The World of Draconia

DRAGON LOVER

Draconia Tales, book three

Read a little, Buy the book

Predicted from birth to be mates, Aryana and Fafnir spent their youth running from each other and pursuing their own dreams. Aryana sought power and magic, while Fafnir escaped to explore other lands and to find a love not dictated by cryptic prophecy.

But after Fafnir is captured and magically locked in his dragon form, he returns to Draconia. Ashamed and broken, he hides his true identity from everyone, hoping Aryana will find a spell that will return him to his human self.

The last thing Aryana needs or wants is to find out her mate still lives-for a mated female cannot be a priestess, let alone the High Priestess. Yet his dragon's presence brings out her true abilities. When opposing dreams collide, will love be the victor?

WARRIOR LOVER

Draconia Tales, book two

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As a Watcher, a guardian warrior of the Draconi, Enar has never fit in with his kind. When he sees Lily--the ideal Watcher's woman--he instantly claims her, believing she will bring him the acceptance he craves. Falling in love with her was not part of his plan.

As her town's outcast, Lily wants nothing more than to escape. When Enar locks a necklace around her throat and declares she belongs to him, she jumps at the chance to leave. Her excitement soon becomes trepidation when Enar won't tell her what to expect in his world. But even her worry can't overcome her growing attraction to him.

Soon Lily learns what life as a Watcher's claim entails, and refuses to submit. To keep Lily, Enar must turn his back on everything he thought he wanted. Will he choose his people? Or the other half of his soul?

MAGICAL LOVER

Draconia Tales, book one

Read a little, Buy the book

In a world where men can become dragons, Thoren is one of the most powerful. As a shape-shifting Draconi, Thoren wants nothing more than to continue searching for Halfling children, and returning them to Draconia. The last thing he wants or needs is a mate-until he meets Keara, an outcast unaware of the power that lies within her. Keara doesn't know what to make of Thoren or of the magic he practices. She learned early to keep her magic hidden-her witchy red hair and green eyes are burden enough. When Thoren offers his hand in place of a forced marriage with Lord Simon, Keara jumps at the chance to leave her town behind. But she fears Thoren will shun her when he discovers the truth about her abilities. Can Thoren convince Keara she is his lifemate, or will her secret talent be the wedge that drives them apart?

 

KARILYN BENTLEY'S  love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.

Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.

Karilyn lives in North Texas with her own hunky hero, a psycho dog nicknamed Hell Hound, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.

When asked, "Why Dragons?"

KARILYN'S ANSWER: I’ve always found dragons fascinating. They’re huge, scaly and pretty much the biggest, baddest things out there. Plus they have wings and can get places faster than walking. My dragons perform magic and turn into sexy men. Who doesn’t want a sexy man flying them places and protecting them from harm? <g>   

Today we have both the author and heroes from Karilyn Bentley's DRACONIA.

ANGI: Thoren, Enar or Fafnir… Do your heroes' names have special meanings?

KARILYN: Yes, they do! Well, two of them do. I made up Thoren's. <g> The name Fafnir means dragon and Enar means fighter in Old Norse. The names fit what is going on in their lives during the stories.

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?

THOREN:  I call Keara Little One.

ENAR: I've always called Lily, Woman. But judging from the looks I'm now getting, I might want to change it to my love.

FAFNIR: My mate. I like the way Ari reacts when I call her that. <grins>

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

KARILYN: This is harder than it sounds! I can't narrow it down to just one. I love the original Star Wars series and the Indiana Jones movies. Those are my favorites! And I can't forget the Harry Potter series and anything having to do with Thor. Most Marvel superhero movies. Okay, so I can't count. <g>

ANGI: What do you like best about Draconia?

THOREN:  The magic and sense of community.

ENAR: Friends and acceptance.

FAFNIR: It's home. After you've been locked in a cell for years all you want is to return home.

ANGI: Can you tell us something special about each of your heroes?

KARILYN: I'd love to! Enar tried to take over Thoren's book until I decided to give him his own story. <g> He's tough talking, but is a big softy with his woman. Thoren enjoys doing the housework for his mate, Keara. Fafnir flies across the sky with Aryana when no one is watching.

ANGI: If you were an action film star, who would you be?

THOREN:  Captain America

ENAR: Despite my resemblance to Thor, I'd have to choose John McLane from Die Hard.

