I’m saying quote of the week because that sounds all official and like something I do all the time. Maybe I will because I always read or hear lines I love. This one is from YIPPIE-KI-YAY by Kesha.
It’s evident you don’t know that I’m heaven sent
Edison couldn’t get this lit
Should I be ashamed that I like Kesha? Well, I’m not and never have been. I even went to a concert once, though the only parts I remember now were glitter and one of her dancers in a penis costume.
Want to know my dirty little secret as an author?
Well, first I should mention a ton of my books are on sale this week and next week, that’s no secret.
The secret is that I suck at character names. It’s really inconvenient considering I love having names that relate to a character’s personality or story in some way, but names are one of the hardest things to come up with.
In Bold as Brass, I finally got the chance to name a character Liam. I’ve wanted to use the name for a while because it shares the first two letters with one of the placeholders I use for names, LI. LI is short for love interest just like Liam is short for William. And the name Liam and the character share Irish ancestry so it worked out.
(True story, looking up Liam’s name just to see what it meant is when I learned Liam is short for William. Which makes all the sense in the world, I just somehow missed this memo.)
This time, I lucked out on naming my main character. His specialty is metal magic and then I came across Tolliver, a surname that literally means metalworker. Being literal for the win.
(P.S. Tolliver is Oliver Brass’s actual first name because he has fussy waspy parents that would totally name him Tolliver, and he just goes by Oliver. But that’s one of those backstory details that did not actually make it into book.)
I had no idea I was going to write a novel about a metal wizard losing control of his powers and ending up in the arms of a dominant older man who is literally the sweetest and dirtiest guy at the same time. But this was a very fun ride to go on and I ended up enjoying these characters and their story a lot, so I hope you do too.
Bold as Brass is indeed on sale for 99 cents. It’ll go back to regular price next Wednesday, so get it on sale while you can!
Control is everything… until you find someone worth surrendering to.
After studying metal magic in posh British universities, Oliver Brass proudly becomes a wizard. Unfortunately, he barely has time to celebrate when a family scandal sends his world into chaos and his powers spiral out of control. A stiff upper lip isn’t helping, so the metal mage turns to a provocative professor to tame his magic—and his body.
A charming educator by day and a dirty dom by night, Liam Monroe has the unique ability to magically master a willing partner. Liam demands obedience, and even though Oliver may never stop blushing, he and his powers are eager to comply.
Both men are thoroughly satisfied until dragons drop in, determined to make the wizard pay for the sins of his family. Oliver must reign in his malfunctioning abilities if he has any hope of stopping the vengeful beasts… or keeping Liam. Can Oliver be bold enough to fight for his man, or will the dragons burn it all down?
Turning a living being into stone often symbolizes divine wrath or poetic justice. From ancient Greece to the Bible and into the realm of fairy tales, these stories tap into deep fears of paralysis and loss of agency. They also serve as cautionary tales about various moral failings.
The tales I found don’t really share the same vibes as my paranormal romance novel Sun and Stone, but I became curious about classic petrification stories since one character seeks magical mastery over rock and stone. My M/M romances are strictly HEA territory and being turned to stone is pretty much always a bummer.
However, all hope isn’t lost when it comes to petrification. Even stone can crumble under the redemptive power of love or heroism.
(P.S. Should I apologize for the title? I couldn’t resist. I’m not made of stone.)
The story of Medusa remains one of the most enduring petrification myths. Born as one of three daughters of the sea deities Phorcys and Cetosisters, known as the Gorgons, Medusa stands apart as the only mortal among them.
Before her transformation, Medusa was renowned for her beauty, especially her flowing hair. As a priestess in Athena’s temple, she had devoted her life to the goddess of wisdom. However, her beauty attracted Poseidon, who assaulted her within the sacred temple. Rather than punishing the god, Athena directed her wrath at Medusa, transforming her into a monster whose gaze could turn any living being to stone.
Her transformation gave her the ultimate defense mechanism against further assault, but at the terrible cost of isolation and monstrosity.
The petrifying power of Medusa’s gaze became legendary. Anyone looking directly into her eyes would instantly transform into stone, creating a macabre gallery of statues around her dwelling.
Sent to slay her, Perseus avoided direct eye contact by using his polished bronze shield as a mirror to see Medusa’s reflection while he beheaded her. This power continued even after her death when Perseus used her severed head as a weapon against his enemies.
