Thursday's Treat : DARKEST MEMORY and HEART OF VESUVIUS

Welcome to my second day at Katie’s fabulous blog! Today it’s all about treating YOU. So sit back, relax and enjoy a brief glimpse into my vampire romance e-book set... that’s up for grabs to one lucky commenter.

A taste of Darkest Memory…

Gabriel led her toward a lovely wing-backed chair set somewhat near the fire. Made of dark wood and near white satin padding, its simple elegance complimented her gown. "You will sit here for the painting."

She sat and instinctually crossed her legs.

"No," he said softly and though he didn't move she swore she felt his hand on her knee. "Uncross your legs but keep them together as you will be gazing toward the fire."

She followed his instructions and focused on breathing. He was so close, his every little motion noticeable. The way his wide shoulders flexed beneath the black designer T-shirt. The way his dress slacks stretched over long, well-muscles thighs. She could hear Alex mixing her paints and knew she was adjusting the lighting in the room. Still, Gabriel towered and directed and made thought impossible.

He crouched in front of her and took her hands in his. The stroke of his fingers on her palms drew her eyes down. The gesture struck her more intimate than a kiss. Without a word, he took one of her hands and placed it on the chair's armrest closest to the fire and laid her other over it.

"Now," he whispered and her eyes flew to his lips. "Turn your head toward the fire, Calah."

She did.

"No." His knuckles gently brushed her cheek and turned her chin more. "Like that."

She hadn't meant to whisper back. "And what of my expression?"

His hand covered hers. "Just as it is, with unleashed passion caught within a mask of confusion and whimsy." He leaned closer. "I've put that look there. Alex will capture it and every time you look at this portrait you will think of me. You will think of this moment."

*What they’re saying about Darkest Memory*… “Purington gives us a jam-packed vampire tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat! This is one vampire love story that will tug on your heart-strings!” ~ Night Owl Romance

A taste of Heart of Vesuvius (Sequel to Darkest Memory)…

She reached out a hand and walked slowly, let her fingers feel the rocky surface, every curve and nuance, every particular deviance made when the Earth had shifted and moved so very long ago. Even the bits of dirt and components embedded in the surface caught her attention, lent detail to whatever she may paint. She closed her eyes and kept feeling, familiarizing, let go of the world around her, for a second in time forgetting they all existed in extreme danger, forgot for a moment she caressed the inner belly of Mt. Vesuvius, destroyer of Pompeii.

“What should I paint?” she murmured to herself.

“What you feel living in the rock.”

Alex wasn’t surprised Salvator stood so closely by her side, that his hand covered hers while she caressed the rock. “You want what I feel?”

“Yes, bella, all you feel.”

Opening her eyes, she watched his long fingers ride hers over the stone. Alex wanted to debate with him, figure out his methods, yet another less used part of her didn’t care, adored the potential only an artist was capable of feeling. “You already know what I will paint.”

“No,” he said softly. “If I did this would not work.”

Turning, she curved into his side, repelled but needing his closeness. “So now you are a prophet as well.”

“I am vampire,” he whispered into her hair, sniffing as though she smelled unique. “I believe in your talent. If my instinct tells me to let you paint, I listen to it.”

“Paint, Alexandria,” he breathed close to her ear. “Paint.”

*What they’re saying about Heart of Vesuvius*… "...this haunting story about loves lost and found is certainly worth the read. …beautifully, heartbreakingly written." ~ The Romance Reviews

Watch book trailers for both at my website .

Best Regards,

~Sky

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Sky! Readers, don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win an e-book set of these two steamy vampire stories!Winners will be announced tomorrow and notified by email. Good luck to all!

UPDATED ON FRIDAY:
JUDY IS THE WINNER OF SKY'S CONTEST, AND WILL RECEIVE A PAIR OF SKY'S SEXY VAMPIRE BOOKS ;-) An email has been sent to the winner - Thanks to all who visited, especially those who left comments for Sky! Next week's guest: Penny Watson!

Wednesday's Guest : Sky Purington

It's Wednesday, and even though the Groundhog says spring is just around the corner, it's still Winter around here. Time to heat things up... with a visit from one of my favorite blogging friends, Sky Purington!

I "met" Sky online more than a year ago, and have been a guest on her blog, "A Writer's Mind" twice, promoting each of my books. With the recent release of her new vampire book, Heart of Vesuvius, I thought it was high time I returned the favor ;-)

Today, Sky will introduce herself to you and tell you a bit about what she writes. Tomorrow, she'll give us a few sample tastes from her delicious pair of vampire romances, Darkest Memory and, her latest novel, Heart of Vesuvius.

Let's hear some cyber-applause and warm welcome for paranormal romance writer

Sky Purington!

Katie, it’s so great to be here. Thanks for having me over! For those of you unfamiliar with my work I write a cross genre of paranormal/fantasy romance with a heavy dose of time-travel. From Druids to Scottish Highlanders, I adore all things Celtic and historical. Lately however, I’ve been dabbling far more into the paranormal end of things. Last year I celebrated the release of Darkest Memory and its sequel, Heart of Vesuvius. Both boast sexy, suave international vampires.

In Darkest Memory, you’ll meet Gabriel. Aristocratic to the bone, this English vampire secretly watches over Calah, his American heroine, until the day he has no choice but to reveal himself to her. From there, it’s a whirlwind ride in which the reader travels down a passionate road that includes revisiting Westminster Abbey the night of King Richard’s coronation. While the pages sizzle, in the end…there’s still an enemy out there.

Enter the second story, Heart of Vesuvius. On the run, Gabriel’s sister and fellow vampire, Alexandria flees the nemesis newly infuriated in Darkest Memory. Where does she run for safety? Into the arms of the last man she wants to, ancient and too-hot-for-words Italian vampire Salvator. This time the reader is thrust into an action packed, super-steamy trip into the mountains of Italy. And soon enough, the sleeping beast, Mt. Vesuvius. Might this include a trip into the distant past, more specifically ancient Pompeii? You’ll have to read it to find out!

Writing these stories was great fun. Not only was it my first time dabbling in the vampire realm but it was the first time I left behind my Highland warriors and explored penning about darker characters. After all, the enemies of vampires need be very dark indeed. Honestly, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it’d be diving into the darker side of one’s mind. I know, kind of scary that! But I’ve always held an odd fascination with vampires and once you’ve knocked around in one of their head’s a bit, writing about an even darker character isn’t much of a stretch. And as in all quality stories, writing about the bad only helps you write better of the good!

Suffice it to say, I’ve now embarked on a new journey. One I’m sure my hostess approves of. I’ve just contracted my first ghost story, The Victorian Lure. But that my friends, will be talked of another time.

As the main focus of my visit at Katie’s blog is to chat about my vampire stories, I welcome questions. Between today and tomorrow, one lucky commenter will be drawn. The prize? Darkest Memory AND Heart of Vesuvius Ebooks!

Interested in winning prizes and finding new romance authors? Pop over to my blog, A Writer’s Mind and join in the fun during my Celts and More Blog Event.

I welcome feedback from readers! Contact me at Sky@SkyPurington.com

Learn more. Visit my Website.

~Sky