Spotlight & Giveaway: Tempting the Black Wolf by N.J. Walters

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author N.J. Walters to HJ!

Hi N.J. Walters and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Tempting the Black Wolf!

Thanks for having me here at HJ!
 

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

Immortal warrior and black lone wolf, Dagen Kern answers to no alpha or pack and trusts no one. Sexual sparks fly when he meets Onyx. Each of them distrusts the magical blood link between them forged by their common enemy. They either learn to trust or risk losing it all.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

A wolf was hunting her. Not just any wolf, but Dagen Kern, one of the lone wolves, an immortal warrior and protector of his race.
A shiver raced down her spine. Onyx resisted the urge to look over her shoulder for the hundredth time as she slipped through the shadows of the ancient castle. Once a family stronghold it was now a museum, closed at this time of night.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• Onyx loves jewelry, but the pieces she wears are more than pretty ornaments. They’re also useful for hiding tools.
• Dagen mistakenly believes he can keep his attraction under control. That resolve doesn’t last long.
• The blood bond between them shocks both hero and heroine in unexpected ways.
• Her smart mouth and quick wit make even the black lone wolf smile.

What first attracts your main characters to each other?

She’s gorgeous, courageous, and talented—and they share a blood link—but Dagen fights the attraction. He needs Onyx and her skills as a mage to defeat his enemies.

Onyx is well aware that the blood spell cast by the dark mage, Solange, is responsible for their attraction, but it doesn’t explain why her heart is drawn to Dagen. She has to deal with her wayward emotions, aware of what’s at stake if they fail their mission.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe your main characters”love affair?

Dark. Dangerous. Intense. Sexy. Fated.
 

The First Kiss…

“I want Solange dead as badly as you do.” Like the lone wolves, she’d never be free as long as the woman drew breath. She was tired of living in fear.

Lifting his free hand, he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. Sparks of arousal shot straight to her core. She barely swallowed a moan of pleasure that threatened to escape. “Maybe you do, but I can’t take the chance.” His mouth replaced his thumb, grazing over her lips. This time, there was no holding back the whimper as she dived into the kiss.

It was a stupid thing to do, and certainly not the place, but she couldn’t help herself. An urgent need for him burned in her blood, one she couldn’t deny. And God knows she’d tried. She’d fought it for years, determined to find another way out of Solange’s schemes, but destiny would not be denied.

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

It’s impossible to pick a favorite scene, but I love their first meeting. They both understand that dark magic and a blood bond has created an attraction between them and are both fighting it at this point.

“You may as well come out.” The deep masculine voice penetrated the very cells of her body, demanding that she obey.

Digging her nails into her palms, Onyx fought the compulsion. She wasn’t ready to meet him face-to-face. Already her blood was humming and she was beginning to sweat.

“You’re stealthier than most, I’ll give you that, but I’m better.” No conceit, simply a deep understanding of who and what he was.

You can do this. There really wasn’t any other choice. If she tried to run, he’d be on her in a heartbeat like the predator he was. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room. The library with its floor to ceiling shelves filled with priceless and rare tomes took a backseat to the man standing in front of the stone fireplace.

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

The crucial scene is their first meeting…

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room. The library with its floor to ceiling shelves filled with priceless and rare tomes took a backseat to the man standing in front of the stone fireplace.

At almost seven feet tall, Dagen Kern was an intimidating sight. His jet black eyes tracked her from head to toe, missing nothing. She fought the urge to shuffle her feet and instead met his assessing gaze with one of her own, conveying a sense of detachment that was a lie. His black hair fell to his shoulders in a silky curtain that tempted a woman to run her fingers through it to see if it was as soft as it appeared. A long-sleeved black shirt was snug against muscular arms and broad shoulders. Black pants and boots completed his ensemble. They were dressed almost identically. She’d added a cape for extra protection against the chilly winter air and had shoved her distinctive red and black hair under a knitted cap.

“So you’re the tool destined to bring me to my knees.” His cynical smile chilled her blood. He’d already judged her and found her wanting. It stung deeper than she’d anticipated, stabbing vulnerable and tender spots inside her. She swallowed back the sense of inadequacy, of never being good enough. This was not the time to fall back into old habits. She’d worked too damn hard for her independence. She was nobody’s victim but a strong mage in her own right.

