Writing the Wolf
Wolves of Crookshollow
Book Two
Steffanie Holmes
Genre: paranormal romance, shifters
Publisher: Bacchanalia House
Date of Publication: May 18, 2017
ASIN: B06W58YNT6
Word Count: 70k
Cover Artist: Aria at Resplendant Covers
Tagline: Rosa just wants to be left alone to write her book, but when werewolves attempt to kidnap her, she realizes her neighbor Caleb is the only one who can protect her. But Caleb is hiding a secret of his own … fur and sparks fly in this hot paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author Steffanie Holmes.
Book Description:
Sink your teeth into the hot new werewolf paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author, Steffanie Holmes!
Rosa
I need to escape.
After those racist bastards destroyed my home, I can’t face the world again.
I’ve rented a cabin in the heart of the Crookshollow forest. I’m going to lock myself away and work on my book. I’m going to write my story.
And I absolutely, positively WILL NOT think about Caleb, the hunky labourer who’s fixing up my cabin.
No way.
I won’t think about the way his eyes melt my heart, and his smile melts my panties.
I’m too emotionally raw right now. I can’t handle a fling, especially not with a white guy.
Especially not a guy like him. A guy who shags and leaves. I can’t handle any more heartache.
Caleb
Rosa Parker – clever writer, black woman, total hottie.
The connection between us sizzles – there’s no denying it: this woman is my mate.
When I’m near her, all I want to do is claim her.
If only I wasn’t the biggest threat to her life right now.
With a rogue wolf pack after my hide, I can’t afford a distraction. Even a distraction as alluring as her.
I need to keep my wolfish instincts in check.
But I can’t help myself.
Rosa Parker has got under my skin.
And I won’t stop until I’ve made her mine.
Writing the Wolf is a standalone novel with an HEA. It’s the second book in the hot new paranormal romance series by USA Today bestselling author Steffanie Holmes. Read on if you love spunky heroines, pack politics, and a hero so hot he’ll have you howling for more.
Excerpt 1
The toilet didn’t flush.
You can’t
be serious. I am not doing this. I’m not living in a cabin with a toilet that
doesn’t work.
be serious. I am not doing this. I’m not living in a cabin with a toilet that
doesn’t work.
I yanked the cord again,
harder this time.
harder this time.
The loo made a gurgling
sound, but nothing else happened.
sound, but nothing else happened.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
I said aloud, my voice sounding hollow in the darkness. Great. This is just
perfect. I should have listened more carefully to Rita’s warnings about the
plumbing. What had she said, while I was busy thinking about the fire again?
I said aloud, my voice sounding hollow in the darkness. Great. This is just
perfect. I should have listened more carefully to Rita’s warnings about the
plumbing. What had she said, while I was busy thinking about the fire again?
Even when I was hundreds of
miles away, Old Garsmouth still managed to fuck up my life.
miles away, Old Garsmouth still managed to fuck up my life.
Well fine, I wasn’t going to
deal with this problem in the dark. I’d call a plumber in the morning. I
slammed down the lid, and turned on the tap to wash my hand. A tiny trickle
came out, followed by nothing except a loud, thumping noise from the pipes.
deal with this problem in the dark. I’d call a plumber in the morning. I
slammed down the lid, and turned on the tap to wash my hand. A tiny trickle
came out, followed by nothing except a loud, thumping noise from the pipes.
“Aargh!” I pounded my fist
against the wall. Something scuttled across my knuckles.
against the wall. Something scuttled across my knuckles.
“Aargh!” I yanked my hand
away and stumbled out the door, straight into a tall stranger who was standing
on the path.
away and stumbled out the door, straight into a tall stranger who was standing
on the path.
“Do you need some help?” A
deep voice boomed in my ear, with the familiar heavy vowels of a Scottish
accent. Huge arms wrapped around my body.
deep voice boomed in my ear, with the familiar heavy vowels of a Scottish
accent. Huge arms wrapped around my body.
“Aargh!” I flailed my arms
about, tearing myself away from his grip. Who the hell was that? Why was some
guy walking around my cabin at night?
about, tearing myself away from his grip. Who the hell was that? Why was some
guy walking around my cabin at night?
And why did my body suddenly
feel so strange? It was as though I’d stuck my finger in a light socket. All
the hair on my body stood to attention. I could only imagine what the frizz on
top of my head must look like. My heart thundered in my chest, but this wasn’t
fear – it was something else. It almost felt like … excitement.
feel so strange? It was as though I’d stuck my finger in a light socket. All
the hair on my body stood to attention. I could only imagine what the frizz on
top of my head must look like. My heart thundered in my chest, but this wasn’t
fear – it was something else. It almost felt like … excitement.
I fought against the
overwhelming urge to throw myself back into the arms of the stranger. What
is that about?
overwhelming urge to throw myself back into the arms of the stranger. What
is that about?
I backed against the side of
the loo, and studied the stranger. Even in the moonlight, it was obvious he was
the world’s most attractive man. Well maybe not the most … Idris Elba was still
alive, of course, and Sam Heughan. But this guy would certainly make top five.
