Book Tour: Lord Griffin's Prize By Katalina Leon

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Book Tour: Lord Griffin's Prize By Katalina Leon

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Lord Griffin's Prize (Emerald Isle Fantasies)
by Katalina Leon
Paranormal Romance
Categories: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count: 50,000

Description:

Part of the Emerald Isles Fantasies series

Tullamore Castle Ireland is an enchanted place where the unexpected happens. Phantom lovers materialize in haunted beds and a lonely griffin patrols the ramparts waiting to reclaim its mate. And that's just the beginning.

For the adventure of a lifetime Maeve de'Burgo visits Tullamore to study genealogy. Through a magical act and time travel she becomes embroiled in a dangerous medieval romance and the unfinished life of her ancestor. Maeve gets thrown back in time to be captured, ravished and cherished as a war chief's prize.

Ronan O'Griofa is a griffin-shifter, the most loyal of creatures. He's been trapped in limbo as the avenging guardian of Tullamore since 1332 AD and longs to be free. When the soul of his wife returns to the castle he's granted the privilege of becoming a man for one day to be her lover, win her heart and remind Maeve of a bond strong enough to last an eternity.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt:

She walked around the room, making sure the door was locked and switching off the few lights still lit. The fading red embers of the fire glowed. The fire's soft illumination was lovely and provided just enough light to see. An errant sliver of moonlight cut across the room and lit Lord O'Griofa's portrait.

Maeve pulled the covers back and climbed into the massive bed, which could have comfortably slept several adults. She gazed up at the silk canopy. The viridian curtains surrounding the bed were woven with a subtle pattern that suggested to her tired eyes the faintest hint of feathery wings.

She noticed that the bed curtains could be drawn around the bed to either block light or create an oasis of privacy. She drew the curtains in hopes of preventing the first rays of dawn from waking her too early. She allowed her head to sink deep into the lush pile of pillows and sighed with pleasure that the bed felt as good as it looked.

She stretched across the crisp sheets with her eyes squeezed shut, wishing she had the energy or will to take off the bulky bathrobe, but before she could rouse herself to act she became aware of the warm weight of a solidly built man pressing down on her.

As if by magic a naked man materialized beneath the bedcovers. His warm skin radiated the faint but unmistakable scent of musk. He unknotted the robe and pushed the fabric aside, baring her breasts. A soft sigh crossed his lips.

She made a halfhearted attempt to stop him.

With gentle but decisive action, he took hold of her wrists and slowly slid her arms above her head, pinning her beneath him.

She gulped a startled breath as he parted her legs with his knee. The sensations were real. The wet tip of his heavy erection brushed between her thighs. She started to cry out in surprise.

"Hush," the man whispered. He grazed his lips against the side of her cheek. "Don't wake, my love-this is only a dream." The man's comforting voice was pure reassurance. "I've been waiting so long for you."

"Ronan?" She relaxed.

"Who else comes to your bed?" A quiet laugh crossed his lips as if it were a casual joke that often passed between them. He released his hold on her wrists. "Wrap your arms around me and make me feel loved." He leaned close and his warm breath flooded the side of her throat. "I need you, Maeve."

A shudder of desire seized her, impossible to deny. The man's voice was drenched with longing and coaxed myriad buried feelings to surface. She realized that every lover should plead for touch with this much conviction, yet so few did.

Dream or not, it had been ages since she'd felt sensations so fiery and she couldn't resist giving in. The dream man-Ronan or whoever he was-felt so good that she found herself wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and drawing him close. The silky hair on his chest glided against her breasts. In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, she reached down, took hold of his shaft and guided him between her legs. She rubbed the head of his cock against her with slow strokes, until he was slick and her clit peaked. Without further prompting she allowed him to glide inside.

"Oh Maeve." A husky groan escaped his lips as he sank deep.

Author Interview:

The Avid Reader: What inspired you to write Lord Griffin's Prize?

Katalina Leon: Griffins have always had a special place in my heart. According to 9th century Irish author Stephen Scotus, griffins mate for life and are "highly monogamous." If a mate dies the other will never re-mate, and that played a big part in my story. Griffins rule both air and land with justice and loyalty. So you see its hard to not love a griffin!

A few years ago, as an anniversary gift, my husband gave me a beautiful bronze casting of a griffin to place next to my writing desk. The Griffin is there as a symbol of eternal love and loyalty. My husband's a griffin at heart; he's protective, loyal and he never turns his back on his responsibilities. I brought as much of that sentiment as I possibly could to "Lord Griffin's Prize."

The Avid Reader: When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Katalina Leon: I started writing about five years ago. Writing was something I sort of lucked into and fell in love with.

The Avid Reader: What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?

Katalina Leon: This is easy to remember and totally ties in with Lord Griffin's Prize. Somewhere between three or four years old I became obsessed with an old set of Child's Craft books that I loved to look at. There was a beautiful illustration of a griffin lapping cream off the Milky Way. The griffin was my favorite illustration. It's still vivid in my mind. When I figured out that the words on the page corresponded to more information about the griffin-I was very motivated to learn to read.

The Avid Reader: What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

Katalina Leon: I read a little of everything. I'm always on the lookout for something inspiring.

The Avid Reader: What is your favorite book?

Katalina Leon: Boy this is a hard question to answer. I usually say "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights" because I truly love those books. Today I'll add Marion Zimmer-Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon". I read that book when I was young and it made a huge impression on me. Zimmer-Bradley did such a beautiful job of creating a mythical realm where the opinions and actions of women mattered.

The Avid Reader: You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?

Katalina Leon: I love and respect so many authors, but here are a scant few: George Orwell is a master storyteller. Marion Zimmer-Bradley influenced my writing style. Truman Capote is perfect in his descriptions. Laura Kinsale made me fall in love with the romance genre-she was my first author's crush. That is today's short list. Tomorrow it will look different.

The Avid Reader: If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?

Katalina Leon: This is easy to answer because I just wrote a book about it. "Fairy In The Flesh" is a contemporary woman's adventure at a summer art festival in Avignon France that turns into a trip back in time to Avignon of 1903 to meet her idol, Bohemian bad boy artist André Bosco. Magic, fated love and enchanted absinthe are part of the fun…

The Avid Reader: When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?

Katalina Leon: Both! Some days it flows as fast as I can type, other days it's an act of self-discipline to stay put and write.

The Avid Reader: Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

Katalina Leon: I'm an animal lover. We've always had too many pets but right now we have only a freshwater fish tank and big beautiful Border collie mix named Molly.

The Avid Reader: What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?

Katalina Leon: I'll eat almost anything off the grill if it has char marks. Gooey dark chocolate desserts are good too.

The Avid Reader: Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

Katalina Leon: Be persistent with your writing and honest but gentle in your criticism.

About The Author:

Lord Griffin's Prize Author photo kleon-authorphoto.jpg

I'm an artist, an author, mother and wife. I write for Ellora's Cave, Loose Id Publishing and a couple new publishers to be announced soon. I try to bring a touch of the mystical and a big sense of adventure to everything I write because I believe there's a bold, kick-ass heroine inside all of us who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero.