Jill Hughey http://www.jillhughey.com Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:16:35 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.32 Unraveling Secrets on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2014/03/unraveling-secrets-on-first-sight.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2014/03/unraveling-secrets-on-first-sight.html#comments Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2014/03/unraveling-secrets-on-first-sight-saturday.html
Each week I welcome a guest author to share a first meeting excerpt. I’m happy to have Lana Williams, a fellow Love Historical’s author, here this week with her paranormal historical romance. Take it away, Lana!
Hi Jill! Thank you so much for having me! 
You asked me to share something fun about me…I am hopelessly addicted to M&Ms! I don’t think a day passes when I don’t have them. My husband always teases me, asking me why I bother to work out if I’m going to eat candy, and I tell him that I work out so I CAN have candy! 
I’m excited to share the “First Meet” of the hero and heroine from my latest release, Unraveling Secrets, set in Victorian London. I must say, the first meet is a little unusual.  Take a look and see if you agree.
Here’s the blurb to set the stage:
When her father’s murderer returns from the dead to threaten her family, Abigail Bradford attempts to warn him off, but soon learns chasing a ghost is no easy task.
Stephen Nolton, Viscount Ashbury, stumbles upon Abigail in the dirty streets of London’s East End. Able to read auras of good and evil after an electromagnetic experiment went terribly wrong, Stephen hovers on society’s edge, keeping secret his unique skill and personal mission. Despite his fascination with the lady and her unique golden aura, he intends to keep his distance.
Desperate to protect her family, Abigail turns to the one man she believes can aid her. In Stephen’s arms, she finds so much more than she hoped. Stephen tries to resist his desire for the independent beauty, afraid she’ll unravel his secrets. But when he discovers the murderer is linked to his own past, he must decide how much he’s willing to risk for love.
And here’s the First Meet:
As Stephen Nolton, Viscount Ashbury neared the corner of an alley, a muffled curse sounded. The hair on the back of his neck rose. In recent years, he’d become adept at detecting trouble.
Angry voices grew distinguishable and Stephen eased forward, trying to catch the words and locate the speakers.
“Tell me what rock!”
Stephen frowned at the educated diction to the woman’s voice—something completely out of place amidst the hopeless poverty of this neighborhood. He looked around the corner of the building into the alley where three shadows came into view.
The shadows of three men.
He studied the area more closely, trying to ascertain what was happening. The smallest—a boy judging by his size—aimed a gun at a man with a knife. The third man, dressed as a servant, stood just to the side of the boy. He couldn’t see where the woman was, but it was the boy who caught his full attention.
Despite his obvious ill intent as he aimed the pistol, golden light hovered around his head and shoulders.
In Stephen’s experience, a light-colored aura meant a good, honorable person. Yet this aura, speared with deep blue and yellow, defied description and left him speechless. The vibrant yellow meant success and intelligence. The dark blue indicated spirituality.
He doubted he’d ever get used to his ability to see auras, and rarely did he see anything but gray and black. But in the ten years he’d had the damned skill, never had he seen anything like this one.
The nervous servant’s aura was gray and murky—the color he saw most often as people’s auras were a mixture of their thoughts. The man with the knife had the imprint of the street on him—a worn, dirty jacket, a few days worth of beard on his thin, pale face, soot smeared on his cheek. His aura was dark with flashes of black permeating it, proof of bad intentions for certain. Auras told Stephen only a small part of the story, giving him clues to follow. The rest he had to discern by listening and observing.
“Answer me,” the woman’s voice demanded.
Not a boy after all. Even as Stephen processed that fact, the man with the knife lunged forward.
“No!” The servant yelled as he rushed toward him, using his hand to block his advance.
“Thomas!” she cried out. The gun she held quivered, just like her voice, but she quickly steadied both. “Get back,” she ordered the knife holder.
Though she put on a brave front, she was clearly frightened and unwilling to fire her weapon. Stephen didn’t blame her. Killing a man was no easy feat, nor was it easy to live with.
He stepped into the alley. “What goes here?”
As he feared, the lady swung the pistol at him. He held up his hands to show her he had no weapon. He preferred to use his fists when the occasion called for force. “Aim that elsewhere,” he ordered.
“Who are you?” she asked as she moved the gun toward her intended victim. The bill of her cap cast a shadow over her eyes, but the delicate line of her jaw was visible. An overly large jacket covered her frame. Her disguise was quite effective and hid the majority of her femininity. Despite yielding the weapon, her aura remained bright and colorful. She held steady, obviously not allowing her fear to overwhelm her.
What on earth was she doing here?
“I was passing by and thought you might require assistance,” he answered at last, then tore his gaze from the woman to glance at the man with the knife.
Her intended victim remained in place, trying to decide if he should fight or flee, the lady’s wobbling gun seeming to add to his uncertainty. Stephen’s presence helped block his escape route.
“You’ve interrupted a discussion of a personal nature,” she informed Stephen. “Please continue on your way.”
“Miss?” The servant held out his hand. Blood dripped from a deep cut across his palm.
She gasped, her gun trembling when she saw the blood. “Thomas, are you all right?”
“We’d best hurry this discussion along.” The servant withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket to wrap around his hand.
“Answer me, damn you!” Clearly angry, she steadied the pistol once again at her target.
Stephen lowered his hands and eased closer, watching the cornered man’s aura to see what he would do next. The thoughts and urges people had, even if only temporary, shot out spears of color. The man’s aura remained black as coal, his gaze fixed on the pistol. Not a good sign.
“Leave off,” the man snarled at her. The knife he held glimmered in the faint light.
Though Stephen couldn’t deduce what had brought the lady to this alley with a gun, her aura put him squarely on her side. She might have the more effective weapon, but her inexperience created a huge disadvantage. Stephen doubted she’d be able to pull the trigger, not with her aura.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man lunge toward her.
“Christ.” Stephen rushed forward to block him.
A shot echoed in the alley, disturbing the quiet of the night.
Stephen jerked, his arm no longer his own. Blinding pain speared through him, stealing his breath.
“Damn me! I’ve had enough.” The intended victim plowed past Stephen, knocking down the footman as he flew into the street.
“Oh!” The woman cried as her pistol clattered to the cobblestones. “Sir, are you all right?”
Stephen dropped to his knees, shocked at the depth of the pain in his body. He’d known this night would come but hadn’t expected it quite so soon.
END OF EXCERPT 
Thanks again for having me, Jill!
Unraveling Secrets is available at:
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1cyNx9I 
Find more about Lana and her other books at:

Lana and I both welcome questions and comments, and I hope you will come back each week for a fresh excerpt from a visiting author.
]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2014/03/unraveling-secrets-on-first-sight.html/feed 12 Holidays Bite on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/12/holidays-bite-on-first-sight-saturday.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/12/holidays-bite-on-first-sight-saturday.html#comments Sat, 28 Dec 2013 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/12/holidays-bite-on-first-sight-saturday.html Every Saturday I welcome an author to share a first meeting excerpt. This week J. Rose Allister is sharing her paranormal Holiday Bites. After all, what goes together more naturally than vampires and Christmas?

