Stephanie Julian's New Release and Giveaway

As a romance writer, most of my stories involve couples (and occasionally threesomes), falling in love for the first time. Usually these characters are in their 20s and early 30s, because that's when people typically fall in love and begin their lives together.

However, in my newest release, GRACE IN MOONLIGHT, the fifth book in my Lucani Lovers series, the characters are a little older. Grace in 35 and Kaisie is 44. They've been hurt, they've experienced loss, and they've had children. In Kaisie's case, if you've read EDGE OF MOONLIGHT, you've met his daughter, Kaine. And if you read MOONLIGHT TEMPTATION, you met Alex, Grace's 10-year-old son. Grace also has a 15-year-old daughter, Amy, who plays a big role in GRACE IN MOONLIGHT. 

Grace and Kaisie have their demons, but they find their way to a love that's all-consuming yet more adult than anything I've written.

I love Kaisie. He's just so damn sure of himself and that's such a turn on. And even though Grace has been hurt, she's able to love Kaisie with her whole heart. Who wouldn't root for them to be together?

Blurb: 

Kaisie Giliati is the lucani king’s best tracker. He’s used to hunting and capturing his prey with little resistance. He’s also old enough to know exactly what he wants, and the feisty redhead who stirs him like no other is at the top of his list. Too bad she’s the enemy and seemingly impervious to his charms.

Grace Bellasario has a target on her back, two children to protect from their evil father and she’s in love for the first time in her life. With a man who should hate her—a man she has no business craving. But does she ever. Grace doesn’t have a chance in hell of shaking Kaisie off her tail. Now he just needs to keep her alive to live happily ever after…

Interested in an excerpt? There's one here at my website. How abut another one here at the EC site.

Want to win a copy of GRACE IN MOONLIGHT? Just leave a comment for me. Tell me what age you like your romance heroes to be and I'll choose a random winner from the entries.

Recurring Characters by Stephanie Julian

I'm working on the fifth book in the Lucani Lovers (title TBD) series at the moment and I just finished revisions on the second book in the Forgotten Goddesses series, HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS (Dec. 2011, Sourcebooks). Both series take place in my Etruscan Magic world, as does my Magical Seduction series. That makes for a lot of characters who live and love in my imaginary playground.

I love revisiting characters, especially my favorites. I have several and I'm always thrilled when I'm able to bring them into the story I'm working on. So in addition to falling in love with a new hero, I get to spend some time with a previous hunk.

Kyle Rossini is one of those favorites. He's shown up in every lucani book I've written and will also have a role in HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS. Kyle is my idea of a real man. He's strong, he's smart, and he loves his mate, Tam, with a quiet intensity that's so freaking hot. Kyle was one of those characters that came to me fully realized.

Cam de Feo was the same. He's self-confident, capable and the guy can work magic. Again, hot enough to scorch your fingers. Then there are those ears. Very cool.

And Sal, well, Sal's just different. He's a salbinelli, an Etruscan satyr, with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a goat. Yes, he looks like Pan but people don't mention that to his face. He tends to give them tails if they do. Sal's always there to lend a helping hand, whether it's to the lucani, the Forgotten Goddesses or the fata, the Etruscan fairy races. He's been a pivotal character in several stories but he'll get his HEA soon enough.

If you think it's all about the guys, then you've not met Nortia, Etruscan Goddess of Fate. I have so much fun with Nortia. She's such a smart ass. She says what she wants and doesn't give a shit what anyone else thinks. Of course, the fall from such lofty heights can be far so Norty better watch her back. And her heart.

And finally, there's Cat. Cat is the daughter I'll never have, since both of my real children are boys, soon to be young men. She's almost too perfect, isn't she? Sweet-natured, loving, beautiful, smart. Strong. She's going to need that strength because life has a way of throwing curve balls at you. And even if you're expecting them, sometimes they don't curve the way you think they might.

All of my favorite series, like the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Psy-Changeling series, The Breeds, have created a community where the characters we're fallen in love with over the course of three or five or seven books come back and are an integral part of the larger story being told.

That's what I'm striving for.

So what are some of your favorite series and recurring characters?

Why I Love Series by Stephanie Julian

Hi, I'm Stephanie Julian. I write the Lucani Lovers, Magical Seduction and The Fringe series for Ellora's Cave and the upcoming Forgotten Goddesses series for Sourcebooks.

My latest release is MOONLIGHT TEMPTATION and this book is the perfect example of why I love to write series: You get to visit with old friends again.

If you read my stories, you'll notice my characters tend to pop up in multiple books. That's because I love to check in with them, see what they're up to and just generally say hi. Some show up more than others. I happen to love Kyle and Cam just a little more than all my other heroes. And Cat has a pivotal role to play in the Etruscans' ongoing fate. Besides, she's just a sweetheart.

In MOONLIGHT TEMPTATION, you get to see Kyle, Tam and Cat from KISS OF MOONLIGHT, John from EDGE OF MOONLIGHT, and Cam from SEDUCED & ENSNARED. Say hi to a few old friends.

Cat's Excerpt:

Cat groaned. “You’ve got that look on your face again.”
 

Evie blinked and consciously cleared her expression. But she knew it was too late. “What look?”
 

“That ‘How much can Cat handle look?’” The girl huffed and narrowed her gaze at Evie. “You do know I’m seventeen years old and I wasn’t raised in a nunnery, right?”
 

“I know, Cat. I’m sorry, it’s just this thing with Dane and Ryan has me all…” She shook her hands in front of her. “I don’t know.”
 

“Well, I know you’ve always had a thing for Dane. And now you’re attracted to Ryan and that confuses you. I get it. But you know it doesn’t have to be an either-or deal, right? It’s not like Ryan and Dane haven’t shared the same girl before.”
 

Evie’s mouth dropped open but she couldn’t produce a word. Her brain ground to a halt.
 

Cat’s eyes widened. “Oh. You didn’t know. Oh, shit, my bad.”
 

Cam's Excerpt:

Cam de Feo shrugged it off then held out his hand…for the pretty blonde woman who materialized at his side.
 
Ryan had seen some freaky shit in his life. Hell, he watched Dane turn into a wolf. But when a man built like a linebacker who had pointed ears too unusual to be simply abnormal materialized out of thin air, that made him question his sanity.
 
Cam didn’t stop for introductions. Apparently none were needed. “Stella and I already checked out the building. We’ve got to go now. They’re getting ready to move.”
 
“You saw Evie?” John asked. “And Cat and the boy?”
 
Cam shook his head. “No, but they’re in there. We heard the men talk about moving cargo so they’re still here. We found an empty room to stage but we’ve got to go now. We can’t wait.”
 
John nodded. “Then let’s do it.”
 
Cam nodded then bent to kiss his wife. And this was nopeck on the cheek, goodbye kiss. This was a full-out passionate embrace that no one seemed to think was inappropriate for the situation.
 
When he finally released her, she smiled and Ryan swore he saw heat flare between them, even in the frosty chill of the air.
 
Then Cam grabbed Seth by the arm and laid a hand on Dane’s neck.
 
And they were gone.