Arcane Heart is up for preorder! And news about the New Mageverse book...

I'm so excited! I got my paperback proof of Arcane Heart today, and it looks terrific! Now all the preorder links are officially up, so I have those to share too.  Here's a taste... 

The wildest passion has claws.

When a pair of cops with magical abilities become the target of a hate group, they must unravel the plot against them before it costs them their lives -- and love.

Deputy Erica Harris is a witch who can see the magical auras of those around her, a talent which helps her determine when someone intends to commit a violent crime. Her partner, Deputy Jake Nolan, has a psychic link with an African lion that allows him to manifest the animal’s powers.

But it’s tough to serve and protect when demagogues stoke public fear of you. As the two cops fight to unravel a politically motivated web of hate and deceit, Erica and Jake are targeted by a magical assassin hired by the plotters.

While dodging murder attempts, they begin to fall in love. But as Jake’s desire makes his inner lion more possessive, his self-control erodes. Can they afford to take a chance on love when so many lives hang in the balance?

 And here's an excerpt: 

Fingers brushed the bare skin of her collarbones as if her bullet-resistant vest had turned to mist. An electric jolt of pleasure zinged through her, so intense it almost stung.

Erica’s eyes sprang wide. Jake watched her hungrily, gold eyes glowing as his thumbs brushed back and forth over her uniformed chest. One hand slid down, and she rocked back, instinctively giving him room. Room to trace down her sternum, dance across the upper curves of one breast, then down the slope of it…

Fingers brushed nipples with a sensation so vivid, she looked down, half-expecting to find her clothes had disappeared.

Both uniforms were still there. He was using his feral magic to manipulate her aura. “Oh,” she breathed. “That’s… incredible. I didn’t know you could do that.”

“You’d be surprised what I can do.” Jake’s smile took on a darker cast as he magically toyed with her, fingers brushing over the vest.

Arcane Heart will be out September 21, 2018

To Pre-order: 

Amazon  

Kobo

B&N 

iTtunes

 

In the meantime, I'm also finishing up my next Mageverse novel, Master of Valor. Handsome Afghan war veteran Duncan Carpenter survived a horrifying IED attack that cost him his legs. He got a second chance at life when he discovered he was a Latent: a descendant of one of the Knights of the Round Table. When he agrees to become one of the immortal vampires sworn to protect humanity, the spell that transforms him heals his amputations and gives him incredible abilities.

Now he has to pay for them: the Magekind is preparing to go to war against vicious magical enemies. But first he has to complete an apprenticeship with a beautiful witch, Masara Okeye. 

The task becomes even more complicated when the pair are sent to assist a werewolf investigating the brutal murder of a mortal woman. 

Then things get really weird. 

Look for Master of Valor around Halloween. 

 

Arcane Heart will be out Sept. 21!

He slid out of his car and looked down at her, a broad-shouldered silhouette. His eyes caught a beam of light from God knew where, reflecting gold. Heart pounding a crazed rhythm, she got out to join him. “If you think I’m necking in the back of the patrol car…”

“God, no. Way too many drunks have yarked in my cruiser. I keep my car clean, but there’s only so much you can do.”

She could only grin. “And Dave says there’s no romance in your soul.”

His teeth flashed. “Give me a try and see for yourself how romantic I am.”

Erica swallowed at the erotic challenge in his tone. This is not a good idea. She found herself moving closer anyway until they stood chest to chest.

Which would have felt much sexier without the two bulletproof vests they were wearing.

Jake’s big, broad hands came up and cupped her cheeks to cradle her head, tilting her chin up. His palms felt calloused, deliciously warm. His mouth felt just as seductive as he kissed her, his lips feathering a soft brush across hers.

Erica groaned and let herself lean into his chest. Though Jake wasn’t a tall man, his muscular breadth made her feel almost delicate. Feminine. The ASP baton hanging from his belt tapped her thigh, and the plastic buckles of their duty belts clicked as they eased together.

He slid a hand behind her back to grip her belt and pull her closer. Angling his head, he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips. She opened with a soft, yearning groan.

He tasted of the Cauldron’s maple syrup, smelled of something dark and wild that made her think of deep woods and cat musk. Arousal tightened her belly, kicking off a honeyed flare of heat through her blood. Behind the thick padding of her vest, her nipples hardened. God, she wanted to feel his hands on her bare breasts. Ached for it.