J. Rose is well qualified to write a holiday story, since she got so excited about Christmas this year that she started sitting her decorations out right beside her Halloween ones. She couldn’t wait!

SETUP OF SCENE: When an annual holiday tradition turns into a near-fatal accident, Stephanie regains consciousness to find herself alone in a cabin with her rescuer–a man who is gorgeous, dangerously sexy…and undead. Despite the winter storm and her injuries, she knows she should run. So why does she keep winding up in the powerful, seductive embrace of the vampire who has exiled himself to avoid the worst time of year for temptation?

EXCERPT:

Sharp popping and crackling drew Stephanie’s awareness back, and she frowned at the annoying, insistent sound.
“Marcie,” she said with mumbled aggravation. “Quit snapping your gum.”
“You’re awake.”
The voice held a tinge of surprise and did not belong to her sister. On the contrary, it sounded quite male.
She pried an eyelid open, regretting the action when a lance of pain stabbed through her temple. She groaned and tried again, slower this time. Through gritty eyes and the haze of a monster headache, she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.
Her voice sounded hoarse when she forced words from a raw throat. “Where am I?”
“A cabin near Yeltin creek,” the man’s voice said again. “My cabin.”
He stood across the moderate-sized room, tall but shadowed by the edges of firelight from a nearby hearth where wood hissed and popped. That explained the annoying gum-snapping noise.
“How did I get here?”
The shadowy figure shifted. “I pulled you out of the creek. Don’t you remember?”
The creek. There was something familiar about that. How did she get in the creek? Her memory was muddled, her head spinning.
“No.” She frowned and thought harder. “I remember being on Stanton Peak, though.”
“Not very fitting weather for a swim.”
She glanced down at the hearth to see clothing laid out by the fire. Her eyes flew wide when she noted her parka, pants, and sweater were among them. She took further inventory and discovered she was lying on a couch, heaped with what looked like a pile of Grandma’s oldest quilts. With an uneasy feeling, she peeked beneath them and gasped.
“You took my clothes off?”
“I couldn’t leave you in them. They were soaking wet and you were freezing to death.”
Another look at the floor showed a man’s jeans and sweater lying alongside hers. She didn’t try to keep the suspicion from her voice. “So you figured you may as well take your clothes off, too?”
“I went into the water after you and wound up a bit damp myself.”
“Oh.” Still, her pulse fluttered. “God, you saw me naked.”
He moved toward her, and her breath caught when he stepped out of the shadows. Her rescuer was achingly handsome, with silvery blue eyes and broad, powerful shoulders. What woman wouldn’t want to be saved by this god?
“I tried not to look,” he said. “I didn’t pull you from the water because I wanted a date, you know. I was trying to save you from drowning.”
An image of this hunk carrying her in his arms and stripping her naked sent a shiver through her. “Who are you?”
“My name is Thomas. And yours? You know who you are, I hope.”
She huffed. “Of course I know that.” She hadn’t meant to sound harsh and softened her tone. “I’m Stephanie Mars. And thank you so much. For saving me.”
She pushed herself straighter, every muscle groaning with the effort. A pain shot through the side of her head once she managed to sit up.
“Oh, man. Ow.”
The man appeared at her side, kneeling on the floor in front of the worn, but comfortable couch. She held back a gasp of surprise at his quick movement, as well as the discovery that he was even sexier up close. His hair fell in streaked caramel waves to brush below his shoulders, and his brown knit pullover fit tight enough to define admirable muscles.
“You hit your head,” he said. “There’s a nasty bump on this side.”
Her hand brushed his when they both reached for the spot, and though his hand was chilled, she felt a warm tingle shoot through her. She pulled the quilts higher, and after what seemed an endless moment with their eyes locked he cleared his throat and dropped his hand.
Hers went up to feel a tender lump on the right side of her head. She winced, and when she withdrew her hand it was speckled with dark red.
Thomas went rigid for a moment. Then he all but launched himself away from her to stand back near the fireplace.
She arched a brow. “You’re squeamish about blood?”
He faced away from her, leaning against the mantel. “You could say that.”

END OF EXCERPT:

You can find Holiday Bites at http://bookstrand.com/holidays-bite

To find J. Rose Allister and monitor her holiday obsessions, you can find her at these links:
Blog/Website: http://jroseallister.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jroseallister
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jroseallisterbooks

J. Rose and I welcome any questions or comments and hope you will stop by next Saturday for another first meeting excerpt.

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/12/holidays-bite-on-first-sight-saturday.html/feed 6 The Demon Mistress on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/11/the-demon-mistress-on-first-sight.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/11/the-demon-mistress-on-first-sight.html#comments Sat, 30 Nov 2013 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/11/the-demon-mistress-on-first-sight-saturday.html Each Saturday I welcome a guest author to share a first meeting excerpt. This week I am happy to have Jordan K. Rose with her paranormal romance The Demon Mistress. Jordan’s fun fact is that every hero she’s ever written has at least one trait she’s taken from her husband. I like that!

This excerpt isn’t exactly a first meeting, but it is the first time we readers are lucky enough to meet Chryssie and Stefan.

