Guestblog: Lydia Dare + giveaway

Today I welcome Lydia Dare to my blog. The authors of A certain Wolfish Charm, Tall Dark and Wolfish and in June: The Wolf Next door. Be free to ask questions, and enter the contest at the bottom of this blog. Where you can win Tall, Dark and Wolfish.

It becomes apparent when you sit down to create a new world that you also have to create characters to fill that world.  In our series, creating the gentlemen Lycans was easy.  They were charming alpha-rakes who became wolves at “that time of the month.”  In the days leading up to the moonful, they get a little lusty, not to mention a little more surly.  But, aside from that, they’re fairly average men with the same wants and desires as the normal Regency rake.

In Tall, Dark and Wolfish, we wondered what might happen if a Lycan couldn’t change into Lycan form with the coming of the moonful.  It would certainly be like losing a part of his being, particularly with Benjamin. He liked being a Lycan and reveled in the moonful each month.  So, when it came time to change and he didn’t, he was heartbroken.

There were no apothecaries or physicians in Regency England who could heal his wolfish self, not to mention protect the side of himself that he has kept a secret for so long, so the idea of a healer was born. And what better healer could there be than the fiery red-head, Elspeth Campbell.  Of course, Ben is not at all aware he’s going to find the woman of his dreams; he simply thinks he’s looking for an old crone who can heal what ails him.

That’s how the coven was born. Còig is a Scots Gaelic word that means “five.” Of course having one solitary witch who could restore Benjamin to himself would be much more fun if there were more waiting in the shadows to get in the way of his budding relationship with Elspeth.  Give them each their own powers and it became even more interesting.

Each witch has her own special powers, as did their mothers before them.  Elspeth can heal with the tips of her fingers, or her heart as the case may be.  Caitrin can see the future, even though it may be difficult for her at times.  Blaire is super strong and can make sparks fly from her fingertips.  Rhiannon controls the weather, or at least her emotions do. And Sorcha can ask plants to do her bidding; they might bud, wither and die or stretch across the ground to entangle an overly-amorous Lycan.

Of course, once a character walks into a novel, readers (and the authors) tend to fall in love with them and want to see more of them.  So, when the witches walked into Tall, Dark and Wolfish, we knew they each needed their own story, mainly because it would be such a waste to not use all those spectacular talents to create future mayhem.
 
The members of the Còig came from our imaginations, but there is a bit of truth to the potions and plants they use to accomplish their goals. Not much truth, we admit, but there’s a bit. Eggs and blueberries are reported to be led by the moon, but we did take some creative liberty with them when Elspeth uses them in Tall, Dark and Wolfish. And, yes, we took liberties with other witchy characteristics as well. That’s the beauty of making up your own world – you get to populate it as well. 

We hope you enjoy the antics of the Còig and that you want to read their stories, which will be out by the spring of 2011.

TALL, DARK AND WOLFISH by LYDIA DARE—IN STORES MAY 2010
In Lydia Dare’s debut trilogy, Regency England has gone to the wolves!

He’s lost the most important part of himself…

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a powerful werewolf—until one full moon when he doesn’t change. His life now shattered, he rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she’s not at all what he expected…

She would make him whole, if she could…

Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will do anything to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Then Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her…

About the Author
Lydia Dare is the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. Both Tammy and Jodie are active members of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and live near Raleigh, North Carolina. They are working together on their next paranormal historical trilogy as Lydia Dare, which will be released by Sourcebooks Casablanca in Spring 2011! For more information, please visit http://www.lydiadare.com/.

Contest:

Open US and Canada.

2 winners will receive Tall, Dark and Wolfish

Ends May 29th

Thanks for visiting :)

Review: Tall, Dark and Wolfish - Lydia Dare

Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare

Westfield brothers, book 2

Genre: Paranormal romance historical
Pages: 384
Published: May 2010 Sourcebooks Casablanca

The reckless, rakish younger brother of a powerful duke, Lord Benjamin Westfield transforms into a wolf under the light of the full moon—until one fateful evening when he doesn't change and his life is shattered. Fearing he may never be able to change again, Benjamin sets out for Scotland in search of a witch who can heal his inner beast. The noble werewolf is drawn to the beautiful young woman, but what does he have to offer in this broken state?

I heard about Benjamin in book 1, all I knew that he was somewhere in Scotland and his family didn't know where or why. Well this is the explanation. First he is of course a Lycan like his brothers, second, he can't transform any more after an incident with a woman. From a friend he learns that perhaps a healer/witch in Scotland can help.

Benjamin is like his brother in that aspect that he is afraid to love and be loved. He wants to control the beast and perhaps that is the problem. He is rather torn and lost when he can't change any more, and the rake in him seems to drift away cos of his loss.

But where would we be without some romance. The old healer he is looking for is a beautiful young woman and he is not called a rake for nothing. But when is love ever easy. This woman has a bunch of friends who are very protective and need her to stay with them. Even if that means sending away someone she loves. Yes they aren't that clever now are they, but they meant well, and I had trouble disliking them. I would also protect a friend, and they thought it was for the best. And they were just fun, I'd love to see them find love. Now that could be a cool spin-off.

Lord Benjamin, well I do like a werewolves, they are just so manly and not afraid to show it. Elspeth was sweet, and she truly did not stand a chance when he showed up. Of course who could resist a werewolf.

This book had the romance, and the wolves do tend to become very carnal when the moon is full as he puts it. I liked that they wanted to be with each other, and how the other girls got in the way. he had to fight some for his love. And of course he was also very stupid cos of his Lycan state, but he has to learn too,

One thing that I just had to get used to was that ye this was Scotland, so there was the accent. Luckily I had read this other book and was up to speed what it all meant. But I am glad it wasn't more of it.

This book had me reading like crazy at the beginning, I wanted her to find out about him being what he was, I mean she had to heal him. And the rest of the book I wanted to know if the witches would get in the way, or if anyone would do something stupid (heroes and heroines always do something stupid ;).

All in all a good shifter story and I do think I liked this more than book 1, I guess we just have to see if I( like book 3 even more. Nice historical setting, sweet romance, and cool shifters.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Loving it, I am not just saying this cos I love the color green, but it is the green, and then her piercing green eyes and that castle ( and yes there was some man nipples too, but I honestly watched the castle.)

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts: Who can say no to a werewolf. 3,5