special Guest Cherry Adair!

Cherry's next action adventure novel will be GIDEON coming this Fall.

Over the last decade-ish J I've carved a niche for myself with my sexy, sassy, fast-paced, action adventure novels which have appeared on numerous bestsellers lists, won dozens of awards and garnered praise from reviewers and fans alike. When people ask me- “What’s the book (any of my books. Lol) about?” My response is - “Running-chasing-attraction-shooting--wild-money-sex-running-shooting-more-wild-monkey-sex-running-chasing-shooting-happily-ever-after J

I loathe writing first drafts. To me it's like wading through wet cement, and it take me forever because there's always something I'd rather be doing . Which is why I no longer write by the seat of my pants, I plot and then plot some more, so that the map of my story is easy to follow and relatively painless. Once that first draft is done, it's another story. I can't be torn away from my computer. I go back and layer and texture, polish, tweak, and fluff!

Writing is not for sissies. It's hard, hard work. And solitary work at that. But through the years I've found two other passions to fuel me, and spark my creativity.

The first is teaching. I love, love love teaching everything I've learned about writing over the years to other authors. It give me such a kick to see the OMG! look in someone's eyes a second before their head goes down, and their fingers fly as they write or type at lightening speed. I know that whatever I just said resonated, and she's no longer even in the same room, but off applying it to her own story, oblivious to everyone around her. I know what that feels like, and I want the writers/students in my classes, to have that ah-ha moment every time a teach the craft of writing.

The second is my passion for mentoring other writers, particularly fledgling writers at every stage from rank beginners, to authors with several books under their belts. So many people say they want to write a book, but they never sit their butts in the chair and actually write. Or they write the same three chapters over and over again, tweaking and polishing and changing a word here and there (sure, lady - that's the EASY part! Lol) . Many of them enter every contest, get fabulous feedback on the same three chapters, year after year, after year…. but never finish the book. I gently, with great love, and very little sympathy (sure it's hard, cupcake. But if you want it badly enough you'll stop talking about it, and buckle down and put in the work) nudge them to sit their as- butts in the chair and write, and finish the book! Lol

I have an active  motivational group on Facebook called Butt In Chair Challenge ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/ButtInChair/) for anyone who needs a weekly nudge. Everyone has to report in once a week with their anticipated word or page count, then come back the following week to let me know if they met their goal.  (threats and bribes are involved J Sometimes all I need to do is show them a picture of a great high heel - I can motivate with graphics. J)

COMING THIS FALL!

I've kicked a LOT of butts over the years, and have dozens and dozens of published books filling the shelves in my office from people I've mentored. Proving that sitting one's butt down and finishing the damn book pays off!

I don't delude myself, I know I have very little if anything to do with their success. I think of myself as the magic feather Dumbo was given to help him to fly. J Everyone needs to be seen. We all want to be acknowledged. No one sits behind us as we type, saying "WOW! That sentence is amazing!" I don't read my mentees (is that a word??! Lol) work. But I am always right there beside them mentally, encouraging them to keep going, urging them to finish this book, and start the next, propping them up when they get that rejection letter, encouraging them to keep submitting, keep writing, keep learning. I want to see them publish. I want their success. There's plenty of room for all of us. I can't wait to buy their book the second they tell me it's available. Their success gives me enormous satisfaction and joy.

Two of my dear friends, Tina De Salvo*(Elli) and Stella Barcelona*(Deceived) published their debut novels this month. While I had nothing to do with their success, I'm so proud of their dedication, and their willingness to learn everything necessary to get their novels from first draft to completed book.  I did a little nudging, but not much. Neither needed that feather. But if they'd wanted or needed it - I would've handed over a bushel-full of feathers in a heartbeat. J

Cheers,

Cherry

*Tina De Salvo & Stella Barcelona are Guesting here at RTG on May 29th & 30th.

LIMONCELLO YELLOW by Debut Chic Lit Mystery Author Traci Andrighetti

How a Word Inspired a Novel

As a debut author, I’m frequently asked what inspired me to write Limoncello Yellow, the first novel in my Franki Amato Mystery series. Besides Nancy Drew and Jessica Fletcher, the answer is that it’s complicated. But, the idea for the book came primarily from the Italian word giallo, which means yellow. Why? Because, oddly enough, giallo also means mystery novel since the first mysteries published in Italy had yellow covers.