FAFNIR: Spiderman. We're both hiding our identities.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What's your favorite scene from all three books?

KARILYN'S GOTTA ANSWER: When Fafnir tells his daughter he's her father (she never realized who he was prior to then). It's not the reaction he expects. 

FIND KARILYN:

website    Facebook    Goodreads    Twitter @KarilynBentley1

Plotting Princesses  Previous GLIAS interviews

UP NEXT for KARILYN: Another Draconia Tales story. This one features Jamie (the boy from the trilogy) and takes place about 20 years after Dragon Lover ends. Jamie's mate is Detective Ruby Parker from Denver. What do you do when the one you love is from another dimension? Stay tuned!

I'm also working on a contemporary fantasy series that isn't a romance, although it does have romantic elements. This series features a nurse empath who discovers a magical bracelet that gives her demon-slaying powers. Needless to say, she's not too happy about her new powers and even less happy to be followed by sexy hunk who may or may not have her best interests at heart. I'm really excited about this series!!

PREVIOUS RELEASES by KARILYN

AFTER THE MOON RISES
excerpt

WOLFMATES               WEREVOLVES IN LONDON

excerpt                                      excerpt

MAGICAL LOVER

excerpt

KARILYN is giving away A pdf copy of Dragon Lover.  North America or International

Note: COMMENTERS are encouraged to leave a contact email address to speed the prize notification process. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

Join me next Wednesday with guest Lena Diaz.

UP NEXT ON GLIAS:  JULIE BENSON

~Angi Morgan 

Get Lost on Goodreads, Facebook

or @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

KARILYN WANTS TO KNOW: What is your favorite Easter candy?

Get Lost with Marilee Brothers & Baby Gone Bye

Baby + Doorstep = Magic Baby Daddy 

Get Lost in a Story Readers, I’m particularly excited about today’s guest because as a lover of Young Adult, sprinkled with paranormal elements, Marilee Brother’s protagonist is a single teen and a dad!  That’s something new and different, and I couldn’t wait to ask her about it.  Please welcome Marilee Brothers!

About Baby Gone Bye:

High school senior Gabe Delgado is trying to trade his bad-boy ways for clean living. He remembers nothing about the night a mysterious girl loved him and left him at a party, except . . . there was a kind of magic around her that had nothing to do with his hangover the next day. Now he finds that "magic" in a basket on his doorstep, cooing at him like a happy little bird.

A note from the baby’s mother begins, “Gabe, you probably already know our baby is, well, different. If not, you'll find out soon enough. Bad people want her. That's why I left her with you. Don't try to find me. Please, take care of our baby girl and love her. Okay?”

Suddenly party-boy Gabe has to man up to protect his daughter. Not so easy when her talents include vanishing into thin air. It's up to Gabe and his girl-pal Abby--who has some extraordinary secrets of her own--to find out what's up with something called the Scientific Academy of Merit, what the goons want with Birdie, and whether other kids like Birdie can be saved, too.

Are you as intrigued as I am?  Wait no more.  Let's get to know Marilee Brothers.

DONNELL:  Hi, Marilee, welcome to Get Lost in a Story.  When I heard the elements of Baby Gone Bye, I couldn’t wait to ask you about it.  First, it’s a YA, and it sounds like it includes not only magic but some elements of suspense.  Please tell the readers how you came up with the idea, and will it be a single title or the beginning of a series.

MARILEE: Hi, Donnell. First of all, thanks for hosting me on your blog. Baby Gone Bye is a stand-alone book and considered a crossover. Slightly edgier than my previous YA books which means there’s a tiny bit of R rated material – LOL! After all, babies have to be conceived … right? I’ve always wanted to write a book with a male protagonist and thought it would be fun to have Gabe, who lives with his father and three brothers, suddenly have to care for a baby girl.

DONNELL:  Gabe sounds like a standup guy.  Is he reluctant at first to take care of his daughter?  And I take it it’s not a reunion/romance as his girl pal Abby plays a major role?  Without spoiling the plot for our readers, could you elaborate?

MARILEE:  At first, Gabe is more than reluctant. The note from the baby’s mother says, “Keep her until the diapers run out,” and he can hardly wait until that happens. But then, there’s another note that changes his mind. Also, as his father points out, “She’s a Delgado. She belongs with us.” The baby’s mother remains a mystery until Gabe undergoes hypnosis to fill in the blanks.

