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Saturday, August 13, 2011

FF–Beauty and the Beast by Laurie London

** Today on Dark Faerie Tales read Pheadra Weldon’s take on Banshees and you could win Revenant and Geist **

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Being all book lovers, most of us add a sweet spot for Belle because she also loved reading so much, well this rendition by Laurie London is more about The Beast =)

A chat with Alfonso and Beast

You all know Beast, from Beauty and the Beast. Alfonso Serrano is the hero of Embraced By Blood, book 2 in the Sweetblood series, written by me, Laurie London.


Alfonso Serrano had seen some strange things in his long life, but this had to be one of the strangest.
A moment ago, when he’d knocked on the ornately carved door of the castle, it was answered not by a butler or a maid, but by furniture and housewares that walked and talked.

Alfonso knew the owner was a Beast and that the place was rumored to be enchanted, but he hadn’t been prepared for this.

“Forgive them for staring, sir,” the clock said, referring to a teapot, a candlestick and a broom standing in the foyer next to a massive staircase. “It’s just that none of us has met a real vampire before.”

“He looks so…manly,” whispered the teacup to the broom.

“And handsome,” said the broom. “Did you see those eyes?”

“I wasn’t looking at his eyes,” said the teacup.

He hid a smile and pretended not to hear them as he surveyed his surroundings. This place definitely looked promising.

When he’d learned the Beast was selling salvage items from one of the crumbling towers, he decided to check it out. Alfonso was building a replica of his parents’ estate, the original having been constructed around the same time as Beast’s castle, and he’d been having a hard time finding just the right materials. Maybe there were some stone tiles or fireplace mantels or even some furniture—the unanimated kind—that would suit his purposes.

“Right this way, sir,” the clock said. “The master will see you in the Black Tower.”

Alfonso tried not to grimace as he followed the clock down a long hallway that seemed to stretch forever. His leg was really bothering him today. Several months ago, he’d been badly injured in a fire and the knee joint hadn’t regenerated correctly.

A loud crash sounded from somewhere within the castle. “But I must warn you,” the clock said, “he’s in a foul mood this evening.”

“Why is that?”

“Let’s just say it’s about a woman.”

The Beast was leaning over a desk when they entered the tower room a few minutes later. He glared at them with dark, fiery eyes and looked as though he were ready to kill something. Fangs hung from his mouth like daggers and his large paws clutched the edge of the desk. The clock quickly left the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Take anything you want,” the Beast growled, sweeping his arm wide. “I have no need for material things any longer.”

Alfonso glanced around large room and was drawn to the fireplace. He approached it for a closer look and ran his hands over the aged wooden mantelpiece. It reminded him of the one from his parents’ sitting room. Yes, this might work.

“Why are you looking for decrepit items from a crumbling old castle?” Beast asked. “Do vampires like to surround themselves with misery and decay?”

“Not necessarily.” Alfonso then explained what he was doing.

The Beast tilted his head, a curious expression on his hairy face. “So you’re building the estate as a way to honor your parents’ memory, to atone for mistakes you made in the past?”

“Yeah, I’d say that was an accurate assessment.” Alfonso suddenly wanted to know more about this Beast. “I hear you’re upset about a woman.”

“Yes, I, too, have made mistakes. I imprisoned a beautiful woman here in the hopes that I could make her love me. But I am a beast—on the outside and on the inside. When I finally realized that she could never love someone like me, that I’d never be what she deserved, I decided to let her go.”

Alfonso sighed and adjusted his knit cap. “Believe me, I can relate to that. I know firsthand about loving a woman when you know you’re not good enough. When what’s inside you is so…beastly…that you know in your heart she deserves a better life than the one you could give her.”

Letting Lily go was the hardest thing Alfonso had ever done. But he didn’t have a choice. Not if he really loved her. Given that a Darkblood assassin from the Order of the Red Sword was hunting him, it was too dangerous for her to be around him. And with his disfigurement and physical limitations now, he’d never be able to adequately protect her and her daughter.

Later, after the mantel had been removed and carried out, Alfonso turned back to the Beast who’d been quietly watching the proceedings.

“We’re kindred spirits, Beast,” Alfonso said, holding out his hand. Beast clasped it with a large hairy paw. “We both fell in love with women who deserved more than us.”

“Yes, we sure did.”

Alfonso let go of Beast’s paw and walked to the door. “I hope you can find happiness someday, because I’m sure I never will.”

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Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, two vampire coalitions battle for supremacy—Guardian enforcers who safeguard humanity and Darkblood rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors.

Alfonso Serrano is a hunted man. For months he’s managed to elude the Darkbloods, vengeful foes who won’t rest until he’s dead. But he still craves one dangerous temptation: Lily DeGraff, the sexy Guardian agent he’ll risk anything to protect.

Lily is a wanted woman. Her talent for tracking Sweet-a rare blood type that’s addictive to vampires-makes her a prime target for enemy capture. Her only hope is the stealthy vampire operative who stole into her bed...then left her in despair. Danger aside-Lily won’t let Alfonso near her heart again-until an irresistible hunger draws them back together...and into an assassin’s snare.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Laurie would like to offer one of you a copy of her book!

  • This giveaway is open US & Canada only 

  • To enter, just leave a comment letting me know if you’ve read the first book in the series, Bounded by Blood.

You can to earn an extra entry by spreading the word, please provide link in a second comment

Tweet: #FantasticFables Read @LaurieBLondon 's take on Beauty & the Beast  | win Embraced by Blood http://www.tyngasreviews.com/2011/08/ffbeauty-and-beast-by-laurie-london.html #giveaways PLZ RT

Ends September 7th, 2011.

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A graduate of Western Washington University with a BA in Business Administration and a former tester/programmer for a Fortune 500 company, Laurie London now writes from her home near Seattle where she lives with her husband and two children.

Her debut book, BONDED BY BLOOD, A Sweetblood Novel came out February 2011 from HQN. EMBRACED BY BLOOD, the second book in the series, released July 2011.

Her writing has won and been a finalist in several prestigious contests including the Beacon, the Emerald City Opener, the Marlene, and the Orange Rose.

When not writing, she can be found running, reading, or riding and showing her horse. Someday she hopes to qualify for the Quarter Horse World Show – that is, if her horse doesn’t get hurt again.

Visit Laurie

More books by Laurie London

free novella:                           

 

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

37 People left their mark' :

  1. I read and loved the first book in the series. Great new paranormal romance series and I can't wait to read the next book!
    bookaholic117(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I have read the first book and can't wait to read the second book.

    rachaelmccully@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Beauty and the Beast. It's my favorite fable. I have Bonded By Blood, but it's currently languishing on my humongous TBR pile because it's in paperback format instead of ebook. I really need to move it up because I would love to read it.

    jen at delux dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ahhh that was so sweet. Sad, but sweet. I've never saw these books, but they look great, they're definitely going on my tbr list. Thanks for the giveaway:).

    eckstein99@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. I enjoyed the story, and I'm looking forward to checking this series out. I haven't had a chance to start it yet, but hope to soon.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't read Bonded by Blood yet. I'm loving all these fables though, because they are presenting a lot of authors I haven't been exposed to until now. I really enjoyed this fable and will put Laurie on my TBR list!

    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  7. +1 Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Rogue237/status/102424446794596352

    ReplyDelete
  8. Okay... *Tear*
    Way to go Laurie...

    I have read both stories.. have two copies of each.. I LOVE Laurie and her books....

    no need to enter me... Just wanted to stop by and show my love!

    Kelly M

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  9. Aw Alfonso I'm gonna cry. don't enter me either I have read both books and including the novella waiting not so patiently for the next book. Just stopping by to show my support.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I haven't heard of your books but that's why I'm loving this month of introductions and fantastic fables. The introductions and taste of so many authors I haven't discovered yet. I'd love to win your book!

    glittergirl54[at]ymail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unfortunately I haven't read the first book but I did add it to my wishlist a while back ;) Thanks for the awesome story and giveaway!

    efender1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have read the first book :)

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. +1 spread here
    http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/127992-ff-beauty-and-the-beast-by-laurie-london

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I havent read it yet. But I did just get it to Im planning on it soon.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/102599517626572801

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I haven't read Bonded by Blood yet, but I would love to read this series. Have heard a lot of good things about it!


    angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have not read this yet looks like someething I would enjoy

    Chllybrd(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love Beauty and the Beast-- I would love to read this.
    audie@wickerness.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I haven't read the first book yet but I have it requested at the library and can't wait to read it! Thanks for the great giveaway:)
    P.S. I loved the Beauty and the Beast story!
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I haven't read this first book, it is on my TBR list though. Thanks for the chance. Loved the Beauty and Beast story.

    sariahwalters at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have read the first book and it was awesome!

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/103586269875019777
    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm very late to the party, but I LOVED THIS!!!! Can Laurie write or can Laurie write? Fantastic short!
    ~D~

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have not read Bonded by Blood, although I am certainly regretting that at the moment, after reading this fable. I knew I would be hooked when I saw that it was Beauty and the Beast.

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    twiztidsharkie@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yes! I have already read book one in this series and it was awesome! Dying to read more so thanks for having this giveaway and including me.

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  26. My tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LadyVampire2u/status/104844370225807360

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I haven't read the first book yet. It looks like another series I''' be adding to my reading radar.

    Cambonified[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I feel so ashamed to admit that I do own Bounded by Blood but I have not read it yet! I know the horror.

    miss.smileygirlie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Nope! I would like to though!

    tjotjoc at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I haven't read the first book in the series yet but have heard some good things about it!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you so much for the great giveaway! I have read it I loved it and really would love to read the next one! thanks for the chance!
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  32. Tweeted too
    http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/110049671317168128
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  33. I haven't read the first book YET, but I plan on it!

    Poisnivyred AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. o_0 I would so love to win this book, I have yet to read the first one but even so it's okay to read books out of order every once in a while.
    Thank you so much for the giveaway, and I absolutely loved the story.
    oh I tweeted about the giveaway
    http://twitter.com/#!/Gothical17/status/110226781788831744

    Email:
    jazzwolf44(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. http://twitter.com/#!/joannie1956/status/110503893921837056
    thanks joannie jscddmj[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi i am sorry i have not read the first book Bounded by Blood but i wrote it downbecause these books sounds like something i really would love to read to take me away for a few days lol joannie jscddmj[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I haven't read the first book but looking forward too ^_^

    GFC: kimyunalesca
    kimyunalesca(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete