CadeLe
Beau Series, Book
1V.A.
Dold
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: March 17 2014
ASIN: B00J1WTSE2
Number of pages: 239
Word Count: about 62,000
Cover Artist: Bookfabulous
Book Description:
Anna James is single again,
finally. In her opinion, men are self-centered and will never love her for who
she is, a beautiful, plus sized woman. All except the fantasy man that she’s
been meeting in her dreams for five years.
She just never expected her
fantasy to be a real live alpha shifter...
Cade Le Beau isn't what he seems.
He’s a billionaire wolf. A Shifter. He laments his missed chance six months ago
to meet his fantasy woman in the flesh. Just as his second chance presents
itself, his fantasy woman, his mate, is threatened by the local mob boss and
her ex-husband. Now, he has forty eight hours to deal with this threat once and
for all or chance losing her again.
Is it Anna who’s in danger, or
the humans who unwittingly threaten her?
The heat is on the moment they
lay eyes on each other. Neither, age, children, horrid ex-husbands, nor mob
bosses will stop this love affair.
NOTE: Complete novel. No
cliffhanger. Dual POV. Rated 18+ for language and strong sexual content. This
is an adult paranormal romance with erotic content. The series centers on wolf
shifters but also includes vampires, voodoo priestess, a Marine, and magic.
These are stand alone books that create a series. They do not need to be read
in order.
Excerpt:
Prologue- The Plan
“Emma, we need to take matters into our own hands or they’ll never find their mates.” Isaac Le Beau set his snifter down before he crushed the glass in frustration. “We have seven virile, grown sons, who after two hundred years haven’t found their mates. If we don’t step in and give a hand to the wolf-goddess Luperca, our sons may spend their lives alone, without children to raise and without their other half to love. Dang it, I want some grandchildren, while I’m still young enough to enjoy them.”
He slowly raised his head and gazed at the love of his life, Emma. She was a unique blend of Romanian gypsy heritage and a very powerful voodoo priestess. Even after two centuries her exotic sparkling dark eyes and compact killer soft curves left him breathless. Some would classify her as a big, beautiful woman. He called her ‘sex on a stick‘. He swore she controlled every beat of his heart.
The warmth and agreement in those mesmerizing eyes silently prompted him to continue.
“Would you do your high-priestess voodoo thing and ask the spirits to identify their mates? With some influence we could bring them together, so they can recognize them on their own. I don’t want to force a meeting. Simply provide the opportunity. How about it, will you give it a try?” Isaac asked.
He knew Emma wouldn’t deny him. “Of course, I’ll perform the ritual, but I can’t give you any guarantees. All I can do is try. If we are truly blessed, Luperca will appear to me and give this endeavor her approval. I want our sons happy and I’d love to have a dozen grandchildren running around the house, too.”
Isaac opened his arms wide, inviting Emma to slide onto his lap. He buried his face into her hair breathing in her unique scent. The familiar fragrance calmed him like nothing else. He was confident everything would change for his sons very soon. He could hardly wait for each of them to meet their one true mate. No wolf should go fourteen hundred years alone.
Two weeks later, they enjoyed the cool breeze that came off the river, flowing through the open windows. A secret little smile lit up Emma’s entire face and her fingers tapped a tune on her cut crystal wine glass. He knew that expression well.
“Out with it, Emma,” Isaac said with a grin of his own. “What is it you’re dying to tell me?” He waited patiently for her to tell him her grand news.
Emma actually bounced in her seat. “I received answers from the goddess.” She clapped her hands excitedly. “Cade's mate is in New Orleans right now. Her name is Anna James. The goddess said she has had many unhappy years, but is now open to finding her one true love. Isn’t that fantastic? Two days from now she is destined to be in Jackson Square and then stop to eat lunch at Crescent City Brewhouse. She’ll be in the bar around eleven-thirty. As for the rest of the boys, the goddess said we must have patience. She’ll grant me visions in my dreams or come to me for each of them when the time is right.”
A surge of excited energy rushed through him as a hundred butterflies took up residence in his stomach. This must be what it felt like to win the lottery he thought. “We’ll have to move fast. We need to think of a way to get Cade there at the right time.”
