Publisher: Random
House Loveswept
Date
Published: August
19th
Genre: Paranormal
Romance
Word
Count: 85,600
In
the vein of Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series and Shelly Laurenstonï’s
Pride Stories, Vonnie Davis introduces two wandering souls who discover that
true love needs no words in this explosive, fantastical novel. Able to
telepathically communicate with animals, Paisley Munro has found meaning in her
so-called gifts by working as a veterinary assistant. But while traveling to
Scotland for a relative’s funeral, Paisley fears that she really has lost her mind.
Out in the highlands, she hears distinctly human thoughts coming from a wild
bear. Terrified and desperate, she returns to the lodge and collapses in the
powerful arms of its owner, a mysterious man with whom she shares a simmering
attraction. Creighton Matheson and his fellow shape-shifters have been roaming
this land freely for centuries. Now Paisley’s grandma may inherit his home,
putting his kind in grave danger. His mistrust only deepens when he realizes
Paisley can read his mind. Yet he cannot deny that this tantalizing woman makes
him burn with desire and hunger for the prospect of a tender love. Now
Creighton must decide which would hurt more: revealing the truth or losing
Paisley forever.
Buy
links:
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Barnes and Noble
Vonnie is gifting (2) commenters a copy of A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION, Nook or Kindle version, reader's choice. Comment to win!
The Scene:
Creighton took his place at the head of
the table. Paisley ignored her assigned seat next to him, perched instead like
a fire-eating dragon at the opposite end of the table. To silently communicate
with her, he opened his telepathic shield. Yer
place is by me side here in this chair. He jerked his chin toward the
vacant place setting.
Look,
you arrogant Scot. You might order everyone else around, but not me. Never me!
Bryce choked on the water he was
drinking. His eyebrows rose in that quizzical way he had. Creighton forgot his
brothers and other shifters would be privy to his and Paisley’s argument. Well,
so be it. At least his mother and Effie lacked this telepathic way of
communicating and would have no idea what was being said.
“I thought we’d eat family style tonight
instead of using the serving board.” His mother glanced around the table.
“Creighton, would ye begin by passing the roast duck?”
“Certainly.” He speared off a couple
slices of meat before passing the platter to Effie
on his left. Yer acting like a child, Paisley.
Ronan cleared his throat, shooting
Creighton a wide-eyed, warning glance.
Effie accepted the platter he offered
and smiled. “You always set such a pretty table, Fiona.”
A
child? Why you overgrown bossy galoot!
Galoot,
is it? He
slapped spoonfuls of mashed potatoes on his plate, never taking his eyes off
his blonde Viking.
Both of his brothers sniggered and he
shot them each a glare.
“Ronan, Bryce, ye know how impolite it
is to laugh at a private joke at the table. I’m sure Cook would enjoy having
the evening off from washing dishes.” His mother’s voice, while polite, held a
warning.
Bryce bobbed his head. “Yes, Mum.
Sorry.”
Hunh.
At least your brother knows how to be polite. Paisley slid a drumstick off the
platter onto her plate.
His bloody polite brother favored him
with a self-satisfied smirk while he chewed a mouthful of duck.
One
more word out of ye, lassie, and I’ll drag ye to me study and paddle that sweet
arse of yers I had me hands on yesterday.
Bryce choked and Ronan pounded on his
brother’s back.
Look,
Bozo, before you even think about paddling my behind you’d better grow a new
pair of balls.
She speared a piece of meat into her mouth, staring at him in silent challenge.
The last I heard, your balls were bitten
to hell by bugs.
Cook dropped a platter of fruit on the
floor.
Ronan and Bryce’s heads swiveled in
Creighton’s direction, no doubt to see how he’d respond to her remark.
He snatched a bowl of peas and carrots
from his mother and plopped several spoonfuls onto his full plate. Some peas
rolled across the ivory tablecloth. I
told ye it was the witch’s fault.
His brothers’ heads swiveled in
Paisley’s direction.
Look,
anyone stupid enough to smear a love potion on his dick and balls deserves to
be attacked by bugs.
Creighton slapped his fork onto the
tabletop and clenched his fists.
His feckin’ brothers leaned against each
other in fits of hysterics.
Cook and the butler stood side by side
at the swinging doors to the kitchen, their backs to the room, shoulders
shaking with laughter.
Effie moaned. “I love this plum sauce
you put on the duck. It’s scrumptious.”
I
dinna see what has ye so pissed. I
never once said ye were the woman to end the family curse. That asinine thought
came from the depths of yer mind.
Paisley flung a spoonful of mashed
potatoes onto her plate. No, but you
implied it. Another clump of potatoes flopped onto her dish. You and your threat to toy with me while
you were touching me everywhere. What is it with men? More potatoes
followed. First Alex romanced me so he
could cash in on my gift. Then you put your hands in my pants so you could make
me think you cared. When all the while you were just after a special breed of
woman to release your clan from some ancient curse.