Now, I’m a huge fan of gialli, so I often read interviews with Italian giallisti (mystery novelists). About a year ago, I came across an interview with the author Gabriella Genisi. She writes romantic mystery set in her native city of Bari in the Puglia region of Italy, and her books have colorful, fruit-themed titles like Uva Noir (Noir Grapes) and Giallo Ciliegia (Cherry Yellow, or Cherry Mystery). In the interview, Genisi explained that she comes up with the title of a novel first and then creates a story to go with her title.

Genisi’s process got me thinking: Why couldn’t I do that too? That’s when I decided that I would come up with my own colorful titles and write my own romantic mystery books. And I knew that the first title absolutely had to feature the word yellow. I just didn’t know what to put with it. So, I ran down a mental list of things that were yellow and immediately thought of lemons and then limoncello (probably because my motto is “When life gives you lemons, make limoncello”). And that’s how Limoncello Yellow was born. Well, the title, anyway…

TRACI ANDRIGHETTI

Traci Andrighetti is the author of the Franki Amato Mystery series. In her previous life, she was an award-winning literary translator and a Lecturer of Italian at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a PhD in Applied Linguistics. But then she got wise and ditched that academic stuff for a life of crime—writing, that is.

If she’s not hard at work on her next novel, Traci is probably watching her favorite Italian soap opera, eating Tex Mex or sampling fruity cocktails, and maybe all at the same time. She lives in Austin with her husband, young son (who desperately wants to be in one of her books) and three treat-addicted dogs.

Website: http://traciandrighetti.com

Blog: http://traciandrighetti.com/blo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traciandrighettiauthor

Twitter: @TAndrighettiGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7383577.Traci_Andrighetti

DEAD AWAKENINGS by Debut Paranormal Romance Author Rebekah Ganiere

Who says there's no such thing as a Zombie Love  Triangle? 

CLICK HERE FOR DEAD AWAKENINGS BOOK TRAILER

Evaine, a struggling New York theater student, enters an unsanctioned drug trial in an effort to pay bills.  She awakens in a derelict hospital, chained to a bed with no memory of who she is, or how she got there.  A band of pale skinned men, led by the gorgeous Luca, burst in, whisking her away to safety.

Once at Haven House, Evaine is introduced to The Family. Like them, she has become a Deader, a reanimated Undead.

Luca is hell-bent on stopping the experimentations, and killing those responsible. He has no time for a Newborn who is struggling to control her rages, hunger, and powers. Nor does he have the desire to deal with the feelings she's awakening within him.

Despite their best efforts, Evaine and Luca find their connection intensifying when suddenly, she remembers not only who she is, but also her fiancé, Tristan; who is still looking for her. 

Torn between her first love and her new heart’s desire, Evaine runs back to Tristan putting everyone in danger. When a rogue faction of Deaders, called Feeders, attempts to kidnap her, Luca suspects Evaine is the key to the experiments.

Can everyone band together to keep Evaine off the cutting table of those she escaped from? Or will second death tear her away from everyone, for good?

REBEKAH R. GANIERE

Thank you for reading about my debut book! 

My love for stories began as a child with Shel Silverstein poetry. I began writing my own poetry and short stories in junior high and high school and then went on to study theater in college.  Ultimately I ended up going back to writing so I could stay at home with my kids. I'm a member of Romance Writers of America.

 When I'm not spending time telling the stories of the characters constantly chattering inside my head, you can find me hanging out with my husband, four children and menagerie of pets: a dog, a rabbit, 2 bearded dragons, 1 Russian Tortoise and 2 Leopard Tortoises. 

The escaped snake has yet to be located.

You can find Rebekah R. Ganiere online at:

Rebekah R. Ganiere

"Books with a Bite"

Website: www.RebekahGaniere.com

Twitter: @VampWereZombie

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/VampiresWerewolvesZombies

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/VampWereZombie

AT ANY PRICE by Debut New Adult Romance Author Brenna Aubrey

When the must catches you and doesn’t let you go… 

A little over a year ago, when I was knee-deep in a historical romance project, the idea for a contemporary romance struck my fancy.  An offhand comment from my critique partner about an idea for a premise—a heroine who puts her virginity up for auction and the hero, who is the highest bidder, got me thinking. And the more I thought about the premise, the more I couldn’t let it go. 

