Rescued by the Wolf
Wahyas of Walker’s Run Series, Book Two
Kristal Hollis
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne
Date of Publication: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 0373139837
ASIN: B01JBQ3HQW
Number of pages: 304
Word Count: 74,000
Book Description:
She’s not afraid to run with his wolf.
When a poacher killed his mate, Rafe Wyatt lost his future. While the Wahyas of Walker's Run have been pulling him back from the brink, he's certain he won't have another chance at love. That is, until Grace comes to town.
Grace Olsen is a woman without roots. That's exactly how she likes it, until a sojourn in a small, close-knit Appalachian community gives her a new vision of what home could be—and so does Rafe. He was supposed to be nothing more than a casual lover, just as wary of commitment as she is. When their raw attraction becomes something deeper, more complex, they could be looking at a new future together. But someone close to them both would rather see Grace dead than let her be with the man—and the wolf—she's grown to love.
Excerpt
“Rafe, wake up!”
-------------------
Rafe sat on the couch in the living area of the suite, opened the fast food bag and methodically set three wrapped sandwiches, an extra-large order of fries, napkins and a plastic spoon on the small round table.
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“Rafe, wake up!”
He didn’t move, snort, or otherwise acknowledge her presence.
Grace eased off the Murphy bed, slid her feet into pink slippers, maneuvered between the coffee table and couch, and reached over Rafe to the alarm clock balanced on the top frame of the couch, the LED face flipped so that the time flashed into the cushion instead of into the room.
In a sudden whirl, she slammed onto the couch seat cushions. Rafe’s steely fingers clamped around her wrists, pinning them over her head. She stared into icy, cobalt blue eyes that would’ve stolen her breath if she hadn’t lost all air when he plastered his hard, hot body onto hers.
The short crop of his auburn hair stuck out in different directions. A pillow crease cut across one high cheekbone and dipped into the reddish stubble dusting his strong jaw. His firm, full lips would look much more kissable if he smiled.
Squared shoulders rose above a sculpted chest swirled with soft tufts of hair, and a quarter-sized scar marred the taut, tan skin over his right ribs.
Her gaze slid over the ripples of his abs and the sharp indents of his hips. She couldn’t follow the treasure line that arrowed down from his belly button because he was lodged intimately against her pelvis.
A giddy heat rushed her body and struck her with the acute awareness of a virile man in his prime.
“Never sneak up on me, Grace.” Rafe’s laser-intense eyes burned holes straight through her body. “It’s dangerous.”
No doubt.
From his deeply etched scowl to his silent, panther-like movements, she needed no further warnings. He was dangerous on all levels.
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Rafe sat on the couch in the living area of the suite, opened the fast food bag and methodically set three wrapped sandwiches, an extra-large order of fries, napkins and a plastic spoon on the small round table.
“How you can eat like that and not have an ounce of fat?” She knew he didn’t because she’d seen every inch of him.
“I run almost every night.” Rafe unwrapped the first sandwich, wadded the paper and dropped it in the bag.
“You don’t look like a runner. They’re usually lean and lanky.” Grace pulled a bottle of water from the small in-room refrigerator and placed it on the table for Rafe. “You’re thicker, more solid.”
Elbows on his knees, holding the sandwich in front of his face, he took a giant bite, chewed slowly and swallowed. “You think I’m dense and slow?” His gaze lifted to her with a challenge in his eyes.
“No.” She joined him on the couch. “Think of greyhounds and rottweilers. Greyhounds are sleek, elegant and fast. Rottweilers are—”
“Blocky and stout?”
Neither of which described Rafe.
“I was going for strong and durable.” She picked up the spoon and shoveled a big scoop of delicious, soft, vanilla ice cream drowning in hot fudge into her mouth.
Her entire body cheered.
“I could give a greyhound a run for its life.”
“Keep eating junk and you won’t.”
Eying the sundae in her hand, he halted before taking another bite of his sandwich. “Who’s the pot and who’s the kettle in this conversation?”
“Hey. This is my only vice.” She savored another bite. “Ummmm.”
“What about coffee?”
“Isn’t a vice. Coffee is as essential as oxygen.”
“If you stopped breathing, which would you rather have, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or a cup of coffee poured down your throat?” Rafe’s gaze lingered on her mouth.
Her lips tingled. She gave her spoon a slow, sensual lick. “Depends on who’s providing the rescue breathing.”
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About the Author:
Raised in a small Southern town, Kristal Hollis has spent most of her life helping people and animals. When a family medical situation resulted in a work sabbatical, she began penning deliciously dark paranormal romances to escape the real-life drama. After the crisis passed, her passion for writing love stories continued. An RWA 2015 Golden Heart® Finalist, Kristal lives with her husband and two rescued dogs at the edge of the enchanted forest that inspires her stories.
