At the Beach with Jan DeLima + Contest

Jan DelimaAs one of the #CMCon16 featured bloggers, I get to have a little fun with a few of the fabulous authors who will be hitting the beach for Coastal Magic 2016 by showcasing their many stories. Last year I interviewed four of the the CMC15 authors, but this year I’m changing it up. I came up with this really fun idea to have the authors introduce us to their worlds by sending their characters to the beach.

Quite a few of the authors took me up on it and today Jan DeLima is taking us to the beach with Elen and Cormack, from the third Celtic Moon novel, Autumn Moon, which releases September 29th.

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Thank you so much for inviting my characters to the beach! Elen and Cormack from Autumn Moon could use a little vacation. For those of you who aren’t familiar with my books, I write the Celtic Wolves series. They are dark fairy tales in a modern day setting. My characters are often tormented, not to mention growly on occasion; a side effect from their wolfy sides I’m afraid. Cormack especially, since he was trapped in wolf form for several centuries until Elen freed him from his curse. I had way too much fun writing Cormack’s new experiences as a man. Or should I say Elen had all the fun? However, they have yet to go to the beach together, and Cormack has only experienced the ocean as a wolf—until now.

At the Beach with Elen and Cormack…

JDeLima-Autumn MoonA crowd of university students on spring break filled the beach, reclining on islands of bright-colored towels in bathing suits designed to tease.   Women wore bikinis and men sported long swim trunks that hung to their knees.  Elen had dressed to blend with the crowd in a two-piece suit that tied around her neck and sides.  Not that she was complaining, but Cormack was often impatient at the expense of her clothes.  This way he only needed to tug at the strings.

Leaning back on her elbows, she appreciated the view from her temporary spot on the sand.  With his face lifted to the sun, Cormack stood a short distance from the shore as waves crashed around his waist.  Yet another first experience for this man who owned her heart.  A secret smile tugged at her mouth, because she had enjoyed many of Cormack’s first times.

A group of young men strutted around the unclaimed parts of the beach in no specific direction—men in body but not in mentality.  Two decades old, if that, they spoke in tones meant to be heard while discussing music, sex, and alcohol, debating over which local club promised the best of all three.  As they approached her vicinity their gazes lingered too long on her chest.

One member of the group paused by the foot of her towel, elbowing his buddies back.  Even humans had their alphas.  “Hey there, beautiful.”  A cocky smile revealed overly perfect teeth.

Elen managed not to roll her eyes.  These pampered mortals were unaware of the real dangers that lived among them; their only knowledge of brutality came from movies and the electronic games they played.  In many ways Elen was glad of that.  She and Cormack may look their age, but they had lived far longer and had experienced brutality firsthand. It was comforting to know there were beings on this earth whose only concern consisted of pleasurable pursuits.

Even so, she mustn’t encourage their hunt.  “You need to move on.”  She kept her voice gentle but firm, sending Cormack a reassuring wave to let him know all was well.  Like all their kind, he was influenced by the instincts of his wolf.   Too domineering to see their arses under their tails, Ms. Hafwen once righty pointed out. It is both annoying and endearing.

The boy turned to see who she’d waved at, then stepped back when greeted with a fierce scowl.  “Whoa,” he muttered, “you’re here with him?”

One of his buddies tugged at his arm.  “Not worth it, dude.  The boyfriend’s scary as shit.”

“He can be,” Elen warned to hasten their retreat.  But never with me.  And “boyfriend” was such a pathetic label for what Cormack meant to her, but these boys had no concept of eternity as they quickly left to pursue other flirtations that may last all of one night.

Cormack made his way back up the beach.  His knee-length shorts clung to his thighs as he stalked toward her.  The pure power of his build came from running as both man and wolf, and he was her protector in either form.  He flopped next to her on the towel.  His hand, still damp from the ocean, rested on her bared midriff.  He didn’t mention the boys, their threat paltry to what they were used to.  Instead, he chuckled, a sound that never failed to make her stomach flutter.

Obviously amused, he gave the string at her left hip a gentle tug.  “This thing you’re wearing is teasing the mortals.”

Only the mortals?”  She delivered the question as a husky challenge, stretching out on her back and giving Cormack a full view.  Taller than the towel, her feet rested on the hot sand.

All amusement fled as a soft growl fell from his lips.  “Do I need to take you to our room, Elen?”  Shifting onto his side, Cormack’s mouth fell to the sensitive skin just below her ear, delivering dark promises meant only for her to hear.  “Do you need a reminder of what happens when you tease a wolf?”

Elen’s toes curled deep into the sand.  “Yes, please.”
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Meet Jan DeLima!

JDeLima-Celtic MoonJan DeLima is the author of the Celtic Wolves novels, including Celtic Moon and Summer Moon. She lives in Maine with her husband and their two sons. Unlike many authors, Jan didn’t pen stories at an early age, but she has always been a dedicated reader. It wasn’t until after her children entered school that she began writing. Raised in a military family, she lived in different countries such as Thailand and Germany, but home base has always been Maine.

Contact Info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | GoodReads | Amazon | Pinterest

Want to purchase Jan’s novels?
Celtic Moon

  1. Celtic Moon
  2. Summer Moon
  3. Autumn Moon

CMC16

Don’t miss your chance to meet over 50 fabulous urban fantasy, paranormal, and romance authors at Coastal Magic next February! This super casual book-lover weekend happens on Daytona Beach, and gives everyone the chance to hang out with fellow readers and amazing storytellers.

REGISTRATION is now open! If you haven’t been to Coastal Magic yet, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Be sure to keep up with all things Coastal Magic, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

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Contest Time!

JDeLima-GiveawayThank you Jan for taking us to the beach with Elen and Cormack!

Jan is giving away this gift box, filled with signed copies of Celtic Moon and Summer Moon, swag, and a $25 Amazon gift card. To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: How would you tease a wolf? Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered.

The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.

The contest will stay open until August 15th at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from this snazzy plug-in that I have. All giveaways are subject to LE’s Giveaway Policy.

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About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

18 Comments

  1. Jan Delima, that short excerpt was amazing per usual! You are awesome!!! Answer: by challenging his or her partner is a serious yet playful way.

  2. Great excerpt! I think the only person who could get away with teasing a wolf would probably be their mate. She could probably tease him by tempting him with her body, but he could most likely do the same right back at her :)

  3. As far as teasing a wolf, I’d say I’d attempt such a thing very carefully, unless I were it’s mate or wanted to become it’s mate, then all bets are off. :D

  4. It would depend on the wolf though all in good fun of course. I would tease a wolf by suggesting going gor a run though I’d be on an ATV or in Dune Buggy to be able to match speed and have something delicious smelling stowed away in the storage. Once we got to where we were going or back home, then I’d give the delicious meal over

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