EXCERPT

~Eva Prim Writes~
A Blog of Vampire Thoughts.
October 24th
Friendship­
I consider you all my friends, well, not all of you. Not you, Studmufflicker69. You are definitely not my friend. In fact, you’re banned from this blog. Do not ever comment again. Yesterday’s comment about bondage was completely inappropriate. No one wants to hear about your deviant sex life.
Everyone else, you are all my friends. I don’t know where you are or what you look like, but over the past three weeks I feel like we’ve come to know each other. And I like you. Especially you, PenPro58. You’ve been very kind and have truly made my blogging experience a pleasure. Without friends, life can be so lonely. You’ve all made me feel loved.
Good friends are so hard to find. Thank you all.
“Chryssie?”
Ooh! Time to go. I await your comments. Eva.
“Chryssie, darling, what are you doing?”
I close my laptop and shove it into the drawer just as the door opens and Stefan steps in, looking utterly dashing.
“Blogging.” I pause to enjoy the sight of him as he walks toward me. The muscles in broad shoulders fill out his suit jacket quite nicely. “Why are you dressed like that?” I drag his desktop back into place, returning the keyboard to its rightful spot.
He pulls me up from the chair and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll never understand what you find so entertaining about those foolish conversations.”
“It’s just fun to talk with people who…” I glance toward the computer.
“They don’t know who you are. They’re not your real friends, my flower.” His fingers skim along my chin.
“I know. But I like them anyway.” I sit on the desk as he takes the seat I just vacated. “What’s with the suit?”
“You don’t like it? I thought for sure you’d like this suit,” he answers, clicking away at the keyboard.
“It’s nice.” It’s very nice. Navy blue, cashmere blend with a crisp white shirt accented by gold cuff links and a periwinkle blue silk tie. The ensemble plays up his deep ebony eyes. His long black hair is tied back at the nape of his neck, and his face is shaved, baby-smooth, revealing the cleft centered in his perfectly chiseled chin.
“It’s unusual for you to dress so formally when you’re simply going to the office.” I run my hand down his ponytail allowing the thick hair to slide through my fingers, fanning his cologne into the air. 
He smells heavenly. Eternity cologne, my favorite, blends with his scent, a manly, woodsy, sort of campfire-ish aroma with a sweet tang. It makes my mouth water.
“I have a meeting that requires more formal attire.”
The V Mail System opens on the screen. The nightly news flash features a very angry looking Cletus Shiftbottom snarling as he’s dragged away in chains.
“They finally caught him. I knew it wouldn’t take long,” I say.
“That is a picture from three days ago. He’s escaped again,” Stefan comments as he navigates to his personal vmail.
“They should have known he’d escape. Why didn’t they just kill him when they caught him?”
As he stares at the picture on the screen his left nostril twitches, and I know he’s thinking about his honor. “I will deal with Cletus myself.”
I purse my lips. A good master is honor-bound, which is just a nice way of saying, you made it, you deal with it. I’ve seen Stefan deal with the whole honor-bound issue a lot. It’s never pretty.
“Well, let me know if you want some help. I’ll be happy to stake him myself after what he’s done. You know he’s making you look like an idiot, right? Everyone is talking about how he’s gone bonkers, terrorizing other vampires, scaring humans, even giving shit to the wolves.” A chip in the nail polish on my pinky finger stands out in stark contrast to sparkly dark pink paint. “Damn it. I just painted these.”
“I am well aware of what’s being discussed and why, darling. I do not need you to remind me.” His tone is less than grateful.
“You don’t have to get snippy.”
“Cletus overpowered the four guards assigned him. He’s much more powerful than anyone realized.” He opens a message titled Blue Moon.
“Like I said, let me know if I can—”
“No. You can’t help.” He clicks on the attachment in the email, and the financials for one of his subsidiary companies opens. As he stares at the information in front of him his cheek pulses.
My shoulders sag. “It’s always the same answer.” I glance at the screen. “Is there supposed to be so much red?”
He inhales sharply as he clicks the keys on his computer. “No.” The pages scroll down moving like a slot machine reel. He nods and closes the application.  
“I will be very late tonight, possibly not returning until just about dawn.” He stands and kisses my forehead. “I would appreciate you staying home.”
“That’s fine. I have some…” I smile. “Some reading to catch up on.”
His gaze wanders over me, a heated brush of his presence.
I feel my cheeks flush.
His left eyebrow rises. “What are you reading?”
I squeeze his hands and avoid his eyes. “Oh, a little something.”
I turn away to lead him toward the door.
“Chryssie, what book?” He’s right behind me, close enough that it’s not his presence I feel, but his body molded to mine. His arms clamp around my waist and he pulls me back against him. “What book?”
“Nothing to worry about.” I try to wiggle loose, but he only holds me tighter.
“You haven’t been down in my personal library again, have you?” He breathes the words against my hair, and my legs go all rubbery.
I giggle, sliding my hand between his lips and my ear. “Stop that. You told me not to read any of those books, so I’m not.”

END OF EXCERPT

You can find The Demon Mistress on Amazon at  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK90QE6 

Find Jordan on her website at www.jordankrose.com. 
Follow her tweets on https://twitter.com/#!/jordankrose 
Follow her Pinterest boards at: http://pinterest.com/jordankrose/boards/
Join Eva Prim’s Snack of the Week Club at http://bit.ly/1ajL4jT


Jordan and I both welcome any questions or comments! Come back every Saturday for a fresh new excerpt from a visiting author.

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/11/the-demon-mistress-on-first-sight.html/feed 2 Troy’s Fox on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/10/troys-fox-on-first-sight-saturday.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/10/troys-fox-on-first-sight-saturday.html#comments Sat, 26 Oct 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/10/troys-fox-on-first-sight-saturday.html I spent last Saturday with the lively Jane Wakely at a local Celebrate The Book event, and today she is visiting on First Sight Saturday with her new release, Troy’s Fox, a paranormal/shifter romance. We’ve all had one of those awkward first meetings but I’m glad I’ve never had anything quite this embarrassing happen to me in front of a guy.