I started to think about who this woman was and I began ask questions about her: Why would she do this? How could she do this? I thought of a strong young woman, a woman who is completely independent, who has serious financial troubles and found herself without a way to handle them. She has the clever resourcefulness to handle what came her way. 

Mia is a brilliant young woman.  She’s only in college by grace of her scholarship and has worked single-mindedly during her premed program to earn a perfect grade point average.  She’s a scientist.  She’s logical.  So for me it was important that she make the auction for her virginity extremely logical.  Everything, in her mind, is perfectly reasoned out.   

So she takes to her blog and uses examples, from history and legend, where a woman’s virginity was used as a bartering chip—most usually by men—and writes the “Virgin’s Manifesto” which appears at the beginning of the book.  Once I wrote it, the story would not let me go. I had to see it through to its logical end.

And so that’s how a book gets written, in fast draft form anyway, in twelve days. It took several more months to make it pretty but that first snag of the muse was inescapable. 

Here is the BLURB and cover for my debut novel, At Any Price, a New Adult Contemporary Romance.

Achievement Unlocked: Geek Virgin

When Mia Strong, proud geek-girl and popular gaming blogger, auctions off her virginity online, she knows she'll make waves. But what she will not be making is a love connection. Her rules are set in stone: One night. No further contact.

It's a desperate step, but it's the only way she can go to medical school and pay her mother's mounting hospital bills.

Difficulty Level: Millionaire CEO 

Adam Drake, the enigmatic auction winner, is a software prodigy who made his first million at seventeen. Now, in his mid-twenties, he's sexy, driven and--as CEO of his own gaming company--he's used to making the rules. Before Mia knows what's happening, he's found the loophole in the rules of her auction. Every stipulation she's made to protect her heart gets tossed by the wayside.

She can't tell if he's playing her...or if he's playing for keeps.

This New Adult book is intended for readers over the age of 18 due to adult language, sexual content and adult situations.

Find Brenna Aubrey online at:

Website: www.BrennaAubrey.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BrennaAubreyAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BrennaAubrey

MY SUNNY VAMPIRE by Debut Paranormal Romance Author Stacy McKitrick

STACY MCKITRICK

Sarah and Judith, thank you so much for featuring my debut novel. It’s been a very exciting time for me!

Prior to 2008, I was a horror reader. Oh sure, I read the occasional romance, but they were mostly historical and started to all sound the same to me. Then in 2008 my daughter introduced me to Twilight. Good vampires? With romance? Really? This was my introduction to paranormal romance and I was hooked.

So hooked that in 2009 I decided to write my own. The surprising part of that decision is that I’d never written a book before. I just loved to read them. So what made me think I could actually WRITE one?

Well… I didn’t, but the urge just wouldn’t go away. So I bought books on the craft and read numerous blogs by writers on writing. I knew my first draft would suck (and boy, did it!) and I knew when I handed that first book to my daughter to read that it still needed work. What I didn’t know was whether or not I should bother working on it anymore. Did I show any promise?

Luckily for me, she thought I did. That’s all I needed to hear. I promptly joined Romance Writers of America® and set out to become a better writer.

My Sunny Vampire came about from the Aspiring Authors Workshop I attended at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in 2010 (Columbus). For the plotting portion of the course, students were asked to volunteer the names of their hero and heroine and the initial problem. I had those, so I volunteered. I learned from that class to always volunteer your stuff in class. You’ll get feedback! I also learned that I am NOT a plotter, but the story took hold in my head. Five months after that class I started writing the book and six months after that I had my first draft. Strangely enough, my daughter told me that that would be the book that got me published. Did she call it or what?

I had a lot of fun writing about Jack and Sunny. And I picked one of my favorite cities to feature them in--Pittsburgh. Here’s the blurb for My Sunny Vampire (available soon from Lyrical Press, an imprint of Kensington Publishing):

After centuries alone in darkness, how far will a vampire go for Sunshine?

