St Patrick's Day Blog Hop!

Hey peeps, it's finally arrived - or well it will be here tomorrow.  It's the day that all us Irish folks have been waiting for - St. Paddy's Day.  It's our excuse to drink green beer (not a personal favorite) and eat corned beef and cabbage (a personal favorite, much to the chargrin of my husband)  I still can remember our first St. Patrick's Day when we were dating and I made it.  Can you believe my 6ft, 280lb beef eating man, doesn't "do" corned beef? Whatever....lol.   All the more for me.  But I digress, as usual.  So what do I do on St. Patty's Day?

Being Irish, you'd think that there's a whole laundry list I do, but I must be Irish Light because other than venturing out with the kids to see the SaPaDaPaSo Parade, I don't do a whole lot - not like my aunts and grandparents did. I still can remember traveling to my aunt's to have corned beef and cabbage with family.  Of course my uncles would drinking green beer as they played gin rummy at the kitchen table and us kids would be running through the house until my grams would threaten to bury is in the snowbank outside. But with Grams gone now, we don't do this anymore but I still manage to try to go down for the SaPaDaPaSo parade...this is of course is providing that the weather cooperates.  Although I've been known to go and even have participated in the parade (my senior year) and the weather was a balmy 35 degrees. (brrrr)  We walked very fast, all bundled up in coats, scarfs and mittens, handing candy to all the rosy cheeked kids standing with their reluctant parents.  Now as a mom, I totally understand, the looks I got. Standing in the freezing cold for 45 minutes sucks.  Thankfully this year, we may get a bit of rain but it's supposed to be in the mid to high 60s, so I plan on heading downtown with the kids.  I'm sure they will get lots and lots of candy.  

Okay, so while I may not do the whole Irish thing anymore, I still have a nod towards my Irish heritage with my writing. It's normally my first choice when I'm picking the hertiage of my heroes  -even as far back as high school.  I've currently got several Irish characters in my published works. Caelan, the sexy Dom in my first Doms of Chicago book, Nisey's Awakening, is a true alpha male transplanted straight from Dublin.  Then of course, is his mother, Myrna, and her Dom, Amery - another sexy mature Irish couple.  I truly do love this family.  They have wrapped themselves around my heart and I can't wait to try Myrna's spiced beef this year at Christmas. She was ever so nice to give me her recipe.    

But before I go, I've just got to include my newest Irish hunk - although he's an Irish-American werewolf.  His name is Braden Donnghal - the hero of the first book of my Wolfen Prophesies, Her Wolfen Destiny.  Enjoy the excerpt and please be sure to stop back by the other contributors of the St. Patty's Day Hop (they are the bottom of the post) and don't forget to enter my contest to win two free e-books off my backlist - winner's choice. (this does include my upcoming release Tale's of Submission, since I have copies in my hot little hands already.:D).

Blurb:

Braden Donnghal, the first American born, Irish-Scottish werewolf is packless after the death of his parents. In an effort to get back into the good graces of his parents’ former pack, he has to prove his worth by escorting the alpha’s intended mate back to the pack. It seems easy enough - all he has to do is deliver her untouched by the next full moon for her claiming. He’s prepared to avoid the roving enemy soldiers, bombs and even Emma’s  father, the feared MacDonald, but what he isn’t prepared for his reaction to the high-spirited but seductive Emma MacDonald. Or his unrelenting desire to claim her as his own. But if he does, he’ll be exiled if not killed on sight.

Emma MacDonald has been told since birth that her destiny is to give birth to the saviors of her race, twin russet wolves, in an upcoming racial war with the humans. But being a woman raised in the midst of the Great War, she is tired of war and vows to flout her father’s decree that she marry the neighboring alpha of the Donnghal clan.  No children of hers will be used in such a manner.  When Braden arrives to escort her to the Donnghal alpha she hopes to use him to avoid her destiny by offering her body as incentive. She sets in motion a fate she cannot escape when she locks Braden in a cellar with her at the height of the full moon.  Now mated to a black sheep family, she finds herself not only disowned but running for her life from an alpha vowing revenge. 

