I'm happy to welcome back the lovely and talented Caridad Pineiro with her new book, BORN TO LOVE! I'll let her tell you about it...
People often ask me why like writing series? It’s not an easy question. For starters, it’s a challenge to keep a
series going on and keep it new and exciting.
I love that challenge.
In THE CALLING/REBORN series, I’ve tried to keep things
interesting by mixing up human suspense stories with paranormal ones. I’ve also done it by combining different
vampire mythologies, like a story with a chupacabra or one with a Chinese
Chiang shi.
In BORN TO LOVE, I’ve added yet another element- a world of
all different kinds of shifters, from werewolves to were-rats that populate the
streets of Manhattan. It was fun
creating the different were-creatures and their power structure in this story.
Another reason I love writing a series is being able to
revisit characters and see what’s happening in their lives. It’s fun to see how their lives are after the
big Happily-Ever-After and have them help others in new stories. For me, it’s also about keeping alive two
characters of my heart – FBI Agent Diana Reyes and vampire Ryder Latimer.
In BORN TO LOVE, there are some very special things
happening with Diana and Ryder and I hope you’ll love visiting with them again
and seeing what’s up in their lives.
Thanks for letting me visit with you today!
Blurb ~
Fated to survive…
FBI agent David Harris’s life nearly came to an end during a botched raid. Though he survived, his body and spirit were broken by the perilous underworld he believes his estranged partner, Diana Reyes, has embraced with her Vampire husband. Now, left to a life in a wheelchair, David is angry, distrustful, and withdrawn…
Meant to love…
Seeing her former lover, David, again rekindles feelings long forgotten for Maggie Gonzalez. But she’s been thrown into a terrifying future as a werewolf, threatening to destroy what they might have again.
Destined to die…
Diana Reyes has lived on the edge since her blood contamination by Vampire Ryder Latimer. Her unexpected pregnancy is putting a huge strain on her body, but she’ll do anything to help right the wrongs of the past and help her former partner find happiness…even if it’s in the arms of a werewolf.
Excerpt ~
The Big Day
Manhattan, New York
FBI Agent Diana Reyes had faced down serial killers, terrorists, and drug-crazed vampires, but nothing scared her as much as what she was about to do.
She was getting married.
To a vampire.
And she was pregnant.
She didn’t know which of the three worried her the most.
Each presented its own problems. Each was scarier than virtually anything she had ever encountered. All those other things could only kill her…and almost had at one time or another.
But these three could break her heart, and that was a much more enduring pain to live with.
Briefly, she considered turning away from the French doors leading onto the penthouse balcony where the wedding ceremony was about to take place. The balcony was as long as the city block and about a quarter as wide with plenty of room for the three dozen or so chairs filled with friends and family waiting for her to begin her walk to meet the love of her life.
Ryder.
She gave a heartfelt sigh and peered past the rows to search for her future husband.
He stood near the far wall of the balcony, lethally handsome. The black of his tuxedo emphasized his dark hair and eyes—fathomless eyes filled with both love and guilt. The fabric was perfectly fitted, accenting broad shoulders she’d leaned on more than once.
He was so many things to her. Lover. Friend. Soon her husband…and that thought filled her heart with emotion so strong, it nearly stole her breath.
Just behind Ryder stood an arch decorated with flowers in pale shades of blue, lavender, and white. They matched the heavy, fragrant bouquet in her hands and the bunches of flowers at the end of each makeshift row of chairs. At a far corner of the balcony, a chamber music quartet played softly.
Ryder had spared no expense to make this day special for her. Even now, a crew of caterers was at work in the kitchen, preparing an array of dishes for the reception right after their nuptials.
Diana placed a hand over her midsection as her stomach knotted at the thought of eating and threatened to revolt. In the month since discovering she was pregnant, her bouts of nausea had abated only slightly. She’d hoped they would hold off on such a special night so she wouldn’t embarrass herself.
“Cold feet?” her brother Sebastian asked at her hesitation, and reassuringly squeezed the arm she had tucked through his for her impending walk down the aisle.
“Maybe,” she forced out past the giant lump in her throat. She shot a cautious look at her brother and found him smiling indulgently.
“Even though I’ve had my doubts at times, Di, I know this is the right thing for you to do.”
“Maybe you should be the one walking down the aisle to get married,” she said. Then she chuckled and added, “You’re right. I’m just being stupid.”
