Six Sentence Sunday - Haunted Passions

“I missed you both terribly today.”


Her skin was so warm, her body so pliant beneath his and John’s hands. He couldn’t resist encouraging her. “That eager to find yourself between us in bed again?”


Her breathy “yes” rushed against Brom’s ear as he cupped on of her breasts, and his balls tightened in response. God, she was serious, and clinging to him like she needed the support to stand. 

Thanks for stopping by for my weekly Six Sunday post. Looking for my hero hop post? It's right here, or you can simply scroll below. ;)

Hero Hop: Meet Jack, Alpha of the Half Moon Pack

Welcome to my Hero Hop post! 

To say that I love romance novel heroes would be the understatement of the century; they're often my favorite characters. Seeing as how I've got over a dozen published books, choosing one of my own to introduce to you wasn't easy. Though I could probably talk about heroes all day, here's the one this post is all about: Jack Bryant, alpha wolf of the Half Moon Pack, who co-stars with his mate Mandy in the books Lonely Alpha  and True Alpha. Here he is:

An excuse to use that picture wasn't the only reason I chose Jack, I swear. ;)

Here are the basics about Jack, accurate as of True Alpha (Half Moon Shifters Book 2):

Age: 28

Star sign: Taurus

Hometown: Somewhere Deep in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains 

Occupation: Alpha wolf of the Half Moon Pack and mountain cabin maintenance and repair man

Status: Mated and married to Mandy Bryant née Foster

Children: One newborn daughter, Ella Bryant

Favorite food: bacon

What I love about Jack: his loyalty. Like any good alpha wolf, he's steadfast and faithful. And that's the sexiest trait any hero can have, if you ask me! Jack is also very brave, and not afraid to face danger in order to protect his mate or packmates. It also doesn't hurt that he has a Southern accent. ;) And he looks adorable when holding his newborn daughter; isn't a handsome man holding a little baby the cutest thing? I wish I had a picture of that to include with this post!

Prizes: To participate in the big Hero Hop giveaway as well as my own private Hero Hop giveaway, simply comment on this blog post, and be sure to include your e-mail address so that you can be contacted if you win.

The prizes are:

                             Hero Hop Grand Prize #1: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet (winner's choice)

Hero Hop Grand Prize #2: $50 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice)

Here Hop Grand Prize #3: A mega swag pack with contributions from many of the participating authors

My individual prize: Winner's choice of an ebook edition of one of my books -- any of my books that are currently published. PRC, Epub or .PDF format. You can see all of my books that the winner will be able to choose from HERE. Again, the winner chooses which book she or he would like to have - that way, if you already have some of my books, you can try one you haven't read already.

Is this your first time meeting a member of the Half Moon Pack? Their story so far...

Half Moon Shifters Book 1

When Mandy leaves the city behind and embarks on a retreat to the Great Smoky Mountains, she expects to spend the week alone with nature and a stack of novels. Instead, she ends up trapped on a remote mountain by a big game hunter who's hell-bent on bagging a werewolf. Lonely alpha wolf-shifter Jack, the last of the once-strong Half Moon Pack, is his target. Jack is determined to keep Mandy safe while hunting his hunter, but being around Jack brings out a wild side Mandy never knew she had. As silver bullets fly, so do sparks. If they can manage to defeat their attacker, Mandy will still have one problem to contend with: Jack is convinced that she's his mate.

Read a free excerpt from Lonely Alpha here at my website.

Half Moon Shifters Book 2

 With a baby on the way, Mandy and Jack are prepared for their pack of two to expand – or so they think, until Jack’s only remaining relatives return unexpectedly from Alaska, bringing others with them. Suddenly, the alpha couple has a lot more to worry about than what color to paint the nursery. But inter-pack dramas, baby shower plans and even a wedding can’t compare to the mayhem that ensues when a stranger from Mandy’s past shows up at the cabin’s doorstep, hiding a secret that could destroy the Half Moon Pack forever.

Read a free excerpt from True Alpha here at my website.

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Get more info and free excepts from all my books at: www.ranaerose.com

Connect with me on Twitter: @Ranae_Rose

Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ranae.rose.33

Sign up for my newsletter for monthly giveaways: http://ranaerose.com/index.php?p=1_18_Newsletter

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Visit the other 100+ participating Hero Hop authors at...

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What's the Appeal of Tattoo Romances / Tattooed Heroes?

Recently, my tattoo romance Hot Ink (which debuted in late 2011) has become more popular, and is now an Amazon bestseller. This got me thinking about Hot Ink's fictional couple Mina and Eric, and romances that feature tattooed heroes (and in the case of Hot Ink, a tattooed heroine as well) and what people like about them -- what's so appealing about a heavily-tattooed hero like Eric, who's actually a tattoo artist?

Well, it looks hot, obviously. Most people who pick up a tattoo romance probably hold the opinion that a hot guy + hot tattoos = an even hotter guy. But I don't think that most readers choose such a book for the sole pleasure of imagining a sexy tattooed hero. I think certain things are assumed about the hero's character based off of his decision to be extensively tattooed.


And I'm talking about good things, because I don't think people who assume nasty things about people with tattoos generally read tattoo romances. I think one of the appealing assumptions readers may make about tattooed heroes is that since they decided to alter their own bodies, resulting in a less conventional appearance, they're more likely to be more open-minded and more accepting of less traditional lifestyles and forms of beauty. Which, basically, can translate into a less conventional romance. So, I think many readers expect something a little different when they pick up a tattoo romance.


In the case of Hot Ink, I definitely think it's an unusual romance. Mina's lifestyle is atypical because she's a young woman who's the sole guardian of her disabled teenage sister. Eric has had some experiences which allow him to relate somewhat and well...they both have some pretty incredible tattoos, of course.