 Jack VanAllen has spent his long life following the rules and, as a member of the Vampire Committee, he also enforces them. So, when he awakens in an alley next to an illegally-turned vampire who resembles his late wife, he must prove his innocence or suffer the punishment: death. The problem? He doesn’t remember a thing.

Sunshine Petersen’s life as a vampire isn’t getting off to a great start. She’s got no control over her powers, can’t find a job, and sexy Jack is being stand-offish. The only thing she’d like more than catching the creep who turned her is getting Jack into the closest bed. But, could Jack be the one who turned her?

When he and Sunny team up to find the culprit, Jack discovers feelings he hasn’t had in years. But once Sunny finds out he’s keeping a major secret, she disappears. Unfortunately, the man who turned her still has plans…

CONTENT WARNING: Some graphic violence, sensual sex scenes, and a vampire who’s finally found his ‘sun.’

You can find me on-line at:
Website  www.StacyMcKitrick.com
Blog www.stacysrantings.blogspot.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stacy.mckitrick.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering…that first book I wrote will eventually be published, too. It just has to wait its turn.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! To generate comments on my blog, I usually end with a question so here’s one for you. What is your favorite type of romance?

Debut Paranormal Romance Author Lisa Cardiff - Marked by Destiny

LISA CARDIFF

Thank you for inviting me to Romancing the Genres for Debut Authors month. I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about my novel, Marked by Destiny, and my recent journey into the world of writing.

I’ve read many author stories, and generally the authors seem to have known forever that they wanted to write. That wasn’t true for me. I practiced law for ten years and I loved the mental gymnastics of crafting words in contracts and legal briefs. A couple years after I left the practice of law to start a real estate development company with my husband, I realized how much I missed writing. Thus, came the idea of writing a book. I chose to write a paranormal romance novel about faeries set in Galway, Ireland. I love writing fiction because unlike law, I can change the facts whenever they don’t work as I had planned.

Shortly after I finished Marked by Destiny, I received a contract from Soul Mate Publishing, and I have spent this past year in a whirlwind of editing, writing and researching.

In 2014, I hope to have another productive year. I just finished a contemporary romance and I have two other books in the works, including a sequel to Marked by Destiny.

My debut novel, Marked by Destiny, is out now from Soul Mate Publishing.

 

Four mythical treasures with unimaginable power. One woman with the ability to use them. Two groups locked in an ancient battle to secure them. A love that cannot be denied.

Avery Conner goes to Ireland seeking answers from her dying mother, but destiny has other plans. With an ancient prophecy hanging in the balance, she is plunged into a battle between the Faerie Court and the New World Foundation for Celtic Studies for control of the Four Treasures—the Stone of Destiny, the Sword, the Spear and the Caldron.

Kalen, a Faerie Prince, must deliver Avery Conner to the Faerie Court at any cost. Haunted by past mistakes, Avery is a complication he doesn’t need — but after sharing one forbidden kiss, he can’t deny their otherworldly connection.

Torn between the known and unknown, Avery must decide whom to trust: the Foundation, or Kalen, who is as jaded as he is irresistible.

You can find me on-line at:

www.LisaCardiff.com

www.twitter.com/LCardiff_author

www.facebook.com/lcardiff11

Introducing Marina Myles

When you have school age children, you know the month of May can be a busy time. This year my youngest son is graduating high school so there is much to do (to make sure he does..haha). So, because I’m such a terrible procrastinator and am crazy busy right now, I decided to forego my usual blog babble and introduce you to a dear friend, Marina Myles, who also happens to be my critique partner. I’ve known Marina for a few years now and have watched this lovely lady grow into a fabulous author. I’m thrilled and very proud to say she’s set to release her first of four novels with E-Kensington. 

Please join me in welcoming Marina. 

“You can write anything you want.”

That kind of leeway may sound like a writer’s dream, but for my first guest blog post EVER, the words of my friend and fellow author, Terri Molina, left me a bit dazed.

Allow me to backtrack. To promote the June 6^th release of my historical/paranormal romance, BEAUTY AND THE WOLF (sinister Gothic estate, prowling werewolf, incredibly hot hero), Terri was generous enough to let me take her monthly slot on Romancing the Genres. She told me that because it was the 2-year anniversary of the blog spot, there’d be no set theme.

