GUEST POST & EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: 'Code Name Jack Rabbit' by Elizabeth Noble
Thank you, Kimmers, for hosting me today.
Hi, I’m Elizabeth Noble and I’m here today talking a bit about my newest release from DSP Publications, Code Name Jack Rabbit (book #1 of The Vampire Guard)
When I was sent the list of blogs hosting my tour I am embarrassed to admit I’d never visited this site before. That’s a real shame since the books featured are right up my reading tastes alley! The next thing I noticed was my book and its cover didn’t really fit in with all these other wonderful titles and romantic covers. When I inquired the person at DSP Publications who arranges the tours assured me Kimmers was well aware that my book was different and this blog is branching out to other sorts of titles.
I’m all for branching out. I like to try to do that myself! In fact, this series is all about branching out.
Since I’m new here, I thought I’d ramble on a bit about that branching out and what sort of non-romance this series in general, and Code Name Jack Rabbit in particular, is.
The entire series revolves around four men, three of them vampires and one a werewolf. This group is comprised of two sets of couples. While Code Name Jack Rabbit isn’t a romance in the traditional sense there are plenty of relationship issues, baggage from past romances, friendship, love, family squabbles and yes, there is some sex!
Vampires and werewolves in this series live very long lives and as such they develop many varied and complicated interpersonal relationships. Throw them into a dangerous situation or two and emotions are highlighted.
Until this book I’ve written romances. Some paranormal, some mystery/suspense, but they’ve been romances. A couple and how their romance is affected during the story was the focus of each book.
This book focuses more on the team feel. There are lovers within the team, but also very deep friendships and two of the characters consider themselves brothers. So, there’s tons of feelings and different sorts of romance. These men have to face the reality of watching their soul mate, or best friend, being dumped right into the midst of very hostile and dangerous situations.
Transitioning away from romance, where there are usually two (sometimes three) main characters to a set up where there are four main characters was a fun change. I love exploring the relationships between people, and I think that is the allure of romance for many people. Stepping outside of the romance genre allowed me to dive into all sorts of relationships.
Since the team is comprised of two sets of couples there is some romance included. Mainly we see how each couple handles the same events as a couple. It was fun exploring the way couple A would react as opposed to how couple B handled things. They approach their commitment to each other differently. One couple has a more laid back relationship while the other is more intense. One of the team members is very protective of not only his soul mate, but his friends.
With a non-romance story I was able to get a whole new perspective and added dimension to my characters and how they relate to one another. Through them and writing this story I was able to branch out.
Let’s face it spies, paranormal or otherwise, are sexy and exciting, especially when driven to protect not only the world but their husband, lover, friend and brother. These guys will stop at nothing to get the bad guy as well as there is nothing they wouldn’t do for each other.
I hope you’ll join me in the place where legend and myth meet science and technology and try out a romance of a different sort. There’s action, adventure, intrigue and four utterly sexy men using a variety of skills and their relationships with one another to stop a seriously horrible attack on innocent lives.
If you’re interested in the start of these romances check out the first series, The Sleepless City (it is a romance) written with Anne Barwell.
Title: Code Name Jack Rabbit
Series: The Vampire Guard Book #1
Author: Elizabeth Noble
Publisher: DSP Publications
Published: July 12, 2016
Cover Artist: TL Bland
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 200 pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Crime; Fantasy; Shifter: Werewolves; Paranormal: Vampires
BLURB: Meet the newest members of the Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.
Jonas Forge, vampire. Once a spy and soldier, now a cop, Forge enjoys the life he’s built with his friends in Flint, Ohio.
Blair Turner, PhD. Blair, a vampire and computer hacker with exceptional skills, shares a powerful empathic bond with Forge, his soul mate.
Declan, vampire, ex-pirate, ex-fur trapper, thief, and con man. Declan is Forge’s former lover and soul mate to Lucas Coate.
Lucas Coate, MD, Flint’s medical examiner. A werewolf living among vampires, Lucas is also one of Forge’s best friends.
Their lives become complicated when an impending Presidential visit throws them headlong into a world of high-tech vampire spies and espionage. Recruited into the Vampire Guard by the secret society of the Akhkharu Nasaru, they uncover a werewolf terrorist organization known as the Qiguan.
Together they must thwart a murder attempt on the open waters of Lake Superior while tracking a previously unknown biological weapon controlled by the Qiquan—a weapon which may very well mean death for one of them.
CLICK ABOVE TO READ JULIE'S REVIEW
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
“I hate these rooms, but I do love being out here.” Lucas turned and leaned against the wall. He looked side to side and gave the chains a gentle tug. “What are you going to do to Grier once we have him?”
“Talk,” Declan said simply. He unbuttoned his shirt, and Lucas stared in appreciation at the way Declan’s chest muscles and shoulders moved as he pulled it off. Declan met his gaze, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face.