“Maybe we can come up with a way to use Jackson square? Cade sits there so often it might be an option?” Emma offered.
“Maybe.”
He rubbed his chin, forehead crinkled in deep thought. “First we need to get him out of his home office and into the French Quarter. The bank called yesterday about a restaurant up for sale. I’ll have them schedule a meeting with Cade to review our investments and recommend this new opportunity.” He tapped his chin as the plan took shape, mumbling as he worked it out. He stood and paced across the room, prowled like the animal he was. He couldn’t think properly sitting down.
As he strode back and forth, he noted she had settled into an easy chair to watch him.
“That’ll get him to the city,” he thought aloud as he continued to tap his finger on his chin. “You’re right about his constant people watching, I’m sure he’ll take a walk and perhaps sit a while. A possibility.” Isaac cupped his jaw in his hand and rubbed the coarse stubble.
A satisfied smile tugged at his lips. “I’ve got it! I’ll ask him to meet me for lunch at Crescent City at eleven-thirty. Richie tends the bar, he’ll know the mating signs. When Cade arrives, goddess willing, he will sense his mate. I’ll have Richie tell him I won’t be able to make it. If I’m not there for lunch he will be free to spend time with her.”
Smile broadening, he folded his arms across his chest and nodded. They had a solid plan. In less than a week he could have his first daughter-in-law. Isaac settled into his leather captain’s chair. “I’ll arrange everything with Richie." He felt two hundred years younger, like the bold robust young man who had swept his mate off her feet. By the wistful expression Emma wore, he must look it, too.
As he sipped his rich, sweet cognac, he imagined a baby in Emma’s lap, sleeping peacefully while a toddler played with blocks on the floor. His sigh brought her attention to him with a raised brow. She would laugh if she knew what he was dreaming.
A smile continued to pull at his lips. He couldn’t help it. He was very pleased with his little romance ambush, positive it would be successful. Cade was in for a wonderful surprise in two days’ time.
“Now that we have the plan, what do you think she will be like? Did the goddess give you any hints?”
She laughed. “No, you silly man, the goddess doesn’t have time for things like that.”
“You know he has always favored curvy women. I sure hope she isn’t skinny, he might not even look at her if she is.” A little shiver ran through him. “Remember the gal he dated who looked a lot like you? She was a plus sized beauty. Cade never said anything, but Marcus drove him crazy with that ‘Oedipus’ nickname.” He laughed as he recalled the antics of the boys.
“You’re right, he does like a woman with meat on her bones. All the boys do.”
About
the Author:
V.A.Dold is the bestselling
author of the Le Beau Brothers series, New Orleans wolf shifter novels. A
graduate of Saint Cloud University, she majored in marketing. Prior to becoming
a full time writer, she was a publicist to the authors, owning Innovative
Online Book Tours and ARC Author & Reader Con's (ARC NOLA) (ARC Phoenix).
Still is. The companies mesh so well together, much like PB&J.
Her idea of absolute heaven is a
day in the French Quarter filled with nothing but her computer, her coffee mug
and the Brothers, of course.
A Minnesota native with her heart
lost to Louisiana, she has a penchant for titillating tales featuring sexy men
and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably taking in a movie,
reading or traveling.
Her earliest reading memories are
from grade school. She had a major fixation with horses, and the Black Stallion
was a favorite. Then junior high came along and teenage hormones kicked in. It
became all about the Harlequin Romances. She has been hooked on romances ever
since.
Interview:
Please welcome Cade author V.A. Dold to Diane's Book Blog.
How long did it take you to write Cade?
Cade took forever because I had to learn how to write and rewrote it 3 times in the process. Generally it takes me about 3 to 4 months start to publish.
If you were stranded on a desert island which of your characters do you want by your side?
You haven’t met him yet, but I would take Brian Le Beau with me.
If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?
Etienne hands down. He is so badass and has a great dry sense of humor.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My writing is a complete accident. I had a book in my head and no one else wanted to write it. After goofing around writing it I found after 10,000 words, I could write it myself
What is your favorite book that you wrote?
Yikes, that is like asking which is your favorite child. I can’t really pick one.
What is your typical day like?