Set-up:
Even though she’s a waitress, quiet and shy Autumn tries her best to stay out of everyone’s way. After an embarrassing incident at one of her tables, she runs in the kitchen to hide. When she returns to the dining room, she sees Troy for the first time!
Excerpt:
Determined to stop hiding like a baby, Autumn dried her eyes and walked back into the dining room. Though it seemed like she’d been gone forever, only a few minutes passed and a quick glance at her tables let her know everyone was fine.
There was a man seated at the counter reading a newspaper and she walked over to see if he needed help.
“Hi, what can I get you?”
Brown eyes she’d never seen before met hers and he smiled wide. The man sat up straight from his slouched position over the paper and Autumn noticed his size almost matched the mammoth, but not quite. His wide chest and shoulders were muscular without being too bulky and she could see the definition in his arms through his snug t-shirt.
His hair was the same distinct red as hers, but it was cut short on the sides and the longer top looked windblown. For some reason, he didn’t make her nervous like other men did, and she didn’t look away or hide from his intense stare.
“Hello, Vixen.”
His voice met her ears and seemed to race straight to her core. Goosebumps covered her arms and her cheeks heated at the thoughts racing through her mind. She’d been on her own for four years and she stopped thinking about boys long before that.
Love wasn’t real and lust wasn’t worth it.
Her thoughts made her anxious and Autumn backed away from the counter and collided with the new girl holding a bucket of dirty dishes. The fall to the floor didn’t hurt, but she was covered in leftover food waste and drinks along with dirty napkins and silverware from the bused tables. She could feel the redhead’s eyes on her, but she didn’t dare look at him. The thought of seeing him laugh at her like everyone else made her queasy.
Autumn kept her gaze on the floor and carefully got to her knees and stood.
Find TROY’S FOX:
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1fFa9vn  
All Romance Ebooks: http://bit.ly/1hYOCe3  
About Jane:
Jane has been creating stories of love and romance for as long as she can remember. She’s a sucker for a happy ending and thinks the best thing about any movie or book is when the characters find someone to love.
Jane’s stories reflect her interest in all romance genres, and all levels of spice, but paranormal romance is her true passion. She loves creating worlds around sexy shifters and vamps—even if the shifter is a smelly skunk!
Jane writes sensual romance that will warm your heart, and a happy ever after is guaranteed!
Find Jane:
 Jane and I welcome any comments or questions, and I hope you will stop by every Saturday for a fresh new first meeting excerpt!

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/10/troys-fox-on-first-sight-saturday.html/feed 5 Sloane Wolf on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/08/sloane-wolf-on-first-sight-saturday.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/08/sloane-wolf-on-first-sight-saturday.html#comments Sat, 24 Aug 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/08/sloane-wolf-on-first-sight-saturday.html This week my guest to share a first meeting excerpt is Margay Leah Justice sharing her paranormal romance Sloane Wolf.
SETUP OF SCENE:

Shiloh Beck grew up in a facility for gifted people only known as the Institute; she hasn’t been beyond its walls for several years and so is rather socially awkward. Then one day, out of the blue, her mentor, Jon Haines, takes her out in the middle of the night to go perform a task with him. That task brings her to Destiny Falls and her first order of business is to go into a little country store to get supplies for a hiking trip and attain a guide for the trip. Micah Sloane and his brother Cam were out in the yard when she arrived and slip in the back door of the store to spy on her, where they are joined by their younger brother, Grayson. Of course, when she mentions her need of a guide, they step up to the plate.

EXCERPT:

           “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
            Shiloh fidgeted with a miniature dream catcher on a rack beside the register. Here it was; the reason for her coming in here – the real reason. She had to find the right words; she couldn’t screw this up. Jon would be so mad if she messed this up. What did he tell her? What was she supposed to say?
            “Uh, yeah,” she hedged as her mind went blank. Time to improvise. “My friendand I – we were interested in hiking out here, but we, uh…”
            “Need a guide” Raven provided.
            “Yeah.” Shiloh smiled in relief when Raven found the words she couldn’t. What was wrong with her? It was hiking – he’d promised. So why did it feel like she was doing something wrong? Shut it off, Shiloh, she cautioned herself as her special senses kicked in. Just shut it down now. “Do you have any? Guides, I mean.”
            “Can I take her?” Ava asked, bouncing in place at the prospect.
            “No!” four voices answered at once as three men emerged from an aisle to Shiloh’s left, their voices blending in protest with Raven‘s.
            All coherent thoughts fled Shiloh’s mind when she glanced in the direction of the other voices – and her gaze collided with that of a man who was the perfect male counterpart to Raven. The main difference between them was his extra height – he had at least a foot on her – and the raw masculinity that rippled off him like a heat wave.            
            Did any man have the right to be so attractive? And why did he look at her like she was the main course at a gourmet restaurant – and he hadn’t eaten in days? The thought set her back a pace, literally. She bumped into a wooden barrel filled with super balls. As she reached out to grasp it, whether to balance it or herself she wasn’t certain, her gaze followed her action, snapping the strange link between them. Well, maybe not snapping, she mentally rectified. She continued to feel his magnetic pull, this time through her heart. So more like an interruption. Who was he? And why did he have this effect on her?
            Was it exclusive to her or did he have this effect on the others? A glance at their faces provided the answer. They were all staring at her. All of them. Each with varying degrees of expectancy on their faces. But of what?
            Good lord, what had she walked into?
            She returned her gaze to him, even as she tried to mentally shake away her awareness of him. And failed. It was a living thing, writhing in an exotic dance between them, twisting about their bodies to link them with an invisible cord. It even had a heartbeat – or was it hers, its rhythm heightened by her elevated awareness?
            Oh, lord, she felt sick. She clutched her stomach as if to press the sensation back into the deepest pits of her stomach. Not now, she thought, this can’t happen now. This is the worst time ever for those senses to kick in. The absolute worst time. She didn’t want to feel – his awareness. No. She wouldn’t. Period. Oh, no…
            “Well, speak of the devil!” Raven said. A little too brightly, Shiloh thought, as if attempting to ease some tension. “These are my brothers. Micah in front, Cam to the right, and Grayson on the left, but everyone calls him Gray. Nobody knows the terrain around here like they do. You couldn’t ask for a better set of guides.”
            Focusing her gaze on Raven – get it together, Shy, she cautioned herself – Shiloh asked, “Will I need all three?” Damn, was that wispy voice hers? Might as well shout to the world, I’m in lust with you!
            She flinched, startled, when he answered the question before his sister could. “We travel in packs here,” he said in a voice as musical as his sister’s. But where hers was akin to a low soprano, his was more like a baritone. Deep, but not overly so – enough to beat an answering rhythm in her soul like a drum. “It’s always better to travel in numbers out there. If anything happens, there’s more of us to help.”
            “Oh.” She nodded her acquiescence. How could she argue, after all? She’d never gone hiking, so she didn’t know the rules. In fact, she still didn’t know what she was doing out here. She came because Jon insisted. He had yet to tell her why. She pushed away the sour sensation the thought boiled in her stomach. Jon had been acting real strange for the past four months. This was one more example of his erratic behavior. Leaving in the middle of the night, not telling anyone where they were going, not allowing her to call anyone once they were out on the road. Yeah, real strange.
            “Okay with you?” he – Micah – asked, piercing her with a look that reached too deep into her soul.
            No, not again. I won’t allow you to invade my senses that way. Shiloh let her eyes flutter shut for a moment. Just take a deep breath and relax. There, that’s it. Composed, she opened her eyes and forced a smile onto uncooperative lips. “Ah, yeah. Sure. That makes sense.”
            “Not much of a hiker, are you?” Raven asked in a sympathetic tone, drawing Shiloh’s attention away from her brother.
            “First time, actually.”
Reaching across the counter to give Shiloh’s hand a pat, Raven said, “Well, don’t you worry. My brothers’ll take good care of you. If they don’t, they’ll have to deal with me, and nobody wants that.”
            With her first genuine smile since he entered the room, Shiloh murmured, “Thank you, for everything.”
            “Not a problem. I packed everything for you in the backpack as I rang it up, so you don’t have to worry about it.” Even as she spoke, Raven lifted the camping backpack over the counter, surprise flickering over her face when Micah took it from her before Shiloh could. She recovered quickly, saying, “Okay, have fun. And if you don’t, you come back and tell me and I’ll take care of these bozos for you.”
            Before Shiloh could do much more than smile, Micah held his hand out to her. To shake. Good Lord, did she have to touch him? You can do this, Shiloh. She surreptitiously wiped her hand on her shirt before offering it to him. She had to rethink that assertion when the touch of his palm against hers near brought her to her knees. And although she recovered quickly, her folly didn’t escape his notice; it was there, in the flicker of somethingin his eyes and in the extra pressure he applied to her hand despite the little blue spark that flared between them when their skin first touched. He knows.
            “My sister didn’t finish the introductions,” Micah said, still clasping her hand. “You are?”
            “Shiloh. Beck.”
            With an odd half-smile – what was he thinking, she wondered – he released her hand after giving it a quick squeeze. “Well, then, Shiloh Beck. Shall we go?” Gesturing toward the parking lot, he said, “Your friend looks a little anxious.”
END OF EXCERPT