Modern interpretations have reclaimed Medusa’s narrative, viewing her less as a villain and more as a victim of both divine assault and injustice. Contemporary feminist readings celebrate her as a symbol of female rage and survival, turning the male gaze literally deadly… this is an interpretation I can get behind. I also love the Monster Prom franchise’s version of a gorgon, ruthless businesswoman Vera Oberlin.
The story of Niobe offers a different perspective on petrification, one born from overwhelming sorrow rather than divine punishment. Queen Niobe of Thebes made the fatal mistake of boasting about her fourteen children, claiming she was more blessed than the goddess Leto, who had only two offspring: Apollo and Artemis.
Mocking a god is a recipe for disaster.
Offended by such hubris, Leto sent her divine children to exact revenge. Apollo slew Niobe’s seven sons with his arrows, while Artemis dispatched her seven daughters. In a single day, Niobe’s pride turned to unimaginable grief. For nine days, the bodies of her children lay unburied, as Zeus had turned all witnesses to stone. Finally, the gods themselves buried the children.
Consumed by sorrow, Niobe fled to Mount Sipylus in her homeland. There, her grief literally transformed her and she became a weeping rock formation that eternally seeps water, resembling tears streaming down a face. Travelers to modern Turkey can still visit what’s believed to be this natural formation, where water continuously trickles regardless of weather conditions.
A famous biblical instance of petrification involves Lot’s wife during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. As divine judgment rained fire and brimstone upon the wicked cities, Lot and his family were granted escape on one condition: they must not look back at the destruction.
While Lot and his daughters obeyed, his wife—whose name is never mentioned in Genesis—couldn’t resist a backward glance. Immediately, she transformed into a pillar of salt, becoming a cautionary monument to disobedience and attachment to sinful places. Visitors to the Dead Sea region today can see salt formations that local traditions identify as “Lot’s Wife.” These natural pillars are created through geological processes, not divine wrath.
This looking taboo appears across world mythologies: Orpheus loses Eurydice by looking back while leading her from the underworld; in Japanese folklore, Izanagi loses his wife Izanami the same way. This seems harsh to me. Have the gods never been homesick?
When Perseus was returning from his quest to slay Medusa, he sought rest in the kingdom of Atlas, a Titan who had been condemned to hold the heavens on his shoulders. Atlas, however, had received a prophecy that a son of Zeus would steal the golden apples from his garden, and so he refused Perseus hospitality—a serious breach of ancient custom.
Perseus revealed Medusa’s head, instantly transforming the Titan into a massive mountain range. What was once Atlas’s head became the peak, his shoulders the ridges, and his body the vast expanse that now bears his name, the Atlas Mountains of North Africa.
This transformation serves as both punishment and mercy. While Atlas lost his human form, he was also relieved of his eternal burden of holding up the sky. Some versions of the myth present a kinder interpretation, where Atlas, exhausted from his punishment, actually requests to be turned to stone as a release from his suffering.
The Brothers Grimm collected several tales featuring petrification, including “The Two Brothers,” where a wicked witch turns one brother and his animal companions to stone until the other brother defeats her and restores them. It’s always wicked witches, isn’t it? Lovers are also frequently turned to stone in fairy tales, often as punishment for forbidden romance or as the result of magical curses. Fortunately, classic fairy tale logical means that reversal is often possible through true love or acts of incredible courage.
Korean mythology features Grandmother Mago, who created mountains and islands from her body. In Chinese folklore, the legend of Nuwa depicts how this goddess repaired the pillar of heaven using stones that became living beings. Is there a term for making stone human? Personification? No, that’s not it.
In Cornwall, England, the “Merry Maidens” stone circle is said to be a group of girls petrified for dancing on the Sabbath. Similar explanations exist for the “Old Man of the Mountain” in New Hampshire (before its collapse in 2003) to the “Stone Wedding” formation in Bulgaria, allegedly a wedding party frozen in time.
These ancient stories of stone transformations often explain natural landmarks in the world. They also reveal universal human anxieties about powerlessness, paralysis, and loss of agency.
In paranormal romance, things work a bit differently. The right person can breathe life back into stone. Brooding love interests with stony exteriors and walls around their heart can come alive when met with true love.
Sources
“Medusa,” Wikipedia
“Niobe,” Britannica.com
“Lot’s wife,” Wikipedia
“The Myth of Atlas and Perseus,” Theoi.com.
