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June 20, 2018
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June 22, 2018
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June 25, 2018
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June 26, 2018
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June 28, 2018
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June 29, 2018
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July 2, 2018
The Simple Things in Life
June 20, 2018
Readaholics Anonymous
June 22, 2018
T's Stuff
June 25, 2018
Tara Lain's Blog
June 26, 2018
Book Lovers 4Ever
June 28, 2018
books are love
June 29, 2018
Books n kisses
July 2, 2018
The Simple Things in Life
Shadow of the Summer Moon
(Sakana Series Book 2)
by Amanda LeMay
Blurb:
Branded by my pack Alpha.Betrayed by my mother.
Raised by lies and falsehoods.
The betrayal just as twisted and hideous as the deep scars I now carry.
I have one choice: let my wolf loose and run. Run for my life and to the only other wolf who escaped the San Francisco pack.
I leave my past and my pack behind, hoping for protection, a new home, a new pack and a chance to live free. The last thing I ever dream of finding is a mate.
But falling into Gunner Bodolf’s arms is as simple as breathing in his irresistible scent. And once he kisses me, I can’t walk away. Having been lied to my entire life, there is so much I don’t know about being a wolf. I certainly know nothing of the sakana bond, a rare and precious bond between two wolves, connecting their minds, bodies, and souls.
Gunner and I now share this priceless ancient gift.
I ran from hell and ended up in heaven. Unfortunately, the deadly danger I left behind tracks me across the country to the middle of nowhere, Texas.
My past will never let me go without a challenge, a challenge I refuse to run from. To protect my new life, my new pack, my new mate, I will fight.
Excerpts
Strange, hot, metallic
fumes surround me until I choke. I know what’s coming. I try to scream, but no
sound leaves my mouth.
“You are so sweet.”
My skin crawls at the sound
of his dark voice. I struggle to move.
“You are mine, Simone.”
Fire touches my breast. It
spreads throughout my body, throughout my soul.
I scream and scream and
scream.
“Simone! Simone! It’s okay.
You’re safe.”
The howling in my ears
wouldn’t stop. So many scents—of the past and the present—bombarded my senses.
All familiar. However, one particular scent overpowered all the others: smoky
and rich, like a cozy, warm fire, and leather cloak, with an undertone of lemon
oil.
A deep rumble filled the
quiet room as a powerful energy touched my skin, making me shiver.
I opened my eyes and came
face to face with an enormous wolf. Bright green eyes, framed by a dark brown
mask above a fully silver muzzle, stared back at me. The wolf’s shoulders were
immense. And there was something about this wolf—something comforting and
electrifying all at once. Nothing would ever happen to me as long as this wolf
watched over me. I felt it in my blood, in my body and in my soul. This wolf
would fight to his last heartbeat to protect me.
A deep, masculine voice
spoke from across the room. “Simone, everything’s gonna be fine.”
The last thing I wanted was
some male telling me everything would be fine.
I snarled and snapped at
the stranger, who had stayed in the doorway. Though…he wasn’t a total stranger,
he was…Jessy’s mate.
Dain.
Ashamed, I looked away and
caught sight of a black wolf in the mirror across the room.
I had shifted.
“Simone?” I lifted my head
toward the sound of Jessy’s soft voice.
In the doorway, Maygan and
Kern stood behind Jessy and Dain.
Jessy stepped forward, past
the huge wolf that stood between me and the rest of the room. She tossed a
blanket over my body and sat down on the bed next to me as she gently stroked
my fur.
“Simone, hey, I think you
had a nightmare. You’re safe here with us. No one is gonna hurt you.”
I gazed into the green eyes
of the wolf that stood only a foot from my bed. His anxious features smoothed
out, his stiff shoulders relaxing as his big, fluffy tail began to swing back
and forth in a long, swooping arc.
I sucked in a breath and
let the shift back to human flow through me. Jessy readjusted the blanket,
making sure to cover my suddenly naked body.
“I’m so sorry.” Shame and
embarrassment heated my face as I bunched the thick blanket up beneath my chin.
The last thing I wanted was
to relive those three horrific days over and over in my dreams.
“I can give you a sedative
that will help, if you’d like,” Kern offered.
The big wolf in front of me
nodded his agreement. A week ago, I would’ve totally taken up that offer, but
now, my dreams were another reminder of why I had run, why I needed to start a
new life.
“No. Thank you.” I choked
back a sob. “I need to remember.”
I looked down at my
blanket-covered breasts. The branding wasn’t something I would ever forget, but
reliving it in my mind every night reminded me that I would never allow anyone
to hurt me again.
