Blurb:
Arran MacLain is a vampire on a suicide mission, driven to kill his former partner who betrayed him and the Enclave they served. But two things stand in his way: Gabrielle, the human female who holds his heart, and the past that won’t let him go. If only death was enough to cleanse his soul.
Gabrielle Steven’s sister is missing. Her hunt for clues brings her face to face with the one vampire she can’t forget. Their missions combine and thrust them into the heart of evil. Will their passion be enough to overcome the pain from their past, or will their dark desires destroy them both?
Book Links:
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Interview with author Jessica Lee:
Thanks so much having me here today at Becky on Books! What a great blog!
Thanks! 🙂 I’m so glad you could join us today!
Tell us more about your book—take us beyond the official “book blurb”.
In Undying Embrace we learn more about Enclave warrior Arran MacLain and the female member of the team, Gabrielle Stevens who’s claimed his heart. Both carry a ton of baggage from their past, and because of those issues, they continue to fight their attraction.
Arran is vampire on a mission to find his partner, Markus, the male who betrayed not only him but the Enclave. During his search, he runs into Gabrielle who is on a mission herself to locate her missing sister. Together, they have to put aside their personal pain and join forces to fight the evil that’s invaded both their worlds.
Sounds great–can’t wait to read it!
Give us more info about your main characters—who are they?
Arran is a vampire from the Highlands of Scotland and is over 180 years old. He’s a vampire with a very dark and bloody past.
Gabrielle is a human female around 25 years old. She comes from a broken, violent home. Her only sister is Alexandria who’s missing. Gabrielle suffered a multiple DEAD attack at nineteen and was rescued by members of the Enclave, including Arran. She’s been with the Enclave ever since that incident and is the only human female of the team.
Sounds intriguing…
What scene in your book was the most fun to write, and why?
Wow. That’s such a tough question. lol Writing Arran and Gabrielle’s story was an intense ride all the way through. But if I had to pick a moment… There is a scene that I can’t go into too much detail or I’ll give away spoilers. This one involves a car chasing a motorcycle and the interaction between the two after the chase is over. Very intimate and revealing. I really love how their emotions bubbled to the surface during this scene.
Can’t wait to read that one!
How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?
I’ve been writing since around 2007. My inspiration came when I discovered the paranormal romance genre. I loved the fantasy, romance, and the adventure the authors spun with their words. I was captivated!
What do you like best about being a writer?
The escape. Plus the feeling I get when I write “The End”. It’s a fantastic rush. And most of all, I love my readers! Nothing is better than finding a message in your inbox from a reader who has enjoyed one of books.
…and her links are down after the author bio…hint, hint!
What is the most challenging part of being a writer?
The discipline. Making sure that life doesn’t get in the way can be very difficult sometimes.
I hear you! That would definitely be my answer too–and I’ve only done NaNoWriMos so far….
What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?
Right now I’m working on the next book in my Ariel Estate series, and then it’s back to the Enclave for edits on book three and completing book four. Book three of the Enclave should be released in early 2014!
Excellent!
What authors and/or books have inspired you?
Oh my gosh… There are so many! Definitely Karen Marie Moning would be on top of that list. She writes so beautifully. I once attended an event where Sherrilyn Kenyon was the keynote speaker. She was amazing. Her journey is such an inspiration to any author who’s working hard to break into the publishing world.
Both authors on my TBR list…I’ve heard great things!
What are you currently reading?
At the moment, I’m not currently reading. I’m holding out for Styxx, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s recent release. It’s going to be my reward for finishing my current work in progress. Books are kind of like the carrot in front of the horse for me to get my rear in gear and meet my deadlines. lol
Sounds like a great idea! And we’re back to that discipline part again… 😉
Please share a favorite scene from your books with our readers.
The scene below is from Undying Destiny. I actually recorded a video blog, reading this scene during the blog tour for book one’s release. I really love the tension and raw passion that’s revealed between Kenric and Emily here. Setup: Kenric is being psychically attacked by his evil sire when Emily walks into the bedroom.
