Winner of my excerpt contest

The winner of my excerpt contest is Vonnie Davis! I'll be sending Vonnie a $25.00 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Send your email address to susanmacatee@aol.com so I can send your prize.

Congratulations and happy reading!

Two excerpts for the price of one and final day of contest

Since this is the last day of my contest, I thought I'd post my last two excerpts together. The first is from Sweet Redemption, my stand-alone vampire novella, available as an e-book.

The second from my Civil War Christmas novella, part of the An American Rose Christmas anthology. Hope you enjoy both.

Excerpt from Sweet Redemption:

She eyed him coldly. "Sir, I'm not in the habit of taking prisoners."

"Sorry, ma'am." He inspected himself under the blanket. Both his greatcoat and military coat had been removed as well as his belt and revolver. "My things--"

"Are hidden, Captain. It wouldn't be wise to have them on your person if Confederate troops are hereabout."

"I agree with your reasoning, ma'am, but where are they?"

"In a safe place."

He struggled to sit, but his muscles protested, and he slumped back to the floor.

"Easy, Captain. You're very pale. Have you been ill?"

"No, I..." He recalled Arnwolf and the barn. Had that really happened, or had it just been a dream?

"Now you're awake, I'll heat up some broth. You look like you could use some."

"Thank you, ma'am."

She hesitated, a blush coloring her ivory skin. "When I took off your coat, I noticed two raised bumps on your neck. I thought they might be bites."

He fingered the bumps. So, it hadn't been a dream.

"A wild dog attacked me. Out in the woods."

"A wild dog?" She shuddered. "I didn't know there were any around here."

"It's the truth, ma'am." Even as he said it, he cringed inwardly at his lie.

Her gaze narrowed as she studied him. "But when I took off your coat, I didn't see any blood."

No blood? Come to think of it, he hadn't noticed any when he woke in the barn. "I'm not real sure how that happened, ma'am."

She rose, studied him once more, then left the room.

He lay back, reflecting on what had happened. If the man, Reverend Arnwolf was a minister, he must be a fallen one. Like me.

Was that why the creature had come to drag him to his doom? Was God angry that Jon had left the priesthood? This couldn't be a coincidence. Hopefully, the man was gone, and he'd never come across him again. But he couldn't get those glowing red eyes out of his mind.

Satan himself couldn't have frightened him more. He fingered the crucifix.

For more info and to read review, visit my vampire romance page http://susanmacatee.com/myvampireromances.html

To purchase Sweet Redemption http://thewildrosepress.com/sweet-redemption-p-3750.html?zenid=efc2f41ac353b198c6926be0514ff6ab

Excerpt from The Christmas Ball, part of the anthology An American Rose Christmas

Sara closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Doc Ellison's kiss had scattered her senses. For months she'd dreamed of being in his arms. As he reached for the buttons on her shirt, her breath caught. His hands on her body thrilled her. She'd never felt like this before.

After loosening the buttons, he opened the shirt and gazed at her bosom.

She studied him, wondering what he was thinking. Did he like what he saw?

He dropped his hands and half-turned away.

"Please," she gasped. "Don't stop."

Turning back, his gaze roved over her. She tried to read his expression. Was that desire she saw, or disgust?

"We should be going now," he said. His gaze dropped to the hay strewn ground.

"No!" Boldly she reached out and fingered the buttons of his coat. He didn't move as she slowly undid them and parted the material. Her fingers tingled as they brushed over his shirt, feeling hardened muscle beneath.

His breath hitched, but he gently pushed her away. "Miss Brewster, we mustn't..."

"Doc!" A shout from outside, startled her. She jerked away from the doctor and scanned the barn opening.

"Yes," Ellison called. He eyed her. "You'd best go."

She nodded, hurriedly fastening her buttons. One of the other stewards approached. His dark eyes slid from her to the doctor. "They don't need me in the hospital tent, and told me to come on over and give you a hand."

Ellison glanced at Sara. "We're about finished here. I was on my way back."

"All right, Doc," the soldier said. "I'll head back with you."

She swallowed, not sure she could find her voice. "Ah... I'm off duty, so I reckon I'll head back to my tent."

Ellison reached up and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She caught his gaze, trying to gauge his thoughts. Would he have allowed her to undress him if they hadn't been interrupted?

The Christmas Ball is part of the American historical Christmas anthology, An American Rose Christmas, available at The Wild Rose Press and discounted for the holidays http://www.thewildrosepress.com/an-american-rose-christmas-p-3807.html?zenid=fbfeb2eb47f18b45e780e54c46f21563

More excerpts and links to reviews are on my website: http://www.susanmacatee.com/

And be sure to check out my post on the Christmas Tree in Victorian America over at Slip Into Something Victorian.

And check back here on the 26th to see who won the TWRP gift certificate.

Interview with a werewolf

For a Halloween treat, I'd like to welcome the hero of Dariel Raye's novella, Raven's Shelter, from the anthology Got Wolf? taming of the Wolf.

1. First, let’s dispense with the formalities. What is your full name?
Raven Anthony Adler

2. Where are you from?
I’m not sure where I was born, but I grew up in the Alaskan Mountains.

3. Shape shifting – that must be frightening. How did it happen?
Well, I’m not human or were. I was born with the ability to shift at will, and one form is as natural to me as the other. I’m a sentinel – born to protect the weres in my pack. Shifting is only frightening to me when I can’t control it.

4. So your shifts aren’t controlled by the moon?
No. I’m only affected by the moon because the weres in my pack are controlled by it.

5. What are you going to do?
Sighs. First, I’m going to find my sister.

6. What’s happened to your twin sister that you have to search for her?
Syreena and I have always had the ability to communicate telepathically, but I haven’t been able to sense her lately.

7. How can you make a life with Karen Marshall when you spend part of your life in the form of a wolf?
Well, let’s just say if there’s a way, she makes me want to find it.

8. Do you think you can be what she deserves?
Loyal? Protective? Intelligent? I was born to be all those things. The real question is whether she can love me despite our differences. That would be a first in my life.

9. If you could change your destiny and become fully human, would you want to?
Frowns. That’s like asking a dog if he’d like to become a cat. I am who and what I am. I make my destiny, and it has nothing to do with becoming human.

10. How do you hope your conflict will be resolved?
I find my sister happy and healthy, and Karen really loves animals as much as she says she does. Smiles, showing a glimpse of white, yet pointed incisors.

Well, there you have it! Raven, I've enjoyed having you as a guest on my blog today.

Be sure to catch Raven's adventures in the novella Raven's Shelter in the Got Wolf? taming of the Wolf anthology available at The Wild Rose Press.

And anyone who leaves a comment today on this post will be entered in a drawing for a $10.00 TWRP gift certificate! Happy Halloween!!

Winner of My Halloween Contest

Today, I'm announcing the winner of my Halloween contest on Dayana Knight's blog. And the winner is ... ta, da! ... Sarabelle! You'll be receiving a $10.00 TWRP gift certificate.

Sarabelle, contact me at susanmacatee@aol.com and I'll forward your prize.

Congratulations!!

Happy Halloween!