Interview
Please welcome Rescued by the Wolf author Kristal Hollis to Diane’s Book Blog.
How long did it take you to write RESCUED
BY THE WOLF?
I work a full-time
“day” job so the original story took several months to write and was a
completed manuscript by the time I signed a contract with Harlequin Nocturne.
But, since RESCUED BY THE WOLF wasn’t written specifically for the Nocturne
line, I had to deconstruct the story, remove some secondary plots, and hone the
overall concept to be appropriate to the publisher’s brand. This added about 4
months to the process. Hopefully, with each new book in the series, I’ll get
faster.
What is your favorite scene in RESCUED BY THE
WOLF?
I absolutely love the
scene where the widowed hero, RAFE WYATT, loses his home in a devastating fire.
Everything in his past is being stripped away, leaving his emotions raw as he
deals with reconciling who he was with who he wants to become. He feels utterly
alone in this endeavor until the heroine, GRACE OLSEN, shows up at the scene of
the fire. She becomes his strength, his solace and his sanctuary. This scene is
a definite roll reversal, with the heroine becoming the knight in shining armor
to the hero.
If you were stranded on a desert island which
of your characters do you want by your side?
I’d definitely want
Rafe. He’s quiet and unassuming, and not likely to interrupt me while I’m
reading because even on a desert island, I would have plenty of books. Rafe is
in tune with his wolf which would come in handy whenever we needed to forage
for food. He’s also very skilled with
his hands. If island living started to wear on my nerves, he could probably
build a boat out of a coconut and get us back to civilization.
If you could be best friends with one of your
characters, who would it be?
I’d claim Rafe’s best
friend Brice Walker. Brice is smart,
generous, and protective. He’s the first to jump in to help but he also knows
when to take a step back. Even though he’s in line to become the next Alpha of
the Walker’s Run pack, he’s personable and relatable. He is genuinely
interested in others and is the first to encourage and support his friends’
endeavors. However, he doesn’t sugar-coat things. He’s direct and honest, and will
always have your back.
What inspired you to write your first book?
When my husband became
ill and I needed to be home with him, I began writing to give myself a break
from the medical drama. I wrote a convoluted
and very lengthy --and by lengthy I mean 120,000+ words—story. It was a hot
mess stuffed in a snow cone, but it was fun and cathartic to write.
During that time, I
connected with other writers and began to study the craft of writing. After I
finished that first story (I won’t call it a manuscript because it’s never been
edited or polished into a coherent read), I realized I wanted to write wolf
shifter stories and I wanted to see them published. So, I began writing
“Howlin’ Hearts.” I edited and polished the pages with serious intent.
Eventually, the story won the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Award for
unpublished manuscripts, and finaled in the RWA Golden Heart© contest. Shortly
after, I contracted with Harlequin Nocturne and “Howlin’ Hearts” was retitled
AWAKENED BY THE WOLF, book one in the Wahyas of Walker’s Run series, and
debuted last summer. RESCUED BY THE WOLF is the second book in the series.
What is your favorite book that you wrote?
I’m going to quote
Nora Roberts and say, “the favorite is always the one I just finished. Like childbirth, the pain is forgotten almost
immediately and all you remember is the bliss.” Transforming a chaotic story in
my head to words on the page can be frustrating and nerve-wracking, not to
mention time-consuming. But, when the pages are edited and polished and the
story is complete, that is one of the best feelings in the world and why the
book I just finished writing is my favorite.
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
I discovered my
“happy” when writing during my husband’s illness. I don’t mean I was unhappy
before I chose to pursue a writing career, because I was happy. But, something
about creating stories, putting them into written words, and sharing them
nourishes my soul. When I’m writing, I feel like I’m doing exactly what the
universe intends for me to do.
Can you share a little of your current work in
process with us?
I’ve just finished
CHARMED BY THE WOLF, book three in the Wahyas of Walker’s Run series. It features
Tristan Durrance, a wolfan sheriff deputy, who has made appearances in the two
previous books. Here’s a brief blurb:
Tristan Durrance is an avowed bachelor. But,
when Penelope Buchanan’s elicits his help to accomplish her bucket list, he discovers
a fine line between lust and love. And, once his heart crosses it, there will
be no escaping the deadly rival determined to end their affair, permanently.
Diane, thank you for
inviting to me to your blog. It’s been a lovely chat and I appreciate your time
in helping me spread the word about RESCUED BY THE WOLF, and the Wahyas of
Walker’s Run series.
Giveaway:
Thanks for the spotlight and interview!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome at Diane's Book Blog any time. Good luck with your book!
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