Hmmm…I thought. Anniversaries.  Maybe I wasn’t at a loss for what to write after all. Exactly five years ago in the month of May, Terri and I had our first critique meeting at Souper Salad. She’d read my initial draft of BEAUTY AND THE WOLF and, being very proud of it, I expected her to fawn over my writing skills. But with her usual dead-pan expression I’ve come to love, she said, “Ah, I’m confused. Whose story is this? The hero’s or the heroine’s?”

She went on to teach me what all writers need to know: the importance of POV, showing not telling, the use of romance tag lines, and character motivation/conflict. I soon learned that writing is a craft to be mastered and then refined—and that realization sent me back to the drawing board. Thank God.

Later, I met a writer at a conference who never let anyone read her WIP before she submitted it. BIG MISTAKE. Critique partners not only supply us with invaluable advice coming from an unbiased vantage point, it gives us the chance to forge friendships in an otherwise solitary career.

So I’m proud to say that five years and a 2-book publishing contract with a major New York publisher later, I couldn’t have done it without Terri Molina. While our ‘anniversary’ doesn’t celebrate a marriage or the milestone of an informative and entertaining blogspot like Romancing the Genres, it gives me a chance to acknowledge the unselfish help she gave me through the years.  

Hope to repay you sometime, Terri! 

Thank you, Marina, it's been my honor.

And, now for your reading pleasure, an excerpt from Marina’s first book which releases June 6th!!!

Excerpt from BEAUTY AND THE WOLF

She blinked against a bright light. Shifting her gaze to the window, she saw that a full moon had emerged through a pair of parted clouds. As the ivory cast spilled across Draven’s face, he pulled away from her with eyes that flashed a profound fear.“I must inform you that I have no intention of fathering any offspring,” he said.

The admission couldn’t have knocked her more off balance. “I…I don’t understand.”

Draven bolted out of bed. His entire body began to shake. “I have personal reasons for not wanting a child. But what you need to know is that we will use a modern form of prevention.”

She pulled herself to a sitting position. “You choose this moment, our wedding night to inform me of this? Didn’t you think I should have a say in the matter?”

As the veins in his temples bulged and pounded, she recoiled against the headboard.

“Something is happening to me,” he said, spinning away from her. All at once, his shirt split up the middle of his back and fell to the floor. Then, with his face hidden from view, he picked up a chair and hurled it through the window.

Isabella whipped back the bed-sheet, her hand pressed to her mouth in horror.

What is happening?

Fearing for her safety, she rushed inside the dressing room and locked the door. Through her sobs, she heard a loud cry then more breaking glass. A minute later, all was quiet.

She grabbed Draven’s wool coat and draped it over her negligee. Turning the doorknob with a quaking hand, she forced herself to peer into the bedchamber. Wind whistled into the room through the shattered window and the fire in the hearth had all but died out. But Draven was nowhere to be found.

Seizing the chance to flee the room, she escaped into the corridor and raced downstairs. She’d known this loveless marriage was a bad idea, but now she was truly frightened.

Refusing to stay at Thorncliff Towers a moment longer, she ran for the stables. And with every step she took, she vowed never to return.

About the author:

Although Marina Myles lives under the sunny skies of Arizona, she would reside in a historic manor house in foggy England if she had her way. Her love of books began as soon as she read her first fairy tale and grew by leaps and bounds when she discovered Nancy Drew/Agatha Christie mysteries and rich, historical romances.

Dreaming of becoming a published author, she went on to study creative writing at Southern Methodist University—where she received degrees in Communications and English Literature. During her time in Dallas, she had the unique experience of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

Now with her loyal Maltese close by, she relishes the hours she gets to escape into worlds of fiery—but not easily attained—love affairs. She’s busy being a wife (to her Italian-born husband) and a mother (to her two beautiful daughters), but she is never too busy to hear from her amazing readers.

For more information you can find her at:

Website: http://www.marinamyles.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormarinamyles

Email: marinaauthor@yahoo.com

You can Order Beauty and the Wolf at these locations:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beauty-and-the-wolf-marina-myles/1114307514?ean=9781601830999

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-beautyandthewolf-1173608-237.html

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/22591