It's my pleasure to welcome Viki Lyn to Friskbiskit today. Viki's got some exciting things going on in her career and she's here to share her news and free copies of her new book!
Thank you Jessica for having me here today. The first book of the Orbus Arcana - For The Bite Of It is now available exclusively on Amazon! And it is FREE today and tomorrow (through Friday, April 4th!).
This is a book of “firsts” for me. It’s my only series I’ve written with another writer. And, the only series I’ve decided to self-publish. I found that I love collaborating with Vina, our different writing styles complement each other. Vina’s a die-hard romantic, while I’m more pragmatic. You’ll definitely know which character I wrote, although our touches are in every scene.
Some of my readers will notice For The Bite Of It is a re-release. When we got back our rights, we thought long and hard on how we wanted to change things up. We listened to our readers and extended the ending. We gave Vince and John a “happily for now” and set up the storyline for book 2. There is even a sneak preview at the back of the book for A Bite In Time - the second book in the series.
I’m often asked what can readers expect from this paranormal series? For The Bite Of It is a light, fun, paranormal read that gets darker as the series progresses. Vince is our exiled vampire dealing with his situation the best he can, but he isn’t a “tortured soul” as some heroes of other vampire series. John is a detective trying to get a handle on his attraction to Vince and accepting being openly gay. Of course, Vince is also keeping his own secret from John safely stored in the closet - that he’s a vampire!
We enjoyed writing this series and have more ideas for storylines that are set in the Orbus Arcana world. Enjoy!
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5S2KMO
Blurb:
A vampire, a cupcake, plus one sexy cop, is a recipe for trouble.
VINCENT KAMATEROS is an exiled vampire making a routine living as the owner of a cupcake bakery in Arizona. Until a car with a dead driver crashes through the wall of his shop, bringing after it, All-American, closeted cop, JOHN REEDER. Smitten the instant he sees John, but bound to silence by the Vampire High Council, he can never reveal his true self to John.
John Reeder can’t control his attraction to the sexy Italian baker. But as addictive as the sex is, John can't overcome his fear of rejection for being gay, and open his heart to a man with so many secrets.
Excerpt:
For The Bite Of It excerpt, copyright © Viki Lyn and Vina Grey, 2014
Chapter One
The front half of a silver sedan decorated his bakery, its nose nudging the counter, glass shards peppering the floor like confetti. Except Vincent Kamateros wasn’t celebrating. Didn’t have much to celebrate, really.
He stepped around the vehicle, and glass crunched under his clogs despite his walking-on-hot-coals strut. The car had nose-dived into his store about an hour ago. His landlord, Mr. Sala, slumped between his seat and air bag. Dead. If it wasn't so serious, the situation could have been a scene from a cure-for-insomnia B grade movie you watched at three in the morning.
“Sir, the crime scene is off limits.”
He took out his irritation on the unfortunate crime scene tech, pinning the man with his gaze. “The entire bakery cannot be a crime scene, surely?” Fine for them to tape off the scene, but he wasn’t leaving his shop.
“I’m sorry, sir. I'll get my supervisor.” The young fellow scampered away.
Ah good, so he could still intimidate with a look. All was perhaps not lost. Except his life as he had known it and his powers. Madre de dios. Enough with this maudlin mood.
Vince pressed his thumbs to his eyes. These humans made him jumpy. Eight weeks without warm, flowing blood had left him as nervous as a caged bird with a cat tapping on the bars.
“Sir, you need to step back.” One of Tempe’s best in a navy uniform held out his hand to stop Vince. The place crawled with them.
He intimidated the human with a forceful glare but a voice from behind distracted him.
“Excuse me, are you the owner?”
The deep tone made him think of fire lit nights and warm sheepskin rugs and bodies twined in lust. Surely, lack of blood would not lead to such a reaction to a male voice. He turned.
Ah, yes. Fire, rug, desire – emotions evoked by a voice and the physical appearance of the man before him. He took in the man from his broad shoulders to his polished loafers. He couldn’t help it. Dark sleek pants hugged muscled thighs. A blue polo shirt outlined shoulders embodying the clichéd mile. That cock-sure stance, feet apart, slightly on his toes. This man would tempt a saint buried twenty-feet under.
He pursed his lips to hold back a smirk as the man stepped away from Vince’s scrutiny. Though Vince had to give him credit for not backing off the stare-down.
“Yes, this is my bakery.” Vince scrutinized the man’s body again. A tingle behind his eyes warned him to curb his lust before his eyes changed color. It had been decades since he'd had such a gut reaction to a man. He blinked and mentally willed away his innate response to such a strong emotion.
“I’m Detective Reeder, this is Detective Norman.” The detective indicated a redheaded woman beside him with a flip of his hand. “We need to ask you some questions.”
He blinked at the ID thrust under his nose – J. Reeder. What did the J stand for?
Something typifying the boy next store with his clean-cut looks - Jake, John, Joe?
“Sure. Er…where do you want me?” His brain couldn’t swing a more polished response.
Say here, right now, on your knees.
He really had to do something about his abstinence. Maybe, in a less blood-deprived state, this unexpected All-American male wouldn’t tempt him.
“Let’s get out of this mess.” Detective Reeder pivoted on one heel and walked away.
Not for a bag of fresh blood could Vince have stopped his eyes from darting down again. The front view had set up the back one perfectly – a begging-to-be-held ass.
The detective glanced over his shoulder. “Unless you want to come back to the station.”
Vince shook his head. This man brought back memories of the thrill of the chase, the enticing two-step when attraction first hit.
“Outside is fine.” His more lustful thoughts came to a halt when he passed the shattered window. The damage to his shop caused a pang in his heart. Who knew when he’d been talked into buying a cupcake bakery he would become so proprietary? Life sure took the strangest twists and turns.
Viki Lyn:
http://twitter.com/vikilynromance
https://www.facebook.com/vikilynromance
Vina Grey:
http://www.vinagrey.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/vina.grey.1
Viki and Vina Bio:
An introvert and artist with a healthy dose of skepticism about life and love =Viki. An extrovert and academic and a die-hard romantic =Vina. It was so not a match made in heaven. But Viki and Vina discovered a mutual love of traveling around the world, the paranormal, good coffee, and a healthy admiration for their respective creativity. Sitting in a coffee shop one day, they started brainstorming about story plots and Vince and John and the car crash in the bakery. A story was born. Vina writes the sappy romance and Viki tempers it. Between them, they managed to find their boys a ‘happily ever after’.
Thank you Jessica for having me today. The post looks great. And another reminder the book will be free today and tomorrow on Amazon. Have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Viki Lyn | April 03, 2014 at 09:12 AM
I love Viki's writing and I'm excited to see how this collaboration goes! :)
Posted by: Felicia | April 03, 2014 at 10:36 AM
Thanks for sharing the great excerpt and link to the book. I cannot wait to start reading this book.I am a big fan of paranormal and Viki Lyn.
Posted by: Gabrielle | April 03, 2014 at 06:37 PM
I had so much fun redoing the ending for this story. Ahhh...romance.
Posted by: Vina Grey | April 04, 2014 at 08:38 AM
Thanks for coming to visit Viki--and nice to meet you Vina!
Posted by: Jessica Freely | April 04, 2014 at 10:29 AM