Spotlight & Giveaway: Pirate’s Paradox by Lisa Kessler

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Lisa Kessler to HJ!

Hi Lisa and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Pirate’s Paradox!

 
Hi! It’s great to be back on HJ!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

Opposites attract
Sexy nerdy science pirate
Strong independent psychic heroine
Love written in the stars
Searching for Atlantis
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

Caleb Graves tapped his index finger against the charts,
checking his figures again.

The tide patterns he’d graphed should be fiction.
Tidal waves didn’t happen in Savannah. Yes, the sea level
was rising, and flooding was becoming more common in
Savannah and around Tybee Island every year, but this new
pattern of erratic tides he’d been charting was even more
startling. If his calculations were right, River Street could be
facing a tsunami-like storm surge soon, without a hurricane.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• Caleb is a 250 year old immortal pirate with insomnia and a compulsion to buy gadgets from infomercials and QVC! It was SO much fun to write and research!
• Diana is a strong psychic, but she also has just started her own graphic design company. She tried really hard to keep her metaphysical life separate from her business life, but when her recurring dreams about a flood start giving her longitude and latitude coordinates, she has to take action.
• Caleb is one of the nerdiest and geekiest heroes I’ve ever written and I fell so hard for him.
• This is the only book in the series that takes place mostly out at sea which was a challenge at first, but once we got to Atlantis it took off.
• Every book in this series features the pirate crew’s chef, One-Eyed Bob and his hushpuppies, but in this book he got a run for his money from Diana’s parents who own and run Williams’ Southern Kitchen! I got so hungry writing parts of this book! LOL

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Diana has done some metaphysical work for two of the other members of the pirate crew so she already knows they’re immortal, but nothing prepares her for Caleb. He’s spent his 250 years on earth earning doctorates in Astronomy, Geology, and Oceanography, and he navigates eternity through his dependence on science as an absolute, so getting him to believe in Diana’s psychic abilities is a stretch. They butt heads at first, but his addiction to gadgets and his passion for the stars lure her in, and the mystery of her abilities makes her a puzzle he can’t quite solve.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

Written in the stars, destiny.
 

The First Kiss…

“I don’t recall losing a key.” He rubbed his hands on his jeans to keep himself from touching her. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but he’d never been so distracted by a woman before, so drawn to her.

The intensity of the duet had probably stirred up yearnings inside of him. He glanced over at her, chastising himself for trying to make up excuses. The truth was, it was all Diana.

Yes, she was beautiful, but there were plenty of pretty faces in Savannah. No, it was more, something in her eyes, a wisdom and strength that were like a window into her soul.

A poet’s folly.

This was obviously a hormonal response to pheromones… He put an abrupt stop to his train of thought.

He’d given her his word not to draw on science.

She shook her head slowly. “It’s probably not a physical key like the one to your car or your house.”

His brows pinched in confusion. “They why call it a key?”

“Dreams aren’t an exact science.” Her full lips curved slightly. “You’re not going to jump in and point out they’re not science at all?”

“I’ve sworn off science for the night, remember?” He winked and she rewarded him with a grin.
“A man of his word. I like it.” She focused on her phone’s bright screen. “It could be a physical key, or it could be a symbol. We might be able to determine more when you tell me the rest of the dream.”

Without science to fill his sails and find his true north, he felt adrift in unfamiliar waters where anything was possible. It left him vulnerable and uncertain.

Just like his dream.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. “That’s all there is to tell.”

She frowned, studying him for a moment.

He lost himself in her beauty, the bow of her lips, the curve of her brows, the shine in her dark eyes. He whispered, before he realized he was going to speak, “You fascinate me.” He wet his lips, struggling for words. “I’ve been alive, learning every detail about this world for over two-hundred-fifty years, but I don’t think I’ve ever been forced to be a part of it until now. Until you.” A smile crept up on him. “I’m glad we met.”

She laughed, her lashes sweeping down as she stared at the floor. “Me too.” She lifted her gaze again, her grin softening as she met his eyes. “I know I should go home and get some sleep before the trip tomorrow, but…”

He took her hand in his. “Don’t go.”

She didn’t pull away. Her chin rose, her lips parting just slightly.

Fuck, it had been centuries since he’d kissed anyone. He wasn’t sure he still remembered how. He brought his free hand up to caress her cheek. Her skin was even softer than he’d imagined.

“May I kiss you?” He breathed, his immortal heart racing.

She nodded and he didn’t hesitate, claiming her lips.

He groaned as her mouth softened, opening to him. He explored her mouth, his tongue tangling slowly with hers. She tasted like cinnamon and honey. Her lips were soft and addictive. He never wanted to let her go. In fact, he needed more. So much more.

His fingers slid into her braids, holding her tighter. Her hands moved up his chest, making him wish he’d never buttoned the damned shirt. He ached for her touch.

He tilted his head, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his other arm around her.

Time was a meaningless construct now.

Diana was his world. The only reality that mattered.

Her fingertips found the bare skin on the back of his neck and he moaned into the kiss, his erection pulsing against the confines of his jeans. Fire roared through his veins with a visceral pull he’d never known. He yearned to be even closer to her, to discover every inch of her body and find every spot that made her gasp with pleasure.

When she finally broke the kiss, he had no idea how much time had passed. And he didn’t fucking care. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. This raw passion was new.
His gaze wandered over her face, her well-kissed lips. “Have I hurt you?”

“No.” Her sexy smile reignited the wildfire of desire in his soul. “The opposite actually.” She chuckled as she worried her lower lip. “It’s been a long time since I was with anyone, so…I just don’t want to get carried away and do something we can’t take back.”

“You don’t want to know how long it’s been for me.” Laughter boomed from the depths of his spirit. She was a damned miracle he hadn’t known existed, and he definitely didn’t deserve. “It feels good to laugh.”

“It does.” She nodded, her hand traveling slowly up his thigh. He was hyperaware of every touch, as if his body had just awakened from eons of slumber. “I’m assuming you don’t have any protection either, right?”

“Protection?” His mind went to his gun safe as he shook his head. “I have ammunition. Why?”

“No.” She grinned, shaking her head. “I mean condoms. Birth control. Protection?”

He blinked with a chuckle. “Sadly, no. I…It’s been a really long time for me.”

“Wait.” She squeezed his thigh. “Do not tell me they hadn’t been invented yet.”

He swallowed that truth and shrugged. “All right.”

“No!” Her jaw dropped, and that joyful sparkle in her eyes bewitched him. He wanted to make her happy until the end of time. “You seriously haven’t had sex since before condoms?”

“I’ve been busy.” He gestured to the bookcases.

She raised a teasing brow. “I love a good book too, but really?”

“They hold the secrets of the universe.”

She grinned. “Secrets of the universe probably don’t keep you very warm at night.”

“True.” A smile tugged at his lips. “But I bought an amazing electric blanket from QVC.”

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

The door opened and Diana nearly choked on her tongue. Caleb stood in front of her half-naked, and his chest was…impressive. Damn. Forget a six pack, this was at least eight or ten.

He cleared his throat, and she popped her gaze up to his face, her cheeks heating slightly at being caught ogling. Maybe he didn’t notice. “Hi.” She stammered and tugged her best friend forward. “This is my friend Michelle.”

She’d been friends with Michelle since middle school. Michelle was taller than Diana by a few inches and the knot on top of her purple turban made her seem even taller.

Michelle offered her hand. “Good to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Caleb shook her hand, but his gaze lingered on Diana. Her blood warmed in spite of her best intentions to ignore her hormones. She wasn’t usually distracted by a good-looking guy, but she’d never met anyone quite like Caleb before.

Which was exactly why she’d convinced Michelle to come with her tonight. She didn’t trust herself to stay on point and there were some things they needed to discuss before they sailed away from shore.

She waited for him to invite them in, but he still blocked the doorway. Suddenly the image of a half-dressed woman popped into her head. His forehead was sweaty, his face flushed. Shit, there might be a completely naked woman inside.

She raised a brow. “Is this a bad time?”

“No.” Surprise shone in his eyes for a split second before he shook his head. “I just finished working out. Why are you here?”

Her eyes sparkled, her mouth struggling to bite back a smile. “Can we come inside?”

“Oh.” He stepped back to allow them past. “Of course.”

