YA Paranormal Romance Author Michelle Areaux: Creating an alpha male beefcake + excerpt

As a HUGE fan of steamy, broody book boyfriends, I love to create a beefcake that anyone will want as their own hero. I always begin by crafting the personality.

Being suave and having a redeeming and endearing quality can make any guy hot.

So, in Dawned, Declan may be quiet, shy, and anti-social, but he also has a soft spot for his chaotic family and wants nothing more than to be loved.

He has dark hair and eyes, which I always think adds that mysterious spice that females adore in a male character.

The final dash of stubbornness rounds out the alpha male.

While we love a guy that falls for his girl, it is also a huge perk when they hold onto their own beliefs. Declan refuses to change his ways, even when it jeopardizes his relationship with Harlow, the main female lead in Dawned.

Declan’s ability to be his own man makes him the perfect piece of beefcake!

Dawned
by Michelle Areaux
February 14, 2022
Genre: Young Adult- Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Book Bliss Publishing
ISBN: B09MNPW2TL
Number of pages: 190
Word Count: 48,000
Eternity is a powerful tool

Twilight meets Lucifer in this exciting new paranormal romance.

Everything changed the moment sixteen-year-old Harlow Parker met the mysterious and captivating, Declan Quinn.

Always feeling as though she were destined to live a life of solitude, she never expected to meet someone so--magical. After the tragic death of her parents, she moved in with her godmother, Lorie, in the small, southern Kentucky town of Willow Falls. Nothing exciting ever happened here-- until Declan arrived.

And, once she meets the mysterious and swoon-worthy Declan, everything begins to spiral out of control. The magnetic pull she feels toward him is undeniable, and a gorgeous boy who would ultimately break her heart, was the last thing Harlow needed.

Declan Quinn has spent centuries looking for the one who can unlock his mortality. Despite his attempts to remain hidden in the shadows of the small town, he finds himself drawn to the quiet new girl. Curiosity gets the best of Declan and he soon realizes she may just be the one he has been looking for all along. As sparks begin to flare between the pair, Harlow quickly discovers there is something dangerous and supernatural about the boy she has fallen for. Declan is withholding a dark secret that could destroy Harlow and their relationship.

Desire inevitably overpowers both Harlow and Declan as they find themselves in the middle of a suspenseful supernatural war between good and evil. When both of their pasts come back to haunt them, they must find a way to fight together before they are destroyed forever.

Amazon

Taste Test:

I stop on the corner, ready to step onto crosswalk when I hear the rumble of a car heading my way. It is then that I decide to look up and away from the scattering of yellow and reds broken at my feet.

A pearl white sedan whips past me, stirring the leaves and air so that I feel as though I’m suddenly lost inside a tornado of fall.

The passengers turn to look out their window, probably confused by the strange girl who almost walked out in front of them. Their faces strike me and I forget how to breathe. It’s not because they are unfamiliar—Willow Falls is a small town. When you live here, you know everyone. No, their faces strike me as odd because they are the most beautiful and God-like creatures I have ever seen in my life.

A pair of ocean blue eyes locks on me and I still, my heart racing like a wild race horse. They belong to a guy around my age, but his striking features render me helpless. Raven black hair highlights his features as he stares me down. A blonde-haired guy, who is just as handsome, turns from the driver's seat and smiles a wicked smile that causes goose bumps to appear on my arms.

About the Author:
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Michelle Areaux resides in a small Kentucky town and enjoys writing tales of romance that includes the bitter and sometimes ugly truth of love, angst, heartache, and desire that all come with falling in love.

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Twilight meets Lucifer in this exciting new paranormal romance.

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Shifters Gone Wild Box Set

Fall in love with this paw-some collection of 12 shifter romances.

Whether you want to be bad with a bear, feisty with a feline, wicked with a wolf or get adventurous with an alpha, there's something for everyone in this collection. Grab it now!

