Why I love werewolves

Need I say more? Howl!!!!!!!!!!

They run hot. Very hot.

My newest Nocturne, THE SHADOW WOLF, is now in stores! And I have news about a new release.

On the run from authorities, gutsy Megan Moraine knows shadow wolves like herself have no place in this world. But she's still prepared to do anything to protect her young charges. That resolve is tested when the trio is captured by Gabriel Robichaux. Everyone knows that Gabriel is a ruthless bounty hunter, a member of an elite group called the Enforcers. Why then is Megan so attracted to her enemy—a wolf who hunts his own people? A wolf whose languid, sexy drawl makes her dream the impossible?

You can purchase it from Barnes and Noble by clicking here.

It looks like Hurricane Irene will miss us here in Florida. While I'm breathing a sigh of relief, I am keeping those further north on the east coast in my thoughts. Nineteen years ago today, Hurricane Andrew came on shore. My friends and I volunteered in Homestead, helping to clean up. It was horrific.

Stay safe, everyone.

In other news, my evil twin, Blair Valentine, has an upcoming release. Blair writes erotic romance for Ellora's Cave. Her newest book, The Ice Queen Cometh, will be out Sept. 16! Details to come.

Happy Hump Day!

The Shadow Wolf and Hurricane Irene

Tomorrow The Shadow Wolf is out! Yay!

Thursday we here in S. Florida are supposed to get Hurricane Irene! Boo!

My heart is beating fast, but it's not because The Shadow Wolf will be in bookstores tomorrow. It's because Irene, a Cat. 3 hurricane, is supposed to either brush our coast or have a direct impact.

I haven't gone toe to toe with a hurricane since Wilma in 2005. Score on that one? Wilma: 1, Bonnie, oh, about $50,000 in damages. Wilma dropped a tree on our roof and two others in the yard. I've posted a photo of what Wilma did to our back yard here... one of the trees crashed through the Florida room, where I had been, stupidly, standing 5 minutes earlier watching the winds pick up.

I've never taken hurricanes for granted after that.

So as excited as I am about The Shadow Wolf, I'm too focused on Hurricane Irene and what we have to do to protect ourselves from the storm.

Ironically, there is a hurricane in The Shadow Wolf. Gabe and Megan and the twins ride one out that's barely a Cat. 1. And Gabriel has a built-in generator that automatically transfers power when the electricity goes out.

Gabriel, can I move into your cottage with DH and the dogs?

Great review of The Shadow Wolf

This review is by Xeranthemum from The Long and Short of It Reviews. Five books! Yay! The Shadow Wolf is out August 23, but available for pre-order on Amazon, B&N and eHarlequin.

"On the run from authorities, gutsy Megan Moraine knows shadow wolves like herself have no place in this world. But she's still prepared to do anything to protect her young charges. That resolve is tested when the trio is captured by Gabriel Robichaux. Everyone knows that Gabriel is a ruthless bounty hunter, a member of an elite group called the Enforcers. Why then is Megan so attracted to her enemy—a wolf who hunts his own people? A wolf whose languid, sexy drawl makes her dream the impossible?

I bit my nails, ground my teeth and flipped through the pages at a furious clip because I never knew what was going to happen next and the suspense kept me glued to my chair. The Shadow Wolf has the emotional punch to make what happens to the hero and heroine matter to a reader.

Right off the bat, Ms. Vanak introduced characters that would appeal to a reader. She painted a scene of despair, hopelessness and fear while showcasing the heroine’s determination, strength and loyalty. The first chapter presented the main players who have the most to lose and gain during the course of this story and sets up the initial conflict between the hero and heroine. And wouldn’t you know, just as I’m writing this I realized something about one of the characters that I read about early on. I’m in shock. Oh, my gosh! I didn’t catch it on the first read through. That really twists the knife. And now I understand all the ramifications. I’m officially blown away. Oh poor, Gabriel.

Yes, Ms. Vanak created characters I cared about. Once the hero, Gabriel bared his heart, there was only one option open to me and that was to fall in love with him too. I wanted to hug him, care for him and wanted him to be happy. He eventually gets all those things from Megan, the heroine but not without some seriously suspenseful and heartbreaking moments along the way.