What do you think -- what's the appeal of tattoo romances & tattooed heroes?

Six Sentence Sunday - Haunted Passions

If only Brom had strangled him, or hit him, or lashed out at him in some way after learning that he’d kissed Katrina. If Brom had been angry, perhaps they could have ended their relationship with a fight, and bitter feelings that would have effectively divided them. It would have been preferable to walk away from Brom with a bruises and broken bones than with the terrible longing that was always with John. It had been three days since he’d last touched Brom, and he felt every moment of deprivation deeply. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop craving Brom. The man was legally pledged to someone else, but John still felt a sense of longing, of possession, that knew no sense of right or wrong. 

A Glimpse at Yesterday's Photo Shoot - Meet the Model, Andrew!

Yesterday I directed a photo shoot featuring a male model for the purposes of getting images for future use in book cover and other designs. If you glanced at my facebook or twitter yesterday, you probably already know this, as well as the fact that the model and I converted my car into mobile armory / wardrobe to take to the shoot. Why so many props? We did multiple 'themes' that coordinate to different types of book heroes. Any designer knows how frustrating it can be trying to find images that fit the theme of a book. 


Anyway, meet Andrew, the model! Western / cowboy was just one of our themes, and it's the one I've chosen a teaser image from. Here he is:

Please excuse the big watermark. I wanted to share a glimpse at the shoot with you guys, but I also needed to protect the image.

If you'd like to connect with Andrew and / or see more of his work, I hear that he's working on a new facebook page. I'll share the info my own facebook page / twitter when I have more info. ;)

What do you think? Doesn't he look like he belongs in the wild west? He did a great job with the other themes, too.

Well, I'd better end this blog post here. I've had an epically busy week and there's some equally epic news I'm just itching to share with you all, but I've gotta hold out a bit longer. My apologies for the cryptic-ness -- all will be explained...eventually!

Six Sentence Sunday - True Alpha

God, at seven months pregnant, her every curve had swollen. Her body was a series of roller coaster-worthy swells that kept his cock standing at a constant state of attention. He’d liked watching her breasts grow over the months, so big that he couldn’t really cradle them in his palms anymore; whenever he tried they swelled over the tops of his fingers, ample and irresistibly creamy, topped by nipples he couldn’t so much as glance at without wanting to taste. And then there was her belly. Her narrow waist had grown round, but he liked that too. Every time he looked at her, it reminded him that she was his, that he’d done that to her, that her body was exuding sex because he’d planted his seed deep inside her, because she was his mate… 

Six Sentence Sunday - True Alpha

His breathing was clearly audible, each breath a note in a symphony of soft sounds. As she shifted her weight, opening her jaws and gripping his shoulder firmly between them, half-dried leaves crackled beneath her paws. His skin tasted sweet and faintly salty, thanks to a thin sheen of sweat. As her teeth just barely dented his skin, settling in the position his scar would hold forever, her heart beat a little faster. This was it – the only way in which she hadn’t expressed her love yet. When all was said and done, it would mean more than any ring.

Today is True Alpha Release Day! :)

It's finally here - True Alpha, Book 2 in the Half Moon Shifters Series. Here's all the info on where you can find the book, read free samples and participate in some exclusive themed giveaways. :)

 Mandy is having the alpha's baby ... if she can survive what's on the horizon for the Half Moon Pack.

 With a baby on the way, Mandy and Jack are prepared for their pack of two to expand – or so they think, until Jack’s only remaining relatives return unexpectedly from Alaska, bringing others with them. Suddenly, the alpha couple has a lot more to worry about than what color to paint the nursery. But inter-pack dramas, baby shower plans and even a wedding can’t compare to the mayhem that ensues when a stranger from Mandy’s past shows up at the cabin’s doorstep, hiding a secret that could destroy the Half Moon Pack forever.


Novel. (Approximately 80,000 words in length.)




Read a free excerpt here at my website, or sample the book free on your ereader via Amazon or Smashwords.


Subscribe to my monthly newsletter in order to participate in my exclusive celebratory giveaway for subscribers only. Wolf-themed prizes will be given out via a random drawing.

Get True Alpha at:

Amazon (US)

Amazon (UK)

All Romance

Smashwords

And last but not least, a teeny-tiny taste of True Alpha...

****

  She shifted, and a flurry of sensory data hit her as she assumed her wolf form. Everything – her sense of smell, hearing and sight – went into hyper-drive as her senses sharpened. Jack’s scent was more potent than ever, an inescapable haze of pine and woodsy, masculine musk. His breathing was clearly audible, each breath a note in a symphony of soft sounds. As she shifted her weight, opening her jaws and gripping his shoulder firmly between them, half-dried leaves crackled beneath her paws. His skin tasted sweet and faintly salty, thanks to a thin layer of sweat. As her teeth just barely dented his skin, settling in the position his scar would hold forever, her heart beat a little faster. This was it – the only way in which she hadn’t expressed her love yet. When all was said and done, it would mean more than any ring.

****

You can read more of the scene here at my website.

Six Sentence Sunday - Haunted Passions

As he tied his freshly combed hair back with his nicest ribbon, he fought to suppress the wave of nerves that assailed him at the thought of facing Brom and Katrina. How was it that he dreaded seeing his closest friends – his proven lover, and the woman who claimed to love him? The wedding had changed everything, though John hadn’t been able to comprehend the fact fully yet. When he saw them today, together after two nights as man and wife, surely the fact would settle in. That was what he feared – the sudden, crippling revelation that his relationships with both of them had been irrevocably altered.

Brom had claimed that wouldn’t be the case, that he and John would continue on as they had been for the past eight months, but deep down, John knew they couldn’t.