Shifters Gone Wild: A Shifter Romance Collection

by Skye MacKinnon, Laura Greenwood, Arizona Tape, Liza Street, Keira Blackwood, Ophelia Bell, Felicity Heaton, Ann Gimpel, J.A. Belfield, Kate Rudolph, Rebecca Rivard, T.K. Eldridge, Marie-Claude Bourque

August 1, 2020

1870 pages

Fall in love with this paw-some collection of 12 shifter romances. 

From spell-binding romances to heart-pounding adventures, there's something for everyone in this collection of paranormal and urban fantasy romances. Whether you want to challenge the alpha, fall for the bear, or fly with the dragon, you can find it all within these pages.

This set includes the following full-length books: 

🐾 Claimed by her Cougar by Felicity Heaton

🐾 Oracle Defiant by Keira Blackwood & Liza Street

🐾 Deceived by Ann Gimpel

🐾 Protectors of Poison by Laura Greenwood

🐾 Rescued by Bears by Skye MacKinnon

🐾 Sea Dragon’s Hunger by Rebecca Rivard

🐾 Wolf’s Whisper by Arizona Tape

🐾 Beginnings by J.A. Belfield

🐾 Breath of Night by Ophelia Bell

🐾 A Sorcerer’s Night by Marie-Claude Bourque

🐾 Induction by T.K. Eldridge

🐾 The Alpha Heist by Kate Rudolph 

Amazon-Universal links

Cover Reveal: Alphas of Sin - A Once Upon An Alpha Anthology (4 Paws for Ability Charity)

Release Date: October 24, 2016

Cover Designer: Cover Me Darling – Marisa-Rose Shor

Photographer: Cover Me Darling – Marisa-Rose Shor

Model – John Corless

All Net Proceeds of Sales Donated to 4 PAWS FOR ABILITY

 

Once upon a time, knights in shining armor existed...

We were whisked off on their white horses, taken back to the castle, then crowned their princesses forever... Then we grew up and wanted more. Nights that never end. Passion that never dies. Dominance that never stops. Now, we want our alphas: sexy, scintillating, muscled, and masculine. Forget the castle; we crave their cave. Their love doesn't come easily, but their ruthless ways leave us breathless...and begging for more. Happily-ever-after has never been so much fun, especially now. Multiple authors, along with Once Upon An Alpha, have joined for a collection featuring some of the hottest alpha heroes you'll ever read. Best of all, the proceeds will benefit 4 Paws for Ability.

Stories Contributed to Alphas of Sin: HIS UNDENIABLE SECRET - SHAYLA BLACK BLIND CHANCE - REBECCA BROOKE TIGHT - SKYE CALLAHAN REVIVED - LILLIAN CARTIER NIGHT OWL - M.C. CERNY THE UNATTAINABLE CHIEF - MICHELLE DARE A PROMISE IGNITED - ANISSA GARCIA SIN ON A STICK - JENNA JACOB LOVE AND OBEY - SAPPHIRE KNIGHT BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED - ISABELLE LAPEARL TRIGGER - GLENNA MAYNARD THE RECLUSE - MORGAN JANE MITCHELL TEASE ME - NIQUEL HEINOUS - ALEXIS NOELLE THE BOSS - J.L. PERRY INEVITABLE - KATHERINE RHODES THE RIGHT CHOICE - BRANDY L RIVERS THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - M. STRATTON MASKED ENCOUNTER - FELICIA TATUM THE GATE KEEPER - ALICE K. WAYNE

4 Paws for Ability is a worldwide agency that enriches the lives of children and veterans with disabilities by training and placing quality, task-trained service dogs. For more information about this nonprofit organization: http://4pawsforability.org/

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Book Review: Traveller by Abigail Drake + Excerpt, Giveaway

Traveller
by Abigail Drake
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
February 26, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5092-0569-1 Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-5092-0570-7 Digital
ASIN: B01APJZR12
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 80,000
Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor
Former Junior Miss Kentucky Emerson Shaw won pageants using martial arts as her talent and Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” as her guide, but a painful secret leads her to the University of York, and puts her in the path of tattooed and pierced bad boy, Michael Nightingale.

