Thank
you so much for having me on your blog. I’m very excited to share Unnatural
Allies, Book Two in the paranormal romance series, Shifting Alliances. Although
part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Blurb
A World in Transition
Violent fae encroachment on shifter
land is heating up. With death tolls rising, the impossible becomes
necessary – an alliance among predator and prey shifters.
An Inconceivable Love
Nicca Baron, lone wolf and wolf
clan beta, finds herself under the command of Evan Grant, the rat
alpha. In different circumstances, he’d be dinner. Or so her wolf
keeps reminding her. Evan proves to be a perceptive leader, a skilled
fighter and irresistible to her lonely heart.
To rule the rats, you have to rule
the pack. Evan is a whiz at managing people and groups. Until he finds himself
leading a mission made up of every single large animal that thrives on rat
flesh. And not the kind between his legs. The only bright light is Nicca.
Her storm gray eyes miss nothing, her brilliant mind comprehends
everything and her succulent curves offer the perfect place for a rat to
nestle.
An Impossible Future
In each other’s arms, Nicca and Evan
discover love and a new perspective in an off-kilter world. But a
wolf cannot mate with a rat, no matter the strength of the human attraction.
Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0718ZTNFY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493422440&sr=8-2&keywords=Shari+Elder
Evernight
Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/unnatural-allies-by-shari-elder/
Bookstrand:
http://www.bookstrand.com/unnatural-allies-mf
Excerpt
Evan
had never seen Nicca look frightened before. Those silver eyes expanded into
saucers, and they were still beautiful. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, just
hold her close as they both tried to process a world spinning out of control.
Even his rat wanted to comfort her.
She
was getting under skin and fur.
The
last leaves hung limp on the branches, resisting winter’s pull. Away from the
sidhe, the air had warmed, although the sky retained a grayish winter hue.
Shifter bodies held heat, keeping them comfortable in the most brutal frost.
Evan burned hot from continuous movement, the too frequent adrenaline spikes,
and Nicca’s nearness. Everything about her fit, like she was made for him. That
agile mind, open-mindedness, those lush curves. Hell, she even spouted poetry.
He yearned to put a sign around her neck—no trespassing, this woman belongs to
Evan Grant.
Except
for that whole wolf thing…
“Why
don’t we find a comfortable place to set up camp near Fairy Falls and call it a
day?” he said to get his mind back to practical things, not wishing for
something he couldn’t have. He told himself he selected the location as part of
the mission. All species declared the pristine, wild falls a safe zone, so they
wouldn’t need the wolves or eagles to stand guard. The fact that it was the
number one rated site for shifter romances had nothing to do with the
selection. Nothing at all.
No
one would ever accuse Nicca of talking too much, but she was withdrawn even for
her on the hike to the Falls. “Any suggestions on places to sleep?” he asked
when her silence got too loud for him.
“I’ve,
uh, never really been here,” she whispered, looking at the ground. “Just run by
it on patrols sometimes.”
“And
that makes you sad?” He itched to run his hand down her cheek.
“This
mission makes me sad.” Her gaze stayed lowered as she walked.
His
rat senses perceived a deep despondency wrapped around her like a black aura.
“This
mission makes you angry, anxious, and confused. Not sad.”
“Who
are you to correct my assessment of my emotional state?” She gave him a
half-hearted snarl. He figured he’d hit an open, raw nerve.
“I
lead this mission, and I will not have you fall apart on me. Right now, you are
not okay.” He opened his arm, aping Rafe’s earlier action, inviting her to him
to take comfort. “Let me help.” Let me
touch you.
She
visibly shook herself, ignoring his outstretched limb. “You’re right. I need
space. Let me run as wolf.”
He
dropped his hand, then nodded to cover the ripping sound his heart was making.
“Stay close,” he said over the lump of disappointment lodged in his throat.
“Give me your backpack, and I’ll find a place to sleep. Meet me at the falls
when you’re done.”
Relief
brightened her eyes. Once shifted, she brushed against his leg, then licked at
his hand dangling by his side. He ran his fingers through her thick, gray fur
touched with black and silver as she trotted off. “Grab some happy, Nicca,” he
said into the air, as she raced out of sight.
Come back to me. Accept me.
Alone,
he hummed as he walked toward the falls. The low tune soothed his skittish rat,
who hated being alone and wasn’t too fond of the woods. Rats felt secure in the
pack. The human in him appreciated the red gold of the sunset streaking across
the powder blue of the sky, weaving in and out of spiky, hunter green firs that
ate up the landscape. Beauty truly did soothe an aching heart. The whirr of
winter birds, a chorus to his ears, unnerved the rat. He picked up his pace,
following the smell of ice and the roar of the falling water.
When
he arrived at the falls, he saw Nicca standing at the edge of the descending
water, running her fingers through the stream. That sadness he’d sensed earlier
scented the air and dulled those unique gray eyes. Following a powerful
intuition, he approached quietly, staying upwind so she wouldn’t notice until
he stood directly behind her. She may have rejected his offer of support
earlier, but he was determined to try again. His way.
She
turned to face him, and tilted her head up to meet his gaze. He pushed behind
one ear a lock of hair that was draped along her cheek. The tresses felt like
silk, the skin velvet against his fingertips.
“Evan?”
He
leaned over, touching lips to lips ever so gently. Giving comfort. Sneaking a
taste. Exploring what might be. She pressed back, her mouth opening slightly
beneath his. He sank into cherry and cinnamon, shyness and heat. She didn’t
require a friend; she needed a lover. He desperately wanted to be that
man.
He
pulled back, falling hard for the blush staining her cheeks a bright pink.
“Follow
me,” he said, taking her hand, and led her to the camping spot he noticed along
the way.
To
love a wolf.
About Shari
Hello, I'm Shari. By day, I crawl
out of bed, mainline coffee, walk the dog, get my kid off to school, hop on the
metro, and save cities within the four walls of my office. Usually by email.
At night, the other Shari emerges.
I take off the suit, curl up on the couch and let my imagination play,
with words and images until stories take shape (while periodically checking on
my teen-ager, hiding out in the bedroom and plotting world domination with her
furry minions). As my alter ego, I save cities in a cape and spangled
tights, wander space and time on a surfboard, fly over the Himalayas on
feathered wings, make six-toed footprints in indigo talc snow on the sixth
planet in the Andromeda galaxy or eavesdrop on Olympian gods while pretending
to whip up a bowl of ambrosia.
In all these wondrous worlds,
romance and passion blossom. I can't resist a happy ending. And I am
particularly prone to writing happy endings for those who have given up on ever
getting one. That gives me immense satisfaction.
Join me on my journey. The best
ideas emerge from team work.
Hang out with Shari on the Web
Website http://sharielder.com
Facebook
www.facebook.com/ShariElderStories/
Twitter www.twitter.com/ShariElderBooks
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/ShariEldeBooks
Goodreads www.goodreads.com/ShariElder
Thanks so much for hosting me.
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