Diana walked by, tipping her head back to look up the wide staircase. Massive bookcases were scattered around covering most of the walls she could see. There was even one up on the landing of the stairs.

Michelle whispered under her breath, “The Carnegie Library doesn’t have this many books.”

Caleb cleared his throat, motioning for them to follow. “The library is actually right through here.” He walked them into his oversized study and cleared off the empty shipping boxes. “Please make yourselves comfortable, I’m just going to get a clean shirt.”

Without waiting for a response, he scooped up the boxes and left the room.

“He’s hot, Di,” Michelle murmured, watching the door where he vanished. “Why’d you bring me along to be a third wheel?”

“Because he’s hot.” Diana rolled her eyes. “I need to talk to him about the dreams I keep having, but it’s hard for me to concentrate around him. And now I’ve seen him without a shirt on.”

“You’re a grown ass woman, and you haven’t been on a date since you split from Darius in college.” Michelle crossed her arms, giving Diana a healthy dose of side eye. “Trust me, Di, a chaperone isn’t what you need.” She pointed toward the door where Caleb had disappeared. “You need some of that.”

Diana smirked and wandered around the cluttered library. She’d expected to see books, but not this many. Judging by all the non-fiction science textbooks, he’d obviously been keeping up with the changing technologies and new discoveries happening during the past two hundred fifty years.

It was the kooky gadgets that surprised her. There had been a Roomba charging in the parlor, and the shelves of this library contained more than just books. He could’ve opened his own “As Seen on TV” store. There were boxed sets of 80’s power ballads, a Gopher Grab-it extension pole, a package of ShamWow rags sat on the edge of the antique walnut desk, and a ceiling fan duster with microfiber covered tips, that Mr. Popeil-like barkers sold at the state fair, leaned against the wall behind his chair.

“I hope you like iced tea.” His deep voice had her spinning around.

His bright blue eyes were locked on her, catching her in his spell. She almost didn’t notice his shirt was wide open, exposing his chiseled torso. On anyone else, she might’ve thought it was a lame attempt at seduction, some gym rat trying to show off how his protein shakes were paying off, but it wasn’t like that with Caleb.

He’d taken the time to roll up his sleeves but forgot to finish buttoning the front.

“I’d love some.” She swallowed, discovering her mouth had gone dry. “Thanks.”

Michelle got up from her chair, standing behind him as she pointed and fanned herself with a grin. Diana shot her a look and took one of the glasses off the silver tray.

Next to the glasses was a round plastic container with a sugar spoon lying beside it. She looked up at him. “What’s that?”

His smile disarmed her completely, and wonder lit up his eyes again. “It’s a brilliant invention.”
He set the tray on his desk and picked up the spoon. He tapped it on the top of the plastic container and the top slid open with the whine of a AA battery-powered engine. “It automatically opens and closes. No mess, and it keeps the bugs out.”

She smiled and added a scoop of sugar to her tea. “Three easy payments of $9.99?”

He raised a brow. “You’ve seen these on the television.”

“Well not this exact one, but you seem to have a lot of gadgets from late-night infomercials around here.” She took a sip of the tea and smiled. “You must watch plenty of television after midnight.”

He shrugged a broad shoulder and raised the glass for a sip. His tongue brushed his lower lip as he lowered the glass and heat pooled low in her belly. Michelle was right. It had been way too long since Diana had been with a man.

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

The scenes with the full crew on the Spanish Galleon would be a must! I love seeing them all together and it would be epic to see it on the big screen…

Caleb stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He was soaking wet, but his smile made her heart race. “We cleared the storm.”

“I noticed.” She gestured around the room. “We’re not rocking and rolling anymore.” She dropped her hands back into her lap and chuckled. “You look like you had the time of your life.”

He sat in one of the chairs at the tiny table. “It’s always thrilling to battle Poseidon.”

She raised a brow. “So, you believe in the Greek god of the ocean, but Atlantis is fictional?”

“Turn of phrase.” He grinned, shaking his head. “There are no gods in the ocean, but it sounds more epic than saying we avoided a meteorological event.”

“Riiiight.” She teased, giving him a playful disbelieving nod. “Did you come down here to let me know it’s safe to go to sleep?”

“No.” He offered his hand. “I was coming to invite you topside to celebrate with us. Everyone is too keyed up to sleep anyway.”