“Petrifaction in Mythology and Fiction,” Wikipedia
Simon is set in his ways, which is understandable after four centuries of life experience. The prickly independent vampire doesn’t like change, but he’s forced to adapt when someone tries to kill Simon and he’s left weakened. Now he’s forced to rely on the werewolf bodyguard his sire hired to keep him safe while figuring out who tried to kill him.
The wolf Cody is struggling to maintain control and not go feral, which is difficult without a pack or mate. The last thing he needs is a stubborn charge.
Of course vampires and wolves don’t really get along in this universe. But vampires, wolves, witches, hunters have a treaty in place where they stay in the shadows and try their best to tolerate each other.
Supernatural stories in particular are good at not just enemies-to-lovers but natural enemies-to-lovers. Where they might not have hated each other at the beginning if not for their opposite natures and distrust between vampires and werewolves.
There’s a delicious reluctance to be around each other at first and thinking the worst of each other. This means the relationship is a slow build by necessity. They try to stay wary and keep their distance even though they feel drawn to each other, which makes it so satisfying when they do unite.
Simon likes being a big brat and riling Cody up, which is so much fun and my favorite part.
In some books, the smut can feel obligatory instead of hot as hell. This is not one of those books. The steamy scenes are fantastic, not to mention in character and romantic too.
The only thing I don’t love is that it took me forever to post a review. To be fair, this is no one’s fault but my own. One day I will post timely reviews but that day is not today.
Tags:
Enemies to lovers, mystery, action, an artistic and isolated vampire, brooding werewolf, the wolf is vicious and yet still a big puppy for Simon, painting as foreplay, a centuries old vampire who is still somehow a brat, excellent bickering and sexual tension
Too bad the reclusive vampire doesn’t have a choice. Simon barely survived an assassin’s strike, and he isn’t safe yet. The attack left him weak and vulnerable, which is why his meddling sire hires him a bodyguard.
A big, burly werewolf bodyguard.
Cody’s instincts make him a formidable guard—if he can control his wolf. Living without a pack or mate makes him unstable. Dangerous. After accidentally shifting on his previous assignment, he has one chance to prove himself:
Protecting a bratty vampire who does not want his protection.
Keeping things professional is Cody’s only hope. Simon may have four centuries’ worth of defensive habits, but Cody can handle difficult clients. Except as Cody digs up the hurt behind Simon’s prickly exterior, and Simon starts to enjoy being cared for…
Staying professional might be impossible. Just like controlling Cody’s wolf.
The Vampire’s Werewolf Bodyguard is an MM paranormal romance with forced proximity, chosen mates, and bickering to lovers.
They say when the night’s too dark and the forest too quiet… that’s when the wendigo is near.
As far as monsters go, the wendigo is pretty terrifying. It stalks the frozen wilderness, a specter of hunger that can never be satisfied, with an appetite for human flesh.
Legends say that those who are desperate enough to engage in cannibalism when on the brink of starvation can transform into this beast. The wendigo myth emerges from Algonquian tribes across the northeastern woodlands of North America. The legends were cautionary tales in places with harsh winter climates where survival was hard and starvation was always a concern.
Since the Until Dawn movie came out recently, I wanted to look into wendigo lore. This is about all I can handle because horror and I don’t go together too well. The movie is guaranteed to be too scary for me. The video game looked interesting and I even watched some videos about it, but I was not brave enough to actually play… and I’m not much a PC gamer.
(Photo: Legends of Windemere)
Origins & Mythological Roots
The wendigo’s origins can be traced back to the Anishinaabe, Cree, Ojibwe, Innu, and other Algonquian-speaking tribes across Canada and the northern United States.
Early European settlers and fur traders documented these stories in the 19th century, often with a mixture of dismissal and fascination. But those who spent enough winters in the northern forests began to understand why the wendigo held such power in indigenous consciousness. When blizzards howl for weeks and food stores dwindle, the human mind can wander to dark places.
Unlike many monsters that simply prey on humans, the wendigo represents what humans can become when they surrender to their basest instincts.
Appearance and Characteristics
Picture this: a gaunt, towering figure with ash-gray skin stretched tight over a skeletal frame. Eyes sunken deep into hollow sockets, yet burning with an insatiable hunger. Lips torn and bloody from feeding. Claws that can rend flesh from bone. In some descriptions, the wendigo’s heart is made of ice and literally frozen solid. The modern image of the wendigo often includes antlers or a deer skull for a head.