Tilting her chin up, she gave a curt not. “You know I am.” Denial wouldn’t serve her well. If she was to succeed, she needed to gain his trust. It didn’t surprise her that he was aware of his enemies’ plans. The man dealt in information for a living, after all, and she’d made sure certain facts filtered his way, giving him a starting point for his investigations. No way would he believe anything she told him without corroboration.

He tilted his head to one side. “So where’s the instant attraction, the grand connection we’re supposed to feel toward each other? That’s part of Solange Dupree’s big plan, isn’t it? Weaken us to make it easier for her to capture one of the lone wolves, to steal our immortality for her and her werewolf lover.” He prowled forward until he was standing right in front of her. Lifting his hand, he pressed it against her cheek. “Looks like she failed, at least in this attempt.”

Readers should read this book …

If you enjoy a sexy, action-packed paranormal romance, this book is for you.

This book has a sexy loner werewolf and a feisty heroine brought together by magical forces who must learn to lower their guard and trust their hearts if they hope to survive their deadly enemies.

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

I’m currently working on a new series–a dark paranormal romance, of course.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

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Excerpt from Tempting the Black Wolf:

Before Jamal reached her, something big dropped from above and landed between them. The words died on her lips as Dagen rose from a crouch. As an entrance, it was impressive. She glanced up at the surrounding buildings. Five stories was quite a distance.

Dressed in all black, he radiated danger. It wasn’t intentional. It was as much a part of him as the color of his hair. She barely refrained from staring at his lips. She’d dreamed of them often in the months since they’d last met. He was badass and deadly while she looked like she’d crawled out of a dumpster after a three-day bender. Chalk up another reason to be furious with him. Unreasonable, maybe, but she didn’t care.

“About damn time you got here. Are you responsible for them?” She pointed at the three potential attackers who were watching warily, unsure what to make of Dagen. He had that affect on people, and this close they’d be able to scent his wolf.

His lips thinned and he shot her a glare. “I thought they were with you.”

“You thought they were what? That’s just great.” She barely stopped herself from grabbing her hair and pulling on it. All she’d do was rip off her wig. That would make a bad situation even worse. “We need to get out of here,” she muttered.

“I’m aware, but I have business with these gentlemen first.” One of the bobbleheads turned as if to run. “Don’t make me chase you.” The low growl he added at the end had all three freezing in place. It was impressive.

Jamal pulled himself up to his full height, which was taller than her but about a
half-foot shorter than Dagen. “Look, man, I don’t know who you are but this is our territory.”

Onyx eased over to the wall, putting her back to it. Menace swept across the space to engulf them all. Since his attention was on the other three, she began to inch her way to the entryway.

His head snapped around, dark eyes pinning her in place. “Going somewhere?”

“Thought I’d pop around the corner for a mocha latte while you conducted business.” His lips twitched but he didn’t smile. That would ruin the whole dangerous vibe he had going on. Still, she held her breath and hoped.

He removed his coat and held it out to her. It was automatic for her to take it. “Hold this and be good for five minutes.” Turning back around, he dismissed her.

Be good! Be good! She should kick his ass. And she would if she thought she’d actually succeed. She fisted the leather fabric tighter. It would serve him right if she stomped his coat into the dirt, but that would be an insult to such a gorgeous piece of clothing. The scent of leather and male surrounded her. Desire licked over her skin. The man was insufferable. He was also handsome and smart and the key to her freedom. If she didn’t need him, she’d leave.

She bit her bottom lip on the lie. Since she’d first laid eyes on him, he’d haunted her. It had only gotten worse after their kiss in Romania. He filled both her waking and sleeping moments. The worst part was she couldn’t blame all of it on the fact they shared a blood link.

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

I am an immortal predator, driven to hunt and protect the wolf packs from danger—especially rogue wolves. This destiny is my blood, my bone. My will.

There are two other lone wolves—one grey, one white—but I am the strongest. The most powerful. And we all share an enemy, who set a trap for each of us: a woman with our coloring, who will draw us into danger, and make our wolves howl with need.

But I won’t give into lust or passion.

I already know the face of the woman who is my supposed bait: a stunning and powerful mage named Onyx. We’ve been circling each other, wary, fueled by deeply intense attraction and fierce distrust.

But the enemy of my enemy is my ally…for now. It’s a brief truce, laced with raw, primal hunger.

Because when this is over—if we survive—we’ll have to go head-to-head one last time.

And I never lose.

(Author Note: This book is told in third person point of view, even though the blurb is in first person.)
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads | 
 

Meet the Author:

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
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