In honor of our month-long celebration of Valentine’s Day, I will be giving away an autographed copy of BENEATH THE THIRTEEN MOONS to one lucky commenter today (and look for another chance to win it in our grand prize drawing). So don’t forget to leave a comment and say hello!
For today’s post, I thought I’d offer an excerpt from THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER, book one of THE ELVEN LORDS, cause book two, THE LADY OF THE STORM, will be coming to bookstores in August, and geez, I’m just very excited about it!
Cass now stood facing her…new husband. She supposed she’d have to get used to that idea. Although she didn’t think she could ever get used to the coldness of his beautiful eyes. She’d hoped she could use the general to gather information about the elven, but right now he did not look like a man who could be used. Indeed, when his eyes met hers for a moment, a shiver of dread went through her.
The few times she’d visited him, he had treated her with a disinterest bordering on contempt. She’d foolishly thought that when she became his wife that might change, but it appeared the ceremony affected him not at all. Faith, how would she manage to share his bed tonight? Best not to think of that.
She blanched as her new husband slid a ring on her finger. A band of gold with a rose carved atop it. But the rose looked so real, the edges of the petals as delicate as the true flower. Cass couldn’t resist the impulse to bring it closer to her face, then nearly jumped when the petals curled closed, changing the carving to a tight bud.
He’d given her a ring crafted with elven magic.
Her eyes flew up to his in alarm.
General Raikes lowered his head. “It won’t harm you,” he muttered, a note of exasperation in his velvety voice. And then he lowered his head and kissed her, signaling an end to the ceremony.
Cass’s heart flipped over. She stood quite frozen, unsure of what had come over her. The general had done nothing more than press his lips to hers. And her entire body had shivered. From that one dispassionate touch.
As the onlookers broke into polite applause, Mor’ded leaned close to his son and said, “Surely the champion can do better than that.”
She watched her husband glance at his father. Saw his face harden with challenge. Then the general wrapped his arms around her and roughly pulled her against his chest and Cass could only pray.
Her new husband kissed her again. But this time, he kissed her like Thomas had, bending her backward in his arms, moving his mouth over hers as if he sought to eat her alive. But the experience was totally unlike the one she’d shared with Thomas.
The world seemed to fall away. Cass became aware of nothing and no one but the man holding her in his arms. The heat of his mouth, the fire that ran through her body, the sheer exhilaration of the taste of him. Her senses heightened. She felt her breasts tighten and strain toward him. Felt a wetness between her legs that frightened and excited her all at the same time. His tongue pressed against her lips and lacking any experience of what to do, she opened her mouth and he invaded it, stroking and tasting until she just forgot to breathe.
Her new husband abruptly let her go and set her away from him. Cass swayed. The applause in the room had risen in volume and she blushed again to realize she’d behaved in such a manner in front of an archbishop, half the country, and in the house of the Lord, no less. She couldn’t account for what had come over her.
General Raikes gave his father a heated look. “Will that do?”
Mor’ded chuckled.
When Dominic took her hand and led her back down the nave, Cass could do nothing but weakly follow. But she noticed the rose in her ring had come unfurled, spreading out into a glorious open blossom.
For today’s post, I thought I’d offer an excerpt from THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER, book one of THE ELVEN LORDS, cause book two, THE LADY OF THE STORM, will be coming to bookstores in August, and geez, I’m just very excited about it!
Cass now stood facing her…new husband. She supposed she’d have to get used to that idea. Although she didn’t think she could ever get used to the coldness of his beautiful eyes. She’d hoped she could use the general to gather information about the elven, but right now he did not look like a man who could be used. Indeed, when his eyes met hers for a moment, a shiver of dread went through her.
The few times she’d visited him, he had treated her with a disinterest bordering on contempt. She’d foolishly thought that when she became his wife that might change, but it appeared the ceremony affected him not at all. Faith, how would she manage to share his bed tonight? Best not to think of that.
She blanched as her new husband slid a ring on her finger. A band of gold with a rose carved atop it. But the rose looked so real, the edges of the petals as delicate as the true flower. Cass couldn’t resist the impulse to bring it closer to her face, then nearly jumped when the petals curled closed, changing the carving to a tight bud.
He’d given her a ring crafted with elven magic.
Her eyes flew up to his in alarm.
General Raikes lowered his head. “It won’t harm you,” he muttered, a note of exasperation in his velvety voice. And then he lowered his head and kissed her, signaling an end to the ceremony.
Cass’s heart flipped over. She stood quite frozen, unsure of what had come over her. The general had done nothing more than press his lips to hers. And her entire body had shivered. From that one dispassionate touch.
As the onlookers broke into polite applause, Mor’ded leaned close to his son and said, “Surely the champion can do better than that.”
She watched her husband glance at his father. Saw his face harden with challenge. Then the general wrapped his arms around her and roughly pulled her against his chest and Cass could only pray.
Her new husband kissed her again. But this time, he kissed her like Thomas had, bending her backward in his arms, moving his mouth over hers as if he sought to eat her alive. But the experience was totally unlike the one she’d shared with Thomas.
The world seemed to fall away. Cass became aware of nothing and no one but the man holding her in his arms. The heat of his mouth, the fire that ran through her body, the sheer exhilaration of the taste of him. Her senses heightened. She felt her breasts tighten and strain toward him. Felt a wetness between her legs that frightened and excited her all at the same time. His tongue pressed against her lips and lacking any experience of what to do, she opened her mouth and he invaded it, stroking and tasting until she just forgot to breathe.