Michael is a Traveller, part of an ancient line of mercenary gypsies who protect the world from vicious monsters called the Moktar. When Emerson gets attacked, she has no choice but accept Michael’s offer of protection or face certain death.

Traveller society, full of outdated rules and ridiculous superstitions, isn’t a good fit for the headstrong Emerson. Traveller women aren’t allowed to fight. Traveller women aren’t allowed to win. Traveller women aren’t allowed to leave. But Emerson will do what she must, even if it means losing the one person who matters most. 

As a self proclaimed "cover whore", this title got me right in the ole sweet spot. My vampire heart. Hot smexy guy, uh yes please! Add some tattoos, baby blues and a sword...yea I'm sold. Though, truth be told, sometimes a cover can be the only good thing about a story, happily this was not the case! 

Traveller (No, it's not misspelled) is a warrior filled world of super powerful gypsy beings who set out to kick some monster booty and save us mere mortals. Cause, if this type of scenario does come true, we really will need a little help on team homosapien. Just saying. 

There's a good helping of comedic relief all throughout the story. While some may find it a tad too much laugh and giggle, I enjoyed the humor and snark a lot. 

I will say that the one down-side: at times the character dialogue does border on cheese overload. It's a little unrealistic to fall head over heels within a few days of knowing someone. Even for a made up PNR world, that's just not believable. I mean, vampires seem more realistic then falling for your soul mate after the first date! 

If you add up all the sums of this story, there's a lot here to enjoy. It's a tad young reader focused and not as "mature" in the sex department as I would have liked. BUT overall this is a good read that will keep you in the moment and turning the pages to see what's could possibly happen next!

 Getting 3 and 1/2 Sheep 
KD  

Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo The Wild Rose Press

Excerpt:

“Who are you and what do you want from me?”

I took a deep breath. It probably wouldn’t be a good start to tell him he occupied my every waking thought and most of my dreams, too. I decided to go with a more conventional approach.

“You’re here every morning, and I thought I’d say hello.” I stuck out my hand. “Emerson Jane Shaw.”

He surprised me by reaching for my extended hand and holding it firmly. His hand, large, warm and rough, had cuts and bruises all over the knuckles. He had faint bruises on his face, too, and some small wounds still in the process of healing. He’d been in some kind of fight recently.

It didn’t surprise me. He had the look of a warrior about him, the lean strength and watchful eyes of a predator, and he was lethal. Sun Tzu would have seen it, too. He would have recruited him without a moment’s hesitation.

“Michael Nightingale.” He stared at me with those hypnotic eyes as he continued to hold my hand, using it to pull me nearer to him.

“I know. Mrs. Burke told me.” I couldn’t focus on what I was saying while he touched me, not that I’d done such a great job up until now with my witty repartee.

He tilted his head to one side, studying me the way a lion studies a gazelle before he eats it. His face was only inches away from mine.

“Do you like to flirt with danger, Emerson Jane Shaw?”

“Not usually, but today I can make an exception.”

The touch of his hand sent an electric current through my body that made my heart speed up and my brain slow down. He was intoxicating. I almost had to fan myself.

Abruptly, Michael let go of me and stood up, shoving his books into his backpack. I stood up, too.

“What’s wrong?”

Michael glared at me, threw some bills on the table and stomped out of the shop. Like an idiot, I grabbed my backpack and followed him.

He walked quickly through The Shambles, dodging pedestrians and umbrellas with ease. I wasn’t quite as lucky. The rain poured down, filling the street with puddles. Michael wore combat boots and jeans. I had on a useless pair of flats and no jacket. It only took seconds for me to be soaked to the skin and miserable. In minutes, I looked like a little blonde drowned rat.

I’m pretty fast, even in slippery shoes, and I was motivated. I kept him in my sights until he reached a side street at the end of The Shambles that led down a narrow lane. I was only half a block away when he turned and looked at me, his eyes locking with mine, and disappeared.

He hadn’t walked away. He hadn’t moved. He’d been there one second, and gone the next. Running as fast as I could, I reached the spot where I’d last seen him and looked down the lane and on either side of the street. My ribbon flew out of my hair, blowing away in the wind as I slid on the wet cobblestones and nearly fell. I skidded to a halt, realizing I hadn’t been fast enough. It was a dead end, and he was gone. 