Buy Links:

MuseItUpPublishing: http://goo.gl/CaHXy
Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/6o3KR
Links:

Thank you so much for visiting today!

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/08/sloane-wolf-on-first-sight-saturday.html/feed 2 Demon King’s Desire on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/07/demon-kings-desire-on-first-sight.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/07/demon-kings-desire-on-first-sight.html#comments Sat, 27 Jul 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/07/demon-kings-desire-on-first-sight-saturday.html Every week on First Sight Saturday I welcome a guest to share an excerpt of a first meeting. This week we will be entertained by author J.L. Sheppard’s paranormal romance Demon King’s Desire.

EXCERPT

     Jenna awoke around seven o’clock Saturday morning with an awful headache. She didn’t want to open her eyes; she was still so tired, and her body and neck were sore. Had she had too much to drink the night before? She remembered going out with Clyde, but she’d only had one drink before leaving. She was walking in the alley when…“Oh God!” she shouted as she sprang from the bed, wrapping her fingers around her neck.
     Jenna realized she didn’t know where she was or how she had gotten here. The room she was in was way bigger than her entire apartment. And then there was him.
     A man was towering over her with a sword in his hand, ready to strike. He had to be six and a half feet tall, with military-style crew-cut light brown hair. He was built like a Marine or a Navy Seal. No, he was way bigger, with thick muscles clearly visible through his black shirt. His eyes were a lovely shade of hazel, and he had the most handsome face she’d ever seen, with high cheekbones and a pronounced nose. She could tell he’d probably had as bad a night as she. His fierce expression was riddled with worry, and he looked like he hadn’t shaved for at least a couple of days. Where was she? And how did she end up anywhere near this man?
     His face softened; he almost looked sad. “I’m sorry,” he said in a somber tone as he put down the sword. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
     She couldn’t find words to say, so she continued to stare at him.
     “I’m Lucas,” he said. “I mean you no harm. Do you remember anything about last night?”
     “Yes,” she said, finally finding her voice. “I was attacked by something.” She did remember. She remembered it too well. Something had attacked her and then bitten her, draining her blood. A vampire?
     “You were. I found you and brought you here. I had a doctor check you. He should be arriving shortly to check on you again.”
     Jenna looked down, scanning herself and noticed an IV in her arm and a bandage around her neck.
     Just then another man appeared in the doorway. He was a bit shorter than Lucas, but still bigger than the average guy she saw on a daily basis. His golden hair was cut short like      Lucas’ and his blue eyes twinkled with humor. He was handsome, but not nearly as mouthwatering as Lucas. Who are these insanely attractive, tall men? she thought.
     “Ahhh…the lady awakes,” he said as he bowed. “I’m Cain, and I’m guessing you’ve already met Lucas.”
     “Yes,” she whispered.
     “You must be hungry. I could cook you something.”
     Jenna wasn’t sure what to say. She was still trying to figure out what had happened last night and how she’d ended up here. Not to mention she was completely distracted by the towering male standing to her right.
     “No worries. I’ll make you something. At your service,” Cain bowed once again and left the room.
     She focused on Lucas. “Thank you for saving me, but really, there’s no need to go out of your way with breakfast. I don’t want to be a bother. I should get going.”
     As Lucas gazed at her and smiled, her heart thumped louder and beat faster, and she held her breath wondering how she’d lived without ever seeing a smile as gorgeous as his.
     “There’s no need to thank me, and there’s no need for you to rush out. You lost some blood; you need to eat something to regain your strength. The doctor needs to check on you again anyway.”
     She nodded as she looked away from him. She needed some lingering questions answered and staring at his gorgeous face would only distract her. “So did you see the man who attacked me?”
     “I did, but you shouldn’t worry. I took care of him.”
     He took care of him? What does that mean? she thought. His intense gaze centered on her, temporarily unnerving her. “You mean…”
     “I mean you won’t ever have to worry about him. He can’t hurt you any more.”
     “Oh.” Jenna released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. His vague answer did little to answer her real question.
     “I didn’t catch your name,” he said.
     “Oh, sorry. My name is Jenna Jenson.”
     “Jenna,” he repeated. He smiled again and she felt her heart skip a beat. “How do you feel?”
     “Like I was in a fight and I lost.”
     He smiled again seemingly enjoying her sense of humor. “You should feel better in a day or two,” he said, scanning her face for emotion.
     “Try an eternity—I don’t think I’ll ever get over that.”
     “You will; you are very strong. I don’t know many who could survive such a brutal attack.”

END OF EXCERPT

You can find Demon King’s Desire at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
To follow J.L. Sheppard, visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JLSheppardAuthor or follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JL_Sheppard.
Thanks so much for visiting today!