He rumbled, a delicious vibration. Thick, coarse fur brushed against the back of her thighs, a psychic impression of a leonine body.

“Go away, Clar,” he murmured against her lips.

The impression of fur disappeared.

Shivering in helpless arousal, Erica spread her hands over his chest. Felt only tough uniform fabric and the thickness of the Kevlar vest. God, I want him naked.

He drew back from her mouth, looking down at her with hooded eyes. “I want to touch you.”

Licking dry lips, she croaked, “God yes. But this isn’t the…”

Big hands stroked up over the rise of her breasts. She closed her eyes and swallowed, wishing it wasn’t so damn cold. Wishing she was naked, so she could feel his skin on hers.

Fingers brushed the bare skin of her collarbones as if her bullet-resistant vest had turned to mist. An electric jolt of pleasure zinged through her, so intense it almost stung.

Erica’s eyes sprang wide. Jake watched her hungrily, gold eyes glowing as his thumbs brushed back and forth over her uniformed chest. One hand slid down, and she rocked back, instinctively giving him room. Room to trace down her sternum, dance across the upper curves of one breast, then down the slope of it…

Fingers brushed nipples with a sensation so vivid, she looked down, half-expecting to find her clothes had disappeared.

Both uniforms were still there. He was using his feral magic to manipulate her aura. “Oh,” she breathed. “That’s… incredible. I didn’t know you could do that.”

“You’d be surprised what I can do.” Jake’s smile took on a darker cast as he magically toyed with her, fingers brushing over the vest.

His left hand paused, tracing the curve of her ribs, dancing over thin skin, gliding downward to find the jut of a hipbone. And across.

Between her legs.

A jolt of magic shot right into her clit. Erica inhaled and caught his shoulders to keep from falling on her ass.

“Like that?” Jake’s voice seemed to brush across her senses like velvet, rich and tempting. He went for her lips again, sipping at her tongue, as one hand played between her thighs and the other danced delicate spells over her breasts as though she was naked. Deliciously naked and aroused.

Well, part of that was true.

Jake purred against her mouth -- a sound that became a gasp as she slid a hand down and sent her own magic questing. To find the thick shaft of his erection pressing against his fly. Cupping her fingers over him, she danced a feather of magic the length of his cock from balls to head.

“You’re living dangerously.” His voice sounded rough.

She smiled wickedly and closed her teeth over his lower lip, tugging it as she intensified the magic whirling around his eager shaft. “Yes, well, so are you.”

His lips curled against hers. “Sometimes a little danger can be fun.”

Erica froze as the words triggered a dark association: Sometimes a little danger can be fun. That had been one of Bobby’s favorite sayings, used before missions, bar brawls, or jumping out of an airplane. He’d even said it the first time he’d taken her to bed.

And the morning she’d caught him cheating. “Sometimes a little danger can be fun.”

Jake’s eyes widened in dismay as he felt her recoil. “Erica, I…”

She stepped back out of range of his hands, his magic. Suddenly the spring breeze felt icy over her hot cheeks. “I’ll… see you later.”

Jake took a step toward her, one hand lifted, then aborted the gesture. His broad shoulders slumped. “What about BFS?”

Erica wanted to say no. Wanted to at least put him off. Instead she heard herself say, “I’ll meet you there.”

Idiot!

Relief brightened his gaze, and he tried out a tentative smile. “Why don’t I pick you up instead. Ten o’clock?”

She turned away and headed for her car. All she wanted was to get home. “Sure, whatever. Fine.”

But it wasn’t fine. Why the hell didn’t I tell him no?

She knew exactly why. I’ve never been smart when it came to any Nolan.

Arcane Heart excerpt!

When the lion butted her hip for the third time, Erica almost fell on her ass. Jake caught her elbow. She was sharply, acutely aware of the warmth of his big hand cupping her through her uniform shirt.

"Clarence, cut that out," he told his Familiar, then added to her, "Sorry about that. He can be really pushy."

“I noticed.” Her voice sounded a bit breathy as the cat circled their legs.