DONNELL:  What do you find the most fun thing about writing?  What is the most difficult?

 MARILEE:  The fun part for me is coming up with the concept and actually following through to the end until I see it in print. Very rewarding. But, oh, the journey from point A to point B is full of pitfalls and detours. I never end up where I’ve planned to go, but that’s what makes it interesting. I guess you could say I’m a seat of the pants kind of writer.

DONNELL:  Is Young Adult your primary genre?  What genres have your written?

MARILEE: I’ve written two adult books. Castle Ladyslipper was my first. It’s a medieval romance set in the 12^th Century during the reign of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam is romantic suspense and features a young teacher searching for a missing student. For this book, I drew upon my experiences as a teacher and school counselor for behavior-disordered teens.

DONNELL:  You put magic in your book.  What is the most magical thing that’s ever happened to you?

MARILEE: Other than meeting my wonderful husband in college, I’d have to say the circumstances around my signing with Bell Bridge Books. I’d entered the first chapter of Moonstone in a contest, completely unaware that Debra Dixon was one of the judges. Months later, when Belle Books decided to add another imprint (Bell Bridge) they needed a YA book. Debra remembered my book from the contest and hunted me down. The book was languishing in my computer. She said, “Finish it fast and send it in.” I did and it led to a six-book contract. How’s that for magic?

DONNELL:  Pretty magical!  Do you have themes in your stories?  What do you want readers to take away from Baby Gone Bye?

MARILEE:  Yes, I try to have themes. At the beginning of Baby Gone Bye, Gabe Delgado is a typical self-centered teenage boy who doesn’t look beyond tomorrow. Once the baby lands on his doorstep, his life is changed forever. He finds out what it means to be responsible for another human being and who his real friends are. He discovers the true meaning of family. In other words, he has to grow up … fast.

MARILEE'S QUESTION FOR READERS:   Do you have any advice for 18-year-old Gabe who is suddenly the father of a baby girl?"

DONNELL:  Thank you for being with us today to talk about your new release.  Can't wait to read this one!  GLIAS readers, Marilee will be doing a book giveaway today -- book or digital US residents, For International readers, digital only.

Where to find Marilee:

http://www.marileebrothers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/marilee.author

Twitter:  @marileeB

Karilyn Bentley

MAGICAL LOVER The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 9781601549624

In a world where men can become dragons . . .

. . .Thoren is one of the most powerful shape-shifting Draconi.
Thoren wants nothing more than to continue searching for Halfling children, and returning them to Draconia. The last thing he wants or needs is a mate-until he meets Keara, an outcast unaware of the power that lies within her. Keara doesn't know what to make of Thoren or of the magic he practices. She learned early to keep her magic hidden-her witchy red hair and green eyes are burden enough. When Thoren offers his hand in place of a forced marriage with Lord Simon, Keara jumps at the chance to leave her town behind. But she fears Thoren will shun her when he discovers the truth about her abilities. Can Thoren convince Keara she is his lifemate, or will her secret talent be the wedge that drives them apart?
~ ~ ~
“I know enough to realize she denied you.” The stranger growled at Lord Simon, his voice gentling as he turned to Keara. “She will take me though, won’t you?”
Keara locked her gaze on the stranger, drawn by his green eyes that looked so much like her own. She had never seen green eyes on anyone else, but knew what they meant. Remembered what her grandmother had told her about them.

“Green eyes are the mark of evil, girl,” the old woman liked to say. “Be wary of them.”
The wind whipped the stranger’s hair about his face. A chiseled jaw topped by firm lips that whitened around the edges and a long straight nose comprised a face tightened in anger. His compelling eyes bored into hers.

She couldn’t stop staring at those eyes, all the while his fingers continued their steady pattern against her mark, sending sensuous feelings coursing through her veins.
A stranger or Lord Simon? The man whose touch sent zingers of pleasure throughout her body, or the possibly crazy, but socially acceptable man who might have her best interest in mind. Did she actually think that?

There was no choice. It took two tries to get the words out of her dry mouth.
“I’ll take you.” She lifted her chin toward the stranger and said a silent prayer he would spare her life.

WHO IS KARILYN BENTLEY?