She laughed. “You’re soaking wet.”

“So is everyone else.” He helped her to her feet. “You don’t have to stay long if you’re tired.”

She put her shoes on as she spoke. “I’m probably too ‘keyed’ up to sleep too.” She tapped her notebook. “I did some mediating, and something out here is really persistent about needing that key. How are you going to reconcile all this when I’m right and Atlantis is real?”

“We could make a wager.” His smile widened. “If you’re right and it’s real, I’ll buy you dinner at the Pirate’s House in Savannah, and if I’m right, and we discover nothing but miles of Atlantic Ocean, then you can buy me a new textbook I’ve had my eye on.”

“Now I’m curious. Which book?”

He shook his head, and a wet curl of brown hair dropped into the middle of his forehead. Seeing the passion in his bright blue eyes mesmerized her. The corner of his mouth curved into a lop-sided smile. “You’ll know soon enough. Even with this new route we should reach the coordinates tomorrow night, or worst case, by early the next morning.”

“You sound pretty confident.” She wiggled her foot into her second shoe and bent over to tie it.

“I am.” He nodded as he walked her to the door. He opened it and stepped back to allow her to pass. “After you?”

“Thank you.” She glanced over her shoulder at her notebook on the bed. She’d figure out the riddles later.

For now, she wanted to celebrate being alive.

The music got louder with every step they climbed. When they walked onto the main deck, Keegan had a guitar and sang while Duke and Greyson harmonized. Heather and Drake were dancing a waltz in spite of him being just as wet as Caleb. Seeing them laughing made Diana smile.

This crew made a great team.

Caleb took her hand. “Would you like to dance?”

Diana chuckled, trying to picture this handsome bookworm dancing. “I don’t know how to waltz or whatever dance they’re doing.”

“Good.” He chuckled. “I don’t either, but I used to be able to jig.”

“A jig?” Diana shook her head. “Is that supposed to be better?”

He laughed, and her heart fluttered. His smile did something to her. It was addictive the way his blue eyes sparkled as if she were his north star. “I’ll teach you. It’ll be fun.”

How could she resist? She took his hand. “Let’s do this.”

He grinned and led her to the center of the deck just as Keegan finished his song. It still seemed surreal that she was on a pirate ship with the lead singer of the Scallywags, but here she was, learning a jig with an actual pirate.

No one would believe her if she told them.

Caleb called to Keegan. “Give something upbeat. I’m going to teach her to jig.”

Keegan arched a brow. “Now this I have to see.” He glanced at Diana. “Our navigator hasn’t danced since we lost the last Sea Dog. He might not remember how.”

She laughed. “Then I don’t have to be nervous.”

Captain Flynn and his first mate, Duke approached, towering over her. She kept her chin up, maintaining eye contact. She’d spent her whole life being short. These guys weren’t going to intimidate her.

Duke had darker skin than the captain, somewhere in between hers and Caleb’s. His features looked more Samoan. He had a close-cut goatee, but it wasn’t edged with the same precision as the captain’s. Although his size and stature projected power and dominance, his dark eyes shone with bottled up laughter, giving away that he was holding back a smile.

Flynn turned to the rest of the crew. “The jig isn’t meant for two. Get yer lazy arses over here.”

Her head snapped toward Caleb. “I can’t dance with everyone. I’ve never danced a jig in my life.”

Duke took her other arm. His voice was a deep rumble. “The secret is, if you miss a step, just skip. No one here is going to know the difference.”

She chuckled and looked at Caleb again. “I’m going to regret agreeing to this, aren’t I?”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I won’t let you get lost.”

Something about the way he said it seemed like he meant more than just this dance.

And she believed him.

Readers should read this book …

if you enjoy paranormal romances with high stakes and memorable characters.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m finishing up Pirate’s Protector right now. It’ll be out in 2022, then I’ll be writing the final book of the Sedona Pack series, Sedona Salvation.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: $5 Amazon gift card

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Excerpt from Pirate’s Paradox:

He took her hand and walked her away from the rest of the crew toward the front of the ship. “I want to show you something.”

“Okay.” She followed him to the bow.

