Happy Autumn! Well, okay, almost autumn. We have a few more hours to get through before the equinox tomorrow :)
September brings two new additions to the Promise Me
Series…though neither takes up where Book #4, Taken for His Own, left off late last spring. Instead, I wanted to
take an opportunity to fill in the blanks for readers by giving them some
origin stories, and also give new readers a way to jump into the Promise Me Universe
without feeling they needed to read a ton of books to catch up.
Immortal Confessions,
though labeled Book #5, is an origin tale of the main villainous vampire from
the Promise Me Series, Devlin Dalcon. It details all of what happened between
Danial, Devlin, and the human woman who began their centuries long feud,
Annabelle. A new reader can begin with that book, and go right to Promise Me #1
with no confusion.
Promise Me Anthology
#1 collects previously published tales from the Promise Me Universe into
one volume along with brand new novella-length stories. Why are these
necessary, when we already have a series? Mainly because the Promise Me Series
is told for the most part through Sarelle’s eyes, so a reader can’t see events
of which she has no knowledge. I wanted to use these stories to give background
on several known series characters—and also foreshadowing on several who will
shortly make themselves known. Danial, Devlin, Theo and Sarelle are the main
characters of the earlier Promise Me books. But characters such as Terian,
Heather, Nate, Kyle, Tasha, and the vampire couple David and Krystin have their
own part to play in the unfolding of major events in the series.
Promise Me Anthology Playlist
1. Tears
and Rain – Tears and Rain, James Blunt
This song seems like it was written for the
suffering half-demon Terian…whose nickname in the series is “Tears.” Like
Dorian Grey, he’s immortal, hiding his true nature, trying to find a way to
reconcile the life he wants to the life he has. To do that, he does “run far,
far away” to try to find meaning and a new purpose…but what he finds instead is
a dark warning of a possible future to come.
2. Tears
and Rain — Rain, Concrete Blonde
This song represents Terian’s unrequited
feelings for Sar
These
kinds of days…I really miss you now…seasons have changed again
I
said your name…I wonder where you are…watching the rain
And
it makes me remember things I tried to say
3. With
Every Goodbye – Have you Ever Needed Someone so Bad, Def Leppard
Sar’s beloved husband Brennan died in a
mountain climbing accident after only a year of marriage. She’s trying to get
on with her life, but keeps coming back to all that she’s lost, leading her to
some risky behavior.
Have
you ever wanted someone you just couldn’t have
4. Total
Eclipse of the Heart – Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler
I used to love this song, until I actually
listened to the lyrics and they freaked me right out, i.e. Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time. Then it occurred
to me how perfect this song was for a woman who’d given into her obsession for
a hot and sexy vampire…like the handsome Devlin Dalcon.
Once
upon a time, I was falling in love…now I’m only falling apart
Nothing
I can do…a total eclipse of the heart
Once
upon a time there was light in my life, now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing
I can say…a total eclipse of the heart
5. Heart’s
Bells — What About Now, Chris Daughtry
Casey and Theo thought they solved their
biggest problem when they got their parent’s permission to get engaged. Then an
attack by a werecougar changes everything.
Can we see beyond the scars and make it to
the dawn?
6. Heart’s
Solace — Whenever There’s a Night you Need Love
This song represents Tasha’s unrequieted love
for Theo, and all she hopes they’ll be in time...her reason for bespelling him
with Heart’s Solace in order to keep him by her side.
And the magic
can come alive
Only time
will tell who cast the spell of love
7. Partners
— I Won’t Back Down, Tom Petty
Neither the vampire Danial nor the
werecougar Theo are men that back down, even when the odds are against them and
there is no easy way out.
8. State
of Grace – Full of Grace, Sarah McLachlan
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will
recognize this as a season finale song (there even pics in the song video of
Angel and Buffy). It represents Rodney’s despair over his solitary life as a
vampire, and his heart wrenching decision to sacrifice himself in order to save
Jackie, a woman he was falling in love with.
If
all of the strength and all of the courage come and lift me from this place
I
know I can love you much better than this, full of grace
I
know I can love you much better than this
It’s
better this way
9. Just
Business — All Through the Night, Cyndi Lauper
This story was extended, to bring in
Angelica’s background, and explain to readers what her real connection was to
Tony and Thane, and how she became one of Danial’s blood donors.
Fun
fact: Two stories which are heavily music related, Sonata and Night Music, don’t
have a song associated with them!
Blurbs:
Collected for the first time are previously published
stories from the main characters of the Promise Me Universe, along with all new
novella-length stories!