Excerpt:

“You’ll take it like the little whore you are, bitch. Alpha said you were nice and tight and to keep you loosened up for him.” The werewolf towered over the cowering female. Braden glanced around looking for the father, but Shamus was gone. He nudged the wolf dozing next to him. “Where’s the Beta?”

Startled the guy’s eyes popped open. “Huh…what?”

“Shamus – where did he go?” He tried to keep his voice even. It was her father’s duty to care for her well-being and what he’d seen of the man, he respected him, despite his part in the first test. The man had been only following his Alpha’s orders.

The man, Erin looked around before focusing on Braden. “Why’d you wake me up – I’m tired, I had guard duty last night.”

Frustration filled Braden. He didn’t want to step on any toes but the way he was feeling, he needed to know the odds. He really didn’t relish the idea of taking on three werewolves. Not that he wouldn’t. No woman deserved to forced. “Is that okay?” He pointed over the guy’s shoulder.

Erin turned and stared to swear. “Damn it, Shamus is gonna kick your ass, Rikard. You know Leitha is off limits.”

“But the Alpha gave her to me.” Rickard turned back to the whimpering girl. “And we both know Alpha’s word trumps all.” He reached to grope her breasts when growl from Leitha and the brutal thud of a fist hitting flesh echoed through the car. “Growl at me bitch.” He forced her around, bending her over the back of one seat.

Fury unleashed inside of Braden. He unfurled his body from the tight seat. “Let her go.” He didn’t bother to keep the menace of his voice as he vaulted over the surprised Erin. He had no intentions of letting the asshole hurt Leitha.

“Who’s gonna make me. You?” Rickard laughed.

“Aye.” Balling up his fist, Braden hit Rickard straight in the mouth, sending the man tumbling onto his ass. Pushing Leitha behind him, he grunted as the man came up swinging. He hissed when one fist found his already battered ribs. While they healed faster than human’s it still took time for broken bones to mend. Returning blow for blow, they tumbled over benches and even managed to upturn the food cart which had brought their earlier meal.

“What the hell is going on here!” Shamus’s voice echoed through the train car. Braden froze and winced as he took a blow to the chin, snapping his head back. A muffled moan slipped past his lips as the back of his head connected with wainscoting on the side of the car.

“I said enough, Rickard!” The low warning growl, sent the hairs at the nape of his neck out straight. The Beta meant business. When Rickard kicked him in the nuts, his vision darkened as spots swam before his eyes. His hands immediately covered his groin as he tried to not to vomit. He’s mine when I get up of this floor. I’m gonna feed him his dick and balls. Breathing through his mouth he waited for the nausea to pass.

A hand shoved into his face caught his attention. Slender and feminine, he looked up to see Leitha bending over him, offering him assistance. He took her hand, thankful for the helping hand. Somehow he’d ended wedged between two seats.

When he finally drew to his full height, he saw Rickard sitting in one of the far seats, his arms crossed over his chest as Shamus spoke with Erin. Satisfaction filled him at the sight of the man’s swollen eye and bleeding nose. He’d done as much damage to Rickard as Rickard had to him.

“Thank you, Braden. You didn’t have to do that.” Leitha kept her voice pitched low as she pulled a square linen cloth from her pocket. She urged him to sit, before dabbing at the back of his head. That’s when he realized he must be bleeding.

He clenched his teeth against the pain. “Yes, I did. Only an untried boy tried to force himself on an unwilling woman.”

 A bitter smile tugged at her lips. “Tell that to the Alpha.” She sobered. “I’m afraid your honorable streak is going to get you killed.

He cupped the hand pressed against his scalp. “I’m much hardier than I look.” He gave her a small smile. “Besides my mother would’ve kicked my butt up between my shoulder blades if I allowed you to be abused.”

Okay peeps,  here's the key to entering - just tell me if you like Green Beer or not. Make sure you include your name and an email to reach you at in case you win.  (Don't forget - by entering my contest...not only do you have the chance to win free books from me, but will be entered into the grand prize contest (a Kindle Fire or Nook) that Ms. Carrie Ann Ryan is having.)