As the New Year starts I thought it would be fun to go
back to the beginning. So we are traveling way back to 2008 and my very first
release Savage Love. Savage Love was part of the Halloween Collection Bite Me.
In Savage Love we met Kelly Walker and watched as she struggled to come to
terms with her sister’s death. She knows who is responsible to the murder of
her sibling and is unhappy with the man still walking free.
Alex Gray has been working his ass off on trying to
bring down the man who killed Kelly’s sister and has committed numerous other
crimes. He feels the noose tightening and knows he will be able to bring the
man to justice soon. He’s tried to keep Kelly out of the investigation but when
she shows up to confront him Alex has to step in. And doing so he reveals his
true nature.
Save
Love Book Description:
Kelly Walker is determined to bring down the man
who killed her sister. One year later and there still hasn't been an arrest
made. She knows there is an on-going investigation headed by the attractive and
intriguing Alex Gray. The only man who has ever been able to touch something
deep inside her she'd rather not know about. Their attraction is almost
animalistic.
Alex Gray has tried for a year to keep Kelly out of the investigation he's given two years of his life for. But when he finds her trapped with the man he knows has killed before, he must risk everything to protect her. Showing her what he really is and what they are up against could cost him the one thing he's waited his entire life for—a mate.
Alex Gray has tried for a year to keep Kelly out of the investigation he's given two years of his life for. But when he finds her trapped with the man he knows has killed before, he must risk everything to protect her. Showing her what he really is and what they are up against could cost him the one thing he's waited his entire life for—a mate.
Savage Love Excerpt:
Kelly wasn’t happy, but she
left the bar. What was she going to do anyway? Walk up to Craig and introduce
to herself as the sister of the woman he’d killed a year ago. He would probably
pull out a gun and shoot her where she stood.
Shaking her head, Kelly walked to her car. A sound from behind her made her stop and twirl around. No one was there, but the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Digging through her purse, she found her keys and gripped them tightly in her hand. She looked back at the door. She could go back inside and have Alex walk her to her car.
No, he might think she was making it up to be alone with him. Biting her lip, she turned back towards the car and jumped in surprise. The man in front of her was over six feet tall, had on a long blank trench coat, and was snarling at her. As he reached out for her, Kelly backed away. He moved faster and grabbed her upper arm.
He quickly pulled her in the alley behind the bar. She could see three men waiting.
Kelly started to kick, but a hand covered her mouth and an arm went around her neck, cutting off her air. Then she was standing in front of the man she had come to see.
Craig Lambert leaned forward and sniffed her neck.
Kelly tried to kick out again, but the man holding her was just too strong.
“I love the smell of fear,” Lambert said in a deep voice that made her stomach roll.
He straightened, and she could make out his facial features in the dim light of the alley. Just like the first time she’d seen a picture of him, she was amazed at how normal he looked. In fact, up close, he was quite attractive. No wonder why her sister had been interested in him.
“I saw you watching me. Do I know you?”
Kelly shook her head, unable to talk with a hand over her mouth.
“No? You do have something familiar about you though.” He ran thin, bony fingers over her cheek, and Kelly felt tears threaten to fall. When his thumb flicked over the pulse in her neck, she could have sworn his eyes turned red.
Eyes wide, Kelly watched him as he leaned forward. His mouth opened and his teeth, which had been normal, started to lengthen. Her scream was barely audible as terror she’d never felt before shook her body.
Before he reached her, there was a howl and something knocked into them. Kelly went down on her side and rolled away from the two men. She heard someone call out, “wolf,” as she scrambled to hide against the wall of the building.
The scene before her was like something in a movie. A grey-and-white wolf stood in the mouth of the alley as the four men spread out with guns drawn. Kelly didn’t know what to do, so she pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, hoping to stay invisible.
The first shot rang out and Kelly jumped. The wolf charged into the alley, attacking the wrist of the one who’d shot at him. While he was busy, another man aimed for the wolf, but the animal moved just in time and sidestepped another bullet.
The first man was holding his arm as he fell away from the wolf. Kelly watched as blood gushed from the wound and dripped to the dirty concrete. She felt her stomach turn at the sight and steeled herself not to get sick. That wouldn’t help the situation at all.
Then the wolf jumped on the other guy, his sharp canine teeth clamping down on the man’s throat. Kelly closed her eyes as the man’s scream turned into a gurgle but the sound of movement had her opening her eyes again. She watched as the wolf released the man and stalked towards the other two men. The one who had held her, and the one who had killed her sister.
The men exchanged looks before jumping straight up in the air. The wolf charged at the same time but met only air as the two men disappeared.
Kelly wasn’t aware she was sobbing until the wolf turned, and she met his stare. She’d never seen a real wolf before, only on television, but she knew this wasn’t just an ordinary wolf.
He stepped forward, and Kelly held out a hand. “St…st…ayyyy,” she stuttered. Her hand shook and she could practically hear her own heart beat. The wolf stepped closer.
Hoping this was just a bad dream, she closed her eyes, counted to ten, then opened them, but the wolf was still there. Standing in front of her, his head tilted to one side, blood dripping from his mouth.
Kelly moved onto her knees and tried to crawl away. The wolf growled, and she froze in her spot. The growl vibrated the air around her. Obviously, the wolf didn’t want her to move. So she remained on her hands and knees against the old brick building, watching as he closed the distance between them. When he stepped in front of her, she once again got a look at the eyes.
A sense of calmness went over her as she looked in those deep grey eyes. She just stared, as she had done not more than half an hour ago. “Alex,” she whispered.
The wolf moved and she felt his soft fur against her skin.
The back door of the club swung open, and they both jumped. Before she could blink, the wolf hunched down and growled. Kelly felt a wave of relief as Marcus stepped out the door.
Kelly watched Alex’s partner take in the scene before him. The wolf was still crouched down and growling, and Kelly was still on her knees. She looked over to where the men had been but they were gone. There were no bodies or anyone but them in the alley. No blood or sign of what had taken place. If Kelly hadn’t seen everything with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have known anything had even taken place.
Marcus closed the door and turned towards her. Kelly started to stand, but the wolf turned his head and snapped at her.
Shaking her head, Kelly walked to her car. A sound from behind her made her stop and twirl around. No one was there, but the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Digging through her purse, she found her keys and gripped them tightly in her hand. She looked back at the door. She could go back inside and have Alex walk her to her car.
No, he might think she was making it up to be alone with him. Biting her lip, she turned back towards the car and jumped in surprise. The man in front of her was over six feet tall, had on a long blank trench coat, and was snarling at her. As he reached out for her, Kelly backed away. He moved faster and grabbed her upper arm.
He quickly pulled her in the alley behind the bar. She could see three men waiting.
Kelly started to kick, but a hand covered her mouth and an arm went around her neck, cutting off her air. Then she was standing in front of the man she had come to see.
Craig Lambert leaned forward and sniffed her neck.
Kelly tried to kick out again, but the man holding her was just too strong.
“I love the smell of fear,” Lambert said in a deep voice that made her stomach roll.
He straightened, and she could make out his facial features in the dim light of the alley. Just like the first time she’d seen a picture of him, she was amazed at how normal he looked. In fact, up close, he was quite attractive. No wonder why her sister had been interested in him.
“I saw you watching me. Do I know you?”
Kelly shook her head, unable to talk with a hand over her mouth.
“No? You do have something familiar about you though.” He ran thin, bony fingers over her cheek, and Kelly felt tears threaten to fall. When his thumb flicked over the pulse in her neck, she could have sworn his eyes turned red.
Eyes wide, Kelly watched him as he leaned forward. His mouth opened and his teeth, which had been normal, started to lengthen. Her scream was barely audible as terror she’d never felt before shook her body.
Before he reached her, there was a howl and something knocked into them. Kelly went down on her side and rolled away from the two men. She heard someone call out, “wolf,” as she scrambled to hide against the wall of the building.
The scene before her was like something in a movie. A grey-and-white wolf stood in the mouth of the alley as the four men spread out with guns drawn. Kelly didn’t know what to do, so she pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, hoping to stay invisible.
The first shot rang out and Kelly jumped. The wolf charged into the alley, attacking the wrist of the one who’d shot at him. While he was busy, another man aimed for the wolf, but the animal moved just in time and sidestepped another bullet.