By day, Karilyn works in the research department of an oncology clinic. By night, she tells the stories of her imaginary friends. Karilyn and her most wonderful, ever patient husband share their home in the great state of Texas with two partially psycho dogs and a handful of colorful fish.

I’VE GOT THE QUESTIONS
KARILYN’S GOT THE ANSWERS

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
KARILYN: One of Dr. Seuss’s. Green Eggs and Ham, maybe? Nancy Drew and the Little House on the Prairie series were my favorites.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
KARILYN: Cinderella comes to mind.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
KARILYN: Scooby Doo! I even met a guy in college that looked just like Shaggy. That’s what we called him too. I loved this cartoon. I can probably sing you the theme song, if you’d like. Which if you ever heard me sing, you’d pass on. *grin*
(It's amazing how many writers have an affinity with Scooby Doo...GLIAS regulars, you know the Great Dane is ALL MINE!!!!)
ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
KARILYN: Unnecessary anger and behaving like a dumb bunny.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
KARILYN: I sit on the floor, pull my knees up to my chin, prop the book/Kindle on my knees and start reading. Or I sit at the table and use a book holder propped on a phone book (gotta use those phone books for something) to make it more eye level. Until I started writing, I could read a book a week. Maybe 2 books a week. Now that I write, it cuts in on my reading time, so it’s maybe 2 books a month.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
KARILYN: The sound of falling water. Like when our fishtank gets a bit low on water and when the water filters turn, it sounds like a waterfall. Or when I sit on the back porch and hear the leaves rustling on the sycamore tree across the street, it sounds like running water to me. Very relaxing. I also like to go for walks in the evenings and hear the frogs chirping or the insect sounds. Provided the insects aren’t in my house. *grin*

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
KARILYN: In 3rd grade. It was like Nancy Drew. Something about a key falling out of a pocket and getting tangled in tree roots. It unlocked something important. Can’t remember what. In high school my English teacher gave an assignment to write what a future school would be like. I wrote as if I took a time machine to the future and had a look around. Her comment was that it was too creative for an English assignment and maybe I would want to sign up for Creative Writing?

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
KARILYN: So many good ones. The two that popped into my mind were The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally. But wait. I love the Star Wars movies, Star Trek IV, Xmen, Matrix. Um, I apparently can’t count. *grin*

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
KARILYN: Darth Vader. Say what you want about the movies, but his character arc in them from Anakin Skywalker to the evil villain Darth Vader was great! And then he gets redeemed. Wonderful character arc.

ANGI: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
KARILYN: Writing! I have to sit and think about my words and how they sound. Plus, sights and sounds distract me when I’m telling a story out loud. Writing is much easier for me. *grin*

ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
KARILYN: Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading me!

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Karilyn, where did your fascination with dragons start? Was there something specific that made you chose dragons for MAGICAL LOVER?
KARILYN’S GOTTA ANSWER: As a child I read a lot of fantasy, from Merlin stories to Piers Anthony’s The Land of Xanth. I’ve always liked dragons. I’ve also wondered what creature ancient people saw that made them think of a dragon. I can’t remember the beginning of the fascination, but it probably has something to do with all the fantasy I read as a child. As far as using dragons in my story, that’s easier. When I realized that I wanted to try my hand at writing romance, I knew I needed a world that I could return to for future stories. I love shapeshifter stories and at the time had not seen many stories with dragons. But the dragons appeared to me in a different world set with their own society so I knew I couldn’t put them into the modern world. So I created my own land of fantasy complete with sexy, shapeshifting dragons. I hope you like it!

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS? Where is your favorite place to read? Do you get to go there as often as you’d like?
FREE COPY of MAGICAL LOVER...but you have to leave a comment first. Karilyn will send one ebook to someone leaving a comment today. You can leave your email or check back later and send it privately.
Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless otherwise indicated by guest author. If an electronic Copy is available, the author may utilize that option. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. It is the responsibility of the winning commenter to contact GLIAS with their email address or those participating may leave their email addresses in their public post.

YOU CAN FIND KARILYN at her website: http://www.karilynbentley.com/; Contact her karilyn@karilynbentley.com; or Chat on Facebook

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join us next week for JD Tyler, Jeanne Adams, Shae Berkley, Brenda Novak, and Claire Delacroix. Remember to check back daily to GET LOST in your favorite stories! ~Angi