What’s particularly terrifying about the wendigo is that it grows with each victim it consumes, yet it never feels satisfied. Its hunger only increases proportionally to its size. Constantly hungry and never full despite feasting, this is the stuff monsters and metaphors are made of.
Wendigos may be accompanied by bone-chilling cold or a putrid stench like decaying flesh. Nature itself seems to recoil from the creature’s presence, birds fall silent, small animals flee, and even the wind seems to hold its breath.
Transformation and Powers
The transformation from human to wendigo typically follows one of two paths: either consuming human flesh during times of famine triggers a physical metamorphosis, or a wendigo spirit possesses a vulnerable person, usually someone weakened by greed, despair, or isolation.
In traditional lore, the wendigo embodies winter’s cruelty. It can manipulate temperature, bringing killing frosts or blizzards. Wendigos are smart predators, luring victims away from safety by mimicking the voice of a loved one calling for help in the darkness. Some stories grant it supernatural speed, allowing it to stalk prey for days without tiring.
Protections and Weaknesses
Traditional protections against wendigos were primarily preventative. Don’t travel alone during the deadliest part of winter. Don’t speak the creature’s name unnecessarily. Maintain strong community bonds that prevent the isolation where wendigo possession takes root.
Some later stories mention fire or silver as wendigo weaknesses, possibly influenced by European werewolf lore. Indigenous traditions emphasized spiritual remedies administered by healers or medicine people for those showing early signs of wendigo transformation.
Media Appearances
Supernatural featured the creature in its first season, emphasizing its voice mimicry and twisted appearance. The TV show Hannibal made subtle nods to wendigo lore throughout its run, with the titular character’s murderous cannibalism visualized through wendigo imagery. (Sidenote: I really wanted to watch Hannibal because I loved Bryan Fuller shows and tried to watch, but the cannibalism squicked me out too badly. I gave it another shot due to all the queerness but still couldn’t do it. Maybe one day.)
Gaming has perhaps embraced the wendigo most enthusiastically. In addition to 2015’s Until Dawn, Fallout 76 incorporates them into its post-apocalyptic landscape. The creature appears in everything from The Dark Pictures Anthology to various Marvel games.
Historical Sightings & Scientific Explanations
One of the most documented wendigo-related incidents involved Swift Runner, a Cree man who killed and ate his family during the winter of 1879. He claimed to be possessed by a wendigo spirit, and while authorities attributed his actions to starvation-induced madness, his community recognized the pattern of wendigo possession.
Skeptics point to severe nutritional deficiencies, isolation-induced psychosis, and protein poisoning (sometimes called “rabbit starvation”) as potential scientific explanations for historical wendigo cases. When the body consumes its own fat reserves during starvation, the resulting ketosis can cause hallucinations and irrational behavior.
Oral traditions contain numerous accounts of humans transforming into wendigos, as well as stories of brave individuals hunting these creatures. The “First Dog” legend describes how dogs came to be human companions after helping to defeat a wendigo. Not surprising. Dogs are the best.
Quotes and Literary Excerpts
The wendigo’s journey from indigenous oral tradition to pop culture staple began in earnest with Algernon Blackwood’s 1910 short story “The Wendigo.” Blackwood captured the psychological dread perfectly with lines like “An old Wendigo broke through… slender as a sapling, yet gaunt as famine.”
Beyond Blackwood’s famous description, wendigo lore has inspired powerful language across literature. A Cree legend describes the wendigo’s endless hunger: “It grows with each life it eats—but still, it starves.”
Stephen King, in “Pet Sematary,” writes: “The Wendigo, that creature that comes to you in the pitiless winter…that makes you eat your own flesh and grow huge…and still be hungry.”
These quotes capture what makes the wendigo uniquely terrifying: it’s hunger personified and it’s not just a monster that eats you; it’s a monster you become.
Final Thoughts
The wendigo is a chilling reminder that under extreme circumstances the line between humanity and monstrosity can blur. It speaks to our deepest fears about hunger, isolation, and desperation. The most frightening monsters aren’t those that simply hunt us, they’re the ones we might become.
Sources
Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/wendigo
Wide Open Spaces: https://www.wideopenspaces.com/wendigo/
Whispers of the Unknown: https://crypticfolklore.blogspot.com/2024/05/wendigo-mythology-origin.html?
Mythology Worldwide: https://mythologyworldwide.com/beyond-the-cannibalistic-monster-exploring-the-wendigos-deeper-meanings/
EBSCO Research Starter: http://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/wendigo-folklore?
Lemurs, they’re just like us! They even like rap music.
There are several relevant paranormal and book related posts I want to make but somehow I find myself procrastinating and am instead sharing this cute story about a dog who loves pancakes. He is pretty adorable and a lab mix like my own pupper. Yep, this is time well spent.
Let’s talk about the moon.
Why? Well, partly because of my M/M paranormal romance novel Bold as Brass, I’m finding topics that relate to some of the main flavors in the novel. Like the moon.
In the book, Liam Monroe gets his powers from the moon. He can see where the moon shines and manipulate shadows at night. He also engages in some unique and kinky moon rituals. But we’ll get into that more later.
He’s also strongest whenever the moon is strongest, so a full moon gives him the most power. The same powers as a fictional wizard in a book may not be possible, but there are plenty of people who do try tapping into the moon’s power, especially on the full moon.
One way to tap into the moon’s energy is with moon water. Do not confuse this with moonshine. They are both drinkable, but with very different results.
Moon water is basically what it sounds like. Water that the moon has shined down upon, which charges the water with some of the moon’s energy.
This practice has apparently existed for a very long time and is certainly legit because it even became a TikTok craze. Okay maybe not, but given that the moon does control the tides, it isn’t totally crazy to draw a connection between the moon and water.
All you need to do is set out some water under a full moon or place a jar of water in a windowsill where the moonlight can reach it. Those who practice witchcraft have some strong opinions on whether the water has to be outside or whether there can be a lid on the jar, but if you’re just doing this for fun, I say you do whatever works for you.
Moon water can be used for anything regular water can, though some common uses are for cleansing and revitalization like taking a bath, watering plants, cleaning, or making tea.
| Inside Bold as Brass Lots of people do full moon rituals to recharge and welcome a new phase in life, though Liam Monroe does things a little differently in Bold as Brass. His rituals still work around moon phases, but they involve power exchange and are decidedly dirtier than simply celebrating the moon’s journey across the sky. When Oliver Brass doesn’t feel deserving of his powers and they become out of control, he turns to Liam for help. He’s never done anything so bold as putting someone else in charge of his body and his magic before, but nothing else is working and he’s drawn to the sinful things the professor/dominant is offering. In this scene, Liam and Oliver are starting a ritual under the moon. They’re making candles for the ritual and setting up how their arrangement will work. Basically, Oliver is giving up control and Liam is taking it. |
Oliver
Maybe I feel it in the air or in the soft moonlight beginning to trickle in from the skylight. There’s a power here and we only need to shape and draw it out.
I go for the obvious, taking the coil of brass from my table and starting to wrap a thin strip around my candle. “I pledge to give you control of my metal magic.” The words feel like a vow. “I promise to use my magic how you direct me and to refrain when not given permission.”
“I accept the authority for use of your metal magic.” Liam wraps a length of dark twine around his own candle. “From the start of this waxing moon cycle until the next cycle of the waxing moon, I must give you permission in order to use the magic.”
It’s not magic I feel now, only the weight of the words and his eyes on me. I shiver in expectation of the promises there. This is why I came to him.
“I pledge to give you control of my body. I will let you dictate our, our, um, sexual activity.”
“I accept.” Liam responds swiftly. He seems excited. “I will make decisions for both of us sexually. I’ll give you orders.”
“And I will obey,” I whisper.
“Honestly, my imagination has been running wild. Any reasonable magic usage may be asked of you, like we agreed, but right now? It’s looking like there will be a lot of sexual commands. There are so many perverted uses for your magic, and I’d like to explore as many of them as we can.”
I focus on wrapping red thread around my candle as I respond, “N-not, that’s not a problem.”
“Good,” says Liam. He doesn’t continue.
I remind him, “That’s not all we talked about.”
“I know, but why don’t you tell me anyway?” Liam enjoys this too much. “You need to say it, Oliver.”
“You will also control when I come,” I whisper, face bright red. “Control whether I come at all.”
My heart is pounding in my chest and my cock stirs in anticipation as I offer up this gift to Liam. His eyes grow even darker and he accepts without hesitation.
“That’s right. Your every orgasm is mine to give or withhold. For the most part, expect that you aren’t getting off or using your metal magic unless I’m there. When I say, you can use your power and come.”
“Well, one or the other.”
Liam starts to nod and agree, then he stops. “You know what? Let’s make the two exclusive.”
“What?”
“You aren’t going to come at all unless I give you permission. And anytime you do, you’re going to be using metal magic before, during, or after.” Even in the dark, I see his eyes light up. “Oh, I like this idea. I like this a lot.” But he shakes his head and clears his throat a second later. “Question is, what about you? If you don’t think you can handle that, tell me. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s best to tell me now.”
“Um, what if I can’t?”
“Then you can’t.” He gives me a soft smile, no judgment or pressure. “This is what I want. I think it’s within your power to give me, but I could be wrong. And if I am wrong, that’s not your fault. I just need to know. I only want what you’re willing to give.”
He seemed dark and dirty a second ago and now he’s softly looking into my eyes and making me feel safe, how does he do that?
I already know he’s the kind of man who honors what he says. That means he won’t begrudge any limits I need to set. If I say no right now, the person most disappointed… will be me.
“No, I…I want to try,” I tell him. “I know I need to use my powers and get them to cooperate but that’s still the part I’m least looking forward to. This way gives me something to look forward to when using the magic. I’d like to try. Is that enough?”
Liam smiles. “Darling, it is more than enough.”
My head spins as we cover the rest smoothly and finish the candle. By the time we’re finished, I’m hard and aching in my pants. I feel the moon grow stronger, its power pulsing around us but not touching us yet. I’m so eager to feel it, to offer myself up to its power and Liam’s.
The empty space between us fills with moonlight, shining brightly, right down through the spotlight as we make our final pledges.
“Let my intentions become manifest under the light of the moon and its magic.”
We both speak the incantation and step into the skylight with our candles. Both candles light, fire glowing from the wicks like the moonlight is a flame that ignited them.
When we touch the candles together, both candles go out and smoke swirls around us. Liam’s eyes glow and I feel his power, feel the intention behind our words gaining the conviction and weight of magic.
It’s done. Until the next waxing moon cycle, I’m his.
Oliver Brass is proud to follow family tradition and become a metal wizard. For about two seconds. Then his family’s good name is tarnished by crime and scandal, leaving Oliver confused and betrayed. When his powers start rebelling against him, a friendly professor could help. But the teacher’s illicit extracurricular activities are what truly captive the metal mage.
A charming professor by day and a wicked dom by night, Liam Monroe has the unique ability to control a person’s body and magic. Surrendering to the sexy older man could be exactly what Oliver needs, as long as he keeps his feelings at bay and remembers their arrangement is supposed to be temporary.
Everything seems to be going well, until dragons with a score to settle attack and threaten both men. Oliver must rely on his magic if he has any hope of stopping the vengeful dragons… or keeping Liam.
Can Oliver be bold enough to fight for the man he loves, or will it all go up in flames?
In M/M paranormal romance novel Bold as Brass, the main character Oliver Brass has metal magic. We do not have metal magic in real life as far as I know, though there are people doing wild things with metal that nearly bring the magical and futuristic things we see in movies to life.
Apparently, I’m super late to this party but people have been making actual steel Wolverine claws for a while now. Some are decorative, but others are actually capable of destroying shit. There are multiple videos about this on Youtube, and some of the versions are retractable, and a few are made of paper, which are less destructive but more easily reproduced.
One of the best versions is created by Hacksmith, a company whose entire job is to create real versions of cool fictional stuff. Like Thor’s hammer and a working bat signal, for example. They started making Wolverine claws over a decade ago and even graduated to claws that heal themselves, which is incredibly awesome.
Granted Wolverine’s body and not his claws are what heal in the movies and comic books, though my guess is that whatever metals they were using for the claws before are not as indestructible as adamantium, which means these claws need to heal.
The claws use a smart alloy that transforms back to their original shape when using a flame.
The healing claws are a few years old, now they’ve moved onto making their version of real life adamantium. But my favorite, hands down, is mini lightsabers. Lightsabers! We’re living in the future now.
When I first started this series and wrote The Frost or The Bite, I mentioned that the antagonist in that book had a younger brother. I had it in the back of my head that he could potentially show up and I could do something with him later.
The unnamed brother referenced in the first book eventually became Oliver Brass, and this is his book. I knew he’d be different from his brother and a much better person, but I never imagined back when I wrote the first book that this is where his story would lead. Right into the gutter. When his family’s reputation is ruined and Oliver struggles to get his powers under control, he ends up in the arms of a dominant wizard and learns that giving up control might be the best option.
This novel was new for me as I’d never written anything this kinky before but I ended up loving these characters and hopefully you will too.
Will giving up control set him free?
Oliver Brass is an honest man, but his family isn’t. When the wizard discovers that the people who taught him to love metal magic aren’t as respectable as anyone thought, his powers stop listening to him. Trying to regain control leads him to Professor Liam Monroe, but the teacher’s extracurricular activities are what truly interest him.
A friendly professor by day and a wicked dom by night, Liam Monroe has the unique ability to control a person’s body and magic. Surrendering to the sexy older man could be exactly what Oliver needs to get his magic under control, as long as he keeps his feelings at bay and remembers their arrangement is supposed to be temporary.
Will Oliver be bold enough to follow his heart? Find out in Bold as Brass.
Who is the toughest predator in paranormal romance novels?
The paranormal world is full of fearsome monsters and super strong creatures. That’s the cool part of writing M/M in this genre. Anything is possible.
So, who are the contenders for being the toughest? There are the werewolves with sharp fangs and rock solid abs howling at the moon. Or vampires, pale beauties who are strong and deadly and somehow make drinking blood seductive. And wizards who can shape the world with a snap of their fingers.
And in addition to being powerful, these supernatural men also happen to be incredibly sexy for some reason. Maybe because I write paranormal romance.
Which one is strongest? Which wouldn’t you want to meet in a dark alley? Which one would you like to take home with you? That’s up for debate.
For me, it’s hard to beat an alpha werewolf that will destroy all obstacles to protect their mate. (Again, I read and write paranormal romance. No surprise that alpha werewolf ranks as the strongest for me.)
But do you know what’s truly scary? Lightning. Like real, actual lightning. Not sure an alpha werewolf could stand up to it, to be honest. This is something I learned when writing my magical novel, Strikes Twice. The two leading men will have their work cut out for them if they want to overcome magical lightning and find a happy ending together.
Why is lightning such a worthy adversary?
While the novel deals with lightning and the elements in a more magical and fictional way, I got curious and did some research. Since I’m not actually trying to make you terrified of leaving the house, I went with two very scary sounding lightning facts:
But don’t freak out. You’d think something hotter than the freaking sun and faster than a bullet would be ultra lethal, but it hurts more people than it kills. And not many people actually get struck by lightning.
The main reason to worry would be, for instance, if you were an air wizard who needed to stay away from electricity and lightning magic, but you found yourself getting closer and closer to a cursed man whose skin could zap you. Obviously, this very specific scenario comes from the novel Strikes Twice.
They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. But when it comes to love and magical curses, all bets are off. Our main character Marty Russo is a determined wizard trying to solve an electrical curse. Azure ‘Az’ Serrano has basically given up hope when his magical affliction makes touch impossible.
Is love stronger than a curse? The novel features enemies to lovers, magic, shifters, and steamy scenes.(P.S. for some of the steamy scenes, Marty and Az weren’t able to touch. This turned out to be a lot of fun to write and I hope you enjoy these moments too.) Here’s the cover and book description.
When lightning strikes, can love thunder back?
Marty Russo doesn’t need wings to fly. As an air wizard, he can soar through the clouds with his magic. He needs a purpose when coming back down to earth, so Marty agrees to help a man with a debilitating electric curse. But solving this impossible hex isn’t nearly as challenging as keeping his hands off Azure “Az” Serrano.
Az is difficult. Anyone would be, after six years of zapping anyone they touch with a painful electrical charge. Yet Marty didn’t need to touch Az to feel a jolt; he’s drawn to the passionate man underneath the leather jacket and guarded exterior.
But getting too close physically could land Marty in the hospital, or worse, because electricity is especially dangerous to air casters. As their emotional connection grows stronger, the temptation does as well.
Will Marty be able to free Az, or will the curse strike him down first?
| Strikes Twice can be read by itself, though this is the second novel in my Elementally Yours series where casters devote themselves to one type of elemental magic. (They also fall in love with hot men.) And if you haven’t checked out the free novella associated with this series, you can get Circuits and Sparks here. |
Gay Paranormal Romance 