What was she doing to him? “Kenric!” Emily cried again. She had to get him awake. Had to get him away from her. The look on his face. The strain in his body. Marguerite was torturing him, and the sight of it was like a knife through Emily’s heart. She bent over and clasped his cheeks, forcing his face in her direction. “Kenric, it’s Emily.” His eyes were glazed, pupils dilated, staring at some point beyond her. “You have to hear me. Come back to me.” Her voice choked. “She’s not here. Marguerite is in your head.” Emily gritted her teeth then cried out, “Let him go!” She had no idea if the woman could even hear her, but she had to try.
She shuffled closer, placing them face to face. “Kenric!” His fangs were extended, touching his bottom lip. The sight of the sharp points should have freaked her out, but at that point, all she could see was the man. A man in pain. The man who had placed her life before his own.
“Emily?” he mumbled, and his brow wrinkled.
Her heart raced. “Yes, yes. It’s me.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “Look at me. Focus on me.”
“Get out of here!” He shook his head as if trying to break her hold and back away.
“Kenric,” Emily said, her tone dropping to an, I’m-a-woman-who-won’t-be-moved level. “Focus on me. Get her out of your head.”
His eyelids slammed shut, then he blinked, and his gaze bore into hers. Seeing her for the first time. “I said get out of here,” he growled. “I can’t…I can’t promise you I’m in control.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Leave me.” His attention shifted to something in the distance. “Need you,” he began, the words fighting for birth from his throat. “Need you safe.”
“Oh, hell no!” Like she could live with herself if she walked out that door. The very thought had her gasping for air. His head slipped from her grasp, and his eyelids _ uttered. His eyes rolled back in their sockets. The bed jerked and his body stiffened. “Kenric?” Emily lunged forward, nearly on top of him. “Kenric,” she shouted and grabbed his head, rocking his face forward. “Don’t you die on me,” she uttered, her voice fierce. “You put me in the middle of this, and I need you to stay with me. You hear me?” she asked, her lips next to his. “Come back to me.”
Emily pressed her mouth against his, willing him back to reality. To her. There was a lot about Kenric that scared the hell out of her, but she realized suddenly that the thought of him not being in her life frightened her even more.
At first there was no response. Only her lips moving across his. She choked on a sob, then poured herself back into action. He jerked, and then his palms were on her upper arms, air filling his lungs. Kenric pushed her back.
“What are you doing?” His eyes narrowed, the pupils no longer human, obscuring almost all the white. “You have to get away from me.”
Emily shook her head. “I’m not leaving you like this. She’s trying to kill you.” She reached out and gripped his face. “Because of me,” she whispered.
“You don’t understand…,” he began, his voice hoarse, as if he’d emerged from a long desert journey.
“I understand you need me. That’s all I need to know.”
…
Kenric closed his eyes, and a shudder wracked his body. Her words slicing into the last hold he had on his restraint. He lifted his eyelids, meeting her gaze. “Are you sure, Wildflower? Please be sure, because I don’t know…. If we go any further—I can’t promise I can—”
Emily clamped her mouth onto his, swallowing whatever else he was about to say. His brain short-circuited and he groaned, meeting her passion devouring all that she had to give. Every cell in his body cried out for her.
More of her.
To have her.
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing, Jessica!
Readers, there’s a lot more where that came from–keep reading for more about Jessica, her contact links, and a Rafflecopter giveaway!
Author bio:
Almost every author’s bio states they’ve been writing since they learned how to read. It’s what they’ve always wanted to do. Well, my journey wasn’t so straight and narrow. I was a nurse for over twenty years and hold a bachelor’s degree in science with a major in biology. So as you can see, my career path had originally gone in the opposite direction. I didn’t discover my passion for the craft until after I’d had my son and decided to work part-time.
I’ve always loved to read but had never read a paranormal romance. Then one night at work on break, I began reading Karen Marie Moning’s Spell of the Highlander. I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing, and I immediately fell in love with the genre.
I wanted to write like that. I wanted to create worlds where others could find the same escape and fascination I did when I read my first sensual paranormal romance.
And I hope that’s what I’ve accomplished in my work. Please dive in, hold on tight, and enjoy the adventure. Just be careful in the dark—you might find more than you expected waiting for you there.
Jessica Lee lives in the southeastern United States with her husband and son. She loves writing and can’t wait for that quiet time each day when her son is in school, and she can get lost in another place and world with the fantastical, sexy creatures in her head.
She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, FF&P, and Carolina Romance Writers.
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