Megan has had to fight tooth and nail to get where she is and to get where she’s going. She has been hurt so much and so badly, trusting someone else is a huge stumbling block for her. And yet, for all her doubts and fears, she tentatively reaches out to Gabriel and the action begins.

The twins are adorable and important. They are little kids who’ve seen too much and yet still retain some of their innocence and charm. They are the glue that holds the little group together initially until the bigger picture gets painted for a reader and the scope with which they’re up against is revealed.

The suspense of not knowing who to trust, why what is happening is happening and will they get away and survive intact is a constant. Not knowing if both Gabriel and Megan can get beyond their own fears and reach out to the other is another effective hook in this story. What is really going on and why everything is so perverted is another question to be answered. So many threads weave through this book and Ms. Vanak didn’t let one dangle. Eventually everything comes to light in a spectacular confrontation.

There are different levels of secondary characters and some are more important than others. The most fascinating for me was Tristan. He can be a cool dude one second and the other, he’s popping footballs. Amazing man with a hint of omniscience, I’d love to know more about him. The others have supporting roles or shed light on the hero. The heroine doesn’t really have any friends so that’s an emotion tugger.

The conflicts are many but the solution comes down to a decision that only Megan and Gabriel can make. Once they do, it was thrilling to see the intense and volatile scenes that followed. And it was a WOW! moment when it was revealed just what Gabriel really was. Never saw that coming and it made me wonder why they were hunted in the first place. Something tells me it was the other nasties that arranged it all those many years ago. Interesting thought and it makes sense.

The happily ever after is tender, sweet and well earned. In fact it was the icing on the cake. Right before the charming part, their coming together was its own happy ever after and it was sensual, poignant and well written. If a reader is looking for well written physical expressions of love, they’ll find it here.

The Shadow Wolf is one heck of a ride that will leave a reader breathless. I think my TMJ got a workout from all the teeth clenching I did during the suspenseful parts – of which there were many. At one point I thought the heroine was spiraling down into a cliché but no, she dodged that one with style and true grit. This story has dark depths and a meaty plot sure to appeal to paranormal romantic suspense readers who look for a quality written story. The editing is perfect, the characters extremely well formed and the dynamics between the hero and heroine are wonderful. I was thoroughly entertained and can say with all confidence that readers are in for a treat and a great read when they pick up their own copy of The Shadow Wolf."

The Shadow Wolf

Here's the cover. This book includes Darkness of the Wolf, my Nocturne Bite that was previously released in ebook form.

The cover is the scene where they first make love by the lake.

In writing news, my muse has awoken (yay!) and I'm coming down the home stretch with a new short story. Details to follow!

On the road again...

Looks like I'll be in Guatemala this week on a last minute work trip to visit starving children in a clinic. Thus this quick catch-up...

The price of Falcon and the Dove is back up to $2.99 on Kindle. The sale is over. Sorry! However, I do plan to discount my books once I get more backlist books uploaded, hopefully in the next 4 weeks.

I'll be making up ARC's of The Shadow Wolf, my August Nocturne, in PDF form. If you are a reviewer or a book blogger and would like one, please email me at bonnievanak@aol.com I hope to get these done by the end of next month to email out.

Although my schedule has been hectic lately, one of my goals is to complete a short story I want to self-publish in the next 6 weeks. Soon as it's completed, I'll announce it here.

That's it for now... I'll be going offline so if you email me and I don't get back to you right away, please be patient. When I travel to these countries, I seldom have internet. Have a great week!

New contest!

April! The month of my birthday and the first month THE SHADOW WOLF, my August 23 Nocturne, is available for pre-order on Amazon. Click here.

DARKNESS OF THE WOLF, my Nocturne Bite, will be an added feature to this print book. In other book news, I've been informed that BITTEN BY THE VAMPIRE, the first short story in my trilogy of sexy Nocturne Cravings, will be released in October.

It's due to be followed in November by MATED TO THE WOLF and in December by HUNTED BY THE JAGUAR. All three Cravings are about three triplet sisters who are half-demon, half-angel. Ancient warriors, a vampire, a werewolf and a jaguar, are assigned to mate with them to tame their dark halves... or they will be forced to destroy them.