With Every Goodbye (Sarelle)
Sarelle McGarran loves her new country life, her pets, and her husband,
Brennan. When she loses him to a tragic climbing accident, Sarelle must fight
depression, financial hardship, and her family and friends' good intentions to
embrace a new destiny all her own.
Heart's Bells (Theo)
College students Theo and Casey are in love, but Theo's father's ambition for
his artistic son stands in their way. When Theo's family is attacked by a
werecougar on vacation, he alone survives. Now afflicted himself, will Theo
dare endanger the one person he loves most, hoping their love will endure his
new animal nature?
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Heather, Devlin,
Ulysses)*
Heather is a hardworking college student studying to be a nurse. When she meets
the vampire Devlin Dalcon, infatuation quickly becomes obsession. Will Heather
heed Devlin's warnings, or let herself be destroyed by her dangerous desire?
Night Shift (Jordan, Heather) * and Just
Business (Tony, Thane, Danial, Devlin, Nate, David, Jordan,
Angelica, Lash)*
When the mortal teen Angelica witnesses careless vampires draining accident
victims on the hospital night shift, she runs to her bosses, mobsters Tony and
Thane, for protection. While angered at the problem, Devlin also sees
possibilities for expansion with Tony and Thane…if he can maneuver everyone
into place in time.
Partners (Danial, Devlin, Angelica, Theo)* this
is an extended version
Vampire investigator Danial Racklan finds more than his target when the
suffering werecougar Theo crosses his path one evening. For Theo is not only a
man with a past as tragic as his own, but also destined to give Danial
something he's never had before: a partner he could trust.
State of Grace (Nate)*
Made a vampire by accident, timid Rodney has been reduced to feeding on animals
to survive. Befriended by a veterinarian, Jackie, Rodney goes after her the
night she attempts to thwart a dogfighting ring alone. But can he kill others
of his own kind to save Jackie's life?
Sonata (Devlin, Nate, David)*
When Nate challenges Devlin to seduce a human woman using limited words, the
handsome vampire agrees to the bet, figuring to let a musical composition do
the work for him. But Mary Ann, the woman in question, has an agenda of her
own.
Night Music (David and Krys)*
Grieving Krys Markman has come to lose herself in family memories at Letchworth
State Park, and try to figure out her next step. Yet the unearthly beautiful
music she hears each night stirs her soul to romance. Can its creator, the
attractive vampire David Helm, heal her broken heart?
Tears and Rain (Terian, Kyle)
Terian has come west, seeking his friend and former mentor Colin in an effort
to forget his unrequited love for Sar and increase his magical skills. Instead,
he finds a harsh lesson in the bonds of family, along with fresh purpose and
determination.
Heart's Solace (Theo and Tasha)
When the badly wounded cougar comes to her father's country estate, Russian
teen Tasha names him Nazdeha, the word for hope. But as time goes on, Tasha
discovers that the animal is instead a werecougar named Theo, whose only
thought once recovered is to return to his family. Scared that Theo is doomed
to die if he leaves, Tasha bespells Theo with Heart's Solace, a magical love
potion given to her by a mysterious cloaked figure.
*These stories link together to tell a wider story
Excerpt: from With Every Goodbye
“Make love with me.”
I blinked, then turned over in bed. My husband Brennan was
lying next to me. Daylight streamed through the double windows, giving his
short light brown hair reddish highlights. Damn, but he always looks
sexy in the sun. “What time is it?”
“7:23AM; the perfect time.” His warm blue eyes blinked once,
his facial expression teasing.
I stretched, yawning. “Have you been awake long?”
“I don’t usually get up before you do,” he said, chuckling.
“I was watching you sleep.”
I snorted. “And you were suddenly inspired to lust?”
“Something like that.”
I slipped my hand beneath the sheet, searching. Brennan
straightened suddenly, grunting.
I stroked his hardened flesh. “Tell me you love me.”
Brennan made an attempt to look stern. “I wouldn’t have
married you if I didn’t, Sar.”
I let the corners of my mouth curl up just a hint, my hand
not stopping its motion. “Come on. Say it—”
“I love you. I’d go to the ends of the earth for you.” He
grasped my free hand in his, threading his fingers through mine. “Don’t stop.”
“Sorry,” I said cheerfully, straddling him. “Like you just
said, it’s the perfect time for making love.” I brushed my lips over his, then
pressed harder. Brennan groaned again, then pulled me close, rolling over onto
me. I giggled, then sighed in bliss, feeling his lips kiss their way lower.
God, it was great being married.
Buy Links:
*not yet on Amazon, but should be there soon!
Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tara-fox-hall/promise-me-anthology-1/paperback/product-21184947.html
