Hi ladies & gents! Jan DeLima has been a regular here on the blog ever since the first installment in her CELTIC WOLVES series was published back in 2013, so it’s with great pleasure that I share an excerpt from book 3, AUTUMN MOON, along with my review, and a tour-wide giveaway.
His chest rose and fell with even breaths. She was not one to marvel over physical attributes, but this was Cormack, and his body was meant for pleasure, like a goddess had molded him for her personal divine gratification. His frame was large, and toned, with wide shoulders and a firm chest that tapered down to his hips. His hardened stomach would provide the perfect friction were she to ride him just like this.
And as that image flooded her mind, another, more wicked one, followed. It was greedy, and selfish, but all her niceness had been used up for the day. He looked peaceful, and innocent, but the man was practically immortal after all. Their kind did not die from lack of sleep. They might go mad, of course, but that took a few weeks. And had he not said, do with me as you will?
She needed to touch him. That was all. Well, no, she wanted more, but for now that would do. Taking a sip of her wine, she gently set the glass on an end table by the bed, and gave into temptation. Starting by his heart, she brushed lightly across his chest, tracing down the indent between, and lingering on the valleys and curves of his muscles. Flattening her hand over his stomach, she felt the soft hair that began just above the waistband of his jeans and disappeared below. She had never seen him in this restful state, at least not in his human form, and took in her ravenous fill.
Her hand lingered over the button of his jeans. She swallowed, wanting… Oh, how she wanted. It burned like molten earth, fed by a need that had been denied for too long. Even now she felt her body moisten and swell just from imagining what waited beyond that closure, and how it would feel inside her.
Or how it would taste.
She thumbed the button. A quick flick was all it would take.
A sound made her jolt, an intake of breath perhaps, followed by a sudden rise under her hands. She snapped her eyes to his face.
Cormack was awake.
And watching her.
A fire raged within his cerulean gaze. “Kill me now if you stop, Elen, because then I’ll know I’m well and truly cursed and I cannot be tortured anymore.”
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aX5jnZPLSX8/UlwkrcqL3hI/AAAAAAAAJC4/N3uonKVpHvY/s1600/JanDeLima_AuthorPic.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]
Jan DeLima is the author of the Celtic Wolves novels, including Summer Moon and Celtic Moon. She lives in Maine with her husband and their two sons. Unlike many authors, Jan didn’t pen stories at an early age, but she has always been a dedicated reader. It wasn’t until after her children entered school that she began writing. Raised in a military family, she lived in different countries such as Thailand and Germany, but home base has always been Maine.
Autumn Moon by Jan DeLima
Series: Celtic Wolves #3
Published by ACE
Published on: September 29, 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Werewolves
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
The author of Summer Moon returns to her “great werewolf world,”* where war looms and love may be the key to saving all of shifter kind…
For centuries, Cormack has lived between worlds—a man trapped in the body of a wolf, shunned by humans and shifters alike. Only one person has ever welcomed his company: Elen, a kindred outcast who is feared by others of her ancient Celtic race for her strange healing abilities. Cormack has always valued Elen’s kindness and understanding, but after a desperate act of friendship causes Elen to free him from his curse, he realizes he wants more. He wants all of her—completely and forever.
Except before Cormack can win Elen’s heart, Pendaran, the evil leader of the Guardians, captures her, determined to manipulate her incredible power to aid him in his twisted war against the shapeshifting tribes. Now Cormack must use all of his skills as a warrior and a wolf to save the woman he loves—before Pendaran’s vile schemes destroy them all…
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I openly admit that I prefer the furrier parts of werewolf fiction, so it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I was going to love AUTUMN MOON. The hero has never walked on two legs, and has been burning with the need to touch the female lead for over three hundred years. And, if that doesn’t reel you in; this series’ antagonists keep things plenty interesting, and there’s also mysterious powers at work with the potential to be total game changers.
Here’s another shocker for you: Cormack is my #1 CELTIC WOLF! I straight up adored his character; being human for the first time after centuries as a Bleidd is massive, and Jan DeLima seizes the opportunity to properly describe his transformation from start to finish. Cormack has to learn to walk, talk, and completely change his way of seeing the world. He’s also a special case where having a V-card makes sense, and I love it when it’s the alpha male who’s inexperienced.
Elen was a darned good protagonist as well, but then again all of this series’ heroines have been kickass. Her abilities are impressive, so right there you had me at “strong woman”. I also liked that the author succeeded in creating a MC that has an awesome connection with the natural world without going full on tree huger. Plus, it’s near impossible to find fault in someone who’s so intrinsically kind-hearted, that she’s capable of forgiving all offenders, even Mae.
The plot thread that revolved around Pendaran was horrible yet absorbing, and the new layer of Guardian lore was greeted with open arms by this reader. We learn of their true purpose, and Taliesin persists in torturing me with his secrets. The next couple was effortlessly prepped for the fourth installment, and largely I just thought that the story flowed better than the earlier volumes. After three novels, DeLima has the blending of Fantasy and Celtic mythology down to a science.
AUTUMN MOON stands on its own, so you have NO excuse not to hang with Cormack & Elen.
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Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Sounds like an interesting book so I put the series on my wishlist. 🙂
Question for the author: Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?
Hi Mai,
I just want to thank Carmel first for inviting me over to answer your question, and for participating in my blog tour! As for your question, I don’t tend to shy away from any subject. However, there are some that are very difficult to write, especially scenes that contain violence and prejudice which goes against my own beliefs in real life. I will push uncomfortable personal boundaries if it works for the character’s motivation in fiction. I hope that answers your question. Thanks for asking!
Jan recently posted…Literary Escapism Feature: Elen and Cormack at the Beach
Hmmm, I wonder if I could read this one without reading the previous books? Because I find so intriging the idea of a werewolf turning for the first time into a human and how the whole romance would play out!!
Pili recently posted…Saturday Pages: DNF Review for Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman.
aw Celtic mythology man that does sound interesting and different, wonder how i missed this series…
Lily B recently posted…Review: The Trouble with Christmas (Christmas, Colorado #1) by Debbie Mason
What a fascinating book! I love the combination of Celtic mythology and paranormal. Thanks for sharing the great excerpt. Lovely cover too.
Someone find me some more hours in the day, I’ve been wanting to read these so bad.
Rhianna recently posted…Cover Reveal: TRUE BORN by L.E. Sterling
Such pretty covers and you review reeled me in. 🙂
sherry fundin recently posted…A Chilling Mystery – Dark Ice by Dave Stanton – Review & Giveaway
I like that dress
Good luck with the release!
Sounds like a really fascinating & interesting story. I have to catch up for sure. Thanks for the great review.
Carol L
Loved the excerpt… seeing her touch him while he was sleeping! *snickers*
But that review, you are selling me on that one! It’s great to see that the author swept you away with her great characters!!
Naomi recently posted…Bad, Wicked, Twisted by Ilsa Madden-Mills ~ Excerpt & Giveaway
I am not familiar with this series. But after that excerpt, I will be checking out the previous books too. I love the idea that the alpha male H is inexperienced
I like the cover and excerpt of the book! I hope that it is a big success!