Ronan and Bryce both lifted wineglasses
as they turned toward Creighton.
In Creighton’s red haze of anger,
someone handed him a basket full of warm rolls. He tossed one onto his bread
plate. I had me hands in yer pants
because ye had me so turned on I couldna think. Another roll and then a
third landed on the small saucer. ’Course,
how could any man think with ye scratching and clawing at his back the way ye
were?
Both brothers spewed wine.
Their mother stood and flung her napkin
onto the tablecloth. “That’s it! I’ve had enough!” She pointed to the mound of
food in front of Creighton. “Do ye think yer the only one hungry tonight? And
just why are ye scowling so mean at poor Paisley?” Her angry glower slid to
Ronan and Bryce dabbing at the spilled wine with their napkins. “I’ve also had
my fill of yer poor manners too. All of ye are acting like adolescent
hooligans.” She fisted her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with everyone
tonight? Is it a full moon, or what?”
Vonnie explains what's happening in the scene...
Paisley and
Creighton were outside arguing about the reality of his words and actions
toward her. He’d just told her about the ancient Viking curse that would only
end if the first-born of any generation married a woman of the right
combination of Norse and Scottish blood. Paisley’s mother is of Norse heritage,
so right away she assumes the worst and begins to doubt him. Since meals at the
Matheson Lodge are run strictly by the clock, according to Creighton’s Irish
mother’s edicts, they must go to the dinner table mid-argument.
The Cast:
Name:
Paisley Anika Munro
·
Physical Description: Blonde, chin-length hair, blue
eyes, and curvy. She wears black round glasses—think Harry Potter.
·
Short bio: An only child, Paisley began hearing
animal’s thoughts around the age of twelve. When she told her parents, they
labeled her a freak and had psychologists put her under heavy medications. The
only person who has ever loved and accepted her “as is” has been her gram, who
raised her from the age of thirteen. They have a very close bond. Paisley uses
her gift, or curse, as a veterinary assistant. Because of this, she’s had to
tell the veterinarian she has to work for; seeing it as a way to make money, he
romantically pursues her, yet verbally abuses her.
·
3 Positive Personality Traits:
- Loyalty
- Love of animals
- Love of learning, reading
·
3 Negative Personality Traits:
- Doubts her attractiveness
- Thinks men are out to use her for gain of one kind
or another.
- Thinks people will shun her once they learn she can
telepathically communicate with animals.
Name:
Creighton Duff Matheson
·
Physical Description: Six-feet-six, muscular, dark
hair to his shoulders, brown eyes that glow golden when he shifts to a bear.
·
Short bio: Creighton is the eldest of three brother
and has a curse hanging over his head. He must mate with the right kind of
woman before he turns 30 or he will die as every man in his lineage has for
centuries. He is laird of his clan and head of his bear sleuth.
·
3 Positive Personality Traits:
- Loyal to his clan and family
- Takes his duties very seriously
- Dislikes violence against women
·
3 Negative Personality Traits:
- Expects his wishes and orders to be obeyed
- Blusters about a lot and often says stupid
things—hey, he’s a man.
- Has a wee bit of a temper.
Vonnie talks about her process...
I delete as
I rewrite so I don’t have an earlier scene to provide. I do have a process.
First I write the dialogue and main movements, like walking into a room. Then I
add fine movements, like the arching of a brow or hand movements. Next I add
the physical reactions of non-pov characters. The Cook dropping the plate of fruit,
for example. Description is next along with general narration. Lastly, I add
internal dialog or emotion…and pray it all makes sense. Finally, I allow it to
play through my mind like a movie scene in slow motion. Do I need to add
something else in the background? The neighbor’s bass music? A motorcycle
rumbling past? A dog barking or a cat rubbing against the pov character’s leg?
All small details that we, as humans experience with our senses, yet don’t
really take note of because they’re all part of our normal life.
What Vonnie loves about the scene...
I love the
comedic timing of it, that the mother and Effie, Paisley’s gram, are clueless
to what’s happening, and that Creighton and Paisley are SO into each other,
even though they’re angry, all they can see is one another in the dining room.
And what
inspired the scene?
I suppose
it was the continuation of their argument from outside and my demented mind
just kinda went amuck with it.
Vonnie is gifting (2) commenters a copy of A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION, Nook or Kindle version, reader's choice. Comment to win!
AUTHOR
BIO:
Who is Vonnie Davis?
Well, I liken myself to a French croissant: warm, crusty, wrinkled, and somewhat flaky—and best
served with strong coffee. I’m retired now, if one considers writing every day
as retirement. I have 3 grown children, 6 fabulous grandkids and 1 husband, who
spoils me. I write exclusively for Random House Loveswept and HarperImpulse.
This
twit tweets @VonnieWrites
Facebook
me simply at Vonnie Davis