About the Author:
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Abigail Drake has spent her life traveling the world, and collecting stories wherever she visited. She majored in Japanese and International Economics in college and worked in import/export and as an ESL teacher before she committed herself full time to writing. She writes in several romance genres, and her books are quirky, light, fun, and sexy. Abigail is a trekkie, a book hoarder, the master of the Nespresso machine, a red wine addict, and the mother of three boys (probably the main reason for her red wine addiction). A puppy named Capone is the most recent addition to her family, and she blogs about him as a way of maintaining what little sanity she has left.

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Sign up for Abigail’s newsletter and be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. 

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Alpha Male Diner: Casper Grady by P. A. DePaul (Exchange of Fire, SBG #1)

Casper Grady
(Former Marine, Family Fun Center Business Owner)

Recipe by P.A. DePaul

Exchange of Fire, SBG #1

Before you start, turn the air conditioner way up as this recipe tends to cause overheating and internal combustion during cooking.

Sauté together in a skillet and simmer on low heat:

Base Ingredients:
* A six-foot-three hero
* Military-honed physique
* Sun-kissed blond hair

Liberally add to taste:
Seasonings:
* Ripped abs—ensure each muscle has been massaged for full flavor prior to addition
* Alpha male personality
* Sexual magnetism
* Easy-going open smile
* Crystal blue eyes
* Lethal skills

Sizzle until ingredients reach a golden tan.
Garnish (with as much as the plate can handle):
* High Intelligence
* Grim Reaper tattoo
* Fierce protector
* Underdog champion

Recipe yields one sexy former marine who is now a successful businessman. Best served hot but with caution. Women tend to lose their intelligence and ability to control their hormones before even consuming dish.

During clean up, be sure to first lick the pan, spatula, and any other items you feel appropriate.

This dish pairs nicely with a kick-butt, female sniper answering to the codename Wraith.

Taste Test 

“Where did you work after college?” [Grady] continued.

“Hmm?” This was worse than any interrogation technique [Sandra] had endured in training. Her muddled mind was focused only on relieving the ache growing in her core. 

He dipped his head and whispered, “After college, where did you go?” 

“College?” Oh, God, why were they still talking? “After? Kansas. Training.” 

“I see,” he answered. 

He did? How could he? Her unfocused eyes were absorbed in the smolder she found in his irises. She pressed her hand against his, holding it to her face. Electricity danced under her fingertips as fire erupted beneath his palm. His gaze narrowed and searched hers, smoke filling his eyes. Come on, kiss me. Show me you want this too. Her breath caught at the rush of lust mirrored back to her just as he closed the distance. 

The second his lips touched hers, she ignited. She crushed her mouth to his and parted her lips. He needed no more incentive than that. He cradled her face in both of his hands and tilted his head. His tongue darted inside and she greedily accepted it. When his tongue retreated, she followed and melted at the taste inside his mouth. 

For months they had been dancing around this moment. The suspense of wondering if she could allow it to happen and if he’d still be interested when she did made it all the more explosive. 

Someone moaned. Probably her. Holy moly, could he kiss. This was such a bad idea, but she couldn’t get up the gumption to give a damn. 

She ran her palms up his forearms and squeezed his rock-hard biceps. Hot damn, did that turn her on. She flattened her body against his. 

He groaned and molded his very noticeable bulge against her stomach while she smoothed her hands down his back. Defined muscles rippled everywhere she touched. Sexy. 

He pulled his mouth away and kissed along her jaw. She sucked in a much needed breath and angled her head for him to continue his path.

“Tell me,” he whispered between kisses, “is that where you got the knife?” 

“Knife?” What the hell was he talking about? Better yet, why was he talking at all? 

Goose bumps flared at the skin-on-skin contact from his hand when he reached under her polo and swept it toward her lower back. He pulled her forward, pressing his erection into her. A tremor stole through her abdomen and into her core at the promise of receiving his hard length. 