Or stand by while others
were hurt. Or killed.
“Well, you need your rest,
too. If you change your mind and want one night of good sleep, say the word and
I’ll make it happen.”
I nodded. “Thank you. I’ll
think about it.”
Jessy stood up from the
bed. I grabbed her hand.
“Could you stay? Stay with
me…for just a bit, please?”
“Sure.” She sat back down
as the others quietly slipped from the doorway. The massive wolf didn’t leave
his spot. He sat down as if he belonged there—belonged by my side.
Now. Always. Forever.
And having thoughts like
that were crazy. I had no idea where they came from, especially since I didn’t
even know this male.
The wolf raised his huge
paw and laid it gently on the bed next to my thigh as he cocked his head to the
left in question.
“Gunner.” Jessy raised her
eyebrows at him. “Girl talk.”
Gunner?
He stood and slowly inched
toward me, his head low in submission as he nudged his nose under my hand.
“I’ve never touched another
wolf before,” I whispered, as I stroked my fingers between his large ears and
down his back. The top layer of his fur was stiff and bristly. I dug my fingers
deeper into the thick, warm underlayer of his coat. “You are so…soft.”
His luscious scent eased my
anxiety and quickened my pulse at the same time. I smiled as I slid my fingers
over his silky, silver muzzle. He leaned into my touch, pressed his forehead
against mine, and let off a low-pitched whine: a question.
“Yes, I’m…better now.” And
I was. Calmer. In control.
He pulled away a few
inches. His intense green gaze held me in place as if he could see all the way
down into my soul. I placed my hands on the bed, gripped the blanket in my
fingers, and held his stare. I wanted him to look, wanted him to see who I was,
what I’d been through and that I was no threat to him or his pack.
The next second, warm, wet
wolf kisses bathed my face.
“Oh!”
His tongue laved over me,
from my chin to my nose, in quick, friendly swipes. He flashed his long canines
in a strange, wolfy grin, then retreated to the doorway. He glanced back over
his shoulder. His brows arched as if he were asking me if I might change my
mind.
“I’m okay.”
He turned away and
disappeared from the room, his claws clicking on the hardwood floor.
My face tingled where he’d
licked me. I swept my tongue along my lips and tasted him there.
Stunned, I looked at Jessy.
“Gunner?” His name came out as a sigh. His flavor was still in my mouth and I
wanted more.
“Yep.” She crossed the room
and closed the door. “He stuck around to make sure you were recovering. He
rarely throws his Alpha status up, but when he does, we don’t argue.”
“Alpha status? He’s your
pack leader?”
“Couldn’t you tell?” She
waved her arms around as she spoke. “He’s got that whole Alpha-power thing
going on. He can’t help it, not that he would. It just kind of broadcasts his
aura all over the place.”
Gunner. He was their Alpha
male. He’d stayed. No wonder I was drawn to him. When I’d run into
him, earlier in the hall, his scent seemed to engulf me. I had wanted to sink
into his arms. But now, his scent seemed different—changed from before—deeper,
more complex and…complete.
One thing I did understand:
I didn’t fear Gunner as I feared Rule.
Gunner’s gaze held me to my
spot. He lowered his head and stalked toward me. Thick muscle rippled beneath
his fur as he closed the distance between us. My heart pounded. I could barely
breathe. But I wasn’t afraid or anxious. What raced through my blood as I
watched Gunner move had nothing to do with fear or anxiety. It was a strange
sort of tingling sensation that traveled up my spine, urging the wolf in me to
come forward, to offer up my belly in submission.
He made me feel wild.
Reckless. Out of control.
Years of denial kicked in
as I clenched my suddenly aching teeth. No changing. No shifting. I’d
spent seven days letting my wolf run free. That side of me was a dark place. It
drove me. It controlled me. It scared me.
Gunner’s claws scratched at
the wood on the porch as he wound his big body around my legs and hips. My
fingers sifted through his sun-warmed soft coat, dug deeper and felt the heat
of his body.
“I had no idea wolves were
so incredibly soft.” The words floated out of my mouth on a whisper. “Or so
beautiful.”
Gunner took one more turn
around my hips, his big, bushy tail swirling in a happy sort of way. He
snuggled his muzzle, cheek, and ear into the valley between my breasts, then
lifted his head a little higher to lick my lips and chin in one full swipe.