Declan might be able to experience Lucas’s emotions and desires, but Lucas could smell how Declan’s body reacted to him. He took another deep breath and smiled, letting enough wolf show to render his eyes bright gold. When he spoke, his voice was more guttural. “I love the soil under my feet.”
In less than a second, Declan was across the room and right in front of Lucas. Lucas rumbled low in his chest, a noise that was half-howl, half-growl. It had the effect on Declan he knew it would. This close to the full moon, they affected one another in a unique and, to Lucas, exciting way.
Declan’s eyes were solid green. His fangs lengthened as he pinned Lucas to the wall, a hand on either side of Lucas’s head. Lucas moaned when Declan bent and ran his tongue over Lucas’s neck. Lucas hooked one leg around Declan’s and yanked him closer, shuddering when Declan’s fangs skimmed across his shoulder.
Lucas growled, and Declan grabbed a handful of Lucas’s shorts and yanked them off. “You want to go a few rounds?” He smiled and moved one hand to Lucas’s head, getting a handful of hair and not waiting for an answer. It wasn’t as if he needed one.
Hard and on edge, Lucas wound one arm around Declan’s waist and pressed tighter against him, nipping at Declan’s jaw. He tangled his other hand in Declan’s jeans and tugged impatiently. Holding him against the wall with one hand, Declan stepped back a pace and dug a small tube from his pocket.
“Came prepared,” Lucas said.
Declan smirked. “Always.” He shoved his jeans down and then spun Lucas to face the wall.
Lucas moaned and shoved his ass back as Declan worked cool lube around his entrance, then eased some inside. When the head of Declan’s cock, thick and slick with lube, pushed against him, Lucas shivered and spread his legs wide. Declan pushed very slowly into him, and Lucas howled. Holding Lucas around the waist with one arm, Declan reached down with the other and grabbed Lucas’s dick. He squeezed—hard.
Vampires were sexy and powerful; Declan was no different. Vampires hopped up on werewolf emotions this close to a change were feral, insatiable, and dangerous. And Lucas loved it. Even another werewolf couldn’t match Declan. Lucas shoved back and Declan thrust forward. No finesse, no foreplay, nothing but animal lust.
The heat between them was all-consuming, and the scents they gave off invaded every part of Lucas’s senses. The world narrowed down to Declan’s arm around him, his hand now barely moving over Lucas’s cock, and his body crushing Lucas to the wall. The room swirled around Lucas, and heat rose until a throbbing started in his ass that blossomed through Lucas’s entire body. He gasped for breath, growling with every exhale.
Declan’s fangs sank into his shoulder, and Lucas’s entire body shuddered out of control. Without Declan holding him, he’d surely shake to pieces. His body quaked, matching the tremors rippling through Declan. The aroma of his body’s release mixed with Declan’s. It was intoxicating.
Lucas’s knees buckled, and his legs felt like wet noodles. Gasping and still shuddering, he started a slow slide to the floor as Declan softened inside him. Lucas’s fingers elongated, and he gouged at the wall, sucking in air.
“Whoa, there.” Declan turned Lucas around and gripped his chin, forcing Lucas to meet his gaze. “Stay with me.”
Lucas offered him a lopsided smile and a sloppy kiss before resting his head on Declan’s shoulder. “When I was a kid, it was a thing to get laid right before the full moon took you. It was always good, but damn, you’re the best fuck I’ve ever had.”
Gripping Declan with his claws, Lucas nudged closer. Declan took both of Lucas’s hands in his own and held them between him and Lucas. “As charming as that is, Lucas, focus. Look at me. Put the claws away.” Lucas would have staggered sideways had Declan not held his hands as his claws began to retract. After another couple of deep breaths, claws completely gone, Lucas met Declan’s gaze, swaying on his feet. “Better?” Declan asked. “Calmer?”
It took some concentration, but Lucas managed to nod. He licked his lips and looked around. “All these smells will confuse the hell out of Grier.” His first few words were drawn out, but his speech became more even as his head cleared.
“Good,” Declan said.
Elizabeth Noble lives by the adage “I can’t not write”. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t make up stories and eventually she learned how to write them down. A part of every day is spent living in worlds she created that are filled with intrigue and espionage. Using a real love of scifi and urban fantasy highlighted by twisty plots she crafts stories taking place in a slightly altered version of our world.
When she’s not chronicling the adventures of her many characters Elizabeth is a veterinary nurse living in her native Cleveland, Ohio. She shares her little brick house with an adorable canine princess and her tabby cat side-kick. Elizabeth is a fan of baseball, basketball (go Cavs and Indians!) and gardening. She can often be found working in her ‘outside office’ listening to classic rock and plotting her next novel waiting for it to be dark enough to gaze at the stars.
Elizabeth received several amateur writing awards. Since being published two of her novels have received honorable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Her novel Jewel Cave was a runner up in the 2015 Rainbow awards in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category.
Twitter: @elizabethnoble1