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/07/demon-kings-desire-on-first-sight.html/feed 1 Awakening the Fire on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/06/awakening-fire-on-first-sight-saturday.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/06/awakening-fire-on-first-sight-saturday.html#comments Sat, 22 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/06/awakening-the-fire-on-first-sight-saturday.html Each week on First Sight Saturday I welcome an author to share an excerpt of a first meeting. Today Ally Shields will share her urban fantasy/romantic paranormal Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch Book One).
Here is Ally’s setup of her scene: Twenty-three year old Ari Calin is a fire witch and a Guardian, a supernatural cop. She has just used her witch fire to save a human teen couple from a werewolf attack in a wooded park late one evening.

EXCERPT

     Ari retrieved her knife from the forest floor. The woods were quiet again. An ominous prickle persisted at the back of her neck, keeping her rooted to the clearing. She scanned the trees, opening her mind to the smells and energy in the wind.
     A sharp round of applause shattered the silence.
     A shadowy figure stepped from the shelter of the trees. The stranger stopped, silhouetted against the light of the moon. “Very nice, if a little overdone. I do not think he will return soon.”
     A rich, masculine voice, softly accented, rolled over her. Ari’s pulse leaped. Her witch blood surged in response to the unmistakable vampiric energy, and she snapped into defensive mode.
     The vampire stayed in the moonlight. An easy target for witch fire, Ari thought. Maybe he wasn’t hostile. More likely, he didn’t think she was any kind of threat. Either way, her advantage. She’d been underestimated before.
     “You need not be concerned,” he said. “I intend no mischief.”
     The distinctive cadence of Italy in his words trailed a feathery caress along her skin. The sound wrapped itself around her in lazy curls. A quiver swept up her arms, and she shivered. Ari quickly blocked the intrusion. She needed to keep her wits about her.
     “No magical probing,” she snapped. “Your tricks don’t work on me. I’m stronger than that.” Yet even as she spoke, she felt the pull, smooth as silk and slightly wicked. Her blood hummed in response, as if her magic recognized his.
     And liked it.
     He chuckled. Audacious. Bold. Sexy? Ugh, contrary to popular fiction, seduction wasn’t something Ari associated with vampires. Federal civil rights laws, new treaties, and citizen status didn’t make them any less dangerous. They were predators—useful in the military, but not exactly her idea of boyfriend material.
     “I heard there was a new guardian, but not that she was a fire witch.” The vampire moved closer, his feet skimming soundlessly over the layers of fallen leaves and pine needles. When he came to a halt, the moonlight illuminated his face, revealing dark eyes and strong, lean features. A lock of black hair had fallen across his forehead. He was dressed casually in black jeans and a crew neck T-shirt. “Our meeting is fortunate. Always good to know the local authorities.” He cocked his head. “You are not what I expected.”
     Not again. Ari was sick of comparisons to her mentor. “Sorry to disappoint. Who are you? What do you want?”
      “Did I say I was disappointed? On the contrary.” His gaze swept the length of her. “You are much younger, prettier, than your predecessor. But then Yana served a hundred years or more. Disappointed? Not in the least. I find you and your talents…most interesting.”
     “Is that meant to be a compliment? Never mind. I don’t care.” Ari raised her chin and looked him straight in the eyes. “If you think I’m a pushover because I’m young, you can think again. I’m good at what I do. I’ve trained my entire life.”
     His eyes narrowed at her bold stare. She thought she’d made her point, until he laughed. Ari bit her lower lip. Had she been too quick on the uptake? Again. Or was she reacting to vampiric magic? She nudged up the strength of her magical defenses.
     “Your entire life,” he murmured. “As long as that. Impressive.”
   Ari snorted but didn’t take the bait this time. She waited to see what he’d do next. Unfortunately, he had the same idea, and they stood staring at each other.
     The vampire acted unbothered by the silence. He stood at ease, his body relaxed but waiting. The breeze ruffled the unruly, black hair that curled over his ears. He looked thirty or less in human years. Yet, despite his present efforts to hide it, she felt an underlying hint of power that said he was older. Much older. Awareness of him filled all the available space.
     Whoever he was—she hadn’t forgotten he didn’t answer the question—his continued watchfulness made Ari uneasy. She moved her hand closer to her dagger. Although blood hunting was strictly forbidden, with a penalty of immediate execution, she didn’t trust any vampire to play by the rules.
     His lips curved under her scrutiny, a hint of amusement reaching his dark eyes. Humor? That surprised her. As their humanity fell away, vampires usually took on a distinctive look: cold, predatory, reptilian. Except for the newborns, and this guy didn’t feel that newly minted.
     In a rare flash of vanity, she wondered what he thought of her. The long, dark blonde hair wasn’t very witchy. And her five-five frame was more boyish than curvy. But the long-lashed green eyes? All witch, and her best asset. Great-Gran’s eyes. Her mother’s eyes. Ari jerked herself back from this weird train of thought. What was the matter with her? This wasn’t a hot-looking date.
     Whatever was going on behind the vampire’s hooded eyes, he kept it to himself. He made no overt aggressive moves, simply stood there. Wasn’t that typical predator behavior? Lure the unwary into a sense of safety? Well, he could forget it. Wrong prey, bloodsucker.
     She took the initiative. “I know what you are, but I’ll ask again, who are you? What are you doing here?”
      He moved then, gliding forward. She was startled when he bowed with all the grace of an old world aristocrat. It didn’t quite fit the jeans and T-shirt. “Andreas De Luca, at your service, madam witch. And you are…?”
     “Arianna Calin. Guardian for Olde Town.” She hesitated, then stuck out her hand. She really didn’t want him touching her, but getting along with both the human and magic communities was part of the job.
     He accepted the gesture, grasping her hand in long, cool fingers. Ari felt a spark of energy, but its relative neutrality told her how good he was at controlling his magic.
     “Arianna.” With his eyes never leaving her face, he repeated the word, his voice rolling it around. “Not exactly a Romani name.”
   “No, should it be?” Her gut clenched at his unexpected remark. How much did this vampire know about the Calin family of witches? About her?
     As if she’d spoken aloud, he said, “Your great-grandmother was the witch Talaitha. The last great fire witch in this region.” His smile said he knew he’d surprised her. “Talaitha is a Romani name.”
     How did he know that? What right did he have to use her name so freely? 
     Andreas De Luca examined the hand he continued to hold. His fingers were inches away from Ari’s silver bracelet. Although he didn’t make direct contact with the trinket, he didn’t act bothered by the sight or presence of the charms, most of which were considered dangerous or at least harmful to vampires. The miniature silver cross, the vial of holy water, the protection stones. Ari lifted a brow.  
    “These slim fingers have inherited Talaitha’s gift for fire,” he said, using her great-grandmother’s name again, as if he knew it bothered her. “A rare and coveted talent.” His smile broadened, bringing charm to his attractive face, and he lifted Ari’s fingers to his lips in a brief kiss. Before she had a chance to react to this unexpected gallantry, he turned her hand over and nipped the palm with wickedly sharp teeth.
     “Ouch!” She snatched it back, leaped away, and glared at him. Her witch senses flared with a rush of hot energy that ran to her fingertips. Ari clenched them into fists.
      His rich laughter rang out. The real thing, no magic this time. Grinning, he threw up his hands as if to ward off retaliation.  
  “It’s not funny,” she snapped, getting herself under control. Unclenching her fingers, she stared at the small drop of blood that welled from the broken skin. Her brain warred between anger and a strong desire to get the hell out of there.
END OF EXCERPT
Find Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch Book One) at these trusted vendors.
Amazon worldwide: viewBook.at/B0099ZDHO8