I giggled as I wiped my
mouth with the back of one hand and pushed Gunner away with the other. “I hate
to say this, but your wet, wolfy kisses really can’t compare to your lips and
teeth and tongue.” His wolf kisses called to the female inside me and she ached
to be free, to feel this male all over me in my wolf form.
He snorted, but seemed to
grin anyway. He gave me a gentle shove with his head, pushing me toward the
front doors.
“Okay, I’m going.” I
stepped inside and headed in the direction of the dining room. Behind me, I
heard Gunner’s claws clicking on the slate-tiled floor, going the other
direction. I turned just in time to witness his shift: his fur disappeared, his
back straightened and brought him upright on his tanned, muscular legs. I swept
my gaze up and up, from his feet to his calves to his thighs to his perfectly
shaped ass.
My mouth fell open in awe.
I didn’t stop there, though.
His lower back widened into
huge, muscled shoulders and strong arms. He turned and faced me. I stood there,
speechless.
He’s magnificent.
I couldn’t stop staring.
There was just so much of him.
Oh, my.
Oh, wow.
Oh…dear ancient gods…
It started in my cheeks,
the pleasing burn that swiftly rushed through my entire body and settled in my
midsection. The room closed in like a kiln as I tried to breathe. And when I
sucked in a breath, all I could smell was him. I wrenched my gaze upward to
find Gunner smiling back at me.
“I’m gonna get washed up.
Throw on some clothes. Go on.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the
kitchen. “Get yourself some supper before the boys eat it all.”
And then he was out of my
sight.
I found the closest chair
and gracelessly plopped myself into it. I’d seen naked men before. Full
frontal, up close and personal. But compared to Gunner, they were no more than
boys just out of their teens. I had to admit, my experience was extremely
limited, but still. I leaned forward, held my head in my hands with my elbows
planted firmly on my knees to keep my feet from running down the hall in search
of the Comfort pack’s Alpha male. Throwing myself at another female’s mate was
the most dishonorable thing I could do.
Stupid. Silly. Reckless.
“What is wrong with me?” I
muttered.
I stared out the huge
picture windows. Miles and miles of land as far as I could see. From the road,
I’d seen an orchard of neatly lined trees, and acres and acres of rolling hills
where cattle grazed peacefully. From inside, I could see the house was elevated
enough to block out the circular driveway and look out over land that had been
left untouched and untamed by man. After running for seven days, feeling the
dirt between my toes, letting my inner wolf run free—though the animal side of
me was a little frightening, especially when the need for food kicked in—I
would never be able to live in a city again.
“Perfect.” I sighed.
“Simone?”
I jumped. My eyes locked on
to his.
I saw you naked. Totally.
Mouth-wateringly. Naked.
Gunner stood with his hands
on his hips. Worn jeans, dark blue button-down shirt, rolled-up sleeves, with
the collar of his white T-shirt peeking out from the V of the top button.
“You okay?” he asked
softly.
I’m okay. I
nodded and smiled, probably looking like a mild form of village idiot. “I’m not
used to…” Seeing you naked. “…seeing…so many wolves in one
place.” Which was also true. “Rule’s pack never spent any time together as a
pack. As wolves.” Naked.
“They can be a rowdy bunch
sometimes, but I trust my pack. Trust ’em like they were my own flesh and
blood.”
I nodded, not knowing what
to say. If Gunner trusted them, then so did I. Naked or not.
Gunner’s scent stood out
like a luminous beacon in the dark night. The smoky leather and lemon essence
coated my nostrils and seeped into my lungs, beckoning me with a force I
couldn’t deny, dragging me forward to the only place Gunner would retreat to.
The true wolves that
patrolled the ranch joined me as I ran. Though they stayed several feet behind,
their collective anxiety filled the air. Gunner was in pain and they didn’t
understand why.
The wet rocks lining the
banks of the Guadalupe River and the moist, green foliage of trees and grass
nearby gave off their own unique fragrances. I’d only been out there once, but
there was no doubt, I was close.
Gunner’s deep, rich scent
seemed stronger than usual, almost overwhelming, but in a way that drew me to
him as if a rope were tied around my neck, dragging me along, because my feet
barely kept up.
Another howl split the sky.
The wretched anguish twisted my heart.
Gun…I’m coming.
The small, stone cabin came
into view. I raced faster. The other wolves fell behind—not only because I
outran them, but because they were wary. The scent of their distress had fallen
behind with them and for that, I was thankful.
Against the black background
of dark trees, a shadowy figure stood upright, unnaturally tall and broad, with
massive arms and legs. He threw back his head and howled to the waxing moon.
Gunner?
