Masked in a Gypsy guise, Broderick MacDougal hides his vampiric identity while seeking to destroy the man who slaughtered his family. When an old Clan rival ensnares Broderick in a trap using an enticing widow, he is compelled to discover if she is bait or an accomplice, and the cinnamon-haired beauty is his next conquest.
Widow of an abusive husband, Davina Stewart-Russell clings to the only image that gave her strength during those dark times—the Gypsy rogue who stole her heart as a youth. After nine years, she is finally face-to-face with him again, but reality clashes with fantasy as she is confronted with Broderick’s passionate pursuit.
When Davina’s past returns to haunt her, Broderick is forced to reveal a dark secret worse than anything Davina thought possible. The challenge before them has fatal risks and neither of them is prepared for the sacrifices expected for the sake of eternal love.
Cailin MacDougal has lived a dangerous life being the adopted daughter of vampire Broderick "Rick" MacDougal, so she had no choice but to learn to fight in order to protect herself. However, such behavior is hardly desirable in a dutiful wife who's supposed to embroider and run a household. This aggressive side of her behavior should be easy enough to hide from her betrothed...shouldn't it?
After being away at fencing school for seven years, James Knightly has returned as a master swordsman, ready to captain his own ship and finally wed his childhood sweetheart, Cailin MacDougal. What he finds waiting for him is a dagger-toting hellion for a bride, an immortal father-in-law, and an enemy bent on extracting revenge by threatening the family James holds most dear--the MacDougals.
Broderick MacDougal is lured away from his family with the promise of-at last-learning a way to protect those he loves from his clan enemy, Angus Campbell. Broderick knows he's headed for a trap, but the bait is too tempting to resist...and he unravels the beginning of a prophecy that will lead to redemption for all vampires. The cost of such redemption, though, may be the very soul of the woman he would die for...his wife, Davina.
Excerpt:
Broderick rose from the bed, not at all pleased with this outcome. His muscles tensed as he stalked toward her across the room, ready to do what he hoped he didn’t have to. Davina gawked at the ethereal presence he emulated. She stood mesmerized by his actions until he stopped in front of her, his body so close he could feel her warmth. When she stepped back to avoid him, his hands grasped her shoulders, keeping her in place. His gaze locked with hers, he tried one last time to delve into her mind for what he wanted. Nothing. Blackness. A void.
He would have to feed from her.
Closing his eyes, he sent waves of influence, charming her senses. He caressed his lips against her cheek and drew her into his breath. The scent of this woman—a mixture of her blood, her womanly essence and the rose oil she wore—made him drunk with desire. He kissed his mouth over her skin to touch the tip of his tongue against the sweet shell of her ear. The pulsing of her heart, strong and rapid, matched the panting of her breath and pounded against his senses. She moaned and pressed her palms to his chest. The notion of tasting the nectar running through her veins ignited the Hunger and the familiar pain shot across his gums as his fangs extended and his mouth watered.
About the author
Arial Burnz has been an avid reader of both paranormal and fantasy fiction for over thirty years. With bedtime stories filled with unicorns, hobbits, dragons and elves, she had no choice but to craft her own tales, penning to life the many magical creatures roaming her mind and dreams. And with a romantic husband who's taught her the meaning of true love, she's helpless to weave romance into her tales. Now she shares them with the world. Arial Burnz lives in Rancho Cucamonga, California, with her husband (a.k.a. her romance novel hero)—who is also a descendent of Clan MacDougal—along with their dog and two cats.
Interestingly enough, both MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE (book 2) and MIDNIGHT HUNT (book 3) take place in the summertime. While I was in the US Air Force, stationed overseas in Germany and then the UK, I came to realize how drastically the seasons altered the amount of darkness and light that were available. Many people are as surprised as I was to learn that, during the peak days of summertime, the sun can rise as early at 3 a.m. and set as late as 10 p.m. Imagine how that affects a vampire who’s restricted by the amount of nighttime hours!
MIDNIGHT CONQUEST (book 1) is set during the winter just east of Edinburgh, Scotland, so Broderick MacDougal is able to rise as early as 4:45 p.m. and can stay up as late as 9:45 a.m. Holy bananas, that’s about seventeen hours of playtime! Woo hoo!
But in books 2 and 3, his “oot and aboot” hours are practically cut in half. In June of 1531—the month during which MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE is set—Broderick has about six-and-a-half hours of darkness, also in the close proximity of Edinburgh. Consequently, he needs all the time he can get to travel down to Stonehenge, where his mysterious quest takes him to discover the properties of an amulet that will protect his family against his kind—Vamsyrians (my name for vampires in my novels since the word vampire didn’t exist prior to 1732). Six and a half hours! Bah! August 1636 is the time-frame for MIDNIGHT HUNT and the story is set on the northern coast of Germany. Broderick gains a few hours to his advantage, though—nine hours of nighttime.