And he had the significant advantage in that he was in my immediate vicinity,
although I still had yet to ascertain if that was a good thing or not.
the loo, and studied the stranger. Even in the moonlight, it was obvious he was
the world’s most attractive man. Well maybe not the most … Idris Elba was still
alive, of course, and Sam Heughan. But this guy would certainly make top five.
And he had the significant advantage in that he was in my immediate vicinity,
although I still had yet to ascertain if that was a good thing or not.
He had long, floppy red hair
that tumbled around his face in tousled waves. A line of dark stubble crossed
his strong, square jaw, and the corners of his mouth lifted up into a cheeky
half-grin. Eyes of blue ice looked me up and down with predator-like focus.
Even though his thick leather jacket, I could see the dark shapes of a tattoo
poking out from the side of his collar. He carried a metal box in his hand. A
gold ring dangled from the top of his right ear. God, I’d love to grab that
with my tongue and—
that tumbled around his face in tousled waves. A line of dark stubble crossed
his strong, square jaw, and the corners of his mouth lifted up into a cheeky
half-grin. Eyes of blue ice looked me up and down with predator-like focus.
Even though his thick leather jacket, I could see the dark shapes of a tattoo
poking out from the side of his collar. He carried a metal box in his hand. A
gold ring dangled from the top of his right ear. God, I’d love to grab that
with my tongue and—
What are
you even thinking? This is nuts. That’s a white guy, standing in the dark. Hot
or not, he can’t be there for any good reason.
you even thinking? This is nuts. That’s a white guy, standing in the dark. Hot
or not, he can’t be there for any good reason.
I backed away further,
trying to ignore the desire surging through my body. Stay alert, Rosa.
Ignore your body for the moment. It’s probably having some kind of seizure. If
he makes a move, turn and run for the path at the other side of the cabin—
trying to ignore the desire surging through my body. Stay alert, Rosa.
Ignore your body for the moment. It’s probably having some kind of seizure. If
he makes a move, turn and run for the path at the other side of the cabin—
“Are you having some
plumbing issues?” The stranger asked, taking a step forward.
plumbing issues?” The stranger asked, taking a step forward.
I held up a hand. “What the
hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, in a voice that oozed the
confidence I did not feel. “You’re sneaking around my cabin in the middle of
the night wearing all black, you scare me half to death, and the first thing
you have to say to me is about the plumbing?”
hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, in a voice that oozed the
confidence I did not feel. “You’re sneaking around my cabin in the middle of
the night wearing all black, you scare me half to death, and the first thing
you have to say to me is about the plumbing?”
He shrugged, a full-on
wicked grin spreading across his face, the kind of grin that might move him
from top five hottest guys on earth into the top three. “Why not? I help lots
of women with their plumbing.”
wicked grin spreading across his face, the kind of grin that might move him
from top five hottest guys on earth into the top three. “Why not? I help lots
of women with their plumbing.”
“Don’t be disgusting. Are
you here to attack me? I warn you, I’m dangerous when provoked.” I tried to
make my feet move back, but they were frozen in place.
you here to attack me? I warn you, I’m dangerous when provoked.” I tried to
make my feet move back, but they were frozen in place.
“Oh, I bet you are.” There
was that grin again. Cocky, self-assured. Sexy as hell. Damn this guy. “In all
seriousness, though. I just came to see if you were all right. I’ve brought my
tools.”
was that grin again. Cocky, self-assured. Sexy as hell. Damn this guy. “In all
seriousness, though. I just came to see if you were all right. I’ve brought my
tools.”
He jiggled the box in his
hand, which upon closer inspection did indeed look like a toolbox. Certainly
not big enough to carry a body around in. That was some positive news.
hand, which upon closer inspection did indeed look like a toolbox. Certainly
not big enough to carry a body around in. That was some positive news.
I still wasn’t buying it.
“Do you just randomly walk around the forest in the dark, looking for plumbing
disasters? You still haven’t told me your name.”
“Do you just randomly walk around the forest in the dark, looking for plumbing
disasters? You still haven’t told me your name.”
The guy set down the box, and held up both hands in a gesture of supplication.
“My name’s Caleb. Rita hired me to do some carpentry work around the place. I’m
staying in the cabin just over there.” He jerked his thumb at the trees behind
us. “She asked me to come out and check on you, offer my services for whatever
you need.” Caleb grinned again. “Looks like I got here just in time.”
About the Author:
Steffanie Holmes is a USA Today bestselling author of dark and steamy paranormal romance. Her books feature clever, witty heroines, wild shifters, cunning witches and alpha males who get what they want.
Before becoming a writer, Steffanie worked as an archaeologist and museum curator. She loves to explore historical settings and ancient conceptions of love and possession. From Dark Age Europe to crumbling gothic estates, Steffanie is fascinated with how love can blossom between the most unlikely characters.
Steffanie lives in New Zealand with her husband and a horde of cantankerous cats. Learn more about Steffanie at her website: www.steffanieholmes.com. She also writes dark science fiction under the name S C Green.
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