“The blade you had out earlier.” He burrowed under her shirt with his other hand and slid his fingers up her rib cage. Her eyes about crossed at the overwhelming anticipation as he edged near her bra. Just when she thought she’d go mad from waiting, his palm enveloped her breast. “You got that in training?” He tweaked her nipple through the fabric and a rush of moisture pooled between her thighs. 

“Oh God, do that again,” she uttered, her voice so raspy, she barely recognized it. 

He complied while whispering against her lobe, “Knife part of training?” 

Desperate need raced through her. “No. Gift from Talon.” 

He yanked her shirt up and thrust her cup below her breast. He licked the distended bud, and she dropped her head back. Thank God he had all those arm muscles, because they were the only things holding her up. His tongue alternately swirled around the areola and flicked the peak. She moaned, sliding her hands into his hair. The sexy surfer curls were just as silky as she imagined. 

He drew back and blew on it. “Talon an old boyfriend?” 

She shivered from the air against the moisture and trembled when he dove forward to suck the nipple again. “What? No. Teammate.” 

He kissed his way back up, claiming her mouth. She didn’t hold back. He met her passion and added fuel by unleashing his own. A bomb could have exploded outside and she wouldn’t care. Just as long as he didn’t stop. He took a step back and kept her melded to him. He twisted them around and slowly sank to the couch. She didn’t break the kiss as she kneeled on the cushions to straddle him. To have his bulge now rubbing against her core almost had her coming. 

He broke the kiss and cupped her ass in his big hands. Almost as if they were thinking the same thoughts, he ground his erection into her and began stroking her most sensitive area. The friction from her panties and jeans increased the tension. He bent his head and kissed her still exposed nipple. The tension coiled higher. 

“So, you went to training in Kansas after college,” he whispered against her breast, “and met Talon, who became a teammate, and he gave you the knife, right?” 

The intensity ratcheted up, but the fog in her brain began to clear. Talon. Knife. Teammate. The words rattled in her mind. Talon. Teammate. Kansas. Her eyes flew open. Oh God. What did she do? 

She jumped off his lap and slapped a hand over her mouth as she gazed down at him. Daggone, the man was fine sitting there unabashed as he returned her hot stare. His cock looked like it was going to burst from his jeans, and his chest heaved with his labored breathing. 

He rested his forearms against his thick thighs and cleared his throat. “None of that was on your résumé. So I’ll ask again. Is anything on it true?”

"If you enjoy military action, suspense, steamy romance, and a little danger, this is the series for you." —Library Journal
First in a sexy new romantic suspense series for fans of Julie Ann Walker and Maya Banks

Faking her death was easy, living with her past is harder, but nothing is more dangerous than falling in love…

Sandra Walsh was a deadly sniper for the Sweet Briar Group, a covert agency with assassins for hire, until her last mission went horribly wrong, accidentally killing an innocent girl. Knowing she’s a danger to her team, Sandra goes off the grid, becoming a Shade—an agent declared dead but secretly hiding among the living. She intends to honor her vow never to pull another trigger or have contact with the spy world again. Until she meets Casper Grady…

Grady is a former Marine with a troubled past and a debt to pay. His life mission has gone from protecting the nation to helping local children and their families. The moment he meets Sandra, he knows there’s more to her than meets the eye, but he can’t help but be drawn to the mysterious femme fatale. And when Sandra’s past suddenly catches up to her, Grady is determined to protect her at all costs, no matter how dark and dangerous her secrets are.

As the danger increases, so does their intense attraction. But when they’re forced to choose between each other and the people they’ve sworn to protect, their growing love might not be enough to keep them together—or alive…

About the Author:
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P.A. DePaul is a multi-genre romance author including paranormal fantasy and romantic suspense. She originally hails from Carroll County and Baltimore County, Maryland, but also lived in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia. She currently resides in a beautiful community just outside Philadelphia. Exchange of Fire is the first novel in the SBG series with the second novel, Shadow of Doubt, releasing April 2015. You can also find out more about her at.