Ice Moon by Lisa Kessler - Excerpt and Giveaway

Jared Ayers works outdoors, embracing a solitary life, hiding from his inner demons. But after so many of his Pack brothers have found their mates, he starts wondering if there might be a mate in his future too. His world turns upside down after he's hired by the "Ice Queen of Lake Tahoe". One touch is all it takes. One touch to send the wolf howling within...

A gifted psychic with pyrokinesis, Taryn Goldstone wields fire beyond her control– sometimes with dire consequences. With Jason, she discovers that some flames are meant for passion–and healing. She has enemies who covet her powerful gift, but they are about to learn just how far a wolf will go to protect his mate.

Purchase your copy of ICE MOON:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

Excerpt from Ice Moon:

My black body suit fit like a second skin. I stared at my reflection from every angle. I kept myself in good shape, but this get-up was going to be tough not to be self-conscious in. Not to mention, I’d never been to a costume party before. Maybe this was modest compared to what the other women would be wearing? I brushed my hair and let it fall down my shoulders. 

This would also be the first time my clients and employees saw me without my trademark messy bun. 

Lots of firsts. Made me nervous, but it was thrilling at the same time. 

I pulled up a picture of Dr. Jean Grey on my phone and compared. The form-fitting black suit was an amazing match to the movie version. Madison had done a great job finding it. Other than my blue eyes, I looked pretty close. People at the party should at least be able to recognize the costume. 

Satisfied, I forced myself to walk out into the living room. If I couldn’t be Dr. Jean Grey in front of Jared, there was no way I’d be ready to parade around the Masquerade on Friday night. I came down the hall and turned to the right. 

And practically choked on my tongue. Jared turned around in his body-hugging black uniform, a dead ringer for Wolverine. He’d been growing out his sideburns, and while I was back changing he even combed his hair up at the sides for Wolverine’s signature do. 

"Rugged and handsome" didn’t really do him justice. 

“Wow.” I was usually pretty articulate, but that was all I had. 

His gaze ran slowly from my feet all the way up to meet my eyes, his sexy grin curving on his lips. “You look amazing, Taryn.” 

And for the first time in years, that was exactly how I felt, too.

About the Author:

Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.

When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.

Connect with Lisa Kessler

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Beg Me to Slay by Lisa Kessler

Title: Beg Me to Slay

Author: Lisa Kessler
Source: Entangled: Covet
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 30, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

He’ll slay her demons, but it may cost her heart…

Four years ago Tegan Ashton was attacked. Determined never to be a victim again, she devotes her life to martial arts and self-defense. When her assailant returns to finish what he started, only one person can help her.

Gabe is a private investigator by day and demon slayer by night. After losing loved ones, he vows to defend people from a threat they don’t realize exists.

The relationship is supposed to be strictly business, but fighting demons together stirs up emotions they never expected. Turns out demon slaying is a breeze compared to facing their scarred pasts and even worse - hearts.

Demons can be fun to read about - especially when they are unique.  Lisa Kessler has some very unique demons in her world (I really liked Lago) that the demon slayer, Gabe, has to deal with.  When the very cute Tegan shows up asking for his help, he knows that he won't be able to turn her down.  But when he starts to fall for her, he's afraid that history will repeat itself and she'll end up getting hurt because of him.  Tegan, on the other hand, is bound and determined to make the most of her life (finally) - and that includes killing the demon that attacked her and finding what might be between her and Gabe.

I loved the fact that they were both totally kick ass - but at the same time needed to have each other's back to defeat the demons.  The demons were varied in the attacks and vulnerabilities, and some were even informants for the good guys.  It was fantastic.  Kessler introduced a lot of Welsh lore and I would have liked to see a little more of the history than the little stippets we got.

Review: Night Demon by Lisa Kessler

Title: Night Demon (Night Series #2)
Author: Lisa Kessler
Source: Publicist Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Shifter
Length: Novel
Release Date: March 18, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Deep within the Yucatan jungle a demon has awakened...

Gretchen Finch's job would be much easier if she weren't alone in the jungle with a brilliant recluse whose every glance sets her on fire.  But the more she focuses on her work, the closer she gets to unlocking the mysteries of a terrible creature - the Night Demon - that threatens the world as she knows it.  Though her scientific mind tells her it's impossible, she's beginning to believe the ancient Mayan tales as the sinister jungle comes alive around her.

Lukas Smith has spend hundreds of years searching for answers to his immortal Night Walker nature.  As a series of ancient glyphs become clear, he's about to find out  more than he'd ever hoped, but the more he learns, the more his fate intertwines with the Night Demon, and the harder it becomes to hide his immortal secret from the beautiful, intelligent Gretchen.

Together, they must find a way to stop the inexplicable violence and mass destruction surging across the earth before the Night Demon destroys mankind.

Review Night Thief by Lisa Kessler

Title: Night Thief Series: The Night Series #1.5 Author: Lisa Kessler Source: Requested Review Genre: Paranormal Historical Format: Novella, 109 pgs Reviewed by: WildAboutBones After the fall of the Mayan civilization, Kane, an immortal Night Walker, has taken refuge in France for over 800 years. The modern world holds little interest for him until the night he meets the Golden Thief and is robbed of much more than his pocket watch.

Marguerite Rousseau is living a double life. By day she is the assistant to an eccentric French artist, Antoine Berjon, and by night she dons elegant evening gowns to woo French dignitaries before lifting their wallets.

Sparks ignite when Kane captures the thief, but Marguerite harbors a dark secret that could ruin them both.