To celebrate, I'm holding a contest and giving away a copy of my last Nocturne, IMMORTAL WOLF. Gabriel, the hero of THE SHADOW WOLF, makes an appearance in this book.

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post or pop on over to my Facebook fan page to say hello. Or if you wish, you can email me at bonnievanak@aol.com

The contest will end on my birthday, April 23.

Pre-order The Shadow Wolf

Now available for pre-order on Amazon! Click here.

And here's some cool news... DARKNESS OF THE WOLF, my Nocturne Bite that was released in 2009, will be an added feature to this print book! Nice bonus!

In other book news, I've been informed that BITTEN BY THE VAMPIRE, the first short story in my trilogy of sexy Nocturne Cravings, will be released in October. It's due to be followed in November by MATED TO THE WOLF and in December by HUNTED BY THE JAGUAR.

All three Cravings are about three triplet sisters who are half-demon, half-angel. Ancient warriors, a vampire, a werewolf and a jaguar, are assigned to mate with them to tame their dark halves... or they will be forced to destroy them.

The Shadow Wolf will be available on August 23. I've posted an excerpt below. Happy reading!

THE SHADOW WOLF. (copyright 2011 by Bonnie Vanak)

"The roar of a powerful motorcycle drew her attention to the hotel entrance. A man parked the Harley, drew off a black helmet and swung a muscled leg over the saddle. Megan’s heart raced. The rider’s face was permanently stamped into memory from the photos circulated among Shadows of their worst enemies.

Black liquid sloshed as she slammed down her coffee cup. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for oxygen. Gabriel Robichaux. Oh God. She’d walked straight into a trap.

Immobilized, she searched for an exit as he entered the garden’s stone pathway leading to the terrace. Megan looked around, desperate to escape, but it was too late. If they left now, surely he’d see them. She slid down her seat.

The power and raw charisma he exuded felt like a tornado as he ambled onto the terrace. Tight black leather pants hugged each inch of his rock hard thighs and taut buttocks. A Harley Davidson T-shirt and steel-toed scuffed boots gave him a dangerous air. Stubble shadowing his angular jaw contrasted with his classical good looks, like a biker with the face of an angel. Dark brown hair curled down to his wide shoulders. His mouth was sultry and mobile.

Four women sitting at a nearby table gave him the twice-over. If they only knew what exactly he was, they’d run away screaming. Draicon, like her. Only not like her. Not Shadow, outcast and shunned. He was an Enforcer, who returned escaped Shadow Wolves to their island prison. "

To read the entire excerpt, click here.

Excerpt to THE SHADOW WOLF

Here's a sample of my next Nocturne, in bookstores August 25. This is Gabriel's story, THE SHADOW WOLF. (copyright 2011 by Bonnie Vanak)

"The roar of a powerful motorcycle drew her attention to the hotel entrance. A man parked the Harley, drew off a black helmet and swung a muscled leg over the saddle. Megan’s heart raced. The rider’s face was permanently stamped into memory from the photos circulated among Shadows of their worst enemies.

Black liquid sloshed as she slammed down her coffee cup. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for oxygen.

Gabriel Robichaux.

Oh God. She’d walked straight into a trap. Immobilized, she searched for an exit as he entered the garden’s stone pathway leading to the terrace.

Megan looked around, desperate to escape, but it was too late. If they left now, surely he’d see them. She slid down her seat.

The power and raw charisma he exuded felt like a tornado as he ambled onto the terrace. Tight black leather pants hugged each inch of his rock hard thighs and taut buttocks. A Harley Davidson T-shirt and steel-toed scuffed boots gave him a dangerous air. Stubble shadowing his angular jaw contrasted with his classical good looks, like a biker with the face of an angel. Dark brown hair curled down to his wide shoulders. His mouth was sultry and mobile. Four women sitting at a nearby table gave him the twice-over.

If they only knew what exactly he was, they’d run away screaming. Draicon, like her. Only not like her. Not Shadow, outcast and shunned. He was an Enforcer, who returned escaped Shadow Wolves to their island prison. "

To read the entire excerpt, click here.

Good news, just in time for RWA!

