Saturday, May 3, 2014

*CONTEST ALERT* Book Spotlight: Quench by J.Hali Steele

Be sure to watch for the contest below!!
Purchase from Ellora's Cave
Alek is cursed. A tiger and lion mix, he also feels vampyre bloodlust. Finding a mate will require finding someone to sate that bloodlust and it has become increasingly clear that the two cats who live beneath his skin are outrageously, unbelievably picky. Then he meets Viviana, the one woman who ignites a fierce fire in his soul.
Viviana, a vampyre warrior, is shocked to come face-to-face with the one creature who can turn her cool blood into a molten river. Her powers stolen, she has to count on the cat for everything—blood, even her life, and when they’re together she becomes a wildcat in his arms. Viv wants Alek as her own, and no one, not even Alek himself, will stand in her way.
Inside Scoop: Alek and Viviana share many erotic likings, including enjoying the occasional voyeuristic adventure as well as exhibitionist sex, when the desire strikes them.
A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Copyright©J. Hali Steele, 2014  |  All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
Excerpt: Chapter One
Warriors, leather-clad fighting machines with arsenals of weapons deftly hidden beneath their coats. They were gladiators who fought to the death and belonged in an arena.
Not striding through a hotel lobby in Amish Country.
That’s where Alek Foress had found himself twenty-odd years ago protecting Nikolaus, the Kind prince. In fucking Lancaster County.
All these years later, back in the California high desert, he was still addicted to the bastard’s blood and there were times he swore he smelled like a stinking lion.
“Damn you’re in a nasty mood.” His friend’s laughter rang out in the little corner of the club Alek had chosen to hide in. The sound scraped his already raw nerves. “You striped beasts always smelled worse than us.”
“Case, I don’t need any shit from you.” From the corner of his eye Alek saw Tres heading their way. He took in her green hair and curvy body before facing Case. The man grinned widely as his mate approached, a grin that reminded Alek he’d done the right thing by hiring Tres to handle Case’s club. Initially his friend had objected to his swanky voyeur’s club being run by a snow leopard shifter with green hair.  But the spunky little cat had won the white lion’s heart and soul.
“You both stink and have fleas. Damn warm cats.”
“Hey, baby.”
Alek slouched deeper into the chair as he watched Case pull his mate into his lap. These two were one of the happiest couples he knew. They were also part of the reason for his frame of mind.
Alek would never have a mate or know the kind of happiness they shared.
Case nibbled on Tres’ neck and lifted her up. “Can you see to things for a bit? I need to talk to Alek.”
She leaned in and kissed Case on the lips. “I’m famished and unless you want me biting a customer, don’t be too long.”
“Greedy wench. I’ll take care of you later.”
Alek watched her disappear down the hallway of The Looking Glass. He spun on Case and cut him down before he started.
“Here’s where you tell me so what if I have lion’s blood running through my veins and you’re going to give me the bullshit about being lucky I have a tie to the royal family.” He lifted his glass, downed the Wild Turkey and fixed Case with a deadly stare. “How would you feel walking around for twenty damn years with a hard-on for a fucking male cat?” Lips drawn into a grimace, he ground the words between clenched teeth, “We don’t screw males.” Standing, he leaned and banged both hands flat down on the table. Alek lowered himself until he was eye to eye with his friend. “And now would not be the time to tell me to ‘relax, it’s the vampyre blood’, or ‘it’s no big deal’.” He straightened up, planning to leave.
His head flew back with a snap and his body was flung down into the chair. It tipped back precariously on two legs.
“I haven’t said anything yet.” Case glared at him with gleaming red eyes. “But someone needs to so you can get on with your life and stop this bullshit.”
“What the hell was that?” Alek rubbed his jaw.
“That was a white lion full of vampyre piss and vinegar trying to save his best friend from a life of loneliness.”
He sat back and studied Case Tangara. He’d known he had strength but hadn’t suspected anything like this. For now, his only option was to listen.
Alek and Case were both part of the Kind species of big cats infected with blood of the undead. Both served as Sovereign warriors, known as the Reign, to protect the weaker of their brethren cats who refused to accept the vampyre way of life by ingesting human blood. They were animals and it was what they wanted to remain.
Case continued, “We are what we are. Embrace your vamp powers and deal with it.”
Alek’s mind wandered as Case babbled on about it being okay if a man wanted to make love to another man.
A thousand years ago the undead had invaded the lions’ ancestral caves in the Balkan Mountains and the sons of bitches had contaminated the cats with their vile blood curse. Unfortunately the lions carried the thirst across continents to a multitude of animals. He used to lead the Reign. Stripped of his status, he didn’t give a shit anymore. His downfall came from spending too much time in women. Literally. He pined away even now, his cock weeping, for the wet pleasure found between a willing set of shapely legs. Furry or not, he’d change to suit the situation.
Leading the warriors hadn’t been his idea anyway. He’d assumed the position to stay near the prince.
“So you wanted to stay near your blood source. Big fucking deal. You’ve had the benefit of the strongest blood of our kind and you’ve piddled it away fucking around. I love you, man, but it’s time to grow up.” Case leveled somber green eyes in his direction. “Are you that worried about traveling to meet the prince?”
Zeroing in on Case, Alek hissed. “Stay the hell out of my head. You want to know something, ask.” He could have motioned to the waitress for a drink but what the hell, there were some vamp powers worth embracing. He pulled a glass of alcohol out of thin air and took a big gulp. “Don’t ever restrain me again.”
“Don’t act like an asshole and it won’t be necessary.”
Setting his drink down, Alek sighed heavily and settled back into the chair. “No, I’m not worried about the royal family. Hell, his wife is half-human and will always do crazy shit.” Air whistled through his lips. “You don’t know what it’s like.”
“I know what a vamp’s lust feels like. I enjoy it and so should you. It’s part of what we are.”
“Male cats don’t go panting after each other. It’s-it’s not normal.”
Case laughed so loudly a few of the club’s patrons turned to stare. “We aren’t normal in any sense of the word.”
The addiction to the prince’s blood pulled at Alek, shattered his control again and again. It pushed him into the arms of any available woman just so he could prove his manhood. The weakness would never allow him to take a mate. He was unwilling to divulge his dark secret—his desire to take a man, namely the prince. Have him in every way.
Alek had seen mated male cats take sustenance often. They always went for men and then they’d go home to feed their mates. How did they deal with it, fight the carnal urges that damn near drew him over the edge? What made him different? This wasn’t part of the beast’s nature. His craving came from his blood-lusting relatives. Goddamn vampyres.
“On that thought, I need to feed my mate. Let me say this. Tres understands my sexual urges and accepts them. You’ll find the right mate one day and she’ll accept all that you are, Alek.”
“I’d never let her know.”
“Then you’ll never have happiness. If that’s how you choose to live, so be it. I’ve done all I can.” His friend sniffed loudly, wrinkling his nose. “And you do smell like a lion today. You need a bath, my friend.”