Lisa Kessler Night Thief blog tour

Who Wants to Live Forever?

Hi everyone –

I’m excited to be on the Bitten By Paranormal Romance blog today! 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live forever?  I think my fascination with immortals started with Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, carried into the Highlander movies and tv series, and finally culminated for me with my Night series.

I’m intrigued to understand how a person (or being) can keep their lives relevant when the world around them is constantly changing, and they’re not. Anne Rice’s Lestat searched for pleasure and entertainment, but eventually found himself aching for meaning and redemption. In the Highlander television series, Duncan MacLeod, engrossed himself in learning languages and fighting styles while continuing on his “There can be only one” path in The Game.

The immortal Night Walkers in my Night Series each face the challenge of facing eternity and watching the world grow and die around them. 

In Night Walker, my hero, Calisto Terana, walked the earth for over 200 years hoping for another chance at love and redemption. After his love was murdered in 1775, he gave up his soul to the night for a second chance to love her.  He had no idea he would wait centuries for her to live again, to see her face one more time. As decades turned into centuries, he amassed wealth and power, but his heart hardened and bitterness took the place of hope.

Only his memories of her and his desire to love her again keep him going.

In my latest Night Series release, Night Thief, Kane is one of the original Night Walkers, born immortal. As a Mayan God, time has never had any real meaning for him until the night he crosses paths with a mortal woman who steals more than his gold pocket watch.

His feelings for her force him to get involved in the mortal world around him and give him the opportunity to experience life instead of stand as a silent sentinel.

As I wrote the books for the series, each Night Walker hero has his own reason for facing eternity. For some it’s love, for others it’s duty, and for some it’s a quest for answers, but the burden of endless night weighs heavy on their shoulders.

On the surface, immortality, life without the fear of death seems like a great idea, but I think it comes with a hefty price.

So if you got the chance to live forever, would you take it?  If yes, what would keep you going as lifetimes pass by?  And if not, why would you rather remain mortal with only one life to live?

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts…

 

Lisa

Night Walker – The Night Series - Book One  (Available Now)

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her…

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous

priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another

chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her

life.

She’s haunted by dreams of her own death…

After catching her fiancé with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to

San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but

after meeting Calisto she’s drawn to him in ways she doesn’t understand.

They’ve waited in the shadows for centuries…

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the

Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of

his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal

that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he’s

ever loved again.

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Walker-The-Series-ebook/dp/B0083VMX9E

Night Thief – A Night Series Novella (Available Now)

After the fall of the Mayan civilization, Kane, an immortal Night Walker, has taken refuge in France for over 800 years. The modern world holds little interest for him until the night he meets the Golden Thief and is robbed of much more than his pocket watch.

Marguerite Rousseau is living a double life. By day she is the assistant to an eccentric French artist, Antoine Berjon, and by night she dons elegant evening gowns to woo French dignitaries before lifting their wallets.

Sparks ignite when Kane captures the thief, but Marguerite harbors a dark secret that could ruin them both.

BIO - Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for best published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror, and also won the Romance Through the Ages for Best Paranormal and Best First Book. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, “Immortal Beloved,” was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.

Lisa is an active member of Romance Writers of America serving as President of the San Diego Chapter.  She’s also a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Paranormal Chapter of RWA. You can learn more about Lisa and her books at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Lisa lives in southern California with her husband and two amazing kids.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review Night Walker by Lisa Kessler

Title: Night Walker (The Night Series #1)
Author: Lisa Kessler
Source: Publisher Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook, 265 pgs
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Author Website
He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.

She’s haunted by dreams of her own death...

After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.

They’ve waited in the shadows for centuries...

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he’s ever loved again.

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review:

Night Walkers, rogue monks in a secret Brotherhood, a megalomaniac monk and a love that spans centuries make for a great sensual paranormal romance in this first of Kessler's new The Night series.

This is actually two stories in one: 1) Calisto's life 200 years ago as Father Gregorio Salvador with his love, and loss, of Tala and 2) Calisto's life present day finding Kate and wooing her amidst the dangers of the Brotherhood. Kessler does a good job of handling the past and the present. Every time the story takes place in the past, it is prefaced with the year.

Calisto Terana - what a cool name, is a shapeshifting, blood drinking, dregs of society killing, Night Walker -- so much more than the so-called vampires, former monk and a healer. He is sure Kate is Tala reincarnated; she has the mark. It has been soooo long. He knows she is no longer his Tala and doesn't know him. He longs to touch her but doesn't. How easy it would be to slip into her mind and make himself exactly what she wants. But if she falls in love with him again, he needs to know it is real. This is his second chance and he's not going to blow it. Calisto is stunned to learn that the Brotherhood is watching Kate too.

Kate, music teacher and choir director, meets Calisto in the back courtyard of a church and is captivated by him. It is disconcerting that she never felt any danger from him, a stranger in the dark. She thinks of him as "sexy eye candy". Looks him up online and is surprised to find he is "the founder of her mother’s favorite charity". She dreams of Tala being raped while pregnant. She's had this nightmare since she was a child. Still gun shy over her ex-fiance's betrayal, she doesn't want to give Calisto a chance. She runs even though she's afraid she's already in love with him after just two meetings. She feels as if she's know him forever and yet she knows nothing about him.

Kessler knows how to write a sexy scene without a lot of specifics. In addition to the requisite bedroom scene, there is a hot bathtub scene.

I loved this story and I thinks fans of the paranormal romance and vampire genres will too.

How about the drool-worthy cover?

Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
There is a HEA ending.