Stumble to my lazy boy chair with a cup of coffee and check facebook, emails, etc. Then write write write.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
NO idea, haven’t had it.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
A week later Emma was up bright and early. She had
an important meeting with the unsuspecting El Jorgenson. She had composed the
perfect plan. Not only would El attend the ball, but she would also be
auctioned off and all while wearing a dress that could knock the socks off a
blind man.
El was sweeping the barn when she heard a car door.
She wasn’t expecting anyone today. Who could that be?
Emma Le Beau rounded the barn door with a resolute
expression on her face. El sensed immediately, she wasn’t going to like this.
Emma had that, determined stride and I need a favor and I won’t take no for an
answer set to her brow. She was definitely on a mission. It never boded well
for the person on the receiving end of Emma’s resolve. The score was pretty
much Emma 100 everyone else zero when she was like this.
El had known Emma for a couple years, ever since she
had needed a cure for her prized stallion. She’d tried every medical option
known in the veterinary world. As a last resort, she had called in Emma, a
celebrity healer in the bayou.
Emma had come immediately with three other women and
shooed her out of the barn. They had closed the doors, not allowing any
witnesses of their sacred practice. Thirty minutes later the doors opened and
her stallion stood before her completely cured.
Emma had refused payment that day, stating only, one
day she would need a favor and that would be payment enough. It looked like
perhaps today was payment day.
El sighed, she just hoped the favor wouldn’t be too
outlandish. Emma had strange ideas on the best of days. Hopefully this was one
of her better ones. It’s not that she really minded. She simply had a reputation
to consider in the equine world as a large animal vet and a renowned breeder of
thoroughbreds.
“Good morning El, how are you this beautiful morning?”
Emma smiled warmly as she took El into a rib-crushing hug.
“I’m great…. how have you been?” She said as she
gasped for a breath.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to squeeze so hard.” She blushed
a slight pink. “I have a small favor to ask of you and before you say no, it is
for a very worthy cause.”
She knew it. Here it comes. “What do you need Emma?”
“Simon and Rose are creating a warriors charity to
benefit veterans returning home and in need. The charity will offer service
dogs, fund returning dogs from deployment to their serviceman and medical or
emotional support. To kick off funding they are hosting a dinner and ball. I
would like you to participate.”
This
didn’t sound too bad...Wait a minute! “Participate how exactly?” She
narrowed her eyes at Emma and leaned on her broom.
“There will be an auction of local single men and
women. The winner will get to dance with you at the ball and then have dinner
with you at the place of his choosing. There will be no hanky panky, just
dinner and dancing. I would like you to be one of these single people for
auction.”
“Are you sure you want a plus sized woman who hasn’t
had a date in the past three years? I doubt I will generate much in the form of
bidding.” She frowned.
“You are exactly what I want, and I guarantee, you
will generate bidding. Now stop putting yourself down. You’re beautiful, smart,
and any man would be lucky to have dinner with you. You can consider this the
favor you owe me and we will be even.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.” A lame excuse, she
knew it but she didn’t own an evening gown for a fancy billionaires ball. Heck
she didn’t own a dress.
Emma held up one finger, ”hold that thought.” She
turned and practically skipped to her car.
El watched from the double barn doors as Emma pulled
a garment bag from the back seat. She didn’t! Groaning, Oh yes she did.
“I had my seamstress make this specially for you,”
She beamed
When El didn’t reach to accept it she pouted,
“You’re not going to leave me high and dry with an evening gown and no woman to
wear it are you?”
Sighing she took the dress, “It doesn’t sound too
bad, as long as you are ok with what little money I will make for the charity.
And, if no one bids, Isaac needs to buy me. It is going’ to be mortifying
enough to be on display, if I don’t get any bids I will die of embarrassment.”
“Done.”
“All right, email me the information and I will add
it to my calendar.”
“Oh wait, I forgot the shoes.” Emma ran back to the
car and rummaged in the back seat again before raising a shoebox triumphantly
over her head. Waving the box back and forth as she rejoined El, “Thank you so
much, your participation means a lot to us.”
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you for reading, I love you all.
Thank you for having me J
Happy reading,
V.A. Dold