The first man was holding his arm as he fell away from the wolf. Kelly watched as blood gushed from the wound and dripped to the dirty concrete. She felt her stomach turn at the sight and steeled herself not to get sick. That wouldn’t help the situation at all.
Then the wolf jumped on the other guy, his sharp canine teeth clamping down on the man’s throat. Kelly closed her eyes as the man’s scream turned into a gurgle but the sound of movement had her opening her eyes again. She watched as the wolf released the man and stalked towards the other two men. The one who had held her, and the one who had killed her sister.
The men exchanged looks before jumping straight up in the air. The wolf charged at the same time but met only air as the two men disappeared.
Kelly wasn’t aware she was sobbing until the wolf turned, and she met his stare. She’d never seen a real wolf before, only on television, but she knew this wasn’t just an ordinary wolf.
He stepped forward, and Kelly held out a hand. “St…st…ayyyy,” she stuttered. Her hand shook and she could practically hear her own heart beat. The wolf stepped closer.
Hoping this was just a bad dream, she closed her eyes, counted to ten, then opened them, but the wolf was still there. Standing in front of her, his head tilted to one side, blood dripping from his mouth.
Kelly moved onto her knees and tried to crawl away. The wolf growled, and she froze in her spot. The growl vibrated the air around her. Obviously, the wolf didn’t want her to move. So she remained on her hands and knees against the old brick building, watching as he closed the distance between them. When he stepped in front of her, she once again got a look at the eyes.
A sense of calmness went over her as she looked in those deep grey eyes. She just stared, as she had done not more than half an hour ago. “Alex,” she whispered.
The wolf moved and she felt his soft fur against her skin.
The back door of the club swung open, and they both jumped. Before she could blink, the wolf hunched down and growled. Kelly felt a wave of relief as Marcus stepped out the door.
Kelly watched Alex’s partner take in the scene before him. The wolf was still crouched down and growling, and Kelly was still on her knees. She looked over to where the men had been but they were gone. There were no bodies or anyone but them in the alley. No blood or sign of what had taken place. If Kelly hadn’t seen everything with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have known anything had even taken place.
Marcus closed the door and turned towards her. Kelly started to stand, but the wolf turned his head and snapped at her.
My thoughts on Savage Love:
Savage Love while not the
first book I wrote but it was the first book that was accepted by a publisher.
I still remember the night that I was sitting on my laptop and a small pop up
appeared that said I had mail. It was my very first acceptance email and I was
jumping up and down crying.
Now I can admit that while I
was totally into writing my first book needed a lot of editing. But Totally
Bound worked with me and we finally got Savage Love ready and it was released
as part of Totally Bound’s 2008 Halloween collection. Savage Love was my very
first paranormal book and I had no idea that it would be the start of something
grand! I fell in love writing about shifters and knew right then that I needed
to do more.
If you haven’t read the book
that started my writing career you can still pick up your copy of Savage Love.
It is available from
Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/savage-love?search=savage
love
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/savage-love-crissy-smith/1017487965?ean=9781906811228
Two years after I wrote
Savage Love I decided that Alex Gray’s partner Marucs needed his story told.
Marcus’s story takes place in Louisiana and introduces us more to the romance
shifter side than the mystery Savage Love had. In Fated Love we get to follow Marcus as he finds he fated match.
Fated Love Description:
Sometimes Fate brings two
people together—but it’s just up to them if they let their hearts rule or give
into their fears.
Marcus finally makes it back home after the worst case of his career. He’s looking forward to some quiet down time until he senses someone trespassing on his territory. The woman who has learned about his special gift and doesn’t seem afraid of his wolf is baffling and intoxicating at the same time. Marcus is just unsure whether she means harm or way too much good.
Crystal knew the moment she stepped into the swamp and on Marcus’s territory she was where she belonged. Coming from a long line of special women herself, she has no problems with Marcus’s differences. If she could just convince Marcus she is his mate, everything will just be perfect.
When these two come together, the heat and passion fills the room and nearly combusts. Almost perfect… except for the vision of Marcus being killed. Can they work together to figure out who is after Marcus? Or will their Fated Love burn them?