Her new husband abruptly let her go and set her away from him. Cass swayed. The applause in the room had risen in volume and she blushed again to realize she’d behaved in such a manner in front of an archbishop, half the country, and in the house of the Lord, no less. She couldn’t account for what had come over her.
General Raikes gave his father a heated look. “Will that do?”
Mor’ded chuckled.
When Dominic took her hand and led her back down the nave, Cass could do nothing but weakly follow. But she noticed the rose in her ring had come unfurled, spreading out into a glorious open blossom.
Lovely! The ring is a particularly nice touch, as is the public wedding setting, and a goading papa. It makes sense that competitiveness might inspire a first kiss for a general more than romantic tenderness would, and I love me a properly motivated hero.
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome. I love paranormals and you don't see too many with elven magic. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteLove it, Kathryne!! You have a winner!
ReplyDeleteLove the magic and the heat!
ReplyDeletelove it...great post! :]
ReplyDeleteThank you, Grace. So glad you enjoyed. :}
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn! Gotta love those pointed ears. :}
ReplyDeleteThanks much, Terry!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt Kathryne!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy marriages of convenience and enemies to lovers stories. I adore paranormals so I think this is a lovely combination of all three! I like the enchanted ring she must wear.
Hi StacieDM! Sounds like we enjoy the same elements to our stories! Thx for commenting!
ReplyDeleteThis kiss left me breathless the first time I read about it and it left me wanting more once again! And I loved the magic of the ring! It was a beautiful idea.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the second in the series!!
Thank you, Stephanie! I'm really looking forward to the release of The Lady of The Storm! I'm hoping my readers enjoy it as much as they did TFLL.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathryne for this wonderful book! Fire Lord's lover is one of my favorite books, I've read it like a hundred times already. I hope I get to read more of Dominic in The lady of the Storm. A question and a bit of spoil, if you don't mind... Will Dominic outlive Cassandra now that he is a Lord and holds the scepter?
ReplyDeleteI loved the elven ring! It gave an interesting layer to all that happened within the scene. Like Grace, I also liked the motivation of competition rather than love.
ReplyDeleteOh, please don't enter me on this one but just had to let everyone know how much I enjoyed both books. Kathryne was my new author find of last year and I'm looking forward to her next book :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sakurinha! Thank you so much for the very kind words about my book...so glad you enjoyed it enough to read it several times.
ReplyDeleteYou will see Dominic and Cassandra in book 2, and again in book 3, as they are still very much a part of the Rebellion. And just for you, I will give a spoiler from book 2. Although Dominic can use the scepter, it does not affect his natural aging process (although all half-breeds age more slowly than humans due to their half-elven blood). Because of this, Dominic's charade may soon be discovered...unless a certain ring crafted by three elven lords can be found. Only a spell forged with the power of three elven can fool the elven lords themselves. So, this will be the task of Cecily & Giles, whose quest and love story is featured in book 2. I hope this helps. :} Hugs.
Hi MM! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!
ReplyDeleteHi Catslady! I'm very glad you found me! Thanks so much for leaving me such a kind comment. A hug for you too. :}
ReplyDeleteI adore all the magic you incorporate. That ring sounds so cool. I want one!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Me too, Shana!
ReplyDeletei haven't read this book yet... but i heard good things about. cant wait to get my hands on this book. great post. :]
ReplyDeletequimbayai@hotmail.com
OMG! Now I'm even more anxious to read The Lady of the Storm! More Dominic awesomeness! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful. I loved that kiss you just cant' beat those kind of kisses. So Hot!
ReplyDeleteMy absolute pleasure, Sakurinha!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely comment, Virginia. :}
ReplyDeleteLoved the first one, and now looking forward to the next. I also particularly liked the rose ring. Also loved the riddles and riddle maker.
ReplyDeleteWhere do I get a ring like that? Oh and a general like that? I'll take one of each, please.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, Judy. :}
ReplyDeleteLOL, Olivia! ;}
ReplyDeleteOkay, let's talk about that ring. Can I buy one at Wal-Mart? LOL
ReplyDeleteLove the excerpt. Just enough to make me drool!
Loved the excerpt! I have this on my Kindle because a friend of mine read it and really liked it...just haven't had a chance to read it yet but so glad to hear that book is coming out because I tend to like to read books in a series back to back...lol
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved the excerpt, the kiss was WOW. The Lady of the Storm looks like a great read. It is on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteLooks like father knew best how to kiss a lady.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Carolyn!
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear you were referred my book by a friend, Maria! Thank her for me. :}
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear, Judy! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, Pam P!
ReplyDeleteHere are your random numbers:
ReplyDelete9 Timestamp: 2011-02-19 16:16:11 UTC
The ninth commenter is StacieDM. Congrats! Please email me at: kathryne@kathrynekennedy.com with your snail mail address to claim your autographed copy of BENEATH THE THIRTEEN MOONS. Thank all of you for commenting, and remember, your comments still count toward entry for the grand prize. Cheers!
Hello, this sounds like an intriguing read and I would love to read it. There has been some really interesting post here this week.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good. Definitely like this first kiss. You always have to love it when a guy dips you while kissing.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a kiss that knocks you off your feet! Great first kiss Kathryne!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm late commenting. Great excerpt, Kathryne. Loved the tension between this couple.
ReplyDeleteSad I completely missed this day, I thought I was missing something!
ReplyDeleteHi Virginia! That's so great to hear!
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle! I'm a fan of the dip. :}
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Cindy L!
ReplyDeleteHi Anita! I'm often late...but never miss reading a post. :}
ReplyDeleteHi Kristina! Glad to hear from you!
ReplyDelete