He placed her against the railing in front of him. The heat of his body radiated against her back as he bent closer until his cheek was pressed to hers as he pointed up at the stars. “See that bright star to the north?”

“I think so.” She nodded, her heart racing. Having him this close to her was too much temptation.

He took her hand in his and lifted it, pointing it slightly to the right. “And that one there?”

“I see it.” She smiled.

“And see it’s match on the other side?” He moved her arm to the left.

It took her a second, but then she saw the twinkling star and her lips curved. “Yes.”

His voice was soft and deep, intimate. “That’s Orion’s belt. He was the goddess Diana’s lover, and after his death, she brought him into the stars to live forever.”

She stared up at the fathomless night sky, imagining what it must’ve been like for Caleb to lead an entire crew solely by his ability to map the stars. She turned her head to look at him. Her nose brushed his as she whispered, “You’re amazing.”

“You make me want to be.” He shook his head, his lips curving slightly. “I’m just an old pirate.” He searched her eyes. “I’ve chased the stars for lifetimes, but they pale in comparison to your light.”

She rolled her eyes, heat flushing her cheeks. If anyone else in the world had just said that to her, it would have been a cheesy pick-up line, but Caleb’s bright blue eyes were sincere. This man, who had navigated the world by these stars, would rather look at her.

“Kiss me.” She didn’t recognize her own voice. It was raw and soft, needy.

He held her cheek in his rough hand and closed the distance between them. His lips caressed hers at first, his tongue skimming her bottom lip. She opened to him, enjoying the taste of his mouth. Her heart pounded in her ears as her fingers slid into his hair. She needed more.

He broke the kiss, his forehead resting on hers. His voice was husky, almost a growl. “Come to my cabin.”

She nodded, eager to ignore the foreboding whisper in the back of her mind reminding her of the insurmountable obstacle between them. Mortality didn’t bow to love.

So she wouldn’t fall in love. She’d enjoy the time they had together and carry it as a memory in her heart.

Easier said than done, but right now she wanted this man and nothing was going to keep her from it. She’d face the consequences later.

He took her hand leading her back toward the stairs below the deck when something broke through the haze of lust. The consequences.

She squeezed his hand. “Caleb, wait.”

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned toward her. “Is something wrong?”

“Condoms. Are there any on the ship?”

His lips curved at the corners and her worry evaporated. He raised a brow. “In the interest of research, I bought some before we got on board.”

“Research?” She lifted a brow, trying not to laugh. She’d never met anyone like Caleb before. He made her heart flutter in a way no one ever had.

He nodded. “I’m afraid I wasted one. I wanted to be sure I understood how to apply it.”

Laughter bubbled from her throat. “If you play your cards right, I could apply it for you.”

He blinked and she realized while he wasn’t a virgin, this man hadn’t had sex since…she didn’t want to think about how long it had been, but it was safe to say the last woman he’d been with probably hadn’t been very experienced. Maybe she hadn’t even touched him, at least not in the way Diana was imagining.

She brought his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckle, her tongue sliding along his skin. The hunger flashing in his eyes had heat smoldering low in her belly.

He tightened his grip on her hand and bent to claim her lips. His tongue tangled in a hungry urgent dance with hers. He groaned as he pulled back. “We better get to my cabin before I take you right here.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Pirate Caleb Graves may be an immortal, but he’s also a navigator and a man of science. And yet he can’t explain the erratic tides threatening Savannah. Nor the terrible dreams of sailing through a vicious, supernatural storm that he keeps having. But when fascinating, petite dynamo Diana Williams marches up to his ship and demands to speak to the captain, Caleb is caught up in a wave of unexpected fear…and an electric frisson of longing for this captivating woman.

Diana wouldn’t be a true psychic if she didn’t listen to her spirit guide. So when dream after dream compels her to visit specific coordinates in the Atlantic, she can’t ignore it. Now, she just needs a ship. Good thing she knows about a particular pirate ship that’s in tip-top shape. Complete with a surly, albeit hot, navigator who doesn’t immediately believe in her visions. But no matter how much Caleb objects, she’ll risk sending the entire crew—including herself—to the uncharted ocean.

But both their dreams could be the key to saving Savannah and may even be a clue about the fabled lost city of Atlantis. Or it could damn them all to an unforgiving, watery grave.
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