Despite her better judgment, Erica’s attention fell on Jake’s mouth, lips full and tempting under that strong cleft chin. Dragging her eyes away, she tried to think of a more neutral topic. "Did I thank you for saving my ass?" The words came out throatier than she’d intended, so she added a smartass grin. “Tooth Tank to the rescue. Ooo-Raar.“

“Yeah, you thanked me. But I don’t mind hearing it again.” His voice dropped into a seductive rumble. “I’m interested in anything you want to give me.” His eyes fell to her lips, and his blond head lowered. “In fact, I have some suggestions.”

Erica could have stepped back. God knew she'd done it often enough when her ex-boss had tried to force an unwelcome kiss. But Jake wasn’t forcing anything, and the warm, gentle brush of his lips was the opposite of unwelcome. She’d been craving this for months. Years.

With a sigh, she parted her lips under his, wanting to taste him. To drink him in, as she’d longed to do for the past five years. His mouth tasted of maple syrup and Jake. Heat gathered in her belly, the tips of her breasts.

An uneasy voice spoke from the back of her mind. But what if it all goes sideways again? I barely survived losing Bobby. I wouldn’t survive losing Jake.

The thought made her draw back a few inches, breathing hard, to meet the burning gold of his eyes. This is stupid, her common sense insisted.

“Erica,” he murmured softly, cupping her face in one broad hand, his thumb brushing back and forth over her cheekbone. “I want you.” A wave of heat rolled over her body at the stark, simple need in his voice.

And she realized she didn’t care about common sense or guilt or simple self-preservation. Not with the touch of his aura triggering a wave of hot, carnal awareness that made her catch her breath. Something deep inside her seemed to flower, a delicious quiver of sensation rolling from her head to her toes.

Oh, fuck it. I want this. I want him. Rising onto her toes, she kissed him, eager, hot.

Jake growled softly against her mouth — a human growl rather than leonine. His tongue explored her lower lip in a wet velvet stroke.

And God, it felt so good.

It had been too damned long. Too long since she'd felt the swirl of a lover's magic rousing her body to desperate, trembling heat. Too long since she’d felt alive.

Opening her mouth, Erica let him in. His tongue stroked along her tongue, and her breathing roughened. So did his.

He licked deep, once, twice, then retreated, inviting her to explore his mouth in turn. She closed her teeth on the soft pillow of his lower lip in a teasing bite, then licked his gently thrusting tongue.

His hands came to rest on her hips, drawing her close as he angled his head, deepening the kiss, offering her more.

And God, she wanted more.

Rrrrrrollll rumf. Clarence’s psychic voice held a moaning note of warning.

They jerked apart as if physically tearing free.

For a moment, Jake stared down at her, breathing hard, gold eyes glowing. Erica stared back, her heart slamming in her chest, need a hot, dark burn in the base of her belly. As if from a great distance, she heard a car rumble past. Which must have been what Clarence was trying to warn them about.

“We can’t do this standing out in the parking lot.” Erica’s gaze focused on his lips, the damp, full curves of them, the hungry, eager way they parted. “Somebody’s going to report us. We’ll get fired.”

“Not sure I care.” Jake sounded hoarse. “I need more of you.” Feral eyes flashed gold, reflecting the parking lot lights, the glowing not quite human. “Now.”

Despite the cool spring wind, a wave of heat poured through her. She’d thought she wanted Bobby, but it had never felt like this. As if she were under a spell that stole her will and self-control, leaving only aching lust. And yet…

“You know how it is with a cat’s libido.” She shook her head hard, trying to banish the memory of Bobby’s sneer.

Jake’s eyes narrowed, taking in her reaction. “Do you know where the Greenbriar Mall is?”

The strip mall stood a block away, closed and unoccupied since its big box anchor store went bankrupt. “Yes, but…”

“We can talk there.”

“Is talking really what you have in mind?” She’d intended the question to sound arch, but breathlessness sabotaged the effect.

His mouth curved in a smile so hot, she felt a responding fire leap in her own blood. “What I really want is you in my bed all night long, but I strongly suspect you’d chicken out before you got there.”

Her inner twelve-year-old was offended. “I’ve never chickened out of anything in my entire life.”

A dimple flashed in one corner of his sinner’s mouth. “Then you’ll meet me behind the Greenbriar in five minutes.” 

 Look for Arcane Heart in late August, 2018.