Sebastian chucked her under the chin and grinned. “Never stupid, Sis. It’s just typical bridal nerves.”
Sure, because your average bride was pregnant with a vampire’s baby and about to marry him. Totally typical.
Before she could reply, he continued, “Besides, if I have to shave, get a haircut, and endure this monkey suit, the least you can do is go through with it.” He raised his hand to signal the string quartet that they were ready.
The head musician wound down the piece they were playing, and the lush and melodic strains of Pachelbel’s Canon swelled into the night air, inviting her to action. But it wasn’t until her gaze connected with Ryder’s across the distance that she boldly took the first step.
And finally admitted that, as scary as it all was, she wanted to be Ryder’s wife and have his baby.
Manhattan, New York
FBI Agent Diana Reyes had faced down serial killers, terrorists, and drug-crazed vampires, but nothing scared her as much as what she was about to do.
She was getting married.
To a vampire.
And she was pregnant.
She didn’t know which of the three worried her the most.
Each presented its own problems. Each was scarier than virtually anything she had ever encountered. All those other things could only kill her…and almost had at one time or another.
But these three could break her heart, and that was a much more enduring pain to live with.
Briefly, she considered turning away from the French doors leading onto the penthouse balcony where the wedding ceremony was about to take place. The balcony was as long as the city block and about a quarter as wide with plenty of room for the three dozen or so chairs filled with friends and family waiting for her to begin her walk to meet the love of her life.
Ryder.
She gave a heartfelt sigh and peered past the rows to search for her future husband.
He stood near the far wall of the balcony, lethally handsome. The black of his tuxedo emphasized his dark hair and eyes—fathomless eyes filled with both love and guilt. The fabric was perfectly fitted, accenting broad shoulders she’d leaned on more than once.
He was so many things to her. Lover. Friend. Soon her husband…and that thought filled her heart with emotion so strong, it nearly stole her breath.
Just behind Ryder stood an arch decorated with flowers in pale shades of blue, lavender, and white. They matched the heavy, fragrant bouquet in her hands and the bunches of flowers at the end of each makeshift row of chairs. At a far corner of the balcony, a chamber music quartet played softly.
Ryder had spared no expense to make this day special for her. Even now, a crew of caterers was at work in the kitchen, preparing an array of dishes for the reception right after their nuptials.
Diana placed a hand over her midsection as her stomach knotted at the thought of eating and threatened to revolt. In the month since discovering she was pregnant, her bouts of nausea had abated only slightly. She’d hoped they would hold off on such a special night so she wouldn’t embarrass herself.
“Cold feet?” her brother Sebastian asked at her hesitation, and reassuringly squeezed the arm she had tucked through his for her impending walk down the aisle.
“Maybe,” she forced out past the giant lump in her throat. She shot a cautious look at her brother and found him smiling indulgently.
“Even though I’ve had my doubts at times, Di, I know this is the right thing for you to do.”
“Maybe you should be the one walking down the aisle to get married,” she said. Then she chuckled and added, “You’re right. I’m just being stupid.”
Sebastian chucked her under the chin and grinned. “Never stupid, Sis. It’s just typical bridal nerves.”
Sure, because your average bride was pregnant with a vampire’s baby and about to marry him. Totally typical.
Before she could reply, he continued, “Besides, if I have to shave, get a haircut, and endure this monkey suit, the least you can do is go through with it.” He raised his hand to signal the string quartet that they were ready.
The head musician wound down the piece they were playing, and the lush and melodic strains of Pachelbel’s Canon swelled into the night air, inviting her to action. But it wasn’t until her gaze connected with Ryder’s across the distance that she boldly took the first step.
And finally admitted that, as scary as it all was, she wanted to be Ryder’s wife and have his baby.
Bio ~
New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word through high school, college and law school. In 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released and over a decade later, Caridad is the author of almost forty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista.
You can find Caridad here:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
You can find BORN TO LOVE here:
Giveaway ~
Good morning, Caridad! Man, you are a prolific girl! This is the third time that I've had you on this year!
ReplyDeleteYou're keeping me in business! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a lot of books! I've enjoyed a few series over the years, but it seems daunting to write them and keep everything straight as you go. Great excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in, Brenna! I agree, too much attention to detail for me! ;)
DeleteLOL! Yeah, I have been a busy girl this year! Thank you so much for sharing your space with me. Thank you, Brenna for coming by!
ReplyDelete