I didn’t slow my pace. His
miserable howl pulled me forward. The moon glinted off his incredibly
long canines. His paws were enormous hands, each finger ending in an extended
scythe-like claw.
A wolf monster. A gigantic
beast. The most magnificent creature I had ever seen.
Some dark, primal part of
my soul recognized my wolf mate and I wanted him, needed him, inside me. My
wolf craved the weight of his body slamming into mine. I wanted him to rut and
fuck and claim me—mate with me—just the way he was.
I skidded to a halt. His
enormous head swung around. Bright green eyes glowed luminescent, as if lit
from behind. His savage snarl set my teeth on edge. From upwind and blacker
than night, I wasn’t sure he saw me, much less caught my scent—an advantage if
I were trying to sneak up on him, but I wasn’t. I shifted to
my human form as another vicious snarl curled his muzzle.
I stood still, making a
conscious effort to slow my rapid breaths, careful not to make any sudden
moves. I didn’t know what part of Gunner was more in control, the wild animal
or the devoted male. Not that it mattered. Gunner would never hurt me.
“It’s me. It’s me.” The
words came from my lips as a gentle command, soothing and confident. “Gun, it’s
me.”
With each heavy breath, the
light of the moon flowed in sparkling waves over his fur. His
coloration was much like his regular wolf form, though it now covered an
over-seven-foot frame—white arms, legs, torso, and face, with a mask of varying
shades of brown, starting from his forehead and traveling down his back through
his incredibly long, bushy tail. He stalked toward me, slow and deliberate,
moonlight flashing over his rippling muscles, his clawed feet silent on the
damp, hard-packed soil. He stopped his advance a few yards from me.
A wonderful, tingling
sensation raced up my spine. Everything inside of me was already on fire. Part
of me wanted to offer up my belly in submission while the other half of me
wanted to go down on all fours and beg him to take me with total abandon, in a
wild, animalistic mating frenzy.
I licked my suddenly dry
lips as I struggled simply to stand quiet and still.
Low-pitched whines came
from his mouth, traveled through every cell in my body, hit my brain and my
heart, and somehow I understood his meaning: no fear. Not a
command. A statement.
I nodded in agreement. “No
fear.”
The last few feet that
separated us disappeared. I slammed my body into his, wrapped my arms around
him, and held on as his arms clenched around my back. My cheek barely reached
his sternum.
“Never.” It was the only
word I spoke before his arms squeezed the breath out of me.
His chest expanded and he
howled deep and low. She is safe.
Sakana Series
Kiss of the Winter Moon
Bk #1
Available for purchase at
About The Author
Indie author Amanda LeMay grew up on a small farm in Southern California reading every sci-fi book her dad passed on to her and watching every classic horror movie her mom shared with her. Her love for paranormal romance was an easy leap. Amanda published her first paranormal romance – full of dark sexy wolf-shifters called KISS OF THE WINTER MOON - in February 2018. Her wolf-shifters share a rare and special bond with their mates: the sakana bond, a rare and ancient bond that links their minds, bodies, and souls.
Amanda still lives in Southern California with her own Alpha-male husband and two grumpy cats and dreams of living on the beach in Texas. When she isn't writing, or thinking about writing, (or plotting, or characters, or dialogue, or world building), she's probably working on any number of crafts, sewing, gardening, or lost in another authors' wonderful dream world. She plots most of her novels while walking, or driving, or while on long Texas beach vacations sitting outside listening to the waves. She loves reading paranormal romance, fantasy romance, sci-fi romance, contemporary romance...well, just romance in general.
Her second novel in the Sakana Series, SHADOW OF THE SUMMER MOON, is set to go live on June 26, 2018.
Book trivia -
“While on a road trip from Southern California to Texas, about an hour outside of San Antonio we passed through a little town called Comfort. I’d already been in the process of writing a wolf-shifter story, so naturally, I pictured an entire pack hiding in plain sight in the middle of this blink-and-miss it town. I spent the next 2 weeks plotting out a story that became the first book in the Sakana Series, Kiss of the Winter Moon. Where I had planned on another book taking second place, Shadow of the Summer Moon soon took its spot as the result of story hijacking by my beta reader, Janna. She’d dreamed Gunner Bodolf, the Comfort pack Alpha, met his sakana and her name was ‘Simone’. She gave me a few details and I took them, added a little over 126,000 other words and gave Gunner his happily ever after.”
Visit Amanda’s website at www.amandalemay.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive cover reveals and chapter previews.
Connect with Amanda at
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