Was this difference in daylight new information for you? If not, how did you come to learn about this drastic diversity in hours of darkness? (I just LOVE alliteration!) Please share!
Summer Topic
Interestingly enough, both MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE (book 2) and MIDNIGHT HUNT (book 3) take place in the summertime. While I was in the US Air Force, stationed overseas in Germany and then the UK, I came to realize how drastically the seasons altered the amount of darkness and light that were available. Many people are as surprised as I was to learn that, during the peak days of summertime, the sun can rise as early at 3 a.m. and set as late as 10 p.m. Imagine how that affects a vampire who’s restricted by the amount of nighttime hours!
MIDNIGHT CONQUEST (book 1) is set during the winter just east of Edinburgh, Scotland, so Broderick MacDougal is able to rise as early as 4:45 p.m. and can stay up as late as 9:45 a.m. Holy bananas, that’s about seventeen hours of playtime! Woo hoo!
But in books 2 and 3, his “oot and aboot” hours are practically cut in half. In June of 1531—the month during which MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE is set—Broderick has about six-and-a-half hours of darkness, also in the close proximity of Edinburgh. Consequently, he needs all the time he can get to travel down to Stonehenge, where his mysterious quest takes him to discover the properties of an amulet that will protect his family against his kind—Vamsyrians (my name for vampires in my novels since the word vampire didn’t exist prior to 1732). Six and a half hours! Bah! August 1636 is the time-frame for MIDNIGHT HUNT and the story is set on the northern coast of Germany. Broderick gains a few hours to his advantage, though—nine hours of nighttime.
Was this difference in daylight new information for you? If not, how did you come to learn about this drastic diversity in hours of darkness? (I just LOVE alliteration!) Please share!
** Arial will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour. Also, at every stop a randomly drawn commenter will be awarded a 5-Star Short Story eBook, Romance Trading Card set & signed Bonded By Blood series post card.
32 comments:
Thank you for hosting
Hi again!
Who was your favorite character to write in your book?
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
What an excellent giveaway! Thanks for sharing! Your book sounds wonderful!
hense1kk (at) cmich (dot) edu
Great excerpt, thank you.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I like how you implemented the longer summer hours of daylight. I always wonder why people don't do that in books :) Thanks! kamclauc AT gmail DOT com
Great giveaway. I cannot wait to read your book!
Thanks so much for hosting me today! Glad to be here. Woot!! :D
@Andra - My favorite character to write in my series is, hands down, Broderick MacDougal. What's not to love about a 6'3" HOT Scottish Vampire who's a rogue! RAWR!!!
Thanks for stopping by and good luck on the drawing! See you at the next stop! :D
@Kate - Thanks so much, Kate! Good luck on the drawing!
Hello, Ingeborg!! Thanks for commenting and stopping by. Good luck on the drawing!
@LhasaLuma - Why thank you!! Even in the US, there's a difference of a few hours in the Summertime, isn't there? Love the longer days. :D
Good luck on the drawing and thanks so much for commenting. :D
@Renee - Woo hoo!! Music to my ears!! I do hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have writing them. :D Good luck on the drawing and thanks for stopping by!
Im already interested in reading it. Thanks gor the giveaway
devinfoster37 (at) Yahoo (dot) com
Woot!! Great to hear, Mad Hatter! :D Enjoy Broderick's tales and good luck on the drawing!
Thanks for this great giveaway!
Hey there! Again, the books are wonderful! Don't know if I've said this or not, but I am so stoked that there is going to be 6 books in this series!
lisammcnulty@gmail.com
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!
ChaoticKarma23 at gmail dot com
@Patricia - Thanks for stopping by and good luck on the drawing!! :D
Hey, Lisa!!! Great to see you here at the next stop.
I'm SOOOOOO glad you're looking forward to more books. Not sure if you saw the other comment I made during the tour, but...
--6 books in the main prophecy storyline
--2 spin-offs from Book 4
--and a slew of contemporary stories (3 so far) that will be stand-alone after Book 6...provided people enjoy the series enough for it to continue.
Also, I might have two spin-off series (premises for series, not the names of the series)...
--Norse Shapeshifters
--Elemental Witches
Again...we'll see how the series takes off.
Good luck on the drawing!
Thanks for stopping by, Veronica!! Good luck on the drawing!!
I enjoyed the excerpt
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks, BN! Good luck in the drawing! :D
Thank you so much for this excellent giveaway!! :)
Whoo hoo! Keep my reading list long! I love it!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
@Sara - Thank you so much for your excellent comment!! Good luck on the drawing!! :D
@Jennifer - So glad you could stop by! And good luck on the drawing. :D
@Lisa...Yay! Let's just hope my writing keeps getting better. Hee hee!
Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win!
Sounds like a great read!!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
This series sounds so exciting. Must catch up.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
@Natasha - Oops! Sorry I missed your comment here! I do hope you enjoy the series and good luck on the drawing!!
@Mary - Music to my ears!!!! Hope you enjoy it and good luck with the drawing. :D
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