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/RPrJ45

If you’d like to follow Ally Shields, here are a few places to find her!

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/allyshields

Witch meets vampire! Fire and fangs are flying. Thank you, Ally, for visiting with us today!

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/06/awakening-fire-on-first-sight-saturday.html/feed 1 Christina’s Bear on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/christinas-bear-on-first-sight-saturday.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/christinas-bear-on-first-sight-saturday.html#comments Sat, 25 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/christinas-bear-on-first-sight-saturday.html Every week on First Sight Saturday I feature an excerpt of a first meeting between two important characters.

This week I welcome an author I’ve met in person. We are on an author loop together and, while discussing local book events, figured out we live maybe 15 miles apart. Awesome!

Anyway, Jane Wakely shares with us today an excerpt from Christina’s Bear, her paranormal shifter romance.

Excerpt:
“Who’s Derek?” 
Christina jumped and opened her mouth to scream when a strong hand carefully closed around her wrist, effectively stopping her from shaking and splattering anymore scalding liquid out of the lid.
For some reason, the mammoth hand brought the image of a giant animal paw to her mind. His skin was golden brown, as if permanently kissed by the sun. The only people in the Pacific Northwest with that color skin tone regularly visited tanning salons. She knew he hadn’t.
Wanting to see his face, her eyes moved up and up and up. She was six feet tall, but he was taller. Much taller. If she had to guess, she’d say he was about seven inches taller. She quickly glanced at his feet before meeting his eyes and she saw his mouth turn up in a smile on one side. This man was humongous—and it seemed he was that way everywhere. Christina actually felt petite. She’d never felt that way in her entire life.
Deep chocolate, almost black, warm eyes stared back at her. His black hair was cut short on the sides and it spiked out on top with the help of a styling product.
He was absolute perfection and Christina had to consciously close her mouth and swallow to sooth her parched throat. His hand still held her wrist and she was sure he could feel her rapidly beating heart.
“Who’s Derek?” He asked again, and though she didn’t know him, she opened her mouth to answer.


Blurb:
Christina Mills’ loud, bubbly personality gains her numerous friends and dating opportunities. Unfortunately, being labeled a “party girl” and dating a lot can give people the wrong impression. When Christina’s dates learn the truth about her, they soon move on. 

James “Bull” Johnson is a restless bear shifter ready to settle down. At the urging of his friend, he relocates to the mid-sized town of Chestnut Rock. Bull hopes the nearby forest and being near his best friend will help soothe his bear and cure some of his loneliness. 

When Bull and Christina meet, he recognizes her as his mate. However, their first two encounters leave Bull thinking Christina is afraid of him and Christina is confused by her feelings toward the stranger. Both Bull and Christina have secrets and insecurities that keep them guarded, but if they can trust one another, they’ll discover they’re made for each other.

You can find Christina’s Bear at the following vendors.

Amazon      Barnes and Noble    All Romance eBooks

To stay in touch with Jane Wakely, you can visit her blog at www.janewakely.blogspot.com, her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JaneWakely, follow her tweets at www.twitter.com/JaneWakely, or find her Goodreads page at www.goodreads.com/JaneWakely. 

]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/christinas-bear-on-first-sight-saturday.html/feed 2 Historical Titles on Book Lover’s Buffet! http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/historical-titles-on-book-lovers-buffet.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/historical-titles-on-book-lovers-buffet.html#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/historical-titles-on-book-lovers-buffet.html I’m so excited that Redeemed is part of the BOOK LOVER’S BUFFET, featuring 175 books all priced at $0.99 from many online vendors, including some wonderful historical romances you can find here. I’m providing a brief overview of each in the list below. Check them out! I’m sure you’ll see some delicious reads you can’t resist. And why should you when they are all 99 cents and calorie-free!??

Rogue’s Hostage by Linda McLaughlin. His hostage. Her destiny. In the midst of a war that threatens the fabric of her life, Mara Finds herself torn between love and loyalty.
An Improper Situation by Sydney Jane Baily
From dusty Colorado to civilized Boston, Charlotte and Reed encounter sinister forces and scorned women. With passions ablaze yet often at odds, they find themselves in a very Improper Situation. 

Wear Black by Eilis Flynn and Heather Hiestand
Death did not end his service to the British Empire. Death is only the beginning…Wear Black 

Regency Romance: To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield – Book #1 Wicked Wagers Trilogy
Spirited heroine, rakish duke, and three wagers that will change their lives…

Tame a Wild Wind by Cynthia Woolf
He’s looking for work not love. She’s looking for a ranch foreman not the love of a lifetime.

To Wed The Earl – Regency Novella
Miss Miranda Price detests her neighbor Edward Havens, the rakish Earl of Edgerton – but when he catches her breaking into his library at midnight, secrets are revealed that will change the course of their lives… forever.

The Escort  by Gina Robinson True love runs deep.


Storm on the Horizon: Kit thinks he’s helping Tatiana to hide her powerful magic from Georgian society, but he’s about to find out her secret’s much bigger than he ever imagined.

An Exotic Heir: Warning–dangerous to your heart: love and revenge in Regency Calcutta.

Ventre a Terre
Rosamund Hilliard, singing for her supper at the grand houses of England, must flee her suitors when her scheming is discovered. 

And, last but not least, Redeemed by Jill Hughey. Can a quiet widow help a damaged, secretive man find redemption?

