Blog Tour: Ward Against Destruction (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #4) by Melanie Card

Ward Against Destruction (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #4)
by Melanie Card
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: 10/05/15

Synopsis:

Ward de’Ath used to think that nothing could be more terrible than death. Now he realizes there are worse things. Like his never-ending hunger for blood. Even if he conquers the unbearable cravings that drive him headlong toward destruction, he’s a wanted man with a bleak future. 

Assassin Celia Carlyle learns she is the only one who can protect Ward from disaster. She loves him–she wants to help him, but no one can tell her how to save him from himself. And the confusing voices in her head scream to let him go. 

But Ward's dark trials keep mounting. A malevolent evil is rising in the land, threatening to unleash horror upon the world. The only way Ward can defeat it, and have the chance to marry Celia, is by accepting his fate and becoming the one thing he swore he would never become...

Hi, I’m Melanie Card. I love writing all different kinds of characters—each story requires different types of heroes and heroines—but one of my weaknesses is strong, confident—perhaps a little deadly—heroines. Celia Carlyle, the heroine in my Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer series, is one of these women. She’s dangerous, skilled in martial arts, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, and quite happy to take charge of every situation.

To celebrate the fourth and final book in the Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer series, WARD AGAINST DESTRUCTION, I’m sharing my top five favorite, kick-butt alpha heroines in books, movies, and TV shows… in no particular order.

1) Buffy from the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer

2) Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore

3) Two from the TV show Dark Matter

4) Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

5) Dutch from the TV show Killjoys

There are so many other strong woman in fiction, TV, and the movies. Who’s your favorite alpha heroine?

I have always been drawn to story telling. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: The Frenchman (Crime Royalty Romance #1) by Lesley Young

The Frenchman (Crime Royalty Romance #1)
by Lesley Young
Publication date: December 2nd 2014
Genres: Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Fleur Smithers rarely veers off the straight and (excruciatingly) narrow. So moving to the seaport town of Toulon to live with her newfound biological mother—an inspector with the French National Police—for one year is a pretty major detour. 

Son of France’s crime royalty family and international rugby star, Louis Messette, is devoted to his sport, famille and nothing else. But the carefree American he meets one night changes everything. She sparks a desire in him like no other. Possession takes root. She will do as he commands. 

Bit by bit Fleur slips into the Frenchman’s realm of wanton pleasure agreeing to his one condition: that she keep their affair secret. She serves up her heart without reservation in the hub of the glittering Côte d’Azur, and the along the soulful Seine in Paris, unaware of the danger she is in. For her new lover’s family business will pit her against her mother, the police woman sworn to bring down the Messettes. And by then, far more than Fleur’s heart will be on the line. 

READER WARNING: This novel contains explicit sex.

After a moment, when I steeled my resolve, the door opened.

Not Louis.

A man with salt and pepper hair, a nasty scar above his lip and astute eyes, scanned me. “Oui?” he asked rudely.

I hesitated, but then thought, I’m all in.

“Je suis venue pour voir Louis.”

He scanned me much more carefully, and his dark eyes stopped at the cash in my hand. After his eyebrows rose, ever so slightly, his face relaxed and a side hitched up. He shrugged and opened the door wider.

I stepped into another foyer, encased in a marble, circular partition. With one last wave of jacked-up energy, I barreled around the wall, quickly scanning the, holy massive, space, hesitating only to admire the incredible view provided from floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere. Gorgeous kitchen, too. I sucked in a waft of cooked chicken. God I missed meat. Pausing to get my bearings—this was an extremely large suite—I followed the faint sound of the television sports game. There was the living room. I spotted a giant flat screen against a wall, blinds tugged down around it.

My heart was going a mile a minute, my hands shaking. I couldn’t turn back now. I stepped down the two stairs, powered across the empty dining room area, into the living room space, aiming straight for the middle, where . . . my eyes scanned quickly . . . there were others present, two, I think, standing behind one sectional.

Ah-ha!

There sat Louis, legs wide apart, on a giant leather sofa, a remote in one hand and an empty plate of chicken bones beside him. He was in a pair of track pants and nothing else. To say he was shocked, when he realized the girl standing in front of him was not a cute American announcer suddenly on his TV screen, was an understatement.

“Fleur,” he exclaimed sitting forward, absolutely no fat bunching at the waist.

“What the hell is this?!” I shouted at him, waving the cash.

I watched red sprout in his cheeks as he glanced around at the chilled room, and back on me. His eyes took in the money, and my other hand on my hip. He stood up to his full, mighty height, extra slow, his eyes steady on me.

But I wasn’t intimidated. Not in the least. He was way out of line.

“You know what? In America, you pay—” I shook the wad of cash at him “—after you’ve finished the transaction.” I threw the money at him but it didn’t get very far. It kind of fluttered to the floor.

Holy cow. Did I really just say that? That is not what I had meant to say. It just came out.

Waves of regret rippled through me as he pulled his head back, and his lips bunched up, contemptuous. Disgust spread on his face like ink.

And who could blame him? There I was, standing in his living room, lamenting the fact he had not bopped me. Oh sweet mercy.

by Lesley Young

Author Lesley Young makes the case for why Frenchmen make for good romance novels reads

Obviously I am totally biased here, since my novel The Frenchman is set in France and features a hot, Alpha hero from Toulon (to up the ante I also made him a super fit rugby player and utterly rude). Anyway, I took my job quite seriously and researched the heck out culturally significant romantic facts. I mention a few here (the rest are based on one bout of firsthand experience in my youth). 

Zhe accent

Seriously, is there a sexier accent, especially delivered in a soft, deep, hoarse murmur, at least, prevalent in romance novels? Oh sure, the old Scottish brogue will give you the odd pang, but it’s hardly as elegant, slick and let’s all agree — exciting. If I had an Amazon.com gift card for every book I read with, “Aye, ya wee lass...”

Fashion sense

Frenchman have some. Should I leave it at that? I know us novelists tend to dress our North American heroes quite snazzy, but readers know better. I like to think that’s another reason why The Frenchman is so realistic—you think maybe you could meet a truly debonair man just like Louis Messette in real life. . . 

You’ll know when he’s into you

Little known fact: Frenchmen don’t play games. They’ll call you the day after your first date, eager to set up the next one. Date three he’ll call you his girlfriend. Week two he might say he loves you! While my Frenchman, Louis Messette, didn’t play it straight, when he made up his mind about my heroine Fleur Smithers, he was ALL IN.

Attitude

He’ll look you straight in the eye and always mean what he says, with emphasis. Yup, um. . . what was I writing about? Oh yeah, I made sure Louis held true to this truism, ack! (sorry, I got distracted there).

They invented the phrase je ne sais quo

Yes, they are so overwhelmed with adoration for you that they are unable to quite articulate why. This doesn’t mean your Frenchman will be complimenting you all the time (it does happen!) so much as openly admiring you—in all the ways that make your heart race.

Tell me if I delivered on these pluses in The Frenchman available Amazon.com http://amzn.com/B00QJGFZMM. Thanks for the opportunity and please stay in touch at

Facebook.com/LesleyYoungBooks, @LesleyYoungBks and LesleyYoungBooks.com.

Lesley Young is a genre-defying author of unforgettable heroines who experience thrilling life- and love-altering journeys. Her debut novel was Sky's End; her most recent stand-alone series, Crime Royalty Romance, includes The Frenchman and The Australian. She loves to hear from readers.

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