A bit about J.Hali
I read anything, voraciously devour paranormal romances...I’m a bonafide HEA junkie! I write erotic paranormal romance, and have dabbled with contemporary. I write m/f; m/m/f; and m/m for Changeling Press/Razor’s Edge, I write for Ellora’s Cave, and I have a few stories with Liquid Silver. I’ve even been bold enough to publish a few stories on my own as Jocie Parker, you can find those at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Basically, I’m a writer, friend, mother...I'm lots of things—some unmentionable. *smile* My favorite saying: Growl and roar--it's okay to let the beast out. -J. Hali Steele
Connect with J.Hali 
**CONTEST**

Leave your name (with email address below) along with a comment for J.Hali and your name will be entered to win 1 of 2 prizes!

- GRAND PRIZE -
an eBook copy of both of J.Hali's newest releases (Quench and Hard Case)

- First Prize - 
an eBook copy of Quench
Contest ends at midnight on May 10th!




7 comments:

Mary Preston said...

Thank you for the amazing read.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

J Hali Steele said...

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!

Unknown said...

I just saw you on my facebook and cant wait to read one of your books. I am always look for a great book/series to get involved in.

Unknown said...

I forgot to put my email address on my comment. Sorry, my email address is rsb0807@gmail.com. So excited to check out your books.

J Hali Steele said...

Thanks, Rhonda! Hope you find something you enjoy. The vamp cats are probably my favorite to write about, though the angels are...well, they're hot! Second in that series will probably come out later this year.

J Hali Steele said...

thanks for stopping by - check your in box!

orelukjp0 said...

Quench sounds great. Thank you for the great excerpt. I can't wait to read more.

orelukjp0 at gmail dot com

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