I hope you’ll visit the BOOK LOVER’S BUFFET where you can find a wide assortment of romances for just 99 cents, plus enter to win prizes!
]]> http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/05/historical-titles-on-book-lovers-buffet.html/feed 0 The Witchy Wolf and the Wendigo on First Sight Saturday http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/02/the-witchy-wolf-and-wendigo-on-first.html http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/02/the-witchy-wolf-and-wendigo-on-first.html#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.jillhughey.com/2013/02/the-witchy-wolf-and-the-wendigo-on-first-sight-saturday.html Today, on First Sight Saturday, I welcome Rose Anderson’s paranormal romance, The Witchy Wolf and the Wendigo. The first thing I did when receiving the excerpt was look up “wendigo”, but I’m not sure the official definition fits Rose’s story, so I’ll let all of you check the dictionary for yourselves.

Here is the cover and the blurb:

What does an immortal Native American shaman do when the grave he’s sworn to watch over for all eternity disappears under urban development?

His purpose of guarding his wife’s burial mound gone, Ashkewheteasu seeks to end his immortal existence. In his despair, Ash assumes the form of a wolf and steps in front of a moving car and into the life of Dr. Olivia “Livie” Rosalini. The veterinarian saves the animal’s life, and in the process saves the man within. Livie has no idea the wolfish dog she’s taken into her home and grows to love is a magical being seeking to win her heart as a man. While Ash is learning a new world filled with new love, friendship, and happiness, an old menace makes plans to steal it all away; just as he had 3000 years before.





The following excerpt shares the scene where Ash steps in front of Livie’s car.

EXCERPT:

           The machines eventually lumbered away and silence settled on the air, disturbed only by the occasional rustle of falling leaves in the fast-approaching twilight. The silence was an illusion, Ash knew. It was only an absence of the noise he’d experienced for days. These people immersed themselves in constant noise. The only true silence was found in his dreams.
Filling his lungs with a slow deep breath, his body changed form. Growing taller, the fur and claws disappeared into his skin. Within seconds, Ash stood as a man. Aiyanna’s resting place was gone, and with it the grove of oak trees, and the sumac, and the plum and raspberry thickets as well. Even the creek bank was unrecognizable on this side. It was all gone, as was the charge he’d been sworn to. There was nothing left to do but end this existence.
Looking down, his eyes spied a single pearl left in the track they’d left behind. His gaze fell to a fist-sized chert nodule lying on the ground next to it. Yes. There’d be only small effort on his part to work a stone and fashion a knife. As quickly as he had taken his human form, he returned to that of a wolf and headed toward his hidden cave. Death was not something an immortal considered, but he had no reason to live. Distracted by thoughts of suicide, Ash stepped into the road.

***
Yawning, Olivia rolled the car window down. As desired, the cool evening air hit her in the face and roused her a bit. Having come close to hitting more than one deer over the years, she needed to stay alert on this dark two mile stretch of road, notorious for deer activity. She clicked the high beams on to expand her range of vision. Another yawn took her and she turned on the radio. Finding the inane talk radio chatter unappealing, her gaze momentarily strayed from the road to the dial. She looked up in time to see a large husky walk right in front of her car. The horrible thump that followed confirmed her worst fear. “Oh no, oh no.”
Pulling off to the shoulder, she ran to the bleeding, unconscious dog. Another car pulled up behind her. The driver hurried over. “Oh the poor thing! I saw it happen. He walked right in front of you.”
Between them they managed to wrap the dog in Olivia’s jacket and get him into her car. Speeding back to the clinic, Olivia grabbed blindly for her cell phone. Feeling the touchpad like Braille, she speed-dialed her boss, John Redleaf. “John, it’s me. I know you and Cora have an evening planned, but I really need some help. Can you give me just an hour of your time?”
“Of course Liv, what’s wrong?”
“I ran over a dog.”
“How bad?”
“I’m not sure. First glance says compound fractured leg for sure, bad road rash, possible internal injuries, there’s pink foam coming out of the mouth and nose.”
“Sounds like a punctured lung. Anything else?”
“I can’t tell. It’s too dark to see.”
“I’m leaving now.”
“I’ll meet you there. Thanks, John. Tell Cora I wouldn’t ask if I thought I could handle this myself. This is a nasty compound fracture. If the dog’s going to keep his leg, he’s going to need surgery.”
***
Three hours later, washing up at the sink, knew they’d done all they could for the dog. Olivia’s quick action saved the leg and hopefully the animal’s life as well.
Intent on getting a better look at the amulet they’d found tied around the dog’s neck, John ran the carved bird stone under the water. No larger than a small plum, its smooth surface had been worked by hand until the form of a bird was achieved. The fact the animal wore it suggested they’d been treating someone’s pet, but if he hadn’t cut the bloody cord himself, he’d swear they’d just performed surgery on a wolf or a wolf–dog cross. “I’m not so sure that’s a dog Livie … with that snout, it’s more likely a wolf mix.”
“I believe you’re right. I’m thinking malamute–wolf or husky–wolf cross, myself. Look at those dark markings on the head.”
John nodded. The animal was darker than the average wolf, but definitely wolfish. “Malamute’s a good guess.” He held the small figurine out to her. “But whatever he is, this isn’t an everyday dog tag. He’s obviously somebody’s pet, though I can’t imagine the purpose of a pet wearing a bird stone.”
Taking it, Olivia blotted it dry with a paper towel. Simplistic in its rendering, the stylized bird was similar to Native American artifacts she’d seen in museums. Gift shop souvenir, she thought.
John examined the unconscious dog lying on the table. This was a full-grown adult, obviously well cared for, and he had no tartar on his teeth. No sign of the usual wear to the enamel that came with age either. In fact, his gums, coat, and eyes were all clear of disease and healthy — perfect, actually. John found that curious. A niggling thought entered his mind. Picking the bloodied cord from the trash, he unwound a bit and exposed fresh pale fibers suggesting the cordage had been recently crafted. A memory took him. This was dried stinging nettle, the same material his grandmother used on the reservation. The dog’s owner could be Potawatomi or perhaps Anishinabe, like himself. He turned back to the animal with renewed interest. “I think we’re looking at a rez dog.”
“This far south?” The nearest reservation was Lac du Flambeau, nearly six hours away by car.
“It might explain the bird stone versus dog tag. Very few tagged dogs on the rez.”

END OF EXCERPT

Discover the real urban legend behind the Witchy Wolf and the Wendigo on USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2013/01/09/rose-anderson-the-witchy-wolf-and-the-wendigo/1822015/
Find all Rose Anderson novels in ebook or paperback at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFFFESI

Find Rose around the web
Blog: http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/



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