Marcus finally makes it back home after the worst case of his career. He’s looking forward to some quiet down time until he senses someone trespassing on his territory. The woman who has learned about his special gift and doesn’t seem afraid of his wolf is baffling and intoxicating at the same time. Marcus is just unsure whether she means harm or way too much good.
Crystal knew the moment she stepped into the swamp and on Marcus’s territory she was where she belonged. Coming from a long line of special women herself, she has no problems with Marcus’s differences. If she could just convince Marcus she is his mate, everything will just be perfect.
When these two come together, the heat and passion fills the room and nearly combusts. Almost perfect… except for the vision of Marcus being killed. Can they work together to figure out who is after Marcus? Or will their Fated Love burn them?
Fated Love Excerpt:
Marcus let the magic pulse
through his body until he felt the change start to take him. Changing into his
other form had always been an escape for him, one that he welcomed. In the
months since his last assignment had ended, he had been spending more time in
his wolf form than human.
He stretched out his back legs and bent his head back into the light evening sky. His brother wolf wanted to hurry and run and play, but Marcus controlled him so he could make a survey around him.
His family had made sure his house and land had been well taken care of during the two-year investigation that had kept him from home. But two years was a long time, and he always made sure there was no one around when he shifted.
Immediately his senses brought him a now familiar smell. She was there again. The smell of jasmine and woman assaulted his nose and pulled at him.
He knew she would be waiting for him at the edge of the swamp on the border of his land, just like she always was when he changed.
He wasn’t sure what she wanted. It wasn’t like he could ask her in this form but he had begun to worry. If she were still there after his run this time, he would have to find out.
Taking off in the opposite direction of the inviting scent, he let his wolf take control and ran.
He stretched out his back legs and bent his head back into the light evening sky. His brother wolf wanted to hurry and run and play, but Marcus controlled him so he could make a survey around him.
His family had made sure his house and land had been well taken care of during the two-year investigation that had kept him from home. But two years was a long time, and he always made sure there was no one around when he shifted.
Immediately his senses brought him a now familiar smell. She was there again. The smell of jasmine and woman assaulted his nose and pulled at him.
He knew she would be waiting for him at the edge of the swamp on the border of his land, just like she always was when he changed.
He wasn’t sure what she wanted. It wasn’t like he could ask her in this form but he had begun to worry. If she were still there after his run this time, he would have to find out.
Taking off in the opposite direction of the inviting scent, he let his wolf take control and ran.
My
thoughts on Fated Love:
I wanted to write Fated Love to show my magic behind
being able to shift. I had just started writing my first wolf shifter series
but always intended Marcus to have his own book. Fated Love was a short story
that I wrote more for me than anything else.
I still enjoy looking back at the two books Savage Love
and Fated Love. It was the start of something special and I really found that
making up worlds that I only wished existed in real life.
If you haven’t read Fated Love it is still available at
Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/fated-love?search=fated
love
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fated-love-crissy-smith/1105441270?ean=9780857153586
Thanks for spending the time as we reflect back on some
of my earlier work. I haven’t forgotten about the characters and I hope you won’t
either!
Please join me next Friday when we check out some
contemporary titles. Yes, there was a time when I wrote books that were not of
paranormal elements. Can you believe that? Well we’ll discuss them at this blog
Friday 1/10/14.
Contest!
How would you like to win a $10.00 gift card from Amazon? Well here is your
chance! Just comment on this blog post and any or all of the Friday Flashback
posts to be entered on social media (aka facebook, twitter) . The winner will
be drawn before the last post as there will be a separate contest for the
Flashback Friday Part 5.
You can also be entered through liking any of the
Flashback Friday on my facebook fan page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crissy-Smith-Fan-Page/179455455404987 or visit the Were Chronicles website http://www.werechronicles.com
and sign the guestbook with a mention of the Flashback Friday posts.
Thanks!
Crissy Smith
3 comments:
WOW I haven't read fated love but I love the excerpt! I'm going to give it a try.
I have all the were chronicles but i havent read these two. :( Now i have 2 books to read for this weekend :)
I am so excited that y'all are seeing some new (old) books! Thank you for dropping by!
Crissy
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