My editor at Nocturne loved The Shadow Wolf and it's scheduled for release September of 2011! Woot!

The Shadow Wolf is the fourth Nocturne paperback about my Draicon werewolves. The Empath was the first, followed by Enemy Lover and then last year's release of Immortal Wolf (which finaled in this year's Maggie Awards).

The Shadow Wolf is Gabriel's story. Gabriel is one of five Draicon werewolf brothers (Damian, Raphael, Indigo, Alex are the other four). He is the most dangerous of all the brothers, and hides a terrible secret. Gabriel meets his match in Megan, an outlawed Shadow Wolf who turns invisible to hide from enemies pursuing her.

When I return from RWA, I'll be tackling a new proposal for Nocturne. This proposal is about Alex, the widowed brother who lost his mate and child in a terrible tragedy. Alex finds a new lease on life and facing a ticking time bomb from a demon threatening to destroy those he loves.

Tonight I'm packing and trying to figure out how I can get everything into a single suitcase. I solved the problem of walking back and forth from the Yacht Club to the Dolphin with a pair of white flip-flops, and will change into "professional" shoes when I get to the Dolphin. I've worked out my schedule and I'm pretty sure I know where I should be at what time.

First on the agenda after tomorrow night? Poolside at the Yacht Club! I'm taking Thursday morning to relax and recharge after Honduras last week.

Then Thursday at 4:30 I'm helping the multi-talented, best-selling Jennifer Ashley present a workshop on writing short stories. Look for me there if you don't see me at the pool!

New year, new book to write, new deadline

Happy New Year, everyone.

Because I haven't updated my website in a long while, wanted to keep you informed of what's going on. I won't have a book out in 2010. However, I've gotten the green light to start the next Nocturne, which is called The Shadow Wolf.

If you've read Immortal Wolf, Gabriel is Raphael's brother, the one who agrees to forfeit his life should Rafe back out of the agreement to execute Emily. At one point in the book, Emily meets Gabe and thinks to herself that, despite his charming and friendly manner, he seems more dangerous than Rafe's other brothers, and he hides a dark secret.

She's right. Gabriel is the darkest, most dangerous Draicon. I'm starting on his story this month.

In other news, HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE III received a very new review in the Library Journal. The reviewer said about my story, "Misunderstandings, family issues, and prejudice threaten to keep a vampire and a werewolf apart in Bonnie Vanak's fierce and funny 'Unwrapped.' "

Yay! My first Library Journal Review!

Also, I received an unexpected surprise when I found out that Immortal Wolf has sold out on eHarlequin. It's still available on Amazon and other online sites, such as Barnes and Noble. But there are no more copies at Harlequin.

So that's what's going on with me. If I have any other news to report, it will be on this blog first. With the day job, I'll be traveling to Haiti at the month's end, before elections. It's always a little dicey around election time in Haiti.

Wishing you all the best for the New Year!

The Shadow Wolf

This is how I pictured Gabriel, the hero of The Shadow Wolf, the Nocturne I'm writing.

Home for lunch. Took Dolce to the vet; worried about his lethargy yesterday and seemingly upset stomach. He's fine, frisky as ever. Just a precaution, but I'm glad I took him. It was really, really tough. Last week we took Tiger to the vet to put him down. I'm proud that I made it through the vet visit without crying. Instead, I just joked with the vet. Humor is a great defense mechanism.

It was sad, though, coming home to an empty house without Tiger. :-(

Work on the revised proposal for The Shadow Wolf is coming along. I think I can ace it this week and send out. Was struggling with Gabriel's inner conflict and I hit on something in his character that was like, "Whoa, that's it."

It makes for a slightly different ending, but I like it. The heroine is the one who comes to the rescue, not him.

Part of me is sad I'm no longer writing historicals, but part of me is relieved as well. With the craziness of this year, I needed to cut back. We're meeting on travel later today and I think I'll be in Nicaragua next month. I have three deadlines by August. I honestly can't see me with another tight deadline this year. I think I'd go wiggy.

Instead, my goal is to work on what I can control; the writing, and really dedicate myself to doing the best job I can with The Shadow Wolf. I've finally drummed up a little enthusiasm for writing again, which was really needed.